Two Chapters in a row, it must be Christmas, if I had not been sick you would have gotten both on that festive day, but sad to say I got sick and that didn't happen. But hey, two chapters are still better than none.
We are moving into the next arc here, this one will be relatively shorter than the Maraudon one, that had a lot of world building and events going on. This one will be quicker, I promise, and the one after that will be the same. I am starting to appreciate the idiom 'Short and Sweet'. I plan for the following arcs to be a lot shorter and having a more condensed narrative. That way we can actually progress further into the story. After all, this is actually the timeline of how the arcs went in Transcendence.
Arrival: Chapter 0 - 9 (10)
Shady Rest Arc: Chapter 10 - 22 (13)
Redridge Arc: Chapter 23 - 29 (8)
Dire Maul Arc: Chapter 30 - 39 (10)
Ethel Rethor Arc - Chapter 40 - 43 (4)
Interlude Arc - Chapter 44 - 45 (2)
Desolace Arc - Chapter 46 - 69 (24)
Vacation Arc - Chapter 70 - 72 (3)
Adelina Arc - Chapter 73 - 80 (7)
As you can see I put a lot of work into the Desolace Arc, which while containing a lot of events and circumstances was really bloated out. Twenty-Four Chapters, not exactly small. It was nearly twice as long as the Shady Rest Arc, that is no small arc there. Couldn't imagine, nor do I desire, the number of words I put towards that. So I am going to try and skim things down a little so I can get the story progressing and so that you don't have to wait for the long awaited conclusion.
I can confirm now that we are halfway there, half the arcs are complete for Vanilla. Now you may be worried but remember that not all arcs are going to be the same length and I am going to try and make them concise and more regular than they have been. Lets just say life has not been easy for me since the lockdown and work, but now I have the time to put towards this. I want to see it done, to be completed. And by god I will see it done.
Transcendence
Chapter 82: Waiting for Results
It wasn't in his nature to sit idle and wait for something to happen, not usually, sometimes he would try to be proactive in dealing with a problem. To sit around and hope that something good would come along to fix those problems wasn't his style, even if it seemed like he was doing nothing. As much as it seemed like he did nothing the truth was he dwelled on the issue, a lot, thinking on potential ways to overcome or outright fix things.
Didn't always work, sometimes he was out of his depth or on other occasions he was stumped with no way of truly understanding how to fix the issue.
But that was his way, he was stubborn to a fault, he knew it wasn't the best thing to have when you were in a life and death situation. To be unwilling to put aside your ego or one's beliefs, to actually realise you cannot do anything to fix it, and instead ask for help where it was needed.
That was simply how he was.
Resistant to getting aid unless absolutely necessary, throughout his entire stint as a substitute Soul Reaper he had made this into a recurring theme. It almost turned into a running gag. Usually someone had to force him to listen, push him down and shatter his pride to make him see, or on some occasions he had to be pushed into a corner and left no choice but to accept.
What he was going through now wasn't so different to the time when his Inner Hollow was starting to exert its influence over him. He resisted any aid sent his way, admittedly from people he had no idea about, right up until the point where he was so desperate that he only really accepted because people got hurt because of his recklessness.
This was no different. In fact, it was worse.
He knew the consequences that would follow if he did nothing, who would get hurt and how. Even if at the time he never had a clear picture, he still knew what was coming and saw the result and did nothing.
Like always he resisted until he was backed into a corner, forced to realise he couldn't do this on his own and he needed all the help he could get. That he had to rely on others to help save him from whatever was worming its way through his being. Hence why he was here.
"I am sorry we could not be of more aid." Elder Sareth'na said, as she led him from the Temple of Fertility.
He had hoped to meet with Druantia there, call to her and maybe get some answers, but she either couldn't hear him or didn't answer. That was his last bet on meeting up with the Primal Spirits, at least for the time being, he couldn't go to Ethel Rethor for the time being. Going there without permission at this point might cause some problems, especially since the Warsong still view him as an Alliance weapon of war.
"Still nothing on Celebras or Zaetar?" Ichigo asked.
"We know only that they were freed from whatever magic held them within the depths of Maraudon, but locating then has somehow become more difficult. We know they reside within the Dream but we have been having some issue reaching there." Sareth'na replied.
"You think it might be related to my problem?" Ichigo asked.
The Emerald Dream from what he had gathered was a spiritual realm in of its own, but surprisingly enough it was literally a dreamrealm that could be entered through one's dreams. Under very specific and special circumstances mind you, but it was essentially a shared dream world. It wouldn't be so hard to think of it similar to himself entering his inner world, only instead it wasn't in his own head.
If something was holding the Druids back from glimpsing into the realm and also finding their own, this might be related to the issues he heard about at the Dream Bough. He couldn't contact or sense his Zanpakuto spirit, and neither could he feel his Inner Hollow, too much of a coincidence.
"Perhaps, from what you have told me this seems remarkably similar, I will pass on what you have told me about your condition to Romulus personally. If we discern a means to counter this taint we will share it with you." Sareth'na promised.
All he could do was nod in thanks, there was nothing else he could do but nod and go along with what was happening.
"So, how is it going here then?" Ichigo asked, deciding to break away from the morbidity of his own situation and see if what was happening here was bearing any fruit.
They walked along the highway and eventually came to an overlook that gave a nice view of the lower commons of the city. He could see several kilometres of marble rooftops leading towards the imposing walls of the city. Amongst the white stone however he noticed several colours, red, purple and green most notable, flag being flown and placed in locations across the city.
"The Warsong has already sent an advance party, they are setting up close to the entrance of the city to ensure that no threat is able to enter." Sareth'na said. "Apart from them refugees have been pouring in regularly ever since we opened the city to them. But they are few in comparison to the estimates of how many should be out there."
"Lots of people died huh." Ichigo mused.
He wasn't exactly ignorant to the consequences of war, but he certainly couldn't say he was an expert and knew what these people were going through. The Tauren were being displaced, in fact the ogres, gnolls and harpies were being forced out as well, and what lives they had here were all but gone.
