Aegis Online

I use my wings to launch myself back, as the fallen lord’s blade crashes down on the spot where I stood, mere moments ago. With a snarl and a raw scrape of metal on stone, Lord Lucien Trevalli’s shade drags its weapon out of the furrow it cut into the rock.

I ignite the head of my morningstar with ball lightning, charging back and bringing the electrically-charged mace round in a swift, scything arc, connecting with the side of the shade’s head. The lightning snaps and fizzles on contact, discharging with a series of meaty pops and cracks. The lord hisses, eyes burning with hellish flames as he slashes in a series of motions that, were I not wearing heavy plate, would have gutted me, removed an arm, and broken half my fingers. My shield takes the first two and my pauldron sends the third skittering aside harmlessly. My next blow is an unorthodox one, in that I form a connection between my morningstar and my greatshield, power flowing into the shield’s surface as I push more energy into the metal plating.

As the lord backs up a few paces, I activate Sky Hammer, beating my wings as hard as I can, keeping low thanks to the ceiling. As I shoot forwards, I thrust my shield out in front, and the solid, thunder-charged exterior slams in. With an ionising KA-CRACK!, Lord Lucien flies back, crashing into the wall and leaving a deep crater, spiderwebbed cracks running out from the point of impact.

I raise myself from my crouch, twirling my mace, tendrils of electricity rippling over the burnished head and chaining between the spikes. Lord Lucien’s shade pulls itself free from the wall, eyesockets bursting into even brighter flames.

“Ngh…. Wretched beast… deceitful scum… traitor to all…  I hope your foul masters reward you as you deserve…”

I find myself driven back a pace by the next blow, and the next. It’s like the shade’s strength has grown exponentially… but how?! There’s no resentment or rage for it to feed on! Wait… no, not quite… it’s… it’s feeding on itself!

I try to duck back and reposition, but the shade of Lord Trevalli isn’t giving me any breathing room! I lash out as fast as I can, catching a couple of hits in return, my HP starting to drop. If it turns into a battle of attrition, I won’t be able to hold out forever…

I cast my AOE Heal-over-time, ‘Strength of the Ancients’, and the damage Lord Lucien’s inflicted starts to undo itself, but each hit he delivers that gets past my guard is shaving chunks off my life-bar. I have to do something! Luckily, the feedback loop the shade’s using to empower itself doesn’t seem to heal it, only massively increasing its physical might. I can feel my strength starting to fail, my knees buckling a little more with each blow. The shade’s form wavers a little with each two-handed strike, as though it too is burning itself out in a mindless frenzy. Suddenly, something bounces off its head. A pebble.

The shade ignores it, but another small rock dings off its cuirass. Then a cluster of roots. When it begins to turn away, snarling, a clump of dry, crumbly soil smacks it in the mouth. When I straighten, Dorothea is floating there, her hands thrown out. As she waves her right arm, a slat tears away from one of the rotted coffers littering the floor. It floats in front of her, and she ‘pushes’.  The termite-riddled spar of timber catapults forward like a crossbow bolt.

“Stop it, father! That’s enough! You aren’t like this! You’re kind, and brave, and always treat people equally, regardless of status!”

Lord Lucien’s shoulder jerks back as the telekinetically-hurled projectile explodes on contact, showering decayed splinters everywhere. I see the shade lurch, as if gripped by some force, as Dorothea launches another barrage of missiles, her father’s wraith stumbling as he disappears in a cloud of powdered wood, dust, and more small pebbles and roots.

Taking the moment to catch my breath, I begin charging my mace with as much energy as I can, feeling the weapon starting to vibrate as if it’s about to fly to pieces. Darting forward, low to the ground, I put myself between the ghost and the shade of her father.

“This is your last chance, Lord Lucien! Stand down, or I will do what I must to protect myself and the current head of the House of Trevalli!”

The wraith bursts from within the haze, sword out, and I, taking the only option I can think of that won’t end up with Dorothea being harmed, allowing Lord Lucien’s sword to pierce right through my chest. The next thing I do is to grab the Lord’s wrist, preventing him from letting go or drawing it back out. Finally, I bring back my powered-up morningstar, and bring it down on the Lord’s shadowy head. The sheer volume of voltage running through the mace causes a massive, blinding flash, a clap of thunder, and a wailing cry that fades into nothing.

Reeling back, I fumble for one of the healing potions left over from the fight against the Fear of the Endless Desert. “Dorothea? Can you… can you do that telekinesis thing and pull this sword out? I can’t do it in one move…”

“Of course, Ms Kettrin! Oh, why did you do that? You shouldn’t have been so reckless! I’m already dead, but you still have your life!”

Dorothea’s eyes glow a little brighter, and I gasp, feeling the sword easing out of my chest in one steady movement, a single smooth pull. As soon as it drops to the ground, I down the healing potion, feeling the wounds start to close up, the cold bar of pain softening into a soft blur, diminishing into a mild ache, as my HP returns. I smile. “Well, I wanted to protect you. Even if you are a ghost, you’re still my new friend, right?”

I run a hand over my chest. “Ah, dammit, that’s going to need repairing. Ulged’ll have to lighten my purse again. But, considering the fact that I’m still standing, I probably owe him a drink for that.”

Kneeling before the worried spirit, I smile. “And, as for the reward you offered, there’s only one thing I want from you.”

