Arc 4: What families entail
Snow fell over the South East of Saga harshly, focused around Athens and the Walgoninian city of Percilies. And all of it was in disarray.
The South of Walgonia was overtaken by a mass of the Sects forces while Arthur handled the Capital, but as the weeks progressed, so did the Sect. Especially when Arthur traveled from the Capital to Athens' own Capital, leaving a thick wave of destruction on his way, before he ended it by destroying a majority of Percilies as he crossed the Great Bridge. Word quickly got around what was happening as the many Knights surviving the massacre at the Capital spread word, as the civilians' screams reached the world. The East, with most of the Demi-humans in Walgonia outside of the Ever-Lagoon, had held out for a while. Leaving the West to struggle, taking on the spreading and growing Sect while the Upper Pillars moved to devastated their cities. Taking on and pushing away the many Leviathan Soldiers there, along with some of Walgonia's best. The North held strong, with more people than the South that could hold their own, but without a Musashi or Kioshi like Pillar. They had the second biggest city in Walgonia, the City of Valor, holding most of the magical prowess in Walgonia that weren't soldiers, and Valor himself was there to protect it. It had the only other Greenvale and their own Leviathan Knights, it had the people next in line for Jong's position as Head Commander; it was strong enough to last for the coming months, if the preparing Upper Pillars didn't group up like they did for Kioshi to begin systematically crushing them all.
First destroy Walgonia's systems, crush their hope. Second was to build their army, to crush their land in case they lost control. But once everything is ready, once Walgonia is gone? They will rebuild, rebuild a world that the Sect desires, that will spread and spread like a cancer. Until this world is a "free" world of prejudice, of names, and only nature survives. Only magic, might, ideology, you remain. So you can exist without the hands of others entirely. And if you do, it's always even, nobody other than another, ever. No matter how insane it sounded, no matter what it took, they would achieve it. Taking in anybody who's willing to fight no matter their true intentions. To crush the world's Pillars, and replace them, and hold up the changed land. But Ravoria only cared to protect itself. Valatroctius shut off everything, focusing on who may be with the Sect inside their ranks. And Athens? Athens had been disconnected from the world for years. But it was being pulled back in by the Sects actions. Forcing Walgonia to act like Walgonia, and use the strength of Saga to crush its attackers, instead of crushing each other like they had been doing for ninety long years. By the hands of a few kids trying their hardest, sent to Athens with hope alone. But even they were lost within Athens fire. Saga's fire. A world of hardship, a world of families against families. A world, and nothing more.
Saga was crying out, but its walls kept Walgonia in. Stuck like Athens. Forced to struggle, to bleed. Bearguard walked around a destroyed castle looking over his broken Top Elites. Leo walked through a base filled with half-dead Red Arrows, separated by so much land, with who knows how many Red Arrows lost around Athens since Garly's defeat. Like wondering children, wearing the rags beneath their armor to hide their allegiance. Before the traveling bands of Gravestone pirates around the Coliseum city or North East bay sniffed them out, or the Elites around Southern Athens, or the mass amount of Warrior patrols now within the capital. Walking in thick waves across the streets, through the constantly shifting tunnels getting destroyed and closed off by Red Arrows, slowly taking any ground the Red Arrows had outside of their base. And that base may be broken open like an egg very soon, especially with how many Red Arrows were trying to get there. Everything, all of this fighting, this fear, the insurmountable amount of death and destruction constantly burning away Saga's history, it was for an old world. The Sect, to bring back a time before society took hold. The Warriors to when Athens was first founded, the Red Arrows to when Athens was in its prime. Walgonia, to when they felt safe. Pushed by their families, because of their families, for their families, to gain their families, or because of the family you just found. Money, revenge, desire all flowing within the middle to push either side each way.
Leo {I wonder if we won. If we can win. Hell, I wonder if I can figure out what I should do next}
For the leader of the Red Arrows, it was for Athens, the biggest family he could ask for. For his mother, his uncle, his grandparents. Maybe not his father nor his brother, but for people that were really a part of his heart. The people like Garly, who was being hefty mourned through the faces, the words, and the thoughts of every Red Arrow. Especially Leo, who sat watching over his closest companions. A few friends he got close to in their ranks, a few drinking buddies, so many of the younger ranks, and especially his strongest. Rosemary, Soku, and Toll all unconscious from harsh healing. With Soku's larger affinity, Rosemary's Goldenwind body, and Toll's Demi-human nature, they all responded greatly to all types of healing, but they had to recover all their strength possible. As the final battle was likely to be the next battle. Cretan, while winning, couldn't be held. Everywhere else is a failure. The Tower, while broken, still stands proudly over the land. It was the people that were truly affected. The mass amount of now dead soldiers, all the injuries the Top Elites faced, it was a big hit. Especially now that Arthur had presumably left. But it didn't yet outweigh the losses of the Red Arrows, not at all.
