Chapter 29: The Frontier of the End Part 1: Conflict
[Location: The Town of Galma - Kingdom of Tevell]
[3 week and 2 day have passed]
I felt like a chill ran through my body when I heard Conrad's words, I clenched my fists and my muscles tensed.
-Celes: The Blessing of My Lord, granted by Divinity? It cannot be.
-Conrad: Yes, it is as it says in the book, both Zyrus and the First Hero received their Blessing from Divinity.
-Zyrus: Wait a minute, how...how is that possible?
-Conrad: The Invocation Ritual is a means that transports a living being from another world to the place of the invoker, the seals used by the Ancients allow the invoked to pass through the presence of Divinity so that the power of the Blessing is granted. .
When I heard that it came to my mind that I remember where after leaving Tevell castle, 4 hours had already passed from the moment I was summoned so that would explain why so much time passed so quickly, my body passed in precession of Divinity during the invocation.
-Zyrus: Conrad, a question, what form does Divinity have?
-Conrad: Hmm...difficult to say, according to the designs of the Ancients, Divinity was a winged light, but with the passage of time it was given different forms, an old man with a long beard, a beautiful gifted woman, a young man with wings, there is no exact way to define Divinity.
None of those descriptions fit the guy in white I saw the first time my Blessing was released, yet I felt like he was connected to all of this somehow.
-Conrad: I see you very conflicted with all this, you must still have a lot of questions but for now let's continue.
He took the book and advanced to the final pages of the book in the parts where it was written in the language of the Ancients and then brought it closer.
-Conrad: I managed to decipher some lines of this part of the book but it would help me a lot if someone who understands the language reads it.
I grabbed the book and rested it on my lap to read it better, despite the fact that this language was new to me, I could read it very easily, almost as if my brain automatically translated the words.
-Celes: What does the book say, My Lord?
-Zyrus: Let's see...it's like a story or part of one.
-Conrad: As I imagine, if my translations were correct, this part tells one of the secret adventures of the First Hero.
-Celes: Why secret? I thought they kept the records of his journey at the Gainsworth Library.
-Conrad: There are many parts of his adventure that are not in the records because many of them could be considered... false or exaggerated.
I continued reading the book and the more I read it the more I was surprised I could hardly stop myself or listen to what Celes and Conrad were talking about.
-Zyrus: It says that the First Hero... met and spoke with Divinity in person.
-Celes: What!? impossible! is...is that possible?
-Zyrus: Here he talks about how Divinity appeared to him one day, before defeating the Demon King.
-Conrad: So it was true after all.
-Zyrus: From what Divinity says, he appeared to thank him for his effort and all that, but he also asked him about his blessing and...
There were things that despite the fact that he read them, he did not understand the meaning of them. It also seemed that he had written down about his Blessing and others that he obtained information about. I speak to Celes and Cornad about what I understood from the conversation and his discoveries about Divinity, until in the last pages there was a blank square.
-Celes: Why is that square blank?
-Conrad: I don't know either, no matter how hard I tried, it had no meaning or something hidden inside.
Then I passed my hand over the page with the blank square and out of nowhere it began to shine, we were all surprised by the book's reaction, both Celes and Cornad came to see what happened in the book.
-Celes: What is that? something appeared in the square.
-Conrad: It's a word... also in ancient language.
-Zyrus: It says "Sortis" ...means...Fate?
-Conrad: The name of your Blessing, Zyrus, now I understand, that square revealed the Blessing you carry.
-Celes: Sortis...Fate...I see...it makes sense.
Why did the word destiny have to be marked on me after all this time, after having defied what they told me was my destiny now my Blessing had his name, it was almost like an irony.
-Conrad: Sortis...the Blessing of Fate...this is more than a coincidence.
-Celes: Coincidence?
-Zyrus: Conrad...who are you really?
We both stared at Conrad as he looked up at the sky and giggled.
-Conrad: I am a descendant of one of the First Hero's companions and that book was given to my ancestor by the First Hero himself, who has passed from generation to generation until it reached me.
-Celes: I see...that explains why he knew so much about the First Hero and the Blessings.
