Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The morning sun shone brightly over the vast ocean once more as Morden awoke. Another day to live on, another day to dwell in the past. Morden pushed his body up, now sitting on the sleeping bag. Fingers tracing those faint scars that lingered on his arms, Morden took a deep breath as he prepared to face another long day. Unzipping the tent, his eyes squinted as he was faced with the bright sunlight just leaking over the mountains. 

Two weeks and three days. 

Two weeks and three days ago, the player went to Ravenna. Two weeks and three days ago, the player disappeared without a trace. Two weeks and three days ago, the player died. No. Morden shook his head as he tried to clear his thoughts. A wave of guilt washed over him, nonetheless. Nivero's snoring and Iris' occasional shuffling in their tents gave Morden a slight sense of reassurance. With a sigh, shoving his hands deep in his pockets, Morden started to walk towards the shore of Shell Island. Along the way, he was greeted with a few waves by the friendly civilians. 

The wooden boards underneath his steps creaked as Morden trudged along. It had been a little more than two weeks since Morden absorbed the Death Curse. Surprisingly to him, the curse was never painful - just a slight dull sensation of power rushing through his body. His fingers touched something in his pockets as Morden pulled out the object. A small smile crept onto his face as Morden stared at the simple gem in his palm. It was rusted, old, and quite frankly, worth nothing. 

Tucker, Morden, and the player had been teenagers when they were taken. Fourteen, fifteen, perhaps sixteen. It was hard to recall - there were too many painful memories at that place. However, when the rare few moments of peacefulness did come to them, they took advantage of it. Tucker had been able to find the gems on the floor on a break day. As Tucker happily put the gem into the player and Morden's palm, the bright smile that Tucker held was still engrained in Morden's mind.

"And when we escape, we'll use this as a symbol of our friendship. So that we know we got through everything together!" 

Morden had snickered. The thought of escape sounded so farfetched. Tucker made a slightly offended sound as he stared at his friends in the room.

"Trust me, I'll figure a way to get us out of here."

When the player lost their memory, it felt like apart of Morden's heart was ripped out. However, Morden knew that it wasn't his fault. So, he stayed quiet. Briefly, Morden remembered the final glimpse he was able to take of Tucker's gem before it buried along with its owner. (And now, there was a chance that he would have to bury another one of his friends.) 

The player was strong. Morden knew that. As long as there was no confirmation of his death, Morden would continue to hold onto that thin hope. 

"Morden!" The gruff voice of Nivero's broke him out of his train of thoughts. Nivero looked tired and out of breath as he tried to recover his breathing, Morden stood up and walked up towards the older gentleman. 

"What's wrong?" Morden said as he pocketed the gem once more, patting Nivero on the back. He noticed a crumbled piece of paper in Nivero's hands. His breathing fastened as he realized what it was. A torn-out piece of newspaper from the Agora News. "We," Nivero said as his breathing stabilized. "We need to go before it's too late." 

Morden's eyes darted across the newspaper as he read, Murderer of General Argos caught by General Julian and the land of Ravena returns to peace as King Calvus resumes his position on the throne. 

"The death of Elius, General Argos," King Calvus says, a sweet tone yet malicious intent ready to claw out at any moment. A facade. "And now.. Lady Carina. You have surely done a number on us." Calvus sighs as the player remains silent, hands cuffed behind his back, feet shackled to the floor. The player's gaze was intense - ready to strike - if possible. Alas, there wasn't a choice. 

"Tell me," Calvus says as he rests against the metal bars of the cell. "How are you, a nobody, able to defeat so many of our high ranked officers?" There was only silence between the two. The player's gaze slowly drops as he stares down at the floor, still refusing to speak. The pressure in the jail cell slowly but surely rose as the King's patience ran thinner every passing second of silence. 

A rough force from above broke the player out of his thoughts. He grunted as his hair was pulled roughly by the other in the room - now the King's gaze burned through him, as if leaving a mark. "I assure you; this will be much less painful if you just give me the information I want. Who are you?" As the player once more gave no reply, Calvus' patience snapped. A bright illuminating light slowly flickered into existence at the top of his index fingertip. "If you would like to do this the hard way, suit yourself. After all, it's only hurting you."

A swift slash of pain registered across the player's neck. It wasn't a fatal wound, but it was enough to hurt. The player bit his lips hard, drawing blood as the cold air only made the open cut feel worse than it was. King Calvus stared at the player's shaking body on the ground. "Whatever you're protecting, I'm sure it's not worth this pain. Is it?" Calvus whispered in the air as his finger moved once more, this time across the player's jaw. This time, the player couldn't hold back. A loud scream of anguish echoed through the cell. As the player tried to recollect himself, Calvus chuckled. 

Amusement. The King was amused.

Anger shot through the player's mind as he wondered what kind of sick psychopath would gain entertainment out of a situation like this. His hand writhed in the chains as the metal continued to scrub some of his skin off. 

Did you get enough food?  Do you want more?

The player's head shot up as the voice that was so familiar yet so distant rang through his ear. However, there was nothing apart from the walls that surrounded him and the twisted face of the sadist in front of him. King Calvus released his grip on the player's hair and yelled out some orders to the guards - the player was too out of it to care - as the King's form left the room, Calvus left the player with a few words. "Consider your choices carefully. You'll die a slow and painful death - just like those you gave to my loyal army."

The door to the cell clicked close as four guards began to stand outside his cell, weapons in hand. The first week of imprisonment had been okay. Definitely not ideal - considering he was cuffed and had to mine ores with little to no food or water. However, as the news of Elius and Carina's death began to spread like wildfire, it seemed like the King had taken an interest in the player - for the worse, probably. Perpetual silence floated around the jail cell as the player thought about that voice he had heard. It felt like a weight had been dropped on his heart as he realized why it sounded so distant. 

Tucker.

Morden had mentioned the three of them were close - guilt rooted in the player's heart as he was unable to bring up any memories of his friends apart from a few occasional flashes of the past. If this is where he would be laid to rest, then so be it. He just hoped that Iris and Morden would be able to stay safe. At first, the player had been certain that he would be saved but he couldn't help the feeling of uncertainty deep in his mind.

Closing his eyes for a little bit of rest, the player continued to hold on to the hope that he'd be reunited with his friends once more.

The ocean breeze brushed past Morden's hair. It had been four days since they set sail for Ravena. Iris, Nivero and himself now rested in a part of Ravena far away from other people. Ocassionally, they would go into the towns to ask for information. However, nothing had been of help so far. They knew that the player had been imprisoned in one of Ravena's dungeons - but there were little to no information about the location of said dungeon. 

Morden continued to walk through the town of Rasna. Occasionally, he'd stop to buy a few items before continuing on his search. Just before Morden was about to walk back to the camp, he heard rushed whispers of excitement. Turning around, he saw a group of people crowding around a specific area as people tried to climb over each other to get to whoever was in the middle. In the middle of the commotion, Morden was able to ask a citizen. 

"What's going on?" Morden tapped a citizen's shoulder as they quickly turned around. "It's General Julian! He isn't seen in public often, but he's out now! You must have heard; the general captured that killer and protected our city!" The citizen said very enthusiastically as she turned around and continued to scream over the other voices. Morden's breath hitched as he started to zone into the questions thrown at the general.

"How did you manage to get that murderer?" General Julian shrugged it off and crossed his arms. A smug laugh escaped his lips as he proudly announced, "That nobody? Hah! It didn't even take me any effort; it was a shame that so many of our higher ranked officers were harmed by that kid. I must say it definitely had to be luck."

"What happened to the murderer?" General Julian pretended to think about it as he continued to laugh it off. "He was captured into our mining dungeon under the castle where he'll spend the rest of his days. However, it seems like the King has harsher punishments for people who sabotage our numbers."

That had been enough information. Slowly backing away from the crowd, Morden set out for Iris and Nivero. 

Just hold on a little longer.

There was so much blood around him - and so much of it, dried. The stench of the blood was prominent, always there, a reminder that he'd been stuck in this hellhole for God knows how long. Every day after the King was done with him, he'd have the guards treat the wounds. Apart of the player just wished that they left him to bleed out to death so he wouldn't have to deal with the pain anymore. As the armor of the guards outside of his cell clanked against each other, dread started building in his mind. It was a sign that King Calvus had returned. Only this time, the King returned with a potion in his hands. 

As much as the player hated to admit, there was a breaking point for everything. After five hours of continuous torture, he gave in. He told them everything. Morden, Iris, Nivero, he told them how he had escaped with someone named Tucker. He told them what he knew about the Order. And nothing would be able to compare to that. The trust that his friends had held for him to keep their secrets had been exposed simply because he was too weak. 

"Wouldn't it be a shame if your body was against your existence?" King Calvus asked the player. The player's eyes furrowed as he struggled to understand. A quiet chuckle escaped the King as he shook his head. "It's okay. You'll understand it soon. Don't die, I'll be disappointed. After all, the Order does not condemn the existence of their prisoners in the outside world, so I've never had the chance to have fun with someone of your ability without restrictions."

With those words, King Calvus grabbed his mouth roughly as the armor dug into some of his old wounds. Then, the King poured the potion down the player's throat. A rancid taste covered his tastebuds as he was forced to swallow the liquid. At first, nothing happened. The beating of his own heart seemed too loud in his ears. A minute passed. 

Then, he felt it. An indescribable sense of pain washed over his body as the chains started digging into his skin once more from his movements. His breathing quickly became unstable as the player found it hard to breathe. Every part of his body felt like it was burning up, yet his skin felt so cold. Too cold. His scream echoed through the entire block of cells. He could hear hushed whispers of other prisoners so clearly scared for their own destiny. His throat felt dry from all the screaming - yet it had only been a few seconds. The figure of the King started to blur and multiply in front of him. Every sound was so loud. 

King Calvus enjoyed the sight in front of him. A display of what was to become of the other prisoners sooner or later. 

