Love Births Strength

Campaign: Entwining Flames

Chapter 8 / 5-4

Love Births Strength

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Beyond the Hellfire

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The Princess's Invitation

Summary

The weary party is attacked by the Blazewyrm. However, the power of true love lets Mym unleash an even greater attack, forcing Leonidas into retreat. Later, in an attempt to atone for her sins, Alex joins the prince's party.

Dialogue

— The Forsaken Way —

Things should be reaching their conclusion ere long. ...Ah! A roar of victory... The scent of blood... It seems they have met their fate. Though you may hold pacts with many dragons, my little brother, not even you are immortal. You have sunk into the Flow Eternal. Y-Your Excellency, look! Someone is coming! We're not done here, Brother. ...Alex? Are you all right? Yes. And now that my life has been spared, I will not let it go to waste again! Such a bother. I suppose I'll just have to bury the lot of you myself. Uh oh. We ain't got the strength left to dance with this chump. Withdraw. I will handle this. I owe you and Elisanne a debt, and I intend to pay it. If it's a fight you want, Leonidas, you can have it with me! No, Alex. I will not allow this. Stand aside, Elisanne! To sacrifice a part of my family so soon after getting it back would violate every teaching of Ilia. As a Paladyn, I shall be your shield, even if my body is burned to ruin. Pointless theater and posturing! It matters not which of you is the shield, for the result will remain unchanged. All that awaits you both is a fire that shall erase all trace of you from this life! Ugh. What IS it with you humans and your love affair with self-sacrifice? You protect someone and die doing it, then someone else goes and does the SAME THING! Don't you ever learn?! Whose side are you on here, Mym? This whole martyr thing you have going on REALLY needs to stop! True love is when you protect someone AND live to see them again! So you believe you have one among you who can defend against the Blazewyrm's fury? Yep. We have me. And who was it that turned tail and ran from the fires of Mars mere moments ago? No, you're right. I ran earlier. But now someone has lit a fire in the depths of my heart. She's a real special gal—someone who poured her heart into saving the life of the assassin who had come to take hers. Mym... I'm not going to die here, Elly. Let me show you what real love looks like! I'll protect my beloved darling and save you all in the process! I shall burn every trace of this irritating quippery from the face of the earth! Come forth, Mars! Graaaaargh! I pity you, Mars. You were once the envy of all fire dragons. But you succumbed to your ambitions, sold off your spirit, and are now a mere puppet of your pactbound human. Your pact is a lie, and you'll never be the strongest with such false love! Now let's pit your fabricated flames against my true love! Hwaaaaaaah! DIE, GIRL! Graaaaaaaaooorgh! Mym! AAAH HA HA HA HA! Burned to cinders! Unbound, Mars's fury razes all to... No... Impossible! What was that about razing? You sure that wasn't just a mosquito bite? Because that's what it felt like! What is happening?! All that tasty fire mana helped me grow in new and VERY exciting ways. I am now SUPER MYM, with the power to turn any foe to ash in an instant! ...For a couple of minutes, anyway. What witchery is this?! The Blazewyrm has razed a hundred kingdoms, yet you absorb his flames?! A hundred is nothing. Try three hundred! That's how many years the love I hold has been smoldering. And now I'll show you just how hot a fire dragon in love can burn! The true conflagration of passion... ULTIMATE MUSPELHEIM! AAAAUUGH! Ha ha ha! Some crown prince you are. Know your place, boy! Know your... Muh? Such impudence! Forcing ME to withdraw, if even for only a short while. Huh. You've got more fight in you than I expected. I wield the power of Morsayati now. I've no need to dirty my hands on a minor skirmish such as this. Remember well, my young brother: The time for revolution is nigh. Those who cling to former power will never walk the path of conquest. You and your dragons will be scattered to the winds. FINALLY! I thought he'd never shut up. Right then, here we go! Like I'd let him harm my darling. Puh-leeeese! Thank you for protecting us, Mym. It was only natural when you consider our loving relationship! Still, I ended up with a TON of mana from that Mars fellow. When we get back to the castle, let's build a Flame Dracolith as proof of our love! You are something else, Mym. Instead of meeting your end, you only grew in strength. All right, let's head back to the Halidom. Er, you're welcome to come with us, Alex. I cannot—not when my ledger of sins is so very long. I must leave on a solitary journey of penance for my crimes. But I thought you would go back to living the way you did before. Forgive me, but I can never seek such peace. Do you really think this journey will allow you to atone? What do you mean? Many people come to the Halidom seeking succor. Some are children, while some are lost in other ways. If you really wish to atone, shouldn't you use your strength to help such lost souls? But I... It's true that the path you walked may have been a mistake. But not everything you obtained on that path is a lie. Your strength, for one. The sorrows you've known allow you to do things no one else can. So lend us your aid—for the people, the future, and my dream of creating a nation where everyone lives in happiness. A bold dream indeed. Still, I think it helps me understand why Elisanne follows you. My blade and heart alike have been stained by my sins, yet you would still accept me? Well, as defeated soldiers have no true freedom of their own, I shall bear my shame and live under your roof. Alex, do you mean that— But do not think of me as a friend. I have seen far too much of the darkness inside people to consider forging a relationship. For the nonce, I shall dedicate myself to atoning for my sins.. — Valkaheim —

To think there was someone like you in my family, Euden. However, only one star radiates in the sky. Whoever you might be, you will fail. What weighs more on my mind is another—the one who has taken the body of the Auspex. With one part returned, what will your next move be, Zethia? Or should I call you...Morsayati?! — Imperial Capital —

How is your condition, Your Majesty? I have grown accustomed to the Auspex's body, and my own has been recovered to some extent. All that remains now is the greatest piece... However, I shall commit myself to careful observation for a while. For now we come to the last of the royal family. What WILL that princess do...?