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Chapter Eleven: Mistress of the Mountain, Master of the World
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Why did I always wind up climbing mountains? I'm a dragoon - I jump, I walk, I swim - I'm not supposed to climb mountains unless I want to. But the winds surrounding Mount Ordeals today were too much for me to make a safe leap towards the summit, and the undead that normally traveled the rocky slopes were clustered around the entrance to the path like a veritable wall of bleached bones and rotted flesh.
Besides - I couldn't jump to the top carrying Callista and Rubicant.
"Tell me again why we didn't fight our way through the bottom," Callista shouted from beneath me.
"Those undead aren't evil - they're the guardians of this mountain," I shouted back down to her as I struggled up to a ledge. "I won't fight them if I can avoid it - won't destroy them for doing their duty. Besides, there were too many of them for us to handle, even with magic."
"That would have changed after I'd had a few minutes to go at them," I heard her grumble below me. Gritting my teeth, I worked my way up onto the ledge, and waited for her to follow. Rubicant floated up to me, using some of his magic to defy gravity. How he did so without being blown away, I wasn't sure, but he didn't seem to notice anything more than a slight breeze.
"This isn't how it's supposed to be, Kain. There's something wrong here, but I don't know what."
"It doesn't matter, Rubicant," I said as Callista reached the ledge. "I've got to go through with this. You and Callista could have waited at the bottom, you know."
"No," they both said at once. I chuckled and shook my head - at least I knew I had friends who were as willing to risk their lives for me as I was for them. Callista, Rubicant, Cecil, the others - why they put up with me, I wasn't sure, but I couldn't help but be grateful that they did.
"What's up there that you two are so focused on," Callista asked.
"When Cecil came up here, he found a shrine at the summit. That was where he renounced the dark sword, and became a paladin."
"Cecil? Who's Cecil?" I raised an eyebrow and looked at her, trying to decide if she was serious. Apparently she was.
"King of Baron. The man whose life you helped save a few days back, remember?"
"Oh. I've just never heard his first name before." I decided to let it rest, despite the fact that something was wrong. Of course she'd heard Cecil's name before - I'd mentioned him several times when we'd been camping before, if nothing else.
"At any rate, I was told to come here by Reis and Bahamut. I wouldn't go so far as to say they're the gods of the Dragon Knights - we worship along with everybody else - but they are our guides and teachers, from eons past. I swore to Reis that I would come here as she bade, and I plan on keeping that oath."
"Well," she nodded, "I guess that makes sense." She glanced over at Rubicant expectantly.
"I'm here because I'm supposed to be," Rubicant said simply. "I'm needed by my allies."
"And I'm glad to have you here, for one," I said quickly, cutting off the reply I could sense forming in Callista's mind. "If there's any trouble, I'll be glad to have a pair of good sword-arms at my side. Let's get moving again," I said, standing up and finding the next holds. At least it wouldn't be too much longer before we reached the top. It looked like the summit was the next ledge. Rubicant took a step off the ledge, his magic carrying him into the air again.
"I'll go ahead to the top, make sure there aren't any undead waiting for you when you get there."
"Thanks," I said, before I started climbing, and he flew on ahead. The winds were even higher here, and I had to focus completely on maintaining my hold. Despite his plans, I could see that Rubicant wasn't going particularly far ahead - he probably wanted to be sure he was available if the wind carried me off of the mountain face. Foot by foot, I continued my climb, Rubicant hovering a yard or two ahead of me. Suddenly, he shot up above the nearby edge, and I waited for his report.
"Gods above and below! Kain, go ba - aargh!" Rubicant's warning shout was cut off by a cry of pain, and my blood ran cold. He needed help, and fast. Oddly, the winds died down completely - I could jump the rest of the way, as soon as I didn't have Callista attached to my waist.
"Callista, hold on, I'm cutting the rope," I shouted down to her, tightening my grip on the rock. I shifted my foot back to hook the sharp scales over my shin around it. I brought them forward, severing the rope. That done, I yanked myself up, launching my body through the air to the ledge. I pulled the Holy Lance out of the buckles holding it to by back, in case there was a fight waiting for me when I landed.
When I did land, I was glad I was ready for a fight - because one was eagerly waiting for Rubicant and myself. Rubicant was pinned against the stone shrine I had come up here to visit, insanely powerful winds forcing him into the wall, to judge by the sound of it. Turning my head slightly, I saw the reason for those winds - Valvalis had been waiting for us the whole time..
"Hello, Kain," Valvalis crooned. "It's been awhile." I shifted my grip on my spear and dropped into a combat stance.
