Once Upon a Time, in Broken Dreams...

[Dissinger]

(Solo following the events of Eternal Goodbye (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=2227))

"It’s hard to believe, he looks so innocent like that," The voice drifted in from far away, so familiar, yet he could never quite grasp who it was. The voice seemed harder than he remembered it. The name was on the tip of his tongue as he tried to remember who it belonged to. Struggling to awaken, he found himself unable to as the very thought brought pain to his world.

It's all these demons haunting me.

"Looks can be deceiving," This voice was harsher, more masculine. It spoke of knowledge always hidden. Annoyed seemed to more fit the tonality of this voice as he listened to it. It hurt to think, to move, but he continued to listen, trying to figure out just why he was unable to pull himself to full awareness.

Its all these little things trapped inside of me.

"Oh shut up, you were like that once," The woman reacted. She snapped at him as if implying her knowledge was important. Her voice seemed to quaver a bit at the end, as if betraying a bit of rage that burned under the surface. Seth knew that emotion all to well; it had marked his life, the one emotion that got him killed in the end.

Releasing me from all my sins...

"Yes, this is why I know how he’ll react. He won't be too happy to see you, and definitely not too happy if he finds out who I am. Just call me Walker right now..." The man said, his own impatience rising in his voice. They seemed to be bickering, almost as if former lovers, or worse.

It's taken me all of my anger...

"You are always so cryptic. I figure you, of all people, could learn to share your knowledge for once." The woman spat. She was angry, this much was apparent. Perhaps he had hit an unknown button.

...and taken me all of my hate.

"Alright, you're going to tempt him into killing his parents in your future his past. Get over it," The words tore through him as memories rushed to him. Crimson hair, green eyes, the cold laughter, and the death of his parents, the picture was unfolding as he placed the voice. It was her -- Amiya the Corrupted.

To learn how my life came together.

"I hate you," She spat in retort. He felt the heat of anger rush through him as he tried to break through the veil of darkness. He pushed as his rage carried him, taking him to the heights as he attempted to awaken.

Releasing the Demons again.

"No you don't, you only think you do," The man replied as the sounds of footsteps could be heard. He seemed to be moving around him. He continued to push against his fatigue, before it shattered. The darkness that enveloped him came abruptly to an end as he finally pulled the last fragments of his battered soul together. With a cry of rage his eyes opened and his body lurched forth. He could even see her, as he rushed forward, trying desperately to get at her before he felt something holding him back. Ignoring it he pulled against his bonds as he saw her, standing there in the robes of a Demon Slayer.

“So cute when angry, at least he’s awake,” Amiya replied as her cruel voice issued forth. He raged, inarticulate roars of fury passed through his lips. The murderer of his parents was in this very room, and he could not move. As he continued he felt his strength fail him as he collapsed in a heap. Another outcry of rage at the situation left his lips as he pulled again at his bonds. He could see no one else, only her as she issued a hand forth and spoke harshly, “Ort.”

As he attempted to rush forward again, it felt as if a hand reached forward and shoved against his chest. He slid across the room before coming to a halt, his direction reversed as simply as one would close a door. He grunted as he stopped and pulled himself to his feet as he roared, “You heinous bitch! I’ll kill you for what you’ve done to me!”

Italicized lines courtesy of Releasing the Demons by Godsmack

[Dissinger]

"Bold words for one who's chained up," Amiya retorted. Seth was again on his feet as he strained at the bonds, only now seeing them. His anger burned beneath the surface as he wished he could tear her apart. He didn't want to merely defeat her, he wanted to erase her from his memory. He wanted to obliterate the evidence that she existed, and yet he couldn't.

The steel shackles that wrapped around his wrist went to the floor, which he had only just begun to notice. It was cold, yet a solid white substance he could not describe. It seemed hard as stone, but held none of its properties. His clothes were torn in places, and as he looked upon himself, the anger in his chest was released, replaced by a cold fear.

His body, which should have been whole, was missing in places. It wasn't as if he was cut through, and chunks had fallen off, these parts of him merely were not present. As he looked at himself the horror on his face was recognized as the male voice from earlier spoke, "Perhaps now that you can see what you've done to your soul, you would have chosen your path differently. Hex Magic, while powerful, destroys the soul of the one who wields it. It destabilizes them, and in the afterlife, many spend eternity trying to pull the shards of their souls together, in order to become whole."

