The Real Prisoners
It lay deep within the bowls of the Lord's keep. Only a select few knew of its whereabouts, and they had all been sworn to secrecy lest they face his wrath.
No one, not even the Ashen Lord's Knights of Omen, knew why their Lord had spared and brought this relic from the old world. Some say it held the key that had allowed their Lord to ascend to his throne while others whisper rumors about how it leads to another world entirely. Only fools that thought he brought it simply for the décor it offered were often questioned if they were ill.
No one truly knew their Lord's reasons for bringing the painting with them when they traversed to their new home, but they never asked.
For not even Abell knew his reasons for bringing the Painting of Ariamis.
Hidden behind layers of cobble, rock, and ash the great painting lay displayed in a chamber just large enough to house its immense scale.
It was the last relic of Anor Londo that had not been burned to the ground back when he had invaded the ancient city. The details held within each individual leaf, rock, and snow that could only be achieved by a true master made it almost lifelike.
Abell recalled when he had first visited that cold painted world. The creatures were sick with rot and decay, and they proved hostile again and again.
From the bloated, toxic hollows that breathed fireballs to the bird-women that tried pecking his eyes out the painting of Ariamis was always hostile.
So why was it that he stood at its base now?
Torches lined up the wall to illuminate the painting as Abell gazed into the cold world that it portrayed.
Was it to visit the crossbreed that was the warden of Ariamis whom also guarded the only exit from the painting?
Just as he had done ages ago Abell began to reach out towards the canvas.
Could it be just simple curiosity to see what has become of the painted world after so much time has passed?
His armored hand touched down onto the fabric with a fragile gentleness. As though if he didn't the whole thing would burst into flames.
A white light began forming around his hand, then his arm and up to his shoulder as he was slowly being sucked into the cold world. The first time he experienced this he had felt hesitance and uneasiness, but now he welcomed the firm grip of whatever power that pulled people into the painting.
As he was completely consumed by the painting of Ariamis a final question went through his mind.
Would he slaughter every single forlorn creature that took refuge within just so he could have the crossbreed all to himself?
Abell opened his eyes as the memory was already fading away back into his consciousness. He was lying in his empty bed with only the dagger of that crossbreed held against his chest.
It was cleansed of that young warrior's blood that he killed atop Beacon's ruined tower.
Gently, like any would do with an infant, Abell cradled the dagger closer to him before thinking back to how the flames looked when the Painting of Ariamis burned to the ground before his feet.
…
Father Rinaldor, accompanied by Tolek, walked down the silent halls of what used to be their enemies keep. They passed piles of rubble and broken metal men as they continued their walk throughout what was soon to be Grandahl's new school.
Before they had to all clump together in the limited spaces of their Lord's old keep, and even after they had come to Remnant space was limited.
Renovations were still underway back at Hedrikon, but here in what used to be Beacon things were moving at a slow but steady pace.
It seemed that Tolek was talking while Rinaldor was lost in his thoughts. Glancing her way he kindly asked for her to repeat herself.
A glare was aimed at him by the red-headed woman as she responded, "I had asked why you even wear such a ridiculous mask. Aren't you supposed to be a priest?"
He smiled beneath his oddly fashioned mask as his muffled voice came through, "While it is true that some may find this particular headwear unfit for a man of faith, such as myself," Tolek rolled her eyes at that as Rinaldor motioned to himself, "The knowledge it offers is far more valuable than a little bit of pride in the public eye."
"Just saying it hurts your image to those that follow you is all I'm saying. Not to mention it makes you look like a cult leader." The last part was mumbled, but Rinaldor chuckled lightly at it.
"Better a cultist priest than a mad dog." He fired back and had to duck as an armored glove nearly hit his head. When he looked back he saw a spark in Tolek's eyes that told him a verbal war was about to start.
Just before they could though, the sound of chains clanking together filled their ears. Stepping out into the main courtyard both looked down at the survivors from the Fall of Vale.
They had been working on clearing out the debris from the battles fought here only a few days prior. Their clothing was beginning to stain and darken from working day and night, but that hadn't been a concern of his as of late.
Heavy iron chains linked them together at both the arms and legs to make it easier to catch in case they tried escaping. When Abell's forces laid siege to Beacon they had found survivors on both sides, and Rinaldor made sure that those in need of serious medical attention were treated.
Now Grandahl's prisoners they were being forced to help remake this school that once taught Hunters into one that would teach hexers.
With Tolek taking her battalion back to Hedrikon to recover their own injuries it was Rinaldor and his Crusaders that would need to hold the fort for now. And until replacements arrived to relieve them of their duty he was to be the warden of these prisoners.
Neither of them paid any attention to the glares or looks of rebellion that sparked in a few of the prisoners' eyes, but those were snuffed in an instant when a guarding deacon whipped the air around them.
Sometimes an outburst would break out, but those that did were silenced for good when an armored Crusader came over to break them.
"You know, I never thought a man's legs could break so easily from a single swing of a Great Mace Tolek. Have you?" Rinaldor looked up to the bleak, grey sky that had set in ever since that Grimm Dragon lay frozen atop Beacon tower.
"Not really. Guess these weaklings just aren't as strong as those light bearers are. I mean, I can remember when a basic hollow soldier…" She went on as Rinaldor stopped listening, again. His mind drifted to those that bore the power of the light, or when he compared it to the old world, the strength of flame.
