de’Rieste Dossier

I have spent the last three years trying to forget the events of the castle. I had even gone so far as to distance myself from Shae and her family. Even though Altana had saved her, I had failed to keep her alive. She is only alive because of Altana’s actions that day. I had not returned to the realm because that would mean facing her father and I would be honor bound to tell him the truth. I wouldn’t be able to blame him for whatever he decided was to be done with me. Exile would be the least of my worries, so I guess my own self imposed exile is my penance.

I stumbled across these strange aparatices when I left Jeuno. I entered one and it seemed to take me back; back to a time when I was carefree and didn’t carry the burden of my oath. I explored the lands. Jeuno was not allowing people to enter so I made my way to San d’Oria. The creatures are strange here, and I decide to help out the locals and see what I can do to keep the creatures at bay from the city.

I left my journal with the rest of my things when I left in the middle of the night because I had not intended for the walk to take me as far as it did for as long as it has, so I have not someplace to write my thoughts. I didn’t think I would really need it, but the dreams have gotten worse so I went to the Leathersmith and asked him to bind some pages together for me. I found a quiet place down a darkened alley, I guess I will just have to start a new one.

My name is Darling d’Arienne de ‘Rieste, I am from a time not yet dreamed of. In my time, my best friend was my niece, she was my empress, she was my charge. I was sworn to protect her with my life. My oath was everything to me. When we were children, she won the hearts of everyone with her kind gentle way. My heart belonged to one who never even saw me. I took the oath to protect the Empress when I was old enough because I felt that the life I really wanted, the one I dreamed of, was far beyond my grasp.

I thought I had put him from my heart, but…

I never questioned why I took the oath until the last time I laid eyes on him. It wasn’t the time that I spent with him trying to catch the Empress and his brother. It wasn’t him finding the ribbon in my old journal. It was only when I watched him die that I began to question why I had sworn to forsake everyone and everything to protect the Empress. I started asking myself what happened that made me give up on a normal life?

For the first few days after we all returned, we were in the infirmary together, I didn’t have a choice about seeing him. After we were discharged from the infirmary I went to one of the temporary houses in Jeuno. I didn’t go out, I didn’t check on anyone, I didn’t even speak to the delivery boy who brought the rations from the shop that I had ordered. I didn’t really want to see anyone. My emotions were raw, I was sore – but from what I understand being killed, brought back and then fighting for your life will do that to you everytime. I knew that even though I had failed to fulfill my oath, I didn’t need to worry about the Empress because she had him and his brothers and her sister to look after her. I was up one night because I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t close my eyes for reliving the events of the Throne Room. I got dressed and went for a walk. My walk ended me up in San d’Oria in a time before I lived here.

I know, if you are reading this you are probably thinking “Yeah, well you can’t live there before you arrive there.” I don’t think you quite get it. When Shae was 16 she moved to San d’Oria, I followed as it was then that I had taken my oath. She didn’t know I was here, I didn’t want her to. I watched over her, though, as it was my duty. She has not arrived here, yet, so I haven’t – the younger me hasn’t.

I sometimes wonder if he even thinks about me. I guess I will never know.

I had hoped the distance and time would end the dreams, but it hasn’t. I still see the Lance impale Milady and then Stigmus fall at the hands of that vile creature. I don’t really know which one is more disturbing to me. The one that caused me to break my oath or the one that ripped my heart from my breast. Either way, it doesn’t matter, it is unlikely that they will find me here.

I have petitioned for a permit to work in a small shop as a healer. I would live in the small flat above it, but it would be more permanent than the housing I am in now. It would give me a chance to heal wounds that have been opened that never should have been.

Well the sun is rising now, so it looks like another night that I have avoided the Nightmares that have plagued the darkness for me for the last three years. I know I should get sleep, but that sleep will only come when I am so tired that the dreams do not and not before then.

I put away the journal and head to the Council Office to find out if my application was approved.

I am not exactly sure how we got out of the Throne room, or how we got back to Jeuno, but I will try to recount as much of it as I remember.

“Writing in your Journal, again?” Stigmus half laughed from the infirmary bed across the room from where I lay.

“Yeah, so what’s it to you?” I asked irritated at having my train of thoughts derailed.

“Nothing really.” Stigmus looked away and stared at the wall near the end of his bed. He mumbled something that sounded a bit like…”What I wouldn’t give to be able to read that book” and then he closed his eyes.