There was no way he could imagine the kinds of horrors they went through, a part of him didn't want to know.
"Most of them retreated to Thousand Needles when the Centaur struck, how many survived we do not know, but many have been trapped on bluffs and cliffs for months. Waiting the Centaur out until someone can come rescue them." Sareth'na replied.
He wondered who was going to come rescue them.
"Any issues we have to worry about?" Ichigo asked.
"Some, aside from the obvious tension between the Sentinels and Warsong we also have to deal with other elements present. Most notably are the Grimtotem Clan." Sareth'na stated.
Ichigo knew all about them, they had been the ones to raid and destroy Shady Rest, he heard that their clan had been severely reprimanded by their chieftain and forced out of Thunderbluff for their attack on the Alliance.
"What are they up to now?" Ichigo asked, wondering if they were making more raids on the Alliance, maybe even the Sentinels.
"They are helping refugees, it would seem that their chieftain is using this chaos to improve their image and earn favour from the people." Sareth'na said.
"I get the feeling they are doing more than that." Ichigo muttered.
"They are also using the fact that the Centaur were able to breach into Feralas as proof that Cairne Bloodhoof is incapable of protecting the tribes from harm. She is trying to undermine his leadership and prop herself up." Sareth'na replied.
He really hated politics, self-serving people like that were never people you want in power, and from the sounds of it this Magatha Grimtotem was aiming to become the next High Chieftain. Her methods leave much to be desired, if she actually got what she wanted, there was no telling what she would do if she led the United Tauren Tribes.
"Theres always a naysayer who wants to cause trouble." Ichigo muttered. "Guess you can't stop her huh."
"No, she is protecting the Tauren, we interfere and we put them are greater risk, and knowing the Grimtotem they will likely sacrifice many of those people to spite us and then twist the truth that their deaths were the result of our meddling. We cannot afford that I am afraid." Sareth'na said. "Until we have a solid force that can counter the Centaur we cannot risk alienating the only force present that can save the lives of the Tauren."
Life was not easy for them, but it was made even worse now that they had to deal with politics and scheming crones that would kill anyone and pin the blame on you. He missed the times when the only thing he had to worry about was his father making a fool of himself or his image at school being tarnished in some manner.
Such simpler times.
"Ichigo!" A call from down the highway caught his attention.
He turned and saw a panther rider charging down the street towards them, he jogged over to the edge of the road and waited for them. To his mild surprise the one coming to greet him was Anaesia, formally one of Iyeana's sergeants, he had heard she had been promoted to Lieutenant – the same rank as her former commanding officer.
"Surprised seeing you here, usually someone of your stature would send a minion to meet with a guest." Ichigo called back, smirking slightly and glad to see she had recovered from her ordeal.
"I am not so shy as to wish to avoid the man who stole the breath from my own lips, I would have thought you would be glad to see me." Anaesia said, dismounting and strolling right up to him, a coy smile on her lips that only grew as he felt a slight blush moving to his cheeks.
"I didn't...! God dammit, I gave you CPR." Ichigo growled. "Because of you I have had to deal with people making fun of me because of that. In fact, somehow that has reached all the way to Ashenvale."
"To be expected, my sister and cousin live there, they were very interested in hearing about the man that stole my breath away." Anaesia continued to tease. "Still, all jokes aside, it is good to see you again, I had heard things were not well for you."
Ichigo felt some dread work its way his gut, she was concerned about his wellbeing, seeing the concern in her eyes was ever worse. Because what was really terrifying for him to endure was remembering that horrifying lifeless gaze this woman had in his visions. Lying limp against a wall with her chest torn open, it was something that haunted him along with all the other visions he had received.
"I am doing better, its why I am here actually, to see if I can fix this permanently." Ichigo replied, putting his usual scowl in place as he made the declaration.
He didn't want to worry her too much, she was his friend and he didn't like worrying her over this. Jaina had been informed of nearly everything, only hiding the details regarding Anaesia and Caren, he had told the latter of his vision regarding her future. She had not taken it well, even brushing it off as nothing more than a delusion, he knew that she was afraid of it coming true.
But with Anaesia, he knew revealing something like that wouldn't be for her benefit, if she knew she was going to die how would she react to it? Would she just continue on without letting it affect her, like a good sentinel soldier should, or would she be unable to cope with the reality that she was destined to die in the near future. He didn't want to burden her, but more than that he didn't think he had the courage to tell her and see how she reacted.
"So, why are you out here? Everything alright?" Ichigo asked, worried that maybe something might have happened.
"A message from Theramore." Anaesia said, handing him a letter.
He took it and tore it open, quickly opening the folded piece of paper and quickly reading through it. Took him a minute and he finally got the message, he cursed under his breath, he shook his head and tossed aside the message.
"I need a ride back to the palace." Ichigo said.
Anaesia mounted up and pulled him into the saddle, he sat right behind her and put an arm around her waist.
"Sareth'na, I will be back later, if you get any information send it to Jaina, she can pass it onto me." Ichigo said, before they took off down the highway and towards the palace.
He had to get to his Hippogryph and then back to Theramore, it would take two or three days to get back depending on how fast he flies. But he had to get back as soon as possible, things were bad in the Eastern Kingdoms, and if his gut was telling him anything it meant that Caren was deep in it.
"What happened?" Anaesia asked.
"Galen Runecrest, Caren's master, has gone missing." Ichigo replied. "Apparently he got roped into a mission to assault Blackrock Depths."
Two Days Later
He made good time, didn't even rest at night and had made it back by dawn, he knew his mount was tired and wanted to stop. But he was stubborn, just like his rider, and didn't offer a complaint as he flew as hard and fast as he could to reach Theramore. Even as they flew over the marshlands and through the foul smog that permeated over it he didn't turn back or alter his route. He was making a beeline for Theramore, he couldn't waste a single moment.
Ichigo looked down and saw North Point Tower, he was only a stones throw away from Theramore. He wanted to get there quickly but he decided not to punish his mount any further, he pressed a hand against its neck and spoke quietly to it.
