…Huh?

  ‘What did he mean it happened 50 years ago? I wasn't that deep underground…’ Valeria didn't know what she should do with this information. It didn't make any sense to her.

  Of course, her memory was still lacking some parts but how is it possible to disappear upon contact with that light and wake up 50 years later in the area she was in. She needed more information, she couldn't work with so little.

  'I should stop. I can't do anything about it right now so I should just rest a bit.’

  She closed her eyes and rested her head against the wall of the ship. 'Never thought I would be this helpless’ It was true that she was without a weapon but Edrick was way stronger than her. He threw her to the ground the moment she tried standing up.

  One thing she couldn't help wondering is why she was still alive. She knew about the laws regarding souls. Edrick should have killed her right then and there, so why didn't he?

  ‘Another question I can't answer, only guess. Maybe it has something to do with me being a Knight?’

  The corners of her lip couldn't help but twitch as she remembered the perplexed look on his face as he tried to bind her arms and legs. The knot either undid itself or the rope tore apart suddenly, as if they refused to do their job. That's why she was here, in a cell in the belly of the ship. All alone and with enough time to think that she used to go through her memories.

  “Smart idea. It will help you in the long run if you understand who you truly are.”

  Valeria opened her eyes and looked around. Still nothing to see but the voice was back.

  “Stop trying, it will save us both some time that you can use in another way.”

  “Then, who exactly are you? I can already guess that you should be a Creator based on what Edrick told me but there is more to all of this Knight bullshit, or not?”

  “And you are right to assume so. I will not tell you. You already know and will remember it one day. Regarding the ‘Knight bullshit', it depends on what you mean exactly but Knights are in essence our representatives in Ephemera. You do what we want you to and protect our interests and if you aren't needed you are free to do what you want as long as it doesn't go against us.”

  She thought about what it just told her. The implications of its words aren't something she wants to imagine right now but it gave her a few ideas. “So, a Creator can make an army of people doing exactly what they want? And if they aren't needed we humans would have to deal with powerhouses using god granted powers?”

  It sounded like it laughed at that. “We aren't so careless that we would create an army that destroys what we created. Everything regarding Knights is regulated by an agreement between us Creators. The exact powers they gain is depending on the Creator, yes, but to make it easier for ourselves we agreed to a few special privileges granted to our Knights. An example of those would be that we stop their aging. No Knight grows physically older than he already is or wants to be. That is also why we restricted the amount of Knights that are allowed. No more than four Knights per Creator.”

  Val raised an eyebrow at that, it sounded like way too little for whatever they are needed for.

  “I know what you're thinking and believe me, it is better like this. Less Knights means we have to prioritize where we send them and the rest will have to be taken care of by humanity themselves. Knights aren't meant to do our job and take care of every little problem that arises. Their job is to tackle the problems none of you should have to deal with, the problems that you can't deal with because they require divine intervention. I will end our talk here, that was enough for now.”

  The voice disappeared again, leaving her alone with her own thoughts.

  Some questions were answered but so many are still only guess work. ‘No point thinking about them. I should just use this time for something else.’

  Valeria sat down in the center of her cell, eyes closed and her hands rested on her legs. A deep breath in, held for a moment and out again. This exercise helped her relax and concentrate. She couldn't let herself be distracted by her situation or the swaying of the ship as it glided over the water.

  The waves hitting the hull of the boat, the groans of the wooden planks and her rhythmic breathing were all she perceived. Just sitting there, listening to the symphony of silence and concentrating. It was there after all and would show itself if she was patient enough.

  Meditating was the way, so it was taught to her. It wouldn't answer your call just because you wanted it nor would It listen if you became desperate and your emotions leaked through. It would fight you if you forced It and It had friends that would help, you were alone.

  Be gentle and inviting, never forceful and rough. Show patience and create an environment It feels safe in. Be accepting and thankful instead of demanding and arrogant.

