Now this is always a part of warfare that my family has always adored...Why would anyone not relish in the thought of gaining the information of your target to use it against them in the time you get to finish their lives...Oh sorry for a god that was quite morbid was it not? Let us move on to the island located far in the skies to our budding family of False Heroes….Oh me what are their children going to be like I dread to think… Never mind that worry about that when it comes really home, not keeping track of branch families is a pain, not that I'm wishing them death...No just infertility though with this family their foundations were set up by my hands but their effects are all the Price's line. Funny to think a random wanderer, A spoilt rich boy and a furry cosplayer with a angelic fetish was able to become...Almost I dear say divine in a certain right but for the side of the gods that wish to help the mortal plane or the ones below who wish to enjoy the giant fires...Now I believe the striking pain of reality will hit them and see how strong their foundations are.
The young girl's bickering was finally stopped, now hugging her brother's head and stretching her feet to be pushing Orelia away,
''You don't need a wife because when I turn eighteen you will marry me!''
''No Yyvone...That is stupid...Be nice to Orelia since you will know her for a long time.''
Orelia turned to the little girl who still looked away, side eyeing her with her Violet eye but the Onomancer knew that this girl was going to be family and how every other member tried their best to welcome her, maybe it was time she tried to return the deed. She grabbed the girl and held her high with a big smile that made Yyvone not know how to react and was now frozen as the Elf spoke,
''Well Yyvone is a beautiful name...Me and your sister are planning our wedding and someone like you would be a perfect helper.''
The girls eyes sparkled as she nodded reluctantly after looking at her brother giving her a cold look, Orelia grabbed the girl by hand before speaking,
''Baarias Price I ask for your presence, Bring my friend back to our plane.''
A hole in the air ripped as the princess and the fallen one fell down, Kyu covered in lipstick and his robes all out of shape, Baarias seemed light headed by the way she smiled before Orelia spoke,
''Oh I'm sorry but we need you to help plan the weddings after all.''
The ditzy look on her face left as she spoke,
''Oh of course! Let us go my sisters!''
She leaned into the angel's ear once more before she left,
''Do not worry my pretty bird...Enjoy your timeout of the cage.''
She smiled as she linked arms with the two and left as Mathis lifted a still sobbing Kyu,
''I...I was defiled...Why did it feel good?!''
He grabbed the prince and shock him,
''WHY thisss….this is all your fault?!''
Mathis went into his pockets, pulling a small vial of arcane power, placing it down before saying,
''Here...Take this it will make you feel better...more than that healing powder from the forest buddy.''
Kyu took the vial and opened its contents in his hands and offered back.
''Sharing its charity just like your sister says give and taking can be fun''
Mathis shivered at hearing this,
''Actually...I will take some after that.''
Drax huffed his breath as toxic metallic gas evacuated to leave his mouth and incinerating the small vial in seconds making the fallen throw it in the sky, the two looked up before turning to see Drax standing with Wilt and Bee looking at the two with faces of disgust before the half dragon spoke,
''So...You know of the steps then? Couldn't be helped I suppose...With who you are you were bound to run into them eventually... So what one was it?''
Wilt looked confused as Mathis stepped forward with his usual look of cold seriousness,
''Shitto the Fat...Took his head of twice and burnt him in a fire that rivaled that of Nomadir...Still he kept coming until he spent three days fighting with Jericho...He has not mentioned anything about it so it is safe to assume his men died and he ran...I will not run...I will kill all of them.''
The lizard like eyes of Drax blinked in surprise, letting out a loud roaring laugh making Wilt shout,
''Ya think we are kidding?! I'll take his head with my scythe personally!''
Bee grabbed his hammer and moved his shoulder in a circular motion,
''Yeah it don't sit right with me that something I tried to kill still breaths...Sorry Dragon man but give us what you know.''
Drax seemed angered, feeling a hand on his shoulder turning to see it was Kyu,
''Please uncle Scale bird...We will not fail in this task.''
The dragon looked even more confused and heard the quiet covered snickering of the rest of the crew before clearing his throat,
''Fine...Shitto the Fat? You will find him in the Shadorian pine lands...A cave near a murky lake that is the preferred hunting grounds of some terrible creatures...The cave is called the Lytches Eye...I beg you all to reconsider this mind.''
