Katse Plains Empire Garrison Fort
Renner sat across a table from Jircniv the emperor of the Baharuth Empire. Behind her stood Maeve, Momon, Solanna and Quacey opposite the table the Empire's Four knight stood behind their emperor. To say the atmosphere was tense would be an understatement. When Renner arrived Solanna had asked Croxy to come up and "greet" those from the empire. All but confirming the rumors that have been drifting over the border.
Jircniv kept his face as a pleasant and cordial mask, however internally he was less than pleased. It appears the Kingdom has received some unexpected trump cards in the form of these four individuals. Even over 600 years on the shadow of the old gods still loom over the realms of men.
"It is a pleasure to meet with you Emperor Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix." Renner said sweetly
"The pleasure is mine Queen Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself." Jircniv said with a charming smile
"Please just call me Renner, after all it is a long name." Renner said pleasantly
"Then please refer to me as Jircniv." Jircniv replied
"Very will Jircniv dono, I trust you are aware why I have travelled all this way to meet you." Renner said
"Yes I am Renner dono, I have high hopes for our discussion today." Jircniv replied
"I am glad to hear that Jircniv dono, I feel that this war between our nations has dragged on long enough." Renner said
"Yes but why should the Empire simply give up the fight and forgo all the sacrifices we have made to this point?" Jircniv said goading Renner
"I ask you to make your decisions not for the dead but for the living. After all the dead do not complain." Renner replied sweetly
"We hold the upper hand however, our troops are much superior as compared to those of the Kingdom." Jircniv said
"Yes but there is the natural barrier of the Katse Plains, if you march across you will lose a quarter of your troops to the negative energies of this place." Renner said with a smile
"What if I told you we have countermeasures in place, this natural barrier will not be a barrier much longer." Jircniv said confidently as he thought back to why he allowed Fluder to study that accursed place in the first place. It was to develop some form of anti negative energy spells to allow his troops to cross the plains.
"Then why haven't you used it? Since your troops are so superior." Renner replied as she took a calm sip of her tea
"You don't seem to agree with my assessment." Jircniv said calmly
"No I confess I do not, may I introduce you to my allies." Renner said as she gestured to the four behind her.
"Yes my intelligence network has kept me posted on them, they are followers of the 41 I believe." Jircniv said with a smug smile
"Not as much as you would you like I assume judging by your expression when you saw the Croxilisk." Renner said with a wry smile
"Of course not I was aware of the existence of the beast, it's just that words on parchment cannot do the beast justice. It is quite a spectacle to behold." Jircniv said with a laugh as he lied through his teeth
"Yes reports often do not do reality justice, I can understand that quite well. After all here you all saying you have the upper hand when you know so much about the goings on in my kingdom." Renner said with sweet smile
"I am aware of Maeve dono and her compatriots power. Let me tell you this Renner dono, you can't win a war with four people." Jircniv replied
"I am surprised to hear that from you Jircniv dono, especially since you have the great Fluder Paradyne at your disposal." Renner said
"It is because I have him at my disposal that I know this fact most intimately." Jircniv replied pleasantly with a laugh
"I see how silly of me…" Renner said with an airy laugh
"Although Jircniv dono what do you know of the old gods?" Renner asked her tone changing ever so slightly
Jircniv looked to her for a moment, pausing at the sudden change of topic. This girl is not nearly as naive as the stories claim. He knew that from the start of course, you don't win the game of thrones by being naive.
"I know bits and pieces although I must confess I am not a theologian." Jircniv said with a chuckle
"When our civilisations began the old gods were already here in the world, I read something in an old tome about the old gods, there was a segment that struck a chord with me. It speaks about when an old man approached the gods and asked about us humans and our place in their grand design. The gods said we humans come from nothing and one day we will return to nothing. Ash to ashes, dust to dust. When the last human draws his final breath all that shall remain of us will be our work. Then the old man asks if the gods cared about us mortals and they replied, the first are we and the last are we. You see Emperor Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix, at first I didn't understand that answer but after some reflection I feel I perhaps understood a bit of that wisdom. The old gods if they exist have been around for a long time and they will continue to exist long after we are all gone. There is no meaning to playing our petty little games, we should instead try to live as well as we can while we are in this world for we are not gods, we are mortals trapped in the river of life." Renner said as she finished the last of her tea
"Those are interesting views Renner dono but I don't understand how that is related to the matters at hand." Jircniv said
"May I have some wine." Renner asked ignoring the question
The servant at the side hurriedly poured her a glass and Renner took a sip.
"The empire truly has some fine wine." Renner said as she gazed at the blood red liquid in her glass.
"I appreciate the praise Queen Renner but you still haven't answered my question." Jircniv said
"Maeve here comes from a nation that far supasses ours in almost every conceivable way, their magic, their technology, their military might, the arts and the list goes on. They have a philosophy in their nation, it goes as follows, the great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and rallying cries but by iron and blood." Renner said as she flicked her glass toppling it staining the white table cloth red.
"And what do you mean by that?" Jircniv said his pleasant smile gone replaced by the cold look that has so often come to characterise the bloody emperor.
"You say you have the advantage, I beg to differ, Maeve and her compatriots are my allies because I serve their masters interests at the moment. They can destroy your legions with very little effort and I can prove it. No need to shed any unnecessary blood, I propose a duel. Not a duel to the death, just one until the participants yield. I suggest the Empires four knights against one of Maeve's compatriots. I leave the choice of who they fight to you." Renner said calmly the smile now gone from her face.
There was a pause at the table as silenced reigned. All those gathered now looked to the now stained tablecloth, the blood red stain now spreading across the pure white cloth.
"Hahahaha, it is a rare thing indeed when someone lives up to their reputation." Jircniv said with a laugh and gave the first sincere smile of this meeting
"I wonder what stories you have heard about me." Renner said as she returned the smile
"I expected nothing less from the Queen that personally hung the priest that baptised her." Jircniv said with predatory grin
"He was a traitor after all." Renner said with a cold grin of her own
"I accept your proposal, honor compels me to choose the strongest of the four, I assume that is Maeve dono." Jircniv said
"Indeed it is." Renner affirmed
"Very well now the die is cast." Jircniv said as he toppled his own glass staining the table with blood red wine
"Iron and blood indeed." Renner said as the two monarchs locked eyes. It was as clear as day to the pair, the two that sat at the table were a no sheep, they were wolves.
The garrison sparring arena
Nimble stood beside the other three knights and gazed across the arena at the small blonde girl.
"This doesn't sit right with me." Baziwood said in a clipped tone
"Yes I feel we are being mocked." Leinas replied
"No it's that I have niece about her age." Baziwood said
"No go soft on us now Baziwood, the honor of the empire is at stake." Nazami said as he readied his twin shields.
"I know Nazami, let's do this slow. I think she's fast, looks like rogues gear." Baziwood said as the four slowly approached
"Greetings imperial knights, I hope to have an interesting fight with you all." Maeve said cordially
"Greetings Maeve dono, if you forfeit this match we won't have to hurt you." Baziwood said
"Thank you for the concern Baziwood dono but I think you should worry about yourself." Maeve said as she drew two of her curved daggers and twirled them expertly within her hands. She held her arms at her side in a completely unguarded stance.
