The Siege of Ultopja 17 – Family Reunion Part 2 [Ulal]

“Anjar?” He asks with an aghast tone. His eyes dart over to the dagger than back to her. “Are you trying to kill me again?” His sister drops the dagger almost immediately. “No, nononono. I would never…Uklag you know that it was a mistake….” Anjar’s usual calm is fractured, she takes a deep breath and collects herself. “Okay, what the fuck is going on, Uklag?”

“What is going on it that I became a half-demon called Ulal, created a city and suddenly my sister, who I have not heard of in roughly twelve years, shows up on my throne and tries to stab me.” Ulal is standing up and grabs Anjar by the throat, pushing her against the wall. “Now what are you doing here, sis?” His choke isn’t tight enough for Anjar to be in real danger, he makes sure of that.

“I work with Helena.” “You mean for?” “No, WITH, you moron, why would somebody of my capabilities ever work under somebody?” Ulal stares into her eyes. “I wish I had those mind-reading powers of yours.” He exasperates and lets her go. “I assume you didn’t know it was me then.” He asks and activates the lights in the room.

“No, of course not. I would never try to kill you!” “You tried before.” He growls. “I did NOT, Uklag!” “ULAL!” He screams at her and throws a lance of ice her way. It misses her narrowly but she doesn’t flinch. “You have changed, but not a lot.” Anjar says as she musters him. He doesn’t need to be a genius, which he is, to figure out that he is reading his aura. “I have changed enough.” He spits out and tries to regain his composure.

“I fought a Demonlord to get to this point. Actually, I am that Demonlord as much as I am Uklag, to even feel attached to you in the slightest is surely part of that Alteration of yours.” He stares at her with narrowed eyes. “Would you believe me if I told you I am not using my magic right now?” She asks.

Ulal looks at his armoured arm. If he was under the influence of any magic right now and the armour failed to protect him it would have showed some form of visual indication. “I am forced to by the evidence.” He let out a final angry breath and forced himself into his cheery mood. “So, what now?” He asks and takes a relaxed pose. Anjar smiles in response, this works better for her as well.

“Now you surrender the city and we can have a nice talk after I bust you out of prison.” “And leave behind all that I have created?” He giggles, “I think not. Not like you can force me anyway.” “I can’t but Helena can, even as a ‘Demonmagus’ you are nothing against her. Dumb title by the way.” Anjar counters.

Ulal’s smile only grows wider. “Are you confirming that she is Solara, Sister?” “Maybe?” Anjar wonders and crosses her arm in a confrontational pose. “Shitting your pants yet?” “No, I must be cautious of her if what you imply is true but to be honest I can likely take her on. On the topic of the title though you can send your annoyance to that Arch-Fucker Hans.”

Anjar hesitates for such a slight moment not even Ulal notices. “Oh? Well, I will tell him during the next tea party.” “To be honest all of the major annoyances in my life holding a tea party doesn’t sound that unlikely.” Ulal says, “You, Hans, The Twins and Hayth, maybe you could even invite that brunette knight.”

“No idea who you mean by half of that.” Anjar muses. “Oh well, so, you are not willing to give up.” “Does that surprise you?” Anjar laughs loudly, “Of course not.” She gets out in between. “Just following the procedure of trying to be nice to my little brother. Does demonic fusion always come with that nice skin by the way?” “I doubt it.” “Shame. Not that I could try either way.”

A short break in their conversation. “We keep getting side-tracked. Get this over with so I can lock you up until this siege is over.” Ulal complains. “If I get off this throne for too long the defences will start deactivating.” Anjar smiles widely “Is that so?”

It was at that moment that Ulal knew, he fucked up. He jumps at Anjar, a green light filled a row of runes on his arm as he was put under the influence of her Alteration. He jumps right through her, the metallic claw punching holes into the wall. “You with your Illusions.” He curses and turns in search of her. His mind is pushing against her influence, reality distorts, the silhouette of her becomes visible a few steps away.

He sends a wave of frost her way, hoping to freeze her before she could do anything. He succeeds in part, Anjar is rooted to the floor by the ice and the Alteration loses it’s effect but he now stares directly into an object she is holding up. An ancient mirror with a silver frame. “We will talk when this is all over.” She promises as Ulal fights against the sudden pull on his consciousness. It is like the pull of his throne, only hundreds of times stronger.

There is no resisting. Not really. He doesn’t know what the mirror does, he only knows that it won’t kill him. It will trap him. For how long can an artefact hope to trap a demon of his power? An hour, two? But this mirror looks ancient and enchantments of that era are often made with powers outside of the reach of current mortals. He can’t take the risk, he has to destroy he has to…

His mind leaves his body and he finds himself standing in the desert. The sun is blazing down but that is of no concern to him, he won’t die from a little sunlight in his state of being. The curves of the dunes are soft as they from an open field around the oasis he is standing next to. He watches his tribe, dark skinned people, drinking water and sitting in their tents.

He takes a few steps he knows this day. “That bitch locked me in my own memories.” He curses and tries to kick one of his former people. His foot passes right through. “Where am I then?” He asks and looks around.

There he was, stumbling towards the camp. Malnourished, dirty, ill but alive. It was three days after he had gotten his powers of transmutation and he had caught up to the tribe. The anger in young Uklag’s eyes made Ulal nostalgic, “Must have been my first tantrum.” He proudly says and watches the scene unfold with a sour smile.

The tribe people are quick to give him something to eat. They explain to him why they couldn’t have carried him. “Just give me something to eat.” He demands. They look annoyed by his lack of respect but do as requested for the moment. Only a small fraction that preys to a water goddess looks at him with hatred, they have not forgotten previous comments.

A young Anjar suddenly runs over and hugs him. “Uklag!” She says, “By the goddesses, I was so worried. When I heard they left you behind…” They child that would become one of the greatest warlocks in history pulls his only family closer and whispers. “I know you tried to kill me sister. I have awakened my own magic.”

Anjar trembles, “I never…” “Don’t lie, I can feel it.” Uklag interrupts her. “You have tempered with my personality. It will take quite a bit to get all of that right again.” “Uklag, you can’t. I didn’t do that to kill you, I want to protect you. You are not capable of living with them on your own and I won’t always be here.” She tries to explain.

Ulal smiles as his predecessor replaces the calm and collected personality that Anjar tried to build to protect him with the dominating sociopath he was always meant to be. “Nobody will live with me.” Uklag says, his tone final as he sets his path for live. “They will live under me.”