Chapter 10: The end of an arc - Enmities resolved!
Last episode on Fidelia's Requiem...
The Diamond Maiden materialised her battle gown, landed right beside the Countess of Nix, and gave her a steel broadsword.
"I...Leona, look..." Lucille looked down, but received a pat on her back.
"You have a lot of explaining to do later, ya? Let's take those goons out first!" Leona simpered wistfully.
Lucille can feel a genuine smile etched across her face - a genuine, hedonistic one.
"Those sneaky bandits...Fidelia, what're we gonna do?"
"Simple, ain't it? We make 'em dance! Dance like hot salsa!"
"Wanna compete on how many bandits we rid?"
"They come as they go; last one to get the most kills...peels the apples for our boyfriends!"
"Oh, how original!" young Lucille chuckled.
Lucille chuckled softly as she clutched Leona's left hand and received the steel blade.
"Illuminate!"
Lucille's cleared her mind - her magic coursing through her veins and engulfing the blade in a shining light.
Both Lucille and Leona stand back to back in their respective poses, facing the bandit circle.
"LET'S ROCK!"
Lucille unleashed a huge Lumen wave with her left hand, which threw the bandits off their balance.
"What's that?" Leona wondered.
"Watch!" Lucille smirked.
"Attack!" the bandit leader commanded.
The bandits could only look at one another and shrugged.
"Huh? We can't hear you!"
"Pardon? I can't hear you either!"
A row soon echoed around the forested area.
"Soundproof power?" Leona smirked.
"You know that ears and hearing are required for balance, yes?" Lucille followed along.
"Now that's a great way to throw them off!" Leona shot out as she unleashed a diamond projectile towards a group of bandits, teleported straight towards them, twirled her Diamante Torrentia, and slammed them on the ground.
"Diamante Formulae: Crystalline Volcano!"
Diamonds temporarily covered the muddy terrain as huge towers of diamonds erupted from the ground, launching the bandits in the area up in the air.
Leona swiftly summoned two diamond towers to compress them into a human ball, threw another diamond projectile to bring the ball towards her, andsummoned several diamond bowling pins across the terrain.
"And...STRIIIIKE!" Leona waved her Diamante Torrentia as the human ball rumbled towards the bowling pins and smashed every single one of them!
The diamond bowling pins struck down several deaf bandits amidst the confusion and chaos.
"Heptagram Cutter: Rising Blitz!"
Leona then swiftly dashed past the rolling human ball, charged up her sword, and unleashed an upper cut spin slash.
"Diamante Formula: Heaven Slam!"
Several towers soon erupted from the ground, went past the bandits that were in mid-air, merged together, and branched itself into many more root-like diamonds descending towards the helpless bandits!
Lumen Incantation: Driven Wave!
Lucille brought her magic-enhanced sword close to her face, twirled around, and unleashed several sword waves towards her side of deaf bandits that knocked out their weapons in the process. She then proceeded to swiftly dashed towards a group of bandits, dazzled them with a huge mist of light, side step past and sun herself towards one of the bandits back, and impaled the bandit's spine!
Several bandits pounced on her, but Lucille smirked as she swiftly counterattack with a huge dazzling gleam of light once more, which she promptly sliced their heads off in response.
Leona took a huge leap towards another group of bandits and rapidly jumped on their heads as much as she pleases.
She then teleported back in midair, unleashed a huge sweeping sword slash past them, turned around, unleashed several diamond projectiles that surrounded the bandits, and sent them flying towards the air.
The Diamond maiden then swiftly stepped on each of the bandits like staircases and kicked several bandits towards the top. She then reached the top, unleashed numerous party of sword slashes while bring them up higher towards the air, dashed left and right to prevent any momentum delays, and sent the trapped bandits crashing down towards the ground with a cleaving cut.
Heptagram Orbit: Diamante Descent!
Covering herself with a coat of diamond and glowing white arcane energy, Leona instantly blitzed down towards the ground, planted her Diamante Torrentia towards the ground, numerous diamond towers erupted from beneath the ground, and unleashed a huge arcane energy explosion that complimented the bandits' disintegration!
Leona than blitz another group of charging bandits, bashed them with a huge shoulder slam to stun them, charged up a huge iaido slash that sent them flying back,, and unleashed a huge diamond piston that pushed them back towards Leona.
"Diamond Cutter: Dance if the Crescent Moon - The Third Level!"
Leona unleashed a huge crescent wave that slashed the bandits several time before the crescent wave's detonation. The energy accumulated upon the Diamante Torrentia, glowing white hot with power.
Streams of diamonds struck the bandits with each slash from Leona, embedding them with arcane-imbued diamonds aside from the immense slash damage.
