Fateful Embers
Chapter 6: Darkness
Kamui jumps a bit as Magnus suddenly appears from thin air. She knew Magnus would be back soon enough, but she didn't expect him to return THIS soon or in that particular manner.
With Kamui are Azura and Jakob, both having sneaked away from their groups and joined their adoptive sister and their charge respectively. Jakob smiles slightly "Ah, Magnus. Good to see that you're present." Magnus gives a nod and extends his hand, Jakob doing his own and shaking hands with him "Same."
Lilith considers appearing at this moment... but something doesn't feel right. The spear Magnus has on him felt like at any moment it would kill her, and there was a sort of dark, hungry presence around the group. Like they're being hunted... for now she'd stick back and watch.
"So, your choice has been made Kamui... neither family should have you?" Azura questions. Kamui lets a sigh slip out from her lips "I...they're both my family. And I don't want to give up on either of them. But if I pick a side, I can't be with the other... if I work on my own, than maybe, maybe I could mend the rift between Hoshido and Nohr from the outside."
For a moment there is silence, before Azura lets a faint smile grow across her lips "I see... if a world where Hoshido and Nohr are united is the one you seek to make, then I will be with you." Magnus gives a slight shrug "Frankly couldn't care less what choice you make. Either way I'll fight for you."
This only leaves one major question... where was their next move? They didn't really have anywhere to go at the moment, and no steps they could directly take. "Anor Hēn." Magnus suggest to them, understanding what the silence was for "I need to go there. The name is... something only found in my homeland."
Jakob looks at him like he's grown another head "Nobody can simply enter Anor Hēn. Both Hoshido and Nohr have attempted to speak to them, only to either be rejected or have their messengers and guards killed." Magnus lets a sinister smirk grow across his lips "Maybe... but if it's how I think it is... I know how to fight the nights that guard it."
But for now, it was too late to actually go further. They all needed to rest after the excitement that just took place. Kamui stares down at her hands, trying to remember how to bring them all to that world Lilith showed her to... a light shines from her hands, and the entire group are surrounded by a sphere of blue light, teleporting them away and back to that world.
Jakob looks up at the realm, with Magnus falling on his ass and whispering to himself "The hell?" Azura isn't surprised however, she knew all about this world. "What is this place?" Magnus questions, while Jakob lets out a quiet "Incredible..."
(Night)
Everyone had settled into their places, and mostly fell asleep. With the exception of Magnus. He never slept. Period. He frankly forgot how the process even began. Oh, he tired, but sleep and food were no longer necessities. So he simply patrolled the area... but wasn't able to catch the shadow flying over them.
Up within Kamui's room, a figure looms over her. It's hand wreathed in darkness. At the moment, Kamui was asleep in a nightgown on her bed. As the hand descends, it suddenly grabs onto Kamui's face, causing her to wake, as the creature attempts to drain her of those precious shards of humanity... yet finds nothing. Confused, the creature stares at his hand, only to be kneed right in the face by Kamui.
It stumbles back a bit into the moonlight, to reveal a figure in skeletal armor, as Kamui grasp onto Yato. Kamui stands up and prepares to fight, before so, questioning "Who ARE you?" And her only response being a rush forward y the creature. Their blades clash, causing small sparks to fly in the room as they pressure each other.
The skeletal figure is physically stronger, but Kamui manages to slip under a bit and trip the figure, before giving a horizontal slash powerful enough to send it flying out of her room, and onto the grounds below. This is enough to disturb Magnus and Azura, as Magnus rushes to see and finds... "Darkwraith."
The Darkwraith picks itself up off the ground, relatively unharmed as it turns to look at Magnus, able to taste the humanity dwelling within him. In begins dashing forward, before suddenly a spear of lightning hits it in the back, causing it to roar in pain. It turns to look back at who threw the bolt, and both Magnus and the Darkwraith see Kamui standing there, one hand sparking with lightning, the other with Yato. She runs the lightning covered hand over the blade and coating Yato with the power of sunlight.
A look of pride grows on Magnus's face, as Kamui goes dashing towards the Darkwraith with Yato held in a reverse grip in front of her, and the Darkwraith with both hands clenched onto its blade. The two clash, and a blast of lightning and dark goes out around them.
The strikes of Kamui are quick, but still have strength behind them. While the Darkwraith's are slow and crushing, tearing up the earth where they hit.
Kamui transforms her arm into a more draconian form, taking the appearance of a blade as she sends the Darkwraith flying across the grounds, and through that stone mound where gems randomly appear from.
The lightning from Kamui's blade disappears, as she pants slightly from tiredness. Magnus walks over to her, and gives her a slap on the back "Damn fine job." He tells her with a grin on his face. Kamui looks over at the creature and questions "What is that?"
A frown slowly grows on Magnus's face "A Darkwraith. Someone who learned the technique of life drain, and has been devouring the humanity of people for so long they've been transformed." He explains.
Kamui briefly touches her face, now knowing what the creature was attempting to do. But why didn't it succeed? A question that was in Magnus's mind as well. It should've killed her once it grabbed hold. Then again, he was able to resist... or was it something to do with the Dark Soul of this world. If it even had one.
