"Godwyn, pull yourself together!" I yelled at Godwyn, dodging a book thrown at my head by one of the children.
Normally a book wouldn't do much more than bother me, but the speed of the book was such that it blew a hole in one of the bookshelves in the library.
Godwyn didn't answer to my call, I hope he recovers, because I'm in the middle of a fight and this isn't the place to be distracted.
Looking to the right, I saw one of the children approaching, she placed the candlestick in front of her face and blew it, and a jet of fire came towards me. I rolled back, dodging the fire.
Then I ran behind the bookshelf as books flew at me, I leaned against one of the bookshelf, poked my head out, and evaluated the situation, the children crawled across the floor and Rennala floated around.
I came out of my cover and cast a Dark Orb. However, the yellow barrier that surrounded Rennala stopped the spell. Maybe something stronger will do it.
I held my chime and cast Sunlight Spear; the spear lit up the library and flew towards Rennala. There was a lightning explosion when the spear hit the barrier, but it was still standing.
"Alden! What are you doing?" Godwyn screamed.
"Trying not to die!" I replied.
I saw a globe flying towards me; I rolled to the side, letting it hit the wall, and went back to behind the bookshelf.
"I thought we agreed that you would talk to Rennala?!?" Godwyn yelled.
"Godwyn, I don't know if you noticed, but I hurled an orb of pure darkness and a spear made of sunlight at her, and Rennala didn't even react. I don't know what Rennala was like before, but right now, this isn't the woman you knew. She's not quite right in the head." I replied.
I poked my head out of the bookshelf again; there must be some way to break through that barrier. However, how? I hid again when a book almost hit my head.
"Godwyn, Rennala is a sorceress, isn't she?"
"Yes, the mightiest of all the Lands Between."
I think it's best to equip some rings just in case.
"So what do these rings do?" Godwyn asked.
"Magic Quartz Ring to increase my defense against magic and Ring of Yorgh to reflect spells occasionally."
"Occasionally? What good is a ring that reflects spells occasionally?"
"Better than nothing, the ring's enchantment lost most of its power."
Now, how do I break down that barrier?
"You're thinking about how to bring down the barrier, aren't you?"
"Yes, Godwyn, listen, I know you don't like this, but we need to defeat Rennala somehow."
"I know, just try not to hurt her too much."
"I'll try."
As I stepped out from behind the bookcase, I saw a circle of small flames forming at my feet, then I heard something metallic crack.
"Alden above you!" Godwyn shouted, pointing upward.
I saw a chandelier falling towards me, I rolled away, letting it hit the ground, but it caused me to come out of my cover, and the kids threw things at me.
I ran through the library, dodging books and globes. I would have fought back, but I didn't want to hurt the kids. As I ran, I heard a different noise. Was someone singing?
Looking around, I saw that one of the children was away from the others. The child sung while a yellow energy came out of her mouth. I think I found a clue.
I ran until I approached the child. Now, how do I stop her singing without hurting her? I looked at my sword, and then my staff, hitting her with the butt of my weapons isn't a good idea.
I know! With my chime, I cast Force, creating a small shock wave, enough to stun the child and stop her without hurting her.
When the child stopped singing, I heard a sound similar to breaking glass. Looking toward Rennala, I saw that her barrier cracked. So that's how it works, the children's singing maintained the barrier.
Sharpening my hearing, I heard the singing coming from another part of the library, once again, I ran across the room, books and globes flying in my direction, but I dodged them all.
As approached the child, I cast Force once more, the child stopped singing and the barrier cracked even more.
I quickly found the next child, but while crossing the center of the library, one of the children breathed fire at me.
I didn't have time to dodge, and I was hit on the left side, it wasn't worrying, my fire defense is high and that doesn't even compare to the Iron Keep's fire.
I cast Force on the third child and the barrier broke, Rennala fell to the ground while holding the amber egg. Now for the part that will make me feel bad.
I ran towards Rennala and slashed her with my sword.
"AAAHHH!" Rennala screamed in pain with each landed blow.
I saw Godwyn flinching at the sound of Rennala's screams.
"Alden, try to hit her less hard, please!" Godwyn said.
