Prelude Chapter 14: Porcelain Perfection

Moongrum III

Where am I? Moongrum thought to himself as he awoke, water dripped from his body him as he rose, above him where the stars although, he recognized no familiar constellations, and in the horizon was a full moon, not the full moon of his mistress, nor the twin moons of his commander, but a darker one, and it put fear inside the heart of the knight. Is this the afterlife? I remember the Crucible Knight striking me and it all went black… I have to get back, I cannot die, not now. Moongrum heard a light clicking sound behind him, and he turned to face whatever made the auditory noise, his hand swung to his sheathe to draw his sword, but no sword was there to draw.

A pleasure to welcome thee, Dearest Moongrum.

The voice, powerful yet soft, rang in Moongrums mind, deafening his own thoughts momentarily as he looked around, attempting to locate the owner of the voice. Show yourself being! Where are you? Why am I here? Moongrum attempted to stay calm despite the stress within him.

Your words unpleaseth me, but alas I shall meet thine request.

Moongrum watched as slowly, a figure stepped from a rift in space itself, he gasped upon seeing the being's striking resemblance to Renna, down to her very clothing and facial features. Although this 'Renna' showed no emotion, and her skin was as pale as snow, lacking any life within, her skin was horribly cracked, akin to a broken plate, It's unnatural blue hair fell long and free beneath the comically large hat that his counterpart would often wear. He listened to the clicks of the mechanical interworkings of the figure as it fully stepped from the rift as it stood in front of the dark moon which ominously hung behind it.

It's blue lifeless eye gazed upon him, the other eye of the doll was closed, and a crack rested underneath the closed eye, astral energy flowed from the opening constructing a face wildly different from the face of the doll parallel to the head of it. Within him Moongrum was fearful of this being, perhaps it was some sort of god, or emissary, either option terrified him.

What in the world are you? Moongrum thought as he looked upon the bastardization of his friend. You are not Renna, yet you look exactly like her, but what are you?

Indeed I am not Renna, far from, in fact.

The doll said, lighting stepping towards him without making a sound other than the clicking within it.

Who are you then? Moongrum stepped backwards away from the doll.

I am someone who you will cometh to know, far from now, you will encounter me.

Moongrum grew confused at the creature's words, it made no sense, and frankly, unnerved him.

You failed to answer my question.

I have come not to respond to thine questioning, I have come to give thine answers.

You make no sense, what answers? Moongrum even while fearful he grew impatient.

The answer to the first inquiry thou asked when you entered this domain. This is the afterlife, although far from thine end.

Now confused and enraged more than ever, Moongrum stood fully facing the doll as he walked towards it, his fists clenched as he had no weapon other than his body. All he wanted was to go back, to see Renna, and see his comrades, and his queen. He wished not to be lost in the passage of time, not to be a name written in the book of casualties and be forgotten, he wanted to live and protect as was the oath he swore to the house of Caria.

You have eluded me long enough spirit! On my word as Moongrum, Carian Knight, I beg of you, send me back so I may fulfill my oath properly this time.

Moongrum fell to his knees before the doll, looking up at it, and into the astral eyes of the second face of his tormentor looked down upon him, the face looked sad, even pleading as an astral tear fell down it's chin, landing on Moongrum's face, where it dissolved into nothingness. The doll began to speak, just as coldly and emotionless as earlier even as its second face wept.

Carian Knight, I wished to save thee from thine fate by keeping thou here, within this afterlife. I see now you wisheth to embrace your faith, I utter one warning upon thee.

long will be the final night of Caria, and thou will bear witness the fall.

The doll's clothes rustled as another set of arms emerged from her garb, and grabbed a staff from the doll's belt, the staff was of a dark wood and at the pinnacle of the staff was a hook, containing a darkened glintstone crystal. Moongrum quickly recognized the weapon as eerily reminiscent of Rennala's own staff, but as the doll brandished the scepter, he felt a pull from within him, as he fell backwards into the mist below.

I bid thee farewell, teacher.

Moongrum felt water rush into his lungs, choking him, and then as the liquid filled his entire body, he was swept away by the current of uncertainty, he back slammed against a hard object and suddenly, the water was gone. as his eyes slowly lifted, seeing the ceiling of Raya Lucaria's infirmary, moonlight glared at him through a nearby window. He attempted to raise his arm but to no avail, he continued to look upon the room observing his surroundings, from the dead candle beside his bed where the dried wax had dripped upon the ground, and then to the two figures who rested atop his right leg and left arm.

