Re-entering Terra Silenti

In an effort to uncover the destinations of the Trumpets of Unverdus, he travels to Terra Silenti to see if there is any correlation between them and the 7 servants, visiting an old friend and spirit!

Chapter 20 Return to Terra Silenti

Kac woke up early to smell the sweet scent of burning bacon. Not the burnt to the crisp kind of bacon, but just right. He sat in his bed, still yawning, stretching as he used one hand to pull the curtains back, revealing the rising sun, with its early red-yellow light. The sunlight was as bright as any other early sun, but it was the first time in a long time that he could enjoy the sun. He was always on the move, ever since waking up in Kinasa for treatment.

Kac walked down the stairs, and strictly to the scent of bacon. He found a large plate full of bacon strips, and plenty of eggs, cooked thoroughly as the bottom of the inn was filled with bacon. He found Galad chiseling away at the mass of food, piling it all on a plate, however he still remained suspicious. Lerien was no where to be seen, nor the drow. He still did not know her name.

Kac took a plate at the end of the buffet, and with no great surprise, kept a careful eye on Arkur, who continued to wipe down the counter. Damn it, why does he not have anything else to do. He took a seat at one table, where he could also keep an eye on Galad, where the two faced each other in silence as they ate.

“Arkur?” Kac asked, still watching Galad bite off a piece of bacon.

“Yes, my good sir what is it?” he answered.

“Why do you constantly wipe down that counter? It is not going anywhere, and if you wipe it too much you will chisel off its polish.” he replied, taking a fork, and stabbing an egg.

“I have problems.” he chuckled. “Besides, I gave my life to service. I do not work here. I live here. I enjoy what I do, and it no longer feels like work to me. If you do something long enough, and constantly, it becomes so routine that you sell your soul to it. When you sell your soul to something, you become part of it. Not the other way around as many commonly believe. As a result, I am tied to this inn, and cannot leave or I will die.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Do not ask questions that does not concern you, Elf!” Galad yelled across the room, tossing his plate, which is still full across at Kac, who flipped the table in which he sat to avoid the projectile. “That is none of your business!”

Kac set the table back up. “Leave him be, Galad. It is quite alright.” Arkur replied, opening a door he pulled out a broom and walked to the mess. He began to sweep. “Do not be hard on the lad, it is the human condition after all. Quick to anger, slow to forget. He will never forget what happened to his father, yet so many people who see the gate into the Hells never do. He will remember what Dorio did, and will forever associate elves with that very incident.” he sighed, putting the mess in a dust pan as Galad went outside. “To answer your question, my soul belongs to this inn. This inn, I built with my bare hands, and have served in this inn since then. I have not aged since I aged forty. Indeed, I am much older than I look, perhaps even older than you.”

“I am sorry.” Kac said to him, silently praying to Unverdus to free his soul from this curse.

“I am not. I do what I love, and enjoy doing it. It is not exactly heaven, but it is close.”

“How does one achieve immortality like this.”

“It was given to me, by a man in armor as I recall. I never saw his face. It was that day also when my wife and children were murdered, in this very inn. I was lost, and am still lost. Kac, I sold my soul to this inn, and in this very inn is where Unverdus is no longer. To die in this world is to submit myself to the Will of Unverdus, and that my dear friend, is something I am not willing to do, even if it was to see my wife and children one last time. No, I would not wish to exchange this for the world.”

“If you could see your wife and children one last time, a once in a lifetime, why would you not take that chance if it is for eternity?”

“Because Kac, this is the device in which I am enslaved to. It is a pleasant slavery for my part, for I get a lot out of it, and I put much into it. It is not toilsome like it used to be. This is my dark place. I am forever bound here. You see Kac, humans are slow to give into a concept of eternal life, when we think too much of gears that move the world.”

“We elves, what is left of us do not ignore the gears altogether. We understand that the concept is difficult to grasp, and even many elves fail to understand that. We do not ignore the gears that you speak of, but we understand that the gears holds everything into place.” Kac explained.

“It is a device, this inn. I love this inn, even more than my family and children. I built this with my bare hands.” Dorio, Lorana, and Yun came walking down the stairs, seeing Kac and Arkur converse with one another. “I am already a dead man, I refuse to die a second time. Farewell Kac, and do be sure that you and your friends leave this village by high noon. That is when Vircona is coming back from her early morning adventure. Farewell.”

Arkur went into the kitchen and came back with five glasses, and two large pitchers of water. He filled each cup with water, and left the inn.

