"Drake. Take Celine back to mother," Darri said calmly, moving in front of the stunned children.
"B-b-but I can fight!" Young Drake stuttered.
"You will do as you are told!" Darri snapped, "You are too important to get caught up in what is about to happen! Now go!"
"So that is Han's other little welp is it?" Vandalieu snickered, "How about it boy? Want to become one of my collection? These unwilling folk burn out too quickly and its been a while since I got my hands on a willing Asuran-"
"Shut your rotten maggot filled lips, Lich!" Darri roared, "I will breathe my last before you lay a hand on my family!"
"Little late for that, Darri. Mir'phyra's little group of fools already took your blundering idiot of a father."
Darri's body recoiled like the words had burned him, "Liar…"
A boney hand extended out of the rags, each finger covered in golden rings adorned with colorful jewels.
"We lost a few, but that's no concern of mine, just more corpses for my fun. But we did shackle the feisty little bastard. So? Want to take my deal? Two Asurans for the price of one would make my millenia."
Smokey snarled next to Drake, "I should have known! That filthy corpse came here before us!"
Drake was bewildered. Too much information was being thrown at him.
A lich? Does that make him a Primordial? Is a lich the strongest undead? And wasn't Mir'phyra a liberator? What is she doing capturing Han Kol? And now an Undead is here? Drake thought, looking at the rag covered figure. He doesn't even look strong. And I can't feel an aura but Darri looks like he's scared shitless. Too much is happening and I feel like I'm missing pieces of the puzzle.
Drake's younger self still hesitated to run in spite of Darri's order. His face paled and legs shaking as he desperately hung onto his sister, doing his best to stay in front of her.
"What are you still doing here Drake! Go! Hurry! Mother is the only one on this planet left that can stall long enough for Father to come!" Darri reprimanded.
"I already told you, squirt. Daddy's locked up good and tight. Mira made sure of that so she can hold her precious little pet for all eternity," Vandalieu laughed but shrugged, "Not that I can judge. I've done that plenty of times."
Unwilling to wait for young Drake to come to his senses, Darri finally kicked him, pushing him away as he charged forward in a blur at Vandalieu.
Drake looked at his younger self come to his senses and grit his teeth, as he pulled his crying sister away.
Drake looked back at the fight, hoping to garner more information or see just how upper Rank Primordials fought. But the scene froze.
"What is this?" Drake questioned, "It just stops?"
Smokey strode up to Vandalieu, poking their ink-like arm through his hooded head, "We are replaying your memories. It is only natural you didn't witness everything, there could be lost information everywhere. It seems that we will have to follow your younger self to continue on."
Drake wanted to argue, but it seemed he didn't have any other option and there were too many questions he needed answers too. Little by little the possibility of this quest showing him his actual past was becoming more of a reality.
He couldn't shake the feeling in the back of his mind of deja vu, but that was where the feeling stopped. It was like the sun shining through broken storm clouds; only bits and pieces were making it through whatever veil was keeping him from remembering the truth.
Biting his lip he moved on, chasing after the children.
Taking one last look over his shoulder only to see Darri frozen in time, roaring as he raised a fist about to collide with the Primordial Lich, Vandalieu.
An ache in his chest began to throb. Drake had felt this sensation many times before throughout his life.
It was regret.
Turning back he raced off, a few minutes later able to catch up to his younger self and sister as they approached their home.
Whatever was occurring on the planet, it seemed to have not reached here just yet. However their Mother, Altoria was still on full alert.
She was at the edge of the house in full armor and wearing spiked gauntlets that put anything Drake had ever worn or seen to shame. Even on closer inspection Drake could see that the equipment was worn from use but still gave an striking impression.
Tightly fit black metal trimmed in silver. Ruby red jewels adorning the shoulder guards and knee guards. A gold symbol in the center of her chest. A broken chain link.
"Get inside the house," she said calmly, checking her gauntlets.
"Mother… D-Darri… he-" Young Drake tried to explain, still clutching his crying sister's arm.
"I know Drake. He did his duty and now it's time you and your sister do yours," his mother said softly, "You need to survive."
Young Drake tried to protest again. Having been dismissed by his brother earlier, unable to help or even witness his supposed end. The frustration was plain on his face.
But his mother would have none of it. A look of fear and surprise painted over Young Drake and his sisters expression. This was apparently the first time they had ever seen their mother this angry and serious.
"You will get in that house! And you will not leave it! Do you understand me, Drake Asura! I will not let today be the end of this family!" she roared.
"Touchy touchy…"
A chittering voice came from beyond the entrance of the yard behind Altoria. She quickly slammed the door shut, turning to face the man in ragged clothing.
"Vandalieu. I always knew you would come. It was only a matter of time until you became bored enough…" Altoria growled.
The lich pulled back his hood, revealing a porcelain skull and the golden jeweled crown sitting on top his head, different crowned teeth filling its crooked boney mouth that almost seemed to twist into a grin.
"How right you are!" he boomed, "You should be thanking me though! After all, you won't get a better deal with anyone else. To curb my eternal boredom I've got some fun in mind."
Altoria's hands curled in on themselves, the metal creaking beneath the effort.
"Thanking you…? Where is Darri! Where is my son?!"
Vandalieu's mouth clattered in a chuckle, "Oh he's right where he's supposed to be. But you should be more concerned with children that are still alive…"
Altoria vanished. The next moment she appeared with half the yard obliterated. Flattened against the force of her blow against a wall of black and gold bone.
Vandalieu cackled, "Just like your hubby! But can't say that I disapprove… I like 'em feisty! How about it? We both know you can't win."
His boney head turned and motioned to the house, "How about it?" he said again, "I'm taking them either way… You might as well make a deal…"
Young Drake and his sister burst out of the house, their fists raised and screaming.
"Don't touch her!!!"
A look of horror came over Altoria's face and she tried to move to protect them only to realize her arm was caught in the wall of bone.
Vandalieu waved a jeweled hand, two skeleton rib cages erecting from the ground and encasing the children.
"Like I said. Feisty! Your whole family are just little angry fire bees!"
"Don't hurt them!" Altoria pleaded.
"Come on, I'm not that evil… At least right now. I'm getting a whole smorgousport of Asurans today. That type of thing will put anyone into a good mood."
Vandalieu strode over, placing a boney finger against the children's heads as their bodies slumped against the cages.
As he did, the world continued to move, but darkened. Becoming colorless and mute.
"What's going on now?" Drake asked, looking around at the watered out surroundings.
The voice that answered wasn't Smokey's. But instead one he recognized now.
The smoke coated in gold returned, its ruby colored eyes looking over the scene.
"This is where you passed out. You may have heard their conversation subconsciously but it seems the layers separating your memories are still too strong to break even with this event."
"You're… Darri? Right?" Drake muttered watching a small exchange between Altoria and Vandalieu unfold wordlessly.
The gold smoke smiled, "That's right little brother. I'm glad you finally noticed," but then waved a hand still covered in ink-like smoke, "Looks like you still can't fully recognize me however. It seems you need more convincing."
Smokey hissed next to them, "This boy is a monster! Allowed to grow he will destroy the natural order! Just like his father!"
The smokes clashed in a plume of black and gold for a moment. Eventually they settled next to Drake who was becoming more and more bewildered by the sequence of events.
His brother, Darri's visage, prevailed. Holding Smokey by what seemed to be their neck as they continued to struggle.
"You may be more powerful than me outside of this place, but here you are nothing more than a worm. Allowed to crawl on the ground at the grace of the race you loath so much… But that isn't the whole truth is it? You loved my Father," Darri turned to Drake, "But just like my Father, my brother is no longer your charge, your toy to play with, your pawn to move along your board. He may be a monster! But from today on, he is your monster no more Mir'phyra."
Drake thought he would be more surprised watching as the smoke around Mir'phyra dissipated, but he had assumed it was her for some time now.
However it didn't make sense.
"Mir'phyra was the one that captured Han Kol. She had to have hated him. She killed everyone here!" Drake said with more emotion than he intended.
"Do you wish to explain to him then? Or shall I?" Darri asked calmly.
Struggling Mir'phyra growled back.
"She loved Father. More than anything because he was different. Unique. Strong. But he had no intention of falling for a woman of a race that imprisoned his own for milenia. So-"
"So I made sure he was mine and mine alone. What of it?!" Mir'phyra sneered.
"Dragons," Darri spat, "Possessive to a fault. Saying it was for the good of the natural order, good of the alliance. But you simply wanted to take him from everyone he loved and cared for!"
"And it would have stayed that way forever! He was mine! I watched as he grew into the man he was. The only man I was willing to spend eternity with! But he chose his race over me! Over his family! Over everything!"
"Then how did he die…?" Drake asked.
"He wouldn't have," Mir'phyra scoffed, "He was determined to live on until one day he could escape and bring back his own race from the precipice of extinction. But somehow someone broke into my vault… And aided him in killing himself," then her golden eyes looked down at Drake, "It is now I realize why…"
Drake was dumbfounded. Turning to watch what seemed like the last of the exchange of his mother and the lich in silence.
Altoria continued discussing something with Vandalieu, her face stern and frustrated. As Vandalieu continued to gesture casually, sometimes rearing his head back in what Drake could only assume was laughter.
Finally, Altoria nodded, turning back to her children as the bone cages around them receded into the ground.
She hugged them with tears in her eyes as she whispered something softly.
Behind her Vandalieu pulled an item from his robes, a moment later a rift like door opened and Altoria stepped through.
"Does that mean?" Drake wondered aloud.
"No," Darri shot down immediately, "Remember the church. If she was still alive it would be her standing there not you."
"What now?" Drake asked.
Darri lowered Mir'phyra, floating over to Drake's side as they both watched Vandalieu pick up the children and walk into a separate rift made from another item.
"You can not truly see me yet. Which means you do not embrace your Asuran blood fully. You will stay here until you do."
"How long," Drake asked through his teeth, "How long am I going to be forced to be here?! I'm cut off from my friends and family! I have no idea what is going on outside! And I have no way of telling if what you are showing or telling me is even true!"
"You know it is true," Darri answered, "But for some reason you are too scared to accept it."
Darri placed a smokey arm on Drake's shoulder, "Trust me little brother. This is all for you."
Drake looked at the frozen scenery around them. His younger self had left the planet and it was the end of the memory. The quest notifications rained in as his mind raced to put the jumbled pieces of information in his head into place.
[Partial Quest Complete]
[Quest Updated! Ghosts of the Past]
[Experience earned]
[Experience Stored]
[Received Title: The End Is Nye]
[The End Is Nye]
You have witnessed the near end of a race. The remnants of the once proud Asurans balance on a knife's edge, new enemies knocking on your doorstep. The truth of your origins are becoming undeniable.+20% to all Stats
[Pseudo Weakened Magic Tempered Asuran Initiate Level Increased to Level 11] [50 Temporary Free Points have been awarded]
[Pseudo Weakened Magic Tempered Asuran Initiate Level Increased to Level 12] [50 Temporary Free Points have been awarded]
[Pseudo Weakened Magic Tempered Asuran Initiate Level Increased to Level 13] [50 Temporary Free Points have been awarded]
[Pseudo Weakened Magic Tempered Asuran Initiate Level Increased to Level 14] [50 Temporary Free Points have been awarded]
…
..
.
[Pseudo Weakened Magic Tempered Asuran Initiate Level Increased to Level 29] [50 Temporary Free Points have been awarded]
[Pseudo Weakened Magic Tempered Asuran Initiate Level Increased to Level 30] [50 Temporary Free Points have been awarded]
[Temporary Class improved to E-Rank]
[Temporary Class Upgraded, Weakened Magic Tempered Asuran Initiate [Unique] increased to [E-Rank]]
[All temporary class skills and secondary skills will be immediately increased to E-Rank when learned]
[Quest Update! Ghosts of the Past]
Increase your temporary level to 40.Gain the trust of your group.Meet with Han Kol Asura.Find the key to the Serenity Mixture.Reward: Experience, Title, E-Grade Accessory, Meeting with The War General Darri Asura and The Great War King, Han Kol Asura.