They paid for a Gatekeeper spell all the way to Dion, staying overnight in the inn there before hopping on a farmer's cart as he plodded his way to the Marshlands in search of giant toads for the end-of-summer festival that Dion celebrated every year. Oonugh put on a strong front before his children, but Lavinia could see the growing weariness in his eyes. She sat close to him on the edge of the cart, her feet dangling over the edge. To her surprise he threaded his fingers through hers, holding her hand. She smiled up at him sadly, and they watched the countryside roll by slowly.
Sprissa grinned at Broud as she watched the two from farther up in the cart, shaking her head at her brother, silently telling him to leave them be. He sighed and rolled his eyes, Ketra teaching still strong in his blood and finding the idea of an Orc and Light Elf together disgusting, despite how he visibly tried to fight it.
Night fell, and the howls emanating from the Tower grew louder. Lavinia's heart began to pound in anticipation, and she turned to look over her shoulder at the top of the tower that could be seen over the hills.
"It sounds like the Caves already." Oonugh said, amused, drawing Lavinia's attention back to him. "It's odd, but somehow I feel like I'm going home. I suppose spending forty years in a place will do that to you." He glanced out at the countryside, his eyes glazing over wistfully as he remembered something from his past.
"What…. What happened in there?" Lavinia asked in a hushed voice. She regretted the words as soon as she uttered them, fearing that he'd have another nervous breakdown from memory. It was an ungrounded fear, as he instead looked at her with a smile and squeezed her hand lightly.
"After Synshlee escaped, I spent the next few minutes fighting off the beasts in there. I held up pretty good, I think, after all the only thing I lost was my leg." He said, pointing to the Bugbear leg. "You might find a Lesser Giant in there somewhere with it grafted on." He chuckled. He sighed, the smile slowly melting away from his face. "I was brought back to the Giant the twins had led Synshlee and I to. He said something in their forgotten language, and next thing I knew I was dragged into the lowest recesses of the Cave." He passed a hand over his eye as if sliding open a door that had been firmly shut before, accepting all that lay behind it. "I spent countless years drifting in and out of a comatose state, I think. I do remember the Giants attempting to study mating habits, as I woke up to find one of the Handmaidens sitting on me several times." Lavinia blushed a bright red and looked down at her knees, now really regretting asking him. "It was ten years ago, I think, when they put me in the cube after dissecting me. I guess they'd had their fill of studying me finally and just left me there until they found another use for me." He said, staring out into the distance again. He squeezed Lavinia's hand reflexively as he was lost in his memories once more.
We'll be arriving soon!" The farmer announced loudly, snapping the horse reins. Broud nudged Sprissa, who had fallen asleep, with his foot, rousing her. Feelings of dread suddenly seized Lavinia's heart and she looked up at Oonugh as if seeing him for the first time.
"Why did you want to go to the Tower when you only have a day left?" she whispered, her eyes large. He smiled at her mysteriously, glancing down at her without moving his head.
"She went to Cruma Tower with this sword she'd found in the Cave of Trials. She met a god on the top floor, can you believe it? Sliced a neat cut in his throat before he speared her too." Damascus' voice suddenly echoed in her head. She opened her mouth and drew in a sharp breath, putting her hand on Oonugh's in alarm. He shook his head at her and lifted his finger to his lips, silencing her. Lavinia bit her lower lip to quell the grief that threatened to show on her face, trying to compose herself.
The farmer let them off at the south end of the Marshlands, and Lavinia stared into the thin mist that blanketed the ground. All was silent save for the soft purring noises a Marsh Stakato made somewhere in the distance. Lavinia knew the Marshlands were dangerous, as bandits always roamed freely there, looking for a fresh kill.
"We should be safe." Broud proclaimed, noticing the look of worry on Lavinia's face. "There are three Orcs here. Most bandits are humans, and know better not to trifle with more than one Orc." He grinned confidently, puffing out his chest in Orcish pride.
"Shall we be off?" Oonugh stated, his voice slightly breathless.
