Cyl and Jambavan sat in Joy Boy's throne room where she had informed Jambavan of everything she knew.
"The Secret Order still haven't left yet, Princess. They were waiting on me to help take Richart's body to their secret tomb, but since the King is gone and you've already gotten my approval, you may inform them to take Richart's body to the Barbario's burial grounds." Jambavan said with a smile.
Cyl smiled at Jambavan and nodded.
"Thank you again, Lord Jambavan." Cyl said.
"Almond is our head knight of the Secret Order, speak to him and tell him I gave you my say so." Jambavan said.
"Almond?.. "The Softspoken? He leads the Secret Order now?.. Wow.. that's a rough job.. I didn't think he would have it in him.." Cyl asked.
Jambavan looked away.
"Well.. given his softspoken nature.. he probably wouldn't have.. but..he's changed." Jambavan started.
Cyl looked at Jambavan nervously.
"They call him "The Damaged" now.." Jambavan said, "The Silent, or even The Mute," are two names they call him."
Cyl's eyes widened.
"Wh-Why? What's wrong with him? He was always so sweet and kind.." Cyl said.
"Almond.. was so traumatized by losing his brother in the woods 23 years ago.. he was never the same.. nightmares, survivors guilt, you name it.. Almond couldn't take it anymore.. and did the unthinkable.."
Cyl's eyes widened.
"What?... Wh-What did he do?" Cyl asked.
Jambavan was silent for a moment.
"A little context.. if you don't mind, Princess?" Jambavan asked.
Cyl gulped and nodded slowly.
"The old leader of the Secret Order.. was a man named Sir Baltazar.. his epithet was, "The Giving.." Jambavan started.
"His epithet spoke true.. he was truly a giver.. until he was sent to retrieve that book.." Jambavan said.
Cyl was slightly confused.
"Just a few years after Life Force arrived, a certain book began getting people killed.. It was full of all sorts of magical spells and powers.." Jambavan said.
"If it was so popular it was getting people killed, then naturally it attracted the attention of the Secret Order, who then reported it to us." Jambavan continued.
"The Crimson Order had gotten a name on the author after interrogating a prior owner of the book, so Baltazar and his company were sent to the Midfrost Tundra to confront them.." Jamavan paused.
Cyl listened with intrigue.
"..As I said before.. Baltazar really lived up to his name.. He was truly a giver.. the witch who created the book was easily subdued, but was able to convince Baltazar to let her go as she didn't even own the book anymore." Jambavan said.
"B-Baltazar agreed.. and the witch used that moment of weakness against Baltazar.. killing his entire company with some sort of crazy spell.." Jambavan said.
Cyl gasped.
"Baltazar snapped.. he chased the ogre woman into the woods and slaughtered her.." Jambavan continued.
"..Even though his company had been killed.. he was still arrested by the Crimson Order on tampering charges.. since he had killed the only lead to where the book might be.." Jambavan said.
"Baltazar was locked away and sentenced to five years.." Jambavan continued.
".. But a year into Baltazar's sentence, a certain young upstart in the Secret Order was able to recover the book." Jambavan said, smiling.
Cyl smiled with soft tears forming.
"Richart.." Cyl smiled.
Jambavan smiled as well, before becoming serious again.
"Hearing this news.. Baltazar broke out.. to get his hands on the book this time.. he was still traumatized from watching his company die in front of him.. and then being thrown in prison once he got home.. he needed something to escape his pain.." Jambavan said. "
Jambavan fought to hold in his tears.
"His experience as former leader of the Secret Order showed.. as he was successfuly able to steal the book and run off with it." Jambavan continued.
Cyl's eyes widened at what Jambavan said next.
"When he was found this time.. he wasn't the same.." Jambavan said.
Cyl's eyes shot open.
"Wh-What?..." Cyl asked out of shock.
Jambavan paused for a while.
"Almond and another group of Secret Order knights were sent to capture Baltazar and retrieve the book.. but the Baltazar they knew was long gone.. his smile was now a neutral expression.. his eyes were dead and he spoke with a low, soft, tone." Jambavan said.
Cyl stared at Jambavan feeling all sorts of emotions. This was just too unreal.
Jambavan spoke once more.
"When they informed Baltazar of their intentions.. "Baltazar" informed them of his intentions to use the book to act out his revenge on the kingdom for locking him away.." Jambavan said.
Cyl's eyes widened.
"Th-That means.." Cyl stopped.
Jambavan nodded.
"Baltazar became declared a threat to the Kingdom.. and had to be killed.." Jambavan said softly.
The room was silent.
"After Baltazar was killed.. the book was taken into custody where the Mordecai were able to study its contents in great detail.." Jambavan explained.
"The spell's name, as stated in the book,.. is called, "Mind Purge: Ejection of Rage" Jambavan said.
