VII.2

Layette and Merlin raced through the corridors, following the trail of yellow light emitted from the Tracker spell. As they went deeper into the ruined castle, there was a noticeable difference of scenery. Purple veins were on the walls, pulsating in red light. A horrendous stench passed through Merlin, which he started coughing and covering his nose in disgust. Layette knew this smell and, with furrowed brows, hoped she wasn’t too late. They followed the trail of veins, seeing them grow bigger and leading them to a door.

  The clanking of metal intensified, and they hid behind a nearby pillar. Several skeletal soldiers came out, all making a right turn before disappearing in the distance. The two peered inside the door, seeing only darkness. Layette summoned a fiery bird, letting it fly inside and bring light. It was a corridor with many jail cells and at the end of the hall were piles of corpses. She was despondent at the sight of this, readying herself for the worse outcome as she checked cell by cell. There were only skeletal remains in many until at the end of the hall where she was met by several people: villagers, guild members, and Damorian soldiers. The sense of relief passed through her as the prisoners stood up in excitement.

  “By the Gods, we are saved!”

  “Please, get us out! We’ve been here for days at least!”

  “Stay back, everyone! I will try to get you out!” Layette exclaimed.

  She punched the cell door. A barrier revealed itself, forming a purple aura upon contact. Fire swirled around her sword, condensing into the tip of the blade. With a thrust of her weapon, the aura emitted a brighter glow than before, and still repelled the attack. She noticed the keyhole brightening at every strike: it was obvious what she needed. Using her Divine Beast power would easily destroy this barrier, but after remembering what Aren said, she instead decided to think things through.

  One of the Damorian soldiers gasped. “Miss Hawkwood! She’s here to save us!”

  Everyone expressed their joy and gratitude, knowing the infamous Phoenix of Damore came to the rescue. Layette smiled nervously, feeling the pressure of needing to live up to the expectations people had on her.

  “It is okay, me and Merlin are here to save you guys.” Layette came close to Merlin’s ear. “Have any ideas on freeing these people out?”

  “Miss Layette, I don’t think I can hold my puke any longer.”

  “Oh geez, if you are going to do it, then do it somewhere else!”

  “Y-Yes Miss!”

  Merlin rushed out to the doorway, holding his mouth all the way there. Layette came close to the prison bars, lowering her sword.

  “How did you guys get trapped here?” she asked.

  “We came through this forest, gathering wood for the village. I didn’t listen to the Elder saying this place was cursed…” one villager said.

  A guild member came forward. “They sent us here to handle some monster problem. We took refuge in this place after many days of slaying them. The moment we entered, those skeleton warriors ambushed and brought us here. The Damorian soldiers had a similar situation, though they have suffered casualties along the way.”

  “Do you have any idea who is holding the key to this cell?” Layette continued.

  “Nay. Whoever bagged us was quick about it.”

  “All right. I’ll get you all out, just give me some time.”

  “We have faith in you, Phoenix of Damore!”

  Layette touched her chin, thinking on what to do next. She believed the key was the source of the barrier’s magic. Even if it were to be true, it raised more questions: can Detect Presence and Tracker find it, does it even radiate mana for it to be recognized, is it even obtainable in the current situation? Merlin came back, still nauseated from his recent regurgitation, and noticed her in a state of contemplation.

  “Uh, Miss Layette, are you okay?”

  “Oh Merlin, you finished lightening your load? Yes, I am fine.”

  “R-Right.”

  There followed a long, awkward silence between them.

  “May I be of assistance? I did read a lot of books about magic, so…” Merlin quavered.

  “Oh my gods, oh my gods, can I really do this?!” Layette covered her face in embarrassment. “There has to be some way to open the barrier without a key! There has to be a short cut! No way I am going to find it in a place like this!”

  “I do believe that—”

  “These people are gonna be stuck and we cannot do anything about it! Oooh, the pressure is tearing me apart already…! I am really fit to do this?”

  “Um, okay. So, may—”

  “It is not like it will magically come out of nowhere. Like fate would give—”

  The ground trembled, throwing Merlin off balance. Layette could hear large pieces of stone fall near the doorway, and after telling everyone to stay put, she checked it out. Several skeletal soldiers were being tossed around, breaking into pieces when they were flung to the walls. One of them was wearing a runic key around their neck. Its shape was similar to the keyhole at the cell, so Layette quickly grabbed it and came back behind the door.

