Chapter Forty-Three: The Leap of Faith

Chapter Forty-Three: The Leap of Faith

An unstoppable force hit an immovable object.

An ancient dragons scales were said to be thicker than a castles walls and stronger than steel; whereas tales of the rune cannons power to destroy fortresses in a single salvo had spread far and wide. When our artillery vomited forth a burst of essence and adamantine cannonballs at Belgoroths gigantic warbeast, I briefly wondered which of the two would prevail.

As it turned out, cannons beat dragons.

Colmars handmade projectiles punched through the dragons chest like quarrels through chainmail, shattering thick scales and causing a flow of burning magma-like blood to pour from its wounds. The undead beast no longer felt pain, but the recoil from the blow was enough to cause it to briefly halt it mid-flight.

I loved it when wise investments paid dividends.

My joy lasted until the dragon opened its mouth at us. The light building up inside its gullet burned brighter than the sun.

Hang on! Marika shouted through the soundstone-speakers. Its going to shake a little!

The airship veered to the side so suddenly that I was nearly thrown overboard through the gap in the wooden panels separating our cannons from the open sky outside. Cortaner grabbed my arm before I could fall off while Colmar hung onto one of the cannons. The dragon unleashed its breath of flame at us right as the Vernisla turned to dodge its onslaught. A torrent of Berserk Flames erupted from the beasts maw, setting the sky ablaze and dissipating the clouds.

The blast narrowly missed the airships flank by a large margin, but I could feel its searing heat from a distance. A wave of burning gas and hot air hit us with enough force to split trees in half. Had Cortaner not held me, I would have been flattened against the back of the artillery room by the blowback.

Belgoroths dragon and the Vernisla passed by each other like two birds narrowly avoiding a collision. I caught a glimpse of the Lord of Wrath riding atop his mount, weathering a volley of fireballs thrown by our witchcrafters from the deck above. The projectiles missed him by an inch before his warbeasts wings whipped up a storm of dust at us. A cloud of smoke and cursed essence entered the artillery room through its openings, filling my lungs with a rancid stench of burning corpses and gunpowder. The very essence of anger and malevolence washed over me like a tide of tar.

I barely caught a glimpse of the battle through the tide of smoke. We passed by the dragon, our airship moving northeast and Belgoroth to the southwest towards the direction of Snowdrift. Roland, Soraseo, and Alaire pursued the dragon on their own mounts while our group drifted further away.

This is Walbourg all over again, I realized when Belgoroth refused to turn back and fight us. He had also prioritized targeting population centers over engaging us back then. Hes going straight to the closest city.

Namely, Snowdrift.

We couldnt let him reach it.

Is everyone alright?! Marika shouted from the soundstone-speakers.

I opened my mouth to answer and only succeeded in coughing smoke. The outside wind carried the smoke away from the artillery room, but Belgoroths cursed essence within it had latched onto the ship. The metal walls began to twist into the shape of screaming skulls, their empty eyes burning with the Berserk Flame.

Waybright, Colmar, you take over the cannons while I clean this up! Cortaner ordered with the experience and authority of a hardened commander. Target the wings and send that dragon crashing down to earth!

Cortaner let go of my hand and immediately moved closer to the Blights manifestations. Putting his left palm against the Berserk Flame and pointing outside the artillery room with his right finger, he began to siphon the cursed essence and propel it outside the airship in a diluted stream.

I knew it was an extremely risky maneuver. Essence needed physical matter to latch onto, so releasing it into the wind would cause Belgoroths curse to dilute and dissipate. However, Cortaner forced it to travel through his body to redirect it. He would have turned into a monster on the spot without his Inquisitors mark. Even now his armors steel shifted like a molten sea under the strain of Belgoroths corruption. His pain must have been unbearable.

If Cortaner would bear such an agony for victory, then I had no excuse to slack off.

Powering through the pain in my burned lungs and the foul essence permeating the artillery room, I immediately moved to help Colmar refuel the rune cannons. Thankfully, the refined runestones powering the weapons withstood Belgoroths curse. I had feared the corrupt essence would have ignited them.

Such suffocating anger, Colmar commented. It is like breathing blood

I fed these flames once, Cortaner replied, a hint of shame in his deep and guttural voice. They burn brighter than ever.

