With a flash of magic, they found themselves whisked away once again. The teleportation magic proved invaluable to their survival, and when Valicar opened her eyes, the twins recognized the area, reminiscent of where they had grown up. They were close to the vault relative to the world, potentially still hundreds of miles away, but at the very least, they knew they were in the north of the central continent. They decided to make camp and take time to lick their wounds.
As they started a fire at the secluded campsite, a small remnant of their army regrouped with them. The men were of the beast-kin variety, which proved lucky as they were among the fastest mortal races, combined with the armor enchants at Helmhold. Mike gave orders to search for other parts of the army, planning to regroup near the vault. They could only hope that the Archmage, Spellweaver, hadn't sent the men too far and that the beast kin would be swift in spreading the news. The campsite, nestled in the familiar surroundings of the north, offered a momentary reprieve before the impending clash with the Pillar of the North.
Altheack, unconscious from the earlier battle, was attended to by Sophia's healing magic, only her eye remained scarred. Sophia, with the last of her magical reserves, used up in the healing process eventually succumbed to exhaustion.
Mike and Easton sat around the campfire, the flickering flames casting shadows on their faces. As Altheack slowly regained her strength, her half-elf form pulsating with healed vitality, Sophia was unconscious, within Valicar's mind, leaving Mike as the sole pilot of the shared body.
"Now that your demon is dead, do you still have the power of the pact?" Mike asked Easton.
"No, it's gone. The connection is forever severed. But I still have my natural affinity for the divine. If anything, it has only grown stronger," Easton confessed, practicing holy magic with golden shapes forming in his hands.
Mike, with a sarcastic tone, inquired, "Well, then, will it be enough to help fight your dear old dad?"
Easton sighed before taking a swig of whiskey. "Not even close. But, to be fair, nothing compares to that monster. Both his strength and cruelty know no mortal bounds," Easton confessed. "But that's not to say my power hasn't increased. My youth has been returned to me along with my life."
"Yeah, James filled us in on all that. It's safe to say you're not on speaking terms with either your uncle or father, huh?" Mike surmised, recounting what they had been up to since his death.
"That would be correct, considering I was dead," Easton said with a smile before continuing. "I am unsure if I ever met the man, as your uncle Valicar had a lot of strange company. As for my father, you already know him, and my sister Talia killed my mother. She was devoted to the church for far too long. In his quest to destroy the world, he has often confused the church's followers, promising a destiny for humanity only he can provide. Still, the bastard makes people believe that both he and his strength are part of the religion," Easton said, reflecting on the twisted history of his family.
"And as for the whole crazy two people shit, there may be something to it," he admitted, taking another drag from his bottle. "But I'm going to keep calling you Valicar because, to be honest, I don't give a shit."
"Yeah, whatever, dick. So, then our best plan is we get to the vault and use our army as a distraction while we use that ancient weapon," Mike said, envisioning the power it could grant.
"And what about the lives around you? Such a weapon would kill indiscriminately," Easton questioned, concerned about the potential cost of wielding such a powerful force.
"Not an issue... I can control it with a little help," Mike said darkly, Anna Sha whispering promises of great power if he could keep his vow. Killing had become too easy, but the prospect of "killing them all" still lingered. He knew he could find a way around it. "I can keep you and Altheack safe. Then, with that power, we could go anywhere! There are other worlds you couldn't even imagine, Easton," Mike said, his mind filled with dreams of returning to his world or exploring new ones, all at the cost of one world — the world he could possess. His sister, his teacher, and, of course, Altheack would be by his side.
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"You are as mad as ever," Easton said, observing the maniacal look in his student's eyes. "There could be another way. If you can awaken Blue Dawn's true power and bring the purple flame to life," Easton suggested.
"How? And would it even be strong enough?" Mike questioned.
"Oh, it would be more than strong enough, kid. Even your uncle, who could barely be considered a mage but was a master swordsman, could challenge the Pillar of the North when he awakened its true power. You are far stronger than the Valicar of old. You can defeat him!" Easton said, the true conviction in his eyes. "And you must be careful relying on that oath. Don't make me regret teaching you it."
