Chapter 5 - Eidard, The Forge Lands and Corruption! Part 2!
Author: Eli Ayase (Author for Phase 2)
Co-author: Nozomi Tojo (Phase 2)
Illustrator: Honoka Kousaka, Tsubasa (Phase 2)
"We've been awaiting your arrival, Horseman. Your shadow has long hovered over this realm." a tall woman Maker donning a blue armor with white highlights and long white hair spoke with a tinge of sadness.
The tall woman Maker has a blue cloth wrapped around her eyes and the white highlights formed symbols like rectangles, stone rings, and flowers. She wore blue lavender on her hair.
"Many know the Reaper, Old One, but I don't know you." Death wondered.
"We are the builders of this world. But Corruption seethes at its heart and destroys in days what we shaped over eons. Eidard does his best to soothe our pain, but our souls yearn for only one comfort...Death. We are without hope." the woman Maker sighed.
"You despair, old one, and yet you raise life from the earth." Death questioned in amusement.
"I am a Shaman. Eidard and I bound to our tasks even as our days darken. We are as the vines, coming to root, then to flower and then to decay, dropping seeds upon the dust. A circle everlasting...I cannot stop it...nor can I stop you." the Shaman explained calmly.
"The cycle of life and death it is, then..." the Pale Rider replied.
At the same time...
"There are alternatives still...A way to prevent more death from happening..." Chris shook her head calmly.
She continued, "To know the battle, thou shalt know the enemy. Tell us, Elder Eidard, what is Corruption?"
Elder Eidard sighed, "Muria and I only know what we fear it to be. Corruption is Hate, given life. That Hate, however, does not come from trees nor stones...but from us."
"I don't follow it. If it comes from us, then the world would be different by now. A specific avatar must have conjured up this darkness within people, turning them into the thick, black, tar-like substances with brainwashing capabilities. Who?" Chris wondered.
"That I do not know, but all I am certain is that Corruption begin seeping into our world shortly after the events of the War for Eden. At first, it only seems as it is just a minor inconvenience, but soon it spreads like a virus and we can do nothing to stop it. As Thane said, every blow we strike, it is a blow against our kind. For millions of years we managed to isolate it though, but we Makers fear that even isolation will not work anymore." the Elder replied.
"Corruption happening shortly after the Eden War mayhem; what is the Eden War?" Alito wondered.
"It happened millions and millions ago. Nephillims, hybrids of Angels and Demons, used to inhabit Eden. However, the Charred Council foretold that a third kingdom will arise and be integral towards the Balance as they are weak, but cunning." Elder Eidard explained.
"I assume that the Third Kingdom is that of Man, right?" Chris wondered.
"Yes. Because of the foresight, the Charred Council forced the Nephilims into exile. Driven by madness, feeling that they should be the rightful owners of Eden, the Nephilims waged an all-out genocide. They put countless realms to the sword, and burned them to ashes. But Four among them grew weary of the slaughter, and feared the Nephilims' conquest would imperil the Balance." Elder Eidard took a deep breath before continuing.
"And so, a truce was made: The Four would serve the Council, in exchange for unimaginable power. Thus were the dreaded Horsemen formed, and the riders' first task was to purge their own brethren from Creation...To annihilate the Nephillim...and destroy their souls." Elder Eidard explained.
"Okay...back to the topic of Corruption. We know the enemy's modus oprendi; we need something to defeat it." Chris replied.
"We need the Guardian to defeat it. It is a giant construct built to fight against Corruption. An earthquake caused by Corruption, however, severed our links with the Guardian before it was finished. You will need the Makers' Key, but restoration to the Fire and Tears of the Mountain is necessary. As I have said earlier, seek Alya the Forge Sister. She will help you with more information about the Stonefather's Blood." Elder Eidard explained calmly.
"Our guess is that the Fire and Tears were blocked by Corruption, yes?" Alito asked.
The Elder nodded.
Chris and Alito looked at each other and nodded softly.
"We would take our leave for a moment, Elder Eidard. There are pieces of the puzzle we must solve before preparation towards the Fire of the Mountain." Chris replied.
"You may, Chris and Alito..." Elder Eidard simpered.
As the Icy Maiden and her best friend took their leave, Thane approached Eidard after returning from his weapon sharpening.
"Two wounded souls seeking redemption, perhaps?" Thane asked.
