Undertale Before And After: The Mages

The Trail of Undeserved Murder

Journal Entry Two

The six of us left our hovel, wands, and staff at hand, Macgillvary in the front with Conroy and Dillan side by side, Oona, Reiley following behind, and Ogilvy racing to Dillan's side. Removing Dillan's splint, Ogilvy speaks, "Move thy wrist where I tell thou. Up, now down, left, right, ok, in a circle, wave. Any pain?"

"No."

Ogilvy cheerfully smiles,"Tis healed then!"

Macgillvary takes notice and slows his pacing. When he comes to their speed he raises an eyebrow, "What has happened?"

"I was bitten." Dillan replies.

"By what?"

"A wolf." Ogilvy interrupts.

Macgillvary scoffs, "A wolf? How in the heavens were thou bit?"

"That's something I must speak with thou. Ogilvy and Conroy ye must go."

Ogilvy and Conroy nod and slow their pacing, leaving Dillan to whisper into Macgillvary's ear, "Preposterous! It cannot be Dillan."

The four of us stopped in place, peeking our heads around the other, "Ahem." Macgilvary raises his finger to his mouth and then signals us to go ahead of him and Dillan. As we walk past, I stay at the back end of the other three to listen to Dillan and Macgillvary's conversation.

Macgillvary quietly speaks, "What was the eye color?"

"Pure white. No pupils."

"It can't be Dillan. Tis just a blind wolf kicked from the pack." Macgillvary walks ahead of me to the front of the group. Dillan looks at his scar and whispers, "I think not."

Dillan comes towards me and we both stop in place, he glances into my dark hood and sees me sweating. Putting his hand on my shoulder for a moment. Letting go of me he continues to look at his scar and walks to Conroy's side. As we continued our way, deep into the forest, we went through the shrubs onto the end of the dirt trail. We huddle into a circle of six, none of us dare speak a word to one another, and neither did we look at each other. All of us, fearing the worst, bowing our heads, five of us left Macgillvary behind at the very end of the trail. One by one we departed, Ogilvy, Conroy, Oona, Reiley, then Dillan was by himself.

From what I can understand from Dillan's experience is what he wrote down and gave to me:

I could not understand the fear the others have, tis just a child, they will run home. The Child came, holdin' a dagger, I assumed twas for self-defense. Waving my wand above my head I cast a storm, allowing me to control the heavens above. The clouds grew darker yet darker as the wind picks up, thunder crashing. The Child covers their eyes as leaves and dust blow in their face. My storm wasn't enough to deter The Child, as they took one step further. I let lightning fall from the heavens above around The Child, they jump from my warning and begin to run, my lighting follows behind. The Child stops in place, to find the trail ahead is narrow and growing smaller. The Child was leaving my line of sight, this is it, my last chance. I see a thick Pine Tree on the left side of the trail, pointing my wand at it, I smite it.

The bottom tree bark was aflame, the tree spun and snapped what was left holding it upright. The Child looks above and runs with all their might, the tree inches from the ground nearly falling upon The Child. As The Child slides across the ground. They made it. As I write this I've never seen such ambition from a child. I am astonished I had failed.

Reiley, being next in line and Dillan did not come to tell him that he succeeded. Seeing The Child (a young lass), Reiley taps his staff on the ground, summoning a quake beneath The Earth. The trees shake until they are uprooted from the ground, one by one they fall upon one another, blocking the path in front of The Young Girl. This didn't stop her. The Young Child starts climbing the fallen trees, Reiley, grinding his teeth, slams his staff; the ground shakes harder allowing the trees to roll. Nearly missing her, she fell between the crevice of bark, climbing out revealing to Reiley scrapes and bruises, her clothes scattered in blood.

Reliey astonish by This Girl's will to keep going and fearing what he almost commits retreats into The Forest; with tears pouring from his eyes.

All I can say for Oona (perhaps) is that she was surprised that The Child made it past Reiley and Dillan from the way she spoke to me. As The Child approaches, she gazes around to find the forest on fire, bright orange colors and smoke blocking out the sunlight. The tree's bark fell off piece by piece and hit the ground turning to ash. But ambitious as This Child is, she keeps going. From above a tree branch snaps and The Child takes notice; she jumps back avoiding the burning branch.

Branches fell one by one behind The Young Child as she runs. Feet away from safety where the fire swarms from the burning trees, leaving them in smoke. Forming a spiral wall in front of The Child, blocking her path. Oona taps her staff on the ground, the spiral shines brightly, blinding The Young Girl. Flames quickly spread on the ground, forming a square box around The Child.

Oona raises her staff and chants a spell, "Inferno!"

