Brilliance: A Legend of Mana Story
Chapter Twenty -Bondage Bestowed-
The Mana Fortress floated silently through the sky, hovering in the center of a soundless whirlwind of darkness. Even the ever-present hum of Lucemia's melody faded to nothing while inside the fortress. Instead, there was something else. Something deeper. It called to everyone within its reach, which for now, remained small. But the further the darkness and crimson stretched through the sky, the more it would hold under its sway.
Riven, for his part, noticed none of this. He felt it, yes, but the sensation couldn't break through his determination to shatter the bond placed on him by the sorcerer. He very nearly cracked the spell when Pierce dragged Bud and Lisa, dull-eyed and listless into the main chamber.
Godhand examined the chamber carefully, reading the words scrawled on the walls. Pierce shifted uncomfortably. He felt whatever was calling themmore keenly then anyone else, and he obviously didn't like what it said.
The leader of the Nanten glanced at Pierce, briefly taking notice of his discomfort, and then turned his gaze to Riven. It was like looking through a spyglass for the Mana Hero, Godhand's sneering face several inches and a hundred miles away all at once. "How does it feel, standing in this place, Riven? You and I, we stood here once before. Long, long ago. Its all written on these walls. The true history of Fa'diel...not the illusory fairytale the Mana Goddess pounded into your skull."
Godhand gestured to the walls, but the symbols just looked like scratches to him, and while under Pierce's spell, he was unable to look around at them, even if he'd wanted to. "You see my boy, you and I, and Elleira too...we all stood here. We challenged the Mana Goddess herself. You don't remember, do you?" For a moment, he seemed almost sad, but it quickly passed.
"What is a mortal, when compared to a god? Or goddess, for that matter? Nothing. An insignificant speck in the infintessimal void. I proved that theory wrong upon killing one of them. When I started the war with the Mana Goddess." Godhand studied Riven, searching for a reaction.
(What is he going on about?) Riven wondered. He would have asked -or tried to strike the man- but he was still unable to make even the slightest voluntary twitch.
Godhand shrugged, and gestured to Pierce. "Prepare the children. I'm going inside."
"How do you know the path?" Pierce asked nervously.
"Weren't you listening?" Godhand snapped. "I know the way." He stalked off, and Riven felt his feet moving to follow. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Irwin fall into step beside him. The weight of the Holy Swords on his back was almost too much to bear, but he continued onwards, zombie-like and helpless into the dark twisting corridors ahead.
"So..." Sierra asked aloud, knowing he was thinking the same thing. "How do we get them out?"
As best they could tell, the Wisdoms were sealed within a massive Mana Crystal, the largest they'd ever seen. Nearly eight times their size. Beside it was a twin, a crystal the exact same size and shape, except it glittered red with the same light coming from the sky.
Elazul scratched his chin, carefully studying them. And then, impulsively, he reached out and grabbed one.
Their was a rush of sensation, and for those few brief seconds, he was sure his soul would be blasted apart. His core flickered violently, and after what seemed an eternity, the feeling suddenly ceased. He fell backwards, landing on his backside in the snow, unable to orient himself.
"Elazul! Are you all right!" Sierra yelped in surprise, dropping down beside him in the snow. "Get a hold of yourself!"
"He'll be all right, child." the Guardian of Vadise turned towards the new voice, and saw a young girl standing before her, dressed in green robes. The girl smiled, but there was no true happiness in it. "Listen carefully. The last of our strength is waning. I can only speak to you like this for a short time."
"Then quit expounding and get on with it!" Sierra snapped.
The girl looked shocked, but quickly recovered. "The Nanten are raising the Mana Fortress. When it reaches its zenith, they will use the children and the swords to seal a pact with a force the world hasn't seen in centuries. If they succeed, Fa'diel may well be sealed again...never to reawaken."
"You must free the dragons, for they are the only way you can reach the Fortress now. We'll use our power to aid you."
"And what about you all?" Elazul asked calmly, regaining his feet with Sierra's help.
The Wisdom averted her eyes. "I can not say. Perhaps, upon defeating the Nanten who trapped us, we can be freed. But that is unimportant. All that matters is Fa'diel. That Fa'diel continues on."
Elazul studied her for a moment. "...We'll do as you ask, Wisdoms." The girl flickered and faded, the look of relief on her face the last thing they saw. Sierra cast a glance Elazul's direction. "So how do we break the dragons out?"
Elazul drew his sword. "The old fashioned way, I suppose."
"Hey, wait!" Sierra cried as her companion swung his sword viciously. The sword rebounded, flying from his hands, and the stone remained untouched. Elazul grit his teeth and shook his hands. "Ow," he said.
"I could've told you that wouldn't...work..." she trailed off when he retrieved his sword, and lifted it into a fighting stance. Rolling her eyes, she took a few steps away. He could beat on something like that all day, but it would never crack. It was mystical, imbued with a force beyond normal human-
His core shined brightly, illuminating the Garden of Icicle Flowers, pushing back the darkness. His sword shined with a different light -the light of the Wisdom's power- and the second crystal dimmed in comparison. He brought his sword around a second time, and cleaved it in two. The sword shattered in his grip, and he vainly flung an arm up to block the shards.
Sierra rushed to his side and checked his face and hands for injury. "Are you okay?"
His response was drowned out by a mighty roar, and the sound of glass shattering.
Elleira shook herself free of Cervantes, and started for the end of the hall, directly towards the sounds of battle. "You can not continue playing at being a hero," he shouted after her, the words bringing her to a halt. She kept her back to him, unable to believe what she'd heard.
