Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 7
Chapter 23: The Bastion of Hope
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
Seto was walking along the newly formed seashore on Gannicus as she saw the ocean waves crashing on the wet sand. Even though she knew about the planet that was once a barren wasteland, she had her own problems, she also had to deal with a certain former King of Hell in mind as he was sitting in a beach chair while sipping on a glass of Stohessian whiskey. She wasn't too thrilled with him up to his tricks, but she kept him on a short leash due to his efforts into causing trouble on the horizon, but not yet.
"Bee in your bonnet, Seto?" he said to her as he took another sip of his drink.
"Sam and Reiko are heading over to Minas Tirith, but the mountain shrine is behind a castle keep that was once a stronghold in times of war," she answered. "Glaven Keep is located in the Tirithian region of Eorana, but that place has been reduced to a slum similar to the Sprawl on Lannister."
"And I know who caused such toil beyond my limits after he made a deal with me. Brackavar is his name, but his machinations over the chieftain are getting out of control, which means that my precious Juliet is wanting some fresh meat once his time is up. He thinks he pull a Wormtongue by manipulating that ruler of the Tirithian region of Eorana, but he'll get it coming one way or the other, mark my words."
"If Juliet did that, then the locals on Minas Tirith will be suspicious, for the ruling body has taken over that planet in which they even ousted the royal family that once governed that once mighty bastion of hope back in the day. Even though the royal family is no more, the clerics who rule Minas Tirith will have their hands full when it comes to Sam approaching on the horizon."
"If the future savior and his beloved Elven wife ever touch down on that planet, they will not only have to contend with the enemy forces in the Executive Division and such, but from a certain angel who constantly kills for no reason other than the usual lese majeste that is far worse than any other ruler who cares for their people. Mitriel is a Knight of Heaven, but his arrogance is far worse than my old habits even after I ended my life in the Apocalypse time loop in the Elder Days. Moose 2.0 should be careful where he lands because he'll be facing off against a toxic fanbase who would kill in his name against his wishes."
"I've heard such toxic fandoms that steeped to such lows like Rick and Morty, My Little Pony, and the Voltron reboot; but hearing about Mitriel setting up his own toxic fandom by forcing people to worship Sam isn't a way to go. That angel is dangerous and will stop at nothing to sully Sam's name and reputation everywhere he goes. As for the other problem that you mentioned earlier, Brackavar is known for his manipulative presence in the form of his 'pet' that is growing weaker by the day. Still, Sam has a job to do, but dealing with Brackavar will prove a challenge to him in this ongoing war."
It wasn't long until Seto saw a red figurine floating near the shore as it stopped the moment she picked it up. She recognized it to be a daruma as she noticed it open up to reveal a projection in which she spotted an image of Mitriel appear. She knew of him very well as she abhorred his methods of dealing with those who bore ill will of me in which he was known to kill them like other angels do. And do you know what kind of method, perhaps? The killing method that angels use is by melting the eyes from the skulls of their victims. Still, everyone had to be aware of Mitriel and his conduct as he was now a thorn at my side in this ongoing war, for he was out for blood by killing in my name for no reason…
Reiko and I were home in the Cerulean Palace on Targaryen after our adventure on Lannister and Gannicus respectively. It had been three days since we came home as we were most likely to be going on our next mission, but we had familial duties to uphold first. After a little bit of shopping, we were most likely to be preparing dinner for everyone as the weather on Targaryen was ripe for some summer sun on the horizon. Even though we had too much on our plates, we were more than likely to be briefed to our mission on Minas Tirith, but there would be some stiff opposition on the horizon. Speaking of stiff opposition, I spotted Dvora standing in front of us she wasn't too thrilled with me for taking off to the Sprawl on Lannister, for I was about to get an earful from her sooner or later, for she wasn't about to let me off the hook yet.
"You're in trouble," she said to me.
"You shouldn't be blabbing to Dean about my missions while he has his own on Shiganshina," I said. "Yes, he went and help to shut down Cesare Zampano and his cruelty towards the women he captured for a while, but he has his own problems to worry about."
