There were, thankfully, moments when the miasma in the castle wasn't quite as thick, but it was always there. My new familiar was also a tremendous help. He seemed to have many capabilities that helped me through, including his swordsmanship. Enkha-sama and Saint Isander-sama, I assumed as Saints of the God of War, seemed particularly interested in that ability.
As we fought our way through, my familiar often put himself in harm's way, preventing any miasmatic foes from even touching me. The miasma in the air was enough to deal with; I didn't need their blood on me, too. The thing that surprised me most about having a familiar was how independently it acted. Miwa-sama always seemed to have to order his around.
It's not that Fuwama and Kintama didn't have personalities of their own, but they ultimately answered to their master. My familiar, meanwhile, seemed to anticipate my needs, sometimes before even I knew I needed its help. And try as I might, I couldn't initiate a telepathic bond. I tried a few times to no avail, but any telepathy was a one-way communication from the familiar to me.
I became convinced that no matter what, if we became overwhelmed, my familiar would carry me back out of that castle and to safety. It was a strange comfort to be protected by such a fierce and silent companion.
After we advanced a short way beyond the first door, Enkha-sama slowed his pace, I assumed to recover his strength. He responded with his typical grim smile every time I gave him a worried look. With periodic help from my familiar, I was holding up okay, and the rest of my companions seemed to be fine overall.
After we advanced a short way beyond the first door, Enkha-sama slowed his pace, I assumed to recover his strength. He responded with his typical grim smile every time I gave him a worried look. With periodic help from my familiar, I was holding up okay, and the rest of my companions seemed to be fine overall.
Chiki-sama and Miwa-sama stayed close behind me at all times. In that fortress, I welcomed their additional protection. It would take all of our efforts together to make it out of there safely… Well…as safely as possible if we were to be fighting an abyssal.
A few fights later, and we arrived before another longer section that sloped upward. I could sense the heretics ahead and that they had again disguised abducted villagers in their midst. Enkha-sama, noticing that my aura had activated, halted everyone.
"I don't have the energy left to aim a multi-target spell," I said. "Ten Commands, Law of the Arrow!"
This time, my sword transformed into a bow. I looked to Miwa-sama and asked him to steady my aim. I had to make the arrow fly straight through the middle of the corridor."It will fly unhindered by physical objects, so, please, can you aim for me?" I asked. "I haven't mastered the Law of Arrow yet."
At first, he looked aghast that I had asked him to touch my soul-weapon. Such a weapon is directly linked to one's soul, after all, and when someone touched another's soul-weapon, they would be soul-shocked, if not to death, at least enough to be knocked out.
I didn't even think about soul-shocking in the moment. I just knew we needed to identify the abductees and get through those enemies, and I trusted Miwa-sama. His god blessed him with impeccable archery skills. Regardless of his environment, his arrows would land exactly where they were intended.
As he was still unmoving, I told him I couldn't aim properly without him as I looked into his eyes directly. After that, he answered with a firm positive nod of the head and gripped the bow to steady my aim. Our guildmates let out a collective sigh when Miwa-sama wasn't soul-shocked at all.
At least a couple of them wondered out loud how that was even possible. But it didn't even cross my mind that we wouldn't be able to. By that point in the mission, I trusted the members of the Saint Guard implicitly. Now I understand how much that trust really mattered.
A giant circle appeared before my bow's handle as soon as I aimed the weapon, and Miwa-sama adjusted my aim. Soon, an arrow materialized, and I shouted in a commanding voice, "Arrow of Truth, at my command may the souls tied to gods be distinguished from the abyssal-tied souls!"
The circle began to turn clockwise as it changed color. Runes appeared, and then the circle stopped turning. At that moment, I released the arrow. Upon hitting the circle, the arrow became a ray of light, and it made each villager shine as it passed them by.
Afraid the magic would quickly fade, Enkha-sama shouted for us to rush in. He led the charge and dispatched a number of enemies. I stayed back, feeling my protective magic waning. I feared that even my familiar's magic must have been wearing down, too.
This time, we cleared the path to the Gate of Ylures, which were wailing souls cursing the living people left behind when someone died of violence and wasn't given justice. They were usually taken care of by the priests of the God of Death.
