This has been a surprisingly great week. I am done with a terrible project, wrapped up another, started one more, and have another due to start. Busy but very happy.
Anyway, this is the update following Zak's Part 94 I hope you all enjoy!
“But how!” demanded Adrian. “I don’t understand all of this!”
“Do I need to go over this again?” asked Mortis.
“Not the part of the gods, avatar things, the part that we have to play.”
Mortis made as if to sigh, and realised that it was no use with his dried lungs, “Alright, while the undead masses are still not paying attention to us.”
He put a hand on Adrian’s head and pointed to the writhing undead avatar that had finally managed to pin the fiery avatar under its ever-growing bulk.
“Your soul was stolen by its followers, that means you’re sought by it.”
He put his second hand on Magna’s head, and released Adrian to also grip her wrist, “You have been marked by both, though I feel the marks etched on your skin is because of the fiery one.”
“Why do they want us?” asked Magna as she shook the knight off her.
“Who knows why gods what anything. Likely they want champions in a coming war, or they want souls to bargain with. Who am I to define their needs and wants.”
“And we’re just suppose to approach those things?” Adrian looked to the fight as the fiery one once more sunk his weapon through the other mass.
“Yes.”
“What will happen when they…take over?” asked Magna, remembering the duel the two voices had when she was held captive.
“It won’t get that far, you just need to be open to it. I just need them to be preoccupied long enough to do what I need to.”
“And what is it that you have to do?” demanded Magna. “You never explained that part.”
“If I tell you, then they will know. It’s better if you don’t know. Hold those weapons close and trust me.”
Adrian looked at his sister as if begging her to make him trust the undead creature next to him. His twin caught his eye and only nodded her head.
“Your whole life you have been defensive, brother.” She said softly as she lifted her blade. “You are the perfect shield to me. If we survive this, I’ll ensure you are seated on my right, even after I am forced to wed.”
Adrian laughed, the tension gone, “I’m sure Mother would love that! Let’s do this!”
Robert felt the change in magic, even as he dispatched an undead invader that had crested the wall. Something wasn’t right. He looked toward the mage Adiran and saw he was concentrating on a bizarre creature that resembled a floating jellyfish. However, it wasn’t just tentacles that dangled below its glossy dome. Occasionally Robert would see legs, other times fins, and he swear he saw claws emerge once. Yet, it wasn’t this creature that the magic was coming from.
He continued to scan the battlefield. Another one of the undead generals was fighting the Marauder of Vallox Kai, Gorox Muxus. The strange spiny scaled creature effortlessly dodged him; despite being blindfolded. No, that was instinct, it had nothing to do with magic. The air was sickly sweet yet had a spicy tang to it.
“My children are in danger.” Whispered the queen next to him.
Robert hadn’t even thought to look out toward the battlefield. He had assumed the undead king had a plan and hadn’t wanted to interfere. Now that the queen shared her concern, he looked out toward where the titans were battling. A strange, new magic had started to develop, familiar, yet not. It took him a few more minutes before he realised what spell Mortis was using.
“Oh, that…” he hissed profanity and launched himself from the castle wall, leaving those behind him in shock.
With a touch of his own magic, he managed to land and not shatter his legs. As soon as he felt the ground beneath his feet, he sprinted toward the titans fighting.
“I won’t let you.”
Where the undead had ignored the trio that had run through earlier, they target Robert as he tried to get through the masses. He didn’t have time for this. He needed to save the twins. If the revenant messed up that spell there would be nothing that could stop the avatars.
Magna and Adrian slowly stepped forward to the struggling giants, avoiding the burning rot and writhing undead piles as best they could. The destruction the two creatures left was devastating. It would take years before the lands surrounding the castle would bear anything fertile.
One of the undead piles reached out a hand and managed to grab Adrian’s leg. He kicked it off with a sound of disgust but continued to keep up with his sister. He was to be her shield; he couldn’t leave one of her flanks open. Yet, the thing had touched him, announcing their presence to the dark avatar. It through the fiery one from it and tried to get to the twins. The fiery avatar, thinking the dark avatar was trying to escape turned and saw what it was after. It roared with laughter.
“Finally! The vessels have finally joined us. I was wondering when we would finally get to use you. Since you have access to one already, I will be taking the twins for my plans.”
“No! You know the boy belongs to me and mine, he always has, and he always will be.”
“You already have one!” the fiery one raised its weapon to throw it.
“If I can’t have him, then you can’t have either!”
A wall of undead pieces surrounded the twins, causing Magna to freeze momentarily. This wasn’t something she could fight, and she was the only one with a weapon. How was she going to protect her brother?
“No need to fight.” Adrian addressed the titans.
The undead walls stopped, and the two titans stopped moving.
“This can’t be changed. My sister and I are doomed to be used to fighting this war between the two of you. We’re tired of running and hiding. We give ourselves to your causes. One each. Choose.”
Magna couldn’t believe what she was hearing from her brother. She wasn’t used to him being so assertive. Yet, what was he on about? Mortis said to resist the titans as long as possible. Not give them to them.
“We must choose? Why choose? We are gods, we can take what we want.”
“You can.” Chimed in Magna, “But if you continue to fight amongst yourselves over who gets who, there’s a chance that we could be killed. Where would that leave you?”
And where does that leave them? Guess you'll all have to wait for @zakludick to update you all next week!
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos Parts
The Reader List
If you would like to be tagged in every episode of Mortis Custos, leave us a comment and get added in, miss nothing!
Right now I will add people who have been keeping an eye on this series:
@weone, @merenludick, @clairemobey, @therneau, @blitzzzz, @pravesho, @joetunex, @captainquack22, @irisworld, @braaiboy, @sketchygamerguy, @fuego-oscuro, @felt.buzz, @dibblers.dabs, @beeber, @brittandjosie, @tamacvet, @thinkrdotexe, @alonicus, @joetunex, @stdd, @luizeba, @cryptoniusrex, @agreste, @itzchemaya, @darthsauron, @p1k4ppa10, @seki1