Asellus looked out from the high balcony atop Chateau Aguille. She watched the roiling purple skies of Facinaturu, listening to the ever present winds howl and sing through the air. She felt the winds blow past her, swirling, dancing, and twirling as they flew about, whipping her dress and loose strands of her hair into a frenzy.
Orlouge had stood on this very spot when they had their last words together. Rastaban had told her that this was his favorite spot when he wasn't in court or involved with his many, many mistresses. There was a definite, ever-changing beauty in the view and Asellus couldn't fault the former Charm Lord for spending his time here. She'd already stood here several times when she wanted to be left alone or wanted to get away from the petty squabbling and gossip of her court.
She also liked the feeling of standing in the middle of all the motion and energy. She liked standing straight, stiff, and unbowed against the elemental fury that swirled about her. Sometimes she'd stretch out her arms to the side and take the full force of the winds against herself. Her clothes would flare violently, so much so that she wondered if they might have just flown off her body, but she herself would stay still and strong against the onslaught. Yes, she very much enjoyed the feeling.
The fact was, Emelia was the last guest she had greeted, the only guest she had greeted. She was also the last guest to arrive. Asellus had been afraid that Ildon wouldn't be able to locate her or that she would have refused her invitation. Right now, she needed time alone, time to think and reflect. The other guests could occupy themselves with each other. She didn't want to bother with them, not until she had fully contemplated what she was going to do next. She could hardly admit it, but she was afraid of what was going to come. She thought out the possibilities, how easily things could go awry, and it made her scared. It was ironic. She'd inherited nearly unlimited power from Orlouge, yet what she had planned, what she desperately wanted, could very easily slip from her grasp. There was no other way around it.
She hadn't been afraid then, when she fought her way up Chateau Aguille in order to confront Orlouge once and for all. She and her small band of allies had fought off the dangerous monsters that inhabited the cliffs of the Chateau, fended off attacks from mystics loyal to Orlouge, and slew his most powerful servants. All through it, she had been unafraid, because she had nothing to lose.
Her entire journey, from the moment she woke up as a half-mystic in Chateau Aguille, to her final confrontation with Orlouge, had been one of loss. The loss of her humanity, her friends, her family, her loved ones, all of it had been stripped from her. Even when she had returned to Facinaturu bent on vengeance, thinking she had nothing left to lose, Orlouge had taken something from her that she didn't even know she had. He had kidnapped Gina, the only human in Rootville who would look upon her, speak to her without naked fear.
Asellus had to admit, she hadn't thought of Gina since her escape from Facinaturu. But when she returned and learned that Gina had been taken away, she knew she had to get her back. Brief as their time together had been, Gina was the only link she had, the only one who could keep her from the sense of being utterly and completely alone. Without her, she was nothing.
So when she finally stepped out upon this great balcony and looked upon Orlouge standing where she was standing now, she did it without a shred of fear. The battle to get there had been hard and taxing and her allies were struggling to keep up with her. They were winded, tired, and hurt, but the only thing Asellus had felt was a burning sensation within her, the burning need to end things between her and Orlouge, to end all the suffering she had endured.
When she stepped forward, she saw that her allies had stayed behind. All of them knew or knew of the Charm Lord and they kept their distance. Whether it was their hurt, their fear, or both, she alone stepped forward to speak.
Orlouge had his back turned, staring out into the sky, but Asellus was under no illusion that he didn't know they were there. She approached, until his voice ordered, "That's far enough."
So she stopped, glad that she had a chance to gather her wits and her strength. Orlouge still kept his back towards them as he spoke. "So, the wayward daughter returns. And she's brought such an interesting pack with her."
Asellus could almost picture the evil grin on his face as he addressed one of her allies. "Princess Rei. Finally, you've come back to me. Ironic, isn't it? I spend centuries, millenia seeking you out, hunting for you, hoping to find a glimpse of you in all the mistresses I've made, and all I had to do was wait for you to come to me."
Rei closed in, but still kept behind Asellus. "You've haunted me enough lifetimes. It ends here, Orlouge."
