~~~===~~~
Chapter Twelve: Meeting the Masters
~~~===~~~
I spent a good minute staring at the stone shrine, not entirely sure what to do. It was solid stone - no door in, no openings at all. But I knew, from what Cecil had described, how to get in.
What I wasn't sure of was what I was supposed to do once I got in. Again, I had dishonored myself - my dark side had nearly won, nearly forced me to abandon my comrades to Valvalis' twisted drives. Even after forcing it down, it remained near the surface. I could feel its response to Valvalis' death - was it mourning? A surprise, but not something I had time to worry about now.
Best just get this over with - if Reis found me unworthy, maybe she would at least kill the both of us and end our eternal conflict.
"Okay - according to Cecil's story, in order to enter the shrine, we have to touch the stone, and wish to enter. Best if we all do it at once, less likely that somebody panics. Not that either of you would, but Cecil said that the second time he came here, with Rosa, after the wedding, she almost had a heart attack when she saw him disappear suddenly." Rubicant and Callista nodded, and the three of us put our hands on the stone.
"Take me to Reis," I thought to myself. The world seemed to dissolve around me, and the next thing I knew I was standing in the shrine, Callista and Rubicant next to me.
How could I describe the shrine? It was like heaven on Earth. Cecil's description didn't do it justice, and I'm sure mine doesn't, but I'll do my best. The shrine was the perfection that the crystal rooms of Mysidia, Toroia, Fabul, and Damcyan had been modeled after. Crystal walls polished so clearly that I could see my reflection clearly from across the room. Not a single scratch marred the gleaming surfaces. For some reason, though, the reflections on the walls only contained our images, not the reflections of reflections from the other surfaces.
"It would be truly maddening if we had built it that way," I heard a soft voice say from behind me with a chuckle. I turned to see Reis standing there, waiting for me. I fell to my knees quickly, bowing my head.
"Stand, Kain Highwind. You have questions for me, do you not?"
"Yes, Lady Reis," I said as I stood, still keeping my head bowed respectfully.
"Then ask them."
"What happened out there? I started talking, I don't even fully understand what I was saying - and suddenly Valvalis was being destroyed."
"You invoked the last of the techniques I can teach to you now. The Six Dragons are sentinels of magical force - to call upon them, you have but to speak what you did before. They're capricious beings, and I don't recommend using their powers often, but they did prove useful this time. They drew all the magical energy out of Valvalis and Rubicant, and sent it to you and Callista." I looked over at Rubicant quickly, and he nodded.
"That's why I was so terrified when I saw them invoked. Valvalis and I were both beings that required magic to exist - without some degree of mystical force, I would disappear in a ball of flame, and Valvalis - well, you saw what happened to her," he said, with a slight smirk. I frowned slightly, and turned back to Reis.
"This is the last of the techniques you can teach me?"
"Yes, though there are greater powers. You aren't ready for them yet - if you tried wielding them, I'm afraid it could prove fatal."
"Understood. Did you know that Valvalis would be here, Lady Reis?" The first dragon knight threw back her head and laughed heartily.
"I'm not omniscient, Kain. Bahamut suspected that there would be a great threat, but neither of us knew that she would be the threat. Frankly, though, I'm glad to see her gone for good."
"For good?"
"Yes. There is no resurrection possible for her this time, not by any force in this world. And the one force that might resurrect her is unlikely to come here. The Doubled Triad keeps it at bay for the time being." I nodded, remembering what I could about the Double Triad - a legendary grouping of sacred knights and their god-like allies. Bahamut and Reis for the Dragon Knights, Leviathan and Balstar for the Rune Knights, and Asura and KluYa for the Paladins. The Dark Knights existed outside of the order, in a way - their legends had no mortal paragon, simply the High Lord and Lady of Darkness. At least according to the legends my father had taught me.
"Why did you choose me, Lady Reis? Surely there were better choices for someone to restore the Dragon Knights?"
"No, Kain. You alone had the mental and physical fortitude to master three of the ancient arts, but there is more. My new champion must know the darkness within himself. And you are intimately familiar with it." I bowed my head again, and closed my eyes.
"There is no shame in weakness, Kain, so long as you recognize that weakness," Reis said quietly. "It is easier to corrupt perfection than to truly blacken a heart that has seen evil before. And where you three are going, you will see the truth of that statement." Rubicant and Callista were now paying full attention to Reis, but it looked like they would still let me speak for them.
"What do you mean, where the three of us are going?"
"This Dragonheart - he is a menace to all reality. He is driven to find worlds that have not yet been conquered by the Lord and Lady of Darkness, and help them in their designs to expand their realm. We have been able to shield this world from his detection, but as more worlds fall under his reign, there are few and fewer places where a blind spot can exist logically. He found our world by exploring one of these blind spots. You know full well what happened next." I nodded thoughtfully.
