Godslayer Arc 1.26 - Questions

“Forge-Knight, that is a most useful set of powers that you have,” says Drakvar as he sips at his cup of tea.

“As are your own,” replies the Forge-Knight in question as she sips at her own tea, “It must be useful to remain unaffected by magical attacks.”

“It is very much so Karola,” agrees Drakvar.

“This tea is very good,” says Valen as he also sips his tea.

“I concur, but I will admit that I prefer coffee to tea,” says Karola.

Drakvar is silent as he considers the powers of Forge-Knight Karola Manlin. The young woman has received an enhanced body much like Drakvar, Jordis and Shocker, but her own powers are different to any of theirs.

Now I think about it, I don’t even know what Shocker’s powers are.

But Karola’s are interesting to him. She has two minor powers of being able to identify any material that she can sense while also being able to analyse anything that she can sense. Admittedly those powers are rather weak, but even then, they would be extremely useful on their own.

No, it is Karola’s third power that has Drakvar’s attention. The ability to create powerful weapons, armours and gadgets. Such as her mechanised heavy plate armour and shoulder-mounted autocannon.

These weapons are not of magic and yet surpass any conventional counterparts.

“So why are you here?” asks Drakvar as he decides to get to the heart of matter.

“What do you mean?” replies Karola.

“Kar’mire,” clarifies Drakvar, “You hail from the West, but here you are in the capital of the South.”

“Ah, I am looking for my brother,” answers Karola as she puts down her cup of tea, “He is three years older dan me and moved down here when I was just turning sixteen. About three, no four years now.”

“Come to tell him about your new abilities in person?” inquires Valen.

“Yes and no,” says Karola, “I do wish to show him what I can do, but my main reason is dat I haven’t heard from him in a while. It was only a few days, but we were in regular contact using an old radio system dat I fixed up. So I came down here a few days ago to meet him only to find dat his district was quarantined.”

“The Thirteenth?” guesses Drakvar with a sinking feeling.

“Yes,” confirms Karola, “I suppose it is de only district dat has been quarantined recently and as I’m sure you know, nobody has seen or heard from anybody in de Thirteenth District since it got quarantined. So in de meantime, I put together a small forge, dis armour and de cannon.”

“We know why de Thirteenth District was quarantined and why nobody has been heard from,” says Valen darkly as he throws a grim look towards Drakvar which Drakvar has no problems returning.

“Why is dat?” asks Karola.

“A god-like otherworldly being who is responsible for your powers showed up and killed everybody in se Thirteenth District,” answers Valen bluntly, “It took Sir Galamin, se Ordic and Sentinel Dorrin to drive it away from our world.”

Drakvar grimaces as he watches Karola gape at Valen, her face locked in an expression of horror. But that expression soon changes into one of cold fury.

“Tell me all that you know,” demands Karola in a solemn voice, her face hard, “I need to know it all.”

And so they do and between them, Drakvar and Valen fill in Karola up until the part where Valen got his arm ripped off. At that point, Drakvar instinctively raises his arm just in time to block Shocker’s electric bolt.

“Hello Shocker,” says Drakvar as he turns to face the Champion of the Ti’darkei Order.

“Don’t call me that!” shouts Shocker as she blasts him again, but Drakvar is too stunned by the sight before him to even bother trying to blocking her latest assault.

In Drakvar’s eyes, Shocker is the same as before, but just more beautiful. He had realised that her Manifestation had increased her already good looks, but is it only now with her new armour that he has realised how gorgeous and alluring that she actually is.

Shocker is now just over two metres tall, but still not quite as tall as Drakvar. Her brown fur and hair is silky while her bright green eyes glisten. Her armour is the same gold and white plates with the Ti’darkei symbol, but has been reshaped to accommodate for her new and most magnificent curves and Drakvar can’t help, but stare. Her cloak hangs loosely around her shoulders while headset is still in place even if it isn’t turned on.

Oh, she is truly beautiful.

“What are you looking at?” demands Shocker as she blasts Drakvar again.

“You,” answers Drakvar, again not bothering to block the latest attack as he is still dumbstruck by Shocker’s beauty.

Meanwhile Valen begins to laugh and Shocker turns her glare on him and blasts Drakvar again.

“Who is this?” asks Karola as she watches the scene unfold.

