The song of magnificent death mausoleum

Vlahar

«The arrows are dwindling.» Omid mutters. «Vlahar, give the signal for the malylebky to strike as well.» orders.

«Yes!» I reply, letting out two sharp notes. From the forest, two hordes surge forth, crashing against the enemy army from behind.

«Come with me.» Omid commands. We dash through our ranks. He drives his blade into one of our zombified comrades, cremating him instantly. «VANGUARD, ADVANCE! REAR GUARD, DO NOT HESITATE TO KILL!» They all falter—how could they not? Just moments ago these were their friends and kin. But Omid keeps pressing on alone. «YOUR FRIENDS ARE DEAD! DO NOT ALLOW THE ENEMY TO DEFILE THEIR MEMORY!» Their shouts erupt, and one after another they throw themselves into the fray, burning our former companions to ash.

«Vlahar, let us bring this battle to an end.»

I grit my teeth, forcing a smile. «All right!» We charge past the vanguard, slashing and sidestepping every zombie that crosses our path, relentless even as the fog thickens.

Omid recites a prayer, and as soon as we break through, we hurl our spears. They fly swift as arrows, but Radomir dodges with a mere tilt of his head, while Nemanja catches mine and throws it back at us.

The edge of her shield slices across my captain’s arm, nearly severing it.

«Thank you.» he mutters to me, placing a hand over the wound. Light glows beneath his palm, stanching the blood. We draw our swords. Omid lunges at Radomir, who blocks the strike with his blade, while I twist aside from Nemanja’s spear thrust.

I counter with a downward slash. She pivots back, spinning with a low sweep, but I block with my shield.

Behind me, I hear a sharp screech of steel. I glance back just in time to see the general drive his sword through my captain. He yanks the blade free and shoves Omid’s body to the ground with his foot. My breath catches. Nemanja seizes the moment to lunge; I raise my shield, and the impact knocks me back several steps. Radomir advances, sword in hand. “Even if it’s two against one…” My grip tightens on sword and shield. “I cannot afford to die now. My comrades are counting on me!”

Then—a delicate touch on my hand. A gentle, tender voice whispering inside my heart: «Your thread will not be cut here, my son. Bend their fates to your own.»

«Dola?» I whisper. Chains of pink light burst from my chest, wrapping around the throats and arms of my foes—and my own. I feel our strength equalize, yet theirs is split in two.

Nemanja thrusts again; I meet her spear with my shield, shattering it into fragments that fly from her hands.

Radomir conjures jagged spikes of ice, hurling them at me. I sprint forward, shield raised. He swings his sword, but I slam into him, knocking him back. In a flash I drive my blade into his throat. From the wound, fire erupts, consuming him whole. «I cannot die at the hands of a mere human!» the general bellows as his flesh crumbles away.

«You denied your humanity,» I answer with a faint smile. «It’s only fitting you die by human hands. Haven’t you ever read the fables?»

«Pray you do not die…» he growls with his last breath. Then nothing remains but a heap of ash.

The spell shatters. I turn toward the battlefield and watch the enemy army collapse in unison. My chest feels light, as though the heavens themselves blaze with brilliance.

A sound strikes the ground beside me. I turn—Nemanja, her helm gone, kneels with her arms wrapped around herself. Her hair veils her face. «So… this is how it ends?»

I sheath my sword, pull off my mask, and gaze at her with compassion. «I believe so… Unless you still wish to fight. In that case, I would have to kill you.»

She lifts her face, eyes shimmering with tears. «No, thank you.»

The earth quakes as the castle explodes in a storm of stone and flame.

°°°

Lili

I stand upon the bowsprit of the central airship. Renren sits before me, Laila floating lightly by his side. Together we take in the sight. “I hope everything goes well.” I think with a sigh. “I can’t let myself be consumed by fear. Søren and the others have placed their trust in me.”

The glow of the burning fortress draws my gaze. «It’s time to begin.» Kenji declares, breaking the silence.