“Feel free to eat what you will.” Kac said to them, as Dorio already went ahead and filled his plate. Yun, and Lorana did so reluctantly, but did so. They did not ask questions, they were too tired, for none of the two were morning people.

The spiritual devices of this world are indeed strong. They wither only with the heart, and now Kac is beginning to understand what makes the world around him move. He is well passed his first century of living, and now, only now is beginning to understand the gears of the world. These chains, the chains that bound Arkur to his living death, is far more cruel than slave driver than a whip. “I would much rather have a driver whip me, than be enslaved to the kinds of devices Arkur mentioned. At least with a whip, the source is unpleasant, but obviously there. It does not hide. With the devices of Arkur’s enslavement, it is much like a bond that cannot be broken.” he said to himself, it was much softer than a whisper, it was merely a breath that did not travel through the air and into the ears of his kin.

Galad looked into the courtyard. He was standing right where he fell to the ground helpless. He then moved, stepping to the area where Kridruk was overwhelmed by a series of orcs that came through the village that day that changed his perspective on everything. He glanced over to where the gate of the Abyss of Chaos had appeared that day, the earth was still marred with black soot, blacker than the soul of the undead that he knew walked this earth in greater number now.

“Dorio, Dorio, Dorio the Paladin!” He mocked the name. “Paladin, sure if paladin’s are created to kill the defenseless, spreading lies, full of deceit. That is what you are Dorio, the Paladin of Deceit! I have that one task, that will put me even greater than Kac Xaizan, and when that task is complete, I will murder you! I will make you wish you were never born, that your parents never conceived ye. You will die by my hand for what you did. I will not forget, nor will I ever forgive you. I will take my hate and my wrath to my grave, and with that godlike rage, I will ravish the world you love, and turn it into a world you cannot stand to bear. This new world, will work on itself to get rid of you. This world does not need the elves, or their god. unverdus, if you really are real, if there is a creator in the clouds in the sky many call ‘Heaven’ then I will strike ye down off yer golden throne, and knock that crown of yer golden head. Yer purity has no place in the world, where men will dominate! I will plant the seeds in the world, and none will want you. I will not rest, until ye die!”

Kac, Lorana, Yun, and Dorio traveled the road, first slowly, then picked up the pace as soon as their stomachs were settled. They traveled most of the day, and it was not until the sun started to set over the horizon that they got off of the road. They cut through the trees to the north where Kac remembered Terra Silenti.

He lead them through the path of massacred goblins, who at the time seemed like they did no one any harm. It was so long ago that they were slaughtered that bugs infested the holes in their heads, and the skin started to decompose.

“So what exactly will we be looking for?” Dorio asked as he took his first step in the soggy moss that lead over the hill, which leads into the basin of long forgotten until recently Terra Silenti. Yun remained silent to his remark.

“Specifically I cannot say, for I really do not know.” Kac replied, pulling out the sword of Fakino, and the glew in the dark as the fog started coming in. “In regards to the Covenant with Unverdus that we must keep, I am charged with the tasks of finding ancient trumpets, and blowing on them. I have found one, and the ground shook. I have no real reason to believe that one of the trumpets are here, but if the trumpets and the Seven Servants of Decrepantaur are somehow connected, then most of the work is already done, and I will not need to spend valuable time searching for where they may be located, but searching in the specific place in which they may be. It is not the most ideal approach, nor is it an ideal covenant given the circumstances gone south.”

“I see.” Dorio said. “What makes you think that the trumpets and servants are related?”

“Mainly the number, seven.” He answered.

“Where do you suppose we start?” Yun asked.

“I remember a trap door, leading below. I also remember two hallways that have yet to be explored.” Kac answered. We will not have Kridruk this time, so navigating will be a little difficult. I know I cannot read orc, can you?”

None answered, as they climbed to the top of the hill. Lorana remained stunned as she observed the caved in rocks, and though the city was in effect, taken back by nature, with vines and mold climbing their way to cover the city, it was finally complete. For the few months that it had remained undisturbed, not a single brick was actually visible from the outside. It was all green moss and mold and vines.

“So this is the long forgotten city.” Lorana said. “Surely there are lots of unread books there, waiting to be opened. Unopened secrets, waiting to be uncovered. Let us not linger much longer, I am jittery with excitement!”

“Do be warned.” Kac began, turning his eye to her. “Some secrets are best left alone, and there are creatures here that are far more dangerous than any orc. A stab with a sword can hurt, but it will not always kill you. If one of these creatures so much as touch you, you are as good as dead. Do not let a finger touch you that does not belong to either of us. When we go into those depths Lorana, it is imperative that you stay on your toes, and everyone.”