His head snapped towards the voice, a man in robes. He couldn't see the face, as shrouded by the hood of the robes. He was standing there coolly as he seemed to walk about the room examining Seth. He got the feeling he was being measured as more than just a piece of meat, but as a potential enemy. As he closed his eyes he growled out, "Let me out of these chains and I'll show you how weak I really am-"

"I need no demonstration. I have countless of murders to watch. You were a weapon Seth Dahlios, a very effective one, but a mere tool none the less. You did your job admirably might I add, in sowing destruction, even when you sought to repress your very being. Did you not know the voices were but your very soul, trying to get you to be who you truly were?"

"Yes, I did," Seth said softly. The man who spoke was efficient in his replies, making Seth give up the very answer sought.

"Then why deny what you are?"

"A weapon with no purpose creates the dilemma of my life," Seth replied bluntly.

"Ah, yes, purpose, the thing that drives people to the depths of insanity, trying to justify their violent ends. Tell me Seth, to what purpose do you leave your pregnant girlfriend, to pursue vengeance for a slight that was mere mental illusion?"

Seth remained silent as he sagged to his knees, the fatigue hitting him hard. He could hear a bit of happiness in the man's voice at this point. Still Seth knew the truth, it was ugly and garish, "Absolution."

"Why?" The question was quick as it cut through the area.

"If I had beaten him, I need not have killed my parents," Seth replied as he closed his eyes. Amiya snorted at the response as the robed man raised a hand.

"So because of your weakness, your inability to fight, you blame a man who is seeking vengeance upon his father for the sins committed against him? Curious and more curious," The sounds of boots upon the ground could be heard as he stepped about him carefully. He remained well in the thief's range, but seemed unafraid of any retaliation.

"I never stated it was a good reason," Seth tried.

"And I assure you, it was not. Still Seth Dahlios, you now stand at the Gates of the Afterlife, a murderer and a sinner of the utmost degree. Not since Arkahm Zaro has there been such a disgusting display of human vulgarity, and he only topped you, by his acceptance of far worse deeds, included but not limited to minor acts of genocide. Tell me Seth Dahlios, where shall you be sent for your transgression?"

"Arkahm Zaro?" Seth asked.

"A Hex Magi much like you, consumed by his lust for power. He took upon himself the sins of the world, and using their power, wished to destroy it. He would have succeeded were it not for Xavier Sigma, a Knight of the Order of the Apocalypse, who cursed him with the power, only to have it kill him five minutes later. Now, where shall you be sent?"

"I don't deserve heaven, and so there is but one choice..." Seth replied.

"No, you are wrong. You suffer a fate worse than hell..."

[Dissinger]

Amiya at this time giggled softly as she crossed her arms. Seth gave her a baleful glare as he tested the chains once more, seeing they were still as solid as they had been when he had become enraged. The crimson haired vixen finally spoke for her first time since his awakening, "You really did yourself in this time my friend." The word hung in the air as an insult before she spoke up, "Since you screwed with your soul, you're to be stuck in Purgatory. Only a full soul can find the Sanctuary of Heaven, or the Penance of Hell. This means, that you have approximately an eternity being haunted by images of friends and family. You cannot affect them in any significant way, but you can at least see them, and know they might fall on your path."

Seth jerked on his chains as he spat venomously, "I'll have your head by the end of this, one way or another..."

"You know, the tireless threats, they were charming at fir-"

"Amiya, shut it. You only egg him on, and you are only here by my permission. This can change in a minute, so shut your mouth," The robe man said, cutting through the air and sending Seth's vision back to this enigmatic stranger. This man exuded that confidence, that arrogance, and that fatigue with life.

"Who are you anyways, I know this bitch, but you certainly ring no bells..." Seth asked finally.

"I am the Time Walker. I do the works of the Seraph Gods, so that one day Sintyre can be defeated. Since, you have perpetuated much of his works, I am here to offer you that penance you seek, that cleansing of your sins. I also offer you perhaps your greatest requirement, in life and death," The man said as he took a cordial bow.

"And just what would that be?"

