Surprise! I'm not dead! And neither is this fic, I just needed a little time to get back into things.
You know, I've been thinking. When there is a show that I like that is currently running, I like to look online, and read the titles of upcoming episodes, and speculate on what might happen during it. So I thought, "hey, my readers might like that too. Why don't I come up with the names of the next few chapters now, and put them in a list in the opening and/or on my profile. So I'm going tell you now. Note, the titles are subject to change, and there can be additional chapters in between my actual use of these titles, but this is what I think I'm going to do. The next 7 chapters are intended to be called: Veld is Vanquished; A Death in the Family; Rent Hearts; Mourning at Mease; Against Altena; A Painful War; and Ment Hearts.
I also thought up titles for ten other future chapters, but I am unsure of when and where I'm going to use them. THOSE titles are Skaro's Secret (no chapter was called this, the big revelation was in Demoralizing Revelations); Requiem (for Thracian Peace); Three Jugdralian Horror Stories (actually, I intend for that to be a Halloween Special. Written so it could be wedged in almost anywhere after a certain point.); The Skybreaker (never happened, don't remember the context); The World Traveller (covered sporatically); Lewyn's Lament; The Dark Prince's Heart; Hell Sent Hilda; Top of the World; and the Desecrated Dreadlords. All of these final few names got unused or changed. Except Lewyn's Lament. THAT actually got used.
Raydrik was panicking. His forces had fallen apart, most of his nearby allies had either been killed or fled, he wasn't getting a response from Belhalla, and he was trapped within his own palace, with nowhere to go but down. And down meant breaching that area was being used by the leaders of the Loptyr cult in Thracia, and they were not particularly pleased with him at the moment. Thus he was forced to beg for help. "Just give me some time and some men, and I can eliminate them." he promised.
Archdeacon Veld just scoffed at that desperate plea. "Don't make un-keepable promises. It's obvious who has the upper hand in this situation. We're finished here, and your life means nothing to us now." he said, shaking his head "Such a disappointment, this was a great stronghold." he added under his breath.
This caused Raydrik to beg again, so Skaro, who also happened to be there, whispered in Veld's ear "I can spare some of my men. We could use the distraction as we arrange our withdrawal."
Veld sighed. He couldn't argue with that logic. He looked at Raydrik and said "Very well then. A part of the Schwarze Rosen will stay behind to aid you. We shall see if you get lucky. I don't expect that you shall, however. So I will be in the temple center, preparing."
"Alright everyone, listen up. Raydrik's soldiers may have been decimated, but there is still a large number of mercenaries lurking in the castle. From what I hear, one of them is particularly dangerous. His name is Galzus. If the reports I have heard about him are true, then I pray that he will stand down so that we will not have to confront him. I fear we will loose many good men otherwise." Ced explained to the army. "I will let August explain our plan now."
With that, August stepped up. "I'm dividing us into three separate squads. The first squad will rescue the captive children. The second will incapacitate as many Loptyrian bishops as they can. These tasks require immediate attention, thus I sent those squads in early. The final squad, consisting of the rest of us, will focus on dealing with Raydrik himself. Now, any questions?"
Leif raised his hand, "I understand rescuing children, but why branch out to take out the bishops?"
"They are lurking in the eastern corner of the castle, wielding Berserk and Sleep staffs. I believe that you can connect the dots from there, Prince, concerning why I think they need our immediate attention. Now, are there any other questions?" August surveyed the crowd. Then he pointed at Johan. "You there, you look like you want to say something."
"...Wait, you mean me?! No, you're mistaken sir, it's nothing important." said Johan.
"Not important? Any observation, no matter how ridiculous sounding could wind up being critical."
Johan looked embarrassed "It's nothing like that, sir. I noticed a grammar mistake that the prince made, and I opened my big mouth, then shut it again when I realized that it wasn't worth the distraction. I was hoping you wouldn't notice and we could move on or I could tell him in private... or something."
August gave Johan a cold, hard stare that made Johan feel very uncomfortable. Until Shanan piped in and came to his rescue. "Eh, just tell us all the mistake, Johan. Who knows, refined speech could help us with the peace conferences once this is all over. You have our attention anyways."
Johan breathed out heavily, and then said. "Prince, I don't think that you used the word 'decimate' correctly. It derives from 'deci-' which means ten, or one-tenth. Thus, saying that his forces have been decimated implies that we've taken out only one tenth of his forces, which would mean that we have a very long and hard battle ahead of us. But if that really is what you meant then..." Johan's face turned red.
Ulster heard a giggle. He looked at Patty, then at Teeny, then at Julia, then all around, but the only one that he could detect the semblance of a smile on was... Larcei? No, he must be mistaken. Only girls who thought a boy was being cute did that, and Larcei certainly would never act like that... would she?
