As a reminder, Chapter Twelve: Part One is being delayed while I finish up the Investigations and Bath Scenes. I will mark both as "COMPLETE" as soon as they are done. Sorry for the inconvenience. At this time Chapter Twelve: Part One is still expected to be posted on January 19th.
Also, the final call for Play requests will be January 30th. There will be no further updates for plays after this day, either in chapters or out. If you would like to see any production from the plays introduced in this story, please leave a comment on the Plays Template page with the cast you would like to see. I'll take it into account and make a standalone chapter for the requests made.
I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Part Eight
Mlkwt Alsmwat
"My Lady."
Windy looked over her shoudler and frowned as Takefute approached her. "Keha Hale is dead."
"I am aware," she responded. "Nothing of value has been lost."
"We have no active Sheikhs!" Takefute said harshly. "You realize that, don't you?! The Sheikhs are supposed to keep the provinces in order and they have fallen into further chaos! We have found no one who wants to take this roles! We will have to resort to forcing people to take command! What few soldiers that we have left, that is!"
"It was your decision to use Raging Nostrum on your own standing Army. Those that were revived by the Rune of Restoration either went into hiding or they joined the Liberation Army."
"Speaking of the Rune of Restoration," Takefute said. "You failed to get it from the boy!"
"I was distracted by a Djinn—"
"My Lady, do you not realize the precarious situation we are in?!" Takefute shouted. "That boy has a mightier Army than us! That boy is at serious risk of destroying us! He has a Djinn, a werewolf, a vampire, a Death Worm, MULTIPLE foreign allies, and a skyship! Not to mention the sheer number of True Rune users on his side! We are goin to lose this war!"
"Yes, you will," Windy agreed. "If you continue acting out of character like and panicking. The Burj Almawt however is still standing, Takefute. So long as the Burj Almawt stands, the Liberation Army will not be able to breach the Capital."
Takefute nodded slowly in agreement, but his face was grim. "I will assume command from there. I will protect the Burj Almawt so the rebels cannot enter. You are right; the Burj Almawt maintains the barrier around Mlkwt Alsmwat. No one can enter without our authorization." Takefute turned to leave, but then he turned back around to face Windy. "There is something I must say, Lady Windy."
"Go ahead," Windy said dully.
"My associates and I were ruling Nagarea with a steady iron fist before you came here," Takefute said. "Before you arrived with a corpse frozen in a block. I must say that since you arrived here to give us your "assistance", that things have steadily turned very bad for us."
"If you believe that everything was fine before I arrived here, you're sorely mistaken," Windy retorted. "You have had multiple rebellions in this country since you killed the last High Clerics. And who do you think built the Burj Almawt, Takefute? Who is responsible for the barrier that surrounds this city and has saved you from many invasions by the Liberation Army and New Dawn? It wasn't you, Takefute; it was me. If I hadn't arrived here when I did, then New Dawn would have overtaken you. So do not blame me for what has happened in this country. I am all that has stood in your way from annihilation."
Takefute stared at her for a long moment of silence. He abruptly turned away. "I must go." He hurried away.
Windy sighed heavily and rubbed at her forehead. "I'm surrounded by fools…"
The Djinn had caused her considerable problems, and she wasn't able to get to Daunte to get the Rune of Restoration. She was running out of time.
Maybe I shouldn't solely focus on removing the True Rune from that boy. Maybe I should try removing True Runes from the other True Rune users. Windy smiled. Such as my sister…
"CONGRATULATIONS!"
Confetti fell from the ceiling and rained down upon Mooney and Daunte. "Good job on completing the Falenan Civil Wa set! I have a special reward for you!"
"The Heavenly Armor?" Daunte asked.
"Of course!" Mooney retreated to the backroom, and returned moments later carrying a large bundle in both arms wrapped in green cloth. "Ta-DAA!"
