CHAPTER TWENTYONE: LAND OF TRUTHS

We crossed into airspace over the Northlands over three hours ago and there hasn't been…anything. No monsters, no attacks, not a single thing…

Alain did not know why, but he just could not bring himself to count their fortune so far as a blessing. Their arrival in the skies over fiend infested lands could not have gone unnoticed. During the wars airships were prime targets for assaults to bring down supplies or stop raids. It was what had made mounting an attack on the black castle so hard in the second war, the demons had learned from their mistakes.

One thing was different to how he remembered the freezing place. The sky had turned an unhealthy dark purple. It was not natural and was unnerving to gaze at as they past along it. It seemed like a thick layer of dark clouds. It made his former favourite place on the airship (the balcony over looking the skies) far less appealing. Pop had said something about the clouds acting as good cover if they needed it, but going so high would put a strain on the engine.

As he exhaled a long sigh he watched his frosty breath dissipate in from of his eyes. He hated the cold and had loathed every day spent in it during the war. Inwardly, he reminded himself that his hatred for those days might have been for slightly different reason beyond the weather. It was where he and Rost had battled one another with intent to kill after tensions between them snapped.

"Alllllaaaaaaaaaaiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!"

He leapt with fright slightly as someone calling his name echoed loudly. He reached into his vest and retrieved the communication pearl each of them had. Nokum-Akkum was talking very quickly even though he had not responded.

"Nok…wait, slow down, and stop a second! A monkey did what? Nokum…talk slower damn it!"

"Your Bigger Bro sounds grumpy," an unfamiliar voice cooed.

"Oh, that's just Alain, we caught him on a bad day," Hanna's voice purred.

"Hey! …Who was that just now?"

Slowly but surely things were explained (after Hanaa had apparently snatched the sphere from Nokum-Akkum while the Tarutaru argued with whoever else was there). She explained that thanks to a chance meeting with a Summoner they had found their way to the prayers location. They had to fight off a horde of violent Opo-opo to get it, but they succeeded and were on their way back to Norg.

"Wait, you're taking that Summoner with you? …Is that really a good idea?"

"Oh I'm sure she's alrrright. She's so cute. Can I keep her?" Hanaa asked gleefully. "She can handle herrrself in a fight as well. I know she might sound a bit weirrrd but let's face it; so does our other Tarutaru."

He heard Nokum-Akkum shout something at her in the background. The sounds coming through the pearl stopped soon after so Alain reluctantly concluded that he had no say in the matter and that Hanaa was bringing along the Summoner whether he liked it or not. Still, from the sounds of things at least whoever it was would be nicer than Shadow.

Zeid appeared at the top of the steps to the middle deck, "Alain, we are almost there. Come below."

In the control room he found Pop and Samuel both still at work at all manner of consoles spread across both sides of the room. They were calling things out to one another, settings and the like, that he had no idea of their meaning. He did pick up some bits of information; they had decided to rise above the dark clouds despite the extra strain on the engine so that they could approach Castle Zvahl safely. Once they dropped back below they would have a limited time until the monsters would swarm them and they would be forced to leave.

"Going up," Samuel called out as he tugged on two thick levers simultaneously.

A deep gurgle came from the belly of the Highwind as the propellers out on deck strained under excessive speeds and pistons worked the movement controls. Alain felt the front of the airship tilt down slightly to create a steady rise.

Alain walked to the front of the control room and looked out of the windows as the Highwind ploughed into the purple clouds. The purple haze seemed to stick to the ship as it forced it ever higher and he was sure he saw little flickers of energy flow through the clouds. It seemed unnatural, as if created by magic. Demons loved to wallow in artificial darkness.

"Strain is giving the pistons and propellers hell. We should be able to reach this altitude easily! This damn smog is doing something to the engine," Pop cursed.

"Should we drop back below them?"

"No, we'd never make it to the castle if we did. Every damn Demon would come after us or try to shoot us down. I'm cutting off the feed to the teleport crystal and lowering the light rig. Alain, tell your friends they can't teleport to us until we're out of this. Keep this girl steady while the phase out happens-

Alain almost toppled off his feet as the whole ship jerked sideways. Pop cursed at his son who apologised and took the main wheel to steady them. Alain reached from his communication pearl again and relayed the message to Catherine and Shadow. He did not get a reply but had to assume for the time being that they had heard it.

From the front windows bright light sawn in as they broke through the clouds piercing the dully lit room. The sky above the clouds seemed untainted and healthy. Despite that the ship still rocked like it was sitting on an uneasy sea. Alain did not understand how the open blue sky could actually produce more turbulence than in or below the clouds and asked for an explanation.

