The Realm of Alagir

Paying The Debt

After the gods were given their domains, (see Ch 1.) Ianite the End, Dianite the Nether, and Mianite the Overworld, there was a realm left over. This realm became known as the Void. A realm of nothingness, it permeated every molecule of existence, and the gods didn't like that...
-Excerpt from the second chapter of 'The Origins'

(Case's POV)

The day after Braxton's meeting with Sylvia......

Braxton was furious. Ever since he had somehow created a temporary telepathic link between him and Sylvia, he had been cursing Mianite and trying to find ways to make him pay. Under the circumstances, I understand why he was upset. His long-lost sister was being tortured by a madman, I'd probably react similarly if Mianite nabbed one of my siblings.
I had also realized that Bridger disappeared. Usually he's difficult to see and find, but after a thorough search, I realized he was just gone. The only reason he would leave so quickly would be for Amorine. When he had begun training me, he let me in on an interesting secret. He had a girl in his head! I had conversed with her once, and almost died in the process. Human minds are dangerous territory for wizards, one wrong move and you're both brain dead. Plus, it requires insane amounts of Arcana. Basically, I'd learned her name was Amorine, and that she had lost her body whilst trying to Ascend to goddesshood. Apparently, Dianite had sabotaged them and killed her. Luckily she was mostly Ascended, so her quintessence/soul was able to survive and latch onto Bridger. I'd been looking for some way to reverse it, but I was having no luck.
"Hello." A now-familiar silky voice cut through my musings. I looked up and saw Dianite, dressed in his typical business suit, standing atop the staircase leading to the ruins. "I've come to duel the former Nether Lord." He drawled.

"Heya, Brax!" I shouted into the ruins. An angry looking skull popped out from behind a wall.

"What the heck do you want?" He asked, clearly peeved.

"There's a debt to be paid." Dianite's voice rang through the air. Braxton scowled.

"I'm busy."
"I don't care, you owe me. Either duel me NOW, or I'll alert Mianite!" Dianite said, annoyed......

(Braxton's POV)

I stood with my sword drawn, the red god about 50 feet from me. I was wearing my barely functional Zicronite armor. My fury at Mianite was currently sharpening my senses, making me battle-ready. My opponent had donned blood red plate mail, and was wielding a sword of a similar color.

"Ready?" Case shouted. I nodded and Dianite smiled wolfishly.

"Bring it on, Nether Lord." Case began his countdown.
"3...2...1...GO!"

I leapt at Dianite, my sword ready for a crushing downward swipe. Dianite flashed his sword into the path of mine and narrowly deflected it. He swung his sword up, clipping my wrist. I jabbed at his foot, successfully impaling it. Dianite growled in anger and punched me in the gut. I reeled backward, just dodging his sword's deadly arc. I sucked in a deep breath, preparing myself for the next strike. Dianite swung diagonally at me, from his left foot to his right shoulder. I carefully dodged it and launched a counterattack. Dianite staggered back and I used my advantage. I swung back hand, uppercut, diagonal, anything that I could do to press my advantage. Dianite hastily blocked all my attacks, but was unable to counter without being hit by one of mine. I swung sideways and, to my surprise, Dianite lifted his arm to block my strike. My blade cut through his armor and into his arm with a CHUNK. I watched as blood started flowing out of his arm.
Dianite smiled again, and I felt his blade stab my left leg. I jabbed him in the face with my fist and wrenched my sword out of his arm. This time, Dianite took the initiative and launched toward me. I blocked most of his attacks, but every so often I'd get small cuts and slices when I failed to completely stop his attacks. I rolled backwards, dodging a nasty downward strike from Dianite.

"You've failed." Dianite sneered. His sneer reminded me of Mianite and my rage increased tenfold. With a roar that shook the earth, I flew at Dianite. For the first time, he stopped smiling. His face contorted in concentration as my attacks blurred between us. I scored several strikes on him and he began to look panicked. I smirked victoriously and slammed my fist into Dianite's helmet, crushing it. Dianite roared and removed his helmet, dropping to his knees in surrender.

"Fine, boy. You win." Flames appeared from the ground and engulfed Dianite. He was illuminated for a moment, then he and the flames vanished......

(Case's POV)

"Not bad." Hazel remarked. I looked over at her.

"Yeah, he's something else." I replied. Hazel's short hair was slightly waving in the breeze and her lips were forming a mini-grin. I looked over and called to Braxton.

"Well done." He shambled over, covered in blood and grunted his appreciation. I began the lengthy healing spell and heard Hazel join in. Several minutes later, Braxton's injuries had completely healed. I lowered my hands and looked over at Hazel.

"That was a powerful healing spell, where in the world did you learn to do that AND swing that massive sword?" I asked incredulously. She blushed and looked down at her shoes.

"Nowhere in particular." She mumbled quietly.

"Well done." Ianite's voice said quietly behind us. I turned and saw her leaning against a pillar, quite visibly tired.

"Dianite is no easy foe." She said to Braxton, who beamed with pride.

"How are you feeling m'lady? Are your powers returning?" I asked. She shook her head.

"No, but I have a hunch on why they're not coming back."
"Is it because of t-" Hazel began.

"I need to do some research in the End first." Ianite looked pointedly at Hazel as if telling her not to reveal a secret. Hazel looked down, suddenly very interested in her shoes again.

"I currently lack the ability to open a Rupture on my own, so I'd be much obliged if Case and Hazel could help me." Ianite said.

I nodded as Hazel murmured a quiet, "Sure." Ianite smiled.

"Thank you, and let us pray that my hunch is incorrect....."

(Sylvia's POV)

I sat in the midst of nothingness. The only thing I could see was my sweat-covered body. I had lost my fight with Kate just hours after Braxton had somehow visited me. Now I was a prisoner in my own mind. The only thing I could hear besides myself, was Kate's thoughts.

'You never would've won.' Kate thought, knowing that I could hear it.

"That doesn't matter! I'd never just give up if Brax and Mom are in trouble!" I shouted to the ubiquitous voice. I could almost hear her smirk.
'You're really cute, you think they have a chance.' She laughed. 'Now hush! I'm going to talk to Lord Mianite.' I stomped my foot rebelliously.

"AND WHAT IF I DON'T?" I screamed.

'Then I could cause you pain,' Immediately I felt like my temples had daggers stabbed into them. 'Or I could show you your deepest fears.' Visions of Braxton and Ianite dying, being trapped here forever, and various nightmarish monsters appeared before me. Before I realized it, I was curled up on the floor sobbing from fear. A felt a shift in Kate's mood.

'Look, I'm sorry. Just please don't try to be rebellious, it literally gives me a headache.' She apologized. I crawled to a sitting position and stayed silent.

'Braxton, someone, help me!' I cried silently......