Chapter Twenty-One

The Sepulcra Mountains

It took them ten hours to reach Godric's Hollow. It was midday when they arrived, the hooves of the horses the only sound they could hear as they stopped at the top of a large hill.

"Here we are," Shizukana said, surveying the area. "The Sepulcra Mountains."

They could smell salt and hear rushing waves of the water beneath them; a light, chilly breeze ruffled their hair as they looked out at the river below them before they all looked ahead. Towering mountains, all of it consisting with a high and barren landscape, stood in front of them, black and faceless, immensely tall and jagged. A few large chunks of steep and sharp rocks, such as the one upon in which the Death Court knew the tombs laid in, looked as though they had broken away from the cliff at some point in the past. It was a bleak, harsh view, though the mountains and the river were surrounded by many trees and yellow-green grass.

"Let us waste no more time, then," said Austerus, beckoning his horse forward, the others following suit. They rode across the numerous patches of land, went through the forest, and passed the small village of Godric's Hollow, until they stopped at the bottom of the mountains, which, if possible, seemed to look more larger up close.

"We'll need to be careful," said Satsujin, the five of them dismounting from their horses. "They look really steep."

"Not to mention the steps look like they can break at any moment," said Tsukuru. "It might even take us an hour or two to get up there, depending on how fast we're able to do this."

"What about them?" asked Shiruetto, pointing at the horses, who began to rest and eat the grass. "Do we just leave them here or . . . ?"

"I do not think anyone would see them," Austerus said, giving the animals a scrutinized look. "They will simply wait for us here until we return from the tombs."

"We've forgotten that some people have already done this before," said Tsukuru, looking around for a path in which they could use to reach the tombs.

Austerus felt his hand clutch the Elder Wand for a second, but instantly let go. At least this came with more purpose than what others had previously tried to do.

"Come, then," he said, beginning to walk towards a small hill that was connected to the mountains, the rest of the Death Court following close behind. "We have to hurry."

"When you said these were steep, Satsujin," said Shizukana, moving slowly with his back pressed up against the jagged stone, "you weren't lying."

"At least no accidents have happened yet," Shiruetto said, gripping his cane tightly, "though I'm kind of concerned on how we're going to get back down once we're finished."

"We'll just find another way down," replied Satsujin, moving along the steps as carefully as possible. "Besides, I doubt it'll be that difficult."

"Not as difficult as what we are currently doing," said Austerus, trying to grab sharp edges of stone to keep himself steady. "Let us hope nothing terrible has happened yet."

"We can only hope," mumbled Tsukuru, glancing down at the land below.

For the next thirty minutes, they carefully made their way up the precarious stone steps, using anything they could find to balance themselves. As Austerus was the first one who reached the tombs, the last step suddenly crumbled under his foot and he fell forwards. The others panicked, but, thankfully, they were at the top by now, and Austerus managed to not fall, the others sighing in relief.

Austerus rested against the wall, taking time to study the strangeness of the iron bars they had seen in the time they started going up the mountains. He quickly and carefully moved around them, taking care not to look down, Shiruetto, Shizukana, Satsujin, and Tsukuru following close behind.

"Wait out here," said Austerus, looking into the darkness. "Do not come in until I say so."

The others nodded.

Just as he walked in through the door, he slipped forward. He started sliding down the dark hallway, finding nothing to stop himself until he reached the bottom. He was then greeted with the sight of a dark pit that seemed to go on forever. He quickly stepped back to the wall and took a deep breathe.

"Lumos Maxima," he said, and the tip of the Eder Wand ignited brighter than ever. He held the wand out . . . and saw the opened doorway across the room, the iron bars that were meant to be across the opening bent outwards, looking like they could break any second. Austerus slowly shuffled across the floor, slipping close to the bottom, and crouching to lean into the corner.

"Be careful when you enter," he called out, seeing the others' silhouettes as they all appeared in front of the cracked door. Shiruetto, Shizukana, Satsujin, and Tsukuru came into the hallway, making sure not to slip and fall into the pit, quickly joining Austerus once they were all inside.