Leona snapped her right fingers and the diamonds exploded, vaporizing the enemies into thin air.
"That's a blast!" Leona winked.
"Lumen Spiral: Mage Weaver!"
Lucille dazzled her share of bandits, twirled around, and surrounded herself in a veil of dazzling Lumen magic. The veil slashed past the surrounding bandits for several seconds, sending them flying off towards several trees and killing them.
Lucille stood her ground as the attack ended, saw a bandit charging towards her, stepped aside, twist the bandit's arm, acquired the blade, and promptly lobbed the bandit's head off.
"Lumen Spiral: X-Slash!"
Imbuing Lumen Magic into the blade, Lucille unleashed a swift left diagonal slash, then a right diagonal slash, dazzled them with Lumen Magic once more, charged up immense amount of arcane energy, and unleashed a huge X-shaped slash to tear through the bandits flesh.
Lucille collected her thoughts, summoned a circular Lumen platform filled with inscriptions and four mini orbs surrounding her.
"Lumen Technique Level MAX: Wild Dance of the Old Forest!"
Uneashing several cross slashes with graceful agility and panache, Lucille slipped past several charging bandit and unleashed a towering shockwave.
Lucille turned around just in time to parry a well-timed sword swing form one of the bandits, kicked him in the shins, slammed her heels on the bandit's face, sent him flying towards a group of charging bandits.
The orbs unleashed a barrage of lasers towards the bandits' artillery units, which sent them crashing down the trees and sent them burning from the bushes.
"Diamante Cutter: Climax Whirlwind!"
Leona charged up immense amount of energy and unleashed a ballerina spin, her Diamante Torrentia outstretched - unleashing a huge torrent of energy and diamonds to slash through the flesh of her accursed enemies. She then spends no time delivering upwards sword slashes which sliced through the bandits' limbs, unleashed a sweeping sword slash, raised her Diamante Torrentia, charged it up with immense energy till it extends greatly, and unleashed a huge cleave which unleashes a huge slicing shockwave which disintegrates the bandits' flesh and bones that got in its way.
Several bandits charged through, but met their end when they felt a huge stab through their chest; Leona impaled her fully charged, extended Diamante Torrentia past their guts.
"I say...you got guts!" Leona winked, made a blow kiss, and made a sweeping slice to end their misery.
Both Lucille and Leona faced each other back to back once more.
"You fight well!" Leona grinned.
"You too, mate..." Lucille simpered softly then nearly collapsed were it not for Leona's timely intervention.
"Lucille!" Leona shot out in worry as she checked the Countess of Nix's back; a poison arrow grazed her back.
"I'm alright...the poison will be expelled out of my body in a minute or so; just go on without me!" Lucille winced and smiled weakly.
An arrow managed to land on Leona's back, sending her keeling down.
A huge surge of adrenalin and anger coursed through her veins, however, and the Heptagram Rune soon engulfed her right eye once more as she gave a short, but huge shout.
The Heptagram Rune soon glowed along with her eyes, her face became calm, yet a wave of anger swept through in her aura.
Diamant Projet: Accessing Operational Mode
"I don't take kindly to anyone that messes with our fun, or my friends, or my worthy rival!"
A huge pentagram platform manifested under her feet, with the terrain temporarily erupting diamonds from the bushes, trees, and even brewing through the rushing winds. Using the diamond terrain, Leona swiftly created a silhouette doppelganger in her image.
Lucille slowly saw Leona as she activated her Operational Mode and smiled softly.
"So...you're willing to save even your rival from been potentially killed. Maybe I was the fool all along...thinking I will never meet anyone as good as Fidelia..."
Both Leona and the siluhette's Diamante Torrentia began glowing brighter; it grew longer and longer as both Leonas shifted into their iaijutsu position. Numerous diamond fragments began to shatter and surrounded the blade's body, glowing intensely.
The bandits thought that both Leona and Lucille were done for, rallied their remaining members and charged in; they were wrong.
Hanairo Heptagram: Grand Phantasm Edge!
Within seconds, Leona teleported right in front of the charging bandits, twirled gracefully as she unleashed several cross slashes, executed a flurry of stabs that struck the bandits with diamond projectiles, several upward slashes combined with cleaves, and ended off in a massive triple iaijutsu slash.
The Diamante Torrentia drew blood, slicing through their fleshes; drawing blood as it shattered their bones and spines - sipping their lives like a fallen leaves on an autumn evening.
As the sparkling diamond petals descended upon the mortal realms diamond terrain, the bandits' vaporized without a word, their bones shattered, and their flesh disintegrated along with the gentle winds.