"They might not admit it because they think they are beyond redemption. Can't say that I blame them; a family of thirty dying within a matter of twenty-four hours...They will realize it soon enough, I have faith in them." Eidard simpered.
"I will give 'em that. I thought humans were known only for their cunning that makes me disrespect them to an extent. Guess I have never been more wrong in my life; not all humans are like that. To see Chris and Alito uphold their values greatly in the name of their fallen loved ones. Pity, they have to go prematurely." Thane sighed.
"It's not a matter of 'how'...it's a matter of 'when'." Eidard nodded.
Once Chris and Alito gained enough distance from Elder Eidard...
"The Crowfather said that Death killed his brothers and the pale Rider ain't proud of it. Death is a part of the Four Horsemen. Before that, the four are part of a race called Nephilims, the race that they killed." Chris mused.
"The only way Death and his three other brothers could have killed their kind is during the Eden War. Does it have to do with the amulet fragments embedded upon the Pale Rider's chest?" Alito wondered.
"Do you have a theory behind it?" Chris tilted her head.
"Yes, my Lady. You see, the amulet is housing all the tormented souls of the Nephilims whom he slayed, right? Since Death isn't proud of the killing, but has no other choice because of the Balance, Death gave the amulet to the Crowfather. Guilt played a part for the Pale Rider to make this decision." Alito explained.
"Mmm...Most likely. The Nephilims, driven mad by the Charred Council's decision, conducted mass genocides and imperilled the Balance. What if..." Chris's eyes widened.
"What is it, my Lady?" Alito's eyes lit.
"Madness infecting Nephilims...Driven by rage...Death killing his kind because he had no choice...Assuming betrayal...Corruption is hate given life..." Chris's iris and pupils shrunk and darkened. "An avatar - a Nephilim, controls the Corruption."
"That avatar could be someone close to Death. Look at it this way, who could have harboured so much hatred to manifest such an infectious disease on all Creation?" Alito wondered.
"Someone must have instilled enough hate on that avatar to rebel against the Council, and manifest itself as Corruption after his death." Chris frowned.
"Shall we ask Death about it, my Lady?" Alito requested.
Chris looked at the tall and huge door leading into the Makers' Forge; two big tablets with the symbol of fire and water embedded on the mountains' peak, glowing with pride. The Icy Maiden gave a quiet sigh.
"Death has heard about my past...he has the same thing as I did; his close ones infected with a disease. Let's see how this goes about first, shall we? First, however, we need to activate the Guardian with the Makers' Key. That requires the Fire and Tears, so off we go to Alya." Chris instructed.
"Yes, my Lady." Alito simpered, and gently tugged Chris's right hand before the latter made her move.
"Huh?" Chris looked back at Alito and saw her worried face.
"Be careful alright, my Lady?" Alito hoped.
Chris wrapped her arms around her best friend's waist and brought her close to a heart-warming embrace. The Icy Maiden knew that only Alito could bring her the solace she needs while travelling the grey line.
Alito's heart leapt as she felt a blush crept through her rosy cheeks while returning the embrace.
At the same time...
"Maker's beard, the rumours are true! A Horseman in the Forge Lands! The name's Alya, and this is my brother, Valus. We are the Blacksmiths of this Forge. Tho' I reckon that means less now, than once it did." A redhead Maker welcomed.
She was about the size of Elder Eidard and Muira, wore dark red and white clothes with golden spiral necklace around her neck, and metallic skirts around her waists. Besides her was a male Maker the size of Alya, wearing a welding mask, a hammer, and a blade. He wore brown, furry scarf around his neck and the same armor as Alya - signifying their connections as siblings.
Death chuckled and shrugged. "This is a Maker's Forge?"
"Nay." Alya replied, "The Maker's Forge is lost to us, silenced by the hands of Corruption. However, in its depths we once crafted the Dark Towers of Hell and the Cities of Heaven."
"Now you make...trinkets?" Death mocked.
Alya was quick to rebut, "And you - one of the Four - now seek the aid of the makers? I guess we all have fallen from high places."
Death looked back at the crystals embedded upon his left chest and grunted in defiance.
"I came here seeking the tree, and your Elder speaks of fire. What is it?" Death wondered.
"Aye, the Fire of the Mountain - the Stonefather's Blood - it once flowed into our forge as did the tears. Both imbued our craft with incredible power. The Heart and the Soul of Stone, but Corruption has taken them and now our forge is silent." Alya shook her head.
"How does this concern me?" Death replied calmly.
"The way to the tree is lost, barred by Corruption. You can no more leave this place than we. Restore our forge, and the tree can be reached." Alya replied.
Death frowned. "I don't follow your reasoning."
"We're blacksmiths Makers, not warriors - but we're not without our weapons." Alya replied, "Before the Forge was lost, we crafted a mighty creäture of soul and stone...a colossus to fight this Corruption - the Guardian. But, to awaken him requires a Maker's Key - and we need our Forge to craft one. Will you help us?" Alya requested.
"You have our words..."
Chris and Alito approached beside Death, their capes flowing with the gentle breeze.
"You must be the Maker Alya that Elder Eidard mentioned, right? Nice to meet you - my name is Chris Fuschia, and this is my loyal servant and friend, Alito Gnade. We are allies of Death, for now." Chris greeted calmly.
"Ah...Elder Eidard has told us about your arrival too! Even when the both of you are from other dimension, it is still surprising for humans to set foot into the Forge Lands! That's great!" Alya smiled brightly.
"Humans...We're not humans anymore, Alya, but we appreciate your welcome as usual." Chris bowed.
"Not humans? But..." Alya scratched her head when Death interrupted, "Alya, we have no time to waste. Tell us where the Fire of the Mountain is so we can get these over."
The redhead Maker saw Chris and Alito's calm, cold, yet polite expression on her face, sighed, and decided to respect their privacy for a while.
"Right...Ridding of Corruption is of utmost importance. The Cauldron is where the Fire of the Mountain flows." Alya replied.
"What is this...Cauldron?" Death wondered.
"A temple built in the shadow of Stonefather's Peak. There the Fire of the Mountain was harnessed and passed into our forge. Ride East from the Makers' Forge. Ride through the Charred Pass and towards the cindery peak of the Stonefather. There you will find the Cauldron." Alya replied.
"How do we distinguish the Charred pass?" Chris wondered.
"You will be able to distinguish the Charred Pass by the reddish, smoky atmosphere brought about by the volcanoes in the Stonefather. Molten lavas will erupt and land upon the grassy lands occasionally, so you have to be on your toes." Alya explained.
The Pale Rider saw the quiet Valus hammering down upon one of his crafted swords on an anvil.
"Man of no words, your brother." Death crossed his arms in amusement.
"Aye...but he's hardly silent. His voice is the ring of the hammer, and the roar of the white flame." Alya boasted.
"Yeah, he does things while you talk." Death chuckled sarcastically as he turned to watch Valus, just in time to see a shocking scene.
"Do you love crafting interesting things, Valus?"
Chris was looking at Valus hammering a mini sword on a heated anvil with a soft look on her eyes.
"Mmm...mmm!" Valus nodded in excitement, grunting in satisfaction.
Chris's thought wandered back to that of her father's underground blacksmith forge, a cave-like, ragged, and dimly lit room. The Icy Maiden could feel a small, gentle smile upon her face.
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" the young Chris, six years old, jumped around her father excitedly like a bubbly child.
"Hahaha...easy there, Chris; you will hurt yourself if you jump around far too much!" her father cautioned softly.
"Chris, be careful there!" Alito, who was twelve years old, chuckled.
"Come look at this, Alito, lotsa lotsa springy thingies!" the young Chris shot out with a grin on her face.
"Waaaa..." Chris's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she saw at the transmission and suspensions that her father and workers created out of welding and hand craft alone.
"Mmmmpppfff!"
Chris snapped out of her dreamy thought and saw that Valus had scalded his right hand on the scorching anvil.
"Valus!" Chris's eyes widened with worry as she approached the male Blacksmith Maker.
"Alito, could you come here for a while if you please?" the Icy Maiden shot out.
Her loyal servant rushed over to help Chris out.
"The burn needs a steady stream of ice and a bandage. Do you have any?" Chris asked.
"Right over here, my Lady!" Alito took out the four-dimensional cube and materialised a triangular bandage.
"Just hold on, Valus...We will soothe that burning pain of yours in no time..." Chris looked at the Blacksmith Maker with gentle eyes as she muttered a few arcane, German words and slowly blew out a steady stream of icy breath onto Valus's burnt right gauntlet.
Chris turned to Alito and nodded. The latter wrapped the triangle bandage around Valus's right gauntlet in a slow, circular motion while Chris continuously exhaled cold air around it.
