I’ll take you to hell with me!

*Clank*

“Kid, sorry I’m late.” Someone reaches down. Scoops the Earthen Icebomb from my hands with blinding speed and chucks it at the jackal Elder’s face. “Don’t tell Romy, please!”

*BOOM*

Well!

This is an unexpected surprise-

“Perideen!” I laugh as my Earthen Icebomb explodes and blows the Elder’s mask off. Perideen dashes in, I can see his movements now, and stabs his sword forwards. His blade finds the stunned man’s neck. Another Elder topples to the ground. “How much for you to kill all these idiots?” The assassin, Romy’s assigned protector, returns to me. In front of us, Elina ducks, kicks, and slashes, fending off seven Elders alone. But I can see her tiring. Her movements are slowing. When someone cuts her shoulder, she retaliates with a wild swing. As she presses her hand to the wound, another Elder jumps in and interrupts before she can heal it. “Perideen help Elina!”

“It’s not that simple, Kid.” His expression grin, the cockiness leaves as Perideen sees Jarshan still standing with Elder Heilan. His master doesn’t seem pleased. “Master...Jarshan. Are you really just going to watch?” He asks. However, his master simply continues to stare impassively at the moon.

“Don’t waste your words, Brat.” Elder Heilan steps forwards. Instantly, I see Perideen stiffen. “Jarshan knows what’s best for the Sect. Now I’ll give you one chance. In consideration for your master, step aside. You can’t fight me. The result was preordained from the beginning. Will you die for a Secthead that abandoned you, or work for the good of all?”

“The good of all?” Perideen’s sword lowers a bit. He looks back at me. And then Janus, unconscious on the ground beside me. Hopefully Janus isn’t dead. Elina didn’t get to heal him. “Your disciple lost. Myrr is the strongest. He is most suitable to lead the Sect. He is the best Candidate for us! How can you deny this?”

“Psha, he’s just a mage!” Elder Heilan reaches over to his back. Drawing a single long sword himself, he steps towards us, leaving Jarshan behind. “Just a puppet of the last Secthead! I knew it was a mistake to let her ascend to the position. The moment she spared her sister, it was obvious. But we were so blinded by her strength. We couldn’t see the weakness inside! Look at what she’s done to us! The old ways are gone! We’re taking in strays! Our commissions shrink every year and yet she does nothing! We gave her EVERYTHING she has, and she threw it all away to frolic with peasants. Do you think, this Boy she’s raised can do any better? He’s tainted by her! He will make us weak!”

“You think...Myrr...is a puppet?” Perideen’s voice becomes thoughtful. Another glance back at me. Then his spine straightens. He raises his sword and levels it at Elder Heilan. “You’re a fool, Heilan. And you’ll lead us to ruin. I’d rather die here than see you disgrace the name of Rainstopper!” At this, it becomes quiet. Elder Heilan continues to march forwards. He doesn’t move with blinding speed. No special tricks. The only thing that hints he’s anything but a normal man is his killing intent. It seethes out, billowing in a murky cloud so thick you can almost feel it pushing you back. My heart palpitates, missing a beat. Perideen shivers, an unconscious reflex. Then he forces himself to stand tall over me.

“GET AWAY FROM MY NEPHEW!” A wildcat lunges out of the darkness at Elder Heilan. His form blurs and Elina is knocked out of the sky. Her surprise attack turns into a pained cry as he blocks her blade smoothly, like he knew where she would be. Then he kicks her, hard, I don’t even see where. She comes crashing back, flipping over the ground. Only one sword in her hand, I don’t know where the other one is. Things are broken again, that’s for sure. Perideen bends down, never breaking eye contact with Elder Heilan as he checks on Elina. She gasps, clearly in horrific pain. Rising slowly, she ignores the strange angle of her arm, and gets up on her elbows. There are cuts all over her body. A spurt of blood shoots out of her mouth as she tries to talk. Perhaps anyone else in such mangled shape would die or at least be incapacitated by crippling pain. But Elina has always been one to hide her true feelings. “Hurk...get Myrr...away! I’ll hold him off!”

*Swoosh*

*Swoosh*

Shadows flickering. The remaining Elders catch up. They line up behind Elder Heilan like solemn guards. Waiting for his order. I see some of them missing fingers, hands, masks. Some are missing entirely, probably bleeding out in the dark. Elina did not show any mercy. But not a single one of them has any fear as they wait. A sign of their faith in him.

“Sorry, Jarshan.” Elder Heilan says without looking back. “I gave him a chance. But your disciple is in the way of progress. I’m afraid he’s made his choice.” And then he takes another step closer. Crap...can I fold? Was this really a bad hand? Panic rises in me inexorably as that killing machine approaches. Perideen tries to haul Elina to her feet. Somehow, she gets to her feet with his help. Elina’s teeth grit and she hisses-

“Just take him and run!” She’s so desperate to get me away. I’ve hardly seen anything so beautiful as she turns to me. The scars can’t hide the truth of her goodness. But it’s no use. Her sword falls to the ground, her fingers unable to hold it. She bends down to reach for it, and Perideen grimaces, losing his balance, trying to help her. It’s in that moment that Elder Heilan strikes. Unlike the other Elders, his speed can be compared to Romy. He just disappears with one step.