"But what are we supposed to do about it?"
"In Dragonheart's realm, there are a handful of forces who fight against him yet. Most of his people are too broken to fight back, but evil always inspires some few to fight against it."
"Like Cecil," I ventured.
"Yes, like Cecil. But these forces have never worked for Dragonheart's masters - they have spent their entire lives fighting against evil, in many cases. And that is the problem. The Lord and Lady have tampered with the fabric of their reality, used magic that has been declared against the laws of the Gods to ensure their rule. They have ripped asunder the fabric of time, remade it to their liking.
"The rebels don't fully understand what the good they fight for is, can't remember a time when things were better. All they know is that it gets worse by the year. Fewer join to replace the dead as time goes by, and you know what that means."
"Eventually, evil has won. For good."
"Exactly. But you three are powerful and skilled warriors. Between the three of you, if you helped these rebels in their cause, you could rekindle their hope."
"It would take a great victory to accomplish that."
"Yes, it will. Perhaps the death of Lord Dragonheart?" Now I understood - assassinate the military commander, and help the rebels regain their support while worlds slipped through the grasp of the Lord and Lady.
"I understand, Lady Reis. I have but one question."
"What is it, Kain?"
"What will happen when the Lord and Lady are defeated? I assume that the long-term objective of this war - and it will become a war - will be to do that."
"The dark knights do not need the Lord and Lady, in much the same way that I did not need another dragon knight before me, and Balstar was the first Rune Knight. The Lord and Lady simply assure the loyalty of the dark knights on their worlds by making it seem as though they are needed."
"Understood, Lady Reis. I cannot speak for Rubicant and Callista, but I am willing to go." Reis looked at the two others.
"Well? It will be dangerous; there is no doubting that. And I cannot order you to go with him - you must go willingly." Rubicant stepped forward, a sly smirk on his face.
"I have a bone to pick with my would-be Master - and the two brothers who are still working for him. Besides - he's a cur with no right to rule a kingdom, let alone worlds. I'll go." Callista followed him forward.
"I have nothing better to do. Besides, this sounds like something good to do with my time, for once. I have a feeling I don't do those sort of things often," she said, frowning.
"Very well. I suggest the three of you make any arrangements you wish before you leave - I don't know how long your mission will take." I nodded quietly, and the three of us backed away.
"We will return once I have spoken to Cecil and Rosa," I promised. "They need to know where I will be."
"Of course," Reis said simply. "When you wish to leave, simply touch the walls and wish to be returned to the outside world. I hope to see you all soon."
We left the shrine, and started down the slopes of Mount Ordeals, planning what we would do when we arrived at Dragonheart's distant world.
~~~===~~~
Meanwhile, in another world, Dragonheart's ship came to a halt outside a great black void floating in the skies over Torrenz. The gem-covered panels spread from the front of the ship, opening the viewing deck as a long metal ramp extended into the blackness. A small figure walked down confidently - Dragonheart, no doubt - followed by the hulking mass of Scarmiglione. The two figures passed through the edge of the void, and the ramp retracted while the beings on the ship waited for their master to return.
Inside, Dragonheart removed his helmet, letting his blond hair fall to his shoulders. He smiled as he looked around at the decadent halls, remembering the time he had spent in them as a youth.
The entire castle had been bound to the world, then. Unable to rise and float effortlessly through the sky, unable to block out the light that caused his mother such pain, unable to defend the Lord and Lady properly. That had all changed when the Lady had undergone the Rite, after her epiphany. The castle had risen into the air, the blackness had hidden her chambers from the light of the sun, and the fortress became virtually impossible to attack. Then the good days had started.
He'd started living there, rather than just visiting when he could get away from his stepparents, the damned peasants who tried confusing him all the time. He had watched as the comfortable gloom settled into the walls, and the Lady had started to come out of her private chambers more often. The blazing red dragon of the castle's heraldry was replaced with the black unicorn that represented the new golden age her rule had ushered in.
Now, it was perfect. The walls were nearly black; the only breaks in the darkness being the torches that illuminated the ubiquitous banners, each a blood red field bearing the rampant unicorn. There was a chill in the air that seeped comfortably into the bones, regardless of precautions taken against it. This place, more than any other, was home to the dark knight. And he loved it.
But enough reminiscing, it was time to find the Lord and Lady. Dragonheart walked towards the throne room purposefully, Scarmiglione following as quickly as he could. A number of guards stood outside the great double doors, and they crossed their spears in front of Dragonheart as he approached. He scowled at them, but they didn't stand down.
"Clear the way for Lord Dragonheart." Still, they stood as still as statues, though one of them had the decency to look uncomfortable.
