Jaymes

"How you doing, Mr. Mage Knight?"

"So...tired...hate stairs...and Clamps." I groan and mumble something about how Eydis' chipperness is a pain in the ass, which she either doesn't hear or ignores as the two of us leave the rest of the team outside at the entrance to Drago's Temple. We met the old lady, who told us that the way to quell the dragon's wrath is with the Silver Orchid, a spear made by the dragon to protect themselves against the dragon's lightning. To do so, we needed to gather three keys across the damn area (all located by Clamps, so there goes my word to Medina), then make our way up to the temple. We found the Clamp Cluster just outside the temple, which we just eliminated.

"Three keys...and open!" We watch as the gates to the temple ruins opens, presenting us with a marvelous sight of a life-size statue of the Western Dragon. Right beneath it is a metallic spear, our target, the Silver Orchid. Eydis pushes me forward to go retrieve it.

Taking it in hand, I analyze the weapon in all its glory. "With this, we can put a stop to the lightning."

"Then let's head back to the Western Ravine and rescue Sheyta."


Medina

"This...will do." Medina looks down at the courtyard where the wayfarers are training. Despite interference from Jaymes and his team, she has made great progress with fruit gathering. Yet, for some reason, it feels like she's done nothing. There's an ache in her heart, something not easily quelled.

"My savior, may I offer you some flan?"

"I don't need any right now."

"You always say you 'don't need any.' Do you not like my flan anymore?"

"No, Selina, I'm simply not in the mood for it."

"My savior," a wayfarer calls from below. "Please come! Bear witness to my new sword skill!"

Medina nods. "I'll be there in a minute!" Medina makes the move to walk down, but one step in and she's met with a rather annoying visitor.

"I see you've come to take pride in commanding your band of wayfarers."

"If that is the duty of the 'savior', then I might as well." Hersyrian looks at her and boasts a laugh that Medina finds offensive. "What, did I say something funny?"

"Not at all, you just reminded me of the fifth-generation head."

This again, with the knowledge of her family that she barely knows. "It's been bothering me for a while now… Why do you know so much about the fifth-generation head of my family? I've read all there is regarding the House Orthinanos family lineage, but the records of that generation alone seemed to be scarce. Just that she was a woman, while the rest of her family tree was missing."

"Long have I served your family, and I know why Her Eminence rejected you. That is why I alone possess information otherwise hidden, even from kin like you."

"Then I want you to tell me about her."

"Soon, once Lady Pontifex awakens from her slumber, I shall tell you everything. You shan't wait long, for the lifeforce required for the revival is at hand. Thanks to the diligence of the stalwart and righteous head of House Orthinanos."

This flattery is getting on Medina's nerves. "What is it you wanted?"

"Forgive my digression, I seek your council. A moment of your time, please?"


Jaymes

"So this is the wayfarer resistance you mentioned?" When we came down from the temple, we were greeted by Bercouli, who wanted to offer us some assistance in the area. Going along, I took Alice and Eydis with me and Bercouli and we rode out to the Raudal Greenbelt. There, we found beasts and the Clamp associated with them, but I think Bercouli is off the mark on who's guarding the Clamp.

"No, they don't look like wayfarers to me."

"Must be common folk that live around here."

"W-We won;t let you kill this plant, no matter what! For the savior!"

"We planted and raised this beautiful flower, and will defend it with our lives!"

That's new. "You all...planted it?"

"That's right! We got seeds from the hooded man who said he was the savior's aide."

"He said we would surely be saved if we carried out this mission!"

Medina, Hersyrian, and now the hooded man. "So the hooded man is working with Medina and Hersyrian too?"

"And what exactly was this aide's name," Bercouli asks the people.

"I don't know his name…"

"It's got nothing to do with you, anyways!"

"Jaymes, I don't think the hooded man is working with Medina and Hersyrian," Alice comments. "I think he is Hersyrian."

Bercouli nods. "I thought so. That's actually what I came to find out. According to reports, the number of Clamps in Wesdarath have been increasing daily. Curious, I got a bird's eye view of things on the way back to the End Mountains. That's when I saw the hooded man planting seeds."

Eydis cups her chin. "So the hooded man that attacked Eldrie and Deusolbert was planting seeds is Hersyrian...and now everything makes perfect sense."

"We have to go after him, but first, we have to do something about this Clamp."

Eydis holds her hand out. "Leave that to me. Generate Umbral Element." A dark mist forms from Eydis' palm and covers the commoners. I take out a bottle and toss it into the mist, then use the Aerial Element to spread the poison around.

"What… What are you doing?"

"Chill, Alice. Linel and Fizel gave us some sleep poison in case a situation like this came up."

Alice sighs. "Honestly… At least say something if you have such a strategy."

"Eydis knew."

"It was my idea."


After eliminating the Clamp, we go on the hunt for Hersyrian, but can it be called a hunt when the bastard is standing out in the open? In any case, we find the Senate Representative almost as quickly as our search began.

"Discharge!" He shoots out several dark beams at the four of us, which we either deflect or dodge. Good, I like it when the enemy isn't holding back. I won't have too either. I leap forward, slashing my sword at Hersyrian. Despite some weird resistance, I think I hit him as he clutches steps back, hunched over.

"There's no point in hiding your face with that hood. We know its you, Hersyrian."

"YOU BASTARD! HOW DARE YOUUU! Ripping my clothes with that accursed blade that defective family created! No, wait… Maybe that's not so bad. That sword has cut through the will of Lady Pontifex. The sword that touched what heals her beautiful body and soul… Ahh… It touched me too."

I feel disgusted to even hold Falchion right now. "What in the hell is your problem?"

Hersyrian stops blushing and claps to me. "Hahahaha! Allow me to praise you! You cut my clothes AND my Incarnation as well! Well done, Lord of Knights! There truly is no end to your pathetic stupidity. As a reward, I'd like to make you feel pain enough to regret your miserable birth. But unfortunately, I'm so busy I simply don't have the time to waste on you."

"But I have plenty of time for you, bastard. What is it you want with the wayfarers under Medina's influence?"

"Expecting all the answers to all their problems. Lords are always so entitiled. I said I was busy, If you'll excuse me."

"Hold on, not so fast!" Bercouli begins his attack, but now I see it, Hersyrian's Incarnation, the resistance I felt earlier. It is a red shield projection, and to my amazement, Bercouli can't cut through it, not even with the Time-Piercing Sword. Not even a slash in the future got through.

"Oh my, haven't you heard? That won't work on me."

"Enhance Armament!" Eydis launches herself at Hersyrian, but to further our surprise, the sword that can cut through weapons, armor, and almost anything I've seen it slash through fails to penetrate Hersyrian's Incarnation.

"He deflected the Commander's sword and Eydis' Perfect Weapon Control...there's no way!"

"Thinking of cutting my future or whatever it is you do? Hahahaha! How laughable! Allow me to educate you. My Incarnate Shield is even effective in the future. Whether you try to slash me now or in the future, the result is still the same. And even the weapon that can make the thickest of armor useless cannot rend my shield apart. But I'm done playing nice. I grow tired of talking to a washed up puppet knight and his children. Discharge!" As Hersyrian is surrounded by black mist, I can hear his laughter. "Now then, I look forward to our next meeting, Lord of Knights and the puppets…"


'To think he blocked my attack, even in the future. What a nut-case."

"How does anyone block my attack? That's supposed to be impossible!"

Alice ignores Eydis' pouting and faces Bercouli. "Commander, could it be that you somewhat enjoyed that?"

"Nah, that ain't it. Just thinking I need to figure out a way around that."

I find myself agreeing with the commander. I don't know if I made the cut on his clothes due to him not putting the shield up in time or if me being from beyond this world has a slight effect on it. "Regardless, we must hurry to the ravine. The only way we put a dent into his plans is to remove the Clamp Core...and hope Sheyta is not bound to it."

"Correct. First, let's make sure the area is secure, then I'll send you lot on your way."


Alice, later...

"Listen, little one. I have no qualms about protectig everything in this world."

"But those were the Pontifex's orders. So that's stll just following them."

"Nothing has changed from when we were puppets with our memories plucked out. With that thought process, you're not sure what you should be doing anymore, right?"

"No, I don't." Alice stares at the thundering mountain as the camp tries to do their best to get some rest. Her mind is restless with her internal thoughts about her role in the current world. Bercouli's words did help a little, but like Sheyta and Eydis, he doesn't find the Pontifex truly evil and is content to live as a defender of the Human Realm as ordered. Yet, when Bercouli and Sheyta spoke ill of the Pontifex, nothing happened to them. Neither were terrorized by the Seal of the Right Eye as Eydis was. Is there something more to it with Eydis that causes such a thing to appear?

"Lady Alice?" Alice looks up and sees Renly and Eydis walking towards her. "Are you okay?"

"Honestly, I'm not. But what are you two doing up?"

Eydis sighs as she sits down. "It's hard to sleep as is, so I decided to swing my sword around and tire myself out. Renly here was talking to Jaymes, probably about something only boys can speak of."

Renly shakes his head. "Nothing of the sort. I just...wanted to ask him something."

"Did it help?"

Renly shrugs. "I'm not worthy of being an Integrity Knight, and I told him that, but he said what I believe I'm not doesn't matter. Then he told me a story of a warrior he once knew who, due to some circumstances, froze up while fighting. That warrior had someone he loved, but due to his fear, he couldn't protect her when it counted the most. He said that if that warrior had the will to overcome his fear, he could have saved her, and eventually, he did so one day. 'A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage.' Eydis, Alice, I'm sorry for not doing anything in that fight, but I promise to you, when we take on the dragon, I will do my best."

Eydis smiles. "I think I'm seeing a new side of you, Renly. Almost brings a tear to my eye."

Alice nods. "That's great to hear, Renly."


The next morning

"Please be careful, Jaymes."

I smile and nod to Alice. "When am I not careful?"

Eydis scoffs. "All the time?"

"Right… Be right back." I walk out alone with the Silver Orchid towards the streaks of lightning, half-excited and half-freaking out for my life. Once I deem myself close enough, I take a deep breath and look at the lightning. "This better work… By the power of Grayskull…" I hoist the spear towards the sky, and lightning strikes it. Not expecting the force, I steel my footing and pray for my arms to not give in. "I… I have… I have the power! Yah!" I push the spear back up, reflecting the lightning back in the sky. Almost instantly the thunderous cloud disappears, leaving me with the crackling spear. "Holy shit, I was almost toasted…"

"Jaymes, are you alright?"

I turn around and nod. "Of course. What did you expect, me to die to some lightning?"

Alice seems unconvinced. "Anyway, the Silver Orchid seems to have stopped the lightning."

"Now we can access the ravine. Sheyta should be in there. Let's get going."

We spend the better part of an hour crossing the ravine, eventually coming up to a pretty area with waterfalls surrounding a ruin. Based on what we know of the ravine, I have a feeling this is where the dragon would be. However, there's no dragon at the other end of this long bridge, so maybe we caught a lucky--or not.

Eydis turns to me after the ravine shakes with the echo of an angry roar. "That roar..."

"Either that's someone's stomach...or everyone needs to be on their guard!"

"Look!" At the other end of the ravine swoops in a large dragon, wings included. The beast soars over the ten of us and lands on the platform we're heading towards and greets us with a roar.

Oh boy, we're in for a fight...