forum Empress Enderstorm’s Party (Character Chat, me ain’t no complex storyline but you will get hints of things that happen in the actual book I’m writing)

Started March 11, 2019 by @Darkblossom group

tune

Endan blinked in shock before rightening himself, retaining his composure. He gave a deep bow. "Why yes, that is me." He rose back to him full height. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of making your acquaintance?"

The figure took a pause, turning their face towards the empress and took a bow.
“Greetings your highness…it is a pleasure to meet you, even in this situation…”
Blood dripped from the blade the figure held. They sheathed their blade before standing still for a moment, saying…

“They, the corrupted, has now started the song…
We, the uncompleted, shall now play along…
Follow the tones and the rhythm alike…
Or you might end up being a corpse by daylight…”

Enderstorm shuddered slightly as the figure recited the macabre words.

They grinned after seeing the empress’ reaction. “Indeed…this is my first time meeting you…and actually my first time in this realm…” The figure said to Endan and the Empress. Their appearance and voice say nothing about their gender or who they could be. They turned to look at the forest, seemingly staring at nothing…

On the other hand, Carlsen stood up weakly, having difficulties to even stand straight. Struggling to walk, he sat down by a tree looking at the sunlight shining through the leaves.

Endan winced, a headache piercing his skull as a familiar energy reached him.
'That's… Carlsen?'
Though he kept his face straight, Endan's mind raced.
'He's in danger. Does this mean he kept us linked? Is he under someone's control? I must ask him what he meant by his last words before I left. Then again, what if this is a trap? Should I…
After a few more seconds of deliberation, he'd decided. Once he'd handled the situation with this new fellow, he'd go after Carlsen. And then… well, whatever happens, happens. "So then," he asked the masked figure, "who might you be?"

The figure paused to look answer Endan.
“Ah…I forgot to introduce myself…I’m sorry for my poor manners…” the figure said before turning to Endan.
“For now, you all could call me ‘C’. I have a duty I must fulfill here…with the same person your mind is currently linked with…” The figure said calmly.

Enderstorm shook her head. She was having trouble processing the situation at the moment, and needed to leave for the Second Dimension soon.
“Well, if things have now calmed down, I need to get back to the palace and start the preparations to leave the First Dimension.” She began walking away toward the village to meet up with Father Wick.

Carlsen sensed that the empress’ soul energy is starting to move further away from him. He slowly stood up and said with a smile…”Finally, you’re going away…this can finally be easier for me—“ but he had to cut himself short as he sensed another entity’s energy near Endan’s.
“Why is he here…” Carlsen questioned himself.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, C," Endan said, "though I do hope you may clarify as to what business you have with Carls- er, the individual I am linked with." Endan withheld another wince as he felt a pang of distress run through his and Carlsen's connection.
'Something is troubling him.'

“I’ll need to first clarify that I came from the same place Carlsen did…so yes…I know who he is…but maybe he doesn’t know who I am…” C said confidently while smiling.
“Now…regarding my duty…I’m just here to bring him back…bring him back to his actual ‘home’…” C said as a strong breeze blew their way. As the wind blew, the fox mask C wore moved a little by which he quickly returned to its position.
“But worry not…I will not use force unless necessary…” he said before he paused.

“Now allow me to ask…” he asked in a cold and somewhat creepy voice as he grabbed onto his blade’s handle… “…where did you hide that corruption layer of yours…?”

Endan's yellow eyes narrowed, taking on a slight blue hue. "That's none of your concern, I'm afraid." The tips of his fingers swirled with faint tendrils of frost, only noticeable if you were paying attention. "I'd suggest you move along in your search. I cannot help you locate Sir Carlsen, nor do I have any will to." Concentrating, Endan attempted to send signals of danger along their connection.
'I know I shouldn't be doing this. Carlsen has done nothing to redeem himself. But…' Endan readied himself. 'There is good in everyone. I must try.'

Enderstorm was ready to leave the village, her guards rounded up and ready to leave. They began the short trip back to the palace, her flying above the ground and her guards teleporting short distances rather than walk.

