"Malroth?"
Malroth slowly turned away from Dracken and Hermit, looking at Lulu who was watching him with wide eyes. "What?"
"Are… are you really going to blow off… what that guy said?"
"What do you mean?"
Babs walked up next to Lulu, a deep frown on her soft lips and a hand on her hip. "'E said that 'e's killed ya before."
Malroth stiffened and looked around at the people that were slowly gathering around him, he felt his body start to run cold until a gloved hand touched his wrist. He looked back, seeing Dracken holding a clouded bottle up to him. "Lily should be back in a day or two, she can help me control my… other half." He stuffed down the growl that tried building up in his throat. "I can-"
"Do you not trust yourself? If you make a deal with him, if you can keep him contained, then you can go get Lily now." There was something in Dracken's voice, it sounded almost like he was challenging Malroth.
Malroth turned his attention towards the beach again, watching as the smaller boats Arusu used to come ashore finally reached the larger ship. He finally let the growl vibrate from his throat with heat as the large ship slowly began its trip, following after the large white beast Malroth had seen. "What direction did that asshole come from?"
"The West." Lulu pointed in the other direction from where the ship was currently heading.
"Dammit. Fine." Malroth snatched the bottle from Dracken and stalked through his friends to the docks. "Brownbeard! Your ship better be faster than theirs!"
"I… I'm going with you!"
Malroth spun on his heel and flinched back half a step when Lulu was standing there, hands fisted at her side. "Lulu? But I thought you never wanted to step foot on a boat again?"
"Yeah… well, I don't! But I have to help Lily. She saved all of us more than once, I owe it to her. Besides," Lulu looked at her feet, frowning at how her cheeks warmed with a soft blush. "I miss her…"
Malroth couldn't help the grin the formed on his face as he held his hand out for Lulu. "C'mon, Brownbeard is a damn good captain, he'll take care of us."
Draven squeezed the tiny hand in his own, his chest was tight as he tried to hold back his emotions. The little girl at his side was five now, five years old and had never met her mother. He stopped at the top of the hill and stared at the door that led into the hill, to where his love was entombed. He pulled a key from his shirt; it was attached to a chain that hung low around his neck as he used it to unlock the door. "Are you ready?"
"I've been ready, daddy. I can't wait to talk to mommy again." The little girl grinned up at her father, she had Daisy's smile and bright blue eyes.
Every year since Daisy had defeated the Dragonlord, Draven and Rose would come here to the tomb and pay their respects. Though Draven had found himself coming up here many times to think about the recent comings and goings. Once he had the door open, Rose reached up and grabbed the torch from the wall and started lighting the way down. "Careful, my heart."
"I know, daddy." Rose laughed as she made her way down the stairs, her father bringing up the rear. She set the torch in the sconce next to the large stone tomb before climbing up onto it and curling up in the middle. "Hi mommy…"
Lily slowly rolled over, a pained noise leaving her as she flopped onto her back, her eyes slowly opened, letting her see the bright blue sky and thin white clouds that slid effortlessly through the sky. She pushed herself up into a sitting position, shakily choking back the tears of worry and of joy that burned in her eyes. She was no longer outside of Cantlin. She could feel the warmth of magic on her skin, just like it had in the illusionary world that she and Malroth had made real.
She looked around, trying to figure out where she was. If she could see clouds, then she wasn't on the Isle. That teleportal was still in that cove, not out in the open. And she knew the Isle like it was her book of blueprints. She wasn't anywhere near a beach. The air wasn't muggy like on Furrowfield, nor was it dry and hot like on Khrumbul-Dun. There was a possibility that she could be in Moonbrooke again, if it were near summer time, but she had a feeling she wasn't there either.
Hands slipped under Lily's arms, only to drop her and cover her mouth. Her grandmother was suddenly in front of her, a finger over her lips. "Let me move you child. You have to be quiet, okay? There are people here and they do not seem friendly." Rose leaned in, kissing Lily's forehead before pulling her into a thicket just beneath the overgrown stone landing they had been on. "Do you ever get gut feelings? Like things aren't going to be alright?"
Lily slowly nodded as she curled up where her grandmother set her. "Gram… just hide here with me. If they haven't seen either of us…" She kept her voice but a faint whisper, her fingers wrapping around her grandmother's wrist.
