• Chapter 28: The Final Part of the Ritual

    The once magnificent city of Olympalantis had been badly damaged.
    The tall towers had been completely toppled, half-gone, or at the very least badly wrecked.
    Streets had holes bored into them by monsters of the underground.
    Bridges and overpasses were either completely severed or at the very least damaged with a few gaps here and there.
    Many people were either killed, injured, or had fled when the attack happened.
    “The noble city,” said Valerius with terror and anger, “the crown jewel of the empire—RUINED!!!”
    But more grief would arrive when a soldier emerged, weeping.
    “Oh, great sorrow…” mourned the soldier. “The damage of the city is but little compared to… to…”
    “Good soldier,” said Valerius, “what sorrow has befallen that would make the scars of this invasion look small in comparison?”
    The soldier, sobbing again, replied, “Emperor Constantinus… is dead!”
    “WHAT?!” the five said in horror.
    The soldier, sniffling and blowing his nose on a handkerchief, said, “Erebus used his magic to create a supernatural blade and kill our beloved emperor! His firstborn son, Theodorus Constantinus, as well as his widow and other children, still live… but…”
    Valerius burned with rage.
    “Mark my words, friend,” he said to the soldier, “Erebus WILL pay for what he has done! My allies and I will ensure he faces justice!”

    A few seconds after Valerius made his declaration, the group heard a female scream. It was a voice Valerius recognized.
    “It’s Delphinia!” he said. The five heroes and the soldier soon ran to where the scream came from.
    Delphinia was on her knees, clutching her wounded left arm. Nearby was Erebus.
    “Ah, Valerius,” Erebus said with a sadistic tone. “About time you showed up.”
    Erebus then reached into a pouch in his robe and showed a vial containing a red liquid.
    “Behold,” he said. “The final ingredient of the Forbidden Ritual—the blood of a pure-hearted healing woman! I didn’t need to kill her on some altar. Merely wounding her to get a sample of her blood was sufficient.”
    The warlock then put the vial back into his pouch.
    “Now,” he continued, “to go to the best place to perform the ritual. This place is a perfect spot to declare my status as a new god!”
    Once again he laughed with sadistic glee as he vanished again.

    Valerius soon ran up to his beloved Delphinia.
    “My love,” said Valerius. “I am here.”
    The soldier also arrived with some gauze and ointment. He quickly gave them to the hero. Valerius then put some healing ointment onto Delphinia and bound up the wound in the gauze.
    “Thank you, Valerius,” said Delphinia.
    The heroic man then scooped up the woman in his arms and carried her to her home. She guided him to where her home was above her healing shop.
    Very gently he placed Delphinia onto her bed.
    “I’ll be fine, my love,” said Delphinia. “I just need to rest to recover. You need to do what you can to save Olympalantis. If you hurry, you can still stop Erebus.”
    “Yes, Delphinia,” said Valerius. “I shall do it.”
    The two kissed one more time before Valerius left Delphinia’s home and healing shop.

    Theodorus Constantinus awaited Valerius as he emerged. He wore attire similar to his late father’s. He also had the same complexion and eyes as the former emperor, but had tan-blond hair.
    “Valerius Magnitis, I presume,” said Theodorus Constantinus.
    “Yes, sire,” replied Valerius. “My deepest sympathies to you and your family.”
    “Thank you,” the new emperor-to-be said. “I have seen where Erebus had traveled to.”
    “Please tell us,” said Zanthe.
    “He has gone to the Frigid-Phrygia Mountains to the northeast,” Theodorus replied. “It is also where he got the monsters for attacking the capital city.”
    “Leave the rest to us, Emperor,” said Nauplius. “Erebus will pay for what he did to your father and to this city.”
    The party soon started to head to the northeast.
    “The gods be with them,” said Theodorus.

    Near the edge of the city nearest the mountains, Galina conjured up a chest for warmer attire, since as their name implied, the Frigid-Phrygia Mountains were cold all year round. The chest magically contained the same cold-weather attire they each would wear under normal cold-weather circumstances.
    Valerius donned a winter coat, pants, hat, and gloves there were all dark powder blue, but he wore the same stormcloud gray boots he wore before.
    Nauplius got on some Phthalo green coat and winter pants that were much thicker than his usual clothes. He also wore some timberwolf gray mittens, yet they still allowed his hands to hold onto his battle hammer when need be. His earmuffs were also timberwolf gray.
    Rouvin got on a parka which was Hunter green and Tiffany blue, with winter gloves that were Palatinate blue and thick Persian green boots.
    Zanthe also wore a parka that was all mint green, with the exception of dark goldenrod belt, mittens, and boots.
    And Galina wore a parka that was sapphire, with lavender blush boots, mittens, and belt.
    “Friends,” said Galina, “I remember legends of a mountain taller than all the other mountains, called Silver Artemis Mountain. Atop that mountain is a tower, which is said to be the closest point to which humans can reach the realm of the gods.”
    Valerius’ memory of his past dreams kicked in.
    “I’ve had at least two dreams of this tower,” he explained. “It would only make sense he would perform the Forbidden Ritual there—it’s practically a shortcut to that realm to him.”

    Nauplius went a little bit further.
    “Follow me,” he said. “I’ve been through the mountains many times in the past, and I’ve even seen the tower long before these events. My Dwarf people and I know the trails well, since sometimes we need to do trade with lands outside the empire.”
    “You have aided us in the past, good Nauplius,” said Valerius. “I know we can trust you further. Lead the way!”
    Nauplius nodded and went on. The others followed.