6

"How far did you get?" My father asked.

"Hold your horses a little longer, I have two leaders of the Holy Council hounding me." I snapped.

"Once I'm revived, you'll understand my suffering." He hissed.

"You're really making helping you tempting." I smirked.

"Your title will be passed down to your brother if you keep up with this."

"I was thinking, taking your title will make life much easier," I smiled evilly, "Then indeed my title will be passed down to my brother."

"Taking my title," he mused, "Do not forget, that I still have power over your mate."

I bared my teeth, "You promised you'll release her soul."

"I will, at least do your part, then I'll think about it."

I glared at him, but he stared me down, so I just sighed, "You know I won't actually do anything like that."

"With you Heir of Darkness I can't be sure of anything."

I ignored that, "I have to go, and next time try not to come in my dreams randomly."

And willed myself to wake up.

******

I was sitting still waiting for some enemy or the Dotek Kinsa, "HI!" someone yelled behind me.

I turned around my sword out, flames on the tip of it, and I saw the Dotek Kinsa, who seemed impressed at my sword.

"You still have that?" He asked surprised.

I glanced at it, "I have everything, I had while going down."

His eyes widened, "Kid, do you not know how lucky you are?"

"Um... plenty?" I said, shocked at his behavior.

"Your-"

"Not another Ancient Word." I cut him off begging.

He smiled, "I'll give you the idea, your afterlife is dependent on your living life," he grinned at me, then noticed my nauseated expression and added, "But, you aren't in your afterlife yet, but... I seriously can't explain this without slipping into the Ancient Language."

"Wait, is it... Vilka?" I asked, as I recalled something like that, the more loved ones you have in the world, in your Besma, the time and goddess slightly before Death, where you experience Heaven and Hell briefly.

He smiled, "Kind of, but this isn't that, this is Viska."

"Oh, well more or less they're the same thing." I condemned.

"That's what most scholars and people think, but think about it, Vilka is about Besma and lasts for about a day, but Viska is what we are right now, a breath's step away from death, and in Viska you directly go to The Realm of Death but with Viska you can also go back to the living world." He smiled up at me, "So now what do you think about them?"

I shrugged, "Well you got a point."

He smiled, then asked, "Any demons or anything yet?"

I shook my head.

"Any problems or can I go?" He asked compassionately.

"There is something, but I'm not sure you can help." I admitted.

He nodded seriously, "What is it?"

"I hear voices, familiar voices, like someone I knew in my life."

His expression turned sour, "Don't let them fool you, Death is cruel he'll try everything to have you enter his Realm."

"Is there an explanation for this?" I asked worried I might be the only one who got this curse.

He forced a smile, "I'll make sure when I'm revived to make a survival guide."

I returned the smile, "Has it happened to you?"

Suddenly he didn't seem so young, his onyx eyes turned... grayish and wrinkles of anger seemed to appear under his eyes, "Yes," he said, his voice hardening, "Yes, I have, and they had the guts to summon even my..." he stopped no wonder because he thought he gave me too much information.

I nodded, "But I was about to give up hope, and the person encouraged me not to go."

But the Dark Lord, wasn't listening, instead his eyes were closed, "Dotek Kinsa?" I called.

His eyes snapped open, "Get ready." And vanished.

I looked around but again everything turned misty, when suddenly I saw a huge mass of land but with the Dotek Kinsa it would be emitting some light but this time there was a shadow looming over it.

I looked up, and saw the demon, wearing nothing but a loincloth and a hammer three times my size in his hands, I opened my arms in embrace "Sup?" and the giant charged.

******

I was still shaken about how Samuel reacted inside, but in front of my crew I couldn't show my fear, "You punched him?" Samuel sighed.

"It was worth it," Simon chuckled, "At least now I get to prove Sophia that you don't love her the most."

Sophie seemed exasperated, "I never even said that!"

Simon cleared his throat, "'If anyone Sammy would save me.'"