"Air pockets my boy and a lovely invention called gravity. Ever heard the expression have wings, will fly? People read a lot of stuff into that, but if you ask me it means if you don't have wings you should stay the hell out of the air…but that never stopped Bastok now did it? We're disobeying the laws of life hanging around up here and the Goddess doesn't like it. It takes everything our crystal has to offer just to keep us barely steady."

"Engineering and aviation were always beyond me," Zeid muttered in response. "How long will it take until we are above the castle?"

Samuel looked at a compass next to the main wheel and then the map on the wall, "An hour, maybe. We'll drop back down about ten minutes before that so expect more shakes. Once we drop you on the keep I'd say you won't have more than five minutes before we get attacked. You know we won't be able to put up much of a defence with a drained engine, right?"

"Five minutes is enough time for me," the Dark Knight said sternly.

Just what are you hoping to find, Zeid? The only prayers left to find are Rost's and the one that we are meant to take… We don't have time to for this…

It took just over fifty minutes for the Highwind to reach the skies over the castle. The jagged black tips of the highest steeples protruded through the ominous clouds and were clearly visible in the blue skies. Prior to that the only things tall enough to pierce through were the tallest snow covered mountains of the range surrounding the black castle.

The air felt different above the clouds. It felt heavy, yet at the same time made it him light headed. It was as if it was virgin air that had never been breathed before and as it filled his lungs it became tainted. His first few lungs full of the cool air were coughed back up as white haze. He felt like he should not be breathing the air so high over the lands and was reminded of the expression Pop had said. Did the Goddess really show contempt on those without wings that tried to reach the sky?

The Highwind jittered again as the tail end seemed to lower. They were preparing to drop back below the clouds and Alain knew he could not stay out on deck because of the evil presence that seemed to be in them.

As he descended the stairs to the lower deck he flicked a lever at the bottom which brought a thick wooden shutter in place over the top. He passed the lifeless teleportation crystal in the main hall that was void of light. It had been starved and cut off from the main engine for the time being and had taken on an unhealthy dark grey. The engine noises coming from the lower deck sounded equally unhealthy and painful, but he trusted the crew. He entered on the control room.

The ominous purple clouds gave way to the black towers of Castle Zvahl. The fortified home of the Shadowlord. Bit-by-bit more of the castle flew past the front window as the Highwind descended towards the black bridge that held across the gap between the throne room and the castle baileys. The building was just as he remembered it; jagged black stone creating bastions, ramparts, obstacles, and the very walls of the place.

One thing that was missing was the terrible sense of dread that crept over him as he and his friends charged the throne room on his last visit. Since the Shadowlord was truly dead it had vanished almost completely. There was still something, a lingering feeling, enough to keep the Demons in existence, but nothing that made him afraid. They would fine only a corpse in that magically sealed throne room.

"There it is…the bridge," Samuel said from the main wheel. "I guess something will have seen us so the clock is ticking. I'll open the side hatch and come down a bit more."

"Come," Zeid ordered and left the control room.

The side hatch that would normally be used to connect to city docks slowly pulled open and the ramp beyond stretched out to half its normal length. A gust of wind filled the middle deck as the two Dark Knights approached the open hatch. Zeid obstructed most of his view, but Alain was able to make out a black platform just a short distance below them.

Without a word, the Galka leapt from the extended wood down onto the castle, where he landed on bended knee unharmed. Alain followed suit and landed slightly more uncomfortably and stumbled forwards as a gust of wind hit him from behind. Time was of the essence so they broke into a run towards the throne rooms magical gates.

Zeid's blade slashed upwards as he preformed Sickle Moon to blow the doors inwards. The technique also triggered the black candles inside which lit and illuminated the entire room. They entered to be confronted with a huge corpse. It was the dead Shadowlord's body where it had fallen after fighting off the Warriors of the Crystal. Dull purple veins were still visible around its body, but they no longer pulsated with life.

"It is as I foresaw…"

Running round to where Zeid was standing, Alain was shocked to find that the Shadowlord had been decapitated. The head was no where to be seen in the room however.

"…Did they take it as a trophy?" Alain asked uncomfortably.

"No…this is something else. The Zilart Brothers would not do such a thing and no Beastmen would dare touch do this. This had to serve a purpose, but what I cannot fathom."

The Galka's hand reached out and held the giant shoulder of the decapitated fiend. Zeid pulled back suddenly and his hand reacted as if it had been stuck to the body. He breathed deeply and stared at his palm.

