Aftermath

The only casualties of their fight were the rogue and the archer. Darx had dispatched the rogue himself, while the archer had shot at Neku instead of yielding and was impaled fatally by Neku’s enhanced spear throw ability. The other lower ranked enemies, the cleric and fighter had run off in the middle of the fight. The Cleric after Neku shocked him, the fighter while Darx was on the roof dealing with the rogue. The lightning mage was still unconscious on the ground and the heavily armored fighter had surrendered. They had won the fight, but Darx wasn’t happy. They were stuck here dealing with the captives. They hadn’t found Amelia and now they couldn’t even continue to look for her.

There was more bothering him. They had really struggled with a group of mostly low-level adventurers, and even after consuming the healing potions Estella had given them, his friends were both banged up. If he was going to fight demons, turn the tide of this war, his party would need to be far more effective than they were in this fight. If it wasn’t for Wendy’s rare skill, the electricity mage would have been too much for them to handle. No, thought Darx. The mage had been too much for him to handle. His skills were a mixture of magic and fighting abilities, he was not at all a match for that lightning mage in a magic fight. He had learned wind magic, but he barely knew any spells, and he couldn’t even use the Ice magic that he should have. He had beaten the rogue with [Triple Slash] but if it wasn't for [Harmonic Drain], he might not have been able to help the others at all. Darx was embarrassed, he hadn't fought well at all. Darx thought back to the fight with Oblivion in the ruins. He had been largely worthless there too. All he did was cast his water barrier and launch water balls at people. Syvis had saved him in that fight, and she was supposed to be his opponent. If Wendy hadn't tackled him today, he would have taken that crazy looking [Lightning Bolt] too. Darx was sick of people having to save him. He was supposed to be leading them, but he was pathetic.

Darx didn’t feel like a real spellsword, and as a pure caster, he was way behind other casters of his rank. He needed to figure out what his role was in a fight, and get better at it. A lot better. The nation wasn’t going to rally behind the guy who stood around protecting himself while throwing weak magic attacks around, no matter what color his eyes were.

“Darx, are you okay?” It was Wendy. Darx pushed his thoughts about the fight out of his mind. He wasn't going to tell Wendy about it, it was his problem to solve.

“I'm Just frustrated,” Darx answered. “I had really hoped we’d find Amelia.”

“She’s very important to you.” Wendy said, studying his face.

“Yeah, she’s one of my oldest friends.”

Wendy nodded. “Then we’ll keep searching until we find her.”

Darx stepped to Wendy and hugged her, “Thank you, Wendy.”

He was lucky to have Wendy and Neku with him. He couldn’t help but picture Amelia joining them, giving them a healer. Wendy was an interesting fighter. Her skills were well suited for a specialist role, taking out opposing mages and using her spear throw at the right moments. Neku had been phenomenal, her spear throw was even deadlier than Wendy's, the leaping attack she did was devastating and in close combat she used her quickness and the reach of her spear well. Wendy and Neku seemed to fight pretty well together, Darx just needed to start pulling his own weight.

While Darx was thinking the Royal Guard arrived. Wendy took the lead, explained the situation, and the guards took over the site. They retrieved the two fallen fighters, secured the two captives, and took notes about the scene. The guard insisted that Darx, Neku and Wendy come to the palace to give their account of what happened, and while Darx would have rather stayed and tried a last ditch effort to find Amelia before it got truly dark, he went with them.

. . .

Darx was sitting in a small room, waiting. It had been a while since they had arrived at the palace. As a member of the Royal Guard, Wendy had to go make an official report. Neku and Darx had been split up and put in rooms to wait for someone to take their statements. Darx wasn’t worried about Neku and Wendy. He trusted them not to bring up Amelia. She was wanted for murder, and the royal guard would bear the responsibility for bringing her in if they knew she was inside the walls of Riledo. He trusted them both, but it didn’t stop him from worrying. Amelia had been through so much. He just wanted to find her, help her, keep her safe.

“Darx.” A strong feminine voice broke through his thoughts as the door opened. Queen Zara was entering the room, Zhoron right behind her. Darx stood quickly and bowed.

“I’m sorry I have to receive you like this, Darx.” Queen Zara touched Darx on the shoulder, gestured for him to be seated. “I’d prefer to show a little more hospitality. You’ll have to accept my apologies for not hosting you more properly.”

Darx was taken aback. He knew he was an important piece in the plans of both the Royal Family and the Church, but he was expecting an interrogation from the Royal Guard, not a personal apology from the Queen.

