("I knew that something was wrong, something was...distorted. I deceived myself into a sense of security that merely consisted of guessing and hope. I needed to play my role in order to force others into theirs. In the beginning it was just a dangerous decision, but the more I thought about it, the more diversified the results might be. Time is chasing me and I am going to welcome it with open arms. Good and evil do not exist but can a spirit defeat its own image? Even though the best outcome equals the worst, I realized right from the start this world doesn't run without sacrifice. If he wants to control everyone, then he shall try it. Pretty soon he will realize that he is the one who has lost all control.")
On top of the enemy's wall, an ally finds himself staring down at them. His expression showed neither remorse nor hesitation. He appeared to be a completely different person and yet he was of sound mind.
"Vega is right, our target is among you. You were given some time so unravel your situation. In case you fail to do so...the resistance loses a few members. If you wish to fight, so be it, but keep one thing in mind: Vega is not the only one who knows how to fight the enemy."
"And how can you know that? You don't know these people at all! Why the hell did you decide to join the enemy. Do you want to see us all die?"
"If I wanted that, part of you would have been dead long ago. It' not for nothing that our command was just to wound your people. Look, there' s a way to save the most lives, figure it out or it all ends here. I mentioned before that changes are necessary and even more so now. For what has a resistance formed? What are you fighting for, who are you struggling against? Surely not against this place. As long as a certain sacrifice is made today, you can pursue your way again. Know this: Some allies are far more dangerous than the enemy. Memorize this quickly. You have one hour, then your fate is sealed."
Lynia realized that there was no point in arguing with him and returned to her group. There was no choice but to question each one and get information out of them. However, as she expected, none of them had any idea about this place and the fate of their leader. In the meantime, the last conversations were taking place on the other side.
"An hour is pretty generous. In fact, they don't deserve more than 10 minutes!"
"If they cannot come to any conclusion then it will make this hour feel like 10 minutes to them. Once their desperation eats away at their sanity, this fight should be over much quicker."
"Oh, so you're really pushing everything to the end."
"I told you I'd help you with your objective. By now it doesn't matter in what way."
Once the time ran out, Leo didn't waste any time and made the crucial command.
" Time is up! Then the extermination is about to begin!"
(Come on, use your powers before it's too late. Silence her hatred or watch your people die!")
Leo signaled the command for the archers. A huge hail of arrows rushed towards Lynia and the other dark elves. There was no way for them to go back or forward. At this moment, they were at the mercy of their fate. A lot of them started to scream in fear, having already ended their lives and yet their salvation was standing right next to them. Before the projectiles struck, a barrier was formed above them. The skinniest of all stood at the very front and glared up at Leo with an evil eye.
("Bingo! Now what are you going to do? Start running away again? Nobody is safe from now on unless you show the truth. Reveal who you really are...Maris!")
Everything went exactly according to Leo's plan. The former ruler would not just let his people die before his eyes. But that was not enough, Maris knew what Leo intended to achieve. Still, to Leo's surprise, he was capable of something more.
("Zaphiel has really rubbed off on you, your methods are truly devious!")
("Haha, devious? You and I both know that I am not to blame for this. Everything is only due to your deceitfulness. Isn't it possible for a being like you to get rid of his feelings. All your good intentions have led to disaster. If I were you, I would hurry up and release her of your illusion. You really thought that you would get away with this, with all that has happened? In front of me such secrets are useless. So why did you just take it all, you coward?! Seize the chance before I am deprived of my responsibility and all is lost!")
Using the information from the book, Vega's memories, as well as the last words of the voice, Leo gained control of the situation.
The moment Vega recognized him she was filled with rage. He was her father's friend who kept his true identity a secret. The meeting with Darian was shortly after Yrasil first arrived here. Vega's father was an imperfect person by his principles and thus useless. Yrasil knew from the revelations that Darian was accepting and respecting the dark elves. So he faked their meeting and carried out the murder. Then, he had the body brought to the territory of those dark elves who were so loyal to him. Maris, his best friend, became the first to find it and hand it over. Out of remorse and regret, he claimed to be the murderer so as not to leave his daughter in the dark. No matter what he would have done all traces would be led back to him. The meeting was his final destination with no trace of elves far and wide. Hence Maris pretended to have killed him and thus to have found a culprit.
