Chapter Twenty-One
- Location
- UK
Chapter Twenty-One
Tristainia, Capital of Tristain, 12th Day of Ansuz
Suleiman thrust out his hands. Guanyin obeyed, her silver arms flashing forward, grasping the golem's arms and chest. The golem let out a rumble, its eyes flashing. The armour gleamed, and the green bubble erupted from it, throwing the silver hands backs. Suleiman staggered, righting himself as the golem took another step forward; drawing a sword as tall as a church tower from over its back.
"Seven palms!" He attacked again, grabbing at the golem's arms while punching at its chest and head. The golem roared in anger as the palms glanced off its armour, then brought the sword down hard; slicing through Guanyin's arms. Suleiman dodged, barely avoiding the massive blade as it smashed into the ground; hurling him off his feet and making the buildings shake.
He scrambled to his feet, as the golem slowly drew back its sword. Guanyin hovered above him, glittering motes swirling into new arms. The bubble gleamed again, and Suleiman could see tiny ripples on the bubble, like pebbles in water. A fireball slammed into it, the emerald sheen glowing even brighter.
He glanced back, and saw the Queen's Musketeers advancing up the boulevard towards the fountain, firing their muskets from the saddle. Alice was with them, firing off spells from her sword. The Ondines were there too, the clothes damp with sweat and filthy with dust, their eyes sunken with weariness. But still they brought up their wands, and still they fired off spells.
He had to save them. He had to stop that thing!
"Ten Palms!" He thrust out his hands again. Guanyin followed his will, grabbing at the golem's arms and punching at its head and chest. The blows struck, ten times in total, the armour shimmering, the magic that shielded it glowing and rippling. The golem roared, the hot wind of it buffeting Suleiman and throwing up clouds of dust. It struggled, twisting and pulling its arms, until they broke free of Guanyin's grip.
"Twenty Palms!" More silver arms emerged, the thin hands grasping for the golem's flailing arms. Suleiman's head ached at the effort, his blood thundering in his temples. But the silver hands grabbed on, and slowly but surely, the golem's arms went still, pinioned in place.
"Thirty Palms!" Suleiman attacked again, slamming blow after blow into the golem. The golem staggered, then roared; its eyes blazing. The bubble erupted, spreading outward like a swelling balloon; smashing anything it touched. It hit Suleiman and threw him back, sending him bouncing over the rubble. He looked up, and saw the golem straightening up; eyes blazing a malevolent red, the green glow shimmering around it.
Slowly, his whole body aching, he forced himself to his feet. Guanyin was still hovering above him, her arms reforming.
"Forty Palms!"
(X)
"To me!" Karin shouted, grabbing Louise with one arm and pulling her up onto the back of her manticore. The beast spread its wings and leapt into the air, grabbing Saito by the shoulders and flying skyward.
"Don't struggle too much now son-in-Law! Wouldn't want you to splatter all over the capital!"
Saito felt his heart leap into his throat, his legs kicking the air. Below him, he could see the smoking ruin that had been the city of Tristainia just a few hours ago.
"Mother, be careful!" Louise called out. "Don't drop my Familiar!"
"No manticore of mine will drop anyone!" retorted Karin confidently. "Onwards! We have a King to slay!"
"What am I, a hanger on!?" yelled Saito, as the manticore flapped its wings and gained altitude.
"There's no room up here!" Karin called back. She was holding Louise around the waist like a rolled-up carpet. "Just do as I say and you'll live a moment longer!"
The manticore came around hard, and Saito could see the Couronne up ahead. As the manticore flew towards it, the ship came about, showing its cannon-encrusted flank.
"Hold tight!" called Karin. The manticore flapped its wings hard and jinked upward, so hard that Saito's stomach lurched. The guns roared, belching a cloud of smoke that hid the ship from sight. Saito could hear the whistle and whoosh of the grapeshot, and his heart clenched as he felt the bullets whipping past.
This wasn't like riding on Sylphid's back, when they'd fought that Ruin Dragon. This damn manticore could drop him at any time. 70,000 men he could cope with, but not a 700-foot drop!
They levelled off, and Saito looked around. He could see the Zaku-sized golem, and the silver shape of Suleiman's Avatar; its silver arms grappling and grasping at the golem. And there below was Suleiman, narrowly avoiding the golem's sword as it came crashing down.
Saito stared down at the billowing dust, looking for some sign of his friend. Suleiman was all alone down there, alone against that thing.
"Trust in him, partner," Derflinger said, rising from his scabbard on Saito's back. "Lei's doing his part, now we've gotta do ours."
