Shadow of the Past (Chapter XIX)

Chapter XIX: End of the Fourth Magic War 1

Aridous glared darkly at Tiera. "I am being praised and worshiped!" Aridous yelled at her. He slowly picked himself up and stood straight up and looked in pride over her. 2

The shadow of the centaure woman slowly moved toward the light and looked at the two fighters. Aridous narrowed his eyes and grined. Blood leaked out the side of him mouth and he wispered to himelf. "Petra. . . ." 3

Tiera turned her head to see what Aridous was grinning at. "No one's there you old fool!" she yelled. 4

Petra turned her head to a large marbel pillar that stood by Tiera. Aridous looked at the piller and then back at Petra and nodded. "Aridous?" Tiera asked nervously. "What are you doing?" 5

Aridous lifted his arms toward the pillar. The large pillow did nothing for a while. Large amounts of blood poured out of his chest and soaked his dark robes. Aridous sliped in his own blood and fell on his knee but still locked on the the pillar. 6

The large pillar shook and sand fell from the ceiling. Aridous slowly moved his arms toward his right. The pillar broke off from the floor and ceiling. 7

Aridous struggled with the weight of the pillar. The weight of his magic flowing out of his dieing body. Aridous quickly thrust the pillar toward Tiera's body. The pillar crashed onto her and exploded into dust and sand. 8

Tiera flew backwards into the wall with a crunch. The walls and ceilings cracked and rockes fell around her. "This is the second time you've broke my arm. . . ." she growled. 9

Aridous was barely breathing. Hold on, love, Petra's sweet voice softly echoed in Aridous' throbing head. It's almost over now. The reward is great when you win this battle. This one last War. 10

Aridous groaned as he forced himself to crawl toward Tiera's great axe. Aridous stood up on unsteady legs and glared at Tiera. Blood stoped flowing from his body. He ran out of blood when he broke off the pillar. He's staying on with his shear will to kill. 11

Rayyeter saw Tiera slice into Aridous. So, the God of Terror does bleed.... "And I was starting to like your dark and mischief ways." Rayyeter turned back from the remaining fray, to go help Aridous. 12

"Demon! If that's the only trick you know, you'll be sorry!" Rayyeter grinned as he tapped his mithril blades together, the clanging becoming louder and shriller with every tap. He made a motion towards the ground, and a pentagram appeared there, perfectly and intricately drawn. "Being a demon, I'm sure you've met my good friend the Sarthos. He'll give you a nice joy ride in the deepest layers of the abyss, petty demon." 13

He saw Donalbain pick up the new seal, and knew what had been done. I knew he would find good in one way or another. 14

He sheathed a blood-soaked katana and dug for something in his sleeve... 15

Aridous turned his head and blindly looked at Rayyeter. "Why help me . . . after what I have done . . . to you and your . . . family for . . . for so looooooonggg. . . ?" Ariodus breathed heavily. 16

"Don't worry about it. . . ." Rayyetter said as he continued to dig in his sleeve. Aridous lifted the massive axe over his head and chucked the axe toward Tiera. 17

The axe choped off Tiera's right leg close to her upper thigh. She quickly feel doing with a crash and a scream of hate mixed pain. Her blood rushed out of her wounds. 18

Aridous staggered to Tiera and fell on his stomach. He slowly forced himself to crawl toward her. "I need blood to live for a little while more. . . ." 19

Tiera raised her hands up into the air and shouted, "Creatures of the shadow realm, aid me and destroy these vile vermin that dare to stand in our way!" Her voice echoed with fury and her red eyes burned ever so intensely, turning from red to white. 20

The leg that had been cut off from Tiera mysteriously came together and restored her flesh and armor whole. 21

Tiera stood up and ignored the cieling as it was caving in. 22

From the shadows all around the ruins, figures emerged like smoke and quickly crawled toward Rayyeter and Aridous. 23

The creatures hissed as they surrounded the drow and dying God and stopped. 24

The creatures roared up in a chant together, Dark elf! Dark elf! Dark elf on the plane of light! The creatures hissed louder. Dark elves do not belong on such a realm! Come home with us, come home Rayyeter! 25

Tiera snarled, "You fools! He is has sided with the light! He is the forsaker of the shadow realm! He has betrayed us! Kill him!" 26

The forsaker of the shadows.. yes! How we've longed to drag your soul back to the pit of shadows and punish your treachery! 27

