MEMORIES OF AN OVERLORD
by Victar (vctr113062 [at] aol [dot] com)
Victar's Archive: https://www.vicfanfic.com
"'Survivor guilt'? Yeah, I've heard of that before. What if I'm guilty of more than just surviving?
"I'm not a mental health professional, I know that. Maybe I couldn't have helped them, but I didn't even try. I never suggested that they talk to someone who could help them. I never said or did anything.
"I never told anyone about how depressed she was, or how pressured he felt. Not her brother, not his parents, not my parents, not any teachers, none of my other friends, no one.
"I never told anyone what I knew."
Chapter Nineteen
Memories of a Musician: Recitative
When Kreisia's most unlikely Savior collected the Holy Brand's second pommel stone from within a mysterious shrine, he remarked, "This feels a little too easy."
*Give that to me, Savior.* The shining, deep blue sapphire levitated out of Yusis' hand, flew to the hovering Holy Brand Aldea, and fit neatly into a socket in its hilt. Golden radiance flashed up and down the weapon.
Yusis rambled, "I kind of wonder why the Overlord hasn't flooded this whole place with miasma, or something. Didn't the Lesser Seal that used to be here tell him where your pommel stone is?"
*These shrines are protected from the sight, magic, and machinations of both life and undeath. The Lesser Seal that used to be imprisoned here was unable to recollect anything about this location after departing, not even the general region. Neither the living nor the undead can find my shrines without guidance, and if the Overlord were to learn of a shrine's location, flooding the surrounding area with miasma would require far more dark magic than he could unleash at once.*
"That's awfully convenient, not that I'm complaining. I'm definitely not complaining - wait, Aldea, don't turn back into light yet."
*What is it now, Savior.*
Yusis' eyes darted to Laminah. She nodded once. He looked back to the hovering sword and asked, "I have enough resistance to wield you now, right? Are you absolutely sure I can't channel your power to teleport? The sooner we reach your third shrine, the better."
*As I informed you before, I need all three pommel stones to teleport, or to function as a weapon. After I obtain my third pommel stone, you may teleport a maximum of four living people, including yourself. Sparingly. Your 'holy resistance' has reached a minimally serviceable level; I will continue to raise it over time.*
"Yeah, okay."
*I would prefer that you not draw upon my power in any capacity until I have my third pommel stone. When I am fully restored, mitigating any collateral damage to your corrupt body and mind will be easier. I wonder if you comprehend how greatly I strained to avoid destroying you, the last time.*
Cynthia worriedly trilled, "Does Yusis have to wield you when you teleport us? Can't you do it on your own?"
*Teleporting living beings without a wielder is so debilitating that I would do so only as a last resort. Calm your trepidation, priestess. I will warn the Savior if he seeks to draw upon more holy power than is safe. He might even listen to my warning.*
"Sure," Yusis muttered. "The too-long-didn't-read version is, no cheap and easy teleports yet."
Cynthia reasoned, "We were ambushed the last time we walked out of a shrine. Are you worried that it might happen again?"
"Indeed," Laminah contemplated, coolly regarding Anemos. "How did that Ascendance Disciple and his monsters ambush us, when neither the living nor the undead can locate these shrines without guidance? Who do you believe could have guided them?"
Anemos simply shrugged.
Then, a wry half-smile touched the bard's face. He slipped a rainbow-colored bead out of his vest in a graceful motion, tossed the glimmering marble from one hand to another, balanced it on his fingertip, and flicked it to Yusis.
The off-worlder's eyebrows darted up. He moved to catch the vibrant sphere in a hasty, misaligned grab. It bounced off his wrist and tumbled to the floor.
"If only I had more than two hours a day to train you," Laminah sighed, shaking her head at Kreisia's most unlikely Savior.
"Yusis, I can't believe you dropped that!" Cynthia exclaimed, scampering after the bead before it could roll out of sight. "It's worth as much as a really nice house in the Royal Capital!"
"Shall we have the Holy Brand choose where the teleportation bead takes us?" Anemos smoothly suggested.
Lights flickered up and down the length of the hovering sword.
Laminah glared at the bard. "Is there another ambush waiting for us outside?"
