After going through the five domains of the Celestials they had killed, Clyde and Asqa finally finished their task.
The lost followers who chose life and way out were now safely within the walls of Sivagadh Fortress. They were no longer trapped in a crumbling world and no longer fearing the collapse of the domain that had once sheltered them.
But not all could be saved.
So of the followers had served their Celestial masters for too long, their devotion etched so deep that they refused to abandon the ruins.
They clung to the bones of their master’s shattered power, believing that to leave would an betraying everything they once lived for.
So still fell to their knees in prayer. Others who were too driven by grief and fury start to lash out. They tried to attack Clyde and Asqa, calling them killers, usurpers, and murderers.
But Clyde and Asqa did not hesitate.
Those few who raised their weapons and magic at them imdiately t with a swift ends.
The two of them did not enjoy it but neither of them wanted to saving people who refused to be saved. To remain in a hollow domain without a master was the sa as to die slowly anyway. Killing them now and quickly was, in Clyde’s eyes, no worse.
When it was over, they left the dead behind and closed the portal behind them.
They returned to Sivagadh Fortress.
The scene was calm but busy. Eorgen and the High Council were already working, organizing and guiding the newcors with the help of Hamr and longti citizens of the Fortress.
So handed out food to those who haven’t eaten for days . Others assigned living quarters. Though the expansion zones weren’t finished there were still enough buildings standing to host the newcors.
The followers moved through the Fortress with quiet and uncertain eyes. They didn’t know what kind of world they had just entered and what rules it held or what fate awaited them here. But for now they said nothing. They followed the instructions and walked the stone paths.
In total, Clyde and Asqa had brought back more than a thousand from the five domains. It wasn’t many compared to how many had once lived under each Celestial’s command.
The rest were already dead or had chosen to stay behind, kneeling before fading gods and crumbling idols, waiting for the end.
Clyde watched the quiet lines of survivors pass by under the dark sky of Sivagadh. He said nothing. Neither did Asqa. But they looks pretty satisfied.
"Now, what should we do?" Asqa asked as they returned to their living quarters in one of the fortress buildings.
Clyde sat down at the edge of his bed and said, "We should keep getting stronger. We don’t know when we’ll face more enemies."
Asqa nodded, her expression stayed even and steady. She thought the sa. A part of her wanted for rest—a quiet week, even a single day without blood or higher being killing —but she knew it was wishful. Because at any mont, another enemy might appear. Another Celestial, an Archangel, or a Demon King. And she refused to face any of them unprepared.
"For now," Clyde muttered, already stretching out, "let’s just sleep."
Without a word, Asqa laid down on her own bed. The room was silent except for the faint wind brushing through a cracked window. Both of them drifted into sleep.
—
Morning ca quietly over Sivagadh Fortress. Crimson banners stirred in the wind, the air was crisp but not cold.
In the courtyard, the fortress was slowly coming back to life. New voices mingling with the old footsteps echoing down stone streets..
Clyde stepped out into the light, his coat slung over one shoulder, and headed toward the outer field of the building he and Asqa was in. On the way, he crossed paths with Samuel.
The man was practically glowing with happiness..
He was heading toward the portal that led into the training dinsion, brimming with eagerness. When he saw Clyde, he grinned wide and raised a hand in greeting.
"I’m grateful," Samuel said when he was close to him, his voice almost trembling with sincerity. "For the power you gave . I’ll make sure it’s used the right way."
Clyde gave him a faint nod. "Just rember your promise. No one else supposed to know until I say so.."
"I swear," Samuel replied, pressing a hand to his chest. "With all my soul and heart."
Without waiting for another word, he turned and stepped through the portal, vanishing into the glow of the training dinsion beyond.
Clyde stood there for a mont longer, watching the shimr fade.
Then he turned away and walked off into the heart of the fortress seeing the progress of the expansion again.
—
Three days passed in Sivagadh Fortress.
The new settlers had begun to settle in, the expansion zones had made visible progress, and for once, the air no longer slled of fear. It was the calm before whatever storm would co next.
That morning, as Clyde sipped a tea in silence, a knock ca at the door of his quarters.
"Master Hamr sent word. He said... it’s done," the ssenger from Hamre’s forge said.
Clyde blinked, then smiled. He turned to Asqa, who stood behind him, already pulling on her coat.
Without a word, the two made their way until they reached Hamr’s forge.
Hamr, broad and soot-covered as ever, greeted them with a proud grin.
"Co on. Its done," he said, leading them through the glowing forge and into the secret chamber.
Laid across two obsidian stands were the weapons and artifact he had forged.
First was the sword for Clyde..
It was a red and black sword with a long, sleek profile. The steel wasn’t ordinary with a deep muted crimson with threads of dark violet etched into its surface as though veins of lightning had been fossilized within the tal. At the center of the crossguard was a black crystal core.
Then Hamr turned to Asqa’s weapon which was a bracelet.
It was a slender circlet of intertwined tal strands, a mix of black and violet, and strange living crimson that shimred like oil under moonlight. At its center was a small socketed gem—blue at first glance, but shifting hues when turned. The surface of the bracelet was engraved with runes.
—
Reviews
All reviews (0)