The Seven Forms

Deep within the depts of the Tower of Sorrow, where the light did not reach, Arvel Gethin, a mere barren in the kingdom of Iliah, jerked his shriveled skin against the iron chains wrapped around his body. He growled, having never heard of such audacity. He could hear the shelling of explosions outside, racing back and forth, smelling the bitter ash filling the redwoods, and fear slipped into his heart.

"You must," said the Elderly Seer, peering deep into the grey eyes of Avel Gethin. "She is your destiny, m'lord. It is only with her power shall you regain your honor. Aurelia Morningstar is—"

"Be silent," Baron Gethin snapped. He had heard enough of her words. "Begone. Your purpose has been complete. You may return to the Ethereal Realm or Oblivion. It's of no consequence anymore to me." He glanced up through long jet black shriveled hair, "You are free."

The Seer crackled in laughter, tilting its head; its body slowly swayed in and out into the Ether, but her laughter of madness seemed to resound loudly in his mind. Stirring the baron's soul, she vanished, and it was quiet.

The Barren hung his head low as he had done for countless years and cycles. Taken by the loneliness, the image of Aurelia Morningstar carrying a young silver-headed boy emerged in his mind.

"H-H-Have you heard of the Seven Form?" He muttered.

Outside his prison, Arvel resided, Aurelia frowned, but Eldrich was quick to speak up, "They are the Nine Forms, my Queen. However, even if he only has Seven, you will find no better, especially if you have the first seven, the last two. Form VIII and Form IX are only rumors, but I am sure they exist."

"Are they that good?" Aurelia wondered.

"My Queen, even Chaos Lords, the very strongest you will ever see, adamantly study these Forms. No one knows who created them, but if you or Lord Zariel were to find your Form, your battle prowess would soar." Eldritch explained, unable to mask his excitement. "Even I was not fortunate enough to acquire these forms. It's no wonder this man's entire family was massacred. He is a walking target."

The Young Fallen hummed, a little unconvinced. Zariel had always told her the best type of swordsmanship is what a person creates for themselves. She pursed her lips, feeling the warmth of Zariel on her back. She thought for a moment.

"Fine," She said to Avel, deciding to trust Elditch's judgment, thinking otherwise.

"Good," He said beneath his breath, more than willing to grant Aurelia his most prized possession. "How I woe that cursed day I stole them from that lazy eye man." He lifted his head, barely able to contain his excitement. "Girl!" He said with power in his voice. "Drop your blood over that Azure Flame. One needs a powerful bloodline, stronger than mine. "Once you do so, I swear to the Heavens that Avel Gethin will grant you all seven forms and give a promise not to harm you nor that boy on your back."

Aurelia glanced at her staff, and Eldrich comforted her with a few words of approval. She nicked the tip of her finger over the Blade of Dawn and dripped her blood over the Azure Candle. Questions rang through her mind, but she stood firm and tossed the candle down into the chamber pot, watching heavily as a blaze of scarlet flames swallowed her vision, reaching the skies. A blazing sigil emerged from the flames. Swirling and weaving, the Tower of Sorrow shook.

Zariel was stirred awake. He lifted his head, his eyes cloudy, but the moment his gaze met with the scarlet sigil, his eyes grew sharp as a blade. He leaped off Aurelia and staggered a bit to stand as his mind spun with stars.

"A bloodline lock?" He questioned, turning to Aurelia, noting the blood racing down her finger. "You didn't." He asked; he had to.

"I did." Said Aurelia vibrantly, but before she could say more, the Eldritch staff glowed, and a beam of black light pierced from its head towards Zariel. Who could not be bothered to defend himself? He frowned, sensing no ill intent, and allowed Elditch's to show him all that had taken place.

"The Seven Forms," He muttered, crossing his arms, "Mother told me about them. She had all nine when only the Kingdom had Seven, but she said I was too young to train them." he studied the sigil once more, a little harder this time, and sighed, "Aurelia never give your blood to anyone. No one, not ever. Eldritch should have warned you. Even in your fragmented state, you are still taken by Greed."

Aurelia's staff glowed, and Zariel knew the Soul Fragment was laughing. He did not say anything else. He waited outside the chambers, observing the doors parting. Aurelia and Zariel watched a small, shriveled man tangled in chains that ran in and out of his body, barely leaving any skin to see. A look of pure bliss mirrored themselves from Aurelia's golden eyes.

"Thank. Thank. Thank you," The feeble Barren cried as the chains slowly began to lower his body. "I should have never stolen from that lazy eye, man. Never. Never again shall I steal. I thank you. I thank you! Here it's yours!" He said. Reaching deep inside himself, he pulled seven small manuals from his soul.

Zariel waved his hand, and a mysterious force seized hold of the manuals. Moving through the air, he handed them to Aurelia. They were her's, after all.

The Young Fallen beamed, placing them in her infinity ring; she spun with a victorious smile. Bleeding pride, she made the peace sign, "Victory!" She said and stared joyfully at the tattered man, covered in tears and blood. "Well, guess it's time to go, right?"

Zariel nodded bitterly. "Yeah, a shame you will not be able to get the imperial sutra with the Black Hand outside."

"Eh?" Aurelia said, but Zariel's fingers suddenly pressed his hands between her brow. "Don't overreact," he warned when her entire body turned into a wisp of Astral Force that faded into the Ether. "I'll get the others."

Pulling himself free of his chains, Arvel stood free for the first time in years, breathing in a large amount of air; Immortal qi ran over his body, mending his body the best he could in the short amount of time he could. He opened his mouth to speak. But the Silver Devil was quick to cut him short.

"Does the name Mephisto mean anything to you?" He asked gravely. Arvel shuttered, and Zariel knew everything he needed, "I see," He said and turned around, "We will see each other again."