Here it is, a new chapter for Transcendnece, know it has been nearly a month since I updated but I have been fighting to get chapters out quickly and almost been doing nothing else in my free time. In fact I haven't even played Warcraft in three months because of this, so that sucks, in fact I still haven't even finished Dragon Age or The Witcher, that is bad in my books. I am wasting a lot of time writing and doing nothing else.
But apart from that I got some good and bad news, next weekend I may not update, because I am going on a holiday for a week. First time overseas and I am gonna be off the computer the whole time, so on the eighth of August I will be gone, and not back till the sixteenth. So if you don't hear from me than you know why.
But apart from that I offer you this chapter, the last of the Ethel Rother Arc and the end of Codexia's interlude Storyline. Also there is an omake at the end, a great scene that I never had the chance to put into the story, and was really regretting it.
Transcendence
Chapter 42: The Rising
"Keep the internal pressure stable, we are down at eight hundred feet, last thing we need is this thing being crushed under the weight of the ocean," Marta ordered, looking down at the gnomish pilots that guided her Submarine, the Steamgear, down further into the ocean.
From her position she could see almost everything within the main control room, her eyes glued to the two operators that guided the ship through the seas. Looking out the massive main view port, which took up the entire front section of the submarine, she could see the dark obscure waters slowly revealing more underwater flora and several sea life swimming by.
Around the decks were many technicians tirelessly working to make sure the ship remained stable and the pressure did not crush their vessel, like an apple in the hand of an angry orc. While the two walls of the sub had windows of their own they only took up one third of the walls surface area, in a way it was aesthetically pleasing rather than practical, but considering these were prototypes back during the Second War it is understandable why they had a few defects in design.
Above the main control room loomed the command deck, where all her main officers would be reining in control of the ship, and it was here that she looked down from as her crew worked. Often she called it her perch of tyranny, where she could loom over the poor peasents below and bark orders like a queen. Got old after a while and now it because the joke of the company that the 'Queen' was ready to whip them into doing what she wants.
Sadly that led to an even more perverse joke later on.
They had departed twenty minutes ago and were slowly moving deeper into the oceans depths, gliding about fifty feet above the sea floor. They avoided the random jagged rock or the reefs that grew like weeds across the sandy floor, all the while keeping an eye out for more lively dangers.
"What's radar picking up?" Marta inquired, looking to her left; the green haired ensign was glaring heavily at the radar.
"Nothing hostile, picking up a lot of sea life but nothing remotely dangerous at the moment, strange considering that the Naga often attack us at the beach," The Ensign replied.
Marta did not like that one bit, they were nearly a league out to sea and the Naga had not attacked yet? That sent off all kinds of alarm bells in her head, the fact those snake heads had been relentlessly attacking them on that beach that those serpents did not give a damn about only showed just how far they would go to kill people they did not like. So why were they, a Submarine that was fully crewed and armed to the teeth, not being attacked from all sides right now by these bastards?
'They went out of the way to attack us on land, so why not go for it when they have the advantage?' Marta mused.
"I would recommend you get your men on the main guns," Codexia chimed in, and Marta had to hold back a sigh.
"No one likes a second Captain," Marta replied, giving the Primalist a sour look. "Besides I already have my men on them, and their just itching to shoot something that looks like a blue scaled sea serpent."
Codexia had been all but pushing them to get this submarine ready so that she could get into the city, almost desperately wanting to have that sunken ruin above the surface of the ocean again. Marta had done several investigations of the city and found while it was mostly intact, a good majority of the damn place was missing.
From what they had discovered in their surveys was that the city had been all but ripped apart, most of the outer sections had been destroyed when the city sunk. The inner sanctum survived and was intact but many of the outer wards within the city had either been torn away from the main body or just disintegrated after so many millennia under the ocean.
The Temple of Thetis had been found intact and mostly unharmed, strangely enough, but the fact remained, they were raising a section of the city that was even smaller than a quarter of the City of Stormwind. Originally the thing was meant to be three times the size of the human capital, but now, Ethel Rethor couldn't be called a city because it was over a surface of one and a half square kilometres.
While it was not much ground to cover and explore, as well as offering a good amount of open space between the larger buildings and structures, it did make it an ideal place for the Naga to ambush them.
"Coming up on the city ma'am," The Navigations officer chimed in.
'Chant a demons name and they shall appear,' Marta mused, looking out the main view port towards the city in question.
Codexia had stepped forward and leaned on the railing, her entire bodily expression conveyed her excitement and glee at seeing the city. While the murky waters hide the full glory of the city, making it appear to be a dark grey murky ruin with water worn stone covered by moss, she couldn't help but marvel at the design.
The outer section of the remnants of the city were long terraced buildings, lining the wide streets and forming unique but obviously specifically designed patterns around the heart of the city. Where a large palace stood, at the front appeared a temple with architecture that stood contrast to the elvish ruins that surrounded it. Oddly smooth and fluid in design, with colours that stood out even in the bleak waters that surrounded it.
"There it is, the Temple of Thetis," Codexia said, smiling as she finally laid eyes on the location where her mission can finally begin.
But when the Steamgear jerked suddenly Codexia had to hang onto the railing for dear life, unless she wanted to fall over them and down the ten foot drop to the floor below.
"What hit us?" Marta barked, and immediately she heard the radar going off.
"Contacts! Behind us and on both sides!"
Marta scowled; it would seem that they had walked right into a trap, now they were boxed in with only one way to go, meaning they did not want them to escape. Their only choice was the city, and the fact the Naga had left that path open to them only meant that it was where they wanted them.
Again the sub shook, even after the hit she heard the hull groan and snap, the pressure would begin to destabilize if the hull continued to take a beating. If that were to happen than the entire Steamgear would fold in on itself and be crushed under the weight, and everyone will drown.
"Arm the main guns! I want to take as many of these bastards out on our way in!" Marta barked, and already she could hear the port and starboard side guns going off.
While standard bullets would not work underwater they did have something else, something that cut through the water. Flechette, special ammunition shaped like arrow tipped needles, this ammunition allowed them to operate sub-automatic turrets underwater and tear apart anything that tried to dig into their hull.
Already she could hear the peppering of their pressure propelled turrets firing off dozens of Flechette rounds every second. While her men kept the ship from being sunk she needed to get this thing somewhere safe, and sadly the only place that could be was the city, relatively speaking of course. If the Naga was luring them there that could only mean that they had another trap ready to be sprung on them, one that she needed to be ready to fight off.
"Codexia, that sceptre of yours, can you use it to control the water right?" Marta asked. "Specifically around the Submarine?"
"Yes, I believe so," Codexia replied, only a moment's hesitation to think before answering.
"Good, because whatever trap these Naga are leading us into I want you to be able to spring it for us as soon as we break through it," Marta replied. "Full speed ahead! Push for the city and get us into the main highway!"
"Yes, ma'am!" The navigators barked in reply, and then the Sub lurched to the side.
Marta watched through the main window, seeing the city draw closer with each passing second, her eyes often drifted to the port and starboard screens and found shadows slivering through the murky waters. The Naga certainly were massing in force, but oddly they were keeping their distance, obviously they were only meant to herd them to the right place.
"You know, as soon as we get to that temple we are going to be surrounded by these things, how long will it take you to get the temple up and out of the water?" Marta inquired, if they were on a clock that means they would likely need to set up a defensive perimeter.
"I do not know, but when I commune with the spirit I can call to its aid and she shall help us," Codexia replied, sounding assured with her words.
"Time, not method or assurance, I need to make sure that we have the time to actually defend you while you work," Marta replied.
"Ten minutes," Codexia replied. "At most, keep me protect for that long and I will have the city rising above the ocean surface, can you handle that?"
Marta did not know, she had a compliment of soldiers on board to help Codexia when she entered the temple but as things were looking Marta was unsure if they had the time or men needed to pull this off. With the amount of Naga they were dealing with right now and how much damage the Sub was taking, she could already see water trickling in along the bulkhead, defending the outside of the temple may be impossible at this point.