"There was a tower of light when we arrived, luckily it's been a few days since then, but… they'll search the area. I was too afraid to move you before now, you wouldn't wake up, no matter how hard I shook you." Before the old woman could pull away, the ground shook and the wind surged around them. She spun around, eyes nearly bugging from her eyes when a large white beast landed not far from them, leaving her and a group of soldiers gawking.
Lily gasped and scrambled, quickly pulling herself onto the stone landing. "I didn't think you had a form…"
Rose was the one gasping now as she went to grab her granddaughter, her eyes locked on the soldiers that turned to stare at them now. "L-Lily! Child come back here right… now…" Rose's jaw dropped when the beast closed its' eyes and began to shrink down.
A girl with bright blond hair in two pigtails and vivid blue eyes stood before them, she had on a red and white dress, a yellow handkerchief wrapped around her throat. She grinned at Lily who smiled back. "Welcome home." She turned to Rose, frowning as she looked the older woman up and down. "You shouldn't be here."
"I… What?" Rose straightened up, her chest growing tight as the girl that looked like her granddaughter walked towards her, a hand stretched out towards her.
"You shouldn't be here."
Lily reached up, barely grabbing the hand connected to the body that she once wore in this world. "Wait. What are you doing?" She growled, able to feel magic gathering on the slender fingers.
"Sending her home, she shouldn't be here. It's dangerous for all of us to be here at the same time." The girl with the bright blond hair frowned down at Lily. "It's dangerous for you and for me."
"H-Hey! W-We don't know who you are… but all three of you are coming with us!" A guard finally spoke up, his sword drawn as he took a timid step towards the girl that had just been a beast.
Lily looked between the being and the guard, frowning. "Don't kill him."
"You do not command me like you do Malroth." The being grinned, a wicked look coming to those brilliant blue eyes. "Tell me, guard. Where do you plan on taking us? I felt Erdrick, but that's not possible, he's long since dead. Though the symbol you wear is a modified one,"
As the being spoke, Lily finally looked at the guards and looked them over. She stared at the symbol on their chests, it looked similar to the ones on the banners of Moonbrooke, but in the center was an eye instead of the round ruby. "That's…"
"We'll take you to the castle so you might await our Lords return with us." The first guard straightened up, ignoring Lily and her grandmother altogether.
"Who is your Lord?"
"Lord Ar-" The guard glanced to his right, looking to the sky when a red streak arched upwards in the sky. "The port can see his ship; I will happily introduce you." When the guard turned back to the women, his jaw dropped, seeing the white beast was back, though smaller this time. The old woman was hoisting the younger girl up onto the slender back before climbing on herself. "H-Hey! Wait a moment! You have to meet our Lord and… and… men! Stop them!"
The men suddenly circled the three, swords out and pointed to the white beast as she craned her head down to the first one. The two thick whiskers on either side of her maw squirmed in the air as she slowly opened her mouth, a soft hissing noise filled the air until it was a screech that had everyone covering their ears. When they were too busy protecting their ears, she pushed herself up off the ground and into the air, ignoring the cries from the two on her back.
Lily clung to the beast as best she could, eyes wide as they snaked through the air. Allowing them to see a city that she didn't know existed. "H-Hey, I thought Erdrick was a title."
"It is now, it is the name of a knight who defeated a dark priest hundreds of years ago." The beast sighed as she snapped her attention to the water beneath them. "Malroth followed them?"
"Doesn't surprise me, do you really think he would wait around for you to bring me to him? I'm almost offended that he wasn't with you."
"I took off before he could join me, probably for the best. I thought Brownbeard's boat was faster than what it's traveling now." The beast let out a soft noise before going into a dive that had Lily and her grandmother crying out and clinging to each other.
Rose held her granddaughter, her breathing rigid as she forced herself to relax as water lapped at her legs. "Some warning would be nice next time."
"Hopefully, there will be no next time, old woman."
"How rude." Rose glared at the beast who only glared back. "Why is it not safe for me to be here with my granddaughter?"
"I will explain that later. For now, we have to get back to safety." The beast looked up at the boat she swam up next to. She circled around so Malroth could jump down and stare at Lily who was leaning awkwardly on her grandmother.
"Uhm… Gram… this is Malroth. Malroth, this is my Gram-"
"Who are you?"
Lily froze at his words, her jaw dropping in awe as she stared up at him. Did she really look so different with this body? "Wh… what?"
Malroth had his hands on his hips as he leaned down, sniffing at Lily. "You smell like Lils… you sound like Lils…"
"Mal… I promise, it's me." She stared at his hand when he offered it to her. "Uhm…"
"You'll have to pick her up, idiot." The beast snarled at Malroth, the growl growing louder when Malroth turned to growl back. "That body cannot walk. Pick her up and help her grandmother onto the boat before that ship passes us."
"Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you-" Malroth started, only to gasp as he was forced off balance and into the ocean. "Hey!"
"You annoy me."
"And you annoy me." Malroth snapped as he climbed onto the beasts back once again before scooping Lily up and jumping onto the boat.
"Will you set me over there." Lily pointed to where Malroth normally sat on the bow, seeing him give her a curious look before doing as she asked. She watched as he jumped back down and scooped up her grandmother. She happened to glance over, seeing Lulu and Brownbeard gawking at her. "Lulu! You're on a boat?!"
"L… Lily…?" Lulu took half a step forward, pausing when the Lily she was used to landed gracefully on her toes next to the older woman on the boat with them. "Wh… wait… there's two of you?"
Brownbeard forced himself to go back to focusing on his boat, turning it around so they could head back home. He glanced up at Lily who was sitting awkwardly on the bow, keeping herself propped up with her hands behind her.
"It's a long story, but we'll explain everything when we can get… Dracken with us." The Lily that Malroth and Lulu recognized spoke, her eyes narrowed on the large ship as they passed by it.
Lily pulled her eyes away from Malroth long enough to look at the bigger ship, a cold chill running down her spine as she met the dark brown eyes of a male onboard. Everyone else that came to look down at the smaller ship looked towards the annoyed being and Malroth, knowing they were a threat. But that one knight stared at her like she was a prized jewel. "You'll have a decision to make, Lily." The voice had the young builder looking back towards the other female. "There's a new threat and-" She froze, her attention snapping to Malroth. "Who gave you that?"
Malroth was leaning closer to Lily, examining her when the female in the middle of the group snapped at him. "Excuse me?"
"Who gave you this?" Before Malroth could react, the woman he recognized swiped something off his hip. "Hey! Dracken gave that to me, dammit!"
"Who gave it to Dracken?" She growled at Malroth who only shrugged.
"I'm sure that bottle is important…" Rose raised her hands, frowning. "But Lily, my dear, would you please explain who these people are?"
"Right…" Lily sat forward, grinning at Lulu who was still watching closely. "This is Lulu, my best friend from the Isle of Awakening, she runs things while I'm gone. That's Brownbeard, he's our human captain. This is Malroth, my best friend who is also the God of Destruction. And that… is… me. Kind of."
"We are one in the same, this is the body she was given when she was brought here by Dracken." The being that was using her other body smiled at her grandmother.
"So, wait…" Malroth carefully looked to Lily, taking in her much duller blond hair and soft blue eyes. The longer he stared at her, the more color that came to his cheeks. "I'm sorry, Lils." He reached out, taking her hand so he could give her a soft squeeze.
"Don't be sorry." Lily squeezed his hand back, laughing when Lulu slid over and hugged her friend. "I missed you guys."
It took a few days to get back to the Isle, but when the small boat arrived, everyone was waiting for them. Malroth had Lily cradled in his arms as Lulu used the powerful being to distract the others, letting them think that was Lily so Malroth could take Rose and their builder to Dracken who was waiting down below in the dark temple. Lily happened to glance over, smiling at Babs who was watching them. The dancing girl grinned and put her hands on her hips. "C'mon y'all. Dracken needed t'see Lily and Malroth when they got 'ome! Now e'eryone scram!"
Lulu laughed as everyone whined and slowly went back to their respective homes so the group could go to the temple beneath the island. Lulu lead the way, an eager hop in her step as she stopped in the center, letting Malroth carry the Lily she barely recognized next to the Lily she did recognize. "So, what happens now? Will the two of you work together?" Rose stopped next to Lulu, watching Malroth set her granddaughter down on an altar before retreating to her other side.
The two girls looked at each other before looking to Dracken who was standing with his arms crossed on the other side of the altar. "Rose, good to see you again. Surprised to see you again so soon."
"I was too close to the teleportal when Lily went through, it pulled me in as well. But I am here now, regardless if everyone likes it or not." Her eyes were on the muscular girl who cast a glare at the older woman. "What happens now, Dracken?"
"That's entirely up to Lily. She has a decision to make. Will she become one with…" He paused, turning his masked face to the girl standing next to the altar, a frown in his voice. "With her alter, or will she return home and leave us to deal with this world."
