Demoni Vankil - Letter Four

There is something here that I cannot put my finger on yet. I love a good puzzle.

Demoni Vankil is the historical and award-winning work of Höbin Luckyfeller, and the precursor to Chronicles of a Hero.

An ancient puzzle box.
Fourteen letters.
A Council of Whispers.
…and a clerk.
Discover the 700 year old secret millions died to protect.

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LETTER FOUR

My Beloved Ethany,

It has now been forty-seven days since I last saw you and the nights seem to get longer and more cold. The wind has a purpose of its own, bitting into flesh and bone without mercy, but I see the wisdom in this location.

Worry not in my sporadic writing, dear. Remember how consumed I can get in my studies and work when the topic is truly fascinating to me?

It is a challenge for me to not share with you what is encompassing my every waking moment and I can not divulge too much, but this much I believe it is safe to say. The Hero of the Gem has chosen each of us for a specific reason. Exciting and scary, I know.

My first hypothesis is this: It is possible for a mägo to imprison all darkness using the skills of a Rune Keeper, a master of metallurgy and a Gypsy.

Now I must discover how.

Praying that you are all well and warm. Will write more soon.

All my love,

Eamon

Now, I really want to know what is Eamon up to.

I read the letter over again. Then again.

I have a time frame. 6000s, the world war against Mahan.

A meeting, a secret location—presumably in north-western Humär during the cold season.

The Hero, Evolu, Kutollum, Gypsy.

Imprison evil.

What could a mägo, a rune keeper, a blacksmith, and a gypsy have in common? I’m really bothered to see the runes come up again. And a keeper this time. It has so little merit that it dampens my enjoyment of this story.

There is something here that I cannot put my finger on yet. I love a good puzzle.

I wondered if it might be the Demoni Vankil. I mean, the time is right. World events were pretty devastating and the unification of the races resulted in the defeat and capture of Mahan himself…and the use of a device. The darkest secret in history, the coveted mystery of all qualified and amateur historians.

No one actually knows what the Demoni Vankil is. ‘Evil Chain’ is as close an interpretation as anyone has discovered. Every attempt to uncover hints of its existence has trailed off into nothing. Zilch. Nada. There simply has been nothing to go on.

Instead, all we have are the muddy stories told from one generation to another. Distorting facts to the point, we can’t discern between what’s real and what’s the embellishment of the imagination.

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Paid subscribers can access the entire archive of this series from the beginning, along with other stories and every article I’ve ever written. If you aren’t a paid subscriber, you can access the archive for free with a 7-day trial OR earn a paid membership by joining the referral program!