…what do I say?
Alex did not know what to expect when he entered the shrine of Ares. Perhaps the statue's eyes would glow to signify his prayer being received? Perhaps the god would whisper in his mind, telling him directly whether his plea to help Sengge in his duel would be accepted or not? Or perhaps nothing would happen, and he'd walk away disappointed?
He certainly did not expect Ares herself to come over and give him a personal visit.
…Just what the hell do I say?!
The God of Fighting continued to scowl at him, waiting for his response. Alex knew it was likely prudent to answer the god's question promptly, but the words failed to leave his lips. His brain was completely frozen in shock and fear; encountering monster girls, traveling to new yet familiar cultures and places, and being married to one of the strongest entities in this world was one thing, but speaking directly to a GOD was on an entirely different level. He could feel the divine power emanating from her, making him feel small and insignificant. His legs felt like jelly, it was taking all his willpower not to fall on his knees.
WHAT DO I SAY?! I really don't want to be smited today, but I am absolutely not prepared for this!
Ares tilted her head, her amber eyes staring right at Alex as if studying his very soul. "Are you going to say anything, mortal?" she said in a commanding voice. "Do not waste my time."
"Um, ah, well…" Alex was still unable to form a proper sentence.
Ares sighed, her shoulders dropping a little. "Listen, Alex- that is your name, right?" After Alex performed a quick nod, she spoke in a less commanding tone. "I take it this is the first time you've prayed to a god? You can calm your nerves, alright? I have no intention of harming you, unless you really piss me off. So don't piss me off, okay?"
Alex nodded, finally regaining some of his composure. Although he was still absolutely terrified, at least now he finally felt capable of speaking.
"Um, hello Ares, God of Fighting!" Alex said, his voice still a little shaking. "Um, I wanted to ask you to provide a blessing to a friend of mine, Sengge! He's a Tazchek warrior whose abilities with a blade are limited by a chronic cough he's had since childhood, but he doesn't let it hold him back! He's brave and fearless, but he's planning on challenging his own father, the Tazchek Khan, to a duel! And with that cough, I don't think he'd be able to win!"
Ares' eyebrows raised a little, but her eyes remained firmly entrenched on him. "Hmm, a selfless request? Good, I'm getting tired of cowardly fools constantly begging for my help for every little hardship in their life. If they spent half the time training instead of praying, they'd be able to overcome all their troubles on their own!"
"However," Ares continued. "While I'm glad you've finally opened up to tell me what you need help with, you've yet to tell me WHY I should help you. There is no shortage of warriors who recklessly throw themselves into battles they cannot win. Perhaps this Sengge is merely a suicidal fool?"
Alex took in a deep breath before he continued speaking. "Well, the reason why Sengge wants to challenge his own father is because the Khan's being mind-controlled by The Order! Through a ring on his right hand, he's turned against all monsters and is planning to launch a genocidal campaign against all of them! The only way to stop him is by having Sengge win his duel and seize the ring from him!"
Ares' eyes widened a little, her expression turned into a grimace. "Genocide? How utterly vile, shedding blood for no reason other than to inflict death and suffering! There is a tribe of Amazons near this Steppe that have shown me nothing but their utmost devotion, and I cannot allow them to fall into harm! Yes, the Khan's plans cannot be allowed to happen!"
But then Ares went back to staring at him. "But you should know Alex, I'm already entirely aware of the Khan's intentions- plenty of Tazchek have already prayed for my assistance, though they won't receive even a sliver of it!"
Wait, you already knew? Then why did you have me repeat it to you?
"Hah, are you confused?" The God almost appeared to smile a little. "I am merely making sure your motives- and those of Sengge's- are righteous. For all I knew, your friend could be fighting the Khan for the sake of seizing his title! I've had quite enough dealing with power-hungry braggarts pleading for my support! Power should be seized with your own bare hands, with your own abilities!"
Ares' expression then returned to being serious. "But Alex, there is one part of your request that confuses me. You say that helping Sengge is the only way to stop the Khan, but that is not entirely true, is it? Are you trying to deceive me?"
Alex started to sweat a little- he knew there was another solution to Turgal Khan's mind-control induced campaign, but it was the solution he did not want to happen.
But I guess I slipped up by not mentioning it to her- oh boy, I cannot let her get pissed off!
"Well?" the god was staring right at him. "You better not be deceiving me, Alex." she said, her eyes glowing a little brighter.
"Yes, there is another way!" Alex exclaimed, terrified out of his wits. "Druella is already planning to face the Khan in open war, and then monsterize the entire Khanate!"
"Good, that's better. Thank you for being honest to me." Ares' expression relaxed a little, but her voice remained firm. "So tell me, why do you not want to support your own wife? Why are you scheming behind her back? I may not care about the semantics of romance like Eros, but I'm not fond of unfilial spouses, Alex."
The god's interrogation was now driving him wild. "Because I'm against monsterizing the Tazchek! Every time Druella monsterizes an entire nation, the future of humanity and monsters as a whole is put more at risk! She doesn't know when to stop, and unless the Mamono Lord completes her spell and allows monsters to birth human male children, everyone will slowly die out from population collapse! That's why I'm trying to stop her by finding ways to solve the dilemmas we face that don't end in monsterization!"
Alex was practically breathless at the end of his proclamation. When he looked up, however, the god was smiling.
"Hah, such passion! So there's a bit of warrior in you after all!" Ares exclaimed. "I just had to grill you a little first! I was getting worried that you'd be just another pathetic peon praying for other people's success because they lacked the will to achieve any on their own, but no- you have your own goals, Alex! I knew I was right to give you a personal visit!"
Alex blinked in surprise. Was she just testing me? Making sure I was worth her interest?
"I've been watching you for quite a while, Alex." Ares said. "Ever since you and Druella saved my temple in Steylia." The god's smile grew a little wider. "I am grateful for that, by the way. The Steylians are some of my most devoted followers, and while I don't really care much for grandiose structures, that temple was quite nice. It would've been a shame to lose it."
"Um, it was nothing, um-"
"You can just call me Ares. The main boss is the only one who really cares about titles." Ares replied with a grin.
"Oh, okay. It was nothing, Ares. All I did was smear a magic circle. The real people who deserve your praise are Alia, Druella, and even that ignis we freed."
"How modest!" Ares exclaimed. "But you don't give yourself too much credit! If you hadn't gone to that Temple with your ring, Druella would've never shown up! While the warrior plays the most important role in battle, so does the hornblower who calls him forth!"
"But to return to my main point, you did a great service for me, Alex. Plus, it led to the Steylian Emperor giving a grandiose performance against that army of The Order! With that feigned retreat, they never stood a chance."
Ares then gave Alex an inquisitive look. "But you also intrigue me, Alex. I don't usually pay my worshippers a personal visit, but you are a truly interesting little human. You're married to one of the most powerful mamono in existence, and yet somehow you still have the willpower to go against her wishes. And your mana…there is something off about it."
Wait, she doesn't know that I'm from a different world? I guess she's not omnipotent like the capital-G God of Abrahamic faiths.
…should I even tell her? I know it's probably a bad idea to withhold information from a god, but I don't know if I want anyone other than Druella to know where I'm from. If the wrong people find out…
"But I guess we can talk about that some other time." Ares said, "For now, I suppose I'll answer your little request."
Alex looked up- he had almost forgotten why he even walked into this shrine.
"I was actually already looking for some way to intervene against the Tazchek Khan." Ares said. Her grin then faded for a moment. "After scouting out the capital and hearing what he planned to do, I had to get involved! Normally, I'm not supposed to be so forward in my interventions. But since "She" is busy breaking her own rules, I decided it'd be fine if I broke some as well. Alex, your friend Sengge is a warrior worthy of praise, striving forward despite his limitations. I will answer your prayer and assist him!"
