Chrono Corruption

Act 3: Origin of the Flame

Chapter 13: The Furnace of Woe

*Antiquity, 11,995 B.C.

"The Kingdom of Zeal. A majestic kingdom that soared higher than the clouds. I once lived there but that was another time. It has been five years since it has fallen into the ocean and the waters have long since resided. The surviving Enlightened Ones have mingled well with the non-magical Earthbound Ones. I have scoured the ruins scattering the world since the waters resided. I have nearly given up on my search for my sister. Until that is, the elder of the last village now known as New Algetty has a new clue for me...," thought a man as his worn leather boots approached an elderly man living in a hut.

The elder's eyes brightened, "Ah, Janus, so good to see you. Have you found any more clues as to the whereabouts of your elder sibling?"

Janus, a tall man of around thirty years with pale skin and pointy ears sighed with a gloomy gaze to his right, "It is unfortunate, but I have not," he said brushing his long pale, silverish hair to the side of his face.

"Well then, I have some good news for you that may be of some use to you," said the elder.

Janus paused not wanting to get his hopes up, "...Very well then, speak...," he said curiously.

"Have you noticed lately?" the elder began. "The ravens have returned since the waters have settled. I hear the Enlightened Ones that survived are speaking of a woman known as the Crow Mother."

Janus's red eyes widened in astonishment, "The Crow Mother? She still lives?"

The elder squints his eyes in thought, "Perhaps not the one you know, but perhaps a descendant. I believe it may be a relative that has picked up her mantle. I hear she was an endless 'well' of information back when Zeal was still in the skies."

"Yes, she had a magical relationship with birds and her favorite was the crows," Janus recalled. "But she left Zeal shortly after my father passed, her location unknown."

"I hear that if you follow the ravens you can find her," said the elder.

"Yes, perhaps if I find her, she can tell me a little more about my sister, Schala...," Janus pondered.

"Well then, there is a pale horse outside that is tied to the fence. You may take him to see her if you wish," offered the Elder.

"...Very well, I shall see to her, but this will be my final attempt. If she knows nothing, Then my sister is no more," Janus said hopelessly.

*?*

"For three days, I followed these curious birds. I have taken the necessary precautions to do so. They have led me to an icy valley. The cold air howls as the birds gather in unnatural numbers. Suddenly, a young woman with fair skin appears before me. No doubt, this dark straight-haired young woman is indeed the successor to the old crone that I was familiar with. She wore black leather clothing adorned with gold studs and down feathers from the birds. Her dark eyes, sharp and cold, she looked up at me..."

"Ah, may I presume, you are the once 'Prince of Zeal', Lord Janus?" she spoke softly.

Janus's eyes widened in amazement, "So, you are the successor to the Crow Mother?" he said.

"Indeed, the old one has passed on, but I gladly took her place. Tell me, how is it that Lord Janus has aged so quickly? You were but a boy when I became of age. Now you are actually older than me. The full-figured woman approached slowly.

"It's a long story...," Janus said coldly.

The Crow Mother giggled, "You didn't come looking for me just to chat over some tea. You came looking for answers. Let it be known, I have been watching you for the last five years. I knew it would be a matter of time before you came looking for someone like me. As it is fitting, you may call me Raven."

"As you wish...," Janus said.

"Come, Lord Janus, let me guide you to my palace. We can discuss things more there," Raven urged as she magically opened a portal that resembled a snow globe. She gently beckoned Janus as she passed through the portal to a strange and ruined place. Janus took the horse and entered.

*Crow Mother's Palace*

Janus found himself staring into the night sky above. Northern Lights danced across the starry sky. The building he was in was broken down and disheveled. Raven sat upon a gothic-style throne with red cushions. Gothic lanterns and decor filled the room along with old Zealian decor.

She sat down and the crows came to her, "Welcome Lord Janus, it isn't much of a palace really, just a collection of odds and ends from the ruins of Zeal. I left the old woman's place some time ago. Now, what is it you wish to ask of me?" Raven called as some torches came to life with plumes of flame.

"I will not take up your time. I simply wish to know if you have any information as to the whereabouts of my sister, Schala, after the collapse of Zeal," Janus inquired.

"Ah, your elder sister. Unfortunately, neither I nor the birds have seen her after the collapse, but her belongings have...," she began.

Janus gave Raven his full attention, "...Her possessions? Consisting of what, may I ask?"

