11.
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Alaric rode his horse through the barren lands towards the large mists, he thought had been Versus. The bald man he had knocked out had laid limply in front of him.
You'd better be right about this.
When have I ever been wrong?
Shut up.
Now that is not the attitude to have with the person that saved your life.
Shut up. You only saved me because you need me.
Foolish boy, you assume I need you.
If I find nothing of interest, I am tossing myself off of Versus.
You are a coward, there is no way you'd do such a thing.
Shut up.
Regardless, you are sure to find some interesting things. You wouldn't be here if you weren't the least bit as curious as I was when I first came here.
I am nothing like you.
Why are you here then?
Shut up.
Masked men on horseback shadowed Alaric. They drew their crossbows and fired at Alaric. Alaric stared at them. His eyes shone a bright purple. The crossbow bolts suddenly decreased speed and moved through the air as if in slow motion. Alaric caught the bolts as they got close to him and tossed them off to the side. The masked men looked between each other.
Alaric looked forward. Black fins protruded out of the dirt. Dozens of them.
Nixum.
That makes it easier then.
The nixum hopped out of the dirt. They seemed to respond to Alaric's purple gaze and moved past him. The masked men seemed to turn around and sped the opposite way.
How'd you do that?
Some of us have to keep our secrets. You are an expert in that field as well.
Shut up.
Alaric reached his destination. He lifted the bald man over his shoulder. He slowly stepped onto the bridge.
Don't slip and fall now.
Alaric carefully walked across the bridge. Halfway across the bridge, a loud sharp sound rang in his head.
Slavio is still at it. It seems.
Slavio?
You will find out soon.
Alaric withstood the sound as he crossed the bridge. Alaric froze at what waited for him. The sound in his head calmed down. It was replaced with faint whispers in his head.
What is happening?
The large serpent hadn't hissed, instead, it brought its gigantic head towards Alaric.
This is strange.
Alaric put a hand on the serpent's head and rubbed it.
Alaric felt a prick on his skin and fell unconscious.
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Alaric woke up to a startle. The world began spinning. It took a few moments to get his bearings and analyse the situation. First, he saw a few dozen people staring at him from a platform carved into some sort of rock face. The people had all been bald with black symbols scattered across their heads. They all wore patchwork robes. There had been a mix of men and women and a few children. They all looked at him with cold expressions. He heard a creaking to his left and glanced at it. A similar cage had hung to the left of him, the bald man they had captured sat within it. A scowl could be found on his face. The group of people made way for an old shorter man to take the foreground. The man's skin had been extremely wrinkled. He had looked closer to death than actually being alive. The man opened his mouth and began to speak. His voice sounded in a sharp shrill.
"What has brought you to the Mountains of Versus?" He asked.
Alaric was shocked. "You speak the language, good."
"Answer the question, trespasser."
"You locked me up, I am the one who needs to ask the questions."
"You are in no position to talk back, child." The old man pointed to the metal spike that currently held Alaric's life. "We can end you whenever we'd like."
N'gata, still the old bastard.
"As you can see, I have come to return something that belongs here." Alaric motioned to the man in the adjacent cage.
The old man yelled at the other man in a different language. He had been furious. He turned to Alaric.
"Yes, I have to thank you for bringing my foolish great-grandson back."
"Can you let me go now?" Alaric asked.
The old man laughed. The others looked at him with confusion.
"You are a fool, you knowingly came to Versus despite its reputation. You cannot leave without getting cursed."
Alaric sighed. "Before you curse me, can you at least explain what happens here?"
"Of course." The old man began explaining the history of Versus. "Our people are known as the Nitio, record keepers of the history of Hominus. Versus was a haven for our people during the Nixum invasion thousands of years ago. Like all other races, we were seeking a safe place as we waited for the Great Heinzidal to eradicate the threat of the nixum."
"One day right before the great battle that shaped our land, Great Heinzidal visited Versus. He gave the Nitio an expectation of sorts. He predicted the happenings of the battle that was to follow." "Like everything, the Nitio recorded his prediction. And as it happened the battle ensued exactly as Heinzidal predicted. However, that was not the only reason Heinzidal came to Versus. Heinzidal instructed us that we should protect the ancient history and that no one should ever uncover what truly occurred in ages past. He left us with his companion, Slavio. Who protects us from invaders"
"Let me get this straight, the Nitio lives within these mountains in secrecy, protecting the ancient history of the world. Who are you and what happens when someone invades Versus?" Alaric asked.
"I am N'gata, the chieftain of the Nitio." "Those that enter Versus are cursed. The ability to speak is a dangerous one."
"Certainly." Alaric gulped.
"We are bound by our duty."
"What about those who mistakenly enter Versus?"
"We do not make any exceptions."
N'gata began to chant before he halted and grabbed his head as if he was in agony. The other Nitio looked at him with concern. Alaric heard the faint whispers in his head once again. N'gata yelled in a different language. The only word that sounded familiar to Alaric had been 'Slavio'.
N'gata calmed down and glared at Alaric. "It seems the great serpent says cursing you is against Heinzidal's will."
"Heinzidal's will?" Alaric asked.
N'gata shrugged. "I am as confused as you are. The great serpent has never intervened ever." "But that does not matter, we shall soon witness your death."
"You're going to kill me?"
"Execute you, yes. The Nitio cannot have another one of you running around."
"Another?"
N'gata calm demeanour turned sour. "A few years back, the Nitio failed at protecting history. A man infiltrated Versus and had a glimpse at the ancient text. We, Nitio, despise that man. He represents our greatest failure."
"You specifically mentioned 'another one of me', what did you mean by that?"
"That man had been your father, Jerial the Merciless."
Just great.
"We shall see to your execution, at the brightest light.”
The Nitio slowly departed the platform.
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