General Art Asgard Legends

[Ⓡⓔⓖⓘⓝⓛⓔⓘⓕ]

Wow! I don't know wether to be pleased for her of scared of her.
She seems evil , and the fact the skull thing is her God probably secured it for me.

I can't get a picture of the zelda boss but I think this site's walkthrough of TP has a picture. I know it said it was a twilit fossil but I can't remember it's name , and I think it was in a place called the arbiter's grounds. I know for sure was that it was somewhere in the Gerudo desert.

Yep, she's a dark soul. She's cousin to Hel, Medusa, Mimir and other characters you will read about later in time. (I'll draw her as well, since there is no official art on her, the whole description was of my imagination, btw, she's just known as a demon ruler in the game.

Villnore, 5:45 PM, Year 2056 (3 Hours before Saga's Departure)​

"My butt be hurting badly," Arkus complained as he and his two friends rode into the busy street of Villnore City. "Feels like some witch stuck a thousand needles to it."

People came and went on the sides of the cobblestone street, and wagons and other means of transportation such as horses and donkeys took their riders through the street as well. On the sides were many buildings, mostly business ones. The sky was packed with grayish dark clouds, and it had been raining since early noon.

"Pfft!" Damera ridiculed his friend and Tyson laughed. The trio of mercenaries were glad they had made it to the city before nightfall that day, and that had been thanks to the harsh way Arkus had conducted the team of horses, nearly exhausting them out of their life.

Villnore City was large and prosperous, and home to many mercenary houses. It was located on top of several large neighboring hills. The majority of its buildings were stone made, even the royal castle, but there were sections in the city where wooden and hay shacks had been erected. That was where the poorer folk resided.

"Don't laugh, fools, it's not funny," Arkus lamented. Damera chuckled, but let the joking die with that, so did Tyson.

"Ah! It's good to be back home," Tyson said, glancing about the opposite side, over on Damera's side. People shouted and some even stared at them as they went by, particularly the many mercenaries who happened to be hanging out on the porches of their guild houses. Damera, staring at a few of them as the wagon went by, knew what those fools might be thinking. Oh no, more competition has just arrived.

"Hey babe!" Arkus shouted, his eyes and a flirty smile were kept on a beautiful young dame who stood outside on a wooden porch of some business building as the wagon went rolling by. The wagon conductor even rose up and waved wildly at the girl, but the dame only chuckled and rose her hand and waved courteously at him. Arkus kept staring at her, but suddenly an oncoming horse rider suddenly went galloping by and shouted. "Watch it, you observant fool! Get back on your own side of the street before you kill someone!"

That brought Arkus' distracted eyes back to the front, and he quickly as heck sat back down and adjusted a wild tug on the horses, bringing the team back to the right side of the road, for coming at the front and so close to crashing with the mercenary wagon was another wagon crowded with mercenaries. The wagon swiveled abruptly, and with it too swiveled the two companions at the back, who grabbed on tight to the wooden railing of the wagon. Tyson's steel shield, which the lad had placed at the side, went for a ride and landed hard against the other side of the railing, almost hitting Damera's left knee.

The oncoming mercenary wagon sped by, with most of its passengers shouting curses and even pumping their fists at the trio of mercenaries.

"What are you doing, you big headed fool?" Damera cried, hotly, pressing his left foot against the fallen shield to keep it from moving. "Are you trying to kill us all, or what?"

"Sorry, boss, got a bit distracted with the beautiful sights off to the side," Arkus apologized with a grin. Damera, a little angry within himself, leaned a bit and picked up the shield, then he handed it over to Tyson, who'd done nothing to keep the shield from coming his way, rather had grabbed on for dear life just as he had.

Tyson grabbed his shield and pointed out from the back of the wagon. "Just keep your damned eyes on the front and take us to the Silent Siren without any other heart-stopping incidents. Do it and I'll be sure to pardon your life, vermin."

Arkus rolled his eyes, and behind him he heard Tyson's ensuing kiddish laugh.

"Naw, we won't be doing any drinking just yet, guys," Damera cut in, forgetting about the incident already. He'd had lived through too many such incidents before with these two companions, so he quickly had forgotten about it.

"What? How come?" Arkus quickly complained, and Tyson, who rode opposite of Damera, just stared at him as if he was crazy.

"Well, first we have to take care of business, see?" Damera asked, staring back at Tyson, who glanced past him to land his eyes on a beautiful brunette girl who was walking by dressed in a white, elegant dress. The girl stared at the wagon as it went by, just as every other onlooker probably did, but then she minded her business and continued on her way.

"What business do you speak of, boss?" Tyson spat, bringing his eyes back to stare at Damera. Up front, Arkus kept his eyes on the busy street but listened in.

"Something I have to do," Damera simply shrugged. "Take me over to Matilda's place, Razen, and be quick about it."

"Yes, Mister Tomahawk," Arkus replied with a hint of sarcasm and lead the wagon on, eyes on the front even though there were many beautiful sights off to the side to see.

***

A Taste of Hai-lan, Villnore, 5:51 PM, Year 2056​

"So what is our next move, Ash?" asked a jovial, female voice within the loud and crowded Yamatoan restaurant. "You're not thinking about going in there with just the two of us, right!?"

Her voice, to the listener seated in front of her, had sounded nervous, frightened even. Seated in front of the nervous girl was Ashie Silverstar, a silver haired young beauty who was more into emptying the food on her plate than showing concern about the current matter that seemed to be bothering her friend. Ashie, who was dressed in a white blouse, black pants and brown, leather boots, regarded her companion sitting across from her but merely kept chewing her Yamatoan food.

"God I love this stuff," Ashie finally said with a pleased smile. "Aint no other better food in all of Midgard, Dusana, not even our own style, I assure you."

"Princess!" the other girl went on, putting the fork on the plate, which still contained quite a bit of tasty, honeyed meats and rice. Several of the clients turned to regard them from nearby tables, but when Dusana realized her mistake and corrected it by adding, "You'd only wish you look like a Princess." they minded their business.

"You're kicking up a storm, Dus," Ashie whispered hotly. "What did I tell you about the whole Princess stuff?"

"I know," Dusana felt stupid then. "I wasn't suppose to be calling you that. Sorry, it slipped out."

"Just relax for a moment and eat," Ashie quietly told her, grabbing a napkin with disdain, which she used to wipe her tender, small lips. "You've always been on edge ever since we left Karté. Look, I know what you may be thinking right now."

"You do, Ash?" frowned Dusana, who was wearing a beautiful blue dress that day, regarded her companion with a stressful look.

Ashie nodded a few times and leaned forward and said with a hushed tone. "Relax, we won't be hitting them tonight, nor tomorrow, for that matter."

"Then?" Dusana's voice seem to relax just a bit, and she picked up her fork and took a piece of meat to her mouth. "Have you given up on reclaiming your--"

"No! Never! I have a plan," Ashie simply said and sat back straight.

"A plan?"

"Yes, I thought of it as I was eating just now."

"And...can you tell me about this plan, my Prin--," she rolled her eyes and shook her head in mild embarrassment. "I mean, Ash. Can you tell me?"

Ashie felt irritated for a lone second that her friend nearly called her Princess again, but she nodded and lowered her gaze, then she suddenly continued eating. So did Dusana, following Ashie's lead, who had signaled her with her eyes that she should dig in, for at the entrance of the restaurant two rough-looking fellows had just come in. Just by looking at them as they went by, at their fine weapons and the dark mercenary outfits they wore, Dusana found out that they belonged to the mightiest mercenary House in the city, the guild that ruled the entire city of Villnore: Guild Zarfhas. No other guild from the many there were to be found here within the city wore dark colors, Guild Zarfhas had claimed the colors long ago.

