Legends of Amacia Return of the Beowulf
Chapter 3: Dream of Leila’s Fall

Hannibal looked around after he touched down on the top of the battlement of the tallest tower in the unknown city. Open war raged around him out to the horizon with humans in mortal combat with beast-men, aliens, other humans, giants, and drakens with flying machines swarming through the air in dogfights and strafing the ground combatants. Some smaller draken-like creatures with long necks bore black or red armored bipedal beings who guided them.

“What in heaven’s name?” Hannibal whispered as the ground combatants clashed with each other using both medieval and advanced weaponry. Swords, spears, axes, maces, and other types of medieval weapons were used in conjunction with plasma blasters, armor-piercing machine guns, flamethrowers, rocket launchers, and some unidentifiable projectile energy weapons. The combatants ranged from Hannibal’s size of nearly six feet up to seventeen feet in height. Strange-looking clawed bipedal alien creatures with elongated heads, no eyes, long needlelike teeth, tubular protrusions along their backs, wicked claws, and long tails with bony blades on the ends of those tails swarmed the human and giant fighters with heavily armed and armored beast-men and giant bipedal reptilians wearing helmets and armor, bearing advanced weaponry. The roar of battle echoed in Hannibal’s ears as he looked around. He immediately noticed he too was armored in a platinum-colored plate and chain mail, bearing a strange glowing sword. The sword stood six feet from point to pummel with a five-inch wide blade fifty-five inches long decorated with mysterious runes that glowed brightly. Hannibal hefted the sword, finding it incredibly light, which intrigued him. The combatants surrounding him didn’t seem to notice him at all. A deep, icy chill raced down his spine at the violence of wholesale slaughter going on around him. As he scanned the battlefield on top of the tower, one particular fight to his right caught his attention.

“What the...,” Hannibal breathed, staring in disbelief as he saw an armored nine-foot tall Lynxian woman that reminded him of Selina in desperate mortal combat with a red-armored warrior. She held her own against the red-suited enemy, but weakened against his powerful onslaught, their blades sending showers of sparks as they clashed. Hannibal started moving towards the fight, knowing the Lynxian warrioress needed help. The moment he moved, the other combatants saw Hannibal and some engaged him. He fought his way through the intervening one hundred yards between him and the Lynxian, many times killing with a single blow while he advanced. As he finished off one of the hostile helmeted reptilians, Hannibal saw one of the long-necked small draken-like creatures with a black-armored rider swoop in towards the Lynxian as she knocked down the red-suited enemy she fought. Ice filled his heart as Hannibal realized she didn’t see the peril. “Look out behind you!” he shouted desperately over the roar of battle, sprinting towards the Lynxian. “Incoming!”

Surprise lit her face as she first heard, and then saw Hannibal carving his way through the enemy fighters coming towards her, pointing insistently behind her. The roar of the small draken-like creature reached her ears and she turned in time to see the beast with the black armored rider land behind her and chomp her on the chest and abdomen, pinning her sword arm against her side in its jaws. Her face went ashen as a shriek of pain erupted from her while the beast shook her like a rag doll before slamming her to the deck.

“NO!” Hannibal shrieked; his rage blossoming like a nuclear fire. As he plowed through those between him and the Lynxian, he also noticed a squad of giants rushing to towards the Lynxian too with great concern and agitation on their faces. Not concerned with what they looked like, Hannibal reached the fallen Lynxian first, standing between the black-armored rider and the Lynxian. “You will not touch her again, beast!” Hannibal roared, his blood burning with rage.

The black armored rider spoke in a language Hannibal didn’t understand and spurred his mount to attack. The mount snapped its head forward to eat Hannibal. He advanced on the creature, splitting the head of the rider’s mount with his huge sword, cleaving it in two back to the spinal column. The small draken-like creature jerked and slumped violently to the deck with a groan, throwing the rider from its back. Hannibal saw the rider fall and rushed the black-armored enemy, slicing it diagonally in two across its chest just as it staggered to its feet. The two halves of the rider fell to the deck next to his mount...its blood spewing and guts tumbling out. Hannibal turned with a blood rage on him, ready to vent his fury on anyone who would try to attack the Lynxian. He saw one of the giants dismember the red-armored enemy the Lynxian fought with while the others drove back all other combatants. The battle around them shifted toward the far side of the tower, giving Hannibal and the defending giants a brief reprieve from the fight.

