The Red Hand

Chapter 467 – Plans on Top of Plans on Top of Plans.

"So we go from marching to war against the Demon Lord to teaming up with the Hero, to finding out that he and Mizzy is a part of some grand plan to save the world." Katlyn said nonchalantly as the group wandered through the forest. "Sounds like the average adventure if you ask me. I'm just waiting for the resurrection of Mr. Quackers to cap this whole thing off."

"Can we never just get something simple and straightforward?" Nier sighed as he remembered the simpler times of old. "I miss the old escort the merchant to the city jobs. And also, don't even joke about the Mr. Quackers thing. You've heard the stories about him, and that monster showing back up would make things so much worse, so don't jynx it."

"It might not be fighting an evil Demon duck but we're escorting people to fight Gods or take part in some Primordial's evil plans! Wooo!" Katlyn laughed as Miz'ri walked between them in silence. "You okay? You've been awfully quiet since we left the portal?" The group had taken the Fairies up on the offer to teleport them and had teleported to the very outskirts of the Whistlewoods. They'd wanted to go straight to their village but were told no portal existed there and they'd have to walk; something that annoyed everyone.

"I'm fine..." Miz'ri responded weakly. "It's just... This is a lot to take in... I wonder if this was what Lady Esquire wanted to ensure I survived for?" The Fairies hadn't entirely filled them in on what the 'plan' was, mostly because they didn't understand it themselves and were told that everything would be made clear upon reaching the special Temple deep within the Forest.

{Perhaps she is secretly trying to stop Lord Gale's plan? But how would she have created a scheme with a Primordial that was killed before she came into being? None of this makes sense, but then I suppose that's just par for the course when it comes to the Chaos Primordial.} (Miz'ri)

"Don't take these three idiots entirely at their word." Kanato called out to her as the three Faries buzzed around him. "For all we know, this is just some scheme to get free food out of us. It wouldn't be the first time."

"Not scheme! Plan!" (Fairies)

"Same thing." Kanato smirked as his three winged friends bopped him on top of the head with their tiny hands. “And no comment about the food?”

“Quiet!” (Fairies)

"How are you so calm about this whole thing?" Nier asked the Hero as he continued to take bopping. "We might not know what this Primordial has planned, but if it's anything like a Gods' scheme, it's likely to be a massive headache for everyone involved, especially you."

{Demon Lords' too. I have no fucking clue what Akagi is doing at this point and no idea what the hell our purpose in this whole thing is. What good is following the Hero going to do at this stage? It didn't sound like she was aware of this whole Primordial plan thing when we reported it to the Ninja, and she just told us to report in. I seriously can't get a read on that woman and that's probably intentional on her part.} (Nier)

"I already had a total mental breakdown, so at this point, I think anything goes." Kanato replied with a shrug. He'd long since given up on trying to understand things and had decided to just go with the flow since thinking to hard about things made things painful. "I found out that all my hard work and determination meant nothing and that I was used to commit the kind of atrocity that I thought relegated to ancient history." He said as he balled his fists. "If there's anything I can do to make my existence worth a damn at this point, then I'll take it."

"Even if that means cooperating with a Demon Lord and a Primordial?" Katlyn asked.

"Neither can be worse than the Gods at this point." Kanato shook his head. "And honestly, if they plan on just using me in part of a grander plan I'm fine with it as long as it saves this world and its people from those bastards!" He raised his voice slightly before composing himself. "Sorry..."

"You're good, trust me, you're good." Nier laughed. "And who knows, maybe this whole Primordial plan thing won't need you and Miz'ri to get sacrificed." He said, his words causing Miz'ri to flinch slightly.”Uh... Sorry...”

"That's how this kind of plot always goes in stories, doesn't it?" Kanato laughed quietly as he scratched his cheek nervously. "I'd rather not drag anyone else to Hell with me, and if possible I'll prevent that kind of bad ending."

"I..." Miz'ri tried to speak but her voice was too weak from fear. She knew that Nier and Kanat o were right and that there was a non zero chance that she was little more than a lamb being led to the slaughter.

"It's alright, Mizzy." Katlyn comforted her as she wrapped her arm around the Dark Elf. "We won't let anyone hurt you. I promise that none shall take my Mizzy!"

