"So there it is," Einheria said, peering over the ridge towards the fortress below. "Now what's the plan?"
Truthfully, Edea had been hoping that Einheria would have one. But at least her older sister's eyes were alert, were alive again. "I don't know yet. Let's go over what we know. Konoe, where are the entrances?" She pointed twice - front and back. "Are they guarded?" A nod. Konoe had spoken a few words since the Fire Temple, but seemed to far prefer her mutism, gesturing where she could. Edea wondered why, but didn't ask. Alternis wouldn't have wanted her to pester Konoe. Alternis! She shook her head, trying to focus on the task at hand. "What do you think, Einheria?"
"I suppose that depends on what we're aiming for. Do you want them all dead?"
"That shouldn't be necessary," Agnes said. "One needs only to cut off the head of the snake."
Einheria looked at her. "Surprising words from a strict vegetarian."
Agnes flushed. "I just think unnecessary killing should be avoided."
"Who's the boss, Konoe?" Edea asked. "Where are they usually?"
She held up two fingers, then pointed up. "DeRosa… Qada. Top…"
"If we're going to the top, let's just start from above," Einheria said. "Konoe, how well do you jump?" She pointed to a jutting ledge.
Konoe studied it, then nodded. "With Agnes, you think?" Another nod. "Then let's do this. Edea and I will go first, and you two follow."
Einheria led the way over the mountains, getting to the ledge first. Edea threw her arms around her older sister's neck, and with a spring, they were in the air. Edea had never trained with the spear or the techniques of a valkyrie, so soaring through the air like this was completely new. They sped toward the rooftop, Einheria's spear pointed down, and hit the roof with full force, breaking the concrete like it was a thin pane of glass. Edea landed on her rear, and Einheria stepped out of the way in time for Konoe to land lightly, Agnes under one arm. "What is this place?" Edea wondered, getting to her feet.
"Lab," Konoe said simply, looking around. "No… Qada."
"They'll have heard that," Einheria said, shouldering her spear. "Let's move."
"Right-" Edea turned toward the door, but it was already open, someone coming in. Well, no choice now. She charged toward the figure, blade drawn.
Lightning arced from the figure's fingertips, knocking her back with a scream. "Well, well. The blood daughter of Braev Lee is the last person I expected to show up here right now."
"DeRosa!" Konoe said, her tone warning.
"I know," Edea muttered, getting to her feet. "We've met before. You betrayed my father."
"Technically, isn't your father the betrayer? Lady Brigh is the one that sets the rules, at least for now."
"She's going to destroy the world!"
"That's what they always say. Now, there's no need for hysterics," he cautioned her. "And you, Kikyo. Even a dumb girl knows not to try and pull a fast one on her boss."
She was holding her knife, but couldn't stop her body from shaking. "I'll give you a chance to surrender peacefully," he said to Edea. "Otherwise, this could turn out quite painful for you."
She held onto her sword, and he let out a sigh, filling the room with lightning. Edea screamed, could hear the screams around her. "Now just relax for a while," she heard DeRosa laughing. "When you wake up, things will be all better."
Her whole body hurt, even parts of her she wouldn't think could hurt. Ropes held her fast to a chair, and when she opened her eyes, she could see Agnes and Einheria on either side of her. Agnes still seemed to be breathing, and Edea let out a sigh of relief- they hadn't killed her yet.
"You're awake?"
DeRosa was standing some distance away, holding her father's sword up in the light. "He may have been a worthless man, but he did have some nice toys, wouldn't you agree?"
She didn't rise to the taunt. There were more important things to worry about. "Where's Konoe?"
"You mean my little traitor? As it just so happens, I'm about to put on a little show just for you, little Edea. Take a look." He tapped on the window behind him. Below, she could see a room, with Konoe tied up in a chair against the far wall. "We don't take betrayal very well here, so we'll have to dispose of her. I'm having my newest agent do the trick. I think you'll like his style."
Konoe was in danger. She had to think of something. Would the glass break if she threw herself and the chair against it? In all likelihood, she'd still be bound against an armed opponent. And she didn't trust that whoever it was would have mercy.
Next to her, Einheria stirred, then snapped to attention. "You dog," she growled as her arms snapped tight against the bonds. "I'll gut you and leave you for the buzzards, so help me."
"Mm-hmm." He walked past her without concern, looking down at Agnes. With a quick motion, he stabbed her in the foot with Braev's sword, causing her to jerk away with a cry. "Ah, that's better. Hello, little vestal."
She looked at him, then at Edea and Einheria, relaxing slightly. "You are the one behind this evil organization, are you not?"
"Evil? Such a harsh word. Someone's got to do the dirty jobs in every organization, you know."
"I pity you," she said, closing her eyes. "You do not see how diseased you are."
"Sticks and stones, my dear." Banging on the window, he called, "Send him in!"
