Self-Control AU (DQB2)

The sound of waves slowly came into his audition. It was a calming, soothing sound. He felt like sleeping five more minutes… But he couldn’t. He felt like he had to do something… Something important… What was it…? Whatever it was it could wait a little…

-Hello? Are you still on this side of the world?-a slightly high-pitched voice asked-Are you okay?

He didn’t feel like moving, but he had. He tried to pull himself together and regain control of his body. With a bit of trouble, he managed to make his fingers twitch.

-Ah, so you are alive!-the voice said cheerfully.

He groaned as he struggled to get up. With some time and a little trouble he managed to get on his knees and see the owner of the voice’s feet. They wore sandals and a long… dress? He looked up to see the owner of the voice completely. Even though they looked slightly tired they smiled brightly, showing pointed fangs and perfectly white teeth. They had very long eyelashes, which prompted the builder apprentice to think it was a girl, but something was off were they one… Their amber-colored eyes looked down at him with a look of relief. A pair of pointed ears stuck out of a great amount of hair poking out in several ways. The piece of clothing still looked like a long-sleeved long white dress with the ends of it circled out in a triangle pattern. They were pale and a golden pendant hung from their neck, shining lively in comparison to the ill-like appearance of the bearer. Their hands were small and their fingers slender. The stranger started blushing.

-U-um… Can you stop staring at me like that-they said averting their gaze-It’s uncomfortable.

He averted his gaze… Whoever it was they were both on the same boat. Hating being stared at.

-Who are you, anyway? You were drowning not too long ago.

-Um…-good question, who was he…?-I… I’m Gelius.

-My name is Hargon-the other answered-I met someone on my way here, come, we’ll check on him just in case he hasn’t done… anything reckless.

The apprentice nodded and took their hand. Somehow, it felt safe.

-By the way, have you ever had that thing poking out of there-Hargon said pointing at a tail poking out of his attire.

-Ah, no, sorry. Um… there-he said hiding it.

They both got through a small cave hidden behind some sand. They met the one Hargon referred to when they crossed it. The man was standing on a notable rock and muttering things to himself. Gelius’ first impressions of that man was “Who is this weirdo with no shirt and a ponytail?” Then, his red eyes directed their gaze to them. Ice could feel himself starting to fangirl about the same weirdo he judged badly before. He felt his face heat up when he realize what he’d done… Before the boy came all the way there.

-Yo, Hargon, it seems you had some luck with the boy, didn’t you?

-Yes, I did have some luck. By the way, how’s the rest of the shore?

-There’s quite a thing over there-the boy said pointing at the other side of the shore.

Gelius was curious, what was this thing about? He was curious as to what it was the thing the stranger referred to. But he felt something pushing him back. He wanted but didn’t want to know. What was this strange feeling…? It was like dread. Did he know what was at the other side? Who knew? There was just one way of knowing it. Going to see it by his own eyes. By the time he gained back his senses the boy was waving a gloved hand at him.

-Hello? You there?

-Oh, um… Yeah, I was just… thinking.

-Oh, okay. I’m Malroth, and you?

-Gelius, my name’s Gelius.

-So… Want to see something gruesome?

Gelius didn’t answer. Usually he felt sick when it came to that. Injured, dead people… He felt the anxiety crawling up.

-Malroth, I don’t think he wants to see such a thing, he’s pale.

-Wasn’t he already pale? What’s the point on being paler than before?

-Well, it usually means you are not feeling well.

Malroth looked over at the builder apprentice. He indeed was paler than before, but color was coming back to his face. Not that it made a clear difference, he had always been very pale-skinned. Truth to be told, if he had any color it wasn’t thanks to genetics. Mother had described Father as very pale too. And his family in general was quite pale. In fact, his grandfather couldn’t stand outside during the Sun’s high hours for long because he got sun-burnt. Quite an issue for a builder like him, who was conditioned by weather to work. If it rained he usually didn’t build, and if it was very sunny he didn’t work either. Luckily, clouds were always passing by to cover the sunlight. Malroth looked quite tanned in comparison. He’d always envied those who could enjoy sunlight like that and not become walking burning tomatoes. He’d always wanted such a skin, not as delicate as his. He didn’t want to be like a damsel in distress, he wanted to be the hero that saved the world and made everyone happy… But over it all, he wanted a happy family proud of him.

-So, say, do you want to see it?-Malroth pushed the matter.

-Malroth, please-Hargon began but was cut off.

-Okay, fine I’ll go see it.

Malroth guided them to the other side of the shore, where there was a piece of that skeleton’s ship. There were also quite a lot of dead people.

-Talk about dead in the water, am I right?-Malroth said nudging Hargon with the elbow.

-Uh… Malroth, this is not to be taken lightly, we have about four corpses in our beach.

-Our? You own this place? Are you rich or something?-the builder questioned walking around the bodies to see if they were dead.

Hargon helped him see if there were any dead people. They lifted all of them and brought them over the dry area of the beach. They checked if any of them had pulse or breathed. Surprisingly, the last one they took, a pink-haired girl with a ponytail at one side of her head seemed to be still alive. Hargon’s hopes rose when they knew there was another one alive. They didn’t want to spend so much time with Malroth alone. They felt like they knew him from forever and have been together ever since they found each other in the Isle. There was something that made Hargon not want to spend so much time with somebody they’d grown fond of like that, since they were like best friends or siblings even: Malroth’s behavior. He was violent, destructive and… Well, had a strange conception of funny and other things. Contrastingly, they’d shown themselves calm and peaceful, always disposed to aid somebody.

-She’s still got seawater in her lungs-Hargon said after listening closely to her breathing-We should get it out in some way.

Hargon moved her so she was laying on the sand with her face facing the sky and positioned themselves over her. They brought their hands to the chest, and pushed so she’d spit the water. She started coughing it out shortly after. When she opened her eyes and saw the stranger over her and their hands on her chest she came to very rushed conclusions. She slapped them out of the way so hard they fell to the sand face-first and she ran to a room of sorts screaming. Hargon spat sand they’d taken in their mouth when they fell. The trio followed the girl until they got to the room she was hiding in.

-Hey, are you okay?-Gelius asked with a concerned tone.

-B-b-back off, you perverted pirates!-the pink-haired female shouted.

-I beg your pardon? What kind of term is the one you make use of?

-Oh, so now you go around being polite, you piece of degenerate rapist!

Hargon felt not only at a loss, but seriously insulted. All they’d done was try to help her out of a drowning process, was it that bad?

-I beg your pardon once again? What kind of evidence do you have on that accusation?

The girl puffed up her cheeks.

-You were shamelessly groping my chest and now you’re playing innocent? I’m very sure that had I been unconscious for a little more time you’d go ahead and do something worse!

-What?! After I tried to save you that’s how you thank me?! I am no degenerate that takes profit of other people!-Hargon said, snapping.

-Peace, please, peace-Gelius said-We can’t start arguing if we’re stuck here together. They did not try to rape you. They were just innocently pressing their hands against your chest to prompt the lungs to spit the water they had inside. There is no guilt by their side of the Balance.

Hargon directed him a look that said “What the hell is the Balance you talk about?”, but didn’t talk about the matter. The girl glared at the builder before she realized who he was.

-Wait, weren’t you that builder from Cantlin the monsters on the ship kept asking requests to?

Gelius nodded, smiling like a dork as if those had been good times.

-I couldn’t stand seeing how they ordered you around and seeing you work like a slave, it was quite nasty, wasn’t it?

-Actually, it was one of the best times I had in my life. You know, Cantlin’s demands for building have gone down lately, so… I guess I was begging for some work.

-You were actually begging them to kill you with such singing-the girl muttered under her breath.

-Either way, who are you?-Malroth said straight to the point.

-I’m Lulu, Mr. Shirtless-she said nonchalantly.

-I’m Malroth.

-Gelius.

-My name is Hargon.

Lulu looked at him with an “Are you serious?” expression. Hargon looked back at her confused.

-Seriously, how can I take seriously what you said about your innocence if you tell me you have the same name as the High Priest of the Children of Hargon on your name?

Perplexed, Hargon blinked a few times before processing what she said.

-I don’t have any children, I don’t know what you mean-he said.

Lulu glared at him.

-By the way, you haven’t answered my question about owning the island.

Everyone turned around to look at the builder perplexed. What did this have to do with the current situation?

-We do not-Malroth said-We just woke up here.

-I have a question, though. Why did you refer as they and them to me?

-Uh… Because I can’t discern your gender-Gelius answered.

-Well, to your information as far as I know my gender is masculine-Hargon remarked-So I should be directed as he or him.

Gelius nodded understanding and moved onto the next topic.

-Well, weird statements and names apart, we should focus on the fact we’re stuck here. We’re not going to survive like this, are we?

All of them nodded.

-No matter how much kelp we eat, we’ll run out of it-Hargon stated-Which means we should figure out another way of eating.

-Aside from that, I’m not willing to sleep on the floor-the pink-haired girl remarked-I come from an important family from Rippleport, I deserve a good bed.

-I need a way of storing stuff, four beds, something to cook with, a decent room and a way to get water we can drink-Gelius said-This is going to take a while.

-Does the oil I drained out of a slime serve for something?-Malroth said.

-It depends. Do you still have it?

Hargon and Malroth looked at each other.

-It fell to the floor-Malroth said.

-Had you heard me and emptied it on some kind of bottle you would not have had that problem.

-I can still drain another one-Malroth said, making Hargon face-palm.

-Malroth, you’ve been doing that for the last two days-he said.

-I can do it once more-he said smiling.

Hargon sighed and sat down.

-Well, you three have fun, I have had enough wandering for a couple of days.

-I’m staying too, actually-Lulu said-Could you fix the room first, Gelius?

Gelius muttered something under his breath that sounded quite rude, but agreed and started moving the planks of the ship from where they were to the little gaps. Once the place was fixed Gelius and Malroth went to take some slimes down to get oil. Hargon looked at the clouds from the inside of the little shelter. What wonders would be outside of this deserted island? It was something he wanted to know very badly, but he couldn’t just swim out of the island to another, he hadn’t that much stamina. Hargon had been curious. Ever since he woke up that day, he felt like he was forgetting something important, like he had to do something. It didn’t matter how much he tried to think about it, he didn’t know what was missing.

As the oil dropped to a little bottle Ice had, Malroth squeezed the slime with even more strength than he should. With the oil in the bottle they proceeded to try searching for other items. They eventually stumbled with some shells. Malroth examined it before kicking it, revealing it was a scallywinkle. Then something crossed the builder’s mind. He went to take it and examine it.

-It’s raw, but with some fire I think I can make it edible-he mumbled while pocketing his discovery-Three more will do.

They only found two more, since most of them had already been either washed away, kicked by Malroth while examining the beach or hidden beneath the sand. When they came back they found Lulu and Hargon having an argument.

-Well, you see, I’ve never ever had interaction with a girl in my life, so excuse me if  I’m not the gentleman you search for, okay?-Hargon shouted angrily over at the pink-haired girl.

-Oh, pardon me, after you spoke so politely I confused you with someone with actual manners, but it turns out those were only words.

-Well, I have not learned how to treat wealthy women because I never met one in my life! Stop rambling about my education and think, how would I ever be able to interact with a girl of your status in a deserted island, you bird-brain!?

Lulu gasped at the insult. What did he say? Hargon had really lost his cool there, it was true, nobody ever taught him how to treat noblewomen nicely, but there was an actually good reason behind. A knock on the door got both of them distracted from their fight. The builder and Malroth entered with a pile of wood and a bottle of oil. Both of the arguing parts looked at them with curiosity. Ice put the wood on the floor and emptied the bottle on the wood. He took out a pair of stones out of his pocket and lit up the fire by frothing them together. He then tossed the three scallywinkles onto the fire.

-Hey, hey! Gelius, the scalywinkles you picked up have…

-No, I put them in the fire on purpose.

Malroth instantly relaxed. He’d never seen how to cook something like that so he didn’t know you had to put something in a fire to get them cooked. Malroth smelled the air. It was the same salty smell, but with the disgusting smell of that thing. Malroth’s expression changed to one of disgust. What the hell was cooking? Hargon smelled it and made a face.

-What smells like the fart of a fish?-Hargon asked intrigued by the curious smell.

-I think it’s the scallywinkles I put on the bonfire. They never smelled quite well.

Hargon glared at the scallywinkles as if they were an offense to the world. He’d rather stick with kelp and dried seaweed. Or perhaps those monsters he’d seen in the wild… No. He wouldn’t hurt them unless they hurt him. He sat by the fire and extended his hands towards it. He felt warm for once in what felt like forever. He welcomed the feeling, since it felt quite nice. Lulu took a place next to him, near the corner to take the warmth and look at the cooking food. Malroth and Gelius were the only ones standing now.

-We have food and a room. Next up: Beds and water. How can I take salt from the sea water…?-Gelius thought aloud.

-That’s a nice question-he answered himself-We could make a complex purification system.

-Purification? Hm… You mean like filling something with sea water and channeling it through a crystallization process to take the salt off and using water as drink and salt as condiment?

-Correct, that is a brilliant way of depicting it.

Malroth, Hargon and Lulu looked with shocked expressions to Gelius, who seemed very happy with his statements and self-conversation.

-Alright, so… What do I base the channeling stuff on, I have no way of forging crystal here.

-Hum… You could always make a pipe system with the wood… Or take the stones and wood and create a forge yourself…

-Wait, every ship has glass on it, hasn’t it?

-I’m mostly certain they do have crystal, why?

-There could still be some here I can warm up and modify.

-Yeah, sounds logical, but on the other hand all of this is illogical.

-We can still try. We have a bonfire and the necessary tools except… A metal bar.

The young boy started looking at the sand with curiosity. He got down on all fours and started looking for something. A couple of hours later, he came back with a great amount of shards of crystal. Ice left them on the floor and went to look for a treasure chest he’d seen. He took it and brought it all the way to the room. He put it on one of the corners of said room and opened it. He started looking inside until he found something he wanted. There was a bar poking out of the inner structure. He took out the bar from there and pocketed his find.

Hargon had taken out the scallywinkles when he saw them turning a bit black and Gelius wasn’t coming. They were cooling on the floor because they were too hot for eating. The builder looked at them.

-You know, you have a good eye for this, perhaps I’ll make you toast more scallywinkles-Gelius said-I think you can eat them now. Now if you excuse me, I have some glass to mold.

Ice started dumping the crystal on the fire. With the metal piece he got from the treasure chest he started molding it into pipes and bottles.

-Why can’t you use the one you already have?-Malroth asked seeing that he was making another one.

-I can’t use the same bottle for two things at the same time-Gelius answered while molding some more glass.

Once he was finished he took some more wood from the bag and started creating a home-made distillation system. He took a pile of wood and put it beneath the bottle he’d made and took a stick from the lit up bonfire to light up the other one. He took the bottle from the system and filled it with seawater. He put it back on its place and waited to see if it worked. About twenty minutes later the water started boiling, leaving salt behind. Ice then put the other bottle, filled with more seawater on the upper part of the system, making the poured water act as refrigerator and the water started flowing onto the empty bottle he’d previously attached. How did he get so much glass from the ship’s remains was a mystery. Slowly, the bottle started filling itself.

He then ran off to get some dry grass and Malroth followed almost instantly. Lulu and Hargon were left behind nibbling at their scallywinkles, which were much better than kelp in Hargon’s opinion.

-They may be slimy, but at least these have some taste that doesn’t resemble that of seaweeds. That is a good change.

Lulu didn’t answer. She mostly agreed they were plainly nice and a bit slimy, but it was the only food they could get. Malroth and Gelius were taking some grass out of the shore. It was dry, but it was that or sleep on sand… They found quite a bunch but after Ice did the calculations…

-We only have for three beds. Should I just go and use sand?

-Nah, we can work a solution out-Malroth said confidently-Hargon and I are just like brothers, so we might sleep together on one of them.

With Malroth’s reassurance he and Ice made their way back to the place they’d made their house. He got working on the bench right away, creating the plans to make a consistent regular pile of straw. He then got in and dropped the straw slowly so it gained the shape of a half-comfortable mattress. He did this process thrice. There were three straw beds but no more straw in his hands, just like he’d thought.

-Well, that’s all we can have. I can sleep on the floor-Gelius started to be cut off by an angered Malroth.

-I already told you Hargon and I are fine by just sleeping together, we’re just like brothers!

-You look like the type who takes two beds for himself-Gelius answered.

-Then sleep with me too, won’t you? You said you were okay with the floor so I think sleeping with a bed-occupier is fine too, isn’t it?

Hargon sighed. Gelius wasn’t meaning that at all. Did Malroth understand the word privacy? The answer is he didn’t know about it. But… Then why did he know about it? He felt as if many things he wanted to understand were way beyond his grasp. What brought him here if there’s nothing here in the first place? How does he know things Malroth doesn’t? He couldn’t help himself but feel strange. A lot of things escaped his grasp.

-So, tell me, who’s sleeping with who then?-Lulu said.

-Tell me how you’re better off, sleeping with someone or alone-Gelius said.

-I want to sleep alone, I can’t sleep with a boy in the same bed as me, especially that degenerated.

-I’m no degenerated!-Hargon protested-It’s not my fault I don’t know ladies’ etiquette when I live with this weirdo over here!-he said pointing at Malroth.

-I’m a weirdo now? Then what are you, wearing a dress around? You look like a girl, you idiot!

-Oh, so I’m supposed to look like other people want me to now? Go out of this place if you’re not comfortable!

Gelius sighed. This was beginning to look like a family full of siblings with no parents to look after the kids.

-Peace here, please. We’re stuck together in this island and last thing we need is an argument. So, Lulu is not sleeping with none of us… Let’s see, we have to discuss what we’re going to do now.

-I’m fine sleeping with Malroth, but only if he apologizes.

-I have to apologize? You’re the one who should apologize in the first place!

The builder took a deep breath and tried to pull up some more patience.

-Okay, at the count of three, you’ll apologize at the same time, then you’ll be even and will sleep together, I’ll take the other bed. One, two, three.

-I’m sorry-both of them said, but not sounding really genuine.

-Hey, Gelius I’ve seen you build for a while now… Can I… try? I mean, I already mentioned I didn’t know a builder in my whole life so… I spent the last five hour making sure you didn’t get killed by slimes and I wanted to try what you do.

-Sure, try it on that bench outside, I’ll overlook the process.

They both got out. Hargon thought about it for a while. He got out and saw Malroth hitting with a hammer whatever he was trying to build. He felt it was exactly the thing he wasn’t supposed to do. Gelius’ face was also a poem. Hargon neared to watch the process. Once Malroth was finished he gave up and gave Gelius what was left of the materials. The builder looked at it and seemed to visualize something instantly. He wrote it down on the book he was carrying around, which seemed to be in mint condition despite the fact he’d been underwater a couple of hours ago carrying that thing around. Hargon neared even more out of interest to the point he was next to Malroth watching how he created whatever he was making.

Some minutes later he handed over an oaken club to Malroth. Malroth looked at it and asked surprised if it was for him. The builder nodded with the same dopey smile he’d been wearing this whole time. Were all builders this dorky, was the first though that crossed Hargon’s mind before asking a question not even he was expecting.

-Can I… Can I try?-the young human asked pointing at the working bench.