“Is it time? Can I go to you Unverdus? I have ever served you in your time of need. I have helped Kac, Golradir, all in their time of need. Am I free to return to your loving arms? I feel my soul disappearing into the void. What does this mean. It does not hurt, but it is alien to me. What is happening to my Soul? Will you be there as I run cold, as cold as the blood that runs through the veins of the dead?”

“No.”

“But why? Unverdus, I can see that gate. That gate is gold, but iron underneath. I see you sitting on that throne. Tell me Unverdus, why can I not enter through the gates of Heaven? You will not even let me near the judgment seat! Why? Will you not judge me as I deserve to be judged? The punishment of all sin is death, as all humans are meant to die, so are not all elves, yet some in particular have defied death itself time and time again, as they grew old. Too old are they to live in this world anymore.”

“I sit on my throne and how I conduct my world is of my own concern. None breath without my aid, all help comes through me, if even it only seems through worldly means.”

“Why? Will you get off your throne and judge me then? Will you finally accept my spirit and send it to Heaven or to the Nine Hells?”

“My judgement is final. You were once a spirit of me, who served me. You have once done everything that I have asked. Then you fell into darkness. You abandoned me, and through Kac I have freed you. Freed you only after giving you free will to reign terror from Terra Silenti. I am disappointed in you.”

“However, she has also proven to be of great help. Truth be told if it was not for her, Unverdus if I may kindly interject, Golradir would have given up in despair, which lead to a possible salvation of Gorgonus, nor would Kac ever have found that trumpet or been able to free himself from the pools from underneath Sterilus.”

“This much is also true.”

“Unverdus. Do you summon me to the Abyss of Chaos?”

“No.”

“Then do you summon me through the gates of Heaven?”

“No.”

“Why? I have done everything you have asked, and now you refuse to allow me entry into either destination?”

“Go back! You have work to do. Go Back!”

She opens her eyes, squinting at first to find herself standing in a pool of coagulated blood, and dust. One door to her left, one door to her right which was smashed open. Both doors were made of stones on magically coated iron hinges. The smashed rock littered the floor both in and outside of the room. The room was still dark, the only light coming from fainting candles from the other room, or hallway outside, through the smashed door. She looked down at her hands.

“These hands, these hands...are they mine?” she looked down, with a blurry vision as a green cloak substantiated from the grey stone. It floated in the air, and held a cross emblem as a button. She grabbed it, and clothed herself, and looked to the light that finally snuffed itself out.

“Well this certainly looks familiar.” Kac said, looking at the skeleton on the ground. “Though if I remember correctly, it was sitting on the throne, not laying in pieces.”

“It came to life, Jorre, Glenroy and I killed it. It was a nasty one.” Yun replied. “It was down that hallway I went.”

She pointed to the hallway that lead into the study. Kac remembered it well, it was the through there that he first entered Terra Silenti.

“Where is the library?” Lorana asked, as if distracted and unconcerned for the quest at hand.

“Once we find what we are looking for, or come to the conclusion that what we are looking for does not exist here, then we will find that library.” Kac said as he darted for the hallway. “Until then, no books for you!”

“Very well.” Lorana said following him into the hallway.

They came to that study, the desk, which was closed and locked. The cages where the mysterious creatures were were open and empty. The cages above still swung, creaking with each and every swing. It was disturbing as it scratched the insides of their ears.

“What belongs in those cages? More importantly, why would there be some sort of prison here, in a study?” Lorana asked, walking over to the desk to open up a drawer.

“Evil things.” Yun answered, recalling the day she saw Glenroy’s face almost unrecognizable. One simple touch of these creatures, and one could be fell with seizures. She never had the misfortunate to ever get that close, but with a creature like that was roaming freely, it could upset their plans. “Humans that are no longer human. Do not let them touch you.”

“Were they playing with dark magics?” Lorana asked, pulling out a parchment from the desk.

“Most likely. The curse of black magic is also agelessness. Humans are not meant to live forever.” Kac replied, looking to the ground that descended deeper into the ancient ruins.

“What have you found here?” Dorio asked Lorana.