"A shiny rock that hangs around one's neck, a pendant, and a purple dress with jewelry still in the pockets," said Raven as one of her birds flew down into her lap with something in its beak. She took the object and came over to Janus and gently place it in his hands.

Janus was stricken with astonishment, "It's... her earrings..., but how?"

"Her belongings were found along with many others across the lands after the kingdom fell. It is not known whether this specific pair was one she was wearing at the time or not, but her pendant made from a rare red stone was found by the Fiends. The Fiends have begun to harvest the items to enrich themselves."

The revelation began to stir within Janus, "Why do they collect the possessions of the dead?"

"Grave robbers mostly. The Fiends love jewels, silver, and gold. They bring their ill-gotten treasures to a place known as the Furnace of Woe," she informed.

Janus raised his brow, "The Furnace of Woe? The supposed place where the Fiends emerged from?"

"Indeed, a massive hole in the planet that burns like the sun. It is said to be a gate to hell by some," Raven added. "Now, may I ask about you, Prince Janus?"

At first, Janus seemed inconvenienced by her prodding but relented as he began his long and arduous tale. "As you know, I was but a boy when it happened. After my father's demise, my mother sank deeply into herself. She found the power of a creature within the planet called Lavos somehow and had a machine she called, the Mammon Machine, constructed to siphon the creature's power and give the Enlightened Ones more power. As it seemed, Lavos was the source of our Magic, to begin with. When she got too close with her greed, she became consumed and I along with the three Gurus were banished through time," Janus took a breath.

"Oh my, you were sent through the very fabric of time itself?" Raven said astonished.

"I ended up in the future, sometime before 600 A.D. I was found by the Fiends and taken in as their top wizard. I became the Fiendlord Magus and waged a war against humans so I could summon Lavos and kill it in an act of revenge. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful as I was interrupted by some meddlers. Lavos awoke and I was once again sent through time, back to this era," he cleared his throat.

"How strangely fortuitous...," she smiled.

"Upon my return, I was already aware of things to come so I disguised myself as a Prophet and got close to my mother in an effort to change things. As you know, I could not and the kingdom fell anyway. As I said before, I joined forces with the meddlers from before and managed to kill Lavos and the rest is just history...," Janus finished.

"How very interesting, such a sad life you have lived Prince Janus," Raven said with compassion in her voice.

"Is your curiosity satisfied?" Janus asked.

"Yes, but I have one last question before you head off to the Furnace," she said with a smile.

"...?" he mused.

"Prince Janus, do you have a wife? If not, then do I not intrigue you? I can't change your past Janus, but I can offer you a peaceful future here underneath the stars. Or elsewhere if you so desire. I know that is much to ask of you, so please do think it over for a while. I do not expect an answer on such a large matter so hastily," she asked elegantly.

Janus retreated into his own mind and then spoke, "I will give your offer some thought, but until I make any decision on such a matter, I must see that my ordeal is first put to rest."

"Indeed, I can wait. The Furnace of Woe is located on the eastern continent," she said. "The eastern continent was mainly untouched by the Zealians. Only the Sky Bridges were erected there. The Fiends had sealed off the Furnace when Zeal rose to power."

Janus turned to leave, "Then I will take my leave, for now."

"Ah, one more thing, take this outfit with you," she urged, offering him a new set of equipment. It consisted of a hauberk, a cape, a pair of pants, and a scythe. "This outfit is called, 'Ravendown' as it is made from the down feathers of the ravens. The Crow's Talon scythe is an heirloom of sorts," she chuckled softly.

Janus nodded his head with a gesture of acceptance and discarded his withered equipment for this newly fashioned set.

"I should go...," he said flatly.

"Allow me," Raven said with the flick of her wrist. She opened a portal, "Take this portal to the eastern continent. It will hasten your journey."

"You have my gratitude, Raven," he said as he entered the portal with his horse.

The portal vanished into thin air, "Let the Goddess of Fate guide you," Raven finished with a smile.

*Eastern Continent*

"As I ride across the eastern plains, I realize that this place would one day become Medina, the landmass where the Fiends make their home. As of now, they live in a volcanic pit, known as the Furnace of Woe. This pit is said to be where the Fiends first gained entrance into our world but this is debated. As I approach the pit, a hellish landscape of volcanic ash and rock becomes commonplace. The sky is black and the smell of sulfur fills the air. As I close the gap, I see Gargoyles carrying treasures in their arms as well as in caravans and wagons crafted from scraps of wood. They take notice of my presence, but as they get a good look, my appearance as Magus the Fiendlord places them at a strange sense of ease. I am no longer the Fiendlord, but this disguise shall assist me once more."