The two men walked right by the young women, one of them giving the silver haired girl a deep stare, mostly at the odd tattoo this one showed on her forehead. Ashie stared back and nodded with a cute smile. "Blessings of Raygalon upon you."

The man sniffed the air, which he thought smelt salty, but other than that, he just went by without saying anything much. He and his friend settled on a table close to the bar and beyond ear-shot of Ashie and Dusana's own table. A Yamatoan maiden dressed in black was quick to attend them, this Dusana was witness of, for she was actually facing them.

"Dang!" cried Dusana in a whisper. "Mercenaries, mercenaries, and more mercenaries. This city sure belongs to the guilds, as we were told."

Ashie nodded at that and whispered afterward, her voice solid. "Though these two are not what they seem to be, Dusana, just keep eating and act normal enough."

Dusana's eyes widen in fear, and she nearly lost her breath at the revelation, but she quickly settled hear fears down, for Princess Ashie had just ordered her to remain calm and act normal, lest she blow their cover! Ashie and Dusana were not humans as they seemed to represent then, rather they were mermaids and had come to this large city of humans seeking an valuable artifact that had been stolen from them.

Dusana, who became nervous again at the revelation, never even glanced past Ashie for the remainder of their time there within the restaurant, nor did she trouble her with words. She just finished her dish with her eyes hanging low, afraid that their disguise would be discovered and that they would die there.

*End of Chapter*

 

[Hero of Time]

Nice chapters, buddy. I like how this story is going (but don't I always?). I caught this single mistake:

"Yes, Mister Tomahawk," Arkus replied with a hint of sarcasm and lead the wagon on, eyes on the front even though there were many beautiful sights off to the side to see.

"Mister" should be capitalized since it precedes a proper noun (Damera's last name).

 

[Raindrop14]

Hooray, I'm finally caught up! And these were amazing!:clap: Ooh, but I smell BIG trouble for Midgard when Lady Beliza brings back lord Baldr! Although I have a felling that Saga will save them from that trouble.^^ Can't wait to see what happens next!

EDIT: Whoops, now I've got to read chapter 7. I'll comment on that when I'm done reading it.

EDIT: Okay, now I read chapter 7! And it was great! Can't wait to see what happens next!

 

[Ⓡⓔⓖⓘⓝⓛⓔⓘⓕ]

Nice chapters, buddy. I like how this story is going (but don't I always?). I caught this single mistake:
"Mister" should be capitalized since it precedes a proper noun (Damera's last name).

I corrected that a while ago, thanks for pointing it out. :yes:

Hooray, I'm finally caught up! And these were amazing!:clap: Ooh, but I smell BIG trouble for Midgard when Lady Beliza brings back lord Baldr! Although I have a felling that Saga will save them from that trouble.^^ Can't wait to see what happens next!

EDIT: Whoops, now I've got to read chapter 7. I'll comment on that when I'm done reading it.

EDIT: Okay, now I read chapter 7! And it was great! Can't wait to see what happens next!

Thanks for reading, Rainy, you're awesome. Really? You think so? We'll see what happens.

And it's time your character is introduced, briefly...but it will do until I can properly introduce her (and Tekara's) looks. ^^

Artolia City, 1 Hour before Saga's Departure to Midgard​

The two young female elves had been daring to venture into human villages, towns, and cities ever since they had taken an oath two and a half months ago. No elf in their sober state would have ever even giving it a thought about doing that, because if they were caught, the consequences could be grave, even to the point of a sure death. But Tekara Ki and Kirana Alfendell had a very good reason for doing that, and that was to find one of their beloved kin, who had run away from the Tribe three months ago.

"What did you learn?" Kirana Alfendell, the older of the two at twenty five years of age, asked her much younger partner as this one was arriving the horse stables where she awaited with two horses. The beasts were already saddled, and they also were carrying traveling satchels where provisions and some of the elves' larger weapons were inserted.

Her partner, Tekara Ki, was just fourteen years of age, going on fifteen in several months. She had a worried semblance about her.

Shaking her head and preparing to mount her own horse, Tekara Ki responded. "Nothing much, I visited several inns and dining houses, they all just related the same old stuff to me, rumors of the imminent arrival of demons and creepy stuff occurring in the north."

Kirana bit her lip nervously, but not because of what her partner had told her, rather because Tekara had been unsuccessful in obtaining information about Zeri's whereabouts. She spat aside, disappointed, although she knew it was hard asking around for an elf when they were not welcomed here. Still, the description of a black haired young girl dressed in dark blue outfit that they had been using was enough to point them around.

The two female elves were wearing dark, hooded cloaks, which hid their true identity well and made them seem human enough.

"Rand told me the same information a few minutes ago."

"Rand?" the young elf's beautiful face showed surprise. "Who's that?"

"Oh, one of the workers here," explained Kirana as she caressed her horse's neck. "That big dark skinned young man who took care of our horses earlier."

"Ah, I see, so you two got acquainted?"

"Sort of, you know how I tend to demand a person's name."

Tekara nodded at that.

"Anyway, there's no point wasting time, we leave this place now, there is nothing for us left to do here."

"Nope, I doubt she's even been here anyway." Tekara guessed. "My guess would say we'll be doing lots of riding and looking still."

"Yeah, well Zeri's smart," Kirana pointed out as she took a stare about the area. It was chilly and dark already, although street lamps scattered about the city lit the Artolian capital quite well. A few Artolian residents still lingered on the streets, a few adults but mostly children who were playing a variety of games in front of a large cinderblock-made orphan house.

"Apparently clever enough not to show herself in human cities for sure...unlike us."

"That's Zeri for you," Kirana said, and she watched as Tekara mounted her palomino horse easily. She did the same, mounting her own black horse. "She might resemble a human more than an elf, but after what she went through in that forest, I doubt she's got the heart to consider coming to human cities."

"Then where could she be?" Tekara asked, a hint of uneasiness in her voice.

"I don't know," Kirana responded coolly after sighing profoundly. "But let's get going, every second we waste could prove to be disastrous. I sure as heck want to deliver Zeri safe to her mother."

Tekara nodded at that. "Yeah, me too, Kirana."

The two got going, for with their search done here, it was time to leave the city and keep looking elsewhere.

Directing her horse towards the city's entrance, Kirana spoke. "I believe she's close enough, dear Tekara. The info we've been getting ought to pay dividends soon enough, we just have to keep searching."

"I just hope she's alright," said the worried young elf.

"I have faith that she's fine," comforted Kirana. "Keep the worry out of your head, my friend."

"I do try," admitted Tekara. "It's just that every minute that goes by without us getting any results worries me more."

"We'll find her soon, I promise," promised Kirana, and she offered her young partner a warm smile, which was returned fondly. In reality, Kirana, was troubled as was her young partner, but she hardly showed it.

Little did Kirana and her young partner know that their search was about to end, for about to enter the city of Artolia through the same gate that the two elves would use to exit the city was Zeri herself, who had been galloping hard the last couple of days.

***

The route she had been following in order to get to her beloved homeland of Thackus had brought her so close to the third largest city in all of Midgard that Zeri had decided to come in and resupply herself for the remainder of the trip. The weather had been chilly lately, and so Zeri had known that she would need to buy a coat or some more blankets to fight that cold weather off during the night. And she needed food and water as well. She knew she would easily find all that in this city, and that is why she had dared to come.

It wasn't that Zeri was too smart, she knew that she had to be very cautious while being in hostile territory, for most of the humans loved to have their fun with caught elves. And so it was that she had also donned her own cloak as she had been riding. Hers was a greenish one with hood and all, and though it wasn't a thick cloak, it still defeated most of the chilly wind.