His heart began to beat again, and warmth was sent through his body, which woke one of the girls who gripped upon him like a vice. Her head rose showing Moongrum the face he had seen not moments ago, but this time Renna's face was tear-stricken, and her hair was unkept. Her hat had been placed beside her, and although Moongrum could not yet hear her, he saw her mouth move frantically as she called for assistance. The cry awoke the other, his sister, Moonrithyll, who awoke in a similar fashion, he saw that his sister's once coloured face was pale, and she also sported a black eye.

Professor Azur and Preceptor Mirriam rushed inside the room, both almost tripping on their robes, Azur wore his usual clothing of long robes adorned with many crystals that jutted out awkwardly, whereas Mirriam was in her nightgown as she had awoken from her sleep. The two moved quickly, checking his vitals with tools and spells, as Moongrum slowly regained feeling in his body, these tools bothered him enough to wince, which kickstarted the arrival of his hearing.

"Moongrum, can you hear us?" Azur spoke in his tender tone beside the knight's ear, Moongrum nodded slowly, signifying he could.

Azur's smile was visible through the large glintstone crystal he wore upon his head as he nodded, signifying the others to come closer. Renna was atop him almost momentarily, her small form holding him tighter than he would have liked, although the feeling was slightly enjoyable. Moonrithyll on the other hand stood bedside looking upon her brother, perhaps her grief had passed seeing he had survived, and she had possibly returned to her usual self.

"What happened? The last I remember is jumping in front of a Crucible Knight to save Lady Renna." He said informing the gathering of his last memory, leaving out his spiritual encounter as he felt it too odd to explain.

"It seems you died, not a death like others where the soul is separated from the body temporarily and simply wanders about nearby until it finds its vessel. You truly died, myself and queen Rennala looked everywhere, but we found no trace of it, until now." Preceptor Mirriam said, as she sat herself in a longchair nearby. The old witch was obviously seconds away from falling back into slumber as her eyes drooped tiredly.

"Thank you for your efforts, Preceptor, I will have to extend my gratitude to our queen as well." Mooongrum said, attempting to put his hand on his chest, although Renna's head got in the way as he felt her tears wet his shirt he had been dressed in, he placed his hand atop her cranium instead.

"If such noise continues, she may wake, and extra gratitude may be required. Her grace rests nearby with her sister who suffered a grievous injury by the hand of Godfrey." Mirriam responded, gesturing towards the doorway with her staff, "I am in need of some rest, shake me if you die again." She said as she rose, as silently as a ghost, and left the room, followed by Azur who turned before leaving.

"The same for I, Young ones please make sure you rest. Especially you Sir Moongrum, your body is weak, it may take quite a while to recover. Alas I bid you goodnight." Azur turned on his coattails, and as he exited the glintstone on his footwear could be heard crunching softly as he disappeared.

A sigh escaped Moongrums mouth, as he looked down upon his chest where Renna's face was still buried, the princess was shaking quite fervently even as he placed his other hand on her back to reassure her. He turned his gaze to his sister who shrugged as neither of them had seen Renna show such emotion.

"Lady Renna has been at your bedside longer than I have, it seems you've made a proper friend, brother." Moonrithyll said softly, although Moongrum picked up that she was hiding her emotion behind her slowed words and mocking tone.

"I seem to remember having another 'friend' forced upon me since her birth." He said slightly smiling. Despite their differences and disagreements, Moongrum had carried his sickly sister to Raya Lucaria years ago in hope of curing her ailment after their village had been overrun by bandits. In return for the cure, he pledged himself to the house of Caria as a student and then as a Knight, where Moonrithyll shortly followed in his footsteps.

"Oh, shut your trap." Moonrithyll said, slightly tearing up, as she turned away to hide her emotion, "I'm going to bed, make sure Lady Renna does not flood the room, bastard." she said as she dashed from the room leaving him alone with his companion weeping into his chest as she had for the past few minutes.

Moongrum patted Renna's back which seemed to calm her for a time, as she looked up at him with red eyes. Her lip quivered, although not out of mock like usual but out of pure emotion, deep within Moongrum he felt relieved to be back and in her chaotic presence. He himself shed a tear as he pulled her tight, which caused Renna to yelp in surprise.

"Azur told you to be careful!" Renna said full of worry, although she hugged him back, nonetheless.

He desperately wanted to tell her about how he begged a spectral entity to send him back to her, and also to Raya Lucaria, but mainly her. Although he thought that may be quite awkward to explain and would perhaps make Renna think he thought of her romantically. He knew he could never think of the Carian princess in that way, due to his duty as her knight and supervisor. but still, the idea was tempting nonetheless.