The armor was silver and red and absolutely stunning. "The Heavenly Armor," Mooney breathed. "The final piece of the Heavenly Set. It offers 60 Def, Auto-Heal, and 20 Speed."
"That's incredible!" Daunte exclaimed, picking up the armor carefully. Arin was quick to scoop up the last figurines. "Brother, I'll run these upstairs!" and he quickly too off out the door.
"I am in awe of you, Lord Daunte," Mooney said cheerfully. "Purchasing 540 figuriens just to complete these sets…you are quite possibly THE best customer I've ever had!"
"Thank you, Mooney," Daunte said. "And I know the Heavenly Set will benefit me greatly on the battlefield."
"Oh, don't think I'm done!" Mooney said. "Now that you've completed all five sets, you've unlock a new type of figurine; Army Headquarters!"
"Oh really?" Daunte said with great interest. "What is that?"
"Model replicas of the headquarters from each of the five wars!" Mooney declared. "I pay special attention to detail, including functioning windows and furniture in rooms! For 1 million bits each, you can—"
"Have a good day, Mooney." Daunte turned and walked straight out of the shop.
Daunte crossed the courtyard to head to the main building. All around him soldiers were running around getting everything ready. Hundreds of tables with red tablecloths were being carried north to be set up with chairs. A large white tent roof was being tied between the central building and the center north building. To the east near the main entrance, a long table with lovely decorations was being set up. To the west near the cliffs a white and red dais was being set up, and a red carpet was being pinned to the ground leading towards the altar.
Tomorrow. Priscilla and Gusoku are getting married tomorrow.
The Liberation Army seemed to be happy with the positive distraction of a wedding. Daunte was wary of the fact that they were having an outdoor wedding when the weather was so cold, but there were going to be bonfires lit all over the place to ensure everyone was warm. He knew what Priscilla and Gusoku wanted for the ceremony; Daunte was going to walk Priscilla down the aisle and give her away, Eresh was going to conduct their ceremony, and the menu Yasaka had given him for the reception looked amazing. Kibbeh, baklava, baba ghannouj, tabouleh, fattoush, fatayer sabaneg, lamb rogan dosh…just remembering everything Yasaka planned on serving made Daunte hungry.
Hopefully the wedding goes off without a hitch and we don't get attacked by the Holy Army. There's already enough red in the decorations, blood doesn't need to be added to it…
"Lord Daunte!"
Daunte stopped at the door of the central building and turned. Priscilla was running towards him with a woman trailing behind. Soldiers who passed by carrying chairs started loudly humming "Bridal Chorus" when they saw Priscilla. "Lord Daunte, my mom made it! Isn't that wonderful?!"
"Thank you for sending that bird ship to come and get me," Priscilla's mother quipped, shaking her head as she looked at her surroundings. "You're certainly generous with this pomp and circumstance for my disgrace of a daughter."
"Love you too, Mom," Priscilla said sarcastically, but then smiled again at Daunte. "Don't you have something you need to give Lord Daunte, Mom?"
"Oh. Right." Priscilla's mother handed Daunte a letter sealed with an official seal. "I was visited by Admiral Bernadette Egan before I left. She requested that this be delivered to someone named "Bax" in your Army."
"Oh!" Daunte exclaimed, taking the letter. "I know what this is! I've got to go!"
"Bye, Lord Daunte!" Priscilla called after him.
"He is a strange boy," her mother sighed.
Daunte hurried to the elevator and took it up to the fifth. He saw Pesmerga outside of the war room again but still no Yuber, but he didn't think about it. "Ah, Lord Daunte!" Caesar called to him from the door.
"I'll be right with you!" Daunte called back to him. He raced up to the top of the rotunda, where Sanji, Gertrude, Bax, and Quasim were standing at the pipes. "Ah, Lord Daunte!" Sanji called to him. "We were about to broadcast—"
"Bax!" Daunte hurried over to the Nay-Kobold and handed him the letter. "Bax, this is from Admiral Egan! I told her to look into your case! This must be the result of her investigations!"
