❝ 𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐚! ❞
❝ 𝐢 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮. ❞
[ these 2 chapters takes place through episodes 10, 12, and 13. i will have a little border to indicate which episode each section takes place through - however, i split this chapter into 2 parts as the word count is well over 10k. ]
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
»»-----ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴀᴛʟᴀꜱ-----««
ERIS LICKED THE blood that settled on her lip, yet the metallic taste left her unfazed.
She pulled out her pendant and pressed it against her back, the weight of metal secured on her aching body once again. The weight was something she was used to, seeing as she always donned it whenever she dared to feel powerful. Wearing simple things like t-shirts and hoodies was a strange concept to her-it always felt too light, too easy and vulnerable. Any attacker could easily slice through the material and stab her heart, and the girl preferred to never let an enemy gain such an advantage.
She rolled her shoulders backwards, and she heard pops that satisfied her for now. Her bones ached, as if they begged for a chance to rest. She would do no such thing. There was no rest for her and she trained herself to never succumb to such a rare occurrence. She wiggled her fingers and rolled her wrists, but nothing could stop her mind from planning every little move until the darling Evangeline Zhang arrived at the Arcadia bluff.
Mere moments before, the Harbinger had returned from a fight within the sewers with her enemy-the Trollhunter himself. She remembered how fearless and foolish Jim Lake Jr. fought, how unsettling his smile was as he proceeded to fight as if he had nothing to lose. That was strange. Out of all the fighters she had met, they always fought as if they had nothing left in their pathetic, miserable lives left to lose. The truth was that there was always something lingering in the background, something waiting to be lost in the winds of infinity and the fighter would never know it.
The Harbinger remembered how she used to spar with Arius in the cavern belonging to the Arcane Order. The elf was ruthless and relentless, and never allowed her a moment to rest before he striked again. The Order always seemed pleased with the elf's strategy-after all, they preferred a ruthless champion to one who was easier to get rid of. Magic could only take one so far and the Harbinger knew that only the strong would survive.
Eris stood at the edge of the bluff overlooking the sleepy town of Arcadia Oaks. Her lips pressed into a line before she licked them again. The grey clouds floating in the sky soon began to gather closer and closer than before, almost becoming a blanket held by stitches made by an unseen force. She heard footsteps behind her, and the girl knew who stood there.
"Eris," Zel's voice began. Eris didn't move at all. "Will you actually deliver this human's head to the fire witch?"
Was that a tinge of uneasiness in Zel's voice? The Harbinger scoffed at it as she kept her gaze on the horizon. "Are you concerned about him?"
A few moments of silence passed between the two. "When you told me to find the human, you said that the shield was your only priority. We never discussed harming him."
Where was this weakness coming from? The reveal made the Harbinger's blood boil. If one couldn't be strong to make threats of pain and brawls, then one should stay in the shadows. Zel was certainly not a weak elf. Gods above, the elf was able to create harsh dents and deep slices into the almost-impenetrable armor that Eris donned when they sparred at the Armstrong Manor. The elf had the grace of a soaring phoenix and the ferocity of a dragon when it came to fighting. When strong warriors displayed weakness, it only meant they weren't cut out to be remembered.
"You know what Cassian has done to me. You know what his family has done to me. If I just sit by and allow their actions to settle without retaliation, then they have won. I would rather die than have that happen." The Harbinger finally said.
She had satisfied her need for revenge in various ways against the Zhang family. It was difficult in the early days of being a Champion of the Arcane Order. Out of the other champions she had trained with, only Cassian Zhang was the closest to her in terms of skills. She had no increased durability and speed like Arius. She couldn't harness magic and manipulate the mind like Victoria. She did, however, know how to play dirty. While she knew how to play dirty and get into her enemy's head without using magic, it always seemed like Cassian held the upper hand.
The mere thought of Cassian defeating her in various spars managed to irritate the Harbinger.
"I know," Zel sighed, and the Harbinger could tell her friend was defeated for now. "We should prepare for the fire witch's arrival. I have a bad feeling about this meeting."