Alex felt a sense of elation building inside of him. So she's going to help after all! Now Sengge has a good chance to win against Turgal Khan and pry that cursed ring right off his hand!
"However," the God continued. "I won't be giving him a full Blessing. Instead, I'll just be giving him a Miracle of Power."
Alex's face grew confused, unsure of what those spells were.
Ares sighed. "You really are unversed in this stuff, huh? A Heroic Blessing from a god infuses the target with divine mana, drastically boosting their abilities. A Miracle of Power is less powerful, only boosting the target to the best potential of their current abilities. It will, however, remove any impeding ailments and give the target a boost in stamina and endurance."
Ah, so it'll get rid of Sengge's cough! But will that be enough? From what I saw, he is a good fighter, but will that be enough to triumph over his father?
"Thank you Ares!" Alex replied. "But, if it's alright to ask, why only a Miracle? Why not a full Blessing to ensure success?"
"Because he doesn't need one." Ares replied with a smile. "I can tell that Sengge, once unimpeded, will be able to win. You just have to have faith in him."
Faith in him? Alright, I'll believe in Sengge. I believe he has it in him to knock the Khan on his ass!
The god straightened up a little. "Now, I think it's time I go. I will be watching this upcoming battle- I wouldn't dare miss it!" She then gave Alex a smile. "I will also continue to watch your progress, Alex. I have nothing against your wife, Druella- she has given me plenty of great fights! But I am also interested in seeing your attempts to put a leash on her- now that will be a battle worth watching! Farewell, Alex!"
"Um, farewell Ares!" Alex exclaimed.
Ares turned to leave the yurt, then stopped for a moment and turned back to face him. "Oh, one more thing- don't tell Sengge that I've given him this Miracle. People who learn they've been blessed by a god tend to get a little…arrogant."
Alex nodded. The God of Fighting gave him one last grin before turning around and walking through the yurt's entrance. When Alex peered outside, there was no sight of her anywhere.
Well, that was an…interesting experience, Alex thought to himself. So Ares was already planning on intervening, and I just gave her the perfect opportunity? I guess that's fine, at least she didn't demand anything from me.
And she's been watching me for a while? While I don't like the idea of a god having a direct interest in me, maybe having her gaze won't be so bad? All she'll expect of me is a good fight!
…nonetheless, I just wish there was another way we could have resolved this situation without the terrible dilemma of a son fighting his own father. If only there was more time to plan things out! If only our infiltration didn't get compromised! If only I told Druella what I really thought about monsterization before she could rile up Sengge!
But I guess at least I tipped the scales as far as I could in his favor. In the end, he's chosen to do this out of his own free will, and there's little I can do to change his mind. All I can do now is root for Sengge the entire time. But before that, there is one person I still have to convince. And going face-to-face with Ares will be nothing compared to trying to convince her…
[]
"Absolutely not!" Druella exclaimed. "I will not allow a poor, weak little human to throw his life away! How can you even suggest something like this, Alex? I thought you liked Sengge, why are you suddenly on board with his suicidal plan?!"
Alex grimaced. I knew this was going to be difficult.
Alex and Druella were standing in Chieftess Khultula's yurt, though the Chieftess herself was absent helping the rest of her tribe pack their yurts. The centaur herd was following Druella's plan and preparing to relocate to the edge of the Steppe, where they would link up with other monsters along with reinforcements from Lescatie and the Royal Makai. In the meantime, Druella would ferment dissent within the Khanate and prepare it for monsterization.
At least, that was Druella's plan. Alex had just arrived to propose his own plan to her- let Sengge head off and face Turgal Khan in a Warrior's Duel, so he can take the ring as his victory prize. Druella, unwilling to put any human into potential harm, naturally disagreed with his idea.
"I know it sounds insane." Alex replied. "I understand why you're against it- you hate seeing humans suffer and die. And yes, normally Sengge wouldn't stand a chance against his father. But I have good reason to believe he'll pull it off."
Druella stared at him with her red eyes. "What do you mean, Alex? You've seen Sengge fight against his brother, Galdan. The boy does have skill with the blade, I am willing to admit that. But he can only last a few minutes at most before his body betrays him."
"But what if we removed the cough from the equation?" Alex replied.
Druella looked confused. "How? Your pharmacomancy skills are not that well-developed, Alex. And even the most talented monster healers have to claim and incubize their patients in order to fully remove a chronic illness. Besides, while I am not against taking him to Lescatie to be healed, I still will not let him face his father in battle."
"Alright, I'll tell you." Alex said. Get ready for this bombshell, Druella. "I met the God Ares herself in person last night, and she promised to give Sengge a Miracle of Power to assist him in battle!'
It took the lilim a few moments to process that answer.
"What?" she said in disbelief. "This is no time for jokes, Alex."
"I'm not joking."
Alex then proceeded to tell Druella the entirety of his conversation with the God of Fighting- minus the part where he revealed his opposition to monsterizing the Tazchek. When he finished speaking, Druella's confusion was replaced with concern.
"Alex," she said quietly. "Having a god's personal attention is never a good thing. Ares may be a god who demands nothing but a good fight, but she is still using you- and by extension, Sengge- for her own motives. Be very careful about interacting with the divine."
"Um, alright. I'll remember that in the future." Alex said. While he was happy that Ares had chosen to help them, it would be a terrible idea to rely entirely on the divine in the future. And Druella did have a point- while Ares didn't demand anything from him, she was using him and Sengge for her own interest in stopping the Khanate. While Alex shared that interest, it still made him feel pretty disconcerted.
"But don't fret too much, Alex." Druella said while touching his face with her right hand. "If any god tries to lay a hand on you, I will tear down heaven itself to protect you!"
Alex could only nod to that bold declaration. Um, thanks Druella? But I think that sort of power is beyond even you. Or is it?
"But to return to the main issue at hand," Druella said. "I am still unwilling to put Sengge's life at risk. He's only receiving a Miracle of Power, not a Blessing. There is still a good chance he could lose in his fight."
"Hey, Ares has faith in him." Alex replied. "Having a commendation from the God of Fighting is surely worth something, isn't it?"
"Hmm, I suppose that is true." Druella's lips were pursed in thought. "But even so, to pit this young boy against his own father…"
"I know, it's messed up." Alex said. "But he's already put his mind to it, and none of us can convince him otherwise. But it's more than just freeing the Khan from his spell, it's also about finally earning the respect as a warrior he deserves. He knows full well he can die, and yet he's going forward anyway. So have faith in Sengge, Druella. He'll pull through, and then the Tazchek will return to peaceful relations with mamono. Perhaps more than peaceful- they'll probably be grateful to us."
Druella still looked unsure. "Putting my faith in one human? Alex, this is still all unnecessary. My forces will not take long to be ready, and I am confident I can defeat the Khan in battle. Why not restrain Sengge until victory is achieved?"
"But with battle", Alex countered. "There will still be casualties on both sides, no matter how good of a commander you are. Just give Sengge a chance, and we might be able to end this crisis without any open warfare."
Then Alex got an idea. "How about this, a compromise. We allow Sengge to participate in a Warrior's Duel, and we'll watch from a distance. If Sengge looks like he's going to die, we can intervene and pull him right out of there. Then we can continue with your plan."
Of course, Sengge would probably be very unhappy if we intervened in the fight like that. But I have a good feeling we won't have to.
Druella continued thinking for a few moments, then sighed. "Very well, I'll allow this foolish human duel to take place. But I am stepping in the moment anything goes wrong- I will not allow any human to die on my watch!"
Alex nodded in approval. "Don't worry, Druella. It'll all work out well. Just root for Sengge the whole time."
