It took the entire glass of brandy to placate Celica's nerves, and even then the fire still hadn't returned to her eyes.
"So, this guy Alm that you know...is actually one of these 'Heritors?'" Bismuth asked. She hadn't taken her eyes off Celica up until now, and of the four people in the small, cramped cabin, was the only one not displaying any emotion.
"Is that his name? Sir Mycen's grandson?"
"You know Sir Mycen?" Celica said, the mention of her grandpapa giving her a shot of energy.
Tears appeared in Halcyon's eyes again.
"Oh, little one, I have not been very forthcoming…and it must remain that way."
Celica moved to the single window, where the snow had stopped falling. That very morning, she, Saber, and Bismuth were enjoying the endless views of the Sage's countryside. Three women on a pilgrimage, and though there was a level of responsibility, things to accomplish, there was room to smile, to breathe air.
Now, every breath she took felt like her last. It didn't help that the stale cabin air, mingled with the nauseating aroma of Halcyon's concoctions and ingredients, forced her to constrict her nostrils every time she inhaled.
There came a muffled cry from outside, and a couple of children emerged from one of the cabins, using their guiding flames to trace dragons and shapes in the snow. If what Halcyon said was true, and it was hard to argue that it wasn't, then their lives, and the lives of every child on the continent, would be in her hands.
"Alm and I are the Heritors…" Celica breathed, more to break the awkward silence. She wondered if Alm was aware of the destiny that lay before him. Knowing Alm, he would rise to the challenge; he always did. But could she do the same?
She looked down at her hands, which had conjured magic, healed her friends, wielded swords...They had carried food, beverage, scriptures, and in younger days had been stained in mud, grass, perhaps her own blood if she were careless. Now, something far greater, far more fearsome resided in them; a destiny impossible to bear.
"There is a third Heritor as well," Halcyon said as Celica sat down. Celica found herself laughing wryly at this revelation. It was a ridiculous claim, but she didn't have the energy to challenge it.
"How is that possible?" Saber asked. "There are only two deities on this continent."
"You are correct, servant. Mila and Duma are the ones who pull the strings on this continent. However, Naga herself inadvertently played a part in its creation. Naturally, when word came to her that her former generals were feuding, she traveled here in an attempt to reconcile their differences…"
"It was Naga who drove them away in the first place," Celica interrupted.
"That may be true, but despite her ideological differences with Mila and Duma, Naga had a strong heart. But by the time she arrived to Valentia, the ancient war had already commenced."
"How do you know all this?" Celica asked. And how could Nomah have withheld all of this information from her?
Halcyon stood up, wincing with the effort of putting weight on his old bones, and retrieved a book on a shelf across the room. Nearly all of the old mage's books were patchy, covered in dust, but the volume Halcyon picked up was in almost perfect condition, as if it had only been read once or twice.
"Naga's Account," he said, wiping the trace amounts of dust off the cover. "The only copy in Valentia."
It was a simple book, bound by a dull navy-blue material with the image of a dragon on the cover, only half the size of Mila's account, and a quarter the size of Duma's account (which Celica had never read, but seen in book trader's tents during festivals). For such an elusive title, it was hardly extraordinary.
"It may not look like much, but it sheds a great deal of light on areas that both Duma and Mila left out of their own accounts. Including more information on the Heritors."
He opened it and flipped through, until he reached one of the last pages.
"Here it is, the passage on the Third Heritor:
And whence Mila and Duma rejoined the soil of their new domains, I saw it fit to create the third. And it was on the largest island in the southernmost sea that I created the first of what will be many of my children. And I determined that, to assist the Twin Heritors in the time when they will be awakened, a third shall join them with a balanced set of ideals. And this Heritor will be One who does not seek glory through kindness or strife, but his own designs. And he will join the Twin Heritors on the battlefield, when the time comes, to remove the divine influence from this land."
Halcyon closed the book and returned it to the shelf.
"Unfortunately, I know as much as you about who the Third Heritor could be. The only information Naga provided about the Third Heritor is what I have just recited."
Celica's head was spinning, and she was hesitant to stand.
"Please, stay the night in the Hamlet. There is an inn that will more than suit your needs."
Saber and Bismuth moved to the door, a cold breeze sweeping through the cabin as it opened. Celica reluctantly got to her feet and followed. Her guiding flame had grown noticeably dim in the cold, so she closed her eyes, focusing on the magical circuits in her mind, molding them in the shape of a flame.
As she did, however, the circuits slowly came undone. They connected and intertwined, tracing the shape of a familiar face…
"Celica!?"
It was Alm's voice, terrified, pained...Celica tried to force her eyes open, but couldn't. They were petrified, as were her vocal cords. She could do nothing.
"Celica!"
Celica's eyes shot open. She was staring up at the ceiling of Halcyon's cabin, Bismuth and Saber standing over her. Something acrid was dribbling down her throat, but she didn't even have the energy to retch.
