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Back The Hidden Relic Save as PDF
Chapters (75)
  1. Map
  2. Prologue
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. 60
  63. 61
  64. 62
  65. 63
  66. 64
  67. 65
  68. 66
  69. 67
  70. 68
  71. 69
  72. 70
  73. 71
  74. 72
  75. Epilogue

In the middle of the room was a raised series of steps. On the highest tier stood a pedestal, and on the pedestal lay a closed book.

Made of the same metallic fabric the Evermen used in all their works, the book was as thick as the span of a man's hand. On the cover was an androgynous figure wearing a crown, head tilted, looking up at the sky.

The skin rose on the back of Evrin's neck; the room fairly reeked with power, and even through the urgency of his task, Evrin couldn't help himself.

"Tuh-ruk. Suh-ran. Tuk-ruk Evrin Evenstar," he spoke without thinking.

The room came to life. Soft music sounded, fluting and triumphant. The runes on the walls, floor and ceiling shone in a multitude of colours. The Evermen's final plan was revealed in all its glory, and with a word or a gesture Evrin could call forth any detail, examine any aspect of the project. For a moment he was filled with awe at the magnificence of it; this was the greatest work of lore the world had ever seen.

With a sigh, Evrin spoke the words, and the room was empty once more. He reminded himself; the location of the relic must be kept from the templars at all costs. Destroying the chamber filled him with sadness, but the risk was too great not to.

Evrin climbed the steps up to the pedestal, placing the destructive cube on top of the book. "Lot-har," he said, activating the device and turning away. There, it was done. He had several seconds to depart.

The ground trembled again. Evrin stumbled as he stepped off the last step, and his ankle turned, pain shooting up his foot and through his leg in waves. He fell to the floor.

Evrin looked back at the pedestal, and the book that sat atop it. The cube fell from the book and landed on the topmost step. The mountain shuddered again, and the cube fell down to the next step with a tinkle.

The device had been activated. It would explode at any instant. More than anything, the book must not escape.

Evrin launched himself at the cube, but it was just out of reach. Ignoring the pain in his ankle, he reached for it but it moved away from him, tinkling as it rolled along the floor, gathering momentum as it left the inner chamber completely.

Evrin realised he wouldn't make it.

He rolled onto his stomach and covered his head with his arms.

The cube exploded.

Far below, in the town of Salvation, people looked up in awe as smoke billowed from Stonewater like a volcano.

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MIRO deployed more troops to the northern regions of Halaran. Immediately the weakness in his eastern defences became apparent: the Black Army would push through all the way to Sarostar. He rubbed at his eyes and reset the simulator.