One Way Ticket to Hell
Fleeing was an unnatural concept to the Dark Sovereign. Never in her life had she been forced to turn tail and run from her opponents. Then again, she had never fallen in love before either. And so she flew, running away from that very same love of her life for the sole purpose of protecting that love.
The sovereign hardly understood what had occurred a few moments ago. One moment, she held Irelia's life in the palm of her hand. The mage's fingertips only a mere seconds away from ending the warrior's life in a crushing blast of raw magic. The next, the warrior was only an inch away from her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Syndra recalled Irelia's words. Something along the lines of having a last kiss before she moved on... Alas, Syndra was a selfish person. She didn't want that kiss to be the last. She wanted more, so much more... an infinite supply. It was that single desire that engulfed her. A single, overwhelming selfishness that surpassed any other desire she previously held.
At last, she screamed resistance within the confines of her subconscious. She had tried to break free before using the exact same method with only fruitless results. Again, Syndra remained clueless as to what had changed. However, she certainly couldn't argue with the results. One moment, her body was deaf to her commands. The next, it did everything she told it to do. That included striking the warrior down before she was able to protest against her fellow soldier's actions against the mage.
It happened all so quickly. To the outside eye, it would have seemed as though Syndra had been attacking Irelia all along. At first, Syndra herself didn't understand why she had lashed out at the person who had protected her for so very long. As she reflected on it, however, she finally understood why she had reacted so instinctively. A part of her already knew why she did it.
"No." Syndra abruptly told herself. She had to focus on the tasks ahead. There was no time to worry about what she had already done.
As she flew over treetops and increased the distance between her and the Ionian army, Syndra felt a strange sense of calm settle over her. It was a chillingly calm resolution that she had never felt before. The feeling the result of a single thing that had finally occurred in her life. She finally had someone she needed to protect. At last, the sovereign shoved every other emotion out of her brain other than her resolute desire to protect the one other thing she had in her life.
Taking a deep breath, the mage shut her eyes and gazed forward. She had a mountain of obstacles standing before her, but the mage could only bring herself to focus on one. While Akano lived, the threat to both her and Irelia remained. Grimly, the mage narrowed her eyes and doubled her speed. As she flew, she took a small glance at the single, large sphere floating beside her. The typical three spheres that orbited her form had combined to create a single entity. Within the depths of the purple manifestation of magic, the barest of glints reflecting off of a steel surface brought the shadow of a smile to the sovereign's face. Only one word echoed through the sovereign's mind as she glanced at the stolen blade.
Vengeance.
Hours Later
Syndra's feet touched down in the courtyard of yet another abandoned fortress. Instinctively, she wanted to turn her head about and observe her surroundings. Alas, the mage suppressed her own instincts and instead forced herself to stand awkwardly still; her eyes staring forward in as best an imitation of her prior lifeless stare. Her actions rewarded her handsomely.
"Aha! My ultimate creation returns!" Akano's voice reached Syndra's ears. Out of the corner of her eyes, Syndra saw a flicker of movement as Akano emerged from the fortress interior. Still, the sovereign remained stalk still in her standing position.
As he approached her, Akano waved a hand downward. Within her body, Syndra could feel the amount of magic in her body diminish. She grimaced subconsciously. Her body was still partially tied to the magus.
"I take it everything went according to plan then, yes?" Akano inquired in a cheerily light tone.
In accordance to her feigned guise of control, Syndra answered with silence. She did, however, turn and stare vacantly into Akano's eyes. Instantly, the magus's mouth twisted into a mild frown.
"Right. You can't talk anymore." Akano grumbled with annoyance, "I'll have to fix that at some point... After all, I want you to be... well... you. And I want you to know that it is I who is your master."
For a few moments, Akano stood directly in front of the sovereign, staring straight into her deliberately dampened eyes. At last, he turned and strolled back into the depths of the fortress.
"Well, no matter, I have plenty of time to worry about that later." Akano said dismissively. Making a beckoning gesture with his hands, he ordered Syndra to follow him.
"We have much preparation to do, Syndra..." Akano said as he walked, "You see, I have a meeting with quite a number of very important people. I dare say they are quite eager to see the fruits of my labor."
As Akano strolled into the protection of his abandoned fortress, he continued to aimlessly blabber on about his plans to the sovereign that floated behind him.
"You see, not all of Ionia is as good as you might think..." Akano spoke up with a cheery edge to his voice, "Of course you already knew that... It's a shame they didn't listen to you. Now they have oh so many problems on their hands..."
Turning around, Akano fixed Syndra with a smug smile. However, his expression quickly twisted into one of mild curiosity when he noticed that Syndra only had one sphere floating around her.
"Hmm? Are you missing something?" Akano inquired, gesturing around his head as if to symbolize the missing two spheres. Of course, Akano knew he couldn't expect any sort of reaction from the sovereign as she was essentially an empty shell while under his control, but he couldn't help but act as if the sovereign was still a person; as if Syndra was following him all on her own desire.
Praying that Akano didn't push matters further, Syndra merely floated and kept her gaze staring directly forward. Thankfully, it worked.
"Ah well, no matter. So long as you are still mine..." Akano stated with a coarse laugh.
"You are still mine right?!" Akano demanded, abruptly swinging a hand in the direction of a nearby statue.
Feeling her magic return to her, Syndra instinctively guessed that that was a command to attack. Doing her best to feign a sort of influence, Syndra whirled and sent a wave of magic smashing into and through the stone object. The statue collapsed to the floor in a pile of rubble.
"Hmph... Good... Just had to make sure..." Akano muttered to himself as he turned away. The magus gestured once more, causing Syndra's magic to dampen once more. "Now come. We have preparations to make."
"You see, Syndra," Akano continued as if there had been no interruptions, "I... am not alone in my endeavors. In fact, I have quite the number of followers. Followers that include people from the even the highest of positions in the Ionian council of elders."
Syndra floated behind Akano, acting as if she couldn't hear a thing he was saying. In reality, she was paying more attention to his words than she had ever paid attention to anything ever before.
"You see... I am no summoner. The Institute of War refused to accept me as one of their own. They refused... refused me because I did not share their beliefs. "
A dark look crossed Akano's face, but it quickly twisted into a grin.
"Of course, that was hardly enough to stop me. I needed their magic. I needed to learn... I needed what they know so I could... so I could... well.."
Akano didn't even finish his sentence. Instead, he made a gesture at the sovereign herself. Turning on his heel, the former magus continued moving down deeper into the temple.
"And thus, that is where these important individuals we are meeting come into play. You see, it was they who got me the summoners magic that I required. They helped me find the last piece of the puzzle..."
Smiling wickedly, Akano rose his hands and counted on his fingers.
"You see, the fourth elder, Elder Rakam, and the fifth elder, Elder Korell, were very much interested in my propositions. Amusing, really... You would think that the elders of the Ionian High Council would be held in equal esteem for one another. Alas, that isn't the case. Technically speaking, the members of the high council all have equal power, but that does not include the power invested in them by the public eye. It is that Elder Kwan... and that Elder Karma who truly rule Ionia. The citizens of Ionia absolutely adore them... And that is where I come in. You see, Syndra... You are going to kill both of them for me. And then I will subdue you before the eyes of every Ionian in the world. Then the fourth and fifth elders will assume power, and I will be a hero. A hero greater than that bitch will of the blades!"
At last, Syndra and Akano arrived at a large set of double doors. Syndra could hear hushed voices from within the room. Immediately, she had her suspicions as to who was inside it. When Akano pushed forward and they entered the room, Syndra's suspicions were confirmed.
The moment Syndra and Akano swept into the room, silence settled upon the area. It wasn't until a single man and a single woman stood up from their seats and greeted Akano that the silence was broken.
"Magus." Both Elder Rakam and Elder Korell spoke in unison.
