//This one's a doozy.\
The personnel carrier’s doors finally opened, illuminating the dark interior with blinding sunlight. As the soldiers stepped out and reported for duty, Carmine recognized where he was. He was on the Arctic Continent.
Through the armor he felt the biting wind chill. Despite its remoteness, it appealed to the Sovereignty as a new place to build, free of pestilence or war, a clean slate.
Carmine stepped onto the snowy ground, struggling to see through the near-opaque blizzards that sometimes shrouded the continent. The conditions here would make habitation and occupation a grim business, an all the better defensive measure. Hopefully this new capital would not fall like the old one did…
“Fall in, men!” Commander Stroud barked to his ranks, which promptly lined up in formation. Stroud stroked his thick walrus mustache as he paced up and down the rows of his men, giving one of his famed pep talks.
“Men, while we may have met an untimely end in Asgarnia, do not take the responsibility upon yourselves as individuals. While discipline is a key trait to any soldier, losses can be expected to happen. Now, however, is the time to rebuild. You will see we’ve arrived in this icy hell, which we’ve deemed ideal for our new capital. Your skills not as soldiers, but as Kandarin patriots will be put to the test in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of our proud nation! Within no time at all we will once again be a force to reckoned with! Am I right, men?”
The ranks responded with a unanimous and thunderous “Sir, yes sir!”
“Move out, men, you’ve got jobs to do!”
As the soldiers vacated the area to take up jobs rebuilding, Stroud approached Carmine.
“Except for you, Lieutenant, I’d like to have a word with you.”
“Sir?” Carmine replied, wondering what he could have possibly done this time.
“Carmine, I understand Roth’s boat is missing a few paddles, am I right?”
“I wouldn’t personally know, sir.”
“After he sent you on your way with de Sade he blathered on and on about past rivalries with him, and how he doesn’t exactly trust him. During your time with de Sade, did he ever mention anything about Roth?”
“No sir, not to my knowledge…”
“Regardless, I believe you should continue your campaign against those troublesome two with or without his company.”
“Sir, are you suggesting--”
“You’re damn right I am. I want you to continue in your search for Alex and the Twilight Princess.”
“Sir, I know from first hand experience it will take more than one man to stop them…”
“Which is why the Colonel suggests a platoon of men at your disposal, Lieutenant, or should I say ‘Captain?’”
“He’s…promoted me, sir?”
“That’s right, which means you finally outrank me, Carmine. Who would have thought?”
“Sir, this is all too kind, but…”
“Are you insisting against the Colonel’s suggestion, Captain? After all, he was the one who coordinated the Seven-Hour War!”
“No sir, but I know that these two are not to be underestimated, especially not Alex.”
“You can take it up with the Colonel if you have any objections. With that said, my jurisdiction over you is limited, sir.”
“Either way, send my thanks to the Colonel.”
“Yes sir.” Stroud saluted and walked off.
Just like that, Carmine went from Lieutenant to Captain. Captain Carmine. He liked the sound of that.
He reported to the Colonel as ordered to be briefed for his mission. The Colonel, as he was known (very few knew his real name), was an elderly man in his sixties, with a military history doing any veteran proud, serving for over fifty years in the Kandarin Armed Forces. Having retired from front-line duty, the Colonel lived and worked in the new Capital Citadel already established on the Arctic Continent. It was from here that he coordinated the massive ranks of the KAF. Carmine entered his chambers escorted by one the Majors, which promptly left Carmine and the Colonel alone. The Colonel stood at the top of his penthouse estate at the top of the Capital Palace’s spire, which overlooked the entire snowfield.
“I take it you’re enjoying your new promotion, Captain?” the Colonel spoke up in his gruff voice as he stood looking out the windows.
“Yes sir,” Carmine replied, his own voice sounding meek compared to the Colonel’s. “I wish to express my gratitude…”
“Gratitude can come later, Captain. I have an assignment for you.” The Colonel turned around, revealing his likeness. He was a tall, large built man, seemingly born out of war. “It seems we might have some problems with two specific people, am I right?”
“Yes sir. Alex and the Twilight Princess were last seen in the Glacia mountain range, just a few miles from Glacia City.”
“Then, Captain, I believe you already know what your mission is. If you like, you can report to the armory to view some new weapon technology our group of steadfast scientists have been developing. Then, a personnel carrier will deploy you and your mean at the Twilis’ last known location.”
“Yes sir.” Carmine saluted and left the penthouse for the armory.
“Ah, yes! Captain Carmine, Willkommen, Willkommen!” one of the lead weapon scientists greeted the man in his thick German accent. “I would imagine you would like to see the fruits of mien labor, ja?”
“Sure,” Carmine replied, a little unsure of what to expect. “What have you got?”
“If you’ll turn your attention to our new speargun, you will see. Soldat, feuer am willen.”
Carmine assumed that was German for “fire at will,” as the private pulled the trigger, letting fly a half-meter long shaft with a barbed obsidian head, which passed through the training dummy like a hot knife through butter.
“Impressive, doctor. What else do you have?”
“Our newest melee weapon will do our soldiers fine in the battlefield. Soldat, if you will show him, bitte.”
The soldier nodded, withdrawing his kamas, and making a lightning speed lunge for the dummy’s neck, sinking the blades in, simulating a deadly hit.
“Incredible.”
“We have one more weapon for your mission. Soldat, show him the mortar, bitte.”