“Hold on Dorio.” She said, waving her hand to get him away from her. She read the parchment:

Is this the final hour? Decrepantaur? You have grown silent down there. Is it the creatures? Or is it all of the blood underneath that is spilled? Are things too evil for even you to bear? Tell me, Decrepantaur. Why have you not answered my calls. My Sanity is wavering, and Fakino has grown strong with her resolve. She desires more so now than ever to be free, and Kac has escaped my grasp, but that was your will was it not? I have went to your room and spoken in your ear, and you do not answer. Will you answer now that I have resorted to writing everything down?

If you still want an account, I will give it to you. On the road, shortly after Kac, I met with an old enemy, in her room in Felldur. The people think she was crazy for there was no evidence that I was even there. The goblin encampment camped far too close for my liking, so I slaughtered them all, many of which in their sleep before they woke up screaming.

I have visited Malitu a second time now, and the Ranger’s Guild has been involved somehow. Perhaps Kac made it into the homeland Kinasa from whence he originated. He will be compelled to come back, to finish what I started, if I were to kill him, I will kill him. If he kills me, he frees Fakino, the human friend of Unverdus, and she will disrupt your plans, in more ways than one.

I await Kac, and his companions here, but then there is one thing I neglected to mention. Apparently, the men and women of Terra Silenti were not a holy people. I found an altar, below. It is near your room, where pools of blood remain. It is unclean, and behind it a door. Upon it, is a stand, where something used to be hung. I do not know what it is, but it is gone now. I do not know why or where it went, but if you can read my message before it is too late, something is here, it frightens me, for I do not know what it is. At the base of that altar, there is a trap door, I have opened it, but it is too hot even for me to enter.

This is my final testament to you, Decrepantaur before Kac comes within my grasps, or in Irenue’s. He is here with me, but he does not know about this altar. He does not know, like now, I have neglected to mention it to him, and I hope it is not too late.

Sincerely yours

Fakino

“I found something.” Lorana said as Kac and Yun started to descend upon the trail below. They both turned back, and Dorio watched the two come back up.

“What have you found?” Kac said in elation. Maybe something is here, something that will give him a clue.

“A journal entry.” Lorana said, handing him the parchment that he began to anxiously read. Yun put her hand on his back, watching the walls carefully. “It speaks of an altar, not far from Decrepantaur’s room. It does not say where it is, but it does point us in a direction. The altar has a trap door, and above it something is missing. Perhaps it is the trumpet, or one of the trumpets that of which we seek.”

“Where does it point us?” Yun asked, as Dorio went to the door.

“Beneath.” she pointed to the ground.

“I remember seeing a trap door, that went underneath, below. There were creatures below, I am unsure if they are still there or not.” Kac said. “But the ladder is broken. There has to be another way down into those depths. Be warned, I expect lots of blood.”

“What do you mean?” Dorio asked.

He recalled blood altar, with orc writing on it. The more blood they shed, the more that is used for that demonic ritual. “This is going to be a sight where there is going to be a demonic ritual. I do not really know what_”

“The return of Decrepantaur.” Lorana replied. “It requires so much blood, and a great sacrifice, using the Stone of Immortality. They will be able to do it. No doubt about it.”

“We had best hurry then.” Dorio said, jerking his head in the direction of the hallway which lit itself with emerald colored torches.

Kac followed him down the stairs, leading deeper into the ancient ruins. They were running to the bottom, and then to the ground which glowed green like the sea. Soil pillars extended high above their heads, and within those pillars were several tombs which were empty. No remains were left, for the creatures that lived there were all dead on this level.

Dorio was the first one to come to the door, and he patiently waited for the rest of his companions to get to it before he opened. “Dorio, it is fine. Just open the door, we will be there shortly.” Yun called to him.

Kac saw him opened the door just a little, to peek inside. It was dark to him, until the door opened even wider on its own. Kac watched as an arm, grabbed hold of Dorio from inside and pulled him in, the door slamming shut behind him as Dorio’s yelling went silent.

“OPEN THE DOOR!” Kac yelled, hurrying his pace. Yun was right behind him, with her sword, and his which both glew in the dark. The door opened, and they found Dorio sitting in the corner, unconscious, and to the left of where they entered, they saw his shield. It hit Yun in the face, knocking her into Kac and they both hit the wall.

Kac got up from Yun’s body, which was knocked clean out. His sword dimly lit up the room, and he could see the humanoid figure, but he couldn’t quite make out who or what it was. The shield, he could still plainly see, as it came for him.

“What are you doing here?” Said the voice to him. “What brings you to such a dismal place?”

“I am searching for something.” He said calmly as a light lit up the room. Lorana made it in, and he could see plainly who it was, Fakino. His hands trembled, he dropped the sword and it stuck in the ground. “You should be dead.”

“Dead is such a relative term.” She answered, dropping the shield, she walked over, and grabbed the hilt of her sword. “Oh, My dear it has been ever long since I myself rested my materialistic hands upon thee. How I have missed you.”

“Are you...mortal?” Kac asked her. “Why are you not in Heaven where you should be? Fakino?”

“I am where I need to be, as some memories are still soaring through this vessel.” She looked at him seriously. “Now, why are you here? Why have you come back to Terra Silenti?”

“The time of the covenant has come. I am looking for seven ancient trumpets, and I must play each of them. Each one, I must play to appease Unverdus. He has chosen me to take on this task, and it must be completed. There is a theory, that these seven trumpets and the seven servants of Decrepantaur are related in some way. It is only a theory, and it might not be a correct one.”

“So you are using the number to associate the two.” Fakino smiled, and laughed. “Well that is a far out theory.” Dorio and Yun woke up from being hit, and would have attacked had they not notice that Kac and her peacefully speaking with one another. “Well, here we all are, there are five of us now. Where to, captain?”

“You probably know the ways best. How do we get below this level?” he asked her, helping Dorio to his feet, and Lorana helped Yun to hers.

“How should I know?” she asked him in confusion.

“You have been here before? You have seen the halls, and most likely traveled the ways underneath this ground for quite some time.” he said, going to the door, and peering out into the darkness. There was no light on the side of the knocked down door, the door he remembered coming face to face with Irenue, who was about to execute him that day. He remembered very specifically the dark blade, the dark armor, and the much smaller man was able to easily overpower the kuai, Kridruk.

Fakino laughed, pulling down her hood to reveal auburn hair, with some streaks of yellow gold, like the color of some leaves of the fall season. “You see, Kac Xaizan, I have never actually been to Terra Silenti. I have never had a reason as a human to go to Terra Silenti, so I myself have no reason adventure these ruins...until now. I am all for helping the cause of the covenant, and what better help can you ask for, than someone who could best not just one, but two of the servants in their time. The person of whom you were probably referring to, is the demon that was in me that had been here before. The demon knows, I however do not.”

Kac turned around and made a face at her. Not just any face, his facial expression was twisted in every which way. Yun laughed at him because until today, she had no idea that mortal face could make such a facial arrangement. The light from Lorana’s spell faded. “Huh?”

“The only ones who have been here before me is you,” she pointed her sword to Yun, and it still sent flutters down her spine. “And you. You are the only two here who have been here ‘fore I today. I can be little use to you for guidance young ones.” She stared up to the ceiling and laughed. “Oh I never thought there would be a day when a human would be able to call an elf a youngling.”

“Well Fakino, I never thought you to be one with a sense of humor after all of these years. What is it Four thousand years now?” Kac asked her.

She still continued to laugh. “Indeed it is.” She chuckled as she lead them out the door.

“Be careful Fakino, I know not what dwells in these halls.” Kac replied as Dorio and Lorana whispered to one another. “They are dangerous.”

“I would not worry about it.” She answered, disappearing into the darkness, with what little light her sword could veil her in. “Follow me, behind me.”

Kac and Yun ran right behind her. Dorio and Lorana hesitated, then shrugged before they were to follow them into the darkness. Fakino ran very far ahead of them, so far it was not long before the light disappeared in front of them.

“Fakino not so fast!” Kac yelled before it was too late. How could a human moved that fast with little fear of injury.

“How is that possible?” Dorio grunted as he sped up.

“Well she is dead, has been for thousands of years and perhaps this new found life of hers has allowed her strength and vitality to continue passed the norms.” Lorana explained. “Of course, no one has been in nothingness for that long I do not think.”

“My soul was trapped in that cursed plane.” said a voice, they turned, and did not find the light of her sword, not the emerald light that illumined the halls. “It was not in nothingness, just in a place I would rather it not return.” A ring was heard in the air, as Fakino sheathed her took her sword out again, illuming the halls, and revealing the broken trap door. “Is this the trap door you were referring to?”

“Yes, but the ladder is broken when...Kridruk knocked it in.” Kac explained.

“Well I could always push you in.” Fakino said, as Yun jumped towards her.

“And how will I get back up as soon as I hit the ground and break something important?”

“I will tie a rope to ya!” she said and glanced to Yun. “Did you take care to pack a rope?”

“No!” Yun replied. “We are rangers not adventurers!”

“What is a ranger but an adventurer with skills?” Fakino said. “Well in most of my endeavors I have discovered that there is always more than one way into a place, even if it is as forbidden as the Abyss of Chaos. There is always one way in, and usually more than one way out. Do you recall any other passages that were left undisturbed when last you came?”

“Over there.” Kac pointed towards another passageway, which was barely visible. “It is so dark. Lorana can you do something please?”

Her staff sent light throughout the halls, and on the other side of the corridor which Kac pointed, there was a wooden door, with a sign above it. The companions approached the door and Fakino read, “The door ahead lies forth the future of the World.”

“Well, there be no turning back now.” She smiled as she reached for the door. “Decrepantaur, here I am, upsetting your plans. I will do this, and you will remember me till the day I did. I will be the undoing of all your plans, and you will regret not killing me that day.”

She opened the door, and the light swarmed in streams into the other room. They opened the door, it slowly swung to the other side like it was magnetized to the opposite wall. There was a long staircase descending downward, and they were steep stairs. Not stairs you would expect in a house, not one built correctly of course.

They continued down the now lit staircase as it curved, and swerved further down. There was no door or opening.

“Such an odd staircase. A staircase that seemingly has no structure, no step is evenly spaced with each other, or the distance from one to the next the same. fter a few hundred steps there was still no pattern. Why would this be the case?” Yun asked.

“Worshipers of Decrepantaur have no need for structure, so as long as it fits. They have no need for structure, and in a way it acts as a contract.” Dorio answered.

“In what way?” Yun asked.

“If the building holds, then their rushed and impatient efforts are not in vain. If they work quickly, no matter how many corners on the square they cut, then Decrepantaur will bless them. This false thought keeps them from really knowing who Unverdus is, besides the enemy.” he answered.

“How ironic is it not, that Decrepantaur would use Fakino to destroy it.” Kac chuckled. “

“The force keeping these stairs the way they were, are not of Decrepantaur’s doing but of Unverdus. He blessed them, of course there was lying on Decrepantaur’s part, that creature knows how to manipulate Kings!” Fakino replied. “Unverdus used Decrepantaur, to use me, to kill everyone in this city for their transgressions. This was Unverdus’ doing, not Decrepantaur.”

“Then there is no forgiveness then?” Lorana asked her. “Does Unverdus forgive us?”

She was silent as she took a few more steps. “What many do not understand, is that some of the most profound enemies of Unverdus, once loved him, and served him dearly. They once trusted him, but for many, as soon as times grew hard they abandoned all hope, and looked elsewhere. Some went into their own devices, and others put their hope in something else. History will never tell of it, but Terra Silenti used to be a God-fearing city, one that governed itself well.” she started her answer. “Then there was a plague, which acted really as no more than a test for the people of Terra Silenti, but that test through them off. Truly, I would rather be the ones taken in death by the plague than with the rest of these folk.

“This plague killed many livestock, and crops, which made it very difficult to sustain itself. So, one king, who probably still sits on the throne above us. He made a pact, and unbreakable one, and livestock started coming in from the forests, inside the cages, and inside the fences they walked. The crops grew, and the sick that did not die yet were healed. It would be then that they abandoned hope, since Decrepantaur showed up when Unverdus tested them. They should have known better, but I am sure that those suffering in the Abyss of Chaos, and resenting Decrepantaur, but it is too late.

“Many asked, ‘Why was I never given a second chance’ ‘Why now’? Truth be said that every waking moment is a second chance. Let this be a lesson to even you, if you must ask if there is forgiveness, you have work to be done, just as I have work that needs to be done. Do not take any moment you live for granted, for it will come to haunt you.”

Lorana let out a sigh in relief, allowing this woman, who in physical age was much younger than she was, but her soul was far older, and still more pure. “Thank you, Fakino.”

“Any day elf, any day.” She said as she came to the door. “Ah, finally an end to all of this.”

“I have one question.” Kac said. “If the city was already there, what did they build in great haste for Decrepantaur?”

“The very place in which we are going. It was hollowed out so much that the castle, being where it is, is very dangerous to the structure. I am surprised to this day that the castle still stands and was not buried in this crevice.” Fakino answered, reaching for the door. She opened it, allowing the streams of light to illumine the caverns.

Fakino waved her hand, as if in memory and torches lit up the entire room. It was still necessary to have the light from Lorana’s staff. There was pine green smoke that rose up to their knees. It was as cold as the chilling hearts of the dead.

“Fakino… what is this?” Yun asked as she shivered.

“Madam, I do not know. Onward!” she cried as she walked through smoke.

