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Three days after the defeat of the Dark Lord, a festive atmosphere filled the air as the world celebrated this momentous occasion. However, in River Town, where the final battle had taken place, and among the people of Gondolin who had remained indifferent to the war, there was no such revelry.
In the midst of this, Pen Town was adorned with golden threads, vibrant lanterns, and an array of dazzling fireworks that illuminated the daytime sky. The townsfolk didn't mind the unusual timing and enthusiastically set off thousands of firecrackers and fireworks, rejoicing in the triumph of their beloved Lord Noah over the Dark Lord.
Distinguished figures and leaders from all corners of the realm arrived at Pen Town to partake in the grand celebration hosted by Noah at his opulent residence, Winston Manor. The manor itself was a sight to behold, bedecked with colorful lights, shimmering lanterns, and intricately woven golden decorations. The entrance to the manor was lined with a red carpet, where people eagerly gathered, their cheers resounding like thunderclaps.
Amidst the jubilant atmosphere, Olivia Palmer, hailed as one of the heroes for her courageous efforts to thwart the Dark Lord, arrived in her carriage. The carriage gracefully made its way through the sea of people, who stood on either side of the red carpet, offering their cheers and adoration.
Outside the walls of Winston Manor, the townsfolk of Pen Town had congregated, eagerly awaiting glimpses of the illustrious guests and the festivities unfolding within. Their excitement was palpable as they cheered and applauded, their joy reverberating through the air.
As Olivia gracefully alighted from her carriage, the enthusiastic crowd erupted into a chorus of cheers. Clad in a resplendent red gown befitting the grand occasion, she waved graciously at the adoring onlookers before making her way into the magnificent Winston Manor.
Inside the manor, the atmosphere was nothing short of captivating. The grand hall, adorned with opulent decorations, exuded an aura of regality. Crystal chandeliers bathed the space in a warm and inviting glow, casting shimmering reflections upon the gilded walls. Elaborate tapestries depicting scenes of valor and triumph adorned the halls, adding an air of historical significance to the surroundings.
Olivia followed the elegantly adorned corridors, guided by the gentle melodies of live music that floated through the air. The sound of joyful conversations filled the spaces as she navigated her way towards the grand hall, where the esteemed guests had gathered.
As she entered the grand hall, her presence commanded attention. World leaders, including King Bredia, Noah's cousin Andrews, Yasmine Winston, Noah's sister Sabrina Winston, and Andrews' wife, Princess Katherine, daughter of King Bredia, were in attendance. Princess Katherine's two children added a touch of youthful exuberance to the gathering.
The grand hall itself was a spectacle to behold. Lavish draperies adorned the walls, complementing the majestic artwork displayed throughout. The long dining tables were adorned with exquisite floral arrangements and fine silverware, promising a feast fit for kings. The air was filled with an intoxicating blend of tantalizing aromas from the meticulously prepared dishes, teasing the senses and whetting the appetite.
Amidst the mingling guests, Olivia greeted familiar faces with warmth and grace, exchanging pleasantries and sharing in the collective joy of this momentous occasion.
As Olivia entered the manor, she was greeted by Neela, one of Noah's trusted allies and an esteemed member of his elite guard. Neela approached Olivia with a respectful nod.
"Lady Olivia, Lord Noah is waiting for you," Neela informed her.
Understanding the purpose of their meeting, Olivia nodded in acknowledgement. She and Neela both knew that their destination lay deep within the labyrinthine corridors of Winston Manor.
"Lead the way," Olivia gestured, following Neela as they discreetly slipped away from the bustling crowd. They ventured through hidden passages and descended a gloomy staircase, their footsteps echoing in the somber silence. The path to the dungeon prison felt ominous, with dimly lit torches casting flickering shadows along the cold stone walls.
Reaching the entrance of the dungeon, Neela revealed a nondescript brown door concealed behind an illusion. With a simple motion, the door swung open, revealing the bleak confines that awaited them. The air grew heavy as they entered, the atmosphere thick with a sense of captivity.
Within the dungeon, Olivia's eyes fell upon Noah, who stood before a row of glass tubes, each containing a captive individual. Among them was Ricky, her former lover, confined within a special cage designed specifically to hold the Dark Lord's surviving subordinates. A sigh escaped Olivia's lips as she observed his unconscious form.
The glass tubes contained other prominent subordinates of the Dark Lord, including Adelia Wraith, Maxine, Tiberius, Titus, Optimus, and Trista. They remained motionless, unaware of their impending fate at the hands of Noah.
"Noah," Olivia greeted him as he turned to face her.