"I cannot believe I allowed him to talk me into one of his strange schemes again…" Druella murmured under her breath. But then she composed herself, and smiled at Alex.
"The Tazchek Khan has not yet moved from his camp, but that may change at any moment. Let us get ready for this duel, shall we?"
Alex nodded and followed Druella out of the yurt. Okay, this next part is on you, Sengge. We'll be cheering for you the whole time, so teach your dad a hard lesson in respect!
[]
Sengge waited with his horse in the middle of the Steppe, the moon's light being his only source of illumination. A few Tazchek scouts had already noticed his presence and turned around to warn the Great Khan, but he did not try to stop them. After all, he wanted to be found.
Come on, father. I know that while you consider me to be worth less than dirt, you'll at least come over to personally chop my head off. Though I'm not here to give you that opportunity.
Sengge was waiting just west of Soutoru in a small valley, the glow of the tent capital visible just over the grassy hills. He had ridden nearly all day, and his horse was exhausted. Yet all Sengge felt was a nervous exhileration.
Either I defeat the Khan and earn the Tribe's respect, or I'll wash away all my humiliating failures with my own blood. Either way, at least I'll be Tazchek.
Part of Sengge was still infuriated at Druella and her husband for destroying his reputation in the Khanate through their infiltration. He knew why they had to do it, but having to escape his own people and flee for safety still ticked him off. Sengge sighed in his saddle; even if he did defeat his father and took the ring, he'd always be remembered as the fool who led the Conqueror of Lescatie herself right into the Khan's tent.
When he fled to the centaur herd for shelter, his fears of Druella were reinforced by her bold declaration during the emergency meeting. The idea of his people becoming thralls of the Mamono Lord, no matter how pleasant the thralldom may be, had ignited a fire in his heart, one that refused to go out.
And yet, despite her calls for monsterizing us, the next day she was perfectly fine allowing me to leave. Why the sudden change in opinion?
Perhaps it had to do with her husband, Alex. He seemed devoted in his desire to limit his lilim wife's worst excesses, finding solutions to conflicts that wouldn't result in mass-monsterization. Because of that, he was open-minded enough not to get in the way of Sengge's mission to challenge his father to a Warrior's Duel.
Still, he was trying his best to change my mind last night, offering a bunch of alternative ideas. Why was he suddenly fine with it the next day?
Regardless of why, Sengge was grateful for his support. He had expected Druella or the centaurs to restrain him until all the fighting was over, but that never happened. Instead, the lilim only wished him good luck in his duel and allowed him to mount his horse and leave the centaur herd, though Chieftess Khultula looked sad to see him leave.
That Chieftess sure was something. Black hair, perfect curves…I could ride her for miles! Oh, and her human half was quite beautiful as well. Perhaps if I win this duel, she could make for an excellent bride? It would certainly be a lovely start to restored Tazchek-monster relations…
No, now is not the time to dream- I can hear neighing. Now is the time to fight.
Riders carrying torches appeared atop the hill, about 100 of them in all. Although their presence was rather unnecessary, the Khan was not one to travel without an escort. In front of this armed contingent was Turgal Khan himself, wearing laminar armor as he rode atop a massive white stallion with an elaborately carved halberd strapped on his back. To his left rode the Khan's personal spellcaster, who clutched his staff tightly in his gnarled hands. To his right rode Galdan, the elder brother already smirking at the sight of Sengge.
The Tazchek riders rapidly rode down the hill before splitting into two forks and surrounding Sengge in a circle, cutting off all paths of retreat. Sengge, however, remained firm as his father and brother slowed to a stop in front of him.
"Hah, so the screwup has finally decided to show his face." Galdan said in a mocking tone. "What, did even the monsters find you too pathetic to keep around?"
Sengge said nothing, staring his brother right in the eyes. Not receiving the reaction he wanted, Galdan's grin faded and was replaced with a look of disgust.
"To think, you were already weak, but I never expected you to be so stupid!" Galdan continued, his voice filled with venom. "Leading a lilim, leading HER right into our feast! At least you had the dignity of showing up so we can rid the Steppe of your embarrassing existence!"
"Enough, Galdan." Turgal Khan interjected, causing Galdan to clamp his mouth shut. Then he turned to face Sengge, his sharp gaze devoid of anything resembling mercy.
"Your brother is right about a few things- you are an embarrassment." Turgal Khan said. "Tell me, did you lead Druella to the Khanate out of incompetence or out of treason? Ever since that incident, there have been three attempts on my life by chiefs who were found concealing mamono from me! And now my scouts report that the monsters of the Steppe are fleeing before I can reach them! You idiot boy, if treason is your answer, then I will have the horses tear your limbs apart! If it's incompetence, at least know that I'll bury you next to your mother."
"Father, you are wrong about monsters." Sengge replied, causing the Khan to be taken aback. "Yes, while there are plenty like Druella that we must remain wary of, they are not our enemy. You used to know that, but you're not yourself anymore, are you? Don't worry though, I'll free you from the clutches of those crossworshippers."
Sengge unsheathed his blade and pointed it towards his father. "Oh Great Turgal Khan, I challenge you to a Warrior's Duel!"
The other Tazchek gasped at his sudden brazenness, with even Galdan's eyes opening wide. The Khan was speechless for a moment, his mouth hanging open. Then his teeth clenched together, his face turning red with fury.
"You insolent little imbecile!" The Khan roared. "After all you've committed, you dare to challenge me to a Warrior's Duel? You are weak, sick, pathetic- I should have left you in that fire! Galdan, go put this worm down."
Galdan dismounted his horse and pulled out his blade, and Sengge followed his lead. "Oh, you really screwed up this time, little brother." he said in a chastising tone. "Once I've taken you down, I'm going to find out just how small your lungs truly are!"
Sengge continued to stare him down, his blade ready. Inwardly though, he was rather nervous.
I did not expect to fight Galdan as well! Even if I do best him, will I be in any condition to battle my father?
The Tazchek riders pulled their horses back, expanding their circle to give the two warriors room to fight. By holding their torches aloft, they were able to illuminate this makeshift arena.
The two continued to stare each other down for several seconds. Then the duel began.
Galdan attacked first, holding his saber with both hands as he attempted a powerful downward strike to pound down his opponent. Sengge, however, was able to bring his blade up in time to counter it, though his wrists ached from the impact.
The two then circled each other, both sides launching flurries of attacks against one another that were parried and repulsed by their opponent. Sengge held his saber with one hand, preferring to sacrifice strength for speed. Galdan was grinning the entire time- he clearly was enjoying himself.
But Sengge did not falter, continuing to deflect his brother's blows while countering with plenty of his own. Once again Galdan tried to knock him over with a series of powerful blows, and once again Sengge managed to barely block them in time.
As Sengge and Galdan continued to circle around each other in this dangerous dance of swords, Sengge noticed that his brother was no longer smiling. He realized why- none of their fights had ever gone on this long.
But why- no, I must focus!
Galdan grit his teeth in frustration before swinging his blade in a deadly arc that would have certainly decapitated Sengge had not the young warrior tilted back and dodged the swing. Finally, Galdan had left an opening- a tiny opening, but enough for Sengge to swing with his own blade and cut his brother's left hand.
"Wha-how?" Galdan exclaimed in shock as he briefly glanced down at the bloody gash. "Why are you still standing!"
Galdan then launched yet another series of powerful strikes. But they now lacked their previous coordination- Galdan was getting desperate. Meanwhile, Sengge continued to parry them all as he wore his brother down..
Finally, Galdan overreached with one of his swings, allowing Sengge to give him a hard kick in the ribs. His elder brother fell to the ground, his saber falling from his grip. Before he could try to get back up, Sengge's blade was already pressed on his throat.
