The angel was stunned to discover the scene. He had expected to see traces of the bloody fighting, but had not imagined such a disaster. The Szifia who had joined him after recovering his senses remained silent before the scene unfolding before their eyes.
-It's a good thing we didn't stay inside any longer," he concluded soberly.
-I thought...the forge was protected by the master spirits? stammered Niris, still struggling to realize what he was looking at.
Szifia sighed.
-The masters retreated for too long, their traces gradually faded from your dimension and the places they bathed in their energy were no longer powered. Apart from the sanctuary, the forge was now vulnerable without the energy of the master spirits.
He paused, then turned to the angel.
-A forge for masters without masters is no longer really necessary," he concluded.
Niris swallowed. He turned his gaze back to the place. The garden was littered with corpses, and the forge as he'd known it a few hours earlier was now gone. Only the remnants of the walls, wounded survivors of the battle, remained as a reminder that a building had once stood here. All was ruin and destruction, blood and death. The forge of the gods was no more.
Finally shaking off his paralysis, Niris stepped onto the small metal footbridge that had miraculously survived to reach the outside, searching for the blacksmith with his eyes. No sooner had he taken a step outside than he saw the half-giant lying against the wall adjacent to the passageway to the sanctuary. He immediately knelt down.
-Inmyar!" he said, shaking her in panic. No...
He feverishly grasped her hands and concentrated on using his gift of life. Luckily, he detected her pulse. She was still alive! Without further ado, he gathered his strength and focused on healing her, when a sharp pain suddenly overwhelmed him. He opened his eyes again, gritting his teeth. Enraged at having been cut off in mid-stride, he plunged inside himself to understand what had just happened when he had activated his gift, when he was brutally confronted with Niyari's presence, who had emerged from her isolation.
"What did you do? Why did you take out that sword again?" she insisted as soon as they made contact.
"This is not the time Niyari, go back to your spiritual lair!" snapped Niris, who was becoming very impatient.
"Answer me! Why can I feel the energy of my sword on you? What have you been doing?
"I'll explain later, I've got more urgent things to deal with right now!" he replied violently.
-Niris d'Egea! Answer me!
She was about to add something when Niris blocked her internally and locked her in an inaccessible area of his mind without really realizing what he was doing. Contact was broken, and to his amazement, the angel realized that he had managed to contain Niyari within his being for the first time since he had opened contact with her. He didn't dwell on his astonishing feat and quickly returned to the still unconscious blacksmith. This time, he plunged into himself and unleashed his gift, bringing natural energy to bear on his body.
He identified two mortal wounds: one in the torso that looked to be quite deep, and another in the right thigh that had severed a ligament. He drew on all his strength to dress the open wounds while replacing the blood she had lost all this time. Inmyar was at death's door, and he was going to have to draw on his deepest resources to bring her back to the world of the living.
Immersed in his healing exercise, the angel partially cut himself off from the outside world. His work was beginning to bear fruit, and the wound in his torso was almost closed. The ligament had tightened too, and he was about to tackle the second wound, ignoring the blood that was starting to pour from his nose, when a presence outside caught his attention. An extremely dangerous presence.
Without interrupting his treatment, he reopened his eyes and barely had a second to realize the gravity of the situation. Beside him, Szifia was shouting himself hoarse, trying to bring him back to reality. He had time to bat his eyelashes and wonder for a quarter of a second what he was going to do with Inmyar still in a critical condition when a scythe slammed into him at considerable speed. Zorkiel stood in front of him, ready to take him down on the spot.
He was about to use an instant teleportation portal, hoping it would get him out of trouble, when Lou suddenly appeared between him and Zorkiel, just in time to intercept the scythe. The contact between the two blades produced a considerable shockwave that shook the remnants of the walls still standing. Niris held on tight to avoid being swept away by the blast. He was about to have to take Inmyar aside to heal her when he was surprised to see Zorkiel step back.
-I've arrived just in time," said Lou, tightening her grip on Danse mortelle, which she had summoned to counter Zorkiel's scythe. Everything all right, Niris? Sorry I'm late!
Niris nodded, terribly relieved to see his master again. Leaving her to deal with Zorkiel, he wiped his blood-covered mouth and returned to his care without cutting himself from the outside this time. Inmyar was out of danger, he wanted to close the second wound to make sure there were no complications, but without taking his eyes off Zorkiel this time.