Gelius nodded and handed him over some materials. Then a thought crossed Hargon’s mind. He had some kelp, surely that could be used for something? Hargon took the wood, sand, kelp and other stuff he’d brought with him before the builder got here. He started looking at them before inspiration came and took the kelp and some dried seaweed. He asked for a bowl that was granted by the builder and started mashing it inside that bowl with the hammer Malroth had tossed aside. Once he got a consistent mass of seaweed and kelp he asked for a place to let it dry. Ice brought it next to the bonfire. It turned into some kind of dust after a couple of minutes. Hargon asked for some water and the builder handed over the bottle of water. Again, he asked for a bottle, this time empty. The young apprentice took out some of the left out glass and molded another bottle. Hargon poured some water and the powder. He put a finger over the bottle’s mouth and started shaking it to mix it. The water turned into some kind of green thing.

-Malroth, are you going to eat that scallywinkle?-Hargon asked.

-No. It’s slimy and weird. I don’t want it.

Hargon took it and squeezed it to pour whatever got out of it into the bottle. He once again mixed the liquid and looked at it.

-The only thing that is left is a magical touch, but I do not know which spell is the one that needs to be cast. Does anybody have something to seal this?

The builder lent him a piece of wood that had been sculpted purposefully to seal a bottle. Hargon put it on the bottle before pocketing it Rubiss knows where. His ears then perked up. He could feel a presence not too far and very different to the ones slimes gave away. Malroth seemed to feel it too, since they both looked in the same direction. They nodded and ran off towards the direction, the builder running behind them. When they got there there were some monsters Hargon found familiar yet he hadn’t seen any in his life. The monster that seemed the leader squeaked something and started the attack. Hargon furrowed his brows.

-Don’t use that language!

Hargon jumped and kicked one of the slimes. He proceeded to punch the rat and effectively trigger a multifeet ability. Gelius started slicing down while saying sorry to each slime he took on when he got there and Malroth… Mashed the enemies in his own style. After all monsters were defeated, Gelius stuck his hand out and Malroth and Hargon felt both the urge to “slap” it. But when they tried, they collided with each other.

-Woah, Hargon, what the hell?

-I could say the same to you, what are you doing?

They glared at each other. Gelius gestured them to look at him.

-Look, let’s… fix this. You both wanted to do it, didn’t you? Then… How about this, I stick both of my hands out and you take one each.

The young builder did like he said and the others simply followed nature’s impulses and hit them with their own.

-What was that anyway? Why did I feel the irresistible urge to slap it?-Malroth asked curious.

-It’s called high five. It’s a thing friends do to celebrate a job they did well-Gelius explained-And since I consider you both my friends now, you can call me Ice.

Both of them nodded, taking in the explanation.

-I never considered myself the touchy-feely type, but I guess I can make an exception for this-Malroth said.

Hargon looked at the place the rat had died. He muttered something along the lines of “You deserved that”. Ice raised a brow, but shook it off. It had gotten dark while they’d been fighting and when they came back to their shelter found a very angry Lulu.

-Why did you run away when I was telling you what you had to do when you wake up tomorrow morning? And why are you all covered in oil and dirt?-Lulu scolded them.

-There were some monsters outside. So we mashed them-Malroth answered simply-Anyway, I don’t know about you, but I’m about to conk out any second now, so I’m going to go sleep. Tomorrow I’d like to explore the island with you Ice, Hargon and I’ve had enough of exploring together for a while, haven’t we?

-Possibly, but introducing the place to him might make it fun. Anyway-he yawned-I am as sleepy as you are Malroth. Good night to everyone.

Hargon neared one of the straw beds and sat down on it. Malroth did the same but between that straw bed and the other one next to it. Lulu took the free one and that left Ice to take the one Malroth had half taken. During that night Malroth ended up hugging both Hargon and Ice, action that Ice answered by hugging the hand and Hargon simply laid his head on Malroth’s chest like it was a pillow. 

First

Previous

For centuries, the Crest of Creation was nothing more but a myth of those who believed Rubiss would send a savior to Alefgard. This was turned into a reality one hundred years after the master archfiend’s defeat. The birth of the first bearer was sixteen years before tragedy once more fell over Alefgard. As Erdrick’s cousin and a scion of the first one, he was well-known, but had something few understood. He loved creating and preferred building over being a warrior, opposite of his cousin in that sense.

He’s the first known to bear the Crest of Creation, whose origin remains unknown to mortals even in the present. Some say Rubiss decided to save the child when he was born by giving him the power of creation, since he’d shown himself very weak at birth. Some say it wasn’t Rubiss the one who granted the Crest to humanity. There are some people who dare say it was a deity from another world.

The answer will remain a mystery, for his life is already running out, passing the Crest’s power on his grandson, a child whose origins make of him a peculiar warrior. With his mother as a Descendant of Erdrick’s bloodline and his father being a high-ranked monster the new bearer will become a hero of legend, designed to be the vessel Rubiss has been awaiting to pour Erdrick’s soul in it… But it didn’t go as planned. The three Descendants from Gwaelin and Erdrick’s side slaughtered the high priest and his god the same day of his birth, and being a high-ranked monster, he became the vessel for the only shard of the high priest’s soul that didn’t become a sacrifice to Malroth. With the remaining gaps to be filled with his mother’s and his grandfather’s aside from his own unique shard no space was left for Erdrick’s soul to fit in, keeping him from becoming another hero in the line of the family. But his destiny had already been assigned, who will save Torland from the darkness that menaces it?

Then Rubiss thought of something. There was an illusionary world created by the last Demon Lord of Zoma’s line. There she’d sworn that the Master’s soul laid dormant. As a part monster he should be able to tame thew Master’s wild character and use his power to end with the future menace.

That way, a child’s destiny became tied to that of an illusion he didn’t even know of. That was the reason one day, during a trip in the woods of Cantlin a bunch of monsters from the Children of Hargon took him. Thus, the adventure to feed the power of the Crest begins… In a ship full of monsters with a crazy skeleton as a captain where some builders from Rippleport are kidnapped and the young boy is singing stuff at the top of his lungs in hope to get on the crew’s nerves and make them set him free.

-Can somebody make him shut up!?-a pink-haired girl shouted trying to cover her ears to stop listening the singing.

-What the hell…?-one of the skeletons got to the lower floor to see what was all of this fuss about.

The builder then changed of tune, a lyric-less song. Many didn’t know what was this melody about, but some could point out to the music scores of “Lonely Youth”, a strangely solemn song about Allen’s departure.

-Hey, you, the one from Cantlin! Don’t you know how to shut up?

-Nae nae! I do not understand the meaning of it. By the way… Kubi ga itaine…

He went onto a singing rush again. The whole ship was getting fed up of his songs a couple of hours later. A couple of minutes after the complaints were loud enough to reach the captain’s thick skull he got down and freed the young builder to make him do chores, which got him to quieten. Repairing the ship was a task as welcome as any other. Once he was finished heavy rain started falling. Eventually he was told to get shelter and ran for the lower floor. The problem was that it wasn’t long until the ship got some damage on it. He went to repair the damage until it was impossible to cover it all. Then, he was taken by the sea.

“-One day you will become a strong warrior, just like Erdrick and a very good builder-his grandfather’s words sounded in his head as his memories materialized.

-Yeah, I want to become a builder and make everyone happy, even you and mama!-he happily said to his already withering grandfather.

-I’m afraid you won’t reach in time that goal for me to see you with my own eyes. But I am certain I once will look out of my grave and see what a good builder you become, my child-the former Master Builder said caressing the child’s chin.

-Don’t say that! I don’t want to hear another sob story like mama’s!

The child turned into a little dragon and pulled at the builder’s hand trying to lift him up of bed. He wanted to play with him again like when he was younger. He wanted to go out and enjoy their games at least one more time.

-It’s no use, Ice. I’m already on my way back to Yggdrasil’s cycle of life.

The poor child refused to accept this reality. No way he was going to let gramps go. There was no way…”

“The day his grandfather had been buried and he was torturing the servants to death with his demands to get his grandfather back a blond child in a green… poncho? Appeared. He had what his grandfather had told him he’d named Thundsie. He said it was a strong sword with the power of light. He’d given it to his mother and stayed to talk with her about somebody named Allen. She didn’t seem happy by what he said, so he chose to spy further.

-He’s got pretty picky and he doesn’t speak to us as much as he once did.

-I see… So, do you have any theory…?

-Yes, I think it’s the sword’s fault. The sword he picked, so I thought if we restored the Thuderbolt…

-Thundsie can’t be repaired easily-was a sentence that escaped his lips without meaning to-She’s quite exhausted, you see, she needs rest and a lighting spell caster as a user. Leave her be, until Erdrick’s dynasty doesn’t get another one of those casters we’ll have to keep making more.

Conan looked at the child with curiosity.

-How do you know so much, young one?

Ice shrugged and returned to his previous activity, making the servants go mad.”

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The staff shone brightly as it prepared a spell, but it seemed like it had been severely weakened due to his state.

-I’ll… I’ll turn back in time and…-he muttered-Yggdrasil, turn back the wheels of time and lead me to the past where I was alive!

The builder and Malroth watched how the spell cast itself and a bright light engulfed the World Tree (in which they were in). One second later, Hargon found himself in the lowest floor of his castle in Rendarak. He saw two batmandrills, which meant that the three Scions hadn’t yet come.

-M-master Hargon!? Weren’t you at the highest floor readying yourself for the last fight?-one of the two asked before he saw the awful state he was in-Are you okay, sir?

-Ah, right-he said looking at his wounds-Behoma. (Fullheal/Healall)

His wounds were completely healed, but he still felt tired, so he had to rely on his staff to keep himself standing.

-You said I was on the top floor, right? Well then, there I go up again-he said walking past the two monsters.

The way up was difficult because he was exhausted and he earned a lot of stranged looks from the monsters that lived there, especially from Atlas, Pazuzu and Belial.

-Master Hargon, weren’t you up on the top floor already?-Belial asked puzzled.

-If I told you I am here and on the top would you believe me?-Hargon said looking at him firmly in the eyes-Belial, there is something I must tell myself, could you go up and check if I messed the timeline?

Belial, being one of the most loyal subordinates he could ask for got upstairs and went downstairs again.

-U-um-he said, looking as if his head was about to blow-How can you be praying and be here at the same time?