You are strong, brother, but you forgot one thing- while performing heavy strikes can knock your opponent down, the extra moments it takes to pull your blade back up leaves so many openings.
The other Tazchek eyes were wide at this sudden turn of events. "How did he- but that cough?!" One of them exclaimed. "Was he faking it the whole time so we'd lower our guard?" Another one mused. "Wow, he finally defeated Galdan!" A third warrior exclaimed- "There's something to him after all!"
The Khan was also surprised at this upset victory, his sharp eyes staring unceasingly at the sight of Sengge standing over his brother. Galdan, meanwhile, could only stare up at the man who defeated him, his expression being one of utter confusion.
"How did you… how are you still breathing normally?" Galdan asked in his confused state.
That is something I want to know myself. But I will save that thought for later. In the meantime…
Sengge leaned over his brother and yanked an amulet off of his neck. "I'm taking this back," Sengge said with a smile. "I'll collect my other valuables some other time."
Sengge then finally got off his brother, allowing Galdan to stand up and walk back to the Khan. Galdan could not even look his father in the eyes, his once-proud demeanor now shaken by defeat.
The Khan turned to the spellcaster on his left. "Is he using any form of magical enhancement?" he asked.
"None that I can detect, O Great Khan!" the spellcaster replied. The Khan pondered that thought for a moment, then turned to face Sengge.
"Hmm, so you've finally gained a bit of talent." The Khan spoke, his voice containing just a hint of pride buried within the derision. "A shame you could only stop being an embarrassment after already committing treason."
"No, I was always talented, father." Sengge retorted. "You simply never bothered to notice because you could never look past the cough. But now my lungs have chosen to take it easy on me on this fateful day, and I've finally taken down Galdan. Now, shall we have our Warrior's Duel?"
The Khan continued to stare him down. Then something barely approaching a smile appeared on his lips.
"Very well Sengge, my second son." Turgal Khan said as he slipped off of his saddle and brought out his halberd. "I will grant your wish. Although you never got to be a warrior, at least you'll die as one."
The Khan then shifted to a combat stance, his halberd clutched in both hands. Sengge took one last deep breath- he still was surprised at how well he was doing, but he was still wary of everything going wrong.
The two stared at each other for one long second, from father to son. Then, the Khan charged forward, and the duel began.
Sengge only just blocked the Khan's first swing in time, his saber clanging against the halberd blade. Turgal then followed up his strike with a forward thrust, his halberd's elongated tip whizzing past where Sengge had stood just a moment prior. Undaunted, the Khan then swung at Sengge again and again, the younger Tazchek only barely keeping up with his swings.
Realizing that he would be rapidly overwhelmed if he remained in this bout, Sengge feinted an attack against his father's face, causing the Khan to lift his halberd up to protect himself. Instead, Sengge used this opportunity to jump back a few steps and assess his situation.
Hmm, he has the advantage in range and power. But I have the advantage in speed. What can I do to prevail?
"Scared, Sengge?" The Khan looked at him with utter contempt. "You chose to do this fight, there is no turning back now!"
"Oh, I'm not frightened at all, father." Sengge replied, a smile on his face. "I'm just wondering how you'll look when I chop off that beard of yours."
That answer seemed to tick off the Khan, who grit his teeth as he adjusted his grip on his halberd. With his hands lower on the pole, he now had a far greater advantage in reach.
With a loud roar, the Khan charged forward and performed a wide swing of his blade, one that Sengge only barely dodged. The Khan only continued to follow through with more swings, while Sengge was backed closer and closer to the edge of their makeshift arena.
Turgal Khan then centered his halberd before charging right at Sengge to impale him with the weapon's spiked tip. Sengge dodged the first thrust, but he was running out of space to maneuver. The Khan thrust again, and this time Sengge could not dodge fast enough. The blade grazed against his left side, leaving behind a flesh wound that was not deep but stung with pain. Sengge could only grit his teeth as he tried to ignore the throbbing pain emanating near his ribs.
Damn it! This isn't good, if I can't dodge that halberd I'll be doomed!
For a moment, the Khan hesitated at the sight of his bleeding son, his expression becoming somber. Then, with a small sigh he pulled the halberd back for a third thrust.
This time, Sengge couldn't dodge him- the horses of the spectating riders were right behind him, and his wound still stung greatly. All he could do was raise his saber and block the incoming halberd, his blade only just stopping the weapon in time. But he could only block the strike by aiming at the top of the halberd's blade- its spike now hovered just inches from his chest.
The Khan pushed forward in an attempt to break this deadlock, with Sengge resisting with all his might to avoid being impaled. His feet dragged against the dirt as he slowly lost ground, his hands clenched hard around his saber as he tried to keep the deadly point away from him.
Then Sengge heard a horse snort right by his ear, signaling to him that he had reached the end of their arena and thus had no ground left to give- the riders weren't going to part for him after all.
Damn, so this is…NO! I haven't struggled my entire life just to end up impaled like this! I will not allow my father to fall under The Order's sway! I will not let the Tazchek become the thralls of anyone! And I am not dying today!
Then, with a loud roar of his own, Sengge pushed forward with all his might.
For a moment, his desperate push appeared to be futile, as the Khan remained unmoved. But then, pulling up every ounce of strength within his body, he managed to push back the halberd just enough to give him the opening needed to slip out of the deadlock and free himself.
Sengge grunted in pain- the exertion had only aggravated his wound. But he did not let the pain hold him back; instead, he used it to fuel his drive to win.
The Khan's eyebrows raised at the sight of his escape, but Turgal then shifted his arms higher up the pole before charging once more. This time, however, Sengge charged to meet him, and both of them swung at one another with a flurry of strikes. Sengge was done playing defensive- they will continue this bout until one of them falls.
You are strong, father. You had to be in order to unite the Tribes and become Khan. Sengge thought to himself as his saber clashed against the Khan's halberd again and again. But once you got to the very top, you lost that drive to constantly improve yourself. You've been in power for a little too long, father, and it has made you complacent. Your attacks are technically proficient, but they lack that extra flair only a warrior can bring.
And plus, you really should cut back on the wine. Get a smaller cup.
Sengge then swung even more aggressively, making the Khan go on the defensive for the very first time. Turgal's eyes widened at this turn of events, the pole of his weapon covered in indentations from his son's saber as he barely kept up.
Finally, Sengge performed another feint against his father's face, who raised his halberd in response. Instead of jumping away this time though, Sengge quickly swung low, slicing the Khan in the right leg.
Turgal Khan bellowed in fury as he collapsed to his knees. Before he could try to right himself, Sengge's blade was at his throat.
The entire Steppe was silent, with not even a horse neighing as all the Tazchek riders gazed at their defeated Khan. Galdan, who had since wrapped his injured hand, could only look on in mute shock.
The Khan stared at his wounded right leg for a moment, then back to Sengge. After looking right into his eyes for a few moments, he let out a light chuckle.
"Hmm, perhaps I was wrong about you after all. Your cough made me lower my guard- underneath that veneer of weakness was a true warrior all along. Very well, Sengge, you have bested me in a Warrior's Duel today. But what valuable do you desire from me? My horse? My life? Or perhaps ownership of the Khanate itself?"
The last option seriously tempted Sengge, but he wasn't here for a powerplay. "All I want, Father," he replied, "is that ring on your right hand."
The other Tazchek warriors murmured amongst themselves at that demand- clearly they didn't expect Sengge to claim such a modest prize from defeating the Khan himself. Turgal Khan was also taken aback by this request, but then nodded.
"All of this, for a ring? Hmm, you are still continuing to surprise me Sengge. But very well, it is yours." the Khan said while reaching toward his right hand.
