Deep below the earth, in caves unknown to man or dwarf, the Court of Darkness was in session. The demon king surveyed his squabbling brood. They were his children, after a fashion, but in his absence they had grown weak and disorderly. Disobedient. It could not be tolerated. His raised his hand slowly, but while this would have commanded immediate silence before his imprisonment, the din and noise continued unabated. The overlord scowled, then unleashed a wave of dark fire from his palm that engulfed the first few ranks of demons. They screamed all too briefly before their bodies disintegrated, and their essences flowed back into the roiling shadows around them. As the remaining demons grew quiet out of shock and fear, the overlord glared about him. "There is no time for this petty bickering," he announced. "'Nriss has been allowed to reach the Legacy; she must know about our kind now, and what we are." Worried mutters arose, echoing throughout the cavern, until one voice rang clear: "You fear a human girl, O mighty lord?" The overlord frowned, and the sea of demons suddenly parted to reveal a particularly large and misshapen form in their midst. This figure flinched reflexively, then stood his ground. "Azaroth," the overlord rumbled. "You choose to defy me?" "Not at all," he replied quickly. "I just wonder why we're taking such a circuitous path. Why not just kill them all, Darovan and Legacy and Slayer alike?" There was a pause, then a faintly amused expression appeared on the overlord's face. "You're content with the meager amount of power we've regained, then? Have you forgotten what it was like before the Three broke our connection to Emhara?" Another wave of angry and anxious mutters passed through the horde - it had been a glorious time for them, cut short when the Three had sacrificed themselves for the greater good. "No, Lord," Azaroth replied, "but if she lives, she may recreate the Sealing, whether Darovan is successful or not." "And if she dies," the overlord countered, "we will have no defense if the Slayer succeeds in his own goal." "Not if he dies first." The overlord chuckled dryly. "I see. So you volunteer to kill him yourself, knowing that he is armed with the Ashura Blades? Your willingness to face the True Death will be remembered after you are gone, Azaroth. Perhaps not for very long, but remembered." The lesser demon paled to a dark gray. "I... I withdraw the suggestion." "I thought you might." The overlord stared into the middle distance. "No... let them continue their little dance. If Darovan succeeds, so much the better; if not, we will need the Legacy." Azaroth bowed. "As you command, Lord Hades." Hades merely nodded, his eyes still unfocused. Soon, he thought. After centuries of waiting, it would all be over soon... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- FINAL FANTASY LEGACY Knights of the Round Begun (and herein continued) by Brian Stricklin Chapter 59: Past and Present -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The following morning was a time of many heartfelt and tearful goodbyes, as Davin and Mika's parents had decided to stay in Ryukin for the duration. There had been something of a tense moment when Yorick proclaimed that he didn't want his daughter risking her life on this quest, but Mika had defused the situation with her usual blend of charm, diplomacy, and explosives. So it was that the companions left Byakko in the same way they had arrived; the Emperor ferrying most of them in the spider-walker, and the rest taking a slower but much more comfortable ride in the royal carriage. Mika peered between the drapes and sighed as the tiger-shaped city disappeared behind them. "I wish we didn't have to leave them so quickly..." Davin wrapped his arm around her and gave her a quick hug. "We'll be back. I promise." She smiled up at him. "Thanks." Then her brow furrowed, and she looked across the row. "Is something wrong, Shizuka? You've been even quieter than usual." The ninja blushed and looked away. "I-it's nothing, Mistress Mika." "Oh, really?" A mischievous grin played around the younger girl's face. "Now I *know* something's up. C'mon, spill it." Again Shizuka hesitated, as though torn between two extremes. "Before... before we left... the Emperor, he... he took this insignificant one aside and... and..." She stopped, her blush fully evident and her features twisted in uncertainty. Davin and Marcine exchanged troubled glances. It was a horrible thought, but it sounded as though Shizuka was working herself up to saying that the kindly old Emperor had- "...*praised* her!" Mika failed to notice her companions' relieved sighs as she stared at the young ninja, confusion written across her face. "What's the big deal? We've praised you plenty of times, haven't we?" "Yes, of course, but..." Shizuka fidgeted in acute embarrassment. "It's... different." Hiro grinned. "You folks just don't understand," he said. "For us, the Emperor's not just the ruler of the country. He's revered and admired throughout the land, and most of us would gladly die to protect him." He looked over at Shizuka, who seemed to be relaxing slightly. "Add in the fact that Shizuka's clan is, well, not exactly the most prestigious family on the island, and I'd say that this is an understandable reaction." "I see." Then Davin chuckled, and winked at Mika. "We'd better be careful, then, or she might get a swelled head from all that attention." Marcine giggled, and though Shizuka tried to make herself smaller in her chair, there was a faint smile in evidence. "No... this one would never..." "Oh, speaking of the Emperor," Hiro added, "I had a word with him about your request, and, well..." The samurai hesitated, and Davin nodded understandingly. "He said you couldn't go, I take it." "Huh? No, he gave me permission to go with you." Hiro's expression became rather bemused. "He seemed pretty excited about the idea, as a matter of fact. But after hearing about what you guys are doing, I decided that my place is here, protecting the Emperor." He paused. "Sorry." Davin shook his head. "No problem. There's no harm in asking." Anyway, he decided as he gazed out the window, he'd had a suspicion that this would be the case. After all, he'd figured out the answer to the prophecy... though Zarela would be upset if she found out. Master of the land, and skilled sword. One within the other, working toward the same goal. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Odin! Have you heard the news?" At the far end of the feast hall, the huge bearded figure lowered his tankard of ale and watched, with mingled amusement and affection (and, perhaps, irritation?) as the large white wolf trotted toward him. "And what news would that be, Fenrir?" "A human has been chosen as a disciple to the Three!" the wolf replied excitedly. The bearded man shook his head. "Yes, I know the humans have chosen to worship the Three for their sacrifice. It's all very noble and just, but-" "No, Odin! This human has been given the gift of True Magick and is seeking a way to *free* the Three." Odin hesitated, his expression one of astonishment (worry?). "That... isn't possible. No human could hope to accomplish what it took three of our kind to do." "I don't understand it either," Fenrir admitted, "but the spirits of the Three have entrusted her with this task; they must have a reason." "...I see." As Fenrir watched, puzzled, Odin got to his feet and slowly approached the wall behind his chair. "Don't you think this is good news? We'll have the Three back with us, and we won't have to make a deal with the demons to do it!" "Of course I want them back, Fenrir," the warrior replied, his eyes fixed on the broad-headed spear mounted on the wall. "I just think it's a bit premature to put all our hopes on a single human. It would be much more... practical to reach an agreement with Hades." The wolf shook his head. "I don't trust him, Odin, and neither should you. I've overheard you talking - the things he wants in exchange...!" "Merely a small tribute," Odin replied smoothly. "A few humans more or less hardly matter in the grand scheme of things, do they? Not when it means getting the Three back." "I... I still think that..." An awkward silence filled the room, broken only when Odin sighed. "Very well, Fenrir. If it means so much to you, we shall bide our time." He reached out and ran his gauntlet-clad hand over the spear, a familiar gesture that Fenrir didn't think anything of at the time. "What is this human's name?" "She is called..." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "...Clea?" For a moment, Fenris thought he was indeed looking at the woman chosen by the Three so long ago. His dreamlike state quickly faded, however, and he realized that the figure leaning over him was someone else entirely. She looked completely different from Clea... no, that wasn't quite right. There was something there, something in her eyes... For her part, the girl blinked in surprise. "Um... no, I'm not Clea. My name's Marcine Cavanaugh." Fenris chuckled. "Of course. Forgive me." Trying to hide his embarrassment, the wolf got to his feet and looked around the room. He seemed to be in a waiting room of sorts, the furniture moved aside to make room for him. There was quite a crowd collected around him as well; he recognized Cid and Lumina, as well as his diminutive savior, and... He stopped, staring at the young man before him, who tensed under his gaze. "Can it be?" he breathed. "After all this time... Sylph, is it you?" Davin looked away. "It's... I'm not..." He sighed. "It's a complicated situation." Fenris took a step closer, his stare seeming to penetrate into Davin's soul. After a long, uncomfortable moment he stepped back, his canine features looking somewhat relieved. "So that's the way of it," he said. "Not even we knew what form Clea's magic would take; I'm at least glad to know that Sylph is safe." "You really are a Sleeper, then?" The wolf chuckled. "I was, yes, until I joined Odin in the mortal world." A bit of Davin's former doubt returned, and he watched Fenris carefully. "Yeah... Lumina told us you used to be his partner." There was a pause before the former Sleeper spoke again. "Indeed I was... much to my great shame. It was a mistake I mean to correct in any way I can." "Can you tell us what he's planning, then?" "Unfortunately, no. Odin was always rather close with his secrets; I left when I discovered he was planning to betray the Three, though I never knew exactly *what* he had in mind." Davin sighed. "Terrific." "What about the dark entity Darovan released?" Kyle asked. "You've got to know something about *that*." "That would help me determine both his and Siegvin's plans," Marcine agreed. Fenris considered the question for a moment. "I do know what the Three had imprisoned, yes. It's something of a... sensitive subject for my people, but there's no time for... All right. I'll do what I can to explain... though I'm not sure you'll understand very well." Mika bristled. "Are you saying we're dumb or somethin'?" He chuckled in response. "Never that, small one. No, it's just that I wasn't around for much of what had happened; I may not be able to explain it the right way. If only I could show you the Cerulean Passage... but no, that's undoubtedly fallen to ruin by now." "The Cerulean Passage?" "It's this hidden network of tunnels near the Northern Channel," Lumina explained. "I heard it's supposed to have a complete history of the Sleepers... though nobody's been inside since the Sealing." Fenris nodded. "And after all this time, even the Passage would have been destroyed by the passage of time." "The Northern Channel..." Kyle looked over at Marcine. "I wonder if that's got anything to do with the Egg Leviathan gave me?" "Hmm?" The wolf looked at him curiously. "What's that?" "While I was looking for Heartstones," the Dragoon replied, "Leviathan appeared before me and gave me an Egg to give to Marcine. He said she needed to take it to the Channel... though if you ask me, it looks empty." "May I see it?" Marcine produced the Egg from among her belongings and held it out towards him. He stared into its depths for a long moment, then when he spoke, it was with amusement in his voice. "Well, well, well. I underestimated him. He had this planned all along..." "What do you mean?" Marcine asked. "Let's just say that I'm quite certain that this Egg is connected with the Cerulean Passage, and furthermore that the Passage will still be in good condition." Davin frowned. "How can you be so sure?" "If Leviathan gave you this, then he's trusting you to put something right, something very important to him, and the Passage is part of it. He's sure to have put protections in place." "All right, then." He looked at his companions. "I guess we're off to the Northern Channel." "I had 'em keep th' ship prepped," Jil said, "just in case o' such a situation. We should be there within an hour or so." "Within an hour?" It was Fenris' turn to look perplexed. "But the Channel itself is a half-day's travel by boat from here! How do you plan to get there so fast?" Mika grinned. "You're gonna love this." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "I hate this." Mika glanced over her shoulder at Fenris, leaning as she was over the Excelsior's railing as the Northern Channel sped by below them. "What's wrong? This is fun! Besides, you're a Sleeper, right? It's not like you're in danger or anything." The wolf had propped himself against a wall, his eyes closed shut and his ears flat against his head. "I'm mortal enough that a fall from this height would seriously inconvenience me." "Feh. Just a big furry wimp." Davin shook his head, then glanced at Marcine. She stood nearby, holding the Egg out before her. It had begun to pulse with a soft blue light as they'd entered the Channel, a light that had grown brighter the further north they went. Now it was bright enough to cast shadows even in the midday sun, and it flashed three or four times a second. "Looks like we're getting close," he called. Fenris risked opening an eye. "Yes, the entrance should be around the next bend, a third of the way down the canyon wall." "Right." He contemplated for a moment, then looked at his little sister. "Mika, go tell Jil to hit the brakes, then have her and Kyle gear up and meet us out here." "Roger." She scampered off, disappearing into the Excelsior's interior; a few moments later the airship began to slow down, carefully maneuvering further down the Channel until it came to a halt. Marcine leaned out, scanning the cliff face. "I don't see it..." Standing next to her, Davin frowned thoughtfully, then suddenly pointed as an incongruous patch of color caught his attention. "There's a bit of blue over there." Fenris followed his finger, then nodded. "Well spotted. That's the entrance to the Passage." The elementalist took in the sight; a small, hard-to-notice niche in the canyon wall, with an overhanging ridge and sharp rocks far below. "I can see why nobody's been here." He glanced at the former Sleeper. "Dangerous, you said?" "Indeed. Leviathan added certain safeguards to protect the Passage from intruders. He may want us there, but the guardians will still try to prevent us from reaching the bottom." Davin frowned slightly, then shrugged. "Nothing we can't handle. I hope." There was a clatter of metal behind him, and he turned to see Kyle and Jil approach, readied for battle - their prior experience in the Northern Channel would give them a hopefully crucial edge. They nodded at him, and he glanced at Marcine. "Let's do it." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The interior of the Cerulean Passage was suffused by the same blue light that the Egg was now constantly producing. The narrow entrance had become a downward spiral, then eventually widened out into a large cavern, stalactites giving it a rather menacing atmosphere. Though the Passage was nowhere near the ocean, there was still a strong scent of sea water in the air, adding to the illusion that the cave was in fact far below the waves. However, further progress was impeded by a pair of truly massive doors. Bisecting the cavern, they were large enough for a full-size GOLeM to walk through unhindered, and there was no sign of a handle or latch. Davin let out a low whistle as they approached the doors. "What now?" "Just wait," Fenris said, then nodded to Marcine. "Go ahead, Legacy. Just as I told you." "I'll try." She stepped forward then, taking a deep breath, rapped the end of the Phoen Staff on the cavern floor. "In the Name of the Three," she called, "one bearing Ifrit's Courage, Ramuh's Wisdom, and Shiva's Purity commands you: OPEN!" Her words echoed across the cavern, gradually fading, and for long moments there was no other effect. Then, slowly, the doors began to open inwards, eventually grinding to a stop. And then there was silence. The companions exchanged nervous looks, then stepped forward through the doorway. Beyond, the rough cavern walls became unusually smooth, as though hand-carved and sanded, and the occasional bulbous protrusion lent a strange, alien feel to their journey. Kyle was the first to comment on it. "This place feels... weird," he said, looking around cautiously. "Perhaps to you," Fenris replied. "I suppose Sleepers have a different sense of what looks right." "Leviathan made this whole place himself?" "Yes... with a certain amount of help. Ah, here we are..." The tunnel had become a sloping straightway, and as Davin peered ahead he noticed that the walls were covered in carefully-etched designs, carved into the living rock. He carefully ran a hand over the nearest inscription, which depicted a decidedly feminine being; though hairless, she possessed long, slender arms and an almost waifish face. The lower half of her body was hidden within countless ribbons, which seemed to sprout directly from her torso. Something about the picture drew Davin's attention - the woman seemed almost... familiar. "Who is this?" Fenris examined the drawing. "Ah, yes... as good a place to start as any. That, young man, is Il'handra, and she was the one who created my people." Jil glanced at the wolf. "She created ye? So she's yer mother, then?" He hesitated. "In human terms, I suppose so, though it's not a very accurate term... but, let me start from the beginning." He led the way down the slope; though Davin seemed lost in the image of Il'handra, he managed to pull himself away. "Long before the time of Clea and Darovan, long before the Demon War, before even we were created," Fenris explained, "Il'handra drifted between the stars. She may have been the last member of an ancient race, or a unique being in her own right; we'll never know now. Possessing incredible, unimaginable power, but having no inclination to use it, Il'handra was content to merely observe, and floated from world to world peacefully." He nodded at another carving, this one showing Il'handra floating over what looked like a circular map, familiar continents on its surface. "In time, she came to this planet, and discovered something she'd never seen before: people. Humans, and dwarves, and even elves, living their lives to the fullest and never suspecting that they were being watched. "Il'handra was intrigued, but was also saddened. She had always been by herself, and was accustomed to it, but watching these strange little creatures live and laugh together touched her heart. For the first time in tens of thousands of years, Il'handra was lonely." Their journey neared the bottom of the slope, bringing them before a design showing Il'handra, her arms spread wide; standing before her were three figures, two men and a woman. "Il'handra decided that she wished to aid these creatures, and look over them. She knew, however, that if she appeared before them herself, they would be destroyed in an instant by her limitless power. Instead, she diverted a fraction of her power to create three independent avatars, and told them to walk among the humans and protect them." "The Three Gods," Marcine whispered. "Exactly. And as they joined the humans, Il'handra became filled with a pride and happiness that she'd never known. Though they didn't ask for it, the Three were worshiped by the rather primitive humans of the time, which of course led eventually to the Church of today." Fenris suddenly stopped and looked down the passage, ears forward to listen. Davin stared at the last image a moment longer, then lifted his head. "Is that all of it?" "There's more later," the wolf told him, his hackles rising, "but first we need to get past them." "Wha-" And then they heard it; a low, angry moan, emerging from the tunnel before them. It was soon joined by another, then several more, and the companions moved together as the groans grew closer. "The guardians?" Kyle guessed. Fenris nodded. "Spirits of the drowned; those who have died in Leviathan's sphere of influence." The hairs on the back of Davin's neck stood on end as they came into view: pale, shambling zombies, reeking of decay and brine. "Any suggestions on how to handle them?" "I've never had to fight them, I'm afraid. Just try not to get killed." "That's... really helpful." With a surprising burst of speed, the drowned zombies were upon them. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Siegvin lounged in his chair, his attention focused on the figure before him. "Bait, you say?" "Precisely, Lord." Blight knelt before the Sleeper, his eyes cast downward. "If we cannot locate the girl, we make her come to us. She knows that the Heartstones are significant; using them to lure her out, we can set a trap for the Legacy." The fallen Sleeper rubbed his chin. "Interesting... but risky. I am uncomfortable with the idea of putting one of my few stones within her reach." "Sometimes risks must be taken to ensure success, Lord," Blight reminded him. As Siegvin considered this, a flicker of movement behind him caught Blight's attention; a small demon had materialized noiselessly near the Heartstones, and carefully crept toward them. For his part, Blight's expression betrayed no emotion as he waited for Siegvin's reply. Finally the Sleeper shook his head. "No, I've underestimated her and that boy once too often. There's a good chance they would end up with all thirteen." Blight made a show of pondering this as the small demon eased a Heartstone from its display. "A compromise, then. A single Stone would have the same effect, with less risk to your eventual success." Siegvin nodded slowly. "That could work. Perhaps if-" Then in one fluid motion he spun around, snatching up an Ashura Blade and hurling it at the demon. His aim was true; the Blade pinned the creature to the wall, black blood pouring from its wound. Blight shuddered as an inhuman squeal echoed through the chamber, fading as the demon fell to the True Death. Slowly turning back toward Blight, Siegvin stood with his hand on the hilt of the red Blade. "You *do* take me for a fool," he said coldly. "M-my Lord..." "Did you really think I would be so easily distracted?" He stepped forward, slowly drawing the Blade from its hilt. "I should kill you where you stand." Blight trembled in fear. "L-Lord, I knew nothing about this!" "I doubt that." "Truly, Lord! By Hades' chains, I swear I had nothing to do with that!" Siegvin chuckled. "The oath of a demon? How much is that worth, I wonder?" He set the point of the blade at Blight's chest, his arm poised to thrust. "Lord, please! Please, I beg of you!" The demon's voice was a shrill cry of terror. "H-have mercy, Lord!" A long moment passed, then Siegvin lowered the sword. "Very well, Blight. You live... for now. Betray me again, however, and I promise you - I will not be so charitable." "Y-yes, Lord! Thank you, Lord!" Blight quickly stepped back into the shadows, bowing furiously as he did so. "I swear it won't happen again..." The room fell silent as he disappeared in the darkness. Shaking his head, Siegvin picked up the fallen Heartstone of Wood and placed it back on its display. "Too predictable," he said to himself, then with a faint chuckle he returned to his throne. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "I never realized," Davin said between swings, "that the dead could be so hard to kill!" "Aye," Jil agreed. "All things considered, I'd rather be sailing." The zombies pressed in against the companions, their heavy fists strong enough to knock Kyle and Davin across the room. Worse, the undead monstrosities were incredibly tough, and could soak up a tremendous amount of damage before they were sent to their final rest. "Stay focused," Kyle shouted, swinging his lance in a swift arc and severing a zombie's decayed arm. "There's a doorway up ahead; once we get through there, we can hold them off." "There be too many in the way!" Davin looked over his shoulder. "Marcine, what's the hold up?" "They've got some kind of resistance to magic!" she replied, sending a sheet of fire across a group of zombies; when it faded, they were barely singed. "They're too wet to burn, cold doesn't bother them, and electricity doesn't seem to hurt the dead..." The elementalist quickly decapitated his nearest target, only to find two more closing in. "Well, do *something*!" Marcine frowned, backing away from the zombies. "Maybe earth magic... no, not down here, we'd all get caught... um..." She suddenly brightened. "That should do it! Blessings of the eternal heart, fill our souls with your healing light! Tricure!" Interwoven bands of green and yellow energy flew out from her palms, wrapping themselves around the zombies, who paused to stare dully at this strange phenomenon. Then the magic of the spell took hold, and the undead horrors began to crumble under its power. Kyle leaned on the Ashura Lance, surprised. "A *healing* spell did that?" She nodded. "I'd almost forgotten - holy magic disrupts the power of shadow that holds undead together. Sorry I didn't remember sooner..." "Hey, as long as we made it," Davin said with a grin. "Let's get going before any more show up." The companions quickly passed through the doorway, closing it behind them, then turned to look at their new surroundings. It was a fairly large room, about the size of a house, with the familiar blue glow illuminating every corner. One wall displayed a large and intricate mural; more carvings, they could tell, of Il'handra. Oddly, there were numerous stone blocks scattered across the floor, each six feet to a side. There was another feature of the room, however, that was of a bit more importance. Davin looked around, double-checking. "Um... there's no other exit out of here, is there?" "Huh?" Kyle cast about. "There's gotta be something... There it is. I can see another door... right behind that stone block? What the hell?" Jil sighed. "I guess the Passage did fall ta ruin after all." "No, this looks too regular to be ruins. It sort of looks intentional." "I was afraid of this," Fenris remarked. "Leviathan also included tests of the mind, so that sheer brute force couldn't uncover his sanctum." "What do you mean, tests?" "You'll need to move the blocks out of the way before we can proceed." "You're kidding, right? How are we supposed to-" Kyle pushed against the nearest block as he was talking, then stumbled as it slid forward easily. "Hey, these things are lighter than they look. This should be easy." Davin shoved at another block; it failed to budge. "This one's not moving." Kyle frowned, then looked down. "Oh, I see. There's these channels in the floor; I guess we have to-" Jil chuckled and shook her head, glancing at Marcine. "Let's leave 'em to it, aye? This could take a while." "All right. I could use a rest." The two women sat down against a block, Fenris settling down beside them. Marcine looked up at the mural before them; it showed a multitude of strange beings, each one different from all others. Some were familiar, others she had never seen before. "So," she said, "after Il'handra made the Three, I assume she made the rest of you?" The wolf nodded. "More or less, yes. Il'handra grew to love creating our kind; though each one consumed a bit of her power, she had more than enough to spare. Tritoch was next, serving as herald to the Three, followed by Leviathan, Alexander, Phoenix, Palidor... Well, the order doesn't really matter. Though we didn't have a name for our people, the humans called us Guardians, and that was good enough for us." She looked over the Sleepers displayed on the mural. "Which one's Sylph?" "Hmm, let's see... that one, there. Below the Midgar Zolom." Sylph was apparently a slender, rather androgynous Sleeper, with thin, pointed ears and clad in a tunic of leaves. He was rather small, compared to the massive shapes around him, and tiny fairy-like creatures surrounded him - elemental spirits, Marcine realized. Arms akimbo, he seemed to stare straight out at her, with a roguish, immature grin that she recognized all too well. She smiled. "Davin really does take after Sylph, doesn't he?" "I don't see you, though, Fenris," Jil remarked. "Or Siegvin, fer that matter." "...no," he replied, and his voice sounded oddly subdued. "No, we came later." "I take it somethin' happened." He nodded. "Though Il'handra was pleased with her creations, she still felt there was something missing. She wanted to create a being even closer to the humans, one who could walk among them rather than simply be worshiped. She studied the humans, then created a new Guardian, one who was nearly human in form. His name was... well, these days you'd call him Titan." Marcine frowned. "I've read about him, though I thought he was just a legendary hero. Some of the Church parables use him as a central figure - he was immensely strong, able to move mountains, and the Three Gods set him a series of tasks." "Indeed they did, though they were more requests than tasks. The Three were loved by the humans, but from afar; they weren't able to interact very well. Titan was able to do things that they couldn't, and he performed many heroic deeds over several centuries." Then the massive wolf sighed. "And then," he continued, "it was discovered that Il'handra had made Titan *too* human." "Why? What happened?" There was a pause, then Fenris looked up at the final figure on the wall, a towering man with huge muscles. "He died, Legacy. He died, and in so doing brought about the doom of my people." "There!" The last block was moved aside, and Davin rested on it for a moment. "Y'know, I wish we'd brought Mika along." "Why?" asked Kyle. "Is she good with puzzles?" "No, but she would've blasted these stupid blocks out of the way." The dragoon grinned. "Good point." Fenris got to his feet, and the two women followed suit. "Come, children," he said. "There is far yet to go, and much to learn." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The Invoker trembled nervously, standing as he was before the very person of Lord Darovan. The ancient mage took little apparent notice of the cultist, his attention focused on the meal before him - simple but nourishing fare, a dish that had been popular in Darovan's youth. Finally, between bites, Darovan spoke: "Report." "Lord Darovan, all damage to the base has been repaired, and four new airships have been completed. The craftmages are confident that the new design will be less vulnerable to magical countermeasures." "They had better be right," Darovan commented. "For their own sakes. Continue." "Our defensive systems have been completed, and extra mana capacitors have been installed. The base is now totally combat-ready, and we await your instructions." "Excellent." He dabbed at his lips with a napkin, then looked up at the young man for the first time. "Commend the craftmages for their work, then notify all departments to be prepared; I want to be able to launch at a moment's notice if need be." "Understood, sir." "Go." The Invoker saluted and hurried out, and Darovan finished off his meal. Pushing the bowl away, he then stared fixedly at the empty chair opposite him. "Well?" After a moment's pause, there was a brief dark aura in the room, and a familiar figure materialized in the chair. "My Lord." "I don't see why you didn't appear earlier," Darovan said mildly. "You aided my followers in recent events; they already know about you." "The senior mages, perhaps," Blight replied, "but the rank and file... let us say that it would be more convenient if they did not realize my true nature." "Mmm. You have something to report, I take it?" The demon smiled. "Not just a report, Lord; I bring you a gift." And he lifted his hand, letting the pendant he carried dangle below. Light glimmered off the inset stone, creating a soft green glow that was reflected in Darovan's suddenly eager eyes. "The Stone of Wind..." he breathed. "As you requested, my Lord," Blight replied. "Siegvin did not even realize my deception." Darovan took the Heartstone, gazing into its depths, then clenched it tightly in his hand. "Perfect. After all this time, all this planning, we are finally within striking distance of our goal. Soon, she shall be reborn." Blight nodded, his own black and empty eyes meeting Darovan's. "Emhara..." Then the ancient mage scowled. "Only one thing still eludes me - the Legacy. You said she was protected?" "Indeed, Lord. Not just by the Church, either - there are... factors at work that prevent my kind from coming too close to her." "Hmm. Where is she now?" "We have tracked her to the Cerulean Passage; Fenris has contacted her, and he must be using the Passage to educate her about the history of the Sleepers." Darovan frowned. "The Passage, eh? I thought that was just a rumor." "Quite real, Lord. She's bound to know it all soon - Il'handra, Slydgirag, Emhara, all of it." For a long moment there was silence, then Darovan began to chuckle. "Yeeessss... of course. And why shouldn't she?" He grinned a mad little grin, a sight that took the demon aback. "I think," he said, "it's time to go on a little trip." "To... to the Passage, my Lord?" "Oh, no, no. Somewhere far more interesting. After all," he added, "if Emhara is to be made whole, we must first free what she has lost, yes?" Blight stared at him, uncomprehending, then his expression turned to one of shock. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "I'm not sure I understand," Marcine said as they made their way down the corridor. "Why was Titan's death so important?" "It was the first time Il'handra had ever really encountered death," Fenris explained. "Oh, she knew that humans died, but she didn't truly understand what happened to them when they did. To lose something that was, quite literally, part of herself... it was a crushing blow." Kyle frowned thoughtfully, though he kept an eye open for the next wave of undead. "The other Guardians were still immortal, though? How can that be? Tritoch was-" "I'm getting to that, don't worry." Fenris walked in thought for a moment. "Il'handra was devastated by the loss of Titan, and though the Guardians tried to console her, she turned away from them, retreating within herself in her despair." He nodded at a nearby fresco, which showed Il'handra alone against a dark background, tears falling from her eyes. "As the years passed, her grief began to taint her, and she slowly wrapped herself fully in misery and bitterness. This changed her very essence, and a dark shadow began to grow within her." As they continued on, the designs on the walls took on a decidedly sharper, more menacing tone. "In time," Fenris said, "she decided that a new 'child' would relieve the ache in her soul, and created a new Guardian. And so, a product of Il'handra's sorrow and anguish, Odin was born." As Davin opened his mouth to speak, the great wolf shook his head. "I know what you're thinking, and I believe that the circumstances of his creation did help make Siegvin into what he is today... but his true failing was that, like Titan, he'd been made altogether too human. He was jealous of the power that the other Guardians possessed, and though they tried to welcome him into their fellowship, he inevitably drifted apart, living among the humans as the king of Ashgar. "Though he scorned the presence of the Guardians, he did visit Il'handra often, who was half-mad at that point and getting worse. Though the Guardians thought he was trying to comfort her, I discovered shortly before I left him that Odin was instead tormenting the poor thing, reminding her about Titan's death and the fact that it was, essentially, her own fault." Marcine gasped. "Why would he do something like that? That's... just..." "Needlessly cruel?" Davin replied, and it seemed to her that there was a bitter edge to his voice. "That's what Siegvin's all about." Fenris sighed. "I wish I could dispute that... I think he was also covetous of the grand power she possessed, something that he had in a highly limited form. Of course, I don't have the right to be too judgmental - if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been created." The group passed by another mural, displaying a darker, mournful Il'handra being led by a warrior astride a six-legged horse. The pair hovered over the world, and the warrior pointed at his creator imperiously. "Odin knew that Il'handra doted on him, no matter how he treated her - he was her last hope for consolation, and she desperately wanted his love. He, of course, only wanted what her power could give, and used her to fulfill his darkest whims. "During this time, he decided to goad her into making another Guardian, one bound to him, subservient. She complied... and from her life essence, tainted with the dark blood of what was to come, she created... me." There was silence for a moment, then Jil looked at Fenris. "Then ye and he are brothers? As are all th' Sleepers?" He shook his head. "Not as you understand the term. We are similar beings, true, but we're... well, call us different species or races, as different as humans and dwarves. As far as Odin and I go... I suppose 'brothers' is as good a term as any. We were closer than most other Guardians, and shared a companionship that they never knew." "So, what happened then?" Marcine asked. "Il'handra continued to fall into depression, and Odin became ever more jealous of her power... and I, like a fool, followed him blindly. Then he decided to have her create another servant for him, but this time, it backfired horribly." "How? What did she create?" Fenris hesitated, then took a deep breath. "Hades." They stepped forward into a tall, domed chamber, in the center of which was a statue that made Davin grit his teeth and Marcine gasp. "Oh, my Gods..." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The Ashura Blade danced through the air, its wielder crying out in sheer relief and exhilaration, and Blight carefully edged away from the deadly sword. "Wonderful!" Madonna shouted, the Heartstone of Wind dangling from her neck. "I feel so full of life! Thank you, my Lord! Thank you!" Darovan chuckled. "You have Blight to thank, actually. He's the one who brought it to me." The Knight turned and looked at the demon, sword balanced on her shoulder. "Hmph. At least he's good for *something*." Blight ignored this. "Lord, I *truly* think you may be moving too quickly. When we release Emhara's power, it must be reclaimed quickly or it shall be lost forever! If the Legacy isn't there-" "Ah, but don't you see? She *will* be there. She won't have a choice. Think about it demon - Emhara's power won't be the only thing in danger." "I.. I suppose not, Lord. But it's a risky plan." "Most victorious plans are, I've noticed." With a brief chant, he summoned a clairmantic globe; the Sorcerer displayed within blinked in surprise as the greenish-blue sphere appeared before her, then saluted. "Yes, Lord?" "Prepare all hands to launch. We have an appointment to keep." He grinned maliciously. "At the Worldtree." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- It was carved out of a single piece of marble, and depicted a mighty battle between four all-too-familiar figures. There was Shiva, her hands outspread to throw jagged shards of ice. There was Ramuh, his staff raised high to call down bolts of lightning. There was Ifrit, his fiery fists slamming against his opponent... ...and there, incredibly, was Il'handra. Where once had been graceful tendrils, there was now hideously mutated spider-like legs. Where once had been a serene, graceful expression, there was now a fanged maw and hate-filled eyes. But despite all that, it was still recognizably Il'handra. Kyle looked at Fenris sharply. "What the hell is this?" he demanded. "The dark secret of the Guardians," the wolf replied sadly. "Possibly unsatisfied with my moral code, Odin forced Il'handra to create a new Guardian, using her tainted energy and all the bitterness in her heart. The result was Hades, a creature so vile and malevolent he could scarcely be called a Guardian... but he wasn't bound to Odin as I was. Il'handra poured so much of herself into Hades that *she* became *his* slave. Reveling in the power she had given him, Hades completed her corruption, transforming her into this black and twisted creature." He hung his head. "Il'handra was gone forever. All that remained was the Night Queen, Emhara." "I don't believe it..." Marcine breathed. "Believe it," Davin growled. "I think... some of Sylph's memories are coming through to me in this place. It's all true." "When he had Emhara fully under his control," Fenris continued, "Hades used her power to create his own 'Guardians'. First among these was a distorted reflection of the Three themselves - Kali, Blight, and Diablos. He then created Ashura, a manifestation of death itself, and then too many to count. Hades and Emhara beget the race of demons, who took delight in torturing and killing any humans they could get their hands on." He looked up at the statue. "The Guardians fought against the demons for a time, but they drew their strength directly from Emhara, and could not be permanently defeated. As long as she existed, they were unstoppable. The Three then realized what they had to do, in order to save everything dear to them: they had to fight Emhara herself. "It was a tremendous battle, that seared the heavens and shook the earth itself. For seven days and seven nights they battled, all others forced away from the combat by the sheer power involved. Finally, the Three lured Emhara to Titan's grave, and there sealed her power to the source of his own: the mask he always wore." Kyle stared at him. "You don't mean..." "I do. In ages past, Titan was called Slydgirag." He paused a moment, letting that sink in, then continued. "Emhara's consciousness was shattered and entrapped with the three, unable to break free from the Seals they had put into place. As for her power, though it was tied to the Mask of Slydgirag, if it was left unconstrained it could have easily stripped the planet of all life. To prevent this, the remaining Guardians channeled it into a new form - a massive tree, its roots wrapped around the shimmering jade stone that marked Titan's tomb. The Worldtree rose tall and strong, its immense power untouchable by Odin or Hades. With the source of their power cut off, the demons grew weak, and only the first four remained active, though even they were diminished. Blight and Kali wisely hid themselves, while Diablos was captured and Ashura fell to Odin himself." Fenris nodded at the Ashura Blade Davin carried. "The Blades were infused with his destructive essence, and are the only things that can kill a Guardian. "At any rate, Odin decided to mend relation with Hades so that they could both regain the power they'd lost, and he used Darovan as a means to that end... but then he abandoned them, seeking his own fortune. Hades then attempted to take full control of Darovan, but he had underestimated his own weakness and the human's command of magic - Hades became Sealed, and remained so for two thousand years." Then he sighed. "I believe you know the rest. The Guardians Sealed themselves so that Darovan couldn't summon them, but he perverted that spell to his own ends. Darovan reigned for a millennium, then after his 'capture', the Church entered the state it is today, the truth about the Guardians and demons all but forgotten." Silence reigned for a time as the companions digested all this information, then Jil glanced up. "There still be another door out of here," she noted. "Do we continue on, or go back?" "No," Fenris replied, "there's still one more thing left to do. It's why Leviathan sent you here in the first place." Kyle approached the doors warily, the Ashura Lance at the ready. "I've got a bad feeling about this," he said. "What's behind them?" Fenris didn't reply, and Davin shrugged. "Only one way to find out, I guess." The two men approached the huge door and, grasping the stone hoop that served as its handle, they pulled it open. "I think I understand now," Marcine said as they started down the tunnel. "If Darovan wants to bring back Emhara, then undoing the Seals wasn't enough. He may have her, her *soul*, but all that power is still tied up in the Worldtree." The wolf nodded. "Without her power, Emhara is helpless; without Emhara, the power will remain trapped forever within the Worldtree." She frowned thoughtfully. "But how would Clea's spell help him? He needs to free her, not entrap her..." Then she paused, a horrible thought overtaking her. "Unless... he wants to use the spell to give her a new body - not to contain her, but to set her free." Jil stared at her. "Would th' spell do that? Make it so that th' prisoner is the guidin' personality?" "I... I think so. If he's not using the souls of the Knights to maintain the barriers, then the contained spirit would take control... but the spell would still require the sacrifice of a willing soul." "I doubt Darovan has any shortage of those," the captain replied grimly. "I'm afraid you're right," Marcine agreed. "Hold on a second," Davin said, raising his hand. In the silence that followed, they could all hear it - the sound of rushing water. "We must be near the base of the Channel." Fenris opened his mouth to agree, and suddenly a mournful groan echoed through the tunnel. Immediately, Kyle and Jil exchanged meaningful looks. "I know that sound," he said hollowly. "Aye," she replied, and sounded deeply shaken by it. "I hoped I'd never have ta hear it again, too." They quickly readied their weapons; Davin followed suit. "What's down there?" he asked. "An ancient beast," Jil replied, "old as th' Channel itself." "Kraken," Kyle added, holding the Ashura Lance tightly. "Last time it took Tritoch's intervention to defeat it, and he only managed to injure it enough to back off." Marcine stared at them. "Something as powerful as a Sleeper? And we're supposed to fight it?" There was a long, tense moment... then Fenris chuckled. "Quite the opposite, my dear. You're here to *heal* it." With that he trotted ahead, leaving the four companions to stare after him. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The Manakyr base took impossibly to the skies once more, a new armada of sleek, silver airships flying in escort around it. Slowly it rose into the air, swivelling gently, then began to move toward the highest mountain in the land. It traveled slowly at first, but newly-laid spells gradually took effect, and soon the massive base was flying at an eagle's pace, swiftly and confidently. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Davin stared at the Kraken in awe and more than a little uncertainty. The thing was *huge*, and according to Kyle and Jil was capable of killing them all effortlessly. It wallowed at the far end of the cavern, half its body submerged; the rest was an unholy mixture of plant and giant squid. It was clear that the creature was injured - one of its massive tentacles lay limp on the shore, a festering wound visible at its base, and much of its leathery skin had been burned away. The Kraken's solitary eye swept over the companions distrustfully, and Davin noticed that Kyle winced as it did so. He glanced at Fenris. "You're saying that *this*... is a *Sleeper*?" "Yes, my boy - one that never Slept." He padded slowly toward Kraken, who watched him warily. "Of all our people, four did not join in the Sealing. Odin and I had already become mortal, Sylph was already Sealed... and the last one was attached to this place, the intricate designs and statues she had created. She refused to become separated from something she had put so much care into, and the other Guardians reluctantly agreed." "Wait a minute..." Kyle said. "You mean that Kraken is female?" "Insofar as my people have any use for gender, yes." "But how could Kraken have made all those murals? It's too big!" "This is not Kraken's true form," Fenris explained, drawing closer to the huge beast, which trembled as he approached. "Two thousand years of solitude have warped her, much as Il'handra's grief did to her. If Leviathan sent you here, however, he must believe that there's still a chance to redeem her." Marcine pulled out the empty Egg. "But... how can this help?" "That's not an ordinary Egg. Leviathan created it with great care and affection, specifically to restore Kraken to what she once was." "What do I need to do, then?" "Just bring the Egg over to Kraken - the rest should come naturally." She hesitated at this, then steeled her nerves and approached the wounded behemoth, the Egg in her outstretched hand. Kraken rumbled a warning as she drew closer, but seemed too weak to do more than that. As she crept toward Kraken, careful not to make any sudden moves, Davin sidled next to Fenris. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" he whispered. "That thing looks ready to attack." "It's all we can do," the former Sleeper replied. "If she is not healed soon, Kraken will-" A sudden roar made both of them look up, just in time to see one of Kraken's remaining tentacles slap against Marcine, hurling her through the air. She hit the cavern floor painfully, then rolled to a stop several yards away. "MARCINE!" Davin drew his Blade and rushed toward her, while Kyle and Jil started to maneuver between her and the massive beast. The Kraken's rumbling grew louder as they moved into attack positions, and its tentacles coiled in readiness.. "S-stop!" Marcine's shout halted her companions in their place, and she slowly got to her feet; one hand was pressed against her side, but the other still held the Egg. "It's... all right." "Marcine, it's going to-!" "It's all right," she repeated, and began to walk toward Kraken once more. Each step was clearly causing her great pain, but she continued onward regardless. Her friends exchanged concerned glances, but stayed where they were. Kraken bellowed angrily as she approached it, still ready to attack. Marcine shook her head, forcing a soft smile despite the pain she felt. "Shh. There's nothing to be afraid of." The Sleeper seemed to hesitate, put off guard by the girl's soft tone; this gave Marcine time to take a few more steps. Kraken raised another tentacle to strike her... and then its massive eye stared at her face, gentle and caring, and seemed mesmerized. "It's going to be all right," she assured it. "We'll make everything better..." She took a final step closer, and suddenly Kraken's body began to glow, emanating the same soft blue light that shone from within the Egg Marcine carried. Before anyone could react, Kraken had vanished, becoming a whirling cloud of sapphire energy that spiraled toward the Egg. An ocean breeze swept through the cavern, tossing Marcine's hair about, as the light rushed into the small sphere she carefully held before her. Before long, the cascade of light had ended, and the Egg was suffused with a murky blue-green glow. This gradually lightened until all that was left was a calm blue, shot through with occasional streaks of glimmering gold. As Davin watched, Marcine smiled down at the Egg, her head tilted slightly as though listening to something. "It's all right," she said again. "I don't blame you... yes, I am. I'm going to try, anyway..." There was a pause. "All right, if you're sure." Then she raised the Egg once more, and began to chant in a firm, confident voice. "From thy endless slumber, I call to thee. Spirit of the ocean's beauty, I conjure thee. Hear me, Siren! Hear me, Lady of the Waters! In the name of thy beloved, I summon thee! Let thy ancient melody caress the waves once again!" The Egg rose from her fingers, then abruptly shattered. "Mermaid Song!" For a moment there was silence, then beautiful, haunting music began to fill the chamber. A moment later it was accompanied by an almost ethereal voice, which blended with the notes being played until it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began. Then they saw her. Materializing in the air above the pool that had once housed Kraken, the blue-skinned woman strummed her golden harp as she sang. Her legs were replaced by a fish-like tail, and only a few strands of luminous green hair served to cover her other attributes. Finally she stopped, and smiled at Marcine. "I cannot thank thee enough, Light of Clea," Siren said. "My mate was wise to send you to me." "Leviathan is your...?" The Sleeper nodded. "It has been a long time since I have seen him, and in my maddened state I saw him as a threat, rather than the one I loved." She looked at Davin. "Guard the Legacy well, Warden of Sylph. Emhara must not return!" "I will," he promised, and looked at Marcine. "With my life." She returned his gaze tenderly. Siren chuckled. "Guard thyself, as well. Thy soul and Sylph's are bound together; 'twould be a tragedy if aught happened to either of you." Her expression turned grim. "Now you must go; your enemies are on the move, and there is little time to waste." "Right." Davin nodded to his companions. "Let's head back; we'll need to relate all this to everyone before we can plan our next move." They left the cavern quickly, leaving the mermaid to play her entrancing melody, a song of loss, and sorrow, and hope renewed. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Siegvin held the green pendant in his gauntlet-clad hand, his face unreadable, then abruptly clenched his fist; when he opened it a moment later, shattered jade fragments tumbled to the floor. At first there was silence... ...then, slowly but with increasing force, the fallen Sleeper began to laugh.