Resa
RL85 - 28 VIG - 23 MND - 12 END - 12 STR - 35 DEX - 9 INT - 36 FTH - 9 ARC
Resa
Where was I supposed to go? I had so many questions now, after seeing presumably Ranni's body at the top of the tower…but then I also had the random scraps I'd found on my way here. Scraps that weren't for me…which meant I needed some place to put them.
I paused for a second, letting myself actually linger on a thought of Flynn for a second while I planned my next move. I could be…petty. Stash these somewhere he'd never hope to find them, and only tell him about them if he came and found me. Part of me strongly considered it, but then another thought hit my head - how would he find me? I wasn't going to be in the tower anymore. He'd need some place to look, some place we'd both travel, and put the word out that he was looking for me.
There was only one clear option - the Roundtable. Beyond it being a communal area, we'd also left gear with Hewg before - Flynn still had his shield there for repairs, as it was. My brother would be coming back there soon to retrieve it, I was sure.
Still, I hesitated - he didn't deserve any of this, not yet. It was my effort that had gathered everything, not his…so why did he deserve me simply handing it over to him? Several rational answers flitted through my mind, but I tried to stifle each one in turn.
I couldn't…as much as I wanted to, I couldn't. He was my brother - a stupid, selfish, incorrigible brother, but still mine. Maybe he didn't deserve everything I was about to hand over, but I still cared about him enough to do so anyways. Maybe he'd already be sitting there in the Hold, waiting for me to tell me how lonely it was on his own. I doubted that, but…I could dream.
I whisked myself back to the Hold at the nearby grace, moving through the halls. Flynn was nowhere to be seen - I didn't want to linger here any longer than I had to then, lest he show up and our feud reignite. I walked past Roderika - if I had the time I'd have poured some glovewort into the tear ash that I found, but I wanted to keep things brief. I approached Hewg, the blacksmith idly working away at a piece of equipment.
"Has my brother come by anytime recently? Flynn?"
The blacksmith stopped hammering, looking at me. "Flynn…Flynn, that name's familiar. Yeah, he dropped off this shield for repairs not too long ago, I think. Why, you looking for him?"
I was a bit surprised Flynn hadn't made his way back here yet - it had been a while, and I knew he wanted that shield. Maybe he was still stuck in that precipice with Tragoth…gods knew what those two oafs would get up to together. "Just leaving some things for him when he comes for that shield. Just tell him it's from his sister." I pulled out the staff, the amulet, and the scroll, offering the lot of them to Hewg.
"Ahh…my memory's been slipping recently, but I'll try to remember." Hewg took the collection, finding Flynn's now-repaired shield amidst the piles of weapons and setting them nearby.
I shook my head. "If you forget, that's fine…he'll probably know anyway."
"Well that's a relief. Alright, anything else I can do you for?"
Again, I shook my head. "No, just the one thing. Thanks, Hewg."
"Well then safe travels out there."
As I turned to leave, I again looked at Roderika…it couldn't hurt to stop by. I still had the bell…best to make full use of it while I was on my own. I sat down in front of her, the woman looking up from a book to notice me. "Oh Resa, it's so good to see you again. Are you here for more spirit tuning?"
I nodded, pulling out the strange ash we'd found deep within Nokron. "I am…I found this in our travels, it's quite a unique and useful spirit. It can turn into…well, me."
Roderika's eyes widened at that. "Well then, we'd best make sure that it's as strong as the real you. Hand it here, and I'll perform the ritual. By the way, where's Flynn? Normally he goes to visit Hewg, but I didn't see him this time."
I sighed, pulling what glovewort I had and handing it over along with the urn. "He's…being frustrating right now, so we've split up for the time being. I'm sure it won't be for long."
"Well that's a shame…you two work so well together. I'm sure wherever he is, he misses you as much as you do him." Those were the final words before Roderika began focusing on the ritual, leaving me only to my thoughts. If he missed me as much as I did him then…maybe we wouldn't be getting back together for a while.
I waited in silence as Roderika finished the ritual, the urn buzzing with fresh energy. "All good to go. Stay safe out there, Resa…without your brother and that big shield of his around, I'm sure it's tough."
"Thanks Roderika…and yeah, I'm managing alright for now." I didn't want to think about how many times I wished I'd had that shield in front of me while climbing the tower - I survived, and that was all that mattered. It was time for me to leave here…to go find Ranni and hope that I could get some answers. Again, I whisked myself away, traveling through the aether and back to Liurnia, specifically Ranni's Rise.