It didn't scare him as much as it should have that they possessed such power.
Of course, those that were captured with that gift were being experimented on before being put to rest.
Rinaldor was no monster, and with his faithful background he felt those with that unholy gift deserved a swift and merciful death. He did find it rather intriguing with how diverse the strength of flame varied within each bearer.
'Perhaps it deals with how many Grimm they kill?' The Grimm didn't possess souls from their understanding, and without one lacked any trace of flame. It was why Abell took a liking to them as much as he did.
There were a few that had killed some of his deacons, but even then he made sure they received a quick death. If only to ensure they couldn't cause any more damage to their ranks.
Tolek mumbled something beside him. Again glancing at her he kindly asked her to repeat herself for him.
"You're too soft Rin." She said with a sigh, and when he didn't speak she went on, "We're still trying to establish a stronger foothold here, and seeing how rebellion still shines in those prisoners eyes is a bad omen."
"What are you suggesting General?" A feral grin took place as she picked up a small rock before holding it up in her hand.
"Their spirits need to be broken before a spark ignites in any one of them. If an ember is allowed to alight, then a flame will be born, and we all know how badly fire can burn." The rock shattered within her grasp with ease before she finished with, "That is why you need to snuff out any hint of a spark."
He thought on it for all but a moment before saying, "I assure you that everything is under both Grandahl's and my control. My followers will ensure that no such thing shall happen, and it is not like losing this place will be any true loss for our Lord."
Rinaldor didn't even have time to move as Tolek slammed him into one of the pillars that kept an overhang standing. Her face promised death and he wouldn't be surprised if her hair were to start spewing the same flames she had just mentioned.
"This was our Lord's second victory over the flame that guards this world, and you are to say that it was unimportant?! Many of our brothers and sisters died to gain ground and many more will die for our Lord if it means even some of us can have a fresh start." Rinaldor kept calm as he looked into the white pupils that sat within the black, depthless eyes that were Tolek's.
Eyes that every one of themheld.
A quiet silence filled the walkway as both stared the other down, and it was he who broke the silence first.
"You say I'm soft General? They should consider themselves lucky for not being prisoners like the ones rotting back in Hedrikon's dungeons." Rinaldor's voice was filled with venom as he whispered to her, "They are lucky to not have to deal with a brute such as you for a warden."
Tolek let him go as that look of anger still held fast, but just as she was about to say something he stopped her.
"How fares your 'prize' back in our beloved new homeland?" Patting himself down he looked up to her as she said, "Don't try and change the subject you-"
Again she was interrupted, but this time by the shrill high voice of her sister Mel.
The sorceress came nearly skipping down the corridor, only not going the full force for the account of the grumbling old man that she was wheeling towards them.
Tolek sent a toothy grin Rinaldor's way before whispering, "We'll finish this conversation later. Mel!" Turning to the sorceress Tolek scooped the comparably smaller woman into her arms while Rinaldor greeted the visibly shaken Grandahl.
"Have a fun ride Headmaster?" Grandahl shot him a glare, but it lost some of its venom on the account that his eyes were still spinning.
"Damn brat nearly gave me a heart attack with all that skipping. How go the repairs for my new school Father?" The wicked priest hummed at the question as Mel began talking Tolek's ear off. Whether the General was annoyed or not was well hidden with how happy she seemed at the moment.
Now that was a bad omen if he's ever seen one.
"The West wing is nearly complete, but will require another two weeks at best. As for the others they are either still buried beneath rubble or have been taken as a 'home' of sorts for the Grimm." The last part was said with distaste as he still felt uneasy with working beside Abell's new pets.
Grandahl repositioned himself to look out at the prisoners. "Come Father. Let me show you something." Nodding both men made their way towards the cliffside of the academy without speaking a word to each other.
Rinaldor raised a brow when he saw how close the old hexer wheeled himself to the edge.
'It would take only one push…' He banished such dangerous thoughts from his mind immediately. Questions would be raised if the new Headmaster was to suddenly disappear, but his time would come soon enough.
"What do you see Father?" Not sure what he meant at first, Grandahl pointed towards the land that separated the academy from the ruins of Vale.
"I see land and a ruined kingdom before us. One that is in need of desperate repair, and yourself Headmaster?" The older man shook his head and mumbled something to himself that Rinaldor didn't catch.
Grandahl hummed as he thought on his own answer. A hand came up to stroke his long, white beard in thought.
"I see what we are capable of Father. All this land now belongs to our Lord and liege, but what I truly see from this scene before us is that we are conquerors." Grandahl held a hand out below the ruins of Vale and crushed it within his palm. "This world belongs to us Rinaldor, and all we must do is reach out and take it."
"And what if this world withers and rots like the previous." It was all the more reason that he needed to get his message out, but The Ashen Lord's puppets were everywhere.
Watching.
Grandahl settled back into his wheelchair as a dangerous light filled his eyes as he spoke his next words.
"Then we simply move on to the next world, then the one after that and the one after that."
…
Two months after the fall…
It had been raining the night that he was taken here to this hellhole.
Heavy, thick raindrops were poured down atop his battered body as he recalled being dragged along what felt like a stone path. Lighting cracked its whip while thunder hammered its drums as his semi-conscious vision allowed him to make out distinct shapes all around him.
