Life, without love? Is that really living? Or is that just existing?
Sapphrine walked confidently up to Darth. “You my son, have been caught studying the Dark Arts with your father. Apocalyptica’s hold will not take on this dimension. She is not allowed here and nether is your darkness. I will keep my people together and save them from you and your father. Your sentencing here has nothing to do with the orphanage or what Lance made you do. Yes, I know you are innocent. You are not here because of the madness of a few days ago. The serum he used on you. Had you not been under Apocalyptica’s magic, would not have had any effect on you. For this reason, because I do not need you both together, you are being sent to the crystal prison and your body is being destroyed. It will be useless to the daemons.”
Lance shook his head as he watched. She motioned for him and he walked up and stood next to Sapphrine. He had something in his hand. He stood too close to Darth on purpose. The artifact slipped into the daemon’s pocket. Lance turned to Sapphrine and smiled slightly. “I shall summon the prison.” She only nodded.
Lance stepped back and his sapphire eyes glowed. A portal to another realm hovered near Darth.
Sapphrine turned her attention to her people below her. Citizens of Laderan! We must protect ourselves from the threat of our undead brothers! My son is guilty of being tainted with the power of Apocalyptica! To prove my dedication to you and our lands he is not being saved from judgment. No MERCY TO THOSE THAT SERVE APOCALYPTICA! “
The crowed roared in approval and all began to chant. “LONG LIVE SAPPHRINE!!” Their voices resonated far and wide. She turned to her son and frowned. She Raised her staff and tapped it three times on the ground. The chanting grew louder and louder as Darth’s sprit left his body with an evil hiss and was sucked into the dark portal. His red eyes faded into the darkness of the void. It slowly closed. His body turned to ash.
Lance smiled. He bent down and picked a stone out of the ash and put it in his pocket. Sapphrine narrowed her eyes. “What is that Lance?”
His sapphire eyes glowed with cosmic power. “Oh nothing my Queen just something that belongs to me.” Her gaze hardened. “You will tell me.”
He laughed with wicked tones. , “That I will not, I have gotten what I came here for. You must finish your ceremony or the daemons will get you.”
She growled but knew he was right. She turned to her people as he teleported away. “My people! I need your help to save our lands from the dark one! To do this I need you all to come touch my staff and yield your emotions to power the barrier so it can extend beyond our city walls.” The chanting ended and one by one her people came and sacrificed their emotions to the Grand Keeper’s Staff.
Eleven guardians stood before their Queen. They refused to touch the staff. One of them stepped forward. “My name is Albis, I refuse to give you what I value most!” He crossed his arms and stood his ground.
“Do you all share his sentient?” She asked the others behind him.
Together they responded. “We do, We think there is a better way to keep the daemons away.”
“And yet when we discussed this you did not mention your ideas?” Sapphrine frowned.
“We were not allowed into the meeting our Queen. Your words exactly were, ‘the common folk have no valuable options except to follow those that lead them.”
Sapphrine growled. “You absolutely refuse to grant us your emotions?”
“You can kill us first.” Albis uncrossed his arms and place his hands on his hips. They all nodded.
“Fine, then I strip you of your titles and power as a guardian. You shall wonder the universe as humans.” Her staff flashed and they all fainted. She simply smirked and turned. She exited the stage. she stopped and looked back at the pile of dust and felt a slight pang of regret. She pushed forward knowing there was not another option.
After she departed, Renaldo walked through the eleven bodies laying on the ground he simply smirked. He touched each ones forehead.
“Rise my Friends and get out of here before she discovers that you are far from human.”
Then went to find the Queen. He had to ensure there would be a level of chaos needed to achieve his goals.
Lyra walked into their ‘secret’ hide out. “Albis, you really do need a more discreet place to hide. How, about I take you to Nexus.”
“Nexus? What is that?” Albis asks.
“Well it is the core of the dimension. We need your assistance.”
“We care not for anything but to hide our children from the daemons and from Sapphrine.” Albis insisted.
“That is alright. I will take you and any you wish to bring with and I promise you haven in Nexus.” Lyra smiled with sly intention.
Albis looked at her with doubt in his eyes. “What is the cost?”
Lyra let a cosmic dust sparkle in her eyes. “Nothing, It is free. Trust me, all I want is for the survival of your people.”
Albis eyed her with caution. But he could not feel any need to argue. “Alright we will go with you. But we have quite a few to come with us, about one hundred that we have managed to hide from Sapphrine.”
“That is fine. Gather all your minions and I will be back in a few days.”