Leo {Maybe we should go back to looking for my dad. We didn't send people out of Athens at all for those two years of searching, so we could bring something. NO! That's just a waste, we probably have to fight again. If Arthur's working with my brother, and Arthur is a major player in the Sect, then if the Sect arrives we won't be able to survive anymore. The Warriors, Gravestone Pirates, and the Sect are far too many. Especially if one of their leaders shows up, those guys are supposed to be legends up there with the Gods of War. Stronger in bed time stories. Hopefully stories anyway.}
His headband was stretched between his shaking, bandaged hands. Once again lost to despair, with only one small light up and with him at every step. The boy who figured out how to save him in the first place.
Peter: "We just have to calm down. When the others wake up, we can think clearly, right?"
Leo: "Yeah, yeah thanks."
Peter {Oh Great Dragon, I hope we can actually think of anything at all.}
Unknowingly, what might be their last pillars of strength weren't too far. Within a condemned building burnt down a year ago, beside an overgrown park, was the Last Helsing and a Upper Pillars reincarnation. A man burdened by so much, and a confused boy given far too much power. The end of Legacy, and a completely random beginning of a new one.
Gray: "...What do we need to talk about!? Other than the fact you're not dead! Ow!"
He had just woken up, staring toward a Dragon stone coated by Edward. Edward's hair was longer, shaggier, his body both bigger and leaner, his face more rectangular instead of round, and of course, he was now missing his right eye. Harshly branded by the Gravestones flag, but somehow staring forward just as harshly as the other. Around them was a faint cold light. The dawn was blue, the building a thick crumbling stone hotel. And the room they were in was small, two windows looking out at a quiet capital, a bed in the corner Gray struggled to lay on, and a broken Edward sat in front of.
Edward: "No, I was injured but I managed to get some help. The Helsing lineage saved me. You however look like you almost died."
Gray: "Probably because I did."
Gray was trying to force his higher voice, his jittery movements, his constant faces and smiles like always, but it just hurt too much. Not his body, but his soul. Stuck with Azalea's words, his fathers words even if they were a dream, and especially Iris actions. Like a film real of all of his failures constantly growing and growing. "How can Gray Kyojin be the best Gray he can be?" And how to stop being a "liability and nothing more". It was the same question he's been asking himself long before he got to this world. And after all this training, fights, deaths. After he's gotten too much in this world just because of his mana. The world, no matter which one, always roots back to that same damn problem.
Gray: "Still, nobody heard from you, and the Red Arrows never found a trace!? What happened dude!? Are you good!?"
He was sweating, he was smiling off and on, his eyes were flickering. But Edward stayed still, calm, almost like he was awaiting rage. To try and break the tension in his chest he tossed Gray some surprisingly well cooked leg from a random Spirit Spider he found patrolling a lower floor. A quite large, grey haired spider the size of a car now lying down stairs with a gash in its chest. Gray however almost puked from holding it, simply setting it down before he burst out of bed to try and do something. Before his body once again let out a cry in pain yet again. Forcing him to stare at his disheveled Leviathan clothes, all the bandages across his entire body, and the strangely tight feeling in his right hand. Requiring a bit more effort to clench and release. Feeling it all the way up to his shoulder.
Edward: "I'm fine. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. And to let you know that I was okay. I want to apologize for staying away for so long…esspecally at a time like this."
Gray: "Well then apologize to the others. I was stuck with Ryo, and then I spent more time in Walgonia than I needed to. I get it dude, but we're here now, and we can -
Edward: "No. Sorry, but I can't come back yet. I still have business with Moro. But -
Gray: "Moro?"
Gray's hair was already messy, in front of his face, but the second he heard Edward explain himself, he understood. And he dropped that smile. The Gray Kyojin that he wants to be; the happy, quippy, empathetic, always nice and friendly hero, simply couldn't exist with Gray's core. A core that is scared, angry, quick to respond to anything, and always over emotional. And it seemed like no matter how much he told himself he'd never break again, the second that core sparked, like Arthur or Calgary or screaming at Rosemary or running away or even coming back, he acted uncontrollable. Losing any smile, and returning to a harsher, angrier, more focused base.