Humanoid silhouettes flanked him as they kept pace with whatever had been dragging him. Torches were held by a few, but it did little to illuminate their faces thanks to the heavy cloaks they wore to obscure their faces. Their eyes, however, shone brightly like a star in the night sky, but none of them looked down at him.
Trying to crane his neck back he recalled seeing a slightly bigger silhouette riding atop of some dark creature. It had taken him a moment to realize that it was a Nightmare that was pulling him at the time.
Struggling to free himself of the bonds that held him he felt only the response of his organic limb, but not his synthetic one. When he pushed past the dizziness in his head away to look over at the limb he grimaced like he had when he lost it the first time.
Any sparks that could have flown from the wires that limply hung out of the opening had long since been lost. Whether it had been to the rain or that his aura could no longer power it was lost to him as he looked past the synthetic nub to what lay beyond.
A crack of lightning illuminated the sky long enough for him to catch a glimpse of Abell's keep off in the distance. The sheer size of their enemy's fortress told him just how large a threat they were dealing with here.
Every kingdom needed to be warned and prepared if they wanted to avoid another Vale incident.
He needed to warn Ozpin and Glynda as soon as possible.
When the flash faded the keep was once more shrouded in darkness, looking like some great beast ready to devour the world.
"Speak!" A sharp slap brought General Ironwood back to the present as he recalled where he was.
The dungeons deep below Abell's keep.
It had been two months give or take since he had been captured by the enemy and imprisoned. He couldn't be accurate with how long it has been due to the fact that no sunlight could reach down here, and he couldn't find a way out the last time he tried escaping.
"I said speak!" The warden, or temporary one at that, raised his voice at him once more. James winced when the man ran a deep cut across his left knuckle.
When they had found out about his aura they didn't hesitate to be more brutal in his beatings and interrogations. Of course, aura was as much a curse as it was a blessing.
Once they figured out how much he could take before his aura depleted the torturers made sure to leave him alone long enough for some to come back.
They were keeping him alive, but just barely enough to keep him weak.
"I already told you everything I know about aura." He had to wheeze out the answer while looking at an interesting section of the sewage like room. The stone down here turned into a dark, sickly green while a cell door remained open behind the warden.
It was to taunt him into trying to escape again, but Ironwood knew better now with how heavily guarded these cells were. He couldn't see them, but he knew that two of Tolek's men guarded the entrance with one on either side.
The warden's white eyes flashed beneath the red hood he wore.
Two roughly cut eye holes were cut along either side of the black crest of Hedrikon, and the glowing white eyes were the only thing to be seen within. The warden wore black, tattered robes that obscured his entire body.
Brown leather gloves gripped the dagger tightly while the other held a small branding iron. James stopped being curious about how it never went out after being on the receiving end so many times already.
"I know you to be lying to me dear general, and that is not very kind." Ironwood had been a part of interrogations many times, so why did he feel so unnerved by this man's calm demeanor. He knew the answer, but his spirit wasn't yet willing to admit defeat just yet.
When it appeared to the warden that he wouldn't be talking again, he stood up and let out another disappointed sigh. A sound that James was getting used to hearing after some time, but it also meant something else as well.
"Which piece are you willing to part with today dear general?"
James remained silent as he looked down to the shackles that bound his one wrist to the rotting wooden table that sat between them. Large chunks of flesh were missing from his arm all the way up to his shoulder, and they did not heal properly over time.
Leaving large red and black splotches all across his arm when the branding iron was used to seal the wound shut.
The warden moved closer as James prepared himself once more for the pain to come.
After the branding had been done once more, James had been roughly escorted back to his cell. A sack had been pulled over his head to make it even harder for him to try and figure his way out if he made another attempt at freedom.
The only silver lining was that there seemed to be no other prisoners that he could hear, so he could concentrate better on mapping out the dungeons.
Thrown into his cell without a second thought his two guards locked the cell door shut before they began walking away. They wouldn't need to guard him with how weak he currently was, plus the iron bars were reinforced.
Not to mention the Grimm stalking these corridors would hear him even if he tried anything with the door and alert the guards.
It was these times that he now cherished the most for it allowed him to relax and regain what little remained of his former strength. Ironwood's attention was brought to the second body that seemed to also be occupying what was originally only his cell.
The man wore the same tattered rags that he had been forced into, with his trousers being the only exception. An abnormally large hat obscured the man's face, but the slight tilt upwards seemed to indicate that he hadn't been asleep.
"Oh? Yet another prisoner brought in have we?" The man's voice was muffled beneath the oddly sized hat, but could still be heard clearly. He sounded put out, almost bored even with how the rim of the hat tilted back down, but Ironwood wasted no time in walking right up to his new cellmate.
"Are you one of them?" From what he could see of the man's near naked body there were lacerations, bruises and even a few recent scars in places that should have killed this man.
"Another dense one hmm? If how injured I appear to be in wasn't a big enough clue for you then you're as thick as a crystal lizard's hide." The man waved him off, but Ironwood needed answers.
"I meant are you like them. From what I've seen every single person in this kingdom has glowing white eyes." James saw it through the helms of the guards, and one time what lay beneath those dark helms.
It was unnatural. They were human, but warped to some degree that he couldn't comprehend.
"I can assure you that I am not one of the Chosen's puppets. He stripped me of my scrap of humanity long before you came here dear Ironwood." He snickered from what must have been the questioning brow James showed, and before he could ask the man stopped him.
