-Callia-

  Before me the runic gate shone, standing defiantly in my path. Carefully I pull out a unique quiver from the void. Inside it is the set of specially made arrows that Karia had commissioned for me in addition to all my new weapons. The black gleam of the adamantine arrowhead attached to the wood of an ancient tree feathered with high-level eagle feathers. In terms of materials, it might be the best I could ever get my hands on without specifically hunting out each piece myself. Unfortunately my brother hasn’t had time to enchant or imbue runes, but in the current circumstances it would still be perfectly suitable for my plans. With the little testing I’ve done with my unblockable arrow skill, it functions by nullifying any contesting magic or skills on route to its target. It changes the contest from one of stats and skills into a comparison of material endurance. A normal arrow at normal speeds against someone in full plate would only work if I get lucky hitting a weak spot, but my arrow wasn’t normal, nor was the force I could put behind it.

  I notch the arrow on my bow and move back slightly, adjusting my position so that the heart of the gate's runic defenses is lined up with where I hear movement behind the gate. I steady myself and draw. I lock on to my target as the world around me fades and my concentration narrows. Unblockable Arrow doesn’t like interacting with any effect-altering skills, so unfortunately powershot isn’t sticking, but the enchantment on my bow activates as I forcibly enhance the bow’s draw weight well into superhuman territory.

  Crack The air screams as I let the arrow free. The gate flashes with magic that the arrow carves right through without resistance. The metal of the gate was completely unprepared to resist the arrow as it impacted, punching cleanly through like a bullet. I release my focused state, noticing the regrettable state of my bow. I had used the old one since Callen had prioritized reload speed with the new one, but I guess taking shots like this was something normal materials couldn’t handle. Well, I suppose you can say it did have a handle, but only because the handle was the only part that survived. The limbs of the bow ripped free, crashing harmlessly into the gate and splintering into fragments. However, the job was done.

  I could feel the mana structure of the gate collapsing. That and the unlucky idiot who I shot on the other side was screaming and writhing on the floor. Giving the guards no time to adjust, I launched myself at the door, slamming into it at full force with an elegant flying kick. The heavily damaged array flickered weakly in resistance, but it wasn’t enough. The runes quickly gave way, and the gate screeched as it ripped free of its hinges. I rode it as it came crashing down onto a pile of guards. Taking the opening given, I decapitated one guard while giving a palm strike to another. It fell from my path wailing and flailing, and I took the chance to move past it. Whatever the presence needed me down here for, I could feel it urging me to move quickly. Dealing with the demon guards could be done with the paladins later.

  I left the mob of guards to struggle with the gate while turning from the main hallway into a side corridor. I launched myself down the stairwell. A short distance down, a guard burst from the door one floor down, but I easily slid right by him. I rapidly opened a gap. He couldn't keep up with my pace but also empowered my hand for another palm strike. I force myself to a sudden stop and turn back around; the guard, who was unprepared for the sudden change, was dragged by his momentum right into me. I tagged his side with my palm strike while dodging. His body started crumpling as he tumbled down the stairs helplessly. With the immediate pursuer dealt with, I launched myself back down the stairs, quickly overtaking the crumpled spiky metal ball that used to be a guard.

  I followed the presence as it led me deeper and deeper into the catacombs of the vault. I felt my focus starting to crack as my mana was already reaching its limits. Wheezing, I force myself to a stop and quickly review my stats.

  With no time to check with Callen, I followed his example of distributing stats in emergencies to give me the edge I needed. Would I regret this decision? making life- and fighting-style-altering choices in a snap like this? Maybe, but that wouldn’t matter if I didn’t make it out of here. Hopefully with my recent successes in meditation, 100 points wouldn’t push us over the limit Callen had warned me about. Dropping 30 into vitality and 70 into mana immediately made me gasp in relief as new strength seemed to flood into me.

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  I shifted my attention back to running. A short moment later I came to a stop at an ornate golden door. Engraved in the door was a person from their back; six wings sprouted, two were covering the figure's face, two their feet, and the last pair was formed into the doors themselves. I couldn’t help but pause while examining the door. Memories of internet and video game depictions of angels sprouted up almost on their own. I shake aside the thought and carefully open the door. The extravagant door gave way to a simple stone room lit by candles. The sticky evil presence that had been held back by the presence was completely absent from this place, but a heavy weight settled on me.