As soon as I materialized, the Rise felt different…hollow, lacking, empty. I made my way back up, taking the elevator and rounding the staircase back to the uppermost chamber. When I arrived, there was no Ranni, nor Blaidd…just a simple empty chamber, a small chair on the other side now without an occupant.
That was okay…she just have gone somewhere, and I just needed to figure out where that was. She'd indicated last time that she had plans for Blaidd, so I doubted he was available. There was Seluvis…I wiped that thought away about as soon as I conjured it. Perhaps she'd told Iji where she was going? It was worth checking at a minimum. That meant jaunting from grace to grace again.
When I arrived, Iji was in a similar state as Hewg, hunched over and working on his most recent piece of weaponry. This time though, the giant blacksmith stopped his work immediately, a veiled face looking my way. "Good day, Resa, you look a bit rushed. Something on your mind?"
"Well…I had a question for Ranni, but I couldn't find any trace of her at her tower. Any chance she told you where she went?"
"Ahh…indeed she did. She said she'd be walking the path of the…Dark Empyrean, as she put it. The Lady departed from Renna's Rise, the third of the Three Sisters. If you're seeking her, that'd be the place to start."
"Okay, that's…clear and direct, that should help. Was there anything else?"
A hearty chuckle roared from behind that mirrored mask. "She said that none of this would be possible without you, specifically - not even your brother was mentioned. She said that you've shown yourself as a true and loyal champion for her cause. From me to you - that's quite the honor to hear from the Lady herself."
My chest filled with pride, hearing that…but also curiosity, doubt. Why not Flynn? He had been there too…he'd even been the one to lift the lid on the blade. Was it because he hadn't told the full truth about the incident with the chest when we debriefed at her chamber? I wasn't sure…but all that mattered was that I was recognized for what I did. She knew that she could trust me…and I was sure I wouldn't let that trust be misplaced. "That's very good to hear, Iji. I'll go look for her at Renna's Rise."
"Do be safe out there, Resa. Wherever the Lady goes, it is rife with danger. If you manage to catch up to Lady Ranni, do try to keep her safe as well."
"You have my word, Iji. I'll do everything I can."
"Best of luck, champion." My chest puffed up a little hearing that word again, but I had to be on my way.
I once again whisked myself back to Ranni's Rise, but this time I went down instead of up. Once I was outside I summoned forth Torrent, riding across the rolling landscape of the Three Sisters as I made my way towards Renna's Rise. I remembered that a seal had been placed upon it when we first came here, blocking our way - we hadn't exactly crossed by it since then to know whether it had ever been unsealed.
It was unsealed this time, however - I dismounted Torrent as I approached, continuing my way on foot. Up a ladder, back outside, and then up the staircase that wrapped around the tower, I made my way towards the uppermost chamber. Normally, there was a Memory Stone there - but this time, there was a waygate. I didn't hesitate - I didn't care where this might have taken me, I knew that I was hot on Ranni's trail and that I couldn't afford to delay. I stepped right on through, my word momentarily going fuzzy as I once again traveled through the aether.
When I arrived, I first noticed the temperature - it was cool and damp, not unlike the time we'd spent in Nokron. In fact - I looked up to the sky, seeing only a tall cavern wall high above - perhaps I was closer to Nokron than I thought. I looked around, seeing a multi-tiered waterfall behind me, pouring into a river that flowed right beneath me. This didn't seem like the Siofra river - it was much too small for that, unless this was far, far upstream. That meant that this was likely the Ainsel river…but that meant that I was across the continent from Nokron. Why?
I looked around, still getting my bearings. Much like our first time in Ainsel, multiple stone coffins were strewn about, haphazardly for reasons unknown and untold. I went around, looking for some clue or hint as to why I was here, or if I was actually following Ranni's footsteps. What I found…well, it couldn't have been a clearer sign I was going in the right direction.
It was Ranni…sort of. It was Ranni if she was the size of a children's doll, garbed in her usual floppy hat and white dress. Even more interesting was the fact that it even had Ranni's illusory half-face exactly where it ought to be, showing that this recreation of her was extremely lifelike. Was it even a recreation? I'd just seen Ranni's original body…I was fully aware that she was capable of inhabiting other forms if she so wished. Why would she transpose herself into something like this though?
"Ranni is that you?" I whispered at the doll, looking around. Nobody else was here, but I did see a grace not but a few steps away. That'd be a good time to investigate this strange occurrence further. I walked over and set it alight, taking a seat while I continued to look at the doll.
"Ranni…it's me, Resa. Iji told me you went here, so I did. Can you…hear me?"
Again, there was no response. Maybe it was just a doll, but that left so many more questions to be answered. No…no, it had to be her. I'd been up the tower, I'd gotten some questions answered and even more unanswered, I'd found Iji, I'd been led here…I was meant to find this. It had to be important, not just some silly doll.