As she rode towards the inviting opened gate, which had an arching stone watchtower on top, in her mind the half human-half elf thanked the woman who had given her an ample purse full of gems a few days ago. "Be safe, dear Smitie," Zeri heard herself whispering. She was saddened as thoughts from the previous nights invaded her head, but she sighed and took heart at the mere fact that she had made it to the Artolian capital. Wanting to resupply herself quickly and be out of the city in a flash, she spurred her horse to gallop a little quicker towards the gate.

The guards stationed at the gate never bothered her in the least, save for a warm welcoming salute, for the city of Artolia was open to any visitor, this under the decree that the ruling Princess Hazel Nola had set long ago when she had taken over the throne.

Zeri galloped by on top of her mount and noticed that two cloaked riders were coming her way, although on the left side of the wide street. She lowered her head just a tad bit, saluted them by raising her left hand and proceeded in, her horse's hoofs echoing loudly as the beast trotted over the paved street.

***

Tekara's beautiful young face suddenly deformed in surprise as she had been paying close attention to the rider who had just gone by.

"Wait a minute," she cried and halted her horse just as the two riders were passing underneath the stonework of the watchtower above.

"What is it?" Kirana pulled the reins softly on her own mount and considered her partner, who was staring at her with bulging eyes.

"I'd recognize those gray boots anywhere. It's her!"

"What? Who is who?"

"That rider, my friend," said Tekara, who felt her heart thumping her chest in wild excitement. "It's Zeri!"

"Zeri?" Kirana was flabbergasted, and she even glanced over her shoulder to take notice of the rider, who was by now some twenty feet away from them.

"Yes! Come on!" Tekara was already turning her horse around. Kirana did so as well, her heart pounding mildly, the beautiful elf still unable to fathom what was going on.

"Let us be careful," said Kirana, who wasn't convinced yet. "We should keep our distance, might be someone else."

"It's her," Tekara assured with a smile in the darkened environment.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I know I have good eyes, I've trusted them all my life. I'll let you beat me up if I happen to be wrong. Come on, we should go talk to her."

Kirana nodded, her whole being placating from the worry she had also been feeling lately. As she sped her horse and rode to the side of Tekara, she could only hope that the young elf was right, because she'd hate to go looking for Zeri deeper in the human domain.

*End of Chapter*

 

[Raindrop14]

Hooray, my character was introduced! And it was a great chapter!:clap: I wonder if Kirana and Tekara will be able to complete their mission... Can't wait till the next chapter!^^

 

[Lukémon]

Interesting , 2 chapters went by since the last time I read this. Still , this is very good I'm definitely looking forward to the next few chapters. Cause it looks like Saga will be heading for Migard soon.

 

[Ⓡⓔⓖⓘⓝⓛⓔⓘⓕ]

Hooray, my character was introduced! And it was a great chapter!:clap: I wonder if Kirana and Tekara will be able to complete their mission... Can't wait till the next chapter!^^

Thank you for the support. Yes, it was about time that I introduced her, but I was waiting for this opportunity. You'll read some more about her in chapter 10, already started working on it. Enjoy this short chapter 9 for now, because Chapter 10 will be long.

Interesting , 2 chapters went by since the last time I read this. Still , this is very good I'm definitely looking forward to the next few chapters. Cause it looks like Saga will be heading for Migard soon.

Yep, I am getting close to writing on him and where the story left off. Here's more Tyson for you. XD

Villnore, 45 minutes before Saga's Departure to Midgard​

Damera had not allowed his two companions to enter the healer's home with him, instead, he had left them guarding over his wagon outside on the street. For one thing, the wagon and horses belonged to him, they were a gift from his departing father four years ago. And two, Damera had wanted some privacy while he dealt with his business.

But he was taking too long, and his two companions were running out of patience as they stood waiting for him outside on that stormy night. The two were huddled underneath a neighboring house's wooden porch, keeping away from the harsh rain.

"Just what the heck is that fool doing in there?" cried a desperate Arkus, who just wanted to go to the nearest bar, get comfy in there, and get a drink. Tyson, who stood at Arkus' right side on the right side of the wagon just shrugged his shoulders as he stared on to the outer stone wall of the healer's home, which was located in front of the house where they stood at.

"He doesn't fancy Matilda, does he?" Arkus added, and at that, Tyson glanced at him laughed. The night was suddenly lit all around due to lightning flashing up in the sky, and a loud thunderclap echoed all over the region.

"Why do you ask? Could it be that you like the healer?" Tyson inquired.

"Naw," Arkus felt his blood becoming hot. "I uh..." he scratched his head and glanced away from his friend. "I just doubt Matilda fancies him, or anyone else, for that matter. That girl's had a hard life."

"Haven't we all had one?" Tyson interjected. "He's probably just taking care of business in there."

Tyson crossed his arms over his chest and returned his stare to the healer's large house.

"With the healer and her services? Or...?"

"Listen. I suspect Damera is up to something," said Tyson, as if he was bored of it all. "He'll probably hire her to go see that woman we worked for in Coriander."

Arkus Razen rose his eyebrows in a surprised kind of way and glanced back at Tyson. "You think so?"

A series of thunderclaps were heard, and the rain started to fall harder.

Tyson just nodded. "That, I do, yes. I mean, what other business could Damera have with Matilda anyway? And besides, I am guessing Damera was reminded of his dear mother while we were working for that woman. She did resemble her quite a bit, wouldn't you agree on that?"

"I'll admit it, yes, she does have an air about madam Celestina. And Veeka did seem very ill," remembered Arkus, and in his mind he pictured Veeka Ashad again when she had unexpectedly vomited a yellowish, bubbly substance on the day of their return to Coriander. The substance had alarmed the three mercenaries and Marvin back then, for when it had hit the ground the substance had quickly withered the grass where it had landed, just as acid would have easily disintegrated a piece of cloth.

"Damera's heart is kinder than a child's own," assisted Tyson. "He probably doesn't want that woman to go through with what his own mother went through those years ago. The pain, the suffering, and her final moments."

Arkus nodded at that truth and also crossed his arms over his chest, suddenly feeling pity for Damera once again. He lowered his gaze sadly to the planks below his feet and remembered his own mother, recalling how he had lost her to famine, along with the rest of his family.

***

"So let me get this right," the beautiful woman's face showed confusion before the mercenary. "You want me to go to Coriander village and see this woman named Veeka?"

"That's what I'm paying for," Damera nodded at her. The young mercenary had been offered to sit as he had entered the house nearly two hours ago, and so he now sat on a wooden chair, with the healer Matilda sitting opposite of him at the other side of the rounded table. They were in a smaller, cozy room where Matilda attended her guests and would-be clients. The table, two chairs, and a bookcase with several books and pots that held a variety of rare plants, were all that adorned the small room.

Matilda was one of those young woman who seemed older than their actual age. She was just twenty three years young but appeared to have seen thirty winters and summers already.

She had short, messy black hair and wore a spiked silver crown in the form of a bandana around her head with a cross emblem in the middle. Her eyes were as dark as the night and her skin color was a light tan. She did not dress as other healers tended to with their long skirts and mid-robes, rather she tended to dress normally with pants, blouses, leather straps, and short boots: the mercenary style.

Matilda was not her actual name, rather was her business name. Her real name was Shan, although everyone who frequented and sought her services called her Matilda, which had been her mother's name. Shan had adopted the name in remembrance and honor of her deceased mother, and that is why she was proud to be called Matilda over Shan.