"Purpose, it is the single thing your life lacks, and your greatest cause of problems. You are a weapon, there is no changing this. I too am much like you, "At this Amiya snorted causing him to turn his head sharply. Though Seth could not see him under the robes, he could almost feel a palpable anger emanating from him before he continued, "A weapon that served no purpose, but finally has been given one."

"Alright, so you want me to find the meaning of life? Well, thats fine and dandy, but I don't take kindly to being use-"

"This will be different from others who sought to use you my friend, this will infact, be something you will relish doing," The Time Walker stated. He then pressed on, not giving Seth a chance to question the logic, "Think about the one person, who has caused you the most grief. The one person who has given you cause for the most regret. I assure you, before you even try to blame my accomplice, it is not AMiya, she was merely a scapegoat on this matter, and the heartache you feel in the void left by your parents, is but a drop in the ocean of grief you give yourself caused by this Man."

Seth closed his eyes as his thoughts sifted. Amiya had helped him kill his parents, but that was only because he had needed to rebuild his soul. The process had worked, but he only required it because Kycoo had nearly killed him, when he attempted to get the pendant to keep the unstable magics within him. A magic that he sometimes regretted using greatly, had it not been for...

"Mordechai, Dread Magician, Brother of Lazarus and Nichodemus, Progenitor of the Hex Magi, is that who you mean?" Seth asked after he figured it out.

"He is one of Sintyre's greatest agents. I require his death, but it is not my job to do so, doing so creates a paradox in which a destiny is left unfulfilled, and it would destroy me without a second thought, to repair the rift caused by such an act. You however, have that very lucky task," The Walker said. Seth raised his head and looked under the hood for the longest time.

"I get that you can see past and future, I can imply as much from your name. So, then that leaves the fact that I need to come back to life, whats on the plate here? What am I being offered exactly, if I know what I'm going to do, and knwo I will accomplish it, what incentive do I have to proceed?"

"None, but you'll do it anyways. You see, Liliana in roughly 18 years will attempt to ressurect you through the help of Jared Cesarino, and Darith Shagath. Garret Brown will help in the recovery of your body, which by then will have been usurped from its grave for the...third, yes thats right, third time. That attempt will fail, and your destiny will be unrealized. There is only one way to change this," He replied.

"So then, how do I remedy that?"

"I knew you'd come around, but you see, you have to prove your worth. Mordechai cannot ismply be found and beaten, for he is not in the world currently. He has locked himself in his laboratory, and cannot be brought to justice, without first defeating his Traitor Generals. I assure you, that is no mean task."

"Alright, so I beat up seven-"

"Six, Mordechai was the Seventh, the Grand Traitor that designed the destruction of Reven, in return for the power magics to create the Homunculi Race that even now masquerades as humans, and mixes with them to produce the Hex Magi."

"Okay, Six guys who deserve death-"

"Ones a girl," THe walker replied.

"Would you stop cutting me off! Okay, so I gotta beat up six people and kill them, in order to fight Mordechai? Sounds like a cheesy epic story taught to show the virtue of determination. Besides, your already running into trouble..."

"Insult aside, what is that problem?"

"Ones already Dead, Lazarus killed Karel Dahlios to make the Changeling Amulet, which I have been wielding the past year. That means I cannot possibly do it, if I must defeat them each," Seth finished.

"Yes, quite right, perhaps I was wrong, I guess Liliana, will be disappointed in 18 years," The man said as he turned to go.

"Stop!" Seth yelled as he closed his eyes.

"Oh, did you have something in mind?" The man said as he turned to face Seth, his head tilted under the hood in a curious manner.

"I'll do it! I'll do whatever you want!"

The man chuckled as he said, "It's not that easy, though its nice to see you have something worth living for. If you want back, you earn it, just like you earned your damnation. But we'll fix that in a second."

He turned to Amiya before he spoke sharply, "Go to them, tell them that he's accepted and is being tested. I will come after the test is finished."

"Why can I not stay?" Amiya said as she gave him a playful pout. Seth's eyes narrowed as he gave her a look that could kill. SHe was still playing games with people, despite all else.

"Because he would require being free, and I do not wish his test to be marred by your presence..."

"If you so wish." She then gestured as she walked off into the darkness, before she faded and disappeared.