Azura hops out of the window to her room, rushing over to see what was going on. "I heard a noise and saw a..." but she becomes distracted by the feeling of sheer hunger and pain behind her. The Darkwraith. It was simply laying on the ground in agony. Most of it from before the battle.
Kamui looks over at Azura and smiles, waving it off "Don't worry, I managed to take care of the situation." Yet to both her and Magnus's surprise, she begins to approach the Darkwraith, kneeling down next to it and gently taking its hand.
"Azura... what are you doing?" Kamui questions, as Azura begins to sing the same song she did when Kamui was a dragon. "You are the ocean's gray waves, destined to seek
Life beyond the shore just out of reach.
Yet the waters ever change, flowing like time
The path is yours to climb." The Darkwraith seems to begin to glow, shining brightly.
Then... Azura begins to add a second verse "In the white light, a hand reaches through
A double-edged blade cuts your heart in two
Waking dreams fade away, Embrace the brand-new day. Sing with me a song of birthrights and love, The light scatters to the sky above
Dawn breaks through the gloom, white as a bone. Lost in thoughts all alone."
The Darkwaith begins to transform, its blade turning into a silver staff, and its armor morphing into a black cloak, with a beak like mask on his face.
Magnus stares down in absolute disbelief, simply asking out loud "THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THIS WORLD?!"
(Meanwhile, in Nohr)
Xander was currently getting used to the new power he was given. The power of Lorian's Flame. The sword was unruly in size, and at first difficult to incorporate into his on horseback fighting style. But due to his training with Magnus, he was easily strong enough to use both in one hand.
Xander dashes forward, and while in midstep, firmly plants his foot down and performs a spin, slashing the two blades in unison and sending a shock wave of both flame and dark energy from both swords, which combine and become greater than the sum of their parts. A somewhat satisfied look grows on Xander's face, before he remembers where he got the power from.
Magnus. That name that brought so many confusing thoughts to his mind. On one hand, the man was family. He effectively raised Kamui, and helped craft Xander into the man he was now through... unorthodox methods admittedly. But still.
On the other hand, Magnus aided Kamui in leaving behind Nohr and striking out on their own. Xander was no fool, he knew they most likely wouldn't have beaten Magnus in a one on one confrontation, but the question of why he left with Kamui still rang fresh. Did Magnus convince Kamui? That is somewhat in his character if he believed leaving Nohr and Hoshido were best for Kamui, but it was so obvious to Xander that staying in Nohr, with her family, was the best for Kamui.
(Meanwhile in Hoshido)
Ryoma had managed to integrate Lothric's holy blade into his fighting style quite nicely. He quickly makes his way over to a dummy, jumping over it and extending the length of his blades with the holy lights and his lightning, and completely destroying the dummy he was practicing on. He found himself rather satisfied with the power he gained from... Magnus.
Magnus, at least to him at first, seemed like a good enough man. He cared for Kamui like she was his own flesh and blood, and seemed to do whatever he believed was right for the young princess. And yet instead of aiding her in the best direction, which was clearly being with her real family, he decided to get Kamui to strike out on her own. That didn't matter though. Even though now he couldn't defeat Magnus, he could convince Kamui to make the right choice and return to her true family.
(Meanwhile, at a village)
The Hollows have done major damage to small towns mostly. Large cities have mostly been able to stay safe from the spreading plague. For men and women of this world, hollowing was much harder to gain. But it still happened in enough numbers to be a risk.
One such town caught in their path was a farming village. The entire populous simply slaughtered by Hollows, without the slightest bit of mercy.
Only two people managed to escape. A young girl with freckles and flowers placed in her ponytails named Mozu, and her mother. Both run. Run as fast as they can... but unfortunately, her mother wasn't fast enough, and thus had a spear rammed through her.
Mozu feels her mother's grasp loosening, and attempts to look back at her to grasp again, only for her face to warp in horror at the sight, as she sees the light fade from her mother's eyes, and her hand fully letting go.
The Hollow attempts to reach for Mozu, only for its hand to suddenly be severed. It stares down confused, before suddenly being blown to bits by a wave of force. A figure wearing the same regal cloak of the man who saved Magnus, and holding a massive Greatsword that seems to be made of Black Slate. Several Hollows look at the sight, and attempt to attack the two, only to be blasted away by the force of his swing.
The man kneels down to Mozu's level "Such horrible creatures. These Hollows. Gone mad without purpose or direction... they only know to take." He then extends his hand out to Mozu's level "Come with me. There is much to do."
Yay! Only took me 20 infinities to post it, but hey! It's posted now! So... yeah. Took me a while. Still hurting. Gonna have my wisdom teeth ripped out. Also, as to Magnus's love life... that's on me. That's not for vote, because he's literally my Dark Souls Character. Don't let my mom control my love life, won't let the internet either. If enough people hate Takumi I'll keep him from the Firekeeper. Soon my Unkindled Ash. Very soon. Will be the next chapter.
