Showdown in Haven's Crest Pt 3

Oreon stood a few feet from Yvonne, cradling Sylvanie as he looked down at her battered condition.

“You… idiot…” Sylvanie managed, relief softening her voice. “Took you…long enough…I was wondering…when you would wake up from that stupid…nap of yours."

Oreon gave a strained but genuine chuckle. "Hey, cut me some slack. I'm still trying to figure all this out." He looked up and glared at Yvonne, making her step back. "Besides, I don't think we can rest just yet."

Yvonne trembled beneath his gaze, recalling how he had faced Vexes head-on, endured his devastating blow, and still managed to rescue Sylvanie.

Yvonne tightened her grip on her weapons. She felt the power radiating off Oreon, a force that seemed to defy logic and reason. It was unlike anything she had ever encountered before.

"You…" For the first time since the confrontation began, uncertainty made Yvonne's voice waver. "What…What are you?"

Oreon studied Yvonne, his eyes steady as his aura pulsed like a heartbeat. "What am I?" He repeated the question. "Honestly? I'm still figuring that out myself." He answered seriously. "But right now? I don't have time to talk to you. There's someone else who needs my help."

Yvonne gritted her teeth as her wheel blades slowed, absorbing his words. "Someone else?" Her gaze darted toward where Divia had thrown Celestia. "You mean the Princess? You're insane if you think Divia will let you—"

Yvonne's eyes widened as Oreon vanished with Sylvanie. She quickly turned toward Divia's location.

Meanwhile, Celestia lay in the rubble, breathing heavily. Pain tore through her as she tried to move, but her limbs felt like lead, and blood seeped from her wounds.

“Get…Up…” She whispered to herself. "You…Have to…get up…”

Her body refused to respond. The world spun as darkness closed in at the edges of her vision, and slow, heavy footsteps drew nearer.

"Look at you," Divia spoke from behind her.

Celestia forced her head around, pain lancing through her neck. Through blurred vision, she saw Divia's monstrous silhouette blocking the doorway behind her.

"The mighty Princess of Vel'Andria," Divia continued, mocking her as she approached. "Reduced to crawling in the dirt like a worm." She let out a cruel laugh, her clawed feet crushing debris beneath each step.

Determination flashed in Celestia's eyes despite the pain. Her fingers scraped the ground as she struggled to push herself up.

"I won't…" She gasped, her voice barely audible. "I won't give you…the satisfaction…" The words left her as she dropped to her hands and knees.

Divia's laughter grew louder, more unhinged. "Satisfaction? Oh, Princess—" She crouched down, her twisted features inches from Celestia's face. "—this isn't about satisfaction. This is about putting you in your place." Her clawed hand reached out, gripping Celestia's chin roughly and forcing her to look up. "The kingdom fell. Your people scattered like frightened animals. And now? Now even your precious light can't save you."

Celestia trembled with anger. A faint light flickered at her fingertips, weak but still alive.

“You’re…wrong…” Celestia managed through gritted teeth.

"Am I?" Divia tilted her head, amusement dancing in her corrupted eyes. "Then prove it. Show me that—"

She never finished her sentence.

A blur of red crashed between them, Oreon's foot connecting squarely with Divia's jaw.

The blow hurled Divia through the remains of a stone wall, swallowing her in dust and debris as crumbling masonry echoed through the ruins.

Oreon stood where Divia had been, Sylvanie still cradled in his arms. His chest heaved as his eyes followed the trail of destruction.

Celestia blinked, struggling to understand what had happened. One moment, Divia's twisted face hovered inches from hers; the next, a familiar figure stood between them.

“O-Oreon...?” Her voice cracked with disbelief.

"Hey." He glanced back at her. "Sorry it took me a bit; that bastard did hit me kind of hard." Still cradling Sylvanie in one arm, Oreon crouched beside Celestia, guided her hand over his shoulder, and carefully lifted her onto his back.

Celestia winced at the movement and instinctively wrapped her arms around Oreon's neck. Her body felt impossibly heavy, every muscle protesting as she clung to his back.

"You're… bleeding…" she murmured near his ear, feeling warm blood soak through his tattered clothes.

"Yeah, well…" Oreon adjusted his hold on both sisters, making sure neither would slip. "Join the club." He turned back toward the direction he had sent Divia. "We are all banged up, but that doesn't mean we can stop now." Oreon gritted his teeth as the dust cleared, revealing Divia rising with a roar, her fangs bared at him.

Divia's roar shook the crumbling building, sending debris raining down. She emerged from the dust more monstrous than before, black veins of corruption spreading across her body. Blood trickled from her mouth as a low growl escaped her.

"You…DARE!" She snarled. "How DARE a pathetic, filthy human even think about touching me!" She crouched low, claws digging into the ground and muscles coiled as she glared at Oreon. "I'll tear you apart! I SWEAR! I'LL TEAR OFF YOUR DAMN LIMBS ONE BY ONE, YOU FILTHY HUMAN!"

"Sounds like I pissed someone off." He responded, and Divia could barely contain herself, her wings spreading as she prepared to charge at Oreon.

"No human…" She gritted her teeth. "No human has ever laid a hand on me and you…" A low guttural growl echoed from her throat.

Oreon, keeping the girls secured, let a small smirk slide across his face. "I get to be the first; I'll take that as an accomplishment then." He replied.

Divia trembled with rage as the black veins across her skin pulsed and writhed. "You'll regret those words…" She hissed, her voice distorting into something far beyond what even elves could imagine. "I'll make you BEG for death before I'm done with you!" She screamed. "You hear me!" She began to laugh manically. "YOU'RE DEAD, HUMAN! DEAD!" She launched herself towards Oreon at blinding speed, her clawed hand stretched out, ready to carve Oreon up into pieces the second she got her hands on him.

Oreon's eyes narrowed, and his body tensed as Divia closed the distance in a heartbeat. Time seemed to slow as she appeared before him, her claw descending in a killing blow.

Divia's claw struck only air. She slammed into the ground and skidded to a stop, whipping her head from side to side before realizing Oreon and the princesses were gone. Their escape only fueled her rage.

Divia's primal shriek echoed through the ruins, cracking nearby walls. She roared, driving her claws into the cobblestones and carving deep gouges beneath her.

"WHERE ARE YOU?!" She screamed into the sky; her distorted voice carried for miles. "YOU THINK YOU CAN RUN FROM ME?! I'LL GET MY HANDS ON YOU, HUMAN, AND WHEN I DO! I'LL HAVE YOU BEGGING AT MY FEET! DO YOU HEAR ME!"

Meanwhile, Meara narrowly dodged Vexes's curved sword, countered with her bow, and barely parried his next empowered strike.

Their weapons clashed across the square. Vexes swung wildly at Meara's neck, but she sidestepped and rushed in, forming an arrow for a point-blank shot. Before she could fire, he slashed sideways, striking her bow.

The impact sent Meara skidding backward until she braced herself with one hand. Her arms ached from constant blocking and countering, and her breathing quickened as she struggled to keep pace.

"What's wrong, Keeper?" Vexes sneered, his corrupt eyes gleaming in amusement. "You're getting weaker the longer this carries on," He pointed out. "The more you push, the more your body gives out under the strain of the grove's power."

Meara's chest heaved as sweat ran down her temple. Vexes was right—the Grove's power was finite, and she had pushed herself to the brink to sustain it.

"Maybe…" She nocked her bow and nocked another arrow, aiming at Vexes. "But if I were you, I'd be more concerned for myself. Get overconfident, and I'll pierce whatever is left of that dying heart of yours."

Vexes laughed and spun his curved blade. "My dying heart? Oh, Meara, you still don't understand." The sigil in his eyes fixed on her as he smirked. "The Order's power needs no heart. It feeds on something greater—rage, ambition, and the desire to transcend mortal limits." He cast a sick smile toward the sky before lowering his gaze to her.

"Humans, elves, beastkin, dwarves—all scurrying like rats through miserable lives, searching for purpose only to be crushed by someone stronger." Vexes continued, "It is an endless cycle: the weak always yield to the strong."

Meara narrowed her eyes. "You're wrong," she said quietly. "Strength isn't merely power, Vexes—it's what you choose to do with it. Those you call weak rise each day knowing the Order could destroy everything they have without warning, yet they endure and keep searching for a better way to live instead of swallowing the lies you spread." She drew the bowstring tighter. "Those who use strength to cast a shadow over others are the true cowards. Your Order is nothing but a frightened, untamed beast—and you're no different."

Vexes stood silent as the Keeper continued. "Look at you. Even as a dark elf, you sat at the elves' round table and sought a better future for Vel'Andria. Whatever the king's motives, you could have used your strength to create change. Instead, you chose cowardice and helped the Order trample your own home." Meara glared at him. "No matter how much power they give you, Vexes, you're still weak."

Silence followed as they stared at each other. For a moment, Meara's words seemed to crack Vexes's composure, then a low, dark chuckle escaped him.

Vexes's laughter grew, then slowly quieted down. "Weak? How quaint, Keeper." He took a step forward. "I expected more from someone who communes with nature itself." Another step. "We can speak about my past transgressions and what led me here, where I now stand before you." He gestured with his arms, stretching out wide. "Stronger with the Order's blessings, even stronger than the power you borrowed from the grove." His smirk widened. "None of it matters, Keeper. The only thing that remains a fact is that today you will fall by the power even your human mind can't understand."

Meara prepared to release her arrow as Vexes charged. A sudden gust surged between them, carrying a red aura as Oreon appeared before Meara and glared at Vexes.