As Lucio utters his final mocking words, Akorrin immediately dashes fourth, making a charge towards the heinous villain. Lucio, still chuckling as always, slowly moves forwards, stopping but ten feet in front of Akorrin. Simply bringing his hand forth nonchalantly and grinning at the large Dragonborn, he begins to chant before a burst of flames erupts from his palm, immediately engulfing him in flames. The fire roars and Akorrin emits a slight snarl before the flames finally desist, leaving his scales charred and slightly burnt on the edges.
Looking to Lilanei, Locke withdraws a bottle of potion from his bag and quickly drinks, feeling revitalized as his previous wounds quickly heal up. He drops the bottle to his side and looks to Lilanei, tears in his eyes as he begins to move forward until he stands directly in front of her.
"Lil," Locke whispers, "please, I don't wanna do this. I've already had to kill one girl I was crazy about. . . Don't make me do it to you too. . . Come on!" Locke snaps before his hand raises and meets her cheek in a snapping motion as he slaps her face. "Snap out of it!"
Lil simply turns her head back to Locke, her cold eyes unmoving despite his words. Instead, she points the end of her staff to Locke once more, the large orb tied to its end beginning to glow with purple energy. This energy builds and builds until finally it hurls head on into Locke's chest, the impact of the blow forcing Locke backwards as his chest burns from the freezing energy and blood instantly flows from the wound on his chest.
"What are you doing?" Locke pleads tearfully.
Akorrin, his burns singing him, ignores the pain and advances further, running around to Lucio's left side. With a mighty thrust of his bastard sword, he pierces the Tiefling's side with great force, which causes Lucio to be thrust backwards twenty feet. Skidding to a halt, Lucio swiftly reaches for his belt and unsheathes a fanciful dagger. Leaping forth in front of Akorrin, he thrusts the dagger forwards as it collides with Akorrin's thigh, just grazing the mighty Dragonborn's scales. Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall, Locke looks to Lilanei and clutches his chest. He looks to his palm and sees a vast amount of blood washing over his skin. He looks to Lilanei and feels a mixture of feelings – upset, longing, rage, and conflict. All these emotions inside him begin to bubble as he begins to tremble slightly, adrenaline beginning to kick in and course through his veins as he lets out a cry and clutches his sickle tightly.
"You didn't make me do this, but if this what I have to do to save you, so be it!"
With that Locke launches forwards, causing Lilanei to go into a defensive stance; however, as she does so, she falls into Locke's game plan as he makes a false misstep causing Lil to launch forwards herself. Playing into his hands, Lil unwittingly falls into the deadly reach of Locke's sickle. Locke ensures that the blow is simply a flesh wound as the sickle grazes the skin of her upper arm. With that, Locke follows the cut up with another mighty headbutt, forcing Lil to stumble back five feet. As Lilanei stumbles back, she waves her arms widely in an attempt to regain her footing before she has a chance to collapse back-first down the stairs behind her. With a grunt, Lilanei regains her composure and immediately lunges forth, thrusting her staff – orb-end first – into Locke's stomach, causing a reeling pain to wash over Locke's body as he spits up blood which trickles out of his mouth and onto the staff.
With another mighty snarl, Akorrin begins to mutter suddenly beneath his breath. Lucio then begins to sputter and cringe in great pain as Akorrin's prayer wreaks havoc on the Tiefling's mind and body. Angrily, Lucio once again stabs at Akorrin with his dagger, attempting to pierce the same area at which he hacked at before. The dagger proceeds to cut through the scales slightly more, yet they do not become the wound that Lucio wishes to create.
Once again, Locke unwillingly attacks. This time, he takes his sickle and lunges forwards – this time slashing the jagged blade of the sickle into Lilanei's collarbone. The force of the slash causes the skin to tear open as blood begins to drip from the wound. At the same time, Locke takes Lilanei by her free wrist and pulls her forwards as he steps to his right, and as he pulls Lilanei forwards, he extends his right foot before her feet. Her feet stumble into Locke's foot and she begins to fall forward before he shoves her by her back causing her to fly over Locke's foot and collide face first into the floor in front of her. Locke looks at the now bloody Lilanei as tears begin trickle from his eyes.