Ino-sama and Inoio-sama, who had the second-best ability to do so, purified the villagers, and when they finished, Chiki-sama opened the second gate. Without a second thought, I distributed more ethereal pearls. I tried again to give one to Enkha-sama, but again he refused.
"You earned those pearls. I know how hard they are to come by so you shouldn't have to use so many on us," Enkha-sama said. He stood tall, but I could tell that the mission was taxing his energy.
"I have plenty," I replied. "And I'm happy to share." He waved a dismissive hand at me in response as he walked ahead, so I cinched the bag closed again.
Other corridors and gates awaited us, and we released all of the villagers as we proceeded. Thankfully, we didn't encounter any more hostages mixed in with heretics.
The Gate of Hate was preceded by a room full of abducted, but undisguised, villagers. They had been exposed to so much heresy and miasma that deep in the castle that they were all weakened and on edge.
After we purified those villagers and sent them on their way back to the Holy Guard, Ijil-sama unlocked the gate. I handed him ethereal pearls, and we pressed on. Frequently, Enkha-sama asked me to verify that no more villagers were mixed in with the heretics, and I confirmed that I couldn't be mistaken because the hostages were always revealed to me by Luxina.
As I added that I could sense my god's energy radiating from my soul-accessory, much more than usual, Enkha-sama seemed satisfied with my response, but he also looked troubled. "How severe must this heresy be that your god follows our progression so closely?" he asked.
"Best not to dwell on that too much right now," I cautioned. He nodded, seeming to understand it had to be from a powerful abyssal.
At the gate of Abomination, Miwa-sama scowled as he stepped forward. Pulsating vines snaked along the surface of the gate. At times, they seemed like plants, at others, more like an animal's veins. Miwa-sama began the ritual and collapsed as the gate opened.
I rushed to his side and gave him a pearl. "I'm fine," he insisted.
"No, take it. There's still plenty of work for you ahead," I said. He glanced at Enkha-sama, who made an effort to look away and not make eye contact. Begrudgingly, Miwa-sama accepted and ate the pearl.
"Thank you," he said, climbing back to his feet. After a moment, we were able to proceed again.
The next was the Gate of Unbinding, which was characterized by a break between physical and ethereal planes. The enemies leading up to that one were particularly difficult because they drew power from the abyssal plane. That meant that even the ones who looked easier could surprise us and often did.
We had to rest for a few minutes after the fight, then Fuin-sama was able to use the power of the God of Seals to neutralize and open the gate. By this point, everyone was dragging so I insisted that survival was more important than our pride.
Seeing them refuse, I asked if they couldn't even put this much faith in me as a guildmate that they would allow themselves to take on the help that they needed. An awkward silence followed, and I wondered if I said something that I shouldn't have.
Ultimately, they picked through their own pouches, and took one of the very few pearls each of them had. I looked at my filled pouch with a bit of incomprehension. Miwa-sama offered a small smile, and Chiki-sama frowned as he looked at his feet. Enkha-sama kept on looking back and forth from his empty pouch to my filled one.
Appropriately enough, after we defeated the heretics leading up to the Gate of Debilitation, I was absolutely exhausted and felt my legs give out.
"Aurora-san!" yelled Miwa-sama.
I heard his shout at the same moment my head swooned. My legs crumpled beneath me, and Miwa-sama swooped in to catch me.
"We all need to rest," said Tenshi-sama. "I will put on a sanctuary."
"You mustn't!" I said, trying to stand. I didn't make it very far before Miwa-sama had to catch me again.
"We can't go on like this," he answered.
"But we would reveal our position," I objected. "My obfuscation is already weakening as my strength wanes."
"If your spell is going to run out, anyway, that's all the more reason to just use a sanctuary," Tenshi-sama said.
"No. I can still maintain it for a while longer. Just four more gates, including this one. I just need a minute," I said.
"I'll carry her," Inoio-sama said to Miwa-sama. "My aura will ward her against the miasma and ease the journey for her."