"Ranni…please, I want to know what you need me to do next."
"Isn't thou too old to be playing with dolls?" Finally, she spoke…and the doll was well and truly her. I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that my faith hadn't been unfounded.
"It's not that, I just - "
"I had hoped that this guise would allow me to travel unnoticed, but thou'st too keen. What sayest in thou'st defense."
I was a little surprised at the slight hostility that Ranni was showing…hadn't she led me here? "I…I followed you through the portal. I had questions about what was at the top of the tower. Was that you? What was that strange scar on your back? I just wanted to ask you some questions, that's all."
The little doll's brow furrowed, an expression that might be imposing if she weren't so compact. As it was, it was…well, a little cute, honestly. "Hmm…thou'st possess a curious mind. Very well. Thou may'st bring me with thee, and I will answer thine questions in time. In recompense, I demand a favor."
"I'll…whatever you want, Ranni. I don't intend to turn back now."
"Good, good…yes, thou'rt a fine champion. Eliminate the wretched shadow that prowls these lands, in an act of defiance against the Two Fingers. Doest that for thee, and tho whilst have all the answers you wishes."
An act of defiance against the Two Fingers…those were powerful words, but not ones I was wholly afraid of. I'd planted my flag long, long ago, striking down the strange plant-like creatures guarding the smaller Erdtrees. Whatever the Two Fingers were doing to this land…well, it wasn't for the better. "Okay, Ranni…I can do that. Where do I go?"
"The shadows roam these lands…I can't sayest for certain when and where thou whilst confront it. Keep searching - I will alert you when thou ought be prepared."
Easy enough, I suppose…not much direction, but it meant I got to explore more of the underground. I couldn't afford to pick too many difficult fights - I was still down my katana, lost somewhere to the Carian tower. I held my rapier in one hand and my seal in the other, leaving Kenneth's dagger tucked away in its sheath. Hopefully it would be enough to get me through this leg of my journey.
I looked ahead, starting down the long corridor I'd appeared in. I could see some movement ahead, some of the clay humanoids wandering about like we'd seen elsewhere in the Ainsel well. However, there was something else lurking deeper, surrounded in a crumbling wall of ruins. I'd seen it before - once. Its body was like glassy marbles strung together, leading to the visage of a skull with a glowing blue eye emerging from the forehead. Two wicked pincers emerged from the sides of the mouth, giving it a distinctly insectile appearance. The first one of these I'd seen in Ainsel seemed capable of conjuring rocks from the sky and hurtling them towards me…it certainly wasn't a fight I wanted to take on my own.
However, I wasn't alone…I had a whole host of allies at my disposal, and I simply needed to find the right one. Thankfully, the corridor was long and straight…a perfect set up for an archer. I fetched Latenna's urn from my belt, holding it up as I softly rang the bell. The Albinauric archer emerged forth, the glistening silver spirit coming to rest nearby.
"It has been some time, Resa. To what end can I aid you now?"
"That creature, hanging from the ceiling…do you have a clear shot on it?"
Latenna nodded, already nocking an arrow onto her bowstring. "I do. I should have no trouble striking it from here. Is that all you require of me?"
I nodded, readying myself for a fight. "I'll keep it distracted and not looking your way. Thank you, Latenna.
"I am happy to help, Resa. Now, and always." With that, the first of many arrows were let loose, flying through the air towards the creature. I chased after them, readying myself to strike through an army of claymen on my way.
Thankfully, the claymen were slow - I'd learned that last time I was here. Unfortunately, I was alone - and they certainly weren't. With Latenna's focus on the strange insectile skull, I had to contend with all of them at once. I relied mostly on my incantations, conjuring patches of frozen lightning to strike them down as they formed into clumps. Once they'd been whittled down to lesser numbers, I focused on the individuals with my rapier. The thrusts and jabs weren't highly effective against the clay flesh, but it did the job…eventually.
All the while, rocks were hurtling from the sky as the bizarre creature turned my direction, launching volley after volley of rocks at me. I was constantly docking and dodging behind the various crumbling walls to seek cover, waiting until I heard the barrage come to an end before emerging once more. Latenna's counterbarrage never ceased, however - and in due time, soon the strange thing fell. As it did, the spirit faded away, her job complete.
I looked around, assessing next steps now that the room was empty. There were two towering statues to my right, depicting the same visage of a robed and bearded man that I'd seen many times before. There was a noticeable archway between the two statues, and a brief glance at the flow of the river showed that that was further downstream. I knew what was at the end of the stream - the cavern where I fought that strange dragon. However, I still didn't know where I was quite yet - perhaps following the stream would help me get my bearings.
