Arc 4: What families entail
The sun had risen over Saga. Ravoria, Valatroctius, Walgonia, and Athens all awoke. But so many were already awake, and so many were awake for days. But, for the Alpha camp of Walgonia, and Athens forces, they were finally able to rest. In two days the Elites would enact their Purge, In Two Days the Red Arrows were going to unleash a massive battle in Cretan, in two days the fate of Athens would be thrown even further in the air. The Alpha Camp however was finally breathing. United with Jong's own forces, Jong himself, and victorious over the Battle of Guren. Knights still ran and screamed, swinging their blades against the fire balls, water spouts, and earth shields of the last remaining Sect Elites. Breaking through with the last of all their strength, relying on other knights to jump in and end the battle. Each Knight used the last bit they had, which was way more than these anarchists.
"We got 'em!"
Cleaning out Guren, walking through the destroyed burnt and uprooted streets. Where two out of every four houses were broken, and one out of every five houses was completely destroyed to a crater of debris. They burnt and cut down the Sect Crests to replace them with Walgonian W's. They took whatever they could from the Elites. And any captured members, including the basically dead body of Donte, were going to be left in one of the destroyed buildings and sealed in until they likely died. All while the many knights around ate old meat, scraps they could find, soups of random Spirit Beasts, bone cakes, blood broth, elixirs and healing spells, anything to get sustenance.
Gray: "Ow ow!"
Jong: "Come on! You gotta scream bright and cheer, smile, love livin bro!"
Then there was Gray. Under the warm orange sky it rained snow. Sitting on a box of supplies in a small medical street, half a district was set up to heal the thousands of injured knights. Walter was forced to drink elixirs that made him fall asleep so they could heal, stitch, and wrap up his painful wounds without him roaring in a panic. Muther hummed a looping tone while they wrapped his arms and legs in bandages. Venyet begrudgingly sat squirming and tensing in anguish while a male healer used healing magic over her body. Gabby cheered on for everybody to get better while she was bedridden with a broken leg. Leaving Lanner, Jong, and Chris, who all sat on boxes around Gray drinking healing elixirs, taking in painful healing magic, and getting their wounds stitched closed.
Gray: "OWWW!"
Jong: "This is the easy part, don't be screamin, be smilin!"
Gray: "It hurts though! Feels like my body hates it! I can feel by skin wiggling and my muscles stretching, by bones burnin! In battle I'm always distracted, and even then I'm still screamin!"
Gray on the other hand was armor less, and Levithan Shirtless, getting covered in thick bandages while they poured and rubbed in various freezing cold or burning hot elixirs. His right arm was in a comedically large cast, his shattered fingers in a similar condition, and his left arm was in a smaller but still quite large cast. His neck was held by a tight, choking, brace, while his face, head, and legs were almost completely wrapped. Swarmed with male and female Medical Mages trying to fix the damage he did. Something he was usually asleep for, but since he managed to hold out and never pass out or fall asleep, he was awake and acting. So even if he was complaining, in truth, he loved it.
Lanner: "I don't usually say stuff like this, so I'm pr -
Chris: "We're so proud of you! You took down two Pillars! You got Zhao to get the other to leave! And you and Lanner were able to clear and distract the reinforcements!"
Gray: "I didn't really impress Zhao on purpose, and I got lucky because the Pillars were so angry with me. Gurens destroyed, and more reinforcements are probably preparing to attack right now! Even if we're standing, we didn't win, did we?"
Chris: "Our mission was to get to Jong. Freeing Guren was more of a hope. Destroying it…it's terrible. But a large amount of the Sect was just taken out from our campaigns. The other camps are reportedly doing well with the smaller scale villages, some towns, and if we can unite with them, we'll have most of Southern Walgonia's Knights armed and ready to take back our country!"
Gray rubbed Dema's head in his fear, looking down at his blooded, dirty, cracked mask in his lap. His shattered form. This shattered world. Chris' words couldn't help but feel like sour grapes or something. Trying to see the glass half full with complete certainty, no matter the reality. Even if the reality Gray couldn't help but see was clouded in his own internal resentment.
Jong: "The Beta and Delta Camps are strong, even if North Walgonia is the magically strongest. But they've done great at holding ground, but we can't rely on them for a final battle so quickly. I will lead us from here, and once we're together I'll take us near the Leviathan Armies base."
Jong placed his fist against Gray's chest, causing Gray's panic to freeze for just a second. Staring at Jong's wrinkled, scared, smiling face. Lanner's smirk, and Chris' soft grin.
