As I began to fall, I tried to grabbed onto the side of the wall but my hand slipped and gravity continue to dragged me down. I prepared for the impact of the hard floor but instead, I landed on something soft, white, and...fluffy? When I open my eyes, I saw Soren in front of me holding a wand that looks like a clock hand. When I look down, I saw that I had landed on a soft pillow like cloud.
Zelphi: Oh hey Soren, I see you fell down too. Anyway, thanks for saving me.
Soren was silent, he was staring at my ring with a deadpan (emotionless) expression.
Zelphi: By the way, where did you get that clock hand from?
Soren: (deadpan).....
Zelphi: Um..Soren?
Soren: It's nothing, come reaper king.
Just like that, Soren turned around and started walking, I automatically followed him. This is strange, why is Soren acting like this? And also..why is he calling me "reaper king", Soren never calls me that.
Zelphi: So um..where are we going?
Soren: (deadpan)....
Zelphi: (why is he ignoring me!)
Just then, Soren whistled. When he did, a blue canary flew in and perched onto his shoulder. It happily chirped and nuzzled him.
Soren: Su, did you find them...I see, show me the way.
The canary gave a happy chirp before flying off, we followed the bird Soren named Su.
Zelphi: Hey, I've never seen you with a blue bird before. How long have you had it.
Soren: Do not concern yourself with it reaper king.
Just like that, Soren continue to walk again. He seems more distant than usual, more quiet, serious, and why is he being so emotionless? As we were walking, I tried to talk with him but he ignores me each time.
Zelphi: Hey Soren..where are we going? Are we looking for the others?
Soren: (deadpan)....
Zelphi: By the way, why are you dressed differently? Your clothes look different from the one you had on a second ago. Why is your right hand bandaged and also, what's with the clock hand.You seem to use it like a wand, what happen to your books. I always see you carry around a few spell books.Y'know, like Cyclone and Tempest. I actually saw you carrying around another book called-
Soren: (stops walking) Quiet...
Zelphi: Wha-!!
Soren then covered my mouth before I can say another word. He then dragged me behind a rubble wall.
Soren: (quietly) Shhh....(points ahead) look...
I looked ahead and saw a group of shady people gathering around a large magic circle that has glyphs in between them.
Zelphi: Wha- what are they doing, who are they?
Soren: Summoners...they are the ones who've been opening the portals all around the land.
Zelphi: Huh? But didn't you say it was caused by Zephiel's uprising?
Soren: It is...look closer.
I did as I was instructed. I look closely at one of the summoners and saw a familiar tattoo on his neck.
Soren: Did you see the mark? Those summoners are under Zephiel's influence. They come to the ruins once a week in order to perform a ritual and open portals all around the magic land. I have a way to reverse the seal and closed all the portals in this land. All I need you to do is distract them. Now go and cause a disturbance...I'll be waiting right here.
Zelphi: What? You're not going to help me!
Soren: Why should I? I need to preserve my magic powers in order to seal the portal. Besides, you're the reaper king. You should be strong enough to handle them.
Easy for you to say! There's about 80 or so summoners here, I don't think I can take them all on! (Sigh) oh well, I just need to distract them. Soren is wise, he must've already have a plan.
As the summoners joined hands, they began to chant and a black hole starts to form in the middle of the circle. There was a dark illuminating light that shined all the way up the sky. I got out my scythe and prepared myself. After focusing, I gather my aura into one point and charge out. My transparent death god avatar expands and I swung my scythe down towards the magic circle.
Zelphine: Haaa!!! Death god's Judgement!
Summoners: Huh?! What the-!
The avatar swung down it's scythe but it didn't break the magic circle. Oh great, now my efforts are wasted and they know I'm here. Once I landed on the ground, I sped towards the nearest enemy and attack them with my scythe. I know that savant aren't good against close range combat so I might stand a chance. Yeah, I can do this!
I swung my scythe but the summoner dodged it and jumped back several paces. He then slammed his hand on the ground and a large saber tooth tiger appeared and sped towards me. The other summoners did the same and summoned out large monster beasts.
Summoners: (summoning) I call thee!
Summoners: (summoning) Now answer my call!
Zelphi: Oh boy...this is bad...
I jumped behind the saber tooth and attacked the giant bear, I then kicked it and attacked the vulture. Two hell hounds sped towards me and I jump into the air and slammed down on them. But then, a huge buffalo charged forward and rammed me into the wall. I crashed into it and piles of debris fell on me. I got out from the rubble and dust myself off. I didn't have any major injuries but if I was thrown a few more times, then I'll definitely be dead.
Zelphine: (breathing heavily) huff...huff...not good..there's just too many of them. Well..maybe I can just end it all at once. Okay..I hope this works.
As I focus, my aura swirl around me. While I was concentrating, the beast surrounded me and they all attack at once. The aura on my scythe then expands and I did a 360 degrees spin with my scythe.
Zelphi: Death god's punishment! Haa!!!
The slash was 30 feet in radius and most of the summoned creatures disintegrated into ashes. I then collapsed onto the floor breathing heavily. Phew..using a sacred move takes a lot of energy. I already used two of it, I don't think I can do anymore. But then, all the summoners summoned out another beast and they all attacked me. Oh gods..now I'm in trouble. I shield myself as they came closer but then, someone stood in front of me.
Soren: (deadpan) Hm..it seems that some animals have escaped from the zoo. Now..it's back to your cages.