-That is something I must not say to somebody who’s about to… Forget about it, I must go tell myself something important-Hargon then realized… It not only sounded weird, he looked like he was insane already.

Belial guided the Hargon of the future to the place the Hargon of the past was. Hargon was praying his usual morning prayer. Belial reached the priest first to announce the new visitor.

-Um… Master Hargon, I know you don’t like being disturbed while you’re praying, but… There’s a peculiar visitor that wants to have a word with you.

-A… visitor?-he asked-Who would dare disturb me during my routine?

-I do-the other Hargon said showing himself.

Hargon didn’t believe his eyes. Nor did he believe it was him the one standing at the other side.

-You must be confused, I undestand that. I have come from the future without a previous warning. You won’t believe this but you’re about to be killed, and Malroth is going to suffer the same fate.

The Hargon of the past looked at the other questioningly.

-If you are me in the future and in the future I am dead, how can you explain… The fact you are in front of me.

-About that… Long story short you are going to make the desperate move of sealing the Master’s soul away into the illusion created to distract the Scions and you will be going along him. Turns out the Master can come back, but… Certain attachments with someone have brought me here.

Hargon of the future frowned. It wasn’t exactly a good memory to remember. The fact his own god turned his back on him.

-If by some twisted turn of events you were who you say you are, can you prove it?

-I am a Scion of the Dragonlord, who in turn is the son of Zoma. We have been entrusted with our family relic: “The Eye of Malroth”. Profaniss was a servant at Charlock Castle who raised me from early childhood, I don’t like to admit it, but I am Princess Gwaelin’s first son. I started my journey the day Profaniss died and my first followers were called Adamn, Zebadee and Hellen.

Hargon of the past seemed satisfied with this.

-What do you recommend?

-I have the power of Yggdrasil and the same blood as you… You may use me as a sacrifice to bring Malroth. He’ll be very strong if we do that and the Scions won’t stand a chance.

Both Hargons thought it was a good idea, so they decided to perform it. Belial realized by then something he hadn’t spotted before. Hargon had that crimson flowing hair all over his head that didn’t actually make much sense according to what his master had talked about with him.

-Um… Master Hargon… Were you playing the role of a damsel in distress or something…?-Belial asked looking at the hair, which reached to the middle of his back already.

-No, I wasn’t playing any paper, this is just as natural as my scales and fins, Belial-Hargon replied sitting on some kind of drawing on the floor-I haven’t spoken to you about this because it comes from my mother, who I do not like to recall often.

The Hargon of the past drew some runes on the floor and went to fetch a dagger.

-I hope this time the Master actually gets to perform his duties.

Hargon of the past started chanting something while putting some kind of liquid on the dagger. The dagger started shining with a vicious red color.

-I didn’t realize how much I missed the sacrifices to the Master-Hargon of the future mused looking at it.

-Powerful Master of Destruction, I call thee!-Hargon of the past started the usual sacrifice speech-I offer thee the blood of a loyal servant who has gone as far as stripping Yggdrasil’s power from her to come here and make an attempt to change our fate! With the power of creation and destruction alike running through his veins and the holy bloodline of the Great Archfiend let his sacrifice become thy power and reason to come to this world and fight the Scions of Erdrick before destroying the whole world!

With those words, Hargon of the past took the dagger on one of his hands and his future counterpart in the other and started cutting his hand’s palm. Ironically, Hargon didn’t feel the cut nor the blood beginning to ooze and drip onto the floor. Once the cut was wide enough, the blue blood of the monster started falling in a steady stream. He watched it fall before his eyes, bracing his destiny. He felt the presence of the Master already. And… Two magic presences and one non-magic one at the first floor.

-Belial, our guests have arrived-he said while looking at one of the windows.

Belial took five seconds before realizing what he meant and went one floor down.

-You sure are taking long, Malroth, what’s the problem? Do you not accept your faithful servant’s blood?

Malroth didn’t answer immediately, yet his cackle was heard in the room.

-Not yet, I want the Scions to witness it-his deep monster voice said.

-I hope they hurry, I can’t keep this bloodstream forever.

The silence while they waited was heavy, but comfortable… At least until the first monsters were slaughtered. One by one, the bloodcurdling screams of dying monsters were heard. Pazuzu, Atlas and Belial were not an exception. The sinister show of screams was the only thing that told how long were the three Scions taking. Just as Allen’s head started poking out from the stairs, the snake tail of the Master grabbed hold of the Hargon of the future from its mouth and started swallowing him, blood spluttering everywhere when the fangs touched some flesh. The Yggdrasil-ized Hargon smiled, it had been a while since he’d last been pulled into the Master as a sacrifice.

The three Scions witnessed how Malroth slowly came out of a portal while the snake tail swallowed the remains of the Hargon of the future.

-At last you come before me-Hargon said from his throne with the bloody dagger still on his hand-I am the High Priest of the Children of Hargon, Hargon the Great. All monsters listen and obey to each of my orders and so you will, humans, for salvation is only possible when our Master destroys this world.

The three Scions made weird unbelieving faces about that.

-I’m sorry, what?-the prince with a green poncho and blond hair.

-I see, you’re even shorter than I thought… This giant monster behind me is Malroth, Lord and Master of Destruction. I am High Priest Hargon. Either you obey or die-he said gesturing first to Malroth, then to himself and at last bringing his hands together in a “I’m fed up fashion, have you understood now?”

Allen took out his sword and aimed it at Hargon.

-For the destruction of Moonbrooke I shan’t forgive you, Hargon. So I will not listen to a word of what you say.

-Fine, if you want to fight we’ll fight, right Malroth?

Malroth growled in consent, getting his arms ready for the fight. And so, the final battle began again, this time with Malroth already ready in the battlefield. While that happened, another historic event was happening in Alefgard’s Southern side. Hargon’s soul could feel another presence generating, one that felt like…

-Erdrick-he muttered while the Master struck a few hits on the Descendants of Erdrick.

-Nana, Conan, keep it together, don’t focus just on Malroth-Allen, the Prince of Midenhall said swinging his sword at Hargon.

-It’s easy to say it, but he keeps on striking on us!-Conan said using his shield to cover himself.

-Ionazun!-Hargon shouted at the top of his lungs just as the air around the Scions blew up.

-Hollyhock and Rubiss-Nana said-We’ve got quite a wizard over there…

Malroth and Hargon exchanged glances and kept fighting after Nana’s comment. Malroth’s strikes were precise, strong and well-thought, oddly curious for the god. Hargon’s soul had something to do with this, since he was now stuck in Malroth’s mind again.

-Keep it up and they’ll be history-he said to Malroth.

-Got it.

The fierce battle could be seen from several kilometers from the Castle, since the whole rooftop had gone down with the clashing strengths of the Children against the three heirs. It was such a titanic clash of powers many wizards and monsters could feel it. A certain presence not far from Moonbrooke felt it and pet his companion.

-It has begun. The Master and his follower shall fall in the name of fate, but it being a battle whose outcome cannot be predicted, the three Scions may also fall… That’s when we should go in, we have to remain here for now, big boy.

The companion, who moved down on all fours hummed in agreement, but still wanted to fight against them.

-Now, the only thing we mus to is ensure the birth of he, who was chosen by creation.

The figure started walking towards Alefgard.

Back in the Castle Nana was already running low on MP and Conan was about to suffer the same fate. Allen carelessly swung his sword at the enemy. Conan struck sometimes too, but kept focused on watching his cousins’ health, since Nana couldn’t cast any major healing spells anymore. On the other side of the battle, Malroth was already starting to feel sore from his lack of action in over a century. Hargon on the other side was far too enthusiastic to admit he was beginning to feel tired. Unlimited magic meant he could cast at least five Ionazun in a row and end the Descendants once they have ran out of supplies.

-Allen, please, slow down, I can’t keep casting… Behoma-Conan said-And we’re running out of medicine too. I know you want to end this but… It’s far too much.

Allen ignored him. He had to get rid of them to make father proud, to make grandfather proud. This was his destiny.

Malroth was getting distracted by the soreness of his muscles then, so he took the chance and…

Hargon received the blow, his shoulder’s bone crushing when the sword sunk, deep enough to make quite a heavy wound, only to protect his Master. Allen persisted, sinking the sword further into the priest, even if his HP were already going a fair deal down now. He didn’t stop until he’d reached half of the ribcage (considering he has one). Blood spilled from Hargon’s mouth, the wound having reached the point where he bled internally and externally. Nana gasped and put her hands over her mouth when she saw the brutal wound that had been left on the priest’s body.

-A-Allen! He… He didn’t deserve that-she said looking over at the fallen monster, whose HP were already around 10.

-Of course he did. He is nothing more that a Dark Spawn of Destruction that deserves death to atone for his sins-he said sheathing the sword full of monster blood.

-You know we still have to end the big mean one, right?-Conan said.

Hargon seemed to mutter an apologize before dropping on his knees and starting to try healing magic.

Conan and Allen charged at Malroth, who they took down with a co-op attack, Conan hitting on the front for Malroth to block while Allen struck on his back. Having fallen next to his most faithful living follower, who was beginning to pass away, Malroth muttered something incoherent before turning into blue dust. Hargon followed shortly after, having given up on healing after seeing Malroth’s death.

The three heirs celebrated the defeat of the Children of Hargon forgetting about something: A rather bitter soul took both of the fallen monsters’ souls and sealed them away in the illusion formerly created by the high priest. Being dragged with them, he was once again reduced to a shard of Malroth’s god subconscious.

-You think you have won, Scions of Erdrick, but one day the Master will awaken again, and I’ll wait patiently for it to happen.

Little did Allen know that what had happened was just the beginning of an even bigger mess. Added up to that, there was this strange feeling in Hargon’s soul that something unexpected was about to happen… yet again in the illusion. 