“I am Champion Miskara Stormmistress of the Ti’darkei Order,” Shocker introduces herself, “And who might you be?”

“I am Forge-Knight Karola Manlin,” replies Karola.

“A Forge-Knight?” repeats Shocker in an inquiring tone, “And what exactly are you wearing?”

***

Drakvar smiles at Jordis as he looks at the young girl sitting on his lap as she reads one of her books.

He treasures the young Kithen greatly and enjoys spending time with her. Just as he enjoys spending time with Shocker and Valen.

“Family is a wonderful thing to have,” says Sir Galamin from next to Drakvar and he jumps in surprise.

Where did he come from?!

“Yeah,” agrees Drakvar as he looks over to where Valen, Shocker and Karola are explaining things to each other, drinking some fresh tea that Drakvar prepared for them, “Do you want some tea Master?”

“No thank you Squire,” replies Sir Galamin, “But thank you for the offer.”

“So why are you here?” inquires Drakvar.

“The Forge-Knight,” answers Sir Galamin, “Her creations are not the first of their kind to exist on Lyatar.”

“What do you mean?” asks Drakvar.

“The Knights of Deltae that brought about civilisation so long ago used technology not magic to achieve their miracles,” answers Sir Galamin, “Now Squire, I would like a combat analysis of the Revenant Mechanical Units.”

Godslayer Arc 1.23 Revelations Part 2

“So what happened to Solara?” asks Drakvar as he stares down at the warrior-spirit in question, taking in her new appearance.

While her form primarily remains the same, it has taken a new look to it with fire replacing the light.

Where Solara was once white with gold plates of armour, she is now the colour of fire with black plates of armour. The white strands of light on her head have been replaced by locks made entirely of flames.

“I told you, she got destabilised by de Avatar of Paradise idiot,” replies Valen as he leans against the wall, “So to keep her from giving worse, I used my Grandfather’s pipe to fix her up and well, you can see de results. And it was my Grandfather who earn my family name of Greatflame.”

“So Solara is alright?” inquires Drakvar further, seeking confirmation.

“Yeah,” confirms Valen, “De only difference is dat Solara is a fire spirit now rather than a light spirit.”

“I already knew that,” says Jordis from where she is seating on a chair, an open book on her lap, “I spent the last two days with her while you two and been off together and Sir Galamin and the Ordic have been doing something and Shocker has been with her friends in the Inner Districts.”

“De idiot didn’t know,” points out Valen.

“Valen is right,” agrees Drakvar.

“Okay,” says Jordis as she goes back to reading her book.

To Drakvar’s surprise, Valen begins to laugh.

“What is so funny?” inquires Drakvar, confused at his friend’s behaviour.

“I’m just realising how well we fit in with each other because we don’t fit in at all,” explain Valen, “By de standards of society, we are freaks and outcasts, but dat is what draws us together. Never have I felt like a greater outcast than I am right now, but dis is also de first time I have truly felt like I belong.”

“I would comment on it myself, but this is all I know,” replies Drakvar, “You, Solara and Jordis are the closest people I have to family because I don’t even know who I am biologically related to. I have parents and a younger sister from what Shocker said, but I don’t know more than that.”

“I don’t have much family myself,” admits Valen, “Ma and pa died back when I was real young. My aunt and Divine-damned uncle took in my sister, but didn’t take me. De blasted gib hated my father and effectively casted me out of my own family. De Church did take me in and I’ve been part of it ever since. I suppose one of the reasons I want to improve my fire magic to strengthen my connection to my family. To me, my Light Magic represent my connection to the Church while my Fire Magic represents my connection to my family.”

Drakvar is about to reply when lightning comes flying towards him. Clearing noting it is supernatural origin and having a good of idea of who is behind it, Drakvar just ignore it as do Valen and Jordis.

“Hey Shocker,” says Drakvar as the Champion of Ti’darkei Order enters and in response, he receives more lightning.

“Don’t call me that!” says Shocker with a glare at Drakvar as Sir Galamin follows her into the room.

“I have brought Shocker so we can discuss recent events given how all of you have been affected,” states Sir Galamin.

“Okay, but there is something I wish to tell you first,” says Shocker.

“If it is about your super strength, senses and whatnot from birth, we already know about that,” replies Valen bluntly to Shocker’s shock, “Actually, we know more about it than you do probably given that we know the origins and extent of such powers.”

