Author's notes: Alright, time to introduce our next hero and really get the action kicked into high gear. As I briefly mentioned in the previous ANs, this guy began life as a throwaway 'test' character LuccaSmith made to get a feel for the game when I finally got my hands on it. However, already having made decent progress, he slowly grew an attachment to the character and it didn't take me long to follow suit. We eventually worked out an entire backstory and fleshed him out into a fun character that had great synergy with Claudia. We'd have regular hangout sessions where he played more and more of the game at my house, adding little elements of his own playthrough to the fic. Now, enough talk; let's get it on!
Chapter 2 – Elijah the Hero Gets Thrown to the Wolves!
Now, everyone... I'm sure I mentioned before that there was one other warrior who crossed the encroaching fog... ah, I recall now. My apologies, I must have had too much fun with the gin the night before. The deeds of this man shall set the course of history itself... and that man's name is... Elijah, the Magician Hero! Having no true calling before now, he chose to undertake this perilous mission for the sole purpose of making a name for himself, as a savior of lost souls. As noble a goal as any, I say. Refusing to let any more lives be lost to the scourge, Elijah set out from his humble home in a village of no renown, an unmistakable gleam of conviction in his eyes.
Now, we find the Magician Hero in quite a familiar pickle! Like Princess Claudia, he too made the journey to Boletaria, only to be cut down and reduced to a ghost. It was the very same maiden from before who granted him a contract with the Nexus, and he set off through the archstone to brave the besieged palace. Having located a mechanism to raise the impenetrable iron gates, Elijah now finds himself locked in combat with an unusual greater demon! His heart ablaze with determination to smite his enemy, it would appear he had the situation under control... for now...
Within the gate's central chamber, the unmistakable clashing of steel and fire rang out! A great spear launched out from the inky darkness, brushing off of a lone wizard's shield like a toothpick! Clad in a familiar verdant robe, Elijah stood tall against his target – a misshapen gathering of entities as dark and viscous as tar, all carrying great shields and spears and converging around their core, itself a sliding mound of demonic sludge that gave way to spindly thorns, exposing the glowing soul within. Those well-versed in the arts of war know this all too well as the Phalanx formation!
"Is this all that remains of the King's companions? Giving your souls up to be corrupted like this... very well!" the hero shouted at the malformed demon, his voice uncharacteristically deep for someone looking so youthful. "Obscure yourselves in the shadows if you wish..." he said, evading another spear as he reached into his bag, producing three oil casks tied with string – effectively improvised bombs – and lighting them with a flame from his fingertip. "You won't hide from my judgment!" with that, he leapt forth and hurled all three at the hoplites, too sluggish and encumbered by their shields to evade! Brilliant flames briefly filled the room in a dazzling ember! He'd more than hit his mark – the resulting blast had taken down about ten of them!
The Hero's strategy was simple enough – once the hoplites had been sufficiently thinned out, the Phalanx itself, or rather its core, was completely defenseless. It was quite a pitiful sight to look at, barely managing to even writhe and screech in pain as its slimy exterior cauterized with each scorching crackle. Raising a gnarled wand of wood, carved from an ancient archtree, Elijah cast a short, controlled burst of soul arrows, lighting up the chamber in trails of blue! Each bolt pierced clean through the hoplites' shields, dissolving their slimy bodies one by one! "Cowering behind a shield won't save a forsaken soul such as yours!"
In an act of desperation, the demon would attempt to use its own body to produce more hoplites, but in its weakened state, it could not keep pace with the hero's magical assault! Setting his blade, a humble but sturdy shortsword, aflame with a slathering of pine resin, he charged forth, unimpeded! The helpless blob could do nothing beyond backing itself into the corner of the room as the singing metal slashed through its putrid form. "I've no idea if demons feel fear, but I can only hope it is the same kind that those innocents felt when their souls were devoured!" he shouted, hacking away with the blazing blade, cutting closer and closer to the core. "You scourge will know the name..." he said, in between his heavy breaths, until he put every ounce of his might into one final visceral stab, directly into the glowing core! "...of Elijah the Hero!"
The flame now extinguished from its edge, Elijah sheathed his blade and took a moment to recover. Reinvigorated by the soul of the slain Phalanx, the wizard's body restored its physical form! All in the blink of an eye, tissue built upon bones, layers of life-affirming flesh returned to him, anew. Just as that strange man in the Nexus had promised, defeating a greater demon did indeed reward him with his body once more. Fairly on the lean side, his build fit that of a young hero convincingly enough. Fair-skinned, his striking azure eyes were framed by amber hair, grown out liberally and parted down the middle. Cleanshaven thoroughly, his face showed hardly a wrinkle, though the observant few might note the light bags under his eyes.
"Phew... I must admit, it's quite the rush to the head, coming back from the brink like that." he thought aloud, re-acclimating himself with his earthly form. It was strange, just moments ago he was a nearly weightless phantom – even his footsteps hardly made a sound. "Even stranger, that demon hardly put up a true fight... I fear it may have been a weaker one, judging by my readings. The one that killed me was a good deal stronger. No matter, I'll just have to find a way to draw out power from their souls." he said to himself, his body surging with much more energy than the first time it was destroyed.