I passed through the archway, and then another, starting down a tunnel that slanted downwards, the river picking up speed along with it. I placed my steps carefully, trying not to get caught in the current. Down and down I went, seeing a brief hint of illumination from an opening at the bottom. Slow and steady…slow and steady.
I saw a rustle of movement along the ceiling, a fair bit ahead of me. My eyes glanced up, seeing a red-and-white striped thorax first, a pair of dark pincers second. Instinct took over as I turned back, taking one long step away - but that single footfall was the first not to find purchase on the slick riverbed, and down I went. The current caught me and carried me away, sliding down and down and down as my heart beat and thumped in my chest…ants. Why did it have to be ants? I passed under one as I was flailing around, trying to find any sort of purchase to get myself back on my feet. I passed by another, trying to wedge my rapier somewhere but finding nothing.
I eventually came to a stop much, much further down the river. I scrambled to my feet, getting my bearings. Both the ants from the tunnel had dropped from the ceiling and were charging towards me. I spun around, seeking for a place to run, but only saw the visage of two more ants - each of these sporting a pair of wings. I looked for a third and final angle, continuing on down the river. I didn't think, I didn't consider - I just ran, loud splashes as I ran for my life away from the hive. I fell again, the riverbed sloping down once more as I tumbled along with it down another tunnel.
I kept slipping and sliding until I hit solid land, the feeling of worked stone supporting my head. Again I stood up and brushed myself off - the ants had started to pursue me, but had turned back to their nest after seeing me run as far as I did. I was…I wouldn't call it safe, but I was alive. I was also cold - cold and shivering, my clothes entirely soaked through thanks to my duet of tumbles. They weren't going to dry off either, not in this environment…I was going to have to prepare for a frigid and uncomfortable trek.
I turned around, looking at where I'd fallen. It was another dam, or something of the sort, but an open doorway showed a singular path through to the other side. I stepped through, immediately noticing a building on the other side - a building much like what I'd seen in Nokron. I continued, passing through a short breezeway until exiting through another door on the far side - and there, I got a view of just what exactly was down here.
Multiple buildings stretched up and from the ground, largely supported on tall pillars that suggested that the water level changed drastically. For now, it was low - I could see most of the ground, only a small stream pouring through at this point. I pulled out my map, again trying to get my bearings - I'd been following a river for quite a while now, and yet nothing looked similar to where I'd been the first time I was here. There was another river on the map, a good bit north of where we'd been the first time. It even led to a large, open chamber with several buildings drawn on the map - that had to have been this one, by the looks of it. Based on the map, it looked like the buildings were in three groupings, each one connected by bridge. I looked up from the map - I could see two groupings from where I was, the third hidden much further back.
I took a few steps forward, leaping from one platform to another, and then onto the ground. There was a grace just a bit ahead of me - perhaps I wouldn't spend the time to completely dry off, but a chance to just recover wouldn't hurt. I walked over, sitting down.
"I didn't know that mine champion feared insects. Dost thou still possess the strength to continue?"
I reached for the little Ranni doll I'd secured to my belt, setting it across the grace from me, propped up in front of a brick. "I…of course, my Lady. They're behind me now…I can keep going."
"Very well then. Thou mayest ask me a question, if thou wishest."
I paused, thinking…I had quite a few, but it was best to start with the obvious one. "Was that your body at the top of the tower?"
"Hmph." The little doll folded both sets of arms across its chest, not amused. "Thou asketh simple questions, so I will grant thee one more. Yes…it was."
"Why was it there?"
"That, mine champion, is a better question. I was born an Empyrean, one destined by theTwo Finger to succeed Queen Marika. There are two more in these lands - Miquella, and Malenia. I would not bend to the will of the Two Fingers…I did not wishest to be Queen. I rended mine own Empyrean flesh atop the Divine Tower with the Rune of Death, casting it away as a sign of my free will, and with great care forged a new body for mineself. The Two Fingers and I have fought ever since. They knowest of mine plans now - the Shadows are their hunters, their killers. They seekest to put an end to mine plot."
I took all of that in - she refused to be a slave to the Two Fingers so much that she was willing to die for it…I didn't know if I would have the strength to make that same decision, if I was in her position. "That's…so the dagger you asked us to acquire in Nokron, was that the dagger you used to…to - "
"I fear that answer will have to wait, mine champion. We are being hunted, you and I. Time is precious. Traverse along the ground, if thou wishest for a quick escape - or explore the hidden city of Nokstella if thou possesseth unquenchable curiosity."