Edward: "Yeah the leader -
Gray: "Yeah I know who he is. What does he have to do with anything though, other than the fact he's working with the Warriors."
Edward: "I have a history with him. And I've spent my time training harshly to get strong enough. I'll face them, and I'll win, and I can return. Probably with my white hair stronger than ever."
Gray's eyes focused even more while Edward looked and even sounded a bit hopeful. Leading to a confused look when Gray stood up out of bed in anger. Instinctively looking for his cursed charm, instantly locking onto it on an old molding desk.
Gray: "So you didn't return so you could go fight some guy!? Rosemary and Julius were captured! Soku got captured for a little while before Rosemary freed her! Leo was captured and needed to be freed! If we had you at any time so many would have lived! We wouldn't have had to put everything and more on the line! We -
Edward: "Look I know! But I can't let Moro get to anybody else! And I can't let him leave! Not after all he did!"
Gray was boiling with rage, squeezing his body even with the pain, unable to feel it right now. While Edward looked more desperate, stepping back as Gray got closer.
Gray: "Yeah I know! Soku told me everything I needed to do! How your parents died to them! But that doesn't mean you need to run headfirst into an army by yourself! It doesn't mean you need to let all of us die!"
Edward: "Didn't you try and run away like two months ago!? I figured you'd understand that when somebody has to do something, you'd let them!"
Gray: "And I came back because I was dead wrong! Running away like that was probably one of the stupidest things I've ever done! Rosemary should have wanted nothing to do with me, all of you guys could have just thrown me away but you didn't!"
Edward: "Because we all get it don't we!? If Soku went head first to kill the Sect for Ophelia, if Rosemary did the same, if you did the same! Why is it different when it's me!?"
Edward stepped closer, finally getting angry, finally raising his voice to a commanding one. But Gray didn't budge, even if he probably should have, he just stared forward angerier and angerier. His absolute confusion and inability to understand just why Edward didn't get it fueling the fire. It was like he was talking to somebody completely the opposite of the person he knew. Both right up to each other, Edward right down at Gray.
Gray: "Out of all of us, you are the one born into all of this. Musashi started all of our lives, what they are now, and there you were with him. You have the legacy, the knowledge, the experience -
Edward: "Hah! That's funny! My parents taught me nothing about real combat, not any training at least! Not real training! Musashi wanted nothing to do with me as a fighter! But you show up out of nowhere and you all become his golden group! If anything you guys have the experience, the knowledge, and all I am is a Helsing following along! In an instant you guys basically caught up to me, probably surpassed me now! The only thing I've ever had is this body and you know that! So why me!?"
Edward got faster, closer, pushing Gray back, stomping and speaking loud enough to scare away the many rats, roaches, spiders, and bugs all around. But to Gray it felt so familiar, only this time he was on the other end of it. Still he was too angry to speak like the hero he's trying so hard to be. Instead he spoke like a human, a boy who didn't want his friend to die, or his other friends to be hurt.
Gray: "Well if you're so weak then why go after Moro!? Why not fight him together!? Why not wait until you're strong enough to go after him wherever he is!? Why not do anything but fight him right now, when so much is on the line! It's not like Al, Musashi, or Kioshi died so you could fight Moro! They died so we could survivie, survivie and maybe save all of Walgonia! Not kill somebody connected to a land so far away, so disconnected from us!"
Edward: "Disconnected from you! Not me! My life started when my mom and my only dad I ever knew were slaughtered! I was almost thirteen, almost as old as Musashi when he was called the strongest soldier! Older than Musashi when he was made a knight! Even my father got his white hair when he was fifteen, and for some reason they act like he was a failure for not having his mark! I've been so weak for so long, but if I kill Moro, if I awaken, I can make a name for myself! I can avenge my family, and I can avenge Kioshi and Musashi by ensuring the Helsing legacy lives on!"