"Relax, young one, you've simply been communing…"
Halcyon was waving his staff over Celica's head, cobalt snakes of energy emerging from it like worms from an apple. In the middle of these streams of energy, Celica could make out Alm's features. Celica felt dizzy again, and must've shown some signs of it, for Bismuth began tipping the sour concoction down her throat again.
"Wait," Halcyon said. Bismuth glared at the man.
"I don't care if she's 'communing' or whatever, we're not gonna lay on your anvil!" she shouted.
"Celica…" he said, ignoring Bismuth. "Did you see Alm?"
Celica used what little strength she had to nod.
"Can you tell where he is?"
"He was...screaming...my name," she whispered.
"Let her go under again," he said to Bismuth.
"She's not fit to 'go under,' look at her!"
Saber's gaze, however, shifted between Halcyon's staff and Celica, torn between wanting to know more and preserving her master's health.
"She cannot face Duma alone! We must find Alm! Celica, concentrate all of your mana. Let it commune with Alm's; that will lead you to where he is."
Celica shuddered and nodded, though she had no idea how to do that. Bismuth looked fit to burst, but Saber put a calming hand on her shoulder. Their concerned faces swam in her vision, until the world was dark. Alm's face instantiated the same way it had before, screaming her name over and over, until her ears began to ring.
Where are you, Alm? Celica thought, in an attempt to communicate. How do I find you?
As if in response, her guiding flame appeared to her left, slowly floating toward the distorted face like a moth drawn to a lamp. Suddenly, she felt herself being launched forward. Alm's face and the surrounding darkness lifted, and without any explanation, she was falling from the sky and towards the continent below.
The cold, blustery air assaulted her skin until it felt like it was covered in gashes. Every breath felt as if it would impale her lungs. Someone was screaming...was it her?
The land drew closer, closer, but still she was falling, perhaps even faster than before. She closed her eyes, waiting for the impact…
In a moment of deja vu, Celica found her body suspended above the Earth, only this time she could feel something, or someone, holding her there. She opened her eyes, to see that the person who caught her was none other than Alm.. He looked just like he had in the Mindful Mire, smiling warmly at her.
"Alm, I…"
"Celica? Is that you?"
The voice sounded like Alm's, but his lips had not moved.
"Alm, can you hear me?" she said, waving her hand in front of Alm's face. Once again, he was still, but his voice came with more ugency than before.
"Celica, yes...Yes, I can hear you. Where are you?"
"Where are you?"
"I...I'm headed to the capital of Rigel to stop the crown prince. Are you safe?"
It was so typical of Alm, checking on his friends even when he was the one in danger.
"Yes...but Alm, please don't challenge the might of Rigel yourself. There has to be another way, let me join you…"
"No way...and besides, I'm not alone."
"Who's there with you?
"Three women named Rose, Garnet, and Pearl, and a Yasha named Carocol!"
"Caro...col?"
"We'll be fine, but you need to find someplace safe! Something terrible is going to happen if I fail…"
"I know Alm, which is why you need to stay safe too! We're connected in more ways than you think."
"How so? Celica?"
But Celica could feel herself slowly returning to reality, though not before another horror presented itself. Alm's face was fading, morphing into something else. Another man's face replaced Alm's. His smile was cool and handsome as Alm's, but one that didn't quite reach his eyes, and his eyes were a vivid red.
"Challenge me, and meet your end."
Celica exploded into consciousness, the man's words still echoing in her head. Bismuth was ghost pale, standing in the doorway like a cat desperately trying to get outside.
"Rose is with him…" she muttered. "Rose is alive...and Garnet and Pearl."
Bismuthlaughed nervously, wiping a tear from her eyes. Celica realized she must've been talking out loud in her trance.
"We have to find him, now if need be!"
Saber placed a hand on Celica's head, but gasped and retracted immediately.
"Not now. She's in no state to go anywhere."
Saber was suddenly yanked away from Celica, and pushed against the wall by Bismuth.
"What in Duma's name are you doing?!" Halcyon yelled.
"My friends are all in danger! I don't care if we have to drag her through the snow, I'm going to find them!"
"Get...a...hold of yourself!" Saber choked out, kicking Bismuth away from her and pulling out her weapon.
"Stop...please…" Celica groaned.
"What's come over you?" Saber said, ducking as Bismuth attempted to grab her again. The backswing caught one of Halcyon's cupboards, spilling their grotesque contents on the floor. There was nothing like seeing an atrophied eyeball rolling along the floor to get someone off the ground, and the thought of being touched by it shot Celica into a standing position. She regretted this instantly, as all of the blood rushed to her head and threatened to submerge her into subconsciousness again.
Someone caught her; Saber. Bismuth, meanwhile, had kicked the door to the cabin down. Her hammer-like footprints in the snow lead in the direction of the other side of the Hamlet.
