It was the time of the season, the winter season to be specific, and the time of the holiday, specifically the White Solstice. People all around gathered in their homes decorated with the greens that remained through the cold and with reds of berries and poinsettias. The more northern provinces were also graced with snow and not heavy downpours as their southern neighbors.
And here at the Adventurers Department and Directorate, the holiday party for the adventurers who were in town was well underway. As any gathering of many people who live for riches and danger, lots of alcohol and no weapons were the main rules of the day. Stories of near escapes and hilarious embarrassments were traded, each telling growing bigger and more outrageous than the previous. There seemed to be an endless supply of food which went into the bottomless stomachs.
The treasurer of the Adventurers Department and Directorate, in truth just a fancy name for the adventurer's club, kept reminding himself that it was the way of the season to be generous. However the money flow hurt him so. Perhaps he could persuade the chairman to raise the fees for next year. With that cheering thought, he knocked on the door of the private room of the chairman.
There was some muffled talking that he could make out through the thick oak door. Then it was quiet and he heard the chairman. "Come in, Reilin."
Reilin resisted the urge to pout as he stuck his head in. "How did you know it was me?" he asked, rather put out.
"I could smell your scent a mile away."
"And what scent would that be?" Reilin stepped fully into the room.
The chairman didn't turn around from his chair facing the wide window of his office. "Greed."
"Ha ha, very funny." Reilin crossed his arms. "Then you already can guess what I came by for."
"And the answer is no," the chairman said serenely. "And before you ask, I will attend the party later. But not...yet."
"Busy with your fiancée?" Reilin quirked a silver eyebrow. "Or with your nurse?"
"They are one and the same as you well know. Now why don't you go back and enjoy the festivities."
"Okay, okay. Don't spend too much times with your invisible visitor," Reilin shrugged, closing the door behind him. "Arthur."
Arthur half-smiled and settled back into his cushioned wheelchair. Reilin didn't know how right he was. He was expecting a visitor but for now, he could watch the parade outside. It wasn't anything anyone else could see, that mass of spirits despairing over the gaiety of the season. Was it always like this, he wondered. His hand rested over his heart, most of its strength lost as the price of his escape back to this world. Perhaps that was why he could see these shades.
"Remembering something?"
"Wouldn't you know?" Arthur turned his head slightly to look into the shadows from which emerged a tall clean-shaven old man whose long gray hair was combed back and away from his face. His dark robes gave no hint of the form underneath and his hand clasped a wooden staff whose tip forked to hold a red circular gem. "Nilrem."
"It's been a long time my student."
"Too long? Or not long enough?"
"Is that bitterness I hear? Such gratitude from the one that I raised like a son?"
"Let me think about that. You took me away from my family, I suppose they were my family at any rate, when I was about five."
Arthur was running through the muddy streets of Zefilia, away from the rocks and sticks thrown by his older brothers. No one bothered to scold them because everyone in town knew about Uther and his wife's infidelity. Arthur was even considered the son of his mother's late husband even the estimated date of his conceptions was after that person's death. Personally, Arthur never cared.
His foot slipped in a large mud puddle and he fell face first into it. Knowing that his brothers would take advantage of this to kick him, young Arthur curled up into a ball to protect his face. But no kicks came. Arthur looked up, shielding his face still. His brothers were nowhere in sight. Instead, the only person there was standing outside of the mud he was wallowing in. Amazingly, not a drop of mud was on those deep violet and blue robes.
"Who are you boy?" asked the old man who just had to be a mage. Who else would carry such a fancy staff even if the only decorations was the red gem on top.
"Mud," Arthur said promptly. Even if this old man had scared away his brothers, that didn't mean he was safe. No reason to give away his real name.
The old man raised an eyebrow. "Telling a falsehood at such a young age, Arthur?"
"Sorry, wrong person." Arthur stood up, still covered with mud. If he didn't hurry and get changed, he'd catch a fever.
"I don't think so. I've been searching for you boy."
Arthur backed away from him until the pool of mud stood between them. "What are you talking about?"
"I can take you away from here."
"EWWWW! You're one of those dirty old men!"
"I AM NOT!"
"Oh. Then why would you want to help me?" Arthur asked skeptically.
The old man cleared his throat. "I can teach you how to make something of yourself, how to make yourself into a legend among men, how to - "
"Yeah, okay, that sounds nice. Let's go."
