Grall
Gralls gasped and grabbed Sakurako, turning her around and pointing to Cassandra. Sakurako leapt with joy at the sight of Cassandra and began to move towards her, but something felt wrong. Cassandra wasn't looking at them with the recognition she normally used, her soft hazel eyes were now replaced by cold lifeless amber eyes.
Sakurako began to back away, almost out of instinct, tripping over a tree root as she did so. Grall reached out and caught her with one swift motion.
As they watched Cassandra, she turned around, as if to leave. Grall let out a pent up sigh and looked to Sakurako.
"Lets leave for now, she needs tim-" Grall didnt get to finish his sentence.
Cassandra flew above them at such speeds that even Gralls true sight could not keep up with her. As she flew by, orbs of light seemed to fall off of her body, landing on the ground like feathers.
The ground began to heave and overturn on itself, creating a massive tidal wave out of the ground. Grall, without a second look, grabbed Sakurako and began to run for their lives. Dirt flew up under his boots, adding to the now larger mound of moving ground.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Grall shouted as he continued to run, scanning the area for anything they could duck into. Gralls initial thoughts were to jump into the shadow world, but the prison was only meant to house orcs and he didn't know how Sakurako, a being that was obviously not an orc, would fair in the dark depths.
....Prison? Grall thought grimly, his steps slowed for a moment. When did I begin to think of the Shadow World as a prison? As soon as the thought came to mind, it was just as quickly shoved off to the side.
The land mass was closing in on them fast. He had to chance it, if it proves fatal for Sakurako.... will its either die here or there. Grall didn't see how it would matter.
Gritting his teeth, Grall tore open a path to the Shadow World and jumped through with Sakurako in hand.
As soon as Grall was through the path, he turned in time to see the spot they stood seconds before get swallowed up by the land mass. He quickly rose a hand up and closed the opening.
As the path closed, Grall peered down at Sakurako, wondering, hoping, and praying that she was still alive and that the Shadow World wasn't having a negative effect on her. Sakurako huddled close to Gralls chest, her eyes shut tight, dirt covered her frilly pink dress, but no negative side effects.
Grall pondered this for a second before pushing the thoughts off to the side. "Little one," Grall said in a low voice, not wanting to scare her, "you can let go now."
Sakurako opened a single eye, batting the dirt away as she did so, and looked up at Grall. As she peered into Gralls sightless features, she noticed that it had somehow went from day to night in the past few terrifying minutes.
No, Sakurako thought as she started to peer at her surroundings, even the darkess nights have the light of the stars shining through the sky.
Sakurako quickly began to rummage through her belongings and came out, triumphantly with a notebook. She quickly scribbled something on it and held it up for Grall to see.
The notebook read, "Are we in the void?" Grall stiffled a laugh and shook his head.
"No, little one." Grall said once he was sure he wasnt gonna bust into laughter. "This is not the void but a place we orcs call The Shadow World. It is where we go to rest once we pass from the material realm."
Sakurako listened to Grall for a moment then began to scribble something else out on another page and held it up to Grall with a sorrowful face. "So we did die... :("
Grall once again shook his head, a smile plastered on his face. "No," he said, "I have the ability to go to and from The Shadow World. I am, what you might call, the master of the Shadow World."
Sakurako stared at Grall for a long moment, doubtful of his words. Grall shrugged, he was just happy that she managed to survive. Grall had been able to use the Shadow World to transport others from one place to another, but they never made direct contact with the Shadow World.
Sakurako held up her notebook to Gralls face. "Why did you bring us here?"
Grall was about to say something then stopped. Why did I bring her here? He thought, as he looked around, pretending that he didnt see the notebook. I could have taken her anywhere on Xeno-Movia. Why here?
Grall pushed the question off to the side, just as he had done with all the other questions he has asked himself recently, and peered through the veil that separated the Shadow World from the material. He directed his sight at one location, the location Cassandra had been heading towards, Whitewater. Through his true sight, Grall ascertained that Grodak sat in the throne room after testing some new commer.
Looking down at Sakurako, who still laid in his arms clutching his chest with one hand and the notebook with the other. "Don't let go of me. If you do, I cannot guarantee that you will ever leave."
Those words caused Sakurako to drop her notebook as she quickly grasped hold of Grall with both hands. Sakurako began to reach for it but before she could, Grall stepped through a path he created. Bright lights struck Sakurako, assaulting her eyes and forcing her to close them in pain.
"Grodak," Sakurako heard Grall say, "I need your help, brother."
Grodak
Grodak looked up from Jaxale, Dronde, and the now dead hounds to find Grall carrying Sakurako in his arms. Dirt covered the both of them from head to toe and Grodak found himself wondering what in the world have they been doing.