"Not nearly long enough, bitch. Let him go."
"Aww," she pouted, "but I thought the three of us would have some fun. You see, I didn't have you while he was my plaything, and he was too strong for me to play with him when I had you - now that I have both of you, I thought I'd have some real fun."
"You don't have either of us," I said grimly. "And I'll die fighting before you do."
"Oh goodie," she said, grinning manically. "You're going to be difficult! You know, I haven't had this much fun in centuries. I've gotten to demolish a city, slaughter innocents, and now I get to enjoy my favorite toys again. And I don't have to follow anybody's plan in the process!"
"What about Dragonheart," I asked carefully, focusing on my new techniques, preparing myself to use them as soon as possible.
"Oh, that weakling. I left him behind after Baron - without his precious dark matter, he couldn't force me to serve him, so I went solo." Just then, I saw Callista's fingertips come over the edge.
"You know, Valvalis, there is one issue you haven't taken into account," I said with a smile.
"Oh? And what's that? The little girl with the sharp toys who's climbing up behind you? I've taken her fully into account - as soon as she's up here, I'll send her back down - the hard way. Or maybe I'll make her watch while I play with you two - I'm not entirely sure."
"No," I said with a wicked grin. "I figured you knew she was coming - what you forgot is that I almost beat Dragonheart when he *did* have his dark matter. Lancer!" The glowing spirit that I had learned to call only days ago flowed out of the Holy Lance again, striking the dumbfounded Valvalis squarely. She stumbled back, and the winds forcing Rubicant against the shrine dissipated. He drew his sword and held it upright in front of him.
"Runic," he shouted. A shimmering crystal seemed to form in the air above him as he held the blade out.
"Get close to me," he shouted. "I'll draw her spells, you hold her off." Valvalis snarled as I ran towards him.
"Storm," she shouted, directing the spell at me. Dammit - she knew how to get around his cloak too well. Just target me, and there was no way to stop it. Suddenly, the spectral crystal above Rubicant flashed, and the whirlwind she had summoned disappeared harmlessly. Valvalis screamed in rage as I breathed a sigh of relief.
"You've forgotten too much, sister - I'm a true Rune Knight now," Rubicant explained smugly, still holding his sword in place. "Now, Kain!" I leaped into the air, well above Valvalis' ability to send her magic.
Just then, I saw Callista finish climbing up. The warrior-woman drew her twin blades, and charged at Valvalis, spinning like a dervish, her swords forming a deadly whirlwind of steel. Valvalis began her own spin, dust forming a blinding whirlwind around her. Callista's blades cut through the whirlwind, but missed their mark widely. Dammit - this was the trick I hated the most. I was the only one who could stop that spin, and I wasn't going to land until after Valvalis had made further use of it.
Rubicant walked forward a few steps, so that Callista was closer to him, but didn't drop from his stance. Twice more Callista slashed into the whirling dust and wind, and twice more she missed the Fiend of Wind. Suddenly, a hand appeared out of the whirlwind, claws slicing deeply into her side as she staggered back in pain.
Fortunately, I was already on my way down by now. Valvalis cried out in agony as the Holy Lance sliced through her flesh. I dug my feet into the ground, and she screamed as the lunarian blade slowed her spin, ripping her flesh in the process. She wouldn't bleed out, I knew that from experience - but neither could she force the spear from her body as long as I held it there.
"What's the matter, 'Mistress,'" I said with a sneer. "Can't take the pain you enjoy inflicting?" I felt a surge of glee deep inside of me, and tried to focus on fighting her - I wasn't doing this for revenge, I was protecting my friends! There was no way in hell I'd let my dark side take over now.
Even if I did agree with it for once.
"Rubicant, help Callista and then you two stop her - I'll keep her from spinning again," I shouted to him. He dropped from his stance, the spectral crystal disappearing. I returned my focus to Valvalis while he cast some sort of spell, I couldn't tell what. All I knew was that I was effectively holding a very pissed off tiger by the tail. Except that I didn't have the benefit of being behind it.
"Damn you, Kain," Valvalis screamed, lashing at me with her claws, scoring deep gashes in my armor and pummeling me with blows that would have torn me limb from limb if I hadn't been wearing it. "Let me go!"
"Not a chance in Hell," I said through clenched teeth. I could feel my grip slipping with each blow, but for every time she struck me, Callista landed a pair of her own blows. Soon, Valvalis was forced to focus on her own defense. Callista would slash, and Valvalis would stop her attacks with her inhumanly strong claws. I could tell that Rubicant had assumed his defensive stance again, keeping Valvalis from using her spells. And I was stuck holding my spear through her leg - the only thing keeping the stalemate from turning one way or the other.
