Part 64: Forbidden Memory: Sacrifice

Sacrifice

Gently, Ellia returns Kladen to its pedestal.

"Are you certain this is the only way?" she asks.

The Harbinger, the Rodentian Ratika and General Ellia had just defeated Kali, a being of tremendous power, a horror that surged from beneath the world. But at what cost? The battle caused a massive shockwave, spreading across Rodentia, ravaging the land, killing many innocents. And the Harbinger... Only the power of a god could oppose another god. With Kladen in hand, the Harbinger unleashed Voden's power on the invader. And such power always comes at a price. The Harbinger became tainted by the Void. Already her aura grows darker, colder.

Slowly, the Harbinger reaches out to Kladen. A faint light pulses from the blade, in eager anticipation.

"What will you do, once inside? Voden will not take your presence very kindly."

The Harbinger clenches her fists.

"Fight until the end. What else is there to do, right? Perhaps you can even win. Inside his prison, Voden may not be as strong..." Ellia stops. She knows her optimism is hollow. "This is goodbye then."

The Harbinger opens the Seal. Then, in a heartbeat, she is gone.

The sword lies on its pedestal, lifeless. "How can I return to being a Pygarian General after all this?" Ellia lets out a deep sigh. "It is time to pass on the flame, I think." She walks toward the Vault's exit, then stops and stares at Kladen, one last time. "Draga, I hope you will never have to suffer for the actions I have taken." She leaves, and darkness engulfs the Vault.