I HATE WITHERHOARD! I HATE WITHERHOARD! I HATE WITHERHOARD! I HATE WITHERHOARD! I HATE WITHERHOARD!
Alright, got that out of my system. Welcome back lads, chads, and everything in between. I hope you all had the most lovely Christmas, or whatever other holiday you may celebrate, and a wonderful new year.
Chapter 20: Song of War
"The Vex have no hope. No imagination, no drive, no fear. All they have is the Pattern. Everything must fit. If it can be made to fit, good. If it can't, it gets cut away." -Praedyth
"Are you ready?"
Luz shifted on her feet as she gripped her training staff more tightly. Both of her hands were clasped around the shaft of the weapon. She stared over the dull blade, looking into the orange eyes of Royal. As opposed to Luz, the Guardians' pose was far more relaxed. He held his staff in one hand, with the left one tucked behind his back.
"Ready," she said. Royal nodded, tapping the edge of his training blade against hers. With that, the two began their bout. Luz took to the offensive, bringing her glaive down in a two-handed swing. Royal slightly tilted his own glaive, deftly blocking her blow. She pulled back and probed his defenses yet again. A broad cut was easily batted aside, a clean stab was masterfully deflected, and her attempt at drawing into a blade lock was met with Royal overpowering her and pushing her back.
Royal mimed a yawn, taunting his young companion, before going on the attack himself. With perfect technique, he initiated a series of rapid stabs that pushed Luz back. Her attempts to retaliate were easily parried. Royal went in for another stab, aimed directly at the center of her chest. She narrowly sidestepped the attack and noticed that Royal had overextended his footing.
She attempted to punish the Guardian's misstep. Unfortunately, he had been ready for this. Royal had taught her the basics of combat. She knew about proper edge alignment, how to control her swing, and how to capitalize on the proper openings. However, only knowing the basics was often enough to ensure you could get yourself in trouble.
As she launched her own stab, Royal pulled his staff back across his body. He caught her glaive against his own and pushed it aside. He brought the weapon up and around, striking her hand. She yelped, dropping the blade. Instantly, Royal swung for her neck, freezing just before impact. The two stood silently for a second before Luz sighed.
"I yield."
Royal pulled his training blade back and held it between his eyes, saluting his protege. Luz recovered her weapon and mirrored the salute. They dropped the stance and Royal cracked a grin.
"Very nice," he complimented, "Your form shows great improvement. But you didn't really think that punish through. There's a difference between something genuine and a trick, after all."
"You know," Luz started, wiping some sweat off her forehead, "Three months ago, if you told me that I would be trapped in another dimension learning magic from a Witch criminal and doing combat training with a time-traveling robot man, I would've asked how you got a hold of my diary."
"That's… a very specific scenario," Royal commented as he handed the young girl some water
"It's not a one-to-one," Luz shrugged, accepting the offering, "Unless you have a secret evil twin I don't know about."
"No twins that I know of," Royal joked, "At least, not any evil ones." He expertly spun his sparring glaive around in his hand while Luz refreshed herself.
"So, how's school going?" He asked, continuing to flip his blade around.
"It's going great," Luz said eagerly, "Most of my classes are amazing and I'm having such a good time learning with my friends." Lancer popped out beside the girl, eyeing her cheekily.
"I'm sure you are enjoying the time with your friends," he chirped, "Gus. Willow." He paused for a second, a smug glint in his eye, "Amity."
Luz blushed as he said that. Royal had missed out on a few adventures at the Owl House over the last week. He had been sweeping the Isles more intensely, thanks to Lilith's warning. In that time, Eda and Lilith's mother stopped by for a visit in an attempt to heal her daughter's curse with her own special remedies. Some shenanigans ensued but everything was stabilized now.
More important was the revelation that another Human used to reside on the Isles. He had written a journal detailing his experiences before donating it to the local library. Luz had coerced Amity into helping her hunt it down, though how much persuasion had been required was unknown to Royal. One thing led to another and Luz managed to acquire something known as an Echo Mouse that had devoured the knowledge of the journal and could replay it. Luz had also received another gift from Amity, a nervous kiss on the cheek.
Needless to say, neither girl had any idea what to do after that. Luz had tried asking Royal for tips, but he shooed her off. He was the last person to ask for relationship advice. Lancer used the revelation to playfully tease Luz, never passing up a chance to fluster her. Such as right now.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Luz mumbled, rubbing her arm awkwardly.
"Sure you don't," Lancer smirked… somehow. Royal coughed into his hand, drawing Luz's attention away from his Ghost.
"Speaking of class, we'll wrap up here for now. You need to get ready for the day ahead. It's a special day, after all," he said, changing the subject. Luz nodded gratefully for the out, running off to change into her school uniform.
"She's hopeless," Lancer commented as the two watched her go.
"You know, I envy her," Royal lamented, "To be young, free, and with my skin still attached. Able to determine your own future. She can go anywhere and become anything. Me? I'll always just be another Guardian. A gun on the walls."
"Alright, not gonna unpack that right now," the Ghost said, "We have our own business to get to." Royal nodded in agreement. It was time for a Vex hunt.
Deep within the castle, the coven heads were gathering. The Emperor had summoned them and he did not appreciate being kept waiting. The Emperor's patience was not infinite and neither was the Titan's. Darius groaned as he took his place around the brazier, still nursing the wounds that the Guardian had inflicted. The Healers had told him that he was lucky to survive his injuries.
Technically, he was still supposed to be in their care. However, the Emperor's summons overruled them. Beside him, Eberwolf made a concerned noise. Darius gave a small smile, letting him know that he would be fine.
The Emperor stood up from his throne. Beside him were the everpresent figures of Kikimora and the Golden Guard. Darius curled his lip as his gaze passed over the two. He dropped the sneer as Kikimora began to speak.
