Back at the orphanage, Xyenn paced back and forth at the Garden, saying:
“Sugred? Sugred is involved in all of this?”
Yuuna asked him, “Waaaaait..do you know Sugred?”
“I’ve uh, seen him. In my hometown he would come with his group of clerics and ‘bless’ the area. I guess he used to trade around to different continents and place down runes filled with light magic, just in case some dark shit was happening.”
Klem chuckled, “Haha! He did that once every few years, kid. But you’re right on the spot about it. Hunting witches and such. There must’ve been traces of dark magic where you where, he wouldn’t just go to random places.”
“So let me just get all this straight: Sugred is the new vessel of Lancelot, the dragon god of light, okay? And he’s trying to use the same ritual that pixie from the Astral World named Parcy used in Soulcaris to try and open the gates of hell here in Kyrrin, just so he can act like a Jotyin and conquer hell himself and some of the Clerics of the Holy Branch who just BLINDLY follow him?”
Faera said, “Light magic opposes dark magic, and vice versa given the situation. Him being able to create even a single dent in hell with his level of light magic is not impossible. He’s not weak. But still—“
Vektor interrupted, “—We cannot allow him to open it. Word has been spread through the Branch that he’s going to open it for a single second just so he can enter Hell itself. And with light magic, he has the ability to transfer himself and the others who follow him there pretty fast.”
Yuuna kicked her feet on the table, “But I told them that even opening it for a second will allow monstrosities to roam here. Even worse, a demon monarch.”
Xyenn asked, “A demon Monarch?”
“They’re like this world's dragon gods, they're held as deities in Hell. They all represent what this world hates the most: Envy, Catastrophe, Evil, War, Violence, Cataclysm, and so on. If even one of them gets through, I don’t know…”
Xyenn noticed Yuuna felt anxiety when explaining the Monarchs.
‘Of course she feels this way talking about them. She’s from hell, seeing their power….she knows how high the stakes will be if we face them. Could we even beat one at our current power? Us as a group? Even though I vowed to Death and Yuuna that I never lose again, I can’t let that allow me to act invincible and that I’ll win every fight…’
Xyenn put his hand on Yuuna’s shoulder, and Yuuna looked up at him, but Xyenn wasn’t looking at her.
Mertha stated, “I think that’s what fought that Samuel guy during Kyrrin’s early days, right?”
‘Yes! I feel super involved in this conversation now!’ Mertha smiled, as Gorran was staring at her.
Gorran said, “You want to be noticed? Duel me to the death. I’ll make sure you have a proper burial with a good audience.”
“Happily!”
Xyenn said to Vektor, “Based on everything you told me. Samuel was almost beaten by a demon monarch, until Yuuna’s human mother came and saved him, using a song that sealed him. She killed him by sealing him, but his soul remains sealed as well with no final destination. So basically his soul is being held in place until he’s unsealed. And based on what I know from Soulcaris, Yuuna’a mother had relations with The First Monarch, the king of Hell. They even wanted to let Yuuna fully sprout as some catastrophic Hell maiden that her father wants her to be. And so now I learn her mother may have something to do with me. I wanna know why she moved the Jotyin seeds from the Astral World.”
Gridd asked Yuuna, “Yuuna, lass. Do ye know why the First Monarch was with yer mother?”
“I really don’t know. Something in the back of my head tells me he forced her. Maybe to just have me..to make me into his own damn weapon. Maybe knew what her power was before all of us. She was able to seal a soul and a body away to keep it from dying, just from a song. I don’t know what kind of magic she has, but I still stand on the fact that her soul is in the Astral World.”
Quinara said, “Sucks that the pixie woman said it was gone. Or that she couldn’t see it anymore.”
Xyenn added, “Besides necromancers. They could possibly find a way to reveal it to us. If we can find one. But back to the topic at hand though, we still need to deal with Haldrek, The Lysfødt who wants Yuuna dead, and we have to locate Kassius Velmire. And now Sugred? When does this even end…”
Kivorn said to Xyenn, “Draeven, Sethrak, and Zyphira are handling the Kassius Velmire..situation. And that whole cursed region thing…thinking it may be some set up..”