Gray: "SO YOU'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE OF PRIDE!? TO AWAKEN!? THAT MEANS NOTHING! PUTTING ALL THESE LIVES ON THE LINE FOR THAT!? ROSEMARY COULD HAVE BEEN BRUTALIZED, OR WORSE! SOKU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND SOLD OFF! JULIUS BROKEN AND BURNED! LEO, PETER, SO MANY RED ARROWS AND ATHENS CITIZENS! -
Edward: "But that's not even a part of Walgonia! If Athens falls Walgonia still has a chance! -
Gray: "I DON'T CARE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WALGONIA WOULD STILL LIVE! THEY BOTH HAVE TO! THEY'RE BOTH FILLED WITH THOUSANDS, IN WALGONIA'S CASE, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO DESERVE TO LIVE! WHO DESERVES TO LIVE A PEACEFUL LIFE! WHO CAN'T BECAUSE I LET ARTHUR TAKE RULE!"
Edward: "SEE! YOU SAID I! I! YOU WANT TO MAKE AMENDS, YOU WANT TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY RIGHT!? ROSEMARY WANTS THAT WITH THE GOLDENWINDS, SOKU WITH OPHELIA! EVERYBODY JUST WANTS PEACE FOR THEMSELVES! JUST BECAUSE YOUR VERSION OF PEACE HELPS OTHER PEOPLE DOESN'T MATTER, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, IT'S JUST A SIDE EFFECT! YOU WANT TO BE A HERO, AND THAT'S FINE, BUT DO IT THE RIGHT WAY! YOU EITHER ARE ONE OR YOU AREN'T!"
Gray pushed closer, slamming his hands against Edward to force him back, but Edward stood strong.
Edward: "MUSASHI WAS A LEVITHAN KNIGHT, A SUPERIOR SOLDIER! KIOSHI WAS WALGONIA'S PROTECTOR! ROSEMARY IS A KNIGHT, SOKU A KNIGHT, WE'RE ALL KNIGHTS! HELPING OURSELVES WHILE HELPING WALGONIA! NOT FOR THE LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY AND FIGHTING LIKE WARRIORS, NOT FOR COIN LIKE BOUNTY HUNTERS, NOT FOR HONOR AND WORSHIP LIKE ONI-MAS OR RAVORIA'S HATE! WE'RE NOT HEROES, WE NEVER HAVE BEEN! I KILLED CONROY, CARLA, ANYBIS, SO MANY PEOPLE I NEVER GOT THE NAMES OF, BECAUSE OF MY MISSION! YOU AND I HAVE KILLED KIDS DAMMIT! WE CAN'T COME BACK FROM THAT! WE CAN'T JUST LOOK AWAY FROM THAT AND SAY IT WAS FOR OUR DUTY! WE ARE BAD PEOPLE! WALGONIA IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR EXAMPLE, OUR BONDS OR STRENGHT, BUT WE'RE BLEEDING IN THE GUTTER WHILE EVERYTHING IS FUCKING BURNING!"
In a panic Gray once again shoved Edward, this time using a burst of mana enough to surprise Edward and get him through the doorway. Edward instantly stopped, grunting and tightening with rage, the Warriors Spirit silent and his own heart aflame, before moving back toward Gray like he was gonna hit him. However Gray once again pushed Edward back, this time with the Cloak, having grabbed it the second he pushed Edward. Simply smacking him back into the wide open hall with a blob of darkness.
Gray: "YOUR RIGHT THEN! WE'RE NOT HEROES! BUT I'VE MET KNIGHTS, I'VE FOUGHT WITH THEM! THEY HAVE FAMILIES, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN GOALS! SOME ARE SUPER NICE, OTHER'S COMPLETE ASSHOLES! ALL WITH DIFFERENT POWERS, ORIGINS, WEAPONS, ANYTHING! BUT WE'RE ALL FIGHTING FOR EACH OTHER! SO WE CAN ALL REST EASY! FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T FIGHT! THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES ARE CLOSED OFF! SHUT AWAY! EVEN PEOPLE LIKE CRIMSON ZHAO HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGHT FOR A GOOD CAUSE! THE BOUNTY HUNTERS, THE SURVIVORS, THEIR ALL LOST! IT'S UP TO THEIR HEROES TO FIX IT! AND I'LL DIE HELPING THEM! BECAUSE MY LIFE IS NO WHERE IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO DO ONLY WHAT I WANT! THAT'S HOW SOKU'S HOSE, THE MAINSION BURNED, HOW WE ENDED UP HERE! HOW I ENDED UP IN WALGONIA AND LOST MY WHOLE FAMILY! IT'S HOW I GOT IRIS KILLED! I CAN'T KEEP LETTING PEOPLE DIE SO WE CAN KEEP FAILING DAMMIT!"