"Just like that?"
"It isn't like there's anything here for me."
"Alright, perhaps in retrospect it wasn't as bad as that," Arthur shrugged. "But it was much better with Terim than it was with you."
Nilrem snorted. "He cheated."
"You're just sore that he beat you with only a sword over my custody."
"A mercenary group is hardly the appropriate place to raise a person such as you."
"Well, my guardian also picked up a baby to raise later."
"And you were partially responsible for him getting married afterwards."
"So I got a real family."
"For how many years? Six wasn't it? Then it all fell apart."
"You wouldn't have had anything to do with it of course."
"Of course."
The silence lay heavy and tense between the two. Arthur returned to looking out the window, seeing his own pale reflection in the glass. Several shades floated by, never realizing that the human on the other side of the pane of glass could see them.
"So why have you returned now?"
"Only to show you the results of your misguided deeds in the past."
"Trying to reform me?" Arthur asked with a smirk.
"What has been done can not be undone. Had you remained under my tutelage, none of what is now and what will be would have happened."
"Well then, wise and learned one, show me the results of my sins."
"I have four examples. With no objections I shall go in alphabetical order. First, the second daughter of Crown Prince Philionel el de Saillune, Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune."
"You know, you didn't have to say their full names."
"Close your eyes!" Arthur warned, cutting down the assailant who suddenly popped down from the branches above. He was dead before he hit the ground. Arthur breathed a sigh of relief and cleaned his sword. Then he looked over at the girl huddled on the ground. From the looks of her night clothes, she came from a very rich family. "A kidnapping then?"
Then he noticed she was asleep. A sweatdrop rolled down his head. "Well, that certainly makes my warning pointless." Picking her up, Arthur carried her away from this violent scene. Children after all didn't need to see more than they had to. Once a safe distance away, he gently shook the girl awake.
The girl stirred and rubbed her eyes. "Hm?"
"Hello," Arthur smiled, praying that she wouldn't go into a hysterical fit. Never could tell with girls.
"Good day," she said politely, looking at him with her violet-blue eyes. Standing up, she straightened her nightgown and curtsied. "How do you do?"
"Very well. Could you tell me your name?"
"Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune."
Arthur almost facefaulted. Saillune?! That meant she was a princess! Hmmm, could she be related to...nah, there was no resemblance between the two. He smiled charmingly to the young girl.
"Well then, Amelia. My name is Arthur. Do you know how you got out here?"
Amelia thought then hit her fist in her hand. "An evil fairy was kidnapping me because she was jealous of the brilliant glory of my kingdom but you, the dashing hero, defeated her and saved me!"
A long sweatdrop rolled down Arthur's head. Well, at least it was a better story than telling her she had been kidnapped by some people who were going to kill her because of some internal struggle for power. He doubted she could or would understand it.
"Well then, my lady," Arthur bowed. "Allow this humble servant to escort you to your gleaming white castle."
"She doesn't look a thing like her father," Arthur murmured.
"That wasn't the reason for that flashback," Nilrem said sternly.
"And the sin behind that?"
Nilrem raised an eyebrow. "How about this?"
"You can kill as many people you want on the side of justice!" Amelia's voice said cheerfully in the dark chilly room.
Arthur scratched his head. "Well, her heart is in the right place even though she needs to work on that philosophy. That line needs a bit more work or we'll have people claiming killings for any manner or idea of justice."
"Blowing up one of the towers of her own city because of the misguided concept that good always wins therefore whoever survives that destruction must be good."
"Such innocence is always refreshing."
"What about telling falsehoods in the name of justice? Or twisting her own principles during that time when she didn't ask why Lina Inverse was wanted by the Mazoku Lord Fibrizo because else she would have to go against her?"
"She only wanted to help a friend. But she really should be careful about not letting the ends justify the means."
"Exactly."
"And your point about Amelia was?"
"She is a blinded hypocrite who hides behind a facade of justice to justify in her mind her own tyrant behavior."
"Oh come now, she isn't like that. You're overexaggerating things, Nilrem," Arthur scolded. "Amelia is a very sweet girl who just needs to sit down and really think some things out. I'm sure she'll grow up to be a benevolent ruler of Saillune. You couldn't expect me to just let her die then could you?"
Nilrem cleared his throat. "About dying, you sealed the fate of a very good and innocent young man by the name of Gourry Gabriev."