"Fly low, I'll drop and you can rest up." Ichigo said. "When you're better walk to Theramore."
The Hippogryph seemed to think for a moment before it dove forward and moved to land. Ichigo didn't wait to land, he jumped from his mount and landed with a hard thunk on the ground, everyone was surprised by his sudden arrival but he gave them no mind.
Instead he took off in a run, pushing his legs as hard as he could, he rushed to Theramore and even Shunpo to shorten the distance. He passed the gates without a word to the guards, rushing towards the Citadel and up the stairs to Jaina's parlour. He ran in and found her speaking with Aegwynn, she turned and let out a breath, relieved he had returned.
"Thank the Light, you're back." Jaina said.
"Is Caren still here?" Ichigo asked.
"She left within an hour of receiving the message, she is still in Stormwind last I heard." Jaina replied.
That was good, if she had run off into the Burning Steppes and then to Blackrock Mountain she would be as good as dead. Putting her stamina aside and her brazenness in the face of danger, the latter being something he had no real right to complain about, she had no idea what she was walking into.
"I got the message but what the hell is actually happening right now?" Ichigo asked.
"Galen was conscripted to take part in a rescue mission, Princess Moira Bronzebeard – Daughter of King Mangi Bronzebeard – has been kidnapped by the Dark Iron Dwarves. He was to be part of an infiltration force that would enter the city and fight their way to Moira and extract her." Jaina said.
Why the hell was he conscripted? The man is a freaking curator for a vault, you would be better off sending an actual mage that has combat training. The only reason he was sent to Redridge was because someone stole one of his relics, and he had to get it back.
"Why was he sent?" Ichigo asked.
"Because he had artifacts that could be of use." Jaina replied. "Regardless it is suspected that he is trapped within the Molten Core, the volcanic caverns beneath Shadowforge City."
The Molten Core? That sounded foreboding.
"Open a portal, I need to find Caren before she does anything drastic." Ichigo said, he turned around and moved for the door, but strangely enough Jaina didn't move from her spot.
Ichigo noticed her concerned gaze, it took him a moment and he had a clue as to why she looked so concerned. He was going to a very dangerous place, one that might be just as dangerous as Maraudon if not more so, and he was doing in a state that was far from stable.
"Going there while your powers are fluctuating will only put you in harms way, if you are going to lose your powers you could be vulnerable." Jaina warned.
"I don't plan on fighting, at least not yet anyway, I am going to go find Caren and then Galen. This isn't me running off into Maraudon to fight Theradras and all her lackey's on my lonesome. I don't plan on fighting, not if I can help it." Ichigo said.
"That may not be possible." Jaina said.
"Maybe not, but it doesn't change anything." Ichigo replied, regardless of what he was facing he wasn't going to leave Galen for dead. "Open the portal, I need to get to Stormwind as fast as possible."
Jaina offered no argument, at least not verbally, and within a few minutes had a portal up and running for him to step through. He did just that as it stabilised, one moment he was in Theramore and the next he was across the world and in Stormwind, he looked around and found the familiar confines of the Mage Tower. Outside the glass panel he could see the sun moving towards the west, it was approaching the horizon as the day came to an end.
"Ah, Mister Kurosaki." High Sorcerer Andromath greeted him, stepping forward and offering a hand.
Ichigo took it and shook firmly, he had met the man on three occasions before and spoken with him on the latter two. They were acquainted, only thanks to Galen's friendship did that same courtesy extend to him, despite the lack of interaction they got along well enough.
"I had been informed of your inevitable arrival, you are actually a day early." Andromath said, before handing him a letter. "Caren said you would be coming here soon, she left instruction for you to find her."
Ichigo took the message and skimmed it twice, making sure he read it correctly and didn't miss a thing, it would seem that he didn't have to worry about Caren running off and getting hurt. She was still inside the city and waiting for a second party to be formed to go after the first.
"A rescue party is being formed?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes, ironic really, a rescue team sent to rescue the rescue team." Andromath let out a mirthless chuckle. "Honestly the amount of manpower the House of Nobles is putting towards this is mindboggling, they barely approved of the first mission and now are desperate to see it completed. Makes no sense I tell you."
"Maybe they want something." Ichigo muttered, not caring in the slightest, their reasons didn't matter only that he got in on that rescue mission. "Where is the Gilded Rose?"
"In Trade District, right near the main gate, you can't miss it, there are a many travellers passing through there so it shouldn't be an issue finding it." Andromath replied.
Ichigo turned and moved to the door, he had to get to the inn and find Caren, she had been here for a few days now and likely knew more than anyone else. He just hoped that she hadn't gotten herself into any trouble.
Willmourne Manor
She couldn't believe she was stepping foot in this house again, not after escaping from it, not after hearing what Ichigo had told her what may come to pass. Every single fibre of her being wished she had never crossed the threshold of this manor, but she had little choice other than to take the step.
Coming here wasn't her choice, the one who summoned her wasn't someone she wished to speak with for the rest of her life, but he wasn't someone you can ignore. The Wizard Sanctum could not ignore this summons, mostly because of reasons she found to be utterly infuriating.
"It has been some time since your stepped into your family home, your mother has been concerned with your absence." Aldred Willmourne said, he sounded angry, not unusual from how she remembered him.
It had been a good two year since she had left this manor, in had been the more prosperous years of her life, to come back only reminded her of why she had been so eager to leave.
"She likely is more concerned with looking poor in front of the other peacocks at the next gala, I heard she had to wear the same jewellery she wore to the King's Wedding nine years ago." Caren replied, not bothering to hide her snark.
Her father glared at her, the creases on his face deepening as he scowled, he never liked it when his children misbehaved in front of him. The man was arrogant and thought himself a proper noble, above all other lesser men, that he deserved respect and obedience from everyone below his station.
A part of her used to be afraid of that glare, terrified of what would follow after he set his sights on her. Now she could protect herself, stand firm against his ire and not flinch, at least that was the mantra she continued to resound through her mind.
