Amidst their final preparations, as the grand masquerade loomed before them, Mike and Sophia engaged in a hushed debate about the plan to retrieve the key and confront the Duke. After casting some minor mind magic the guards cleared off. Ducking into a secluded spot, Sophia pulled out Lorianth's rotting body after Mike's insistence. Their conversation remained hushed, a clandestine discussion amid the grandeur of the palace.
"If it's so fucking important, then you do it, Mike," Sophia retorted with a hint of exasperation as they discussed the details of their risky operation.
"I mean... The guy smells like shit. Can't we just send him off to do it? He was supposed to be a badass adventurer; I'm sure he can fetch a key." Mike, clearly uncomfortable with the idea, voiced his reservations.
Sophia's response was laced with skepticism. "Do you trust him? I mean, I have control of his soul to an extent, but that's just for basic commands. For something as complex as this, there's no telling how he might find a way to screw us. Even if I were to command him to retrieve the key and not get caught, I'm sure he could find a way to tip them off or even break free from my control. Who knows what the Templar could do." The thought of the Templar's interference lingered ominously in the air.
They conversed in muted tones, huddled in a quiet corridor, taking advantage of a moment when Altheack and her friend were scouting ahead.
Mike, his reluctance palpable, eventually relented. "Fine, I guess it'll be nice to be a dude again, rotting or not," he begrudgingly conceded. As he felt a strange force pulling at him, Sophia began to cast the spell that would send him into Lorianth's decaying body.
"Lavmous!" Mike found himself seeing through the dead man's eyes.
"This is so damn weird," Mike remarked as he looked down at Valicar's shorter frame, her mask and cloak concealing her beneath them.
Sophia, in Valicar's form, acknowledged with a wry smile, "It... kinda is, isn't it? Rurus," She pinched her nose as she cast a spell of illusion to conceal the smell and appearance of Lorianth's battle-torn figure.
"Good luck, Mike. We'll meet outside once it's over, you know the spot," Sophia told him before they parted ways.
After a quick nod, Mike navigated through the palace's winding passages, moving toward the basement where the vault was located. Meanwhile, Sophia, inhabiting Valicar's body, rejoined the masquerade ball in progress.
Lorianth, the vessel that now held Mike's consciousness, had certainly seen better days. It was a grotesque experiment, orchestrated by Sophia and fueled by her unique abilities, which allowed Mike to infiltrate the palace without drawing undue attention.
As he stepped into the underground, Mike couldn't help but be struck by the eerie sensation of having a temporary physical presence in this world. He was acutely aware of his considerable vulnerability in this borrowed vessel, a necessary compromise as they continued down the path toward separating their souls.
Sophia and Altheack, concealed behind their masquerade masks and dressed in resplendent costumes, navigated with grace through the noble crowd. Songs recounting the exploits of the "Aldria's Scarlet Scourge" had become a ubiquitous presence, their notoriety preceding them. Fortunately, Mike wasn't present to hear the insults and jabs that the bard continued to hurl at Valicar.
As Mike, ensconced behind the grotesque facade of Lorianth's corpse, continued his silent journey through the palace's labyrinthine passages, he couldn't shake the unsettling feeling of inhabiting this decaying vessel. It served as a constant reminder of his unique, necromantic abilities, distinct from Sophia's, his were fueled by demonic magic. Though their powers aimed at similar ends, the methods and sources that fueled them were fundamentally different. Both, however, remained deeply enshrouded in the darkness of the arcane.
Mike's mission was clear-cut: reach the palace's vault, the presumed sanctuary of the relic key. With every step, the discomfort of controlling a rotting corpse emphasized the unnerving realization of the vile magic that coursed through him. The palace's vault was likely protected by a multitude of wards and guards, a formidable challenge even for his unique skill set in this weakened state. However, this body held certain advantages. As he proceeded, Mike deftly avoided guards and staff, his years as a street thief during their childhood proving invaluable. With Sophia's spell veiling him as but a shadow in the corner of observers' eyes, he moved with stealth and lethal precision.
He didn't hesitate to eliminate any guards in his path, wielding his sword of darkness with deadly efficiency before ripping their souls away. Mike couldn't help but ponder how Altheack would react to their continued use of necromantic magic. Earlier, she had urged them to keep it concealed, but even Sophia seemed to be embracing it more, influenced perhaps by the persistent whispers of the dead that had been gnawing at her psyche. While the change was certainly a positive one, sparing him from her ceaseless whining about the "value of life", Mike couldn't shake the nagging worry about the erosion of her innocence. His sister had repeatedly compromised her moral boundaries for his sake, and while he appreciated it, he couldn't help but lament the stories of her past life.
