Act 3 - Chapter 7, Part 1

Chapter 32: Alexander; Shauran 42nd, 344SR; 23:10

Two days had passed since House Rael's defeat, but Alexander had lost track of that time. All he knew at the moment was the buckling pain in his back, the endless caves he had fought through, and the crashes echoing through them. At some point he found himself surrounded by darkness, however, everything around him was fairly bright and easy to see. The shadows always faced away from him, but he couldn't identify the source of light. At the moment he couldn't care less. The soles of his feet struggled to stay flat, he stood on his toes since using his heels hurt more. His eyes felt like they were split horizontally through the middle, his left eye bruised. The skin on his palm was calloused and his fingers struggled to stay gripped to the handle of his greatsword. 'How many times can he summon that giant... I've slayed it over fifty times... It just keeps coming back!'

"You dare to imitate the divine berserker! You are a fraud! A fake! A counterfeit!" the old man with half a face cursed from above, his voice brimmed with contempt.

Alexander took a deep breath. "I don't care... Shut your mouth already... Where are my lieutenants!" he shouted as he charged forward.

The old man floated backward as Alexander ran forward over grey roots on the ground, all the while looking down on the noble with disgust. Two giant grey hands rose from the shadows and grasped Alexander in mid-air. 'Damn-' Alexander grit his teeth as his shoulders squeezed together, he felt something crack. 'Agh! It keeps- getting stronger!' Alexander pushed the hands apart with all his strength, and the veins in his arm tightened. His greatsword lit up with a dazzling green flame and he swung, slashing through the creature's hands and setting himself free.

"Ack-" Alexander coughed after falling on his side.

The arms writhed as they burned at the lick of fire, slamming into the ground and being dragged back into the shadow.

"The fire! Put it out! Put it out!" the old man panicked despite not being the one burning.

Alexander fell onto his back, heavily worn out from hours of fighting. 'It'll be back... I have to kill the summoner to stop it... Its main body hasn't risen for several hours...' Alexander's collarbone shifted and reformed. His entire body had been battered, beaten, wrung, and twisted. Each time he had healed, but the pain remained. He lost his armor at some point hours ago, he only wore torn black pants, each step sending ripples of pain through his bare feet.

Alexander stood and grabbed the greatsword's handle, then pulled himself up. He leaned on it as he breathed in and out, he had gotten used to the rotten scent permeating through the caverns. He began to focus his flames on the blade. 'He'll dodge again if I throw a flaming slash...' Alexander closed his eyes and breathed out, the pain was easier to handle the longer the fight went on.

"Divine One... My friend, Oaraun, I, Bishop Ardel Grim will slay this counterfeit..."

The floating old man's face had the same expression, it never moved or changed while he spoke. His mouth hung slightly open and his uncovered left eye was closed. The half of his face which was uncovered didn't move at all, the other half was covered in a lumpy black mass. He was fashioned with dark green robes that covered his legs, and golden hollow triangles decorating the edges. A golden scepter was held tightly in his left hand, the pale fingers grasping it seemed to be surrounded by a similar black mass to the one on his face. Ardel raised his scepter.

"I'll put everything into this attack..." Alexander whispered to himself as he glared at Ardel.

The large grey hand rose from the shadow and clenched its fist. Alexander continued to channel the flames through the sword and into the ground. The ground shook, then started rumbling. Ardel paid no attention to it as he raised the golden scepter towards Alexander. The clenched fist flew forward.

"Suffer! Be crushed! Regret! As you're broken to pieces!" Ardel cried.

Alexander didn't flinch, the ground around him started to crack, and a green glow spilled through. 'Jealous Flame!' The ground erupted as Alexander jumped, the explosion launched him above the fist.

"That technique..." Ardel suddenly hesitated.

Alexander landed on the creature's arm and stabbed his greatsword into the wrist. He ran forward and dragged the blade straight through, then kicked off toward Ardel.

"Die!" Alexander roared.

