Origin, the supposed king of all spirits and sometimes-equal-sometimes-not of Ratatosk. It was like... Ratatosk was strong enough to be lord of all monsters and have 8 sub-commanders compared to Origin who, according to Tenebrae was akin to...
"My lord in charge of all things worldly while Origin is more akin to a king of esoteric. It's far more complicated, obviously," the black Centurion said with a sigh.
Given Origin was the reason Mithos was able to split the world into twin dimensions that didn't collapse after one shuddering breath... it was understandable Origin was considered good at bending rules rather than maintaining them.
"But Lord Origin has a high code of honor, the first hints that Mithos intended to do this, then the pact would have shattered and Mithos' life would be forfeit. Making a pack with Origin is no mere vow," Tenebrae warned as you carefully approached the exit to Ginnungagap.
"Well, perhaps it wasn't the intent, and yet, the worlds still remain divided. Wouldn't it have made sense for such a noble entity to have undone such an act if it is true that it is damaging?" you pointed out and Tenebrae was quiet for a moment before resting before a pulsing floor that lit up with runes at your approach.
"You misunderstand. Origin's vow pact specifically requires the user to not harm the worlds nor actively aid in its destruction. Indeed, some of the pact makers' interpretations can sway minor choices like causing a flood or avalanche to quell a more serious threat, but Lord Origin would be exacting if the Eternal Sword was granted. To make a pact with Origin would be lethal but since Mithos isn't dead, I presume perhaps Origin is sealed or trapped at his seal," Tenebrae explained.
"If he is sealed, or trapped, what are we to do? I will freely admit to lacking both the power and knowledge to remove such obstacles," you admitted as you moved forward, flipping Fallen Beauty in your gloved hands, as the Sharpshooter nature wanted. It was a very strange persona to adopt. You never faced forward quite and your eyes never stopped looking around.
"Well, all locks have keys. I'm hoping by looking at it will let us learn something. If nothing can be done, the next best thing would be to convince all the Summon Spirits to feed lord Ratatosk their energy to allow him to rise briefly. Without his mighty tree, my Lord is... ungrounded," Tenbrase said quietly, ears flicking.
"The Summon Spirits..? Right, someone I met earlier mentioned them, too. Well, it is nice to know we have a backup plan already." you said and Tenebrae looked smug.
"I always have a plan. I'm the Centurion of Darkness, but that doesn't mean I like to wander in blind!" he guffawed at his own joke. He coughed and focused once more.
"Now, Origin's seal is in a forest called Torent. It is a very spiritual place and also the last village of the pure-blood elves. Mithos and his kin were cast-out by the village. The fact it stands is a testament to both the fact Mithos Yggdrasill is still fearful and hateful of the place to the point it seems to be still standing. Odd how even 'gods' have hang-ups," Tenebrae said bored.
"I'm surprised he even allowed himself to go back to get Origin. I wouldn't suspect it from the character he turned into," Tenebrae added as he slowly adjusted glowing sigils. The runes were neat and as you watched them change... shift from one possibility to another... you might have seen something about how mana flowed into shapes and physical conduits.
Sorcerer gained 5 exp.
"I've calibrated this Otherworldly gate to teleport us directly to Origin's Seal. There is some security against such things but with both Shadow and my lord's energy, I have the power to bypass them," Tenebrae promised.
His canine grin appeared.
"Are you ready?" he asked innocently.
"I hope so. My luck with dark portals can be... erratic," you said as the floor began to light up.
"Well, hold on. I can't promise Mithos didn't leave any traps," Tenebrae said and then a flash overtook all your senses.
-
Torrent Forest was... a word you couldn't attach meaning to. A sacred place, but you had no faith. A place of history, but you had no real past. A place of power, but you were ever so weak...
It was a place even insiders of this World didn't get to see and you as an outsider definitely should not see. But times were desperate it seemed. You and Tenebrae appeared in a small grove that on the surface didn't seem much.
There was no otherworldly temple. No deep tomb. No cave of heroics. No final castle of trials. No death traps. No darkness or light to overwhelm you.