Cyl's eyes widened softly.
"What in the world.." Cyl whispered.
Jambavan looked at Cyl with despair.
"It's a truly evil spell.." Jambavan said.
"What does the spell do.." Cyl said.
Jambavan's lip quivered.
"The spell refers to the caster as the "user," but I'm going to refer to them as what they truly are.. victims..." Jambavan said.
"The spell was created for the victim to cleanse their body of all negative emotions.. trauma, pain, fear, anxiety, you name it.." Jambavan started, "..But there's a catch.. like every other damn spell!"
Cyl continued listening in disbelief.
"All that negative energy has to go somewhere.. and the spell chooses the worst possible way to deal with that fact.." Jambavan paused.
Cyl began to sweat slightly.
"..All of that negative energy and pain... is transfered into a clone of the victim.. which the victim must defeat, literally "defeating their pain," and sealing it away on their bodies."
"That's-That's insane.." Cyl said.
Cyl nervously asked a question she already knew the answer to.
"Wh-Wh-What happens.. if they- don't defeat their pain?.." Cyl asked.
Jambavan looked at Cyl with sadness.
".." Jambavan was silent.
"The original caster.. is sealed inside the clone.. they become trapped inside a body of their own pain essentially.." Jambavan growled, looking away.
Cyl gasped and put a hand over her mouth with shock.
"They lose all their positive emotions instead.. they become an emotionless husk of pain, anger, torment, revenge, etcetra.. with no idea of friend of foe.. they act for themselves and their goals only." explained.
"Baltazar fit the description of having failed an attempt to defeat his pain to a T.." Jambavan said sadly, "Along with the other symptoms.."
Cyl's eyes widened.
"Wh-What other symptoms?" Cyl asked.
"..As I mentioned, whoever loses the fight over control of the main body is sealed inside the other.. this seal manifests as black markings somewhere on the victim's head or face.. along with red highlights in the victim's hair as well.." Jambavan explained.
The room was silent for a moment. Cyl looked down.
"The only way we were even able to notice Almond had gotten ahold of that spell were those black markings in particular.. because of his lack of hair.." Jambavan continued.
Cyl looked back up at the bear.
"Almond's seal manifested as some sort of lettering running down his head and over his eye. The book did not explain why the seal doesn't manifest the same for every victim.. but one fact was undeniable.. Almond had gotten ahold of the spell and cast it on himself.. clearly losing to his pain.." Jambavan said, shaking his head, crying.
Cyl slowly began to develop tears for Almond, wiping her eyes.
Jambavan snapped.
"It's a foolish spell to submit to! There was nothing he would have ever gone through in life he couldn't have just talked with us about! Why turn yourself into a mindless zombie of hate and revenge?!" Jambavan yelled, slamming his staff.
Cyl stared at Jambavan with shock, she's never seen or heard of him getting this angry before.
"Why not.. just put him out of his misery?.." Cyl asked.
Jambavan stared with shock before looking away.
"We-We've thought about it.. but Almond is still in there.. behind that seal.." Jambavan said.
Cyl looked at Jambavan with slight surprise.
"Wh-What do you mean?" Cyl asked.
"The book does state, "strong emotional attatchments can weaken the seal".. "signs of a weakening seal are confusion, emotional outbursts, crying, and chronic headaches".. Almond has been seen experiencing these symptoms often.. which means.." Jambavan paused.
"He's still fighting..." Cyl finished softly, looking down.
Jambavan shook his head.
"The clone.. knows this too.. and has to fight to keep the sealed soul in check.. it's a constant battle of positive and negative emotions trying to overcome the other.." Jambavan said.
Cyl stared at the floor in complete disbelief, thinking about Almond.
"One more question.. Lord Jambavan.." Cyl said.
"Hm?" Jambavan sounded.
"If the victim loses to their pain and becomes an emotionless shell that acts on their own accord.. why is Almond the leader of the Secret Order? Why does he continue to take orders from you and the King?" Cyl asked.
Jambavan was slighlty surprised at the question, but it had an easy answer.
"Somehow.. Almond retains just enough control to remain neutral.. the Mordecai assume he sees value in working with us.. rather than seeing us as allies." Jambavan explained.
"More evidence is his ruthlessness to those he deems an enemy or in his way.. and tolerable to those he deems useful.." Jambavan finished.
Cyl looked to the side.
"..And where is the book now?" Cyl asked.
Jambavan looked to the side as well.
"We don't know.. a security guard lizard man living in the kingdom stole it from its display at the museum while working a night shift.. he was tracked down but he had already been killed.. and there was no sign on, or around him, that might have pointed to where he was headed with it." Jambavan answered.
Cyl grit her teeth with pure rage.
"P-Princess?" Jambavan asked.
"Lizard men need to die. Every last one of them. All they do is cause trouble! Let us exterminate them!" Cyl yelled.