"It doesn't matter, Sam! Dean will always stalk you if those bodyguards step out of line once you take off out of sight. Haven't you forgotten about the Executive Division, the Red Inquisition, and Hell's finest all wanting to tear you apart at the limbs or did that fall on deaf ears?!"
"That's far enough, Dvora," said Moro as she arrived in the front. "You know that Sam's a grown man, but that doesn't mean that you can keep him tethered."
"The Executive Division is still out there, Moro. They're not stupid 'cause of the fact that they will send their worst to snatch Sam away in broad daylight."
"According to James back on Geralt Island, Sam's next mission on the docket is on Minas Tirith, but the region of Eorana's chieftain has gotten senile lately. The locals fear for his health and well-being, but have often been tossed out on their asses, no thanks to that tool, Brackavar. And do you know what's worse? There's a shrine that is earmarked for both Sam and Reiko to delve into, but it's also guarded by a group of clerics who were dispatched to guard it and their handlers have been ruling the roost since they ousted the royal family on that planet."
"We'll risk it," I said as I was honing in on my purpose in the Destiny of Worlds. "They will listen because their future depends on me for upholding what is put in front of me."
My words were cemented as I was most likely to be going to Minas Tirith as planned. By the time I went towards my temporary office, I saw a Lorien Elf sitting in a chair as she was dressed in the usual clothing worn by her kind. With her black hair long and without anything to hold it in, she was also affiliated with her clan due to her weapons that she crafted. Still, I was a member of the Order as I was also ready to offer aid to those in need, for I was ready to hear the case from the one who came here in the first place.
"Sam Winchester," she said to me. "It seems that my niece told me about you."
"You're related to the Mahoney Clan, aren't you?" I said.
"My name's Selina Jacobsen nee Mahoney. I'm married to Joshua Jacobsen, whose twin sons, Brandon and Eamon, are in service to the Order."
"Your niece was a big help when I was on my last mission in the Sprawl on Lannister, for Cesare Zampano and his illegal activities are now put away."
"It's a request from a group of clerical rebels who are willing to oust their former masters. It also concerns the health and safety of a close friend of mine, who is under the influence of that toady, Brackavar."
I've heard of him before when I looked at the records once during my long years in living at the fort on Gehenna, but I fear that he'll be bad news to those who cross him."
"He hangs around the chieftain of Eorana like a poison. His people in that region are helpless into stopping him in which that fiend has kept them away from him. He is a threat, My Lord, for he is a poison that must be drained out."
I dug into my desk as I pulled out a file folder that dealt with what I was about to face next. The sight of Brackavar in his disfigured appearance was an old one as I sensed that he was up to no good. Still, I had to answer to my calling as I also had to deal with the poison that was causing harm in the form of a toady that spewed danger from his lips…
The stronghold in Eorana's capital was wearing thin as the locals were busy going about their daily business. With a grey sky, the people around the city of Theoden were getting weary of the one called Brackavar as they spotted him dressed in a black cloak the moment his hood flew open to reveal the scars on his face and lips. The people have hated him for enticing and seducing their chieftain as they were hoping and praying for a miracle to occur on Minas Tirith. Little did everyone know was that an Orcress was there on business as she was aware of Brackavar's tactics very well, but she had to stay out of sight in which she knew of him to be dangerous, for he was forever loathed by those who hated him the most. It wasn't long until one of the locals was threatening to kill Brackavar until the Orcress stopped him from attacking, for she sensed him to be a force to be reckoned with.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said.
"That piss-ant will get it coming, mark my words," said the man.
"Are you that blind to challenge him? Brackavar will force your chieftain to bring you a death sentence if you plan on throwing tomatoes at him. He will even force your leader to even be piked and burned at the same time."
"How do you know of this? Who are you to tell me of this?"
"My name's Salindria Bonnefoy, daughter of Sterling and Kalindra Bonnefoy. I am on business to observe and report to my superior, but I should also report it as well."
