Disclaimer:
I do not own "Riviera: The Promised Land" or any of its characters.
Notes:
- By the way, is "Ares" a male or female's name? Then again, I guess it doesn't really matter.
Reunion:
Serene sat beside Ares' bed, staring down at her brother. For a long time, she had believed that she would never see one of her family again. She had convinced herself that she was all that remained of the Arcs. Now, she was in shock. She stared at her brother, never breaking her gaze and her involuntary blinks were her only movement. Ares mumbled in his sleep and the name "Serene" could be heard. Serene's eyes were on the verge of tears and she laid her head down on the pillow next to her brother, feeling the comfort of having a loved one near her.
Ein watched from the doorway, unnoticed by Serene. He smiled softly at Serene's new found happiness and gently closed the door to leave her with her brother. Ein walked back into the kitchen, thinking deeply.
"How are they?" a voice asked.
Ein turned around to see Fia.
"Ares is still resting and Serene just fell asleep with him," Ein responded.
Fia smiled and nodded.
"She's been up since he arrived last night," Fia said. "Well, I've fixed breakfast so you should come get some before Lina eats it all."
---
At the breakfast table, everything seemed normal except there was the absence of Serene. Lina was munching happily away at applecots while Rose absentmindedly sipping coffee as she read a book. Cierra was once again at the Magic Guild but Fia had put some food for her on a plate anyway, should she come back for some food.
"By the way, did you save some food for Serene and her brother?" Ein asked Fia.
She smiled and held up a tree loaded with food, and said "Yes."
She took them to Serene's room and Ein sat down to eat.
"So, Ein," Rose said. "How's Serene doing?"
"Fine, she's sleeping now," Ein answered.
"Lina happy for Serene! She has a brother now!" Lina exclaimed happily, between munches.
"She always had a brother," Rose said to Lina. "She just found him again…or he found her, I should say."
"Anyway, this is good for Serene. Now she won't feel so sad," Ein said.
Rose turned to Ein.
"So, lover-boy, are you going to comfort Serene now?"
Ein immediately went red in the face.
"W-what?"
"You heard me. Serene's brother has just returned and Serene's feelings must be quite excited. Also, her brother doesn't seem to be in good shape either. You should go comfort her," Rose said.
"Rose, you…"
Suddenly, a roar was heard and there were screams and shouts outside.
"DEMONS!" someone yelled.
Immediately, Ein rushed to the door, grabbed his Diviner and ran outside, closely followed by Rose as Lina went off to get her bow. There was commotion at the Grove of Repose and Ein headed there.
---
"What's happening?" he yelled, as he arrived.
Immediately, he saw Laddie brandishing a spear and fending off several Hound demons.
"Ein, quickly, help!" she cried, as five of them surrounded her.
Without hesitation, Ein sprang forward and slashed with Einherjar, successful landing a hit onto two of the Hounds. They retreated and the remaining demons advanced. Laddie flapped her wings and flew behind Ein, taking out a potion.
"They just suddenly appeared," Laddie informed. "I barely made it in time to stop them from advancing into the village itself."
"We can't let them come any closer or else they will spread out and we won't be able to stop them before someone gets hurt," Ein said.
"Ein! Ein!" a voice yelled.
Ein turned around to see Lina, Cierra and Fia approach, all of them wielding their weapons.
"Ein, what's happening?" Fia asked.
"Demons are…"
"EIN LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!" Rose screamed, suddenly.
Ein turned around to see all three of the unhurt demons leaping and baring their fangs. Ein swung his Diviner and damaged all of them but then the two that hung back charged as well and Ein could not dodge. Lina fired an arrow while Cierra cast a quick fire spell with her wand. The two Hounds were hit and were stopped once again. Fia and Rose ran to the side of Ein and prepared to fight. Fia raised her rapier while Rose took out a pair of claws. The Hounds bared their fangs and leaped once again. Fia stabbed one while Rose slashed. Suddenly, there was a glow behind them.
"This is the will of the Gods! Disaresta!" Ein cried.
He slashed with an eight hit combo attack and decimated the Hounds. The Hounds disappeared, having been defeated and everyone sighed in relief.
"Well, that certainly was close…" Rose mumbled.
Ein looked at Rose and said, "Since when did you ever fight in a battle?"
Rose raised her eyebrow and said, "Just because I'm a historian doesn't mean I don't know a thing or two about fighting. I've watched you get attacked by demons enough and watching Ledah certainly…"
Suddenly, Rose fell quiet. Ein's gaze dropped and he turned and began to walk away. The name "Ledah" was like taboo to him.
"Ein…" Rose began.
"Don't worry about it," Ein returned.
"Anyway, perhaps we should return…" Fia started to suggest.
"Hey! Lina sees something coming!"
Everyone turned to see where Lina was pointing. A huge demon was approach. It looked like an overgrown Hound, about five times bigger than normal sized ones, except it stood on its hind legs. About it were about seven normal sized Hounds. Clearly, this was the real attack and the first was simply a scouting group.
"Everyone, get ready!" Ein cried. "They're coming!"
The large Hound let out a roar and the seven smaller ones rushed forward, eager to attack the Sprites. Ein raised his Diviner defiantly and his friends stood with them. As the enemies came closer, Lina let fly an arrow and Cierra cast a spell. Just as they attacked, Ein slashed and hit all of them, as they all charged in one long row. Fia stabbed and Rose slashed but there were too many Hounds. Soon they attacked back and Ein's party were receiving damage. One leapt and slashed Rose but luckily it was not a critical wound. Fia blocked one but was thrown back by the force and she fell sprawled onto the ground. Ein was surrounded by three of them and it was all he could do to fend them off.
Suddenly, help come from behind.
"I never miss! Stardust!"
"I'll show you the power of magic! Calamity Flare!"
Arrows and fireballs shot from behind and decimated the Hounds. Four of them fell and the other three were forced back. Fia helped Rose retreat and Ein stood defiantly, despite his injuries, as they moved back to recover. The large Hound stepped forward, urging the smaller ones on. In a fit of madness, all three of them leapt for Ein. However, he was ready for them. He put his Diviner to the side and drew out a Gran Sabre.
"This should end it! Divine Ascension!"
Ein slashed the lead Hound several times and with his final strike, a great blinding light shined up from the earth beneath them and destroyed the remaining Hounds. With no minions left, the large Hound roared and charged. Worn from his attack, Ein stumbled as he attempted to retreat. The Hound beared down onto Ein, ready to strike.
"Ein! No!" Cierra screamed.
"Run, Ein! Run!" Lina yelped, desperately firing an arrow.
The Hound swatted the arrow away and bared its fangs, ready to make the final blow on Ein. Ein desperately raised his sword but the demon snapped it up in its jaws and threw it to the side. Reaching for his Diviner, Ein stood up and slashed desperately. The demon took the hit with a flinch but did not stand down. He slapped the Diviner from Ein's weakening hands like it was a toy and prepared to attack Ein. As what appeared to be imminent death rose upon Ein, he had a sudden flashback.
Flashback:
In a similar situation in the past, Ein was kneeling down in pain and a great ape-like demon was ready to finish him off. Suddenly, a flash of blue and black streaked across, in front of Ein, and the demon was killed. Serene stood, with her scythe dripping with the blood of the dead demon, and smiled at Ein.
"You can thank me later!"
Ein closed his eyes, as he knew Serene would not be here to save him this time. The demon raised its claw and swung. However, Ein heard a sudden roar of pain. His eyes snapped open and a winged figure was hovering in front of him, surrounded by blue light. At first, he thought it was Serene but he noticed that the figure was different.
"You really are a weakling, aren't you?" a voice said.
Ein's eyes slowly adjusted to the light and someone from the past was revealed.
