Star Warden: Slayer of Evil. Chapter 11

 

11

Built on an artificial island in the middle of a swamp lay the castle of Joyous Guard, the headquarters of the Order of Lancelot. Sam learned from Gareth that the Lancelot of Aetherium was similar to the one in Earth's Arthurian legends. Save for running off and dying with a married woman. He was a faerie knight of the highest regard who was the first to repent and serve the Celestial Powers in a time of heresy and evil.

The castle appeared more of a natural formation than anything built by mortal hands. A closer look showed no sign of nails and there were curves and grooves that no man-made building would have created. The towers themselves reminded Sam of his treetop home, and the ramparts connecting them looked more like wide walled branches. All of this made Sam question if he could indeed call the island it stood upon artificial, but he put his curiosity away for later.

The tight causeway was the only way through the stone wall, which was still largely intact, that guarded the castle and the small village that formed beneath it. The surrounding swamp contained floating broken SWAT-bots, but other than that no sign of any of Daimos' forces. The small village beyond the inner wall was completely deserted but no sign of any struggle.

All three of them suspected something suspicious was afoot. The eerie quiet, the near completely undamaged environment, and the fact there were no guards, traps, or challenges, and the castle gateway was left unbarred. The little village was also unruffled as no meals were left behind, no pictures left on the wall, every home and building was clean as if everyone ensured that they would leave as little of presence as possible.

“I do not believe this trap is set for the enemy. This is reserved for us,” spoke Kaguya. Her tone was ominous. “The Abyss is stronger here..but it is trying to mask its presence from us. Only a conscious mind could do such a thing.”

“Gareth does Joyous Guard look exactly like you remember it,” Sam asked.

“Absolutely.”

“Then if this is a legitimate demon. We have to play things carefully.” There was no cheerfulness in his speech. The tone was flat and stern. Dawnbringer felt heavy on his back, heavier than usual with a slight glow emitting from it. In times like these, he wondered if Dawnbringer had its own sentience and was trying to express it. It could just be the holy magics reacting in proximity to the unholy abyssal energies. But Sam had long ago thrown away his skepticism for the fantastical, a sentient sword wasn't out of the realm of possibility for him.

“Balthazar will be here soon,” Sam continued. “If this is a trap then we need to make sure the non-combatants are kept out of harm's way. Gareth you and Kaguya will stay here and I'll go inside the castle.”

Kaguya did not object at least not verbally. He could read the concern in her eyes.

Sir Gareth was not one to hold his tongue. “Alone in a demon's den? Have you taken leave of your senses?”

“All three of us charging in will just be feeding the demon. But if we can make it fight on two fronts we'll win. Kaguya can be out here attacking the demon on the spiritual front and the non-combatants can add to her power through prayer. I have Dawnbringer and my armor is protected by the Enchantress's wards. You don't and thus should be out here in case the demon spawns creatures to attack Kaguya.”

“That leaves you alone to keep the demon distracted in the physical realm.”

“Price I pay for that oath.” Sam kept his eye on Kaguya. They spoke their hidden language, worry, reassurance, reluctance, and soon acceptance was all conveyed with their eyes alone. His warm hand touched Kaguya's cheek and wiped away a tiny tear from her eye.

“I shall travel with you in spirit. In Kira's name I cast this spell, may you have strength beyond strength, may your senses never fail you, and may each blow be deflected, for any that is not may your body recover so the spirit may fight on.” Her eyes turned solid purple as light in the form of tendrils that wrapped around his body and connected to him like wires.

He felt the infusion of energy stronger than all others. Instead of each spell hitting him individually, they fell upon him like a tidal wave. His heart pumped like a Viking berserker. The strength of an ancient Greek warrior such as Odysseus or Achilles ran through his blood and bone. The images in his vision became sharp as an eagle's and his ears sensitive enough to hear even the smallest pebble move. In any other time, he would enjoy the sensation, for now, he prays all the precautions are enough.

In his journeys, he had never encountered a fully summoned demon. He had only heard them in his education. It is stated that long ago Aetherium was whole and inhabited by what historians called the Tuatha; The People. They lived long and fruitful lives with no fear of death, in harmony with the Powers. Until dark spirits from the Abyss took the form of powerful dragons dressed in metal scales and seduced the people with great knowledge and power.

The Tuatha were already a space capable civilization of immense power, they had built the celestial mirrors to travel and seeded life on new worlds. But with the knowledge of the Abyss, they grew even stronger to the point they believed they were gods. They rejected the long-taught and hard-earned spiritual gifts for scientific sorcery and many became hedonistic and tyrannical. Cruelty and injustice was the order of the day as the sorcerer-scientists were concerned with only the material and rejected any and all forms of objective morality.

Many were martyred opposing the moral decay as the Tuatha fell into depravity. But all was not lost as the Celestial Powers sent three servants in the guise of female mortals Kira, Cerena, and Mira to castigate and cast down the tyrants. Those who had stayed loyal took up arms and many repented their sins and joined these Emissaries. Those who refused, either too deeply enthralled or those who feared losing their powers resisted with all their might. Even summoning the metallic dragons to aid them, to no avail.

The faithful won but at the cost of their once golden world becoming the scattered floating landmasses that is Aetherium along with cutting off access to their far-flung dominions. The three Emissaries rewarded the faithful making them Faeries, while those who once served evil but repented were made into the Milesians. Those who refused to repent were given swift punishment stripped of their bodies and grace, their souls were destroyed and reformed into the moon of Fomoria.

Fomoria was linked to the Abyss and a visible reminder to all of Aetherium of the eternal punishment that awaited them if they choose evil. But inside that very moon the demons spawned, the sapient spirits forged from the bitterness and hatred of the evil souls that created it. They desire nothing more than vengeance, beasts of hate, and destruction. If left unchecked they would destroy all of reality in their pursuits. Fortunately for mortal souls, their appearance on the physical plane is rare. The curse of the sun bounded to them ensured they could not survive in the daylight.

Priests, shrine maidens and other servants of the Celestial Faith cracked down with merciless efficiency collecting and destroying demonic knowledge and executing those who would summon them or study without proper sanction. But with the curse of eternal night demons would have an easier time to enter the physical plane or for the Dark Lord to summon one. It also means that the only way to banish it would be through Dawnbringer.

“Sam,” said Kaguya softly. “Do your best and give the demon your worst.”

“Always.”

“Before you leave take this.” Sir Gareth gave Sam a shield. It was larger than his old buckler and had a crudely painted cross on its front. “I was told this was a symbol of your faith. Hopefully, it will remind you of home and give you strength in this endeavor.”

He replaced the buckler with the larger shield. It would deny him the use of the fusion cannon, but it would do no good against the demon. Weapons of the physical plane were obsolete in the face of a demonic attack. Blessed weapons were needed to harm and banish them.

Sam steps forth to the castle stopping just before the final threshold. He crossed himself. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me.”

Chapter 10

Chapter 12