"Right." Saito nodded, steeling himself as the manticore dropped into a dive. The wind whipped around him as the manticore sped up, falling faster and faster towards the ship. He could see the open deck, and the gargoyles standing on it. Some of them were manning the guns, while others stared back at him, weapons at the ready.
And there was Sylpid, bound to the deck with heavy chains; gargoyles struggling to hold her down. Next to her was Tabitha, lying flat on the deck, a gargoyle standing on her back. Nearby was Sheffield, waving her arms and shouting orders at the gargoyles.
And next to Sheffield was a tall man, clad in blue and white. His hair and short beard were blue, and he was staring up at Saito with a look of wry amusement.
Joseph. It had to be.
"Prepare yourself Saito!" yelled Karin. "We're going in!"
Gargoyles leapt from the deck, flapping their wings, rising towards them. Karin thrust out her sword, the blade glowing with magic. Saito saw the air wobble and ripple like water as the magic burst forth; a gust of focussed wind that slammed into the gargoyles and flung them in all directions. The manticore sped on, diving through the storm and down towards the ship. Saito drew in one last breath, and readied himself for the drop.
The deck flashed below. Saito felt the claws let go, and his body fall. He grasped Derflinger's hilt, and felt Gandalfr's power rise. His feet hit the deck, and he rolled forward, leaping up and ripping the sword from its scabbard. Momentum carried him onward, right up to the gargoyles standing around Tabitha.
The winged monsters raised their swords, but Saito was faster, cutting the nearest one in half with a single blow. He spun, letting Derflinger's momentum pull him round, as he aimed the blade for the next gargoyle's neck. The blade cut through, and the gargoyle crumbled into dust. He slashed again, and again, downing gargoyle after gargoyle until he reached Tabitha's side.
"You okay?" he asked. The blue haired girl opened her eyes, staring at him in amazement, and then in horror.
Something slammed into Saito, sending him flying into the mast. He groaned as he slid to the deck, pain flashing down his back.
"You storm on an enemy ship and ignore the enemy in front of you? How lacking, Gandalfr."
Saito's eyes followed the sound, glaring up at the quarterdeck. Standing there was Joseph, wand out, with a glowering Sheffield beside him; the rune on her forehead glowing. All around the deck, black dust swirled upward, forming into new gargoyles. Some of the grabbed Tabitha, holding her down.
"Why?! Why all of this!" Saito yelled, as he forced himself up; throwing out a hand at the burning city. Karin came in to land behind him, Louise dropping down and hurrying to his side.
"Why?" Joseph gave him a sour look. "You ask me why? After you make off with my treacherous niece, and rob me of my most powerful servant? What does your Law of Steel say to that, Karin the Maelstrom?"
"I accept no criticism from a murdering madman," retorted Karin, sliding off her manticore and standing in front of Saito and Louise. "Especially not a defeated one. Give yourself up, Mad King. Save the lives of your troops, at least."
Saito rose to his feet, and moved to stand alongside Karin. Louise moved to her other side, and the manticore loomed behind them, growling.
"Madame…" Joseph smiled. "You say that as if you've won. Speed."
And then he was gone. Saito blinked, stunned, and then a flicker of movement in the corner of his eye made him spin round. There was Joseph, his smile a triumphant smirk, levelling his wand.
"Explosion!" Saito heard the familiar crack. The manticore roared as it was thrown off its feet, flying across the deck and smashing into the mast; so hard that the mast shook and ropes fell loose. Louise cried out, and Karin rounded on him, snapping off a Wind Bolt. But Joseph's lips moved, and he was gone again.
Saito spun round, looking and looking. There he was again, aiming his wand. Another explosion, and this time Karin was sent flying; sliding across the deck and slamming into the gunwale.
"Mother!" shrieked Louise, then snarled and rounded on Joseph. "Explosion!" But Jospeh was already gone, and her spell blew a hole in the quarterdeck; sending Sheffield scrambling for cover.
Saito gritted his teeth. This guy was like Neo from The Matrix now!
The gargoyles were attacking again, throwing themselves at Karin and the manticore. Louise tracked Sheffield as she moved, letting off another Explosion. The spell hit the mizzenmast, blasting it in two, the top half toppling backward. Louise aimed again, then shrieked and darted away as a freshly-raised gargoyle leapt at her. Saito ran to her, but then he saw Joseph again, aiming his wand. He threw himself aside, just as Joseph's spell blasted a ragged hole in the deck; showering him with splinters.
