Tales of Exzalia dying worlds

Seth and James

"Keep up!" Seth called over his shoulder. He could feel James's hand slide away, there was no way he could keep up with Seth, let alone outrun the guards. Seth jerked James towards him as they darted around a corner. He ignored the suprised looks and angry calls that lashed at him from behind. Up a stair they went, the pounding footsteps of the guards coming closer and closer. They couldn't delay any longer. Set bursted through a large, beautifully adorned, wooden door. He kicked the door into the lock behind him.

"That was close" he panted, he rested his hands on his knees and was breathing heavily. James favoured to catch his breath lying down so he promptly collapsed to the floor, his little chest heaving rapidly.

When he had caught his breath Seth finally looked up to inspect his surroundings and find a means of escape. Only then did he realize whoms room he'd entered.

And suddenly magic surrounded them, bright purple light created a cage around the two stopping them right in their tracks. The eather shimmered in the dim room as their capture approached, she seemed suprise to see that her attackers were merely children, and if it had not been for the fact she recognize one of them, they very well could have been destroyed right there.

"Do uncastables not know the meaning of manners?" She huffed still holding them in her spell cage.

Astounded, Seth opened and closed his mouth a few times, "I.." He began, but he reconsidered. "Does your father? Does he know the meaning of manners? I saw what you did, you saved that girl
from his clutches!" Seth slurred, "he" -Seth helped his brother up- "has nothing to do with any of this, he is innocent, and so is that girl, I poisoned your father's bread, it's me you want, but the others, spare the others, they have nothing to do with any of this!" Seth ranted on.

"He didn't poison the king, he is just trying to protect me!" James shrieked fiercely.

"Please my lady its not his fault, I swear this child is innocent" Seth lied. "Just let him go I beg of you" he pleaded, all the while muffling James's protests by covering his mouth.

Sabels eye's opened wide. "my father always told me about the treachery of the magicless, so one of you tried to kill my father?" Sabel suddenly grew angry, eather flowed into her hand and she pointed it at the cage, Nox and Charon creating black fire. "I'll incinerate the both of you, right here and now."

"So you can savor the looks of horror on our faces before you turn us into piles of ash? Or so you can become even more hated by the commoners of this city? They already loathe the dishonourable household of Toren. Or perhaps you want to go down into history as Childslayer or Sabel the Cruel? I tried to kill your father! My brother has nothing to do with it, he is innocent!" Seth shouted. This time, James did not interfere, but there was a slight narrowing of his eyes, a twitching of his fingers. Sabel had been wrong to judge them both uncastables.

"You will insult my father for the last time, I will not allow you to slander him anymore! and no one will even blink at at two uncastables suddenly gone." She huffed proudly, filled with the pride her father ha instilled in her. But, she hesitated, with an annoyed frown she lowered her flame. "Your lucky killing children makes it hard for me to enjoy a meal, so you two will stay right there until I call the gaurds, that will teach you to burst into princess's room." She turned around and sat at a small table which had unfinished cakes and other pasteries and began eating right then and there not letting down her magic cage.

Seth glanced back at James, this was all going terribly well. But James didn't meet Seth's gaze, instead he walked over to the edge of the cage. "Just one uncastable, I think" he said softly. He released a small breeze of wind, fueled by Adra. His hair blew gently in the wind. Seth almost facepalmed himself, of course James wasn't an uncastable. He had survived the fall of his homeland, together with the other children they'd saved that day. "I am not a child" Seth blurted. "I am 16" he added proudly. "You can't even be that much older than me" he said, staring at Sabel's back. "It almost sounded as if you've slain children before, please, do tell me of your heroic deeds" Seth mocked. His hate of Toren or his offspring hadn't wavered one bit. He paused for a moment, "I could care less about your royal ass if it wasn't for my brother. Go on, take me if you want, but I demand trial by combat" Seth stated, "or are there no knights in Damirruu capable of handing a mere child?" he challenged.

"Hmm! while I wouldn't blink at killing you, I have not actually even seen an uncastable until I came here, so know I havn't killed anyone, but you are tempting me." Sabel scoffed, "And as for a duel, I'll gladly arrange for you to fight to the death, but later I'm eating." She muttered.

"Oh I am terribly sorry" Seth mocked, "have you checked it isn't poisoned?" he said with a dark grin. He didn't wait for Sabel to answer but merely sat down inside the cage. "Nox user eh?" he inquired after having studied the cage for a bit. James, didn't look all too worried, there was a frown etched on his brow that betrayed deep consideration. "So how long is it going to be? I have-"

"Stop it" James interjected, stabbing his brother in the side with his elbow. "You're causing trouble" he stated flatly. Seth looked rather suprised to see James stand up like that, but he took his brother's advice and cut off his sentence.

"So what do you two want anyway?" Sabel said suspiciously, but with a hint of curiosity, she walked over to the cage and knelt down to studying them. "I exspected uncastables to be a bit more, dirty, although, hold on, this one is a mage. Why do you care for the inferiors so little mage?"

Seth was about to respond but James was quicker. "I'd like to go outside" said James. He met Sabel's eyes. They reminded him of his mother, even though he had hardly known her. James was confident that Sabel's staleblue eyes looked right through him. "And I would like to be a Lord someday, I would treat my people kindly and make sure they'd be happy" James added, his voice ringing with dreamy undercurrent. "I don't think there is any difference really" said James whoms eyes shifted out of soft focus. He gazed at the floor and scracthed it with his fingers. "Mages and uncastables are very much the same, and I don't think any is stronger than the other" he added with an innocent shrug. Seth simply kept quiet in order not to enrage Sabel further.

