Ascension - (Alarian Warriors)
The Way Forward

Damon fluttered his eyes open as he was picked up and hurled over the alarians shoulder. Suddenly growing alarmed by his surroundings, he flailed causing Zero to drop him on his backside. He impacted the edge of a step, rolling onto his side he groaned as pain shot through him.

“How am I still alive?” His eyes met Aveyon’s, and she could see the anguish reflected in them. He hunched over coughing and expelling a large mass of thick black blood.

Aveyon gently sat Vincent down and knelt to pat Damon on the back, her attempt at soothing him, trying her best to help him get the rest of the rancid substance out of his system.

He looked up at her in disbelief. “You would help me, even now? I... I betrayed you.”

“You never, I will always help Damon, you had no control over your actions, we worked hard to free you-”

“Not that! I turned you over to him, I betrayed you when we first went to Terramore.” He blurted out.

She frowned; soon realizing he must be believing the memories she had planted in order to fool Ashera, though it had failed at the time. “You never did such a thing, it was a rouse to fool Ashera, though sadly it did not work.” She pondered the cause of his confusion. “Do you not remember him attacking you?”

Damon blinked a few times, trying to understand. “No... I don’t recall anything passed handing you over to him.” He finally said before slumping against the floor and no longer trying to keep his head up.

She lingered on the outskirts of his mind as he heaved a heavy sigh, the weight of the world seemed to crush down on him as he recalled all the lives he had taken.

Vincent shook his head in disgust. “Must that asshole mess with everything he touches!”

“What is to become of me now?” Damon solemnly asked, ignoring the outburst.

“That is your choice alone, none of us can make it for you.” Aveyon offered. “What is it that you want?”

He looked dismayed, as though he had no purpose in life any longer. “I... I don’t know.”

“Until you have made that choice, if you so desire, you can stay here.” She incurred.

“Is that wise?” The three fates pushed past the small gathering and into view. “He cannot leave whenever he chooses, it will have to be timed correctly with another fissure since they are limited and restricted to our powers.” It was Atro who spoke.

“I have nowhere else to go...” Damon trailed off for a moment. “He can’t get back here, can he?” He finally asked referring to Ashera.

“Only these three beings can open the fissures to and from Alarious now, we’ve completely closed it off,” Aveyon explained.

“We can make the point of entry and exit solely the Sanctuary or Elendor,” Kirra suggested. “Making it harder still for him to try to sneak through an open fissure.”

“Then I will stay.” His head tilted to the side looking at the unconscious goddess as she was lightly pulled up the stairs by the elf and lynx. “Perhaps I can be of some assistance, my father’s curse... I may be able to lift it.”

“And if not, you can keep Aveyon company, for which I would be grateful.” Vincent clasped Damon’s forearm and helped him up into a sitting position. They both appeared unsteady on their feet, exhausted and drained.

Damon and all the others gathered around were staring at Vincent, confused about the last statement.

Aveyon sighed heavily. “That was part of the information I needed to provide you all with. I will give you all a choice, if you wish to join me on this new quest then I will put you through a similar ascension to my own, giving you each a part of Alarious, a part of me. You will grow stronger, strong enough to protect the earth and to hopefully survive the coming battles and purify the chaos.”

“There’s no choice, the answer will always be yes.” Zero called down.

The others all nodded their heads agreeing with the Alarian.

“Wait... does that mean, you would have to remain here.” Kirra looked to Aveyon; it wasn’t a question.

“I do, I am now bound to this realm until all its essence is used, and it cannot replenish itself like the Earth can. There are many roads to be followed, and many actions taken before this realm falls entirely. I do not know how long it will take, until then, I must remain here. I cannot leave even if I wanted to.”

“She will still be able to communicate with you all, I would advise putting a scrying bowl in each of your residences to make it easier,” Lahk spoke up.

“What of us though?” Clo asked her sisters. “We had planned to leave as well... But I feel I wish to stay.”

Aveyon looked on in surprise. “I would never request that you stay after all this, you three are finally free. A freedom in which you deserve, to live your lives as you please. It is true that I still require your aid, but you need to give up such freedoms for me. You are welcome to go to Earth with the others.”