"I worried for you, your body went cold in my arms, I didn't know what to do." Renna said, shivering slightly.

"You know I'll always come back to you, I was tasked with watching over you. I can't very well do that if I've passed on." he said, patting her back again. "Thank you, Renna I'm sure you're the reason I survived this altercation."

"Well, you do owe me that promise, about the eggs." Renna motioned to her hat which she reached down and moved, revealing the basket containing the dragon eggs which seemed to shine even brighter in the moonlight than they ever did in the daylight. Moongrum immediately felt a twinge of guilt as he had forgotten about the eggs while he had died, but he recognized their importance and he would never forget it, even if they hatched.

The two sat in silence, Renna admired the dragon eggs with fervor as with her short attention span, and lack of sleep they had easily stolen her interest. Moongrum on the other hand, found himself unable to take his eyes from her as she sat atop him. Many men would be looking upon her figure or other places, but not Moongrum, in truth, he was much more distracted by the look on her face, the look of interest even with the puffy bags underneath her eyes she remained a beam of hope for him.

"Look! One of them is moving." Renna exclaimed, bringing the basket between them as she sat up upon his lap. Moongrum did not share his friend's happiness, as his eyes were wide open in shock, as he snapped his head to the basket. He had never expected the eggs to hatch or even move, and now he watched as the larger purple egg wiggled and jostled against the other. The eggs had chosen quite the wrong time to become active, as in his current state he couldn't help Renna care for them, this made him feel guilty.

Suddenly a loud cracking was sounded from the purple egg as it began to split, Renna in her excitement had turned from crying moments ago, to now whooping with joy. Moongrum was similarly excited, but was equally nervous for whatever would happen, what if Renna dropped the hatchling, or worse what if the newborn didn't accept them as parents and flew away the second it had a chance. Both thoughts swirled around in Moongrums mind as he himself squirmed.

"It's happening!" Renna nearly yelled as the first egg shook wildly, she was bent over bed and the top of the basket observing the sight. Without warning the violet egg began to glow white, and coincidentally Moongroom recalled drake eggs had a tendency to explode whenever they hatched. He grabbed the basket placing it upon an empty spot on his bed, and rolled off the bed, taking Renna with him, much to her displeasure.

A slight concussive blast, accompanied by a slight warmth in the room overcame them both, signifying the eggs hatching. Moongrums ears rang as the two sorcerers laid safely on the wooden floor nearby, Renna shot up first, extending her hand to help him up, which he weakly grabbed, using the wall so he did not overturn her. Upon looking upon the bed that he once laid on, they saw a smoking hole, and pieces of the basket and the eggs strewn across the room.

"I take it you forgot that drake eggs are incendiary?" Moongrum asked, clutching the windowsill for balance. Renna responded by sticking her tongue out at him, before reaching into the smoking hole. Almost immediately Moongrum saw two slithering creatures slither up the sleeves of the witch as they retreated inside her clothing, most likely seeking warmth. Renna however turned a shade of red and began jumping about as she screeched for assistance.

"Moongrum help! It tickles! Get them from my robes!" She said as she ran about frantically.

"Rennala would have my head if I removed even a wristband from you." He responded, lightly laughing while watching the spectacle.

"I will have your head if you don't help me!" Renna said as tears appeared in her eyes from being tickled by the dragonlings.

"Fine, If your sisters find out about this, then you will explain." he said, moving over to her using the bed frame as a crutch. When he eventually reached her, he outstretched his arm to grab the cuff of Renna's sleeve, and as he did, he felt something slip up his own sleeve, the hatchling slithered to his chest where it quickly halted and curled into a ball, as it had found the warmest place upon his body. Moongrum did try to hide his own smile as he knew if Renna saw he would surely never hear the end of it.

His companion on the other hand had calmed down, as she had caught her hatching in her hands near the front of her neck, and upon removing it gently, revealing that the youngling was pearl white, its black eyes flickered open, scanning the room and eventually locking eyes with Renna. Moongrum thought the sight was nothing short of ethereal, the Snow Witch holding the last ice drake hatched in the Lands Between. Renna turned the drake upside down, as it was nearly the size of her palm, and checked the gender.

"Aha! He is a male!" Renna whooped.