"Well your wrong, Uncastbales are savages who only want to take away the gifts of others, that's why they hate mages, and why my father vows to put them in line." Sabel huffed. "They would take away your power if they got the chance."

"No" James said. He'd never thought of the uncastables in the kitchen -where he had laboured- as unkind. It had been the mage overlords who kept order and discipline in the palace, with eather wips. "That's not true, no one's ever tried." His eyes went soft again, as if he saw something that Seth and Sabel did not. "She never tried, mother Sally was the nicest sort of person. Now they say she died of a chest cold. Just a chest cold, they said." his eyelids fluttered "I'm not blind, I won't be made a fool!" he called suddenly, "I know she died of the torture she had to suffer at the hands of the whip-masters." His cheast heaved and he backed off into the far corner of the cage. "Old Sally helped all of us, there are no uncastables, or mages, or half-breeds. They are only people." James sobbed. "How can you judge people by how they are born? It isn't their fault!"

Seth gulped, James's words ringed with truth, his thoughts wavered. As if someone had shattered every idea he'd ever held about people, every prejudice, every act of kindness out of belief in certain ideals, and the reverse. It was quite embarrassing to be lectured by someone six years younger than himself.

"Well there is one thing me and my father disagree on." Sabel said eyeing James, "While uncastables are inferior, I don't believe all of them are demons deserving of death, just because your lower doesn't mean you're worthless. She walked up to the cage, I can't ignore that one of you attempted to take my father's life however. I'm calling the gaurds now, say your prayers what ever God you serve."
The she began to leave.

"That'll be no prayer then" Seth said darkly. He'd given up on trying to change her mind. He'd rather be escorted by Damirian guards and held in front of court in the knowledge that Magnolia and the others were still in the palace. Alone, he didn't stand a chance. James however, seemed terrified of that idea. "I don't want to go with them" he said, cowering in a corner. He shuffled over towards Seth, "what's going to happen to us?" he whispered. Seth was silent for a moment, then, hesistantly, he replied. "We are going to win" though his mind wasn't half as sure about that.

Just then the slave girl James had saved peaked her head out from behind the closet, she sneaked over to the cage. She observed them, after a moment she said. "I'll help you escape, but after wards you must lie low."

Seth jumped to his feet and so did James. "What about you?" Seth inquired, "Why don't you come with us?" James said, his lips curling into the faintest of smiles.

She shook her head, "I shouldn't, that would be a betrayal of Sabels kindness, she rescued me from Torens grip, I, owe her regardless of how she feels about me." The girl was Damirian, she had a soft voice, just like someone else Seth knew.

"You'll have to teach me more about betrayal someday, you'll be a slave her, you won't be able to amount to anything more than a servant, now is your chance" Seth encouraged her. "At least tell me your name, so I might be able to repay the kindness one day" Seth said.

"Kan, it means loved on in old Damirian, and there is one thing you can do for me." She reached in and touched his hand. "Toren is planning something, something big, something he calls the final outcome, I fear for the nations minorities, his reckless hate grows everyday, please, please find Nesvi's heir, she apointed someone before he died and I know he live. Tell him we need him, we need him now more than ever!" She sounded desperate, her eye's awash with despair, then taking out a strange object she broke the cage.

"If you do find him, tell him to head to the Dungeons, and tell everyone you know to search for him, like I have been doing, now go, before the guards come."

A bolt of ice shot through him, it gripped him tight and gained a foothold in every fibre of his being, his frame shivered. "You don't need to look longer Kan, Nesvi appointed me," said Seth. His mind flooded with forces for staying and forces for leaving. They battled ferociously, crashing through the barriers of his mind until only one thought remained. Nesvi. His heart twichted and cringed at the name, his belly twisted and turned, and his mind began piling excuses. But there were no excuses. He followed Kan's advice and ran, as hard and fast as he could, James's little feet rapidly tapping the marble floor behind him. When they reached a large, stained glass, window-sill Seth stopped. James nearly slammed into him, swayed dangerously, but managed to stay on his feet.

"I want you to join up with Queen Magnolia and the others," said Seth.

The still pond that lingered behind James's eyes stirred, it turned into creek, a river, and finally, a waterfall. The salty water poured down his face, "but why do you always have to go?" he sulked. "I'm -I..I'm scared," he added "can't I come with you?" Seth bit his lip, the sound of metal shoulder plates slamming into broad, muscled man, armed to the teeth hit his ears. His body was overun with hot and cold, solid and liquid, hope and guilt. The sun shattered through the window, it's golden rays sparking life into the multi-colored specks that now danced on the floor. He patted James's cheeks with his sleeve, the grassy green and watery blue of their eyes collided. James's cheeks were ablaze, his chest threatened to burst where his heart was. The ravenous screams for blood approached rapidly, like metal being hammered on an anvil. The marble floors shook violently under the combined weight of trampling, iron boots. Seth lifted James into the air, wrapped his arms around him and headed towards the dungeons. Nesvi and James had won, Berk and Pip lost.