"The Day of Unity approaches, where we'll celebrate the purification of magic under the coven system, just as the Titan intended. As heads of the nine covens, we celebrate your efforts to complete this plan. For this, you have earned a glimpse of the reward that awaits," she said. The Emperor raised a single beckoning hand.
"Step forward," he commanded. Darius removed a small sigil on his cloak, with the other coven heads following suit. They placed the sigils into small grooves on the brazier. The sigils began to glow as they empowered the flame. His eyes lit up as his mind filled with visions.
The Titan, eyes ablaze with power.
Two realms, merged into paradise.
Ancient machines, bending reality to serve a flawless pattern.
"The larger your covens grow, the more power we have to unite our realms," the Emperor elaborated, "Where the worthy shall inherit a utopia free of wild magic." Suddenly, the Emperor keeled over slightly, clutching his chest. The visions faded as the Emperor struggled with his pain. The Golden Guard quickly moved to his aid. He helped the Emperor off his throne and began to lead him away. Kikimora was about to follow before being shooed away by the Golden Guard.
Darius watched them leave for a moment. Taking note of the incident, he pondered the visions he had been shown. He lingered on the machines; perfectly in unison and possessing unfathomable intellect. Closing his eyes, he recalled his skirmish with the Guardian. He had been so determined to destroy that strange technology.
Within a separate chamber, Hunter slowly closed the door. Belos walked further in, his body shifting and rumbling in protest. His flesh began to writhe as it mutated into a mess of twisted green muscles and tendons. He roared in pain and repeatedly slammed his fist into the wall. Hunter looked away, unable to watch.
Once Belos was satisfied with his wanton destruction, Hunter stepped forward, offering him a dormant Palisman. Belos accepted it greedily and snapped it in two. Vile green essence rose from the wound. Belos absorbed it through the eye slits in his mask. He drew in a deep breath, his pain fading slightly.
"I need more," he growled maliciously, holding out a waiting hand.
"That was the last from our reserves," Hunter said uncertainly, "The Palistrom wood has been overharvested." Belos turned away harshly, staring at the wall.
"Uncle, let me help! We can make more Palisman!" Hunter pleaded, "Actually, I read about this technique: harnessing wild magic to-" Belos's gaze snapped to him, instantly shutting him up. He quickly apologized, bowing his head to hopefully stay the Emperor's wrath. Rather than strike him, Belos placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Please, be careful. Our family is gone because of wild magic. I can't let that happen to you as well," he comforted, "Find me more Palismen. I can depend on you, right?" Hunter smiled and assured his Uncle that he wouldn't disappoint him. Outside the room, Kikimora listened closely. Her eyes narrowed as she backed away, already preparing her own scheme.
The atmosphere at Hexside was electric. Students buzzed excitedly, gossiping about the upcoming event. Royal was right, it was a special day. Luz made her way onto the Grudgby field where a crowd had already gathered around a small hut. She saw Willow standing slightly off to the side and quickly joined her friend.
"Hey Willow," she greeted before looking around uncertainly, "Shouldn't Amity be here?"
"Sorry, I heard that she stayed home today," Willow replied. Luz chuckled nervously, a slight blush coming over her face.
"That makes sense," she said, slightly dejected. She had been hoping to see the Witch again today. Her momentary funk didn't last as Principal Bump, with Eda in tow, walked in front of the hut.
"Good tiding on this momentous day," he began, "You're all about to receive your Witches' staves and, more importantly, meet your Palisman. This is a crucial step in your magical development. Palismen are lifelong partners. They can be both your good friends and a powerful tool. In my case…" He let his voice trail off and snapped his fingers. The red creature covering his head leaped off, transforming into an imp. Bump looked at his students through a solitary eye, the other covered by a long scar.
"Frewin here helps me see," he finished, letting his long, black hair fall neatly behind him. Eda stepped forward.
"Now, traditionally, young Witches carve their staffs from the branches of an old Palistrom tree," she explained.
"But sadly, Palistrom trees are becoming more rare," Bump said somberly, "And those few that remain are closely guarded."
"That's why I've teamed up with Bumpikins-"
"Never call me that again."
"-to bring you Palisman Adoption Day!" A familiar figure appeared above Eda, dropping atop the hut. The Bat Queen unfurled her wings as the door opened. Palismen began to exit, looking around at the Witches with curious expressions. One particularly free-spirited Palisman, a red cardinal, tried to make his escape. Bump quickly scooped him up and returned him to the enclosure. Eda leaned against the Palismens hovel and held out her whistle.
"Thanks for the favor BQ," she said, "Here's your whistle back."
"Save it for another time," the Bat Queen replied generously, "This was my treat." She turned to the students, addressing them directly.
"These little ones have not had homes in many years. They want to feel a connection. Kneel and state your deepest wish, and your like-minded partner will find you." The crowd murmured excitedly, yet no one was brave enough to step forward first. Unfortunately, not everyone was so eager.
"I wanted my own Palisman, not some trashy hand-me-down," Boscha scoffed, rolling her eyes. Willow moved up behind her, shoving the bully aside.
"Your loss," she said, kneeling beside the Palismen, "I want to be strong and wise, so that I may protect the ones I love."
"Tender, yet tenacious," the Bat Queen commented, "Clover gives her support." A Palisman with the shape of a large bee flew out of the nest, circling around Willow happily before transforming into a staff. The Witch gushed over her new companion. Boscha, not wanting to be outdone, stepped up herself.
"I want to play professional Grudgby," she declared boldly. The Bat Queen chuckled approvingly.
"A competitive spirit? Maya will be thrilled." An orange-colored crab climbed over the wall, nestling into Boscha's arms. Despite herself, she couldn't help but smile a little.