"So…that is it…Raogrimm…"

Confused by what had happened, Alain reached out as well.

"No, Alain don't!"

As just one finger met with the dormant body his whole hand was drawn into contact like metal to a magnet. His head was filled with a rapid number of images and forms that made it feel like he was about to explode. Darkness seemed to surround him and begin to creep up his body. It felt like death. He picked out pictures, trying to see some sense in them while fighting off the sensations they caused. He recognised some of the things he saw, but others seemed different. They were of him but in situations he had never been in.

Reality flashed back to centre stage as his hand was forcibly ripped from the Shadowlord's corpse by Zeid's tight grip. It felt like he was peeled away and it stung mercifully. Alain dropped to his knees panting while his hand was held in the air by his former mentor.

"What did you see?" the Galka asked.

His mouth opened to speak, but no words came out.

"Answer me! What did you see!"

"I…don't know…"

Zeid let go of his arm.

"Then I will tell you. You witnessed just a few seconds worth of the presence of pure darkness. What you saw was not real, forget it all immediately. Get off the ground now. Now!"

He did not have the strength to argue and stood up slowly. His former mentor said something about leaving such an influential place and pushed him towards the door. Before he knew what was going on they were back onto the bridge and the magical gates to the throne room had repaired themselves and sealed once more.

On the far end of the bridge the large portcullis leading into the castle bailey tugged open suddenly and a horde of black winged Demons charged out. Zeid drew his sword and met them in an explosive exchange of blows while Alain reached the edge of the bridge. The Highwind's outstretched plank seemed much further away than when he had jumped from it.

His body seemed to react automatically as he rolled sideways as a Demon sporting a vertical cleave down his chest spun into the bridge edge where he had been standing at broke a section of the jagged rock off. He drew his blade and joined his mentor in fighting off the other Demons but more and more flooded through the far gate. One took to the skies and flew over the both of them, landing on the outstretched plank of the airship. It began to walk inside.

Damn it they are going for the ship!

Alain called to Zeid and leapt across the void between the bridge and airship. It felt like he was being driven harder than before as if he knew he would not have fallen while jumping. It was as if he had seen himself do it already. The Demon only made it as far as the inactive teleportation crystal when his blade skewered it. He pulled his Great Sword around with the blade still lodged inside the creature's chest and flung it out the open door. It rolled over the ledge and down the side of the castle leaving a trail of purple blood in its wake.

The Highwind shook as Zeid landed on bended knee just inside the deck. He called out at the top of his lungs for the crew to move them off. He then turned and fought off two more Demons in flight trying to get on board. The outer plank retracted and the shutter fell shortly after. There was a series of clunking sounds as Demons knocked off the now closed shutter.

"They will land on the upper deck, we must go up there," Zeid said as he hit the switch to open the stairs to the top.

At the top of the stairs Zeid leapt across the whole deck in a single stride to cleave two heads from scythe wielding Demons. Alain shot one out of the air with a swift ball of fire then locked weapons with one using a dark metal staff. Yellow bands of energy tightened around the Demon as Zeid stunned it long enough for Alain to parry the staff away and then twist around taking its head off. As its corpse fell to the floor blue light seemed to flicker around the entire ship.

Large hexagons seemed to appear and vanish all around until eventually they all formed as one into a huge barrier surrounding the ship. The Demons hanging in the air with flapping clawed wings struck their weapons off it and were deflected by some form of magic. The corpses and blood stains on board dissolved into purple dust and then evaporated as the blue light surrounding them grew stronger.

"So this is the defence of which they spoke… We must go below deck before we pass through the darkness, come."

They both retreated and retracted the shutter at the top of the stairs once again shutting off access and entered the control room. The Highwind seemed to groan uneasily as they did and tilted to one side as a group of Demons all rammed the shielding at the same time.

"We can't spare enough power to bring the protect magic up to full power, Dad!" Samuel shouted over the rumbling and churning of a strained engine.

"I know that! Just get us through the clouds! And it's Pop!"

As they tore into the artificial dark purple clouds the blue shield around the ship acted as a conductor for the magic flowing through and shattered it. At the same time they heard the painful roars of Demons being burnt to cinders by the same energy.

"If we keep pulling up this steeply we're going to loose control!"

"Just keep those propellers steady and turn us. Aim for Fei'Yin. I'm shutting everything else down and venting steam to keep us upright."

Alain fell as they were swung sideways quickly. The front of the ship then bent forwards as blue sky came into view. Disturbing cracking sounds made all of them stand still and listen intently, counting each second and holding their breaths.

"The rear main propeller shaft has ruptured I need to shut it down or it'll tear itself apart!" Pop shouted a few seconds later.

The back end of the ship dropped downwards sending them all to the floor and back into the purple clouds. They ripped through them straight back into the snow filled skies over the northlands. Uneasily, Samuel pulled himself back up to the main wheel and checked his compass.

"We swung south then…yeah I can see those giant trees, we are above the glacier – I'm certain of it! Pop we've got to land before the whole engine gives out!"

"Spreading the load across the weaker propellers for now…bring us in low… bringing down the landing gear, try to keep us nose up. Aim for the open area in front of that old pile of rubble they want to go into."

"….Alain, come help… me… Hold this wheel… in place…" Samuel struggled to say while gripping the large wooden wheel with both arms wrapped around its struts.

Without question, Alain obliged and helped stop the wheel swing around. He felt the force of it fighting against him and knew that if it was let go the ship would most likely nose dive into the ground.

"Landing gear down, venting more steam along the lower vents… we need to slow down!" Pop called as the engine got louder.

The icy snow covered land appeared out of no where as the landing struts hit them at an uneasy angle. The ship spun instantly, flinging Samuel and Alain across the wheel and into the pit in front of the main window. Pop was tossed across the control room and struck the far wall while Zeid rolled into the side. The Highwind stayed upright but tore across the ground savagely and twisted almost full circle before coming to a stop. A cloud of flaky snow upturned by the ship consumed the outer decks as they were eclipsed in white. As they felt all movement cease there was a long droning sound and then the engine went dead.

"Third…successful…landing…" Samuel said from where he had fallen.

Although dazed, Alain could not help but let out a laugh. As he got up from the floor he noticed a large crack had formed in the window and he could see nothing through it other than white. Zeid was already back on his feet. He was observing the control panel full of gauges and levers that Pop was also inspecting.

"Landing struts seem okay, bet they took a beating…" Pop muttered. "If we'd landed on anything other than loose snow we'd be in pieces. The crystal overheated and shut down to prevent it shattering…and that main rear propeller can't be used… We're in a mess."

"Did we reach Fei'Yin?" Zeid asked, ignoring the airships problems.

"How the hell should I know?" was the angry response. "You are your friend there go find out and get that prayer you were after if we did land in the right place. We've got a damn airship to repair."

Without another word Zeid left. Alain followed close behind, but heard the father and son conversing as he did and slowed his pace long enough to listen.

"We can take off without that rear propeller…"

"Yeah, but at no real speed and we'd have no chance of breaking the cloud line. Get things sorted up here, patch that window. I'm going to restart the engine then I'll see what can be done to the propeller shaft."

"The Demons out there will have seen us land…we can't use that shield again with the crystal in such a state or even the teleportation one…"

"I know things don't look to bright kid, but it's our job to keep this thing flying and it's their job to kill things. Just repair that window, the wheel, and the panels over here. I'm going to the engine room."

Alain slipped up the stairs silently after hearing Pop approach.

-

Vessel had saw the airship fall through the clouds and come crashing down onto the flats just beyond the entrance into Fei'Yin. She had to give it to the pilot; they were good at their job. The spin had hit at just the right angle to keep them from toppling over and probably blowing up. That would have made her mission a lot less interesting if they had all been killed in an explosion.

Deciding to go to this prayer location over the final destination had been an easy decision. It was the most difficult and dangerous prayer to approach which meant only the strongest of their number would risk going for it. She had already had to fight off many hostile Demons that dared pick a fight. She had also guessed the airship in their possession would be used to reach the Prayer Stone of ice and getting on board it would mean a chance to find out more information.

Two figures left the airship, using a rope to get down from the upper deck to the snow covered dirt. They were obscured by the fierce frosty wind and seemed like white shadows that quickly vanished towards the ancient ruins of Fei'Yin. One had to be a Galka judging by the size, perhaps the Paladin of the group. The other was shorter and most likely a Hume. If it was the Dark Knight she would be very disappointed. He was weak.

She covered the distance from where she had laid in wait to the edge of the airship with ease in only a few minutes. A smirk graced her lips as she used the rope they had conveniently hung down the side to get up onto the upper deck. They had made it far too easy.

On deck she hung above the stairs leading to the lower decks on bended knee and carefully drew her gold hilted scimitar. Just as she was about to leap over and down the stairs she heard voices from below and someone approaching.