"You know Joy Boy wouldn't allow something like that.." Jambavan said.
Cyl began to cry.
"Why not?! He knows what they did to me!" Cyl yelled.
"We all do Princess! And we have done everything possible to accomodate for that! We couldn't be more sorry!" Jambavan said.
Cyl grit her teeth once more.
"You haven't done everything to accomodate.." Cyl said angrily.
"P-Princess?" Jambavan asked.
"Give me permission. Let me go kill him!" Cyl yelled.
"P-Princess, please.." Jambavan begged.
"Let me kill Raizin for what he did to me!" Cyl screamed.
"PRINCESS THAT'S ENOUGH!" Jambavan yelled, standing to his feet quickly, his eyes and body glowing gloden.
Cyl stared with shock and awe.
"THE KING MOURNS THE LOSS OF KING AND QUEEN VAS EVERY DAY! AS WELL AS HIS TURNED BROTHER RAIZIN! AND EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN KILLED IN THE BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF LIFE FORCE AND THIS ISLAND!" Jambavan yelled.
Cyl shot her head down and squeezed her eyes shut, clenching her fists, tears falling.
Jambavan slowly turned back to normal, sitting down and sighing.
"It's-It's getting late.. thank you again Princess, for this information you've provided tonight.. Val returning and leading the undead.. a king's body is the reason for Life Force.. I will also make sure the Crimson Order enforces a "no mention of the Elder" rule Immediately." Jambavan said.
Cyl dried her eyes and nodded with determination.
"U-Understood." Cyl said.
"And.. you mentioned you and the Elder already went looking for the man who became Lord Wyrm?" Jambavan asked.
Cyl nodded seriously.
"Someone had to have gotten to him before us... there was no way he was in any condition to get out of that desert on his own, and in the freezing cold." Cyl said.
"Who do you think would have had an such interest in him?" Jambavan asked.
"He mentioned having had business with Marcus before we fought him.. Marcus was the reason he knew how to become Lord Wyrm in the first place.." Cyl said.
Jambavan looked to the side.
"And Marcus was reported killed during that assault on the Wretched Woods earlier today.. so there's no way of knowing why he would reveal that information.." Jambavan said.
Cyl looked to the side.
"This is all just one giant mess.. Life Force has been the cause of so much suffering.." Cyl said.
Jambavan looked down thinking of The Mainland's history.
"And they're fixin' ta get even worse." A scruffy, soft spoken voice said.
Cyl and Jambavan snapped their heads back to Joy Boy's window.
Inside the window sat a hare skinwalker with dark red eyes. The hare's left ear was lined with small hoop earings, his face, littered with scars.
The hare wore brown pants with two giant daggers holstered on his thighs, a thick wood armor covered his shoulders and across his torso like a bandolier, a wolf pelt hung over his back like a cape with a comically large, rusted, silver medal with red ribbons pinned to it.
"YOU! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Jambavan yelled.
Cyl's eyes widened with anger behind them.
The hare stared at Jambavan and Cyl through seemingly hateful eyes.
GUNTHER "THE WICKED"
Cyl blasted to the hare's position and seemingly choked him until Jambavan gasped.
Cyl snapped back to reality and realized she wasn't choking anyone.
"Th-This speed!" Cyl gasped, looking back to see Gunther, sitting in Joy Boy's throne with his feet kicked up, spinning Cyl's spear with his fingers.
Gunther's cheek rest in his other hand.
Cyl's eyes widened.
"Wh-When did he?!" Cyl slightly panicked.
No one in this island's history has been as fast as Princess Cyl.. let alone faster.
Jambavan growled, his eyes glowing yellow.
"What the hell do you want murderer?" Jambavan growled.
Gunther squinted slightly, staring intensly into Jambavan's eyes.
"I want to talk." Gunther said, "And yer gonna want to listen to what I got to say."
Jambavan smiled with slight arrogance.
"And why is that, you murderous filth?" Jambavan asked.
Gunther was silent for a moment.
"Cause I can give ya the infermation ya need." Gunther said.
"Thank you, but the Princess has filled me in on everything already. Now you can either lay down and let the Princess arrest you or I can drag you across the kingdom first, which one?" Jambavan asked.
Gunther continued to stare until Jambavan took a step towards him.
"I been watchin' him.." Gunther said.
Jambavan's eyes went back to normal.
Cyl stared at Gunther, confused.
"Wh-Who?" Jambavan asked.
"That blondie." Gunther answered sternly.
Jambavan and Cyl's eyes widened.
"I seen everythin'." Gunther said, staring at Jambavan through his intense glare.
A/N IM NOT GOING TO LIE I WENT CRAZY THIS CHAPTER! MORE ON THE WAY YOU ALREADY KNOW! AS ALWAYS BIG FAT THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO READS THE STORY!