"I'll take the lead, the rest of you strike when you see an opening." Nazami said
The other three nodded as they fanned out intending on surrounding the small girl. Instead of repositioning she just stood there even allowing them to enter her blind spots. In her hand she gripped a pair of short curved daggers. Her equipment was top notch, easily the best they had ever seen. Nazami hefted his shields and charged letting out a battle cry. The other knights immediately moved to surround her. The watched as Maeve calmly backpedaled staying just out of range of Nazami's attacks. Nimble being the fastest of the knights living up to his name of Fierce Gale darted around her and tried to stop her retreat with a swing from her blind spot. Instead he found his strike easily parried without a single glance from Maeve, the force of the parry was strong enough to numb his hands as the vibrations traveled up the blade. Leinas not to be outdone soon followed up with a heavy strike with her halberd at the same time as Baziwood as they swung their weapons. There was a clanging sound as both of them also felt their strikes to be easily parried without a single glance from Maeve.
Sensing this wasn't going to work the three immediately broke off their attack. Nazami seeing this also retreated and took his position in front of the other three. The four knights immediately retreated and formed up looking intently at Maeve. They knew they had to retreat the blind spot was no hindrance at all to her, it was as if she had eyes at the back of her head. What's more, they couldn't even see how she had deflecting their strikes such was the speed of her parry.
"She's fast…" Leinas said
"Yea I couldn't even see her strikes." Baziwood said with a grimace
"My sword is chipped." Nimble said in a stunned tone
"Huh?" the other knights said in unison
Leinas and Baziwood both looked at their adamantite blades and saw the unmistakable chip in the edges of their blades.
"You have got to be kidding me, these blades are adamantite." Leinas said
"Nazami be careful with your shields it may not provide as much protection as you think." Baziwood said
"Not coming?" Maeve asked with a slight tilt of her head
"Then allow me to start." Maeve said as she shot towards them.
Nazami immediately charged forward to stop her and the other three once again fanned out. Nazami raised his right shield and swung it at the charging girl. The moment the shield covered his vision he felt a burning pain at his heels and felt his legs go weak. Nazami collapsed unceremoniously face first to the dirt as he felt a searing pain in his ankles.
Leinas saw when Nazami raises his shield to strike, Maeve had instantly ducked down and slide in between Nazami's legs and slashed his ankles.
"The Achilles Tendon, sever it and your feet don't work. An immobile soldier is a dead soldier." Maeve said calmly
Nazami grit his teeth and tried to rise but try as he might he couldn't put any strength into his feet.
"Nazami stay down your out of this fight." Baziwood said
Nazami grit his teeth and fumed, to be beaten so easily by a little girl before his emperor. He couldn't think of a more humiliating situation to be in.
The other three knights slowly walked towards Maeve their guard raised to the maximum. Clearly this girl was an experienced fighter, how someone so young got this good was anyone's guess but the fact remained. She was small, fast and strong with the experience to back it up. Usually a small frame meant trading speed for strength but it seems that doesn't apply here in this case. It was a simple matter of inexperience, due to the heavy weight of Nazami's shields he has to adopt a wide stance to balance himself as he swung his shields. What's more Maeve was short having a body of child meaning it was extremely easy for Nazami to lose sight of her under the crest of the shield. This made it trivially easy for her to get under his guard and slash his ankles.
Nimble approached slowly as he kept his eyes on the girl before him. She was so small, it felt strange fighting someone so small. Usually it would have been an advantage to be larger but now her small size just made her seem extremely hard to hit. He glanced to the side and saw that Leinas and Baziwood were hesitating as well…
Jircniv looked on at the display before him and grit his teeth. This was humiliating, his empire's finest knights are being pushed back as if they were squires by this little girl. He wasn't dumb enough to think that just because Maeve looked like a little girl meant she was weak. However the sight of a little girl casually parrying strikes from his best knights was still a humbling sight.
"She is a very capable warrior." Jircniv said to Renner
"More than you know, I feel she may be the best on the continent." Renner replied
"That's a high praise, she is good but not that good." Jircniv said
"She's holding back. If she wanted to she can end your knights in an instant." Renner replied
"I find that hard to believe." Jircniv said
"Maeve, please end it." Renner called out calmly
Leinas heard the queen call out those words and felt her blood run cold. She knew Maeve was holding back, this clearly wasn't taxing at all for her. Leinas saw the faintest hint of a smile appear on her face before her form vanished. She heard a cry of surprise to her right, she turned to see Baziwood falling backwards with Maeve latched onto his chest her daggers buried into the front of his shoulders. Baziwood fell on the ground and cried out in pain as Maeve ripped her daggers out of his shoulders. Baziwood now unable to move his arms was now out of the fight.
Leinas saw Nimble charge Maeve thinking there was an opening, Leinas charged after him but he was faster than her and reached Maeve first. Leinas saw Maeve slash with one of her daggers and snapped Nimble's adamantite sword in half. Nimble looked at his sword stunned before he took a kick to the chest. His chestplate crumpled as he was thrown back all the way to the edge of the arena and slammed into it's wooden walls collapsing the section. Leinas stopped her charge and readied her halberd. She was now the last one left and she felt she didn't have a chance in hell of winning this. She wanted to concede, no sense getting slashed if it served no purpose. Leinas was never so hung up on this whole honour thing, as far as she was concerned she lost all her honour the moment she was hit with that damned cursed. Leinas saw Maeve turned to face her and she threw her halberd into the dirt and raised up both hands.
"I concede this match to you Maeve dono." Leinas said evenly
"You surrender before your emperor?" Maeve asked
"Is there even a chance I could win?" Leinas asked in return
"No there isn't." Maeve replied
"Then I see no reason to continue, no sense damaging my equipment, this way I can at least save my lord some coin." Leinas replied
"I respect a pragmatist, you fought well Leinas dono." Maeve said as she sheathed her daggers and approached.
Leinas relaxed her arms and picked up her halberd letting it rest on her shoulder as she watched Maeve approach. Maeve extended her hand and Leinas took it giving her a firm handshake. Leinas saw Maeve's eyes drift over her face where the curse was. Maeve's golden eye flashed for a slight moment as it locked on where the pus filled gash was hidden under her hair.
"Nasty little hex you have there." Maeve said
"How did you know?" Leinas asked eyes narrowed
"My golden eye lets me see things that most people can't" Maeve said as she released her grip but found her hand locked in Leinas's vice like grip.
"You called it a hex, most people call it a curse." Leinas said as she gazed intently at Maeve
"That is no curse, if it was a real curse you wouldn't be standing here." Maeve replied calmly
"Do you know how to cure it?" Leinas asked fervently
"I don't but I know a group that does." Maeve replied evenly
"Can you tell me where they are?" Leinas asked a desperate glint in her eyes
"Far, too far away for you to reach. The group resides in my home nation." Maeve replied
"Can you take me there? I will give you anything." Leinas said
"It doesn't suit my purposes to return now, perhaps in the future." Maevee replied dismissively
Leinas sensing that the conversation was over reluctantly let go of Maeve's hand. Maeve's home nation must be quite the incredible place. Judging by the quality of their equipment and the quality of warriors it could produce. Leinas was already thinking on how she could defect to that nation, however, there was a problem. Would they even want someone such as her? Queen Renner had said that the nation far surpasses anything in the region, it wouldn't be wrong to call it a super power. Now this mysterious nation has sent their agents into the region to accomplish some unknown goal. Perhaps the path to acceptance and then a cure would be aiding their agents in their goal. Problem was she had no idea what the goal is…
"Quacey could you heal them up." Maeve called
Those gathered watched as the small elf boy released a spell with three green orbs that flew out and connected to the three injured knights. There was a green light and they started to get back up.
"Powerful spell, I feel better than when I started this fight." Nazami said as he stood up and tested his legs
Nimble walked over and picked up his broken sword and gazed at it disgruntledly.
