A New Situation
Chapter 6: New Arrivals
It was a quiet moment when three people arrive at Clouds apartment to stay in for the day. The two newcomers Lance and Castor were lead inside to where Cloud is staying and looked around the room. The room was clean with couches and a balcony to the left side of the room. Cloud told them to sit down and looked at the sky being already night time. Castor sat down with his friend and observed Cloud thinking about what should he tell Cloud about zaiphon and how it works.
'' Earlier when I used my power I never meant to harm Rufus Shinra that far but as a lesson to him about his people and his actions!'' Explained Castor thinking carefully on his word of choice. Lance knew that if he had not stopped Castor in time before inflicting his manipulation zaiphon then Rufus Shinra would have been in a different state than the one he was in now.
Cloud being cautious at Castor but is more at ease with Lance replied:'' But if you really wanted to teach him a lesson then would you have attacked me if I provoke you Castor?'' Castor paled at that statement ; considering he is a bishop that won't hurt any innocents associated with those that cause harm and said:''No I only acted out of anger and concern and that you had nothing to do with it Cloud!'' Lance seeing where this is going touched Castors shoulder to assure him he did not do anything wrong.
Cloud realized that from the time he first met these two bishops, he had a strange feeling about them that they are not as ordinary as they seem and that they have a friendship similar to the ones he had with Avalanche and Tifa. Cloud almost forgot to ask them about the power Castor used earlier so he asked:'' The strings that emerged from you hands is it some kind of power being used ?''
Castor focused his attention to Cloud's question of what zaiphon is and the type he was using:'' Well the one you saw earlier came from a magic life force called Zaiphon it has three well known types Offensive, Healing and manipulation zaiphon. The manipulation zaiphon is the one I used as it can allow you to move objects or changing its appearance and is the rare one of of the three!'' Lance took part in the conversation as well:'' There are potential people out there that can wield zaiphon like I have attacking zaiphon to defend myself and healing zaiphon can heal injuries!''
For a moment Cloud began to think about seeing a manipulation zaiphon a long time ago. Then thought about his childhood in Nibelheim as a child and remembering a young blond girl with long hair visiting his home with him and his mother as the mentioned zaiphon appeared from her finger tips and he embraced her in a family bond. Being conflicted about this memory that he went back to since having a mixture of his friend Zack's memories he knows that this one belongs to himself and not Zack's because that girl in his memory was his (Clouds) relative from his time in childhood.
Suddenly someone calling out to Cloud who is staring at nothing snapped him out of it. The person turns out to be Lance who was concerned about him that he asked what is the matter. Cloud glanced towards Castor and Lance then reassured them that he is fine:'' I am alright I just remembered something in my past but none of that matters right now!'' Lance after seeing Cloud snapped out of his gaze thought is Cloud remembering something in his past that involves zaiphon being used in his presence but for some reason does not clearly remember? Castor seeing what Lance's reaction gave him a look that says Don't you dare look or else⦠Lance flinched at his friend's warning gaze and kept his thoughts.
Then Castor talked about a different subject to Cloud about his friends:'' Cloud what are your friends like as are they always got your back when you're in trouble?'' Cloud being surprised of being asked about his friends didn't mind and told them anyway:'' My comrades are understanding that without them I would not have survived the battle with a greater enemy. I met them two years ago before meteor destroyed most of Midgar and that I was not that much of a hero until I discovered my true self!'' Just by mentioning that person from two years ago his left arm began to hurt and clearly showing that whatever Cloud was hiding at his left arm is not something that could be treated easily. Lance took notice of this informed Cloud:'' Cloud are you alright do we need to find a doctor?'' Cloud shook his head thinking that ordinary doctors with will not be as efficient to remove the marks.
'' No I am alright it's just a little pain, this would not affect me as much!'' Both of the bishops didn't believe Cloud but chose not to question him and let him relax for a bit so that it is their turn to tell more about their friends. It has been a long time that the bishops told Cloud about their friends on how Teito is planning to travel around the world with Frau another of the bishops but leaving out the part about the land of Seele to collect seven cursed tickets from the seven god houses.