I turned back to my journal and continued…

We found Stigmus’ brother, Stigmar on the bridge. A fight with him ensued to ensure that Shae… erm Menerva got into the Throne Room. After Stigmar collapsed we made it to the door of the Throne Room just in time to see Magnum impale Menerva with his lance.

My heart hurt when I saw that, not for myself so much as for Lord Aerithorn. He was so close to finding his long lost daughter and now he would never get that chance. I can’t think about that now though.

We then mounted our assault on the one they called Magnum. You would have thought that we were initiates who knew nothing of combat with the way he took us down.

I am left wondering why Stigmus reacted the way he did to Magnum’s attack on me. Does he have feelings for me? Or is he still in love with Shae? Was I… should I have just stayed away? He found the ribbon in my last journal. I am not sure what he thinks. But, I digress again.

At anyrate, we all went down. I don’t know how quick the work that he made of us was, but suffice it to say, for me, he opened old wounds. I knew that scar would be my weakness, that is why I never told anyone about it.

I don’t want to see what it looks like now, it is bad enough that it hurts.

I don’t know how else to explain what happened other than to say that Altana decided it was not my time; or Stigmus’; or his cousin’s, what’s her name?, Duski or something like that; or his kid brother, Stiggy’s for that matter.

After we clammored down the sidewall of the tower and met back up, Stigmus and I carried the two little ones to the entrance of the castle.

I don’t remember much past when we stopped to rest, save some strange aparatus roaring past and a snow storm as we made our way back to Jeuno.

I am not even fully sure how we got to the infirmary in Upper Jeuno, or why we are here or how long we have been here, but I know the other patient is easy enough on the eyes, even if he does look a bit like he had been in a fight with the Shadow Lord himself.

“Alright, you can turn off the lamp if you want,” I said to Stigmus. “I am done, for now.” I placed my journal under my pillow and turned towards the wall and waited for him to turn off the light before I rolled over again.

After the lights went out, I rolled to my other side and lay there watching him in the dim light. “What I wouldn’t give to know what is going through that head of yours Stigmus.” I whispered to myself, before I started slipping into a somewhat restless sleep.

What is this white light? Where is Stiggy? Where is my cousin? Where is my sister?Where is that Elvaan Woman? Where am I?

I looked around and found I was still in the Throne Room, where we had made what I thought was our last stand. My head hurt and the bright white light wasn’t helping it any. I don’t know who the being who is engulfed in it is, but she is pretty enough.

I sat there looking around. This room was so much prettier in the white light. The ornate carvings looked almost delicate in nature. I closed my eyes as the being moved across my vision to where the body of one of my fallen comarades lay.

Startled, I stood up as a shock wave cracked the wall between me and the door. I ran toward where my cousin had fallen.

“What was that?” I asked my voice trembling.

“I am forever in your debt, Altana,” Stigmus spoke softly as he knealt respectfully before the Entity that was engulfed in the white light.

“Who is Altana?” I felt like the more I remained in Vana’diel the more questions I would have.

“That felt like a shockwave of some sort, Dusti,” my cousin answered me as he rose to his feet.

“Duski!!! My name is Duski… as in D-U-S-K-I if you actually learned to spell when you were growing up.” I crossed my arms.

“Don’t mind him,” Stiggy said as he waddled up behind me. “He thinks he is something special…”

My cousin helped the Elvaan female to her feet… …and then the ground shook!

“What in Heaven’s name was that?” I shouted as rubble began to fall from the wall near the door.

“Save Yourselves!” I thought I heard shouted from outside. I began to scrabble my way to the door.

As I reached the doorway, I noticed that the entryway was no longer attached to the bridge where we entered. We all stood in the doorway as the tower creaked and listed further away from the bridge.

“So, how are we to get out of here?” I asked a bit irritated.

“Down there,” the Elvaan woman pointed at a bridge lower down on the tower. “With the way the tower is tilting we should be able to walk down the exterior walls to that bridge.”

“Ok,” Stiggy headed out the door. The Elvaan woman followed close on his heels.

“You aren’t going to stand here all day!” Stigmus looked down at me. “Get moving!”

“If my father heard you talking to me like that he would…” I looked up at my cousin and scowled.

“If you plan on being able to tell him, you better get your backside out that door and down that wall, runt!” Stigmus shoved me out and then followed quickly on my heels.

