Chapter CCCXCIX: The Vicious Beast ~Lich
A little yellow Rabite hopped into the forested glade. It twitched its whiskers as it looked for some fresh new grass to eat, and wiggled its little pink fluffy tail once it found it. It bounced towards it and just as it was about to take the first bite…
“Well, here we are!” Kuroi proclaimed as she stepped through the portal, onto the soil of Fa’Diel.
The levitated form of the now knocked-out Multehxio floated in behind her, then Sixtyfourhundred and Sapphire together, with Lich floating behind them. Hl’garng came next, staying near his lord, while Kuza brought up the rear.
As soon as Hl’garng arrived, he looked around him, taking in the Fa’Dieli flora…and fauna. His eyes met with the Rabite’s and he raised his spear. The creature knew better than to be near a large group of people, so he was soon watching it bounce away. He started to give chase but an orange hand landed on his shoulder, rooting him to the spot.
“The rule of this land is that you only attack it if it attacks you first,” Lich explained.
He removed his hand from Hl’garng’s shoulder and rubbed his eyes as he woke from Sapphire’s spells. He had finally found a way to get through a warp without getting sick! The only problem would be that he could not do it to himself.
“Well, now that I’m awake, welcome to Fa’Diel, everyone,” Lich announced. “As I said earlier, we’ve come to this spot for a reason. Pandora is at war with another country, Kakkara, so we don’t want to alarm these people any more than we need to, as little as we possibly can. I suggest losing the wings, for a start.”
Sixtyfourhundred and Sapphire changed back to their more normal forms.
“Now, while we’re here, I’ve got a deal of business to do. I suggest that for a while, you stay at my parents’…if they don’t do it for free, it will be at a discounted rate, Coin to Lucre currency exchange possible.”
“What about Multehxio?” Sapphire asked. “I could heal him now if…oh?”
Sixtyfourhundred whispered into her ear.
“Er…okay, then, I won’t?”
“Sounds good,” Kuroi nodded, “but, how are we getting him there?”
“You offered last time,” Kuza told Lich.
“I would take him, but…well…”
“So you’ll do it again, right?” Kuza asked.
“No. It’s just that…well…as you know, my reputation is on the line, and if we’re found together, all of us…it’s going to affect your reputation, too.”
“And this is bad, because?” Sixtyfourhundred raised an “eyebrow”.
Lich sighed. “Look. We’re here on Fa’Diel not because I needed to get here to save my own hide, but because I want you to join me in battle. Mana, the whole force of magic and what keeps the multiverse in check is in danger because there’s a raving madman in Kakkara who thinks he remains entitled to a job he was only filling temporarily. In other words, there’s been a power struggle and a dictator has come to power in Kakkara that Pandora and Tasnica wish to remove for the sake of maintaining the balance of the cosmos. Are we all understood?”
Everyone nodded except Hl’garng. “What does this mean, Li-ch?” he asked.
“It means, if we don’t stop this person, my world and your world are going to go very bad.”
Hl’garng slowly took this on board. Lich could see the revelation unfold. “I shall join thee,” he spoke resolutely.
“Good, I’m glad to hear. No-one minds if I call a few shots?” Lich asked.
Sixtyfourhundred shrugged. “It’s your planet.”
“Alright. You guys need to get Multehxio to my parents place in Kippo, the Navel Falls View Inn – can’t miss it, name’s written in Yoshian – and they’ll take care of everything. Now, the road to Kippo should be,” he looked around him and pointed, “straight through there, and turn left, go to the centre of town. Can’t miss it.”
“You still haven’t told us what you’re doing,” Kuza frowned.
“I’ll be coming later. I need to enter Kippo alone at the moment.”
“Why?”
“Look, if I tell
you, I’ll worry you,” Lich explained, annoyed. “It’s
my problem alone, and I don’t want to get you involved in it. Now, please, take
Multehx into Kippo. I will
be with you later. Brian, Sapphire? Could you take care of it, please?”
It was late afternoon when Lich walked alone into Kippo, the clear opposite of that early morning he left to attend the Assembly. The sun had just dipped below the mountains, giving the blue sky a faint pinky tinge. The villagers were all starting to come home from their work, save those whose businesses needed to stay open, like Rumpil’s store, now on Lich’s right.
“No, I know nothing about this!” the shopkeeper’s aged voice yelled from inside.
Lich paused, but Rumpil and whoever he was talking to said nothing he could hear. He shrugged and kept walking, onto the bridge over the stream. Halfway across he stopped, and then walked to the downstream side. He leant on the rail, looking down the water’s length.