Janus came to a halt in front of a Gargoyle who was guiding his brethren down into the pit with their treasures. He gazed at the Fiend with a cold expression, "You there, do you speak the common tongue?"

The Gargoyle met Janus's eyes and seemed confused at first. He then reluctantly spoke, "Y-yes, you Man or Fiend?"

"...Fiend...," Janus lied coldly.

"Y-yes, I see, what business do you have here?" the gargoyle asked with a gravelly voice.

"I seek a treasure, a pendant," Janus said getting to the point.

"Ah, you want to trade then? Very well, head down the path and into the furnace. Speak with our Fiendlord, she may be able to arrange something for you," explained the gargoyle.

"Very well," he replied as he tied his horse to an old tree. Janus began to descend, "...And do not eat my horse, I will vaporize you."

In the twisted depths of the Furnace, Janus saw many Fiends he was already familiar with when he took the name 'Magus'. Eventually, he reached the center of the crater-like lair, and sitting upon a throne of bones was a small humanoid female. As Janus approached her features became more prominent to him. She was but a mere child, no more around the age of ten. Her skin was smooth and fair but colored a dark green like the forest. Her eyes were red as blood and her otherwise perfect teeth were yellow. Her ears were pointed instead of rounded and outfitted with golden studs and her short bob-cut hair was black as ink. She wore black raiment, but her feet remained bare. Her smile was one of intrigue as Janus approached.

Janus spoke coldly, "Are you the master of this place?"

Before the child could offer a retort two other females, obviously her kin as they had the same features, drew near. Unlike the child, however, these two females were short and fat and tall and lanky respectfully and very ugly. The short one spoke first, "And who are you to be addressing our sister the Fiendlord?" she said with a gravelly voice.

Janus replied without taking his eyes off the child that grinned at him, "I am Magus...," he replied.

The tall one cackled with her shrill voice, "Oh, and what does this Magus want from our sister who is so fair?"

Janus replied, "I seek a particular piece of jewelry, a pendant, it was once my own sibling's. I wish to reclaim it..."

Before the two could speak, the child left her throne with a hop. She approached still grinning, "Do you mean this pendant by any chance?" she said as she took the piece of jewelry out from beneath her robe.

Janus's eyes lit up and he saw that it was indeed Schala's that was carved from the red stone. "Yes, that was once my sister's. As so, it holds value to me. I was told you offer trades for such things," he went on.

"Yes, I do, but I will not part with this lovely jewel so easily," she said with a strange level of cunning for a child.

"...," mused Janus.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Fiendlord Mathilda and I am the fairest in all the lands. In addition to such beauty, I have magical prowess that eclipses even the greatest of Fiends!" she boasted.

"Ah, a child prodigy, that explains your place upon that throne as well as your articulation," Janus deduced.

"I am called such things, yes, but let us proceed with this trade if you will," Mathilda said growing impatient.

"Agreed..., what do you wish in return for the pendant?" Janus said coldly.

The two cohorts seemed to dislike Janus's cold and direct tone, "How dare you speak to our lovely sister with such-!" said the short one as she was quickly interrupted by Mathilda.

"Silence fools, your stupidity is only rivaled by your hideousness! Now begone, for now, the both of you! I will call for you to return when I am done!" chastised Mathilda.

Both women shrieked and made haste to vacate the premises. Mathilda hopped back onto her throne. She then flashed Janus her hand in which she held up three fingers. "Three things. First and foremost, shed that disguise you wear upon your face! I know you are no Fiend, so cease your mockery of us or I shall strip you of it myself!"

Janus reacted with astonishment, "So, in all my years of changing my face with my magic, you are the first to discover the truth. Very well..." Janus said as he cast a spell, bathing himself in a shining light. His fiendish features were henceforth erased. His pale silver hair became the sky blue it once had been when he was a boy. His irises reverted to their original green color and his flesh took back its humanly color as well. His ears were no longer pointed and his incisor teeth were no longer extended. "It is done, are you satisfied?" Janus asked.

Her eyes brightened, "You, you are not simply a human in disguise! That hair, the blue shade, you carry the blood of Zeal! Who are you truly? If the face was false, then surely the name you have given is just as false!"