The ancient Charm Lord yawned. "Alas, I think I've finally found someone fit to replace you. You'll never leave your coffin again once I finish with this." His back still turned, he addressed the next ally. "And you, dog. You won't even have the luxury of a coffin when I'm through with you. Finally decided to come out of the shadows and face my justice, Zozma?"
The rebel mystic laughed, though none of his usual cockiness was in it. It seemed more like a way for him to muster his courage to step forward, which he did. "Since when did mystics care about justice? I'm just here because I think you're finally gonna get yours, oh gracious Lord." Asellus could picture him bowing with the utmost sarcasm.
"Hmph." With that, Orlouge was done with Zozma. "Now here's an odd member of my daughter's party. You, shapeshifter, why do you involve yourself in mystic affairs?"
Red Turnip floated forward. "Hey, I owe my freedom to White Rose. Can't think of any way to repay her 'sides taking care of the most important person in her life."
With that, Orlouge's voice turned cold. Up to now, he had treated the invaders as some sort of joke he found amusing. He wasn't amused anymore. "No one is more important than me in her life. No one. White Rose owes her very existence to me."
"I think someone struck a chord," Zozma smirked. Red Turnip laughed and Asellus could even sense a smile gracing Rei's lips.
"Silence, dog!" It was the first trace of heat in Orlouge's voice and it was enough to silence Zozma. If the confrontation had started out as a joke to the Charm Lord, it wasn't one anymore. His voice was now laced with anger. "You, Ildon, where is your loyalty? Why do you stand with my traitor daughter?"
Ildon's voice was calm and even. "I made a promise to a friend." Now his voice was laced with a cold anger. "And I owe no loyalty to disgusting filth like you. What you did to White Rose is unforgivable."
Asellus could practically see the hatred boiling from Orlouge. Yet he laughed. "Had a thing for her, did you? Who would have thought? The Black Wing and the White Rose, what a combination that would make!" His voice lowered. "She would never return your feelings. They all belong to me and what I do to my creations is of no consequence to you."
"Her feelings are not yours, not anymore. They are her own and she's given them to another."
Orlouge went rigid. For the first time, he turned his head ever so slightly towards the invaders.
"Is that why you trapped her, Orlouge? Is that why you've worked so hard to hurt her and Lady Asellus? You can't stand it, can you, that she picked someone so new to her life over you."
"Stay your tongue, Ildon. I might still forgive you when this is over." Asellus could see the Charm Lord having to reign in his emotions. For a moment, nothing but the wind could be heard. "And that brings us to the one who binds this pack together. Have you come to worship me, my daughter?"
"If I can't live as a human, I must live as a mystic," Asellus said honestly. It was true. In all her travels, all her experiences had told her one thing, that she was no longer human. The fear of the humans in Rootville, her aunt's rejection, the mystic power blooming within her, all of it pointed to that simple fact, no matter how much she denied. Even a mec recognized she wasn't human anymore. She had to accept facts.
"Ah," Orlouge said, his voice once again taking an amused tone. "It took you this long to realize that fact?"
"I must live as a mystic," Asellus repeated. "But I won't live under your rule. I will not be at the mercy of your whims. I am Asellus and I control my fate. It's time for a showdown."
Now Orlouge turned completely to face her and all the anger that he had felt was gone. In its place was a wide, mad smile. Asellus had to admit, the reaction had taken her by surprise. "Yes! That's my daughter! Lust for life! Lust for power!" With that he faded from view.
At first, Asellus had thought that Orlouge had fled, but when she descended the steps from the balcony, she saw the Charm Lord waiting to confront her.
The battle was long, drawn out, and hard fought. Orlouge had picked his battlefield well, as he was aided by three magical portraits of past mistresses and he spared no trick in his vast arsenal. By the battle's end, Asellus could barely stay on her feet and her allies simply could not. But she had won. She struck the final blow. Orlouge crumbled into dust, leaving nothing more than a pile of fine, powdered glass.