"Listen to me carefully. If the Lord and Lady have not given express orders that they are not to be disturbed, you will let me through. If you do not, I will rip the organs from your bodies, throw your bones into the reactor of my ship, and allow my general," Dragonheart nodded towards Scarmiglione, who was just catching up with him, "to use your hides for whatever purpose he deems fit. In that order. And I will see to it that you are fully aware for every step of the process." The guards swallowed loudly, each knowing that he was capable of doing just that. But their orders were very specific.
"I'm sorry, Lord Dragonheart," one of them said. "But we have been told that nobody is to disturb his Lordship."
"Then I would speak with the Lady." A silky voice came from around the corner.
"Yes, my son?" Scarmiglione turned and bowed as well as he could, recognizing the woman walking around the corner as a superior as plainly as he could. Dragonheart turned and kneeled as a regal young woman, roughly his age, walked up to him. Her hair was raven black, only slightly darker than her silk gown Her fine features and alabaster skin seemed incongruous with the harsh setting her presence dominated.
"High Lady of Darkness, Empress of a Thousand Worlds -"
"Come now, Ryan, there's no need to be so formal with me. Stand up, and introduce your friend to me," she said with a soft smile. Lord Dragonheart stood and bowed his head obediently.
"Scarmiglione, Fiend of Earth, from the Blue Planet. I spoke of he and his brethren in my reports. He was of assistance dealing with the rebels below, so I granted his request to meet with you and his Lordship." One of Scarmiglione's tentacles snaked out, in something resembling a gracious gesture.
"It is good to see you again, my Lady," he said with a smile. He had been pleasantly surprised to see that she was who he expected - almost a shame he would be carrying out his plan. The Lady's anger, like that of her fair- haired counterpart from the Blue Planet, was not something he normally wanted to court.
"Quite, Scarmiglione. It has been some time since last we.met." Dragonheart kept his face neutral, not at all sure what they were talking about.
"Now, son, I believe your last report said you needed another fragment of Dark Matter?"
"I am afraid it is so, my Lady. The Fiend of Fire turned against me, and was able to destroy what I had. I attempted to appropriate a fragment native to the world, but it was destroyed by a Caller who used its power to summon a potent spell faster than she normally could have summoned the necessary energies."
"I see. Another failure," she said, her silken voice carrying a hint of disapproval that cut to the very core of Dragonheart's being. "Oh, don't worry. It's understandable - you were never trained to fight a ninja or caller. And it has been quite some time since you fought a paladin or a dragon knight."
"I am sorry, my Lady. The dragon knight fought with skills he did not have before our battle - I suspect the interference of the Double Triad."
"You suspect correctly. Well, I suppose we had best see his Lordship, arrange for entrance to the Caverns of Night. Though soon you should be strong enough to take his place," the Lady said approvingly as she walked towards the door. The guards hesitated for a moment, but quickly drew back to allow the Lady and her son through. Scarmiglione waited until he was called.
The throne room was perfect to the untrained eye - but Dragonheart could see the flaws. He scowled mentally, but carefully kept his face neutral. Despite everything being in its place, he could see where a sword had scored the stone walls, where a slight nick was missing from the edge of a table, where the ebony crystal that sat in the center of the table failed to gleam from casual abuse. His Lordship was quick to anger, and when he did anger, he tended to rage for hours on end. He was simply careful not to damage anything a peasant might notice damaged. As the dark king sheathed his sword, Dragonheart kneeled in front of him and spoke.
"High Lord of Darkness, Emperor of a thousand worlds, he whose strength guards the Lady from those forces opposed to her divine will, I ask of you a favor."
"Speak," he moaned, gritting his teeth as he eyed the Lady fearfully. She gazed at him forcefully, compelling him to control himself.
"As my last report explained, my fragment of dark matter was destroyed in battle, denying me access to the power that the Lady and yourself have wisely chosen to grant me. In addition, all dark matter native to this Blue Planet was similarly destroyed. I returned to squelch the rebellion growing in Torrenz, and request that another piece of dark matter be placed in my care." Again, the Lord of Darkness looked at his Lady, and she nodded almost imperceptibly. He shook his head the same amount, and she frowned at him. But he stood his ground - the Cavern was the one thing he feared nearly as much as the Lady, and it always took a little more persuasion to convince him to help her.
"Reason," he said, controlling his voice slightly better than before. Dragonheart nodded once, and turned to the door.
"Scarmiglione, enter!" The hulking mass of the Fiend of Earth scuttled into the room, bowing obediently toward the Lord of Darkness.
"My Lord, I bring to you a gift from Lord Dragonheart." Scarmiglione gestured with his hands, and the air in front of the dark king glowed as a shapely figure began to form, the 'present' Dragonheart had chosen being brought from the ship.