"Elders." Akano answered with a small bow, acknowledging both of the Ionian leaders. When he rose from his small bow, Akano immediately spoke up.
"The plan is proceeding as scheduled. There are no delays and there are no changes to our plans. Within a week, you shall be known as-
"I do not appreciate being lied to." Elder Korell interrupted harshly.
"...Pardon, Elder Korell? Are you accusing me of lying?" Akano questioned dangerously.
"You said that the Will of the Blades would be removed from this issue! How is it that she is now in the Placidium Hospital in critical condition!?" Elder Korell exploded.
Akano's eyes registered with surprise, but he quickly covered it with a cough.
"Critical condition is the equivalent of removed from the issue." Akano answered smoothly, "She can do nothing in her current position. Then again, if she does not survive her injuries, that will serve just as well."
"YOU DARE TO THREATEN THE WILL OF THE BLADES?!" Elder Korell exploded for a second time, "Do you know how much she has given to this country? How dare you show such disrespect!"
"The Will of the Blades knows far too much to be allowed to survive!" Akano finally blasted back, loosing check of his temper.
"Then you are threatening her very life! I will NOT accept this!" Elder Korell snapped furiously.
"DO YOU WANT YOUR POSITION OR NOT, ELDER KORELL?!" Akano shrieked with absolute rage, "DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF SACRIFICE? DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THE LOSSES WE HAVE ENDURED TO GET THIS FAR? SACRIFICES MUST BE MADE IN ORDER TO USHER IN THE AGE OF A NEW ERA!"
"HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THE PLACIDIUM RECENTLY?!" Elder Korell blasted back, "THE ENTIRE CITY IS IN A RIOT! THE PEOPLE ARE ON THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR! HOW COULD YOU HAVE TURNED THE WILL OF THE BLADES INTO A SOURCE OF CONFLICT? DO YOU KNOW WHAT SHE HAS DONE? SHE HAS TURNED HER BLADES UPON HER OWN PEOPLE! THE POPULACE IS SPLIT BETWEEN THOSE WHO BELIEVE SHE IS BEING CONTROLLED BY THE MAGE AND THOSE WHO THINK SHE HAS GONE ROGUE!"
"Then everything is according to plan." Akano shot back in a dangerously calm manner. "When we return, we will reveal that the sovereign was controlling the warrior. This will unite them behind us and your darling Will of the Blades. That is... unless you suddenly do not find yourself desiring your position anymore... I'm sure Elder Rakam wouldn't mind having the council all to himself..."
"I... I merely have my doubts about your control over that monster." Elder Korell finally managed to blurt as she shot a suspicious glare at Syndra, "The injuries that the Will of the Blades sustained were undoubtedly from an extreme source of magic. I have no doubt that that source is that Dark Sovereign by your side. And as such, I suspect that the orders you gave the sovereign were to kill the Will of the Blades. "
The elder allowed her words to sink in for a few moments before continuing.
"I take your silence as a yes. As such, I will then question as to why it is the Will of the Blades survives to this day." Elder Korell stated coldly, "If she is truly under your command, why is it that she allowed Captain Lito to survive? Should she have not delivered a decisive blow?"
"Please, Elder Korell, spare me your ignorance." Akano replied dismissively. "If she were not under my control, do you think we would still be standing here?"
"THAT ISN'T MY QUESTION! MAGUS!" Elder Korell snapped, "I question as to the exact extent of your control! Ninety nine percent control is NOT good enough here, Akano. I need one hundred percent control from you. That mage is dangerous. She is a bomb that could explode at any moment! Do you not understand the risks that we had to take in order to get you the information you desired?"
Akano's face twisted into a scornful glare, but before he could speak, Elder Rakam interrupted him.
"She has a point, Magus." Elder Rakam stated in a calm tone.
At that, Akano stiffened before taking a calming breath. Elder Rakam was clearly the more calm and collected member of the group.
