FFD - Personal Mission: Book of Tarzuula

Personal Mission

Xxxxx

The Book of Tarzuula

Xxxxx


Mordred reread the letter he held in his hands, calmly setting down the feathered pen back into its stand before sitting down.

Old friend,
I have encountered leadings like no other. A book that may be important to our country. I leave you a payment in riches an knowledge for book written by an ancient Balfarcian mage by the name or Tarzuula. They say he last lived on a mountain across the sea in the Regalio Dominion. Seek audience with me once you've obtained it.

~Erebus Balfarc

So even he does not know, Mordred thought to himself as he neatly rolled the letter before tucking it into one of his bags around his waist, that is good. He paused, his mind receding back into his memories. He recalls meeting the Emperor once, back when the emperor was under the title of ‘General’. Mordred didn’t take a good look at him however, since it was back during the time when he was still trying to adjust to the loss of his memories and the last thing on his list was to meet a man who seemed…intimidating to him. Mordred shrugged it off. That was the past, now is the present.

So a book written by Tarzuula, h’m?, he thought to himself, recalling having read the name somewhere however right when he got it on the tip of his tongue, it eluded him, causing him to frown but nonetheless Mordred stood up and walked up towards one of the maps he had charted months ago, tracing his fingers over the kingdoms before stopping on Regalio Dominion. There, his bi-colored eyes traced the region until his hand stopped upon the mountains, mentally marking it within his mind before he sighed, “This better not be another wasted trip.”

Xxxxx

It wasn’t as hard as he had expected. Mordred easily found the location of the last place of Tarzuula and tracking the book was even easier. It was tucked away in an old dusty bookshelf, perhaps left alone for years after its writer’s passing. Finding it so easily, Mordred wonders how one did not find such a book earlier. It did not matter though, he had found the book and according to the letter, he had to seek audience with the Emperor.

After a moment of rest of course.

Finding the book was one thing but actually traveling to Regalio Dominion was another story altogether. Mordred strongly dislikes anything mobile, using only resources that he had made for his travels. As such, he had ‘walked’ all the way from Balfarc to Regalio, earning some gawking looks when he entered their city. Of course, there were areas he had to travel by boat but he had simply rented one and steered it himself, telling the Captain, “I trust my own life in my own hands, not yours.” Blunt and straight to the point.

Now Mordred wants rest. As he exited the cave that he had found the book in, Mordred turned his bi-colored eyes at the tome tucked under his right arm. Recalling the words he read in the letter, a smile twitched on the edges of Mordred’s lips. Of course, during his rest, he could also take a peek in what these pages held, after all, the letter didn’t specify ‘when’ he had to take it back and it also didn’t say that Mordred can’t take a look at it first. He then paused. Of course, Tarzuula wouldn’t have left the book so unprotected so easily. Mordred kept his eyes on the cover. Most likely the book is spell protected. The black mage traced his hand over the cover before releasing a small spark of magic flowing through the cover. As expected, he felt a bit of magic vibrate back, a signal that indeed the book is protected by a spell. Mordred sighed at this.

He could tell the spell is protected by ancient magic, a study that his old keeper had unable to teach him before his ‘disappearance’. Mordred has to turn the book to Erebus to ensure that the book can be safely opened ‘without’ causing harm to ‘itself’ or anyone. Mordred slightly pouted at this. He really wanted to find out what’s inside. He sighed once more. Perhaps instead of coin he could ask the Emperor to exchange it for time on reading the book…of course, maybe the Emperor would already let him ready to book ‘after’ they can get it opened. Then again, you can’t always be too sure.

Mordred released another sigh. He’ll figure it out once he gains rest and returns back to the Empire. He had enough of today.

Xxxxx

Mordred entered the great hall down to the room where he was told where the Emperor was staying, holding the book close in his arms.

He had just returned from his trip from retrieving the book and Mordred had immediately headed towards the castle of Erebus, intending to make his small ‘deal’ with the Emperor as soon as possible and head back to his isolated cabin at the edge of town. He still has a lot of work to do after all.

With that, Mordred burst through the door of the throne room, alerting the guards who pulled their weapons from the sound of the sudden intrusion.

“Lower your weapons, he is a friend.”

Turning his bi-colored eyes away from the guards who had reluctantly back off with their weapons lowered, Mordred’s eyes came into contact with familiar azure hues, bowing his head out of respect, “Emperor Erebus.”

Clad in dark azure and violet armor minus his helm which is tucked away on the edge of his seat, a smile tugged on the edges of the Emperor’s lips, “Mordred, it has been a while. In all honesty I was expecting your mentor.”

“I am surprised that you remember me,” Mordred calmly responded, “if it had not been for the letter, I would have forgotten about you.”

“Show some respect-“

A nearby guard was silence by a raised hand of Erebus, “So I have heard that you have the book.”

Earning a nod as a response, Erebus spotted the decorated cover tucked under Mordred’s arms, “Is that it?”

Earning another nod, Erebus added, “May-“

“I’ll hand it over,” Mordred interrupted, earning glares from the guards, “just promise me that after you unlock its contents, let me borrow it and take notes on the spells inside.”

Almost immediately, a look of hesitation flashed in the Emperor’s gaze, causing Mordred to tilt his head slightly to one side, “You don’t even have to give me the reward. All I want is a look inside the book that is all I ask for.”

Silence for a moment, Erebus leaned back in his throne, “Hand over the book and I’ll give you my answer.”

In response to his words, Mordred’s jaw clenched together, his hands tightening around the book. Hand over the book so that there was a possibility that he could be cheated?! No, Mordred wasn’t going to…

The black mage’s thoughts paused, his bi –colored eyes scanning the guards in the throne room. If he says no, there could be a possibility that the guards would retaliate, especially since they had enough of Mordred’s disrespect towards the Emperor, quite easy to see from the ways their eyes narrow at him or their hands tighten around the hilts of their weapons. And seeing their numbers, Mordred knew that the possibility of him taking them all at once and living was slim. So heaving out a reluctant sigh, Mordred walked towards one of the guards and held out the book, earning a look of surprise from the watchman before he took the book from the black mage’s hands. As soon as this action was finished, Mordred took several steps back and turned his attention back towards the Dark Knight, “Your answer?”

A silence permeated through the throne room, causing the guards to shift uncomfortably as Erebus and Mordred stared at each other.

“Your mentor, Zadkiel,” Mordred stiffens, “I have not heard of him recently.” Erebus’ azure eyes stared deep into the Black Mage’s, “If you tell me what happened to him, the book is all yours once we finished deciphering it.

Mordred’s teeth grinded together, his hands constantly curling and uncurling as he struggled to come up with a response. The Black Mage had vowed to his mentor that he would keep the truth to himself and only to himself, claiming to keep everything a secret, including his...

He could not break his mentor’s vow, at least, not like this. But the book, that book that holds all the spells that Mordred can only dream of, it is right there in front of him. If he tells the Emperor the truth, it would be all his.

The black mage exhaled, earning a stare from the Emperor, “My answer…” Mordred stared deep into Erebus’ azure eyes, “is keep the book.” When he earned a startled look as a reply, he added, “I would rather let the book of Tarzuula slip from my grasp than speak of what had happened to my mentor.” He dipped slightly, “Good day, Emperor Erebus.”

Then without another word, Mordred exited the room.