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His wings were about to give up, any second now… But… He’d made it before they did. He crash-landed on the tree, rolling several times before stumbling before the thing he’d been after: The heart and soul of Yggdrasil. He got on his knees and looked at it intently with admiration. This thing was the responsible of all of life and existence in the world. He reached out to touch it and felt a surrounding warmth.

-Desperate soul that stands before me… What have you come here for?

Hargon frowned. Was Yggdrasil just going to lend him the power stored in the core if he asked nicely?

-I see… You are troubled because you feel left out… And you seek power to try again and fill in that void.

-Wha-? It’s not that!

-Do not lie yourself, young child. Why do you insist on focusing your anger on something else? Why do you insist on not seeing the truth? Do you not see that blinding yourself is worse?

The priest glared at the nearest part of the tree. Whatever. He wasn’t going to admit any of the things the World Tree just said now.

-You are part human, are you not?

-I-I’m nothing like that plague! I’m a monster and a monster I’ll remain!

-Please, you do whatever you do, do not forget where do you come from. Now, let us begin again. What hae you come here for, child?

-I…

The sound of another creature landing alerted Hargon, whose fins perked up like a cat’s ears when they hear something. He turned his head to see his least favorite person in the complete illusion standing next to who had been his god for all of his life.

-I’m not going to let you take the core of the creation! Especially because you hurt Malroth by doing this!

-Oh… So I hurt him. How curious, I thought it was otherwise.

-Huh?-the builder was now confused by Hargon’s words.

-Five hundred years-he said before getting another curious look from the other two-This is the time that has passed in this illusion. And the time I’ve waited patiently for the Master of Destruction to finally awaken. Five hundred years expecting the creature I’d been loyal to during my hundred and sixteen years of life to finally accomplish their destiny. I’d been taught to worship him, I’d been taught he’d destroy everything he saw and end the monsters misery… And with that hope, I pursued summoning him. He’d been banished to that decadent world of destruction he lived in by Rubiss, who disapproved of his behavior. I felt I owed him that much, because he wasn’t my god alone… He’d taken good care of my grandfather, teaching him what made him a threat to the worlds beneath and above. But… neither my grandfather or Malroth could ever do what they wished the most because they were slain by Erdrick and his descendants, just like I was and how my father died too. I’m tired of you, Scions of Erdrick, always looking for trouble for Rubiss to protect you. There is one thing you may have forgotten: The world can’t exist with creation alone, that’s why Malroth could fly freely in the past. But now the world has yet again submerged itself in the one-sided doing of Rubiss, that’s why I must make Malroth go back… Or do it myself.

Hargon caressed his staff, which had accompanied him in his whole journey. Then he took the pointed side in his hand. It was pointed enough to enter the core…

-Hargon, don’t-Malroth called for the priest-I promise I’ll-

-It’s already too late for that, I have already made a choice and there is no way to turn back-he said somberly while facing the core.

He lifted his staff and… he thrust into it until it sank enough to reach the center.

-So that is what you wish-Yggdrasil said in Hargon’s mind-To take my power and bring the other reality back to its former balance… Shall your wish be accomplished.

The power started channeling through the staff to Hargon’s body. He started laughing evilly while he saw how Yggdrasil surrendered to the creator of this world. Once all the power had been transferred, he turned around and pointed at Malroth.

-I challenge you to a one-on-one fight. I want to make sure we’re even before doing what I must, and what a better way than giving Malroth the thing he loves the most? Fighting is pure destruction and one thing I’m at least average on doing, so let us fight, that way we’ll be even.

Malroth thought about it for a second.

-How do I know you won’t be cheating, Hargon?-Ice said before Malroth said anything.

Hargon dropped his staff, took off his neclace and headwear (Supposing that thing on the head can be discarded without taking off most of his clothing.) revealing his mother’s legacy on him: hair. It was crimson, but it was something that at least  came from her in some way.

-I will not use any of my weapons, but I must say I still know how to fight toughly, so be prepared.

-Okay-Malroth said-Let’s fight to see who’d win if we fought back at the castle.

-You do know I’d have the control of your mind there, right? I still know how to make some illusions, how to alter reality. But I won’t use those tricks on you here. Let us see if my training and Yggdrasil’s power are more powerful than the Master of Destruction with his Vestige.

Hargon got to a fighting stance that reminded Ice of martial artists. Malroth simply made his knuckles crack. (Which I think would be oddly difficult with four arms and three fingers on each.) And the battle began with Malroth throwing a punch Hargon dodged swiftly by jumping out of the way. He then proceeded to do some kind of karate chop on Malroth’s arm, quite some reflexes he’d gotten. He proceeded to cast “Rukani” (also known as Sap) which lowered Malroth’s defense considerably.

-Hm… So you do know more than you let out “I-can-only-cast-Ionazun-and-Behoma” (also known as Kaboom/Explodet and Fullheal/Healall respectively)-Malroth said-Why’d you tell me that?

-Because if I let out the spells I know you’d never trust me. If I just told you my knowledge on explosion and healing spells, which you know too, you’d let trust sink a bit further. But now I do not need you trust, so…

Hargon jumped and started kicking and stomping Malroth on his head. His wings may have had something to do for him to be able to jump so high. Malroth’s HP lowered severely before he could slap Hargon from his head, sending him flying to one of Yggdrasil’s branches, on which he hit harshly. He must have broken a rib or two (if he has). The priest got back up with a little difficulty and readied another attack. This time he cast Begiragon and Mahyado (Kasizzle(before X)/Kasizz/Firebolt and Kacrackle/Blizzard respectively) chained together, one after another. This caused the damage to be slighly higher, due to the great temperature difference. Malroth cast Ionazun on reflex. (Kaboom/Explodet) Both of them were already low on health and tired already. The single idea on healing themselves didn’t pass their mind in any moment. After gaining back breath, Hargon threw himself ready to kick Malroth wherever he landed, and Malroth readied one set of arms to claw at Hargon. When both attacks landed Malroth received quite a kick, but the one having the worst end was Hargon, whose left arm and leg were severely wounded by his god’s claws.

-A-alright, you win-Hargon said, admitting defeat, knowing that if he wounded himself further there would be no way he could change the times-Just… Leave me be now, go with the builder if you wish, I do not care what you do anymore.

Ice raised a brow. Hargon admitting defeat just like that? Is today the day where the world works in a reversed manner?

The answer didn’t stop to come, as Hargon raised the staff to perform one last move, but it was not an attack. It was one last desperate move to change times. 

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Hargon left Ice and Malroth together for them to catch up on each other while he went to the chapel Atlas, Pazuzu and Belial once used. He closed the door with a loud slam that echoed through the empty castle’s hallways and knelt in front of the statue of his god.

-My Lord, please, tell me what have I done wrong-he said-I have taught them the teachings, I have made the lines between creation and destruction clear and I treated them well… Then, why? Why did they turn their back on me and followed the builder? I don’t understand.

His previous life flashed before his eyes, reminiscing everything he’d lived before that one fight against the Scions. Atlas, Pazuzu and Belial’s smiles whenever he invited them to eat with him, the draining chore of resurrecting each ally that had fallen and been brought back to his castle, the attack on Moonbrooke, the curse he cast on the Princess, his long strolls through Alefgard when he was beginning to climb the steps to leadership, the happy times with his first followers, his childhood memories and dreams…

-Don’t blame yourself, it’s their fault, we all choose what we do and don’t-a voice echoed through his head.

-It’s not that, father, I just don’t understand what does that builder have that I don’t…

-You shouldn’t worry about that, it’s just going to busy your head and distract you from your actual responsibilities.

-I already know that, Profa-he started yelling before he realized something.

They were just fragments of memories from his past life. He laughed at himself, he really was going off his rocker, wasn’t he? Losing himself like this would only lead to the same ending, he mustn’t do it, if not for him, for the ones that still believe, like them.

The days passed, with each passing one the bond between the builder and the god only tightening more again. Hargon felt at exclusion. In the past, it would be him the one next to Malroth speaking lively, had he succeeded on summoning him before the three Descendants of Erdrick came. He missed it, those times where the Master and him were close. The remnants of that relationship were limited to memories the high priest had of the two speaking.

Today was an awfully lonely day. Malroth and Ice were walking around the garden in the lowest floor. He was drumming his fingers on the throne, bored of waiting for Malroth to finish what he started. He still remembers talking to him and hearing anecdotes such as Zoma’s early days, when he still was a young child. He missed the long walks they took speaking of the world and its great history. He had always wanted to expand his doings to the Light World when he was finished with Torland. Ascending and finishing Zoma and Baramos’ job.

He smiled. He sure had had a lot of imagination, hadn’t he? Such foolish dreams, out of his reach… Wow, he was getting nostalgic now. And… It was a new kind of nostalgia. It wasn’t the anger or regret… It felt good. For once, looking back felt good. He brought his right hand to the left side of his chest. He felt so warm… So… Heck, he didn’t even have words to describe this feeling. He could feel tears sliding down his face as his crooked smile became even bigger. Was this… letting go? No. He wasn’t finished yet. The grudge was still gripping his soul tightly. Then… Why did he feel like this? This didn’t make sense, at all. This was unknown land to the priest, who got up and started pacing back and forth in search of an answer.

Oblivious to that inner turmoil were the two friends hanging out at the garden. Ice looked at it and smiled.

-You know, even if Hargon is the big baddie of this story there’s still some good inside him-he said to Malroth from a slightly high wall, moving his dangling legs continuously-I mean, look at the beauty he has created. Even those who are evil do know how to make beautiful things… That reminds me, Rendarak looked like heaven. Once this is over I promise I’ll bring you there for you to see it with your own eyes, and we’ll make flower crowns, and friendship bracelets, and we’ll make a castle there, a good one, and we’ll live in that heavenly place!

Malroth watched amused how his friend fantasized of a happy ending despite the current predicament. The smile plastered on his face was enough to brighten the whole place. His light mood was something Malroth liked, but it was also the cause of his sorrow and pain. Creating a bright future without looking at the present… It was something he loved to do.

