"We can't worry about me right now…" Assuring her while reaching for the bandages from his pack, and doing his best to wrap them around his arms while Konnor raced towards the Chapel.
Watching as he trembled in an effort to manage his wounds, Meira reluctantly took the bandages from him, choosing to help as she didn't seem to be getting anything out of him, but didn't want him to struggle anymore.
"Well whatever you're going to do, you better do it now. I don't think I'll be able to get you any closer from the looks of it." Konnor yelled to the pair as he came to a stop at the foot of the hill leading to the Chapel.
Leaping out of the door to take in the sight of swirling storm clouds violently gathering about the Chapel scoring the darkened skies with a massive opening directly above it. The void among the storm gave off an ominous blur that surrounded the Chapel.
"I'm sorry, Meira, but you need to go."
"Stop acting like an idiot, and just tell me what's wrong, how did you get so injured?" Her previously reserved attitude gave way to the thoughts that were flaring beneath her calmness.
"Konnor, get out of here, who knows when those beasts will catch up. And Meira, I'll be okay, just focus on saving the people, please…"
"You better make it back in one piece Shynerai. I don't want to be the one that has to answer to Lucie when she's upset. So be careful, okay!" Tightening the last of his bandages before sending him out of the door as Konnor started up the G.A.V.
"You can call me Erai." Waving them off before he raced up the hill towards the growing center of the storm. The gathering winds would meet high above giving life to vibrant streaks of lightning, highlighting the storm that was approaching.
Konnor kept his foot on the pedal, tearing through the streets of the grimly lit town with the evening quickly setting upon, it felt like he couldn't lend his attention to the fear that was making it a challenge to firmly grip the steering wheel. A sign that it may have all been too much for him resounding as clearly for Meira as she sat nearby.
With the sudden shock of grounded thunder booming in the courtyard of the Town Hall, Shynerai emerged from a crater that was still abuzz with golden sparks. His return was prompted by what he witnessed, requiring the use of his Battle Armor to make an uninterrupted sprint back to Meira.
Meeting with Meira and Konnor outside of the Hall, having camped within the G.A.V as it was easier to guard the Town Hall from the safety of the technical.
"I would have expected you to be held up with everyone else inside."
"Yeah well, I feel a lot safer within several thousand kilograms of metal than in there." Konnor welcomed him into the vehicle with a firm hug, before checking him for any new injuries, only held back by Meira who pulled him aside to speak with Shynerai.
"He's right. Not to mention, that it's easier to pick out any break-ins from the outside now that I've fortified their barricades. It's not perfect but it should hold back most threats. Come on, I left a way in for us open" Pointing to the writhing mass that was now covering most of the building. The group eventually made their way inside.
After sneaking their way back in, Konnor slipped through the moon door onto a cabinet. Crashing into it, and splintering it with enough force to startle the mayor who had gathered the folks to defend him as he cowered in his office.
Their entrance threw the people into a panic that was only managed by Konnor's reassurance while he struggled to his feet. Meira and Shynerai followed after him and they jumped through the moon door onto the floor.
"Oh yeah, I don't mind falling, guys. There was a nice, square and hard piece of furniture to break my fall" His words bearing more annoyance than pain from his fall. After Meira restrained the fleeing mayor who was trying to escape out of the window, she bound him to his chair, while Shynerai and Konnor led the people to another room.
"Mayor Ludleef, I can't have you running out on your citizens just yet, you have to prepare to evacuate everyone. It is no longer so to remain in Whitewater"
"What! First the filthy Daumier and now the Elf. FAE's Breath! Are you mad, girl? The town is rife with death during the night, to attempt anything like that would be suicide."
"You told us earlier on that the beasts did not harm you. In fact, you made it a point that they would only attack the guards. That means that there is a chance for everyone to make it out of here. We can escort to them through the Nycerii territory if need be"
"Yes, but I also said that our requests for aid went largely unanswered. What I should have added was that those that we sent for help never returned. Perhaps it was the beasts or maybe the very figures that attacked you on your way here. All of it just proves that it is safe out there" He hung his head as he once again faced the memories of him confronting the families of those he had unknowingly sent to slaughter.
"Listen! After tonight, who knows what's going to happen. Saving your abducted people means we won't be around to fend off the beasts...but it might give you a chance to escape. We know that they always return to the Chapel. If we cause a stir, you'll be free to run."