The Diamond Terrain vanished to appear another day, and Leona stood in the middle of all of it, resheathing her Diamante Torrentia, turned around, and gave a thumb up with a simper.
Leona managed to muster up a teleport back to where Lucille and company were.
"The arrow..." Lucille spoke with a weak voice.
"My system purged it out; you don't have to worry...What matters is your condition right now." Leona gave a soft smile.
"Just let me die...I can't face both Elodie and you after the incident..." Lucille shook her head softly and gave a guilty smile.
Leona sighed and slowly embraced the Countess of Nix; much to the latter's shock.
"L...Leona..." Lucille weakly replied.
"Don't talk...just let me help you expel the poison, alright? You do your part too." Leona whispered.
Lucille closed her eyes as a single tear fell from her eyes.
"Even after all of this...?"
Both Lucille and Leona stayed silence in an embrace as they purged the poison out of the former's back.
A few minutes later
Both Lucille and Leona sat beside each other, the crashed carriage behind them with Laurent, Charlotte, and the coach rider still unconscious.
Lucille sighed as she looked down the pile of dead leaves on the floor; a wave of wistfulness began rippling through her nerves.
"I am sure Elodie must have told you by now. Her mother and I used to be rivals, but not some rivals that just bonk each other's heads bitterly, no...We're friendly rivals; spirited competitor, you could say...Never an enemy; just a special someone whom I can see her as...my genuine friend." Lucille smiled weakly.
"Yeah...I know..." Leona chuckled softly.
"I have always been a feisty one; wanting to test out my powers as a Lumen just so I can meet someone worthy and just...you know, have a good challenge with. You know that kinda urge, the excitement to face someone who is as strong as you in battle and you wanna be friends with; to feel respect for, and even admiration towards. You know those?" Lucille continued.
"You bet I do..." Leona smiled.
"Fidelia is the only one who gave me such challenge through all the countless battles, competitions we set for ourselves...and the times we met up to boast about our recent everything. It seemed as if she's the only that understand me, and vice-versa..." Lucille chuckled softly, than her expression mellowed and a genuine sadness plastered across her face.
"Then...as we got older and older, as our responsibilities as an adult grew, as we became nobles holding important positions in life. We try to make time despite the busy schedules, just to meet up and have our rivalry renewed. We managed to, of course, but barely." Lucille sighed.
Leona looked on, listening intently to Lucille's reasons.
"Then...Elodie was born; the then Queen of Nova had an heir to the throne. As my Charlotte was born, I tried my damndest. I tried my hardest to make just enough time to try and meet up with Fidelia despite being busy, but she had to tend to more state matters and even taking care of the next queen with Joslyn..."
"You mean...she had more responsibilities back then?" Leona spoke softly.
"I didn't even think this through back then; I thought that Fidelia might have slowly begun to forget about me." Lucille gave a sad chuckle as she shook her head.
"So you...blame on Elodie?" Leona looked on, pangs of sadness took hold of her, but she remained calm regardless.
"I blame her...yeah." Lucille replied softly. "Blame her for taking the time away from us, taking the only one who can truly understand - my spirited rival and friend - away from me. Then it comes...it hit me hard..." Lucille shook her head as tears started welling up as she tried her damndest to hold it back.
"Fidelia...died..." Leona responded softly, Lucille heard her whispers upon the soft, crisp wind.
Lucille nodded softly.
"It just seems as if someone whom I really understand...gone. Just...gone...without any warning, without any time to say goodbye, or anything. She's just...gone..." she sighed softly as a lump continuously formed on her throat.
"At first I was just numbed...I couldn't believe it; I don't want to believe it. But it happened; I can't turn back the clock...the scars remained." Lucille softly continued. "Whenever I woke up thinking that Fidelia was alive, I just woke up to a reality; woke up from a dream that won't ever come true."
The Duchess of Merva continued, "I blamed nearly everyone; I blamed my husband...I blamed nobility...I blamed Nova...and of course, I blamed Elodie..."
Leona looked on, clenching her fists as she felt a genuine emotion flaring up.
Yes, flaring up...
"I blamed Elodie for all my problems, but I couldn't possibly let anyone notice my hatred for her; I thought nobody would understand. Not even my daughter, my husband, and Joslyn. I thought if I were to get close to Elodie...I would find some way to eliminate her." Lucille explained. "I convinced myself that I will do whatever it takes to prevent Elodie from harming Charlotte...just like she was responsible for Fidelia's demise."
"Until...I came along?" Leona spoke softly, her head lowered.
Lucille nodded.
