Author's Notes: Hopefully, I should be able to finish half the season before school starts. Here's the fourth episode. Enjoy!!
Disclaimers: Card Captors belong to CLAMP, characters from Sengir clan, original concept of banding, Kjeldor and all its creatures, non-Clow cards that are still represented as spells and other stuff belong to Wizards of the Coast. Don't sue. I only own Strider.
Song of Blood - Episode Four
Chapter 7
"I'm surprised the Sengirs have not attacked other villages. In fact, I thought they were adept at using Death magic. Apparently, they can't or they won't. What's the big deal?" Terese gave a grin. "It has been several decades since we set up the secret weapon. I'll show you."
The party left the tavern and approached a heavily guarded shed. The guards approved her access inside the shed. "Here it is. The one thing that stops the Sengir clan from overtaking the population of Kjeldor." Li's face fell. "A Drought?"
Strider immediately understood. "The Drought forces the vampires to conserve their mana resources. If they use any type of Death spell or ability, the Drought destroys the number of swamps equal to the number of Death mana required for the spell or ability!" Terese nodded. "It was hard to set this up in the first place, especially with Irini Sengir increasing the mana cost of the original spell dramatically. We still got it out. All we have to do is keep paying the mana cost to maintain it."
The group headed out of the shed and started walking back to the tavern. "We have to constantly use Light mana to maintain it. We use the plains on which the village was built on to generate the mana." Terese patted the land. "Our good old reliable mana source."
"Aren't you worried about land destruction spells? There are some Death land destruction spells like Rain of Tears and Despoil." Terese snorted. "We were able to hunt down all the sorcerers in Kjeldor that created land destruction and confiscated their cards. Then we used an Afterlife spell to turn them into humble members of the community."
"So the only type of mana the Sengirs can produce is Death mana?" the woman nodded. "That and maybe Light mana. That's if they could unlock the traps we set on the plains they conquered."
"As far as I'm concerned, only Water magic, Nature magic and artifacts can do that." Terese's eyes went wide. "We recently lost a Nacre Talisman due to a raid from the Sengir clan!! We thought it's useless to them!!"
"Not necessarily. They might be able to modify it to something else that can react on Death magic." Kero piped up. "How can they modify it? I don't think Sakura's a science expert." "Not Sakura. Probably someone else," murmured Li.
"We checked out the possibilities. There are no members of the clan with any experience with artifact creation," stated Terese. "That's not important right now. What's important is that I give you a Null Brooch to counter any attempts to destroy the Drought." Strider searched his pockets for the card.
Li heard a small commotion over by the shed. "I don't think that it really matters if the mana upkeep cannot be paid." Terese turned to glare at the Chinese boy. "What are you saying?" He pointed to the skeletons that were creeping near the shed. "I'm saying that three skeletons are planning to blow up the land."
Chapter 8
The party rushed over to where the skeletons were busy. They were setting fire to the plains. "Damn!! Someone get fire control teams over here!!" One of the skeletons laughed. "It is of no use. The flames will spread too fast. The Drought will be destroyed."
"What are these things?" Kero recoiled in horror. "They have a familiar aura..." Strider turned his head sharply to Li. "Sakura is the one who summoned these skeletons. She's the controller."
Terese saw a necklace worn by one of the skeletons. "I recognize that necklace...it's a necklace of honour given to heroes of Kjeldor." Strider clenched his fist. "Sakura has raised the dead soldiers of Kjeldor to do harm against their own kin."
The skeletons attacked the party. Terese blocked one of the skeletons charges and countered with a bone shattering punch. Strider cast an Arc Lightning spell, killing the remaining two skeletons. "We better put out the flames, save as much as we can." The skeletons rose back up again. "What?! Impossible?!" Strider grumbled. "They just had to have the regeneration ability, didn't they?"