Jong: "You've got a mission too don't yah kid? The gear you wear, at least your under clothes, are Levithan right? Chris said something about you having to go to Athens. You're not some low ranked Knight. You're not weak. You shined brighter than any of us here, other than Walter. He's crazy strong! It's unfair! But aside from that you're awesome! Don't forget that."
Gray: "...I do have a mission. My friend and I are on a mission from Gordon himself. They went to Athens to find the Red Arrows, and help Leo take control of Athens so we can use their strength to take back Walgonia. But things have gone bad, and I'm supposed to be there right now. But I couldn't just leave Walgonia, not when I could help! I still don't know if leaving you guys is the right choice!"
Jong: "Go kid! On that Earth Bound Dragon you can get there tomorrow night at top speed, maybe a little longer. If I can we can help, but you did enough. And I'm so glad you helped! You're a real Knight y'know. So keep shining brightly, and go to your friends! Don't waste anymore time!"
Gray leapt away from the nurses, triggering Dema to stand tall. Lanner and Chris patted his shoulder, while Gabby and Muther cheered from down the street. Triggering everybody to cheer. Then came Carlos, shooting an arrow into the sky that erupted like a firework. In the shape of Walgonia's crest. Signaling their victory proud and clear, along with an exit, as Gray flew through the sky screaming in fear while Dema blasted further faster faster and faster.
Gray {I'll never forgive myself for making you wait so long, but I'll make it up to you. All of these battles have made me even stronger than I was when I left Greenvale. It summarizes everything I've learned. I'm ready, I swear I'm ready to stand beside you all this time.}
For Athens, to Athens, while Athens itself planned its own destruction. Leo had worked hard to gather and reconnect the Red Arrows, while Beauregard sent out Calgary and Ursa to do something similar. Beauregard got Raylice, currently standing in his office at the top of Athens tower with her, while they watched Calgary and Irsa walk through the door.
Beauregard: "Calgary found the strongest Elite Warriors, Irsa the strongest noble families, and Crevasse the strongest Warriors."
Calgary was fully covered by his Dragon stone armor, trying to keep a stern stance, while everybody else instantly bowed under the presence of both the king and Raylice. Crevasse leaned against the wall, drinking, while one of the Elite warriors smoked Spirit Herbs out of a pipe. To the immense rage of Raylice, before Beauregard stuck out his arm.
Raylice: "...Dirty…Dark Monster…"
Through her damaged throat, choking blood and pain, to force out pure hatred.
Beauregard: "The Demi-humans are the monsters. Dark Elves are just different Elves or Half Elves, which are close enough to humans. Magically enough. But you could say Dark Elves are the Demi-humans of the elves. But even still he's useful, and loyal."
Crevasse: "You got that right! I ain't never leaving Athens."
Irsa: "Sir! King! Do you wish for us to go on?"
Beauregard: "Yes. You all are the Top Elites. Two of the Strongest Elites, Warriors, and Nobles. Raylice will be your leader. But I don't think she cares for introductions."
Calgary stepped forward, tugging the large brute clad in Dragon stone armor and the large, overweight armored woman smoking her pipe with ease even if they towered over him.
Calgary: "Frank Will and Kacy Kast. Strongest Elite we got, and she's got the strongest Mark in Athens forces. Red Arrows too, including Leo."
Frank: "Happy to meet yah! It's so crazy that the lady who fought Lincoln is leading us!"
Raylice: "WHAT!?"
She screamed, letting her Mark unleash for just a second, until the king's glance stopped her. He was far weaker in every single way, but she couldn't help but raise her fist toward her king. But still Frank went on.
Frank: "My parents own this big wine farm! But those Red Arrows dragged a fight through half of it! I can't thank you enough for letting me stand on the front lines, more than I was before! I swear I'll help kill that rat with the Valentine name!"
Calgary stomped Frank's foot to stop his rambling, but Beauregard couldn't help but smirk brightly at Frank's conviction. Kacy however kept smoking her pipe, wiped her dry eyes, and simply let Calgary speak for her.
Calgary: "Kacy is strong enough to be an Elite, but her Mark is why I chose her. It can take in Elemental mana from the air, basically like four absolute affinities at once. It's got limits, but with her and Frank, they might be able to take on Leo without the others."
Beauregard: "Good. But the others will change that, maybe, that draw, into complete victory."