Soon, the young woman had arrived - but she had been changed from when Dragonheart had seen her last. Her fine features, alabaster skin, and soft green hair made her a perfect match for the Caller from the Blue Planet - Rydia. The blood drained from Dragonheart's face as comprehension appeared in the eyes of the Lord of Darkness - full, crashing awareness of what he was looking at.
The black blade he had just sheathed was drawn, flew in a glittering ark as torchlight reflected off of the dark metal, and the head of the woman in front of him fell.
"No," he screamed, hacking at the body. "No, no, no, NO! Stop it! I killed you already, stay dead! STAY DEAD!"
"Seal the chamber," the Lady shouted at the guards who were staring aghast at the carnage. Soon, the great doors were closed, preventing the rest of the castle from being made aware of the madness of the Lord of Darkness.
The sword struck the stone floor as he spent the last of his strength on another blow. He rested himself on the pommel of his sword, as his gaze turned towards Dragonheart, his eyes filled with rage. Another moment, and he charged towards the dark knight, raising his blade to strike as the warrior staggered back in fear. Suddenly, his charge was halted, and he flew back several feet, his sword falling to the ground loudly as he was picked up. The Lady held her hand out, directing the force that was holding him in the middle of the air.
"Enough," she barked. "Listen to me well, husband. You *will* take me to the Caverns of Night, and you *will* hold the beasts there at bay while I retrieve another fragment of dark matter for my *son*. This unfortunate incident will have *no* influence on your abilities, or I will see that you are replaced promptly. Remember, Lord of Darkness," she said with a sneer. "Your power is *nothing* without *my* will. Am I understood?" The dark king howled with rage. The Lady frowned. She didn't normally have to persuade him this way - but, then again, he wasn't normally confronted with the demons that possessed him so blatantly. And she had a feeling she knew just who had arranged for it.
"Helm, destruct," she said crisply. The black helmet passed through the rest of its life in a matter of seconds, rusting and crumbling from about the head of the dark king. Silver hair fell out from under the destroyed helm, and fine, aquiline features were revealed. Even Scarmiglione stopped for a moment as he saw the face of the Lord of Darkness - the face of the Paladin who had slain him twice before.
The dark king's howls ended abruptly as he remembered that the Lady was in the chamber with him, and realized what was happening. He nodded fearfully, and fell to the ground harshly as she released her grip on him.
"Prepare yourself. We leave as soon as another helm is crafted for you. Come, my son, and bring Scarmiglione with you." She turned and walked out, the doors opening as she approached them.
"You did well," she said approvingly as she passed the guards, walking purposefully towards her chambers. Dragonheart and Scarmiglione followed close behind, and the door were closed again after they had left. Once they had rounded the corner, she stopped.
"Ryan," she said quietly. "You know what to do about the guards."
"Yes, my Lady," Dragonheart said, bowing his head. "I will see to it." He turned around, and walked around the corner. The Lady approached Scarmiglione, her eyes flashing.
"And you," she said. "I know full well what you tried to do. Ryan won't notice, he'll assume it was an effect of her resurrection - no doubt the very thing you were planning on telling him if he did ask. But know this - I will *not* tolerate any further attempts to have my son killed. There are other paths to the power you want." One of the guards cried out as a muffled word from around the corner heralded one of Dragonheart's spells ending his life of service. The other guard shouted a word of protest before a matching cry signaled his own death.
"Of course, my Lady," the Fiend of Earth said quietly, bowing. "However, I want assurance that my true place in your realm will be mine. I would not have gone through this plan had I known that you were still mistress of the realm."
"Granted. You will be at my side again, Scarmiglione, as soon as my son is able to replace that lunatic husband of mine." Scarmiglione nodded.
"Then consider your son's life safe from my hand."
"Excellent. I will wish to speak with you tonight, catch up on old times. Make sure you know what the condition of this reality is, since you seem to have certain misconceptions about it thus far." The Fiend of Earth smiled.
"It will be a pleasure, my Lady." Dragonheart came around the corner.
"Such a tragedy, my Lady," he said smoothly. "Two of the guards caught conspiring against the Lord and yourself. I am afraid that I lost my temper, killed them before they could be brought to trial."
"A tragedy indeed," she said, nodding. "I suggest you remain here for a few days, ensure that there are no further traitors."
"As you wish. I will have the bodies disposed of."
"Do so. I will see the both of you at dinner." With that, the three went their separate ways, each with their own plans for what to do until they could retrieve the new piece of dark matter..
And, in the throne room, the dark king sat in his ebony throne, alternately sobbing for his lost soul, and raging against the madness that surrounded him..
