Chapter 8: Not As They Appear
What a strange world this is, much different than I imagined.
What is she doing?
The heat is unbearable; I do not like this place.
Oh gods.the monsters.
"Hello," Virage casually stepped out from the shallow shadowed hallway into the desert sands. The monsters that had gathered there shifted somewhat at her presence. A few high calls and yowls sounded out from the back of the group, enhanced by the echoing of high cliff walls. A simple, slight bow from the Goddess sent the mass scurrying to make a path for her that ran straight through the beings to the trail that lead up the small outcropped cliff. The cliff was too far away and the suns' glare too bright for either to see their awaiting companions but Lloyd became distressed when the obvious sounds of battle reached his ears.
Summoning his wings, the Winglie flew as swiftly as he could to where he had left the other two, leaving a frowning Virage behind. She walked slowly behind him, scowling at the fact that her guide was attempting to abandon her. That was very unguide-like. "Lloyd?" She asked in a normal octave. When no response came, not even a glance behind his shoulder, Virage was led to wonder as to why he failed to answer her. He has flown too far away to hear my voice, where is he going? Maybe he wants to show me something and means for me to come quicker?
Placing two fingers to the black and blue orb embedded in the armor on her chest she locked onto Lloyds' position, now on the top of the cliff, and moved herself to join him. In a sudden flash of deep black energy, like that of the void or the spells of the Darkness Dragoon, she was gone from the trail the monsters had created and standing haphazardly on the edge of the cliff face.
Virage scrambled away from the stone edge quickly, surprised that she had come so close to falling back to where she was previously, and attempted to walk calmly towards where Lloyd stood facing a black haired man. "Hello, do you know Lloyd? I am Virage," She bowed slightly to the man in a show of respect, thinking he to be a friend of her guide. The man gasped in response and quickly jumped away from her, causing Virage to frown.
"Is something the matter?"
"Virage, I don't know who this is, but he has been attacking my.eh.friends."
"Oh, do you wish me to destroy him then? I can, if he was hurting you. Here, I'll show you-"
"No! Don't! You can't just go around killing things!"
"I don't kill, I destroy. Death is another god completely," she scowled at him, "and Death serves me. Well, once long ago, you weren't aware?"
"I don't think right now is a great time to discuss the hierarchy of gods. Just.stand here, and don't do anything!"
Before Virage could respond, Lloyd had dashed off to defend Meru. The young girl was having a difficult time getting any attacks in even with her incredible speed, for her opponent seemed to excel in that ability. As Lloyd arrived, the woman hesitantly withdrew due to the calls of the mysterious black haired man. Curiosity overtook Virage, and focusing her energy; (Gods do not have souls, they are beyond such set backs) and read the man's soul. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as she entered his mind, reading his memories, aspirations, goals, fears, and hopes. His name was Luscious, he was twenty-five, had no mate, and surprisingly no goals or aspirations at all. That is odd, every soul has those aspects. Focusing harder, Lucious visibly flinched as a sudden and piercing headache consumed him. Virage found that certain aspects of his soul were barred from her intrusion. Since no mortal being could have that much control over their own spirit, the barring was obviously the work of a God. Virage would have to consult the other higher beings of this.
Retracting her hold on the man, Luscious shook his head in confusion before retreating with the other two, down the cliff and away through the desert.
Lloyd was talking to his 'friends', who appeared quite flustered and excited. Virage obediently stood where she was, trying her hardest to hear the conversation going on, but to no avail. Damn these mortal senses. Things were much easier when one simply automatically knew, not heard, what was going on between mortals. Hearing was an obvious draw back; another to add to her ever growing list. Though speech was an interesting form of communication. He's ignoring me again. "Lloyd?"
Silence ensued as the three mortals turned in unison to stare at her. Virage shifted under their gaze before she scowled and crossed her arms, proceeding to glare back. "Do not look at me like that, I merely said his name." The blue-haired girl was the first to react. She slowly approached the other woman, looking her up and down. Virage shifted again uncomfortably, these mortals were an odd bunch.
"So.you're the god we resurrected?"
Virage blinked, uncrossed her arms and replied with a quick 'yes'.
"Her name is Virage," Lloyd thankfully broke the growing silence that was forming between the God and little Winglie.
"Like the monster?"
"Like the God."
Meru glared at the other woman and stalked over to Albert, helping him dust off his ever-dirty hair and cape. Virage followed her and watched for a few moments before moving next to Lloyd, looking him over in scrutiny. She then proceeded to beat upon his chest a few times, sliding her palms down his stomach roughly, watching her hands the entire time. Lloyd caught her wrists before she moved down any further, biting his lip in distress. "What are you doing?"
Virage peered up at the Winglie through golden strands, looking confused, "That is what she did, to that man, after he fought."
"I'm not dirty."
"She does that because he is unclean?"
Lloyd let go of the woman, relieved that she didn't understand much of the world and thoroughly embarrassed (but not letting it show, of course). "Yes, but I'm fine, you see?" He backed up a few paces and put his arms out in a slight shrug, "I don't need to be dusted, besides, Albert" a short gesture towards the hazel-eyed man, "cares more for his appearance than I."
"Oh," Virage made a step towards Albert, Lloyd once again having to restrain her. Meru was glaring furiously in her direction, but Virage didn't realize what the icy look was meant to convey.
"I think Meru has Albert fine by herself. You don't need to do anything."
"Meru, that is her name?"
"Yes, why?"
"I did not know before. The man is Albert, you are Lloyd and I am Virage."
"Yes."
"I've never heard my name before, I did not know I had one, I only knew what I was. You mortals seem to know who you are too."
"You are mortal now also, Virage."
"That's why it's so fascinating," Virage blinked a few times before falsely smiling. She walked to the cliffs edge again. The monsters were all waiting patiently, but facing her direction now instead of the ruins'. Waving a steady hand, Virage performed some type of command to the beasts, for they all started to depart; heading in different directions across the desert.
"What were they doing there?"
"They were protecting me. Their God serves under me, so they were bound to this spot until I was in your safety. They are free to go now."
"Will they attack us? If the God serves you, then could we have him command them to leave us alone?"
"We must let them be what they are Lloyd. If I have them leave us alone, that would go against nature. I am only supposed to judge things on Endiness, not change them. That is you mortals' job, if you so get the chance."
"I see."
"What?"
"I see."
"Where?" Virage looked around before frowning at Lloyd, "See what?"
Lloyd rolled his eyes and groaned, "I understand, I see is another way of saying that."
".I see." Virage smiled again before turning her back to the Winglie and rolling her eyes.
~ * ~
Yretsym shifted under the heavy weight of her fathers' old woolen cloak. She wasn't used to having such things draped across her shoulders and silently wished for her old lavender dyed one left in her closet. Not that it would fit, but it was a kind memory.
She trudged through the snow, heading north. She knew the trails leading to this main road well, but had no idea where to go from there. A destination hadn't even entered her mind, she just wanted to get away from her town, and her father's dead body.
Deningrad wasn't far from where she was, maybe a half days travel in the direction she was headed. If she could make it there and get an audience with the Sacred Sisters and tell them about what had happened in her town. Appearing to be the only thing she could do, Yretsym prayed to Soa that everything would turn out alright.
~ * ~
Makaih trekked along behind his fellow soldiers. The snow had lightened now with impending spring but he unfortunately knew that once they reached Mille Seseau lands, the cold would be back once again. He was headed to Deningrad to approach the Sacred Sisters before Tiberoa hopefully had the chance. They weren't accustomed to seeking the aide of another country and had no idea if they would even receive that help, but it as worth a try. Without a King, Serdio was forced to undergo Military rule until Albert was either found, dead or alive, or the country fell. Thankfully, the next in line to rule over the country was the general of the Knights First Army, a trusted warrior and friend of King Albert, Raziel. General Gerandau, to say the least, was not happy with this. He felt that he should be in charge and had actively voiced his opposition.
Raziel in response had immediately relieved him of his position as general. With the 1st through 4th Knights Regiments backing him, Gerandau was forced to abide. The rest of the Serdian army was quick to pledge their allegiance with Raziel after driving the Tiberoans from Bale and forcing them then to retreat back to Tiberoa and Fletz (the capital) altogether. Makaih was in the Knights 3rd Regiment that had been assigned to be Ambassadors of Serdio for Mille Seseau. Other representatives had been sent to the farther reaches of the countries and Makaih even heard a rumor that small groups had been sent to seek out the Winglie civilizations apparently scattered throughout Endiness. Raziel was taking the situation extremely seriously, with the loss of their King and the confusing turn of the Tiberoans, he wasn't leaving anything to chance.
~ * ~
Luscious bowed before the statue before him. Carved out of a blue tinted marble, a woman with long flowing hair, closed eyes and an expression of peace softening her features, the statue was meant to represent Soa, The Creator. "Dearest Soa." The man felt a warmth pass through him and he knew that the Goddess was listening to him. "I sought out and found your Winglie, and he has revived The Destroyer as was your will.but we were not able to dispose of his companions, they proved too strong for the three of us. We were not expecting the Winglie to be so strong-" A sharp pain in his chest and his vision running red, Luscious cried out and cringed, the words 'You Lie' scrawled out before him.