“ELINA-!” Perideen roars a warning, still tangled up with her. He tries to level his sword, his face falling. So slow, too slow. I can see it on his face. He knows this is the end. Elina, still holding onto Perideen’s arm, she looks up and sees Elder Heilan coming. A hopeless refusal to accept the truth fills her eyes and she gives up on trying to reach her blade. Instead, she straightens, just trying to rise into a fighting position. Maybe she wants to block with her body. I can imagine Elder Heilan chopping through her before reaching Perideen. Though Romy assigned him to protect me, I doubt she ever anticipated Perideen would be fighting someone this strong. It will all be over in an instant and then I’m next-

*Splurt*

The bright moon flashes as the last of the storm clouds blow away. Elder Heilan appears in front of us. His blade held up high as if to cleave Elina in two. She throws up her hands, shaking, and yet no blow ever comes. Instead, he turns his head down ever so slightly. There’s something coming out of his chest. It grows, and grows, like some sort of metallic alien, bathed in blood.

*Shing*

“I think that’s enough.” A cold voice drawls. The same one which every Candidate feared on the first day. But now...it has a new target.

*Thud*

Elder Heilan topples over. Behind him, Jarshan impassively swishes the blood from his long sword. His wolfish mask is laughing, spotless and white, as he winks at me. My relief is palpable. Instantly, I break out into a huge grin. Wheezing, my halfway healed ribs creak as I laugh!

You sly wolf...waiting until the last second.

Guess I made the right bet after all.

*Flicker*

*Flicker*

*Flicker*

They never see it coming. It never occurred to the Elders that Heilan would die like that. Or that Jarshan would turn on them. He played it well until the very last moment. Almost too well. Can I really trust him? I suppose there’s not much choice now. A deal with the devil, but perhaps we can both profit. The other Elders, tired from fighting Elina, are no match for Jarshan. Perideen starts to rush forwards to help his old master, but it’s done before he even has the chance. Death, death, and more death. One by one, they fall down, a red line on their throat, or a blade in their heart. When the last Elder falls, it’s the sister, Sein, of all people, she can only wail-

“Why?! Jarshan! We were just trying to make the Sect great again!” She cries. One hand missing, the other implores him for a reason. Beg all you want. You put yourself on my list. Insulting not just one but both my Aunties? Death is too good for you.

“Oh, shut up, Sein!” Jarshan rolls his eyes. Taking off his wolfish mask, he sucks in a big breath of air as he bends down beside her. Putting his foot in her back, he aims his blade center mass. “Die with a little dignity. You were Rainstopper. It’s embarrassing to see you like this! Don’t lie, you don’t give a damn about the Sect. You just hated Romy.”

“I don’t understand! You’d rather her brat takes over? We could have ruled the Sect together-!” Sein’s voice turns into a choked gasp as his sword enters back. Jarshan sighs as she gurgles out her last. Extricating his blade, he wipes it on her robes with disdain and stands up, staring at the moon. I can imagine what he’s thinking. Probably wondering if he made the right choice. How does it feel? Gambling on something uncertain? Is it exciting? Is it everything I promised you? Don’t worry, Jarshan...I did not lie. You chose correctly, just as Janus did. Even if you were playing both sides, it doesn’t matter.

“Well, little Pup. It seems you’ll be the next Secthead.” Jarshan doesn’t address Elina, who’s barely standing with Perideen’s help. Nor does he address his old disciple. Instead, he turns to me. “What will it be...Myrr? What is your order?”

“M-Master?”

“Jarshan?!”

They’re shocked. Elina and Perideen. Not me, I made the deal of course. When Jarshan came to me in secret, back then, I wasn’t a hundred percent sure he would choose my side. Maybe he was lying, just trying to get me to lower my guard. His offer was too good though. And it became even better when I told him what I had planned. I think I’ve always wanted to gamble before. To put my life on the line for something and not know the outcome. I won’t be doing it again, anytime soon, that’s for sure. But just this once, it felt good. Great even. Thrilling to know my life could end at any moment. Better than any casino game I’ve ever played. Staking your life...is this what living is like?

“Help Elina and Janus get to somewhere they can recover!” I tell Jarshan my first order. Then I rein in my dirty grin and survey the dead and the gone. Sein’s face glares at me indignantly from the mud. Unseeing, her eyes are still confused as to why she died. I stare back, wondering if her spirit is watching, spitting, howling in fury. Do you regret it now? Too late, you’re dead. “Don’t let anyone else know what happened here yet. The results of the Trials are not to leave this cliff. Got it?”

