Kings Game

Chapter 123 - Final Moments & Chapter 124 - The Oncoming Storm

(1)

Nul sat in their room, working through their designs for the eighth time that day. A plate of half eaten food had been set on the floor next to the door while they had covered the rest of their desk and room with drawings and sketches of spidery diagrams.

There was a rhythmic knock on the door. Spinning around in their chair, they said, "Come in."

Kell and Roran entered. Kell was continuing her trend of looking better every time Nul saw her. She had regained weight and her skin was beginning to bronze from spending time outside with Inkala. She was at her peak, ready and waiting to face a god in single combat. Roran was the opposite.

His encounter with Millgrove had taken a toll on him. Something had changed after that day. According to Roran, he'd pulled Sarah's powers into himself, channeling the essence of death rather than letting Sarah wield it for him. Now he was even paler than before and more gray hairs had started to show.

Roran entered the room and sat on the edge of Nul's bed, exhausted. Kell jumped directly onto the bed and patted her thighs. Inkala sparked into existence, half laying on top of Kell.

"Make yourselves at home," said Nul.

"Sorry," Roran muttered. "Still recovering."

"You've been dead the last couple of days," said Kell. "Pun intended."

Roran grunted. "Rath says it's a side effect of committing mass murder. Even true lyhlim suffer consequences from such things, and they don't have a physical body to look after like I do."

"So is your soul all cracked and mangled now?" asked Kell.

"Something like that, yeah. I'll be fine in a couple more days. So, Nul, you had news for us?"

Nul nodded. "I finished reworking the weapons."

Moving around papers and a pile of etching supplies, Nul revealed Pathfinder and a freshly made spearhead. Pathfinder looked similar to before but the etching that had been its namesake had been removed. In its place was a long winding pattern that started at the hilt and ended at the tip. The Chaos Butterfly that had once adorned Roran's mother now adorned the blade. The spearhead had similar etchings along its length and point. Nul handed Pathfinder back to Roran and handed the spearhead over to Kell.

"I completed the Kinglsayer markings," said Nul. "All you have to do is wound the Kings with this blade while the etching is active and it should undo their immortality and invulnerability."

"Sword for Roran, spear for me. What about you?"

"I have this etching on my flesh, I will be the conduit for the spell. I simply need to wound the King myself and it should have the same effect."

"Should?" asked Roran.

"I can't exactly test it out beforehand..."

"Fair enough."

Kell ran her fingers along the spearhead. "No worries, I have faith in you. Besides, if it doesn't work, we won't have to worry about it for long."

Roran let out a huff while Nul smiled. They had missed the old Kell.

Turning serious, Roran asked, "How are you doing, Nul? How are your new etchings coming?"

"They're...coming. I'm still struggling to make up for the power differential. It's a challenge. I've been using soulstone as a power source but it's cumbersome and doesn't provide me with all of the same functions. I'm doing my best to make it work."

"Your best is the best," said Roran. "Period. Whatever you come up with is the best anyone can ask for. Just, do what you can and we'll adapt from there. Sound good?"