It was true; Lloyd wasn't any stronger than he was before, the same for the girl and the King. The mortal Goddess hadn't even aided the three. He simply couldn't overcome them without the other four. They were strongest then, and if She only allowed them to they could get rid of the two nuisances easily. Lloyd and the Goddess were another problem better left to Soa to deal with.
Lucious knew better than to ask for permission once again to have the others join them. They had split up as was ordered and were to stay like that until Soa said otherwise.
He had reported to his master though, and now that that was done, he could see to Terain and Rin. He found them sitting at the temple's entrance, nursing their wounds with potions and the more serious, bandages. He had neglected his until now and took an offered bottle from Terain, downing the sweet liquid and feeling much better even from just the cool wet substance wetting his palette.
"Is she angry?" Lucious looked down at Rin, noting the slightly anxious tinge in her eyes and shrugged.
"It was hard to tell."
"Did you lie to her again Lucious?"
"Ah."
"You know that if you keep doing that we're all going to get in trouble!" Rin scowled and stood up, "That last time Soa got angry, she tripped Terain and he broke his arm!"
"That was painful," Terain rubbed his now healed joint in remembrance, grimacing for extra effect.
"We don't know if that was Soa, it looked like a simple root!"
"Yes, a root it was, but why was it suddenly there and then suddenly not?" the woman wagged a well manicured finger in front of the other mans frowning face.
"It was a temper mental root."
"You're impossible!" Rin threw her hands up in the air dramatically and stalked away from Terrain and Luscious.
~ * ~
Virage sat with her back to Lloyds' as they rode Narneel towards Mille Seseau. With both hands resting on her knees she was entranced with staring at Meru, unblinking, for the entire trip thus far. Meru seemed incapable of meeting the woman's gaze and kept shifting in her seat, sometimes turning to talk to an unresponsive Albert or braiding her runner's hair. Whenever the little winglie did look at Virage, the Goddess made it a priority to narrow her eyes and waggle her fingers at the girl; she was always rewarded with a gasp or "Meep!"
So the winglie girl is afraid of me. Good. That'll prove to be much more entertaining in the future. I'm ready to get rid of this world already. But no. Virage sighed and leaned back against Lloyd, making the silver haired warrior lean forward abruptly and knocking both out of balance. Narneel bellowed as Lloyd pulled back too hard on the reigns and Virage's flailing legs kicked him in the flanks.
"Damnit, Virage!"
Go to hell mortal.ah wait... "Damnit? What does that mean Lloyd?" she easily plastered an innocent pout across her angular face and blinked.
Lloyd stared at her from his prostrate position; Virage hadn't bothered to sit back up and rather enjoyed the reclining view of Endiness' sky. "Please sit up Virage."
"But it is so nice like this, the sky is very blue, did you know?"
Lloyd's face turned a brilliant shade of crimson, bringing out his eyes, and he struggled to keep from shoving her off Narneel to the dusty ground (he was sure Meru would have no qualms about trampling the Goddess, too.) That was just giving Virage an easy out for destroying Endiness.
Virage smiled. "Are you upset Lloyd?"
"Get. Off. Me. Now."
Virage pouted again and tried her best to look hurt, "Lloyd, you're not polite. I don't think I like you much anymore." She sat up anyhow, and turned her green gaze back to Meru who was glaring daggers at her not for the first time since they left. Albert was still zoned out in 'I was once a King but have been dethroned so I'm gonna turn anti-social and reclusive so everybody hates me even more,' world. Virage was thinking she should look into judging that place too. Albert seemed tolerable, if only for the fact that she didn't really know much about him.
Meru was a ditzy bitch.
Lloyd had a sword stuck up his ass.
Albert-
She'd yet to fill in that blank. And Lloyd was now making it a priority to elbow her in her sides each time he tugged on the reigns.
Revision- Lloyd had a pointy rusted sword stuck up his ass.
Much better.
~ * ~
Baal smirked down at the heap of bloodied and broken bones enlightened by the slight glow from the hovering 'Translucent-Soul Dragon Spirit'. The short-lived girl who had been the own had met the somewhat more, violent, end than he had anticipated, but the means were never really important to the end. A bloody heap was still a human body, just in a more.disfigured way, it would mean nothing to the great powers bestowed upon him by the Great Lord Arionce, his master and employer, his God of Death. His Lord had a certain affection for a human girl who had perished centuries past; this Yretsiem girl had been her body's reincarnation for her soul still lurked in purgatory.