"Well this surely covers my services and much more," she glanced down at the gems that she had emptied from a coin-purse earlier, one that Damera had handed over when he had proposed his plans. "Are you sure you are sane by giving me all this? It's double the amount I usually charge, you know?"

"Just go and do a good job, eh?" responded Damera kindly. "I want that kind woman fixed up, she's very ill and doesn't deserve to be suffering like that."

Shan, who'd performed for the mercenary before, nodded at him and began to pick up the gems by using both her hands. "Alright," she said as she performed her action before Damera's eyes. "I'll do my best."

Damera stood up with a satisfied smile. "I trust that you will. You're a great healer, Matilda, as good as your mother was."

"Thank you, kind lad. You already know that you are one of my greatest clients, so no need telling you again."

Shan stood up and deposited the gems back into the coin-purse and flashed the mercenary a warm smile that heated up the young man's heart.

They shook hands merely to seal the contract, and a few minutes later Shan was escorting Damera towards the door as the two spoke final words to each other in regards to the contract.

"When will you leave for Coriander?" Damera casually asked, not wanting too sound desperate or pushy.

"As soon as the storm passes," she announced, making Damera nod.

"Alright, that works," Damera said and turned the knob on the door. "Take care of yourself now."

"I will, Damera. You take care as well."

Damera nodded and pulled the door open.

The door to Shan's house opened and Arkus straightened up and felt his anxiousness leaving him.

"About time," he grumbled lowly.

As to Tyson, he merely waited in his place with his arms crossed, seeming unbothered in the least and totally at peace.

Uncaring about the storm rumbling above, Damera came down the stone-made stairway that lead up to the healer's home entrance and ran towards the porch where his friends waited at.

"Now we can go have that drink, gents." Damera said as he made it into the porch, his hair and clothing partially soaked from the rain.

"I think I'd rather go have a good meal instead," grumbled Arkus, who didn't seem too happy. "You took too long in there that I've lost my drinking appetite. What were you doing? Hitting on Shan, were you?"

Tyson regarded Arkus, then at Damera, and they both blurted out laughing.

"What?" Arkus cried, thinking they were ridiculing him. "What's the matter, why the laugh?"

"It's nothing, my friend. Look, I'm sorry, alright?" Damera apologized. "I had to give a full explanation of my business to Matilda, that's all."

Arkus didn't respond anything to that, just cleared his throat.

"Look, I know I delayed quite a while and that you are pissed because of that. I'll make it up to you two later once the storm settles down."

"Well you better," Arkus shoved him away, playfully but roughly, just as he'd always done before when he was pissed but not that pissed. Damera kept his balance and didn't smile, but he knew Arkus was fine now.

The three remained under the cover of that porch, talking and waiting for the storm and rain to lessen in strength.

*End of Chapter*

 

[Lukémon]

Good chapter , so Damera has got someone to help Meeka, that's good, slightly reminded me of when my mother went ill. I helped her through it though. So this reminded me of that.

 

[Ⓡⓔⓖⓘⓝⓛⓔⓘⓕ]

Good chapter , so Damera has got someone to help Meeka, that's good, slightly reminded me of when my mother went ill. I helped her through it though. So this reminded me of that.

It's Veeka, but yeah, that's what that was all about. Btw, if no one knows, Shan=Shan-Tastic, thought I'd keep her around from the last version of the story. She was a goddess in the old tale, but now she's got a role as a human being. Expect more of her in the future.

And here's a small chapter. I know I said I would have a big one for you but I decided to post it separately, so expect two chapters after this one. I will come and post those tomorrow or later tonight if I can, and that is a big if.

More story news: Serris is coming up soon, his intro I mean. (I will also remake him and make him look like Altair or Ezzio, he looks like crap in the art I submitted, but I was in hurry to finish many characters) I will also make Chapter Art, like the ones I had going in the old story. I will post that in my next update. See you around, faithful readers/fans.

Villnore, 25 minutes before Saga's Departure to Midgard​

Despite the storm, Ashie and her friend had left the restaurant as normally as they could. As Ashie had suspected earlier, the two mercenary men that had entered the restaurant were not really mercenaries, rather had disguised themselves as such to fool the two mermaids. They were really assassins, Ashie had a way of knowing stuff, she could slightly read people's minds, but not wholly since long ago she had stopped practicing the art in order to become a better melee combatant in her kingdom.

She did not notice them but the two men got up from their designated table just as soon as Ashie and her friend had paid the tab and had exited the place. Ashie had known they had in mind pursuing them when they left the place in order to perform their job, which was to kill them in order to be rid of them once and for all. Apparently the man who had stolen Ashie's emblem had become aware of the mermaids' presence in the city and had hired them to dispose of them. Ashie had read all that information within one of the assassin's mind, who had been thinking about it as he had been eating and sharing words with his partner.

The entrance to the Yamatoan eating house had bells on the door, and so when the two assassins came rushing out, Ashie was able to hear the sound of the bells. She turned around as she had been walking through the side of the lonely street and made them out with long curving swords in their hands.

"Run!" Ashie shouted at Dusana and the princess began to run for it.

"What?" Dusana, not knowing about the men's actions, shot back at her in confusion, but then she noticed the men coming full speed towards them.

"Oh crap!" Dusana cried in alarm. Dusana had never liked wearing shoes when in her human disguise, that is why she was not wearing any that day. Regardless of that, she ran after princess Ashie, hoping that running was part of the plan, which Ashie had not shared with her due to the presence of the mercenaries in the restaurant.

"We should just turn around and fight them off!" Dusana told Ashie as they ran through the soaked cobblestone street, the two mermaids not minding the water hitting their whole bodies and their faces. "We can handle them."

"We will, but not here on main street," Ashie shot back, daring to have a look at the men, who were coming on with ferocious, killing motives behind their stares.

"Then?" Dusana asked and shoved her wet hair (which had gotten into her eyes) back.

"Some dark alley away from possible witnesses! I don't want us to have the whole city looking for us!" cried Ashie.

Dusana sourly agreed at that and just kept running beside her friend.

They ran and turned to the right when they came upon an intersection. The two assassins gave pursuit, their blades hungering for the kills.

*End of Chapter*

 

[Lukémon]

Good chapter, I'm really enjoying this story.

 

[Raindrop14]

I'm finally caught up! And they were great chapters.^^ I wonder is Ashie and Dusana will make it out alive? I can't wait to read more!^^

 

[Ⓡⓔⓖⓘⓝⓛⓔⓘⓕ]

Good chapter, I'm really enjoying this story.

I'm glad to hear that.

I'm finally caught up! And they were great chapters.^^ I wonder is Ashie and Dusana will make it out alive? I can't wait to read more!^^

You'll know in the upcoming chapters.^^ For now, here's the next one in line. Things are getting serious now.

By the way, I added twenty art chapter intros to the first story. I will add more later on and will do so with the previous chapter of this story.

New Orlea, Asgard, 20 minutes before Saga's Departure to Midgard​

"I knew I would find you here, Aylin." A calm, soothing voice startled a young goddess, who removed her attention from the snowy mountains to regard her sister who had just arrived.

The arriver, who was a tall brown haired goddess and one who went by the name of Jzak Freiya, knew she had been right in suspecting that her sister had become troubled at the news that she had shared with her and two other females hours earlier, thus her sister had ran to the place where she had often sought comfort in her solitude: on top of one of the watch towers of New Orlea Keep.

"Yeah, well I needed to be alone for a while," said Aylin, and she wiped her tears away, for she had actually been crying in silence before her sister had arrived. "The news aren't that jolly, you know?"

"You didn't take that information too well," Jzak agreed, coming close to her. She put her hand on her sister's shoulder in a comforting way and looked off towards the mountains. "I knew you had become agitated back in Crag Point, so I had to come ease your troubles as the older sister that I am. Please, I hope you don't mind me taking such liberties."