Kyu and Wilt both brought out parchments, Kyu a blank piece and started writing frantically and the goblin brought out a map of the local area that seemed hand drawn and very basic before pointing to the large forest on the western side of the map,
''The Shadorian Forest...It is the place beyond the Seven Sands you really don't want to have to go to...If that fucker is there then we will kill it.''
Mathis looked at the map before dragging the skinny green finger up to a small town near the centre of the Seven Sands,
''Well we need somewhere to call a home in the continent, you can't expect Recocto to stay here for us can you?''
Bee looked confused,
''Wait I thought this was a kingdom of the continent?''
The fallen one stepped forward and spoke,
''Well actually since it is ever moving with the winds it is deemed a continent all on it's own.''
Mathis and Drax seemed shocked when hearing this before the prince continued looking back at the map,
''That's right buddy...Anyway this place...Glassand? Seems small, easy to build up for defence and has local resources, Seems like the easy choice here.''
The rest of the crew all looked over the map and seemed to nod in agreement before Drax broke in again,
''So you're going?''
''Yes...I'm sorry uncle.''
''That is fine...Explain to your wives not me...You will be staying until the marriages have been made official at least since you planned them to happen on the same bastard day!''
Mathis looked at Kyu who only tilted his head in confusion as usual,
''Fine...Let us go and see about the plans they have made anyway.''
Mathis said, pushing the bird along the pathway towards the banquet hall, remembering the fun he had messing with the palace guards with jinxes and tricks when he was little as he walked to a giant arch doorway, pushing past as it made a noises of wood passing stone, revealing a large assembly sided room ladle with tables designed for forty people each all ending to nine thrones four on each side of the central one embroiled with chained of almost chaotic types of metals covered by an deep violet amethyst keeping the chains preserved. Mathis looking at his right arm with his chain wrapped around loosely before looking to see his sister and Orelia with masses of papers and props preparing a miniature of what seemed to be the place, they called over to Mathis and Kyu.
"Oh my sweet little angel has come home to roost...Oh hey Mathis."
"Oh hey Hun...Math-''
''Hey beautiful''
The prince embraced her making her eyes widen but let out a soft smile as she closed her eyes and seemingly falling deeper into his arms before Yyvone's growl and Baarias squeals were heard,
" Aw!! Little brother you actually know what to do sometimes you know!''
Mathis lifted his head but seemed confused,
''What do you mean?''
The elder just laughed before grabbing the fallen one dragging him close as he expanded his hands around her waist embarrassing her then enveloping her with his soft, fabric like wings, leaning in placing his chin on her shoulder bringing her closer. As he looks towards Mathis and Orelia for approval on his work. Only to get a look of pity and disappointment for both of them, except from Bee, cross-armed arms nodding his head as a sign of approval with a demonic smirk on his face. Letting Kyu relax into his fiancée's grip before the doors opened again with Gura now bandaged and arm in a sling walked in with a look of anger on his face before walking straight up to the demon, picking him up under the armpits and beginning to violently kiss her new love much to the rest's concern as they started sounding disgusted by the on goings of the room.
Hours went by with the lot all speaking frantically with stacks of parchments and designs for them to give their approval on, musicians and jesters all auditioning to be the entertainment for the biggest event in the kingdoms history before Mathis let out a whale and spoke in a huff,
''Forget this shit! Drax! Get a hold of the Black Urchins! Now we can at least move on to the auditions for the play...Daedalus save me I'm going to lose it.''
Orelia placed her hand atop his and smiled with a glow before she spoke,
''Mathis Tysol...You will not make choices about MY wedding without consulting me...Understood.''
Mathis sunk back into his seat before speaking,
''Of course dear...I'm sorry.''
She smiled once more as Mathis saw the fallen one with a parchment, staring at them taking notes before he spoke,
''Ah I see...Women's scorn is a great heretic of life...I will not let it defeat me...I must save Baarias from herself.''
The elder princess put her hand on the angel's hand and spoke,
''My dear...You will fail at every turn...Just embrace me for who I am.''
Bee saw his panicked friend but could not help bursting laughter before feeling a arm wrap around the back of his neck and hand starting to stroke his chin, looking and seeing Gura smiling before she spoke,
''My future husband...GET TO WORK BEFORE I BREAK YOUR SKULL! YOU'VE DONE NOTHING TO HELP WITH ANYTHING!''
The demon smiled,
''Well...It is your wedding after all so whatever makes you happy I suppose.''
Gura looked shocked before smiling, Wilt huffed before he spoke, still looking through a large stack of parchments.
''Well...We should really start talking about the play ya know...There are like eight main roles to cast so wha-''
Baarias broke in to answer the goblin,
''Oh!! Jericho will play Bocaj, Mathis will play Willabaar and Yyvone can play Arla but the rest is up for talks.''
Mathis looked drained at this discovery before he spoke,
''Really?...I was hoping to play something else this year.''
''Nope. Sorry little brother but everyone wanted you back for this reason...But I have the line up all done, I will play Arthus Cardor as he was a grand master and my master once as well, Bee would play a perfect Tocs! The dwarven Sorcerer that was with father and everybody else will be the same as every year!''
Wilt and Orelia looked at the sheet both with faces of relief at this news before Baarias continued,
''Oh no you two will be with the stage crew, Please do lead them well future sister!''
Wilt looked over with a look of confusion.
"What do you mean stage not dressing them like children? Come on now."
Baarias put his hand up waving casually,
"Oh no I'd like you to use your alchemic powers to make this event one to remember. Oh and my dear Orelia may use you to her whim, after all she will be a princess soon.''
Wilt begrudgingly nodded in agreement as Baarias let out a soft but seemingly sour smile before Orelia spoke looking towards Wilt.
''Um...Wilt we could make some green toxic looking smoke, make it look quite thick and that would be useful right Baarias?''
''Oh!! Yes! Yes! Yes! When father first came here to Recocto, in act one their is a scene where he fights four ancient monks that were resting here and one of them blows himself up so if you could do that with smokes of purple, green, red and blue that would be amazing!''
Orelia looked at Wilt who was rubbing the small grey hairs on his pointed chin, mumbling to himself, eyes darting around as if he was trying to find something making Mathis turn,
''Umm...Wilt? Are you okay? You seem a little...Overloaded.''
The goblins ears perked into the air before his whole face turned and looked at the prince with a slightly broken smile as if his mind was still running with ideas about the plan he had heard,
''Hm? Oh yeah fine fine...Out of curiosity do ya have a place where I can get some ingredients and a place to mix? Once that is found I can get to work.''
Baarias looked over to Mathis who let out a sigh,
''Come on Wilt...You can use my spare lab.''
''I need a proper lab not a spare one!''
The prince started laughing making Wilt confused,
''A royal's spare is usually bigger and better than most...Come on let's go.''
"Why does a place full of monks have a lab, what are you even making?"
Mathis smiled and laughed before Baarias joined in, making everyone look around as if the joke they heard must of been quiet,
''Oh Wilt...Monk's are not all like Jericho...Now come on.''
Wilt rolled his eyes at the comment.
"Avoiding the question. Fair enough must be something special, Then I won't pry. I'll be getting what I need out of this anyway so let's get along with it, lead the way princess."
Wilt said doing a minor bow just trying to make the best of a situation. Baarias led the way past the rambunctious nature of the preparations to what looked like a small cupboard-like room covered in dust and grime of years of neglect. Walking passed the dirt, over to a small circle with an engraving, Barrias on touching it released a glow as the door behind seemed to close silently, the grime was revealed to be blood and gore making Orelia almost trip on the sticky fluids from shock, the princess turned saying.
"Oh sorry, looks like someone tried to get in here while I was out. Mind your step on the way down okay."
Turning to the far back wall, placing her hand forward making it ripple like a drop hitting a pond as she transcends the image, folding as if walking through fog as the princess disappears from sight and sound behind the illusionary wall.