The man ceased his grievance for another day as he saw Salindria sprint off towards the opening of Glaven Keep. When she snuck in, she tilted the hood of her cloak as she spotted Brackavar go into the main house. Even though there will be help arriving, she sensed my calling as she saw something glow within the grafitti on the wall. She knew of it to be an omen as she began to have a vision of me arriving, only to be cut down by some of the chieftain's guards. Even though she feared the worst, she couldn't leave her position as she was waiting for an answer from her superior, for this was about to get dangerous on the horizon…
I was in the room with the red rubber ball as I was getting ready to go on the next mission on the docket. Minas Tirith was one of the final three that I had to fulfill my duty in as I was ready to go, but I was also about to face more stiff opposition on the horizon. Just as I was about to leave, I spotted Reiko sprinting towards me as she was also ready to go. Still, our duty on Minas Tirith was crucial, for we were ready to get there soon enough. Even though we were ready to depart, we almost fled before Elise arrived as she was ready to go, for she was a bodyguard after all.
"I almost missed it," she said as she was armed with her weapons.
"This isn't a mission for you, Elise," I said.
"Like hell, it is!"
"Sammy, let her go with us, please," said Reiko. "She will protect us, no matter how many times you try to say no to her. Minas Tirith may be our next mission, but we mustn't be travelling with empty help."
"I don't want Elise being put into danger," I said. "This is our mission and duty, not anyone else's. Seeing a bodyguard with us will end up—"
"-Not posing a dangerous risk," said Castiel as he appeared out of nowhere. "You can't ditch the bodyguards that are designated to protect you, Sam. Therefore, her assistance is very much needed, regardless of how much you say to her. Your duty to Minas Tirith awaits, but you should also be aware of Brackavar and his methods of reporting to his handlers who utterly demand you to say yes to Lucifer and become his vessel."
"If Brackavar does so, then he'll end up on the short end of the stick," said Elise. "I've heard about him from my cousins who are in the Order, but they're also in the Garrison Corps under the leadership of their squad leader, Veyos Ormandias. The guy's a Targar, but he also has problems with angels watching his every move once he got struck by lightning when there was no rain present. As for our mission, I just hope that nothing goes south after that."
I closed the door behind me as the red rubber ball glowed with such intensity. With my mission already well underway, I was most likely to go towards Minas Tirith as I later opened up the door to step out into an area that had several horses tethered up in which I found it to be the stables of what was put there. What I didn't expect was that I was spotted by a cloaked figure, only to find that Salindria was there, for she was most likely to put a stop to Brackavar in the location we were all in.
"You should be aware of the danger that Brackavar brings, Sam," she said to me.
"Salindria Bonnefoy," I said. "You came here alone, didn't you?"
"I'm a freelance hunter like my father, but you have entered into Glaven Keep on Minas Tirith." We see Reiko and the others emerging from the room with the red rubber ball as they saw the stables with the horses. "You brought your entourage, but you should take a look at the third window of the main house."
I went outside of the stables as I stared at the third window of the main house. What I saw was a young girl with brown hair and blue eyes in which she was dressed in a navy dress, but she was scared to death of who was coming into her room. Still, I had to oust Brackavar before it was too late as his shadow loomed all over this once great stronghold on Minas Tirith. It was a task that I had to uphold as I also had to maintain my duty in the Destiny of Worlds, for I had my work cut out for me in such a place like Glaven Keep so far…
The main hall of Glaven Keep was as dismal as it became when everyone was watching their chieftain falling weaker every day. The condition of Glaven Keep itself was a slum as everything around it was either fading away or dilapidated from age as the tapestries on the walls were starting to show their age. The chieftain of his region saw one of the concerned as she was not about to let his so-called advisor get the upper hand. She viewed Brackavar to be a poison as she saw him standing by the chieftain's side with a smile on his scarred face. She hated him with a passion as she wanted him gone from Glaven Keep, for she feared for the safety and well-being of the chieftain, who was ailing on his throne.
"I see that the wayward princess decided to show her face after being shut in her room for a long time," he said. "Still, she will be forced to marry me after her brother was exiled for speaking against the father who sits on his empty throne."
"Leave me alone!" she yelled. "I will die before I marry such a toady who came here three years ago against the wishes of my father!"
"My dear Princess Oriana, your beauty may be the light of this place, but you will soon be wed to me the moment I take you before or after our wedding night."
