“Wait!” Jacob shouts. “If she hasn’t failed—”

  “She failed to lead. She failed to not be selfish. She’s after a vendetta against this world, Jacob Cloud. You cannot save her. My master reminded me of the importance of not being cruel. Let me kill her for you. Without her, your chances of besting the Dark Champions will be significantly increased.”

  “Sir,” Jacob says. “Please, don’t.”

  The Mithril Golem sweeps the chamber with his gaze, resting on the cocoon containing Nimirea, “explain me, Jacob Cloud, what is it that you think you’re doing? Why save a sworn enemy, a nemesis?”

  “What’s your name?” Jacob asks. “I’d like to know how to address you if we’re to talk about this.”

  “Liuthkrav,” the Mithril Golem says. “You might have to call me Brother Liuthkrav or Senior Brother Liuthkrav—this is how my master would have wanted you to address me after passing this Trial.”

  “Part of the reason I was able to figure out the Trial itself, Senior Brother Liuthkrav, is because of her.”

  “Explain yourself,” the Mithril Golem says, with blazing embers flying in spirals around him.

  “Nimirea is most definitely evil right now. But, she’s also a terrific warrior. I would like to try and bring her to my side.”

  “In my experience, even if you told her that you saved her life, she wouldn’t want to have anything to do with you. An ungrateful dog will bite the hand that feeds it, Junior Brother Cloud.”

  Jacob nods slowly, trying to find the right words to convince the Golem. He knows, deep down, that killing Nimirea is a good argument. Yet, his own intuition tells him that it’s also the wrong move.

  “Senior Brother Liuthkrav, may I make an oath with you to show you how serious I am?”

  Liuthkrav, the Mithril Golem, cocks an eyebrow.

  “Go ahead.”

  “I swear on my life that if the day were to come where killing her would immediately spare an innocent, I will do so. I swear that I will do my best and my worst to bring her, and all the Dark Champions, on our side. I swear that, if needed, I’ll give my life in pursuit of the success of this endeavor.”

  The statuary figure stays silent for several moments, leading Jacob to believe that he’s about to be refused his oath. But then, Jacob feels a great power bursting forth from Liuthkrav, with the Mithril surface of his now fellow brother under Master Rafnov igniting with white fire.

  “You shall be granted such an oath, Junior Brother Cloud. You show promise that I’ve rarely—if ever—seen. But know that you walk a perilous path. Having a righteous heart has rarely led to a long, happy life. You’re in for betrayal, suffering, and much more pain and hardships than you could ever even imagine.”

  “I shall take it,” Jacob says.

  “Then, I seal this oath and I’ll be a witness to it,” Liuthkrav draws fiery symbols in the air and Jacob feels a momentary tightness in his chest that dispels moments later.

  * * *

  “Admit that you knew it was all a trick, lad,” Boomgar says, sitting at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the throne. “Come on.”

  They’re back in the throne room from before, just with less clutter. The places were the key had been supposedly hidden have been cleared out and now the regality of the place has been restored.

  “As he said,” Jacob replies, pointing at the Mithril Golem, Liuthkrav, “I couldn’t have known. The Trial, by design, obscures such an information—even the remote possibility of it.”

  “Tsk,” Boomgar shakes his head. “Bunch of excuses.”

  “You’re jealous that you weren’t the one ending with three drops of Star Metal, Boomgar,” Zibrek sighs.

  Nimirea, from the side, alone, without Filr’etk or Narfikara, looks at the two friends of Jacob bickering with each other. Suddenly, she feels an itch in the back of her head and she turns to see the Leader of Champions smirking at him.

  “I asked the big guy if we could have dinner here before he sends us back,” he smiles. “I hope you won’t mind I took the initiative.”

  Nimirea’s lips become a thin line as she feels the strong urge to strangle him, but then she relaxes her shoulders, her face, everything, and nods.

  “I look forward to hearing what you’ll have to say. I imagine you’ll have a lot you’ll want to convince me of, just like last time.”

  “They’re so ending up together,” Boomgar says from the side. “Maybe you should lend them some of your sick fantasies. Tell them a couple, so they can get some ideas on how to spend the time here.”

  The click of a revolver getting ready to fire resounds in the chamber and Boomgar helplessly raises his hands.

  “Now, for the reward,” the Mithril Golem says. “These are for you two.”

  Zibrek and Boomgar turn toward the Mithril Golem, who hands them each an obsidian box. They both receive it and open it almost instantly.

  A rich scent of metal comes from it and a single tear-shaped drop of deep blue metal slowly floats out of the container.

  “The way you activate Star Metal is very simple,” the Mithril Golem explains, “you’ll have to think of what aspect of your body, magic, or Skills you’d like enhanced. It shouldn’t be too wide or too narrow, otherwise, you’d lose part of the effect.”

  Boomgar and Zibrek look at each other for a moment and then each closes their eyes and touches the globe of Star Metal. The metal slowly envelopes their fingers, then, as if it is able to stretch, slowly covers their arms.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “Do not panic. This is the normal process.”

  It covers all their bodies below the neck and, soon after, sinks deep into their skin. After about a minute or so, it’s completely absorbed.

  “This…” Zibrek is speechless, but her aura suddenly explodes forth, making Jacob take a step back.

  Boomgar’s aura, too, feels completely different.

  “Incredible,” Boomgar whispers.

  Before they can say anything else, the Mithril Golem says, “with this, I bid you farewell. You two performed exceptionally well in King Lavrev’s trial. Be proud of it.”

  The next moment, Boomgar and Zibrek suddenly disappear.

  “Jacob Cloud—”

  “I’d like to take mine after the dinner, if possible. She can probably see what I’m going to use it for otherwise.”