"We will see," Marta replied, retreat was not possible right now, not with so many Naga around and considering how many the radar was picking up they were lucky they didn't swarm the Steamgear.
Their only hope now was to break whatever trap the serpents had set up and then push for the temple, after that she had to think of something. That something was coming up real soon, because as of now they had just sailed their ship right into the highway. It was a tight fit but their sub got through, and luckily the Naga were above them and behind rather than on all sides.
The turrets continued to fire, she didn't know if they were effective but Marta at this moment was happy to see that the attacks upon them had come to a halt. But now they had to wait and see what these Naga had instore for them.
"I want all guns to go silent," Marta ordered, if the Naga were not a threat right now she wanted to conserve ammo. "Slow down propellers, if we are running into a trap I want to see the next twenty feet ahead of me rather than breeze through it half a second later."
Her orders were carried out and now they were moving in slowly, actually slow enough that what they could see through the murky water and gives them a good few seconds to observe it before they passed. While the radar blared with hostile signatures they were unmolested, only proving now that the enemy force was waiting for the right moment to strike.
"We are coming to an open area ahead, just beyond is the Temple grounds," The Navigator chimed in.
Marta knew if the trap was going to be anywhere it would be in this Plaza ahead, and since the radar was now picking up about three times as many hostiles in the buildings around the plaza compared to those following them, it was a sure bet she was right. A quick glance towards Codexia, who nodded towards the gnomish Captain and grasped the Sceptre of Light in her hand, Marta knew she was ready.
"Alright boys, nice and slow, no need to get all jittery, last thing we need is these guys knowing that we know what they are going to do," Marta replied.
They pushed into the plaza, finding a large oval courtyard that was around fifty feet in diameter, with only a set of columns in the centre that offered any real finery to the otherwise drab location. As they pushed through the centre of the plaza they were attacked, or more correctly the trap had been sprung.
A surge of water pressure slammed into the side of the Sub, hitting their port side before another struck the starboard side. Marta held onto the railing and tried to keep herself stable, her eyes looked to the main viewport and found a wall of swirling water dominating the screen.
'A whirlpool? Is that the best they got?' Marta mused.
Then something hard struck the top of the Sub, she glanced up and to her dread found the roof had a noticeable dent. Then another followed soon after, smashing into the top of the Steamgear and creating an even larger dent, but that was far from the last.
"Their collapsing the pillars on us!" The Navigator yelled, trying to keep the boat moving despite the multi-tonne pillars that kept them pinned.
Marta did not expect this; she would have thought that some magical attack or possibly a seal to keep them locked in place so the Naga could tear their ship apart. But actually crushing them under stone and rock, that was not their usual playbook, they never employed traps so mundane before. This was certainly a step up for them, to actually do something so primitive that they wouldn't expect it, she had to give credit where credit was do, but for now surviving was more important.
"Get those propellers turning! Get us out of here before they breach the Hull!" Marta barked, in that time two more loud thuds were heard and with dread she saw a spurt of water drizzle through the wall and onto the deck.
"We can't move ma'am, were pinned!" The Navigator cried.
Marta scowled, this couldn't be how it ends, they needed to get out of here and away, the sub couldn't take any more punishment now. As if tempting fate itself she heard another crash and the grinding of glass, with utter dread she turned to the portside window and looked at it. Outside she found most of the view obscured by the pinnacle of a pillar, leaning heavily on the window.
"Please don't, just please don't," Marta muttered, shaking her head and begging anyone that may hear her prayers not to let her crew along with herself die like this.
But she went unanswered and now the glass was cracking, if she somehow miraculously lived through this she would never trust a higher power for help ever again. With that thought passing through her head, something that may or may not have angered a potential divine entity, the glass shattered and a surge of water shot right towards her.
Marta raise her hands and waited for the hit, in a way she was surprised that she had time to do that, a surge from this distance and considering the pressure it would have taken zero point four seconds to hit her. Yet three seconds had passed and she was neither drenched nor pulverized, and with that fact she opened her eyes and looked ahead.
She found her reflection along the surface of the water, her puzzled expression looking right back at her, she had absolutely no idea how that happened
"Allow me," Codexia chimed in, stepping past Marta and with each step she took the waters were pushed back.
In her hand the Sceptre of Light pulsed, with each pulse the water retreated outside of the ship before hovering near the remains of the window as if it had not been destroyed. Right now Marta was happy to know she was not dead, even if it was only staved off for the next few minutes, but she needed to know how much longer they had before something else kills them.
"How long can you hold that water out?" Marta asked.
"Long enough, tell the men to get their diving gear ready, we won't be staying here," Codexia replied. "Navigator! Get ready to move this bucket when I say so!"
"You got it!"
Marta would have called her up on giving orders on her boat but right now she wanted to survive this, and if this Primalist could provide that she would not complain.
Codexia then raised the Sceptre, it shone brightly while letting out short erratic bursts of light, and when it was consumed with nothing but white light she twisted it to the side. Instantly Marta saw the result, the ships axis reorientated and the turbulence was gone. Glancing outside she found the whirlpool had disappeared and those pillars, the multi-tonne pieces of rock, had been blown back and apart.
The rubble raining down on the Naga that had decided it was a smart idea to be out in the open, crushing many and others being forced to flee for their lives. But most of all they were free and ready to swim out of here, and with a yell from Codexia they did just that.
The Steamgear jolted forward hard, pushing the propellers as hard as they could to get the damaged and likely crumbling sub to safety. But they would not get far, this old bucket was going down and the only choice they had was to follow Codexia's plan and pray that it worked.
"Get all the men into scuba gear! Everyone seal up and get ready to abandon ship!" Marta ordered, and already could see her crew going to work on getting some gear on.
The next five minutes were hectic for everyone, people getting their gear on and the constant sound of attackers pounding into their already crumbling hull. But it was when the Naga started pushing through the shattered portside window that made their lives difficult.
"To arms!" Marta yelled, grabbing a nearby rifle and firing at the deck below, hitting a Naga myrmidon in the shoulder. "Kill them! Do not let them get a foothold in the ship!"
Her crew went to the task, fighting against the invaders as they slivered through the water barrier and dropped to the ground with a wet thud. Even with her warriors best efforts they were fighting larger and stronger opponents, as well as slowly growing numbers of them.
"Can't you seal that barrier? Make it freeze or something?" Marta demanded, looking to Codexia who was busy channelling the energies of the Sceptre.
"No, I can only control the waters around me, not manipulate its form," The Primalist replied.
"Of course," Marta murmured, having reloaded her rifle and firing again, this time scouring a hit in a Naga's eyes, allowing one of her men to stab the bastard right through the heart. "Keep it up boys!"
"We can't hold them!" Corinne called out, ducking down as a Naga attempted to spear her through the head. "If we do not get off this ship we will be overrun!"
Marta knew that, how could she not, the bottom deck was becoming a warzone with the Naga that were now pouring in.
"Rifleman! Fire!" Drommyr bellowed, and soon the sound of a dozen rifles firing could be heard and nearly as many Naga fell. "Reload and keep firing!"
He punctuated that order with the sound of his own Blunderbuss barking off a shot, and a serpent had a nice fist size hole through his chest. The Dwarf jumped down into the fray, using his bayonet as a makeshift blade to hack into the Naga while firing off whenever he could reload his trusty weapon.
"How much further?" Marta called out, looking past the small contingent of warrior protecting the Navigators.
"We are entering the temple grounds!" The right Navigator called out.
Marta looked ahead to see that the temple was indeed insight, finding a large set of stairs leading up to the massive structure. Oddly enough it seemed to be built into the palace that dominated most of the city ruins, the many towers and jutting spires contrasting to the aquatic look the temple had.
"Get us to the entrance!" Marta yelled, already seeing Naga swarming into the courtyard and heading straight for them.