("You could have shown her something else with your powers, so why this?! Were you not aware that you are putting your people in great danger or did you feel confident in your powers to defend all of them? Either way, some of them might be hurt by your personal feelings. Perhaps you might have gotten away with it for a while if not for me. At the end, someone had to make you aware of the consequences before you moved your ass and took any responsibility. You want your people to feel safe? Then step up like a man and fight for it!")
"Put down your weapons! He is mine alone!"
Vega allowed Maris to come alone to look at him one last time before fulfilling her goal.
"Now you son of a bitch will get your punishment! My father trusted you, this whole time you've done nothing but deceive him!"
Maris stood in front of her and didn't say a word. Leo stood next to Vega to give her her dagger.
"Tell me you bastard, why did you kill him?!"
"He actually didn't but you''ll find that out for yourself in a minute. Um, I'm sorry Vega."
Leo firmly took the dagger in his hand and put it at Vega's throat. All of the soldiers and guards pointed their weapons at him, yet they weren't able to intervene if they wanted their leader to be unharmed.
"Do you realize what you're doing right now Leo? This won't end well for you."
"Not only for me if this doesn't work out. Get going, show her what really happened!"
Vega's guards just couldn't take it anymore and charged at Leo. At the last second, they bounced off an invisible barrier Maris had created. Vega found it hard to believe what was unfolding when Maris stood in front of her.
"I'm sorry for hurting his daughter like that. I wanted to take away the pain but I only caused more. Now, here's the truth you've been longing for."
With one finger he tapped Vega's forehead and revealed what really happened. In that instant, she saw all the memories he had shared with her father and the day he found his body and brought it back. The timing of his death coincided with the departure of Yrasil. This meant that the culprit was discovered in her mind. As she still couldn't grasp everything, her eyes flashed green again. Maris eyes flashed when he saw the light fly away. Likewise, Leo was puzzled and tense at the same time.
("So you want to take away my figures...it doesn't quite work that way, you weasel. It' s my turn now. Best put on some armor little wretch!")
Yrasil's voice made Leo very uneasy. The only thing he could be planning to do was to attack him. Following his appearance in this place, he planted a mark on Vega that alerted him should it be removed.
"Hey, we don't have much time! Things should be cleared up now, right Vega?!"
"No, not yet. Just for the fact that he was trying to deceive me, he should be punished."
"Do as you will but consider your comrade's words. Our time is running very short, he will want to strike soon....Yrasil I mean. I think he knows what just happened."
All reacted in shock at this news. Nervousness was spreading among the soldiers.
"You can carry out your punishments and such later. Now we have to prepare, you got your answer so let's go!"
Before Vega was able to react with doubt and annoyance, a loud noise was heard from far away. All of a sudden, a green light appeared in the sky and quickly expanded. Out of the green glow emerged huge projectiles speeding straight towards them. All were caught up in their fright except for Leo and Maris.
"Hey, surely you have a solution for this, right?"
"I'm not as strong as him nor can I use the powers at will. I can't do anything about this hail in this state."
"So we're all just supposed to die here?! Something has to be working!"
Leo remembered that he might be able to contact the voice. It itself said that it would support him.
("Hey, can you hear me?! We got a big problem here right now, I need your help! If you are truly committed to me, then it's time to prove it! Hello? Do you hear me damn it?!")
("I do see the danger ahead of you. Your life is fading away...I shall assist you, though you are incapable of using such means. Only the being beside you can use this to save all of you.")
("Then you provide me with this help and I transfer it with my body or so. This should work, right?")
(" It might possibly destroy you in the process, both your essence and your body.")
("All of this will be destroyed anyway if we don't take action, so get it done now!")
("Although your protection is foremost...I'll give it a try.")
Leo instantly turned to Maris and grasped his hand.
" I hope your condition will improve right away! Trust me on this!"