Hannibal looked down at the gravely wounded Lynxian and his fury subsided. He rushed to the fallen warrioress and knelt beside her, removing her helmet. She moaned softly as Hannibal cradled her head. “Don’t move,” he said in a gentle tone. “You’re badly injured.”

When the Lynxian woman focused on Hannibal, her eyes grew wide. “Thoth, what…happened to…you? How’d you…get…so small?” she asked.

Amazed that he understood her, Hannibal murmured, “Don’t talk. It’ll make your injuries worse.”

Just then, he heard a cry from one of the giants. Hannibal looked up as one of the giants knelt down beside the Lynxian woman, trembling with tears flowing. “Leila!” the giant cried, taking the Lynxian from Hannibal as the other giants surround him and the Lynxian.

“Ezra,” the Lynxian gurgled. “I just…couldn’t…hold the line.”

“Don’t talk, Leila,” Ezra the giant cooed. “You’re gravely wounded.”

Hannibal looked up and gasped as he saw two of the giants were his virtual twins: one was twelve feet tall and the other nine feet in height. His blood burned in recognition within him at the sight while icy chills once again raced down his spine.

The twelve-foot giant knelt down and glanced at Hannibal. The giant’s eyebrow rose with surprise as he turned to the Lynxian Leila being cradled by Ezra. “I’m so sorry, Leila,” he apologized in a voice that sounded exactly like Hannibal. “We tried to get here sooner, but we got hung up back there with the Xenos and the Draconians.”

Leila looked at the giant, and then at Hannibal with an ashen, puzzled look. “Thoth, why…didn’t you…say…you had a…little brother,” she wheezed. “He came…to…my rescue.”

Thoth gently put his hand on Leila’s head. “Because this man is not my brother,” he declared, “but I’m so glad he came to your defense.” Turning to Hannibal, Thoth touched Hannibal on the shoulder and said sincerely, “Stranger…you have my undying thanks and gratitude for saving Leila from the werack and its Dark Rider. But I must ask; who are you that you look like a miniature version of me? And where did you get that blade?”

Hannibal stared into Thoth’s ice-blue eyes, seeing a perfect reflection of himself in Thoth. Shaking his head, Hannibal admitted, “I am called Hannibal by my friends. But my enemies know me as the Beowulf. How I came to be here in the midst of this strange battle I know not or even where this is. All I know is that when I came to my senses, I was in the middle of this wholesale slaughter with this blade in my hand. When I saw the Lynxian in distress, I tried to get to her before the monster attacked her, but I wasn’t fast enough. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get there in time to stop it.”

A shocked look crossed Thoth’s face as he stared in disbelief at Hannibal. He looked up at the nine-foot giant that looked like Hannibal, and then back to Hannibal. Astonished murmurs arose among the giants surrounding them. “The prophecy, father,” the nine-foot giant resembling Hannibal whispered in astonishment to Thoth. “It’s true. He’s here with the Ragnaros like Cerrelius predicted.”

“What?” Hannibal asked innocently because of the giant’s reaction. “What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?”

“Oh, no, no,” Ezra called out. “It’s just that we never expected to see you like this in these circumstances. I thank you for saving my wife’s life, Hannibal. But she’s still gravely wounded and needs immediate medical assistance.”

Thoth patted Hannibal on the shoulder with a warm smile. “Thank you for your help, my son,” Thoth said soberly. “You saved my wife’s sister from a gruesome fate. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Hannibal replied. “I always help when I can. Besides, she reminds me so much of Selina that I had to help.”

The nine-foot giant squatted down beside Hannibal and shook his hand. “It is an honor to meet you, brother. My name is Beowulf Caverias. Thoth here is my father. Whether you realize it or not, Cerrelius of Drakonia foretold of your appearance here...a prophecy that spoke of one of our distant descendants becoming a temporal anomaly in our time and helping us in our darkest hour using the sacred Ragnaros to beat back the Darkness. It doesn’t get much darker than it is now. I think the reason everyone is so shocked by you actually being here is no one really believed the prophecy. But I didn’t have any doubt and neither did Aunt Leila. We knew you’d come and help us defeat this insidious darkness. The fact you wield the Ragnaros removes all doubt.”

“Hannibal,” Leila wheezed, finally having understood who Hannibal was.