"I don't, rather I truly thank you, big sister," Aylin forced a fake smile, which Jzak caught. "I'm fine, just a little shaken up still, that's all."

Jzak nodded at her with a warm smile on her face.

"Where are our guests Shiek and Evelina?" Aylin wondered.

"I thought I'd give them a few hours to rest before we set out later today," informed Jzak. "The two are resting at the moment within the Keep, the trip for them was tiring and cold."

"Hm, yes it was," Aylin seemed to shiver then, and Jzak noticed that.

"Are you alright?"

"Still a bit shaken, as I said," Aylin replied and rubbed her hands together, for it was actually cold. It always was cold there, the snow never melted completely. When it would actually start to melt, it wouldn't be long before another great snowstorm would form and bring more cold and snow to the region of New Orlea.

"You're very tense too," Jzak noted and removed her hand from her shoulder. "But so am I, and also Shiek and Evelina."

Jzak's sister admitted that she was tense as she said. "Who wouldn't be? My whole being is riddled with fear after your report, sister."

Aylin was shorter in height than her six-foot-three-inch tall sister, she actually stood five-ten. Her hair was not long nor brown red as was the case with Jzak, rather Aylin's was shoulder length short. They both shared the light tan skin, which in Midgard would be described as Caucasian. Jzak was dressed in a red and white two-piece suit consisting of a long-sleeved red and white blouse and white shorts. She wore a cleric's hat on her head and red boots that went up past her knees. Her sister Aylin wore a small, dark visor-like helmet on her head and a dark body suit of armor which covered her entire torso. Underneath the armor she wore a black blouse with pink sleeves. A skirt she wore as well and short, pinkish boots. At her back hung her weapon, which was a custom-made magical crossbow which also served as a spear of sorts for close range combat thanks to the long sharp metal head attached at the front end. Jzak carried no weapon at all. She did not need one as she was a mighty spellcaster, a great Sage who was highly ranked in all of Asgard.

"Well, for your information I'm also in fear," Jzak looked upon Aylin's concerned face with her pair of gleaming emerald eyes. "I mean who wouldn't be? We are talking about Baldr here, but we mustn't lose ourselves in the storm when this one has not even arrived."

"I...just can't believe it! To me he was just a simple legend, a living being of the past with no more hope of living. And yet today you've told me that his carcass has been found below in the world of men and that it is possible that he may be brought back to life!"

"The matter is complicated, dear sister," Jzak told in her most serious voice. Aylin thought she read something strange on her sister's face, as if Jzak was holding out on her.

"But...are they sure it's him, though?" Aylin's voice sounded too agitated for Jzak's reasoning. "The disobedient child that is mentioned in the few tales that linger here in New Orlea and all of Asgard? The one...who disobeyed the main creator of the universe and was the cause of his death and the changing of his whole good established system!?"

"Dear Mimir is a hundred percent sure that it is him," confessed Jzak, feeling that her sister's words made her feel more unsettled. Aylin's being was rocked to the core once again with her sister words. Aylin frowned at her sister's words.

"Mother never really told us much about him, and we never asked her about that before," Jzak went on. "You and I were too busy concentrating living out our life, just like everyone else was. To me, as you appropriately have put it, he was nothing but mere legend. I didn't even delve too much with his tales, but from what I recall, I do know he's one mean dastard, one who shouldn't even be remembered, and yet he remains still after all this time."

"He killed the creator of the universe," said Aylin sadly. "I'm with you on that point, he's one cowardly being."

"And he's got plenty of followers. So you see now?" added Jzak. "That is why we must move quickly to secure those remains of his."

"But...begging your pardon here, sister. Just us four? You, me, Shiek and Evelina?" Aylin felt unsure of it all. "Will we be able to accomplish the mission?"

"We'll be fine down there," Jzak spoke with confident words trying to inspire some courage in her sister. "We're just to go and secure the remains and bring them back to Asgard, nothing else. I doubt we will be seeing any trouble down there, so relax." She leaned in and kissed her sister on the top of the head, on her dark hair. "We'll be fine, trust me."

After the kiss, Aylin remained with a troubled face, forcing Jzak to glance away towards the snow-covered mountain peaks barely visible off in the distance.

"You know I do, Jzak. But I'd feel a little better if we would take a bigger group with us at least. I don't know, some...hundred angelus for support? We have those many and more here..."

"We can't suffer too many to go," Jzak said right away, but she felt the same as her sister. She thought it would have been helpful if more troops were to accompany them, but none were, and she explained it to Aylin. "Asgard is still in its rebuilding state and needs the presence of most residents and guardians here, specially at our eastern borders and the ancient portal locations. Mimir feels that we should not abandon our entry points too easily, anyone can attack us anytime, remember that, dear sister. We are not as strong as we once were before Ragnarok."

She turned and looked at Aylin, who nodded and grew more concerned with those words then. "That is why the All-Mother strictly chose the best personnel to go down there, the rest are to take care of the realm."

"But you informed earlier that Ashland is on the move as well, that their armies will begin to march out to Midgard soon enough in order to recover Baldr's remains. That's what has me a little worried, what if we...meet opposition?"

Jzak regarded her troubled sister and cleared her throat yet again.

"I said I suspected that Ashland would be on the move, this after what our spying network mentioned to the All-Mother," Jzak corrected her sister, the tall goddess crossing her arms, for just then the coldness of the region had discomforted her, or maybe it was the whole Baldr talk which had unsettled her. "She mentioned some of that to me in the letter I received. No one is sure about anything yet. Ashland remains in heavy fog, their actions unnoticed even by our most holy and respected All-Mother, and sure, why not? Mimir too. But they both suspect Ashland has become aware of the fallen god's remains. What we know for sure of the Ashland Kingdom is that they remain at the ready in case Saga's legions attack and conquer the neighboring realm of Dushak. If that were to happen, Ashland fears it could be next in line to face off against Saga's uncountable, powerful army."

"But Ashland is strong, right?" uttered Aylin, and she gulped, fearing that she was wrong. "They can stand strong against those numbers and odds? Saga's hordes can be repelled!?"

"Ashland is ruled by the mighty Beliza. She's cousin to the fallen god and one of Baldr's most important sympathizers. No one has been keeping tabs on her in a long time. No one knows the extent of her power nor her motives, so she and her realm are shrouded in total mystery, not even our spying network is too sure about what happens there. And thus the many rumors and beliefs, even my own conclusions, Aylin. It is believed that she's the one who's been operating secretly in the northern lands of Midgard. Part of her army is believed to be searching for something in the lost city of Dipan, but we still don't know what they are after, if it is indeed them, for to my knowledge, it could also be someone else."

"So what of Tartakus and Saga's legions?" asked Aylin, her beautiful semblance bewildered. "There's been too much chatter going on lately with them too, I've heard plenty of discomforting rumors here in the Keep."

"I've heard rumors too, but do share your own, I wish to hear them."

"Well," said Aylin, and she too crossed her arms as she reclined against the stonework of the tower. "There's been plenty of talking going on that say that Saga will be taking his armies to the world of Midgard, not against the remaining four realms in Netherrealm. The rumors say that he is actually going to Midgard to conquer it. And then, when he's done with Midgard, he's actually going to come here and try to conquer us, the Æsir."

Aylin scratched the top of her head and added as she seemed to remember more on the matter. "Some lieutenant was talking about that to a score of Angelus soldiers, I picked it up the other day as I was passing by. Do you know anything about these rumors, sister?"