"Grall." Grodak spoke with such venom it caused the Dasari to flinch in fear. "What do you want?"
Grall, seemingly unperturbed by Grodaks tone, stepped forward, putting Sakurako down as he did so. "Like I said," Grall turned his head and Grodak had a strange sensation that Grall was looking not just at him, but peering into his very soul, "I need your help."
"With what, this time?" Grodak asked, squirming unvoluntarily. Grodak cursed under his breath, he hated this feeling of powerlessness. He had been the one to fight Milindar and he alone had defeated him becoming a perfect being in the process. Why must he feel like he was powerless under the gaze of his own younger brother who held no power against him.
"Cassandra...." Grall began but he did not continue.
"Yes?" Grodak said in anger, almost shouting at his little brother. "What about the Altain?"
Grall stood for a moment in silence, almost as if he wanted to build tension, and when he spoke, his words were like a knife being slowly driven into Grodaks side. "She has turned violent."
Grodak sat in silence, the Dasari and dragon forgotten, as his thoughts swirled. Grodak quickly stood and started to yell for his troops to start preparing the battlements and ready the kingdom for an attack. His words flew rapidly, almost mixing together as he issued orders to orcs and elves alike who had hurried into the thrown room at Grodaks command.
"Brother." Grall shouted over Grodaks yelling. "We need to move now and strike before she gets here. Please, I need your help before she destroys any more lives."
Grodak turned on Grall in anger. "What sort of madness is that." Grodak shouted, his anger and fear mingled together and was causing Grodak to panic. "Nothing can kill an Altain short of a God and the last God was killed by your hands."
"If its a God you want, Grodak," Grall shouted, mostly out of anger at his brothers cowardice, "then you have one. I am the God of death."
Grodak flinched at Gralls words, the weak little brother he had always seen as below him was now a God. Grodak did not want to believe it, he refused to believe it, but as he looked into Gralls eyes he could see that he spoke the truth.
There was a slight cough, dragging Grodaks attention back to Jaxale and Dronde who stood in the center of the throne room waiting patiently for Grodak to finish.
"You want help, Grall," Grodak said, his words spewed forth like venom, "then take him with you."
Grall looked to Jaxale and Dronde and with a slight sigh, Grall nodded his head. "Fine," Grall said, frustration seemed to mark his features as his ageless skin paled, "if you want to hide here in your castle waiting for the end, then so be it, brother. I'll be out there fighting to protect the innocent as you should be."
Grall quickly turned and headed out of the throne room, Sakurako following closely behind. As Grall left, Grodak fell back into his throne, heaving a sigh.
"So," Jaxale said, feeling awkward, "is this my first mission?"
Grodak raised his head and peered at Jaxale and Dronde before allowing his head to fall back into his hand and waving for them to leave. He did not feel like speaking to anyone and did not care what any of them did. It didn't matter anyways, they were all doomed. Even if Grall had gained God hood, he would only be a fledgling God, one who has no experience with his powers.
There were sounds of receding foot steps as Jaxale and Dronde left the throne room. Grodak sat on his throne in the silence pondering what he heard before getting up and going to find Xierma.
Grodak hadn't gone far before Xierma came running to him. Panic stricken, the elven maiden grabbed Grodak by the shoulders and, peering into his eyes, she asked one question. "Is it true?"
Grodak just stood there, sorrow twisting his features as he fought back tears. "Grall is the one who told me and I have no reason to not believe him."
"Okay," Xierma said, Grodak could see the cogs in her head moving, she was already planning on how to best protect her citizens, "we need to start getting the women and children out of here. You should go with Grall, even if you cannot stop her, you can at least delay her long enough..." Xiermas words trailed off as she stared into Grodaks eyes. "Whats wrong, my love?"
"What is a man to do, when even the Gods ask him for help?" Grodak asked as the tears he had been fighting back began to make their way down his cheeks.
Grall
Grall peered out over the kingdom of Whitewater, his magical eyes on a lone figure that hovered in the sky and was fast approaching. Grall fought back his fear of what was to come, he had felt the power this Altain held and knew, even with all his Godly might, he would only be able to delay her at best. His only hope of bringing her to submission was refusing to lend him a hand.
Grall let out a curse, hating his weakness and his brothers new found cowardice. "Wow," a voice said behind Grall, causing the orc to turn around, "she looks pissed." The Dasari who had been assigned to work with Grall spoke casually. "Why is this altain," he enunciated the word, almost as if he had no clue what kind of creature an altain was, "destroying everything?"
"I don't know." Grall said with a shrug, his sight going back to the approaching figure. "Are you ready for this.... I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name."
"Oh, me?" The Dasari asked. "I'm Jaxale and this is Dronde."
