La’Narsh is a beautiful yet dangerous remote region that is home to many dragons and Yrmdra(wyverns). At the center of the region is the mighty crystallized Aeon, Bahamut. Its body is wrapped around a massive floating lake within a grand valley. Lake La’Narsh itself appears to just be a floating sphere of water.

Gahldra, Ziikah, and Aldrog are floating above the lake and under the head of Bahamut, which appears to have his head pointed downward towards the lake. The three Ohgahnians marvel at the wondrous site. While they themselves are massive they look and feel minuscule in the presence of the Aeon.

The eyes of the Aeon glow red and silver and the region trembles. The Aeon speaks with a powerful masculine voice.

Bahamut: Children of my children. Why have you come to disturb my slumber?

Gahldra: Oh fellow servant of The Will. We the seed of Ohgahn come humbly before you to request your aid in our creator’s campaign to restore the world to its proper order.

There is a long pause before Bahamut lets out a growl that rumbles the entire region.

Bahamut: Why should the third born of Terrestrial Creation adhere to the cries of mortals? Begone from my presence, before I send my loyal kindred after you!

Several Lyrkrian and Iarlan dragons and Yrmdra reveal themselves from hidden crevices around the area, snarling and roaring in hostility. Gahldra and Ziikah look terrified and slowly float away from him a few yards. Aldrog remains firm.

Ziikah: I’m beginning to have second thoughts on disturbing the king of the dragons.

Aldrog: I-I have sworn to shield and protect the son of the Celestials. I have come too far at the behest of my master oh great lord of the dragons. If you wish to smite me in my righteous quest then the blood of a faithful servant of The Will will be on your hands.

Gahldra and Ziikah look at Aldrog incredulously, astounded by his moxie. Bahamut and his fellow dragons growl in response. Bahamut then begins to chuckle.

Bahamut: Indeed, one amongst you is truly my progeny. I will heed your quest for greater strength Aldrog, son of Allagog.

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Back within the Temple of Apollyce the Queen of Queens continues to admonish her loyal daughters.

Queen of Queens: The might of the Aeons is not to be trifled with my children. And although his current level of power is of no account, the young meddlesome king is on the verge of acquiring the Vu-Zyrr.

Heldine: The Vu-Zyrr?

Hannah: Wait, it’s not the fabled Witch Slayer I’ve been hearing about recently, is it?

Helga: You’re correct Hannah…

Queen of Queens: The Vu-Zyrr is a strange relic forged within a realm beyond time. It’s might does not obey the principles I have laid forth for this world.

Heldine, Hannah, and Helda look astonished.

Helda: Y-You mean it is beyond even you, Mother?

Queen of Queens: I’m afraid I must humbly admit it is. The respectable power that lies dormant within it cannot be drawn out so easily, however. Only the most austere of Sagi may relinquish its devilish might. And among the austere, only the royal seed of Massadah can wield it.

Heldine: Loc, and his uncle Gideon…

Helda clenches her fist in furry.

Helda: I don’t know what your designs are for Loc Mother, but you must allow me the privilege of killing that boastful old man. He made a fool out me in front of the other queens!

Helga chuckles.

Helga: I told you that old fool would give you trouble. The Arcane are not as weak as they were once upon a time.

Queen of Queens: You may plot out his end however you wish Helda, but you are not to exact your revenge until I will it, understood? I made a promise to Amelia that she would be present when the Massadan prince draws his last breath.

Helda reveals a sinister smile.

Helda: Oh thank you, Mother. And I will personally see to it that he suffers a most agonizing death for his foul deeds.

Heldine: W-Well I don’t approve. That’s my children’s great uncle you’re talking about. If he is to pay for unpardonable crimes then I request he does so at least after my firstborn gets to meet him. Loc has so few family members left as it is.

Everyone but Hannah lets out a cringe induced sigh at Heldine’s statement.

Queen of Queens: Very well, I will consider it Heldine.

Helda: Mother! You can’t be serious…

Queen of Queens: I take into consideration all of my children’s requests. That includes your baby sister Helda.

Helda performs a subtle pout and speaks under her breath--

Helda: We’re immortal yet I know we’ll never outlive the day that becomes a reality.

Helga chuckles and Hrist smirks.

Helga: How does it feel to have the shoe on the other foot? Hrist and I rarely had our way when you were the youngest of the family.

Helda sticks her tongue out at Helga.

Queen of Queens: My adopted son is too foolish and prideful to make proper use of the Vu-Zyrr, however, the moment he draws that spear from the corpse of the late Queen of Lyrkru, he will disrupt the natural order I have decreed for this realm.

Hannah: What do you mean Mother?

Queen of Queens: The Aeons I have labored so intensely to subdue will slowly begin to reawaken.

Hannah: How come, Mother?

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Aldrog: You mean your brethren would seek his life?

Bahamut: Indeed. The Vu-Zyrr is a holy relic forged within the Celestial Realm long before the Terrestrial Realm and its inhabitants were made. It is an Aeon from beyond time and it will harken only to the creed that crafted it.

Gahldra: But, Loc is a descendant of that creed.

