"By the sacred Stars above...what is that horror? I thought myself too late upon the ceasing of quaking tremors and shifting light, but what I find before my eyes instead of a ruined Caligos is an abhorrent wall of incoherent nonsense, barren of Creation's benevolence. A morbid curiosity urges me forward despite the dread its visage instills within, for that thing cannot possibly be born of man's own hand. No, it belongs to something else, something beyond this mortal coil, but nonetheless it is my duty as a scholar to ascertain the source! First, a meeting must be arranged with that young fellow Ascalon. I dislike the idea of helping the conquest of another nation, but I surmise The Grand General will not be all too welcoming of my presence, and his ambitions have irrevocably spun the fragile power balance of this continent off its axis. If this is the path I must take, then let it be so."

Arch Magus Virgil, Ruler of Augurium

———

Surasha

The blaring rumble of a horn cuts through the tranquil morning rays, startling the slumbering Surasha awake, hunched over her station after a restless night of attending to the knights' wounds, and fills the entire camp with disarray as the sounds of alarm spread through the space.

"Just what in Cosmos's name..." she groans with heavy eyes, putting on her armor and quickly ordering for nearby medical personnel to keep watch over the injured before bursting out of the tent and into the dawn's somber light.

An attack? No, Xeros wouldn't be so foolish as to announce his arrival. The gravelly bellowing is oddly familiar to Surasha, and its melody is far from the sinister tone the Caelum soldiers typically use for their formations. Instead of an overpowering force brought forth by the weighted beats of drums and discordant steel, the sound conveys an air of whimsicalness, almost childlike, in a way with upbeat notes and bright harmonies.

It reminds her of the old days where she and Ascalon lived together in solitude, and he would sing her little songs of heroes past and tales of wondrous adventure. Despite the suddenness of the situation, her mind is free of worry. Whatever the source of the horn is, she can tell it doesn't bear bad intentions.

Surasha arrives at the center of the camp where the other captains and Sarathiel have already begun to gather. They appear to have the same absence of danger, though a slight hint of caution still remains on their expressions.

"Ugh... I was a fool to think I'd get some rest," Cain groans while resting on his warhammer. "Well, it doesn't look like we're being attacked at least."

Surasha slugs him in the shoulder and clicks her tongue. "You're talking to me about rest? I had to spend all night in the medical tent because the knights of your order are all as reckless as their captain."

"Haha, I think we've all suffered from a lack of rest," Joshua giggles, still recovering from his wounds after his encounter with Xeros. "But this tune does sound quite familiar. What was it again..."

"I believe it was during our treaty signing with the magi of Augurium," Abel says. "I remember it well since the Arch Magus was a rather eccentric fellow."

"Indeed, this melody is a rendition of To Seek Yonder Stars: Augurium's national anthem devised by the Arch Magus himself," Simon remarks with a muffled chuckle. "I personally witnessed him devising it during our younger years studying in the academy. 'A song to inspire the inquisitiveness of youth' or so he claims. It is a rather catchy tune, I must admit."

Deborah excitedly claps her hands together, eyes shining with expectation. "Oooh, do you think that means the Arch Magus is here to help us? We'll finally be able to get rid of that nasty wall."

"...Well, we'll see," Sarathiel sighs. "Virgil is a shrewd guy. No matter how many times we've asked for Augurium's help, he always refuses saying that it would 'disrupt' the balance or something like that."

He spits on the floor and grumbles to himself, voice rising with irritation. "Disrupt the balance...tell that to everyone who's died because of his inactivity. He looks like a decent person from the few times I've met him, but I can never understand that damnable philosophy of his. Bah, the only thing he cares about is sating his curiosity."

Dismas suddenly materializes from the shadows and reports to the group of his findings, rubbing his neck and bemoaning the morning chill. "Welp, can't see anything in the distance. Either whatever's making that racket is veiling itself in some kind of sorcery, or it's coming from the clouds, and it sure as Stars won't be me flying up there in the open light to find out."

The horn's rumble grows louder and louder, sound booming across every bit of space in the area and drowning all other attempts at sound within the thunderous march. And in an instant, it disappears, followed by the jubilant guffaw of a voice from above.