Bladed tonfa in hand, Baal whispered a few words, chants or proverbs perhaps, or maybe it was just the sounds and pitches that mattered, but whatever the cause, the girl's body began to shift and squirm back into a more whole and living form. First step completely, Baal proceeded to summon the girls soul from the depths of limbo, calling to it to manifest itself into the body before him, the Translucent Dragon Spirit humming along with him, calling to it's would be master. A slight shimmering blue dust settled over the limb body, and a heartbeat sounded throughout the abandoned snow-covered forest before dying away, the girl was alive, and Baal's job was accomplished. Arionce would take over in whatever way was possible now, and his servant would move onto his normal population control raids until something else was needed of him.
As Baal disappeared behind the stretching branches of the barren trees, the girl's eyes fluttered open, darting about the disconcerting scene in immediate fear. Where was she? What happened to the emptiness of Limbo, was that a tree? Shaking slightly from confusing and fear of some impending doom that was most likely going to descend upon her any moment, the girl cried out when the blue dust scattered about her began to glow, and she in turn, fade.
When solid ground was once again cool against her palms, the girl stumbled to her feat and searched about with unseeing eyes in the bleak darkness of wherever it was that she had come to now. She could hear voices, somewhat far off in the distance, but could find nothing else that would suggest where she was, and more importantly, what had happened to her. A thought kept nagging her in the back of her mind, something along the lines that she had a body once again, a real body rather than the unphysical kind that was given to her in Limbo but that seemed unimportant compared to her situation. The girl had never been very materialistic.
"Aja."
The girl jumped, Aja, that had been her name.she had forgotten it in Limbo, things like that never served someone well when it wasn't who you are that mattered, only what you were (a soul fated to purgatory for aeons).
Finding her voice, though it felt somewhat odd, the girl called out in return, "Who's there?"
"Do you not recall my voice, I spoke to you much when you were mortal."
"Arionce?"
"Yes."
The girl tried to walk towards the beautiful voice but it seemed to radiate from all about her, coming from no certain direction. "Where are you? Can't I see you again?" Desperation tinged her tone as she spun about one, blinking her eyes harshly in an attempt to get them to see properly. "I can't even remember what you look like, I've missed you so much."
"You can't see me in this world, not much unlike Limbo, this world in the plane that separates the Earth and the world of the Gods, as limbo separates the worlds of life and life after death. It is simply a plane of existence, where only minds live and communicate, where physical and mortal, even immortal, limitations have no effect.
"I brought you here to.explain, at least do so as best I can and am able. Aja, you've been dead for over 900 years, and to try to explain what has happened to the world in the length of time, in any bit of detail, would be pointless. I've finally been able to bestow upon a mortal my powers and abilities, and that mortal has brought your soul back into the first reincarnation of your body that has been born. The soul of the girl in it previously has been destroyed, as is the only way to allow the body to have been able to hold another without going through the complete process of decay," Arionce paused a moment to allow Aja time to take in what he was telling her, it was a sad business, bringing another soul back to life unnaturally.
"So.she was completely destroyed?"
"Yes, she was a little girl though, she had no real knowledge of the world and her parents were both deceased anyways. A dragoon spirit had attached itself to her body, recognizing your reincarnated form and bonding to it, but in turn making it age to the point it was when you had died. She was confused and in agony, and death was a release to her."
Aja grimaced, "But she didn't really die.she was just.destroyed, wiped from existence."
"It's not as horrible a fate as you make it sound, there is soul to create regret or wish for something more than what was given to it. There is no more pain," Arionce sympathized with Aja on some type of level; after all, it was one less soul in his underworld.
"So, why did you bring me back?" Aja hesitantly inquired, she loved Arionce, but he was a God, and even when they loved others, there was no telling if you were either a tool or a friend at times. "Do you need me to.do something for you, make payment on my life?"
"Must you always ask those questions? Could you not just let fate play out your part and not wonder what your future holds?"
"Do you not remember that I do not believe in fate, and everything I choose to do is because I want to, not because fate says I must? A mortal was never supposed to be with a god, but look at what we were."
"We are Aja, I haven't forgotten our love."
".neither have I."
"Than we are at least understanding each other in some way.this world grows more difficult to sustain both out entities in, I must return you to Endiness. I will come back to you in the mortal world as soon as it is possible to put ours spells and charms back in place around where ever you decide to stay. When you away, a quarter mile down the southerly path, a carriage will await you. The driver will have instructions to take you to Mille Seseau and three chests of gold will be under the red velour seat. If you encounter any problems, lift back the black velour seat, but only do so if you encounter trouble, you must promise me this."
"I'll promise you whatever it is that you need me to Arionce." Aja, even with being reunited with Arionce and having her life back, continued to feel somewhat forlorn and desperate. The effects of Limbo were still with her and it would probably be some time before she felt normal once more.
"I know you will, as I would do in turn."
"Don't take too long, Arionce, I've waited 900 years to see your face again but for some reason one more day seems like so much longer."