Noah's face bore the evidence of the intense battle he had endured. Bruises marred his features, and a walking cane supported his weakened body. The strain of wielding the god killing arrows and the wounds inflicted by the Dark Lord's dark flames had taken their toll.
"I thought you should have a final opportunity to see Ricky before we carry out their sentence," Noah explained, his voice tinged with a mix of determination and weariness.
Neela observed Olivia's shocked expression, sensing the turmoil within her.
"Sentence? Noah, I believed we were planning to imprison them," Olivia responded, her voice betraying her deep-seated astonishment.
Noah's gaze held a resolute conviction as he spoke.
"I do not wish to subject them to the cruelty of the Skyhall. Handing them over would only result in prolonged suffering. What I offer is a swift and painless end, sparing them from a lifetime of torment for the crimes committed by the Dark Lord," Noah explained, his words filled with a somber gravity.
Olivia's lips parted to voice her objections, but her words faltered before they could escape. She realized that Noah's perspective held a painful truth she couldn't deny. Though her heart ached for Ricky and she longed for Noah to spare him, she understood the difficult choices he had to make. In the grand scheme of things, a swift death was a merciful alternative compared to the cruelties the Skyhall would inflict upon them.
With a heavy heart, Olivia approached the glass cage containing Ricky, her hand tenderly pressed against the cold surface.
"Ricky, you should have left Ghost when you had the chance. We could have built a future together," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Concerned for the fate of the remaining Dark Lord's subordinates, Olivia turned her attention to Noah, seeking answers.
"What about the others, Noah?" she inquired, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.
Noah's response was resolute yet tinged with a sense of understanding.
"The undead and vampires have been confined within a separate pocket dimension, under the care of the Skyhall. As for the remaining subordinates, they are scattered and without leadership. We will track them down in due time," Neela interjected, offering a response to Olivia's question.
Eager to uncover the fate of her dear friend, Olivia voiced her concerns regarding Eve Voldiguard, the Dark Lord's closest ally.
"And what of Eve?" Olivia's voice trembled with a mix of curiosity and sadness. She had noticed Eve's absence from the glass cages, and her heart yearned to know her friend's fate.
Neela's response held no trace of sympathy, displaying her unwavering resolve.
"Eve chose to take her own life. It seems the Dark Lord had entrusted her with a potent poison, to be used as a last resort in case of capture," Neela revealed, her tone betraying no mercy for Eve. In Neela's eyes, the Dark Lord's subordinates held no value, and their actions warranted no compassion.
"We have managed to extract a sample of the poison from Eve's body, Olivia. I need you to replicate it in order to ensure a painless death for them," Noah's voice echoed with a hint of urgency.
Olivia, still engrossed in her sorrowful gaze upon Ricky, responded without turning around.
"Why can't you do it yourself? You're just as skilled an alchemist as I am," Olivia questioned, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Noah's response was laced with a tinge of helplessness.
"I cannot. This poison was created using Ghost's unique recipe. Only you possess the knowledge to replicate it," Noah explained, his words resonating with the weight of necessity.
"If you are unable, I can use my Light Flames to end their lives, but I cannot guarantee a painless death," Noah stated, his voice revealing the absence of choice.
Olivia, absorbing Noah's words, took a deep breath, steeling herself for the task at hand.
"I will do it. Just provide me with a secluded space to work," Olivia requested, her voice determined.
Noah nodded in agreement, acknowledging her request.
"I will grant you the solitude you need. Neela will ensure you have everything necessary," Noah replied before limping away from the dungeon.
Two hours swiftly passed as Olivia meticulously brewed the replicated poison, her focus unwavering. With the task completed, she made her way back to the main hall.
Emerging onto the front yard, where the guests were gathered, Olivia joined the crowd. A stage, adorned with the glass cages containing the Dark Lord's subordinates, had risen from the ground. As she awaited her cue, Noah finally appeared on the stage, greeted by thunderous cheers from the assembled crowd.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, their voices reverberating through the air.
"Hail Lord Noah, the vanquisher of darkness!"
"Praise be to the one who defeated the Dark Lord!"
"Lord Noah, you have saved us all!"
The resounding cheers echoed around Pen town, an outpouring of gratitude and admiration for their savior. The people hailed Noah as a hero, their voices filled with hope and reverence.
In the distance, Salesi soared through the sky, her face radiating with joy. She had achieved her goal of eliminating the Dark Lord, eagerly anticipating her master's journey into the realm of gods, where she was destined to accompany him.