~~~===~~~
End of Legacy of Kain Chapter 12: Meeting the Masters
~~~===~~~
Chapter Twelve: Meeting the Masters
~~~===~~~
I spent a good minute staring at the stone shrine, not entirely sure what to do. It was solid stone - no door in, no openings at all. But I knew, from what Cecil had described, how to get in.
What I wasn't sure of was what I was supposed to do once I got in. Again, I had dishonored myself - my dark side had nearly won, nearly forced me to abandon my comrades to Valvalis' twisted drives. Even after forcing it down, it remained near the surface. I could feel its response to Valvalis' death - was it mourning? A surprise, but not something I had time to worry about now.
Best just get this over with - if Reis found me unworthy, maybe she would at least kill the both of us and end our eternal conflict.
"Okay - according to Cecil's story, in order to enter the shrine, we have to touch the stone, and wish to enter. Best if we all do it at once, less likely that somebody panics. Not that either of you would, but Cecil said that the second time he came here, with Rosa, after the wedding, she almost had a heart attack when she saw him disappear suddenly." Rubicant and Callista nodded, and the three of us put our hands on the stone.
"Take me to Reis," I thought to myself. The world seemed to dissolve around me, and the next thing I knew I was standing in the shrine, Callista and Rubicant next to me.
How could I describe the shrine? It was like heaven on Earth. Cecil's description didn't do it justice, and I'm sure mine doesn't, but I'll do my best. The shrine was the perfection that the crystal rooms of Mysidia, Toroia, Fabul, and Damcyan had been modeled after. Crystal walls polished so clearly that I could see my reflection clearly from across the room. Not a single scratch marred the gleaming surfaces. For some reason, though, the reflections on the walls only contained our images, not the reflections of reflections from the other surfaces.
"It would be truly maddening if we had built it that way," I heard a soft voice say from behind me with a chuckle. I turned to see Reis standing there, waiting for me. I fell to my knees quickly, bowing my head.
"Stand, Kain Highwind. You have questions for me, do you not?"
"Yes, Lady Reis," I said as I stood, still keeping my head bowed respectfully.
"Then ask them."
"What happened out there? I started talking, I don't even fully understand what I was saying - and suddenly Valvalis was being destroyed."
"You invoked the last of the techniques I can teach to you now. The Six Dragons are sentinels of magical force - to call upon them, you have but to speak what you did before. They're capricious beings, and I don't recommend using their powers often, but they did prove useful this time. They drew all the magical energy out of Valvalis and Rubicant, and sent it to you and Callista." I looked over at Rubicant quickly, and he nodded.
"That's why I was so terrified when I saw them invoked. Valvalis and I were both beings that required magic to exist - without some degree of mystical force, I would disappear in a ball of flame, and Valvalis - well, you saw what happened to her," he said, with a slight smirk. I frowned slightly, and turned back to Reis.
"This is the last of the techniques you can teach me?"
"Yes, though there are greater powers. You aren't ready for them yet - if you tried wielding them, I'm afraid it could prove fatal."
"Understood. Did you know that Valvalis would be here, Lady Reis?" The first dragon knight threw back her head and laughed heartily.
"I'm not omniscient, Kain. Bahamut suspected that there would be a great threat, but neither of us knew that she would be the threat. Frankly, though, I'm glad to see her gone for good."
"For good?"
"Yes. There is no resurrection possible for her this time, not by any force in this world. And the one force that might resurrect her is unlikely to come here. The Doubled Triad keeps it at bay for the time being." I nodded, remembering what I could about the Double Triad - a legendary grouping of sacred knights and their god-like allies. Bahamut and Reis for the Dragon Knights, Leviathan and Balstar for the Rune Knights, and Asura and KluYa for the Paladins. The Dark Knights existed outside of the order, in a way - their legends had no mortal paragon, simply the High Lord and Lady of Darkness. At least according to the legends my father had taught me.
"Why did you choose me, Lady Reis? Surely there were better choices for someone to restore the Dragon Knights?"
"No, Kain. You alone had the mental and physical fortitude to master three of the ancient arts, but there is more. My new champion must know the darkness within himself. And you are intimately familiar with it." I bowed my head again, and closed my eyes.
"There is no shame in weakness, Kain, so long as you recognize that weakness," Reis said quietly. "It is easier to corrupt perfection than to truly blacken a heart that has seen evil before. And where you three are going, you will see the truth of that statement." Rubicant and Callista were now paying full attention to Reis, but it looked like they would still let me speak for them.
"What do you mean, where the three of us are going?"
"This Dragonheart - he is a menace to all reality. He is driven to find worlds that have not yet been conquered by the Lord and Lady of Darkness, and help them in their designs to expand their realm. We have been able to shield this world from his detection, but as more worlds fall under his reign, there are few and fewer places where a blind spot can exist logically. He found our world by exploring one of these blind spots. You know full well what happened next." I nodded thoughtfully.