What a strange world this is, much different than I imagined.
What is she doing?
The heat is unbearable; I do not like this place.
Oh gods.the monsters.
"Hello," Virage casually stepped out from the shallow shadowed hallway into the desert sands. The monsters that had gathered there shifted somewhat at her presence. A few high calls and yowls sounded out from the back of the group, enhanced by the echoing of high cliff walls. A simple, slight bow from the Goddess sent the mass scurrying to make a path for her that ran straight through the beings to the trail that lead up the small outcropped cliff. The cliff was too far away and the suns' glare too bright for either to see their awaiting companions but Lloyd became distressed when the obvious sounds of battle reached his ears.
Summoning his wings, the Winglie flew as swiftly as he could to where he had left the other two, leaving a frowning Virage behind. She walked slowly behind him, scowling at the fact that her guide was attempting to abandon her. That was very unguide-like. "Lloyd?" She asked in a normal octave. When no response came, not even a glance behind his shoulder, Virage was led to wonder as to why he failed to answer her. He has flown too far away to hear my voice, where is he going? Maybe he wants to show me something and means for me to come quicker?
Placing two fingers to the black and blue orb embedded in the armor on her chest she locked onto Lloyds' position, now on the top of the cliff, and moved herself to join him. In a sudden flash of deep black energy, like that of the void or the spells of the Darkness Dragoon, she was gone from the trail the monsters had created and standing haphazardly on the edge of the cliff face.
Virage scrambled away from the stone edge quickly, surprised that she had come so close to falling back to where she was previously, and attempted to walk calmly towards where Lloyd stood facing a black haired man. "Hello, do you know Lloyd? I am Virage," She bowed slightly to the man in a show of respect, thinking he to be a friend of her guide. The man gasped in response and quickly jumped away from her, causing Virage to frown.
"Is something the matter?"
"Virage, I don't know who this is, but he has been attacking my.eh.friends."
"Oh, do you wish me to destroy him then? I can, if he was hurting you. Here, I'll show you-"
"No! Don't! You can't just go around killing things!"
"I don't kill, I destroy. Death is another god completely," she scowled at him, "and Death serves me. Well, once long ago, you weren't aware?"
"I don't think right now is a great time to discuss the hierarchy of gods. Just.stand here, and don't do anything!"
Before Virage could respond, Lloyd had dashed off to defend Meru. The young girl was having a difficult time getting any attacks in even with her incredible speed, for her opponent seemed to excel in that ability. As Lloyd arrived, the woman hesitantly withdrew due to the calls of the mysterious black haired man. Curiosity overtook Virage, and focusing her energy; (Gods do not have souls, they are beyond such set backs) and read the man's soul. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as she entered his mind, reading his memories, aspirations, goals, fears, and hopes. His name was Luscious, he was twenty-five, had no mate, and surprisingly no goals or aspirations at all. That is odd, every soul has those aspects. Focusing harder, Lucious visibly flinched as a sudden and piercing headache consumed him. Virage found that certain aspects of his soul were barred from her intrusion. Since no mortal being could have that much control over their own spirit, the barring was obviously the work of a God. Virage would have to consult the other higher beings of this.
Retracting her hold on the man, Luscious shook his head in confusion before retreating with the other two, down the cliff and away through the desert.
Lloyd was talking to his 'friends', who appeared quite flustered and excited. Virage obediently stood where she was, trying her hardest to hear the conversation going on, but to no avail. Damn these mortal senses. Things were much easier when one simply automatically knew, not heard, what was going on between mortals. Hearing was an obvious draw back; another to add to her ever growing list. Though speech was an interesting form of communication. He's ignoring me again. "Lloyd?"
Silence ensued as the three mortals turned in unison to stare at her. Virage shifted under their gaze before she scowled and crossed her arms, proceeding to glare back. "Do not look at me like that, I merely said his name." The blue-haired girl was the first to react. She slowly approached the other woman, looking her up and down. Virage shifted again uncomfortably, these mortals were an odd bunch.
"So.you're the god we resurrected?"
Virage blinked, uncrossed her arms and replied with a quick 'yes'.
"Her name is Virage," Lloyd thankfully broke the growing silence that was forming between the God and little Winglie.
"Like the monster?"
"Like the God."
Meru glared at the other woman and stalked over to Albert, helping him dust off his ever-dirty hair and cape. Virage followed her and watched for a few moments before moving next to Lloyd, looking him over in scrutiny. She then proceeded to beat upon his chest a few times, sliding her palms down his stomach roughly, watching her hands the entire time. Lloyd caught her wrists before she moved down any further, biting his lip in distress. "What are you doing?"
