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*****

"Warton!"

The Inquisitor took a step back from the door, his one human eye wide in shock for the briefiest of moments. Before a question could be formed, two demons sprang from behind him, jaws wide and red eyes gleaming at the opportunity. Harm and Yulanda both pushed past the Inquisitor, swinging their weapons at the demons.

Firefeather cut through the demon's neck and followed by a kick to the chest, sent the demon back against the metal wall. Sun Dancer wrapped around the other monster's neck and sent it crashing to the ground while snapping its neck. Harm ushered everyone back into the hanger before the explosion from the demons could take them both.

As he turned to Warton, he saw a brief flash of gratitude on the Inquisitor's face before it was replaced by the usual scowl.

"I never expected you to be here, Chronos."

"You clearly haven't read or seen any crime thrillers," Harm retorted with a sly smile. "The guilty always return to the scene of the crime. Right?"

The Inquisitor let out another scowl. "Is that an admission of guilt, Chronomancer?"

"I don't know. Am I guilty?"

Hatred for his misjudgement became the driving factor for Warton's scowl. Whatever bitterness he held for Harm faded as he turned towards the corrupted, demonic walls of the Sunspot. Black, fleshy growths had crawled all over the metal walls, pulsating with red, glowing veins. Horrible, red, slitted eyes grew from the flesh every so often, twitching towards Harm and the others.

"I am not dismissing your hand in this, Chronos," Warton growled. "But we have more pressing matters to attend to." His eye turned towards Roran and he lifted his gun-scythe towards the Tigris.

"What is the meeting of this!?" Roran demanded, raising his paws into the air.

"Your master has fallen to demonic corruption!"

The moment gripped the group in fear and shock. Roran's jaw dropped in shock and he immediately went into denial.

"No! Valk couldn't possibly be corrupted! He -"

Warton pressed the blade of his scythe against the Tigris' neck. Harm immediately crossed blades with him, sliding Firefeather against the shaft of the hybrid weapon and forcing it away. There was a moment where Warton regarded the fiery blade and then Harm with suspicion but he quickly turned his attention back to Roran. "He wanted nothing but revenge for his lost love. This entire Burning Rebellion was but a ploy to get blood for blood. Consider it well, Tigris, the man would lead countless non-humans to their doom, asking them to kill for him and give their souls to him while he professed unity. How does that not stink of demonic corruption?"

"I don't believe Valk is corrupt!"

"I have seen it with my own eyes!" Warton swung his blade towards the hallway. "At the bridge, the madman rests on the throne, spreading his dark corruption all over this ship! He slaughtered countless humans and turned them into demons! The non-humans he elevated to his own generals sent them rampaging through the other ships! Worse, the Custodia Solis under his command were truly demons and destroyed our defences from the inside!"

"The Solis were already corrupt before they got on the ship," Harm said, placing himself between the two. "If you had read my report thoroughly, I mentioned it was Gardon that I fought in the Void. If you hadn't been so eager to arrest me, you would have turned your eyes to the Solis instead of me."

Warton's eyes filled with that same hatred for the Chronomancer. "And you hadn't thought to mention this before?"

"I did mention it," came the calm answer. "In official report that I sent to you, Aria and Novallier. Isn't that how you learned I had entered the Void and thus arrested me? Besides, it isn't my job to push to Inquisition to do what it was created to do."

The Inquisitor flushed, taking a step back away from Harm. A flood of pride puffed out Roran's chest.

"But," Harm said, emphasising the word, "let's not forget that it was Valk who allowed these Solis to enter his inner circle and let's also not forget that he has been exposed to them for a while now. It is not above the realms of possibility that he too has been corrupted."

There, Roran deflated.

"Let's get to the truth of the matter," Harm insisted.

"You do not trust my word!?" Warton demanded incredulously.

"You were the one who had me 'interrogated' on the terms that I saved Clockwork from a demonic invasion. Anyone else would have thrown a parade. You had threatened to drive fiery drills into my eyes."

The Inquisitor stormed up to Harm, nose to nose with the Wulfun. "You are not above the law, Chronomancer." He reached into a compartment in his armour, drawing what appeared to a few, small metal eggs. The Inquisitor gave one to each of them. "Save your souls and the moment you feel yourselves slipping into the demonic corruption, twist the top half of these." His eye narrowed at Harm. "You are all still subject to inquest like anyone else on Tower Thirteen. A clean sacrifice might be preferable to being subject to our true wrath."

"And you too are subject to performance evaluations," he retorted. "I do hope your personal opinions do not continue to cloud your judgement lest you be throwing into the very same inquest you claim everyone must subject themselves to."

"Inquisitors and the Custodia Puria can never be corrupted by demons!"

"The same can be said of Chronomancers and yet here we stand with me bearing the memory of your interrogation."

Warton held his ground... for a few moments before he finally backed down and ducked his head very slightly. "I will not apologise."

"I never expected you to."