"Hoy there, knights of Polus!" The clouds part way, and in their place, a tower of staggering size greets the Polus encampment from up yonder in the golden sky. Glints of fluttering sparkles and white rings revolve around the magical construct, and a lining of cerulean-washed stone covers the outside of the spiraling arc, curving high up towards the celestial firmament above while it holsters itself on a levitating mound of earth.

A faint figure leans over the tower's edge and addresses the captains below. "Be not alarmed, my fellows! I am the illustrious Arch Magus Virgil, Ruler of Augurium, eternal seeker of all that is unknown, and I have come to offer my aid! What say you?"

The captains and Sarathiel stand in stunned silence, utterly bewildered by the enthusiastic sage before then, until Surasha eventually breaks the silence.

"...For now, how about landing that, uhm, tower of yours," Surasha yells back. "It's keeping our knights on edge, and we'd much prefer to speak to you face to face."

"Ah! My apologies," Virgil hollers. "Please do forgive my carelessness. I shall do so with the utmost haste!"

The tower slowly begins to descend onto a nearby plain away from the camp, hovering a small distance above before a rain of chains emerge from within the tower's base and dig into the barren soil. The chains lock, anchoring the floating structure in place, and the figure leaps high into the sky, gliding on a sudden bout of gale towards the captains and landing straight in front of them with a triumphant twirl.

"There we are!" he says. "Face to face, as you say, at last! Oh, I do quite like that expression. Very personal."

"Well, not exactly," Surasha almost blurts out loud, but it probably isn't a good idea to leave a rude first impression. The Arch Magus's face is obscured by a peculiar-looking clay facial mold with a hollow, almost sunken, expression, hands crossing around the neck and cuffing the cheek while a silver blindfold covers the eyes. A long, flowing black robe drapes around his body with patterns of distant skies and astra clutters dotted all around the surface.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"And I spot with these eyes of mine some rather familiar faces as well!" Virgil remarks, striding over to Simon. "It is great to see you hale and in good health, Simon my friend. I nearly thought you among the perished after you stopped responding to my inquiries years ago."

"Apologies, but my duties at the time left me with no opportunity for discourse," Simon says with an almost strained tone. "I am pleased to see you energetic as always, Virgil."

"Haha, no need for apologies. Though, I am looking forward to receiving your letters again now that I know you still walk among the living! After all, there can be no progress in innovation without a healthy gathering of enspirited voices engaged...hm, what is the Polus motto again? Ah, yes: 'Together, united as one!' A very fitting motto indeed, that."

"...It is as you say," Simon says, appearing to withhold a grumble. "I am looking forward to it."

But Virgil only responds with a joyful laugh and pats him on the shoulder before turning around to face Surasha. "Reunions aside, the reason for my departure here is in due part to the cry of Creation over the Rulers' clash. Disaster and fear has spread across the land because of it, the forces of the earth falling into a frenzied disarray, and so I am here to resolve this war before Cosmos's Will is invoked any further."

"Is that wall a part of Xeros's Will of Desire, then?" Simon questions. "I am not as knowledgeable in the Six Wills as you, but I shudder to think such a monstrous power could originate from our beloved mother."

"And you would be correct, my friend," Virgil grimaces. "Desire has taken many forms over the history of humanity, but it is not possible for that horror to come from Creation. No, Creation itself shudders before its presence, rejecting and loathing its very existence. Frankly speaking, even I am at an impasse at what it could be."

"Does that mean it's impossible to get past it?" Deborah says, dejected.

"...Hm, well, there is no such thing as 'impossible' in my vocabulary young lady!" Virgil chuckles. "There is always a way. All we need is the time to discover it, and with Ascalon's assistance, I believe it won't take long at all!"

Upon saying Ascalon's name, Virgil begins to look around him, prompting the other captains and Sarathiel to do the same.

"Speaking of which, where is that young fellow anyway?" he asks.

"That is a bit odd..." Surasha remarks. It's been quite a while since Virgil's arrival, and yet Ascalon and Lorelai have still not made an appearance. Surasha can understand Ascalon being thick-headed enough to sleep through the commotion, but Lorelai? No, definitely not.

"I mean, they're probably still in their room together," Cain says with an awkward cough. "We should give them a bit more time to get ready."

"Ah. I forgot about that," she says, thanking the Stars that her armor is obscuring her face.

"Even so, we should probably send someone there to let them know what's going in." Sarathiel nods, turning his head towards Surasha. "Yep. So, you should get going."