"I am trying!" With one last cut, yellow energy surrounded Rennala, a blast of magic threw me back and the barrier was up again.
I saw another chandelier falling towards me; I rolled back and ran. While dodging the books, I found the singing child, I cast the miracle and stunned the child, I repeated the process with two others, the barrier broke and Rennala fell to the ground.
Therefore, I continued my attack.
"AAAHHH!" Rennala screamed in pain.
After a few hits, I saw that the barrier was about to reform; I walked away from Rennala and prepared myself to find the next child.
I found her as I crossed the library, dodging the fire jets and head-butts that the children threw at me, I approached the child I cast Force again.
Then circled the library, dodging attacks until I stunned the last child and Rennala fell into the center of the library, her amber egg rolling away.
I ran towards Rennala and kept my attack.
"Alden, that's enough! She's already defeated!" Godwyn screamed.
I stopped with my sword raised in the air when I heard Godwyn's screams, I looked at Rennala. She was covered in cuts; she ignored me and dragged herself on the floor, towards the amber egg.
"Ahh, my beloved… Have no fear, I will hold thee. Patience. Ye will be countless born, forever and ever." Rennala said, dragging herself.
I lowered my sword, I think that's enough.
"It's over, Alden, just grab the great rune, and leave her alone." Godwyn said beside me.
Agreeing to Godwyn's request, I approached the amber egg. Suddenly, dark smoke came out of the egg and rose in the air, forming a ball.
"What is that?" I asked, pointing my staff toward the smoke ball.
"I have no idea." Godwyn answered.
"Upon my name as Ranni the Witch."
A voice came out from within the smoke ball.
"RANNI! Listen here, you damn traitor, come out from where you are and face me!" Godwyn yelled angrily.
Smoke filled the library and Rennala was enveloped in blue light.
"Mother's rich slumber shall not be disturbed by thee."
As Rennala was enveloped in the blue light, something came out of it. It was a second Rennala, standing regally and walking towards me.
"Listen, the fight is over! Just let us take the great rune and go without a hitch!" I screamed, but the voice continued.
It seemed that it was a message recorded with a spell, there was no point in trying to dialogue.
"Foul trespasser. Send words far and wide."
Wasting no time, I cast a Dark Orb at the approaching Rennala, she swung her staff, slamming into my spell and dispelling it. This will be harder than it looks.
Smoke enveloped the entire library, and the new Rennala stopped glowing and took on the appearance of the original Rennala.
"Of the last Queen of Caria, Rennala of Full Moon…"
I'll have to fight seriously, Rennala is the most powerful sorceress in the Lands Between, even if the person in front of me isn't she, and I can't take this lightly. I equipped a series of rings in addition to the ones already on my fingers.
Dispelling Ring, Ring of Knowledge, Ring of Prayer and Lingering Dragon Crest Ring.
"And the majesty of the night, she conjureth."
Rennala pointed her staff at me, at the same time a large full moon appeared behind her as the ground turned into the surface of a lake.
"I don't know if you can understand me, but as a sorcerer to another sorcerer, it's an honor to face you." I said, doing a duel bow.
Rennala's answered by raising her staff, accumulating magic in it, and firing a magic beam in my direction, I rolled to the left, letting it pass by my side, and cast Dark Orb.
Rennala quickly spun her staff in the air, dissipating the orb.
I ran towards Rennala and cast Affinity, the masses of darkness floated above me. Rennala swung her staff, casting Glinstone Stars, the stars stood still for a second before darting towards me.
I ran to the left without moving away from Rennala, and as I ran, I got close enough for the Affinities to fire.
The masses of darkness hit Rennala in the chest, creating dark explosions and making Rennala scream in pain, forcing her to jump away from me, meanwhile, I ran away from the stars and I rolled between the spells until they lost the power and disappeared.
Rennala summoned a line of crystals shards and shot them towards me; I ran towards the crystals and rolled out of the way when they got close.
As I approached, I pointed my staff at Rennala and cast Dark Hail, shards of darkness hit Rennala at great speed, throwing her back.
Rennala cast a mass of crystal in the air; this mass exploded and fired fragments toward me, piercing my chest, arms, and legs. I grunted in pain after receiving the attack.
I moved away from Rennala while pulling out some crystals stuck in my body, blood spilling from my wounds and staining the lake red.
Then Rennala threw her staff towards me, the staff made an arc in the air and hit me in the side of the head, taking off my helmet with a metallic noise.
When pulling the last crystal from my body, I ran towards Rennala, it could be my impression, but for a moment I saw Rennala's eyes widen and the lake disappear, revealing the library.
I swung my sword towards Rennala, and she blocked it with her staff, with my free hand, I cast Dark Greatsword, slashing Rennala and causing an explosion of darkness, but Rennala endured the blow.
Rennala spun her staff in front of herself, forcing me away; Rennala then leaped back as she fired a spell after spell at me.
When Rennala landed, she knelt on the ground, a magic sigil forming at her feet. As she cast her spell, the surroundings alternated between the full moon and the library.
When the spell ended, three wolves came running towards me, I waited for the wolves to approach and when they got close enough, I held my chime and casted Dark Storm.
A tornado of darkness erupted around me, hitting the wolves and making them disappear, but before I could concentrate on Rennala, I was hit by a powerful magic beam.
I flew away, landing on the lake a few seconds later. When I got up, I saw the Glinstone Stars coming towards me again.
I ran across the lake, away from the stars, simultaneously Rennala curled up in the air, turning into a full moon. The moon stood still for a few seconds before flying towards me.
I ran faster, moving away from the stars, and when the moon got closer, I jumped forward. I escaped the spell, but felt the powerful magic blast that came right after.
I drank from my flask of crimson tears, and then cast Dark Weapon. Covering my sword in the darkness, I ran towards Rennala, who was recovering from her attack.
I landed several blows, the darkness in my weapon dealing additional damage, leaving bleeding cuts across the body of the queen.
Rennala spun her staff in front of me again, but this time I was prepared. I jumped back, dodging the attack, unfortunately, that gave Rennala time to back away.
"C-come, oath-sworn d-dragon!" Rennala stuttered as she knelt, a sigil appearing at her feet again.
I cast Whispers of Despair toward Rennala; a transparent sphere hit her in the chest, covering her with a dark aura.
Simultaneously, the spirit of a dragon appeared above Rennala, the dragon landed in the lake and spit fire towards me.
I lit my pyromantic flame and cast Flash Sweat, sweating profusely, and ran towards the flames. When the fire approached, I jumped forward, using my arms to protect my face.
When I crossed the flames, I saw the spirit of a Bloodhound Knight leaping towards me.
Our swords collided in midair, and Rennala created another mass of crystals. As the crystals approached, the Yorgh Ring reflected them. The invisible barrier that the ring created around my body finally being useful.
I pointed my staff at the Bloodhound Knight and used the ash of war; my staff spun and hit the Knight repeatedly, making him back away.
When the knight backed away, I ran towards him and cast Dark Hail at his face, the knight disappeared right after.
"C-come o-oath-sworn Troll!" Rennala screamed.
A magic sigil appeared above me and something fell out of it. I jumped back, but was pushed away by the shockwave from the Troll hitting the ground.
My feet skidded across the surface of the lake, but I kept my ground.
Seeing me, the Troll let out a mighty roar and rushed in my direction, I pointed my staff at the Troll's head and cast Dark Fog; I doubted it would be poisoned, but my spell was enough to blind it.
I ran under the Troll's legs towards Rennala. I heard a roar and the sound of heavy footsteps behind me.
I realized that Rennala was casting another magic beam, when the spell came towards me, I crouched down as much as I could, letting the beam pass over my head, then I pointed my sword upwards.
With darkness enveloping my blade and Rennala's defense being reduced, I pierced her through her heart with ease.
I stood face-to-face with Rennala, her staff fell from her hands and she stared at me with a distant gaze.
Rennala lifted both hands and placed them on the sides of my face, simultaneously, the environment quickly alternated between the full moon and the library.
"Dear?" Rennala asked.
A strong white light blinded me. When it disappeared, I was lying on the floor, back in the library. In front of me were the great rune and Rennala's remembrance.
