Disclaimer:
I do not own "Riviera: The Promised Land" or any of its characters.
The Last Arc!
"Yah! Eat that!"
"You'll have to do better than that!"
The sounds of combat rang through the Sprite village of Elendia. Ein, the wingless Grim Angel from Asgard, was sparring with Serene, the Lone Arc. It has been a year since the defeat of Seth-Rah and peace has once again come to the serene village of Elendia. The Sprites lived in harmony amongst each other and everyone was enjoying doing what they did best. However, for a Grim Angel like Ein and the last remaining Arc, who were both skilled fighters, there was really nothing left for them.
"Serene, you should really try and control how you swing that scythe…" Ein suggested, ducking another swing from Serene. "It's only made of wood but your attacks are sort of awkward and predictable…"
"Shut-up, Ein!" Serene returned. "It's not like you could do any better with a scythe!"
"…"
They were training with wooden weapons but in the hands of Serene, anything can have the grounds to invite terror. Serene stepped forward and swung down with the scythe and Ein dodged to his left. He swung his sword in a counter-attack, aiming for Serene's stomach. She flapped her wings and flew back, dodging the slash. She flew higher into the air and swung down with even more momentum. Ein was too committed to his attack to dodge and blocked with his sword. His feet absorbed the blow and then he pushed with all his strength, pushing off the ground. Serene could not stop Ein and was forced to retreat and dodge his attack.
She landed about five metres away and raised her scythe. Ein noticed she was not completely steady and then remembered they were training for one hour straight.
"I think that's enough for today…" Ein said, lowering his sword.
"Y-yeah…me too…" Serene said, panting. "Let's stop for today, if you're too tired."
Shouldn't I be the one who should be saying that? Ein thought to himself. However, it was well-known among the Sprites that Serene had a flaring temper and Ein said nothing. Besides, he could never really refuse her anything or make fun of her…not since a year ago when Malice took Serene's soul in order for Seth to be summoned. Ever since then, he could not help but think it was his fault that she was taken and momentarily dead…not to mention left alone without her fellow Arcs…
Ein and his companions all came to live in Lina and Fia's house. It was not so crowded, after the extensions made for it. They only added two rooms. One was for Cierra but she spent a lot of her time at the Magic Guild anyway. Serene and Lina teased her that Claude had something to do with that but Cierra always laughed it off. However, her face was such a colour that resembled her clothes and reminded everyone that she was the "Scarlet" Witch. Anyway, Serene and Rose (turned into a Sprite from a rather miraculous potion that Cierra discovered) took the other room and Ein slept in the main room, which used to belong to Fia before she started sleeping upstairs in the same room as Lina. However, Serene would sleep in the other spare room if Cierra was away.
However, when Ein and Serene returned, they found that everyone was there. Cierra was once again attempting to cook and Lina was darting around the place, running up to Cierra or then darting across the room to Fia. Rose shut herself in her room, where she wrote and recorded history. When Ein and Serene walked in, she squealed and ran up to them.
"I was so bored!" she said, brightly. "There's nothing to do…"
"How about helping us with the cooking?" Fia suggested, rolling her eyes.
"Oh no, Fia," Cierra said. "I think we're doing just fine…although, this stove seems a bit weak…perhaps if I just…"
"CIERRA! NO!"
"Ok…ok…"
"Remember how you almost burnt down the house, last time?" Serene said, crossly.
"Yeah! Repairing it was so much work!" Lina added.
"Well…at least it gave us a chance to renovate the house and add in the two extra rooms…"
"Aww…Ein is always so nice!" Cierra exclaimed, hugging him.
"Ah…thanks, Cierra…" Ein said, blushing.
Rose walked out of her room, carrying a book as usual. She yawned and stretched.
"Did you have a late night, again?" Ein asked.
Rose merely nodded, rubbing her eyes.
"You should get some sleep."
"I've nearly finished…besides, wouldn't you two be tired from all that training?" she replied. "You guys really shouldn't push yourselves when there really isn't reason to…"
Ein shrugged and set his sword down, by the door. Serene put her scythe down as well and then stretched.
"I think I'll go take a bath…my whole body is covered in sweat…" she said. "And can you guys make sure Ein doesn't peek?" she added, to the other girls.
"Yeah."
"No problem."
"Don't worry."
"Lina will make sure Ein doesn't perve!"
"…nice to see how much trust I get around here…" Ein mumbled.
Serene hit him on the head.
"Well if you didn't perve those two times…"
"I told you! It was an accident!"
"Sure," Rose said, sarcasm dripping from that word. "An accident on purpose. You knew they were going to be there…"
"Shut-up…"
Serene smiled as Rose told Ein off, along with Lina's help. Fia returned to cooking, keeping an eye on Cierra as she did. Serene slipped out with a towel and spare clothes, heading for the Undine's Spring.