“Ah. And we still have the Prophets around. They’re always watching us.”
Klem stated, “But out of all the things you have going on, Sugred must be stopped. The war between Haldrek and Ezrael hasn’t happened yet, and as you mentioned earlier the Lysfødt doesn’t pop up all the time; and the Prophets don’t seem to be active right now in our faces, but maybe in the background. King Samuel, the first vessel of Lancelot, believed in taking care of things at that exact moment and time, as the light does not wait for the darkness to approach it, as when it gets close it will shudder away. Taking the light to the darkness will dispel it gracefully. Sugred believes in this as well, which is his main motivation for entering Hell on his own.”
“And he hunted rebellious Clerics down after Illyana escaped from being sacrificed to Lancelot, right?”
Faera nodded, “Yes, he did. We followed Illyana because she saw what the others didn’t see in Yuuna. Sugred thought of her as pure evil, not knowing she was half devil, and half human.”
Vektor added, “Which is probably why Yuuna is able to be able to change, but her other side is trying to keep her as a monster.”
Yuuna, looking down at the ground, whispered to herself, “That’s exactly what it is..”
‘Not wanting to be tied down by my hybrid status; my father wants me to become his Hell Maiden. If I submit to him, I’ll be strong. Maybe even stronger than the demon Monarchs. But I don’t wanna. Seeing how doing good could keep you alive longer, seeing how doing good and the right things could keep people liking you. I don’t want mindless slaves, I want real friends, a real family. And I have that, with my Tyrants. And my darling Xyenn.’
Yuuna looked at Xyenn, and explained, “Me and you will have to go into the Cleric’s sanctuary. Under disguise as a Cleric, unseal King Samuel with my mothers song which they have in their library. Then, steal a stone from Sugred and use it to gain access to the base of the Ohnupilath Tree, take King Samuel’s sword out of it, and then we give the signal for everyone to raid that sanctuary.”
“I have a few questions though.”
Mertha raised her hand, “Me too.”
Vektor nodded, “Ask it.”
Mertha asked first, “How many Clerics are we expecting to be there?”
Illyana answered, “Maybe 300. The sanctuary is as large as Svarthelm itself, so expect heavy resistance.”
Xyenn then asked, “And out of that 300…do we have to kill them?”
He had asked that with concern more than his own curiosity.
Klem snarled, “Tch. Those bastards hunted down our best friends like wild fucking dogs. They don’t deserve any mercy. But there are some among them who do not believe in killing or violence. So be very vigilant on who is a target and who isn’t.”
Xyenn clenched his fist, he didn’t wanna have to struggle between fighting the bad guys and the ones who don’t even like to fight.
Xyenn asked again, “What do we have to look out for besides Sugred?”
Vektor answered, “His Sirens. Battle Mages who are always bloodthirsty, Klem was one of their battle mages, until everything happened.”
Klem looked away, “Yeah, yeah I was. I have my vendetta against them. They HAVE to die once we raid the sanctuary. And I wanna be the one to do it.”
Mertha looked at Klem, thinking, ‘Sounds like me when I told Xyenn I wanted to be the one to finish Haldrek off. Whatever happened between Klem and the Siren’s, it definitely wasn’t good.’
Faera said to Xyenn and Yuuna, “Siren’s are Sugred’s strongest champions. They’re loyal through and through, and sometimes we questioned whether they worshiped Lancelot or Sugred himself.”
Illyana added onto that, “The Sirens have been there for years, and you’ll notice them as they’re ALWAYS by Sugred’s side. They never leave it unless they’re commanded to. They never liked me anyway, they’re the ones who planted the idea to sacrifice me to Lancelot…those fucking bastards—.”
Yuuna slammed her fist on the table, “Hey, Illyana!”
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Illyana snapped out of it, looking up at Yuuna, “Huh?” She said shocked.
