VI: The Prophet's Song III

I took a heavy breath while holding into a branch of a dead tree that is keeping me standing while I silently pray, never ending for the past three days and three nights, only waiting for a few hours, and let the Prophet's words do its thing. Every breath, feels like my last, and every new one, I see nothing but pure hope, hoping for the last bit of acid and blood to drop finally into the sky, finally ending my horrible torture, and an end to this problematic prophecy. And the fact that I have to wait for another few days for my whole body to be dry alone, hoping to avoid the possible toxic entering the Lily, is such a mess, a whole week nothing but pure sadness.

Its kind of a blessing in disguise, for the fact that the monsters are visible in my blurry eyes from this far, yet not a single one of them have seen my, lucky them, they have thick skin, compare to my human body looking like a rotting corpse holding a dead tree. Well, as far as I'm seeing my success, as for the green bough slowly becoming into dust, I'm feeling lost in my decisions. I have no intentions on marrying a stranger who took care of me for a few hours, and to the mysterious bone, I still have no damn clue who should I give it to. Grave didn't gave me any hints, nor is the spirit king that feed me energy. I looked into my left when I felt someone's coming.

Speaking of… That guy.

"How's it been?" he asked. Is he blind and deaf at the same time? "Well I got both good news and bad news… two bad news." The lost soul said. I saw him walking towards my head and kneel in front of me, I felt him touching my head again, and a huge thunder struck only a few steps away from me, my heart beats faster than usual, Nervous of loosing all my sufferings for nothing, if it ever hit me.

I closed my eyes and focused on my prayer. In synced with my heart beat, I saw the Black Queen from the distance, and in every beat, she keeps on coming closer and closer. Her smile was scary than normal, I could hear the sonata of the people's sufferings. I opened my eyes off of a sudden when I felt him touched my lip, he was offering me the same food he gave me when I climbed the mountain and before I even got to chew a strong acid fell im my back that made me roll to the ground.

"Now." he stood proud despite having this situation. "I got some good news for you." I looked into him with a concerned face, thinking everything is messed up and he's speaking good news. My body is a rotting corpse, how would I listen to some good news? This lost soul is insane! "Advance congratulations Joseph Castlevine, in a minute the acid rain will stop." He proudly said while clapping his hands gently. I race with my lungs in order to at lease take some small amount of breath to prepare my body aftermath. "Only a few seconds now… well wanna hear the bad news now?" I looked into him again and realized that everything's just starting, I just nodded and for the last few seconds multi tasked my body to pray and breathe. "I sense that you are ready… well, the bad news is that, there are two bad news, the more manageable is that the monsters would be un revivable, and they all must die, so that when the people comes out of the Lily, they are fast in terms of evacuation, because the heavy one… well the Black Queen, just discovered this place and she's coming any time soon." He kneels again in front of my head and he once again feed me with the mysterious food. And my body felt energized again, however the pain from the acid still stayed in my body. I looked into the sky and officially the rain stopped. Well I got some time to dry my self and to save the people in this land. I then run around and saw a dead ogre with a sword, I quickly took it and slide off the now mountain with giant sticks and dirt. The monsters saw my and I quickly approached.

I dash towards them, and they roared like an army raiding in the battle. He swings his giant wood from the abandoned building and quickly swings it to my direction, however I managed to jumped into it and stepped on his head to sprint jumping into an abandoned building to look for something that might be more useful in this scenario, a better sword or maybe the rare weapon called 'pistols' many claim those things kill off people in one shot. Not sure for monster, to be tested if available.

I smashed the window open by slamming my body, I rolled to the ground and checked their room, however things didn't go as planned for a big monster was camping here, he saw me and before he could grab his bat, I already slid his neck off… but failed due to their thick skin. He swings his bat to my and it actually hit me, launching me to the wall and the building collapse. We both fell to the ground, but unfortunately for him he's buried alive and I'm safe, with a proper land landing.

Maybe not anymore for the monsters in the area looked into the dust and before it even cleared up, I flee to the scene, but it wasn't long enough, they saw me and I just laughed to my self while running away. I literally have no plans, I didn't know that their skins is that thick, it is possible to kill them with my sword but it would probably take around five strong swinging hitting their necks along the process. I'm not a magician, or a mage. I'm neither a fighter nor a tank. I'm no healer to heal. Im just a man who doesn't know the world yet here I am, becoming someone. Will they keep my legacy if I die here?