"OH!" Bax cried out. He quickly broke the seal and opened the letter. He proceeded to read it in silence, revealing nothing on his face.
"Well?!" Gertrude said after a moment. "Did you get a pardon? Is that a death warrant?! Tell us, Bax!"
"I—" Bax began to tremble and tears filled his eyes. Before Daunte could ask if he was okay, Bax suddenly pumped his fist and screamed, "I WAS CLEARED!"
"YES!" Gertrude screamed, throwing her arms around Bax.
"That's cause for celebrations!" Sanji said. "Good things we have a wedding tomorrow to have a reason to celebrate!"
"Attention, Liberation Army!" Quasim announced into his pipe. "Bax has been officially cleared of all charges that caused him to flee the Islands Nation Federation!"
"Hey, I wanted to announce that!" Gertrude said indignantly.
"Oh Lord Daunte, THANK YOU!" Bax hugged Daunte tight. "I can go home now thanks to you!"
"That was very generous of you, Lord Daunte," Sanji said. "Could you do Gertrude and I a favor and get us cleared of our charges?"
"But you did what you've been accused of, didn't you?" Daunte pointed out. Sanji responded with a shrug. Daunte looked at Gertrude then. "Because of what you told me about your charge, maybe I can—"
"Don't worry about it," Gertrude said. "I'm on the run from Kanakan, and you have no diplomatic relations with Kanakan. I don't want you sticking your neck out for me like that, Lord Daunte."
"…But—"
"It's fine. I'll be okay."
Daunte left the four to do their announcements and headed back downstairs. Caesar was smiling at him when he approached. "Congratulations to Bax," he said.
"I know," Daunte said with a smile. "We're having a meeting, correct?"
"Yes, come right in."
Daunte entered the war room to see a large crowd gathered. "We're obviously not planning our final war campaign today," Caesar announced. "But there are no more Sheikhs, and from the information Oboro has given us, Holy Army soldiers are deserting daily. Victory is on the horizon for us."
"We must contend with the barrier around the capital," Varnaz said.
"It propelled Yuber, so it's certainly powerful and will keep us out," Keiran pointed out. "Should we plan our battle strategy to try and draw the High Clerics out of the capital?"
"They will be expecting that," Peader said. "For now, we should concentrate on getting rid of the source of the barrier. The witch—Windy—since she is powerful enough to try and remove Lord Daunte's True Rune, she must be behind the source of the magic keeping the barrier around Mlkwt Alsmwat."
"That is correct."
Everyone straightened as Leknaat appeared before them in her familiar light. "Lady Leknaat," Daunte greeted her. "Your sister put the barrier around Mlkwt Alsmwat?"
"It is her magic," Leknaat said. "But magic this powerful would require full and undivided attention. The fact that Windy moves freely, and has acted and used magic independently of the barrier, shows that she has concentrated the magic to be maintained in a singular source. We destroy the source, the barrier will be destroyed."
"A barrier surrounding the largest city in Nagarea," Tamara said. "The place the magic is concentrated in must be enormous."
"To maintain a barrier around a city as large as Mlkwt Alsmwat, the source of the magic must be as big as a building," Caesar said. "A tower, even."
Leknaat nodded. "When the times comes, I will assist you."
"So will I," Oboro said, entering the room. "If you seek a building large enoguh to maintain a barrier, I can investigate it."
"Thank you, Oboro," Daunte said.
"You have done well as the Tenkai Star, Lord Daunte," Leknaat said, turning to face him. "By your strength and perseverance, the 108 Stars of Destiny have fully assembled to bring an end to this conflict. Now is the time for you to reach your full potential."
Daunte gaped at her. "I-I—I don't understand."
Leknaat raised a hand. "108 Stars of Destiny," she announced. "I call upon your combined strength to release the full power of the Rune of Restoration!"