"You monster!" The princess slaps Brackavar in the face as she was ready to leave the main hall in disgust. "I would rather poison myself than marry you! Your words continue to incapacitate my father and you even exiled my brother! I will never let you take more power that you need! I would rather die than be wedded to a serpent like you!"
"Let me remind you that if you take your own life, then the hellhounds will drag your innocent soul to the bowels of Hell. Tomorrow, a wedding will occur, for you will be the bride who will cement my status as the future master of Glaven Keep."
It wasn't long until Oriana stormed out of the main hall as she returned to her room and locked the door behind her. She was afraid of Brackavar as she prayed for a miracle to banish him from her home and free her father from the prison in his mind. Her room was similar to my own on Gehenna, but she had tapestries on the wall that covered the doors just in time to escape from her given fate. Walking towards the window of her room, she spotted me in plain sight as I was being accompanied by the entourage that travelled with me. She knew of me to be the long-awaited savior that would challenge Brackavar as she was hoping for me to bring a rude awakening to shake him from his grasp on power. It was a crucial time to stop him as it was also the pinnacle of the Destiny of Worlds to occur near her home, which was located in the mountain. She remembered what she saw in the mountain as it was also a shrine for me and Reiko to fulfill our duty in, for our presence would soon shake the core of Brackavar himself so far…
I took the lead as I was standing in front of the doors to the main house of Glaven Keep. I saw the conditions of that stronghold to be of the worst as everything fell into disrepair with the townsfolk inside all living in squalor. Even Reiko was appalled to see such trouble all over as this was the last straw in order to put Brackavar in his place for good, for he was a danger to everyone and the entire galaxy.
"This is horrible," she said to me as she saw a few people covered in dirt and waste. "This place is similar to my own homestead, but the people have been treated unfairly here."
"This is Brackavar's doing," said Castiel. "He is known to be the leech who sucks on his victims just to gain more power for himself. The last time I saw him, it was ten years ago when he was last seen bringing down a chieftain and his family on Earendil once. Even though I defeated him, he seems to be resurfacing just to add more power."
"He ended up making a deal with a Crossroads demon," said Salindria. "Ten years for someone to make a contract just to gain power against powerful figures is potent, but he will soon learn of the consequences of sealing the deal with a demon the moment a hellhound comes for him."
"I've heard stories about people who were desperate enough to make a deal with a Crossroads demon before," said Elise. "It happened in the Elder Days when I read the two-part story, All Hell Breaks Loose when the Dean of old made a deal to bring back his brother once, but that only lasted for a year. As for what Brackavar is doing, his fate is already sealed when he made a dirty deal like that."
Without warning, we were surrounded by guards as we were about to be taken into the main hall of Glaven Keep. It was something that we never expected as we were now prisoners to Brackavar, who was waiting inside with his serpent's tongue just in time to attack me. Still, we had to stay the course as we would also be tasked into weeding out such a malignant foe such as the one we were about to face, for he was ready to strike at any time…
James arrived at our temporary home as he saw Dvora sulking near the harbor. Even though he was wanting to visit me, he noticed that I wasn't there as he also had a bad feeling about the next mission that was dangerous, but he also had faith in what I was doing. Still, he had to quell the flames of such toil at home as he was eager to tell Dvora of what is yet to come, for the Destiny of Worlds is drawing near.
"Sam's not here," she said.
"I know," answered James.
"And you're not worried about it?!"
"He has a hint of adventure that he inherited from John, gods rest his soul, but he's also there to do his duty when it comes to those shrines on other planets."
"He went to Minas Tirith without me!"
"As I recall, don't you have a bun in the oven right now? Besides, that little one might be full of adventure someday."
"Do you have to rub it in, James?! I've been puking every time I get up, I get exhausted, and I have to spend nine months in bed while the baby develops. It's a pain in the ass to sit out while Sam's unattended..."
"He's not alone, but Elise is with him, along with Reiko and Castiel. According to my wife, she gave him the request to go towards Minas Tirith, but his original summons was supposed to be on Essos. Luckily, we've got a network of people fighting against the Executive Division and their allies in this ongoing war, but we should also be aware of what will happen next if they end up abusing the raw power that Sam has. He's not alone, but if he chooses to go solo, we'll be on his heels protecting him the rest of the way."