"Why are the turrets not firing?" Marta barked.
"Damaged ma'am! Scavenging the ammo and any mobile platforms we can!" A crewman replied, a hasty and less than informative reply but it was the best she could hope for at the moment.
Each passing second they got closer to the Temple entrance the more Naga seemed to get inside and come for them. Marta had ordered all the warriors below to retreat to the upper platforms, the lower decks had all but been taken, yet she had to order some to remain behind to protect the navigators.
She watched as they fought desperately against the swarming Naga, they would not hold long but hopefully long enough to get them to the stairs. Level by level the Naga moved after them, pushing them back all the way to the command deck, the rifleman firing at the Naga as they surged up the ramp, and then her warriors rushed in to repel them.
Rinse and repeat.
She ignored the numbers of her crew, not wanting to count how many had fallen, she also refused to look when she heard the Navigators scream. So many had already been killed and over a dozen remained, that was barely one fifth of the crew remaining.
"Fire!" Drommyr cried, and a deafening boom followed.
"How many of these bastards are they sending?" Cassidy growled, stabbing her blade through the chest of one Naga and leaping away from another that tried to sink its teeth into her arm.
"Keep fighting!" Corinne cried out, pushing her blade through a Naga's chest, but as she withdrew the blade she cried out.
Marta glanced to see that she had been stabbed, the spear going through her stomach and exiting out her side. Corinne dropped to the ground and gasped, a barrage going off as they fought to drag her back towards safety. Corinne groaned as she held her wound, her armoured gauntlets doing nothing to stem the bleeding.
"Hold in there Corinne, we will get you patched up," Marta said, kneeling beside the Paladin and trying to give her some comfort.
"We need an escape plan!" Pat cried out, ducking under a sword and driving both his blade through the gut of a Naga.
Yet as he tried to pull his blades free, finding them oddly stuck within the serpents belly, the beast leaned forward and opened its jaw nice and wide. Pat look up and was transfixed at the rows of razor sharp teeth in its jaw, right before it lunged and snapped it around his face.
Pat was lifted off the ground, he screamed as the sharp dagger-like teeth dug into his face and skull, he was shaken around like a rag down. No one could do anything, they could only keep fighting as the Naga soon grabbed Pat by the shoulders and then twist its own serpentine neck to snap Pats. With his neck broken it unlatched its jaw and tossed him over the railing and below.
"Bastards!" Drommyr roared, firing off his Blunderbuss as fast as he could reload it.
But then they crashed, the ship jolted to a stop as it finally struck something, Marta looked to the main viewport to see the stairs of the temple, the view angled so that they looked right to the top. They had arrived but were trapped regardless, the Naga has the Sub and there was no way off of it now.
"Everyone, hold on!" Codexia called out, the woman had been channelling ever since the attack begun in order to keep this ship from being sunk.
Now she let the water in, it blew forward and into the ship, but only enough it was angled towards the Naga. The water pressure pushed the Naga off the ramp and down into the lower decks, that was now were being flooded.
"What in the Nether are you doing?" Marta yelled.
But before Codexia answered, or likely did not intent to answer, the water coiled around everyone, sealing them within a sphere of water. Marta would have gasped, but the fact that she was now submerged along with what remained of her crew she knew that was not going to be happening. Right now she was wishing she had put the time into putting on a diving suit, because she really did not know how long she could hold her breath.
It became even worse when her entire world shifted and she was sent tumbling head over heels as the sphere she was in, along with her crew, was sent flying. It surged out the window and into the murky ocean, flowing so fast that she had no idea which way was up or in which direction they were going.
Marta could only make out a few details, the changing scenery and rush did little for her as she tried to hold her breath and stop whatever contents were in her stomach from surfacing. Then it came to an end, although the world stopped spinning rapidly around her, the swirling sphere was gone and she not only drifted aimlessly in dark murky waters.
'What in the Nether is that damn woman doing?' Marta thought, glaring around her and finding that she had absolutely no idea where she was.
Her lungs were starting to burn and she was certain that in no time she would drown, her record for holding her breath was about six minutes. But this was far from a controlled exercise and right now she wasn't going to last sixty seconds before she blacked out and then finally expired. Then she felt the waters around her churn and flow, she felt herself descending deeper into the waters as the currents pulled at all sides.
Then they were gone, she felt her head hit solid ground before she flopped onto it like a fish, Marta took a deep breath and coughed hard, freeing any water she may have inadvertently swallowed. As she took in several deep breaths Marta head several more, the ragged coughing of several others reaching her ears made that experience all the more worth it to know they had survived.
"Sound… Sound off!" Marta ordered.
One by one the people sounded off, and by the end a dozen people had been identified, but one remained missing, the same one that had brought them here.
"Codexia? Codexia where are you?" Marta barked.
Rising to her feet she tried to feel her way around the room, but then a bright blue light encompassed it. Marta shielded her eyes, raising her hands against the harsh rays of whatever had just appeared. Slowly glancing at it she found the source to be the Staff of Light, fastened into some sort of pedestal in the centre of the chamber they occupied.
The room was rectangular, a tall roof that was supported by dozens of sapphire columns that were fasted by clam shaped pedestals. While the walls were decorated by unique carvings, one sitting between each pillar and framed by sea serpents. Oddly enough the ground was tiled, even after ten thousand years they possessed a brilliant shine and almost looked to be waxed coated, and coloured a deep sea blue, ironically enough.
Then at the very end of the chamber, flanked by two long stair wells that were obvious installed after this temple was built, was a large oak tree. But the leaves were a deep blue and the tree actually split apart into two intertwining trunks that formed around a sapphire sphere composed of an unknown liquid.
Standing before it was Codexia, transfixed and motionless as she looked into the orb of water.
"Finally, now we can begin," Codexia said, raising her hand to begin to ritual to free the spirit.
But when she felt a tremor along the edge of the barrier around the temple she knew that the Naga were coming. This ritual would take some time, and that means she needed to be defended, so she had to rely on Marta and what remained of her crew to protect her back.
"Marta, Naga are coming! Defend yourselves!" Codexia called out. "Keep my back protected! Once I summon the water spirit we will be alright!"
Codexia turned back to them and began the ritual, drawing in the powers from the Sceptre she pulled it towards her. Streams of spiritual energy flowed through the air and towards Codexia, passing through one arm and out the other, where she channelled it towards the sphere. She had just begun when the first group of naga entered, passing through a wall of water and into the damp chamber they now occupied.
Codexia did not turn when she heard Marta swear and shout orders, they were outnumbered and fighting a massive army right now. She couldn't do anything but continue her own battle, it was less bloody and relied on others defending her, but it was the only way they would survive and win.
'Just give me time Marta, I just need time,'
"Dammit!" Marta cursed, drawing her cutlass and started barking orders. "Drommyr! Get that gun and find a perch! Red, Tomas go with him!"
She watched as the three marksmen fired off a quick round, scoring two hits and only one fatality, before they took off onto the opposite side of the chamber and making for the stairs. They would be their eyes in the sky and picking off anything really dangerous that got too close.
"Cassidy! Barret! Front and centre! Ericson! Get Corinne over near Codexia and get back here! The rest of you, on me!" Marta bellowed, getting ready to leap into the thick of it.
The first Naga to come her way had a blade lodged in its chest, the stupid bastard actually raised its weapon up over its shoulder to try and crush the puny little Gnome. Marta pushed off the scaly snake before she looked at the next one to come her way, this one actually going for a clean stab rather than a messy smash.
Marta jumped to the side and then onto the flat of the blade, sticking her landing perfectly as she struck, her own sword slashing forward and cutting right in-between the thin scales along the Naga's throat. Flipping off the blade Marta landed in a crouch and was already assessing the situation, she could see her two best were leading the defence against the Naga and racking up the body count.
