Chapter 36: Thalorian

Light flashed in Thalorian’s eyes as he walked into the Great Above. As the Thalorian regained his sight he looked around. It was a little darker than he had expected, and there was a slight touch of depression.

“Home… it’s different,” muttered Elben, quietly.

“I haven’t been here in a while,” said Haverian, “it looks different.”

“You're from the above?” asked Elben, turning his head to meet Haverian’s gaze.

“Yep, I used to be a poet.”

“Used to be a poet?” questioned Elben, cocking an eyebrow.

“It’s complicated,” replied Haverian, brushing off the question. “So you lived here too?”

“Yes, as I mentioned earlier I am the former general of the Anti-Magic poet Army, and an angel,” answered Elben. Ablbren flexed his arms and two crystalline wings sprouted from his back, shifting the fabric of his robes. Thalorian could see that there were some holes in them, seemingly designed for these wings.

“So the sheep have joined the flock.”

Thalorian turned his head around, and sitting on top of a clump of rocks, was a man that looked similar to Ablbren. He was tall, around seven feet tall, with a high collar leather jacket, and steel armour on top of it. Their hair was slicked back, it was a dark indigo, with maroon streaks.

Ablbren clicked his tongue, and reached for his sword.

“What are you doing here?” growled Elben, barely moving his mouth.

“Don’t worry, Elben, I’m not here to fight,” then he said quieter, “there'll be plenty of that.” with a smirk. “I’m just here to tell you to turn back. You’ll never kill us.” The man started walking away

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Avris,” replied Elben, drawing his sword.

Avris turned his head around “Elben, you know you can’t beat me.” he smirked, “I’ve always been the better brother.”

Elben clenched his teeth, and ran at Avris. He swung his sword at Avris. Avris dropped down, dodging the blow. “I’ve been away for one hundred years, Elben, have you learned nothing?”

Elben let out an angered shout, and swung his sword down. Avris jumped, and did a side flip, taking the momentum out of the sword. “I’ll kill you Avris!”

“You won’t, at least, not today.”

“I hate you!” screamed Elben.

“I know,” said Avris, disappearing.

Thalorian couldn’t quite wrap his head around what had just happened. He never really knew who Ablbren was. Thalorian had just thought that he was a former general, similar to Limiria. He knew that Limiria was a good person, maybe Ablbren could be the same? But now, he wasn’t so sure…

“Elben… who was that?” asked Josh, scratching his head.

Ablbren twitched his head and looked down, “He… he’s… he’s my brother, Avris.” Ablbren’s gaze became darker as he continued, “he betrayed me… after I became general, he framed me for the death of my superior, Arch-Duke Ballgraid, but he was the one that killed Ballgraid, to further his rank.”

He’s like us… betrayed by the law, seen as a villain, but fighting for justice.

“I understand. My brother betrayed me as well,” replied Limiria, with a dark expression. “He was… overtaken by jealousy.”

“Then you can understand why I want to kill him?” replied Elben.

“Yes. But I would never kill my brother, because he’s my family,” said Limiria, “and also Thalorian would have him dead before I could take two steps.”

Thalorian cringed at Limiria’s mention of Byron.

“Byron would be dead before you could take one step,” Thalorian added, “anyway, let’s get moving.”

The motley crew continued through the Great Above. Its cloud-like floors, and serene buildings passed by them as they made their way to their true destination, Sorenen Citadel of Gods.

As they approached its tall gates and majestic, flowing banners, there was something off about the structure. It was beautiful, yes, but tainted. Its white banners with the Aternum’s golden sigil in it had several small holes with char marks around it. Strange…

Thalorian reached out to open the gate, but as his fingers touched the starry gate, Limiria put her hand on his shoulder.

“Be careful. Who knows what Jiyoda’s done to the place.”

“I know, I’ll be careful,” replied Thalorian, a small smile on his face.

He opened the door and… nothing? It looked like what he had envisioned, a majestic city with streets filled with the new, and old gods and goddesses. But as he stepped into the seemed metropolis he started hurting. His brain buzzed, as if it was melting. His eyes shook and trembled, stinged at every point. Eventually it stopped, but when it did, the metropolis was no more. In its place was a corrupted version of that wonderful vision, the gods were no longer there.

The palace was tainted, its beautiful white tapestries were stained with black ichor, and its white stone floors charred black.

Thalorian turned his head to see that the others were experiencing the same pain he had.

After a few minutes had passed, Thalorian asked, “Is everyone allright?”

Yoru stumbled up and looked him in the eye, “Y-yeah

I’m good,” he replied.

“Same here,” said Josh.

After everyone had said their part, Thalorian turned back to the citadel.

“Well then, let's get into this citadel, and kill the son of a bitch, named Jiyoda!” declared Thalorian, stepping forward into the cold embrace of the citadel.