Daunte gaped as a white light suddenly enveloped his whole body. His right hand began to vibrate and pulse, and a yellow-green light began to meld with the white light. The Rune of Restoration felt like it was moving inside his hand, but the True Rune did not seem to seek getting away. His hand felt incredibly hot, and then suddenly the Rune of Restoration's symbol rose into the air.
The light suddenly evaporated, and Daunte felt a swoosh of power down his body, nearly knocking him over. As he tried to catch his breath, he heard the familiar whisper in his ears. "Exorcism Ray."
"'Exorcism Ray'?" He said aloud, staring at the Rune of Restoration.
"That is the name of the final spell of the Rune of Restoration," Leknaat said. "Now the Rune is fully open to you. Now you can use the full power without restraint. Congratulations, Lord Daunte."
"YEAH!" Gunther shouted, pumping his fists. "Now NOTHING can stop us!"
"Don't jinx us," Allise said, though she said it with a smile.
"Lord Daunte is prepared for the final battle, so we must all be prepared as well," Caesar said. "Tell the Army to sharpen their weapons, polish their armor, and get as much money as possible from gambling! Once we start our final campaign, there will be no turning back!"
"We can do this!" Daunte shouted, raising his right hand. "For the sake of our country, we must be victorious! We WILL be victorious!"
Everyone cheered in the war room. Daunte held onto his smile and rubbed his left palm over the Rune of Restoration. I don't think I'll ever understand why you chose me, but thank you for choosing me. Now that I have your full power, I will make myself worthy to use it all.
The Rune of Restoration of course had no response from him, but he thought he felt a pulse in reply.
"🎶I got my freedom, I got my freedom!🎶" Bax sang ad nauseum.
"So there is news coming from across the sea from the Northern Continent," Quasim announced. "The Gate Rune War and Dunan Unification War have been—what is the term—remastered? I'm not certain what this means. Hopefully neither of these wars have been restarted—"
"That's not a very smart assessment, given that the countries these two wars were fought over no longer exists," Sanji said.
"Are you calling me stupid, Sanji?"
"Those are your words, not mine. But those two wars are ridiculously popular, particularly the Dunan Unification War—"
"Hey, are we going down to the wedding yet or not?!" Gertrude demanded.
"Brother, how long do I have to wear this clothes?" Arin complained loudly, tugging at his collar. He was dressed in a red thobe.
"Only until after the ceremony," Daunte told him, patiently pushing his hands away. Daunte himself was dressed in a white thobe. It felt strange for him to not be wearing red. "You can get dressed back into your regular clothes for the reception."
"Really?!"
"This wedding seems very extravagant," Nakula mused, leaning down to pick up Arin. He hauled him up and over his shoulders.
"So your wedding to Mom wasn't like this?" Daunte asked.
"Not even close. Neither Phoebe or I wanted the attention and the clerics and others weren't exactly happy that a High Cleric like her was marrying a foreigner. We had a quiet ceremony and a short honeymoon." he became sullen.
"I-I didn't mean to make you upset—" Daunte said.
"Never apologize to me," Nakula interjected. "For all of the trauma I caused you both, I never want to hear an apology from either of you ever again."
"But—Dad—"
"It is painful for me," Nakula said. "Everything I have lost. But I have not lost everything. I have my sons, and I know I have my family in Armes. I've forsaken them, but…"
"But you want to see them again?" Daunte asked. "You want to see your brother again?"
Nakula nodded. "Maybe—Maybe after the war."
"Can I go with you?!" Arin asked excitedly.
"Me too?" Daunte asked.
"Of course," Nakula said. "But Daunte, I don't know if there's an expectation of you becoming the new ruler here or not."
Daunte sucked in a sharp breath and let it out slowly. "I—"
He was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Hey Daunte?" Roen called out. "Everything's almost ready!"
"Priscilla's arguing with Parvati downstairs!" Felicity announced through the door.