By the time Evangeline Zhang arrived at the bluff, Eris had lost her patience for the witch. The sun was hidden behind the curtain of clouds and waiting for the witch felt like a millennium had passed. No matter-the shield would be in Eris' possession soon enough and she would be satisfied for now.
"Hello, little star," The Harbinger greeted once Lina arrived at the bluff. There was distance separating the witch from the Harbinger, but Eris wasn't bothered by that. She would close that distance by charging and fighting Lina if she proved to be difficult. She saw the witch's hands clench upon hearing the nickname she always used, but to Eris, the name was simply one used to rile her enemy. To her right, Cassian remained on his knees with his head pulled back, exposing his neck to Zel's curved blade.
"Looks like your sister actually came, human." Zel chuckled, and Eris heard a gasp come from the captive. She only assumed the blade cut into the traitor's skin, which impressed her. Her friend had the taste for bloodshed for once, pleasing her. Truth be told, she was becoming tired of the worried warrior and desired the one who fought with no fears.
There was a complex look on Lina's face, one that Eris couldn't figure out. Was she angry, worried, or simply good at looking mad all the time? It still surprised the Harbinger-she knew young and stupid Evangeline with stars in her eyes and mischief radiating around her. Now, she was met with a witch hardened by centuries of bloodshed and magic. Perhaps that was one of the only similarities between them.
"You actually care about him, Lina? He's nothing but a foolish servant. He thought he could get away with stealing my shield," The Harbinger summoned her blades back into her gloved hands. She was tired of waiting. If Lina wanted to be stubborn and hide the shield, then so be it. She would find it and she would spare no mercy. "Where is it?"
"The shield is far from here. You have no idea what you're dealing with, Eris," The witch responded, irritating the Harbinger. No idea what she was dealing with? By the gods above, she knew exactly what she was dealing with. She slayed fools for people who demanded her services, displayed unyielding loyalty to the Eldritch Queen, and was one of the last champions standing. Who was Evangeline Zhang to tell her such words?
Eris scoffed. "You really think you can keep things away from me? I'm Morgana's Champion, you pathetic apprentice. You're just lost in history with no one to remember your name. You are nothing."
"Your words mean nothing," Lina responded, though sparks were beginning to dance through her unclenched hands.
The sparks dancing on the fire witch's hands caused a smile to form on Eris' face. She had gotten under Lina's skin. She hit the witch with a dose of reality and irritated her. It was better to have an angered and reckless fighter than one who remained cool and calculated. Recklessness would give way to her victories.
The tension was shattered when Cassian let out an amused chuckle. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man with a small, cunning smile on his face that instantly annoyed her. Gods above, that cunning smile was the same one used by his father during the last moments of his life before she had killed him. "If your fights follow long conversations like this, it's a miracle you're still alive."
Before Eris could react, she saw Cassian grab hold of Zel's arm and twisted it, causing her to cry out in pain. Any trace of the magical roots that used to hold the man down were gone, giving him a clear path into the fight. The man threw his head backwards, slamming into Zel and causing her to back away.
"You Zhangs are so annoying!" Eris scowled. She gripped the handle of her right blade tightly and aimed it to pierce the man's chest when a red string of magic wrapped around her wrist. With a harsh yank, the blade was pulled towards the fire witch instead, causing Eris to be dragged with it. This was no problem-the closer she was to Lina, the closer she was to releasing a wave of attacks.
Eris positioned her blade once more, fixing it to hit the witch's heart. Lina dove to the side, causing the Harbinger to crash into the ground and hit the trunk of a nearby tree. She cursed and forced herself up. Her right arm had pain shooting through it, along with her body aching. She ignored it again-her mind was set on hurting Lina. She watched as Lina stood and froze in her place, giving the Harbinger a clear opening. Without hesitation, she thrusted her left blade towards the witch's legs, the chain following the blade handle as it wrapped around her ankles and pulled. The witch was slammed into the dirt and the Harbinger didn't give her a chance to recover.
