Finally I have calmed myself...Still feeling those things the living do...Emotions. A mear problem to the living souls, clouding their judgement and making rashness a second nature to them and now their vision only shows the targets they pursue...Losing someone close is when the emotions of people spread like a unkept fire, lashing out and catching those who get too close to it's searing freedom...The 'City' of Nomadir...It will now face it's trail in this festival, The trail of the angry feral dogs and their bloodlust trying to wipe the slates of these people's history clean from my archives...They never will but maybe to the annals of the living...they might be remembered for what they do in the next twenty-four hours, After all you cannot force a False Hero to show their true side, That would mean you have seen to much.
The streets were more packed than before with many men and women all laughing and cheering, slugging back drink after drink trying to enjoy the last of their fun with only a day and a half left. Down a alleyway we see a group of shadowy figures, light revealing them to be our false heroes, scanning the area before pointing out towards the Botanist's where the lunar Elf lived above, the old woman who handled the commentary of the last round was standing in front watering her plants and humming a sweet tune to a bulb above the flower bed, waking it up and it shining a slight purple light brightly onto the sproutlings, she heard the noise of footsteps and turned with a smile to her customers only to switch to a face of horror,
''Please...The back room quickly!''
She walked the group into the back room where Willabaar placed four giant pikes while the others placed the body of Otto down with care, looking at the worried old woman, her eyes of pink shining and looking to swell up before placing her hand on his still warm body,
"I'm sorry young ones but your friend has already passed from this world. The best you can do for him is to burn his corpses.. I'm sorry for your loss.''
Looking up to see the reaction of the group whose faces had not changed as if no information was given, About to speak again only to see the group had started to pull equipment for their bags, knives, oils and powers. This at first confused the old Elvan lady before Willabaar turned his attention to her handing five large bags of Dragons in front of her before taking a monkish bow before speaking,
''I, Willabaar, Son of Bocaj, of the godly line of Price, fourth crowned prince of Recocto and member of the False Heroes...Ask you keep this a secret until the festivals end and in return you will never need to worry for wealth again.''
The old woman had never seen so much currency before she swallowed her spit and speaking back,
''I, Sara, daughter of Tovin, of the godly line of Sihnael, accept these conditions under the Tyflos Oath,
Both smiled, nodded and grabbed at the hands and proclaimed,
''Oroi Chrisis!''
The circle of pure white surrounded them both, getting small and wrapping around the hands before disappearing with Willabaar smiling at the woman before speaking again,
''You should leave this town today with those Dragons, could buy a nice castle out in the middle of nowhere with that...Just trust me you do not wish to be her at midnight onwards if you wish to spend your new riches understood?''
The woman's eyes looked confused,
''But...The Tyflos Oath? You will burn for breaking it.''
Willabaar laughed before responding,
''Well laying waste to a city does not stop you enjoying your riches now does it?''
She knew she had made a mistake with what she had swore. Now scared and not sure what to do, her eyes dart up to see the half-mix had walked back to the table around the corpse and thought this is her chance to get out of here and warn the guards, after one step back she felt the touch of slender hands and female's voice whisper into her ear,
"Sara Sihnael..The lady of naming now requests you find a new home...Or stand strong and break your vow to Tyflos yourself and attack the half-mix.''
The older lady started to cry a tear of solidarity before she picked up the bags of Dragons and asked,
''How...How do I leave the city?''
Willabaar nodded to Bee who's hand burnt embers bright, making a door out of the rising flames before Willabaar spoke,
''This will take you to Freedawn...from there it is your choice.''
The woman looked out the window looking over the place she had never not called home, showing her face from her robes for the first time. She looked to be at least a Elven Century in age before she walked into the flames and vanished, a tear dropping onto the wood as the flames disappeared.
Orelia placed her finger above the tear before her magic made it bubble away, leaving a hole in the floor before looking back to Kyu, Wilt and Willabaar,
''You guys..He is going to become one of those Centerspider...abominations isn't he?..''