"I am Janus Zeal...," he retorted coldly.

"Surely you are lying again, Janus Zeal was the Prince of Zeal! Who should not yet be an adult! How is it true?!" Mathilda said disgruntled.

"The story is long, but it is true, I am Janus Zeal," he claimed strongly.

"Then I have a fourth wish in return for your sibling's keepsake! Tell me the story of your troubles for I must hear it!" she said with the shining eyes of any intrigued child.

And so it was, Janus told his story to the wide-eyed Mathilda and she was caught up in his tale. She munched on snacks and treats as she listened intently to him. Once Janus was done Mathilda seemed very pleased. "Hmm, I do not care whether or not you speak the truth anymore as I am well entertained! Then Janus, for my third wish in return for your sibling's keepsake, give unto me something else in its place!"

Janus remembered the earrings that Raven gave him, also from his sister. He pulled them from his pocket and gave them to Mathilda. "Are these good enough for you?" he asked.

Mathilda seemed pleased, "Yes, they will add to my lovely-ness!" she said. Her bright smile was then changed to a stern look. "And for my last wish! I want to play with you..."

Janus stumbled a bit, "Um..., come again?"

Mathilda giggled, "Yes, it has come to my attention that you humans destroyed the Mountain of Woe, that mountain which floated in the air. The only way for my kin to fall in such a way is if you managed to kill its guardian, the Giga Gaia. An impressive feat for humans to be sure. Here in the Furnace of Woe is an arena for our viewing pleasures. I want you to step in and entertain me. If you truly are Janus Zeal then it should be an easy task for someone who carries such magic!"

Janus sighed under his breath, "Very well, I shall play your game..."

"Wonderful, let us go then!" Mathilda said. She raised her voice, "Sisters, I have need of you now! Return to me!"

*Later*

The arena was a large slab of stone that sat in a pool of lava below its cliffs. It was placed in such a way that everyone could see from ancient stone-made bleachers. These seats were filled to the brim with all kinds of wily and weird fiends. Mathilda sat on a throne that allowed her to get the best view. A gargoyle entered the center of the ring and quieted the crowd. His voice magnified by supernatural means, he began narration, "Attention all Ghouls and gals! Are you ready for some bloodshed?!" he said tauntingly.

The crowd went wild with affirmation. "Then let the first Fiend come forth!" beckoned the announcer.

A flurry of bats swooped down from the open sky and merged into one giant mass. The mass then took a new shape. From the darkness, a voluptuous female figure emerged. Janus's eyes widened, "That Fiend resembles my old servant Mayonne..., but I have to wonder if she is truly a female...," he thought.

The feminine Fiend had black hair tied into two braided pigtails and she had teal skin, pointed ears, and red eyes. Her outfit also resembled Mayonne's but was more erotic. She wore a white cape with blue trimmings and wore a provocative blue and gold bustier with a short yellow skirt, white stockings with matching gloves, and blue heels. She cackled wildly, "Ho, ho, ho! Beauty is power and I have power!" she said echoing her descendant. "Pleased to meet you, 'Prince', I am Tarta and I will show you my power!" she boasted confidently.

"Before you do, are you truly a female? I don't really care, I am simply curious," Janus said coldly.

Tarta then shot Janus a gaze as if that were the stupidest question she had ever heard, "Can you not see my feminity pouring from the outfit I wear? How large my blessed bosoms are in this Diva Bustier?" she said as she snapped one the tight strings that constricted her oversized bust.

"Ah, I see, the reason I ask is that I met a male Fiend that dressed as a very convincing female that resembled you. That is all," Janus explained.

"Hmm, not unheard of, but nevertheless, I am 100% FEMALE! Lady Mathilda, shall we begin?" Tarta asked, changing the subject.

"Very well, begin!" Mathilda shouted.

"You shall fall under my charm!" said Tarta as she winked and blew Janus a kiss. A large red cartoon-ish heart-shaped energy projectile was ejected from her lips and hit Janus, but did nothing. She was taken aback by this as Janus gave no reaction and kept his cold stare, "Oh my, what self-control!" she complimented. "Very well then, forget the charm points! I'll go straight for your health points instead! Behold my Prism Beams!" she shouted as she cast prismatic beams of light from her pupils.