“Oh? But...?” Jarshan glances at me, but when he sees me watching him, he nods thoughtfully. Going over to Elina and Perideen, he offers them a hand. They are suspicious of him, but eventually, Perideen smiles and hands Elina to him so he can bend down and pick up Janus. On the Supervisor’s shoulder, Elina seems to be falling asleep. She struggles to stay awake, her eyes trying to find me. When they do, there’s a whole host of emotions in them. Shock, confusion, pride...her half-lidded eyes go through many transformations until the last one comes. A hint of fear and anger. You’re really still going to be mad that I had the Elder’s killed, even after all they put you though? Well, I suppose you wouldn’t be you otherwise.

“I’m sorry, Elina,” I tell her. She narrows her eyes at me, but I don’t think she manages to stay awake long enough to hear what I say, “It was for my goal. You may not like it, but you’re free now.” After that, Jarshan brings Elina away. Perideen does the same with Janus who is in bad condition, but still alive. Once Elina wakes up, she’ll be able to save him. As for me, I’m doing alright. Whole body hurts, my chest feels like it’s been kicked by a mule. But Elina healed it enough that I can breathe. I’ll live.

“I win...” I whisper to myself on that lonely peak above the Sisyphean Cliffs. Staring at the moon, I see why coyotes howl now after a successful hunt. “One step closer. First, we heal. Then we train...and...and then...finally, Merekeep! I’m coming for you! Hehe...hehehe....finally! Romy...you can’t stop me now. I stopped a storm after all. HAHAHAHA! I actually stopped a storm! Mephis, I don’t know where you are, but you will know it if you’re still out there! Their screams will definitely be loud enough to reach you! I’ll blow it all up! And burn it to the ground! Everything they have! All of it! What they did to me and Natalia, they will regret it! HAHAHAHAAH-

...

...

*Tap*

“Kid, you, okay?” Maybe I’m still laughing when Jarshan arrives, maybe I’m not. He certainly seems a bit apprehensive though. The tough, grizzled veteran assassin appears behind me like a ghost. But I am not afraid. Wherever his loyalties used to lie, he is my ghost now. The whole Sect is mine!

“Is Elina alright? Janus too?” I ask.

“She’s sleeping. We know a thing or two about injuries, even without magic,” Jarshan replies. “Heilan’s disciple will be fine until she regains her strength.” For a moment, he thinks. Gazing at the moon with me. The wolf Elder and the boy who grew up with beasts. “You know, Kid...err Interim Secthead...we can’t hide the news forever. People will want to know who won. They’ll need assurance so you can secure your position. Do you understand what I’m saying?” My response is just a glare. I stare at him with undisguised hostility until even Jarshan is forced to scratch his nose awkwardly. Then I answer.

“You think I don’t know that?” I tell him.

“My apologies,” Jarshan is smooth. A cunning wolf who has survived a long time playing the game. “I just can’t understand why you wouldn’t announce the results immediately. That would help you gain power and legitimacy as the next Raingod.”

“Mhm, it would,” I reply. “But actually, I was thinking...it might be troublesome if people knew my identity. Considering what comes next, that is. Tell me, what do you think of Janus? Do you think he can be trusted? You know...I think he has a nice face...wouldn’t he be a pretty, what did you call it? Interim Secthead? See, this is what I had in mind...I was going to take a little trip. And then...

...

...

What do you think?”

My whispered plan causes Jarshan’s face to light up.

“Ooh...oh that’s good! I love it! But how are you going to get inside? Tell me more, Pup! Tell me it all!” He howls with laughter and the moon observes our pact. These Rainstoppers, they’re all the same. They only want one thing. Blood. Promise them blood and lots of it and they’ll be happy. That’s what you never understood, Romy. You have to give them something. Even if it’s for their own good, they won’t listen to you if you just try to hold them back. A pack of dogs, they’ll bite and tear the hand that feeds them. But give them a goal...some common enemy...and they’ll be the sharpest tool, a blade to do your will. That’s how you teach them to obey. You give them a reason to exist!

...

...

Finally, the peak grows silent as the echoes of our secrets fade away.

“You’re...mad!” Jarshan is excited. He can see it now. The endgame I had in mind. Even though it’s a dangerous path, despite the fact that I’m using them, he loves it. It’s everything the Rainstoppers wanted and more. He’ll run headfirst into the fire and flames if I command it now. He seems giddy, realizing that I’m not Romy. Not by a long shot. “So how do we start?"

“First, you’re going to show me to your treasury.” I tell him. All this time searching for riches, it better have been worth it.

“And then?” Jarshan’s eagerly asks. Hmm how much to tell him?

...

...

One more clue won’t hurt.

“Well...I suppose it all starts with cheese...”