Jzak shook her head and sighed heavily, not really knowing much about that. She had not given this Saga character much thought, other than to know that he had risen to power recently and had been conquering Netherrealm quite easily. His fame for taking the souls of those he killed had turned him into the most feared demon god alive that even many creatures in Asgard now feared him and believed that he now was focusing his attention on Midgard and then finally it would be set upon Asgard, where he would be challenging the All-Mother for total supreme power and authority over the universe. Jzak did not know whether that was true, but she did know that the demon god's actions had affected her fellow Æsir kin. Her own sister, who stood next to her, was proof of that.

"If those rumors are true, then what can we do, dear sister?" Jzak responded sincerely. "If Saga and his hordes do come against our beloved realm, then we will serve our homeland as we always have. We will fight to defend that which we love: our homeland and our kin."

Aylin nodded lightly at that, but the young goddess wondered whether they had a chance against such a big demon army, and against such a powerful foe.

"I wish Lord Odin was here..." she lamented. "Things would surely be less scary if he was around."

"Lord Odin now rests in peace," said Jzak, licking her lips sadly, for she also remembered the figure who had guided the Asgard realm a few years ago. "We have the All-Mother Lenneth now. She's our refuge to run to if we are troubled. If trouble does come here, she will act."

Aylin just nodded, still pretty much troubled.

Jzak tried to calm herself down with a hushed sigh, for her sister had made her worry with her behavior. She concentrated on the current matter at hand knowing there was great peril down in Midgard, what with Baldr's corpse having been found and laying about for anyone to claim. That was trouble for everyone, really, and that trouble, she believed, would soon be escalating into major conflict and drawing everyone to it.

Whether it was the southern god Saga who had risen to power in just a snap of fingers, or the northern empire of Ashland reaching out for the fallen God's remains, Jzak had a feeling something terrible was going to happen, and not just down in Midgard and its lower demon infested realms, but here in Asgard as well. And she couldn't believe it! How soon had trouble stirred! How soon had the light begun to fade to darkness when Asgard and the world below had just survived Ragnarok two years ago!

"Sister," called Aylin, who thought her older sister had suddenly gone quiet and thoughtful. "Are you alright?"

"Yes I am," Jzak quickly said, laying an eye on her. "I was just thinking. Look, Aylin, don't be disheartened. All we can do is wait and pray for the best. Nay, we must have hope in these hard times. As the humans in Midgard say: 'Hope never dies.'"

Aylin perceived that Jzak was trying to soothe her anguish, and also her very own anguish with those words. She was not wrong in believing that because Jzak actually had aimed to do that.The older sister never had liked seeing her younger sibling troubled.

"So be strong, don't let mere rumors trouble you so," she went on to say as she gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Something is bound to occur sooner or later, all we can do is strive to do what has been assigned to us and nothing else. We shall confront with unwavering courage whatever comes our way."

Aylin straightened and bobbed her head several times at that, however, her face remained troubled before her sister.

As Jzak remained standing next to her, she was grateful that the All-Mother had taken action in regards to the discovered remains of the fallen god.

Because of the letter that she had received a few days ago, Jzak knew that Mimir, who had stumbled upon the finding by having been mentally scanning that central Midgardian region, had told Lenneth about the important finding the Artolians had made down in Midgard. And Lenneth, who had just recently become the All-Mother and taken the throne as Supreme Ruler, had known nothing about the Disobedient Child. But the head of Mimir had told her all she needed to know in regards to him, and so the All-Mother had taken action in the matter as well.

Whatever came to happen, Baldr's remains could not fall on enemy hands, for that could mean the rise of a long-ago dead-- but surely not forgotten--god who would awaken and attempt to complete his previous plans of total domination of the universe under a dark, tenebrous reign which would have no end.

Asgard was sending four of its elite members to secure the remains of the foul god. That was the mission that Jzak and her sister Aylin, both daughters of Freya, the Arkangelus Shiek, who was the oldest being alive, as well as Evelina Brengle, the recently promoted young Angelus, had to successfully complete for the All-Mother, and for the good of all Asgard, and perhaps for the whole universe.

*End of Chapter*

 

[Raindrop14]

I really liked that chapter.^^ I can't wait to read more!

 

[Ⓡⓔⓖⓘⓝⓛⓔⓘⓕ]

I really liked that chapter.^^ I can't wait to read more!

I'm glad you liked it, and I really hope you continue to like them, else I dunno what I am doing wrong.

Story News: Um, I pretty much hate coming up with invented characters, so I've decided to change a few names and give them the honor of peeps who signed up for other stories before this one. So, if you have been reading the story, then you know who Princess Jubilee is. Or was, because she's now ZD member Zeruda. As to her father, the king of Flenceburg, that will probably be someone with great power here in the forum, Mases or Mosley, depends who I change that to. And as to Clair and the other woman (Breann was it?) who appeared in the Zeri chapter, I think I will also edit their names too. I will actually come and tell you who they are as soon as I choose someone. (Yes, I will also edit their names in the past chapters) I'm also making a map of Asgard just in case you are wondering what regions there are there. Anyway, sorry for all this changing, I just want the story to feature as many ZD peeps as possible than invented ones.

Close to Villnore, Midgard​

The demon had cried aplenty, had been saddened deeply, and too often lost deep in thought ever since his aunt Avonite had delivered the terrible news of his friends's passing. What had troubled and hurt Saga the most was the mere fact that he knew that his friends had probably ended up in that forsaken dark place: Cocytos. His mother had assured him that all evil souls went to that place to suffer eternal torment.

He'd been extremely sad because of that fact, but mostly angry at the mere thought of picturing them being tortured by those ugly Cocytean creatures without rest. Were there in Cocytos other beings worse and uglier than the ones he had laid eyes upon during his time there? If so, how cruel were they? Saga had not known, but he knew that if his friends were there, if they had ended up in that foul place, they were constantly suffering as never before. That is why he vowed that one day he'd return to that place and rescue them from that horrible fate, if it was possible, even if it meant that he'd be breaking his own vow, which he had made a few years back as he had exited that place with a nearly dead Ailyth in his arms.

The day in which he went back to Cocytos in search of his friends would have to wait though, for Saga had to do something else before he would attempt that. And that is precisely why he had chosen to come pay a little visit to this surface human world called Midgard. His vengeance upon the creatures of this world, creatures Saga had considered weak and worthless long ago, would be taking place first.

***

As he stood breathing calmly and staring at the new surroundings, Saga had the fresh image of his friends still in his mind, the demon god picturing them calling out for him to have vengeance upon those who had committed the foul deed.

Soon, Sammy and Repiv, he reminded himself. Soon you'll be avenged.

He now was in Midgard, standing within a semi-dark circular room. The time for vengeance was at hand.

Saga was too distracted with those remorseful and vengeful thoughts that he hardly had paid any attention to the beings within the room as he had arrived. Four necromancers they were, the human beings who had summoned a demon up for interrogation and for a little fun, but they soon realized that they had received something else.

Doodle and his three companions had stumbled backwards in an alarmed way as soon as they had taken notice of the dark-armor clad figure. Nils, the youngest of the necromancers, had tripped with his own feet and had fallen on his butt with a stricken face. The others were similarly scared. To their bulging, frightened eyes, it was evident that this summoned creature was no ordinary demon. Something had gone awfully wrong with the summoning! They all stared confusingly at each other, wondering whether any of the others had any answers to that.

***

Annabeth and the two cousins remained huddled together in their small magical prison, also staring at the scene ahead of them, the three young maids truly scared but unable to look away. They really had no experience when it came to knowing much about demons, but by seeing the necromancers's reaction, they knew something awful was going on.

