Ruinous Return

This was taken the wrong way by the three Duskari present, who cowered in fear. Lyn shook her head, "Where are these heroes now?" she growled. Her own voice shocked her – the bright, enchanting voice that came out of her was sinister, and sounded like the growl of the Demonic Dragon.

Vael spoke – muffled slightly by the rugs she had bowed down into. "I don\'t know, my Lord. We were following your orders-"

"-We were ordered by you to stay within our Conclave," Velenna interrupted. "Our scouts do not range past the mountains to the South."

"And" Bhelarm added, "We have been kept from leaving the vale for the past seven years, ever since the Berserker hero began raiding the nearby Duskari Conclaves."

Kory stuck around? That gave Lyn a slight spark of hope. He might not be the smartest of the bunch, having been a meathead before they were summoned and having only had that effect amplified as the mana core spurred on his physicality. But he had one of the hardest minds to trick with illusions and mental fuckery spells. He might remember me. The prospect of going to see one of her friends and find out what happened was enticing. But I can\'t go and find him like this. He\'d kill me on sight.

"Your…grace?" Lyn looked down at Vael. "Do you want me to read the second report?"

Lyn nodded, "Yes."

"Since your demise, the Duskari have lessened in number due to this Berserker hero\'s raids with a force of mercenaries. But there is some good news. The other, lesser Ari have had a population surge. And better news, is that the various kingdoms are at war with each other."

Makes sense, Lyn thought. The Demonic Dragon was a constant presence that unified the kingdoms against it. With the common enemy gone, the different countries would turn to infighting. That type of chaos would be perfect to let me travel and find the heroes. She knew that if she acquired a magical item – such as a cloak of disguises – or if her mana core was good at illusion spells…she could put on her old face and body. She would have to test out the capabilities of this mana core once she let her mana channels heal. "What of my equipment?"

Bhelarm raised his head slightly, and when Lyn gestured it was okay, he sat up the whole way. "We do not know, your mightiness."

"Then where did you get this?" Lyn asked, holding the amulet up.

Vehenna looked up, and seeing Bhelarm and Vael sitting up once more, sat upright herself before addressing the question. "From a prepared container. A metal box with a spell cast over it. You had inscribed upon the top of it these words. \'If I should ever perish, this box will open. When I return, give the item inside to me, lest the world burn.\'"

So, the Demonic Dragon knew that it would come back. That went counter to everything Lyn was told when the heroes were summoned. She recalled vividly the old archmage who was responsible for summoning them in the first place. His wizened, wispy voice was unforgettable as the High School Seniors stood, naked and confused, in a huge arcane circle in a castle. "You twenty heroes have been summoned to Ghomar to defeat the Demonic Dragon. Do this, and you will be hailed as heroes. If you die in this endeavor, you will be returned home – unharmed." That was a lie, Lyn thought as the memory continued. "Defeat the Demonic Dragon, end the cycle of heroes, and be remembered as legends!"

Nothing that old geezer said mentioned anything about the Demonic Dragon coming back. The fact that the villain had a plan already in place for when it would return told Lyn volumes – they hadn\'t heard the whole story. She felt a sense of trepidation wash over her as a thought raced through her mind. What if forcing my way back here is going to start it all over again? All of the chaos, the bloodshed…the violence. She wasn\'t averse to violence – on Earth she sought it out with roller derby. A way to vent her frustrations with her shitty home life. Hell, right now? She wanted to obliterate someone. No, she feared the return of the memories from before she was battle-hardened. The ones that scarred her psyche, that she pushed back.

Her emotions must have been writ on her face, as the three elders spoke in hushed tones with each other, bringing her out of the reverie. "Your mightiness," Vehenna stated. "We will do whatever you wish. But, as your memories are yet to return, may I offer advice?"

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Lyn nodded, "Yes." She kept her voice level and firm. She had to keep the façade going that she was this Destroyer. Even if she didn\'t intend to be a Destroyer, she had to play the role. It\'s my best option right now.

"Rest. We will bring what body enhancing potions and salves we have in our possession. Recover. And use the time recovering to re-learn written Arinol."

It\'s the best plan for the time being Lyn thought. "I appreciate your wise council. Whom among you is the most capable at teaching language?"

"That would be me," Velenna stated. "When do you wish to start your lessons?"

"Tomorrow," Lyn said. Let\'s see if this jogs anything loose. "I have another question. A name sticks out to me in my memories. Someone named Lyn Rivers. Do any of the reports mention that name?"

Vael looked through the scrolls rapidly, shaking her head, "No, my Lordship."

Not even my name survived. Just a humanoid blot in memory and written history. That should mean I don\'t have to use a fake name. In fact, using her real name would be ideal. If it spread, then the other heroes might hear it. She hoped they had not lost their memories as well. Thomas, at the very least, would never have forgotten. As the Knowledge hero, he never forgot anything. No spell could force it out of his brain. I\'ll have to find him as soon as I can.

"I wish to go to my chambers," Lyn said. "That name must have a purpose. I shall use it. Lyn Rivers, or Lady Rivers, is what you shall refer to me as." She smiled, "Lady Rivers, the Destroyer." Yeah, that has a pretty epic ring to it.