Sengge felt elation building within him, though he tried his best not to show it. I've done it! I've defeated my father, and soon that cursed ring will be off of him! Peace can be restored, and now the tribes will finally accept me as a warrior!
Though, what did happen to my cough? I do feel tired, but my breathing is normal. Was it just the heat of the moment pushing me to my absolute limits?
The Khan's left hand reached the ring, and he attempted to pull it off. But after just budging it a little, he froze, his eyes firmly glued downwards towards the yellow-gemmed piece of jewelry..
"Um, father?" Sengge asked. "Aren't you going to hand it over?"
A few more seconds of this awkward silence passed. Then, a chuckle began to emanate from the Khan. Then a laugh. Then a maniacal, disturbing laugh.
"Father?" Sengge asked again, starting to feel a little nervous.
"HAHAHAHAHA! DID YOU REALLY THINK IT WOULD BE THAT EASY! THAT YOU COULD DEFY THE WILL OF THE ORDER, THE WILL OF THE CHIEF GOD?!" the Khan roared in a ferocious voice.
Then the Khan finally looked up, and his appearance took Sengge completely aback. His once dark eyes now glowed with a harsh golden light, his lips pulled back like a snarling wolf. The yellow gem atop the cursed ring now glowed with the same harsh gold color. Bolts of yellow light resembling lightning began traveling down his right arm and onto the rest of his body, making him appear to glow. When the light passed over his leg wound, it closed up entirely, leaving only a scar in its place.
Wha- what kind of magic is this?! Is this some sort of failsafe by The Order? And why are his eyes like that?!
Sengge's saber quivered a little, the Tazchek warrior unsure of whether he should try to help his father or cut him down. But then, the Khan jumped out of his blade's reach, reaching more than 15 feet in the air before landing several feet away from Sengge. His halberd was back in his arms, and even its blade was now arcing with the same golden mana.
Shouts of shock and alarm rang out from the Tazchek riders, who were unsure of what to do. A few of those closest to the edge of the ring dropped their torches to the ground, causing the grass to begin to smolder. Even their horses were disturbed, loudly neighing as they backed away from the fighting circle.
The Khan's spellcaster held his staff aloft to find out what sort of magic they were dealing with, his eyes wide with fear. Before he could say any sort of incantation, however, the Khan bounded forward and sliced the staff in half with his halberd. His horse, spooked by the sudden arrival of this glowing beast of man, neighed and rapidly moved away from this danger.
"THE AGE OF MONSTERS IS OVER! THE CYCLE OF CONFLICT WILL BE BROKEN, AND NO ONE CAN STOP THIS FINAL WAR!" The Khan roared maniacally.
"Father, what has happened to you?!" Galdan cried out as he tried reaching towards the mad Khan. But Turgal Khan barely noticed him. Instead, he pulled his right arm back before backhanding him, causing the elder son to fly several feet in the air before he crashed to the ground, where he lay unmoving.
Turgal Khan then turned towards Sengge, his glowing golden eyes staring right at him. Sengge could only gulp- he did not like his chances against this twisted version of his father, especially with the still-bleeding cut on his left side.
What the hell have they done to you, father?! Have you lost all awareness? You damn crossworshippers, the Tazchek will never forgive you for this!
"PREPARE YOURSELF FOR DEATH, TRAITOR TO YOUR GOD!" the Khan bellowed as he raised his halberd up. As the golden arcs of mana continued to race around his body, he charged forward to strike down Sengge.
[]
Druella could only stare in utter shock at the sudden turn of events going on below. Standing next to her was Alex, who could also only look on in disbelief.
Just what sort of magic is The Order tampering with?! I have seen many cursed weapons and objects before, but never something like this!
Alex and Druella had followed Sengge as the Tazchek rode towards the sight of the duel, being careful to make sure they were unseen by both him and the Khanate's scouts. Through the use of a telescopic spell, they were able to view the battle from a hill a mile away from the site of the duel.
When Sengge first began dueling with his brother, Galdan, Druella had been extremely nervous. Seeing a human be put in harm's way, even if the human voluntarily chose to do so, filled her with nothing but agitation. All she wanted to do was to fly over and snatch Sengge away before he could get himself hurt or killed.
But then Sengge managed to defeat his brother, and the cough no longer appeared to be bothering him. This filled Druella with relief- Ares was helping them after all!
I never cared much for you, God of Fighting, but tonight you have my sincere gratitude. When I return to Lescatie, I will build you a magnificent temple there!
Then her agitation returned when Sengge finally had his Warrior's Duel with Turgal Khan. When the Khan appeared to be seconds away from impaling Sengge, Druella was already spreading her wings in preparation for a mad flight to the fighting circle. But Sengge then managed to rebound and even defeat the Khan, and Druella could not help but respect him for his achievement.
I still do not fully understand you or your people, Sengge, but you've done well today. Never before have I had to put my faith and trust in the abilities of a single human, but I suppose there is a first time for everything. And while I still believe your willingness to suffer and put yourself within reach of death is completely irrational, your loyalty to your people is commendable. Very well, so long as the peace between the Tazchek and monsters is restored, I will be content with keeping the Khanate as an allied nation.
Fufu, I'll also be sure to embellish your exploits to Chieftess Khultula! I look out for those who impress me!
But then, everything went wrong. The Khan's attempt to remove the ring triggered some sort of failsafe spell, filling his body with revitalizing mana and magnifying his tampered desires into a more complete form of mind-control. Druella looked on in horror as the glowing-eyed steppe warrior performed leaps that only veteran heroes could perform before he turned to face his son.
"Druella? I think it's time we get involved."
Alex's voice broke her out of her shock. Turning to her husband, she gave him a quick nod and prepared to take flight. Before she could get anywhere, however, Alex grabbed ahold of her hand.
"Hey, don't leave me behind! I can handle myself out there!" Alex shouted, his face filled with determination.
Part of Druella wanted to ignore him and go on her own anyway- she could not bear the thought of her husband getting hurt or worse. But then she remembered her silent proclamation to make him a hero worthy of standing alongside her when she achieved the Mamono Lord's utopia. That day would never come if she kept him on the sidelines every time.
And I did put my trust in Sengge to succeed, so it would be ridiculous if I did not have faith in my own husband!
"Let us get going then, my little hero." Druella replied with a smile before picking up her husband and launching herself in the air. She flew with as much speed as possible to the fighting arena, for every second counted.
Turgal Khan bounded forward towards his son, his glowing halberd ready to strike down. Before his blade could hit home, a blast of magical energy knocked back his strike and left him reeling in surprise.
The other Tazchek warriors shouted in alarm and pointed at the lilim landing in front of their Khan, but the long sequences of surprises they experienced that night left them too unsure of what to do. As Druella landed onto the ground, Alex jumped out of her grasp and ran over to Sengge.
"Alex, Druella? Why are you both here? Were you two following me?" Sengge shouted in an accusatory tone.
"Yes, but we weren't planning on interfering in your Warrior's Duel!" Alex shouted as he examined the Tazchek Warrior's wound. "But something tells me this no longer counts as part of the duel!"
Sengge, still shocked at what happened to his father, could only nod as Alex began healing his halberd wound. Meanwhile, Druella turned to look at the Khan.
Turgal Khan's golden eyes were locked on her, and his wide grin turned even more ferocious. His halberd remained tightly grasped in his hands, still smoking from Druella's energy blast.
"WELL IF IT ISN'T THE CONQUEROR OF LESCATIE HERSELF!" the mad Khan roared. "DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT YOU COULD CONQUER HUMANITY ONE PIECE AT A TIME WITHOUT ANY REPRISAL?! THAT THE CHIEF GOD WOULD JUST SIT BACK AS YOU DEFILED HER CREATION?!"