  I stepped into the cave; the weight I felt was the same presence that had guided me down to this place. However, instead of the support it usually bore, it had a majesty that was hard to describe. It was like the weighty presence of the king but far more absolute and untainted. Moving into the cave, I found myself before a small pond with a stone just high enough to use as a seat beside it. However, my eyes immediately locked onto what lay upon the stone. It was a hardened clay cup, the kind that everyone used, but it felt different somehow. I carefully approached it, my movements slow and hesitant but also firm, like someone was supporting my every step.

  Then the presence in the room condensed, and my heart leapt in fright. A glowing orb took shape, and a voice rang out softly and gently.

  “Do not be afraid.” The word rang out like both a command and a request. My heart that had been racing seemed eager to obey. My heart rate went from racing to slow but firm. I couldn’t help but wonder at the surreality, but I bowed to the angel and awaited his message. I couldn’t help the trembling that seemed to afflict my whole body. “You shall be entrusted with the grail and its contents to you. Take it, and when it is time, you will know what must be done.”

  The light faded, leaving me confused and nervous. Thinking back to all the mistakes I had made. My pride had caused so many disasters and the blood of the lives I had taken. I can’t help but wonder, why me? However, no answer came forth, only the soft dripping of water from a stalactite into the pool. I stepped forward and looked into the cup filled with a familiar red liquid, blood. Picking it up, I carefully store it somewhere I won't lose it, the void, but I make sure to keep it within the sanctuary instead of floating in the void with everything else. Once the grail is gone, the weight in the room seems to vanish. I take a breath and turn back towards the entry, following the guidance of the presence back.

  Fey Realm Assembly

  Luna and her sisters eagerly swarmed the skies outside the royal palace. Countless voices overlapped as their realm detached from the world they had previously been playing with. Most of the fairies present had stopped bothering to have fun with the local mortals because they had caught on to the mischievous maliciousness inherent to their kind. Any fairy can fly through the void between worlds, but the process is dangerous and not much fun. However, if any fairies found a world, so long as that world had a fairy in it, the queen could move the entire realm and link their world to the other. The queen stepped out onto her dais, and the fairies erupted in cheers. A wave of power emanates, silencing the fairies not in fear but reverence.

  Luna finally managed to find a spot just right to look through the crowd and see the queen. The queen stood as tall as a human, with a black dress and black hair that indicated at the moment she was in or would soon be in a foul mood. Luna shuddered in anger that all fairies felt seeing their queen upset. Light, airy colors meant the queen was happy, and the queen was rarely disturbed enough to take dark colors. After all, the queen had a whole realm of servants that eagerly served her, and when she was angry, black was reserved for her deepest wrath. Luna didn’t care what made the queen mad; her own colors shifted, matching those of the swarm. Her human appearance twisted into a bug-like shape, and her wings turned black. The smooth yet sharp and cold voice of the queen echoed over the silent mob.

  “A changeling in another realm intends to change herself into a mortal. I have seen that she will succeed.” She didn’t need to say another word for the swarm to understand. Betrayal of the queen, even for an ignorant changeling, was unacceptable. Had it just been intent to betray, the queen wouldn’t have bothered, at most shifting into a pink or light red. The issue was that the queen foresaw that the changeling would succeed. The wrath of the fey would descend on the whole world, but the parent of the changeling would be responsible for bringing enough suffering to the traitor to satisfy the queen. Luna buzzed with anticipation and righteous anger, waiting for the queen to continue. With uncanny accuracy, despite the millions of fairies, the queen's eyes snap directly to Luna.

  “Luna, your child is responsible.” Luna’s eyes widened in shock and sharpened in anger. The queen left without saying a word, and all of Luna’s friends fled from her. The shame of being the mother of a traitor was enough to drive her mad. She’ll be alone and mocked like all the other outcasts forevermore, but first she needed revenge. That child, whom she honestly had barely thought of and definitely didn’t care about, had done this to her.

  Matthew 26:28 ESV - "For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins"