Ch17: Leah Cain Rescue Mission
"What is the meaning of this?!" Tyreal immediately asked as he saw Maghda with us, still alive and without powers. Maghda simply looked away from his gaze and sat on the ground, her way of saying she didn't wish to speak. "We met a civil compromise, you could say," I frowned as Maghda began to silently weep. "See, Maghda was doing everything for Belial because she thought all of it was the truth. But we made her question that in Khasim Outpost by Serena telling her that Belial lies to all his subordinates. So when she found out for herself from her master that he was lying the whole time, she not only rescued all the trapped villagers of Alcarnus, but also destroyed every last cultist and summoned demon that corrupted Alcarnus's streets," I explained.
Tyreal looked at me with a glare of uncertainty, but I didn't care. "We'll discuss it in more detail later," I frowned. "Now where's Leah at?" I asked. "She's been captured by Belial's Imperial Guard," Maghda frowned on the ground. "Wait... what?" Tyreal asked, his face showing one of sheer shock. "You'd best be quick. Belial knows the power lying within her and he wants it for himself," Maghda frowned. "The best way to get to the Imperial Guard is to talk to the Emperor. Let's get going quickly," I said as me and Serena headed out, mom staying behind and looking troubled at Maghda. She probably wasn't going to come, rather be there to help out the fallen witch.
Our duo of zombie and imp went forward through the bustling streets and we eventually found the gates to the Royal areas of Alcarnus, the Imperial Guards that blocked our path NOT being Deceivers, but regular humans instead. And who should be in the front but Asheara herself. "Asheara! We need to speak to the Emperor. We believe that he may be in trouble," I said to her with a look of seriousness on my face.
"It's you two! We heard about what happened at Alcarnus and, I must say, your group is quite amazing to have made Maghda change her evil ways. I'll talk to the guard for you..." Asheara said as she looked the captain in the eyes. "Captain Ravan. These two have news for the Emperor regarding the incidents at Alcarnus. May you please let them pass to speak with the Emperor?" she asked him. "Very well, though I do not think you will find him very receptive," the man spoke, allowing us to go past and for our trio to go through the massive gates and eventually into Hakan's throne room.
"You are bold to request an audience with me! My guards tell me that you were responsible for the massacre of innocent villagers at Alcarnus," Hakan spoke to me... Serena's surprised obvious on her face. "Do not be fooled by those lies! Alcarnus's massacre was the work of a coven, the leader of which destroyed the coven and rescued the rest of the unharmed townsfolk," I said as the guards all advanced towards me, all of them being Deceivers.
"If you are innocent, then why do you have a spy skulking through my sewers? Bring her in!" Hakan exclaimed, a door to the side opening to show that they had captured Leah, her arms tied behind her and a pike aimed at her neck if she tried to struggle. "I detest violence! Guards, I leave this matter in your hands," Hakan said as he left the room and the Deceivers all lifted their guise, Leah's power erupting with a single controlled yell. She was learning to control it better, that much was for sure. "She has escaped! Kill them!" exclaimed a Deceiver, who had his head blown to pieces by my Arcane Torrent, which had grown a bit explosive since I had absorbed Maghda's magic.
"I knew you'd return for me! I knew you would!" Leah exclaimed in joy at me. "No time to talk and celebrate, Leah. We need to get out of here... and we need to tell you what happened on our trip to Alcarnus," I explained to her as our group ventured out of the gates and we began to slaughter demons. "We'll talk in the sewers. And I'm sure you know why," Leah said to me. "How could I not know?" I smiled back at her.
"Are you fucking serious?!" Leah immediately exclaimed at me when we entered the sewers and I told her of what had happened at Alcarnus and the Khasim Outpost. "She's not dangerous anymore, Leah. I siphoned every bit of magic she had and absorbed it into my own," I sighed at her as she looked at me in pure anger. "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SLAY HER! SLAUGHTER HER! SHE NEEDS TO PAY FOR UNCLE DECKARD'S DEATH!" Leah exclaimed in anger at me as she began to tear up. "Leah... I know you're mad at me right now, but just know that it wasn't my idea in the first place," I frowned at her. "Then whose was it?!" "Mine," Serena frowned at her.
"I knew it... never trust a demon. Not even one as cute as you," Leah fumed as she ran off without me into the sewers, actually slipping and falling onto the wet ground and right in front of an Accursed! "ACK!" she exclaimed as Serena instantly warped herself in between the two of them and swiped the Accursed into a nearby wall, its disgusting acid pouring out of it afterwards. "S-Serena?" Leah asked as the imp looked at her with a troubled face. "I'm not evil, Leah. I've told you that before and I meant it," Serena frowned as I helped Leah off the ground. "But I knew what Maghda was before you guys ever met her. A confused woman who believed that Belial always told her the truth. I simply told her that was never the case and she found out I was truthful when she confronted Belial about it."
Leah frowned as she looked away from Serena's gaze, looking at me instead. "Maghda destroyed her own coven to right her wrongs. She even wished for death upon killing all of the cultists. She cried after I took pity on her and she said the words 'I owe you the rest of my life' after I showed her my kindness," I explained at her. "I still don't like this..." Leah sighed as she looked at the Accursed that had been killed. "You don't have to. But we need to continue on. We need to find Adria... and prevent saying anything to her," I frowned as I tried to focus Maghda's powers of illusion to make a vision of myself appear in the camp.
"Hello guys," I said to them from afar, able to hear them as we ascended the stairs. "You use my powers well, Lisa," Maghda said as I was able to see her, mom, the zombie dogs, and Tyreal all together in the same vicinity. "I need to tell you something Maghda... we are going to bring an ally to help us defeat Belial and Azmodan forever. You may have known her before, during your time in the coven. Adria." "I do know of her from before... and I assume you want me to hide my identity from her?" "Yes. You need to change your outfit so that your face is unable to be recognized and you need to not give away information to her... because she may not trust us if she recognizes you," I warned. "Okay... I will do that..." Maghda frowned. I then made the visage disappear and we ended up seeing the ladder that led to Adria the Witch.
"This must be it," Leah said as she climbed the ladder and me and Serena followed after, hearing electricity crackling after we all got to the top of the ladder. It was then that we saw some Deceiver minions torturing a woman that I knew and hated with all my heart. Adria the Witch. "Tell us about the Black Soulstone, Adria! We know of the 3 used to seal the Prime Evils, so why is this one so important?!" asked the main snake demon. "Your leader Belial has good reason to fear it!" Adria said in pain as Leah, Serena, and I rushed in and we used our different abilities on the different Deceivers. Serena sliced apart the one in charge, Leah shot arrows of red light at some of the Deceivers and I attacked the last of them with Arcane Torrent. Adria was rescued in just a little bit of time, her shock obvious when she saw Leah's powers.
"Leah! My daughter," Adria exclaimed at her. "You know who I am?" Leah asked, her acting very good as her face was just regular and not suggesting anything. "I have been keeping watch over you since you were a little girl, my love. It's so good to see you again," Adria spoke. "I hate to spoil the happy moment b-" I was about to say before Adria eyed me and her eyes went wide at what I looked like. "W-What the hell? A Risen Dead that can speak and use magic? Who are you?" Adria asked me. "We'll explain once we get back to camp, okay?" Serena groaned at her, Adria's eyes looking at her with confusion. I activated the Town Portal and all of us were instantly warped to home base.