“Whatever happened is in the past. As my Tyrant, it’s my duty to make sure you don’t fall to your memories. Yes, Sugred DEFINITELY did try and sacrifice you and he was your husband, but you found peace after. You even told me you found peace being with us. Our presence kept you sane. That’s one of the reasons why you work so hard to make sure everyone is okay, to feel the same tranquility. As you already conquered what made you distraught. Please..don’t go back.”
Illyana knew Yuuna was right, and she thought about what happened with Xyenn and the demon baby, and how she felt thinking it was her fault.
She clenched her fist, saying, “I’m sorry, Yuuna. Forgive me.”
Yuuna smiled, “It's okay! Be happy now please!” Yuuna pet Illyana on the head over and over.
Quinara watched, and her lip slightly quivered. After knowing how her Quen family kicked her out because of her cursed rune that she had before, she knew herself she was becoming more comfortable with her surroundings, especially after being around Yuuna and the others.
‘Seems us Tyrants..are not as different as I thought. With this group, I feel safe. Was that all I wanted? To feel safe and secure? Even though I felt that with the Quen, I lost that feeling after what they did. Even though I had a cursed rune. They didn’t even try to help me. I want to trust this group I’m with, but it’s hard. What really makes them different from the Quen? I guess that’s my new goal: trust again, and trust myself to be able to call this group my family.’
Quinara continued to think, ‘Maybe it’s not just about being safe. Maybe I want more than that. Safety is... fleeting. I had it with the Quen, or I thought I did, and look how that turned out. I thought they cared. I thought I mattered to them. But in the end, I was just a tool, wasn’t I? Another piece on their board, something to be discarded when I didn’t fit their plans anymore. This new group isn’t like that. At least, not yet. They look at me like I belong, but I can’t stop wondering—what happens when I mess up? What happens when I’m not what they need me to be? Will they throw me away too? Or will they... stay? And what about me? Can I even stay? I spent so long running, hiding, surviving. It’s all I know. What if I don’t know how to be part of something bigger than myself anymore? What if I never did? What if I put my faith in them and end up right back where I was—with nothing? I need to figure this out. I need to figure *me* out. Am I stronger than this fear? Or am I just pretending to be? I mean, look at me—a Tyrant, of all things. Do I even deserve to be a part of something good? Or did I take this path because I was too desperate to fight alone anymore? Did I become this out of strength, or out of fear? And the dragon gods... Maybe I am scared. No, I am scared. Who wouldn’t be? But it’s not just them. It’s everything. Trusting people again. Letting myself get close. Believing that I won’t screw it all up. Maybe I should’ve hesitated more. Thought more. Questioned more. Instead of just throwing myself into this group like they’ll fix everything for me. Am I building something real here, or am I just chasing a shadow of what I lost? I really just wanna see what family really means. What does it really stand for? What do I stand for? Security? Patience? A yearning for connection? Loneliness? Did I become a Tyrant out of desperation? Am I scared to fight dragon gods? Am I a fool for accepting everything without hesitation? Can I trust myself? Can I trust this new group?”
Gorran said, “What will be the signal for them to let us know when to raid the sanctuary?”
Vektor stood up, “There is a brazier on the very top of the sanctuary where it can be lit with the Holy Flame.”
Yuuna and Xyenn asked at the same time, “WHERE DO WE GET THAT?!”
Yuuna grunted and pouted, with a face of disgust and putting her arm around Xyenn and looking at him,“Tch! So much shit we have to get! All of this running around!”
Xyenn agreed with the same disgusted face, “It’s like I'm an errand boy all over again! It’s so much.”
Klem chuckled, “Relaxxxx. We’ll give you the Holy Flame of Light. The brazier was always meant to signal to the entire sanctuary if there is an invasion, if darkness is nearby and which the brazier is able to detect dark magic around the area, and so on. Any other questions?”
Xyenn fixed his face of disgust, and asked in all seriousness, “Is Lancelot…well like, let’s just say if shit hits the fan, and Lancelot arrives. Will he be our enemy? Would we have to fight him?”