-We meet again, Zorkiel," Lou said coolly.
Zorkiel said nothing. He seemed to observe the angel with a strange curiosity.
-Master of Blades..." he said in his hollow voice. It seems you've become yourself again," he said.
Lou twitched. His remark confirmed what she'd suspected: Zorkiel knew a lot about her. Or about masters in general, but she had the feeling that she was the focus of his curiosity.
-So much so myself that I'm ready to cut you to pieces if you ever try to mess with my apprentice again," she threatened.
Zorkiel laughed a dark laugh. Niris watched the scene without missing a beat. He was surprised by their adversary's remark, but he too had noticed something different from his master. His aura was now totally different. It exuded a deadly power that would render anyone unfit for combat, so powerful had it become. It was as if her master had suddenly become twice as powerful without any visible change.
-It was a great opportunity, but I'm too late," resumed Zorkiel, who didn't really seem surprised by the situation. I'll kill him another time, or maybe I'll keep him alive, who knows! He seems to be becoming more and more useful.
His sarcastic tone chilled the blood of Niris, who was revolted by their enemy. But he kept his cool and didn't panic.
-It'll never happen," the master cut him short. Niris will know how to defend himself against you soon enough, believe me.
Zorkiel seemed to think for a moment.
-With a master and a weapon like that, I don't doubt it," he admitted. That's why, when I saw him vulnerable like that, I couldn't help wanting to kill him so he wouldn't become a deadly weapon I could never use. What a waste! I would have made him the ultimate living weapon.
Lou gritted his teeth and prepared to attack.
-You...
She was about to lunge at him when he raised his hand to interrupt her.
-I won't be fighting you today," he announced. I'd simply come for your apprentice, but it seems I've missed my chance.
He opened a portal and was about to leave when Lou called out to him.
-Wait, wait, wait! How did you obtain the liquid technique in which you immersed the Empress Regent? Who gave you this technique?
Zorkiel seemed to hesitate, then finally answered.
-Lou, the man who developed this technique, is no more. He died a long time ago, so don't look for him anymore. Just follow your path, there's nothing more you can do. I know that one day you'll make the right choice.
With that, he disappeared. Lou tried to intercept him before he entered the portal, but his sword sliced through the void. An eerie silence fell over the place, and Lou, Niris and Szifia stood stunned, gradually realizing what had just happened. As they began to awaken from their lethargy, a huge ship from the organization landed above the garden and crowds of healers and stretcher-bearers burst into the garden.
Niris had just finished closing the blacksmith's second wound. When he stopped healing, he felt an intense fatigue and staggered to his feet. The garden had become a swarm of blue-and-white-clad personnel rushing to the aid of the wounded. Supported by Lou, Niris managed to regain a rough stability. He was about to follow her when he saw two stretcher-bearers pass in front of him with Siti's body lying on their stretcher. He threw himself forward and tried to heal him, but a healer stepped in.
-Your Highness, you are forbidden to use your gift to heal anyone in my presence," he snapped.
Niris protested, but the healer wouldn't let him near Siti.
-I can save him, let me!
-His Majesty your father has ordered us to stop you. Your friend is in no danger and is now in safe hands, so rest assured. What's more, it seems you've already overused your gift, so I certainly won't let you abuse it any further! he reprimanded him with authority.
Niris was about to protest when Lou intervened.
-That's enough, Niris! Do as he says. These healers are all extremely competent, and if he tells you that your friend is not in mortal danger, you must believe him.
Reluctantly, the angel gave in. He had to admit he was in no condition to do anything. The healer bowed to him and set to work.
Lou led Niris on. They emerged from the gardens, and she helped him sit down on a flat rock. Above them, the moon shone in all its splendor, casting its majestic glow over the macabre scene. Niris regained his senses and watched in awe as the stretcher-bearers made their way back to the ship.
-Why did so many die?" he asked faintly.
-Shortly after you entered the sanctuary, the Organization decreed an exceptional lifting of the ban on killing for any combat that might take place at the Forge of the Gods until your return. Its agents therefore eliminated most of the assassins who had come to kill you.
Niris didn't reply. He strongly disapproved of the measure, but understood why it had been taken. Parliament had certainly considered the situation far too important and dangerous for the future of the intergalaxy. So much so that it had departed from one of its guiding principles. But he didn't have the energy to delve into these highly intellectual debates.
-My mission is over, so I'll retire," said Szifia, who had followed them out of the forge. Take care, Master Lou, and...thank you for restoring the link between master spirits and masters. It was a wise decision that once again proves your worth as a master of blades. And... congratulations on officially becoming the apprentice master of blades.
He added his last sentence, addressing Niris. Lou bowed gratefully to the Szifia.
-Thank you for guiding my apprentice, Reg'ein Szifia. May your guidance lead future masters on their path," she said respectfully.
The Szifia observed them for a moment without adding anything, then disappeared as he had appeared. Niris turned to her master, her eyes full of questions.
-Why did he congratulate me on becoming your apprentice? And what did he mean when he said you had restored the link between the spirits of masters and their masters?
Lou sighed, then sat down beside him. She would have liked to leave quickly, but her pupil was clearly in no condition to change dimensions right now.
-While you were at the forge, I went to see the keeper of the Oronak spheres," she began. Oronak spheres are...
-Objects created by master spirits so that we can make contact with them," finished Niris, recalling his conversation with Shoyonan.
Lou looked at him in surprise.
-How do you know that?" she couldn't help asking.
-I spoke with the spirit of the Master of Blades in the sanctuary," explained Niris. He explained many things to me.
-I see," Lou replied with a smile. In that case, I'm probably not telling you anything. Before coming back here, I returned Oronak's sphere to the Temple of Connection, thus restoring the connection between the master spirits and their masters. The masters are once again connected to their spirits, and the master spirits will awaken from their slumber. You are now officially my apprentice, since Shoyonan has accepted you as such by giving you a master's weapon, despite your failure to complete the apprenticeship ceremony.
Niris nodded thoughtfully.
-So what Shoyonan said was true, the masters are finally coming back to our world.
Lou smiled and ruffled his hair.
-The Masters were never dead to begin with. Well, not really. Like me, they've kept their bodies somewhere and their minds are simply asleep.
-Is that why your aura was so different earlier? Niris immediately made the connection. And does that mean you're alive again? You're no longer dead alive? Your energy channels won't deteriorate anymore?
This time, Lou laughed outright. She had missed her apprentice's eyes sparkling with curiosity.
-You could say that," she replied with a gentle smile. Rekindling the link with Shoyonan gave me back all my power and definitely reconnected my mind with my body. As for my energy channels, Shoyonan's energy should totally interrupt the process, so it looks like I'm out of danger. Although I'm not sure I want to live a second life...
-You don't know what it means to me to know that you're alive among us again, and that you're no longer risking your life every time you use natural energy.
She gave him a grateful smile.
-Don't worry, having you as my apprentice gives me all the strength and motivation I need to stay in this world," he reassured him. Besides, it's more like picking up where I left off than starting a new life, even if the times aren't the same. After all, the other masters will be those of my generation, so I wouldn't be too out of place.
Niris nodded his head in satisfaction at this turn of events, which was sure to cause a stir throughout the intergalaxy. The two angels sat looking up at the night sky. In the distance, the ship carrying the wounded was preparing to leave for the nearest intergalactic hospital.
-Master, if I may... Niris interrupted the silence.
-Please," Lou encouraged him to speak.
-Zorkiel seemed...rather reluctant to attack you. I don't think he'd have beaten you, but the fact that he'd run away from a fight without even trying to engage you seems a bit strange to me," he dared to raise.
Lou remained immersed in the observation of the celestial vault, a black as deep as the brightness of the stars that dotted it.
-Zorkiel..." she began, a little hesitantly. Niris, you may be the only one who can face Zorkiel," she finally admitted.
-What do you mean?" exclaimed the apprentice.
Lou looked down and seemed to be choosing her words.
-It could be that...Zorkiel is someone I know, and who also knows me very well. In that case, all my attacks will be useless against him.
-Who could it be? Do you have any idea?" questioned Niris, who found it hard to understand his master's embarrassment.
