Svartravn: Xelvellol, the time has come, it seems again.

Xel: Here we are, standing amidst our greatest victory
thus far.

Svartravn: Steady now, the fight is far from over yet.

Xel: But with you here, it’s nothing but simply a matter of days now.

Svartravn: Have you forgotten? Recall the last time you jumped to conclusions.

Xel: Spare me your righteous indignation. I’ve no time for petty digression.

Svartravn: After that speech? After the fear you forced upon your men…

Xel: What of it?

Svartravn: Did you mean a single word you said?

Xel: Let me be clear. I lead these men, strongly, forever ahead. I brought you here for aid, to help them war and crusade.

Svartravn: Xelvellol -

Xel: Am I done? Stay silent. I will not let you -

Svartravn: Xelvellol!

Xel: I see you as nothing more than a meagre pawn.

Svartravn: So now you waste time on so-called petty digression. I don’t understand your self-centered ambition.

Xel: The speech was made to drive their spirits, but I pay no respects to the likes of you…


I can’t contend with the contempt that burns within me.
Conflict, confusion, I won’t give up my victory.
“Arm readily…” See him as just a weapon.
Be calm, concise.
Don’t get too far ahead of yourself.

Am I starting to heed his words?
He knows nothing of me!
I can’t allow him
To force his will upon me.

My warriors know not our past,
and they think us of Gods.
So long as it carries me to everlasting glory…

Under the light of the Omnipresent Evermoon,
I pray to the God-King
to give me strength.
I cannot fail again.
I will not fail him again.
I will rise above,
and he will not stop me again.

The draw of sleep pulls at my mind.
Long hours of planning,
I’ve earned a hearty rest.
We strike tomorrow,
We end this tomorrow.
Just as night begins to hold me,
I hear a rack on the door…

Svartravn: "Xelvellol, I trust that you are not occupied?"

Xel: "Svartravn, what do you want?"

Svartravn: "I have made a recent discovery that I need to discuss with you that may have a profound impact on the outcome of the Covenant."

Xel: "I assume that you are going to tell me that this cannot wait until morning?"

Svartravn: "I want to be speaking to you as much as you want to be speaking to me. If this were not urgent, I would not have come to your door."

Xel: "Fine. Come in."

Svartravn: "Are you alone?"

Xel: "What kind of question is that?"

Svartravn: "It’s relevant."

Xel: "How?"

Svartravn: "We’ll get there. Before we start getting into the details of what I have uncovered, I would like to review tomorrows strategy with you."

Xel: "Did you not just say that this can’t wait until morning? We’ve discussed everything we need to discuss regarding the war strategy."

Svartravn: "Your scouts located Eschaton hidden within Mount Olympus to the east. You seem to have, despite considerable scout casualties, mapped out a rather sizable portion of that area. I commend you for this. Not only for gathering as much information as you did, but for the complete disregard for the lives of our people. That amount of recklessness you displayed by sending so many to their deaths for often meaningless intelligence is quite impressive."

Xel: "So now I can’t even try to sleep without you have to insult me? If this is all you came here to do then you can see yourself out."

Svartravn: "Did any of the surviving scouts tell you about the air?"

Xel: "What…the fuck does that mean?"

Svartravn: "The air. Did the scouts tell you what it was like to breathe the air around Olympus? Or around Eschaton?"

Xel: "No, Svartravn, they did not tell me what it’s like to breathe."

Svartravn: "Have you ever been near Olympus."

Xel: "No."

Svartravn: "You think we’re going to end this tomorrow, yet you have never been to Olympus before?"

Xel: "I truly do not see a problem with that. This is a waste of time. What are you trying to get at?"

Svartravn: "Not long after I arrived, I asked you if you had forgotten what occurred the last time you jumped to conclusions. Xelvellol, do you remember the last time you encountered our enemy? Do you remember that smell?"

Xel: "…what are you getting at?"

Svartravn: "You misjudged them. They exploited you. And the Covenant collapsed. Do you remember the smell before you were banished back to the Ebon Vale?"

Xel: "Iron. Overwhelming amounts of iron. And smoke."

Svartravn: "How do you feel when you think of that smell?"

Xel: "I feel that you should leave."

Svartravn: "Did it make you feel confused? Horrified?"

Xel: "I was afraid, and anyone would be after witnessing their mentor being slain just moments earlier."

Svartravn: "Eschaton knows that now. They know what you fear. Every scout, every one of them, reported the stench of overwhelming iron and smoke when they returned from Olympus. They know you’re coming, Xelvellol."

Xel: "Was this your discovery? Is this your information that was so important that you had to wake me? Olympus reeks of my nightmares, so you just wanted to give me a proper warning?"

Svartravn: "No, Xelvellol, no. There is more to this…"


________________

Lord Collins: "Dante, you have exceeded my expectations tenfold. You wiped the minds of how many of their scouts?"

Dante: "All of them, my lord. Everyone who came anywhere near us. Everything they told Xelvellol after we released them was a falsification. The only reality was the scent, and we will be ready. They have no idea what to expect…”
________________


Svartravn: "Xelvellol, I know."

Xel: "You know what? You know what? Enough of your cryptic bullshit, what do you know?!"

Svartravn: About the human.

Xel: "What do you-"

Svartravn: "The human that you lay with that you have so poorly hidden from me. I know. This is treason. And you are not fit to lead the Covenant. I want her head on a pike, come our arrival at Olympus, or I will take the lead of the Covenant from you, and I will leave you to Vyakzkaa’s judgement. Don’t try to lie to me or hide this any longer. You will not ruin the Covenant because of your unmanageable greed and lust. If you dare to continue this fight while trying to hide your traitorous ways, it will be the last mistake you ever make while not in shackles."

Xel: "You’re going to expose me regardless, aren’t you?"

Svartravn: "Eschaton knows what you fear. If you fear that smell, and you now fear losing power and that sack of meat, they will exploit it, and we will collapse again. Will you be remembered as a traitor, or will you be remembered for putting the Covenant before your repulsive, human-like urges?"

Xel: "Get. Out."


We mount to ride,
forward to the mountains.
He peers at me,
and I gaze at him.
A silent, stifling stare.

I will not concede.
I will not give in.
I will not fall to ruin again.

As the wind calls,
As I hide my fear,
I wish I could go back.
From catacomb conjurer,
to Bringer of Night…
have I lost my way?

Arm readily,
the light comes this way,
Mirror death as it comes to take you as its prey,
Apokalypsis,
I’ll shed my blood for this…
Unto the shadow of Olympus