Most of the shadow creatures jumped onto the drow elf and bit at his armor. 28

Other shadow creatures scurried toward Aridous and clawed at his flesh and open wounds.29

Rayyeter ignored the bites and scratches he recieved from the shadow creatures as he fished out the one thing he needed from his sleeve. Now, Sarthos demon, come and rid me of this pest. "Sarthos, your turn to have fun." he said as he smashed a small vial onto the pentagram. 30

The earth rumbled, and a demon like no other appeared before Rayyeter, who seemed to have complete controll over it. "Get rid of these pesky shadow creatures. And that bitch over there," pointing at Tiera. 31

"Tiera, meet my friend the sarthos demon. The real reason I left the underdark. I would have been killed by my superiors had they known I could summon the Sarthos unaided, a feat never reached by any drow but myself." He grinned. "Now you shall know true pain. Sarthos, take her back to your lair when you are through having fun here. I'm sure she would enjoy it." 32

The creatures around Rayyeter scattered, being hit with tentacles from the Sarthos or just fleeing in terror. Rayyeter cast a web spell on the ceiling, preventing it from collapsing too much farther (though not indefinitely). He drew his other katana back out, and watched the Sarthos demon enjoying itself. 33

The Shadows never left Aridous. They ran toward him and feasted on his blood dried flesh. The Shadows climbed alover him and bit deep inside his soul. 34

Pain! Sweet and bitter pain! The Shadows begane to merge with eachother and swallowed Aridous into a giant glob of nothingness. Then the back of the blob exploded outwords as three massive black as midnight wings shot out. Dark blood splattered on the walls and floor. 35

Aridous took the glob into his hands and formed it into a bow and one arrow. He raised the bow, set the arrow; pulled it back, took aim . . . and fired it at Tiera's heart. 36

Nollie tore through the ranks of the Opaquin and the power-hungry like a man with nothing to lose...the facwas, though, that he had something to lose. Which was what he was trying to save in the first place. His sword was a light with burning magic, the multi-coloured energy swirling and sparking down his blade and over his hands. He thrust his sword into the backs of those who didn't see him coming, gutted those who did. He had no more regrets. This was for the good of the planet, and the world would be better off withouthe greed, the lust, the need for power. 37

The only blood on Nollie was his own, because his magic shield protected him from being splattered. He had no one's blood on his hands anymore. They were the only ones responsible for their demise. 38

And so Nollie kept going, never stopping annhilating everything in his path. The path he made through the centre of an entire army was paved with fire and ice, and curbed with the bodies of the dead. Nollie would not stop until he reached Adreira. He wasn't sure if she was still within the chambers of the seal, but he would check. He rushed headlong into the cruminling structure, tearing through soldiers along the way. 39

Suddenly, Nollie skidded to a halt. In front of him was the most horrific thing he'd ever seen, some sort of demon. The beawas feasting on creatures composed entirely of shadow. Nollie stopped for a moment, still ignoring the dull throb that consumed half of his head. If he wasn't so god-damned stubborn and determined, Nollie figured he would have been dead. A thin strand of skin was all that held the flesh on his head together. 40

Beyond the beast Nollie glanced Rayyeter, who seemed to be commanding the demon. The two met eyes for a moment. Nollie nodded, smiling. He had met his companion once more. 41

"It's good to see you again," Nollie smirked, "You drows and your ing demons." 42

Now if only he could find Adreira, and Teskan along with her, he would be set. 43

Donalbain saw the wicked grin on Rayyeter's face as he summoned his great demon and realized how grateful he was for that grin. He saw Aridous raise his bow and arrow with that possessed coolness of his, and could finally respect him. He then saw Nollie run frantically toward the darkness, never stepping down to the shadows. He was glad that they could form a friendship despite having been born enemies. They continued to battle the shadows, tiera, and the remnants of the Opaqun army. But Donalbain looked down at Illion's cold body, and knew his own battle was now over. 44

He lifted up Illion's body, and felt his blood run down his sleeve. He held the New Seal up with one arm, and looked at his companions sadly for what may have been the last time. "Fairwell," he said softly assuming none could hear him. "Thank you... May this not be the last time..." 45

He turned, still struggling with the weight of Illion's lifeless body, and darted down the dark halls of the labyrinth. The tears continued to flow down his cheek with each step upon the hard floor of the temple. He ran, thinking only of hiding the Seal in the great ocean. Illion's body would never be seen again, nor remembered. He had sacrificed himself and saved the world from ruin, but he would never be recognized. Though it rather scared Donalbain, he suddenly realized it did not matter; Illion only cared if one person could recognize this good deed, and that one person was himself. He had died happy and that was all that mattered. 46

