City of Fallen Souls: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 3) by Jez Cajiao (fb2 epub reader .txt) 📕

“I…” I grimaced. I didn’t like the idea of people looking at me like that, given that a few months ago, I had been working in a bar… but…

“What about the gangs, though? He’s already crossed the Harpies and the Skyking,” Mal asked Nerin.

“So, you said you were going to pull them here with an offer to let them submit fighters to punish him. You told them that you’d captured him and were going to use him in a series of fights, along with his friends. Do that still. Say that he’s a Legionnaire and say that he came to you to try to bribe you for safety. Tell the gang leaders they have to pay a fee, or they go last in the fight. That way you get gold, and it matches your reputation as a greedy son of a bitch, as well as giving you a reason to spread the fights out over a few days.”

“I already told them it was going to last a few days.”

“Well, say you captured more of them, then. Or not; I don’t care! I just want this dealt with, so I can go back to my shop before the damn nails in the walls have been stripped out!” she snapped at Mal. Still fuming, she turned and glared at me. “And I’ve still not been paid, lordling! Two hundred gold, and the truth of what that… thing… was!”

“I’ll pay that happily… if you’ll consider joining us?” I asked her, and she frowned.

“I’ve already helped you, boy. If word gets out, it’ll be my head on a pike alongside yours. Nobles don’t care if I helped by choice or not.”

“I mean in the Great Tower,” I clarified. “We need a real healer. I’ve got two novices who are helping as they can, but you? You’re gifted, and you know what you’re doing.”

“I’m also old enough to know just how much work that would be! I have a shop and a good thing going here. Nobody in the city messes with a healer, and most of the nobles don’t know I exist. I want it to stay that way, so make sure you don’t get caught.” she snapped, then sighed. “Ten years ago, I’d have jumped at the chance. Now, all I own is tied up in that shop. I can’t leave it. Not even for you, lordling.” She shook her head regretfully.

“At least consider it, okay?” I asked her. “And for the next few days, help us out here, heal our injuries, and I’ll make it worth your while.”

“I’ll think about it! Now that creature… gimme!” she said, gesturing impatiently.

“I don’t know much beyond a name, and a few scattered memories,” I admitted, forcing myself to sit upright again. “They were called the Valspar, and Emperor Amon hated them with a passion. They’re a form of parasite that was supposed to be wiped out. They exist in the space between the living and the dead, and they’re a bastard to kill. Somehow, one got into me, and they’re powerful enough, or sneaky enough, that they completely hid from me, from Oracle, and hell, even from Jenae.”

“This is true.” Jenae’s voice echoed around the room, causing everyone to flinch. “The Valspar are an ancient race, evil beyond what you can imagine. They hid from me when I examined Jax, but they would not have been able to hide, had I used a more… specialized examination. There are spells that can detect and eliminate them, though they were thought long lost from the world. I will not have these creatures return, and as such, will aid you in the retrieval of the needed Spellbooks, Jax.”

“Thank you, Jenae,” I said, bowing my head and smiling. “I know you helped Nerin to heal me, so thanks for that, too.”

“You’re welcome… although that was the boon that I promised you. I don’t care that you didn’t ask me to use it; you needed it.”

I froze in the act of opening my mouth to complain, and instead shrugged. Easy come, easy go… 

“Well… thank you again.” I scanned the room, mildly amused at the expressions of shock and awe that filled every face. “Oh, and yes, people, that’s the voice of the Goddess Jenae, Mistress of Fire and Hidden Knowledge.”

“Goddess…” Nerin whispered, sliding to one knee and bowing her head.

“Yes, child, I am here, and yes, I aided you in healing him. The strain was too much for you, as Light-aligned as you are, so you succumbed to shock. I apologize for that.”

“I… he… he’s truly your champion? Does this mean… are the Gods returning to us?” Nerin whispered, and I lifted an eyebrow at the ceiling, waiting for Jenae's response.

“Yes, child, we are awakening again, and we will be here to help the realm. However… we have been weakened by our long sleep, and we must build our strength before we show ourselves fully. Circumstances overrode this, but I will have each and every one of you swear on your Soul, to me, that you will not speak of our return, except to aid us.”

I grinned as I caught the confusion and caution on everyone’s faces.

“Look, people, it’s like this,” I said. “The Goddess Jenae isn’t the only Goddess out there, and she and her family need our help. We need to spread word of their return, but not yet, as it’ll start a war between the Gods. We need to help them recover their strength first. You can choose which God or Goddess to follow, based on your own choices and tastes, but you cannot spread the word of them, not yet.” I forced myself to stand and looked around the room. “For now, you can follow any God or Goddess, or none, but you cannot tell others who are not sworn to me.”

“You mean, we have to swear to you?” Soween asked, irritation clouding her voice.

“No.” I replied, shaking my head. “You don’t have to. You can help me just as you’ve sworn to, and then