Hearing Conrad's revelation, I closed the book which caused the curious reaction of both of them and they watched me as I placed the book on the box.
-Zyrus: Conrad...can you teach me how to use my Blessing?
-Conrad: If you mean how to control it, maybe I can help you, but releasing it is something you must achieve on your own.
-Zyrus: I have already managed to release part of its power in the past but I am not able to control it at will.
-Conrad: Well, in that case I'll do what I can boy.
Since we wouldn't be able to cross the border gate until it was re-enabled, we would be in this town for quite a while so I decided on the opportunity to harness the power of my Blessing with Conrad's wise guidance. I spent the day training my swordsmanship with Celes and then with Conrad learning how to understand writing and then mastering my Blessing.
-Conrad: Do you remember the times you managed to release your Blessing?
-Zyrus: Yes, something like that, the first time I have no memories but the other times I do remember.
-Conrad: Well, as a first step, try to relive those memories in your mind to trigger your Blessing.
I spent the afternoons trying to trigger my Blessing through the memories I had but without success, even outside of training we helped the sisters in their daily chores and Conrad in his store as a form of payment for his hospitality. From time to time, Duane would come to town to say hello and chat trying to sell me another of his strange elixirs but I for obvious reasons turned him down.
-Duane: Are you sure? I could save your life again.
-Zyrus: Pretty sure, but I appreciate the offer hehe.
Even without success in training with Conrad, I kept trying again and again trying to trigger my Blessing without success and Cornad didn't seem very convinced somehow.
-Cornad: No, No, you're doing it wrong, stop thinking of the Blessing as an ability or a spell, you shouldn't force it, it should come naturally like when you breathe.
-Zyrus: Naturally? and how can i do that?
-Conrad: Think boy, think about the times you released him before, think carefully about the situation you were in.
It was almost as if he told me that my Blessing had requirements to use which depended on the situation and not on my will to use it but I was sure there was a way to master it without depending on a specific situation like in the past.
"Fuzzy memories, moments of crisis, the life of someone in danger, if I remember correctly those were the factors that triggered it on those occasions"
Despite the constant and hard training I put in with Conrad the result did not change, not once did my Blessing show any signs during the training and it was almost frustrating to the point that I felt exhausted. Finally that day we finished training and I returned to the sisters' house with Celes who was trying to comfort me.
-Celes: Don't worry My Lord, mastering a power as great as the Blessing is not something that is achieved so easily.
-Zyrus: I know but it's been almost a week since I started training with Conrad and I haven't had a single progress, I can't even remember that feeling, in the forest, in the mine and in the gorge.
-Celes: All those moments occurred when you or someone else was in mortal danger, replicating those moments is not that easy to do.
After so much effort and thinking about it did not lead us to anything and in the end the method of triggering my Blessing will remain for the moment in risky situations, once we arrived at Sophia's house she already had dinner ready for us and while we ate I looked to Aria and then to Sophia.
-Zyrus: Sophia, could I throw Aria off the cliff again and see if that helps me remember the feeling of that day?
-Aria: Ehh!?
-Sophia: W-W-What!? Absolutely not!
I knew it was a bad joke but at this point I was almost desperate to try to trigger my Blessing and I just needed one more time to be able to remember that feeling but as Conrad said there is no use forcing it and it should come naturally. That night it was hard for me to fall asleep turning around all the times I managed to access that feeling.
"In the forest, if I remember correctly, I got trapped in that horrible scene, in the mine seeing Leah in danger I pushed the power beyond my limits and now it was to save Aria and myself from a fatal fall"
In the end it didn't do me any good to remember it since I only remembered the images but not the sensation. The next morning I saw Sophia a little worried and Aria a little scared which left me a little confused.
-Celes: (Whispering) My Lord, it's been a week since the White Knights came, today should be the day they return.
-Zyrus: (Whispering) Ah! It's true, that explains why they are that way.
-Sophia: Well, I'll go prepare our part of the pay, we'll see you later.
She left the house alone leaving Aria behind her who seemed very uneasy so Celes approached her and patting her head she looked at her with a warm smile.
-Celes: Aria, what's wrong? Are you scared of bad guys?
-Aria: No...it's because of my sister.
