CHAPTER 53: THE HUMANS THAT WERE PROMISED

The gnomes had denied any knowledge of anyone by the name of Fizzwigg living in their village. The place was indeed Magodilin, a city for gnomes.

They refused to call it a Village, to them it was a great prestigious City.

"Talk about being delusional,"Stephan muttered, just enough for Grief to hear."You said you were once a Samurai....before you died...in the land of...."

"Tawo my Lord,"Grief said.

"Well did you have castles like these?"Stephan said his voice fat with sarcasm.

"Hmm, ours where more different from these, they were a bit more high and more detailed."Grief responded.

Yennefer was up ahead walking with the gnome woman. She had turned out to be the Chief advisor of the gnome kingdom, if you could call it that.

"What’s her name again?"Stephan said to Grief.

"Sorry your grace, but I didn’t pay much attention when she introduced herself."Grief said.

"Ugh!"Stephan said."You are terrible remembering names like me, I see."

He put his hands in his pockets.

"Her name is Shiva,"a small voice said beside him.

Stephan turned as saw a kid. He flashed a smile."Well, aren’t you that emo kid that got bought with a piece of bread?"

"What’s an emo kid?"the young gnome asked.

"Well never mind," Stephan said."What’s your name little boy?"

"Olath,"Said the boy. Then."Are you also a king?"

Stephan frowned."Why do you say so?"

Olath nodded a Grief."She calls your Your Grace."

Stephan laughed that the other gnomes turned, others stepped away from him, still unsure if they were threats or allies.

"Not yet,"Stephan said to the boy."But I will be....soon."

"Are you the ones... the humans that were promised?" Olath asked suddenly.

Stephan raised a brow. "The humans that were promised? What the fuck are you talking about, kid?"

"Our great king foretold the coming of three humans and one angel," Olath said with solemn gravity. "It was a prophecy... and we believe it is being fulfilled."

"A prophecy, huh?" Stephan smirked. "Alright then, what else does this prophecy of yours say?"

"It says the humans will save us. From oppression, from tyranny. From the Orcs... and from the Elves. The humans carry great power, power to set the gnomes free."

Stephan swept his eyes over the crowd of gnomes around them. Faces stared back—some frightened, some awestruck, others whispering with excitement.

"So tell me, boy," Stephan asked, his voice lowering, "do all these people believe your king’s prophecy?"

"Only a few doubt," Olath replied earnestly. "But most believe. The word of the king is always true. He knows everything."

Stephan scratched the back of his neck. "This king of yours... what’s he like?"

The boy’s face lit with pride. "He is wise. He sees what others cannot. They say he speaks directly to the gods."

Stephan’s smirk faded, replaced by a thin-lipped sigh. I’ve seen plenty of cults in my time. Every world’s the same, some idiot convincing even bigger idiots he’s the chosen one.

They walked on in silence, weaving deeper into Magodilin. Anna Mary was carried ahead on a stretcher by two gnomes, the procession oddly reverent. The gnomes had agreed to help her, but with conditions. She would be taken to a magic doctor at the village’s edge. The humans, they were told, could not come with her. Stephan had nearly started a fight over it until the advisor made it clear: either accept their terms, or Anna Mary received no help at all.

Reluctantly, he had backed down.

By the time they reached the hut at the village center, the crowd was dispersing. Gnomes slipped back into their burrows and carved-stone homes, leaving only a scattering of curious stares behind.

Olath lingered a moment longer. "See you around, Human King."

Then he darted off to join the other children, leaving Stephan frowning after him.

Shiva pushed open the creaking wooden door and led them inside. The hut was simple but tidy, round walls of packed clay reinforced with timber beams, a single lantern glowing faintly on a crooked table, and woven mats spread across the floor in neat patterns. A faint smell of herbs clung to the air, earthy and sharp.

So this is the guest room? Stephan thought, eyeing the cramped space. Couldn’t even fit a dog in here without bumping into the furniture.

"This is where you will be living until your friend recovers," Shiva said.

"Thank you so much for your help," Yennefer said sincerely.

"No need to thank us," Shiva replied. "You are the humans that were promised, after all."

There goes that bullshit again, Stephan smirked inwardly.

"How long will it take for Anna Mary to recover?" he asked.

"Two days, maybe less," Shiva said. "It all depends on the damage. But our magic doctor is the best in the realm, she will be healed in no time."

Stephan leaned back against the wall, arms folded. "I have another question. What’s this thing about the humans that were promised?"