The wind is swaying through Oona's robe and The Child's hair (and cape). The wind carries a gust of fire close to the barrier of flames surrounding The Child. The gust forms a man that glows bright orange, a body made of fire. Fear Dóiteáin. Oona takes her glowing staff, places it at the center of her body, and bows her head. Meditating she became one with her beast, snapping her fingers; the illusion mimics her. Whirlpools of fire appear, forming into balls. Oona positions her arm to the side of her head and swings her arm forward. Signaling herd after herd of fireballs soaring toward The Child. As Oona describes it, This Child could doge left and right, sliding underneath the fireballs. Oona squints and raises her staff, the light around her staff spirals to the center of it. The illusion's hands are above its head, energy is absorbed around it, and a massive ball of fire is formed. The illusion throws the giant fireball toward the ground, on contact the ball of fire explodes. Causing The Girl to soar into the air over the wall of flames. She falls flat on her front. This is it. The Chance to finish The Child off but Oona drops her staff. The barrier of flames, The Fear Dóiteáin vanishes. The Child twitches as she raises her feet. Oona slowly reaches for her staff and leaves.

For Conroy, this is what he wrote:

I was along the side of the riverbank that led to The Mountain where I sat on a tree stump (with my cane pressed against my head) far out in the open. At that moment no one had sent for me, and my worst fears felt like they were coming true. The Young Girl emerged limping, I couldn't see how badly hurt she was, but she noticed me and reached her tiny hand out and limped in my direction. As she came closer I could see her face was scorched on her right side, her clothes burnt and stained black and red. I stood up, instantly knowing what Oona tried to do.

I said to her, "Thou shouldn't have come here…"(She stopped and looked at me, then continued to limp toward me.)

"Up ahead is a man who will help. I suggest once thou receive his help, go back the way thou came!" I clapped my hands and the sky flashed. I was gone. I came upon Ogilvy, I found him sitting in the open. As I got closer I found the common Golden Flowers beneath him, and sat down next to him.

Ogilvy looked at me, "The Child went home?"

"No. She came my way, limping to me for help."

"Thou let The Child see thou!"

"Yes. I did not care to hide. She's badly injured, if I did anything she'd fall down. Heal her."

"What art thou saying? Our job is to scare The Child from this mountain not reveal ourselves."

"Oona tried to kill her, tis, not scraps and bruises, her eye has been burnt by fire, her clothes burned to smoke, she bleeds slowly from cooked scabs."

"I heal her and what happens next? She goes home, she speaks about two men in The Forest?"

"If that shall happen, we will handle it?"

"We're not supposed to be seen. Have thou thought this through? There will be mobs of angry-determined souls! Or what if she continues and I must put the damage back to what I mended? I hate that above all."

"Ogilvy. Do what thou feels right. The Child is not far behind, I must go."

Ogilvy isn't the type to kill, not that he hasn't. But his soul is pure kindness, he took an oath not to kill when he became a doctor but this oath was later destroyed by the time of the war and he never could retake his oath after the war. Ever since the killing of Humans he has been in far worse shape than the war. When he handed his writing to me, it was covered in teardrops.

I sat beneath the tree as Conroy left, thinking to myself of all possible outcomes, weighing the pros and cons. Standing upright I left for the trail and to my surprise, The Child is here sooner than I thought. She is crying, I could see her pain. My Soul, heart, and mind tighten. I look away and clench the center of my breasts and fall beneath my staff. Wheezing softly, squinting my face, I decide to show MERCY. A MERCY killing would benefit all, our identities, her pain. She continued limping before she fell on her back. I stood and ran to The Young Lass, she spoke, "Thou art The Man who will help me?"

I say, "Y-yes little one, I can heal your wounds."

I whisper, "Let there be light." All her scraps, burns, and blood disappear. She was healed.

She stared into my eyes, "What art thou?"

I didn't answer her but I looked into her brown eyes and asked, "Why did thou come here?"

"To find my brother."

Ignoring what she said, I asked another question, "Thou art aware for whoever climbs this mountain never returns?"

"Yes." She says as she nods.

"Thy brother is gone then. Go home." I lifted my frail body with the help of my staff, I turn my back towards The Young Child and walked away.

"Excuse me, why art thou up here?"

I stopped in place, "I'm here to guard this mountain. I'd suggest thou go home."

"I have no home to go home to sire."

I turn my head, "Why not?"

"The loss of my brother changed everything. I want to find him and make everything right as it should be."

I felt dismayed, "How long has it been?"

"A few months." She replied.

I stood there in the summer breeze as my robes swayed in the wind. The last person we killed, was a young man in his twenties no older than twenty-three nor less than twenty-one. Arrogant and foolish he was, but our actions didn't just take life, as well it destroyed lives. I could only think of all the murders we committed, taking so many lives because we chose to do so.

"Go back." I said.

"But I-"

I quickly turned around and looked her in the eyes, "Go back! Thy brother is dead, thou will never see him again! Furthermore, thou has never seen anyone in this forest! All I can say is, if thou continue further, thou will not come back from this mountain! Do thou understand?"