Rose laughed and shook her head, unable to hide her amusement. "If anyone here thinks she won't chose this world, then they don't know my granddaughter."
Lily gave her grandmother a warm smile before looking to her alter, then Malroth. "How do we do this?" She turned her attention to Dracken who was focused on her alter self, causing her to look to the other woman.
"We make a deal." The grin on the soft lips was wicked as she leaned towards Lily. "I won't ask for much, but it might be painful."
Lily could see Dracken getting herbs and other things ready, but something had her lacing her fingers with the body she missed. She closed her eyes and put her forehead to the other. She let her alter pull her off the altar, a surprised noise leaving her when magic gathered between them, keeping her on her feet. She opened her eyes, but the world had changed around her, and she was standing in shallow water, the room she was in was poorly lit with a single torch. "Back here, huh?"
"Safest place for this to happen, we can't cause an explosion that could harm anyone you care about here." The white beast lifted her head, watching Lily carefully. "I need you to do a few things. Feel for your missing parts."
Lily closed her eyes and breathed in, she didn't know what the beast meant by that, but she let instinct guide her as she focused. Then she felt a gentle tug coming from her right. "Gram…?"
"Yes, she has a piece of our power. What else?"
Lily relaxed her shoulders, breathing in deep only to exhale slowly. "It's… further away… dull… but I can feel something similar to Gram."
"Good. That's your mother."
Lily's eyes snapped open and she stared at the beast. "My… mother?"
"Yes. This world has slowly been forming itself, becoming whole, ever since you and Malroth saved it from the illusion. There were bits and pieces that I wasn't sure were real until now, until you showed up in this world like you have now." The two paused, turning their attention away from each other when they could feel a new presence join them.
Malroth stepped out of the shadows, hands in his pockets and a scowl on his face. "I feel like there are parties outside of here that need to know some of these things too."
Lily stared at Malroth, but this wasn't her Malroth, this was his alter. His wild black hair was still tied back, but there was a long braid that reached the floor, his wild red eyes were calmer, but more dangerous as he looked Lily over. "You're right. My Gram needs to hear any news about my mother. So does Mal if you both think this stranger is a threat-"
"Much more than a threat, girl." Malroth loomed over her for a moment, a hand reaching up and touching a pigtail. "Regardless if you believe her or not, he defeated me quite easily, but the thing about being brought back multiple times… is each resurrection makes you stronger." He gave a hungry grin to the white beast that relaxed under that hungry gaze.
Rose watched as the bright light engulfed her granddaughter, only for it to fade a moment later and leave a girl with soft blond hair and bright blue eyes, she had a strong body but wore the old dusty clothes from back when the girl lived in Cantlin. Rose gave her a warm smile, curiosity beaming in her soft blue eyes. "What, did you Frankenstein yourself together, child?"
"No, it's the magic. I became one with Creation and her… our magic made me whole again." Lily made quick work of tying her hair up into her signature pigtails before giving Malroth a grin. "You're next."
"Me?" Malroth watched Lily as she pulled out that dark bottle, gasping and lunging to catch it when she tossed it to him. "Look, let's get a game plan and then we can think about me… teaming up with this guy. Alright?"
Lily gave a nod before turning to Dracken who had taken his mask off to look at her better. "What can you tell me about-"
Lulu was looking between everyone frantically before throwing her hands up. "Hello!? I would like to be brought in on this secret loop that everyone is in on! Why were there two of you? Who is this?! And who the hell was that guy!?"
Lily turned to Lulu, taken by surprise by the outburst. She crossed her arms and leaned against the altar she had been sitting on. "A long time ago, my great-grandmother was brought to life by a… she wasn't a God… but she was a power… anyways, she brought my great-grandmother back to life to fight back against the Dragonlord who was resurrected and trying to take back over Alefgard, she had my Gram before she passed away shortly after her battle with the Dragonlord. The power the being had gifted her had passed along to Gram, and then to my mother and then to me. Dracken was given the task to find a builder that would help the God of Destruction gain more power, he found me, a cripple and thought I would be just enough to help Malroth regain his powers. And then Malroth and I created a bond and shared powers.
