Chapter Thirteen: A Forgotten Arena
While Logan and his allies regroup at the Sanctuary Queen Anna was dealing with her own duties, in the throne room she looked out the window to angry protestors with Hobson approaching her side.
"Oh, dear they're getting quite out of hand, aren't they, your majesty? Do you wish for me to have the guards escort them away from the gates?" Hobson asked seeing her shake her head.
"Percy, Ben, would you please follow me," Anna spoke having her companions follow with Ginjer trailing behind Ben.
"Hey brawn queen, what you gonna do? They will throw rubbish at your giant head," Ginjer spoke.
"Like hell, they will, I won't let them hit the Queen, just stay behind me Anna," Ben offered seeing her shake her head with Percy shrinking into a ferret size and crawling up her dress, and lying on her shoulder.
"Would that be wise? Someone could try and hurt you, your Highness," Percy spoke getting a pet.
"They're just scared," Anna spoke leading her companions outside where she looked up to the gatekeeper, "open the gate please!"
"As you wish your Highness!" the guard spoke opening the gate where Anna approached.
"We are taxpayers! Where is the protection we are paying for!" a man yelled.
"We didn't sign up to have a king abandon us!" a woman yelled.
"End the monarchy!" another shouted as Anna approached the angry mob and took a breath before pulling out her Hero Pistol and firing a single shot into the air getting the mob to go silent.
"Listen!" Anna yelled putting her pistol away and approaching the group, "I understand, I understand all too well, you're all scared, angry, concerned and you have every right to be, the darkness is slowly trying to take the lands and Albion Royal Army hasn't protected you as it should have and I apologize, however there is hope."
Looking to all her subjects that gathered Anna walked past the gate mobs and into the center of the gathering people taking a step on a fountain, "I know you heard the rumors, another hero is purging the darkness from the land, this rumor is true, however, how can we call ourselves the proud people of Albion if we allow the burdens of the world fall on heroes shoulders alone? Our beloved King Adam is alone! Trapped in Samarkand fighting a darkness that wants to destroy our very way of life! I for one will not stand for this! I say with this new hero we will march onto Samarkand save our brother's and sister's suffering and show this darkness that Albion will not be pushed around!"
At this Percy turned into his dragon form with Anna mounted on his back slowly being held high for all of the Bowerstone citizens to watch, "people of Albion, will you just stand by while innocents suffer and die like Aurora did so long ago?!"
"NO!" the people shouted with Anna nodding.
"Will we stand by and let this darkness try and consume our very homes?!" Anna yelled getting another shout of 'no's' from her subject, "Then we shall fight! When the heroes have purged Albion of our darkness and weakened its master, we will sail to Samarkand, rescue the Hero King Adam, and liberate its people from the tyranny of its wicked Empress and the dark master she serves! Will you fight with me?!"
At this, Anna got a round of cheers from her subjects, Ben who had been staying close to prevent an attack smiled, proud of his friend who in his opinion was the only person suitable to be called their Queen.
While people cheered a hooded figure in the shadows watched keeping away from the sunlight, the figure then vanished into the darkness waiting and watching.
At the Sanctuary Gabriel smiled watching the map table slowly purge more of its darkness and more orbs of light growing, "well good news is the agents have to go into hiding now, without a general to help mask the sun they must wait for the darkness of night to make their attacks."
"That's great, but that also means we will have to wait till nightfall every night to hunt the remaining ten agents, can Adam last ten days Gabriel?" Logan asked turning to the seer who was focusing on the threads of time.
"He is very strong, in the unaltered timeline he would have died ten years from now giving power for the Devourer and Temptress to plan their siege of Albion however because of these changes things have changed," Gabriel spoke.
"I have been meaning to ask that Gabriel, how are you even here? Time Magic is super difficult from my understanding," Logan spoke curious how the seer was even here.
"I suppose there is no harm," Gabriel spoke seeing they had time before night, "well while time Magic is VERY difficult I used a catalyst, the stone hedges north of Albion, ancient runes with powerful concentrated Will energy, I used this as my boost to throw me to this point in time, however in order for it to work there had to be a 'Gabriel' waiting for me, of course, I am not even born yet, however, I found a loophole," he spoke placing his hand on his chest feeling his heart beat with the Spire that was miles and miles away.