We walked down, or should I rather say that Stiggy and I tumbled down as the two elvaans slid down the wall. I found it more unnerving than the fight for me. The whole time in my mind I could see myself tumbling down past the bridge and into the darkness. I knocked a piece of a stone loose as I fell and it tumbled down towards Stiggy and the Elvaan woman.

“Look Out!”

The words had no more crossed my lips when the Elfaan female grabbed Stiggy and tossed him towards the bridge. I had to stiffle a giggle at the glimpse of what I saw as I tumbled closer to where the Elvaan Female had wedged herself.

With the Elvaan female making her way more cautiously down the incline towards the lower bridge, my cousin and I soon closed the gap between us and them. As we reached the bridge, I realized that the gap between the lower bridge and where we were had widened since the Elvaan Female had crossed.

“I can’t jump that,” I stammered as I wrapped my arms and legs around my cousin’s leg.

“You don’t have a choice, runt!” Stigmus roared as more rocks came tumbling down from the crumbling walls of the tower.

“But the gap is too big, I can’t jump that far!”

“You either Jump or I will throw you myself! And I can’t promise my aim will put you on the bridge!” Stigmus looked cross when I looked at him pleadingly. “Alright throw it is!” Stigmus wrenched my hands from his leg and positioned himself in such a way as to throw me towards the bridge.

I hit stone at the middle of the bridge and slid across towards the edge near the open doorway. I stopped sliding just shy of falling off at the wall. I scrambled to my feet as I saw the tower list futher. I couldn’t see my cousin.

“Stigmus? Are you there?” I couldn’t hear over the noise that was reverberating back from the stone tower collapsing into the chasm. I made my way through the rubble that had fallen on the bridge to the edge that had once attached to the tower.

“Do you need my help?” I asked as I saw him hanging by his finger tips on the jagged edge of the bridge.

“I think you have helped enough, runt! Don’t you?” Stigmus struggled to reposition himself onto a more secure stone.

“I can go get Stiggy and That Elvaan Woman.” I offered.

“Her name is Darling, and you do that!” he managed back, his voice tight with the strain of his exertion. “And be quick about it why don’t you!”

I scurried off towards the door. In the doorway I could hear the clash of metal against metal and the grunts of deflected blows. As I rounded the corner in the corridor, I found that Stiggy and The Elvaan Woman were fending off an ambush. They weren’t going to be much good to Stigmus until they were done with those creatures.

How was I going to help? What could I use to get my cousin up on the bridge? How could I help those two defend our position until we were all together again? What if I couldn’t get my cousin up on the bridge?

Just then I heard the clammor of a metal weapon as it was dropped from the claw of one of the newly defeated monsters.

‘That’s it!’ I thought to myself. I snuck into the fray and dragged out a great big sword but I found that I grew tired as I tried to drag it back to where my cousin hung precariously from the edge of the bridge. As I reached the opening in the bridge, I decided I would have to go about this a different way or I wouldn’t have the strength to help.

I dropped the big sword and made my way to a crack near the center of the bridge. I shoved the sword I carried that I had brought with me from the other realm into the crack all the way to it’s handle. I took the rope that I wore around my waist and tied it to the handle of the blade and the other around my waist.

I closed my eyes. “Altana I know I am not one of your children, but I am trying to help them, Please protect me,” with that I ran and jumped over the edge of the bridge. I heard a distant scream as I reached the end of my rope.

I opened my eyes and looked around beneath the bridge, my cousin was gone. Where was he? Did I put myself in danger for nothing? Would I have the strength to pull myself up again?

I grabbed ahold of the rope and began to climb it like the vines that clung from the dome in my father’s audience chamber. I guess being an inquisitive child that hated being religanted to ignorance was finally going to pay off. Hand over hand I climbed until I reached the top of the ledge.

I looked up to see my cousin with a foot either side of the rope. He reached down and pulled me up. When I began to protest about leaving my sword and rope, he grabbed them both and threw me like a sack of meal over his shoulder.

He ran with me over his shoulder to where the other two waited after clearing the ambush.

“Grab the runt and let’s go!” my cousin shouted at the Elvaan Woman.

“What about my father’s saber?” I screamed above the rumbling of the falling walls.

“What? That Puny Dagger?” my cousin shot back. “Don’t worry Runt! I got it.”

The two Elvaans ran down to the gates of the keep before they stopped and rested.

My cousin wrappped me up in the rope and growled at me as he wedged the blade I had carried between to stones. “This is so you don’t go trying anymore heroics that make me have to go rescuing you again, Runt!”

As stood to my feet, dazed and confused I saw Menerva facing the creature which called itself Loki, I swung my sword at him from behind, but in my weakened state Loki saw the attack coming from the corner of his eye, as he blocked my attack Loki began his savage attack, it was then I felt his claws pierced chest.

“Shae, you always wanted his heart even as child, here, you can have it.” Loki laughed as he tore through my rip cage and ripped my heart from my chest.

“Mercury!!!” Menerva screamed.

My body fell back in crumpled heap on the floor as my heart was tossed beside me, Menerva ran to be beside my lifeless body, as her beloved laid motionless before her eyes, Loki turned his back to her, raising his arms in the air.

“All this, Vana’diel, its people, kingdoms belong to me now. Not even an angel of Altana can stop me!” He turned and pointed his claw-like hand at Menerva.

“I’ll stop you somehow and take revenge for you have done to my husband!” She growled taking a step forward and raised her club and shield into a battle stance.

“I think not little Mithra.” Loki laughed as he turned his back again.

Menerva was about to make the first move when the ground started shaking, as Menerva looked to see what was causing the tremor she caught sight of the remains of her Marcureal. My body had rose to its knees, it was as if  I was watching from outside my own body, Menerva watch in horror as I scooped my heart off the floor and placed back inside my chest.

As the damaged veins reconnected the wound started to close as my heart began beating again, the damage that my armor had sustained was also regenerating.

“Marcureal…?” Menerva’s voice trailed off.

“Muuuggh!” I scream as my body was racked with pain, holding my sides I could feel my skin burning.

“What! Doesn’t anyone know how to stay dead? Flarega!” Loki screeched in anger.

“No! Not this time, Shellra V!” Menerva shouted and cast just in time.

The blast from his spell shattered the stone door behind us leading back into the castle, as flames and smoke clear to reveal further changes had occurred, my skin had changed to jet black as my eyes glowed a blood red, demon wings had finally sprouted from my back and expanded out.

“Marcureal?” Menerva gasped.

“I am…. the gatekeeper…  You! Back to Hell!” As I pointed at Loki.

“I don’t think so, Gatekeeper… Hades, or would prefer you old name … Diabolos!” Loki grinned to himself.

Menerva shocked by events that had transpired just stood listening.

“You escaped me once, not this time.” I drew my sword.

“But tell me, how do you plan on defeating me in such a short time that you have before you kill your host body?” Loki laughed as he materialized his great sword and expanded his wings to take flight.

I shoved Menerva back I took to the sky engaging Loki in a volley of parries and strikes, using my Vorpal Blade attack I was met with a lock of blades, as sparks flew from the impacts of our strikes Loki retaliated with his Spinning Slash attack knocking me slightly back, as I regain my stance Loki had charged with his Sword in full swing, as I blocked with my shield I returned the favor as I lunged with a Swift Blade attack knocking Loki back, it was then that Loki gained the upper hand as he cast fire ball which sent me crashing into the side of the castle wall, followed by his claw like hand around my throat, parts of wall broke away from the force of impact, which had also cracked the foundations of the tower causing it move.

“Why this host Diabolos, surely you could have offered me a better challenge.” Loki taunted as he tighten his grip.

“To honour a pact…” I was able get out.

It was then Menerva flew up and attacked with Black Halo drawing Loki’s attention and breaking his grip from around my neck.

“Give back control, Shae can help!”I said in my head to Diabolos.

“Very well… But my power will be limited to you. Rely on your own strength…”Diabolos replied.

“Drink this, My Child” a soft voice said in the darkness.

Carefully a chalice with some liquid was placed to my lips. The liquid stung as it passed my lips. It burned as it trickled down my throat. Slowly the fluid chased the chill from my flesh.

Startled, I opened my eyes. There, knelt at my side, was a being engulfed in a white glowing light. I shielded my eyes.

“Don’t be afraid, my child.” She gently touched my face, “I will not harm you.”

“Who… Who are you?”

“I am the one whose blessing was called for when you were joined with Marcureal,” her voice sounded familiar to me, but I could not for the life of me figure out why.

“Why would you bring me back from the lands beyond?”

“You made a oath before me, one that cannot be broken even in death. Do you remember that oath, My Child?” Her voice reminded me of my mother’s voice, almost angelic in its tones.

