Ruinous Return

Trisha bid Volio goodnight as the Archer hero went down to the guest house. She set Ginavieve in her crib and cast a simple spell that would soothe her to sleep. Laying down in bed, she turned over as Ben laid down. He took a deep breath in before letting it out. "What are you thinking?" Trisha asked him, turning to look at him. Her husband was staring at the ceiling with his thinking face on.

"I've been thinking about the letter. You had a weird expression." He looked at her, "You were afraid. Why?"

Trisha swallowed and felt her mouth go dry as she sat up. "If Lyn is really back, and she is the new Destroyer…I mean, you remember what our cores did to our personalities." The thought of what someone from Earth with that level of knowledge becoming a new Destroyer was something that shook her to the center of her being, and she felt the goosebumps rise on her flesh.

Ben nodded as he stared at the ceiling once more. "Yeah. That's something I was afraid of also." He let out a deep sigh. "Plus, she's pissed off that we took the credit instead of honoring her memory." He looked at Trisha once more, "I know Cecily and Thomas were the ones who did the spell, but they didn't have enough mana for the inscription. They needed more people for a history-obscuring spell. You pumped mana into it, didn't you?"

Trisha felt her heart race. She nodded, "Yes," she whispered. "I helped them." No one could fully manipulate time: going back in the past or even forward into the future was impossible on Ghomar. But obfuscating the past? Blurring events, but not actually changing them? It was doable, but it took so much mana that only multiple heroes working together could pull it off. An external mind spell that encompassed all of Ghomar. In the memories of every being in the world…Lyn Rivers the Scout hero never existed.

If she finds out it can't be reversed…she did not know what would happen, but the old Lyn used to have the occasional outburst, and those were destructive. Granted, she did it away from people in the middle of nowhere, but it still terrified her what one of those tantrums could look like with the power of the Demonic Dragon at her command.

Ben rolled onto his side, "I'm not angry, I just want to know…why? I thought you liked Lyn."

"Politics," Trisha whispered with disgust. "James getting credit for the killing blow ensured he would have power in Khrelardia and keep the position of High-Lord. Cecily already had Valagonia in her grip, and Trisk was always the most peaceful of the three kingdoms."

"I figured as much," Ben muttered as he leaned back again. "You could probably just teach Lyn the inscription and she could undo the spell herself."

"No, she can't," Trisha whispered. Ben looked over at her quizzically. She swallowed the lump in her throat, "No one can. Thomas worded the spell so that it could never be undone."

"Fuck," Ben stated bluntly. He leaned back once more and groaned as he covered his face, "What choices do we have here, realistically? Volio said Cecily is on the warpath. James won't take that lying down, and I'm sure King Kristoph is preparing for conflict as well. Trisk might not get involved, but I imagine they'll ally with one side or the other."

Trisha turned on her side, and felt a chill go down her spine. What do we do? They had hefty inscriptions in the foundation of the house. And worst-case scenario, they could flee to Earth…but she was terrified. No one had gone back to Earth from Ghomar. No one had tried. Even Thomas' inscription under the house was only theoretically useable. There was a chance it was a dud. But if Lyn was able to force her way back from Earth to Ghomar…There's too many unknowns.

Ben came over and spooned her from behind, and she settled back into his warmth and protective grasp. "I think, for now, we stay. We wait to hear more news. If Lyn really is alive and is going to make this world a better place, we'll hear about it."

"I agree," Trisha muttered as she tried to shut out the past, sinking into the protective warmth of her Guardian hero.

Lyn met with her council, and they reported out in rapid succession.

Chancellor Vehenna reported that the Diplomat was en route and should arrive within a few days. She was still seeking individuals for the position of Scholar and Physician, but the Newen Seer, Dran, had been working under the advisor to help identify candidates.

Steward Bhelarm reported that he was still seeking a Seneschal. The money situation had not changed. The same went with Menora's report; she had found some interesting pottery amongst the Demonic Dragon's hoard but was still trying to piece it together. "Perhaps it could reveal more information about your past life, my Lady," she said excitedly.