"Turgal Khan," Druella spoke in a controlling voice, her wine-red eyes glowing so brightly they rivaled the Khan's. "You are not yourself. Just submit to me, and I will free you from this agony."
Druella was putting far more into her hypnotic eyes than she usually would- the strength of this hypnosis would be enough to make even the most powerful of heroes fall to their knees in surrender. So she was quite surprised when the Khan shrugged it off as if it were completely ineffective.
"HAH, YOUR CHARMS WILL NOT WORK HERE, LILIM!" the Khan screamed as he charged down Druella.
Druella quickly dodged the Khan's first strike, his blade cutting into the air next to her. The Khan turned, rapidly pulling back his halberd for a second attempt, but a mana shield arrested his progress.
Excellent work, Alex! Druella thought to herself as she prepared another spell. With a flick of her fingers, the ground exploded beneath the Khan's feet, flinging him into the air. But the Khan then somersaulted in the air and landed back on his feet. With a loud roar, the Khan jumped in the air, his halberd swinging down at her.
But Druella was faster. It only took her a second to jump right out of the Khan's attack, and she now hovered over the battlefield. From her vantage point, she could see that Alex was finishing up healing Sengge, whose eyes were still locked on what had become of his father. The other 100 or so Tazchek stayed clear of the fighting circle, still unsure of whether or not they should intervene. Small fires had broken out where the riders dropped their torches, causing the circle to be ringed in a curtain of smoke.
Turgal Khan grunted in anger as he stared at the hovering lilim with his glowing golden eyes.
"YOU AND ALL OF YOUR KIND WILL BE PURGED! PURGED!" he roared as he leapt into the air in another attempt to strike down Druella.
But Druella was ready for him, a new spell already charging up in both her hands. As the Khan soared towards her, halberd pointed right at her chest, Druella dodged his strike before blasting him square in the chest with a powerful stun blast. The Khan grunted in fury as his momentum was lost and he fell back down down to earth, his descent resembling a golden meteor.
But just before he could painfully hit the ground, Druella's dark mana ball emerged right underneath him and arrested his fall. Before the Khan could regain his senses it had already engulfed his lower body, with his upper body being restrained by black tendrils. The Khan roared in fury at his imprisonment, but he was unable to budge.
"Now, now, Turgal Khan." Druella chided him as she landed on the ground. "This little game of ours was fun, but it's time to take that ring off. If we play any longer, you could hurt yourself."
Druella wasn't just taunting him- it was a genuine warning. The lilim was capable of performing far greater feats that would leave this entire field a smoking crater, but she did not want to hurt any of the humans present. As a matter of fact, it was very rare for her to go all out in battle- humans were simply too fragile for her to take the risk.
"YOU REALLY THINK YOU'RE STRONG, SPAWN OF LILITH!?" the Khan retorted as he struggled within his bindings. "WHEN THE HEROES OF THE CHIEF GOD BRING DOWN THE MAMONO REALM, EVEN YOU WILL BE SWEPT AWAY!"
That retort made Druella pause for a moment. While her mother's true name was not exactly a secret- she actually told it to anyone curious enough to ask- it was still bizarre that the Khan knew about it. But she buried those thoughts as she approached the Khan, reaching out to his hand.
"She's going to kill the Khan!" one of the spectating Tazchek yelled. "Protect him!" Some of the other riders answered his plea, already preparing arrows in their bows. Others forced their horses forward, their sabers already out in a bid to cut Druella down.
"You foolish humans, I'm trying to help your Khan!" she yelled in annoyed fury as four riders bounded towards her. Although her concentration was divided through keeping the Khan restrained, she raised her left arm and blasted the first rider off of his horse with a stun spell. The second rider found himself yanked off his horse via levitation before being tossed outside the fighting circle, though not hard enough to cause any injury. The third rider pushed his horse harder and was almost upon her, but with a quick flash of her eyes the rider kept his saber sheathed and impotently rode past her.
The fourth rider jumped off his horse and attempted to attack Druella on foot, his saber at the ready. As he ran yelling towards the lilim, Druella only smiled as she unleashed a charm spell at him. The Tazchek warrior stopped just feet away from her, his face flushed and his eyes dazed.
"It must be so exhausting, filling your head with thoughts of fighting and raiding." Druella whispered to him. "Why don't you leave this battlefield and find someone you love to soothe you?"
"...Yes ma'am." The charmed Tazchek warrior replied. Then he quickly ran out of the fighting circle.
Druella then heard a shout of surprise followed by a thump behind her. Turning around, she saw a very confused horse standing in place, a mana shield hovering just above it. Behind the horse lay an unconscious Tazchek warrior with a bloody nose. Druella turned to Alex, who gave her a quick smile.
That rider must have been trying to flank me from behind before Alex knocked him off his horse. Fufu, my dear husband is turning out to be an excellent partner!
"Arrgh, don't run her down, shoot her!" A frustrated Tazchek yelled, his companions already getting their bows ready. Druella grimaced- if she concentrated on repelling those arrows, her dark mana ball might weaken enough for the Khan to break free.
Fortunately, Alex had her covered with that as well. After stretching out his arms, a mana shield grew above them and enveloped the entire fighting circle in a dome, the Tazchek arrows bouncing uselessly off of it. The Tazchek yelled in frustration, with some punching at the shield in a useless attempt to get inside.
Except for one warrior, who had managed to leap inside the circle before the shield could finish enclosing it. Drawing his saber, he advanced towards Alex with an angry grin on his face. Druella prepared another spell to protect her husband, but Sengge managed to get there first, his saber clashing against the warrior's. With the warrior occupied, Alex could maintain the shield unimpeded.
I must get the ring off the Khan now, Alex won't be able to maintain such a large shield forever. Druella turned to face the Khan, who still struggled in his bounds. The ring was still glowing on his right hand, with pulses of golden mana still traveling down his arm. Druella reached over and grabbed the ring, ready to yank it off…
…only for her to hiss in pain and rapidly let it go.
Arrgh! How did it- was it the mana? Druella looked at her hand- there was now a painful burn on her hand where she had grabbed the ring. The injury made her entire hand ache, breaking her concentration. Druella grit her teeth in discomfort- for a being entirely devoted to pleasure, pain was an unbearably unpleasant sensation.
When was the last time I've been injured? I do not remember.
A loud roar finally brought her back to her senses. Looking up, she realized that in her distraction, her dark mana ball had weakened enough for Turgal Khan to rip himself free. With his halberd in his hands once more, he looked at her with absolute malice.
"NOT USED TO A LITTLE BIT OF SUFFERING, LILIM?" the Khan yelled. "FEAR NOT, I WILL BE SURE TO TEACH YOU ALL ABOUT IT!"
Then he charged forward, and their battle resumed.
The Khan swung his halberd rapidly, the blade streaking through the air as he tried to strike down Druella with a mad desperation. Druella dodged each strike with fluid motions, but internally she was extremely unsure of what to do.
If I cannot get that ring off, how am I supposed to end this fight?
Druella grit her teeth- perhaps she would have to go all-out after all. As the Khan prepared for another thrust, a glowing magic circle appeared underneath his feet. The Khan only had time to look down for a second, his glowing eyes widening slightly before a blast of magical energy hurled him into the air. The Khan crashed into the ground, dust billowing from the impact site.
"I apologize, Turgal Khan, but I'm no longer playing around." Druella said, her eyes glowing fiercely as she approached the Khan. Turgal Khan leapt to his feet and attempted to strike her down once more, but this time she grabbed the pole of his halberd before he could finish his swing.