Cervantes strode past her while drawing his sword, and continued onwards. "You have to go to your friends, and fight. Those red lines are words. That fortress is the center of an elaborate spell, but what it is meant to do..." He shrugged uncomfortably. "You have a difficult battle ahead, and I do not envy it. But it will not be made easier by you charging into this fight here."
"Shut up! You don't think I know that!" she snapped. "Quit acting so damn superior, and go back to wherever you came from!"
For a moment, he said nothing. Then he turned towards her, eyes hidden behind the brim of his hat. "I have a feeling that you'll learn the answer to the questions you're asking if you go. But if you stay here, the world may very well end." He tipped his hat, and headed off.
"Wha...hey..." she reached out after him, stunned speechless. Another loud crashed resounded through the hallway, and the priest broke into a run, leaping out into the great hall and into the battle. Elleira looked out the nearest window, peering at the fortress, and at the scarlet tracing lines across the sky. They did kind of look like words...
With a hiss of frustration, she turned her back on the battle before her, and set off for the jungle.
"Where is she!" Kana shrieked, flexing her power over the mercenaries, forcing them to rise again, and fling themselves at Kathinja, who swept her gaze over them lazily. They slowly began turning to stone; first the tips of the fingers grasping for her, then the arms and legs, slowing them further. They were nearly comical in their attempts to continue forward in spite of their useless limbs. But Kathinja was wearing down, and had no time to consider it from that angle.
She fell back behind one of the statues, glancing to Mephianse for help. He was still trying to force an arrow wound to close, and it was resisting his efforts. The necromantic powers present made even rudimentary healing difficult, and his wound was hardly minor.
Kana snarled furiously, and took a step back -onto the outstretched hand of the Deathbringer. He lifted her to his shoulder, where she sat regally, surveying the school. "I can wait all day. You think time works for you? Every day that passes, you get closer to death, and my power over you grows even more. All I want is the girl, but if I have to torture you to death a thousand times-"
Cervantes burst through the doors of the school, sword drawn. He spared the teachers little more then a glance as he passed them, placing himself in the center of the square, between Kana and the school.
"...Did you hear nothing I said?" Kana asked, her voice soft. "You send an old man to duel a necromancer? I could stop his heart from Polpota!"
The priest lifted his sword in salute, and then launched his attack. His speed caught her off guard, but the Deathbringer brought his fist down on the stone, punching a hole four feet deep. Cervantes staggered back, then leapt to one side as the monster ripped his hand free, splitting a chasm of rock all the way to the entrance of the school.
Cervantes rolled to his feet with one hand raised. Kana called forth her power, flinging both hands outwards towards him, but it did nothing except ruffle his coat. Her eyes widened in fear, uncomprehending. "What are you!"
"A death dealer, much like yourself. But unlike you," he said as he carefully adjusted his hat, "I serve something greater then petty mortal concerns."
"Petty? Petty!" As Kana's anger peaked, the fallen mercenaries raised without even a gesture on her part. "My brother is dead! Dead because of that whore! You think my revenge is petty! Your lives are nothing compared to his! I'll destroy every last speck of life that stands between me and that girl! I'll bring Hell to this entire world, just for her!"
Cervantes shrugged. "Sounds like her life is pretty important to you."
Kana was taken aback for a moment, then she struck the Deathbringer's head. "Kill him! Destroy him! Annihilate him!"
The Deathbringer leapt forward, his speed impossible for his size, and his fist sliced through the open air. The priest threw himself down, dragging his sword along the monster's arm as he tried to get close, but the Deathbringer swatted him with his other hand, sending him flying.
Cervantes landed in a pile, separated from his sword, barely able to move. Kana was still howling for his blood, and the Deathrbinger was closing on him. He raised one hand, breaking the laws his God had set down for what seemd like the thousandth time since he reached Fa'diel.
"Firaga!"
Fireballs streaked from his hand, enveloping the Deathbringer's outstretched arm, and it reared back in agony, flinging a shrieking Kana from his shoulder. Cervantes felt the blood pounding in his ears, knowing that soon he would be unconscious, and not only from breaking natural law. The Deathbringer had hurt him more then he'd expected.
Forcing himself to his feet, he ran towards the beast, grabbing his sword from the ground and calling forth another spell. The Deathbringer roared in pain and fury, rushing to meet him, never expectinmg the priest to stop and sweep his sword while still several feet away.
"Aurora! Exhale Bloody Air!" The blade crackled with unnatural power and light as he swept it through the air. "DARK HOLY!"
Blackness met the Deathbringer, unholy power pouring over him, shredding his armor, his undead flesh, and the last vestiges of his soul. The demonic power burned him from existence, leaving only a scorh mark on the stone where he'd stood. Cervantes fell, unconscious, blood pouring from his ears and nose, his strength spent.
Kana stumbled forward, clutching her right arm, which now hung useless and at an angle, eyes locked on Cervantes with all-consuming hatred. "You...you were the one...at the camp. You attacked my brother...Weakened him, before that girl even appeared."
She glanced back towards the school briefly, then turned towards him with a mad smile. "I suppose...I'll have to settle for ripping the life from you."
Arms closed around her, and she stiffened in pain and surprise. Thesenis held her as gently as she could, resting her head against the necromancer's neck. Kana struggled, but her arm sent pain through her body that took her breath away, and all she could manage was a helpless squeak.
Kathinja and Mephianse got up together, the teacher supporting the principal with her shoulder. They watched intently as Thesenis held the woman who'd tried to destroy them.
"No! LET! ME! GO!" Kana cried, still unable to pull away. She gasped, breathless with pain.
Thesenis shook her head, and whispered one word. "Hush."
Kana collapsed, her strength gone, the struggle gone from her. Thesenis knelt with her, keeping her from hurting herself in the fall. She sobbed uncontrollably in the teacher's arms, and Thesenis merely held her, not saying another word.