"Me or your Master, Gandalfr!" laughed Joseph. "Indecision means death!"
Saito rolled to his feet, and looked around for Louise. A fist caught him on the chin, spinning him round and into the cabin door. He looked up, his head spinning, and saw Joseph standing there, the knuckles of his free hand smeared in blood, still smirking.
And he was gone again.
"Saito! Stop him!" called Louise. "I can do this!"
She let of a spell, blasting a gargoyle to dust, then darted aside as another leapt at her. Saito's heart clenched. If he tried to help her, or go after Sheffield, it would give Joseph an opening! But if he focussed on Joseph, she would be all alone against the gargoyles!
He gritted his teeth. He had to trust her! There was no other way!
Saito nodded, and looked around for Joseph. He was harassing Karin now, flitting about and letting off spells, forcing her to duck and dive even as she fought off the gargoyles. He was playing with her, wearing her down slowly, building up to the kill.
And giving her his full attention.
Saito hefted Derflinger, chose his moment, and charged. He saw Joseph appear ahead of him, wand levelled to cast. He swung hard, Derflinger whistling down. Joseph saw him, and jinked away; the blade slashing his cloak. Saito pivoted on one foot, letting Derflinger's momentum carry him around, and drove his knee into Joseph's stomach. Joseph staggered back, and Saito kicked him again, throwing him against the mainmast.
"Impressive!" he coughed, blood bubbling from his mouth. "Explosion!"
His wand snapped up. Cold wind rushed over Saito, and he stumbled out of the spell's path. He turned, just in time to see Karin slice a gargoyle in two and stride through the billowing ash. Saito rounded on Joseph again, but he was gone.
This guy was getting on his nerves.
(X)
Tiffania watched, heart clenching at every blow, as her Familiar fought the massive golem.
Out of all them, she alone could see what was really going on. Crouched behind the fountain with the others, she alone could see the hovering silver shape of Guanyin, its spindly arms alternately grappling with the golem or punching and slapping at it. Below, Suleiman's arms blurred, as if he were fighting hand-to-hand with an unseen enemy.
But to no avail. Her familiar was losing the battle, she could tell. That thing was just too big, too strong.
She looked down at her wand; a useless wand for a useless mage. She only knew the one spell, and it would do no good here. She had never been able to master any more. If only she had tried harder. If only she had borrowed the Founder's Prayer Book from Louise. If only…
A terrible hiss shocked her from her sad reverie. She looked, and saw Eleanore aiming her wand at the golem; her hair billowing, her eyes glowing, as a flash of magic leapt from the tip. The spell struck the golem, the green bubble flashing as it absorbed the magic.
Then nothing. Just as before.
"Damn it all!" Eleanore shrieked. "What will it take!?"
"Professor!"
Tiffania looked up. It was Agnes de Milan and Alice la Durant, hurrying across the ruined street towards them. Behind them, the Queen's Musketeers were dismounting from their horses.
"Mademoiselles," Colbert greeted him as they arrived. "You see our problem."
"What in the Founder's name is that thing?" demanded Alice, staring up at the massive golem. "I've never seen a golem that size!"
"My brother's going to be so jealous," said Guiche wearily. "No one's ever made a steel one that big before."
"If it were only steel, I could stop it myself!" snarled Eleanore. "But it's protected by Spirit magic!"
"Yvette!" yelled Agnes, turning back to her musketeers. "Back to the palace now! We need cannon and mages here immediately!" One of the musketeers leapt back onto her horse and galloped back down the street towards the palace.
"They'll never get here in time!" bemoaned Kirche. Like all of them she was a mess, her hair and skin caked with dust, her eyes rimmed in black, her clothes torn and blackened. "We have to stop that thing ourselves!"
"And we will," insisted Colbert, with the calm authority of a teacher. "But first we must remove the Counter that protects it. And there is one here who can do so."
Tiffania blinked, as she realised Colbert was looking straight at her.
"Me?" She faltered, as she saw all their eyes upon her. "Why me?"
"Because like Miss Valliere, you are a Void mage," he said. "You are the only other person I know with a human Familiar, and while watching Mister Suleiman, you saw something that we couldn't. I could tell by your eye movements."
The gasp escaped Tiffania's lips before she could stop it. Had it been so obvious?
"But…I only know the one spell," she pleaded. "A spell that erases memories. That won't help us here."
"A problem we will solve in the same way that Miss Valliere did." Colbert reached into his blue robe, and pulled out a small, leather-bound book. Tiffania saw her friends stare at it, weary eyes wide.