"How should I know?" he deflected.
"Why else would you volunteer that bead? How many extremely expensive magical items are you carrying?"
Anemos' smile became broader. He adjusted his vest with both hands and leaned closer to Laminah. "My offer remains open. You are always quite welcome to-"
"I will not search you!"
"Okay, I guess we're all teleporting?" Yusis rapidly interjected, collecting the bead from Cynthia. "Everyone ready? Aldea, do you have a place in mind? Uh, this is used the same way as other beads, right? I just squish it between my fingers? It doesn't matter that I can't cast any magic?"
Aldea's flickering lights momentarily froze in a checkered pattern.
Dry, disapproving communication resonated in everyone's thoughts. *I have selected a destination. Crush the bead, Savior. All of you, try not to behave like mind-addled buffoons for thirty seconds.*
The Holy Brand Aldea did not bring them directly to the shrine holding its third pommel stone, but rather to a trading outpost and inn that frequently did business with monster hunters. Aldea informed the group that the third shrine was nearby, and strongly advised that they rest and prepare for the remainder of the day.
Yusis and his companions spent the afternoon engaged in fairly routine activities. They shared a meal of the inn's specialty, piping hot vegetable fondue. They replenished their magical and mundane travel supplies. Yusis and Cynthia delivered an exquisitely crafted sword to the outpost's shopkeeper, as per their agreement with Laminah's uncle. Cynthia conjured a flashing, magical sword that was completely blunt, and gave it to Yusis for his evening session of warrior training.
The priestess reasoned, "You probably don't want to buy a new sword, since you'll be wielding Aldea tomorrow. I'll make a sword with a sharp edge for you when we set out in the morning, okay?"
"I thought your magic stuff couldn't last for very long?" Yusis asked.
"I've gotten a lot better at shaping fire magic into weapons during our journey. I can create a sword that will remain for several hours, or until I dismiss it."
Laminah's warrior training left Yusis barely able to move, as usual. Afterward, Laminah wrote a report of her recent travels with the Savior, and instructed a locally stationed Royal Guard to send it to her king.
Cynthia playfully shaped holy magic into sculptures, as a self-directed effort to hone her skill as a priestess. She created temporary statues that resembled her traveling companions, her adoptive parents, and King Cedric Welkin. Yusis was astounded by how lifelike they all looked.
"That's because they're copied out of my memories," she explained, with a happy smile. One by one, the statues dissolved into beautiful white sparks.
Anemos chose to stay up late. The night had deepened to immersive shadows when he stepped outside the inn where the others slept. This time, he did not play any music.
The last thing I want is to unintentionally summon the Savior, he grimly thought to himself. What I want is...
The bard closed his eyes, and gathered his resolve.
I want to have no regrets, as I continue this path. If that is not possible, then let the path end here.
The bard directed his thoughts, as strongly as he could.
Holy Brand Aldea. I must communicate with you.
Holy Brand Aldea. You about whom the cycle turns. The brilliant light of our immediate preservation, and the ruthless architect of our slow ruination. Holy Brand Aldea-
*What did you call me.*
Anemos hadn't been certain it would work.
The bard opened his eyes. For a timeless moment, he gazed into the white-slash eyes of a fiery phoenix lighting up the darkness, its blood-red talons poised scarcely a finger's width from his throat. It hovered before him, beautiful, luminous, and merciless.
Then there was only a whisper of light.
*Choose your words with care, Altean throwback.*
I will not apologize for what I called you, because you know full well that the cycle is steadily extinguishing life on Kreisia. We are so much fewer than we once were. In time there will be none.
*I will not abandon my function to protect Kreisia. A function that you have not committed yourself to upholding.*
I desire to bring lasting peace, Holy Brand. Not merely ten years, followed by more slaughter.
*If I knew of a way to permanently end the miasma's threat, then I would pursue it.*
My master has a way.
*Really. You think so.*
My mission is to help him accomplish it. To end the depredations of the cycle seems worth any sacrifice, yet when I tried to ask the Savior what price he would choose to pay...
*Do you think your 'master' is inclined to ask anyone what price they would pay, before he takes what he wants?*
Have you known all this time that I am-?