Several hundred feet from Sophia, Mike prowled through the basement. He knew the psychic link between them had its limitations, and while his entire soul remained connected to her, he still felt the power of his demonic pact. Guard after guard fell before him, their souls claimed by his dark magic. His patron demon was pleased with his unwavering devotion. With every soul he harvested, the power fused with his oath, strengthening it. After leaving a trail of lifeless bodies in his wake, he finally stood before the imposing door of the vault. It was a massive structure, adorned with intricate runes that formed complex patterns.
"Fuck... this is gonna take a while," Mike sighed as he took his blade and began working on the door. All who challenged him were torn from the cycle of life, their essence offered to the dark entity known to Mike as "Anna Sha." Her power transcended the veil between realms, assisting him in breaking open the door.
After hours of revelry at the grand masquerade ball, Duke Skyborne finally made his entrance. Sophia, tethered to Mike through their psychic link, had been acutely aware of his relentless rampage throughout the palace. Worry gnawed at her, although she understood that Mike's ruthlessness left no room for witnesses. His descent into the abyss of darkness knew no bounds, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for unleashing this monster upon the castle's residents.
Yet, despite the grimness of the situation, Sophia recognized that this was a necessary test. Separating a small portion of Mike's soul from the tangled mess that was Valicar marked a significant achievement in their ultimate goal. It was a step toward granting him autonomy, allowing him to exist independently for the first time in 17 years.
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The Templar remained conspicuously absent, a fact that had not gone unnoticed by Sophia and Altheack. Nevertheless, the grand masquerade ball had continued, and soon enough, the triumphant blare of trumpets heralded the arrival of Duke Skyborne, or rather, as he now fancied himself, "King Aerion Skyborne, First of his name, Beloved of the Sky." The announcement echoed through the opulent ballroom.
Sophia couldn't help but observe Altheack's reaction, a subtle flinch, and a flicker of discomfort that also seemed to afflict her friend, Zorven. The name held a deeper cultural significance that Sophia had yet to fully grasp.
The Duke, now posing as a King, was brought into the room on an enchanted floating chair, a corpulent figure adorned with an ostentatious display of jewels and rare beast hides. Sophia's curiosity couldn't help but spark a bitter reflection: "Funny how someone who relies so heavily on magic is perfectly fine with selling out the entire mage population."
However, Altheack seemed too distracted by the presence of her uncle to dwell on such matters. A fire burned in her eye, and Sophia could sense a personal vendetta beneath the surface.
With great pomp and an obnoxious display of self-indulgence, King Aerion Skyborne addressed the gathered nobility. His words were laden with arrogance as he welcomed the rich and powerful, proclaiming himself the best King they could ever hope for. He laughed uproariously as he shoveled food into his mouth, paying no heed to the mess he was making on his pristine clothing. He cared little for decorum or appearances, making wild proclamations of a new golden age for the country.
In his fervor, he announced plans for a grand alliance with the Empire, promising that the mages in Minerva would be exempt from the Empire's reach. He went even further, boasting of a grand scheme that would see the Pillars reward them with the entire eastern continent. His ambitious plan included the arrival of the Pillar of the South, who would, he assured, deliver the Elf Kingdoms, including Altheack's mother's city, into their dominion.
As the Duke's pompous speech continued, Sophia and Altheack exchanged knowing glances, their unease growing with each word that dripped with arrogance and false promises. The acrid taste of deceit lingered in the air, casting a shadow over the extravagant gathering. The time had come for their audacious plan to unfold.
With Mike in position and the Duke, along with most of the nobility, enthralled by his grandeur, there was no better moment to seize the stage. Sophia and Altheack had devised a strategy. Sophia, despite her aversion to using mind control magic openly, had agreed to cast a temporary mass mind control spell. Its purpose was to sway the nobles to Altheack's cause, if only for a brief moment. The duration didn't matter; all that counted was the Duke's deposition before an audience. The details of what came next could be sorted out afterward.
The ballroom fell into stunned silence as Altheack, her voice unwavering and determined, declared, "Enough of this, Uncle!" With a deliberate motion, she removed her mask, revealing the scarred countenance beneath. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the room like a wave as recognition quickly spread among the nobility. All eyes turned to the disfigured woman who had dared to defy her blood, the Duke, in such a brazen and public manner.
"Ladies and gentlemen of Minerva," Altheack began, her voice resolute, "I stand before you, a woman burdened by a painful past, one that saw me exiled at the urging of my uncle. I don't deny Valicar's actions; they've cast a dark shadow upon our land. But I stand here not seeking forgiveness. I stand for our collective future.