Virage peered up at the Winglie through golden strands, looking confused, "That is what she did, to that man, after he fought."
"I'm not dirty."
"She does that because he is unclean?"
Lloyd let go of the woman, relieved that she didn't understand much of the world and thoroughly embarrassed (but not letting it show, of course). "Yes, but I'm fine, you see?" He backed up a few paces and put his arms out in a slight shrug, "I don't need to be dusted, besides, Albert" a short gesture towards the hazel-eyed man, "cares more for his appearance than I."
"Oh," Virage made a step towards Albert, Lloyd once again having to restrain her. Meru was glaring furiously in her direction, but Virage didn't realize what the icy look was meant to convey.
"I think Meru has Albert fine by herself. You don't need to do anything."
"Meru, that is her name?"
"Yes, why?"
"I did not know before. The man is Albert, you are Lloyd and I am Virage."
"Yes."
"I've never heard my name before, I did not know I had one, I only knew what I was. You mortals seem to know who you are too."
"You are mortal now also, Virage."
"That's why it's so fascinating," Virage blinked a few times before falsely smiling. She walked to the cliffs edge again. The monsters were all waiting patiently, but facing her direction now instead of the ruins'. Waving a steady hand, Virage performed some type of command to the beasts, for they all started to depart; heading in different directions across the desert.
"What were they doing there?"
"They were protecting me. Their God serves under me, so they were bound to this spot until I was in your safety. They are free to go now."
"Will they attack us? If the God serves you, then could we have him command them to leave us alone?"
"We must let them be what they are Lloyd. If I have them leave us alone, that would go against nature. I am only supposed to judge things on Endiness, not change them. That is you mortals' job, if you so get the chance."
"I see."
"What?"
"I see."
"Where?" Virage looked around before frowning at Lloyd, "See what?"
Lloyd rolled his eyes and groaned, "I understand, I see is another way of saying that."
".I see." Virage smiled again before turning her back to the Winglie and rolling her eyes.
~ * ~
Yretsym shifted under the heavy weight of her fathers' old woolen cloak. She wasn't used to having such things draped across her shoulders and silently wished for her old lavender dyed one left in her closet. Not that it would fit, but it was a kind memory.
She trudged through the snow, heading north. She knew the trails leading to this main road well, but had no idea where to go from there. A destination hadn't even entered her mind, she just wanted to get away from her town, and her father's dead body.
Deningrad wasn't far from where she was, maybe a half days travel in the direction she was headed. If she could make it there and get an audience with the Sacred Sisters and tell them about what had happened in her town. Appearing to be the only thing she could do, Yretsym prayed to Soa that everything would turn out alright.
~ * ~
Makaih trekked along behind his fellow soldiers. The snow had lightened now with impending spring but he unfortunately knew that once they reached Mille Seseau lands, the cold would be back once again. He was headed to Deningrad to approach the Sacred Sisters before Tiberoa hopefully had the chance. They weren't accustomed to seeking the aide of another country and had no idea if they would even receive that help, but it as worth a try. Without a King, Serdio was forced to undergo Military rule until Albert was either found, dead or alive, or the country fell. Thankfully, the next in line to rule over the country was the general of the Knights First Army, a trusted warrior and friend of King Albert, Raziel. General Gerandau, to say the least, was not happy with this. He felt that he should be in charge and had actively voiced his opposition.
Raziel in response had immediately relieved him of his position as general. With the 1st through 4th Knights Regiments backing him, Gerandau was forced to abide. The rest of the Serdian army was quick to pledge their allegiance with Raziel after driving the Tiberoans from Bale and forcing them then to retreat back to Tiberoa and Fletz (the capital) altogether. Makaih was in the Knights 3rd Regiment that had been assigned to be Ambassadors of Serdio for Mille Seseau. Other representatives had been sent to the farther reaches of the countries and Makaih even heard a rumor that small groups had been sent to seek out the Winglie civilizations apparently scattered throughout Endiness. Raziel was taking the situation extremely seriously, with the loss of their King and the confusing turn of the Tiberoans, he wasn't leaving anything to chance.
~ * ~
Luscious bowed before the statue before him. Carved out of a blue tinted marble, a woman with long flowing hair, closed eyes and an expression of peace softening her features, the statue was meant to represent Soa, The Creator. "Dearest Soa." The man felt a warmth pass through him and he knew that the Goddess was listening to him. "I sought out and found your Winglie, and he has revived The Destroyer as was your will.but we were not able to dispose of his companions, they proved too strong for the three of us. We were not expecting the Winglie to be so strong-" A sharp pain in his chest and his vision running red, Luscious cried out and cringed, the words 'You Lie' scrawled out before him.