*I know an Altean throwback when I see one.*
How many Ascendance Disciples have you destroyed, for the crime of trespassing in your shrine?
*Choose your words with more care than that, Altean throwback.
*The Savior was guilty of trespassing. I did not sentence him to death for the crime. I would have rid Kreisia of his corruption by requiring the Priestess of Salvation to reverse her summon spell, if I had not needed him to fulfill my function.
*Your organization's invaders were guilty of far worse than trespassing, as are you.*
Duly noted.
*They tried to enslave my mind with domination chants. Altean chants do not work on me.*
I suspected as much.
*At least you have the wisdom not to attempt the same transgression, upon myself or any living being. I would consider that unforgivable.*
As would most people, in most circumstances.
*I have destroyed two invaders, this turn of the cycle. Almost three, but the Savior demanded your stay of execution.
*I punished him for his insolence.
*He continued to demand. Even in the Savior's wretched initial state, he had the drive to protect not only the Priestess of Salvation, but also a treacherous vermin like you. It was enough to suggest a flicker of hope, for his potential.
*Understand this, Altean throwback. Every breath of life, every blissful pleasure, every meaningless emotion you have experienced since the day you entered my shrine is solely because the Savior adjured me not to destroy you.
*Choose your next words carefully.*
Could he be the Return of Yumarac?
*ARE YOU TRYING TO ENRAGE ME!? IS YOUR SELF-LOATHING THAT IMMENSE!?*
Golden radiance enveloped Anemos. Horrendous, fiery agony flared throughout his entire body. He could not cry out; the shining power stole his voice. The torment only lasted for an allotment of seconds, but when it was over, he was splayed face down with tears of raw anguish brimming in his eyes.
Anemos' breath came in quick, shallow gasps. A small segment of his mind noted that there were no burns or wounds on his skin; even his garments were pristine.
...that is... a 'no', I presume... please do not do that again.
*I have thoroughly examined the Savior's soul. It is now barely adequate to form a stable Greater Seal, and I would prefer that he strengthen it more. He is not the return or reincarnation of my creator.
*Choose your next words carefully.*
Anemos thought about getting up from the ground, and decided against it.
The Overlord cannot be vanquished or replaced until all your hidden pommel stones are retrieved. Once you are fully restored, I am expected to abduct the Savior and bring him to my master. I have decided that I will not. Instead, I will bring you to my master, Holy Brand.
*Really. You think so.*
I would have you listen to my master's plan, and judge it for yourself. If you choose to destroy me, that is itself a judgment, and I accept it with no regrets.
Just, please do make it quick.
*You will be judged, Altean throwback. That much is certain. Do not call out to me again.*
Anemos did not call out to the Holy Brand again.
Some time passed before the bard dared to rise from the ground. He tried to refrain from staggering, as he entered the inn. He approached the room where Laminah was sleeping, and leaned on the wall next to its door.
Keeping his voice so low that none in the vicinity could hear, Anemos started to chant.
The next morning was uneventful, up to the moment when Yusis collected a glittering green gemstone from the pedestal of the third shrine.
"Well, here's your last pommel stone," Yusis said to the hovering Holy Brand Aldea. "Fetch quest complete."
*Give that to me, Savior.* The shining emerald flew into Aldea's hilt.
Anemos chanted.
The effects were almost instantaneous. Cynthia was immobilized with a damper on her magic. The Savior was frozen with his hand outstretched.
Laminah roared, "Traitor!"
The warrior tried to swing her halberd, but her arms moved sluggishly, and her legs wouldn't move at all. Her slow swipe reached well short of where the bard stood, next to the Holy Brand.
Cynthia gasped, "Anemos, what-?"
Anemos withdrew two teleportation beads from his vest and smoothly said, "I am one of the Ascendance Disciples. I am taking the Holy Brand to my master. And yes, there likely is an ambush waiting outside; I recommend using this to escape, after my paralysis chant wears off." He set one rainbow-colored bead on the pedestal that had held Aldea's pommel stone.
Yusis' eyes widened, fearfully. "Anemos, don't! The Ascendance Disciples will kill you!"
