As the group started moving, Carnatia noticed Fia approaching her, before starting a conversation.
Fia jogged a little to catch up with Carnatia. Between her, the lantern, and Gray Flame, the light flame shared between them held something familiar. “That light. What is it? How are you radiating it?”
With a little shrug, Carnatia replied,
"You would have to ask Sir Gray, I'm afraid. I was merely following his instructions.She then added with a small sigh,
"Though good luck prying the answers off him."They then continued their journey, as Vesemir and Gray led them further inside the ruins, where Carnatia noticed the phantoms receding, creeping just around the corner but no longer swarming. Still, not wanting to be caught in whatever it was the phantoms were doing, Carnatia did her utmost to ignore them. Without them swarming her and their incessant whispers, it was a much easier task.
Eventually, they reached a building with two pillar columns placed at its entrance.
"This is the building." Said Vesemir enthusiastically.
He then spared a moment to speak to Forbann, telling him that he could rest here and keep watch. The Armored Oni agreed with that plan.
"When the Prince of Isrion attacked the City, dozens of Lasse residents took refuge here." Rambled the elf as they climbed the stairs. "Theriadore was indeed a powerful magician, the record said the Human Prince tried to besiege this building, but the Magistrate's enchantment made it impenetrable."
Pausing to sigh and caress the pillar, Vesemir spoke again, his tone changed from somber to utter disgust.
"Makes you wonder if things could have ended differently if he was here, rather than be seated in Alkautsar Council. It happened generations ago, but my blood boils whenever I think about this piece of history. The sheer incompetence was infuriating, and all of that was just for political gain. Luithiel did nothing wrong! She did what a leader was supposed to do, to make That accursed Black Armored prince pay the ultimate price. Mark my words, she was sentenced as a hero."
"Though, someone might argue that she was too excessive with her method," murmured Gray Flame as he followed the monocled elf into the building.
"True, I must admit that Theriador too would definitely agree with that proposition, but in Luithiel's defense, excessiveness was the response to the inadequacy of those who are supposed to be in charge. Lukman's death was unfortunate, but Varenheim's inability to see things perspicaciously was not without blame either..."
As she had thought, an elf like Vesemir perceived that war differently than the more mainstream interpretation, at least in the human lands. To the elves, the war was at most an excessive to Serensiel's tyranny, to the humans—who won, and thus wrote history—the war was justified and was retribution to Serensiel's perceived threat and aggression. Prince Isrion was even somewhat romanticized as a hero, especially in Westernant since it has absorbed his kingdom. At worst, the mainstream interpretation of human historians was that his more questionable acts were meant as a deterrent and in the long run saved more lives by squashing any possible retaliation after the war by the elves.
Carnatia's thought on the matter, as with most things, was that the truth probably lies in the middle of the two extremes. No doubt that Isrion rose against Serensiel's tyranny, but he also committed atrocities that he probably could do without. Still, war is war, both will have committed atrocities, and as the dust settles, the victors will exalt their leaders as heroes and the enemy leaders as villains. It was simply the way of the world. It was what it was. To Carnatia it was not abhorrent nor was it virtuous, it was merely how the world—and politics—work. Just as if the reverse happened, no doubt Varenheim would've done the same.
Of course, Vesemir was free to think what he thought, as long as he fulfilled his end of the contract, Carnatia did not particularly care what he thought of that war. Perhaps if she was still a noble of Westernant she would be concerned with a prominent historian having such a conflicting opinion with her kingdom's official narrative and stance, because protecting their kingdom—including their dignity and political standing—was the obligation of a noble. But she was no longer a noble, so it really was none of her business.
And so she followed the rest of the group silently until they reached the library, where a statue can be seen at the end of the hall, as if guarding the door behind it.
"Heads up! It's not an ordinary statue." Warned Gray Flame, raising his hand to make everyone stop their advance.
"A golem?"
"Looks like it. And the expensive one at that, they made a few of it in Nuria to guard important facilities. This one was custom-made, kinda what to expect from someone like Theriadore. It's still on standby mode, see that crystal on its head? It glows with a faint light, which means it is saving its power, but the battery capacity is still adequately loaded. The crystal serves as its eye, the targeting module, and in battle mode, it can be charged up to fire a powerful energy beam."
"Awfully knowledgable about this kind of thing, aren't you?"
The Masked elf, with his masked face, could only stare at Vesemir with his trademark blank expression. "Only a bit. Anyway, what do you think? Do you have a century-old-something from the black market that we can use to get rid of that thing?"
He then turned to everyone else. "What about you guys? Ever had any experience with a magical construct before?"
Carnatia replied,
"I do have experience disenchanting magical construct in general, though I'm not sure how effective it would be on a golem.@Mas Bagus@Randomness
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