The Red Hand

Interlude 16 – A Clash is Imminent.

"Ah! It's good to see all of you again!" A very short and well-dressed man smiled as the four Heroes entered a conference room. He was small, smaller than a Dwarf, and had a stylish handlebar mustache that worked well with his top hat and monocle. "I trust the four of you have been well, and Sir Kanato, congratulations on the birth of your second daughter! I hear she takes after her mother." He smiled as he shook Kanato's hand vigorously.

"It's good to see you again, Jacabey!" Kanato smiled as he returned a firm handshake. "And yeah, Delia is the spitting image of Neiline. I couldn't be a happier man." He was looking forward to spending time with his family once everything was said and done.

"Well, I do hope you'll take the time to bring you and your family up North when you get the chance. I'll get you into an amazing sweet at my finest inn, and you can all enjoy a nice relaxing vacation. There are all sorts of good places that even such young children would enjoy!" Jacabey laughed. He was the official representative of the Merchant Confederation of Northwind and was one of its wealthiest merchants.

"I'll be taking you up on that offer, so don't go trying to back out later." Kanato smiled, though he figured that getting his first wife to join would be difficult due to her other commitments. 

Jacabey had been a good friend and ally to all four of the Heroes and even went as far as to finance their training and weapon creation out of his own pocket. Ordinarily, he was a frugal and cutthroat man, but he figured that if the world was to perish if the Heroes  failed then he should do everything in his power to aid them.

"Good to see you're still kicking, old man." Muichiro fist-bumped the Halfling who laughed hardily.

"I've still got a few good years in me yet." Jacabey smiled. "And I hope you've been enjoying your goods?" He was referring to the two Elves that he'd sold off to Muichiro.

"Oh, hell yeah!" Muichiro smirked. "I can't believe you actually managed to find exactly what I was looking for!"

"Well, I am a merchant. Getting what my customers want is the most important part of the trade!" Jacabey laughed.

"Are we early?" Amakusa looked around and saw nobody else besides them. The conference room sat within the massive Central Cathedral of the Holy City and was even more lavishly decorated than similar places in the Imperial Palace. "I thought the meeting was for noon?" It wasn't quite time for the meeting but it was close enough that at least some of the attendees should've arrived by now.

"They should be coming soon. Lady Ravenwood was having a discussion with Chancellor Nargul and Lady Elariel. I think it had something to do with the Demon Lord Cult." Jacabey frowned as he explained that the Cult had been up to something in Northwind and that the Demons were working with their forces to root out the problem.

“The Cult...” Kanato hummed as he thought about them.

The Demon Lord cult was a small but fanatical group of people. Most of its members belong either to the Demon or Beastkin races and worshiped the long-vanquished Demon Lord Vikes and sought to revive him.

"I've heard they've increased some of their attacks during the last few months." Hitomi commented. As someone involved deeply with the Church and its politics she'd heard all kinds of reports about their activities. "I'd seen a few reports come in that stated they've attacked villages and sacrificed the people within them." She looked genuinely sad as she recalled some of the information that came across her desk.

{Such a tragedy...} (Hitomi)

"Why would they want to return such a vile creature to this world?" Kanato bit his lip in frustration. "Things are already bad enough as is. The last thing we need is something like a Demon Lord showing up and causing further chaos."

{Why is there always a group of people who actively want to make things WORSE?!?} (Kanato)

"I wouldn't worry too much about those cultists." A woman's voice came from behind them, and when the four Heroes turned around, they were greeted by a stunningly beautiful woman with long red hair and orange eyes. Her extreme beauty contrasted greatly with her clothing, which was a simple white flowing garment that was similar in many respects to a toga. "The deaths they cause are lamentable, but in the grand scheme of things they can do little more than cause localized misery."

"Lady Elariel, it's good to see you." Kanato smiled, and the four Heroes gave a slight bow out of respect.

"It's good to see the four of you as well." Elariel smiled as she greeted them. "And please allow me to apologize for asking for yet further aid from you. I thought things would be concluded with the Spirits banishment from this world, but alas things are never so simple." She gave an apology that was a mixture of real and fake.

"Ah, don't worry about it." Muichiro waved her concern away. "We were brought here to do a job, and that's what we're going to do. Plus, I don't mind busting a few more Spirit heads!" He laughed.

"But what's this about the Demon Lord cult?" Amakusa interjected. "Are they causing enough trouble to warrant your concern?" She'd heard of them before and knew a bit about Vikes but was always told that his cult was nothing more than an irritant.