The charm felt comfortable back around his neck, wiggling and oozing around and back into place. Awake and ready, flowing with the pouring wind coming out of all the holes in the broken hall. They walked forward across from each other, back and forth, never losing eye contact. Still all this screaming had caused the flock of Spirit Crows atop the building to all fly away in a hurry, getting the attention of a patrolling group of Warriors searching for Red Arrows nearby.
Edward: "STOP SAYING I! I I I! THAT'S HOW I KNOW YOU'RE JUST MAD AT YOURSELF, NOT AT ME! My path to kill Moro Gravestone started when I was twelve years old. The Sect, Athens, they are all next. If anything, if I don't awaken, if I don't fix or honor the Helsings, I will make sure that the people who brought me into this world can rest easy."
Gray: "You can let all of the living die for the dead? You'd let so many people die just so you could maybe kill Moro? You…you're insane…you - you…"
Boiling and boiling, flaring and flaring. So much training, fighting, losing. Hurt heals. He was so tired. And here Edward was, speaking complete nonsense, while Edward felt like he was trying to make peace between his old life and his new one. That new world, this new family, was growing and expanding so far and so quickly from the path he was on for so long.
Gray: "I thought…"
And then he finally gave up, for just a second, and looked at a furious Edward with complete honesty.
Gray: "I thought, out of all of us, when the light faded, it would be your sword that saved us."
Edward: "I'm not Musashi. I never will be."
Something inside Edward felt like it died when he finally said those words with complete acceptance. Before they both rushed at each other in the blink of an eye.
They didn't know why they were fighting. Why it mattered. Because at Grays core, he just didn't want to lose him. And Edward didn't want to lose them either. Brothers molded by circumstance, Brothers in War, and yet they were about to clash. With Gray flowing out mana to Low Power, and Edward simply lunging, both leaving broken debris behind with such an unstable building, and almost hit forearm to forearm before Gray jumped to Edwards side.
Gray: "If you want to give up, you have to fight for it!"
Edward: "Don't act like you've ever seen me as a friend!"
Edward moved faster than Gray could, far faster, and shoved Gray hard enough to send him rolling across the stone into an old bookshelf. Making him only more mad as he stood, flared mana to shove the debris off, and instantly stopped the flow.
Gray: "What are you talking about?"
Edward: "Rosemary maybe, but Soku, you? Especially you! Since the moment we met you hated me! Giving me harsh glances, always acting like I was gonna take Rosemary from you or something! I tried to let you fight me and end it but it only made you more mad! And then you were so mad at me in the Knight exam you almost blew your arm off trying to beat me! At every turn you've been jealous of somebody who was just trying to be your friend! Jealous of a guy who's weaker than everybody!"
Gray's body surged. Edward was speaking the truth, a truth Gray had already acknowledged. But right now, with so much despair mutating into rage, he simply couldn't say it just yet. He resisted, resisted, resisted, and -
Gray: "Everybody has beaten me at every turn! I've gotten saved over and over, bailed out, granted powers from somebody else! You have the family, you have the rage and the drive! Compared to somebody like me, you deserve your strength! You are strong! I have the power of Azalea, her Cloak and her mana, and I can't do anything with it but kill and destroy myself! This damn hand that keeps twitching is another present from my mana! All these bandages, even my eyes, any bit of healing I've had is mana! Mana mana mana mana! Me and my powers are separate! So far from each other! But you are Edward Van Helsing, your strength is you, everything you, is you."
Edward: "Ugh! Just stop! Nothing you can say will stop me from running toward Moro! It can't! It just can't! My whole life has been fixing that! Doing the only thing I could! If I couldn't awaken, be a knight, be a real Helsing, then I'd at least get revenge for my real family!"
Gray: "So we're not your real family then?"
Edward froze. The hotel was so, so quiet, barren, like a withered desert only lit by the rising sun. Rocking chairs, old rugs, so many cob webs and large webs, doorways, and the thick staircase in the center of the hall. He took it all in, away from Gray. But Gray got closer.
Gray: "Maybe I'm weird, and I know I didn't spend much time with them…but Ophelia, Al, Musashi, Kioshi, they all felt like they were a part of the family we were building. Gordon, Ryo, all the Knights I've met, one big group. But they were stolen from us, by the Sect. But they gave us a purpose, the same purpose your family gave you right? To live, live on for what you want to do. So do you really want to run head first into who knows how many of Moro's best Pirates, face Moro all by yourself, and try and come back to the family you rejected like I did so you can keep beating yourself up? If all of this is so you can sleep peacefully at night, well then I hope you can, because after all I've done to hurt the people around us, I know I can't. They'd let you back, we'd be happy, but that's only if you live that fight. So go die, die for your mom and dad, the people who died so you could live. Spit on their graves. Or do it the right way. And fight for Walgonia, save Athens, and defeat the Gravestone pirates in the process."