James made his point clear as he was confident that I would succeed in my mission. As for Dvora sitting this one out for nine months, she was fearing the worst as she wanted to do more, for she wanted to do her part into protecting me like everyone else in the order. When she got up from the harbor dock, she was on her way back to our temporary home as she saw Akemi approaching. Even though she was looking for me, she was also aware that I would be gone again as she noticed Dvora getting ready to enter into the main house, for she was carrying Anaira's child after all.
"It sucks that I have to sit out," she said.
"You're expecting a baby, aren't you?" said Akemi.
"Yeah, but Nathan and his crew will be leaving Targaryen and head straight back to Shiganshina. I'm also on the crew, but I'm gonna miss being Sam's bodyguard in the later missions..."
"You worry about him, don't you?"
"I've known him since he was still in diapers! He's gone a long way, but I can't be a helicopter parent over him forever."
"Sam is part of a legacy that was reforged once his past self died long ago. He can't stay in one place for long, but his sense of adventure is forged in front of him, even if it means by having him fulfill what is put there to begin with. He and Reiko are part of the Destiny of Worlds. I know that you want to do your duty as a bodyguard, but there are others who will put their lives on the line to protect Sam and Reiko from harm, for their true path will be in a golden age after all."
Akemi said her say as she also had high hopes for what I would do next. Still, the Destiny of Worlds is still alive and well as there are those who would protect us in the end, for it was our duty in this ongoing war so far...
We were brought into the main hall by the guards as we were at the mercy of Brackavar, who was standing next to the ailing chieftain who sat on his throne. The smile on his face made Reiko cringe as she sensed the very evil that was permeating all over his black soul. I also loathed the one who was on a power trip as I noticed him singling me out in front of my group. My presence gave him an edge as he was exuberant into reporting to his handlers about me coming here to Minas Tirith, for he was ready to pounce once he found an opening to do so.
"It seems that I have a visitor who is ripe for the taking to become a vessel for Lucifer," he said with an icy voice. "My brethren in the Red Inquisition will be pleased to hear that I have captured you on the spot."
"Leave him be, Brackavar," said Castiel. "His presence doesn't concern you the moment he came here to oust you from power."
"Castiel…, it's been ten years since we last sparred on Earendil, but you won't be so lucky the second time."
"You held onto power over a chieftain once before, only to make a deal with a Crossroads demon for a contract that lasts up to ten years. Your contract is almost up, for the howling of hellhounds will come ringing in your ears."
It wasn't long until Brackavar drew out his sword as Castiel drew out his own in which he was eager to fight the scarred fiend whose poisoned tongue lingers. With the numerous guards drawing out their own swords, I had to stand my ground as I used my raw power to freeze Brackavar where he stood. I wasn't about to let him get his way as I was ready to deliver a crushing blow to his power trip. He was shaking as he feared both my presence and his other fate in the form of an approaching hellhound. Even though he was no match for me, his time was up as I was ready to undo the damage that he did all over Glaven Keep.
"You won't stop me, vessel of Lucifer!" he shrieked. "You won't unleash the Destiny of Worlds anytime soon, for you will be the Devil's vessel in the end of this war!"
"Your time's up, Brackavar," I answered. "You have a tongue that spews poison to those in higher position by chilling their hearts and making them very weak!"
"I gain power here in this stronghold, but I will also take the chieftain's daughter on the morrow just to seal the deal by bringing more power to my bidding! As for you, Lucifer will be pleased to see you captured just to make you become his vessel ripe for—"
"CEASE YOUR TONGUE, SNAKE!"
