(Or: "Hilarious" ""Hijinks"")
It's time for our epic third journey to Sin to finally start. Just what thrilling adventures will await us in this first chapter?!
(Hint: I haven't picked the song for nothing.)
"Remember when Rain got killed?" Count: 13
"Remember when Indow got raped?" Count: 9
"Baddies Never Smile" Count: 17
And always remember: Linkara (the author) considers this his masterpiece.
RecapShow
When we last left our "heroes", Linkara managed to return to the present just in the nick of time, and he proceeded to save the day in typical Linkara fashion: By brutalizing a woman with his masculine might, and threatening a race of emotionally-impaired weirdoes with genocide if they don't submit to his will.
Now he might think that peace has finally been restored for good, but as readers we know there are four villains out and about:
Now he might think that peace has finally been restored for good, but as readers we know there are four villains out and about:
- Myrrha, who has most likely survived getting uppercutted to the next swamp because she's a named character.
- Varek, who we have been told is even more evil than Myrrha, but the guy has yet to do anything.
- Rohaq, the man with the combined incompetence of all the Three Stooges.
- Thesia, who I guess is supposed to be the is grand puppet master pulling the strings in the background or something. Also she's from the future. And her minions are weird Shadow Nazgul. She's like a time-traveling version of Lord Vyce I guess.
ChapterShow
Louis Williamson looked down at the bed made of silk and furs and smiled widely. He collapsed forwards onto it, his eyes shutting and his consciousness drifting off to parts unknown. His breathing became calm as his unconscious movements made the blankets and sheets wrap around him. He loved the feeling of his eyes being closed, having felt stings from them due to the lack of rest he had experienced.
Shortly after the parties in Soyah, the group had begun the quest back to the first church of the Linkara. Chreydo had helped with much of the beginning of the journey, using teleportation vortices to cut down the travel time to a month's ride on horseback. He had subsequently left the group along with General J'Vok to report to the King of Ai on recent events. Jeremis had remained behind in Soyah to finalize the peace treaty with the Eclipsed Legion and find a new location for the new, united Jilad. On the road back, although the group had traveled with happy hearts, there hadn't been a lot of conversation.
Louis had been hit the hardest of the journey, finally feeling utterly exhausted from the recent events. He had done little except ride in his horse as well as hug and kiss Indow as often as possible. White Raven and Garik hadn't spoken because they were worried. After Louis had sucker-punched Myrrha into the swamps of the Zlad Delta, they had gone in search of her to finally bring her to justice. However, despite frequent searches, they were unable to locate her. The day before they left, they found that most of Myrrha's belongings were gone, along with a black book that she had been seen reading often from her office library. Although they knew she had no power over the Dark Knights, White Raven and Garik still feared for what she was doing now.
Jordahn did not speak because she was still adapting her new surroundings. It had not been her initial decision to join Louis in the present instead of her natural point in the past. One of her most trusted friends on the Unit that she had served with had insisted that she escape so that she could tell the tale of the Unit to whomever she could. However, she was still too busy trying to understand the time she was now stuck in to talk to anyone.
Lithmenar hadn’t spoken because he didn't feel like talking, and it had been one of his beliefs in life that he did whatever he felt like doing, and let the rest go on its own.
Indow hadn't spoken because she was too overjoyed by the fact that Louis had returned to them. When Louis had first supposedly died, she had been in a state of deep depression, lashing out at White Raven because of her sorrow and anger. She had begun to recover from it with the assistance of General J'Vok, but she had been greatly enthused by the prospect of Louis being alive and still capable of returning to her, since both she and the Linkara had fallen in love.
And so, Louis was finally in a nice, soft bed where he could sleep for as long as he wanted.
Or so he thought.
Just as Louis felt that he was finally getting to sleep, the doors to his room burst open, with Indow running in and yelling his name. Louis winced and got up quickly, his eyes wide and his heart racing in confusion as to what was happening.
"What?! What's the matter?!" Louis shouted.
Indow got onto the bed and wrapped her arms around him.
"I just wanted to hug you, my lord!" Indow exclaimed.
Louis sighed and returned the hug, smiling. "Now what have I told you about calling me 'lord?' People are going to think we're in some weird dominatrix relationship if you keep calling me that."
Indow stared at him, confused for a moment, before responding; "I am sorry, my- erm, Louis. It's just that I had grown attached to thinking of you not as the one who captured my heart, but as my spiritual leader and savior."
"Well, don't worry about that right now. All I want right now is to sleep for a couple of days, and then pop out for a pancake breakfast with the whole gang. I know you're happy to see me again, and I sure as hell am happy to see you. However, I'd like to just lie in this bed and sleep, all right?" he asked.
Indow smiled and nodded. She leaned in and gave Louis a kiss on the cheek, separating herself from his side. She gave him another beautiful smile before exiting the room, shutting the chamber doors behind her. Louis shook his head happily, wondering if any other religious figures on Earth had ever fallen in love with someone who idolized them literally. He shrugged, knowing that now was not the time for complex, philosophical debate about people who had been dead for hundreds of years, and shut his eyes to get some sleep.
*
Jordahn sat outside of Louis' chamber, an axe sitting between her legs with the blade balancing on the floor. Her eyes were closed, her mind in deep thoughts of recent events. She slowly opened them at the sound of footsteps, her grip on her axe tightening. She looked to the left, seeing Garik Chyprea walking up a spiral flight of stairs to the level that she was on. He smiled upon seeing Jordahn and approached her as she closed her eyes once more and rested her chin on the handle of her axe.
Hello, Jordahn! Are you waiting to speak with the Linkara?" he asked.
"No,” she replied.
"Ah, then shall I go in and talk to him?" Garik inquired.
"No,” she said.
Garik raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why not?"
"Louis has expressed a desire to be left alone so that he can rest. He asked me to stand guard here and not allow anyone to enter until he was fully rested," Jordahn explained.
Garik nodded. "I understand. He and you have been through a very trying experience."
Jordahn didn't reply. She merely stared out in front of her at the opposite wall, her face an unreadable expression. Garik saw that her thoughts were thousands of miles away, and decided to ask her about it.
"Is something wrong?" he queried, sitting down beside her.
"No, how would you think that? Everything is perfectly all right. Yes, sir, there are absolutely no problems here!" she said quite sarcastically.
"What's the matter?" Garik asked, curious now.
"'What's the matter?' You don't have to be a scholar to know what the matter is! I have been pulled from my own time and will never see any of the people I knew and loved before! My entire Unit has been killed in battle except for myself. A Kien Captain is supposed to go down with her Unit, in the heat of battle against a relentless foe. And now, thanks to that bagradek Moleni, I have lost the chance of glorious and honorable death alongside my comrades," Jordahn explained.
Garik shrugged. "Perhaps fate had different plans for you."
Jordahn shook her head. "I do not believe in fate. Our choices are affected by our own will and our own actions, not through outside intervention. The body dies at some point, and its soul leaves to enter another so that it may continue on."
"Well, I do believe in fate, since so far fate and destiny have mapped out everything from the Darkness' coming to the appearance of the Linkara to the final destruction of the Darkness by the Linkara. Louis Williamson is the one who wields Chat-Najil and has very clearly fulfilled every prophecy made by the Linkaran man," Garik replied.
