Disclaimer: I don't own LoM
Font in italic are for character's thought. You can find the meaning of the latin word at the end of the chapter.
Barely a week had passed after their encounter with Drakonis. Kain had traveled to Gato, to see what Matilda was doing. The wind had told him that something was bound to happen in Gato and that something was not nice. In fact, it was going to be very messy. He left Angelique this time because he really had a bad feeling about something. He didn't know what it was but he's definitely going to change the future for Matilda, Irwin, Daena, and Escad.
"I won't let Daena, Escad, Matilda, or Irwin be lost." Kain determined his resolve as he approached Gato. The windless town automatically told him that something was definitely wrong. After Matilda had been abducted recently by Irwin to Mindas ruins, the atmosphere in Gato was never the same again. Matilda's spell was broken and Gato was in chaos. I approached the temple of healing as soon as I can and when I tried to go to Matilda's room, I saw Daena coming in. When I knocked, there was Matilda's soft voice inviting me in. When I entered Daena was in the heat of an argument with Matilda.
"Matilda, if you don't stop him then he will destroy the world." Daena argued.
"Then let him. I am content with it. If he wants to destroy the world then I will pray for him." Matilda replied as calm as ever.
"But… you can't do this. You have to stop him. Don't you love him?" Daena's getting more desperate since Matilda apparently didn't care with the idea the world being destroyed.
"I love him. That is why I will pray for him." Matilda answered her.
"Ughh… I don't get you!" Daena stormed out the room after she heard Matilda's reply.
"Do you think it's okay to leave her like that?" Kain asked Matilda
"She can do what she wishes to do. I will only pray for her." Matilda's answer never cease to amuse Kain.
"I see… well, I'm here to talk about various things. Care to listen?" Kain asked nonchalantly.
"I am willing to listen if you want me to hear your problem, Kain." With her answer, Kain shared his knowledge about the future and what was his plan about it. During all that time, Matilda simply just nodded and inserted a few comments about what he wanted to do.
"So will you only pray for me too?" Kain asked amusedly.
"Yes, I will also pray for you… because the path that you chose is a hard and arduous to tread." Matilda answered again
"I see… Well, I guess, I do need your prayer to get through this safely." Kain exited the room as he said this.
"Kain." A voice interrupted him before he makes his exit.
"Hmm?"
"Please, save them. All of them if you can…"
"I'll try my best." Kain said that as he exited the room and started to head out to Lucemina. On his way to the cancun bird nest, he met Escad.
"Hello, fancy meeting you here." Kain greeted him normally as if expecting him to be there.
"You're going to stop Irwin, right?" Escad asked to the point.
"I will save him too, not only stopping him." Kain answered him simply.
"Then I'll come with you." Escad said.
"What makes you change your mind to save your nemesis, Escad?" Kain asked
"I won't save him, I will stop him from destroying this world. If your goal is the same like me then I don't care what the method is." Escad countered angrily denying the fact that he will the same boat with the person who will try to save Irwin.
"I see. Then why do you bring one more companion? You alone is enough, no?" Kain asked again
"Ahh…" Escad looked back to the pillar he had been waiting for Kain.
"Ange, come out. I know you're there." Kain stated plainly while continuing to walk ahead.
"Uhh…" Angelique appeared looking worried then she smiled sheepishly when her brother looked at her.
"I thought, I said that you can't come on this one." Kain glared dagger at his sister.
"Kain… I wanted to help too. I don't want to just sit around and do nothing when I know I can do something about it." Angelique's voice getting louder and louder as she tried to convince her brother her point.
"NO! I don't want you to get involved in this too." Kain's anger was seen through plainly. His knuckle went white as he struggle to keep his temper.
"Kain… you don't have to shoulder it alone, you know. You had us. You had friends that wanted to share your burden with you." Angelique said almost crying, her voice now was already between gasp and hiccups. Seeing his sister almost cried, Kain decided that he just have to go through with this scenario.
"Fine. Do whatever you want." Kain just turned around and headed forward. Hearing Kain's word, Angelique rubbed her tears and went forward with Escad. When they reached the nest, the cancun bird was waiting there as if waiting for them. Kain enchanted their boots to able to climb up the air and reach the bird. When they all had finally ridden the bird, they saw Lucemina was already in the air. The bone dragon was still stationary but its power could be felt miles away. On the way there, Kain asked Escad why he changed his mind. Escad said that he met Angelique when she tried to go to Gato and she talked some sense to him so he changed his mind and waited for Kain on that spot. Escad smiled a small smile to Angelique and she recalled the event earlier.
"I'd better hurry if I want to catch up with Kain." She tried to fasten her pace but she knew that she can't afford to waste her energy now.
