Focalor, Witch of Arcanum
Running forwards, Focalor found herself cresting the hill, only to see the town ablaze. Her home was all but burning cinders now. She watched in stunned horror as the monsters swarmed it, pillaging and setting fire to it. She heard the telltale sound of chain armor clinking against itself, and the heavy footfalls of his metal greaves. However, instead, Beleth entered her view. Beleth grinned her malicious grin while staring at the scene. Her silver eyes shone with a brightness Focalor had not seen while they were at the Castle. The normal cloak that hung over Beleth’s body was flowing backwards in the wind, revealing her proper form. That of an unknown monster, who’s tendrils morphed into body parts when shown to others. Beleth spoke with glee in her voice, “See how they run? See how they flee those they once oppressed? See now how ‘demons’ can be freed. Through proving our strength, you will be free, Focalor. As is the Master's will.” The metallic movements stop, and the cold voice speaks up, the voice of Baal, “Quiet, Beleth. Let her understand on her own. Let her see the enemy of all run like the cowards they are. Let her see them run to their gods for safety, and find none respond to their pleas.”
Focalor remained still, watching with utter abject horror and fear. She knew this feeling well, but she was not in danger. She was not watching her closest friends, her family, being dissected alive before her eyes. She was not having to run. She was safe and protected. She was being shown the price of killing the “demons”. She felt a small wave of catharsis wash over her, knowing the bastards that had harmed her friends and scarred her mind were likely dead. But then it was gone, as she began to realize that not all of them were evil. Not everyone within the town had to die. Not all Humans were evil. Focalor yelled out, “N- No! Stop it! Call them off!” Baal began to laugh, and she felt her heart sink. She had just spoken against her Master. He would lop off her head, and plant it on a spike, as he had promised. She braced for death, only to hear Baal speak, “You should lose that empathy. It will do you no good in a war against our enemy, Focalor. You have seen how they harm us, yet you have seen those who did not. Do you know why they did so? It was out of pity, Focalor. It was because you were pitiful and weak. They did not save you when you were chained and dragged out of the town for a sacrifice. They were just as terrible. The only good Human is a dead one. There is no world in which Humanity and all other races may live in peace. We are the only thing to show them who is truly worthy of surviving.”
Focalor remained silent, as he continued, “However, if you cannot manage to remove your empathy, we can do so for you. It is simply a matter of memories.” Beleth begins laughing maniacally, then she yells out, “I love that procedure, Master! May I do it!? Please, please, please!?” Baal is silent, as his armor clinks and his footfalls walk away. Beleth follows behind him, begging for permission to do whatever it was that he had just suggested. The hooded figure of Paimonia steps into Focalor’s vision, and speaks in their swapping voice, “Do not listen to your teacher, young Felinekin. You are fine the way you are. It is a weakness, yes, but Humanity has one thing correct about it. Empathy.” The flames begin to calm, no longer having more added to them. The screams and cries could no longer be heard in the distance. “Do not relish in death, but do not see nothing in death,” Paimonia continues. “It will only lead to your insanity or emotionlessness. Keep your empathy, but hide it. The Master does not like weakness, but even he has some weakness. The time will come, when Demons can live in peace. It may not be in our life, but perhaps the next generations’.” Paimonia begins to walk towards the burning town, intent on doing their job as the most spiritual of the Generals.
Kaede
“Right. Don’t let yourself fall, Kaede.” Kaede took a seat on the roof she had reached. She needed a moment. “Do not fall. ‘Keep your empathy, but hide it. The Master does not like weakness,’ but even he is weak. You saw that yourself, Kaede. You are not the Demon Lord Baal, you were Demon General Focalor. You were trained by Beleth, and hid away your empathy at Paimonia’s request.” Kaede looked up to the roof of the mountain, and spoke, “Paimonia? Can you still hear me, even in this world? I know you can not speak back, but I wish to again say that I am happy you found peace in your last moments. That you saw the future you wished for. I shall not forsake it, for I will not forget your words.” She looks towards where she had her second encounter with Jazak’s party today, and she spoke with dejection, “I am sorry, Alais. I should have been more in control. You should not have died.” Kaede looks forward again, wishing she could turn back time, but her magic could never allow that. No matter how hard she could try.