*****

The Sunspot's bridge was a miniature throne room. A long, wide corridor unfolded in front of them. Large, squat consoles were arranged like pews along a central aisle. Towering effigies of the Sun Goddess flanked the central aisle while the proud visage of the Brave Famer stood between them, burning sword raised. At the very end of the hallway was a raised dais where a high-backed throne sat. Corruption was everywhere. The evil of the demonic presence crawled all over the walls, consumed the consoles and twisted the statues into warped, horrific parodies of their divine originals.

Sitting on his blackened throne, scales jet-black from the corruption...

... was Valk.

"No..." Roran whispered softly, taking a step back like retreating through the door would make the horrific sight before him go away. "Valk... you can't be..."

Valk rose from his seat. Black, fleshy growths with red veins pulsating across its surface covered his body like terrible parasites that had latched onto his flesh. One such growth consumed the left side of his face and replaced his left eye with a twitching, red, slitted monstrosity. The bones in his wings had been replaced with the red, glowing spikes common to Agares' demons, the webbed membrane replaced with thin strands of black sinew. His ribcage seemed to have moved to the exterior of his body, wrapping around his chest like red, glowing armour.

In his hand was a dark, corrupted Alliance. The Valour - now a Sin - stood just as big as it was inactive but now had a swarm of small, black locusts swirling around it. The blade had become jet black, red veins pulsating over its surface while a fleshy growth merged it with Valk's arm. Instead of the pleasant sound of a thousand birds chirping musically, the locusts gave a chilling buzzing noise.

"Roran," Valk rumbled. His words were tainted by the voice of another. Merged with his usual baritone was a deep, gravelly rumble. Harm recognised it as the Demon Lord Agares' voice. "Come here, Roran. We can finally be together just as you wanted."

Harm was not the only one to press their hands against Roran's chest. Yulanda and even Warton pushed the Tigris back.

"Don't listen to him," the Wulfun warned. "His mind has been twisted by Agares' will."

The corrupt Valk threw his head back, laughing. "You do not understand much about 'demons' do you, Chronomancer? How long have you lived? How long have you thwarted my lord's attempts to enter Incendius? How can you not understand that to transform as Valour into a Sin, for a Paladin to 'fall', the host must be willing?"

"Valk would never willingly give into the demons!" Roran cried, tears were forming in his eyes.

"Then you clearly do not know me, Roran," Valk chuckled. He swept his merged blade through the air. "I fought for the freedom of our kind for Lusia and to see that all fall because of the incompetence of the human Inquisition?" The Draconis laughed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I have realised all to readily that non-humans can never be equal to humans. Not when we are so much better than them!"

Valk spread his wings, rising into the air from some unholy force without the need of wind or flapping. Deep rumbling and growls rose from behind the consoles. Clawed hands emerged from the shadows. Freshly made demons shambled out of their hiding places. One in particular made Yulanda weak.

"Father!"

Even through the blackened flesh, unholy red eyes and glowing red spikes, there was no mistaking the Apex Clericus Solis.

"The demons can help us achieve equality!" Valk roared, lifting his Sin into the air. "In their society, one is not measured by one's race, gender or species! One is judged by your ability alone!"

"And those too weak to rule are instead consumed," Warton retorted. "It is a society of equal rights until a tyrant rises!"

"But though one's body is consumed, one's soul is never lost in some undefinable afterlife!" The locusts around Alliance began to spread, seeping between the corrupted demons who had Novallier at their lead. "A soul is merely reincarnated into a weaker body! I will never have to lose anyone ever again!"

Harm readied Firefeather and he sensed both Warton and Yulanda draw their weapons. Daring a glance over his shoulder, he spied Roran was still in shock. Unable to spare a moment to think of the Tigris, he turned back towards the demonic Draconis.

"With the help of Lord Agares," Valk shouted, "I shall bring upon the ascension of all non-humans and we shall sweep across all of Tower Thirteen as one host, bringing low the tyrannical humans!" His Sin began to glow. Harm's flesh suddenly felt cold and a sickening feeling gripped his gut. "Consume them all, Discord!"

An enormous swarm of black locusts sprang from the corrupted blade. Valk seized the hilt of the weapon even as it merged with his flesh. He pulled upon it with his free hand, splitting the blade in two and wielding two equally titanic swords. Upon the activation cry of his Sin, the demons all sprang forward.

"Let none pass through heaven's gates, Firefeather!" Harm shouted, pressing his fiery blade against his forehead. Pillars of flame descended from the ceiling, forming a tight barrier in front of the incorrupt. Demons howled as they were consumed by the flames.

"Dimittis: Ignis."

The deep growl with a familiar tone spoke with authority. The curtain of fire withered and died, Novallier standing right before them.

"You are not my father!" Yulanda shouted, drawing her whip. "I am free, Sun Dancer!" White fire seeped down the length of the whip, bringing life to the weapon. On some will of its own, the whip lashed out and struck Novallier's face. The demon barely flinched instead giving Yulanda a horrific grin.

