Lore/Story Gone With the Wind

Part 2, Chapter 2: The Sweet Spot

Gale insisted that bringing a person back to life was impossible, and absolutely not worth looking for.

What to do… what to do…

Despite the cool breeze of the high-up Letvus Airbase, Qira barely felt relaxed in the slightest. She walked along the wooden platforms with her staff behind her back, deep in thought. She didn’t even hear her name repeatedly being called.

“Qira! ‘ey, Qira!”

She turned her head, broken out of her thoughts. The Confectionery Merchant.

Right. The reason she came here in the first place.

“Bee in your bonnet?” the merchant asked, already grabbing a handful of empty bags. “You seem to be a little outta it today.”

“It’s nothing, just… thinking about things.” Qira said. The Confectionary Merchant didn’t push the topic.

“Well, I’m not one to intrude on people’s lives. So, the usual batch, eh?” He asked, already taking several items off the shelves.

“Mhm, same as last week.”

There was a comfortable silence as the villager got to work filling up a bag with a few Ice Cream Sandwiches.

“Never got to tell you this, but business has been going even better than last month!” The Confectionary Merchant said. “Ever since the Decay started to die out, actually! I s’ppose more people ‘ave been able to visit Cinfras instead of constantly struggling for their lives. I personally ‘aven’t been too far west myself, but I’ve heard that Gelibord really isn’t a good place to live in…”

“I’ve been there for a visit about a week ago, the town seems to be doing better. For the first time in the years I’ve seen it some of their crops are actually starting to become healthy again.” Qira said.

“Well, good for them! And that also means more customers for me! Haha!” the merchant said as he laughed. “That Wynn soldier is unbelievable… actually, say, you must’ve heard of ‘em, right? They might not have talked about their adventures much, but the rumours of what they did have been good gossip among the villagers here.”

“I’ve heard.”

“Yeah, that human’s a real hero. Heh, didn’t expect the calamity to just end within my own lifetime! First year they’ve arrived here and they just solved the province-wide problem! -” He snapped his fingers, “-Just like that!”

Qira knew better than to say the issue was permanently fixed, but she decided not to mention it to the optimistic villager.

“Saw ‘em just earlier, actually! The people ‘round here always see that soldier hopping down from my pal Calo’s ship all the way up there, walking off without even so much as a broken leg! I’ve seen ‘em fight at the outskirts of Cinfras a couple of times, their agility is incredible. Wish I had that kind of mobility at my young age, hah!”

That certainly got Qira’s full attention.

“They were here?”

“Indeed! Just left for Cinfras a few minutes before you arrived, actually! Been talking ‘bout the “Realm of Light” or somethin’ like that.”

That human… Qira thought. They were the first one who defeated her and her Hive challenge. Fighting directly with them, she was impressed at their surprising amount of skill compared to countless other contestants before. She’s heard small fragments of their adventures and deeds throughout the world from the villagers across Gavel…

And the occasional rumour that they had died while exploring, or fighting a dangerous beast. A significant amount of people had even claimed that they saw the soldier die right in front of their eyes… others argued that they merely just escaped in a puff of purple magic, returning to the nearest town shortly after.

Qira thought of something else, but her head instantly brushed off such a ridiculous idea.

Or maybe…?

No. it’s just not possible.

She’s at a dead end, however. Even if what she conceptualized isn’t true, (which it most definitely isn’t, why on Earth is she still considering it) the Wynn soldier has certainly been to places she hasn’t. Maybe, just maybe, they might know something that could help her…?

They don’t owe her any favors, but something like that can be easily sorted out.

She’s decided.

“You said they were headed for the Realm of Light?” Qira asked the Confectionary Merchant, who had finished packing up the items she requested for.

“Cinfras, but they must be. Think I heard it right, so that place is real, then? If it was from anybody else I would’ve thought they were off their head! But know this, I’ve seen proof of the things that human has done, sometimes firsthand, so as outlandish as it sounds I don’t have a reason not to believe them at all!” He said joyfully.

The entrance must be in the Light Forest… she’ll have to make a quick trip back to The Hive before heading there. She thanked the Confectionary Merchant, dropped off her emeralds and immediately transported herself back to the Hive.

…

Qira was starting to doubt the Wynn soldier was still here. She had spent about half an hour scouring the bright and colorful forest with no human in sight. She even spoke with the elves and hobbits of the nearby villages - nothing. If only she knew where the entrance to the realm was located…

That elf girl she’s heard about… Lari, was it? She might have the information Qira needed, but word was that she’d travelled with the Wynn soldier and never returned from the Realm of Light, so that’s that option out of the window.

Qira had just begun to head for Aldorei before her exceptional hearing managed to pick up a set of footsteps unlike anything else she has heard in the forest. She immediately headed in the direction of the noise, just barely catching the end of a horse’s tail dashing behind a cluster of trees.

That must be them. Qira looks towards the giant chained structure floating ominously at the distance… seems like they are heading in that direction. She teleported to the area ahead of the path the horse was riding towards and turned around, intercepting the animal.

