Ascension - (Alarian Warriors)

Vexous placed a hand on the Princess’s shoulder at the same time Aveyon touched Vincent’s torso, all three minds immediately connected. Vincent was quick to clear his mind, but she’d still caught a thought slip through before he had been ready. She couldn’t focus on that right now, but she also didn’t know what to look for or where to begin. However, Vexous was right there ready to guide her.

Do not look with your eyes, feel his core, the centre of his power, his soul. Vexous’s voice filled her mind with clarity and calmness that surprised her.

Closing her eyes, she surrendered herself to the essence within herself and him. It helped that both their minds and bodies were linked through the bond. Searching for the flow of energy, it was slightly difficult to follow, it was wild and alive, moving. She could feel it running through him like the life-giving blood that pumped through his veins. Did it follow the same flow? Concentrating harder she tried to feel where it was coming from to connect to that core, his center. She remembered her training, envisioning the essence as a well of light deep within.

There! She exclaimed as she seemed to pinpoint where in his body the essence was produced from. Her hand slid slightly higher, so it was resting just below his rib cage but above his stomach.

Connect with it like you would any other mind. Vexous seemed distracted, further away. It was troubling.

What is- She tried to find out what was happening, but Vincent cut her off.

We have it under control, don’t stop. She could tell he was focusing on other things. His thoughts seemed distant, distracted. But she couldn’t break her current focus to find out more.

Once you’re connected, channel the essence and form the fissure behind him, think of your home, of where you want to go, and the essence will do the rest, it’ll be your guide. Vexous disconnected at that moment leaving her with too many unanswered questions.

What would become of Vincent if they did this?

Aveyon reflexively went to disconnect and go after her to find out what was going on. But Vincent’s strong arms held her firm, their eyes meeting, she could see blurs of movement behind her. They’d gotten in.

“Don’t! We need you to do this.” His words were spoken this time.

They all needed her. Regaining her composure, she cut off her senses completely, including the link to his mind. The sounds of battle disappeared, and she was once again focused solely on him.

Reaching within him, her mind touched his core. It seemed to react to her wildly. She gasped as her mind was unexpectedly pulled violently inside, absorbed by the presence. Her first reflex was to resist, but at the familiarity of the essence wrapped around her consciousness, she let go completely, accepting it. It was an odd feeling inside this space, blank, lifeless, and hollow. It was empty she realized, like it had been a place that once stored something.

At the very moment her mind had been accepted, her hand had slid into Vincent’s body like it was made of liquid. Her hand quickly found what it was searching for and clasped it gently, an incredibly fragile small shard. A reminiscence of her destroyed aura. He had had a part of it inside him all along, but it was void of power as he himself, his body, had become the new vessel. This whole time he’d felt so familiar, so warm, so comforting, and she hadn’t known, hadn’t seen it. He’d been a part of her before she’d come to earth, and even now, he had helped her, made her stronger.

Her fingers locked around the small object and her mind exploded with clarity, she knew what to do. What bothered her was that she could clearly tell how connected Vincent was with the aura’s power. She had never heard of this type of bonding before. His life, his very being, was driven by this force. The small piece she held was but a shell, but it had originated from that spot. She could control and harness it from here. If she was to take it back through the shard as she needed to, it couldn’t be replenished...

Drawing the power into his center she felt Vincent stiffen, this would be incredibly draining on him. She was stealing his very life force by doing this, but she could channel his essence to open the realm splitting fissure and use it to jump ship and save everyone in this room... hopefully.

Something sharp brushed up against her face, and she winced as a slight sting emerged. She felt Vincent move, her eyes remained tightly shut, trusting him to protect her as she worked. However, she couldn’t block out the sound of breaking bones so close to her ear as she felt the sliver of blood slide down her cheek from the cut.

She didn’t waver, just a little more!

Taking only what she needed, though it was a great deal more than she had hoped. She stretched out her free hand and drew the Alarian symbol for home in the air. Where her finger traced a trail of light remained, formed by the essence she was channelling from him. Releasing her hold on Vincent, she removed her hand carefully, leaving his body completely intact. It was an incredibly unnatural feeling, and one she never wanted to experience again.

She opened her eyes, paying no mind to the blood bath that was occurring around her. Vincent fell to his knees; she noticed his appearance had visibly changed. His hair now had grey streaks and his skin was no longer as smooth as it once was. It was as if he had visibly aged years in those mere minutes.

Raising her hands to the symbol once more, remembering what the fallen had done to open the fissure to Terramore, she dug her fingers into the lines of light. She was met with huge resistance as she pulled with all her might. It looked as though she was trying to rip something open from the centre of the symbol. Slowly a small fissure appeared, and she could see the white city on the other side.

They were so close! But it wouldn’t open any further. The resistance was too great and was fighting back trying to force itself closed. It was rejecting her; her home was rejecting her!