  It would never show itself to those that want to impose their will on It, that tried to control and order It. It fought with those that dared to threaten It and would kill all who harm It.

  Valeria recalled all the teachings about it. It was always described as easily scared but with a strong will, a pacifist but also a murderer, stubborn but understanding, indecisive but single-minded. Every personality trait you would give to It had another trait that countered it.

  Humanity already lived with It since the time the Creators were still around but they still failed to understand all of It. The knowledge gained was much but there was still so much more. Every time they thought they knew everything It let them know just how wrong they were. No one would go around and proudly say they knew all there is to It because just as fast everyone would laugh at them.

  Even though It still is a mystery to this day humanity found ways to use It. It wasn't physically present or had any effect on things in the metaphysical plane but humanity's curiosity never stopped them. They learned how to treat It, to ask for Its help and listened to the words It whispered back.

  Valeria could feel it now.

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  Everywhere around her small particles in the air made themselves known. They radiated warmth like a mother's embrace but were shy and would hide themselves again if she was rushing this. Val was patient, she continued with her breathing exercise and calmed herself. It wouldn't do if she ruined it now, she has the time afterall.

  Time flew as the particles crept closer, grew more numerous and became relaxed. She wouldn't hurt them, It knew this and It started thrusting her. The first particle made contact with her skin, it just sat there waiting for something. More came closer and rested on her body, they started having trouble finding space for themselves.

  Valeria smiled. She had done it, finally. It trusted her and would help her, she just needed to ask–

  Someone walked to her cell, the sound of leather boots hitting the ground echoed through the area, growing louder as it came closer.

  They were startled and dispersed, running away and hiding again. It wouldn't answer any questions now, Val was sure of this.

  She opened her eyes, angry and frustrated because of how close she came to her dream. She stood and leaned with her back against the wall, arms crossed and waiting to see who interrupted her.

  Edrick stopped in front of her cell and looked her in the eyes. He took the key from his belt and opened the door. “I won't detain you any longer, Valeria, but unless you want to swim through the Siluvan River by yourself you and I will have to get along on this ship.”

  She stared at him. “What do you mean? Didn't you want to keep me here until you knew more?”

  Edrick shook his head. “That was the plan but the god I serve gave us an oracle. You aren't to be hunted down or killed unless your actions make it necessary that you are disposed of. I do not know why but orders are to be followed.”

  He stepped aside and started walking away. Valeria was finding this suspicious but followed shortly after him. “What do we do now exactly, Edrick? Just forgetting it and doing as if nothing happened until we are back on land?”

  Without stopping or turning around he answered. “If you want me to apologize then you can forget about it. You have your memories back, you know the rules about souls and awaits the ones who mess with them. I will not apologize for something you would have done yourself.”

  Valeria couldn't argue with that. She would have done the same in any normal situation, yes, but if a resurrected person was in front of her? She doubted she could just kill them regardless of what the gods expected from her.

  Edrick continued. “This ship will continue following the Siluvan River until the City of Maro, the Adventurer Capital. That's where we will go separate ways but until then you and I will have to get along. The ship wouldn't survive a fight between two Knights.”

  “That's something I wanted to ask about. You identified me as a Knight but how did you do that? And was it you that healed the wounds in my hands?”

  He stopped and turned to her, his eyes narrowed. “You still can't remember anything about the pact? That's strange… Anyway, every Knight has a power granted by their Creator, you remember? This power has a faint trace clinging to it that you can only find if you know what it feels like and had contact with your own. Only a Knight can detect another Knight with absolute certainty, a saint might be able to if they train for it but will fail more often than not. And yes, I healed you while you were unconscious.”

  Valeria looked at her hands, the wounds from digging herself free were nowhere to be seen. “I don't wanna be ungrateful so thank you for doing that. So, you are also a Knight? Which one or is this some secret that we aren't supposed to share?”