“How?” demands Shocker, still slightly shocked.

“Do you know of Saints?” inquires Sir Galamin.

“Those guys from Jord Mythology? Do you really expect me to believe in nonsense like that?” replies Shocker sarcastically and Valen begins to laugh, “What?”

“You found out magic is real, you got your powers and you’re speaking to the First Saint himself,” explains Valen through his laughter, “And yet you still believe the supernatural is impossible and just dismiss it like a typical Southerner.”

“T-that isn’t true,” protests Shocker in indignation, “B-but, that would...”

“Yes Champion Miskara,” says Sir Galamin, “You are Champion Miskara Stormmistress the Second Saint of Mirra.”

“That is-just no,” sputters Shocker in shock before letting out a nervous laugh, “Imp-impossible-Gah!”

With a cry of wild frustration, Shocker sends a bolt of electricity at Drakvar, who instinctively raises a hand to block it.

Sir Galamin gives Shocker a look and the newly declared Second Saint looks away in slight embarrassment.

“Would you like me to explain to you what Saints and Demigods are and what it means in your case?” asks Sir Galamin to the flushed Shocker.

“Yes, I really would,” replies Shocker in a quiet voice as she looks down at the floor.

“There are twenty Demigods and Saints in total,” says Sir Galamin as Shocker sits down on a chair next to Drakvar, “Each of which are rated by how powerful they are as a Saint or Demigod. As I am the strongest, I am the First Saint. I can tell from observing you that you are one of the top three and since I am the First and Grandmaster Loric is the Third, you must be the Second.”

“Oh,” mutters Shocker, “So you lot already know about my abilities?”

“Yes,” replies Sir Galamin, “And each Demigod or Saint has a connection to one of the Elder Gods or Four Divines respectively. Demigods means Those Born Of The Gods while Saints means Those Blessed By The Gods. From your electrical powers, you are clearly tied to Mirra, Lightning Soldier and Storm Goddess.”

“How does that work?” asks Miskara hesitantly, sounding very nervous, “Did this Goddess of yours pick me at birth or something?”

“De ties between a Divine and a Saint are formed at birth and without de input of the Divine,” explains Valen, “But de Saint is always someone acceptable to de Divine.”

“Saints and Demigods are always exceptional and rise to position of power while they are young,” continues Sir Galamin, “And only partially because those who know what a Saint or Demigod is want to get them under the control. Such as Alisarr and Dorrin.”

“So I was picked as the Champion because I am a Saint,” says Shocker, very distressed at the idea.

“No Champion Miskara,” replies Sir Galamin firmly, “You were picked because you are more than capable of fulfilling that duty. The fact you are a Saint just helped them realise your talent early.”

“Oh thank the Gods!” exclaims Shocker, clearly relieved at the news.

“I would also recommend not using your headset,” says Sir Galamin, “As a Saint, your powers run on Mana and Psychics used a fine balance of Chi and Mana. Due to the incompatible of Chi and Mana, your Psychic focuser is limiting your abilities rather than enhancing them in the case of the majority of Psychics as the use of Chi weakens your Mana-powered Saint abilities.”

“Oh, alright,” says Shocker and she pushes a button on her headset and the lights on it flicker and die.

“Now, if you wish for further training, you would be more than welcome to join the session in which I train my Squire Drakvar,” says Sir Galamin, “You know where to find us.”

“I will take you up on that offer,” replies Shocker.

“Now, we must discuss the powers you got from the Deceiver Entity...”

Godslayer Arc 1.18 Avatar of Paradise

“So where are we going Drakvar?” asks Jordis as she skips down the street with Drakvar following her from behind.

“The bookstore so I can buy you a book of your choice,” answers Drakvar, “Though I have no idea why you lead me to the Thirteenth District.”

And I would much rather avoid this District. The people here are strange. They just feel off to me in some manner. Not to mention not a single one has made physical contact with me. And they just look so strange. Almost as if they aren’t there at all.

Something is off here. Frankly, I am half-minded to simply take Jordis and leave this District. Perhaps come back with one of the others to check it out.

“Yay!” replies Jordis as she scampers over to Drakvar and wraps her arms around him in a hug, “Thank you Drakvar!”