Daunte quickly opened the door. Roen was wearing a red thobe while Felicity was wearing a white dress and a green wreath garland with white flowers. Daunte knew from Nagarean weddings traditions that unwed girls and women wore such garlands. Women who were married wore green wreath garlands with red flowers. "What happened?" he demanded. "Why would Priscilla yell at Parvati?!"
"That's the poor woman who lost her sight, isn't it?" Nakula asked, approaching the door with Arin still on his shoulders.
"It's not bad," Roen said. "It sounded like Parvati was trying to refuse the wedding invitation, and Priscilla was trying to convince her to go to the wedding."
Daunte shook his head. "I'll deal with this now. The ceremony's about to start."
They headed down to the first floor, where they could hear Priscilla speaking loudly. The first floor was decorated in white flowers and streamers and Daunte hurried to the infirmary. Priscilla had her back to the door dressed in a beautiful red wedding dress (a softer shade of red than the scarlet she had worn before) with no veil and a red and white bouqet, and Parvati was sitting on a bed before her dressed in a white dress with a silk white scarf wrapped around her eyes. A red garland was resting in her lap.
"Ah, Lord Daunte," Clara said, hurrying forward. She was dressed in red with a white garland on her head. "Parvati is refusing to attend the wedding. Would you mind helping us convince her to go?"
"Parvati, don't you want to go?" Felicity asked. "Weddings are happy occasions! We all deserve to be happy for once!"
"I-I don't want to bother anyone," Parvati said. "I'm still familiarizing myself with moving around here, and with the furniture set up I'm bound to bump into everything. I'll bring attention to myself and away from Priscilla, which I don't want to do."
"And I think that's ridiculous!" Priscilla said sharply. "Did you honestly think we'd just leave you behind without any assistance! Everyone is attending my wedding and that's final!"
"A-And my scars!" Parvati blurted out, gesturing towards the scarf. "What if this falls off? Everyone will see my scars and it will upset people who are trying to be happy!"
"Parvati, this Army is seen worse than body scars," Daunte reassured her. "Everyone wants you to be here. Come, we'll get you to your seat—"
"And I don't think I deserve to celebrate anything after what I've done!" Parvati exclaimed, gripping her garland in her hand.
"'What you've done'?" Arin echoed. "Ms. Parvati, you haven't—"
"But I did, and these scars are proof of that! My family—my son—is dead because of me! The couple that took care of me wouldn't have fallen victim of bandits had they not been caring for me! People are dead because of me, but…" she shuddered and ducked her head forward. "It isn't—right for me to celebrate anything when I've caused so much misery…"
"You need to live."
Parvati lifted her head and Daunte looked over his shoulder at Nakula. "You say people are dead because of you," Nakula said. "Then own it. Own and accept that they are dead while you are alive. You are alive. You are alive for a reason. While you are alive, it's your duty to live. If you feel like it's a curse to be alive, it's your responsibility to turn that curse into a blessing. I live while my own wife and scores of other people are dead. My sons suffered because of me. The hurt I carry is insurmountable. But I see the fact that I'm alive as a blessing because I can redeem myself to my sons and redeem myself to those who have died."
"…There is no one for me to redeem myself to," Parvati said quietly.
"Not so," Dr. Yulin said, stepping forward. "You feel that you wronged your child. You can redeem yourself by caring for children. For the orphans that live here and the orphans that have been made from this war. Give them a reason to live, and you will give yourself a reason to live."
"But—my scars—"
"Children who have lost their families have already experienced one of the greatest horrors a person can experience," Daunte said. "If you give them the kindness and love that you show your peers, then they will have no reason to fear you. Scars or no scars. Does this sound appealing to you? Aiding in the care of the children here, and then more after the war?"
Parvati was silent for a long time. Finally she nodded without another word. "Good!" Priscilla declared, grabbing the garland from her lap and putting it on her head. "You were outvoted anyway, so let's get going!"
"We should hurry or we're going to be late," Roen said, but Priscilla waved a dismissive hand. "I'm the bride! I can be as late as I want!"