"But what are we supposed to do about it?"
"In Dragonheart's realm, there are a handful of forces who fight against him yet. Most of his people are too broken to fight back, but evil always inspires some few to fight against it."
"Like Cecil," I ventured.
"Yes, like Cecil. But these forces have never worked for Dragonheart's masters - they have spent their entire lives fighting against evil, in many cases. And that is the problem. The Lord and Lady have tampered with the fabric of their reality, used magic that has been declared against the laws of the Gods to ensure their rule. They have ripped asunder the fabric of time, remade it to their liking.
"The rebels don't fully understand what the good they fight for is, can't remember a time when things were better. All they know is that it gets worse by the year. Fewer join to replace the dead as time goes by, and you know what that means."
"Eventually, evil has won. For good."
"Exactly. But you three are powerful and skilled warriors. Between the three of you, if you helped these rebels in their cause, you could rekindle their hope."
"It would take a great victory to accomplish that."
"Yes, it will. Perhaps the death of Lord Dragonheart?" Now I understood - assassinate the military commander, and help the rebels regain their support while worlds slipped through the grasp of the Lord and Lady.
"I understand, Lady Reis. I have but one question."
"What is it, Kain?"
"What will happen when the Lord and Lady are defeated? I assume that the long-term objective of this war - and it will become a war - will be to do that."
"The dark knights do not need the Lord and Lady, in much the same way that I did not need another dragon knight before me, and Balstar was the first Rune Knight. The Lord and Lady simply assure the loyalty of the dark knights on their worlds by making it seem as though they are needed."
"Understood, Lady Reis. I cannot speak for Rubicant and Callista, but I am willing to go." Reis looked at the two others.
"Well? It will be dangerous; there is no doubting that. And I cannot order you to go with him - you must go willingly." Rubicant stepped forward, a sly smirk on his face.
"I have a bone to pick with my would-be Master - and the two brothers who are still working for him. Besides - he's a cur with no right to rule a kingdom, let alone worlds. I'll go." Callista followed him forward.
"I have nothing better to do. Besides, this sounds like something good to do with my time, for once. I have a feeling I don't do those sort of things often," she said, frowning.
"Very well. I suggest the three of you make any arrangements you wish before you leave - I don't know how long your mission will take." I nodded quietly, and the three of us backed away.
"We will return once I have spoken to Cecil and Rosa," I promised. "They need to know where I will be."
"Of course," Reis said simply. "When you wish to leave, simply touch the walls and wish to be returned to the outside world. I hope to see you all soon."
We left the shrine, and started down the slopes of Mount Ordeals, planning what we would do when we arrived at Dragonheart's distant world.
~~~===~~~
Meanwhile, in another world, Dragonheart's ship came to a halt outside a great black void floating in the skies over Torrenz. The gem-covered panels spread from the front of the ship, opening the viewing deck as a long metal ramp extended into the blackness. A small figure walked down confidently - Dragonheart, no doubt - followed by the hulking mass of Scarmiglione. The two figures passed through the edge of the void, and the ramp retracted while the beings on the ship waited for their master to return.
Inside, Dragonheart removed his helmet, letting his blond hair fall to his shoulders. He smiled as he looked around at the decadent halls, remembering the time he had spent in them as a youth.
The entire castle had been bound to the world, then. Unable to rise and float effortlessly through the sky, unable to block out the light that caused his mother such pain, unable to defend the Lord and Lady properly. That had all changed when the Lady had undergone the Rite, after her epiphany. The castle had risen into the air, the blackness had hidden her chambers from the light of the sun, and the fortress became virtually impossible to attack. Then the good days had started.
He'd started living there, rather than just visiting when he could get away from his stepparents, the damned peasants who tried confusing him all the time. He had watched as the comfortable gloom settled into the walls, and the Lady had started to come out of her private chambers more often. The blazing red dragon of the castle's heraldry was replaced with the black unicorn that represented the new golden age her rule had ushered in.
Now, it was perfect. The walls were nearly black; the only breaks in the darkness being the torches that illuminated the ubiquitous banners, each a blood red field bearing the rampant unicorn. There was a chill in the air that seeped comfortably into the bones, regardless of precautions taken against it. This place, more than any other, was home to the dark knight. And he loved it.
But enough reminiscing, it was time to find the Lord and Lady. Dragonheart walked towards the throne room purposefully, Scarmiglione following as quickly as he could. A number of guards stood outside the great double doors, and they crossed their spears in front of Dragonheart as he approached. He scowled at them, but they didn't stand down.
"Clear the way for Lord Dragonheart." Still, they stood as still as statues, though one of them had the decency to look uncomfortable.