It had been this very stream that had separated the two Yoshies before, for those many years. The water passed sluggishly under him, deceiving all about the torrent that had washed through that winter.
“Where are you,
Not wanting to get worked up, he quickly turned and resumed his pace, leaving the stream and going past what used to be the house of his childhood bully, Dogo Tyrope. Even though the second new family since he and his abusive father was living there now, Lich’s feet automatically walked faster as he turned the curve up towards the rise where the village’s heart sat. Soon he was among the houses and buildings that surrounded the village green, one of them the Navel Falls View.
Two trees stood towards the middle of either end of the green, with branches covering the grass in shade during the height of summer. Now, they stood forlorn, as they shed their withering leaves onto the browning grass. Lich stopped, and looked hard at them, before he withdrew a watch from his Storage. He checked the date, looked back up at the trees, checked the date again, looked up again, and frowned. Either his watch was wrong, or autumn had come early. He walked straight across the green to the closest one and put a hand on one as he closed his eyes. He looked into the Mana Field, and saw that what usually would have been a towering, pulsating column of Mana brought up from the soil was no taller than he was, beating sporadically.
Of course it’s come early, Lich thought. The Mana Tree is dying without the Sword, and all the other trees are starting to feel the effect. Lich’s jaw dropped slightly. Fa’Diel really is dying…
A young man and his girlfriend sat on a park bench facing him as they withdrew from their kiss; they looked at him, and then turned to each other.
Ah, fame, thought Lich sardonically.
The couple got up and trotted away, looking over their shoulders at him nervously. Lich watched them go, then turned and shrugged. He was used to xenophobic Pandorans, having grown up with them all of his life.
Lich gave a slight chuckle as he imagined Hl’garng’s first view of humans. They seemed to be the same everywhere, always fearful of change, always thinking about harming that which is wrong before healing it. It was thanks to his ancestor Recugrian that the Yoshies saw the error of that way, but humans were not one to heed advice. He shook his head as he felt sorry for them, continuing across the park to the inn.
It was not long before he stepped off it and onto the street before his home. The door stood wide open, as it always did, welcoming all visitors. Lich smiled as he approached it, happy to be home.
“Syoro von Kippo!”
“Syoro von Kippo!”
“Ah, Syoro von Kippo!”
Lich froze no more than eight feet away from the door, mid-step, rigid with fear as his heart sank. There was only one beast that sounded like that. Normally, the beast approached him calmly, all smiles, with an interest that contained respect, even if it was discarded slightly at the final outcome. Now, it attacked, its respect all gone, the only thought on its mind being that of clinking Lucre. It attacked many people – he and many others had seen it – but never himself, before now. He had been dreading the day this would happen. He had only two choices, to flee or to fight; the former was the one which tended to hurt more. His choice made up, Lich took a deep breath, and turned around to face the fury that was the Pandoran media.
“Yes?” he asked calmly to the sea of cameras, microphones and tape recorders thrust into his face, and the almost blinding flash of cameras. That was the trick. Be calm, and appear innocent. Smile.
“Syoro von Kippo, would you mind if we asked you a few questions?” a female reporter asked.
“No, not at all,” he smiled, lying through his teeth.
“That’s fine. Where have you been before and since the Assembly where the issue of the Sword was raised?” she interrogated him.
“I have been busy fulfilling duties as the Guardian of the Cyan Arc and as a high profile member of the Yoshi community,” Lich replied. Tell the truth, but be vague.
“Would these duties include any travel to Kakkara?” a man questioned.
“No, I haven’t been there since I transferred there on my way to the Assembly the young lady here mentioned,” Lich answered.
“Have you had any particular dealings with Zulan Tipsot?” another male reporter asked.
“Apart from formalities at the Assembly, no.”
“What would these formalities include?” the same reporter continued.
“I am sure that you are aware of the formalities at an Assembly meeting,” Lich replied, giving a slight, nervous laugh, trying to keep them on side.
“Syoro von Kippo, we notice that you are without your brother, who also disappeared at the same time as you. Any reason for this?” yet another man asked.
“The Guardian of the Ebony Lance is attending to business matters regarding his robotics,” Lich said, pokerfaced. He winced inside – the cameras would pick that up as meaning that something was afoot. He forced a smile. “I don’t see what my bro– ”
“There are reports that he was seen running through here soon after the Assembly,” the reporter continued.