Vektor, Faera, Klem, and Illyana looked at each other, and then at the Tyrants.
Yuuna explained, “He’s an elder dragon god, so fighting him would mean there will be heavy losses. And we would lose. We’re not strong enough yet to face an elder dragon god. The war against Gabriel before Kyrrin was created was because of me…I think. Everyone began getting even more scared of my father, the First Monarch and ruler of Hell, getting more scared he was gonna take over because of Gabriel accepting me into Kyrrin, to be a part of its balance. MANY of the elder dragon gods and goddesses blamed me for what happened, blamed me for the war. Calling Gabriel a fool to let me in, thinking I was the bridge between Hell and Gabriel and I was just inviting Hell to merge with Kyrrin. So I say that to say, if Lancelot sees me, he might try and fight me. But it’ll be surprising if he doesn’t.”
Xyenn looked at her, thinking, ‘That causes another issue. If anything happens and Sugred tries to summon Lancelot when he sees Yuuna…what are we gonna do then?!’
Xyenn said, “With Sugred being a vessel for an elder dragon god, if he’s summoned, that’ll cause issues.”
Gridd nodded, “It’ll be troublesome, lads. Since the lass Yuuna will be present, the elder dragons have ta’ be wary of her.”
Gorran commented, “And who the hell knows if Lancelot will try and gather the other elders.”
It was quiet among them, all looking at each other, each person thinking of the possibilities that could happen. Knowing Yuuna is the elder gods biggest target, that could put a dent in their plans of stopping Sugred from opening Hell.
Mertha cleared her throat, and said, “Fuck it.”
Everyone looked at her, even Illyana said, “Mertha..”
“Fuck it all then. If Yuuna knows what will happen if Hell is opened for a second, then we can’t let that happen. We’re not backing down from this. We came too far to just, like—NOT do this. If Lancelot ends up popping up..then…”
Yuuna rubbed her temples, “Ughhh. This is sooo annoying. I didn’t even think about this when we talked about it at first. Craaap. Hey, Gridd. What do you think?”
Gridd shrugged, “Go for it. Either way we’re fucked.”
That made everyone chuckle, besides Kivorn obviously.
Gridd continued, “Bet ye haven’t realized our decisions have determined every outcome so far, lads. If we don’t stop Sugred, we’re doomed once Hell opens.”
Illyana nodded with a tranquil smile, “He’s right. It’ll be a disaster stopping Sugred, and it’ll be a disaster if we don’t stop him. We're called Tyrants. We don’t shy away from anything unless it can’t be helped.”
Gorran said, “So we might as well risk stopping him instead of letting some fucking demons out into the world.”
Xyenn replied, “Yeah. I know firsthand how strong they are. Even a weak one was strong..”
He remembered seeing the Monarch’s faces, and it sent shudders through his soul, he immediately closed his mind, forgetting it quickly.
Yuuna latched onto Illyana’s back, smiling, “Haha! You’re super smart! Thanks!”
Gridd scoffed, “Oy! T’was MY idea lass!”
“Hm? You said something?”
“Ye little devil…”
Yuuna only laughed at him, and said, “Thank you too, Gridd.”
Then Yuuna looked at Xyenn, and asked, “Is this what you wanna do?”
“Damn right it is. After everything that’s happened since I became your vessel, this moment right here might give us the answers we want. Your mother, more detail on my origins and what your mother had to do with me and the Jotyin; maybe even find the other Jotyin like me and Haldrek and King Samuel, and probably more information on those Prophets. We could benefit from this. We just have to survive.”
“Haha! Easy peasy. You won’t lose, you promised. So I’m not worried.”
At that moment, Xyenn blushed again, Mertha and Quinara dashed up to him, teasing, “AWWW! Look at how red your face is!”
Xyenn, embarrassed, pointed at them, “F-Fuck off, oaf! Tch, this is exactly why I don’t show my lovey side out in the open.”
Illyana comforted Xyenn, “It’s okay, Xyenn. They're just evil and teasing you.”