"Wait-" the Bishop raised his hands, surprised at the distance being closed so quickly.

Alexander stabbed his blade into Ardel's chest and hung on. He could see him much better up close. The black lumps suddenly unraveled, revealing the other half of the bishop's face.

"Ah!" Ardel screamed.

"What the hell are you, freak..." Alexander growled.

The left half of his face was human, resembling that of an old man, there was no head, just the skin of a face hanging off where it should've been. The tentacles unraveled and writhed frantically, underneath was a black skeletal face with lumpy purple and green tendrils protruding out of his head. Its yellow eyes lit up as it cried out.

"Agh! You-" Ardel's voice cracked as Alexander tightened his grip on the sword.

'Jealous Flame!' Alexander channeled green flames straight into Ardel's body. The bishop was engulfed in green flames.

"Ah! Burns! It burns! It-" The bishop stopped writhing and his eyes widened.

The robes were set ablaze and revealed the lifeless form he had impaled underneath. 'What the...' Alexander started to descend and the blade dragged out. Ardel hit the ground, his clothing flopped on the ground as something moved underneath, he rolled back and forth as the flames burned him. The large fist writhed as well as it receded back into the shadow it came from.

"This... No, No! It couldn't be?! Could it?" Ardel rambled to himself as he burned.

Alexander breathed heavily as he walked towards Ardel on the ground. The husk of the old man weakly stood, pushing himself up with all his strength.

"You... Why are you still alive, I crushed you countless times!? Why do you have that sword?" Ardel asked frantically while the creature's yellow eyes twitched and looked like it was tearing up. "These flames..."

The old man covered the right side of his face with his hand, wiping tears from his face. The old man had no hair, but the left half of his body seemed to be engulfed in something. His legs were motionless as he floated.

"Aah!" Ardel suddenly screamed angrily, for some reason, his voice sounded more human-like.

Alexander felt his heart jump slightly at how loud he screamed, his ears ringing slightly.

"How could you... How could you! How much will you angels drag to hell with you!?" Ardel suddenly screamed, rage and anger gushing from his voice.

"Shut up!" Alexander huffed as he raised his great sword.

"Insolence, insolence! You are nothing but a fraud," Ardel hissed.

The giant hand rose from the shadows behind Ardel and tried to crush Alexander. 'What the!' Alexander noticed a green aura spilling from the creature's hand. 'Counter it!' Alexander swung the greatsword at the hand instead before it could connect its strike. The blade pierced into its arm but didn't go all the way. However, the creature still charged forward and slammed into Alexander.

"Agh!" Alexander flew through a wall.

"You must die! I'll kill you! You'd dare mock him! He who gave us our throne! He who risked his life for Xenia's conquest and prosperity! He who never stopped fighting! For our ongoing salvation! The salvation of the druids!" Ardel ranted.

"I don't know- what you're on about... Shut your fucking mouth!" Alexander pushed against the ground with his forehead as he spoke.

"You'd dare mock him! You dare mock Oaraun! Kill him! Crush him until nothing remains!" Ardel screamed.

Alexander raised an eyebrow 'Oaraun?' The massive creature swung its fist at Alexander, but he blocked it with the flat side of the blade. The force pushed the noble back, but he held the creature at bay. His shoulders flexed, and the beast struggled to push him back.

"The... The toll... Impossible... Impossible!" Ardel screamed as he dragged his fingers down his lifeless and wrinkled face.

The creature rose from the shadow. It was a headless giant, it stepped forward and started to sprint. Alexander lost his footing. The creature slammed him into the wall once again, and Alexander's back took the brunt of the impact as he crashed through it. The creature pulled its hand away, Alexander immediately coughed up blood. He looked up groggily, as the creature slammed its fist into Alexander again. The creature smashed him through the wall with the next punch, he flipped through the air and landed at what seemed like the edge of a cliff. Alexander flew for the edge, he slammed his blade into the ground and managed to stop, falling to one knee and panting wearily.