Marshal Remora reported that the Military Advisors had finished the grouping of squadrons and were drilling them relentlessly. Strike Commander Slanosh reported that the last of the Newen in the Valley of the Volcano had arrived at Lynhold, and the hunters were being incorporated into the military structure.

Spymaster Velenna's report was the most concerning out of the group. "According to my contacts," she said, "King Kristoph of Khrelardia is dead. James Marshall, Paragon hero, has taken the mantle of king."

She knew that much from the mirror earlier. She glanced over to Brad, who was also in attendance at the council meeting, and she rapidly translated for him from Arinol to English.

"I mean, he's a fantasy nerd. And he was popular after claiming the credit for killing the Demonic Dragon. And we both know Kristoph was a spoiled brat," Brad told her in English.

She nodded and looked back to Velenna, switching back to Arinol, "Any other news of the outside world?"

"Yes, my Lady. Valagonia's duchies – some of them – have the stirrings of rebellion. We should not expect a unified resistance from them anytime soon. The same goes for a few of the duchies in Khrelardia. We have time to build." She smiled, "And, I have received some interesting news that we should wait to act on until our Diplomat arrives. The King of Trisk has indicated that he is open to a discussion. Covertly, though. He does not wish to risk the people turning against him for allying with the Destroyer."

"He knows the way the wind is blowing," Lyn muttered. "He sees war between Valagonia and Khrelardia once they get their realms under control. And Trisk's neutrality will be their downfall when one of those two kingdoms defeats the other and absorbs their territory and levies." She smiled, "Send an indicator that I, too, am open to discussion. But we will hold off on official talks until I interview and accept this Diplomat's service, and we have some proof to show of my benevolent rule." She looked at Brad and switched to English, "Remind me, which languages are you fluent in?"

"I know Botal, Khrelardian, and Shereldian."

Lyn looked to her Chancellor, switching to Arinol once more, "Do we have anyone who speaks Botal?"

Vehenna nodded, "We have two that can speak the language of the plant-folk."

"Good, set one up as Brad's assistant." She looked at Brad and switched back to English, "I'm assigning you an assistant that speaks Botal. I want you to focus on those Purple Patches. How many can you make in a week?"

He sighed and pulled out a slip of parchment, jotting down some numbers before looking up at her, "I'll set the apprentices to it, but I have that trip I'm taking to talk to Trisha and Ben, keep that in mind. The apprentices could create…two thousand?"

Lyn nodded, "Good. We will keep half, and the other half we will set aside for a delegation to Trisk." She turned back to the council and translated the conversation to Arinol.

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"Forgive me, my Lady," Bhelarm stated as he stood up and gestured to Brad. "You are letting a hero leave?"

Lyn nodded, "I trust him."

"Why? He was your sworn enemy, along with the rest of them!"

I need to remind him of his place. She stood up and stopped focus on the shifting spell, allowing her draconic features to take over her body once more. Her tone dropped to the draconic growl as well. "I am the Destroyer. You will not question my commands. My rule is law. Are we clear?"

Bhelarm dropped to his knees and bowed, "Of course! I'm sorry I ever questioned you!" He groveled.

But Lyn knew something was off. That wasn't sincere. She wasn't the best at reading people, but she could tell when someone was being insincere. Every time her mom apologized for her dad's abuse; she could tell. "I don't believe you," she stated bluntly. "Bolvon, approach." The Shadowstalker emerged from the darkness behind Velenna, and everyone except for Lyn, Vael, Gael, and the Spymaster herself jumped out of shock. "Give me the report. Verbally. So everyone can hear."

Bolvon cleared his throat and unfurled a scroll, "Of course, my goddess." He looked at Bhelarm, who had glanced up at this point from his kneeling position. "Steward Bhelarm has been siphoning funds from the treasury. He reported 18,000 Gold Eagles, 51,000 Silver Kestrels, and 265,000 Copper Owls. 1,000 Gold Eagles were spent on bribes to allow scouts past Fort Watch and the mercenaries stationed there. The actual count is far, far less. We are missing 5,000 Gold Eagles."