Irsa pushed Calgary out of the way to let her two nobles stand proudly. One, lanky and bowing like he was on a stage, wearing a long green and gold coat, and his eyes covered by fluffy blond hair. Beside him was a much shorter, fourteen year old sister of Irsa. Sporting a short purple cloak atop some Leather Warrior armor.
Irsa: "Ethan Hollar and my little sister Gracey. The Hollar family is a rich group of theater actors, but he's got a strong Defensive Arts affinity. The best spirit affinity in Athens. My sister on the other hand has a powerful Mark that lets her unleash pure insanely sharp pressure in the shape of Spirals. She might be young, but she's as strong or stronger than any regular Warrior without that Mark."
Beauregard: "Let's hope your family didn't cloud your judgement."
Irsa: "Promise me. I didn't want her here. But your orders meant I had to choose her, I had to pick the strongest. Athens noble families, the few left, aren't powerful like they used to be. The only other strong ones have left, or died out years ago like the Gurace family."
Raylice instantly got hostile again, while Irsa pulled back and desperately tried to apologize amidst her panic. While Calgary and Crevasse laughed.
Beauregard: "EVERYBODY STOP THIS! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO GO QUICKLY! STOP WASTING OUR TIME!"
Crevasse perked up, choking on his wine before lifting his two Warriors into the air. Two girls in Warrior gear, one shorter with messy jagged brown hair with bangs that covered her eyes, and the other far taller, a few years older, with the top of her wavy hair died black and the rest yellow.
Crevasse: "The hotty with the black hair and the mole is Olivia Trude, got a nasty strong Wind Affinity, and the other is Loraine Ena, got a strong Earth affinity and is our best archer, including the Elties."
Beauregard: "See, like that, good job. Ena family too? Best Archers in Athens, after those dirty Deers left, but I thought all the actual archers died out a few years back in one of the Red Arrows attacks?"
Crevasse: "She doesn't talk but she just finally got old enough for her family to let her join."
Raylice shook her head, and started walking before Beauregard could say a word. Causing all of the Chosen Top Elites to rush in a line behind her. Calgary, Irsa, and Crevasse moved toward the middle. But Beauregard didn't speak until his Dragon stone door fully opened, and fully sealed shut. Finally sitting down after so much walking, talking, and just being awake for multiple days. The others didn't do the same though, to save themselves from his wrath.
Beauregard: "I have other news. Tomorrow somebody very special is coming to meet. It's supposed to be secret, but if it goes well, we might not even need these Top Elites. We might not even need our Warriors at all. It all depends on the price."
Irsa: "Might I ask sir, who is it?"
Beauregard: "The King of Walgonia. Arthur Williams. Now go, and do your jobs. Round up the rest of the strongest, and sort out the ranks properly. Athens must go through a transformation to continue living."
Calgary: "But if every part of Athens is different, is it still Athens?"
Beauregard instantly locked eyes with Calgary, forcing his heart to feel like it was gonna explode. Beauregard didn't have anything he could do. If Calgary wanted to kill him he could, at any moment. But his entire life would disappear, along with his large part of building wealth. His pockets and his future was in the hands of this frail man, leaving him frozen to a harsh -
Beauregard: "...I don't know anymore."
He just walked off, waving his hand for them to leave, entering his bedroom. Crevasse instantly burst out laughing, while Irsa flared intensely with rage.
Irsa: "Why didn't you beat you to oblivion!? Or toss you into the pit!? Maybe cut your Rank!? Nothing!?"
Calgary: "Just me being me."
Irsa went to impale Calgary with a bright blue thorn construct, but Crevasse stopped her with his whiskey holding hand. Before dragging it back up into his lips.
Crevasse: "I'll go check up on the lower class warriors."
Irsa: "Rat with the easiest job."
Crevasse: "Aren't I the dirty Dark Elf? Shouldn't I have a job where a brute idiot like me can't mess up?"
Irsa: "Actually when you put it like that, I agree."
They left. Irsa to the Warriors, and Calgary should have gone off to the Elites, but instead he went down stairs. All the way down stairs, to the dungeon. Inside Warriors forced some prisoners to fight each other, but Calgary seeped through, to the only cell not allowed to be used. Unlocking it with the key only he had.
Rosemary: "You really should tell me your name. I don't wanna seem so closed off."
"My name isn't important anymore, all I wish to be is a voice, and a hand to help."
Rosemary was hungry, chained, dirty, but smiling. Really smiling. With her new friend, the Old looking Demi-human who saved her life and continues to inspire her. Until the dragon stone locks unlatched, and the door slowly opened forward.
Calgary: "Come on. You don't wanna be down here."
