by M. L. Brooks
“Who was she?” asked Erasmus.
“She was my disciple, Adair Titanborn,” replied Rose.
“My condolences for your loss today. She was a hero. I will see to it that she has a burial fitting of her sacrifice. Who was the Fae?” asked the old man, pointing to the other body on the platform.
“His name was Alfein. He will be reborn again, when he is ready. Do what you wish with his body,” sighed Rose.
She walked to the edge of the platform and then disappeared in a final glint of lightning.
CHAPTER 23
All dressed in black, people poured into the market square for Adair’s funeral. Erasmus spent a week coordinating with the king to prepare the event. For the first time, their majestic crystal had faltered and then was restored by the sacrifice of one young person. The sun was setting over Guardia as the procession took place.
Lead by mages and knights, people lit paper lanterns and marched through the streets. The bards sang songs of sadness and new songs that had been written of Adair’s glory. There were people who cried at the symbolic loss. Some people, like Miri, were in complete disbelief at what had happened.
Through the city they marched, voices loud and lanterns aglow. They walked down to the docks and then the procession came to a stop. Erasmus delivered a brief eulogy. He did not know Adair closely, but his speech captured the sentiment one might have for any fallen hero. The people remained silent and listened patiently.
On a nearby rooftop sat Rose. She was curled up in her robes and had the hood of her robe up over her head. She watched quietly, not with sadness or regret in her heart, but with respect for a soldier that had fulfilled her duty. She would remember what Adair had done for the rest of her life.
In her hand was the crystalline sword that Adair had used. It no longer had the hearthstone inside of it, but it was still a beautiful blade. She flicked her wrist and the sword disappeared into the void, waiting for her to call upon it when she would need it again. Rose had a collection of swords from all of her travels that she kept in the void. Some were kept for battle and some were kept for their memories. She heard a muffled footstep behind her.
Rose turned around to see who was there. It was Petra, dressed in the black garb she had been wearing when she assaulted the city of Bosh Ragan. She had a baton in her hand pointed at Rose. Their eyes met, Rose’s expression remaining blank. Petra lowered her baton and pulled the black mask down on her face.
“How did you know Adair?” asked Petra.
“I was the one training her for this I suppose. You’re Petra, right?” asked Rose.
“You must be Rose,” said Petra, nodding that she was who Rose had guessed.
“You have quite the reputation, warrior queen,” said Rose.
“Coming from The Voidwalker herself, I’ll take that as a compliment,” chuckled Petra.
“You seem to have appeared at critical moments throughout her entire story. What brought you to Guardia in the first place? It’s certainly not an idyllic vacation spot for Valarians?” asked Rose.
“One of the chiefs in my tribes has a… Unique power… He told me that something was changing in this world and that Guardia would be at the center of it. I came here and Adair was the one who found me really. Bosh Ragan, on the other hand, was a matter of pride. I revealed my true name to them and warned them not to cross me. They defied me. I didn’t want to move an army against them and risk retaliation from Guardia, but they were pathetic thugs. All it took was a few good soldiers to wipe them all out. When I met with her again here in Guardia she told me more about you. You know what’s going on with these rifts opening up and you know how the crystal tied into all of that. I want you to tell me everything you know,” ordered Petra.
“Are you challenging me?” asked Rose.
“Heavens no! I don’t have a death wish. I heard of a mysterious woman saving everyone from a horde of demons last night, the crystal falling apart, rifts opening up. These things are connected to you, and I want to help you. If my reputation truly proceeds me, you know that I’m more than a capable warrior,” replied Petra.
“You would be a worthy ally. The rifts are a result of the Bleeding. It’s a catastrophic event where the other worlds melt into ours. My sister believed it was the hubris of the Fae in cheating death that caused The Bleeding and that the only way to return everything to its natural state was by letting the world fuse and us all to be eradicated by it. I believe if we can find out what’s really going on that there could be a way for us to fix it without ending everything,” explained Rose.
“What makes you think she was wrong?” asked Petra.
“Before I became who I am today, I was a Luminian scholar. I researched the void and helped develop technologies using its power. I believe the knowledge is out there, we just have to uncover it. My sister was more cynical; she believed we already had the answer and that we just needed to embrace it. I’m alive today and she isn’t. That may not determine who was right or wrong but it does determine who gets to keep trying,” explained Rose.
“If we want to live, we have to believe as you do, don’t we?” said Petra.
Rose nodded.
Erasmus was wrapping up his speech as Rose and Petra finished their conversation. When he was done he beckoned the crowd forward. They walked down across the docks and dropped their lanterns into the ocean. The throngs of lanterns illuminated the ocean as they floated away on the steady rocking waves.
The next day Erasmus sat in a private meeting with the king and his counselors.
The room was a cold stone chamber. It was spacious enough to fit a long table and chairs, so all of them could meet comfortably. The room had a window on one end and a door on the other. Sconces kept the walls lit.
He recounted the events of Rose’s battle with Dahlia as he knew them. The king sat on the edge of his seat, eagerly listening to the story. As serious as the event was, it was entertainment for the king.
“Do you know where this foul beast came from?” asked the king.
“That was much more challenging to find out. Our best guess was that it is from Lumina. It used vampiric blood magic, something only one of the Tainted has ever been able to use,” replied Erasmus.
“I knew they were plotting against us! They were going to destroy the crystal and then lay siege to our kingdom. We cannot wait to solidify the realm any further, we must act against this threat. Have you figured out how to break the Howling Curse protecting them?” said the king.
“I’ve had my best mages researching just that problem. I would like permission to send an envoy to the Circle of Light. I have no doubt that they will have an answer,” said Erasmus.
“We must subjugate Lumina, otherwise they’ll continue to terrorize us,” whispered one of the counselors to the king.
“Yes, you have my permission. Head out immediately. We need to find a way to get the Valarians to fight under our banner still,” said the king.
“We’re working on that too,” whispered one of the counsellors.
In another plane, a magenta rift opened in the air. Petra and Rose jumped through onto the ground inside. Petra looked down at the indigo blue grass and the towering mushrooms that surrounded them. They were back in the void forest. They were standing by one of the long roots extending from the World Tree.
Petra tried to look up to the sky, but there was nothing up there. It was just black, everything blocked out by the leaves of the World Tree. Rose walked purposefully toward the grove ahead of them. Petra met each of Rose’s strides and kept pace with her. They reached the grove shortly and were greeted by a small golden glowing fairy.
“Who goes there?” asked the fairy, her voice barely louder than the tinkling of a bell.
“Rose Corrigan, the Voidwalker. Leyanie has called for me,” spoke Rose.
“Petra Sedaris, Warrior Queen of New Valar,” said Petra.
“What business would our lady have with you?” asked the fairy.
“How would I
possibly know that? She’s the one who told me to come see her,” shot back Rose.
“Ugh, fine. Let’s go,” squeaked the fairy as she led them into the central chamber of the tree.
Inside the tree was Leyanie’s sleeping face. Fairies continued to fly around her face, tending to her as she slept. Rose put her hands on her hips as she waited. Petra wandered around the room, watching the fairies as they worked.
“Arise, oh great and wondrous World Tree!” called out the tiny fairy.
Leyanie’s lips quivered and what could best be described as a yawn escaped from its mouth. The fairy leaned in, clenching her fists in excitement at awaking the tree. The tree kept sleeping as if the fairy had never attempted to rouse her.
“Arise World Tree!” shouted Rose, her voice more powerful.
With a loud groan, the tree awakened. The ground shook as its branches and roots stretched out the way a person might stretch out their arms when they first wake up. The eyes of the tree opened, great citrine yellow orbs looking out upon them. Those yellow eyes scanned the room, taking in the sight of its servants, Petra and Rose.
“Ah you finally made it!” greeted Leyanie, dry bark peeling from her lips as she spoke.
“It’s been awhile hasn’t it? What did you have to tell me?” asked Rose.
“There’s been another great shift in the world since I met your companions. When the crystal broke, the Tainted Fae were freed. I assume you’re prepared to seal them away again,” stated the tree.
“I am. I put down one of them already. That can’t be what you wanted to tell me though,” replied Rose.
“No. In my dreams I have been seeing visions of the plane where the Bleeding began. The only way to figure out how to stop it is to go to the source. I can open a rift to send you there, but if you leave now then Guardia will be vulnerable to the Tainted,” said Leyanie.
“I can protect Guardia from the Tainted,” offered Petra.
“These aren’t regular Fae. They have horrible powers and have no remorse when it comes to using them,” warned Rose.
“I know some people with powers of their own I can seek out. You need to focus on stopping the Bleeding” replied Petra.
“She’s right, Rose. You know what must be done,” said Leyanie.
The roots of the World Tree twisted and rolled out of the dirt. The entrance they had used to walk in had now been completely sealed by Leyanie’s roots. After a moment she retracted her roots, revealing an icy landscape of crystal outside. Rose extended her palms out in front of her and then motioned them apart. As she made this gesture, a rift opened up near Petra.
“This will lead you back to my manor on your plane. I left Emin there. He’s a mage who can join you in your quest, just make sure to tell him I said so. I have to stay here and figure out what’s caused the Bleeding,” said Rose.
“Right!” replied Petra as she jumped through the rift.
The rift immediately sealed up behind her. She landed on a patch of soft green grass back in Rose’s manor. The day was overcast and Emin was out tending the to the garden. He noticed Petra right away, dropped the trowel that was in his hand, and he made for the front veranda of the house.
“I mean no harm! I’m a friend of Rose,” said Petra, putting her hands in the air.
“How did you come through that rift?” Emin asked.
“Rose opened it for me. My name is Petra. I have an important job ahead of me fighting a very dangerous foe, and Rose said that you could be of help,” said Petra.
“Well, where do we begin?” asked Emin.
* * *
[MM1]Spend more time here. Let the druid talk to Shea about magic. Let Adair go hunting with Catt.