"Ok, this is pretty cool," she admitted. More students cycled through, each of them gaining a companion of their own. Finally, it was Luz's turn. She calmed her nerves and walked forward, taking her place before the remaining Palismen. All eyes were on her as she took a deep breath.
"I want to be a Witch!" She declared boldly. Silence fell on the field as none of the Palismen stepped forward.
"Probably just takes a little while," Luz said, trying not to despair, "Since I'm Human and all."
"Palismen bond through emotion," the Bat Queen said, shaking her head, "I do not sense any conviction from you."
"That's impossible," the Human objected, "I'm Luz! I'm chock full of conviction!"
"Perhaps specificity would help," Bump suggested, "There are many kinds of Witches, after all. What do you hope to do with your magic?"
"To get home to my mom?" Luz hesitantly offered.
"Would you still be able to train as a Witch in the Human Realm?" Gus asked, holding his chameleon Palisman.
"Can you even do magic there?" Boscha sneered.
"I guess I never thought that far ahead," Luz admitted. Eda placed a comforting hand on her apprentice's shoulder. The Human looked down in embarrassment, doubt beginning to creep into her mind.
Royal marched through the knee, his shotgun held close. His optics carefully panned over the area, picking it apart for any hidden Vex. The Knee was still coated in Vex metal. In truth, nothing living would ever be able to call this place home again. Finally finishing his search, he leaned against a small pillar and pulled out a notepad. A quick flick of his pen marked the Knee clear of Vex.
Royal sighed as he tucked the notepad away. His current task was necessary, but damn if it wasn't boring. This was the last area he needed to check for the day, now it was time to head home for some more research. He hadn't had much time to power down lately, busy with training Luz, patrolling for Vex, and trying to decipher the Darkness runes.
"We've searched the entirety of the Isles," Lancer said, "So far we have found a grand total of zero Vex. Maybe Lilith was wrong?"
"It's possible," Royal said, "But I doubt it. We just need to search harder."
"You're running on empty," Lancer objected, "You need to rest."
"We don't have time for that. I have a job to do. I was chosen to be a Guardian, I'm the only one who can do this."
Lancer was about to retort before Royal received a ping on his radar. He stood up, holding his shotgun at the ready. The contact was getting closer. Suddenly, the ping split, showing four separate marks moving in a loose formation.
"Are you sure he's up here?" A female voice whispered. If Royal hadn't been an Exo, he wouldn't have been able to hear it.
"I am," another voice confirmed, "I've been keeping a very close eye on his patterns. This is where he'll be." Royal crept closer, staying behind the sporadic bits of cover he could find. He peered over a small bump and caught sight of the contacts. They were all wearing large brown cloaks with hoods drawn over their heads. Their faces were concealed by strange-looking masks. One of them tugged at their cloak to make it rest more comfortably.
"Do we really have to wear these things," she complained, her voice marking her as a different female from the earlier one, "They're so uncomfortable."
"Sorry Amber," the second person apologized, "We need to keep a low profile." It was clear that this one was the leader, as they were moving at the head of the group.
"I don't feel like wearing large cloaks is all that conducive to blending in," the final figure interjected. The leader shrugged and pulled out a small instrument. Royal raised his eyebrow as they struck a chord. A ripple of energy radiated from their position. Royal felt it wash over him, filling the Guardian with a strange feeling.
"I believe he is much closer than we anticipated," the leader remarked, looking in Royal's direction. His position revealed, Royal leaped over his cover. He landed before the robed figures, holding out his shotgun. The others instantly readied themselves, though their leader held out their hands in a gesture of non-aggression.
"State your intent," Royal barked, "Why are you here?"
"We're not looking for a fight," the leader said, signaling for the rest of their companions to stand down. They reached up, pulling back their hood and removing their mask. They had light-green hair resting atop a thin face and their eyes were protected by a set of thick glasses.
"We just want to talk," they continued, "You're the Guardian, aren't you?"
"Who's asking?"
"My name is Raine Whispers," they introduced, "Leader of the Bards Against the Throne." Raine's companions similarly removed their hoods and masks.
"Alright then, Raine," Royal said, lowering his weapon, "Why have you been following me?"
"We want your help to overthrow Belos."
Royal paused as he listened to Raine's proposition. Suddenly, he burst out laughing. The four shared confused glances as he slung his shotgun across his back.
"I'm being serious," Raine deadpanned, crossing their arms. Royal caught himself, still shaking slightly.
"Sorry, sorry, I just thought you asked me to join your little roleplaying group."
"We're a revolution fighting for liberation!" One of Raine's companions, Amber if he recalled, shouted.
"Of course you are," Royal dismissed, "Look, I'm sure you're all wonderful people, but I ain't really revolutionary material. Not interested in getting tangled up in yet another war."
"Why not?" the other female asked, "What's one more?"
"Not exactly done with the current one," Royal replied before turning away, "I have my own fight to worry about."
"We're all here for a reason," Raine said, "Because we believe in this cause. We chose this fight." Royal halted as he heard that, tossing the words over in his head.
"How far are you willing to go?"
Raine seemed confused, "What do you mean?"
"This revolution," Royal elaborated, "How far are you willing to go? What lines are you willing to cross? What evils are you ready to commit?" He stared at Raine with an intense gaze. The Witch furrowed their brow in thought.
Odalia downed a shot, setting the empty drinking glass on her desk. The past few days had not been kind to her. Ever since her encounter with the Vex Mind, she had been mentally off balance. The Guardian hadn't helped either. Her nights had been restless, her days stressful. She was about to pour another shot before her Oracle gem sparked to life.
Odalia, where are you? Her husband asked, You were supposed to be down here for a checkup thirty minutes ago. She glanced over at her clock, grimacing as she realized she was behind schedule.
I'll be right there, she mentally communicated, I just got held up by some other matters.
