As Mike and Sophia peered out from Valicar's eyes, the sight of the familiar floating islands of Minerva greeted them like an old friend who owed them a favor, beckoning them home with open arms. Each platform, decked out with the proud banners of the Alliance, seemed to pulsate with the promise of safety and camaraderie, a beacon of hope amidst the gloom of the night sky.
Altheack, in her formidable wyvern form, guided their descent with an air of command that could make even a drill sergeant blush. Her wings sliced through the night air with the finesse of a skilled dancer, ferrying them closer to their sanctuary with each effortless beat. As they drew nearer, she morphed back into her half-elf form, after a graceful landing.
"It's about time we got back," Mike remarked with a sigh of relief, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "I could go for a cold drink and a hot bath, in that order," he added, his eyes dancing with mischief in the dim light.
Sophia let out a soft chuckle, her laughter a welcome respite from the tension of their journey. "You and me both, I feel like I've been marinating in blood and guts for far too long," she quipped, her gaze sweeping over the bustling activity below. "But first, let's make sure we're not walking into a shit show."
As they made their way through the city, they passed wounded soldiers and civilians of every race and species, each one bearing the scars of battle. The makeshift hospitals were overflowing with patients, their groans and cries a haunting soundtrack to the scene. Treefolk reduced to mere stumps by holy fire, elves blinded by radiant light, and orcs felled by the merciless steel of templars – the casualties of war were plentiful, a grim reminder of the stakes they faced.
Forges roared to life as they approached the heart of the city, the rhythmic clang of metal on metal echoing through the air as weaponsmiths toiled away at their craft. The smell of hot metal and sweat filled the air, mingling with the sounds of hammers and bellows to create a symphony of industry and determination.
As they continued, they split off from Altheack and Easton von White, each of them with their own tasks to attend to. "I need to take care of some things, now that I'm alive again," Easton remarked casually as they passed a bustling market.
"What, planning to buy yourself a new hat?" Mike teased, earning himself a playful glare from Easton before he disappeared into a nearby shop.
Altheack turned to Mike and Sophia as they approached the palace gates. "I need to take command of the islands again and get us moving north. Will you take word to Gorlion and Spellweaver of our arrival?" she asked, her tone tinged with a hint of reluctance for having to leave the twins.
"Sure thing, Alth. See you later," Mike replied, giving her a quick hug before she headed off to resume her duties.
"See you soon. We'll catch up with you after we've had a chance to speak with the council," Sophia added as they parted ways.
Inside the palace walls, Valicar surveyed the scene with a mixture of pride and determination. Despite the challenges they faced, the Alliance remained steadfast in their resolve, their spirits undimmed by the looming specter of war. Spellweaver and Gorlion were hard at work, their minds buzzing with the excitement of strategy and planning.
"Ah, you survived Valicar!" Gorlion exclaimed, a grin of relief spreading across his face.
"Your ability to run away is truly astonishing," Spellweaver added, unimpressed, his wolf-like features sneering slightly. "We almost lost everything, after already sacrificing our morals to you only to still have to flee."
"Come now, Spellweaver. That was a grand spectacle! Look how many she killed for our sake," Gorlion defended Valicar.
"Yes, and what do we have to show for it? Half our men are scattered to the winds, and where is Altheack? We need her to fly the islands," the archmage demanded.
"She is on her way to do that now. We are heading north, and we have a plan," Sophia said, cutting through his demands.
"I need to know if it's possible to cast an illusion on the moon big enough for the whole world to see," Mike asked, taking over Valicar's voice.
"This has to do with your demonic pact, doesn't it?" Spellweaver asked, raising an ancient eyebrow. "Yes, such a thing was done centuries ago by an Archmage, although it brought down the wrath of a dragon if I remember right, killing the very mage that cast it," he said coldly.
"Well, that's a risk worth taking!" Gorlion interjected. "Think of the show! Think of the glory to be won! And the world to see it," he roared in his usual theatrics behind closed doors of late. Mike and Sophia knew the man was strange and was playing a role given the moment, either a lackadaisical cold-blooded murder like when he killed Altheack's elven mom, or when he first showed himself as a boastful adventurer. Now, lately, he had been the stoic orc chieftain.
"Any way that can be discussed later; we have an alliance to save, and we have guests as well, some you may know," Spellweaver interjected as counsel members new and old entered the throne room.