I used my raw power to shatter Brackavar's hold on the chieftain as I saw him flying in the air and into some of the guards who were armed with spears in their hands. Even though he escaped the blades, he was weak and defeated as he was cowering on the floor after I was glowing with the raw power that I had. Even Reiko and the others were stunned to see me hold my own as I was towering over Brackavar, who was fearing the worst when he heard the sound of a hellhound howling in the distance. Getting everyone out of the way, I saw pawprints on the ground as I noticed Brackavar's body being torn to shreds. He was done for as he was screaming till the bloody end after the hellhound was done ripping him apart. Even though it was over, Salindria feared the worst as she saw two guards coming towards me with their spears in their hands due to the previous vision that she had. What she didn't expect was that the two guards stopped as they removed their helmets to reveal two familiar allies that were in this fight so far, for they had their reasons to come forth into Glaven Keep. I knew of them to be Shotaro and Kerza as they were on business and in the process of going on missions on the battlefield, for they were also in the Order as well.
"Looks like Brackavar has bit the dust," said Shotaro as he saw the latter's shredded corpse on the floor. "Jeriba told us that his contract was almost up anyway."
"You scared us!" yelled Salindria as she was itching to attack one of the two allies. "I thought that you were guards that were ready to do away with Sam, silver hair and all!"
"Forgive us, Sal," said Kerza. "It was Jeriba who employed us from our keep in Gale Canyon on Alecrast to aid the war effort."
"Looks like Sam and Reiko have changed their hair just like a leopard changing its spots," said Shotaro as he spotted us. "I had a feeling that you would come here."
"Take a look at the old man in the chair!" yelled Elise as she saw the chieftain sit up.
We saw the chieftain change from a withered old man to a younger and vibrant one in which he was relieved to be saved from such a curse. He was grateful that he was saved as he saw Brackavar's mangled body being carted away by his guards. What he didn't expect was that the hellhound's pawprints were on the floor as he never saw anything like it before, for this was an unexpected turn of events so far. It wasn't long until he saw Oriana running out of her room as she saw him saved from his plight in which she was grateful that he was saved from Brackavar's poisoned tongue, for it was officially silent right now.
"I thought you would be further under that snake's control," she said.
"I've been freed from my curse," said the chieftain. "The gods be praised."
"And these people here…, are they from the Order of Letters?"
"We are," said Kerza. "Therefore, our true superior will be coming here once she hears of the demise of Brackavar."
Everyone saw me standing still as I was being showered with such heaping praise in order to silence Brackavar once and for all. Even though I was still new at being a god, I was also no stranger into having honorifics heaped to my name as I was more than likely to be exploring what is near Glaven Keep on the sly, for I also had a duty to fulfill…
Akio was in his office as he got word about Brackavar's demise not too long ago. He was aware that the toady who worked for the Red Inquisition would meet his end as he closed the file that was on his desk. Even though he was aware of what I did on Minas Tirith, he never expected to see a familiar face enter into his office in which he was there to give more information on the sly. It was Crowley himself as he was there on business, but is willing to give a warning of a further danger approaching, for he loathed the Executive Division and their allies altogether.
"Hello, Akio," he said. "It appears that Juliet got her dinner after all."
"You sent in that hellhound to kill Brackavar, didn't you?" he said.
"He was trouble, but if he still lived, he would've shriveled up Moose 2.0 with that poisoned tongue of his."
"And you continue to aid and abet on the sidelines after you were presumed dead at that factory on Drakonus, but it seems that Mom brought you from the brink of death all because you have a part to play in this war."
"Seto may be harsh, but the wisdom of the Elder Days is catching up to this day and age. Still, I had my fun, but I also couldn't get enough of the voluptuous Mrs. Stevenson."
"Speaking of Mrs. Stevenson, she's carrying your baby before you set off to Drakonus to shut down that factory. It's ironic that you don't get to see her, but once that baby is born, it will have the same demonic makeup on the sly."
Crowley remembered Valerie very well as she was the only memory that he couldn't get out of his head. He wanted to see her again as he considered her to be someone that is struggling after losing a spouse and putting food on the table. Even though he wanted to see her again, his duties came first as he also had a loathing towards the Executive Division, for their methods were much more dangerous than what was perceived to be…
I was outside of Glaven Keep as I was seeing members of the Order arriving and ready to rebuild it from the ground up. Even though I have gotten rid of Brackavar, who was later torn to shreds by a hellhound, I noticed the chieftain walking and alive as he surveyed the dilapidated conditions that wracked his home in his region's capital of Theoden. He wanted to fix what he couldn't do as he stared at the people who were wallowing in filth whlie Brackavar was still in control. The sight of seeing his people in dire conditions made him feel guilty for not doing much for them as he drooped to his knees weeping with his tears touching the mucked ground.