-Malroth, do you think we can evade this whole “End of the World” thing? I’m sure if you ask Hargon nicely in the right moment…

-We could try, but I don’t know how he’ll take it, the Master said looking at the garden’s exit.

The pair walked through the halls until they reached the lower throne room. To their surprise, Hargon was pacing around the room like he was doing some kind of exercise.

-Hargon, sir, there’s something Malroth and I wish to talk to you about-Ice said calling for the priest.

Snapping out of his daze and stopping his train of thought, the priest motioned them to speak while sitting on his throne again. This brought many memories about his past to…

-Um… You see, Malroth, if it doesn’t bother you, could we… Stop this plot to destroy the world? I’m actually very comfortble here, where the Scions of Erdrick do not disturb.

Hargon chuckled. What an interesting situation.

-So he hasn’t told you, has he?-he mused looking at Ice.

-Told me what?

-Hm, hm, hm… Well, the fact he’s a Scion of Erdrick himself, of course-he said truly amused.

Malroth looked from Hargon to Ice and from Ice to Hargon. His expression was one of confusion, what was Hargon talking about?

-He’s… right, as much as I hate to admit it. I am a Scion of the legendary Erdrick, but I quite hate the story of my family. They are nothing more than murderers in my eyes. I know monsters have feelings and should enjoy what nature gives us, even if they are willing to destroy everything. So… I don’t think I’m going to slaughter anyone any time soon. If you still want proof I can get rid of the Sword my ancestors wielded and the one the Prince of Midenhall used. I don’t really care much for them in the battlefield. I have only kept them because they are craftsmanship, creations of dedicated builders willing to give their life so the world may be at peace.

-Truth to be told, I think you deserve to hear my opinion about you-Hargon said-In my eyes, you are far more heroic than those who throw themselves into the battlefield, fighting to make your dreams come true and all of that. Many people have already left that fight when they are your age, but you… You insist on keeping that fight, battling more in that one than in others. That is what a true hero should be.

Having thrown his view into the topic, Hargon suddenly became conscious of what he’d let out. Was he… feeling nostalgic because he still wanted to fight for his childish dreams? Whatever it was, the whole fighting for dreams thing sunk really deep into the other two’s minds. It was the first time anyone ever said something like that about heroes… At least in Ice’s point of view.

-So… Can we stop the End of the World?-Malroth asked.

-Do as you wish, Master. I no longer care what you think on the matter. I was the one to give you wings, but I am no one to make you fly in the same direction I do-he said getting up-I shall leave you two now, for I have a matter I must tend in another place.

Hargon left the throne room and started walking through the hallways. He did care about the Master’s opinion on things, but seeing his constant refusal for his destiny now that the builder was here… It was the right moment to part and not return. The Master had turned his back on him, and so did his followers, what was left for him in ruling in a castle with nobody to rule over? It was the time for a change in his life.

-Perhaps… The reason they left me is because I am still not strong enough-he thought aloud-Perhaps… The Master sees me as a weakling in comparison to that accursed builder and has decided to change his ways thanks to his new counselor. Well, if he’s not willing to end this world and the real one, I shall try it. I have nothing to lose now if I try.

He didn’t have an idea about how he’d do it, but he knew he wouldn’t figure it out without trying. He had a theory about what had happened to Malroth and this illusion, which seemed to have developed a consciousness of its own. This world was lasting far more than he had expected and calculated while Malroth was a dormant spirit waiting for the builder. This may be due to his own mind playing an important part on its appearance, since he didn’t have control over what he poured or not into it. Childhood dreams, old friends, enemies, ideals, ideal endings… He’d seen all of them while he watched how the Master and the builder did their journey.

Take Moonbrooke as an example. Atlas had succeeded in taking over the kingdom and making most of them believe in his doctrines. Also, where were the three heroes, the three scions of Erdrick? Another theory put over the one he had: They turned into the Heroes of Hargon. Or, if that wasn’t the case, they could have died or anything like that. That was why nobody ever spoke about them. And, the Princess could have been from centuries ago, for what he knows. There was a legendary builder, the had been building before in this illusion, sure, that gave quite a lot of margin of time. In fact, that builder had been what modern humans would call a Beta Tester for the project. The Princess must have been forgotten because she never saved the world, and, in consequence, she didn’t try to rebuild the kingdom. What about the other two Princes? They’d never listened or seen Cannock and Midenhall, but they must have suffered the same fate, forgotten. In fact, there is a probability Midenhall and Cannock fell and became part of the territory of the Children of Hargon if you take that side as the whole monster collective under those doctrines. They could even possibly be Furrowfield and Khrumbul-dun, or even the Isle of Awakening in that matter. Or they were perhaps further away than those islands. Perhaps the heroes turned into his most trusted allies… It would make sense, in a way, since there were two men and a woman forming the Trinity currently.

He had a theory about Malroth. He was like a child, with no memories, so open to be influenced… Of course, that was just one part. How could he care so much about his allies and have no hesitation crushing his foes? How come he felt betrayed and didn’t even ask for an explanation about his imprisonment? Perhaps he’d been more influenced by Hargon’s own ideals than they’d both ever think. Hargon was vengeful by nature, caring about his allies, easy to piss off whenever the theme of building was brought to the conversation… Of course, he was also a bit sadistic and merciless when it came to taking down an enemy, that’s why Moonbrooke in the real world had been reduced to flames and poison.

Another funny thing about his illusion was the strange swap between Rendarak’s climate and Moonbrooke’s climate. Rendarak in the real world was a snowy hell of wandering gigantes and Moonbrooke was a beautiful grassy plain full of forests. In the illusion Rendarak looked like the fabled Paradise humans talk about and Moonbrooke has been reduced to a lot of mountains, snowy plains, ash and bloody dirt.

Whatever caused this massive merging of thoughts, feelings and memories in an illusion whose original purpose was to confuse the Scions of Erdrick was left unknown, being this kind of thing new even to him after being taught a whole lot of things such as advanced Math, monster languages, history, martial arts, magic…

His pace stopped when he fell into realization. If his memories had been merged together in an alternate reality, then the World Tree should be around here somewhere too. If he wasn’t mistaken, he had drawn a map of islands where there was one in which a massive tree towered over everything else. All he had to do was go South from Moonbrooke’s island. But for that he had to get out of Malhalla first. Ruura wouldn’t work here… There was no way he’d ask Malroth to get him out, and the monsters were now on the creation’s side. There was just one option left, but it was risky. As the son of a half-dragon he was a quarter-dragon. There was a possibility he may be able to control his transformation between his Draconian form and his monster form. He knew sometimes, when he was very, very angry at his subjects he felt his throat go hot and  he sometimes spat fire on them, which meant that when he was very mad he could turn himself into a dragon “at will”.

Ice was teaching Malroth those games you do clapping hands with a friend in the throne room. Due to Malroth having four arms it was more difficult than usual. Whenever Ice told him to move his right arm somewhere Malroth either did it well or mistook it with the other right arm. Ice partially understood it was because he still wasn’t completely used to have two pairs of arms instead of one, but he sometimes felt exasperated.

-It’s been a while since Hargon left… Do you think he got sucked into one of those gravitational orbs and died?

-Isn’t he already dead?-Malroth said tilting his head-I mean, the Scions of Erdrick killed him after all.

Ice shrugged it off and kept playing. Unknowingly, he was letting Hargon escape to begin a recently cooked plan B.

Why was the Master not loyal to his fate? Why weren’t they the good friends they used to be? Why was he with a builder even? Had he not learned his lesson already? Destruction and creation are not compatible! They are opposites! Monsters and human cannot get along. He’d learned the lesson when he heard his father’s story, mercilessly killed by a human.

-Why did you do it, Malroth? Why did you ally yourself with humans?! Why does everyone leave my side the most painful way possible?!-he screamed from the top of the castle, all of his pent up feelings surfacing-“Oh, he’ll come, I’m sure of it!” “Just a little more…” “Humans aren’t that bad.” Fool! Have you heard yourself speak?! You are nothing but a mere fool! You don’t even shadow your past self! You! You…!

Wings came out of his back and he started morphing into a dragon. He took off and started flying towards the emptiness of the world. He immediately cast a spell to cross from the Malhalla to the accursed lands below. (Note: If you haven’t noticed, when Hargon takes Malroth as a hostage and starts speaking from the sky a certainly familiar red planet can be seen amidst the dark sky… I wonder if it’s Malhalla canonically…) He flied near the sea, alerting the marine monsters that still were there and had not gone to the promised land. His wings created a wake on the sea. He took out something from his necklace, a red translucent stone and looked through it. The world tree manifested itself before him, growing bigger with each passing second, finally, this was it, he was going to…

-Not so fast, mister I’m-so-cool-with-dragon-wings-I-decide-to-leave-my-god-abandoned! You’re not going to do what I think you’re going to!-a voice shouted when he was almost at the World Tree.

Dang. It had been too good to be true. Malroth and the builder were close behind him. He had to fend them off for now. If he ever tried to fight the master in its full power he’d be dead unless he had a good hand or an ace up his sleeve, and his ace was just a few meters away. He flapped the wings furiously and advanced towards the World Tree as fast as he could. 

Previous

N04H stood before him, almost broken to the point he had already voiced out his last will. Hammer in hand, he was disposed to comply his last will. He lifted it, ready to swing it at the remains… But the hit never came. The hammer slipped his hands and tears slipped down his face.

“-Hey! How could you do this to me!?-Malroth’s voice sounded in his head.

-Forgive me, Malroth. Anessa has convinced His Majesty that you are too dangerous to walk free, and I cannot refuse a direct command from my king-the voice of that hypocrite and traitor sounded.

Truth to be told, Ice had been quite resented for what Warwick did. To the length of kicking him where it hurt the most before starting the fight.

-I’m not talking to you, stupid. Why, Ice? Why would you build a dungeon for them to throw me into? Just because they asked nicely?

