Utterly Mad

All the while Roxanne had been listening to Catnip speak, she had been thinking of things as they came along: Katherine’s new patterns, seems she wasn’t the only one with new “adornments”; the work the missling had made and how she had missed just sitting around talking to her friends. The tidbit about the contacts had thrown her off but she choose to go with it as it made things simpler, however, she knew an explanation for the rest was in order. It was in the middle of her thoughts about the chapel Hector was working on and what a coincidence she had similar plan that Catnip made her question.

Oh? Me?, Roxanne responded, she leaned back and gave a deep sigh before continuing, Where haven’t I’ve been? Word of advice girls, stay away from magic if you can help it… it’s only been a mess for me ever since I’ve delved in it. Not like I haven’t been a mess before hand! Infuser notwithstanding. Roxanne chuckles a little to herself but stopped when she noted no one else shared her humor. She cleared her throat and continued. Well, a few days before I departed I got an invitation to a little reunion of people involved with Shadows of Arcana, you know, the group I belonged to before the cataclysm. So I go there and I have this heartwarming reunion with Rey here.

Roxanne waves her hand to point at Rey who waves back awkwardly. Hey is… a long lost friend of mine from before the cataclysm. He was affected by the shifting too so he is team shifting too! Anyways, I met with him and with Christina too. She was one of the founders of our little groups. So we talked and had a few drinks as friends do. I had planned to stay for a couple days but then...

Another deep sigh from Roxanne and then a few seconds of silence before continuing. The other shoe dropped… Turns out the guy who invited me was a baddie and wanted to make me his slave of sorts. He chooses the wrong ghost… in short I uhm... She looks around and see kathrine and as such decides it to tone it down in details. I took care of him so that he wouldn’t bother me anymore. And that should’ve been the end of that but it can never be that simple… As I went and did a little celebratory dance I was jumped by someone else, don’t worry, they were taken care of too, and I passed out. When I woke up I found out I had these lovely tattoos and ‘contacts’ too. I was also pretty week from the beating so I had to rest there for two weeks and recover. These two were really nice in taking care of but now I am back!

Despite being overly excited now, Roxanne gave Catnip and Kathrine time to process what she had said. Still, she didn’t give them time to respond as she continued. By the way, ‘nip, I wanted to tell you and ask you a few things… First, our group, SoA, is operational agains so if you hear the name know that it’s us. We miiiight use a few zombies in our ranks so that is why I am letting you know… to prevent any incidents. Second, well, my friends and I were discussing a few things, I won’t bore you with the details but I wanted to ask if you know of any place I could use to hold a small gathering? I want to put up posters and have a little gathering for a club of sorts I have in mind… if it’s ok with you that is...

With that Roxanne finally quieted down for a moment too and metaphorically catched her breath. She noticed Rey and Christina awkwardly smiling, not sure of what to do.

How rude of me… didn’t give anyone else the chance to speak… Rey, Christina, anything you wanna say or ask my friends here?

“Nah, I am all good for now. Thanks for the coffee Kathrine. Can I call you by your name? Or is it too early?”, Christina responded.

“There is nothing particularly that comes to mind. I am sure this isn’t the last time we will meet anyways, if I have an inquiry I’ll be sure to ask. Still, I am your service if you need anything.”, Rey said as well.

Well then, guess we have two shy ones here huh? Kinda unexpected. Anything else you two wanna ask us? Roxanne had suddenly gone to her “Eris” persona but this time it didn’t feel like a switch; for the first time it felt like the two were one in the same and it visibly intrigued Roxanne. She noted Catnip and Kathrine looking at her eye color shift and smiled. Oh that? What can I say, advance contacts. I can change my eye color from pink to purple but the outer part stays black...

---

Elsewhere Lucy and Roxanne’s new zombie servant, Leonard, were heading back to the tower that once belonged to Plague. They were driving Roxanne’s APC as she was using the motocycle she found in the meantime. Lucy was the driver while Leonard was reading a piece of paper Lucy had manifested when he had asked more details on the pieces of anomon.

The poem read as follows:
[Seven pieces, seven swords; seven mages, seven souls.
Three were broken, four remain; two made shields, one left dead.

Seven kingdoms survey the land; as the sun rises they make their final stand.
The skies will darken, the rivers will run dry; as he awakens all will surely die.

Seven mages are called upon; one common goal they all cling on.
Different kingdoms they represent, all to which to god they had repent.
They set aside their differences to defeat the monster; he who threaten to devour and conquer.

The seventh mage captured the beast, the first bore its mark.
The rest created the seals and together they divided it up.
The broken god was born, Anomon was no more.

Seven pieces, seven swords; seven mages, seven souls.
Three were broken, four remain; two made shields, one left dead.

Assimilation, Annihilation, Convergence, Despair, Pestilence, Storm and Void.
The power was taken, the typhoon quelled, the ailment cured and from the corpses two more were made.
Trinity and Fantasia, Guardians of the night.
They envied the union and fought it will all might.

The first through fourth was handed a sword.
Firth and six a shield in tow.
The seventh left empty handed, for their hand was too slow.

The mission was done, the goal accomplished.
Nothing was left, the goal was achieved.
The mages however still ploated with glee.

A puzzle emerged, one with dire consequences; for once the mages had passed the swords would remain.
They plotted a plan for the legacy to go on. One of 6 wielders would the whole set one day obtain.
Once united the god will be awoken and he who bears the mark will become his chosen token.
No one will stop, not even the bravest knight; for he will unite all armies under ever darker night.

One man will have the power, one man will expose the sham.
But by then it will be too late for salvation for he will be no other than the lamb.]

“What does it mean?”, Leonard asked.

“Read it carefully, it’s kinda obvious. Mind you, some of it is wishy-washy noustromous tier prophecy stuff but it holds up. It was written a few centuries ago by a man who knew he was about to die too…”

“Noustromous?”

“Don’t worry about it… just, what do you think it means?”

“A group of people came together to seal a powerful being and sealed in swords? That much is clear but… can only be stopped by the lamb?”

“Ah yes, the lamb… back in the day people were very religious. They assumed if Anomon was reborn again it would bring the apocalypse himself and only the second coming of the messiah would stop him.”

“Messiah? Wait, aren’t you-“

“I don’t wanna talk about it ok? I am not as dumb as to rebel against dad a second time… Anyways, just shut up and think things through for a bit; gotta concentrate on driving… we’ll discuss it later...”

“As you wish Miss Morningstar.”

“Morningstar… jeesh, what was I thinking…”