"Indeed, and a pretty one at that." he said admiring the scene, Moongrum had surmised that the youth that laid buried in his chest had transferred itself from Renna to himself, was a normal drake, as base drakes were known to seek warmth upon hatching, as they use up their body heat upon hatching, whereas ice drakes seek the opposite and tend not to hatch in explosive fashion.

"What about the one in your clothing? Let's see! Let's see!" Renna said eagerly, jumping up and down as she did. The pale hatchling in her hands squealed as he was unaccustomed to his holder's movements, especially as she held him quite tightly by his tail. Upon hearing his cries, she released him, and the drake crawled atop Renna's head, perching himself atop her ponytail.

Moongrum reached within his tunic and touched the hatchling lightly, he was met with a sharp pain in his finger as the little gremlin bit into him, he winced in pain, although with the drake latched onto his finger he began to pull it from his clothing. The drake squirmed and hissed as it was pulled from the warm nesting spot it had found, and into the normal air that it hated much. The dragonling was the same shade of a Grave Lilly, and it looked at him with wide questioning eyes as it released his finger from its tiny maw. He found this hatchling much more visually entrancing than its sibling, as he quickly checked the gender by checking underneath the drakes chin for a identifying horn, which he found none signifying the drake was female. She eventually slithered her way to rest on his shoulder, where her tail wrapped around his neck, perhaps in a show of trust.

"She's so beautiful." Renna said, her mouth agape as she stepped closer to him. Her drake had his head perked up as he stood shoulder-level with Moongrum as he also observed his sister.

"What should we name them?" he asked, as he felt his drake coo, as she laid upon his shoulder.

"Perhaps we should name each other's hatchlings!" Renna squealed, Moongrum did not object to this idea, as he found it intriguing and fairly intimate.

"I agree, since your dragonling is of the ice variety, likely the last of his kind, he needs a name that is strong like the winds that blow through the mountaintops of the giants," Moongrum paused, considering the pale drakes beauty. "Borealis, will suit him well."

The ice dragonling let out a vocal sound, almost like the bark of a dog as he sat upright and looked at Moongrum, bobbing his little head slightly in approval. Renna however was displeased with her new child's name, as she raised her eyebrow.

"A Borealis is a phenomenon, not a wind, silly. Although he should grow into his name." she said as she reached up to pet Borealis, which he enjoyed greatly, letting out purrs as he was appraised. "As for your little one, I've never heard of a purple drake before, and she's quite larger than borealis. Perhaps Adula, a fitting name for a regal looking babe."

The amethyst-colored drake opened one of her eyes and proceeded to make a sound akin to a loud sigh, leaving both the humans in confusion if she had accepted her name. Renna and Moongrum shrugged and decided without words that Adula would be her name from then forward.

"What in the lands is happening here?" A rather enraged voice rumbled from the doorway. Moongrum alongside Renna turned and saw Rennala, she wore her nightgown alongside a deadly look in her pale blue eyes as she looked at the two of them, "Thank your own luck Rellana did not wake with the fuss you two caused. What is keeping the two of you awake at this hour?" Rennala hissed.

"The eggs hatched…" Renna said pointing at the two hatchlings who also looked upon Rennala although with questioning eyes as they observed the visitor. Moongrum began to slowly take a knee, although pain within him caused him to falter and catch himself on the bedpost.

"Do not push yourself Moongrum, your strength is needed. Renna, return to your quarters and take the younglings with you, if one wishes to stay with Moongrum then let it, I understand your feelings for him but you both must rest separately tonight." Rennala said as she let her anger dissolve, most likely due to the unique situation. Renna, although turned a bright shade of crimson from embarrassment.

"Sister, I don't-" The words caught in Renna's throat as Moongrum watched her head spin from him to her elder sister, and then back again, Borealis clutched onto her ponytail for dear life. She eventually decided to speak to Moongrum first, as she spun towards him, "Keep Adula for tonight, I must go." She then scurried past her sister into the dark halls of the academy.

The silence and tension were prevalent between himself and Rennala, as she stepped into the room, closing the door behind her, and stepping towards him. Rennala's presence was colder than usual, she came to him not as the headmistress of Raya Lucaria, but as the Queen of the Fullmoon.

"Moongrum, you have served my family well, especially my dear young sister, you have guided her to be more focused with her actions, this is why I have come to ask you something rather personal."

"My queen, I will answer whatever question you ask." Moongrum said, his nerves threatening to kill him again, even Adula atop his shoulder felt it as she retreated back inside his tunic.

Rennnala breathed in slowly before speaking, "When your soul was separated from your body, when you met death, what did you see?"