The Harbinger commanded her chain to recoil, forcing the witch to be dragged through the earth. Oh, this was a sight she would never forget-her oldest enemy struggling against her. The grasp around her right blade handle tightened again, and she was certain her knuckles were white already. As the witch became only a few feet away, the Harbinger was caught off guard when Lina propelled herself up with magic and slammed her shoulder against her chest. The impact caused Eris to let go entirely, leaving her vulnerable. She stumbled backwards against the tree, leaving her no chance to protect herself when a scarlet glow surrounded her body. She saw a glint in Lina's eyes when the witch flicked her wrist and launched Eris deeper into the forest.
The Harbinger couldn't comprehend what had happened before she collided with a tree branch. The impact focused on her lower back where her pendant remained, but the force was strong enough to cause her pendant to recall her armor, providing her no protection from the fall. She hit the ground and made the mistake of using her right hand to ease the impact. A jolt of pain spread through her arm and she knew she had broken her wrist. She cursed under her breath as tears threatened to form within her eyes. She refused to let them fall-letting them fall would mean Lina won the fight.
The world was quiet, too quiet. She could only hear her own ragged breathing, the sound of birds chirping, and the leaves rustling in the wind.
Was this how she was going to accept defeat? Certainly not. She searched the grass for her pendant, using her left hand to brush through the blades and dirt until she found what she was looking for. She clenched her hand over the pendant and opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Her body was still begging for a chance to rest, a chance to heal and recover. Gods above, she wanted that more than anything now. She wanted to lay in the grass and gaze at the sky. She wanted the clouds to spill rain and she would allow the droplets to fall on her face. She wanted to melt into the earth and let her soul run free.
Foolish girl, she scolded herself. All of her wants were useless things she didn't have time for. She had one purpose and one purpose only-to ensure the Eldritch Queen's freedom. It didn't matter what it took. If it took fools being disposed of, then so be it. If it took serving a changeling, then so be it. If it took becoming a monster, then so be it.
Cursing once more, she slammed the pendant against her back and spat out the incantation. Bit by bit, the black armor spread through her body and wrapped around her limbs. She could see scratches and dents within it, but paid no attention to it. She stood and dragged herself through the forest, summoning her left blade and thrusting it as soon as she saw an end to the treeline. She could faintly see Lina's figure in the distance and commanded the blade to graze her left ribs.
The blade followed through with the command and Eris saw the witch fall to her knees. A curse echoed through the area, bringing a smile to the Harbinger's face. A barrier formed around the fire witch and the Harbinger saw Lina attempting to seal the wound she caused.
"You've grown sloppy, Lina!" She yelled, commanding her left chain blade to shoot out and attack the barrier until it shattered. With every attack, more spiderweb cracks formed in the barrier. She could see the fire witch starting to falter and succumb to her injury. This victory would make up for the defeat she faced with Jim Lake Jr. only hours ago.
Was this it? Was this the end of Evangeline Zhang? Oh, that would be a sight for sore eyes. The once valiant and forgotten apprentice of Merlin Ambrosius would be dead and there would be no second chances for her. The Zhang line would reach an end once she finished Lina and Cassian off.
The Harbinger's blade sliced at the barrier one last time, causing it to explode into nothingness. Her weapon shot towards the witch and made contact with her right arm, leaving a gash right below her shoulder. At last, the witch fell from her kneeling position, defeated. Crossing out the witch's name from her ever growing list of enemies would be one of the most satisfying things in Eris' life. Seeing the witch laying on the ground and struggling to seal her wounds was pathetic. This was the witch who subdued Eris below Camelot after stabbing Alucia Valois. Where was the witch who burned with the strength of the sun? Where was the angry, reckless girl?
All that was left was the shell of an apprentice.
A chilling hum made the Harbinger's hair on the back of her neck stand up. She didn't recognize this tune, this strange melody laced with haunting notes. Before she could react, she was hoisted into the air by scarlet magic. She swore out loud, wriggling around and trying to free herself from the magic when she saw Lina standing on her knees, her left hand raised. An overwhelming feeling of fear washed over her like a wave, and she felt like lightning had struck her.
No, what was this feeling? No, gods above, she hated it. She hated it so dearly. She was afraid, in pain, and couldn't be free. The restriction reminded her of her cursed tomb where she couldn't do anything except wait for someone to free her. She couldn't explore the evolving world. She couldn't leave at all. She was trapped, trapped again, and it scared her.