That stung. He didn’t do things just because they asked nicely. While it is true he didn’t ask for an explanation, he had enough gears in his head to create a reasoning as to why they needed it, especially in Moonbrooke. In that kingdom he had been so cautious he had started throwing suspicion even on the king. Anessa was a suspect because of Warwick’s saying, then Warwick was suspicious for throwing such blame on her, the rest of soldiers… Well, Gerome had indeed manifested himself against his beliefs. Zara had been with the deserting soldiers, who had come from the outside, so she was under suspicion too.

-Listen, Malroth, nobody had-he was cut by his best friend turning around so he facing his back.

-I don’t want to hear your excuses. I don’t even want to see your face.”

Why? Why did he say that? He understood he had felt betrayed that time, but…

“The key fit in perfectly, meaning the only traitor was Warwick. He opened the door and neared his friend.

-Malroth…

-Oh. It’s you-he said with such indifference and disgust Ice felt as if his entire reality would turn into that one nightmare he once lived-So, you’ve finally decided to let me out, have you? What’s happened?

-Well, I built a huge tower weapon and… Atlas, the Major General of monsters wants to destroy us all… And is coming over for a visit-Ice said looking at the side, if Malroth was this resented then he’ll probably make a fuss over the weapon.

-…Huh. So you’ve built a massive magical cannon, and now the Major General of the monsters is on his way over to destroy us all. Ha ha ha! Are you serious? There’s a big, bad baddie coming, so now you decide to let me out of my cell?

-“Malroth, please, it’s not my fault that we live in an absolutist system…”-was what he’d wished to say, but hesitance pushed him back.

-You leave me locked away here-never even dropping by to say hello-and now that you’re in trouble, you come to me for help?

-“They didn’t let me anywhere near the cell! I would have passed by to say hello and have even a one-sided conversation!”-another answer that he wanted so badly to say, to scream at him… But he couldn’t, he just couldn’t.

-You’re disgusting, Gelius-Malroth spat like his name was poison.

He went out of the cell without bothering to look back. Ice was left alone trembling, but not from cold or fear. Malroth’s rejection and hatred stung so badly… It was as if somebody had been poisoning with a slow-working venom of those that really sting you. He tightened fists he hadn’t noticed that had formed. A shadow cast on his face, Ice cursed Rubiss for the first time in his whole life. He’d never been a religious person, in fact, he’d built the church because he knew the others were believers that needed a guide. He only built it because of the request that had formed by those who follow Rubiss. He hated the Goddess now with every cell of his being. Pure hatred that also targeted Hargon and his whole army. He hated everything now, every monster and human who believed things would go well, because, for him, things weren’t going well at all. A tear slipped and fell to the floor, shattering, for it was frozen.

-I hate you, Rubiss-he muttered when he’d anticipated the light glow trying to reach him-Don’t you even dare speak to me or I’ll go and seek for a way of destroying you, make you suffer. Haven’t I already proved vengeful enough for you to be cautious? Aren’t I that cursed child even his family rejects? Give it up, will you? I don’t care if it’s Erdrick’s or the Demon Lord’s blood the one that runs through my veins, I don’t care about wielding a sword to fight for a destiny that never belonged to me.”

There was no way Malroth would have ever wanted to see him again after he got thrown into the cell. That was bothersome for Ice. Build a castle, Lulu said, it will culminate our kingdom.

-“You can go burn in hell, Lulu”-he thought-“Did the thought of me being in the right mood to build a castle ever pass your head? I may have imagination, but back then I would have drawn a gigantic fortress with several weapons, like Cantlin.”

He didn’t even pay attention to whatever were Anessa and the others building. He couldn’t have cared less. Yowies? Snow fields? Those were already noted down by somebody else in the book. Traps? He was born in a giant fortress with weapons hidden everywhere. He would’ve loved to create the Cantlin Shield, though.  In his mood, so stressed and mad over what had happened in the Kingdom, how a friendship that lasted three islands went to waste in less than a second. Sure, the thing about Ra’s mirror was another thing Malroth was angry about, but he had made sure to point out he had used the mirror on everyone, even the king himself, that he could have built a whole fortress around the Isle of Awakening with such traps not even the ship could’ve survived. Had he had a bit more of time…

“-Malroth, wait-Ice said after having gained back his composure, putting a hand on his shoulder.

-What? What else do you want?-he snapped turning with a harsh glare.

-Malroth, plase, I didn’t intend to imprison you, and I couldn’t decide even whether to-he was cut off by the red-eyed man again.

-Shut up! Okay? Just shut up. I’ve had enough of your excuses.

Tears welled up in Ice’s eyes. He’d already had an open wound with Malroth’s snappy behavior, and now it felt as if Malroth had thrown salt on it.

-Oh, for crying out- Anyone’d think you were the one whose best friend betrayed them…

-Malroth!-Anessa called.

Ice stopped listening at that point, looking away from Anessa. He didn’t want to show himself weak after slaughtering so mercilessly all those monsters, screaming and cursing each one of them as if a demon had possessed him. He’d even joked about doing an exorcism… Before Warwick and Anessa discovered the true nature of such an animalistic blood-thirst. Half human, half monster. Rejected by humans for being part monster, rejected by most monsters for being part human. The only creature that had accepted him as he was had been Malroth. His somewhat sassy and slightly rude behavior slightly reminded Ice of himself, when he was in Cantlin people often mentioned how he looked and acted like his grandfather, a very sassy and snappy builder with a great talent, merging Tantegel into one city, teaching the builders in Cantlin and becoming a modal builder in all of Alefgard, and Erdrick’s only cousin. The one that forged the Sword that the Prince of Midenhall used to slaughter the evil priest Hargon and his Master, whose name had been locked up inside his memories, no matter how many times he’d heard it.

-Hey, Gelius-calling him by that name was the part it hurt the most. He’d told him to call him Ice instead of Gelius, since “Ice Crystal” was the name his mother gave him, Gelius being his grandfather’s name, which had been passed down on him-I’ll help you beat Atlas. But after that, we’re done. You built a dungeon to lock me away and only let me out when you needed my help. That’s low.

Another critical hit. His soul’s HP seriously needed those medicinal herbs he carried around, or a healing spell at that matter.

-I suppose it makes sense, though. Why would a builder like you care about a guy like me who can only destroy stuff? I thought we could be friends, but I guess I was wrong. You and me, Gelius-we’re through.

“Since when were we a couple?” was the first thought that crossed Ice’s mind. Then, he processed the sentence’s meaning, which actually made him feel like his soul had been ripped by the Master of Destruction himself. Ironically, he eventually discovered Malroth indeed was the Master of Destruction, so he added this situation to the ones where irony made such a hurtful effect it was painful even to remember.”

His origins was something he kept a secret to everyone. The fact he had the legendary Erdrick’s blood running through his veins and at the same time monster blood also ran through said vessels made the irony even more accentuated whenever he thought of his destiny here. He had thought of the irony of it all when the king of Moonbrooke told him the blood of the hero ran through his veins and his knowledge about a certain secret that it seemed to also have been passed down in his family when he saw a very old and dusty blueprint about the Kazapple Cannon.

“Peace. How ironic. The world may be at peace, but his world was crumbling, falling apart. Anessa celebrated it, along many others. They even made a feast and a firework show. Ice couldn’t care less about shiny exploding things by then. He felt as if his soul was tearing itself apart, which would eventually lead to either multiple personalities or his own death. He went to talk with Malroth, sure, but only because the king asked so.

Perhaps he really was like Malroth had said. Doing things just because they asked for them nicely.

-…Huh? Oh, Gelius, it’s you. How long have you been standing there?

-“Good question, Malroth, I even lost track of time during the feast, so I wasn’t conscious I’d made it here until you said so, I could’ve fallen from the wall and I’d still be walking was it not for you and your little question.”

-That Kazapple cannon of yours is really something. Guess you won’t need me around to beat up the monsters any more.

-“Actually, I can’t make more than that one… Though if you saw how I’ve been in battle lately…”

-You build thing, I mash monsters. But you don’t need me any more-and I don’t need you-“Stop playing tough”-Once we get back to the island, we can go our separate ways.

The rest of the night was just a fuzz of lights and noise. He had been fond of exploding things once when he was about twelve. The Master Builder had to stop him before he blew up the Tantegel’s center with fireworks and wrecking balls. That had been left behind once his sweet friendship with Malroth had broken. Not even chips had he eaten in the feast, and it was by far his favorite food that could be cooked with Moonbrooke’s resources. Had it been for him, he would have gone to his room and stayed inside for the rest of the night.”

Malroth had left it clear enough: he didn’t want to see him anymore, let alone have a friendly conversation with him. He had stated clearly he didn’t need him, that they should take separate paths. So why was he insisting on intertwining them again? He surely was now BFFs with his oh-so-devoted follower Hargon, why would he need him now? N04H and the others, one the other hand…

By now tears were streaming down regularly through his face, eyes watery and watching N04H’s remains. He couldn’t stand it. Why was he trying to get to Malroth even? To make others happy? To fulfill that promise he’d made before their friendship teared apart? Why not care about the ones who were truly at his side, and not turning tables whenever they wanted? He was fed up of traitors, lies and all that crap. All he wanted was a happy family with a nice life, was it too much for the Goddess herself to give her favorite family a happy ending?

He hugged the pile of nearly useless metal.

-I’m sorry, I can’t do it-he cried onto the machine’s “chest”.

Hellen watched sorrowfully how the scene evolved. She had anticipated this. He’d shown himself a little too attached to very simple things such as that oaken club or the car he had so badly named. Affection was the problem this child had. He grew too attached to things, even knowing they could break so easily…

-Ice, there’s no doing it, either you do it or we do it-she said, though she had no intention of destroying the broken robot any time soon.

-No! I’m not going to! And I won’t let you! Who cares about the forsaken Master anymore!? Who cares we used to be friends? My friends are here and waiting for me to return back at the Isle! Screw Malroth! He’s as rotten a god as Rubiss!-he blew up-If he doesn’t want to see me, then be it! I don’t want to either!