"Escad!" She called Escad who's a distance away from her current position and waved to him. Escad saw her and nodded. So instead of trying to catch up with Kain, she decided that she wanted to talk with Escad for a while. Maybe she could convince him to go along with her.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Angelique greeted smiling.
"Nothing, I guess." Escad said blankly almost losing his passion.
"Really… wow. Hey, ummm, I was trying to catch up with Kain, wanna tag along?" Angelique asked straightly.
"Why should I go? I don't see the point in it." Escad stated.
"Uhh… because…" She tried to think up with a clever answer but she obviously can't think of another reason aside from the one Kain told her.
"Because if you don't then, this world can be destroyed, you know…" Angelique said
"Oh.. really? Does someone wanted to destroy the world? Seems like old news to me." Escad said bored.
"Escad, why are being like this?" Angelique said confusedly.
"Like what?" Escad challenged her question back.
"Uhmm… how do I put it… Like someone who lost his will to fight." Angelique said while putting her finger on her mouth.
"Like I care… I don't have anything to fight for anyway. Matilda didn't need me anymore. She chose to side with Irwin. Daena didn't believe what I say. So I didn't have anyone to believe in me so why should I fight for them." Escad bit back at her, knowing full well that the reason he lost his will to fight was not only this but his conviction was shaken because no one wanted to be with him.
"Stop being childish! You know fully well, that there still will be someone who needs you." Angelique lashed back
"Yeah, like who?" Escad asked back. At this point, Angelique tried to think really fast and she can't think of anyone who might need Escad's help.
"See.. there's no one…! No one at all." Escad shouted at her silence.
"No, you're wrong. I need you. I need your help!" Angelique said finally.
"For what?" Escad asked a bit taken back by her statement.
"To save this world, to stop it from being destroyed. I need your help to convince Kain to take us with him." Angelique answered.
"Is that it? Am I just to convince Kain then I can walk away? That seems easy enough…" Escad said bitterly.
"No, you took it wrongly. I mean Kain always shouldered things for himself. I want you to help him, I need you to help me helping him." Angelique said flustered.
"So what do I need to do?" Escad said plainly.
"Fight with us. Or at least fight with me, to save this world. You want this world to be better, don't you? Then you need to give Fa'Diel a chance." Her voice getting louder and higher as she's almost giving up trying to convince Escad going with her.
"You're right. I guess I want to see Fa'Diel in a different light." Escad said with a smile on his face.
"All right, let's go!" Angelique said while grabbing Escad hand. Dragging him with her.
"Hey, hey. Let go!" Escad said blushing.
"Nope, if I let you go, you might just change your mind again and run away again. I can't afford that, can't I? Not after I almost burn my brain to convince you…" She smiled when she said this because partly she knew Escad was not going to leave her alone in this journey and the other part was just she's happy to able to see her friend smile again.
"Ange, stop daydreaming! We're here." Kain's voice broke her thought.
"Oh right… coming!" She get off and ran to catch up with Escad and Kain. On the way to find Irwin, they fought hordes of monster. In the midst of the battle, Kain noticed that the monsters were stronger as they proceed.
"Kain! Watch out!" Kain saw a monster that wanted to pierce him and he was a bit surprised to block properly. He shut his eyes waiting for the blow to come but it never came.
"Whew! Thank God, I made it in time." A familiar voice reached his ears. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Daena was in front of him.
"Daena, you're here?" Kain asked disbelievingly
"Yes, I'm here to stop Irwin from this madness. What are you all doing here?" Daena asked the group
"I guess, we are all here for different reasons but I think our goal is to stop Irwin to continue with his plan." Kain stated and he saw Daena nodded.
"So, Daena, do you want to come along with us?" Angelique asked excitedly.
"I suppose. It is easier to go with you guys than being alone." Daena nodded and joined to stop Irwin. Along the way, Selva appeared and helped them by giving hints about this and that. When they finally reached Lucemina's head, they saw Irwin standing there facing the wind.
"Irwin! Prepare to die!" Escad said.
"Hmm… so you are all here. Very well, I will eliminate you before this world." Irwin said dismissively.
"Irwin, stop this madness at once, I'm sure Matilda didn't want this." Daena reasoned hoping that Irwin will listen.
"Hmph. I could care less." Irwin said while entering his battle stance. All of them prepared for battle when they saw Irwin had no reason to back down. Escad lunged and tried to slice Irwin with his sword but Irwin simply blocked it with no effort. Angelique jumped and maneuvered in the air to see an opening and attack with her dagger. While Daena attack relentlessly with her flail. Kain observed the situation while trying to support his friends. Images going through his head when he read the part about Lucemina in Mimir's Word.
