"So what the hell was that?" asked Rasmus, still in shock. Partly from the creature taking Sylgja's visage, but more because he witnessed Reinhardt biting it/her head off.
Sylgja shrugged as she scooped up her copy's head. "I know it's pretty morbid, but I look pretty good don't I. I would think it was Vandia but this one has a crooked nose just like mine."
"Firstly it's a Kyton…"
"A chain devil!" said Sylgja who shook her severed head like it was a puppet. Rasmus almost threw up at that point.
"An apt description given its kind resides in the Great Pit and are covered in chains, but it belongs to a completely different species than myself. A much more ancient race, that was pushed out during the Primal Pact,"explained Reinhardt as he meticulously straightened out his robes and retrieved his damaged tricorn.
Rasmus nodded like he understood, but he was ignorant of the subject. While his memory was being drained, it didn't affect his knowledge . It erased things more like his past and his history.
After his clothes were adjusted to his standards, Reinhardt turned to Sylgja who finally grew bored of her severed puppet head and discarded it. "As for your assertion that you look 'pretty good', that too is a correct statement."
"Eh?" asked the Paladin.
"You may not have known it, but you were a given a profane blessing by the Lilitu Vandia."
"What and why?"
"A Lilitu is basically a very advanced form of a Succubus. Few people know it, but they can give a dark blessing. One that will enhance their beneficiary's appeal and personal charm. I assume your oh so generous act of returning Vandia's things you stole to her, made you the object of her affection."
Sylgja frowned. "Ughh…I feel unclean now. Wait, you knew this way back when, but you said nothing."
Reinhardt smiled."Well, I never heard of a Paladin receiving such a profane gift, so I was curious how it would played out. It certainly made you more confident and obviously more beautiful, but it also gave you an arrogant edge which I found amusing."
Rasmus agreed after witnessing her comments of Hector, Kasmir, and Oskar, but since he hardly knew Sylgja he couldn't tell if she was like this before.
Sylgja simply considered the statement and fell silent in contemplation.
"Anyways, our journey is almost done," said Reinhardt. The Pale man proceeded past the main entry way until he stood at the edge of a large set of bronze double doors. It took Rasmus a few seconds to recognize them, which wasn't surprising since the tower had shifted so much, they were at the doorway to the tower. "If you would do the honours Rasmus."
Rasmus wasn't sure what he meant at first, did he mean for him to push it open? He was in no condition to do that. Or maybe he could just will them to open.
And with that thought, the door slowly swung open.
It was beautiful. A winding road led from the tower down into an idyllic pastoral valley. Hills and forests framed the small community, and there was even a river that ran through it. Was his own fiefdom like this, was his lands as picturesque as these?
Rasmus reflect on how he got here. The summoning, the curse, his encounter with Dwen, Sylgja and the gargoyles, the animated shields and weapons in the library, Vetta and Vandia, Kasmir and knights of the Reclamation, Marvin Dorfler, his time in the hot springs, Misa's betrayal, and the battle against Oskar and his knights. It was a long journey but he had made it.
As Rasmus walked towards his freedom, Sylgja grabbed him and pulled him close. "I want to say thank you Rasmus. I've been hard on you, but you and Reinhardt have saved my life when you didn't have to. Considering I came here with Kasmir, to put down people like Leroung and his apprentices, you were merciful to not only save me but help me escape. I want to say…I…"
Sylgja's eyes grew wet and her proud visage softened. "I…I'll do what I can to cure you of your curse. The Reclamation has powerful holy men at their disposal they can restore you, I'm sure of it. We just have to leave this tower, and ride far away from here. I've grown fond of you and I won't give up on you."
Rasmus wasn't sure how to react. Considering what he heard from Oskar, and Kasmir, he had the picture that Sylgja wasn't the most sincere of Paladins, one that toyed and played with men's hearts. However, her pledge here seemed truly heart felt, seemed very real. Of course, he might have been fooled like all that had come before him, or it might have been that Profane gift that Reinhardt mentioned, but he was happy to be under her spell.
Grasping the Sylgja's hand, Rasmus took a step out of the tower, and a great weight seemed to be lifted. Perhaps the curse was dispelled, or maybe the tower's wards no longer affected him, but he had the feeling he was free.
"We tethered our horses a mile into the forest over there. We could search for the Hellknight's mounts, they should be close by, but at least two escaped and there might be reinforcements," said Sylgja. "I'm not sure how long we've been in there, but the moon appears to be in the same position as when we entered."
"Ahem," interrupted Reinhardt. "We've left the tower, and there's the matter of my payment. I already receive your gold, but I was promised a magical item."
Rasmus nodded but grew red as he could only produce the monkey's paw.
Reinhardt studied the talisman intently. "Is that the type that grants ill worded wishes, or is it the type that moves small objects."
"The small object one," said Rasmus sheepishly. Reinhardt deserved more that this minor trinket, considering what he had done.
Reinhardt shrugged and took the item and placed it within his interdimensional space. "Oh well, I should have specified a hard gold piece value in the contract, but given planar exchange rates that's hard to set. At least I got a nice hat and crossbow out of this. Farewell Rasmus, by the Primal Pact our contract is concluded and I wish you and Sylgja here the best."
With that the Pale man vanished. Into the void, back to the Great Pit, or whatever hellish dimension he currently resides in, Rasmus was not sure.
"For an Infernal he was a pretty strange but good guy," said Sylgja. "I'm going to miss him."
Rasmus agreed.
*Clap Clap Clap*
Rasmus turned back and saw three figures stepping out of the tower. Two were large shell fish like humanoids, with tentacled faces and great crustacean claws. Between the pair of brutes was a man that looked heartbreakingly painful to Rasmus.
Sylgja stopped and stared at the man and then stared at Rasmus and then back at the man. She repeated this process and gasped. "Rasmus is that …is that you? Is this some type of magic trick? I mean you look really good."
Rasmus looked at his skeletal hands and touched his gaunt face. He was literally a shadow of his former self. His youth and vitality had been stolen by the man before him. "Master Leroung. I thought you would still be hiding in your tower."
"Rasmus my favorite apprentice," said Leroung. "Or should I say ascendant. We need to talk, about you, I, and how you are going to be sacrificed to make a better me. "