Donalbain ran from the temple and finally saw the light sky above for the first time in what seemed like decades. He stepped from the ruined temple and smiled gently as he saw Shadow, Illion's faithful horse, waiting for him as if he had known that Illion would need his services one last time. Donalbain mounted Shadow, holding Illion's body closely. He sighed as he looked back at the ruined temple and thought of his friends. He would not look back again. He turned forward toward the lost ocean, and then pulled Shadow's reins, and was gone. 47

"It's good to see you again," Nollie smirked, "You drows and your fucking demons." 48

"How nice to meet you too, Nollie." Rayyter chuckled as another shadow creature seemingly exploded in the Sarthos' grasp. "Good to see your back on your feet. Adreiera is that way, if my memory serves me right." He told Nollie as he pointed more toward the exit. 49

He saw Aridous fire his bow at Tiera's heart, and cast a holy spell on it to give it even more power. The shadow creatures that had avoided the Sarthos stared in awe. A drow male that knows holy magic! They screeched in unison. It can't be possible! 50

"But it is..." Rayyeter said as he sliced into them, bodies evaporating and exploding into mist and fog, never to be seen again. The battle seemed to be dwindling. 51

As he got back near the Sarthos, he thought: I hope I'll be remembered this time around... 52

Adreska was bleeding from various wounds now, having faced so many soldiers and semi-high-ranking officers in the confines of the labyrinth. She had cuts on her legs, arms, and back...all of which bleeding with different amounts of blood, depending on how deep each wound was. She kept on going, though, knowing that if the Seal wasn't protected to the very end, the very point of this journey was lost...perhaps with the fate of the world. 53

Piles of bodies lined the walls of the labyrinth, all done, or assisted, by the hands of Adreska. Most of them had been killed in the short and quick method of decapitation, but some still were taken by the slow death of multiple wounds or spilled guts. The most unfortunate thing was that even with so many killed, there was still a fair amount of soldiers left to kill. 54

'Things are mounting in my favour, I think this is going to be my only chance to let Adreira come out alive. Teskan should be able to handle them for some amount of time,' she though making some distance from the hesitant fifth-wave of soldiers. She looked down at her bracelets and tappe them gently. A bright flash of light lit up the maze of the labyrinth before the two bodies discombined. 55

Teskan looked to his sister, and her worry. He had known from the start that this event was going to take place from the moment they agreed to fuse. He didn't like it, of course, that his sister had to make it out of this flurry alive while he fought to his eventual end. 56

"Okay, sis, you agreed to get out of here...now GO!" Teskan ordered, arming his axe high. Adreira hesitated a bit, looking at her brother, perhaps for the last time, and tears slowly ran down her face. She stepped next to Teskan and held up her sword. 57

"My friend gave this to me, but you need it now..." 58

Teskan looked at the offered weapon and then to his sister. He wasn't going to argue with her this time, for once, so he took the sword and swung them both around practicingly. He nodded to his sister, and she ran away from the fight, heading through the labyrinth. 59

Teskan turned back to his appraoching enemies. 60

"You are so tough now, are ya?" one of the soldiers teased. "You're all alone. Surreneder!" 61

"Never," Teskan snapped, looking at his sister's sword. "And I'm not along you ...it's time to rumble..."62

Nollie smiled as Rayyeter helped Aridous, but knew it was not his battle. Everyone had their own struggle, their own cause. Nollie ran in the direction Rayyeter pointed, ran towards Adreira. He ran mindlessly through the winding maze untul he came upon Teskan and Adreira. He was touched as he heard them talk; their sibling bond was a strong one. 63

Adreira took off, right into Nollie's arms. He held her close and kissed her softly on the lips. She was surprised for a moment, but accepted the kiss. After a moment she pulled back and looked at Nollie worriedly. 64

"You're hurt...bad," she said, examining his head closely, "What are you doing here?" 65

"Nothing could keep me from seeing you again," Nollie replied, stroking her hair, "But now I must do something else for you. Your brother is prepared to sacrifice himself for your safety. I won't let that happen to you. I know your brother hates me, hates the thought of us, but I won't let him die. I promise, I'll bring him out alive." 66

Adreira began to speak, but Nollie hushed her with a single finger to her lips. 67

