Redemption
"Necromancy's true potential lies in the dead we can put to rest." - Philius Gern, A Study of the Not So Black Arts
Percival scanned the gazes of his friends, except Coco's, and took in their advice. Eryl held her breath as she found herself at the mercy of the very fellow she had tried to destroy. The air was thick with a tentative grimness at what could be done. Aurus joined the group at the flank, and Zulan at the other, holding the child close to her breast. The world around them took a eerie chill as the destruction still subsided. For a passing moment, the young boy closed his eyes and thought hard, thought hard on what all they had to say.
Other guardians showed themselves, teleporting and folding in out of space. Decanus, the real Decanus, billowed in a tattered black cloak. Tulan kept a firm hold of her hair as the wind threatened to blow it into her face with Akanus' arrival. The final guardian gave a pleasant air, as she always did, but Modeka had no power strong enough to turn the tide on this dark moment. She turned to the others, and they all regarded one another.
And then they regarded Eryl with contempt.
Aurus was the first to act, freshly drawing a blade from the earth under them. The welshgirl caught sight of the weapon, and her eyes began to fill with tears, once more. Maelgwyn couldn't be bothered to find any grace in death, not after fighting so hard to avoid it and an eternity of imprisonment. Instead, she just sobbed as her sight fell low to the ground, she knew what her fate was. Mercy was a long shot, she knew this, and slowly, began to accept it. When the blade came high, there was a moment where she stopped her tears. Then and there, she had a little dignity, and choked her fear.
"Stop," ordered Percival, eying the dark executioner, and his blade. "No one is dying today."
The black blade floated, still held tightly in the grasp of its master, but when Aurus saw the resolve in the boy's eyes, he lowered his blade. Eryl's hands, shivering against the floor, began to show her indignation, but her face showed disbelief when she brought it up for all to see. Percival's gaze seemed to especially hard to meet, with what had transpired. An uneasy quiet took the field again, stealing away from the grass that was growing beneath their feet, and the sky clearing above them.
"My friends," started the young Caxton, pressing the issue, "insist that what you did isn't worth an execution. They tell me you did this out of desperation."
Eryl looked up at them, her face showing less gratitude than they may have liked. She didn't enjoy the pity, and insisted on putting her eyes to the floor.
Percival downed his gaze as well, before finally letting go of Miyuki, dropping his hands to his sides.
"Why did you only take one arm? I remember only that much," asked the boy.
"Because it was all I needed," answered Eryl. "I thought I could just... I could just take that. I just needed that much flesh... That much... That much mana..."
There followed another moment of contemplation as the summoner began to think. His fingers trailed up to his arms, and he rubbed that very same arm Eryl had taken from him earlier, before the fight itself. He rubbed it gently, as if caressing an old tool. Zulan caught on to what he was about to do first of all, seeing the very look in his eyes. The water goddess stretched out an arm, but was too late.
With a snapping light, and an ebbing glow, came Percival's left arm, removed from his shoulder, by his own accord. The limb hovered above his right hand, sinewy tethers replaced with links of energy. Spiralling script wrote itself onto the length of it, from finger tip to severed end. With that, the young man head out the body part, offering to Eryl. Her eyes were as wide as saucers.
"This is my arm. A part of me. I am giving to you. That enchantment is of the Occultus Magica. The
binding script. Until you can break it, you will never be able to cast spells or use magic, just like myself. You will live as a font does, with what little flesh this arm gives you for a body," decreed the boy. The pitiful girl in front of him didn't think twice, she took the arm, and clutched it tight to her chest.
"But-- but... You... Why?" she asked, fear choking whatever other emotions tried to bubble to the surface. In response, the boy gestured his right to his friends, those who had fought to free him from certain death.
"They are my closest friends. If they can still vouch for you after what you've done, then you deserve a chance at redemption. To earn your magic back. To live outside this place." said Percy with a degree of admiration to those very same friends.
"I'm... still a mage... Even without magic, you know what that means," came Eryl's response, with a hint of warning.
"It's up to you decide what that means, now," answered the boy firmly, who threw his hand up and cast Eryl out of this existence. The last thing they saw was the shocked expression on her face, a particularly sweet treat.The heroes of this story found themselves unable to enjoy or dislike for long. Percival, with only his back to them, cast the group back into the sky, much as they had arrived.
"Thank you."
----
After the excitement, the group awoke to Alistar . Percival and Elizabeth were gone, the boy taken to the hospital for a grievous injury that seemed to suddenly 'appear'. He had woken up an hour ago, and had called back, explaining to him the nature of the incident, though no mention seemed to be made of Eryl Maelgwyn or her actions against him. Mr. Caxton explained further to the group that the official story would be that Percy was in a car accident, the Occultus Magica' would sort out the remainder of the details. All he asked, before his own profuse thanks, was that the group lay low, with attention especially given to Riley on that instant.
From there, with the dream ended, and the story over, the Heroes of the Elementalia Magicus, were free to go home.
----
Much as I have I written before, and much more shall I ever write for every one that follows after my passing. Learn from my mistakes, learn from the mistakes of others. Learn where I went wrong, and learn what can be done to make it right. I lost my way, and my writings. I used to love this place, the beautiful land. Every evening and morning and day I spent with great splendor, enjoying the fruits of its safety.
My complacency became my undoing, I took for granted the safety of this world, and it darkened upon me when I least expected it. None of the guardians could save me. I spent a long time in this darkness, and it brittled me.
Yet, one group of people, young and special came to save me from that very darkness. Despite everything thrust upon them, despite every ounce of fury given to them, they rose above and never forgot what they came for. Their names are not important, because I'm sure the world will know them soon enough.
While I have survived this debacle, I carry scars, and a constant reminder of my mistake. I am not hindered, though, I have survived this long on what little mage-power was granted unto me. I will continue to survive, I will continue to write, and I will continue to live.
- Eryl Maelgwyn,
Inheritor of Cardiff and Scribe of the Elementalia Magicus