He just looked at Leo in confusion until his eyes suddenly lit up. Thanks to Leo, he regained some of his powers he didn't sense for centuries. His appearance transformed into a tall black-haired dark elf with black eyes. Actually, he looked more like a ruler now. Before the arrows hit, Maris formed a huge protective barrier around the entire area. Such a huge protective field required a tremendous amount of power. He realized this fact when looking at Leo. Throughout his entire body, white marks were glowing. The veins in his body were about to pop out of his skin while his bones were about to shatter. He didn't even have the strength to cry out, let alone use his voice. The projectiles continued to hit for some time. Everyone under the protective shield couldn't believe what was happening. It was truly Maris, ruler of the dark elves, as described in the books. These powers reflected the remarks in the scriptures as well. Once the storm had passed, the protective field dissipated. However, Maris noticed how his partner's hand was leaving his. Leo dropped to the ground next to him, yet not like before. Looking at him, Maris saw the extent of the sacrifice. Leos eyes were wide open and frozen. His whole body was motionless. White marks on his body and veins remained visible but lost their shine. Blood was pouring from his open mouth onto the floor.
When everyone calmed down, they too understood what had just happened. Vega and Lynia stood in front. As they looked at the body, they too recognized what had most likely happened.
"What have you done to him? Why does he look so... broken?"
Maris took one last look at him before giving his verdict.
" With his help, I was able to construct this barrier. Those masses of magic have been too much for his body and he was barely able to hold up. I cannot say what the white marks on his body mean. Ultimately, he was responsible for your protection, so cherish his memory."
"Wait a minute, what do you mean cherish him?"
They didn't want to believe what he just said, nevertheless it all made sense.
" This human just passed away. His body was shattered along with his ability to live. The death of this sacrifice must be remembered, however, we should first clarify the situation."
The shock sat deep with Lynia. Likewise, Vega looked annoyed with gritted teeth at her former guest.
Once the situation was defused, the dark elves departed. For the time being, a truce was made between the two parties. Leo's body was left with Vega, at least until further notice, who was still not completely convinced about his death since even Maris knew nothing about the signs. Lynia allowed her time until the next meeting to pick up Leo. Until then she wanted to keep up the lie that everything was fine with him.
This day was a turning point in history, it was the beginning of a revolution and a war that would tip the balance of this land. However, the tribute that had to be paid was a man whose value was that of thousands at the end.
Vega prepared an extra room for his body. She immediately noticed that his body showed no signs of deterioration or death. Every day she observed his condition yet nothing changed.
"Tsk, you're really just causing trouble. In the end you still sacrificed yourself for another race you fool."
Vega gave him one last look before leaving the room. Time went by without any action before the dark room lit up for a moment. The initial mark on his hand shone briefly and disappeared right after. A few seconds later, fingers began to twitch: The Death still wasn't able to embrace him...
("So here thee are...thy body destroyed, thy being in shambles. Was it thy pride or thy pity that thou didst so act? Desperate beings end up doing desperate things. I was a fool to doubt it, still what has been done has been done. After all, this event led you to reshape her path as well as to build his. The path towards that couldn't have been more difficult.")
("I was left with no choice. Moreover, even without this risk, I would have been very close to death.")
(" Humans always have a choice no matter what situation they find themselves in. Often, they decide not necessarily to live but to surrender to their character. Even other beings are familiar with this process. Thou hast seen for thyself how fear controlled them and how it has selected death for them. Few can conquer and control their innermost being, it goes against conception. There is a limit to what these beings are capable of, however, you surpass it. Humans are always aware of their beginning and end, they align themselves with time and pursue their path. You, however, have been different since the beginning, you are a flaw in this whole structure, a figure similar to ours. While all those humans, despite their faith and their nature, still contain a goal within themselves, a void exists within you. Your only purposes have been imposed on you, so they were not really yours. In all that time, there was nothing to which you allowed yourself to be bound. You are a husk and yet not empty. Death has little interest in you just as you have little interest in life. I am responsible to preserve that, to protect your essence and allow it to bloom. If you have no purpose then I shall soon give you one that few are ever capable of.")
("Man, all your speeches are so complicated. I don't have to have a purpose in order to walk on two legs. Anyway, since you are somehow inside me and are affecting me, I just don't feel like I have a choice but to go on like this. In that case, I'm sure you have the solution to my little problem, don't you?")
("I'm afraid that a foundation is required to recover it all. This is a price that only you can bear. I have to relieve you of a piece in order to implant another one. When that time comes, I shall complete you to what seems impossible.")
("And what is this price going to be? My emotions, my thoughts, my mind, or one of my body parts?")