"Still... a victory is a victory. Let's see what that snide thief woman from the outpost has to say now. I'll show her. I'll prove that my name is one worth remembering..." said Elijah, recalling his strange encounter with an even stranger woman during the start of his journey...
…
"...So that's why ya came all this way?" the slender redhead asked, her lithe form covered by light, black leather armor. Her voice dripped with cynicism. "Look, kid... take this how ya will, but... there's better ways to go get killed."
Elijah shook his head, glaring back at the girl with his crystal blue hues. "Do not patronize me, lowly thief! If this scourge continues, it may spread across the entire known world!"
She sighed and crossed her arms. "Well aware, friend. It's just... sorry, can't exactly see a babyface like you slaying demons. Your innocence ain't defiled enough."
The hero grumbled, but took a deep breath and kept his cool. "One's skill in battle has nothing to do with their appearance. If you've nothing else to say, then I must be going. You've wasted enough time as it is."
"Name's Felicia, thanks for asking." she said through gritted teeth. "Alright, alright. I won't keep ya. Just one quick word of advice... souls ain't so easy to come by anymore. It wouldn't hurt to get some kinda business goin'. It's workin' for me, so far, anyway."
"Tch. I would hardly call thievery a business, but I see your angle." he said, turning to forge ahead. "Farewell, Felicia. I look forward to proving you wrong."
The redhead waved, watching him trudge toward his fate. "Byyyyye. Be careful out there, okay? You're probably gonna die, sooo... Myeah." she'd sigh again, leaning against a nearby wall as Elijah disappeared from view. Silence overtook the decrepit outpost once more.
"...thanks for stoppin' by... at least for a little bit."
…
As we return to the present, let us catch up with our rose-haired heroine, currently battling her way through the many corridors and ramparts of the palace! Knowing it was a long road ahead, the Princess made an effort to scour each and every corner for useful supplies. Even now, a wealth of discarded treasure lay before her, only...
"...ah, that dragon again..." whispered Claudia to herself. "...and he's got his best friend in the whole, wide world. Just peachy."
The Princess' exploration had lead her to one of the palace's side exits, leading to a lush cliffside, perhaps once the knights' training ground. Now, a pair of dragons had taken it over as their roost. The red one before, perched atop the cliff, was now joined by a near-identical drake with gleaming cobalt scales. It was likely asleep, its tail twitching about as its colossal form faced outward beyond the cliff's edge. Luckily for Claudia, they hadn't quite noticed her just yet, still feasting on their buffet of soldiers.
"Sucks, I really wanted to nab all those goodies... wait, I've got this." the Princess appeared deep in thought. "I did see big red over there take off a couple times. Might be his feeding schedule. All I gotta do... is wait for suppertime." she reasoned. Keeping her back to the cliff and only occasionally peeking to see what the drakes were up to, Claudia began to wait...
...and she waited. "Goodness. Come to think of it, I can finally take a breather while I wait for red and blue over there to say grace. Now, let's see what we've got so far..." she said to no one in particular. Spending many of her earlier days in relative isolation, the Princess had a habit of talking to herself.
Rummaging through her bag, she took inventory of everything she'd shamelessly looted from the besieged castle. It wasn't like the soul-starved had any use for most of it, and even if they did... she didn't exactly care. There was plenty left behind – the palace's abandonment was recent, relatively speaking. A fair amount of standard-issue weaponry and armor, yet nothing that suited her, let alone would serve to replace her trusty rapier. Of particular note was a peculiar ring that seemed to strengthen the aethereal form she was relegated to.
What the palace did offer in abundance was quite the wealth of Moon Grass. Even the enslaved Dreglings carried a bit of the weaker Crescent stuff, and some of the more potent varieties were stashed away in various soldiers' quarters. For the affluent, Moon Grass was an indulgence. For a warrior, it could be the difference between life and death. For Princess Claudia... it was not too far of a stretch to consider it both. She dug her hand through the bushels of aromatic leaves, taking a handful of the Late variety. "Here I was thinkin' they'd only have the mids. This stuff always was good at growing through the cracks. Well, 'bout that time." she'd say, breaking the herb down with her hands. Just as before, she'd ignite a small flame in her hand to get a quick burst of thin, wispy smoke. "Really, I woulda saved the good stuff for later on, but that red-eyed knight guarding the Mausoleum almost had me from the jump." she'd recall an earlier scuffle that ended in tactical retreat. "This fragile body must be throwing my game off..."
...and she waited...
"...wonder what he was guarding that was so important? I swear, if it's Dark Moon Grass or something... even for me, that's too predictable." she wondered aloud. "Then again, that might be why his eyes were red... and had smoke comin' out of his helmet... damn, what if I'm right? Once I get my nice, comfy body back, it'll be a different story... that reminds me, what am I leaning for? I have a comfortable seat no matter where I go. 'Bout time I got to make some use of it."
Taking a well-deserved seat with her back against the nearby wall, Claudia would rest her eyes, allowing the full effects of the healing herb to wash over her ghostly body. Its effects weren't merely pain suppressors – they were grown under pale moonlight, closely tied with the essence of life. Wounds would close over as if time itself was being reversed, and larger amounts could even heal broken limbs and the like. Its only side effect was an intoxication of euphoria; it varied between users. Not forgetting her objective, she'd occasionally peek past the wall to see if either dragon had left its roost yet. Time almost seemed to dilate from her perspective; she began to wonder how long it had really been.
