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66. The Truth?

  I make my way to the nearest city with a map in my hand, carefully navigating my way through the dense forest.

  Once again I somehow find myself walking through a forest. It seems no matter where I go, or what I do, traversing through a forest seems to end up being a constant in my life.

  Thinking about that, I begin to reminisce slightly about the short adventure I had on Earth. It seems like so long ago, but in reality, it’s barely been a week.

  As I remember slaying goblins, I can’t help but think about Uncle Moren. I bring out the small magitech cube he gave me before he passed, stashed away nicely inside my pocket and I’m quickly reminded that I have literally no clue what it does.

  This immediately piques my curiosity, and I decide it to be a nice puzzle to try and figure out while I walk.

  The surface of the cube is barebones, with nothing but purple glowing runes engraved on the outside. There’s seemingly no button, lever, switch, or anything else that I can interact with.

  The next thing I do is attempt to twist it, like those old-world cube puzzles that were apparently so popular.

  Unfortunately I draw no luck on that front either.

  ‘Hmm, if a big-shot like Waylen had this things hiding in a safe, it’s got to do something important, I just can’t figure out what…’

  After a few hours of fiddling, I begin to close in on my destination. So, I decide to just throw it back in my pocket, unable to parse it’s use.

  ‘Oh well, maybe eventually I figure it out, for now, I’ve got to figure out what my plan from here on out is. Do I A. Enter the city and risk being either imprisoned, killed or robbed because of my race or B. Avoid the city altogether.

  ‘On one hand it would be nice to refill a few supplies, considering that what Selaria gave me isn’t exactly going to last forever. Also it would be nice to get some more info on the Divine in general.’

  ‘On the other hand it may not be worth the trouble. All it takes a few people like Selaria’s little sister, but without a Selaria to hold them back for my life to seriously be endangered.’

  Ultimately I decide to just avoid it altogether, and just go around it. No point in wasting that much time. I want to be over and done with this level as soon as possible.

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  Though I suppose if that were really the case I would have just joined the Order and been done with it, but not only would I have missed out on some potential rewards for participating more intricately in this level’s plotline, who knows what roadblocks I would have potentially faced because of my race had I stayed there.

  So I make my way around the city, hovering just on the edge of the forest that surrounds the mile or so long clearing that pervades around the entirety of the city.

  Just as I think I’m about to start leaving, an arrow places itself directly in front of my feet. I take a step back in shock, and as I do, another arrow places itself behind my feet this time.

  The next moment, four robed figures appear out from the trees above. The have me surrounded, but seeing as they didn’t immediately attempt to shoot me, I should be safe… for now, depending on how this upcoming conversation goes.

  “You, state your name and allegiance!” The figure in front of me shouts out.

  I stare at him for a moment before replying,

  “Kind of rude to ask my name but not give yours, no?” I say, hoping to make him irritated.

  My little attempt at taunting doesn’t work though, and he instead calmly pulls down his hood to reveal an older Divine man with a scar on his cheek.

  “We are with the Order, and are scouts for the city. Now I ask again, who are you, and what are your motives human?!” He says sternly.

  A few tense moments of silence pass before I sigh and just tell him.

  “I’m Rowan, I just left the nearby Fort that stations Province Supervisor Selaria. I have no allegiance and am simply passing through!” I say confidently.

  After I say this, a few moments pass, then a few more, and then again. Each second more tense than the last.

  Finally the silence is broken.

  “Alright, you may go.” The older Divine says.

  “What?! You’re just going to let a slimy human go? He’s clearly up to something!” One of the figures shouts out.

  “Yeah! Come one are we seriously going to just let him go?!” Another figure says indignantly.

  “ENOUGH! We let him leave, no arguing. Now dusk is almost upon us, head back to the city.” He says seriously.

  They hesitate.

  “NOW!” He says loudly.

  They quickly oblige and start making their way towards the city, running swiftly through the clearing, leaving the older Divine and myself in a staring contest.

  He looks me up and down before smirking.

  “You were smart to deny Selaria.” He says.

  “Why’s that?” I ask.

  “Because the forgotten what they are. The order has corrupted them. Our people are now a shell of what they once were, bogged down by the chain that is the Order.” The man says with hate filling his eyes.

  “W-what do you mean?” I ask, slightly baffled and confused at what he’s saying.

  “Tell me Rowan, what do you know of the Order and Chaos?” He asks.

  “Uh, the Order seeks out good for the people and the Chaos seeks trial by fire, birthing warriors from flame and cruelty, or at least, that’s how Selaria made it seem. I also know that their both superpowers with thousands of planets in their grasp. Hey wait, how do you know I denied Selaria?”

  “We have informants everywhere. Anyway that’s besides the point. What Selaria told you is bullshit. Both the Chaos and the Order are evil and vile in their own ways, just the Chaos is less interested in hiding it.”

  He pauses briefly before saying mysteriously.

  “Tell me Rowan, would you like to learn the truth of Chaos and Order?”

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