"Cassriel, Hell's Poet. Adnachiel, The Demon Huntress." Lahad announced. "You are brought to the Council's Court under accusations that you put personal gain over Hell and the Demons." Cassriel looked around at the faces of the eight council members. Lahad, Camael, Zablah, Befafes, Naberius, Och, Jochmus, Ariel. And Lucifer himself. In the middle of the eight. Staring right at Camael's soul.
"What say you in your defense?" Lahad asked. "Cassriel, we shall hear from you first." The floor beneath Cassriel burst into a ring of fire. "Who accused me of this?" Cassriel asked, angered. "We shall not admit, nor disregard the anonymity of those whom have accused thou and brought thou here." Och said eloquently. As the Speaker of Sun, she was the brightest thing in the room. "What was I accused of?" Cassriel asked. He sensed Adnachiel's fear next to him, knowing what she was accused of.
"Despite being told otherwise on two separate occasions in the past, you have continued your unauthorized experiments with the Visitors. You have created more and more problems, giving more and more Postangel rabble the Kiss of the Void. While both previous times you were caught, and the dragons or humans you were experimenting on were taken away to be killed, you persisted with your actions, and now two dragonets experienced the full experiment, not only creating a new massive problem for us to deal with, but also exposing yourself to the Visitors, and now they know about your very existence." Zablah said in his monotone, sharp voice. The Demons in the room were all looking at Cassriel, even the deathly nervous Adnachiel.
"I don't deny what I did." Cassriel said quietly. "But I did it because I thought it would help. Up until now, we didn't know if we could even interact with the Visitors, but now look, I interacted with 12 of them!" He got louder. "And when they killed Vine the Rainwing, and Swordfish the Seawing became the protagonist of Amber Winglet, that story was going to help us with Project Liberation! The King himself approved of this!" "But I didn't know it would be with stolen dragonets." Lucifer asked, his deep voice cutting through Cassriel's reasoning. "Excuse me, what exactly is Amber Winglet?" Jochmus asked.
"Amber Winglet was to be a story with which the Visitors could interact, but it would actually be us that was creating the world, not another Visitor. It was designed to be the perfect story, pandering to the things the Visitors like, such as love triangles, a relatable view, and quirky characters. I based it off another world that was already out there." Cassriel explained to the ignorant Jochmus. "Of course, I erased some flaws and things that would make it difficult for us to deal with. A copy of this original world is the one we are dealing with now." "What was the point of making that?" Jochmus asked.
"It was going to be interactive, and we were going to try and get the Visitors to do something that would break the protective barrier around the Canon World, allowing us to escape and free ourselves." Cassriel said begrudgingly. "I originally had Adnachiel here pretend to be an Icewing student so that we could keep watch over Swordfish, and then replace her with a fake once I believed things were going to plan. Adnachiel killed Rainfall when he snuck in and tried to stop Swordfish, but he saw through the disguise and caught wind of some things I failed to cover up. And then he managed to break free when he broke the loop that was supposed to keep him there. Cedar can't be detected as the killer, Rattlesnake can't die, Swordfish can never catch the killer but keeps on being determined to find whoever it is out of fear Rattlesnake would die." Cassriel said.
"But it failed thanks to Rainfall sneaking in and now we see that in your obsession with experimenting, you have created a large problem for us all." Lahad said. "The escaped Traveler's chest was opened. The information has been spread all over Pyrrhia, and soon it will be known to the whole world beyond that continent, and then who knows how many worlds it will spread to." "I propose a Purge is in order to deal with that." Camael interjected. "We've already decided to do that." Lucifer said. "It will be… a sad ordeal. But one that must happen nonetheless." Adnachiel choked out a small sob. She was obviously terrified. "I agree. I believe a Purge is necessary." Ariel said. She was the Historian of Hell and studying past missions of the Demons was part of her role.
