Naïveté
Warren awoke with a really painful headache. He looked to see that he was still in Litchi's clinic, so he assumed that nothing happened. When he opened the door, however, he could see Linhua trying to keep her distance from him. Warren couldn't figure out why, so he looked for Litchi. She was reading an old looking book, but Warren really wanted to know what was going on.
"Oh dear, I was afraid of this," Litchi said out loud as she was reading the book.
"What's wrong, Ms. Litchi?" Warren asked.
"Warren, can you tell me the name of that weapon?"
"Sure, it's-"
"Don't answer her!" Hraesvelgr shouted. "She can't be trusted."
"It's, uh... I can't remember."
"He's probably lying," Litchi thought. "Warren, can you tell me where you found that bow?"
"We have to get out of here," Hraesvelgr said.
"I'd like to, but I have someone that I'm looking for," Warren hurriedly said.
"Very well, but tell me one thing. Have you had moments where you would black out just by laying eyes on someone?"
"This is ridiculous!" Hraesvelgr shouted. "Just leave!"
"I'm sorry, Ms. Litchi, but I don't recall moments like that. Now I have to get going," Warren shouted as he ran off.
"Oh dear, I really should have made more of an effort to stop him. He risks everything just by carrying that weapon," Litchi said as she prepared to try and follow him.
Warren didn't stop running until he had gotten several blocks away from the clinic.
"Why did we have to escape from Ms. Litchi?" Warren asked.
"I could feel a power within her, albeit a faint trace of it. It is a power that I detest."
"What is it?"
"The Azure."
"What's that?"
"It is a dangerous power that must be stopped."
"Are the NOL abusing that power?"
"They are. How else would they get such power."
"All the more reason to stop them."
"Your naïveté is astounding," Warren heard a woman's voice say.
Suddenly, Warren was transported to a rose garden. A huge castle overlooked it. Warren could make out two figures: a tall, elderly man in a green tuxedo, and a young looking girl with blond hair tied into pigtails and a black and red dress, drinking tea. When she got up, her table and chair turned into a parasol, and a little red creature also floated around her.
"So this is the boy who's been blundering around where he has no business," Rachel coldly commented.
"Who are you?" Warren asked.
"I don't see the need to answer your question."
"Tell me now."
"How dare you speak to the madam that way!" Valkenhayn shouted. Warren could have sworn that he almost snarled that phrase.
"Let me ask you a question. Do you even know anything about your armagus?"
"Don't answer her," Hraesvelgr whispered.
"It's pointless. I can hear your voice, Hraesvelgr."
"Huh? How can you hear his voice?"
"That is another question I do not need to answer. But I insist that you answer mine."
"What I do know is that this weapon is my key to stopping the NOL."
"He really doesn't know anything. Hell itself must have frozen over, for I have actually found someone who makes Ragna seem like a genius by contrast."
"Wait, you know Ragna the Bloodedge?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I wish to work with him to take on the NOL."
Rachel then laughed her pompous laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"What's funny is how stupid you are."
"Hey!"
"Are you telling me that you honestly trust that creature over human beings. I know for a fact that he kept telling you to avoid anyone with connections to the Azure."
"The Azure? The power the NOL has taken?"
"Oh my goodness, his stupidity has no limit. Hraesvelgr has lied to you."
"Don't trust her. You just met her anyway."
"Let me ask you something else. Do you know what happens when you come near a Nox Nyctores?"
"I think I've heard of those before. Aren't they really powerful weapons?"
"Oh my, how surprising. His brain isn't completely rotten. You have run into a few people with Nox Nyctores, and you haven't realized it."
"Really?"
"Warren, fight her. She can't be trusted!"
"I must warn you, that would be a mistake," Rachel said.
"Uh... Get back!" Warren shouted as he drew some wind.
"How dare you!" Valkenhayn shouted as he was about to run in, but Rachel held her hand out.
"Valkenhayn, I will teach him the folly of his idiocy."
"As you wish, Madam."
Warren shot at her, but she nonchalantly moved out of the way, and then sped towards him with Silpheed. He didn't have enough time to react, and she then had Nago punch him, sending him flying a bit. The exact moment that he regained his composure, she had launched something at him, which sprouted tall poles. Before he knew what was happening, he was suddenly electrocuted. Rachel, knowing she was far superior in combat, decided to leave the fight at that.
"I grow bored of this. Even Ragna can put up a better fight than this."
"Ugh, I'm finished."
"Did I say that I would kill you. My, you really are a daft one."
"Why?"
"I don't like spilling blood, especially the blood of pathetic simpletons like yourself."
Warren gulped.
"Do you not understand a joke when you hear it? Goodness, you are beyond help."
"Then why did you fight me?"
"To show you how ignorant you are of this world. If that is the best you can do, you will die in no time at all."
"Then what do I do?"
"I suggest that you stay, and learn about Hraesvelgr before you make a bigger blunder than you already have."