"If... If I need to... Then I'll..." Miz'ri was about to say she'd offer herself up to save everyone if need be, but Katlyn cut her off by putting her finger over her lips.

"You ain't dying, nope." Katlyn rubbed her head before letting her go. "You me and Nier are going to live a happy comfy life in some no-name village after this whole shitshow blows over. Can't have that if someone dies now, can we?"

"Please don't throw up death flags like that..." Kanato sighed. "That's on the list of worst things to say right before major events."

"Up there with promising to get married after the battle." Nier nodded, noting that adventurers had a list of taboo phrases that were thought to bring bad luck to those who said them before battle. “Best not to tempt fate.”

"Well, we're already married so we can't do that." Katlyn thought for a moment before a devious smile formed on her face. "Maybe I can promise to marry Mizzy to-"

*STOMP*

"Yeow!" Katlyn yelped in pain as Miz'ri stepped on her food. "Mizzy! Why?!?"

"You know why." Miz'ri sighed before laughing, knowing that Katlyn was just trying to cheer her up. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Dunno, but it sounds like I'm going to be your problem for a while.” Katlyn snickered as the two friends laughed together.

"You've got a hell of a woman there, Nier." Kanato chuckled as Nier walked up alongside him.

"Yeah I do. She's a pain in the ass, but she's mine and I've got to live with her." Nier smiled as he shook his head. “I wouldn't trade what we have for the world.”

"Trust me, I know that feeling all too well." Kanato said as he scratched his cheek, embarrassed. "My Father always told me not to date crazy women, but..."

"Hey!" Katlyn yelled, overhearing their conversation. "I'm not one of those crazy bitches!"

"Sure you're not, honey." Nier grinned as he looked back at her.

"Oh, you didn't just call me that!" Katlyn hissed. She hated being referred to by that kind of sappy pet name. "I'll show you, honey, dear."

"The crazy ones are the best, aren't they?" Nier laughed as he dodged a knife that was thrown his way.

"Yeah." Kanato laughed alongside him. “They are.”

_____________________________________________________________________________

"I see... Good..." Elariel took a deep breath as she received a report from her Angels via her vibration ability. It was a slow process and with how much information she needed to send and receive it took nearly two full days until everything was complete. "Then it won't take long..." She said as she looked down at her shaking hands. "This... This is for the best... If I do this... Then I can save Halifax... She won't have to revert... Akagi will stop Gale..." She paused as she let her head hang in her hands. "Its... It's just going to cost me my existence... But... That's fine. I stole Halifax's life to save my own, so this... This is just returning it... This... This will be how I repay my debt..."

{This is the only way... The only way... If I don't do this, Akagi will have no choice but to revert Halifax back to what she was before we took her to destroy the others. I can't let that happen, I won't. Halifax deserves to be free of all of this. Free of her fate, free of her past... and free of me...} (Elariel)

"It's only going to be a few days until the Angels get preparations ready on that end. Even if I'm going to die I'll make sure they survive my death. I can't let them perish for my own mistake." Elariel said as she slowly stood up from the bed. "Halifax shouldn't be able to actually find Labrys. We searched for millennia and only found him when he was taken from the Imperial Valults, damn Imperials." She hissed. "Those idiots hid him right under our noses seeking to use him against us one day. Had they just let us destroy them then I..." She shook her head as she walked to the door. "No, there's no use in getting frustrated at this point. I just need to focus on the matter at hand."

Exiting the room Elariel searched the sparsely populated base for Nima. Most of the Ninja had been deployed to Thin Ledhar and only a small contingent of guards remained at the Dumetorian base. After wandering around for what seemed like forever the Goddess eventually found the Cat who was presently going through paperwork in her office, a sour look on her face due to stress.

"What do you want? I'm very busy." Nima said without looking at her, the Cat's flippant attitude momentarily catching the Goddess off guard since she'd never had mortals treat her in such a manner.

"I-I need to speak to Akagi, immediately." Elariel said, pushing down her ego and desire to make a smart retort. "It's urgent."

"Lady Akagi is busy handling things with the Dwarves. She has no time for your prattle." Nima replied without looking up, something that again agitated the Goddess.

"This is not prattle it's information she is going to need to hear." Elariel said as she walked up to the desk and slammed her hand on it. "Unless I'm mistaken she wants to kill Gale and the others, and I've got a way she can do so right now."