  “I’ll know anyway,” Nimirea frowns. “You—”

  “You won’t know the details,” Jacob smiles back. “So, could we get a nice setting going?”

  The Mithril Golem sighs and nods. With one clap of his hands, the throne room slowly transforms as if a blanket was lifted and the real throne room had just appeared.

  Suddenly, large crystal chandeliers illuminate the place, sending their light everywhere. A thick velvet carpet appears beneath Jacob’s and Nimirea’s feet.

  Jacob feels the effect extending to him and, when he looks down, he finds himself in a set of luxurious, fancy clothes that have the same color of the Star Metal.

  The Mithril Golem secretly winks at him and then says with a dignified voice, “a dinner in this hall should be conducted with the proper attire.”

  Jacob turns and does a double take when he sees Nimirea out of her fighting, spartan clothes and wearing a long, red dress with violet reflections when the light hits it at an angle. It has a slim gown that hugs her long legs and opens on her back.

  “Wow,” Jacob says, unable to say anything else.

  Nimirea looks down at her dress and, for a moment, Jacob can see an almost sad smile blossoming on her face. Then, the lines on her face harden and she scoffs.

  “Whatever.”

  Jacob finds a table for two with several candles and a few entrées on it.

  They both sit a little awkwardly at the table, feeling very conscious about the giant Mithril-made man looking at them.

  “It’s time for me to leave. Whenever you are done, ring that bell on the table. Food will be served automatically. And if you wondered, I won’t be looking at you two. Just… don’t disrespect the place.”

  “What?” Jacob frowns. “What do you mean?”

  “We won’t,” Nimirea says, piqued.

  The Mithril Golem disappears but Jacob is still confused.

  “Disrespcet how? Fighting?”

  “Yes,” Nimirea says. “Anyway, why did you want to have dinner with me? Do you know I have an almost bottomless reserve of poisons that would instantly end your life?”

  “First, I could tell with the Grimoire if you poisoned the food. Second, you’re not going to kill me like that. You said it. You need the right moment. Would you mind telling me what that is, for example?”

  “You expect me to reveal my secrets?” Nimirea laughs. “Are you that naive, Jacob?”

  “I still managed to beat you, so… not that naive.”

  Nimirea picks up a little cracker with fish eggs on it and pops it in her mouth, chewing harshly.

  “You mentioned Karma before. So, you need some specific… how should I call it? Coincidence? No. Let me think… Alignment. You need conditions to align. That much is clear. Can’t you tell me anything else?”

  “You’re so weird,” Nimirea says. “We’re talking about what I’d do in the event of your death.”

  “How, to be precise,” Jacob replies. “How you’d do something in the event of my death.”

  “And how is that any different?” Nimirea frowns. “You’ll still be dead.”

  “I just like when things make sense. Anyway, if you’re not going to tell me that. How about you tell me what’s it going to cost you for you and the Dark Champions to switch sides?”

  “This again?” Nimirea shakes her head and for a few moments, they both eat in silence. “Listen, you won,” she says, “so, I’ll give you a very simple answer.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  “You can’t do anything for us, Jacob. We took power, and we’ll eventually have to give something back. Our loyalty rests with Asmodeus forever.”

  “I’ll fix that,” Jacob says, waving his hand.

  “You can’t say that,” Nimirea says, shattering an entree with her hand. “You can’t say that.”

  “Perhaps I shouldn’t,” he says, looking at the ceiling, lost in some calculations. “But can’t? I keep winning, Nimirea. And even though I’m sure I might lose one or two battles, I’ll win this war. I’ll destroy Asmodeus and kill him for good.”

  The candles tremble and the light almost goes out when Jacob says that.

  “Why would you want to mess with such powers, Jacob? Why not give up and go somewhere else, somewhere remote? You’re already strong enough to be a king in some backwater country. You don’t need to do this.”

  “I’m too young for now,” Jacob says with a smile. “But, I’ll think about retiring when I’m done killing Evil Gods, that’s for sure. You could retire with me, too.”

  Nimirea just stares at Jacob.

  “Look, bottom line is,” Jacob says, “could you, theoretically speaking, switch sides without dying?”

  “Sure,” Nimirea scoffs. “But I’d pay a price you can’t even imagine.”

  “How bad?” Jacob says. “Just tell me how bad.”

  “Jacob,” Nimirea narrows her eyes. “I’m not saying I would switch sides. I’m just satisfying your sick curiosity.”

  “Then go ahead and tell me.”

  “It’s hard to quantify or qualify,” Nimirea says slowly, looking away. “Asmodeus gives a lot to those he deems worthy. It’s like the Mad God and his Apostles. Yet, to walk away from him? I don’t even know what that would look like. Our souls? Our powers? Our mind? I don’t know what we’d have to leave behind. No one has tried before—for a reason.”

  “He has an indefinite grasp on you, then,” Jacob says, scratching his chin. “I’ll ask around.”

  “I doubt anyone could give you an answer, Jacob,” Nimirea says, looking straight at him.

  “Oh, don’t you worry. I know a guy.”

  “Sure,” Nimirea says, looking at the food with a complicated expression.

  “Anyway!” Jacob claps his hands so loud he startles her.

  “What was that about?!” She says, frowning.

  “Let’s change topic. Do you guys go to school? Like, do you have lessons?”

  And so, Jacob and Nimirea kept talking about less serious things, sharing a few laughs, some moments of sadness, and a surprising mutual understanding.

  * * *

  After sending her away, the Liuthkrav turns to Jacob.

  “Your resolve is similar to my master’s, Jacob Cloud. But you have still much to prove.”

  “I know,” Jacob says, patting his full belly. “But don’t you worry. So, what about the reward?”

  The Mithril Golem smiles at him and says, “actually, I have a surprise for you.”

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