The two grappled with each other, the Khan desperately trying to push her over. But in spite of the mana enchanting his abilities, he was going up against one of the most powerful monsters in existence. Druella ripped the halberd right out of his hands with a firm tug, and then snapped the weapon clean in half with no effort.
"Yield!" Druella yelled as she threw away the discarded fragments of the halberd. But the Khan in his mind-controlled state did not care- with a scream of fury he began to throw punches at Druella.
Druella backed away, mindful of the ring on his right hand. If he punched her with that hand, she might actually suffer some serious damage.
"Druella, you really need to wrap this up!" Alex yelled. "I can't maintain the shield much longer!"
But what am I supposed to do? I cannot neutralize him through harmless means, and he refuses to give up! No, please don't make this be the day where I actually have to kill a human! Anything but that!
As she jumped away from the Khan and into the air, Alex's mana shield flickered and then went out. The Tazchek riders let out a loud cheer as they strung their bows. Druella spread her wings further out, ready to pick up Alex and Sengge and bail out of this fight.
But then an arrow hit one of the Tazchek riders, who stared in mute surprise at the projectile sticking out of his chest before falling out of his mount. His companions shouted in alarm, but before they knew it dozens of more arrows began flying at them, knocking them to the ground.
What, what is going on? Did they turn on each other? But then Druella heard war cries emanating from behind her. Turning her head, she witnessed 500 or so centaurs riding down the hill, bows at the ready. The Tazchek riders turned to face them, yelling war cries as they pulled out their bows and sabers. But they were at a disadvantage, and their numbers continued to be whittled down.
Why are they here? I told Chieftess Khultula to evacuate her people and wait for our return! But then Turgal Khan jumped at her with fists at the ready, so she returned to focus on her fight.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Sengge still holding the Tazchek Warrior off. Then an arrow hit the man right in the forehead. Given that he was still able to shout as he fell, it was likely tipped with mamono realm silver.
"Haha! We got here just in time!" yelled a very familiar voice. Through the smoke, she could make out her least favorite Tazchek, Bartuk, riding atop Sarnai with a bow in his hands. "Did you beat the old bastard, Sengge?"
"Sort of!" the young warrior replied as he turned to face his mind-controlled father.
Turgal Khan looked unshaken at the sudden arrival of the centaur tribe. Gritting his teeth, he yelled and charged at Druella again.
This time, Druella sidestepped his punch before grabbing both his wrists, being very careful not to touch the glowing ring. The Khan struggled in her grasp, but she remained unmoved.
"THE ORDER WILL NEVER FALL!" the Khan roared in anger. "VENGEANCE BELONGS TO THE CHIEF GOD!"
Druella grimaced as she continued to hold the Khan in place. What was she supposed to do now? Break his arms? Even if she did, the ring would still be compelling his madness.
Please, please do not make me consider the unthinkable option!
But then a sword swing whooshed right by her ear, and the Khan yelled out in pain. Looking to her right, she realized that the Khan's hand was now missing from his arm, leaving only a bleeding stump.
"I'm sorry father," Sengge said behind her. "But better you lose a limb than your mind."
The golden glow of the Khan's eyes flickered, then went out. The mana arcing through his body also vanished, and all strength left his body. His knees collapsed underneath him, and Druella helped lower him to the ground.
"Argh, what happened?" Turgal Khan asked, looking in pain and confusion at the sight of a lilim and his second son standing in front of him. Around them, the remaining Tazchek warriors had either surrendered to the centaurs or were now laying on the ground defeated. A few centaurs were already picking out some men to claim for themselves.
"You were not yourself father." Sengge replied. "The Order bewitched you with a foul cursed ring, and made you turn against monsters. But you should be free now."
Druella looked into the Khan's mind- it was true, his desire for the annihilation of mamonokind had vanished entirely, replaced with the new desire of finding out what exactly had just happened.
Druella and Sengge then both turned to look at the ring…and gasped in shock. The ring still glowed in the Khan's severed hand, mana still arcing into the limb. They could only look on in horror and disgust as the hand began to burn and crumble into ash. When not even bones remained, the ring clattered to the ground, its yellow gemstone losing its glowing light and fading into a dull color.
How horrible! Druella thought to herself. But that mana was not entirely foreign. I've seen it somewhere before…
"So The Order took my mind, turned me against our allies, and nearly caused me to start a regrettable war?" the Khan growled, his face red with rage. "Oh, they will pay for this insult. Their cities will crumble to ash under my-"
He then groaned and clutched at his right arm, the amputated limb still bleeding heavily.
"Don't worry, I can handle that." Alex said as he walked over to them. Her husband's eyes looked rather tired- he had clearly expended most of his mana. But he knelt before the Khan and held his hands over the limb. A green glow emanated over it- when it faded away, the wound was gone and replaced with a new layer of skin.
"I'm sorry I couldn't regrow your hand." Alex said apologetically. "That's a bit beyond my abilties."
The Khan gave him a nod in gratitude. Alex then turned towards her, his eyes widening a little.
"Druella, you're hurt!" Alex said as he held her right hand in his. "Let me handle this for you."
"Alex," Druella replied. "You've done enough tonight, your mana is nearly entirely expended. Rest now, I can fix this burn on my own."
"But I insist!" Alex said stubbornly. "Besides, do you not want your own husband to tend to your wounds?"
Druella's cheeks flushed red at that remark, and she quickly nodded. Alex smiled before holding her hand in his. When the green glow faded again, the burn was gone.
"Thank you, my dear husband." Druella replied, deeply elated at this intimate little moment she shared with him.
Alex gave her one more wide smile before his eyes rolled over and he collapsed, his mana all but gone. Druella grabbed ahold of him before he could hit the ground, and lifted him up into his arms. She was a little disappointed that their little moment had ended so abruptly, but at least she got to hold him now!
"Lady Druella." Cheiftess Khultula greeted her as she trotted onto the scene. When she noticed Sengge, she gave him a warm smile, and the Tazchek warrior returned the favor.
"Chieftess Khultula, your arrival was most welcome." Druella answered in return. "But how did you get here?"
"After you and your husband left to follow Sengge," the centaur chieftess replied. "I was simply unable to bear the thought of sitting out on this pivotal occasion. So I gathered my best centaurs, along with some of their husbands, and followed you galloping nonstop. I eventually lost sight of you, but it appears I was right in my hunch that this battle would take place outside of Soutoru."
"Thank you for your intervention." Druella replied. "We would have been in a dire situation otherwise."
Druella then turned back to the Khan. "Turgal Khan, your Khanate has inflicted great damage and harm against the mamono of the Steppe. You were not in full control of your mind at the time, so we will not hold it against you. But I expect you to meet with Chieftess Khultula and arrange a peace treaty tomorrow."
The Khan nodded. "Very well, Lady Druella. I suppose I do owe a debt to you for freeing me from this curse." He then grimaced. "As for The Order, they will be taught a sharp lesson in humility."
The Khan turned towards Sengge, his face becoming more solemn. "Sengge, my son. I have misjudged you, labeling you weak and treating you with contempt for most of your life. But tonight you have proven yourself to be far stronger than I could ever be. You are truly a worthy son of mine."
Sengge could only nod, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. "I hold no bitterness towards you, father. From this point onward, let us lead the Khanate down a new path, together!"
The Khan nodded, smiling slightly. But then he looked around him and frowned.
"But where is Galdan, my first son? I must apologize to him for striking him like that." The Khan rose to his feet and looked around before noticing the Tazchek warrior lying on the ground, eyes closed. Turgal walked over to him, his normally sharp eyes replaced with concern.
"Galdan, are you alright? You can get up now, I am free from the curse those crossworshippers inflicted on me."
Galdan did not respond. The Khan's frown only grew larger as he knelt near his unmoving son.
"Galdan?" he asked, concern in his voice.
