Shadows of the Past (Chapter XII)

Chapter XII: Aridous: Lord of Terror 1

Kyan folded his wings behind his back and withdrew his sword and ran toward where Tomoe and Donalbain stood near Tesshu's body. 2

Kyan made a confused look, "What? I thought you were dead?" He squinted his eyes as if to peer past the darkness of the cave's mouth and into the man's eyes. 3

Kyan lowered his sword, "You carry the aura of Trazina.. She obviously resurrected you.. but.. this can't be. She isn't allowed to resurrect mortals." He spoke as if in thought. 4

Ori snickered. "Lets just say I have a way of dealing with death. Many ways, as a matter of fact." Ori snapped his fingers, and zombies came from the ground, letting off a horrible shreik. "Do away with them, my minions." 5

Tesshu's eyes opened slightly. He tasted blood again. He had been thrown back by a powerful spell. He got up on his hands and knees. Tomoe was sprawled on the damp ground. She was knocked out, and maybe hurt pretty bad. He saw Kyan and a few other people in front of him. Ori was there, and had summoned undeads. Tesshu picked up his sword and it glowed purple. "Stand back, everyone. This is the undead blade!" He slashed at the nearest zombie, who was unaffected. "What happened?" 6

Ori laughed again. "You think I haven't learned your tricks by now, old fool? Now, attack, slaves." 7

The zombies were about to attack Kyan when the snap of someone's fingers. Most of the zobies fell down dead while the rest turned around to see Terror. 8

"I let you all rest and you deside to come back up?" Aridous growled. 9

"M-master! It's not like that! This mortal here-" 10

Aridous thrust his palm toward the talking undead monster. Light poured out of his hand and melted the flesh off the dead. 11

"I let you rest and this is how you all thank me is it?" he asked as he walked toward Ori. "You have guessed much pain to the dead, Master Ori. More so then I since you where the one that broke my promise." 12

Aridous was slowly forgetting his new self. Kyan watched in suprise as Aridous slowly turned into his old self. His figure, his clothes, his evil aura clouding his good one. "Aridous! Stop!" Kyan yelled. 13

Donalbain watched as Aridous face seemed to shift from peace to fury, life to death almost. He would never be completely good. He was a risk to the cause, standing only miles away from the location of the Seal and slowly transforming into a god of terror. Donalbain swallowed hard and stared into Aridous' burning eyes, "Go back. We can't have you here." Aridous just stared at him without responding. "Listen to the good side of your heart a moment, you know what kind of man you can become. And if not even you can control your hate, you are a danger to our cause. We must leave you..." His voice trailed off in fear, unable to know what Aridous' reaction might be. Donalbain turned and motioned to Kyan, Teskan, Nollie, and Adreira, and spoke, "We've come this far. There's no turning back now." He looked at Ori, holding his blade firmly and said audaciously, "Do not try to stop us." He slowly began to walk past them, hoping that Teskan, Nollie, Kyan and Adreira would stand beside him, should the evil in Aridous and Ori be unleashed. 14

Illion finally reached the silver ruins of Virahim. The desolation and destruction seemed to shine under the morning sun. Illion saw for the first time the horrors magic had caused. It had destroyed one of the greatest cities in the world's history. And now, ironically, the Seal to that power lay in those same ruins. He stepped forward into the ruined city, and began to walk toward the shrine at the city's center. It contained a maze and a terror that watched and protected the darkness. The Magic Seal lay in the lowest level of that shrine, beneath it all. In the darkness below the earth, lay the reason for a war. Illion took a deep breath and continued toward the Seal.15

Nollie stepped up beside Donalbain in to face the demi-god and the necromancer, his sword grasped tightly in one hand. At one point he and the other young noble would have been required to hate each other, hell, the probably were still required to hate each other but now it was bigger than that.The two that stood in front of him were between his group and the ultimate goal. Nollie didn't know what answers the Magic Seal held for him; all he knew was that if the wrong hands broke it then the world would plunge into chaos. He wasn't prepared to let that happen. It wasn't just about his father, his powers, or his curse...now it was about his world, and now he had something else to protect. 16

The people standing behind him. His new found friends...the girl, specifically. Throughout the journey, he and Adreira kept getting closer. The feeling was...electric. He even sensed that Teskan had a soft spot for him, though the elf didn't show it the slightest with his gruff attitude and bouts of silence. Kyan and Donalbain had both fought beside him in battle and what brings people closer that that? And he couldn't forget Rayyeter, a brother in spirit who'd also left his people to find something better. Nollie wondered where the drow was, but knew the two would meet again before 17