The battle had cost everyone dearly. Rei and Red Turnip lay dead. There was nothing that could be done for them. Perhaps Rei would be reborn again, perhaps not. Either way, Asellus was sure that she'd want nothing to do with mystics ever again. As for Red Turnip, she would miss the shapeshifter. A final parting shot from Orlouge, she guessed. One more loss to inflict on her.
Zozma and Ildon were badly hurt. They couldn't even stand, though Ildon kept trying. Rastaban suddenly appeared on the scene. He was clearly shocked by what he saw. He went to Ildon and helped him on his feet. "I can't believe it!" he said, utterly astonished. "You killed Orlouge!"
Asellus nodded and stared at the pile of dust that used to be Orlouge. She scooped it up into both of her hands and walked unsteadily back up to the balcony. With a great thrust of her hands, she sent Orlouge's remains into the winds, scattering them. To this day, she still pictured wind spirits feasting on the former Charm Lord, inflicting untold pain upon him. She liked that thought.
When she came back down, weary, she saw that Rastaban had disappeared. He reappeared again, this time with Gina. At the sight of her, all strength left Asellus's limbs.
"Asellus!" the tailor's maid yelled out. She moved to catch her as she fell forward.
"Orlouge made me take her away," Rastaban explained. "I could not disobey my Lord."
"I understand, Rastaban," Asellus said, cradled in Gina's arms. "Thank you."
"Oh, Asellus," Gina cooed, looking down at what must have been a ravaged body. "Oh, Lady Asellus."
And so started her reign as Charm Lord. Now she truly was master of her own fate. She'd never have to feel the pain of loss ever again. All she had to do was exert her will to make it so. Orlouge had been such a fool. All that power in his possesion and all he did was lord over a bunch of sycophants and play with his mistresses. That power was in better hands now.
She made Gina into her first princess, making sure that she'd always be with her. She banished Zozma after he dared assume that his was the key role in destroying Orlouge. He had only used her, after all, in his own vision of revenge. Sooner or later, she'd catch him and deal with him. No one would ever make her a pawn or a plaything ever again.
And now she'd devised a plan to make sure that nothing would ever challenge her again. Though she wasn't human any longer, she knew how the human spirit worked. They would always expand, always explore. Sooner or later, they would encroach upon her, disturb her world, threaten her with loss. No, that wasn't going to happen. First, she would gather all the mystics around her, let them know who was in charge now, and lead them against her enemies. She'd start small, conquering a few monster tribes, bringing them under her wing, a few minor human nations, work her way up. Even the mecs would bow to her. It would not end until she knew she was secure, until she knew that she'd never lose again. It was within her grasp. All she had to do was reach for it.
But first thing was first. She had to take in the ones who were important to her, keep them close. What was the point in becoming immune to loss when you had nothing worth keeping? She was going to make an offer to one of her guests, one she hoped would not be turned down. While all her human allies had left her before the end of her journey for one reason or another, one of them had made a deep impression. Of them all, only she had been truly willing to get to know her, to share in her experiences, to care for her. She joined because they shared a common goal at the time, but she stayed because she simply wanted to help, because she cared about what happened to her. She had no other reason to do so. Even if she hadn't been with her for long, she'd pushed back that empty feeling of loneliness for while. It meant a lot to Asellus and she wanted to keep that person by her side.
But it had to be her choice. Asellus couldn't force her offer down her guest's throat. What was the point in that? No, she had to join her, be with her, because she wanted to. And there was a chance that she'd refuse, which was why Asellus was afraid. Maybe she'd be horrified at the prospect of what she'd be giving up if she agreed to the offer. And Asellus knew she had changed since they last met. Maybe she wouldn't like this new Asellus.
Still, it had to be her choice. If she said no, then it meant that she'd already lost this precious person long ago or she had never had her to begin with.
Just say yes, Asellus said silently. Say yes, join with me. I'll give you eternal happiness if you only keep me company. Come to me, Emelia.
"Gina," she summoned.
She appeared, looking like she was still trying to get used to teleporting and still trying to get used to the mystic finery she was wearing. She hadn't adopted to mystic life as quickly as Asellus had hoped. "Yes, Lady Asellus?"