And there they are. The human stopped their steed upon spotting Qira, surprised to see her in the Light Forest. “Wynn soldier.” Qira greeted with a slight, almost unnoticeable smirk of familiarity. She hasn’t seen them since they completed the Hive Challenge, which was the only time they had met, but they seemed to recognize her regardless. Their shining gold boots landed on the soft grass as the human walked towards her.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Qira started. “I was searching the forest for you, as a matter of fact.”

The human slightly tilted their head in curiosity.

“I was looking for you as I believe that you might be of some help in a certain, ah… issue, I am currently facing.” Qira continued. “I’ll run it through quickly, if you don’t mind?”

Next Chapter

 

Hey I'm Reggie and I like baguette

I really, really like baguette...
I like their [REDACTED FOR GOOD]

 

Part 2, Chapter 3: Non Compos Mentis

“-so what you’re saying is I have to meet with… “Death”? Are you just insinuating that I need to die?” Qira asked the Wynn soldier standing in front of them. They lifted a hand and did a so-so gesture, confusing her even further. Was this a trap to rid of her once and for all? “What are you getting at?”

The Wynn soldier look around for a moment, appearing to search for something. They then stared at their weapon and proceeded to hold it up, facing it towards their own silver chestplate.

“Wait a minute, what are you doing?!” Qira questioned as she hastily stepped towards them. Were they going to execute themselves with their own weapon? “Are you actually going to take your own life?!”

The human stopped with their weapon still held up, turning to Qira. They paused for a short moment and then nonchalantly nodded, as if dying was something they had done many times before.

Wait… Qira thought for a moment. But if that was the case…

“This might seem foolish to ask, but… you have- have you done this before? Dying?”

The human nodded again. They held up their weapon again to use it on themselves.

“Wait, wait!” Qira quickly said. They lowered their weapon once more. “If what you told me is indeed true, then how am I supposed to come with you? I’m not going to risk taking my own life just for this.”

The Wynn soldier stood there for a moment, tapping their finger against the weapon they held. Qira could almost see the cogs in their head turning. Even if such an afterlife really exists, her ex-challenger is crazy to make a request of her to join them on a supposedly temporarily trip to “Death’s Realm” by smiting herself down with her own magic. Not that she doesn’t have any trust in them at all, but what were they thinking?!

The soldier suddenly looked up, their powdery-looking headgear sparkling even more in the sunlight. They seemed to have an idea. They signaled Qira to stay where she is and await their return. The human then proceeded to bring their weapon upwards once more, and struck themselves with a powerful spell.

Qira made a noise of horrified shock at this sudden action, but then saw that instead of falling onto the ground as a mangled corpse, they burst out of existence, leaving behind a puff of sparkling purple magic. She looked around wildly, only finding the Wynn soldier’s horse nearby, which had begun eating the grass below it. What in the world…?

As appalled as she was from an acquaintance casually murdering themselves right in front of her, she decided to stay where she was, waiting for the human.

…

After what seemed like an eternity standing on the grassy landscape anxiously awaiting the soldier’s return, a pulsing formation suddenly appeared out of thin air, growing bigger every second. The Sorceress stepped back in surprise as the… “bright” manifestation increased in size? No... it couldn't be described as bright, but it wasn’t dark either. As this magical phenomenon reached the ground, the grass, plants and everything near it started to fade into the same monochrome color as itself.

“…ALRIGHT, JUST THIS ONE TIME, BUT I’M ONLY DOING IT BECAUSE OF THAT FAVOR YOU HELPED ME WITH. WE’RE EVEN NOW, GOT IT?” a strange voice spoke from the other side of what Qira now deduced as some sort of portal.

“OH, WHO AM I KIDDING, YOU’VE BEEN ENTERTAINING TO HAVE AROUND. DON’T GET TOO COMFORTABLE WITH THIS THOUGH.” The voice continued to speak. As the gateway halted in its growth, Qira tried to looked through it.

“WELL, WHAT IS YOUR FRIEND WAITING FOR? DO YOU WANT TO TELL WHOEVER THEY ARE TO COME IN OR SOMETHING?” The voice spoke up once more. They seemed to have been talking to someone else in there. The Wynn soldier perhaps? Qira thought. After some debating, she cautiously stepped through the opening.

Next Chapter

 

Very good very funny

 

Did you know in terms of male human and female Pokemon baguette is your choice?
Baguette can do various things that can but not limited to:
Play with your local furry friend!
Bonk them when they are naughty!
Feed them when they do a good!
Baguette had been existed since when Bri'ish bakery started making them and they are known for being so huge and thick and long, perfect to fend off your foes! Have I ever mentioned Japan Samurais also once used baguette to fight?
(Old draft disappeared pensive)

 

Part 2, Chapter 4: Deadly Dealings

The first thing she saw was a… room? She was in a room completely covered in only shades of gray, spotting two individuals at a desk with a chandelier hanging high above them. The wall opposite of where Qira was had a mirror that covered its entire surface. After a quick observation, she noticed that said individuals were the Wynn soldier and a hooded skeletal figure, both in the middle of some sort of conversation.