"You were always a disappointment."

"Need I tell you not to listen to him?" Harm asked.

Yulanda shook her head. "I know my father and that is but an empty husk!" Angrily, she shouted, "What about your family!? What about Tynvandar!? How could you allow yourself to fall so far!?"

The demon did not answer. It was only an extension of Valk's will and spoke only what Valk willed it to. It wore Novallier's face but little else.

"You can still try to save him," Harm suggested. "Absolving him will cure him of the demonic corruption if he is not too far gone."

She shook her head even as the demons slowly advanced. Harm and Yulanda who stood at the front of the group slowly backed away. "No. Even should I Absolve him, he will have been touched by demons. All that he has worked for, all that he has hoped to provide for myself and my family will have been for naught if he were to return marked. He would be impeached as Apex Clericus Solis and generations of my family's rule on the throne of Incendius will have been ruined." She shook her head one more time, this time with more conviction. "I cannot let that happen!"

Warton stormed forward, chest raised proud and his gun-scythe lifted. "To that we can agree! Incendius will not fall to you, demon!"

Harm let out a soft laugh and switched Firefeather to his right paw. "For Tower Thirteen. Fly, Firefeather!"

Bright, fiery, feathery wings sprang from his back, brushing back any demons trying to flank them. He launched himself into the air, wings flapping mightily. The demons below ignored him though Valk only smirked as they clashed blades. Behind him, gunfire from Warton's weapon carved through the demons. Yulanda swung Sun Dancer through the monsters, the white fire severing limbs with ease.

Harm swung Firefeather. Valk merely lifted one blade to block and thrust with his other. With his free paw, Harm seized the incoming sword and gave it a mighty tug. Even suspended by some mysterious force, Valk was unbalanced by the sudden movement. The look of surprise on Valk's face turned to one of pain the instant Harm's knee met with his muzzle. Before the demonic Draconis could reel back and get away, Harm clasped both his paws over Firefeather and slammed its pommel against the back of Valk's head. The blow cracked one of Valk's gnarled black horns and sent the Draconis crashing to the ground.

"Harm!"

He spun in the air as a black ball of flame hurled straight towards him. His wings instantly wrapped around him, filling his world with a feathery, fiery collage. The impact shook him even with the defensive wall. Black flames licked between the feathers. Harm dropped to the ground, spreading his wings wide and brushing back countless demons before they could pounce. Feathers sprang from his wings, moulting rapidly and spinning around him like a firestorm. They embedded themselves into any demons that dared to get close, violently exploding and causing severe injuries.

A loud buzzing noise filled his ears and he instantly dove into the midst of the demons, ducking between their legs. Behind him, a swarm of locusts sped by, tearing through those demons too slow to get out of the way. He swung Firefeather, tearing through the legs of the monsters around him. One demon screamed and toppled to the ground. Harm scampered over its falling body and leapt into the air, vaulting well past the rest of the group.

To his right, he could see Warton swinging his scythe and retreating back into the hallway as the demons' numbers pushed both him and Roran back. It filled him with some relief that Roran had drawn his bow and was fighting back but the look in the Tigris' eyes was still one of doubt. Not too far from them, Yulanda was pirouetting quickly, leaping over demons that would have her head and punishing them with a fiery whip that cut through flesh.

Satisfied, Harm lifted his sword into the air. "Rise forth -"

WHAM!

A heavy weight struck his side, pushing the breath right out of him. His head slammed hard against a nearby statue of the Sun Goddess and a moment later, the ground gave a metallic clang as he struck it. Valk stood over him. Even through the dizzying stars that flashed over his vision, he could make out the smirk on the corrupt Draconis' face. A foot pressed against his throat, blocking all air.

"I shall have blood for blood," Valk rumbled. "I will enjoy turning those responsible for my Lusia's death into demonic shadows of their vices. I shall savour devouring their bodies and making their power my own over and over and over again until I am strong enough to take all of Tower Thirteen by storm!"

The Draconis leaned forward, smirking maniacally. "When I devour Lumire's soul, I shall be sure to make you watch as he screams for your aid, Chronomancer!"

Harm lifted Firefeather only for Valk's other foot to slam down on his wrist, forcing him to let go of the blade.

"No, no," Valk warned, wagging a finger at him. "You shall sit by as my demons devour your allies."

"Just who is talking?" Harm sneered. "Valk or Agares?"

"Does it matter?"

Harm's eyes narrowed. "Yeah. I'd like to know the name of the fool that got close enough to the 'great Harm to Time'!" With his free paw, Harm seized the foot that Valk used to choke him slowly. Final Hour kicked in almost instantly and Valk howled in agony as he leapt back. He stared at his foot in horror as his corrupt clothing began to blacken and turn to dust. Even his flesh began to be eaten away by the power of Chronomancy.