'Escape…huh? Can it really be done' Wracking his mind over the possible, his entire being cried for him not to threaten the safety he had in the Town Hall.
"You have to gather your people and prepare them to evacuate the moment you have the chance. Head to the harbor to make your way to the Divine Strait"
"You truly are mad, when those beasts began their hunt...something tore our ships to pieces...none of our Sailors saw it coming, but those that made it back to shore were certain the waters belonged to whatever dwelled within"
"The harbor's cut off? Damnit! Guess it's starting to look more and more like the worst possible outcome." Shynerai entered the Mayor's office.
"Shynerai what do you mean, is there something worse?"
"...Mayor Ludleef, please prepare your people for evacuation, we'll make sure you have a way out of this place. By land, sea or the air if we have to." Freeing the sweating man and heading downstairs to meet up with Konnor.
Meira felt a bit uncertain after hearing his words, but followed after all the same, moving the lumber Ludleef out of her way, leaving the panicking man behind his desk unsure of what to do next.
"Konnor, after you get everyone to safety, make sure to head back here and get everyone out of here, you should have just enough time"
"So are we still sticking to the plan?" Meira caught up with the two amongst the frightened townspeople.
"Not exactly. It's not enough to distract the beasts and those that may be controlling them. Whatever it is they're tending to at the Chapel must be important if they keep their forces close. Move will move to stop this, once and for all. Can you keep up? "
Looking at the somewhat unsettled expression that he was struggling to hide, she knew that he wasn't just sharing his plan, he needed his help, and this time, he was actually asking for it.
A bead of sweat ran down Konnor's face with the thought of what's to come making for an uncomfortable sensation in his throat. Shynerai turned to Konnor and asked him to make for the Chapel after them and to do his best to stick to what's left of the plan.
Walking towards the moon door they snuck in through, Shynerai prepared to activate his Beowulf Battle Armor...but found himself awash with sudden hesitation after merely taking a step. A thought further paralyzed him as the idea of the Word of Power left him reeling in great discomfort.
Meira called out to him but he only held onto his arms tighter, falling deeper into his thoughts. Only after her tapping him on the shoulder did his eyes meet hers, seeing the worry in them pulled him out of his mental binds until he was able to perceive her words, this time sight of her moving lips and audible words filled his mind that slowly came back to him.
Shaking off his daze. He took his stance, and began breathing deeply, closing his eyes and letting out a slow breath, causing emerald wisps to emerge and swirl around him, forcing an intense wind into the building that finally settled into him, restoring his Will Force.
"I'm okay Meira, let's go" Leaping out of the window in a green haze as the blast of wind knocks back the townspeople nearby, with the still cowering Ludleef trembling from the blast as it rocks the Town Hall.
"Be careful, Konnor or you'll be sorry you hear?" Meira wished him before following after.
Conjuring a flaming parakeet from a spell cast as she leapt out of the building and landed atop the hide of the bird. Cawing as it spread its vermillion wings, it took off, leaving only the dwindling feathers that fell like pieces of embers.
Meira tried to get him to slow down but Shynerai merely pushed forward faster and faster with a burning sensation encroaching upon him and gnawing at his arms, causing his emerald glow to flicker erratically. Though she was able to swoop in time to catch him in mid-air.
At this point, Meira pushes him further to tell her why he's so insistent on making it to the Chapel but he was still trying to catch his breath from the activation of his Will Force, after a brief moment, he's caught enough of his breath to explain.
Reminding her of his earlier investigation, he was initially planning on finding the hostages and scouting out the enemy's numbers. With that information, he would form a pincer strike with him heading into the vanguard to cause a distraction, allowing Meira and Konnor to sneak in and lead the hostages out to safety.
But, before continuing, she noticed his grip clench fiercely as he spoke through grit teeth. She reached out and asked him to continue...
When they arrived at the Chapel, the first thing to catch his attention was the insane amount of magical energy pouring out of it. So much so that it made it near impossible to find the source of it all, let alone the one responsible.
Moving to stop him, she questioned what he meant by 'the one who was in charge'.
"When I seriously started thinking about the Quest, and the Nycerii we encountered when we first camped out after we saved Konnor from their camp. One of them had instructions that took me a bit of time to make sense of...honestly"
"I still have no idea what they're about, the only thing that stood out was the mention of—the Northern Calamity, and then there were the Vulpins. Although the last part just showed me we could be dealing with a Necromancer"
"You mentioned that in the restaurant, but now think about it, how? All practicing mages under the Falsetti Kingdom are registered with a Guild or Academy, especially those that deal with the nature of Death."