“Come on! Please recognize me!” She pleaded.

She could feel tears begin to form. It wasn’t opening, she wasn’t enough. Her body was no longer Alarian, and Alarious wouldn’t let her in, only those of the Alarian race were permitted entry. Or was it because she’d never opened a fissure before, was she even doing this right?

Erosvent was at her side the second he saw her struggling. Sheathing his weapons, he plunged his hands into the fissure alongside her own. He stood behind her, his arms acting like a shield as they pulled the fissure open. He was amazed she managed to get it open at all, he could at least aid with this part.

It took little effort with Eros helping, both their arms flung wide as the fissure burst open into a massive rift. It was now large enough for masses of people to cross at once. Sparks of energy engulfed the room, and many shielded their eyes. This was their chance, and they took it.

“GO!” Aveyon screamed as all the demons were still struggling and staggering to see.

Kirra ran and dived through; the elves wouldn’t make a move otherwise. She mouthed what appeared to be ‘hurry up’ from the other side and all the elves ran through in groups.

Vexous countered an attack by dodging and grabbing the assailant’s arm, she brought it down on her knee with a loud crack. A scream followed as the demon-like creature collapsed to the dusty floor cradling his arm.

Erosvent was at her rear, his weapons back in hand. “Get Vince through!” He ordered.

His sword cut through a piece of meaty flesh splatting blood all over them. They were practically soaked at this point. Zero sheathed his weapon and took Vincent from the struggling hands of the Princess. She had been trying to help him stand, but he was too big a man for her small form to carry in his weakened state.

Flopping him over his shoulder like a rag doll, Vincent groaned in protest, Zero couldn’t help but crack a smile. More and more creatures came piling into the room, the bodies were piling up and quickly filling the already crowded space, and it was getting hard to find footing to continue fighting.

Damon’s beast form couldn’t fit through the doorway, but he was tearing at the wall and frame around it. Making it easy for them to be overwhelmed very soon.

Aveyon lifted her hands before her, her fingers pressed together to make a diamond with your thumbs and index finger. Taking inspiration from the late queen she sent a gail of wind toward the demons. They flew backwards toppling over each other as they were blasted from the room. This freed Damon to enter the room just as she planned.

Kia and Sira burst into action, they wrapped the beast’s torso, binding its arms to its chest and drove through the fissure dragging the beast through with them. It wailed in protest, trashing as it skated across the room and into the next realm.

They’d done it! As Aveyon was about to follow Vexous grabbed her arm, stopping her.

“When we cross through, I will be cursed to a state close to death.” Vexous looked Aveyon directly in the eyes. She didn’t react. “...You knew? But how?”

“Ashera boasted about it, I cannot completely block him out of my mind, I’ve simply been ignoring him now. Do not worry, we will find a way. You will be free.” She held her hand out to the goddess who willingly took it.

“It was nice to finally meet you in person, though I regret the circumstances.”

“I promise, it will not be the last time.” Aveyon nodded.

They entered the fissure together. Aveyon still wasn’t used to travelling between realms. She felt her body being pulled at an alarming rate. It only lasted a second and she was flung out the other side only barely managing to stay on her feet. Her stomach twisted and knotted; a nauseous feeling engulfed her. Holding onto her stomach she spun around to see Eros come through, hot on his heels, a horde of demons.

Vexous had already collapsed, unmoving but breathing. Aveyon felt terrible that she couldn’t attend to the goddess, the opening to the realm being closed was more important. She was about to reach for the edges of the fissure when numerous arms flung up in front of her. Everyone had formed a line between her and the fissure, weapons at the ready as many of the enchanted shields flew to her defence. Her gaze focusing, she should see why.

Ashera stood on the other side a corrupted gem in hand, and a smile on his face. He flung the jewel at the fissure edge, much like she had done earlier today. The moment it impacted the shimming fissure seemed to stabilize.

As everything fell into place within Aveyon’s mind she muttered. “This is what he wanted all along.” A permanent fissure that connected Terramore to Alarious, he couldn’t open one, but she had opened it for him.

“What did he just do?” It was Zero who spoke.

“He just made the entry point to this realm permanent.” She answered.

“Shhhhhit.” Came Kirra’s reply.

Asheria casually walked through, he tilted his head and looked toward Aveyon as he stamped his foot. The rift expanded exponentially in size. She reflexively took a step back. The demons around him held numbers they couldn’t have imagined.

“Now.” His voice was so deep it sent chills running down her spine. “I shall spill your blood into the river of souls before destroying this realm and devouring you.” He smirked. “Maybe then the fool will show himself. The goddess is as good as dead and you my dear, you I’ll make suffer.” He licked his lips.

Vincent was barely on his feet again; it looked like he had regained some strength but probably not enough to survive the battle ahead.

“You need to go to them.” He placed a hand on Aveyon’s shoulder. He pointed to the ruined temple that once was the palace in the distance.

She looked on confused until she saw what, or rather, who was waiting for her. There they were, the three beautiful pure white beings she had come to know, their robes flowing around them like something out of a dream. They were holding their hands out to her, an invitation. Not even needing an explanation she broke out into a run, leaving the others behind her. This was her task, increasing her speed as she had been taught, she pushed herself as hard as she could.

She could turn the tide of this battle if she could reach them and if she could ascend.

"STOP HER!" Ashera’s voice bellowed behind her.

She didn’t dare look back; they needed her right now, but not in her current state. She needed to give them the power to rival a god, and this was the only way. She could hear the clash of battle, the sounds of distress and pain, the fizzle of enchantments and essence in the air. Her breathing grew heavier, and her heart ached. She wanted more than anything to fight alongside them, and yet all she could do was run.

She saw an elf jump to her aid as a creature had caught up to her. Its claws ripping into the warrior’s flesh. His body shredded into pieces before her eyes, blood splattered across her face. She screamed in protest, but her feet didn’t stop. The heavy thud of her limbs hitting the concrete echoed incredibly loudly through her mind.

She heard Damon’s roar, and she knew he was free and rummaging again, but still, she couldn’t stop. She didn’t fight back the tears now; they fell freely down her face as she watched people who had sworn themselves to her and the cause.

Why couldn’t she move faster!

More and more of her allies were losing their lives. Her vision was cloudy, she could only just make out the outlines of the three women waiting for her. As she got closer, the expressions on their faces appeared to be miserable. They couldn’t move any further forward; she could see they were trying. It appeared that they were bound to the palace, she had to reach them and there was no other way.

She was meters away from reaching the fates when she felt the shift in the air, she knew at once Asheria had moved. A load cracking, a thunderous sound, echoed around them, Ashera’s power rippled and engulfed the area. She was pushed back by the sheer force of the wind that had been created as he seemed to materialize before her.

Ashera stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his menacing glare stopping her dead in her tracks. “Must I do everything myself?” he mockingly asked.

She could feel her body begin to shake as he slowly drew his sword. It felt like time stopped as he raised his weapon high in the air, she couldn’t move fast enough to avoid his attack. She couldn’t outrun him; he’d made that abundantly clear. She slammed her eyes shut out of fear, she felt the tip of the blade puncture her armour. But it stopped, barely piercing her skin.

“I told you to never close your eyes, remember.” The strained voice had her snapping her eyes open as she felt the pain of the blow wash through her bond. He coughed and splattered in her place. Her knees became weak as she realized who it was, she slid to the ground unable to scream. Her chest exploded with his pain; she could block it out. She couldn’t do it, she couldn’t make it, she’d tried. It was over...

“VINCENT!” Erosvent screamed while Aveyon couldn’t. He’d caught up with them, but too late to stop the attack, he lunged at Ashera.

The demon king couldn’t pull his sword free as Vincent clung to it. He was forced to dodge the attack by jumping backwards, leaving the sword behind. Unbeknown to him the Fates were waiting. Their robes shot out as though they were alive. Wrapping and entangling his limbs, holding him at bay. He’d jumped back a little too far and they could reach him now. Frustrated he thrashed, but nothing seemed to break the strands of cloth.

“What are you?!” Ashera sounded furious.

“Bring her to us now! We must hurry!” The fates ordered.

Their words were spoken as one and directed at Erosvent. As much as Eros wanted to see to Vincent and help him heal, he had to leave him for now. He ran for Aveyon first scooping her up in his arms, he made haste. He could feel her trembling, she made a small attempt at a protest as he ran past Vincent.

Wrapped in warmth she felt cold, she reached out for Vincent as they passed by him. Her heart sank and her bottom lip quivered as she saw his blood-soaked body, the life in his eyes was fading, along with it her own. The blow had struck the edge of his heart, but he still managed to smile before his eyes closed. His body fell with a heavy thud, sword remaining in place. She felt all the air leave her lungs; this was too much.

She needed to tell someone, anyone, to remove the sword so that he could heal, so that he didn’t bleed out. So that she didn’t die along with him. But she couldn’t form the words, only short sharp gasps as her own strength was fading along with his.

“I’ll keep him alive; you have my word,” Erosvent told her.

He placed her feet on the ground, she hunched over on unsteady feet before the figures. Two of the three had a hand extended for her. The third, standing in the middle of the group, kept her eyes on Ashera. She looked deep in concentration. With no strength remaining, Aveyon simply fell into them, the two fates catching her with ease. They vanished taking Aveyon with them, but Ashera was once again set free.

Kirra and Zero had made it to Erosvent’s side the moment the demon King flung back into action, and the battle continued to rage.

The four just needed to stay alive long enough for Aveyon to return.