"You didn't have to break it you know." Nimble grumbled
"Give it here." Maeve said as she extended her hand
Nimble handed her the two halves of the sword and watched her join the half and where it broke. [Restore Item] Maeve intoned as the sword glowed blue and the two halfs fused back together. Nimble took the sword back and inspected it, the sword was now as good as the day he got it.
"You are a mage and a warrior, a rare combination." Baziwood said
"I am what you would call a spell blade, I use magic to enhance my martial prowess. I can use attack magic as well but I prefer to use my blades. A warrior that can teleport, fly and repair their own equipment is a formidable foe." Maeve said
"Can't argue with that." Baziwood said with a laugh
"How did you know where our attacks were coming from when we were behind you?" Nimble asked
"There are many signs, the sound of your blade as it cut through the air, the slight change in the air as you swing your blade and your killing intent were all signs I could use to know where your blade is." Maeve replied
"I see but I must ask how did you attain such a level of spatial awareness?" Nimble asked
"I had this training in the past where a spell would be cast on me to deny me of all my senses except for one. So on one instance I had to fight with only me sense of hearing and on another only on my sense of smell. I did this for awhile and that was how I got to where I am today." Maeve replied
"I see…" Nimble replied as he tried to parse the information. That would explain why she could perfectly parry their strikes. Such skill implied spells like [Blind] and [Deafen] would have very little effect. Each foot step was a sign, every swing would give away your location, the mere determination to fight would be giving your opponent crucial information. How do you even fight something like that? Perhaps Leinas was the smartest one here...
2 hours later Jircniv's personal carriage
Jircniv was sitting in his carriage with a very sour expression on his face as his knight explained to him what they learned during the spar. Perfect spatial awareness, unmatched speed, battle experience, legendary equipment, ability to cast spells while possessing martial prowess. That little girl was an extremely dangerous individual. If she wanted to she could carve her way through his guard right into his bedroom. It was a tough thing to swallow that his ambition for expansion had just gone up in smoke.
"As if one wasn't bad enough there's three more of them…" Jircniv muttered to himself
"My emperor please do not dwell on it too much, the peace treaty is signed and so is the mutual defense pact." Vermillion said
"Yes a peace signed at the point of a blade." Jircniv said through gritted teeth
"It doesn't sit well with me as well Vermillion dono, the Re-Estise Kingdom now has the power to decimate our empire if they should so choose." Nimble said with a sigh
"Queen Renner, may look like some sweet noble woman but make no mistake, she has the mind and the will to play the game. Not only that she mentioned that those four come from a far away nation, if these are the caliber of troops they can send as agents I can only imagine what might their military can bring to bear if called upon." Jircniv said grimly
"My emperor as long as we maintain good relations with the Re-Estise Kingdom we should be able to ensure our nation's safety." Vermillion said
"There is no guarantee Vermillion dono, peace is merely the preparation for the next war." Nazami said
"Yes that may be true but please keep in mind that those four do not serve Queen Renner it is merely an alliance." Vermillion replied
"Yes, perhaps their home nations objective is to build good relations with the nations in the region. Perhaps trade? After all a region filled with strife is not the best place to conduct trade. We can assume that the path to peace is in line with their home nations objectives." Jircniv muttered to himself
"That is a good point, if their military is as strong as we think it is why not just invade? Why go through all this trouble unless they have hopes for peaceful relations." Nimble said
"Yes if a military suddenly appeared on our doorstep, the nations may panic and ally against them. People fear what they do not understand, such a power's appearance would greatly upset the power balance. However, if their presence is introduced gradually to one nation at a time then they can form a majority within the region forcing the other nations to the table…" Jircniv said
"Yes my emperor perhaps it could be said that treaty was also signed with that mysterious nation as well. Indeed if you just think for a moment, the Re-Estise Kingdom is in the centre of the region. After receiving their support they approached us, we are a secular nation which means we will be more likely to make decisions based on reason rather than ideology." Vermillion said
"Our military strength probably helped as well…" Jircniv said to himself then an idea came to him.
The Slaine Theocracy hates 41 worshippers. By extension that applies to the Holy Kingdom as well. The Draconic Kingdom is in tatters at this point, no one is even sure if they will last the next two years. The Argland Council State defers completely to the dragon lords, so the fact the nation houses high elves might make things complicated. The city state alliance is too far away to make any impact on the situation here.
Yes then it makes sense… Re-Estise then the Empire, maybe move on to the Draconic Kingdom if their nation saves the Draconic Kingdom then they have another ally. The queen of the Draconic Kingdom is blood related to the Platinum Dragon Lord saving her nation will be favourable card to play. What's more, we are already providing food aid to the Draconic Kingdom and a lot of troops have just been freed up on both sides. Which means military assistance is now on the table…
With four of the nations as allies, the Holy Kingdom will either cave in to the demands or be used as a buffer zone by the Slaine Theocracy. The Slaine Theocracy… the most fervent anti 41 nation… this will completely destroy the Theocracy as we know it…
As strong as the Theocracy is it can't hope to fight all of us at once. Furthermore there's still the elves of the Crescent Lake who also worship the 41 who are now warring with the Theocracy. Then there's the beast men of the Albelion Hills who also follow the 41 and who despise the worshippers of the six gods… one extra blade to be turned against the Theocracy. That leaves the Dwarven Kingdoms and the Dark Elves…
The Argland Council State can cross the sea to reach the Holy Kingdom, the Kingdom will invade by land, the Dark Dwarfs and Dark Elves will cut off the Holy Kingdom form the Theocracy. The Elves will pressure the Theocracy from the rear, The Empire and the Kingdom will move over land from the north the Draconic Kingdom will invade by sea from the east. The other nations will tear the followers of the six to pieces from all directions…
Jircniv felt a chill run down his spine as started to see the whole terrifying picture unfold before his eyes. His alertness towards that mysterious nation shot through the roof, this is a very long game to play. This nation is not afraid to wait, it's not afraid to plan… it can remove the Theocracy without even mobilising a single army if all this goes as planned…
Divide and Conquer…
Encircle and Envelop...
The oldest adage that military planners swear by. This nation knows what's going on in this region, of that he was sure. What's worse, he can't think of a countermeasure towards this, if he doesn't dance to their tune they will just take things into their own hands and he will be finished anyway. The Draconic Kingdom is as good as theirs and by extension the Arglanc Council state, it seems all he could do is play to their tune. Jircniv felt the reigns of power slip from his fingers as an invisible hand gently pried it from his hands...
"So I have no choice then? Dance on your strings or lose everything?" Jircniv mutterd through gritted teeth
However, to be fair this would make the region much more stable than it was before. The Slaine Theocracy has always been the most destabilising factor in the region. What's more the Theocracy hates the Empire now. JIrcniv made sure of that when he purged all the pro Theocracy nobles from his court and uprooted their entire intelligence network from within his Empire. At the time he just wanted those interlopers out of his nation, so now he has little choice but to play along.
Although world peace doesn't sound so bad, all things considered. It won't last that's for sure but it would buy much needed time for the Empire to strengthen itself before this great peace unravels. What's more if they rip the nations of the six gods to pieces he can finally get his hands on their secrets with regards to divine magic. His nations lack of divine magic casters has always been a glaring issue in his eyes, this could solve that. So not just the stick then? Quite the carrot as well...
"Nimble." Jircniv said sternly
"Yes my Emperor?" Nimble replied sitting up straight as he awaited his lord's commands
"When we get back pull the legions back from the front leave a small garrison at the fort and prepare the legions for a campaign. We may be sending more than food to Draconic Kingdom soon." Jircniv said
"My emperor? We will be sending military aid to the Draconic Kingdom?" Nimble asked perplexed
"We won't be alone if my suspicions are right, the Kingdom will be joining us." Jircniv said certainty in his voice
"My emperor what do you mean?" Baziwood asked confused at the sudden change in tone
As of now, our policy will be one of collaboration with the kingdom of Re-Estise. I will now explain why…
That evening Fluder's Private Study
Arche sat restlessly in her chair as she twiddled her thumbs, her mentor sat across from her also eagerly awaiting the visit from that person. Arche went back to her home after the incident and apologised to her family for what happened. It was a heart breaking for Arche as she told her family that she was afflicted with a curse due to her magic research. So she had to stay at the academy for treatment, which is why she behaved the way she did. It broke her heart to part with her crying sisters when they heard she wouldn't be coming back home for the foreseeable future. That damned place, what in god's name did that place do to her? A child of ash? What does that even mean? Arche let out a sigh of frustration as she continued to fidget in her chair.
Then a hole in reality appeared and out stepped the small blonde girl with a mana core the size of a continent. She saw her look around the room before turning to face the pair, her mentor immediately leapt to his feet and bowed deeply. Arche seeing this immediately leapt to her feet and bowed as well after all her mentor was not the one whose soul was being consumed.
"The first step is now complete and now to keep our end of the bargain." Maeve said evenly
"Yes please I have done everything you asked, please another glimpse." Fluder begged desperately
"Yes but first I have some things to tell you two" Maeve said as she pulled up a chair
"What is it Maeve… sama." Arche said timidly as she trembled seeing as this girl was her only hope of preserving her soul
"I will explain what is happening to you in greater detail, Fluder consider this knowledge a bonus for your good work." Maeve said
"Yes thank you." Fluder said as he bowed again
"Now then Arche I am sure you are wondering how this happened to you." Maeve said as she locked eyes with Arche
"Yes I wish to know why this happened." Arche said softly
"You have been visiting that Mausoleum, that place is filled with something known as Abyss essence which is why the negative energy levels are so high." Maeve explained
"Abyss essence?" Arche asked hesitantly
"Yes do you know what the Abyss is?" Maeve asked
"It is a source of great mana energy." Arche replied uncertainly
"Yes but that is not the whole answer. The Abyss is the source of all energy in creation, to put it simply, it is the opposite of existence it is non existence. Everything in this realm that you see will be instantly destroyed if it ever contacted the Abyss in its purest form. However, there are ways to tame it to a certain extent. " Maeve said as she pulled out a steaming black dagger made of some strange stone.
"This is Abyss obsidian." Maeve said
"Why is it streaming?" Arche asked hesitantly
"It is destroying the air in the room, when the air touches it is destroyed hence the steaming." Maeve said as she pulled out a dark blue ingot from a hole in reality
"Do you know what this is?" Maeve asked
"It's an adamantite ingot." Fluder replied
"Yes adamantite one of the harder metals, but it is nothing before the abyss." Maeve said as she placed the ingot on the flat of the blade. There was then a hissing sound as Arche looked on in mute fascination as the ingot seemed to sink into the blade and slowly disappear. There was no residue the ingot just disappeared...
Maeve then took out an ordinary apple and lightly tapped the apple with the blade. Arche watched as the Apple withered and the skin started to boil and bubble.
"You see this, all that exists cannot survive contact with it. Unless you are of the abyss as well." Maeve said
"How do you know all this? Where did you even get that dagger?" Arche asked
"I learned from the best and I got this as a gift." Maeve explained
"I see…" Arche replied
"Touch it." Meave said as she extended the dagger towards Arche
"What? That will melt my hand off." Arche said as she recoiled from the steaming blade
"It won't, remember only the abyss can touch the abyss." Maeve said
Arche looked hesitantly at the dagger, it seemed horrifying to her. It looked evil and wrong but yet a part of her felt it looked familiar. It seemed almost inviting so Arche reached out her hand and touched the dagger. She felt a slight tingling sensation at her fingertips but no pain, she lifted her hand and looked to her fingertips. Her fingertips had a slight redness to it nothing more, no wound or burns.
"See? The abyss knows, it always knows." Maeve said as she took her dagger back and put it away
"I am sure you are wondering why you got this affliction in the first place. To put it simply as a body grows so does it's mana core. When a mana core grows it absorbs energy from its surroundings, usually in order to be touched the abyss you need a lot of exposure. How long were you down there for?" Maeve asked
"About 10 minutes each time, I went down there 7 times." Arche replied
"That not very long at all, tell me how did you survive the negative energy in that place?" Maeve asked
"It was a spell of my design, it is a channel cast spell all it requires is mana and the will to maintain it." Fluder replied
"Will to maintain it? Surely your students are not so inept they can't sustain a spell for 10 minutes." Maeve asked her eyebrows raised
"It's not the spell, it's the place, you start to hear whispers once you get too close." Arche replied
"Ah I see so your spell is incomplete then." Maeve said calmly
"Incomplete?" Fluder asked
"Your spell only protects against the negative energy it does nothing for the abyss essence. That is why you are hearing those whispers. However, that still doesn't explain how you got afflicted so quickly." Maeve said as she crossed her arms and gazed at Arche
"Maybe she is just naturally highly susceptible to it." Fluder said
"No the corruption was too deep for it to have happened so quickly, her core was like she was drinking abyss potions by the stein fulls." Maeve said
"I drank mana potions in the Mausoleum to help sustain the spell." Arche said
"How much did you drink?" Maeve asked
"About 3 litres per trip." Arche replied
"Well that must be it, the abyss essence was contaminating the potions and you drank so much. All that abyss essence flew right into your growing mana core." Maeve said with a sigh
"Is that why I am not blessed with this condition?" Fluder asked eagerly
"Do not attempt to go down there and start chugging potions Fluder Paradyne. It won't work, your mana core is fully developed and you might not even be compatible." Maeve said sternly
"Of course Maeve sama." Fluder said with a bow
"One more thing, this is not a blessing for mortals. It is a curse, it denies you any chance of a normal life. Most do not live very long when afflicted, even those that do survive can never have children. The abyss will kill the child in the mother's belly and the abyss will spread killing the mother as well. If afflicted you are fated to die alone with you being the last of your line. You will constantly have to battle for control of your own body and you will always live with those voices in your head. You will try to live the best you can hoping to reach the next sunrise, whether you live in ashes or mirth in the end the abyss will take all that you have." Maeve said unhappily
Arche looked at Maeve slack jawed, she would never have children? She was doomed to forever struggle with her own mind, her life will never be her own. She will forever be a slave to this curse, her fate preordained, her life a shadow of what it could have been. Arche felt her eyes grow hot as she let her head droop and she felt hot tears drip onto her hands. All she wanted was to protect her sisters, now she not only a danger to herself but also everyone around her. How can she return now?
"The best way to control the influence is to find something to fight for, something other yourself. do you have anything like that?" Maeve asked as she gazed at the weeping Arche
"My sisters…" Arche said her voice cracked
"Then hold onto them in your mind, use them to anchor your mind." Maeve said
"I am a danger to them…" Arche said softly
"Not if you can control it, a child of ash who masters their own abilities is a force to be reckoned with. You will be able to protect them far better than you could have without this power. If you can control it…" Maeve said
"How do I do that?" Arche asked
"I will teach you… but not today, keep wearing the necklace never take it off. Your power is still weak that item can repress it, it's not a permanent solution but it will work for now. Go home see your sisters, remind yourself of why you choose to live. If you can't bear it tell me and I will put you out of your misery. Better to die as yourself than a hollow." Maeve said evenly
Arche sensing that she was being dismissed, stood up and walked out of the room. Idly she over head her mentor exclaiming as he discussed the mysteries of the abyss with Maeve. She walked out of the academy and realised she was quite aways from her family estate. Usually she took a carriage but the moon was approaching it's highest point so all the carriage drivers were probably asleep by now. Arche was considering flying but she decided to walk she wanted the time to think about how she was going to explain what was going on.
As Arche walked down the empty streets of the capital her mind kept spinning as she turned over the information in her head. Her thoughts continue to spin in circles as she walked down the cobbled street of the capital. However as conclusion constantly eluded her, in her frustration she let her temper flare and the voices were back…
What's wrong child?
Getting angry?
Poor little girl, so lost if only she would just let go….
Yes let us release you from this mortal coil…
"Shut up…" Arche hissed as she reached up towards the chain necklace
The girl lies…
Arche froze as she heard that.
"Who?" Arche asked suspiciously
The dark one with the gods eye…
The mistress of the accursed serpents…
She is not of this world…
She is kin of the dark god…
Child of the first primordial…
Yes….
We didn't know it at first but after we saw her servants there can be no other…
Jormungandr the world serpent child of the demigod Loki…
Midir the abyss eater former guardian of the cursed ringed city…
We know…
All who are of the abyss know them…
They were two of the lords…
Once there were six now there are four…
Two lords sacrificed as mortar for the gods finest creation…
"What the hell are you talking about?" Arche asked through gritted teeth
We speak the truth…
The lords rule the outer dark…
Once there were six now there are four…
Two lords sacrificed…
Reagents for a cursed being…
She cares not for you…
She is the path of ruination…
Yes the herald of the abyss…
Child of the eternal jailor…
Child of the dark god…
Child of ruination…
She is ash made flesh…
"Enough, you are not making sense. Now SHUT UP!" Arche shouted as she grasped the necklace and she felt the dark presenses leave her mind.
Arche let out a sigh as she mulled over what the voices were saying. Most of it doesn't make sense, child of a god? Maeve is a child of a god? No there was no way, even if she was why would she be helping the Re-Estise? The dark god? Do they mean Momonga? The first of the old gods, the god of death.
Arche approached her family estate and walked up to the gate and noticed something peculiar. The gate was unlocked, she looked up and saw the door was ajar. She looked back down at the gate and saw there were scratch marks where the lock was. Sensing something was terribly wrong she felt her blood run cold…
"Kuurderika!, Ureirika!" Arche thought desperately as she pushed the gate open intent on charging into her family estate.
"Please be safe." Arche thought desperately as she ran towards the door
15 mins prior, The Furt Estate
Edgar was a devout member of Zuranon, they worshipped the dark god Momonga. The lord of death and undeath. They believed that the world's purest state was one of ash as their sacred texts decreed. It spoke of a place where there was only ash, the profaned valley a place where there was only death. They eagerly awaited their messiah, who would descend to their world and bring about death on an untold scale. The prophecy spoke of a child of ash, one that would be strong enough to consume the world. So their organisation has been trying for the past 500 years to locate the prophesied child of ash. So they have hunted the children of ash fervently intent on finding their messiah.
Now there was a child of ash in Arwintar, children of ash are exceedingly rare. So when word from on high detected a new one so close all the cults resources were pulled into obtaining this child. They had discovered she was a child of the former house of Furt. Now she was serving under Fluder Paradyne as one of his inner circle of disciples. This was problematic, as her disappearance was surely to be noticed. So it was decided that they would have to make her retreat from the public eye herself. They would use her family against her to black mail her into leaving Fluder Paradyne's service and eventually into their waiting arms.
Edgar grabbed a fist full of the blonde girls hair and yanked her head up painfully before stuffing a rag into her mouth. The girl was screaming into her gag and struggled wildly, losing his patience Edgar backhanded the girl across the face splitting her lip. The girl now stunned looked up fearfully at him as tears flowed freely from her eyes. He raised his hand again and she saw the girl flinch and look away.
"You struggle, you cry, you make a single noise and I hit you again." Edgar said as he yanked the girls head up again eliciting a muffled cry of pain.
Then he heard the gate outside open, he looked out the window to see a girl run towards the door. He instantly recognised her as the child of ash. It appears the dark god is smiling upon them this day…
Arche burst through the door a [Lightning] spell at the ready, she saw a hooded figure standing in her living room holding a sword. She released her spell and the spell flew towards the man in a flash of light and a crack of thunder. The man was instantly killed collapsing onto the floor in a smoking heap. Arche approached the corpse intent on finding out who these invaders were, she lifted up and saw the sigil of Zuranon on his leather chest piece. She felt her blood run cold as she looked at the symbol of the infamous death cult.
[Dark Vision] Arche intoned as she looked up at the stairs leading up to the second floor where her sisters slept. She readied another [Lightning] spell and cautiously walked towards the stairs. She could see boot print on the fine carpet, they were already upstairs. Then she saw a figure descend from the stairs. Arche pointed her arm at the figure and readied her spell, then she saw him pull up his cloak and revealed Kuurderika held by the hair and dagger pointed at her throat.
"Easy now girl, how about you put that spell away." the man said
"Let her go or I swear I will blast you into the next life." Arche hissed
"Death is a blessing, I do not fear it. This girl on the other hand I'm not so sure, if you kill me I will at least have some company." the man said maliciously
Arche gazed at her sister and felt her arm began to shake. In her panic the voices were back…
You can't protect her…
Not with your power…
Relinquish control and we shall do the rest…
Yes, we can save your sister…
"SHUT UP!" Arche shouted as she clutched at her face as she lost concentration and her [Lightning] spell fizzled out in her hand.
The moment her spell vanished she heard a voice from behind her [Paralysis], Arche felt her body stiffen as she collapsed face first on the carpet. Her parent's bedroom was right behind her, she realised. She felt her veins turn to ice as she tried to think of a way out of this situation, the voice s continued to speak…
What will you do now girl…
Look at you powerless and pathetic lying face first on the floor…
You think you can control us with your strength?
You are not worthy of this power…
Look at yourself, you can't even protect your own family…
So weak…
Relinquish control…
Let us out…
Arche felt her mind spiral into panic, she couldn't think straight with the voices in her head. She couldn't grasp the necklace with her body paralysed. She felt her being yanked up and thrown onto one of the sofas. She looked on as other hooded men gathered before her holding her family.
"Now listen here girl, you will do exactly what we say if you ever want to see your family ever again." the man holding Kuurderika said
"You disobey us and we will send the bits of your family back to you in nice pretty packages." the man sneered
Arche gazed hatefully at the men, all the while the voices were getting louder, she felt her control over her own mind slipping as fear and rage threatened to overcome her. Her eyes started to glaze over as the voices started to boom in her head.
"Hey are you listening?" one of the men said as he approached. He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her up and made her face her family. The pain of the man's grip on her hair bought her a moment of lucidity.
"Hmm I think a demonstration is in order then, I think your sister would look good with a smile don't you think. A red smile from ear to ear." he said as he stuck his dagger in Kuurderika's mouth and pressed the edge into the edge of her lips. Arche could hear her muffled screaming as the blade started to saw back and forth.
Let us out and we shall save your sister….
Relinquish control…
Let us out…
Let us out…
LET US OUT…
"FINE! KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!" Arche screams internally as she released control and let the voices take over…
Edgar looked up suddenly from the small girl as the lights around the house started to flicker. He saw the girl reach up and lightly grab the robe of the man that was holding her hair. She wasn't supposed to be able to move, she was under the [Paralysis] spell. Then he noticed her eyes were glowing red and an eye mask made of white bone started to form around her eyes. It covered both eyes and ended at the bridge of her nose. Then the lights around the house shattered as the air started to feel heavy. He saw that there was now an obsidian aura emanating from her body and her mouth opened into a wide smile.