"Some of the guards here have loose lips, and no one pays attention to the quiet ones. Well, most of the time anyways." There seemed to be more to tell, but the man wouldn't speak as James asked for his name instead.
"Hmm? My name you ask? I was once known as Big Hat Logan. A master of sorcery and spells whom traveled to Lordran in search of the Pale Drake once known as Seath."
"Once known?"
"Yes. The self-proclaimed 'Lord' stripped me of my name and title when I went against his rule. Now this hat is a reminder to me of what I once was, and hides what has become of me."
It was then that Logan stood up and walked closer to Ironwood. The cell was darker towards the back, but as he approached James' eyes widened once more at seeing how horribly the man burned was.
All his skin hung like leather to his bones and was darkened to a dark maroon color. The rag that barely covered his chest did little to conceal the same scar that he had seen on Tyrell right before Abell had executed him.
Getting a better look at it now he saw how it looked more like a disease than any normal mark or scar.
"He burns his prisoners alive?" Shocked by even the thought of it alone told him that this man was an absolute psychopath. It was all the more reason that he needed to warn Atlas and the rest of Remnant as a whole if they were going to put a stop to this monster.
"No you fool. This is what those that were branded by the Darksign look like without their humanity. Even with the curse broken we're still forced to face the unfortunate reality that it may take a few generations before all traces of the curse fades away. Perhaps mankind will forever look this way? But then how do the people of this world retain their human appearance without…"
Logan continued to ramble on more to himself than James, and he was thankful for that as the man in front of him must have been tortured to the point where his mind began to go.
"Do you find me mad Ironwood?"
James found it a little difficult to look at the man, but he's seen plenty of gruesome wounds to stomach the sight. "You go on about curses and losing your humanity. I have more reason to believe that you gave yourself that title in your deteriorating mind's attempt to make sense of who you once were."
James went to sit on what has been acting as a bed for the last couple of weeks. It was just a wooden board frame being held up to the wall by two rusty iron chains with a thin layer of hay for his comfort.
"All of this, from this dungeon to the man leading this 'kingdom'; you're all just a group of fanatics living in a madhouse. So yes, I do find you more than just mad Logan."
When the man began to chuckle before going on to full out laughter had James positioning himself on the bed to jump away in case the man truly lost it.
"O-oh I haven't had that good of a laugh ever since my last pupil locked himself in a small storeroom." When Logan managed to get a hold of his laughter he put on a more serious front as he smiled at James. "Would you like to hear everything about this kingdom and its Lord?"
He's been starved for any information on Abell or his forces ever since he first met Tyrell, but seeing the source he couldn't tell if it would be credible or not. He didn't have any other options at the moment, and there would be plenty of time to kill it seemed.
"Tell me everything you know."
"First tell me your name… your first that is. Then answer me this question. Do you have people that care for you back from wherever you came from?"
James found the second question a little strange given that they had only just met not even ten minutes ago, but if it meant more information then he could give Logan that.
"My name is James Ironwood, and yes, there are those that are worrying about where I am or even if I'm still alive. I need to get back to them as soon as possible." He said it with such certainty that he knew was true.
He had to get back to Glynda, to Oz.
"Thank you James. Now I will tell you my people's history."
And so the once great mage did.
He told James of the Age of Ancients, where the world was shrouded in a desolate fog ruled over by everlasting dragons. Then came whom would become the future Lord of Sunlight: Gwyn.
Logan told him tales of how Gwyn and his allies defeated the eternal dragons by piercing their immortal scales with bolts of pure lightning. He mentioned how it was Seath, the Pale Drake whom had betrayed his immortal brethren by telling Gwyn of their weakness.
The Lords ruled over the kingdom of Lordran during what was described as the Age of Fire.
However the First Flame, which had granted the Lords' their strength, began to fade away as mankind began to show signs of flourishing. Thus began the age of man, or as some have described it, the Age of Dark.
Resisting the course of nature, Gwyn sacrificed himself to the First Flame to keep it alight, and to prevent the birth of the Dark Lord amongst the humans.
Logan told James of what their world was like after Gwyn had "linked the Fire", and the many hardships of man shortly following afterwards.
"This did not fix anything though. For once Gwyn had committed this great sin, he doomed mankind to a near eternity of constant death and rebirth." Logan shuttered as James went to ask for him to elaborate. "The Curse of the Undead branded many before they even knew it themselves."
Slowly, Logan drew a finger to the grotesque scar that was firmly above his left bosom before whispering, "The Darksign brands all Undead."
"Are you telling me that all of you are immortal?" He didn't believe it, not any of it really, but after seeing what power the Maidens could wield the line between fantasy and reality blurred.
"There is no such thing as true immortality James. Remember that." The man's hat tilted up a bit to reveal a small smirk, but James felt that it was related to something else. "At one point one could say that yes, we were close to immortality, but it wasn't foolproof nor worth the cost."
"What do you mean?"
"True we would not age, need neither sleep nor food, but two things an Undead needed in order to keep their sanity were souls and a purpose to live." Logan sighed as he adjusted himself against the damp stone wall. "Without either one would turn hollow."
"Hollow?" James echoed as Logan nodded in confirmation.
"Just like any other person, if one were to lose their purpose in life then they would become defeated, broken. Same rules apply to any Undead, only this time they lose their mind and become an empty husk that blindly goes around in search of more souls to consume."