Her tears forming again before being interrupted by Kyu,
''Not entirely..You see Willabaar found out how they are controlled...A school of nature magic to control the beasts so all we need to do is have Otto's beastly form bond with one of this school''
Orelia looked around before gritting teeth,
''What? I use pure arcane reserves...The opposite of what we need...Bee? Fire magic is in a way a school of nature magic?''
Kyu shock his head before replying,
''True...But a very risky one to use, but stasis magic would have the same benefits if not more and reduce all the risks to basically zero.''
''But we don't hav-''
''You really just pay attention to everything don't you Ores.''
Willabaar broke through, serious sarcasm layering his voice as he continued,
''I'm a master of stasis magic so I can connect his bond to you while interrupting the main connection...Hopefully I have enough energy left to fight this place best. Now Kyu...Wilt you guys ready?''
The two nodded and turned to Bee and Orelia,
''Go watch the doors...Bee take the back and Orelia take the shopfront''
''Since when you splashing orders out Wilt?''
Bee said trying to stand above the goblin that he was at best two inches taller than,
''You follow Willabaar's crazy orders...I give ya a sane one and you question? Just do your bit! Progressia help me''
The demon shrugged and went while Orelia moved to the front hearing Willabaar speak before she entered,
''I will connect our minds so you don't need to be here during the worst...Just wait and stop everyone from coming in got it?''
She nodded and moved into her position in the front, ready to fake a smile and greet the guests knowing the horrors that were taking place behind taking the shape of the old lady after speaking her name and moving into position.
Silver's burns had healed tremendously now making his way back to his new home to rest but hoped to find the group of people that were competing as he was told by the older botanist that the healing wrapping made from demi-threads he was wearing were left to be borrowed and the fallen one spent a large amount of reserves healing his wounds, he thought about these things before he thought to himself now almost close to his home,
''I must thank them..What do you give a royal that has no need for materials? Just the things they provide...He was drinking Sand Storm the whole time he has been here when he drinks...Maybe a keg of that would make him happy! I could freshen the taste with some crushed frost beetles...Mmm that would be fin..''
His thoughts interrupted by noticing the older botanist outside looking outside the window at the world with what seems like a fake smile, he felt that this woman had done much for him in his short time here and decided that he should go into the shop and speak to the older lady. The ring of the doors bell went off as Silver entered smiling before speaking,
''Hello there Mrs...Sihnael?''
The women looked at the elf and smiled still before responding,
''Ah...Silver...Your burns have healed I see.''
''Yes..But..You are not the women who owns this store...What have you done with her?''
The smile left as the floor turned white and shined enough to blind Silver only to see Orelia where the women once stood,
''I'm Sorry….Silver Rosewind. You will not stay and sit with me.''
The elf's eyes seem to glaze over before he responds,
''O great lady...Save me from temptation of the Lady of Naming's domain.''
The magic dissipated from the room leaving the girl in shock before the cleric resumed his words,
''Where is Mrs. Sihnael?..Have you hurt her?''
''You won't believe me if I tell you...Here I will show you.''
She made her hands flow in a square making it take the colour of a dark storm cloud before she spoke again,
''Vocaburis...Show us Sara Sihnael's last moments in her home.''
The cloud took the shop whole and played the scenes to the elf as if he stood there when it happened. He saw how even know they tricked her to leave, they sent her off with more than enough to survive and thrive anywhere she choose, Also he saw the corpse of the goliath and saw the tears form in the young girls eyes once more before he pushed the visage away and hugged the girl,
''I will not agree with your actions...But I will not besmirch your quest for his fires will...Are the rest still in the back?''
The young elf nodded while wiping the tears, Silver walked through the doors to see something that made him drop to his knees and clasp his hands firm, Orelia saw this and pushed him aside now gaping at what was before them, Otto's body was now not looking like it did in any regard, It now had six arms, two more forming from his lower stomach and the other two forming from where his shoulder blades once were, his face now a mass of beady blackeyes, every other second one sparks with a red flame, his lower body now that of a centipedes...Small armoured legs in the hundreds and the armoured exoskeleton, Orelia walked in before Willabaar put his hand in front of the creature and asked for hers, she looked confused before he spoke,
"Onomancy and Stasis mastery...Should be easy right?''