"You brought me more angels? I wonder what this one's mind will taste like," an ominously childish voice spoke, loud enough to echo through the dark caverns.

Alexander's eyes shot open, he turned his head to look around. He could see nothing but the pitch-black darkness beyond the cliff.

"Brother... Don't be cold. Help Mr. Grim," the voice spoke again.

"What the..." Alexander quickly stood up as he peered off the edge of the cliff.

'That was way too loud... Where did that voice come from... How big is it? I should be able to see something that loud...' A green light soared up from the hole and flew over Alexander. It landed behind him, Alexander turned and pointed his greatsword. However, the thing standing in front of him was something he could barely comprehend. 'What the... Am I seeing things?'

A knight with a jade crown stood between Alexander and Ardel, it's face was just a skeleton with hollow eye sockets. Black tentacles were wrapped around its limbs, almost resembling flesh and muscles. 'Those giant skeletons earlier also had those tendrils ensnaring it...' Its silver breastplate shone brightly, and a green cape flowed off its back. What confused Alexander, was the weapons it held. It held two greatswords, they looked exactly like Alexander's. 'What... Isn't that... My gift-' A tear fell from the skeleton's eye socket, 'Huh...'

"Brother? What's wrong?" The childish voice asked, it sounded closer than before.

Alexander turned around and peered off the cliff, he saw nothing but darkness. He glanced up and his eyes widened. Alexander dropped his great sword as he stepped back.

"What the fuck!" Alexander's heart skipped a beat as he saw the source of the child's voice.

There was a massive creature floating in the air. It appeared like a mass of dark green tentacles hanging in the pitch-black sky, the middle of the creature was large and round. Above the tentacles, were hundreds of long pale green hands reaching outwards. A flower at the top of its body was where Alexander noticed something out of this world. The upper half of a girl with light blue and glowing rigid skin had been leaning over the edge of the massive flower. 'How big is this cavern... Why couldn't I see-' Alexander's heart stopped as he noticed two people in the clutches of the girl. Vivian and Bruno were both held in the creature's hands, they looked like lifeless dolls. 'You-!'

"I'll kill you!" Alexander threatened while he dashed for his greatsword.

"The noble Alexander Rael, you have the same face as the one I saw in both of these angels' minds," the girl bragged with a careless tone.

Alexander grasped his blade and pounced up off the ground. But he immediately realized just how truly high up this creature was. 'It's... Too high to jump up to! Then- Jealous...' Alexander's sword lit up, 'Flame!' he swung a wave of flames. However, it collided with a dark blue barrier that surrounded the entire creature's body.

"What?!" Alexander started to descend. "A barrier!"

"Waaa- Pretty lights..." the monster in the sky looked at the green embers which crackled in the cold air with awe.

'What the fuck! What the fuck! Am I losing it... This thing can't be real- ' Alexander didn't hear the warrior holding two greatswords approach from behind, the blades whistle while being swung through the air alerted him. 'Huh!' The dual greatsword-wielding creature held both its blades up. 'When did it-' Alexander noticed a tendril protruding from its back into the sky, connecting back to the behemoth in the sky. It swung both its massive blades down, Alexander blocked but he was launched backward.

"Ack!" Alexander coughed as he flew off the cliff.

Alexander opened his eyes to see where he was falling, but his eyes widened as he saw the crowned skeletal soar forward swinging the two greatswords. 'Rgh!' Alexander blocked, but his descent sped up. Then without moving a single leg, the knight soared towards Alexander while raising the greatswords for another strike. 'What the fuck! He's just gliding straight at me!' They clashed in mid-air, however, it continued to pursue the noble through the air. Green embers darted all across the darkness as they continued to cross blades. 'Deflect his strikes! I can't go on the offensive like-' Alexander crashed into a building, he squinted as he looked up to see the relentless puppet still charging. 'Wait-' Alexander raised his blade and blocked the strike, but crashed through another building.

Alexander landed in a narrow alley between two buildings. The ground was made of loosely packed cobblestone, grass and foliage sprouted through it. 'Buildings? This stone...' The dragging of blades made him focus, he quickly stood up and coughed with a hoarse, dry throat.

"That thing is being dragged through the sky towards me..." Alexander glanced back down the alley and noticed he wasn't followed.

'Could it follow me with the tendril it was connected to... Wouldn't it have to attack from-' Alexander looked up to see the skull-faced warrior fall toward him. He pressed his foot into the ground, while winded his greatsword up for a heavy swing.

The two clashed, Alexander, swung his blade back around for another hit, and they clashed again. Their blades dragged through the narrow alley, cleaving through thick stone walls like water. Bright yellow sparks, as well as the light from the embers flying off of Alexander's blade, lit the dark alley. They ran parallel down the alleyway as they continued the exchange. Alexander stopped and ducked, dodging a swing and letting the knight soar past him.

"Rah!" Alexander roared as he jumped up with his greatsword raised.

Alexander's roar echoed through the strange buildings, he swung the blade down and launched the skull-faced knight backward. He followed after him but stopped as he exited the alleyway. The skeleton had crashed into a building across a large gap. Down below to the left was a hill full of decaying junk and various bones. The ground looked smooth, and further down the hill was a body of water. Across the gap was a pipe with a slimy substance hanging out of its lip. 'Is this... a dock?' Alexander's mind had been racing, however, his thoughts came to a stop as a shriek echoed through the air, It grated at the inside of Alexander's head as his vision was slightly obscured. 'What!'

"Ah!" Alexander screamed as the sharp pain of three needles pierced through the back of his right shoulder.

"Don't pick on my brother... An adult shouldn't bully a kid..." The childish creature spoke from above.

"Agh!" Alexander grasped the end of the tendril with his other hand and tried to push it out, but he winced as it hooked into his flesh.

The tip of the tendril possessed three firm needles, edged with smaller spikes. Alexander felt his breathing increase as he saw the tendril shape, trying to pull it out was causing more damage. Another tendril skewered his other shoulder.

"Ah!" Alexander cried as the tendrils lifted him.

The skin around his shoulders felt like it would be torn off. 'Damnit it got me!' Alexander was raised in front of the massive blue girl. From this distance, the ridges in her skin almost appeared like the surface of a tree. Her arms and head resembled regular body parts, however, her torso and arms looked like tree bark. She had long wavy hair, the ends flowed upward for some reason even though there was no draft. Vivian and Bruno were suspended in the air by the tendrils as well. They didn't look heavily injured. However, Alexander was more focused on the massive creature he dangled and struggled above Vivian and Bruno who was unconscious on top of the flower petal.

"What'd you do to them, fiend?! Tell me and I may not incinerate you slowly!" Alexander threatened.

"Fiend? My name is Terra, not fiend. Terra Gerrenwalt, I was born on the 32nd day of Shauran, 195SR. When were you born?" The creature's tone did not seem natural.

"195SR... That's almost 150 years ago?!" Alexander replied, his expression shocked.

"I asked them if they wanted to play but they kept screaming... What's wrong with them?" she spoke with a child-like innocence.

"Screaming..." Alexander seethed, breathing in and out and thrashing heavily. "What'd you do!"

"The thin skelly's always have boring memories... But those angels' minds show a bright beautiful world with lots of stuff to know about! I just love to know about it, I want it all!" Terra smiled while her head rocked from side to side, the sight disturbing Alexander to his core. "Hey, you're an angel? Right? You probably have lots of interesting memories! Let's play a game to introduce yourself!" Terra spoke with a menacing glee.

Terra raised her hand towards him, her eyes lit up with a bright blue hue. Alexanders shook and struggled to get free, but it was no use, the barbs were stuck inside of him

"Stay back! Stay away from me, monster!" Alexander hissed.