Edward saw all the time they had spent together, walking, talking, joking, making food for them, traveling with them to Athens. And for the first time in his life since the island, he was having fun. But the moment he saw Moro again that flame lit like it never had before. Meeting Lincoln, going through his harsh training, facing the Gravestone Pirates and finally winning. It was like he was living the life he was supposed to. But here Gray was. Here Athens was. His current path, maybe the true road , and he divulged to go right to the end. His heart was beating so fast. He couldn't help but see his mother over and over again. That burning island forever in his mind. And then he saw Gray, reaching his hand out.
Gray: "I'm sorry for treating you like I did. And you're right. How I've been acting, how I'm even in this state, I'm no hero. I shouldn't have pushed you, I shouldn't have grabbed this stupid Cloak. But we need you, Athens needs you, I need your help. Not just for the fight, because if we lose anymore people I don't think we could handle it. Not right now. Please Edward, be our shield."
Edward: "I…I want to. But I can't help but feel like I'm wasting this chance. And I'll never get it back. I don't want to choose between which family members to protect."
Gray: "I know it's harsh, but please. Protect the living, so you can honor the dead."
Edward looked down toward his feet, to a hopeful Gray, his Dragon stone blade, and a broken window looking out toward Athens. And he attacked, kicking a hard piece of stone right past Grays head.
Gray: "HEY -
But Gray looked back, watching with a disgusted look as a squished Dust centipede fell to the floor. A dense twisting Low-Tier Spirit Beast that collects dust and debris for almost invisible camouflage, to use its venomous pincers on its prey.
Edward: "How do I know I'm making the right choice?"
Gray: "Well, I guess you never do. Make the best one you can now, try and think of the future, but all things considered. It's always a leap of faith. A chance you're going to have to take yourself, and if it fails, you get your third, fourth, fifth, however many chances you're given after, and you keep going."
They both stepped to the middle of the hall, in front of the stairs, and Gray once again extended his hand.
Edward: "I want our relationship to be that of friends. Not rivals, not coworkers. If this is really a family like you say, then we have to act like it."
Gray: "Then we're brothers. Uhh, not blood, not step, but Brothers in War, right? We've acted like it, and as long as we don't die we're gonna be doing stuff like this for a while. Till the end, and until then, we fight like hell together."
Edward: "Alright then, brother."
Right as Edward went to shake Gray's hand the hotel's main lobby was burst through by a large hammer swung by a brutish Warrior. But Edward and Gray just looked at each other, and sighed. By the time the small group of Warriors made it to their floor, they had already leapt out a window. Running through an alley, smiling. And when another group looked to the shadows, they were gone, and only the sound of a sliding grate left behind. Into the tunnels, to their friends. Talking the entire time.
Gray: "I did all of that to get here and to Rosemary and here I am running back! I'm gonna look so dumb! Especially after what happened with Iris…I only heard her name but Rosemary knew her, and she pushed me forward!"
Edward: "Wait sorry who's Iris? And I think they're gonna be more mad at me. I'm the one that spent so much time away with Lincoln and stuff training for the Gravestone pirates."
Gray: "Wait you were with Lincoln!?"
Only to divulge into a lot of Edward explaining his time, only for Gray to respond increasingly impressed as Edward rattled on about the many fights he won. How he'd gotten this Dragon Stone armor. While Gray tried to throw in his time with Ryo to counter Gods of War to Gods of War, simple ego against ego with laughs. Masking the pain in both of their hearts. Slowly growing with their anxiety as they moved through the dark damp sewers, past Warriors searching, even attacking out right.
Gray: "See look! I can do this now!"
It was the last thing the Warrior heard before Gray threw out a bright Spirit Breaker, a slash manifested from an old pipe Gray picked up to send the young man slamming against the stone. Edward however took his sword out in a flash, moving right between four Warriors.
Edward: "This is cooler though!"
One Warrior instinctively took in Spirit mana, another earth mana, a third went to stab Edward, and the fourth simply froze in panic. Faster than them all Edward swung a single time, through them all, to send them flying past Gray bleeding and broken. Gray felt terrible at the sight of their bodies, but Edward just dragged him along before some Elities appeared to help. On and on.