"Prophecy is just a guess that comes true, Priest. The Linkaran man could not possibly imagine that all of the things that he saw would happen when they did and could not have experienced every event that happened in the past 300 years," Jordahn stated.
"No, but he got the important parts down," Garik joked.
"And if fate is really truth, then what kind of a just destiny does it play upon us? Instead of allowing me to die alongside those who I have trusted for years, I dishonored myself by leaving my men to die without their Captain! What kind of cruel fate is played upon us when our destiny is not for glory and victory, but dishonor and shame? You got back your God, but I lost my home, my friends, and my honor. I hope-"
The chamber doors swung open, and Louis popped his head into the hallway. Garik jumped to his feet, not wanting to show him any disrespect. Jordahn stayed sitting, but turned her gaze to him.
"Look, I'm sure the conversation you're having is very important, but could you take it elsewhere? Some of us are trying to sleep here," he said.
Garik nodded quickly. "Yes, my lord!"
Louis rolled his eyes and went back into his chamber, shutting the doors behind him.
*
"So what happened to the rest of the prophecies that your father uncovered?" White Raven asked.
Indow looked up to her. "What?"
"When your father first came to Soyah in search of us, he had uncovered several more prophecies about the Linkara. He translated some of them, but there are still several more, aren't there?" White Raven suggested.
The two were relaxing within the library of the First Church. A few scattered tables were located within it with adjoining chairs, but the bookcases spanned up to the tall ceiling of the room. Within the shelves were books of various ages and length, some coming back to the days of the Hundred Year War or to the beginnings of the Darkness War. Prophecies, legends, historical texts, fiction, and personal diaries were all stored within this single place. With so many important books stored in the one location, it was a wonder why it was not the site of more attacks from the Darkness besides for a single encounter when the Darkness was originally searching for the Linkara.
Many went to the library to study some of these texts and were forbidden to ever remove them from the castle. This day, there were only a few visitors who were attempting to uncover a prophecy or studying some facts from history, and Indow was there simply out of curiosity to see if Louis showed up in any history texts during his stay in the Hundred Year War. White Raven had come along purely out of curiosity.
"My father's attempts to translate the rest of the passages have been unsuccessful. He has sent for linguists and scholars to come to the castle to try to decipher the prophecies. He also thinks that the Linkara's ability to instantly translate other languages simply by looking at them could also be utilized," she explained.
White Raven nodded and looked down at Indow's book. The language was Aian, but it was also displaying multiple pictures of people performing spells and the mathematics behind the spell. Curious, White Raven asked a question:
"What are you reading?"
"It's a study book for those who wish to become a Sorcerer or Sorceress. When I am called to perform the trials, I will need all the information that I can utilize,” she replied.
"When will you be called?"
"A few months. A few years. Perhaps tomorrow! The Sovereign is very strange in his methods of determining the period for which the trials are taken, so I must study as much as possible given the possibility that at any moment I could be called to Walsz to begin my trials," Indow yawned.
Noticing the yawn, White Raven tilted her head to the side.
"Tired?"
Indow nodded and finished her yawn. "Perhaps the Linkara had the right idea. Rest is something we could all use after the last few months. Any luck finding what the black book was that Myrrha took when she fled the Zlad Delta?"
White Raven shook her head. "No. No one had seen it before other than when she was staring at it in deep thought. Some feel that it was a diary of sorts, something she kept as a record of her life and that she was constantly reviewing it to see what choices led her to where she was that day."
"And what do you think?" Indow inquired.
White Raven winced. She looked around to see if anyone in the library was looking at them. Seeing that the coast was clear, she leaned down to whisper into Indow's ear.
"While I was a member of the Dark Knights, there was a rumor circulating among us that the Darkness kept a book in his possession that detailed all of his plans, his beliefs, military tactics, hidden spells, and even some ways to fight the Linkara. The book was called the 'Black Oracle,' but nothing ever confirmed its existence," White Raven whispered.
"And you think Myrrha found the Black Oracle?" Indow asked.
"What I think..." White Raven bit her lower lip. "What I think is irrelevant. Regardless of whether or not the book exists or not, Myrrha remains at large and a danger to us all. She must be hunted down, tried, and executed for her crimes. Varek the Destroyer, as well, as soon as we can find him..."
*
Louis' eyes were bloodshot when his eyelids came up, his sleep interrupted by the slamming of his chamber door. He slowly sat up as he saw that Lithmenar had entered and was quickly approaching him. He was tempted to extend his gauntlet blade and decapitate him for waking him up, but thought that maybe the thief had something useful to say to him. However, that hypothesis was quickly shot down by the grin on Lithmenar's face.
"Hey, kid, I was just walking through this dull little place when I realized that I hadn't gotten much of a chance to talk to you since you got back. You doing well? Scars healing nicely and all that? That's good, that's good. Anyway, I've been thinking about a business idea that I think you'd like."
Louis merely kept a straight face and attempted to hold his balance as he stared at Lithmenar.
"Word's spreading quickly that you've returned to Sin. Imagine - the religious symbol and savior of the Five Lands returns from the dead. I'm thinking that we could go on tour, stopping at each city and telling everyone about your brave tale! We'd be like a traveling circus, doing shows, you battling the fiercest warriors, doing a little flight show with those wings of yours against a Sorcerer who can levitate."
Louis blinked once, still staring at Lithmenar and offering no reply to him.
"Each city would pour thousands of Kikrens to see the Linkara, the champion of good and light and all of that other nonsense! We'd split the money right down the middle! Well, I would need to get an extra fee, of course, for having come up with the idea, but I know you wouldn't mind."
Louis clenched his teeth together, but Lithmenar wasn't noticing.
"And look, I know how you want to get home to your own planet or whatever, but you could be huge here! Live like a king! Well, maybe I shouldn't say that, since thieves like me don't really like the monarchy. Well, our rules are more of a guideline than a written law, since we can't go anywhere without money and we have no other skills in this land other than stealing things and picking locks. In any case, I think that-"
"Lithmenar?" Louis interrupted.
Lithmenar stopped and looked straight at Louis. "Yes?"
"Look at my face," Louis growled.
Lithmenar examined Louis' face, seeing his brow furrowed and a look in his eyes that suggested he was very annoyed at that moment. Upon this revelation, Lithmenar bit his lower lip and slowly backed away from the bed. He was still smiling, but he also didn't want to make Louis angry.
"Well, obviously this is not the best time to discuss this situation. I'll tell you what - why don't we talk about this after you've rested up and had a chance to recover from your recent stresses. Business opportunities will always be open. Have a pleasant sleep, good sir!" he said, finally exiting the room.
Louis clenched his teeth and collapsed sideways, his eyes shutting before his head hit the pillow.
*
After Lithmenar closed the door, he turned around and faced a deeply angered Jordahn. He grinned, but before he could open his mouth to say something, Jordahn grabbed his arm and twisted it around behind his back. She slammed him into the chamber door, creating a large bang throughout the corridor. Lithmenar struggled futilely as Jordahn held him in place.