As the five of them entered, they found what they feared — a heavy, stone lid, broken and crumbled, over a stone coffin. He peered inside, making sure not to move anything, and stopped, seeing something gleaming in the wake of his wand: a gleaming silver sword that was encrusted with rubies, the name Godric Gryffindor engraved just below the hilt.

"Anything in there besides a dead body?" said Shiruetto, the crystal orb of his cane glowing as well, adding additional light to the darkened tombs.

"There is," replied Austerus, turning to look at them.

Waving his wand, Austerus carefully moved the stone lid to the edge of the coffin, with Shizukana and Satsujin going on one side, making sure to avoid stepping on anything that was decayed, and Tsukuru and Shiruetto making sure the lid didn't crack as it fell to the floor.

"Just a question, but have you done this before, Austerus?" asked Satsujin, inspecting the iron bars.

"Unfortunately, yes," said Austerus, all of them peering into the coffin again. The skeleton looked like it had gone to waste over the past few centuries; the skull was cracked in half, the empty eye sockets were matted with dirt, and one, spindly hand clutched the sword, the bones appearing ghastly in the light from his wand and Shiruetto's cane.

"Well," said Tsukuru, looking revolted, "now I can see why what you saw when you acquired that wand."

The others nodded in agreement.

Reaching into the coffin, Austerus grabbed the sword and, with a single tug, pulled the sword out, though a now-detached hand came with it in the process. Though they slightly recoiled, Shiruetto reached forward and unattached the hand, quickly throwing it back inside the tomb.

"Alright, we're done. Let's go," said Shizukana, walking towards the entrance that led to the never-ending dark pit. The others followed, Austerus clutching the sword tightly in his hand.

"You know, you often have to wonder what dark spells lie here, if these tombs were filled with hate and what they brought into the world," said Satsujin, "and it looks like we're not the first ones to make it," he added, pointing at the wall above them.

Looking up, they saw unknown carvings on the wall, possibly made from a scalp. With the light of the Elder Wand and Shiruetto's crystal orb, they were able to see what they said, which were revealed to be thirteen names.

Alberta Toothill (1391-1483)

Antioch Peverell (1214–prior 1292)

Bridget Wenlock (1202–1285)

Cadmus Peverell (prior 1214–prior 1292)

Chauncey Oldridge (1342–1379)

Cornelius Agrippa (1486–1535)

Cyprian Youdle (1312–1357)

Godric Gryffindor

Helga Hufflepuff

Rowena Ravenclaw

Salazar Slytherin

Ignatia Wildsmith (1227–1320)

Ignotus Peverell (1214–1292)

Austerus immediately knew what dangers they were dealing with now, and judging from the others' expressions, they realized it as well.

"These are the witches and wizards who lived during the Middle Ages," he explained, moving along the hallway. "Whoever carved their names must have been the only one to ever be inside these tombs."

"But these tombs are just nothing now," said Tsukuru, looking back at the tomb from where Austerus had gotten the sword. "They're just old and full of decaying bodies. Are they even remembered?"

Austerus was now standing in the middle of the heightened hallway, his wand held high as he turned slowly on the spot, examining the walls, the iron bars, and the ceiling.

"It has been centuries since they were buried," he said, black eyes moving towards the edge of the pit. "Even if they were remembered, their names would have been forgotten by now. They're now simply known as mere human beings. And this was the correct place," he said, looking at them.

"How can you tell now?" Satsujin said, his voice sounding slightly whisper-like.

"It has known magic," said Austerus in his low voice.

The others couldn't tell whether the shivers they were experiencing were due to the spine-chilling coldness of the area or from what Austerus had said. The four watched as he continued to revolve on the edge of the steps, evidently concentrating on something they couldn't see. But as Austerus moved his wand in front of him, the tip igniting the pit below them, they saw what he had been trying to inspect.

"Thirteen souls of the Middle Ages," he said, and they saw, in the wake of the wand's light, twelve more tombs that also had broken iron bars, as well as, from what they could see, the stone lids opened and cracked, half of the steps missing, the others covered in bits of rocks and dust. "Thirteen souls . . . for one curse." Pointing his wand below into the pit, he then said, "Accio Locket."

There was a clang and the rattle of a chain as something flew up towards towards Austerus, his left hand outstretched. Before the other members could even process what just happened, they saw that Austerus was now holding, along with the sword, a relatively small octagon silver locket, which had a golden, glass-like front in which an S was embedded within it with green jewels.

Pocketing the locket, Austerus jerked his head and swept out toward the entrance. Getting the message, the others followed, glancing down one last time at the ruined tombs.

"But why now, of all times?" said Shizukana as the five of them went down the mountain, stopping to rest near a vast black lake. "It could've done it before at any other time."

"It doesn't matter now," said Shiruetto, propping his cane on a rock and leaning against a tree. "Those souls now belong to that curse. They'll answer to them, and only them."

"But something like that can't summon such evil," Satsujin said, standing at the edge of the lake. "It's not even a human, just an entity."

"And who said it was ever meant to be a human," said Austerus, turning to look at the landscape that seemed to go on forever. "As Shiruetto said, the souls now answer to one master — a master of necromancy. It is now growing stronger."

"And I think I know where we need to go," said Tsukuru, taking out and opening the heavy, leather-bound book.

"You brought that with you?" asked Satsujin, a note of amusement in his voice.

"I thought we might need it," replied Tsukuru, flipping through the pages. "Come on, I know I saw it somewhere in here . . . Here it is," he said, turning the book around to show them a page (one with information, the other with a sketched drawing) titled The Inmortuae Fortress.

"'The Inmortuae Fortress'?" read Shizukana. "Are you sure that's the safest option to go to? From what me and Satsujin have heard, that place had been abandoned for centuries."

"Which is why is this curse would end up using it," said Shiruetto, looking at the sketch over Shizukana's shoulder. "A place like that isn't going to interest anyone anymore, after all."

Turning the book around, Tsukuru began to read, the others listening intently.

"'The Inmortuae Fortress (Latin: undead, and also referred to as 'The Fortress of Necromancy') was the stronghold in the Vetitum Woods, before it fell into despair, and as years passed, the location became forgotten by the few who knew of its existence. It was first discovered as 'the dungeons of a Necromancer' by unknown forces. The hill itself, rocky and barren, was the highest point in the southwestern part of the Vetitum Woods, which is located near the West Country of England.'"

"How very convenient," said Austerus; he was the only one who hadn't even bothered looking at the book and the information about the Inmortuae Fortress, instead standing near the lake. "He is currently summoning them to this fortress, and we were too late; they have reached the mountains before us." He glanced at them over his shoulder, his black eyes narrowed. "We are being hunted. We need to take action. Do you two know the location of these woods?" he asked, turning to Shizukana and Satsujin.

Both of them nodded, looking slightly apprehensive.

"Have you two been there before?" asked Shiruetto curiously, the five of them setting off towards where the horses were.

"We've only ever made it to the front of the fortress," responded Shizukana, "but we never tried to enter."

"Why not?" inquired Tsukuru.

"Those who entered were never seen again," said Satsujin in a solemn voice. "We can only wonder what else we'll encounter if we manage to survive."

Their cloaks swished and billowed as Austerus, Shiruetto, Tsukuru, Shizukana, and Satsujin left the Sepulcra Mountains and started the journey to the Vetitum Woods.

The Death Court approached the Vetitum Woods from the west so that they might use the Old Road (a pathway that appeared to those most in need). Upon seeing the forest up close, Austerus could see that Shizukana's and Satsujin's reports of what the unknown forces had done to the Vetitum Woods were true. The woods were very dark, and the trees weren't entirely healthy. As they traveled deeper and deeper into the forest, they saw that the trees were draped with numerous giant spider webs. As they came ever nearer to the Inmortuae Fortress, they came under the dark clouds that had come from the abandoned fortress.