Harm felt his strength renewed rapidly and he leapt to his feet, snatching Firefeather off the ground. "Firefeather! Open heaven's gates and send forth your blades of justice to purge the world of evil with cleansing fire!"

A carpet of flame consumed the entire ceiling. Demons paused to gape at the sight even as arrows from Roran tore through their bodies and gunfire from Warton ripped them to shreds. From the flames, fiery tips began to emerge. The tips developed quickly into full lengths blades with the hilts of swords following shortly after. Hundreds of fiery swords hung precariously above the demons who were all too foolish to run.

Only when they began to fall did the demons turn to flee.

By then, it was far too late.

The blades cut into flesh and barred the path of others. Demons screamed and exploded in rapid succession, bringing a roar of frustration from Valk.

Harm felt his strength drained momentarily but with the rapid flood of Time from Valk, it was only very short lived. He turned to the demonic Draconis who had lost his entire left foot and was now hobbling back, swinging his twin blades.

"I shall not be defeated!" Valk roared. "My cause is just! Demons, like non-humans, are an oppressed people!" Locusts came swarming in from all directions. They surrounded Harm in a tight circle, enough to almost block out all light. Their buzzing nearly drowned out Valk's voice as the Draconis shouted, "Why ally with the Church when we can unite all the oppressed in the world!?"

"Fly, Firefeather."

Fiery wings sprang out from Harm's back but the locusts just widened their circle, still effectively trapping him.

"You should be joining us, Chronos! Like the demons, your people were cast down by the Church for no other reason than existing!"

He heard Warton and Yulanda shouting for him to ignore Valk's words.

"Imagine the power we would have together, Chronos! Imagine your people resurrected to their former glory! You would no longer have to be alone in this world!"

Harm could only smile at those words. He swung his free paw lazily through the air. The feathers of his wings sprang out from him, embedding themselves into the locusts around him. They exploded a moment later, pushing back the black, metal insects and throwing them all across the bridge and wreathing him in thick smoke. As the smoke cleared, Harm stepped towards Valk whose entire lower half of his left leg had turned to dust.

"The Chronomancers were attempting conquest, Valk. They would deprive every one of the cardinal power of choice. If you were to resurrect them, even the demons would not be able to maintain their own freedom." He pointed at Valk's rapidly disintegrating leg. "Imagine thousands of people able to do that. With but a simple touch, they could obliterate entire armies. They are practically immortal, can pause time to deal a death blow even before you knew the battle started and stop your heart by simply holding it in Time while the rest of your body dies from lack of blood.

"The Chronomancers deserved to be obliterated."

"Harm!"

Pain exploded from his chest, into his right lung. Blood rapidly filled his throat and burst out of his muzzle. A fiery, curved blade sprang from his torso and when he glanced over his shoulder, he spied the corrupted Novallier grinning at him wickedly with a fiery glaive in his hands..

"Then you shall be forever alone, Chronos," Valk rumbled, confidence returning to his voice. Slowly, he rose back into the air. Harm tried to pull himself from the blade but another blade jabbed into the base of his spine, instantly destroying his ability to walk.

"Chronos!"

Harm turned as a golden blade flung through the air. He snatched Timekeeper from the air and quickly latched its golden chain to his belt. Then, he flung the golden blade backwards, feeling it stab into Novallier's chest. He yanked at the blade, hurling it back into his grip.

Then he threw it back again.

And again...

... and again...

... and again!

Novallier's grip finally slackened and Harm dropped to the ground as the corrupted priest staggered back, black blood seeping from all over his body. Still, the man was far from finished as his red eyes flashed with rage.

"Nova Supremis."

Harm's heart instantly seized up as a black sphere of flame appeared in both of Novallier's palms. The fiery balls sprang up in front of the Apex Clericus Solis and orbited one another in a dizzying dance. Heat began to emanate from the two, rising to unbearable levels within just a few seconds. The air began to ripple and black flames coursed through the air in swirling patters. Harm shuffled away as much as he could but a fiery ball was quickly forming in front of Novallier.

"Even though all these people died in your attack," Valk bellowed, swinging his blades towards the remains of the demons and Harm's fiery swords, "they will return in the Void, only to invade once more! They are never alone! No demon is ever alone! And despite your efforts, we number in the thousands even now!"

Demons continued to harass Warton and Yulanda, pushing them further and further away from Harm. Their numbers seemed inexhaustible.

"This is how the world should be!" Valk shouted, lifting his arms into the air as he hovered a few feet from the ground. "Free of remorse, free of a tyrannical government based on an intangible concept such as faith and based entirely on one's strength!"

"Wait!"

The entire bridge seemed to freeze.

Valk froze. Even Novallier's spell seemed to stop even as the heat continued to mount.

Harm craned his neck and spied Roran standing behind Valk, arrow levelled at the Draconis' head. Taking this advantage, Harm yanked the glaive and sword from his body, gasping in pain as blood spurted out of his wounds. Novallier tried to accelerate the spell but -

"That means you too, Harm!"