As though completely ignoring her, they spoke among themselves. “I do not wish to abandon her either...” Atro pondered.

“You would not be-” Aveyon tried to cut in.

“I personally would like to work on awakening Lady Vexous first,” Lahk concluded.

“It is settled then!” They all turned to Aveyon. “We are staying to assist.” They all spoke as one.

Aveyon shook her head with a disgruntled sound, she was not going to win against them it seemed. “Well then, welcome to your new home ladies.”

They all smiled. “It’s a bit plain at the moment, but yes I like it, what about you two?” Clo asked.

Atro nodded. “With a few improvements, I think it could be worthy.” She said glancing at the rumble.

“I would like to get this place up and running as soon as possible,” Aveyon added, finally feeling like a part of the conversation.

“Of course, after all, you do need the facilities to make the rest of your warriors.” Lahk clapped her hands together before floating off into the remains of the palace. Aveyon smiled after her in thanks. “I should have known you three already had a plan.”

Atro smirked. “We always have a plan.”

Clo turned to Vincent. “Vincent be a dear, help Damon to the healing room, we’ll get him set up.”

Vincent followed her orders without question; lending Damon his shoulder they followed the fate inside the rubble. Though in truth they both lent heavily on each other for support as they ascended the steps. Zero was quick to move and aid them.

Clo paused and looked back at Aveyon from over her shoulder. “His biological makeup is much different from the others; his- demon blood will make it difficult for him to ascend.”

Ah, so she already knew what Aveyon was thinking. She winched at the news, she had hoped he would one day join her warriors, but if it wasn’t a possibility, she would replace another way.

“You want me?” Damon wheezed, turning to look at her with eyes wide.

Aveyon smiled and followed after the group. “Only if you want to, if you decide to join us, we will replace a way.”

Atro headed for Kirra and Samuel. “Samuel, Kirra, dears could you bring you along with me, I will create her a space to rest for now.”

They nodded and continued their climb following after the fate as she floated in front of them to lead them.

Atro Turned back addressing the solemn faces that were watching them carry their once divine beliefs. “Her time will come, but all will be lost for her, that is her price,” Atro spoke with sorrow before vanishing inside the newly forming structure.

Aveyon’s gaze fell to the last fate. Already Lahk had begun to work on reshaping and reforming the palace with her essence, Alarious’s essence. It was taking on a much more complete look as made her way up the steps. With each step she took the walls and the steps repaired themselves.

Reaching the entrance, she watched as the rubble around her morphed and changed. Pieces that had fallen to the ground long ago returned to the structure making it whole again. It was as though they were watching the palace go back in time.

The two other fates once again appeared in the doorway as the third finished and began climbing the short walk to them. Aveyon followed them inside, deeper still they took her until she stood staring at the throne that still sat in the middle of the hallway.

“I really do not think this is the best option here.” She refused to sit above everyone else, she would not be her father.

Vincent joined her on his return, stepping up beside her, his hand gently touching hers. Their fingers interlaced and the fear that was starting to fill her evaporated.

“It’s time for a new way as you said.” He incurred.

“One table, with many seats, not a single throne. I did not achieve this alone and cannot continue alone either.” Aveyon added turning as the rest of the group came to join her.

Lahk nodded and with a wave of her hand, the throne vanished to be replaced by the largest dining table she had ever seen, surrounded by chairs. No one chair sat at the top as it was a round table where all were equals. And with it, the first bit of colour to be added to the palace in centuries. Aveyon’s eyes widened as she watched the padded chairs fill with colour as though ink had been spread across them. A beautiful lilac colour filled the cushion as a silver metallic colour coated the frame and legs.

“A new beginning indeed, it is time for a new era,” Atro spoke as she raised her hands high allowing the colour to spread to the palace walls, floors and ceilings. “I have been so sick of nothing but white.”

“Come everyone, let us sit. We have much to discuss and very little time.” Aveyon sat with the others, and the fates joined the table as well.

Much to her surprise the Fates took control of the situation and explained the situation.