As she left the man turned to Seth and spoke, "You will be tested Dahlios, remember, your courage under fire is not being tested, but your drive to win, and to overcome obstacles. Many of the Traitor Generals have reached immortality in one manner or another. You will be required to find them and destroy them, regardless of the method. Some will be easier than others, but all will require keen reflexes. Now, let us begin your test..."

[Dissinger]

"And just what would that be?" Seth asked bitterly. He wanted the testing to be over with, so he could move on, see Liliana again, maybe atone for his sins. As he waited for the reply he once again tried to pull the chains up, falling short. He was chained tightly, and that would make any test difficult if it required mobility. Still, he would persevere; he had to, if he wanted to pass.

"You said it yourself; there is five living traitor generals, and one dead one. You have the lucky fortune, of being destined to defeat them all," The robed man said. Seth arched and eyebrow as he tried to figure out what it meant.

"Karel is dead-"

"As are you, have fun Dahlios," The Time Walker said before he reached a hand out. He began muttering in some language before the bracelet on his wrist, which had been strangely dormant, began to glow. Soon a light was lifted from the dormant form of the changeling amulet before it began to swirl about the mysterious stranger. He raised a hand and the light came to it before he spoke, "Oh yes, that is exactly what’s to happen. If he fails, he's strong enough to replace you; you'd stand a good chance."

"I don't like the sound of this..." Seth said rather irately as he dropped into a crouch.

The man chuckled before he spoke, "Oh yes, you're free to form whatever you please, just remember, you lose, you go back in that prison. I sincerely hope for his sake, that he wins, it would make this whole end of the world thing a lot easier to do..."

The light flashed, dispersing the shadows, and causing Seth to cover his eyes for fear of blindness. When the light had passed and Seth had recovered Seth looked forward and groaned in displeasure. Before him stood a grizzled man, his hair stark white, much like his had been after he had corrupted. His face held stubble, but not much beyond that, his eyes cold and steely grey. They were almost lifeless, but the spark of life contained therein was still present, if faint.

What made Seth groan, was the suit of full plate. It gleamed brightly in the light of this place, and upon the chest, was the Symbol of the last Revanian King. Before him stood the Traitor General, Karel Dahlios, his ancestor, and he looked mighty pissed. Sighing he closed his eyes as he spoke his voice carrying to his opponent, "Well aint this dandy?"

"Shut up you pathetic excuse for a man! What kind of pond scum gives up a happy life to seek revenge? What kind of idiot gives up on a woman who loves him, and tries to get himself killed? You make me sick Seth, and after this is done, you'll have all the time to think about what you gave up, maybe I can talk your little lady into helping me kill my other brothers and sisters, so she at least knows what you were supposed to do!" With that he pulled on a helmet. He vaguely remembered that he was a master with the spear that even now extended and formed in his hands. He would have to get in close with his daggers...

His hands went to his sides as he realized, his heart skipping an undead beat in revelation, he was unarmed. The chains that bound him to the ground, were his only restraint and, ironically enough, his only weapon. As the spear was twirled about idly, Seth spoke up, "Cut down an unarmed man? That sounds about right for a Traitor General. Cardenas would be proud of his brother..."

Karel laughed as he spat on the ground before Seth, "You aren't unarmed, you're just blatantly stupid." With that he swung the spear around in an arc aimed straight for Seth's chest. As he brought his arms up reflexively to block his arms couldn't reach and the spear tip cut through his vest and shirt, leaving an arc of blood to sail through the air as indication of First Blood. Seth hardly felt the sting but was already in motion, as the follow up came about to cut down his body, perhaps trying to spill his guts, for the entire afterlife to see.

As he fought against his elder, he attempted to control the situation as the spear came down, by putting the chain in the way. As he hoped, the chain snapped, allowing him to pivot and get away from the General as he hissed, "Should have known, you are trying to kill me aren't you?"

The General let out another Laugh as he shouted, "You just don't get it, do you pup? Well, here's hoping I can knock some sense into you!" With that he turned his back to Seth, leaving it open, before the spear butt came straight into the stomach of Seth, knocking the wind from his lungs. Seth coughed greatly, gasping, and trying to reclaim the breath lost to him, as he tried to figure out what the hell was going on. Meanwhile General Dahlios came about for another downward swing, aimed straight for the head of Seth as he sought to end the fight in one swift blow.