Rosemary {What should we do?}
For the others, the Red Arrows, Walgonia's Knights, all lost. Rosemary sat in the medical area with her eyes open, dead, staring harshly into the stalactites above. Covered in bandages, trying to finish her last Healing Elixir before her body started rejecting them, without any energy at all. Beside her was a sleeping Soku, across from watching Julius, and outside of the densely packed room was Leo and Peter. Resting, thinking, but mostly just grieving.
Rosemary {We don't know where Gray is, Edward. I failed Toll…and without Garly, we only have Leo as a true pillar of might. Against Raylice, Calgary, maybe Arthur, all those Top Elites. I still haven't mastered the fourth stage, let alone get to the fifth! What am I supposed to do!?}
The rest of Caesar's Spartans were beginning to fill the halls. A mix of extremely stern, rugged, and relaxed people. A majority supposedly passed criminals who used to work for the crime families in Athens before Caesar absorbed them all. Even still it seemed like a good amount of them were from Walgonia, or spread to Ravoria and Valatroctius. Demi-humans, tanner and darker toned humans who live closer to the east and Valatroctius, ex extremist from Ravoria. An odd mix all ready to do whatever Ceasar wanted. But he had yet to return from wherever he left to the moment they arrived back in the base after leaving the Tower.
Rosemary {I have to train then right! Learn a new technique! Master something! I just have to get up! I have to act myself!}
She could move. Her unique OD granted her a more spiritual body, with regeneration slightly worse than an unawakened Helsing, and mana regeneration on par with a Half-Elf, and her resilience was better than all of that. But still, she couldn't do anything but sit. She was hungry, she was incredibly tired, she wanted to go home to Greenvale, to the manor, to Soku's home. She wanted to walk with Gray in the snow again, lay in her own bed and do or read whatever she wanted, practice playing an instrument, find a real hobby outside of training. She wanted to live her life. But she wanted to help, to use her strength, to bring peace far more. It was just becoming so much for so long. And this was just Athens. Even if they won, they still had to face the Sect in Walgonia. After, maybe Valatroctius and Ravoria, another country attacking, another seventy year long war continent wide. It was simply too much.
Rosemary {I won't be the one that falls behind, that has to rely on her powers, the one that just stands around! I have to really help! And if I want to I have to move, even when I don't want to! Not because somebody else is telling me, but because I'm telling me! That has to be enough right!?}
She flung up. Noticing the torn brown rags she was wearing atop all the bandages. Standing barefoot on the jagged floor to almost fall instantly with the sharp pain in her right arm.
Rosemary {Gray could heal from this in a day, it's coming up on three and I'm still struggling! Stop whining about everything and keep walking!}
So she did. Past the many caretakers trying to assist the at least hundred or two hundred injured within this single room to look at Soku for just a second. And kept walking, locking eyes with Julius before opening the door to face Leo.
Rosemary: "I need your help."
By the time Edward and Gray arrived it was almost night. After so many turns due to closed off paths of destroyed stone and earth magic, even breaking through some and reclosing them, they found some Red Arrows guarding a small wooden doorframe inside of a tight cave to enter. Passing a mix of brick, the stone of the earth, wooden and magical earthen supports, and so many people they couldn't breathe. It seemed like all of the Red Arrows and Spartans they had left were within, continuing to spread and spread out into the broken and disjointed parts of Athens tunnels just to fit inside. Still Edward and Gray, atop Edwards shoulders, walked toward small earthquakes. Enough to have a lot of people on edge of Warriors hearing the commotion. Eventually they got to a wide open mining cavern with somehow even more people watching, passing through to see two Golden lights, one Green Light, and one pinked haired prince fighting.
Leo: "Come on! So what Walgonia's got!"
Leo had a soft lair of lightning he was trying to make denser and denser, while Rosemary leapt forward in the third stage. Soku sent out wind blades from behind to throw Leo off but short surges of electricity automatically broke them, forcing Rosemary to pivot back and feint Leo. So at least one of their attacks could hopefully land. In the shape of Julius sliding across the sandy stone with a powerful lunge, only to get his rapier caught by a lare of lighting around Leo's tight grasp. Slightly zapping him before sending him past Rosemary, who had already jumped again, missing a knee to Leo's face.
Edward: "It's weird to be here."