Grall gave them a grim smile and spoke in an even tone. "Are you ready for this battle, Jaxale and Dronde?"
"As ready as a Pyroniam from another world could be." Jaxale said with a strange smile. If Grall didn't know any better, he'd say that he was even looking forward to this battle.
"Oh?" Grall said in surprise, his cheeks flushed a bit in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I get the two races mixed-up all the time."
"It's fine." Jaxale said plainly.
"You do realize," Grall spoke with great sorrow in his voice, "this may be the last battle we fight. The altains are a powerful race that even the God's had difficulty controlling."
"Thats alright," Jaxale said, his voice took on an even more excited tone, "from what I understand, you are a God yourself."
Grall chuckled at that. He was very much a God, but he was still a new born God. Only a few thousands of years to master what little he knew and he wasn't certain he had even mastered it. He could see no way of pushing past what he had accomplished and now was looking to further his strengths, but this.... he was in no way prepared to take on an altain and he knew it.
"Lets get going." Grall said, hiding the bitterness he felt. "Can Dronde carry all of us?"
"Oh?" Jaxale said as he looked to Sakurako. "Is the little girl going to fight as will?"
"Yes," Grall said as he walked forward, "but her battle is one of the heart."
Imp
Imp looked upon his newly built kingdom, pride willing up in his chest. It had taken only a day to build it thanks to the help of his dragon companion.
"Thank you for the help, Etherious." Imp said as he patted the gray dragon scales.
"You are most welcomed, my other half." Etherious spoke directly into Imps mind, something that only those who share their soul with dragonkin can do.
"Master," Dorothy said as she came forward, "now that the city has been built, how are we going to get the Dasari and Pyroniams to come?"
"We find and invite them." Imp said.
"Each and everyone?" Dorothy asked, her tone took on a bit of tension as she spoke.
"No," Imp said, noting the tone she in her voice, "not every one of them. We let some know about the newly built kingdom and they will tell others. Soon word will spread and they will venture out here without us having to seek them out."
Thunder roared over head as Imp finished speaking, his eyes going skyward. "But not now," Imp said, his eyes scanned the sky, "a storm is approaching and I fear that it maybe one we dare not venture out into."
Etherious growled low beside Imp in agreement. Imp smiled as he patted the gray scaled dragon calmingly. "Come," Imp said as he turned to the tower, "lets rest inside the towers and wait the storm out. Once it passes we will start the search."
Grall
As Dronde flew closer to Cassandra, the sky began to darken. The heavens cried out in anger as thunder and lightning swirled around them, lighting the sky up in blinding brilliance.
"Get me as close to her as you can." Grall shouted over the wind. Jaxale appeared to say something in response but Grall couldn't make it out through the rushing winds.
Grall didn't have to wonder if Jaxale had heard him, however. The moment Cassandra saw them she sped forward and attacked. Grall raised oathkeeper and barely managed to ward off the blow that nearly sent him flying off of the dragon.
The gale Cassandra created as she passed the group caused Dronde to be sent flying uncontrollably through the air. The three on his back fought to stay on as he fought to steady himself.
Then, suddenly and unexpectedly, the wind and sounds ceased. Dronde quickly righted himself, peering at their surroundings. It was dark and Dronde couldn't tell which way was up and which way was down for a moment.
Grall lifted his head at the sudden change and quickly realized where they were, the Shadow World. "How....." Grall started to ask but he quickly realized the answer. The Shadow World sensed he was in great danger and acted to protect him, pulling him and those who were with him in.
"Jaxale," Grall said, his voice trembled as he spoke, "lets land. I think I have a-" Grall stopped talking as a pain like none he had ever felt, racked his body. The pain was so intense he could no longer keep his hold and fell off Drondes back.
In the seconds it took Grall to fall off Drondes back and hit the ground, he saw the cause of the pain. Cassandra had somehow created a hole that connected the material plane with the Shadow World and was entering through it, her amber eyes staring down at Grall.
Grall stared back and for the first time since he and Sakurako returned to the present, Grall saw the change that had happened inside her. The altain blood had won out against the human blood.
Gralls thoughts went back to his youth and his days of study. His father was telling him about the different races and how the mingling of blood reacted with each race.
"Altains who have human blood are what you have to look out for, my son." His father had told him, his voice smooth and calm. "Since you have the ability to speak with the elders, they will see you as a close second to the Gods."
"I am a God?" A young Grall asked excitedly.
His father laughed, not bothering to hide his amusement. "No, my son, but the ability is a gift from Talengar, the god of war who created the first orcs. The altain will see that as reason enough to get rid of you."