-Celes: Is something wrong with her?
-Aria: I heard her and the others from the town that are going to face the bad guys.
-Zyrus: They what!?
As soon as we heard that we agreed that we had to stop them before something terrible happened, Celes would stay to take care of Aria while I went after Sophia to prevent her from making a terrible mistake. I went out the door and tried to look for her around but I saw no sign of her and while I was looking for her in the streets, I heard a lot of noise coming from the north entrance and I headed towards there.
-Commander: What is the meaning of this?
-Angry Villager: Just as you heard, we're tired of them coming to loot our town!
-Frustrated Villager: That's right, we work hard to feed our children and you do nothing but sit around all day!
-Commander: Bah, after our work protecting all of you from the demons and this is how you all thank us.
-Sophia: Since the White Knights arrived we have suffered more than with the demons!
At the north entrance I could see a large crowd of angry people gathered armed with makeshift weapons facing the group of White Knights led by their commander who didn't look nervous.
-Commander: If you don't plan to pay your tributes, in that case don't blame us if something happens to your beloved town heh!
Clearly they were not going to withdraw peacefully and their subordinates were already preparing to engage in combat just as the villagers did not intend to back down, in the end all this would lead to a senseless killing.
-Zyrus: I must stop them before it's too late!
But before he managed to reach the people, a huge explosion was heard throughout the town, stopping and disturbing both the villagers and the White Knights. I looked everywhere to see where that sound came from and in the distance a column of smoke rose from the border gate.
-Commander: W-What was that!?
Suddenly a White Knight came running from behind the commander, very nervous and tired.
-White Knight: (Panting) C-Commander...trouble...trouble at the border gate.
-Commander: What happened! explain yourself!
-White Knight: A...A Greater Demon appeared!
Everyone was shocked into silence upon hearing the Knight's report, while in the distance more explosions continued to happen, people panicked and scattered in fear.
-Commander: And...And what are you waiting for! Send the troops to the gate and deal with that demon!
-White Knight: Y-Yes sir!
Both the knights and the commander left the way they came, among the fleeing crowd I saw Sophia and managed to get her attention.
-Sophia: Zyrus!? What are you doing here!? and Aria!?
-Zyrus: Don't worry, she's with Celes in your house, go get her and go to a safe place.
She nodded and ran off in the direction of her house while I considered going with Conrad to make sure he was okay. So I ran to the store only to find him sitting on the floor leaning against the counter with blood on his mouth and on his robe.
-Zyrus: Conrad! are you okay!?
-Conrad: Don't worry boy, this is a matter of age hehe
I told Conrad what was happening and suggested that he should leave town with the others and that they could use our wagon to escape but he refused for some reason.
-Cornad: The awareness of my careless acts of youth finally caught up with me, even if I managed to run away I wouldn't get very far.
-Zyrus: But what do you say? I'm not going to leave you here.
-Conrad: Now you have more important things to do boy, there is a demon causing havoc and those useless followers of the Church will not be able to face him.
In that Conrad made the old book of the First Hero and handed it to me, I stared at him very confused without knowing what he expected to do.
-Conrad: I never managed to have children, but these days we spend together you are the closest thing I have so I want you to keep this book, I'm sure it will serve you in the future.
-Zyrus: Wait, what are you saying, you're not thinking about...
-Conrad: Zyrus, listen, the time will come when you must make a big decision in your life and no matter what you decide you must hold on to it and never look back, that is the last lesson I will give you, now go, go!
I felt a frustration inside because of the helplessness of not being able to help Conrad but if he was telling me all this it is for a reason and even though it hurt me, I did what he asked me to do. I took the book and before leaving I looked at it for the last time.
-Zyrus: Conrad, thanks for everything, I will not forget everything you taught me.
He smiled at me with a warm smile as I walked out the door, his expression satisfied and without any regret but I felt an ache inside that I couldn't shake.
-Celes: My Lord!
While I was putting the book away in the wagon, Celes appeared from behind, agitated and worried.
-Zyrus: Celes, how are Sophia and Aria?
-Celes: Don't worry, they are preparing their things to flee when I left, but what about Conrad?
-Zyrus: He...he already left.