Edward was trying to speak to horribly nervousness consuming him, but Gray looked like he was star struck. Watching in awe as Rosemary ran, punched, dodged. At her skill of course, but it was just seeing her. With everybody. Safe for once. It was so much he almost cried. But he stood tall, smiled, and leaned forward to try and get back to reality. Although his response had nothing to do with what Edward was saying.
Gray: "They're fightin hard."
Edward: "Probably training, or getting off steam."
Toll: "It's both."
Gray: "EEK!"
Gray couldn't believe he was seeing Toll right beside them, having pushed through the crowd. She had a crutch, was covered in thick casts and bandages, was missing her left arm, but she still had a smile on her face. Happy to be alive, even if she was feeling the complete opposite about her physical state.
Gray: "Are you…are you okay?"
Toll: "As good as I look. They're the ones you're gonna wanna talk to. When Ceasar gets back it's gonna be all business. A lot of people are probably gonna leave, maybe you guys too, so get ready. But before that, have a few hours to yourself for once. Go join in. I'm sure they'd be very happy to see yah."
But they didn't have to. The moment Rosemary looked back, feeling like she had to, the battle stopped. Gray ran over the small fence and into the makeshift arena, and Rosemary had already closed the distance. Finally holding each other. Finally resting is a bit easy. But they almost immediately turned their attention to Edward, jumping with joy, before Edward had to break the news.
Edward: "I'm stronger than ever, I was just…training. But I'm back, and I apologize for leaving. However, the calm is over right? I have to act."
Rosemary and Julius nodded but Soku attempted to hold Edward back, letting go once she realized he was trying to speak with Leo. Who ran in to almost crush Edward with an incredible hug.
Leo: "I MISSED YOU MAN! I was so scared I'd let you die! But the Last Helsings are back! Who were yah training with!?"
Edward: "That's…what I wanted to talk to you about. I trained, I trained with Lincoln!"
The room instantly fell silent. Leo even dropped Edward, falling instantly from happy to confused, to almost angry.
Leo: "He's…he's been in Athens!?"
Edward: "Yes! Mount Yelira! I tried over and over to convince him to help but he won't budge. I think after all this fighting, his body is finally giving out. He doesn't want to act and break, but he also doesn't want to decide things himself. He's left it up to us."
Leo: "THAT BASTARED! I KNEW HE'D ABANDOM ME! FUCK!"
He slammed his foot with lightning. However there were so many Red Arrows watching, new civilians trying to escape Athens, even children. These were his people, Athens, and he had to stand strong. Looking out to all of them, before looking up to the second floor. Ready to give his announcement that Ceasar was finally here, far faster than expected.
Caesar: "You ready?"
Leo: "Yes."
Leo sent out a massive clap, enough to spark the attention of those outside the area. The Spartans were already filling up the room, but he was speaking to his people only.
Leo: "The Capital is going to become a warzone! We've been trying to help you escape, help you hide! But if the Red Arrows are going to win we have to strike by the weekend! SO IF YOU WISH TO LEAVE, IF YOU WISH TO INSURE YOUR LIFE, LEAVE! WE'LL HELP IN MASS UNTIL THE WAR IS READY! BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE ATHENS RETURN, THEN WE FIGHT! WE GET READY!"
Caesar: "AND FOR ALL YOU AWESOME SPARTANS OUT THERE! WHEN WE WIN, WE'RE NO LONGER IN THE SHADOWS! NO LONGER CRIMINALS! WE'RE TRUE WARRIORS OF ATHENS! FREEDOM, THE NEW LAND, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED!"
His Spartans cheers, mostly. The ones that were actually past members of the gangs weren't so happy, but they were forced to cheer by the other Spartans. It inspired the Red Arrows to do the same for Leo, chanting for the Red Arrows. Chanting for battle. Gray even chanted, causing the spike of despair from Lincoln's truth to momentarily vanish. Garly could have been saved. This war could have been ended so long ago; everybody could have been saved. Toll, his best friend wouldn't be broken. And he wouldn't have to rely on the help of Children from Walgonia to possibly win. However Edward wasn't happy, he was focused, grabbing hold of Leo's arm to try and speak firmly.
Leo: "He -
Edward: "Mount Yelira. It's going to erupt in a few months, maybe weeks. So you're right, we do have to end this, as fast as possible."
The Calm had ended a while ago. This was just the settling of the dust before the flames began. But, for Athens, for their past, for their friends; they were all fighting for one kind of family, but memory would never be enough.