Wilt chuckled having not seen one of these in many years as he took Orelia's hand, walking through and revealing a large archway that seemed to go straight down into the darkness but turning at its end, leading to an open cave the states wrapping around the sides of the room like a serpent, some of the stairs were stalagmites all with bits of wire connections to a large skeletal dragon covered in Armor most of it burns, dented or shattered being cobbled together in a strange exhibit. Orelia and Wilt were awestruck by the sight, the younger never seeing a dragon and the elder never seeing one in Armor as Baarias called out to her companions
"Come on now you'll learn that one's story soon enough, now quit gawking we have work to do."
Wilt pulled on Orelia as he went down the strap steps for a man of his size anyways. He moved looking over the dragon's dead form, each rib and enough room for him to stand in between each of them before seeing a crest of where a pendant would be on a man of a three headed dragon devouring a eclipsed sun. Orelia studied the creature's anatomy as much as possible as she descended down the stairs.
The final part of the staircase spiralled almost back on itself and as they turned the corner they now saw the light that would blind them, A brilliant green smoke in beakers the size of building moving and slowly dissipating and reforming from a red spark making the noise of a swarm of ants every time the spark appeared, The floor was sticky but they had guessed what that was at this point as they started looking over the giant cauldron built into the ground with only it's lip curving out of the ground and five desks, filled with parchments both used and unused but frantic writing could be seen even in the slight darkness away from the smoke, Wilt moved to the large cauldron and noticed on the floor there were four runes all seemingly saying different things that the goblin did not understand before huffing making Orelia walk over to him with a few different parchments in hand,
''What you complaining about now?''
''Well if I could read this Orcish crap it would help.''
He began looking over the engravings before he heard Orelia speak,
''The north says 'Transmutation'...The east says 'Conjuration', the west says 'Storage' and the south says Evocation….Vocaburis knows you are illiterate now so enjoy that.''
The two started bickering as they started to pull ingredients and read over some of the parchments in the desks as the day moved on.
Back in the banquet hall and Mathis slammed down a large stack of parchments, stretching loudly before he spoke,
''Finally that is all the bit parts that were left for the play...I can rest now.''
Bee and Kyu were almost out cold from the days work before Bee spoke,
''Why...WHY?!...I shouldn't have to deal with this crap.''
Kyu nodded in agreement before Mathis spoke,
''Oh? So you are not marrying a princess then? Suck it up Bumble Bee because now we have to plan the weddings...Oh help me.''
The door opened as Dracul and Stitches walked in making Mathis sit straight and look completely forward as they past, making Dracul laugh before he spoke,
''Calm down we are not in lesson right now...I wanted to offer my services to the wedding planning...After all I will be giving Baarias away on the day.''
His vision darted to the still slumped over fallen one before looking back to Mathis,
''So I heard from Drax about your plan.''
The princes face seemed to freeze at hearing this but relaxed after hearing the skeleton laugh,
''Well the steps have been a problem as long as I can remember...I've been around to remember a lot to...I know you well enough to know you and the party you choose will be strong enough.''
Mathis bowed and seemed to have his voice break as he spoke,
''Thank you...I will make father and you proud. I promise you on the kingdom of Recocto.''
The man hugged the younger as the door opened once more with Stitches moving to reveal Baarias returning to continue the planning of the most important event in this Kingdom's history so the people of the kingdom of Recocto will never stop speaking about it.
So marriage...the act of binding one's soul and life to another to make a new being and forcing yourself to say that for your lifetime that this is the one that you will never betray...Lies of course as in this world betrayal is second nature...Why would anyone consider this an ideal end? There are even god's who claim this domain but why? Why would one sully the title of god with something as pitiful as the 'God of Marriage'...It still sickens me I was not allowed to wipe their wretchedness from the grand archive but even deities have limits and rules to abide with...What?...Oh yes you're right also a play, classic representation of the lives of all those who watch or these it's based upon I wonder if you'll be remembered fondly or are you a fiend in this tale? Only time will tell. Just like a candle sometimes it only smells nice at the end once the juices have compiled together. Alas I will not know, till the end and even then...The story and even then stories are written by the victor not the 'victims'. Speaking of victors, let us return to the archives to see what our False Heroes will do after the happy work of royalty is replaced with the real world once more..