"I thought there will be no one that has as much enthusiasm, panache, or power as she did...until you came along. All the compliments I gave you...I truly mean it." Lucille stopped for a moment to catch her breath, than continued.
"I just kept going about my plans for revenge...but my conscience conflicted with me. It kept telling me that it's about time I have to learn to let go - to accept a new spirited competitor; to find someone new and strong whom I can learn from." Lucille teared up, her guilt building up in her chest as it slowly build into tears.
The Countess of Nix attempted to look at Leona, only to meet a huge, resounding, slap in the face.
"L...Leona..." Lucille looked back, her hands rubbing her left cheek. Her eyes widened in shock upon seeing Leona lowering her head and tears started slowly dripping from her cheeks.
"You...you coward..." Leona felt anger and sadness rising inside her chest, looked Lucille in the eyes, and clenching her fists while drawing blood from her nails.
"Why can't you understand that you are never alone?! It isn't entirely the end just because she is gone! You met me right; you said I reminded you of Fidelia, right? RIGHT?! Then get over that stupid notion that you will never ever meet someone as good as her!" Leona shot back s she handed Lucille her iron blade.
"Fight me! Take out your anger on me! I'm gonna punch the shit out of you and your grief! Go on, DO IT!" Leona screamed.
"I'm...I'm not a coward!" Lucille shot back.
"THEN PROVE YOURSELF! FIGHT ME! I WILL PUNCH THE SHIT OUT OF YOU IN RETURN!" Leona shot back.
Lucille felt a thrill inside her; thrill mixed in with anger as she took out her sword and charged towards Leona.
"LEONAAAA!"
"LUCILLE!"
Flocks of bird flew away as Lucille and Leona's swordfight soon became just a fistfight; punching each other as they took their angers out on each other.
As they traded punches, Lucille soon saw glimpses of Fidelia in Leona; the time when the Countess of Nix and Fidelia fought with each other just for fun.
"I will beat you down in a fistfight!"
"That feisty, eh? Don't cry if you lose, Fidelia!"
"You're the one to talk, you snarker!"
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
A surge of enthusiasm filled up her body as she continued to trade punches with Leona.
"I M NOT GONNA LOSE!" Leona screamed.
"PROVE IT! PROVE IT, YOU GAG!"
Both of them finally traded off a swift hook onto each other's jaws and collapsed on the floor, slowly calming down and collecting their breaths.
"Heh...you pack a punch..." Lucille praised and grinned.
"Fuck you, Lucille; you pack a wallop...too." Leona chuckled softly, her anger displaced with satisfaction.
Both chuckle softly and as both calmed their breathing, Lucille sighed softly.
"You know something?"
"Eh?" Leona wondered.
"It's only after the viper incident, the bandit fights, and the punching duel, did I come to realise something..."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"I...was blinded by hatred and revenge." Lucille chuckled softly.
Leona remained lying on the ground, her arms spread - just like Lucille - surprised at the Countess's realisation.
"You're right; there are other people that are just as strong as Fidelia - people like you. I should have realised that Fidelia's death is just the beginning for me to expand my horizon to honor her memory. However...Fidelia's death just filled me up with grief, replacing them with hatred and clouded...clouded my judgement." Lucille explained softly. "And of course, I started blaming everyone and even redirected my hatred towards that one person whom I initially disliked - Elodie - without even realising that she...she had responsibilities like Fidelia too."
Lucille collected her thoughts for a moment, and then simpered.
"The more I look at you, the more I realised that you look nearly as similar as Fidelia..." Lucille chuckled softly. "She's feisty and enthusiastic just like I do, but caring towards everyone - yet serious when the situation called for it. Deadly serious, even."
"I bet she was!" Leona chuckled as she looked at Lucille. A smile crept across her face; the Countess of Nix finally gets it.
"Fidelia told me...that she was living a great life despite of those responsibilities. She was happy to have known the people of Nova, Joslyn, Elodie, and even me. Maybe...maybe I should be happy for her that she is happy, ya know?" Lucille simpered. "Maybe I should understand that...it's no one's fault; neither me, nor Laurent, nor Charlotte, nor Elodie, nor Nova in general..."
"Now you know?" Leona chuckled softly. "I have never seen you as an enemy...even when you acted all hammy in front of Elodie and stuff..."
"Mmhmm..." Lucille nodded softly as both said aloud...
"The greatest thing to honor our beloved - live our live to the absolute fullest!"
Both Lucille and Leona gave a hearty laugh as their held each other's hands, and just as Team Muse managed to locate them.
"L...Leona-sensei! Countess of Nix!" Honoka shot out. "Are you both alright?"