That surprised the Wulfun. "Roran..."

"Valk," Roran said, lowering his bow.

"What are you doing!?" Warton shouted.

"Roran!" came Yulanda's cry.

"You just want to avenge Lusia's death no matter what, don't you?" the Tigris asked softly. "And I just want to be with you." His eyes went to Harm, eyes filled with apology. "Take me. But leave the rest of them."

Valk's smirk was cruel and with his back turned to Roran, there was no way the Tigris could see it. "And why would I not take you all when I can do so easily?"

"Because I know you wouldn't do that. Deep down, I know you still believe everyone deserves to be free. That is what Lusia would have wanted. At least give them a few moments of peace before they are at peace."

That smirk did not vanish. "You are so naïve."

Valk spun around with inhuman speed, piercing Roran's gut with both his blades. Harm wasn't sure if he cried out or not but he definitely heard Yulanda and Warton both shout in shock. The Draconis smirked even though Roran showed no surprise on his eyes.

"I guess I am..." Roran whispered, blood slowly seeping out from the corner of his muzzle. Slowly, he lifted the metal egg-like device he had been gripping in his right paw. "... but you don't know me, Valk. You never did."

"Roran!" That time, Harm was sure he had been the one to cry out.

The grenade exploded, consuming both Valk and Roran in a blinding conflagration. The flame was enchanted and it glowed white, forming the insignia of the Inquisition before unleashing a withering blast of white light that sent everyone to their knees. Even Novallier was thrown back, the fiery Nova Supremis had had been conjuring washed away by the light.

Harm pressed his head against the ground, blocking out the light and snarling to himself. As he felt sensation return to the lower half of his body, he pushed himself up to his paws and knees, crawling over to the blistering fire that continued to burn with the ferocity of the sun. It took an entire minute before the flames died and the light with it.

Slowly, he lifted his eyes towards explosion site.

Black tendrils slammed against his muzzle, hurling him aside. Screams and roars of protest erupted from all over the bridge. The black, slimy tendrils curled around the remaining demons including Novallier and dragged them across the metal floor to the blast site. A sickening sound like flesh squirming hit his ears. As the stars vanished from his eyes, a gasp escaped from his muzzle. Warton's strong hands pulled him to his feet.

In front of them stood a twitching mound of black, slimy flesh pulsating with Agares' trademark red veins. The disgusting blob seemed to have merged with the rest of the corruption on the bridge. Red spikes grew out of multiple segments and two, grotesquely large, scaly arms sprang from its sides clutching large blades that appeared like Discord - Alliance as a Sin. A thousand eyes littered its mass, fanged lips scattered on its flesh. Valk's corrupted wings sprang out from near its top while two limp arms sprang just beneath it, looking suspiciously like Novallier's.

"Demons," Warton growled. "They just never die!"

Harm glanced at his two swords, Timekeeper and Firefeather. He closed his eyes for a moment. His paws gripped the blades tightly and he straightened, staring straight at the monstrosity in front of him.

"You want your equality?" he asked softly. Then in a rising voice, he shouted, "Earn it!"

The mouths all over the creature's body spewed out black locusts in a terrible swarm. They bolted straight for the trio. Harm shouted a command to Firefeather and a curtain of fire descended from the ceiling, barring their path. The twin arms wielding Discord swiped at the flames, exhausting them and the locusts burst through only to rip through air.

A whip wreathed in white fire curled around the right arm and with surprising strength, Yulanda drove the sword straight into the blog of flesh. An ear-splitting roar cut through the air. The locusts instantly made a beeline for her. Warton was instantly there, clutching her tightly as hidden compartments on the back of his power armour sprang open to reveal jet packs. He bolted away, zooming across the bridge faster than the locusts could catch.

The two arms on top of the monster began to weave themselves in arcane symbols. Black fireballs sprang up all around the bridge, forming the ominous beginnings of a Nova Supremis. As they grew into enormous balls of flame as large as a horse, their writhing flames suddenly stopped. Harm leapt from his hiding place and struck one of the balls with Firefeather. The flame hurled straight at the monster, exploding violently and singing the black flesh to reveal the pulsating, corrupt muscle beneath. Harm danced from magical flame to another, sending the conjuration back at its source.

The locusts instantly changed tact, shooting towards him instead. At the same time, the two arms swiped at Yulanda and Warton. The Inquisitor dropped Yulanda away from the reach of the arms and bolted at the creature. As the two arms came crashing down on top of him, he abruptly jerked to the left, dodging the attack by just the width of a hair. His gun-scythe was instantly in his hands and he turned it towards the wrist of the closest arm, unleashing a withering fire that severed hand from arm.

Another deafening roar but not more when Sun Dancer came lashing out to seize the freed copy of Discord. The Valour picked up the weapon with frightening ease and drove it straight back into the monster's flesh, right between the mockeries of her father's arms.