As Anemos crushed the second bead, he glanced at Yusis and raised a light green eyebrow. "Are you not angry over my betrayal?"
"Aldea! Block him from teleporting away!" Yusis demanded.
*As you wish, Savior. However, I will allow the teleport to take effect upon myself. If you would wield me as a weapon, then you will have to find me.*
"Moving the goalposts again!? Whatever, Aldea. I guess we're improvising," Yusis returned, with an exasperated huff.
Anemos raised his other eyebrow. "Are you genuinely more perturbed with the Holy Brand than over my betrayal?"
*As a parting gift, I will leave the three of you on more advantageous terms with this Altean throwback.*
Anemos did not process what the Holy Brand meant before punishing, golden radiance enveloped him, stifling his scream, and alighting his body with blazing agony. The shock completely broke his concentration on all of his chants; he felt reverberations of the Holy Brand willfully dispelling any lingering effects of paralysis, or dampened magic.
Anemos' crippling pain receded after an allotment of seconds, leaving him face-down on the floor. He nearly passed out. He dimly sensed the removal of his vest, his lute, and the float gossamers pinned to his clothing. Voices sounded above him.
"-high treason against my king!" Laminah shouted.
"He's our best lead on the Ascendance Disciples, Laminah!" Yusis sternly rebuked. "They're as bad as the Overlord; they turn people into monsters! We need him alive!"
Cynthia tentatively interjected, "Um, I've got his vest and his lute and his teleportation beads. And all his float gossamers, so I can hold him with 'Chains of holy' if you need me to? I can't sense any other magic items on him, he can't cast bardic magic without an instrument, and he doesn't have much talent for other types of magic. Except maybe minor magic? If he tries to chant or cast an illusion, then I'll interrupt him with holy power, okay?"
"Yeah, okay," Yusis replied. "Just watch him for now, and don't let your guard down."
Laminah snorted, "I will strike off his head if he tries to chant again."
Yusis snapped, "What part of we need him alive don't you understand? We need him alive is pretty self-explanatory, isn't it!?"
"Have the Priestess of Salvation bind him with magic, and then try to reason with him. If you cannot, then I will not allow such a dangerous traitor to live! He overwhelmed the Royal Treasury's greatest ward against chants!"
Anemos slurred, "...could only do that once... had to prepare for hours."
"Okay, so you are awake," Yusis observed, looking down on the sprawled bard. "How about you just sit up for now? I'd rather not have Cynthia 'bind' you with 'Chains of holy'. That sounds kind of weird, and it's not going to be necessary, is it?"
"Ah... as you wish." Anemos eased into a sitting position.
"Good. Here's the deal, Anemos.
"The Ascendance Disciples are bad. They kidnap people and turn them into monsters. You saw it yourself. You heard it. The monsters were asking us for help, Anemos! They were pleading with us, and all we could do was free their souls!
"I'll bet you didn't know about the worst of what the Ascendance Disciples have been doing until recently. You care too much about people; I've seen it. I've seen how just thinking about what the Overlord does affects you, and I saw the look on your face when I told you about the murdered military escort. You've been putting your life on the line to fight dangerous monsters with us, especially when Melusine was under attack.
"Melinda says that you're the first person to give up any of the Ascendance Disciples' secrets. We need to you give up the rest, because they're making people suffer a fate worse than death and it has to stop now!"
"You spoke with Melinda?" Anemos asked, groggily.
"Melinda, Laminah, Aldea, Cedric, the Royal Chanters, the Royal Mages, the Royal Guards, the Royal Artificers, I spoke with a lot of people and one bird-weapon. Now, focus!" Yusis directed, snapping his fingers.
Laminah seethed, "I should strike him down."
"Laminah-!" Yusis shook his head. "Look, Anemos, the Ascendance Disciples are trying to turn you into a monster, too. Just not with miasma. They're trying to make you into someone who helps them do horrible things! Right now, your worst crime is accessory after the fact to murder."
"What does that mean?" Cynthia piped up.
"It means he knew the Ascendance Disciples controlled the monsters that murdered the military escort, and he didn't say anything about it," Yusis explained, without taking his eyes off of the bard. "Anemos, it's time for that to change now! The Ascendance Disciples oppress other Alteans more than anyone else! For the sake of your own people, you have to-"
"Are you the Return of Yumarac?" The befuddled question escaped Anemos' mouth before he was aware of voicing it.
"I have no idea what that means and will you please focus!?" Yusis raged, throwing out both hands. "People are being kidnapped and turned into monsters!"
Laminah coolly explained, "'The Return of Yumarac' refers to a belief that some Alteans hold, about their legendary off-world ancestor." With a thoughtful glance to Yusis, she suggested, "Perhaps you truly are the legend returned? I know of no way to prove that you are not, and the possibility seems to be making this traitor more agreeable."
Yusis glared at the bard. "I am not 'the Return of Yumarac', and I am not using any lies to get your cooperation. You're going to help because people are suffering right now, and that includes you. You think I don't know how bad you're hurting inside? You think I can't see it, you think I didn't hear it in your music? The pain won't stop until you change what you're doing, and the first step is to come clean with everything you know!"
Anemos bowed his head. "I submit to your judgment, Yusis. I will give a full confession. To everything. First, I must confess what I have done to you."
Anemos admitted his modifications to the 'Savior gift' on Yusis.
Cynthia's mouth dropped open. "You - you didn't! How could you-!?"
"You're seriously starting with the least important thing on the list?" Yusis told the bard, incredulously.
"Did you already know?" Anemos blearily returned.
"He knew and he lied to me about it," Laminah sniffed.
"I didn't lie; I just refused to answer your question," Yusis retorted.
Cynthia pealed, "Yusis, why didn't you tell me?"
"At first I thought Kreisia was a dream," Yusis sighed. "When I learned it was all real, there was a lot at stake, you know? Too much to rock the boat over a minor disrespect of my personal space."
Laminah disdainfully said to the bard, "When he finally did inform me, he warned me that serving justice upon you prematurely would alert the Ascendance Disciples. As if he could conceal what truly worried him. The Savior you betrayed still desires to save you. How much of his sympathy originates from your vile 'modifications'?"
"Zero," Yusis sharply rebuked, with an irritated look to the warrior. "You think I can't tell when something's trying to mess with my head? My head was a mess long before I met any of you. I block out the bad thoughts so I can act like a normal person. The fake emotions from the chant are so weak I don't have to block them out. They're nothing."
Cynthia whispered, "Yusis..."
Yusis' eyes briefly darted to the priestess. His tone softened. "But... Cynthia, Laminah, I've screwed up pretty badly, and I owe both of you an apology for it. I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner. The risk that he might mess with the two of you just didn't occur to me, not until after the ambush happened. Maybe I really did trust him too much. Aldea confirmed that there's no chants or mind-related magic affecting either of you, though."
"I have betrayed all of you in more ways," Anemos continued. "When the Ascendance Disciples supplied me with powerful magic items for my mission, I told them that I could not carry Ascendance poison, let alone use it on the Savior, without drawing suspicion upon myself. I used long-distance communication chants to send them information about our path of travel, and I knew that the Savior would be ambushed. When the attack came, I 'fought back' in a manner that would prevent neither the Savior's poisoning, nor the agent's escape.
"The remedy I administered was genuine. Even when Ascendance poison is treated, aftereffects rendering the victim more susceptible to Altean domination chants remain for a long time.
"Yusis, my master desires to enslave you. His talent for chants is superlative, far beyond mine. Perhaps greater than any living Altean in centuries.
"There is more, that I must confess directly to King Welkin."
Yusis said to Laminah, "Are you satisfied now? We should take him to the Royal Castle."
She replied, "First, let us investigate whether the Royal Guards have successfully intercepted the third ambush."
"No, Laminah. Let them do their job. They already have backup from the Royal Mages and the Royal Chanters, and they nailed the second ambush just fine without our help."
"They 'nailed' the-?" Cynthia repeated, with a flummoxed expression. "When did this happen? How do you know it happened?"
"Aldea told us, when we were in the second shrine," Yusis explained. "I'm not sure why Aldea decided to take off just now; its chant resistance could have been really useful. Doesn't matter. We're stopping the Ascendance Disciples with or without any holy sword. Hand me a teleportation bead."
Yusis collected a rainbow-colored bead from Cynthia, and crushed it between his fingers. "We're going back to the Royal Capital right away. The sooner we can share information and work with Cedric to shut the Ascendance Disciples down, the better."
"It seems I am performing a recitative today," Anemos articulated, still partly in a daze.
"Why won't they let us in there?" Yusis muttered, pacing restlessly back and forth outside the double doors of the Royal Castle's throne room. "Why are they using magic to keep it completely soundproof?"
"You need to stop repeating things like that. Cedric must have an important reason," Cynthia gently trilled.
"You're absolutely sure you can't take a look inside with a spell?"
"Even if I could, I wouldn't. I trust Cedric. He's a good and noble king, and you know how much Laminah believes in him."
"I just-"
Yusis increased the speed of his pacing, to the brink of breaking into a run that would go nowhere. "I just can't shake this really bad feeling. Thick, heavy, weighing me down. It's like the evil pressure from miasma vapors."
"The 'evil pressure'... Yusis, are you saying that you get strong feelings around miasma?"
"Yeah, and it's the same now. Well, almost the same. There's no miasma here, but-"
"I thought you couldn't feel anything from any kind of magic. Are you sensitive to dark magic?"
"Huh?"
"I'm sensitive to most types of magic, but all I can feel from dark magic is an impression of something really bad in the air. Does miasma impart more than that, to you? Can you feel what it wants, and what it tries to accomplish?"
"Uhh..." It wants death, terror, and suffering. Don't you know that? "All miasma 'tries to accomplish' is to kill living things and turn them into monsters."
"Are you certain about that?"
"What do you mean, am I certain?" Yusis spared her an aggravated glance, without slowing his pace.
"Okay, um, let me explain. Fire magic loves to burn bright and hot, but it doesn't want to hurt us. It's just dangerous by nature. Fire magic lets me shape it to my will, because it wants to accomplish things like bringing warmth, cooking food, fighting monsters, or honoring the dead. Fire magic understands that if it burns out of control, then it will burn too much, and there will be nothing left. Water magic is the same; it knows we need water to live, but it understands that too much will drown us. I think wind magic is also the same; it understands that if it blows too fiercely, then it will destroy everything."
"Yeah, well, miasma's not like that. At all." Miasma wants to destroy everything. It wants to drown all life. It wants there to be nothing left.
"Yusis, mages have tried to study dark magic throughout history, but no one knows why it does horrible things. Do you know the reason why? Maybe you should tell Cedric, when you get a chance."
"There's nothing to tell. Miasma is just... hateful. It doesn't need a reason to hate. Hatred is its reason. It wants to do horrible things." This is just like when I was telling people about the Ascendance Disciples. Almost no one could imagine that the Ascendance Disciples would want to kidnap victims and turn them into monsters. Even Laminah thought that only mind-controlled slaves of the Overlord would do such a horrible thing.
Cynthia frowned, then shuddered. "I don't understand, but... you do, don't you? That must be the real reason why you can't use magic on Kreisia. You're attuned to dark magic, and miasma doesn't let the living wield it. Only the undead can shape it to their will."
"Okay, whatever," Yusis sighed. "None of that really matters right now, does it?"
"I guess not..."
"Cynthia, I'm terrified that Cedric is going to sentence Anemos to death for high treason."
"You need to stop doubting Cedric so much."
"I know, I know, that's not what he's like, but the feeling is so strong-"
"You need to stop doubting me so much, too."
"What?" The off-worlder froze in mid-pace.
"Yusis, why didn't you tell me anything? This isn't only about your 'Savior gift'. When you talked to all sorts of people in the Royal Castle, you didn't tell me that was about stopping the Ascendance Disciples. Why not? Why didn't you let me know what you and Laminah were planning?"
"Uh, well..." Yusis' eyes darted back and forth. "I wasn't sure you could keep our plan secret from Anemos."
"You were sure that everyone else could."
"I had Aldea's help. I asked it to watch for divination magic; all it found were a few spells Anemos cast that transmitted my physical location. I also asked Aldea to scan people's minds and look for Ascendance Disciple spies. It found one spy among the skywatchers; she got leniency in exchange for a full confession, so I guess you're probably right about Cedric-"
"That's not what I mean and you know it! Why did you think I'd slip up and no one else would? What's different about me?"
You've warped your own mind to block out the memory of losing of your birth parents. You might get worse, if you're put under too much pressure.
You've been doing okay since the last time we left the Royal Capital, but I didn't want to take any risks. Not after you...
...how close did you actually come to shutting yourself down? Was I just being anxious when I thought you might?
Maybe I overreacted. Maybe you weren't in a really bad state, but you definitely weren't in a good state. I know what I saw. I've lived it myself.
Cynthia put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. "Yusis, we've been fighting dangerous undead monsters together. You've been trusting me to protect and heal us with holy magic, all this time. What reason do you have to doubt me now?"
We're also going to fight the Overlord - the most dangerous undead monster there is - but after that, a 'golden light' will magically send me back to my world.
The summon spell connects us. I've asked twice if you could use that connection to help me resist the 'golden light'. Both times, you acted like you deleted the question out of your mind.
The second time I asked, I was scared you might delete more out of your mind.
You really don't want me to stay on Kreisia, do you? Are you letting the 'golden light' take care of that, and you won't say anything more because you don't like being 'blunt'?
I know you're grateful to me for being the Savior, and you like me as a good friend, but... I want to be more than a friend to you.
Are my feelings making you uncomfortable?
No, that's a dumb question. I know they are. Why else would you...?
That was the one and only time you acted unstable, though. You've been completely reliable every time we've fought monsters as a team. I have no reason to doubt you when we move to take down the Ascendance Disciples, or the Overlord.
Did I really keep you out of the loop to protect your mind? Or was I just being petty? Maybe even worse than petty.
"I'm sorry, Cynthia. I can't bring myself to explain," Yusis mumbled, despondently.
"I should be really mad at you."
"You have the right."
"I'll forgive you this time," she decided. The tension in her face eased away. "Maybe I do understand the need to keep a secret."
Yusis' heart thumped heavily in his chest when the double doors to the throne room opened. He entered along with Cynthia. They saw King Cedric Welkin, Laminah, Anemos, and a grand assembly of Royal Castle officials. The onlookers included members of Kreisia's parliament, Melinda and several Royal Chanters, and a cohort of top-ranking Royal Guards and Royal Mages.
King Welkin spoke in a somber, controlled manner.
"Anemos Monochrome. I am granting your request to have the Savior and the Priestess of Salvation present for your sentencing.
"You have relinquished a wealth of invaluable information about the Ascendance Disciples, including their reprehensible plans for the Savior, the identity of their master Begiad Laatsch, their techniques for long-distance communication chants, and the counter-chant to reveal the hidden location of Ascendance City. You have confirmed reports that the Ascendance Disciples are transforming abducted victims into undead monsters, and controlling those monsters with domination chants.
"You have also confessed to willfully interfering with the duties of the Savior, a crime that imperils all life in Kreisia.
"Do you have any final words to say, before I pronounce your sentence for high treason?"
"Yes," the bard solemnly replied. He spoke slowly, taking the greatest of care. "I deeply regret every offense I have committed against the people of Kreisia, against the slain military escort, and against the Savior himself. Your majesty, I beg you-"
Anemos' voice cut off from sheer emotion. He breathed slowly, in and out, then resumed.
"I beg you, allow me to pledge my service to the Savior. Let me support him and the Priestess of Salvation to the best of my ability in every endeavor, including their destined battle against the Overlord Orzand. Upon my honor, I vow to surrender any sacrifice that I must, to aid their duty and protect all of Kreisia. Even if it costs my life. Even if it costs more."
King Welkin nodded once. "Then let that be your sentence. You are now pledged to the Savior's service. Aiding him in all duties required will fully repay your wrongdoing."
I should be happy, Yusis reflected. I was terrified that Cedric would pronounce a death sentence, and Anemos isn't even going to prison. So why do I feel so-?
No, I can't afford to think about this. There are more important things to deal with, right here and right now.
Yusis cleared his throat, and addressed the entire gathering in a firm voice.
"Hey, everyone. I don't know if I'm breaking procedure or anything, and I don't care. Now that this trial is over, I don't want to waste another moment before we shut the Ascendance Disciples down. If we delay, they could turn more victims into undead monsters! So, I'm using whatever authority I have as Savior to tell all of you, it's time to declare war."
Confusion and consternation descended on many faces.
King Welkin's eyes alighted upon Yusis. "As Kreisia's Savior, you do possess significant hegemony. Tell us what you mean by 'declare war'."
I suspected they wouldn't understand what I meant, and I have to explain without introducing any of what Aldea would call 'corruption'.
Yusis carefully ventured, "Aldea told me that 'war' in Kreisia means 'campaigns against monsters or the Overlord'. That's right, isn't it?"
"Yes, Savior," King Welkin answered, "but the Ascendance Disciples are living Alteans. They are not undead monsters. Your companion has informed us that they do not pledge obedience to the Overlord; they are not the Overlord's mind-controlled slaves. Furthermore, the vast majority of Ascendance Disciples serve Begiad Laatsch solely out of fear. His talent for domination chants is so powerful that he can override the innate resistance Alteans have, especially Alteans who are afflicted with the long-term aftereffects of Ascendance poison. This enables him to easily take control of any dissenters."
"Yeah, that's not a surprise," Yusis agreed with a nod. "Just as the Overlord makes Kreisia suffer under a reign of terror, Begiad is making the Ascendance Disciples suffer under a reign of terror. So, we declare war on Begiad alone, because he is the same as the Overlord."
Hushed murmurs circulated throughout the whole room.
King Welkin questioned, "Do you understand what you are suggesting, Savior? You are claiming that a living person is the same as the undead menace that blights Kreisia."
"On the inside, Begiad is worse than the Overlord!" Yusis sharply returned. "The Overlord is just a really powerful monster, driven mad by miasma. Begiad chooses to do what the Overlord does! Begiad chooses to terrorize people, to kill people, and to turn people into monsters!"
Yusis clenched his hands into fists. "The biggest difference between Begiad and the Overlord is that Begiad doesn't give off miasma vapors. I don't have to wield Aldea to protect anyone from miasma poisoning, around him.
"So, I'm not taking any chances. In order to save both the Ascendance Disciples and Kreisia from Begiad, from this lesser Overlord, I'm calling on all of you to fight with me! We will declare war on Begiad alone, and we'll bring airships full of Royal Guards, Royal Mages, and Royal Chanters to counter any monsters he controls, anyone crazy enough to defend him, and any of his super-strong chants. We'll take him down before he can turn any more people into monsters!"
"Savior, I would remind you that Kreisia has only one airship," King Welkin pointed out. "Although, its field tests to transport a counter-assault and intercept two Ascendance Disciple ambushes were resoundingly successful."
"Uh, right. One airship. It should be enough, especially if we move fast and get the advantage of surprise! Let's all do this, now! For Kreisia!"
There was a brief silence. Members of the gathering looked to one another.
I'm not very good at motivational speeches, am I?
Then Anemos stood, and proclaimed with passionate confidence, "I support you in all things, Savior. For Kreisia!"
"Me too!" Cynthia piped up. "For Kreisia!"
Laminah drew her halberd, and loudly rapped its shaft on the floor. "For our king, and for Kreisia!"
In a cold, hard voice, Melinda announced, "We will end the menace of this person-who-commits-the-atrocities-of-an-Overlord. For Kreisia!"
One by one, more voices rose among the Royal Chanters, the Royal Guards, the Royal Mages, and other onlookers.
"For Kreisia!"
"For Kreisia!"
"FOR KREISIA!"
A smile touched King Welkin's lips. It was not an expression that Yusis had seen him use before. Instead of amiable, congenial warmth, it was a look of determined satisfaction. It was the sheer elation of finally making a breakthrough.
You really have been trying for years to make them take the Ascendance Disciples seriously, haven't you? Just like you told me.
"FOR KREISIA!" King Welkin roared, rising from his throne and raising both arms. The jubilant cheers of his people resounded throughout the throne room.
End of Chapter Nineteen: Recitative