The tall, dark skinned necromancer was actually in the way, so the three girls could not see much. Still, they could see a dark figure standing in the middle of the summoning circle that they had prepared earlier for their master Doodle.

"Oh!" whimpered Vatti, and she felt her cousin's arms tightening around her as she said. "It'll be alright, cousin."

Annabeth gulped and wasn't so sure of that. With her heart pounding her chest, she ignored the two cousins at her side and just looked on, wanting to get a better glimpse of the dark figure.

***

"What the hell?" cried Rekolian, gulping hard and staring at Doodle, then over at Luxley, and finally ending his eyeing trip by staring at the demon. "This is no ghoul! We screwed...this up big time!"

"Glenamore must have confused herself sending this creature up to us!" cried Luxley's voice, but barely, the fat necromancer felt that his strength had left him completely.

"I...I'm out of here, man!" cried a very scared Tracker, who was just snapping out of the shock, his body shaking and shivering terribly. He, just like his colleagues, had never seen this kind of figure before. And the aura it was enveloped with, it was very strong that it was causing them to frighten beyond control!

As soon as reality had hit him, the young man didn't even think about grabbing his cloak, he stood up from the floor where he had fallen earlier on his butt, tucked tail, and ran for that door as if it was the greatest treasure he had ever found.

"Tracker!" Rekolian shouted, surprised and confused. "Where are you going? Come back here, the circle's lost its strength, you fool!"

"Tracky!" gasped Luxley, trembling badly but staring at the armor clad figure nonetheless. "Come back here, damn it!"

Tracker, in his fear, never listened to him nor to Rekolian. He opened the door and went out through it as if he were a soul who was being chased by the devil. The door slammed shut, and precisely that slamming noise is what snapped Saga back to reality, but he never showed it, just remained standing as he was, his eyes focusing on his surroundings.

"Bah, let him go," Doodle somehow found the nerve to say. "Always was a coward, that little boy."

Rekolian thought about running away too, as did Luxley, the two even exchanged nervous glances. However, before they made up any kind of decision, Doodle snapped their attention back to himself when he demanded of the creature.

"What manner of creature are you!?"

The demon god remained unmoving before him, his eyes fixed on the old man, whom he had taken a notice of just seconds ago.

The old man, unnerved at the mere stare the creature was giving him, had the courage to wave his arm in front of the summoned figure, as if seeking the demon's attention. The figure remained unmoving, just breathing easy.

"Are you a new type of demon then?" Doodle nervously asked as he lowered his hand. "Or were the damned rumors right after all? Your kin are coming to our world! Is that why they have even begun to don their armor and weapons, like the ones you carry?"

Saga said nothing, merely stood there eyeing him, thinking nothing of the man, rather saw him as useless trash, as nothing more than an annoying mosquito that needed to be squashed.

"Answer me!" shouted Doodle, losing his cool before the figure.

Saga remained silent, however, he did turn lightly to his right and set his eyes on the tall dark skinned necromancer, who swallowed hard when he noticed that the figure had just given him his attention. That's when Saga took notice of the three young girls who were behind the robed man, the demon god able to see the invisible magical barrier that kept them imprisoned as well. He could easily read the fear on them.

Saga returned his stare back to the old man.

"Godamn it! I asked you a question, slave! Answer it!" shouted Doodle.

Saga did not move, did not blink, and did not reply.

Doodle felt a wave of nervousness and uncertainty washing over him when no answer came and the demon figure just stood there, not in a defiant way, but just standing there as if untroubled at it all.

But the old man, perceiving the creature to be just a high-ranked demon dressed in combat gear, got riled up quickly and demanded in a louder, demanding tone.

"I never gave you orders to look around, servant! I asked you a question! You have been summoned from the world below, you are our slave, we are your masters, so I command you to speak! Speak!!!"

The old man even dared to walk forward a step, having made up his mind that he would punish this demon for its insolence. The fact that the demon had not stirred or shown any kind of emotion since his arrival played a factor in the old man's action, but he had also prepared a shocking spell in case the creature attacked him or something.

Doodle's right hand began to show the flow of electric currents, and he thought he was in control of the situation. He smiled grandly, and by seeing his smile, the other two necromancers grew courage and took a step forward as well.

But that is when Saga reacted.

"Your world is at an end, you miserable oaf!" he shouted at the old man, who blanched at the sudden strong words. Doodle felt a wild shiver running down his spine, and when he noticed that those reddish eyes apparently had grown in hue, he quickly dismissed the spell and rose his hands in a submissive way, his face deformed in fear.

"There won't be any safe place for you or your miserable kind to hide in!" Saga shouted with much assurance. And without saying much more, the dark god feeling repulsed to be standing in between these weak creatures, he simply stretched out his right hand and grabbed the old man from the collar of his robe. Saga brusquely tossed him aside to his right, and Doodle went to crash hard against Rekolian, who got the wind knocked out of him due to the strong impact.

The two necromancers fell down, Doodle cursing nonsense while Rekolian touched his belly and gasped for much needed air.

Luxley, who had prepared a minor freezing ball when he had seen the demon taking action, tossed it at the demon's back in an attempt to freeze him solid, but Saga's Orihalcon-made armor absorbed it all. Saga turned upon the fat bearded man and was on him in an instant. He grabbed the necromancer by the neck and squeezed it hard. He would have used his sword of power on the fool, except that Saga saw these humans as trash and with meager power for him to obtain. No, he would not use his precious sword on this trash.

"You fool!" he cried angrily at him as he stared with so much hate right in front of his face. "It is time you pieces of trash learn your place! You are not above demons, never have been! I will make an example of you all!"

Luxley, under the pressure of the hold, turned tomato red immediately, Saga was suffocating him to death. The demon god in all his anger even lifted the heavy man up easily until his legs stopped kicking and his hands stopped hitting the demon god's forearms in a pleading way to be released. Saga did release him a few seconds later as he turned to face the other two necromancers, who were already up, but when he did, Luxley was already dead.

Luxley's body landed hard on the floor off to the side, face first, and it never moved again. Rekolian and the old man took notice of that fact and knew that their dear friend was dead, killed easily in mere seconds by this figure they had not summoned.

"Damned be the lower realms!" Rekolian cried in anger and fear, one hand touching at his belly. "This is foul play! Damn them all!"

Rekolian didn't know what to do as he saw the summoned creature coming at them. For one instant he thought about launching a minor fire ball at him, but he also thought it would be best to run for it. He went for the latter, the dark skinned necromancer running as fast as he could towards the door and vowing in his mind that if he actually escaped this life or death situation, that he'd give up on necromancy forever and return to his beloved brother, whom he had separated from years ago in order to pursue his own ambitions of power.

"I hate Cowards!" Saga cried when he saw his action. "You will not be escaping your fate this night!"

Rapidly and expertly, the demon god brought out one of the exploding daggers from his belt and launched it at the wall close to the door where Rekolian would exit. The wall exploded with a very loud blast.

Saga shielded himself using his right forearm. A few pieces of stone hit him but did close to nothing in terms of damage. As to Doodle, debris hit him in the face and body, and he was launched to the floor by the sheer force of the blast. But Rekolian took the most savage part of the blast. Part of the wall and door had been blasted into nothingness when the dagger had made contact with the wall, and as to poor Rekolian, he flew unwillingly back into the room, or at least part of his upper body did, the rest had been pulverized to nothingness. His remains, which were his head and just part of his upper torso, landed on the floor next to a battered Doodle.

"Aghhhhh!" screamed Doodle in terror when he laid eyes on Rekolian's dead body. His friend's remains were so bloody and smoke rose from the charred chunk of body.