I continued running, and from a far I smelled something strong yet beautifully good. I tried to look where that smell would be, hoping that it won't be a trap and maybe just an ally, but I could also sense that whosever responsible with the smell is fast, super fast. I continued running towards the smell, and along the streets I took a rock from a almost collapsed building and all of a sudden it did collapse cause a smoke of dust and a flood of blood from the monsters possible by burying them alive.

I turned into an alley and saw rose petals on the floor, they were fresh but as soon as I made contact they all died, instantly. I slowly turned my head on the alley turn and saw a very blurry soul holding something I didn't expect. She quickly noticed me and in a blink of an eye I saw her made an eye contact to me, her face was blurry but her eyes are just pure light, it was scary to see her but eventually I saw her dancing with the blade, killing every monsters around her, she was travelling almost if she was the speed of light and her fighting ability is insane.

Im out of words just by simply watching her perform. She was super sonic, and amazing but my attentions when I heard a powerful voice from the mountain, it was Larry Lurex, and behind him was an army of magicians he raised his staff and clapped twice. "Gaga!" His voice was so powerful as if it was a battle chant or cry. His army then began firing flaming arrows towards us and I quickly run away, from the distance I saw Grave and the lady back to back fighting the monsters, Grave's snakes stabbed them in their stomach and it swings it to my direction which almost hit me. Grave noticed me approaching and he quickly punched one monster in the chin and his sword flew to the sky, his right snake then hits it in the air and it went to my direction.

I felt the sword having its own life and instantly I knew what I have to do.

I ran together with the wind and from inside of my head I heard the prophet's voice, he was humming a melody which is never heard of, his voice sounded like a harp or a twelve string guitar, it was beautiful and it gave me a guide to dance with the blade. I slice off their necks as if it was paper and I felt my heart beats in synced with the song. One monster attacked my back; I rolled to the ground and quickly catch back up to the beat of the song by listening to the song with my heart and ears in synced. I'm finally letting go of the frustration that I've encountered just a few days ago that ended earlier, somehow killing these monsters made me felt alive, and those wasted days and nights endlessly praying to whoever made me who I am right now.

I looked into the beast eye and I sliced off his head, I run towards the monsters approaching us and I heard his song louder and louder. And with a blink of an eye I saw the prophet In front of me again, his song stopped and his eye was filled with joy. Grave and the man beside him isn't present, it was face to face with him alone. "Joseph Castlevine, listen to my good plan." He said and he was gone, I'm back to the world still running towards the monsters.

I smelled the rose scents coming I turned my head for a moment and saw her running with me on my right and on my left was Grave. I heard a loud horn being blown and after the sound travelled they quickly attacked us. I didn't know what to do; I was dancing with a sword covered with blood from monsters and from the rain. I felt nice when the prophet himself called my name, the way he called me his warrior… but is this worth it? Killing this beast that used to be humans, the non-believers that should be respected by their beliefs… am I just being used? Manipulated by the Black Queen?

I stopped and saw the two continued, they entered a war and I just looked around me, I dropped my sword and suddenly the song inside my head stopped. I run climbing into the mountain was Larry Melina was, his voice continued to Scream a powerful magic chant. And all of a sudden his army changed direction, from facing the city now facing the north, with his command, all of them fired flaming arrows and over the shore I saw a silhouette of the Black Queen. Th.at man was right, she knows where we are. The storm was approaching her direction and I hope she gonna burn within that acid.

"Oh Joseph Castlevine, we been waiting for you!" Larry smiled and opened his arms wide open for me and gave me a hug, he let me go and I saw T.E. Conway, Tawal, and Galileo coming out a bricked wall tunnel while the gate was slowly opening. "We will handle the war, I know the prophet has called you, don't waste time darling, go on… do your thing." I gave him a nod, and I gazed into the Black Queen, she was still far, but I don't know where we would go next. I'm sure they know a new land. Hope fully.

"MY SWEET CASTLEVINE!" I heard her screamed from the top of her lungs. I looked into her direction and saw her black eyes staring into my soul, and I felt nothing but chills and fear.

I quickly ran towards the Trio, they quickly covered me with a robe with a panic approach and guided me to enter the tunnel where the Lily is located, it took us a few days to enter the main land and for it it's a long road full of twist and turns to avoid the invaders. The city was build underground, above the city is an island, full of toxic and poisonous plants, said to be the garden of the founder. I looked around and I immediately question what happened when I'm gone.