“I also know you don't enjoy the normal etiquette of the court, so I won’t waste your time with the usual pleasantries, Darx. Let’s get to the issue at hand.”

“And that is?” Darx asked, not knowing what to expect.

“You are looking for a friend of yours.” The Queen stated. “A young lady named Amelia, B-rank cleric, member of Oblivion and from your home town of Merton. Am I correct in this?”

Darx didn’t say anything. He didn’t want more attention on Amelia. He knew Estella had to ask the queen’s permission to give him information on Amelia, but the more people that knew Amelia was in the city, the more likely she would end up in jail, or worse..

“You don’t need to answer,” the Queen continued, “We have our own sources of information.”

"Estella told you?" Darx asked. She had to ask permission to tell him about Amelia, it made sense that Estella would be the Queen's source.

"Her birds were seen in the slums, Darx, it wasn't hard to piece together that she was involved. And while I prefer her to give me advance notice, she wouldn't dare refuse to answer my questions." The Queen spoke that last sentence with such authority, such presence. Her point was clear. She was the Queen, Estella taking Darx's side and keeping secrets from the Queen for him had never been a possibility.

“Do you know where Amelia is?” Darx asked.

“We know she’s in the city, but we haven’t caught sight of her in days. She’s doing a very good job of staying out of sight. If Estella hadn't caught sight of her, we would still believe she had left the city."

Darx couldn't hide his disappointment.

“You would be wise to work with us, Darx." The Queen continued, her voice stern. "Your friend is in great danger. The woman she killed is from a highly influential noble family, one that has fallen on hard times. They were relying on their daughter’s marriage to Kase to secure their future. Since her death, their status is in serious peril.”

“You think they are looking for Amelia?” Darx asked.

“They look weak right now.” The Queen studied his reaction as she continued. “If they prove unable to avenge the death of their daughter, other houses will start to see them as ripe for the taking.”

Darx hadn’t thought about that. With a noble house desperate to capture her, Amelia wasn’t safe, even if he found her.

“Darx if you can get to her, bring her to us. We can help her.” The Queen said, leaning towards him slightly. “Make sure she gets a fair trial, make it painless for her.”

“Painless?” Darx nearly shouted. “Are you talking execution?”

“Darx,” The Queen looked apologetic as she explained. “There’s not much we can do. She killed a woman. Brutally murdered her.”

“No.” Darx said. “I won’t let that happen.”

“Darx, consider the consequences. Making enemies of a well-connected and po. . .”

“NO!” Darx interrupted, pounding his fists on the table. Zhoron raised an eyebrow, his hand shifted closer to his weapon.

“She didn’t murder anyone. She was being controlled, manipulated by Kase. When the control broke she went crazy. You can’t hold her responsible for the cost of what Kase did to her.”

The Queen looked to Zhoron, he stepped forward.

“You have evidence to support this accusation?” Zhoron queried.

“Yes, you can ask Wendy. She saw it.”

“What did she see?” Zhoron demanded.

Darx went through it all. Wendy touching Amelia, Amelia freaking out, crying out to him, Kase coming, scaring her before she snapped back and acted like nothing had happened, that everyone who knew her all agreed she changed after the ritual, after Kase received his rank and abilities.

The Queen and Zhoron listened intently to the story.

“And now he has my mother. You must have seen it, she changed and left the Guard. She married Kase, joined Oblivion.” Darx lowered his voice, looked to the floor. “That’s not her, and it is really not her to accept her husband cheating on her and threatening her son in front of her.”

There was a moment of silence before Zhoron spoke. “You believe Kase used an ability to control Amelia. That he’s now using it on your mother, and that the murder of Trish was caused by this control breaking?”

“I know how it sounds. That’s why I need to find Amelia, find out what she knows. I failed her before, didn’t do anything to protect her from Kase, I won’t let her suffer more, not when I can help her.”

“And what will you do with what you learn?” The Queen asked.

“Try to find a way to help my mother.” Darx answered, “Try to save her from the fate Amelia suffered.”

The Queen looked contemplative.

“Darx, what you seek is going to be difficult. There will be immense pressure the minute she is in our custody to put her on trial. I don’t know if we can protect her for long, and while I think you may very well be right about Kase, proving it will be incredibly difficult. You may not be able to win a trial.”

“I apologize, your highness, if I wasn’t clear.” Darx stated. He sat up a bit straighter, tried to look as confident as he could. “I will not let Amelia stand trial. I would prefer her to be safe here, with the Royal Guard. But if I need to, I will take her to the church and protect her there.”