The door opened, and Edea tensed, wondering what she could possibly do at this point. Her plan had failed, had put them all into danger. And then she saw the black armor, the dark sword, and tears came to her eyes. "Alternis…?"
"Oh, that's right, you're brother and sister, aren't you?" DeRosa said from behind her. "Except that now thanks to Qada and myself, he doesn't remember anything about you. All he knows is that he's loyal to us, and that he's been ordered to kill that girl. Doesn't that make you happy? She did kill your mother, after all."
"What are you talking about?" Einheria demanded.
"Alternis!" Using her feet, Edea pushed herself forward, smacking her shoulder into the window hard. "Alternis! Alternis, you're alive, you're here. It's me, Edea!"
"He can't hear you, dear," DeRosa said. "And even if he could, you're nothing to him any more."
She ignored him, banging her head against the window, hoping to catch his attention. "Alternis! Alternis!"
He felt like he was walking in a fog, doing what he was instructed to do only because he couldn't think of anything else. This was wrong, he knew, but he couldn't quite seem to stop himself.
Entering the room, Alternis looked down at Konoe, bound before him. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw him. "Al...ternis?" Tears welled up, and she smiled. "Alive… glad…."
She was glad he was alive? Didn't she know he'd just been ordered to kill her? Not that he needed the order, a corner of his mind said. She'd murdered his mother. That was justification enough to send her to the next world. In front of him, she saw the sword, and then she shut her eyes, head back. Waiting calmly for him to strike.
A dark knight knows himself better than anything.
Why were Roanne's words coming to him now? A part of him already knew: this wasn't his will, his desire that was driving this right now. First off, that foreign will had to go. Darkness licked around his boots, circling his body. He could feel it purging the fog inside his mind, his chest. If he was going to kill her, he was going to do it on his own terms.
Vaguely, he thought he could hear thumping on the other side of the wall, but it didn't matter. He could deal with DeRosa later. Right now, he had to decide what he was going to do with his mother's killer.
A dark knight knows how to accept himself.
Those words gave him pause. She had said nothing about forgiving others. So why those words, now? Was it that he thought the person he couldn't forgive for his mother's death was not the girl in front of him, but himself?
Knows himself better than anything...
More and more darkness swirled into the room, until the floor began to crack under his feet, just as it had at the Fire Temple. Alternis raised his sword, and swung.
"You started without me," Qada complained as he entered the room, waddling over to the window. "At least I didn't miss the good part."
"No, you didn't," DeRosa agreed. "Though the peanut gallery could stand to be a little quieter."
Edea's chair slipped from its precarious position, dropping her to the floor. "Alternis," she mumbled, her eyes brimming with tears. "Alternis, please look at me…."
With a sigh, DeRosa hauled her chair back upright, far enough back so that she wouldn't hit the glass again. "That's enough of that. Just be a good girl, and watch the show."
Down below, the darkness had gotten so thick that she could barely make out his figure. And then his armor sucked it all inside, the floor cracking under his feet. Just like the time at the Fire Temple, he was going to go after Konoe again. But this time, she wasn't there to remind him of his promise.
Alternis swung the sword out, and then with a flick of his wrist, he swung it upward. The dark energy poured out all at once, smashing a deep gash into the wall, shattering the windows, and slicing into DeRosa himself, knocking the mage back. "Alternis!" Edea cried out.
He took off his helmet, fixing DeRosa with a firm gaze. "Come down here, DeRosa," he said, "or I'll come up there." With another quick flick of his sword, Konoe's ropes dropped into pieces. "Konoe, go help my sisters."
"Alternis!" Edea called again.
He looked up, and gave her a soft smile. "Don't worry. Once I take care of this, I'll be up there to help you."
"I don't like your attitude, boy," DeRosa said, jumping down into the room below, one hand on his chest. Already, the serious gash was starting to stitch itself back together. "I think it's time for a little reeducation." He held out Braev's sword.
"That sounds like a good idea," Alternis agreed. "So give me your worst."
"Such an invitation." DeRosa made as if to strike with the sword, then cast a fierce burst of lightning at Alternis. It arced all around the room, shattering the lights, and Alternis dropped to one knee, leaning on his sword for support. "You're still standing, I'll give you that," he laughed. "Let me give you another lesson!" Still keeping the lightning going in one hand, he cast fire with the other, the flames washing over him. "Remind you of anything?"
"DeRosa, you bastard!" Edea shouted from the top level. "Stop!"
Alternis had his helmet back on, so she couldn't make out his expression, but she knew he had to be in pain. "No, Alternis," she mumbled, sagging in her chair.
"Hm, I'd better handle you before that girl gets here," Qada said to himself, fumbling through his jacket for something. He was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Oh, what now? Can't it wait?"
"Urgent delivery for you, sir."
