Ch 22: Eternal Nemesis

Strangely intent on learning more about the name spoken by Mana's mother, Mythra grows stranger the more she hears. She flies off to destroy the artifact, and Andy reveals the truth to Mana.

            Thinking for a moment, Jubilee said, “Well I read it in a book once, and I lost the book not long after. Mom wasn’t happy, because I kinda borrowed it from her room. Loth’nex was the monster whose essence is sealed inside the artifact that is enshrined on the Mountain of Faith. Before it was sealed inside the artifact, the artifact itself already possessed its own power, and the monster used it to amplify his magic. He was destroying villages and towns in a real rampage. According to the story, Shiema was working with a human mage who made a living exterminating dangerous monsters, and together they tracked Loth’nex down and killed him. Somehow the monster’s spirit remained in this world though, so they had to seal it in the artifact. The mage suffered a very serious injury in the fight, and he died soon after.” 

Having been listening intently, Andy said, “Not to offend you or Lady Maribell, but that book is no doubt stolen from the restricted library. If what it says is true, it gives me the strong suspicion Shiema was that human’s creation. Needless to say, I’m sure it’s something the royal family must have worked hard to make sure the people did not find out about.” Noticing that Mythra had suddenly begun shaking all over, Bella looked at her in confusion and said, “Mythra?” Staring at the ground in shock as she continued to tremble, Mythra muttered, “It can’t be…” As everyone looked at her with growing concern, Gibolu said, “Could she be affected by the curse as well?” Then looking up at Jubilee, Mythra suddenly demanded, “When?!” 

Startled, Jubilee replied, “When? You mean when did the story happen?” Angrily, Mythra shouted, “What else would I mean?! When did they kill this monster?! Somewhere around 3440 years ago?!” Unsure what she was so angry about, Jubilee said, “I… I think it was about two hundred years before Shiema used the artifact to create our home. She was very young.” Quickly Mythra demanded, “And when did that happen?!” Racking his mind for information a moment, Andy said, “Our homeland, Mystic Isle, was created 3240 years ago, which on human records would be 868EH. We don’t have many records that go back that far, but it is a rather important event.” A strange smile crept onto Mythra’s face. As she broke into low, disturbing laughter, Bella scooted her chair away from her a bit and said, “Mythra needs a vacation…” Ceasing in her laughter, Mythra had a bloodthirsty look in her eyes as she exclaimed, “Where’s the artifact?! Show me to it now!”

            Standing there before everyone in the dining room with an expectant look, as no one spoke up, Mythra demanded, “Well?!” Trying to reason with her, Andy said, “Be reasonable Lady Mythra, it’s unlikely you can just destroy the artifact so easily. Shiema herself-” Enraged, Mythra shouted, “I didn’t ask your opinion Dandy!” Concerned and confused, Mana calmingly said, “Please, calm down Mythra. Why would you want to destroy the artifact?” Turning and walking out the door, Mythra said, “Forget it! I’ll go find it myself!” Rising from his chair, Andy said, “Wait milady!” As he rushed after her, the others rose from their seats and followed. By the time Andy stepped out the open front door though, Mythra was zooming off on her broom through the darkening skies. 

In confusion, Andy muttered, “Is this even about the curse to her anymore? Somehow, it’s almost as if her target is Loth’nex himself!” Overhearing this as she and the others made their way out of the house, Mana said, “The curse? Andy, don’t tell me… Is it the artifact that’s the source of Mom’s curse?!” Hanging his head with a sigh, Andy said, “Most likely…” Turning to look at them all, Andy said, “Lady Mana, Lady Jubilee, I don’t know if you can ever find it in your hearts to forgive me, but it’s about time I told you both the truth.”