"You do not get to speak in such a manner after abandoning your family." Aldred said, narrowing his eyes. "Abandoning your duty."
"I am not going to play your game in trying to expand your influence, especially if it means betraying everyone I call friend." Caren said, returning that glare with her own.
She had feared him for so long, obeyed him without question, the only reason she had ever gone along with his schemes was because she knew she could escape him. He wouldn't be able to control her anymore, now she had power and authority that he couldn't take away, now she had the upper hand.
"Friend. There is no such word in the world of nobility, only stones in which one can use to elevate themselves to their desired position." Aldred replied, his scowl not lessoning. "Everyone is out to deprive you of what is rightfully yours, this family will not allow others to steal what is rightfully ours."
Caren honestly couldn't stand to hear him talk, his desires were simply hollow, all he cared about was increasing the Willmourne family's influence. No matter the cost, to anyone else, he would do anything that was necessary to protect their status and image. But the man had no shame in how he tried to achieve it, he had no honor, no level of depravity he wouldn't sink to.
He had struck up a friendship with Galen, aiding him in setting up the Reliquary alongside financing the Sanctum's school, then he had sent her to become his apprentice. It boggled her mind why her father had befriended someone of lower status, he absolutely hated the lower class, and Galen was someone he would hate with a passion. He despised those who rose above their place in the world, a commoner becoming someone of prominence.
Galen was just that. But the hypocrisy was that her father was no different, not really, he had become a noble through his own father's efforts and followed him there. He was born a commoner and became a noble, twenty years ago he became what he is now, and for some convoluted reason he despises others for becoming the same.
For a time she had wondered why that was the case.
Maybe it was his own arrogance that couldn't allow someone else to be given the privilege of someone receiving a gift as grand as that. Because if someone else received it, then it loses it worth and rarity, meaning that the miracle of his ascension to greater station is something anyone with talent could achieve. Or maybe that was it, he didn't raise himself up he was carried there by the laurels of someone else, someone better and that infuriated him.
He was simply a jealous fool.
"Only you would think that, you stoop to any level to get what you want, consequences be damned, even when caught you would deny it or make excuse." Caren said, remembering how she had damaged their reputation to this extend.
Her apprenticeship under Galen was a ploy by her father, along with several other nobles, to try and gain access to the relics and use them for their own means. Either for profit or some baser desires, she didn't care to know, in all cases she was his spy that was meant to give them access to these relics for his own purposes. For that her father had ordered her to poison Galen and take his position as Relic Keeper.
He wanted to make her into a murder. It was at that point she snapped, deciding to turn against her father and expose his crimes to the rest of Stormwind. She made a spectacle of it, and while many of his conspirators got off scot free her father and the Willmourne family lost a lot of prestige. Not even her grandfather's legacy could save him, in fact it made it worse, made him out to be an undeserving son.
"You dragged our name through the mud, dirtying it along with many others, your slanderous tongue had tarnished our reputation and alienated us from many with the House of Nobles." Aldred growled, going red in the face as he snarled at her. "You are the reason we do not sit on the seat of the House of Nobles."
"You are lucky your head is still on your shoulders, a pity that I couldn't have done more to see it happen." Caren said, she meant every of that.
"You have become arrogant ever since you joined that little mage school of theirs, thinking you are above the nobility, above your own family." Aldred said, slamming his hand onto the table.
Caren didn't flinch at the sound, she made sure she didn't move a muscle, she couldn't let him think he scared her. If she flinched she didn't know what he might do, he might be a fool but he knew when there was an opening. So much as blink and he would know that you were afraid, she had to stay confident and unfazed.
"Not hard considering how far you have fallen." Caren replied, smirking slightly as she said so, taking some pleasure from this than she thought she ever could, made it easier to hide her worry.
"You are nothing without this family, I know you preach and shout about the laurels this family has, about the greatness it achieved during the Second War. Do not act as if you can live out in the world without that name, the name Willmourne will never be forgotten, we are only reason you became anything remotely redeemable." Aldred said, sneering as he gestured to her robes.
Caren felt her blood boil, every fibre of her being wanting to actually incinerate the man before her, he was actually that arrogant to think that the prestige of the Willmourne name was due to his efforts. He believed that the Justinus Willmourne was not the true reason for their families prosperity, that instead it was through his own methods that they achieved greatness.
"You never have done anything to deserve a single ounce of respect and recognition that came from holding your father's name." Caren said, reminding him that he was only a noble because his father proved himself and he was lucky to be born to him.
Aldred stood up quickly and looked ready to move against her, but the fireball she had had dancing in her palm dissuaded him from the attempt. He wouldn't challenge her, he was too much of a coward, his strength lay in giving our favours and stabbing people in the back when they weren't looking. And the only time he actually stood up to fight is when he knew he could overpower the other person.
He took a breath and smoothed out his cloths, taking a seat again and trying to look as if he hadn't been cowed into submission by his sixteen-year-old daughter. Pathetic.
"This is your chance to redeem yourself, and your family, Galen's position is now vacant, now is the time to take his place and make right on your failure." Aldred said, speaking down to her despite siting at his desk.
Caren couldn't believe the nerve of him to act as if she was somehow expected to continue his scheme. Did he think he could get away with the same crime he had barely escaped prosecution for twice? Was he that desperate to earn back the favour of his benefactors who had been burned by his scheme going up in flames because she reported it to the authorises?
"Even if Galen has passed, even if I become the relic keeper, there is no way I will hand over a single artefact in those vaults to you or any of your corrupt friends." Caren replied. "Those relics were sealed for a reason, and I will not endanger the lives of innocent people just so you can climb that little bit higher on that ladder."
Caren turned and walked to the door, she wasn't going to waste anymore of her time on this man, and hopefully this time it would be the last she ever had to walk through it. Her father stood up and pushed his chair back roughly. She stopped, glancing back at him and waited, her back was turned and she had no idea if he might try something.