I kept both in my bag. As I got up, I realized that my helmet was beside me, I picked it up, but before I could put it on, I heard footsteps coming towards me.
Looking forward, I stood face-to-face with a blue robe. Looking up, I saw Rennala staring at me. How tall is she?
Rennala stared at me silently. This was getting weird, so I decided to break the silence.
"Hello." I smiled and waved at her.
Immediately, a big smile appeared on Rennala's face. She reached down, put her arms around me, and lifted me off the ground with a hug.
"Radagon, I knew you would come back to me!" Rennala yelled, spinning me around.
"RADAGON/RADAGON!" Godwyn and I screamed simultaneously.
"Godwyn, where have you been?!?" I asked as Rennala spun me around.
"I'm the one who should as you that! After that smoke cloud swallowed everything, you and Rennala stared at each other and let out pained screams. In a moment you even threw your helmet away!" Godwyn answered.
"So we were in some sort of illusion?"
"Probably." Godwyn replied.
Rennala stopped spinning me and held me in front of her face.
"I knew you wouldn't be with Marika, that harlot." Rennala said.
"Hey! It's my mother you're talking about!" Godwyn screamed.
"But never mind, the important thing is that you're here! Let me show you how much I missed you!" Rennala said, bringing me closer to her face.
"Wait! Lady Rennala! What are you doing?"
Then Rennala covered my face with kisses.
"HAHAHA! Just wait until Radagon hears about this!" Godwyn fell to the ground, laughing and pointing at me.
"This isn't funny! Lady Rennala, please stop!" I begged.
"What's wrong dear? You don't have to be so formal with me. Did something happen?" Rennala asked.
"Could you put me down?" I asked.
"Oh! Of course! I'm so sorry; I was touched by your return, just wait until Ranni, Rykard, and Radhan hear about it. We'll have a great celebration." Rennala said, putting me down.
Godwyn and I cringed at the names of the other demigods. Rennala's broken mind blocked out a lot.
"Is there a problem?" Rennala asked with a smile.
"No!" I replied nervously.
"I am happy about that, we have a lot to talk about, and we must announce your return to everyone. Oh! I almost forgot about the gift you gave me." Rennala said, walking to the center of the library and picking up the amber egg.
I saw that on the other side of the library, there were two chests. Maybe the crown was in one of them.
Approaching the first one, I couldn't open it in any way, so I decided to try the other. In addition, when I opened it, I found a note inside.
"If you seek the crown, come to my tower."
— Renna
Renna? The ghost that inhabited the doll body? I need to find that tower right away.
"Godwyn, come with me! We have to find a tower!" I said, walking towards the library door.
"A tower?" Godwyn asked and I showed him the note.
"This could be a trap." Godwyn replied.
"I know, but it's the only lead I have at the moment as to the whereabouts of the crowns."
"Oh! Are you already leaving? I will accompany you, everyone in Liurnia must know of your return." Rennala said, holding the amber egg under her arm.
I looked at the amber egg and saw bright bugs coming out of it, a sign that there was a memory to be accessed.
Not this time, I've made enough changes in the history of the Lands Between; maybe I'll visit memory later when I'm ready.
"Will you accompany me?" I asked hesitantly.
Walking around with Liurnia's ruler will draw a lot of attention.
"Of course! We have a lot to talk about, and now that you're back, I won't let you go ever again." Rennala said, smiling at me.
I looked at Godwyn with a pleading look, but Godwyn shrugged, not knowing what to do.
With a sigh, I put on my helm and let Rennala follow me. Nevertheless, suddenly the library shook.
"Honey, what is that?" Rennala asked.
"I don't know." I replied.
The chandeliers shook, books fell from the shelves, the library ceiling cracked, and something heavy went through it and fell to the floor. The created a dust cloud.
I saw a red light shining in the cloud, with the swing of a sword, the cloud dissipated, revealing The Pursuer.
"Him again?!?" Godwyn exclaimed.
"YOU DON'T GET TIRED OF CHASING ME?!?" I yelled at the Pursuer as I readied my weapons.
"Friend of yours, dear?" Rennala asked, smiling innocently.
END OF THE CHAPTER