mindcracklove | Fated (Chapter Seventy-Eight)

tanadin posting in

So we're approaching the final arc of Fated, and I'd say we're maybe ten chapters away from the end (don't quote me on that). Our adventure is almost at its end, but it only gets ~~worse~~ BETTER from here. I mean...what could go wrong?

Chapter list: http://tanadin.dreamwidth.org/382.html
Map of the continent: http://tanadin.deviantart.com/art/Fated-map-544073443
Character status spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RKoeOLYhQctmZ5McNHc_kid0tjfb1BxyuD8i95FmFQE/edit?usp=sharing

Chapter Seventy-Eight

Kingdom of Kalt’on, Minecraftia. November 15, year 573. Time instance 483Z.

“Are you sure you have to go?” Shriker asked sadly.

Iirkolav nodded. “Not all of the Hostiles are dead yet. We can’t rest until they’ve all fallen.”

“What will you do once you’ve killed them all, though?”

“I don’t know. Rebuild Dalania, probably.” Iirkolav shrugged. “It’s a starting point. I haven’t thought too much about it. Nia over there is the heir to the throne, so it only makes sense.”

Nia felt a shiver run through her as it always did whenever she remembered that. I’m the heir to the Dalanian throne. Once this is all over, I’ll be queen. It was a strange feeling.

Shriker’s eyebrows rose. “Really? No wonder…” He trailed off, thoughtful. “Well, if you need any help at any point, know you have an ally in Kalt’on. It’s time we stopped being so cut off from the world. It would be good to have a trading partner, as well…no one is going to trust us, not for a long time, at least.”

Iirkolav nodded and shook Shriker’s hand. “Thank you for helping us dethrone Kyilld. We’ve put a major dent into the Hostiles.”

“No, thank you. We never would have won without your help.” Shriker stepped forward and shook Nia’s hand as well. “Best of luck to all of you.”

“Thank you. We’ll need it.” Onai told him, nodding.

Shriker paused in front of Arra before stepping forward and giving her a hug. “You’re sure you have to go with them?”

“I’m sure, Shriker. I’m one of the prophecy or whatever, right? Don’t worry, I’ll be back.” She grinned widely. “Of course, I’ll have some more stories to tell and probably a few more scars.”

Shriker laughed and shook his head. “Never change, old friend.”

“Yes, your majesty.” She bowed sarcastically and he snorted.

“I’m never going to get used to that.”

“Good.” She hit his shoulder. “Now get back to monarching. Put this place back together.”

“I will.” Shriker said his goodbyes to the group once more before going back inside, his too-large purple cloak dragging on the ground behind him.

Iirkolav turned to the group. “Are we ready to go?”

Nia looked around and nodded. “Yeah, I think we are. Anyo-”

“Wait!”

Everyone looked curiously at the unfamiliar voice belonging to the girl running quickly towards them, but Onai stepped forward. “Kera!”

“Wait!” She repeated, skidding to a halt in front of Onai. “I wanted to thank you for not killing me when you had the chance. I do kinda appreciate living.”

Onai shrugged. “You deserved to live. It’s not really a big deal.”

“I know, but…” Kera unbuckled the belt around her waist and handed it to Onai, sword, sheath, and all. “I wanted you to have this.”

Onai raised an eyebrow. “What is this?”

“It’s an old family heirloom, but I never really liked it and I feel like it belongs with you more.”

Onai carefully pulled the sword slightly out of its sheath to reveal its dark blade, glinting in the dim moonlight. “What is this made of?”

“I have no idea.” Kera admitted. “It’s a lot stronger than iron, though.”

A blade of darkness and shadow, created by someone who had no business creating magical weapons.

Onai nodded and sheathed it again, replacing his own sword belt and handing it to Marcus (who looked really happy to just have a new weapon despite the fact that he was already carrying an insane amount of the things). “Thank you. I’ll use it well.”

Kera nodded. “Good luck.” She paused, tilting her head as if listening, the turned to Axid. “You take good care of him, alright? He’s got a good soul.”

Axid nodded. [I will. Don’t worry.]

Kera smiled and stepped backwards, vanishing into the shadows.

Axid raised an eyebrow at Onai. [Who was that?]

“A friend. I’ll explain as we walk.” He turned to Iirkolav and Nia. “I think we can get going.”