She stood up from her desk, ignoring the mounting stacks of paperwork. The journey through Blight Manor was painfully quiet. She could hear the Mind's booming voice rattling through her mind with each step. She stepped into the hall leading to Alador's workshop. At the end, she saw her husband crouched around a piece of technology with Sturme standing directly at his side.
"So you said that it projects a protective barrier by utilizing an atomic displacement reaction that robs projectiles of their kinetic energy?" Alador asked, peering through his goggles.
"Indeed," Sturme confirmed, "I have been working on this prototype for some time now. I believe that we should be able to incorporate it into your Abomitons to increase their defensive capabilities." He turned to face Odalia, a knowing glint in his glowing optics.
"Welcome, Mrs. Blight," he greeted, "I trust the journey was pleasant." She didn't dignify him with a response, instead facing her husband.
"Odalia, this technology is incredible," Alador said, "Vex engineering puts everything we have ever accomplished to shame."
"That's wonderful," she agreed half-heartedly. The hair on her limbs stood on edge as the air began to crackle and spark.
"Ah, Ignosi is back," Sturme nodded. The air next to Odalia split as the Sub-Mind phased in next to her. She stepped back in shock as Ignosi rose, holding out a small piece of technology.
"I have recovered the last of what you requested from your lab," it spoke as Sturme accepted the offering.
"How did you do that?" Odalia whispered, staring at the Sub-Mind through wide eyes.
"There is no explanation I could provide that you would be able to understand," it replied, not deigning to look at her.
"Our production has been at optimal levels," Sturme reported, "The Emperor will be pleased with your efforts, Mrs. Blight." Suddenly, he stood up straight, listening to something the Blights could not hear.
"If you will excuse me for a moment," he said, "Ignosi and I must discuss something." He
stepped through the door with the Sub-Mind right behind him. Alador continued his work, oblivious to their departure. After a moment of hesitation, Odalia began to follow them, moving carefully to avoid detection.
"What is your verdict on the Blights?" She heard Ignosi's digital voice echo down the hall.
"They show potential," Sturme replied, "Alador's intellect is surpassed only by his obliviousness. So long as we dangle enough shiny toys in front of him, he will gladly do whatever we need."
"And the female?"
"Our master has already begun to wear her down. In time, she will be little more than an extension of our lords' will."
"The connections she has to the societal fabric of this world provide us with great leverage. Theoretical: The further we can entrench our presence, the more effective we will be. Practical: This unit has already run the required simulations, we possess a 93.14407% chance of complete success." The two finished their conversation and began to walk back down the hall. Odalia stifled a gasp and quickly retreated, returning to her husband before her absence was noted. She slipped in behind her husband, pretending to be interested in his tinkering as the two Vex agents walked in.
"Everything appears to be in order here," she said with an air of false confidence, "I'll leave you to your work." She left as quickly as she could while still making it appear natural. Ignosi watched her leave, running back the simulations of her espionage to confirm that she heard what it wanted her to hear.
-]The trap is set, now it must be sprung[-
Luz frantically paced around the floor of her room, muttering to herself.
"I stayed here because I wanted to learn magic, right?" She asked aloud, "I wanted to be a Witch like Eda and Azura. But what does that even mean? I've read stories like this. The main character always has to return home, and what? Did I expect to be a Witch back in Connecticut?" She groaned in defeat, falling back across her bed. As she did, she disturbed her bag. A chirp sounded from it, causing her to sit up. To her shock, a familiar cardinal hopped out of the pack and looked up at her curiously.
"It's you!" Luz said excitedly, "Did you come here for me?" The Palisman looked away, hopping around her room. Luz's expression fell.
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to be my Palisman either," she sighed, "Come on, I'll take you back to your nest." She grabbed her cape and slipped away. Unbeknownst to the Human, Eda and King watched her go, sharing a concerned glance.
Soon, Luz arrived at the Grudgby field where the nest was waiting for them. She attempted to reach into it, only to recoil as she encountered a protective barrier. The cardinal flew over, pressing his face against it. The barrier flickered and faded, allowing the two to enter. The other Palismen were stirred from their rest as they entered.
"Alright," Luz said, plopping down on the ground, "I'm not leaving until I find out what my future is and one of you becomes my Palismen. Maybe I could use my powers to become a popular magician in the Human Realm? No, I'm terrible at card tricks. How about I stay on the Boiling Isles and become a bounty hunter?" She groaned again, resting her head on her hand.
"That wouldn't work, I'm too lovable," she admitted, "Could I try and learn how to become a Guardian? But I kinda have to die and lose my memories for that to work. Not to mention that they won't even be a thing for a couple of hundred years. I'll save that one for the long game." The Palismen curled around her in support. Luz yawned, feeling exhaustion begin to creep up on her.
Hours crept by without any progress. Luz dipped in and out of sleep, taking a few short naps to keep her energy up.
"I could open a magic pet shop but it's password protected," she proposed, "The password is: 'You are a little angel'." The Universe let her know what it thought of that suggestion by shaking the Palismen hut. Luz huffed, pushing open the door.
"Hey, we're a little busy in…" her voice died in her throat as she realized that they were no longer on the ground. The shadow of an airship hung over them, with a connective chord tying the two together. Luz let out an eep and ducked back inside.
"I think we're being kidnapped!" She warned the Palismen. They began to panic, with Luz doing her best to soothe them.
"Don't worry, I'll figure this out." She carefully stepped back outside and summoned a vine. She lassoed it around the upper deck and began to climb. She finally reached the top, mentally thanking Royal for his workout regimen. Standing at the front of the ship was the familiar cloaked figure of the Golden Guard.
"Ugh, him again," Luz moaned before she gained an idea. A devious grin crawled across her face as she crept up behind him. She readied a flame glyph while the Guard whistled a tune, completely unaware of her presence. With a shout, she slapped the glyph on the Guard's back. He stumbled and let out a surprised cry. The glyph sparked to life, sending the Golden Guard spiraling off the ship. Luz cheered as his screams grew distant and turned to the airship controls.