Minutes felt like hours, Carlsen finally found a way out of the forest without wasting his energy. He looked around for…someone. He is now fully recovered and is ready in case of a battle.

C let go of the handle, knowing Endan won’t be a threat. He sensed a magic circuit walking out of the forest, he disappeared leaving a white feather behind and appeared behind Carlsen without him knowing…the action was faster than one’s eyes could catch.

He pulled out his blade, about to pierce Carlsen’s torso…as he said faintly…

“Time to return…’Matthew Syrain’…”

Endan blinked in surprise before nearly doubling over from the panic broadcasting across his and Carlsen's link. Without thinking, he ran towards its source.
'Has our bond gotten stronger?!'
It took only a minute or two to reach the source of Carlsen's energy.
"Carlsen!"

Carlsen, as a pure magic user, is not a professional when it comes to physical combat. But he managed to parry most of C’s attacks, having only some cuts from the blade. Carlsen notices Endan’s presence…distracted he was, C got a full swipe across his neck. Carlsen fell to the ground, his body was almost solid.

“Well…that’s a shame…” C exclaimed as he pierced his blade through Carlsen’s body, releasing a green and blue pulse of energy that blinded Endan.

If Endan was to open his eyes again, the sight he would see would be Carlsen holding the blade, wearing the fox mask. On the ground, would be another man in a suit…bleeding but not even close to death.

The person appearing to be Carlsen smiled under the fox mask. The navy robe he wore had a white and red fox symbol on the back, golden and black badges on the front. He turned to Endan stating…”Greetings Sir Randrat…The name’s Carlsen Faltur…”

On the other hand, the person on the ground started to stand up. The suit he wore was a monochrome and formal one. They only held a blade of which they pointed at Carlsen. “You were not supposed to be here…I sealed you away, did I not…?! I took your body, your powers…so how…did you get out and ended up controlling MY body…?!” Anger is present in his voice, he never spoke about his name never said his name nor has he told anyone who he is.

“Well, you see Matthew…” Carlsen said calmly. “That’s a story for another day…as for right now…” Not a second after he finished the sentence, an uncountable number of spears surrounded the figure named Matthew.

“…time to pay the price for using my body…”

Endan felt as though his brain was short circuiting and simply reacted, forcing a blast of ice between Carlsen and… Mathew? As the ice pushed the two men apart, he focused on their legs and yelled out "torque!" before clapping his hands together. Magic chains bound the two men to the ground.
"Okay! Before any of you kill each other, please explain just what in nether is going on!"

(This will give away ‘hints’ to what happens in my story :P)

Carlsen sighed once before explaining to Endan.
“Fine…This fellow here…his name is ‘Matthew Syrain’…he’s a demon, or rather he’s the ‘Demon Guardian’. When we were battling in our own realm, he used his last resort ability to survive…” Matthew held up his hand, wanting Carlsen to stop.

“I’ll continue from there” Matthew said to Endan. “The last option I had was called ‘Soul Switch’. As the name suggests, I switched my soul with Carlsen’s…so I went into his body while his soul went into mine. I was able to utilize his abilities…but I had no idea that he was still able to use his abilities…” Matthew claimed with a hopeless voice.

"So then… you're the real Carlsen? And the one I've been talking to all along is Mathew?" He massaged his temples, trying to quell the headache pulsing in his head.

“That was easier to explain than I initially thought…” Carlsen said as he was looking at Matthew. “Perhaps” he replied.

“By the way, how long are you keeping us locked up in these chains? I have some business to finish.” Carlsen mentioned.

"Just as soon as I understand which of you it is necessary to dispose of." Endan frowned. "Mathew, you're a 'demon Guardian'. Carlsen, you're a…?"

“…a royal secretary from the Phantom Kingdom, in other words I serve as the phantom prince’s personal bodyguard and executioner.” Carlsen explained with a confident voice.

“Does that help you decide, mortal…?” Matthew exclaimed in a frustrated voice. “I’ve been waiting for the time we can finally settle our score…”