I dropped my paw to my side and pushed myself up. “Marcureal?” I swallowed hard. “Is he?” the words caught in my throat.

“He needs his Sword, just as you need your staff.”

I looked down and figited with the ring on my left paw. “But… he… abandoned…”

“He left the beach on your wedding night to protect his family, his whole family including his beloved, Shae.”

I felt the color wash from my face as I looked at her. “I… where is he?” I attempted to scamper to my feet only to find I was very light headed.

“Careful, My Child.” The being reached out to steady me.

“Who are you? Why do you call me your child?” I looked at her confused.

“I am the beginning and the end. ”

“But… But, you can’t be Altana. No mortal has ever laid eyes on Altana.” I averted my eyes in fear.

“That is true, My Child.” She gently turned my face towards her. “But, like your mother, and her mother before her, you are no mere mortal, Shae.”

“Then what am I? Some Demon?”

Altana shook her head. “The Emperial family has been how my angels have walked among the children of Vana’diel. Knowledge of their true self is not  revealed until just before they are taken from this world, or until a time of Great Need in Vana’diel.” Altana smiled at me. “You, my child were blessed to have not walked alone, as most of the Angels do…”

“I know, I have Mercury!”

Again Altana shook her head at me. “No, Shae that is not what I mean. Most angels only ever walk among the children of Vana’diel as only them, no other Angels, but you have had Justice and Wisdom, Courage, and Innocence all with you at times in your life.”

“How?” I frowned. “But… Who were they?” My head began to swim again I leaned my back against a collumn to steady myself.

“Have you yourself not said that your grandmother was the wisest you have ever met, and fair?” Altana smiled at me once again. “Did you not tell Marcureal that your mother had more courage in her little digit than you have ever seen in anyone else in your life?”

Without even thinking I nodded. It had been many years since I had spoken of either of them, but that is how I have always seen them.

“Did you not weap bitterly at the loss of innocence that came with Kiashera’s death?”

I bit back tears and stared harshly at Altana, “Why would you bring up my daughter’s death?”

“She too was my child, just as her mother, her mother’s mother and her mother before that are and were my children.” Altana took a deep breath. “You were not alone as you wept over Kiashera’s loss.”

“If I am an angel then what am I the angel of lost causes and broken hearts?” I snapped bitterly.

“No, My Child, you are the one who does not give up on lost causes and tries to mend broken hearts… You are the Archangel of Compassion. It is most unfortunate that in order to have such compassion as you possess that you must feel the pain not only of your own, but of others as well.”

I stood there a moment watching Altana. Trying to figure out what it is that I really was seeing. Was she just some dream? Was she a figment of my overly tired mind?

“…sister come and  face me…” came a voice that chilled me to the bone. I started and turned towards the voice. Almost as if I had been charmed, I moved towards the door to the throne room. In the doorway I stopped cold. In the distance I saw two figures, one crumpled in a heap at the foot of the other and the one who called out standing over him.

“Altana, Grant me the Strength and Courage of my mother and the Justice and Wisdom of her mother before her,” I prayed softly.

“Bless you My Child with all that you need to persevere.” Altana gently touched my back.

I don’t know when I got them but as I stretched I felt soft downy wings behind my shoulders. They were folded, but they were there none the less. I stepped closer and the figure on the ground became more visible.

“Mercury!” I gasped softly. From deep within me I felt the same will that had kept us both alive this long. I stepped just close enough to cast on him. As I cast Divine Seal and then Raise III, the strongest Raise spell I knew, I quietly prayed that the monster who stood over him would turn on me and leave Mercury alone.

As the Creature sensed the magic I was casting, it charged me. I finished the spell just before it reached me.

“Who are you?” it growled as it grabbed me. “Why do you not stay dead like a good little Mithra?”

“I am Shae Doen Che-de’Rieste Ragnark. Empress of…” The creature gripped my throat to stop my speach.

“You are Menerva, the Adventurer from San d’Oria. That is not what I asked. Why do you not stay dead? I finished you off after my servant injured you.”

“I am born of the blood of Altana,” I croaked as he continued his grip on my throat.

With those words he released me. “Is my sister so afraid of me that she must send one of her Angels to fight me in her stead?”

“Why would Altana fear one such as you?” I asked calmly.

“Does my appearence not strike fear into your very heart?” he snarled.

“No. Should it?” I raised an eyebrow as a stared calmly at the creature before me.