Shiva’s tone carried a weight of reverence. "It is the king’s prophecy. That humans would conquer the tunnels and find their way to Magodilin. That they would set us free from the elves and the orcs."

"Interesting," Stephan drawled. "What makes you so sure we’re the ones he was talking about?"

"The king’s word is absolute," Shiva said firmly. "And you are here, aren’t you? You came through the tunnels. You survived the wrath of the Hanging Ones. That alone proves the prophecy true."

"We couldn’t have made it this far without Fizzwigg," Yennefer interjected.

At that, Stephan’s eyes narrowed. "You really don’t know anyone by the name of Fizzwigg around here?"

Shiva shook her head.

"He’s short, talkative..." Stephan gestured vaguely with his hand.

Shiva blinked at him, her expression unreadable, somewhere between surprise and caution.

"Of course you’re all short," Stephan muttered, lips curling into a dry grin. "And loud too."

"So this Fizzwigg," Shiva said carefully. "Was he a gnome?"

Yennefer nodded. "Yes indeed. We met him in Kareth’Zul..."

"Kareth’Zul..." Shiva’s voice trailed, her brow furrowing. "Yes, the abandoned city."

"You know it?" Yennefer asked.

"Not exactly," Shiva admitted with a soft sigh. "I’ve heard stories, but I’ve never seen it myself."

Stephan raised a brow. "The city’s just a couple of miles from here. How the hell have you never seen it?"

Shiva glanced at him, almost offended by his tone. "Most gnomes have never entered the tunnels since the day our ancestors crossed into this side. Only a few brave ones ever dared... mostly the Great King and his elite warriors. We are, in truth, trapped here."

"Wow," Stephan said flatly, hands sliding into his pockets. "Sounds terrible. Anyway, let’s get back to the short chatterbox."

"Fizzwigg," Shiva repeated, inclining her head toward Yennefer. "You said you met him in Kareth’Zul?"

"Yes." Yennefer smiled faintly at the memory. "He was... eccentric. Talkative, but clever. He guided us through the ruins, showed us paths we’d have never found alone."

"More like wouldn’t shut the fuck up," Stephan muttered, earning a sharp look from Yennefer.

"He helped us survive," Yennefer insisted, ignoring him. "Without him, we wouldn’t be here at all."

Shiva’s eyes narrowed slightly, her fingers tapping against her side as if working through some unspoken calculation. "Strange. Very strange. No gnome by that name lives in Magodilin. Of that, I am certain."

"He promised us he’d help us get into Magodilin," Yennefer said. "In return, he would see to Anna Mary getting treated."

"Unfortunately, we lost him in the tunnels," she added bitterly. "We were attacked by Sanguivores. He ran. He didn’t even look back."

"We suspect he lives here among you," Stephan said, crossing his arms.

"Could you describe him?" Shiva asked.

"I told you before, he’s short and ugly and..."Stephan said.

Shiva blinked, unimpressed. "Really? That is not a good description."

"It’s hard to describe when you all look the same," Stephan muttered. "I couldn’t even tell what gender you were until you spoke."

Shiva’s jaw tightened, but she ignored the jab. "Any other useful details?"

"We met him after killing an Orc that was after him," Yennefer said quickly. "He claimed he was on a special mission in Orc territory, and that he carried a message meant only for the King of Magodilin."

Shiva froze. Silence pressed heavy in the small hut. Her eyes flicked toward the doorway, then back to them.

"If this gnome truly bore a message from Orc territory..." she said slowly, voice dropping, "...then he is part of the King’s elite circle. A spy. And if that is the case...." She stopped herself, glancing away, her face shadowed with unease.

Stephan leaned forward. "If that’s the case, then what?"

Shiva didn’t answer. She merely whispered, almost to herself, "Then the King already knows you are here."

Perfect, Stephan thought. If the King knew where to find Fizzwigg, he’d wring the truth out of that little bastard. There was so much he needed to ask him, why he had abandoned them, left them to stumble blindly in the tunnels, to be torn apart by Sanguivores.

"So how do we book an appointment with the Great King, then?" Stephan asked, scratching at his chin.

For the first time, Shiva smiled. It wasn’t wide, not friendly, more like the calm, quiet smile of someone who knew a secret.

"You don’t need to," she said softly. "The Great King has already asked for your presence at his palace... humans that were promised."

Stephan’s eyes narrowed. "Huh?"

"You are to meet him tomorrow."

Her words lingered in the cramped hut like smoke, heavy and impossible to clear.

Stephan leaned back, trying to smirk but feeling the weight of her tone pressing on his chest. Tomorrow. The King wanted them. And he already knew.