The thought troubled James, but he was still having a hard time believing any of this information to be true. "Earlier you said 'Chosen'. Did you mean the leader of this army?"
"Yes. Abell was the Chosen Undead who, as long as he had a bonfire to return to, was as close to as a real immortal would be. He was the one that defeated Gwyn and allowed the First Flame to fade into darkness, but he had only done so under the Primordial Serphants' guiding."
Sensing the question before he could ask it Logan held up a hand to silence James before saying, "No, he is no longer immortal as he forsook that curse when he let the fires fade."
"So he can be killed is what you're saying."
"I don't know. I haven't seen the light of day since the first few weeks of arriving on your world." He was crazy, and he was all the more of a fool for even considering believing a single word of Logan's tall tale.
"Why does Abell keep prisoners of his own people?" Trying to glean any truths from Logan was a struggle, but he had to keep trying. At that question his cellmate sighed as he answered with a sarcastic tone, "For 'going against 'mankind's true Lord' those few that could see through the fog ended up having their humanity stripped and locked away in cells."
It was then that Logan scoffed before muttering under his large hat, "Makes me wonder who the real prisoners are?"
It sounded more like he just had those that defied him tortured and burned like Logan had it seemed, and deciding to play along with the man's story he asked "How did he come to have so much control over your people?"
This seemed to stump the old mage as he went silent for a few moments before answering. "I haven't heard much, but from what I could gather from my previous apprentices they heard the hexers talking about the Dark Soul: one of the four souls found during the Age of Ancients and the one that had birthed mankind."
"Apparently he somehow came into possession of it, and that is what allowed him to cross over to your world and gain control over what remained of ours." James' head dropped down as he shook his head since it seemed that he wouldn't be getting anything else out of Logan.
The man was too far gone it seemed and so the General would need to find another way of gathering any actual intel.
"Still find me mad do you James?" He looked up to see the yellow teeth of Logan as the man grew a psychotic smile before lifting his hat up so James could see his entire face.
He was just like the guards, but only this time no white light shined within his black hollowed out eye sockets.
"Good that you don't, because I'm still trying to wrap my head around things myself."
…
"Get up worm." The familiar barking of General Tolek had James slowly picking himself up from the cold stone floor. He found it more comfortable than the rotting wood that Logan had no qualms taking over.
Without a word James silently walked out of his cell when Tolek opened the door for him. Saying anything would just earn him another beating, and he needed all the strength he could muster to make it through each day.
No words were shared between them as two guards fell in sync walking behind James while Tolek lead him to who knew where. He couldn't be completely sure as she usually was the one to interrogate him about the other kingdoms, and only beat him when he refused to cooperate.
He didn't give up any useful information to them, and he still wouldn't have his spirit broken.
So it didn't come to him as a surprise when Tolek had him sat down and ordered the guards to leave them. Both moved like robots without any hint of disobedience, but his attention was drawn back to his warden when she sat down opposite of him.
"Wondering why I brought you here?"
"To try and interrogate me for information about Remnant's kingdoms, to beat me senselessly when I refuse to cooperate, or to preach about how mighty you are after conquering Vale?" He said that last bit with some spite as he hadn't believed it for a while when they had informed him of Vale's fall.
"You could try all of the above, but perhaps if you're still here in the coming week or not." Tolek folded her arms as she waited for what she knew James was about to ask.
"What are you talking about?"
James bit his tongue when Tolek opened her mouth once more to speak, but not before drawing a dagger and slamming it into the wooden table. The white flames danced brightly behind the helmet she always seemed fond of wearing as she let go and left the dagger in the middle of the table.
"Speak when spoken to worm." Taking a moment she collected herself before continuing. "With your refusal to cooperate with us our Lord has decided that you are no longer of use to our cause, and will be properly executed."
He couldn't say that he wasn't expecting this, but it still left a sour taste in his mouth that he would die without having at least found out some useful information about the enemy.
"However…" James looked back to the warden of this prison with a glare as she seemed to be enjoying his anger. Her shoulders seemed to slump a little as she seemed to almost growl out, "Our Lord has decided to give you a chance to earn your freedom if you so choose to do so."
"Exactly what would he have me do in order to earn such a thing?" James was skeptical, but with how much it was making Tolek seethe beneath her armor it might be genuine.
"Well, you'll be competing for your freedom rather than outright get a shot at it, but I'll let you figure out what that means." So it was going to be a competition it seems, but seeing how violent Abell is James knew there would be bloodshed involved.
And most likely death.
"And if I manage to beat my competitors?"
Tolek, instead of saying anything stood up and walked to the door leading out of the small interrogation room, but not before turning back once. "This world's warriors are strong since they could fend off the Grimm for so long. Our Lord wishes to test the might of this world's warriors against one of the nightmares born from ours."
Without another word Tolek walked out of the room and ordered the guards to see him back to his cell. James winced as they roughly pulled him up from the chair and began to walk him back to him and Logan's cell.
The pain didn't come from how they handled him, but rather the small dagger that Tolek no doubt left on purpose for him to sneak away with.
If he was going to get out of here alive, then he would need every advantage he could get.
…
He and Logan had been escorted from their cell earlier this morning to be brought to a large, empty room where they had just been waiting the last few hours. As time passed on more prisoners arrived before being left behind by their guards.