Doodle stood up in a few seconds, time that his mind did not register, for he was out of it. Everything in the room seemed to be spinning for him, and his ears were ringing loudly. As the old necromancer stumbled a few steps like a boxer who has been hit badly, he kept his balance and noticed the dark figure standing some five feet away from him. Doodle snapped back to reality.

"Son of a *****!" he cried, enraged. "You'll pay for that!" And he quickly summoned a fireball, his most effective and quick spell.

Doodle never released it, though, for as soon as Saga noticed that he had summoned the fire, the dark god rose a foot off the floor using his magical wings and flew the old man's way and disrupted his concentration by shoving him harshly away.

"Ahhhhh!" Doodle flew through the air, his back leading the flight, and he went to crash so close to the girls against the wooden table where he kept candles, goblets, and other supplies for his necromancy work. The table broke with the impact and the old man's weight. Doodle even felt a sharp pain on the back of his head as this one thumped against the wall.

Doodle cursed aloud as he laid on the floor writhing in pain, one hand touching the back of his head and another one touching his lower back, which had badly been injured.

"Arghh! Son of...a..." The old man moaned painfully as he laid there defeated.

Annabeth could have laughed oh so mirthfully at that and at the way Doodle had landed against the table and wall, but now was not the time for that kind of vengeance on the old fool from her part. She was terrified at what was happening, as were the other two girls. She knew, just as Vatti and Foxy also knew, that Doodle's time to die was nearing, for the dark figure suddenly went towards him. Somehow, despite the ill treatment they had received at his hands those eight months, Annabeth and the other two girls felt a small portion of pity for the old man as they laid eyes on his battered body.

Saga walked slowly towards Doodle, his stare on the old man instead of the frightened girls, who had gone as far away from the creature as their prison would allow when he had been nearing them.

Saga bent low and picked up the pretty much defeated necromancer with both his hands. He held him up high by the collar of his robe and remained staring at his bloody semblance, Doodle grimacing in pain all the while, for his back was close to broken.

"Arggh! Hahaha," Doodle ridiculed in what he believed were his final moments. "If I am to die I go happy! I killed too many of your kind before. I had this coming sooner or later. But that's not why I depart with a smile and a laugh, demon."

Saga did not care, but Doodle did not know that.

"I will reunite with my beloved daughter," Doodle went on to say, stopping Saga with those words from actually tossing him hard against the wall. "So go ahead, demon...do it. Kill me and end my pitiful existence. In the end you are doing me nothing but a favor."

Saga's eyes suddenly went from the necromancer to the three frightened girls, and that is when his good focusing on them allowed him to see the youngest one's face. Although the girl was frightened beyond belief, Saga suddenly felt a rush of confusion as he thought he saw Ailyth's semblance in the young girl. She was there, his lover, his future waikth, the beautiful maiden who had gone with him to Cocytos! The frightened girl was identical to her, only a bit younger perhaps and skinnier.

Saga, what are you doing? He heard Ailyth's pleading voice deep in his mind. What are you doing to me? To my kin?

Shocked, Saga released Doodle from his hold, and the old necromancer fell hard on the floor with a grunt, his back hurting big time. "Urgh!"

"Arghh!" Doodle cried as he laid there. "You stupid ghoul. You could have told me at least that you'd be dropping me."

Doodle thought he would make it in the end, that the demon had allowed him to live after all, but suddenly Saga kicked him harshly right in the middle of his face.

Annabeth and Foxy covered their mouth at the brusque and grotesque act, and Vatti screamed as the force of the kick sent the old man to crash against the wall. Doodle was dead, the kick had been brutal, more so with such a powerful being as was Saga doing the kicking.

Thinking nothing much about the dead man, the demon god then began to walk towards the girls, who frightened even more at his approach, but they had no room to further get away from him.

Annabeth, who was at the very end, gulped hard and felt her soul leaving her when the creature knelt on one knee in front of them.

Vatti, who was squashed right in the middle between Annabeth and her cousin Foxy, thought this was it, that the creature was finally coming to kill them. And as to Foxy, well she was as pale as a ghost, screaming in anguish and terror as the other two were, and trembling so wildly as she perceived their end. She apparently would be the first to go. She thought of her dear mother and dear aunt in those moments, those two kind women who had raised them both all their young life. How Foxy would be missing seeing their smiles. She started to cry as her young spent life began to flash before her.

Saga, using his left hand, summoned an invisible spell aimed to defeat the magical wall. A few seconds later his hand went through, the invisible barrier dissipating to nothingness. He reached in for the girl in the middle. The three maidens screamed loudly in their terror as his hand approached. Annabeth closed her eyes tightly, so did Vatti, but not Foxy. No, Vatti's cousin tried to shove Saga's hand away as she cried, "No! Leave her alone, you ugly thing!"

Saga ignored her and his hand caressed the young girl's suave face. Vatti shied away at first, thinking she was done for, thinking that the creature was going to choke her as it had done to the tall, fat necromancer, but then she calmed as she felt the gloved hand wasn't actually doing nothing to harm her, rather the creature was caressing her cheek in a touching sort of way.

"Ailyth!" Saga whispered, his voice tender, his fingers squeezing the girl's cheek and chin lightly and tenderly. "Forgive me, my love. You'd understand if you knew my pain!"

That was it, that was all Saga had in mind doing and saying. The befuddled girls suddenly noticed the creature still kneeling before them, but his head was lowered, as if it were staring at the floor in shame.

Saga, in his thoughtful position, realized the girl was not Ailyth, but she was so identical, and so he believed that an explanation to his actions was necessary. Ailyth, his real love, was back somewhere in Tartakus and worrying about him no doubt, he knew. It was just coincidence that this girl resembled her so much, he believed.

Saga sighed, not really knowing what to do with them then. He'd sworn to have vengeance upon every last human being for the death of his two demon friends. But he could not force himself to lay waste to someone who so much resembled his beloved Ailyth. He agreed with himself that these three young females could wait. What was the rush? These young ones were no real threat to him.

And so it was that Vatti's particular looks had saved the three young women that terrible night from having died horribly at the hands of a pained god.

Saga rose his head up and took a last inspection at the girl who so much resembled his beloved Ailyth, Saga still unable to believe that as genuine. How could she resemble her so much?!

He didn't know, but he offered her a light smile and gave her a light slap on the cheek. Vatti didn't want to do anything to anger the creature, not after what she had been witnessed to, and so she just let him touch her face at will, her dark brown eyes on him the whole time, though.

Saga, feeling a little glad within himself that he at least had gotten a glimpse of someone who resembled his beloved Ailyth, who was many miles away from him at that time, glanced at the other two girls and noticed then how battered their bodies seem to be. He knew those scars and bruises were probably from inflicted injuries suffered at the hands of the necromancers. Knowing they were dead sort of made Saga feel satisfied. If indeed the girls had suffered at their hands, they had paid for it this night. But one had escaped, and so Saga knew he'd have to go after him.

Saga rose from his kneeling position and headed immediately towards the blasted opening on the wall, willing to pursue the remaining necromancer. He stopped there and looked back over his shoulder. The girls were still clumped together, hugged with one another, and looking at him in sheer terror and disbelief. Not wanting to make them feel afraid of him any further, specially the one who resembled Ailyth, Saga turned his head forward and headed walking away.

The last thing the three girls saw of him were his wings as these blended in with the darkened hallway beyond the blasted wall, where he disappeared from their view.

*End of Chapter*

 

[Raindrop14]

This is going in one of my favorites. It was amazing!:clap: Although I only found one mistake...

But he could not force himself to lay waste to someone who so much resembled her beloved Ailyth.

Should be his but it was the only thing I found.^^

I can't wait to read more!^^