"This is the Founder's Prayer Book," explained Colbert gravely. Behind him, Eleanore looked on in amazement. "It was entrusted to Louise to unlock her power, and she left it with me for safekeeping. Now it is your turn to use it, Miss Westwood. Now you must read it, and find what you seek."
He held out the book. Tiffania hesitated, then slipped her wand into her skirt waistband and took it. Heart pounding, she opened the book.
And found only empty pages.
"Professor…"
"Don't worry, this happened with Miss Valliere too; during the Battle of La Rochelle. Just focus on what you need, and the book will show you what you need to know." His voice, despite the raging battle around them, was a steadying calm that Tiffania never knew the kind hearted Professor to possess.
Tiffania stared down at the book, wishing, praying, for words to appear. But nothing came. The pages remained as blank as before.
"Nothing's happening!" She looked up at Colbert. She could hear the crash and roar of the golem, and her heart clenched at ever sound.
"You must focus," replied Colbert gently. "Focus your mind on what you need."
"Yes, concentrate!" barked Eleanore. "We need that Explosion spell now!"
Tiffania forced her mind to focus. She imagined herself aiming her wand at the golem, a great light leaping from the tip, a mighty blast erupting all around; just like when Louise did it. In her mind's eye she saw the light expand, growing ever bigger and bigger, until the golem vanished into it, gone forever.
And still the light expanded, spreading ever outward. The wrecked buildings vanished into it, and then Suleiman, and her friends, and everyone, and everything…
She screamed and jerked back, as the vision overwhelmed her. That terrible bright light, roaring like thunder, drawing all into it.
"Miss Westwood!" Colbert caught her with gentle hands. "Miss Westwood, are you all right? What's wrong?"
"I…I can't!" Tiffania was shaking, her whole body as cold as ice. "That power! It's horrible!"
"But we need it!" pleaded Montmorency. "You have to destroy that thing! Louise would!"
"I can't!" Tiffania covered her eyes, as a sob burst from her throat. "I can't do it! It'll destroy everything!" She heard a growl, and she felt herself being turned around, hands on her shoulder's as Majid bared at his teeth and glared.
"Stop being a coward!" snapped Majid. "My young master is fighting for you! For all of us! Master yourself, or all of us will perish!"
Tiffania whimpered, his words cutting her like a whip. She looked over the fountain again, and saw Suleiman standing there. His arms were up, his shoulders hunched, his legs quivering; his Avatar straining to hold back the golem.
"Don't be a jerk!" Malicorne bleated out. "She's trying her-" Majid rounded on him, glaring hard; and the plump boy wilted.
Tiffania felt sick. Majid was right, she knew. Suleiman was fighting for all of them; for this city, and for the whole world. She had to help him, to destroy that golem with Explosion, as Louise would.
But she wasn't Louise. Violence came so naturally to Louise. Her heart was so full of rage and pain; years of humiliation and frustration erupting out of her with every Explosion. But Tiffania wasn't like that. She had never felt such anger. She had never wanted to hurt anyone, not even those who had killed her mother, and would have killed her had they found her.
"Miss Westwood." Colbert's voice was calm and gentle. "I understand. You don't want to fight, and you fear to kill. But you don't have to kill in order to fight. There are other spells, other ways. You must find the one that you need."
Another spell. Another way. But what was it?
She closed her eyes, trying to settle her mind, to think. Louise also had that Illusion spell, the one she had used in Albion; but that was no use here. So what else could she use? What else would let her defeat the golem?
The Counter. That was it. Suleiman could stop it if they only defeated the Counter spell. To get rid of the Counter spell…
The pages glowed, and before Tiffania's eyes, the glow formed into runes.
She knew that they meant. She knew, in the same way she knew her Memory Wipe.
Tiffania looked up, looking straight at the golem. She stepped forward, moving slowly towards the golem, aiming her wand up at it. The tip glowed, as the words flowed off her tongue. The glow spread from her wand like the light from a lamp being turned up, forming a pale nimbus around her. But all her attention was on the golem, and what she had to do.
The light moved, flying from her wand tip. The golem's barrier glowed green, as the strange light washed over it. Then the barrier shattered, blowing apart like breaking glass, vanishing in a cloud of glittering motes.
Tiffania stared, stunned, hardly daring to believe. Suleiman's avatar redoubled its attack, silver fists raining blow after blow on the golem. But this time the golem staggered back, its armour dented and scarped with every strike!
"The barrier is down!" called out the professor. "Everyone! Please help me!"
(X)
Tabitha was tired.
