Ch12: Recovery and the Funeral
I didn't expect that my slashing of Dhoulmagus's face would take so much out of me, but I ended up with a sprained right arm right before I went unconscious. It was very embarrassing that I was out of commission in terms of swordplay for at least a week (according to the Abbey's doctor). But I didn't care about that. I was more concerned with the rise of Marcello becoming the new Abbot as well as the funeral for Abbot Francisco.
During the funeral, I stood alongside my allies and the Templars, each and every one of them filled with sadness as they buried the caring man even in the midst of heavy rain. Though my arm was in a splint and I had to change into clothes from this timeline due to blood on my other ones, I stood there and thought about what I had done the night before.
Not only had I dealt damage to Dhoulmagus with my sword, breaking the blade when it fell to the ground, but I also used my magical prowess to prevent the thorns from harming my allies, which shouldn't have happened until we battled him at the Dark Ruins. And to top it all off, all of my allies were eyeing me with gazes of suspicion after they had heard Dhoulmagus say that I was a 'time traveler'. Well, all of them except Stella and Medea.
The rain continued on until nightfall, roughly eight hours after the funeral ended. And according to Stella, the goddess was indeed crying. Celestria was in complete anguish when she saw Abbot Francisco get murdered from her standpoint. And I couldn't say I blamed her... besides, Abbot Francisco was probably the kindest Abbot the world had ever seen.
On the day after the funeral, Angelo came to wake me, Yangus, and Jessica up from our beds. "Marcello wanted to see you. It'd be best not to keep him waiting," Angelo said with a face of seriousness. I quickly woke up the other two in my team and we were soon in Marcello's quarters, King Trode standing right beside him as in the game.
"King Trode has told me everything, so I am aware of the circumstances that we find ourselves in," Marcello said to us, getting right to the point as I expected him to. "Sadly, with Abbot Francisco gone, that means that I, being his successor, will be working overtime with trying to get everything in working order... and that's where I have a proposition to aide you in your quest..."
Marcello then looked at Angelo and looked at us, a small smirk on his sly face. "I am offering you to allow my brother, Angelo, to join you in pursuing and defeating Dhoulmagus," he spoke. "Hmph. Never thought I'd hear you say those words before," Angelo frowned. "I thought you said you never thought of me as a brother." Marcello then looked at Angelo with raised eyebrows. "You're the only one here that doesn't have any duties, so you're the only one we can spare at the moment, Angelo," Marcello growled at him. "Fine, I will travel with these people and I will avenge the Abbot's death."
And just as soon as he said that, Stella smiled when Angelo looked at her and his expression barely changed. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got a murderer to track down," I frowned as I exited the door and Angelo, Yangus, Trode, and Jessica followed me out. "Now that we're out of earshot, I must admit... I never thought I'd be able to see the sister of the goddess traveling alongside your group," Angelo smiled at us.
When he said those words, Stella gasped and jumped in the air, proving that double jumps were possible in games. "Y-Y-You flappin' know who I am?!" Stella exclaimed at him. "We'll talk later, once we get out of this place," Trode said as we walked past the rest of the guards and finally out the door of Maella Abbey. "So now that we're out of the Abbey, yes, I know exactly who you are, Stella," Angelo said as suave as ever. "But how is the question?" Jess asked him.
"I know because I heard about it from a story the Abbot read to me when I was younger... about the Goddess Celestria and her younger sister Stella... Celestria is in charge of making sure the human race lives on while Stella is in charge of guiding those passed to the afterlife... so I'm quite shocked to see you here and not doing your job," Angelo explained. "Well, that's cos it ain't just me doin' all the flappin' work. I happen to have a partner who takes over whenever Celestria wants me to take a load off," Stella said with a frown.
"I see..." Angelo said. "Now then, shall we get going after Dhoulmagus?" Medea asked when we reached her. "Wait... did that horse just talk?" Angelo asked with a gulp. "Since you're with the group now, we might as well tell ya... have you heard about what happened at Castle Trodain?" I asked him. "Yes... Dhoulmagus cursed the whole castle, correct?" Angelo spoke. "Yeah, but that ain't the 'ole story," Yangus said. "Cos this 'orse is actually the princess. Princess Medea," Stella smirked.