Faera watched them, thinking, ‘They're so free…not bound by anything, no deity, no rules..not even the light. And Illyana, despite her tranquil nature, just fits right in. She’s free too.’
Gorran said to Faera, “Let’s get this started.”
Klem nodded with a grin, “The broody man with the sword is right! It’s time for everyone to drown in the Pool of Light!”
Kivorn thought, ‘This is it..’
The garden was alive with a serene beauty, its tranquility almost surreal compared to the chaos the group was accustomed to. The soft rustle of golden trees, the gentle hum of crystalline streams, and the faint, warm breeze brushing against vibrant flowers created an atmosphere that felt untouched by darkness.
The group stood together in the center of the garden, their energy as mismatched as ever, a stark contrast to the harmony around them. Vektor, Faera, and Klem stood at the front, their postures calm and determined.
“Alright,” Vektor began, his voice steady and commanding. “Let’s begin.” He turned to Faera and Klem, nodding at them as the three raised their hands in unison.
Faera tilted her head slightly, her ever-serene smile unwavering. “The light will guide us, as it always does.”
Klem grinned, cracking his knuckles loudly. “Let’s get on with it, then. Ya know I don’t like chantin’ all that much unless I’m in battle mode, but I’ll make this one exception.” His voice boomed with humor, but his focus was unwavering.
The three began to chant, their voices blending into a harmonious rhythm that seemed to ripple through the air itself.
"Through shadow, through pain, through endless fight,
We call upon the sacred light.
Cleanse the soul, conceal the stain,
Renew the spirit, heal the bane.
Oh radiant flame, oh endless stream,
Let us walk within your gleam.
Through the veil, and through the dark,
Leave no shadow, ignite the spark."
The ground beneath their feet began to glow faintly, the light spreading outward like water rippling across a still pond. The garden seemed to respond, the flowers swaying gently as the glow intensified. Slowly, the energy pooled in the center of the group, swirling and rising until it formed a large **pool of shimmering white light water**. Its surface rippled softly, glowing with an almost hypnotic luminescence.
The group stared at the pool in a mix of awe and suspicion.
“Alright,” Xyenn muttered, taking a cautious step back. “That’s… new. What is that?”
Vektor turned to face them, his eyes calm and piercing. “It’s a purification pool. The light cleanses the dark energy that clings to your souls and conceals it for a time. Without it, your aura will attract attention we’d rather avoid.”
Illyana, her tranquil smile as bright as the garden itself, stepped forward, her soft voice cutting through the tension. “It doesn’t just hide your dark aura,” she explained. Her magic grimoire hovered beside her, its pages flipping lazily. “It also balances the runes in your soul. The corrupted marks you carry will be soothed, and you’ll feel more at peace. But don’t get too comfortable—it’s temporary.”
Klem clapped his hands together, his grin widening. “Jump!”
Yuuna tilted her head and squinted at the pool, then poked Xyenn’s arm with a mischievous grin. “You go first. You’re the leader, right? Leaders lead.”
Xyenn immediately took a step back, his face pale. “No way! I—uh—can’t swim. And your the leader actually.”
The group turned to him, stunned silence hanging in the air for a moment before Yuuna burst out laughing, doubling over and clutching Xyenn’s arm. “You can’t swim?! That’s adorable! The big hero can’t swim!”
“W-What if I drown?”
Quinara smirked. “Oh, it’s a little funny. You’re scared of a glowing puddle? That’s cute.” She turned to Gorran, her teasing gaze zeroing in on him. “You should go first, Mr. Edgy. Maybe the light will brighten up your personality a bit.”
Gorran shot her a glare, his voice low and irritated. “I’m not edgy. And no, I’m not going first. I’m not the leader.”
Gridd crossed his arms, his face as stoic as a stone. “Ye lot are actin’ like frightened bairns. It’s just water. If ye all don’t move soon, I’ll toss ye in meself.”
Kivorn yawned, leaning against a tree with his usual lazy demeanor. “I’ll go in… eventually. Just not right now. Too much effort.”