“The realm is forever to be closed off, and Aveyon is to remain, the only exception is of course when a new warrior is to be granted his or her powers. Then and only then, can a being cross into this realm. That is by our design, this realm will begin to crumble, and it will become dangerous the more we open the way in and out. It is imperative that we control the flow of essence and keep it in check.”

Vincent’s grip tightened around Aveyon’s; they knew their time was growing short. Lahk had caught the action with a quick glace but continued. “If you agree to the ascension your physical body cannot be here, your spirit can. To do so you must learn to astral project, you can be here in spirit whenever you feel the need.”

Kirra and Zero looked at each other nodding. Making a silent promise that they would figure it out and teach the others if needed. Aveyon knew without hesitation that they would do whatever was to be required of them.

“After your ascension, your weaknesses and strengths we cannot know, they may vary, and you will have to learn them yourselves.” Lahk sighed. “It will be difficult but us fates will help and advise on what we know, where and when we can. As I’m sure Aveyon will as well. As we mentioned we can contact you through bodies of water, you need only call names.”

“It would be advised to train and explore your abilities with the others,” Atro added. “Train together, discover what you are all capable of.”

“We have a chance to fight back now, to really make a difference.” Aveyon entered the conversation. “But it will take time and preparation to get to where we need to be.” She looked at her people in turn as they all nodded at her, she felt a tightness in her chest as they showed her so much respect. “I am not a goddess, far from it, I am but your guide, and without each and every one of you, we cannot achieve our goals. I wish to place each of the ascended in different regains of the realm, tasking you with the protection and purification of chaos.”

Vincent suddenly coughed beside her; the action shocked all those except her. Removing his hand, he winced as it was now covered in a warm red liquid, blood.

“Vincent!” Kirra exclaimed vaulting up from her chair concerned. “What-”

Aveyon’s hand tightened around his that held an already tight grip on her. “He is dying” She cut in.

“Impossible!” Zero protested.

“It’s true,” Vincent responded weakly.

“I used all the essence that was used to create him to get us to Alarious, he was not born as any of us were, and he cannot replenish it, not after I- ripped it from him.” She felt her bottom lip quiver, it broke her heart to know that she was the cause.

“Eros always did say I seemed like a huge bottomless pit of essence.” He wiped the blood from his lips and smiled weakly. “That temporary power that was given to us kept me going through the battle, but not anymore.”

“The ascension then!” Kirra was still standing as she practically yelled. The concern awed the couple.

Aveyon nodded. “Yes, Vincent will be the first. It will work to prolong his life. But you must all be prepared for the fact this transformation, though it could last for hundreds of years, is not permanent. Just the same as my ascension, we are simply borrowing this power, we will need to return it... one day.”

“But if Alarious if to fall, where is the essence to go?” Zero asked.

“I do not know, I am hoping if we can break the curse on Lady Vexous, then she will have the answers. There is still so much I do not know about the realms, how they came to be, and why they are on the path to destruction, so much we must explore, so many mysteries to uncover.” Aveyon was trying her hardest to keep her composure, so many unknowns was a terrifying thought.

“We will surely be able to assist and replace out what we can. Ashera and his followers could also be the key to figuring out more.” Kirra added, taking her seat again.

“Even more pressing than that, is stopping him from using and defiling the earth with the chaos. The sheer number of bodies we saw is... alarming to say the least. If things continue as they are, the Earth will also fall. The Earth is at the centre holding the two realms up, it must be protected at all costs.” Aveyon continued.

“Each of us as the head up a regain by ourselves?” Kirra questioned.

Aveyon nodded. “Indeed, that is the goal, you may be spread thin to begin with, but as we replace more capable people to become warriors, the burden should be lessened.” Her expression became stern. “But first, you all must undertake the ascension process. I will not lie to you all, it will be extremely painful.”

She glanced at Vincent who grinned. “If you wish to leave and wait your turn, the fates will return you to the Earth.” She told them.

Zero, Kirra, Samuel, and Erisena all smiled at each other. “We’re not going anywhere.” They responded in unison.