At the far end of the bridge, Harm spun as the locusts quickly had him cornered. He smirked and paused time before he could be swarmed. The Wulfun ran past them and let time resume. The locusts merely embedded themselves into the wall, unaware of where he had gone.

"Yulanda! Warton!" he shouted, running straight towards the corrupted blob of flesh. They instantly understood his intention. Yulanda retrieved the egg-shaped grenade from her pocket and hurled it straight at him. Warton raced up beside him, giving a firm nod. The Inquisitor took the lead, sliding in front of him and cupping his hands together. Harm vaulted off the Inquisitor's joined hands, spinning through the air and throwing his swords at the demonic blob.

As he reached the zenith of his rise, he snatched Yulanda's grenade from the air and planted his foot on Timekeeper which stood firmly embedded in the blob. He reached for Firefeather which hung above him and pulled himself up with one arm, using the momentum to launch himself off to a running start up the blob's slick surface. Locusts came screaming in from all directions but withering gunfire from Warton shattered their formation.

Harm's instincts screamed. A quick glance to his left and his fears were confirmed. A massive, black blade was rising towards him, barrelling at him with bladed edge gleaming for his blood. He picked up his speed, hurrying towards the summit where the other blade opened a gaping wound through the black flesh.

He made to freeze time when a white whip lashed through the air and seized the bulk of the enormous, jet blade. Sun Dancer yanked the sword right out of the beast's hands and swung it viciously through the air. The swarm of locusts buzzing around them were knocked aside, clearing the air in one fell swoop. Yulanda gave a mighty cry and drove the blade straight into the blob just above Harm.

The Chronomancer sprang onto the blade, placing his feet firmly against its flat side and launched off. He soared over the gaping maw, yanking out Yulanda's grenade and giving it the one twist it needed to activate. A deafening series of buzzing noises hit his ears and before he could flinch, locusts came surging out of the wound, tearing into his flesh and ripping the grenade from his grip. Pain exploded from around his eyes and all he saw was darkness.

"You have failed for centuries to bar my passing into this Station. Your efforts are in vain."

Gone was Valk's voice. Only Agares' gravelly voice filled the emptiness.

Harm found the strength to open his eyes and found himself floating in an all-consuming darkness. Somehow, his feet pressed against a surface, keeping him upright. The voice of Agares came from all directions and it was impossible to tell where the Demon Lord resided.

"Foil one plot and sure as the sun will rise, another will come. I will continue to weave my webs until I gain entrance into this Station!"

"And sure as the sun will set every day, I will thwart you," Harm answered. Every movement brought a fresh wave of pain as his wounds from the locusts took its toll. Recovery was slow but he managed to remain standing.

"You speak with confidence now but even are just mortal. Your heart carries remorse and guilt. I suffer from no such burden. In the centuries to come, you shall hold the deaths of the countless you have failed to save over your head!"

Blinding pain exploded from his right shoulder. A trail of fire danced away from his wound coming to stop a few short feet away. The flames coalesced into the shape of a fiery glaive. Novallier's face was illuminated by the red light, free of corruption but fuelled by hatred.

"You failed to save me, Chronos," Novallier accused. "How can you claim to do what is for right for all of Tower Thirteen when you cannot save the crown of one of its Stations!?"

The Apex Clericus Solis sprang forth, plunging his glaive into Harm's chest. The Chronomancer took the blow, his entire body shuddering from the impact. Blood exploded out of Harm's muzzle, tainting the white fur covering his face. He felt hot breath on his nose and when he looked up, Valk's eyes stared back at him, twisting the glaive painfully.

"You swore to protect me as one of my personal guards," the Draconis sneered. "And you betrayed me. Worse yet, you did not even have the courage to apologise." He drove the glaive deeper, forcing Harm's entire body to bend back from the blow.

Harm gagged, his vision momentarily consumed by black. Then, twin points of soft, sky blue light pierced the darkness, glazed by hatred. Roran gripped his chin, forcing them to lock gazes with one another.

"I gave my heart to you," the Tigris sneered. "You pushed me away for a doomed world? Is not one lifetime of love and affection worth an eternity of pain and fighting?"

The Wulfun could not help but laugh. In the darkness, his laughter echoed. Even after a few short bursts he had to spit a wad of blood aside, he continued to laugh.

"How can you find this so humorous?" Agares sneered. "Do these people's deaths not burden your heart?"

Harm lost his laughter, staring into the eyes of the Roran-shaped image. "I do not bear my guilt with shame. I hold myself accountable for everything that I have done be it wrong or right." Finding strength returning to his arms, he lifted his paw and seized the glaive though the touch of the weapon burned his flesh. "I choose to do what no one else on Tower Thirteen dares. I choose to stand amongst the hated, wear the crown of the damned and suffer the wrath of my fellows just so that I can preserve the essential peace of this world!"