Just a peaceful grove with a mossy stone tablet bigger than a man jutting out of the ground. It was an exceptionally basic and primitive place for a king, but also the source of all potential. Water, nature, birds, insects, clean air, fertile ground, and peaceful sun on the morning dew.
The spring of origin in which all would arise from.
"Lord Ratatosk had a giant tree to be seen for miles around, Origin had a forest that kept people out. Sun and moon they were," Tenebrae said with light humour.
"Equivalent opposites in many senses. Such a calm place. It feels like many would find it nice to rest here for a bit." you said and Tenebrase grinned.
"Sure, if one can find Heimdall Village, get past their isolated racist elders and into the confusing forest to find here to rest. Then yes... very restful, but..." Tenebrae stared at the stone slab for a long moment, even going as far as freezing in place.
"He isn't here," Tenebrae said, voice thin and shaken.
"Where is he?" you asked, knowing that would be too easy to just wake some strong spirit up to fix everything. Tenebrae floated about the rock for a few minutes.
"I assume there's supposed to be a seal here with him inside?" you asked.
"His stone is active. He is in a pact with someone, but the bond is more like an echo," the shadow Centurion announced before landing before you.
"I said Origin is no mere pact. Spirits can only have one summoner, but most of them can still communicate or tell people such things. Origin binds himself to you if you make a pact. He embodies your soul and grants amazing power, but Origin's awareness is always with you. You cannot simply falsify your promises to him. He is in your thoughts and actions," Tenebrae said, voice tense. He turned back to the stone.
"Only by releasing all your mana from the pact maker's body can Origin be released. The current holder of the pact must die for us to even speak to him," Tenebrae said after a moment.
"Is it Mithos who has the pact?" you decided to focus on the major issue. Mithos had the sword after all...
"No, Origin would crush him from the inside out if Mithos did anything he did under Origin's pact... No, this is not his mana at all, it's familiar but I can't quite place it..." Tenebrae grumbled. At your look, he sniffed.
"The pact owner can pass, like Origin himself, the sword on to another. I've never seen it happen since the whole point is to gain Origin's power for one's self to save the world!" Tenebrae scoffed.
"So, the Pact Holder gave the sword to Mithos, and then was put into a position where they couldn't stop him and their intention was pure enough not to disrupt the pact in the process?" you asked as you touched the stone and felt a thrum go through you... it was so powerful. A king warrior of justice and honour. It filled your self which strived to be a force of honor and forwardness.
Warrior gained 5 exp.
"Mithos was either gone mad even then or had good intentions and didn't want power in one basket to prevent his maniacal rise to tyranny, not that it helped... or more likely..." Tenebrae actually grimaced as he pondered to say what he thought aloud.
"He used another to take on Origin's burden but then had the person hand the sword over afterwards, tricking their good nature or honour and leaving them with no power and Origin trapped," the Centurion concluded.
"But, this does narrow things down! It cannot be any child or such. Origin demands trial by combat so at the very least we're looking for a strong warrior!" Tenebrae said quickly.
"And this world has been split for over thousands of years... this place has been benefits of Origin for so long so we're looking for an elf or half-elf. I dont see a human lasting more than a 100 and Mithos wouldn't trick Origin twice," the dog added.
"There was a warrior I saw that is serving under Mithos. He seemed powerful, but I am not sure if he is strong enough to fight something as powerful as a spirit of the world," you said bluntly, remembering the man known as Kratos, friend to Lloyd and his group. The hesitant traitor.
Then the words from the base floated back to you.
The chosen was useless... they wanted him... Lloyd Irving to defeat Mithos.
"There was also a young man that had drawn the attention of others. I am unsure of what the exact reason is, but they seem to believe he is the key to defeating Mithos," you mused.
"Perhaps he is the summoner of Origin but Mithos has devised a way to erase his memory over and over, constantly making him relive a normal life so no one suspects?" Tenebrae said slyly.