Mertha rolled her shoulders, cracking her knuckles with a wicked grin. “I don’t care who goes first, but if you keep yammerin’, I’ll start throwin’ people in.”
Xyenn’s face twisted in panic as he pointed at her. “You’re not throwing me in!”
Faera, who had been quietly watching the chaos unfold, tilted her head and asked softly, “Why are you all so nervous? Don’t you trust us?”
The group froze, their postures tense. Then, all at once, they began to stutter and talk over each other.
“It’s not that!” Xyenn blurted. “It’s just that—uh—“
“Or burns us alive,” Mertha added with a shrug, though her tone was more amused than worried.
“Or explodes,” Quinara chimed in nonchalantly, waving her hand.
“Or turns us into some weird, glowing abomination of light..” Kivorn muttered, barely lifting his head.
“Or, worse,” Yuuna said dramatically, “what if it makes us boring like you guys?!”
Gorran said, “It’s magic we’ve never seen, so of course we’re hesitant. We’re hunted by the gods, so we’re always careful…sometimes. And this group is just chaotic.”
Before he could finish, Yuuna grabbed Xyenn’s arm and tried to pull him toward the pool. “You’re going in! Stop being a baby!”
“Let go of me!” Xyenn yelled, digging his heels into the ground. “NO! NO! SOMEONE SAVE ME!”
The chaos escalated quickly. Quinara sidestepped Yuuna and gave Xyenn a playful shove, which only made him latch onto Mertha for support. Mertha, not one to be dragged into someone else’s nonsense, grabbed Xyenn by the back of his shirt and lifted him off the ground like a sack of potatoes.
“You’re goin’ in, dragon boy,” Mertha said with a laugh.
“No, I’m not!” Xyenn screeched, flailing helplessly. “Someone push Mertha in!”
Kivorn, still leaning against his tree, lazily commented, “This is getting good. Somebody toss him already.”
Meanwhile, Gorran stood off to the side, arms crossed, his expression unreadable as Quinara poked him in the side. “Come on, Gorran,” she teased. “Why don’t you help your fearless leader? Let’s push Xyenn in, we all decided Xyenn’s going in first.”
“Not my problem,” Gorran muttered, though there was the faintest twitch of amusement at the corner of his mouth.
The commotion continued, with Yuuna clinging to Xyenn’s leg, Mertha trying to push him forward, and Quinara laughing as she occasionally shoved someone closer to the edge. Gridd muttered something about “children” under his breath, while Klem roared with laughter from the sidelines.
Before anyone could take the plunge, Illyana’s soft voice cut through the chaos.
“I wish you all the best of luck.”
The group froze, turning to see Illyana standing a few feet away, her tranquil smile as serene as ever. Her magic grimoire hovered beside her, its pages glowing faintly as they flipped on their own.
“Wait,” Xyenn said, his voice rising in panic. “Illyana, don’t—”
But it was too late. With a flick of her wrist, Illyana conjured a massive wave of white light magic that surged forward, crashing into the group with overwhelming force.
Their shouts and protests were muffled as the wave swept them off their feet, sending them tumbling into the pool. The glowing water swallowed them whole, its surface rippling gently as if nothing had happened.
As they sank, their movements slowed, and the chaotic energy that had filled the garden faded into silence. The water was warm and comforting, its glow wrapping around them like a protective cocoon. Tiny motes of light drifted lazily around them, their soft hum filling the stillness.
Xyenn floated near Yuuna, who was staring at the light in wide-eyed amazement. Gorran’s arms were still folded, though his scowl had softened slightly. Quinara floated gracefully, her expression unreadable, while Mertha grinned like she was ready to punch the water itself.
Faera, Klem, Illyana, and Vektor stood at the edge of the pool, watching silently as the group descended, their hands clasped in quiet prayer. Illyana’s grimoire shimmered faintly beside her as her serene smile remained in place.
The pool pulsed softly, its light growing brighter as the group continued to drift downward, the warmth of the magic filling every corner of their being.