That statement made the Queen visibly uncomfortable. Darx didn’t like the idea either. Going to the church to protect Amelia would work, but he would be handing them a massive point of leverage, making Amelia essentially a hostage they would use to force him into their agenda. That wouldn’t go well for the Queen either. She would be pinned between the Church fighting for Darx and the nobles demanding justice.

“Darx, I. . .”

“As I said,” Darx interrupted, driving home the power dynamic of this situation. “I really don’t want to take that course, but I will not allow Amelia to face a trial for something that Kase did.”

“If you want Kase to stand trial for Trish’s death.” The Queen stated. “You’ll need more than deduction and circumstantial evidence, Darx. You will need proof, a lot of it. You will need witnesses.”

“No,” Darx replied. “Kase can’t go to trial. Proving all this in a court, with the lawyers and standing he has available? No. Even if we could prove it, he could pay off or manipulate the judges. It wouldn’t work.”

“Then how do you intend to deal with Kase?” Zhoron asked. “If you are right he won’t just stand by. Amelia is a liability to him.”

“I’m going to kill him.” Darx stated.

“Darx, be serious.” The Queen responded.

“I am. I have to.” Darx said, his fists clenching. “There’s no other way. Once we have a plan to help my mother deal with breaking his control over her, Kase has to be removed. I won’t let him take her back.”

“Darx, he’s an S-rank.” The Queen’s voice revealed her surprise at Darx’s plan. “His invisibility power is beyond anything we have on record. How would you even accomplish it?”

Darx decided he had to trust the Queen, the other choice was the church, and he really didn’t like that option. Even if the Priest didn’t use Amelia as a pawn, he wouldn’t put her in the hands of that man.

“I just need to know the name of his ability.” Darx said softly.

“What?”

“I can. . . deal with his abilities, if I know the names.”

The Queen smiled, “So that’s how it works, your ‘Gift of the Goddess’?”

“You know about that?”

“Again Darx, we have our sources. And you have used it publicly, so of course we know about it." The Queen sat back, folded her arms. “I’d like to hear more about it if you are willing, especially with how it relates to Kase.”

Darx sighed. It was a risk to reveal more, but he had to trust someone. The Royal Family had the best collection of information on abilities, especially their names, of anywhere. After all, it was their people who looked at the cards for each new adventurer. He wasn’t naïve enough to think they didn’t record that information, especially for an S-rank like Kase. If he could convince them that his plan had merit, he might be able to learn the names of Kase’s abilities.

“I activate the Goddess’s gift, I then need to touch them and say the name of an ability they have, and I take it from them.”

“Then they lose the power and you gain it?” The Queen looked thoughtful.

“Yes.”

The Queen looked more intently at him. “Is that all it does?” She looked like she knew there was more. Darx decided to tell her the rest.

“I can also copy abilities at a weaker level without stealing them.”

“Is there a limit to how many abilities you can take?” The Queen asked.

“Yes.” Darx responded. “But I can feel that it gets stronger over time with more use.”

“And have you used it yet? Have you actually stolen an ability?”

Darx told her the story of the bandits, and his acquisition of [Harmonic Drain].

“That’s a very powerful rare ability, Darx.” Zhoron stated. “It did show up again recently, to a lower rank adventurer.”

“Yes, and now it’s mine.”

“That explains your lack of any wounds from your fight.” Zhoron looked him over as he said it.

“I was shot in the shoulder, took a poisoned dagger to the back of my leg and I was stabbed in the ribs twice.” Darx stated. “But [Harmonic Drain] healed all of it.”

“And you haven’t tried to take another ability?” The Queen asked.

“No.” Darx answered. “Right now I feel that I’d lose [Harmonic Drain] if I tried. I need to get stronger before I consider taking another one.”

“Interesting.” Zhoron said.

“Darx,” the Queen leaned forward, her face sympathetic, “we want to help you, Kathleen and I, but it will be costly, and we’d need grounds, some kind of connection to Amelia, or you.” The last words she said with a knowing look. Darx could guess what she was hinting at; name dropping her daughter hadn't been subtle.

“Isn’t that a bit premature?” He asked.

“We don’t need a formal declaration.” She answered. “That would be far too hasty, but we need some assurances that if we take the brunt of the fallout for protecting Amelia that it won’t be used against us.”

“Yeah. . .” Darx said. The Queen made sense, driving a huge rift between the Queen and the nobles would put her in exactly the position the Priest would use to topple them and install Darx as a puppet king. Of course she couldn’t just hand him that without assurances.

