Riven inhaled, the scent of burning wood from a nearby incense. On a nearby bed, had a frail man, who let out a weak cough, his tired eyes fluttered opened.
His gaze met Jareth's, who quickly walked over to him.
He had a weak smile. "Still, hovering over me, boy?" His voice was raspy but carried the warmth of someone who had long accepted the passage of time.
Jareth leaned down. "You need to rest, Montis. Save your strength."
Montis chuckled softly, though it quickly turned into a cough. "I…I've been resting plenty, lad. More than enough." He paused before adding. "You shouldn't be wasting your time on an old man like me."
Jareth's eyes darkened. "Don't say that. You're not just an 'old man.' You've been there for me since I was a child. When my father died, when my mother grew cold, when I had no one else you were there." His voice wavered, but he quickly steadied himself. "You don't just get to leave me like this."
Riven who overheard Jareth and Montis conversation though. 'So, there's his butler... but what's going on with him? The last time I was here, he looked fine.'
Montis sighed, he looked up at Jareth. "Death comes for us all, Jareth. You cannot stop it."
"Then I'll delay it." Jareth said even his grip on Montis frail hand tightened.
It was true that, Jareth was with Montis scine he was born they did everything together. Thankfully being alive so long from being, longtivity from the strength of Exodites.
In fact, it was just one month ago Montis suddenly fell ill before he Jareth can leave and do what he always has despite Montis regular trying to stop him.
"You've always been stubborn. Always trying to fix things that aren't meant to be fixed." He coughed again. "Promise me you won't waste your time chasing miracles."
Jareth turned away, his hands clenched into fists. "…I can't promise that."
Montis gave him a tired smile. "Then at least don't break yourself in the process."
Butler Montis sighed. This kid have already been alway trying to get himself killed…even if I tried to stop now he will go out on his own.
As Montis were true, Jareth didn't respond. He thought. 'Whatever happens he can't die I'm losing anyone else…and this new butler he already prepared cant possibly replace him.'
Jareth sighed, he looked up at Riven. "I assume you're here for something."
Riven crossed his arms. "Remembe that favor… I need information. About the movements of the Blue-Skin Men."
Jarteh started to remember the time he meet, Riven he wasn't going to help him but he did because he didn't have enough Essence. It was his betting addiction, that alway get him in trouble.
In fact, it was from his running away not having montis around to protect him he lead his chaser toward. Riven who was just walked away, he didn't answer his pleas for help, he told them that he was a his butler with the Essence.
Jareth's gaze darkened. "I remember that was a timming." He motioned toward the sick old man. "But as you can see, I have my own problems."
Jonas and Mira exchanged glances, sensing the tension between the two.
"Yeah…im the same to" Riven asked, nodding toward the sick man.
Jareth nodded. "Butler Montis. He's been with my family since I was a child. He's more than a butler…he's like a father to me." His fists clenched. "And now, he's dying."
Riven expression didn't change. "I'm sorry."
Jareth sighed. "I'm sorry to."
Jareth didn't continue, he stood up abruptly and left the room, his long coat billowing behind him.
Riven, who had been watching the exchange in silence, glanced at Montis. The old butler looked at him with knowing eyes.
"Watch over him, won't you?" Montis murmured.
Riven nodded. "If he lets me."
Montis chuckled softly before closing his eyes again, letting sleep take him once more.
Riven, followed Jareth down the stair where he saw his new bulter had disappeared before was now. Downstair, talking to the guards.
Still, he wasn't focusing on him. "You're still going to find a way to save him," he said, stepping beside him.
Jareth exhaled sharply. "Of course."
"You don't even know what will help."
Jareth shot him a glare. "Doesn't mean I won't try."
Jonas speed up to there side. "Master Jareth I'm the reason Riven came to your help…I am looking for my sister taken by thr blue skin men. If you can help me I promise to find a way to help your butler."