Slaves were now dancing while the people threw money, person with disabilities are being watched by the crowd as they entertain them, all type of races from various locations are naked in a cage and people were donating huge amount of money.

"Its far from what you expect Joseph, its hard for me to even process this place but I do have to introduce the people here for it is a safe place for us." T.E. Conway's tone was disappointed has he touch his forehead, while Galileo and Tawal was just leaning at the wall on the dark entrance of this place, and silently waiting for something to be done. "Joseph, the rain is clear, the Black Queen is coming, we don't know what to do." He took a heavy breath and I cleared my voice and look into this place once again.

"Tell Larry to prepare his wagons from his army, Cross, prepare yours as well, will need about a thousand more, we will save everyone in this place, if they have wagons, please recruit them Tawal, alright?" I saw them nod and Cross quick made his move, Tawal approach me and stood beside T.E. Conway. "T.E. Conway, I want you to be my look out, prepared for the huge shake, if we're late… you know what, I'll never think of it, just trust it to what faith has in store for us." I proudly said.

"We will trust you Joseph." T.E Conway said and Tawal just gave me a nod.

"People of the land." My voice suddenly became louder than usual, and all eyes were on me again, there were new faces around and some familiar ones. But what stood out was a woman who I haven't seen for years. I stare into her eyes and she took a step. Her eyes began to tear up and without even wiping it she ran towards me climbing up the stair and gave me a hug. All of a sudden all my worries began to fade away as our heartbeat began to sync. I also began to tear up, and I stroke her hair. "Mama, what are you doing here? I… I haven't seen you for years! Where have you been?" She looked into my eyes and she smiled in front of me for the first time.

"My son, I'm so sorry to abandoned you when you are young, it was my decision that I would carry until my death, but… my love, my love for you, it will never be estranged by faith or death." She quivers. I gave her a hug and kissed her head before letting her go. No drama for now mama, we got a big problem.

"My people, listen to the good plan, we will evacuate again… the Black Queen has found our location and above the land, was war. Larry Melina is currently handling everything and I want you all to evacuate as so-"

"Joseph Castlevine!" I looked into a big man who called my name, he was looking into me and he pointed to the direction that I didn't noticed before. "You wife is waiting for you… we can hear your words of message later on, she's waiting for days for this to happened." I looked again and saw her eyes tearing up, I went down the stairs and my Mama locked her hand into my arm. The music began to play as I walk into a clean expensive carpet, made with pure fur.

I saw the people smile and gave me an applause, I looked into her eyes again, and her tears began to fall into her cheeks. When I reach her side the pastor began the ceremony, my mother let go and saw her walked towards her friends, my bride was wearing a white dress and her face was covered with a veil.

"Today we are gathered here in one, for the marriage of Joseph Castlevine and Valkyrie Redstar, for they are called and matched by the gods above. Joseph Castlevine was born poor, and is known to be a traveling journalist, gathering the news for the land, now being called by the prophet to 'save' the world." He slightly laugh and his tone changed at the last part, being serious to being sarcastic. My eye met the eye of the bride, and I could tell she's slightly mad on what happened. "Meanwhile Valkyrie Redstar has been known to be the only child alive, the only daughter of the clan leader named Frank Sammy Redstar, a strong Valkyrie who have said to hold the bloodline of the founder of the country, and a great business man." The priest then opened up a book and looked around before flipping another page.

I was alerted when I felt the group shake, any everyone else in the room panicked. I wouldn't blame them, the roof of this underground city looks old they might burry us alive. My instincts told me to check the status outside, but T.E. Conway was already at the exit of this place possibly checking. I trust that man, for he has studied a lot about phenomenon's and the heavens. If it's the Black Queen entering the land, then I am responsible for her to manage.

"According to the collections of ancient writings, a book of Nadi… 'There would be a time where a man would always refuse to work, however we would end up doing it, out of discomfort from the people around him. He would never give up on the task, and the results would be a mixture of emotions.' In this writing, it is said that a man should always do what he is assigned to do, to avoid being discomfort, to the husband Joseph Castlevine, always listen to your wife Valkyarie Redstar." He continued on preaching his own words for a few hours, while we listen to his nonsense life story trying to reflect to the book of Nadi.

