The circle was broken, hope had fled the moment they stepped foot in Tartarus; a vast, shattered land consisting of fields of rubble and barren rock, labyrinthine graveyards and catacombs only interrupted by strange rivers. It had been a gamble to take him with, Agazuul understood as much. It was a bet he had lost, the price of that loss seemed all too big, regret was a word that fell mightily short of describing what Agazuul felt that moment.
He pulled a crystal out of his pocket, one given to him by his mentor Ludwig. May it help you during your darkest times. Agazuul held the elven crystal in front of him and whispered to it in the flame tongue. A light emanated from the object as bright as the sun. The shadows didn’t just back off, they were erased; dropping Mirva from thirty meters high. That frightening roar filled the sky once more, so much louder than before. I had hoped those came from the shadow wyverns. Patrik dragged the broken body of Mirva back to them as they stepped into the light. Gadraek had brought Carl’s body; both were lifeless.
“One.” Lixiss said solemnly.
“No, don’t you dare!” Eira shouted. Lixiss looked at him, ready to take another life.
“There’s been enough death!” Gileon shouted, “I could’ve helped. All I needed was a minute.” Tears flowed then. Gadraek stepped in to comfort him.
“Not your fault lad, Carl snapped.”
“He gets saved, again and again.” Eira complained, “where does it stop?” She asked, making her answer clear.
“We are not discussing this.” Agazuul put in, as with the change in light he pointed out the lands before them on the decline.
“As the star disappears, it is replaced by a crimson glow, which allows greater sight to see the flowing rivers and churning lands for what they are; hordes of the undead in untold variety.” The land before them was not only difficult to navigate when going through it, one wrong turn would send them in the arms of thousands of undead; a battle lost before it could begin.
“Why me?” It was a question that Agazuul knew was coming. As much as he’d deny it to himself as much as he’d try not to think about it. Agazuul knew the question would be posed and it would not be asked by another. Her lips would form those two simple words with such dark connotations. An answer they’d both know the answer to as soon as it was asked. Alma looked at him with her gray eyes.
“Matteus was the better fighter, Paula was the rock Eira could lean on…I’m no one. The worst fighter of this bunch. I don’t come up with any ideas during battle and I could barely protect myself back there let alone help anyone else. So why…why me?” Agazuul had understood with the first uttering, all that it entailed, all that it implied. She was the logical choice for a sacrifice.
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“I figured it out, you don’t need to tell me. It didn’t take long for me to remember the way you looked at me. I don’t feel the same way. I didn’t feel the same way. You’re a disgusting person, maybe you always were.” Agazuul thought of defending himself, but words would not come to him. They carried the bodies with them as they charted a course never needing words.
“I was inspired by who you were, by what you’ve done. I realize now I was wrong.” Alma’s words stung. The roar was so close now, but it felt no longer frightening. As Agazuul gazed upon the land before him, he saw where it had come from.
“The most prominent denizens of Tartarus reside in necropoli. Among the more well known necropoli are the city of the endless alley, Gork-Dur, Ariost, Tarqyn, Hadryn’s keep & Corpyx.”
“I warned you, I fucking did! You are what ended her and you can’t keep your trap shut neither can you apparently fucking process what Alma is trying to tell you. You absolute worthless shitbag.” Despite his severe burns, tired state and extreme difficulty in moving; Eira lept from his mount and swung at Agazuul with his battle-axe.
“I will be your end, this is the land of death? I’m sure we can add one to the pile!” Eira declared.
It came swooping in, a terrifying monster that would strike fear in the hearts of many; but they had endured too much. The very ground shook as lightning struck from the undead dragon flapping its wings above the ground. It was mostly skeletal with wings that were full of holes and tears, only the faintest bit of bronzen scales were still upon the dragon that had completely oxidized at this point; making it look teal. Agazuul leapt with his shield outwards turning his back to Eira who gladly took the opportunity filled with an unquenchable rage.
His armor took most of the hit, the battle axe cutting his neck only slightly. His outstretched shield deflected the dragon's attack completely.
“Now’s not the time…” Patrik said as he stepped in, bruised from the battle before; pulling Eira away from Agazuul. Lixiss jabbed her stinger into Eira, who almost immediately thereafter went into shock.
“She will be fine, now focus on the battle and surviving!” Lixiss was beyond angry, it wasn’t going to take much more for her to start finishing what she started with the Rastaytan Rookie Soldiers. Gileon pulled out materials and summoned a small creature made of lightning.
“This should help.”
“That was quick!” Gadraek said trying to keep the skeletal head of the dragon from chomping down on him by keeping it at distance with his greataxe. If only I had taken the time to study summoning, I’d know how to help Gileon better and understand what he’s doing. Agazuul looked over to Alma, who mostly tried to stay away from the battle, jumping in to stab the dragons once it swooped in low. She hasn’t hit the thing once, I could’ve had Paula. Eira would’ve fought like fury borne into flesh; for me not against.
“You’re right.” Agazuul said. There was an advantage to be gained. They were without Carl, without the leadership of Mirva. Lixiss was fantastic but not when creatures could fly their way up past her reach. Agazuul didn’t have the strength to cast a flying spell again. He threw his shield in an arc, and she fell. She was a weakness, besides there’s someone else waiting for me.