"So, what is the goal exactly? Change your horrid future?" Saker asked leaning on the wall.
"Yes and no, while the main goal for coming here is the save the William Black Bloodline so that a hero will rise in my future, it seems my being here and the changes I made also created another branch," Gabriel spoke looking to Tali and Logan, "in my future Samarkand is gone, destroyed along with the Hero King, however with the changes made I see a future with not just one hero, instead I see many now, the rebirth of Heroes."
"So, if we keep following the path you set, and keep purging the darkness we can save Albion and Samarkand?" Tali asked watching the seer nod.
"Indeed, if you keep following the path set in motion the future of two kingdoms will be saved, if you succeed the future will have a chance to survive the storm that will approach, and my sacrifice will not be in vain," Gabriel spoke getting a confused look from Logan.
"Sacrifice?" Logan repeated, "What gonna happen to you, Gabriel?"
"In order for me to be here there is a price to pay, the toll will be collected in the future, none of you have to worry about it, I already know what needs to be done, for now we must focus on the tasks at hand, and right now it time for you to go to the forgotten arena in Witchwood," Gabriel spoke pointing to the location on the map.
"Witchwood? That forest on that island? That place has been abandoned for centuries and overrun by Balverines now," Logan spoke looking at the map.
"A perfect location for the Balverine Order," Gabriel explained watching the others gather around the map.
"The Balverine Order?" Saker replied, "Who the bloody hell are they?"
"One could define them as a cult, others a group, a culture if you will, for me I see allies," Gabriel explained.
"You can't be serious, working together with Balverines? Are you off your bloody rocker?" Saker asked.
"You forget that not all are mindless monsters others are organized, others learned to control their beast forms and can walk in human forms as well, the Balverine Order of Witchwood could help you greatly," Gabriel explained.
"How on earth can we convince them to aid us?" Tali asked seeing Gabriel shrug.
"When it comes to Balverine's they are unpredictable, even if I couldn't tell you what path to tread, I would offer a word of caution, trust your instincts and be on guard," Gabriel warned.
Entering Witchwood via the ancient Cullis Gate the heroes could see many things have changed since the Hero of Oakvale's time, the woods that covered the island were now thicker nature had grown and a thick mist covered the land.
Following the path, they found the Knothole Glade once home to the citizens of Knothole Island now home to another. The town had now a large wood spike wall and the town behind a thriving village for the Balverines.
Hearing growling Logan looked over his shoulder to see Balverines in the midst of the forests seeing they were very out of number Logan faced the creatures holding up his hands, "We wish to speak to the leader of the Balverine Order, we wish to require the aid of the Order."
"What are you doing?!" Echo whispered, "I don't think the blind geezer was right about Balverines being allies."
"Lass trust Logan, look around we are very outnumbered," Saker whispered seeing the Balverines growling before the gates behind them opened.
Inside Logan noticed people exit from their cabin homes watching the intruder with perhaps distrust or more of how predators lock onto their prey, whatever the reasoning Logan lead the group first watching the villagers whisper to one another.
A howl then got their attention and all focus was on the largest cabin in the village where two large Balverines stood by the doors that opened up to a woman dressed similarly to a mercenary but her long black hair was tied back in braids behind her with flowers decorating it, her cheek barring a large scar.
Peeking out from behind her a child watched as the woman descended stairs with her Balverines guards following. Listening to the growls of one of her guards the woman approached crossing her arms.
This was Lisabeth, leader of the Witchwood Balverine Order, a woman that held an aura of intimidation but also a motherly aura from the carefully braided hair a child had decorated.
"I know you, former King Logan, tell me, what business does the former tyrant King of Albion have with the Balverine Order of Witchwood?" Lisabeth spoke crossing her arms.
"Wait are you not aware what's been happening in Albion?" Echo asked.