His other paw, lashed out, seizing the glaive and pulling it deeper into himself and forcing the 'Roran' to draw closer. Even as the frighteningly similar image tried to pull the glaive away, Harm held firm to the weapon.

"Every life lost," he growled through gnashed fangs, "every dream shattered and every future unfulfilled I bear personally so that I can find a path that is even better!" He pulled the glaive deeper until he was nose to nose with Roran. "I bear my guilt with pride. Can you?"

The fiery glaive suddenly began to lose its glow. Where Harm's paws touched, the flames died, turning to black and fading into dust. Roran tried to pull free but a soundless scream came from his throat as his entire body began to wither. Lush, orange fur faded into grey and then into white before being blown aside by some mysterious wind. Skin blackened and blew away flake by flake. Harm stared impassively as the Tigris fell to the might of his Final Hour. The darkness around him began to crack, light spilling through the breaks.

"A warrior without guilt is one to be feared..." Agares rumbled. "But you are mortal still. There are other paths to weaken your resolve."

Harm fell to his knees, letting out a soft chuckle as the glaive disintegrated. He fell onto his side, smiling quietly to himself and closing his eyes for a brief moment.

"And you, Agares, are a Demon Lord. You're predictable."

*****

A shout jarred him awake.

Harm opened his eyes, wincing as the light from several Solamps flashed before his vulnerable retinas. As he gazed through the flashing lights and dancing stars, he could make out the faint outlines of two women and one broadly built male.

"See? He's perfectly fine!"

The voice belonged to Yulanda.

"The girl speaks true," came Warton's rumble. "Leave him be."

A loud huff came from elsewhere and as Harm's vision cleared he became aware of a fourth person dressed in the power armour of the Inquisition turn and storm out of what must have been some form of living quarters. He was unsure where he was but his lavished surrounding suggested somewhere expensive.

"I don't suppose I died, did I?" he asked, groaning as he propped himself up. A wince sprang from his muzzle as he realised his right arm was in a sling.

"That would be far too easy," Aria Valkyrie responded, her features as impassive as ever. "No. You were simply disintegrated by a holy hand grenade and alongside the writhing mass of what used to be Valk possessed by the Demon Lord Agares."

Yulanda knelt down next to him, the red and gold pauldron on her left shoulder glimmering in the light. She took his hand, holding it tightly as she said, "We feared you had fallen to corruption. You were mostly whole but hadn't awoken yet. Inquisitors were swarming to have your body purged."

Harm's eyes travelled to Warton who stood farther away from him than the others.

The Inquisitor let out a begrudging grunt. "You will be happy to know I had my fill of tormenting you. After seeing the lengths you would go for the world, I am inclined to give you leniency. This once."

"And here I was looking forward to having my skin crawling with thousands of fiery spiders again," Harm muttered, rubbing the back of his head with his free paw. "I don't suppose my ploy worked, did it?"

"Agares stopped you from throwing the grenade into his insides," Yulanda responded. "But it did detonate close enough that he was beyond recovery."

Harm frowned lightly and shifted his gaze from Aria, to Yulanda and then to Warton. He could not shake the feeling that another should be there with them but he kept his council. "And the rest of Incendius?"

"Shaken by Valk's corruption," Aria responded sternly. "The Justitae Ignibus and the Estuans Oculusi willingly threw themselves at the Inquisition's feet for fear of further corruption." The cynical smile she threw at Warton spoke volumes of her opinions. "It seems they preferred the harsh hand of the Inquisition to the dark embrace of demons."

"Your comment is duly noted, Templar," Warton answered. His one human eye turned towards Harm. "Valk has been blamed for the entire affair. There is now no doubt that the corruption stemmed from him." He nodded towards Yulanda. "If this 'Dawn's Champion' truly had been corrupt from the start as we were led to suspect, then the troops sent to kidnap Yulanda and Tynvandar would have had the stink of demonic taint on them. They did not. That the corruption tool hold of Gardon who was lost in the first protest only adds further suspicion on Valk and with so much evidence against him already, he has been pinned as the mastermind of this whole Burning Rebellion."

Harm lowered his head slightly. "But you don't believe that, do you?"

"I still believe you have a hand in this, Chronos," the Inquisitor growled. Then his eyes went towards Aria. "Though I do not think you are the only one. Nevertheless, I doubt we will ever know the truth. The Inquisition discerns the truth until all corruption is rooted out and the threat to the Church is averted."

Harm smiled, letting out a soft laugh that hurt his ribs but was well worth it. "Does that mean you don't think I am a threat to the Church, Inquisitor?"

Warton gave him a cynical smile in return. "That remains to be determined." He nodded towards Aria and Yulanda. "By your leave, Lady Templar. Paladin."

He turned, his heavy boots carrying him out of the chambers.

Only as the doors shut did Harm take stock of Warton's parting words. He turned to Yulanda and truly recognised the Paladin's pauldron Yulanda wore.

