Ch7: Meeting Jess

The monsters in the tower were still as pathetic as the ones in Farebury, but we only made sure to attack those that attacked us. This included the Imps, Frogfaces, and the Funghouls to name off. We didn't have to worry about the Healslimes at all. In fact, they had heard of my helping Geyser in Farebury and decided to tell other nice monsters to aide us in battles as well. There was even a Healslime that saw that Yangus had gotten hurt from an Imp's pitchfork and healed him up right then and there.

It didn't take too long at all for our ragtag group to make it to the very top of the tower, where there was a complete absence of any females named Jessica. There was, however, a giant statue that held two ruby jewels within its eyes. "Those rubies are infused with magic," Stella spoke as we just gazed at its beauty. It was a statue of one of the Great Sages, modeled after the Great Sage from Jessica Albert's family line. It was truly beautiful, even though few are probably allowed to see it.

We then heard some footsteps from behind us and we all instinctively turned around to face none other than Jessica Albert, who was wearing her first outfit in the game, the gray and black one. "Y-You?! I knew you'd be here, murderous fiends! I knew you'd return for the jewels!" Jessica exclaimed as soon as she saw us. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! We were just looking at the statue. And plus, don't you know the phrase 'don't judge a book by its cover?'" I frowned directly at her.

"Lies! All lies! The villain always returns to the scene of the crime! THIS IS FOR ALLISTAIR!" Jessica hollered as she formed a giant frizz and sent it for me directly. I immediately jumped out of the way as the fireball hit the statue, temporarily setting it aflame. "Say goodb-" Jessica said as she began to form an even bigger fireball directed at Yangus... that is until...

"Wait Jessica!" exclaimed a voice from nearby. It was a voice in our heads, so I heard it too. "T-That voice? A-Allistair?" Jessica asked with obvious shock in her eyes. "Stay your spell, Jess. I was not killed by these people," Allistair said. "S-Stay my spell? But it's too late!" Jessica frowned as she sent it for a nearby pot, destroying it in one go. We all then walked closer to the statue as Jessica got the closest.

"Allistair... what happened? W-Where are you?" Jessica asked as tears began to fill her eyes. "I apologize Jessica... but I cannot stay... even as we speak, my soul remains in this statue for a limited time... I can, however, show you the events of that fated day..." Allistair's spirit spoke to us. "Look into the statue's eyes and you will see exactly what it and I have seen..." We all instinctively did so, including Stella, and we all felt our minds go into 3rd person.

The area was completely in color, unlike in the game, and the first thing we all saw was Allistair as a human, and Dhoulmagus suddenly appearing behind him, his visage clear as day and not censored at all. "Halt! Who goes there?!" Allistair exclaimed as he saw Dhoulmagus. "Such a pity..." Dhoulmagus spoke... even though it really was Rhapthorne in control. "Pity? Who are you and what are you talking about?" Allistair asked the mad jester.

"My name is Dhoulmagus and I was referring to the fragility of human life," Dhoulmagus spoke again, looking at Allistair with a death glare. "Preferably, your life." That was when Allistair tried to draw his sword and he couldn't even move. "W-What... have you... done... to me?" Allistair asked when he could no longer move. "Like I said: such a pity..." Dhoulmagus said again as he then moved directly in front of Allistair.

"Dhoulmagus... I will not... forget... your name..." Allistair spoke. "You won't forget my name? Hah! Then I will do the exact same with you, Allistair," Dhoulmagus said evilly as he plunged the staff directly through his chest and effectively ended his life... and we all just witnessed it happen. And to be honest, it truly made me feel sick in the stomach with anger.

"That is the man that killed me on that faithful day... now you have seen what the statue saw..." Allistair's spirit spoke to us. "So sad..." Stella sobbed as she actually began to tear up. "My time is coming to an end... forgive me Jessica..." "No! Allistair!" Jessica sobbed out loud. "Promise me Jess... Though mother may stand in your way, promise me that you will follow your heart... and do what's right... farewell... sister..." Those were Allistair's last words as his spirit evaporated from the statue.

"Well, this is certainly more of Dhoulmagus's dirty work..." Trode frowned right next to Yangus. "COR BLIMEY!" he exclaimed, using the same reaction as he did in the game. "Jessica..." I frowned as I saw her silently weeping by the statue's base. "I-I'm sorry..." she sobbed out as I tried to pet her in an effort for consolation. "Do you remember what his last words were?" I said to her with a gentle smile, my motherly side coming out for some reason. "He said... I should... follow my heart... then I know what I'll do..." Jessica said as she got up and wiped her tears on her shirt.

"I'm going to avenge my brother's death by hunting down this Dhoulmagus myself," Jessica said with grit and determination in her eyes. "Well if that's the case, why don't we do it together?" I asked her. "What?... What do you mean?" "I mean that we're after that awful jester as well for our own reasons. Plus, it'd be safer if we traveled in a group, right?" "R-Right... thanks... wait... what's that on your head?"