"I can't say, all I know is that Nycerii must have gotten involved somehow."
The two now shared his look of terror, but that wasn't all. He continued and noted where the source of the magical energy was and he noticed as close as he got to the Chapel, he saw the makings and magical formula needed to craft a Transfiguration Seal or an approximation of one but it seemed to be shoddy work at best.
She jumped up and almost knocked him over as she asked him if there is a way to stop the Seal. She didn't have much experience with Thaumaturgy, with her abilities and knowledge being heavily focused on Alchemy. As she was deliberating, a surprised look washed over him at the sound of what she said, prompting him to repeat herself.
Going over her statement once more, he asked vehemently if she had particular items with her that he needed to make a certain mixture.
She was hesitant but pressed back and asked what the mixture he needed was. Mithridates-Hygeia.
The healing solution. But she tells him that what she did, though what she had would only yield a weaker derivative. He told her that he'd make good use of it. As they neared the Chapel, she asked him to cover her as she brewed the mixture he needed.
Shynerai moved over to the nearby recesses of foliage that were struggling against the forces of the gathering storm to glimpse at the active sight within, though the screams of peril and weeping masses met his curious intention.
Eventually completing her work in time to call him back from orchestral wails of the innocent as she handed him three vials of the Healing solution. Wasting no time as he quickly downed the drink and handed her the empty container.
"That will do. Thank you" The discomfort that was chained to his arms lessened its grip as he did. This time when she reached for him, Shynerai was present and eased up. In the brief moment his guard had dropped, she finally confronted him.
"Erai, what happened to you?" Holding his arms by the wrist and bringing them closer to her, as if she could read the script of scars riddling them.
"These…they are old. They aren't important right now, not with everything that we need to do"
"I agree, but you were clearly in pain. But that only makes things more consuming since after you consumed the Mithridates, all it treated was your scratches and your fatigue."
"Like I said, it's an old wound, one that tends to flare up when I strain myself too much but it's fine. My Will Force will passively mend my body as long as I don't push myself, I must have forgotten what pushing myself too hard looks like"
"And is that supposed to be any better? If…you can't…if it's too much for you to go in there, then just say so and I'll call off the Quest. We can inform the school about what is happening so that they can send in help–"
"Meira, what I'm feeling right now doesn't matter. We're here, and we're all they've got" Freeing himself from her grasp before Shynerai launched off, bursting through the opening in the Chapel's roof.
The nearby beasts reacted instantly, instinctively swarming into the Chapel in search of the foreign scent that managed to sneak it. Something that he was expecting as the emerald wisps accompanied his entrance, violently ripping into each of the creatures with each blow landed on them.
Moving about its interior, the creatures took to chasing the vivid green blur while Meira dealt with the stranglers that were still moving about the newly torn hole.
Rising from the opening in the Chapel's floor, a tall and well-adorned figure, draped in a familiar coloring of gray robes with gold trimmings all neatly dressed over a well fitted burgundy suit. Moving the blonde bangs out his eyes, pushing it back to reveal the sharp features of his vision.
While his eyes carried no shimmer of life, their hollowness did not take away from their piercing glare, almost suggesting that all fell under his gaze beneath him. Before he noticed him, the figure stood above him, striking Shynerai hard enough to disperse the emerald wisps with a violent lash of wind.
Meira rushed over to help him, as she summoned another set of ember beasts that blasts him across the chapel.
Getting back onto his feet, Shynerai urged her to free the inoculated prisoners while he engaged the stranger. Seeing the intent in his eyes, she wished him luck, promising to join him once everyone was free. While his back was turned, the figure was gone again, this time moving past Shynerai on his way to Meira, who had no time to react to his sudden attack.
The blow sent a slight tremor through the Chapel, shaking its withering beams. When the dust settled, Shynerai found himself on one knee, bracing himself against the figure's fist bearing down on his shoulder while Meira was thrown back, unharmed but shaken at what she almost experienced.
"Shynerai–"
"It's okay. Go on, those people need you!" He huffed and grunted through his words as he forced the figure back with a show of strength, landing on his feet with an unsettling silence accompanying his grace.
As she dashed to rescue the prisoners, Shynerai pulled out another vial of Mithridates, downing it as fast as the drink would go, before confronting the stranger.