"You're a Paladin!" he exclaimed.

She seemed a little surprised at the proclamation and regarded her pauldron, grinning broadly and smiling back at him. "Lady Valkyrie vouched for my candidacy and arranged for my brother to take the mantle of Apex Clericus Solis. I am to be his advisory and regent until he comes of age but I will also be studying under the Acadaemia Militares!"

Regarding Aria and the impassive features she wore, Harm had the sneaking suspicion this was far from an accident or a particularly clever political manoeuvre. She returned his gaze for a long moment, amethyst eyes locked with golden.

Then...

... she winked.

Smiling, he turned back to Yulanda, squeezing her hand tightly. "I'm proud of you. You really out did yourself back on the Sunspot. Not many newly inducted Paladins can claim to have faced a Demon Lord and lived."

Yulanda leaned over and gave him a tight hug. "I owe you much of my progress." As she pulled away, she gaze at Aria and gave her a nod. "Both of you I owe." Her eyes dropped, a note of sadness entering her voice. "I can only wish Roran could be here to celebrate. It was through our teamwork attempting to outdo you, Lord Harm, that I grew so strong."

Harm gently patted her cheek, grinning broadly. "Hey, don't dwell on what could have been and what never can be. Time flows in one direction. It's best just to sit down and enjoy the ride. After all, if you look back too often, you'll never know where you're going and where you are."

Beaming, Yulanda gave him a firm nod.

Shaking his sling and feeling the bones already resetting themselves, he said, "Why don't I meet you at the usual spot for a sparring match? I'd like to see just how much you've grown in the..." He gazed at Aria for an answer.

"Three months," the Angel supplied.

"Three months that I've been out."

A confident smirk on her features and her red and black Paladin's cloak unfurling as she stood, Yulanda said, "Perhaps there is something I could teach you."

"Never too old to learn."

With those words, Yulanda placed a light peck on Harm's cheek and bolted out of the chambers.

The instant the door shut, Harm let out a soft laugh and turned his gaze towards Aria. "This is what you wanted, isn't it?"

The Angel remained stiff and emotionless as she said, "This was simply the best course of action in my opinion. Yulanda desired to be free by obtaining Paladin status so proving to the world on a grand stage that she was capable of combatting the evil of the world while working with a firm heart and strong conviction is proof enough."

"And Valk's corruption? I don't suppose you planned for that too, did you?"

"It was a likely possibility," she responded with a dismissive shrug. "I sensed from an early moment that Valk's intentions were far from noble and bearing a Valour while having such malicious thoughts would attract demons to him." Her eyes narrowed at him. "I am unsure if you were aware of that fact. However, when the demons attacked you at the first summit, I had no doubt Valk would have become a target."

Harm shuffled in his bed, swinging his feet around the edge with his back to Aria. The Sun Spire's light shone in from the distance through the broad windows. Velvety drapes swung gently in the breeze. "You could have stopped him."

"Valk, Lusia and even Roran all wanted to be free in their own right. Lusia was perhaps the only one of the trio to want freedom for non-humans. Valk only wanted to be free of his guilt from having done nothing at Lusia's death and Roran... I believe he wanted to be free to love Valk without fear of being rejected."

"He loved Valk to the very end" Harm lowered his head, regarding the place where the fiery glaive had pierced his chest. "Even if it was only his memory."

"The only place they could truly be free together is in death. Valk is blamed for the Rebellion and Roran praised as a martyr for his kind, gaining some leniency towards judgement of non-humans. I doubt either case matters in the eyes of the Mother Goddess."

"And how do you justify the countless people that died due to Valk's corruption on the Sunspot and the five other ships?"

Even without looking at her, Harm could tell that Aria was smiling. "I am quite proud of that." She moved around the bed until she stood silhouetted by the light. "Regardless of Valk's true intentions, his Rebellion had a point. We are treating non-humans as second class citizens. The first summit was evidence of this. So many nobles threw such malicious stares at Valk and even those who supported his cause were paralysed by fear and cowardice."

"So you plotted to have them all obliterated."

"The world saw them for what they were," she answered. "Now, the next generation may guide Incendius to a better future. Tynvandar will usher in a change for equality on this Station and with luck, it will be a shining example to the rest of Tower Thirteen."

Harm rose to his feet. He came to stand beside Aria, peering north towards the Sun Spire.

"Are you angry?" Aria asked. "Disgusted at my machinations?"

"Disappointed," he answered, a smile on his muzzle. "Disappointed that I didn't come up with such a brilliant plan." He turned away, his scarf billowing out behind him as he tore off his sling and tossed it aside. "Then again, I never make plans."

He felt Aria's gaze on him as he picked up Timekeeper from where it sat at the foot of his bed and tucked it into his pocket.

"You just make people think you have plans."

_ _

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths,

But the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands

• Anne Frank

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The Burning Rebellion: For the Child