In total there seemed to be nearly a hundred of those that spoke out against Abell. Compared to how many seemed to be supporting the Ashen Lord the number was small, but to James it was still more than he initially thought.
He didn't bother to speak to any of them after he and Logan had talked. When he looked around all he saw were more burn victims with their eyes gouged out.
'What kind of monster does this to people?' It didn't make it any better seeing that they were Abell's own people, and frankly it just fueled his resolve to make sure this man was brought down.
"Listen up you worms!" All of their attention was drawn to Tolek as she stood up on a balcony above them. Flanked by every single guard that had been escorting their own prisoners it looked more like a show of power than any actual need of protection.
She looked down on them all with a disgusted look on her face as she took them all in.
Their eyes met for a moment, and it seemed that a glint shined in her eye when they did, but she broke it off to speak. "Today you all will be competing for the chance to earn your freedom from this wretched place."
Murmurs could already be heard amongst those closer to him and Logan as James patiently waited for her to continue. "Our merciful Lord has deemed every single one of you with a second chance to start anew. He even went as far as to say that you may choose to leave this kingdom for the world outside our walls if you wish."
The murmurs grew louder this time, and it seemed to drive her patience as she slammed the metal railing resulting in a loud clang. "Quiet! Now, as merciful as our Lord may be, he still holds each of you accountable for your treason. That is why only one of you will be leaving this hellhole alive."
"This isn't what he promised-!" Someone from the crowd shouted out before a thick crunching sound cut them off.
James looked around for the source of the voice before seeing a thinly built man lying motionless on the ground a few yards away. The black shaft of a crossbow bolt protruded from his neck as crimson blood began pooling beneath his corpse.
"Anyone else?" Tolek hadn't been the one to fire, but rather one of the guards closer to her. No one seemed to take a breath even as she went on. "Good. Now don't give me those sniveling looks. Think of the positive side: you have one less competitor standing between you and freedom!"
James bit down on his anger as best as he could. To murder a man in cold blood, just like that, it was cruel.
"You all will be given a choice of arms before we begin, and will be moved to the Crucible within the hour. Choose wisely worms, your lives depend on it." With that said they were all corralled to an arms room filled with various weapons.
They were all very basic and looked more suited to a time back before Dust.
Halberds, short swords, a few shields and small daggers were some of the choices that James could see. He had to act fast however as everyone began rushing to find a weapon that best suited them before they were all gone.
Shoving a few out of his way James thought back on his training with melee. With only one arm a halberd would be difficult, and these maces would be outclassed by almost anything with a further range.
Weapons were going fast as James rushed down the racks passing by small wooden round shields and what appeared to be walking sticks. Luck seemed to favor him at the moment as he came upon a sturdy broadsword.
Inspecting the weapon James took notice of a few nicks along the flat face of the blade, but other than that it looked to be almost newly made. After struggling a little with the belt he managed to secure the blade in its hilt as everyone looked to have been armed.
A few were left with nothing but their fists, but he couldn't afford to aid them right now if he was going to get out.
It didn't take long after for Tolek's guards to begin moving them to this 'Crucible.' A heavy iron gate blocked their way, but an unseen mechanism had it lifted up within under a minute before they were all forced out into the arena.
James held up his hand to shield his eyes from the pale sunlight that shown down from the arena's wide open roof. Grey clouds covered the sky like a blanket with enough cracks to allow some light to shine down atop them.
A flat expanse of space made up most of the Crucible's main floor with no real distinctive features that he could note. That reason being that he couldn't see any distinctive features due to the fact that it looked like a bottomless pit.
The only thing keeping all of them from falling to their deaths was the four way bridge that met up in the center of the circle.
The inky black of the pit seemed like a great maw of some terrible beast, just waiting for anyone unfortunate enough to fall into its awaiting maw. James knew that beast would be well fed this day, and by the looks of his competitors they knew it too.
"Better put on a good show for the audience, because they want to see some blood spilt." Tolek's course voice sent a short shiver down his spine as she called back her guards before leaving them all in the Crucible.
James hadn't noticed it since his mind was on the pit at the time, but there were hundreds- no thousands of spectators cheering and shouting for the bloodbath that was soon to ensure.
Some looked to be soldiers wearing that devil armor while others wore cloaks or robes of some kind. All of them had the glowing white eyes that were clearly distinctive even from this far away.
It didn't take James long to see where the Ashen Lord sat.
Nearly directly across from where he now stood sat a large curved balcony. The insignia of his kingdom hung on banners on either side of Abell while he sat in the middle. It came to somewhat of a surprise to him when he spotted no guards protecting the Lord.
Was he just that confident that none of these prisoners would try to make an attempt on his life?
His attention was drawn away from Abell when the sounds of two other gates began to open.
"Oh dear." Logan muttered beside him as dozens of Grimm Creepers and Beowolves crawled their way past the gates on either side of them.
They would have begun charging straight towards them had it not been for two ashen walls that had erected from the bridges themselves.
'Dust. It has to be a mechanism or semblance of some kind right?' He wasn't entirely sure what he just witnessed since he's never heard of a semblance that could materialize something to that degree.
This entire arena seemed too 'medieval' to even run proper dust-powered electronics, so that was out.
James stared directly at the man that sat on the throne with a steel gaze from across the bridge.