“Don’t forget to thank Shocker as well when you next see her,” says Drakvar as Jordis runs back ahead of him again, “I am only able to do this because of her generous gift of money.”

“I will!” says Jordis as she turns the corner and pauses suddenly.

Sensing something wrong, Drakvar runs around the corner, halting as he steps in front of Jordis. He too pauses as he looks up at the sight that awaits him.

Whatever it is, it is absolutely massive, a giant swarm of swirling energy of infinite colours as it engulfs the entire street.

How can such a thing go unnoticed?

But even as he thinks that, Drakvar knows all too well how this thing could have avoided detection.

Acting on instinct, Drakvar steps in front of Jordis, placing himself between her and this...thing.

And it turns out to be just in time as the mere second he gets in front of Jordis, Drakvar is blasts by two beams of light.

They don’t blind him like Solara’s attacks did and like with all supernatural forces, they cease to exist as they make contact with Drakvar.

“Run Jordis!” yells Drakvar as the abomination unleash more attacks at him.

These attacks are much more varied with focused water, fire, energy, electricity, ice, and many other forms of attacks including a few that Drakvar doesn’t recognise.

But as always, they are completely ineffective against him. Unfortunately for him however, they do tear up the street around him.

Needing some more stable ground on which to stand, Drakvar jumps backwards and glances at Jordis, but the girl is already gone.

The abomination forms another creature out of purple-black energy. The creature is roughly Kithoid, but has a hazy, misty look to it.

Similar to a Warrior-Spirit, but...different. Just different. And wrong.

The creature glides swiftly across the ground as it races towards Drakvar. Drakvar counters charges and slams his entire body into the creature as much as he can as they connect with each other.

As he expected would happen, the creature is destroyed as it makes contact with Drakvar. Drakvar prepares to charge the unnatural abomination, only to halt as he hears Jordis cry out.

With one swift motion, Drakvar turns on his heel and sprints down the street and around the corner that he and Jordis came around.

He glimpses Jordis at the far end of the street, being set upon by Kith locals.

They must be under the thrall of this abomination.

With an angry roar, Drakvar runs down the street and racing towards Jordis.

“Drakvar!” shrieks Jordis as the Kith attackers begin to grab her, “Save me!”

As he sprints towards Jordis, Drakvar doesn’t notice the abomination consuming the buildings on either side of him or the sky above him. Instead he focuses on Jordis, smashing to the crowd of Kith surrounding her.

Both to his surprise and not to his surprise, the Kith disappear as they make contact with Drakvar. The parts that touch him simply vanish while the rest of their bodies dissolve into smoke before fading away into the sky.

What has happened to the people of the Thirteenth District?

Just as Drakvar is about to reach the screaming Jordis, tendrils from the abomination whip down, seizing Jordis and snatching her away from Drakvar. He is helpless to watch as something flows from the abomination into Jordis.

No! No! NO! NO! NO!

With a wild howl, Drakvar feels power following through his body, strengthening it and focusing his mind. With this sudden surge of strength, Drakvar leaps as Jordis and wraps all four of his arms around her, yanking the young girl from the tendrils of this otherworldly monster.

Drakvar hits the ground hard, rolling along the street as he holds Jordis tightly against his chest. He glances at her to confirm that she is okay.

Is her fur blue? How did-good, she is still breathing.

Still clutching the now blue-furred and silver-haired Jordis, Drakvar gets to his feet and glares at the abomination as it and its false Kith surround Drakvar.

I have no idea how to fight this thing let alone beat it. At least we are at an impasse. I might not be able to best it, but it is incapable of besting me.

But at the end of the day, it won’t be able to get Jordis again and that is all that matters.

As Drakvar and the abomination stand off against each other, untold amounts of electricity tears through the air, ripping into the monster and its false Kith.

Shocker? What is she doing here?

As the abomination recoils and the false Kith torn apart, Shocker comes running down the street towards Drakvar and Jordis.

“What is that-” Shocker starts to demand, but is suddenly whacked side without warning by the abomination.

“Shocker!” shouts Drakvar as the Ti’darkei Champion is sent crashing through the window of a shop.

“Do not worry my Squire,” says Sir Galamin in that loud, clear voice of his as he and the Ordic step into with Solara above them and Valen trailing behind him, “I, my father and my daughter shall deal with the Deceiver Entity.”