"My sweetheart. . . I can't do this. Please, let's stop it now. I love you too much!" Locke says pleadingly.
Suddenly, he hears a loud grunt emit from Lilanei's lips as her face remains pressed to the floor. The necklace around her neck flickers slightly before continuing to glow steadily. She begins to slowly climb to her feet, her knees wobbling beneath her. Despite Locke's plea, Lil turns and – instead of greeting him with open arms – she once again thrusts her staff forwards in an attempt to strike Locke with its blunt end. However, Locke sees the orbed staff be thrust towards him, which he evades by jumping back slightly. As well, Locke notes that a red colour much like the jewel in Lil's necklace flashed against the floor as she seemed to stir. He wonders to himself if that could be a sign to what he's looking for, as the necklace was one of the new things on Lil's person.
"Maybe," Locke whispers to himself.
As Akorrin's prayer continues to barrage Lucio, Akorrin lunges forwards with a rightwards swing of his sword. The sword makes contact, slashing across Lucio's chest and causing a large gash to appear – yet it is a graze and not a wound. Crying out from the pain in his head, Akorrin's holy prayer still continuing to damage his thoughts and actions, Lucio's eyes begin to emit a dangerous glow. Suddenly, a swarm of snakes begins to surround Akorrin and attack his every limb savagely.
In the meantime, acting on his hunch, Locke makes another strike towards Lil with his blood coated sickle. This time however, instead of intentionally aiming for her skin, Locke's focus is on the large necklace which rests on her throat. The sickle plunges into the gold metal beside the jewel the rests in the center. The sickle makes contact with the necklace, emitting a mighty “clang!” as sparks fly from the sickle meeting the gold alloy. The force of the blow causes Locke's hand to be thrust downward uncontrollably as the blade then slashes down Lil's throat, blood beginning to flow from the fresh wound.
As he brings his sickle back, Locke lets out a loud cry of anguish, "Damnit! Let's stop this now!"
Despite the fact she now clutches her bleeding throat, Lilanei merely continues her assault. She raises her staff into the air before pausing slightly and letting the staff fall violently down on Locke's head, causing a sickening “thud!” upon impact. As the staff lands on Locke's head, he immediately sees an opening in which to attempt another strike at Lil's necklace. He thrusts his sickle in an uppercut motion towards the jewel once again. This time, the blade strikes the center of the jewel causing it to surge with power, the power forcing Locke's blade away from it as it flies upwards and slashes Lil's chin open.
"Well," Locke gasps, "there must be some of the real you in there with the way you hit me like that! Do you remember?"
Lilanei's head snaps back as the sickle slices open her chin. At the same time, the jewel once again flickers as she emits a loud groan of pain. Suddenly, the golden necklace begins to show wear, a small crack appearing in the jewel at its center before it shatters violently into many brilliantly coloured pieces. These pieces serve only to cause further injury to Lil's person as they shoot violently into her skin. She stumbles back slightly before her head slowly lowers down with her gaze now resting on Locke.
A flicker of life begins to show in her eyes before she softly utters, "Locke. . . ?"
"Lil!" Locke exclaims in hope. "Is that you?"
"I. . ."
She stops suddenly, groaning in great pain as she clutches her bleeding neck and collapses to the ground – unconscious. Immediately, Locke places his sickle back into its sheathe as he drops to his knees and grabs her in his arms, one arm around her waist and the other cradling the back of her head. Locke looks over to where Akorrin and Lucio fight and ponders on whether to tell Akorrin of the results; however, he decides against distracting his master who is fully engrossed in the fight. Nevertheless, he watches on as the two clash, metal swinging against metal in a great show of brute strength and passion. Suddenly, Akorrin – still fending Lucio off with his sword – looks across the room and sees that Locke and Lil have ceased fighting.
With a mighty bellow, he screams, "Locke! Listen closely to me now! You must leave this place, and take Lilanei with you! I will keep this lunatic busy!"
"No, master!" Locke cries. "We leave together!"
With a mighty shove, Akorrin pushes Lucio backwards as the Tiefling then stumbles over his own feet. With great anger, Akorrin looks to his pupil with his characteristically stern expression.