"Start the party. I'll join you soon."
"Yes, Lady Asellus." She disappeared.
Soon, Asellus thought to herself. Soon.
Orlouge had stood on this very spot when they had their last words together. Rastaban had told her that this was his favorite spot when he wasn't in court or involved with his many, many mistresses. There was a definite, ever-changing beauty in the view and Asellus couldn't fault the former Charm Lord for spending his time here. She'd already stood here several times when she wanted to be left alone or wanted to get away from the petty squabbling and gossip of her court.
She also liked the feeling of standing in the middle of all the motion and energy. She liked standing straight, stiff, and unbowed against the elemental fury that swirled about her. Sometimes she'd stretch out her arms to the side and take the full force of the winds against herself. Her clothes would flare violently, so much so that she wondered if they might have just flown off her body, but she herself would stay still and strong against the onslaught. Yes, she very much enjoyed the feeling.
The fact was, Emelia was the last guest she had greeted, the only guest she had greeted. She was also the last guest to arrive. Asellus had been afraid that Ildon wouldn't be able to locate her or that she would have refused her invitation. Right now, she needed time alone, time to think and reflect. The other guests could occupy themselves with each other. She didn't want to bother with them, not until she had fully contemplated what she was going to do next. She could hardly admit it, but she was afraid of what was going to come. She thought out the possibilities, how easily things could go awry, and it made her scared. It was ironic. She'd inherited nearly unlimited power from Orlouge, yet what she had planned, what she desperately wanted, could very easily slip from her grasp. There was no other way around it.
She hadn't been afraid then, when she fought her way up Chateau Aguille in order to confront Orlouge once and for all. She and her small band of allies had fought off the dangerous monsters that inhabited the cliffs of the Chateau, fended off attacks from mystics loyal to Orlouge, and slew his most powerful servants. All through it, she had been unafraid, because she had nothing to lose.
Her entire journey, from the moment she woke up as a half-mystic in Chateau Aguille, to her final confrontation with Orlouge, had been one of loss. The loss of her humanity, her friends, her family, her loved ones, all of it had been stripped from her. Even when she had returned to Facinaturu bent on vengeance, thinking she had nothing left to lose, Orlouge had taken something from her that she didn't even know she had. He had kidnapped Gina, the only human in Rootville who would look upon her, speak to her without naked fear.
Asellus had to admit, she hadn't thought of Gina since her escape from Facinaturu. But when she returned and learned that Gina had been taken away, she knew she had to get her back. Brief as their time together had been, Gina was the only link she had, the only one who could keep her from the sense of being utterly and completely alone. Without her, she was nothing.
So when she finally stepped out upon this great balcony and looked upon Orlouge standing where she was standing now, she did it without a shred of fear. The battle to get there had been hard and taxing and her allies were struggling to keep up with her. They were winded, tired, and hurt, but the only thing Asellus had felt was a burning sensation within her, the burning need to end things between her and Orlouge, to end all the suffering she had endured.
When she stepped forward, she saw that her allies had stayed behind. All of them knew or knew of the Charm Lord and they kept their distance. Whether it was their hurt, their fear, or both, she alone stepped forward to speak.
Orlouge had his back turned, staring out into the sky, but Asellus was under no illusion that he didn't know they were there. She approached, until his voice ordered, "That's far enough."
So she stopped, glad that she had a chance to gather her wits and her strength. Orlouge still kept his back towards them as he spoke. "So, the wayward daughter returns. And she's brought such an interesting pack with her."
Asellus could almost picture the evil grin on his face as he addressed one of her allies. "Princess Rei. Finally, you've come back to me. Ironic, isn't it? I spend centuries, millenia seeking you out, hunting for you, hoping to find a glimpse of you in all the mistresses I've made, and all I had to do was wait for you to come to me."
Rei closed in, but still kept behind Asellus. "You've haunted me enough lifetimes. It ends here, Orlouge."