He looked at his own form and saw the same thing I did. Magnum, a man I had once known and cared for.

“Hmm,” he paused. “If this visage is not scary enough for you. How about this one?” He ripped his flesh from his flesh to reveal his true form. He smiled menacingly at me as the second skin he had worn for an indeterminate length of time, collapsed in a heap of skin at his feet.

I set my jaw and steadied myself. I fought the urge to flinch or shudder. “Is that supposed to be more frightening?” I stealed myself against his next move.

He leaned close to me, his breath heavy in my face. “I am the most evil creature you have ever faced. No one survives an encounter with me.”

“When you have taken from me all that I hold dear, that is supposed to scare me?” I laughed in his face. “You have learned nothing in your time here, have you? The blood of your blood chose to give her life for the life of one who was no blood relation to her. Don’t you see, Love and Honor are stronger than you ever were?”

“What do you know of those things?” he laughed. “You are so fickle that your longest relationship was with someone who was never around. As for honor, you wouldn’t know what that was either as you didn’t honor the vows you made at Promise Lake in front of all those witnesses.”

“There you are wrong. All of my life, for a far back as I remember the only thing I wanted was Marcureal’s heart to be mine. Any vows made by me at Promise Lake that day were empty as one cannot promise something that is not theirs to give.” I tilted my head back and smiled as he began to seethe. “I was married to Marcureal Ragnark when I was 16 years old, that is why they never issued us the marriage certificate.” I stretched out my wings carefully as I stood before him.

He towered above me extending to his full height. In the dim light he seemed somewhat taller than the young Elvaan Healer Ponkale that I had met in my journeys since I found Mercury again, and broader than my old Galkan friend Stoney. I did not flinch as he raised the back of his claw to me.

“Save The Empress!” I heard coming from the chamber.

“Save yourselves,” I commanded. I stealed myself as a scowl further contorted his face. “You would dare hit an Angel of Altana?”

In a confusion of motion he leveled a blow that hit Mercury as he sprang between us and knocked him against the floor of the bridge to the Throne Room. I flinched as the floor cracked beneath him.

“Mercury!!” I shouted and ran towards him.

The foul creature took to flight and beat me to Mercury’s side. “Is that what you really always wanted, Shae, his heart? I will gladly oblige you…” he stepped towards Marcureal…

I pushed the door open as it creaked my eyes slowly adjusted to torch lit room. The smell blood and death hit me as I entered the throne room. The floor and walls were stain and dripping with blood and there, stood in centre of all the chaos, was my sworn enemy.

“MAGNUM!” I shouted.

As he turn to face me, his Armour and polarm dripped with blood of my brothers. Stiggy  lay next to a female Tarutaru. Judging by her gear, she lack any real battle experience to of been any help against Dragoon master. On the stairs my brother lay next to a female elvaan Blue Mage. My mind pondered how these two could have been defeated if they were working together.

“Ahh… Marcureal I see you finally come to take centre stage with rest of your worthless family,” he smirked.

“You bastard! Where’s Shae!” I shouted.

Magnum walked over to the far wall where Menerva had crawled with final moments she had  reached up to where we had etched our names.

“What? This garbage?” Magnum picked up Menerva’s lifeless body by throat.

“STOP IT! Leave her alone.” I screamed.

I watched in horror he tossed her to back chamber like a rag doll. I began to run towards her but my path was blocked as Magnum warped in front of me.

“Forget about her, shes long gone by now.” He taunted.

“Move! Or I’ll go through you” I yelled.

“My, aren’t we bossy one, but all I see talk and no action.” Magnum grinned as he readied his Polarm.

“”I’ll show you action!” I growled.

Drawing my sword leapt and into the air, coming down heavy connecting with middle of his polarm, as he blocked my attack the force of impact created a shockwave which sent me flying back outside the throne room.

“Why do you continue fight, even after losing everything.” Magnum taunted as laid his strikes against my shield.

“I’ll keep fighting to protect those that care about.” I replied as swung my sword into his parry.

“My what a wonderful job you’ve done.” Magnum taunted.

Magnum leaped into air and rebounded off the nearest pillar sending him flying towards me with his lance primed for the killing blow. I flipped backwards narrowly dodged his attack which landed me in the centre bridge, Magnum leaped back slightly and recalled his polarm back to his hand.

“As you can see powers have grown since the last we fought.” Magnum smirked.

