Chapter 29: The First Descender

Valkyr, Kouga, Amani, and Iskatl were seated within the fortress. For the week, there was no combat ongoing within the war, Velika essentially all but confirmed that she'd cease hostilities for the time being.

"Kouga. You think you can take the big guy?"

"Which one, Iskatl?"

"The one with the horns, duh. His biceps are bigger than I am."

Valkyr shakes her head before looking to Amani.

"Muscleheads. Stupid Yuichiro..."

She'd mutter, before Iskatl tilted his head and looked to Valkyr, with a deep, shaky breath. He had suspicions about her that he didn't act on, but that made him just know who this was straight up.

"Rin?"

Valkyr's eyes widened, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone in a flash of wild orange light.

Iskatl felt himself begin to shake as he looked down at his hands which were shaking violently. Soft panting as he looked down at his shaking hands and tears began to flow. Amani looked to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Hey, hey. What happened? Who is Rin? Iskatl?"

His tears continued to flow as he hugged Amani tightly, Kouga putting hands on his shoulders.

"Who is Rin, buddy?"

"It's complicated... I don't think I can tell you."

"Notice: As a Sovereign the rule of secrets is lifted. You may spread information of your mission freely."

The Reliquary chimed in before he'd nod.

"I was reincarnated into this world from another one. That world was one which had no magic, and the only intelligent race was humans. Since humans were the only race, technology was far more advanced due to short life spans, and desires of grandeur for all humans. I was a Police Officer. Akin to a city guard, essentially. I was a special kind, a Detective. You know when someone hurts people, then hides?"

Amani, and Kouga both listened.

"My job as a Detective was to find those kinds of people... Specifically ones who commit murders. My older sister, a girl named Rin. I was a horrible little brother, but I did my best. My dad told me all I ever needed to do was keep her safe. Eventually, a murderer had killed her, and I thought I lost her."

A deep breath before he had continued.

"Consumed by grief, I stopped at nothing but to slaughter the bastard. I wanted to catch him myself, and then kill him. Eventually, I had lost my job - various rules were broken, so that I could investigate in attempts to find the man who had taken my sister from me. But I continued my investigation off the books, and got lucky. I found the killer. A man obsessed with folding paper birds."

Amani's eyes widened as she listened. Folded birds?

"We had fought, and both died. Afterward, we were both brought into this world. Reincarnated as the Second and Third Descenders. Zyelt, the Dragon Priest... and Iskatl, the Prodigy Mage. The Goddess who had brought me back demanded of me one thing; to end this war and meet her atop Heaven's Throne. I was forced to keep a secret... Up until now. I... had suspicions that Valkyr was the First Descender. One thing that tipped me off was her usage of the word Earth."

Another deep breath, and he'd continue.

"Earth in that context refers to the world which I'm from, not the ground and dirt beneath us. But... after Zyelt said my name. I felt like she knew me, and just now she all but confirmed that she was my sister... Rin."

A deep sigh escaped his lips as he stood up... Amani looked him directly in the eyes as she stood up too, and Kouga helped him to his feet. She always hated how he lied to her. But now, she knew he was forced to... Amani leaned in and pressed her lips against his. Iskatl's eyes widened, and then his gaze softened before his eyes closed... Grasping Amani by her hips softly as he kissed her back, the shaking that he had displayed before stopped completely as he calmed down. Before he was worried, and distressed.

But Amani had managed to make all his worries melt away before him as they shared that passionate kiss. Amani's eyes closed too, as Kouga turned away and left. He had to go find Valkyr, or Rin. Whoever she was now. Iskatl pulled away from the kiss and looked down at Amani.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Iskatl."

She'd smile as she took his hand in hers, interlocking fingers.

"Let's leave them. Kouga has a way of words when it comes to her. We should go talk to the Emperor, no?"

He'd nod softly before they went over to the Emperor's tent. Iskatl looked before the Emperor who was looking at his map and muttering softly as he stared at it. He didn't even turn to look at his "Champions" as he panicked. Velika was after him, and specifically him. Velika wanted him, wanted his life. His life was too important to lose to someone like Velika!

Iskatl let go of Amani's hand gently and went over to him.

"Astalon. You need to go fight her. It's you or everyone. Why would you choose everyone?.. that includes you."

"I can't beat her."

"So you were overconfident.. But since mom heard, now you're terrified? You're a coward."

Astalon looked to Iskatl and growled softly.

"If she kills me, she'll kill everyone else anyways! I'm the only thing keeping this army alive, and uniform!"

Iskatl got closer to Astalon, and then slapped him in the face.

"As I said. Coward. You make me sick."

Astalon snarled at him before pointing in the distance.

"Leave. You're no longer welcome here."

Iskatl shook his head and stormed off, as Astalon watched him walk away with clenched fists.

"Bastard."

Amani said to Astalon before she walked away. Iskatl was already gone and she couldn't even see where he went.

Astalon was a ways away from the fortress, on his way to Forthane. He approached a fortress, ready to walk inside of it before he heard something call out to him. The Reliquary appeared in his view and pointed to his right. When he looked at the marker, he saw a set of double doors in the air, opened to a golden light. A woman was there, smiling, black hair which trailed down her black, eyes of orange, and a tall pointed hat with various bands and cords on it.

The strangest part? He could sense no magic from her at all, yet she held a staff and a grimoire in each of her hands so clearly she was a mage of sorts.

"Come come, Descender. I have so many gifts for you."

He'd shift the Reliquary to enable the nameplates, and he saw it.

"Belial, the Goddess of Magic" with the title "Knowledge Seeker" directly below her name.

"Truly a special boy who needs to be taught how to turn the Grave Dragon's might against her. Come forth, and meet Vaaz, alongside the others."