The only reason I didn't try attacking her again was that I wasn't sure which way it would turn if she could use her full powers again. I don't know how long we stood like that, Callista and Valvalis trading blocked blows, but I knew we couldn't last much longer. Callista's blows were losing strength, but Valvalis could keep going for hours longer, even if she was injured - and if I stopped holding her in place, she'd probably kill Callista before I got back down. The one blow she'd struck had almost done the job, I could tell that much.
Frankly, that frightened me. Callista was a skilled warrior, I could tell. If Valvalis had nearly dropped her with a single blow, and had been able to weaken me as much as she did with her pummeling before.. She must have been more powerful than Zeromus had been. The lunarian madman had barely touched me with his physical blows - Valvalis had me wishing seriously that Rubicant could afford to drop his field long enough to heal me. Suddenly, a lucky blow sent Callista staggering again. At this rate, we'd be dead in a matter of minutes.
"Reis, if you're listening," I prayed silently, "give me some idea of what to do."
"This was supposed to happen, Kain," I heard Reis' voice reply. "Do what you feel you must - prove that I chose properly. Look inside yourself." I wasn't sure if I was really hearing Reis, but it was all I could do.
Of course, almost on cue, I heard my dark side's suggestion - draw back, heal while Rubicant and Callista slowed Valvalis down. When they had weakened her, I could finish her off.
But they'd be dead before I could do that, I was sure of that much. Dead or wishing they were - she probably wouldn't kill Rubicant if she could avoid it, but he'd prefer death to being her plaything again. I couldn't let that happen. But I did know what might work.
"Valvalis," I shouted, attracting her attention. I pulled my spear out of her leg, and the wound healed as quickly as the blade left it. "I give you freedom," I started to say. She grinned evilly, and began to spin again.
"From your mortal form," I finished, setting the butt of the Holy Lance against the ground. "By the power of Six Dragons," I started to say, even as she began tearing into me with her claws. I did my best to ignore the punishing blows, knowing only that the words coming into my mind were our only chance. "I bid magic be granted to those who need its power, taken from those who are strong in its art!" Suddenly, all Mount Ordeals shook, and six ghostly dragons flew out of the shrine. I stood resolutely, but Rubicant dropped his sword and fell to his knees, crying out in terror as he did so. Valvalis screamed, and I felt a rush of mystical energy flow into me from her. Rubicant continued to cover his head until the figures were completely gone, when he looked up as though he was surprised to still be alive.
Valvalis, though, continued to scream. I saw a small whirlwind form around the bottom of her feet, continuing up her body as the rush of power continued. As it reached her knees, I understood why she was screaming - as it flowed up her body, she seemed to be dissolving. I continued to grip my spear, though it quivered now as my body began to shake in horror, watching her fade from existence as her soul-searing screech and expression of agony were seared into my memory. Callista covered her eyes and turned away, but Rubicant stepped forward, smiling cruelly as his sister faded from existence, all signs of his fear gone now. When she was gone, he chuckled slightly, but seemed to catch himself.
"I'm sorry, Kain," he apologized. "But after all the suffering she's caused, I couldn't help but think it was fitting she pass on in something resembling that pain."
"Of course," I said, still slightly unsettled by both the gruesome scene, and Rubicant's obvious pleasure in watching it. With that, I turned to the shrine.
"We've gone through a lot to get here. Now, we'll get some answers, I hope.."
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"So, you are the leader of the rebellion?" Lord Dragonheart was sitting in the throne of his castle, looking at a young woman who had been caught by his guards. The entire village was there to watch as she was executed for her treason. They only hoped that Dragonheart was not as harsh in his punishment to the rest of them as he was last time.
"What rebellion," she said bitterly. "The last time you came here, you slaughtered all but a handful of the 'rebels.' The people are too starved for food to think of anything more than paying your blackmail and trying to have enough left over that the children might eat. You guards pillage the land and take what they want from its people. With the evil you have brought to our world, how can we think of rebellion?"
"Don't trifle with me, animal. It's all you pathetic weaklings think of. You say that I pillage and loot your land? Tell me - has there been war here, since I became this realm's Protector? Have the monsters that once forced you into your houses at night threatened? This land was green once - that it is no longer so is the fault of you ungrateful peasants, not my men. Now, who are your conspirators?"
"I am all that remains of your rebellion, 'Lord Protector,' my comrades were killed the last time you returned, as I said before," the young woman said with a sneer. "But I plan to finish what they started," she yelled, pulling a dagger from her cloak.