"…Yes, Dad, I mean Pop, I get it, I'll go take a look and see if the pipe has snapped. Bring the engine back up to half in the meantime… No I'm not telling you how to…"

A feeble looking Hume in normal defenceless clothes appeared at the top of the stairs. They hung forwards and sighed before gripping their sides and exhaling deeply again from the cold snap.

"Fine, don't listen to me you pig headed old man…" the young boy muttered.

One step, two steps…three steps… come on just one more…now!

In an instant Vessel was behind the Hume. She raised her scimitar slowly, ready to strike down. Much to her surprise, the Hume seemed to realize that she was there just in time and was able to turn and move to avoid the full force of the blow. The tip of her sword still caught him though and tore down the side of his shoulder casting a spurt of blood into the air as he fell to the floor.

He backed away gripping his wounded shoulder as she pointing the tip of her sword at his chest and placed a finger in front of her masked mouth to imply that he should shut up. The look on his face was priceless, he seemed so cowardly. He was too weak to even bother with, but she knew he might have some useful information.

"I'm impressed you almost dodged my attack, you know? So I'll give you a chance to save your own life…" Vessel said succinctly. "Who went into Fei'Yin just now and where are the rest of the Six Champions? Before you say anything – keep in mind that if anything comes out of your mouth that isn't relevant to my question…I'll gut you."

Samuel looked at his wound and then up at her, "Who are you?"

She sneered, "Foolish boy, don't you listen?"

Her scimitar pulled back to strike.

"…I wasn't talking…to you…"

A long arm wrapped around her hand as a small but sharp blade was placed across the length of her neck. She became aware of a tall figure behind her that had not been there seconds before. They had moved at speeds she had been unable to follow. The person that now held her seemed to be an Elvaan, but it was not the Samurai.

"You are a woman?" the stranger asked rhetorically. "My girl, those of the female persuasion should not act in such a garish manner. Women should be angels. It is men who are monsters."

Ignoring his words she said, "And who are you? You aren't that Samurai… Are you strong? What do you care if I kill this weakling?"

"Normally I would not feel obligated to step into any business that does not directly affect me, but this lad and his father have been my unknowing hosts for quite some time on this splendid airship."

She caught a glimpse of the dagger held against her. It had a purple wrapped leather hilt and an oddly shaped blade. It was an exotic piece, very uncommon. It probably cost a lot to have a smith commissioned to make it. The person was wearing green garb as well, that had been tainted white by the snow falling freely from the sky.

"…A Thief?" Vessel sneered. "There were no records of a Thief being one of the Six Champions…What is your name?"

"Like you I have no real name, Miss Empty Vessel. Some called me the Gentlemen Thief and that will do for this encounter. Now then, if you would be so kind, drop your weapon and we shall avoid further bloodshed. I do not wish to hurt you."

She grinned, "You do not wish too, but would you at all? Do it. Go on. Slit my throat. Slit it clean from ear-to-ear and let my blood flow. Do it!"

The old sounding Elvaan sighed. She picked that moment to move and elbowed him in the chest. He was taken by surprise and bent forwards as she spun away from him and drew her sword up. To her surprise as she centred her gaze the Elvaan's form vanished instantly and once more she felt a blade across her neck.

"Impressive speed…" she said through gritted teeth. "Flee technique, right? I know of that ability and its limitations. Someone as old as you can't possibly use it for long."

"…Long enough, my dear. I will only say this once more; drop your weapon and surrender yourself."

Vessel laughed, "I'm going to break free and kill you, you know?"

-

Closing his eyes, the Gentlemen Thief ran his dagger across her throat and expected to feel skin part and blood flow. To his surprise he felt his dagger become stuck before breaking away with pieces of rock coming with it. The Blue Mage battered him in the side again and ducked under his arm as more brown rock fell from her neck.

After recovering he looked up to see a blue circle become complete and an orange light spreading over Vessel's figure. He moved instantly behind her but was surprised that she had turned around almost as fast and was able to attack. He side stepped the swinging blade and attempted to grab her again but her speed almost matched his and she was able to deflect each time.

My, my, was that a Haste spell or something similar? She isn't as fast as me, but has improved enough to dodge… I can't maintain Flee for much longer either… I care far too much for these people…

-

While the fighting continued Samuel slipped past the flickering images of the two battlers as they tried to catch one another and descended the stairs to find his father. They had to send a warning to Alain, Zeid, or any of the others. But without the teleportation crystal operational things did not look good.

Though both people out of deck were strangers to him and one had claimed to have stowed away for a long period of time, he prayed the elderly looking Elvaan would kill the evil woman that had dealt him a stinging blow.

"The Gentleman Thief…"