...and she waited...
She'd occasionally voice her scattered thoughts to help pass the time. "Y'know, I wonder... do dragons ever, like, cook their food? They're kinda the only creature out there that could, realistically... now there's some food for thought. Heh."
Despite her ardent level of patience, she eventually conceded and got up, stretching away the stiffness. "Oh, screw it, I'll come back for 'em later. I can't stop thinkin' about killing that damn red knight. I'm going back there to light him up."
Indeed, the Princess began a backtracking trek to the long, narrow rampart where she'd encountered the red-eyed knight. It was a relatively short and uneventful walk, with the soldiers thoroughly cleared out. By the time she'd arrived, however, another thought occurred to the princess. "Wait, what was I here for again? Wonder what's past this fog here..." Claudia had been completely distracted by a small gate of colorless fog that she'd previously passed up, the thought of the knight now shuffled into the back of her mind.
Dispelling the fog, she'd find herself on the path to the palace's barracks, with many intersecting hallways leading further down to the old outdoor training grounds where the soulless men still made their rounds. She cut a path forward, reducing the former militia to heaps of ash until something caught her eye, and made her heart jump ever so slightly. "No way... Tell me I'm not seeing things... that old duck-bill helm... and a Rune sword? We gotta be talkin' about one guy, and one guy only..."
"H-help! You, up there! Please, help! I seem to have gotten myself surrounded!" cried out a young male's voice in a clear tone of fear and desperation. Claudia's eyes didn't deceive her – there was indeed a knight atop the wall just below the one she stood on! Clad head-to-toe in sturdy armor cut with fine grooves across its structure, his unusually long helm did indeed resemble a beak of sorts. A golden blade of intricate, angular design was grasped in his right hand, with a matching round shield in the left. True to his word, he was trapped; the only way down would send him feet-first into a horde of starved Dreglings, each having lit their broken blades aflame.
"Ari, hey! How ya livin' these days, man? Not too great, from the looks of it." she called out to the man, clearly recognizing him from the distant past. "Lemme guess, you wanna talk some sense into your dad, right? I'm with you. This isn't like Allie at all..."
Her mention of that name caused the knight to gasp, further intensifying his feelings of fear. "Ahh! Oh, of all the possible saviors, why in God's name did it have to be her... ahem! I haven't the slightest clue who this Ari is! I am Ostrava, of Boletaria! Perhaps you have me confused for...-"
"Whatever you say, Ari. I think you might wanna cut back on the Moon Grass. No offense, but you were always such a lightweight... hang on, watch this." Shaking her head and running her fingers through her rose locks, she hurdled over the low wall and leapt gracefully down to the distressed knight, giving him a small hug. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"...that was a bold leap, indeed." as annoyed as he seemed, he couldn't help but give credit where it was due. After a long sigh, he'd do his best to clear things up. "It has indeed been some time, Princess Claudia de Sand. You were certainly not who I'd expected... or hoped to meet here, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers..." he said in a mix of relief and defeat. As the famed son of King Allant the Twelfth, Prince Ariona was often present at the many royal gatherings also frequented by Claudia. Her prim facade would often slip, and she'd seldom take these events seriously. Ever one of the boys, Princess Claudia wasn't exactly held in high regard by the royal family.
...of course, you'd never convince her of that. "That's crazy talk. You must be hotboxin' that helmet, Ari. We're like, best friends." she said with a grin, giving him another hug. "These guys are ruining the moment, don't you think?" she'd then turn her attention to the small horde of Dreglings, about seven of them, staring up at the pair like starved hounds waiting for their next meal to fall right into their pit. What they got instead was a sizzling burst of flames courtesy of Claudia's catalyst, incinerating each one in a single blow. "That was all you were worried about? Those lil' guys?" she said, before spying a small blue ring at the corner of the wall. "Mine."
The pair leapt down together, safe for the time being. "See? Told ya I was your friend." she said insistently. "For what it's worth, I'm just as shocked about your dad as you are. Figure he's still home?"
Perhaps looking for any excuse to leave, he segued, "Actually, yes. I must be going now. This mission is mine and mine alone. Besides, don't you need to restore your body, Princess?"
"Damn right, I do. Ol' Ari's always lookin' out for my best interests, how sweet." she said, preparing to part ways with the man. "Good luck out there, and tell the ol' man I said hey." she said, heading off in the other direction.
"I'll give him your regards." he said, bound for the throne room itself.
Luckily for Claudia, she'd opened a few of the smaller gates along the way, making traversing the palace much quicker. Wondering if she could find a way to open the larger, main gate from before, the girl would make her way back in no time at all... only to find the iron barrier had already been lifted! "Well, there ya go. See? All that waiting did pay off for somethin'... hey, is that...?" she'd observe a familiar stone altar at the far end of the passage. Upon closer inspection, her eyes didn't deceive her! "...an archstone...! Someone must've already slain a demon here. Hate to miss out, but there's more where that came from." she said, not too deterred by having her restoration delayed a bit. "Out here, it's first come, first serve... and if I can find whoever took it down, well... I'm not to proud to turn down some help."