“What kind of assurance could I even give you?” Darx responded.

Zhoron stepped forward. “No oath will suffice Darx. But a public display, say when the Dark Elves arrive, if you are seen escorting the princess, being friendly with her, that would be sufficient.”

Darx thought for a minute. “I see, make it look like the princess and I are a couple. Then if I try to depose you, I look like a scheming usurper.”

“To put it bluntly, yes.” Zhoron replied.

“And Princess Kathleen?” Darx asked, “Is she okay with this?”

“She is a princess Darx. She does what she must.” Queen Zara said, her face full of the knowledge of the compromises a monarch must make.

“Not good enough. I won’t marry for politics, and I won’t force someone else to be with me to save their family. That’s repulsive.” Darx made no effort to hide his feelings on the subject.

The Queen laughed, “I don’t know whether to see you as honorable or naïve, Darx.”

“I know I’m naïve, your highness.” Darx replied. “But I hope to be honorable as well.”

“A good answer.” The Queen pursed her lips, her brow furled in thought.

“I’ll take it,” she said after a moment, “We’ll do what we can to protect Amelia, prevent a trial, keep her safe. In return you will escort Kathleen to the meeting with the Dark Elves and we will leave any future plans in your 'honorable' hands, Darx.”

“I'm sorry, your highness, but I need more than that.” Darx said, knowing he might be pushing too far, but he didn't see any other way.

“More?” She asked.

“I need the names of Kase’s abilities.” He said. “Along with any information you have on what they grant him.”

“And how would we get you that information?” Zhoron asked dryly.

“Please, I am not that naïve.” Darx stated. “Or do you mean to tell me that not one of the people that held or verified the adventurer cards remembered what was on those cards?”

Zhoron looked to the Queen, saw her frown and stepped forward.

“Such information, if it did exist, would be highly controversial and would require the greatest of secrecy. Giving out such information would be viewed as extreme favoritism. It would cause immense troubles for the Royal family if such a thing was revealed to have happened.” Darx noted that Zhoron didn’t deny they had the information.

“And you would use it to strip Kase of his powers, right?” The Queen added.

“Yes.”

“With the ultimate goal of killing him?” She followed.

“Yes.”

“We can’t support that Darx.” The Queen stated.

Darx’s anger showed on his face. “Then I’ll do it without your help.”

“Darx. . .”

Darx stood as he cut her off. His voice was raised, almost shouting. “I won’t sacrifice my mother. I won’t sacrifice Amelia, Wendy, or anyone else to that monster. I won’t let him make a mockery of my mother as he openly threatens me. I will not let him rise to running Oblivion, an entire guild with a massive criminal network in his hands is unthinkable. It cannot be allowed!”

As he spoke Zhoron stepped forward, placing himself in-between Darx and the Queen.

“Please, Darx, hear me out.” The Queen practically begged. “If you take his power, weaken and kill him, you will not be seen as a hero, no matter what he’s done. You’ll be feared by every powerful adventurer, opposed by all the nobles. They’ll see you as a monster, Darx. I doubt even the church would support you then.”

Darx clenched his fists, shut his eyes, tried to push down the darkness rising up inside him. There was a part of him that was fine with that idea, more than fine with it. If it took being a monster to save the people he loved from Kase then he would do it. He would strip Kase of his powers, kill him, then do the same to anyone else that opposed him. . .

Darx took a deep breath. He pushed back against his anger, against the darkness, drove back the abyss. He knew that wasn’t the path he wanted to take, that path didn’t end with him living happily with the people he loved.

When he opened his eyes, he saw both intrigue and concern on the Queen’s face.

“That was it, wasn’t it.” Her voice was different now, the power and poise gone, she sounded like a concerned mother. “That was the darkness, the energy from that night.”

“Yes.” Darx admitted as he sat back down.

“That lives inside you?”

He nodded, “I'm getting better at controlling it, but it’s still there. The Goddess sealed it away when she rescued me, but that night, Kase. . .”

“Okay.” She said it with such sympathy and care, it caught Darx off guard.

“Shit,” the Queen said, shocking Darx farther, “The Goddess didn’t make this easy for us, did she?”

“Your highness.” Zhoron interjected.

“We’re well past the formal, Zhoron. He knows the position we are in, and he has entrusted us with his secrets, there’s no need to pretend.”

“But, your highness.”

“I know my love, but we’ve no other path.” Darx was speechless. The Queen had dropped all her royal pretense, openly referred to Zhoron. . .