However, she simply held her palm above his head. Images flashed into Alexander's head. 'What is she... What's-' Everything went black, the battle he just fought started to play in reverse in his head.

***

"Alexander Rael, noble of House Rael," he could hear Terra's voice echo in his head.

'What the... That thing's voice- I hear it in my head?!'

"That thing? I said my name is Terra... How rude," she moped.

'You're- reading my thoughts?!' Images of Arthur, Angela, and Arid flashed through his mind. His squad, Lector, Yami. The battle in Logos, the day he executed Jack's parents. His memories played backward through his head quickly. 'What are you doing- Stop!' Alexander struggled.

"The four nobles, Helios, the Celestial... I've seen this all in the memories of those two. You seem to respect the members of your squad greatly, but no one else. You treat those slaves with unreasonable brutality. Why? Hmm?" Terra asked.

Alexander tried to move but he couldn't. 'Get- away!' The memories of Logos came back, and countless slaves being beaten and murdered flashed through his mind.

"Why are you the way you are?" Terra suddenly became confused.

The memory of a black-haired woman entered his mind, she stood in front of Alexander. A white hood obscured her eyes, but her pupils possessed a deep red glow. The woman walked past the throne and towards the open window. The room was familiar, the throne of Helios was meters away. His hands grasped the silky gold carpet, 'Is this real...'

Alexander looked around in a daze, the banners of the four houses were missing from the walls to his left and right. Instead, two banners were hanging from the window, one displayed the Lightbringers insignia. The other was one Alexander hadn't recognized, it depicted a ring made from a snake consuming its own tail, the inside of the ring full of sharp spikes. The golden light from the sun lit up the sides of the room, however, a shadow was cast down the middle. Alexander stood up and turned to see Shinra Pendragon.

The old man had been wearing bandages on his forehead. He held his black halberd in his right hand, his left hand was broken and wrapped up in a cast. 'What happened-'

"That creature tried to manipulate you, Alexander... Perhaps it was the work of its gift which has twisted your mind, but worry not good friend," a voice came from the direction of the throne. "She has restored your mind, and rid you of that freakish giant's curse."

Alexander turned to see the king of the angels stand up from the golden throne. 'Lord... Lord Lightbringer?!' The blonde man wore a white shirt that flowed down past his knees. The man's shoes and clothing had been embedded with diamonds and crystals from across the land. Lucifer had a small neck and was extremely thin, his blonde hair was combed over, and it just reached his neck. The features of his face were unnaturally perfect, not a single wrinkle or sunken pour in sight.

"What?" Terra whispered in confusion.

"House Raf- Rael, is essential to our cause, our military might hinge on the technology pioneered by them. You will handle the logorite operation to maintain the stability of our economy, and the training of young angels to become the authority of the Celestial. However, the expansion of our borders will no longer be handled by House Rael."

"I understand my lord," Alexander heard himself speak.

He looked down to see himself bowing before Lucifer Lightbringer. Alexander's eye twitched as he watched the memory.

"That... That's it? When was Alexander Rael born?" Terra asked.

The scene which just played was reversed and repeated from the beginning. The black-haired woman moved her hand away from Alexander as she turned towards the throne and walked past it.

"What? I just saw this... Show me when Alexander Rael was born!" Terra demanded this time.

The same scene played once again. The black-haired woman with red eyes and pristine skin had a sorrowful expression on her face before she turned away from Alexander.

"That... No that's impossible... That can't be..." The creature was at a loss for words. "There have to be memories before this!"

Alexander felt something enter his ear.

"Ah!" Alexander started to scream and writhe in pain as a sharp pain struck the sides of his skull, and white noise filled his mind.

He could feel the rigid spines sticking out of the needle, latching and bending through his ear canals. Alexander cried out in pain as his head was filled with blurry and unclear visions. The skull-screeching sound reverberated through his head as fragments of disjointed memories reconnected.

"I'll pry it out of your dense skull!" Terra yelled in frustration.