Lyn locked her eyes onto Bhelarm, and he began to tremble under her withering glare. "You dare steal from me?" she asked, feeling her Destroyer core hiss and roil in anger at her property being stolen. "You dare take what is mine?!" The whole room resonated with the deep growl, and all were struck with fear. Brad even whimpered slightly, not understanding the language, but the intent behind the words were unmistakable. Lyn lowered her volume, "Why?"

Bhelarm looked up, shaking, "I…my Lady …I…I wanted…" He cowered under her sight and her presence, "I…you're not the Demonic Dragon…Not our Destroyer."

Lyn frowned, "Bhelarm…look at my form. Is this not draconic?"

Bhelarm nodded, "Forgive me, my Lady."

"Your goddess," Bolvon stated. "She is your goddess. Raevan, Demonic Dragon, Lyn Rivers…she is our goddess of destruction, who will bring this world under her rule." His voice was filled with fanaticism and devotion.

Lyn held up her hand, "Thank you, Shadowstalker Bolvon. Your devotion will be rewarded." Lyn looked at Menora, "Do you have any love for your father?" The Antiquarian nodded her head slightly, and Lyn looked at Bolvon, "Does she have any blame in this?"

"Menora appears to have no connection with her father's misdeeds," Bolvon replied as he took a step back towards the wall.

Lyn looked back to Bhelarm. "I cannot trust you with my treasury. So here is what will happen. You will take Vael and Gael to wherever you have hidden my treasure. You will then be punished." She looked at Menora. "This is where you make a choice. I allow you to choose the punishment for your father. You have done your work well, and Bolvon has cleared you of any wrongdoing. If you wish to serve, you will continue to do so…but you will not betray me like your father did."

Menora gulped and looked at her father. "I…" she swallowed once more, "…Imprison him. Please, Lady Rivers…keep him in the fortress. Don't kill him."

"Very well," Lyn replied. "Bhelarm, lead my bodyguards to your stashed treasure."

Bolvon walked forward and dropped a sack of money on the ground in front of Lyn, before kneeling in front of her, "I have already found it, my goddess."

Lyn smiled and drew Cataclysm. Let's see if this works. She focused her will on the hilt, and to her satisfaction, the punch-dagger artifact split off. I don't need the dual daggers and the punch dagger configuration. And this will prove to him his loyalty and devotion is rewarded. She glanced around the room, and it will show them that service is rewarded. She held the punch dagger out to him. "A gift for your exemplary services."

Bolvon reverently held out his hand, and Lyn placed the punch dagger in his palm. He gripped it, looked at it curiously, and tested it by punching into the ground. The invisible blade stopped his fist a few inches from the floor. He bowed his head once more. "My goddess, with this blade, I will enact your will across Ghomar."

"Rise and take your place," Lyn stated, and the Shadowstalker went back to standing behind the Spymaster. "Gael and Vael, take Bhelarm away." The twins nodded and grabbed the man off the ground, dragging him away to cells deep within the fortress. Mana-suppressing cells. Ones that she thought only existed in Kor's Hold. But, as she had learned, there was a set of those cells here as well. Lyn scanned the room, reading the emotions of those present. They were awestruck. She returned to her throne. "And now we need a new Steward. What other business do we have to attend to?"

Brad stayed in the council chamber as the group was dismissed. I need to talk to her, one on one. Hearing her talk in the voice of the Demonic Dragon was jarring and threw him back to that horrible experience when the heroes fought the beast. The doors shut, and she relaxed in her seat as if the tension left her whole being. "Can we talk?" Brad asked in English.

Lyn nodded, "Yeah, go ahead."

"How much of you is Lyn versus this Destroyer or Demonic Dragon?"

"I'm still me. I'm Lyn. I'll always be Lyn."

"Do you really believe that you're the Destroyer, or Demonic Dragon?"

"I have its power," Lyn said calmly. "I am committed to this role. I am Lyn the Destroyer. If that requires me to be known as the Demonic Dragon as well…then I suppose I am him, in a roundabout way. Just as I am also Raevan the Destroyer." She sighed. "I'm Lyn, and I'm still me. At least…mostly me. My mana core changed me, just like all of ours did, or are doing." She met his gaze once more, "The history we were fed was sanitized. Raevan was not destroying the world and kingdoms over and over again; that was revisionist history from the kingdoms when they imploded from civil war. I learned what really happened."