Her whole body ached, all the worse where the gargoyles held her. All around, their fellows were battling with Louise, Karin, and the manticore. The giant beast was hurt, blood running through fur and feather as the gargoyles slashed and hacked at it; but it fought on, smashing them down with claw and wing and stinger. Louise was ducking and diving, getting the occasional spell off; while her mother strode and slashed, ever the mighty knight.
And at the back, at the foot of the steps leading up to the ravaged quarterdeck, was Sheffield. She was hanging back, as usual, letting her gargoyles do the fighting; and adding more and more to the melee.
The battle was in the balance. If she could only get free, and get a wand, she could finish it and save her friends. But how?
She glanced about. Her beloved staff was gone, blasted to scraps by Joseph to lure her up there. Her wand, the spare she carried for emergencies, had been taken from her after she was captured; and was now in Sheffield's belt.
Nothing. There was nothing she could use, no way to do anything. She was trapped, and her friends would die.
And it was all her fault. If only she had not gone up charging up there. If only they had left her to her fate.
She heard a cry, and looked up to see Louise crash to the deck, knocked down by the flat of a gargoyle's scimitar. Sheffield smirked in triumph as the gargoyle stamped down on Louise's wrist, her fingers twitching as they struggled to keep a grip on her wand.
"I really should kill you," commented Sheffield, sauntering up to them. "But my master needs you alive. So why not celebrate your good fortune and give up? It'll be over soon."
"Never…!" Louise snarled. She struggled, trying to pull her wand hand free, but Sheffield kicked her in the stomach, making her cough and retch, her back arching.
"I…won't!" Louise spluttered. "I…can't!"
"Oh give it up!" snorted Sheffield. She almost looked annoyed. "You can't save her, or this world, or that damn Avatar!"
Avatar?
Louise managed to look up, her eyes meeting Tabitha's. And in that moment, Tabitha understood.
Louise flicked out her hand, her wand rolling across the deck. Tabitha pulled, yanking one hand free, and threw herself at the wand. She heard Sheffield cry out as her hand closed around it.
"Gale!" Her magic erupted, the air spinning around her, hurling Sheffield and her gargoyles away. Sheffield hit the bulkhead with a crash, and Tabitha rounded on her, focussing her will on the wand in her belt. It flew out, dodging Sheffield's grasping hands, and landed safe in Tabitha's own hand. Sheffield screamed, and her rune blazed. The gargoyles flung themselves at her, scimitars hissing in the air.
"Ice!" Icicles formed in the air around, and flew at the oncoming gargoyles; impaling them like harpoons. One of them smashed into Sheffield, sending her tumbling across the deck.
turned, looking around for Louise. The girl was sprawled against the mast, her hair askew and her waitress outfit dirty and askew.
"A little warning next time, Tabitha?" gasped Louise, as she struggled to her feet. But Tabitha could see the tears in her eyes, and the joy. She had never been good at hiding her feelings, that one.
"Look out!"
A blur shot across the deck, reforming by the quarterdeck stairs. It was Joseph, his face fixed in a vicious grimace, his wand aimed at her.
"Explosion!"
Tabitha threw herself aside, and the spell blasted a gouge in the mast. The mast groaned and toppled, catching in the ropes. Louise shrieked and scrambled away.
"Icicle!" A single icicle formed, and flew straight at Joseph like a javelin. It struck him in the stomach, hurling him back and into the quarterdeck stairs.
"Now you die!" proclaimed Karin, darting past a crumbling gargoyle and levelling her sword at the stricken king. Tabitha watched as the blade glowed blue, and a burst of compressed air leapt from the tip, hissing through the air like a bullet.
And her mouth fell open, as Sheffield threw herself in front of the spell. The spell hit her, ripping through her chest and spinning her round in a cloud of blood. She hit the deck, rolling to a stop in front of Joseph.
(X)
Pain.
Joseph couldn't remember ever feeling this much pain. No one had ever hurt him this badly; not physically anyway.
He glanced down. The icicle that had impaled him was melting, soaking into his royal mantle; even as the white slowly turned red. He could feel his strength fading, his legs growing numb.
He looked up. There stood his niece, his undoer, staring down her wand at him with ice-cold eyes; the kind of eyes her father should have had. Louise de la Valliere was sprawled amid the wreckage, as Saito Hiraga hurried to her assistance. Karin de la Valliere was striding towards him, straight-backed, triumphant. The gargoyles that had a moment ago been tormenting them were crumbling, blowing away like ash on the wind.