I nodded, understanding her urgency. I stood up, tucking Ranni away for the time being. "If we have the time, I'd like to explore what's here…see what secrets have been lost to time."
I walked towards the closest staircase, noting more ants skittering across the ground - ants with riders in the form of Noxian warriors…I shuddered. The skittery creatures on their own were bad enough, but tamed...I didn't intend to find out how much more threatening they were when tamed.
Up I went, immediately coming face-to-face with a Noxian warrior, thankfully on their own two feet, not an ant's six. We squared off, bending blade against rapier. Even though I wasn't quite comfortable with this weapon, I knew from experience that the Nox weren't good with cramped quarters - they liked long, leaping dodges out of the way. I played to that weakness, forcing it to try and dodge where it had no room to, unsettling its rhythm and capitalizing on it. It feel quick enough, letting me continue on.
Next, a pack of tears, though there was something…different about these. They were brimming with lightning, arcing across their metallic bodies in crackles and pulses. The previous ones we'd encountered had been highly, highly susceptible to lightning…I could only wonder if these had been made somehow more resilient, or if they were at their breaking point. Only one way to find out.
I formed a lightning bolt in my hand, hurling it at the nearest one. What ensued was a chain reaction of explosions, each tear rupturing in a blast of electricity that would kill another nearby one, repeating the cycle. What had once been a horde of six or seven had now been reduced to nothing with the casting of a single incantation - a single, basic, incantation. I smiled, holding my seal closer…I was going to be fine.
I continued on, passing through an arched breezeway and up another staircase, a large building extending up on my left. To my right, a long bridge that connected me to the second set of buildings. I ignored it for now, instead walking forward towards a railing just a little bit ahead. I'd remembered something about my fight with that strange dragon during my first time in Ainsel…and I just had to be certain of where I was.
I looked over the railing, looking down, and there, extending high up from the ground below, was a massive skeleton sitting atop a stone throne. I'd fought it down there, uncovering the secret of iced lightning as my prize. I wondered if I'd find anything more like that during my venture down here…it was certainly an interesting phenomenon, one I hadn't encountered before in my homeland.
I turned back around, heading towards the bridge. At the center of it was a large metal ball, again similar to what I'd seen in Nokron. Rather than trying to mask its true nature, it was actually rolling around from end to end, as if on patrol. I sighed…a large, powerful weapon like Blaidd's sword would be perfect here to bat it around and out of the way, far better than my rapier. I'd have to just be agile…I didn't see an easy way to take this thing down. I trailed the orb from a safe distance, letting it roll back to the other side of the bridge and in fact beyond, towards a staircase on the other side. There was a decent-sized walkway that connected the two structures - I started to move closer as I approached it, hoping that I could use the extra space there to slip past the orb.
Right as it was about to ascend the stairs was when it finally noticed me, stopping in its tracks and pivoting around. Why, I wasn't sure…perhaps there was some sentient presence within it that had a concept of a "front". Either way, it charged at me - and when it did I hurled myself to the side, just narrowly avoiding being flattened. I scrambled back to my feet and started up the stairs, moving as fast as I could while it recovered from careening into the railing, getting as much distance as I could.
Up I went, hearing the thundering sounds of the sphere crashing into a wall behind me, then proceeding to roll up the stairs with surprising alacrity - for a sphere, at least. I ran around a corner and continued up, the sphere getting closer and closer behind me. At the top, I saw a doorway - one that I hoped would be too small for the sphere to fit into. I ran through and immediately pivoted around to hide behind a wall, a hair's breadth of time before I heard the sphere slam into the doorway, unable to get through.
I exhaled, catching my breath…that was close. I looked at where I was, seeing a large collection of tears at the opposite corner of the room. Again, a single lightning bolt was all it took as a cascading eruption of lightning caught them by surprise…it would buy me a bit of time to continue catching my -
I watched as three more slimes dropped to the floor, falling from above. My eyes looked up, seeing yet another sphere hanging from the ceiling, silent but waiting. I shook my head…trying to sneak past it was out the window after I'd just done that. My only option would be to outrun it. Thankfully, there was another doorway on the opposite side of the building I now found myself in. So long as this sphere wasn't much smaller than the previous one…I ought to be fine.
I began sprinting right as the sphere started falling to the ground, almost about to crush me if I hadn't sidestepped in time. It started rolling past me as I slipped through the doors, once again thudding helplessly against the opening, just large enough that it couldn't fit through.
I looked ahead, seeing another long bridge ahead of me. That meant that I was close to the third and final buildings - although a quick glance ahead showed that it was just one lone structure, one with vaulting floors that extended high enough that they melded to the cavern ceiling overhead. If there was anything of value and interest to find within Nokstella…it would be here.