Still rather well-rested from before, Princess Claudia continued to forge ahead, reaching the part of the palace known by many as the Lords' Path. This was a proving ground for Boletarian knights, who also once took residence here before the scourge. Ahead was a long, straight stretch of road laid in weathered stone, leading directly into the castle's inner ward. Two towers rose at the path's midpoints, where archers fired down at anyone who dared to tresspass. However, even in their soulless state, they still knew their place on the food chain...
"...Well, guess that answers my question." Claudia observed plainly, noting that the road was littered with finely charred corpses still sizzling with smoke. It didn't take a scholar to put two and two together, and anyone still unsure would change their tune when the air would shake with a stifling wingbeat! The red drake shrieked through the skies, scorching the Lord's Path once more! Ducking and rolling back seconds before the beast's claws ran her through, she'd angrily shake her fist skyward. "Oh, NOW you wanna move?!"
She'd take a deep breath to compose herself, stretching her legs in preparation. "Calm down, Claudia... this one's obvious. Each time he cooks the path, he's gotta make a U around this side of the palace to circle back. All I gotta do is chase the feet as soon as he opens that big mouth of his..." she'd plan, keeping her distance and listening for the wingbeat to get gradually closer. The moment the drake made its next fiery descent, the pink-haired princess broke into a full sprint, the embers dying out just before they could lick at her. Luckily, her boots provided some much needed insulation from the searing heat! Just like that, she'd made it inside the next tower, sheltered from the flames for the time being.
After picking off a handful of crossbowmen with her flames, Claudia would spy a path downward, giving her a much-needed alternate route. "Aha, the soldier's old quarters. Actually seems like a cool place to spend the night... couldn't imagine gettin' any sleep with big red throwin' a fit up there, though." she'd observe as she took the stairs down, skewering a handful of would-be ambushes on her rapier. "Can't see a damn thing in here... hang on, is that...?"
As the princess proceeded further down the lower path, she could swear she heard the familiar sound of... a harmony of several low, bestial growls and barks... The King had been known to train wild wolves as beasts of war, and it wasn't impossible most were left behind when the scourge hit. Worse yet, when she neared the second tower, she could hear something else... a man's voice! "Gahh! How many of them are there?! Away with you, ragged dogs of war! Aaaahhhh!" he called out, his pained screams echoing down the dark hallway.
"Didn't expect to get my leg workout in already, but... oh well, it can't be helped. Time to play hero again, Princess..." muttered Claudia to herself, wasting no time sprinting toward the distressed voice with incredible haste. The fracas slowly came into view, indeed exactly what it sounded like. A pack of about five wolves, all clearly starved of both soul and sustenance, were all viciously attacking someone! He was a man roughly the same age as Claudia, even sporting the same set of robes, only fitted for men. His long, parted brown locks framed a young, blue-eyed visage with nary a speck of hair. "Hang on, new guy!" called out the Princess, readying her silver catalyst. A surge of flames ran down her arm, through the tip of the wand, creating a volley of fire! Each one found its mark, incinerating three of the wolves in an instant. Switching the silver tool for her pointed blade, she'd leap forth in a blinding lunge, running the canine assailants through in the blink of an eye! The relieved wizard stared at the woman in bewilderment, speechless. "...Was I doin' too much there? Sorry, I don't get too many people to show off to, so... yeah. Be more careful around here, would you? I won't be here next time that happens." she'd warn him, flicking the blood off of her rapier and sheathing it on her hip. "Oh, yeah. I'm Princess Claudia de Sand. You can just call me Claudia, though. I ain't the type of girl for formalities."
Slumping against the floor, the man would catch his breath, still visibly wounded. Blood trailed down his leg, no doubt having taken the full force of that wolf's jaws. "Grghh... I see. My thanks for the impromptu rescue, Ms. De Sand. I am Elijah, the Magician Hero. I had thought I had those hellhounds handled, but they knew their territory well... more so than I, bumbling around in the dark like this. I must do better." he lamented.
"Hmm... Magician Hero... it's got a nice ring to it... Lemme guess, you here to slay the demons too, right?" her visage showed a look of skepticism. "Myeah, then I guess you will." she said bluntly. "This place ain't all sunshine and thicc bitches... but I've gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised with all the grass I keep finding. It's been a fun one so far."
The words made Elijah perk up a bit. "So you say? I don't mean to impose on you, but could you spare some of your Moon Grass? That bite did a number on my leg, I'm afraid... I only ask if you have any extra, please." he asked, pain still evident in his voice as he struggled to stand on the injured leg.
"Oh, I got Moon Grass for days, sweetie." the Princess said jubilantly, reaching into her bag. Smiling at the hero, she'd point down and say, "You're gonna have to beg for it, though. Yeah. Get as far down on your knees as you can and beg for it, and kiss my black ass while you're at it." she'd say, giving it a playful smack. "Go on. I ain't got all day. From the looks of it, neither do you."
Elijah's mouth was agape at her rather inappropriate request. "I-"
"I'm playin' with you, guy. Bet you thought it was gonna turn into one of those stories, didn't cha?" she shook her head and snickered to herself. "Here, a gash that big calls for the good shit." she'd say in a caring tone, handing over a generous bushel of New Moon Grass. Not unlike Claudia, the Magician Hero would utilize his flame spell to ignite the fragrant plant, filling his lungs with the healing wisps. Just like that, every drop of blood evaporated as the bitemark sealed itself, his bone bending firmly back in place.