“Darx, we’ll help you, because we honestly don’t have another option. It’s clear you are what they say you are, you even bear her darkness inside you. If dealing with Kase is necessary for you to overcome that darkness, then we have to help you.”

“Her darkness?” Darx asked.

“Your Majesty, please consider. . .”

“It’s too late Zhoron. What’s the point of holding back now?” Queen Zara said, rubbing her temple. “The prophecies of the return of the line of kings, the heir of Zrephia. It was said the heir would carry with them the darkness that the Princess bore, the same darkness that caused the destruction of Zrephia through the Princess of Calamity.”

Darx thought of his dark self he saw in visions, the times Zaine had pulled him back from the edge. He had thought the darkness inside him was related to his connection to Zaine, that it was her demon power inside him. This was different, and it was much scarier.

The Queen talked for a while longer, but Darx was barely able to listen. They parted with a promise that she would get him all the information they had on Kase’s abilities, while she also advised him to find a way other than weakening or killing Kase to save his mother. He listened, but he couldn’t really process it. Darx’s mind was full of only one thought: The Princess of Calamity, and her darkness that dwelled inside him. He thought of Namy and Usofra, how they had reacted to that darkness. It had scared them. They left to find out more about it. Now Darx knew what it was.

Wendy and Neku were thrilled to see him when he was released, and they all went back to the Midnight Dawn guild house, where Estella saw that they had some food and set them up with a bigger room they could all sleep in. It wasn’t the room at the Church, there were two beds here, the bigger bed and a smaller one they had brought into the room. It wasn’t nearly as luxurious, but Darx didn’t care, couldn’t care, he felt numb.

He could tell Neku and Wendy were worried about him, but he couldn’t tell them what bothered him, couldn’t put it into words. He insisted in taking the small bed, and went right to sleep, his thoughts haunting him.

. . .

The Pleasant Owl

Amelia cursed under her breath. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking. He had been right there, on the street. Darx had found her. If she hadn't changed her hair she was sure he would have recognized her. A not small part of her wished he had. He wouldn't have let her run away if he had recognized her. He would have followed her and she wouldn't be alone right now. Tears started falling from her cheeks. Why couldn't she stop shaking?

Amelia's feelings were all over the place. She wanted nothing more than to go to Darx, explain everything, be with him again. But that wasn't an option, and after tonight, it might never be an option. Darx had ruined her plans, the contact she had worked so hard to make had fled with the poison she had worked and saved to buy. There's no way she'd be able to get that strong of a poison now. A cry escaped her lips. Amelia silently chastised herself. She couldn't cry, she couldn't risk Oliver or Emma catching her leaving. They'd try to stop her, and she didn't have the strength to face that.

Amelia didn't want to leave Oliver and Emma. She hated leaving them without saying goodbye. She hated hiding from Darx. She hated that she was the cause of tension between Oliver and Darx. She hated being away from her son. She hated the plans she had to make. She hated all of this, but she didn't see another way. And now she needed to disappear, maybe even leave the city for a bit. She couldn't risk Darx finding her, she couldn't let him get tied up in her mess. He was important, he had so much ahead of him now. She, on the other hand, was just trying to dodge the death sentence hanging over her head long enough to find a way to kill Kase. Kill one of the most powerful and popular adventurers in the nation. If she succeeded or failed it wouldn't matter, there was no coming back from her path. There was no happy ending for her. But she wouldn't drag Darx or Oliver down with her. She wouldn't do that to them.

Amelia collapsed on her bed, tears flowing. She had been so stupid. She looked at Kase like a hero after he saved Darx from the Troll, trusted him, fell for his lies. She did things with him just so she could read that damned book. If she hadn't fallen for it back then, maybe he wouldn't have. . .

No.

She wouldn't think like that. She wouldn't fall into self-pity or rehash every wrong step she took. She would regroup. She would figure out a new plan, and she would kill Kase. Kase had to die. After what he did to her, what he was doing to Ilene, what he would do if he ever found out about Daver. . .

Amelia remembered clearly the times she laid with him and Trish. The times Kase really relaxed. He would talk to them about the family he wanted, the kids he would have with them. Kase wanted to be a father, to be there for his children the way his father had never been there for him. If Kase knew he had a son he'd search for him, he'd spare no expense, there's no way he wouldn't find him and take him. Amelia wouldn't allow that. She wouldn't allow Kase to raise her child. She could never allow that.

Amelia got her feelings back under control. She set her focus on the task at hand. Amelia finished packing her meager belongings. Then she sneaked out of her room, down the stairs, out of the tavern and into the cool night air.