"Listen to me, Locke! I speak not to you as a master. . . or a friend. . . but as your father! Do as I say AND GO! GET OUT OF HERE, SON! Take Lilanei and escape!"
"As you wish. . . Father," Locke painfully replies before he rises to his feet, Lilanei clutched tightly in his arms.
Wasting no time, Locke turns to the stairwell and begins to rush as fast as he can down the giant steps. Lilanei in tow, Locke now begins to dart through Lucio's expansive mansion, rushing past many bewildered servants on the way. As he darts down the final staircase and into the great hall, he is abruptly interrupted by a single guard in front of the entrance.
Locke stops in front of the guard, blood covering his face in a twisted mask as he growls, "You get the hell out of my way. . ."
The guard is unmoved as he simply removes his club and points it forth; with a snarl, he says, "Who are you? What is all that noise? What are you doing with our wench?"
"I'm your worst nightmare," Locke says, placing Lilanei softly on the ground; he then rises to his feet and looks to the guard as he withdraws his sickle once more, fresh blood still dripping from the blade. "That noise is my master destroying yours, and this wench is mine. You will know my name, and it will be the last name you ever hear. I am Locke Kallidin of Illias Upon The Sea, and you are about to learn who your Lord is! Fight me! Argh!"
Shaking his head as blood flies from his face and his hair as they wave wildly in the air, his braid also flapping against his face, Locke charges forwards towards the guard. The guard raises his club and attempts to swing it in a strike at Locke, but Locke raises his right boot, kicking the club out of the guard's hands in mid swing. The guard looks to Locke dumbfounded as he then literally pounces on the guard, his body weight and momentum causing the guard to fall backwards with Locke on top of him. As soon as the two hit the ground, Locke plunges the sickle right into the heart of the guard, killing him instantly. Spitting right in between the guard's eyes, Locke places his sickle back on his boot, jumps up, and carefully picks Lilanei up from the ground.
Bothering not with discretion, Locke bursts through the front entrance – very much stunning the bandits who stand guard in front of it. They consider chasing him down, but a sudden noise distracts all of their attentions. A loud explosion can be heard emanating from the highest floor of the mansion – Akorrin and Lucio's battle obviously coming to a peak. While the bandits of the nearby settlement approach the mansion, imaginations soaring as their wits are distracted, Locke now continues his escape through the ragged little huts and through the dead trees he and his master had crossed not long ago. With the burden of his friend's body weighing him down as well as the stress of knowing he has left Akorrin alone with evil Lucio, Locke finds he eventually cannot carry on. Finally, he comes to a sudden crashing stop in an area of the wastelands, a fine dust of dead foliage rising in the air as he and Lilanei come tumbling to the ground.
All is silent for a moment, except for the blowing wind as well as the distant crashes and booms still coming from the eastern side of the island – as chaos has no doubt taken over the settlement. Soon however comes a muffled groan from Lilanei's mouth, her face now implanted into the dirt floor.
"Ugh. . ."
Locke looks to Lilanei, as he also lies face first on the ground; he reaches out with his hand and clutches hers, squeezing it as he asks, "Lil, speak to me. Are you alright?"
After a moment, Lilanei returns the gesture as she squeezes his hand back and mutters, "Ugh. . . I. . . think so."
"Thank the Lord," Locke sighs as he musters the strength to crawl over to her and take her in his arms, lifting her so she sits up as he squeezes her quite tight in a hug. "I was so frightened I'd never see you again."
Lilanei wraps her own arms around Locke in a hug as she buries her face in the dirtied armour of his chest, mumbling, "Locke. . . I thought it was all over."
"I wouldn't let that happen," Locke says softly before chuckling. "You're not lucky enough to get away from me so easily."
Lil now looks up at him, tears streaming down her cheeks as she says, "I didn't think you'd even come for me after being alone with Madoco."
Locke's eyes widen in surprise, as he asks, "You knew about that?”
"Well," she begins softly, “the night before Maroco took me from Blackcrest, I thought I heard your voice! But. . . Maroco soon came and told me that his sister was entertaining a guest. I thought. . . that it might have been you."
"It was," Locke replies, “but she won't ever entertaining anyone again. I killed her for what she and her brother have done to you, and I would've killed him too, but he got away from me. Of course I'd come for you, Lil. I love you too much to be apart from you, willingly or unwillingly."
Hearing those words, Lil bursts out sobbing and hides her face in his chest once more as she exclaims, "Locke! I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too," Locke softly replies as he kisses the top of her head and strokes her long green hair in his palm. "So much so, I did everything in my power to get you back. Including drawing the master out from the hall and getting him to fight alongside me so we could get you back."
"Akorrin!" Lil suddenly exclaims. "Is he okay?"
"I don't know," Locke replies as softly as before. "When you fell before me, Akorrin told me to take you and run from the mansion. They were going at it tooth and claw as I ran from the mansion. They might still be fighting now, I don't know. But that Lucio seemed to match up to him pretty well. I don't know where he is."
"Fell before you?" Lil echoes, just realizing she's bleeding from her neck as she clutches it. "You mean. . . Did I. . . ?"
"Lucio had you fight me," Locke explains. " I didn't want to, but you just weren't there. I finally figured out a necklace on your neck was controlling you and so I broke it off in order to free you, but I'm afraid I hurt you rather badly, for which I'm so, so, sorry. . . Lilanei. . . Did he harm you?"
Lil frowns, thinking back as far as she can remember, "Mm. . . Well, if I recall correctly, he might have slapped me around a bit – I suppose he didn't like being called an ugly buffoon. I can't remember much after that."
Locke nuzzles Lilanei's cheek with his own and laughs slightly as he says, "Well, I'm glad you gave him as hard of a time as you've given me in the past. What about that idiot, Maroco? Did he hurt you?"
Lilanei scoffs, exclaiming, "That moron! He wouldn't dare! Besides, he was too busy going on about how I would come to love him. . . and blah, blah, blah. . ."
"Well, that's good to know, too," Locke says with a smile. "You know, he thought you were crazy about him. But I told him that he was wrong. I told him you only had eyes for. . . Well, that you just didn't love him."
"Of course not," she softly mutters before shyly adding, "I only love one man. . . And it isn't that hideous buffoon!"
Locke looks at Lilanei in her violet eyes for a few moments before gulping and asking, "So, who is it?"
Lilanei blinks before her gaze shies away, her cheeks blushing as she says, "I think you know."
"I think maybe I do," Locke softly replies as he leans forward and gives Lil a soft but sweet kiss on the lips, before quickly withdrawing his head and announcing, "It's great to have you back."
Lilanei's cheeks simply blush an even deeper red as she looks to him in surprise. Locke smiles softly at Lil before holding her body in his arms, he rises to his feet and looks back at the mansion. Even from their distance, Locke and Lilanei can hear the screams and cries of many men as well as the clashing of sword and shield while booms of magical energy explode in the mansion – all of this surrounded by thunder and lightning that looms around the evil mansion.
"I don't know if Akorrin is even alive," Locke begins as he looks at Lil. "If he is, I pray he makes his way swiftly away from there soon. If he isn't, then what he done for us, I shall never forget. Come on now. I made a promise to your mother that I'd take you back home. So let's go home!"
Lilanei now wraps her arms around Locke's neck as she looks to him with a quizzical expression, "Mother? When did you see her?"
Locke, now blushing, begins to walk with Lil in his arms as he answers, "Right before I came to rescue you. She told me never to come back unless I had you with me."
"Yeah. . . That sounds just like mother," Lil pauses, before continuing with a worried expression. "I hope that's all she said."
Locke grins and looks down at her for a split second, before looking to the trail in front of them, "Hm. . . Yes, pretty much. Although she told me to tell Akorrin that if she ever gets her hands on him, she'll make a coin pouch out of him, or something."
Lil giggles weakly, "Yep, that sounds like her, too."
"You don't know honestly frightened I was that you were gone, Lil," Locke explains. "I know I act like an oaf all the time, and that I act like a womanizer also, but I would've given up everything just to get you back. Or at least, if the worst had to come, that I would've perished together with you."
Lilanei frowns before lowering her eyes and saying, "No. . . I'm not worth perishing for. I would have much rather you have remained with that hideous Madoco than died just for me."
Locke now frowns slightly also as he begins, "Well, you know, I could've had her, if I wanted. And she made an extremely tempting offer, but at the end of it, like I said to her when I killed her, I stand by my decision. If I truly didn't think you were worth dying for, I wouldn't have risked my life so easily for you. Nor would Akorrin have risked his life, either. Because despite him wanting to save you, he knew how important you are to me. And like any loving father, he did what would make his son happy."
Lilanei looks to him with sullen eyes as she softly says, "Well. . . thank you."
Locke winks at Lil, "You're welcome."
Locke then faces forward and continues his journey back to Tengai – their first stop on their way home. Having to carry Lil, he finds the journey takes much longer than it did before; however the push to bring them both back to a safe haven keeps him going. Finally, they arrive at the gates of Tengai, which open for them. As they step through the gates, Locke is met with the evil snicker of the same guard as before.
"I knew the cowardly Akorrin would never return," the guard snickers.
Locke stops in his tracks and turns to the Dragonborn, fire burning in his eyes as he hisses, "My father is a braver man than your cowardly hide would ever hope to be. I don't know if he's alive or not, but one way or the other, he avenged his brother's death and he ensured the survival of myself and the one closest to me. Could you honestly look yourself in the mirror and say you'd do the same thing? I doubt it, and if I didn't have Lilanei in my arms, and if she wasn't my priority, I would literally beat the respect into you, you walking coin pouch!"
The Dragonborn begins to snarl with great rage; nonetheless, a hand suddenly grips his shoulder as a female Dragonborn soldier steps forth; she looks to Locke and Lil, who are both very injured and exclaims, "Child, you are in a terrible state! Quickly, bring yourself to Master Torrinn's temple. I'm sure he will be willing to help you."
Locke and Lil comply as Locke continues to carry Lil through the town of Tengai as onlookers gaze on towards the injured teenagers in curiosity. He makes it to Torrinn's large green park, which is quite difficult to miss in the small town, and soon brings both he and Lil to front entrance of Master Torrinn's temple.
Lil, now very tired, weakly mumbles, "Where. . . where is this?"
"We're at the temple of Master Torrinn," Locke announces. "Leader of the Dragonborn on Tengai, and Akorrin's brother. . ."
"Oh! I didn't know. . . he had a brother."
"He told me a lot of things we never knew about him," Locke announces. "I think he felt that might have been his last chance to share the story of his life."
"Oh," Lil now whispers sadly.
Feeling bold, Locke simply uses his shoulder to barge one of the large doors open. As he steps into the temple, he immediately notices the large frame of Master Torrinn sitting in the center of the hall, meditating quietly to himself. The Dragonborn soon opens his eyes and looks to the pair, a serene smile spreading across his face.
"Ah. . . Locke. And I suppose this is Lilanei?"
"Yes, Master Torrinn," Locke replies. "This is Lilanei, the girl Akorrin and I hoped to save. I'll tell you now – the trials and tribulations were worth it."
"I can imagine," the Dragonborn softly muses, before standing from his seat on the ground and looking to the duo once more. "Akorrin. . . I take it he hasn't returned with you."
"No," Locke sighs. "He selflessly told me to leave with Lilanei as he continued his fight against Lucio. I don't know what's become of my master."
The Dragonborn looks to the ground before softly saying, "I see. . . Well, no matter. All is in fate's hands now. However, I'll make sure to dispatch a search party in order to search for my brother."
"Thank you," Locke's voice cracks as he bows his head humbly. "Just like with Lilanei, I would give anything to have our master back."
"Yes well, if it is meant to be, it shall be. For now, I see that you have many injuries which acquire tending. Come. Bring yourself and the girl, and we will dress your wounds."
