Chapter Text
He’ll be here. He always shows up in the end.
It was a simple plan, really; Torchbearer and Clancy would lead the Banditos into Dema, fight off whatever forces the Bishops had for them (Clancy had never seen a formal army within the walls of Dema, but with all the neon gravestones around the city and the Bishops ability to seize them, he had a pretty good idea of where any conflict could arise), and Clancy and Torchbearer would climb the tower and defeat the Bishops. Simple enough, on paper at least. Clancy grew weary of the plan with each passing second, though.
They all knew it was dangerous, that was nothing new. The Bishops were powerful, especially with Nico leading them, and it would be no easy feat to defeat all 8 of them. They had been using their power for decades, maybe even centuries, and Clancy hadn’t nearly enough time to truly master psychokinesis. He was at a clear disadvantage, but that didn’t mean that the fight was impossible. Clancy had hoped that the Bishops would be weakened ever since they turned their blades on Keons, but Clancy also knew better than to have any hope these days. At least he wouldn’t be going in alone, right?
I always follow his torch. I’ll see him when he gets here. He will come. He always does.
Clancy grew antsy waiting on the cliff’s edge. He had to admit, the pull of the Strait had been growing the closer their plan came to fruition. How easy it would be, to simply throw his life into the cold waters of the Paladin Strait and let the waves take him to a place so far away from where he was. But no, he can’t wouldn’t do that. Not when so many people depended on him. Between the Banditos and those still stuck in Dema, he was sure he had a long life ahead of them to ensure that everyone could live in peace.
His thoughts drifted to those still in Dema. Not so long and a million years ago, he was trapped in the same lifeless obedience that they were stuck in now. What would they do, when he and the Banditos came in and destroyed their entire way of life? Would they snap out of it like he had, or would they lose themselves? Would they find freedom, or would they stay trapped? Clancy shuddered at the thought. They would need guidance. They needed to be shown how to be free. Perhaps he was the one who can show them.
Where is he? He always comes. Why isn’t he here yet? Where is he?
Those in Dema would not be able to break the cycle alone, Clancy was well aware of that. They have been stuck living under the Bishops, under a hijacked religion, for who knows how long. Most of them didn’t even know that there was life, freedom beyond the walls of Dema. Clancy, though, has seen it. He’s lived it. From his first escape, he has wanted all in Dema to know that their world is so much bigger than the walls that kept them caged. Moreover, he has a power not unlike the Bishops. Perhaps he can show them that there is power and authority that is not corrupt. Perhaps he can be their example of absolute power. He can make them feel free. He can make them feel powerful .
They had gone over the plan over and over again, but the more Clancy thinks about it, the more he believes it needs to change. Clancy and Clancy alone has the power needed to overthrow the Bishops, to take their place. He could take their power, and lead the people the way they needed to be led. The crown is heavy, but Clancy can wear it. He must wear it. He must bring the people of Dema peace, or die trying. He feels a strange calm overcome him as he accepts his new fate. Torchbearer would be safer if he did this alone, anyway.
It’s better if he doesn’t come, because he might talk me out of doing what I know I have to do. I can do this. I can save everyone. I can do better than the Bishops. I will do better than the Bishops. I must.
Clancy leaves without Torchbearer, hurt that he never showed up, but determined to make his new plan come to fruition. He can defeat the Bishops alone; he has their power, and he is stronger than them. He’ll sneak into the city, past whatever the Bishops have set up to stop him and the Banditos, and he will climb the tower alone. Deep down, Clancy knew that it always had to be this way. Still, he couldn’t ignore the pang in his chest as he stared at the spot where his Torchbearer would meet him, the ground still and the air quiet and cold. He really wished he had his jacket right about now.
It was easier than Clancy had expected, to infiltrate the city and climb the tower. He could hear the Banditos fighting as he snuck away, and in the back of his mind, he was confused. He hadn’t seen them follow him, but the sounds of their battle left no room for misunderstanding. Though Torchbearer may have left him, he took solace in the fact that the Banditos stood with him, still believed in him. A small part of him wondered why he hadn't seen them, but he brushed it off. There were bigger things that required his focus.
He found 7 of the Bishops on top of the tower, all of them in the middle of seizing the bodies of the Glorious Gone to fight the Banditos. He would save his people by defeating them, and Clancy knew at that moment that he could not, would not fail. He completed the movements he had practiced so many times, his body moving with certainty and grace as he used his psychokinesis to knock down all the Bishops. If he were being honest, it was a lot easier than he thought it would be. The 7 Bishops fell, and he felt their power drain away to nothing as his own suffocated them. With these Bishops dead, no one was left to seize all of the Glorious Gone, and his people were safe. There was only one obstacle left.
“Show yourself,” Clancy called out. Nico was by far the most dangerous of the Bishops. His power was unmatched by anyone, maybe even Clancy himself. Even still, he had to try. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he didn’t try. He wasn't scared, though. Not anymore. Clancy let raw fear fuel him for far too long, now he was determined.
There was no answer, the only sound in the room the dull hum of the lights on the walls, their symbols all too familiar to Clancy. “Show yourself!” He yelled, louder. Nico would face him. No matter what, Nico would face him.
Without warning, the door in the room swung open, and Nico came flying out toward Clancy. He braced himself as two very familiar hands wrapped around his painted neck.
“So few,” Nico started, his deep voice sending a cold shiver down Clancy’s spine. “So proud,” Nico continued. Clancy felt the antlers slip from his fingers, landing on the floor with a quiet clatter that may as well have been a bomb going off. “So… emotional.” Clancy’s eyes slipped shut. He could feel Nico’s power all around him, attempting to break him as he had done so many times before.
“Hello, Clancy.” Nico finished. Clancy fought against Nico’s power with every fiber of his being, and then the most miraculous thing happened; he won. He opened his eyes, and found that his thoughts were his own. He had done it. He was stronger than Nico. He opened his eyes and stared at Nico, a burning hatred boiling to the surface. He broke free from Nico’s grip, and with one fluid motion, picked up the antlers and stabbed them into Nico’s chest.
Where Clancy had expected fear, regret, anything, Nico only met his gaze with a small smirk before falling to the ground. It was quiet once again, and Clancy was left alone. Just him, and the bodies of 8 Bishops. In that moment, he knew exactly what he needed to do to gain control of the city, to get the absolute power he needed to lead them better than the Bishops ever could. He grabbed the antlers from Nico's body and did the motions he was so used to, seizing the Bishops that lay around him, feeling their power flow into him. He couldn’t tell, but instead of yellow, his eyes glowed with a bright red.
Don’t worry about me, Torchbearer. I did it. I saved the city. I feel alive again.