"That was four years ago."

I chuckled, along with the others.

"Any word of the devil?" Samuel said out of the blue.

"Nope, still on his throne." Simon answered.

"What?" Sophie asked confused.

"John." Samuel said simply.

"Sam!" I yelled.

Simon grinned, "Heard he also tried picking a fight with you."

I smiled, "He nearly succeeded having himself pushed down."

Samuel smiled, "Wish he was here."

I spun to him, "What?"

His smile turned wider, "He makes a good punching bag."

Simon laughed, "He also holds no power here."

Samuel flicked a finger at Simon, "Another good point."

I stopped myself from joining them in making fun of that courtesan, "So, what triggered you right now?"

"Just the thought of him trying to pick a fight with you." He said grinning.

Timothy came and sat on the railing, "Well now if I was in your position Admiral," he grinned, "I'd complete the job."

I smirked, "You fulfil my expectations, Timothy."

He grinned, "Well, a dragon shouldn't be so easy to predict."

I rolled my eyes, "Unlike your ancestor you can't turn into a dragon."

Simon laughed, "Well my father too had nothing of my ancestor, but here I am."

Timothy snorted, "You're saying I'll be jealous of my kid?"

Simon grinned, "You'll fulfil my expectations."

******

"What's in that?" Lysandra asked.

Sorscha shrugged, "Might be some trap,"

Alice shook her head, "Why would he want the satisfaction of killing you in a life-and-death situation?"

"Good point," I admitted, "Though, he's also the cruelest warrior in Ariam, and doesn't know a thing of mercy."

"Where are we heading?" Henry asked.

My face soured, "The capital."

"Why don't you want to go there?" Alice asked me.

I debated against making something up or tell them the truth, I sighed, "I'll have to face the Queen and not ask her or any lord to heal James."

Alice nodded seriously, "We'll have act normal, but will we keep James, or send him to the med bay?"

"We'll keep him of course."

"George we also have to think rationally," Veronica said, "Sending him to the healers will give him a better chance to heal, but what's the point of keeping him?"

"Well, we'll see, and yes I'll think rationally."

She just sighed, "When are we going?"

I smiled, "Now."

******

By the time we reached, the Silter had set, but I was glad the people knew us here, because otherwise the guards take twice as long as they were taking with us, yet they took half an hour

The guard nodded and opened the gate, "Thank you." I muttered.

We entered the glowing castle, went directly to the throne room where

we ordered to go, but knocked out of respect, "Enter." A rich voice resonated from the other side.

We entered, but we made sure James was upright, when Lady Emily, James' mother stood, "What happened to him?"

"My Lady," I started with a bow, "A monster came but, his flames-"

"Impossible!" she snapped, "He's too powerful that a single monster would affect him that bad."

"Emily," a soft voice said, "Sit down."

Lady Emily turned to Queen, but sat, and I knew it was taking all her self-control not to break down crying, as I knew how much she loved him being her first child.

I turned to Queen and the others and bowed deeply my friends following what I did.

"My Lady, you summoned us?" I asked rising.

She nodded, "All the lords and ladies of the Holy Council, have a quest in mind for you and your cadre."

I nodded, "Yes?"

"First you have to get a blade, forged by the Goddess, Sermia, the goddess of life, then get the blade of her spouse, Orcus and get the Potion of they're child."

I was surprised, like they wanted us to take the stuff of gods?

"No George." The Queen said, "These items were made by gods but now they're with either immolas or silem."

The way she said it made them seem harmless, but I knew they too could destroy us, but then we have defeated some immolas or immortals but it wasn't ever without James who would always have the last blow

dropping the immolas.

She shook her head, "No George, I will not heal him, this is your battle and you will heal him, but you will also take him on the quest, you will not leave him here, so either you all will perish or you'll succeed in healing him and your quest."

I blinked, "So... do we know where any of them are?"

