Arc 4: What families entail
{Since I've come to this world, there was so much to get used to. There's so much to learn, to the point where I feel like a baby walking around.}
He ran along the tree branches, leapt up and swung off of another, before rolling over the ground without mana. Under the bright sun and over the dense snow. Suffering from a bit of pain and fear.
{ But so much has changed. I'm growing, and I can't deny it. I'm really getting better. It's been like hell to get here, and I've almost died like a million times, yet here I am!}
He continued to dash along, shooting out the Cloak to snag onto the thick trunks to swing and carry his momentum. Kinda like holding onto a railing while running down a staircase, in his mind anyway. Moving around like a small shadow, due to the Cloak fluttering along with him.
{ But Rosemary, Edward, Soku, they all are. Their worlds have changed more than mine. Maybe, since mine is a bit more literal. But it's crazy! I've fought anarchists, trained with some of the greatest, met some of the greatest and the worst, ridden on Dragons, saved my friends, hell I even got a girlfriend! I might be jinxing myself, and I might sound like a loser with a power fantasy, but this world does suck.}
There were roars, slight feelings of Spiritual presences, a constant fear he couldn't shake no matter how much he trained or went through. Keeping a fearful face, a heart full of worry, and sweaty screams as he fought forward.
{ Ophelia burned right in front of me, and that's never gonna go away. She was so nice, like purity in a person, and now her screams play in the back of my mind. It's terrible. It's all terrible. I've broken bones, gotten sliced, thrown out of windows, pushed off of cliffs, almost died of frostbite, almost blown up, almost burned to death, and that's not even half of it! In three months! Feels like a lifetime compared to Earth. Wait, I think they call this place Earth too, maybe? Should I ask?}
The short sword on his back almost got caught in the forest. His chest plate, shoulder guards, leg guards, and vambraces held him down like training weights. The finger-less gloves made him feel lame, and made his hands sweaty. Even if they were made lighter just for him. Even his belt was a little too big. The only thing that seemed to work was the Cloak, with its gooey rubbery texture, sliding or seeping through things caught in its path. Even the hood stayed down and away from his face in order to not obscure his vision. Acting almost like a safety blanket, even if he had to do all the fighting and maneuvering. It didn't feel alive, but it felt more real than any piece of cloth. With a soul, maybe false, artificial or corrupted, but a soul. Something he was getting better with, and growing closer to by the day.
{ Al, Musashi, Kioshi. All after another. I can't keep up with it all. But I gotta stay happy! I gotta do it! Because I can! We all can! That's the most optimistic way to see it, even if I can't feel that way.}
Every second he pushed himself. Holding a constant low flow of mana, moving so much. Having to keep track of his legs, his waving arms, his shaking head, his trembling body. Whilst pulling in Spirit mana, making sure he didn't slip, didn't step over the dense roots piercing out of the ground, or run into any Spirit Beast. Practicing all he knew and trying things he didn't. Testing his leaping, turning, dashing, and pivoting strength to make it into the air before tossing out his Cloak. With the ends split and around branches above, he grabbed hold and yanked with all his might to launch forward over a small drop. Mid-air, he spread out the Cloak. Making it thin, dense, and flexible at the same time to catch the air.
{I can do what Ryo wants me to do, even if barely. I still don't see why so many people see that as a good thing, with whatever I do.}
He had managed to catch the draft, slowly gliding down to the ground before rolling on to continue sprinting. Successfully slowing his descent, even if a little, for the first time after weeks of trial and error. And lots of slamming his face against trees, like he did with his swinging. But barley wouldn't ever be enough. Barley wouldn't save Ophelia, Kioshi, Musashi, Al, or anyone else. Hammering it into its soul with each day. Breaking himself down, healing just enough to stand, and doing it again the next day. Almost four weeks straight, and the only thing stopping him from doing it as long as possible was the need to reach his friends in Athens.