"It's nothing you four need to worry about." Elariel shook her head. "Vike's cult has always been an issue, and they're just getting a bit more uppity with all the recent chaos. But we've got everything under control." She turned to the dark-skinned woman next to her. "Right, Ariel?"

"Indeed. You four need only focus on taking down the Spirits. Leave those foolish Heretics to us." Ariel nodded. She stood taller than anyone else in the room, and while her frame was slender, her horns, dark red eyes, and black hair made her an imposing presence. "It's my duty as Regent to handle those accursed fools while my father is incapacitated, and I promise you that they will cause no trouble while you are away." Ariel Ravenwood was the only child of Lockheed Ravenwood, the current High Demon King. He'd been bedridden for over a decade due to a powerful curse that was slowly killing him, and Ariel had taken up his duties while he was ill. However, unlike in a normal Monarchy, there was no guarantee that she would ascend to the throne once her father passed, as the title of High King was an elected position chosen by the Elector Kings rather than passed within a dynasty.

"I'd just rather that we don't get back and be we need to fight some revived Demon Lord." Amakusa sighed. She'd seen enough anime to know how these things tended to work out and was secretly betting that something stupid was going to happen in the near future.

"That isn't going to happen." Elariel dismissed her concerns outright. "Vike's soul was destroyed four thousand years ago. Even we Gods couldn't do something like reviving him even if we wanted to." She'd ensured that he'd vanished all those years ago, and Halifax was created specifically to destroy such a creature.

"Not to mention that they won't exist much longer anyway." Ariel smirked. "Shortly after this conference is finished, I will be leading a group of my finest troops to destroy their headquarters once and for all. This way the shame they bring upon my people can finally be erased." She, as well as most Demons, resented the Cult since its members were largely from their own race and gave the false impression that their kind were tainted by the long dead monster.

"Are you sure you couldn't save a few for me?" Muichiro laughed. "I'm always down to send people to the afterlife."

"While I would be honored for you to join me, your mission is simply too important to be delayed, Sir Hero." Ariel declined. "But perhaps we can enjoy a hunt or two once you return."

"Now that sounds like fun." Muichiro smirked. "I think I'll take you up on that one." He'd been aiming for Ariel for a while but could never seem to get closer to her and figured this was his chance.

{Kanato got that Angel girl, so I just need to score a Demon!} (Muichiro)

The group continued to discuss various things until the rest of the conference members arrived, with the final missing attendee arriving in a rather over-the-top manner.

"My apologies for being late, everyone, but I was busy with God business, so I hope you understand." A rather handsome-looking man with blue hair and wearing similar clothing to Elariel arrived in the room after stepping out of a glowing portal.

"Well, at least you were only half an hour late, Gale." Elariel sighed. "I feared you might be off by years like you were that one time." She'd always taken issue with his habit of being late, but couldn't bring herself to chastise him much more.

"Come on, cut me some slack. You're the Goddess of Time, but not all of us can be as punctual as you." He laughed as he took a seat next to her at the large round conference table. "But I'd never miss something this important by such a large margin. At best, I'd've been off by a few days." Elariel rolled her eyes, knowing that he wasn't actually joking.

{Gale, the Chief of Enori's Gods. I've only met him briefly once before, but he seems like an absolute prick on the inside...} (Amakusa)

"Anyway, we should get started." Elariel sighed before turning to the attendees. "Thank you all for coming..." She then proceeded to give a small speech that went over the events thus far, recapping the Spirit's responsibility for the magical disasters as well the Heros' sacred mission. After she was finished Gale took over and spoke about the exact details of the plan and answered questions.

"So the four of you have already been made aware of this, but I will repeat it for the other participants of this meeting." Gale looked between the different representatives. The ones here were either those whose nation summoned a Hero or are directly needed for the Gods' plans, and each of you is important in some way. The Spirits have fled to another world, and from there they are continuing to use their foul magic to distort our own in an attempt to destroy us all." He continued, using his oratory skills to great effect. "But, luckily for us, their transportation method left behind a trail." Gale snapped his fingers and projected two floating green orbs tied together by a thin white line. "Their magic has caused our world to become linked with this other world, and using our power we've managed to create a stable portal between the two realms." He looked between the four Heroes. "You four will be sent through with this..." He pulled a small object out of his sleeve. It looked similar to an hourglass, except that rather than sand, one side was filled with a red liquid that didn't seem to drip down to the other side even when flipped.