"I'm not here to erase the past. I'm here to forge a new future, one where we stand tall as a county, unwavering against the Empire's demands, and where we don't forsake our fellow mages. A future where our past missteps no longer bind us and where we reunite with the world's alliance forces. You may question my legitimacy as a ruler, but contemplate the alternative.
"My purpose is to safeguard Minerva, shield its people, and ensure the continued freedom of our mage brethren, resisting the tyranny of the Templars. The Church poses a threat not only to our liberties but to the entire world. Without intervention, they will sunder the Veil, bringing ruination upon all that we cherish.
"Stand with me, not for my past, but for the future we can together mold. Let us emancipate your fellow citizens and mankind alike, unite the various human countries, and take a resolute stand against those forces that seek to resurrect the horrors of the creation wars. Together, we shall make Minerva a beacon of hope, a shining light for humanity, and banish the looming darkness.
"The Duke, his visage contorted with anger, countered, "Valicar is beyond salvation, Halfling! Her slaying of the Pillar of the East will surely draw the Empire's wrath upon us if we don't strike this accord. The mages here won't face oppression; nothing will change under the Church's rule." His words concealed the Church's oppressive grip, shrouding their true intentions."
The crowd was palpably divided. Some, who had already harbored reservations about the Duke, found themselves swayed by Altheack's impassioned speech.
”Fumgunos,” Sophia spoke the incantation, attuned to the minds and souls of those around her, sensed the shifting sentiments. Her training in necromancy over the past few months had intertwined with her magical abilities, especially her mind control powers. The stolen book from the archmage had proven an invaluable teacher in blending dark arts with her existing magic. It was a fusion of the forbidden and the arcane, akin to how Mike melded his demonic oath with his abilities. Over the years, Sophia's power had grown, and her eyes now flared with crimson energy, a stark contrast to the absence of Mike's consciousness within her.
As Altheack spoke, Sophia extended her influence. The intricate connection between the brain and soul allowed her to significantly enhance her control over the audience's minds by brushing against their very souls. Her power was formidable, and she felt their wills bending to her command. Guards, and even the elusive S-rank adventures lurking nearby, succumbing to Sophia's grasp. Unbeknownst to them, they became pawns, their thoughts and actions subtly guided by her will. Sophia's presence was like a whisper in the ears of the strong and a dominating force to the weak. She wrapped their souls and minds alike in her will, reducing them to malleable clay to be shaped according to her designs.
The Duke, once confident in his hold over the nobles, was rapidly losing support. Although the attendees weren't aware they were being controlled, they couldn't resist the overwhelming compulsion. Sophia sent a single, insistent thought to everyone present: "Altheack, Beloved of the Sky." It was a name whose true context eluded Sophia, as it was part of a prophecy that foretold the rise of a king who would unite humanity, putting an end to centuries of strife between the last human kingdom, Aldria, and the human empire.
Mike, still inhabiting Lorianth's decaying body, was breaking into the palace's vault when an unexpected attack struck him. A golden blade tore through his chest, but being an undead, he felt little pain. He casually turned to face his new adversary, who revealed himself as a human Templar.
"Foul creature, where is your master?" the Templar demanded, his tone filled with zealous righteousness. "Answer now or die. You stand before the disciple of the Pillar of the South."
Mike recognized the gravity of the situation. This Templar was likely as formidable as Bellic, or perhaps even close to his level. It promised to be a challenging confrontation. With Lorianth's height and power at his disposal, Mike initiated the combat with a high, powerful swing in a bid to assert his dominance in this swordfight. However, it proved insufficient as he was swiftly pushed back under the relentless assault of the Templar's golden blade, a weapon infused with holy magic. Mike was in a weakened state, without an audience to bolster his powers. He needed a way to win, and he needed it fast.
In a fleeting moment, his past life came rushing back to him, and this time, it was a vision of his mother before her death. She wore a mischievous grin as she spoke, "Sticks and stones may break bones..." In that instant, Mike knew the words of a powerful spell, "Nuv RI." But just as quickly as they entered his mind, they slipped away like ephemeral dreams.
Desperation coursed through him. The Templar stood before him, his holy onslaught relentless. But Mike couldn't afford to lose. In a flash of inspiration, he uttered the incantation, The Templar's body crumbled, reduced to a grotesque puddle of flesh. His bones were consumed by the void, an offering to the demon Anna Sha, who had granted Mike this favor in exchange for a piece of holy flesh, in this case, bone. The unexpected turn of events left Mike in a state of eerie calm as he continued his mission to secure the relic key.
"Spineless bitch," He mocked before going back to work on the vault he could feel Sophia working her magic above, time was short.