"You are denying your family the right to lordship! We would have become members of the House of Nobles! One step closer to obtaining the title we deserve!" Aldred roared.
Caren knew what he was referring to, but there was no way he would ever gain the title that became so ingrained with her Grandfather. Protector of the Realm, a position that was awarded to only the most respected and righteous leader of the Alliance.
"You will never become Protector of the Realm, and you would never live up to its expectations, they died the moment Justinus fell in Alterac." Caren replied, leaving the house and going back to the Inn.
As she stepped out of the door and walked from the estate grounds she had to walk a few more blocks before she came to a stop. She sequestered herself into a small alcove and leaned against the wall, she took in several deep breaths and tried to control her shaking.
Walking into that house, smelling the incense, it had brought back every horrid memory she had under that house. Never had she felt safe under that roof, her entire life there had been nothing but oppression from her fathers scrutiny. Walking back in there had scared her, made her think that she would trapped there again like before.
Taking a few deep breaths she composed herself, straightening her cloths and hair, walking back into the streets she made her way to the Inn. Her pace less hurried, she needed to get back to the Inn and rest, and wait for Ichigo to arrive.
Hopefully Ichigo was on his way, knowing him he could be waiting for her right now, he was never one to waste time and she was certain he was moving with all haste to find her. That gave her some comfort, knowing that he was nearby helped build her courage.
Stormwind City, Dwarven District
Ichigo glared hard, narrowing his eyes and looking at his opponent with no fear, in returned he received and equally smouldering look from the man in question. Bare chested and covered in sweat from the sweltering heat of his forge, although his skin looked read he doubted that was due to the fire or temperature.
"I found a few dents you didn't buff out." Ichigo said, pointing to a place on his armour that had a indent on it.
"You pop up after a few months and show me the mess you made of that armour, and then want me to make repairs." Bonkotsu growled, holding his hammer up menacingly. "With how beat up that suit of armour is I am surprised it hasn't fallen off you."
"Guess it wasn't up to scratch." Ichigo muttered.
"What was that? I made that armour with rare resources, Truesilver and Mithril! A brat like you had the privilege to wear armour made from material most warriors never get the chance to see." Bonkotsu said, jabbing him in the chest.
"Not exactly great if it can't hold up after a few months." Ichigo replied.
"Considering the stories I heard about your time in Redridge I am not surprised that it is not held together with strings right now!" Bonkotsu yelled. "What kind of idiot attacks an orc fortress with a hundred orcs! Or gets into a fight with an Abomination and ogres! I thought you were just looking for someone!"
"I also got roped into fighting Centaur, Demons, a few elementals and Naga if you are interested to know." Ichigo replied.
"I only have heard of half of those things and I already can tell you aren't messing with me." Bonkotsu groaned, rubbing his forehead to wipe away his sweat and irritation.
There was silence for the next minute, the longest they had not said a word to one another ever since he walked in through the door. Bonkotsu had been on his ass the moment he set foot through the door, angry and ready to lay into him for some reason that was totally uncalled for.
Strangely enough he had brought up the argument the last time he had come here, about a month ago when he was on his little vacation to Caren's cottage in the woods. About how he had ruined the piece of art he had made by making bodgie repairs to it and welding the metal pieces back together.
He had complained so much Ichigo had used Shunpo to get out of there five minutes into his rant. Then when he came to pick the armour up, which had only been partly repaired, the guy went off again and barking at him for interrupting his work and expecting miracles for the horrible state the armour had been in.
The damn smith had even followed him all the way into the Mage Quarter complaining all the way, the only reason he didn't slug the guy was because of all the guards around. Even then he wanted to punch him so he would shut up. Thank god he didn't follow him through the portal back to Theramore otherwise he wouldn't ever shut up.
"Have to ask, how desperate do you need this armour?" Bonkotsu asked, calm and collected as he asked.
"I need it in a few days, as fast as possible really, and more than that I need something that can repel heat. Or fire in this case." Ichigo said, wondering if this guy might be able to help him in that department.
"So you are going to Blackrock." Bonkotsu said, not sounding all too surprised. "I can understand the want to resist the heat but enchantments like that are expensive."
"I am thinking I might get involved in something a little more dangerous than that." Ichigo replied.
He didn't need to think hard on what might be in the Molten Core, he had been to the Burning Steppes and he had felt the power that still radiated from there. It was strong and it was still potent, he felt it just by walking through the area. After three hundred years since that place was reduced to ash he could still feel the power of Ragnaros.
But the thing was he had learned something when he was in the Desolace, and that was how to feel out if something was nearby. Theradras had been sealed down below the earth, even asleep he could still feel her through the stones right above the entrance to Maraudon. Her strength remained even after she was sealed down there, for a millennia she still had power that permeated the land.
In the Burning Steppes, it was different, at first he had thought it was residual spiritual power that had not dissipated after so long. He was wrong, so damn wrong, that power wasn't just residual energy that had been left after the Firelords arrival, that power was pulsing through the earth itself and rising up.
That could mean only one thing.
Ragnaros was still in the Molten Core and what he felt was actually his spiritual energy leaking out through the very earth and into the region. It hadn't come to him at first, it took him a minute to figure it out, when he heard about where Galen had gone and learned a little history about the Dark Iron Dwarves and that mountain did he realise.
The moment he figure it out was the moment his heart felt like it was being crushed.
"How dangerous?" Bonkotsu asked.
"Fire Elementals, maybe even the Firelord himself." Ichigo replied.
Bonkotsu looked stunned, even the dwarven smith nearby stopped his hammering to stare, not that he could blame them. He was talking about confronting Ragnaros the Firelord, a being so powerful that he could destroy half of the Kingdom with just his presence. If he was down there, he doubted there was any magic powerful enough to actually protect him.
"There ain't anything I can provide that could help you against something like that." Bonkotsu said, before he gave him a funny look. "Besides the Firelord was summoned over three centuries ago, there is no way that he is still around. It's impossible."
"Don't bet on that." Ichigo replied, he had a feeling that the Firelord was around and waiting. "So, you got a name that I can look up to get those enchantments."