"Then the bone dragon shall consume those whose abroad him and the demon will be devoured by his own power whilst the priestess will only pray and depart thereafter to see the wind."
"I won't let it happen to them." While he secretly already know about Matilda's condition, he will make sure at least Escad and Daena will be alive after this fight. As for Irwin, he will leave him to Matilda. Kain chanted some words then around him appeared green light.
"Bind them in their glorious moment. Paralyzing arrows." Kain shot the arrow in his hand to Irwin, the numerous arrows of light all glided in the air, evading Daena, Escad, and Angelique, but aimed to Irwin. When they pierced Irwin, he growled and his movement ceased.
"Now, attack him!" Kain shouted to his comrade. The trio moved agilely to strike and did as much damage as they could but the arrows that bind Irwin soon dispersed as a force of heat blasted them to the far end of Lucemina.
"Hmph… do you think such a puny hit could beat me?" Irwin said huffing, it was clear that his strength was drained but not that much.
"Well, who knows, one can only but tries." Kain smirked as he said this, readying his dagger in his gloved hand.
"Hmph…" Irwin just grunted before his body emitted a magnificent red light. Kain sensed that this was the moment that Mimir had spoken of. He simply have to tried his hardest to stop this. For his friends and for everyone. He started by enchanting his dagger.
"Life lewd with passion. Burn. As ashes to ashes and dust to dust. I command thee to go back to thy own origin." The dagger glowed a strange light and Kain threw it to Irwin hoping that somehow Irwin will touch it. And Irwin just knocked it with his fist away from his body.
"Hmph. Mission accomplished." Kain whispered. Then he started a new conjuration, one that is greater than before and maybe his greatest for all his life time up until now. The ancient words started to roll out from his tongue and form a circle then a pattern. Light began to emit from the air around him. This continued for awhile, both Irwin and Kain continued to do nothing but setting out a one killing blow for each other. A little from their side of battle, Angelique laid. She barely caught a glimpse of what happens but she knew that if she could somewhat distract Irwin then perhaps Kain could finish him off.
"But how can I distract him…" Angelique pondered on how she can distract Irwin without making Kain lost his concentration.
"Angelique, are you okay?" Daena asked as she approached closer.
"Ah.. yes, I can move I guess. Where's Escad?" Angelique asked when she didn't saw Escad.
"Probably on the other side. He'll be fine, he had a thick skull." Daena answered.
"Oh.. I see. Daena, can you do magic?" Angelique asked her friend while moving her hair out of the way.
"Nothing much but, yes, I can do some very basic magic, why?" Daena asked, curious on why Angelique wanted to know whether or not she can do magic.
"I think that if we distract Irwin even by just a little bit then maybe Kain can stop Irwin." Angelique explained her theory to Daena hoping that she won't disagree with it.
"And that's where my magic comes into the scene?" Daena confirmed a bit hesitantly.
"Uh huh. Although, I'm not sure what kind of magic can distract Irwin." Angelique pondered for awhile thinking but to no avail. She couldn't think up anything. She's not that familiar with magic.
"Let's see… I think any offensive magic might do the trick. Although, I don't know if my magic can distract him or not." Daena said to Angelique cautiously. Angelique nodded and then Daena chanted very short verse and a ball of light materialized in her palm. She then aimed it to Irwin and shot it. When it hit Irwin, Irwin barely flinched.
"If only we know where to hit…" Angelique said absently.
"What do you mean by that?" Daena asked dubiously
"Kain told me that when someone is conjuring magic, they focus on a point and that point will be their weakest point." Angelique explained briefly.
"Then did he tell you where the point is?" Daena countered with question again
"That's the problem. People concentrate differently so that point can be anywhere but we can pinpoint by the wind around them or something like that." Angelique tried to explain as she forgot what her brother said since at that time it was quite unimportant for her.
"Hmm… yeah if only we knew where to hit…" Daena sighed exasperatedly. She gave a little yelp when she felt something tapped her back. When she looked back, it's only Escad, who's been damaged quite a bit.
"You scared us!" Angelique exclaimed a bit loudly.
"Heh… who do you think is here beside us?" Escad asked incredulously.
"I don't know… there could be anything, I guess." Angelique said frustrated.
"So what are you two doing?" Escad asked offhandedly.
"Trying to figure out how we can distract Irwin…" Daena answered.
"By…?" Curious by what they're intention, he can't help but ask again.
"Trying to find his concentration point and break it" Angelique replied.
"You better don't." Escad said flatly.
"Why…? It would help Kain if Irwin is slowed down." Angelique said raising her voice.
"Because you don't know what would happen… if you distract him, there could be a chance his power would blow up and then it would just not good, would it?" Escad stated.
"I guess… so we just have to believe in Kain?" Angelique said after digesting the information.