"Shellburst Stab," she cried, thrusting the point of the dagger towards Dragonheart. A ghostly blade formed in the middle of the air and struck the dark knight, shattering his armor and leaving it flying to the winds as he cried out in pain. The young woman charged forward, planning on using the confusion to finish the job - but two tentacles flew out of the shadows, grabbing her. She screamed as Scarmiglione came out of the emerged from his hiding place, and drew her into his gaping mouth, ignoring her wild slashes with her dagger. He swallowed her whole as she screamed loudly, and the watching assemblage stared in horror. Dragonheart recovered his composure quickly, while Scarmiglione belched loudly and returned to the shadows.
"Why do you peasants fail to understand - rebellion leads only to suffering for your people. For this wench's treason, a dozen of your number shall be chosen by lot to be executed at dawn tomorrow. For your failure to turn her over to my guards willingly, another dozen shall be chosen the next day." A gasp went up from the crowd - they *had* turned her in, didn't he know that? The assemblage was too terrified to say anything, though. He might make the punishment worse if they did.
"Further, the guards responsible for the defense of your village and the capture of this traitor are to be given, by each family, an amount equal to fifty coins of gold, or services and goods that they feel are worth this amount, within a fortnight, to reward them for their noble service to the Lord and Lady, and to this land. Failure to do so shall result in each member of the household receiving a single lash for each coin they fail to forfeit. Remember this - by the word of the Lord and Lady themselves, I am a harsh master, but a fair one. As they have said this, it is truth. When next I return, I expect you to turn over all rebels immediately. If you do so, then you shall be rewarded. Fail, and you shall be punished once more. Thus is the word of Lord Dragonheart, Protector of this realm." Dragonheart stood and walked out of the room, his new monstrosity following behind him. The guards moved out into the crowd, pushing those who would move and jabbing those who wouldn't - or couldn't - with their spears until they did. The people returned to their homes, all trying to figure out how they could get together the money required of them, hopefully without resorting to the 'services' the guards would value.
***
"Your timing was impeccable, Scarmiglione. You might have taken her before she destroyed my armor, though." Dragonheart was pulling a spare suit of armor out of his armory for his appearance before the Lord and Lady that would soon come.
"Forgive my tardiness, my Lord, but it has been centuries since I have seen a Rune Knight's powers in use. Rubicant only used his runic powers since he returned."
"That's because only a mortal can invoke the power of Balstar's Runes," Dragonheart grumbled. "I swear, given half a chance, I would return to the day that puling coward was born and kill him long before he created that accursed order. The only reason I don't is because the Lord and Lady say his death would result in too great a shift to reality."
"You have the power to move through time itself," Scarmiglione asked, a tone of awe in his voice. Dragonheart smiled thinly and nodded.
"When the Lord and Lady wish it. Without that power, I wouldn't be who I am this day. Well, maybe I would be, but I would have taken far longer to reach this point."
"It sounds as though there is a story behind that statement."
"There is. But I'm not in the mood to tell it right now - after some greater victory, perhaps then. When I'm staring into the dead eyes of that bastard Dragoon, preferably." Scarmiglione cocked his head.
"Why do you despise the dragon knight so? He is a weakling - if you wished it, he could become a powerful servant." Dragonheart chuckled and shook his head.
"I have my reasons, Scarmiglione. Suffice it to say that he is as great an insult to myself as Cecil and Rosa are to the Lord and Lady." The Fiend of Earth bowed his head obediently.
"Understood, my Lord. Were you pleased with my performance today, then?"
"Sufficiently pleased that I will grant your request to join me in meeting with the Lord and Lady." Scarmiglione smiled to himself.
"Thank you, my Lord. I shall make myself ready."
"Do so. And have the rebel girl properly prepared for our arrival. It would be a good idea to have a gift for his Lordship when I request another piece of Dark Matter."
"Should I have her appearance preserved, or merely her body?"
"As perfect as possible - if you have the power to grant life, as well as death, do so. Just make sure that her mind is stripped when you do. A willful plaything is not what his Lordship prefers."
"I will have Caignazzo assist me with the process."
"Do that. Now go." Scarmiglione's obscene mass turned and left the room, seeking his brother for the magic he would need.
Or at least that was what he was supposed to be doing - but the Fiend of Earth had his own plans. He'd have the 'present' ready, of course - but there was no way that his Lordship would appreciate it. And all the blame would be laid at the feet of the dar knight. Scarmiglione smirked as he thought of how foolish Dragonheart was being. This would almost be too easy..