Feeling completely refreshed, Elijah would rise to his feet and stretch. "You are an odd one, Princess... but I can't thank you enough. Dare I ask it... is there anything I could do to repay you? It.. is only fair, I would think." he said in earnest."
"I mean... the offer's still up if you wanna kiss it..." she'd jest further, eyeying him up. "...actually, I couldn't help but notice you've got a body. What's that about?"
Elijah pinched the bridge of his nose and grumbled, "By the gods, would you please refrain from flirting with me with such dogged aggression?! If you aren't going to take this seriously, I-"
Realizing her words were misconstrued, she laughed and shook her head, holding her palms out. "What- no! No! I mean like your corporeal form, you idiot!" she corrected, before giving an aside glance and mumbling through gritted teeth, "...dude's kinda cute though. Can't take a damn compliment." She'd turn back to him and continue, "In case you haven't noticed, I'm still walking around as a ghost over here. Heard something about slaying a greater demon to get my body back? Actually, wait... I noticed the main gate's archstone was already in place, meaning someone must've... ohhh, was that you?" she said, all the pieces falling into place in her head.
"Ah, of course that's what you meant. It would do you well to be more clear... yes, I've slain that pitiful Phalanx. A pale excuse for a greater demon, honestly. The dogs gave me more trouble." he'd recall his earlier battle. "...but yes, defeating it was exactly what it took to restore my body anew."
Crossing her arms and nodding at him with a smile, Claudia said, "Well, then it looks like you're helping me find another greater demon to take down. Once I'm back in the flesh, we'll head back to the Nexus and see if we can't turn all these souls into some real power. You did say you wanted to get better, right? Then let's get to it." she'd extend her arm for a handshake, which Elijah met with his own palm, firm in its grip. She'd peer off into the devouring darkness of the soldier's quarters and continue forth, motioning over to him with a reassuring smile. "C'mon, magician hero. Not sure why, but I feel like this is the start of somethin' beautiful."
With the guard dogs put down for the time being, the dingy corridor was far easier to proceed through. Never ones to fall complacent, the heroes kept their guards up, dispatching the last few Dreglings and bowmen that attempted to ambush them in the inky darkness as they advanced. Sure enough, the underground pass lead straight out to the second tower, clearing a significant stretch of the Lord's Path unsinged. However, just as they were about to return to the surface, an unusual sight caught their eye simultaneously. He sat squat on a stack of crates and surrounded on all sides by weaponry, entire boxes overflowing with Moon Grass, and other trinkets of wonder and intrigue. A Dregling, looking ever so slightly less emaciated than the rest, he made no attempt to fight. Instead, he'd flash a rotten grin at the duo, motioning them over. "Ah, come in, come in! It's been too long since I've had a customer!" he called out in a thickly accented, amicable tone.
Both of them were understandably at a loss for words, giving each other a shrug and a tilt of the head. He'd chuckle to himself, used to such a reaction by now. "Surprised a few of us still have our wits about us, aye? Heh! Just as surprised as me, truthfully! C'mon, at least give my wares a look-over! They may just save yer' life!" insisted the Dregling. Seeing no harm in trusting the gaunt vendor, Claudia and Elijah sheathed their weapons and began to peruse the makeshift gallery of odds and ends.
"If you say so... hey, Moon Grass! My man! I like you already. Where'd you get so much of the stuff?" asked Claudia, eager to purchase more of the potent plant. She knew her fragile soul form wouldn't last long, and she'd need plenty of reserves if taking down a greater demon was her only chance at reclaiming her physical form.
"Heh! Mostly stolen, but who's asking?" cackled the skinny merchant, more than happy to take a few meager souls as payment.
Already lighting up her latest buy, the Princess exhaled a wispy cloud and laughed along with him. "Uhh... I am. Heh."
Elijah, meanwhile, had spied something among the modest collection of armaments that piqued his interest. "Ah... have a look at this one, Princess. It appears it's never been touched." he'd say, directing her attention to a larger, heavier blade that stuck out among its shorter cousins. A claymore, its hilt adorned with an engraving of the sun, its blade pristinely polished in the purest of silvers.
"Tch. There ya go, it already has somethin' in common with you." jested Claudia in good fun. Eyeing the piece up, even she had to admire the craftsmanship.
Ignoring her dig, Elijah asked the salesman, "Excuse me, how much for that fine claymore?"
Guy didn't even make a joke about it being long and strong or anything. Thought the Princess as she watched the exchange. I totally set him up for that one, too... and it's like he's barely feelin' a thing off the Moon Grass! Man, he's just too pure for this.
"Well... I did have to risk my neck for this one, so... six thousand souls, and it's yours." offered the Dregling.
It was more than a modest amount with how hard souls were to come by for the average person here, but defeating the Phalanx left the Magician Hero with a fair number to spare. "Steep as your offer is... a fine weapon is even harder to come by than a wealth of souls... and in times like these, it's more important. Very well, you've got yourself a deal." he said with a handshake, offering the souls up.