The ancient Charm Lord yawned. "Alas, I think I've finally found someone fit to replace you. You'll never leave your coffin again once I finish with this." His back still turned, he addressed the next ally. "And you, dog. You won't even have the luxury of a coffin when I'm through with you. Finally decided to come out of the shadows and face my justice, Zozma?"
The rebel mystic laughed, though none of his usual cockiness was in it. It seemed more like a way for him to muster his courage to step forward, which he did. "Since when did mystics care about justice? I'm just here because I think you're finally gonna get yours, oh gracious Lord." Asellus could picture him bowing with the utmost sarcasm.
"Hmph." With that, Orlouge was done with Zozma. "Now here's an odd member of my daughter's party. You, shapeshifter, why do you involve yourself in mystic affairs?"
Red Turnip floated forward. "Hey, I owe my freedom to White Rose. Can't think of any way to repay her 'sides taking care of the most important person in her life."
With that, Orlouge's voice turned cold. Up to now, he had treated the invaders as some sort of joke he found amusing. He wasn't amused anymore. "No one is more important than me in her life. No one. White Rose owes her very existence to me."
"I think someone struck a chord," Zozma smirked. Red Turnip laughed and Asellus could even sense a smile gracing Rei's lips.
"Silence, dog!" It was the first trace of heat in Orlouge's voice and it was enough to silence Zozma. If the confrontation had started out as a joke to the Charm Lord, it wasn't one anymore. His voice was now laced with anger. "You, Ildon, where is your loyalty? Why do you stand with my traitor daughter?"
Ildon's voice was calm and even. "I made a promise to a friend." Now his voice was laced with a cold anger. "And I owe no loyalty to disgusting filth like you. What you did to White Rose is unforgivable."
Asellus could practically see the hatred boiling from Orlouge. Yet he laughed. "Had a thing for her, did you? Who would have thought? The Black Wing and the White Rose, what a combination that would make!" His voice lowered. "She would never return your feelings. They all belong to me and what I do to my creations is of no consequence to you."
"Her feelings are not yours, not anymore. They are her own and she's given them to another."
Orlouge went rigid. For the first time, he turned his head ever so slightly towards the invaders.
"Is that why you trapped her, Orlouge? Is that why you've worked so hard to hurt her and Lady Asellus? You can't stand it, can you, that she picked someone so new to her life over you."
"Stay your tongue, Ildon. I might still forgive you when this is over." Asellus could see the Charm Lord having to reign in his emotions. For a moment, nothing but the wind could be heard. "And that brings us to the one who binds this pack together. Have you come to worship me, my daughter?"
"If I can't live as a human, I must live as a mystic," Asellus said honestly. It was true. In all her travels, all her experiences had told her one thing, that she was no longer human. The fear of the humans in Rootville, her aunt's rejection, the mystic power blooming within her, all of it pointed to that simple fact, no matter how much she denied. Even a mec recognized she wasn't human anymore. She had to accept facts.
"Ah," Orlouge said, his voice once again taking an amused tone. "It took you this long to realize that fact?"
"I must live as a mystic," Asellus repeated. "But I won't live under your rule. I will not be at the mercy of your whims. I am Asellus and I control my fate. It's time for a showdown."
Now Orlouge turned completely to face her and all the anger that he had felt was gone. In its place was a wide, mad smile. Asellus had to admit, the reaction had taken her by surprise. "Yes! That's my daughter! Lust for life! Lust for power!" With that he faded from view.
At first, Asellus had thought that Orlouge had fled, but when she descended the steps from the balcony, she saw the Charm Lord waiting to confront her.
The battle was long, drawn out, and hard fought. Orlouge had picked his battlefield well, as he was aided by three magical portraits of past mistresses and he spared no trick in his vast arsenal. By the battle's end, Asellus could barely stay on her feet and her allies simply could not. But she had won. She struck the final blow. Orlouge crumbled into dust, leaving nothing more than a pile of fine, powdered glass.
The battle had cost everyone dearly. Rei and Red Turnip lay dead. There was nothing that could be done for them. Perhaps Rei would be reborn again, perhaps not. Either way, Asellus was sure that she'd want nothing to do with mystics ever again. As for Red Turnip, she would miss the shapeshifter. A final parting shot from Orlouge, she guessed. One more loss to inflict on her.