Renren rises to his feet, turning toward me. He smiles, but I can still sense the tension in him. “Perhaps I should say something.” Yet before I can, he pulls me close, arms firm around my waist, his face buried in my shoulder. I return the embrace, his warmth easing my heart. «Good luck, Lili.» he whispers. “I wish I didn’t have to leave him…”

Slowly, we part. Laila drifts near, and he turns to meet her eyes. Hesitant, she places her hands on his face and kisses him. “It still hurts a little, seeing them like this…” She pulls away slightly, but he catches her hand with his own. «Take care of Lili.» he says, smiling at her.

Laila pouts, crossing her arms. «And why don’t you wish me good luck? Or tell Lili to take care of me?»

“Even with their bond, she’s still jealous of me?” The thought makes me smile. “In some small way, it makes me happy that she still sees me as a rival.”

Renren ruffles her hair with a hand. «Because with you, I don't need that.»

She tries to keep a straight face. «You, on the other hand, had better not get yourself killed. Otherwise, when they open your coffin at the funeral, they’ll find you dressed as a femboy.»

«What’s a femboy?» I ask.

Renren laughs nervously, scratching the back of his neck as he always does when embarrassed. «N-not exactly the best time to explain.»

Laila forms a square with her fingers, breathes into it, and creates a vast cube. She steps inside, offering me her hand. I take it gingerly and follow her in. We wave once to Renren. «Goodbye!» Then swiftly we glide eastward, toward the castle.

«Ah, Laila, could you check that Renren hasn’t forgotten his sword?»

She glances back, hand shading her eyes. «As if he could—» She waves her other hand.

«He forgot, didn’t he?»

«Yep!»

«Uhuh, I knew it… Always the same—gets flustered when excited, turns scatterbrained.» I laugh, covering my mouth.

«Ahaha, you’re right!»

«Did you remember to slow our descent?» I ask, leaning close with a grin.

«No…» she answers, eyes darting away, hiding her smile as she flicks her hand to adjust.

«That’s fine. We’re nearly there anyway.»

A sudden blast makes us both flinch. I whip around just in time to see one of our airships burst into a fireball. Two more follow. «How can this be? They’re being taken down already?!» Laila cries, eyes wide.

I seize her shoulders, meeting her gaze, forcing calm into my voice. «Laila, I need you to remain focused and detached. I know your task is heavy, but I need you. Remember what Renren just told you.»

She clasps my shoulders and musters a fragile smile. «Yes… I’m sorry.»

Turning back, I see arrows raining down on the rebel army. «Laila!»

«Yes!» She thrusts out her palm. The missiles unravel into strange beings. Her breath falters, sweat trickling down her brow. “I need to distract her, or she won’t hold.”

«What are those?» I ask, bewildered yet entranced.

«They’re called butterflies—small creatures from Søren’s world.»

«Truly? I’d love to visit one day. You speak of it so often.»

«One day, we’ll take you there!»

«I can’t wait.» I reply with a smile.

More explosions echo behind us. Flames devour torn sails, the fleet besieged. «Laila, survivors?»

«Yes, just a few wounded!»

«Heal them, and help them climb higher.»

Then—darkness. A black miasma shrouds the battlefield. “Damn, an enemy is cloaking them. Have they found us?” «Can you dispel it?»

«I can try.» She thrusts her fist, opening it to scatter the mist, but another veil instantly replaces it.

A bolt of lightning splits the sky. My breath stops, my stomach churns… «Kenji…» I whisper.

«Laila, bring him here—with Nadia, now!» In a blink they appear, carried by shimmering cubes merging into ours. I fall to my knees, staring at Kenji’s body, torn and pierced. «Nadia, please, do something!» I cry, tears streaming. She kneels, tries her power, but it’s no use. I sob, Laila and Nadia weep with me, holding me tight. I cling to them. “I don’t want to go on anymore.”

The castle erupts, drawing all our eyes… «…They did it…» My gaze falls again on Kenji. His lifeless eyes gleam, reflecting the blaze. «Forgive me, Kenji. Such weakness does not befit a princess.» I wipe my face with trembling hands. With two fingers, I gently close his eyes. «Rest now. We’ll handle it from here.» I rise, pulling Nadia and Laila up with me. «Forgive me for losing myself. Now comes the epilogue. We must be strong—for Søren.» They dry their tears and smile faintly, standing firm beside me.