"But, why?" Grall had asked, his shrill voice hitting an octave to high. His father looked at him with annoyance and Grall blushed. "I thought," Grall continued, "the altains were the servants of the Gods."
"No one knows the exact reason why," his father spoke slowly as to make Grall understand the importance of this, "but some speculate it has to do with the corruption that comes with the human blood."
"When I grow up," Grall said with an eager smile, "I'll be as strong as you, father, so I won't need to worry about no altain..."
As his father laughed, Grall came back to the present. So thats it. Grall thought as he stood up. Its gonna take a miracle for us to survive this. Grall chuckled a bit as Dronde landed next to him, Jaxale and Sakurako quickly dismounted.
"Well," Grall said in a low voice as he picked oathkeeper up from where he had dropped it, "lets make a miracle happen."
Grall charged at Cassandra as she landed. Oathkeeper cut through the air landing on Cassandra's own sword and knocked off to the side. Cassandra, in the same movement, brought the hilt of her sword up, hitting Gralls chin and throwing him back.
Grall landed with a loud thud. Jaxale jumped in swinging his sword in a downward arc as Dronde sent his electric breath soaring through the air at Cass. Cassandra didn't even bother to block either attack and merely stepped around them.
Grall hurried to his feet, feeling sick, and turned to Sakurako. "Say it now." He shouted, through clenched teeth. "Get through to her."
He just barely got his sentence out before Grall had to throw his sword up to block Cassandra's as she swung it down in an arc with one hand. The force alone had forced Grall onto his knees and sent tremors through his body. His sword arm went numb and he felt as though part of his identity was pulled from his body.
"Love..." Sakurako shouted in a gurgled mess of common. "Love is never ending and never dying."
Cassandra didn't look at Sakurako, she only stared at Grall, intense hatred burning in her eyes. She lifted her sword to attack again but stumbled as electricity crackled against her back. Cassandra spun around, her expressionless face contorted with anger.
Jaxale, seeing an opportunity, went to attack Cassandra only to meet the back of Cassandra's hand sending him flying into Dronde and knocking the both of them out. Grall stood up, shaken from the blow he had recieved from her, and went to attack her, only to find his strength lacking. He couldn't lift his sword, let alone attack with it.
Is this how I die? He asked himself, he lowered his head, a smile spreading across is lips. I'll be with you soon, my love.
"Cassandra." Sakurako shouted, throwing the breathing apparatus she used off to the side and flinging herself in front of Cassandra. "Please, stop this. Go back to your usual self."
Grall watched Sakurako as she fought her own battle, she was obviously suffocating as she did so. "Pl...ease... I.... love.... you..." As Sakurako spoke the last words she passed out.
Gralls eyes widened, he was no longer paying Cassandra any attention as he picked up the breathing apparatus that Sakurako had discarded. He quickly summoned forth the most powerful being he could, Merek.
"Keep Cassandra from attacking me long enough for me to put this on my friend." Grall instructed before racing over to the unconscious Sakurako. All the pain and fatigue had been pushed to the back of his mind as he raced forward.
As Grall reached the unconscious Sakurako, he heard blades clashing. Paying it no heed, he quickly put the breathing apparatus on Sakurako. A few painful seconds went by where Grall had no idea if she would survive or not.
Just as Grall was about to give up hope, Sakurako opened her eyes. Grall let out a sigh, but did not relax. Merek, even though he was a fearsome opponent, proved to be to weak compared to the Cassandra they now faced.
Grall stood up, readying himself, oathkeeper in hand. Grall gave a silent thanks to Talengar for the Shadow World. All of Gralls wounds were able to heal in the short time Merek kept Cassandra busy, now it was Gralls turn to keep her busy.
Grall lunged at her, swinging his sword in a wide arc, leaving himself open to attack. Cassandra took that opportunity and swung her sword. Grall, using the momentum he created, spun around, allowing Cassandra's sword to peirce his shoulder. Grall clenched his jaw in pain and forced his arm down and ripped the blade out of Cassandra's grip.
Sakurako stood up and ran to Cassandra, throwing herself onto her once more. Sakurako took her breathing apparatus off and shouted at the top of her lungs. "Love is never ending and never dying."
As the last word left her lips, Sakurako planted a kiss on Cassandra's lips. For a moment it seemed that cassandra took this as an attack and was about to fight back, but then Cassandra's expression softened as she leaned into the kiss.
Grall, tired and in pain, fell to the ground and pulled Cassandra's sword out his shoulder. "Looks like miracles do happen." He said to himself.
No sooner had those words left his mouth, Cassandra dropped to the ground. Grall peered over at Cassandra and what he saw amazed him beyond anything he had ever witnessed before. Cassandras blood, the human and altain alike, took firm hold of each other and became something new.