"So," she growled, "a Priestess comes to me and says that she requires my assistance with lifting a large crate, and in the meantime, you decide to see Louis while he is attempting to sleep. Tell me, you snake, how much did you pay the Priestess to distract me?"
Lithmenar smiled, but still tried to escape her grasp. "Not much. People around here are not influenced by money, a trait that I sometimes admire."
"How did she know that you wouldn't try to assassinate the Linkara?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"For one thing, she knew that I had traveled alongside the Linkara for several months. Also, she knew that the Linkara, the one who defeated the Darkness and brought peace between the people of the Five Lands and the Eclipsed Legion would not be slain by one thief who is barely taller than him. Of course, even without those facts, people who are religious tend to not be very intelligent," Lithmenar laughed.
Jordahn ground her teeth together and pulled Lithmenar's arm more, causing pain in his upper arm and shoulder. "Religious people aren't very intelligent, eh? And I suppose I'm not very intelligent, since my beliefs stem from the New Blood Order."
Lithmenar laughed and bit his lower lip. "Well, no, not intelligent, but certainly very strong! Yes, very strong, indeed!"
Jordahn growled and threw Lithmenar away from her. He tumbled to the ground and rolled for a moment from the action, but he finally stopped when he hit a wall. He slowly got up, his body aching a little from the assault. He continued to smile, though, as he rubbed the arm that had been twisted.
"Strong and beautiful, I might add," he said.
"Compliments will get you nowhere, you filthy toad. Even if my face were hideously deformed, it would not interfere with my abilities as a warrior," Jordahn explained.
"Oh, I have no doubt of that! However, I retain my opinion of your beauty. I was merely attempting to talk to the Linkara of so many things that have passed since we were too busy drinking the last time we had such an opportunity," Lithmenar stated.
"Liquor has made your mind rot, thief, if you think that such a lie will work."
Lithmenar turned, seeing Garik standing at the edge of the stairwell. Jordahn had noticed him already, but had decided to ignore his approach. She merely stood with her arms crossed in front of her, waiting for everyone to leave the corridor.
"Lithmenar, I recommend that you leave this area and that I not see you near here again until Louis has authorized me to allow you near him!" Jordahn growled.
"And just who gave you the right to bodyguard the kid? He doesn't exactly need protection, you know!" Lithmenar yelled.
"Louis has asked me to stand watch here and prevent anyone from coming in to see him since he wishes to sleep! As such, you will leave immediately and let me return to my vigil!" Jordahn ordered.
Seeing that Garik was attempting to sneak past her to get to the chamber doors, Jordahn reached over and grabbed him by the front of his robes and pulled him over to her. Garik winced and looked into her eyes as she glared down at him.
"And just where do you think you're going?!"
Garik gulped. "I need to ask for the Linkara's assistance in deciphering the Linkaran prophecies! His role to the rest of the world could be vital for our continued existence!"
"He has no role except for the one he plays right now! One night, I followed the Magi Chreydo out into the forest. There I heard Louis weep and lament by a lake over the fact that the role of the Linkara was forced onto him when he did not want it! As such, I will not allow him to be troubled by your religious concerns until he wishes to!" Jordahn exclaimed.
"The Linkara would not say such things!" Garik stated.
Jordahn threw Garik away from her and sat down in her chair, getting a firm grip on the axe that rested against the wall. She raised it up in a defensive posture, indicating that anyone who attempted to approach would certainly get an axe embedded in his chest. Lithmenar, feeling insulted by the sudden lack of interest in him, stood up and took a step forward towards her.
"And I thought the kid renounced his service as a part of the Kien army and as your Captain! Why do you show such loyalty to him? If I were you, I'd be halfway to Kien by now to assimilate myself into the new era that I was in!" he said.
Jordahn tightened her grip, twisting her hands around the handle. "I also have loyalty to those who have fought beside me, something you don't exhibit in the slightest, thief!"
"Excuse me?!" Lithmenar shouted.
"You are a thief, Lithmenar, by your own admission! What loyalties does a thief have?! You care only for yourself and gaining wealth through illegal ways! In Kien, your kind would be exterminated like the rats you are! How Louis even thinks of you as a friend and ally is something that I shall never understand and- Priest, back away from this door or those robes shall be hanging from the inside of your throat!"
Garik quickly backed away from the door and scooted to the opposite wall. The three heard footsteps approaching but ignored them. Lithmenar and Jordahn began a shouting match with one another while Garik waited for an opportunity to slip past them and enter the Linkara's chambers. Even as White Raven and Indow entered the hallway, they continued as they had been for the past few minutes.
"Could you all please stand aside?!" White Raven yelled.
The three all turned and looked at the two girls.
"Indow and I must consult the Linkara on very important issues, and you are in our way!" she stated.
Jordahn looked past Lithmenar to White Raven. "Well, these important issues will have to wait! No one is going in to see the Linkara until he says so!"
And so began a five-way free-for-all between the members of the assembled group. Yelling, harsh words, and insults were thrown back and forth at one another as each one sought dominance.
Lithmenar was attempting to defend his honor, Garik was constantly trying to get to the doors, and White Raven and Indow were trying to get in by bypassing Jordahn's authority as Louis' guard. However, the group was arguing so much and listening to all the screams that they didn't notice the fact that the chamber door had opened and Louis was standing directly inside the door arch.
Louis clenched his teeth together and extended his arm that had the gauntlet on it. A mental command to the device slid out the katar from the top of it, and another mental command activated the electrical properties of his weapon. Seeing that he still didn't have the attention of the five, Louis slammed the blade into the nearest wall, smashing out a small chunk of it. The sudden noise from the gauntlet's attack got everyone's attention, making them all stop what they were doing and look over at Louis, his eyes bloodshot and sagging.
Louis took in a single deep breath as he prepared to speak. However, when he opened his mouth next, he didn't speak, he bellowed.
"STOP YOUR FOUL WHINING, YOU FILTHY PIECES OF DISTENDED RECTUM!" he roared.
And with that, he took a step back into his room and slammed the chamber door shut. The bang from the slamming reverberated throughout the castle-like church. The five exchanged glances, but it was Indow who spoke first:
"Anyone for tea?"
Shortly after the parties in Soyah, the group had begun the quest back to the first church of the Linkara. Chreydo had helped with much of the beginning of the journey, using teleportation vortices to cut down the travel time to a month's ride on horseback. He had subsequently left the group along with General J'Vok to report to the King of Ai on recent events. Jeremis had remained behind in Soyah to finalize the peace treaty with the Eclipsed Legion and find a new location for the new, united Jilad. On the road back, although the group had traveled with happy hearts, there hadn't been a lot of conversation.
Louis had been hit the hardest of the journey, finally feeling utterly exhausted from the recent events. He had done little except ride in his horse as well as hug and kiss Indow as often as possible. White Raven and Garik hadn't spoken because they were worried. After Louis had sucker-punched Myrrha into the swamps of the Zlad Delta, they had gone in search of her to finally bring her to justice. However, despite frequent searches, they were unable to locate her. The day before they left, they found that most of Myrrha's belongings were gone, along with a black book that she had been seen reading often from her office library. Although they knew she had no power over the Dark Knights, White Raven and Garik still feared for what she was doing now.
