Dire Consequence

Nerva had been overtaken by sundown near the territorial boundary of Morroc and Payon. Whether he liked it or not he had to camp, and his Peco-peco was eager for rest after such a long journey from Izlude. He chose a cool place beneath the shade of a yew tree, and there he removed his cloak from his shoulders and with it constructed a crude roof.

Using his Fireball technique he created a small but warm blaze to keep him company. Nerva reclined on the grass, his head pillowed on a rock by the trees roots. His emotionless eyes stared into the fire as he was deep in thought.

Who on earth Resurrected him?

Why was he brought back?

How many years have passed? Was this the same Midgard where he was born and died?

On his travel earlier that day he sensed that it had just been a few years after his death. There were no alarming changes that could terrify him into madness. But how long was his death? How long had his slumber taken place?

Was Firnheild still alive?

Nerva wondered how the people would react if they knew he was alive. He shifted his gaze onto the Peco-peco, who was busy pecking the ground for earthworms. Then he held up his sakkat.

He got the Peco-peco by stealing. He reached the Izludian mainland by swimming the sea naked. The waters were freezing like hell, but he braved the waves. On the coast after magicking himself into his old Wizards Robes he found a drunken Knight unconscious on the sand. The Peco-peco was looking dolefully at its master, and right then and there Nerva claimed it as his own. Nerva also stole all of the Knights items and zeny.

His sakkat had a different story. He found a Merchant selling assorted headgear by the fountain in Izlude. He kept his head bowed all the time as he spoke to the Merchant and asked if there was any chance he was selling a sakkat. The Merchant thought it was funny to have a Wizard speaking with his whorl. Nervas red hair was short; it was the exact length when he died, so he had to bow to hide his face and prevent a wide hysteria.

He yawned deeply.

What was going to happen to him now? Surely this secret would be made known. And his grave was badly destroyed when he left it. His only prayer now was that nobody visits his final resting-place. But of course this was impossible, he being Rune-Midgards greatest hero.

Nerva felt a dull ache in his heart. He felt so empty. He had nobody and nothing to return to. It was like being roused from a much-coveted sleep. He felt so annoyed.

He could not return to Firnheild. He could not present himself to his kind, the Wizards. He could not go home to his parents and to his brother. He could not because it was too dangerous and too painful for them.

So what was he going to do? Commit suicide to return to peace? No, he could not do that. It was an insult to whoever Resurrected him. What then, wait? Wait until Death runs after him and drags him back?

Nerva turned on his side. He fell asleep almost immediately.

Altair was in a bad mood until evening. Lilian was had not been able to cool him down for even a tiny bit. His lips were shut and his violet eyes were narrowed into slits. Earlier Lilian prepared all of her brothers favorite food in the hopes it would cheer him up. But it did not. Altair ate silently, and when Lilian tried to talk to him she never got an answer.

That night the house was silent. Altair retired early to his bedroom, leaving the house to Lilian. The young woman sat by the fireplace, staring at the hearth and thinking of a way to cheer up her brother.

Lightning flashed across the night sky, and five seconds later thunder boomed. In shock, Lilian shrieked and slid from her armchair and onto the floor. A sudden and strong gust of wind hit the windows and threw them wide open. The gust killed the fire blazing at the hearth, throwing the house into pitch darkness. Rain entered freely through the windows, soaking the curtains.

"Oh, blast!" Lilian grumbled as she groped her way in the darkened landing.  "Now I cant see a thing!"

Lilian turned around and knocked a vase to the floor. She tried to walk, but the vase got in the way of her foot and caused her to slip. There was a loud thud as she slammed painfully on the floor. She cursed under her breath.

"Damn!" she said.

Lightning flashed.

A monster, wielding an axe, whose blade could have been two feet long, was standing right before Lilian. The specter was so terrifying that Lilian had no choice. She screamed at the top of her lungs.

"AAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

 The monster brought down the axe and it crashed into the wooden floorboards made of ebony. The blade missed Lilians right leg by three centimeters. From upstairs a door slammed open, and feet descending the stairs could be hear.

"LILIAN?!? LILIAN!!!"

Lilian was about to answer her brothers call when the huge Knight wielding the axe found her mouth and covered it with his gigantic palm. Lightning flashed yet again and every window in the house was shattered to bits as Assassins entered through them.

"Find the sword and the girl!"

Altairs eyes widened. He could not see. He could not go to his sister. Somewhere a clenched fist smashed into his jaw, making him fall onto his back.

"LILIAN!" came Altairs strangled yell.

"BROTHER, HELP ME!" Lilian cried.  "HELP ME!"

"LILIAN!"

Altair made to stand, but somebody kicked him hard in the abdomen. Another one gave him a powerful right-hook punch. And yet a third one slammed a huge porcelain vase into the Blacksmiths head.

Consciousness quickly left Altair.

Lilian struggled with her captors grip. The Knight slung her onto his shoulder like a common rag. Tears were flowing unstoppably from her eyes. The door was torn from its hinges, and the attackers went out into the night with Lilian and Heavens Blade with them.

Nerva bolted upright, his eyes wide. He quickly snatched off his cloak and wore it over his bare shoulders. He roused his Peco-peco from sleep and within five minutes they were dashing under the night sky, with only the moon and stars to guide their way.

"Hurry up!" Nerva shouted, lashing the harness fiercely.

The Peco-peco cawed and pumped more efforts into its legs. The bird dashed faster.

"Danger!" said Nerva.  "There is a stench of danger in the air!"

In two hours time Payons massive walls loomed into view. Nerva urged his Peco-peco to go faster. The Wizard was gritting his teeth.