Slowly she began to stand again. Taking a deep breath, Kaede stood calmly, gathering herself. It was time to go to the next. She had lost herself and allowed a death that was not meant to be. She will have to suffer that for her days. Though some would see it as self defense, she did not. She was far stronger. She simply only had to scare the poor Elf. She began to walk again, headed for her next destination, praying that she would not see Jazak or Drugov. She walked in silence, wondering if she should tell Grolit of the most recent encounters. She decides against it, and continues on her path. She reaches the edge of the roof, and jumps to the next. She began to fear failing to alter the thoughts of the people here, her mind returning to the fire and brimstone she had enacted in her time as Focalor.
She began to think of Victor, Clover, Lance, and even Iris, who had returned to Varenisle instead of departing for Desmoni with the rest of them. Iris, the only one of them who had found out Kaede was one of their allies after Baal’s defeat. The Vigilant had dismissed her at first, but that was fine. She had the others at the time. Why was she feeling so nostalgic? Was it because of the many times she had faced them after causing chaos? Was it because she was becoming homesick already? She walked in silence, pondering her feelings. She hopped to the next roof, thinking to herself about her past and her present.
Jazak Forgeson
Why had he run? Fear? He had forgotten that feeling. He knew anxiety and anger well. Anxiety from his failings as a Dwarf, and anger from his failings as a person. He stopped in his movements, knowing Kaede was not following him, nor was Arseni, and definitely not Alais. He had left Alais to her death, and he punched himself with as much force as he could. He felt the punch reverberate throughout himself. Pain shot through him, bringing a sense of relief for his anger, though small. He took in a ragged breath, knowing he was wrong to run. Wrong to abandon Alais. To consign her to death. He punched the wall, bloodying his hand on the stone. He took another shaking breath, and then spoke quietly, “I need to leave. I need to go. I will only make a mess of things here.” He looks down the path again, then starts walking. He needed to return to Nurud. He would go to the Elven Queendom immediately. He needed to leave. He was useless here.
Drugov Arseni Georgiyevich
“In one fleeting moment, thou must live, die, and know.” Arseni stood silent in an alley, listening to the song that was being sung past an open window. He was a warrior, yet he could do nothing against such monsters. It was a cowardly act, but he prioritized his life this day. He silently stood still, before beginning to walk towards the tower. He remembered the young Dwarf who had offered him a new shashka. He would take that offer now. He needed a better weapon, and one that would allow him to reach towards a noble goal, and an even nobler death. Both sides were right. Slavery was wrong, but at the same time, causing chaos and grief in the pursuit of destroying it was also wrong. The death of one does not excuse the death of another. He knew this well, as currently the only Drugov to understand might does not make right. This situation would cause suffering. He would witness suffering. He began to gather his resolve. He was ready. In one fleeting moment, he must live, die, and know. He begins to run, knowing his path. It will not end in death, it will end in conversation, and compromise. It will end with mediation, the only way to safeguard more lives.
Sebastia Rin
Sebastia was now extremely tired, as she fell to her knee and began to take a breather. The Freeborne approached, and spoke, “That is all for today. You cannot last any longer.” Sebastia looked over, sweat falling from her brow and into her eye. With a few blinks and shakes, she begins to stand again, still breathing heavily, as she asks a question, “Wh- What next?” The Freeborne smiles, then answers, “We rest, or you do something unexpected.” Sebastia tilts her head slightly, still taking a moment to breathe. The Freeborne elaborates, “Do you still believe in Luné Alpenglow?” Sebastia nods, answering, as her lungs no longer need every bit of oxygen nearby, “Yes, I do. But she is going down a darker path than she should.” The Freeborne smiles softly, as she answers, “Then how about we help them, and show them their path is wrong?” Sebastia sees a square appear before them, an image on it. Sebastia feels sorrow fill her as she watches the image, before she answers, “Yes. We should do it.”