"How do I land this thing?" She wondered, her hands hovering above the controls.
"It's that cord right above your head."
"Oh, thanks," Luz started before doing a double take. The Golden Guard lounged on the rail beside her, staff in hand.
"Hi," he mocked, raising the staff. Luz tried to defend herself only for her arms to be bound by a series of ropes. They latched around her, sending her to the ground. Luz struggled to sit up, hissing at the Guard.
"Good to see you too, Human." She could hear him rolling his eyes.
"Why are you stealing Palismen?" She interrogated. The Guard laughed at her.
"I'd be more concerned about yourself. Especially considering you just assaulted me and sent me flying off my own ship. You're lucky I had my staff. Just for that, I'm going to make sure you get locked away in the dingiest, darkest, dampest cell in the Conformatorium until the end of time. Or until you die, whichever comes first."
"Whatever, I've already broken into that place twice," Luz huffed, "I doubt breaking out would be much harder."
"I could always zap you and scatted your dust over the sea if you prefer," the Guard offered. Luz grumbled in response.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Luz looked down, noticing that her feet had scuffed up the deck. Suddenly, she gained an idea.
"How did you get back on the ship so fast?" She asked, masking the sound of her feet dragging across the deck. The Guard gestured to his staff, which he had set on the rail.
"Staff, duh."
"Cool." Luz activated her ice glyph with a kick, sending a burst of ice into the Guard's staff. It flew out of the airship, vanishing in the night sky. The Guard reached out in vain before clenching his fist on empty air and turning to Luz, who just gave a smug grin.
"Human, it'll take more than that to thwart my mission," he said slowly. The effect was somewhat diminished by a loud roar. Something large impacted the side of the airship, violently rocking it. Its passengers stumbled as the interloper tore the airship's balloon. It dropped like a stone, falling to the ground as Luz and the Golden Guard screamed.
They landed hard. The ship broke into thousands of pieces, scattering the two across the ground. After an unknown amount of time, Luz's eyes slowly fluttered open. She sat up and tried to nurse her aching head, only to remember that she was still bound. To her relief, she heard a familiar series of chirps as a certain cardinal hopped up behind her. The Palisman pecked at her binds, loosening them enough for Luz to free herself.
"Thanks, you little rascal," she said thankfully. Struggling to her feet, she began to walk through the forest they had crashed in. Lying on a nearby bush was the Golden Guards staff. Luz recovered it, using the tool as a temporary crutch while she nursed her head. The unmistakable sound of pained groaning reached her ears and she spun around. Through the underbrush, she could make out the unconscious form of the Golden Guard. His mask had been lost, revealing his face.
"Ma'am," a Coven scout called, startling Luz. She crouched down as the scout walked past her. Their uniform was more ornate than the usual scout, signifying that they must be of higher rank.
"We have secured the Palismen," the scout reported, "They seem rattled but unharmed." Luz peeked out of her cover and saw the scout conversing with Kikimora.
"Very good captain. Now prepare them for transport and return to the city."
The captain started hesitantly, "Is it true ma'am? Is the Golden Guard really…" Kikimora held up the Golden Guards' broken mask.
"I'm afraid this is all that remains," she said somberly. The captain gasped in horror.
"Such a horrible accident," Kikimora lamented, "Probably caused by an incompetent pilot."
"I'll alert the castle," the captain said, holding back her shock, "Scouts! To Latissa!" The scouts marched off, leaving Kikimora alone as Luz observed. The Demon pulled out a whistle and blew into it. To Luz's horror, a massive dragon made of clenched hands and curled fingers crawled over.
"Excellent work my pet," Kikimora cooed, "Now find the rest of him and dispose of the evidence." She held up the Golden Guard's mask. The dragon sniffed it and growled before devouring it entirely. Luz backed up in shock, returning to where the Golden Guard was resting. She nervously leaned over him, taking note of his features.
He was young, not much older than Luz, with blonde hair that seemed to be barely kept under control. A few scars could be seen lashed across his face. His mouth hung open, revealing a prominent tooth gap. Before she could do anything, more noises captured her attention. She snuck closer, making sure to step lightly to avoid detection.
"So this is the enigmatic Golden Guard?" She pondered, "He looks like he could be a student at Hexside." She leaned in closer, narrowing her eyes. Without warning, she lifted an arm and slapped him across the face as hard as she could. The Guard yelped, jumping up in shock. He began to shout, only for Luz to clamp her hand over his mouth and silence him.
"Listen," she hissed, "You are a bad person and I do not like you." The Guard rolled his red-colored eyes at that. Luz ignored him, "But Kikimora is trying to kill you and unfortunately, I'm too nice to let that happen." She felt something slimy trace over her palm. Disgusted, she pulled back her now saliva-coated appendage.
"Are you licking my hand?" She asked incredulously before wiping it off on the Guard's face, "I'm trying to help you!"
"Why should I believe you?" The Guard retaliated, pushing back against her. Before Luz could respond, the two were interrupted by a loud stomping as Kikimora's dragon drew closer. It caught sight of them and roared. Thinking quickly, Luz tore off the Guards cloak and threw it to the dragon who devoured it greedily. The two ran as fast as they could, putting considerable distance between themselves and the dragon.
Eventually, they found their way to the nearby town of Latissa. Luz quickly turned back to check that the dragon wasn't following them. Seeing that they were in the clear she turned back to the Guard.
"Man, Kikimora really hates you," she quipped. The Guard didn't respond, instead choosing to push further into Latissa. Luz struggled to keep pace.
"Hey, I just saved your life. The least you could do is tell me your name." The Guard huffed and ignored her. He lead the Human toward a nearby coven outpost.
"You, scouts," he barked at two coven foot soldiers standing in the road, "Direct me to your communication room, I need to make contact with the castle now." He slid down the glove on his right arm, revealing the sigil of the Emperor's Coven. The Scouts were not impressed.
"Cute, I didn't know kids your age were still into temporary tattoos," one snarked.
"Yeah, show us your badge number," the other said.
"I am your superior and I'll prove it. Staff!" He ordered, reaching out to Luz. Rather than give it to him, she tucked it behind her back and put on an innocent look.
"Isn't it a little late for you two to be outside?" One Scout questioned.
"Go home kids," the other dismissed, "Before we call your parents."
The two walked off, leaving the teens alone. The Golden Guard snapped to Luz, glaring at her angrily. Luz backed up nervously before breaking into a dead sprint, with the Golden Guard giving chase. The two raced through the streets of Latissa. Luz pulled a garbage can into the street, hoping to block the Guard. To her disappointment, he cleared it with ease. Thinking quickly, she leaped off a bridge, with the Guard in close pursuit.
Seeing a dead end coming up ahead, she got an idea. Slapping down an ice glyph, she propelled herself up, over the rooftops. Rolling with the landing, she peered over the edge. The Guard stood at ground level and glared at her.
"Come on Golden Guard," she taunted, "Don't you know any levitation spells?" He looked away, not losing his frustrated expression.
"Are you powerless without this?" She asked, holding out the staff. The Golden Guard turned and began to walk away. Suddenly, he doubled back. He moved quickly, leaping from a stack of crates to the roof of an abandoned stand. With one final effort, he pushed himself into the air and grabbed the ledge just beneath Luz. He hoisted himself up, only to dodge back as a blast of magic impacted the roof in front of him.
"Stay back," Luz ordered, not feeling entirely confident with the current situation.
"Or what?" The Guard challenged, "You'll blast me? Nah, you're too nice for that. Or maybe you'll fly away. Oh, but then you'd be abandoning your precious Palismen. You don't tend to think things through, do you, Human?" Luz bit her lip, he was right. Before she could retort, a large shadow passed over the two.
From where they were standing, they could see the outpost from before. Kikimora's dragon landed in front of it, being nuzzled by its master. The Guard stepped up next to Luz, standing just far away enough to ensure she didn't think he was a threat.
"So Kikimora was after my catch," he pondered.
"Seems like neither of us wants her to win right now," Luz said, "So how about we work together to take back those Palismen."
"Then what? Do you think I'll just let you walk away?"
"Maybe you won't have a choice," Luz taunted, spinning the staff in an attempt to appear suave, "I'm more formidable than you think." Unfortunately, Luz fumbled the staff and nearly dropped it off the roof. She recovered quickly and clutched the staff close as the Guard shot her an unimpressed look.
"I doubt that," he deadpanned, "But fine. A truce, until then." Luz extended her hand for a shake to make it official. The Guard looked at it for a moment before groaning and reaching out to accept it. Just before he made contact, Luz pulled back.
"Too slow," she taunted, cackling to herself as she retreated across the rooftop. The Guard groaned.
"Let's just get this over with."
"You still haven't answered my question," Royal said, sitting up in his chair made of Light. The Witches sat on similar furniture. The five were gathered around a fire that Royal had sparked. The Vex may have essentially conquered the Knee but they didn't see any need to make it less cold. Amber dug into a snack she had brought while Raine placed a hand on their chin in thought.
"How about you answer some questions of ours?" One of their companions, Katya as he had been informed, countered, "Namely, who are you exactly? We've all heard the stories of the mysterious Guardian, but nobody really knows anything about you."
"Who I am isn't relevant," Royal deflected, "The only thing that matters is what I'm here to do. As I said, I'm wrapped up in my own war. The Knee didn't always use to look like this, did it? I'm here to stop the rest of the Isles from being turned into this. Now, what about you?"
"Why does that matter?" Derwin, the last member of Raine's group, spoke up.
"You can judge a man by the quality of his enemies," Royal said, "I haven't had many positive encounters with the Emperor's Coven, so what's your story."
"My brother was petrified for mixing magic," Derwin said, looking down slightly as he recalled the memory, "Didn't even get a fair trial."
"I got kicked out of my childhood home because the big E's Coven wanted to pave over it," Amber chimed in, "They wreck my place, I wreck theirs."
"I got arrested for writing fanfiction about food," Katya added, pulling out a small journal, "Didn't let that stop me, of course."
"Alright, that one's fair on the Emperor's part," Lancer said in Royal's ear, "What kind of sick freak writes fanfiction?" The Guardian ignored him.
"What about you Whispers," Royal said, leaning forward, "What's your game?"
"I joined the Bard coven to try and reform the system from within," they sighed, "The more I tried, the more I got tied down by red tape and paperwork. I realized that the only way to change things was with force."
"Beauracracy," Royal nodded, "The enemy of every revolutionary. Now, back to the original question, what lines are you ready to cross? Because I'll tell you now, nothing worth having is ever won without blood." Raine shared a look with each of their companions before nodding and turning back to Royal.
"We're all ready to die for this," they said with conviction dripping from every word. Royal smirked under his helmet.
"Personally," he began slowly, "I'd much rather kill for it."
"What do you mean by that?" Derwin questioned, looking over his spectacles with a suspicious eye.
"No man ever won a war by dying for his beliefs," Royal elaborated. He reached up, grasping his helmet. With a slight twist, he tugged it free and revealed his metallic face. The Witches gasped at the sight. Royal ignored them, staring directly into Raine's eyes.
"He wins by making the other bastard die for theirs."
Luz dragged a small piece of chalk across the wall. Due to the nature of glyphs, she saw fit to always carry some kind of writing tool on her at all times. She closed the circle as the Guard rejoined her, dragging a bag behind him.
"I've never seen magic like this," he commented, "What does it do?"