[Dissinger]

As the spear came down, the sound of metal upon metal echoed through the arena. The general looked down upon the thief, who had covered the back of his neck as he fought to recover breath. The sounds of his gasping echoed through the room as he coughed finally getting his breath back enough to begin the breathing process anew. He snorted at the thief before he struck hard and fast, the spear cutting through the other chain, "Perhaps you aren't completely useless, prove it whelp."

Seth stood as he looked at the chains attached to his arms. Recovering he spoke, his voice hoarse, "Alright, lets do this..." He then swung a chain as the General as he attempted to ensnare the spear in the coils. A quick twirl of the spear saw the chain batted away as the general snorted again and moved swinging at the now fully mobile Seth. A horizontal slash, saw Seth rolled forward despite the lack of breathe and then he swung a chain out, feeling it wrap around the generals leg at the ankle. Giving it a sharp tug he felt resistance before he groaned, he didn't have the strength to trip the general.

Karel laughed as he pulled back on his leg drawing Seth forward with a lurch as he brought the spear down trying to finish the job. As Seth rolled to the side the spear hit the ground again as he cursed only lucky that the chain quickly uncoiled from the General's leg. As he regained his footing quickly he breathed hard, the frustration at what had occurred settling deep in his stomach as the general dropped in position, "You're a thief, and it shows. You seek opportunity where there is none, and worst, you think you have all the answers."

"Better I seek answers and be wrong, then not seek them, and be wrong still," Seth retorted.

"A quick tongue and wit may annoy and harass your inferiors, but not me. You are better off talking to the wall Dahlios, when it comes to enraging opponents, I wrote the book!" He then brought the spear forward in the jab, before Seth side stepped and brought a chain up wrapping it about the Haft. Coiling the loose chain around his wrist he finally restricted the general as he brought a boot up to the man's chest, causing him to loose grip on his spear. As the pole arm clattered across the ground the General smiled his lips curving beneath the helmet.

"I see my arrogance was inherited, not instilled," Seth said with a smirk. The general laughed as he came at the thief. As Seth tried to bring a chain about, it clattered harmlessly off Karel’s armor before he felt a punch from the gauntlet connect with his lower jaw. The sound of a bone snapping could be heard about the room as Seth stumbled back as felt his jaw. The pain was intense from it, and it hurt to breathe let alone speak. As he looked at the General he shook his head, ignoring the pain, which dulled and disappeared under his tolerance.

The general came for another punch, but Seth was ready this time, as the General sought to connect again with Seth's face he found his adversary faster. The punch went wide before a hand raked across the helmet of the Traitor General, and twisted the helmet. As the General fumbled with his Helmet he felt a chain already wrapping at his ankle. Pulling hard the General sought to hold his base while recovering his vision, only to feel a boot connect squarely at the knee, sending him falling as the leg he was using the steady himself buckled.

The general stumbled to the ground and fell face first before he pulled off the helmet. Seth was meanwhile circling his opponent as he spat, the red colored spit making a stark contrast to the white floor as he spoke, "The problem with full plate is you have a simple flaw. That shit is heavy and hard to get up in..."

[Dissinger]

"So you aren't useless. Good, perhaps I was right about you..." Karel said as he crawled forward. The sound of metal hitting the ground could be heard as Seth saw the shocks of white hair. He had removed the helmet, rather than try to adjust it to allow sight. Seth meanwhile whipped a chain out, wrapping it about the man's calf as he jerked back, to prevent the General from reaching the spear, that even now was at the edge of his reach. He clawed and grasped at it as Seth held on resolutely, not allowing the fallen knight to budge forth.

"Many people make mistakes about me, its often the last thing they do," Seth replied grimly. He jerked on the snared chain, which drew the general closer as he planted a boot firmly on the small of his opponent's back. Karel growled as he tried to push up, but the pressure on his lower back disallowed any such movement as Seth wrapped the other chain about his neck and pulled up. Karel pushed his torso up going with Seth as he began to choke to death.

"Finish it Seth! This is how it has to be!" Karel groaned as he gasped between moments. Seth jerked it, close to completely choking off his ancestor before he let the chain slacken and the man fall to the ground. Karel coughed as he clutched his throat. Seth's boot was removed from the small of Karel's back as he stood back. "What are you waiting for? You won, finish the damn job Dahlios so you can go back to the little lady!"