"Purple flames," Mike pondered. "Why the hell did I ever give up the sword?" He said, annoyed, remembering the deal with the emperor.
"To give you the time you needed and to prevent the Pillars from killing us all. My father underestimated you; he wanted to keep the empire stable and avoid the same civil war that is ravaging it right now. And you needed time to grow your strength," Easton explained.
"I'm still not strong enough," Mike said under his breath, reflecting on how powerless he had been before the might of the Pillar of the North. "How the hell did the Pillar of the North even lose this blade?" Mike questioned.
"That damn dragon took it. Then your uncle stole it from Ignial's horde," Easton said, recounting the turbulent history of Blue Dawn's journey.
The night rolled on with more banter and drinks until morning reluctantly showed up, bringing Altheack and Sophia back into the dialogue once they scraped together enough magical stamina. The campsite, now bathed in the reluctant hues of dawn, witnessed Sophia undertaking the noble task of cooking a well-deserved breakfast, the ingredients still chilling inside their trusty Bag of Dalioum.
As Altheack received a plate of potatoes and eggs, she skeptically eyed the dish. "The food... doesn't mingle with the other questionable contents in your bag of holding, does it?"
Sophia, taking a moment from her culinary masterpiece, deadpanned, "No, they shouldn't. They kind of just float in suspended animation." Altheack turned her gaze toward Easton, who was casually enjoying his first post-death meal.
"Well, you are a necromancer now, and I couldn't help but notice you, uh, stash bodies in there," Mike and Sophia hit a culinary roadblock, fork suspended mid-air, as they exchanged puzzled glances. Easton, seemingly unfazed, shot them a nonchalant look.
"What? My balls could've brushed against these eggs, and I wouldn't give a damn, but Altheack is onto something; it's weird you kept me in there," he admitted with a shrug. Altheack looked perplexed, Sophia looked mildly disturbed, and Mike simply shrugged it off.
"Well, germs can't survive in the magical void anyway, but when stuff is put in the Bag of Dalioum, it turns all ethereal, so it's fine," Sophia resumed her meal. Altheack hesitated for a moment, contemplating the implications of her breakfast conversation, but eventually, hunger triumphed over existential concerns.
Later that day, as the sun began its descent, Altheack transformed into a massive wyvern, offering the twins a convenient means of transportation as they scoured the landscape for the nearest town to gather their bearings. None of the troops had returned yet, but the orders to spread the word to the rest of the army were firmly in place. On their journey, Easton took the opportunity to instruct Valicar on how to unleash Blue Dawn's true power.
Perched on Altheack's formidable back, Easton began, "You have to tap into the essence of the sword, Val. Feel its connection to the divine, and embrace it. Blue Dawn holds the power to defeat even the Pillar of the North, and it can free you from Anna Sha. Focus on the purpose, the mission, and let the sword guide you to slay your enemies."
Mike, holding the sword at his side, tried to channel the teachings, Sophia channeling her mana while Mike handled the infernal. "I get it, but it feels like I'm missing something. There's a barrier or a block."
Easton nodded, "You have mastered channeling mana and demonic magic through the blade; now you must add holy magic. I can no longer wield both forms of magic, but you can, especially with that armor."
As they soared through the sky, the wind rushing past them, Mike and Sophia closed their eyes, attempting to commune with the sword on a deeper level. Easton observed, offering guidance, "Feel the currents of energy around you, the very essence of demonic and mortal magic that flows through Blue Dawn. It's a complex relationship, but now you must draw the divine from your armor." Easton made a small glowing orb of magic in his hand before placing it on Valicar's shoulder, their armor absorbing the power as it always did, storing it for later use.
With Easton's coaching, The twins delved deeper into the connection with Blue Dawn, the sword responding with a faint, pulsating purple glow. The process was slow, but Easton remained patient, guiding Mike through the intricacies of unlocking the true potential within the blade. As the day turned to dusk, the silhouette of a distant town emerged on the horizon, marking the next chapter of their journey against the Pillar of the North.