I'm not sure that's how it works, Daunte thought.
Daunte and Priscilla waited at the doors of the central building while everyone else hurried on ahead of them. Well, Dr. Yulin and Clara were careful on guiding Parvati where she needed to be. Daunte looked towards the sky and saw that it was clear. "Are you ready?"Daunte asked.
Priscilla took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I think so. Thank you, Lord Daunte."
"For what?"
"I came to this country for selfish reasons. I fell in love with a man who had a family and agreed to be his mistress. I wrecked a family…and it almost cost me my life." She shuddered. "It's strange, isn't it? Having the worst decision I ever made turn into the best decision I ever made? I wouldn't have been almost burned alive had I not come here, but I wouldn't have met the true love of my life if I hadn't come here. I just—thank whatever deities exist that I met you, Lord Daunte. Had you not been arrested at the same time as me…I wouldn't be here right now."
"I wasn't going to leave you behind," Daunte said. "And I'm glad you found happiness, Priscilla. I'm going to ensure that moving forward Nagarea has a government system of integrity, so no one has to suffer like you have."
Prsicilla scoffed. "My suffering was of my own making. But I appreciate the sentiment, Lord Daunte."
"It's time," a soldier ran over to them. "Everyone is seated and ready, Lord Daunte."
Daunte took her head. "Let's go."
Priscilla nodded. "Let's go."
Kakyoku was strumming his sitar and singing when they reached the rows of hundreds of seats. Everyone stood as they reached the red carpet and began to walk down the aisle. The air was still chilly but the numerous bonfires lit around them made the area feel moderately conformable. Daunte saw everyone dressed in the wedding colors of red and white, and all of the girls and women wore white or red garlands on their heads. At the end of the aisle was the dais, where Eresh and Gusoku stood. Gusoku looked nervous but was smiling, and Eresh look no different than how she normally looked.
They reached the dais and Kakyoku stopped playing. Eresh looked up at them. "Eresh asks the bearer of the Rune of Restoration who gives this woman in marriage."
Daunte stuttered for a moment, as she had answered her own question. "I, Daunte, leader of the Liberation Army." He let Priscilla go and hurried to his seat.
"Please be seated," Eresh announced. Everyone complied. "Eresh has always found weddings confusing," Eresh began. "She has puzzled over why so much time and money is spent on one day where food and decorations are celebrated. But Eresh knows that weddings make everyone happy, so she will conduct this ceremony.
"Gusoku has a gift he would like to present Priscilla. Eresh wants you to present the gift."
"Y-Yes," Gusoku said. He waved a hand, and another army soldier stepped forward and gave him a large red box. "You are the greatest treasure I know," Gusoku said to Priscilla. "So I find it fitting to give you the greatest treasure I possess." He pulled the lid off the box and showed her the inside.
Priscilla looked inside the box and screamed. She reached inside with her free hand, and to Daunte's great shock she pulled out a breastplate made of platinum!
Isn't that the same armor Rafe sold to Gusoku? Daunte looked over his shoulder just in time to hear the man himself say, "Didn't I sell that armor?"
Daunte turned back to the dais to see Priscilla kissing Gusoku all over his face. "No kisses yet," Eresh announced. "The ceremony has just started."
Everyone laughed and the couple composed themselves before Eresh. "Eresh should announce at this point that Nagar is happy for weddings," she said. "Because weddings means mass procreation, and mass procreation creates more followers of Nagar. Because adultery is illegal, by Nagar's will Gusoku and Priscilla will sign a wedding contract in front of everyone."
A table was brought out before the couple and Chinmaya placed a single piece of paper in the center of the table. "By the will of the bearer of the Rune of Restoration, any clauses involving death that appears in a traditional Nagarean contract have been removed," Eresh said bluntly. "Eresh tells the bride and groom to sign the contract if it pleases them."