"Listen to me carefully. If the Lord and Lady have not given express orders that they are not to be disturbed, you will let me through. If you do not, I will rip the organs from your bodies, throw your bones into the reactor of my ship, and allow my general," Dragonheart nodded towards Scarmiglione, who was just catching up with him, "to use your hides for whatever purpose he deems fit. In that order. And I will see to it that you are fully aware for every step of the process." The guards swallowed loudly, each knowing that he was capable of doing just that. But their orders were very specific.
"I'm sorry, Lord Dragonheart," one of them said. "But we have been told that nobody is to disturb his Lordship."
"Then I would speak with the Lady." A silky voice came from around the corner.
"Yes, my son?" Scarmiglione turned and bowed as well as he could, recognizing the woman walking around the corner as a superior as plainly as he could. Dragonheart turned and kneeled as a regal young woman, roughly his age, walked up to him. Her hair was raven black, only slightly darker than her silk gown Her fine features and alabaster skin seemed incongruous with the harsh setting her presence dominated.
"High Lady of Darkness, Empress of a Thousand Worlds -"
"Come now, Ryan, there's no need to be so formal with me. Stand up, and introduce your friend to me," she said with a soft smile. Lord Dragonheart stood and bowed his head obediently.
"Scarmiglione, Fiend of Earth, from the Blue Planet. I spoke of he and his brethren in my reports. He was of assistance dealing with the rebels below, so I granted his request to meet with you and his Lordship." One of Scarmiglione's tentacles snaked out, in something resembling a gracious gesture.
"It is good to see you again, my Lady," he said with a smile. He had been pleasantly surprised to see that she was who he expected - almost a shame he would be carrying out his plan. The Lady's anger, like that of her fair- haired counterpart from the Blue Planet, was not something he normally wanted to court.
"Quite, Scarmiglione. It has been some time since last we.met." Dragonheart kept his face neutral, not at all sure what they were talking about.
"Now, son, I believe your last report said you needed another fragment of Dark Matter?"
"I am afraid it is so, my Lady. The Fiend of Fire turned against me, and was able to destroy what I had. I attempted to appropriate a fragment native to the world, but it was destroyed by a Caller who used its power to summon a potent spell faster than she normally could have summoned the necessary energies."
"I see. Another failure," she said, her silken voice carrying a hint of disapproval that cut to the very core of Dragonheart's being. "Oh, don't worry. It's understandable - you were never trained to fight a ninja or caller. And it has been quite some time since you fought a paladin or a dragon knight."
"I am sorry, my Lady. The dragon knight fought with skills he did not have before our battle - I suspect the interference of the Double Triad."
"You suspect correctly. Well, I suppose we had best see his Lordship, arrange for entrance to the Caverns of Night. Though soon you should be strong enough to take his place," the Lady said approvingly as she walked towards the door. The guards hesitated for a moment, but quickly drew back to allow the Lady and her son through. Scarmiglione waited until he was called.
The throne room was perfect to the untrained eye - but Dragonheart could see the flaws. He scowled mentally, but carefully kept his face neutral. Despite everything being in its place, he could see where a sword had scored the stone walls, where a slight nick was missing from the edge of a table, where the ebony crystal that sat in the center of the table failed to gleam from casual abuse. His Lordship was quick to anger, and when he did anger, he tended to rage for hours on end. He was simply careful not to damage anything a peasant might notice damaged. As the dark king sheathed his sword, Dragonheart kneeled in front of him and spoke.
"High Lord of Darkness, Emperor of a thousand worlds, he whose strength guards the Lady from those forces opposed to her divine will, I ask of you a favor."
"Speak," he moaned, gritting his teeth as he eyed the Lady fearfully. She gazed at him forcefully, compelling him to control himself.
"As my last report explained, my fragment of dark matter was destroyed in battle, denying me access to the power that the Lady and yourself have wisely chosen to grant me. In addition, all dark matter native to this Blue Planet was similarly destroyed. I returned to squelch the rebellion growing in Torrenz, and request that another piece of dark matter be placed in my care." Again, the Lord of Darkness looked at his Lady, and she nodded almost imperceptibly. He shook his head the same amount, and she frowned at him. But he stood his ground - the Cavern was the one thing he feared nearly as much as the Lady, and it always took a little more persuasion to convince him to help her.
"Reason," he said, controlling his voice slightly better than before. Dragonheart nodded once, and turned to the door.
"Scarmiglione, enter!" The hulking mass of the Fiend of Earth scuttled into the room, bowing obediently toward the Lord of Darkness.
"My Lord, I bring to you a gift from Lord Dragonheart." Scarmiglione gestured with his hands, and the air in front of the dark king glowed as a shapely figure began to form, the 'present' Dragonheart had chosen being brought from the ship.