Druella gulped, realizing exactly why Galdan was not responding. Despite her best efforts, a tragedy happened today after all.
"GALDAN!"
[]
The Tazchek Khan's yurt had been repaired after Druella had collapsed the entire thing, its elaborate woven murals newly restored. Inside, Alex could hear ongoing discussions between Turgal Khan, Chieftess Khultula, and Druella. Alex had attended the first half of the peace talks, but now he stood outside and waited for them to finish the more intricate details..
Under this new treaty, the Tazchek Khanate was to make peace with the centaur herd and give up all aggressive actions against mamono. They would also return all looted valuables to their original owners, though Turgal Khan was a little reluctant about accepting that part of the treaty. The Khan also chose to officially form an alliance between the Khanate and the Mamono Realm, offering to invade the lands of The Order in revenge for using him like a puppet. Druella accepted his offer, but only on the condition that he would spare the civilian population, focus on military targets, and treat all captives fairly. The Khan accepted these conditions- after all, he owed it to Druella for freeing him from his mad rampage.
There was also one other reason the Khan was so willing to work with them. Alex grimaced- although he never liked Sengge's rude, arrogant older brother, the Khan was truly devastated at killing Galdan with his own hands, even if he was mentally unaware of what he was doing. But Druella had offered him some hope; the Tazchek warrior's body would be taken to a mamono realm populated by the undead, and hopefully a necromancy-practicing mamono could bring his soul back from the dead.
He'd also be married to that monster from that point onward, but the Khan was willing to accept that. Even with this shred of hope, the guilt on his face was unmistakable.
"You look pensive." said a voice to his right. Alex turned- it was Sengge, who gave him a bright smile.
"Yeah, just pondering everything that's happened before me and Druella leave." Alex replied.
Sengge nodded and stood by him. "I still cannot wrap my head around everything myself. That glowing ring, the bizarre words my father spewed in his rage," the Tazchek warrior grimaced a little. "Galdan's death. He may have been an insufferable braggart, but he was still my brother."
"Don't worry, he'll return better than ever." Alex replied. Sengge cheered up a little at that.
But Alex also shared the Tazchek warrior's same concerns. Whatever magic was in that ring, it caused Turgal Khan to transform into an utterly crazed zealot ranting about doomsday. And he actually injured Druella! That was the thing that disturbed Alex the most.
To think a tiny ring could actually hurt her… just what kind of curse was on that thing?
Even though it was just a little burn, the very idea that Druella, Fourth Princess of the Mamono Realm, could actually be hurt filled Alex with anxiety and dread. He had grown entirely accustomed to his uber-powerful lilim wife, and this little reminder of mortality shook him greatly.
I can't let anything happen to her! Without her, I'll be entirely lost in this world. I-I-I-
"But the one thing that keeps bothering me is my cough, or rather the lack of it." Sengge continued, interrupting his thoughts. "Despite the heavy exertion of last night, I never fell into a coughing fit. How is that even possible?"
"Maybe you managed to power through it with sheer willpower?" Alex offered, remembering Ares' warning not to tell the truth. Though he did realize that if Sengge was still breathing normally today, maybe the God of Fighting forgot to remove her Miracle of Power?
Forgot, or maybe it's intentional?
Sengge pondered that idea for a moment. "Hmm, perhaps. But I won't dwell on it. If it returns, so be it. If not, then I will enjoy this unexpected blessing, for it allowed me to triumph in this crisis."
"The rest of your people must be very impressed by you now?" Alex asked. "You did defeat the Khan in a Warrior's Duel after all."
Sengge nodded. "Yes, the news traveled pretty quickly. They finally see me as a warrior, a member of the tribes." His smile then turned to a grimace. "But now is not the time to gloat. After what the Order did to my father, my brother, and the Khanate as a whole, there'll be plenty of raids to lead, and campaigns to plan."
Alex nodded. While he was a little uneasy about the Tazchek going on a rampage against The Order, they did sort of bring it on themselves.
First Steylia, now the Tazchek. You guys are really good at making enemies, huh?
Sengge then fully turned towards Alex. "I must thank you, by the way. Without your intervention, Lady Druella would have never allowed me to go duel my father. Thank you both for having faith in me."
Alex smiled. "It wasn't easy to convince her, but I got her around in the end. I'm also glad this didn't end with her monsterizing your people."
Sengge shivered a little at that part. "Ah, yes, I owe you for that as well. Alex, I find it admirable how you strive to keep your lilim wife in check, preserving the independent wills of the people you encounter. But just remember that you'll have to eventually confront her if you want any hope of changing her ways."
Alex sighed. "I know that. But it's not a conversation I look forward to having."
The Tazchek grabbed him by the arm, similar to how he greeted Bartuk. After a moment of confusion, Alex copied his movement and did the same.
"I know you will be able to pull it off, Alex." Sengge replied. "You've got a warrior's spirit within you."
Thanks for the high praise, Sengge. Alex thought to himself while smiling. But I'll definitely need a warrior's spirit when I have that conversation.
Just then, Druella and Chieftess Khultula exited out of the yurt, though the centaur had to really lean down to avoid hitting her head.
"Sengge, Alex." Druella spoke. "The peace treaty has been signed, and the Khanate and the centaur herd are now officially at peace. We will be departing momentarily, Alex."
Alex nodded before turning back to Sengge. "I hope we'll meet up with you again someday."
"I'm sure we will." Sengge replied. Then he turned to Chieftesss Khultula. "Would you like a tour around Soutoru, Chieftess Khultula?"
The centaur's dark eyes brightened at that offer, and she eagerly followed the Tazchek warrior.
"That would be wonderful, Sengge. In the meantime, I was wondering if you could visit my herd again sometime soon. There are plenty of things that will interest a warrior such as yourself, and you can stay in my personal yurt the whole time…"
The centaur's voice faded into the distance, leaving Alex and Druella alone.
"Hmm, I did not expect this crisis to end with the Tazchek allying with us," Druella said after a moment of silence, "but I suppose this is a fine outcome. Perhaps, if the centaur herd and the Khanate were to grow closer, they may merge into one?"
"That's definitely a possibility." Alex replied. "I've already noticed a few locals talking with some centaurs. It's great when things can be resolved peacefully like this, right?"
Druella nodded, though she did have a pensive expression on her face. Then she broke out of it and gave Alex a warm smile.
"Now, my dear husband, shall we return to Lescatie? And, if it is alright with you, can I carry you all the way back?"
That's only because you want to toss me onto the nearest bed, right? But Alex smiled and acquiesced to his lilim wife's request. Just before she could start chanting the teleportation spell, however, shouts of laughter rang near them. Alex turned to the source of the mirth- standing nearby was Bartuk, the Tazchek warrior looking at them with an amused expression on his face.
"Hahahaha, so she even carries you around? You have tamed yourself a far better mount than a horse, Alex!"
Alex could hear Druella grumbling as she stared pointed daggers at the amused Tazchek warrior. Oh boy, she really is going to toss me onto the nearest bed when we get back.
[]
Author's Note: And thus ends the Tazchek mini-arc! This won't be the last time the Tazchek will appear in the story, the same with Sengge.
Next up is another interlude chapter in Lescatie. It's not going to be very action-filled, but it will contain a major reveal that I've been looking forward to presenting.
As for a little bit of author introspection, I'm starting to realize that characterization is one of my weak spots, especially with some of the side characters. But that's something I intend to work on.
Timur Beg- The Fallen God isn't worshiped by all mamono, but her Dark Priests are very active in spreading her message, even to the far reaches of the Steppe. The Dark Priest assigned to the centaur herd has already found herself a Tazchek convert and went off with them to Pandemonium, however, and they haven't sent a replacement yet.