And on the deck in front of him lay Sheffield, her chest pierced, her life leaking onto the deck to mingle with his.
She was dying. She, his familiar, his most capable servant, the only person he even pretended to trust, was dying.
She was dying, because of him. She was dying…for him.
He did not know what he was feeling. He had never felt anything like it in his life. It was as if his heart was being crushed, as if all his strength was sinking down inside him, congealing in the depths of his being. It was as if his soul was withering and crumpling, like a sheaf of paper tossed into a fire.
Had he finally done it?
"Master…"
Sheffield's eyes fluttered open, and her arm twitched as it reached for him. Without knowing why, Joseph reached back; and their fingers touched.
"Forgive me master, my king," gasped Sheffield, her beautiful face ashen, her eyes glazing over. "I failed you…"
Her eyes slid shut, and her chest fell still. Something cold and dark wrapped itself around Joseph's soul, clenching tight, and pulling him down. He had never felt anything like this before.
He could not bear it.
"Now you know." It was Charlotte, stepping slowly towards him, wand outstretched. "Now you know how Louise felt."
She glanced down the deck, and Joseph did likewise. Saito Hiraga was helping Louise to her feet, holding her gently, looking at her with tender eyes.
Ah yes, he remembered now. It was that time in Albion, when Saito had sacrificed himself to stop Sheffield's army; to hold them up for a few hours so that the allied fleet could escape. He had been rescued, somehow, but Louise had thought him dead for a time.
Yes, it hurt for familiar and master to be separated; and never more so than by the gulf of eternity.
To think, this is what it took for him to finally obtain it. What he lacked compared everyone else.
And the price paid for it.
"Choke on your desolation, despoiler of majesty," sneered Karin de la Valliere, glaring down at him with undisguised contempt. "You are beaten, and your golem is about to be destroyed. Contemplate your utter failure as you die."
Joseph glanced away, over the gunwale. He could just make out the Jormungandr, its body glowing like an ingot on a blacksmith's forge, crumpling slowly under the silver fists of Suleiman's Avatar.
His lips curled upward into a sneer, and the terrible cold within him felt a little less cold. If only she knew.
"Your Majesty." Karin turned to Charlotte, who had halted close by. "The Mad King is at bay. Will you strike the final blow, or may I?"
Charlotte did not reply, but levelled her wand at him. Her eyes were cold and hard, more so than he had ever seen them.
"Tabitha! Wait!" It was Saito Hiraga, looking at Charlotte with pleading eyes. "Don't do this! You don't have to do this!"
"Death is the only fit punishment!" retorted Karin, rounding on him. "And she has the right to inflict it, more than anyone else here!"
"Tabitha!" Saito pleaded again. "Remember what Professor Colbert said! Don't make killing a habit! Don't become a killer because of him!" He took deep breaths, trying to find himself. "Enough people have died already... You don't have to do this..."
Karin looked like she wanted to retort, but kept silent. Joseph met Tabitha's gaze, waiting for her to take her revenge. One last spell, one last moment of pain, and his cursed existence would be at an end.
Charlotte closed her eyes, and lowered her wand.
"I have killed, for you," she said, bitterly. "But I won't kill you, not like this. It's not worth what's left of my soul."
Saito and Louise both sighed with relief, and looked at Tabitha with what might have been pride. Karin's face was expressionless. Sylphid let out a happy warble.
The blue haired king scoffed.
"How merciful you are, Charlotte," Joseph sneered. "How like your father, so pure and perfect, so virtuous."
"Silence curr!!" snapped Karin, eyes blazing. "You speak of your own brother! The brother you murdered!"
"You're wrong, uncle," Charlotte cut in. "My father was none of those things."
The deck fell silent. All eyes fell on Charlotte, who stood unmoving, and unmoved.
"My father despised you," she went on. "He scorned and loathed you behind his smiles. He cursed you for a useless zero, and was certain he would be king. When he was not made king, he screamed and raged and smashed things. I know, because my mother told me."
A lie. It could not be true. The Charles he remembered had always smiled. He was always kind, gracious, perfect.
Too kind, too gracious, too perfect.
He felt himself slump back. His body was cold and leaden, his strength all gone. How had he not seen it? How could he have believed that his brother was a saint? In the House of Gallia?
"Why, uncle?" Still she looked like a doll; the doll he had turned her into. "What was it all for?"
Why? There was only one answer.
"Because I felt nothing," he croaked. "When I ordered your father's death, I felt nothing. When I learned that he was dead, I felt nothing. My heart froze over, and felt nothing. I burned the world, yet my heart would not thaw."