“Lalf Tokkk Mona!” declares the Ordic as he points his undersized blade at the abomination.

While Drakvar as no idea of what Ordic just said, the abomination clearly seems to as it retreats, disappearing as its unholy mass of swirling colours retracts back down the street.

With the threat gone, Drakvar feels the sudden of power sustaining him fade and his knees give out as he collapses and falls into unconsciousness. 

Godslayer Arc 1.16 Explanations Part 2

“So dis is where you live?” asks Shocker as she looks around the abandoned factory that Drakvar and others call home.

“Yes,” answers Drakvar, “Me, Valen, Jordis, Solara and Sir Galamin. I started living here after I lost my memories and the others joined me afterwards.”

“But what if de owner tries to use de building again?” presses Shocker, “Or what if somebody buys de land and tries to use it?”

“I don’t know,” Drakvar answers with a shrug.

“Oh,” mutters Shocker, “So where is Sir Galamin?”

“He stays on the floor beneath the top one,” replies Drakvar.

Shocker is silent as Drakvar leads her up to the second to top floor of the factory.

“What are you thinking Shocker?” asks Jordis as she looks up at the older girl.“I used to think dat I lived a lacklustre life style,” replies Shocker, “But compared to dis, I live in de lab of luxury. I mean, what is your financial situation?”

“Valen, Solara and Jordis have no money,” answers Drakvar as he sits down in a chair, “Sir Galamin has plenty of Jord coins while I have a local copper and two tin coins.”

“Dat is all!” exclaims Shocker as she takes a seat next to him and Jordis climbs onto Drakvar’s lap.

“Yes,” answers Drakvar, “At the moment, I am looking for work, but it is hard to do so given my memory loss and that the others are all foreigners.”

“Here,” says Shocker as she pulls out a leather pouch and hands it over to Drakvar, “A coin purse of twenty gold coins. You can also collect bounties for wanted criminals by turning dem into de local Watch Department. Don’t worry about corruptness in de District Authorities as de City Authorities are de ones posting de bounties.”

“Thank you,” replies Drakvar as he accepts the gift from Shocker.

“I am here,” declares Sir Galamin as he enters the room, “Greetings Champion Miskara.”

“Greetings Sir Galamin,” replies Shocker as she politely inclines her heads towards him, “I am awaiting an explanation on yesterday’s events. I am most eager to find out what exactly when on given it violated several of what I used to consider basic beliefs born of common sense.”

“Ah yes, I am aware of the ignorance many Southerners have when it comes to the supernatural,” says Sir Galamin, “I believe the best place to start would be with how magic works before going onto the events that you took part in.”

And so Sir Galamin explains what magic is to Shocker and how it works, very similar to Drakvar’s own conversation with Valen if more detailed. Not before long, Sir Galamin goes into how him, Drakvar and the others all met each other before moving onto the matter with Paliyil Dibar, Fatimir Baric and Verra Baric.

“So dat spear you told me to look after actually contains de soul of a person?” asks Shocker in a shocked voice.

“That would be correct,” replies Sir Galamin, “I assume you are taking good care of Fatimir just as I asked you to?”

“Of course,” replies Shocker, “It-she is currently in de care of my page and I trust my page to care proper care of de spear.”

“So what is going to happen with Paliyil and Fatimir now?” asks Drakvar, speaking for the first time in this discussion.

“Paliyil’s sortel was ripped from Fatimir’s body, something I believed was done by whomever he turned to once he betrayed his former patron so we wouldn’t be able to question him,” answers Sir Galamin, “Unfortunately, that left Fatimir’s body without any soul or mind and in the absence of such, a new one of each was formed.”

“So what does dat mean?” asks Shocker.

“In essence, it means that a new person is inhabiting Fatimir’s body, born only yesterday,” replies Sir Galamin, “I have left this person in the care of Verra Baric since she is technically the mother of this new person.”

“So what about Fatimir den?” continues Shocker, “Can we get her body back to her or will she be trapped in dat spear?”

“Unfortunately, the latter will be the case,” answers Sir Galamin, “Only two souls and only one Kith body, one of them will have to reside in the spear. After I spoke with Fatimir yesterday and explained the situation to her, she decided that she would much rather remain in the spear than inflict the same fate upon someone else that she herself has suffered.”