The player's fingers started twitching involuntarily as the pain started to dull out. It was there, he could feel it everywhere - but his body was slowly adapting to the immeasurable amounts of pain it was receiving. Until a rush of heat shot up throughout his body again - it was as if his entire body was on fire - yet freezing at the same time.

"These potions are what the Order uses," King Calvus says as the player started to claw at his own skin. "A potion with no effects on the average human, yet the worst potion to ever be exposed to if you happen to have your ability."

He could feel flesh underneath his fingernails. 

"Survive, it would be a shame if you died just from this."

Morden, grab him! We have to keep moving! We're so close!

An explosion broke the oppressive stillness that the player was so used to everyday. As the guards rushed to investigate, the player drowned out the sounds around him. That was until he saw a bright blast of fire pushing all the guards back. 

"Fuck," Morden whispered as Iris melted the cell bars. A horrified expression wore all of their faces. A humorless chuckle escaped the player's lips as he could only imagined the state that his body was in. "Can you walk?"

"Totally," The player whispered under his breath as Iris melted the shackle and the handcuffs. As he struggled to stand even with the help of Morden, a disgusted look plastered on his face as the player stared at his own hands. A visible indent of bloody flesh around his wrists. "Yeah, no."

"Here, drink this." Iris took out a potion from her bag and the player had to resist the urge to visibly flinch at the sight of another potion bottle. As the player downed the liquid given to him, his major wounds started to heal. A rush of magic also returned to him.

"There they are! Get them!" Various shouts from all directions started to close in on them. As much as it hurt to move, the player knew that they had to move. Iris stood up quickly as a bright flame shot out of her hands.

"Go, I'll hold them back." Morden, Nivero and the player nodded as they ran. Until General Julian stopped them. There were no words exchanged between Morden and the player for them to realize what the other was doing. Morden squeezed the player's shoulder and reassured him. 

"Nivero, go help the player," Morden said as a dark shadow started to cover his hands. "I have business to sort out."

The player's heartbeat started to ring louder and louder in his ears as Nivero and him went to confront the King. All of it had led up to this moment. As the door to King Calvus opened, the player took a deep breath.

"You will be nothing!" King Calvus' voice echoed through the destruction of his throne room. Debris everywhere. The player stood in front of the King, katana in hand with the King kneeled in front of him. "The Order will not let this go unnoticed!"

The Order of Aesir had been the reason for his suffering. For Morden's suffering. For Tucker's. As well as Tucker's demise. 

"Let them do as they wish. I'll continue getting stronger," The player finally whispered after a long moment of silence. The katana in the player's hands rose. "I'll continue to fight them as they wish. I may be weak now," the grim expression on the King's face turned into an expression of grief and acceptance. "But I'll get revenge. For Iris. For Morden. For Tucker. For Nivero." 

As Morden opened the door to the battlefield, the sight he was greeted with was a welcomed one. A clean slash with blood splattering in its path and King Calvus' head meeting the floor and his limp body falling over.

"And for myself."

Chapter Text

“I was scared.” Morden admitted to him one night when Iris and Nivero had fallen asleep. The camp fire in front of them colored their skin a light orange. Morden’s eyes stared at the crackling fire. “I thought I had lost you too.”

The player fidgeted with their fingers. Their wounds were doing better now, but they were still very visible. The light of the fire only made the scars stand out more. “I was scared too,” The player’s voice was no louder than a whisper. Almost a shameful confession. “I trusted that you guys would try to come but I didn’t know if it was possible.” 

The two of them sat in the uncomfortable silence before the player started speaking with a wavering voice. “I told him everything. It was too painful. I- I just.. wanted it to end. I’m sorry.”

Morden turned his head to his side as he continued to listen without the intention of joining in. Seeing that, the player continued speaking. “I told them your names, your powers.. I told them about our escape and what I knew about the Order,” the player choked on his words as he looked at the ground in shame, “I should’ve been stronger. I’m sorry I was unable to do anything.”

”You idiot,” Morden whispered under his breath as he looked up to meet the player’s gaze. “Your survival means more than anything to us. There’s nothing to apologize for. That information was bound to become public one day.”

“I heard Tucker,” the player says with a sad smile. Morden looked up in surprise. “I.. I still don’t remember what happened.. but I remember more than I used to. He was always the one to look out for us. I heard his voice. I wish I’d remember more, but perhaps that’s why I’m on the path I am.”

Morden nodded solemnly as memories flooded his mind. “Tucker protected us. A lot. I just wish he was..”

”I’ll continue trying,” the player says as he stands up, “and so will you. I’ll regain my memories and we’ll send Tucker off with the greatest thing we can do.”

Morden tilted his head, listening to the player. “Carrying on his legacy. He wanted us to live freely, so I’ll rescue everyone that I can. Give them a chance to live freely.”

”Yeah,” Morden said as a smile formed on his face. Morden and the player turned around to look at the rising moon, the stars still bright in the sky. “Yeah, that sounds good.”