[Book II Chapter 64] SARAH: Desperate Prayer

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With a great sweep of it hands, the colossal undead unleashed a towering twister. Orion foresaw their defenses being ripped apart. Frowning, he pointed Miracle Worker and swung. The roaring winds reversed direction, knocking down their creator and scattering the skeletal hordes.

The battle was going poorly. None of mankind’s greatest champions were here, and no reinforcements were coming. Yet he felt it in his being: this skirmish was a crucial inflection point. The fate of the world was in the balance.

Orion planted his staff and closed his sightless eyes. Please show me the light of hope. Since the beginning of the dark age, he’d been desperately searching for the path to survival. However, all he saw was dark futures, and all his actions amounted to was staving off the bleakest of them.

Ignoring the screech the colossal undead raising itself, Orion tuned out the outside world and plunged deep into the tides of destiny, beyond the probable into the depths of impossibility. The Ether rejected the intrusion, violently attacking his consciousness, but he couldn’t retreat. If I don’t find it now, I never will. After what seemed an eternity, he spotted a faint glimmer. There!

He latched on to the thread of fate. Ever so fragile and transient, it led to a dragon scorching the earth and a pillar of light which promised salvation.

Opening his eyes, Orion extended his senses to the young immortal struggling against the undead colossus. Doom already hovered over the Sanwue cultivator. For the first and last time, he extended Miracle Worker and evoked its true power. I offer everything.

The branch of Yggdrasil slipped from his fingers as they turned transparent, and he felt himself fading from existence. Across the battlefield, the young immortal had entered a righteous rage, his fiery blows single handedly forcing his giant opponent back. His courageous assault infected those around him, rallying the troops for a counter attack.

Orion smiled. By surviving today, Xia Ning’s life and death would reshape history, leading to a dragon god scorching the earth. He could rest without regrets.

Sarah lay on her back staring at the ceiling. Last night’s dream had finally revealed the fate of Miracle Worker’s previous master. Unknown to anyone, he sacrificed himself to save the world.

She’d also learned her staff’s illusory grace, ‘Desperate Prayer’. In exchange for a suitable sacrifice, the tide of a war could be rewritten, victor and vanquished reversed. It was terrifying ability, which Sarah couldn’t fathom ever using. No, that’s backwards. I can imagine being forced to use it, which is what makes it terrifying.

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She got up and went straight to the war room. “What’s the situation?” She asked.

“No change since yesterday.” Varon reported. “The demonic beasts continue to pressure us, but have made no major move. They likely haven’t realized that the Morning Sun has left us.”

Frowning, Sarah glanced at the map floating above the table. The top third of the country glowed red. Also worrying was the crimson spreading in the bordering Twisted Lands. It was only a matter of time until they were surrounded.

Adele Barsal had initially intended to retake Rosaria, but that was before she’d found out about the Kaygren’s revenant sovereigns, immortal level opponents which returned no matter how many times killed. Two had set their sights on Tulven: Turok, the Mad Wendigo, and Sekken, the Red Hound. The latter is the one who killed Andrew and the strongest of the eight.

“How are other places faring?” She asked.

“Big news on that front.” Varon revealed slowly. “Astra Skyfell and Stella Gladesong managed to freeze one of the revenants. So there’s only seven left.”

“That’s fantastic!” Sarah exclaimed. Capture was the sole proven method to eradicate the scourges. In Aery, under Stormwind, dozens of the most wretches souls to ever walk the earth languished for eternity. Unfortunately, the revenant sovereigns were all wearing severing collars. If seriously injured or immobilized, one of the dozen storm eagles accompanying them would activate the artifact’s magic, decapitating them.

Sarah noted her commander’s dour expression. “Why do I sense you are less than please?”

Varon sighed. “The revenants will shy away from Stella because of this, which makes them more likely to target Tulvin.”

Sarah grimaced. “I’m going to visit Rana. Please, do what you can to recruit more saints.”

With Barsal’s assistance withdrawn, Tulvin was relying heavily on foreign adventurers. These mercenaries were paid in water crystals gathered around the shores and refined at the city of Pearl. At least ten saints were needed to repel a sovereign, with more being better.

Her old mentor lived in a worn down cottage near the castle gates. From there she plied her trade to the people of Torris. Sarah entered the fortune telling shop and spotted the familiar figure at her table in a dark corner.

Rana looked up and grinned. “Welcome back.”

Sarah returned the smiled. “It’s lovely to see you again too.” Walking over and taking a deep breath, she continued with the purpose for her visit. “I’ve arrange for you to leave on a transport ship tomorrow,”

Once a week, a military-escorted convoy arrived from Neon to collect water crystals. Aside private airships, it was the only way out of Tulven.

“I couldn’t.” Rana shook her head. “Don’t those hold just a few passengers? Leave my spot to someone younger.”

Sarah knelt by the table and clutched Rana’s hands. “Please, join your grandchildren in Nordric. Do it for me. I can’t lose anyone else.”

The old woman recoiled at these last few words. “I’m so sorry about your brother… The cards have become less clear since the stars started disappearing. By the time they revealed the truth, it was too late.”

“Don’t make me go alone.” Rana pleaded. “I want to stay and help. I’m sure with my predictions I can be useful in some way.”

“I already have this.” Sarah placed Miracle Worker in front of them. “Which you and Andrew retrieved for me. It has let me see the very threads of fate. What I need from you is the peace of mind of knowing you’re safe.”

Rana studied Sarah carefully then pushed two cards towards her. “Death and Hope.” She stated. “Do you know why I drew these when scrying your future?”

Desperate Prayer… “I’m not sure.” Sarah lied.

“Promise you won’t do something foolish,” Rana said. “Do that and I’ll depart tomorrow.”

“I swear I’ll do everything in my power to avoid it.” Sarah declared wholeheartedly.