“I will take care of her den,” says Shocker solemnly.

“Only until I find a new body for Fatimir, a task I will admit may take some time.” says Sir Galamin, “Do you any more questions?”

Shocker hesitates before replying, “Not right now. I need to return to Kar’mire Keep anyway. But I would like to return here in de future if dat is okay.”

“Of course,” replies Sir Galamin, “It has been a pleasure speaking with you Champion Miskara. May the Four Divines guide your way.”

“Bye Shocker!” shouts Jordis as she waves vigorously at the older girl, who in turn winces at the nickname. 

Godslayer Arc 1.14 Paliyil Part 2

“What happened?” demands Drakvar as Valen comes to a halt next to him, the wall of light in front of them disappearing.

“Paliyil teleported away idiot,” explains Valen, “Don’t worry, I got a trace on de blaster’s Chi. She is only a few blocks away.”

“You lead the way then,” says Drakvar.

“Wait Pakdar!” shouts Shocker as she comes running down the alley, “What on Lyatar are you doing?”

“Hey Shocker,” says Drakvar as he and Valen turn to face, “We’re-”

“Don’t call me Shocker Pakdar!” screams Shocker as she unleashes a massive blast of electricity at Drakvar.

He blocks it with one of his arms with a sigh.

“Friend of yours idiot?” asks Valen with amusement.

“No, just a psychopathic girl who keeps attacking me,” replies Drakvar.

“What did you just call me Pakdar?” demands Shocker as she sends another burst of electricity at Drakvar with the same results as always.

“Let’s go idiot,” says Valen as he turns away from Shocker, “We can’t let Paliyil get away.”

“Right,” agrees Drakvar as Valen breaks into a run and Drakvar chases after him.

“What is going on?” demands Shocker as she keeps pace with Drakvar and Valen, easily running alongside them, “Who is Paliyil? Do you know why all this chaos is happening?”

“Stay out of this,” says Valen brusquely, “It is too dangerous for normal folks to get involved with. Even a Psychic.”

“I am no normal person or some mere Psychic,” replies Shocker briskly, “I am Miskara Stormmistress, Champion of de Ti’darkei Order and one of two Level 6 Psychics.”

“I don’t care,” retorts Valen bluntly, “But since you’re tagging along and we don’t have time to shake you, I’ll explain de situation anyway. We’re chasing a powerful Warlock called Paliyil Dibar.”

“Warlock?” scoffs Shocker, “You don’t honestly expect me to believe dat nonsense.”

“Says de Kithen who uses magic of her own,” counters Valen sharply, “If you don’t believe in magic, go and deal with your own business. You have no place here.”

“I am not a Kithen,” replies Shocker angrily, “I am a Champion and I have worked hard to prove myself worth of dat title!”

“Focus,” cuts in Drakvar, finally paying attention to duo’s argument.

“Right idiot,” agrees Valen, “Anyway, Paliyil has gone rogue. Turned against the Elder Gods, slaughtered her cabal and took over de body of her second-in-command, binding her Sortel to her spear.”

“Sounds like a bunch of nonsense,” mutters Shocker.

“Regardless, we are here,” replies Valen as he comes to a halt outside of abandoned warehouse, “Be careful. Given dat Paliyil hasn’t fled, I feel dat she is prepared traps for us in what little time she has had. Lightsword!”

Valen summons a blade of glowing white light to his hand and with it, he hacks open the lock to the warehouse door.

“Follow me,” says Valen as he swings open the warehouse door.

Drakvar steps forward, but Shocker steps in front of him, making him pause.

“I’ll go before you,” says Shocker snootily and she follows Valen into the warehouse a moment later, leaving Drakvar as the last one to enter.

“Take cover!” shouts Valen as soon as Drakvar enters the warehouse, “Light Protection!”

As a twisting bolt of wind flies at Valen, a circle of glowing white light appears in front of it, taking the blow for Valen. Shocker on the other hand isn’t as lucky as another bolt of wind slams into her chest with a vigorous fury.

As Valen blocks another trio of wind bolts with his magic light shield, Drakvar spots another couple of wind bolts heading for the downed Shocker. Leaping into action, Drakvar darts towards Shocker, placing himself between her and the incoming attacks.

As Drakvar expected, the wind bolts disappear upon making contact with him.

