Leandra absently pushed a few stray hairs back from her face, and gazed out over the valley. A long line of refugees stretch from the town of Aslet to the southern pass. From her vantage in the mountains, the refugees seemed to inch along at a snail's pace. It would be many hours, perhaps even days before they would reach the safety of the Asurion fortress straddling the mountains...and the shadowed glens of the dark elves were in their way, forcing the refugees into a lengthy detour. All this was not new. What was new was the plume of dust rising from the western pass. "Lady." Leandra glanced behind her to find Captain Selin standing close by. "Yes, Captain?" "You seem troubled," the Captain said. He was a veteran of many conflits, though younger than she; thin, with dark blue eyes and brown hair, dressed in an Asurion officer's uniform, though without armor. "Have you seen it yet?" Leandra asked. "Seen what?" "You haven't, then. Take a look." She jerked her head toward the dust. Selin walked forward to stand at her side. After a moment, he said, "Oh." "Indeed. Have you any thoughts?" He squinted. "That doesn't seem like smoke." "It is not," Leandra replied. "Scouts report that the demons set no fires...yet, a horde like that cannot move without leaving some trace behind." The Captain rubbed his chin. "Of course." "Have you any more ideas about fortifying this area?" Leandra asked, though she knew what the answer would be. "No," the Captain admitted. "The garrison of Aslet was only recently formed...as you know. There was not enough time to properly research the valley." Leandra nodded. She did indeed know...technically, she was a part of the Asurion garrison, though wizards often garnered more respect than generals. "In short, the situation remains unchanged," she said. "In short, yes." Yet they kept asking, over and over. Leandra took a moment to wonder about that. Was it because of the feeling that, somehow, asking the question enough times might produce another answer? Perhaps it was human nature to talk about things even if they were unchangeable. The gods knew humans talked about anything and everything, whenever the opportunity presented itself... Perhaps that was why the Captain said what he did. "Wind," he muttered. "The path to the light of the future lies through the shadows of the past..." Leandra blinked, and turned to him. "What was that?" "Hm?...Oh, I'm sorry. Just a rhyme they say sometimes, in Alset." He gestured to the west. "The clouds, and the wind...they reminded me of it, somehow." Leandra stared at the plume. Shadows of the past... "Call the officers together," she said. "...Lady?" "We're out of options." ===== ------------------------------------------- Vampire Legend R, Part 15: Winds of Change ------------------------------------------- ===== Warning: Contains a warning. ===== Renaku peered at the cave. It was dark, and forbidding. As it seemed to be an entrance to the Fumu stronghold, though, he was hardly surprised. The cave looked too regular in size to be natural, but showed no marks of picks, shovels or other human tools. Renaku idly speculated that some demons with stone-related powers had hollowed it out. Suddenly Renaku sensed a demonic presence behind him. He spun, unsheathing his demonslayer blade, and sliced at something that flew out of the darkness. There was a bird's screech, and then something flew by Renaku and into the cave, leaving a small flare of energy behind in Renaku's sword. Renaku stared after the bird. After a moment, a howl arose from somewhere deep inside the cave...then it was echoed by more howls, in eerily contrasting tones. It seemed there was little chance of secrecy now. Renaku adopted a battle stance, and charged into the cave. ===== "Not much longer now," a soft voice murmured. "Is everything in readiness?" another whispered. "Yes, everything...what's that?" A bird flapped into the room, perching on a stone outcropping. After a moment, a shadowy form appeared around it. "Quoth? What are you doing here?" "There is...a complication," the form managed. "Spit it out, Quoth. What happened?" "Not all...of my being was...absorbed, by the sword." There was a pause. "Then, will the end come as we have planned?" the first voice murmured. "We must change our plans," a new, darker voice intoned. "We must be prepared for both outcomes. Ideally, he shall be ours, but if not, we shall destroy the world without him. Geib, return to your lair to resume your work. Scita, take your position here. Quoth, come with me." "Yes, Lord!" ===== Renaku slipped his sword past