Six littered the ground around Corrine, throats cut, while Barret had just as many at his feet, he had been tearing into their chests with his two large blades and turning them into shredded fish. The rest of her crew were doing just fine as well, backing them up and keeping the sides protected, the chamber may be big but the Naga were not too concerned with flanking right now.
That worked fine for Marta, if they wanted to rush in headlong without concerning strategy she would not complain. But what did have her worried was the numbers that were coming in, in the first minute about two dozen had pushed their way into the chamber, while they were taking them down as they came it was beginning to show that they were recuperating those losses.
That two dozen had turned into three in the last minute and now it was looking to be five in this one, the Naga were coming in hard and fast and with everything they got. Marta knew that they could only hang on for so long, Corinne and Barret were good, but they would die like anyone else that got surrounded by these things.
"Pull back!" Marta ordered, slashing a Naga across the stomach and as he lurched forward she stabbed him right through the eye. "Defend the pedestal! Keep that guarded for as long as possible!"
Marta knew that would not work, the Pedestal was in the damn centre of the chamber, like water around a rock they would be surrounded by the Naga as they crashed into them. But unlike a rock which would hold fast under the constant barrage, wearing down slowly and sustained to the tests of time, they would be taken apart within moments.
Marta pilfered pistol from Cassidy and fired, blowing part of a Naga Myrmidon's head off, before she tossed it aside and got back to slashing. But this was only a delaying action at best, the Naga had to have at least a hundred in the room now, with so many of them Marta and what remained of her crew would be done for soon.
"Codexia! We need help!" Marta yelled, she didn't care if she had to start all over again, they needed to fight this bastards off now. "Stop what you are doing and give us a hand!"
A bang went off, followed by a loud thump next to her, Marta glanced to the side to the fallen Naga and knew she had just been saved by one of the rifleman. But she had no time for a casual thank you, this was not a moment where you could take things lightly, she needed to get Codexia to help them.
"I cannot! I need to continue the ritual! Just a little longer!" Codexia called back.
"We don't have a little longer!" Marta cried, and true to her word she caught a glance of one of her men being skewered and then dragged into the mass of Naga.
Marta did not want to know what they would have done to him, so instead she focused solely on Codexia and tried to get that damn woman to listen.
"Do something now or we won't be getting out of here alive!" Marta bellowed.
For a moment it seemed like Codexia did not listen to her, her stance remained the same and her focus did not deviate in the slightest. Marta turned and continued fighting; she had nothing else she could do other than try to stave off death for a little longer.
Then she felt the very air churn with energy, turning she found that Codexia had indeed decided to act. Now a massive torrent of water formed around her, pooled from the walls and ground it formed a large wave, pulsing with a deep blue light of hidden power, before she shot her hand forward. The waters did as commanded, surging like a wave and creating a wall that washed across the chamber from wall to wall.
Marta braced herself as the surge grew close, yet she was not struck, opening her eyes she found the waters had moved around them without issue. Striking only the Naga and carrying them back towards the entrance where they were washed back and away. As the wave disappeared completely behind the sheet of suspended water Marta turned back to Codexia, planning on thanking her for her timely assistance, and to her surprise found the woman back to the task.
"I was going to say thanks right now, but considering that you are so quick to get back to task I am worried that we may have only wasted your time with that heroic rescue of yours," Marta said, glaring into the back of the woman's head.
"Don't worry, the process was only stalled, I can still finish it if I can stabilize the energies and continue the transfer," Codexia replied, not noticing the gnomes obvious frustration and annoyance.
Marta would have words with her after this, Codexia was manic at times with her research and mission but this was simply not going to work. She put their lives at risk, hesitating like that when they needed her, what kind of person does that to the people she had known for months?
"Captain! You alright down there?" Drommyr called down, leaning over the stone railing and pushing himself up to just look over it.
"Were fine old timer, keep that gun of yours loaded, we are far from through here," Marta replied.
Drommyr smirked and was about to deliver a hearty quip before something latched onto his head, and then he felt his neck stretch as he was violently lifted off the ground. Several screams of surprise came from below, but he could not hear them clearly, all he could focus on was the clawed hand that was digging into his scalp.
Then agony assaulted his chest, he couldn't look down to see what had happened, but it felt like he had been stabbed. He didn't know what it felt like, because one moment the pain was there and now it was gone, it was so strange to feel all that pain one moment and then nothing in the next. But he felt something else, Drommyr couldn't put his finger on it, but his mind was just going blank, he couldn't think straight.
Why was it so dark?
Marta looked on horrified, seeing Drommyr impaled through the chest by a sword, her dear friend had been murdered right in front of her. The screams that followed only confirmed that Red and Tomas had followed after him, the bodies that were tossed over the railing a second later only confirmed it.
Then a Naga slivered over, its form feminine and slender in comparison the hulking brutes at her side, four arms rested on the railing in front of her. Her snake-like eyes glared at each of them, burning with an arrogant fury that one would expect from a race that thought themselves superior.
"Interlopers, invaders of my domain," The Siren said, hissing the words. "Do you think you can stem the tide of my army? Fool!"
Marta didn't know what she hated more, the fact that they were stuck here or that she had to listen to this bitch moan and groan and speak like a damn aristocrat.
"I am Priestess Vilishj, and this is my city, given to me by the grace of Lady Azshara herself, how dare you mongrels invade my home and think to kill my servants without recompense!" The Naga siren stated coldly. "My guards will make quick work of you! Kragaru, kill them!"
"Yes mistress," A large hulking Naga said, slivering down the steps and with him over a dozen other Naga followed.
"Not what I had in mind," Marta thought aloud, before she flourished her blades and got ready to fight. "Alright boys and girls, get ready!"
They charged and met the Naga at the base of the stairs, they had little choice but to confront them there, with Codexia situated between them she was a target. She needed to be protected for as long as possible until the spirit was revived, but that was better said than done considering what they were up against.
The first person to fall was one of her own, after stabbing one of the bastards through the gut the Naga actually shrugged it off and then did the same to the guy who impaled him. These guys were a different breed to the generic snakes she had been dealing with, more like likely elite guards.
"Codexia, we need some help!" Marta yelled, leaping away from a spear thrust before ducking low, almost flat against the ground, to avoid a sword.
"I cannot! A minute, I promise you!" Codexia called back.
They would definitely not last that long, they were losing people fast and these bastards had only lost one, it was done to four people now. Marta leaped back and avoided having her head skewered, but sadly the guy next to her was not so lucky, and with that it was down to three.
"Codexia!"
"Almost there!" The Primalist replied.
It likely wouldn't matter in the next few seconds; Marta was thrown aside when a spear swung into her side. She was catapulted across the ground and into the railing of the stairs, the stone cracked and she was certain that something else inside her body did as well. She looked on and saw Cassidy and Barret were next to follow, the former hoisted up and tossed to the ground hard while the latter was stabbed through the side and left to fall to the ground.
Then the largest slivered forward, Kragaru, the ugly bastard raised his sword and planned on using it to cut Codexia in twain. There was nothing Marta could do, right now she was hurt and likely going to be dead in the next few minutes, and with Cassidy unconscious and Barret bleeding out the only one that could protect Codexia was herself.
'So this is how it ends for us…' Marta thought, watching the blade rise high before coming down hard.
Codexia continued to pour the energies from the Sceptre into the watery vessel that housed the spirit, only a few more seconds were needed before the power was fully returned and harmonized with its original owner. She could hear the hulking beast behind her, she could feel its breath along the back of her cold damp neck, she wanted to shiver at the sensation but she maintained the course.
'Nearly there, just a little more,'
She could see the silverly steel out of the corner of her eye, rising high and shining brightly despite the dim light; it would fall on her soon. Codexia was out of time, she wouldn't finish before that blade was dropped. All she needed was to delay him for a few moments, that would be all she needed.
A hiss was her only warning when the blade came down.