  “Well, that was convenient,” she mused.

  A loud roar echoed across the castle corridors, and from the darkness of the halls, a pair of green eyes glimmered: it was another monster.

  Grr…

  Its voice shook every fiber of Layette’s body. She forced the fiery bird to dissipate and covered her mouth. The sound of dripping liquid and gurgling breathing came close to the door.

  *Sniff*… Grr…

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  More thudding sounds and soon, it went away. She sighed in relief, summoning her bird once more after seeing it was clear. Layette gave Merlin the keys, and he freed the prisoners. As the prisoners praised their sweet release from their confinements, she crouched down and examined the liquid that fell from the mysterious beast.

  “Black blood: what kind of monster would bleed something like this?”

  Another fire bird came from her hands, lighting up the walls. The purple veins were cut open from their center as if something violent broke through them. Below the veins were corpses covered in the same substance as the black blood.

  She narrowed her eyes. “Whatever that thing is, it is out there. I have a bad feeling about this.”

----------------------------------------

  Aren dashed across the room and the ground behind him shattered by a violent force. The Grand Necromancer snarled, flying into the air, casting various amounts of offensive spells to keep him at bay. He yelled out in frustration as Aren continued to evade his attacks.

  “How about this, you little rat! Die!”

  The undead warlock shot spectral bolts of light and it chased its target. Aren used the pillars near the walls to vault himself to the Grand Necromancer, using his offensive magic against him. Several explosions happened at once, though the necromancer had a barrier to protect him.

  “June, go get him!”

  June appeared before Aren, smashing her rusted sword through the wall behind him. He kicked her away and she tumbled across the marble floor. Her head and arms were deformed by the roll. Since she was undead, such injuries are meaningless to her: she fixed her arms and head back into place, then dashed forward without hesitation. Archimedes intervened, slamming his shell into her body, and the two continued their fight against each other. The tortoise knew his former master’s moves, dodging her barrage of strikes despite his size. There was something oddly satisfying about seeing a land animal be on equal terms with one of Thyderalis’ famous heroes, but Aren did not have time to indulge with that thought, as the Grand Necromancer unleashed more of his magic. He deflected the assault and a blast of flame erupted behind him.

  “Hey, you are getting a little slow there! What happened to the glorious one v. one? Guess you don’t have the stomach for it. Wait, you don’t have one, ha!”

  The Grand Necromancer ground his teeth. “Bah, you were holding back our last encounter. Looks like you are more capable of than you look!”

  Aren twirled his weapon and drove it deep into the Grand Necromancer’s barrier. “That’s right, I told you to take me seriously!”

  “Grr, you insolent cur! June, come and kill this boy!”

  June snapped around and darted to Aren. She flung around her weapon, letting loose a barrage of strikes. While those two fought, Archimedes dug his front leg deep into the ground, letting out a snort.

  The Grand Necromancer laughed. “You think you can take me, you mere pet?! Very well, you will know your place!”

  He attacked Archimedes with fiery orbs, each exploded on impact. The dust rose from the force of the blasts. A blue light illuminated from the center of the dirty fog: Archimedes was surrounded in swirling energy. He bounced around the throne room in blinding speed and with a single strike of his special move, he broke the Grand Necromancer’s barrier. The warlock grunted and quickly regenerated his protective shield. Aren saw this and when June left herself open, he snapped his fingers. She was sent back to the wall and before she could get up, the stone eroded around her. The undead knight could not move, and he spat out blood because of his use of magic.

  “Gah… All right, stay there you annoying cunt.” Aren waved at Archimedes. “Hey, turts’, do that thing again!”

  Archimedes nodded and his body absorbed orbs of blue light. He was charging his special move again.

  “I won’t let you!” the Grand Necromancer shouted, using all of his power to stop him.

  Aren stood in front of Archimedes, casting a barrier to ward off the spells. Blood continued to pour from his mouth, but he did all he can to buy time. “Prepared to be BONED! Archimedes, do it now!”

  Archimedes let out a triumphant roar and with speed faster than lightning, he penetrated the barrier and hit the Grand Necromancer. The warlock broke into two and as he fell to the floor, Aren leapt with his fist raised.

  “Stay where you belong: six feet under!”

  He crushed the skeleton’s head with a single punch. The Grand Necromancer howled and souls of the damned flew all over the place. They gathered at the center of the room, forming a ball of energy. Aren gritted his teeth, forming another barrier around Archimedes and himself. Though his body was on the verge of collapse once more, he used all his might to keep the shield up.

  “Pleasedon’texplodepleasedon’texplodepleaseHOLYSH—”

  The ball of energy exploded and a shining light filled the throne room. Aren and Archimedes were forced upon a wall by the shock wave of the blast. Dust was all over the place and after some time, the two found themselves under piles of rubble. Aren dug himself out, groveling in pain and unable to see due to the intense light of the burst.

  “My eye, ah, my only seeing eye! Ah god, I can’t see! Why does it hurt so much?!

  Archimedes was upside down, trying to get on his four legs once again. He eventually gave up, lowering his eyes in disappointment as he waited for his friend to help him. It took a moment before the two recovered from their conditions. They approached the Grand Necromancer’s corpse, seeing it turn into dust. A white light brightened the place. The glare died down, revealing the shack’s true form. It was a ruined cathedral with several holes along its walls and roof. At the far center was a throne and upon it, a pile of bones. From the looks of it, the curse of the Forest of Sorrows was gone. He put his hands on his side with his chin up.

  “The mighty Archimedes and Aren are victorious! Ah, the crowd goes wild! Woo-hoo, victory! That wasn’t so bad.”

  He fell on his knee, becoming nauseous. Archimedes grumbled as if to ask if he was okay.

  “Yeah, I’m fine, don’t worry.” The tortoise helped him stand back up. “Thanks, old timer. Just feeling a bit dizzy, that’s all.”

  A shimmering sound rang behind them. The two turned and saw a young woman dressed in white. He already knew who she was, so he placed his hand over his heart and bowed in respect.

  “Miss Shining Emerald. I’m glad that we can give you the peace you deserved.” He took out his notepad and charcoal. “Please give me your signature! This is a rare opportunity for me as a big fan!”

  She giggled, writing her name on the pad and giving it back to him. “Thou art a strange one. I can never thank thee enow for the service thee hadst done. Me, along with many others, may rest in peace.”

  “Just part of the job. Well, I wish you safe travels to your after life.” Aren turned around, but June put her hand on his shoulder, and he faced her again.

  “Wait. I must present a favor from thee,” she brought out.

  “A favor from one of the great heroes of legend? Who would refuse the offer to help one out?”

  “Thou flatter me with kind words. I feel I asketh too much of thee, but if’t thee insist.”

  June summoned her rusted greatsword, gliding her hand over it to restore its former beauty. With brown leather strappings and a red ruby at its cross guard, its blade glowed in a emerald-like color. She handed the weapon to Aren, who accepted her gift.

  “Is this what I think it is? The Jeweled Sky! It truly glows like an emerald, as the legends say it did!” Aren exclaimed.

  “I has't no use of it anymore, so t'will be yours, as long thee keep mine cousin at thy side like thy sibling.” She turned to Archimedes. “He eke understands the tongue of man and in time, thou shall understand him. Hath understood?”

  Aren nodded. “Yup, you got it. Once again, safe travels to the afterlife! Oh, and thanks for the sword too.”

  Archimedes raised his head when June approached him. She stroked his neck. The tortoise let out a gurgling purr and nudged his head into her body.

  “Lest I so my most humble apology, mine fusty best cousin. This time, I wilt properly say what I wanted to say ere I hath left thee.” Her physical form was fading into flower-like petals of green. She looked at Archimedes, smiling, and hugged him as tightly as she could muster. “Archimedes, farewell and taketh care. Thou art the greatest friend I ever hadst.”

  June faded out of existence and Archimedes shed a tear. He never expected this to happen within his lifetime, and for once in his miserable years of solitude, he too can be at peace. Aren chuckled and patted the tortoise’s shell.

  “Yeah, let it out. Let it all out, man.”

  Archimedes bawled like a baby, shoving his head deep into Aren’s chest. Aren smiled and patted his head until the tortoise felt better.

  “Well, you heard the lady: you’re under my care now. All right, a traveling buddy! We can go on many adventures together and make a lot of sick puns along the way!”

  Archimedes let out a disappointing sigh. The idea of going on many adventures excited him, though having to hear Aren’s horrible puns almost made him reconsider the offer. While they waited for Layette and Merlin, the two sat next to each other, taking a long break from their recent fight. The red sky turned blue and the evil essence of the forest was vanquished, so as long as they can, they embraced the warmth of the sun while watching nature rehabilitate into its natural form.