Jordahn did not speak because she was still adapting her new surroundings. It had not been her initial decision to join Louis in the present instead of her natural point in the past. One of her most trusted friends on the Unit that she had served with had insisted that she escape so that she could tell the tale of the Unit to whomever she could. However, she was still too busy trying to understand the time she was now stuck in to talk to anyone.
Lithmenar hadn’t spoken because he didn't feel like talking, and it had been one of his beliefs in life that he did whatever he felt like doing, and let the rest go on its own.
Indow hadn't spoken because she was too overjoyed by the fact that Louis had returned to them. When Louis had first supposedly died, she had been in a state of deep depression, lashing out at White Raven because of her sorrow and anger. She had begun to recover from it with the assistance of General J'Vok, but she had been greatly enthused by the prospect of Louis being alive and still capable of returning to her, since both she and the Linkara had fallen in love.
And so, Louis was finally in a nice, soft bed where he could sleep for as long as he wanted.
Or so he thought.
Just as Louis felt that he was finally getting to sleep, the doors to his room burst open, with Indow running in and yelling his name. Louis winced and got up quickly, his eyes wide and his heart racing in confusion as to what was happening.
"What?! What's the matter?!" Louis shouted.
Indow got onto the bed and wrapped her arms around him.
"I just wanted to hug you, my lord!" Indow exclaimed.
Louis sighed and returned the hug, smiling. "Now what have I told you about calling me 'lord?' People are going to think we're in some weird dominatrix relationship if you keep calling me that."
Indow stared at him, confused for a moment, before responding; "I am sorry, my- erm, Louis. It's just that I had grown attached to thinking of you not as the one who captured my heart, but as my spiritual leader and savior."
"Well, don't worry about that right now. All I want right now is to sleep for a couple of days, and then pop out for a pancake breakfast with the whole gang. I know you're happy to see me again, and I sure as hell am happy to see you. However, I'd like to just lie in this bed and sleep, all right?" he asked.
Indow smiled and nodded. She leaned in and gave Louis a kiss on the cheek, separating herself from his side. She gave him another beautiful smile before exiting the room, shutting the chamber doors behind her. Louis shook his head happily, wondering if any other religious figures on Earth had ever fallen in love with someone who idolized them literally. He shrugged, knowing that now was not the time for complex, philosophical debate about people who had been dead for hundreds of years, and shut his eyes to get some sleep.
*
Jordahn sat outside of Louis' chamber, an axe sitting between her legs with the blade balancing on the floor. Her eyes were closed, her mind in deep thoughts of recent events. She slowly opened them at the sound of footsteps, her grip on her axe tightening. She looked to the left, seeing Garik Chyprea walking up a spiral flight of stairs to the level that she was on. He smiled upon seeing Jordahn and approached her as she closed her eyes once more and rested her chin on the handle of her axe.
Hello, Jordahn! Are you waiting to speak with the Linkara?" he asked.
"No,” she replied.
"Ah, then shall I go in and talk to him?" Garik inquired.
"No,” she said.
Garik raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why not?"
"Louis has expressed a desire to be left alone so that he can rest. He asked me to stand guard here and not allow anyone to enter until he was fully rested," Jordahn explained.
Garik nodded. "I understand. He and you have been through a very trying experience."
Jordahn didn't reply. She merely stared out in front of her at the opposite wall, her face an unreadable expression. Garik saw that her thoughts were thousands of miles away, and decided to ask her about it.
"Is something wrong?" he queried, sitting down beside her.
"No, how would you think that? Everything is perfectly all right. Yes, sir, there are absolutely no problems here!" she said quite sarcastically.
"What's the matter?" Garik asked, curious now.
"'What's the matter?' You don't have to be a scholar to know what the matter is! I have been pulled from my own time and will never see any of the people I knew and loved before! My entire Unit has been killed in battle except for myself. A Kien Captain is supposed to go down with her Unit, in the heat of battle against a relentless foe. And now, thanks to that bagradek Moleni, I have lost the chance of glorious and honorable death alongside my comrades," Jordahn explained.
Garik shrugged. "Perhaps fate had different plans for you."
Jordahn shook her head. "I do not believe in fate. Our choices are affected by our own will and our own actions, not through outside intervention. The body dies at some point, and its soul leaves to enter another so that it may continue on."
"Well, I do believe in fate, since so far fate and destiny have mapped out everything from the Darkness' coming to the appearance of the Linkara to the final destruction of the Darkness by the Linkara. Louis Williamson is the one who wields Chat-Najil and has very clearly fulfilled every prophecy made by the Linkaran man," Garik replied.
"Prophecy is just a guess that comes true, Priest. The Linkaran man could not possibly imagine that all of the things that he saw would happen when they did and could not have experienced every event that happened in the past 300 years," Jordahn stated.
"No, but he got the important parts down," Garik joked.
"And if fate is really truth, then what kind of a just destiny does it play upon us? Instead of allowing me to die alongside those who I have trusted for years, I dishonored myself by leaving my men to die without their Captain! What kind of cruel fate is played upon us when our destiny is not for glory and victory, but dishonor and shame? You got back your God, but I lost my home, my friends, and my honor. I hope-"
The chamber doors swung open, and Louis popped his head into the hallway. Garik jumped to his feet, not wanting to show him any disrespect. Jordahn stayed sitting, but turned her gaze to him.
"Look, I'm sure the conversation you're having is very important, but could you take it elsewhere? Some of us are trying to sleep here," he said.
Garik nodded quickly. "Yes, my lord!"
Louis rolled his eyes and went back into his chamber, shutting the doors behind him.
*
"So what happened to the rest of the prophecies that your father uncovered?" White Raven asked.
Indow looked up to her. "What?"
"When your father first came to Soyah in search of us, he had uncovered several more prophecies about the Linkara. He translated some of them, but there are still several more, aren't there?" White Raven suggested.
The two were relaxing within the library of the First Church. A few scattered tables were located within it with adjoining chairs, but the bookcases spanned up to the tall ceiling of the room. Within the shelves were books of various ages and length, some coming back to the days of the Hundred Year War or to the beginnings of the Darkness War. Prophecies, legends, historical texts, fiction, and personal diaries were all stored within this single place. With so many important books stored in the one location, it was a wonder why it was not the site of more attacks from the Darkness besides for a single encounter when the Darkness was originally searching for the Linkara.
Many went to the library to study some of these texts and were forbidden to ever remove them from the castle. This day, there were only a few visitors who were attempting to uncover a prophecy or studying some facts from history, and Indow was there simply out of curiosity to see if Louis showed up in any history texts during his stay in the Hundred Year War. White Raven had come along purely out of curiosity.
"My father's attempts to translate the rest of the passages have been unsuccessful. He has sent for linguists and scholars to come to the castle to try to decipher the prophecies. He also thinks that the Linkara's ability to instantly translate other languages simply by looking at them could also be utilized," she explained.
White Raven nodded and looked down at Indow's book. The language was Aian, but it was also displaying multiple pictures of people performing spells and the mathematics behind the spell. Curious, White Raven asked a question:
"What are you reading?"
"It's a study book for those who wish to become a Sorcerer or Sorceress. When I am called to perform the trials, I will need all the information that I can utilize,” she replied.
