Chapter 26 - Who we are

 Music Inspiration

Chapter 26

Who we are

Marianne was lying on a comfortable bed in a cabin. This was located in the largest of Alexander Alcazar's three airships.
The rightful king.
It sounded so strange.
The three ships were hidden in a safe zone behind mountains.
Everyone was on the ships. Also Glenervan and Astaroth, who lay on deck and slept, recovering from his injuries.
Betrayal hurt. He had felt that.
They were all resting. The next day, Alexander wanted to talk to everyone.
Marianne sighed.
She saw the sun slowly setting on the horizon through the small window.
She sobbed. It was all too much. Why her, why?
What had she done to be hunted?
Most of the time she had always been alone. Cautious and reserved.
Just as she had come to know it with the Aranasera.
Tiredness won out in the end.

When she opened her eyes, she was standing on a large wide meadow.
Rays of sunlight tickled her face and butterflies flew all around her.
Marianne smiled.
It felt so great, so free.
She stretched out her arms and turned in circles.
She was a bit cocky and stumbled.
She fell ... and was caught.
She looked into a friendly face.
More than that. It seemed familiar. Very familiar.
Slowly he carefully put her back on her feet.
He pointed in one direction.
Marianne looked.

2 children, a boy and a girl, ran laughing across the meadow.
They romped together, let themselves fall on the grass and laughed happily.
A smile flitted across Marianne's face.
She looked at the man again.
He pointed in a different direction.
There Marianne saw 2 teenagers. They sat on a large cloth and nibbled on a cake.
It was the 2 children, only older.
She turned again and saw the two of them again.
The two had become a little older again.
She sat weeping on a rock and held her knee.
It was bleeding.

The young man put a bandage on her.
Then he stroked her cheek comfortingly.
She pressed herself against him.
Marianne turned again.
This time she faced him again.
She looked at him gently.
His smile warmed her heart.
This familiarity, this absolute familiarity.
Slowly she touched his cheek and stroked it.
"Whoever ... are... You?" she whispered.
He took her hand from his cheek and squeezed it gently.
"I am your past."
Marianne put his hand to her cheek.
"What do you mean?"

He stroked her cheek.

"I am also your presence."
She enjoyed the touch.
"I don't understand."
He loosened his hand.
"I am also a part of your future."
He took a step back.
"And I am close to you."
He began to transform.
Marianne's eyes widened.
When the transformation was complete, Ascendary stood in front of her.

Marianne jumped up from her bed.
"Quiet, everything's fine," said a woman's voice.
"Athena?" Marianne looked at her Aranasera instructor.
"Yes, it's me." Athena and Marianne fell into each other's arms.
"How come you're here?" Marianne looked at Athena in amazement.
"I accompany Alexander Alcazar. The ship is my home now," Athena smiled.
Marianne was happy and then held her head.
"I had a strange dream."
Athena shook her head.
"Not a dream. The truth."
Marianne was confused.
"What do you mean?"
Athena took Marianne's hands.
"I gave you what you saw as a dream. A truth. Your past, present and future.
The man was very familiar to you, wasn't he?"
Marianne nodded.

Athena took a breath.
"He was very close to you. You were inseparable. But then fate decided differently and he left us. That had hit you so hard,
that we decided to take away your memory for your protection and give it back to you when you feel better."
Marianne shook her head.
"What do you mean?"
Athena held Marianne's hands.
"When he left, he didn't leave completely. A part stayed here to help you. The moment he left, his soul went into a body that was just born." Athena smiled and pointed to Ascendary, who was standing quietly in the room the whole time, looking at both of them.
Marianne felt how slowly memories came back.
Wonderful memories of wonderful moments.
Times that both had gone through thick and thin.
2 people, one unit.
Marianne got out of bed and tears ran down her cheek, because she felt his soul in Ascendary.
She pressed herself tightly against him.

"Brother."

Chapter 25 - Confrontation

 Music Inspiration

Chapter 25

Confrontation

"TAKE!" Sedalia pressed the reins into Dexter's hand.
Astaroth quickly approached the carriage from above.
Sedalia's hands began to glow.
The black dragon stuck its claws forward to catch the carriage.
Sedalia threw 2 fireballs at him.
Surprised, the dragon swerved, which increased the distance between the dragon and the carriage again.
Sedalia clapped onto the roof of the carriage while Dexter continued to drive the horses on.
Astaroth launched a new attack.
Sedalia tore her arms apart and transformed.
A Phoenix!
Immediately he pounced on Astaroth.
Duke had pushed the door open at the back and was looking out.
"Oh, damn it!" he shouted.

Danny saw the dragon too and reached into his backpack that stands at his feet.
He hurriedly pulled out a crossbow and began to load it.
What no one had seen before, Astaroth had a rider.
He raised his staff and lit up and disappeared.
A second later he appeared on the roof of the carriage.
"What the..?" Dexter shouted.
The man knocked him unconscious with the staff without hesitation, which made the carriage driverless.
Dexter slumped onto the coachman's box.
The phoenix sent fire against the black dragon, which effortlessly dodged and in turn spat fire itself.
Now the phoenix receded. The carriage had meanwhile disappeared from their sight.
Danny knelt at the open door with the loaded crossbow in case the dragon reappeared. Duke climbed up the side and saw a man grabbing the reins with a staff while Dexter had slumped unconscious onto the coachman's box.
The man pulled the reins. The carriage slowed down.