Kac looked at the ceiling, it shimmered with the shades or rocks and minerals of the soil. Above, he also observed what looked to be several watch towers in the making. There were torches on every one of them. Fragrance of moist air filled his nostrils as well as the unpleasant decay of human flesh down here. There was a lot, he could tell, there were several bodies down here. The ground was soft, he could hear his boots squishing in it, in the mud as it became rather difficult to pull out with each and every step.

“So how much longer to Decrepantaur’s room?” Kac asked Lorana.

“I am sick and tired of answering these questions.” Fakino asked in irritation, she looked back at him, her hair swaying to one side. “The sooner you forget I was here at any rate, the sooner we can all dispense of all foolish questions.”

“I was asking Lorana. She read the note left by your demon.” Kac answered.

“I do not know Kac, all it said was below.” the wizard answered.

They continued on through the frigid smoke, and wet ground when they found a door, with red light coming out from its cracks. “Could this be the room?” Kac asked as he put his hand on the door. It was not cold, this door was actually hot. He looked down at the ground and beheld teal colored smoke rising to him.

“Possibly.” Lorana answered.

Kac felt the door, feeling for anything suspicious, such as a trap, or anything else that might harm him upon opening this door of rock. Fakino put her hand upon his. “Remember Kac, upon opening this door, you are entering a world of terror.”

Kac was silent. “I live in a world of terror now.” He pushed the door open, and a wave of blood came rushing towards them. Kac grabbed the edge of the doorway, and he immediately felt four pairs of hands grab hold of him. They grabbed his armor, his cloths, and one set of hands embraced him, as if to hug him from behind.

The blood subsided, and they were standing in a pool of it. It reached to their knees, and they continued walking to see a red orb on its pedestal. “And so we finally meet.” Said a voice with sinister laughter as it echoed through the ruins of the hall.

“And you are?” Kac asked. “Surely something in this room is here with a sinister heart.”

“Ah, but some of the most sinister minds also came from those with the most pure hearts.” the voice replied to him. “You can confirm that can you not, Fakino.”

Fakino drew her sword and pointed it at the orb. “So is this your form? You immortal demon!”

“Well do not be like that Fakino. We have been through so much together!” his laughter was sent through the halls. There was no need to name this entity. They knew who it was. “I have come back into the world, and though my physical form still needs some work before I can fully return, I will enjoy puppeteering all of you to your demise! I will have my revenge, I will smash down those gates, I will rip apart every piece of creation that He ever meant to exist! The oceans and seas will be stained with your blood, and the air will be polluted with the burning ashes of your kind. An elf that lives on my return, I will burn. Any man, dwarf, halfling, or orc that worships Unverdus will be burned, or eaten alive at my banquet.”

“I will make sure that does not happen.” Kac said to him. “I am Kac, Captain of the Protector’s of the Forest!”

The Protector’s of the forest was the formal name of the Ranger’s Guild. It was lengthier, so it was never really used. “What forest! I burned it, and turned it to iron! I will burn down every tree, and remake an iron one. I will destroy the foundations that Unverdus created. After what he has done to me, I will do unto him not just seven fold, but seven times seventy-seven!”

“ARGH!” Fakino yelled.

She struck the orb, and a black shadow came up from its remains. It hovered menacingly over Fakino, as she looked at it in awe, not that it was so amazing, but she saw something in the shadow, that she never thought possible. He had wings.

It whispered, into her ears, but loud enough for everyone to hear. Let those with ears let them hear these words, “I am the very thing you hate, and I was very close to the thing you loved most! I am just in my feelings, I am just in my resolve. I am justice!”

The dark shadow passed into the next room, and left them alone.

“What did you see Fakino?” Kac asked, going over to her. “What did you see?”

She looked to him, dropping her sword. “My worse fear has finally been realized. He is not mortal, no weapon on this earth can kill him.”

“Can we not go into the Abyss, find him, and destroy his soul?” Kac said to her.

“No, if that was even possible, he would just manifest into the Inescapable Prison again, where he would undoubtedly escape again. That prison cannot contain him. Nothing can.” she answered. “Only the covenant will stop his return, or bring everything back into the order from which creation was meant to be.”

“Kac,” Lorana said, placing her hand on his shoulder. “We have yet to find what we are looking for. The connection, if there is one. That note confirms something, if it is not related to the covenant, it is related to something important. Something important to the creation of the next world.”

“Yes.” He sighed, turning to Dorio and Yun. Their faces went blank, not with horror, but jaded hopelessness. “Let us go.”