"I will get a friend or two in to enchant the armour, but I can't do it for free." Bonkotsu replied.
"How much you need?" Ichigo asked.
"If you want this armour fully enchanted, you are looking at a lot of money, a hundred gold at minimum, maybe more." Bonkotsu said.
Ichigo pulled out his pouch and set it on the table.
"There is about two hundred gold coins in there, use them all to get what I need. If there is any left over it's yours. If it ain't enough I'll pay more." Ichigo replied.
He was going against something that was more powerful than Theradras, there was no way he was going in unprepared. Never turn down help, especially if he was going up against something as powerful as an elemental, made even more important by the fact this things was likely more powerful than Theradras.
She was a princess, he was a lord, that was technically the difference between a Captain and Lieutenant. But the thing was, Theradras was more powerful than the average Captain.
"I am staying at the Gilded Rose, ask for Caren and you will get me, let me know if you need more money or when it is done." Ichigo said, strolling out of the shop and making his way back to the Inn.
It took a good thirty minutes before he reached the Inn and low and behold he found Caren standing right outside. He jogged on over and met right up with her, she seemed happy to see him, but the pleasantries ended there. They didn't have time to get settled in, night was nearly upon them and Caren needed to get him somewhere fast.
"What do you know?" Ichigo asked, walking with her through Stormwind towards Cathedral Square.
"Enough to say that this assault was foolish." Caren replied. "The House of Nobles made the decision to launch an assault on Shadowforge City, apparently one of their own had an agent inside the city who could help get them in."
"Do they?" Ichigo asked, wouldn't it be strange for a Noble to have someone inside an enemy city.
"Apparently they do, it was confirmed by Commander Morgan, it seems this agent was part of the Morgan Militia." Caren said. "They confirmed the presence of Moira Bronzebeard in the city, along with providing a route into the city."
So, they had an agent on the inside, someone that was confirmed by Tyresa Morgan beforehand to be a part of the militia, if that is the case could they have been captured while entering the city? Maybe they were detained somewhere. Hopefully they took that into account.
"So, what the hell went wrong?" Ichigo asked.
"We have no idea." Caren seethed, likely angry she had no idea what screwed the plan up. "But it was likely the timeframe of when they launched the attack, it was launched a fortnight after the Nobles agrees to help the Dwarves rescue their Princess."
"Doesn't seem like a long time to prepare, how many did they send?"
"Twenty-five. Including Galen." Caren said.
"I still don't understand why he was sent, he is practically a librarian, why was he sent." Ichigo asked, confused as to why they would send him over some other mage with more combat experience.
Caren scowled, saying nothing. Ichigo had to guess she knew the reason and didn't want to speak up, he wouldn't pry but he needed to know what they were walking into.
"Where have you been by the way?" Carena asked, changing the subject.
She really didn't want to discuss it.
"Bonkotsu, getting my armour repaired and enchanted, want to be prepared for what's down there." Ichigo replied.
"Elementals?" Caren asked, catching on quickly to what he was thinking. "You think they have them down there?"
"Definitely." Ichigo replied.
As they entered Cathedral Square they found a lot of people gathered, mostly adventurers.
It would seem that the stakes had been raised and they were looking to get more people in than before. They waded through the crowd and moved for the steps of the Cathedral, looking up they noticed Commander Morgan speaking with two people.
"Who are the bigwigs?" Ichigo asked.
"The older gentleman is Remington Ridgewell, he is the one with the contact in Shadowforge City. As for the other, don't know who he is but he might be from the Militia." Caren said.
Remington looked like he was trying to appear innocent in whatever the two were accusing him of, he was throwing up his hands and shaking his head a lot. If he was the one who had the contact than it was likely whatever information he provided was useless.
That didn't give much confidence, something the Commander and militiaman probably shared since they likely were sending more people into the grinder.
"Where do we sign up?" Ichigo asked.
"No idea, this is the first gathering that was organised, they will probably be sorting out the children from the men soon enough." Caren replied, turning and looking at the crowd. "People are probably only here for the money, it would seem that the House of Nobles have put down a lofty reward for anyone that joins."
"How much?"
"Ten gold, and forty more when you come back." Caren replied.
Decent money, real decent, that kind of money could see you living well off for the next five years if you managed it right. Considering there were over a hundred people here, if they planned for even half of them joining, they were probably willing to spend over two thousand five hundred gold in this raid.
Gold wasn't cheap, and neither was it abundant in the world. If they were putting that much money forward it had to mean they really wanted to get people involved.
"Lets go find the requisition officer." Ichigo said, looking around and finding a familiar head of white gold hair. "I think that's her."
Strolling forward he approached the woman with the clipboard and couldn't help but smile, it reminded him of his first time signing up for Redridge.
"Joana." Ichigo greeted, stepping forward and nodding.
"Ah, surprising to see you here." The Paladin said, raising an eyebrow and noting him without his armour. "Out for a stroll?"
"Here to sign up." Ichigo replied.
"Thank the Light, you are the first one to actually come along that I don't have to worry about when it comes to handling a blade." Joana said, jotting his name down without complaint. "Is that girl still with you, Adelina?"
"No, she's joined a conclave back home, she's going up in the world." Ichigo replied.
"Well, as least you have this one to keep you from running off into danger." Joana said, jerking her head towards Caren. "Do keep him from wandering, he is much too useful to be getting lost, especially with where we are going."
Ichigo did know, and that is what scared him.
"What can you tell us about the last team that went in?" Ichigo asked.
"Better ask the Commander about that, she knows the details." Joana replied, before looking up. "Go on up, she will want to talk with you anyways."
"Me?" Ichigo asked, dumbfounded, what the hell had he done here?
"Definitely, you have a knack for getting things done, also there is a bit of a legend around here about you." Joana replied, smirking slightly as she said so. "Go on, she'll explain."
Ichigo turned to Caren, who shrugged, all he could do was move off and back towards the steppes. He looked up and saw that Remington had scurried off, leaving Tyresa and the militiaman on the steps, both of them in a deep discussion.
