Chapter 20

Together we entered the last room. We found Baron Lichvus sacrificing his bodyguard on a large altar in the center of the room. The Baron whispered a few words before turning to greet us, “Welcome, my sheep. I wondered how long my toys would delay you.”

Shalyndria stepped forward and addressed him, “Baron Eldritch Lichvus, where are your servants and troops?”

His response was sickening, “You killed them on your way here, Princess. Well, killed them again, I should say. They made such lovely screams when I had my liches turn them into zombies.” His smile grew when he noticed shadows rushing to cover the corpse in front of him. “What lovely corpses the three of you will make. The animal was supposed to be mine already until you interfered, Arbiter. I should thank you, though. Now I get all three for my collection of dolls. I can’t wait to have all three of you for myself.”

A new level of rage filled my mind with the pictures of the defiled dead I had found. The Baron would have to wait, though. The revenant he had created from the corpse had risen from the stone slab. I watched as the shadow-filled armor held out its gauntlet, and more darkness solidified into a greatsword it wielded with one hand. I was at a loss, knowing my kukris and lack of magical knowledge left me at a huge disadvantage. I felt a hand on my shoulder as I watched Shalyndria and Petra rush around me and began to engage the new monster.

The soft thump of Nadine shifting behind me made me turn to face her. “Close your eyes, Arbiter. Listen to the empty places in your mind, and know we trust you as you trust us,” she whispered. After leaving a kiss on my cheek, she slithered forward and engaged Eldritch with her magic. I closed my eyes as instructed. When I found the three sprites, they were still, but I continued to feel through them. I was buoyed by the love and happiness I experienced from Petra and Shalyndria. The hope I got from Nadine wasn’t surprising anymore, so I wrapped all three with love in return. I then followed the second half of Nadine’s advice.

When I quieted my thoughts and just listened, a voice floated through my head, “Darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always lead to good.” While it sounded familiar, the voice continued, “Magic is merely using your mana to force reality to bend to your will. If you need something badly enough, force the universe to give it to you, my Arbiter.” Those last words shocked me to my core. I opened my eyes and turned to the battles raging around me. Nadine had roots wrapped around the Baron’s legs, and they fought to keep him pinned while the others were barely keeping the revenant back.

I knew what I needed, just not how to get it. So I took a gamble. I pulled my kukris and held them together. This time when I pushed my mana into them, I exerted my will on the metal itself. I went through the resistance I felt and watched the Mage Steel blades melt together and elongate, forming the katana I needed. I was left with a chunk of metal in my other hand that I developed into a sheath for the new blade. Hoping it retained its original ability, I pushed light mana into the new sword. I was ecstatic when the edge became nothing but light. With my new weapon, I approached the intimidating shadow creature.

I watched in horror as Petra was blasted across the room by a powerful strike. Shalyndria ran after her and started to fill the warrior with healing magic. Knowing my mate was in good hands, I gave the monster my full attention. While it plodded toward me, I settled into my stance and readied my sword. I let my rage melt away as I prepared to face this new enemy.

His first move was an overhand chop to my head. I slid past the clumsy attack and sliced up through his arm. Before the severed hand hit the floor, a new one grew from the stump without the armor. After it recovered, its strikes became more fluid. We traded blows while I probed its defenses. As I started to ponder the insane risks, I might have to take a water blade severed the arm I was blocking with my sword. I smiled when a fireball engulfed its head.

Petra appeared behind the abomination and severed both legs with her daggers. As it fell, I severed its head. We were all shocked when the removed limbs disappeared and regenerated again. I noticed the missing appenages were slow to regrow this time, turning this into a war of attrition. I became unsure of how many times we severed limbs and burned parts off. Finally, the creature fell to its knees after Shalyndria burned a leg off. With the extremity not regrowing, all three of us summoned fire and finished it off. We then turned to the Baron just as Nadine collapsed from mana depletion.