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End of Legacy of Kain Chapter 11: Mountain's Mistress, World's Master
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Chapter Eleven: Mistress of the Mountain, Master of the World
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Why did I always wind up climbing mountains? I'm a dragoon - I jump, I walk, I swim - I'm not supposed to climb mountains unless I want to. But the winds surrounding Mount Ordeals today were too much for me to make a safe leap towards the summit, and the undead that normally traveled the rocky slopes were clustered around the entrance to the path like a veritable wall of bleached bones and rotted flesh.
Besides - I couldn't jump to the top carrying Callista and Rubicant.
"Tell me again why we didn't fight our way through the bottom," Callista shouted from beneath me.
"Those undead aren't evil - they're the guardians of this mountain," I shouted back down to her as I struggled up to a ledge. "I won't fight them if I can avoid it - won't destroy them for doing their duty. Besides, there were too many of them for us to handle, even with magic."
"That would have changed after I'd had a few minutes to go at them," I heard her grumble below me. Gritting my teeth, I worked my way up onto the ledge, and waited for her to follow. Rubicant floated up to me, using some of his magic to defy gravity. How he did so without being blown away, I wasn't sure, but he didn't seem to notice anything more than a slight breeze.
"This isn't how it's supposed to be, Kain. There's something wrong here, but I don't know what."
"It doesn't matter, Rubicant," I said as Callista reached the ledge. "I've got to go through with this. You and Callista could have waited at the bottom, you know."
"No," they both said at once. I chuckled and shook my head - at least I knew I had friends who were as willing to risk their lives for me as I was for them. Callista, Rubicant, Cecil, the others - why they put up with me, I wasn't sure, but I couldn't help but be grateful that they did.
"What's up there that you two are so focused on," Callista asked.
"When Cecil came up here, he found a shrine at the summit. That was where he renounced the dark sword, and became a paladin."
"Cecil? Who's Cecil?" I raised an eyebrow and looked at her, trying to decide if she was serious. Apparently she was.
"King of Baron. The man whose life you helped save a few days back, remember?"
"Oh. I've just never heard his first name before." I decided to let it rest, despite the fact that something was wrong. Of course she'd heard Cecil's name before - I'd mentioned him several times when we'd been camping before, if nothing else.
"At any rate, I was told to come here by Reis and Bahamut. I wouldn't go so far as to say they're the gods of the Dragon Knights - we worship along with everybody else - but they are our guides and teachers, from eons past. I swore to Reis that I would come here as she bade, and I plan on keeping that oath."
"Well," she nodded, "I guess that makes sense." She glanced over at Rubicant expectantly.
"I'm here because I'm supposed to be," Rubicant said simply. "I'm needed by my allies."
"And I'm glad to have you here, for one," I said quickly, cutting off the reply I could sense forming in Callista's mind. "If there's any trouble, I'll be glad to have a pair of good sword-arms at my side. Let's get moving again," I said, standing up and finding the next holds. At least it wouldn't be too much longer before we reached the top. It looked like the summit was the next ledge. Rubicant took a step off the ledge, his magic carrying him into the air again.
"I'll go ahead to the top, make sure there aren't any undead waiting for you when you get there."
"Thanks," I said, before I started climbing, and he flew on ahead. The winds were even higher here, and I had to focus completely on maintaining my hold. Despite his plans, I could see that Rubicant wasn't going particularly far ahead - he probably wanted to be sure he was available if the wind carried me off of the mountain face. Foot by foot, I continued my climb, Rubicant hovering a yard or two ahead of me. Suddenly, he shot up above the nearby edge, and I waited for his report.
"Gods above and below! Kain, go ba - aargh!" Rubicant's warning shout was cut off by a cry of pain, and my blood ran cold. He needed help, and fast. Oddly, the winds died down completely - I could jump the rest of the way, as soon as I didn't have Callista attached to my waist.
"Callista, hold on, I'm cutting the rope," I shouted down to her, tightening my grip on the rock. I shifted my foot back to hook the sharp scales over my shin around it. I brought them forward, severing the rope. That done, I yanked myself up, launching my body through the air to the ledge. I pulled the Holy Lance out of the buckles holding it to by back, in case there was a fight waiting for me when I landed.
When I did land, I was glad I was ready for a fight - because one was eagerly waiting for Rubicant and myself. Rubicant was pinned against the stone shrine I had come up here to visit, insanely powerful winds forcing him into the wall, to judge by the sound of it. Turning my head slightly, I saw the reason for those winds - Valvalis had been waiting for us the whole time..
"Hello, Kain," Valvalis crooned. "It's been awhile." I shifted my grip on my spear and dropped into a combat stance.