"You'll have to forgive us if we are late on current events, the local paper doesn't exactly deliver this far from Albion's safe walls," Lisabeth spoke hearing thunder class above and sniffing the air, "but we can sense something...dark has come and it's calling to the creatures of the world it seeks us to join its side as well."
"The Corruption, it's spreading across Albion, an agent has come here to spread its darkness across the island, it will be upon us soon, it will turn your people into its minions, we've come to stop the agent and to recruit your aid against the darkness," Logan explained.
"You mean you wish to recruit us for your war with Samarkand? Sorry but the answer is no, we are not tools for your war, nor do we have any desire to leave this island, we will not serve Albion or the darkness," Lisabeth spoke hearing a loud caw above.
The ground then shook as the sky became red and the mist turned red with Corruption flooding towards the village being led by a massive owl-like monster whose shadow flew over the village.
"Quickly! You must run! Don't let the Corruption touch you!" Logan yelled watching the villager quickly flee their homes with the Corruption spreading across the island.
Looking in the direction the owl beast flew Lisabeth eyes narrowed looking towards her home, where a child watched, "Come, child!"
Watching the child come to her side Lisabeth turned to the heroes, "It's heading to the ancient arena! Go! Destroy it, I must see that my people are safe from this Corruption!"
"You heard the lady, after it!" Saker yelled running out of the village with the others where they reached the crumbling entrance into the arena.
Running through the hall of champions the heroes entered the large arena where the crumbling stands slowly began to fill with Corrupted Balverines and landed away from the Prowler landed spreading its wings with a caw-like roar timed with thunder class above.
Flapping its wing the Prowler blew gusts of wind that made the heroes skid back a bit trying to keep footing. Rushing Saker ran towards the Prowler when it began to lift off the ground grabbing one of its legs avoiding its claws and began to pull to try and keep it from flying away.
"Aim for the wings!" Logan yelled charging a light spell while Tali nodded and began to charge her fireworks spell.
Watching Saker lift up a bit Echo rushed over and grabbed onto the other leg of the massive bird, shouting the names of the spells Logan and Tali fired their spells hitting Prowler's wings and exposing its weakened state allowing Saker to yell and slam the bird face down against the dirt of the arena.
Rushing at its face Logan with Echo watched the bird roar spreading its beak wide enough for Echo to pry her staff inside to keep the beast's mouth open for Logan to launch another Light spell down the bird's gut.
Roaring the Prowler stumbled back shaking its head throwing the staff to the ground, where it spread its wings and cawed again this time the Balverines began to move in.
"Ah bloody hell! There fifty of them!" Saker growled seeing how outnumbered they were.
"We can't hurt them! They're not in control!" Tali spoke watching the bird slowly begin to take off, "Oh no you don't!"
Rushing over Tali quickly grabbed onto one of its legs with Logan jumping on the other with the Prowler lifting high into the air leaving Echo and Saker surrounded by Balverines.
"Tali! We gotta kill it before the Balverines hurt Echo and Saker!" Logan yelled over the sound of the wind as they held tighter when the Prowler did a spin to try and shake them off.
"LIGHT!" Logan yelled hitting the Prowler's chest with Tali following up stabbing her katana into its chest.
With another roar, the Prowler spun throwing Tali off, without a second thought Logan let go, diving after Tali.
Reaching out Logan grabbed Tali's hand pulling her close and quickly spun them so he shielded their impact through the tree line hitting many branches before slamming to the ground hard.
"Gah!" Tali cried out rolling away from Logan and hitting a tree trunk.
Grunting Tali looked over to see Logan was out cold and the Prowler spun in the air and flew towards them, quickly getting to her feet Tali limped over to Logan grabbed him by the arms, and quickly began to pull trying to get him away from the Prowler that reached closer to them.
The Prowler then held out its talons ready to strike Tali and Logan only to be stopped mid-air being tackled by Percy in his dragon form making the two crash and smashed through several trees where Tali watched in amazement as Percy roared locking its jaws around the Prowler's neck his body wrapping around the monster body.
Eyes locking Tali realized she needed to help, getting to her feet she charged and launched a Fireworks spell hitting the Prowler and burning away its Corruption allowing Percy to snap the Prowler's neck and with a violent shake rip its head off and tossed it aside.