"You'll be alright...Don't you worry, mm?" Chris gave a concern look once more, Alito smiled along giving Valus a thumb up.
Valus nodded as he grunted, waving his left hand as thanks.
Death looked on, nodding at what he had seen in front of his eyes.
"I have to admit...I'm surprised. A cold person like her wouldn't have such a nice heart underneath." Death's eyes widened.
After Chris and Alito were done with the healing, the former's relief faded into a wistful gaze.
"Be careful next time, alright? Your sister cannot always be by your side and apply first-aid kits on you. Take care of yourself, mm?" Chris tilted her head in hope.
Valus nodded and grunted in approval once more.
Chris and Alito then approached the Pale Rider, her expression now reduced back to her once emotionless frown.
"Let's go...Death, to the Cauldron." Chris spoke calmly.
"Chris, Alito!" Alya shot out.
Chris stopped on her track, and so did Alito.
"Thanks for helping Valus out. It's not often do we have cases like this, but it certainly is nice to have outside help once in a while." Alya simpered.
Chris and Alito turned their head and nodded softly before taking their leaves.
"Both of them sure have something inside them...but I guess their past torments them; poor thing." Alya sighed.
"No need for pity...I guess they can stand on their own. Though I would say, that was a shocking display of warmth, even if they are going to deny it. Honest." Death replied in amusement.
"Are you coming along, Pale Rider?" Chris's voice echoed from Thane's corner.
Death sprinted towards the area, leaving Valus and Alya behind.
"Again...tormented pasts they have, aren't they, those two women." Alya looked wistfully.
"Of course..." a deep and familiar sagely voice sounded behind the redhead Maker.
"Elder Eidard, you think of that too?" Alya wondered.
The big Elder Maker approached beside the redhead.
"Their wounded soul, blaming themselves for not being able to rescue their whole family of thirty from an epidemic for Chris, and a civil war for Alito...Just like the time when Death has no other choice but to kill his kind for the sake of the Balance." Elder Eidard looked on.
Exit of the Forge - East gate
Chris, Alito, and Death got ready to leave through the East gate of the Forge. Thane was standing there, waiting for their arrival.
"We're ready for the Cauldron, Old One." Chris nodded.
"Horseman, Alito, Chris, you'll find naught that way but trouble." Thane replied calmly.
"Do what you must for your kin, old one. For us, we ride to the Cauldron." Death nodded.
Thane grunted, "If you fancy your Corruption waist deep, that's as good a place as any. Y'know there's a reason this gate is here. And, if you three were friends of mine, I would nay let you pass. But then, heh, who is friend to Death? I doubt the two maidens are friends of yours too, that's for sure."
"You two, on the other hand, be warned. There's too much people who have succumbed to Corruption over the ages. It's good that you are helping us, but caution is a must." Thane warned the Icy Maiden and her servant calmly.
"We'll take your advice, old one. But we hold no promises." Chris replied.
"Is there any secrets to the Cauldron, Thane? Have you wisdom to share it, or was it long since knocked loose in battle?" Death wondered.
"Oh, wisdom ain't like teeth. I've plenty left. Enough to stay clear of the Cauldron; the ancients filled it with right nasty traps. But one so clever as yourself, and as cool as you both, will surely elude them." Thane chuckled.
"What kind of traps? Would you be so kind as to tell us some assortment of traps your ancestors had created? Or has age crept upon you like a moss on a rock?" Chris spoke calmly.
"You have your way with words, young lady." Thane chuckled, "There are plenty of gateway that spewed out lava, and even timed platforms that will put your reflexes to the test. Construct guards existed in the Cauldron to prevent intruders, though I suspect that Corruption might mug 'em crazy too. Once you get there, you will know. I'm sure your tech can scan them through, shouldn't be that hard! Besides, the icicle powers that I felt should resist melting for few minutes."
"Thanks for the tip, old one."
Chris and Alito nodded as the two women and Death left.
The route to the Charred Path - East from the Makers' Forge.
Just earlier, Chris gave Death a communicator device to communicate wirelessly on the move.
"I have to say...I am surprised about you being kind towards Valus." Death spoke in amusement as he rode along his spectral horse Despair.
"For an entity that would not care about anyone other than your brothers, you sure have concerns for us." Chris, driving her Audi Le Mans Quattro with Alito, replied calmly.
"You have said about your past to Eidard and us. There is no escaping it now. If you think you will suffer no pain despite your emotionless personality for most, what is it stopping you from just saying it?" Death frowned.