"Now what do we do?" Strider took out his staff. "If you can't defeat them, capture them. Kjeldoran Dead, return to thy true form!!!" It wasn't long until the three skeletons turned into a Death card. "Crap!! The plains!!!" Terese rushed over to see that the damage has already been done.
In an effort to save the Drought, Strider sealed it as a card. Until the Kjeldorans find a new source of mana, the Sengirs have freedom to cast whatever spells they want for the moment. "This is bad..." Strider looked at the guardian beast. "Do not despair, Kerberus. The abilities of the Sengirs are not to be worried over. The only main problem will be Sakura and her magic."
"How are we going to solve that problem?" Terese cracked her knuckles. "We have to neutralize her by any means necessary." Li drew out his sword and put it against her throat. "I'm not willing to destroy Sakura until all the options have been explored," said the boy with a murderous glint in his eye.
"I said it before, kid!!! Your comrade's dead and all that's left is a merciless demon!!!!" Terese roared. "We have to try!!" The temptation to kill the woman grew even greater.
"Li, stand down!! We don't have time for this!!!" Li looked at the entity for a moment before sheathing his sword. Terese rubbed her neck for a bit before gruffly responding. "Alright, we'll play it your way. How the hell do we neutralize the threat?"
Li stroked his chin. "I say we infiltrate the fortress and bring Sakura to Kjeldor. Then Strider can sever the link with the Baron. Basically the link is what's blocking the real Sakura's personality." Kero gave a grin. "Okay, I'm in." The Chinese boy turned to the entity. "Well, Strider?"
The entity closed his eyes to review the plan Li formulated. In a way, this stood against something he believed in: the right to choose your own destiny. He couldn't just take Sakura away against her will from the clan. But Sakura is not thinking properly and perhaps a decision needs to be made without her consent. Still...
"I will assist you but from here. I do not want to take Sakura away without her consent. You are going to have to find a way to infiltrate Castle Sengir on your own."
TO BE CONTINUED...
Come on, readers!! I need reviews! Is this story really that bad?
Next episode: Li and Kero attempt to infiltrate the castle but they encounter some 'difficulties'...
Disclaimers: Card Captors belong to CLAMP, characters from Sengir clan, original concept of banding, Kjeldor and all its creatures, non-Clow cards that are still represented as spells and other stuff belong to Wizards of the Coast. Don't sue. I only own Strider.
Song of Blood - Episode Four
Chapter 7
"I'm surprised the Sengirs have not attacked other villages. In fact, I thought they were adept at using Death magic. Apparently, they can't or they won't. What's the big deal?" Terese gave a grin. "It has been several decades since we set up the secret weapon. I'll show you."
The party left the tavern and approached a heavily guarded shed. The guards approved her access inside the shed. "Here it is. The one thing that stops the Sengir clan from overtaking the population of Kjeldor." Li's face fell. "A Drought?"
Strider immediately understood. "The Drought forces the vampires to conserve their mana resources. If they use any type of Death spell or ability, the Drought destroys the number of swamps equal to the number of Death mana required for the spell or ability!" Terese nodded. "It was hard to set this up in the first place, especially with Irini Sengir increasing the mana cost of the original spell dramatically. We still got it out. All we have to do is keep paying the mana cost to maintain it."
The group headed out of the shed and started walking back to the tavern. "We have to constantly use Light mana to maintain it. We use the plains on which the village was built on to generate the mana." Terese patted the land. "Our good old reliable mana source."
"Aren't you worried about land destruction spells? There are some Death land destruction spells like Rain of Tears and Despoil." Terese snorted. "We were able to hunt down all the sorcerers in Kjeldor that created land destruction and confiscated their cards. Then we used an Afterlife spell to turn them into humble members of the community."
"So the only type of mana the Sengirs can produce is Death mana?" the woman nodded. "That and maybe Light mana. That's if they could unlock the traps we set on the plains they conquered."
"As far as I'm concerned, only Water magic, Nature magic and artifacts can do that." Terese's eyes went wide. "We recently lost a Nacre Talisman due to a raid from the Sengir clan!! We thought it's useless to them!!"
