“May I recommend we take a moment?” Crowseer asked, his voice light.
Adam stepped forward, only to feel the pressure against his throat as a cane pressed against him.
“You are no match for him,” Crowseer warned, his voice still light.
“Step aside, Crowseer.”
“What do you think you can do alone?”
“I’m not alone, though?"
Lucy’s entire body filled with the heat of hatred, the rage filling even through her core, Great Destroyer almost weightless within her grip. Her mind was almost completely blank as she stepped forward, ready to burst along with the other figures who had prepared themselves to face the mountain in front of them. Jurot’s body was equally as hot, holding Phantom tight in hand, while Mara held Destroyer.
Even so, it was the pressure from the three older Iyrmen which pressed upon the Third Guardian Star the most, the bloodlust from them almost drowning him. However, it was the smiles on their faces which caused him to pause.
“Jane, Mork, Tork,” Adam called, his body cooling down from the rage which had almost overcome him.
Tork pat the shaft of his greataxe against his palm. “I don’t know what one of you Thirteen Stars is, but you seem like good hunting.”
Mork drew his blade, though held his shield up ahead of him, trying to hide behind it. ‘One more of those and I’ll die, but I’ve already drunk some alcohol, and now it’s time to work it off.’
“Step back,” Adam said, holding his axe in hand, feeling the emptiness within it. ‘If only I had Wraith.’
“Back?” Tork asked.
“This has nothing to do with you.”
“If we step back now, we’ll be laughed out of the North,” Tork said.
“I’m not joking, Tork. Step back, now.” Adam stared up at the figure in front of him, who was stood tall and proud, and so damn regal.
Jane sheathed her blade, letting out a sigh of relief, glad she wasn’t going to die that day. Mork hesitated, waiting to see what Tork would do. The horc ground his teeth, his face scrunching up in annoyance, but he stepped back, though held his greataxe within his hands still.
“Adam, you should leave too,” Lucy said, though she heard no response.
“Even together, you will not be able to harm him,” Crowseer informed. “You do not even have Wraith.”
“Gangak,” Jarot called out, far too gleefully. “We were attacked.”
“Yes,” Gangak replied.
“Otkan. We were attacked.”
“Yes.”
“Lamtol…” Jarot bared his teeth into the most wild grin once more. “We were attacked.”
Lamtol finished strapping her shield upon her arm, and drew her blade. “Yes. We had no qualms with you, great one, but we thank you for this opportunity.”
“Even together, you mortals cannot face me,” the Third Guardian Star stated, as though it were fact. Yet, he could sense all the magical weapons in their possession, meaning they could at the very least make him bleed, and the smiles upon their faces definitely meant they would do anything they could to make sure of it.
Crowseer let out a sigh, shaking his head. He tapped his cane onto the floor. “I know you will step back. Raise the dead before you leave, Starsword.”
Starsword stared at Crowseer, his eyes piercing through his veil, unable to see the depths of the Thirteenth Guardian Star’s depths. He could definitely feel the eagerness of the Deathsingers, those who had hunted even the Divine previously. ‘How many millennia ago was it when I heard the tales? One? Two? I recall it was only a few centuries ago, if I were to believe the rumours.’
In his moment of annoyance, he had let slip an attack against them all, purely to put Crowseer in his place, but now he had provoked the one group which would gleefully hunt even the Divine. ‘Seeing as how you have not apologised, do you intend to help the cursed one?’
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
As always, with Crowseer’s presence, it had all become so complicated.
Starsword remained silent and still for a long moment, but then stepped forward. He continued to step forward, passing Adam, and it was only then that Adam had realised the figure was easily double his height. Starsword clasped his hands together, speaking words in an ancient language, one that had long died. A gentle light emanated from his whiteness, rings of light rippling out of him, warmth flowing out as the gentle bells of divinity hummed in the air.
Health: 68 -> 98
Adam shuddered as the divinity ran through his body, warming up the chill within his bones. Whatever the feeling was, he hated it, his eyes still glaring towards Starsword. However, his eyes then fell to those who had fallen, watching as the lifeless bodies began to stir, from the Chief, to the villagers around him, including the children who gasped for air, and looked around, bewildered. Adam kept a tight grip on his axe still, feeling the tightness in his entire body as he tried to calm his heart.
Starsword turned, walking past the group, even passing Adam. “You shall answer for this, Crowseer.”