I walked forward ascending a long staircase past the bridge that led up to the one and only entrance to this building, an elaborate archway that almost beckoned me inside. As I continued on, I saw but a single Noxian warrior…that, and two tears. I knew from experience that that could mean anything, from a simple roadblock that a lightning spear could solve, to a towering troll that took four people to fell last time. Given that I was at the end of the road…I could only presume the latter.
However, I wasn't alone…not truly, anyways. As I walked forward I reached for the urn containing the tear, freshly empowered thanks to Roderika's tuning. I'd found plenty of hearty and hale glovewort down here as well…I'd have to visit her again sometime soon. I called forth the spirit as I entered the building, watching as the two tears ahead of me also faded from view in a cloud of smoke, rising shortly thereafter as the gray-skinned warriors I'd expected. One wielded a greatshield and spear, while the other hefted up a greatsword - and behind them was the Noxian warrior with their whiplike blade. Next to me was my own tear, now inhabiting my form. It was two against three - an uphill battle, but not impossible.
My tear and I were of the same mind, forming a lightning bolt in our hands as we each launched them towards the greatsword-wielder. It dove to the side, but didn't manage to avoid both of them. As it ran forward, I strafed backwards, trying to keep my distance. Still, I pelted it with Needles from afar, slowly trying to whittle it down. My tear, however, had no such reservations. It came running up to the side, rapier forward as it made a fierce hit against the other tear's exposed flank, wedging the blade deep before pulling it back out. That attack was interrupted by a charging strike from the greatshield-bearer, massive shield slamming into my tear with enough force to knock it to the ground, an act followed up by a plunging strike from the greatshield…we were outnumbered.
I looked back…no, we actually weren't. The Noxian seemed content to simply stand and observe, not involving itself in the quarrel just yet. Well then…why were we struggling? Perhaps that was what made these two tears special - they were better trained for battle, rather than the rather rudimentary and often reckless maneuvers of the ones in Nokron. At a minimum, they seemed to know how to fight as a pair, following up on each other's strikes and making openings the other could capitalize on. In comparison, my tear and I just…fought. I didn't know how to synergize with myself, and now wasn't the time to try and figure that out. We just had to be better than them…I steeled my resolve, coming in for another round of attacks.
I rolled to the side as I was about to be struck by a greatshield, popping back up as I circled around for a quick lunge and a jab, striking at its vulnerable back. I only managed the one though before it turned around, that towering greatshield blocking all of my angles of approach. I stepped back a few paces, my tear corralling the greatsword-wielder as I held my seal aloft, calling forth a bolt of lightning from the sky that struck behind the shield, and at the wearer. I smiled, calling another, and another, again whittling down my opponent. It recognized the urgency and started to rush me, coming in what I thought was going to be another shield bash, but instead it stopped just shy, plunging its spear into my chest. A wave of nausea hit me from the wound, and I stepped back as it retracted its spear, moving to heal myself.
However, I didn't need to…my spirit was already one step ahead of me, restoring my vigor from afar while it danced and avoided thundering swings from a greatsword. I gave it a nod and a silent thanks, focusing back on my own opponent. It kept close to me now, knowing that I had multiple ways of tearing it down from a distance. I made a feint with my seal, holding it up from just a few feet away from it, acting as if I was going to summon another bolt. It fell for it, charging forward with an exaggerated lunge that I sidestepped, tagging it on the back just once again before resetting.
We kept at it, my reserves draining more and more the further we went. Staying alive wasn't the issue - my spirit tended to my wounds, and I hers - but that meant that both of our magics were draining further and further, forcing us to have to close out this fight quickly. I formed a lightning spear in my hands, acting like I was going to throw it at the greatshield before whipping around, sending it careening into the greatsword-wielder on the other side of the chamber. That caught it by surprise, giving my tear the chance it needed to rush in for a flurry of fast, aggressive strikes. Right as her opponent was about to recover she stepped back, sending another lightning spear hurtling at it. That was finally the tipping point, that final spear knocking the greatsword-wielder to one knee and then the other, fading into ash shortly thereafter.
From there, the greatshield-bearer stood no chance. In a one-on-one fight, that shield could protect - but with a second combatant involved, it couldn't hope to control every angle. It was a slow task of taking it down, but a safe one - it soon fell, leaving only the Noxian left.