Her young brown eyes twitch left and right, examining my face. She stepped a few inches back and ran away from me, I was relieved but I still felt pain; I sent a child back to a painful life we caused. I tried to walk but I collapsed beneath the weight of my sorrow, crying. I think she knew I murdered her brother.

The Cave Entrance

Hours pass while we all wait for Ogilvy to return to The Cave Entrance. On the trail tis Ogilvy. All of us are caught by surprise, we expect The Child.

Macgillvary approaches him, "The Child left?"

"Yes." He speaks with sorrow.

Macgillvary rubs his chin, "How? What could thou do the others could not?"

"Tis best I don't describe my methods." Ogilvy says as he scratches the back of his head.

Machillvary turns from Ogilvy, tapping his staff across the ground as he walks. I caught a glimpse of Conroy grabbing Oona by the hand, taking her out of the group. I follow, trying to avoid their sight.

Conroy whispers in Oona's ear, "I know what thou tried to do to The Child."

"Wha- I do not know what thou art speaking of."

Conroy tightens his grip a little (not to hurt her and pulls her close to him, "Look at me. What kind of fool do thou take me for! I saw the cooked marks on her face. Thou tried to kill her."

"Teh-he… I-I… I tried. I couldn't. I'm sorry."

"Stop squirming. Answer me Oona, what were thou thinking?"

"I was thinking it'd be easy… for everyone. I thought…"

Conroy releases his grip, "Thou thought what?"

"It'd be easy… Like the others. I felt I was strong enough for everyone else… Now… I feel empty."

"Oh Oona…" Conroy says as he pulls Oona into his robes for a hug. I could see both of them crying, tears pouring from their hoods as the water ran down their robes in small streams. For once I could see Oona's beliefs were crushed, this shook me worse and my courage drained from within my being. I return to the others before Conroy and Oona do.

Soon after Conroy and Oona's return, we all agreed there is nothing left to do, "Tis time for us to head off to our hovel. The graze of dusk came upon The Mountain with sunlight fading away beneath the trees.

"We must be off before tis too dark," Macgillvary speaks as he stomps his staff on a boulder to gain our attention. Signaling us to follow, we all art on the trail. I turn to my side to make sure all of us art coming but Dillan didn't move; He is at the start of the trail with his finger over his mouth, retorting in silence, I didn't make a sound, I look over my shoulder to see if the others art coming back, no one had turned around. This time I heard the sound, rustling in this thicket, wasn't just us, something was stalking us again. I am thinking of the scrawny wolf, it followed us all the way out here. But the sound was different from the last time. It wasn't fast. Whatever twas, it quickly ran out into The Cave entrance. Soon as I was about to storm, Dillan put his finger up, signaling me to be patient. I follow his lead. Quickly this time, whatever runs out of the thicket. Dillan runs and I follow after. There she is, The Young Lass. Standing by The Cave Entrance, she takes one step forward and is hit by a cyan lightning bolt. Rubbing her bruised shoulder, she turns in our direction and finds the two of us approaching. She jumps to her feet and tries to run inside The Cave, Dillan waves his wand above his head and releases a lasso of electricity, surrounding The Young Girl's core with cyan static which paralyzes her. Dillan and I run toward the girl but someone behind us yells, "Stop!"

Twas Ogilvy who yelled and the others behind him followed. Macgillvary looks to Ogilvy, "I thought thou said she left?"

"I did." Ogilvy says while giving The Young Girl a cold stare.

Ogilvy stomps over to The Girl, she sees the full fiery and fear in his eyes, "I told thou to leave this place! No one returns from this mountain. I made myself clear."

"Ogilvy!" Macgillvary screams.

"Thou spoke with her?"

"I—I did.

"On whose orders? Thou know the code."

Ogilvy gulps, "Myself."

Conroy raises his hand and walks forward, 'Twas I. I spoke with her first."

All of us stare into Macgillvary's eyes, his face still stern. His staff glows and shapes itself into a bow, he stares at us, then into Dillan's eyes. He nods. Dillan grabs The Young Girl's arm and gently pushes her to her knees, The Young Lass could not move but her face went pale, sweat dripping from her face and her eyes screaming with terror. I saw Ogilvy lunge forward, "Gillvary stop!"

Conroy quickly grabs a hold of him, holding him back with both arms around his chest.

"Conroy, let go of me! You can't let this happen!" Sweat drips from Conroy's face but he didn't let go.

I witness only this, Macgillvary grips his glowing golden bow, yellow energy particles come from beneath the girl, bright circles then appear and arrows come forth. Quickly closing my eyes, I could hear The Child's screams echo through the heavens. Once I opened my eyes, what lay there was a body, a small pool of blood, and a heart-shaped soul left behind.