"Yeah…" Escad agreed even though he disliked the idea of doing nothing but he had no choice but to believe in his friend. For what seemed to be a longest while, nothing happened aside that the wind getting stronger and friction between the two forces sparked small lightning where it collided. They heard Kain's voice switching from ancient tongue to normal and they heard Kain chanted the last verse of his magic.
"At the very last moment, I heareth the heaven sing a song of damnation and the hell shout an aria of salvation. Liken those with sin, O little children of Fa'Diel, thou art laden with grudge, and greed. Awaken!Those who heareth the alarum of life. I impart thee, this magnificent song of life. It is to seal the pact of love, to protect the burst of life, and to sleep in slumber so deep that the earth shaking won't rouse them. Dance as the God dance and bear the cross into the valley of silence you tread. Aetas Iudicium." Everything seemed to stop and a vacuum in the air opened in the air so suddenly then come out a being of light bearing a shield in one hand and mistletoe in the other.
The light being danced, swaying gracefully evading any resistance, its shield swallowed Irwin's red glow. Kain tried to hold on since Irwin seemed to give him a great resistance. Sparks of lightning began to strike out in all direction. Some hit Kain but he would not relent since this was his only chance, his only chance to save Irwin, Daena, and Escad. The light being continued to swiftly approached Irwin and the gap was closing really fast.
"Just a little bit more…. Come on…"Kain mused in his head… his energy draining because the strain of the spell. Then everything went white when the mistletoe was stabbed on Irwin. Everything ceased and nothing seemed to be happening. Kain stood there bloodied, his garment torn apart here and there, then as a little wind blew, he fall down gracelessly into the surface of Lucemina's body. Soon after that, Irwin collapsed too and Lucemina started to rumble. Angelique tried to reach Kain but Escad beat her to it. When Escad had safely retrieved Kain, they jumped on the Cancun bird that appeared from nowhere. Unbeknownst to them, Irwin said something before he too departed.
"Matilda…" then Irwin disappeared with Lucemina from this world
When they had reached Gato, they quickly headed to the temple to attend to Kain's wound. When they reached the temple, the nun informed them that the abbess just passed away. Daena cried, she couldn't believe that she lost two important people at once. Escad held his urges to cry and told the nun to tend Kain's wound.
In Kain's mind, he saw Matilda's last moment,
"So Matilda, have you decided?"Selva asked as hovered in the air.
"I, myself, do not think am worthy of such position. I am but merely a human" Matilda answered.
"But you have proved yourself, no." Selva stated rhetorically.
"Ahh… then would please tell me, about those people I came across, Escad, Daena, Elazul, Pearl, Elle, Monique.." Matilda started to list people that she knew through her dream.
"Matilda, Matilda, why worry? Their path is as they like it." Selva answered.
"Then, what of Kain?" Matilda asked again. Selva didn't answer that and Matilda knew what it meant.
"Very well, then I shall accept." Matilda said a moment after that.
"Good then… the seven wisdoms is now present." Selva said after Matilda's acceptance and hovered away in the air.
That's all Kain saw before he heard a voice in his head, "I'll show you what happen, Kain. You deserved to know what fruits your effort bear." That voice was familiar to him but he couldn't pinpoint before he was thrown to another scene.
"Hmph…" Irwin grumped
"You seem, you're unhappy, Irwin." Matilda stated.
"Quit it, Matilda, that form doesn't suit you." Irwin said. His eyes soften.
"There, is this better?" Matilda said after she had retained her youthful form.
" Hmph.." Irwin only grunted.
"You never changed, do you?" Matilda asked.
"Why would I?" Irwin countered her
"Then what do you want to do?" Matilda asked again
"I want you, to free me, free me from the curse named 'Matilda'." Irwin said grumbling a little before he disappeared into the layers of underworld.
"Irwin, wait…!" Matilda said then running off to catch him.
"So that's what happened to Irwin and Matilda. I guess, it's another job well done." Kain said in his own consciousness.
"Yes, I thank you for that…" Matilda appeared before him.
"Well, I only got one more job to do before I settled things once and for all." Kain said smirking.
"I will pray for you and so will he." Matilda said when Irwin appeared behind her.
"Heh… I hope you get what you want, Matilda." Kain said satisfied.
"More than I could hope for. So thank you." Matilda smiled when she said this.
"All is in due time, everything has a place and time." Kain said before he disappeared into his own consciousness. At the last glance, he saw that Matilda and Irwin too disappear with a happy glint on their face.
"At least, it was worth the sacrifice… Just a little bit more…before all of this end"
Aetas Iudicium : Life's Judgment
Thanks for reading! Hope to see you in the next chapter! :D