"Potentially. Memories are an odd thing, but I do know an interesting biscuit that can alter them to an extent. Someone with this level of control over the world should, in theory, have the power to do such a thing. I can take you to him," you offered. Memories... there was that persistent word again.
Memories, be they tampered or false, they controlled so much regardless.
Were you free because you had no? Or were you simply being guided from memories that you could not remember? What did your chain of memory look like?
For a moment, a coat of frost covered you and a shield flickered on and off at your side before the image vanished as fast as it had come. Strange.
"There are two methods to this madness I see," Tenebrae announced seriously, pacing on all four legs.
"I can trace the link to the summoner, but the connection does go up and into the floating comet of Derris-Kharlan. That is... dangerous areas to waltz into and I cannot follow since it leaves the world... worlds, such a sorry state," he grimaced.
"I don't know that that's worth the risk, right now. Perhaps it'd just be better to go with the other plan, letting someone with knowledge of and connections to the Summon Spirits start up the hunt for them?" you offered. Tenebrae nodded slowly.
"The second option is we await for the summoning to appear on Tethe'alla and pounce, but even without the Eternal Sword, the summoner will be strong enough to fight Origin, boosted magically, and backed by Mithos. But where are to find a summoner that isn't under Mithos' thumb?!" the dog cried in frustration.
"I might know someone. A... Nice-ish? Lady by the name of Sheena. I can introduce you to her," you wibble wobbled on the spot.
"Are you sure? Summoners are 1 in 1000 every 100 years under a twin moon sort. You are sure, yes?" Tenebrae said with a raised brow.
"Fairly sure since she mentioned not contracting a 'volt', but yes," you promised. Tenebrae grimaced.
"Can't blame the girl. Volt is a piece of work that I would sooner lick mud than willingly talk to. Well, at least she didn't fail his test yet. He tends to kill in a fit of rage as his energy overcharges and he loses himself in a bloodlust," he said dryly.
"Okay, let us divide and conquer. I'll search out other potential solutions and you follow this Sheena and get her to contact spirits. Throw in a potential bond to Lord Ratatosk or corner this 'Kratos' and try and get some hair or something," Tenebrae suggested.
"Are you certain we should not stick together? I do not doubt your capability, but... Well. I would want for protection until I found her, and the loss of your puns would be a truly harrowing experience, indeed. It might cast a shadow over my entire journey, even," you tried. Tenebrae looked at you for a long moment then smiled.
"Oh, you are a sterling example of an outsider. Helpful, useful, and funny. I may have to keep you," Tenebrae said, his form leaking shadows and his eyes glowing brighter. Then he was licking a paw smugly.
"But I won't. You'd have to be pretty dark to think such things. In fact, I think that our passionate new friendship needs to cool in the shade. Don't take umbra-ge towards me, but some space would be wise," he winked.
That sounded like a free pass to come and go as you wished.
The barrier was so thin in Ginnungagap that you could slip out with Tenebrae's permission and his Lords... acceptance. You decided Lloyd needed to know this and Sheena as well.
"Do be careful what you share," Tenebrae said, sensing your intent.
"Mithos Yggdrasill has no reason to erase whoever you're thinking off, but tell them all this then they go from a pest to a problem and you know what he does to problems by now, I hope," the dog warned. You nodded.
"Good. I think this is a wonderful start between shadow and emptiness," Tenebrae bowed in a formal manner to you. You bowed back, pistol holstered, the biggest sign of respect for the Sharpshooter.
"I agree, especially considering how my prior experiences in that regard... night be viewed," you said, sounding amused even if your heart wasn't into it.
Heh...heart.
Tenebrae N-Link gained! +2 to returning to this world due to having 2 N-Links in this world.
Tenebrae: +5 to the accuracy of all Dark spells.
-
You emerged out a portal to see a very odd scene. Raine and Genis being lead away in shackles by a group of men in green and white armour. Raine and Genis looked down as if ashamed while a massive bridge behind them was raised fully. Lloyd should be around here, but you didn't see him.
The whole parade stopped as they spotted you.