He failed and eventually gave up, as the ceremony draws it closure, the ground shakes again, this time was way stronger than usual, dust from the ceiling began to leak, and I didn't waste any time, if the ceremony is broken according to tradition, I don't care. I am here to preach, to warn the people about the visions from the prophet, and prevent the evil things it may land on the people. I'm not here to get married, I am here to save.

"Listen to my good plan, and quickly evacuate now, for the Black Queen is approaching us and it would take a few months for us to finish, since I didn't expect that there are more people inside here… to the people who haven't heard my words… I am Joseph Castlevine, a poor boy, who got a call from the prophet, to guide you to your safety and lead you to the right path. For the people who can hear, listen to my good plan. We will evacuate, and all of you will travel into the wagons from Larry Melina's army, and Galileo Cross' you will all travel from the South, going into the bridge to Mount Nevermore, from the fourth island you will travel north going to the Second Island, traveling to the side of Mount Rhapsody, entering the royal road of the Main island, lastly entering the third island, into the foot of Valkyrie Vil." Another shake occur but I ignored it, people were panicking and I gaze into the entrance waiting for T.E. Conway's signal. "Please do not panic and remain calm, we need to act fast, to make sure everyone is safe." I looked around and saw the Trio recruiting at the entrance, I looked into Galileo Cross, and he quickly gave me a nod, T.E. Conway gave me his signal and I quickly act.

"Hey!" man shout, he was in the stage on our left side, far from the ceremony. He pointed at me with a mad face and threw a rock towards us, but with his distance it failed to even reach the side of the venue. "He said according to his disciples, we are safe in this place, the valley, people have been living here for millions of years and not a single report of being in danger has been recorded, you came along with your so called prophecies to tell us to evacuate!" I wanted to ignore him but the people listened to him. "How foolish of you to make us leave this place, in fact, we were silently doing are regular business when these people came just a few days ago, enjoying the entertainment at our human zoo, the market with it's pubs and clubs. You and your crew has ruined our valley, the Black Queen will be our ruler!" The crowd who was looking up on him clapped, most of them were new faces and I saw a few people who I've seen at the city market who agreed on him.

"I do not force you to believe, I do not wish to be the person to do this job, I'd rather do what I used to do, for I am a man born with curiosity, I spread news about the islands, and I didn't know this place exist. I do not dare to ruin your place or traditions. I am a man, who heard the word, and tasked to spread the word. If you have ears learn to use them, if you have a heart, let your ears listen to the beat." I replied before realizing that T.E. Conway and the rest was coming to my direction.

"Right, right… well I do trust Joseph's words slightly, lets just end the ceremony before we act… I'm sure we have time." The priest said. I looked into him and took a heavy breath, before I looked into Valkyarie's face. I grabbed her veil and unraveled her face. "Alright, may the gods from the heavens guide you as a married couples, from the prophets guide, to the chosen, to the warriors, to the royals, and to the people, I now bless both of you to officially pronounced as a married couples." The crowd gave us an applause while the priest closed his book. T.E. Conway walked down the hall and approached me.

"There are still non-believers on this place, we warned them but they just wouldn't listen… some of the wagons are already full and some are already traveling the path of your choice." I looked around and took Valkyarie's hand.

"My wife, those people who heeds me, will be our treasure, and those who rejects fears their afterlife." She gave me a smile and closed my eyes and gave her my kiss. After I let go I had another encounter with the prophet, this time Grave was there, behind the prophet.

"Joseph Castlevine, you've seen the visions when I touched your forehead. Let me remind you that your next mission would be brutal, step outside your comfort zone for I have given you my grace. Start your practice now, for it would be hard for you to control yourself if you feared being a killer." The prophet smiled again.

"I'll be waiting with on the other side." Grave said.

I opened my eyes and quickly made my move, I hold her hand and we went to the huge stage on the end of the valley. I took a deep breath before looking around with my own two eyes.

"Everyone, listen to the warnings." Valkyarie said like a roar.

"To the people of this island, and this valley, listen up. I am once again, Joseph Castlevine, a poor boy, a man who was called by the prophet, listen to what T.E. Conway, Galileo Cross, and Tawal Alshamas Told you to do, for everyone's safety please act fast… The world would." I quickly wipe my tear and I was lost with words. I just won't wanna say it to these innocent people. They are aware of the prophecy but they haven't seen how worse it is.