"When will you be called?"
"A few months. A few years. Perhaps tomorrow! The Sovereign is very strange in his methods of determining the period for which the trials are taken, so I must study as much as possible given the possibility that at any moment I could be called to Walsz to begin my trials," Indow yawned.
Noticing the yawn, White Raven tilted her head to the side.
"Tired?"
Indow nodded and finished her yawn. "Perhaps the Linkara had the right idea. Rest is something we could all use after the last few months. Any luck finding what the black book was that Myrrha took when she fled the Zlad Delta?"
White Raven shook her head. "No. No one had seen it before other than when she was staring at it in deep thought. Some feel that it was a diary of sorts, something she kept as a record of her life and that she was constantly reviewing it to see what choices led her to where she was that day."
"And what do you think?" Indow inquired.
White Raven winced. She looked around to see if anyone in the library was looking at them. Seeing that the coast was clear, she leaned down to whisper into Indow's ear.
"While I was a member of the Dark Knights, there was a rumor circulating among us that the Darkness kept a book in his possession that detailed all of his plans, his beliefs, military tactics, hidden spells, and even some ways to fight the Linkara. The book was called the 'Black Oracle,' but nothing ever confirmed its existence," White Raven whispered.
"And you think Myrrha found the Black Oracle?" Indow asked.
"What I think..." White Raven bit her lower lip. "What I think is irrelevant. Regardless of whether or not the book exists or not, Myrrha remains at large and a danger to us all. She must be hunted down, tried, and executed for her crimes. Varek the Destroyer, as well, as soon as we can find him..."
*
Louis' eyes were bloodshot when his eyelids came up, his sleep interrupted by the slamming of his chamber door. He slowly sat up as he saw that Lithmenar had entered and was quickly approaching him. He was tempted to extend his gauntlet blade and decapitate him for waking him up, but thought that maybe the thief had something useful to say to him. However, that hypothesis was quickly shot down by the grin on Lithmenar's face.
"Hey, kid, I was just walking through this dull little place when I realized that I hadn't gotten much of a chance to talk to you since you got back. You doing well? Scars healing nicely and all that? That's good, that's good. Anyway, I've been thinking about a business idea that I think you'd like."
Louis merely kept a straight face and attempted to hold his balance as he stared at Lithmenar.
"Word's spreading quickly that you've returned to Sin. Imagine - the religious symbol and savior of the Five Lands returns from the dead. I'm thinking that we could go on tour, stopping at each city and telling everyone about your brave tale! We'd be like a traveling circus, doing shows, you battling the fiercest warriors, doing a little flight show with those wings of yours against a Sorcerer who can levitate."
Louis blinked once, still staring at Lithmenar and offering no reply to him.
"Each city would pour thousands of Kikrens to see the Linkara, the champion of good and light and all of that other nonsense! We'd split the money right down the middle! Well, I would need to get an extra fee, of course, for having come up with the idea, but I know you wouldn't mind."
Louis clenched his teeth together, but Lithmenar wasn't noticing.
"And look, I know how you want to get home to your own planet or whatever, but you could be huge here! Live like a king! Well, maybe I shouldn't say that, since thieves like me don't really like the monarchy. Well, our rules are more of a guideline than a written law, since we can't go anywhere without money and we have no other skills in this land other than stealing things and picking locks. In any case, I think that-"
"Lithmenar?" Louis interrupted.
Lithmenar stopped and looked straight at Louis. "Yes?"
"Look at my face," Louis growled.
Lithmenar examined Louis' face, seeing his brow furrowed and a look in his eyes that suggested he was very annoyed at that moment. Upon this revelation, Lithmenar bit his lower lip and slowly backed away from the bed. He was still smiling, but he also didn't want to make Louis angry.
"Well, obviously this is not the best time to discuss this situation. I'll tell you what - why don't we talk about this after you've rested up and had a chance to recover from your recent stresses. Business opportunities will always be open. Have a pleasant sleep, good sir!" he said, finally exiting the room.
Louis clenched his teeth and collapsed sideways, his eyes shutting before his head hit the pillow.
*
After Lithmenar closed the door, he turned around and faced a deeply angered Jordahn. He grinned, but before he could open his mouth to say something, Jordahn grabbed his arm and twisted it around behind his back. She slammed him into the chamber door, creating a large bang throughout the corridor. Lithmenar struggled futilely as Jordahn held him in place.
"So," she growled, "a Priestess comes to me and says that she requires my assistance with lifting a large crate, and in the meantime, you decide to see Louis while he is attempting to sleep. Tell me, you snake, how much did you pay the Priestess to distract me?"
Lithmenar smiled, but still tried to escape her grasp. "Not much. People around here are not influenced by money, a trait that I sometimes admire."
"How did she know that you wouldn't try to assassinate the Linkara?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"For one thing, she knew that I had traveled alongside the Linkara for several months. Also, she knew that the Linkara, the one who defeated the Darkness and brought peace between the people of the Five Lands and the Eclipsed Legion would not be slain by one thief who is barely taller than him. Of course, even without those facts, people who are religious tend to not be very intelligent," Lithmenar laughed.
Jordahn ground her teeth together and pulled Lithmenar's arm more, causing pain in his upper arm and shoulder. "Religious people aren't very intelligent, eh? And I suppose I'm not very intelligent, since my beliefs stem from the New Blood Order."
Lithmenar laughed and bit his lower lip. "Well, no, not intelligent, but certainly very strong! Yes, very strong, indeed!"
Jordahn growled and threw Lithmenar away from her. He tumbled to the ground and rolled for a moment from the action, but he finally stopped when he hit a wall. He slowly got up, his body aching a little from the assault. He continued to smile, though, as he rubbed the arm that had been twisted.
"Strong and beautiful, I might add," he said.
"Compliments will get you nowhere, you filthy toad. Even if my face were hideously deformed, it would not interfere with my abilities as a warrior," Jordahn explained.
"Oh, I have no doubt of that! However, I retain my opinion of your beauty. I was merely attempting to talk to the Linkara of so many things that have passed since we were too busy drinking the last time we had such an opportunity," Lithmenar stated.
"Liquor has made your mind rot, thief, if you think that such a lie will work."
Lithmenar turned, seeing Garik standing at the edge of the stairwell. Jordahn had noticed him already, but had decided to ignore his approach. She merely stood with her arms crossed in front of her, waiting for everyone to leave the corridor.
"Lithmenar, I recommend that you leave this area and that I not see you near here again until Louis has authorized me to allow you near him!" Jordahn growled.
"And just who gave you the right to bodyguard the kid? He doesn't exactly need protection, you know!" Lithmenar yelled.
"Louis has asked me to stand watch here and prevent anyone from coming in to see him since he wishes to sleep! As such, you will leave immediately and let me return to my vigil!" Jordahn ordered.
Seeing that Garik was attempting to sneak past her to get to the chamber doors, Jordahn reached over and grabbed him by the front of his robes and pulled him over to her. Garik winced and looked into her eyes as she glared down at him.
"And just where do you think you're going?!"
Garik gulped. "I need to ask for the Linkara's assistance in deciphering the Linkaran prophecies! His role to the rest of the world could be vital for our continued existence!"