"Innocent?" Arthur thought back. "Yes, I definitely think he was innocent."
"Hello."
"Uh, hello."
"My name's Gourry."
"And I'm Arthur."
"That's a nice name. Almost sounds like it's out of a legend."
"You don't say."
"Yeah."
Arthur stood below the tree and looked at the younger man hanging upside-down from one leg that was caught in a rope. From the look of his clothes, he had been hanging for several days.
"What are you doing?" Arthur asked intelligently.
"Waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"For someone to come and help me."
Arthur sweatdropped. "Let's back up a bit here. How did you get up there?"
"Well you see," the young blond crossed his arms. "There was this woodsman who was setting a trap for some animals but he wasn't sure it would work so he asked me to test it. And the best way to test a trap is to set it off. So I stepped in it and as you can see it worked perfectly."
Arthur nodded. "So where is that woodsman?"
"Well, he ran off to hire some help to get me down. Since he also took my wallet which fell out, I think he must have been very poor and needed it."
"Uh huh. How long ago was this?"
"About two days ago. I hope he's alright."
"How many fingers am I holding up?" Arthur asked, holding up three fingers.
"Three."
"Just checking," Arthur sighed. Looked like a naive victim of a roadside robbery. "I'll get you down." He jogged back a suitable distance before running back, made a flying leap to cut the rope, and then landed perfectly. Gourry didn't.
"Hey thanks, though I could have waited for the woodsman to come back." Gourry rubbed his head but there didn't appear to be any lasting damage.
Arthur decided not to break it to Gourry that neither the woodsman nor Gourry's wallet were coming back. He slapped Gourry on the back. "So where were you going before this?"
"Just wandering around. I was thinking of becoming a mercenary."
"So that sword isn't just for show," Arthur nodded at the blade attached to Gourry's belt. "I was wondering. Never saw a hilt whose pommel had a smile on it."
They both laughed before a large rumbling interrupted. It was Gourry's stomach. Gourry smiled sheepishly.
"Sounds like you're hungry. I'll treat you to some food." Arthur did not know how soon he was to regret those words. In fact, it happened at the next town they arrived at.
"Mhafifithhatee."
Arthur was very fluent in stuffed-mouth-talking. "That tree is called the Flagon. It was planted years ago after the defeat of the Zanaffar by a fighter wielding the Sword of Light."
Gourry swallowed his mouthful. "Really? Has anyone ever tried building a treehouse in it?"
"I don't think anyone is allowed to. But that wouldn't be such a bad idea," Arthur contemplated. "You'd have a great view but that would be quite a big first step from the door."
"True," Gourry nodded. Then he dove into the newly arrived plates of food.
"Do you always inhale your food?"
Gourry looked at Arthur.
"Do you always eat this much food?" Arthur clarified. His guardian had been able to pack away this much, though his eating rate was nowhere near Gourry's.
"I haven't eaten for several days but...yeah."
Arthur wondered if he had enough to pay for the tavern's entire pantry.
"Demons! There are demons in the city!" people screamed, running by the outdoor table at which Arthur and Gourry were sitting.
"Mewons?"
"Yes, I do wish they could be more specific. Demons is such a general term." Arthur looked over at the creatures wreaking the street-side stands and wagons. "Ah, lesser demons. I guess we'll need to do something about that before they - "
A lesser demon broke their table.
"Too late."
"Don't interrupt my meal!" Gourry shouted, whipping out his sword and slashing through the creature's midsection. The sword passed through as if there was nothing there. Arthur grabbed Gourry and hid.
"I could have swore I hit it," Gourry muttered, looking at his sword.
"Actually, you need a magical sword to kill them if you don't have a spell," Arthur advised. "Any enchanted weapon should be able to harm them I believe."
"Like the Sword of Light?"
"I wish I had the Sword of Light though a weapon of that calibur is reputed to be capable of more than just dicing up Lesser Demons. But yes, the Sword of Light can harm them."
"Okay." Gourry fiddled with his something at the hilt of his blade before jumping back up to face the Lesser Demons again.
"Now just what is he up to?"
"Light!" Gourry began cutting down the Lesser Demons.
"Well who would have known?" Arthur shrugged, watching the fight. "Gourry, watch out for that one behind you."
Gourry spun around to meet it but...
"Elmekia Lance!"