As tensions simmered and alliances shifted, Valicar knew that they would need a unifying force to rally their disparate factions against the looming threat of the Pillar of the North. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, there could be no room for error. As she gazed upon the assembled forces of the Alliance, her wings spread wide, casting an imposing shadow over the room. The nobles, both fearing and respecting her, shifted uneasily under her penetrating gaze.
Jon Luc, their last remaining cousin and now apparently a mere puppet to other imperial nobles, caught their attention as he entered the throne room. Neither Sophia nor Mike cared to engage with him beyond his utility. They found out there had been a recent vote electing Valicar as the new head of state for the kingdom of Kelvidion, formalizing their joining the alliance, and adding a crucial layer to their cause. This sense of nationalism, coupled with Valicar's imposing presence, would be vital for what came after the Pillar's defeat.
As they observed Jon Luc mingling among the nobles, a sense of indifference washed over them. His presence was merely a distraction, a reminder of the political games being played. However, amidst their contemplation, the recent election of Valicar to the position of queen sparked a new wave of discussion. It became evident that her appointment was orchestrated by civil war nobles to curry favor with the Alliance, further complicating matters.
Amidst the turmoil, a whisper of hope emerged: if Jon Luc was here, that meant the rumors of Alexandra still being alive might be true. Valicar, with her short stature, yet intimidating presence, listened as Jon Luc approached her, his voice carrying across the room.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Their indifference turned to shock as they turned their attention fully to Jon Luc. "What about my mother?" Valicar demanded, her voice laced with concern, her tail flicking anxiously behind her, her damaged armor and blood-soaked attire a stark reminder of recent battles.
"She's alive," Jon Luc replied, his expression solemn. "And she's here, on the island."
"What do you want with her?" Valicar asked, her voice echoing with authority, her horns glinting in the dim light.
"We want to offer her as a gift to the Alliance. With me by your side, you'll have the support of the nobles who have long been loyal to the Kelvidion crown, and this is a show of our family bonds! Although our family was slain with the help of the nobility, both I and your mother were saved from the capital," Jon Luc explained, his tone earnest but tinged with uncertainty, his eyes darting nervously between Valicar and the crowd of nobles.
Mike stepped forward, his imposing presence filling the room. "You want to help? Then leave my mother out of your schemes. She's been through enough already," Valicar declared, her voice firm and unwavering, her wings rustling with suppressed anger, with her red and blue stare, her expression reflecting their shared determination.
Jon Luc nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Of course. I'll... I'll see what I can do," he muttered before hastily retreating from the room.
Sophia let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as Jon Luc disappeared from sight. "We need to find our mother," she said, her voice resolute.
After the meeting and the clear direction the islands were heading, it wouldn't be long before they were at the vault. They would see their mother now before it was too late.
As they traversed the corridors of the palace, the weight of their mission bore down upon them. Each step brought them closer to the guest quarters where Alexandra was believed to be staying. Despite the urgency of their task, the palace seemed to stretch endlessly before them, its grandeur a stark contrast to the desperation gnawing at their hearts.
"Do you think you can fix her?" Mike asked internally as Valicar parted those in her way. The twins headed to the guest quarters of the palace where the nobles from the empire had been settled.
"I won't know until I try," Sophia replied, her voice tinged with guilt. The looks they received as they made their way through the palace were discouraging; many regarded them with looks of fear and awe. Valicar, recognized for her wings and horns, marched through the halls in rags and battered armor, blood stains and grit covering her from what Sophia couldn't remove with a cantrip.
Upon bursting into the guest room, it was no wonder when Alexandra's attendants fled, leaving her in a catatonic state. Probing her with magic and trying to get her to speak resulted in nothing but silence. Hours passed in frustration as they struggled to find a way to reach their mother.
As they stood at the window, a faint, familiar scent wafted through the air, stirring memories of home and comfort of a recent childhood. Mike and Sophia's draconic and demonic senses keenly picked up on it, their hearts quickening with anticipation as they flew out the window following the aroma to its source. They were closing in on the vault and the floating islands path had led them to the village they had once called home, a place they hadn't seen since they were five years old, before the templars razed it to the ground, taking hostages and leaving devastation in their wake.
Their journey through the charred remnants of their village was bittersweet, each step a poignant reminder of the loss they had endured. Amidst the ruins of their family home, they stumbled upon their father's weathered spice cabinet. Opening it revealed rows of jars filled with spices and herbs, the air heavy with the scent of cinnamon, garlic, paprika, and cumin.
Nestled among the jars was Theodore's old cookbook, its pages worn but still brimming with culinary promise. Flipping through the recipes, memories flooded back, each dish a cherished memory of their childhood. They recalled lazy afternoons spent watching their father work his magic in the kitchen, transforming simple ingredients into culinary delights.
"Maybe making her a meal will help," Mike suggested, his voice soft with hope as they scanned the pages for inspiration.
Sophia nodded in agreement, her heart heavy with emotion. "Maybe it will snap her out of it," she added, her voice tinged with determination.
Returning to the castle, in the dim light of the kitchen, they worked in silence around other cooks who were busy feeding their massive army. Yet the aroma of their father's recipes filled the air with warmth and nostalgia. Each dish they prepared was infused with love and longing, a testament to their unwavering bond as siblings and their enduring love for a mother who never had a chance.
As Alexandra stirred from her catatonic state, her eyes flickered open, darting around the dimly lit kitchen with a mixture of confusion and fear. The sight of Valicar's altered form covered in blood, with wings, horns, tail, and sharp claws, only added to her terror, as she recoiled further into the corner. She saw them both only as Valicar, one person, or in this case as a monster.
But within the shared consciousness of Mike and Sophia, shared a mutual feeling of dread, their hearts sinking at the sight of their mother's distress. "Mom, it's me," Mike said gently, his voice echoing with Sophia's simultaneously. "It's Valicar."
But Alexandra's eyes remained wide with fear, her breath coming in panicked gasps. "You're... you're not my child," she whispered, her voice trembling with dread. "You're... a monster."
Sophia's heart clenched at her mother's words, tears welling in her eyes. "No, Mom, it's really me," she pleaded, her voice cracking with emotion. "I've come to help you."
Mike took another step forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Please, Mom, I just want to talk to you. I want to help you remember."
But Alexandra's fear only seemed to intensify, her eyes darting around the room frantically as she searched for an escape. "Stay away from me!" she cried, her voice rising with panic. "I won't let you hurt me!"
Sophia felt a lump form in her throat, the pain of seeing her mother like this almost unbearable. "I would never hurt you, Mom," she insisted, her voice shaking with emotion. "I love you."
As realization dawned in Alexandra's eyes, she let out a choked sob. "My baby is dead," she cried, her voice breaking with emotion. "I lost her the night I lost everything because she was a witch, I birthed the village's doom!"
Mike and Sophia, acting as one within Valicar's form, rushed to their mother's side, trying to comfort her. "Mom, it's not your fault," they said in unison, their voices filled with sorrow. "I'm here now, and I'll help you through this."
But Alexandra shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "If you are Valicar, you are the monster they said you would be, because of you everyone is dead," she sobbed, her words echoing with pain and regret. "You brought this upon us."
As Alexandra continued to sob and shriek in terror, the twins, felt emotionally devastated, their hearts heavy with despair. Seeing their mother in such anguish tore at their very souls, but they knew that staying would only cause her further pain.
Sophia's eyes brimmed with tears as she turned away, unable to bear the weight of her mother's accusations. The guilt gnawed at her, a relentless reminder of the suffering she inadvertently caused. "I'm sorry, Mom," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
As Mike, still acting in harmony with Sophia, placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his touch offering what little comfort he could muster, Valicar enveloped them both in a tender hug, her arms wrapping around herself. With each heartbeat, they felt the weight of their burden, the anguish of their mother's accusation piercing their souls.
"We'll find another way to help her," Sophia said softly, their voices blending into one, barely above a whisper, their resolve unwavering despite the overwhelming despair.
"I knew we were bad at being her daughter... but damn, maybe we are just meant to be orphans," Mike said, his tone tinged with cold anger, his heart heavy with the sting of rejection by yet another parent. Though he had harbored reservations for Alexandra ever since they entered this world, the bitter truth of her words cut deep, even into his calloused heart.
With heavy hearts, the twins, their shared form as Valicar, left their mother's side, each step weighted with the burden of their grief. But amidst the sorrow, there remained a flicker of determination. "We have to prove we aren't a monster, to her, to everyone," Sophia said as they walked towards the command center of the islands where Altheack resided. Altheack was the one person in the world who accepted them for who and what they were, regardless of their past actions. In Altheack's presence, they found solace and acceptance, a beacon of hope in their darkest hour.