"We don't want to spook Kikimora's steed or else it might drop the Palismen," she explained, "So by combining these fire and ice glyphs, I can create a thick mist."
"And the sleeping nettles?" He held out a few of the eponymous herbs that he had just stolen.
"They're essential. When combined with the mist, they'll produce-"
"A sleep-inducing smoke," The Guard realized, "Which will force Kikimora to land." Luz's eyebrows shot up, she hadn't expected him to catch on that quickly.
"I read about a similar spell," he hesitantly admitted, "In Bones to Earth-"
"-A Study of Wild Magic!" Luz finished, "Eda once pickpocketed the guy who wrote it."
"I've never seen glyphs before," the Golden Guard continued, turning to the wall, "But it seems similar to the elemental magic practiced during the savage ages."
"Really?"
"Actually, not many people know this. There's this…" He quickly caught himself, "No, no, this knowledge is restricted for a reason. You should just forget about it before you get hurt."
"Awww, is that concern I hear in your voice?" Luz teased. The Guard didn't respond.
"I've never actually spoken to anyone inside the Emperor's Coven," Luz said, "Well, aside from Lilith. And Warden Wrath I guess. What made you want to join." The Guard sighed and leaned against the wall.
"You were right before," he admitted, "I'm a powerless Witch. A lot of my ancestors were. I never thought I'd have a future in a world like this. But then, Belos found me and gave me a staff with artificial magic. He said that the Titan had big plans for me."
"At least you have your future figured out," Luz said.
"At least you can decide your own," the Guard countered bitterly. The little cardinal Palisman hopped toward him and began poking him in the leg. The Guard attempted to shake him away.
"He's just being friendly," Luz cooed.
"I don't care," the Guard said, not looking away from the bird, "These things are made from wild magic. They're dangerous."
"Does he look dangerous to you?" Luz asked. The cardinal chirped in agreement, looking at the Guard through its singular eye. He wasn't given a chance to answer as Kikimora's dragon spread its wings and took flight. A shadow passed over the two teens as it cleared the roof they were standing on. They each pulled up a mask that would hopefully shield them from the effects of the gas.
"Once they're surrounded by smoke, we'll need to stay close in order to see where they land," Luz said. The Guard nodded and Luz held out his staff.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"Just take it!" Luz slapped the glyph circle and activated the spell. The glyphs shone brightly as their magic activated. A thick cloud of smoke soon filled the night sky. The Guard added the nettles and it was time to go.
Luz joined him on his staff as they gave flight. Both the dragon and its rider began to dip. Luz activated a light glyph to keep sight of them. The two crashed to the ground with a mighty thud, shaking the ground slightly as they did. Kikimora fell off her mount, staggering weakly as she tried to reorient herself.
"Stop right there," she muttered weakly as the two touched down. Luz instantly ran to the Palismen. She threw open the door and sighed in relief as she saw they were all unharmed.
"Hello babies," she greeted, "You guys must be so cold. Here." She removed her cape and placed it in the next, tucking it around the huddled Palismen.
"Make sure you share," she said, "Now, stay in there, ok? We'll get you home safe and-" She was cut off by the sound of the Guards' staff charging with power. Luz's smile fell and she turned to face her former ally.
"Right, didn't think this through, again," she said, "So you're really gonna do this? You're just gonna hand all these innocent little guys over to Belos? I know what he does with them. I thought you might've been a good guy. But I guess that was just wishful thinking. You're not my friend. You're just the Golden Guard."
Her words seemed to affect the Guard. He looked down slightly. If Luz didn't know any better, she would almost say he was ashamed. Slowly, he reached up and grabbed his mask, tugging it off his face.
"My name is Hunter."
Unfortunately, any chance at further negotiations was lost when Kikimora took a shot at Hunters back. He recoiled, grunted from the hit, and turned to retaliate.
"I can't tell who you are," Kikimora called, "But I know I got you." She fired off a few more shots, most of them going wide. One went straight for Hunter, which he expertly blocked. She tried to fire again only for the Guard to push her back. As they fought, Kikimora's whistle fell from her pocket and landed on the ground. Luz snatched it up while the two brawled.
"This is treason against a coven official!" Kikimora shouted as she flung a ball of fire at the Golden Guard. He dodged and the flames streaked past, singing his hair slightly. While the two were distracted, Luz clambered atop Kikimora's dragon.
"Alright, good dragon… nightmare… thingy," she said nervously, "Man the Isles will never stop surprising me." She blew into the whistle, waking the dragon. It fluttered its eyes drowsily before taking off with the Palismen in tow.
On the ground, Hunter continues to duel Kikimora. She fired off another fireball which he teleported around. Reappearing behind her, he whacked the Demon with a magic-empowered strike. She went flying, sliding across the ground. Hunter stayed ready for a second. Once he was convinced she wasn't standing back up, he let his stance drop. His eyes traced over to Luz as she flew away. The two made eye contact, with the Guards fierce glare causing Luz's expression to drop. She turned away as Kikimoras dragon flew into the night. She may have won, but it certainly felt like a hollow victory.
"So, are you in?"
Royal propped his chin on his hand as he weighed up Raine's proposal. The sky was dark, leaving his bonfire as the only source of light to illuminate the group. Shadows danced across the metallic surface of the Knee as everyone watched him.
"I'm not entirely convinced," he began, "But, I am willing to consider it fully. Next time you have a mission, send me a call and I will accompany you. From there, I'll make my choice." He gave them his number, though technically it was Lancers since the Ghost handled all his communication.
"All I can ask for is your time," Raine said gratefully, "You won't regret this." Royal nodded slightly and the Witches took their leave. He watched them go as Lancer popped out beside him.
"You really want to fight a war on two fronts?" The Ghost asked.