It was true; Lloyd wasn't any stronger than he was before, the same for the girl and the King. The mortal Goddess hadn't even aided the three. He simply couldn't overcome them without the other four. They were strongest then, and if She only allowed them to they could get rid of the two nuisances easily. Lloyd and the Goddess were another problem better left to Soa to deal with.
Lucious knew better than to ask for permission once again to have the others join them. They had split up as was ordered and were to stay like that until Soa said otherwise.
He had reported to his master though, and now that that was done, he could see to Terain and Rin. He found them sitting at the temple's entrance, nursing their wounds with potions and the more serious, bandages. He had neglected his until now and took an offered bottle from Terain, downing the sweet liquid and feeling much better even from just the cool wet substance wetting his palette.
"Is she angry?" Lucious looked down at Rin, noting the slightly anxious tinge in her eyes and shrugged.
"It was hard to tell."
"Did you lie to her again Lucious?"
"Ah."
"You know that if you keep doing that we're all going to get in trouble!" Rin scowled and stood up, "That last time Soa got angry, she tripped Terain and he broke his arm!"
"That was painful," Terain rubbed his now healed joint in remembrance, grimacing for extra effect.
"We don't know if that was Soa, it looked like a simple root!"
"Yes, a root it was, but why was it suddenly there and then suddenly not?" the woman wagged a well manicured finger in front of the other mans frowning face.
"It was a temper mental root."
"You're impossible!" Rin threw her hands up in the air dramatically and stalked away from Terrain and Luscious.
~ * ~
Virage sat with her back to Lloyds' as they rode Narneel towards Mille Seseau. With both hands resting on her knees she was entranced with staring at Meru, unblinking, for the entire trip thus far. Meru seemed incapable of meeting the woman's gaze and kept shifting in her seat, sometimes turning to talk to an unresponsive Albert or braiding her runner's hair. Whenever the little winglie did look at Virage, the Goddess made it a priority to narrow her eyes and waggle her fingers at the girl; she was always rewarded with a gasp or "Meep!"
So the winglie girl is afraid of me. Good. That'll prove to be much more entertaining in the future. I'm ready to get rid of this world already. But no. Virage sighed and leaned back against Lloyd, making the silver haired warrior lean forward abruptly and knocking both out of balance. Narneel bellowed as Lloyd pulled back too hard on the reigns and Virage's flailing legs kicked him in the flanks.
"Damnit, Virage!"
Go to hell mortal.ah wait... "Damnit? What does that mean Lloyd?" she easily plastered an innocent pout across her angular face and blinked.
Lloyd stared at her from his prostrate position; Virage hadn't bothered to sit back up and rather enjoyed the reclining view of Endiness' sky. "Please sit up Virage."
"But it is so nice like this, the sky is very blue, did you know?"
Lloyd's face turned a brilliant shade of crimson, bringing out his eyes, and he struggled to keep from shoving her off Narneel to the dusty ground (he was sure Meru would have no qualms about trampling the Goddess, too.) That was just giving Virage an easy out for destroying Endiness.
Virage smiled. "Are you upset Lloyd?"
"Get. Off. Me. Now."
Virage pouted again and tried her best to look hurt, "Lloyd, you're not polite. I don't think I like you much anymore." She sat up anyhow, and turned her green gaze back to Meru who was glaring daggers at her not for the first time since they left. Albert was still zoned out in 'I was once a King but have been dethroned so I'm gonna turn anti-social and reclusive so everybody hates me even more,' world. Virage was thinking she should look into judging that place too. Albert seemed tolerable, if only for the fact that she didn't really know much about him.
Meru was a ditzy bitch.
Lloyd had a sword stuck up his ass.
Albert-
She'd yet to fill in that blank. And Lloyd was now making it a priority to elbow her in her sides each time he tugged on the reigns.
Revision- Lloyd had a pointy rusted sword stuck up his ass.
Much better.
~ * ~
Baal smirked down at the heap of bloodied and broken bones enlightened by the slight glow from the hovering 'Translucent-Soul Dragon Spirit'. The short-lived girl who had been the own had met the somewhat more, violent, end than he had anticipated, but the means were never really important to the end. A bloody heap was still a human body, just in a more.disfigured way, it would mean nothing to the great powers bestowed upon him by the Great Lord Arionce, his master and employer, his God of Death. His Lord had a certain affection for a human girl who had perished centuries past; this Yretsiem girl had been her body's reincarnation for her soul still lurked in purgatory.