She smiled a teary smile and grabbed his hand firm as they turned to the abomination and spoke in turn, Willabaar starting,
''Time works only for those whose will expands out of it's infinite reach!''
Orelia lifted her hand and proclaimed herself now seeing the beast stock in place moving at a snails crawl,
''Otto Gaar-Eek...This body is still the one you resided in...it will not leave it's family when they need him most!''
The creature writhed in pain before going limp for a second and then raising it's head now looking at Orelia, it's hundreds of eyes now the colour of grey, the same as her own before it bowed and coiled around her feet, looking up at it's new master she spoke back,
''Don't worry Otto...We will help you burn your revenge into this place...Then your body can be put to a proper burial by flames...We ready?''
Silver now back to his feet, examined the beast before speaking loud, addressing the group,
''I cannot allow this...These people are good in spots...Won't you let me at least try and evacuate the children at least?''
The crew all began to pick up their weapons expect for Willabaar and Kyu who seemingly picked up theirs in defence of the cleric
''Down...He has a fair request...Even Otto did not want to kill innocent children right?''
Bee spoke first putting the Warhammer onto his back again,
''Aye...If he had to though..''
''We do not need to.''
Willabaar barked at the crew, all now sheathing their weapons before Kyu turned to Silver,
''It is now four hours till midnight...Then is when your time is up Bronze.''
The elf nodded before turning out the door before briefly shouting back,
''Thank you! I hope we meet again on better terms!''
He ran out the shop as the plan had only hours till it began.
The elf ran through the streets in a semi-panicked state, thinking where he could go to evacuate people with the greatest chance to do good in their lives, he stopped and stared at his hands and feet now thinking to himself,
''O great lady...I do not have the right to play the judge in this battle...Use your light and find those worthy of living a true and happy life for me and I will ensure their survival!''
The world went black before five lights shined through the city, seeing one only around the corner and moved with vigour once more thinking to himself,
''The ladies choice is what will be done''
He moved quick as he grabbed the walls corner, using it to push himself around now seeing the person the lady had choose, A young Goblin girl, maybe around twelve and wearing rags filled with sawdust, her skin obviously meant to be a crimson red that know of the fire goblins but it was fading into a grey at points showing how close she was to death, Silver took a knee and offered his hand to the girl before he spoke, her eyes filled with fear and slowly moving back towards the wall,
''It is okay child...The lady has chosen you to live a better life, Follow me and I promise you a better place and a better chance at life.''
The girl still seemed cautious but seemed to nod while slowly making her way closer to the elf before taking his hand before he smiled and spoke,
''We must move quick young one, there are others I must save also understood?''
The girl nodded as they started their run through the city.
Three and a half hours had passed while Silver stood at the tallest point looking down on the city he had came to love in a special way, remembering everyone who the light shined down on when he was new to here being nothing but kind...Now the three who his lady had chosen along with the girl looked at him like he had lost his mind and was blabbering something sounding like a serious cult, He felt lost at this moment and did not know what to feel before feeling his hand being squeezed and hearing the small goblin speak for the first time,
''Tempest...That is what I was called before I was abandoned...I think...What is yours mister?''
Silver smiled now thinking at least this young soul knowing he had done something good in this horrid moment, he smiled back down and took a knee once more, now hands placed on her shoulders and looking into her coal black eyes and spoke soft,
''Tempest...What a beautiful name...Okay I am Silver Rosewind...Let us leave child, We will find somewhere for you to begin anew...okay?''
Tempest nodded and looked out over the cities lights one more time before asking Silver another question,
''Mister Silver...Can we come back and see this place again one day?''
He smiled at her before looking out himself and losing his smile but keeping his soft tone when he replied,
''One day...Possibly it could be a good idea...Let us leave it a Elven year and see what it looks like...Sound like a good plan?''
''Yeah! I can't wait to stand at the foot of the peak again and look out at these lights! When I am stronger it will happen! I'll enter the Trails of the true harvest festival myself!''