It seemed…surprised? Perturbed? I couldn't find the exact right word for it, but as both my tear and I came walking towards it, it lashed out with its blade angrily, trying to keep us from…something. It was then that I noticed a large throne at the back of the room - without the massive skeleton atop it it was almost unrecognizable, but I could distinctly pick out the high back the arm rests…all of it. Like all of the other thrones we'd seen, this one had an arched entrance with a chest behind it…that was clearly what the Noxian was guarding, now recognizing that it was the last line of defense.
Unfortunately for it…it simply wasn't enough. I'd grown accustomed to fighting these, and now I had an ally that further trivialized the matter. Lightning and rapier intertwined to corral the Noxian into the corner, and then we simply overwhelmed it. It felt cheap, taking it down like this…but it had had all the chances it needed to strike us while we were occupied with the tears, and it didn't. It was overconfidence, plain and simple…and it'd been punished for that.
With no other enemies left in sight, I looked back at my spirit, giving it an approving nod. "I'll call upon you again when I need you. Until then…farewell." The spirit was already fading away as I spoke the words, once again leaving me alone in the now-silent room.
I turned my attention to the throne - I'd come all this way to find just what this was, and now it was time for the big reveal. I stepped under the throne, placing both my hands on the underside of the lid. As I pulled up, I felt a twinge of resistance - I felt a spike of fear go down my spine at the thought that I would have the same problem that Blaidd did - but another firm pull started to lift the lid.
Inside was…an amulet. It was circular, with numerous glittering gemstones around the outer rim that sparkled and twinkled in the dim light. The center of it was a smooth, cold material, one that I couldn't tell was metal or stone. It was simple, but elegant - and even by holding it, I knew what it was capable of imparting. It was the same feeling as holding a Memory Stone - the opening up of the mind, the expanding of magical potential. The ability to retain more incantations at once…it was an incredibly useful thing to have at my disposal. However…did I even have anything else I needed to learn?
I shuffled through the incantations that I'd picked up. A way to heal, a way to empower a weapon that I currently didn't have, and a couple ways to manipulate lightning. I hadn't found many on my journey - sure, Corhyn had a few odds and ends back at the Hold, but they didn't suit me. What else was -
My eyes fell on two sheafs of paper, ones I hadn't looked at in a long time. The Aspects of the Crucible - Horns, and Tail. Before, I'd written them off as things perhaps…it'd been so long since Flynn had even entered my thoughts, but I had no choice now. I'd written them off as things he might wish to learn, back when he was beginning to study incantations. However, that interest had been overtaken by a focus on sorceries instead - and even if it hadn't, he wasn't here anymore. I'd gone through Nokstella on my own, I'd acquired this strange amulet…I should get to benefit from it however I wished.
To do that, though, I needed to get back to a grace - that meant the long walk back. I started out in a brisk job, meandering my way back across the long bridges and through the buildings of Nokstella. The spheres that I'd ran past on the way in didn't give me much trouble - I'd evaded them once, I could do so again. Eventually, I started down the staircase I'd initially come up, sitting back down at the grace. I set Ranni down on a brick once more, giving her a break from hanging at my hip.
I unclipped the cute little turtle talisman I'd had hanging at my waist all this time, putting the Nokstellan amulet there in its place. I felt that connection and expansion of my mind - and I set the two Crucible Aspects down in front of me, beginning to understand.
"Thou art a most capable warrior, mine champion. Blaidd delivered a glowing report, but to see it with mine own eyes…it is quite pleasing."
I looked up to see Ranni again animated, not just an idle doll at my hip. "I've been fighting for…nearly as long as I can remember at this point. What to do comes naturally at this point. I only hope that it is enough to fend off the shadows that you require."
"I am certain of it, mine champion. You did well to acquire the Moon of Nokstella - it is a rare artefact, one I know you shall use to great success."
The Moon of Nokstella…looking again at the surface in the center, I could see why it was called that. "How would they know what the moon was, down here? They never could have seen it, could they?"
"The study of all sorceries extends from the celestial bodies, the moon being prominent among their members. That is not an answer I can speak to with certainty, champion…but the civilizations beneath thine feet know much of our world on the surface."
I continued studying the two incantations, seeing their applications. They would be incredibly useful in close range, a place I frequently found myself. A thrusting shoulder or a whipping tail might be all I need to fend off an approaching enemy - I should have studied these earlier. "As a sorcerer yourself, what do you look towards to study?"
"I also look to the moon - but to a darker, colder moon than my peers. It is there that I wish to set up a new order…but we have spent enough time chatting again, mine champion. Are you ready to proceed?"
I nodded, rolling up the incantations. They would take some practice to get the hang of…but I could do it. "Yeah. You said that going along the ground was the way out, right?"
"Indeed."