Bladed tonfa in hand, Baal whispered a few words, chants or proverbs perhaps, or maybe it was just the sounds and pitches that mattered, but whatever the cause, the girl's body began to shift and squirm back into a more whole and living form. First step completely, Baal proceeded to summon the girls soul from the depths of limbo, calling to it to manifest itself into the body before him, the Translucent Dragon Spirit humming along with him, calling to it's would be master. A slight shimmering blue dust settled over the limb body, and a heartbeat sounded throughout the abandoned snow-covered forest before dying away, the girl was alive, and Baal's job was accomplished. Arionce would take over in whatever way was possible now, and his servant would move onto his normal population control raids until something else was needed of him.
As Baal disappeared behind the stretching branches of the barren trees, the girl's eyes fluttered open, darting about the disconcerting scene in immediate fear. Where was she? What happened to the emptiness of Limbo, was that a tree? Shaking slightly from confusing and fear of some impending doom that was most likely going to descend upon her any moment, the girl cried out when the blue dust scattered about her began to glow, and she in turn, fade.
When solid ground was once again cool against her palms, the girl stumbled to her feat and searched about with unseeing eyes in the bleak darkness of wherever it was that she had come to now. She could hear voices, somewhat far off in the distance, but could find nothing else that would suggest where she was, and more importantly, what had happened to her. A thought kept nagging her in the back of her mind, something along the lines that she had a body once again, a real body rather than the unphysical kind that was given to her in Limbo but that seemed unimportant compared to her situation. The girl had never been very materialistic.
"Aja."
The girl jumped, Aja, that had been her name.she had forgotten it in Limbo, things like that never served someone well when it wasn't who you are that mattered, only what you were (a soul fated to purgatory for aeons).
Finding her voice, though it felt somewhat odd, the girl called out in return, "Who's there?"
"Do you not recall my voice, I spoke to you much when you were mortal."
"Arionce?"
"Yes."
The girl tried to walk towards the beautiful voice but it seemed to radiate from all about her, coming from no certain direction. "Where are you? Can't I see you again?" Desperation tinged her tone as she spun about one, blinking her eyes harshly in an attempt to get them to see properly. "I can't even remember what you look like, I've missed you so much."
"You can't see me in this world, not much unlike Limbo, this world in the plane that separates the Earth and the world of the Gods, as limbo separates the worlds of life and life after death. It is simply a plane of existence, where only minds live and communicate, where physical and mortal, even immortal, limitations have no effect.
"I brought you here to.explain, at least do so as best I can and am able. Aja, you've been dead for over 900 years, and to try to explain what has happened to the world in the length of time, in any bit of detail, would be pointless. I've finally been able to bestow upon a mortal my powers and abilities, and that mortal has brought your soul back into the first reincarnation of your body that has been born. The soul of the girl in it previously has been destroyed, as is the only way to allow the body to have been able to hold another without going through the complete process of decay," Arionce paused a moment to allow Aja time to take in what he was telling her, it was a sad business, bringing another soul back to life unnaturally.
"So.she was completely destroyed?"
"Yes, she was a little girl though, she had no real knowledge of the world and her parents were both deceased anyways. A dragoon spirit had attached itself to her body, recognizing your reincarnated form and bonding to it, but in turn making it age to the point it was when you had died. She was confused and in agony, and death was a release to her."
Aja grimaced, "But she didn't really die.she was just.destroyed, wiped from existence."
"It's not as horrible a fate as you make it sound, there is soul to create regret or wish for something more than what was given to it. There is no more pain," Arionce sympathized with Aja on some type of level; after all, it was one less soul in his underworld.
"So, why did you bring me back?" Aja hesitantly inquired, she loved Arionce, but he was a God, and even when they loved others, there was no telling if you were either a tool or a friend at times. "Do you need me to.do something for you, make payment on my life?"
"Must you always ask those questions? Could you not just let fate play out your part and not wonder what your future holds?"
"Do you not remember that I do not believe in fate, and everything I choose to do is because I want to, not because fate says I must? A mortal was never supposed to be with a god, but look at what we were."
"We are Aja, I haven't forgotten our love."
".neither have I."
"Than we are at least understanding each other in some way.this world grows more difficult to sustain both out entities in, I must return you to Endiness. I will come back to you in the mortal world as soon as it is possible to put ours spells and charms back in place around where ever you decide to stay. When you away, a quarter mile down the southerly path, a carriage will await you. The driver will have instructions to take you to Mille Seseau and three chests of gold will be under the red velour seat. If you encounter any problems, lift back the black velour seat, but only do so if you encounter trouble, you must promise me this."
"I'll promise you whatever it is that you need me to Arionce." Aja, even with being reunited with Arionce and having her life back, continued to feel somewhat forlorn and desperate. The effects of Limbo were still with her and it would probably be some time before she felt normal once more.
"I know you will, as I would do in turn."
"Don't take too long, Arionce, I've waited 900 years to see your face again but for some reason one more day seems like so much longer."