Rosemary's face instantly dropped to one of despair, covered by erupting anger. But she could do nothing, so she did nothing. Forced to accept her loss again and again. Forced to know she deserves it.
Rosemary: "I don't want to go anywhere with you. If what you said about the GoldenKnights is true, then I have nothing else I need from you."
Calgary: "When the purge happens all the prisoners will be taken to the Coliseum city, along with everyone captured. An endless battle to the death. I'm not so sure you want to be a part of that. So just smile and take my hand, let me save you."
Rosemary turned her head away, but Calgary unlatched her chain anyway. Activating the third stage, turned blue instead of gold by the seals on his armor, and forcefully pulled her through the dungeon. Away from her hope. Forced to watch over the prisoners, most if not all undeserving of their capture, trying to see everything she's failed to stop. Out of the dungeon, up looping stairs before walking down a hall to go up some more looping stairs, silent the entire time. All while Calgary kept looking her up and down as they walked. Stoking her rage with every constant, disgusting, burning, putrid glance. Until finally, he reached the third to last floor to the top. Staring at another thick dragon stone door protected by some Elites.
Calgary: "Let me pass."
"Not without orders from Beauregard, sorry Calgary."
Calgary: "I'm you're superior! Either you open up or you're thrown out to burn with the rest of the parasites!"
"I meant to say of course! Even without orders from Beauregard!"
Calgary: "Good man! We were buddies!"
Rosemary couldn't help but look incredibly confused, before she fell back into despair, walking into the dragon stone cage to find a single other person inside.
Julius: "It has been a few days, I am glad to see you still live."
Calgary: "You'll both be living. Here. I'll go speak to Beauregard, you two get comfy."
Chained to the wall, and locked away for the time being. Only some red crystals to light the room, and a beaten Julius still wearing the clothes he arrived in. Only now they were torn, bloodied, and incredibly dirty. However Julius was smiling, his eyes were closed, and he was blankly staring forward like nothing was happening.
Rosemary: "Know that we're united, is escape -
Julius: "Escape is impossible. Mass escape. If we managed to free ourselves from the mana dampening crystals, dragon stone chains, that dragon stone door, we may be able to bust through the wall, fall ninety floors and escape out of the tower grounds into the Warrior infested capital. And try not to lead them back to the Red Arrows base, which we have no location of. It's not impossible, but it is reliant on luck and only luck. Luck we aren't strong enough to qualify for."
Rosemary: "...So we have to keep sitting and waiting, bait, failures, and a weakness to the Red Arrows? Lose Walgonia?"
Julius: "Yes."
Rosemary: "Oh man."
He was content, and she couldn't stop moving. Without anything she could seemingly do, she sat on her legs, placed her hands on them, and leaned forward with her eyes closed. Trying to focus on her stages, her OD, her body, her memories. To sit with it. And endure. So maybe if those doors opened, or a chance sprung by, she would be strong enough to endure that too.
She was trying so, so hard. Like Soku, day in and day out with her Mark and mana on full blast to get full control of her powers. Like Peter, teaching the blacksmiths of the Red Arrows tricks, working on his own inventions, her trying to research techniques for Soku. Anything he could do without the power the others had. Toll had every Red arrow in the Capital ready and together. But for Leo and Garly, sitting in the raining caverns, things were shifting once again. As Leo, drinking, shaggy, and full of anguish, was fully open to the words of the last person left that could be called true family.
Garly: "If all of Athens is going to be purged, why target Cretan? I know you're the leader, but are you asking anybody who ranks their opinion?"
Leo: "Cretan was on and only held in Athens. We had it for a year and a half. Losing Cretan was the first step in a list of constant failures. Almost losing our Elf, losing our Goldenwind and Cromwell, forced to go against the Gravestone Pirates and the Warriors…holding Cretan could be our only chance to survive it. Call everybody who wishes to survive Beauregard, and with that giant army, we break through the Warriors."
He was proud. And while his pride, his will was broken, obvious from just looking at him, he was fully confident in his mission. Until Garly screamed with a sigh of annoyance. Taking a large shot of whiskey before grabbing Leo's torn tank top.
Garly: "You idiot! We'll just be broken, forced to react to whatever Athens does. We'll lose. It might extend the Red Arrows existence, it might give you temporary hope, but we'll just be sitting ducks! I stayed for my people, and for you kid! I'm not gonna die knowing it coulda been different! All the Red Arrows across Athens are mobilized, and Athens has been gathering their best! We'll never survive!"
Leo: "So what!? You want us to rush into a headfirst battle!? The Red Arrows are strong, but at least a third of our soldiers are civilians trying to help. We can't keep up, not spread out like that!"
Garly: "Then don't spread us thin! The Warriors have to go through the cities, towns, villages, forests, back alleys! Everywhere, for who knows how long! They're spreading themselves thin! With their strength gathered, one big attack on their forces could destabilize them. Don't do what Beauregard is doing! Don't lose yourself and this battle! We stayed alive this long, grew so much, because we played it smart! We used Athens like it was our home, not some place to fight on! If you're the leader, then be the leader, stop throwing everything out like you're giving up or something! GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER VALANTINE!"
Garly couldn't help but see Lincoln when she spoke to Leo. Lincoln through decades of his life. But she saw Lilith, Stern. She saw what used to be her world. The hurt look in her eye, power in her voice, forced Leo to stand tall.
Leo: "Then…THEN! We do it smart! Athens isn't that big compared to the others. Athens has five large cities. Panzer, the Capital, and Cretan being the most occupied by Warriors. If they push to all the towns, villages, edges of Athens, while we push to their own strong holds, it could be a complete flip. But they'll be distracted with their searches for Demi-humans. They aren't going after only the Red Arrows. They're targeting what Athens used to be. So we have to fight what it has become, and free what it used to be. Instead of taking Cretan by unstoppable force, we'll take Panzer, Cretan, and the Coliseum City. We'll break their ranks, while a close unit targets the castle. All at once. They can't react in time, they can hardly get information across, and won't be able to breathe before their home is stanched under their feet."
Again she saw Lincoln, his bright eyes filled with vigor, and a smile made of absolute victory. A true, bright smile, one he hadn't shown since he was captured by Athens weeks ago.
Garly: "That's a plan I'm willing to die for. Either way, lose or not, we'll do major damage without losing everything. And if we do lose everything, they'll remember the Red Arrows forever. But take this."
She removed her own Red Arrow head band, so Leo could push his hair back up and tie it around his head. He didn't have his armor, he didn't have his spear, but he was finally acting like the Leo Valentine Rosemary, Soku, Edward, and Julius first met. A meeting that felt so much longer ago than it actually was. The Red Arrows had to know. And so many messages would be sent out by Red Arrows masquerading as civilians. And by Leo himself, as he moved back toward the Capital. Garly is ready to act, and fight when the bell tolls. The hours would pass. Red Arrows would move, Rosemary would sulk further into darkness with her light taken away and replaced with Julius. The Warriors and their leaders gathered in preparation. And Lincoln, the man that could end all of this, continued watching over Edward as he mindlessly battled through more beasts.
Staring at his old knuckles, the calluses are stronger than shields rotting away due to inactivity. The left half of his face is forever broken and covered by black cloth. He had hundreds, maybe thousands of small scars. Burns, cuts, slashes, stabs, hits, massive blows, magic. But there were small cracks in his wrinkles. Small jagged burns of his internal mana. A building truth he's known for decades, spelled out many times, but he couldn't say it outloud. The biggest reason he hasn't interfered in the past four years. If left in sparing in a daze toward the world, until he began walking toward Edward.
Edward: "GO DOWN!"
A King Molten Gollum, a high tear spirit beast made of dense obsidian and filled with magma. Thirty feet tall, dense and wide, sending out quakes that shattered the obsidian ground. Attacked Edward leapt right over, before bashing the beast across the face with his blade. Running across its neck, forcing his stone blade through it faster harder faster harder, until the blade shattered, and he ran down its arm to slide across the beach for safety.
Edward: "Still!?"
It was leaking massive, deep gashes all across its body. Edwards' armor was non-existent, sizzling to the point he had to throw it on the ground and watch it turn to ash. Just hoping the damn creature broke under its own weight. But he was forced to try and think of all the unfairness in his life, roar, and jump as hard as possible. Throwing everything into his balled fists, to erupt its ankle. Edward immediately pivoted away with the rest of his might, rolling back to lunge again. Watching in awe as the monster broke, sending out a wave of its magma insides. However the beast remained fighting, the glowing skeleton surging with a sphere of molten obsidian around it. Edward slammed the ground with his arms, forcing the layered ground to break and flick upward. A wall strong enough to protect his body from the blast, crumbling from the force right after, to force Edward forward. Screaming and screaming while adrenaline forced his Warriors Spirit into overdrive.
Edward: "JUST DIE DAMMIT DIE!"