“Yes, Leila,” Hannibal replied, still mystified by what was going on as he grasped her hand.

Leila stared into his eyes and a smile crossed her lips, despite her pain. “I knew it,” she whispered. “The prophecy; it’s true. Don’t forget…me, Hannibal. And thank…you. I now believe.” She fell unconscious, her hand slipping from Hannibal’s grasp.

Ezra wailed and Hannibal checked her pulse. “She’s still alive,” Hannibal announced. “But she won’t stay that way for long if you don’t do something quick.”

“Don’t worry, my son,” Thoth said. “It’s not her fate to die yet.” With those words, the incredibly vivid dream faded away.

Hannibal paused, composing himself after sharing the dream. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he declared, “After that part of the dream faded away, I have another, much shorter dream concerning the Lynxian Leila. I’m inside a vault of some kind with a sarcophagus in it big enough for Leila to lie in. But it’s not a normal coffin. The coffin and the vault itself were part of some kind of machine used to put Leila in a form of suspended animation or stasis. In the dream, I remember looking down on Leila in the sarcophagus with Thoth, Ezra, Thoth’s son…Beowulf, and someone named Gordo, who I think made the machine. It upsets me tremendously…this part of the dream. They sealed Leila in the sarcophagus to save her from some sort of poison she got when the beast tried to eat her. The dream always fades away as they close and seal the sarcophagus.” Tears dripped from Hannibal’s eyes again. Wiping the tears away, he whispered, “Every time I have that dream, I feel like a piece of my heart is ripped out and wake up crying. It reminds me of when I lost my family to those thugs a lifetime ago. Now, Leila haunts me, crying for me to rescue her from her prison. Is Leila truly alive or is her spirit just haunting me? I don’t know, but this last dream feels like a true distress call much like the one I heard from Rachel. Do I go and release her spirit or don’t I?”

Muriel sat up, turning towards Hannibal. Touching him on the shoulder with her machine hand, she said softly, “I can see how this has haunted you, my friend. But you mustn’t despair. Alive or dead, Leila waits for you in Ezra’s Tower. You’ll not have any peace until you find her. It’s your destiny to resolve Leila’s unfinished business. Go to her. Put her restless spirit to rest.”

“But how,” Hannibal asked, “I’m not sure exactly where she is, though Ezra’s Tower keeps showing up in the dreams.”

“You followed your instincts to me,” Muriel stated, “You dove into the darkness of my prison without know where you were going or what you’d find. Do the same for Leila. You been to Ezra’s Tower twice and both times felt you were missing something very important. Go there and discover the secret that haunts you. And when you go, I shall accompany you. My past and future lie within that Tower. I know it. I must find the key to who I am and I believe the answers to my questions may be there too.”

“Muriel’s right,” Izanami agreed. “Your path is now leading you back to that place, just as it led you into Acheron and then back to the Black Fortress to rescue us. Clues to your destiny lie there. You must act on it.”

Hannibal sighed, knowing they spoke the truth. “It seems I chose my friends well,” he stated. “My heart burns at your words. I shall go there and put Leila’s restless spirit to rest. Seems I made a promise to her that I don’t remember, but everything points to it. I shall honor my promise. Leila will have peace. Speaking of which, what about you Muriel, I made you a promise to help you remember as I did for Amelia. I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I didn’t honor it. I believe, with the proper help, we could unlock your past as we did for Amelia now that I’ve been restored.”

“You would do that...for me?” Muriel asked softly, stunned by Hannibal’s declaration. “I thought you’d forgotten about that.”

“I didn’t forget,” Hannibal stated, putting his hand on Muriel’s shoulder. “Until now, I didn’t think I was capable of handling it.”

“What’s changed?” Chizu asked.

“Hannibal’s restoration,” Izanami stated. “When Jo reversed the mutation on him, he was able to finish the process and complete his soul. Now his mind has been healed, giving him access to Hanna’s power, not just his own. I can sense his telepathic power and prowess has jumped another tenfold since his rebirth. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, but he’s hesitant to use it because it frightens him.”

“True,” Hannibal admitted, looking at Izanami. “It does scare me. I’m glad you sensed it. It’s one of the reasons I’m keeping my telepathic guard down right now. I wanted you and Muriel to see what I’m becoming and how much it scares me.”

“You mustn’t fear it,” Izanami instructed, “It’s as much a part of you as your arms or legs. You need to nurture it so you can control it and not the other way around.”

“Sister Izanami is correct,” Muriel agreed. “I know you’ve accepted the power given you, but you have yet to tame it. Because you haven’t tamed it, the power scares you. I can see that. You need to tame it. You already have great control over it and not realize it. Believe in yourself. I know you can tame it. The brutal truth is you’re going to have to face this fear if you wish to help me. You and Selina both saw what the Cadre did when you purged the demon that punished me for straying too close to the forbidden area of my mind and memories. It was just the first of many levels of lethal security to prevent me from remembering who and what I am. To do what you want is going to require you to use everything you have to break the locks on my memories. Those locks are designed to annihilate anyone who touches them without the Emperor’s permission. I fear for you trying such a thing alone.”

“I will not be alone,” Hannibal stated. “I intend to enlist every telepathic heavy hitter I can find, including the drakens. I saw the fortifications around your identity and know it’s very dangerous. I could feel the heinous darkness emanating from it...a darkness I’m very familiar with. It’s time for you to remember who you are.”

“Oh, Hannibal,” Muriel murmured emotionally. “I don’t know what to say. You really think you and your telepathic friends can overcome the chains put around my mind by the Cadre?”

“Absolutely,” Hannibal stated categorically. “It can and will be done. The Almighty will break the chains on your mind and free your identity and soul from its prison. Just as I’m to put Leila’s spirit to rest, I’m to do this for you. It’s been burning in my spirit since my rebirth into this world. The Ancient of Days says it’s time to bring you into the Light.”

Muriel threw her arms around Hannibal, embracing him warmly. “Thank you, my friend,” she cried. “Thank you so much. I’m so happy I can’t even express it.”

Hannibal returned the hug, saying, “I know you are. I can feel it...your hope rising like a flare in the darkness. And you will come with me to find and put Leila to rest remembering who you are. That’s a promise.”

“You are amazing, Hannibal,” Sakura chimed, “I can now see how you and Hanna are the same person. You talk exactly as she does with such passion and selfless love. If there’s anything I can do to help sister Muriel remember let me know.” The other sisters reinforced Sakura’s statement.

“Being Muriel’s friend and sister is the best thing any of you could do for her,” Hannibal stated. “By accepting her as you accepted me, you showed both of us we’re not alone. Muriel truly appreciates your love and friendship.”

“I do,” Muriel stated, sitting back in her lounge chair. “But I’m incomplete. I don’t know who I am as you do, my sisters. I must grasp at this chance to find my identity and destiny. I know it’s dangerous and I may die if things go wrong. But I must take that chance if Hannibal is willing to take it. He promised to help me remember when he brought me out as Hanna. If you sisters want to do anything, pray for me when Hannibal tries to break the seal on my memories.”

“That’s a very good idea,” Hannibal chimed. “Prayers very well may be our most potent weapon against the dark chains imprisoning Muriel’s minds. It proved to be crucial in freeing Amelia’s identity. Besides, we need all the help we can get.”

“Then we shall pray,” Izanami declared. “Just let us know when you plan to do this for Sister Muriel.”

“I will,” Hannibal stated, “I promise.”

“When are you going to do this for Muriel?” Chizu asked.

“Not for a day or two,” Hannibal admitted. “I’m still just a little weak from my rebirth into this world. I need to be recovered fully before I attempt it. It’s one of the reasons I’m down here at the pool. I thought taking a swim would boost my recovery.”

“Then you should take that swim by all means,” Myra insisted. “Don’t let us get in the way.”

“Okay,” Hannibal replied warmly, suddenly leaning over and kissing Muriel on the cheek. “Know that we all love you, Muriel. As soon as I can get my strength back and pull the team together, we’re going to take a wrecking ball to that Cadre fortress imprisoning your mind and identity. I promise.”

The kiss utterly surprised Muriel, leaving her speechless. She touched her cheek softly as Hannibal stood up. “See you later, Muriel, sisters. Thanks for helping me figure out what to do about Leila. I appreciate it.”

“It was our pleasure, brother,” Izanami chimed. “If you ever need our advice or a sympathetic ear, we’re always here. Now, go see your little girl. I know you’ve wanted to talk to her ever since you got here.”