(" It will require one of your senses to build up everything again. A certain time is needed for its recovery.")
("Like most of the time, I have no fucking choice anyway...so go ahead, what exactly do you want me to do in this?")
Before he could even finish this sentence he woke up in the dark room. The pain was gone as were the white marks. His body was in a normal condition but as he opened the door he immediately realized what had been taken from him in exchange. He was unable to see around the corner other than turning his head: In order to fix him, he was robbed of his vision in one eye. Rather than freak out, he sighed slightly. It wasn't really surprising to him that something like this might happen.
" Great, this is going to be pleasant from now on. Sure hope it doesn't take long for everything to get back to normal."
Leo realized he was still in Vega's fortress and started looking around the rooms. After finding no one, he left the building and headed for the training grounds. In the distance, he saw Vega giving orders to her soldiers. Seeing the man still dressed in white, their training stopped.
"I had a feeling your time wasn't up yet."
"Not for today but who knows what tomorrow will bring."
"Hmm, so you get what I meant about the future."
"Now we can afford even less to think about it given what's happened."
Standing behind her, he saw that this time the soldiers showed their respect of their own will seeing him as their superior.
"And what is this supposed to be now?"
"What do you think after what you did together with that guy?"
" I may have done that, though, but before that I betrayed their leader to some extent. Who knows if I won't do it again?"
"Then I will be prepared this time. Had my life not been in your hands then you might have been executed by now. Ultimately, though, I got clarity from that so it would have only been a small punishment."
"I wonder what a small punishment means here...I'd rather not find out."
"This mess has changed you a bit I see. Two colors look weird, somehow it has something of crystal clear water."
What Leo couldn't see was that his blind eye was colored blue.
"The color wouldn't bother me if I had kept my vision."
"...so I guess you are limited after all..."
"Hey, that doesn't mean I'm useless. After all, my plan worked once before and I didn't even have to fight."
"But very soon, when we hopefully encounter him."
"I see that you really did identify your father's murderer. Still, I don't know about the size of his army inside the city. So even if we join forces, things may go badly wrong."
"If we don't do anything, he may launch one of those attacks on this place every day from now on. I'd rather protect my people for now than take a more serious risk here. The fort is safe, however, not against these types of attacks."
"Better to strike than wait huh? How about the dark elves, what happened to them?"
"Despite his lie, Maris did eventually reveal the truth so we reached a truce. Plus, I wouldn't stand much of a chance against him. Having him on our side at least gives us a decent shot."
"I actually don't even know if he's going to share that goal. It might become a big problem."
" That' s exactly why I called the leaders here. They wanted to check back anyway so we'll get right to the important talks now that you're awake again."
That very same day, Lynia and Connor, who wanted to see their companion again, entered the fortress. Seeing Leo, both were reassured. Lynia had managed to keep up the lie of his survival. Without delay, they got down to the crucial business.
"We can all guess that soon we will have no choice but to attempt an attack before he comes at us again. This goes for you too, the resistance, he may send out an army at any time now that he knows about this situation."
"Even though we have no choice, we are not fully able to mobilize all forces right now, including Maris. We both know he can be a key factor thus we need your support."
Lynia gave her a list of various resources and its number.
"As long as this list is agreeable and available to you, we can deploy and fight side by side very soon."
Vega was looking at the list and got annoyed.
"Don't you dark elves even have something anymore? Everything on here qualifies as a robbery right now. Even if our supplies are stocked, it''s a pretty big, almost impudent, demand."
" Nevertheless, it is necessary. As it is, our soldiers are not in the best shape to fight. If all goes as planned we can start right away and head out. You and your troops, and we with ours. We haven't decided on a strategy yet but there are several possibilities."
Vega thought for a while before she smirked slightly.
"Alright, I'll accept your demands. You will receive these supplies in order to be ready for marching out soon. However, I do have a reciprocal demand in return: Leo will stay by my side!"
Everyone was surprised by this demand although they knew that Vega wanted him as a command support.
Vega intended him to stay from the very beginning. And now, there was no better opportunity than to take advantage of it. Though his friends did not like this decision, it was the best thing to happen to them. The cooperation of Leo and Vega would completely redefine the concepts of strategy, tactics and warfare. This duo would push Yrasil to his limits.