He smiled again before waving his vines into a portal before the two entered and disappeared seconds before a giant black flare started engulfing the town.
Explosions started breaking through the thrills of the festivities as fires of pitch black, crimson red and brilliant white spread fast threw the shallow streets, people screaming as their skin is carried down to the bone leaving nothing but the skeletons of the elves and other tourists littering the centre, fires still blaring as we see Willabaar, Bee and Kyu walking through the street, all with weapons in hands and faces of rage shining through before Willabaar spoke,
''Okay...We meet at the centre stage in thirty minutes, no later than a hour you understand guys?''
Both turned and nodded before making their ways down opposite streets, The half-mix walked down the centre only fifty steps before he opened his legs and performing a leg split in milliseconds, avoiding the huge blur that flew across him before standing again to turn and speak,
''Well Treevoar..Should've guessed you would have gone for Ores first?''
The tall elf took a offensive stance before responding with a evil smirk,
''Oh I will...But take out the leader of a pack will make the rest scatter...So that is what I'll do.''
Willabaar took his black hilt out and held it blade running down his elbow, this time a blade of pure blue lightning and smiled before responding,
''Ah...Maybe most...But what about some feral beasts?''
The two began to run towards each other, going to black as the sounds of a collision were heard.
Kyu flew threw the streets making only a white blur move around in the darkness, slicing at anyone in guards in uniform, coating himself with the blood of his enemies, his wings moving at such high speeds they severed the people they touched in two, leaving a circle around where their skin was of brilliant white that seemed to flare and steam, split into two so clean like a butcher and his fresh meat, Kyu thought to himself threw the onslaught,
''This is what you would want my dear friend...The place of your petty murder will no longer stand in this world! Yoru please avert your gaze for this night ''
His words only stopped by a familiar voice trying to rally the remaining men to circle the Azamaar, As they did Kyu realised that the voice he recognized was that of the young goliath Otto defeated with ease in the first trial, now cladded in the cities armor he stepped forward and spoke,
''You will stop this madness, fallen one! Follow us to be trailed for your crimes!''
The angel's wings became limp, his face showing sadness and shock at this before it shows a colder look than we had ever seen before he spoke,
''Yoru let your moonlight shine...Help me avenge the one I called friend, Your right hand begs your for holy strength!''
A flash of pure holy white enveloped the men and surrounding area before leaving and showing only scorch marks on the ground where the people once stood.
Bee rushed quickly and true, swinging Otto's Warhammer with might and precision, making all those who stood in front of his path fall and crumple. He did notice them only the sounds of breaking bones and occasionally the scared faces of men on death's door. He only had one target in mind, He wished to find that big elf and take down the biggest opponent he could find, knowing the culture of war for the goliaths from what Otto told him, he knew he had to show his worth of wielding his weapon to the spirit watching him, he was thinking this while still mowing down all that stood in front until finally his hammer hit something and did not plough through it, The flaring eye of the demon turned to notice Reev, still bruised and bandaged but bringing his Scythe up to meet the hammer before he spoke,
''Why?...We took you in...We let you take part of our trials!!''
Bee now looked more filled with more a unbridled rage, pushing the hammer through the scythe, making the Oldman jump back quick, land and hold his bandaged ribs, noticing the crimson red that started to pool out again making his head go blurry before the hammer came crashing into the wall behind him, sending him flying forward from the impact, still blurred the old man tried to stand only to be lifted by the neck by Bee as the demon said something that made the old man's eyes open once more. The silence spreads all except the sounds of the raging fires as the feral pack shows their true fangs.
A person's life if one were to look at it as a whole would seem like sea of stars, each lights a thought, each sun a action an almost incomprehensible sight will never fathom, seemingly nothing more than a clear expanse of the night sky with only chaotic shapes and colours almost like a tapestry with no rime of reason completely random but those that can reflect inwards, using themselves as the judge can one truly understand. Just like are False Heroes with the pure thought of justice and revenge not clouded by others codes reeling only on their own.