"Not really, but I don't think we have much of a choice," Royal sighed, "I have a feeling that matters will force our hand regardless."
"We live in interesting times," Lancer chirped.
"Things could stand to be a little less interesting if you ask me."
Luz collapsed into her bed and looked over at a photo of her mom. She grumbled in discontent, rolling over in her bed.
"So, everyone got a Palisman except me," she muttered, "Maybe I wasn't meant to be here." Her window swung open, pushed from the outside. Light flooded into the room, temporarily blinding her. As she blinked the spots out of her eyes, she recognized the person standing in the window.
"Eda?"
"I thought I'd find you in here," the Witch said cheerily. She was covered in scratches and had a few stray twigs in her hair. She had a small package slung under her arm. King climbed over her arm.
"We could've used the door!" He complained.
"What have you been up to?" Luz questioned. Eda opened her package, revealing a small log of light-blue wood. She tossed it to Luz.
"How… thoughtful?" She thanked them, confused as to what the gift was.
"It's Palistrom wood you ding-dong," Eda explained, "Now you can make your own Palisman!"
"I thought this stuff was super rare?" Luz eyed the log.
"Let's just say that the Bonesborough Graden Club-" Eda began.
"Was robbed! By us!" King finished, leaping as he said it.
"I don't know what to say," Luz said, wiping a tear from her eyes.
"No pressure kiddo," Eda comforted, "Just let me know when you want to start and we'll get to carving." Luz held the log uncertainly for a moment before setting it aside.
"I think I'd rather wait," she said, "I need some time to think. It's hard to picture my future without seeing my mom." Eda nodded in understanding. The two left Luz alone to her thoughts. Once they were gone, she let out a small smile. It was nice to have family looking out for her.
"So, you have returned with nothing?"
Hunter flinched under the Emperor's accusation. He tried to come up with some excuse in his mind but drew up blank.
"Is this the thanks I get for taking you in?"
"Of course not," Hunter protested, "I want to help! If you told me how wild magic did this to you, I might be able to-"
He instantly shut up as the Emperor spun around. His hand lashed out, twisting and morphing into a spear that lightly nicked Hunter's ear.
"My apologies," he said with forced calm, "I spoke out of turn." Belos clutched his chest as he heaved.
"These outbursts are painful," he wheezed, "As is watching you fail. I know you can do better, Hunter. You are dismissed." Hunter bowed and departed. As he pushed to door open, he almost ran into Kikimora.
"Golden Guard?" She gasped, "You're alive? I heard about the crash in Latissa-"
"Luckily, some travelers picked me out of the wreckage," he commented cheekily, "So I'm actually doing great. Seems like you had a rough night though." He pushed her aside and stalked off. Kikimora glared at him as he left. Her eyes widened then narrowed as she saw the slight singe on his hair. Hunter pushed open the door to his room and dropped onto his bed.
"I could help if I knew more," he argued in futility. He jumped as he heard a chirp behind him. Spinning, he came face-to-face with the cardinal Palisman from before. Hunter lashed out, snatching the Palisman from his windowsill. He squeezed it, causing the magical companion to chirp in pain.
"Oh, sorry," he apologized, immediately loosening his grip. He set the Palisman beside him, "You shouldn't be here. It'd be bad if Belos saw you." Rather than leave, the cardinal transformed into a staff that dropped into Hunter's hands.
"Alright, wasn't expecting that," he commented. Rising, he walked over to the open window and gazed out at the courtyard before him.
So... For the Future got leaked. I did watch it, cause why the hell not? Don't worry, no spoilers here. Now I'm throwing out almost everything I had planned for season three. My noggin is a joggin with ideas and they shall become reality. Unfortunately, I'm only five chapters into season 2, which isn't even a third of the way through. But it's ok, we'll get there eventually.
SolarisHez: Hey man, I get it. Ships are a big deal to some people. For what it's worth, I appreciate your feedback and praise. If you truly are going to stop reading, then I can't nor won't stop you. What is it Byf says? Ah, yes. Per Audacia Ad Astra.
OMAC001: I did skip Keeping up A-fear-ances. I didn't really have anything to add to it aside from Lilith electing to remain with the others.
dangerdeek22: I'm a Warlock main through and through, but I would be lying if I said that the beautiful simplicity of Titans didn't amuse me greatly. Blip is a nod to Ordis. He wasn't going to be originally but that's just how he turned out. And I don't blame you for not being able o get into it. Trying to start Warframe without a friend to guide you is like trying to break down a steel door with your face. I honestly felt rather awkward about the end segment but I decided to go through with it. And I don't know why, but the thought of someone reading my story to help get through a night shift just warms my heart. So thank you.
GodzillaMaster: Happy New Year to you too pal. The Collector's power level might be a tad lower than you think. I'd place him beneath Rhulk, but considering how powerful (and sexy) Rhulk is, that's not really a knock against him.
"I understand that you are the most accomplished mercenary that money can buy," Belos said, pacing before a large figure. Their head tracked him as he walked, staring through four separate eyes.
"I also understand that you have experience when it comes to killing Guardians," he continued. The figure growled in confirmation.
"Kill the Guardian Royal-6 and you will be handsomely rewarded," Belos finished. The figure rolled his neck, cracking the joint with a menacing pop.
"Before you begin your hunt, I do have one question," Belos said, "What am I supposed to call you?" The mercenary tilted his head in confusion.
"I mean, you had at least four separate titles on your contact page," Belos elaborated, beginning to list them off, "Taniks the Scarred, Taniks Perfected, Taniks the Abomination… You don't look like an Abomination." Taniks shrugged with two of his arms, the other two holding his scorch cannon loosely.
"And here, this one has you listed as the Nightmare of Taniks. Do I even want to know what that means?" Taniks shook his head and hefted the scorch cannon up on his shoulder.
"Do you want the Guardian dead or not?" He growled.