{I still haven't gotten a letter from them. It should be here in a few days. The last one said they were meeting Moro, and I can't help but shake the feeling something's really bad.}
For Gray, he faced his skin flaking off due to the cold. Constant sniffing, aching joints, and attacks from Spirit Beasts. Even now he was using his vambrace and a layer of mana to hold off a White Wolf. A Mid-Tier Spirit beast with white fur, black eyes, and frozen teeth that turned whatever was in its grasp into frost. However his mana was resisting the mana, giving Gray the chance to slam his other fist against the wolves large head.
{Geez I hate doing this but fighting beasts is scary as hell!}
It seemed no matter what he went through his face was red with fear, sweating and drenched in panic. Squeaking and curling each time the beast moved, even if he was slashing at it with his sword. Causing the beast to leap back, and launch toward Gray's face with its jaw wide open.
Gray: "EEEEK!"
He let out a spark of mana, pushing his Spirit mana toward his sword to ignite it in a bright blue light, before stabbing through the wolves mouth with a powerful thrust. Sinking through its dense flesh, hard bone, and skull to leave it dying in moments. Its last breath leaving Gray seeping into a somber tsunami.
Gray: "Ugh. This sucks."
It was like his hatred was on repeat. Stuck in this mountain, growing and growing by the day, hearing the same harsh words and screams again and again. Letting the snow fall over him, the birds chirp around him, and the Cloak holds him tight. Before Ryo and Dema appeared ahead.
Ryo: "We will soon reach my home. Are you sure you're ready?"
Gray: "As ready as I'll ever be. I know that's a lie technically but I need to go. "
Ryo: "Well then come on."
It had only been five days since the loss at Solon Bay, four days since Edward met Lincoln, four days since Julius and Rosemary found themselves stuck in Athens tower. But, for the last few hours, a new prisoner has arrived. Sitting in mana dampening cuffs, dense chains, a bag on her head, and by Warriors while Spirit Horses pulled her through the streets and into the Tower grounds.
Soku {How could I let this happen.}
She could only be thankful that they covered his head. Letting her cry, flare with rage, bite her lips and tongue, anything to act out. But with a gag in her mouth, chains all around, her mana held down, she had absolutely nothing. Just herself and the darkness of her failure.
Irsa: "Can't believe she gave my Warriors such trouble."
Crevasse: "Your Warriors? Hah! You're Vice Captain y'know."
Irsa: "HUSH BEFORE I PIERCE YOUR HEART WITH MY LANCE!"
Listening to their constant arguing was the only thing keeping Soku away from delving completely into her own self hatred, as the annoyance kept her sane. But she was still pushed, forced to walk, lifted, and barricaded as they took her under the Tower.
"Can't believe it's really an Elf!" "How much do you think she goes for?" "Why are we doing this to a little kid?" "Cut her ass she cut me and threw my brother off a roof!"
Everyone butted heads from perspective, hatred, and tiredness until they tossed her into a damp small cell for the past few hours. Letting her sit with her wounds. Herself. Confined in every way, unable to even move side to side without slamming into a dense stone wall. Outside was the tanned stone, brick dungeon. Holding piles of Red Arrows, Demi-humans, a few actual criminals, and Soku herself. Screaming, crying, bashing the walls, for nothing. As the room was barren from guards, blocked off by a thick Dragon Stone door. The only entrances aside from such doors were the water and sewer pipes flowing in and pouring out into the drains around the bottom floor.
Soku {Dammit dammit dammit! What am I supposed to do!? SHIT! I CAN'T, I…GOD DAMMIT WHAT DO I DO!?}
All she had the power to do was mourn. Sobbing to Ophelia, her mother, her friends. For Leo and all the Red Arrows she was supposed to bring hope to. Stuck because she wanted to prove herself. To try and do real good along with it. Floors and floors above her were Rosemary pacing around in her room. Letters on her desk for Gray, bandages on her from the constant dueling with Calgary, and a rapidly beating heart. Until Calgary burst in, smacking his lips at the sight of Rosemary's flowing short hair in the rising sun's light, and filled her with disgust.
Rosemary: "Yes?"
Calgary: "Come on don't be like that! Follow me, get somethin to show yah. I think you'll be happy!"
Rosemary: "Whatever."