She looked at me puzzled by my answer but it was difficult for me to tell her the truth directly, after preparing the wagon I looked towards the border gate where the smoke and fire could be seen.
-Celes: My Lord...what will we do?
I looked around me and saw how the townspeople ran away in fear and others simply stared at the border gate without knowing what to do and at that moment I felt something inside me begin to emerge. I looked at my hands trembling and my mouth felt dry clearly remembering the time we faced the Disaster Beast in the mines but this time it wasn't a dying beast, it was a demon at its maximum power.
-Zyrus: Conrad said that the White Knights have no chance against that demon and if he is left to his own devices he will destroy the town and then who knows if he will go to Andacia.
I looked at Celes with a determination in my eyes that I had never felt before, for the first time I felt that I had to, at least this time, fulfill that responsibility that I had been running away from all this time.
-Zyrus: Celes, I'm going to do something that I might end up regretting, will you come with me?
-Celes: My Lord, I will accompany you wherever you are and I will die for you if necessary.
-Zyrus: Fine, but try to avoid the dying part, okay?
She nodded and then we prepare for what may be our last time together.
"We may not achieve anything but I have to try, I have to know that I am strong enough for this"
So we ran towards the border gate where the battle was taking place and as we got closer we could see the people who were waiting at the gate run away but we also saw corpses of the knights and other travelers and halfway we ran into someone familiar.
-Mizell: (Crying) Master Duane! Master Duane please wake up!!
-Zyrus: Mizeel!? W-What happened!?
-Mizell: (Crying) M-Mister Zyrus! Master Duane...he...he protected me from the demon's attack and now he....gghh...
We could see Duane's body on the floor with severe injuries and full of blood and he didn't seem to move no matter how much Mizell called his name and tried to heal them with his magic.
-Celes: He...He won't get up again.
-Zyrus: Mizell, you must flee, don't let your Master's sacrifice be in vain!
-Mizell: (Crying) I can't! He...he's the only thing I have in my life! If I can't be with him...then...then this life has no meaning for me...I'll stay by his side until the end.
We looked at a heartbroken Mizell crying over the corpse of her beloved Master unable to leave her side, it was painful to see someone with so much life and with so many plans for the future end her life in this disastrous way.
-Celes: My Lord...we must continue.
-Zyrus: You're right, Mizell, take care...
We left Mizell behind and continued up the climb towards the gate, the closer the sounds of battle became louder and the more bodies and destruction we found along the way until we finally reached the battle site.
-Wounded White Knight: D-Don't back off! The... Divinity will protect us!
We could see a small group of White Knights entering the smoke screen where the gate was and at the end we could only hear their screams of pain and a blade cutting the flesh of their bodies until they flew out of the smoke leaving trails of blood. in the path.
-Dying White Knight: (Spitting Blood) That...That thing...is...too...too strong...we...hu-humans have no...chance....aarghh..
Seeing that knight die before us, he was disturbed with those serious injuries, I could feel again that fear that I felt in the forest when I met the King of the Forest for the first time and then strong footsteps began to be heard and through the smoke screen a huge figure came out of it.
-Greater Demon: Guahahaha! Is that all humans can do!?
"That...Is that thing a demon? It's huge!"
My first time seeing a demon face to face and it was enormous, possibly between 6 to 7 meters tall, its appearance was similar to that of a gargoyle but with huge horns, an open jaw showing its sharp fangs, long wings and in his right hand carried a huge blood-stained blade.
-Celes: My Lord be careful, this is like nothing we've faced before!
-Greater Demon: Well, well, what do we have here? more sacrifices for me, The Mighty Ozroth?
We draw our swords and prepare for what could be our last battle. I was beginning to doubt my decision to come here but at this point it was too late to turn around so the only thing left for us was to give everything we had and trust in victory.
-Zyrus: How the hell did you appear here!?
-Ozroth: And what does that matter?...soon you two will be another corpse for the bunch Guahaha!
The huge demon jumped fast and with his long blade attacked us, we jumped in opposite directions to dodge him and just as I thought, he wasn't fast but he had monstrous strength and if he hit us we might not be able to get up again.