"Leave her," Halcyon said. "I know not what her kind has to do with you, but your focus must be on the Gods of this world."
"What else did you see, master?"
"It wasn't what I saw, but what I heard. Alm is with three more of those gems...and a Yasha."
Halcyon put a hand to his chin thoughtfully.
"Strange that a Yasha would be traversing the mainland, let alone with a child of Duma."
"Could he be…?"
But at that moment, there was a commotion outside. Bismuth was screaming at someone to get out of the way. The cold laughter that followed made Celica's hair stand on end.
"Heritor of Arcadia! I know you are here! Come out, little mouse, or watch your innocent brethren perish!"
Celica reluctantly followed Halcyon and Saber out of the cramped cabin and into the cold Wyrmstym air, terrified of what she might find. Her instincts had been correct.
Several children stood shivering in the snow, some not even dressed for the elements, behind a man in lavish gold armor. It was the strangest, and most horrible scene Celica had ever seen; the man appeared to have conjured swords in midair, positioned over the children's heads. Pools of golden light swirled around them.
"I must say, mongrel, you are far wiser than your comrade to the east. You at least have the sense to obey my commands."
Now, Celica recognized him. From the back of her mind, a name seemed to appear out of the darkness and confusion that communing with Alm had generated: Gilgamesh.
"What is this? What have you done?!"
It was Halcyon, in a voice not nearly as placid as before.
"I thought I made my demands quite clear, false profit. I requested the Heritor of Arcadia, and I have received. Now come before me, or witness my power firsthand."
Several of the children squealed in repressed voices. Celica's vision of the scene became more clear: chains were wrapped around their arms, legs, and mouths, preventing them from moving. Horrified sobs were echoing from all around them, and Celica realized there was an audience, and the sobs were coming from the children's parents.
"Well met, Archer."
Saber stepped forward, weapon at her side. Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes venomously.
"Saber...I haven't forgotten our last…"
"Nor have I, and I believe, right before I plunged my sword through your chest, you declared your intentions to change for the better."
Gilgamesh laughed, a sound colder than the air itself. The children whimpered louder, as the blades emerged from their magical sheaths even further.
"I am who I am, Saber, and no journey to Arcadia shall change that."
"So you still desire to plunge this world into darkness."
Gilgamesh guffawed.
"Spoken like a true commoner. You have no idea what kind of world I want, Saber. You never have."
"Spoken like a half-God," Saber retorted. "A half-God with half-baked ideals."
Gilgamesh sneered. Two of the blades rotated until their were pointed at Saber, twitching violently.
"Perhaps we shall test our ideals here and now. I've waited many moons for a chance to match blades with you again."
Without warning, the two swords flew at Saber. Her figure disappeared behind the resulting explosion, but once the smoke cleared, no harm had been done. She simply wiped the dust off of her armor, as if nothing had transpired.
"I see you can still play defense. But going on offense will be a horrible mistake, I promise you that."
There was a roar, and their attention was drawn to Bismuth, who was clutching her head in frustration.
"I don't have time for this! I don't want any humans to die, I just want to find Rose!"
"Your pathetic rock friend can wait. Not until I get what I came for."
"You...monster."
Celica had said it in as strong a voice as she could manage. Her strength was slowly returning to her.
"Let them go."
"If you desire…"
Gilgamesh grabbed one of the blades out of midair, lifting it over one of the boy's necks so that it loomed like a guillotine.
"Wait!"
The effort of this exclamation made Celica sway on the spot.
"I'll...I'll go with you…"
"Master!" Saber breathed loudly, looking back at Halcyon as if expecting him to do something, but his expression was hidden beneath his tucked brow.
"But, out of honor, you must answer me this...why do you need me?"
Gilgamesh smiled, and in a burst of golden light, the blade in his hand disappeared.
"It is not I that needs you, but my master, Duma. Anthiese, you are the key to our ambitions."
Celica blinked. There had been times in her youth when she had been called that, often on accident by her grandfather, who insisted she merely resembled the genuine article. The long lost princess of Zofia.
"What's so funny!?" she called back, for Gilgamesh was having a belly-laugh at her expense. He turned to Halcyon.
"You mean you haven't told her what her true heritage is? I thought holy men of Duma were supposed to be forthcoming!"
Halcyon's expression was still nebulous, unreadable.
"You, my little meat doll, are the lost princess of Zofia!"
Celica felt her heart stop.
No...impossible.
After half a decade of near famine in Zofia, had it been her disappearance that had started it? Was it all her fault?
"It's true," Halcyon said in a quiet voice. "I meant to tell you when this whole affair was over, but…"
"But what?!" Gilgamesh interrupted. "You were afraid she wouldn't have the guts to make the ultimate sacrifice? I am no mere servant, Halcyon. In life, I was the King of Heroes! There is nothing in this world that isn't mine, nothing on this planet that I do not know. I have full access to whatever the Earth provides at any given time, and am not afraid to use it to get what I want."