"Don't you need to rest first?" Sprissa asked, worried. Oonugh forced a confident smile on his own face, and stood up as straight as he could.
"I'll be fine. It's best if we get to the Tower quickly. Despite that there are three of us and a powerful Spellsinger, I'd prefer not to get caught unawares." Oonugh said wisely.
They trekked slowly through the marsh; Lavinia using her spells to take down any beasts ahead of them without having to exert themselves for weak monsters. The journey across the marshlands was several hours long, and by the time they reached the Gatekeeper standing patiently inside Tower's ground floor, Oonugh was leaning heavily on Lavinia once again. She stumbled under his weight, yet attempted to carry on, determined to keep her promise to him and not give away his condition to Broud or Sprissa. They were sharper than Oonugh had given them credit for, however, and kept casting worried glances in their direction.
"What are you coming to the Tower for today?" The Gatekeeper asked brightly, happy to see someone other than blood-covered bandits.
"We'd like to go in, please." Oonugh said politely. The Gatekeeper's face fell slightly in disappointment at having to send them on their way so quickly, but she transported them inside anyway.
Lavinia stood in the doorway of the room the Gatekeeper had sent them too, and stared out across the Tower for the first time. It was strange inside, as if the Tower were built in dimensional space. There were floating pathways and rooms attached to them, stretching as far as her eyes could see. Above them was another floor; identical to the one they stood on from what she could tell.
They trudged through the rooms, Oonugh directing them as if he knew they way by heart, despite claiming of having never set foot inside the Tower before. By the time they reached the second floor, another couple of hours later, Oonugh could barely hold himself up, and Lavinia finally stumbled to her knees under his weight.
"What is going on?" Broud demanded, kneeling beside them and pulling Oonugh off of Lavinia. He was breathing heavily, and sweat dripped off of his face. His skin had taking on a grayish color, similar to that Broud had when Lavinia had first seen him.
"Father, are you ill?" Sprissa asked worriedly as she supported him on his other side. Oonugh didn't answer them, and instead pointed in the direction he wanted them to go.
"What is the matter with him?" Broud demanded, turning to look at Lavinia. She bit her lower lip but didn't say anything, and averted their stares. Broud made sure Sprissa could support Oonugh's weight before slipping out from under his arm and hauling Lavinia up by her tunic, glaring angrily into her face. "You KNOW something! Answer me or I'll…"
"Leave her be, she is just my unwilling accomplice." Oonugh said, his voice strangely slurred. Broud slowly set her back on her feet, staring at Oonugh with large eyes. "Take me to the Core room, and I'll explain everything." He promised.
Lavinia took the lead this time, clearing the constructed beasts left behind with her spells. She thanked Broud and Sprissa silently, as her heart couldn't handle much more of watching Oonugh deteriorate. She could concentrate on other things as she fought, and not think about what was to come.
They reached the Core room without fail, the room strangely devoid of the constructed creatures that usually prowled it. The Core sat at the far side of the room, the large sphere sitting on top of the strange metallic device that hummed and beeped with noises they'd never heard before.
Oonugh's hair had turned white on their journey, and he began to look slightly shriveled, as if he were drying up inside. He directed Sprissa and Broud to take him to the center of the room, where he found a dark stain gracing the floor.
"Ah yes… this will be perfect." He said breathlessly as they gently helped him sit. "I will be able to join Synshlee in the abyss from here, I thank you for helping me make it this far."
Sprissa sobbed and covered her mouth, realizing that she had Broud had been helping her father reach his final resting place. Broud growled and grabbed Oonugh by the tattered tunic he wore, shaking him roughly.
"What do you mean by that, huh? What was that talk of talking to that Core thing to make it leave you be?" he demanded, his voice cracking. Oonugh smiled weakly at him.