"Allow me to put your thoughts to ease then?" Akano offered in a cool voice after a few moments had passed in silence.
Elder Rakam nodded silently before eyeing Akano with an expectant gaze.
At last, Akano strode forward and took a seat in a chair directly across from both elders. Raising a hand, Akano snapped his fingers with an audible click.
"Syndra. Your master desires..." Akano smiled crookedly, "A neck message."
From her position, Syndra floated forward slowly. It was extremely difficult for the mage to keep her eyes focused blankly forward while every set of eyes stared at her. It was a natural human instinct to meet another's gaze when being looked at. At last, Syndra arrived behind Akano. Placing her hands on his shoulders, Syndra immediately had the insatiable urge to strangle him right there. Yet, she withheld the temptation for just a little bit longer.
"Good... Good, Syndra..." Akano cooed.
"That proves nothing!" Elder Korell snapped, "Basic actions mean nothing. We need to know that she doesn't show even the slightest hesitation when in battle! Show us the extent of your mastery!"
Instantly, Akano's smile vanished into a scowl. Glancing up at Syndra, he flicked his head in the direction of Elder Korell.
Without a moment of hesitation, Syndra lifted a hand and flung a sphere straight at the elder's skull. The sovereign's full power returning to her body at full force, the sphere shot forward at the speed of the bullet before Syndra halted the ball of pure magic in the air just before it decapitated the elder. The sphere remained floating just before the elder's nose, only a millimeter away from actually touching her.
"Good enough?" Akano bragged with a sneer, "Harder, Syndra."
Lowering her hand, Syndra returned her efforts back to Akano's neck and shoulders; kneading away with slightly increased force.
Shaken, Elder Korell collapsed back into her chair before heaving a shaky breath.
"Now, as I was saying, there are no changes to the plan. Everything is going according to schedule." Akano declared in a tone that dared the other two elders to doubt him again. It wasn't until Syndra used even more force to knead his shoulders that Akano's menacing aura was broken.
"Ah... Not that hard now, Syndra." Akano stated.
"The plan continues as we have set forth. In a few days, I will have Syndra move this castle to the Placidium and the stage for our final battle will be set." Akano continued with a smile, "Syndra... I said not so-"
Behind the magus, Syndra's face twisted into a horrid grin. Amongst his bragging, Akano had forgotten to redampen Syndra's magic. Leaning closer to Akano's ear, Syndra whispered in a dangerous voice.
"How... About... No." She whispered.
Instantly, Akano's eyes shot wide with panic. Lifting a hand, he attempted to dampen the mage once more. Unfortunately, he was far too slow.
"RAAAAAH!" Syndra screamed gestured at the large sphere she was hiding behind Akano's back. In an instant, the entire sphere erupted, sending the single object within it straight up and through the chair Akano was sitting in. The blade made a disgustingly crisp metallic ring as it pierced through wood before imbedding itself in flesh and bone.
"Huckk..." Akano gasped, blood exploding from his chest before it came surging out of his mouth.
For a few seconds, everyone in the room stared in shock with what had just happened. Finally, the two elders scrambled to their feet and attempted to flee out the one door on the other side of the room.
"There will be no escape." Syndra exploded.
Reaching out with a hand, Syndra blindly released a wave of magic, sending a huge amount of furniture into the doorway and effectively barricading it from being opened. Their chances of escape now dashed, the elders turned back around to gaze at Syndra.
"N-Now you listen here, Dark Sovereign. If you harm us-"
"SILENCE!" Syndra exploded, "I will deal with you fools in a moment. Wait your turn."
Unwilling to deal with the elders just yet, Syndra scattered them to the floor with another wave of raw energy.
Turning her gaze back to Akano, Syndra stared into his eyes. The magus was fighting a losing battle as his grasp on life slowly slipped. As his life ebbed, Syndra could feel the rush of her unbounded potential return to her. She grinned wickedly.
"You're not going to leave me so easily..." Syndra whispered into the dying magus' ear.
