Reality's Blade

Chapter 36: Righting the World

"The Count of Midnight." The mage bowed acknowledging him.

The Count tipped his hat with a slight bow in reply.

"Are you going to do what I think you're going to do?" The Count asked Hikage, his eyes shining.

"That depends what you think I'm going to do." Hikage replied levelly.

The Count chuckled. "Here."

He made a motion in the air as he did something in his own menu, invisible to the rest of us. Hikage then started making motions too, The Count had sent something over to him.

"It's all ready for you, so you don't have to trace it back to when you last used it." He informed him.

"Thanks. That'll save a lot of time." Hikage frowned slightly but sounded grateful nonetheless.

"We'll have a chat when you return." The Count grinned.

Hikage nodded, having resigned to his fate.

"Is everyone ready?" Hikage asked, becoming serious, looking around the mages.

A chorus of confirmations sounded back, some nodding. Hikage turned to me and smiled.

"Thanks. I couldn't have done this without you. I'll see you soon."

Hikage turned to the well, he took a few deep breaths and stared at the sky for a moment, I got the feeling he was saying goodbye. He lay his hand on the well.

"Urgh. You fell in love. How boring." The Count muttered under his breath.

I tried not to react to his words, but the heat spreading from my ears was unstoppable.

"You really did make him my target just to mess with us didn't you?" I asked not looking at him.

"Naturally." The Count replied, also still watching Hikage.

I almost laughed at his nonchalant reply.

A deep chant started from the mages and a beam of light shot up from the well, basking all the spectators in it's bright glow. It reached far up into the sky where it seemed to hit a ceiling and began to spread outwards symmetrically in a circle. The light flowed across the sky and back towards the ground far off hidden by the buildings and landscape until the area was covered by a glowing dome. The word Erdialdera loomed high above the village, it had just been upgraded to a town, making it a new safe haven for adventurers and the townsfolk alike.

For a while nothing seemed to be happening as Hikage stood remaining connected to the well, perfectly still. I was wondering whether he was in the midst of creating the mission to exterminate the trolls. It wasn't long until my theory was proven correct as my menu flashed, informing me a mission had popped up nearby. I had been curious as to whether he would go with my suggestion as it meant allowing players close to Erdialdera, but he obviously had faith in the Dark Samurai's ability to do his job.

The chanting increased in intensity as Hikage began to flicker, a golden light appeared, shimmering near the well, a body began to materialise in a swarm like golden fireflies. Sandaled feet shadowed by black hakama became distinguishable, a pale blue haori billowed around them, a turquoise top materialised then finally the face of a boy, his hair short and chestnut. I was taken aback by just how much Hikage had made his Legerdemain avatar look like his real life body, although there were differences I could tell it was Kazehiro. His build was more like that of a boy than a man, not as tall or broad, his features less sharp than the Dark Samurai's, his young eyes large and bright, no longer holding the weight of all of Legerdemain.