Tendrils of molten stone flung around in a violent storm, but Edward jumped, ducked , slid , spun and leaped, ripped off the tip of one of the tendrils, and threw the spike like a football through the core. Causing it to erupt, spreading through like a bright flame, and pop. Causing the beast to phase into pure corrupted spirit mana, away forever, while Lincoln vanished forward and back. Saving Edward from a bath of lava.
Lincoln: "Good. You're progressing, and your control over everything has gotten so much better, but you're still thinking too much. To force out your internal mana, you need a mind focused on only battle. Only on winning. Once you do it once, you'll know what it feels like, and your mind will open. You just have to break the limit. So I think it's time we finally stopped this Warrior training."
Lincoln threw Edward down, letting him collect himself as Lincoln continued to speak. A relationship he still can't fathom.
Lincoln: "When I first met you, you were head strong, and when your strength failed you, you could do nothing but swing widely. Through our first week, your week in that labyrinth under Mount Yelira, and our time by Molten Bay, you've grown into something that understands his own limits, and how to use them. Just look at this place!"
The Warriors regularly used places like this for training, during times of peace at least, leading to little Spirit Beast issues. And after a few months, they would simply come back, to be slayed again. An endless cycle. One Edward cut through all by himself. In just a few days, leaving more than a third of the Bay completely barren of beasts. Open for him to stare out, and breathe peacefully at the bright blue sky.
Edward: "So what do you want me to do si -, Lincoln?"
Lincoln: "If we need to pull out your rage, and force you to throw all your power out, then I have a group in mind. The Gravestone Pirates. They've taken root in the North West of Athens. A perfect, and new, hunting ground."
Like a blast of jet engines, Edwards ignited, and his eyes lit with fury. With vigor. Every muscle tightening in response.
Lincoln: "We'll start tonight. So rest up, you deserve it. I need to finish up your reward."
Edward: "Reward?"
Lincoln: "What every Warrior gets when he's proven himself to be an Elitie."
Lincoln walked toward the cabin, seeping into the trees with Edward rushing behind him.
Lincoln: "You're Dragon stone Armor, and sword."
Lighting up like a child with glee. Following behind, to wait, rest, recoup, and gather everything. Like the rest of Athens. All other than the civilians. Some left in small groups everyday, others only grew angrier, more fearful, more secluded. Like they didn't even exist anymore. It seemed like the days were passing at lightning speed, but each moment at a snail's pace. Horribly awaiting the coming battle on all sides.
For the Aphla Camp In Guren, they had collected everything and moved toward the Delta Camps vicinity. Guren sat quiet for the first time in centuries. Nothing but death, soot, still burning buildings, and the moment to moment collapsing of nearby buildings living there now. Until that silence broke near mid-day, when the reinforcements shattered by Lanner and Gray arrived. Even with more anarchists, they were too late. Only able to search, to burn, the let out their anguish. Burning the left over tents, flags, painted crests. Until they found the prisoners. Mostly dead, those unable to move left behind. Including the last remaining Pillar of Anarchy in Guren.
Conna: "Who did this to you?"
Until Conna pulled him from the pile, and stared at his dirt covered shattered face. His broken skull still leaked blood through the torn opening Gray left. Along with the broken body Gray left. Unconscious, hardly breathing and wheezing each attempt. Only a faint heart beat to show he remained.
Marker: "I smell Kyojin all over this. Word is they recovered Jong. Their strongest are uniting. The masters were right to worry about Walgonia's eventual attempt to take back hold. But are they right that it'll take a few months? It seems like we're going to have to gear up for war any day now."
Conna: "I will always listen to the masters. For now, we must continue to break what we have, and keep filling our ranks. Hopefully we can turn a Sect and Walgonia war into a Walgonia civil war. If that happens, it doesn't matter if we're forced to sleek back into the shadows. We still have ranks in Ravoria and Valatroctius, even Athens right? A loss of Walgonia is only temporary. For them, it's their entire world."
Marker: "I like that. Losing an arm didn't put a dent in your spirit. For a guy wearing makeup."
She instantly kicked him in his groin before walking off, Donte over her shoulder, to be taken with the rest of the looked over. Only because one soul in a few hundred wanted to. Striking action into the rest of her new anarchists to finally move. Marker stepped out of the broken home holding his crotch in pain, looking toward the east.
Marker: "I know you're out there somewhere in Kyojin. And I promise it'll be me who claims your head. After what you did to me."