"I should've been there for my people instead of listening to Brackavar three years ago," he said.
"There's still hope, Your Excellency," I said. "You may be free from Brackavar's hold over you, but you can't just sit there and do nothing. The Order is sending troops to repair your home and provide assistance to those who were forced to bow down to Brackavar and his treachery in the long run."
"Before Brackavar came here, this place was known as the Bastion of Hope that was filled with life everywhere. Now, it's nothing more than a leper colony. I know that you want me to move forward, My Lord, but I have to fix what I need to. This is my doing for bringing my people to such ruin and I am paying for it."
"You shouldn't carry the burden alone. It would weigh heavily if what you bear can't be lifted up to par. You're not alone with this. We are with you as members of the Order of Letters and any other planetary government who stands by us. And another thing, please call me Sam and not address me as 'my lord.' It's a little unsettling for me because I was taught by my own father to treat others with dignity and respect."
"But that could be rude not to address you with such a greatful honorific."
"Even though I may be on the cusp of becoming a god, I was once told not to hold onto such honorifics because it would be too arrogant to hold onto. It's been that way as long as I can remember it, but I have to stick with it, no matter what gets thrown at me."
It wasn't long until I saw a ship approaching as it landed into a clearing. I knew of it to be an Order of Letters ship as I noticed a familiar figure emerging out of it. What I didn't expect was that a group of soldiers from the Hunter Corps and a group of clerics were there as they were ready to rebuild Glaven Keep. As for the familiar figure, however, I knew of it to be none other than Jeriba Farragut herself as she was grateful that the scourge who once brought misery here was now silent, for a new day was dawning here in the stronghold so far.
"It appears that Brackavar is gone, but this stronghold is in dire need of repairs both inside and out," she said. "Still, we work to restore this place in which the chieftain of it will be ruling his people with a benevolent and just hand once again."
"You've come a long way, but the threat is silenced due to him making a contract with a Crossroads demon," I said. "Still, I have a duty to fulfill, but—"
"—There's a problem, Sam, and it concerns the factor about Sawney Masbath."
"The last time I saw him, he was bald with scars all over him, but Odette used her spell to transport him back to his prison cell in Belbe Citadel on Gehenna."
"Odette or any other witch may have gotten the upper hand into forcing him back to his cell, but he ended up elsewhere once he memorized an incantation that he stole from Rowena."
"Does the Order know?"
"The leaders in the Order got word from the Intergalactic Space Patrol that he was last spotted in a village on Stohess, but he ended up taking off before the locals caught up to him. Once again, he will use blackmail to rattle the nerves of his victims just to add to already swollen coffers. Still, he bears a grudge against you, Sam. He will be waiting, but he has already irked a few straggler witches who demand his head on a pole."
"I had a feeling that he would go too far..."
"Sawney Masbath won't go anywhere while being on the run. Still, the clerics who rule this planet may have ousted the royal family who governed it, but they did it for a reason."
"What kind of reason?"
"The Tirithian royal family were ousted from power because they once helped to steal witching items from the ones who coveted them. Even though the bulk of them are on Earth, that doesn't mean that they're better off there. There are plenty of stragglers who mixed in with the human colonists on their way here, but their trinkets are often stored away from those who would abuse them. Still, the clerical rulers of this planet are slipping due to the omens that have been foretold by their advisors in the form of one whose ancestral royal lineage escaped to Alecrast and even passing off as Alecrian. The clerics on this planet were just once, but their lust for power has made everything miserable to the point of despair. The last and final omen will that will seal the clerics' fate is in the form of a savior and his wife mingling in the shrine in the mountain near this stronghold. You and Reiko are the only ones who can bring the raw power to restore Minas Tirith before it goes into further decay. It is the will of those who are awaiting the golden age as planned after all."
Jeriba made her point clear as her words were a pinnacle of what could happen next. I was the omen bearer that came here as my raw power was evolving even further. I was into the next step as I also had a duty to everyone in the galaxy in which I became a symbol of hope in this dark crisis. When I went back towards the main house of the stronghold, I spotted Reiko standing in front of me as she was staring at the mountain next to it. Like me, she was also ready to do her duty as she was most likely to bring me to the point of taking her in this strange moment of affairs, for she was wanting me for our upcoming moment in the mountain shrine soon enough.
"Our duty is there in that mountain," she said to me.
"It's also our time for our wedding anniversary. We can't forget about that in general," I said.
"There will be other planets that will be awakened by our presence, but not yet. The Executive Division is still out there, for they will stop at nothing to abuse what you have."
"I'm known to be the ultimate prize in this battle by three threats, but there's a fourth one that waiting in the wings."
"What kind of threat."
"Sawney Masbath broke out of prison." Reiko gasps in shock to hear the bad news. "Last time I spotted him, he fled the coop to the Sprawl on Lannister. A witch brought him back to his prison cell, but he pulled an ace in the hole by memorizing a spell that he stole from the infamous Rowena MacLeod, who happens to be Crowley's mother that lives in the Sprawl."
"And the legendary Odette Clarke cast a tracking spell on him once he pulled that fast one, Sam," said Jeriba. "You cannot underestimate a witch from the Vesper Guild due to her abilities to track those who steal and plunder trinkets from other witches. Sawney Masbath can't run forever, but he is lingering on a grudge against you, Sam. He'll find a way to cause you misery and mayhem with the spells he stole, but what he doesn't know is that you're immune to witching magic, which is feasible for you to be protected with that raw power all over you."
It wasn't long until we spotted Elise running out of the main house as she saw Jeriba and the soldiers from the Hunter Corps already there and repairing Glaven Keep. Even though she thought that Dean would be there to scold her, but he wasn't in which he was still with his squad on Shiganshina for a long time. Even though she was assigned as my bodyguard, she also had a duty to protect me as she couldn't let anyone in the Executive Division harm me or Reiko, for we had a purpose in the Destiny of Worlds after all…
Rowena was in her house in the Sprawl on Lannister as she was looking into a crystal ball in which she detected an aura that was similar to the presence of Sawney, who was thought to be transported back to his prison cell on Gehenna. Still, she was on alert as she also had a bone to pick with Odette, who arrived in her home with the Vesper Grimoire in her hand. Both witches were concerned about what Sawney could do next as they were also ready to kill him in the most gruesome way imaginable, for they aren't too keen on those who plunder their witching tools.
"You're too little, too late, Odette," said Rowena as she bore a grudge against Sawney. "That flamboyant, black-hearted little toady! He thinks he can get away from us by issuing out a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card out of Belbe Citadel on Gehenna, but he'll get it coming once he's off guard!"
"Sawney may have memorized one of your escape spells, but he can't underestimate a witch from the Vesper Guild," she said. "If he ever got out again, I placed a tracking spell on him in which he is literally screwed once the locals who live on other planets find and sniff him out."
"It seems that our wee problem will get worse because I found him on Stohess, but the local villagers in a small town ended up shooing him away once he tried to blackmail one of the council members."
"He'll find a way to cause harm for the new savior, but he gained an immunity to our powers once he maintained his current form, silver hair and all. He already made a short number on Brackavar until the poisoned latter met an end in the form of a hellhound. Still hunger for power by making a contract with a Crossroads demon will cost those who are stupid enough to seal the deal. As for the Executive Division and their allies, they are on the warpath when it comes to their unquenchable thirst for chasing Sam and abusing the raw power that he has."
It wasn't long until Rowena saw her crystal ball crack as it split open like an egg hatching. She knew of it to be an omen as my presence on Minas Tirith would soon be greater than what it was cracked up to be, for the golden age in the Ashizoka System was drawing much closer. Just as she was about to discard her broken crystal ball, she turned around and saw Crowley standing from behind as he was most likely to rain on her parade, but not now.
"Hello, Mother," he said to her. "It seems that Scrawny Sawney just flew the coop, but he's just another threat to Moose 2.0 like the rest that are all over. As for the golden age, it will be hastened to put those bastards who started this war to a halt soon enough."
To be continued...