"You can't die here, and you aren't trying. If you wanted to, I'd have painted the ground a pretty crimson. No, this isn't a true fight, grab that spear and come at me, I don't take hand outs," Seth said firmly.

"You don't have your knives, what good do you expect to do against me?" Karel said as he grabbed the spear and used it to help him up. As he spun to face Seth his grey eyes showed a burning anger, as if he wanted to die here.

"That is my question actually. We can't die, we're already dead. That means the purpose of this was never for me to kill you," Seth said firmly.

Karel looked down as he spoke, "One of us has to stop Mordechai, he's going to destroy everything you hold dear, and everything Liliana holds dear as well!"

"Funny, I'd almost say you were trying to convince me," Seth spoke as he readied the chains to deflect another attack. It was rudimentary at best, but at least he was learning how to use them.

"Mordechai will destroy all of Althanas. You were supposed to be his voice, the go between of him and Sintyre-"

"Sintyre is a place, not a person."

Karel laughed as he spoke, his voice incredulous, "You don't know? Oh dear Gods, we're doomed. The Seraphs have lost their focus! The Demon Wars were referred to as the War of Nightmares for a reason!"

"Enlighten me," Seth spoke as he stood at the ready.

"Sintyre is the only true god, the gods of the Seraphs are Demigods, who are stuck behind a seal they placed upon him, because his dreams, created the demons that even now plague Althanas! Mordechai made a deal with that God, in return to helping him awaken, he would give Mordechai the power to create the Homunculi. The Traitor Generals were the result of that, and now you, one of the purest Wild Mages ever seen, have been selected to enable the Traitor's war to continue!"

"You won, the war is over, Reven is all that remains of that coup," Seth snapped.

"You have no clue as to what happened! When the generals disappeared, that was the plan. They would go, and in the very land they devastated they would recreate their army, pure of the human taint. They would then build this army for years in secrecy, choosing the best and brightest, until they were ready. They will march from the mountains, attacking everywhere at once, and when they have destroyed everything in their place, they will sow the earth with Salt, and destroy Althanas. Nothing will grow, and in the end, Sintyre will get his wish, the world will be destroyed, and when he awakens, he will rebuild it anew, with his chosen people!"

"Why do you want to stop it?"

Karel looked down as he said, "I figured out how broad the scope was. Even though he is my father, and I am his to kill and do with as he saw fit, even I could not embrace the evil my Brothers and Sister steeped themselves in. As much as it pains me, I have to put them at peace. They are all hurting, each in their own way. I only hope to end what threat they pose so they can rest at peace. Only then can I hope to escape my prison."

"You have no magic, do you?" Seth asked as realization dawned on him.

"Its a weakness, designed to drain you and subvert yourself to Mordechai's will. You and the Time Walker are wrong, those voices aren't you, they're him, driving you to the depths of your sanity. If you embraced them, truly and wholly, they stop, but you're no longer alive. He controls you then. Why else did you feel you had gone through your year of butchery in a dream?"

"Can they be stopped?" Seth asked softly.

"You know the answer, Hex Magic, while strong-"

"Is a mockery of True Magic, and pales in every comparison. I know this, what does it mean?"

"If you can cast true magic, you can silence the voices. Mordechai was a Dread Magician, but he forfeited his powers to Sintyre, in order to gain his new power. Magic is his bane now, as much as it was yours in life," Karel said.

"Now that thats done, you know what we have to do Karel," Seth said firmly.

"You can't hope to beat me Seth, you're too weak, even with the advantages you have," Karel said firmly.

"No, that is where you are wrong," Seth replied firmly as he closed his eyes and firmly gripped the chains, "All my life, I've been told I was strong, weak, a monster, a saint, a good man, a bad man, a lover, a murderer. I know now what I truly am."

"And just what is that?"

Seth grinned as he relaxed and let the chains begin to move, in rhythm to his own beating heart. The began to move slowly at first, doing nothing more than simply whipping forward before they began to spin about. He continued to whip them about as he twirled his wrists adding momentum as he began to whip them about in front of him. While it was inelegant at best, the chains had formed a wall between him and the spear point of Karel as Seth opened his eyes and spoke, "I am Lavinian, I am Seth Dahlios, I am the Lavinian Demon."