True to his end, he'd hand the great blade over to the hero, along with a scabbard to keep it safely inside. "I get a warm feelin' sellin' weapons to folks like you. Better in your hands than in those of the dispicable knights! Slave drivers, they are... don't believe all their old lord's tales of their grand feats of heroism. Tch, worse than the demons. At least the demons don't send us to our deaths in battle, heh heh heh!" he cackled, doing his best to make light of the cruel situation. "Ah, I'm just ramblin' on now! Go on before someone finds ya. I've got to make myself scarce, but I've a deal for ya the next time we meet." he said, shooing the pair away with the promise of more useful goods. "Twas a pleasure doin' business!"
With the underground pass reaching its terminus, one final stretch of the Lord's Path was all that separated the two heroes from the palace's inner ward. After dispatching the crossbowmen with a few well-placed soul arrows, they'd spy that familiar, colorless fog emitting from the gate ahead. No doubt the doing of a greater demon, they'd have to brave its threshold to regain the princess' physical form! "It seems we're almost there..." observed Elijah, before nodding over at the trail of smoking, ashen corpses. "...however... I've a feeling this means contending with that damnable dragon again."
"That just means we're gonna have to outrun the spicy lizard. No two ways about it." she said matter-of-factly, giving her shapely legs a stretch. Listening as the vibrations in the air picked up and drew closer, she'd tell him, "It's simple, didn't you already do this once? Look, just wait for my signal... then, run for your life. Easy, right?"
Before Elijah had a chance to say anything, the deafening wingbeat and guttural roar of the drake descended upon the bridge with a bombardment of breath! "Now! Race ya!" she called out, breaking into a dead sprint hot on the trail its tail. With no option but to trust the Princess' judgment, Elijah bolted after her, his adrenaline sending his legs into overdrive! Carefully weaving in and out of the wrecked carriages and leaping over the fresh bodies, the two heroes had managed to outpace the flying demon... only to be met with a firing squad, attempting to push them back into harm's way with a volley of crossbow bolts! "Now, be a dear and help me out with the welcoming committee." she'd say, torching the first one in a single spell.
"Well, after such an invigorating exercise... I think I can manage these sad husks!" said the Magician Hero with conviction as he followed suit and incinerated the rest. Hearing the commotion outside, a pair of knights would charge them with eyes set aglow, only to be handily baked in their armor before they could close the distance. "Fine work." he'd say with a bow, before motioning over to the Inner Ward's main gate. "Now all that remains is that accursed gray fog. We'll cut right through the heart of the palace."
Relieving the deceased knights of their belongings, Claudia shot him a reassuring smile. "Ah, so you were thinking what I was thinking. I feel it. Gimme a minute to get some of the ol' magic back, then I'll have some toasted demon for dinner..." she'd say, tightening her focus to draw the Soul Arts into her being.
"Ah, I've got just what the shaman ordered." Elijah piped up, reaching into the pocket of his robes to produce small, glass bottles filled with a mixed, ground substance. "No sense wasting precious time. I've brought some fresh spice for just such an occasion."
Tilting her head in confused wonder as a few of her curls fell into her face, Claudia would ask cautiously, "...heard of the stuff... it's not, like, bad, is it? My teeth ain't gonna fall out, right? I paid extra for the gold."
"What? No, no... gods, now who's misunderstanding who? No, it's entirely medicinal, when dosed properly. A specially ground blend that restores the user's connection with the Soul Arts. That said... some users do report effects of euphoria." Elijah corrected her, pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head. "Its history is rather storied... trade of the spice is considered an act of heresy. Those that were caught... were hanged in this very palace."
"Ooh. I was a bit of a skeptic about the spice at first, but... you're a natural at upsellin' it." beamed Claudia, biting her lower lip in anticipation. "I'll take it. Just a few, though. I don't like to crossfade, you know?"
Elijah would hand over a few of the small crystalline bottles with a smile, only to have his palm pushed away. "Hang on, I'd feel bad just takin' it like that. You just dropped a lot of souls on that new toy, so this should get you back outta the red." Claudia insisted, granting him a some souls in exchange, and taking the spices only then.
"Ah, kind of you. I won't squander them, I assure you." he promised. The pair unscrewed the tops, taking in the revitalizing bouquet of the magical blend. They felt their beings surge with magic in an instant, more than enough to fell whatever awaited them beyond the fog. Claudia took one last hit of Moon Grass for good luck before parting the swirling miasma and stepping forth alongside Elijah.
Curiously, they were met with... a seemingly empty chamber, flights of stairs leading to an upper pathway on each side, and... another gate of fog. This one positively dwarfed the one they'd dispelled moments ago, nearly reaching the height of the rampart it was built into, and undulating in a dense, obscuringly dark gray. Suddenly, the silence was broken with the realization that the heroes were not alone! A sinister chuckle broke the dead silence, deep as it was sadistic! From out of the shadows on the upper path lumbered in a rotund figure, dressed to the nines and brandishing a nobleman's cane.
A better look revealed this entity to be notably overweight, his exquisite jet-black suit nearly bursting at the seams with each step. "To witness such insolence! More intruders in the great palace of Boletaria... what a loathsome bother." he decried from above, and yet his mouth remained a permanent, unflinching rictus grin under his unblinking black eyes that adorned a stark white visage. "His highness' pets must have become complacent. No matter. You'll be food for them sooner or later." his deep tone reverberated toward them.