"AT LAST WE ARE FREE! Ahhh such a good host…" Arche said in a demented voice filled with mirth
Edgar saw her grab the man holding her hair and yanked him by his robes towards her, she then punched a hole right into his chest her arm emerging from his back hand now clasping his still beating heart. She wrenched her hand free form his torso as his body collapsed to the floor, she brought the heart close to her face and gave it a sniff.
"Ah such a sweet aroma…" Arche said with a wide smile as she took a bite out of the heart.
"Ahhh salty…" Arche said with a laugh as she tossed the heart aside
The other men sensing something was very wrong ran towards her swords drawn, Arche took three swords to the chest. Her blood spilled down onto the floor as her two siblings screamed into their gags. The men expecting her to die instead found themselves unable to remove their swords, they looked to her face and saw the same demented smile on her face.
Edgar saw black tentacles emerge from behind her, the tip of the tentacles split open revealing rows of serrated teeth. One tentacle grabbed one of the men by the throat sinking its teeth deep into the flesh before lifting him up and slamming him into the floor splintering the wooden floorboards. The other two men turned and ran. Most of these men were fresh recruits since the originally the plan was to simply kidnap this family, they were not prepared to fight an abyss user. This girl was strong, easily the strongest child of ash in recent history. For one thing she had a mask, the bone mask would only manifest when the abyss within was strong enough. Edgar held onto the girl in his hand, he knew most of the abyss users would still hesitate to kill people close to them even if they lost control.
He watched as the tentacles seized the two men who were running away and started to rip their limbs off one by one until all that was left was a pair limbless torsos. The rest of his men dropped their hostages and drew their weapons as they trembled before the laughing girl. The weak minded fools they tremble before true power. Edgar watched as the tentacles seized one of the men by both his ankles and ripped his body in half down the middle. He continued to watch as the rest of his men were torn to pieces all the while the girl continued to laugh maniacally with three swords stuck into her chest. Finally he was the only one left and he grabbed the small girl by the back of her clothes and lifted her up using her as a shield.
Edgar watched as the tentacles ripped the swords out her chest and the bleeding stopped immediately. So she had high speed regeneration as well, if he wanted even a slight chance of surviving he would need to use her sister as a shield. He had to get back to the hideout, they would have to invest heavily in capturing this girl. She was the only promising candidate thus far.
"Now for the last little lamb…" Arche said with a twisted laugh
"Girl you let me go or your sister dies." Edgar said as he held the knife to Kuurderika's throat
"The girl isn't home now, it's just us. I'm sure she wouldn't mind after all the best part about twins is there is a spare." Arche said as the tentacles hissed and opened their maws
Edgar sensed that whoever was speaking through that girl was being serious raised up the young girl as a shield. Intent on following through with his gamble to the end, he instinctively closed his eyes as the tentacles shot forth. Edgar heard a loud crash and the room shook, he paused for a moment awaiting the end but felt nothing.
"YOU AGAIN! CURSED CHILD OF THE DARK GOD!" he heard the girl screech
Edgar opened up his eyes to see a large purple scaled serpent before him. He looked to the left and saw the girl being pinned against the wall by the large serpent. He looked to his right and felt his blood run cold. He saw a small body wearing a full bone mask. The mask had a smooth left side, but a cracked and glowing right half. The mask seemed to pulse with power, this was a true abyss user. Even the top executive of Zuranon could only conjure a half mask leaving his mouth exposed, there was no one who had ever been recorded to being able to manifest a full mask. What's more usually the abyss user's eyes would simply glow red, this one had a single flaming red eye socket. The eye socket looked like a volcanic crater as it melted and warped the bone around the eye. A dark wispy like mist emanated from her back and from the mist emerged a pair of serpents each as thick as a small tree trunk.
"Jormungandr not too hard we don't want to kill her." Maeve said calmly
"Who are you? Are you the messiah?" Edgar asked
"If you are looking for saviour look somewhere else, now I'm gonna give you until the count of five to let go of that girl. One…" Maeve said
"Wait my organisation will greatly reward one such as you dark one." Edgard said
"Two" Maeve said
"We can give you anything you desire." Edgard added
"Three" Maeve continued ignoring him
"If you kill me I will kill this girl." Edgard added as she brought the blade to Kuurderika's throat
"Four." Maeve counted
"I swear by the dark god I'll kill her!" Edgard shouted panicking
"Five…" Maeve finished as the serpent with a draconic head shot out and bit down onto Edgars' hand that held the dagger biting it clean off.
Edgar shouted in pain as he dropped Kuurderika and the serpent opened it's maw and pinned him against the wall with enough force to break half his ribs.
"Easy Midir we need him alive." Maeve said
Edgar felt the serpent ease up on the pressure slightly allowing to catch his breath. He looked to the small figure with the full face bone mask and couldn't help but feel terrified. Something about her mask and those serpents seemed wrong as if his very being found them repulsive. He watched as she approached the pinned girl and reached into a hole in reality and pulled out a strange glowing coal.
"NO! WE WILL NOT RETURN!" Arche screamed
"This isn't a request." Maeve said coldly as she grabbed Arche's hand and place the coal in her hand. Maeve gripped her hand and forced her to crush the coal and tendrils of glowing orange energy coursed up her hand into the bone eye mask shattering it. Jormungandr released Arche allowing her to collapse onto the ground. For all intents and purposes she looked asleep, as she softly breathed on the ground. Maeve looked over to the crying Kuurderika as she clutched at her bleeding mouth. Maeve walked over and poured a healing potion unceremoniously on her head. The nights event souring her mood beyond words. Arche's mother ran over and embraced the twins as the two girls wept.
"What did you do to her." Arche's mother said shakily as she got to her feet and looked warily at the serpents who still hovered in her living room.
"You are Lady Furt I presume?" Maeve asked as she turned her masked visage towards her
Lady Furt visibly flinched and took a step back as she gazed at Maeve's one burning eye. It was easily the most horrifying she had ever seen, years from now she would still occasionally wake up in the night in a cold sweat as that burning eye once again visited her dreams. Lady Furt gazed mutely at the mask as she couldn't find words in her throat.
"I asked you a question." Maeve said again
"Ah yes I am." Lady Furt replied
"I will take all of you away from here, I can't allow you to leave after what you have seen." Maeve said calmly
"This is our home! You can't just make us leave!" Arche's father exclaimed
"It wasn't a request, understand your own position." Maeve growled her voice warping slightly due to her displeasure.
"Where will you take us?" Lady Furt asked
"Someplace safe, as for Arche I will have to take her somewhere else to help heal her." Maeve said
"Can you save her from whatever that was?" Lady Furt asked a hint of desperation in her voice
"That will depend on her, I can only give her the tools and knowledge. At the end of the day it is still her war to fight." Maeve replied with a sigh
"So what happens now?" Lady Furt asked
"Well I am gonna take all of you away and burn down this house to make it look like an accident. From tomorrow onwards as far as the world is concerned the Furt family died in a fire tonight. Leave all your belonging here, it will help make the so called accident more convincing." Maeve said calmly
"You can't do this! I am a noble I will not be ordered…" Arche's father shouted red in the face
Maeve rounded and Jormungandr grabbed him in her jaws and slammed him into the floor. Maeve walked over and bent down to look him in the eye so all he could see was the white bone of the mask and her fiery red eye. He was now whimpering and crying on the floor as the looked at Maeve terrible visage.