 

Pip had skidded to a halt when the door had slammed ahead of her, but now she was confused. There were several doors leading to other rooms, and she didn't know which one led where. panic sank its claws into her heart. She knew something very, very bad was going on, and she didn't know what to do!

"Hello?" she called, wings half-spread as she walked around in a small circle. Something was prickling up her spine, and she knew she should run, but where? Where? Why must she run?

The clatter and bang of armored guards, then the shouts came to her ears. Angry, blood-curdling shouts that promised someone's doom as they came up the hall. Heart rising into her throat, Pip's eyes went huge as she saw the first man come around the corner.

Nevsi appointed me . . . his voice echoed in her mind, and her heart pounded loudly, like a drum. She didn't know what it meant, but that it should mean something. Something important. Frustration reared its spiked head and roared. Gritting her teeth, she focused her mind on the guards as anger boiled.

No one will get to him! He is mine alone to destroy! a malevolent voice like hers snarled, and Pip's shadow flickered, then rose up behind the girl. Barbed, bat-like wings spread wide, and both raised their arms high as magic swirled in the air, making it heavy with their power.

"Light Shield!" Pip shouted, just as the shadow screamed "Dark Shield!" at the same time.

A blast of black and white ensued, then the guards shouted in alarm as one wall blocked them from the front, another from behind. Pip trembled, but the shield held.

She was deaf to the demon's cackle right behind her.

 

Ellen shyly approached Magnolia. "If I may, Your Majesty, my people are undeserving of slaughter. Perhaps a war can be avoided, and instead you may find help in Lore rather than 'New Toren'?" She bowed her head after speaking- she never did get accustomed to royalty.

Archibald, however, seemed plentifully comfortable around Magnolia. "A most splendid idea, Ms. err..." Archibald runned his chin as he scrutinized the ceiling, "I'm sorry, who are you?"

Ellen's gaze remained on the floor. "Ellen of House Kenward sir, although I fear my father wouldn't call me family if he was still around." The latter words came out quietly, shamefully.

"Ah, yes! The Kenwards, a most noble family! Tell me, Ms. Kenward, is it not true, as Toren so eloquently put, that the uncastables were and are slaughtering all kinds of mages, including the royal family, in Lore? How could we trust them?"

Ellen winced. The voice panged back into her head. You swore an oath, you traitor. Shaking her head, more in denial to the voice than in answer to Archibald, Ellen finally looked up once more. "The uncastables are angry, but they're not savages! They know reason, and justice, and honor! Yes, mages were killed, but we were at war! The war is almost over now, and the killing will stop. What reason is there for you not to ally with us? Our world isn't set in mage versus uncastable, why can't we fight together?!"

The corners of Archibald's mouth twisted up as he backed away from the empassioned Lorian and, with a fully developed goofy smile, he whispered to Magnolia, "I like her. Can we keep her?"

 

Magnolia shook her head, "The war is not almost over, in fact it is just beginning, Lore fell, then Fare, now the last tyrant mage on Exzalia is all that's left, ruling the last mage kingdom, why would they not attack? The uncastbles are human, and all humans are savage, mage and nonmage alike."

"But, what if we could convince them?" Sol interjected, what if we could convince the leader of Lore into not attacking, don't you think it's worth a shot?"

Magnolia nodded, "it is, but until Toren changes his mind we will have war, there is one other thing we can try. If we can get one of the royal family to agree with us, and take her with us, the Lorians may be convinced of our good intentions, But, we would need a royal member of Torens line, and I think they all care nothing for uncastbles. Then of cource there is Delvens pit."

Knob scrathed his head, "Sabel, she showed some kindness to that servant girl, maybe we can convince her, hey Ellen think you can give it a shot?"

 

"Sabel, she showed some kindness to that servant girl, maybe we can convince her, hey Ellen think you can give it a shot?"

"We are done with killing. It is peace that we seek." Ellen's answer was resolute, but a careful listener could also sense a little confusion. Give what a shot? "It is not we who need convincing, but those who seek to harm us who do."

 

It is not we who need convincing, but those who seek to harm us who do."

"The worlds not black and white." Magnolia said rolling her eye's, there are uncastbles who wish for the death of mages and there are mages who wish for the death of uncastbales neither side is pacificist, they took over Fare for gods sake!" She hissed getting annoyed.

 

Ellen looked down again. If Magnolia was a lion, then she was a small bird. "I'm sorry Your Majesty, I didn't mean to say that at all. I only speak for the uncastables of Lore, I've not seen much else of the world."

 

Pickles arrived outside of Toren's palace.

His expression was tight...sad even as his boots made surprisingly almost no noise for a man his size. He cautious as if preparing for anything as he made his way up the steps of it.

Pickles of course had other matters to tend to. Dealing with Toren, Uncatsables, mages and war were some of the furthest things from his mind. His eyes were shifting left to write hoping to spot one of his friends to ask that all important question. "Is Tassy with you?" If they couldn't answer that then he didn't really have much a reason to help them or stay around.

Pickles's mouth dropped open as his eyes grew dim. His children they were a reason to keep living without Tassy....but what sort of life could he alone give them, not to mention was sort of father could he be without her. Pickles rapidly started shaking his head back and forth as if trying to remove the thoughts of living without Tassy.

He stopped after about 10 seconds once both with shaking and walking. He heard Magnolia's voice.....