"What in Martel's grace is that?" one called, pointing a halberd.
"Nobody of importance but someone with more manners than you, apparently. Don't you know it's rude to ask questions without giving your name, first?" you said easily.
"That's even worse than Lloyd's 'give me your name and I'll give you mine," Genis said flatly and with sarcasm. Before you could quip back, a knight slammed the butt of his weapon into the lower back of Genis, making him cry out and Raine to yell in fury.
"Silent, you half-breed scum. Speak one more time and I'll make sure you never speak again," the knight spat, the glob landing on Genis' back as he trembled.
You stared at the abuse as Raine pleaded and begged but was forced to remain where she was.
This was...
"The more I wander, the more I find both interesting and unpleasant people. Tell me, what do you think yourselves to be? For harming these children, whose 'crime' seems to be existing? People like you, zealots that would harm the innocent for no reason but meaningless hatred and spite... If I had a heart, it would burn with rage for the affront to morality that you represent, scum," you said quietly and the leading knight glowed with a slight Light.
How could... such a person be bathed in Light. But it took you a moment to see it wasn't golden... but starch white.
Your entire body was surrounded in sparks of nothing and from slinging guns to flinging magic, you stepped forward in your floppy wizard hat and ragged cloak.
"You... DEMON! Men, ignore the scum and murder the demon!" The leader screamed, eyes so wide the whites were consuming and spittle flew through his helmet. His soul and Heart were so... feral.
They charged and Genis, still curled up on the ground, gathered mana and the second squad slipped and fell uselessly on a sheet of ice that suddenly appeared.
"Even the light you wield is a twisted mockery of all that's right, a pale, bleached imitation of the sun's golden glow or the moon's pale Heart. Already, the Heart of the world opposes your efforts... Do you not see that you are in the wrong, villains?" you said with a thunderous tone as the air around you become charged.
The words... the mocking tone... the foolish efforts of these beings who knew nothing and... could understand nothing, only made you think you should be more fierce.
Sorcerer gains 1 exp.
Your Thunder spell didn't originate from yourself or area, but above, your nothing energy was pulled so rapidly you were shocked, but the dark clouds forming exploded with a slightly silvery bolt of energy that bounced between squad 1 and 3, the energy using their metal armour to travel so much easier.
The knights did their best to move apart and avoid the storm, but even with Squad 2 down and stunned, there was no real chance for a dodge... you hoped.
Thunder roll 95+6 = 101 = crit = stew screaming.
The clouds didn't part. They didn't light up or rain justice from above.
The sky scream in fury and curving bolts of lightning lanced down, hitting every knight in the area. From visors, slight smoke appeared.
Sorcerer Trait gained: Twilight Thunder.
Twilight Thunder: Lightning magic gains +1 to accuracy and +1 to damage.
Damage: 8 total
Grunts: 124
Leader: 168
"The Heart of the World has decreed... That your attempts to harm these people will amount to Nothing," you decree and the men fell in their heavy armours, charred black and all but the leader lack strength to even lift their weapons.
"Look deep within your Hearts. Purge that Dark and meaningless hatred from them, and leave this place... Or else, die for your foolish zealotry. Alright, now let's get the fuck out of here," you told the two silver-head people.
Raine was staring in shock but Genis was grinning.
That was when, from behind the raised bridge, a massive water dragon screeched on land and rushed towards the battle. The coiling churning water looking sculpted and the head enlarged to hold something precious.
The dragon crashed into the leader as a bubble holding hidden in its head popped to show a red-jacket boy, a blond girl staring in apathy, a screaming red-head, a silent pink girl, and a focused purple ninja woman burst forth weapons drawn.
Sheena was glowing blue and a strange woman of starfish, squish features and feminine beauty hovered over her body, leaking water energy so strongly it was cloying. She looked serene until on one arm a massive watery greatsword form and her crimson eyes glared at the knights, mist leaking off her.
You waved to them as they noticed all the knights were beaten and the leader they just near-drowned.