***

Alexander opened his eyes and they rolled to the back of his head, his vision filled with images from before his earliest memory. The world spun around. Until it suddenly stopped and Alexander watched a scene he was not familiar with play out. He found himself looking up at a dark grey sky as rain poured down his face.

"What'd they do to you!" a hollow voice yelled, it was familiar.

Alexander looked down to see a giant creature writhing on the ground, broken branches and chips of wood were scattered around the barren dirt. To the right was the dock Alexander would use to train angels, 'This is... The shores northwest of Helios...' Behind him was a wall of rock, the top of the cliff wall was where the hybrids and angels held their council meetings. 'Wasn't this... A beach?! ' Alexander looked around at the green flames coming off of the grass and nearby trees.

The giant was bigger than Alexander despite being on all fours, it struggled to crawl out of a crater it had been slammed into. Instead of legs, it possessed three wooden tendrils. It was shrouded in wet black rags, which covered up a damaged set of armor. The breastplate of the armor was covered in fading white lines. The skinny fingers on its hand curled through the dirt as it grasped chains that connected to a lantern. The inside of the lantern glowed a bright green, a skull seemed to be the source of the flame.

"Aah!" The giant screamed, his roar loud and mighty.

Alexander's heart jumped at the sound of his sorrowful cry.

"This! This is your flame!" the chains rattled as the giant shook the lantern. "Why are you doing this?! Why are you siding with them? This nightmare can't be!" the giant sobbed. "Oaraun, it's me!" the giant's voice cracked. "Rael Gerrenwalt!"

The moment Alexander heard the name the pain seemed to ease. 'Rael...'

"Gerrenwalt?" Terra repeated with a confused tone.

"After what those wretches did! After what they did to Lavera! Why do you fight for them!" the giant creature shouted at Alexander.

"Lavera..." Terra repeated. "Lavera... Lavera? That name... Who is Lavera?" Terra suddenly sounded interested.

Alexander felt the agonizing screech inside of his head as the scene changed once more.

***

Alexander stared down at his boots. He sat on white stone steps, he looked up to see a little girl with black hair holding a sword twice her height. His whole body from head to toe was fitted with a jagged black ethore. The air was crisp, and the sun's warmth embraced him as he closed his eyes and looked up. 'What a beautiful day...'

"Hiya!" Alexander's peace was interrupted as a little girl shouted before a sword struck the stone step. "Did I do it right?" she turned and asked Alexander with a bright smile.

The little girl was just short of three feet tall. Her hair had been neatly tied back, and the top of her head was decorated with a blue flower pin. The sword she held was a basic short sword, however, she could hoist it overhead with one hand at the age of ten. She wore a blue dress with a long skirt, and her bare feet were exposed as she stepped against the stone on her toes.

"Don't hit the ground, Vala, control your weapon when you swing, you should be able to stop at any point during your swing. Also who gave you two swords?" Alexander asked.

"You weren't even looking?! Stop thinking about your wife, and teach me how to fight like you!" Vala pouted.

"Like this Val..." A boy spoke up from behind Alexander.

The boy swung the blade down, a whistle flowed through the air as he swung the blade down and stopped it just an inch from the ground. His ponytail floated upwards from the force of his swing. The boy was very slim, his bright white eyes brimmed with confidence as he smirked at Alexander. He wore a full-sleeved white shirt with black shorts that covered his knees.

"Arken? Won't you get in trouble if you're out..."

"Just say pro, that's all I need to hear," the boy confidently stated with one hand to his ear.

"Well, you're footing isn't going to support anything," Alexander looked up at him with an eyebrow raised.

The boy's feet were angled inwards. Vala started to laugh triumphantly.

"Shut up Val I'm better than you!"

"I'll be a pro before you Arky, and I'm two years younger," Vala boasted with a careless glee as she twirled the handle around in her fingers, however, she accidentally flicked it out of her hand. "Ah..."

"Shit!" Alexander shouted as he quickly stood.

"You idiot!" Arken cursed as he crouched down and panicked.

The blade bounced against the stone step and started spinning through the air. It traveled straight down the flight of stairs toward someone approaching the steps. The woman shrieked as the sword stabbed into the ground in front of her. She immediately looked up and started to scream intangible curses. The scene changed without warning. Alexander found himself at the bottom of the steps shortly after that incident.

"These memories are fragmented? Why?" Terra asked.

"Vala I told you not to sneak into the armory! What if you hurt someone!" A woman with braided blue hair yelled at the young princess.

"Sorry, Shura... I didn't mean it, really," Vala sniffled while she looked down at the ground.

Shura wore a tight black top with a red flaming sash around her waist. She wore baggy blue pants, however, the tight shirt defined her well-built physique. At her side was a long katana with a white handle and golden guard.

"Eyes up here missy! You can't lead this country one day if your followers stand a hundred feet behind you!" Shura scolded.

Alexander was a short distance away near an empty caravan. An old man with green robes walked around the front. 'What... The...' Alexander was at a loss for words the moment he saw the old man. He held a golden staff. His face was old and wrinkled, however, half of it wasn't gone. 'It's him... That guy...'

"What..." Terra uttered in confusion.

"You've finished unloading the rations Ardel?" Alexander asked.

"Uh- Yes my- lord," Ardel stuttered.

"What's the problem?" Alexander asked.

"Why is he there... If Mr. Grim is here..."

"Well... the extra rations we provided, it's more than what we should've given... Should we really be giving them so much?" Ardel wondered.

"It's food Ardel... They've been struggling to survive, part of it may be my fault," Alexander explained.

"Had you not shown up my lord... Our kingdom and its people would've struggled."

"It doesn't matter what our histories were, I won't let anyone starve, especially children. We're more alike than we want to accept, there should be no reason we can't coexist."

"Well... The peace we've struggled to maintain is proof of it working... You are most generous Lord Oaraun. I will be sure to pass on such wisdom," Ardel bowed.

'Huh...'

"What does this have to do with Lavera..." Terra groaned impatiently.

"Prepare to leave, we will depart soon to make it back to Logos by nightfall," Alexander ordered as he turned back to the hybrid royals at the steps.

The current queen of the hybrids stepped down the stairs. Her eyes were large and unlike anything Alexander had seen, multiple rings were layered overtop of each other on her pupil. The queen's purple dress had a large skirt that covered all of her legs except for her feet, it was covered in shiny silver and gold furs. Her hair was tied back, and it made her forehead look especially large under the silver tiara she wore. Queen Zadia stepped down the steps and Vala ran towards her. She knelt down and wiped a tear from Vala's eye. The queen said something Alexander couldn't hear, but she said it with a loving and motherly smile. Zadia pulled Vala in for a tight hug, she patted her daughter's hair gently.

A quiet shifting came from the emptied caravan as Alexander walked away from it. He turned, and the caravan didn't move at all. Alexander turned and walked toward it, pulling the curtain to the side and peering inside. It appeared empty until Alexander looked down and saw Arken lying as flat as he could to avoid being seen. His expression was incredibly awkward as Alexander looked down at him.

"Before you throw me out, just listen- Wait wait- Ah!" Arken yelped as Alexander pulled him out of the caravan by the arm.

Arken was set down gently outside the caravan.

"Arken!? What do you think you're doing!" Zadia suddenly hissed.

The queen's soft expression switched to a hateful glare, she started toward him quickly. Arken turned to Alexander, then looked left and right for an escape.

"Uh- Oaraun before you- I go- I just wanted to ask... Does a king have to be generous? What if his subjects don't- don't appreciate him? What- what if they don't deserve it-" Arken stuttered as he tried to quickly ask.

"A king who cannot command the faith and respect of their followers is no king at all," Alexander replied.

Arken looked up at him with a dazed expression as he processed the words. Zadia grasped his wrist.

"I apologize Divine Lord, please excuse my son's foolishness..." Zadia conversed with him shortly and dragged Arken back to the steps.

Alexander watched her walk away, Arken struggled to keep up as he was dragged along. Vala waved goodbye with a concerned face for her sibling, however, the queen grasped the hand she waved with and pushed it down. Ardel raised his golden scepter and large hands rose from the shadows, each hand grasped the sides of the caravan and lifted it.

Alexander turned to board the caravan, however, he heard a loud slap echo through the air. He glanced behind him to see Arken holding his cheek as he looked down at the ground.

"Who said you could leave the castle? Who gave you a sword!" Alexander walked away as he listened to the distant scolding Arken received.

Alexander took a seat at the front of the caravan, it rocked and creaked slightly as he shifted into place.

"Let's go home," Alexander ordered.

The caravan glided forward seamlessly over the shadow.

"Your generosity is admirable, however, Queen Zadia certainly did not seem happy about it," Ardel commented.

"It wouldn't be generosity if I expected something from it... I've ended many wars sparked by rampant and uncontrollable envy, however, it always returns... We mustn't let up until it stops for good," Alexander explained.

"You're right," Ardel replied as he looked up at the sky in front of them.

They traveled east, the sun was covered up by a massive island in the sky. The city of black buildings from this distance looked tiny. It reached about half the height up the Celestial just north of Logos. The massive island possessed towers and buildings atop it, 'That isn't the necropolis... What is that...'

"During the war of the giants, you were called foolish for your beliefs, yet look at this..." Ardel gestured towards the islands in the sky. "The city of Ethos is proof you were always right..."

"Save the praise for your familiar..." Alexander glanced over to his right.

In the distance, just south of Dorad was another massive tower stretching into the sky. A second Celestial overlooked the lands with its divine grace.

'What... Why is there a second one...'

"Your humble nature is inspiring... That makes me want to follow your lead even-" Ardel stopped as he looked up. "Hey..."

Ardel's familiar stopped dragging the caravan over the shadows.

"Hm? Why did we..." Alexander gazed off at the second Celestial. "Stop..." He glanced at the sky above becoming brighter and brighter despite it being the middle of the day.

"My lord... Do my eyes deceive me... Is the sun coming closer?" Ardel asked as he pointed up.

Alexander looked up into the air to see a giant smoldering ball falling from the sky. 'What the hell is that...'

"What does any of this have to do with the one named Lavera..." Terra asked with an annoyed tone.

"That's heading for Ethos..." Alexander uttered as he tried to figure out if the sight he was seeing was real.

"Walbur! Charge as fast as you can!" Ardel yelled the order.

The caravan zoomed forward.

"I don't care! Who is Lavera!" Terra shouted angrily. "Why is that name familiar!"

The scene started to change once more, Alexander watched the scene speed up. It was like a blur, a desperate struggle for survival flashed through his mind in a millisecond. It only stopped at a scene Alexander recognized. 'This... I've seen this in my dreams...'

The sky was red, the air was hot, and he could taste the asphalt in the air. Flames, rubble, and destruction were littered everywhere as far as the eye could see. The scent of burning wood and asphalt stung his nose. The sky was clear, nothing could be seen for miles despite one final piece of the island in the sky.

"You are blind Abaddon! This is what we, the angels, must do! If we don't, it'll be the end!" Ymir Lightbringer shouted.

Alexander ignored their discussion. He saw the pregnant woman on the ground, the same one he saw last time. She was very frail, her green blouse was stained with blood. Alexander knelt down and caressed her cheek, pushing a loose strand of hair to the side. He noticed another hand touch her cheek, he stood up and stepped back to see a green-haired man in black armor leaning over her.

"Lavera... Lavera!" the man cried out in anguish.

"What the..." Abaddon uttered in disbelief.

"How... how are you still alive!" Ymir yelled in fear.

"M-Mother..." Terra stuttered.