Priscilla and Gusoku carefully read over the contract before they both signed it. "Now for the vows," Eresh announced. Farzin stepped forward with a knife and Gusoku and Priscilla presented their palms. Farzin cut their palms very slightly, but enough to draw blood. Neither Gusoku nor Priscilla flinched, and pressed their bleeding hands together.
"The couple has spilled their blood, as Nagar demands the blood of nonbelievers to be spilt," Eresh said. "Does Gusoku pledge on his blood to bind Gusoku to Priscilla?"
"I do."
"Does Gusoku pledge on his blood to shed blood for Nagar against His enemies?"
"Ah—yes."
"Does Gusoku pledge on his blood to have offspring who will carry on the legacy of shedding blood for Nagar?"
"…Yes—"
I forgot how…grim Nagarean vows are, Daunte thought. But since we're supposed to live in the service of Nagar—and we spread the word of His religion through violence and bloodshed—it's not really surprising.
Both Gusoku and Priscilla looked uneasy to be reciting vows not only promising bloodshed and violence upon the enemies of Nagar, but also pledging hypothetical children to his same cause. "Maybe they should have wrote their own vows?" Caesar muttered.
But the recitation of vows when off without a hitch, and the table with the contract was removed. Gusoku and Priscilla let each other's hands go and a healing spell was casted over them to heal their cuts.
"Finally," Eresh called out bluntly. "The veil ceremony."
A chair was placed on the dais and Priscilla sat down. Tamara brought forth a solid red veil and presented it to Gusoku. "Eresh tells Gusoku to pin the veil on Priscilla's head and Priscilla will be Gusoku's wife," Eresh said.
Eresh directed the ceremony with no emotion and matter-of-factly. Her bluntness kept taking Daunte out of the ceremony, and he silently wondered why Gusoku and Priscilla chose Eresh over the other candidates to conduct their ceremony. But as the ceremony was nearly finished, there wasn't much that could be done about it. The bride and groom however did look happy as Gusoku carefully pinned Priscilla's veil to her head. When he was finished and stood up, she looked beautiful. The solid veil suited her perfect.
"Eresh declares the ceremony over," Eresh announced. "Gusoku and Priscilla may kiss each other if they want."
The couple did exactly that while the Army cheered. "Eresh's body is cold," Eresh said. "Eresh will go and get her body warm."
"Remind me not to hire her for my ceremony," Gunther muttered.
"I think she's charming," Allise replied. "And since when are you getting married?"
"Ah—uh—"
Daunte felt a tug on his arm and he looked down at Arin. "Can I take these weird clothes off now?" He asked.
Darkness surrounded him but he heard chanting. It was time.
"THE BLACK KING WANTS YOUR SOUL. HE WILL REPLACE YOUR SOUL WITH INFINITE POWER. WILL YOU GIVE YOUR SOUL TO THE BLACK KING?"
He didn't like that there was an…underlying feeling of dread inside of him. But he was ready. He knew that he was ready. He ignored the dread and nodded. "I am ready," he said. "Give me power."
He was seized from behind, and shackles snapped around his wrists. He knew that this was supposed to happen, but the dread flared up again at being bound. He settled it down though and ignored it. He wanted this. He wanted power.
you will get power
The familiar whisper in his mind made him shudder, but the power behind that whisper made him giddy. He wanted that power. He wanted to be powerful enough to make people tremble just by whispering.
it will be yours. it will all be yours
He smiled, and lifted his head as a shadow darker than his surroundings stood over him. "IT IS TIME." He knew this shadow to be the physical form of the voice who trained him. The voice who gradually introduced him to the intoxication of darkness. He was addicted, and could not be satiated. He wanted more. "ARE YOU READY?"
He nodded without hesitation. "I want it. Give it to me."
The shadow shifted, and a laugh rumbled from it. "YOU ARE A BOY NO MORE. YOU WILL BE THE BEAST YOU WERE MEANT TO BE."