Leif's face adopted a considerate look. "Huh, are you sure about that?" he asked.
"I'm confident. While growing up, I willingly spent a lot of time learning proper linguistics." said Johan
"Ok then. Thank you for the correction. I'll keep that in mind. Now, if there's nothing left to be said, then let's move out!" proclaimed Leif.
The two secondary tasks were completed in relatively short order. August sent Orsin, Machyua, Asvel, Shiva, Felgus, and Shanam after the priests. All of them were skilled warriors who dealt with the problem in short order. It also helped that the staff users were brought in and ordered to use Silence staffs beforehand.
However, it should be noted that having Shanam involved had been a last minute decision, as Finn had been one of August's original choices for this mission. However, Finn had just explained the truth about Altena to Leif and Eda, and his mental state was still very shaky as a result. Leif noticed and immediately told August that Finn wasn't in a good state for taking on side missions just now. He didn't explain in detail, he just explained that something that had happened that shook him to the core. August left them, but not before noticing a very worried looking Eda talking to her brother, Dean. Dean's face went dead serious as she spoke.
"Whatever just happened is none of my concern. I'll be leaving Leif's company shortly anyways." August told himself. He started wondering about who else he could send, then he saw Prince Shanan with... someone. He ran closer and then he saw that Shanan was having a conversation with... himself.
Why were there two Shanans? Of Course! He must have a body double!" thought August. "Prince Shanan?" he called out to them. "Yes?" they both said, turning their attention towards him. August hesitated, looked at both of them, then sighed and said "Look, I don't know which one of you is the real one, but I have a mission of the utmost importance. As I just explained..." he then went over the plan, and explained his intended role for them.
The two looked at each other for a moment, then Shanam said, "I'll do it."
"Thank you." said August, and then he left.
"You didn't have to volunteer yourself, you know. I could have done it." said Shanan.
"Well, if I'm going to be your double, them I'm going to be volunteered for stuff like this all the time. Might as well start getting used to it now." explained Shanam.
Shanan grinned "Alrighty then. I can already tell that this is going to be loads of fun."
Mareeta recognized Galzus immediately, and knew that fighting him shouldn't be necessary. She indicated her intent to her companions, and then went forward to meet him. "You.. you're the swordsman that saved me. I've been wanting to meet you properly." she said. Galzus had not expected to see her, and thus, he was taken off guard, freezing in place mid-swing. "Why... why have you returned to this place, child? You're just a mere girl playing with weapons. Put it away! A sword is not a toy!"
Mareeta closed her eyes. "I know that full well." she said. "I learned that lesson from my mother...and from the evil blade I once held." she sighed, then said "When I was under its control, I met my father in a dream. I may have been small when we were separated, but I still hold memories of him. He was strong, kind, furious in battle, but gentle otherwise. In other words, he was you, Galzus." Galzus's shocked expression confirmed Mareeta's suspicions and she latched onto the unexpected opportunity that she had been given "Say something, PLEASE! FATHER! I want to get to know you again. Why didn't you say anything before or hang onto me or stay with me after you freed me?"
Galzus bowed his head, "I... I thought you would hate me." he said.
"Why would I hate you? I was captured by slave traders because I was a disobedient child, not because of anything you did! If anyone, I should hate myself for that! In the end, it doesn't matter. I never experienced life as a slave. Lady Eyvel rescued me before that could happen."
Galzus looked away. "I searched high and low, but I never could find you... and now, in that interval since I lost you... my hands have become far to bloodstained to ever be a proper father to you. It would be best for you if I were forgotten." he turned to leave, but Mareeta grabbed his arm. "NO! No matter what happens, no matter what you've done, I will always accept you as my father." she said, looking pleadingly into his eyes.
Galzus closed his eyes and sighed heavily. "...The woman who raised you... is she the swordswoman who was turned to stone?" he asked. Mareeta nodded. "Then I owe her much. On my honor, I will repay her for all she has done!" he declared. Thus, Mareeta rejoined the rest of the force, Galzus in tow.
"Who is this?" asked Leif.
"He's Galzus... my father." replied Mareeta.
"Your fa-... Congratulations Mareeta. I'm happy that you were able to do something I never can." said Leif, smiling fondly at her. "All I can do now, is avenge my immediate ancestors, starting with my grandfather. " he said, raising the Blaggi sword.
Galzus recognised it for what it was immediately. "Even with that blade in hand, you may have difficulty in taking him down. Allow me to provide support." he said.
"I will help as well." declared Mareeta.
"Thank you both." said Leif. I very much appreciate it."
"Raydrik. I owe you much for what you've done. I am here to properly reward your actions." said Leif, raising his sword.
"Ah, the young prince. Hmph. So you've the audacity to come and try to kill me? You fool, I've been fighting for longer than you've been alive! You're the one who is going to die!" shouted Raydrik, lunging forward.
Leif countered the blow, and lashed out, leaving a large gash on Raydrik's cheek. Raydrik had gone into battle expecting his blade's magic to weaken any blow he received, so this wound was worrisome for him. In desperation, he went on the offensive, landing blow after blow against Leif's defense. He'd almost broken through when Galzus and Mareeta intervened and blocked his sword. "Guards! Help me!" he shouted.
This caused Galzus to break off in order to deal with them, leaving Mareeta and Leif to tag team Raydrik. He was able to keep up with them... barely. Finally, he was backed up against the wall. Raydrik's armor and the defensive magic of his sword made it so that he only had one true weak point... his head. So while he was backed in a corner, he was able to hold them off and keep them from rendering any critical hits. This worked as he was a full grown adult, a tall one at that, facing two teenagers. Eventually, Mareeta lashed out at his face, and put all of her body weight into her blade, forcing him to hold his blade steady in front of him. As Mareeta held him in place, Leif hammered upon the Loptyr blade with the sword that Saias had given him.
Raydrik was preparing to throw them off, when suddenly, he felt a flush of energy, and suddenly, that energy left him, causing him to fall to one knee. He looked down the hall, and saw Nanna holding her Earth sword aloft. "So, you've all come for revenge. Well to bad for you. For as long as I hold this sword-" he never got to finish his sentence. With one last powerful blow from Leif, the Loptyr Blade shattered.
"NO! VELD! HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?!" he cried out. Raydrik pressed his back up against the wall as his foes drew closer. "No, please, I don't want to die!" he cried, he stood straight up, arms raised. "Prince Leif, please! I'll-"
Leif drove his sword through Raydrik's mouth. It went out the back of his head and pierced the wall behind him. "If you wanted to live, then you shouldn't have betrayed my family." Leif growled. He withdrew his sword. Raydrik's body dropped to the ground. But there was no thud. No blood oozing to the ground as it lay there. Because as soon as his body came in contact with the ground, shadows seemed to consume it, turning it into a churning, black ooze that swirled rapidly, and then melted away, leaving nothing behind.
The children had been saved. Now it was just a matter of guiding them out. The path was clear and it looked like they had gathered everyone. But just to be safe, Teeny asked them. "Alright kids, we're almost out, but tell me, are we missing any of your little friends? I want to make sure that we don't forget anyone and leave them behind. Could you please tell me if we are missing anyone?" There was murmuring among the children, then one short and stubby child shouted. "Where's Marco?" all the kids then started shouting "MARCO!" but were failing to get a response.
Teeny looked at her companions. "Linda? Daisy? Can you two stay with them? I'm going to look for Marco. Sara, can you please keep me company?"
Sara straightened up. "Yes... I will. Maybe we should bring the boy who noticed he's missing. He could help." she suggested. So that's what they did. So they wandered through the halls shouting "MARCO!" finally, a voice called out "Rollo!" and a six year old ran over and embraced the other child.
"Where were you, Marco?" asked Rollo.
"I found a door, and I opened it, but it led to a creepy room." said Marco.
That got Sara's attention. "Could... I see this room, Marco?" she asked. Marco showed them the way, and they ran into Delmund, who was hiding his hands behind his back. They asked him to take the children back. Delmund rolled his eyes but agreed. "Fine. Follow me you meandering chatterboxes." he said and start walking.
Teeny watched him go. What was he hiding? Teeny thought she could make out a ring, but she wasn't sure. "Maybe letting him take them was a mistake. Maybe we should go back." she said as Sara walked into the room. Sara ignored her, so Teeny followed, and found that the room was lit with a dark blue light, and it had an alter in the middle with a statue on it. It's right hand was held outwards, and its left hand was closed, holding a staff. "Who's that?" she asked.
"It's Kia. He was a famous sculptor here when grandfather was young. It's said that he was so good at what he did, that he actually learned how to turn people into statues, and statues into people. It's said that his memorial holds two items; a tome that can be used to petrify, and a staff that can undo the magic of the tome." explained Sara.
"The tome is missing." observed Teeny.
"It means that it is currently in use. Which means that I'll need this." said Sara, grabbing the Kia staff. "I'm sure I can use it, but I'll have to test it first."
"On what?" asked Teeny
"On Kia himself." responded Sara. The staff began to glow, as did the statue. Teeny thought she could hear grunting emanating from it. Suddenly, it stopped. "I can use it, let's go." said Sara.
"But... you didn't revive him." said Teeny.
"I didn't need to. That was enough to prove that I could use it. Besides, I don't think reviving him would have been wise... especially with only the two of us present. He wasn't... the kindest. I feel like I should ask permission before I ever use this... I'll talk to Lord Leif. Now... let's rejoin the children." said Sara.