As they were riding, Shiruetto noticed that the sword of Gryffindor was in a sheath that Austerus had now hung at his side.

"I didn't know that you were much of a swordsman, Austerus," said Shiruetto, sounding interested.

"I have used swords on occasion in the past," said Austerus, "but this sword is one that I would like to keep with me. This is, after all, the sword of Godric Gryffindor, as you may have known by the names in the tombs. I, however, took the liberty of expunging his name from the sword. It is no longer his, after all."

"How did you ever know it would be there?" asked Shizukana, him and Satsujin leading them to the Inmortuae Fortress. "That sword was lost when he died thousands of years ago."

"The sword would not stay in the Sorting Hat, as those who have had it believed that the Hat is where it will come from; instead, it would only appear to a true Gryffindor when in need. Where did you think it disappeared to when the deed it was needed for was done?"

"We don't know," admitted Tsukuru, "but it seems logical that it would come back to the owner who last owned it, even if they are dead."

"And, like you said, Austerus, he's been dead for thousands of years already. Would people still need it?"

"Hardly," said Austerus, moving his greasy hair back from his sallow-skinned face. "There are means many can use to still protect themselves."

"Can I have a look at it?" asked Shiruetto.

Keeping one hand on the reins, Austerus removed the sword from its scabbard and handed it to Shiruetto, who was the closest one riding next to him.

"Beautiful," said the Voodoo witch doctor. "The construction is still solid as can be, and there's not any hint of rust on it."

"And it's still sharp as ever," said Austerus. "Perfect for killing your enemies."

Shiruetto swung the sword at a thick tree branch as they passed by a gnarly tree. The sword cleaved through the the branch with ease.

"Still sharp after all those millennia," said Shiruetto as he handed the sword back to Austerus after the others had held it as well. "Powerful magic keeps it unharmed. Magic stronger than the kind Dark witches and wizards associate themselves with."

"It has aided people greatly during the Second Wizarding War," said Austerus. "Many creatures, along with a few Horcruxes, have met their end by this sword," he said, putting the weapon back in its scabbard.

"Now is the time to really put it to the test," said Shiruetto. "We'll see if it can handle whatever defenses that curse has waiting for us."

At last, they came upon the Inmortuae Fortress. It was a huge, decaying castle on top of a hill, being on the opposite side of a deep dark ravine across from where the Death Court stood, and the ravine was spanned by a great stone bridge. Though much of the fortress was old and decrepit, multiple towers and the walls had been strengthened. The tallest tower marked the main keep, and it was heavily fortified, a gate of iron barring the entrance. The Death Court could see nothing moving on the battlements or in the spaces of the towers, and all was silent under the darkness of the clouds. They stayed behind the tree line to hide from any eyes that might have been watching from the fortress.

"You two have been here before," said Tsukuru, looking at Shizukana and Satsujin as they dismounted from their horses. "Were there any dangers that you saw?"

"When we last came here," said Satsujin, "there were no signs of any life. The entire place was in ruins. Now, those walls and towers look much stronger compared to the rest of the fortress. Do you think they expected us to come?"

"They knew we would in the end," said Shizukana. "I don't see any other way on how that curse could have known, but there's no other reason for the fortress to have newly strengthened defenses."

"There are thirteen souls and their master currently waiting for us," said Austerus. "They are most likely waiting in the towers and on the battlements. I know not what lies behind the walls, but whatever it is, it will battle until the end."

"How are we going to get in?" asked Shiruetto. "I don't know if we'll be able to get that gate open before we're all killed."

"I will figure it out," said Austerus. "As the head of the Death Court, I believe in leading by strategy. Let me see what I have in mind."

Austerus looked at the Inmortuae Fortress, trying to formulate an approach. Shiruetto was right. There was no way that they would be able to break down the gate with their enemies using their weapons against them.

"This is what we are going to do," he said, speaking in a low whisper. "Tsukuru, I will need you to make sure that I don't get attacked while I remove the obstacles. Shiruetto, while I do my task, you will help Shizukana and Satsujin across the bridge and break down the gate. Am I clear?"