“I haven’t heard anything about this, actually,” Lich answered, shrugging. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
“These reports claim that he was crying.”
Lich tensed. So this was how he had come across Dark Lich! He had been going into the caves! Quickly, quickly, calm down, serious look… “Was he? If he was crying, then that will be a personal and private matter for him, and I trust that the media will respect my wishes for his privacy if it is the case. I’m sure the wishes of the Guardian of the Ebony Lance are the same.”
“Syoro von Kippo,” another female reporter piped up, “it is well known that you and your brother were in the vicinity of the Mana Sword when it was stolen, and that you are a prime suspect. Do you state your innocence?”
“Of course,” Lich replied emphatically. “I didn’t take it.”
“What of the strange creature seen soon afterwards?” the second man called quickly.
“He is called Artanis, he is of the Protoss people, and he arrived here from his own world to study our culture and our magical texts. However, he left soon after he was given a less than welcome reception. He came into the area via Cannon Travel a few minutes after the Sword was taken. I was there to see him arrive. I’m sure that one of the Travel Agents would remember him and be able to give you a time of departure.”
He thought about Markior for a moment. Where was he?
“Do you hold to the claim that a demon and a robotic creature took the Sword?” a voice from down the back called out, in a Matangese accent. Were they getting into this too?
“Yes, I do, considering
they assaulted the Guardian of the
“Could your brother make such a creature?”
“No, he does not have the capacity.”
“What is your view of the events?” the first man asked.
“My view is
this. My brother and I arrived at the
“Syoro von Kippo,” a man to his right spoke up, grinning slimily, “considering that you and your brother hold both the Boomerang and Spear of Legend, have you ever felt any desire to add to your collection?”
“No, of course not. The Fifth Vow forbi–”
“Would the
Guardian of the
“No.”
The silence was deafening as the reporters allowed this information to sink in, then slid away as the interrogation headed down the path now forged for it.
“Zulan Tipsot spoke at the Assembly about such a thing before he was attacked by your brother,” the first reporter spoke. “Is there–”
“Now, now, now, my brother did not attack him of his own free will,” Lich answered, frowning, raising his hands defensively. It was the cue for another flurry of camera flashes.
The beast was winning now. It had asked the right question, one that brought him to hot denials; something for the newspapers to write about.
“Who brought him to do it?” a reporter threw a question.
“No-one.”
“Then why did it happen?” another asked.
“I am not certain,” Lich lied. If he told them it was one of the Jewels, the whole planet would know about it in a matter of hours.
“What is your theory?” the second woman spoke.
“I have no idea how it happened. With the way Mana is at the moment, I would not be surprised if there were some anoma–”
“If we had your brother here, would he be able to demonstrate it to us?”
“I doubt he would be able to, so no.”
“Syoro von Kippo, referring back to your duties you mentioned earlier, that you have been engaged in, would they be involving some sort of, how can I put it, a greater evil?” the first woman inquired.
“Greater evil?”
“At your brother’s Ordination, you were overheard talking to the King about joining up with a band of heroes to rid the multiverse from a demon’s influence.”
Lich glared stonily at the reporter. He hated to be overheard. “Did His Majesty allow for his conversation to be passed on?”
He waited for a response. All he got was the scratching of pens on notepads. He had control again. They were putty in his hands.
“Syoro von Kippo,” the slimy man started, “now that we have you here, do you deny having a homose–”
“The Guardian of
the
“It has relevance as he may be benefactor of such a scheme as Zulan Tipsot suggested in the assembly,” he answered.
Lich’s control relapsed. The anger in
his face was picked up by the cameras. “As I said, I stand with the Guardian of
the
The Yoshi turned around, ignored the cries of “Syoro von Kippo! Wait, Syoro von Kippo!” and marched towards the door as the swarm of cameramen and microphones began to surround him. A photographer quickly ducked in front of him, crouched and snapped a picture, before diving out of the way as Lich continued to march to the door. Lich resisted the urge to kick him. Once inside, he slammed it shut and pressed his back against it.
“Hey! Please don’t shut the doo–!” Reuben instantly chastised him from the bar. He looked up from the bar and did a double-take. “Dy? By the gods, what happened to you? Open the door again!”
“The media’s out there,” Lich replied, looking over his shoulder nervously as knocking and muffled cries of his name filtered through the wood.
His father gave a silent “Ah” as he nodded. “Keep it shut, then. Here.”
He quickly walked around the bar and with a jangle of keys, locked the door. The raucous outside stopped. Two seconds later, a beeper rang.