As Serene was sitting into the spring, she relaxed and leant against a rock, enjoying her bath.
"Hello…Serene…" a rather weak voice said.
She turned her head and saw Meute, the Undine that lived in the spring.
"Hey, Meute," Serene replied.
"Are…you…getting used…Elendia?"
"'Am I getting used to Elendia?' you're asking?" Serene asked.
Meute nodded.
"Yeah…it's a cool place…and everyone is nice," Serene answered, as she washed herself thoughtfully. "But…I still miss Rosalina…and my family…"
Meute's eyes saddened and she laid her hand on Serene's shoulder, as a gesture of comfort. Serene forced herself to smile and she leant herself back on a rock, careful not to squash her wings, and relaxed. It was not long before she dozed off, as the sun set and the moon rose into the sky. She did not notice a winged-figure approaching her.
"Stupid, paranoid girls…" Ein mumbled. "It's not like I saw anything…they were well covered…"
"Stop making excuses," a voice said.
Ein turned around to see Rose leaning on the doorway, with her arms crossed as she observed Ein polishing his Diviner and grumbling.
"I was with you both of those times and I know you figured out that they were having baths."
"Yeah, yeah…"
"By the way…do you plan on returning to Asgard?" Rose asked, somewhat hesitantly.
"What…why do you ask?"
"Well…you're a Grim Angel and…your post is in Asgard."
"Rose, I thought we went through this before," Ein replied. "I am not returning. We both enjoy life here and…"
"Only because Serene and the other girls are here…" Rose interrupted, slyly.
"Yeah and…WHAT!" Ein exclaimed, startled. "W-what do you mean…?"
Rose looked at Ein and raised her eyebrow.
"What…" Ein mumbled weakly.
"I've seen how you look at them, especially Serene. In all the time that I've known you, you never looked at anyone else in the same way. Not Ledah, not Malice, not me."
"Well…maybe it's true…that I enjoy life ere more than in Asgard. Your point is?"
"Ein, you are a Grim Angel. It is your duty, your nature to fight demons. That's the reason you're still sparring with Serene, isn't it? You can not let go of the battle…"
"Riviera is now free of demons…my duty is complete."
"But demons still exist. Asgard and the Magi will be wanting their Grim Angel back sooner or later…especially with the added absence of Ledah and Malice."
"Malice wasn't a true Grim Angel anyway…"
"That's not the point. The point is…"
At that moment, their conversation was interrupted by a shrill shriek.
"Ein, come quick! A demon has been sighted near Undine's Spring!" Lina shrieked.
Ein froze in shock.
"Serene…" he gasped, before grabbing Einherjar and rushing out with a worried Rose following him.
They arrived to the spring and saw a winged figure silhouetted against the moon. In its hand was a scythe, much like the one that Serene would carry. For an instant, Ein thought it was Serene but then he noticed the real Serene backing away from the figure, clutching a towel to her body. Ein and the others stood on the edge of the spring but only Ein was holding a weapon.
"Stupid, perverted, demon! What do you think you're doing! You are so dead!" Serene screamed.
Ein could not help but stare at Serene's semi-exposed body before an annoyed Rose slapped him on the back of his head. Snapping to his senses, he rushed forward, stood in front of Serene, shielding her with his body.
"What do you want?" he shouted at the figure.
The figure flapped its wings and remained silent while it floated in the air.
"It must be sort of vampire of something…" Ein mumbled.
Hearing this, Serene looked up and remembered the time when Ein supported her when a few vampires considered Serene to be their "comrade". She blushed at the thought of Ein standing up for her again and she hastily retreated to her clothes but could not take her eyes off Ein and the "demon".
"Why are you in Elendia?" Ein demanded once more, as the figure simply floated out of reach.
"Elendia…?" the figure mumbled. "Have I really…made it…to Elendia?"
"Wait…that voice…its male…" Fia mumbled.
"Lina doesn't understand…does that mean he's a male vampire?"
"But…aren't vampires generally female…?" Cierra pondered.
"Doesn't mean they can't be male…" Rose suggested.
"Wait…I recognise that voice…" Serene exclaimed, as something triggered in her memory.
"Serene…is that really you?" the figure said, before it floated down, revealing its face.
Serene gasped as a male Arc was revealed. "Ares…" she gasped.
Then, the Arc dropped his scythe and fell down but was caught by a surprised and confused Ein.
"Who is this, Serene?" Ein asked, supporting the now unconscious Arc.
"His name is Ares…my brother…" Serene mumbled, in shock.
Everyone stared at the newly discovered survivor of the genocide that everyone thought left Serene all along as the Lone Arc.