Zarek drifts within the shadowed chambers, eyes glued to the glistening object that floats above like a chandelier. Its glassine form reflects its own light, illuminating the top of the chamber like the constellations hung from the ceiling.
The radiant glow, a molten wash, coats the man's dark armour. A magnificent warmth, a visceral tremor, slides down his throat.
Memories that once seemed dark begin to align in his mind as a pathway to the very moment he ascertained his prized jewel.
A piece of Mani, a piece of godspark, finally a step closer to his ultimate goal.
The creaking doors crack open and breaks his moment of bliss as new lights intrude this sacred moment. Zarek turns and his eyes come to meet those he dispatched to Duke Clarion.
"You failed to get me the bloody crescent moon and yet you disturb this very moment, I savour the feels of it's glorious light", he says.
They all bow, "Forgive us master", "Have you located the other three pieces of the moon?" "No master", Malice responds, "Good thing I know where the other one is", he says with a smile.
"The moon broke into four pieces. I have one, the dragon has one. Now I can't send you after him knowing you will fail so I will send you after the third, in High Town.
I have a spy in the King's court. She sent word that Freya, the golden warrior, was arrested and the godspark taken from her. It is now in the care of the Queen whom it was used to revive", he says as he floats downward.
Hands behind his back as his eyes stay on them with a frown, "Malice, Celsius, I want you on this. It is meant to be silent, you can't possibly take on all the guards of the castle so you must sneak in, your expertise Celsius.
As for you Malice, I want you to finish the job, kill them and bring me my prize", he says.
"What about the rest of us master?", Rivena asks, her head bowed low while her hair falls forward, "Await Anarchy".
Zarek waves his hand and a portal opens, "Celsius, Malice, go".
ROLANDIA
Kane watches Braga win his third battle. From what he has seen he could actually win more with his technique and strength.
Watching and being around him has opened his eyes to the wisdom of the Champion of Pyrrhus.
He prolongs battle to give interest to the audience unlike Kane who detests these battles and would settle for an easy win, if he can.
The crowd cheers his name, "Braga!", even with their little numbers his name vibrates through their lips.
Kane finally understands why he was champion, it wasn't just because of his skill in the arena, but because he is a good showman.
He stretches the battle, controlling it to please the crowd, eventually gaining their favour and increasing his fame.
Kane accepts, Braga truly is a gladiator and he himself, is a slave fighting for mere survival. Braga is the craft of gladiatorial battle.
So much so that even he must accept the brute's prowess in the arena.
Kane walks up to Chandler, eyes heavy with expectation, "What?", the sly fox asks with an eye brow arced upward. "My guy won again.
By the stipulations of the bet I believe we are owed a reward", "You know, fighters shouldn't be betting on themselves" "A rule you did not put in place. We will take that alongside our payment", Kane says.
"Payment?".
"You little rascal devil. You want to extort me of more money", Chandler complains, dangling the shoulders of his attire.
He sits on the third floor of the nine storey circular shaped behemoth of a building.
A reserved position for himself and his guards while still staying close to the action of the arena where he can see the action for himself.
Kane chuckles and folds his arms, "You must think this is a joke, you know when my giant friend comes back from the arena he isn't going to be happy about money owed to us", he says with a sly look in his eyes.
They both stare into each other's eyes. Their gazes, a silent duel; each awaits, poised, for the other's resolve to falter.
"You can stare at my pretty eyes all you want but it doesn't change the fact that none of your guys here are going to be able to stop him", "He is your partner, right?", Chandler beats the tips of his fingers together.
"Good. Get him", he orders.
Noises and scattered metal dangle from above as spectators are drawn to the upper seats, where they can see Kane jumping off from and landing inside the arena.
He rolls a bit before getting his grip on the floor just to land beside Braga who head-butts his opponent, prior to the intrusion.
"We have to run. That fucker tried to rip us off and I stole his money, so run", "Ten gold coins for whoever gets me their head", Chandler shouts from above, blood trickling down his nose while he rubs a bruised cheek.
Braga grunts, a frown worn upon his face, still he runs alongside Kane, charging through whatever forces stand between them.
"I thought the stealing was supposed to be the Halfborn's trick", Braga asks as they run through the underground maze, aiming routes that would take them to the other side of the wall.
"If he was nicer I wouldn't have picked up this talent so it is really his fault", he says just before he ducks a swing from a fire lit blade.