She shook her head, "But listen, the Dotek Kinsa has also sent his own people for the potion too, but except for that you are not going to meet his people so venture for that last."

"Last?" I asked surprised.

She nodded, "You will need those weapons to face his people."

"My lady," Lysandra stepped forward, "Who are 'his people'?"

She smiled, "The same way how you are 'my people'."

Lysandra curtsied and stepped back, "Anyways," I waved that off, "We first get the Sword of Sermia?"

She nodded, "It will be easiest, but use it only when you have to, not at every battle occasion, understood?"

I nodded, "When do we depart?"

"Any time during this week."

******

"Any news?" I asked.

"Yes, George's cadre has reached the Queen, giving you a clear way to strike." The spy informed.

I chuckled, "Well I'd like his plans of a week, in advance."

"You appeared in my dream tonight, so he probably will rest for these three days."

"Then? He's safe in the castle."

I felt it feeling gleeful, "Then, he'll be going on a quest for two swords, one of Sermia and the other of Orcus, then he'll be going to get a potion of the gods child."

I didn't know much of the gods and didn't even know of these three, but

my King did tell me about a potion brewed by a god, "I think the Dotek Kinsa's people have the same plan."

It shook its head, "He only wants the potion and some items to help in reviving him."

"Do you know what the potion does?"

It shook its head again, "I have to go... more work."

I nodded, glad this parting wasn't through a fight.

******

I was fuming, like my spy is also someone else's client, like dude, I'm the Dotek Kinsa, and you don't even know that no body's identity, I decided to pop in the living world for a while, because my spy called me.

"Yes?" I asked in a bored manner.

"My lord," she bowed, well I at least assumed it was a she.

"Get up, why'd you call me." I ordered.

She fidgeted with the edge of her robe, "Well the same potion you're seeking so is George's Cadre, he was ordered that yesterday."

I nodded, my daughter already telling me all that, "What about your other client?"

She sighed, "Can't you just let that drop?"

"You've been going to her more often than you've been coming to me." I complained.

"Because I'm charging it more."

I threw my phantom arms in the air, "What is it only it can give you and not me."

She shook her head, "I'm doing my work for you, that should be enough."

******

I dodged its first slice easily, and lunged at him before he could strike again, but my sword stuck.

"What the heck?" I asked.

The giant grunted, which must've been laughter, I flexed my hands, wondering if flames would work against this thing, I glanced at my belt and noticed metal glinting, I smiled.

"GAH!" The giant roared, and charged again, I pulled my dagger out and flipped it as its tip caught fire which spread through the rest of it, but the giant charged nevertheless.

"For Hyromomania!" I cried and charged towards the giant, and willed myself to summon a fire avatar for myself, as I erupted, and even the avatar had a tiny dagger in its hand and only then did the giant halt, but this time I didn't stop.

The giant was slightly shorter than me now, but his mallet still outmatched my dagger, by strength and size, nevertheless I couldn't show fear right now, so I kicked his chest, which sent him tumbling back but didn't drop him.

It roared, and I figured more in anger than pain, "Come on, give me your best." I panted.

It glared at me, then spun and threw his hammer at me, I tried to sidestep but it was too damn fast, and struck my chest and my vision flared red, and I hit the ground.

I groaned, and tried to stand but the giant reached and kept on kicking my chest, until I finished the avatar, mainly because I couldn't hold it much longer with that thing kicking and managed to stand then.

I saw the giant charging towards me, so I summoned a created a fireball,

and pushed it away with all my might, and before it reached the giant exploded, and my sword went flying to the other side. Panicked I turned the fireball into a flaming hand and it caught the blade and willed it to come to me.

"Well that happened." I muttered to myself as I caught the sword, wondering why it exploded.

So, I went to where most of the giant's remains were, and saw an orange gem, "What the hell?"

"Don't touch that." I heard the Dotek Kinsa say behind me.