With the agent destroyed the sky began to clear up allowing the sun to burn away the corruption that had covered the land rushing over Percy gently picked up Logan in his mouth and grab Tali flying them back to the arena where Saker and Echo stood with Lisabeth with many Balverines still surrounding them.
All of the Balverines growled and backed away when Percy landed setting Logan and Tali down, "Glad I came in time, are you all okay?"
"Ugh yeah," Logan groaned pulling out a healing potion and taking a drink, "thank you, Percy, how did you know we needed help?"
"I heard his call," Percy spoke looking to the sky.
"The Corrupter?" Tali asked helping Logan up.
"Indeed, he trying to attach his Corruption to the beasts of Albion, I guess I fall into that category, I sensed a huge collection of Balverines he was reaching out to and flew over ready to offer my aid when needed," Percy spoke looking to Lisabeth before taking off into the sky.
"Seeing this darkness firsthand has made me reconsider who side we should fight for when that Corruption forced us to serve him however it isn't safe for us to side with you heroes either, we could turn on the side we serve, while you have my gratitude, we can not fight in your war however there could be something that we could give you to aid in your fight," Lisabeth spoke leading Logan and his group out of the arena.
Standing before the ruins of an abandoned temple where Lisabeth pointed inside, "This is Avo's Temple, inside could give you the power that could aid you in your quest to combat the darkness."
"Here it goes," Logan spoke entering the temple and looking around at the shattered windows slowly approaching a basin filled with clear water with a light coming down on it.
Noticing his gauntlets gems glowing Logan dipped his hands into the water where he watched the blue markings on his body begin to glow, closing his eyes Logan's body began to change the bags under his eyes from stress and lack of sleep during his era as king vanishing, gray hairs turning black.
His body was taking on a youthful look like the hands of time were reversing ten years, he no longer looked forty-five but not looked like he was in his thirties again before the event of the crawler, removing his hands from the water he noticed the Gauntlets he wore glowing gaining a golden metal armor covering the leather.
"It would seem Avo has upgraded the gauntlets, give the Light spell a try," Gabriel spoke.
Forming the light spell Logan had to squint and look away when the light glowed brighter almost like he held a mini sun in his hands, making the spell vanish Logan stepped out seeing the others look in awe.
"Bloody Hell! You got younger! My turn!" Saker yelled rushing in.
"Uh, Saker I don't know if Avo's gonna bless someone who sinned pretty much all of his life," Echo spoke watching Saker ignore her.
"Ok, Avo show me what you got!" Saker grinned dipping his hands into the water where his gauntlets became golden the blades on the knuckles taking on a form similar to the Rising Sun weapon, he also began to reverse in age but just by four years showing little changes but not many.
Stepping out Saker admired his new gauntlets allowing Tali to step inside placing her hands into the water where her gauntlet too transformed and gained a golden armor, her firework spells growing stronger and her age reversing to a more youthful look.
Stepping outside Echo entered allowing Logan to turn to Lisabeth, "Thank you, will your people be ok here?"
"We've lived here for many moons, we will be ok, it would be wise to keep Albion nosey people away, the Corruption could turn us and we can't be held responsible for an idiot who ends up ripped to shreds," Lisabeth spoke.
"Actually, maybe you can give us some insight, you said you hear the Corrupter, can you tell us what he has planned?" Logan asked.
"It's more like whispers and it mostly empty promises, protection against the coming cleanse, and to serve a greater purpose with unimaginable rewards," Lisabeth explained watching Echo step out of the temple with her staff radiating a light aura.
"I suppose we part ways, I can say you four can handle the darkness that comes to our lands, I say go to the Snowspire Village next then seek out the Oracle, they could offer you a way to turn the tide of wars in your favor," Lisabeth spoke turning and entering the woods vanishing into the mist.
"Perhaps she is right, I see an agent has taken refuge in Snowspire, perhaps the Oracles could see what I cannot, come to the Sanctuary, you need to rest up before you are ready to take on the next agent," Gabriel spoke.