Meanwhile, Noah stood before the gathered crowd, acknowledging their cheers and applause. With a humble smile, he raised his hand, signaling for silence. As his hand ascended, a hush fell over the crowd, their attention solely focused on Noah.
Taking a deep breath, Noah began his speech, his voice resonating with sincerity.
"My friends, today we celebrate a great victory over the Dark Lord, but let us not forget that darkness does not reside solely within one individual," Noah addressed the crowd, his words capturing their attention.
"We all possess a shadow within us, capable of darkness and evil. It is a part of our nature. But it is through our choices, our actions, and our kindness that we can overcome this darkness," Noah continued, his voice filled with conviction.
He urged the crowd to reflect on their own flaws and the importance of self-improvement.
"We must strive to be better, to do better, if we are to prevent the rise of another Dark Lord. Each and every one of us has the power to make a difference, to bring light to the world," Noah emphasized, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the people before him.
His words resonated with the listeners as they contemplated the significance of their individual contributions in creating a brighter future.
The crowd listened attentively, their hearts stirred by Noah's call for self-reflection and personal growth. They understood that it was not only the defeat of the Dark Lord that mattered but also their own commitment to kindness and compassion in their daily lives.
Noah gazed upon the glass cages, his expression filled with a mix of regret and resolve. He spoke to the gathered crowd, his voice carrying a tone of compassion and understanding.
"I regret having to impose this death sentence upon them. But I do so out of mercy," Noah confessed, his words punctuated by a heavy sigh. "I have prepared a poison that will dissolve within the glass cages, ending their lives swiftly and painlessly. Once their souls have departed, I will use my light flames to burn their bodies."
The crowd listened in somber silence as Noah continued, his voice filled with determination. "This is not an act of vengeance or cruelty. It is an act of kindness. These individuals, once loyal to the Dark Lord, are now condemned to suffer a fate worse than death if they were to fall into the hands of higher authorities. I offer them release from that fate."
Olivia watched as Noah nodded, signaling to Neela, who stood beside a lever on the side. With a determined expression, Neela pulled down the lever, and a mechanism was set in motion. A soft hissing sound filled the air as the glass cages were permeated by a swirling purple mist.
The sound of Noah's voice broke the silence. "May their spirits find peace in the realm beyond," he whispered, his voice carrying a solemn reverence. Olivia could see the anguish in Noah's eyes, a testament to the heavy toll that such decisions took on his soul.
As the purple mist diffused within the glass cages, Olivia's eyes were fixed on Ricky and the others held captive. She noticed a subtle shift in their bodies, a slight twitch, as if their unconscious forms were responding to the presence of the mist. Gradually, their movements ceased, and Olivia realized with a heavy heart that their breathing had stilled.
Just as Olivia's gaze lingered on Ricky's motionless figure, a gray-haired elder, adorned in ceremonial robes, approached his glass cage. His weathered hand gently pressed against the transparent barrier, causing a rune etched onto the surface to glow softly. The elder closed his eyes briefly, as if connecting with a realm beyond the physical, before turning around to face the expectant crowd.
With a voice that carried the weight of both sorrow and reverence, the elder announced solemnly, "Their souls have departed from this world." His words hung in the air, embraced by a brief moment of hushed silence.
A surge of relief and gratitude swept through the onlookers. The crowd erupted into a cacophony of cheers and applause, their jubilant voices resonating through the air like a wave of joyous energy. The cheers were a testament to the collective understanding that the Dark Lord's reign of darkness had finally come to an end and that Noah's decisive actions had paved the way for a brighter future.
Then as he said, Noah's hand ascended into the air, his palm open as if harnessing the power of the sun itself. In response to his command, bright flames materialized, their brilliance illuminating the surroundings. The intense light flickered with vibrant energy, casting dancing shadows across the faces of those gathered.
As the flames drew closer to the glass cages, they seemed to defy the laws of physics, seeping effortlessly through the barriers. The flames engulfed the lifeless bodies within, wrapping them in a shroud of radiant heat. In an instant, the bodies began to disintegrate, transforming into fine particles that swirled in the fiery vortex.
The brilliance of the flames intensified, emanating an overwhelming light that enveloped the entire hall. It was as if the room had been consumed by a blinding celestial aura, rendering everyone temporarily blind to their surroundings. They shielded their eyes, squinting against the radiance, as the all-encompassing brilliance filled their senses.
When the light finally subsided and the onlookers dared to open their eyes, they found themselves gazing upon a scene of ash and remnants. The once-prisoned bodies of the Dark Lord's subordinates had been reduced to nothing more than a fine powder scattered across the floor. The air carried a faint trace of their existence, a bittersweet reminder of lives extinguished.
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