The worry fades from Dorothea’s face, and the glowing girl nods. “Of course. As I promised, you may take all you wish from the vault. It is the least I can do for you, after you laid my parents to their well-deserved rest.”

I stand, and turn to examine everything left in the treasury. Upon actually having the time to go through everything, I find what I’m looking for. A tube made of soft, treated leather, capped at both ends. Popping the seal, I tip it, and a large scroll slides out. Unrolling it carefully, I smile and roll it back up gently, returning it to its home. “I found what I’m looking for. I have ideas for this.”

Dorothea’s eyes widen upon seeing what I’ve laid claim to.  “That… that is the deed to the house and lands of House Trevalli… if… if that is your wish, I… I will honour my oath. You are indeed free to take that…”

I smile and raise a hand to my ear, casting my communication spell. “Asteria? Can you come here? I think you should be able to enter the grounds now!”

“Oh? Aye, I can! Whatever you did down there, it worked, my little firework! On my way!”

Dana meets me in the atrium, her sword drawn as she paces. Upon laying eyes on me, she raises a hand, a deadly glow building in front of her palm.  As soon as I realize what she’s aiming at- or who, rather- I snap my wings out, shielding Dorothea as I step in front of Dana.

“No! She’s just a kid, for crying out loud! She wasn’t the one responsible!”

Dana’s aim falters, and the light fizzles out. “Eh? Then... I take it this is the ‘new friend’ you wanted me to meet?”

I nod, furling my wing and revealing the cowering Dorothea. “Hey, it’s okay, she was trying to protect me. Don’t be scared, she’s actually really nice. She won’t hurt you, I promise!”

The ghostly teen relaxes a little, still nervous, though her noble composure is covering it up. She curtseys.

“Duchess Dorothea, late of the House of Trevalli. Charmed to make your acquaintance!”

Dana’s eyes widen, and she bows, an elegant and graceful movement.

“Asteria Willowthorne, of the Sunlight Glade. The honour is mine, milady. And I apologize for my actions.”

Straightening, she turns her attention to me. “So… the quest is complete?”

I shake my head. “I haven’t turned it in, but I want to do something first. Let me speak to Professor Jerome, real quick.” I turn to Dorothea. “I’m just going to talk to a learned associate of mine to see what I can do, okay? I’ll be back as soon as I can!”

I push out through the doors, calling back, “I’m serious, Astie! If I find out you’ve been mean to the adorable ghost, I’m going to spank you so hard!”

As Asteria’s laughter rings out, I can hear a scandalized gasp from the Duchess, before I take off, circling the manor a few times to fix its location in my mind, before beating metaphorical feet for the Grand Library.

As I fly overhead, I spot a familiar, glaring, moon-shaped red face. Captain Silas. I pull off an aileron roll and mockingly wave as I pass through the barrier onto the Library grounds, alighting on the balcony of Professor Jerome Templeton’s study.

I knock politely, and, a few minutes of shuffling later, the elderly academic opens his balcony door, dressed in a nightgown and nightcap, blinking blearily as he pushes his half-moon spectacles up his face.

“Ah, I remember you! You’re the, um… The Skyborne girl, who helped translate my ancestor’s journal. What can I do for you at his hour? And good heavens, don’t you Argonauts ever rest?”

I sigh, “It doesn’t feel like it, professor. Anyway, I wanted to show you a couple of things. First.”

I produce Lord Lucien’s journal, handing it to the aged professor. He leafs through it, eyes scanning over the pages. “My, this is fascinating… and what is the other, my dear?”

I produce the leather tube and show him the deed. He peruses the document in detail, adjusting his spectacles a couple of times. I ask, “”Have there ever been any recorded times where a spirit ever maintained the rights and privileges afforded to them in life?”

Professor Jerome blinks. “I don’t believe so, but I haven’t really looked into it. The realm of the spiritual isn’t my forte. I can ask one of my colleagues, if you wouldn’t mind waiting?”

I nod, smiling. “Of course!”

The professor shuffles inside, and I hear a muffled, one-sided conversation. He returns about two minutes later, holding two glasses filled with amber liquid. “Lemon and barley tea, my dear?”

 “Thank you, professor.” I accept one and sip from it. It’s a slightly sweet, tangy ‘tea’, more like a cold-brew beverage than anything. About ten minutes later, a young woman in robes appears, walking out to join us. “So, what’s this about a spectral quandary?”

I stand and introduce myself.

“Hi, yes, I’m the one who asked. I’ve been on a quest in the city, and I encountered a ghost who, during her life, held a noble title and property. Have there ever been cases where said spirit retained their titles, belongings, and protections?”

The younger professor brightens. “Ah, you’re asking about Spiritual Common-Law doctrine and Custodia Legis!”

I bite my lip. “Well, I guess?” I explain Dorothea’s situation, and the woman bounces in excitement.

 “Well, I can confirm that there HAVE been cases, but it IS rare and those given such an honour were significantly of high status. Legendary warriors, great kings and emperors, that sort of thing. But, if you know a priest or cleric of sufficient power, it is theoretically possible. Do you know someone of that kind of capability?”

I smile. “I might. I think she’d be willing, if I asked nicely.”

The young academic shoots a look at her more senior colleague.

“And… would this person be..?”

I smile even more widely. “Lady Voltesse, of course.” I take the scroll, slot it back into its carrying tube, and take flight once again.