PAIN AND CAIN
My body felt heavy and numb. I panted heavily as I attempted to move—pain shot up my shoulder blade, and I felt something small lodged into my upper back. I opened my eyes and came face to face with a sharp wooden piece of a broken chair. I lurched my face away from it and saw that the sight around me was no different; bits and pieces of the Great Study's western side had caved in, littering the area with hazardous debris.
It was a miracle that I survived. I glanced down at the Warming Crystal cradled in my arms. I then faced the ceiling. The ghosts were less in number, but they all kept their bloody gaze on me as I struggled to my feet.
I stumbled as the pain in my left ankle radiated, and I limped to what was left of the top floor. As I staggered up the stairs, I expected the left side of the study and wondered if Donatello was safe. But upon reaching the last step, I saw the path to the treasury was still accessible, and the light was coming from the right—the Guardians' quarters.
I continued, limping my way down the curving hall. I then realized the light was coming from the Guardian's dining room. I lumbered to the entrance and crashed into the opened mahogany doors as my energy left me.
GATE
Chief!
I heard his voice call out as I slumped to the ground. I forced my eyes open to see Gate in his casual robes and sweating heavily as he radiated with a golden aura of Willpower. Along with them were kitchen servants, Kendo, three casually dressed Guardians beaming with Willpower, and Donatello wrapped heavily in his winter robes.
In the middle of the room was a pile of burning chairs. The ceiling just above the fire seemed to have been blown away, likely from one of Gate's abilities, allowing the smoke to escape but allowing the storm to nip at the fire.
My fear returned when I saw bulging red eyes blotting the stylish yellow walls as ghosts were waiting and watching. Gate stepped forward, but as he did, an elongated ghost emerged from the walls, allowing its chilling aura to whip at the flames.
GATE
Dammit! Don, help him near!
Don obeyed and sprinted to aid me inside.
DONATELLO
Hold on to it tight,
He whispered to me.
DONATELLO
The Warming Crystal's magic seems to keep them further at bay.
I stumbled alongside him and noticed a broken Warming Crystal on the ground.
LEON
What happened? What is going on?
I asked, my voice shaky from the cold.
GATE
We don't know, Chief.
DONATELLO
It has to be the work of Ire.
GATE
Impossible. No one gent can control such a mass amount of ghosts.
I shook my head, remembering what Yuna had mentioned.
LEON
No, it is possible. Besides, look at their faces closely.
Gate and Don obeyed as Don set me down near the warmth of the flames.
LEON
Looks familiar, don't they?
GATE
Ire... they do resemble him.
LEON
The heroes mentioned he had a hoard of undead creatures when they fought.
I looked up and eyed their worried expressions.
LEON
Why are you emitting so much Willpower?
GATE
It keeps the ghost at bay. The fire is not enough. There are too many ghosts, and it seems this storm strengthens them.
DONATELLO
Enough talk! We need to leave!
GATE
How? We need more Warming Crystals!
My gaze fell on the servants, and I took in the look of abandonment already painted on their faces.
LEON
A single one will not be enough?
Gate shook his head.
DONATELLO
We need to get you out of here.
He declared and turned the servants.
DONATELLO
We will send the guardians to come back for—
GATE & LEON
No!
We shouted together, and Gate continued.
GATE
They do not have enough Willpower to keep them at bay for that long.
DONATELLO
We still have to get you out of here, Chief. For the sake of the city.
I scoffed,
LEON
The city's dead Don.
I then looked up at Gate,
LEON
How many can a Warming Crystal protect?
I asked, and he pondered.
DONATELLO
Around three.
Don answered impatiently.
GATE
In this winter? This storm?
Don's face went blank for a moment before he glanced at me.
DONATELLO
The treasury.
GATE & LEON
The treasury?
DONATELLO
It has Lighting Crystals down the passage.
He was right. I remembered the secret passage was lined with them on either side.
GATE
They emit a Brilliance aura... it should work.
DONATELLO
We should hurry.
Don lifted me up.
DONATELLO
I will aid the Chief to the treasury and promptly return with as many crystals as possible.
GATE
Solitaire,
He called out one of the Guardians.
SOLITAIRE
Yes, Master?
GATE
Go with them.
DONATELLO
Are you sure?
Don asked as Gate dripped with sweat.
GATE
Have him carry the Chief. Come back safe.
