Asriel gazed out at the town a short ways away. A slight breeze fluttered through the air as he stood atop the grassy hill overlooking the valley below. There was one town that would be within a few hours walking distance, and he could see a third just on the horizon. He took a breath of the crisp dawn air, and one of his ears twitched as he heard a voice called.
"King Asriel! Your highness!" He looked over his shoulder, spotting Gaster frantically running up the hill, with an excited expression on his face. Asriel looked back over the valley.
"Good morning Doctor Gaster...anything I can do for you?"
Gaster waved a small device in the air. "I've...I've found out something I think you should see."
He held out the device to Asriel, who accepted it and stared at the unfamiliar readings. "What am I looking at?"
Gaster cleared his throat, trying to explain. "I've been running several tests on the environment surrounding Mount Ebott since we've escaped, trying to see how the environment has changed, and if we can detect any other traces of magic."
Asriel nodded. "Yes, I remember you telling me about this."
Gaster continued. "At first, I found nothing of note. However, when I did a test slightly north of the village, I found an unusual amount of magic." He pointed to a spike in the readings. "It would appear that the humans do indeed possess magic, but I do not know of how much."
Asriel stiffened, his grip on the device tightening. "Do you think it's...the humans that sealed us below ground?"
Gaster folded his hands behind his back. "One might assume so. It's been the only trace of magic I have been able to find since we've returned to the surface. It might be worth taking a look at."
Asriel nodded, then looked out over the town below. The royal guard was poised, waiting for Asriel's command to begin the invasion. He handed the device back to Gaster.
"Find Captain Undyne at once. Tell her to pull back the royal guard from the village. If the humans do possess magic, I want to know to what extent they can use it. I will investigate this myself."
Gaster nodded, but seemed hesitant. "By yourself? Pardon me, but doesn't that seem a little dangerous?"
Asriel turned to Gaster, growling. "That's an order, Gaster."
Gaster found himself caught off guard by the sudden shift in emotions, but still, he nodded again. "As you wish."
MEANWHILE…
Lucas paced back and forth in his chambers, a mixture of thoughts racing through his mind as he recalled the conversation he had with one of the wizards from the night before. He still shook his head, feeling more disturbed if anything.
"I need answers. About the monsters we apparently sealed beneath Mount Ebott hundreds of years ago." Had been Lucas's question to the wizard, who had come alone. The others had stayed behind. The wizard had stared into his eyes, answering in a smooth tone.
"Ah yes, the ancient war. Tell me, what do you desire to know?"
Lucas had responded. "Frankly, I want to know how the monsters are free. The records say that they were sealed forever, and that they were incredibly weak. So how in God's name did they manage to break out and take over a village in one hour?"
The wizard had of all things, chuckled at the question. For why, Lucas did not know.
"The barrier was always able to be broken. The monsters required seven human souls though to be able to destroy it, or soul power equivalent to that of seven souls. However, since a monster's soul is incredibly weak…"
Lucas had frowned. "The monsters somehow collected seven souls…so, what exactly happens when a monster absorbs a human soul?"
The wizard had been prepared for the question, as he answered immediately. "With a single human soul, that monster would be turned into a very powerful being. However, with seven souls...the monster would not just be powerful, they would very nearly be godlike. Almost nothing would be able to stop them."
Lucas dragged himself back to the present. The problem lay in those final remarks. If this monster king was really as strong as the wizard said he would be, it could quite possibly mean the end of his kingdom, even the end of humanity as a whole. Something would need to be done, and fast. He left his chambers, barking at the commander as he walked by.
"I want soldiers heading to the town of Windgate. It's closest to the village the monsters already control, they'll likely strike there next." The least he could do was slow him down. It would allow him time to try and think of a solution.
LATER…
Asriel grunted as he climbed the small ridge where the old building sat atop. A slow anger boiled within as he neared his destination. There were questions that needed answering. He entered the large building, looking around. The place seemed abandoned, but he knew this was not so.