Adamn growled. A direct insult to the Master of Destruction could cost him a high price.

-Ice, be reasonable! Didn’t you say you never broke your word? What about the promise you made back then?-Hellen said, containing Adamn by extending an arm.

“-Ice… If-anything-were-to-happen-that-led-me-to-my-end, I-want-you-to-promise-me-you-will-carry-on-my-last-will-N04H’s metallic voice called him.

-Sure, of course, after all, you almost didn’t live to tell it before, so I’m ready to accept it whenever it comes-he coolly said with an expression of pure seriousness-And I never break my word. I swear  in the name of my bloodline I will carry on with your last will.”

Ice growled, glaring at the priestess. The Children of Hargon surely knew how to attack where it hurt the most. His tail popped up again and it threw itself at Hellen like a whip.

-And I will! But not here and not now! Not when the Master is menacing us all, let’s go! Whitebones, turn the engine on!

Everyone looked at the builder astonished. Surely he wasn’t planning on leaving another friend out there, right?

-Ice, weren’t you so determined to rescue Malroth?

Ice looked at Hellen, a cold stare.

-That was until someone died to reach my targets. I’m not like them. I’m not like the disgusting humankind. I’m not like my family… I’m not like Allen or Hargon. I wouldn’t fall so low as to take profit of others.

Something in the back of Hellen’s mind triggered when Hargon was brought to the conversation like that.

-Hargon wasn’t like that. He’s not one to break his word easily, like you used to be-she argued with a serious tone.

-How do you know? You’re not real, remember?-he said, his look turning into a dark one-Who cares about an illusion anyway? All this world is fake, isn’t it? Then let it be destroyed, I’ll be the emissary of destruction in the real world. Those who believe will be saved, those who don’t… Well, let’s just say salvation will be beyond their reach.

Ice started walking to the place Whitebones was, commanding people around. He spoke to him about the journey between worlds, a topic they both shared an interest.

Hellen scoffed, as if he knew a thing about reality and illusion. The child was already far beyond what this illusion could bring, talking to himself in a lively conversation being enough proof. She thought of the day she earned her title, back in Furrowfield’s council. How the screechy voice of the high priest had given a name, which turned out to be hers… How she learned the true nature of this world and her own self. It wasn’t easy to accept you were a mirror of Hargon’s memories, locked in the back of his mind while the illusion was created. A mirror of a person, specifically, a dead person.

In the half-in-ruins castle that towered over everything else in Malhalla, a bored high priest was resting on his throne resting his chin on his hand, the elbow of the arm of said hand resting on the throne in turn. He looked at his right, then his left, then at the front again.

-For how much more are we going to wait for that accursed builder, Malroth?-he voiced out loud for his Master to hear.

-Just a little more… I’m sure he must’ve figured out how to fly around here by now. It’s a matter of time he comes-he replied in Hargon’s mind.

-Honestly, do you believe he’ll even show up? I mean, he knows his place is not fighting us, and believe me, you could have already destroyed this world five times already.

-Just a little more?

-It’s been five months already!-Hargon screeched, the sentence echoing through all of the castle, then back to them-How much more are you going to wait until you realize they have no intention of coming?!

Hargon’s outburst shocked Malroth. In fact, the priest had been asking every five hours how long did he intend to wait, but he had been patient until now, which made him shout the harsh truth.

-I tolerated it the first months. Figuring out a way to move around here is as difficult as learning master-class spells without having cast the basic ones once before. When is it going to get through your thick skull? The builder is not coming!

-Then I’ll go find them-Malroth said appearing and crossing all four arms.

Hargon sighed.

-Honestly, you never know when to stop, do you?-he said bringing a hand to his forehead-I’ll go with you. Sometimes you need someone who isn’t the size of a two-floored house to call other people for them not to run away screaming for help.

With a nod, Malroth crouched and Hargon jumped on his back, arms crossed and a grumpy expression on his face.

-Go-he simply said before taking off.

They flied through the whole place, searching for them before Hargon caught a glimpse of something yellow.

-I could have sworn that our buildings were dark green… What is that?-he mumbled-Malroth! Over there! Check it out! But… be cautious, we don’t know if they have weapons.

-Sure-Malroth said before turning to fly in the direction that yellow building was.

Malroth, being the careless monster he was, one that used brute force, took the ark’s wall with two of his arms and peeked inside like it was a toy box.

-Hellen! There’s a massive green lizard trying to take over the ark!-Arisplotle called the priestess-Can you bring along Adamn and Zebadee?

-What kind of lizard do you mean, chi-she started and looked at Malroth-Oh.

-Fear not, my disciples-Hargon said jumping down onto the ark-the one you labeled as “massive green lizard” is our Lord and Master, Malroth. He has come to seek a slightly tall human with light blue hair, a backpack with a giant book and traveling clothing who says to be a builder.

Every monster in the crew looked to each other. After hearing Hargon’s ominous voice through statues, the Trinity had grown to think he would be an ominous character, but he somehow did look familiar. Perhaps it was, indeed, the high priest.

-I think the one you speak about is me-said Ice coming out of the kitchen with a deadly serious expression-I do not wish to hear what you have to say, Hargon, I am not like the family of heroes, I have been taught not to listen to evil creatures such as you.

Hargon looked at the builder from head to toe.

-Inspecting you closer, you do resemble the one that initiated your linage of builders. I have seen him enough times traveling through Torland to dare say that. It’s almost disgusting that Malroth grew fond of you, knowing your origins.

-Hargon-Malroth growled-We haven’t come for that and you know it.

Hargon scoffed. He’d found the builder, now what? What does he intend to do now?

-Hargon… It has indeed been a long time since I last heard of you-Hellen said-I am Hellen, the one you labeled as one of the three priests in the Trinity.

-I know who you are, could you do me a favor and shut up for now? Malroth has something to say, if I am not mistaken-he said.

-Oh… um… yeah… Ice… I… I’m sorry for what I said, can you come over so we can catch up?

-Now you come crawling at my feet to apologize, huh? Maybe Allen was right about you monsters…

Malroth could feel a tight knot in his stomach, wasn’t Allen the one Hargon had spoken like he was a bloodthirsty monster in a human body? Was Ice now resented and willing to follow the steps of the Prince of Midenhall?

-But I guess just by saying that we’re even, so… I guess I won’t take his words seriously-he said cracking up an evilish smile.

Malroth and Ice high-fived to celebrate it. They were friends again.

-So… Now that we’re friends again, can we go back to the Isle and…?

-Malroth, look at yourself. There’s no way you fit in your room in any way. You’re… Let’s put it this way, a twenty meter long giant winged lizard with fangs as big as me. Do you think the villagers are going to take this… normally?

-They took your thing fairly easily.

Ice furrowed his brows. By that time Hargon was sitting on the floor with his arms crossed, this was going to be a long, long talk.

-I am a half-monster with the regular human blood running through my veins… You, on the other hand, are the incarnation of Destruction and a giant lizard with four massive arms with which you can break anything.

-I can breath fire too-Malroth added.

-That does not help. We would have to shrink you or something, you don’t even fit inside the pyramid!

-Huh? I don’t? I thought that thing was huge.

-It is, but you’re even more huge.

Hellen was glaring daggers at Hargon by then. He had referred to her so rudely…

-I’m sorry-Hargon mumbled.

-What?-she asked.

-I’m sorry-he stated more clearly-I didn’t intend to snap like that, it’s just… I’m not in my best mood. I’ve been waiting for five months for this child to show up and he now asked me to find him so that they may be friends again. I’m… tired to say the least.

Hellen giggled. Hargon sure got worked up for something really silly.

-Um… I forgot to tell you, the rest of the Trinity is here… He’s Zebadee-she said pointing at the priest in charge of the Court of Chaos-And Adamn, the Inquisitor-she said pointing to the archdemon.

-Ah, yes. I still remember assigning you the charges back in the day… Happy times those where all I had to worry was travel around the world. Now I have to babysit Malroth because for some reason he acts like a teenager. Anyway-he said getting up-I must go, the world isn’t going to destroy by itself. Malroth! That’s enough! If you want to keep your friendly encounter take him, we’re leaving.

-Oh…

-Wait, you’re taking Ice with you!?-Hellen exclaimed.

Hargon turned around and signed something in monster language. His face was like saying “I’m fed up”, and his foot was constantly tapping against the ark’s floor.

Hellen gasped when she understood what was he saying, probably something very rude. Adamn wasn’t bright enough to understand it, he’d never been a coded language monster, but Zebadee understood it and his staff illuminated like when he was about to cast a spell. Hargon noticed this and pointed his own staff at the priest and it shone brightly.

-Hargon, stop-Malroth said picking Ice up with one hand-We’re about to go.

-You aren’t taking that child anywhere!-Hellen said angrily-Now put him down and stop whatever it is that stops the End of the World as We Know It.

Malroth didn’t understand anything, and so did Hargon. Why did the Trinity of Hargon want Malroth to put down his friend?

-Oh, I get it now, you have fallen for his tricks to, haven’t you?-he said looking at the bell-Truly, and here I thought you all were brighter than the rest… This bell is the sign of our archenemy! How dare you let him put that in front of our sacred place?! You have been building too, haven’t you? Can’t I trust my own Trinity? I chose you because your faith was genuine!

Hargon sounded betrayed in Ice’s ears. He had the exact same tone Malroth used in Moonbrooke’s fight. He felt sorry for him, he knew that even he had the right to feel betrayed, as evil as he was. Everyone had feelings… except for Rubiss maybe, that was clear enough. Words of trust, charges… They all had been entrusted with something and now they were following the exact opposite doctrines of those he had taught. He lowered his head in what he hoped was something like an apology.

-Let’s go, Malroth-he said, he sounded like he was trying to contain something.

While they were flying back Malroth asked Ice something very curious.

-Do you think it was the right choice to come and find you?