I picked up Ranni, and we were once again on our way. I stayed along the walls of Nokstella, steering clear of the riverway in the middle that was crawling with Noxians - and worse, ants. A short ways in I actually found another staircase, one that led up to a singular building guarded by a lone Noxian. I dispatched it, walking inside to find a single chest that contained a very, very aged glovewort - perhaps not too shy of the large, bulbed one that I'd found under the throne rooms in the past.
I kept going, throwing a lightning spear at a large clutch of tears that impeded the way, letting the chain reaction clean out the lot of them before I continued on. There were even more tears up ahead, in small packs that I was able to navigate around, drawing me closer and closer towards the riverbed as I went.
I rounded a corner, spotting a large building a good ways in the distance, almost assuredly the way forward. However, directly between it and me was an ant-riding Noxian, another not far out of the way. The ant turned to stare straight at me, eyes boring into my soul - and once again, I broke out into a sprint. My mind screamed at the thought of running towards the vile creature, but I knew that it was only so that I could run away from it afterwards. I slid out of the way as the Noxian leaned forward, cracking its whiplike blade at me as I approached. I got back to my feet, continuing to run…and not looking back until I had run through the open doors of the building and thrown myself onto the elevator inside.
"Such a peculiar fear. You have slayed far more mighty foes, and yet it is an ant that gives you trepidation, mine champion?"
"I…" I fumbled for words, knowing that yes…it was irrational. "I'm not sure. Is it a concern, Lady Ranni?"
"No…you will not encounter any more on this journey, lest the land has shifted since I last walked these tunnels mineself. It is merely curious, nothing more. Fret not, mine champion…it will take more than an aversion to insects to lose mine favor."
"I…that's reassuring, at least." The elevator finally came to a stop, much, much lower than where it'd started. Ahead of me was a grace, and beyond it a tunnel…a tunnel entrance that was absolutely covered from top to bottom in insect eggs. The sight alone made my eyes water and my throat retch…but then I realized that no, that was something else. A smell, most putrid and foul, was coming from deep, deep within that tunnel. I'd observed it before, the last time I'd been in Ainsel…a sea of putrid rot, possibly the same rot that had infested Caelid. I hoped that we were merely close, and that my journey wouldn't take me towards it.
"So…about the lands shifting…were all those eggs there before?"
"Fret not, dear Resa…they will not harm you. Take a rest by the grace, and steel thineself. I sense that that the shadows are approaching, and there exists little time left for worry our doubt."
I nodded, taking the few requisite steps towards the grace and sitting down. There were no bricks here, but there was a shattered urn not far away. I pulled it over and then unfastened Ranni, giving her something to lean against.
"This shadow…what should I expect?"
"A hunter, a wolf. Just as Blaidd is mine Shadow, the Two Fingers have their own shadows, lupine warriors the lot. The creature you observe might remind you of Blaidd, but rest assured that it is not."
I hadn't pieced together Blaidd's status as a shadow with the shadow I was tracking until now…it was good that Ranni had mentioned it when she did, lest I run into a creature that looks like Blaidd unawares. "Speaking of Blaidd…you said you had a separate task for him after we returned from Nokron. Where is he?"
"Blaidd…he will struggle with the events soon to transpire. I knew my faithful hound would wish to accompany me on mine journey here, but I knew he would roil in anguish as a result. He is…distracted, nothing more. Fret not, mine champion. He is not in any danger."
My heart sunk, hearing those words. Sure, he wasn't in any danger…but if he found out that he'd been deceived and led astray by the person he faithfully served? Even if there were good intentions behind it, I knew that the roil and anguish that Ranni was trying to avoid would happen anyways. I thought back to the conversation he and I had had just before leaving Nokron, about how I needed to stop him if he felt he was going to be 'too far gone'...I worried that now, I wouldn't even be there to see him cross that threshold. If it was anything like hollowing, the mere news alone would…destroy him.
"Well…at least he's safe. Don't…don't share the news with him, once we're done here. Let me do it. He's going to be mad…at least let him be mad at me."
Ranni thought for a moment, eventually nodding her head. "If that is what thou wishest, I shall grant it to thee, champion. Blaidd will no doubt be at mine Rise once our mission here is complete - I will have much to do, but thou wilt be free to go. If you wish to speak to him of this journey, thou whilst have the time."
Once again, my thoughts went to Flynn…I wasn't mad this time when it happened. I'd made a promise to him, before we left - that I'd keep an eye on Blaidd. Obviously, I'd failed in that regard…though I hadn't been given much of an opportunity not to. Still, I promised I'd find him if something was going to happen…and no doubt this conversation would spark 'something'.
Perhaps I'd be the one coming to find him…I almost couldn't believe it.