"You two better get the  fuck out of the way...Heiliges Licht!" Nollie cried, lifting his sword up high. A bright white beam of light shot from his sword into the dark clouds, creating a huge hole. Nollie looked behind at Kyan, Teskan, and Adreira, "You three keep going. Me and Donalbain will catch up." 18

He turned back to the two in front of him. 19

"Aridous, I've had enough. Either move, or suffer the consequences...Ori, I don't know why you're alive, but you better move," Nollie pointed his sword at the two, "Or heaven is gonna rain down on you!" 20

With that, the bright light in the sky came crashing down in five huge beams that rocketed straight for the two evils that opposed Nollie and his friends. 21

Aridous stared cooldy at Nollie. He slowly lifted his sword in the air and . . . 22

droped it. The sword spun slowly in the air as it fell silently on the ground. Aridous stared at Nollie without heat or fear or anyother emotion. Just in confusion. 23

Why is he doing this to me?Aridous asked himself. He lightly steped backward without noticing the flooding tears in his eyes. I try to change and this is what they do to me? They wouldn't have gone this far if they didn't stumble across the bager in the village; ME! 24

Aridous slolwy turned to Kyan with overflowing eyes. His mouth parted slightly. Help me. Help me, please; somebody. This is all too new for me. "I'm scared to change!" Aridous fell on both kness and sobed. Kyan slowly walked over to Aridous and went to place his hand on his shoulder. "Stay away from me! You touvh me, Paladine and I will ripe off your arm! So help your God!" 25

Kyan backed off quickly and glared at Aridous. With Illion closer to the Seal the Magic Storm worsend. The wind blew from behind Aridous which blew his robes and hair toward the group. 26

"Our foolish brother and sister are correct, Kyan." Aridous said with a sickening grin. "This world will fall. It shall! I am its Angel of Death! I am its Angel of Mercy! The Seal will break and I will wear it's peices like jewelry." 27

Aridous laughed at Nollie as he held his weapon up to attack. "I will not move for you nor will I fight you. Pass me. Don't touch me or look at me as you do for you all are dead to me . . . as I am sure I'm dead to you all." 28

Donalbain looked toward Kyan, Adreira and Teskan, and followed up on Nollie's suggestion, "Go, quickly. The Magic Seal must be defended at all costs. You've come this far, you must not turn back. It's in your hands now." He knew Illion was probably passing into the darkness of the ruins even now as he spoke. Perhaps it was too late, and the Seal would be broken despite all his efforts. But he would not die knowing he had given up. "You must hurry. Please, go." 29

He then turned back to Aridous, and then to Nollie and back at Aridous. Suddenly he smiled at the dark god of terror. "People like you bring the good in our hearts together," he said looking at Nollie, "No matter what differences they may have had. We were born enemies, but because of the evil in this world and villains like you, we have been made allies. I've feared the loneliness of death my whole life, but now that I know what I will die for, I know longer feel scared. I will die fighting you. Nollie and I will not let you and Ori reach the Magic Seal." 30

By this time, Tesshu and Tomoe had gotten up and was taking in all that was said. Tesshu slashed at zombies all the while, getting more blood on him. Most of the blood was from Ori, who ironically, was standing several meters from him. But a few hours ago, he had died by his blade. Tesshu ran toward Ori in a blind rage. He killed him once, he could do it again. Before he could run, Tomoe grabbed his shoulder. 31

"Tesshu, do not kill my little brother!" She pleaded. 32

"Tomoe, there's something I have to tell you. I was the one who killed Ori." 33

Tomoe's eyes welled up into tears. "How....how could you?" 34

"He is different. Not the brother you knew so many years ago. He is evil, and must be put to rest. If you truly love me, you have to beleive me." 35

"Love you? I never said tha-" Tesshu interuppted her sentence with a kiss. It was not very long, and their lips parted. Tomoe tasted blood on Tesshu's lips. Perhaps he would forever be with blood. Perhaps that was what his destiny was. A beast of blood. Tomoe cried. 36

Tesshu gave the sobbing Tomoe one last glance before turning towards Ori and Aridous. "Get the  out of here." Aridous sneered. "You are a pathetic warrior, living in the shadows, killing your prey, feasting on its blood. The blood gives you somewhat of a high, doesn't it? Pathetic." 37

"Silence. My fight is not with you, Aridous. It is with the one who is really dead to me. I killed you with my own hands. You put me close to death twice, and even attemped killing your sister. For this, you will not receive my honor. 38

"I realize now what I have been searching for. When I first started, I despised magic and killing. I knew I had killed and used magic before, and I hated myself for it. Now I realize the only way to get rid of my hate is to spread magic to everyone. I realize that I have killed many things in recent times. I also realize you cannot escape death. Death is everywhere. Don't you see? Death is what rules this planet! The undead surface from the ground to take the living. The dead make pacts with angels, freeing them from permenent slumber. My point in this world is to continue the cycle of blood, not to abolish it. My purpose, and now I know, is to bring about death. I am what they call "Caeles Caedes" or, Angel of Blood." 39

Tesshu's robes ripped off, revealing wings. He drew his sword, and held it high. The words "Incendium Excessus" (Flame of Death) was burned into it. It shone with brilliant light, and Tesshu smiled. "Now, Ori, our fight truly begins."40

"I have no intention of fighting you or Nollie." Aridous said quietly. "Only the one that broke my promise to the dead." he said coldy as he glared at Oni. 41

"The father that I have known has failed you all. The Seal is a foolish trick. When you break the Seal you shall not truely die. You break the Seal and the Magic will return to the humans. Return to whom the magic was promised too. 42

"The one I called 'father' put the Seal down on your mountine to keep you all from becomeing powerfull enough to over power him. The one who placed the Seal is no god but demon." Aridous softly laughed and bowed his head toward the knee ground with the knee high dark green grass. 43

"Illion will be the first to reach the seal . . . I will be the last to reach it. With all your efforts to stop me I will occomplish my goal. My destiny." 44

"I guess I didn't make myself clear," Nollie spat at Aridous, mentally noting Ori's new form, "You have no choice. I'm in this to protect the world, and you are just one thing that needs to be taken out in order to accomplish that. Your feigned intentions don't fool me. You only care about yourself." 45

Nollie looked up at the glowing clouds which were filled with his magic. Adreira, Teskan, and Kyan were all making their way into the distance. Tesshu and the girl both stood nearby. He was not worried. 46

"Donalbain...Tesshu..." Nollie said forcefully, "Don't be scared, because this won't hurt you a bit...now these two motherfuckers..." 47

He pointed his sword at Ori and Aridous. 48

"It'll hurt them a lot...the evil in their hearts won't be able to stand this ...it's toxic to them. It will rip them to fuckinging pieces." 49

And with no more delay, Nollie brought his sword to the ground and the holy beams of magic in the clouds came crashing down, not choosing a particular target but ready to iradicate all the evil in a hundred foot radius...50

Nollie and the others were off in the distance now, as Teskan and the rest were making good speed...even if it was still remarkably cold and bitter. It was hard to move on, though, when none of them knew who, if any, was winning back there. The last they saw of them was wehn Nollie was charging up a holy-based attack. After that, everything became sketchier as they got further and further away, and with that came a shadowous dread hanging over them. The Seal was getting closer and closer, and the end seemed to get no less closer since it was in the beginning. 51

'And what happened? It feels like everything's gotten much worse the closer we get. First some petty attacks in the city that brought everyone together, then a huge raid of Doma, and now a they're fighting the undead, angels, and even gods. What the fuck is this all about? The Magic Seal? Pfft, it seems more and more annoying as these things come to some resolve,' Teskan thought with a frown. He had already hated the Seal for what it was doing to people who should be working to benefit each other, not kill and shed blood. Couldn't anybody see this, or was it all selfishness and greed? 52

Teskan turned to his sister, Adreira, and felt more grief and unrelatening dread. The thoughts that she was beyond his protection and care, and that she had already, sub-consciously or not, decided on her mate was almost terrifying. What was he to do when this was over? Where would he go? 53

He didn't know...but it certainly wasn't going to be pleasant. The golden years of Teskan was coming to end, either by this Magic Seal or...his own sister's independence... 54

'Why did I get involved? Is it so hard to say the word "no" once and awhile?' he thought. 55

Donalbain watched Nollie ready the powerful spell. For the first time, he forgot his sense of virtue and composure. All he felt was rage and hatred. For the first time, he was not against the use of magic, for the first time he wanted to see its power for destruction. He wanted to see Aridous' blood. "Do it Nollie. We haven't time to wait. Don't give him a chance, he does not deserve it. Our friends need us, let's meet them again without a dark enemy haunting our steps and hoping to break our cause..." 56

----------- 57

Illion finally reached the shrine of the Magic Seal. He followed the steps up to the temple's gate. Before proceeding, Illion hoped to have a better understanding of what lay in the dark labyrinth below the shrine, what guarded the Magic Seal. He reached into a pouch and slowly drew an old weathered scroll. He grinned as he opened it, remembering the facility with which he had stolen it from Maloras when he had been in his service. He opened the scroll, and softly blew the ancient dust off the page, and began to read the words of Sunnidan, the man who Sealed Magic. 58