Her heart almost stopped when she saw Lina's left hand replicating the way Morgana's appeared every time she visited her cavern. No, this was cruel. This was wicked. What was Lina trying to do? Gods above, with every twist and turn Eris made, it was just another futile attempt at escaping. She thought this was the worst thing she would ever go through.
The sound of her armor tearing away from her body was even worse.
"No! You idiot, what are you doing?" Eris cried, watching as her right shoulder plate was ripped away. The plate fell onto the grass with a thud, the golden runes carved onto the metal faintly glowing. She hated how this feeling reminded her of her soul being torn apart into the seven fragments, the seven cursed rings used by her enemy for any advantage. "Let me go! You idiot!"
A cool breeze hit her face when the bottom half of her mask was taken away, exposing her bloody face. By the gods above, she was being torn apart again. The armor that protected her through the centuries was being ripped and crushed as if it was nothing-as if she was nothing. She felt the armor around her forearms fall to the ground, exposing the silver bodysuit she wore underneath it. There was nothing she could do to stop Lina's process until she was just the shell of a champion.
Lina suddenly stopped and Eris was lowered back down. She crouched and picked up the remains of her armor, her blood boiling instantly. She picked her head up and glared at the witch, who simply stood with her hands no longer radiating magic.
"You...I'll kill you, Lina! I'll kill you the same way I did to Alucia!"
Upon saying the witch's dead friend, a metal clasp fired out from Lina's right hand and secured over the Harbinger's mouth. She was silenced, yet her rage burned like Lina's fire. She saw Cassian run over to his younger sister and looped her right arm over his neck, which sickened her. How pathetic-as always, Lina needed help. She couldn't do things on her own.
Eris forced herself to stand and she tossed the remains of her armor to the side. Her left chain blade hovered next to her before it shot to her palm. She wouldn't allow the Zhangs to get away so easily. She refused to remain empty-handed. She demanded the Shield of the Arcane and earned humiliation instead. She wouldn't accept that. She tried to run towards the two siblings, but her run was more of a limp. Gods, she must have sprained something in her legs. She locked her gaze on Lina's heart and was about to order her weapon to fire out when she felt something smack against the back of her head, causing her to slump forward and hit the ground.
Her world was swallowed up by the shadows once more.
Eris gasped when she finally awoke, the side of her face pressed against the cold floor. Her eyes darted around frantically, scanning where she was when she realized she was in the museum. The stars were visible from the windows of the building, but the girl couldn't appreciate it when she heard something crawling on the ground.
A goblin nudged its head against her arm and she moved it in an attempt to get rid of the disgusting creature when her limb was held back. Confused, she tried pushing herself to stand on her knees when her arms and hands wouldn't follow through with what she wanted. Gritting her teeth, she shook her hands, only to discover that they were pinned behind her back and fastened together with chains. Her heart began to race as she shook them again and tried to break free, yet was left immobilized. She kicked her legs out, straightening them and tried pulling them apart when she realized that her ankles were bound together as well. The only thing that granted her some kind of relief was the fact that the clasp over her mouth was gone.
"Waka chaka!" The goblin screeched once it crawled closer to her face. She spat at it in disgust—she hated those creatures.
"I will burn you." She promised, glaring at the creature who simply watched her.
Groaning in annoyance, she rolled onto her stomach and closed her eyes. She would escape chains once more if she concentrated. Her smoke form would grant her the freedom she desired. Her eyes remained closed and she waited for the familiar static feeling that would transform her body into smoke, but nothing happened. Her body remained silent and unresponsive to her commands.
Gods above, why isn't this working?
She swore under her breath in irritation. What kind of enchantment prevented her from transforming? She struggled against the chains, wriggling around and swearing when she couldn't achieve what she wanted.
"What did you do?" Strickler's voice interrupted her struggles and she opened her eyes to see the changeling standing in front of her, an almost murderous look on his face. By the tone of his voice, she could tell he was far from happy.
"You have to be more specific, changeling. I've done a lot of things today," Her calm voice caused a scowl on the man's face, giving her a small victory.