A sword strike poorly healed by the few mages he could find in the Sect, most of them Spirit Arts users instead of real medial mages, turned into a permanent tight hold in his left hand. Making it almost impossible to throw like he used to with the hand. Along with his foot, now missing a few toes due to an infection gone similarly poorly treated by magic by Gray. His actions constantly fuel rage, whether or not they were intentionally merciful. Making his constant barrage of emotions feel so much more real. Even now, using the Cloak to stick to Dema's saddle as she shoots through the air at rapid, bursting, vanishing speeds, and looks into the air with absolute anger at himself. Looking back near Guren, Walgonia, all that he was leaving, all that he had done, and Athens. All that he had missed, all he hadn't done, and all he was probably soon to do.
Gray {I'm so sorry Ophelia. I wish I could have moved, instead of screaming and panicking. Al, I was too weak, too scared, and I let you fight for me because I was pitiful even if we could have won together. Kioshi…you held back so much, even after you were weakened…you died to protect us, and I'll never forget that. And Musashi, oh man Musashi. I made you waste your last month with me. I made you think things might be better, or slightly better at least. Before I got Al and Kioshi killed. Burn your house down. Made you look like a fool in front of the capital before probably making Arthur win DAMMIT DAMMIT WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!?}
For a long time he didn't cry. When he was a kid he cried all the time, but around middle school, he realised he hadn't for a while. He didn't cry again until the night he tried to take his own life, and found himself here. But when he entered this world he cried so much, mainly from a lot of mind melting pain, but also from real emotions. However, in the past few days, it seems like he's broken down, screamed , cried , and whined; he kept saying the same things over and over again. Rising from some pep talk only to break himself back down, freak out and barely make it, to be built up again and repeat. Constantly rising to fall. Even if he didn't get knocked out this time and lived through it all, really won this time, he was covered in thick casts from head to toe. He was leaving every place he touched, Soku's house to Guren, shattered and unrecognizable.
Gray {All of this is my fault and I've spent so much time with Ryo, Gordon, Walgonia…It's like I'm always running away! But I won't run! I promise! I'll do something for Athens, all of this has to have been leading up to that right!? My victory!? Walgonia's victory!? Why can't I see it!? Why can't I feel the same hope everybody else has!? Why, no matter what I do, I always seem to fuck everything up!? Why am I not normal!? Why can't I just exist and act and live without everything exploding ten fold and affecting everybody!? I can't even meet people without them being attacked, or getting into a fight moments later, something happening every day or week or month, something something something! AND I CAN'T EVEN GO TO SLEEP!}
Dema looked back with intense worry for her favorite person, but all she knew was that he was in pain, and he wanted her to go forward. So she flew as fast as she could, as hard as she could, in some attempt to help. But Gray couldn't be helped. He was alone with himself; he was in hell, and he could only wake up when he arrived in Athens. Crying and crying, screaming and screaming, clenching his still healing body over and over to feel the pain. Pulling in Spirit mana to both train, overwhelm himself, distract himself, and feel even brighter, nicer, warmer pain. Only for the Cloak to slowly wrap around him in warmth. Loving each other, all while he suffered constant pain from his own actions. But he was fine with it, more than fine, as he had accepted every day would be like that the moment he chose his Third Chance. He deserved it, he chose it, he should just get over it and stop whining right? No matter how much he said or felt it, it didn't matter in the end, and he knew that. He just had to get to Athens, and melt in with the chaos. The only place he could escape from his mind.
Gray {Why, why is everything so hard? So painful. This constant Spiritual healing, OD healing, real healing magic. All it does is make it so I can stand again and again after anything. Maybe that's more of a curse than a real useful power.}
Closer and closer. Over groups of anarchists eating the tough thick blue meat of an Ogre, other anarchists getting mauled by low level packs of Dire Wolves protecting their land. Small caravans of survivors, soldiers, guards, and even knights pushing forward. Small camp fires from who knows what kind of groups all around. Every few hours Gray did have to stop, landing somewhere barren in the woods or long grass to rest for about an hour and a half. Trying his best to sleep through it all. Every hour he felt less pain from moving his arms and legs, every hour the swelling went down, every hour he got closer to a state worthy of getting broken again. His scar left by Zhao remained, likely to remain forever even after it fades. He constantly and subconsciously rubbed it every time he thought of the many he's accidentally killed. The people he's killed. The boy he did kill. Inside a pressure cooker of trauma, all because he was alone.