Drawing his blade and pointing it at the obese gentleman, Elijah scowled and demanded. "What is your aim, demon?! If you intend to impede me, I will gut you where you stand!" he threatened, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
"Perhaps..." he'd say, stroking his many chins. "...unfortunately, you won't have that chance. Come, Sir Alfred!" he'd then command with a resounding tap of his cane on the cobblestone where he stood, bellowing his wicked laugh as the ground beneath the heroes shook violently in a steady rhythm of quakes. Both firmly stood their ground as their foe answered the call of his master, stepping through the other side of the dense fog to engage them! Towering before them several stories high, and clad in thick, layered platemail on every inch of its colossal form, it brandished a great lance, raw soul energy glowing at its tip! In its offhand, a its absolute wall of a greatshield sent debris scattering about as it slammed into the floor, the pair nearly losing their footing! "Ah, regrettably... old Alfred's lost most of his wits... though his brawn more than makes up for it, I would say!" he'd say with a gleeful bellow. "Now, try to refrain from leaving too much of a mess when you're crushed underfoot."
Readying a soul arrow at the tip of his wooden catalyst before the rotund man finished his sentence, Elijah shouted back up, "A poor choice of last words! Taste this!" he'd shout, firing the bolt of blue up at the grinning demon! He'd hastily trot out of the way, letting the iron behemoth's shield absorb the blow!
"A clever idea, but my wall is insurmountable, fool! Archers!" With this command, a detachment of the king's crossbowmen would make themselves known, roughly six on each side rising from behind the battlements with their weapons aimed squarely at the duo.
Now, I'll be on my way... I'm incredibly weak in the stomach, I'm afraid... I couldn't bear to witness what's about to happen to you. Farewell!" he'd taunt with a final bellowing laugh, retreating through the gray fog and leaving the heroes to deal with his gargantuan guardian!
"Alfred...? there's no way he could mean..." Claudia muttered, an old memory stirring within her mind. "This guy's nothing to us – don't let his size intimidate you. Now, Elijah... why don't cha be a sweetie and keep the tin tower busy? I'll take care of his merry men for you and..." she'd say with a drawn out sigh, "...figure something out."
Readying his newly acquired claymore, the brown-haired hero steeled himself against the titan. "If this behemoth is all that stands in our way... then I shall do my part. Have at you!" He'd shout up at the Tower Knight, readying a barrage of spells with his catalyst. The great foe matched his gesture, channeling a surge of raw soul energy into the tip of his great lance!
In the midst of torching the line of soulless archers, their dull sense of awareness betraying them against the lady's fiery assault, Claudia's eye caught the glow of the Knight's weapon! "Hey. Big guy... You listening? Shit... I hate when they make me raise my voice. Ahem... YOU, DOWN THERE! You want somethin' to shoot at, you got it!" she taunted, before turning away from the hulking mass of iron and looking over her shoulder. Bending over and giving her sizeable rear a firm smack, she'd stick her tongue out and shout, "Here's a nice, big target for ya! Come on, I don't usually lower myself like this!"
Perhaps awakening the vestiges of something long lost to time, the Tower Knight fell for the rose-haired woman's taunt, aiming his lance at her instead! Elijah seized the chance to carve through the wall of iron before him, his blade now augmented with his magic! Claudia deftly evaded the bolt of blue with little effort; the projectile itself too slow to be effective at a distance as it exploded against the sturdy rampart. She'd make a mad dash for the other side of the battlements, relieving the fallen soldiers of their moon grass along the way!
Elijah, meanwhile, was unrelenting in his aggression! The enhanced strength afforded by his restored body let him swing the hefty claymore as though it were no more than a large twig! Using the size difference to his advantage, he'd weave in and out of the Knight's harrowing jabs with his lance, sneaking in the odd hit or two with his spells and his blade! "Need I repeat myself... if this is the finest the King had to offer, then perhaps I was worried for nothing! I'll topple this iron husk, then fulfill my promise to the fat fellow!" he growled, tasting the blood in his lungs as he swung without restraint! Tensing his legs to withstand the small earthquake from each step, he'd slash at the only place he could reach – the very same armored boots that aimed to stomp him into the dust!
On the upper walkway, Claudia had finally dispatched the last of the archers, their lifeless bodies falling over the battlements and littering the floor around the Tower Knight. "...and that's the last of 'em. Now, if I can just..." she'd say to herself, sparking a flame from the tip of her silver catalyst and loosing it straight at her foe! The attack proved worthless, absorbing into the great impenetrable shield! "Damn, I can't get a clear shot at his head! Elijah, sweetie, wanna do something about that?! Gimme an opening!"
An ever-so-faint smile crept across Elijah's face as he granted his claymore a surge of soul energy. He'd noticed that upon striking the Knight's greaves, the punctured metal produced a hissing geyser of souls! "I take no greater pleasure than ousting the evil of this world! Fortunately for us, the path to victory has been made quite obvious! We'll defeat this demon using the very thing the King's guard dogs nearly did me in with!" he'd say with a burst of confidence, readying his blade over his head! "Your misguided attempts to waste my time... no, our time only fuels my resolve, demon! Now, learn your place! Wolf Fang's Binding!" he cried out, charging forth faster than the Tower Knight could comprehend! In that instant, he'd bury the entire length of his blade into the colossus' right leg, piercing through to the other side as the shrill twist of metal filled the air!