"Yeah...of course we are!" Leona chuckled and gave a thumb up. "I just helped out Lucille after receiving a tip off that her family is attacked by a bunch 'ol bandits! And boy did we kick so many asses!"
"We managed to listen in to your conversation, Leona-sensei..." Eli sighed softly.
"Oh..." Leona simpered softly.
"What Lucille did is unjustified..." Maki followed along.
Lucille sighed as Leona helped her up slowly, a wave of remorse washed over her.
"I will take all responsibilities." Lucille nodded firmly as she gave her steel blade to Leona.
"In the end...I still attempt to kill a person. So...it's your choice." Lucille smiled wistfully.
Leona looked at Team Muse's concerned faces, than at the unconscious Laurent, Charlotte, and finally at Lucille.
Leona felt a small smile etching welling up inside her as she threw the blade away, proceeded to wrap her arms around Lucille in a embrace, and surprised everyone with her actions.
"You aren't heartless Lucille; your hate's just misguided. That misguided hatred starts with you and now, it ends with us." Leona simpered.
"I thought..." Lucille stammered.
"Hey, we have dealt much worse back in our world after all! Eli nearly killed Team Muse - her initial misguided hatred towards idol culture back then gets the hatred blob interested in her! Yet we still forgive her and managed to place her as the ninth and final member, right?" Leona simpered.
Eli blushed lightly, sighed, and simpered wistfully. "Yeah...god knows I wanted to dig a hole just so I can prevent myself from ever meeting Team Muse back then."
"You wanted to kill Elodie only because you thought that Elodie was heartless and needs killing, if we assumed your mindset, ain't we continuing the cycle of misguided hatred over and over until we can't see our own tail? That's why social augments are invented back in our world, Lucille, to prevent those misunderstandings to happen!" Leona chuckled. "There're enough misunderstood killings that we don't need another one! If there is anything we should kill, it's the heartless bastards, demons, or beasts that may terrorize the peace in our lives, but only after the social augments deemed them unworthy! Ya know, like those bunch 'ol bandits we just have fun with!"
Leona extended her right hand out and opened up her palm.
"Live the life to the fullest, eh? We forgive you." she smiled.
Lucille looked at the Team Muse members - who have a shrug and soft simper - then at a grinning Leona, and then proceeded to shake her hand with her right...Only to pull Leona into another heart-warming embrace.
"Woah!" Leona's eyes widened in amusement and just as she heard Lucille'a soft sob.
Warmth began welling up inside her chest s tears began flowing from her cheeks despite keeping calm.
"Thank you..." Lucille cried softly, her weight of sorrow finally lifted.
Leona felt a surge of relief and happiness rippling through her spine as she chuckled softly, turned to face the Muse's members, and winked.
"Heh...I don't think I will ever get Leona's cheekiness at times." Maki chuckled softly. "But maybe that's the beauty of it all - we are all unique in ways we surprised ourselves."
"Yeah..." Umi chuckled long.
"Nya! Rin wants huggies too!" Rin pounced on both Lucille and Leona.
"Hey...hey...hey...NO...WOOOAAAH!" both Lucille and Leona shot back.
Too late!
*THUD!*
A roar of laughter echoed the entire forest, putting an end to Lucille's misguided hared, for the last time...
Evening
After helping Lucille, Laurent, and Charlotte with finding a replacement carriage, both Charlotte and Laurent got in the carriage after expressing their gratitude.
Elodie who saw them from a distance, ran towards the team and swiftly embraced her aunt.
"Thank goodness, Aunt Lucille...thank goodness." Elodie cried.
Lucille embraced the Crown Princess warmly. "It's alright, your Highness, it's alright now!"
As both Elodie and Lucille slowly parted from their embrace, the Countess of Nix slowly stood up and nodded towards both Leona and Team Muse.
"You're welcome to Merva anytime. Maybe I can help out with the investigation and of course...I can share more about my memories with Fidelia." Lucille simpered.
"Now that's the way, ya?" Leona nodded and smiled calmly.
"You have our support." Eli simpered along.
"Well...in the end of the day, I can't say I am completely convinced, but what the heck." Mimi shrugged and chuckled. "At least the drama's done now."
"Leona - My spirited rival; my worthy opponent..." Lucille simpered.
"As am I..." Leona smiled with enthusiasm as both ladies shook their hands once more. "Lucille - my spirited rival; my worthy competitor..."
"Per sempre, per sempre, amici!" (Forever, forever, friends in Italian.)
(Scene ends with both Lucille and Leona smiling and their hands right hands held together in a handshake; Team Muse and Elodie looking on, much to their relief and delight.)
END - of Arc One
Stay tuned for Arc II - Illuminate: A Queen's responsibilities!