Tartarus Beckons by Edmund Batara (reading an ebook .TXT) 📕

time to talk to you about a matter which had been on my mind as of late.”

Tyler nodded, encouraging Tyndur to continue. The man’s pensive countenance was something the mage rarely saw. He knew the einherjar had a profound and even philosophical side, but Tyndur kept it out of sight. Tyndur, the battle-loving warrior, was what he wanted the world to see.

“You remember Akrotiri, sire? The time I joined your company?”

“I do.”

“I joined the company and your quest not only because of Odin’s threat of doing me bodily harm,” chuckled Tyndur as he recalled the memory, “but also because of the possibility of obtaining Elder knowledge to help me in my desire to transcend myself, this shell. Even though I am already an einherjar, with all the qualities and abilities the word meant, I wish to be more than that. Not a deity, I hate those bastards. Oh, and the fighting was an exciting bonus.”

Tyler had to admit he was caught by surprise by the einherjar’s words. He had expected that the sensitive subject would come up sooner or later, but not deep inside a cave plagued with vast numbers of enormous spiders. The young mage knew he had to answer Tyndur truthfully, he owed that much to him. The warrior had proven to be a fearless, loyal, and powerful companion.

But he realized that the truth might just discourage the einherjar and convince Tyndur to find his own way. He was bound by the strongest of oaths to Tyler, but the mage also realized he would grant the einherjar his freedom from the geas, if that’s what Tyndur wanted. All these considerations, and more, quickly passed through Tyler’s mind as he carefully weighed what to say.

“Well, Tyndur, how do we go about this? Remember, what I know now might be inaccurate.”

“I understand, sire,” replied the einherjar, the thoughtful mood still extant.

“You do know the essential part of it – that they were once human like us. But their evolution didn’t come smoothly. Conflict and darkness marked the journey. Even now, the Elders themselves believe that they haven’t reached the apex of what they could achieve,” began Tyler.

Tyndur remained quiet, listening carefully to what the young mage was saying though Tyler knew what the einherjar really wanted to know.

“It is possible for a human to start on the long journey that they have embarked upon, but it comes with one requirement. As to why such a necessity exists, only an Elder could answer that question.”

The mage paused, allowing Tyndur to ask questions. The einherjar remained attentively silent, though he was nodding during specific points of Tyler’s narrative, indicating that what was being said agreed with his suspicions and assumptions.

“But here’s the catch, and I might be wrong, my friend. Only humans who originally don’t have magical energy in their bodies could aspire to venture where they had been. Adar, unfortunately, is a world full of such energy. Such situation negates the possibility of anybody from this world following in their footsteps.”

“Any idea why? By that distinction, only those of the First World qualify,” Tyndur said calmly.

“I have my suspicion, and it centers around the kind of energy the Elders possess. It could be that the presence of normal magic makes it impossible for Elder power to be generated by one from Adar, even with the appropriate knowledge,” replied Tyler. He did know part of the reason why. Hal mentioned it when the mage discovered the artificial intelligence left by the Elders.

Tyndur sighed and let his back rest against the cave wall. The mage could feel the huge disappointment rolling off the warrior. The einherjar’s simple sigh spoke volumes. The two remained quiet for several minutes, and Tyler let the silence continue. Smashing a friend’s hopes and dreams to pieces was not an experience he wanted to repeat. The mage terribly felt guilty about being the source of the einherjar’s distress.

“You’re sure about what you said, sire?” asked Tyndur suddenly.

“Not really, Tyndur. Educated guesses for the most part. I guess matters would be clearer in the future.”

“Something to do with the Elder temples we have visited, I reckon. But they’re so damnably difficult to find.”

“Yes, they are. Though there could be some other Elder ruins around,” replied Tyler. “I find it hard to believe that they limited themselves to building sanctuaries.”

“Old and almost forgotten tales, sire. I had my share of those stories. But what you told me forces me to ask a boon of you,” said Tyndur.

Shit. Here it comes.

“I beg leave to go 0n my own for a while. I intend to explore the locations of such tales, but I will leave knowledge of their locations. Who knows? They might be of help to your quest too. And if I manage to live through the experience, I will come back and share with you what I have learned.”

“When do you intend to leave, Tyndur? You know I can’t refuse you, and I was going to say nice and ego-boosting inanities to go with it, but we both know those are bullshit. You are, and will always be a true friend.”

“That’s all one needs to say, sire, and thank you. Once we leave these mountains, I’ll begin my journey. I won’t be able to go with you to visit Asem, but I’ll find the time to drop by.”

“You know I still have the dokkalfr problem to worry about,” said Tyler lightheartedly.

“If they’re a considerable predicament for you, then I am Kadir’s blood brother. You’ve grown, sire, and I mean not only in power. It would be difficult to find your match among the powers in this world,” commented the einherjar.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I have met beings who were way more powerful than me. Even Rumpr belonged to that select circle.”

“I’ve heard about him from Habrok. The existence of that entity only supports my theory that when it comes to magic, sometimes the innocuous turns out to be the dangerous one in the bunch,” chuckled Tyndur.

“You do have