“They can try the night bell as long as they like,” Lich sighed. “I’m not going out there.”
He stepped away from the door and turned his head down the room. Everyone had gathered in a lounge area nearby, drinks either resting or in a hand. They looked at him quizzically.
“This is why I told you to come befor –” Lich started, but above the beeping of the night bell, there came the tap of knuckles against glass. He quickly looked at his motley crew. “Quick, pull those curtains shut!”
The group scattered to a window each as Lich hid behind a wall, shoving fabric in the way of cameras and reporters’ glares.
“Good, I think that’s over, then,” Lich told them as they came back to the table. “Drink, guys? On the h–”
“No!” came Reuben’s quick and emphatic call from the bar.
“Not on the house, then. If you want something, tab it to me.”
Lich collapsed into a comfortable chair in the lounge area, slouched, leaned his head back and groaned.
“What might those beasts be, Li-ch?” Hl’garng asked.
“The Pandoran Media,” Lich sighed. He rubbed his face and opened his eyes again, taking in his travelling companions. “Welcome to Fa’Diel, home of the most vicious creature in existence. It just chewed me up and spat me out.”
The night bell finally stopped.
“Now, they’ll be camping outside, waiting for me to go out again. Tenacious thigagnopoporu.”
“Well, I’ve just done a quick count of everyone here, and we’re short one bed,” Reuben told them as he came over, clutching a pen and notebook.
“Multehx can have
His father opened his mouth before saying, “I already did that, Dy. I thought I remembered someone like that, though he looks strange now. Anyway, I have to take your names down: company rules. So, who do we have here?”
“Who is this ‘company’?” Hl’garng spoke up. “Wherefore, art these rules?”
Reuben blinked at him. “Kor Undi. They own the inn. Why do you spe–”
“Hl’garng, I will talk to you about these things in time,” Lich told him, nodding.
“Hl’garng…that’s a rather…old-fashioned name…” Reuben mused as he wrote it down. “Any last name?”
Lich turned to his father. “Arg’lehg. I’ll tell you and Popo later.”
Reuben nodded. “Right. Who else?”
“Kuza Falchion,” he told him.
“Ku…za…Fal…chi…on. Okay.”
“I’m Sapphire Yoshi,” she spoke.
“Sapphire? Oh, forgive me, divine one,” he bowed. “That leaves…”
Sixtyfourhundred stood up. “Brian Yoshike. I believe you’re my Uncle Reuben?”
Clink…kitter-kitter-kitter-kitter
“Ex…excuse me?” Reuben asked as his pen rolled across the floor.
Lich looked up at his father again, surprised to see him dumbfounded.
“Brian Yoshike,” he spoke again. “I’m your nephew.”
Reuben looked down at his son. “Are you pulling some sort of trick on me? Just stop it, Dyluck, you know this is not funny.”
“No, really, Dad,” Lich began to crack a smile. He couldn’t help but think it was all funny, especially after being grilled. “He is your nephew. He’s been under my nose all the time and I’ve found him.”
Reuben looked back up at Sixtyfourhundred. “But…isn’t he…by Markior…?”
The warrior god nodded.
Lich shrugged. “Yeah.
You know it’s nothing for me being in
For the first time for a very long time, Lich began to see moisture in his father’s eyes. “This is…this is…” he turned, and yelled, “Kara! Kara!”
Lich’s mother came out of the inn kitchen. “What is it now…oh, hello, Dy. Reuben? What’s going on?”
“This is our nephew, Brian. Claudia’s son. Dy found him for us and…”
Kara stepped over to her husband and placed her hands on his shoulders. “I know this means a lot to you, but…how do we know?”
“I am,” Sixtyfourhundred spoke.
“Yes, he is,” Sapphire agreed. “Haven’t you got those pictures?”
Lich nodded and placed the Cyan Arc on the table, showing the same pictures he showed to the others on the Spectrum.
Reuben looked into Sixtyfourhundred’s eyes. “I…I can see Claudia in your features…Dy, bring up the picture again.”
Lich brought up the picture of Reuben and Kara standing with his Aunt Claudia and Uncle Reinhard outside Kippo in the Arc’s display field.
“Yes, yes, look, Kara, look!” Reuben spoke excitedly.
“Well…wow. It does seem that way,” Kara agreed, smiling.
Reuben smiled and opened his arms. Sixtyfourhundred backed away cautiously, and then darted upstairs.
“He’s not one
for that sort of thing,” Lich explained. “But…I’m
glad I’ve made someone happy today.”