"I will only say this once, this is not a request, you can either obey or join your house in the fire to make it look more convincing." Maeve hissed as Jormungandr slightly extended his fangs so that Arche's father could feel the sharp fang against his chest as it poked through his clothes.
Maeve gazed at weeping mess of the man and whirled around in disgust as Jormungandr released him and snapped his jaws a centimetre from his nose to reinforce the point. Arche's father yelped and fell back as he covered his face in terror.
"Albedo I need a gate here, we are having some guests in Nazarick for a while." Maeve said through a message
"Maeve did something happen?" Albedo asked
"Yes, I have matters to attend to now, I will explain more later." Maeve replied
"Very well." Albedo replied
A portal in reality opened in the middle of the living room and the Furt family looked agape at the whorling hole in reality. Out from the portal stepped a prim and proper bespectacled maid who had black hair tied in a bun. Her maid attire was a strange mixture of the uniform of a domestic maid and combat armor.
"Yuri this one is to be interrogated." Maeve said as Midir threw Edgar onto the floor at her feet.
"As for the rest treat them as guests for now, I still need to confer with the masters on how to proceed with this matter." Maeve said with a sigh
Yuri bowed before she grabbed Edgar and threw him into the portal. Lady Furt ran over to Arche and gently lifted her up.
"Leave her I will handle the rest." Maeve said coldly
"No she is my daughter, I will do this myself." Lady Furt said with a steely gaze as she gazed at the mask
"Very well…" Maeve said with a nod and watched as she carried Arche through the portal.
Maeve looked around the house, the bodies would be a problem she couldn't afford to have too many bodies survive. There was to be one male here so the rest would have to go…
"Midir, Jormungandr. Snacks for you, leave one body behind." Maeve said as she walked into the kitchen.
Nobles always had expensive high grade alcohol, perfect for starting a fire. She opened a cupboard and saw the wine, it was quite a pitiful display. The wine rack here was quite bare with only a handful of bottles, not as well off as they looked it seems. She picked up a bottle and opened it and gave it a sniff, fortified wine about 35% alcohol… good enough. She started pouring all the wine around the house especially on the more flammable things. She then grabbed one more bottle and headed upstairs. She entered a room and saw a pair of small childrens beds, she walked over and poured the wine on the sheets. Then she noticed a pair of teddy bears each with slightly differing designs.
"I am sure those two kids are scared…" Maeve muttered to herself
"No this is no time for sympathy, remember the mission, always the mission." Maeve chided herself and dumped some of the wine on the teddy bears staining its golden fur red.
Maeve lit a match and threw it on one of the beds, immediately igniting it. She waited for a moment to ensure it was burning before heading back down the stairs as she started throwing matches on to flammable things around the house. Soon the fires were licking up onto the paintings on the wall and the curtains, this house will be a smoldering ruin by morning. Maeve recalled Midir and Jormungandr and took one last look at the burning house before stepping through the portal.
When Maeve stepped through she found herself in the throne room of Nazarcik, before her stood the Furt family trembling as they looked at the majesty around them. She looked to their left and saw Demiurge and Albedo standing there brows furrowed in displeasure.
"Maeve is it truly wise to bring these lower life forms here?" Albedo asked
"I don't like it any more than you do Albedo, let's just keep them here for awhile. I need to speak with the masters about something I'll update you later." Maeve said as she gave a sidelong glance at the Furt family
Albedo and Demiurge catching her meaning nodded and started calling for the homunculi maids to escort them to one of the guest rooms. Maeve sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, this mission has just been mishap after mishap. She now truly appreciated the wisdom of the 41, their plans are far reaching and comprehensive. Nothing surprises them, nothing catches them on the back foot. Maeve summoned a special portal and walked through entering the Hall of Pillars.
Momonga looked down as the portal appeared and out stepped his dear daughter. Strange, she rarely arrives unannounced.
"I apologise for the intrusion supreme ones." Maeve said as she took a knee
"I something wrong little one?" Chagama asked
"Yes Chagama sama there is…" Maeve said as she dipped her head lower
"You are troubled… what's wrong child?" Momonga said concern clear in his voice
"Father… Supreme Ones I request permission to bring another to the Ashen Shrine." Maeve said softly
Silence reigned as the 41 gazed at Maeve who was kneeling before them. A child of ash is a rare thing, one worthy to be brought to the Ashen Shrine is an even rarer thing. There are some realms who have never even produced a child of ash worthy of the shrine in the entirety of their history. However, in the eyes of the 41, the children of ash are to be pitied. Abyss influence was an unfortunate symptom of creation, the Ashen Shrine was created to help remedy this problem, it was far from a perfect solution. It was part school part hospice, it taught the children sent there to master their abilities but more importantly it provided a safe place for them to go hollow if the worst was to come to pass. To go hollow in the cold dark Ashen Shrine is perhaps one of the worse fates to befall someone.
Momonga looked down at his dearest child and saw her shoulders were trembling, an uncharacteristic show of weakness for the almighty Herald of the Abyss. Momonga felt a pang of guilt in the depths of his mind, the first child of ash Maeve took into the Ashen Shrine went hollow. So did the second… and the third… and everyone there after. Momonga knew this fact ate at her, master of abyss abilities that she was she couldn't save any of them. Momonga knew why, Maeve was built differently from the rest of the mortals. In reality she was more abyss creature than mortal, her understanding of the abyss is beyond most mortal comprehension. This fact was a curse more than anything, she had mana core unlike any other, it was cold and empty just like a hollows…
Momonga rose from his throne and floated down to his child. He gazed down at her small form, he knew she tried to help all those who came before but it was all for naught. He placed a hand on her head and spoke.
Go with my blessing, perhaps this time will be different...
The Great Tomb of Nazarick
Arche stirred as she sat up from the bed, she felt small warm hands wrapped around her own. She looked down to see her dear sisters sleeping on both sides of her, clasping her hands in their slumber.
"You are awake." a voice said
Arche turned to see Maeve sitting in a chair across the room. Arche saying nothing looked around the room and saw the ornate furniture and beautiful ornaments adorning this room. It was a place that made the emperor's palace look like a peasant's hovel.
"Where am I?" Arche asked
"Some place safe. Your family will remain here, you however will need to go someplace else." Maeve replied
"Where?" Arche asked
"A place where you will learn to control the darkness within you, you may not survive the process but it is your only chance." Maeve replied calmly
"I see… my family will be taken of right?" Arche asked
"Yes I will see to that." Maeve said
"Thank you." Arche replied softly
"You may not see your family ever again, if you have something to say now's the time." Maeve said
"I see… may I be alone with them?" Arche asked softly
"Of course. I'll go get your parents." Maeve said as she stood up
Arche gently shook her sisters awake as soon as she heard the door close. Her sisters stirred as they looked up and saw that she was awake.
"Onee san!" they cried as they leapt into her arms sobbing
"There, there shhhh." Arche soothed as she felt her own eyes grow hot
"Everything will be alright…" Arche said as tears rolled down her face
"Are you… *hic* ok?" Kuurdeika said through her tears
"Yes I am." Arche said as she sniffed and ruffled Kuurderika's hair
"Do you have demons in your head?" Ureirika asked
"I… yes I do, but I'm going somewhere to learn how to beat them." Arche said as she forced a smile
"You'll beat them onee san I know you will." Kuurderika said earnestly
"Arche?" she heard the voice of her mother call out
"Mother… Father… " Arche said as she saw them at the door.
"I'll give you all some time." Arche heard Maeve's voice from behind her parents. She saw her mother turn and give her a nod before the door closed behind them.