"He has no role except for the one he plays right now! One night, I followed the Magi Chreydo out into the forest. There I heard Louis weep and lament by a lake over the fact that the role of the Linkara was forced onto him when he did not want it! As such, I will not allow him to be troubled by your religious concerns until he wishes to!" Jordahn exclaimed.
"The Linkara would not say such things!" Garik stated.
Jordahn threw Garik away from her and sat down in her chair, getting a firm grip on the axe that rested against the wall. She raised it up in a defensive posture, indicating that anyone who attempted to approach would certainly get an axe embedded in his chest. Lithmenar, feeling insulted by the sudden lack of interest in him, stood up and took a step forward towards her.
"And I thought the kid renounced his service as a part of the Kien army and as your Captain! Why do you show such loyalty to him? If I were you, I'd be halfway to Kien by now to assimilate myself into the new era that I was in!" he said.
Jordahn tightened her grip, twisting her hands around the handle. "I also have loyalty to those who have fought beside me, something you don't exhibit in the slightest, thief!"
"Excuse me?!" Lithmenar shouted.
"You are a thief, Lithmenar, by your own admission! What loyalties does a thief have?! You care only for yourself and gaining wealth through illegal ways! In Kien, your kind would be exterminated like the rats you are! How Louis even thinks of you as a friend and ally is something that I shall never understand and- Priest, back away from this door or those robes shall be hanging from the inside of your throat!"
Garik quickly backed away from the door and scooted to the opposite wall. The three heard footsteps approaching but ignored them. Lithmenar and Jordahn began a shouting match with one another while Garik waited for an opportunity to slip past them and enter the Linkara's chambers. Even as White Raven and Indow entered the hallway, they continued as they had been for the past few minutes.
"Could you all please stand aside?!" White Raven yelled.
The three all turned and looked at the two girls.
"Indow and I must consult the Linkara on very important issues, and you are in our way!" she stated.
Jordahn looked past Lithmenar to White Raven. "Well, these important issues will have to wait! No one is going in to see the Linkara until he says so!"
And so began a five-way free-for-all between the members of the assembled group. Yelling, harsh words, and insults were thrown back and forth at one another as each one sought dominance.
Lithmenar was attempting to defend his honor, Garik was constantly trying to get to the doors, and White Raven and Indow were trying to get in by bypassing Jordahn's authority as Louis' guard. However, the group was arguing so much and listening to all the screams that they didn't notice the fact that the chamber door had opened and Louis was standing directly inside the door arch.
Louis clenched his teeth together and extended his arm that had the gauntlet on it. A mental command to the device slid out the katar from the top of it, and another mental command activated the electrical properties of his weapon. Seeing that he still didn't have the attention of the five, Louis slammed the blade into the nearest wall, smashing out a small chunk of it. The sudden noise from the gauntlet's attack got everyone's attention, making them all stop what they were doing and look over at Louis, his eyes bloodshot and sagging.
Louis took in a single deep breath as he prepared to speak. However, when he opened his mouth next, he didn't speak, he bellowed.
"STOP YOUR FOUL WHINING, YOU FILTHY PIECES OF DISTENDED RECTUM!" he roared.
And with that, he took a step back into his room and slammed the chamber door shut. The bang from the slamming reverberated throughout the castle-like church. The five exchanged glances, but it was Indow who spoke first:
"Anyone for tea?"
RiffingShow
That's not a bed. That's a bunch of fabric thrown into a pile.Louis Williamson looked down at the bed made of silk and furs and smiled widely.
Finally they make use of the off-screen sorcerer teleportation network.Shortly after the parties in Soyah, the group had begun the quest back to the first church of the Linkara. Chreydo had helped with much of the beginning of the journey, using teleportation vortices to cut down the travel time to a month's ride on horseback.
You know, with locations and distances already being vague enough, it probably doesn't help that teleportation can shorten any and all travels by an arbitrary amount.
And it'll still take them a fucking month? Even if we assume those horses only make 20 miles per day (which is the lower end of the horse spectrum), that'd be 600 miles - wich is just 100 miles shy of traversing the United Kingdom from the far south to the far north, and just 50 miles shy of travelling from Berlin to Paris.
You sure the teleport network couldn't get them a little closer?
You're really gonna stick with that new branding?Jeremis had remained behind in Soyah to finalize the peace treaty with the Eclipsed Legion and find a new location for the new, united Jilad.
And what "new location"? Everywhere else has already been taken by other kingdoms. Plus you think they're just gonna rebuild their cities somewhere else for some reason?
It seems Linkara's dumb conversations about dumb shit from Earth that doesn't matter to them have lost their luster.On the road back, although the group had traveled with happy hearts, there hadn't been a lot of conversation.
Oh, stop whining, you little bitch. Indow and Lithmenar got chained up at least twice each, and then had to run around a sewer level getting chased by a croco-slug.Louis had been hit the hardest of the journey, finally feeling utterly exhausted from the recent events.
I'd be worried, too. Fucking disgusting.He had done little except ride in his horse as well as hug and kiss Indow as often as possible. White Raven and Garik hadn't spoken because they were worried.
Oh, you mean that.After Louis had sucker-punched Myrrha into the swamps of the Zlad Delta, they had gone in search of her to finally bring her to justice. However, despite frequent searches, they were unable to locate her.
This wouldn't have been an issue if Linkara had gone full Conan the Barbarian and just lopped off her head.
But nooo, she's a named villain, so she must be allowed to live another day.
I'm sure that won't turn out to be some book full of ancient evil and forbidden spells.he day before they left, they found that most of Myrrha's belongings were gone, along with a black book that she had been seen reading often from her office library.
Shouldn't look too differently if Linkara can recognize a fucking group of trees 1000 years earlier.Jordahn did not speak because she was still adapting her new surroundings.
Your "natural point" would've involved getting butchered by a Shadow Nazgul like the rest of your unit.It had not been her initial decision to join Louis in the present instead of her natural point in the past.
Also you all asked him to take you with him because you assured him you had nothing to go back to in Kien.
Do I like have to correct you every time you bring up shit from the last books?
His name is Moleni, and you will respect his legacy.One of her most trusted friends on the Unit that she had served with had insisted that she escape so that she could tell the tale of the Unit to whomever she could.
I feel like talking to those people would make the process easier.However, she was still too busy trying to understand the time she was now stuck in to talk to anyone.
Which is why you keep going along with shit despite not knowing why you do it.Lithmenar hadn’t spoken because he didn't feel like talking, and it had been one of his beliefs in life that he did whatever he felt like doing, and let the rest go on its own.
Can't speak if you have Linkara's tongue down your throat.Indow hadn't spoken because she was too overjoyed by the fact that Louis had returned to them.
You've been lashing out at White Raven all the time before Linkara supposedly died.When Louis had first supposedly died, she had been in a state of deep depression, lashing out at White Raven because of her sorrow and anger.
And so, Louis was finally in a nice, soft bed where he could sleep for as long as he wanted.
Or so he thought.
Fucking blowjob ghosts, man.
"I didn't get my period!"Just as Louis felt that he was finally getting to sleep, the doors to his room burst open, with Indow running in and yelling his name. Louis winced and got up quickly, his eyes wide and his heart racing in confusion as to what was happening.