"Do you know exactly what you have done? You exposed yourself to the Trollhunter, deliberately derailing the plan to release Gunmar." The man's voice was laced with irritation and anger, but the Harbinger rolled her eyes. She drew the upper part of her body towards her knees, scrunching up like a caterpillar before she stood on her knees.
"Deliberately is pushing the narrative. I simply followed the orders you gave me from the beginning—end the Trollhunter's life. That's all," She sighed dramatically to mask the fact that Bular's presence was made with a harsh stomp of the ground behind her sent a wave of panic through her body. "I was following the end of the bargain. Tell me, changeling—why haven't I received the rings as promised? You know what happens to those who don't keep true to their word, especially when bargaining with the Eldritch Queen's Harbinger."
The girl suddenly felt Bular's hand grasp her body as if it was a tree branch and squeezed, and she cried out in pain. She could hardly register what was happening when she was forced against the ground of the museum, the side of her face in the center of squished goblin remains. She felt like throwing up.
With the sudden increase of force, she was certain something else in her body had broken, and she wouldn't be surprised if it was her legs. She bit her bottom lip in an attempt to hold back another cry, but the grasp around her tested her limits.
"We grow tired of your games, fleshbag. You forget that you are dispensable." Bular practically growled in her ear, causing her to scrunch her face in disgust. There weren't enough healing spells in the world to get rid of the troll breath that stuck to her face. When she didn't respond to the troll's words, she was squeezed again. She finally let out another cry, one that echoed in the museum. She couldn't find the words to create a snarky remark or a beg for mercy. "You don't know the difference between confidence and arrogance."
"Who are you to tell me what I know and what I don't know, you pathetic excuse for a prince? You're just the son who failed his father too many times," She finally snapped after several moments of silence. She was picked up and held in the air, one of Bular's cleavers aimed directly at her neck. The desire to kill was clearly written on the troll's face. "You kill me and the secrets of your enemies will die with me. You may have replaceable changelings, but you will never have another Harbinger of Chaos. Choose your next action wisely, butcher."
Eris couldn't decipher the look on the Gumm Gumm Prince's face. She couldn't tell if she won for now. Her fate hung in the air of uncertainty, and she prayed that this would not be her end. She would not die like this again, full of regrets and dreams. She refused to die like her old self did.
A harsh growl came from Bular before he threw the Harbinger's chained body towards Strickler, the mere bystander who didn't try to defend her honor at all. She deemed him a traitor, and she would not forget his cowardice in front of Bular. He was just another pet, a servant to a troll. She hated him with all her heart.
"Don't let her out of your sight." The troll ordered the changeling—and for once, Eris remained on the ground in front of Strickler. The receding footsteps of the troll became fainter and fainter until the only noise that could be heard was Eris' steady breathing. She dared to look up at Strickler, but only received a neutral expression that scared her.
"The book of Ga-Huel lied about you."
»»-----ᴄʟᴀɪʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀᴇꜱᴇɴᴛ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ-----««
ERIS' BONES HAD finally healed by the time the Trollhunter amulet was brought to the Killahead Bridge.
She couldn't figure out how many days had passed since she was defeated by Jim, Lina, and Bular, but she didn't allow that thought to bother her anymore. When her bones had finally healed, she learned that Strickler was able to acquire the Trollhunter amulet before her, and she took that as an insult. What did the changeling do to acquire the amulet before she could? She knew he would never answer her questions, seeing as he was still very irritated and angered by the fact that she went behind his back to steal the amulet herself. She simply told herself that the man would get over it eventually.
Numerous texts from Claire and Mary had blown up her phone where the two girls continuously asked where the Harbinger was. Eris had missed every single play rehearsal since she ditched Arcadia Oaks High to prepare Jim's birthday gift all those days ago. but she found herself in a strange position. She felt bad for leaving her two friends hanging, and she knew how important the play was to Claire. To Mary? Not so much, but Mary was still a friend.
Eris found herself feeling regret for ignoring their messages and focusing on healing herself up after the fights she went through.
