Entry 21, 30/05/109
I have realised that the Black Cloud communicators can do more than just tap into channels and allow you to speak to others who are far away. They also have this strange ability to tap into your thoughts after you die and amplify them so they can be heard in the channels. It’s very useful, unless you are swearing because some idiot just killed you when you were distracted by hordes of other less concerning creatures.
We gathered in the blackened fields outside Beluslan fortress one cold morning three weeks ago. Taruskhan was there, along with his partner Shadian, my friend Trip’p, and oddly enough, my brother Zukkoe.
Zukkoe shrugged at my expression when I saw him talking with Taru. “Bestla thinks I need the exercise.” He said as an excuse.
“You know, I believe she’s right. You have been putting a bit on, haven’t you?” I questioned him lightly.
“Hey, you’re no delicate flower either. Your hips began growing before your chest did, if I remember correctly.” He grinned and skipped out of my reach before I had the chance to pinch his ear. “That won’t work on me little girl, I’ve learned many a thing working under Bestla.”
“I’m sure you have,” I murmured, before turning to Taru. “When do we head out?”
“Soon, we’re just waiting on our muscle. I couldn’t find us a Templar, so we had to settle for a well-seasoned Gladiator. He told me he carries spare Templar gear just in case, so we should be fine. Is that alright with you?”
“I don’t mind, so long as this doesn’t become an expensive trip to the soul healers. Spellbooks are getting more and more expensive these days so I’ve got to start saving.”
“Sorry I’m late,” A deep voice spoke from behind us. The voice was quiet, yet commanding at the same time. I turned around to see a fairly recognizable face.
“It’s you.” I blurted. Suddenly I felt quite awkward around this man who insisted on buying my drinks for me.
“I heard your friend Taruskhan was looking for an able-bodied Templar, but was having no luck.” The man replied, seemingly ignoring my statement completely. “Where are we headed?”
“Alquimia Stronghold.” I stated, regaining my composure somewhat.
“Tch, that place is too dangerous for the likes of you. You’ll be squashed flat before we even enter the place.”
“I have to go. The Lepharists are planning something big; I heard it from an insider. He’s in danger of being killed, and so are others.”
“Determination is not always a good thing, Lilkka. This man you talk of is most probably dead already.”
“I thank you for your vote of confidence,” my words were icy with anger, “however, you haven’t deterred me. If you don’t want to come with us, I’m sure we can find another with enough experience to lead us through.”
His responding look could cut through adamantium. “Suit yourself; I will take you to Alquimia. But I will not take blame for your visit to the soul healer when we are finished. If I hear of a complaint from you, I will have your name blacklisted for all legions to see.”
“I can pay for my own soul healing, thank you.” I muttered. The man’s attitude had started to rub my mane the wrong way. I looked at the other members of the party. “Are we ready?” I growled. “Let’s get going, then.”
We all spoke to Gylfi bought Daevic flights to Red Mane Cavern to shorten the time it would take us to run to the Stronghold. As we soared through the air, I heard Markena’s voice in my communicator. “I have been to Alquimia before, on a scouting mission. The men in here are tight packed, so be prepared for long, drawn out battles.”
The sun began to set once again as we made our way to Alquimia Stronghold. The temperature dipped, and I could feel the cold winds whipping against my skin.
“When we get in there, you all must listen to my every command,” Markena murmured quietly. “Otherwise they will tear us to pieces. Got that?” That last comment seemed to be aimed particularly at me. I ignored the urge to say something back at him.
We entered the stronghold stealthily, taking down two of the entrance guards as we went. Once again my communicator buzzed.
“Trip’p, please scout out ahead for hidden assassins. Taruskhan, be on your guard and ready to throw down traps. Lilkka, stay out the back with Shadian and be prepared to help her. Also, activate your Mantras. We need every bit of strength and power we can get.”
Alquimia was unpleasant, to say the least. The walls surrounding it were high and foreboding, and there was this uncertain reek which clung to the air. I did as I was told, and stuck to the rear. It wasn’t long before we were fighting a steady stream of Lepharists. I think five days passed while we were there, but I wasn’t really taking note. Most of the fighting was a bit of a blur, except for one part where we came close to losing our battle.
“Damn it!” I cried when I saw Shadian slump to the floor. I hastily unbuckled my shield for protection as I began to heal everyone.
“You can do it, Lil,” Shadian’s communicator picked up on her thoughts. “Just keep an eye on Markena’s health, and put up your shield and health mantras.”
I nodded as I did what she told me. My healing was pathetic in comparison to Shadian’s, but our attackers still took an unhealthy interest in my ability. It wasn’t long before one of them decided I was a hindrance.
Markena finally killed his target, and came to my assistance, but it was too late. I could feel my knees buckled as a sword dug its way through my left shoulder and down through my chest. I braced my fall with weak hands, and as the world around me dimmed, I thumped the floor with a fist. My communicator picked up on my thoughts as well, echoing a series of expletives my mind was processing through. Trip’p was also felled by the Lepharists, but Taruskhan survived. When the last trainer finally fell, Markena came back to stand over our bodies.
“Don’t even think about saying it.” My communicator crackled. Markena just dug through his box and pulled out a resurrection stone.
“Who am I using this on?” He asked.
“Give it to Shads. She has the better healing spells, and probably has a better res’ spell too.”
“Your soul healing indicator has jumped through the roof, hasn’t it Lil?” Shadian remarked lightly. I would have nodded glumly if my body could move. I watched as Markena activated the resurrection stone on Shadian’s body. She stood, and stretched her stiff muscles, before tucking her wings away again.
“I hate dying. It feels so uncomfortable.” She said. She sat on the ground and waited for her mana energy to return. When she had enough energy, she cast her spell on us. I stretched my wings back, and used my staff to lever my body off the ground.
“Are you ready to continue?” Markena asked me. I held out one finger, silently asking him to wait as I sat down to recoup my health.
Markena sighed. “Alright then, let’s take a ten minute break to recover.”
I slowly made my way over to Markena. I thought I saw what could be concern flicker in his eyes, but then he blinked and it was gone. “Is something wrong?” He questioned me again.
“Listen, I’m not going to blame you for my deaths. I have to finish what I set out to do here. You came along to help us, and I appreciate that. This is fairly important to me.” I looked up into his face. He reached out and gently placed a calloused hand on the side of my neck. His hand was warm, and his touch made my heart beat faster.
“Okay then, let’s finish this.” He said as he turned about and led us away to the next group of Lepharists.
That was our last death in battle. For some reason, after that we were able to work better as a team. It wasn’t long before I had completed what Freki had asked me to do.
“That’s it, I think.” I mentioned after our final battle. I looked at the building which reared overhead of us.
“Don’t you even think about it,” I heard Markena murmur.
“I wasn’t,” I replied automatically, in a hushed voice. The building was giving me the shivers. I shook myself out and looked around at everybody. “Thank you for helping me. I guess I better go turn in.”
“We’ll follow you. I’m sure I heard someone mention Elyos floating around here earlier.” Shadian grinned viciously.
I led the way out from the walls of Alquimia, heading west towards the lone cottage in Mahisha’s nest. We passed through the snowy lands of Kurngalfberg, where Zukkoe said his goodbye and headed up the path to Camp Kistenian.
When we got close to the cottage, I asked the others to wait by the bridge, and I crossed over to see Freki sitting in the shadows near the house.
“You took so long, I thought you hadn’t survived.” He commented as I approached him quietly.
“I’ve fulfilled the task you gave me, have you kept your part?” I replied.
“The old man and the Ribbit are fine. I will now take my leave. Safe journeys, Lilkka.” He disappeared around the back of the house.
I knocked on the front door. The old man popped his head out between the door and the frame. “Yes, Lilkka, Chanter of Asmodae?”
“I must speak with you, may I come inside?” I asked politely.
The old man shook his head, before stepping outside into the evening air.
“I know why you are here, Lilkka of Asmodae. Your task is to silence me, but you cannot fulfil it. I will be waiting here when the Thirteenth Empyrean Lord comes.”
I cringed as he mentioned that number. “Please stop talking about this. There is no Thirteenth Empyrean Lord. If others hear you talking of this, they will surely kill you.”
“Child of Asmodae, I know my fate. Israphel and Siel protect me until the day on which I look upon his glorious face.”
I sighed at the old man’s mad words, before turning and walking away. He was a lost cause, but I’m no heartless killer. Perhaps Cynari would have been better suited for this job.
Markena met me at the start of the bridge. “What was that about?” He asked, though he seemed like he couldn’t care less.
“Nothing,” I grumbled. “Just an old man with a death wish. Where did the others go?”
“They heard someone calling for help over the communicators and decided to check it out. I have to go back to Pandaemonium and to all my unfinished reports, so I declined to join them.”
We travelled towards the fortress in the north in silence, with my Celerity mantra keeping our pace quicker than normal. Eventually my curiosity got the better of me.
“Why do you keep finding me?” I asked midway through our trip.
“Something about you intrigues me.” He replied quietly.
“That’s it? All that evasion just because I intrigue you?”
“You’re the one who asked.” He shrugged. I jumped in front of him and stopped in his way.
“I want to know why.” I said, folding my arms across my chest. I wanted to seem stern, but I just felt stupid.
Still, it seemed I had partially convinced my follower to talk.
“A while ago I heard an old friend speaking about the defiance a young daeva had shown her lusty legionnaire, and I thought that perhaps this woman just did not prefer the company of a man. And then you were at Apellbine, and you matched my friend’s description.” He shrugged. “I realised I had been wrong in assuming you were just like the others in that tavern. And I suppose today I was also wrong about you.” Markena stepped around me.
“Was that an apology?” I asked the now empty space in front of me. Then I realised that once again this man was walking away from me, while I still had unanswered questions. “Wait a minute!” I cried in frustration as I turned around, but he was gone. “Men!” I grumbled and kicked a rock in anger.
There was nothing I could do to track him down again, so I sighed and returned to the fortress alone. I reported back to my superiors, before heading back to Bestler Refugee Camp.