They left the room, and the way grew easier to walk. The blood was absorbed into the earthly ground, creating a solid red glass coating over it. Likewise, the smoke also receded into the depths. It went through the mazes of watch towers, and they followed it, since there was no other way to go, unless they turned back.

They followed it, finding many pews, not of wood, but of bone. The bones that created the pews were polished, and finely cut, to create a demonic sanctuary meant for the worship of Decrepantaur. On They saw many people, dead, with slices through their chests, and finely dusty clothes.

The five walked right down the middle, looking to the left, and then to the right. The lights of candles were snuffed out, and they beheld on that altar, a face. It was no one they recognized, but it had a hood, and behind him were feathered wings, wings like that of an angel.

“So this is how Decrepantaur was seen to these people,” Dorio commented. “An Angel. A very deceptive creature.”

“No one could deceive anyone better than he. He knows how to pull your strings.” Fakino replied as Kac, and Lorana lead the rest behind the altar, to see the door. The door was nothing. It lead into the soil. There was never such a more pointless door. They looked above it, and there appeared to be two goat horns, arranged in such a way that something would have been hung there, and the area that was faded behind it confirmed it. A horn used to be hung there, but where did it go?

Kac looked below, and there was an ancient form of elvish written on the trap door, where the note left by the once possessed Fakino left. “Fakino, can you read this?”

She walked over, glancing at it with what little light the staff could provide. “Ah, well this endeavor was not entirely pointless.”

“What?” Yun asked, charging over here. “What do you mean?!”

“Well the horn was here, and someone saw fit to come here, and write a note. It says, ‘This task belongs to you and you alone. This is the final horn that must be blown. I have seen the atrocities that will, and must come to happen. It is the last horn that must be blown or there will be no covenant with Unverdus. If you are reading this ancient dialect, then I trust you have learned enough of the old ways, and of yourself, my son.’”

“Kora?” Kac said, referring to his adoption.

“Highly unlikely, but it is addressed to you.” Fakino said to him. “Be warned, and careful. More mysteries have been revealed than has been unraveled today.”

“Well Kac, it would appear that the connection with the seven Servants, and the seven trumpets has indeed been confirmed. They are in the ancient ruins.” Lorana said, and looked over to Fakino. “Now, after we found the connection, now we need to locate the ruins. However, that seems to be highly unnecessary.”

“Let us go.” Kac said. “We can discuss this when we leave this wretched place. I do not desire to be here any longer.”

“How ironic it is, considering you will have to come back here eventually.” Fakino chuckled as they began to leave the offer. Kac left the thought in the back of his mind, out of sight, out of mind, at least until he passes over the basin again.

Secrets, secrets, and even more secrets. Who could be calling me son? My mother and father are long gone. My mother I am sure is dead, but my father who went insane? Did he go out of his way to disrupt the balance? Father, where have you been? He thought to himself as they silently crept their way back to the top of the ruins of Terra Silenti.

They came to the throne room, which Fakino seemed to have ignored the mess left by Yun, Jorre, and Glenroy half a year before. They came down the stairs and there was a Kuai, whom Fakino reacted with great haste to attack.

“NO!” Kac yelled. He tackled her to the ground. “He is a friend.” he panted, sweating over the fact that he almost saw Kridruk die. No mark was made of course, but Fakino could easily kill him. “Kridruk! What are you doing here?”

“We have been zummoned back into the war.” he replied. “A rider, a man waz zent for uz. He knew where we were. Yara iz moving the rangerz to Kenderhell to aid the fight. There iz war there. We are to meet them in Kenderhell.”

“You know, if I remember correctly, that is not far from Topuka, Glutua’s stronghold.” Fakino said to Kac as he got off of him. “How convenient.”

“Very fortuitous indeed.” Dorio claimed. “A chance to help the kingdom of men, and to get one of the trumpets out of the way. Truly Unverdus is with us this night.”

“Do not be fooled, it could also be Decrepantaur’s way of deceiving us into thinking that.” Fakino said. “All of you, be careful not to take things as signs of Unverdus, but be be sure to dissect all information so that you can prove what is good, righteous, and perfect. Some times Decrepantaur will show us a light which will ultimately set his way of things forward with motion. Not the other way around for Unverdus. If it is his light he is showing us, we will actually be serving Decrepantaur unwillingly, and unknowingly. These things we must set apart, for reality is often times stranger than fiction. Such things Decrepantaur will surely use against us.”

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[Armanis]

Mental note(220) pages. Sorry again for the length.