"Cassriel." Lucifer boomed. "You have created a difficult problem for us. You put experimentation and your eternal goal of progress above the safety of the Demon's projects. I also have caught wind that you are seeing a human again." Cassriel inhaled sharply. How did he know? "You know it is bad to have relations with a character like that. I know you miss your old fiancé from your life before inheriting the power of Cassriel, but it is unhealthy for both you and whoever this new lover is." Lucifer said, softer now. "I command you to stop having relations with whoever it may be."
"And as for your punishment, you will lose the ability to save characters from death and experiment with them! You have caused us enough grief!" Lucifer stated. He held out his hand, and Cassriel put up his own in defense. In terror. He closed his eyes, knowing he couldn't move with the ring of fire around him. And then he felt it. Everywhere. He knew it was in his very being. The power Lucifer had. The power to rip something out of you. Demons survived it. Mortal things couldn't.
Everything was black, and then it was over. Cassriel opened his eyes, feeling personally invaded. "You will also help in cleaning up this mess." Lucifer ordered. "Yes, my liege." Cassriel said with a hint of distaste and bowed. The ring of fire disappeared.
"And now for you, Adnachiel." Lahad said. Cassriel watched in pity as the ring of fire encircled Adnachiel. She wasn't even in Demonic form. Just her regular one. Just Frost.
"You failed to kill Swordfish and Vine. Multiple times. You befriended them, and even fell in love with Swordfish." Lahad said. "And although you didn't create this problem, you made it worse, and didn't do anything to prevent it." Adnachiel had tears forming in her eyes. "Explain to us why." Adnachiel took a few shaky breaths, and then turned to face the council.
"I don't have a defense. I did exactly what you said I did. I won't deny it. Swordfish reminded me of Rainfall. Vine became my friend, and I felt like I was back with the Travelers." Adnachiel admitted. "But for once… I was actually happy!" And then she cried. "It was easier to just be Blizzard than being Frost… Adnachiel… I knew what I was doing was wrong… but I… I…" She gulped. "I was myself again. I killed Rainfall and I thought Frost was gone forever… but then I met them all… I couldn't keep up the act Cassriel wanted me to do… and I became friends with them…."
There was silence in the council chamber. "I know I'll be punished, but please. Please. Don't Purge. Spare them… I don't want them to die!" She sobbed. "You know it must be done." Lucifer said. "You know it is something nobody takes pleasure in." "I know…" Adnachiel sobbed. "But please… at least don't kill my friends… At least spare them…" "They are solidified enemies of Hell." Zablah said. "It is your fault for getting attached to them." Lucifer put his hand up. "I will see what I can do." He said. "Their safety is not ensured, for if I deem them dangerous to our project, they may have to die, but I will see what I can do." Lucifer said.
. . .
"What… what do you mean?" Rainfall asked. "Why would we do that?" He took a step backward. "Kill Horizon. And Fjord. Take the lives of two innocent dragons so that we may live."
"I know… I know its terrible. But my friends are my tribe. I need to be prepared to do anything so that they may live. Even take the life of an innocent." Frost said. "Swiftwind is already gone… I can't lose you too." Rainfall felt red trickle down his scales. "Frost. Don't do it. I won't do it." "If you don't kill one, you will die!" Frost cried, and as if on cue, the door that the dead were behind started banging again. "You and I have to do our part. The Demons will end everything. The Travelers won't stop until the Demons are under their control, and who knows what may happen after that. We're the only ones who know what both sides are doing. It's our responsibility now to stop the Demons, save innocent dragons and humans from the Travelers' plot, and if we are Demons, we can do that forever."
Rainfall blinked back the tears. "Our wills are strong enough. We've been trained. We know how to keep control so that Adnachiel and Miczariel can't influence us." Frost argued. "And we need to save Mahogany. Steal three of the Traveler's souls away from them, right now. The good of what inheriting their souls will do outweighs the bad of killing Horizon and Fjord. We need to keep moving forward until our duties are fulfilled."