Clawing her right hand, Syndra focused her magic around the magus's feet and legs. Slowly, the sovereign focused until the tell tale sounds of cracking bones reached her ears.
"Your death... Will be slow... Painful..." Syndra snarled as she hovered directly in front of Akano's face.
When the magus's eyes began to roll backwards into his head, Syndra released her crushing grip on his broken legs before slapping the flat side of the blade imbedded in Akano's chest. The new sensation of agony forced Akano back into consciousness as Syndra refused to allow him any escape from the pain she was inflicting. Without further hesitation, Syndra moved her clawed hand to Akano's left arm. Balling her hand into a fist, Syndra crushed every bone in his arm with an audible crack.
Akano's body jerked and foam flew from his mouth as an unimaginable amount of pain ripped through his dying body. At last, Syndra reached up to his chin and yanked his head over such that his eyes stared into hers.
"Know that it was I who sent you to the next world! Know that you have lost to me! Know that my power will never be yours!" Syndra declared in a seething, venomous voice.
In one final act of destruction, Syndra brought both of her clawed hands to the sides of Akano's head. She spoke no words as her devastating power focused and crushed the one thing between her hands. All that was heard was an earsplitting -pop- as Akano's entire head was crushed into a thousand pieces. An explosion of blood fell to the floor, followed by a torrent of mixed bone and brain matter. At last, Syndra rose from the magus' corpse. Using her magic, she flicked the blade in his chest back up into the air and into one of her spheres.
"Ignorant Fool." Syndra spat at Akano's dead corpse.
At last, Syndra drew in a deep, calming breath. She was free at last. Her unbounded powers flowed freely throughout her entire body. For a few moments, Syndra remained floating in the air with her eyes shut. It wasn't until one of the elders sneezed that Syndra remembered that she wasn't alone. Whirling around and opening her eyes, the sovereign glared with eyes of resolute hatred at the two elders cowering before her.
"N-Now... You j-just t-think about what you're d-doing, sovereign. If you kill is, any sort of hope for a pardon will vanish!" Elder Korell attempted to threaten Syndra.
Syndra glared at the elder before replying.
"Let us be clear, Elder... The hope of a pardon vanished the day I was born." Syndra answered, her voice dripping with venom.
Silently, Syndra pondered the options before her. Despite her insatiable desire for revenge, the elder's words rang clear in her head. Ionia was in a state of chaos, and Irelia was anything but safe in their hands. The warrior's own people were now a threat to her as some of the populace saw her as a traitor to Ionia. Grimly, Syndra swallowed the growing lump in her throat. Finally, she raised her head; an idea popping into her head. It was a daring plan, fraught with countless flaws. Unfortunately, it was the only one Syndra saw as viable.
Returning her gaze to the elders that lay cowering at her feet, Syndra brutally reached out and caught them in another unbreakable grip of magic. With the elders in tow, Syndra floated out of the meeting room and towards the temple's communications array. When she arrived, the device was completely shut down; its power source having died long ago. None the less, the sovereign was undeterred. Her magic would be more than enough to power the small device.
Moving with slow deliberation, Syndra removed the spent power core and floated one of her spheres into the vacant space. The device instantly hummed to life as Syndra's raw magic fed it the energy it needed. Finally, Syndra drew in a deep breath. There would be no return after this.
At last, Syndra moved her fingers to the command console of the device. Slowly and deliberately, her fingers pressed a series of buttons that corresponded to a number she thought she would never call.
The Placidium.
Author's Notes:
My apologies for the delay in getting this chapter out. Getting things written in a way that was at least acceptable to my standards was difficult to the very least. The ending to this story and other small plot details might be coming together for some of you. Please refrain from trying to spoil the story if you do think you have figured it out. There are about two chapters and an epilogue left in this story. (I'm not counting the fluffy stuff that is planned for after the story is done)
As always, thank you all for reading and I hope you see you in the chapters to come. Leave me any comments or criticism in the reviews sections.