I was lifted upon Solitaire's back, and we departed towards the Treasury Keep—Don carried a burning leg of a chair, and Solitaire held my Warming Crystal. Ghosts tracked our movements down the hall before we made it across the Great Study and into the narrow passages leading to the entrance of the treasury. Solitaire set me down before the doors, and Don and I approached the soul stamps on either side of the metal door.
We placed our hands onto the soul stamps and emitted our mana energy into them, unlocking the entrance. Don pulled it open, and a sharp chill greeted us from inside, nearly putting out Don's flame.
I stumbled as my body went limp, and Solitaire caught me.
SOLITAIRE
Master Donatello!
He called out as he set me down. I watched as Don's arm became limp, and the burning chair leg fell out of his hand. I forced my head up, staring helplessly as two wraiths ambushed Don from inside.
LEON
No...
I cried out weakly.
Solitaire emitted his Willpower and grabbed the fallen chair leg. He charged the giant ghosts and whipped the flames about. It wasn't working as the nightmarish ghosts emitted a chilling aura, extinguishing the fire. Solitaire gasped as if the air had been forced out of his lungs and fell to a knee.
My head slumped, my eyes falling onto my Warming Crystal a few feet away, and I mustered up enough strength to crawl toward it. The ghastly ghosts converged on the weakened Don and began to siphon off his life force. Figuring this would drain me, I grabbed hold of the Warming Crystal and emitted my pitiful amount of mana into it, bringing a blistering heat and a bright light to the hall.
The plains spun, and my consciousness waned, but I kept my mana pumping despite the heat burning into my hands. The ghosts eventually cried out in pain before fleeing in fear. Energy left me, and I slumped backward—holding the crystal to my chest.
DONATELLO
By the gods,
Don gasped, his voice weak.
DONATELLO
I was sure that was it for me.
I struggled to move, but my body refused to listen.
LEON
Think I overdid it,
I chuckled.
DONATELLO
No, I'm fine. Help the Chief.
Solitaire came to my aid, and as he reached for the Warming Crystal, his chest exploded, splattering my face with his blood.
I gawked in horror as his body convulsed and attempted to emit Willpower. I looked closely at his chest, making out purplish blades protruding through.
Solitaire's body slumped aside, and I saw Don standing before me, his face scrunched and his eyes wet with tears. Solitaire's body jolted as a flying three-prong dagger pulled itself out and flew over to Don's side. I blinked, unable to find the words as the enchantment of the dagger finally became comprehensible— (Physical Affinity) Neorite Three-Prong Dagger, Dominion Authority.
The first thing that came to mind was that Don was being controlled; maybe the ghosts could possess people, but that thought vanished as he whispered,
DONATELLO
I'm so sorry.
He sobbed heavily,
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
DONATELLO
But you make the dumbest of choices!
He crouched down, a hand pressing against Warming Crystal. I stared back into his watery eyes, baffled by what he was rambling about.
DONATELLO
But I won't.
He forcefully slid the Warming Crystal off my chest, hurling it into the wall, where it shattered into pieces.
LEON
Don!? What are you doing—!
He then materialized a Lighting Crystal and stood back up. Despite the tears streaming down his face, he glared down at me.
DONATELLO
You were like a son to me... a young, dumb son. Always caring for our weak, our poor, our servants! Even though you were weak! We are poor! We are servants to this... to this shit of a city!
He backed away from me.
LEON
Don! Please!
I screamed out in fear.
DONATELLO
Going behind my back to make deals with North Star? Did you forget who taught you!? I taught you everything! Draining the funds of the city because of one mistake!? How are you so childish!
He wailed, attempting to shout over his uncontrollable sobbing.
DONATELLO
But I guess I am the one to blame. I was your teacher, after all. This works either way, Chief...
He continued to back up, Stashing his enchanted dagger.
DONATELLO
God knows I wouldn't have been able to do it. I love you... I love you too much, but...
He sniffed and wiped his face.
LEON
Don!
DONATELLO
But as you said, the city is dead. And I want to be free.
He disappeared behind the first door, and the chill of the encroaching ghosts edged around me. I struggled to move and crawl toward him, but my body was too weak to stay in his brilliant light.
LEON
What happened to getting through this, Don!
My body began to tremble from the cold, my regained strength began to wither, and my eyes clouded with tears—am I such a fool!? We had one argument, and this is how he treated me. I thought he cared for me as I did for him.
But he was nothing but a trader! A greedy, cold-hearted trader! But, as the wraith's kiss came down upon me, I finally understood those dreams... those dreams of Gate carrying me to my death. If he had been here, I would've been safe. Those dreams... I was scared of losing Gate's trust. That's why it was always him. I should've never trusted Don! But what good was my hindsight as I stared in through the cracked opening of the door? I watched Don Stash item after item but despite my fear, anger, and sadness, memories of his smile, his tutorship, and his friendship clouded my mind, one after another, in a rapid display. He looked back at me...face wet with tears... he was coming back for me... he had regrets, didn't he? But... no... he continued to stare at me... so still.... so... forever still...
*****
I continued to assault Farengar with a barrage of hardened earthly spikes, wind bolts, and spears of spiny ice. He would attempt to flee by covering his location with weak magic or running into homes, but with my ghosts flying above and my ability to track his scent, his location was always clear to me.
He finally created enough distance between us and drew a purplish symbol in the air with his fingers.
PAIN
Why Symbology?
I questioned Abi as I blasted the symbol away with Telekinesis, sending Farengar spinning through the air. I stepped forward and charged—
ABIMELECH
Wait!
I stopped mid-air, whipping the wind around me.
ABIMELECH
That symbology, I believe a trap was placed.
I directed my staff into the ground and conjured Earth Spikes to rip upward through the snow. Upon passing the area where the symbol was created, it triggered the trap, causing an explosion of sharp icicles to shoot up into the sky.
PAIN
Fascinating.
I uttered out loud.
ABIMELECH
Surely, you recall what I informed you about Symbologist, Wizards, and Witches?
I Quickstepped,
PAIN
Do not give them time to cast symbols.
I Quickstepped, jabbed my staff into the falling Farengar, and incinerated his body with a point-blank Lesser Sun. To my astonishment, his smoking body was intact as it launched over the home and bounced off the stone road. As I approached him, my keen eyes picked up the fading of his mana ward.
Hmph, I Stashed my staff, readied my bloody claw with Willpower, and Quickstepped toward him to end his life. My reflexes reacted, and my bloody wings blocked a golden bolt of wind. The force knocked me aside, and I slid down the wet road. I caught myself and focused my glare at Beka, Gent, Kinan, Warrior/Brawler/Logger, Forty-four crashing down before Farengar's smoldering body.
Beka wore a complete set of steel armor with each piece +1. The bracers on his hands were enormous spiked gauntlets—the tail of the gauntlets reached up past his head and doubled as thin shields. And lastly, his body was radiating with a dense aura of Willpower. Hmm, this might be a problem.
BEKA
A Mage that can use Willpower.
He stated as another gent, Otis, Gent, Kinan, Warrior/Knight, Twenty-seven, Quickstepped to his side.
BEKA
Seems as if we have another Lich on our hands,
He mumbled, but my hearing picked up his words.
BEKA
Stay sharp, Otis. Only attack when you are sure to land a blow.
He then raised his voice at me,
BEKA
Didn't we kill you? How are you standing before us?
ABIMELECH
Be careful young one,
Abi whispered to me.
ABIMELECH
Be prepared to test your Willpower and Symbology.
He was right. I was not going to repeat my frivolous fight against Eldritch.
ABIMELECH
But mind you, I am not advising you to fight strenuously from the start.
PAIN
Watch the beast,
I recalled and conjured two broad blood swords in each hand.
PAIN
Recall its patterns,
And two more blood swords to float to my left and right.
PAIN
Attack its weakness.
ABIMELECH
Precisely.
Beka Quickstepped while launching a barrage of air strikes. I dodged, moving precisely through the onslaught while keeping my eyes on his movements. He then collided with my swords with enough force to send me tumbling through the snow.
I crashed through a home—I needed to avoid clashing with him again. With this much snow, I will not be able to have a solid footing. Otis appeared behind me, and I instinctively swung at him. Our swords and Willpower clashed, but he was sent tumbling through the snow.
I Teleported out of the way of Beka's diving crash and charged at his back. I swung with determination, but he swiftly turned to defend himself. Unfortunately, the same was true for him as he had no proper footing and was sent flying through a set of homes.
Abi squirmed, and before he could say a word,
PAIN
I know—I know! More Willpower right before an attack.
I chased after them, and the fight was lengthy and destructive, with me on the defensive. My reflexes, speed, and repulsive Telekinesis protected me from any of Beka's destructive blows. But Beka was also quick and finally—
BEKA
Shooting Star!
—he landed a heavy, straight jab into me.
Despite blocking it with all four swords, Willpower, and wings, my arms and back were numbed by his mighty strike. Stronger than Eldritch's explosive hammer when she first met me, Beka's Shooting Star sent me crashing into a stone wall, and the air left me.
From the eyes of my ghosts, a clear line of destruction caused by my body was seen, and I realized I had crashed into the city's wall. I stood and took a deep breath as Beka and Otis were already Quickstepping toward me.
ABIMELECH
I believe you have had your fun.
He uttered, and I pursed my lips, is it that obvious?
PAIN
I had to test my own strength. You understand how it is.
ABIMELECH
It would be a shame if you lost your head again.
Otis and Beka crashed through the ruined homes before me and charged in for an assault. I reached out and telekinetically pulled out a heavily injured older boy—nearly a young gent—from a pile of ruined homes Beka sent me through. As I held him before me as a hostage, Otis and Beka stopped.
PAIN
Why are you stopping!?
I asked over the raging storm.
PAIN
You did this,
I eyed Beka.
PAIN
Not me!
I laid my fingers on the back of the boy's neck, his body shivering and blood coughing out his mouth.
PAIN
He is in pain! Because of your actions! Why not finish it with your own hands!?
OTIS
Let him go!
He shouted at me, but the moment he uttered a word, I hardened the boy's blood in his skull, causing a quick bloody explosion. As I predicted, Otis lost his temper. With his teeth grinding and bearing, he blew up in Willpower.
BEKA
Otis! Calm yourself!
He shouted, but his words fell on deaf ears, and Otis bolted at me with rage. My wraiths came down on him, catching him off guard and lowering his Willpower enough for me to slice through his armor and into his torso with my own Willpowered blood sword. The weight of my attack launched Otis' body past Beka.
BEKA
Otis!
In his distraction, my black arachnid familiar leaped out from behind him and gave him a deadly hug. Beka grunted in pain as the webs sliced into his dense armor.
He struggled to break free from the painful hug as I released my bloody swords and armor into an orb of floating blood. I protected the sphere of blood by encasing it in Earth. Then, I focused, clearing my mind, and held on to a single image.
PAIN
Fire Cast:
Beka's Willpower reached a new peak, and he broke out of the grip. But as he attempted to pry off my arachnid, three more black arachnids pounced on him, refusing to let him free.
PAIN
Fire Sword!
The weather around us suddenly cleared up as heat evaporated every bit of snow into hot steam. Buildings nearby were set on fire. My ghost, near and far, fled in fear as my solid sword of fire formed in my hand.
Not wasting time, I swung, letting loose a flying crescent of flames to slice through Beka and, unfortunately, my familiars. The crescent flames continued, seemingly melting through anything it came into contact with before fading into the wintery storm.
I exhaled and extinguished my Fire Sword. I studied Beka's fallen body and the streak of burn that ran down his torso. I approached him and saw he was still alive. His helm came off, revealing his combed-back bright green hair, green eyes, and black and green skin pattern. The green was patterned around his eyes and mouth, making it seem like he was sobbing and drooling green paint.
BEKA
Why,
He coughed, blood bubbling at his mouth.
BEKA
Why all this? Why kill the innocent?
I reformed my bloody armor and blood swords before brandishing my sword at his face.
PAIN
Who decides who is innocent and who is not?
He said nothing, his face scrunched up in pain and anger as he coughed up a bit more blood.
PAIN
But why, indeed. The same reason your Chief sought to acquire the southern plains, the same reason North Star massacred the vampires to the west, and the same reason your Treasury Keeper, Donatello, betrayed the Chief and left him to die.
He grunted in response to the news of betrayal and death.
PAIN
Happiness. Is that not all we chase after?
But as I uttered those words, my Petty Danger Sense rang at the back of my head. My muscles tightened as my eyes darted around for the nearby danger. I then heard a familiar voice laughing. I backed away from Beka and slowly turned to lay eyes on Cain—Mage/Fire Mage, Thirty-nine—backed with five blasters floating above the city walls.
He continued to laugh despite my glare of hatred. The hood of his (Fire Enhancement) Crimson Thread Robes, Fire Manipulation, was pulled back, revealing his buzzed auburn hair. His pitch-black eyes were locked onto me as he crackled with laughter—a taunting laugh as he suddenly stopped and returned a cold glare.
CAIN
What is with that look, Ire? You should be proud to see your Master again.