Janus chanted and performed hand signs as a shady aura surrounded his body. "My Dark Bomb should suffice...," Janus said as he cast forth a sphere of black energy that absorbed Tarta's attack and exploded.

Tarta dodged with blinding speed, "Ha, such a slow-moving technique will never catch me!" she taunted as she continued to blink her way around the arena. The crowd cheered wildly.

Janus seemed bewildered, "She is right, my Dark Bomb's explosion is far too concentrated to reach her. I must think of something, but I need a moment to think," he thought as he chanted another spell. "My Magic Wall should prevent her magic from harming me as long as she doesn't have the element that will pass through," Janus thought covering himself in a green barrier. Janus became very resilient to all elements of magic save for one.

"What's this? A shield won't protect you!" Tarta shouted as she chanted a spell. "My Water Magic will just wash it away! Bubble Stream!" she chanted as a high-pressure stream of bubbles collided with Janus. Fortunately, his Magic Wall simply ate the attack, leaving Janus mostly unharmed.

Janus closed his eyes in thought, "How troubling. I have spent so much time searching for my sister that my magic has waned... I wonder if I could simply end this by giving her a fitting new form," he thought as he extended one finger towards Tarta. She continued to batter his Magic Wall with her water magic and the spell began to weaken. Janus finished his chant and a dark bolt of energy hit Tarta from the sky.

She tingled and shivered as the energy bounced off her body in a sea of glittering sparks. She was unaffected, "Oh, ho, ho, ho! You won't be Polymorphing me!" she said confidently as she snapped the shoulder strings of her bustier confidently. My 'Diva Bustier' protects me from shape-changing magic that's not my own!"

"That's fine, it was just a distraction anyway. Dark Bomb...," Janus said coldly as his altered spell hurled itself towards her.

"Ha, did you learn nothing? This won't work!" she said as she blasted it with another set of Prism Beams.

As the magic collided something different happened this time. Janus's new version split into four small child projectiles that tracked Tarta's movements at high speeds. She was unable to dodge as her eyes widened with horror. She crossed her arms in an 'X' pattern over her face and prepared to take the blow. The four spheres exploded with enough force to leave the woman in a small crater in the arena.

The announcer called for Janus as the victor. Mathilda sneered at Tarta, "Let this be a harsh lesson for you my Magic Knight! Perhaps wearing some actual armor instead of that male chasing negligee would do you better! Next Magic Knight, please!" she said with amusement.

Tarta popped up from the crater in a comical fashion and dashed to Mathilda's throne in a begging fashion. "But Lady Mathilda, the armor you suggest hurts my chest! It is heavy and its scent is horrid! Besides, my beauty would never shine through cold metal!"

Mathilda grabbed the string that held Tarta's right bosom and got in her face, "Idiot! Your beauty has no effect on one such as he, for he is fairer than even you!"

"But Lady Mathilda, he is a man! How is it that he has more beauty than me who is a woman!" Tarta shrieked.

"Fool, male, female what is the difference?! If your way is such that beauty and power go hand in hand then surely you would have realized his power!" Mathilda chastised. "Begone from my sight for now Tarta until I have a need for you again! Next Magic Knight, please! I will not ask again!"

Tarta sulked as she took a seat outside Mathilda's sight. Janus awaited his next opponent as he thought to himself, "I wonder if the next one is...," his thoughts cut short by a silhouette in the sky. The shadowy figure took form as the person landed in the ring from their incredible jump. Janus laid his eyes upon him, "As I suspected, he resembles Soyso...," he thought with a grin.

He indeed resembled Soyso, he had pointed ears, was bald, had thick fish-like lips, no nose, but his skin was a bright crimson instead of Soyso's blue. The outfit was even similar. He wore a lavender flowing robe with matching baggy pants, gilded segmented gauntlets, and black boots and he had an ornate gilded sword he brandished proudly at his hip. "Greetings, Prince of the former Kingdom of Zeal! You humble me by accepting this challenge! Allow me to introduce myself, I am known as Wazabi!" he said as he took his sword from his hip. "Have at you!" he said as he rose his blade and vanished with blinding speed.

Janus quickly reestablished his Magic Wall, shielding him. "As expected, he also fights like Soyso... Fast and unrelenting. My Dark Bomb is too slow for a direct hit, but maybe I can use something else..."