"You can't trust her!" Hraesvelgr shouted.
"I will not stop you if you leave, but be warned, you should not look for Ragna."
"I'm leaving," Warren reluctantly said.
"Very well, but I will not be held responsible for what happens next."
Rachel then teleported Warren away.
"That fool will cause the end of us all. Sometimes I despise being an observer."
Warren found himself in the middle of Kagutsuchi, unsure of how he wound up there. He could immediately hear the sounds of blades crossing. He looked to see a woman with long red hair with a white uniform and a white hat with white wings fighting a man in a blue uniform with short blond hair. The woman had a shield with an eye on it, and an unusual sword that seemed capable of changing its form. The man had a long, thin sword. The instant Warren got a good look at that sword, he lost consciousness.
Tsubaki and Jin kept crossing blades, neither one giving an inch. Tsubaki was determined to see this through to insure that she wouldn't have to kill Jin, while Jin had something he needed to do, and complying with his end of the bargain would complicate things. Neither one was able to get a clean hit, but they suddenly felt a presence. They both jumped away as a burst of wind shot where they had just been. They looked to see a boy carrying a bow without a bowstring. They both were wondering what this kid was doing, but before either of them could get an answer, Warren charged right at Jin and tried to kick him. Jin used Yukianesa to block, causing Warren to jump back because of the cold.
"Who the hell are you?" Jin shouted.
"I want the Mucro Algesco: Yukianesa. If you value your life, give it to me now!" Warren shouted.
"Do you have a death wish, because I'd be more than happy to oblige!" Jin shouted as he slashed with Yukianesa.
Warren barely dodged the attack.
"Do I have to repeat myself? Hand it over now!"
"You're not worth my time. I'll see you later, Tsubaki," Jin said before leaving.
"Get back here!" Warren shouted.
"Stop!" Tsubaki shouted.
Warren suddenly felt woozy.
"What happened?"
"Don't play dumb. You just interrupted my mission. I have been given orders by the Imperator. I realize that you had no way of knowing that, but it doesn't change the fact that you interfered."
"Why would I care?" Warren asked.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, I am. I'm against the NOL. What are you gonna do about it?"
"How dare you! For the crime of interfering with official NOL affairs, I hereby place you under arrest. Resistance will result in death," Tsubaki said as she brandished the Izayoi, and then ran at him.
"Oh crap!" Warren shouted as he narrowly blocked her attack.
Warren jumped out of the way and tried to shoot at her, but she jumped out of the way. She thrust her sword, which extended. Warren managed to move so that it only grazed his arm. Warren managed to blast her with wind, which sent her back a bit, but she was able to run at him. Warren narrowly ducked her attack, and managed to blast her with high pressure wind. It sent her flying, but she was far from done. She then created wings and flew towards him, managing to crash into him. She then slashed him in the back, causing him to wince. He tried to kick her, but she blocked it with her shield, and thrust her sword, causing him to lose consciousness. Before she could finish him, however, a figure suddenly grabbed him. She couldn't make out who it was, but she could swear that the figure had cat ears.
Warren awoke to realize that he was outside of the city limits, in the nearby forest. He had no idea how he got there, or how he got bandaged up. He looked around to see who helped him. He saw a two tailed cat in a yellow hood, and immediately blacked out.
"Don't even think about it, Hraesvelgr," Jubei said. "In a mortal body, your power is drastically weakened."
"I still have enough power to take your Nox Nyctores," he said with confidence.
"I'm not gonna humour you. Now give up on this ridiculous desire of yours."
"Never!" Hraesvelgr shouted as he shot at Jubei, but he easily avoided the attack, and then grabbed Hraesvelgr by the neck.
"Listen, you sunuvabitch! I won't have you dragging this boy down with you on this stupid power mad quest of yours!"
"What makes you think you can stop me again?" Hraesvelgr shouted as he pushed Jubei away, and then shot at him again. Again, Jubei easily avoided the attack.
"You've met multiple Nox Nyctores wielders, and yet, you haven't gotten one. You may as well give up."
"Never. I wasn't betrayed and imprisoned for so long just to not acquire the power I deserve!"
"You're the one that betrayed us! If we hadn't had imprisoned you like we did, the ensuing desctruction would have put the Black Beast to shame!"
"I had control, but you didn't want me to have that beautiful power! And you also know that I only need to get any Nox Nyctores to have that power back." Hraesvelgr then looked away from Jubei. "That beautiful power. I'll rule the world if I can have that power. And no one will stop me this time."
"You don't even realize that if you get that power, you'll destroy everything because no one can control it. Snap out of it!" Jubei shouted.
"If I can't have your Nox Nyctores, I'll find another. I just need one. That beautiful power will be mine again," Hraesvelgr shouted as he ran off. Jubei didn't see the point in pursuing, as he knew he would let Warren take over.
"It's scary how much power can corrupt someone," Jubei said as he headed to his next destination.