“YES, YES, AS MUCH AS I DISLIKE HIS PLANS THAT ANKOU PERSON DOES SEEM TO BE SOMEWHAT DECENT. IF ONLY HE COULD STOP TALKING TO ME IN THAT CRYPTI-” the skeletal figure stopped as it noticed Qira entering. “AH, LOOKS LIKE THAT FRIEND OF YOURS IS FINALLY HERE. WELCOME TO MY OFFICE.”

It was a strange sight to behold. Qira said nothing, gripping her staff tighter as she slowly walked towards the two of them.

“I KNOW, FOR SOMEONE LIKE YOU IT’LL MOST CERTAINLY BE BIZARRE TO BE FACE TO FACE WITH THE SPIRIT OF DEATH HIMSELF. YOU WOULDN’T BE CAUGHT DEAD TRYING TO CONTACT A BEING THAT YOU DON’T BELIEVE EXISTS. LITERALLY.”

Qira still said nothing. A chair then materialized out of thin air behind her, catching her attention. “TAKE A SEAT.” Death requested, pushing a plate of gray chocolate chip cookies towards the two guests. “AFTER ALL, YOU AND YOUR WARRIOR FRIEND OVER HERE DIDN’T COME UP TO DEATH’S DOOR FOR NOTHING, DID YOU?”

The Sorceress wasn’t sure if he was mocking her with all the puns. She accepted his invitation, regardless.

“So, you’re Death, I take it? The… corporeal manifestation of… of the metaphysical concept?” Qira asked, unsure of what exactly he is.

“…EH, CLOSE ENOUGH.” Death said after a moment. “I SUPPOSE WE ARE MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME, QIRA. BUT OF COURSE, I ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOU.”

Qira felt like she already knew the answer, but she asked despite not wanting to find out anyway. “…how much?”

“OH, LOADS.” The skeleton replied. “ALL YOUR EXPERIENCES, ALL OF YOUR SECRETS. MANY OF THEM YOU WOULD RATHER TAKE TO THE GRAVE THAN MENTION. BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THAT. YOUR FRIEND HERE TOLD ME THAT YOU WANTED TO ASK ME FOR A FAVOR… BUT I HAVE A FEELING I ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT IS. WHY DON’T YOU TELL ME ANYWAY?”

Qira tried not to think about the first part of that reply. “Yes, it’s- it’s about Gale.” She started. She felt a sense of nervousness.

“INDEED IT IS.” Death said. Qira waited but received no further word from him. It appears that he is waiting for her to continue.

“GO ON.”

“Right. As you probably already know, she is… not exactly alive anymore. A spirit that’s forced to remain on the mortal plane together with everyone else. I’m not one to beat about the bush on a conversation, so I’ll get to the point and keep my request short.” Qira explained.

A pause. She takes a deep breath.

“I… need you to bring her back. Back to her body alive and well, I mean. Are you able to do that?”

Death eyed her for a second. “WELL, LUCKY FOR YOU, I BRING DEAD SOULS BACK TO THE LIVING WORLD ALL THE TIME. YOUR FRIEND HERE INCLUDED, OF COURSE.” Death said, nodding to the Wynn soldier. “HOWEVER, GALE IS… AN EXCEPTION.”

“An exception?” Qira asked.

“DO YOU NOT REMEMBER HOW SHE DIED? THAT GALE ENDED UP WHE-”

“I- yes, I understand now. Please… don’t continue.” Qira interrupted. The Wynn soldier looked at her with a slight interest and curiosity, but kept quiet.

“PRECISELY. ANYWAY, LIKE I SAID, THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES MAKE HER A CLEAR EXCEPTION. I AM NOT ABLE TO BRING HER SOUL BACK FROM THAT SPIRITUAL FORM OF HERS TO HER CORPOREAL BODY. AT LEAST, NOT WITHOUT SOME HELP.” Death said.

“Some help?” Qira asked, wracking her mind on who Death could possibly ask help from. “…from who?”

“LET ME EXPLAIN. I MAY HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE SOULS OF LIVING BEINGS, BUT THE EXTRACTION OF SOULS AND THE REJUVENATION OF BODIES THAT ARE TOO FAR GONE ARE FAR BEYOND MY POWER. YOU’LL NEED A MIRACLE FOR THAT TO BE ACHIEVED.” Death added.

Qira was silent. She wasn’t ready to give up yet, but it seems like she has reached a roadblock. Who except Death is able to help her with the resurrection now?

“…OR SHOULD I SAY,” Death continued, “SOME… DIVINE INTERVENTION.”

Both of the guests looked at Death again, who has just picked up one of his cookies for himself.

“Divine intervention?” Qira asked.

“YOU’RE SMART, FIGURE IT OUT.” Death encouraged, slightly amused. “C’MON, IT’S NOT THAT DIFFICULT.”

Divine intervention, implying that… Qira needs the powers of a god? But that would mean she would have to get…

“NO, NOT HER.” Death seeming to read her mind, mildly frustrated. “THE OTHER ONE.”