Hannibal nodded with a smile and a grunt, walking away. Everyone watched as he quickly dove into the pool. “Are you all right, sister?” Tasha asked Muriel, seeing the blush in her face as she held her cheek where Hannibal kissed her.

“I think so,” Muriel whispered. “I never thought he’d be so tender and loving after seeing Hanna. I could have sworn Hanna kissed me.”

“She may have,” Izanami replied warmly. “Hannibal and Hanna are the same, you know. He may have let her out briefly when he kissed you. I know how attached to Hanna you were.”

“I was,” Muriel admitted, sighing. “But I saw so much of Hanna in Hannibal just now. They truly are two sides of the same soul. I just hope Hannibal can keep the love he learned as Hanna.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem,” Myra stated. “I must agree with Sakura in what she said about them. Hannibal and Hanna are reflections of one another and it shows in their mannerisms and passion for life. We have found a great ally and friend in them.”

“That we have,” Izanami agreed. “He knows us because he’s been one of us as Hanna. But Hannibal is still searching for his destiny. We should help him whenever he needs it.”

“We will,” Myra said, smiling warmly. “It’s what sisters do for one another.”

“Indeed,” Tasha agreed. “But you have to admit he’s very handsome, even with all those scars. They tend to give him almost a cat-like appearance.”

“That they do,” Sakura stated. “And I remember seeing many of those same scars on Hanna. He and Hanna truly are one gorgeous being. If he didn’t already have Selina, I’d do him in an instant.”

“Sakura!” Izanami scolded. “You shouldn’t talk like that. He’s not for us.”

“I know,” Sakura admitted. “But I’m just saying if he didn’t have Selina, I’d let him take me without a fight. Being his mate would be the honor of honors. However, I know that will never happen so you don’t have anything to worry about.”

“I know what Sakura is saying,” Tasha stated. “And I agree. In another life, maybe another dimension, Hannibal may not have Selina and could just as easily see one of us as his soul mate. It would be a great honor to have him as a husband.”

Izanami chuckled. “I’m forced to agree,” she admitted. “All of us love him and wish he were our soul mate. But let’s not get too bogged down in wishes what-ifs that will never be. It could cause distraction to not just us, but Hannibal too. Still, of those here I believe Muriel would have the greatest chance of snaring him. He sees Muriel as a lost soul like he is.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Muriel corrected. “He doesn’t see me as a lost soul like him. He sees me as a kindred spirit, but not a soul mate. In fact, he sees many of you as kindred spirits and is willing to put his life on the line to protect us. But Selina has always had his heart. They are two of a kind who found each other against all odds. They are perfect soul mates. I’ve seen it. Neither of them is truly complete without the other.”

“True,” Izanami agreed. “I think we should be thankful Hannibal considers us kindred spirits. I know I am.”

“We all are,” Myra stated. “He did so much for us as Hanna. Now I think we’re about to see who he truly is and what he can do. We haven’t seen anything yet.”

“No, you haven’t,” Nemesis stated, overhearing their conversation as he approached like a ghost. “Hannibal is just starting to unleash his full potential now that he’s been restored. Where is he, anyway?”

“Over in the pool,” Izanami answered. “He wanted to take a swim and see Rachel.”

“Right,” Nemesis stated. “Thanks.”

“What’s going on, Nemesis?” Myra asked. “Does it have to do with the Emperor?”

“Aeolus wants to see Hannibal right away,” Nemesis reported. “What it is he wouldn’t say, but he said it was very important.”

“I see,” Izanami replied. “Then Hannibal shouldn’t keep Aeolus waiting, but couldn’t you let him have just a few minutes with Rachel? He hasn’t really interacted with her since his rebirth.”

“I don’t see why not,” Nemesis stated. “Thank you, sisters.” He bowed to them and walked to the pool, searching for Hannibal.

“This doesn’t sound good,” Myra commented. “Nemesis is very nervous for some reason. Whatever Aeolus wants must be very important to have Nemesis so worried.”

“I felt it too,” Izanami stated. “But we must have faith. With Hannibal’s rebirth and resurrection, the prophecies cannot be ignored any longer. He is the Beowulf, the Last Caverias spoken of by the prophecies. Now, his mettle is going to be tested. We must be ready to stand with him.”

“We will,” Chizu stated. “We must. He’s our salvation.”

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