"Not nearly long enough, bitch. Let him go."
"Aww," she pouted, "but I thought the three of us would have some fun. You see, I didn't have you while he was my plaything, and he was too strong for me to play with him when I had you - now that I have both of you, I thought I'd have some real fun."
"You don't have either of us," I said grimly. "And I'll die fighting before you do."
"Oh goodie," she said, grinning manically. "You're going to be difficult! You know, I haven't had this much fun in centuries. I've gotten to demolish a city, slaughter innocents, and now I get to enjoy my favorite toys again. And I don't have to follow anybody's plan in the process!"
"What about Dragonheart," I asked carefully, focusing on my new techniques, preparing myself to use them as soon as possible.
"Oh, that weakling. I left him behind after Baron - without his precious dark matter, he couldn't force me to serve him, so I went solo." Just then, I saw Callista's fingertips come over the edge.
"You know, Valvalis, there is one issue you haven't taken into account," I said with a smile.
"Oh? And what's that? The little girl with the sharp toys who's climbing up behind you? I've taken her fully into account - as soon as she's up here, I'll send her back down - the hard way. Or maybe I'll make her watch while I play with you two - I'm not entirely sure."
"No," I said with a wicked grin. "I figured you knew she was coming - what you forgot is that I almost beat Dragonheart when he *did* have his dark matter. Lancer!" The glowing spirit that I had learned to call only days ago flowed out of the Holy Lance again, striking the dumbfounded Valvalis squarely. She stumbled back, and the winds forcing Rubicant against the shrine dissipated. He drew his sword and held it upright in front of him.
"Runic," he shouted. A shimmering crystal seemed to form in the air above him as he held the blade out.
"Get close to me," he shouted. "I'll draw her spells, you hold her off." Valvalis snarled as I ran towards him.
"Storm," she shouted, directing the spell at me. Dammit - she knew how to get around his cloak too well. Just target me, and there was no way to stop it. Suddenly, the spectral crystal above Rubicant flashed, and the whirlwind she had summoned disappeared harmlessly. Valvalis screamed in rage as I breathed a sigh of relief.
"You've forgotten too much, sister - I'm a true Rune Knight now," Rubicant explained smugly, still holding his sword in place. "Now, Kain!" I leaped into the air, well above Valvalis' ability to send her magic.
Just then, I saw Callista finish climbing up. The warrior-woman drew her twin blades, and charged at Valvalis, spinning like a dervish, her swords forming a deadly whirlwind of steel. Valvalis began her own spin, dust forming a blinding whirlwind around her. Callista's blades cut through the whirlwind, but missed their mark widely. Dammit - this was the trick I hated the most. I was the only one who could stop that spin, and I wasn't going to land until after Valvalis had made further use of it.
Rubicant walked forward a few steps, so that Callista was closer to him, but didn't drop from his stance. Twice more Callista slashed into the whirling dust and wind, and twice more she missed the Fiend of Wind. Suddenly, a hand appeared out of the whirlwind, claws slicing deeply into her side as she staggered back in pain.
Fortunately, I was already on my way down by now. Valvalis cried out in agony as the Holy Lance sliced through her flesh. I dug my feet into the ground, and she screamed as the lunarian blade slowed her spin, ripping her flesh in the process. She wouldn't bleed out, I knew that from experience - but neither could she force the spear from her body as long as I held it there.
"What's the matter, 'Mistress,'" I said with a sneer. "Can't take the pain you enjoy inflicting?" I felt a surge of glee deep inside of me, and tried to focus on fighting her - I wasn't doing this for revenge, I was protecting my friends! There was no way in hell I'd let my dark side take over now.
Even if I did agree with it for once.
"Rubicant, help Callista and then you two stop her - I'll keep her from spinning again," I shouted to him. He dropped from his stance, the spectral crystal disappearing. I returned my focus to Valvalis while he cast some sort of spell, I couldn't tell what. All I knew was that I was effectively holding a very pissed off tiger by the tail. Except that I didn't have the benefit of being behind it.
"Damn you, Kain," Valvalis screamed, lashing at me with her claws, scoring deep gashes in my armor and pummeling me with blows that would have torn me limb from limb if I hadn't been wearing it. "Let me go!"
"Not a chance in Hell," I said through clenched teeth. I could feel my grip slipping with each blow, but for every time she struck me, Callista landed a pair of her own blows. Soon, Valvalis was forced to focus on her own defense. Callista would slash, and Valvalis would stop her attacks with her inhumanly strong claws. I could tell that Rubicant had assumed his defensive stance again, keeping Valvalis from using her spells. And I was stuck holding my spear through her leg - the only thing keeping the stalemate from turning one way or the other.