"What?! What's the matter?!" Louis shouted.
You know, I think Indow might be a bit crazy.Indow got onto the bed and wrapped her arms around him.
"I just wanted to hug you, my lord!" Indow exclaimed.
Mr. "I've figured this time period out", once again not understanding Medieval etiquette and honorifics.Louis sighed and returned the hug, smiling. "Now what have I told you about calling me 'lord?' People are going to think we're in some weird dominatrix relationship if you keep calling me that."
Ah, the great dilemma of their relationship: Just don't worry about it right now.Indow stared at him, confused for a moment, before responding; "I am sorry, my- erm, Louis. It's just that I had grown attached to thinking of you not as the one who captured my heart, but as my spiritual leader and savior."
"Well, don't worry about that right now."
Nah, I'm sure they've all been incels.Louis shook his head happily, wondering if any other religious figures on Earth had ever fallen in love with someone who idolized them literally.
That's not a debate. Either you find ones that slept which all the chicks, or you don't.He shrugged, knowing that now was not the time for complex, philosophical debate about people who had been dead for hundreds of years, and shut his eyes to get some sleep.
*
I don't think she will have deep thoughts for long if Indow keeps running in here shouting "Linkara-kun! Linkara-kun! Let me hug you!".Jordahn sat outside of Louis' chamber, an axe sitting between her legs with the blade balancing on the floor. Her eyes were closed, her mind in deep thoughts of recent events.
Lol, this definitely happened after Indow barged into his room.Hello, Jordahn! Are you waiting to speak with the Linkara?" he asked.
"No,” she replied.
"Ah, then shall I go in and talk to him?" Garik inquired.
"No,” she said.
Garik raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why not?"
"Louis has expressed a desire to be left alone so that he can rest. He asked me to stand guard here and not allow anyone to enter until he was fully rested," Jordahn explained.
Considering Linkara is this "savvy" kid from Earth, can't he just lock his door and put a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on it?
You didn't mention any loved ones when you insisted to go with Linkara to the past."'What's the matter?' You don't have to be a scholar to know what the matter is! I have been pulled from my own time and will never see any of the people I knew and loved before! My entire Unit has been killed in battle except for myself. A Kien Captain is supposed to go down with her Unit, in the heat of battle against a relentless foe. And now, thanks to that bagradek Moleni, I have lost the chance of glorious and honorable death alongside my comrades," Jordahn explained.
Also you're acting like he basically pushed you into the time portal. He just shouted at you. If you wanted to die that badly you could've just kicked him in the nuts and join the fray.
>mfw a character in these books believes in free willGarik shrugged. "Perhaps fate had different plans for you."
Jordahn shook her head. "I do not believe in fate. Our choices are affected by our own will and our own actions, not through outside intervention."
Get rekked, bitch."Well, I do believe in fate, since so far fate and destiny have mapped out everything from the Darkness' coming to the appearance of the Linkara to the final destruction of the Darkness by the Linkara. Louis Williamson is the one who wields Chat-Najil and has very clearly fulfilled every prophecy made by the Linkaran man," Garik replied.
Dude has been "guessing" like it's going out of style."Prophecy is just a guess that comes true, Priest. The Linkaran man could not possibly imagine that all of the things that he saw would happen when they did and could not have experienced every event that happened in the past 300 years," Jordahn stated.
"No, but he got the important parts down," Garik joked.
This is like a "If God is real, why do bad things happen to good people?" discussion without any God."And if fate is really truth, then what kind of a just destiny does it play upon us?"
Bitch you can't argue with fate. Fate just is.
Even Linkara thinks this discussion is dumb.The chamber doors swung open, and Louis popped his head into the hallway. Garik jumped to his feet, not wanting to show him any disrespect. Jordahn stayed sitting, but turned her gaze to him.
"Look, I'm sure the conversation you're having is very important, but could you take it elsewhere? Some of us are trying to sleep here," he said.
Though they got off pretty well. He must be really tired to not want and verbally berate her for having the wrong opinion and being all angsty.
(That mean she wants this book spoilered, too.)"So what happened to the rest of the prophecies that your father uncovered?" White Raven asked.
Indow looked up to her. "What?"
If your most important body of text is any indication, most of the books are incomplete and written in languages that no one understands anymore.With so many important books stored in the one location, it was a wonder why it was not the site of more attacks from the Darkness besides for a single encounter when the Darkness was originally searching for the Linkara.
The editing really improved with this bookIndow was there simply out of curiosity to see if Louis showed up in any history texts during his stay in the Hundred Year War. White Raven had come along purely out of curiosity.
Oh, you think so? He only takes like, I dunno, a few seconds to understand any language that ever existed."My father's attempts to translate the rest of the passages have been unsuccessful. He has sent for linguists and scholars to come to the castle to try to decipher the prophecies. He also thinks that the Linkara's ability to instantly translate other languages simply by looking at them could also be utilized," she explained.
Just hand the fucking prophecies over to Linkara, you morons.
Wait, aren't you already a sorceress?"What are you reading?"
"It's a study book for those who wish to become a Sorcerer or Sorceress. When I am called to perform the trials, I will need all the information that I can utilize,” she replied.
He must find the proper rock dildos for you to sit on."When will you be called?"
"A few months. A few years. Perhaps tomorrow! The Sovereign is very strange in his methods of determining the period for which the trials are taken, so I must study as much as possible given the possibility that at any moment I could be called to Walsz to begin my trials," Indow yawned.
Indow nodded and finished her yawn. "Perhaps the Linkara had the right idea. Rest is something we could all use after the last few months. Any luck finding what the black book was that Myrrha took when she fled the Zlad Delta?"
That sounds just sad."Some feel that it was a diary of sorts, something she kept as a record of her life and that she was constantly reviewing it to see what choices led her to where she was that day."
"Indow rapefics. Each and every day, she would regale me with all the 'fun stuff' she didn't get to perform on you.""And what do you think?" Indow inquired.
White Raven winced. She looked around to see if anyone in the library was looking at them. Seeing that the coast was clear, she leaned down to whisper into Indow's ear.
Well, I'm pretty sure at least the "ways to fight Linkara" bit of this fucking Mao Bible is complete hogwash."While I was a member of the Dark Knights, there was a rumor circulating among us that the Darkness kept a book in his possession that detailed all of his plans, his beliefs, military tactics, hidden spells, and even some ways to fight the Linkara. The book was called the 'Black Oracle,' but nothing ever confirmed its existence," White Raven whispered.
I don't think think the narration would keep subtly reminding us of this book if it truly was just a diary. Or a rapefic collection."And you think Myrrha found the Black Oracle?" Indow asked.
*
You know, people in the Bronze Age had already figured out how to bolt their doors.Louis' eyes were bloodshot when his eyelids came up, his sleep interrupted by the slamming of his chamber door. He slowly sat up as he saw that Lithmenar had entered and was quickly approaching him.
Also why the fuck do people in these books just keep barging into other people's rooms without knocking first?
He was tempted to extend his gauntlet blade and decapitate him for waking him up, but thought that maybe the thief had something useful to say to him.
You and your unshaking belief that Lithmenar could in any way, shape or form ever be "useful"...