"And that thing is?" Muichiro motioned for him to get on with it.

"This is a divine instrument crafted by me." Gale explained as he put it down on the table. "It will assist you in bringing the Spirits plans to an end." He continued. "As you defeat the Spirits, the other side of this glass will fill up. This signifies the weakening of their power, and once the opposite end is full, the Spirits will no longer have the power to harm our world." Naturally, he was lying, since once the glass filled completely that would mean that the amount of power collected within it would be enough to initiate a transfer of the Gods to Earth.

"So it's something like a measuring device?" Kanato surmised.

"Essentially, yes. However, I will warn you that in order to affect change, you will either need to slay the Spirits or force them to willingly sacrifice their magic into the device. Please forgive me for asking you to cover your hands in more blood." Gale bowed.

"There's no need for that, Lord Gale!" Hitomi tried to stop him from doing something so degrading. "We are humble servants of the Gods, so please don't bow your head like that!" As the most 'pious' among the Heros seeing any God lower themselves like that didn't sit well with her.

{I mean, it is kinda nice to have a head God bow his head to us though.} (Muichiro)

"So it's possible that we could do this without more death or bloodshed?" Kanato asked, hoping to prevent more violence.

"Theoretically yes, but sadly, due to their nature Spirits will wither and die if they give up their magic." Gale shook his head as he explained. "Thus, they will perish no matter what option they choose. It's not pleasant, but we cannot afford to allow them to remain a threat. As we've seen, even in another world they still try to destroy us all."

{That's...} (Kanato)

"Oh well." Muichiro shrugged. "They started this whole thing, and now they'll pay for what they did. Fuck 'em."

{Fuck around and find out and all that.} (Muichiro

"I don't exactly agree with your word choice, but yes." Amakusa nodded. "They have sown the wind, and thus they shall reap the whirlwind." She was playing along, not entirely sure that the Spirits were the problem they were being made to believe, though if they were the ones causing all this destruction Amakusa wasn't going to hold back.

"We should endeavor to ensure that their end is as swift and painless as possible." Hitomi didn't want to see them suffer further either. "Even evildoers such as the Spirits shouldn't be made to needlessly suffer for their sins."

{They will be sacrificed to the Gods as penance for their sins, just like the people I've taken into custody.} (Hitomi)

"I just wish we could end things without having to kill more people. I think enough have died as is." Kanato shook his head. With his newfound doubts he could no longer wield his blade against the Spirits with the same enthusiasm that he once had.

"I agree, but this is just how things are." Elariel sighed, knowing the truth. "This is not easy to ask of you four, but please. This is our world's only hope." She and Gale bowed again.

"I just hope we can get this over with quickly and put everything behind us." Kanato took a deep breath before looking Gale and Elariel in the eyes. "But I want you two to do something for me first."

"And what might that be? I will aid in any way I can." Gale smiled.

"I want you to both swear to me that what we are doing is the right thing. I want you to swear on your status as Gods that by killing the Spirits, that this world will be saved and that... and that it was... it was, maybe not the not the right thing to do but if nothing else the least bad option..." Kanato was never a fan of any of this death but went along with things as he saw no other option.

{I just wanted to be a Hero...} (Kanato)

"I swear on my name as Gale, Chief of Enoris' Gods, that your cause is just, righteous, and good, Kanato." Gale nodded, his words being little more than lies.

"And I Elariel, Goddess of Time, decree that you shall bear no shame or sin for your actions." Elariel's wording was different, but nobody paid attention to it.

"I... Thank you." Kanato let out a deep sigh, their words making him feel a bit better. "I needed that... I think we all did..."

{Not me. I don't give a fuck.} (Muichiro)

"Then, if there are no other questions, I would like to move to the specifics of our plan." Gale snapped his fingers and dismissed the two floating orbs. "We will be inserting you into that world in the coming week, and the place we've chosen to drop you is close by to what we've identified as a very large source of dark power." He continued. "We assume it to be the spot from which the Spirits are conducting the ritual that is causing the damage to our world. So once you arrive, you should be prepared for a fight, as I suspect the Spirits will have taken ample precautions to prevent you from defeating them like you did last time."

{Well, at least I might finally get a good fight! That Elf was kinda boring.  So if those Spirits really do have some help or something, I hope they at least give me a few minutes of entertainment before I cut them down.} (Amakusa)