The only reason I didn't try attacking her again was that I wasn't sure which way it would turn if she could use her full powers again. I don't know how long we stood like that, Callista and Valvalis trading blocked blows, but I knew we couldn't last much longer. Callista's blows were losing strength, but Valvalis could keep going for hours longer, even if she was injured - and if I stopped holding her in place, she'd probably kill Callista before I got back down. The one blow she'd struck had almost done the job, I could tell that much.
Frankly, that frightened me. Callista was a skilled warrior, I could tell. If Valvalis had nearly dropped her with a single blow, and had been able to weaken me as much as she did with her pummeling before.. She must have been more powerful than Zeromus had been. The lunarian madman had barely touched me with his physical blows - Valvalis had me wishing seriously that Rubicant could afford to drop his field long enough to heal me. Suddenly, a lucky blow sent Callista staggering again. At this rate, we'd be dead in a matter of minutes.
"Reis, if you're listening," I prayed silently, "give me some idea of what to do."
"This was supposed to happen, Kain," I heard Reis' voice reply. "Do what you feel you must - prove that I chose properly. Look inside yourself." I wasn't sure if I was really hearing Reis, but it was all I could do.
Of course, almost on cue, I heard my dark side's suggestion - draw back, heal while Rubicant and Callista slowed Valvalis down. When they had weakened her, I could finish her off.
But they'd be dead before I could do that, I was sure of that much. Dead or wishing they were - she probably wouldn't kill Rubicant if she could avoid it, but he'd prefer death to being her plaything again. I couldn't let that happen. But I did know what might work.
"Valvalis," I shouted, attracting her attention. I pulled my spear out of her leg, and the wound healed as quickly as the blade left it. "I give you freedom," I started to say. She grinned evilly, and began to spin again.
"From your mortal form," I finished, setting the butt of the Holy Lance against the ground. "By the power of Six Dragons," I started to say, even as she began tearing into me with her claws. I did my best to ignore the punishing blows, knowing only that the words coming into my mind were our only chance. "I bid magic be granted to those who need its power, taken from those who are strong in its art!" Suddenly, all Mount Ordeals shook, and six ghostly dragons flew out of the shrine. I stood resolutely, but Rubicant dropped his sword and fell to his knees, crying out in terror as he did so. Valvalis screamed, and I felt a rush of mystical energy flow into me from her. Rubicant continued to cover his head until the figures were completely gone, when he looked up as though he was surprised to still be alive.
Valvalis, though, continued to scream. I saw a small whirlwind form around the bottom of her feet, continuing up her body as the rush of power continued. As it reached her knees, I understood why she was screaming - as it flowed up her body, she seemed to be dissolving. I continued to grip my spear, though it quivered now as my body began to shake in horror, watching her fade from existence as her soul-searing screech and expression of agony were seared into my memory. Callista covered her eyes and turned away, but Rubicant stepped forward, smiling cruelly as his sister faded from existence, all signs of his fear gone now. When she was gone, he chuckled slightly, but seemed to catch himself.
"I'm sorry, Kain," he apologized. "But after all the suffering she's caused, I couldn't help but think it was fitting she pass on in something resembling that pain."
"Of course," I said, still slightly unsettled by both the gruesome scene, and Rubicant's obvious pleasure in watching it. With that, I turned to the shrine.
"We've gone through a lot to get here. Now, we'll get some answers, I hope.."
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"So, you are the leader of the rebellion?" Lord Dragonheart was sitting in the throne of his castle, looking at a young woman who had been caught by his guards. The entire village was there to watch as she was executed for her treason. They only hoped that Dragonheart was not as harsh in his punishment to the rest of them as he was last time.
"What rebellion," she said bitterly. "The last time you came here, you slaughtered all but a handful of the 'rebels.' The people are too starved for food to think of anything more than paying your blackmail and trying to have enough left over that the children might eat. You guards pillage the land and take what they want from its people. With the evil you have brought to our world, how can we think of rebellion?"
"Don't trifle with me, animal. It's all you pathetic weaklings think of. You say that I pillage and loot your land? Tell me - has there been war here, since I became this realm's Protector? Have the monsters that once forced you into your houses at night threatened? This land was green once - that it is no longer so is the fault of you ungrateful peasants, not my men. Now, who are your conspirators?"
"I am all that remains of your rebellion, 'Lord Protector,' my comrades were killed the last time you returned, as I said before," the young woman said with a sneer. "But I plan to finish what they started," she yelled, pulling a dagger from her cloak.
