The incantation pierces the Nachzehrer like a lance.
It happened so fast that it was almost impossible to see its trajectory, as though it had taken effect by the time the word left the lips.
A smooth hole appears in Nezzsalem's chest.
There is no change in his expression. Withered branches reach down from his staff, reach into the hole in his torso, and fill in the gap.
How could this be?
In this battle alone, the young Banshee has casted dozens of Arts that were not of Sarkaz origin.
Ravel, the greatest Arts master of Gaul.
His life's work made the guns of Gaul's ships mighty, and he was famous in all the nations, before the Witch King made his own name known throughout the land.
In that war, there was an instant when the ships of Gaul ripped apart the lines of death like a sharp sword, before death swallowed them.
Why do I see a shadow of him in your Arts?
Nezzsalem
Your words can't kill me.
Nezzsalem
The voice that calls me is louder than your incantations by far.
Logos
...I can hear it.
Logos
The dirge of the fallen echoes within you.
Thousands of war altars, spread across the battlefield.
They absorb what life leaves behind when it dies.
The culmination of the power stands before Logos.
The most powerful Nachzehrer, and the most terrible war altar.
Nezzsalem
Nachzehrers witness death.
Nezzsalem
We take in all who were brave, friend or foe. In the endless cycle of life and death, they will be remembered and honored.
Nezzsalem
Cowards deserve only dust.
Nezzsalem
Tell me, my foe—is it a young hero who stands before me, or a despicable traitor?
Logos
Your judgment does not interest me.
Logos
This is not where the power of words lie.
Logos once again gathers power in his palm.
A second wound appears on Nezzsalem's body, stretching from the shoulder to his chest.
The incantation does not dissipate. It fends off the branches trying to close in, and prevents the energies of the dead from repairing the Nachzehrer's body.
Shredded cloth rises and falls, covering the new wound, and countless old scars.
Nezzsalem
What is this?
Logos
Death may feed the Nachzehrer, but the Banshee can put death itself to rest.
Logos
You are no longer the sole master of war, Nezzsalem.
Nezzsalem
You're more gifted in incantation than any Banshee I know, Laqeramaline included.
Nezzsalem
A shame, though.
Nezzsalem
Why do you not sing for the dead, if you truly mourn them?
Logos
Elegy cannot actually put the dead to rest.
Logos
Neither the living nor the dead will find true rest, as long as war continues.
Nezzsalem
Preposterous!
Nezzsalem
You have vanquished the Damazti and banished the Vampire. You, a sovereign of the Royal Court, have Royal Court blood on your hands.
Nezzsalem
You dare say it is all because you are avoiding war?
Nezzsalem
Is your rebellion the only reason you stand in my way?
The Nachzehrer floats up in fury. The branches underneath him disintegrate, and decay fills the canyon.
I fought alongside Laqeramaline for decades, across cities and plains. We buried the armor of Victoria and the guns of Gaul beneath the walls of Kazdel together.
Nezzsalem
In the same battle, I helped Theresa take the heads of thousands of Leithanian casters.
Nezzsalem
They were the heroes of Kazdel, its greatest warriors.
Nezzsalem
Laqeramaline entrusted you with the future of the Banshees. Theresa considered you one of her best students.
Nezzsalem
But you hid at Rhodes Island, sheltered the King of Sarkaz, and sneaked into Londinium like a thief, content to sabotage the cracks in the battlefield...
Logos
War will not end the suffering of the Sarkaz.
Logos
All I see is you dragging everyone into the abyss.
Nezzsalem
So you chose to run.
Nezzsalem
Many years ago, I said to Theresa that war was unavoidable. If it did not come to Londinium, it would come to Kazdel.
Nezzsalem
Theresa agreed, but continued to hope that there could be another solution.
Nezzsalem
Her choice led to a new war. Its consequence was the death of the King of Sarkaz.
Nezzsalem
I witnessed her death. All Sarkaz should honor her.
Nezzsalem
What about you?
Nezzsalem
What can you bring the Sarkaz aside from these meek words? What do you want to bring the Sarkaz?
He points his staff at the ground.
The scent of decay rushes out, overpowering the barrier of incantations.
Sudaram
(Growls)
Logos
—
The dirge of the myriad souls grows louder.
The power of the incantations is weakening. He feels his fingers, lips and tongue go numb.
The fury does not come only from the ancient Royal Court sovereign before him.
With your help, I've come to an... interesting place. It is not all nothingness beyond history.
Duq'arael
But I continue to gaze at you beyond the veil.
Duq'arael
You have come so far, little Banshee... you and the Outblood King seek the drop of blood that I left behind.
Duq'arael
The Blood of Teekaz... the pure blood that I coveted.
Duq'arael
You believe that you can prevent calamity from occurring again by destroying it.
Logos
It's true.
Duq'arael
'True'. Destroy the altar, put a temporary stop to the Cunabula of Suffering, allow the Victorian nitwits to cling to life a bit longer. How boring.
Duq'arael
Who is the one that's short-sighted and foolish here?
Logos
...
Duq'arael
You feel it, don't you? You're closely linked to the altar. Right here, right now, your power is being boosted by it.
Duq'arael
It was never one drop of blood or a single person's call that awakened the Cunabula of Suffering.
Duq'arael
Originium is the response to the call of all Sarkaz, living and dead. No exceptions.
Logos
...The murmur of the myriad souls is omnipresent.
Logos
The lament of the dead will not stop.
Logos
The Sarkaz are bound by the past from the moment of their birth, never to be freed, even unto death.
Duq'arael
You witnessed the myriad souls the first time you sang an elegy... Laqeramaline proudly described your talent to us.
Duq'arael
This talent was the seed of dissent.
Duq'arael
You feel pain, not just for others, but for yourself as well. You may detest the path I walk, but you could not help but feel sorrow for me sake.
Logos
I feel sorrow for how you're trapped by the past.
Duq'arael
Such arrogance... I should try to kill you again.
Duq'arael
But instead, I will bless you.
Duq'arael
The slaughterer and the slaughtered... they are all part of the cycle.
Duq'arael
I am here because of you.
Logos does not smell any blood.
The incantation easily impales the Sanguinarch's body, causing only a few small ripples.
Logos
Your blood is still linked to my elegy.
Duq'arael
Of course... of course. You stand with me, no matter how much you resist.
Duq'arael
We are all sovereigns of the Royal Court, after all... the oldest bloodlines of the Sarkaz.
Duq'arael
I should be glad that you could conquer me, for it proves that you are stronger, and more worthy of carrying the fate of the Sarkaz, leading them on your path.
The Sanguinarch of Vampires laughs, turning around and disappearing into the cave.
His silhouette fades away amongst the Originium crystals, but his voice continues to echo in Logos's ear.