the demon's guard, neatly skewering it. Its life force was ripped from from its form and drawn into his body, turning it to ash. Renaku exhaled, and looked around. All the demons seemed to be taken care of...at least for the moment. He turned and walked on down the cave...not bothering to sheath his sword. The Fumu stronghold was organized in a rough spiral, with tunnels to the outside branching off the main corridor. It was taking him a long time to traverse the caves, but the path was reasonably straightforward. Then a demonic presence intruded itself on Renaku's supernatural awareness. He sighed, and readied a combat stance...and then stared. The demon that stepped into view was no Fumu. It wore silver armor and a forest green cape, and wielded a large sword. Renaku searched his memory. "...Giovanni?" "You remember...good," Giovanni said. "But you died..." Renaku thought for a moment. "Not that that stopped *me*, of course..." "Indeed," Giovanni said. "Now, defend yourself!" Giovanni assumed the Sefirot stance, his sword extended forward, then charged. Renaku fell back a step to a Split Hair stance, feinted the demon knight's sword away and thrust inward, only to be deflected by Giovanni's quick return. The demon lunged again with a narrow swing, but Renaku sprang forward past the sword and kicked his opponent hard, forcing him back. "Good," Giovanni rumbled. "You've learned since our last match. I won't have to go easy on you." His sword began to shine redly. Renaku felt a wave of heat from it and stepped back involuntarily, then jumped back to evade another swing. Giovanni's sword shed a wave of flame, which drew a glowing line across the floor. Renaku backed away a few paces, and stared. The line on the floor was still glowing, radiating heat...obviously some sort of magic. "There's something you should know, Renaku." Giovanni swung his sword through the air, a red trail following the blade. Renaku blinked. "...What's that?" "I'm not fighting you on behalf of the Fumu." "...You want revenge on your fellow Blood Moon Society members, then?" A snort echoed in Giovanni's helmet. "No, not that." Renaku lowered his sword slightly. "All right...then why?" "I'll tell you, if you defeat me." Renaku rolled his eyes. "All right, come on." ===== Zeorx rubbed his chin. "He's really doing it, then..." "So it seems." He sat up straight. "Thank you, Kobilak. You are dismissed." The demon bowed. "As you say, Lord." It scurried off. Zeorx slumped on his makeshift throne again. If Renaku was confronting the Fumu...their time on the world might be limited. He cleared his throat. "We must make preparations for departure from this world..." ===== Renaku breathed deeply. The fight wasn't turning out well. There were half a dozen of the red lines crossing the stretch of caves. Giovanni had somehow boxed him in so he couldn't go forward or back, and kept trying to press him against the searing heat of the lines. The heat didn't seem to bother Giovanni at all, even in his full armor. "Renaku." "...Yeah?" Giovanni lowered his sword. "If you give up, I'll let you live." Renaku breathed some more. "...But you won't tell me who you are." "Correct." He sounded amused. Renaku pulled up his memories of the Hive Swarm stance. "Come on." "As you wish." Giovanni charged again. Renaku leaped over him, trying to strike downward, but barely deflected an upward thrust. [He knew you would do that.] [I was wondering where you were,] Renaku thought sarcastically, dancing back until he felt heat behind him. [You're not thinking,] Renaku's irrational side said. [No, I'm fighting.] Renaku dodged to the side. [He forces you into the lines so he knows where you have to go next.] Looking at the patterns, Renaku realized it was true. He also realized that he was being backed into a corner. [So...what do you suggest?] [If you're losing the fight, change the rules.] [...I have to endure the lines?] [No. Get rid of the heat.] [How?] [You know how.] Renaku backed into the corner formed by two lines. Another cut across in front of him, limiting his movement. Giovanni stood on the other side, chuckling softly. [I don't know how!] Renaku thought frantically. [Yes you do. Do it!] [But--] [DO IT!] Giovanni lunged. Renaku rolled forward, toward the line. The heat roared at him like a lion. He grit his teeth, and--pushed it away. No heat, he thought. Cold. COLD! Frost coated the floor, extinguishing the line. Renaku rolled onto the frost and leaped in an upward slash. Giovanni tumbled forward, then sprang to his feet. Renaku jumped up, turning to face him. They stared at each other. Giovanni's armor had a deep slash in the right side. A tantalizing taste of demonic essence flickered through the sword and into Renaku's body. The demon knight waved his sword, and the lines vanished. "Impressive, Renaku. But you are moving toward the side of evil." "...Evil?" "Yes. I do not believe your father will be pleased." Renaku stared. "My...father?" "Correct," Giovanni said. "I serve him. You can search us out; these are his colors, silver and green. I look forward to meeting you in battle again." He began to fade from view. "Wait!..." Renaku stretched out his hand...then let it fall. The demon was gone...and Renaku's way was clear. ===== Thiesra stared skyward. "What are they doing?" she whispered. The dragons were flying faster than even her demonic eyes could track. They had merged into a massive ring of color, swirling above the mountaintop. "I don't know," Aiger said. Thiesra nearly jumped, not realizing she had spoken loud enough for him to her...but then, he was apparently half-dragon. "You don't know?" she asked. He shook his head. "I asked, but...all they said was that they were preparing." "...For what?" Aiger half-smiled. "'Just in case'." "Aiger," Trevant said suddenly. Aiger turned to him. "What is it?" Thiesra noticed that Trevant was looking up at the dragons with an odd expression. It was almost...wistful? "You said one of those was a steel dragon?" Trevant asked. "Yes, Manganese son of Steel, leader of the steel dragons," Aiger replied. "What is it?" Trevant absently hefted his warhammer. "The knights of Asurion use a technique known as the Tempered Steel Dragon," he said. "I am...a master of that form. And..." Aiger smiled, more broadly. "You were wondering if there was some connection?" After a moment, Trevant nodded once. "Well...let's go for a walk, sir." Aiger walked off toward a secluded grove. After a moment, Trevant followed him. Thiesra watched them for a moment, then turned back to look at the dragons. "Ren-chan..." ===== Renaku cautiously peered around a corner of the cave. Seeing and sensing nothing hostile, he stole around the corner. It seemed he'd finally made it to the center of the Fumu stronghold. The room he was in was large, shaped almost like a theater. The sides were sloped and lined with benches, looking down at a depression in the middle. Inside the depression could be seen a pedestal of stone, a pool of water, a hearth dusted with ashes and, strangely, a dead tree rooted in the stone floor. A circle of light shone down from the roof, which seemed to be made of crystal. Renaku walked down toward the middle of the room...then suddenly stopped. He heard...a rustling? He stared. The dried leaves on the tree were rustling. After a moment, he felt the breeze on his cheeks. "Renaku." Renaku did not jump in surprise. Instead, he slowly turned, until he had run his gaze over the entire room. He did not see anyone. "...Yes?" "Renaku. It is time to face your destiny." A man faded into view, next to the dead tree. Renaku stared. The man had the solid build of a warrior. He wore grey leather armor, and had a sword sheathed at each hip. "You?" Renaku asked. "What are you doing here?" "Fool," the man said. "You don't know me." He drew his swords. "I am Scita, Lord of the Dark Wind Fumu." Renaku felt a chill...and not just from the prospect of facing another Fumu Lord in combat. His supernatural senses were telling him that this was a normal human...nothing about him 'smelled' like a demon. The man turned nearly transparent, and his image rushed at Renaku. Renaku barely had time to comprehend the apparition's speed before it was upon him. He pulled his sword up to block one stroke and then another, but the second sword slipped through his guard and sliced at his ribs. Renaku slipped backward. With all the demonic essence he had absorbed recently, the wound was already healing...but that wouldn't last forever. "I've heard you like sword techniques, Renaku," the Fumu said, its voice becoming more sardonic. "Let me show you one that only the Dark Wind Fumu have ever mastered. We call it the Weasel's Slash Form." The Fumu fell into a stance with its sword held behind its body and over its shoulder...then lunged forward, slicing downward at such speed that even Renaku's vampire eyes lost track. Renaku sensed rather than saw the disturbance in the air, and dodged to the side, automatically bringing his sword up to block. Wind suddenly wrenched at the blade, making sparks fly. The Fumu assumed another stance...this time with both swords held behind. ===== Leandra walked into the middle of the glade...holding her arms up, to show she was unarmed. "Greetings," she called to the forest. "I, Leandra, representative of the human kingdom of Asurion, wish to parley with a representative from the Darkchylde clan of elves." She stood, with her hands raised, and waited. After several minutes, a voice suddenly rang out from the forest in front of her. "Your message has been received, human. A representative shall meet you here soon." Leandra exhaled, then put her arms down. She rubbed her forearms, then closed her eyes, taking the opportunity to practice some light meditation. When ten more minutes had passed, Leandra heard a rustling in front of her. She opened her eyes to find a dark elf leaning against a tree, a half dozen releem in front of her. "I am called Alvoris," the elf said. He had white hair and tanned skin, and appeared to be quite young...though Leandra knew he could be several times older than she. "What do you wish to talk about?" Leandra stared at the elf, letting her determination show in her eyes. "The Fumu are entering the valley, through the western pass." "We know." "...We, the humans, wish to know...are they your enemies?" The dark elf snorted. "The Fumu are enemies of all that live." Inwardly, Leandra sighed with relief. "They are also our enemies." "Funny, here we thought you were undead," Alvoris said lightly. Leandra blinked, and involuntarily thought of Renaku, before she realized the dark elf was making a joke. "...Yes," she said lamely. "...The point is, that we are both under attack by a mutual enemy. And therefore...we want to come to an accomodation." Alvoris drew a short dagger. Leandra stiffened, but he only seemed to be examining it. "You humans have not been much for accomodations in the past," he said. "...No," Leandra replied. The dark elf looked up at her. "How do the elves feel about this proposed arrangement?" "They are too far away to be consulted," Leandra said. "The Fumu are here now." "I see," Alvoris mused. "Most interesting. I shall have to consult with the elders." He turned, and walked into the forest. "Wait!..." Leandra started to follow, then realized she could no longer sense the elf mystically...and the forest in that direction was emanating dark vibrations. Leandra clenched her fists. "...You don't have to fight with us! Let us move through your forests unharmed! Cease hostilities until the Fumu are gone!...at the very least, let us coordinate battle plans!" She stared at the forest. It displayed no reaction. She turned, and began to walk back. ===== Renaku stumbled back, clutching his side. This Fumu didn't seem to want to bother with him. It was attacking, and attacking hard. His reserves of energy were fast being depleted, and he was starting to lose his own blood as well. What was more, he couldn't sense the thing he was fighting. The Dark Wind Lord had a very faint psychic signature, almost as though its entire being was nothing but air. It was hard to pick out from the background...and without that sense of location, he couldn't react in time to its incredible speed. Things were looking bad. As always, there was one thing left to try. [Any ideas?] Renaku thought to himself. [Earth defeats Air.] Renaku blinked. [What?] [Air scatters Water, Water extinguishes Fire, Fire burns Earth, Earth blocks Air.] [...Makes sense, I suppose,] Renaku thought. [But how does it help me? I should become earth somehow?] [You ARE Earth. Earth is within you. Remember Asgani.] Asgani...Renaku remembered. He remembered tearing away her soul...and Thiesra screaming. It almost felt like he was tearing Thiesra apart. Thiesra... I can't die here, Renaku thought. I want to see Thiesra again. Now *that* was an irrational thought. But Asgani had been the Dark Stone Lord. And he had pulled away her power...the power of Earth. It felt... Renaku remembered what it felt like. Wind screamed at him. It clawed at his chest, tearing his cloak and shirt. It made his blade ring like a tortured bell. It slipped over his skin like water. Renaku felt...peaceful. He closed his eyes. His mystical senses seemed to be working much better now...He could picture the whole room in his mind. The benches, the roof, the pool, hearth and tree...and there, flitting towards him, a disturbance. Renaku lunged forward...but his limbs were heavy. The thing dodged his blade and tore at his shoulder, fraying his clothes but accomplishing nothing else. Renaku spun...slowly, the Fumu shying away from his blade and rocketing off to the other side of the room. Screaming in frustration, it rushed at his left shoulder, from behind. Renaku waited just a second, then slowly knelt, thrusting his blade over his shoulder. The Fumu veered off too late, leaving a piece of itself in his blade. Renaku opened his eyes, and tried to fall into a combat stance. There was a moment of fear as his limbs didn't respond, then he willed himself back to normal and stumbled into a semblance of a Split Hair form. The Fumu Lord had reassumed its warrior form. It was leaning against a wall, coughing and clutching its side. Smoke boiled out from between its fingers. "The hell with this," it snarled. "I've got better things to do than die! Penumbra!" It barked some words in a language that sounded like Melegash to Renaku, then faded from view. Renaku exhaled. After a moment, he sheathed his sword, and walked toward one of the exits. Then he paused. The Fumu's last words were still echoing through the room. In fact, instead of fading, they seemed to be growing in volume, and rolling down into the depression in the middle of the room. Renaku stared. There was something there...something vague, and shadowy, but growing more solid by the moment. Renaku stumbled back into the cave where he had come in. Darkness boiled up from the center of the room, unwinding into a long, serpentine form that roared and shot upward, shattering the crystal roof into millions of deadly shining shards. ===== Thiesra's heart stopped as she heard a rumbling. Then her eyes widened as the top of the stronghold burst open, and something blacker than night unfurled its wings. "First protect us," she whispered, knowing the lie behind the oath but finding no other expression adequate. "...what is that thing?" Aiger had become very pale, intensifying the bluish tint of his skin. "By all the gods...a shadow dragon." The whirling dragons swooped inward toward the newcomer. Their roars shook the heavens. ===== Renaku stumbled down the last few feet, and landed on his hands and knees on the ground. He pressed his head to the earth, whether in thanks or fatigue even he didn't know, then raised himself to his feet again. "Ren-chan!" Renaku looked up, and noticed Thiesra running toward him. She was smiling...but crying, too. For some reason, he didn't find that strange. He opened his arms, and she hugged him tightly. "Ren-chan...I...Ren-chan...I'm glad you're back." Renaku stroked her hair. "Thiesra...I'm sorry." He felt her shake her head. "No, don't say anything." Renaku held her. The one person he really trusted, who understood him... He pushed her away, then bent his head down and kissed her. She stiffened in his arms. He pulled her closer, and stroked her hair... and she began to relax. After a moment, she started to kiss back, and put her arms around him. Renaku lost track of time. It felt like five minutes before they broke the kiss, although it was probably much less. He looked in Thiesra's eyes, and for the first time he thought he saw joy in them...then they clouded over. "Renaku," she said. "There's...you have to see this." She pulled herself away from him, then took his hand and led him forward. Renaku realized that the dragons were all gathered in the clearing... around one of their number. Manganese, the steel dragon, was lying on the ground. Trevant was crouched by the dragon's head, listening to a low growling. Aiger was between Renaku and Thiesra, and the dragons. At their approach, he turned and walked toward them, stopping in front of them. "You must stay back," he whispered. "Manganese was fatally wounded in the battle, and is passing on his knowledge to Trevant." Renaku blinked. "Knowledge?...What knowledge? And why Trevant?" Aiger shook his head. "I can't tell you. The dragons don't fully trust you." Renaku stared. "...As they do Trevant?" "As Manganese trusts Trevant, yes," Aiger said. "I'm sorry, my friends." He turned, to watch the ritual. Renaku and Thiesra continued to watch as well. Several long, tense minutes passed. Finally, Trevant stood. Manganese let out a racking cough, then a low whine. He took a few more breaths...then exhaled with a low rattle. The dragons lifted their heads and howled. Trevant bowed his head...then raised it, and turned to Renaku. Renaku was startled to see his eyes glowing with a grey light. "Come, vampire," he said, his voice deep and resonant. "We have much to do, before the end." ===== Vampire Legend R started by Ben Overmeyer. Vampire Legend R Part 15 by John Evans, jevans@datablast.net. Warning brought to you by Homage Productions. "It's not a ripoff...it's an HOMAGE!" Beware the Radish.