Hello all, izenrann here again! This story (and its probable sequels) was requested by Anonymous, who wishes to remain silent. To those of you who are waiting for my other works in progress...I hear you! But I'm also just starting school so time is kind of precious.
Anyhoo, please enjoy! Comments and feedback welcome.
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Varus Keep. All who lived in the Kingdom of Arshelm knew of it. Nestled deep in mountains, past valley and forest, home to demons and a host of other things too foul to describe.
Many heroes had tried and failed to breach its defenses, to cleanse the world of what lay within...but all had failed. And so for nigh on a hundred years it had lain in its festering shell, a pockmark on the pristine landscape of the realm.
But today this would all change.
The princess of Arshelm, Cyrrhea, looked back from where she was trudging up a hill to her two companions. Erza, her shieldmaiden since birth, a woman strong of form and mightier of axe.
One could not ask for a more stalwart and true companion. And behind her Verais, the court mage, slender of build and long of hair - her magics as powerful as her indefatigable spirit.
Between the three of them, Cyrrhea could not envision a foe that they could not defeat.
Which was just as well. For Varus Keep was the dominion of the mad witch Marsche. They called her mad, but in truth Cyrrhea suspected that she was more than that. There seemed to be no rhyme and reason why she loosed plagues upon the land, or summoned demons to destroy towns, or called forth swarms of flies and frogs to torment her unsuspecting countrymen...but Cyrrhea had fought enough warlocks and demons to know that there was more often than not a method to their madness. No, Marsche was up to something. And whatever it was, she and her companions would put a stop to it.
Now if only the climb up to the Keep wasn't so dammanbly long...Cyrrhea heaved a sigh and was heartened to see Erza flash her a wink. Good old Erza. She knew just how to cheer her up.
At least there were no demons along the way. They had to keep their strength up if they were to breach the keep's defenses. Cyrrhea shouldered her pack once more, took in a deep breath and resumed the long trek upwards.
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The hill was surprisingly enough the worst of it. There were no demons to fight, no fire-breathing dragons to slay on their way up to the iron doors that barred them from entry. Cyrrhea didn't know whether to be relieved at how easy it was, or worried that the absence of enemies just meant that there would be more inside waiting for them.
No way to tell unless they went in. Erza slammed her considerable girth against the door and it swung open gently. The three of them advanced slowly inside, sword, axe and staff at the held at the ready. Caution was the watchword...there was no telling what awaited them, what foul magics Marsche had prepared.
The first of the threats they encountered was more prosaic in nature. A yelled warning from Erza saved her from being split open by an axe that descended swiftly from the ceiling. After that came a magical barrier that Verais dispelled in a matter of seconds, then a boulder which they managed to leap aside from at the last minute. Cyrrhea found herself almost amused by the traps. A descending axe...really? That was just so cliched.
They made their way through halls and stairs until they were almost at the inner sanctum of the witch. There it was that stiffer competition surfaced. They rounded a corner to come face to face with armed guards...around twenty of them, bearded, muscled and grim of face. Cyrrhea unsheathed her blade and motioned for the companions to follow. This wasn't the time for stealth...it was steel on steel, either them or us.
A veteran of a hundred battles in mountains, forest and deserts, Cyrrhea didn't find twenty guardsmen to be challenge. Neither did her companions. A few well-placed blows from Erza's axe, coupled with fireballs from Verais, laid their enemies low in a matter of minutes. None of them were killed, for which Cyrrhea was strangely grateful for...they weren't murderers. Leaving the crumpled bodies of their erstwhile foes at their feet, they rushed into the witch's sanctum.
Marsche was waiting for them. Legs dangling off the throne with a crooked smile on her face, she waved nonchalantly as the three of them surrounded her - as if this was nothing more than a day at the beach.