The secret passage stretched full of curves like a serpent, through the underground of Baron Varkos's mansion. The air was thick and damp, laden with the smell of earth and ancient dust. Rix followed closely behind Kael's silent footsteps, while the Soul Gem rested comfortably in his pouch, swinging and emitting colorful beams that leaked through the pouch's openings, and the tingling he had felt upon touching it persisted, with vibrations in his hand, now increasingly faint, as if the remnants of the gem's energy were fading.
— Good work in there, kid, — Kael whispered, his voice echoing slightly off the stone walls. — You kept your cool under pressure. Not all Novices can handle the Vault's Song, especially a vault of that level.
- Tha... Thank you very much, Kael. I'm happy to have been useful on your mission. - Rix smiled as he walked through the passage, his eyes shining with emotion, and he felt a warmth in his chest from so much happiness. Kael's praise meant a lot. He had always admired the older rogue's skill and composure, and being on the same mission as him and having been useful was something to be emotional about.
Still in the passage, they walked for a few more minutes and reached another path, this one made of more organized and well-maintained stones, probably where there was still some maintenance. However, only one person could pass at a time, so Rix had to go behind. It was cramped, and it seemed to be still a few minutes' walk until the end.
— Sir... what was that sound? I've never heard anything like it. — Rix stretched his head, trying to be seen by Kael while asking.
The rogue smiled, as if remembering himself when he was an initiate. — Ah, the Vault's Song... It's a peculiar contraption of the old Baron's. They say he hired a mad blacksmith and a cursed bard to create it. The metal is a mixture of copper-blue metal and unknown magic, so the vault vibrates at a specific frequency when the locks are improperly manipulated, as a warning to the guards, so to speak. We were very lucky not to have seen them in person, or it would have been much harder to get out of that mansion.
— And that Soul Gem? That's what you called it, right? — Rix leaned forward in the corridor, reaching Kael's ears. His eyes shone with curiosity and eagerness for knowledge. — Why was it there?
Kael stopped for a moment. Further ahead there was a point where the passage widened into a small chamber. He took a small sunflower Lantern he carried from his belt—a glass lantern with a small sunflower inside. He used it to illuminate their tired faces with a yellowish light.
— Soul Gems are rare, Rix, very rare. They are believed to contain fragments of Mör itself. Some say they can grant unimaginable special abilities, while for others they are just objects of great value. That's why Barons and nobles usually collect them, flaunting their power and wealth and ignoring their great power.
— Which is a good thing, to tell you the truth. If the rich who own Soul Gems were interested in using them for their own benefit, they could become powerful kings causing great and bloody wars. — Kael had a worried and frightened look as he imagined the terrible scenes he had described, as if he had never thought about it, and now telling his student, he realized how serious these free Soul Gems were in the world.
'Power and wealth...' - Rix thought, tightening his grip on the pouch and imagining the possibilities.
— We need to inform the Guild Master about this, — Kael continued, his expression now serious and focused. — A Soul Gem isn't something we can just sell on the black market. This could attract a lot of attention, from the Council of Shadows to the Thieves' Guard. And if this gem falls into the wrong hands, it would be catastrophic. — He let his voice rise until it faltered because of the tension, but he quickly recomposed himself so as not to frighten his student.
The mention of the Thieves' Guard sent a chill down Rix's spine. Although they were an organization of rogues themselves, they didn't tolerate heists that disrupted the established order or drew unwanted attention to the community. Stealing an item as valuable as a Soul Gem certainly fell into that category, and they wouldn't want to know if they had good or bad intentions; they would simply judge them as guilty thieves and send them to the Galathys mines.
After a few more minutes of silent walking, the passage opened into a trapdoor hidden beneath a pile of boxes in a dark, poorly lit alley of the City of a Thousand Vaults. Kael was the first to emerge, checking the surroundings before signaling for Rix.
The night was cold and damp, and the air smelled of sewage and distant chimney smoke, which mixed with the heavy dew over the streets. They quickly blended into the shadows, moving with the familiar ease of those who knew the city's secret paths well.
*TOCK.. TOCK.. TOCK.. tOCK*
— Patrol. — Kael whispered, jumping next to Rix, placing a hand on his shoulder for them to duck behind the boxes in the alley.
A city guard passed by. He wore the classic grey web-fabric shirt, with metallic buttons that covered him up to his neck, and a hat in the shape of a paper boat, of the same grey color, but made of rubber-metal.
— Ready, let's go! — Kael started running, sneaking out of the alley as soon as the guard passed them.
In a short time, they reached an abandoned square, where there was a beautiful and large fountain in the center, in the oldest part of the city, where the Silk Fingers Guild kept its hideout. Kael jumped into the fountain and lifted a trapdoor, revealing a small ladder that led to the underground of an old doll repair shop, located in the abandoned commerce area after the Crisis, meters away.
— A doll repair shop, abandoned in the middle of a forgotten commerce area that connects to a lost trapdoor in a deactivated fountain of an abandoned square... Ah, I love this guild. — Rix smiled, finding it funny, thinking with admiration about the level of preparation of the guild he was in. He also laughed out of desperation, thinking that he would have to try even harder from now on.
Upon entering, they were greeted by the curious stares of other rogues, some cleaning their tools, others playing cards at a candlelit table, and the smell of leather and strange herbs filled the air.
— Look who's back, — said a figure sitting in a corner, sharpening a knife with a whetstone. It was Grok, a big and burly man, with a friendly smile hidden between his blond mustache that went down in two long braids past his chin. His right eye is green like a newborn tree leaf, and his left eye is covered by a black eyepatch. Grok is a great specialist in breaching and physical combat, known for his brute strength and explosive temper. — Did the Novice survive the Vault's Song?
Kael nodded. — He didn't just survive, Grok, he brought us a special gift. — Kael smiled playfully at Rix.
All eyes turned to the young man, who felt a little uncomfortable with so much attention.
— Hi everyone, I haven't had time to meet you yet, nice to meet you, my name is Rix. — He waved his hand at face level, a little unsure of what to do next.
Most nodded their heads, as a welcoming response to him.
'Did they not hear me...?'
— Woooooow, welcome, kid. — Grok ran to Rix and lifted him with extreme ease, while giving a huge smile. — Welcome!
They followed Kael to a more private room, where Master Silas, the leader of the Silk Fingers Guild, was waiting for them.
Silas was a thin man, with long white hair tied in a bun at the back of his head, and an extensive beard that merged with his long, straight mustache, both white. His eyes were calm yet piercing, scintillating grey that seemed to see through people. He was sitting behind a massive wooden table, made of dark oak, examining some parchments by the light of a single candle.
— Kael, Rix, — Silas said, his voice calm and welcoming. — I heard about the heist. The Vault's Song usually scares off the inexperienced.
— He did very well, Master, — Kael replied, with a tone of respect and admiration. — And we found something... unexpected.
Kael turned his gaze to the young man...
*TICK*
*TACK*
— Ah, Ah yes. — Rix hesitated, forgetting that the Soul Gem was with him. Then he quickly reached into his pouch and felt the tingling again, but ignored it for now and placed it on the table promptly, embarrassed about the delay while his masters were watching.
The light was strong, with pulsating blue and green beams from the gem, which illuminated Silas's face, making his eyes widen slightly, surprised by such beauty.
— A Soul Gem... — he murmured, picking up the gem carefully and examining it closely, while blending reflections between shades of green and blue on his face. — Baron Varkos really did possess one. The stories were true.
A tense silence settled in the room. Everyone knew the importance of such an item and wanted to see the guild master's opinion on the matter.
— Rix, did you find it? — Silas asked, his eyes fixed on the young rogue's.
Rix nodded, keeping a serious gaze. — Yes, Master, it was in the center of the vault.
Silas remained silent for a long moment, pondering, and then placed the Soul Gem back on the table and looked at Kael.
— Kael, summon the most trusted members of the guild. We need to discuss what to do with this. Rix, you will stay. There's much we need to talk about.