Kaede
As Kaede reached another edge, she saw Jazak moving down an alley. She felt it could be time to capture him. He was alone, and there was no way he could resist her magic. She tapped her staff onto the ground, casting a spell, and lifting off the roof and onto the ground in front of him. He slowed, and drew his axes, walking with caution towards her. She spoke in a calm and collected tone, “If you come quietly, this will not need to become bloody.” Jazak spoke with a shaking voice, “I will not.” Kaede taps her staff onto the ground as she speaks and narrows her eyes at Jazak, “Rethink. Immediately.” Two spectral spears begin to float behind Kaede. Jazak stops moving, keeping his axes forward, and remaining silent. Kaede frowns heavily, and speaks, “Fine. It will be by force.” She raises her freehand, and the spears launch forward, only to find two daggers knocking them up and away.
Kaede’s eyes widen in surprise, as she had not expected someone to be able to fool her eye. The cloaked Elf speaks, “Best to run, Dwarf. She will not be happy if you are captured.” Jazak speaks, his voice collected in that moment, “I need to get past her. I need to get to Nurud.” The Elf nods as he speaks in a completely calm tone, “It will be done.” Kaede spoke, now simply frowning, “I had not expected invisibility at the level of an Archmagus. Who are you?” The Elf simply rushes her, slashing with his daggers. She backpedals, annoyed at the Assassin for ignoring her question. Kaede casts a quick and rough spell, blocking one of the dagger strikes that would have otherwise dug into her. She did not have her simulacrum, but she was confident she could still win. She swiped at the Assassin with her staff, causing him to duck, and slash upwards, just barely catching her chin with the tip of his blade.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
She had no time to check the wound, as the Assassin kept up the pressure, and Jazak ran behind him, likely aiming to run off when they reached the exit of the alley. She could not allow that, but she did not have the time to worry about blocking the exit, as the moment she did, she would likely be struck by the Assassin. The fight was currently one-sided against her, and she needed the extra space. She decided it would be fine to exit the alley, after all, she could quickly catch up to Jazak. As they exited, Jazak went right, while the Assassin began pushing Kaede to the left. The nearby civilians began running, not wanting to be close to a fight to the death. Kaede casts a spell, having managed to get enough space between them, and the Assassin simply jumps to the side as the bolts of light slam into the ground with considerable force.
Kaede jumps backwards again as the Assassin rushes forward, and she launches another spell, which the Assassin stabs, causing it to dissipate. Kaede, though shocked, was not stunned by this new development. After all, she had seen anti-magic in work before. She would need to be more careful with her attacks. In the distance, she could see Jazak running still, but the Assassin was a problem, and very much in the way. He lunged forward, trying to pierce her skull, only for her to dodge to the side, and knee him in the stomach, or so she thought, as she felt the other dagger dig into her own stomach. Stumbling backwards, she reached, and pulled away blood. The Assassin looks at the bloody dagger, examining it as if something had happened to it.
Kaede suddenly felt a chill down her spine, and immense pain in her stomach. The Assassin looked at her, and spoke, “Demon Spider poison. You are already dead, little Kitten. Your fight is now futile.” Kaede smirks at that, “Futile you say?” She had already cast a spell, strengthening her body against the poison, then she quickly threw a spell at the Assassin, catching him off guard. He barely dodged in time, ripping the hood off his head. Kaede spoke calmly and with little pain in her voice, “I have been in far worse.” The Assassin glares at her, and Kaede recognizes the type of elf he is, as Raddoc was also this kind, a Dark Elf. She could see blood falling from a cut near where her strike had gone, indicating she had landed the blow.
The Assassin raises his blades as he speaks, “Annoying bitch. I’ll make sure this is painful.” He lunges forward again, and Kaede simply jumps up and over, startling the man, as she lands behind him with a roll, and begins her mad dash to Jazak. The Assassin gives chase, and Kaede keeps sprinting. Jazak could be seen turning into a building. Kaede was beginning to head for it, only for the Assassin to throw a knife at her, and pierce her shoulder. Feeling the knife plunge in, she turned, annoyed with the amount of tricks up the Assassin’s sleeve. Kaede transmutes her staff into a rapier and casting component, before stabbing forward at the Assassin, who was redrawing his daggers.