The spell vaporized the lesser demon. Gourry gave the caster a smile and a wave before returning to the extermination. The girl looked heartstruck.
"What's your name?" Arthur called.
She blinked, coming out of her daze. "I'm the mayor's daughter, Sylphiel Nels Rada."
"Mayor's daughter?"
"In recognition of Gourry's help, we were invited to the mayor's home for dinner. His daughter was an excellent cook if I recall correctly. Now what was it about Gourry you wanted to talk about?"
"By leading him to Sairaag then, you set the path for him to eventually join a group of self-centered people, placing his life on the line and nearly getting killed numerous times just because he was too good-hearted."
"But from what I've heard, he's quite happy to be there."
"I'm not getting through to you here am I."
"Why don't you try harder?"
"Alright then." Nilrem stabbed his staff into the floor. "Here is a case that you absolutely cannot dispute. The Enemy of all who Live, the Dra-Matta, the chaos and destruction poster child, she in whose wake leaves chaos and destruction..."
"Aren't those last two very similar?"
"I taught to not interrupt your elders. As I was saying, she who makes even Mazoku look like a saint..."
"I never heard that one."
"I told you not to interrupt me. Actually, I've only heard that last one recently. As I was saying before all of your interruptions, you are responsible for the Lina Inverse who can single-handedly destroy the entire world."
Arthur blinked. Then he cupped his chin in one hand and thought. He looked out the window at the passing shades. It even went as far as looking through his little black book of names.
"Ah, here it is. Lina Inverse, second daughter of Katsuhito Inverse. Met her one day in early spring during a return trip to Zefilia."
Arthur walked down the road of Zefilia. How many years had it been since he was last here? Twenty or more years probably. His father's pen shop should be ten buildings down. He came to a stop in the middle of the road for no apparent reason.
"Here's where that mud puddle was."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Arthur looked up at the sound of the approaching scream. He didn't remember Zefilia being the home to any banshees. Something distinctly red raced by him. And he didn't know of any banshees with red hair either.
"Lina! I am going to wring your neck and use your hide as a rug!" yelled a teenager with purple hair whose bangs covered her eyes. That didn't seem to impair her vision as she zoomed on the red-haired little girl and began to use her as a kicking bag. The little girl was able to defend against some of the blows but a lot of them were landing. He could distinctly hear screams of 'Sorry' and 'Forgive Nee-chan'.
Arthur didn't approve of this kind of abuse having been the recipient of similar treatment. He caught one of the older girl's upraised fist. "Excuse me. But I can't just stand on the sidelines and watch this."
The Nee-chan and Lina just stared at him. In fact, all of the activity in the street had stopped as everyone stared slack-jaw at this stranger who dared to interfere in the well-known Inverse sibling disputes. Arthur laughed nervously.
"Um, did I do something wrong?"
Nee-chan jerked her arm out of Arthur's grip as her leg whipped around for a roundhouse kick. He ducked and rolled onto his feet only to barely dodge an elbow jab.
"I...really don't...fight girls..." Luna caught him offguard and sent him flying into a fruitstand. Arthur shook his head to chase the little pretty yellow birds away. "Okay. Maybe just one hit then."
To everyone's surprise, he easily jumped back on his feet without any sign of injury. Even Luna was shocked. Cracking her knuckles, she prepared to give this stranger another lesson about interfering with her business.
Little Lina watched the fight wide-eyed. She even followed Nee-chan's flight into another conveniently placed fruit stand after a blow from Arthur. Lina was paralyzed in shock.
"I think...we should put some distance between us and her," Arthur winced as he put out a hand to Lina. Lina took one look at it then a look at her sister. She took the logical course of action. She grabbed the stranger's hand and ran, dragging him across half of the town.
Arthur finally managed to get her to stop by promising to treat her to some soft ice cream. That got her stopping at the next ice cream store in a hurry. Of course, she did order four cones with triple scoops.
"Are you sure you won't get a stomach afterwards?" Arthur eyed those four cones warily.
Lina shook her head, licking happily.
"So what was that about? Between you and your sister."
"Nee-chan was rather angry at me."
"For what?"
"Well..." Lina looked at the man and judged it was safe enough to tell him. "I tried to get rid of her cold with magic but I ended up turning it into pneumonia."
"Ouch."
"Yeah." Lina went back to licking.
"Why was everyone all staring back there?" Arthur tipped his head back toward the part of town where they left Lina's sister.
"Because you stood up for me. And you were able to hit back Nee-chan."
"What? No one here ever hits a girl?" Arthur didn't remember Zefilia being like that.
"No. No one except Daddy has ever been able to lay a finger on Nee-chan. She's very, very strong and an amazing fighter!" Lina said proudly before she deflated. "I'm not as good as she is."
Arthur looked over her bony frame. "You're still a kid, you'll grow. Besides, it sounds like you know magic. Does your sister?"
"No..."
"So that's something you can do better than her isn't it?"
Lina chewed on her thumb.
"So what's your name? Mine is Arthur Roelle." Arthur had long ago made up a surname for himself. He didn't want to be associated with a family he didn't know.
"Lina. Lina Inverse."
"Inverse?! You wouldn't happen to know of a Katsuhito Inverse would you?" Lina's eyes opened wide. "That's my Daddy!"
"Katsuhito is your father?!" Damn, Lina must take completely after her mother then. But he thought Katsuhito had some family tradition against learning how to cast spells.
"Quite a cute kid. Amazing how they turn out isn't it?" Arthur mused. "Now how does this make me responsible for her?"
"You're responsible for making her a world threat!"
"You could make this a bit more clear for everyone."
Nilrem glared at Arthur and cleared his throat. "Because you interfered with that incident, Lina Inverse was well enough to accompany her sister on a trip to the Dils Kingdom to investigate rumor of a manuscript of the Clair Bible. Though that manuscript was destroyed soon after, Lina Inverse was able to gleam enough information to create her destructive spell that calls on the power of the Lord of Nightmares!"
"I beg your pardon, Lord who? I don't think I've ever heard of that person. Though Terim did sometimes mutter about Nightmares and gold, lots of gold, he'd always lose consciousness and forget everything."
"That spell is the one that can destroy the world!"
"I'm sure she didn't create it with that idea in mind."
"Even knowing the risk she has tried to cast again and again."
"Now now, I can't judge her on such incomplete information. Could we at least get on to the last person? I do have a party to go to."
"You know him very well, the one called Zelgadiss."
"My adopted brother of sorts," Arthur acknowledged. "We did have some fun times together in the days after leaving that mercenary company."
A silence settled down as Zel cleared his mind, gripped in his hand was the weapon that he had chosen. It was perfect for the task at hand; he fingered the handle a bit. Taking a deep breath, Zel looked up ahead, focusing on his target before him.
Arthur's eyebrow twitched as he glanced at Zel.
Clear the mind. He had spent hours practicing, refining this technique that would give him victory. Nothing would be able to stand the wake of this onslaught. Spreading his feet apart, Zel raised his weapon over his head as he prepared to do it.
Arthur rolled his eyes in disgust.
Everything was coming together. The final decisive moment was coming up, no room for distraction or regrets. He knew that everything was aligned for this very moment. All the celestial bodies were coming into position...
Focusing, becoming one with the weapon. One with the weapon. Focus.
"Are you going to cast or not?" Arthur inquired as Zel dropped his fishing pole because of the interruption.
The fishing pole landed on Zel's head before it bounced off and clattered to the ground below. Gripping his head in pain, Zel cursed again as Arthur shook his head and turned to watch his fishing line.
"And to think, this was supposed to help you relax," he mumbled as Zel retrieved the pole.
"I was merely concentrating," Zel retorted.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Concentrating? You've been concentrating for the last hour. Were you waiting for all the fish to belly up and die?"
"Unlike you, I prefer to have my moves carefully planned," Zel said as he cast his line into the pond. "So anything biting?" he asked after the two sat there for a few moments.
"Only those, while you were 'concentrating' back then," Arthur sighed as he gestured to his side.
Zel looked to where Arthur had gestured and a rather large sweatdrop appeared on his head. Next to Arthur was a pile of fish that was good three feet tall made up of numerous kinds of salmon and trout.
"Why do I even bother?" Zel exclaimed as he tossed his pole into the pond in frustration. Getting up he scowled as he started to stomp off.
Crack!
Arthur blinked in surprise as Zel hit by his own pole in the back of his head. The force of the blow sent Zel crashing into the ground in a dismal heap.
"Who the heck did that?" Zel demanded as he stood up looking for the perpetrator.
A moment of complete silence passed between Arthur and Zel as they set eyes on the thing that emerged from the lake. Some dust and sagebrushes blew by the two.
"It's a fishman..." Arthur muttered
"A what?" Zel asked looking at what appeared to be a giant fish with human arms and legs.
"Don't even expect me to answer that," Arthur said as the fishman glared at them.
"Vile evil ones!" it hissed.
Arthur and Zel blinked before they exchanged glances.
"You dare to pollute the pond? Can't you read?!?" it roared, pointing at a slightly obscured behind-the-bush sign.
"Hey you fruit! Don't pollute!" the sign read.
"He did it," Arthur and Zel said pointing at the other one.
A sweatdrop appeared on the fish as it looked between the two in confusion.
"Which one?" it asked.
"Zel," Arthur said.
Glaring at Arthur, Zel scowled, "Traitor."
"It makes no difference who did it! Everyone is going to die!" it said as it held its arms up in some sort of gesture.
"You're not exactly winning us over here," Zel said as the pond started to bubble.
Breaking the surface of the pond behind the fishman was a giant crab with beady eyes and sharp claws. Clamping its claws in the air, the crab mouth bubbled a bit as it gazed down at the two.
"A giant crab...." Arthur remarked as he put his fishing pole down and reached for his sword.
"We can take it on," Zel chuckled as he pulled out his own blade.
"Go Crabster," the fishman ordered as the crab moved in to attack.
Then the scene cuts to two badly battered and beaten figures slowly trodding down the streets, covered with bruises and walking with staves for support.
"We can take it on you said," Arthur mocked to Zel.
"Oh be quiet," Zel grumbled as he nursed his battered shoulder. "We just got pounded royally."
"Well, that because you didn't take into account that the crab had fifty even bigger brothers!" Arthur snapped.
"How could they fit so many in that pond?" Zel protested.
"Beats me."
"They certainly did that too," Zel retorted as the two reached the next town.
"What was the purpose of that?"
"The last quality time Zelgadiss and I spent before you decided to invade my life again."
"I was trying to set your life on its correct course."
"You appear out of nowhere after nearly a nearly two decade absence, charging me with some great quest to save the world from near destruction. Then when I completed that, you kicked him into the gateway to the invading world and closed it, leaving my adopted brother forever emotionally scarred by yet another brutal separation over which he was helpless to prevent. That served to only reinforce his desire for power and strength in order to never be hurt in such a way ever again which culminated in him accepting that offer that turned him into a chimera. And now he wanders the world in a cloud of depression searching for a way to undo it. In my opinion, you ruined two lives."
"Had you always remained with me..."
"None of this would have happened," Arthur finished. "So where's this glorious other world that would have resulted if I had stayed with you?"
"Here." Nilrem spread his arms wide to summon forth the window into what should have been. A bright green world filled with children laughing, lovers kissing, husbands and wives helping each other with the daily chores, all manners of nice, happy stuff.
"I notice I don't see myself, or anyone I know, here," Arthur commented.
The sun was smiling, literally, and on a hill, there was a purple and green dinosaur playing with children. Forest creatures were lined up outside the forest with wide smiles and sparkling eyes. An adorable beige teddy bear was rubbing itself in the clothes drying on the clothes lines.
Arthur fell over in convulsions.
"Perhaps the teddy bear was overdoing it," Nilrem mused. "You never did seem to get over that giant killer teddy bear incident."
"Don't remind," Arthur shuddered, pulling himself together. "You don't expect me to believe that *that* was ever a possibility."
"No it wasn't," admitted the mage. "But I will show you the future brought about by your actions with those people."
Arthur saw nothing. "There isn't anything here."
"Exactly."
"And I'm responsible for this."
"That's correct."
"Does anyone know it was me?"
"Errrr...no."
"I guess it isn't that bad then."
Nilrem looked at Arthur, trying to judge if he was serious or just joking. But it was very hard to tell.
"Anyway, aren't you supposed to tell me also how it lead up to everything becoming nothing?"
"A portal that was once closed reopens, releasing those who have longed for the sun, allowing them to bask under it again. The humans will fall as will everyone else."
"That is characteristically vague."
"Of course. Now do you understand the great sin that has been committed against the world by your straying?"
"I suppose this is the part where I'm supposed to beg for forgiveness and ask that you send me back in time to warn my foolish younger self to not take this condemning step?"
"This is not time for levity!"