Iirkolav nodded and turned to the group. “Let us leave this place, then. Onwards!” With that, Mokdal roared and took to the skies, followed quickly by Nessy, and they started to walk, down the streets of Dae’vos and out into the desert.

~~~

Queen of the greatest kingdom to ever see the light of day. That’s your destiny, Nia.

Nia shivered as the voice she had been hearing spoke softly to her as they walked north through the desert, both dragons flying overhead.

What makes you say that?

You’re the heir to the Davion throne, and Dalania was the greatest kingdom. The only reason it fell was due to reasons out of their control. But once Iilthrid is free, he won’t be causing that again, will he?

Nia wondered, not for the first time, what the voice wanted with her. It was always whispering, always trying to convince her that she was better than she had ever imagined that she was. It wasn’t necessarily unwelcome, only strange. She had no idea where it was coming from and was too afraid to ask the others about it. What would she even say? Oh hey, guys, I’m hearing voices in my head. Is that normal?

No. Bad plan.

You’re more than anyone can realize. Even you are struggling to see. But you can be the greatest ruler Dalania ever had, rebuilding it better than it ever was before. Perhaps you could even be queen of the world.

As fun as that would be, no. Nia shuddered at the thought. Her, ruling the world? That sounded like a recipe for disaster.

You’re greater than you give yourself credit for. Someone needs to unite the world, and you’re the best suited for the job. Who else could? Adrian? No. He’s not cut out to rule.

Iirkolav, for one.

Iirkolav’s time is long past. He was meant to live two hundred years ago, not now.

Skera. Samuel. Shred. Anyone would be better than me, really.

Don’t sell yourself short.

Before Nia could continue to argue with the voice, she noticed Nessy flying lower to the ground and landing next to a rock. She scratched at it with her claws briefly before shaking herself and taking off again.

Okay. That was weird. Nia shrugged it off, though, focusing on walking instead of thinking about Nessy or the voice in her head.

Claws of darkness, voice of insanity.

Less than half an hour later, however, her thoughts were once more interrupted by that nagging little voice in her head.

You deserve more than this- walking through the desert, feet aching, with random nobodies told that they’re worth something by some words spouted by an old bronze dragon. So many of your number have already fallen. What’s to say that there’s actually anything to these people?

Nia blinked in realization. The voice was right, she realized. They were all just people. They weren’t really special in any way…

Except for you.

No way. Nia shook off the feeling that the voice had been pulling over her. I’m no better than the others. We’ve lost people a lot better and worse than me. I’ve just been lucky, and they’ve been protecting me because without me, the prophecy is completely void.

Why do you think that is? Why do you think that it’s you that the entire prophecy hinges on?

I… Nia didn’t really have a response to that.

You are the only one that can shoot Kaen no Mai. It chose you, Nia. It chose you because you are special. You are a Davion, and that makes you superior.

Does it…? Something felt wrong with what the voice was saying, but…

No! The thought exploded across her mind. A certain family isn’t better than any other. I don’t know who or what you are, but you’re wrong. I’m only as good as I make myself.

The voice fell silent at that, and Nia felt a feeling of victory rise in her chest. So it can be silenced with reason. That’s good to know.

Hours later, at dawn, Iirkolav motioned for them to make camp. He waved for Mokdal and Nessy to land (oddly enough, Nessy had stayed in dragon form all day, despite usually preferring human form) as everyone stopped and sat in the sand, resting their tired legs.

Why does Iirkolav lead this group and not you, Nia? He’s not in the prophecy. His time is long past.

Oh, shut up.

Once the tent she shared with Nessy was set up, she sat down and rummaged through her bag to try and find her pillow. Nessy was likely going to be sleeping outside in her dragon form, which made the tent feel somewhat empty, but Nia decided to enjoy how decluttered it felt for once.

As she pulled her pillow out, her hand bumped into something rough and hard. She frowned slightly, pulling the object out of her bag and looking it over for a few seconds, remembering where she had obtained it. She shrugged and put it back, setting the bag down. She turned away and crawled into her sleeping bag, not closing her eyes despite her tiredness.

It was a shame she wasn’t turned around, or she might have seen something that would have saved them a certain amount of tragedy.

The stone in her bag glowed faintly red, the spirit inside laughing hysterically to himself where none could hear, or so he thought.

In the nearest tent, Onai shivered, knowing what would happen and knowing that any attempt to interfere would only make things worse.

Heart aching, he curled up to sleep as well, knowing it would take him hours despite Axid’s close proximity and her usual calming effect on him. He tried to focus on her breathing instead of his bloody and deadly thoughts, but he knew even that could not distract him from the endgame that was fast approaching…

-~-

Blame buried his face in a pillow and screamed into it at the top of his lungs, making every Mindcracker in the room jump. Vechs had been startled by the appearance of a rock in Nia’s bag and the bad feeling it gave him, and had gotten Blame’s attention regarding it.

Its red glow only confirmed what they both had been suspecting, and while Blame screamed his fury, Vechs slowly raised his eyes to look at his friends.

“Nia has Kaltaerion.” He spoke in almost a whisper. “She has the stone his spirit is contained in and I can almost guarantee he’s been whispering into her mind, trying to drive her insane. No wonder she’s been so jumpy lately…” A shiver ran down Vechs’ spine as the room fell silent, staring as the horror of the situation set in.

The future queen of Dalania was being influenced by Kaltaerion Davion, one of the most evil and insane beings to ever live.

“Oh shit.” Nebris whispered.

“’Oh shit’ doesn’t BEGIN to cover it.” Blame raged. “Do you have ANY idea what this could DO to Nia? To the entire fucking team? They’re DEAD, Nebris! THEY’RE ALL GOING TO FUCKING DIE TO KALTAERION DAVION!”

“They won’t die!” Aureylian protested. “He’s clearly not taken over her, right? And if she’s smart, she’ll throw that rock out before he gets too far.”

“She probably doesn’t realize it’s the rock!” Blame roared. “We know! We know and there’s nothing we can do to stop this!”

Vechs looked down into his orb again, watching Nia drift slowly into sleep.

No...