It was nothing but heavy emotions.

"The punishment of death would be worse if you don't listen to the words of this man." I quickly turned around to see Grave standing behind us, surprisingly the people all looked to him and their ears began to listen to his cold voice. "Fear for your life now, for your soul would be a stain to your reputation, I'll be face to face with you and the fire's of hell will be welcoming you, and every death will be waiting for you, the sufferings would be endless, I've seen it. All you have to do is listen to the messenger of the old man. Joseph Castlevine is an instrument to his song to sing his words, and it will lead you all to safety." The crowd whispered to each other and I saw my crew guiding my new believers, but quickly I saw a rock flew to the direction where Grave was standing and it hit his head.

His blood began to flow, and I was afraid to even talk, I stepped back and Valkyarie hold my hand and her face showed fear. Grave remained silent, and the man who threw the rock was laughing, like he was drunk.

"You don't fear huh?" He whispered but the man continued to mock him by putting his hand on his ear as if he was deaf, and continued laughing. Grave smirked and his snake stabbed the man in the chest and lifted him up until they have the same height. "Congratulations on being the first man." His soul left his body and instead of flowing into the snake's body it directly went down, as it the gravity was pulling him to the core of this land. His snakes threw his body to the walls of this place and before it even hit it another shake occur.

The body hit the wall and cause it to crack, and the shake cause the wall to collapse, and everyone started to panic more for the valley quickly falls, and the trio quick guides us to the entrance where the wagons are stored. We quickly followed the people and Grave disappeared again, in a state of panic the people were falling to the ground, being stepped on and dying early, the people also began fighting for a space in a wagon, but Larry Melina, guided us to one of his cabin where T.E. Conway, Tawal Alshamas, and Galileo Cross would travel as well. After a few hours of traffic and chaos, everyone became calm, and we heard the non-believers from the valley crying and suffering, they were forced to evacuate but failed to listen. Grave isn't the man who cause it, it was their own people who pissed us off. We're saving everyone, but not everyone needs to be saved.

T.E. Conway, and Galileo Cross controlled the horse, and Larry Melina and Tawal Alshamas shared the seat in front of us. We travel a secret road where we can quickly travel from the south part of the island to the side of Mount Nevermore. And the moment we saw the daylight, I called my wife and opened up my hand to her.

"Behold my dear, my dowry." I said.

Dead bodies of animals, monsters, and humans, the marks of the rain are still visible, what is a clear jungle before is now a dry land full of dry blood. The smell was so bad but it was nothing compare when I was there alone. Seeing the land was so depressing, but sometimes we do have to listen to small warnings from a higher person. The Black Queen is still coming after us, so I quickly put my cloak on while I watcher her walking into the ocean.

"Joseph." Larry called me, I quickly looked into him and he leans towards me. "When will the chaos last? Will we survived?" his tone was serious and I don't know how to reply. I never thought about it, I keep on following the prophet but the direction to the road is invisible.

"To tell you the truth I honestly don't know." I said while we enter the bridge going to the fourth island. I took a heavy breath and took the bone out of my pocket. Valkyrie was looking from the distance so I tapped her shoulders and she quickly turned to me. "I don't know anything about this, but Grave wanted me to give this bone to a woman, I believe that it belongs to you." I presented the rib to her and her eyes began to tear up while covering her mouth with both of her hands. Was this a big deal to her? I have no idea.

"Joseph…" She whispered. She quickly hugged me and I felt her crying. I tapped her back and noticed we have arrived at the fourth island. I remember killing an tribe here, the non-believers. We were the last wagon to enter, and I quickly notice that we stopped. She let me go and I gave her the bone, she took it and got out of the wagon.

"We still need to explore this island, only the six of us can. We need to check all of the people's condition and preach them the Prophet's word." Larry leads. I quickly nodded while I look high up into the mountain.

"I'll be spreading his words in the mountain, I'll be alone there for a few days, and you'll have to wait for me here." They all looked to me and T.E. Conway approached me.

"Joseph Castlevine. Good luck." He whispered with a smile. I smiled back and looked into Valkyarie's eyes.

As she stare at the bone of a dead person, I slowly felt that I've seen her before. Somewhere, maybe it's because of Grave's potion aftermaths. I don't know. I am not curious about it.

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Queen - The Prophet's Song

Verse 2 Half - Bridge