It struck her in the shoulder and back, she fell to a knee as the force split her skin and she felt the searing agony of her bones bent and likely cracked. Yet she did not scream, no words passed her lips as the weapon hit home, the force powerful enough to cleave through a normal human with ease.
Yet here she remained whole, her robes damaged and unstained by blood, the weapon only digging a few inches into her skin. But when one looked close they did not find the soft delicate flesh of a normal human being, instead they found something much sturdier. Pale bark covered her being, head to toe her body had been covered in thick and powerful iron bark, strong as the metal it is named after.
"Done," Codexia said, smiling as she collected the last of the energies and sent it into the vessel.
She was pulled up when the sword was pulled from her back and shoulder, a gauge along there the only signs of where it had once been. Turning she glared at her attacker and reached into her robes, her hands wrapping around the hilt of her blade. As the Naga swung at her again Codexia leaned aside and quickly drew, slicing through his abdomen, her Decay-infused blade eating through his scales and soft tissue beneath.
Then she stabbed it through his chest, receiving a howl of pain from the Naga, but it did not fall to its wounds. Instead its free hand shot up and grasped Codexia's head, slowly squeezing its fingers in preparation to crush her bark covered skull. Yet despite the discomfort brought she raised her hand and channelled what energies she could and then slammed them into the pummel of her blade.
A surge of dark energies shot out and through the blade, and then the Naga's entire torso exploded outwards. Its back blowing out as its insides and a good portion of its chest dissolved and rotted into nothing, leaving the remains to teeter back and hit the wet floor with a thud.
"Not so difficult," Codexia huffed, before a hand went to the wound along her shoulder, even with the bark over her body she could feel the blood seeping out of the wound.
But that was the least of her concerns, the Naga were now angry and wanted her blood, the Myrmidons wanted revenge for their fallen leader and she was their target. Codexia raised her blade and waited for them, she may be able to do something with her decaying magic but it wouldn't work so well against so many.
Then a blinding light appeared behind Codexia, she glanced back to see the watery vessel had frozen over, then the pulsing glow grew in intensity. A sudden crack was heard and then an explosion of force shot out and reverberated through the chamber.
Codexia was launched away, sliding away from the stairs and shrine, as she lifted herself up she watched in awe at the being before her. It stood ten feet tall and was completely composed of crystal clear water, it was near formless mass of liquid but still possessed a vaguely humanoid shape.
Long liquescent hair and a slender frame made it distinguishably female, but nothing else could be seen, the face was a blank canvas waiting to be filled as her body was obscured by torrents of raging water. It stepped forward, its entire being rippling with each footfall, it may not possess anything in regards to a face, but despite that, Codexia was certain it was staring at her.
"You are a servant to the greater elements, but not one of our patron peoples? How strange," The Elemental said, smooth and clear, having a strange watery echo to her words.
Codexia would have spoken then and there, but when she heard the slivering of something around her she realized she was still in mortal danger. Glancing around she found she had been knocked into the mass of Naga, who likely had been cast back alongside her, who were now back up and ready to murder her.
Codexia looked around quickly, hoping to find her sword; all the while the Naga raised their weapons and prepared to skewer her. With no weapon, and even less time to actually defend herself if she had it, Codexia was certain that in the next moment she would be dead. Her mind raced at the thought that this could happen, that her entire world would be torn away from her and everything she worked for would be for nothing.
'Please, there is still so much that has to be done!' Codexia begged.
As the Naga were ready to strike they in turn were struck, their bodies perforated from multiple sides by dozens of spikes and spears. Codexia's eyes widened when she noted that they were all composed of water, the very water that littered the ground had risen up and skewered all the Naga around her. The liquid becoming solid enough to actually cause physical harm, it was something she had never seen before, and a moment later becoming fluidic enough that it collapsed back to the floor.
"These creatures, serpents in form yet holding a familiarity with the former people of this city, along with an old enemy, what has happened in the eons that I have slept?" Thetis said, strolling forward and examining the deceased Naga.
"What is this!?" Vilishj shrieked from her perch. "You summon some servant of Neptulon into my domain and intend to usurp me!?"
"What are you creature, why does the blood of my patrons course through your veins, yet you take such forms?" Thetis inquired her words soothing and kind, asking gently for an answer despite the hostility brought upon by the Naga.
"They are Naga, they were once your patrons and servants, but they have been changed and turned into these monstrosities that you see now," Codexia replied, unwilling to let this witch get a word in, not that it would have done any good.
"Be silent land filth!" Vilishj cried, summoning a spear of ice and throwing it towards Codexia.
The Primalist turned and evaded the strike, leaning aside just enough for it to scape by her by a few inches, before she made to retaliate. But before she could the elemental Spirit halted all conflict, a sphere of water forming around the Naga Siren and pulling her towards the spirit. Like a fish trapped in a glass bowl the Siren howled and tried to escape, but found her watery prison impregnable.
"Release me Elemental!" Vilishj ordered.
"What has happened to you? What has driven your kind to become like this? Do you not still follow our teachings? Why do you practice the art of the Well? Why do you use its powers?" Thetis asked, sounding troubled as she inquired on the Naga's use of magic. "Is this the cause? Is this what has turned you into what you are now?"
"No, their change was brought about by a different force, a darker one," Codexia said.
"Silent woman!" Vilishj yelled, her words distorted by the waters in which she thrashed in.
"I do not know the cause, but in a book known as the Tome of the Ancients it speaks of a great power that saved them from the black depths of the sea, that it changed them and made them into what they are now," Codexia replied.
The book she had acquired not long after finding this place, the tome hidden amongst a caste located near a statue. It was there that she learned much on the Naga, their history and origins.
"Dark forced worked on changing them, but their own greed and arrogance is what turned them into this, changing them into monsters that seek now to rule both the lands and the seas," Codexia said, jabbing a finger at the Naga. "Whatever dark magics have twisted this woman into what she is now cannot be trusted or reasoned with."
The Spirit of Water was silent for a while, looking at the Siren within the prison and formulating some form of reply. Then the spirit shuddered slightly, the water of its body rippling.
"Yes, I see now, that old sensation I feel from them, from you Naga, the touch of the Void," Thetis said, her form shuddering uncontrollably. "The beasts of the Void are responsible for this sacrilege, tainting my Patron People, as they did so many others in eons past, into these monstrous beasts that now prowl this city and my Temple."
Codexia did not need to know that the spirit was angry, with the way its words grated her ears and the raging waters that made up her body boiled and churned it was obvious. It wouldn't take much to convince her to help get this city out of the water and get these Naga to vacate, against their will of course.
"Please Thetis, Spirit of Water, while many millennia has passed since you looked upon this city and the world as a whole your people are not all lost, some still remain," Codexia said. "Above the surface, on the coasts of Western Kalimdor the Highborne wait for this city to be raised from the ocean floor so that they can return to somewhere they are welcome and safe."
The spirit regarded her for a moment, a brief flickering of her form conveying her mood and emotions, Codexia could only guess that she was considering it and maybe concerned. The Spirit of Water was always known for its nurturing and kind nature, it would never allow for the innocent to be harmed or for them to suffer in a cold bleak world.
"You say that my Patron People are above, without home or comfort?" The Spirit said. "Then I shall give them a place to which they can call their own."
Codexia stumbled slightly when she felt the ground tremble, slowly building with each passing moment. Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening now, the city was rising.
The ocean floor cracked and broke apart as the city, and the rock it was situated upon, began to separate itself from the depths of the sea and rise. A powerful current churning beneath the city and across it, those caught within the waves were pulled along and thrown away, hurtling through the murky waters uncontrollably.
Upon the shores of the Desolace all could look out into the ocean and see the oceans were churning. A massive whirlpool forming several kilometres off the coast, nearly a kilometre in diameter and growing in size and depth as something began to rise to the surface. Many eyes were glued to the spectacle, few knew exactly what was transpiring, those that were aware could still not believe what their eyes were beholding.