Saint Inoio-sama didn't wait for a response. He grabbed my arm and pulled me up. I shrugged him off, wobbled on my feet, and tried to steady myself. Saint Inoio-sama again reached for my arm and started to reach for my waist, as if he really meant to carry me the rest of the way.
"Oh, no, no!" I shouted, jumping back again. "I can walk just fine." Chiki-sama jumped in and slammed the flat of his sword against Saint Inoio-sama's head.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?" asked Saint Inoio-sama, holding the spot on his head where a bruise was already forming.
"If you are so willing to meet my god, I can arrange an appointment," said Chiki-sama.
"Seriously, what is with guys around me lately? It must be the miasma's influence, right? First, the boy we arrested in town and now him, too," I grunted, motioning toward Saint Inoio-sama with my sword.
"Wait, what?" Saint Inoio-sama said. "I heard about the boy. I assure you I didn't intend—"
"It's fine," I said. "Forget it."
I regained my balance and resolved to go on like that. I was a Sanctuary Guild fighter, damn it, and I would sooner die than be carried through my mission. Enkha-sama gave me an approving smile, and for the first time, there was a look in his eye like he understood me.
Both Saint Inoio-sama and Saint Isander-sama looked like their pride was wounded. Saint Isander-sama asked Saint Inoio-sama if he felt capable of moving forward, and they both acknowledged the miasma's influence.
"The miasma is increasingly thick. It's difficult to go on," Saint Isander-sama said, and Saint Inoio-sama agreed with him. "Do you think we will make it, Kenten?"
Enkha-sama frowned and looked my way, so Saint Isander-sama looked to me, too, seeking an answer.
"We're fine. We can't back down just because of that," I answered.
Enkha-sama looked troubled, "No, we're not fine… We underestimated the enemy."
"Sorry… I was so confident—" I admitted.
"Ain't we the ones who rushed behind you like damn fools?" asked Tenshi-sama cutting me off. "So much for 'seniors ought to look out for their juniors,' eh, Kenten?"
Enkha-sama scowled, but didn't refute Tenshi-sama. "Regardless, if we're not retreating, we're going to need a better strategy going forward."
Tenshi-sama, raised his eyebrows, rolled his eyes and gave a slight nod, as if saying, No shit. "And so, what's the strategy? Aurora, got another trick up your sleeve?"
"If it's a strategy, our only choice is to go unseen. I'll obfuscate our presence further, and we'll go through the gates," I said, feeling that the mood had turned quite awkward.
After checking with him a last time, Saint Isander-sama assured us that Saint Inoio-sama was fine to carry on. Chiki-sama and Miwa-sama returned to their positions at my sides as I popped six of my ethereal pearls in my mouth.
We did yet another lengthy hallway in utter silence. At the end of it, I nodded discreetly, and Yoten-sama stepped forward to open the Gate of Debilitation. The next swarm of enemies wasn't far beyond that gate.
Like we had discussed, rather than fight, I made Ten Commands transform into a staff with a lantern hanging from it. The lantern diffused a pale silvery light that obfuscated our presence. I straightened my back and walked calmly forward. The lamp was powered by a constant drain of my magical energy, which, thankfully, was the only thing I had in spades.
My guildmates, looking uncertain, followed me into the thick of the enemies. None of our foes could see us at all, and it was only once we were out of their reach that Saint Isander-sama asked, "How the hell have so many heretics arrived here unseen?"
I turned toward him and looked toward the crowd of enemies we had just passed through. "It's been a while since we have met heretics," I answered. "Those were all lesser abyssals." Taking the time to reflect, I added: "They are terrible foes."
Saint Isander-sama visibly shuddered as he looked back at the lesser abyssals. He seemed about to speak, but a monster appeared right in front of us. I jumped between Saint-Isander and the creature and made a sign for everyone to stay silent.
It was a breath away from my face, and its stench was stifling. But I didn't dare move a muscle. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Enkha-sama wince, set his jaw, and painfully roll his shoulder. It was a rare moment when I saw him look nervous.
The creature passed, and I motioned for us to silently advance. I wasn't sure how much longer the pearls would work. Breathing was difficult again, but I struggled to make sure not a sound betrayed that. Everyone advanced in absolute silence with me.