"Arche what's going on? What's happened to you?" her mother said shakily
"I… got cursed… I got it from work… you know I am a magical researcher so the job carries some risks…" Arche replied softly
"Oh gods… we did this to you…" her mother said as she covered her mouth and tears ran down her face
"If we… if we just accepted the truth… we wouldn't… you wouldn't…" her mother rasped as she buried her face in her hands.
"Claire it's that god damned emperor's fault if he didn't take away our titles we wouldn't…" her father shouted
"Albert don't you get it? Our extravagant lifestyle, buying all those stupid things… we just killed our daughter…" her mother wept
"Onee san is not going to die! She is the strongest person in the world! She'll beat the demons." Kuurderika said hotly
"You will won't you onee san? You'll beat them." Ureirika said
"I… yes I will, I'll beat them black and blue." Arche said forcing a smile
"Pinky promise?" Kuurderika said holding up her hand and extending her pinky
"Pinky promise. Onee san never lies, I'll come back and we can go to the beach again." Arche said as she hooked her pinky around her dear sisters finger.
It's a promise then…
The Ashen Shrine, The Profaned Valley
Arche looked around at the cold dark stone walls around her, she followed behind Maeve fearfully. The hall was lit by torches that burned in a dark purple flame giving the whole hall an eerie purple glow. Soon she exited the hall and they walked into a large open room with large brazier in the centre that burned a massive purple flame. On the edges of the plaza rose large steps, further to the edge of the room were large pillars that connected to a domed ceiling. On the far end of the plaza where four massive unoccupied thrones. Arche looked around and saw there were figures of varying ages seated on the steps, some barely older than Kuurderika and Ureirika others were approaching adulthood. Next the the fire knelt a woman wearing a black dress, she had silver hair and wore an ornate silver mask over her eyes. On the floor next to her was small elf girl with white hair, she was convulsing on the ground as a mask of bone slowly formed around her face.
Maeve held out her arm to stop Arche, they both stood at the top of the steps and looked down into the plaza. From the sides she could hear the faint sounds of weeping echoing out across the plaza. She looked to the other children some buried their heads in their hands, some looked away others gazed blankly at the scene as it unfolded. She saw the mask fully form and the convulsing stop, then the woman bent over and gently caressed the girl's face.
"Child of ash, kin of the abyss, I prithee rise once more, such is our curse." the woman said
The child then slowly rose as if drawn up by marionette strings. Her limbs hanging limply as if she was a puppet to some cruel master. Then the mask split open revealing a mouth and an unearthly howl echoed from her maw. The bone mask spread and quickly encased her body forming a strange armor over her. Then the strings were cut and the girl fell down onto all fours and started to look around like some feral animal. The girl hissed at the woman and reared up preparing to pounce. Before she could however tendrils of darkness erupted from the ground and grabbed the now feral girl and dragged it into a portal in the ground. The woman watched all this happen calmly, once the girl was gone she slowly got back to her feet. She graceful dusted her dress off and turned to face Maeve and herself.
"Welcome home ashen one, speak thine heart's desire." the woman said with a smile as she faced Maeve
"Greetings Shrine Maiden, I have brought a child of ash, I wish to leave her in your care." Maeve said
"Ah another wayward child, come approach the profaned flame." the woman said as she extended her arms as if to embrace her.
Arche looked to Maeve uncertainly, Maeve nodded and gestured for her to approach. Arche took a few uncertain steps forward, this place was scaring the living daylights out of her. What the hell was that earlier, was that what happens when someone goes hollow? Arche just reached the base of the steps when she heard a shout from her left. She turned to see a teenage human boy leap through the air towards her, he had bone mask that had strange black marking on it, he had bone armor the covered the right half of his chest and his right arm. She saw a large snake shoot out and grab him before slamming him into the ground.
"Urgggh quick as always on the draw herald sama." the boy laughed as the snake pinned him to the ground
"I'm surprised you're still here Horace." Maeve said dismissively
Arche turned to see Maeve standing arms crossed where she originally was but she had her bone mask on and a large serpent emerged from a dark portal behind her.
"Of course I am my dear sweet herald, I still have to devour you!" Horace said with a demented laugh
"If you get pinned this easily you don't have a chance in hell." Maeve replied coldly
"Oh but I will as long as you keep sending snacks my way." Horace laughed
"Keep dreaming Horace, how long have been down here? 2000 years?" Maeve said dismissively
"Not all of us get to devour abyss lords herald sama, you lucky bitch I won't rest until I devour you!" Horace screamed now enraged
"Duly noted." Maeve said as she picked him up and flung him into a pillar with a loud crash
Arche looked on as the boy struggled to his feet as his bone armor crumbled around him, he took one step before collapsing face forward onto the floor.
"Ashen one please be gentle with the children." the woman said
"I will be as gentle as I need to be." Maeve snapped back
Arche could sense her clear hostility towards the woman with those words.
"Ashen one may I pose thee a question? Has thy found a flame within?" the woman asked in a gentle voice
"None of your damned business." Maeve snapped back
"I see, pity… It is my fervent wish that you attain what thy heart desires." the woman said
"Enough, this is Arche, she is here to join the shrine, I have received permission from the masters. I trust there will be no problems with this arrangement." Maeve said icily
"Certainly ashen one, but forgive me I have been instructed by one of the lords to inform him if you were to ever return. I have already sent word when you entered this dark world." the woman said with a bow
"You what?" Maeve said a dangerous edge in her voice
At that moment she saw a mass of darkness flood in through form the shadows and coalesce on one of the thrones. From the darkness emerged a 10 metre tall giant wearing aged and rotting armor wielding a massive greatsword that dripped black ichor. It's face was hidden inside rotting nd rusted helm. A pair of red glowing lights peered out from the helm as it gazed at Maeve
"Lord Farron." Maeve greeted
"Lady Herald." Farron greeted in return
"To what do I owe the honor of your presence this day?" Maeve replied cordially
"I wish to ask you, how goes the state of my legion on realm 235." Farron asked
"They remain unkindled as they should be." Maeve replied in a clipped tone
"Ah but sense disturbances on world, not all of what is owed is being returned." Farron said
"Yes that is why I have gone there, to remedy this problem." Maeve said
"I see I wish you good fortune, I trust you know the consequences for failure." Farron as he leaned his massive frame forward.
"Do not presume to threaten me Lord Farron, I am the Herald of the Abyss." Maeve replied icily
"It is not a threat merely a warning." Farron replied
"Then I thank you for your concern Lord Farron." Maeve replied crisply
"Hmm very well then, Lady Friede also wishes for me to give you her regards as well Lady Herald. I wish you good fortune in the wars to come." Farron said as he transformed into a mass of darkness and vanished into the shadows.
Arche saw Maeve let out a sigh as she turned back to Arche.
"I'll leave you here for now, try not to go hollow. I'll drop by again… at some point." Maeve said as she scratched at the back of her hair in frustration.
"I see… thank you Maeve sama, would you give my regards to my family please. Tell them I arrived safely and I will do my best in the days to come." Arche said
"I will… good luck Arche." Maeve said
"Thank you. Hopefully I won't need it." Arche said as she let a smile grace her lips
"Shrine Maiden." Maeve said as she gave her a stiff nod before turning away and walking back up the stairs
Farewell, ashen one. Mayst thou thy peace discover…
Author's Notes:
Well another week another chapter, I will be creating a side story for Arche's training in the Ashen Shrine. It's called the Path of Ash, the timeline will run parallel with the events of Primordials before they reconverge at some point.
So once again leave a review if you liked it, any criticism is welcome as well. So see you guys in the next chapter.