  He resumed walking. “It isn't really a secret but us Knights started introducing ourselves with a nickname or title the common people gave us. If you knew the exact title your god gave you, you would know why we at most tell each other only the Creator we serve.”

  Edrick turned around to face her. “Let me introduce myself properly.” His left hand rested on the hilt of his rapier and his right was clenched into a fist and held in front of his chest. “I'm Sir Edrick von Carlstein, Knight of Life in service of the Goddess Meltrismara and known as ‘the Immortal Knight’. Even though we had a rough start I hope we won't be enemies anytime soon, my fellow Knight, Valeria.”

  Valeria was speechless for a moment. “Yes… I hope so too.” They reached the stairs to leave the inside of the ship. “I also understand now why you said that Knights don't introduce themselves with their god given title. It gives away too much about our ability, right? Wait, does that mean…?”

  Edrick nodded, his gaze turned grave. “Yes, Knights are the ones who are called if the Creators deem one of us a danger to everyone else. Technically we are always a danger but only if a Knight goes too far are we hunting them and even then it most of the time isn't a Knight from another god.”

  Valeria stopped for a moment, startled by this revelation. ‘This would mean that the ones serving the same god are the most likely to kill each other…’ The thought let a chill run down her spine. “Being a Knight doesn't sound so cool anymore.”

  Edrick laughed at that. “You are right but it isn't as bad as it sounds. Thank your luck that you are only a normal Knight and not a Commander because only the Knight Commanders are sent to kill another Knight.”

  “A Knight Commander? I thought there were only four Knights?”

  “Aye, only four Knights per Creator. Three normal ones and the last is the Commander.”

  They stepped outside and Valeria had to shield her eyes to not be blinded by the sunlight. The deck of the ship was full of activity, sailors running around, cleaning the deck or transporting small cargo. Some were refilling the cannons others clinging the masts to open and close the sails.

  Valeria followed Edrick as they walked around, avoiding the sailors to not disturb them.

  “Knight Commanders have more responsibilities but also more strength than Knights.” Edrick continued his explanation. “They have to keep the Knights under them in check, take on the most dangerous problems and are more closely observed by the Creators. In exchange they get all powers the other three Knights get and while normal Knights aren't able to override a saint's order the Knight Commanders can and will if necessary. I also forgot to mention that all Knights and Knight Commanders can hear the gods talking to them without any problems and have more clarity if they try to listen to another god.”

  Valeria nodded, that sounded like a reasonable trade-off for the Commanders. “Wait, you said all the powers the three Knights received. I thought they all would get the same power.”

  Edrick shook his head. “Common misunderstanding. The Creators aren't like the other gods. They all have more responsibility and are taking care of more things than the others. That's why each Knight gains a different power and there can never be two of the same. A Knight Commander and a Knight of Life can have the same ability but there can never be two Knights of Life at the same time. And this is something you will learn later but Knight Commanders are allowed to give us orders and those are only overwritten by the Creators themselves.”

  “What about other Knight Commanders and Creators? Can they order the Knights of the others around?”

  Edrick paused to think before shaking his head. “I do not know. Since I became a Knight such a situation never really happened. I think only a Creator can answer this question.”

  They reached the front of the ship and looked over the railing. The crystal clear water of the Siluvan River glittered in the sunlight, flocks of birds flew at the sky and called for each other. At the horizon a city made itself known, its walls rose high and protected the people from the inhabitants of the forest surrounding them to the north. A few ships were seen anchoring in the harbor.

  “We will reach Maro tomorrow morning and I will accompany you until you find a place to stay and some new clothes and a weapon. Afterwards I will leave as I have something to take care of. If you want to ask anything, do it while we still have the time.”

  So many questions and so many answers, Valeria didn't know where to start but she had enough time and even though it still felt strange she was honestly excited to see how all of this new life she now has will play out.

  'The Adventurer Capital, huh? Let's see how much things have changed since then.’