With a pale face absent of any hope or energy, mana dampening cuffs holding in her strength, she slowly stepped forward out of her room and into the large twisting halls of the tower.
Rosemary: "How come you don't like to show your Goldenwind heritage?"
Calgary: "How come you're so willing to show it off. You've gotta know what people say and think when they figure it out. Call you a deserter, a failure. Like you killed them or somethin."
It felt like slamming into a Dragon stone wall. What he said was exactly right. And Rosemary truly could relate, to somebody who seems so gross. Everytime he looked back he stared toward her, when she walked away he stared towards her. When she slept he waited outside her door, everyday he was outside her door, knocking and knocking to pull Rosemary into something else she didn't want to do. Leaving her with no choice, as could Rosemary really say no? With all of the Warriors around, with Calgary's rank, with Bearguard's growing control over Athens, she had nothing. And it was only getting worse.
Rosemary: "Yeah, I know something about that."
Each clank of his heavy armor irritated her. Each heavy breath through his messed up face reminded her of his existence. A bastard who was holding a Bearguard of all people. Doing whatever horrors he was ordered to. But she followed, around the stairs, past many Warriors and guards that Calgary waved to, until they reached the bottom of the tower. Leaving Calgary huffing and puffing on the stairs as Rosemary continued.
Rosemary: "You don't have to wear that armor all the time y'know."
Calgary: "In a warring country! And one of the first Golden Knight rules is to always be prepared."
Rosemary: "Surprised you want anything to do with them. After their existence almost got you killed."
Calgary: "Look I didn't hate it, they gave me strength. Not in the best ways but still, honestly I didn't have the worst time. What about you?"
Lashes, constant berating, the screams of the innocent, years of brutal training and living to become the struggling warrior she is today. Leaving her face even more sick than usual, before the anger came forth.
Rosemary: "It was awful. Village after village, towns, even cities. For what? For coin? The world puts the Guild Hunter at fault, but the Golden Knights killed just as many. And yet they're held so highly."
Calgary: "Cause you gotta look at what they did before the Demi-human war ended! Fighting against the Sect, The Demi-Human Army, Valatroctius and Ravoria. They were heroes!"
Rosemary: "Those heroes died off in those battles."
All Calgary could do was sigh, continuing to let Rosemary lead the way down to the large Dragon Stone doors. Kept safe by Warriors, and Irsa herself.
Irsa: "You ready?"
Calgary: "We're here aren't we?"
Irsa groaned before pulling on the lever by the door, causing the dense chains within the walls to pull along the gears. Forcing the doors open, sliding under moving bricks to ease the process. Allowing them to step into the dungeon, and get hit with a torrent of deafening screams.
"I'LL KILL YOU!", "PLEASE I'M INNOCENT!", "I'LL TALK I'LL TALK!", "THE RED ARROWS WILL NEVER DIE!"
Over and over, all different aside from the cursing, until they made it up the stairs and to Soku's small cell.
Rosemary: "What is this?"
Calgary: "You're present. I think you'll like it."
Irsa used the key and the door was pulled open, allowing Rosemary to collapse to her knees in an instant. At the sight of Sokus' broken form. Then, with tears and vomit in her mouth, she charged forward with a fist slamming across Irsa's face. The Warriors were quick to take out their weapons, but Calgary was faster, bashing her to the ground before igniting his blue stages to hold her still.
Calgary: "STOP IT! Speak to your friend! Before you're locked back down here alongside her."
Rosemary: "I'LL STOP WHEN YOU FREE HER! UNTIL THEN DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS!"
Unable to think straight she flung her head backward, smashing Calgary's helmet against his face while she dashed to Soku. Yanking the bag off of her face and the gag out of her mouth, seeing the beaten and bruised girl lost to despair. She didn't fight any longer. She didn't try to snap the chains off of Soku. She just held her, crying and crying, as the sight of her face only meant the worst. Soku, Julius, Edward, and now herself were all defeated. Leaving Walgonia in the balance of everyone else.
Irsa: "You bitch!"
As Irsa threw her arm forward, a large bright glowing lance formed around it. But Calgary stopped it with a jab to her stomach, stunning her and shattering her construct. Before staring back at Rosemary with a hefty sigh. She had her arms around Soku, her eyes erupting with rage toward all of the Warriors, and her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was gonna implode. Irsa just pulled away with rage and almost went to step away before kicking Calgary across the balcony. Gazing with fire just as bright as Rosemary's.
Irsa: "Feeling pity for the Golden scum, feeling pity for that disgusting trash the Goldenwind is holding, even wanting that near us. It is nothing like Athens! The Athens our King wishes to bring forward. Walgonia is in control of Arthur Williams, and the old ways might not like how he's handling it, but he has made it clear that these two are devils who must be turned in promptly."
Calgary couldn't help but chuckle, standing while the Warriors cautiously backed away. Crevass observed in the back of the dungeon, staring into each prisoner's hand with a bottle of whiskey at his lips. Before dropping to his knees at the sight of Bearguard himself. Quickly stepping down the stone stairs with his hands in his coat pockets, along with a small group of elite guards. Between them all, smiling and walking confidently, was Julius. Taking the room's attention instantly, and leaving Ursa and Calgary frozen with each other's collars in their hands.
Beauregard: "Have we learned anything!?"
When Calgary turned back, all he could see was Rosemary and Soku in pain. Holding each other, silent, with tears in their eyes. Falling to despair together.
Calgary: "Please? So she isn't killed."
Rosemary instantly went to speak, but Soku lunged forward to bite her hand.
Soku: "I'd rather die than sell them out! You can do whatever you want!"
Calgary looked back toward Beauregard, sighing.
Beauregard: "Then we'll go with the other plan."
Calgary instantly pushed Rosemary and Soku into the back of the cell before slamming the door closed, locking them together for the time being. Causing Irsa to burst out into laughter, and Bearguard to turn back up the stairs. As frustrated as ever. However Julius stood looking up, right beside Crevasse.
Crevasse: "How come you're not in there with him?"
Julius: "Because I have powerful leverage."
Crevasse: "Mph, cool."
Irsa leapt into the air before slamming against the ground, sending out a burst of pressure before quickly making her way to Beauregard. Smacking past Julius and Crevasse at the same time. Julius instead locked eyes with Calgary next, seeing them struggling under his mask. Before his head jerked away and he began to lay against the railing, guarding the door for the time being. So, unable to speak or see his companions, he followed Beauregard as well. Up the winding stairs and out of the cave-like prison let him walk onto the first floor.
Rosemary: "I…I'm so -
Rosemary was chattering, unable to speak, stuttering over everything.
Soku: "STOP IT! PLEASE! PLEASE JUST DON'T! I CAN'T, I CAN'T TAKE THAT RIGHT NOW!"
Soku was kicking and screaming and sweating and crying and raging and feeling just about everything else she possibly could about losing this hard. For pulling Rosemary down this far. For putting Athens and Walgonia in jeopardy. For killing Ophelia and Musashi and Kioshi and Al. The fire within that burned her soul ignited as bright as her friends, with the same fuel, just in a different package. Unable to even bond over the loss. Only able to freak out and explode into an emotional outburst.
Rosemary: "I just want to help! You're so young! You -
Soku: "I SAID STOP IT DAMMIT! I'M AN ELF, I CAN USE MY MANA FROM THE TIME I'M BORN! I HAVE A LOT OF MANA! I HAVE A MARK OF PROVIDENCE! I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO TRAIN WITH THE BEST, YEARS TO PRACTICE, AND HERE I AM! I AM NOTHING, THAT'S WHAT!"
Unable to let that built up anger flow into her nightly escapades, and such escapades causing so much harm to herself, there was nothing. Training, talking, sleeping, eating, fighting, thinking. All circling back to the primal horror that forever embedded itself into her psyche. Ophelia screams bloody murder, reaching out to her sister, as she was blown to ashes into the wind by Soku's rampaging Mark. However, Mark could do nothing now. Only causing the mana dampening crystals to glow as she resisted, yelling out all of her despair.
Soku: "SO PLEASE EITHER STOP IT AND LET ME SIT HERE, BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING ELSE YOU CAN DO! WE LOST! WE FAILED! WE SURVIVED ARTHUR, THE SECT, LEFT OPHELIA AND NOW WE'RE STUCK!"
Rosemary: "But we have the others! Gray isn't -
Soku: "DON'T JUST GO BACK TO HIM! THAT'S ANOTHER PROBLEM!"
Rosemary pulled back in confusion, only for Soku to stand tall.
Soku: "WHY HAVEN'T YOU OR JULIUS DONE ANYTHING!? WHAT HAVE YOU TWO BEEN DOING!? WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING!?"
Rosemary: "Do you think I wouldn't go if I could!?"
Rosemary tried to hold in a surprise burst of fury, but she couldn't be pummeled into the stone just for Soku to feel better. For Rosemary's sake, Soku would realize just what she was doing. By standing up herself, wiping her tears, and shouting firm enough to push Soku back. It sent a chill Soku had never felt before around her bruised skin and burning muscles.
Rosemary: "THERE ARE WARRIORS EVERY WHERE! ELITE WARRIORS, STRONG FIGHTERS, BOUNTY HUNTERS, PROBABLY PIRATES! IF I LEFT JULIUS OR JULIUS LEFT ME THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT THEY'D DO! IF WE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THEM, THEN WE COULD SOLVE IT WITHOUT WAR! WHAT DO YOU THINK JULIUS HAS BEEN DOING!? WHY DO YOU THINK I EVEN RESPOND TO THAT DRAGON STONE ASS!"
She was breathing heavily, gripping her fists, leaning forward over Soku. While Soku shook with tears in her eyes, before dropping down to the ground in silence. Causing Rosemary to immediately pull back in a violent panic. Slamming into the iron door with absolute fear in her eyes. Shuttering while turning whiter than a ghost. Like she had been killed, dropping to the floor along with Soku. With their knees together, lost to themselves.
Rosemary {What is wrong with me.}
All she could do was shake, gasp, and face the flood of punishment. Brought to her by her memories. Seeing her eight year old self hit a broken prisoner because her father was screaming at her. Listening to her mother berate her for how weak she was. How the glances she drew made her family look like pigs. How only reaching stage three at eighteen, as the daughter of the captain, was nothing more than a disgrace worse than death. Soku on the other hand could only think back to the one real mother she had. The husk of a woman who slowly rotted away in her bedroom. Her sunken eyes and grumbling stomach consumed in the burning fire around Ophelia.
Rosemary {How could I ever think I could be a hero.}
They both agreed, at least spiritually, on one thing for once.
{How long has it been.}
As Athens was closing in on its darkest hour, the Last Helsing breathed a painful sigh under what may be the cause of an even darker hour. His eyes open, staring out at the lava lit stone, feeling his body get better by the hour. A body riddled with burns, cuts, bruises, broken bones, pulled muscles, concussions, twisted ankles, wrists, and a handful of other things. Under only pants, broken to become dark tan shorts.
{I wonder if Lincoln gave up already.}
After his twelve hours of fighting through the labyrinth, slaughtering Spirit Beast after Spirit beast and running away from anything too much, leaping over the deadly terrain, and naked his way through the maze to take a four hour nap. However that four hour nap has turned into an entire day and a half. Half conscious as his body made its way back together. For Edward, and most of it, was Helsing physiology. Gaining strength through battle was a constant for every race, but Helsings were far more potent. However his rage was settled into a more sober despair, letting the pain flood in and take over.
{I wonder how long I woulda been dead without the Helsing blood. Hell I probably wouldn't even be here, I definitely wouldn't!}
Each movement felt like it was weighed down by Dragon Stone chains bound directly to the stone floor. The air was so hot the walls began to close in. He needed water, food, sunlight, fresh air, so he could really heal. And yet, he would suffer. He wouldn't let himself die, as that flame still existed. Athens was falling, everybody was falling. Each time they push through arc after arc they will still fall. Until they learn how to soar on the way down, they won't be able to stop anybody else from falling along with them. It's just that Athens may not have the time. Unless they managed to do something about it. Not just survive and let their home, and everybody else in it, burn in the process. But to truly win. That was the goal. To take vengeance, to push past whatever barrier they can't seem to understand, and become something greater. A dream. And a really faint, black and white one at that.
Edward {But then I guess I wouldn't be me. People would just laugh if I said I didn't want to. The name, the honor, the purpose that comes with it. The strength. Even if it's less, they'd take it in a heartbeat. Only the Spirits know why I was swapped. Or why I can't.}
He was able to see, he was able to feel past the pain, and his breathing was becoming slightly less painful; he was actually getting better. Feeling it by the hour, taking it all in more than he ever had before. Not passed out while a healer magically accelerated the process, take an elixir that eases the pain, or just sleep it off the old fashion way. But really drowning in the ocean of it all. Each muscle becomes denser. The tiny portion of mana he had slowly drained into his body, extremely slowly. His bones are regrowing to his shattered bones. Every part of him that was both human to this world, and inhuman to it. Every part that made him, himself.
Edward {They'd say to get over it. That it's easy. That it doesn't hurt that bad. That I'm just another story in a hundred of them. And they're right. So what can I do about it!? If I could stand I would! Why won't my body let me stand dammit!?}
He wouldn't tear up. He would focus. He would look at the stone piercing out of the ground and ceiling. Sniff the burning steam. Rub the dense stone beneath his fingers. To ensure he existed. Trying to stand as the seconds passed. Rosemary shook her head in denial, Soku was combusting in fury, Edward was broken. But Edward would put his life into moving. Soku threw her head forward, getting Rosemary to grab her hairpin for their escape. And the Red Arrows, mourning the loss at Leo's chance at freedom, had their leaders sitting on a bench right across from Leo. Staring passed the guards, through the snow, through the gates.
Toll: "It's pretty isn't it?"
Peter: "Nicer when it wasn't so busted."
Near the Tower the buildings were struggling. The light stone and white buildings were black with soot and burns, broken walls and ceilings all around, fights breaking out in every other alley, people running and moving in groups to stay safe to get home. Scared to even try and leave in the chaos. So they'd close their blinds if they even had any, lock the destroyed doors, and live in their almost non-existent homes. Without carriages or wagons, horses or any Spirit Beast, or real weaponry. All taken for the Warriors. Blacksmiths shops, healers, herbalists, anything useful.
Toll: "What do we do Peter?"
Cloaked in thick rags with Peter and a mana dampening crystal in her pocket to mask her more spiritual presence. Peter was silent and focused on the piling snow over the cobbled streets. Shivering, holding himself to ease the anxiousness, and horribly worried a guard may spot them.
Toll: "Even if we help him, Beauregard may win the war. Probably kill those Walgonians. And begin extreme measures for information. If that happens, it's all gone"
He chatters his teeth and tries his best to answer, but he just couldn't. As he lacked the strength.
Toll: "I think we will have to fall back on the final plan. So Athens can live on, spiritually."
Even the thought of it made Peter's heart churn. Turning this horrible nightmare into a fading reality. One that left him chuckling. With tears, anger, and conviction erupting in his eyes he finally spoke forth.
Peter: "They expect us to give up, to sink lower. To give in. But we have to live up to Athens' heart. We have to keep fighting. They'll never expect us to fight the hardest in our darkest hour. Because they're not real Warriors. The Red Arrows, all of them are, because they embody Athens. Everybody here has a heart. We just need to reignite that spark!"
Toll didn't know how to react. Smiling, tearing up, getting a heart filled with panic. But she calmed herself with a heavy breath and patted his back, before standing with him in her hand.
Toll: "Come on. I think we found the key to all of this."
Peter: "Who!?"
Toll: "For somebody so smart you're so stupid y'know?"
Finally, a true smile. Yet another light in the dark. The Golden Warrior and the Elf would work together to reach freedom. The Last Van Helsing would force his foot into the ground and slowly rise again. And the Red Arrows would move on. To look past the hope the Knights gave them, and fight unlike they ever have before.