Chris, Alito, and Death travelled for several miles east from the Forge Lands via the Stonefather's Vale before the icy Maiden looked down, sighed, and began explaining her reasons for helping Valus.
"My father... he used to be the manager of quattro GmBH. However, unlike other manager who just simply sat in their office, pour in a glass of vodka and relax, my father works with follow workers in the division group. He helped the workers in the handcraft and blacksmith department since some parts of the cars require handcrafts like wheels. He also helps in improving the communication flow between all the sub-divisions inside quattro GmBH, making him very popular." Chris explained.
"So..." Death wondered.
"Whenever I'm free, mostly during the weekends, I always accompany my dad in the handcraft and blacksmith department. I am always a car nut, as people have called me over the years, so I loved to see what goes on behind my father's factory. When I see Valus, it just reminds me about the time when my father works in those department. I constantly helped with serving refreshments to the workers during that time. The workers gradually grew to like my presence, which is why when I became Icy Maiden...I still treated my workers like friends." Chris sighed.
Flashback
"Workers, would you like some drinks? You all worked hard enough; chrysanthemum teas, orange juices, iced water and warm honey drinks!" the young Chris, six years old, gave a bright and innocent smile as she held a tray of drinks along with a twelve year old Alito.
"Oh, the president's daughter bringing drinks?" one of the workers expressed elation.
The workers gathered around the two girls with relieved faces and gratefulness.
"Thanks for bringing us the drinks!" one brown-hair male worker simpered.
"You all have worked yourselves hard, so we figured that you all deserved some water breaks and some entertainment every now and then just so you can all chill out for a while!" Chris smiled cutely.
"Really?" one of the workers shot out in elation.
"Mmm! Alito, ya ready?" the six year old girl shot out.
"As you are, my Lady!" Alito nodded in excitement as she brought out a traditional flute.
Chris sang "Die Gedanken sind frei' (Thoughts are free, who can guess them?). Although she hit some verses off-tune over the course over the song, the workers felt invigorated by the drinks, Chris, and Alito's peppiness. The workers soon found themselves chiming and swaying along with Chris's singing and Alito's flute playing.
When Chris and Alito hit their last verse and notes, the two girls held their left and right hands and spread out their offhand wide.
"Thanks for the entertainment!"
"Let's do it again sometime!"
"Your singing is sweet!"
"You're welcome!" both Chris and Alito twirled around and bowed, eliciting chuckles from the workers.
"I see...you are filial towards your family. That's honorable enough." Death sighed. "It seems you are not as cold as people thought you might be."
"You might want to keep this to yourself, Death. I respect your thoughts, I hope you respect mine." Chris frowned.
"Hey, not judging alright." Death grunted.
"For someone who was sarcastic..." Alito frowned.
"Look, Alito. Just because I am like that, does not always mean I will treat every single being like a punching bag for mocking. I will give respect when respect is due, and both of you deserve that. Besides...it ain't your fault your parents died. I have been through worse, but now's not the time." Death shot back, and lowered his head while sighing.
Alito looked down and sighed. "Sorry then..."
Death sighed once more. "Can't say that I blame you; I am normally like this to anyone who isn't of the same race as mine."
"Speaking about families...If you have Strife and Fury left, why didn't you send them over to help you?" Chris wondered.
"I have them search for evidence leading to the conspirators while I restore humanity. They are not strong enough to deal with the task I'm taking on as they are not under the power of the Seven Seals. At least I have enough base power even when I do not have the Seals' powers. Besides, it will be too dangerous for them, especially with the Makers' claim that Corruption is as strong as the Four Horsemen are. I'm the strongest, and so I can match up to the Corruption, at least." Death sighed.
Chris simpered. "It's great to see that you do care for your siblings."
"I can say the same for you and Alito, but I hope you can keep it to yourselves." Death grunted.
Soon enough, after manoeuvring themselves through the volcanoes-infested Charred Pass, the trio made it to a circular arena with a huge, wooden door attached upon two thick chains.
In the middle of the arena, a big, chubby and bald maker with about the same size as Valus, Eidard, and Alya swung his big hammer with jagged edges at several corrupted golems. He was wearing the same armor as Thane - blue armor with a mixture of metal and cloth with a big metallic coin-like medallion covering his chest.
"More of those constructs..." Chris frowned as Alito transformed into Lifebane."
"Damn it..." Death grumbled.