They do, I thought. The smoke in the air carried the grudges of the departed and the anger of those who remained. Archfrosts civil war had contributed to Belgoroths escape as much as any other conflict. Weve all fueled that pyre.

Im going after him! Marika shouted, the airship veering to the right and turning around as she spoke. Prepare to fire again as soon as we get in range!

We may not survive a second volley, Colmar warned us. We must hit true.

I agreed with a nod. A direct hit from the dragons breath would blow our airship out of the sky, and an indirect one risked turning it into a small Blight. Either outcome would be fatal.

The Vernisla made a wide circle in the sky. We flew above the burning canyon and the smoking ruins left behind by Belgoroths bombardment, which let me witness first-hand the devastation that would befall my homeland if we failed to stop him: a scorched sea of fire and ashes engulfing all in its path.

The sight made me sick, and Colmar didnt look any better. Is that what Florence wanted to see? he muttered to himself. No one will survive this.

After completing its turn, the Vernisla pursued Belgoroths dragon with all the speed its sails and runestones engines afforded it. I heard detonations resonate in the distance far away. We had equipped Alaire and the others with spears packed with explosives and bottles of Colmars hardening solution. I assumed theyd started using them.

I took a peek through the nearest porthole to get a better view of the battlefield. The Vernisla pursued Belgoroths dragon across the Archfrostian skies, and we slowly caught up to the Lord of Wrath in spite of his head start. Our Knight and his Vassals harassed him by flying in an organized formation, closing in to throw projectiles, and then retreating in short order. Alaire and Soraseo fared better at it than Roland; the former because Silverine moved quicker than the wyverns and thus had a better time slipping past Belgoroths guard, and the latter because of her enhanced aim.

They proved themselves to be such a nuisance that the dragon interrupted its scorching campaign to target them with its breath. The beast roared at the clouds and set them ablaze. A trail of flames tainted the heavens red like comets coursing through the black night.

How could such a terrifying sight be so beautiful to look at?

Cortaner managed to extinguish the Berserk Flames threatening to engulf the artillery room, through its walls still kept the shape of screaming skulls. This should be enough for now, he said as he returned to his old post. But if we get too close, the ship will start turning on us.

Neither can Roland and the others stop Belgoroth, I noted as I observed the battle from afar, much to my dismay. Our allies targeted the dragon with explosive spears, but they lacked the power to inflict meaningful damage against the beasts scales. They might as well be mosquitos harassing a cow: annoying, but harmless. Well catch up in a minute.

My allies and I took position behind the cannons and waited for Marikas signal. The Vernisla gained groundso to speakon Belgoroths dragon and moved to its left. The undead monster reared its ugly head at us with light swelling in its gullet. The wounds on its chest hardly seemed to slow it down.

Ready?! Marika shouted through the soundstone-speakers. Fire!

Selestine and Eris unleashed lightning bolts from the upper deck at the same time as our cannons unleashed an adamantine volley. The dragon dived lower in a swift and unnatural motion, its body tilting a quarter of a clock to the right. Our projectiles flew right between the gaps between its wings and shoulders in spite of its immense size.

The dragon unleashed a stream of flames at the airships bow and hit it with tremendous force. The entire Vernisla trembled so much I hung to my cannon with all of my strength. A cloud of smoke erupted from the bow, obscuring our sight.

I barely managed to catch a glimpse of Alaire and Silverine breaking formation to strike at the dragons throat. They launched explosive spears at its gullet, and while the detonation hardly managed to crack the beasts scales, it threw the monsters aim off and its fiery breath missed us before it could finish consuming our airship.

Marika?! I shouted at the speakers, but to my horror I only heard the screech of broken metal in response. Marika!

Focus and keep shooting! Cortaner snarled. Before he kills us all!

Our remaining cannons unleashed a second volley, but the undead dragon contorted at the last second. Its back bent in a way that let it dodge the projectiles it could avoid, and its tail intercepted those it couldnt with a wide sweep. The Lord of Wrath rode unharmed, his burning gaze staring straight ahead.

Curses, Belgoroth was using Soraseos power to predict our shots!

The Vernisla put some distance between the dragon and itself, with Marikas voice coming out of the speakers. Robin? she called out my name. Everyone, can you hear me?

We can! I replied. Hearing her voice alone lifted a weight off my shoulders. Are you unharmed?

Im fine, but I cant see much! Marika replied. The smoke obscures my view!