"Hello...you're late. I had to deal with these troubled Hearts while waiting for you," you said calmly as Genis ran to Lloyd but to your surprise, the harsh Raine paused before you then bowed her head.
"Thank you... Genis means everything to me. I will... I will trust you for now as you saved him. I can't..." she seemed to struggle to find elegant words for her feelings.
"I understand what you're trying to say. Thank you for even this measure of trust, you care deeply for your family. Any distrust was merely looking out for his sake... That is admirable." you said, cleanly and Raine signed in relief, relieved from speaking her true feelings.
"Your magic is wonderful. If you need tips... I can give some when we are safe," she said kindly, almost motherly. It was... a strange experience. Aqua had been the closest motherly figure, but she was akin to a sister.
Raine was a motherly figure.
"I would appreciate that," you said and turned to see a pink-haired girl that was just as, if not more, chained up and Heart smothered than Colette. Her petit form and pink hair hid a dead soul.
"Woah, not a cute girl at all. I was hoping Eraqus was long for Eri or Qus or... Raqus... you know? A beauty!" the other strange complained in a pink garment that looked shimmering and his crimson hair was eye-catching, but his face leaked sour disappointment.
"My apologies, do you have something important to say or is your interest only in women?" you said flat as Sheena glared at his back. The man grinned.
"Women are the only thing worth saving the world for! After all, what kind of Chosen would I be if I didn't save it for the sweet hunnis of the world?" he asked mockingly as a red gem flashed around his neck.
"Even if you were to find a female Nobody... I doubt you'd find them to be beautiful," you said calmly before Sheena walked forward and kicked the man hard in the back, sending him rolling down a ditch in a cry.
By the way, I'm starting to think that you all are trying to start the cruelest collection. Emotionally dead and bound magical girls. Collect them all for a prize, yes?" you gestured to the pink girl and Colette. Lloyd shook his head at the scene then sighed.
"Things got... complicated and I may have put you in danger," he said and looked horribly guilty.
"Me? Well, there are many things that could prove dangerous to me... Like those zealots over there," you said and the knights twitched. Lloyd managed a weak smile as the pink man climbed back up the side of the road.
"Sheena... I haven't seen you this worked up since I spied on you in the shower as kids!" he said brightly. Sheena froze, her face rapidly turning with red.
"Are you brain damaged?!" she hissed and he seriously thought about it.
"Nope. I just had curiosity towards the unknown," he promised cheerfully and Sheena kicked him back down the ditch.
"...Even without an emotional core, I can firmly say he deserved that. Anyway, Summon Spirits. I have it on high authority that you should try and get into contact with all of them," Lloyd sagged in response.
"That's Zelos. He's the chosen in Tethe'alla. He's... their Collette and I hate almost everything about him," the red boy grumbled then he perked up.
"We're going to go for Volt soon and we're pick up the Rheairds. Zelos has a special spacial bag to carry them and its gonna help!" he said brightly. Sheena paused at the phrasing and Zelos, the new man, stuck his head up, blinking between Sheena and Lloyd once.
"Hey Sheena," he said gently for a moment but got no response.
"I can see in your top," he said seriously and Sheena snapped out of her panic to slap him hard.
"I hate you!" she said, voice full of suffering as she stormed off.
"Are you a masochist?" you had to ask.
"Just a ladies man, little sock... just a bona fide ladies man," he winked and did he... sparkle?
"That particular lady doesn't seem to care for you," you pointed out as Lloyd grinned at your comments. Zelos huffed.
"No lady hates Zelos. Besides, she can hate me if she wants. It makes her feel better. Sheena is just a gal you don't win over. If I can't do then no one can!" he said before putting hands on his hips and laughing.
Wow... what a guy.
"Makes her feel better'? So she was uncomfortable about something... That's right, Tenebrae mentioned something about Volt..." you said and Zelos stopped laughing.
"Hey... sock servant. Don't drop that name so casually, right? Some people don't like the thunder so... put a sock in it before you scare off the hunnies," he warned and walked off to haunt Raine.
What... a guy.
Gained 20 EXP from fight.