Duke approached the coachman over the roof when something screamed and attacked him.
A Nexuswyvern! That could only mean one thing!
And yes, Duke was right.
The WYVERN appeared in the sky and began to fly above them.
Duke defended himself with his sword against the Nexuswyvern. More of them left the WYVERN.
The carriage came to a standstill.
The man with the staff stood up and turned to Duke.
He froze when he saw the man's face.
"Glenervan!" he cried.
"Duke, my friend. So we'll see each other again," The man with the staff smiled and made a gesture.
The Nexuswyvern let go of Duke.
Glenervan went on the attack. The rod lit up. Duke raised his sword and blocked.
Behind them, the phoenix crashed to the ground and turned back into Sedalia, who lay bleeding on the ground. Danny had jumped out of the carriage when it came to a stop and aimed his crossbow and pulled the trigger.

The bolt pierced Astaroth's long neck.
He roared loudly, grabbed his neck and drifted off. He also crashed to the ground and tore down many trees.
"Paralysis poison," Danny smiled and looked at Cecile.
Marianne also jumped out of the carriage when Duke crashed to the ground next to her.
Glenervan had swept him off the roof of the carriage with his staff and sprang after him.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Marianne screamed and made a whirling movement and caught Glenervan with her right foot on his chest.
The force threw him back and flew hard against the carriage. More and more nexus yvers gathered around the carriage.
The WYVERN began to descend further.
Marianne followed up and attacked him with ballet-like movements.
The Aranasera showed what it is made of.
Glenervan held his staff against it.

In the meantime, Danny had reloaded his crossbow and put it back on.
But it wouldn't be of much use, because he now counted 10 Nexuswyvers around the carriage.
Cecile became angry. She stepped forward and made a quick hand gesture in the air and again and again.
Then she blew once and suddenly floating runes appeared out of nowhere.
The Nexuswyvern backed away and fled.
Cecile smiled at Danny. "Antidemon runes." She winked.
A loud roar sounded.
Astaroth had recovered. He straightened up and stared angrily at Danny and Cecile.
Marianne had wrestled Glenervan to the ground and was sitting on his chest. She raised her hand to the fatal blow. Then she was torn down by him and landed the ground.
Confused, she looked up.
Ascendary! But why?
He shrieked at her angrily and turned to Glenervan.
Glenervan looked at the gryphon with wide eyes.
Ascendary spread his wings and shrieked loudly.
Astaroth went on the attack, but was also pulled to the ground.
Lysander was there. In his wyvern form, he appeared unexpectedly.
Not a second too late.
Threateningly, he built up in front of Astaroth.
Suddenly there were explosions on the ground.
The WYVERN had opened fire with its cannons.
Regardless of losses.
Astaroth cried out in pain. One of the projectiles hit him in the back.
"No!" cried Glenervan. "Astaroth."
Marianne looked at Ascendary, who stood between her and Glenervan, and prevented her from attacking Glenervan.
Lysander rose into the air to attack the WYVERN when projectiles landed on the side of the WYVERN.
The ship shook under the hits and began to turn away.

In the distance, 3 more ships had appeared. They approached slowly and fired at the WYVERN, which now finally fled. Lysander landed again and transformed back and ran to the injured Sedalia. Glenervan spoke magic words and began to heal the injured Astaroth. "What's going on? What's wrong with you, Ascendary. They wanted to kill us!" She pointed to Astaroth and Glenervan. Dexter slowly came to himself and held his head while Cecile and Danny take care of him. Duke also rose slowly. The WYVERN had disappeared and the three new ships stopped above them. A wall opened in front and 3 Manticore and rider flew down to them. They landed next to the carriage. The middle rider was dressed in noble clothes and dismounted and came up to everyone. Duke immediately got down on his knees in front of him, while Marianne and others were confused. "Rise. It's good," said the nobleman. Duke stood up and looked at everyone.

"May I introduce? Alexander Alcazar. Rightful King of our homeland."

Chapter 24 - The King's Mystery

 Music Inspiration

Chapter 24

The King's Mystery

Marianne was standing in front of the carriage.
The plan was clear. Whoever leaked the document to her wants her to reach the king.
There and only there would it end.
There, and only there, would she learn why she was more important than the document.
The circle must close in the throne room.
Ascendary nudged her and she stroked him.
Then she got in.
Opposite her sat Danny and Cecile, next to her Duke.
Sedalia drove the carriage, next to her sat Dexter.
Lysander, Ascendary and Vasques had their own routes, Marianne had learned.
Ascendary in particular must not attract attention before reaching the throne room.
"It's strange," Duke said.
"What do you mean?" asked Marianne.
"Why the king, of all people. He has not been seen in public for years." Duke was thoughtful.
"Yes, that's strange. Many don't even know what the king looks like. His entourage acts on his behalf. But the document says you have to hand it over to the king in person, right?" asked Danny.

Marianne nodded.
"But the document is only a minor matter, what's the point of bringing ME to the king?" Marianne sighed.
"We'll find out," Cecile said.
"The king was last seen just before the Denerias incident. Then he withdrew and everything his
followers. The people are doing well, so no one has ever questioned it," Duke said.
The carriage drove through the dark forest and in the distance the light of the exit came closer.
"Why did the Inquisition never question the king?" asked Sedalia on the coachman's box.
"Because there was never a reason. At least not for my leading brothers. Not as long as they were paid," Dexter replied.
"You mean...?"
"Yes. Corruption. And I've wanted to put an end to all this for a long time. Thanks to Marianne, I think I can do it."
"But why?"
"Everything begins with the king and everything ends there."
"Let's hope so. We're leaving the forest now." Sedalia continued to push the horses.
The carriage left the forest and drove onto a road.
This road went to the main town with the castle.
Suddenly, a loud roar sounded above them.
"What the...?" Dexter stared up.
A great black dragon fell from the sky.
ASTAROTH!