Qira stared at Death in visible disbelief. “The Light Beast?” she asked.

“CORRECT!” Death said, biting onto the cookie.

Qira raised an eyebrow.

“You… do know who I am, right?” she asked the skeletal figure sitting in front of her.

“YES.”

“And… I’m sure you know what happens if I were to be exposed to the light?”

“WELL, WHAT HAPPENS?”

Qira looked at Death incredulously. Is he really unaware? “What do you mean, “what happens”? Entering the Realm of Light is suicide! Once I go in, I’m already- already…” she stopped.

“-ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE?” That insufferable skeleton finished for her. She’s fallen into the trap.

If that skull had an expressive mouth over his jaw Qira was certain that it would be smirking. She’s starting to really dislike the Spirit of Death. She would retort if not for the fact that he was her only hope in bringing Gale back to life.

“APPARENTLY HUMANS AREN’T THE ONLY ONES, HOW DISAPPOINTING.” Death murmured to himself from the lack of reaction. He directed himself back to Qira. “ANYWAY, YOU’RE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE. AGAINST HIS INFLUENCE, AT LEAST. YOU PROBABLY DON’T NEED ME TO SAY THIS, BUT YOU’RE NOT GOING TO IMMEDIATELY DROP DEAD THE MOMENT YOU SET YOUR EYES ON THE GOD OF LIGHT, OTHERWISE YOU’LL BE DIGGING YOUR OWN GRAVE BY EVEN CONSIDERING ENTERING THE REALM.”

Death casually takes another cookie from the plate.

“HOWEVER, GIVEN YOUR DERNIC ORIGIN, THIS IS STILL A DANGEROUS JOURNEY.” He continued. “STAY IN THERE FOR TOO LONG, AND IT’LL BE THE KISS OF DEATH FOR YOU. BOTH LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY. EVEN FROM MY HANDS. I’M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING YOU BACK FROM ERASURE BY THE SHEER MIGHT OF A GOD’S RAYS.”

That’s it then. She has to face Orphion himself. Fantastic.

“WELL, DO YOU HAVE A BETTER IDEA? THIS IS THE ONLY SOLUTION.” Death asked.

She looked at Death once more. He has done it again; she was sure of it this time. He's reading her mind, isn't he?

“OR, PERHAPS, YOUR EXPRESSION.” Death said, a knowing grin on his nonexistent mouth.

She despises him even more now.

“…right.” Qira said, gritting her teeth.

It seems like Death has had enough of joking for now. “I SUPPOSE IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO LEAVE. YOU KNOW THE PLAN, AND I’LL DO MY THING ONCE THE LIGHT BEAST DOES HIS. I’LL KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENS. AND I DO APOLOGISE FOR EVERYTHING EARLIER; THIS IS THE MOST FUN I’VE HAD IN YEARS. IT’S NOT EXACTLY EVERY DAY DEATH GETS TO MEET AN IMMORTAL.”

Death opened the portal once again with a lift of a wrist and turned to the Wynn soldier. “WELL, I’LL PROBABLY BE SEEING YOU SOON. HAVE A NICE LIFE OUT THERE.” He said to them. They wave to Death and leave.

“AND AS FOR YOU, QIRA… PROBABLY NOT. WHO KNOWS. ALTHOUGH MORE COMPANY DOES MEAN I’LL BE LESS LONELY, AND I DO ENJOY PEOPLE’S VISITS.” Death said. Qira highly doubts that she will ever return for any sort of friendly visit. She begins to walk towards the portal as Death called out to her again.

“ALSO, YOU AND THAT GIRL… I DON’T USUALLY PICK SIDES, BUT THIS IS THE MOST EXCITEMENT I’VE HAD IN A LONG TIME, I’M ROOTING FOR YOU TWO.”

Qira looks back at the skeleton.

“WHAT?” Death said. “I MAY BE HEARTLESS BUT I HAVE A HEART. OR… THE OTHER WAY ROUND. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.” Qira nodded after a moment and then started to step through.

“YOU TWO HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL, I CAN SEE IT.” Death added. “GO KNOCK ‘ER DEAD.”

Next Chapter

 

Death funnyman 10 stars

 

Holy shit I can't explain my love toward baguettes

 

idc that he's basically stolen straight out of Discworld Death is literally the best character in Wynncraft and u captured him perfectly well done :))

 

Part 2, Chapter 5: The Lunge

Qira has just been met with proof of an afterlife. She tried not to dwell on the thought that immortality is now practically the norm, knowing that the Spirit of Death constantly brings people back to life when they die anyway. Did that make sense? Did her trip to Death’s Realm even happen or was it all just some dream? The concept seemed absolutely ludicrous to even exist in the world that she’s known for years. As Qira laid on her duvet bed looking up to the ceiling, she’s half-convinced that she probably just took a whiff of the forest’s bluecap mushrooms on accident and imagined the whole thing.

Whatever it was, Death’s instructions for Qira did make some form of sense. After all, who else can she turn towards to for a resurrection of a human soul than a god?