Soon, the young woman had arrived - but she had been changed from when Dragonheart had seen her last. Her fine features, alabaster skin, and soft green hair made her a perfect match for the Caller from the Blue Planet - Rydia. The blood drained from Dragonheart's face as comprehension appeared in the eyes of the Lord of Darkness - full, crashing awareness of what he was looking at.
The black blade he had just sheathed was drawn, flew in a glittering ark as torchlight reflected off of the dark metal, and the head of the woman in front of him fell.
"No," he screamed, hacking at the body. "No, no, no, NO! Stop it! I killed you already, stay dead! STAY DEAD!"
"Seal the chamber," the Lady shouted at the guards who were staring aghast at the carnage. Soon, the great doors were closed, preventing the rest of the castle from being made aware of the madness of the Lord of Darkness.
The sword struck the stone floor as he spent the last of his strength on another blow. He rested himself on the pommel of his sword, as his gaze turned towards Dragonheart, his eyes filled with rage. Another moment, and he charged towards the dark knight, raising his blade to strike as the warrior staggered back in fear. Suddenly, his charge was halted, and he flew back several feet, his sword falling to the ground loudly as he was picked up. The Lady held her hand out, directing the force that was holding him in the middle of the air.
"Enough," she barked. "Listen to me well, husband. You *will* take me to the Caverns of Night, and you *will* hold the beasts there at bay while I retrieve another fragment of dark matter for my *son*. This unfortunate incident will have *no* influence on your abilities, or I will see that you are replaced promptly. Remember, Lord of Darkness," she said with a sneer. "Your power is *nothing* without *my* will. Am I understood?" The dark king howled with rage. The Lady frowned. She didn't normally have to persuade him this way - but, then again, he wasn't normally confronted with the demons that possessed him so blatantly. And she had a feeling she knew just who had arranged for it.
"Helm, destruct," she said crisply. The black helmet passed through the rest of its life in a matter of seconds, rusting and crumbling from about the head of the dark king. Silver hair fell out from under the destroyed helm, and fine, aquiline features were revealed. Even Scarmiglione stopped for a moment as he saw the face of the Lord of Darkness - the face of the Paladin who had slain him twice before.
The dark king's howls ended abruptly as he remembered that the Lady was in the chamber with him, and realized what was happening. He nodded fearfully, and fell to the ground harshly as she released her grip on him.
"Prepare yourself. We leave as soon as another helm is crafted for you. Come, my son, and bring Scarmiglione with you." She turned and walked out, the doors opening as she approached them.
"You did well," she said approvingly as she passed the guards, walking purposefully towards her chambers. Dragonheart and Scarmiglione followed close behind, and the door were closed again after they had left. Once they had rounded the corner, she stopped.
"Ryan," she said quietly. "You know what to do about the guards."
"Yes, my Lady," Dragonheart said, bowing his head. "I will see to it." He turned around, and walked around the corner. The Lady approached Scarmiglione, her eyes flashing.
"And you," she said. "I know full well what you tried to do. Ryan won't notice, he'll assume it was an effect of her resurrection - no doubt the very thing you were planning on telling him if he did ask. But know this - I will *not* tolerate any further attempts to have my son killed. There are other paths to the power you want." One of the guards cried out as a muffled word from around the corner heralded one of Dragonheart's spells ending his life of service. The other guard shouted a word of protest before a matching cry signaled his own death.
"Of course, my Lady," the Fiend of Earth said quietly, bowing. "However, I want assurance that my true place in your realm will be mine. I would not have gone through this plan had I known that you were still mistress of the realm."
"Granted. You will be at my side again, Scarmiglione, as soon as my son is able to replace that lunatic husband of mine." Scarmiglione nodded.
"Then consider your son's life safe from my hand."
"Excellent. I will wish to speak with you tonight, catch up on old times. Make sure you know what the condition of this reality is, since you seem to have certain misconceptions about it thus far." The Fiend of Earth smiled.
"It will be a pleasure, my Lady." Dragonheart came around the corner.
"Such a tragedy, my Lady," he said smoothly. "Two of the guards caught conspiring against the Lord and yourself. I am afraid that I lost my temper, killed them before they could be brought to trial."
"A tragedy indeed," she said, nodding. "I suggest you remain here for a few days, ensure that there are no further traitors."
"As you wish. I will have the bodies disposed of."
"Do so. I will see the both of you at dinner." With that, the three went their separate ways, each with their own plans for what to do until they could retrieve the new piece of dark matter..
And, in the throne room, the dark king sat in his ebony throne, alternately sobbing for his lost soul, and raging against the madness that surrounded him..
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End of Legacy of Kain Chapter 12: Meeting the Masters
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