“Not even your sister can-,” Crowseer lifted his cane to try and defend himself, striking the beam of light which suddenly appeared. The light exploded all through him, causing him to grit his teeth as the pain flooded through his body. However, as the light pierced through him, Maurice glared into Starswords eyes, coaxing him, but Starsword’s starry pupils spun, breaking through the ancient magic.
Adam raised his shield as Crowseer slid back, slamming his cane into the ground with such force, the earth cracked beneath. He raised a hand to stop the group from taking any actions, his gaze upon Starsword, who wielded the blade of light within his hand, completely relaxed, Crowseer, the Thirteenth Guardian Star, completely fixated within his gaze.
Crowseer swallowed, and spoke more words, while the villagers pulled away. The Chief remained at the gate, along with the guards, though some of them had taken steps away. Terry didn’t even bother drawing his weapon, understanding if the being wanted him dead, he’d die, like he had moments ago.
The light of the blade dissipated into the air, and Starsword turned, stepping away from the village.
Quest Complete: Divine Retribution
XP Gained: +1 000
XP: 24 000 -> 25 000
Lucy remained in front of Adam, clutching Great Destroyer in hand, not taking her eyes off the figure. She believed he could turn into light at any point in time to kill Adam, so she would focus on him completely until he was out of sight. Even when he would be out of her sight, she still wouldn’t feel comfortable.
“You okay, Crowseer?” Adam dared to ask, before he tensed up as a roar filled the air. Jarot struck the wall of the village, tearing through it with ease with his axe. He flashed red hot, his eyes almost purely white as he let off the pent up frustrations. ‘Why would you scare me like that, you old geezer!’
“I have been healthier at times, I am certain,” Crowseer replied, his voice full of strength, even though he had taken a blow which would have at least knocked Adam out. ‘Perhaps it was my mistake in invoking her?’
Adam turned to face the Village Chief, who met Adam’s eyes. Through the confusion within his eyes, Adam could see the accusation within, and Adam quickly glanced away to the other villagers, who remained in the distance, some having hidden behind the wall, others having entered the houses. ‘Damn it.’
“I warned you not to bring attention to yourself.”
Adam reached up to cover his face, as though it could hide him away from the world, or hide his shame. ‘Fuck! Fuck! Shit!’
Crowseer could feel the awkwardness in the air, and he brought his cane to his chest. “Is Larot well?”
“Yeah.”
“How is little Jarot?”
“Good.”
Crowseer slowly nodded his head, and after a small pause, he wondered if he should say more. “What of Jirot? Still causing you trouble, I hope?”
“You know it.”
“What of your triplets?”
“Always so adorable, and polite. Karot’s been learning to draw, and Kirot…” Adam thought about his daughter. “She’s got her own interests too? Konarot’s been learning dragonchess.” ‘Kirot, what do you want?’
“I am glad your eldest is healthy now.”
Adam furrowed his brows. “You knew?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t tell me?”
“How is Virot?” Crowseer replied innocently.
“So adorable, and troublesome since she’s as beautiful as her mother.”
“How is Damrot?”
“He is eating well,” Jurot stated, with a tone that suggested, politely, for Crowseer to shut his mouth.
Crowseer cleared his throat, considering how the Iyr had let him be even after his previous indiscretions. “I need a drink, how about you all?”
“I don’t know much about these Thirteen Stars, but you aren’t so bad, Crowseer,” Mork joked, still feeling the unassuming greatness within the figure.
“Were you not taught at the Temple of the Great Lady of the High Seas?” Crowseer asked.
Mork blinked. “How…”
The day passed by awkwardly, though the villagers quickly completed their tasks. Lamtol spoke with the Chief, before Jarot appeared to threaten him. Thankfully, Gangak and Otkan had been assigned to deal with him, so his outburst hadn’t lasted long.
As night fell, Adam stared at the stars above. ‘Did I really cause two civil wars? There’s no way my Omens can do that, right? I mean…’
Jurot could feel his brother’s thoughts from beside him. He also stared at the stars, while Lucy and Mara walked around the area, keeping an eye out.
“Jurot?”
“Yes?”
“How strong do you think that guy was?”
“He could clash with Emperor Shama,” Jurot said, only realising the name he had spoken after the name had left his lips.
‘Damn,’ Adam thought, closing his eyes, the flames flashing through his mind again. “Jurot?”
“Yes?”
Adam’s lips quivered slightly, and he closed his eyes, covering them. “Do you think… it’s better for me to d-,”
“No,” Jurot replied, tensing up.
“…” Adam sniffled.