Riven who was about to pull back Jonas, cause he doesn't want him to promise his young life so easily. Especially if you don't know if it's impossible.
"Good." Jareth had a slight smirk.
Jonas had stiffened, he didn't think he would agree at the same time he wouldn't know what to do. He just spewed this out, without proper thought.
Riven frowned. "You agree?"
Jareth shrugged. "I don't care much for lost causes, but I respect determination to find a sister giving what needed." he gaze deeply at Jonas.
'So I guess this works out…I should trust that Jonas knows what he doing…hes already close to me ans his sister he shouldnt so anything tk us to lose it.' Riven thought.
A voice interrupted them. "Bank Master Jareth."
Everyone turned to see a small kid the one that Riven and the other recognized, as he was running away and warned them about the blue skin men, but what is he doing back here?
Jareth eyebrow perked up. "Garuda."
Garuda nodded at Riven before addressing Jareth. "I heard about Montis." His voice held genuine sympathy, despite looking like a mischievous kid."There might be someone who can help."
Jareth's head snapped toward him. "Who?"
Garuda hesitated. He started remembeing. Garuda at the time was exploring with his other kid friend as both were, about eight they both kids of Exodites who decided to stay in the city.
They both crouched behind a crumbling wall, as they were attracted by a mist in the sky, they peered through the wall into a old desert temple.
Inside, the saw a middle age man, his hands glowing faintly, hovered over a short, battle-worn man, closing his deep wounds with each movement. The taller man, bleeding from his side, watched intently, his gaze filled with both awe and desperation.
They were both shocked that someone would be out, here they made noise in awe that signals them cause them to swaet and run away.
"A Hemomancer. A mysterious one. They say he knows remedies that aren't from this world." Garuda continued.
Jareth narrowed his eyes. "And you believe this?" he said before thinking. 'This couldn't possibly be true, someone so powerful in the city and I never heard of them after a all the matches I attended.'
Garuda shrugged. "I believed what I saw you don't have to believe me."
Riven folded his arms. "Where can we find this person?"
Garuda sighed. "That's the problem. He doesn't stay in one place. He moves through the city like a ghost. No one knows his true name, but the people here call him the The Fleshbinder"
Jareth scoffed. "That sounds made up."
Garuda smirked. "So does half the things you deal with, and yet, here we are."
Riven looked at Jareth. "If there's even a chance this 'The Fleshbinder' can help, we need to find him."
Jareth hesitated before nodding. "Fine."
Garuda pulled out a small parchment, a little drawing of what the Fleshbinder looked like. "Last I heard, he was spotted near the Verdant Maw. If you want to find him, that's where you start."
Mira who was in the back heard, and a bit suprised that a healer will be there. "There that place is overrunning by all types of Specters…Exodites who entered barely return."
Riven nor Jareth really cared anymore how dangerous,bit was where they had to go for the Fleshbinder. As long as they a possible they can get, help for his butler and information in return, they don't care where they had to go.
Jareth took the parchment and glanced at Jareth. "Then let's move."
…
Mira was no longer with the group, because Mira told him if this person really knows the healing method for his butler, after getting the information they will need to be prepared.
While walking Riven started to think. Beside the pattern of the blue skin men not dropping any Exo Essence they also were in the same location or going to were he is all the time.
'Surely there will be here…either fighting someone else for attack us after stopping them.' He thought.
Also, Riven couldn't help but remember something she experienced once here. A clever dangerous part of the city, were also the lowest of Exodites despite all being on the same levels of wealth.
Deep within the scorched expanse of the desert, where sandstorms rage and the sun bleaches the bones of the past, lies a hidden valley known as The Verdant Maw. Enclosed by jagged, rust-colored cliffs that loom like the teeth of a great beast.
As Mira spoke up before here is were you can just feel and hear the presence of Specters inside. However while dangerous it can benefit Exodites who mainly come here to get Exo Essence, there also some thing inside that can benefit yourself greatly.