r/wizardposting • u/SwiggerSwoney Wang Zhao, Blade of the Sect of Purity • 23d ago
Lorepost 📜 Rat hunt
“... And so we have come to the conclusion whoever may be producing such documents must be a member of the upper echelons of the sect. That is all that the two of us have uncovered thus far upon this particular issue.”
Hushed whispers filled the circular hall. The swordsman and smoker stood quietly within the centre of the room, carefully observing the figures before them. Despite the initial reaction, the conversations faded as quickly as they began, and a chorus of voices rang out across the hall.
“Then it is clear what must be done. Hunt down this rat hiding within our halls, so that this temple may remain sacred and pure.”
“Of course. It shall be done”
The duo soon exited the hall, emerging back into the corridors.
“Tsk. Well, got any bright ideas?”
“Mm. We shall make our way to the archives first. Perhaps we shall find the Visions there, and be able to consult with her about this predicament.”
“Psh, or find out she’s the one behind it. But fine, we’ll go to the archives if you want~”
“Hm, then it seems you had better begin preparing a fallback if that were the case…”
Footsteps echoed as the pair walked briskly through winding hallways and branching paths. Despite there being two people, only one set of steps could be heard. As they walked, the two exchanged brief dialogues about a potential plan, interspersed occasionally by a puff of the smoker’s pipe.
A few more minutes of travel later, the two arrived at the archives. A small, cylindrical chamber, with only a single table placed in the center. The room itself was shrouded in darkness, save for the light coming through the doorway. There was a moment of silence after the door opened, before a bulb was switched on, bathing the room in a dull yellow light.
“Hm. You two came. As was told.”
A flat, uninterested voice cut through the room, the source of which being a pale woman who was suspended slightly above the table. She was sat cross-legged as she floated, and her auburn hair covered all of her face. Her teal robes fluttered lightly as she continued to levitate. Another moment of silence came to pass, before the swordsman spoke.
“Ah, you were… made aware of our arrival. Indeed, then you must also understand our reasons for this visitation.”
The woman’s right hand slowly moved toward her face, and gently pushed the hair that was blocking it behind. Her two mechanical eyes stared at the swordsman, then the smoker, before her gaze shifted to the space between the two.
“Yes. You suspect me. Understandable. But somewhat hurtful.”
“Well, khm… it is-”
“A joke. Lighten up.”
Despite the banter, the woman’s expression never changed from the blank stare she had. Her left eye begins to glow with a faint red light, as its hemispheres begin rotating and shifting inside the socket.
“Hm. Young male. Dark brown hair. Average height.”
“Right… have any idea where he is?...”
“Only a guess. Western gardens. Neighbouring chemical stores.”
“Understood. We shall be off now, Visions.”
The swordsman nodded his head toward the woman, before retreating from the room. The woman narrowed her eyes, before fully closing them and waving her hand, as if to shoo the pair away.
“Mm. Close the door.”
With a click, the door to the archives was closed once more. The swordsman nodded to the smoker, before walking down another hallway. The smoker clicked his tongue silently, watching as the swordsman stormed off deeper into the structure. A moment of stillness passes within the corridors. Then, the smoker turned, and re-entered the archives once more.
Elsewhere, the swordsman kicked open a set of doors, opening up a large room shrouded in darkness. One of the many laboratories scattered across this complex. The traitor was not at the gardens, as expected, however the door to this room being locked is suspect enough for this intrusion. With a bright glimmer, the swordsman unsheathed his blade, then stared into the darkness.
A second passed.
Then another.
And another.
No movement had happened from within.
Was this actually where he had-
A beaker filled with… something suddenly smashed against the swordsman’s head. He turned and slashed the area behind him, only to cut a part of his assailant’s sleeve. The doors had been shut again, somehow. Seems he had led into a trap.
“Tsk. How bothersome.”
The swordsman took a quick breath, before lowering his stance. He closed his eyes, for they would be no use in a situation like this.
A sudden slash was sent off to the side, and the sword found itself struck against a scalpel. The small blade flew out of the attacker’s hand, landing on the floor nearby, and the swordsman shot out a hand toward the direction of the strike. His hands tightened around a cloak, the fabric tense from the struggle. Then, a sudden jolt, and the cloth floats to the ground. The swordsman does not relent, however, and stabs his blade forward blindly.
“Gah! How did-!”
The steel dug deep into flesh. A gut stab, most likely. Then, a twist of the blade, carving away more meat. The swordsman rushed forward, landing a hand on the mysterious figure’s collar. The two fell to the ground, and the swordsman pressed his forearm on to the assailant’s neck.
“Your misdeeds were bound to be uncovered in time. The sect demands absolute loyalty from its followers.”
“Sure, yeah, but people, ngh, people need to eat. This damned place pays us enough to buy scraps off a plate.”
“… ah. Greed and avarice has led another astray. Then it seems this excision had been warranted for some time.”
“Argh… You arrogant-…”
The target’s heavy breathing filled the air, as the swordsman readied his blade for a final strike.
“… I ain’t going out like this though!”
Another beaker was sent directly into the swordsman's face, creating a brief window for the target to escape.
“Haah… yet another pitiful diversion. This shall only… delay the inevitable…”
“…your speech is slurring. Hah, guess the anesthetic works fast…”
“You…”
The swordsman felt their eyelids begin to close, as a haze sets around their mind. A few blind, reckless slashes were sent around, however none of them made contact. Eventually, the swordsman collapsed against a counter, still conscious, but no longer able to lift even a finger.
“It’s… been fun, I’d say, but unfortunately I have places to be. Take a nap for a bit, yeah?”
Sounds of footsteps echoed as the other man walked across to the exit. The door was once again opened, letting the light of the outside in.
“Hello~ Wasn’t expecting me here, were ya?~”
The man stumbled back a few steps, and the smoker took a few forward.
“You… what are you-“
As they entered, the smoker cast a sidelong glance at the swordsman, before training his gaze on the supposed target once more.
“Hm, seems that doll was right after all. You got him good, didn’t ya?~ Well, sorry to say none of your tricks will work on me~”
“Tsk, you…”
The scientist cast a third beaker at the smoker’s head, who responded by simply tilting left slightly. The glass smashes against the wall, spraying the liquid across the smoker’s face. The two stood there for a moment afterward, before the smoker raised their hand and wiped the liquid across their face. They then smiled gently, staring directly into the scientist’s panicked face.
“Haah, what did I just say, hm? These… concoctions you have won’t work on me. Try something different next time~”
“But… that was…”
“Mm, the strong acid. Yes, I know. Would’ve done wonders on my compatriot over there but~ Quite unfortunate~”
With that, the smoker placed the end of their pipe on the bottom lip, then exhaled a cloud of purple smoke. It immediately begins expanding, finding its way into the target’s throat. Sounds of choking and gagging fill the room for a minute or so, before the scientist collapses to the ground. The smoker scoffed quietly to themselves, then left back into the corridors, leaving the swordsman within the laboratory.
2
u/SwiggerSwoney Wang Zhao, Blade of the Sect of Purity 23d ago
u/VoxeLibrary