In the next room, another creature awaited. I signaled for everyone to halt and approached the creature myself. I heard feet shuffle behind me, and without looking back, I swiftly raised my arm at a right angle pointed upward. My fist was balled, signalling them to wait. The movement behind me stopped.
The creature suddenly became agitated. It looked for me and even called out, "Mystic, Mystic, my master knows. He knows it all. You are here to cut his tie to this world, but can you? Can you really? I know you are in my..."
The creature didn't have time to speak more. In its last moments, it turned toward me, and Ten Commands changed from a lantern into a dagger. The blade reached for the thing's heart before it had time to react.
A roar resounded in the whole palace, and a voice toned that it knew the mystic was coming. I quickly pulled out my blade and changed my soul-weapon back into a staff and lantern.
I motioned for my companions to hurry to my side. The roars were inhuman, and the whole castle seemed to tremble as it called out about me, the unseen Mystic. The cavernous voice was echoing everywhere and throughout my body. I was frightened, but had to stay sharp. My guildmates seemed rattled, too.
I maintained the cloaking spell, even though our presence had clearly been at least somewhat detected. We moved like that through several more passageways and rooms. As we walked past so many lesser abyssals, no one seemed comfortable leaving them behind us.
I must admit, I was terrified that at any moment, my obfuscation spell would give out, and that we would be swarmed. Fortunately, we made it past the Gates of Heresy and Decay almost without incident. We did have to covertly slay a few enemies while still cloaked, but the number was small. We didn't want to alert the rest to our exact location.
As we approached the Gate of Deceit, I could feel the abyssal's energy radiating off of it and penetrating every inch of the room. It felt like waves of heat rising from a hot stone floor after a thunderstorm.
I looked around for my guildmates, but I had lost sight of them as the miasma seemed to thicken right before my eyes. As I scoured the room for them, instead, I noticed a number of men appearing in the furthest corners.
I couldn't believe it at first, but I recognized them. "I'm back in Odille," I said aloud. "And these are the guildsmen of the Lumens Guild. Eh… Sam… If he's here… that means… No…"
It was the day of the Odille Massacre. I rushed out and was surrounded by people who were running for their lives. Some of them took shelter in their houses or cellars. A few were desperate enough to try hiding under random objects like baskets.
In the sky, thick clouds swirled in an ominous black and purple vortex. Back at the guild, the men of the Lumens Guild readied themselves. No one knew exactly what to expect, but it was obvious a massive amount of magic was currently being channeled right over our heads.
I felt a hand on my arm and turned to swat it away.
"Come on, Aurora!" a voice I recognized shouted. I turned and found the hand belonged to my brother. He was pulling me along. "We have to find Mother and Father!" he yelled.
"Nora..." I said.
"Come on!" he shouted, tugging at my arm again.
"But you're dead," I said.
"I will be if you don't get moving!" he shouted.
We rushed through the streets of town, making our way back to our house. The streets were clearing out. Only Lumens Guild members remained stationed outside, as if anticipating the summoning of some great number of foes. They were all staring skyward, bracing themselves for combat.
We found our parents on our front porch. They were also gazing at the vortex above. My mother held her hand flat about her eyes as if shielding them from the sun as she surveyed the distance. My father stood stockstill, hands at his sides, gripping his sword.
"Get inside!" Nora shouted, flailing his arms wildly and pointing toward the door. "You don't know how powerful the summoned creatures will be!"
I paused at the porch and stood next to my father. I tugged at his shirt, but he wasn't budging, and I couldn't leave my parents alone out there. The three of us watched the sky as Nora kept insisting that we get to safety.
"No, Nora," I said. "It's not a summoning spell. We can't hide from this one."
"We sure as hell can't fight it either!" he shouted. "Mother, Father! We can assess the situation from inside. Command everyone to hide for now and wait!"
I squinted into the vortex as it became increasingly turbulent. There was something coming alright.
"It's a convergence spell!" I yelled.
I had just enough time to raise a shield around my family before the spell was cast. There was a bright flash, and I closed my eyes as waves of destruction washed over Odille.