As Rai slept, he dreamed. A mysterious figure cloaked in shadows with glowing red eyes appeared before him.
“Rai Flamme. I am Grandmaster Wyrmfang of Eternity. I am contacting you with a lost fifth-circle spell known as Dreaming Message. I know that you and Isa Bloodscale are alive and have returned to the Tower. Ambushes have not worked on you in the past, and no number of weaklings will threaten you. Therefore, we wish to challenge you openly. Tomorrow at noon, three Champions of our organization will meet you at your family home to do battle. Should you not be present, your family’s lives are forfeit.”
The figure vanished.
Rai awoke late the next morning with a simmering anger.
“How dare they threaten my family?” he growled to Isa.
“Well, we’re here, so we’ll just have to kill them and be done with it,” she said.
“Kill?” Elena said uncertainly.
“Don’t worry, we’ll do it away from the house,” Isa said.
“I don’t think that’s her primary concern,” Rai pointed out. “Mom… people like this… they’re not people you can reason with.”
“If you’re truly as powerful as you say, couldn’t you just… incapacitate them?” Leon said.
“Please, Rai,” Elena said. “I don’t want my son to kill people.”
“Mom… this wouldn’t be the first time. I don’t like it, but sometimes it’s necessary.”
“But is it necessary? Truly? Can’t you do like Leon said and just defeat them? Make them promise not to attack us?”
Rai closed his eyes and took a slow breath, trying to calm himself. He didn’t want to be merciful. For the first time, he actually wanted to kill. Threatening his family had crossed a line.
“Is that what you really want? Even though they might break such a promise?” Rai said.
“Yes. You said they’ve tried to kill you before… maybe if you spare them, they’ll stop?”
“I spared the first ones, and they only escalated. But maybe they’ll at least leave you alone… one can hope. Isa… we will break them, but we’ll leave them alive.”
“Understood.”
After breakfast, Isa and Rai switched to their combat outfits and had weapons in hand, waiting several dozen feet in front of the front door of the house, Braveheart on Rai’s head. A couple hours of waiting later, they spotted three men walking up the dirt path from the town. One wore the ceremonial white robes of a priest, another elaborate purple robes, and the third gleaming silversteel full plate armor with a claymore strapped to his back. The one in purple appeared to be an elf; the other two were human. All seemed to be middle-aged.
Isa and Rai started walking toward them. All five stopped around a hundred and fifty feet away from the house, the two sides leaving about thirty feet between them.
“That’s far enough,” Rai said, projecting his voice. “I take it you are the three Champions from Eternity?”
“That is correct,” the elf said. “I am Xenir, the Violet Mage.”
“I am Alcis, High Priest of Alx, God of Mysteries,” the priest said.
“And I am Shan, The Eternal Silver Sword,” the swordsman in plate armor said.
“You know my name, but allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Rai Flamme, the Thunderflame, Archmage and Sword Saint.”
“Grand names for the self-proclaimed,” Shan scoffed.
“Perhaps. But I am a sixth circle mage and sixth tier swordsman.”
This gave the Eternity Champions pause.
“Sixth circle and tier? Weren’t you at best fourth and fourth two years ago?” Alcis asked.
“That’s right.”
“And now I will introduce myself as well,” Isa said. “I am Isa Bloodscale, the Blood Dragon, Archmage and Grand Warrior. I, too, am sixth and sixth – or as I call it, sixth realm.”
“I see now why Grandmaster Wyrmfang chose to send the three of us,” Shan said. “Before two sixth ‘realms,’ even a dozen masters would fall like wheat before the scythe. But you will find us no easy foes, even so.”
“You are so far out of your depth that it’s almost amusing how clueless you are,” Isa said with a smirk. “We’re so far beyond you that we will win while handicapping ourselves.”
“And what does that mean?” Xenir said.
“I tire of Eternity attacking me. But today, you have crossed a line by threatening my family,” Rai said coldly. “I would kill you all for that, but my own mother asked me to spare your lives, and I shall respect her wishes… on one condition. If we win and you survive, Eternity will never again act against my family. That is the offer I am willing to make to spare you.”