Moongrum was surprised by the queen's question, and by the seriousness in her eyes as she asked. He quickly summarized what he had seen in his state of death, from waking in the 'afterlife', to meeting Renna's dollish counterpart and his conversation with it, and finally when he was sent back to the world at his request.

"I see," Renala said as she seated herself in the nearby armchair, she brought her hands to her head ash she rubbed her temples in concentration, Moongrum had see her vexed by issues before, but nothing to the point where the headmistress had to stimulate her brain. "This is not the first time someone has seen this being, I encountered that specific being many years ago." Moongrum was shocked by Rennala's words.

"May I ask what happened?" He asked, intrigued by her experience.

"It was during my tender as a champion of the arena's, in the earliest days of the Erdtree, I faced a blind swordsman, he had no titles, and nothing to his name, all anyone knew was that he was a wanderer who entered the competition for no specific reason. Like me he fought, defeating all of his opponents swiftly until only him and I stood and faced each other. He defeated me, landing a blow that killed me. When I awoke, I saw the same figure you described, she told me that I must continue fighting as a champion, which I had grown very tired of. I told the spectral creature that I would be abandoning the coliseums, and she sent me back. After that I retired, and I took Renna, who I had with me at the time, and began my journey to form this academy."

The room fell silent, save for the occasional creak of the armchair, or the smoldering sound that came from the bed as smoke rose from the gaping hole where Adula had hatched. Moongrum nodded his head as he spoke, breaking the silence.

"It seems that this figure wishes to meddle with your family and your subjects." He said firmly

"Indeed, it is troubling that such an outer being wishes us such ill will. Let these words that have been spoken only pass between us, please Moongrum." Rennala said softly.

"Your word is my law. May I ask a question of you, my lady?" Rennala nodded, signifying him to continue, "How many passed, during the last battle?" Moongrum had to know the answer, although he knew true death like the one he experienced was impossible for any others, he had vowed to keep any from having their souls separate from their bodies.

"Save for you, none. Every single scholar and knight survived, many with grave injuries, but they fought valiantly, My sister has lost an eye, Bols has lost a few fingers as he took on the Tree Sentinels alongside his kin, your sister suffered a concussion, although due to your actions Renna was unscathed, you have my gratitude." Rennala said, her face relieved, but not without regret. "The same can be said of our enemy, it was a true stalemate."

"That is the best outcome, right?" he said, forcing a smile.

"Indeed, now please get some rest. Don't let your hatchling grow cold."

"My queen, what of the dragon you rode?" he asked, as Rennala stood to leave, she turned, the queen's eyes were upon the floor, perhaps in shame.

"I used my magic to hatch and grow Smaurag to adolescence, in hope of gaining extra support for our troops. Sadly, I was incorrect and the enhancements I placed upon him caused the youngling to have a hunger for glintstone, and he flew off during the battle, shortly after your passing. We have searched for him, although by Renna's request he is to be left alone to live the wild life he deserves."

"I understand, thank you." Moongrum said, bowing his head.

"You may return to your quarters tonight to rest, as your bed here is currently indisposed. I shall station Jerren to watch over you in case anything happens." Rennala said, as she walked over to him and cast a spell upon him. He immediately felt strength return to his body as he began to walk unaided, although he knew this was temporary.

"Thank you for your assistance my queen." he said as he followed her to the doorway, and into the hallway where they parted ways.

"Anytime, young man, anytime." Renalla said as she opened a nearby door and receded inside, her long black braid was the last thing Moongrum saw of her as he walked towards his quarters.

He attempted to pet Adula through his tunic, although the dragonling snapped at him, threatening to tear through the fabric if she was disturbed, he decided to abandon his efforts of bonding with her for a while. His steps echoed through the silent expanse of the academy, as he passed open and closed doors, he felt that many of the students had returned, as the academy, while silent, was once again filled with life.

Moongrum eventually found his quarters, beside the door Jerren sat on the floor, refilling his pipe with greens, the older knight nodded at him as he stood up to open the door. "Welcome back, it seems yer gettin' the special treatment tonight." He said laughing.

"May the record state I did not ask for it, thank you, friend." Moongrum said as he clasped hands with Jerren in a shake of masculinity.

"Aye, just get better, will you." Jerren said as he motioned Moongrum into his room, closing the door, separating the two.

Moongrum made his way to the bed he had laid in for the past five years and crawled under the covers, and closed his eyes as sleep came to him almost immediately. He hoped he would not see that damned doll ever again.