We landed on the ground in the ruined throne room of Elysium. Isabella ran over to tend to Stella and the others who had collapsed from exhaustion.
I was fine, but also exhausted. Cassandra stood ready to defend me, but also looked like she might collapse at any moment.
Finally, Valsiel appeared a few feet away.
"I'm so sorry for all the trouble! Is everyone okay?" She said.
"Mizik! You'd better start explaining! What is the meaning of this!?" Vakra said angrily.
I looked at him and narrowed my eyes.
"As soon as I figure that out, you'll be the first to know..." I said.
"That monster nearly killed us! Those damn monsters overwhelmed your armies and really did a number on me..."
"Serves you bloody right, you jackass. Now shut up and let her speak. Everyone, this is uh...Val...siel?"
"Yes. My name is Valsiel Gla'Foshan. And I'm so sorry about all of this... I was um...the last descendant of the Gla'Foshan family of Abyss nobles. We were renowned for having human-like appearances. I am...or was Cain's wife."
"His WIFE!? THAT BASTARD MARRIED SOMEONE!?!?" I screamed in anger.
"Uh...yes. And Cain was such a sweet man! So handsome and responsible, too... Always making sure the job got done no matter how hard it was! Ah...I miss him so much... He had loose ties to our race and maintained a similar human appearance. I was betrothed to the current Abyssal Difar, Fal'klaam Difar. He was...monstrous...even by Abyssal standards. He would have used me up and devoured me whole...but I fell in love with Cain and we eloped."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Valsiel was talking about Difar as if he was a completely different person.
"You two...eloped?"
"Mhm! He took me away to the deep Abyss where we lived happily for many years...but the Difar found us... He captured us and violated me right in front of Cain. Then he threw me into the Void..."
"No wonder he hates everything. And you survived this? How?"
"Survived? Oh no no no... My apologies for giving the wrong impression. I died in the Void. I completely ceased to exist. No, it turns out that there are certain things that the Void can't destroy."
"Explain."
"Will to live. Memories. Emotions. Mine continued to be within the Void until the creature known as Valtheim was constructed. She was made in my image...and the result was that my essence was drawn to her. But I was trapped by her unbreakable will to serve Cain. I could do nothing but watch him suffer and destroy everything out of rage for what he had lost... He used Valtheim to conquer the Abyss and even slew every other Abyssal god to name himself the ultimate Difar."
"This is a lot to take in...but I have another much better question. Are you friend or foe? What is your end goal?"
I narrowed my eyes at her and prepared to fight.
Likely we wouldn't survive another round with Valtheim right now...but I had to try.
"Ah...I am a friend! You saved me from being bound by that awful Valtheim. And my end goal...well... I want to stop Cain from destroying all of Creation. Just like you."
"You realize that if we get our way, he will die. Correct?"
"It saddens me, but I'm well aware of your purpose, hero. I also seek to kill him...he isn't the man I fell in love with. Cain has become fueled by hatred and desire to destroy. His heart is blackened by his desire for revenge upon Creation..."
"Hm...you seem trustworthy... What happens if we trust you?" I asked.
"Seriously? You would trust that monster!?" Vakra said.
"Vakra. Shut up. Answer the question, Valsiel."
"I will ferry you through the Abyss and allow you to face Cain. I will be unable to aid you in battle as he may be able to exert his control over me again...but bringing you safely to him will be enough."
"I see... And why can't we just leave him down there to rot? He's harmless if he's trapped in the Abyss. I want him dead, don't get me wrong. But letting him suffer in unending rage for all of eternity is amusing to me," I said.
"Well...if he figures out that Valtheim has been defeated...he will simply make another. Would you like to fight me again...?"
I shuddered at the thought of this.
"No way in hell am I doing that again... Fine. We'll trust you and deal with him before this gets worse. I'll call for extraction. Everyone, we have a new temporary ally."
"If darling trusts her, then so will I," Cassandra said.
"Great..." Vakra grumbled.
"I suppose there are worse friends to make...maybe..." Isabella said.
"Valsiel, you won't destroy our ship, will you?" I asked.
"Huh? No..of course not! Besides, I'm solid, see?"
Valiel reached out her hand to grab mine and I nearly had a panic attack.
Her hand touched mine and she smiled. She really was solid.
"Right...geez, warm me before you do that..."
"Oh! Sorry! I'll be more careful! Baoketh! Uh...innumerable pardons!" She said apologetically.
"Riiight..." I said. I summoned a communication device using the Artificer power and spoke into it. "Rastair, we're alive. The mission was a success. We need evac now and...try not to panic, okay? Bring a stretcher."
"Success!? WOOHOO!!! THIS CALLS FOR CELEBRATION! EVAC INCOMING!" Rastair said.
Minutes later, the ship flew near the side of the castle and the launch bay opened. We all walked into it. I made sure to pick Stella up myself. I placed her on the stretcher just before Gin and Mikoto took her to the med bay.
I called everyone not present for the initial introduction to meet our new ally...
"WHAT!?!? WHAT THE HELL IS VALTHEIM DOING HERE!?!?" Rastair screamed.
"DANGER!!! UNAUTHORIZED PERSONELL!!! SCARY PERSONELL!!!" Virtus cried.
"Relax everyone. This isn't Valtheim. Her name is Valsiel. She was the person Valtheim was designed after...or something. Valsiel?"
"Y-yes! It's so wonderful to meet you all! The crew of the Cursebreaker...wow... This ship is so cool!"
"She's a lot friendlier than I remember her being..." Nirani said.
"Shut up, Nirani..."
"Ahn...yes! Yes Master!"
Valsiel looked strangely at me.
"Ignore her..."
"Ah...I'm being treated like an annoyance! A bothersome insect! Hnn...I'm tingling!" Nirani said.
Weirdo...
"Valsiel, please continue..." I said.
"C-certainly...ahem. Everyone, the seal that Cain placed on me when Valtheim was created has been broken. Now that I am free, Valtheim is no longer a threat. I am your ally and friend. My name is Valsiel!"
"Are you sure this is okay?" Rastair said.
"We don't really have a choice in the matter, Rastair. We can't survive in the Void long enough to reach the Abyss because of how damned massive it is. We need her...so we're at her mercy..."
"I hope you know what you're doing, pervy Captain..." Virtus said.
"Virtus, I will not hesitate to reprogram you. I'll make you into the most perverted and lewd robot in all of creation if you don't shut up!" I said angrily.
"NOOOOOOO!!!"
Virtus started crying immediately and ran out of the room.
"You should totally do it, Captain. It would be hilarious! Then turn her back to normal and let her keep the memories! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!" Rastair said.
"Can we please stay on subject? The Captain isn't done talking," Sato said.
"Thank you, Sato. Now, Valth- I mean Valsiel, we may need some time to prepare and rest. Fighting you was extremely taxing for our crew members. Also...I would like to know more about you and Difar if that's alright. Know your enemy and all that..." I said.
"I would be happy to oblige! Skel'Zsthooth! It would be my pleasure!" Valsiel said.
I saw a strange moving appendage in her mouth as she spoke. Likely another organ used by Abyssal entries like her to speak such strange words... Still...
I was surprised that some of her words were not automatically translated for us.
Regardless, I would be happy to have her along for a short while.
"Rastair, set a course for Excelsus. We'll get everything situated with Johann and the others, then depart for the Abyss."
"Roger that, Captain!"
The ship began to rise up and Valsiel casually approached me. It actually kind of scared the crap out of me...
"Oh...sorry! I didn't mean to spook you. I just wanted to say squip'thath! Or um...thank you!" Valsiel said.
Why isn't the blessing of Iris translating some of her weird-ass phrases!? Oh well...
"Sure...no problem. Please just um...stay at least six feet away from me. No offense, but you are quite literally a living trauma to most of us."
"None taken! I understand completely, hero Mizik! I'll do my best to make up for my past crimes!"
* * *
As we flew into Excelsis, I cloaked Valsiel in a field of my power to prevent the barrier from dispersing her body. She assured me, however, that she wouldn't be affected by it anymore... Then I picked four people to be personal guards for myself as well as...deterrants in case Valsiel changed back into Valtheim.
The twins, of course, as well as Stella and Nirani. I'd honestly become so used to being surrounded by women that I no longer cared what people thought of me at this point. It was sort of liberating.
Although I was starting to miss Masina as well... She hadn't been in the main parts of the ship recently due to her services mostly being concluded.
Still, I would likely catch her reading in the library of our ship later.
Nevertheless, we docked the ship and I transported our group of five to the small monolith that I'd set up previously. We made our way to the throne room of the Oracle's temple and entered casually.
As soon as Iris and Johann saw us, they both breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mizik!!!" Iris shouted.
She ran over and hugged me, then Isabella.
"Hello Iris!" Isabella said happily.
"How have you two been!? Is everything okay!? What happened with the Hero...uh...ehhh... AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Iris suddenly screamed as soon as she saw Valsiel. She fell back and Johann immediately jumped in to protect her.
"MIZIK!!! VALTHEIM IS HERE!!!!" Johann roared in anger.
I glanced over at Valsiel and she frowned.
"Is um...is this the normal reaction when people see me...?" Valsiel said. She looked almost ready to cry.
"Eh...sort of... Let me handle this. Johann, chill. Iris, please try to calm down. This isn't Valtheim. Her name is Valsiel," I said.
"No matter how you look at it, that is CLEARLY Valtheim!!!" Iris said with a mixture of terror and anger.
"Mizik... May I talk to them?" Valsiel asked timidly.
"Knock yourself out. I don't think they plan to listen to me, anyway," I said casually.
Valsiel politely bowed her head and gave a friendly smile.
"Stha'Knazth! Greetings! I am Valsiel Gla'Foshan of the Gla'Foshan noble family in the Abyss. I am pleased to see you both for real this time!"
"She...has emotions now...?" Johann said.
"And her allignment is on the positive spectrum as well..." Iris said in disbelief.
She slowly stood up, remaining behind Johann. He seemed to relax slightly but remained on guard.
"What's going on here, miss...Valsiel?" Johann said.
"Hero Mizik and his allies were successful in both fighting and defeating me in my...less-than-friendly form known as 'Valtheim'. Doing so broke the seal on me and allowed the remnant feelings and memories of the woman named Valsiel to take over."
"You say that like you aren't really her. What are you, exactly...?" Johann said.
"I am a creation of his lordship, Cain Difar of the Abyss. Created in a desperate attempt to revive his lost love who was thrown into the Void and executed. Since the Void cannot erase intangible things, my emotions and will remained...eventually attatching themselves to my likeness. The one called Valtheim. And when she was defeated, her hold was broken. Now I am unsealed and I have but one purpose..."
"And that would be...?" Iris asked.
"Cain has brought the wrath of the Creator upon himself... So I must stop him before he gets himself killed."
"You're assuming that I don't plan to kill him regardless," I said.
"Baoketh! Innumerable pardons, sir hero Mizik! But the Abyssal Core of the Difar cannot be destroyed so easily. It will infinitely reform itself... The best we can hope for is to subdue him so that I may seal him away."
"That wasn't part of the deal, Valsiel," I said angrily.
She dropped to her knees and bowed her head to the ground as low as she could.
"Baoketh...baoketh...baoketh...I am so sorry... I am unable to subdue him myself. He exerts control over my body while he is able to call upon his powers... Valtheim will reform and we will be worse off than before... Even if it were possible to destroy the Core, the Abyss would cease to be. All within his well of power and all who were consumed would be lost forever... Please have mercy, hero Mizik..."
If what she said was true, I didn't have a choice. I wanted to save my family, so I decided to comply.
"Ugh... Fine... What is it that you need us to do, exactly...?" I said hesitantly.
She leaped to her feet with a joyous expression.
"Knavithath!!! My eternal gratitude! You must subdue him. Destroy his body and prevent the core from regenerating. At that point, I can overcome his control. I can seal him away without causing the Abyss to collapse. He will become weak like a newborn baby! All of his power will be lost and everyone will be free!"
"Valsiel, if you have to contain him...what happens to you?" Isabella asked.
Valsiel seemed sad, but smiled regardless.
"Baoketh... I will stay behind. As is my duty. I will prevent him from harming Creation ever again. I will rule both the Void and the Abyss to prevent anyone else from causing such havoc."
"Then we will wish you the best. And good luck on your endeavors," Isabella said.
After she spoke, several stomachs began growling in our group.
"Ah...it seems like everyone could do with a bite to eat..." I said.
Isabella smiled wide.
"Have no fear! I have an idea for a great meal that I can-"
"Cassandra! What's for dinner!?" I said quickly in desperation.
"Hm...? Weeeeellll...whatever darling wants, of course! And sister...no cooking! Stay out of my kitchen and stop using all of my good ingredients to make your disgusting swill!" Cassandra said.
Isabella puffed out her cheeks in response.
"I am Mizik's first wife! I should have the honor of cooking delicious food for him!"
"Then perhaps you should learn to cook instead of throwing whatever suits your fancy into the pot! Appealing ingredients do not always mix, and last time, you tried to saute vegetables with a flamethrower!"
Isabella thought for a moment and sighed.
"Fine then...teach me to cook, sister..." Isabella said defeatedly.
We were shocked to hear it from her. Not once in the past had Isabella ever swallowed her pride regarding the subject.
"Hm...it will be difficult. I won't coddle you. My teaching will be as strict as can be, sister," Cassandra said sternly.
"Please teach me. Let me cook for my husband!" Isabella said.
"Very well. Darling, you and everyone else may wait on standby. My sister and I will prepare a meal for the crew... Johann and Iris, tell the Enforcers to meet us on the ship. We'll have a grand feast celebrating our victory against Valtheim and the soon-to-be-concluded Corruption War."
Johann smiled under his veil.
"Can do! Let's go, my love," he said.
Iris nodded and the two of them disappeared.
I was glad we had time to do this. Even if Difar was still a problem, I didn't mind relaxing for a bit before defeating him.
With a weary sigh, I went back to the Cursebreaker with everyone else in tow.