The walk back to Silverhaven Outpost was marked by Roric's slowly returning strength and his growing curiosity. "Seriously, Kael, how did you manage that?" he asked again, shaking his head. "That construct... it felt immensely powerful. And you, with no armor, no proper weapon..."
"Like I said, luck and timing," Kael deflected, keeping his voice even. He focused on projecting an image of a fortunate survivor, not a powerhouse. "It seemed focused on draining you, maybe didn't pay enough attention to me. And that Tablet..." he tapped the stone artifact, now tucked inside a makeshift pouch fashioned from his starter tunic remnants (since he couldn't carry a bag), "...it reacted when I got close. Maybe that weakened it?" It was a half-truth, at best, but plausible enough for a Level 3 nobody.
Roric looked skeptical but didn't push further. "Well, whatever happened, I owe you. My name's Roric Brightwood. If you ever need anything in Silverhaven – information, introductions, whatever I can offer – just ask."
Kael nodded vaguely. An offer made in good faith, but one he likely couldn't leverage in any meaningful way. "Thanks. Just need to report this in."
They reached the main gate. The guards straightened up immediately upon seeing Roric, their expressions shifting from boredom to surprise and concern.
"Roric! You're alive!" one exclaimed, opening the gate wider. "Captain Valerius feared the worst. What happened? And who's... this?" The guard eyed Kael's near-naked state with confusion.
"This is Kael," Roric said firmly, clapping Kael on the shoulder. "He found me, got me out. Long story. We need to see the Captain immediately."
The guards, recognizing the urgency and Roric's vouching, waved them through without further comment on Kael's appearance. They headed straight for the Barracks, a sturdy stone building near the center of the outpost.
Captain Valerius was a man whose stern face looked etched from granite, his Silverhaven uniform immaculate despite the frontier setting. He looked up from a map as they entered, his eyes widening slightly as he saw Roric.
"Brightwood!" Valerius barked, relief warring with his stern demeanor. "Report! What happened? We lost your signal days ago."
Roric gave a concise, professional report. His patrol route near the Old Ruins, discovering the unusual energy signatures, following them deeper, the crumbling passage, the encounter with the Golem (which he admitted Kael had somehow bypassed or defeated before he arrived – covering Kael slightly), finding the lower chambers, the energy-draining altar, the construct guardian, and finally, Kael's arrival and intervention. He described the construct's defeat and their escape through the hidden tunnel connected to the strange mechanism.
Valerius listened intently, his expression growing increasingly serious, especially at the mention of the subterranean complex and the energy-draining process. "A complex beneath the ruins? And this construct... guarding an energy siphon?" He looked sharply at Kael. "Scout Brightwood says you defeated this entity and recovered an artifact?"
All eyes in the room turned to Kael. He felt the familiar pressure of scrutiny. "I... arrived while it was focused on Roric," Kael said carefully, sticking to his narrative. "It seemed unstable. I managed to disrupt it, maybe hit something vital. It just... dissipated." He reached into his makeshift pouch. "This appeared when it was gone."
He placed the Tablet of Binding Wards on Valerius's desk. The captain leaned forward, examining it closely. He didn't touch it immediately but observed the faintly pulsing blue symbols.
"Extraordinary," Valerius murmured. "Not standard Blight corruption, nor typical ruin magic. These symbols... they feel ancient. Architect-era, perhaps?" He looked back at Kael. "The system identified this? 'Tablet of Binding Wards'?"
Kael nodded. "And it said it couldn't be... uh... converted. By my skill." He felt Valerius's gaze sharpen slightly at the mention of a 'skill' preventing conversion but didn't elaborate.
Valerius made a decision. "Your report is invaluable, Roric. And Kael... you have done Silverhaven a great service, despite unorthodox methods." He tapped commands into a console on his desk.
[System]: Quest [Missing Scout] Complete! [System]: +100 Reputation gained with Silverhaven. [System]: Based on Scout Brightwood's testimony regarding your crucial role in his survival and the defeat of a significant threat, you are awarded an Exceptional Performance Bonus. [System]: +150 Reputation gained with Silverhaven. [System]: Knowledge Unlocked: Location of 'Ancient Resonator Chamber' added to your map notes.
Kael watched his reputation tracker tick up. Silverhaven Reputation: Respected (250/1000). No gold, no items, just reputation and knowledge. Perfect.
"This Tablet, and the Resonator chamber..." Valerius continued, steepling his fingers. "This is beyond standard outpost concerns. I must consult with the Loremasters Guild and potentially regional command. The symbols might relate to containing instabilities from the Sundering, perhaps even deep-seated Blight sources." He looked at Kael again. "Normally, such an artifact would be secured for study. However, given that it appeared for you and seems linked to your presence there... keep it for now. But I expect you to remain reachable, Kael. We will need your full cooperation and likely your assistance in understanding this discovery. Check in with the Barracks daily."
It was both a reprieve and a leash. He got to keep the Tablet, but now he was tied to Silverhaven's authorities.
"Understood, Captain," Kael said.
Valerius dismissed them. Roric clapped Kael on the back again as they stepped outside into the bustling outpost. "Thank you, Kael. Truly. Let me know if I can return the favor – find you lodging, get you some proper food?"
"I'll manage," Kael said quickly, eager to detach. "Just glad you're okay. Get some rest."
Roric nodded, understanding Kael's reserved nature, and headed off towards the infirmary.
Kael stood alone for a moment amidst the crowd, the warm weight of the Tablet a tangible reminder of the complexity he'd stumbled into. He'd navigated the report, kept his secret, and gained reputation. But he was now marked, tied to a mystery far bigger than a missing scout. He looked towards the hazy outline of Whisper Peak in the distance, thinking of the old monk, then thought of the Resonator Chamber now marked on his map.