“Hey idiot!” shouts Valen as he points to where Paliyil is located on the second level of the warehouse, “De blaster is up dere!”

“Twisted Winds!” casts Paliyil.

“Wall of Light! Valen counter-casts as supernaturally powerful winds comes at them.

The wall of glowing white light appears in front of them and Paliyil’s howling winds smashes against it. Valen’s wall holds, but is clearly damaged by the attack.

A bolt of lightning flies out from behind Drakvar and Valen, twisting and curving so it flies over the wall of light and straight at Paliyil.

“Wind Walk!” shouts Paliyil and she teleports out the way of the lightning bolt, reappearing a mere couple of metres to the side.

But the lightning bolt changes direction, swinging back around to hit Paliyil in the back.

“Ray Hand!” casts Valen, reaching out with one hand at Paliyil as the Warlock is blasted from the second level of the warehouse.

As Paliyil falls and Drakvar runs forward to meet her as she lands, a glowing yellow hand reaches forth from Valen’s outstretched hand and grasps Paliyil’s spear from her loosen grip.

“No!” shrieks Paliyil as she lands on her feet, glaring at Valen, “Aeris109! Breath Theft!”

As Drakvar closes with Paliyil, ready to strike her with his fists, he feels the air being ripped from his lungs, his magic-nullifying power doing nothing to protect him. Drakvar staggers and stumbles, toppling over forwards as he gasps for breathe.

As he panics over his inability to breathe, Drakvar barely hears Valen shout, “Virtus126!” followed by, “Blazing Light Beam!”

A massive beam of white light with an overbearing yellow glow soars over Drakvar’s head and smashes into Paliyil. As Drakvar feels the air returning to his lungs, Paliyil is sent flying across the warehouse and slams into the wall on the far side of the building with a heavy thud.

“I summon de Ancient Warrior-Spirit Solara of de Good Sword!” shouts Valen as Shocker blasts Paliyil with another bolt of electricity before she can recover.

“Soul-” Paliyil starts to cast as she struggles to her feet, only to be cut off as Solara blasts her with a beam of light as the Warrior-Spirit appears in the middle of the warehouse.

“Good work,” says Sir Galamin as he enters the warehouse through the same entrance as the others, “I shall deal with Paliyil and Fatimir now.”

But before any of the group can doing anything, Paliyil screams in pain and terror as a black mist is pulled out of her nose, eyes, mouth and ears by an invisible force. The black mist soon disappears even as Sir Galamin tries to cast a spell.

“Mithias Curse it,” curses Sir Galamin as he strides over to Valen, “Brother Valen, the spear please.”

“Of course Milord,” replies Valen as he hands over the spear to Sir Galamin.

The Knight of the Good Sword strokes the spear one hand and mutters a few words in an unknown language before turning to face Shocker.

“Champion Miskara Stormmistress of the Ti’darkei Order,” says Sir Galamin as he address Shocker, “Take care of this spear. It is the vessel of Fatimir Baric’s soul and mind, whose body was stolen by her traitorous master, Paliyil Dibar. I am trusting you to guard her well.”

“O-of course,” replies Miskara in a stunned voice as she accept the spear from Sir Galamin.

“Brother Valen, Sir Solara and Squire Drakvar,” says Sir Galamin, addressing his group as he strides towards Paliyil’s fallen body, “Please return to Jordis. I shall deal with Fatimir’s body and her mother. Champion Miskara, if you wish to have an explanation, return to the Twelfth District tomorrow.”

Godslayer Arc 1.11 Verra

“You’re holding back aren’t you,” mutters Drakvar as he stumbles backwards after taking another punch from Galamin.

“If I were to unleashed my best, you would not stand a chance,” replies Galamin as he swings another inhumanly quick and extremely accurate punch at Drakvar.

He barely sees it coming and Drakvar is just able to raises his arms to block it in time. But it matters little as the force of the punch is still strong enough to send Drakvar staggering backwards.

I’m certain he can punch harder and faster than that.

“I suppose it is for the best,” grumbles Drakvar as he balances himself again.

“Indeed,” agrees Galamin, “I seek to train you to be experienced against superior foes, not to simply be crushed by them. Regardless, there is another matter I would like you and Valen to assist me with.”

“What is that?” inquires Drakvar as he notices Galamin isn’t sending anymore attacks his way.