“Absurd,” Shan said. “You think you can defeat us while holding back?”
“Do you agree to those terms?” Rai pressed.
“…No,” Alcis said. “We don’t have the authority to make that deal. What we can promise is that, should you defeat us and spare us, neither we nor our subordinates will act against your family. We cannot speak for the rest of the organization.”
“That’s not good enough. Contact this Grandmaster of yours with my offer. I’ll wait.”
“Very well,” Xenir said. He held up one hand, and the ring on his finger flashed. “Grandmaster. Our battle is about to commence. The Scholar has made an offer of ‘mercy,’ that he and the Lizard will hold back so as not to kill us in the battle. In return, he demands that never again will Eternity act against his family.”
“Is that so?” a voice rang out from the ring, surprising Xenir. “Tell me, Rai Flamme, what reason do I have to accept these terms?”
“Do you not care whether your organization loses these three?” Rai challenged.
“Even Champions can be replaced, given enough time.”
“Then I’ll give you more incentive: if you do not agree, I will cease being passive toward Eternity and will do my damnedest to eradicate every last one of you. So far, I have at best been a competitor you wished gone. Continue going after me, and I will keep fighting on your terms. Go after my family, however, and the gloves come off. I will rip you, personally, limb from limb, even if you are an actual dragon, Grandmaster Wyrmfang. I am of the sixth realm – sixth circle and sixth tier – as is Isa. And both of us are also empowered by star energy, so don’t think we compare to your typical sixth circle mage or sixth tier combat artist. Even if you are ninth circle and ninth tier, I will hunt you down and destroy you utterly.”
“…I see. It would appear that I have truly angered you, where before attempts on your life were merely irritations. Very well, Scholar. I agree to your terms. However, that is only if you keep your end of the bargain: you allow all Champions who challenge you to live if you defeat them.”
“Agreed.”
“You may proceed with the battle.”
The ring flashed again.
“Then let’s get started!” Shan cried, charging toward Isa. “Die!”
“Sure Parry,” she said in an almost bored voice, star energy surging from her qi core as she batted aside his savage downward swing. She slammed her halberd down onto his helm, splitting it in half, then shifted her stance and slashed down again, this time targeting the front of his armor and splitting it open. Finally, she completed the combo by slashing again to the side, causing his armor to fall apart, leaving only his arms and legs protected. He stared at her in shock.
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“That was a five-star silversteel set!”
Isa smirked. “Come on then, or are you too intimidated to keep fighting?”
“Wintry Blast!” Xenir cast, hand outstretched.
“Counterspell,” Rai said at the same time, canceling the spell with a surge of star energy before it even started.
“Deathly Wounds!” Alcis cast a split second later, reaching for Rai, who easily sidestepped.
“Merciful Energized Overcharge: Chain Lightning!” Rai cast, raising a hand. A full-sized violet lightning bolt instantly jumped from his hand to Alcis, then to Shan, then to Xenir. There were telltale signs of magical energy protection fizzling out as the absurd power of the spell overwhelmed them. Xenir’s eyes rolled back as his body convulsed, dropping to the ground. Alcis spasmed, but remained on his feet, as did Shan.
Shan immediately turned his attention from Isa to Rai.
“I’ll at least take you down!”
His silversteel claymore burst into flames, lightning, and frost, flashing brightly as it cut through Rai’s forcefield armor and savaged his chest. Rai staggered back, his torso split open from neck to waist.
“What?! How are you still standing?!” Shan lunged, and Rai stepped aside. Isa turned her halberd sideways and slammed the flat of the blade against the side of Shan’s head. The Champion stumbled, and she followed up with a second blow, sending him crumpling to the ground.
Rai pointed at Alcis. “Do you surrender, or should we break a few bones first?”
“Heal Deadly Wounds!”
“Counterspell.”
Alcis trembled as the spell fizzled with a sizzling pop.
“Wh-what kind of power is that?” the priest said fearfully.
“I’ll do you one better. Greater Mana Drain.”
“Grkh! My mana heart… you’re attacking my mana heart!”
Alcis gripped at his chest, struggling against the disruption in his mana heart.
“Mana Drain. Star-enhanced: Greater Mana Drain. Mana Drain.”
“GAAAH! Huff… huff…”
“You shouldn’t have any spells left of higher than second circle. Take your companions and leave.”
Alcis looked at Rai with fearful respect. “Yes… Archmage. May I… heal them?”
“To get them on their feet. But first…” Rai pointed at Xenir. “Overcharge: Greater Mana Drain. Mana Drain. Give it a few minutes. When he wakes up and has no spells available, he’ll know just how at my mercy he was.”
Rai looked down at Shan. “And as for this bastard…”
“Shall I cut his arm off?” Isa asked. “Wait, why am I asking for permission?” She raised her halberd and brought it down on the man’s left arm just past the shoulder, severing the limb. “Heal him first.”
“Y-yes. Heal Severe Wounds. Heal Severe Wounds. Heal Severe Wounds.”
Shan groaned. It took him very little time to realize that only a stump remained where once he had an arm. He pushed himself up with his remaining arm, then rose to his feet.
“My arm… oh, gods, you cut off my arm…”
“One arm. You still have the other,” Isa said. “You challenged those above you and lost. Be glad I didn’t take more from you.”
Shan’s expression hardened. “When next we meet, Isa Bloodscale, I swear it will not end like this. Today, you took an arm. Today, you have given me the motivation I needed to strive to higher heights. I had grown complacent, thinking that as I was past my prime, there was no need to try to go further. How wrong I was. For this… you have both my hatred and my gratitude.”
“Heh. If you weren’t with Eternity, I might actually respect you for that. Oh, Rai… Star-enhanced Overcharge: Blood of Life.” She flicked a marble-sized drop of blood at Rai’s forehead. It sank into his skin, and the terrible wound on his front immediately healed completely.
“Thank you.”
“You healed a wound that severe with a single spell…?” Alcis said in terrified awe.
“In exchange for not giving the two of you lasting wounds, we’ll be taking locks of hair,” Rai said.
“For scrying on us.”
“Correct. You will never know when you might be being watched.”
“Ng… Understood.”
A couple minutes later, Alcis woke Xenir with a couple healing spells.
“My mana… I have no spells?!” Xenir looked at Rai in fear. “You… how…” He swallowed. “You defeated us utterly… Archmage Rai.”
“That’s right. Remember this: you owe your lives to the mercy of my mother. If you break your bargain with me and strike out at my family…”
“On my life, I swear to you that I will not.”
“Then get out of here and never come back.”
“Yi-meep!”
-x-
“They’re gone,” Rai told Elena. “And alive, as you wanted. I was able to extract a promise from one of the leaders of the organization that they would never threaten my family again in exchange for the lives of their Champions.”
“Thank you. For protecting us, and for not killing them.” Elena hugged Rai. “I love you, son.”
“I love you too, Mom.” He hugged her back. They stayed like that for most of a minute. “Mom… I have something I need to tell you. I… I found a ritual for resurrecting the dead. It’s dangerous, and it requires rare components that might be impossible to find in this era, but I have what I need to bring Mizeiya back to life.”
Elena held Rai’s shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Rai. To raise the dead… it goes against the natural order.”
“I don’t care. I’m bringing her back, Mom. It’s been my biggest motivation these last seven years. I’m going to do it. There’s only one more thing I need. A piece of her remains.”
“You’re going to dig up her grave? Rai…”
“Mom. Mizeiya is the love of my life. I’ve worked long and hard for this.”
“How is this different from necromancy?”
Rai’s jaw tightened. “Necromancy is an abomination that uses evil energies to make puppets of the dead. This is completely different! I’m bringing her soul back from the hereafter and incarnating it once more. Nothing and no one will stop me from being reunited with Mizeiya! Not even you, Mom!”
Elena closed her eyes and pulled her son into an embrace. “I won’t try. If you feel this is worth risking everything for… then that is your decision to make. But please… don’t die. And don’t lose yourself.”
“I won’t.”
-x-
Rai stood in front of a lone gravestone not far from his house. Isa stood beside him.
“I’m almost there, Mizeiya. I’ll see you again very soon. I apologize… but to do it, I have to dig up your grave. Please forgive me for the disrespect.”
“I don’t think she can hear you.”
“…I’m aware of that, Isa.”
Isa raised an eye ridge. “And yet you talk to her anyway.”
“It’s an emotional thing. Never mind that, though; will you help me?”
“Of course.”
Together, they dug up the coffin, which Isa pried open. Rai retrieved and cleansed the skull of the skeleton within, the rest of the body and clothing long since having decomposed. He handled the object carefully, almost reverently.
“All right. Let’s go.”
“Sylvie’s staying behind with the drakes, right?”
“Yes. It’s better to leave the drakes here, and Sylvie can take care of them while we’re gone. Braveheart’s coming with us to the Tower, but she’ll be staying behind when we cross over. Though she doesn’t want to. It’s too dangerous for her to cross over with us.”
Rai took Isa’s hand. “Teleportation.”
After meeting with the Chancellor, they headed to the room that had been set aside for them and began setting up the ritual. Painstakingly, they painted the complex magical circles and runes on the floor, stopping when it became night and resuming the next morning. It took longer than Rai had anticipated, and they didn’t finish until midday on the third day. Once the preliminary setup was done, they set up various pedestals, bowls, and candles, aligning them in accordance to the ritual instructions. The various ritual components were placed on the pedestals or in the bowls, with the exception of Mizeiya’s skull.
On the morning of the fourth day, the mages of the Tower who would be participating assembled for the ritual. Besides the Chancellor, there were other familiar faces as well, such as the Star Research Division (Felicity, Wilco, Irons, and Orchid, but not the assistant Alicia) and Yua. Notably absent was Elliot, Rai’s father, and Rai made a mental note to ask the Chancellor about that later.
Everyone here has memorized the steps they need to take in the ritual,” the Chancellor said. “You’ll be leading us, Rai. If you have difficulty handling the energies, I’ll assist with your role. That’s why we have one extra ritualist.”
“Very well. Then let’s begin.”
Over the next two hours, they chanted, waved hands around, burned candles and incense, poured water or ash over various materials, moved materials around, set materials on fire, melted materials, cast simple spells on materials, and channeled mana in intricate and complex ways. As the ritual neared its climax, Rai took the Diamondheart in one hand and the Soul Pearl in the other, both of which were now glowing. Isa offered a bowl filled with Light Beetle glow fluid mixed with several other ingredients, which had turned into a rainbow-colored luminescent honey-thick translucent liquid. Rai submerged the Diamondheart in the liquid. The Chancellor took a bottle filled with Immortal dew and poured it over the Soul Pearl, which made the pearl shine even brighter.
Rai raised the diamond and pearl high, chanting loudly as he pulled the mana in the ritual circle toward the objects. He carried them over to the skull, which was surrounded by Celestial Rose Blossom petals. He placed one object on either side of the skull and shouted the final words in the ancient tongue.
“And may the path to your soul be revealed! Mizeiya Swiftblade!”
The air in the room trembled. There was a cracking sound, and portal that appeared to be a flat circle from every angle, surrounded by blue flames, appeared.
It immediately started to flicker and waver.
“We need to stabilize the portal!” Rai cried.
“Relax, Rai,” the Chancellor said calmly. “Remember the process, and perform it. I’ll help.”
Isa, Rai, and the Chancellor worked to stabilize the portal, a process that felt like hours but was actually only a few minutes. Every second of the way, it felt like the mana would slip out of their grasp and rampage around the room, killing them all, right up until it suddenly snapped into place.
Rai let out a relieved sigh. “It should be easy to maintain now. Isa, let’s go.”
“Right there with you, Rai.”
“Be careful,” the Chancellor said. “You don’t know what awaits you in the afterrealm.”
Rai’s face was a mask of determination. “We’ll be back – together with Mizeiya.”
Rai’s hand slipped into Isa’s, and then stepped through the portal.