"Luxmi never was the same after Luxanne's birth. That child became her weakness, a constant source of worry, and it filled her mind with wavering hesitation. Gone was the woman who yearned to uproot the heart of corruption; instead, there was only a mother. Vulnerable, doubtful, and satisfied with stagnation. Even so, I am not so emotional as to condemn a young babe for her decline. It is simply the nature of humanity to falter before their kin, before the innocence of youth, and despite mine struggle over witnessing Luxmi grow feebler in will, those days are the ones she smiled the brightest, with pure, loving joy. I knew then that I would be alone in the pursuit of our vision. I knew then that I would have to carry the mantle of The Corvid."

Grand General Xeros, Ruler of Nox Caelum

———

Ascalon

No sound. No color. No touch. Not even the shadow of darkness exists within this space, only an inconceivable nothingness. It is as if Ascalon is lost in the space between realms, between the dead and the living, and this nothingness exists to trap those who find themselves in purgatory.

But Ascalon has experienced this nothingness once before, and he will not allow himself to be rescued so pathetically again.

Even though the emptiness before him shrouds all, he can feel the faint outline of his body and the thumping cry of his soul.

Even though all sense of touch has been lost, he reaches behind him and trusts that his blade is gripped onto his hand.

Even though all is silent within the maddening muteness, he opens his mouth and takes a deep breathe in.

"O' world," he chants. "Be still."

Life springs forth into the void, bathing the once-stifling nothingness in a luster of incandescent light. It hums and swirls, aching to be set free, and in a rush of sound, the prison holding Ascalon in place is vanquished into the existence of reality. He closes eyes and basks in his senses once more, but a screeching cry in his ear halts his temporary relief.

"Ascalon! Where are you!?" Lorelai's worried voice transmits at him.

"I'm still here," he chuckles. It's rare for her to convey so much emotion; he must have worried her quite a bit, but after learning of his weakness to imprisonment, Ascalon has resolved himself not to let himself be confined by such measures ever again.

"Ah, thank goodness," she sighs. "I grew afraid for your safety after witnessing the sky's transformation."

Indeed, an endless veil of twilight now covers the expanse as far as the eye can see, and pulsing with red lightning in the epicenter of the dusk is Xeros. The Grand General appeared haggard the last they met, but now there's something dangerous forming in his chest, malevolent and eager to burst out. He has to stop him before the thing is fully formed.

But before he can rush over, a sudden explosion of sound alerts his attention below. Sarathiel is pinned to the ground and trapped within Libevich's grip, and although the crazed old woman appears to be entranced by Xeros's transformation, all it would take is a single clunch of her hand to slay him without a moment's notice.

"What? Why is Libevich-"

"Commander Luxanne, the final of Xeros's trusted, pulled me away before I could land the finishing blow on Libevich," she says, voice filled with sorrow. "Sarathiel offered to attract her attention while I was preoccupied."

"That can't be," Ascalon whispers. "Although he's finally gained control over his bloodlust, Libevich's immortality is still too much for him to bear."

"He knows, Ascalon. He knows."

A disgusting, repulsive wave of dread suddenly spreads across the land as a voice dripping with malice suddenly screeches for all to hear.

"Once upon a time, in a faraway land..."

A hideous beak erupts from Xeros's body. It caws and writhes, slowly shuffling forward as it continues its haunting tale.

"Ascalon, you have to stop Xeros now!" Lorelai shouts. "I can sense his aura even in the far reaches of the capital. Whatever Xeros is bringing forth, that thing will lay waste to all on this earth once it is fully born."

"I-I know," he says. "But if I do, then Sarathiel will..."

"What does your heart tell you?" Lorelai's voice is neither pushing nor relenting. It's flat, frighteningly so, and it feels as if his entire body is being weighed on a scale between right and wrong. "Sarathiel has resolved himself, and this may be the only time Xeros will bare his weakness, but what matters is whether your mind is truly determined. I will always support you Ascalon, so choose the path you won't regret."

Her words are comforting, but, truth be told, Ascalon is already resolute in his decision. "I'm sorry, Lorelai. But your burden is only going to increase from now on."

She sighs through their connection, but he can tell a smile is lain across her lips. "Then we shall share it together."

Ascalon raises his wings and bolts through the sky straight at Libevich. She jumps at the shockwave and looks up at him, but it's already too late.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Mattatron, spread my authority to Sarathiel!" he shouts. A lustrous wave of lilac is sent forth from the zweihander's edge and covers Sarathiel in its aura, and before she can react, Ascalon crashes into her, splattering her body into little clumps of flesh and sending them flying in bloodied arcs to the ground.

"Ascalon?" Sarathiel wheezes. "You complete idiot..."

"You can curse me after this battle is over," Ascalon says, hoisting him onto his back. "And I shall save my scolding as well. We need to get you treated by Surasha."

A severed hand grabs onto Ascalon's leg, and a muffled laugh escapes from Libevich's gargling throat, body half-formed while a bloodied, squirming mass reattaches itself to her body.

"Oya?" she chirps. "Going so soon, oh-so mighty King of Polus? I won't let you ignore me so rudely like the others!"

Libevich lurches forward with a smile, eyes filled with a maniacal, obsidian tint that would disquiet even the most stalwart of knights. She looks up and directs her gaze towards the creature emerging from The Grand General's chest. "I haven't seen that form of Xeros's in a long, long time. Ah, it's such a shame! If only I could have one, last bout with Lorelai...but it looks like this war's coming to a close soon, so you'll just have to entertain me in her stead."

"Get out of my way," Ascalon growls.

"Fufu, I might consider it if you ask nicely."

Ascalon surges forward and confronts Libevich head on, soaring straight into the sky with his hand grappled on her neck.

"Now just what are you planning?" she teases, attempting to crush his arms in vain. "I won't die even if you drop me off from this height."

"I know," he grunts, gaining more and more speed as he races towards the capital's direction. "I don't have time to deal with a monster like you. Disappear and don't show yourself before me again."

"Hah? And just what makes you think I'll-"

With a boisterous shout, Ascalon flings Libevich forward and sends her flying towards the horizon. She curses and wails a slur of disturbing phrases until she's but a speck of dust in the distance, disappearing from sight entirely. That is one annoyance solved, but a more pressing matter remains. Sarathiel's body is growing colder, and even his beastly regeneration is at its limits.

"Lorelai, I need to get Sarathiel treated as quickly as possible! Where's Surasha's location?"

"Currently inside the capitol," she reports. "All the captains have managed to breach the gates and are sieging the lower layer while the other knights fend off the Caelum legions outside."

"I'll meet her by the layer's entrance!"

He darts towards the city's base and lands with a thud upon the pavement. Surasha soon comes rushing out, worry etched onto her demeanor, and quickly dashes to Sarathiel's side. Ascalon begins to explain but is met with a harsh wave of the hand.

"I've got it from here," she mumbles, struggling to pull off his armor. "Go before that thing finishes its wretched fable."

Ascalon gives her a stoic nod before taking to the skies once more. The creature is still chanting its tale; perhaps it's not too late for him. But will he be able to break through the maelstrom of aura surrounding it in time? He has to at least try-

Thump-thump.

It's that heartbeat again. But this time, it's louder. More powerful. And with it, a creeping invasion of insanity. Ascalon counters the sound by enveloping his heart in his authority, but the rest of the knights are not as fortunate. The heartbeat's cry bellows throughout the entire nation and locks everyone, both friend and foe, within an indomitable grip, freezing them in place and shrouding their minds in a heavy fog. He quickly glances with concern towards Sarathiel, but thankfully Surasha manages to heal him before they're entranced by the rhythm.

The darkness dissipates, the sky parts, welcoming the evening sky back into the world, and towering above all is the figure of a giant, bird-like creature covered in a white as radiant as the moonlight's kiss. Aura begins to gather around its body and a shimmering ray of mass destruction howls to life at the tip of its beak, ready to be unleashed upon the denizens of the earth.

He has to move. He has to shield everyone before it's too late. But even though not a single sorcery is shackling him in place, Ascalon can't help but stare transfixed at the being of pure divinity. A pale halo glistens with a celestial incandescence above it, illuminating the night sky in a temporary realm of daylight, while its feathers sparkle with crystalline opulence like the bright lights shimmering high above the heavens.

And yet, despite embodying the purity of desire itself, the holy being is wrapped in a gentle blanket of benevolence. It desires power, for only with power can it smite the wicked. It desires fortune, for only fortune can insure prosperity in a world run by greed. It desires fame, for only with fame's authority can it herd the masses into paradise. It desires all, for only with all may it save that which it cherishes most.

It is a being of pure love, of virtuous innocence. How can such a form filled with such childlike naivety possibly belong to someone as cunning as Xeros? Ascalon cannot understand. He refuses to believe a heart so darkened by hate can display such bottomless affection for humanity.

But he can ponder no longer. He breaks free from his trance just as the beam is released and bolts with all his might forward, leaving a trail of lilac behind as he intercepts the endless shower of light head on. He spreads his authority as far out as he can and anchors himself in place as the light surges and tears at every surface of the barrier. The pressure is unbearable and Ascalon's body is consumed with excruciating exhaustion, but he must not allow even a single ray of luster to break through or else every single knight of Polus who've entrusted their heart and soul to him will be swallowed within the gentle mass of irradiance.

All of time seems to grind to a halt during his struggle. How long has he held this bulwark? It cannot be anything else than an eternity, for every painstaking moment contains an eons worth of weariness.

But it finally ends. The light fades back into the obscurity of nothingness, and Ascalon is left collapsed on the ground, panting with sweat abrow as he attempts to stand back up with a shaking knee. His people are safe, but the divine creature still stands nonetheless. It looks upon him with indifference before trembling the earth with a massive step of its hooked claw.

"Hah...Hah..." he grunts. "O' ancestors and Kings of past: lend me your strength so that I may carry our people forward into the dawn's tender embrace."

Ascalon slams his leg down and hoists himself up. He raises The Mattatron up high with arms besieged by never-ending shudders and gathers every single spout of aura left in his body.

"To the first King, Arthur: may you lend me your resolve. The resolve which brought forth a nation.

"To the erstwhile King, Dáinsleif: may you lend me your wisdom. The wisdom to strive forward with heart free of uncertainty.

"And to the second half of my soul, Lorelai: may you lend me your love. The love that which shines through when all is lost in the shadow of despair."

Ascalon's body becomes wreathed in lilac glow, swirling around his body in a joyous dance until he's gently enveloped within its soft touch. He rises higher and higher, the aura spiraling into a colossal suit of armor as a giantess donning Lorelai's face manifests into reality with a boisterous roar, grasping onto an enlarged Mattatron whose blade reaches out and pierces the very tip of the world's firmament.

"I shan't display reservation any longer," Ascalon decrees, body and soul one with the giantess. "Grand General Xeros, Ruler of Nox Caelum and the inheritor of desire, long has this world suffered under your dreams of domination. The people long for liberation, they beg for salvation, and so I stand here not as the King of Polus, but as the bestower of their wishes. I face you now as the embodiment of freedom!"