            As Andy finished explaining, Mana simply stared off into space with a look of disbelief. Just as disbelieving, Jubilee said, “But that’s crazy! How could she possibly have the Wings of Shiema? That’s just a children’s story!” Shrugging his shoulders, Andy replied, “It was a prophecy from Queen Shiema herself. I do not know why it is that she was chosen, but the legend is quite specific. Most records of Shiema’s actual appearance have been lost or exaggerated, but the legend being kept under lock and key in the restricted library describes her wings as being similar to pink cherry blossom petals. Shiema was known for her ability of foresight as well as her magical prowess.” Chiming in, Gibolu said, “While she hasn’t shown any magical potential to speak of, Mana has a gift for fortune telling that I’ve always found quite fantastic. It made me wonder about her family, seeing as such gifts are often hereditary.” 

Staring off at the Mountain of Faith in the distance, Bella said, “Do prophecies have to come true? Mythra has magic. Do we need Shiema?” Staring at the mountain as well, Gibolu said, “Indeed, this might be for the best. If a powerful magic user like Mythra handles this, hopefully Mana won’t have to get involved. No doubt the blessing will be lost if the artifact is destroyed, but at this point it can’t be helped.” Hesitantly, Andy said, “It’s likely not the artifact but the monster’s essence that should be the source of the curse. I have no idea what’s going to happen if the artifact is destroyed, but if the monster’s spirit should be revived like in the story, Lady Mythra may face great danger…”

            Suddenly Mana spoke, looking straight at Andy as she said, “You’re really serious Andy? Am I really… the heir to Shiema’s power?” Nodding sagely, Andy said, “If Shiema’s prophecy is correct, the wings on your back are the undeniable proof of it.” As Mana struggled to accept it, Andy donned an apologetic look and bowed his head as he said, “Forgive me milady, I truly never wanted there to be any need for you to know. You’ve never been just an assignment to me. I was a friend of your mother’s since the beginning, and the kindness and charm you possessed enchanted me from the moment I met you.” Suddenly looking determined, Mana said, “Then, if the legend is true, I have to go and stop the curse!” 

Taken aback, Andy stared at her and said, “But, milady…!” Concerned for her sister’s safety, Jubilee said, “Mana, no! What if Loth’nex comes back?!” Insistently, Mana said, “I won’t let Mom die! If I can stop the curse, I have to go before it’s too late!” As everyone stood there in silence, Gibolu suddenly walked to stand by her side and said, “You will not go alone! Gibolu, ringmaster and magician of the glorious Gibolu’s Traveling Circus, shall accompany you!” Seemingly still trying to understand the true nature of prophecies, Bella turned to Mana and asked, “Can you really fulfill the prophecy Mana? You’ll be safe?” Mana simply replied, “I have to!” Seeing her resolve, Bella said, “Count me in.” Eagerly joining in, Mutzy said, “Me too. I’ll go too.” Clutching his head, Andy muttered, “Of all the…” 

Then as a reluctant smile slowly crept onto his face, Andy struck a dramatic pose and said, “Very well! As a knight of chivalry bound by honor to aid any fair maiden in need of assistance, I shall accompany you on this most legendary of quests!” Turning to Jubilee, Andy knelt before her and said, “Please remain here milady! Rest assured, I shall return her to you safely.” With a sigh, Jubilee smiled and said, “Some things never change…” Looking over at Mana, Jubilee continued, “It’s like when we were kids, there’s just no changing your minds when you guys get like this. We only just got you back safe and sound, so be careful, ok?” Nodding, Mana said, “I will. But… there’s a problem…” Pointing over at the gate where the Sentinels stood watch, Mana said, “The guards.” Thinking for a moment, Andy said, “Hmm, I think I have just the thing for them!”

            With a yawn, the guard leaning against the wooden fence on the right side of the gate said, “This sure is boring. When are our replacements coming? Our shift has to be up soon.” The left side guard said, “They’ll be here pretty soon, shift’s up just after sunset.” Suddenly hearing a noise, both guards looked to their left to see Mana climb over the fence, and quickly the left guard shouted, “Hey! Get back here!” Making a funny face and sticking her tongue out at the guard, Mana rushed off down the hill as both of the guards bolted after her, the right guard shouting, “Hold it, you cocky little squirt!” Catching up with her, the left guard grabbed hold of Mana’s puffy, cloud-like tail and exclaimed, “Gotcha!” Then in realization, the guard said, “Hey! Wait a minute here! You’re not…!” 