"No, it is the time of forgiveness," reminded the wheelchair-bound young man. "But..." Arthur pushed a button on the armrest of his chair, opening a hole from which shot up a golden sword point first. "You aren't Nilrem." Catching the blade, he sliced the imposter in half. "So I doubt begging your forgiveness would really mean anything."
From the two halves rose an icy mist that coalesced into a dark red robe with white fur lining. There was no face visible in the deep hood though tendrils of that icy mist poured forth from it.
"A holiday greeting from the Dusk Specter?" Arthur mused.
The doors to Arthur's office suddenly slammed open.
"How has evil entered this sacred hall?!" demanded Quar. "I thank the grace of Ceiphied that I arrived in time."
"So you sensed it?"
"Don't listen to him," Reilin snorted, appearing next to his childhood priest friend. "We came to fetch before your fiancée tore the place down looking for you."
"Sherry is here? I didn't think she would come."
"Whose that?" Reilin pointed at the red robed intruder. Both he and Quar then ducked as several icicle lances flew their way. "Not very friendly is he."
"Definitely lacking the yuletide spirit," Quar agreed. "Shall we put aside our usual disagreements and get rid of him?"
"Are you crazy? If Arthur even loses a hair, Sherry will take it out in spades on us!" Reilin took down one of the swords that decorated Arthur's office. "Fight it!"
"Not so fast, gentlemen," Arthur said, standing up. "I'll deal with him. He's part of some unfinished business."
Reilin and Quar exchanged looks.
"You cast a sleep on him and I'll run him out."
Quar crossed his arms. "How like you to leave me to deal with the enemy."
"What is that supposed to mean!"
"Foolish mortal," hissed the ice shade. "You think I can be deceived by this false show of bravado? Much of you remains in the realm of my master."
"Then let us see whether what remains is sufficient to defeat you." Arthur saluted.
"He's serious isn't he?" Reilin looked at Quar. "Shouldn't we stop him?"
"Can you?"
"Well...no."
"Then I suggest you bring Sherry here before our employer pushes himself too far."
"Why do I have to go?"
"Because I can cure and shield Arthur."
"I can fight that monster!"
"Actually, it isn't a monster but an servant of another power outside this realm."
"How do you know that?"
"The knowledge of the religion must not be passed on to disbelievers such as yourself."
"Hey!"
"The way you two argue, I'm surprised anything ever gets done," Arthur said pleasantly despite the fact that he was kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily, and supporting himself with his blade. "I do remember being able to last a bit longer than this."
"Arthur!" Both Reilin and Quar rushed forward but were forced back by a sharp icy wind.
The ice shade looked worse off than Arthur but he wasn't suffering from overexertion. Pointing his arm, tendrils of the icy vapor poured forth, forming a growing ring of ice around Arthur. "You will return with me to my master."
The ice ring shattered. The wall of icy wind disappeared.
"By Ceiphied's will, what happened?"
"Sherry!"
Arthur's young fiancée with her blue hair tied in a braid as always glared coldly at the ice shade. Considering the shade's natural element, that was no mean feat. Her voice came out even colder.
"What do you think you're doing?"
The ice shade backed away. It had not counted on one of Them to appear here and certainly not in defense of that Arthur human. "This has not ended. My master will soon be free and not you or any of those you guided will be able to defeat him. We, the ones that were castaway, will bring your end," it hissed, dissipating.
"Oh shove it!" growled Sherry, suddenly appearing before the shade. Her own blade cut cleanly through it, not like how Arthur's blade earlier dispelled the illusionary disguise. With a flick of her wrist, her sword disappeared. Then she turned on Arthur. "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING??"
"Happy White Solstice, Sherry," Arthur smiled. "Could you help me over to my chair?"
Sherry grumbled the entire time and dropped him a bit roughly into the chair. "Why am I even here?"
"So I can give you your present," Arthur answered, handing her a red and gold wrapped box.
She looked at it as if it would bite her. "What was with that shade?"
"Oh him? Just a reminder of the past."
Sherry raised an eyebrow.
"And a premonition of the future. If I do say so myself, things were arranged quite well even if I wasn't doing it on purpose back then," he chuckled.
Everyone else just exchanged confused looks.
"Well, shall we go join the party?"
An explosion rocked the party hall.
"Yes," Arthur nodded. "It looks like someone finally broke the locks to the weapon storage room. Let the fun begin."