Introduction
Welcome back to Maledicturs Terra. This is a Chain Story between myself and @lex-zaiya, meaning that we each write the parts alternatively.
If you have not read Maledictus Terra Book 1: Mortis Custos yet, it starts HERE at Part 1 and ends at Part 101 HERE. At the end of the Part 101 post you will find links to all 101 Parts!
The previous part by @lex-zaiya can be found HERE.
Part 63
Mary turned around again to survey the area. She needed to keep bypassers and even her own soldiers from getting too close to this weapon. To be close to it may cause someone to fall to its curse and then there will be more murders.
"We will need to set up a perimeter around this murder scene so that the weapon cannot affect people who stray within its..." Mary stopped what she was saying and stared hard at the ground where the bodies lay.
There was no cleaver.
"By the Warrior!" Commander Deathgrip exclaimed. "But how?!"
The two of them cast about, looking for missing persons. "All of my soldiers are still here." Mary remarked quietly.
"As as my Blazeknights. All accounted for."
Mary then looked at the civilian onlookers. The Guardsmen had been keeping them from getting too close in the first place. She doubted that someone would have passed them and then claimed the Cleaver.
"It is unlikely that someone was able to walk across to the bodies and lift the cursed weapon." Mary said calmly. "How then did it move? How will we find it?"
Commander Deathgrip looked puzzled. He was not like some people who would now make a statement even though it was wrong. He did not know.
"Your Majesty. It is possible that the weapon had a different means to travel."
Mary turned around at the sound of the voice. From the shade on the side of the farmer's house came an elegant figure in a flowing purple robe. One side was completely covered allowing her single hand to protrude out and gesture in the air, leaving a pattern of magic in the air. The woman wore an expression of confidence and satisfaction.
"Lady Noxus." Queen Mary nodded with a smile. "I am honored to have a friend such as you."
The mage stopped walking forward and looked utterly stunned. A bright blush of color appeared on her fire features. Lady Noxus curtsied, lifting only one side of the robe on account of having a single arm. "Your Majesty is too kind. I am happy to be of service. To be called your friend is... um..."
The mage seemed at a loss for words, her ears seemed to flush red as well. The mage had her long black hair tied up into a ponytail on her crown. Even so, the mage's hair was so long that it flowed down her back to nearly touch the ground behind her.
Mary smiled. It was touching to know that this woman admired her so much. But her behavior made her wonder. She was so confident a moment ago but utterly flustered at receiving praise.
Deathgrip cleared his throat, interjecting into the awkward pause. "Lady Noxus. You have some insight to share?"
"Ah!" Noxus snapped out of her impasse. "Yes, Commander. I do. I am so glad that you are willing to me of all people. I have not found Blazeknights to be trustworthy of those of my profession."
The Commander nodded deeply. "The world is changing and we must adapt to it. My Lord and God may wear the body of a withered corpse, but he is a noble and just ruler who will lead my Order to salvation. It is his teaching that has led me to my tolerance."
"Oh? How so?"
"It is not your magic that makes you evil. It is how you use it." Deathgrip pointed at the city walls. "I remember you standing on the ramparts beside the Queen and how your spells slew hundreds, if not thousands of the undead. Without the casualties you inflicted on the enemy, many more soldiers would have died and the city may have been breached."
Noxus said nothing but smiled and bowed her head.
"Back to the matter at hand." Mary's voice held a tone of command, not unkindly reminding them both that there was work to do.
"Yes, your Majesty!" Noxus said and returned to carving a pattern in the air with her one hand. She created a circle in the air that glittered green and purple. Within this, she created patterns and geometrical shapes. There were symbols that began to appear within the image too.
Finally, the mage stood back from the circle and pushed towards it. The circle moved forward and drifted to where the bodies of the farmers law. The circle then pivoted to be parallel to the ground and began expanding to three times that size.
The civilians and soldiers drew back from the glowing ring and it began to sink to the ground. Where it touched the earth there was one spot next to the body of the father that shone out in a dull red colour.
"It is a component of rage." Noxus said, she pointed at the red form and the rest of the magical light disappeared. "It moved from this place or was removed from this place... It... moved... and changed. In that direction." The mage pointed.
"I shall lead a party to investigate," Deathgrip said.
Mary nodded. "Do so, but be careful. Is the area safe Noxus?"
The mage pointed at the glowing red shape on the ground. It was not even, more like a random shape found in nature. "Only that is dangerous." The mage stabbed two fingers at the shape and a line of silvered blue shot from her fingers and struck the red shape. Cracks began appearing in the red and then it shattered.
Mary had expected a great sound to occur with the breaking of the cursed earth but it was merely a visual feedback.
"It seems that I was able to break the curse." Noxus said. Mary noticed that the mage was sweating heavily and moved swiftly just in time to grab the mage as she began falling over.
"It seems that the curse is very powerful." Mary remarked.
Noxus was weary, the strain of the magic showing plainly on her face, yet she smiled. "At least this area is not safe. the farmer and his son can be buried safely now."
The window began crying once more though she sobbed her thanks. Mary held Noxus until she was able to stand on her own and nodded to Deathgrip who saluted.
She hoped that they could find out what had happened to the weapon without finding another scene of murder.
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Mortis Custos
Sanguifex
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