"Shellburst Stab," she cried, thrusting the point of the dagger towards Dragonheart. A ghostly blade formed in the middle of the air and struck the dark knight, shattering his armor and leaving it flying to the winds as he cried out in pain. The young woman charged forward, planning on using the confusion to finish the job - but two tentacles flew out of the shadows, grabbing her. She screamed as Scarmiglione came out of the emerged from his hiding place, and drew her into his gaping mouth, ignoring her wild slashes with her dagger. He swallowed her whole as she screamed loudly, and the watching assemblage stared in horror. Dragonheart recovered his composure quickly, while Scarmiglione belched loudly and returned to the shadows.
"Why do you peasants fail to understand - rebellion leads only to suffering for your people. For this wench's treason, a dozen of your number shall be chosen by lot to be executed at dawn tomorrow. For your failure to turn her over to my guards willingly, another dozen shall be chosen the next day." A gasp went up from the crowd - they *had* turned her in, didn't he know that? The assemblage was too terrified to say anything, though. He might make the punishment worse if they did.
"Further, the guards responsible for the defense of your village and the capture of this traitor are to be given, by each family, an amount equal to fifty coins of gold, or services and goods that they feel are worth this amount, within a fortnight, to reward them for their noble service to the Lord and Lady, and to this land. Failure to do so shall result in each member of the household receiving a single lash for each coin they fail to forfeit. Remember this - by the word of the Lord and Lady themselves, I am a harsh master, but a fair one. As they have said this, it is truth. When next I return, I expect you to turn over all rebels immediately. If you do so, then you shall be rewarded. Fail, and you shall be punished once more. Thus is the word of Lord Dragonheart, Protector of this realm." Dragonheart stood and walked out of the room, his new monstrosity following behind him. The guards moved out into the crowd, pushing those who would move and jabbing those who wouldn't - or couldn't - with their spears until they did. The people returned to their homes, all trying to figure out how they could get together the money required of them, hopefully without resorting to the 'services' the guards would value.
***
"Your timing was impeccable, Scarmiglione. You might have taken her before she destroyed my armor, though." Dragonheart was pulling a spare suit of armor out of his armory for his appearance before the Lord and Lady that would soon come.
"Forgive my tardiness, my Lord, but it has been centuries since I have seen a Rune Knight's powers in use. Rubicant only used his runic powers since he returned."
"That's because only a mortal can invoke the power of Balstar's Runes," Dragonheart grumbled. "I swear, given half a chance, I would return to the day that puling coward was born and kill him long before he created that accursed order. The only reason I don't is because the Lord and Lady say his death would result in too great a shift to reality."
"You have the power to move through time itself," Scarmiglione asked, a tone of awe in his voice. Dragonheart smiled thinly and nodded.
"When the Lord and Lady wish it. Without that power, I wouldn't be who I am this day. Well, maybe I would be, but I would have taken far longer to reach this point."
"It sounds as though there is a story behind that statement."
"There is. But I'm not in the mood to tell it right now - after some greater victory, perhaps then. When I'm staring into the dead eyes of that bastard Dragoon, preferably." Scarmiglione cocked his head.
"Why do you despise the dragon knight so? He is a weakling - if you wished it, he could become a powerful servant." Dragonheart chuckled and shook his head.
"I have my reasons, Scarmiglione. Suffice it to say that he is as great an insult to myself as Cecil and Rosa are to the Lord and Lady." The Fiend of Earth bowed his head obediently.
"Understood, my Lord. Were you pleased with my performance today, then?"
"Sufficiently pleased that I will grant your request to join me in meeting with the Lord and Lady." Scarmiglione smiled to himself.
"Thank you, my Lord. I shall make myself ready."
"Do so. And have the rebel girl properly prepared for our arrival. It would be a good idea to have a gift for his Lordship when I request another piece of Dark Matter."
"Should I have her appearance preserved, or merely her body?"
"As perfect as possible - if you have the power to grant life, as well as death, do so. Just make sure that her mind is stripped when you do. A willful plaything is not what his Lordship prefers."
"I will have Caignazzo assist me with the process."
"Do that. Now go." Scarmiglione's obscene mass turned and left the room, seeking his brother for the magic he would need.
Or at least that was what he was supposed to be doing - but the Fiend of Earth had his own plans. He'd have the 'present' ready, of course - but there was no way that his Lordship would appreciate it. And all the blame would be laid at the feet of the dar knight. Scarmiglione smirked as he thought of how foolish Dragonheart was being. This would almost be too easy..
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End of Legacy of Kain Chapter 11: Mountain's Mistress, World's Master
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