Unfortunately, that was the least of our problems. Belgoroths evil rippled through the smoke and latched onto the airships hull. Murderers blades grew out of the wood below the bow like a great sharks fangs. The steam bursting through the pipes gained the rancid, yellow texture of sulfur. I heard the echo of distant screams and whispers of the departed in the back of my mind.

The Vernisla was turning into a haunted airship.

Eris teleported into the artillery room in a cloud of white smoke, her hands clutching her staff dearly. A few of its runestones had lost their luster. She must have spent them firing projectiles at Belgoroth himself.

I have bad news, she reported with a deep scowl. We took damage at the front. Selestine is extinguishing the flames as we speak, but Im afraid we have neither the time nor resources to fully exorcize the ship.

How long until we lose control of it, Belarra? Cortaner asked sharply.

I do not know, Corty. Marika should be able to steer it for a few minutes, half an hour at best. Eris turned to me. Can you sell me the ships cursed essence as a package deal?

I can, but the cursed essence will immediately break out of its container, I replied. Our chances were grim. The distilled Blight will explode in our face the moment I complete the trade.

It wont do us much good either, Marika replied through the speakers. The quality of her voice had noticeably declined, largely due to the foul essence interfering with my communication system. The Vernisla needs urgent repairs. The longer I keep it in the air, the more likely it is to fall apart.

It had taken us nearly a months work to build this ship, and we would lose it in days.

Cant Selestine petition the Artifacts to smite the dragon from the sky? I asked Eris, grasping at straws. Or summon a storm?

We are on our own, handsome. Eris shook her head with a hint of resignation and then looked at the cannons. We should close in and try to hit him again.

Belgoroth can use the Monks powers to anticipate and dodge our shots, I replied in frustration. We need to adjust our strategy. Getting closer will cause the airship to catch fire

Guys, Marikas voice interrupted me. She gulped on her end of the line. We are getting in sight of Snowdrift.

My heart sank in my chest. I immediately rushed to the nearest porthole, as did Colmar and the others. The horizon sprawled before us, with not a single cloud to mar it. The river my friends and I had used to enter Archfrost slithered ahead of us, its pure waters glittering in the sunlight. I could see the green fields whose fertility Colmar had helped restore, the ships Marika had built sailing on the waters, and the city Id struggled so much to bring back from the brink. The sight of beauty to despoil caused the undead dragon to hasten up, its wings whipping up storms of embers and dust.

My hometown and its thousand inhabitants were less than an hour away from annihilation, and I could do nothing to help.

There has to be a way to stop him, I muttered to myself. If we approached with the airship closely enough to fire in melee range, maybe the right spell A thousand plans formed in my mind, each and every one of them as unworkable as the last.

I will teleport onto the dragons back, Eris suggested. If you give me all the explosives this ship carries

I immediately shot the idea down. Belgoroth will skewer you the moment you come in range. Soraseo didnt need to see people to sense their presence.

The dragons heat will burn you to cinders sooner, Eris, Colmar added. You might as well be stepping into a volcanos heart. If the explosives dont detonate on the spot, you will suffer fatal burns.

Eris looked at us with a blank stare that filled me with panic.

I couldnt breathe. The pain was so atrocious that I had to bite my tongue to keep myself screaming. I cried, but my tears evaporated before they were halfway down my cheeks. I couldnt breathe.

Did you truly think that you could fight me? Belgoroths voice was awful in that it sounded unmistakably human. The guttural echo reverberating with each of his words hardly hid the vicious, self-righteous Knight lurking underneath. You Merchants were always too bold by half.

I dared to peek over my shoulder.

Belgoroth loomed over the burning remains of Colmars suit. The Alchemists clothes burst into flames among the charred remains of flowers and arid dirt. The metal gauntlet replacing one of his hands had begun to melt under the pressure of the swirling Blight surrounding the Lord of Wrath.

How strange, Belgoroth noted with disquiet. His mark should have flown out of that corpses remains. If it has not, then He turned his burning gaze on me. I couldnt see anything other than yellow flames past his black metal visor. The Lord of Wrath had become fire itself for all I know. What are you scheming?

You are smart I rasped between my teeth. My right hand covered my stump to the best of my ability. My glove melted when it touched my cauterized flesh. Figure it out.