Soon a single spire speared out of the water, the dirty and worn marble stone like a needle on the horizon, yet many more towers and megastructures followed. An entire palace, then dozens of large buildings, and finally the very ground and mountainous terrain in which the city was built upon rose up from the depths and floated upon the sea.
The city had been raised and now it was within reach, only a stone's throw away over the bay and to their new home. But it seemed that fate was giving them a helping hand, for from the depths a bridge began to form, rocks rising from the waters and creating a highway to the city in the middle of the ocean.
"I'll be damned, they actually did it," Booth Morton said, he and his entire crew were looking at that city in amazement.
"So this is our city?" Mordent said, strolling forward and gazing at the dilapidated city that once was Ethel Rethor. "To see that it had survived at all is a miracle."
He turned to his people, all of them excitingly moving forward, they were eager to go forward and enter the once sunken city. This is what they had been waiting for, days of travelling and waiting for the promised city that would hold their salvation, and here it was. Like a dream come true.
"Come! Let us reclaim this lost city! Let us rebuild our nation to its former glory!" Mordent called, raising his staff and like a Shepherd her guided his flock to greener pastures.
Booth watched them go, but despite the happiness and general positivity they were now displaying, he couldn't share their enthusiasm. Whatever this city was going to do for them it wouldn't be enough, they were in an unforgiving world right now and if they think they can continue with their old ways, they were in for a rude awakening.
But more than that, he was more concerned about what their involvement in this could bring, and what kind of trouble would befall his people for just being here to help. He hoped Marta was okay, because right now this is where they would get paid and hopefully leave this entire mess behind.
Marta looked over the plaza, her eyes glued to the shoreline of the Desolace that sat several kilometres away. It had been a hard fought victory, one that she thought couldn't be called that, but the city had been raised and with that bridge now in place the people would be swarming in at any moment. Yet her eyes were drawn back to the temple, she could hear Codexia faintly within, it would seem that the ritual was finished.
Stepping from the temple was Codexia, smiling proudly and appearing to be quite cheerful. She stepped up besides Marta and looked out over the city and towards Kalimdor, her smile widening as she saw small figures along the natural bridge moving towards the city.
"We did it, we finally brought the city to the surface," Codexia said, letting out a content sigh. "Now all that remains is to get the people settled."
"That and fixing this place up," Marta replied, noticing that most of the buildings were in desperate need of some repair work, along with demolition and rebuilding.
"I am sure that they can handle that, maybe you can stay around and help out, always good to help those in need am I right?" Codexia replied, giving the Gnome a small smile.
"Nah, I think we have done enough helping as is, even if it means extra pay," Marta replied. "So for now, I would like to get what is owed already, don't start a new job until you get paid for the last one."
"Of course," Codexia replied, gesturing to the city. "There is bound to be valuable artefacts here that can be taken and sold to recuperate your expenditure."
Marta frowned at that, they were going to have to pilfer through this city for whatever had some monetary value? They may be archaeologists to a degree but this was just starting to get ridiculous. Besides the fact that they were going to be looting this city while the new inhabitants were here was not going to do them any favours.
"And how are we meant to do that? Have you noticed that the people that are coming along are not exactly going to take kindly to us stealing from their city, especially the valuable stuff they likely want to keep," Marta replied.
"That will not be an issue, most of these trinkets that remain while are valuable to the right people, in time they will hold only sentimental value to the Highborne in the coming days," Codexia replied, using her typical cryptic wording.
"Sentimental? I am doubtful these guys do not like letting anyone taking their stuff, regardless if they were saved by those people," Marta replied.
"That is now, but soon it will change, because they will learn to be more compassionate," Codexia replied.
"Come again?" Marta inquired, not thinking for a moment that those stuck up bastards would even know what that word means, probably not even know how to spell it.
"Do you remember when I told you why I brought them back?" Codexia asked.
"Yeah, you said you would get them off magic, and also something about doing the right thing and that it was being kind, something like that." Marta replied, although the last part she did not think was right, after all Codexia did mention she was going to have them join her little covenant.
"Yes, when I learned that the Highborne still existed here I was thrilled, at first I did not know why I should help them or why I was asked to but now I do," Codexia replied. "Because they can be the turning point for us."
"Turning point to what?" Marta asked.
"To bringing Primalism to the rest of the world," Codexia replied, smiling widely and appeared genuinely happy. "Once they all take up the art this entire city will become a Shamanistic commune of sorts, people from all around will come here and turn this city into what Dalaran was to mages."
Marta could understand that, but something caught her attention.
"You said that you intend to make these guys Primalists, that is going to take some time isn't it? After all these guys are not going to forsake thousands of years of tradition and magical knowledge just so they can get rid of their addiction and maybe rekindle old roots." Marta replied.
"I know, but if they have no other choice but to accept they will do so," Codexia replied.
Marta frowned at Codexia's statement, that one little sentence had all but made her worried about what exactly she was implying.
"You do know that the Highborne are persecuted because of their magic use and their recklessness with it, it has made them targets by so many, and even with this city they cannot escape that persecution, unless they change." Codexia continued, as if sensing the question being thought of by Marta. "There is no way they can find another font of magical energies within this city, it has either been taken by the Naga or so degraded it would offer them nothing more than a moments reprieve."
"That doesn't mean that they will change, they would search for it outside the city," Marta replied.
"No, they cannot, very soon everyone will know they are here," Codexia replied.
Now Marta was interested, how could anyone possibly know that they were here? They were hundreds of kilometres from civilization of any kind and no one else was aware of them. So who could be aware of them?
"Who would be alerted?"
"The Horde," Codexia replied.
Marta's eyes widened at that statement, the Horde of all people becoming aware was not what she expected or wanted to hear.
"Them? But how could they…" Marta asked, before she realized and could not fathom how she could not have come to this epiphany sooner. "The Blademasters."
"Correct, they will be going to Ogrimmar and will alert them of what has transpired, I am very aware that Thrall would gladly accept these Blademasters back into their ranks," Codexia replied. "But I also know that if the Blademasters were aware of anything relating to the elements they would inform him. More than that, he would also inform Jaina Proudmoore of the Highborne in the city, and in turn she will inform the Sentinels to take actions if need be."
Marta knew exactly what that was, she was basically putting the lives of the Highborne in danger right now and forcing them to change in order to have a hope of survival.
"The Highborne will have no choice but to change who they are and accept Primalism, with that the Sentinels will forgo outright attacking them, but also it opens so many opportunities for the future." Codexia replied.
"You planned this? All of this you planned?"
"I did, the Highborne were never meant to be here, this originally I intended to be a Shamans commune, but with the Highborne it made things actually easier," Codexia replied. "Rescuing them convinced the Spirit of Water to accept me and allow me to use her powers, and now with them here I can strengthen the Primalist presence in the world and expand not only into the Horde, but maybe even the Alliance."
Marta looked on shocked, this looked more and more like a power grab than anything else. She had manipulated an entire surviving caste of people, even an elemental spirit, to doing what she wanted and now she was ready to move onto the next course.
"Are you mad?"
Codexia appeared surprised by the question, looking at Marta with an expression that conveyed her clear perplexity to the inquiry of her sanity.
"What? What are you talking about?" Codexia asked.
"What am I talking about? Girl, I have known you for six months now, but never in that time have I been more scared of what you are capable of right now," Marta replied, her expression a mix of seriousness and caution.
"Heh, come now Marta, no need to be so…" Codexia started, but when she moved to actually pet her on the head like she like to do, as if to annoy her, Marta actually shifted away. "You're serious aren't you?"
The expression of the gnomes face was clear, the sight of Codexia's hand going towards her face actually made her cringe and try to flee.
"What have I done to warrant this? I have done nothing," Codexia said, sounding surprised and in a little way insulted by this.
"Nothing? You brought a group of people here, people who are afraid and so confused right now they have no idea what the future means for them. Every day you were gone I heard them begging for anything to protect them, and many of those voices mentioned you." Marta replied. "But I hear that you are using them, and their fear, as nothing more than a means to an end to get what you want."
The Highborne had been terrified of the outside world, they were wary of everything and everyone they met, not even her crew could get near them without them flinching. But Codexia, somehow she had made some of them believe that she was going to save them and leading them back to glory. Sure those asshole mages did some of the work and made it out to be their doing, but Codexia had their ears as well.
"Not only that, but you actually bring more harm towards them to force them to give up everything they know and have likely ever known, just because you need them to for your next little scheme?" Marta accused.
"It is necessary, I know that it is not kind but these people are not going to survive the way they are, using magic is only going to complicate things for them, especially since they have been starved of it, what do you think will happen when they get their hands on a large font of it? They will drown themselves in it." Codexia replied. "What I am doing is for their own good."
"Their own good? Tyrants use the same excuse. By the Light woman, you are willing to risk the lives of over a thousand people just to expand this little covenant of yours," Marta replied.
"This covenant as you call it is the only thing that will be standing strong against the Elemental armies that invade this world, and I cannot just allow this chance to slip by to actually strengthen us so early," Codexia replied.
"Is this all it is about? Power? You go from spirit to spirit, gaining more power and gathering allies from outcasts and the hated, forcing them to fight for you and your cause all the while letting them still be in fear of a world that will kill them for being what they are," Marta said.
"That is why I am changing it, Primalism will be name that is remembered for saving this world and finally bringing balance back to the elements! The Highborne will be remembered in a different light and no longer be hunted. They will embrace Primalism and harness the elements as they should have." Codexia barked back.
"You think the elements will accept them? They are doing this to survive and live another day, do you think they will actually accept them? When they realize they are terrified and doing this against their will because they have no choice, what do you think the elements will do?" Marta asked.
"They are her patron people, Thetis will do so and that will be the bridge that is needed to finally get these people to cross over," Codexia replied. "She will accept them back into her arms and they will be grateful for it."
"I have no idea how you can think that, how can you believe that what you are doing now is in anyway right? You are putting innocent lives at risk for a gamble that you have no idea if it will pay off, how can you actually smile when you are risking so many lives?"
"Because we have to!" Codexia said with some force. "Every single life I bring into the fold needs to be ready, to risk their lives for something bigger than them. I put them on the line now so that when the time comes and the hard battle needs to be fought that they will be ready to face it head on and not be so scared they will not leave these walls. Every sacrifice that is made from the moment I retrieved them and till now has been for the greater good."
Marta was silent, staring back at the Primalist with narrowed eyes, but Codexia noticed the fire in them, the anger.
"Greater good? Everyone you sacrificed from the moment you left Dire Maul to when you raised the City? That was for the greater good?" Marta asked, her voice straining to remain calm. "All my crew, all those people I knew and were like my family are dead, all for the greater good?"
Codexia realized what she had just said, her annoyance now replaced with shame and sympathy, that had been something she should never had said so brazenly.
"Marta, I did not mean…" Codexia tried to amend what she said, but Marta took the reins.
"No, you did mean it, I know you well enough," Marta replied, her teeth were clenched and her eyes like daggers as they stabbed into the Primalist's own. "You may have walked beside us but you have never been anything more than a black sheep among us, and I am willing to bet that you never saw us as any more useful as the very people you manipulate and control right now."
Codexia was stunned for a moment, unable to form words at the sudden and violent accusation that had been thrown at her. How could Marta actually think she would use them like that? She may not be close to them all but she knew many and they were her friends, and she was sure that they could say the same for her.
"No, No! They were my friend! I would never do anything to you? I couldn't!" Codexia defended, unwilling to be accused of something so horrid.
"Look in there?" Marta said, pointing to the temple entrance. "Look! When you came out you smiled, you were happy and content, how many of the people that died protecting you did you walk over and past while you strolled back into the sun? Did you even dignify them with a glance when you immediately went to that spirit and asked for her power? Did you even stop to look at Corinne's and Drommyr's bodies were carried out?"
Codexia was left frozen at the accusation, it left her feeling cold and a weight falling right onto her heart. They were dead, how could she have forgotten something so important like that. But not only them, Pat was dead as well, he had died on the sub along with so many other faces she knew and came to consider friends.
"You don't even know what your sacrificing, how can I trust you when you to look out for those innocent people, when your own friends are expendable in your eyes," Marta growled. "I will not allow you to kill any more of my people, you can continue this mad bid of yours, but I will make sure that you understand the full weight of what you have done and all the people you sacrifice for your ambition."
Marta turned and skulked away, her short feet carrying her quickly away from the stock still Primalist. Codexia had watched her leave, unable to form a sentence or even form a rational thought to refute exactly what had been said to her. But nothing could be said or comprehended that changed the absolute certainty of what Codexia had been told.
"I-I didn't… I…" Codexia tried to speak, desperate to refute the claims placed upon her.
She looked to the temple entrance, her eyes peering into the long hallway and wondering just how many bodies had she passed by to come out here. She couldn't even remember seeing Barret and Cassidy; did they carry out Corrine and Drommyr? Did they pass her while she was making her case to the Spirit of Water?
After so long, for so many years she had planned and prepared for this day and all that it may entail, she felt conflicted with the actions she was committing and the lives she was involving.
Since you guys miss Ichigo so much I decided to send this your way, hope you enjoy.
Omake:
Two Weeks Ago
Theramore Isle
"Ichigo, please leave," Jaina said, rubbing her temple in an attempt to keep the mind grain from coming on.
"God dammit, I want to be here, I got nothing else I can do!" Ichigo replied back irritably.
"I am very aware of that, and it seems that pestering me seems to be the only thing you wish to do with your spare time," Jaina replied. "And I see that you brought Adelina along as well, hoping to have an audience as you drive me slowly to madness?"
Adelina was indeed sitting nearby and watching with rasp attention, obviously she was thinking hard about something. Whatever that may be was completely lost to Jaina and Ichigo, for while the girl was intelligent and insightful in her own way her knowledge of human customs were only as thorough as those of her own people. More often than not she made up assumptions and speculations, and not all of them good.
"She wanted to come and see what I am doing up here all day with you, I told her it would be boring but she came along anyway," Ichigo replied, jerking his thumb over his shoulder and towards said companion who seemed to continue to frown in thought and cast her eyes from one of them to the other.
Jaina had to sigh again, she couldn't deny that he had a point that right now she had been forced to at least comply with some of Ichigo's demands but it was beginning to go too far. She glanced to the side where Tervosh was helping three young mages brush up on some tomes. In order to get any work down she had left some academics to this plan to them to research and compile information on, but that would only go so far with apprentices and novices.
"Ichigo, you do realize that this will not be done any sooner, I have told you time and time again I need to find the knowledge required and study it and decipher how it works, there are no shortcuts in magic," Jaina tried to reason with him, and that meant getting herself some space to be away from the man.
But that did not do a damn thing.
"Yeah, I know, but it doesn't mean I am just going to sit around and wait for something to happen," Ichigo replied, almost childishly crossing his arms and resisting her attempt to get him to leave.
From there is descended into an argument, bickering and yelling at each other, it would have been considered childish but it was a miracle that Jaina had held on so long. Those who were present simple sighed as they knew this would be going on for a while, it is best to tune it out and get some work done before they came to a conclusion that neither of them were going to get what they want.
"I think I understand now," Adelina said, looking to have come to some form of epiphany.
Jaina and Ichigo directed curious glances towards the Elven woman, finding her statement in the middle of their verbal brawl to be completely out of left field. What could she have possible come to understand?
"Uh, what?" Ichigo asked.
"I now know why you come here so often, it makes sense now seeing you both here as you are," Adelina replied, looking pleased with herself.
"You do?" Jaina inquired, in a way if the girl did find some logical reason it was something she could use to maybe get the boy away from her.
"It is obvious that he comes here for you," Adelina said, pointing towards Jaina who looked a little put off by the statement and the fact it was indeed obvious. "Or more correctly, how you present yourself to him as a female."
Now she was confused.
"Wait, what the hell are you saying?" Ichigo asked, feeling some form of dread work its way up his spine as he heard Adelina talking.
That pose, that inquisitive yet oddly innocent glint in her eye, and the fact she likely had no idea what she was talking about in relative terms of human culture could only end with something embarrassing happening in the next ten seconds.
"Ichigo is a young man, going into his prime and likely beginning to feel the rise in his blood as he goes through sexual maturity," Adelina replied, and Ichigo was damn right on the money.
A snort could be heard nearby and Ichigo turned and glared at the three attendants and Tervosh, who were facing away from him and standing ramrod still.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Ichigo yelled, a shade of red coming to his face as he realized full on she was talking in public about this.
"Do not worry Ichigo, going through adolescence is normal, but I think I understand given how often you come here, after all Lady Jaina does present herself very alluringly," Adelina replied, trying to appear kind and actually understanding the substitutes plight, and completely missing that she was the one causing it.
"E-excuse me?!" Jaina asked, that had taken her completely off guard.
"You attire is very tight fitting, and the way you're presenting yourself to Ichigo he may think you are attempting to present yourself to the young man," Adelina replied.
"Now Adelina, that is certainly not true!" Jaina said, waving her hands at the woman, attempting to stop this before something comes along that really cause's unwanted rumours to start going around.
"But with the way your coverings elevate your bosom and presents them very clearly I find it hard to believe that Ichigo does not notice them," Adelina replied. "Along with the fact you do so continuously only further makes me think you want him to notice."
Jaina heard a snort nearby and turned, finding Tervosh and those three apprentices ramrod straight in their chair, she narrowed her eyes at them. While Ichigo was trying to shut his jaw at the fact that Adelina could be so blatant like that and not give a damn, especially to someone like Jaina.
"T-that… that is not true dammit!" Ichigo yelled at her. "I am not staring at her chest! And you don't say stuff like that out in the open! It is inappropriate!"
"Oh, did I ruin whatever courting ritual you were performing?" Adelina asked.
"There is not courting ritual!" Ichigo and Jaina replied, both of them very much flustered over what had just been thrown at them.
"Then why is it that you always come here other than to be within Lady Jaina's presence while she is so attractively appealing?" Adelina asked, leaving Jaina wondering where in the Nether she got that from?
"I am here to make sure the badge is being worked on and so I can go home!" Ichigo yelled back, red faced and hoping to god that this ends quickly.
"Odd, since you yourself admitted that you know it will not be done soon and that you have nothing better to do, I only assumed that a hot blooded young man like yourself would only come here to admire Lady Jaina as she is now," Adelina replied, almost musing to herself.
Jaina and Ichigo heard a choking sound to the right, both turned and glared at the four people who were now shaking slightly as they tried to contain their laughter. Both of them glared at the backs of these men's heads.
"That is not the case Adelina, now please do not speak anymore on this!" Jaina said in a hurried manner, this would not go away quickly she knew.
"I am sorry if I have made you uncomfortable, I just assumed that with how aggressive Ichigo was being with you he was making advances," Adelina replied.
"Stop making assumptions when you don't know what is going on!" Ichigo yelled.
This had to be the most embarrassing moment Jaina had ever encountered in her life, being told that she was shamelessly presenting herself and alluring you men towards her. That could be construed in so many horrible ways that Jaina did not want to think about it. Luckily she knew enough about Adelina to know that her inquiry was born of ignorance of human culture rather than asking if she was some kind of whore.
"Of course, my apologised, it seems that I made another mistake again, just like that time we shared a bath together," Adelina replied.
"Don't mention that!" Ichigo yelled, blood pooling to his face as he tried to fight down the blush.
"I think I may have caused you both enough trouble, you have my sincerest apologies, I will go now," Adelina replied, rising from her seat and moving for the stairs, none seeing the amused grin on her lips.
Ichigo watched her leave, descending down the steps and wondering how the hell he was going to get through this day now.
"Ichigo…" Jaina asked, hesitating to actually tap him on the shoulder, contact might be a little overboard right now. "Maybe a little distance, would be good for today."
"Yeah… that might be a good idea," Ichigo replied, following Adelina's lead and moving for the stairs, and without another word he departed.
Jaina stood there for a moment and let out a sigh, that had been a daunting and slightly nerve wracking event, but something lingered on her mind. She turned around and moved for the wall, standing there was a full body mirror, and as she examined her reflection she frowned.
"It… it doesn't make them look that big… not really," Jaina mused, wondering if she was lying to herself right now.
"Getting a little self-conscious now are we?" Aegwynn inquired.
"Not now Aegwynn," Jaina groaned.
Reviews:
Squadpunk 2.0: Her motives are something to consider, but the actions are what truly need to be considered.
RogueUnit: No, but the fact that I needed to do this is because if I do not than no one will understand exactly why there is a city off the coast of Desolace, where the Burning Blade went, why there is another Primal Spirit and the fact Codexia is having doubts. I did this to fill the void that would be where the next arc takes place. Mainly because without this chapter no one will understand what is going on, arcs like these need to happen to give clear understanding of what is happening.
Without it the story loses focus and people are lost and when they are lost they quit and don't come back.
Black cross0: Yeah, Codexia is an enigma, but now you are likely wondering exactly what is it about her that she is doing. Also I have heard, the Manga is ending soon and also I have seen the Warcraft movie. I liked it, good movie but I am afraid that it didn't give enough narrative on the events and characters.
Xeenith: Well I gave you the Omake at the end, but after this Ichigo will be returning completely, he will appear in the next chapter so do not worry. Also the setting for the next arc is still different, no one knows what is going to happen because nothing revealed in this arc eludes to what will transpire later.
Krazyfanfiction1: Thanks
Daio Ise: Thanks for understanding, will try to write quicker with chapter.
Leapinglemur: Thanks, also I hope you enjoyed the Omake.
Umbra Venator: Thank you.
Wrandral: You will see soon enough with them, also the Burning Blade is known to use dark magic to control their Blademasters and with them freed they can return to the Horde and serve with honor again.
Also Codexia is much more powerful now than ever, with all that natural magic at her fingertips she is exceptionally powerful.
Also the Paladin, Corrine is a vagabond, travelling and doing right where she can. While she works for Marta it was mainly to search the world and help when in need.
Blindluck92: That is true, the world is filled with Heroes and people, you don't just focus on one character, you often need to step back and look at the many others that are helping shape the world, and others that are tearing it down.
Terrible: I see that the name matches the person who typed it, don't see that every day. And if you don't understand that, because it is obvious that you have no idea what a good story is, it means you do not know what you are talking about.
KillingTheShadow101: Will do, try to get another up soon.
Star: Calm down man, it is here for you and it is nice and long. Also Azore would have been in the region had Marta's crew not turned up, in fact in the original timeline had Codexia not survived Marta and her crew would have left and Azore would have set up shop at the temple, in fact Azore was on his way to the temple when Thunder Axe Stronghold was attacked by Codexia and her allies.
Shiranakutemokekko: True, kind of the reason I made the Omake, really fun making that, feels like a Shinigami Picture Book scene that you see at the end of every episode.
Luna's Meow: Yeah, but not all cultures would accept him, some Trolls would covenant his power because they want it and others would think him a danger because he is human. Trolls are very racist when they want to be, very racist indeed.
Ben 10'000: Mainly because Jinzen is often needed for communication, that is typical, often the Zanpakuto spirit doesn't come to the Shinigami unless they need to. Zangetsu is the same, he doesn't pester Ichigo and tell him what to do, it is not his purpose to guide Ichigo but for Ichigo to guide himself.
It will actually be taken from him at one point, but for him to gain that form he had in the recent Manga chapters Ichigo will need to claim his True Zanpakuto through an Ausachi. No other way.