The Magic Seal is in place in the Labyrinth of Virahim. May it lay there in peace, undisturbed through the ages of failed men. Though there is one way to end it forever, I pray that end is never needed. I have described that way in my most recent entry... To protect the Seal, I built the maze below the shrine of Virahim. And in the thick shadows, a vigil is kept by the last being of magic blood. It is the Criossan, the fiend of magic, the personification of the corruption of power. That unwielding creature will die defending the Magic Seal against all who step foot in the temple of Virahim. May that monster's strength never fade over the generations, and may the Seal go untouched... 59

~Sunnidan Mystira, December 18th, end of the third age. 60

Illion took a deep breath and then turned around. Suddenly he saw riders in the distance. He knew immediately who they were and could not understand how they had come so close. They should not be here. This was his task. So startled was Illion that his grip on the scroll loosened, and it slipped from his hand, gracefully floating down upon the steps to the shrine... 61

Illion turned back forward and sighed heavily again. He knew what was next, and knew they thought he was the enemy. He'd have to be quick. His task was near, his destiny at hand. He ascended the steps and entered the shrine. He stood on a platform with flickering white torches about it. It slowly began to descend into the great labyrinth below. Illion stepped off the platform when it reached the bottom, sending up a cloud of grey dust, and stepped into the darkness of the maze. He heard a cold hiss in the shadows and a swift movement, but did not even flinch. He drew his katanas, swallowed hard, and stepped forward into the winding dark.62

"Fools . . ." Ardious grinned. "Can you not see that this is what I want!? I want to die! Kill me!!" Aridous screamed as he laughed histaricly. "My body is already dead. My heart is cold. My soul is lost . . . Why Seal something that benefits you all!? The Seal is already broken, fools! It's original intent was to stop the flow of magic. Over the years it has cracked." 63

Nollie's spell was starting to be completed. 64

"If I don't break it then the flow of Time will. Let out your anger against me, Nollie! LEt it eat at you when it's all done. IF your spell then you are cursed to look for magic all your life. Even in death. And you will never feed that hunger. Never quench your thirst. 65

"Kill me. . . . Please do me this one favor if we're still friends." 66

Ori looked over at Aridous. He wanted to die, eh? 67

Ori shoved his poisonous katana into Aridous's chest. He then turned his attention to Tesshu, who's wings have dissappeared, but his sword was still glowing. Ori could overpower him, but Tesshu was strong. Tesshu ran at him, sword drawn. Ori sidestepped, but too early, and was struck in the side with the sword. Ori's entire body went into violent heat and chill waves. He felt his nerve endings fry, and felt his blood pour down his leg. The sword was powerful... 68

'But he doesn't know I have the power of an angel...' 69

Aridous' blood was rapidly pouring out of his chest cavity. He leaned over and put all his weight on his palsm Blood rushed out even more as Aridous vomited large amounts of crimson liqude. 70

"FOOL . . .!" Aridous screamed and he glared viloently at Ori. Blood drippled don his mouth and chin. In his eyes wwas the fire of his lust for power, the coldness of his heart, the power of his wrath, and a faint light of goodness shone in those water eyes. 71

Aridous slowly stood up and stood his ground. He was holding onto his soul. HE wanted to leave but he couldn't. Not know. Not after what Ori did to his friends. The one's Aridous promised eternal rest. Eternal peace. 72

Ori looked at Aridous in shock. "What the fuck!?" He yelled. Aridous breathed heavily as he walked toward Oni. "One more chance to redeme myself. . . ." Aridous gurgled. 73

Donalbain watched as blood dripped from Aridous' wound, and Ori stared at him in terror. For the first time, Donalbain could see it in the fear on Ori's face. Aridous truly was a god of terror. Donalbain knew his part in this battle was over. He would let Ori, Tesshu, and Aridous fight it out. He looked back a moment and thought he could see a soft silhouette of a figure against the dark sky, slowly trudging forward. Donalbain could not help but smile, wondering if the Drow had returned to watch Aridous' end. 74

Donalbain then turned and grabbed Nollie's arm suddenly, "We must go. The others will need us. We can still catch up with Kyan, Teskan and..." He paused as he watched Nollie smile, knowing whose name was coming next. "And Adreira... They will need us for the final battles." 75

Donalbain stood like that, looking with a puzzled smile at Nollie, and spoke in a genuine, kind voice. "I never thought I'd be here. Standing beside a man of the house of Xavier, trying to defend the world from chaos. It's strange how such terrible times can unite all brave hearts... I finally understand why my brother always advised me not to be prejudiced against your family. I'm glad you're hear..." is voice trailed off as he addressed his new friend. He turned suddenly, and the old pride and power returned to his voice, "Let's go. We can still catch the others before they reach the Seal... The end is near..."76