He walked up and approached, seeing him out of the corner of her eye she paused momentarily before uttering a few words to the man next to her. He nodded and took off, rushing down the steps and through the crowd.
"Ichigo." Tyresa greeted, nodding towards him.
"Commander." Ichigo replied.
"Given your presence I assume you want to take part in this operation." Tyresa asked.
"Yeah, got some business in Shadowforge City." Ichigo replied.
"I see, come with me for a moment, we need to talk." Tyresa said, gesturing to inside the Cathedral.
Ichigo followed and as he entered he was taken aback by the size and design of the building, long and made of pure marble. It was huge, the floor was smooth and actually decorated in painted tiles, and the walls were draped in fine tapestries. But the large windows at the very back of the cathedral shone as the afternoon sun shone through them and bathed the church interior in a myriad of colours.
"Truthfully, I had a feeling you would be coming, and I am actually glad you did." Tyresa said, coming to a stop and turning to face him.
"Then you know why we are joining up." Ichigo said.
"Galen Runecrest, saw the records of who went on the first mission." Tyresa said. "Then barely a few days later your friend here turns up wanting to know what was happening and if she could join the rescue party. I knew you were not far behind."
"Do you know what happened?" Ichigo asked.
"Bad information, the path they provided for us to take was mostly guesswork, apparently it was a shortcut through the Molten Core that led to the High Seat of Shadowforge City. Problem was it was mostly guesswork, no evidence to support it was true or not." Tyresa said. "They disappeared and are presumed to be either dead or trapped in the Molten Core."
"This information came from the Morgan Militia didn't it?" Ichigo asked.
"No even close, the Militia does have an agent in the City, but they work as a trader and collector for Remington. She is literally a thief that steals for him." Tyresa said, shaking her head.
"So, she is untrustworthy." Caren said.
"Nope, she is a Priest of the Light, and a respected member of the Militia, its just that she never provided this information in the first place. In fact, she has gone missing too." Tyresa said.
Ichigo had to guess what that meant.
"So, someone set them up?" Ichigo questioned.
"More than likely the case." Tyresa replied. "Because based on what I am hearing this Mirena has no way of actually getting a message in or out of Shadowforge City. In fact, the closest she has ever gotten inside is a Bar on the outskirts of the city. The most she knows about the city is hearsay and rumours. There is no way this information was valid."
"Didn't you confirm it beforehand?" Caren asked.
"We did, confirmed the persons identity along with the fact she has information on means of entering the city. Morgan confirmed it herself." Tyresa replied. "What we didn't do was confirm with the source."
That made sense, no one had any idea that there was no way that this Mirena could not contact them. That means that Remington lied to them, he couldn't confirm a damn thing with his source, he just used it as a pretext to send people there.
"What his excuse?" Caren asked.
"Mostly that his agent was having trouble collecting artefacts from the city and they needed people that could hasten the process." Tyresa said.
Ichigo reeled back at that, did this guy seriously use the rescue mission of a kidnapped princess as a ruse to pillage the city? He sent people into the unknown as a way to fill his pockets? Was this the reason the Nobles accepted? Because he was likely going to get a motza for pilfering the city with a few adventurers.
"Did he actually say that?" Caren asked, clearly displeased.
"I translated from the excuse he made." Tyresa said, no humour in her tone.
"Do we have a way in?" Ichigo asked.
"We do, there is an entrance to the city, a quarry is being mined through the mountain, we can sneak through it and towards the city." Tyresa said. "From there we can try and pick up where they left off."
Guess that was all they could do then.
"Ichigo, I know that you likely want to rescue Galen, but this isn't about rescuing him, this is about rescuing Moira Bronzebeard, they aren't our priority." Tyresa said.
Ichigo paused and looked at her, it took him a minute but he figured out where she was coming from, she was worried he would pull amongst stunt like in Redridge. Running off to save Galen and leaving them to continue the fight, something he couldn't deny they should worry about.
"I am with you to the end, I am not going to run off when I have people right behind me that will need my help to survive." Ichigo replied.
He had learned a lot since the Desolace Campaign, he had learned not to run off or priorities a single person in the scope of many. As much as he says that he knows it isn't something he can just do, but he knew that if he didn't learn from these mistakes he could be risking the lives of many rather than sacrificing a few.
"I won't go off on my own until the job is done, until then I am under your command, you don't have to worry about me running off." Ichigo said, locking eyes with her and conveying in all seriousness that he would not abandon them.
Tyresa's serious expression morphed into a smile and nodded, she was convinced by his words and conviction.
The Gilded Rose
They had a week before they would be setting off, apparently the number of people in the Square were only a fraction of whoever was going to be taking part. They didn't want a few farmboys with dreams of glory, they wanted good soldiers that could fight hard and obey orders without question.
"Can't understand why they don't send in actual soldiers, wouldn't be easier?" Ichigo asked.
"Too costly, besides the Stormwind Army is already stretched thin as it is. The Defias Brotherhood has our military scrambling to protect our farmlands and we need patrols along the Duskwood Borders to protect Elwynn from invasion of whatever lurks there." Caren replied. "Also, Marshal Windsor has most of his army patrolling Redridge to prevent another incursion, they invade the mountain the Orcs can come down and attack with impunity."
He remembered her talking about that, often griping on how their military was stretched to the breaking point. Apparently, the Nobility was trying to save on costs due to the fact that raising and maintaining a large standing army was difficult and very expensive.
"So, we have to rely on Adventurers then, not exactly the best solution." Ichigo mused.
They were kind of like mercenaries, although they were paid less by contract and more by their services rendered, more like freelancers then. He supposed that was better, although the quality of the soldier you get cannot be determined until they do the job. But Caren did say that they were versatile than soldiers, often having better survival skills than trained footmen.
Still, by the time the job rolls around he expected most if not all of the down payment to be burned through by these guys, he remembered seeing them cheering at the money they got added to their pouches. They were going to blow it on whatever they could, most of it he guessed was going towards booze and women, they were literally walking into hell right now.
"What did Jaina say when we told her the news?" Ichigo asked.
"She mostly complained that you didn't send the armour her way so she could do the enchanting." Caren said. "Something I also think you should have done. Saved yourself the gold."
Ichigo could understand that, he had spent nearly half his savings on the repairs and enchantments, he had a fortune on his hands and he was wasting on what might come to be pointless. Sure he could have gotten it done cheap by sending it back to her but he doubted that would work, even in the long run. His armour was in pieces, after Maraudon he had suffered severe damage, it was barely holding itself together now.
He needed Bonkotsu on it, he was the only one who could hope to bring it back up to scratch, he doubted he could get Jaina here to work on this and he doubted they had the resources in Theramore to accommodate Bonkotsu with his work. Even if the pieces were sent back one at a time and then returned it would just become bothersome.
Besides, he wasn't doing this just because he didn't think about it enough.
"It's a trade-off, besides, most of the money is going to Bonkotsu, he deserves it for all the help he has given me." Ichigo replied.
"You have been quite accommodating as of late, more than usual." Caren said.
"Things change, you know that better than anyone." Ichigo replied. "Can't take things lightly anymore, can't pretend I can do everything on my own."
Caren looked at him for a moment, narrowing her eyes and thinking hard, it was as if she was scrutinising some interesting little insect that had wandered into her view.
"What's going on?" Caren asked.
Ichigo looked at her, he ran his hands through his hair and then let out a long sigh, he couldn't help but realize that he was probably acting way out of character now. Not that he could be blamed really.
"Do you know what I did when I first became a Shinigami?" Ichigo asked. "Nothing. I ignored the duties that came with the power I received, I resisted, I fought back, and I just didn't want to bother with something that didn't involve me."
He remembered that Rukia had to force him to save someone, protect a innocent soul from being consumed by a Hollow, he had done it on reflex and saved the kid. He had taken up being a Soul Reaper then, been more serious than before, put almost everything else on the back burner when a Hollow showed up.
"When I had to invade the Soul Society, and when I did, I tried doing things my way, going off and taking the straightest and shortest path towards my goal. I didn't think, I just reacted. I got into a lot of scuffles, gained a lot of wounds, and in the end I succeeded and things worked out well in the end." Ichigo said.
But he wouldn't have gotten far if he hadn't had people that could help him, Kisuke, Yoruichi, Kukaku, Ganju, Hanatarō, just to name a few. They got him through any obstacle that got in his way, they lifted him up when he was down, and pushed him harder so he could do what needed to be done.
"Then when my Hollow powers started acting up, I couldn't control it or hold it down, I couldn't even fight when I needed to the most. I tried to ignore it and come up with a solution, think things through, but I couldn't do it." Ichigo said, shaking his head. "And when the one person that comes along that can help me I push him away and say I don't want anything to do with him."
Shinji may have come across as suspicious, strange to be sure and giving him little reason to trust him, but he was his own way of containing and controlling his Inner Hollow. But despite that he never went out of his way to see if Shinji was legit, spoken with Urahara to see if they were trustworthy or if he could help instead.
"Every time I come across a problem I try to solve it myself, I meet something that blocks my path I break through and try to keep going forward. I can't keep doing that, I can't keep expecting to make the right choices when I have no freaking idea what I am doing anymore." Ichigo said, his head falling into his hands.
He couldn't risk it anymore, he had hid the nightmares away and never told a soul about what he saw, look what came from that. Look what happened to Adelina and what went down due to his silence, he could have stopped it, prevented her from nearly becoming a traitor in the eyes of her own people.
They got out this time but what about the next? What about all the other visions he saw? How can he keep going about things the way he does if he knows that it will just become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
"You can't blame yourself for what you saw. You didn't know." Caren said.
"I know!" Ichigo shouted. "But I know what is coming and I have to stop it, but I can't do it alone, I… I don't know how anymore…"
He felt so powerless, so vulnerable, he couldn't do anything other than rely on the people around him to help where he lacked. He certainly lacked in a lot of areas, maybe that was why he was compensating for all that was happening, reading books and trying to improve his ignorance of the world at large.
"You're better than that Ichigo." Caren said. "You have never, never, doubted yourself before. Of all the qualities that make you who you are it is your unwavering determination to succeed that has always impressed me. Regardless of the odds, of the ordeals you have had to endure, you have never shied away from the challenges you face."
Ichigo turned to her, despite her rousing words he couldn't feel them reach him.
"You shouldn't rely on yourself to solve everything, we can pick up where you lack, but most of all you shouldn't judge yourself solely on what you do not have over what you do." Caren continued. "Take heart in that, know that everything you have done up until now, you have done with an unwavering conviction that few could ever match. Because the moment you doubt your strength, you will never be able to achieve anything on your own again."
"What if I fail?" Ichigo asked.
"Then fix it like you did with Adelina." Caren replied.
Ichigo turned to her, eyes wide and attentive.
"You weren't there at the peak, but you were there after." Caren continued. "You asked for help then, we gave it, and with that conviction and strength you were able to do great things, more than even Jaina could do in the weeks she had tried to negotiate with the Night Elves."
Caren rose from her seat and stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving him a smile.
"Everything you have done up until now is nothing short of miraculous. Never doubt that you can make great things happen Ichigo, that you can defy all expectations and achieve wonders we couldn't hope to do without you."
With her piece said she walked from the room, leaving Ichigo ponder her words and wonder how true they could be.
This chapter was quick for me to get out, relatively speaking, I found it easy to actually do the interactions between Ichigo and the different characters smoothly. It just all clicked, with only a bit of editing on my second run. I also found that the interactions at the end was probably the best I have ever written Ichigo's character. Showing his vulnerabilities and his own flaws when it comes to his failings, how he always holds onto them and never seems to let go.
He is sometimes his own worst enemy and needs someone to push him through. Glad I could do him justice here, even if it wasn't exactly the greatest moment for him during this time.