It matters not, I suppose. I shall slay each and every one of you. The Lord of Wrath pointed his baleful sword at me. Its black edge burned with all of the worlds hatred, and a single sinister eye glared at me from the hilt. You challenged me to a duel in Walbourg. We shall settle it here and now.

I was dead.

It wasnt even a question. There were gulfs so great that none of the worlds goodwill and determination could help cross them. The Lord of Wrath was too quick for me to escape him, too strong for me to stop, and too skilled for me to fight. I had tricked him once with words, so he would not fall for it again.

My knees were shaking and my heart pounded so hard that my chest hurt. But I still forced myself to unsheath my rapier with my right hand. My Merchant mark burned as I held on to the hilt with all of my strength. The sheer heat was killing me. My sweat evaporated the moment it appeared on my skin and the hot air sucked the moisture in my lungs. I felt like I was breathing in an oven.

I was a maimed fencer facing a flaming demon knight in plate armor. My weapon would snap like a twig before it could hit a weak spot. I would have laughed at the sheer disparity in power between us if I wasnt so scared.

Before I die, you self-righteous prick I want you to know something, I rasped through the pain and suffering. Even now, its still not too late for you. You are choosing this

He cut down my knees in a single sweep.

Belgoroths blade moved so fast that my eyes couldnt follow its movement. I felt it, however. His adamantine neatly sliced through my bones and the flames consumed my flesh, causing me twice the pain my arm went through. I collapsed chest first into the ashes of dead flowers, defeated in a single stroke. I could still feel my legs below the knees, though their stumps stood behind me.

Twice you have stood in my way, False Hero. There wont be a third time. Belgoroth looked down at me with a fiery glare. I commend your courage, however. Though your people will burn in my flames, I will let you choose your death.

I mustered whatever strength I had left to glare at the Lord of Wrath. From below, I finally saw him for what he was: a vile man who followed the letter of a chivalric code while spitting on its spirit. A parody of a true Knight, who would reward my valor with the execution of my choosing.

If I were to die, I would do so mocking his so-called honor.

How about I die of old age? I replied with all of my contempt. On a bed of gold and in a womans arms?

Belgoroth did not laugh. Proving himself incapable of keeping his promises, he silently and slowly raised his sword to the sky. He could have killed me in an instant, but he wanted me to see my death coming.

Forgive him, Bel, a familiar voice said. He meant my arms and bed.

Eris appeared in a cloud of smoke, a few feet behind her old comrade.

Belgoroth lowered his sword, but he did not kill me. Instead, he slowly turned away to face Eris. I had never seen her look so solemn. Her hair flowed with the hot wind, while her expression was one of pure grief and regret. Her hand clutched her staff with the grip of someone who hoped not to use it.

For a short moment, only the sound of the wind stood between them. Both appraised one another while I agonized on the ground. My mark flowed with essence reinforcing my body in a desperate attempt to keep me alive. I saw Eris sending glances at me. She couldnt teleport to my side without entering the range of Belgoroths sword, so her best bet was to talk him out of killing me.

I wished for her success with all my heart, but I had my doubts.

Daltia, Belgoroth finally said. I knew you were behind this.

Let him go, Bel, Eris replied calmly. Hes right, its not too late for you. You are better than this.

So are you. You are a shadow of what you used to be, and that man bears a fraction of the power you once wielded. Belgoroth studied his old comrade, his sword firmly planted in the ground. What do you hope to accomplish here?

Eris bit her lower lip. Redemption.

There is no redemption for those who have failed the Goddess, Belgoroth replied. There was no sorrow nor bitterness in his voice. Only a grim form of acceptance. I will never be forgiven and neither will you.

His answer made Eris flinch. As for me, I want to puke.

Says the coward too craven to even try to atone I rasped before looking at Eris. Dont listen to him

Belgoroth spared me a brief glance of utter contempt. Are you so blind? Do you not see her strings on you? He pointed his sword at Eris. She has orchestrated this conflict from the very beginning to wipe us out. She does not regret claiming power. She regrets sharing it.

No, I Eris visibly flinched. Belgoroths words slashed deeper than any dagger. Thats not I regret both.

That is wrong and you know it. Belgoroth glared at the Wanderers mark. That so-called demon whose existence you wish to deny embodies your desires. You have lied to yourself enough to fool that false Class, but your actions speak otherwise.

Dont listen to him I told Eris, struggling to form each word. Hes using the Knights power

You think that this fake will give you absolution? The disdain in Belgoroths voice was both sincere and palpable. That you can live a fantasy where you bury your past and replace us with a fresh set of fools? That you can do it better the second time?

Eris faltered, so I helped her the best way I could: with kind words.

I trust you I coughed smoke. No matter what he says I believe in you.

Silence. Belgoroth pointed his sword at me. I tire of your prattling, False Hero.

Eris turned her staff on Belgoroth, her eyes cold as ice. Dont even think about it, Bel.

You will fight me over this miscreants life? Belgoroth shook his head. That is absurd.

What have you become, Bel? Eris expression twisted into a crestfallen scowl. I am so sorry for what Ive done to you. You were the best of us, and I turned you into a monster. I allowed that sword to corrupt your mind, just as those coins twisted mine.

The aura of overwhelming fury surrounding Belgoroth somehow grew more potent.

I hate those eyes of yours, Daltia, he said with immense loathing. You think you understand me. That you know what it is to be me. I have looked into the soul of man and seen depths of filth that you cannot even imagine. I have witnessed horrors I can never forget.

Then why dont you stop?! Eris shouted back, her voice laced with frustration. She waved a hand at the sea of fire around us. Why wont you lay down your sword and be better? Why do you have to pour more trash into the fire? Youre better than this.

Is that what it is about, my old friend? That you should feel sorry for the sinners I have killed? You should not regret anything.

The Berserk Flame erupted from inside Belgoroths visor. It shone with all the malice of his soul and the fury on which he fed.

You have freed me, he said with a voice brimming with madness. You have given me the strength to act on what I had always believed. To cleanse the filth that infests this world and never deserved our salvation.

At this moment At this moment, I think it finally dawned on Eris that the man Belgoroth was and the person she thought he was were two very different people. That he would rather destroy the world than admit his wrongs.

Her gaze hardened like stone.

I was afraid you would say that, she said with a quiet, small voice. What do you intend to do next?

My duty. Belgoroth managed to make the word sound ominous. I will flatten the horizon until flames cover the world, as they once did in the beginning. I will burn everything until the evils of man perish with him. Then my oath to the Goddess shall finally be fulfilled.

I cant let you do that, Bel. Eris briefly glanced at me, then back at her former friend. There are things in this world worth believing in.

If you do not walk away, Daltia, then you will die. Belgoroth planted his blade in the ground. This is all I have to say. There is nothing before, nothing after.

A sinister silence settled between them. The two former Heroes stared at one another, their grip on their weapon tightening. You could cut the tension with a knife.

Eris broke the stalemate with a sigh. Im sorry, Bel.

Belgoroth struck her in a blur of speed, but his sword only cut through white smoke.

Multiple shadows flew over my head. I recognized Silverines cry above me and saw a crimson flash descend upon Belgoroth. The Lord of Wrath raised his sword to parry the one falling on him from above. The blowback sent Soraseo flying back, but she managed to land back on her feet.

Hands grabbed my shoulders from behind and dragged me away. Belgoroth turned his head in my direction, but bolts of magical lightning forced him back.

Oh Goddess I recognized Marikas voice and the warmth of her hands on my skin. Hold on, Robin. Were here.

Cortaner emerged from the crimson mist with blazing fists. Selestine was here too, two white reptilian wings flapping behind her back. She hovered in place above the Lord of Wrath while Alaire and Silverine ran circles in the sky. Soraseo threatened Belgoroth with her sword from one side, and Eris did the same with her staff from the other. We had him surrounded.

That naughty nun I would have smiled if my body didnt hurt so much. She was stalling for time.

A wyvern landed between me and Belgoroth. The true Knight rode on its back.

You are surrounded, Lord Belgoroth, Roland declared with a true kings dignity. He climbed down from his mount with his thundering spear in his right hand and his royal sword in the left. Though I know you will not listen, it would be wise for you to surrender.

All I am surrounded by are ghosts and cowards, King Roland. Belgoroth raised his sword at his fellow Knight in defiance. Whether you are eight or eight hundred, you lack the strength to challenge me.

And you lack the mercy to use your gifts justly. Roland glared at him from behind his helmet. This madness ends here.

My friends charged at the Lord of Wrath from all directions, and all I could do was watch the battle among the flames.