Soren waved his wand and dozens of iron cages slammed down on the beast. He then waved it again and the cages burst into flames. That made all the beast backed away from it.
Summoner: What are you doing?! I command you, break it down!
The summoners ordered their beast to charged forward and they did. Instead of breaking down the cage, the beast actually passed through them meaning...they were illusions. Huh? Since when did Soren know how to make illusions?
The beast are now all charging forward while ignoring the flaming cage. Soren wave the clock hand again and I saw land mines appeared in the ground.
Summoners: Don't be fooled! They're just illusions!
The beast continues to run towards us while ignoring the land mines. But then, the land mines exploded and the beasts blew up.
Summoners: What?! They're real! Stop! I command you to stop!
But it was too late and most of the beast blew up. Soren then waved his wand again and send a large volley of fire balls towards the summoners.
Summoners: Run!!
As the summoners ran, they fell through the solid ground.
Summoners: W-what's happening?!!
Soren: It's simple, I cast a illusion. There was no ground there to begin with. I just put a ground there to trick you into thinking that there is one there. Oh and also, those fireballs are fake.
Summoners: Why you-!!
Once the summoners start ignoring the fireballs, it hit them and now the summoners are being burned by it.
Soren: (smirks) Sorry..I lied. But it's your fault for believing the enemy.
Summoner: Who..who are you?
Soren:....illusions..or real illusions. Within the illusion holds the truth. Within the truth holds lies. Within the lie holds yet another truth. Yet...within the truth holds yet another lie. These are the illusions created by the "branded lie."
Just then, the walls on the other side burst and Zero and the others came through it.
Zero: Zelphi! Are you alright!
Zelphine: Yeah! Soren and I-
Just then I saw Soren came through the wall with Zero, he was holding his neon green book on his hand. I look at the a Soren who was holding the clock hand wand and the Soren that was holding the neon green book back and back again. The two Soren's are also staring at each other as well.
Before anyone said anything, the summoners all summoned a huge beast together. A huge magic circle formed and a chimera beast that resembles a tiger came out from it. It was at least 23 feet tall with other large mammal parts on it. We readied ourselves as it charge towards us. Zero, Kuon, and Sloth attacks with their swords however it did little damage. Mary-Anne tried to trick it with illusions but it doesn't seem to be fazed. Thana used her orbs to exercised the beast but that only seem to make it angrier. I couldn't do anything since I'm tired out from using the sacred moves. The chimera tiger charged forward and bared it's fangs.
The Soren with the wand created a giant bird cage and locked the tiger inside of it. He then waved it again and a jolt of thunder electrocuted the tiger. The tiger roared before breaking the cage apart. The Soren with the spell book flipped through the pages of Zephyr and recited the spell.
Soren: 'O winds of Zephyr that blow on high, tear them apart and make them fly!
The wind started to expand and expand, it then created a hurricane that blow towards the tiger. The tiger clawed the ground to withstand the impact. While the winds were still blowing, the Soren with the wand created clouds and thunder to make the winds blow harder. The bits and pieces of the earth crumbled and the tiger was ripped to shreds.
After the two Sorens dealt with the tiger, Kuon and the rest rally up the summoners and knocked them unconscious. After that, the two Soren's looked at each other face to face. The Soren with the book stared at the other Soren's back palm. On his back palm was the red diamond mark of the branded.
Soren: It seems that we finally found you...Merlin.
Merlin: (looks at palm) Quite clever "Branded lie."
Merlin waved his wand and transformed into a man with blonde hair and purple eyes. Su (the blue bird) was right next to him.
Merlin: I have been expecting you "branded wind." I know why you're here.
Soren: I see...that should save me time explaining. So tell me..will you help us seal the portal.
Merlin: No...instead, I'll get rid of them for good. All the portals in this land originated from these ruins. Do you see that magic circle on the ground..it's the same formula used to open the gates to the Netherworlds 3000 years ago. I've been investigating these ruins for two weeks and it seems that they couldn't fully open the portal here. The side effects from that made small portals open elsewhere. But not to worry, I also discover a way to close the portal and of course I'll be needing your help "branded wind".
Soren: I see, you have my full cooperation.
After that, I watched as Soren and Merlin decode the circle in order to close all the portals.
Merlin: Here, use this formula to translate the first verse. It's easier if you substitute it with the second line and reverse it.
Soren: I see...if I start with this line and substitute the first letter, then I should be able to translate this glyph.
I watch as Soren and Merlin work on the magic circle. After a few hours, they completed their work.
Merlin: It's done....
Soren: Phew...that should do it.
Merlin: On my count, ready?
Soren and Merlin both raised their hands and started chanting. Then the magic circle shined a luminating light all the way up to the sky. From far away, we saw three more luminating lights shining in the sky. Just then there was a burst of energy and the light diminished. The magic circle darken then faded away to nothing.
Zelphi: So...did it work?
Soren: Yes...this is the end.
Zelphi: Phew...that's good. Now we can go home, you're coming with us, right Soren?
Soren: Yes, your castle is like my second home. No one judges me as a branded and it's always interesting there. I have a library all to myself and I feel as if I'm needed there.
Merlin: (deadpan) Really now...it's a nice place, mind if I move in?
Zelphi: What? You want to come along?
Merlin: Why not? It sounds nice, there's a library and I won't be discriminated upon. Besides, it's good to spend some time with my branded kin. I'll help you with the work so do put up with me.
Zelphi: Alright then. Having you is like having another Soren, it'll get the job done faster.
Soren: Glad to have you along, Merlin.