:P To add a little happiness after that mess on the server lmao.
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OO OO OO OO
"Who's your father?" Seth asked the blond man.
He raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, his lips curling up.
"Why, Celebrant of course. I am Tamryn, his eldest. Now then, lay down your swords so we may return you to your cell."
"If I set them down, how will I use them to kill you?" Seth asked politely.
Tamryn laughed, flashing Seth a gleaming white, too sharp smile.
"You seem to misunderstand your predicament," he crooned. "You may lay down your swords and be brought back peacefully and unharmed. Or, if you so desire, we can bring you back by force, alive or dead."
"I take it you guys are dragons," Seth muttered.
Tamryn's smile grew, "Well?"
Seth glanced behind him to be sure that no one was sneaking up on him.
"Is that the offer you made to Sang Rou?"
Tamryn's silvery eyes narrowed, "The gamekeeper? The coward died as he lived, screaming. Though his screams were far more pleasant for me in his death. Would you like to join him?"
Seth leaned back, he wondered what Tamryn meant about the gamekeeper.
"You just want me to give up my advantage."
Tamryn shook his head, his soft looking ponytail swaying as a faint smile made its way back onto his lips. Seth imagined he was what people called "unfairly pretty".
"If you would rather die in combat, I will oblige. But I offer mercy one last time."
Seth considered them for a moment.
If he surrendered, he could sit out the war. It wouldn't be his fault… but he would die anyways. He wondered if it was worth it.
He remembered Kendra trying to get him to listen when he lost his memories. Her face as he cut the harp strings.
He couldn't just vanish.
"Sorry, but that's not an option," he said firmly. "Move out of my way and I'll spare you."
Tamryn raised an eyebrow, silver eyes intent.
"Is that so? Well, you are currently alone, friendless, and in the halls with four enemies. Any on of us would alone be more than enough, but four? And even should you escape us, there are dozens of harpies outside along with a host of other loyal guardians of all nature. Not even mentioning the many more dragons guarding the skies. And you wish to fight us still?"
Seth raised his chin and his swords, "If I must."
"Have you any notion of whom you are addressing so callously?" Snapped the man beside Tamryn.
He was broader than Tamryn, his muscles bigger, and he held a heavy spear.
Seth blinked at him, "I believe he said his name was Tamryn."
The man bristled, "He is the master of this sanctuary! Firstborn of Celebrant! Heir to his crown!"
Seth blinked slowly, his swords raised and steady.
"I thought the crown had to be won. Not passed down."
"It depends on how the old ruler steps down," Tamryn corrected in a lilting tone. "It has been passed down before but is usually won. I would merely have to defend my position in the case of it being handed to me."
Seth supposed that made sense, he didn't know much about dragon politics.
"Well, that sounds great. You should go talk to your dad about the ceremony. I'll get out of your way."
Tamryn chuckled, "You really are determined to defy us. I would rather my father return to you in your cell, but if I must display your dead body—" his eyes flashed, too bright, seeing too much "—I will."
Seth steadied himself. "And where is your dad?"
Tamryn shook his head once more, Seth thought his hair looked a bit like spun gold in the light of Vasilis.
"He is finishing our war."
"And he left you behind?"
Tamryn laughed softly, "You truly are desperate to try and make me doubt my Father. I am here to guard our prisoners and hold a base of operations. When I am needed, he will call for me. Now, this is your last chance. Surrender or prepare yourself."
Seth held out the Unforgiving Blade, "Come try me, just you."
Tamryn laughed once more, the sound unfairly musical, his hand on his hilt.
"You think I must honor such a demand? I lose nothing by not, you are here because we have captured you once."
"You should be afraid," Seth warned. "I can show you how I made Velrog beg for death."
Tamryn smiled, seeming amused by Seth's statement.
"Such a big claim from one so small. Do not worry, we respect your… might in battle. Hilzog will battle you personally."
"I don't know a Hilzog, but Velrog certainly seemed mighty… or well, I suppose he wasn't when he was begging me to kill him after just one strike of my blade in the dragon temple at Titan Valley."
Tamryn frowned, his expression growing serious for the first time.
"I will not have such slander in my land," he said firmly.
Seth blinked. Tamryn had the parental "I'm not happy with you" voice down pat. Did he have kids? Maybe it was being the older sibling? Kendra had that voice too.
"It's not slander if it's the truth," Seth said with his best confident smile.
"Hilzog," Tamryn murmured, waving towards Seth with a flourish. "Dispose of him."
The man beside Tamryn tensed, his shaved head tilting down.
"It's okay," Seth assured. "I'll kill you cleanly."
Hilzog scowled and with a cry, charged.
"Behind you," Calvin warned.
He threw a glance over his shoulder to see the woman dashing towards him from behind, sword glittering.
Seth wouldn't be able to handle both on his own, but Vasilis sang in his grasp and he knew that it could handle them.
He yielded to the sword and flowed forward, his wings giving him a boost in speed and allowing him to reach Hilzog first. The spear thrust towards him and he twisted, it grazed across his ribs, cutting a neat gash in his shirt. Hilzog's shoulder lowered but Vasilis yanked Seth sideways and in a glittering arc the blade slid down Hilzog's arm.
Hilzog twisted in time to avoid serious injury, but he cursed softly as he staggered, blood pooling between the fingers covering the injury.
Seth whipped around as Vasilis thrummed, using the blade to block the flash of steel aimed at him. He flicked the Unforgiving Blade around and sliced neatly through the blade.
She stumbled back, blinking at the hilt in her hand, and he lunged with Vasilis.
A ringing clash of steel slithering over another blade echoed as Tamryn's blade intercepted.
Seth leapt back, his wings flaring and he stiffened them with a bare thought as he was forced to turn his back on the enemy behind him entirely.
Tamryn tilted his head, long hair swaying as he studied Seth. He stood easily, blade held in a loose grip that seemed comfortable, experienced.
"Arrow-"
A ping echoed off his wings.
"He's got a crossbow," Calvin warned.
Seth glanced at the woman, drawing a knife, and the man who was stepping back.
Tamryn flicked his blade, "You have more skill than I expected… or perhaps your blade has more skill than expected."
Seth frowned, "Get out of my way. I'm leaving."
Tamryn smiled, full lips curled into a smile that was far too sharp to be anything but mean.
"If you wish for us to be out of your way, then we shall oblige."
He sheathed his sword and turned to the wall.
Seth blinked in confusion, then his eyes widened as lightning crackled over Tamryn's hand.
Vasilis thrummed, and Seth spun and threw the nearest door open. He barely snapped it shut before-
BOOM
The building shook and he staggered, holding his swords away from his body.
A dragon roared and something crackled and whooshed through the halls. The scent of smoke burned his nose.
Uh oh.
He ran to the other wall, where a window stood, and sheathed Vasilis. He threw the window open, ducking down quickly. When nothing moved he scrambled up and scanned the sky. Nothing was in range.
Flames roared through the hall behind him, the first licks of it burning through the door.
He was hundreds of yards above the ground, but he had no other path out. He took a deep breath and readied himself.
Seth leapt.
Wind whistled as he dove. His wings tucked against his back and his blade held away from him he dove. He pulled the shadows around him, hiding him from sight as he dove down down down.
The rock wall flashed past him in a blur. The overhang was fast approaching.
With mere feet left he let his wings snap open and pulled up sharply, hissing softly at the tug on his back.
He skimmed just over the overhang, swooping over the wall in an instant, then whipped around and down, twisting sharply to land on the nearest support beam.
Gargoyles surrounded him, as craggy as before.
A dragon roared above him and peaking out from under he could see several large shapes headed for the castle.
He turned back to the Gargoyles.
"I need a favor," he announced.
The gargoyles shifted in the dimness, wings rippling.
"The sky is empty," Seth said, speaking fast. "The dragons evicted you from your roosts, the harpies want to replace you. I want to fix things. It's time for you to fly, to be free in the sky and remind them of who you are."
"Dragons… bite us… burn us… when fly," one lamented, curling tight.
"You know what else they did?" Seth asked, tensing as a dragon swooped nearby, wing beats echoing. "They killed Sang Rou!"
"Sang Rou!" they wailed.
"Tamryn the son of Celebrant boasted Sang Rou died screaming!"
"Sang Rou!"
"Will you let them go unpunished?"
"Sang ROU!"
"The wyrms kill!"
"SANG ROU!"
"Killed him!"
"Fly!" Seth called. "Fly wildly! Fly free and don't let them catch you. Or have you lost your wings?"
"We fly!"
"Best!"
"No better!"
"Prove it!" Seth challenged. "Go! Fly! Tell the others to fly as well! Help me get away and I will stop the dragons. Sang Rou must be avenged!"
"SANG ROU!" They howled.
A single gargoyle dropped from the ceiling.
Like the action granted permission, the air was filled with stone figures.
Gargoyles dropped in a flood, wings spreading and snapping with crackling groans. A flurry of movement filled the area.
"Sang Rou!" They shrieked.
"Sang Rou!" They sang.
"Sang Rou!" They wailed.
The air was filled with cries, screams, howls. Wings beat, and the cloud of stone beings surged.
Seth dropped into the cloud, his wings spread, and he soared.
He hoped his wings wouldn't stand out too much as he dragged the shadows around himself, joining the flock.
Many curved up and to the left, their cry of Sang Rou echoing all around. Others curled up and to the right, howling Sang Rou's name. And the group Seth joined spiraled down, calling for Sang Rou, honoring him in a cloud of stone figures and glittering gems.
An exodus of grief, of love, of devotion. Seth spun in the middle of it, awed by the sight.
He wondered why Tamryn had hated Sang Rou. This kind of devotion- he had to have done good.
Seth angled further, using the descendant to dive faster than he'd ever done before.
Above and behind dragons roared, fire brightening the night and making him blink quickly to get his vision back.
But none of it neared him.
Thunder boomed, smoke hissed, fire blazed, and none touched him.
He was hidden in the swarm.
The wind was freezing, cutting through his clothes. His bag whipped in the wind and he pulled it closer even while holding the Unforgiving Blade further away.
He needed to be careful, but he was on his way to safety.
"Behind you!"
Seth swerved to the left, the wings adjusting easily, and a harpy streaked by.
Claws just missed him, the harpy snarling as a flurry of movement sent it back up towards him.
"We will have you! Come, sisters!"
Seth rolled, diving rapidly before his wings snapped open and he swooped up. He plunged once more a moment later, closing one wing to roll left then abruptly diving once more.
The harpy tried to cut across his path and he spun, flipping in an arc and sweeping the Unforgiving Blade up as he did.
The harpy shrieked as it clipped her feather and twisted away.
"Nightbringer! He has Nightbringer!"
He caught a glimpse of forms veering away rapidly. Feathers ruffled and shrieks of "Nightbringer" filled the air until they were gone.
He didn't dare trust their word and continued his actions.
Sweeping down, he twisted through the tree line, then snapped up quickly when he caught a glimpse of too many teeth in the corner of his eye. He skimmed the tree tops briefly, then climbed high, only to plunge rapidly and close a wing to flip sideways.
Without the instinct in the wings Seth doubted he could've managed half the tricks, but thankfully the magic within them held still.
The wind ruffled his hair and his wings, and he took a deep breath.
The night around him was empty, but he pulled the shadows tight regardless as he skimmed closer to the ridgelines, trailing just over the trees.
He needed to find a place to land and recuperate, and to contact the Sisters.
He didn't trust them but… he needed advice on this if he was to survive their quest.
He settled into a steady glide and swept across the land. His feet brushed the tree tops and the wind kissed his cheeks as He swooped through the clear sky.
The air was crisp and clear. The stars were beautiful above, more stars than he'd ever seen in his life.
His wings glittered, and his breath fogged. He was freezing, the wind as cutting as it was soft, but he dared not stop yet. The air was clear, he was alone, but that didn't mean anything when compared to the dragons flight speed.
His wings flapped once, giving him a boost to keep gliding, and on he flew.
The stars moved above him, the moon dipped beneath the horizon, and on he flew.
His wings ached, his back strained, his breath came in gasps, and on he flew.
It was only when his eyes were drifting shut, when he thought he might cry from the strain of staying aloft another moment, when Calvin was calling for him to land before he got hypothermia, that he finally drifted down.
The ground was too hard beneath him, his feet tired despite not being used, and he slumped to the ground.
He stumbled, his wings too heavy on his back.
"You need to sit," Calvin scolded, hopping down. "I'll start a fire if you get some wood."
He blinked slowly, then reluctantly moved to do so.
The wood was heavy, everything was heavy, including his eyes. He wanted to rest.
He slumped, dropping the wood on the ground and blinking when the Unforgiving Blade sunk into the dirt.
Right.
He was carrying that.
He slowly moved, arms so heavy, and scooped it up. How was he supposed to… could he put it on the ground? He didn't want to hold it and sleep- he wanted to sleep.
He placed it flat on the ground, then had to pick it up when one side started to sink.
He tried again, and again, and again. He was about ready to cry from frustration when he finally got it to sit flat on the ground.
Calvin had the fire started he realized. His hands almost burned from the warmth, but it felt good despite that.
He moved closer, breathing in the warming air and slowly relaxing. He felt like he was thawing out.
"You doing alright?" Calvin asked.
Seth nodded, slowly sinking down, his eyes fluttering shut.
"I just… need…"
"Get some sleep," Calvin said. "I'll keep a fire watch."
Seth forced his eyes open again.
"A fire watch?"
"To make sure the fire doesn't go out. In this cold- well you might not wake back up again."
Seth swallowed, "Right… good idea… thanks."
He dropped on the ground, grimacing at the cold of it. He curled his wings around him, huddling under them. They were warm.
He nuzzled against them, nestling in.
Darkness overtook him slowly.
A flash of light, a blade swung.
He stumbled back and stared in shock at his sister.
"Kendra?"
"Why?" she asked. "Why did you betray us?"
"I didn't-"
"Grandma Sorenson is dead cause of you!"
He staggered.
"I didn't-"
His eyes burned as she glared at him.
"Se-"
"It's your fault! You joined Ronodin. You opened the Blackwell. You willingly left me. You hurt them- killed them. How dare you."
She raised the blade in her hand, Vasilis, shining with a brilliant light. A halo shone around her.
"I'm sorry," he cried. "I'm sorry!"
"Seth."
"It's too late for that," she snarled. "You became the very dark you once fought. I can't forgive that."
She lunged, and he fell.
"SETH."
He shot up with a gasp, blinking at the light around him.
Wha-
"You were having a bad dream," Calvin said. "I thought I'd better wake you."
Seth swallowed, remembering Kendra framed by a halo of light.
It's your fault.
His eyes landed on the Unforgiving Blade. A Blade all seemed to fear. A Blade that sent the harpies fleeing from him.
Would that Blade hurt someone close to him? What if he lost it again? What if he- he did the wrong thing…
The Blade wasn't like Vasilis, in Kendra's hands Vasilis was a sword of justice, retribution. It was fair and final.
The Blade was final as well, but not fair. It was an end to anything it touched, unable to show mercy.
He didn't know what to do, but he couldn't leave it with the dragons.
"Seth?"
"Sorry," he shook his head. "I was just- thinking."
"I got some berries," Calvin offered, drawing Seth's gaze to him.
He blinked at the pile of berries near the fire.
"Oh, thank you."
"I've already eaten," Calvin assured him. "So you can have the rest."
Seth nodded, mumbling another thanks as he ate the berries.
He rubbed his eyes, still tired despite the sleep. He stretched out his legs, blinking down at the boots he was wearing.
He'd hardly thought of his clothes since regaining his memories, but they weren't what he'd normally wear.
He was wearing leather pants for one. And combat boots (though he did like those). He had been wearing a jacket at one point, he vaguely remembered it, but it was gone now. He had a sleek black shirt, with strange leather clasps across the front, on instead.
"what are you thinking?" Calvin asked.
"We need to get moving," Seth said. "But I'm not sure what to do."
"Well, you've got that stuff for the Singing Sisters, right?"
Seth frowned, "Yeah…"
"Let's put it to use," he declared.
"Where?"
"There's a pond nearby," Calvin said. "We can use it."
Seth groaned and stood, bending to scoop up the Blade.
"Where even are we?"
Calvin hopped onto Seth's hand when it was offered and then slipped into his pocket.
"Well, I'm pretty sure Soaring Cliffs is someplace in the Himalayas, but we've flown a good distance. We're somewhere… in Nepal? Maybe India… or Bangladesh…"
"That narrows it down," Seth grumbled, walking in the direction Calvin indicated.
"We'll figure it out," Calvin said confidently.
Seth shook his head.
"Are you sure about coming with? This is for the Singing Sisters and they're…"
"I swore to server you," Calvin said fiercely. "And this mission could help solve the nipsie curse."
Seth paused, "How?"
"We were cursed because we helped steal the Ethergem. Maybe gathering the pieces and re-" he waved his hand "-you know? It could help."
Seth frowned, "But we're gathering them for the witches?"
"We'll worry about that when we succeed," Calvin assured.
Seth sighed, but was stopped from replying when they reached the pond.
He put the Unforgiving Blade down first, a few steps from the pond and hopefully out of sight. Then he pulled open his bag but faltered when he saw the cloak sitting on top. He'd forgotten he grabbed that.
He pulled it out and swept it around him.
It didn't quite- the wings- He frowned and decided to wind it around his arms, more like a long scarf than a cloak. That added some warmth.
He pulled the silt pouch out his bag next.
"I don't want them running the show," Seth muttered, staring at it. "But… I don't know what else to do."
"Are they evil?" Calvin wondered.
"They're contracted to a demon," Seth said. "I don't know what demon… but I think they may be in the demon prison."
"Well… that's bad?"
Seth nodded, "I need to be careful with them."
He stepped closer to the pond, feeling Calvin duck out of sight.
He imagined that the pond would've frozen had it been much colder, but thankfully it was still water. He was glad for that, it was cold enough as it was.
The pool itself reflected the sun, shining clear and deep in the light. The clouds were visible on it, rippling white.
He opened the pouch from Casper and took a pinch of the silt. There was enough there for several conversations, though hopefully he'd only need it the once.
He sprinkled the silt into the pool.
The result was immediate.
The water darkened, the reflection gone. The water twisted, rippling violently as a fetid stench rose.
And then all at once the water smoothed and brightened, revealing three old women peering up at him.
One had narrow features, one was missing most of her hair, and the third had drooping skin. They were crowded together, as if holding hands, but Seth knew their hands were actually fused together at the wrists.
"Is that him?" asked Orna, the balding one.
"It is indeed," Berna declared, a grin stretching her lips.
"Show us the Sword of Light and Darkness," Wilna ordered. "To be sure."
Seth drew the blade at his side, dark red flames dancing.
"You have grown in your power," Berna noted.
"He is weary," Wilna criticized.
"I broke out of prison last night," Seth said. "But I'm ready to continue on. Do you know where I am?"
"On the outskirts of the Soaring Cliffs sanctuary," Berna said.
"I'm beyond the boarder?"
"In Nepal," Orna confirmed.
"More importantly," Wilna interrupted. "Where are you going?"
Seth sheathed the blade, settling into a better stance.
He was tired but had things to do. He couldn't rest. But he didn't know what to start with.
"Did you hear us, Seth?" Berna asked.
"Just thinking," he assured. "I'm not sure what my next move should be. You gave me five tasks in one, not the singular we agreed upon."
"Bringing the pieces of the Ethergem to us is a single request," Orna corrected. "It just has multiple components."
"We could have let you rot in prison," Wilna added.
Seth pursed his lips, "There's a war going on."
"We know," cackled Orna. "We did tell you."
"I need to help with the war, not gather pieces of a fancy rock."
Wilna leaned forward, "You owe us a favor. We are collecting."
Seth frowned.
"The timing may be frustrating," Orna said. "But should you wait then the opportunity to gather the pieces will be lost. We cannot afford to wait."
"Why do you need them?" he asked.
All three sisters burst into laughter.
"Our purposes are our own," Wilna snickered. "Not for you to concern yourself with."
"Getting the pieces may benefit you as well," Berna added slyly. "It will weaken the Dragon King to lose his crown.
Seth rocked back on his heels.
"Plus," Wilna said. "You don't have a choice. If you want to live to aid in the war, then you must complete our request… or die by the covenant knife."
"There is that," Orna agreed.
Seth wanted to ask if they were taking advantage of him, but he feared he already knew the answer.
But he had no choice.
"I don't know where to find Celebrant, much less how to get the crown from the new demon prison."
"Two of the fragments you require are at Titan Valley," Berna offered. "You are a few days flight from there."
"The Giant Queen has fallen," Orna declared. "Her crown is at large."
"And the Ethershard remains at Stratos," Wilna said.
"I guess I should start there?" Seth asked.
"It would be wise."
"Waste no time," Orna urged.
"And when you have those pieces," Berna added, "you may contact us again. We may offer guidance for the others yet."
"How do I navigate there?" Seth asked.
The sisters shared a look, then turned to him.
"Hold the remnants of the Wizenstone into the water," Wilna ordered. "Quickly now."
Seth dug out the pieces of the Wizenstone from his bag, then submerged the Wizenstone into the cold water.
His fingers ached from the cold and his teeth chattered.
He shivered violently as Berna nodded.
"Keep it there for a moment."
The three witches closed their eyes, words spilling out too quickly for him to hear. For a moment the pool shone like liquid light, splashing the surface and tingling over his hands.
"You may withdraw the stone," Wilna declared as they opened their eyes.
"The remnants of the Wizenstone will now sympathize with it's sisters stones," Orna added.
"If held out, it shall glow when aimed at one of the other stones. The closer you get the brighter."
"The stone in the crown of the Demon King will evoke a blue glow as deep as midnight," Wilna said. "The Dragon King's stone should produce a white glow, the Giant Queen's a red glow, and the Ethershard a prismatic shine."
"I forgot my dictionary," Seth quipped. "What's prismatic?"
"Rainbow," Orna clarified.
"Travel swiftly," Berna declared.
"And do not turn aside for other matters," Wilna warned. "Our knife will not hesitate to collect what you owe us."
And with those encouraging words, the light in the pool went out.
The sun reflected back at him from the clear waters once more.
He stepped away, holding out the Wizenstone and slowly turning until it softly glowed red. Little rainbows danced along the edges, like light through the trees.
He stared at it for a long moment.
Well.
He supposed he knew where to go now.
OO OO OO OO
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Come yell at me on my tumblr: FairyQueenOfTheDragons
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