Nightmare Realm Summoner

Alex nearly called on his magic. Then he remembered where they were. He caught himself, though he didn’t quite release his power either. Reading Absolution was impossible. He wouldn’t have put it past the Outworlder to try to attack them on the spot despite the auction house’s rules.

But Absolution did nothing of the sort. He just stared at them in stark disbelief. They all returned the favor. Several moments passed before anyone managed to say so much as a word.

“I’d say we’re doing the same thing that you are,” Alex said. “Participating in an auction. We’re allowed to do that, you know. There aren’t any rules that prevent it.”

Absolution’s gaze bore into Alex. He got the feeling that Absolution was trying his very hardest to telepathically transmit over a surprise cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be part of the other man’s skillset. All his stink-eye did was make a grin start to spread across Alex’s lips.

You can’t do anything here, can you?

“Ridiculous,” Absolution said. He shook his head and turned on his heel, starting back for the door.

“Leaving so fast?” Alex asked. “Without even getting what you came for? Because I get the feeling there was something you wanted. Are you really going to let your ego get in the way of asking for it just because of who we happen to be?”

Absolution ground to a halt.

For a moment, Alex thought he’d pushed the man too far. Then again, in his defense, that really wouldn’t have taken much at all. When a man spent all his time balancing on the edge of the cliff… it didn’t exactly require a gargantuan force to nudge them over it.

But Absolution turned back to them. His jaw was clenched tight enough to bite through steel. The veins in his neck bulged in anger, but his eyes were somehow cold and measured.

“You make a fair point, Nativeworlder. I have greater enemies than you. And as insufferable as you are… you have proven yourself effective.”

“Dude. You can’t say it like that. It sounds like a slur,” Alex said. “And that’s problematic for more reasons than I’m going to get into.”

“You would have me call you by name? That is even more insulting,” Absolution replied. He strode toward them, only coming to a stop a few feet away from Alex. It was the first time they’d been this close without trying to kill each other. It struck Alex that Absolution was a fair bit taller than he was — and that the gaping hole in his chest was painfully difficult to ignore.

Seriously, how is this guy even alive?

“Are you going to offer me a chair?” Absolution asked. “Or did manners not exist on your world?”

“That depends,” Claire said. “Are you going to call us by name? Or did manners not exist on yours?”

The corner of Absolution’s mouth curled.

“You have not properly introduced yourself. How would I know what to call you?”

“Oh, that’s bullshit,” Alex said. “You’re going to ask for her name and not mine? Now you’re definitely not getting a chair.”

Absolution leveled a flat gaze at Alex. “You were already introduced to me. I know your name, Ash.”

“Ugh,” Wess said. “He’s the kind of guy that keeps using your online name when you meet up at a coffee place in real life. That’s the worst.”

“And your name is not worth knowing,” Absolution said, not even glancing in Wess’ direction.

“Yeah. Fuck this guy. No chair,” Wess said, glaring at Absolution. “He’s an asshole.”

“We already knew that,” Alex said. “It’s hardly news. But what do you mean that I was introduced to you? The way you said that makes it sound like a bit more than you recognize my name from the Local Leaderboards. And I know for a fact we’ve never properly spoken given the fact you keep trying to murder me for no reason.”

“Do not imply that I kill indiscriminately,” Absolution said. His lips thinned into a flat, angry line. “I have never killed without purpose.”

“What do you call literally every single time that we’ve met other than this one?”

“You had potential,” Absolution replied simply. “I sought to prevent it from blooming. It is clear that I failed in that task. You have grown into a significant threat. It is only natural that I should try to kill you. My only regret is that I was incapable of doing it.”

“What, so you’re saying it’s all just… business?” Alex asked. “And you expect us to ignore the fact that you’ve done everything in your power to kill us?”

“I also saved you,” Absolution said. “You got out of the Ancestry with all the rewards because I interfered and attacked the Starfallen.”

“That doesn’t even come close to balancing out all the times you’ve tried to murder people,” Alex said.

“Would you not kill me now if you had the ability to?” Absolution asked.

“I probably would,” Alex said without a moment of thought. “But I wouldn’t have if given the option before we’d ever met.”

“Even if you’d know that I posed your life a threat?” Absolution tilted his head to the side. “Even if you knew what would come from not eliminating me when you had the chance?”

That one gave Alex a moment of pause.

Then he frowned.

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“No. I would have killed you,” he admitted. “The chances of you killing someone I don’t want you to are too high.”

Absolution arched an eyebrow. He didn’t even say anything.

“Is that supposed to make us think that you’re respectable or something?” Mite asked. “Because the root problem here is still you trying to kill people. You do realize that, right? You’re the issue.”

“The way to grow more powerful is to kill. And I must be powerful,” Absolution said without a hint of mollification. “My enemies are too great to be anything but. If you stood where I do, then you would have done everything as I have.”

“What the hell did you do to get enemies that powerful in the first place?” Alex asked.

Absolution smirked. “Look in a mirror.”

Alex stared at Absolution for a long second. Then he reached behind himself, not breaking gaze, and grabbed a chair. He swung it around and pushed it toward Absolution.

“Save us the bullshit,” Alex said. “Sit down and say what it is you want. I don’t like you. Never will. But it looks like we might have some common enemies.”

“The Starfallen. Among others,” Absolution said, catching the chair. A cold smile pulled at the corners of his lips. He spun the chair around so its backrest was facing Alex and then sat down in it, crossing his arms over the top. “And no matter how unlikely the possibility, fate has brought us both here.”

If you call Wess’ inability to not steal shit that he shouldn’t, then yeah, sure. We’ll go with that.

Alex grabbed a chair for himself and sat down. Then he gestured impatiently. “Out with it, then. Why are you here?”

