Anima, Ch.19: Aftermath

[Anima, Ch.19: Aftermath]
----------------------------
--01-- <BGM: Scene 03>
As soon as the dust settled, Vivian and I ran to Devin's side.
He was struggling to stand up, bracing himself on one arm, clutching his side with the other.
"Are you all right?" Vivian asked.


--02-- <BGM: Scene 03>
"Ugh. Do I look all right? I feel like a truck hit me..."
He poked at his side and winced. "Think I've got a couple cracked ribs..."
I sighed, relieved it wasn't worse.
...what's a truck, anyway?

--03-- <BGM: Scene 03>
I used Healing repeatedly with the Mana I had left. "How's that?"
With Vivian's help, he stood up. "Better, but still sore... Thanks."
Vivian looked back at the giant's corpse. "So, now what happens?"


--04-- <BGM: Death March>
The mocking laughter of the dark-clad white-winged god echoed through the room.
The being responsible for it then appeared before us.
In his dreadful presence, I felt paralyzed again.


--05-- <BGM: Death March>
(Cichol)
Ha ha ha... Interesting.
You defeated Glas Ghaibhleann after all.
This is much better than I expected...


--06-- <BGM: Death March>
The red-robed wizard appears between us and the dark god, looking back at us while pointing a wand
at the dark figure. Wait a minute, weren't they working together? What's going on...?



--07-- <BGM: Death March>
(Mores)
Run! You won't stand a chance against him!




--08-- <BGM: Death March>
(Cichol)
Mores. Are you having an attack of conscience after all this time?
You left the Glas Ghaibhleann weak and vulnerable...
No matter. This serves my purpose just as well.


--09-- <BGM: Death March>
(Mores)
I have been prepared for this since you killed my daughter. I merely awaited the opportunity.
Your plan has failed. Prepare yourself, Cichol.
I will put an end to your scheming once and for all!


--10-- <BGM: Death March>
(Cichol)
Ha ha ha ha!! Failed? You fool. This is only the beginning...
As its creator, you should know what happens when Glas Ghaibhleann is slain...



--11-- <BGM: Death March> {SFX: huge explosion}
The colossal body of the slain Glas Ghaibhleann...imploded in on itself.
Where it once lay, there was now a gaping dark pit in the middle of the chamber.
It seemed bottomless...


--12-- <BGM: Death March>
(Mores)
Th... That's...!
The destruction of Erg... The link between the two worlds...
How... how could I...
You used me...!
Cichol!! Is this what you intended all along?
--13-- <BGM: Death March>
(Cichol)
The nexus bridging the worlds is now permanent.
With this, your services are no longer required. I'll send you to join your daughter now...

Darkha Selim Meder Dau Sabi...

--14-- <BGM: Death March> {SFX: lightning}
A sphere of baleful red energy coalesced in Cichol's hands.
It flew at Mores, striking him in the chest, exploding around him.
He screamed in pain and fell over, dead, smoke rising from his body.


--15-- <BGM: Death March>
(Cichol)
Only human. Your sorcery is but a pale imitation of the gods' powers...
Hmm... Now, what to do with you three?
Do not fear. Blame fate for making you mere mortals.

Darkha Selim... Meder Dau...
--16-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess> {SFX: huge success}
(Morrighan)
I order you in the name of the Goddess. Stop.




--17-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Cichol)
What's this?
It seem I have underestimated you children.
You've released Morrighan... No small feat.


--18-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
Cichol Gricenchos, ruler of Fomors, heir of Balor.
You have disrupted Erinn, spreading lies and sowing destruction while shrouded in my visage.
As goddess of revenge, I will not stand for this.


--19-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Cichol)
Ha ha ha ha! Are *these* your champions now, Morrighan?
Two battered children, and a tainted shade masquerading in a suit of flesh?
How low you have fallen, to consort with such beings. Shameful.


--20-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
I will do what I must to preserve Erinn.
I will not see another conflict drown the world in blood,
even if half of it is shed by the Fomors.


--21-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Cichol)
By drawing in beings such as that one? You would bring doom to us all.
No. The first step to true paradise is the annihilation of humans.
Our world will be reborn from their extinction.


--22-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
You will do no such thing. Humans are under my protection.
If you intend to bring them further harm, I will exact vengeance here and now.
For them, and for myself...


--23-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Cichol)
With that weak body of yours just freed from its prison...? Perhaps now is not the time.
Cling to your broken paradise. We will settle this another day.
As for you three, I will remember you...


--24--
Cichol vanished. The oppressive and paralyzing atmosphere around us dissipated.
I took a deep breath; a sigh of relief.
When the gods clash, mortals seem powerless to act.
Morrighan turned to us.

--25-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
(Morrighan)
I came as soon as I could... but I see it was not soon enough.
You succeeded in defeating Glas Ghaibhleann, regardless...
Thank you... Are you okay?


--26-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
"We couldn't have done it without your blessing," Devin said, repeating his demeaning genuflection.
"I...uh, didn't do much. If anything, thank Meara for finishing it," Vivian said, eyes downcast.



--27-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
(Morrighan)
You all relied upon one other's strengths to reach this place and prevail. Stand tall with pride.
I owe you all a great debt.|The giant may be gone, but what I truly fear is what comes after this...



--28-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
I looked over at the seemingly bottomless pit where Glas Ghaibhleann had been struck down.
"You mean that giant pit? Is that what's connecting the worlds somehow?"



--29-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
(Morrighan)
Yes. The corrupted mana released from the slain Glas Ghaibhleann has made the gateway connecting
Erinn and this world permanent...
This was Cichol's contingency plan, if Glas Ghaibhleann failed.


--30-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
(Morrighan)
Now his Dark Lords will not need the dungeons to invade Erinn...
It is inevitable they will soon exploit this.
I will try to safeguard this place, but... I simply cannot protect all of Erinn alone...


--31-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
"So it was all well and good to Cichol if Glas Ghaibhleann destroyed Erinn,
but this was his backup plan?" Vivian asked.
Morrighan nodded.
"Either way, we lost..." Devin lamented.

--32-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
(Morrighan)
It is...regrettable, but what is done is done...
Cichol's ambition will one day bring ruin to the world.
The Fomors will inevitably invade again, in their insatiable thirst for destruction...


--33-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
(Morrighan)
Please prepare yourselves to face the Fomors, and Cichol's minions...
See to it that no one else is deceived into serving them, as Mores was.



--34-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
Unexpectedly, Nao appeared in a flash of light near the body of Mores,
whom Cichol had struck down. She took the slain wizard's body in her arms.



--35-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
(Nao)
I'm sorry... Daddy... I'm sorry I couldn't save you...
You did all this, because... Because of what happened to me...!



--36-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
(Morrighan)
That is Nao Mariota Pryderi, the guide of the Soul Stream...
She has come for her father...
Now you know why she called you to this world: be as a shield to defend the innocent; guardians of Erinn...


--37-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
"That man was her father?" I asked.

Nao's normally immutable serene face turned sorrowful, and she wept,
her father's body in her arms. After a moment longer, they both vanished.

--38-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
I will return you now to Erinn.
May the blessings of Lymilark and Aton Cimeni be with you.
We will meet again when the time is right. Farewell...


--39-- <BGM: Cutscene 10/Staff Roll>
"All right. We'll do all we can," Devin said.
"Thanks again," Vivian added.
With a slight motion of Morrighan's hands, the siblings vanished in a flash of light.
The goddess then turned to me...

--40--
(Morrighan)
Now, as I promised, let us speak...
You have many questions, and I will hear them.



[chapter end]