The rest nodded in understanding.

"Then let us release our wrath upon them," said Austerus.

He stepped out from the trees, and Tsukuru stood in front of him while Shizukana and Satsujin followed Shiruetto across the bridge. Suddenly, a storm of arrows flew from the towers and battlements, but Austerus and Shiruetto conjured spherical shields of light that deflected the arrows. Tsukuru, protected behind the shield, activated the Feng Shui Engine, his left eye now shining a bright red. By the power of the miniaturized eye, the curse's own clouds of darkness were turned against them. It began to rain, and numerous bolts of lightning struck the towers and battlements. The fortifications were all destroyed in a shower of sparks, and the wooden support structures were set ablaze, stones falling from the towers and curtain walls as they were toppled, and the unknown brings were blasted down into the ravine below, their bodies now lifeless.

Once the attackers were no more, Austerus and Tsukuru strode across the stone bridge below which the ravine was now flooded with rain. The other three were at work, each trying to break down the gate. Together, the five of them struck with their powers, and the gate crumpled before them.

When they entered the old stone courtyard of the Inmortuae Fortress, they saw before them a host of mist-looking monsters, all of them lightly armed and armored. The monsters charged, hoping to win through overwhelming numbers, but they were next to nothing when facing the Death Court. Tsukuru struck with his long knife, using the Feng Shui Engine behind his strikes. Austerus turned into a whirlwind of violence, using both the magic of his wand as well as Gryffindor's sword, which sliced through the monsters with ease. Shizukana showed unexpected combat skills, holding his own using his magic just as well as his companions, lifting the monsters into the air and evaporating them, as well as using his telekinetic powers. Shiruetto held his own as well, using the magic of his cane to burn the monsters, killing them slowly and painfully, while Satsujin showcased his legendary skill as the best swordsman of the entire Death Court, taking on as many as a dozen monsters at once with his own sword, never once faltering.

In a matter of minutes, all the monsters in the courtyard were disposed of, and the only sound that could be heard was the harsh rain against the stone of the fortress, dampening their hair and clothing.

"What now?" asked Satsujin. "Surely that's not everything that curse has."

"You're right," said Austerus. "It is not. We must explore the castle further. Be on your guard. We do not know what may be lying in wait."

They proceeded forward from the courtyard to go deeper into the fortress, which was a maze of ruined corridors with collapsed ceilings that all lead between various disused rooms and crumbling towers. They found that all of the fortress surrounding the central keep was clear of any enemies. However, the keep itself seemed to have no doors leading into it. This greatly angered Austerus, as he had been waiting a long time for this moment, only to find himself unable to find a way into the curse's final retreat.

"It is in there," said Austerus, stepping forward. "I know it is. The coward has locked themselves up high in the highest tower. They are mocking me right now, with my search almost at its end."

"Don't let your vengeance and bloodlust get the better of you, Austerus," said Shizukana. "Besides, I noticed a trapdoor in one of the towers. I think we need to go down in order to go up to the keep."

Shizukana led the way back to the tower where the trapdoor was. The roof was entirely gone, exposing the trapdoor to the rain. Shizukana opened it, revealing a stairway that led down into the foundations of the fortress. Austerus led the way, using his wand to light up the darkness. Following him was Shiruetto (who's cane once again added additional light), and last came Shizukana, Satsujin, and Tsukuru, who left the trapdoor open in case they needed to make a quick escape.

The stairway led to what remained of an armory. There were many racks of all manner of old, rusted iron weapons and armor, and the room was littered with spider webs, and along the walls were multiple doorways leading into unfamiliar areas.

"We'll each take a different path," said Austerus. "Find the one that leads up to the keep."

The five split up and went through separate doorways. Austerus slowly made his way down the corridor that he had chosen, not wanting to run directly into something that might try to kill him. He held up his wand, casting Lumos Maxima again, using the white source to illuminate the dark passage. He reached the end of the hallway, and, upon reaching the end, saw that there was a spiral staircase draped with more spider webs that led down to an unknown sight. That was the opposite direction he wanted to go, so he made his way back to the armory where the rest of the Death Court had returned from inspecting their respective passageways.

"I found the way into the keep," said Tsukuru. "It's up the stairway at the end of this passage."

Tsukuru went into the passage, followed by Austerus and Shizukana, who in turn were followed by Satsujin and Shiruetto. However, the last two had barely left the armory when they heard a strange sound. It was the sound of many creatures hissing. They looked back and saw, out of the darkness, many large Acromantulas emerging from the other passageways.

"Satsujin and I can handle this," said Austerus, clutching the sword tightly.

"We'll go on ahead and find the curse," said Shiruetto, looking towards the end of the passageway.

"Weaken it if you can," commanded Austerus, "but be sure to leave the killing blow for my hand."

Shiruetto, Tsukuru, and Shizukana looked at Austerus questionably after his command, but they pressed on nonetheless. Austerus and Satsujin stayed in the armory to face the Acromantulas. They kept the foul creatures at length with their weapons, attacking with strikes and spells to try to avoid getting bitten. As Austerus sent Reductor Curses at the venomous spiders, Satsujin noticed a lantern on the ground next to him, and he kicked it at the spiders. The lantern shattered, dowsing the spiders in oil. Austerus then casted Incendio, which ignited the oil, and the spiders were engulfed in flames. While the spiders crawled about in a frenzy of pain, Austerus used the Reductor Curse again, making stone pillars fall on top of the spiders, killing them instantly.

With the Acromantulas now taken care of, Austerus and Satsujin ran down the passage that their companions had taken. At the end of the passage, they found a spiral staircase leading upwards. They ran up the stairs, ignoring the doorways on the ascending levels until they reached an iron door at the top. They went through the door, and before them was a set of stairs that led further to the pinnacle of the fortress, the roof now destroyed by the lightning.

As soon as the door was shut, Austerus and Satsujin looked up at the top of the keep and saw Shizukana hurtling down the stairs, looking as though he had been thrown, his clothes looking a bit shredded.

"We're having some trouble weakening them," wheezed Shizukana, gripping his side, which was bleeding profusely. He attempted to get up, but was in too much pain to do so.

"Take care of Shizukana, Satsujin," said Austerus, walking past them, his black cloak billowing in the wind.

"We have go with you, though," said Satsujin, helping Shizukana stand up and supporting him. "You'll need all the help you can get."

"This is why I am here," said Austerus. "This is something that I have to do alone."

Looking up to the top of the stairs, he could tell that an intense fight was taking place.

"So, here you are, then," Austerus with a sneer, his eyes narrowed. "Oh, you are such a fool. You will elude me no more."

Austerus walked up the stairs in the midst of the rain and thunder. At the top, the very peak of the Inmortuae Fortress, was his enemy.

The curse was surrounded by an aura of black mist. They had a definite human-shaped physical form seemingly made of a solid version of the black mist, and their face was blank and featureless. Between the curse and Austerus were Shiruetto and Tsukuru. The curse was attacking them with a torrent of flowing black mist. Shiruetto was kneeling down and defending him and Tsukuru with a magical shield, while Tsukuru stood behind the Voodoo showman and attacked with the Feng Shui Engine, trying to pierce through the curse's darkness.

Seeing that Shiruetto's shield was going to fail before Tsukuru could do any damage, Austerus hurriedly swept them both aside with a wave of his wand. Now, it was just as Austerus wanted. Just him and the curse. He stepped towards his enemy.

"I have hunted you," he said, sending the curse a death glare. "And now, finally, you will truly feel death!"

The curse spoke. Their voice was distorted, not sounding compelling in the slightest. It was the sound of all of its evil fully revealed, the voice of evil itself.

"We shall see."

The curse unleashed a stream of black mist upon Austerus, but the skillful wizard conjured a shield that expanded until it reached the curse, putting a stop to the attack. Austerus stepped forward with one thought in his mind: vengeance.

He waved his wand forward, and a stream of blazing fire was unleashed upon the curse, which completely dissolved the mists of darkness that surrounded the curse. Even after Austerus ceased the stream of fire, he did not hesitate in smiting the entity with his wand again. The curse's hands began to glow red, but Austerus struck him down before it could make use of the flames. Though the curse's body was somewhat abstract and far from complete, they felt the full force of the wizard's blows and yelled in pain. Austerus hit him with a Stunning Spell and a Reductor Curse, and the curse was thrown to the floor, it's body seeming to look transparent and mist-like, much like the creatures they had fought in the courtyard.

"At long last, you will be nothing!"

"How noble of you to fight me at my weakest," said the distorted, weakened voice. "Your fool of a lover would be proud of you displaying such honor on his behalf."

Austerus retaliated the cold remark with a stab to the entity's chest, which emitted a piercing white glow, and the curse screamed in pain. Austerus then brought his wand and the sword upon the curse with all his might. The floor gave way, and the mist-like body fell into the room below. Austerus jumped down into the room and continued to savagely stab the curse with both his wand and the sword, proceeding to blast his enemy across the room, breaking holes in the walls, sending dust everywhere.

Eventually, one of his spells threw the curse over to the stairs that they used to climb the tower. That was when the entity realized their peril. Knowing that they couldn't stand against the power and rage of Austerus, let alone the wizard with the Death Court at his side, they fled down the stairs, half running and half floating. Austerus gave chase, followed closely by the others. They pursued the curse down to the armory, and the curse went up the stairs and out the trapdoor.

As they followed the curse out of the trapdoor, Austerus realized that it was going to try and abandon the fortress.

"Take an alternate path to the entrance," he ordered. "Make sure he does not escape."

"But isn't this exactly what we're here for?" asked Tsukuru. "To drive him away from the fortress?"

"Just do it!" said Austerus, continuing to run after the curse, and the members of the Death Court did as he said.

They each took a different path back to the stone bridge. Just as the entity was about to reach the remains of the iron gate, Shiruetto and Shizukana stood there, barring the way. Austerus, Satsujin, and Tsukuru came up behind the curse to prevent them from going back into the depths of the Inmortuae Fortress. The curse looked around and saw that they were surrounded. Now, their aura of black mist was made anew. They released a stream of darkness laced with red fire upon Austerus, but the nonverbal Shield Charm that was casted was too strong. Together, all the members of the Death Court unleashed powerful spells of light upon the curse.

However, the curse, however weak it may have been, wasn't willing to let the last of their power be destroyed. They disincarnated, dissolving their physical body and allowing their spirit to escape to a place that the Death Court did not know existed.

Austerus looked on in rage as the spirit escaped. He had spent numerous days hunting for it, and when he finally had a chance to take his revenge, it escaped. He leaned on the sword, trying to cope with his hopes of destroying the curse. Shiruetto walked over to him and put his hand on the wizard's shoulder, though a bit hesitant, knowing that Austerus didn't like to be touched, even by those closest to him.

"We still have a chance," he said in a reassuring way. "Now that they've been forced into the open, they will no choice but to reveal themselves once again."

"Yes," said Austerus. "You're right. They will declare themselves openly soon. And when they do, I will have war against them. Our work here is done," he said, putting the sword back in its scabbard. "I need to get back to Aoyama as quickly as possible. I know that he will be in great danger if I am too late."

"Go," said Satsujin. "Do what you have to do. The rest of us will see you soon."

Nodding, Austerus went across the bridge away from the Inmortuae Fortress to go back to the training camp, leaving the rest of the Death Court to plan their next move.

They will not hide for long, he thought, riding away from the fortress. When they reappear, they will make war, the last war. And what a war it will be. We will have our victory, and their fall will be so victorious that they will be reduced to nothing but an insignificant spirit, and it will forever live in agony, and the sorrow of the events that will occur will be avenged.