“There is an item that I need to secure,” Absolution said. “I have it on good word that Nightmarch is in this auction. It is vital that they not secure it.”

Alex tilted his head to the side. “What item?”

“That will only be disclosed if we agree to work together,” Absolution replied. “Just let it suffice to know that this item will allow them to complete something they’ve been working on for a long time. It will let their town grow too powerful. They cannot be allowed to get it.”

Nightmarch… those are the guys that fucked with Claire’s homeworld. We’re not fans of them. But I don’t know if I want to help Absolution get his hands on some powerful item only for him to then turn around and use it against us.

“Why would we want to help you get it?” Alex asked. “I don’t think we’ve got any reason to hide the fact that we’re not friendly with the other Outworlder families. But we’re even less friendly with you. Are you going to promise not to use it against us or something?”

“No,” Absolution said. “Most likely not. Why would I? Shortly after the conclusion of this auction, things will return to how they have been. We will do our best to kill each other once again. That is how things will always be until one of us succeeds.”

“Why?” Alex asked. “Not that I had any different plans. But what makes you so damn determined to kill people that have only ever fought you because you attacked them in the first place? Have you ever considered the fact that you’ve got so many enemies because you’re an asshole?”

Absolution snorted. “There was a time at which I shared your thoughts. That was before the destruction of my homeworld. I learned the truth. Should you live long enough, then you will, too. Though it is considerably more likely that you will die. There are no allies. Once the circumstances align, everyone is an enemy. But the circumstances do not currently align. We are better served on the same side for the purposes of this auction.”

“And why is that?” Claire asked. “What about Nightmarch is worse than you?”

“It is simple. I do not have a town,” Absolution said with a shrug. “And this item is only useful for empowering one.”

“So you’ve got no use for it?” Alex asked. “You only want to make sure they don’t get it?”

“That is correct,” Absolution said.

“Why did you think a different Outworlder family would be willing to help?” Claire asked. “Surely they also have towns.”

“They do,” Absolution said. “But not ones next to a dungeon that I am planning to clear. I cannot allow Nightmarch to grow more powerful right now. Not until after I have grown strong enough myself.”

“So you want us to help you get stronger… so you can come and try to kill us,” Alex finished. “Am I getting that right?”

“Yes,” Absolution said.

“And we would agree to this because…”

“We will be trying to kill each other either way,” Absolution replied. “And in this manner, the item ends up with you. Not with me. I don’t need it. I just need to make sure it doesn’t end up in Nightmarch’s hands. And I am willing to give you Credits to ensure that happens.”

Alex blinked.

He hadn’t been expecting that.

“What?” Alex asked. “You mean you’ll fund us?”

“Yes,” Absolution said. “That is what I said. Now that I think about it, this works out quite well. You are a threat to me. But I do not dislike you so much as I do the other Outworlder families. I would rather your town end up with the item than any of them. After all… you have drawn so much of their ire that any strength you gain will doubtlessly be turned against them shortly.”

Alex stared at Absolution. It was impossible to tell if the man was being straight with them. Then again, he did seem to have a fairly straightforward worldview. Everyone was his enemy. He was just willing to side with whoever was the least of the current enemies at the time. That didn’t mean he didn’t want to kill them. He just wanted to kill them a bit less at the time.

At least he’s consistent.

“Well, we won’t say no to free money. And I don’t care about making enemies of the other Outworlder families,” Alex said. “We’re already well on our way there. You got any other terms? Or are you just going to give us Credits and trust we’ll buy what you want us to?”

“That summarizes it appropriately,” Absolution said.

“What makes you so sure we’ll buy the item?” Claire asked. “We could just take them and use them as we please.”

“You could,” Absolution said. “But you will not.”

“What makes you say that?” Alex tilted his head to the side. “You think we’re too scared to do it?”

“No. I have fought you. Both of you. I know your nature. You would not do something so foolish without reason,” Absolution replied. “If you agree to something, you will follow through so long as it does not harm you. And getting this item will make your town considerably more powerful. You would have no reason not to follow through the terms of our deal.”

Alex and Claire exchanged a glance. Absolution was definitely putting up a fairly reasonable offer.

“How do you know it’ll be available?” Alex asked.

Absolution paused for a moment. Then he shook his head. “You don’t need to know that. It doesn’t affect our deal. Will you work with me or not? If not, I will find another to replace you.”

“We’re interested,” Alex said. “When it comes to screwing over the Outworlder families, I’m more than happy to spend your money. Just don’t go expecting it back.”

Absolution’s lips curled. “I don’t. It is an investment. How many credits do you possess?”

“Some,” Alex replied. “How many do you think this is going to go for? I’m not telling you our capital.”

Absolution considered him for a moment. “The item will likely sell for around 10,000 Credits. Nightmarch will be willing to push that number higher if they believe they can win. Other families may be similarly involved. I do not care if they get it. The final price could get as high as 15,000 Credits. Will 2,500 credits be enough for you to compete with them?”

Alex remained silent. He just looked to Claire.

She shook her head.

“No. Who do you think we are? We’ve only just established ourselves,” Claire said. “We’ll be lucky to push to 10,000. Things take time.”

Absolution sighed. “As expected. Very well. 7,000. Is that enough? I cannot offer much more. You are useless to me beyond this point.”

Claire didn’t reply immediately. She seemed to think for a moment. Then she nodded. “If you’re certain the price for this won’t go past 15,000 and it is as you say it is, then yes. We can ensure we get it at that price. What’s the item?”

“It is known as the Bleeding Crown,” Absolution replied. “Ensure that it does not fall into Nightmarch’s hands.”

“We can do that,” Alex said.

“Then we have a deal.” Absolution rose from his chair and extended his hand. “A truce. Just for the duration of this auction.”

Alex held his gaze for a moment.

Then he reached out and took Absolution’s hand.