"I have guests, well I do not know of you and you have not been invited, I must believe that you are in fact trespassing. Now then, who might you be, to instate adequate punishment I must know? I am Alistair Khartsphere, the man whose work you are INTERRUPTING!"
"Shynerai Astrapordt, why do you ask?"
"Ah, well little Astrapordt, it's going to be a lot easier to catalog your parts when I have a name to put on them, Daumier organs are so hard to come by these days…"
"H–How…" Shynerai couldn't muster any words to respond to the grimacing figure that was steadily approaching.
'This isn't just some old Transfiguration Seal...I don't think I've heard of one using souls to fuel it. It's strange considering it functions as a modified Death Magic spell' Shynerai thought to himself as his eyes flickered from the Alistair to the retreating victims around the seal.
"Why didn't you use virgin blood like all the other deranged mages or is it Forsaken, I've only recently learned the term? Surely you wouldn't need this many sacrifices"
"Oh, so you know? Humph, there isn't enough virgin blood in this town to summon a feeble Vulpin pup, let alone the calamity I seek"
"I know enough to realize you've been working with Advanced Death Magic here…It must be upsetting seeing that you've lost most of your captives…such an essential resource for your work"
Intrigued by Shynerai's statement, Khartsphere smirked cruelly before a dark aura and crimson light from the seal began waning and crowning. The act of which brought frustration to him enough that he tried to make for the seal but Shynerai stood in his way…with a vivid shimmer, only a silhouette was left behind…shocking the magician as he appeared above him landing a strike.
'It seems all that studying paid off' Thinking to himself as his fist plunged deep into his chest.
"I don't have time for games, half-spawn. You're interrupting my work" Alistair remarked in a firm tone with an unmoving stance, revealing Shynerai's fist caught by him with barely any effort.
The force of the crash sent a harsh wind blasting past the stumbling hostages as they scattered about from having been freed.
Meira did her best to free as many as she could while some of the prisoners tried rescuing their fallen loved one. With Konnor rushing in, informing her that came as soon as everything at the town hall was ready…but the sight of the victims was clearly something he wasn't ready for.
But the sight of Meira's resolve as she promised to return for them once they got to safety helped to settle his stomach enough to join her as they led them to safety. When he reached her, he asked where Shynerai was, prompting her to turn her sights to the other side of the Transfiguration Seal.
The Forsaken mage scoffed as he brushed aside Shynerai's attack, flinging him back while he took a moment to gaze at his hand with a look of intrigue.
"Meira…Konnor! Get back to the G.A.V. You have to stick to the plan–" Ending his plea by tossing his Notebook over the Seal while rushing towards the Khartsphere once more. The Forsaken mage's interest shifted from the Daumier to his words, ordering the incapacitated Vulpins to bring him the Notebook...
"That will not do!" The moment Alistair took his eyes away from Shynerai, the Daumier began to shimmer once more before vanishing in a faint silhouette, only to appear to strike down each of the Vulpins before a single one leapt into the air, culminating in a fierce blow directed again towards the Forsaken mage…one that met an equally devastating attack with Khartsphere's arm engulfed in a cloak bleeding black and blue shadows that a bore an ominous sense of destruction.
And destruction it wrought, with the ferocious clash, whipping the nearby chains into a rattling chime when the walls of the Coral Stone Chapel rocked against the impact.
Failing beams and cracked windows gave way to the forces being born while the two fighters found the floor where they stood gave way, crumbling and erupting before falling away as they dropped below into the vast darkness…
After falling into the basement of the chapel, Shynerai questioned the place they found themselves in as he brushed the throbbing sensation on his head, but Khartsphere rage was quick to catch his attention after the figure starred up into the opening above him...realizing that the ritual had been interrupted.
Muttering under his breath that the "The Northern Calamity" was incomplete. Shynerai was confused by what he means but is further pushed into confusion that left him stunned when he witnessed what was behind the mage.
A massive skeletal dragon, lying immobile...though strangely enough Shynerai couldn't help but notice the stench of rot and decay emanating from the creature.
Now absolutely done with the interruptions, the magician tells him that his soul will do well as a jump start for the Seal, considering his distance from the ritual had arrested the process considerably.
Alistair descended from the heap of rubble, moving towards him with the black and blue cloak sparking from his finger before leaping about engulfing the entirety of his as he came to a stop in front his disgruntled opponent.
"I'm quickly losing my interest, so how about you do me a favor–Die!" With the two of them bathing in the vivid glow of the twilight sky, Alistair made his move.