-Celes: What a force, I should have imagined that he would not be an easy opponent, My Lord, do not let your guard down for a moment!.
-Zyrus: Y-Yes, I understand!
We also took the offensive and since we were at both ends of the demon we took the opportunity to attack him from both sides but he didn't move, in fact he just quickly put his hand on the ground.
-Ozroth: [Dark Nova!]
And from one second to the next a huge dark shockwave exploded under his hand and impacted both of us sending us flying.
-Zyrus: Arrghh...what...what was that!?
-Celes: Ughhh...D-Dark Magic...I should have expected it.
The demon began to cackle in a very mocking way almost as if he expected us to attack him in this way.
-Ozroth: Guahahaha you humans are very predictable.
-Zyrus: Damn... don't be too clever you bastard!
-Celes: My Lord, no!!
I got up quickly and charged against the burlesque demon, I wasn't going to stay calm while this wretch made fun of us and all those who died because of him.
-Ozroth: Guahaha how brave, but that won't do you any good! [Shadow Bind!]
Just as I ran towards him to attack him, a dark circle appeared below me and dark chains appeared grabbing my limbs, preventing me from moving and by the force that weighed me down, I forced myself to kneel down and drop my sword.
-Zyrus: Aaaggghh...wh-what is this!?
-Ozroth: Guehehe... nothing amuses me more than seeing the desperate face of a human before his imminent death, come on, show me yours!
The gigantic demon calmly approached me while he prepared his long blade to cut me and no matter how much effort he made he could not free me from these ties but just before he reached me something hit him from behind.
-Ozroth: Ggaaah! who dared!?
He turned and saw Celes who had thrown her Lightning Blade at him point blank.
-Celes: I will not allow you to hurt My Lord, creature from hell!
-Ozroth: As you wish, then I'll start with you, now you watch as I massacre that woman in front of your eyes.
He jumped to attack Celes but she didn't back down as she had decided to face him without backing down to protect me.
-Celes: I must give everything even if I die, I'm the only one who can protect him [Limit Break!]
Suddenly a red aura with lightning began to surround Celes, I didn't know what it was but I imagined that it was something that would help her face this demon.
-Ozroth: It's useless!
When the demon launched the attack with the sword, Celes blocked it directly without flinching, only the impact of the shock caused a slight sinking under Celes' feet.
-Ozroth: Well, well, you're not as useless as the other humans after all!
-Celes: I am not like the others, I am the protector of the most important person in this world!!
With a strong backhand Celes pushed back the Greater Demon who was surprised to see how she surpassed her strength.
-Ozroth: W-What!? it's not possible!
Then she continued with a ferocious offensive and although the demon managed to protect himself from her, he was gradually being cornered to the point where she found an opening and gave a fatal cut to his left arm causing a serious injury.
-Ozroth: Gaaaahh!!, wretched human!!
The demon took a long leap to get away from Celes as he looked at her wound but suddenly smiled as if nothing had happened.
-Ozroth: That was a good attack, but useless after all.
-Celes: What?
We were surprised to see how the wound on his arm began to close slowly until it healed completely without leaving any trace of the damage that Celes had caused him.
-Ozroth: Guehehe!, didn't you know that we higher level demons have a fast regeneration?
-Zyrus: It can't be...
-Ozroth: Also, you're using Limit Break, right? a very powerful but risky human ability.
-Zyrus: What does he mean by that, Celes?
-Celes: Limit Break increases my power in an overwhelming way, more than what my body is capable of supporting for a few minutes, but once the effect wears off my body will feel extreme exhaustion and wear leaving me unable to move.
-Zyrus: And...you risked doing that, knowing the consequences!?
-Celes: I told you before, didn't I? I will protect you, even if I die trying.
After that Celes launched the attack once more against the demon and her battle continued to her advantage. but how much longer would it last I wondered, the demon had the ability to self regenerate and if Celes couldn't finish it off before her Limit Break ran out then she would be in trouble.
-Zyrus: Celes... Damn it!!
I tried to free myself from the chains with all my strength but it was impossible, I could only watch how Celes risked her life without me being able to do anything about it, the feeling of frustration and pain invaded my body.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone