Volume 3 Chapter 41 – Uprising (Patreon)

After Morrigan left the cavern, she had expected the way back to be perilous and filled with dangers. Perhaps, more of the wisps screeching and screaming at her. But it was actually surprisingly simple. Azrael took her hand, and they went up the same staircase through which they came.

"Why did you say that you can only get out if you've been here before? It's not like there's a labyrinth. It's literally just a single path forward," Morrigan asked while Azrael gripped her hand.

"It's because of them," Azrael said, pointing at the wisps that were still lazily floating around the place.

"Them? What did they do?" 

"Nothing yet. You'll see once we approach the entrance. Just be ready and whatever happens, do not stop," he warned her in a low voice. She nodded and they continued upstairs in silence. However, the higher they climbed, the more restless the wisps appeared. They began moving around faster until it looked like a swarm of bees. They were also flying closer and closer to Morrigan, and she could hear their distant screams.

"What is happening?" she asked Azrael nervously.

"They don't want to let us leave. It's against the order of things. Nobody leaves the Underdark."

A few meters before the entrance the wisps were buzzing maniacally, constantly flying in front of them, blocking their path.

"What do we do now?" Morrigan asked, clutching at her head as the distant screams seemed to come closer. Even when she tried to dominate them with her magic, they did not back down.

"Watch closely," Azrael instructed. He held her hand and then lifted his free hand up. Then he began writing characters into the air with flame. No, rather he was writing his name. When he was done he jerked his head at her and she also wrote her name in the air in flames. 

"Now you have to keep looking at your name and repeating it in your head. Stop only once you are outside," Azrael instructed. Morrigan nodded and looked straight at the characters that she had drawn. 

"Here we go then," Azrael sighed, squeezed her hand more tightly and stepped forward.

The swarm of wisps instantly flew at Morrigan, screaming into her mind once more. But this time it was worse as it felt like they were ripping at her flesh and soul. Like they were trying to pull apart who she was. But she kept her gaze on her name and kept chanting in her mind.

I am Morrigan Nachtstern.

I am Morrigan Nachtstern.

I am Morrigan Nachtstern.

I am Morrigan Nachtstern.

I am Morrigan Nachtstern.

The wisps swarmed and screamed, each untangling her thoughts and memories. She didn't know where she was or what she was doing. But she kept repeating her name over and over like a protective mantra and moving forward one heavy step at a time. Just as it felt like the hold on her name would slip at any moment, the screaming stopped and she found herself standing at the entrance of Underdark, clutching Azrael's hand.

"We're out… Thank the Darkness," Morrigan sighed and slumped to the ground.

"That's it. That was the last time I go into that nasty place. I am NOT doing that again," Azrael stomped his foot angrily and glared at the entrance of Underdark.

"Neither am I. I've never felt so bad in my life," she nodded.

"Let's just go. I don't want to stay here for longer than necessary," Azrael shook his head and transformed into his dark dragon form. Morrigan was exhausted and wanted to catch a bit of a breather. But as she looked at the entrance of Underdark, a cold shudder ran through her body, and she transformed as well.

I think I'd rather chill with the lava salamanders than stay here.

***

It was amazing how fast traveling in dragon form was. The distance that would have taken more than a week to traverse with carriages took a mere day and a half in dragon forms. They probably would have gotten to the Lava Resort in a single day, if they hadn't been so exhausted after the Underdark. That's how convenient it was to be a dragon.

If I had known that traveling as a dragon is so fast, I would have just gone on the tour together with Haku and Azrael. Would have been home in like two weeks.

When they arrived at the Lava Resort, Morrigan expected everyone to rush over and greet her excitedly. However, everything was oddly quiet. The seven royal carriages sat by the entrance, but that was it. There were no signs of other guests. The only two who came to greet Morrigan were Haku, who had been dozing in a lava pool, and Galandir who had been watching over him.

"You're back and you're safe! I'm so happy to see you, Morrigan!" Haku instantly abandoned the pool and flew to her side, not at all put off by her dragon appearance.

"Since when can you transform into a dragon?" Galandir asked in surprise. "And how could Haku tell it was you?"

"Of course, I could tell. Morrigan smells like fresh grass, fire, and something sweet. Nobody else has the same smell," Haku hummed. Morrigan changed out of her dragon form, carefully avoiding the fallen lava globules.

"He can smell me apparently," she shrugged. "Where is everyone?"

The elf's expression fell. Azrael who had just turned back to his normal self pursed his lips.

"They're inside, don't worry about them, but…" 

"No. Keep your mouth shut, elf," Azrael growled.

"She'll find out anyway! It's best I just tell her now," Galandir glared at the mage, not bothered by his outburst.

"Tell me what?" Morrigan asked, but there was a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something had happened. Something not good.

"There's an uprising in the capital," he said.

"W-What?! Uprising?" Morrigan exclaimed in shock, then ran inside the resort. There was nobody in the reception area, so she rushed further inside and heard some muttering coming from deeper within. She followed the noise and soon found herself in the large hall where everyone sat in front of a crystal.

Viana and Deziara were sitting closets to the crystal, their faces marred with worry. When they noticed Morrigan arrive, they both jumped to her feet and rushed to her.

"What is going on?" she asked in a hurry.

"It's such a mess, Morri! I can't believe that something like that could happen so suddenly. Everything was fine one moment and the next this happened," Deziara was babbling incoherently, her eyes filling with tears.

"Calm down. Morrigan can't understand anything if you speak like that. Come with me, I'll explain everything," Viana said and pulled Morrigan away from the room. Some piteous glances followed her, but most concentrated on the voice talking through the crystal.

"What's with that crystal?" Morrigan asked as Viana pulled her into an adjacent free room.

"Live commentary from the capital."

"Galandir said there was an uprising."

"Yes. But calm down and listen carefully. You rushing over there isn't going to help anyone," Viana said and forced Morrigan down. 

"Alright. I'll listen, just please explain everything."

The three princesses sat down by the coffee table, Morrigan on one side and Deziara and Viana on the other. 

"It all happened before we even managed to return to the resort. When we arrived, all the guests were rushing away. We didn't understand what was happening at first, but then we found out there was a battle going on in the capital," Viana said, glumly looking down on her hands.

"Battle? You're telling me there's an outright battle in the capital? Like in the streets?" 

"Yes. Nobody is quite yet sure exactly where it started, but monuments and important places were being targeted and destroyed. Obviously, Father instantly mobilized our forces to beat them back, but… it turned out that it wasn't just some small terrorist force. Each day more and more enemies march towards the capital while Father is working hard to keep them out. Currently, Linberor is under siege."

"SIEGE?!" Morrigan nearly fell over from shock. She didn't know much about war, but even she knew what siege was. It meant that the city was surrounded by enemy forces and cut off from the rest of the country without any possibility to deliver fresh supplies.

"But how could they amass an army large enough to begin a siege? Didn't we capture most of their forces already?"

"Apparently not. And there's another strange thing going on," Viana fell even further. "Our mages, Father included, are unable to use magic to their full capacity in the capital."

"The black orb?" 

"Yes. Most likely. However, without Azrael and you, we weren't able to get in contact with Father to tell him that."

"Then I'll contact him right now," Morrigan said hurriedly and instantly channeled her mana into the pendant. For a while nothing happened as they both stared at it, waiting for an answer. Then she channeled it for the second time. Another minute passed in silence. Then she tried for the third time.

"Morrigan! Are you safe?" resounded Alphegor's voice. However, it wasn't as clear as it normally was — instead it felt like there was something interfering as his voice seemed distant and a bit distorted.

"Yes! I am safe. Father, is everything alright? I heard there's an uprising," she asked in a panic.

"I'm afraid so. Unfortunately, I had grown a bit complacent. But don't worry, I'll take care of it," he tried to assure her. However, there was a noise of metal hitting metal and some distant screaming in the background.

Is he fighting right now? 

"Father, there likely is a black orb in the capital draining your magic," Morrigan informed, hoping to relay the most important information first.

"Yeah, we found it. Unfortunately, we've been unable to destroy it."

"I can–"

"NO! Under no circumstances are you or Viana or Deziara to come to the capital," he said with unyielding sharpness.

"But–"

"This is an order from your King! You will obey! I forbid you from coming to the capital," Alphegor's words were so strong that Morrigan couldn't force a single word out anymore. It's like his words forced her to obey his command. Before she could manage to collect her wits, the connection broke off and they were left in silence.

"Viana… What do we do?" Morrigan looked helplessly at her eldest sister. Viana looked just as confused as her, but then she shook her head.

"We'll remain here," she said firmly.

"What? But the black orb must be hindering their ability to fight. I must go there and get rid of it."

"Absolutely not," Viana shook her head. Morrigan wanted to shout at her, but Viana raised her hand, her expression filled with pain. "I understand how you feel. I also want to go and help, but please realize what is happening."

"What do you mean?"

"If something happens to Father, then who will take charge?" 

Morrigan's heart fell as the grim scenario entered her mind.

"As his heir, you must remain safe. If the Demon Kingdom loses its King then they'll need a new person to look up to lead them. And since they all know that you're not in the capital, then you are their hope. Even if the enemy takes control of Linberor, as long as you are still alive somewhere, the demon people will always have hope."

"Why are you talking as if Father is already dead?!" Morrigan jumped to her feet and rushed outside, ready to take action. But before she could anywhere she ran straight into the hands of Azrael.

"I'm sorry, Morrigan. But you must remain safe," Azrael said, and then she felt how his sleep spell took hold of her body.

"Traitor…" she muttered before the spell put her to sleep.

"No. I am your guardian and I will remain as such until the day I die," he said and touched his chest, where the oath sat on his skin.

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