"Wait, me!?" Surasha howls, pointing to herself. "I'd rather die than see the two of them together like that!"

"You know the two of them best out of all of us," Joshua snickers. "It'll be less awkward for us, and less awkward for them."

Virgil looks around at the captains, confusion spread across his mask. "Pardon me, am I missing something?"

"Oh, shut up already," Surasha mutters, disregarding her overly-polite facade. "Fine, fine. I'll go. But even Cosmos herself won't be able to save you once I come back, Sarathiel."

He winces and the other captains share a hearty laugh before Surasha begrudgingly departs to the transport construct where the two are staying.

Despite her grumblings, she truly is happy that Lorelai and Ascalon have embraced their feelings for each other. The two look happier than she has ever seen them been, and Ascalon himself has transformed into a new man. He no longer has that haggard look in his eyes, filled with self-doubt and endless worry, and whenever the two share a moment with each other, Surasha can feel the tenderness between them. The warmth. The pure, overflowing love.

She hates Ascalon because he hates himself. But over the course of the campaign, he's changed for the better. He's learned to accept himself. Maybe it's time for her to accept him as well.

Surasha opens the transport’s entrance and steps inside the hushed halls. Odd. It's almost disquieting in a way, the silence. As if not a single soul resides anywhere within the space, but that can't be right. If they're not here, then where could they possibly be?

"Huh, guess they really are still asleep," Surasha thinks to herself. A reason arises inside her head for why that could be, but the thought is too mortifying for her to entertain. "L-Let's just wake them up and get this over with."

She finally arrives at the room they should be staying at and meekly knocks on the door.

Nothing.

She knocks again, this time with a little more confidence.

Nothing.

She knocks again, but with power. With force. With creeping dread.

Nothing.

"...Ascalon? Lorelai?" she calls out with a trembling voice. "Are you in there? T-This isn't funny. Everybody's waiting for you outside. Heck, the Grand Magus is out there too! Can you believe that? He's traveled all the way from Augurium just to help us out! You don't want to keep him waiting too, do you?"

Nothing.

"Please...please answer me. Don't make me force my way through this door."

Nothing.

Anxiety worms its way into every corner of Surasha's body. Panic, unease, foreboding...it's all taking hold of her, wriggling its way into the deepest pits of her heart. It's weird. It's strange. Why is she feeling like this? She remembers seeing them in perfect health the day before, and there's just no way for anything to harm the two of them of all people, so why does she feel so afraid? Why does she feel like she'll regret it forever if she opens this door right now?

With a final, pitiful sob, she slams on the door and lets out a quiet plea. "Ascalon. Lorelai. Answer me."

Nothing.

Surasha gently opens the door, and is met with Ascalon's bloodied, heartless corpse. Lorelai is nowhere to be seen.

She stands in place, not wholly believing what her eyes are showing, because it can't possibly be real. It has to be an illusion, a dream, and any moment now she'll snap back to reality and find the two of them looking at her like she's gone mad. It'll happen soon. It has to. I-It has to.

But it never comes.

Surasha slowly steps towards the bedside and stares at Ascalon's unmoving body. His face looks so at peace, as if he's submerged in a serene slumber, but when she touches his arm, all she feels is a bitter chill.

"A-Ascalon," she chokes, tugging on his arm as if it'll bring him back to life. "Get up already. Please, just get up already. We've gone so far, done so much, and...and our happiness is finally within reach. You're so close to being free, to love without worry of the future, so get up. Don't let it all fall apart here."

Nothing.

And it continues to be nothing, until eventually, she can't stand nothing any longer.

She screams. She screams until her throat becomes hoarse with strain, and then she sobs until her eyes can shed tears no longer. Voices and bodies eventually join her, screaming and wailing and crying for her when she can no longer, but she doesn't care about them. She doesn't care about anything except for the lifeless body of Ascalon in front of her.

Somebody tries to move him, and a figure that looks a bit like Virgil through her misty vision pushes his way forward and attempts to heal Ascalon, but he still remains as he is. Quiet, still, and now forever at peace.

The dawn is supposed to bring hope. It's supposed to pave the way forward for the morrow to bring endless possibilities, but Surasha sees now that it's all a lie. It's been a lie from the very beginning.

The day only serves to veil the coming night. And so the dusk parts way for the dawn to rise forth once more, bathing all in the light of despair.

As it always has. As it always will.