-I'm not sure...no, I don't really know, but I've got a bad feeling," she explained. The fact that he was able to use the coma-sleep method on Seiran's mother doesn't ring a bell.
Niris watched his master for a moment, concerned. He could see she was preoccupied, but he couldn't question her without restraint on a subject that was obviously sensitive for her.
-Master, don't worry, I'll beat Zorkiel," he reassured her, dipping his eyes into the celestial vault. You just teach me and help me master Niyari, I'll take care of the rest.
Lou smiled wordlessly. No words could express the gratitude she felt towards her apprentice. She stood up and started walking without asking him if he was feeling better.
-Let's go back to Kampalera," she smirked.
Without asking, Niris jumped to his feet, his vigor restored, and excitedly followed in her footsteps.
-Kampalera? Not at the camp?" he nagged her to answer.
-No, Kampalera, because then we'll be leaving for another dimension," she continued, still smiling.
-What? offended the angel. What? But Seiran can still come with us, can't he?
-It's a dimension only accessible to master spirits and masters, so unless you make him an apprentice master by tomorrow, I don't see how he could follow us," she replied wryly.
Niris pouted.
-I can't wait for this training to be over! he grumbled. And why exactly are we going to this dimension?
-Because your training there will be two or three times more productive, and because we need to find someone who's holed up there.
Curious, the angel raised an eyebrow, and his master replied, guessing the question he was about to ask.
-Azamaël, the Master of Shadows," she said.
The angel's eyes widened.
-Azamael? The demon Azamael? The one who founded the City of Worlds?
-The very one," confirmed the master of blades, inwardly amused by his pupil's reaction. "It's worth not seeing your lover for a while, isn't it?
Niris pursed his lips, obviously tormented by the Cornelian choice. Lou could hardly hide his hilarity at his pupil's mental torture. They continued on their way, bickering happily, when Niris was alerted by Niyari's presence.
-Wait, Niyari wants to tell me something," he cut off their discussion, becoming serious again.
"Why did you get so upset earlier? What were you thinking? If you'd cut me off any longer, Inmyar could have died! And do you realize how many deaths have been caused by..." he began accusing her without giving her a chance to answer, surprised by her docility when she cut him off.
"I'll help you," she said simply.
"...What?" the angel couldn't help saying.
"I'm going to help you in your fight," she continued. From now on, you'll be able to use my natural energy when you fight, and I'll work with you so you can integrate my fragments."
Niris was stunned for a moment. Niyari hadn't shown any sign of life since she'd decided to recluse herself deep within her being not to help him in his quest. So he found it hard to understand why she was suddenly ready to lend him a hand.
"Why the change?" he couldn't help asking.
"Zorkiel imprisoned a dragon who sent a distress signal that I intercepted," she explained. I don't care what happens to every conscious species in the intergalaxy, but I would never leave a dragon in need."
-A dragon?" said Niris aloud, causing her master to turn his head in surprise at her questioning.
"I don't know how he did it, but a dragon is currently being held prisoner by Zorkiel. I want to free him, so I'll lend you a hand. We can't free him without beating Zorkiel, so you'll need my power."
Niris remained silent. He didn't know what to say, so unexpected was the demon spirit's intervention.
"That's all I had to say, now I'm going back to my lair. As soon as you resume your training, contact me and I'll work with you to give you mastery of my power." she said simply, then broke off contact without waiting for him to reply.
Still a little stunned, Niris repeated his exchange to his master. The latter nodded at the demon spirit's sudden decision.
-It's a good thing for us. We won't have to force her to help us, so it'll be less dangerous and less painful for you," she nodded, satisfied.
-Do you really think Zorkiel captured a dragon?" asked Niris, still a little suspicious.
-If the last dragoness said she received a distress call from a dragon, it must be true. Especially as you now have a weapon made from the materials of her own sword," she continued, "she must feel a lot more from the outside world since you've got this sword, and it'll be easier for you to master her too now you've got this weapon with you.
The apprentice remained thoughtful for a moment. That explained why he'd been able to send her back to her lair so easily when she'd come to interrupt his care of Inmyar.
-I'd like to be out of here in two days at the latest," his master urged him.
Niris trotted off to catch up with her and they set off at a brisk pace towards Kampalera.
End of the Forge of the Gods arc. Next chapter: season 3 prologue!