Many individuals have attempted such a feat in the past, but none of them have managed to come up with the solution to true resurrection. “No spell can raise the dead” and all that, as the old saying goes.

The closest thing that has been done to reach this achievement are ghosts and spirits, and the mere reanimations of corpses, the province of Wynn having marvellously displayed such in a less-than-ideal situation.

Looks like she’ll be away from the Hive for a while.

…

“Oh, alright. When will you be returning?”

“I can’t be sure.” Qira said to Gale, the both of them underneath of the archway of the Hive’s entrance. “But I’ll try to come back as soon as possible, alright?”

“Alright.” Gale responded, grabbing hold onto Qira’s hands. “You did say you were going on a dangerous mission, so stay safe out there, okay?”

“I will. Besides, if anything does happen to me, the Wynn soldier is also here. They’ve been through worse, they should be able to handle whatever hiccups occur.” Qira assured, looking behind her and glimpsing the human waiting at the distance.

“You better! Otherwise if you return as a ghost you’re never going to hear the end of it from me, heehee!” Gale joked.

Qira didn’t have the heart to tell her what she was about to head to. Nor did she have the heart to tell her that she might not actually make it through this journey. Let’s just hope the Light Beast is merciful, she thought.

“I’ll try not to.” Qira said with a smirk that hid her true emotions. “I’d best be heading off now.”

“Alright, see you soon!”

…

Qira’s face was one of distraught as she followed the human walking with her past Cinfras County. “Wynn soldier… if I don’t return from the Realm in at least a day, please go back to the Hive and… and tell them what I’ve done.”

The soldier nodded once in reply.

…

The Light Forest. Qira continued walking along the grass path in her own thoughts as the soldier led her from the front.

“I haven’t been to this place too many times… how far away is it?”

The Wynn soldier pointed at a giant stump in the distance.

“That? I recall walking past the stump on a few occasions, I wasn’t aware that it was the portal to the Realm of Light.” Qira said. As she neared the remains of the tree, she noticed that there was an entrance that was protected by a large green barrier of magic she had not seen before.

“Is that opening only visible to those who are aware of its existence?” She asked.

The Wynn soldier shrugged, continuing to walk towards the barrier. As they neared the magical wall, the solid-looking green mist appeared to instantaneously shatter, breaking the shield. The both of them entered and climbed up the winding path.

“So, this is it, then?” Qira said to nobody in particular as she looked down at the gateway at the center of the stump. “I’d suggest that you stay out here and keep watch, Wynn soldier, in case anything goes wrong in the realm. I know you’re more than capable of surviving in there, but… I’m not sure what will happen once I enter.”

The human nodded again in understanding. They walked towards the wall and sat down, watching Qira as she stepped towards the edge of the branch.

“You’ve been very helpful these past two days, adventurer.” She said to the human. “Assuming I manage to return, I figure that you’d deserve a reward, don’t you think?”

They looked on as Qira prepared to jump. “Until next time.” She muttered to the Wynn soldier.

And she leapt.

New Chapter

 

Baguette is good with tomatoes.

 

Part 2, Chapter 6: Road to Divinity

Pain.

Searing, scorching pain was what Qira experienced immediately upon landing.

Not any amount of agony she hasn’t handled before, but the light of Orphion immediately took her entire self by surprise. She quickly looked around, the colorful and lush landscape beyond the marble platform enjoyed by many of its inhabitants is deadly poison to Qira and her form.

She can already feel herself getting weaker by the second. She needs to move on.

Where does she go? Where is Orphion in this realm of his?

In a rash guess she quickly makes a decision of climbing the tallest hill she can find. If he isn’t there she can at least have a higher vantage point.

Time is running out. Sooner or later she’ll be struggling to even walk and she knows it.

The path to the highest point she can see was thankfully right in front of her. As she hurried along the ethereal landscape, she starts to hear noises and screams of terror from down below in the flower forest. The inhabitants of the realm have definitely noticed her and her aura that completely conflicts with theirs. The familiar force that plagued their lands before the end of the Harbinger of Decay…

Qira examines her staffless hand as small, dark wisps of her own form begin to tear away from her very skin. She looks up and sees several blue apparitions at the distance that seem to walk on the very fog they create. It reminded her of Gale. She needs to move on before anything tries to stop her.

Said too soon.

Qira comes face to face with a towering sentinel whose head shone the flaring colors of dawn, as bright and glaring as the sun itself. She can’t afford to lose more time…

“Seachbhóthar Scáth, Dlúith!”

A flash of black.

In the spur of the moment, she had to forcefully warp through the sentinel with her powers. This was urgent. She hoped her spell didn’t cause too much collateral magic to taint them… she looked at the long stretch of ground behind her, the bright powdery colors completely destroyed by a violent splash of dark ebony and jet, the edges spreading outwards in root-like formations before slowing to a stop. The sentinel had black and red scars throughout its body, but was otherwise still standing. Orphion will have to deal with the mess later, but she mustn’t use her spells again.

At least the sheer radiance of the realm didn’t completely nullify her abilities.

Qira sees a structure in the distance, some sort of palace or castle on the next island… it’s the only building she’s seen in the vicinity, he has to be in there.