He took a moment to gaze around the room, before proceeding down a hall to the right. There, a man walked across his path, holding an open book he appeared to be reading. He paused and looked up from beneath his hood, meeting Asriel's gaze, before going back down.
"So, the king of the monsters comes to visit us at last."
Asriel scowled. "'At last'? Have you been expecting me?"
The man snapped the book shut. "One could say that. Myself and the other grand wizards knew of your escape from the Underground the moment the barrier was destroyed. The great disturbance in the magical balance was felt by us all."
Asriel stared down at him, letting one hand move to the hilt of his sword. The man didn't even look at him before speaking.
"You need not draw your weapon. We have no desire to fight." Asriel didn't trust him, and asked warily.
"Perhaps you would be able to answer a question or two of mine…" The wizard turned down the hall.
"That, of course, depends on the question. Walk with me? We can discuss as we move."
Asriel kept his hand close to the blade as he walked beside the wizard.
"Why did you seal us below the surface? Why not just, kill us? It's what the rest of the humans wanted to do anyway…"
The wizard answered with a question. "Well, who's to say the old grand wizards weren't trying to kill you? Humans didn't want to lose more men fighting in the caves, so they ordered the grand wizards to seal you underground, intending on starving you to death. Clearly though, this has failed."
Asriel nodded slightly. "Are you the only wizard that is left? This place looks deserted."
The wizard shook his head. "No. The others are off, likely meditating somewhere. We are however, few in numbers."
Asriel nodded, and the wizard continued. "Now, would you mind if I asked you a question or two? It seems only fair after all."
Asriel grunted. "Go ahead."
"When you came here, did you have the intention on killing us?" The question somewhat surprised Asriel, but he managed to answer.
"To tell the truth, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. But, if it has to be a yes or no answer, then yes, I did have the intention. The wizards sealed us underground for centuries There were times when I considered it might have been more merciful just to have finished us off."
The wizard nodded slowly. "The humans that were alive back then were very different than the ones that live now. You do know this, do you not?"
Asriel grunted again. "You can't fool me. I know that humans can't change."
The wizard paused and looked up at Asriel, who stared back at him. The wizard then responded.
"Interesting words. I can tell there is something deeper though behind that phrase. If you claim to 'know' humans can't change, that means surely you would have evidence. So tell me, is there perhaps...personal reasons that drive you?"
Asriel looked away, continuing to walk with the wizard. After not receiving an answer, the wizard asked.
"What became of their bodies? The ones of the seven humans?"
Now it was Asriel's turn to freeze as he exclaimed. "You know about the souls?"
The wizard chuckled. "You seem to forget that we know of what it takes to break the barrier. We are also aware that over the course of the past centuries, a total of seven human children went missing on the mountain. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happened to them, especially now that we are speaking face to face."
Asriel blinked once. "Their bodies have been properly taken care of."
The wizard continued to speak. "I see...will you at least try and make peace? The king certainly does not want war. I doubt there are many humans that do."
Asriel scoffed. "I don't believe you. All humans know about is war, and how to wage it. My family tried to make peace, and we ended up beneath a mountain for centuries. It's time for humans to experience the fear that we felt. The pain that we had to endure."
The wizard nodded. "Ahh, an eye for an eye it is then, hmm? Revenge, can often be a tricky thing, king of monsters. Now, ask yourself this. If you truly believe what you say, that all humans deserve to feel how your people have felt, does this truly include everyone? Do you mean every man, every woman, every child? Many humans have done nothing to harm you. They are innocent, with no blood on their hands. So if you bring harm to them...are you really any better than the humans that wronged you all those centuries ago?"
Asriel turned around, beginning to leave. "This has been an…'interesting' conversation."
The wizard spoke after him. "Indeed."
With the one word, Asriel left the building, casting one more cold look over his shoulder. As he began to descend, he felt the smallest of pinches in his chest, from what he couldn't guess. He continued his trek down the ridge towards the village.