Saber's weapon flashed to life, revealing a sword with an aura of whitish-gold that illuminated the snow like the sun.
"You will not take my master, for I shall prevent you!"
Celica looked down at her command seals, then back to her servant, then back to the children. There would be no way Saber, even with her infinite speed and strength, could conquer the man and save the children in one fell swoop.
Whether she wanted it to be true or not, Celica was a princess, and these were her subjects.
"By my command seal...sheath your blade."
"Master?!" Saber cried out, groaning as the seal forced her to lower her weapon.
"By my second command seal, I order you to cease hostility," she said, in a low voice that almost didn't belong to her.
Bismuth, Halcyon, and the surrounding villagers watched Saber scream in agony, as the sword was forcefully plunged back into its sheath. She clutched at her abdomen and bent over, as if she'd been placed in a straightjacket.
"I will come with you," Celica repeated. "But you will release the children first."
"I have no doubts you will come to me. Therefore, consider it done."
The chains and blades vanished with a wave of his arm, the children screaming and crying as they crashed into their parents loving embraces. Celica only had a short moment to enjoy the touching scene before the same chains wrapped around her waist and pulled her to the ground.
She ingested a mouthful of snow as she was dragged like a game deer out of the village square, and into Gilgamesh's grasp. He pulled her up by the hair, forcing her to face him.
"Mmmmm, were your sacrifice not so necessary, you would make a fine wife."
Celica spat in the half-god's face. She wasn't sure what to expect in return, and mentally prepared herself for something sharp to puncture one of her limbs. Instead, Gilgamesh merely closed his eyes, wiped the saliva from his face. The smile that followed did reach his eyes.
"Yes, so much fight, so much vigor. You would entertain me until the end of time. Such a shame…"
"Master, no!" Saber called out desperately one last time, as Celica was pulled into the air arms yanked out so that she resembled a crucifix.
"What are you doing?" Bismuth said, sadness in her voice.
"If it is my destiny to inherit Arcadia and save the continent, then it must be done my way. Nobody else on this blessed continent should have to suffer because of the politics of the Gods. If my sacrifice will accomplish that...then so be it."
Celica's mouth and throat went dry as she imagined her own death. It had always seemed so far away...impossible at times.
Gilgamesh laughed again, Celica's skin prickling with every breath he took.
"You represent the very worst of humanity. Throwing yourself in harm's way, thinking you can save someone. How fleeting! Perhaps I shall make this a little more entertaining…"
More snake-like chains erupted from their portals and coiled tightly around three of the children, and Celica was forced to watch as they were dragged from their sobbing mothers, kicking and screaming along the way. Celica had long ago come to the conclusion that her days in the priory had prevented her from witnessing the horrors of war...but even the most battle-hardened of soldiers would have faltered at the sight of the three children, two boys and a girl, who had only minutes before been frolicking in the snow without a worry in the world, being dragged to their certain doom, faces stained red from crying and cuts as branches clawed at them from beneath the snow.
"If anyone dares follow us, the lives of these children are forfeit! Although, I expect to be pursued regardless-" he winked in Saber's direction "-so you may as well utter your goodbyes now."
"Go to hell, monster!" shouted one of the mothers with the ferocity of a mother bear. A single fireball formed in her hands, more potent than Celica could ever hope to compete, but as she prepared to speak the incantation to launch it, there was a flash of cobalt light, and the bolt of fire disappeared. Celica thought she had gone deaf for a second, for the anguished cries of mothers and children had disappeared. But every eye concentrated angrily upon Halcyon, whose staff glowed the same cobalt-blue.
"A silencing spell, and a strong one at that. Even I could feel its power for a moment. It's a pity that you are a disgrace to Duma and his teachings, for I certainly could have put you to use with magi-"
So strong was the silence spell, however, that halfway through Gilgamesh's rant, Saber had shrugged off Celica's command seal and charged at him with reckless abandon. Celica felt her body lift into the air, and in the blink of an eye she, the children, and their captor were in the center of the hamlet, completely unharmed.
"I should've known you, the King of Knights, would try to surprise me. You are no more a knight than you are a king. Rather than die a hero when you lived, you were too good for that. You allowed yourself to die peacefully as a king rather than in the midst of bloodbath like your brothers in arms."
"This coming from the half-God who sought immortality for himself rather than face death like his subjects?" Saber said. The cool demeanor of the King of Heroes evaporated.
"You know nothing," he said, venom in every syllable. "Consider this your final warning, Saber. Follow, and the children and your precious master will die."
"Don't...follow," Celica managed to say before Gilgamesh's magic consumed he and his prisoners, leaving the once bustling Sage's Hamlet in a horrible silence.