The soldier nodded once more, and backed up a few steps before leveling a shoulder-fired tube to aim at the dummy. A red burst of energy charged up on the barrel, and fired at high speed at the dummy, annihilating it.
“The magic mortar obliterates the target in ein single shot, ja.”
“Amazing…” Carmine said in awe, well aware of what these pieces of equipment could do to his quarry. “Load the men up as soon as you can, doctor. I’ve got a schedule to keep.”
“Alex, have you ever heard of the Shroud?”
“The what?”
“The Shroud. It’s an ancient and malevolent force that manifests itself in a human host and feeds off the darkness to survive.”
“Is it something the Twili mastered?”
Midna got a worried look on her face. “While there are records of Twili use, the practice and mastery of the Shroud, it’s often avoided…”
“How come?”
“The Shroud itself has a will of its own, its own conscience. Often times it will overpower its host, turning them into mere vessels for the Shroud to use for its own purposes…”
Alex thought for a moment. “Has any Twilight Warrior used the Shroud?”
“Only once, and it wasn’t pretty…the Shroud delves deep into the use of the dark powers, and are exceptionally difficult to control. He wasn’t ready… I don’t want you to follow the same path…forget I said anything.”
“Okay…” Alex sighed, wondering what Midna could possibly be hiding from him…
“The last page should be just a few more floors up,” Midna said. “This has been uncomfortably easy.”
“I hear you. I was expecting a little more obstacle…”
As the two continued, Alex ran thoughts of the Shroud though his mind. Would it make defeating the Kandarinians easier? Would it help him win the war? What risks would channeling the Shroud pose to him? He wasn’t too sure of what to expect around every corner…
As Alex opened the next large door, they came into a large vertical room with a dizzying spiral staircase corkscrewing all the way to the top, presumably to the very top of the temple. If Alex could retrieve the final page, he could be on his way back to Asgarnia… He began the long trip up the stairs. As he did, he heard the executioner’s voice once more.
You make a grave mistake in believing this is so easy…the greatest challenge lies ahead still. Overcome it and the treasure is yours…but fail, and darkness will fall over you like a Shroud…consuming…be wary…the last Twilight Warrior was not so lucky…will you fare the same, or will you break the mold? Prove to me you deserve this treasure. Prove to yourself that you deserve it.
Gradually, but eventually, the top of the tower was reached. Upon opening the massive doors, Alex and Midna found themselves atop the spanning roofs of the temple. The cavern ceiling, however, still reached hundreds of feet up. At the end of the roof, a lone box sat, no doubt containing what they came here for.
As Alex approached the box, the voice overcame him once more.
Very good…your final challenge is about to begin. We will see how strong your will truly is. The will to survive, the will to remain your own master, the will to protect those you love, will all be tested. The test is simple. The box before you contains a page from a Twili spellbook, a book you have been adamant to complete. Scribed on this parchment are the words for a powerful spell, again, that you feel you have a dire need for. If you want it, simply reach in and take it. Before you do, however, consider your other options. You could choose the Twili magic, as powerful as it is, or forsake it for the godlike powers the Shroud could drape over you. If you feel you have the free will to control the Shroud, simply kneel down and utter from your lips, “I accept!” If not, take the page and be on your way. So, Alexander, what will it be? The time for deciding is now.
“Alex, don’t listen to him. The Shroud is a terrible force that must never be forced upon a being as powerful as you. Take the page and let’s go!”
Alex reached for the page, as a cold, hissing voice invaded his conscience, coiling him in a black mist.
You know not what power you are passing up! Let it be known this may be your only chance to accept the Shroud…accept me, and I will make you everything you have dreamed of. I will become you, you will become me. You will be a god among men!
Alex clutched his temples. “No! I’m here for what I originally came here for!”
It cannot end for me this way! The necessity is mutual. I need you, and you need me. Simply accept me and we shall both be saved!
“What about the Twili, and the innocents of Terian! Will they be saved?!”
For the time being, yes. I understand you have a burning passion to destroy a powerful enemy…I can help you snuff those flames by killing them all!
“You cannot bend my will….it is not yours to bend! I am my own master! I will always be! Midna, create a portal to Asgarnia, now!” Alex thrust his hand into the box, grabbing the page of the Aura of the Juggernaut.
You fool! You have forgone the greatest power this world will ever know! Still, I will be persistent. I do not doubt a second meeting between us…until then…consider your decision. Until the time comes, only I know when you will change your mind… You are your own master…for now…
The rift to Asgarnia shone through the ebony mist, burning it away. “Alex, we need to go, now!” Midna shouted.
Alex stepped through the portal, blinded by the change in light levels, and, as soon as the portal had been made, he was in Asgarnia once more. He knelt down to the ground, panting in disbelief at what he had just seen. He turned up to Midna. “THAT’s the Shroud?!”
“Now that it’s decided it wants you,” Midna replied, “it’ll take an absolutely strong will to resist it…the last Twilight Warrior failed in that endeavour…perhaps you will succeed.”
Alex stood up. “I don’t doubt it’s gonna take a lot to hold that thing back, whatever it was…”
Finally catching his breath, he looked around Asgarnia. The ex-rebels were hard at work at reconstruction.
“They’re putting their city back together,” Alex noted.
“It looks like they could use some help,” Midna said, taking his shadow. “I’d say you’ve earned a rest.”
As Alex approached Kleiner’s lab, the Shroud’s words echoed in the back of his mind…
You are your own master…for now…
