Dark Crow Rising

Slowly, I adjust my seating and rewind the scene once again. Green magic, but not wind magic, surrounds a single individual. He breathes fire beyond the scope of so many fire witches in the world and he has little problem with striking the giant away. From within that mountain, a monster.

The people from Suhurlodst are somehow buzzing around in excitement. Especially at our close-up images of the species present. Only one person comes to mind looking at it, Nin's red skinned friend, Liadanann. These unknown warships, that incomprehensible witch, the shared trait is species and they're Ddrai'och.

I already sent my men out to look. We will have her here within the hour and I will be getting all I can. I need to know what we're now dealing with and what to expect from it. Better yet, I wish to have that amulet of hers seized. It's clearly the same magic as what that man had. If we can just get it to produce anywhere near on that scale, we can have the giant, this Atarifuge dealt with.

Gods and goddesses, we need that power. The fight it and the witch had has circumvented the Prince's plan. We already have reports of the giant's pace picking up. If we cannot destroy it here and now, Thrurstradtur-Suhurlodst will be gone.

Perhaps we should try one more time with the Gnomon...? It's so close now that we can ensure it will not be able to dodge, deflect or weave its way around. The Prince's fleet can pin it and the Gnomon's finest strength can redeem itself for past failures. Assuming the Guiders of the Gnomon will even allow me the right with what I have done.

Reaching for my glass of water, I notice how shaky my limbs are.

Worse still, the water is not moving as it should. My eyes are better than the average witch by far, who, in turn, are superior to our spell-lacking lessers. But, even then, to see the water feel the weight of Atarifuge's advance. I will not be able to sleep until I meet death or the giant is gone...

"H-Hey, let me go!" a much wanted voice goes and I rise up to look at our coveted arrival. The self-proclaimed Cakesmith, known more properly as Liadanann. And, most wonderfully, she's wearing the amulet! I approach her with as much stone-hearted nature as I can.

She meets my gaze and is less than happy to see me, though I do not feel the same. She is in possession of what we need to save what's left of the country. This mountain will not fall into the hands of Undwote. My efforts will not be for nothing. I eye the amulet closely and look back at the screens and their paused display.

"First and foremost, a confirmation from you." I start to say, bringing the screen into more focus and Liadanann goes completely quiet. The fight she was putting up is nowhere to be seen. She even takes a blow by accident and is unphased. Her eyes, they will not leave the sight in front of her.

"How... How... How did you get this?" she asks, moving closer to the largest of the displays. An outstretched limb tries to grab onto the increasingly fuzzy sight.

"This has all just happened. Out by the mountain, you, I and the other three cleared out before this whole crisis happened. Whatever you did back then, whatever you turned on, it called out for those three warships." I explain, nodding slightly towards the still image we have of their guns firing.

"I know that one... That one right there... My fam-" she tries to get out, her eyes watering with all control gone. Only one thing needs to be done and I am sure she will break down sobbing. She's barely focusing as is.

"And what about this man?" I ask and she clutches the amulet tight, its power all the more radiant at the sight of this armoured man.

"Our Saviour..." she manages to get out without the slightest whimper and I frown in thought.

"Meaning?" I dare to ask, and she spends some time in her head.

"He battled Thunder." she answers and every single man, woman and machine goes quiet. Blinking slowly, my neck creaks back towards the still image. A creature of crimson hue, armoured and glowing bright with golden horns. The light of all the world shines on him with the focus that attracts the awe-filled eye. Nowhere in my body can I not sense raised hairs and cold blood.

My heart, it's struggling to figure out how to beat. That name she just spoke, the context she applied to it. He battled Thunder. This witch which has just appeared is -the- Crimson Beast.

A demigod.

Emotions erupting within, eyes wide and lined red and with a gnashing jaw, "SIEZE THAT AMULET!"

Liadanann reacts and encases herself in its power and my sword burns. Striking and slashing with all I have, my composure turns to ash and so does some of the vast room. With tears I didn't even know I had, I enfuriate myself into greater acts of desperation. The sword clatters onto the floor and I collapse onto my knees.

My tired, barely clenched fists smash against the unwavering shield.

"P-Please... Give it to us... It's our only way..." I beg, clinging onto the edge of the see-through, divine magic. Liadanann stares and breathes heavily, the divine power tightly in her grasp. A noise catches in my ear and I look away, unsure of what is captivating me.

A conversation?

"What is that thing?"

"Looks like a statue."

"But how is it still standing?"

"I don't know."

"Hey, you two, I got a tablet print out of that."

"The Sword-Faced Giant..." I go, spooking the small group and alerting the room to this screen. We were so focused on the witch and the warships that we overlooked where Atarifuge landed. Baltanthan was right, he was right!

Atarifuge cannot destroy that which the gods and goddesses have made. Segaansallis is the key, our means to victory. The gods have our solution right here! The giant is ignoring it, it's coming here, we have a path around to Segaansallis...

Segaansallis.

"PUT A HALT TO THE PRINCE'S MEETING, NOW! BRING EVERYONE HERE! EVERYONE WORTH LISTENING TO, BRING THEM HERE! LET THEM SEE OUR SALVATION! LET THEM SEE SEGAANSALLIS!" I roar with rabid fury, throwing men and women out towards the doors.

I look back towards it, and I smile. Under the shadow of what has consumed us for months, under the terror of Atarifuge's terrible power. A material that can withstand it. Greatness that will save us is waiting for us and I have the proof we need to know how to use it!