A dark aura enveloped him, and he could feel the coldness seeping into his skin and infecting his body. It was the dark power he craved. He wanted it…but he couldn't shake the dread that still lingered inside of him. He tried to ignore it; to focus on the chanting in the dead language he heard around him. He would have power. He would be eternal. He would be better than he is now.
He saw a form in the shadow in front of him, hovering over his face. And briefly, just briefly—he heard a small whisper in his mind. No. I do not want this!
"AH-CHOO!"
A burst of white light suddenly enveloped the darkness. The shadow shift, and he screamed when he felt a burst of pain. Bright patches filled his right eye's vision, and then suddenly he saw nothing but red and black. Red over his eyes, and the darkness around him.
"ABOMINATION!"
The chanting ceased upon the shout. It was a girl's voice he had never heard before. The shadow shifted away from him, and in the darkness he saw a girl bathed in blinding white light. Her hair was dark, her eyes were blue, but she clutched a white staff and was dressed in a white dress. She had a look of determination on her face as she observed her surroundings. She wasn't frightened in the slightest by the darkness…or what lurked beyond it.
"INTERLOPER," the shadow hissed at the girl.
The girl turned to face the shadow."Eligos," she hissed at him. "In the name of Waffu, you will NOT SUCCEED!"
kill her
The shadows shifted at the command and the shadow—Eligos—lunged at her. But the girl stood her stood and spread her arms. "GO!" she shrieked.
A yellow rune symbol rose into the air, and bright light somehow enveloped the shapeless darkness that was Eligos. He blinked, his vision still tainted with red—and Eligos was gone.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
The that always whispered was now shouting. The voice caused the world around them to shake.
WHO ARE YOU
The voice sounded…afraid? But how?! That was the Black King! The Black King feared nothing!
"My name is Viki!" The girl shouted in the direction of the voice. "And I came here from the year IS 1995 to stop you! AND THAT'S WHAT I WILL DO!"
Viki? IS 1995? But—wasn't the year—
KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER
The voice shrieked the command over and over again, and he felt he eardrums rupture from the screaming. Blood trickled down both sides of his neck as shadows moved forwards. Demons and monster made of nightmares surrounded the girl, Viki. But she faced them all unafraid. "I'm ready!" She shouted. "Come and get me!"
The monsters lunged at her—
His eyes opened again. He was no longer surprised that he was falling asleep. A snarl rose on his lips as he formed a single word. "Her."
Yuber swiftly stood and teleported, touching down in front of the elevator on the first floor. His footsteps did not make a sound as he rounded the corner and descended the stairs. The first floor of the main building was covered in colorful flowers and streamers. It looked disgusted.
"Wow a fun day!"
His jaw locked when he heard her voice, and then he saw her. She was dressed no differently than she usually was, but a garland of white flowers sat on top of her head.
"Weddings are fun!" she announced, humming a little to herself. There was no one around. She appeared to be talking to herself.
Yuber lunged forward, grabbing her from behind. Viki screamed, but he clamped a hand over her mouth. The scream broke off against his hand, but her eyes went wide when she looked over her shoulder at him. She tried to talk, but her voice was muffled against his palm.
Yuber bent his head towards her ear. "Little witch." he meant to sound menacing, but his voice was surprisingly soft. "You and I are going to have a little talk."
Viki made a confused noise but Yuber said nothing more and teleported away, taking her with him.
Pesmerga stopped in his tracks at the foot of the stairs. The giant mirror rattled very slightly after they had teleported away. The garland had flown off her head and fell to the floor, bouncing upon impact. After a long moment, he smirked to himself. "I know where they are."
End of Chapter Eleven
Rune of Restoration
Level 1: Howl – Restores Half HP/1 MP Spell
Level 2: Berate – 200 DMG across all enemies
Level 3: Wail - Restores all Health/Revives all Allies
Level 4: Exorcism Ray - 500 DMG to all enemies, double damage to undead enemies