All eyes from the audience seemed to turn directly to him as Abell stared back from afar. Unnerving to say the least, James found out that everyone had gone silent since the howls of the awaiting Grimm became much clearer.
It was Abell who broke eye contact first as a man was rolled up in a wheelchair next to him.
"Release the Grimm already!" A voice came from the audience as it was soon followed by another then more. As if they woke up from a daze life swiftly returned to the surrounding spectators as they called out for their blood.
Hard to tell from so far away James saw the Ashen Lord pull something familiar out before holding it up to his face. His eyes widened when he recognized it as the same black flame that Ozpin had secured right before everything went to hell.
"What is that thing Logan?" Even though James thought him mad, the proclaimed sorcerer was as close to an ally that he had in this place. Looking past to where he was pointing at Logan suddenly looked very uncomfortable. "What is it?" He asked again as the man actually began to shake a little.
"The Dark Soul."
"You all are traitors to your kingdom and your Lord." The spell seemed to take hold of the audience once more as not a single one of them made a sound. Abell still sat in his throne as he looked down at all of them, but James couldn't see his expression due to the helmet and distance.
"Each of you came to this world prepared to serve me, so that we could rebuild what the Sinner had taken from us all. To start anew and break the endless cycle of the curse, but together." James found it strange how even the Grimm seemed to have quieted down somewhat as Abell went on.
"Others had their chance to help us, but instead turned us away. Some even tried to have us taken out before we could even begin!" Even though Abell didn't look at him, James could still feel the thousands of eyes that looked right at him.
"Today only one of you will be given a chance to earn your freedom. The rest will die, here in this arena. You all made your choice long ago, and now you will face the consequences."
"Every Grimm here now contains a small piece of the Dark Soul. Slay them and take it for your own. Whoever holds the most doesn't matter, but what does is that the more you claim the easier your freedom will come to you."
James wasn't following at first, but taking a look at the Grimm his eyes widened in shock. No red eyes regarded him, but instead soulless black sockets had the hairs on his neck stiffen.
What was this? These Grimm were warped from their normal brethren, but whether that was a good or bad thing he had yet to determine.
Feeling a hand on his arm James turned to look at Logan who wore a serious expression now that Abell explained the rules. "He's lying, James. Whatever you do don't kill any of those Grimm if you can help it. Kill as little of them as you can manage, and stick close to me."
He didn't feel confident in Logan who could easily be trying to win for himself, but it was better than trusting Abell's word.
"Understood, but what about the other prisoners?"
"We let them take care of the Grimm, and I have a plan for when they turn on us." James was about to say something, but Abell began speaking once more.
"A piece of advice: killing someone with any shards of the Dark Soul will grant their shards to you."
"Remember to stay close." Logan whispered as the barriers holding the Grimm at bay fell straight back into the bridge they were created from.
"Begin!"
James held his footing as both man and Grimm charged one another, but both he and Logan remained stationary as the others rushed ahead. They paid no attention to either of them and before long both men found themselves at the gate they came through.
The audience roared as the first drop of blood was spilled.
Calling it a massacre would be putting it kindly. It was absolute chaos at the center of the bridges where men and Grimm slaughtered one another. James watched in both disgust and horror as he watched what happened to those that were too weak to fight.
If you could survive the Grimm and even manage to kill one, then a backstab from your fellow man would leave you bleeding. Either dead or bleeding out, bodies began piling up all across the bridge.
His blood boiled as he watched this complete disrespect of life unfold before him, and he hadn't realized that he had already began to move until Logan was shouting behind him.
Ahead were around ten or so prisoners left as they fought over the two remaining Beowolves. A large, heavy set man decapitated one of the wolves before twisting around faster than James initially thought he could to swing his bloody halberd into the chest of someone standing behind him.
The force behind the swing had the unfortunate man flying off the bridge entirely and into the abyss below.
A woman with two daggers dodged past his heavy swings before plunging both into his fat neck, but the gruesome death wasn't what had him stopping. It was the black and white flames that flowed into the woman's face, and the fact that she wasn't fazed in the least halted his steps.
It allowed Logan to catch up, but not before the last few competitors remained on the bridge.
"It's two against one. I'll draw his attention while you-"
"No. We stick to the plan and keep our distance from him until he's right where we want him." Logan began pulling on James as the last competitor looked their way.
A tall, broad man stood across from the bridge with a blood soaked spear held against his side. It was hard to tell if it was the blood or the burn marks that made the man look crimson.
Most likely both if he was to guess, but when the man pointed his spear at them he bellowed out, "Your deaths will be what allows me to escape this hell at last!"
His voice was altered like Abell's, but James didn't care about that now as the man positioned himself to charge.
It didn't come.
Instead his body began to spasm horrifically as limbs bent in unnatural positions and what looked like small bony arms began sprouting from his body.
"Aaaaaauugh!" His howls were drowned out as pure black sludge began to pour out of the man's eyes, nose and mouth like a fountain.
"What the hell is happening to him Logan?!" Was this the power of that soul that Logan seemed to fear so much? The sorcerer said nothing as what was once a man fell over.
The sludge didn't stop pouring out, but it didn't spread out either as it gathered atop whatever remained of the body beneath.
"B-be prepared to fight James. Keep it distracted w-while I-I prepare my spell." Logan was visibly shaking now as James turned away from his cellmate to see what monstrosity that now awaited them both.