"Of course!" Vael said, shooting upright and bowing deeply before extending a helping hand. Lyn took that hand and leaned on Vael for support. "Your Lordship\'s-er, Ladyships\' chambers are this way."

As Vael helped her along the halls, Lyn was shown reverence by those Duskari that they passed. People who bowed and threw themselves onto the floor. "Why am I so revered?" Lyn muttered to Vael. "I sought the destruction of all."

"You are the one who saved us."

"Come again?"

"You saved the Duskari. Shall I advise Valenna to also review the histories of our people?"

"Yes. I need to understand." Plus, Lyn thought. They don\'t seem to be a nihilistic death-cult worshipping destruction. The heroes were told when they arrived that the Duskari craved the destruction of everything, hence their worship of the Demonic Dragon. If they were just a misunderstood enemy. There\'s more to this we didn\'t know.

Vael blushed, "Of course, your Lord-er, Ladyship. If…"

"Ask what you want," Lyn said, rapidly warming up to the idea of being an object of worship.

"Why choose Lady Rivers as a name? Why not Lord?"

Lyn chuckled, and her own voice once more entranced her with how cute it was. "Do I look like a man?" Keep the ruse going. They think you\'re the Demonic Dragon come back. "Maybe in a past life I was a man, in my former existence as a dragon."

"A wise move, Lady Rivers," Vael said. "But if I may be so bold to ask-"

"Just ask. I\'m not one for decorum."

"Ye-Yes ma\'am. Why did you reincarnate as a Duskari? You were a true dragon last time who took mortal form when it suited you."

Lyn stared down the tunnel, and half-answering the question, half-asking herself, replied, "Who says I\'m not a true dragon?" For all I know, I could be. A true dragon was the most powerful type of dragonkin. Not a dumb wyvern that had the intelligence of a hawk. Not a wyrm that carved its home inside the mountains as an enormous lizard. Not a regular dragon that could talk and hoarded wealth, but only valued greed. No, a true dragon was one that stood at the pinnacle of Ghomar\'s various creatures. One capable of destroying kingdoms on their own, and who were both nuanced and could shapeshift into humanoid form. Maybe I can turn into one.

They arrived at an ornate pair of wooden doors inlaid with gold. Vael pulled out a small, gold key and fit it into the lock. She pushed it open, and Lyn had to take a sharp inhale at the sheer opulence that she was greeted with. The chambers put the most ornate mansion she had ever seen on social media to shame. No single kingdom could hold a candle to the wealth on display. The whole room was covered in gemstones – the walls a dark, black granite with embedded rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. The floor was naught but ornate, herringbone tiles of alternating silver and gold plates. A series of doors led off from the room, but in the center was a prominent bed; the biggest she\'d ever seen.

And it was dusty.

Vael growled, "If you\'ll excuse me, Lady Rivers. I\'ll go and get this cleaned up." She gently set Lyn in a chair before turning back to the room. Exhaling, Vael raised a hand, and the air around them thrummed with power. "En ethiel an le / thalion min / estelio i aearwain / a glanno iathad / a estelio hain parv sui i anarr." A globule of water manifested in her hand before it flattened into a disc, and finally dispersed into a fine mist that fell upon every surface.

Lyn could see the dust and other detritus being sucked up by the watery mist before it lifted, returned to Vael\'s hand, compressed into a sphere of water, and she grabbed it. Stepping back into the hallway, she threw it with a sploosh before returning to Lyn. "There we go. Let\'s get you to bed."

"Hold on," Lyn muttered. "Is there a mirror?"

Vael nodded, "I believe so, Lady Rivers. None have entered your chambers since you were lost to us." She led Lyn to one of the side-chambers, and an enormous walk-in closet spread in front of them. All manner of clothing was present from fashions all across Ghomar. Was this guy just a fashion-fan, or was he using this to infiltrate and spy on the kingdoms? The end had a large mirror that went from floor to ceiling, and standing in front of it, Lyn finally could take in her whole, new physique.

It was petite like she thought. Her face was pixie-esque. Her hair was white, long, and wild. Despite her slim nature, she was decently endowed for her body mass. Score, she thought. She would be able to use her womanly charms to get people to do what she wanted – just like she did back on Earth, and in her time on Ghomar. What stood out the most though was Bhelarm\'s comment about her eyes.

Lyn had piercing, blue eyes just like a calm lake – a more vibrant version of her eyes from Earth. But inside there were flickers of flames, like the blue flames that entranced her in chemistry labs back in 11th grade. They danced within her iris. No longer the prismatic flecks of a hero core…this was another indicator that she was something else entirely. "Okay, I\'m satisfied."

Vael nodded and helped Lyn to the bed. "I must rest, your Ladyship. Would you like a servant present?"

Lyn nodded as she laid on the luxuriously soft bed and her head sank into the amazing pillows. "Yes, please. Someone who is capable of water spells like yourself, or some other way to contain my power should I need to release it."

Vael nodded, "I\'ll get my brother Gael." She bowed deeply and left.

Lyn finally laid back the whole way and her breath caught in her throat – there was a huge mirror hidden in the canopy above the bed. So, this guy liked to watch himself. Kinky. She chuckled and shuffled her way under the covers, succumbing to the soft embrace of sleep.