Janus began to meditate as he allowed his shield to protect him. Wazabi hacked and slashed at Janus's body but the strikes were repelled as the Magic Wall absorbed the damage, "So your barrier even protects you physically? Well then, I have something just for that!" said Wazabi with a grin. He closed his eyes and meditated with his sword at his hip. In an instant, he opened his eyes and vanished from sight only to appear mere steps behind Janus. Janus was taken by surprise. His Magic Wall shattered like glass as it was carried off by a breeze. The crowd went wild as Janus took damage and knelt to the ground, holding his scythe to stabilize himself. Wazabi stood and sheathed his sword as he grinned at Janus.

Janus grinned with a chuckle, "It seems as though The Black Wind does not howl for you today...," he said cryptically.

Suddenly, Wazabi felt a cold sensation across his chest. Blood ran down to his abdomen as he gasped in horror, his eyes widening. "Such an attack! My heart was missed by a fraction! What did you do?"

"My Reaper's Hook technique can take someone's life instantly, leave you harmed, or pass you by unscathed," Janus explained. "In your case, you are more wounded than I. I would forfeit if I were you."

Wazabi stepped back in fear and then bowed with his face parallel to the ground, "You are far more powerful than me! I take my leave!" Wazabi said as Janus stood.

The crowd went wild as the announcer declared Janus the victor. Mathilda laughed in amusement as Wazabi approached her throne in shock. "Lift your face Wazabi, for you have done well! I am most pleased with your performance, but let this be a lesson for you! Train hard and continue to be my Magic Knight!" she praised.

Wazabi's mood lifted and he regained his composure, "Thank you your highness!" he said with a bow as he found a seat next to the pouting Tarta.

Mathilda stood, "Would my last Magic Knight appear please, I am growing impatient!"

"I can only see my last opponent being...," Janus's thoughts began as a large and fat Fiend entered the ring through means of levitation. "...Just like Vinnegar..."

Indeed this Fiend resembled Janus's old general Vinnegar to a frightening level of uncanniness. He was as wide as he was tall with skin like a toad and pointy ears and sharp teeth. His skin was yellow instead of the green Janus knew. His robe was crimson and his shoulders were covered by thick gilded armor. The shoulders protruded outward and a large amethyst was set right over his heart. He bellowed arrogantly, "Bwah, haw, haw, haw! Don't mind those two! They are so weak! I am the real deal when it comes to the Magic Knights! Please watch Lady Mathilda as I give you the best!"

"See that you do!" Mathilda said with a crooked grin.

Janus smiled lightly, "I am amazed how history rarely changes for some. Descendants or Ancestors, little has changed for them..."

"I am known as Bickle! I shall be your last opponent today! So if you could just take a step forward we can begin!" he boasted.

"Allow me a guess, you have a trap door or something waiting for me?" Janus asked with a raised brow.

Bickle was stunned as his jaw dropped in disbelief, "B-but how did you know that?!" he asked in astonishment.

Mathilda was already giggling, "It would seem Bickle is in a pickle!" she laughed heartily as did the crowd.

Bickle growled as his ears turned downward, "Fine, forget the traps! Can you defeat my ultimate technique? No one gets past my shield!" he said as cast a spell. The spell was encased Bickle in what seemed to be a block of solid ice. "Go ahead, try to attack!" he taunted.

"Even the technique is the same..., but too bad for you I don't need to attack to defeat you. Perhaps you could use a more..., fitting form?" Janus thought as he stretched out his arm and by extension, his index finger. With a dark bolt of lightning and a puff of smoke, Bickle's shield vanished as he was transformed into an orange tabby cat. "That spell has never worked right..., but at least it placed Bickle in his place," he thought.

Mathilda lost her composure completely as she fell on her back laughing so hard she began to wheeze. "Oh, oh my gut!" she struggled to say. The crowd laughed as well as the cat ashamedly approached Mathilda. Mathilda managed to regain herself as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Bickle you truly have shown me the best this evening and as a reward, I will return you to normal!" she stated with but a snap of her fingers. Bickle returned to his slimy self with a puff of smoke.

"Lady Mathilda! That is not fair, what he has done! I am the leader of the Magic Knights yet I was defeated so soundly!" Bickle moaned.

"Then perhaps you need to expand your arsenal, Bickle! Nevertheless, this has ended in an unexpected way and I am pleased! Go to your allies Bickle while I finish my ordeal with Janus!" spoke Mathilda.

Bickle twiddled his fingers as he pouted, "Yes, Lady Mathilda..."

Mathilda entered the ring and approached Janus and with a snap of her fingers, she mended his wound and restored him to full strength. "I am well pleased Prince Janus and as promised you shall have your sister's keepsake returned to you!" she said as her elder sisters approached with the pendant in hand.

The short rotund sister came to Janus with the old artifact on a small cushion and presented it to him. All the while the tall lanky sister spoke a whisper into Mathilda's ear, "Dear sister, since he has won isn't the prize for victory appropriate as well?" she asked.

"Ah yes, but what do you propose?" Mathilda asked with not a thing on her mind to give him.

"What about the eerie fire-shaped jewel we found in the rubble of Zeal? It is strange and frightening, and it gives me the goosebumps! Surely, it belongs to Janus as well?" the tall sister urged.

"Very well, I hate that thing in its entirety, perhaps this Prince of Zeal knows about it and can take it far from here?" Mathilda thought aloud.

Mathilda instructed Janus to wait for a while as she award him further for winning the arena challenge. As it was so, her two sisters came with a chest and sat it before Janus. They pushed off the stone lid and removed from it, none other than the Flame of Legend, albeit inactive. Janus approached curiously as the two sisters brought it before him. It gave Janus an eerie feeling that he had felt before. "What is this thing you have brought me?" Janus asked.

"We believe it is to be called, The Frozen Flame. It was found in the rubble of your kingdom. Do you know of it?" Mathilda asked curiously.

"I was but a child when I last heard that name...," Janus said as he searched his now uneasy heart and he began to recall the distant past.

"I was young when my father passed and my mother began to grieve," he started. "I wandered the halls aimlessly with my cat Alfador. I then heard my mother in her chambers speaking to herself. A red glow came from her room as her grieving voice turned to one of malice. She had done this many times until finally she ordered for the construction of the Mammon Machine and had this 'Frozen Flame' place within... I remember nothing further..."

"Strange, nevertheless, it is yours so please take it from here as I wish to gaze upon it no further. It brings a strange darkness here," Mathilda said as her clumsy sisters dropped the flame on the ground. The two sisters lost composure and sought refuge behind Mathilda. Janus went to touch the flame and as he did so, it came to life and repelled him. The Flame opened and levitated to meet his gaze. Mathilda and her sisters backed far away as the fiends across the bleachers gasped in fright.

A voice came from the Flame, "Why hello, Prince Janus, it sure has been a while hasn't it? Or should I call you, 'Prophet'?"

Janus's eyes widened, "...Dalton? You are still on this mortal coil?"

Dalton laughed heartily, "In more ways than one you brat! I have ascended! This Frozen Flame is what allowed us, humans, to acquire our empire, our Magic! For you see, this Flame is a splinter of the mighty Lavos! Even this tiny splinter has given me untold power! I can see into the past, present, and future! Once I learn how to control it completely I can control all of time itself!"

"I see you haven't changed at all...," Janus said calmly.

"And as for you, you haven't either really. You're still that same brat that you've always been! I've looked through the Flame and witnessed all of what became of you! You came back as a lousy Prophet and made a fool of me? You are nothing but a joke! You used all your life to gain revenge on Lavos only to still fail so utterly! Lavos still burns through this flame and it will consume the world!" Dalton threatened maliciously.

"...Then perhaps my revenge has not been completed...," Janus began as his rage swelled in his heart. "I will take it upon myself to rid not only the world of this abomination but you as well, Dalton. I will make sure your very existence is forgotten!"

"Then come, I will make you a fine sacrifice to the Flame as well as these Fiends! Come become one with Lavos!" Dalton urged. The Frozen Flame's emanations reached far and wide, covering the Furnace.

Mathilda called out to her Magic Knights as the fiends in the bleachers ran in chaos to escape. "Protect me, you idiots! Janus get rid of that thing!" Mathilda cried out.

Janus took his scythe and leaped into the sky. With a mighty swing, Janus hit the Frozen Flame with an angry howl. In retaliation, it repelled Janus with a pulse of energy. As he was thrown to the ground his blood veins glowed with a crimson light. "What is this?!" he said in shock.

"No, no, not you too! Don't tell me! I will use the Flame's power to consume you!" Dalton said angrily as the power of the Flame caused an earthquake.

Then suddenly, a large red serpentine beast arose from the magma outside the arena. It was large and muscular with slimy skin and had two human-like arms that it crossed over its broad chest. It had a short stubby face that looked more amphibious than reptilian. Finally, it had sharp horns on its head and deep red eyes. It growled angrily, irritated by what was happening.

Mathilda cried out, "It's the Tera Terra! The guardian of the Furnace!"

"Hmm, another guardian like the Giga Gaia? How intriguing!" Dalton said with a menacing tone. "Let's make it a sacrifice to Lavos as well!"

The Frozen Flame cast a beam of sickening energy toward the Tera Terra and it became wild and out of control. "No! What has happened?!" Mathilda cried. "It's becoming corrupt!"

"Now, Tera Terra! Crush Janus Zeal, so that he may become one with the Flame, one with Lavos!" Dalton commanded.

The Tera Terra attacked suddenly with a fist slam, but Janus effortlessly avoided its attack. Mathilda reached out to her Knights, "Tarta, Wazabi assist Janus! Bickle provide me with a barrier while I chant the spell that will calm the Tera Terra!"

The Magic Knights obliged wholeheartedly. Bickle placed Mathilda in his barrier as she chanted while the other two came to Janus's side. "We have come to aid you!" Wazabi said respectfully.

"We must keep it busy, while Lady Mathilda chants!" Tarta informed.

"Do as you wish," Janus said as he cast his Magic Wall on the two as well as himself. He then cast forth a Dark Bomb at the Tera Terra. The explosion caused considerable damage as Tarta followed with her water magic. The dragon tried to slam down its fists on both Janus and Tarta, but they evaded. Wazabi took the moment to his advantage and slashed at the fists when they were in range. The creature roared and took a deep breath. It exhaled a powerful fire breath that consumed Janus and the Magic Knights. The damage was so great that Janus's Magic Wall, was destroyed on both him and the Knights.

The monster roared wildly and seemed inconvenienced by the attacks it endured. It immediately used another Fire based magic spell. A wave of heat raced across the field as multiple explosions followed, engulfing them. Tarta and Wazabi suffered on the ground, unable to continue. Janus kneeled as he held onto his scythe. He breathed hard as he gnashed his teeth in anger. "This creature is every bit as powerful as its counterpart on Mount Woe. I cannot withstand another spell!" he thought as his desperation heightened.

The Tera Terra rose its fist once more and aimed its attack at Janus. Janus's eyes locked onto the fist as it came hurtling towards him. Then, just before it came into contact with him, something in his mind slipped and he was consumed by a bright light that prevented the monster's fist from making contact. After the light subsided Janus stood changed. His sky blue hair was now blood red, his eyes burned with gold light and he was emanating a powerful fiery aura. He looked himself over, "What is this? Can this be..., what the Enlightened Ones were searching for? The Enlightenment they were trying to reach with Lavos's power? Or..., am I corrupted...? Either way, I can use it to end this," Janus began a chant as he levitated above the ground. "...Gravity Blast...," he said coming out of his chant. His hand had collected an enormous amount of dark energy that warped the space around them. It was so dark that it did not reflect even the least bit of light, but it was surrounded by a thin bluish aura. Janus tossed the sphere at the Tera Terra and it imploded sending the creature crashing into the stadium below. It had been sufficiently stunned, but not killed or destroyed. Janus's aura faded, but his red hair and gold eyes remained. With this, Mathilda finished her spell and was released from Bickle's barrier. She cast the light upon the Tera Terra and it retreated into the magma below. "Now Janus, get rid of that nasty jewel!" she urged.

"...With pleasure...," he said as he approached the Frozen Flame.

Dalton's angry growl could be heard, "I hate you, you horrid brat! But I think I figured out the key to controlling the Flame! It's that pendant you carry! It's your foul sister's if I'm not mistaken? Yes, I remember now, she controlled the Mammon Machine with it and hence the Flame as well! No need to hand it over, I'll just take it from you!"

"...Please by all means... try...," Janus said with a calm fury as he gathered energy for his Gravity Blast again. Janus threw the collected energy at the Flame, but its emanations held it at bay. Janus pushed further with nothing but a cold stare. Then suddenly, the spell imploded and a hole in space-time appeared. Bickle sealed all his allies in his barriers, but could not reach Janus in time as Janus vanished into the void, his sister's pendant hitting the ground all by itself. A raven came down and plucked the pendant from the ground and flew off before it could be noticed.

*End of Chapter*