"And that doesn't bother you anymore?" Karel asked as he edged forward.

"I cannot change what I am, no more than I can change the outcome of this fight. In the next few seconds, I will beat you, and I will renew my path of blood, but it will no longer be the innocent that feel my blade, but the Traitors."

"Hold," Karel said as he stepped back and held the spear in a non-threatening position. Seth stopped the chains as he stayed there waiting for Karel, a look of expectation on his face. Karel then spoke, "You have my blessing. You have won, know that when the time comes, I will endorse your entry into Mordechai's Lair."

[Dissinger]

Clapping echoed through the room as for the first time since the fight with Karel Seth remembered the Time Walker was still in the room. As he relaxed, the chains hanging from his arms he looked upon the man in robes as he looked between the two of them. He finally spoke, "Karel, you did admirably well. While I must return you to your prison, know that when this is over, and Lazarus is finally dealt with, you will be released. This is all as I promised you when I lead you to Lazarus.."

"Yeah, I remember your promise, and you've been right so far," Karel said plainly. As he looked at Seth for the first time he spoke candidly, without the gruff edge his words usually took, "Lets face it Seth, it had to be you or me, anything less would have made this entire plan fall apart. If I couldn't convince you, the plan was doable, but it would have a much higher chance of failure."

"Perhaps now that I'm playing by the rules someone can tell me said rules," Seth replied sardonically.

The time walker stepped forward before he spoke clearly, "Karel, its time to return, I'll explain it while you reprise your role as the Changeling amulet." Karel grumbled before the Walker waved a hand dismissively and Karel lost substance, dissipating back to that flash of light, that eventually winked out. The Walker began to pace about Seth as if he was considering the words. Finally he spoke, "Karel has told you much, perhaps too much to digest in one session. I shall explain what I can and clarify what I can't."

"What did he mean Sintyre was a person?" Seth asked.

"This question, it as clear cut as any. Sintyre was the God who formed Althanas. When he formed this world he sought to help it grow, but the process fatigued him. He slept for thousands of years, and when he awoke, he found that Magic had permeated his paradise. Angered by the infusion of arcane arts, he sought to destroy the world. The gods of the Seraphs, unable to kill this god, and only recently attaining godhood themselves, banded together and succeeded in placing him asleep," The walker explained as he paced about Seth. Seth turned to keep up feeling a bit lost.

"What does this have to do with Mordechai?" Seth asked frustrated.

"It was a rather large jump, what Karel told you, but no less true. The Demon Wars sprang when they realized, that even asleep his dreams where given manifestation. Demons to be precise. When they had collected enough of them together, they bound their power into forming the demon gates that surrounded Althanas allowing them to appear everywhere at once, and pose a major threat to the world. The Nightmare Wars take their name from the fact these Demons are the sleeping god's dreams, rather than true reality,"

"Again, what does this have to do with Mordechai?"

"Everything, Mordechai was afterall a sorcerer who's grand project failed when his created beings were unable to control their appetite for blood lust. In desperation he sought out to Sintyre, the force who could only be delayed, never stopped. His answer was the Traitors Project. Humans that would instinctively betray true humans. They would breed amongst them to diversify, the would then slaughter people who were deemed extraneous. The result, was that Sintyre had created a new nightmare, this time without the "tainted" form of Magic."

"What does this have to do with me? Why did he choose me?"

"You are a Dahlios through and through. That much has never changed, but a Dahlios with a peculiar trait, one that Mordechai was amazed to see," The walker said as he held up a hand to offset the question he knew to be coming, "While your Father was a Hex Magi, much like his father before him, the bloodline of your Father ran straight to the General Karel Dahlios."

Seth began to retort sarcastically, "I kinda figured that I was related to Karel, you know being called Dahlios and all-"

"No, not that Karel Dahlios."

"Then who?"

"The real Karel Dahlios. The Traitor Generals were planted Homunculi given the memories of their counterparts, then sent to take control of their counterparts stations, as if they had never left. With this, the seeds of rebellion were planted, and when the War began, no one was the wiser, that the unrest had been artificially created. Your blood runs from both the Traitor General, and Master of the Kings Army Karel Dahlios. You have noble blood, as much as the idea may disgust you," The walker said chuckling.