Athens got closer and closer. Flying far faster than Jong or even Gordon expected for longer amounts of time. It seems like he'll get there tomorrow morning, one day before the purge. Or at least twelve hours, or a little more. He had to make it. He had to exist. So no matter his thoughts, his internal or external pain, he knew Dema could do it, so he knew he'd get there now. He just had to live through the fire. So he can finally reunite with the people that ignited it in the first place. The biggest light, Rosemary's smiling happy face, and the words he prayed accompanied it.
Gray {I hope you miss me, as much as I miss you.}
But behind that smile, were so many others he could hardly see. Ophelia jumping and cheering, Musashi nodding with a smirk, Kisohi giving out a thumbs up, and Al gently clapping. But it had grown so much, so much more than he ever thought he'd have. Before those roles were taken by his parents and his parents only. Now, Edward, Soku, Rosemary, Julius, Gordon, Ryo, Chris, Lanner, Venyet, Carlos, Jong, Muther. So many knights who now knew of his existence, so many civilians who knew he was out there. He was living his dream. Exactly like he thinks he deserves. But yet, all he can do is scream out, always in a constant spiritual agony.
Gray {I really really wish you were here. Safe. That I didn't…I…I don't know anymore. I just need to see you guys, and I'll feel ready again.}
Closer and closer. His arrival coincided with the bell toll. Of what may be the last time Athens can breathe easy, before it's completely destroyed, saved, or turned into something completely unrecognizable. And when night came. When Soku couldn't move anymore from her training, when Peter couldn't stay awake anymore, Edward slept for the first time in a while, Rosemary continued her constant focus training, Julius sat compliant, Athens gathered their forces, the King that manufactured all of this chaos walked in circles in his room. Unable to sleep. Unable to think. Only able to walk around his large two story room, looking past the many bookshelves, to the paintings of Athens warriors.
Beauregard: "You started this. I don't know if I should thank you, or curse you. For what you put my family through."
The first leader of Athens. The figure was given the land by Walgonia, who befriended the Demi-humans and tanner skinned humans already living there, to create a unity hated then, and hated by Beauregard's Athens. Their first name, gender, race, even hair color, all lost to history for reasons he could never find in Athens. Forced to stare at the same large green cape and hood, holding Athens crest on the back, with a large dragon stone spear in their hand. So he walked down his family line. Down a little over three centuries of history. From the first Valantine, to his great great grand parents, his great grand parents, his grandparents, and a line of photos he even in. When his mother was queen, his father was king, and Beauregard was only one year old. The next, a photo of his uncle Stern, Garly the queen, and himself right beside Leo. About twenty, his hair longer and shaggier, and Stern with the long light brown coat he's wearing right now.
Beauregard: "Over and over. Elixirs, enchantments, blessings, even two weapons of Alfheilms all over its existence. Built and crushed and built and crushed. The first Valentine…I know you'd hate what I've done. I know my mom and dad and uncle and grandpa and grandma, dammit everybody who doesn't awful disagrees. But this has to be right! At every failure the Demi-humans, the non humans, the mis colored humans, they were all cracking our land. Forcing us to build, forcing us to break. Walgonia stole our time, the Demi-humans stole seventy years of our existence! What is the problem!? Why can't they see the truth!? Why has no one ever realized it dammit!?"
Leo moved back to the Capital. Rosemary continued focusing on her Od. Edward was going to wake soon. The pirates, the warriors, everybody was doing something. Acting. For this grand war. But Beauregard fell to the floor and laid against the railing, trying as hard as possible to hold himself down as tears flowed out of his eyes for the first time since his mother passed.
Beauregard: "I promise you all, I'll fix this, I'll make Athens perfect! I won't let the fear, the man eating freaks in any longer. After I'll slaughter the Gravestone pirates! I'll throw out Crevasse! I'll do anything! I just need this to work out! I need to win for once in my life, please! The Great Dragon, the Great Valentine, Athens! Hear my call, my rage, my promise!"
But he wiped those tears. He stood. And he walked toward his sealed shut Dragon stone door. Gray was coming. The Red Arrows were unknowingly preparing for an all out battle to crush Beauregard as his best. And yet, all he could do was stomp his foot in a rage again and again. Smiling, laughing and laughing, until the sun rose. Unable to sleep, unable to eat, unable to exist. But his purpose, his light, the thing he needed to protect most, was pushing him through it all; he was so, so similar to all those trying to save Saga from destruction, but he was so far from ever being able to see, relate, or act on it. Leaving his life in the air with Athens.
Beauregard: "I will save Athens, or I'll end it at its greatest, and make sure no one can crack it again."