What none of us knew, was that I wasn't just good at building. I had Creation laying dormant within me, that power was shocked to life when Malroth and I opened that bond, I was bound to awaken it on my own when I helped Goldi, but Malroth gave me the extra bit of power I needed to truly awaken her. There are two of me because when Malroth and I gave her power, she needed a form and we unknowingly tied her to that form. Had we not done that, then I would have come over here from Cantlin and would have just absorbed all of her power that was available to me." Lily opened her eyes, seeing Lulu was still looking confused. Short versions of explanations from then on, she noted. "Two bodies, one soul, not a good thing to be stretched thin. Dracken's fault I had two bodies." When Lulu slowly began to nod, Lily continued. "That is my Gram, she came here with me by accident, but I have a feeling we'll need her help. That guy, I have no idea what his name is, but he apparently defeated Malroth and… there's something weird about him. Creation called him Erdrick, but-"
"But Erdrick was the knight who defeated the Dragonlord the first time." Rose interrupted, holding a hand up to her granddaughter, making the girl pause. "That's an old story, and an even older debate. The knight who put the Dragonlord down, or the knight that put down the Dark Priest a millennia ago. Regardless, this knight appears to be someone who can put down Malroth."
"Malroth and Creation agreed that if he's to be an enemy, he'll be strong. But what Malroth said was that with each resurrection, he's grown stronger-" Lily started, but quickly stopped when the Malroth in the room was suddenly looking very confused. "Your alter, the- we can just call him Destruction."
"That works. By the way, when did you talk to him? He's in this bottle last I checked." Malroth grumbled as he held up the murky bottle.
"You know you can talk to Destruction and Creation too… right? You're bound to them just like I am." Lily lifted a brow at him, her smile growing when he growled and crossed his arms, muttering that he was 'just testing her'. "Right. Anyways, if this guy is a threat, then I think we need to get you and your alter in one head."
Malroth nodded in agreement as he lifted the bottle so he could look at it. "I guess so. I won't lie, I haven't felt nearly as strong as I did after Moonbrooke, not… like my strength is totally there, but something has been missing."
"It's the Masters essence, all of his powers are bottled up, quite literally, leaving you feeling empty of sorts." Dracken shrugged as he walked around the altar so he could stand with Lulu and Rose. "Go ahead, Lily is here and so am I, I can protect these two if it comes down to it."
Malroth glanced to Lily who only smiled at him. He scoffed and uncorked the bottle, staring down into the murkiness. A sense of unease ran through him when it felt like the murkiness stared back at him.
"My Lord! I'm sorry, a girl, an old woman, and a-a-a beast… were all-" The guard panted as he trotted next to the taller knight, he kept his head down as the two walked.
Arusu glared at the door they came to a stop in front of. "It's fine, I know where they are. The girl… what did she look like?"
"She sat on the ground, sir. Though, I won't lie, I was more worried about the girl who turned into a beast."
"Get the ship ready to go back out, it's a few days travel back to that Isle. And make sure there's an empty room, we won't be coming back alone this time." Arusu left the guard alone as he pushed through the door. He lifted his chin, glaring at the royal sorcerer. "I see you've heard the news."
"She's returned, I'm sure our guest would love to hear this news." The sorcerer was young, dark hazel eyes gleaming in the light of the candles in the room, his blond hair was long and pulled into a tight bun at the back of his head. "Though, I decided to wait for you before giving her the news."
Arusu gave a swift nod before crossing the room and throwing open a heavy metal door. He stared down at the malnourished beast that lay in the room, brilliant white feathers covered the lip that lifted at the knight as he sneered down at it. "I hear a reunion is to be arranged for you."
"She… will never…" The beast stayed where it was at, a weak hiss leaving its' throat as it struggled to speak.
"If she wants her full power, Calla, she'll have to pay you a visit." Arusu squatted down to be closer to her on the ground, a soft laughter leaving him. "I told you that you were still of use to me." He stumbled back, barely getting out of the way of the outstretched maw. He surged to his feet and glared at the beast who was readying herself for another attack. "You're far too slow to do any real damage, and I won't kill you."
"You can't kill me." Calla hissed as her long slender body coiled up, awaiting the strike he normally gave when she tried to attack him. When nothing happened, she lifted her head again, a throaty growl leaving her throat. "You've only been able to keep me alive thanks to Hargon's illusion, it's no longer an illusion! You can't keep me-!"
Arusu slammed the door shut, casting a glare to the sorcerer. "I thought you said she couldn't use magic in there."
"I never said anything about her being able to feel the magic, my Lord." The sorcerer grinned as the knight stormed out of the room.