 

" all right one last thing and then we'll call it a day, I am going to take back Fare with the help of Torens forces, I will speak to him about it now. I hope the war won't entice the Lorians to jump in and help there fellow uncastbales, lets hope what you believe about there milk of human kindness is correct Ellen. The rest of you rest up, it's been a long day."

Looking around, Magnolia suddenly realized someone was missing. "Wheres that silver haired girl? We better find her before this turns into a hell zone."


........

Sabel paced the hallways looking slightly annoyed. "So you didn't see where they went?" She asked eyeing the slave girl.

"No ma'am, the little one most of cast some spell while you went to fetch the guards." Sabel frowned, "Oh what ever, let them run."

She spotted the others, including Eli who's robotic form surprised her, as she started at him Magnolia found her chance.

"Ahh princess Sabel, I need to find your father, were is Toren?" magnolia asked.

Sabel let out a mighty *errhrrm* Replying haughtily "That is high king Toren to you lot, and he is in his study, just down the hall way."

"Thankyou." Magnolia replied holding back the urge to smack her upside the head.

 

War begins, Magnolias deal.

Pip's legs quaked when the guards shoved against the shield in an attempt to break it, and her heart throbbed. Gritting her teeth, she tried to put more strength into it, but then a low hiss behind her made her squeak in alarm and whirl around -the shield dissipating behind her.

Thump!

Pip collapsed, and a thin arm caught her. Blood-red eyes glowing, the demon hissed at the guards again and they quailed, eyes bugging out beneath their helms. Then, when one bellowed and tried to charge her, the demon barked a rough word and the man was flung back by a wave of nox.

"You petty lumps are nothing to me! Leave before I decide to feed you to Hell!" she yowled, and they bolted.

Spreading her wings wide, the demon screamed another foul word and nox covered both her and Pip, then their images dissipated before they re-appeared in another room.

"Ah. Magnolia." it said, recognizing everyone around her. Dropping Pip unceremoniously and kicking the girl away, the demon turned to face the queen. A wicked smile played on her lips and her barbed wings folded with a rustle.

"I have a little proposition for you."

Magnolia gave her a sharp look, "Go back to the shadows spawn, you have no place here." She hissed, forming a powerful Althea weave in her hand.

The demon's grin only widened, and a familiar scythe took form beside her. Altox. Flicking her hand, a wand also materialized and she twirled it, fifty years worth of magic stored up in it. "I doubt you would want to do that. You may not care, but If you kill me, you kill her." she said, her eyes flicking briefly to Emery and the others. A dark chuckle bubbled up from her chest, and her claws closed over Altox's rod, and the runes on the blade glowed, a dull hum throbbing through the holes along its spine. "Tell me where Seth Turian is."

Magnolia looked around, "You know, I don't know, I saw him dashing towards one of the royal rooms."

Sabel looked on in horror at the Spawn, "I-if your talking about the uncastble boy, he was with me not too long ago, but he's gone now."

"Hmm... guess I'll just have to wait then." she muttered to herself, then her body seemed to melt before their eyes, slowly falling to the floor and becoming once more Pip's shadow. "I'll see you all soon." she cackled, then vanished entirely.

Pip groaned and stirred, wrapping her arms around her stomach where she had been kicked. Blinking, she saw everyone before her and her brows drew together in confusion. "Wha . . . what happened?"


"you forgot to take your pills this morning." Knob said still hiding behind Sol.

"Well now that that distraction is out of the way, rest up, tomorrow the real battle begins."
.......

The queen left them to their own devices and went to see Toren, she came in while he was fooling around with one of his many half elf servant. "Ahh, Magnolia! come to join the fun? the more the Merrier that's what I say! Hahahahahahaha!"

magnolia sneered but held in her contemp.

"Toren, I am going to retake Fare, are you with me?" Toren stopped his laughter, shooting his servant girls a glance they began to leave the two alone.

"We used to be enemies you know." Toren said thoughtfully.

"The people I travel with now were all my enemies once. but greater demons are on our door step. If Lore does decide to attack, Fare can help you. My kingdom surrendered with out much fight. You realize what this means"

Toren nodded. "It means it didn't use up all it's resources by resisting, if we take it back, it will still be a power house. Then we can attack Lore." magnolia shook her head, "We shouldn't, at the very least not yet. there can be peace still as long as Lore does not interfere with our retaking of fare, or attack us afterward we'll be okay." Magnolia though of Ellen, she seemed so certain of her self, maybe Lore didn't want to attack?

"Peace is for woman." Toren huffed, "I will help you take back your home but," he grinned "only if you vow to attack Lore with me."

Magnolia was taken back, what a choice, betray her allies she could not, but, To abandon Fare was she not queen? that would be an even worse crime.

"You, are a demon Toren." magnolia said softly.

Toren chuckled. "Oh whats this? the mighty Magnolia brought low? unsure of her self? Oh this is new." he chuckled stuffing his face with bread and wine. He flopped down on his bed, his fat giggled a bit like a sick swamp He grinned.

"So, what will it be?"

Magnolia looked at the ground, hiding her growing anger. "I, can not abandon my home, I will, I will join you in the destruction of Lore, oh demon king."

"harsh!" Toren said chuckling, "But I'll forgive you the insult." He snapped his fingers, a fairy flew in.

"yes your greatness?" it said.

"tell the battle mages, prepare for war! summon the Pegasus knights, rouse the Draco legion, every mage from every corner of NewToren, to war! The uncastbles, will rue the day they betrayed there place in nature." he got up with a sense of pride, as he walked past Magnolia he put his hand on her shoulder.

"When your kingdom is safe and sound, you will forget about the uncastable dead." he whispered. "Sometimes, we must sacrifice for what we love."

As he left the chamber he shot a dangerous glare at Ellen. "Sabel, sweaty, this is you chance to prove your self my love. Your father is going to Fare, you will be in charge of new Toren while I'm gone."

Sabel nodded, "I will do you proud father." He nodded and went on his way. magnolia came out shortly afterwards looking more then furious, she stormed past the lot with out a second word.

 

Eli

He'd stayed out of the council, and instead taken his leave to the gardens. How long it had been since he'd been here, but it was only a shadow of what it had been. Toren was still sucking it dry, taking everything he could for himself. Eli clenched his fist. He knew the stakes of why they were here. It was possible that without Daimiran support, the world would end.

But still, he had come back for a reason, and he'd be damned if he let anything get in the way of that. Standing up, to a clockwork tick of his leg brace, he headed out. Resolve evident on his face. Anyone who had seen him then would have have been terrified, there was a look of death on his face. The look of a man who had resolved to do something terrible.

 

Archibald looked up as Magnolia exited Toren's room, loosely accompanied by the king and his daughter. "What news do your bring, High Queen Magnolia?" The last three words he delivered with a smug and pointed grin at Sabel.

 

Magnolia stared out towards Fare. "we're going to retake Fare, Toren and I will lead the armies, afterwards, afterwards." She frowned

"Afterwards you will go to Delvens pit, and stop the fallen." And she would say no more.

 

An Althea blade landed in front of Magnolia.

It stuck in the ground with 'sik' cutting straight through it with little trouble.

But once it was revealed who through the blade it was quite obvious it wasn't meant to actually hurt anyone. Just grab attention. Pickles stepped forward looking from left to right at the others.

His face was calm but there was certainly something more intense about him. His eyes were sunken in and hard. He cut straight to the point. "Is Tassy with you all? River wouldn't tell me." He said the elf woman's name with venom. If she wasn't with them then that left one place left.....the pit.

 

Seth and James

Seth hurried down the steps, his forehead gleamed with sweat. James's frame bounced against his, the little knight had squeezed his eyes shut, too frightened to open them again, fearful for what they might see if he did. Seth's mind rattled with conflict. He was putting his life and that of James into the hands of stranger. Yet she had stirred a memory in his mind, something in her countenance had reminded him, though he could not tell of what or whom. The torhces on the dripping-wet walls of the dungeons waxed and waned as Seth rushed past. Only after jogging in a good hundred feet into the dungeons did he slacken his pace.

James, let out something between a sob and a sniff, Seth perked his ears, expecting someone or something to tell him the meaning of this all. He put James down on his feet and readied his dagger. "If I say run, you run, understood?" he hissed to James. James inclined his head slightly, "good" said Seth.

 

Ellen stepped forward. She was timid, not stupid, and she had no allegiance to the group. "What of Lore, Your Highness?" Her eyes pressed into Magnolia's core. "What did you and Toren decide about Lore?"

 

Keiran and Rayla

After everything that had happened in the courtroom ended, Keiran had determined two things. 1) He didn't like Toren, and 2) he couldn't see any other way to save Fare without his help.

And so, once everything was said and done, he was standing against a railing, contemplating everything, and wondering what was happening with his parents back home. And also, why his father hadn't come with. They had had some parting words just before embarking to Damiruu.

"Son, take care of your sister, but remember, she can take care of herself," Will had said.

"Dad, that doesn't make sense."

"I know, but it seemed like the kind of thing that I should say," Will returned with a small grin. "What I'm trying to say is, you two need each other. Don't ever forget that. And another thing you can't ever forget, I love you and her both, and everything I do, is for you two."

"I won't forget," Keiran said.

"Now, take care of her, and get back home safely. Your mother will need you. And never forget, I'll always be with you, even across Exzalia, I am always with you." And with that, they had parted. Will leaving Rose behind, and heading out the opposite direction that everyone else was headed. Will was headed towards the sea.

And now, Keiran was contemplating the conversation he had had with his father, already a week ago, wondering what to make of it all. And why he had taken the narrow path towards the shore.

"HEY! KEIRAN!" Rayla yelled as she bounded up to her brother. He looked more forlorn than usual...and that was saying something. "What's wrong with you?" She jumped up and sat on the railing, balancing precariously with a long drop behind her if she fell. But that fact didn't seem to faze her. "You look like you've swallowed a field mouse."

“Oh, hey... I was just thinking about some things Dad told me before he left. And everything thats been happening, it’s all very... odd.” Odd was the only word he could come up with to describe the last few days. “How are you? You seem cheerful as usual, don’t know how you do it...” he said, shaking his head.

“Well, someone has to be...with everyone else all grumpy and forlorn.” Rayla replied a little more seriously. “There’s always something to be happy about...right? I mean mom and dad are home safe, and Luna hasn’t turned into a werewolf in a long time, and...well, there is always something.”

Keiran found himself smiling. “That’s true, I guess. But I mean, how do you focus on the less bad stuff? There’s just so much crap going on, it just kind of makes it hard to remember that everything doesn’t suck.”
Rayla seemed lost in thought for a bit, then she looked Keiran in the eyes. “When were in the halfling line, and were being searched for weapons...then asked to...you know, strip. I was terrified. Even now when I think about it, it makes me sick to my stomach. So, I just don’t think about it. I kinda just try to forget about the bad things...it’s the only way I can deal with them.” She looked away, trying to hide the shame she felt. “I don’t see how you can dwell on all the awful things going on. It could make a person want to kill themselves.”

Keiran thought for a moment, “I guess you’re right, I should try and be more positive. But it’s hard when everything is always trying to go to crap around you, like getting strip searched just because of the shape of our ears...” He sighed. “But you are right, I’ll try and be more positive. What do you think of Toren?”

“Pig.” She shrugged as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I think it’s disgusting we have to fight with him...but if those damned uncastables would just leave us alone then we wouldn’t have to deal with him.”

“I agree. I don’t like this at all... but his daughter Sable, she doesn’t seem so bad...”

“You just think she’s hot...” Rayla said cheekly.

Keiran blushed slightly, then shrugged, then smiled. “Yeah, I guess so... I should be careful, last girl I thought was cute turned out to be our evil older sister...” he said, shaking his head, remembering the whole fiasco.

Even Rayla blushed at that. “Oh goddess, that was embarressing!” She buried her face in her hands. “I can’t believe I actually encouraged you to go after her.” Rayla made a gagging noise. “How do you think she came to...know you...exist anyway? You don’t think dad like...?” She made a face like she couldn’t fathom the idea of her dad cheating on mom.

Keiran thought for a minute. “I don’t know,” he said finally. He found it as hard to believe as Rayla did that their father would have done something like that. “There has to be some explanation for it though, I mean... people don’t just randomly appear out of thin air. But maybe it’s best we don’t know...” he trailed off. But something Caron had said long ago about his grandmother came back to him. He pushed it back though.

“Ugh. Just another thing to try and forget.” Rayla shuddered like she was trying to shake off the bad memories. In the process she nearly fell off the railing into open air.

Keiran reached out and caught her hand. “Easy there!” he chuckled. “You almost went sailing headfirst onto old Eli down there. The old man was walking past below them.

“Thanks.” She muttered. Rayla caught her breath and glanced down. Eli was curious. Serious, quiet and somehow he knew their grandfather. She hadn’t gotten to talk to him much. “What do you think about him? Eli, I mean.” She asked gesturing with her head.

“I like him, he seems very wise... but there’s something dangerous about him too, like he’s got death on the mind all the time.” Kieran responded. There was definitely something dangerous about Eli, despite his old age and apparent frailty, Kieran would prefer to stay on his good side.

“Well, he is rather old. He’s probably thinking about his own death.” She hopped off the railing. “Well, I’m kinda hungry. Wanna go get some food?”

Keiran shrugged. “Sure,” he replied, and then the two went off in search of food.

 

The delegation of nations, a familiar scene

"Torens mind has not changed, Lore will have war, whether we want it or not. But first we march to Fare." She replied bitterly. Pickles then rudely drew a blade at her, she gave him a death stare.

"Your beloved has gone to save the world, now that Eris has decided to join us we will head there shortly, you're welcome to stay, or chase after Will if you like, he has gone on ahead." Suddenly a trumpet sounded, servants, uncastabales and noble alike rushed to to see. Royalty! from the four other races!

Mercian, queen of the mers waltz in with her royal gaurd, Zepher king of the airmids, Scald lord of the scorchfeinds and finally. Shamere shaman of the wood elves, they all came with thousands of soldiers at tow. Dropping the jaws of everyone there. Sol looked at the spectacle, then back at his mother.

"Just how big a war is this going to be? that all the races are now involved?" he said in awe.

"If the mers and the scorchfeinds have come together to face a common foe, these uncastables maybe far more dangerous then even I realized." A mage whispered to his companion, truely we are in the last days."

 

Ellen fought every instinct which screamed for her to draw her sword right there. "I owed you a debt of gratitude, Queen Magnolia," her words came through gritted teeth, "but now I find my debt repayed. I hope I never find you in the field of battle." With that, she marched off. Lore had a war to prepare for.

 

At had been a long day, and soon night fell. In the quiet of the night, some still crept along in the dark, Luna kept low hiding away from some yet unseen danger. Tucked behind a barrel in the middle of the dark streets, her face wore a permanent look of worry.

Else where Seth felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned to see a lowly prisoner, who quiet rudely reached for his chest and grabbed Nesvi's locket. before Seth could pretest the prisoner spoke.
"Nak said you would come, my king, you have much to do."

Magnolia was still awake and giving Sol lecture, it was a pointless lesson. magnolia scolding him on vain things like his hair being undone, or his weaving being sloppy. Any other boy would hate there parent for it, but Sol could see past his mother harsh tone and words. "This is the only way she knows how to send time with me, isn't it?" Sol thought to him self, both pity and sadness went out to the queen though he never dare show such weakness in front of his mother.

Magnolia finally finished her lecture, and the two stared out at the stars. "Is that all mom?" Sol asked. Magnolia huffed, "yes, yes it is, and don't make me repeat my self."

Sol chuckled, "Okay mom, love you"

"Huh? oh ummmm...yes, love," magnolia suddenly began fumbling over her words. Sol chuckled at how awkward she suddenly became. "Repeat after me mom, I love you too son."

"I know that! Erherm....I love you too Sol, now off to bed." She ordered.

Sol just shook his head, "yes mom" Magnolia looked out at the stars alone again, she gave a defeated sighed. "Forgive me Sol, in the end, I don't think I ever was cut out to be a mother."

What ever they were doing at this hour, all knew that tomorrow the fate of mage kind would be decided, Fare had to be recaptured, Lore had to fall, and this calm night only foreshadowed the coming chaos.

"And so the age old struggle continues." magnolia muttered to her self, looking at the stars for the slightest sign of hope.

 

Erebos, Eris

Eris and Erebos did not like the fact that another Spawn was pushing into their territory. No matter if they were Altox, they should know better than to present themselves in the prences of the Dark Queen and the Prince of Darkness. Wordlessly, mother and son came to an agreement to destroy that Spawn if it was the last thing they did, his blatant disrespect could not go unpunished.

After witnessing the pomp and pageantry of the royalty coming through, presumably participants in the war, Erebos was feeling nervous. He was not so sure they could succeed anymore. This wasn't just about them trying to stop the world from dying anymore. This was about a war that included almost every species in Exzalia, and Eris' daemons were not numerous enough to take them all on. There were more powerful mages and spawns in the game now, whole armies and countries, like massive boulders grinding against the tiny marble of existence that Erebos' little group occupied. How stupid did they have to be to think they could prevail?

Eris sensed her son' discomfort and slapped him in the back of the head, gently.

"It's gonna be okay, son. Leave the worrying to me. I'll protect you and your friends, at whatever cost."

Erebos met his mother's eyes to check and see if she was sincere. Her eyes had turned human again, green with flecks of gold, an elf's eyes. He smiled, a small insecure smile, and looked away before she noticed.

 

Sols departer

two days past, since they began to prepare and finally a legion of mages from every race and every area set out to retake Fare, Magnolia went with them, as did Sol.

Knob looked on with concern, Sol in a war? he tried to convince his friend not to go, and to that the prince responded.

"It's my home, if I don't fight for it who will? But I don't think the others should come along, they have more pressing things to worry about, like Delvens pit."

"But you could die!" knob protested angrily.

"Yes, yes I could, but many of my people have died defending my home, I should be willing to do it as well."

Knob hung his head in defeat, "Is there nothing I can do to help you? to make you change your mind?" Sol shook his head, "Knob, I keep forgetting that despite your size your only 6, but you have to be strong now, for my sake." Knob nodded, "Well...at least say good by to the others."

Everyone else was packing up and reading to leave, well accept Luna Seth and James, and Eli they had business in new Toren.

"I don't like splitting up." Knob sighed.

"Well it wouldn't be right to drag these people in to our war, not when they have a divine to snuff out, wheres mom?" Sol said looking around and not seeing her. A servant raised her hand, she's not coming to say her good by's, she went straight to the awaiting army. Sol frowned looking annoyed. "That's just like my mother, so anti social."

his attention fell back on his friends, Rayla, Keiran, Eorboes, Carson, Marine, Lyra, Eli. Luna too, although she was still missing. and a new one, a boy named James. Finally, pip, he was sorry to leave her so confused."Well, I guess this is good by, I don't know if I shall survive this, but if I do't I have no regrets." He said proudly. "Well, there is one regret."

"Whats that?" Knob asked. Sol began to tear up at the thought of it, after a few sniffles he managed to say in a choked voice.

"That I will possibly die a Virgin! Oh the humanity!"

"Your about to go to war and your thinking about girls!" Knob yelled being thrown back by the comment, "Oh for pities sake!"

Sol chuckled wiping away his (Fake) tears "Good luck my friends, something tells me defeating the fallen will be more difficult then surviving this war, if I live I'll catch up with you."

 

Eli

Over the last few days, Eli had been busy. He had realized something, that without support and a plan, killing Toren would just place one of his children on the throne. And that was something that he could not abide. The throne of Daimiru should be sat by someone who was born and raised there, and he meant to see to it that came about.

He had been scouring the palace for people, anyone who might remember him that would still be loyal to Queen Nesvi. But there weren't enough. He had found three people, holdovers from the old regime, but none in positions of power enough to really help him. There was old Tondil, the royal chef. Eli had found him working away in the kitchen. The man, nearly the same age as Eli, had almost died of fright when he first saw him, exclaiming something about vengeful ghosts and that he never meant to put the carisum spice in his soup that time, he'd just forgotten that he was allergic. After a few minutes Eli finally managed to calm the man down and convince him that he wasn't a ghost. Tondil had agreed to help Eli's cause any way that he could.

Next he went to the barracks. The second lieutenant of in command of the city watch was a man named Favius, a good man. He had been the head of the city watch at one time, in charge of maintaining order and keeping peace within the city. An honorable man, strong and wise. Now he was a second lieutenant. Eli had pulled him aside on a street corner. It had taken the man a while to recognize him, but once he did, his eyes brightened as recognition dawned. And before Eli even had a chance to mention it, Favius was already speaking of overthrowing Toren now that Eli was back.

There was one other person that Eli was looking for, a man as loyal as there had ever been, now he just had to find him, and he could put his plan into motion.

 

Rayla

Sol chuckled wiping away his (Fake) tears "Good luck my friends, something tells me defeating the fallen will be more difficult then surviving this war, if I live I'll catch up with you."

"You'd better!" Rayla yelled at him in fake anger. "Or I'll come find you and beat you so badly your grand-kids will feel it." Despite his antics and the fact he hit on every girl around, she'd grown to like him a bit. Though something deep inside told her she'd never see him alive. Not in this life anyways.
She looked around. The trees in the distance seemed ominous and unwelcoming. Where had Luna gone? Hadn't her promise to get Luna back to normal been enough? She sighed sadly. Rayla already missed her parents again. Her dad, off in search of a siren-sister and her pregnant mom at home with a crazed woman. And now, Rayla, Kieran and everyone aside from Sol were going to some evil pit on a mission to save Exzalia yet again. Why couldn't this world save itself for once?

 

Knob heard bickering coming from the other room while he was packing, peeking his head around a corner he saw a rather heated debate between two people.

"listen here pheonix king, you owe us." The man, a nobleman snorted, beside him a young half elf hung her in humility
"I owe you NOTHING for this." Vaskamez said sternly. His deep blue eyed gaze fixed on the nobleman's. "You owe this to your people. The people that you are supposed to serve but instead use to your own ends. I will not sacrifice any of my men for what you have brought upon yourselves. The cause of all your problems is your political insanity; a beast that you happily throw lives to."
The noblemen stood up and began to bark at Vaskamez but Vaskamez spoke over him, "Are you truly this distracted and short sighted? If the sarcophagus is discovered it will mean disaster to my dominion and yours! If you care only about yourselves than consider this. An Army of 1000 men each as powerful as your best mages marching on every last city and stronghold!"

"Is that a threat?" the noblemen scowled, you would attack you're own mage kind? while we at war with the uncastables? are you mad!"

Vaskamez's eyebrow raised in surprise. "You're more of a fool then i thought. I am not threatening this. Anyone who unlocks that sarcophagus will have that power and more. Do you not understand what we speak of? This is what I am trying to prevent."

the noblemen huffed, "Your box can wait, it's deep in Delvons pit, no one can get, not with out new Torens help."
"You are wrong about that as well. Your Empire's arrogance is a dangerous thing; do not underestimate what you do not understand..." Vaskamez remained silent for a moment. "The sarcophagus's location remains a secret but not for long. We must act now."

"you're a real fool you know that? you think the empire should be more concerned with your bothersome artifact over our own war? my patients grows thin."

Vaskamez suppressed the irritation lurking below his skin. He spoke calmly but his emotions were visible.
"You are at a greater immediate risk of having the sarcophagus opened than losing your war. I do not ask for much assistance..... Now 'please'" Vaskamez said with slight apathy "let me speak with someone who understands these things. You are no general, nor do you have any relevant power."

"Ha no power? I could have your foriegn ass killed in a moment, as for leaders Sabel is in charge while the king is away fighting an all important war and wouldn't want to meet the likes of you anyway."

Vaskamez scoffed, clearly disgusted.
"Disrespect for a virtuous leader. Disrespect and Contempt for his own people. Incompetence. Neglect of duty and abuse of power." Vaskamez rose from his seat, "You are the result of hereditary entitlement; a plague that I removed from my dominion. Now, kindly, let me speak to Sabel, your leader, or prove to him that your uselessness warrants him parting your head from your body."

Things were getting intense Knob could tell, the stranger had risen from his seat, but what was this item they spoke of, something in Delvens pit? "Sabel need not be concerned with our dealings, you have two options, help us retake Fare, or go unaided, of cource a little bit of gold from your people never hurt."

"Corrupt scum!!" Vaskamez shouted, his voice reverberated throughout the room. "When Sabel hears of your neglect in this matter... gold and power will be of no use to you!!"

"Sabel won't listen to your kind of primative people and certianly won't listen to you!"

Vaskamez's anger turned to a calm sternness. Vaskamez grabbed the handle of his sword and in the blink of an eye a bright silver blur produced a crimson spray. The nobleman's arm dropped to the ground in a puddle of blood. "You are unworthy of that, consider yourself fortunate." Vaskamez said as the screaming began.

The servant girl beside the politician jumped back in shock, she gave Vaskamez a surprised look, then shifted her gaze back to her master. Knob nearly threw up, "Well that escalated quickly." He said to him self.
"Um...my lord." The servant said to Vaskmez hesitantly, Sabel is in the thrown room, just down the hall and to your right."

"Thankyou." Vaskamez smiled warmly, looking into the frightened servant's eyes.
"Don't let their mistreatment damage you... you, a simple, humble person has more moral worth than all the decadent scum in this world. Every people will find a leader that rules for them sooner or later... Everyone will have their time... This is what I've learned in life."
Vaskamez stormed off to the throne room unfazed by the bloody pool in his wake....

Sudden the man was met with spell primed and ready, 5 gaurds stood ready to challenge him, though they reaked of a rank fear, "S-stop, Y-your under arrest!"
Vaskamez stopped with a nuisanced look on his face, "Arrest him for the way he treats the people, like your families. I have no desire for bloodshed with you." Vaskamez looked irritated and not the least bit fearful. "Bring Sabel to me if it better suits you. After he hears what this rat.." Vaskamez turned his head to the whimpering Nobleman and spat "..has chosen to with withhold from him, he may finish the job himself."

The gaurds looked at each other for a moment, then one of the scampered off, a moment later he returned." Sabel will meet with you, follow me."

Vaskamez stormed off following the guard.....