Bahamut: That may be true but the Vu-Zyrr is unruly, and will only obey the power that forged it. The son of Massadah may bend its will through the power of the Witch Tier, but it will never truly accept him as its master. If disturbed it will cry out to its Aeon brethren to be freed.

Ziikah: Then, perhaps it should be left undisturbed.

Bahamut: The son of Massadah must possess more than the Witch Tier if he is to set this world free from the Queen of Queens. The Vu-Zyrr will be his undoing, as it was for his forefathers.

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Heldine: You mean they’ll attack Loc?!

Queen of Queens: The cost of the Vu-Zyrr is steep. Even if he were to retire it shortly after its reawakening he will be hunted for the rest of his days by beings even I would have to exert effort into subduing. Even my spells cannot tame the greatest of these creatures. But fret not my daughters, there is nothing that is unbreakable when they are within my hands.

Hannah: Then why won’t you stop him Mother?

Queen of Queens: I am the god of all creation now, and The Will means to challenge my divine authority. The outcome of Loc’s bumbling adventures will determine this little contest of ours. And so far I have allowed my son to believe he has a wager in it.

The Queen of Queens’ daughters each give her a concerned look as she chuckles.

Queen of Queens: Do not burden yourselves with this matter my children. No Celestial is above me. Perhaps they were at one time, but not in this age. Loc’s might would have to exceed the power of creation itself in order to overthrow me. Which is a feat no mortal can achieve.

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Gahldra: Would you answer the call of the divine weapon, Lord Bahamut?

Bahamut: I am loyal only to The Will, and am destined to heed the call of the Angel of Ages when she reawakens in the next millennium. Until then I shall remain dormant and aid the children of Massadah to the best of my ability.

The Ohgahnians look pleased.

Bahamut: But be warned young souls, I will not suffer the weak to represent me in our bout against evil. You must pass my trial first before I may deem you worthy of my Ohgahnian training. And failure would mean the death of you. Do you still wish to undertake it?

The three Ohgahnians slowly move forward in acceptance.

Bahamut: I lend my proposal only to the son of Allagog.

Gahldra and Ziikah look taken aback.

Bahamut: For The Will has only deemed him worthy of my discipline.

Aldrog looks honored.

Aldrog: I-I accept, Your Eminence.

Aldrog smiles.

Aldrog: (Don’t worry, Captain Loc. When I return to the crew I’ll truly be worthy of being your shield. And will fulfill my oath to your father.)

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Within the busy and bustling streets of Tep-Tep City is Tina and Dean. Tina eagerly studies the busy nightlife, in hopes of finding what she’s searching for. Dean listlessly follows her.

Dean: I’m telling you Tina, we’re not gonna find this roaming one-eyed bounty hunter. That old man was missing a lot more than just his teeth.

Tina: You see Dean? This is what happens when you spend too much time in the office. Your sleuthing skills dull to a nub. Every reporter worth their salt knows it’s always the crazy ones that give the best clues. They have nothing to hide.

Tina tips a Veguhl peddler as they pass him by. He looks very grateful. Dean sighs in response.

Veguhl Peddler: The Will bless you ma’am.

A young Veguhl boy runs by, bumping into Tina.

Veguhl Boy: Oh, pardon me miss!

Tina: Just be careful now.

Tina smiles as the boy continues on in a hurry.

Dean: I say we’d have better luck in the Iarlan capital. We’ll never find him in this dump of a town. Besides, this part of the city especially isn’t safe. I overheard it belongs to some rough Veguhl outlaws.

Tina: Don’t tell me you’re scared, Dean.

Dean: Who me? O-Of course not. I’m just looking out for your safety, that’s all.

Tina: I can handle myself just fine, Dean. Being a good reporter isn’t all I know. Now help me find a grungy, one-eyed, womanizing swordsman.

Tina and Dean halt from the uproar of a noisy pub.

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Within the large noisy pub are a bunch of rough Veguhl miners and outlaws. Selma is serving as a bartender.

Tina and Dean enter the pub and sit down at the bar. Dean looks anxious.

Tina: A club soda please.

Selma: Alright.

Selma looks at Dean.

Selma: And what will it be for you handsome?

Dean: Water! Uh, just water.

Selma: Coming right up.

A fat and sloppy Veguhl man sits next to Dean and belches into his face. He then turns and signals to Selma for a drink. Dean looks equally terrified as he does disgusted.

Dean: We get our drinks and we leave.

Tina is too absorbed into the commotion coming from the corner of the room to respond to Dean. She sees a drunk Kenjiro surrounded by a group of sexy, scantily clad Veguhl women having a good time. Among the Veguhl women is Chelsea, who appears to be the most voluptuous of the bunch.

Kenjiro: You know, outside of your wings and feathers for hair you damsels are quite fair.

Chelsea: Why don’t we take this little party of ours upstairs. There you can marvel at more than just our wings.

Kenjiro hiccups with a smile.

Kenjiro: Is that a promise?

The women giggle and begin to lead him to a door in the back of the building. Selma serves Tina and Dean their drinks.

Dean: Get a load of that chump. He’ll be lucky if he has his drawers in the morning.

Tina reveals a wide smile.

Tina: Dean, I think we’ve found our man.

Dean: Huh?!

Chapter End