Running out of time.

She runs towards the only point of access she sees, a blue bridge made of crystallized magic. Qira then spots a large, flying whale-like creature above her and hears several noises from behind. She turns around, taken aback by a long trail of dark essence she had left behind floating in the air like hundreds of pieces of fabric, along with several figures advancing along the path. The creatures of light must be preventing her from reaching the palace.

She was thankful that the Realm of Light was still recovering from the Decay. Qira made her way onto the bridge at top speed, before hearing the loud crunching of what seems to be glass. She looks down.

The bridge was collapsing under her antithetical influence.

Qira was losing energy fast, but she had no other choice. She waved her staff and ran across the collapsing platform with enhanced speed, the creatures of the realm trapped at the other side.

Almost there… can make it…

She leapt, crashing downwards onto the ground at the other side of the collapsing bridge while the rest of the magical fragments and mist fell into the endless void below. Pulling herself back up, she notices her darkness beginning to spread throughout the ground all around her. She no longer has the strength to hold her aura in.

With all the leakage, Qira was surprised that there weren’t already alarms blaring throughout the palace. How easy was it for that Dernic Parasite to infiltrate the realm?

She looked towards the gates of the towering palace at the distance. She has to teleport there again, otherwise she’ll die before she makes it to the front door.

Unfortunately to Qira’s dismay, the furthest she could warp to was the front entrance of the structure. She soon discovered why, as the wooden door opened and a choir of angels soared out of the opening, all of them circling Qira and proceeding to point their spears at her.

No way out.

Qira clutched onto her blood-red staff as she struggled to stand on her own two feet. She wasn’t sure if her already blurry mind would remain whole in the next few minutes, but Qira isn’t taking any chances. She looked towards the flaming winged beings. They had six pairs, and for some reason some of them have two covering each their head and feet. Qira barely registered this, forcing herself to face up at their burning presences.

“Bring me… to… to Orphion.” Qira was surprised at her own gasping breath. “Please.”

The idea of an entity of darkness requesting to directly see the God of Light was absurd, and the continuous leakage of dark essence in the air and by her feet weren’t doing her any favors either. Some of the angels who did not have their faces covered looked at each other. They were definitely communicating, but it wasn’t clear what. Qira leaned on her staff anxiously, feeling more of her lifeforce draining from her every second.

Soon, the winged beings parted and presented Qira an entry into the palace.

…This was relieving, but completely unexpected. Were they taking pity on her after seeing her deteriorating form? No, that can’t be. Were they fulfilling her request sending her to the God of Light, but merely for her execution? Why would they let one of dark influence into Orphion’s home so easily, especially after the disastrous consequences of the previous one?

Whatever it is, their goals are beyond her own understanding. Perhaps they could sense her intentions, Qira thought, as she lumbered through a long corridor.

Running out of life… she must do this for Gale…

A white light appeared in front of Qira, the angels who were following her surrounding it. Was this some sort of teleporter to Orphion, or a beam of pure light energy to eradicate her? Only one way to find out, Qira thought, as she forced herself into the brightness.

Weak… must continue on…

Turns out they weren’t sending Qira to immediate doom after all. She finds herself in another area filled with things that she could no longer focus on. A few of the angels from earlier reappeared by Qira and started to escort her to the direction of a large door.

Why am I here? Do they not sense the urgency of her situation?!

The humanoid manifestations of light in the room noticed the commotion, some of them following the escort group in curiosity. Before long, several light constructs, a few flying crystals and other entities that Qira couldn’t recognize were following the angels up a flight of stairs to a giant gateway. This must be it…

…her form is close to dissipating…

A strange creature with crescent-tipped limbs walked past the small crowd and activated the gateway with their giant eye. Qira stumbled in.

Next Chapter

 

Now lets play guess the mob.
What? No, I'm not going to do it.

 

Just so you know Orphion's text was meant to be like this

If anyone knows how to add shadow to text please tell me
Also if you haven't switched to dark mode by now... e

Part 2, Chapter 7: Orphion

Bright. The brightest light that she has, and will ever see in her life.

Or was it just because she was on the verge of collapsing?

It was like the sky had split open with a burst of pure energy… Qira felt like she would vaporise just by looking at it.

…

The intensity of the light lessened. There he was, a giant quadruped entity resembling some sort of wolf, with antlers at the top of his head. Ancient patterns that marked the beast’s smooth, white fur shone with gold as he slowly began to walk towards Qira.

…might as well make her request before she dies…

She dropped to the ground with a knee and supported herself with her staff with the last of her strength.

“I…”

Qira can’t speak. She’s too exhausted to. She could feel her form tearing away from her faster and faster.

Orphion looks up to the swirling mass of Darkness above them, remnants of the skirmish with the Parasite. He directs his power at it, casting a small beam of energy. The bottom of the vortex, attracted to this small fragment of light, begin to follow it down onto the ground below, gradually being led to Qira before getting siphoned directly into her.

Qira gasped sharply as a long trail of darkness from the sky continued to absorb into her. She felt like she could breathe again. Her paling skin slowly began to darken into her usual ebony, and her strength quickly returned to her entire self.

“Creature of the dark. You have stepped into the roots, and into my realm, to ask me for a request.” Orphion’s voice didn’t sound angry, nor accusatory, nor even questioning, it was just a neutral tone that seemed to bring a strange inexplicable calm to Qira.

She continued to remain in a bowing position, with a knee still on the ground. She clutched her staff tighter. “Yes… I have travelled across Gavel searching for the answer to resurrection, for the one that I love. I have faced the Spirit of Death itself, who eventually led me to your realm. I was told that you would have to power to make this happen.”

“The previous visitor from the land of the dark was disastrous to my body, calamitous to the realm. The parasitical entity that wracked my form nearly snuffed out the light of this world, casting this plane of influence into a permanent night. The forces of Light and Dark have been ancient enemies, and we have always been at constant war against each other.” Orphion said.

“But I know of what you’ve done. I’ve seen what you have been preparing, and I know what your intentions are. You are unlike any creature of the Dark that I have ever witnessed, dark yet shining brighter than any I’ve known. However, if I were to give you what you are seeking, you will have to give me something in exchange.”

“Something in exchange?” Qira repeated. She didn’t know what Orphion wanted from her. Her magic? Her life? …she decided to ask, just in case. “What do you want me to give?”

“You have been fighting alongside my forces, even if indirectly, pushing back the shadows from the territory of which they don’t belong to. You, Qira, are a Darkness in my Light, yet you’re the light in the darkness.” Orphion said. “Your presence will be useful, essential even, in the inevitable advance of the War of the Realms, when the severity of the imbalance begins to glow even greater than before. Lari… she is no longer able to return to my service. Hence, all I ask of you in return is simply your devotion. Your direct devotion to me that would answer to my call whenever I need it.”

So Qira is taking the place of the elf girl… she supposed that it is an honorable position to be in, being by the side of Orphion. The Darkness was what she’s been fighting against, after all.

“I’ll do it.” Qira told Orphion, bowing her head. “I’ll accept my place into your… servitude.”

“Aide, rather.” Orphion said. “Lari was my servant, but her emotions and morals held her back. I must admit, I should have been more involved with my pulse when she needed me most, but the arrival of the human you were accompanied by thankfully brought an alternative to the problem, a new solution to the dim light of hope that was left. I will not make the same mistake again.”

“…I see.” Qira said. “How will you be contacting me?”

“The same method I used when I had communicated with my previous saviors, I will elaborate on it in the future.” Orphion replied. “But for now, a new sun has risen from the night… a glaring brilliance that shall illuminate the dark path ahead despite the umbra within you. The clash of two different forces… but this time, in a new light.”

“I’m honored to be in your service.” Qira said to the Light Beast, bowing once more before getting up from the ground.

“Qira, beings from the two different forces of influence working together to achieve true balance is unprecedented. Even if you are the only one from the Realm of Darkness that will ever turn to the other side, you truly are a shining beacon of hope for the realms.” Orphion averred. He then proceeded to concentrate, a small ball of light forming in the air right in front of him. “The star was starting to rise, but yet the dawn of a new day breaks… Take this gift, my pulse, and we shall meet again someday.”

Most of the bright light faded and in its place was a glowing ball of what seems to be some sort of smooth crystal. Qira took hold of it, feeling its warm surface. Somehow, implanted in her mind, she already knew what to do with it.

Next Chapter

 

Big fluffy Goodboye.

 

Part 2, Chapter 8: Eternal Gift

Qira anxiously transported herself to the Hive entrance upon leaving the realm. The Wynn soldier wasn’t where she last saw them, so she rushed to the Hive to see if they had gone there for whatever reason.

Surprisingly enough, they were at the Hive. As she walked past her Guard Drones however, Qira also saw next to the human a floating mass-

WHAM!

-shooting straight forwards, violently crashing into her.

“WHERE ON EARTH WERE YOU?!” Gale screamed as she hugged Qira tightly. “THEY CAME INTO THE HIVE SAYING THAT YOU WERE MISSING AND REFUSED TO TELL ME WHERE YOU WENT!”

They? Oh, right, the human.

“I- it’s alright, it’s alright, I’m here now, I’m okay!” Qira said, trying to calm the sobbing ghost down. “Wynn soldier, didn’t I tell you to only come here if I was gone for at least one day?”

“ONE?!” Gale shrieked. “That means- THAT MEANS YOU’VE BEEN MISSING FOR THREE DAYS! IT’S BEEN TWO SINCE THEY ARRIVED!”

“Wait… what? I’ve only been in the Realm of Light for at the very most an hour!” Qira said. Does time flow differently in that place?

Gale pulled herself away from Qira for a moment, attempting to dry her tears. “W- wait, hold on, slow down. The Realm of- I’ll, I’ll get to that later, you went to- to that place and… did what?! Why did you tell them to report here if you went missing? HOW DANGEROUS WAS THIS MISSION?!” She continued to scream, shaking Qira’s shoulders.