Transforming back into his favorite Dandy Andy form, Andy grinned and spun around with a powerful roundhouse kick, knocking the guard flat on his back. Watching his comrade fall, the other guard started to say, “Why you-” Suddenly Mutzy knocked him sailing forward with a flying kick from behind, and Andy leisurely stepped aside as the guard fell flat on his face on the ground where he’d been standing. Meanwhile Bella, Gibolu, and Mana all made their escape down the hill, and as the guards struggled to get up, Mutzy and Andy ran off as well. Laughing, Andy called back to them, “Let this be a lesson! Never be so presumptuous as to grab a maiden’s tail without her permission!”

            Flying over the Mountain of Faith on her broom, Mythra thought to herself, “I may have lost his name to the ages, but the sadness and fear that I suffered… The hatred that burned within my heart… I’ll never forget! Now, after almost three and a half millennia, this is my chance to settle the score! Shiema may have killed you first, but I will be the one to grind your essence into nothing!” Scanning the mountain, as she caught a glimpse of the shrine nestled in a mountain cleft, Mythra zoomed downwards towards it and cried out, “PREPARE FOR YOUR SECOND DEATH!” 

Landing before the shrine, she saw it was a small wooden building with no windows whose doors were barred shut from the outside with a sturdy wooden board that had strange burns all over it. Seeing the burns, Mythra muttered, “Likely the board was covered with an engraved spell. He’s been undoing the seals, not that it matters.” Forming her wand, Mythra took aim at the shrine doors and shouted, “You want out?! Lemme give you a hand!” Erupting from the tip of Mythra’s wand, stars of arcane magic shot out and blew the doors apart. As the dust settled, Mythra could see a white glow coming from within the shrine. As she squinted to make out what it was, a deep, growling voice called out from the shrine, “Free at last…” The very sound of the voice sent a chill through Mythra’s spine, and continuing to stare into the shrine, Mythra thought to herself, “Th-that voice! Loth’nex… I’ll never forget that voice!” Suddenly the light intensified to a blinding glare, and then the entire shrine exploded in a blast of white flames.

            Blown bouncing across the ground, Mythra landed hard on her back. Struggling up into a sitting position, as Mythra looked over at the shrine, she saw it was little more than a pile of burning wood now, and standing amidst the white flames was terrifying figure. Humanoid in form, where one would normally see skin was instead white energy that churned violently. White light shone from his eyes sockets, and on his forehead was a glowing purple jewel that actually looked solid. His hair looked as though was made of streaks of black and white smoke that wafted about in the air. His jacket had long trailing sleeves, and a scarf was wrapped around his neck. All of the clothes he wore looked no more solid than his body and glowed white as well. Seeming to gaze at Mythra with his luminescent eyes, the figure said, “I can see the fear within you.” Raising his right hand before him, dark colored magic appeared from the figure’s hand and formed into a glowing white crystal rapier. Grasping hold of its handle, the figure said, “Just like that day…” 

Getting to her feet and trying to shake off her fear, Mythra replied, “What’s the meaning of this?! You look nothing like the Loth’nex I know! He was a monster, a beast!” With low, eerie laughter, Loth’nex said, “In life I was a person, a human named Entholx. I sought power through forbidden magic, and after using countless dark spells, I had turned myself into an abomination that held no resemblance to my original self.” Raising a hand before him and staring at it, Loth’nex continued, “Now that my essence, my very soul, is bound to the stone… I am truly immortal…” Pulling out the Grimoire of the Spellweaver and flipping it open, Mythra said, “We’ll see about that!” Quickly reading a spell from the grimoire, Mythra’s Elementum Orbis formed in the air around her even though she still held her normal Anima Weapon, her wand. Raising her wand at Loth’nex, as her Elementum Orbis gathered around its tip, a powerful star made of a combination of arcane and elemental magic formed and shot forth. Loth’nex made no attempt to avoid, and reaching him the star exploded in flash of colors.

            As the aftermath of the explosion cleared, Loth’nex stood unharmed. He called out to Mythra, “I see. You use the EDE of your Anima Weapons to amplify your magical spells, and the power of the Devia Lotus to cast them merely by thought. You’ve gained great power… It seems I was right about you. We are similar you and I…” Unable to believe he’d simply taken her attack, at these words Mythra’s anger flared and she shouted, “I’m nothing like you!” Once again letting out his low, eerie laughter, Loth’nex said, “No, from the very beginning we were alike. We wanted better than what we had been given. I had been born an ordinary person with no special traits, and you had been born a half-breed who was shunned by others.” 

Flipping through the pages of her grimoire, Mythra’s violet eye glowed, and stars of arcane magic formed all around her as she growled, “Shut up…” Starting to walk towards her, Loth’nex continued, “We just needed a push. In being robbed of something we held dear, we were given a drive for revenge that allowed us to overcome our weakness. We gained unimaginable power…” The stars of arcane power gathering together at the tip of Mythra’s wand, a massive beam of arcane magic shot out at Loth’nex as Mythra shouted, “SHUT UP! ULTIMATE ARCANUM!” 

Disappearing in a blast of arcane magic, after a moment Loth’nex stepped out of the aftermath, laughing. Continuing towards Mythra, he said, “You like what you’ve become, don’t you? You take pride in your power. You flaunt it in the faces of others.” Coming to a stop standing directly in front of Mythra, as she stared at him with eyes wide, Loth’nex said, “In time, you’ll become as much a monster as I am. Then your eternity of loneliness will truly begin.” Dropping to her knees, Mythra stared at the ground as she thought, “It’s just like that day… In the end, I’m nothing but a helpless child. He’s only kept me alive for amusement. No matter how strong I become, his shadow will hang over me for eternity!” Walking around Mythra, Loth’nex said, “I look forward to seeing what power you obtain by the next time we meet. Farewell, half-breed.”

            Starting to make his way down the mountain, Loth’nex suddenly stopped as he saw Mana and the others charging up the path. Seeing Loth’nex, they paused in their advance, and Bella said, “What’s that thing?” Suddenly Mai’s voice spoke from the kitsune ball in her pocket, saying, “Hmm, interesting. A lost soul that’s somehow turned itself into a class S shade. It’s using some sort of external power to enhance its spiritual essence, allowing it to interact with the physical world at will.” Pulling out the kitsune ball, Bella said, “Class S shade?” With a sigh, Mai replied, “Basically, it’s a very dangerous ghostie. Sorry to say sunshine, but you ain’t gonna be able to beat that thing. It’s not my jurisdiction either, so I’d just let it go if I were you.” 

Suddenly seeing Mythra collapsed behind Loth’nex, Mana called out, “Oh no! Mythra are you alright?!” As Mythra slowly turned to look back at them, Loth’nex said, “Friends? That’s no good half-breed. I can’t have these fools holding you back from your destiny.” As he started to advance towards the others, Mythra’s eyes went wide in horror and she shouted, “NO! EVERYONE RUN! GET AWAY!” Forming her spear, Bella steeled herself and said, “Humph, after all that trouble? I won’t back down.” Rushing at Loth’nex, Bella charged her spear with spirit energy, and stepping back as Bella thrust her spear, Loth’nex muttered, “A spirit user?” 

Swinging his crystal rapier, Loth’nex powerfully parried her next strike, and raising his other hand he said, “Mortis.” Before she could do anything, Bella was blown sailing by a blast of dark magic. Landing sprawled on her back, Bella let go of her spear and clutched her chest as she began to writhe and gasp in agony. Mana screamed “BELLA!” Quickly she and the others rushed over to her, and while Mana knelt bedside her and tried to help, Andy wondered aloud, “What in the world has that monster done to our fair Bella?!” Looking deeply concerned, Gibolu said, “This is forbidden magic! It’s likely a curse!” With his low, eerie laughter, Loth’nex said, “It is the Death Sentence curse. Those afflicted by it will languish in pain until they eventually perish…”