However, that hypothesis was quickly shot down by the grin on Lithmenar's face.
You've been riding on horseback next to each other for a month."Hey, kid, I was just walking through this dull little place when I realized that I hadn't gotten much of a chance to talk to you since you got back.
Is it a protection racket? Linkara's been pretty good at threatening people to give in to his demands."Anyway, I've been thinking about a business idea that I think you'd like."
Great. Power Rangers was not enough, now they want to ruin Japanese stage shows, too."Word's spreading quickly that you've returned to Sin. Imagine - the religious symbol and savior of the Five Lands returns from the dead. I'm thinking that we could go on tour, stopping at each city and telling everyone about your brave tale! We'd be like a traveling circus, doing shows, you battling the fiercest warriors, doing a little flight show with those wings of yours against a Sorcerer who can levitate."
Louis blinked once, still staring at Lithmenar and offering no reply to him.
You should know better than to annoy the Great Linkara."Each city would pour thousands of Kikrens to see the Linkara, the champion of good and light and all of that other nonsense! We'd split the money right down the middle! Well, I would need to get an extra fee, of course, for having come up with the idea, but I know you wouldn't mind."
Louis clenched his teeth together, but Lithmenar wasn't noticing.
Why? They concentrate most of the wealth in one location."And look, I know how you want to get home to your own planet or whatever, but you could be huge here! Live like a king! Well, maybe I shouldn't say that, since thieves like me don't really like the monarchy."
"Lithmenar?" Louis interrupted.
Lithmenar stopped and looked straight at Louis. "Yes?"
"Look at my face," Louis growled.
Bolt the fucking door."Well, obviously this is not the best time to discuss this situation. I'll tell you what - why don't we talk about this after you've rested up and had a chance to recover from your recent stresses. Business opportunities will always be open. Have a pleasant sleep, good sir!" he said, finally exiting the room.
Louis clenched his teeth and collapsed sideways, his eyes shutting before his head hit the pillow.
*
Thank you for that, Gyaru Casca.After Lithmenar closed the door, he turned around and faced a deeply angered Jordahn. He grinned, but before he could open his mouth to say something, Jordahn grabbed his arm and twisted it around behind his back. She slammed him into the chamber door, creating a large bang throughout the corridor. Lithmenar struggled futilely as Jordahn held him in place.
Wait. Didn't Linkara just tell you to piss off?"So," she growled, "a Priestess comes to me and says that she requires my assistance with lifting a large crate, and in the meantime, you decide to see Louis while he is attempting to sleep. Tell me, you snake, how much did you pay the Priestess to distract me?"
"Luckily I'm really good at munching carpet, if you know what I mean..."Lithmenar smiled, but still tried to escape her grasp. "Not much. People around here are not influenced by money, a trait that I sometimes admire."
If you think that's a concern just bolt the damn door."How did she know that you wouldn't try to assassinate the Linkara?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
To be fair, vegan goths who bathe in animal blood is just about one of the dumbest fictional beliefs I've come across.Jordahn ground her teeth together and pulled Lithmenar's arm more, causing pain in his upper arm and shoulder. "Religious people aren't very intelligent, eh? And I suppose I'm not very intelligent, since my beliefs stem from the New Blood Order."
Unless the deformity includes at least one missing eye."Strong and beautiful, I might add," he said.
"Compliments will get you nowhere, you filthy toad. Even if my face were hideously deformed, it would not interfere with my abilities as a warrior," Jordahn explained.
You traveled for a month together in silence for no reason."Oh, I have no doubt of that! However, I retain my opinion of your beauty. I was merely attempting to talk to the Linkara of so many things that have passed since we were too busy drinking the last time we had such an opportunity," Lithmenar stated.
Hang on a second. Why are you following his orders anyways? You're the captain, and he's not even part of your unit anymore."Lithmenar, I recommend that you leave this area and that I not see you near here again until Louis has authorized me to allow you near him!" Jordahn growled.
Doesn't this First Church have these creepily smiling guards? Why do you have to guard him?
"Louis has asked me to stand watch here and prevent anyone from coming in to see him since he wishes to sleep!"
What the fuck kind of weird Scooby-Doo clown show is this?Seeing that Garik was attempting to sneak past her to get to the chamber doors, Jordahn reached over and grabbed him by the front of his robes and pulled him over to her. Garik winced and looked into her eyes as she glared down at him.
Oh, how hilarious. Everyone's having a grand old time with whacky reasons to pester Linkara."And just where do you think you're going?!"
Garik gulped. "I need to ask for the Linkara's assistance in deciphering the Linkaran prophecies! His role to the rest of the world could be vital for our continued existence!"
This is gonna end with Linkara opening the door and screaming loudly for everyone to piss off, isn't it?
(Also why the hurry? It's not like these prophecies can ever be wrong, or their events changed.)
Oh, that's just what he likes to tell peope so he can play the tragic hero"He has no role except for the one he plays right now! One night, I followed the Magi Chreydo out into the forest. There I heard Louis weep and lament by a lake over the fact that the role of the Linkara was forced onto him when he did not want it!
"He only says we should all be okay with sluts if we don't want to face his murderous wrath!""The Linkara would not say such things!" Garik stated.
Exactly. What the fuck, lady?"And I thought the kid renounced his service as a part of the Kien army and as your Captain! Why do you show such loyalty to him? If I were you, I'd be halfway to Kien by now to assimilate myself into the new era that I was in!" he said.
That was less "I fought besides him" and more "I watched him butcher people by the dozens".Jordahn tightened her grip, twisting her hands around the
handle. "I also have loyalty to those who have fought beside me..."
Oh shit, she said the T-word!"... something you don't exhibit in the slightest, thief!"
"Excuse me?!" Lithmenar shouted.
More hijinks afoot, it seems. Does Indow want another hug?The three heard footsteps approaching but ignored them.
Lithmenar and Jordahn began a shouting match with one another while Garik waited for an opportunity to slip past them and enter the Linkara's chambers.
"Could you all please stand aside?!" White Raven yelled.
The three all turned and looked at the two girls.
"Indow and I must consult the Linkara on very important issues, and you are in our way!" she stated.
And so began a five-way free-for-all between the members of the assembled group. Yelling, harsh words, and insults were thrown back and forth at one another as each one sought dominance.
Lithmenar was attempting to defend his honor, Garik was constantly trying to get to the doors, and White Raven and Indow were trying to get in by bypassing Jordahn's authority as Louis' guard.
Here it comes. The great moment this entire chapter has been building up to!However, the group was arguing so much and listening to all the screams that they didn't notice the fact that the chamber door had opened and Louis was standing directly inside the door arch.
Bitch those fantasy arm blades aren't katars. Katars are punching daggers. You hold them in your hand.Louis clenched his teeth together and extended his arm that had the gauntlet on it. A mental command to the device slid out the katar from the top of it
Louis took in a single deep breath as he prepared to speak. However, when he opened his mouth next, he didn't speak, he bellowed.
"STOP YOUR FOUL WHINING, YOU FILTHY PIECES OF DISTENDED RECTUM!" he roared.
The five exchanged glances, but it was Indow who spoke first:
"Anyone for tea?"