''Once Teito leaves for his journey I would stay in the church to help others and holding back against the imperial army searching for Teito!'' Said Castor feeling a bit tired mentioning the story to Cloud Strife who in turn told them his story of being the one along with Avalanche helped save Gaia from ruin and explained about the geostigma disease. '' I apologize about the people in Edge feeling that they lose hope to find a cure and that there has to be some way to find a cure and have you tried asking a healer for help?'' Asked Lance, showing he is concerned about the people and at the same time suspected that Cloud had it to but not go into further detail.
''Thank you for the concern but the people do not want any pity from outsiders and we will meet Tifa tomorrow to meet your other friends!'' Said Cloud as he lead them to the guest rooms he had with two beds in it and left already. Both of the bishops are now alone wandering the room where Lance stopped in front of a window and Castor sitting at one bed thinking about how all this came to happen to them and want to know why. It was silent for a while until Lance spoke first, he talked to Castor whether or not he believes in past lives.
''Glasses do you believe in past lives before we ever became what we are now as the seven ghosts ?'' Said Lance who is curious about past lives for humans. Castor stared in confusion at his companion on why Lance of all the people he knows wanted to ask him about past lives. When it is only Lance who has the power to view the past of anyone considering Lance is secretly Relikt the bequeathing spirit and Castor being Fest the binding spirit of the seven ghosts. Both of the bishops were not the only ghosts inhabiting the barsburg church including Frau (Zehel) and Labrador(Profe) but the three other ghosts Vertrag,Landkarte and Ea were in different situations. For instance, Vertrag was Fea Kreuz who 'stole' Pandora's box an ancient artifact carrying the world's greatest threat had gone missing possibly dead during the Raggs war and the two last ghosts went missing in action.
'' Of course I believe in past lives Lance, my mother tells me stories about how humans could be reborn again. It is said in the bible and volumes of barsburg that the Chief of Heaven can let a person grant three of their wishes as once they achieve them they are sent down to the world again to be reborn!'' Answered Castor cautiously when he mentioned his mother from his old life remembering happy moments. Lance nodded at that part but that is not exactly what he wanted to know and said to Castor anxiously:'' But do we ever remember who we once were in our past lives especially as a human?''
Castor eyes widened realizing that Lance could be remembering his past live as a human and wondered:'' What did you remember that made you bring up this topic Lance?'' Lance still kept looking at the window; viewing his reflection for what he really is a tall hooded black cloaked skeleton with a huge scythe for the symbol of Relikt in other words a death god. Lance responded in a sad tone from what he remembered before all this happened:'' Before I arrived at the church from my long travels and staying at a few places I saw memories of a land with a village surrounding me and that I was a girl in that scene and that I came with my past life family father, mother and a older brother going to that land then the girl who was me saw a two winged figure watching from the distance. Do you know what I found out from this? The land the girl was in looks exactly like Midgar except it was older and did not have any ruins!''
Castor stopped with whatever he was doing with his zaiphon and listened to Lance's words on the land and replied:'' Are you sure Lance that the land you saw in your past life could be Midgar or before it was called that and could it be that Midgar is really a old city or is it a coincidence?'' Lance shook his head at that thought about a ruined city they were outside of couldn't of been the same land in his past memories presumably a thousand years ago and said:'' I do not think that Midgar is the same land my past life who was a young adult at that time went to and the memory stopped at the part of her being introduced to her uncle she never met until then and before I got a good look at the uncle's face the memory faded away and I only saw long blond hair reaching up to his shoulders with a light green cloak with brown boots !'' Then Lance stepped away from the window long enough to go to the second bed that has blue sheets and sat down.
Castor stayed still when Lance finished telling his story and decided to ask the last question. '' What was the family she was with named?'' Lance answered in turn that the family his past life is a part of was the Oak family the early ones and did not remember his past life's name clearly but it started with the letter L. Castor was shocked at this information on how it was quite rare for one to be reborn into their own family again than the first one as Lance came from the Oak family making him a relative of Hakuren Oak, Teito's roommate and friend. This reminded Castor of the family he had came from the Hausen family and how ancient both his with Lance's family history is. However Lance was getting tired already and called it a day and told his friend good night before he went to sleep. Castor closed his eyes as well hoping for tomorrow he could meet Clouds friends and get together with Labrador, Frau and Teito.