"Not necessarily. They might be able to modify it to something else that can react on Death magic." Kero piped up. "How can they modify it? I don't think Sakura's a science expert." "Not Sakura. Probably someone else," murmured Li.
"We checked out the possibilities. There are no members of the clan with any experience with artifact creation," stated Terese. "That's not important right now. What's important is that I give you a Null Brooch to counter any attempts to destroy the Drought." Strider searched his pockets for the card.
Li heard a small commotion over by the shed. "I don't think that it really matters if the mana upkeep cannot be paid." Terese turned to glare at the Chinese boy. "What are you saying?" He pointed to the skeletons that were creeping near the shed. "I'm saying that three skeletons are planning to blow up the land."
Chapter 8
The party rushed over to where the skeletons were busy. They were setting fire to the plains. "Damn!! Someone get fire control teams over here!!" One of the skeletons laughed. "It is of no use. The flames will spread too fast. The Drought will be destroyed."
"What are these things?" Kero recoiled in horror. "They have a familiar aura..." Strider turned his head sharply to Li. "Sakura is the one who summoned these skeletons. She's the controller."
Terese saw a necklace worn by one of the skeletons. "I recognize that necklace...it's a necklace of honour given to heroes of Kjeldor." Strider clenched his fist. "Sakura has raised the dead soldiers of Kjeldor to do harm against their own kin."
The skeletons attacked the party. Terese blocked one of the skeletons charges and countered with a bone shattering punch. Strider cast an Arc Lightning spell, killing the remaining two skeletons. "We better put out the flames, save as much as we can." The skeletons rose back up again. "What?! Impossible?!" Strider grumbled. "They just had to have the regeneration ability, didn't they?"
"Now what do we do?" Strider took out his staff. "If you can't defeat them, capture them. Kjeldoran Dead, return to thy true form!!!" It wasn't long until the three skeletons turned into a Death card. "Crap!! The plains!!!" Terese rushed over to see that the damage has already been done.
In an effort to save the Drought, Strider sealed it as a card. Until the Kjeldorans find a new source of mana, the Sengirs have freedom to cast whatever spells they want for the moment. "This is bad..." Strider looked at the guardian beast. "Do not despair, Kerberus. The abilities of the Sengirs are not to be worried over. The only main problem will be Sakura and her magic."
"How are we going to solve that problem?" Terese cracked her knuckles. "We have to neutralize her by any means necessary." Li drew out his sword and put it against her throat. "I'm not willing to destroy Sakura until all the options have been explored," said the boy with a murderous glint in his eye.
"I said it before, kid!!! Your comrade's dead and all that's left is a merciless demon!!!!" Terese roared. "We have to try!!" The temptation to kill the woman grew even greater.
"Li, stand down!! We don't have time for this!!!" Li looked at the entity for a moment before sheathing his sword. Terese rubbed her neck for a bit before gruffly responding. "Alright, we'll play it your way. How the hell do we neutralize the threat?"
Li stroked his chin. "I say we infiltrate the fortress and bring Sakura to Kjeldor. Then Strider can sever the link with the Baron. Basically the link is what's blocking the real Sakura's personality." Kero gave a grin. "Okay, I'm in." The Chinese boy turned to the entity. "Well, Strider?"
The entity closed his eyes to review the plan Li formulated. In a way, this stood against something he believed in: the right to choose your own destiny. He couldn't just take Sakura away against her will from the clan. But Sakura is not thinking properly and perhaps a decision needs to be made without her consent. Still...
"I will assist you but from here. I do not want to take Sakura away without her consent. You are going to have to find a way to infiltrate Castle Sengir on your own."
TO BE CONTINUED...
Come on, readers!! I need reviews! Is this story really that bad?
Next episode: Li and Kero attempt to infiltrate the castle but they encounter some 'difficulties'...