Frost was shaking, but her eyes showed determination. She knew what had to be done. "Why does it have to be us?" Rainfall asked. "Why can't we try and get Horizon and Fjord to kill those demons?" "Because it's not their task. They lived lives unaffected by this so far. They don't know how to keep control. They don't know how to fight a demon." Frost said. "It has to be us. Nobody else can fill our spots in the multiverse." Rainfall didn't know what to say.
"All that has to be done… Rainfall… Do you want an eternal life? Together? Doing what must be done?"
The wood of the door the dead were behind began to splinter at the edges as the mountain of stuff kept Stygal's army back. Swiftwind had probably been turned into one of those monsters as well by now. But they hadn't heard the raven's call again… maybe Stygal had left?
"Frost… I won't let you do this. Both killing someone and taking on a demon." Rainfall said, stepping in towards her. "I'm not joining you. But I'm not letting you go on alone. We can just get out of here. We don't need to do this. We don't need to be heroes." "If we don't take action, who will?" Frost asked. "We can stop this nightmare ourselves." Rainfall said nothing, just staring at Frost. The dragon he loved.
"Well, I'm going." She said and took a step down the hall. The door began to move the bookshelf. Rainfall flung himself in front of her. "I won't let you go. I love you too much." He said, spreading out his wings in front of her. Frost raised her head. "Will you stop being so selfish?"
Rainfall didn't move. "You don't want me to go because you care about me too much. But think of all the good that could be done if you didn't care so much." Rainfall stared at her. "I won't let you go." He said sternly. Frost tried to push past him, but he shoved her back. "No." He said. She tried again. Rainfall pushed back harder. "NO!" He yelled. "I'M NOT LOSING YOU TOO." Frost sighed. She spun and kicked Rainfall in the head. He crashed against the wall and crumpled to the ground. Before Rainfall went unconscious from the blunt force to his skull, he heard one last sentence.
"I'm sorry. I'll come back for you."
. . .
And come back, she sure will. That is, if Frost really did inherit Adnachiel. Frost is either Adnachiel or dead.
If you ever come across her. Please tell her that I'm sorry.
. . .
"So… Blizzard, Frost, and Adnachiel are all the same." Starflight said. "Yes." Rattlesnake said. The Amber and Amethyst winglets had gathered in Tsunami's headmaster's cavern. "Frost killed and inherited Adnachiel, and then became influenced by the other's will. She was sent here to kill Rainfall and keep an eye on things, but eventually became conflicted, as she was still herself." Vulture said. Swordfish stared at the ceiling. "She saw Rainfall in me." Swordfish said quietly. The room fell silent.
"…She was determined to keep information a secret, which she failed to do. With Qibli from the Travelers defeating her." "But she still managed to kill Changbai, Coconut, Pike. Falcon, and Webs are still missing." Sunny said, staring out a window. "Not to mention… everything else she did." Starflight said sadly.
Swordfish and Clay had been avoiding making eye contact. Same for Darkseer and Tsunami. Delta also guiltily shied away from Sunny. Marsh had stopped coming to certain classes to avoid seeing the dragons he felt got hurt, and it was his fault. Darkseer had said Turtle and Peril had stopped talking to him, much to Kinkajou's dismay. "Hey… come on… we've got bigger problems than what happened." Fatespeaker said to everyone in the room. "We literally have the entire world at our throats, ready to strike…"
The reveal about Pyrrhia's true past had been an upset to everyone. The dragonets had only put some things in the letters, purposefully excluding the Travelers, details about Adnachiel, known locations of the Relics of Hamza, and any known dragons with the Kiss of the Void, Swordfish and Vine included.
"And we don't know if the Travelers have a plan to stop the Liberation Project anymore." Fatespeaker finished. "So basically, we're doomed." Typhoon said. "Nice knowing all you." "And you really can't remember anything Frigid?" Clay asked. Frigid shook his head. "Well, both Vine and Frigid still have their memories wiped, so that's great. There's still probably more stuff we don't know about because those were probably wiped on purpose." Darkseer grumbled.
Sunny turned and looked at Swordfish. "What are you and Vine going to do next?" She asked. "You have the power to travel between worlds, even without Abyss' necklace." Vine turned to look at Swordfish. "I don't know…" She said, trailing off. "We should find the Travelers." Swordfish said.