He shifts behind his attacker and performs a suplex that knocks him unconscious, "You are quite strong for your size", Braga grunts as they make haste to safety abode.
MEANWHILE IN HIGH TOWN
The queen floats in the air, arms outstretched as she takes in a whiff of the air, scents of earth and water linger.
Her hair floats behind her, black and straight, her skin retain their pale colours but her cheeks and her lips take brighter ones as they come to life.
She laughs and turns around, gently while floating in the air. She lands on her feet, a wicked smile drawn across her lips as she eyes her husband.
"You did it my love", she says.
"Of course my love. I would do anything for you", he says. A smile on his lips as tears hide behind his eyes, "You are completely healed", he mutters.
She hugs him and suddenly kisses him. Deep and passionate, like one starved of affection.
"I can't believe this, I can't believe this. I am so beautiful", she walks around and stumbles upon the mirror on one side of the room walls.
Her body looks meaty, smooth and pale like a white snake's scale.
She moves swiftly and carries her husband outside, on the balcony while she raises her head up to enjoy the rays of the sun's glory whilst hugging the king in the air.
They hover above the crimson coloured chairs on the balcony.
He is shocked by her new found strength but his heart and curiosity softens within her embrace.
Suddenly, a crackle shimmers in the atmosphere. Quickly killing her spirits as her senses become sharp with alert.
A portal opens on the balcony, the king and queen stare from a good distance as two figures make their way through the portal.
Both with hair white as ale foam, one of pink skin and the other with fair human skin. They both dress strangely with masks to cover the lower parts of their face.
Malice and Celsius stand before the royals of High Town.
Celsius looks around with a lazy gaze while Malice holds an intense glare toward the King and Queen.
"Wow, the master's spell is hella accurate".
"It would seem you have something that does not belong to you, Your Majesty?", Malice says.
"We want it back".
The Queen holds the pink skin's glare, not fretting for a bit, "You have to do better than that if you really want it, because I won't be departing from it anytime soon", she says.
"Now get out of my home or find your heads at the end of a stake", the King growls.
In a flash, Celsius appears in front of them. Sharp claws stick out of his fingers, fast moving to tear out the King's throat but this attack on royalty is stopped.
The Queen catches him by the wrist and in that moment of shock he glances at her to see a hint of madness gleaming behind those red eyes.
She grits her teeth and a growl escapes her lips.
Her tight grip begins to turn his white skin to a pinkish pale and almost immediately his eyes respond with a yellowish glow.
Before Celsius can make a move, the Queen throws him against the wall.
Her face takes an ugly and vicious look as she snarls and hisses, "You dare attempt to put your hand on my king, my husband. You are dead", she says.
She charges like a ravenous beast, eyes turned blood red, a predator unleashed.
Falcon-swift, she strikes, only to be snared, held fast by chains of amethyst light.
They tie her down.
She struggles and sees Malice at the other end of the spell that binds her.
The pink skin also struggles to maintain her grip on the queen, "Kill the bitch", she shouts, forcing Celsius to action.
But he isn't the only one forced into action.
A golden blade appears in the King's hand and he swings heavily to cut off the chains, just as the queen receive claws across her throat.
Blood trickles down her neck and Celsius puts some space between them, confident in his work against her flesh.
They watch and wait for her to bleed out only to see her torn neck close back up and her eyes carry more fury.
She dashes forward to catch Celsius but he dodges, moving fast to escape her attacks. He comes close to the king, dodging a swing of his blade as it goes over his head.
Malice intercedes, landing a kick to the King's chest while shooting a purple beam of light at the Queen.
She charges at the queen, hands covered in magic glow like gloves.
She punches and kicks the queen with an array of martial art skills unfathomable to the royal.
Attacks encased in magic, the queen feels every bit of it as they sting her healthy flesh.
But soon her eyes begin to keep up and her body begins to respond.
"Finally", she snarls as she grabs Malice's hands. She opens her mouth and two fangs shoot out as her mouth opens beyond its normal means.
Before she can get a bite in, Celsius delivers a devastating hit to her head, smashing one of the chairs on her head while Malice blasts a ball of flame to her chest.
"No!", the king screams and swings his blade, releasing a torrent of bladed wind that tears at the intruders' flesh.
They keep distance while nursing bleeding wounds, "I won't ask again, get away from my wife", golden sword in hand, the King stands ready to fight for his woman.