The decisive blow caused the Tower Knight to lose its footing entirely, stumbling back onto its heel! Elijah didn't think twice about making some distance as the titan came crashing down, knocking large chunks of the cobblestone floor loose as it shook the earth! Despite his evasive maneuvers, Elijah was nearly swept off of his feet by the shockwave, performing a handspring to bounce back onto his feet! "Now, I'll deliver you to-!
"W-w-wait! Don't forget to let me finish the big guy off!" Called Claudia down from above with exasperation. "I'm the one who still needs my body!"
Restraining himself, Elijah looked up at her, gesturing a thumbs-up. "I'd love nothing more than to see you smite this demon! Just be quick about it, I only make miracles every so often!" he'd say, the Tower Knight struggling to get to its feet, firmly flat on its back.
"Aww, man... he even gave his attack a cool name... can't let him upstage me in my own debut." Claudia lamented aloud, blessing her own rapier with a spiraling surge of flame and soul. "Guess I could take a crack at it. Hope ya like this one, I didn't exactly have time to think it over... here comes Princess Claudia's... Splitting Headache from Hell!" she'd shout with all her fervor, kicking off from the top of the rampart! Holding a tight grip on her blade with both hands, the pink-haired princess would plunge straight into the knight's helpless head, igniting it with one final twist of steel! Performing a graceful backflip against the resulting explosion, Claudia would join Elijah's side, just in time for the pair to watch the ensuing fireworks, the columns of fire creating a burning cross! With the last of his strength exhausted, Sir Alfred was free at last from the demons' influence, his mighty body dissolving into a brilliant blue... and his soul drifting into Claudia, who absorbed its life-affirming power without second thought!
Feeling her physical form reconstitute, she'd once again be acquainted with the pleasures of the flesh. Each layer from her bones, her viscera and organs, to her skin was restored at last. "...and just like that, I'm back. That's right, the rest of you demons should count your days. You had your one and only chance to take me out, and you blew it." she'd say with a beaming grin accentuated by her golden teeth.
Dusting himself off, Elijah pushed himself to his feet, aided by the heft of his claymore. "...a bold leap indeed, Princess." he said as he caught his breath. "For as long as I stand, the scourge shall spread its influence no longer." he declared, sheathing the great blade on his back and dusting his hands.
Even in the face of victory, Claudia looked up at the clouded skies and sighed wistfully to herself. "...Sir Alfred... you couldn't." she'd say under her breath, wondering just how many had already fallen to the scourge.
"Something the matter?" asked the Magician Hero, expecting a bit more grandstanding from the pink-haired princess.
She'd shake her head and tell him, "Not at all. Just, uhh... looks like we can't get through the fog just yet. It's... too thick." she'd say, brushing her curly locks away from her face. "Let's head on back. We've earned a little rest." she'd say plainly.
Even with the defeat of the fearsome Tower Knight, the fog before them did not waver. As much as the pair would've loved to ride the high of victory and proceed, their eyes shifted instead toward the archstone that had just manifested before them. An oasis in the desert, a conduit for the weary pair to return to the Nexus and collect themselves, to plan out their next move to eliminate the scourge. They'd take the free ride home without second thought.
Greeted with the comforting warmth of the maiden's temple, the two heroes took their time to unwind and process all that had just transpired. Taking a seat alongside each other at the king's Archstone, they'd relax for a moment and take inventory. Claudia, already lighting up another bundle of moon grass, put her arm over Elijah's shoulder. Whatever worries she had before quickly melted away against the smoky haze that she immersed herself in. "So, like... we're pretty much unstoppable together. How 'bout we make this a regular thing, my guy?"
Too weary from battle to reject her touchy gesture, Elijah resigned himself to and and looked her way, raising an eyebrow. "...Indeed, it appears our goals are one and the same. I suppose you're... tolerable enough to work with. We've accomplished far more than we could alone, and, well... I like the contrast between us. A life like this needs a bit of spice, wouldn't you say?"
She'd nod toward him with a wide grin, flashing her gilded teeth against the warm light of the Nexus. "Now you're starting to see things my way. Wasn't looking forward to taking this whole thing on my myself... but now I'm kind of excited." Claudia beamed. "Yeah, I think this is the start of something great between us."
His eyes widening, he'd look away from her and grit his teeth, "Now, when you word it like that... I can't just-" he'd begin to say before a familiar voice cut their conversation short.
"...Ah, so you have returned? Then perhaps my faith in you was not for naught." spoke the Maiden in Black, having appeared to the pair with little fanfare, the faint vestige of a smile adoring her wrapped face.
"...Not for whuh?" Claudia mused, blowing a stream of smoke to her side.
Gesturing toward the long, winding staircase the lead to the inner chambers of the Nexus, the Maiden beckoned them forth. "Come, the Monumental awaits thee above. They will tell you of the true nature of your presence here. Let us shed some light on your fate, slayers of demons... so that the world might be mended."