Brad leaned forward, "Do tell."

She smiled softly, "Raevan was ordered to destroy the Ari. She refused and took them under her protection. It's why the Demonic Dragon never left the Valley to fight us…the Destroyer is just a role in a cosmic sense. A counterpart to Aelor's creation." She shrugged, "Since there's no more Aelor, I'll just use this power how I see fit…and bringing some order and justice to this world seems like the right way to use it."

"What about the whole…dragon hybrid form?"

"I self-summoned and came back as a Duskari. I don't think I screwed up the inscription, but I was rushing. I think the Destroyer core is just more suited to this body. Anyways, I was…fighting against my new core. I had the Scout core consumed under the Destroyer core – no clue how that happened – and I did some dungeons. With each one…I had a sort of epiphany." She leaned back in the chair once more and appeared regal in Brad's eyes. Stern, judging – almost like Cecily – but there was a tenderness there. A sincerity that Cecily did not have.

"Let me guess," Brad started, "You decided that you would do something about Ghomar, this whole 'rule the world with benevolence' thing."

Lyn nodded, "That's right…you can keep a secret, and you already know my secret." She sighed. "When I came back, everyone thought I was the Demonic Dragon reborn. Not Lyn Rivers, the Scout hero who had the Destroyer core and came from Earth. I let slip to my bodyguards in that dungeon who I really am. But the more I thought on it, the more I realized that I'm not the same Lyn I was the last time I was on Ghomar. The Destroyer core became more…tame?" She shook her head, "Anyways, only you, the twins, and the other heroes know the truth about my past as the Scout hero. To everyone else, Lyn Rivers is just the name that the Destroyer has taken in this cycle."

Brad nodded, "And since you were obscured in history, using your old name wouldn't affect anything. Even if the other heroes used your old name, only they would know the context behind it." He laughed, "That's fucking clever. You're sly. Even if those twins told someone else, they would have to be mighty fucking convincing. The same goes for the other heroes."

She chuckled, "I didn't even think of it that way. Unintentional genius?"

"Must be," Brad stated as he pulled out a simple chewing gum he had put together a few days prior and offered her some, "Want a bit? It's mango flavored."

Lyn laughed and stood up, "I don't remember how long it's been since I had gum," she took a piece from him, and she giggled at the flavor. "I had forgotten how mangoes taste."

"You never used to giggle. Damn, this core changed you."

Lyn playfully flipped him off. "Anyways, I found a dungeon hidden inside the caldera of Shiverburn Summit. I…had to face some hard truths inside. But that's when I made my declaration."

"The one that everyone in the world seemed to hear in their own language, you mean?"

That caught Lyn off guard, and she blinked several times in astonishment, "What?"

"Yeah. I was in a bar, and everyone stopped. We all heard the Demonic Dragon speaking in our own language. I heard it in English."

Lyn sat down on the throne, "Fuck…" she shook her head, "Well, in any case, after that declaration…the Destroyer core came fully under my control. So, yeah, I'm still Lyn. Your classmate. But I'm not Lyn the Scout hero and killer of the Demonic Dragon. I'm Lyn the Destroyer, who is going to ruin this world and then rebuild it from the ashes." She grabbed his hands, "We're going to make it better…together. And I sincerely hope the rest of the heroes join up. We could make this place a paradise."

Brad nodded, satisfied with her explanation. "Thank you for satisfying my curiosity. I was scared when I heard you talk in the dragon's voice…but you've re-convinced me." He headed to the doors, "I'll get my apprentices started on the Purple Patches, but then I'm heading out to see Trisha and Ben. I want to see if she can figure out a way to give me my dick back."

Lyn chuckled at that and nodded, "I wish you luck. If she can make you a new one, ask her to make it bigger than the last time. Give it a vibrating function or something neat like that. Some type of inscription-"

Brad chuckled and flipped her off as he left.

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