Locke nods and follows Torrinn to be treated, and as he looks down at Lil, he is surprised to see she is asleep soundly in his arms. He smiles and softly kisses her forehead as he continues following Torrinn through his temple. Locke and Lil remain in Torrinn's temple well into the night as they rest and regain their strength after their torturous ordeal. Torrinn does just as he said and dispatches a party in order to search for Akorrin – or at very least his remains. A couple of days pass before the party returns with news. They had found no sign of Akorrin, or of Lucio. The bandits' settlement however is still in chaos as they seemingly have no leader to speak of. Excitedly, the party begin to speak of moving in to disband the massive network of bandits and reclaim the rest of their island.
The dispatched party soon leaves, Torrinn bidding farewell to our Heroes as he follows them in order to make an announcement to the town of Tengai. Locke and Lil now stand outside Torrinn's temple, ruck sacks hoisted on their backs as they prepare for another long journey. Locke looks to Lilanei, who is still dressed in the attire Lucio made her wear, as he chuckles slightly.
"You know, you look very fetching in that," Locke says with a smile. "Maybe you should consider that a new look for yourself."
Lil groans, "Oh, but it's terrible! I feel like a lady of the night. Besides," she pauses as she wraps her arms around herself and shivers slightly, “it's a bit cold in this. . ."
Locke steps forwards and puts his arm around Lil to shelter her from the cold.
"Well, let's find you some new clothes," Locke exclaims as he takes a rather heavy coin pouch from his belt, throwing it in the air before catching it. "Ike left me a considerable amount of money. We should be able to find something in our budget."
Lil's eyes widen at the coin pouch as she purses her lips in irritation and shouts, "Ike! That dirty scoundrel! I hope you skewered him and made him into a throw!"
"Well, I didn't have time to do that," Locke replies as he continues to throw and catch the pouch. "But I did end his cowardly existence."
"Well. . . I suppose he would've made an ugly throw anyway. Anyway, shall we head back to Illias first? I doubt Tengai will have the sort of armour that will. . . fit me, so to speak."
"Okay," Locke says. "But I still think maybe you should keep that outfit. Who knows – the man who's lucky enough to be with you might be very entertained by it."
Lilanei narrows her eyes at him as she says, "Are you trying to tell me something?"
Locke looks at Lilanei with a large smile, answering, "Yes. . . No. . . What do you think?"
"Hmph!" Lil grumbles as she looks away and says, "I think despite everything, you still haven't learned to stop acting like an obnoxious buffoon."
"Well, what can I say?" Locke asks. "I think you love me this way. While we're on the subject," Locke says as he rustles through a side pocket of his ruck sack before pulling out a book which he then hands to Lil, "I think this is yours."
Lil's eyes widen as she snatches the book from his hands and flicks through it quickly as she exclaims, "But. . . where did you find this? I'd thought I'd lost it!"
"A rather fetching Elf gave it to me," Locke replies. "She was very beautiful. She looked a lot like you."
Lil blushes as she closes the book and begins to stuff it in her ruck sack, "Well. . . I hope you didn't read it."
"No," Locke simply answers. "I just saw the handwriting and knew it was yours."
"Oh," Lil says softly, sounding slightly disappointed.
Locke simply hugs Lilanei tight and strokes her hair softly before then letting go and beginning to walk away.
"Like I said," he begins, "keep the dress, okay? Now, let's go home."
Following behind him awkwardly in the brisk wind that blows past, she mutters, "Yeah, yeah, we'll see."
Locke stops as Lil catches up to him, before he removes his leather vest and places it onto Lil to shelter her from the cool breeze blowing through Tengai.
"Never say I don't give you anything," Locke announces. "You can keep it if you like. Then you'll always have a part of me."
Lil snuggles into the vest as she immediately begins to feel warmer, before her gaze meets Locke's again and she says, "Well, I suppose there's a first time for everything." She pauses, before grinning and saying, "Now let's go back to Illias. I'm dying to bring you home to mother and see what she says."
"Probably the same thing she told me," Locke speaks sheepishly. "That we'd make such beautiful children together."
"She said WHAT?" Lilanei exclaims loudly as her cheeks immediately blush.
"Yep, something like that. But I guess you'll never know for sure!"
With that final note, Locke winks and runs towards the harbour – Lilanei behind him, shouting after him to explain himself, as the sun glows high in the sky on a bright new day in Tengai.
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