"Go..." 68

And he turned. Adreira, perhaps understanding the need, took off running. Nollie stepped up beside Teskan as he challenged the Opaqun soldiers. 69

"You're right..." Nollie smirked at him, "You're not alone. I'm here with you. I know you hate me, and that's cool, but I won't let you die like this. But remember, I ain't doing this for you, I'm doing this for her." 70

With that, Nollie charged into the soldiers that dared gang up on Teskan and started hacking away.71

Tiera stared at Aridous holding up a bow and arrow, aiming directly at her. 72

She grinned and held up her greatsword. 73

"You really think that pathetic arrow will pierce this demon armor? It would take more than that to even get through this armor!" 74

Tiera ran forward with the greatsword gripped in both hands. 75

"Die worms!" She yelled. 76

The long arrow ripped through Tiera's chest. Her back exploded with metal, bones, and blood. She shreaked in shock as she fell backwards. 77

Her breathing became shallow as Rayyeter walked toward her. "Eek. . . ." he said as he looked down on her. Tiera looked at Aridous with water eyes and then looked at nothing. 78

Aridous looked at Rayyerter and smiled with a small laugh. "You will be remembered for as long as your days." With that said the bow fell from his blood caked hand with a clater. 79

He fell to his knees and crashed on the floor. His eyes were closed and a look of peace filled his hard face. Long everlasting peace. 80

The shadows dispersed, never to be seen again. He looked to the Sarthos. "Well.. you get to have fun with her now.. Goodbye." Rayyeter sent the Sarthos demon back into the abyss as it shrieked in what seemed like pleasure, while Tiera was taken with it, black tentacles writhing around her ankles. "Have fun in true hell, bitch." 81

"You will be remembered for as long as your days." With that said the bow fell from his blood caked hand with a clater. 82

I can only hope so, Aridous. "Goodbye, friend. You will be remembered as well." Rayyeter sheathed both his katanas, and destroyed the summoning pentagram on the floor. I don't think the world here should ever have to see the likes of him again... 83

He heard some clanging and realized Nollie, Teskan, and Adreira must still be fighting. He ran in that direction, hoping to be of some help. 84

Kyan walked back and forth impatiently. He stopped as he heard Donalbain marching up the stairway, carrying Illion's body in his arms. 85

Kyan only stood and watched as Donalbain climbed onto Shadow and rode off into the distance. 86

He smiled and whispered, "Now the world will remain safe." 87

"Damn cursed humans!" Trazina growled from behind Kyan. 88

Kyan turned around to face his older siblings. 89

Trazina folded her arms and turned away, "Well, I hope you're happy now, Aztrael. This planet has been saved all thanks to their heroes." Trazina muttered. 90

The cloaked angel stepped forward, "Where is brother Aridous?" 91

Trazina looked at the cloaked figure and replied, "He's dead. I have his soul if you want to say any last words before he departs from this world." 92

Kyan looked down into Trazina's hands to see a glowing orb. He smiled and whispered, "I bid you peace, Aridous. May you finally have what you have sought from this life." 93

Irony, it seemed to encompass Teskan at so many turns of his life. And it was now that one of those turns happened. Nollie, the man and target of his hate...his fear, was now fighting with him and for his sister. Who would've thought of this kind of occurence? Who could've predicted such an odd, strange, and profound situation. Irony... 94

Teskan shrugged. So be it, it was that way things seemed to be, and there was no point in argueing about it. He took his two weapons and started to hack his way through the remaindure of the Opaqun army. It was the last stand for...everything. 95

His axe tore its way through a soldiers arm, the sword tearing its way into another's leg. They yelled in pain before two finish blow to the necks of each of them took their life. Unfortunately, when those two fell another four took their place to fight. Each of them was armed with halberds and an angered face. 96

"Come on, I don't have all day you bitches," Teskan taunted, casually walking up to the first. They all looked at him and charged with thier weapons held firmly outwards. Teskan stabbed both of his weapons into the belly of the first soldier, just as the other three got within range. He grabbed the first soldier by the shoulders and held him in the way of one of the charges, the halberd peircing halfway through him before hitting the ribcage. Teskan then ducked under the next two charges, cutting the end of one of the halberds off with his axe. Kicking to his feet he slashed the sword along one of the soldiers throats, and cut the next's skull into two with his axe. All three of the soldiers collapsed to the ground. 97

"Come one, come all. It's a death by Teskan sale, everything must go!"98