After Strickler placed her under something Nomura called house arrest, she was practically forbidden from leaving the museum at all. Wherever she wandered, at least two or three goblins would be trailing behind her. If it wasn't goblins, it would be Nomura's watchful gaze from the other side of the room. By the gods above, even as she slept in the provided cot in the corner of the room holding the Killahead Bridge, she could feel the eyes of twenty goblins watching her.
She eventually realized that the museum was simply a better version of her old tomb.
The Harbinger of Chaos leaned against one of the main pillars as Strickler strode past her in his changeling form, the Trollhunter amulet held high as he presented it to Bular. The army of goblins chanted as the bridge glowed bright blue and swirled with arcane magic. Nomura and Bular waited for the changeling by the bridge, their eyes glowing as well. The shadow of Gunmar was seen through the blue smoke emitting from the bridge.
Bular snatched the amulet from Strickler's green fingers and spoke about how it was his honor to free the warlord from the Darklands. Even though Eris didn't care much, she kept her gaze focused on the amulet and her arms folded. Was this the moment Strickler, Nomura, and Bular have been waiting for? If Gunmar was actually free, then the town of Arcadia would be the first to burn. The Harbinger pressed her lips into a line as her mind attempted to string together the possibilities that could follow upon the troll's release.
"For centuries, Father, we have awaited your glorious return. Tonight, we take back the surface lands. Tonight, we feast!" Bular declared after jumping onto the peak of the bridge and holding the amulet in the air. Goblins cheered in agreement as the amulet was set down into the carving where it fit perfectly. It radiated with magic as the inner mechanics spun around and the carvings lit up. A burst of energy exploded in the museum, but no one moved.
"Finally...after centuries of being in the Darklands," Gunmar began before he stopped. The bridge trembled and cracked as Strickler tried to walk towards it. He said something about taking the amulet out, but the loud hum that echoed through the museum made it hard for the Harbinger to decipher what was being said.
Gunmar's voice was blurred against the hum and trill coming from the amulet. The mechanisms continued to spin until they slowly stopped. All traces of magic caused by the amulet vanished, along with the smoke that used to show Gunmar the Black. The amulet fell to the ground, the metal clinking against the ground before Strickler picked it up.
So this wasn't Gunmar's return at all. While the presentation was enchanting, the result was disappointing. A pity Eris didn't seem to care.
"Daylist is his to command," Strickler's voice was cut off when the Gumm Gumm prince grabbed his throat and held him in the air. Suddenly interested in seeing if this would be the end of Strickler, the Harbinger pushed herself off the wall and stood straight, her arms by her side now. Seeing her enemy writhe around and claw at the Gumm Gumm's hand brought a smile to her face.
"You said the amulet would open the bridge!" Bular yelled.
"Bular, I know what we need," The changeling's voice strained against the grasp. Oh, how she wanted to encourage the prince to put a little more force into his squeeze. Seeing the man's demise would give her some kind of solace for now, yet she waited. There was something more to this exchange, something that interested her.
"What?" The Gumm Gumm demanded.
"The Trollhunter—the amulet won't work without him. He is the key!" The changeling rasped.
Bular cast his gaze towards Nomura. "Bring the Trollhunter to me."
Nomura bowed to the hulking brute and made her way towards Eris. The Harbinger recognized a glint in the changeling's eye, one that held a taste for mind games and trickery. Without another thought spared, the Harbinger began to follow Nomura when she heard Strickler call out to her.
"You will not leave."
The Harbinger stood in place, but didn't tilt her head to look at the changeling. "Try me, changeling."
Strickler didn't issue a single response, which pleased the girl. When Bular didn't protest her leave, she knew she had won.
With a swirl of smoke, Eris vanished into the night.
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
when the author makes a comeback after almost two months without an update for this fic :,D
i honestly did not expect a little break before chapter 9 and this one - a whole lotta things got thrown my way in life and i couldn't find enough time to properly sit down and just write how i wanted to. i apologize for that.
on the brighter side, this chapter is only part one of two since i realized that in total, this chapter would at least be 10k words or even more. cutting it into two parts is easier, imo.
besides that, just know that updates will remain a little slower than usual until june. i have sm planned for my saga and i still can't wait to get to them. thanks for your patience!
as always, thank you for reading!
have an amazing day / night!
<3,
kanna