. . .
Rainfall awoke in a different room. Frost had dragged him to safety while he was asleep. She was nowhere to be seen. Rainfall quickly got to his feet and ran to the room where Mahogany most likely was.
His guess was proven correct when Rainfall opened the room where he and the others had been taught. There was Mahogany and Fjord. Horizon was nowhere to be seen. "Rainfall!" Mahogany cried. "What happened to Frost?" He had dried tears down his cheeks. Frost had probably already told him about Swiftwind and Papyrus. "Did Frost take Horizon?" Rainfall asked, beginning to sweat. "Yes." Fjord said. "We have to find her." Rainfall said. "She wants to take his soul and then kill one of those demons. She wants to stop both Lucifer and Jerboa by both stealing a soul from the Travelers and stealing a Demon. She knocked me out when I tried to stop her."
A sudden explosion shook the room. Dust began to fall from the ceiling. "This place won't hold up for much longer." Mahogany said. "We need to get out of here." "If that Icewing was going to kill Horizon there, she's probably already gone and done it." Fjord said. "This weird dragon from a tribe I've never seen before called Shade was here too. He explained the basics of this whole 'soul' deal to Horizon and me, and then left. He told us to stay right here." "So, Shade probably has a soul too. The last Traveler soul." Rainfall said to Mahogany.
"Look, we need to get out of here." Fjord said. "I don't know who you dragons are, but this is bad. I don't even know what's attacking us. We've been locked in here since the beginning." "A thing called a Demon raised an army of undead dragons. There's also two other Demons attacking. The Travelers have a plan to stop the Demons from destroying all worlds, including ours, by replacing all their leaders with Travelers who have souls. They locked anyone with a soul inside to keep them safe. They had four. Shade, Mahogany, Horizon, and you." Rainfall said.
Another nearby explosion rocked the building. "I don't know if we're going to be able to find Frost." Mahogany said. "We might need to just get out of here now." "I agree with the Mudwing." Fjord said. "Now there's something I never thought I would say." He snorted. Rainfall looked around him. "I'm not leaving without Frost." Rainfall insisted, walking out the door. "I can't let her go out and die like that." "You dumb dragonet." Fjord snorted. "When that Icewing came in here, she had a look of real determination on her face. She took Horizon away to 'save' him a while ago. There was no stopping her. Mahogany here told me you are a 'world jumper' or something like that, so just hurry up and get us out of here." Rainfall turned around to look at the Icewing. "Face it. She even hurt you to get there. She has her mind set on something." Fjord said. "If she values this over you, then she doesn't deserve to be saved."
"Down the hall!" Mahogany cried. Rainfall turned around to see the dead dragons had broken through the barricades and were advancing towards them. "Three Moons…" Fjord swore, backing away. "I take it those are the dead." Rainfall was the only one with any kind of weapon. A mobile rifle with nothing but three shots left. Rainfall reached into one of the pockets of his robe to pull out a small pouch of ammunition. It had been left in there from the initiation, and Rainfall was glad, otherwise he wouldn't have remembered it. He quickly loaded it into the weapon as the decayed dragons stepped forward, dark-eyed and empty. "May the Goddesses save us." Mahogany said as more and more of the dead dragons marched inside.
"There's too many of them to take them out at a distance!" Rainfall yelled. "You ever fought, Fjord?" Fjord chuckled nervously. "I was a soldier in the war, and then was a gladiator in Scarlet's arena. I've had plenty of experience." "A dragon has feelings." Rainfall said. "A dead one doesn't."
Rainfall aimed his gun at the Sandwing lurching towards him, and fired, shooting it in the snout. "Go for the head or it doesn't do much!" Rainfall yelled at the others. The Sandwing fell to the ground and the other dead soldiers just walked over it, stumbling on its body.
Mahogany and Fjord were unarmed and had to resort to traditional dragon fighting. "You can open a rift at any time!" Mahogany urged Rainfall, but Rainfall refused. He wasn't leaving without Frost. He readied the rifle again and prepared to fire.
But he didn't have to as Miczariel suddenly bombed the underground again, only this time, the roof really did collapse. Rainfall quickly ran backward as the roof of the underground collapsed inward, burying the dead soldiers in debris. Fjord let out a scream as a large wooden beam broke and the roof fell on top of him. Rainfall was knocked to the side as Mahogany shoved him out of the way of the falling debris. Rainfall could hardly tell what was going on as fire rained from the sky into the remains of the underground. Rainfall could hear a scream in the distance. Was that her? Was she still there?
Rainfall lay there for what seemed like forever. Images of Frost, dying in a puddle of her own blue blood had immobilized him. He could feel the ash beginning to cake on his scales, someone calling out his name, but he didn't move. He could hear the sounds of the remaining Travelers, fighting to the last.
Why was he still here?
Rainfall didn't move until Mahogany grabbed him and pulled him up. "Rainfall!" He yelled. "Fjord's dying!" Rainfall slowly got to his feet. Around him, the buildings were fiery rubble and smoke. The dead soldiers were crushed underneath the building. He could see nearby civilians of Possibility, still frozen in time. Rainfall turned around and saw Fjord.
He had one of the wooden beams speared through his chest. Blue blood was pouring out of the wound. Blood was coming out of his mouth too. His legs and tail had been smashed by the roof and looked broken. "Three moons." Rainfall gasped and ran over to the Icewing. "I'm not going to… make it…" Fjord coughed. "We need to get you help." Mahogany said, trying to get the Icewing up. "No… Get out of here… I was given a second chance. You may not. The world needs you more than it needs me." Fjord said in a hoarse, gravely voice. Mahogany and Rainfall stared at each other, covered in ash and flecks of ember and blood. Mahogany was bleeding from a spot above his eye. "We don't leave another Traveler behind." Rainfall said. "I thought you weren't with them anymore!" Fjord cried, coughing up more blood. "Look Rainwing, I used to think your kind didn't understand anything. When Abyss saved me from that… thing, Cassriel, and brought me here, I began to wonder if I had been wrong. But it looks like you still don't know a damn thing about war."
Rainfall looked down at the Icewing. "What did you just say?" He asked with anger in his voice. "Lives are expendable. Sometimes, dragons must die to achieve a goal. You learn to accept that. Every soldier goes in knowing they might die. I'm nobody here. If the goal is to oppose the Demons and the Travelers, then you two need to get out of here. I'm perfectly fine with that." Fjord said, more blood beginning to flow from the wound in his chest.
A look suddenly passed through Fjord's eyes. "In fact, … If I'm about to die, I'd rather you kill me Rainfall." The red in Rainfall's scales turned to pale green in a flash. "WHAT?!" Rainfall screamed. "SHhhhh!" Mahogany shushed, looking as terrified as Rainfall. "Take my soul. Take it and run." Fjord urged. "If I'm going to die anyway, I want my soul to be saved." Rainfall dropped down to Fjord's level. Mahogany watched with wide eyes. "Rainfall… you wouldn't…" He urged. Another scream could be heard off in the distance. Distinctly female. Rainfall couldn't stop himself from shaking. He felt a tear drip from his eye. In that moment, he was back on the bridge. Frost was there, and he still had trust in those by his side. Swiftwind and Mahogany were somewhere else, off being themselves, but he was here.
Rainfall looked up at the eyes of Fjord. So deep blue. Rainfall stood up and looked at Mahogany. "Run." He said to Mahogany. "As soon as this clears up, Jerboa and Abyss will have you killed. Take your soul and leave this place. Hide. The fate of the entire multiverse rests on it." "Wh-Where will I go?" Mahogany sputtered. "Find sibs." Fjord managed out as loud as he could. "Claim you have amnesia or something." Rainfall said. "Go out and pretend to be someone else, someone so untraceable to this place right now, that not Demon nor Traveler could find you again."
Mahogany looked around at the destruction. "Swiftwind is gone. Frost is gone." He said. "Will you be gone?" "It would be better to split up." Rainfall answered. "Scatter the souls as far apart as we can." "So, you're going to do it." Mahogany said with a hint of disgust. Rainfall looked down at the dying Fjord. "I think… it's my duty now."
Mahogany looked at Rainfall, and then at Fjord. "Do as you must." He finally said. "I'll leave now." Rainfall looked back up at the small Mudwing. "Goodbye." Mahogany said. And then he turned away and left. "When you see them again, tell Frost and Swiftwind I say goodbye to them too." He called from out of sight.
Rainfall processed what Mahogany had said, and then turned back down to the dying Fjord. His eyes were closed. He didn't speak. Oh no… Rainfall thought but putting his claw up to Fjord's snout proved that he was still breathing. Barely.
Come on… Come on… Rainfall told himself. He stared at Fjord's face. You know you have to do it… You need to take the soul… But staring at the dragon in front of him, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He knew that everything meant he had to do this, but he couldn't. Was it worth sacrificing a life just to advance your goals?
But he knew it was Fjord's last wish to have the thing he knew little about kept safe. He understood that something he never knew resided within him would help determine the fate of the multiverse. Rainfall held up his claw. He put it down. He opened his mouth and exposed his fangs. He bent down to Fjord's neck.
. . .
A dying wish. A world at stake. A broken, alone dragonet. A mere child facing a conflict that spanned over multiple races, thousands of years, different worlds. A drive for justice. A drive for peace. A drive for power. A drive for kingdom. A drive for nations. A drive to stay the same. A drive for change.
And one life taken. One out of untold numbers. One battle out of untold wars. One dragonet, who was later found, wandering around outside Possibility by Constellation and Coyote. Dragging himself away, tears in his eyes. Torn robes and eyes that had seen things not meant to be seen. And now, blood on his claws.
Coyote and Constellation took me across the ocean to escape. We never heard from the Travelers again. I never again heard from Frost, Mahogany, Apollo… the list goes on. I can only assume that the citizens of Possibility were unfrozen and didn't realize anything had changed at all.
Once again, I had been ripped out of my life and watched everything I knew burn in front of me. Old friends, gone. And now I was somewhere new. We never left that world, trying to pick up the old pieces of a cause that had been destroyed. Until one day.
. . .
The Capital of the Sand Kingdom was in complete chaos.
After Old Monarchy had arrived and the truth of the world had been revealed, the royal government had become less and less able to stop the inevitable uprising. Blaze was a dumb queen and was controlled by her advisors and Queen Glacier. But ever since the Teeth of Ice, an Icewing rebel group had become problematic for the Icewings, Blaze had been left to her own devices.
It hadn't taken long for different groups to begin plans to take over. Thorn of the Outclaws had tabled the idea, only agreeing to it if absolutely necessary to save dragons. Other groups were plotting, but there was only one other gang besides the Outclaws that was powerful enough to take the capital.
Cassriel, disguised as a Sandwing named Quicksand, stood in the center pavilion of the hideout. "I can assure you, the Talons of Power will have complete control of the Sand Kingdom within the year." He said. "It does not matter that the Darkists stole your bargaining chip. Blaze will not be alive much longer." Vulture, the massive Sandwing covered in tatoos, smiled at the fake Sandwing in front of him. "So… the Sandwings aren't even the original bloodline to begin with?" He asked, struggling to conceal his joy. "Correct. The age of the queens is over." Quicksand said. "This is the dawn of a new age for Pyrrhia."
The Talons of Power cheered. Cassriel had to keep himself from rolling his eyes. They claimed victory, completely trusting of a strange dragon. Not knowing that they were actually setting themselves up for destruction.
. . .
Prince Narwhal snuck a glance back down at the streets. Soldiers clashed with the rioters, protecting the nobility inside the building. The Teeth of Ice, composed mostly of peasantry within the Ice Kingdom, began attempts to take control of the entire kingdom.
Queen Glacier had shared the message from Jade Mountain with only her family, but somehow, the information got out anyway. Peace with Old Monarchy had been turned down, but word had still spread.
The Teeth of Ice wanted to get rid of the monarchy entirely. Topple Icewing society and make it new. Narwhal felt disgusted at the prospects of what they wanted. Complete dissolution of the ranking systems, removal of all hierarchies. Inspired by an old human ideal, they wanted to create a classless government where everyone was the same.
As word of the Multiverse, Demons, and the rest of the world, spread throughout the kingdom, more and more dragons joined the revolutionaries. Glacier had attempted to silence it at first, having soldiers arrest anyone who dared speak of it, and increasing border policing, but it had become too hard.
Narwhal listened to the rioting mass of dragons, on the ground and in the air. "This will be the end of our kingdom…" Another noble moaned. "Our enemies are making progress we can't even dream of right now, and our own subjects have turned on us." Narwhal just kept listening to the chaos.
. . .
General Henrik Solberg turned the Necklace of Eclis over and over in his hands. He was sitting in his makeshift office at the scavenger den. Some Pyrrhian tribes had begun to accept them. Others, not so much. There was much work to be done. Old Monarchy was able to translate some of the strange human languages spoken by the "scavengers" of Pyrrhia.
It didn't seem like Pyrrhia had left the medieval ages and were not ready for the industrial power of Old Monarchy. He had received word the Mudwings wanted to build a train. What for, Solberg had no idea.
The Icewings had a socialist revolution on their hands, and it appeared that the Sandwings were struggling to keep control. Three groups, the government, the Outclaws, and the Talons of Power, were clashing throughout the kingdom. Only, this time nobody cared. Solberg had heard stories about the War of Sandwing Succession, but now it seemed like everyone else was too focused on their own kingdom to care about the Sandwings.
Someone knocked on his door. "Enter." Solberg said offhandedly, putting the Relic of Hamza down on the desk, covering it with his hand. Marie entered, closing the door quietly behind her. "Ah, Marie." Solberg said. "General, do you still have the Necklace of Eclis?" Marie asked. "Why, yes." Solberg answered, uncovering the necklace and showing it to her. Marie blinked, and then took a deep breath.
"General, I apologize." She said. "For what?" Solberg asked. Marie circled behind his chair, breathing shakily. "You're a good man. You helped us survive." "Why are you saying this?" Solberg asked. "Marie, are you okay?" Marie looked up from the floor at him. "Your judgement saved my friends. Thank you." She said, walking up to him. Solberg stood up from his chair. "Please…"
Solberg didn't finish his sentence as Marie suddenly slit his throat with a blade that seemed to appear out of thin air. Solberg's eyes widened as Marie stopped him from screaming with her hand, covering his mouth. Blood flowed out of his neck as he died. When Marie had lowered the body down to the ground silently, so that nobody would hear, she grabbed the Necklace and ran out the window.
Frost walked slowly, so that she wouldn't call any attention to herself. The blade had disappeared just as it had appeared, and the Necklace of Eclis was clenched in her fist. Soon enough, they would find the body, and then everyone would be on alert. Old Monarchy's de facto leader was dead. Frost just hoped she wouldn't pass Anthony or Azure, or even worse, the real Marie.
The Necklace was growing warm in her human hand as she walked along, smiling at people who seemed to recognize her as she left the Old Monarchy camp.
She left without any problems. When she began to hear yelling, she was already sneaking away into the forest. The most crucial relic was in Demonic hands. Frost sighed and tried to hold back tears. The plan was proceeding, and she was doing her part.
All she had to do was try not to break.
I'M BACK. LET'S GO. I needed a little break to collect my thoughts and work on school things. But we are back in business. Expect updates again.
I forgot to add this when I originally posted this chapter. Who is your favorite character and why? Let me know in reviews. Most characters in Alternate are on the complex side, and I would like to know who likes what. I put a lot of thought into each character's actions, dialogue, thoughts, and arc.