“I wouldn’t call a cheap parlor trick using a wire to recall your  polarm a increase in power.” I laughed.

The battle came to a stand still as Magnum lowered his Polarm while raising his left hand in the air calling fourth storm turning day sky to darkness, as the rain fell and the lightening filled the storm clouds, Magnum spoke again.

“You really don’t understand what’s going here do you? Well allow me to explain it, during fateful day.” He paused for a moment.

“The battle Duchy” I replied.

“Yes…. The one with supposedly no survivors, yet here you are, just how did you survive?” His cold stare broke for just a moment.

“What do mean here I am? You were at that battle too, I should ask you the same question Magnus!” I said as I began to wonder where this was leading to.

“Quite simply Magnum didn’t I have merely taken his body for my own.” He grinned.

“Just who or what are you!!” I shouted drawing my sword into a battle stance.

“I am the darkness!” He screamed as charged at me grabbing me and slamming into sided pillar. “The pain of Vana’diel!” As he threw me in a pillar. “I am the brother of Altana who has no name!!”

Magnum landed his polarm in my stomach as he pierced my armor I felt the tip exit my back, as he lifted me off the ground and tossed me against the door which lead back to the castle.

“Pity I was hoping for more interesting fight, sister come and  face me…” The creature demanded.

“J-just who..” I tried to speak but  I was losing blood fast from my injuries.

“I am Loki..” He grinned.

The darkness was consuming me as I felt my life draining from me, the last thing I saw before the darkness was a light coming from the throne room.

I squared my shoulders to face the vile creature who had taken on the name Magnum. In the years since I had first encountered him he had become more bitter than I remembered him. Could this be the same man who stood before me and swore on his honor that he protected all life?

I fought the urge to finger the scar that runs down the full length of my chest and abdomin. Can I really face the man who gave me this scar? Can he really not remember me?

I drank a Yagudo Drink and then cast Bludgeon. I followed it up with Spinal Cleave and watched as a bright light cut through Magnum. He staggered back and looked at me confused.

“Did you really think I would not do what I could to keep old wounds from being reopened?” I smiled wryly though he could not see it through the veil that covered my face. “I am not the Elvaan you once pretended to care for…” My words escaped my lips before I realized what I had said in front of Stigmus.

I pulled my double scimitars from their sheaths at my hips and brandished them. I stood in a defensive pose as I waited for Magnum to regain his composure. I remembered that the deepest felt blows for the man I once knew were to his ego.

“You and him?” Stigmus asked in a hurt tone. “But, I thought…” his voice trailed off.

I froze as I realized that Magnum was just given the true identity of the one in my journals. I looked at Stigmus, the terror in my eyes must have spoke volumes as the next thing I knew Stigmus had lunged towards Magnum.

“Marcus! No!” I uttered involuntarily.

“Oh, so you are the fool who was too blind to see Darli was so madly in love with you?” Magnum goaded Stigmus. “It is a shame you missed out on…” Magnum grinned menacingly as he easily deflected Stigmus’ frenzied blows.

“Missed out on what?” Stigmus asked through clenched teeth.

Magnum laughed. “If you were a Man, you wouldn’t need me to tell…”

Stigmus backhanded Magnum with his fist closed around his sword. “How dare you say that about Darling?”

“Quite easily. Or has she never told you about the man who made her a woman?” Magnum shoved Stigmus from him. “Go on ask her.”

As Stigmus turned to me questioningly, Magnum threw his lance at Stigmus and literally ripped out his heart. All I could do was stand there and feel as though I had betrayed the only one I had ever truly loved.

When Magnum recalled his lance, Stigmus collapsed to a heap at my feet and all the years of Rage against Magnum welled up within me. I had buried my anger at his betrayal. I had buried the pain that he leveled upon me when he tossed me aside like a half eaten mithkabob in yesterday’s refuse.

I looked down at Stigmus’ limp form at my feet and closed my eyes before swallowing hard. “Altana, guide my weapons, make their vengance true and swift!”

With that prayer I opened my eyes and lunged towards Magnum. I managed to cast a few more spells as I parried his lance. I was in the process of casting pollen when he leveled a blow that knocked me from my feet.

I reached to my chest and found it wet with my own blood. He had once again opened the wound that ran the length of my torso and abdomin. As my life gushed from me, Stiggy charged Magnum. Only moments before I lost conciousness, I heard the high pitched scream that could have only belonged to a Tarutaru female, then everything went black.

“Shae!!” I screamed.

The light hurt my eyes as I tried to open them. Closing them, I tried to make sense of my situation. I quickly opened my eyes as the vision of my beloved’s death returned… Was it real or just horrible nightmare?

Slowly crawling to the nearest wall, I was able to prop myself up into a sitting position. My body felt like it had been ran over by a herd of Galkas. Looking down, I saw the remains of my sword and shield. ‘Looks like they’ll never see another day of battle.’ I thought to myself. My eyes followed to where I was first laying, Stigmus’s Great-sword!

Reaching over I pulled the sword towards me. Every time I saw this sword I always felt that it was missing something, like it should be attach with my great sword. I tried to clear my head of such silly thoughts.

“Perhaps they are meant to be one sword…” Came voice from the shadows.

“What the!” I said as I look for the source of this voice.

“Try it, what have you got to lose,” said the cloaked figure as appeared from nowhere.

I slowly got to my feet as I drew my Great-sword with one hand and held Stigmus’s with the other. It was odd I could feel the pull of the swords, as if they were pulling towards each other then as the two swords met the began to glow brightly.

‘What power!’ I thought, as I could feel it traveling from the swords to me as if it was renewing my strength. I closed my eyes for a brief moment as the light had become to bright. It was when I opened them that I saw my Shield fully repaired on my left arm and right hand I saw I held my father’s lost sword… Excalibur!

“How did you know?” I turn to face this mysterious man, but he was gone.

‘This is turning out to be one strange day,’ I thought to my self. My travel of thought was broken with the blood curdling scream coming from the throne room. ‘Damn,’ I thought as I remember why I came here as I rushed to the chamber door, for what I saw sent chills down my spine.

I watched in horror as the Hume known as Magnum lowered his weapon forcefully down into my sister’s prone form. I watched as the Elvaan my cousin called Darling carefully pulled my sister’s limp form to the edge of the room. I didn’t like it, but it made sense enough, I guess. But then…

“My name is Darling d’Arienne de’Rieste. You are the scoundrel who killed Milady, my niece, my Empress. Prepare to Die!”

Her niece? Was Darling my aunt too? Was more of my family’s blood to be shed today?

I stood in the corner out of the way as my cousin had instructed me to do. I didn’t like it one bit, but I didn’t see as I had much choice.

I watched as this Magnum person laughed at Darling. “You, a half whitted spell-caster, think you can take me?”

Darling cast two spells and gets knocked back by the reprocussion of it.

Stigmar had collapsed finally, Shae must have done her job. I watched as Stigmus reverently lay his Great Sword next to his brother. Now we had to get to her before it was too late. I had made an oath to protect the Empress. I had made a oath to the Lord of Isendel to bring his daughter safely home, granted to a home she had never been to, but as she was his daughter it was her home.

I wouldn’t be able to do that if this Magnum person finishes her off. From what I had heard said about him, it would fit his way of doing things to attack when one stops him from getting his way. I would not let myself think of my encounter with the Army commander who had become known as Magnum, to do so might have weakened my resolve, as the last encounter had nearly been the death of me.

I ran for the door. Just a short ways a way from the door I saw something glisten in the dim light. I picked it up. It was the vile that Shae was supposed to have taken. I tucked it safely away, turned to the door and hit it with the side of my closed fist.

“Shae!!! Open up the Doors! Let us in to help you!” I shouted.

Stigmus didn’t give her a chance to get to the door and it is a good thing that he didn’t as what I saw after he burst through the door made my heart grow cold in my breast.

With one blow, Magnum ended an Era that had been without end for hundreds of generations. In one blow he severed the bond that had been my soul purpose for learning my craft well.

As Stigmus, Stiggy and Duski Rose approached Magnum, I carefully pulled Shae’s limp form to the edge of the room.

“May Altana’s Tears flow freely for you, Milady.” I whispered as I bowed for what was to be the last time in front of the person I had sworn a oath to protect with my last breath. Though I knew it was most likely futile, I poured the contents of the vile into Shae’s mouth.

I turned towards the vile creature who had spilled the life’s blood of my Empress. “My name is Darling d’Arienne de’Rieste. You are the scoundrel who killed Milady, my niece, my Empress. Prepare to Die!”

Stigmus stopped in his tracks at my declaration. “Your neice?”

I went and stood beside Stigmus. “When me avenge my blood, then I will tell you.” With that, we lunged.