He scoffed, ruefully as he looked at Sheffield's lifeless body.
"She alone could thaw it. And now it's too late."
He felt his heart stop, and saw his eyes glaze over.
"You are all doomed," he heard himself whisper. "And so is this world."
His eyes slid shut, and there was only darkness.
(X)
Saito watched, his heart heavy, as Joseph de Gallia's chest fell still. Beside them, Tabitha looked on, her cheeks wet with tears; her eyes as weary as he felt.
"Thus always to tyrants," intoned Karin, sheathing her sword. "Come, all of you, let's go."
"But what did he mean?" wondered Louise. She looked utterly exhausted, more so than he had ever seen her. "Why tell us to run?"
Saito headed over to the gunwale, and looked down at the city. His heart clenched at the sight; at the burning buildings, the wrecked ships lying where they had fallen, the smoke turning the sky black.
But then he found Saint Ciel's fountain, and the battle he had been forced to leave. The golem was staggering backwards, its armour dented and scratched, and glowing like an ingot in a forge-fire. He could see Suleiman's avatar raining blow after blow, and Professor Colbert standing nearby, a stream of fire rushing from the tip of his staff to the golem's plastron. The others had their wands aimed at the stream, and he could see magic coiling all around it, forming complex patterns he could barely make out.
The golem let out a low, metallic groan; then toppled backwards like a felled tree, hitting the ground with a crash.
He heard a strange sound, and he looked around to follow it. He saw the palace, and the troops lining its battlements. They were waving their flags, and their hats. Mages fired off firework spells, filling the smoky sky with bright lights.
They were cheering. The whole city was cheering.
"They did it!" cried Louise. "Lei did it! Everyone did it!"
"No, something's wrong." Tabitha pointed down at the fallen golem. Its body was glowing brighter and brighter, its armour melting and running away in glowing rivulets. Saito could see fires breaking out in the ruins nearby. He could feel the heat, even from up there.
"What is it?" Louise asked, unsettled.
"Kyuiii!" squealed Sylphid. "Fire magic! Strong fire magic! Going crazy!"
"It's a firestone." Tabitha's face was fixed, emotionless. "An elvish firestone. If it explodes, it will destroy the entire city."
Saito's stomach roiled. Was that what Joseph had meant?
"No…" Louise's face was ashen. "No…Tristainia…everyone…"
"How do we stop it!?" demanded Karin, her face as pale as her daughter's. "Your Majesty, what is the counter!? Tell me how!"
"There is no counter." Tabitha clambered up onto the gunwale. "Get down to the ground and take cover. It's your only chance."
Saito stared at her, bewildered; as she raised Louise's wand to eye level and chanted. Her body glowed, and she stepped off onto open air.
"Tabitha!"
"I'll take the firestone and get it away from here," she said. "I'll go as far as I can. Please…take care of Sylphid for me."
The dragon let on an anguished cry, as Tabitha turned away. Saito's heart froze in his chest.
"No, Tabitha!" cried Louise. "Not like this!"
"Your Majesty, come back!" ordered Karin. Saito snapped a curse, and jumped onto the gunwale, grabbed for her hand. He caught it, and Tabitha rounded on him, her face pale with shock.
"Oh no you don't!" he barked. "We didn't go through all that so you can throw your life away!"
Then he hesitated, as he saw her eyes.
"I must." Tabitha's normally calm and quiet voice was quavering. "I'm the only one who can. I…it's all I can do."
Saito's heart clenched. She was ready to sacrifice herself; to lay down her life to save what was left of this city, and its people; and her friends.
"No, you won't," he insisted, pulling her back in. "You're not alone. You were never alone. We're gonna fix this together."
"But how?" Louise asked. Saito looked down at the firestone. He could feel the heat now, and the glow made his eyes hurt.
And then he saw the silver form hovering nearby, its arms crossed ahead of it; trying to hold back the deadly glow.
"We can't stop it," he said. "But maybe he can."
(X)
It was so hot.
Suleiman was sweating, his skin starting to burn; even as his avatar's silver arms tried to block the heat. Even through the interlaced fingers and hands, he could see the red-white glow; and the molten steel sitting in gleaming pools.
"LEI!"
He looked up, wondering who was calling. The voice was familiar, but somehow distorted.
"LEI!"
Then he saw it; the enormous Gallian flagship, and two shapes detaching from it; a blue dragon, and a black manticore. Both swooped down towards him, and his heart leapt as he saw Saito and Tabitha on Sylphid's back, and Lady Karin and Louise on the manticore's back. They had survived!
"LeI!" The voice was Saito's. Suleiman could see Tabitha holding a wand in front of his face, her magic amplifying his voice. "Lei! It's a firestone!"
Suleiman's joy turned to cold, sick terror. He had heard tales of what elves could do with magic; feats even his people had not attained. Making Firestones was one of their greatest secrets; for unlike the other three elements, Firestones did not appear in nature. The untameable element tamed, the element of wrath and destruction bound into a physical form; to be used as needed.
But therein lay its terrible danger. Fire could not be truly controlled; merely contained and kept for a time. If a firestone were to fail, and the magic it contained escaped, then it would destroy everything around it.
At least he knew now why that golem had been so strong. Only a firestone could have given it such power. And that power was its ultimate weapon, one last trap for anyone who succeeded in defeating it. A work of evil, deranged genius indeed.
Suleiman took a deep breath. There was only one thing to do now, and he alone could do it.
He willed his Avatar to move, the silver hands clasping around the glow, and pressing in. The hands glowed, and Suleiman gasped as he felt his own hands burn; as if held too close to fire. The burning spread up his arms as he pressed on, forcing the hands down ever closer.
He could see it. A tiny spot of sunfire, small enough to sit on his open hand. His whole body was burning, his every instinct willing him to run, to get away from the heat before it destroyed him. He had one chance, and one chance only.
"GO!"
He threw the firestone straight up. He snapped back his head, watching as the bright spot soared upwards into the sky; his eyes aching as if staring into the sun. Higher and higher it flew, slowing and slowing, until it came to a stop.
And then there was light. And there was fire. A hot wind washing over him, slamming him down. A roar like a thousand thunderclaps filled his ears, and his entire body burned as if it had been set on fire.
And then a long, low rumble, the sound slowly falling away.
Suleiman wanted to move, but he couldn't. He tried to blink, but he couldn't. His whole body felt so heavy, though the pain was fading.
He vaguely heard a sound, a voice. Someone was calling, crying out to someone, but he could barely hear it.
"Lei!"
Silence. Darkness.
(X)
Here it is at last; the end of the battle, and of this arc.
I can only apologise once again for taking so long. I've got a lot of projects one, so I update when I can.
There were a couple of changes here. The big one, obviously, is Joseph coming to Tristain instead of attacking Romalia. To minimise spoiler, I will only say that Suleiman is partly the reason; for as the bearer of an Avatar, he attracted Joseph's interest. The truth behind this will come out later.
The other big one was Joseph's final end. In the anime, he is mortally wounded by Saito aboard his flagship, and dies in Sheffield's arms; after which she blew up the ship with the last firestone. In the Light Novels, Joseph suffers a similar fate; but with Sheffield stabbing him with a poisoned dagger, and then blowing up his ship. The big difference is the circumstances behind it; as we learn the true root of Joseph's madness.
We learned that, growing up as a Void mage, Joseph was dismissed as incompetent and useless; rather like Louise. Nevertheless he was named heir to the throne, over his younger but more capable brother Charles; Tabitha's father. When Charles greeted this news with apparent joy and loyalty, Joseph could not deal with it. Driven to madness by his brother's seeming saintliness, Joseph murdered him; and could feel no more emotions after that. All the chaos and violence he wrought since then was him trying to feel emotions again. In the LN, he attained this when Vittorio hit him with the 'Record' spell; which showed him that, far from being joyful, Charles was actually furious. Realising that his brother was human after all, Joseph's heart broke and he gave himself up; only to be finished off by Sheffield.
This, as I envisaged, was a hybrid of the two. As far as Joseph is concerned, the main difference is that his heart was thawed, in part, by the anguish of losing Sheffield. This was at least partly due to their bond as Master and Familiar; making it the same grief Louise felt when she seemingly lost Saito. But I like to think there was some love there too. Also, letting Tabitha be the one to reveal the truth about her father seemed appropriate.
One last change was having the firestone be the Jormungandr's power source. This was another difference between anime and Light Novels. In the former, there was one armoured golem named Jormungandr; while in the Light Novels, Joseph unleashed multiple 'Golomontas' on Romalia. Using the firestone in this way was mostly a way to streamline the plot, but I thought it also made sense. A firestone would give the Jormungandr enormous magical power, but would also be a deadly trap for anyone that defeated it. A weapon, in short, that reflected Joseph's mindset and character quite well.
And that's that. Thank you for staying with this story despite the delays. A big thanks to Zaru once again for helping with the writing and decision-making, and for tolerating my slow work.