Zozma and Ildon were badly hurt. They couldn't even stand, though Ildon kept trying. Rastaban suddenly appeared on the scene. He was clearly shocked by what he saw. He went to Ildon and helped him on his feet. "I can't believe it!" he said, utterly astonished. "You killed Orlouge!"
Asellus nodded and stared at the pile of dust that used to be Orlouge. She scooped it up into both of her hands and walked unsteadily back up to the balcony. With a great thrust of her hands, she sent Orlouge's remains into the winds, scattering them. To this day, she still pictured wind spirits feasting on the former Charm Lord, inflicting untold pain upon him. She liked that thought.
When she came back down, weary, she saw that Rastaban had disappeared. He reappeared again, this time with Gina. At the sight of her, all strength left Asellus's limbs.
"Asellus!" the tailor's maid yelled out. She moved to catch her as she fell forward.
"Orlouge made me take her away," Rastaban explained. "I could not disobey my Lord."
"I understand, Rastaban," Asellus said, cradled in Gina's arms. "Thank you."
"Oh, Asellus," Gina cooed, looking down at what must have been a ravaged body. "Oh, Lady Asellus."
And so started her reign as Charm Lord. Now she truly was master of her own fate. She'd never have to feel the pain of loss ever again. All she had to do was exert her will to make it so. Orlouge had been such a fool. All that power in his possesion and all he did was lord over a bunch of sycophants and play with his mistresses. That power was in better hands now.
She made Gina into her first princess, making sure that she'd always be with her. She banished Zozma after he dared assume that his was the key role in destroying Orlouge. He had only used her, after all, in his own vision of revenge. Sooner or later, she'd catch him and deal with him. No one would ever make her a pawn or a plaything ever again.
And now she'd devised a plan to make sure that nothing would ever challenge her again. Though she wasn't human any longer, she knew how the human spirit worked. They would always expand, always explore. Sooner or later, they would encroach upon her, disturb her world, threaten her with loss. No, that wasn't going to happen. First, she would gather all the mystics around her, let them know who was in charge now, and lead them against her enemies. She'd start small, conquering a few monster tribes, bringing them under her wing, a few minor human nations, work her way up. Even the mecs would bow to her. It would not end until she knew she was secure, until she knew that she'd never lose again. It was within her grasp. All she had to do was reach for it.
But first thing was first. She had to take in the ones who were important to her, keep them close. What was the point in becoming immune to loss when you had nothing worth keeping? She was going to make an offer to one of her guests, one she hoped would not be turned down. While all her human allies had left her before the end of her journey for one reason or another, one of them had made a deep impression. Of them all, only she had been truly willing to get to know her, to share in her experiences, to care for her. She joined because they shared a common goal at the time, but she stayed because she simply wanted to help, because she cared about what happened to her. She had no other reason to do so. Even if she hadn't been with her for long, she'd pushed back that empty feeling of loneliness for while. It meant a lot to Asellus and she wanted to keep that person by her side.
But it had to be her choice. Asellus couldn't force her offer down her guest's throat. What was the point in that? No, she had to join her, be with her, because she wanted to. And there was a chance that she'd refuse, which was why Asellus was afraid. Maybe she'd be horrified at the prospect of what she'd be giving up if she agreed to the offer. And Asellus knew she had changed since they last met. Maybe she wouldn't like this new Asellus.
Still, it had to be her choice. If she said no, then it meant that she'd already lost this precious person long ago or she had never had her to begin with.
Just say yes, Asellus said silently. Say yes, join with me. I'll give you eternal happiness if you only keep me company. Come to me, Emelia.
"Gina," she summoned.
She appeared, looking like she was still trying to get used to teleporting and still trying to get used to the mystic finery she was wearing. She hadn't adopted to mystic life as quickly as Asellus had hoped. "Yes, Lady Asellus?"
"Start the party. I'll join you soon."
"Yes, Lady Asellus." She disappeared.
Soon, Asellus thought to herself. Soon.