A heavily armored individual stepped into the audience chamber. The baroque armor concealed most features, but could not hide their clearly Rodencian heritage. The figure approached a stairway that led up to an elegant chair where an male harpy was seated. Aside him stood a harem of five females, all of whom set their gazes upon this new guest.

With eyes glowing like illuminated gems one of the Harpies beside their consort, a pale feathered bird of a harpy, stared inquisitively at their visitor.

"It is rare for a Lorekeeper to request an audience with Dion, and rarer still for our Highness to grant such an audience to those who do not reveal their motives. Even if it is something common of a Lorekeeper. I expect that you have the courtesy to at least provide your name and reason for being here?"

"You may address me as Amadeus. I am, as you stated, a Lorekeeper and I assure you that my purpose here brings no ill intent. I have merely come to update our archives on Rizkus."

His brow furrowed lightly as he spoke his next words. "Specifically, your Royal Guards."

He raised off his knees as collected as when he had originally entered even if he could feel the overwhelming weight of the white harpy's stare upon him. Beside her, Dion leaned against the arm of his chair.

"What is it you wish to ask? I would like to cordially remind you that we will not divulge the secrets of Rizkus just because you are polite. We are happy to work with other races, but our nation's security is something we take quite seriously."

Amadeus carefully withdrew a binded collection of parchment hanging from his armor, and produced an item with which to scribe.

"Word has reached Rodencia that the Royal Guard, Cressia, has died in battle. Before her demise she was considered a potential candidate to be included in a book on 'The Nine Blades of Nova'. Her passing has required us to update the standings within the Royal Guard which is, of course, why I am here before you."

Dion's face told of a sudden transition from solemn to grim. Another harpy stepped out beside him almost immediately with an expression and aura of rage apparent from the embers floating around her.

"How dare you talk about Cressia like that! She wasn't just a name to be jotted down in your book, she was a beloved and beautiful woman of our people! I should burn both you and that stupid book to ashes!"

Dion motioned a hand out in front of his angry cohort, informing her to stand down, "Still yourself, Desira! Nova has suffered enough warring already and I do not wish more conflict because of a simple misunderstanding. However, this is a very delicate and painful subject for all of us, I implore you to speak your questions and then be on your way."

Amadeus kept his composure, to his credit, as he spoke.

"I did not mean to offend any present company, Lord Dion. Were it up to me, I would have waited until this incident was resolved wholly before asking such a bold question. It is unfortunate that Lorekeeper protocol is so clear and strict about how information is gathered. Such it is that we have reason to believe that with Cressia's passing, Royal Advisor Debora is now Rizkus' most capable Royal Guard."

His question and the one after it were clearly articulated with care and attention to detail for fear of sending the situation out of control.

"The Lorekeepers only wished to know if this information is accurate? If you find yourselves unwilling to confirm, for whatever reason, I will not press the issue any further."

The room sat silent for a period that seemed a stone's throw away from eternity. Dion propped his head looking back and forth at Amadeus and his own companions for several minutes. Dion was normally quite guarded about his emotions, but even Amadeus could see the ongoing struggle in his mind. The harpy drew a deep breath and slowly, deliberately let it out before speaking.

"Your records are outdated. It is true that Cressia and myself once shared an impressive amount of feats between us, but two-hundred years wore us both down. So much that I, and Cressia before her death, had decided to appoint successors."

The white harpy finished the conversation for Dion.

"If you really want your books to be up to date then I'd suggest speaking with Reika."

Amadeus followed the direction she pointed, all the way to a harpy whose feathers resembled fresh ice upon a stone wall.

"I have no time for Lorekeepers! I have more important things to do. If you really need information on my exploits, I'd suggest you see the Hippocampus and their expressions when you speak my name."

She harrumphed.

Amadeus took in her personality and mannerisms with intrigue and fear. All other candidates he had processed for the Ten Blades had possessed the same sense of strength that she did, but they all had emotions he could read. This Reika was someone from which he could sense no such thing despite her obviously hostile posturing. There was nothing forthcoming within Reika's tone. It was a voice that bore a cruel and tortured story. He hesitantly wrote her name down.

"Reika Coldfeather."



The Lorekeepers classify and gather lots of information, such information also includes the strongest individuals on Nova, the list began actually as a ranking of the strongest weapons ever crafted but since some Novans can exhibit incredible feats without the need of a legendary weapon, the list was modified to include individuals rather than armaments, this list now includes the strongest individuals that the Lorekeepers have information about, why the Lorekeepers an allegedly neutral organization keeps tabs on the strongest individuals on Nova remains a mystery, some claim its for noble purposes, that when the need arises the Lorekeepers will try and gather the 9 blades against a common threat, other claim they are keeping an eye on potential enemies and gathering intelligence on then in order to take them down if needed.


Text correction done by  Archon


World of Nova & Characters belong to ME