Clashing together, the Assassin kept Kaede’s rapier away from his body, waiting for the moment to strike. Kaede gave no quarter, jabbing and slashing with each strike, attempting to make no openings. However, she is no master duelist, and soon an opening is exploited. She barely can form a barrier to block the dagger, and ripostes with her own piercing strike. The Assassin backpedals, as he speaks, “I’ve done my job. See you around, little Kitten.” The Assassin pulls out a small pearl, and cracks it, disappearing. Kaede turns quickly, and begins sprinting to the store Jazak had entered. Bursting in, she finds a Dwarf in a mage’s robe, glaring at her. He speaks, “Too late, Lass. He’s already gone. Leave my store, I don’t want a fight.” Kaede glares back, and speaks, “Then prove he is not here. Show me each room.”
The Dwarf remains silent for a moment, before speaking, “Do you know of teleportation magic?” Kaede nods in response, annoyed at the Dwarf, and understanding, “Then you sent him somewhere. Where?” The Dwarf shakes his head, “I won’t tell. Even if you torture me, destroy my store, or find any random living relative that I don’t know about.” Kaede turns and exits the building, knowing her next destination. She had to immediately tell Luné. However, before she cast the spell to teleport herself home, she heard something. A slightly familiar voice, “Kaede. What are you doing here?” She turns her head to look at the person, before feeling faint, and collapsing. She smiles innocently, speaking with a very tired tone, “Hello, Sebastia. I hope you are not here to betray our Lady.” Sebastia crouches, immediately becoming worried, “Are you alright?” Kaede shakes her head slowly, before saying, “I want to finish my objective, but I’m too tired. There’s poison in my system now. Can you take me to the-” Her mind begins to fade into unconsciousness, causing her to pause for a second and her head to roll to the side, “-the Pries- Priestess.” With that, she was unconscious, and perhaps nearing death’s door.
The Freeborne
Sebastia looks to the Freeborne, and nods, allowing her teacher to take over here for now. Sebastia takes Kaede into her arms, and takes flight, disappearing suddenly. The Etherling smiles happily, her pupil was learning so quickly during her fights. She took to the sky of Homrhi, and began swiftly flying around the city, searching for slave rings. Reaching her first one, she sets down, and the guard immediately raises his weapon, startled by the presence of a Freeborne. The kind who could decimate any group. Always they strive for equal balance, but some become more dangerous, aiming for one side of balance. It was understandable to be worried, and certainly at this moment, as the Etherling drew her sword, and spoke, “Step aside, or die as well. No unnecessary deaths, please.” The guard kept still, hesitant to leave his post or attack. She sighed sadly, and raised her hand, grabbing and tossing the guard with magic. He hit the wall, and remained still, concussed.
She stepped into the slave ring, and already locks were breaking off suddenly, causing someone to yelp in panic. Several of the more angry slaves grabbed the bars and began attempting to exit their cages, only to find them still locked somehow. A voice could be heard, “Wh- Who’s there!?” The Etherling spoke, “A living nightmare for everyone on this World. A hostile Freeborne.” The voice became extremely panicked, “St- Stay back! I’m warning you! I’ll- I’ll- I’ll-” She stepped around a corner, and looked at the terrified Dwarf, cowering against a corner. She spoke calmly and coldly, “You will what? Call the guards? Call your ring’s guards? Call your ring’s benefactors? Go ahead and attempt it.” He suddenly screams out, only for no noise to be heard.
The Freeborne approaches sword in hand, as she speaks, “You will turn a new leaf. Become an honest man, and I will not kill you the next time I see you. And I will see you again, understand?” The Dwarf violently shakes his head, and then sprints off, as she lets him leave. As he leaves, she lets the cages open, and then casts one final spell, calming most of the slaves' emotions, to a reasonable degree. With that done, she began to walk again. It would be fine, as the slaves would find their ways. She began to fly again, exiting the tent quickly, and heading for her next ring.
Sebastia Rin
Sebastia appeared in the main room of Priestess Jordan’s home. She called out, “Isabell! Come here, quickly!” The startled yelp was enough to indicate the Priestess was home at the moment, and she quickly exited her room, in a nightgown. She began sprinting over as she saw Kaede in Sebastia’s arms, “What happened!?” Sebastia answers with her own question, “Where should I put her?” Isabell began running to get her things, “Same place as last time!” Sebastia moved quickly to where Luné had been resting for a while, and set Kaede down on the recently cleaned bed. Isabell rushes into the room, holding several books. She places them down, and speaks in a quick and worried tone, “What happened?”
Sebastia begins to explain what happened to Kaede, from the beginning of the fight, to the end and Sebastia’s arrival to the scene. Isabell seemed immediately worried as she flipped urgently through one of the books, “Fuck, fuck, fuck. This is bad. Demon Spider poison is the deadliest in this world. If I don’t have a fang, then I cannot fix this. Check my storage. Its a large fang-tooth labeled ‘Demon Spider’, if I have any.” Sebastia disappears suddenly, and Isabell ignores this. Sebastia arrives in the storage room, finding no Demon Spider fang. “Shit-” As Sebastia was about to do something reckless, she thought of something. Returning, she spoke, “You have none, but I think I might have a substitute.” Isabell was feverishly looking through her books, as she yelled from worry, “There is no substitute!” Sebastia answers, “There is. Use me.” She holds out her arm, and Isabell finally looks at Sebastia properly.
Isabell’s eyes go wide as she realizes the situation she has found herself in. She then steels herself, as she states, “Hand over the bowl, give me something sharp.” Sebastia moves and puts her hand over the bowl, before handing Isabell her sword. Isabell draws it, and cuts open the palm of Sebastia’s hand, causing her to yell out in pain. Isabell sets the sword down quickly, before grabbing bandages. Sebastia’s blood begins to pool in the bowl, and she begins to feel her strength draining. Isabell covers Sebastia’s hand and casts a healing spell, allowing her to sit down and start regaining her strength. Isabell sprints out of the room, while Sebastia speaks, “You’ll be alright, Kaede. You’ll survive.” Kaede mumbles something in her unconscious state, “-’m so-, Paim-” Sebastia remains still, sitting quietly, and waiting.
Isabell returns, and places several things into the bowl. She begins quickly mixing it together, crushing and grinding it all together. When done, she pours some of it into the wounds, before beginning to bandage Kaede. She sets some bandages into the mixture, letting them soak, before sitting down, already exhausted. Isabell looks at Sebastia and speaks, “Where did you go, and why are you an Angel?” Sebastia smiles softly, as she answers, “I got kidnapped and given a test by a goddess. Par for the course at this point.” Isabell frowns at that, before speaking with an annoyed but happy tone, “I’m just glad you’re back and safe.” Sebastia smiles happily at that, as she states, “I won’t be around for long. I still have to keep training, but as soon as I am done, I will be here.” Isabell is silent as she remains still, and then lays down to rest her eyes for a bit. Sebastia soon followed suit.
Chaos, of Probability
He softly chuckled, before sliding his view to somewhere else once again. It was a quiet night, but the City of Eslahil was not peaceful. A certain Dwarf approached the gates, ragged and tired. The Elves raised their spears, untrusting of the newcomer, only for them to hear a voice, “Calm yourselves. He is a friend of the Princess.” The Dark Elf appears beside the Dwarf, and ushers him onto the wooden elevator, headed for the treetops. Within the trees, they were greeted with a warm welcome, but the Dark Elf was shunned for getting injured. Lethhonel chastised the poor Elf, assuming he had gotten into a fight with Jazak, only for Jazak to speak, “It isn’t his fault he got hurt. We have a bigger problem than if he insulted me or not.” Lethhonel raises an eyebrow at that, asking, “What could be a bigger problem than endangering my closest friend? I should have him hung and quartered.” Jazak’s serious glare brought Lethhonel back to reality, as he spoke, “She is back and out for blood.”
Chaos smiled happily, before returning his vision to Kaede, and then Luné. It was a quiet night, and they did not know the danger that was approaching.