Meanwhile the next morning at the desert beside where Cloud's friend resting place is and the ruined Midgar, a black swirling light crash down onto the surface revealing five individuals wearing the barsburg military attire with only one of them wearing a hat. Among them are one short blond haired boy, a pink haired girl, two black haired men and a white haired man the leader. But one member is missing because the man is currently in a coma impacted from the eye of Mikail named Haruse.
The black hawks stood up from the impact clearly showing that most of them does not have any bruises with the exception of the blond one Konatsu Warren the only black hawk who was not born a warsfeil like his peers. Konatsu looked in the area they are in seeing a desert and far away a big sword by the cliff sticking upwards for a grave. The boy thought Where is this place and black tendrils took us from the ship just like how those soldiers mentioned Teito Klein with four bishops disappeared in but warsfeil are capable of going to one place to another as there is a limit for what a warsfeil can do and theses tendrils are strange.
The one with the shades Hyuuga went to Ayanami the leader of their group to discuss what just happened to them:'' Where are we this land doesn't look like it belongs to barsburg or Raggs for that matter and there is a sword over their by the cliff!'' Ayanami made a brief glance to the rusty sword there and dismissed it and said to his loyal subordinates:'' Come we will go somewhere else as I can sense a spirit yet to leave the mortal realm watching us and figure out where we are and to search for any civilizations here !''
Little did they know a long white haired man with a gun to his side walking towards them to get their attention. Only Katsuragi noticed the threat heading their way called to Ayanami and the others turned towards the stranger with white hair.
Ayanami took out his sword ready to cast his red zaiphon to attack the intruder until the man stopped where he is and looked up at them. Konatsu gasped at the man's eyes glowed a green color not anything he saw from the anyone in the academy in barsburg. Kuroyuri glared at this man for wanting to make her group feel threatened and spoke:'' Who are you and what do you want from us?'' The white haired man with glowing green eyes raised his hands up to show he is not attacking them and assured them he is not an enemy:'' Do not be alarmed I am an ally my name is Yazoo a child of someone willing to help you as my mother along with two others can!''
Ayanami showed no emotions on the outside but the inside was suspicious at this young man about someone willing to help a group of warsfeil and scowled:'' How do I know you are not lying and what is this place we landed in?'' Yazoo said that they are outside of a ruined city named Midgar along with a new built city named Edge over it but told them last that his brothers mother and someone else was expecting them to arrive.
Just as Yazoo finished what he said two newcomers both male who are Loz and Kadaj came to the scene to welcome them. Kadaj confirmed to the group on why they are sent to this land:'' Welcome travelers you have been summoned here to Midgar to deal with some...bothersome interference's from the planet particularly five of them and my mother could grant any of your wishes once you kill all five of them!'' Ayanami became doubtful of the teenager's claims on any wish being granted when he thought of a brown haired girl with a ponytail and a dress with green eyes came to Ayanami's mind as he said furiously:'' Why would someone offer to help us warsfeil and why do they choose only us in particular?''
Kadaj smiled at the group in front of them being defensive when faced with potential enemies soon to be allies. He stepped forward to where Ayanami is then held his hand up to him. Ayanami with his men were confused at the bargain Kadaj is talking about how they could will gain back fragments of their patron deity and is shocked of how they knew of their secret so fast. Most importantly, Ayanami thought about his fragments are with Teito Klein the ex slave boy and that the ghosts with Teito happen to be the fragments made from the warsfeil's god Verloren. He later shook his hand but is only playing the part to discover who these people really are and should anything dangerous happened to them he would not hesitate to get his men to safety.
Note: Sorry for the delay on the chapter. On to this chapter what do you guys think of the identities of the new arrivals? I mean in the story since Teito's group are one of the main focuses besides Cloud or Tifa then why not add the warsfeils to appear here also? Earlier Ayanami mentioned a spirit watching them and this spirit he is referring to could either be Aerith or Zack and the girl Ayanami is thinking of is Eve the daughter of the chief of heaven who is important to him but it is for later on what his goal is.
As for Lance's role in this chapter it adds connections to my first story Imprisonment where Lance is the main character and a new situation is a prequel to Imprisonment. The ones Lance mentioned about his past life plays a important role in this story and a key to the new ghost.
Next chapter would have a reunion with Teito's group and a unexpected surprise.