Qira grabbed hold on Gale’s arms. She’s going to have to have a long talk about this. “Gale.”

Gale took a deep breath. “I- …yeah. I- I think I’m okay now. Hhoof.”

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know, I promise. Is It alright if you wait at the back?”

“T- the back? I- okay, sure…” Gale said, floating towards the rear of the Hive as she wiped her eyes.

Qira turned to the Wynn soldier. “You stayed in the Hive for two days? I assume they provided sufficient hospitality to you after you explained the situation?” Qira did foresee this after all, she had told the servants about how they should treat this specific challenger, and there were a couple of guest rooms that were usually left unused as well.

Thankfully, the Wynn soldier nodded. That was settled, then.

“You’ve been of great service to me, for helping me in my quest. Come back tomorrow morning, I’ll have something prepared for you then.” The Wynn soldier nodded and then left, waving to Qira at the entrance of the Hive as she returned the action.

Now for Gale. She’s got a lot of explaining to do.

…

“…I… think… I think I got it?” Gale spoke up after several minutes of exposition from the Sorceress. “So, Death, and the- Orphion? You met a god? Like, an actual god?!”

Qira nodded. “Pretty much.”

“Wait, so you travelled to the land of the dead, and then risked your life in what was basically heaven… or, hell rather, since you were kinda dying in there- wait a minute.” Gale said. “…you still haven’t told me what you did all that f-”

Gale didn’t finish her sentence; It seems like she has suddenly remembered the conversation they had the morning before her trip. As absurd as it seems, as unbelievable as it sounds…

“Wait. No. No you didn’t- no, that’s- that’s impossible.”

Qira said nothing, pulling out the orb still filled with soft, glowing light – Orphion’s Gift.

“…want to take a visit to your gravestone, or do you need some time to process it?”

…

Gale’s frozen in place, but Qira could tell she was going to start tearing up again.

“Gale-”

Qira suddenly has a ghost clutching onto her for dear life before she even knew it.

She heard a muffled ‘thank you’ before she hugged back.

…

Next Chapter

 

"I love baguette." Qira responded affectionately

The two later proceeded to go to the local bakery for some good baguettes.

 

The final boss of this story is Ohms and it will end with him killing Qira at her full power because he collaborated with Dr. Legendary to make a golem that is basically just Qira but stronger. Qira does not live to exact her revenge on Dr. Legendary. Gale doesn't know what to do and nor does the writer so she is written out of the story

 

Part 2, Chapter 9: Gone with the Wind

It appears that Gale did need some time to process it. There she was, sitting on the side of Qira’s bed thinking it though.

“Alive… I get to be… I get to live again.”

Qira heard Gale’s muttering. “That’s right. If it makes you feel even better, you don’t have to worry about the average lifespan of a human as well.”

“Oh… oh, right! Oh my god, I completely forgot you could do that… life-extend thing!” Gale said as she turned to Qira.

“It’s not a simple process by any means, but yes, I’ll be able to.”

Qira sits there with Gale for a moment longer.

“Alright.”

“Hm?”

“I think- I think I’m ready. Let’s go.”

…

“Heh, looks a little… dustier than the last time I was here, huh?”

The both of them are standing there, in front of Gale’s grave.

“So, uh… do we… do you need to like, dig me out first or… how does this work?”

“I’m not too sure… but I’ll bring you out as soon as I use this.” Qira said, holding up the orb.

She stepped towards the soil and went down on a single knee, steadying herself.

“Ready?”

Gale has a nervous yet determined smile on her face. She nodded. “Ready.”

“Here we go.” Qira said, holding Orphion’s Gift just above the soft surface. It wasn’t long before the orb started to react, the glow within increasing with intensity and the sphere raising off of Qira’s palm.

Orphion’s Gift begins to spin faster and faster, Gale noticing herself glow. She waved happily to Qira one last time before her spiritual form evaporated into nothingness.

The light from the orb went back to normal soon after, dropping onto the soil.

And there was Qira, all alone. Nothing besides the sound of scuttling Hive Drones in the cave systems below her. She quickly retrieved the orb and waved her wand to lift the soil up from the grave. With a few more mutters of arcane incantations to break several invisible spells around it, she climbed down into the opening and proceeded to open the coffin.

To Qira’s relief, there Gale was, still wearing the attire she had when she died with the rest of her body miraculously in a somewhat healthy condition.

Qira put an ear closer to the sleeping form. She appeared to be breathing lightly.

Silently thanking Orphion, she lifted Gale’s body out of the coffin and placed her in a sitting position along the cave’s wall. Still unconscious. She will have to bring her to her room.

Luckily for the both of them, they didn’t meet anybody on the way to Gale’s quarters. Qira gently placed her on her own bed.

She then proceeded to head towards a nearby chair, and there she sat, waiting.

Next Chapter

 

Not long later, Gale pulled out an enormously huge baguette, holding it as she looks at Qira affectionately.
"Should we?"

Qira, not expecting the size of her baguette, gulped as she nods as her response, "Yes. Lets share this baguette."

They then had a good meal.