REVIVALS

  Miles northwest of the Earth Kingdom, many miles south of the Azure Mountains, and dozens of miles west of the Fire Kingdom, a small wilderness sat untouched for nearly five hundred years. That was true until two months ago, a young boy came hurling through the sky and fell into these lands.

  Two months later, he had conquered beasts, summoned the undead, fought a small army of gents, and destroyed a city. This young boy, Ire Farcatcher, who also goes by the name Pain, made a home out of a ruined underground hold.

  Now, with ghosts and fiends at his command, he slept within the arms of a broodmother while dressed in his oversized trousers and white (Mana Aptitude) Blindinu Fur Coat, Basic En Mana Zone over his bare torso. Peacefully within the private room of Pain, the broodmother gently caressed his head of red hair and slid her hands down his back as he slept soberly against her bosoms.

  Individuals familiar with Pain sat outside Pain's private room within the high ceiling and vast space of the Chamber, curious and baffled about what happened to Pain. The Chamber was lit by dozens of sconces, candles, Lesser Warming Crystals, and Petty Lighting Crystals. At the center of the Chamber sat a ritualistic setting: a pentagram drawn of blood with five obsidian puri pedestals and obsidian effigies around it.

  In the north corner of the room, the individuals sat on stone stools around a stone table, discussing the incident that had occurred just a few hours ago. A giant stone barrier separated them from the ritual as if to protect them.

  SAKURA

  Has this never happened before?

  Sakura Ten asked Abimelech once again, snapping him out of his daze.

  Sakura was a ylguen refugee of the Evergreen State who lost her parents when the Neorine attacked. She and her remaining family fled and were taken in by Raycon Village. They took her, her family, and others, hoping to give them a better life. But that was all thwarted when a gent named Grungir came and ruined the village. Sakura was later saved accidentally by Pain.

  ABIMELECH

  No, that has never happened before.

  Abimelech Goodgent, nicknamed Abi by Pain, explained.

  He was a blue, ethereal, conscious soul tethered to Pain who could travel a good distance, talk, interact with objects, and cast Soulfire that could burn away organic objects. In his past life, he held the classes Mage/Summoner/Cleric/Priest.

  ABIMELECH

  We have recently added those effigies to control the black lightning that spews out during the ritual. I figured it was dangerous. No, rather... I was fearful of the young master performing potent revivals so early.

  LORENZO

  Effigies?

  Lorenzo Nichols questioned somberly.

  Lorenzo, who held the classes Warrior/Sword Master, was a Vampire General Tactician of the Redead State and was currently leading the remaining daywalker vampires against the Neorine, a radical group of vampires.

  LORENZO

  If my memory serves me correctly, those are tools meant to absorb pain and suffering.

  ABIMELECH

  Indeed,

  Abi nodded.

  ABIMELECH

  But, for one to release such prematurely...

  MAC

  What did it do to him?

  Mac Molebody, a Warrior, was a former Vampire Knight of the Redead and was brought back to life by Pain. She sat, hugging herself in a dirty white tunic, and had metal gauntlets strapped around her wrists and knuckles.

  ABIMELECH

  It seemed to have cursed him.

  CLIFFORD

  Cursed him?

  Clifford, who holds the classes of Warrior/Sword Master, was also a former Vampire Captain brought back to life by Pain. He wore beat-up padded armor—a thick black and brown leather outfit with iron square plates sown along the blood-torn sleeves and a single dense one protecting the torso.

  CLIFFORD

  Wasn't he already cursed?

  ABIMELECH

  From the looks of it, his torpor curse has spread down the right side of his body.

  Abi's eyes fell on Mac's posture.

  ABIMELECH

  I felt it.

  He explained and then gestured at the fiends—arachnids, blindinus, elokos—lounging around the Chamber.

  ABIMELECH

  So did they.

  LORENZO

  You felt what?

  MAC

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  Pain's... well, Pain's pain.

  Mac answered.

  LORENZO

  Really?

  He asked, astounded.

  CLIFFORD

  Well, not entirely the pain itself, but...

  Clifford attempted to find the words.

  MAC

  All I can say is that whatever he felt... it was painful. For such a brief second, it was as if he was being tortured by the plains of Limbo tenfold.

  Lorenzo digested Mac's word with astonishment, and silence fell after. He came to meet with a Necromancer for help dealing with the Neorine. He came on Sakura's word that this gent would help, but Lorenzo didn't believe it one bit. He only came to silence her wails and seek out the remaining vampires that separated from the States four years ago.

  But what he came to find was ruin. His fellow vampires were all slaughtered, and he could only blame himself. He knew they were in danger, but for years, he continued to hold off on sending a detachment or squad. He couldn't, not when Lich, his old student and now enemy, was lurking and looking.

  BEKA

  Why am I still alive!?

  Beka Wyrn Deersome shouted from the astute corner of the Chamber, where he was bound by ropes and golden seals protruding through his body.

  Beka, who held the classes Warrior/Brawler/Logger, was a Keeper of the Guard for the late Dagon City—a city razed to the ground by Pain and then invaded by Lorenzo.

  LORENZO

  Shut it!

  Lorenzo barked with annoyance.

  BEKA

  Either kill me or feed me!

  LORENZO

  Or how about I let you starve to death?

  He growled.

  EMILY

  That wouldn't be very nice.

  Emily Ohana, a daywalker holding the classes Mage/Cleric, mumbled from the other side of the ritualistic setting.

  LORENZO

  What was that!?

  He barked, and Emily tightened her lips.

  EMILY

  Nothing!

  She sang as she inspected the effigies.

  LORENZO

  Why are you over there, Emily? Those effigies are not safe.

  Emily did not respond as she moved on to the next one. She keenly inspected the crudely drawn pentagram in each of the obsidian effigies. As if Lorenzo could see through the stone barricade, his eyes followed her movement. Emily finally went to retrieve Beka by dragging him over by one of his legs.

  ABIMELECH

  I wonder, why do you keep him alive?

  He asked Lorenzo, but Lorenzo kept his gaze shifting between Emily and Beka.

  ABIMELECH

  You are not seriously attempting to sway him.

  Abi pried, and Lorenzo finally shrugged.

  LORENZO

  I don't know why I kept that bastard alive.

  He admitted.

  ABIMELECH

  Well, I do recall you mentioning a thing or two about attempting to assimilate the city?

  Lorenzo nodded in response.

  ABIMELECH

  If you are daring to do such a task, why not dare to coerce the states' leaders, as Pain asked?

  Lorenzo kept quiet again, shaking his head.

  CLIFFORD

  It's not a bad idea.

  Clifford started and continued despite Lorenzo's annoyed scowl.

  CLIFFORD

  And the more I think about what he said...

  He gestured at Abi.

  CLIFFORD

  ...what's the point of fighting for those ruined lands?

  Lorenzo closed his eyes and sighed,

  LORENZO

  You don't understand.

  Then Mac snorted,

  MAC

  It hurts more than you think for me to say this—I agree with Clifford.

  LORENZO

  It is not that easy!

  He shouted.

  LORENZO

  I'll need to think this over and plan for the worst.

  EMILY

  In the meantime,

  She sang after enhancing the seals protruding through Beka's torso.

  EMILY

  Let us go hunt something to drink—

  She suddenly stopped, her eyes shooting past everyone. Everyone else turned their heads to follow her gaze. Standing near the entrance to his private room, Pain stood alongside the broodmother with a somber expression.

  PAIN

  We have much to discuss.