“An old friendly acquaintance of mine has requested my assistance in an extremely personal matter of great importance and delicacy,” answers Galamin, “While I am more than capable of completing the task on my own, I felt that you and Valen are more than able in helping me and both of you can do with the valuable experience.”

***

“So where exactly are we going?” asks Valen as he trails behind Galamin and Drakvar.

“To meet with Verra Baric,” replies Galamin without looking back at Valen.

While Valen clearly recognises the name and seems surprised by it, he accepts it without further comment. Drakvar, on the other hand, wishes to know more about the person they are going to meet.

“Who is Verra Baric?” inquires Drakvar.

“One of de most powerful Warlocks alive on Lyatar,” replies Valen, “Not dat I would expect someone like you to know such basic knowledge.”

“Verra Baric is an independent Warlock that serves the Seventh of Knowledge,” answers Galamin, being more helpful in his answer than Valen was, “While she specialises in fire magic, she is more than capable in all of the other magic elements. In fact, Verra is strong enough and skilled enough that she can hold her own against a Saint or Demigod.”

“Something she proved when she engaged de Soldier of Pain,” adds Valen.

“The Soldier of Pain?” inquires Drakvar.

“Idiot,” mutters Valen, “The Soldier of Pain is a Warlock and de Seventeenth Demigod of de Third of War. Very dangerous and known to singlehandedly wipe out entire armies. Hardly anyone would dare fight him willingly. And he’s old. Ancient even.”

“Anyway, we are now here,” declares Galamin as he comes to a halt outside a small bar.

“We’re meeting her in a bar?” asks Drakvar.

“In a private booth,” replies Galamin, “This building is owned and run by a Warlock Cabal. Not Verra’s, but she is respected highly by them.”

Drakvar nods and both he and Valen follow Galamin in as he enters the bar. Once inside, Drakvar notes that everybody is staring at them. Or rather, they are staring at Galamin.

Not at all surprising. This place is a shallow, shady and dull dump that is inhabited primarily by thugs and other criminals. And a Knight in Shining Armour has just stepped in.

“Sir Galamin of de Good Sword?” asks a slightly hunched Kith in black and red robes with several rings dangling from his flesh.

“Of course,” replies Galamin, “I have come with my Squire and a member of the Northern Church to meet Verra Baric.”

“Zhe didn’t mention de other two,” says the Kith, “But zhe iz waiting for you. I shall escort you to her.”

Despite the looks they are getting, the Kith leads the three of them to a small wooden room before standing by the door.

“The Great Verra Baric awaits you inside,” says the Kith with a bow before slinking off.

“Pathetic Warlock,” Drakvar hears Valen mutter under his breath.

Galamin steps inside the booth and with a glance between them, Valen and Drakvar both follow him.

“You brought guests?” says an aging female Kith once they are inside.

The Kith, whom Drakvar assumes is Verra Baric, has pale brown fur with long sleek black hair. Her eyes are hard and cold while her features are regal and aloof. She conceals her body with a pale aqua dress and a brown, black and red shawl around her neck and shoulders.

“They will be helping with this case Verra,” replies Galamin.

“Az long az dey don’t screw diz up,” mutters Verra with a disdainful look towards Drakvar, “My daughter’s very being iz on de line.”

“Oh? Please tell,” says Galamin.

“As you know, Fatimir waz part of de Cabal of Lasting Loyalty, servants of de Zixth of Emotion,” answers Verra, “Of two days ago, their leader, Paliyil Dibar, renounced hiz oaths of loyalty to de Zixth of Emotion and slaughtered hiz entire Cabal short of himzelf and Fatimir.”

Both Galamin and Valen look disgusted at hearing what this Paliyil has done. Even Drakvar feels repulsed by the actions, even if he doesn’t know why.

“But dat izn’t de worst of it,” continues Verra, “Rather dan slay my daughter, de vile filth instead uzed Soul Binding to trap my daughter’s zoul and mind in hiz spear whilst claiming her body for hiz own.”

“I see,” mutters Galamin as he looks thoughtful, “I assume you wish for me to find Paliyil and Fatimir and bring him to justice while restoring Fatimir.”

“Dat would be most welcome,” says Verra, “In fact, I already know dat Paliyil iz enroute to Kar’mire. He should be arriving tonight.”