"I lied." He said simply. Broud released him slowly, his eyes large. He stood, staring at the Orc in disbelief. "Lavinia…" Oonugh called, peering around Broud's waist at her. She had lingered behind, tears pouring from her eyes. He reached a hand out to her, and she walked forward to take it. He pulled her down to kneel in front of him and cupped her cheek with his hand. "I want you to forget all that has happened these past few days." He said gently, wiping the tears from her eyes. "You deserve someone like you, someone younger and not so ridden with guilt and sin." Lavinia sobbed once, and Sprissa sunk to her knees beside them, covering her face with her hands.
"I don't WANT someone else!" Lavinia cried, placing her hand over his and pressing it into her face. She kissed his palm gently and sniffled loudly.
"Shh." Oonugh commanded, lifting his other hand and pressing it to her lips. "You must. I will be a memory, as I should've been long ago." He removed his hand from Lavinia's cheek and placed it over Sprissa's head. "You are the perfect mix of your mother and I, Sprissa. I am as proud of you…" he looked up to Broud, who had turned away from them, "…as I am of your brother."
Broud walked away from them and to the Core, where he suddenly roared and punched the device with all of his might. His hand went through a panel, harmless static electricity surrounding his arm.
"BEEP… BEEP… ERROR." The Core suddenly said, startling them. "INTRUDERS DETECTED, PROTECTION SEQUENCE INITIATED." Broud backed up in shock, reaching for the poleaxe on his back.
"Core, override auto command." A voice came from behind it. From either side stepped the two Dark Elves, as whole and hale as the first time they had seen them.
"What do you want? Leave us in peace!" Lavinia shouted at them tearfully. The twins tilted their heads as if regarding her demand curiously, but their faces did not change.
"Gamlin #2566 is dying." The one wearing armor said.
"Shall we initiate destruction sequence?" Zraa asked in the same emotionless tone. Her sister, whom Lavinia could only assume was Hydrosfear from Synshlee's account blinked several times, as if considering this.
"No need, destruction sequence appears to already be activated." She said. She gazed at the others as if seeing them for the first time. "Initiate retrieval program. Gamlin #2566 must be replaced."
"Over my dead body!" Broud snarled, swinging his poleaxe at them. They disappeared into the air, moving quicker than Broud could see. They appeared again behind him and in unison pushed on his back, and sent him flying across the room and into the opposite wall. He hit the stone hard and fell forward, unconscious. They turned their gaze upon Sprissa and Lavinia, who protectively stood in front of Oonugh.
"Get out of here!" Oonugh hissed. He was unable to sit up now, and attempted to hold himself up by his arms. After receiving a quick set of spells that enhanced her strength of magic from Sprissa, Lavinia began quickly casting at the two sisters, trying to keep them away. They merely stumbled when hit, and did not cease their advancing. Lavinia used her aura spell as they neared, and Sprissa swung her mace with as much force as she could. Like Broud, Sprissa was sent flying across the room by a simple push from Zraa. Lavinia cast another aura spell, sending the twins backwards a few feet. She panted in exertion, as they stood slowly, unscathed.
"Subject shows great resistance." Zraa said, touching a scorched place on her chest.
"Our master will be pleased." Hydrosfear agreed. Lavinia swallowed, her throat suddenly dry, and quickly cast another spell. They disappeared before the bolt of holy lightning struck Hydrosfear, and Lavinia's eyes widened in fright.
They both reappeared in front of her with a choked noise, Oonugh's arms extended and catching them around their necks. He had risen as quickly as they had moved, the technology the Giants had placed within him rivaling their own. The armor was crumbling away from his body, revealing the unhealed dissection the Giants had left him in, but Lavinia was not disgusted by it.
"You will not take another loved one from me again." He snarled at them as the helmet crumbled away. His right eye barely fit into its socket, most of the skin cut away. He lacked an eyelid, the organ seeping tears as it tried desperately to stay moistened. They flipped from his grip in unison and appeared again several feet away, their heads tilted in mock curiosity once more. After glancing at one another silently they disappeared, appearing again in front of the Orc and extending their arms to push them as they had with Sprissa and Broud. Unlike his children, Oonugh merely slid a few feet, coming to a stop next to Lavinia.
"Oonugh…" Lavinia murmured, awed that he had such strength still.
"I love you." He said in a low voice, not looking at her. She froze with her eyes wide, as he crouched like a cat. The twins disappeared once again, and he smirked at Lavinia once before propelling himself forward. He seemingly plucked them from the air as they attempted to slip around him. Without stopping he slammed them into the Core's base, breaking through the machine's paneling and exposing the raw currents of electricity beneath.
"FATHER!" Sprissa screamed, still kneeling on the floor. The electricity didn't stop, Oonugh and the twins' muscles jerking back and forth from it. Lavinia knelt next to Sprissa and covered her head, protecting her from the sight as smoke began to rise from them. Broud, who covered them both with his massive body, protected her from the scene in turn.
"BEEP...ERROR. BEEP…" the Core announced, it's mechanical voice crackling. "TERMIN…A…TING…." It's voice deepened as the sphere suddenly lost its glow, dousing the room in almost complete darkness. Green veins similar to that in the Giant's Cave suddenly sprung to life on the walls, bathing the room in a dim light.
They remained like that, hugging each other, Sprissa and Lavinia crying quietly. Broud suddenly released them as a warm, fire-lit glow suddenly filled the room. Lavinia lifted her head as he stood, Sprissa pulling away. Her mouth parted slightly in awe as the tall figure of an Orc-like man with bronzed skin and braided hair as black as charcoal stood next to the charred statue that had once been Oonugh.
"Great Flame…" Sprissa breathed, standing slowly.
"Paagrio…" Broud said in an equally awed voice. Upon hearing his name, the god turned to look at them, his eyes as red as the deepest flame. He then looked back to Oonugh's form sadly, and reached out a hand to touch it. Lavinia approached the god slowly and sobbed once as Oonugh's form crumbled into black ash.
"Blood and legacy of the great warrior…" Paagrio said, looking at Sprissa and Broud. A drop of blood from the wound left by the twins on Broud's mouth and a lock of hair from Sprissa's head suddenly detached themselves from their owners and floated towards the god. He caught them in his wide hand, and dropped it into the pile of ash. "Flame of birth, flame of renewal." He said next, holding his hand level with his mouth and blowing on it. A tiny ball of flame appeared above it, and he dropped this too into the ash. The hair and blood caught fire, creating a strangely comforting light. Paagrio then turned his red eyes upon Lavinia, who stared at him without fear. "Lend me your tears, child of water." He said gently, reaching out to her. He plucked two teardrops from her eyes, which glistened on his fingertips like jewels. "Love awakens that which was lost, bringing back what was unrightfully severed from this place." He turned his hand over the flame, the tears dropping from it and dousing the fire with a hiss of steam.
Before Lavinia's eyes, a ball emerged from the ashes, shaking slightly. A furry head poked out, and sniffed the air before yawning. Lavinia stared in awe as a creature that resembled an Elpy without a horn shook the black dust from its fur and blinked at Paagrio with sleepy lids. Brown fur the color of Oonugh's hair covered its body except for it's feet, which were scaled and talon-like, similar to that of a dragon, and it's tail, which also resembled that of a dragon. It yawned again and hiccupped, a burst of flame coming from its mouth.
"Father?" Sprissa asked in a small voice.
What did you do to him?" Broud shouted, taking a step towards the god. Awestruck, Lavinia knelt and held her arms out to the creature. It regarded her curiously for a moment before sniffing her hand and bounding into her embrace. It nuzzled her cheek happily and let out a cooing noise.
"Cherish him now as you did before, and he will surely return as he was before my sister tragically ripped him from this world." Paagrio said, smiling a wistful smile.
"I will." Lavinia promised, petting the strange creature that had never before been seen in the world. With that the god disappeared in a burst of flame, leaving the children of Oonugh staring in shock at what had just transpired while Lavinia cuddled the strange new creature that was somehow Oonugh, yet not.