What he saw made him question if Logan was really mad after all.
Slowly standing itself up the abomination looked around as though it didn't know where it was. The head rounded out somewhat to create a dome like object where multiple glowing white eyes looked around beneath the sludge.
Its entire back was bulged and hunched over while being supported on two stubby legs. The spear had been melded to its right arm by the sludge while only a shriveled up white tree limb now served as the other arm.
James threw up over the side of the bridge when he spotted what little remained of the human that this thing once was dangling in various places across its new body.
Was this what would have happened to him if he had not heeded Logan's advice?
It didn't allow him time to ponder such thoughts as it finally noticed the last two competitors and began to charge. But instead of charging towards them, the thing used the sludge on its body to actually slide straight at them!
With only one damaged arm and this single sword he wouldn't be able to stop it from ramming into both of them.
There was no way to dodge the oncoming threat and both of them would become crimson stains against the gate. Every possible idea ran through his mind and he didn't like any of them if he and Logan were to survive… but did he really need Logan?
The answer to that came from the man in question as he put himself in front of James. With only seconds to spare James couldn't even get a word out before Logan held out the stick that he had chosen earlier.
Its head became engulfed in a pale blue light as James heard Logan steadily chanting words in a language that was unlike anything he had ever heard before.
Just about to grab the madman in a vain attempt to save him, James' breath caught when a straight beam of light shot from the head of stick directly into the path of the abomination.
Faster than his eyes could keep up with large crystals began to erupt from the bridge itself before impaling themselves into the dark beast. The sound of glass breaking filled his eardrums as the momentum that it had built up allowed it to break the crystals easily enough.
James braced himself for the impending force that would slam into him and break him, relieving him of this hell.
But it never came.
Roars of both protest and cheer was all he heard as James cracked open an eye to see Logan standing still in front of him. Looking past his cellmate he didn't see the monster that had been about to kill them both.
A closer look revealed its trail of black sludge veering a sharp left off of the bridge and into the darkness below. Whatever Logan had done, it had just been enough to steer that thing right off its intended course.
Careful not to lose his balance James peered over the edge to see if it had somehow still been alive, but he saw no signs of it from the depths.
For now he would assume that was a good thing, but now it was just him and…
"It's already b-beginning to happen to me." He wasn't lying either as the same crystals that had saved their lives began to sprout all over Logan's body, but they were only black and far more brittle.
Looking upon the only noble person in this gods awful kingdom, who was sacrificing himself for someone he barely knew, how could he have saved him?
"It's been an interesting experience to- to get to meet someone from Remnant." Logan's body began to bend in unnatural ways as whiter, branch like bones produced from his back. Black crystals covered his entire right arm now, and James could see a whitish eye begin to grow out of his shoulder.
"Goodbye James…" The man took only a few steps before he let himself fall over the edge of the James reached out, and to his horror he hesitated as his hand almost grasped Logan's.
If he had then Logan's sacrifice would have been in vain.
He was the last one alive as the crowd cheered all around him in their bloodlust, and he didn't even pay attention nor move when they all went silent.
"Well done Ironwood. You have bested common thieves and desperate men clinging to their lives. But by far your biggest accomplishment was tricking that old man into killing himself for you." Abell's voice was calm, but James caught the mockery hidden beneath.
Standing up and glaring directly at the Ashen Lord, James has had enough. "You're a monster! You are a scourge on Remnant like the Grimm and will be hunted down by all of mankind until there are none of you left!" He spat it out at them, but he wasn't done yet.
"After what I've seen today I now know that Logan wasn't mad, but telling me the truth. You led these people to this corruption haven't you, or have you all always been this bloodthirsty?" James had gestured to both the corpses of the prisoners as well as the audience before turning back to Abell.
The man looked down at James for a long time. All the while the sharp gazes of every single person in the stands were trying to pierce his skin like daggers, but he ignored them as Abell remained silent.
He stood up and walked over to the edge of his balcony.
"We were always corrupt Ironwood, but that is the nature of man is it not? No matter how pure or innocent one could act, one would always have that hidden darkness that they wished to keep hidden from everyone."
Without stopping Abell continued, "Logan was no fool, but saw fit to ruin his chance to start anew. What he told you, everything, it was all true and I will make sure that all of Remnant experiences my power before I bring them to their knees."
Abell began to walk away as the gates behind James began to slowly pull themselves up. "You're the fool here Abell, and we will destroy you and your people!"
Stopping, but not turning around, the Ashen Lord began to laugh. The audience joined in soon after as a chorus of synchronized laughter filled James' ears.
"I will grant you a brief time to recover your strength before you attempt to earn your freedom Ironwood."
With that said James could only watch the back of the Ashen Lord as he was pulled back into the dark depths of the dungeons beneath Abell's kingdom.
It's been what? Three months since the last upload? Well to be honest I decided to take December off, and school has recently started back up for me so I've been working on this when I could.
I will apologize for the "false updates," and won't let that happen again unless it's a message regarding the story. I also want to thank all of you that have been waiting so patiently and I will make sure that the next chapter will be out in two months. JK.
As a final note I've only recently started watching Volume 4, but I'm trying spread it out so that I don't get too influenced to go along with canon. I am going to say that we'll be seeing JNRR in the following chapter(s), and Ironwood isn't done yet. I'll talk to you all in the next chapter and I hope you enjoyed this one!