"A delivery?" Qada went to the door, opening it. "What is it?"
"Boot to the head."
Barras smashed the door the rest of the way open, striking Qada in the face with a kick. The scientist went down like a rock, sans a few teeth. Holly went over to the window, watching the fight between DeRosa and Alternis. "Oh my," she said, "how delightfully awful."
"Holly! Now ain't the time to get your kicks!" Barras and Konoe went over to the tied-up girls, tearing apart the knots.
At last, the lightning and fire ceased, DeRosa panting for breath. "Why," he gasped out, "won't you fall?"
"Someone told me," he said, pushing himself back to his feet, "that if I could endure falling into a volcano, I might be able to handle what was ahead to come. You put me through hell, DeRosa, and I thank you for that. It means I can take all of this, and return it to you!"
Alternis pointed his sword, and darkness tinged with red and yellow burst forward, striking DeRosa in the chest. He fell back with a scream, writhing on the floor, back arching, eyes rolled up into the back of his head. Above all, he continued to scream. "This is the best day of my life," Holly sighed happily.
"What's wrong with your girlfriend?" Einheria asked Barras.
"Eh. She's kind of strange."
"Fine talk from a bear wrestler."
"I ain't no bear wrestler!"
Once freed, Edea ran to the window, jumping down, heedless of the broken glass or the drop. "Alternis!" she cried, running to him and throwing her arms around his neck. "You're alive, I thought you were dead!"
He dropped his armor and sword, hugging her back. "I thought I was too," he mumbled. "I'm so glad to see you well."
"Idiot," she mumbled, punching his arm lightly, "don't make me worry like that again. See the dumb things I get into when you're not around?"
"It all worked out in the end, didn't it?" Einheria jumped down next to them, and Alternis let Edea go, giving his other sister a tight hug. "The Fire Temple is sealed?"
"Yes, Agnes sealed the crystal. But Lady Roanne… lost her life in the process. It was just too much for her body."
Alternis let out a soft sigh. "I wish I could have thanked her for what she said to me. But at least all of you are alive and well."
"What should we do with the both of them?" Edea asked.
"If he's still sane, you mean?" Alternis looked over at the still-twitching DeRosa. Edea felt a pang of pity, even if the mage had brought it on himself.
"You leave these two to me," Holly called down, stomping her foot. Behind her, Qada made a noise not unlike that of a stuck pig. "Barras and I will take them to Kamiizumi. He'll deal with them."
"Mr. Kamiizumi is here?" Alternis said in surprise.
"Sure. Stick around, you might see him."
The door opened again, and Agnes entered, followed by Konoe. "Alternis… I'm so glad you are unharmed."
He nodded, but his eyes were on Konoe. Walking over to her, he said, "We need to settle something."
She nodded, her face calm, and shut her eyes again. "That other woman said you were a master of disguise," he said. "I want to see the disguise you used on that day."
Konoe looked surprised, but made a gesture, bringing her arm down. In a puff of smoke, she was gone, replaced by the blonde, older woman that had attacked Mahzer. She was painful to look at, Edea thought, but more painful was seeing Alternis approach, sword drawn. "No, wait-"
Einheria blocked her with an arm. "Don't interfere," she said. "Maybe you've forgiven her, but I haven't yet. But I'll accept what Alternis decides."
He raised his sword, and thrust, pinning the fabric of her sleeve against the wall. "The woman that killed my mother is dead," he said, standing close to Konoe. "I've killed her just now. I don't expect that she'll ever appear before me again. The Konoe Kikyo I know has never killed anyone."
Konoe dropped to her knees, the disguise vanishing in a puff of smoke. Tears began silently rolling down her cheeks. "I don't blame you," he told her, "so don't blame yourself anymore."
"What are you thinking about?"
Alternis looked up as Edea sat next to him on the rocks, watching Kamiizumi's soldiers move in and out below. "Nothing much. I guess I'm a little surprised that Kamiizumi has so many people on his side. I just thought he was this guy, you know?"
"Mmhmm." She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he put an arm around her shoulders. "Are your wounds okay?"
"Holly cleared me. I'm back at full strength, more or less. Though I thought a couple of times she was going to electrocute me just to see it again."
Edea shook her head. "I guess that's why she's a white mage. What about from before?" She took his hand in hers, looking it over.
"I've still got a few scars, but nothing that will slow me down." He let out a sigh. "I'm just glad it's over. Don't let me fall in a volcano again."
"Duly noted." She closed her eyes. "I don't want you to ever go away again, big brother. I couldn't do anything with you gone."
"What are you talking about? You made it all the way here to rescue me, and you made sure the Fire Temple was safe. That's a lot."
"I didn't know you were here. I just thought we needed a goal, and destroying the people that ruined so many lives seemed like a good one."
"That was good thinking. You kept everyone moving forward."
She kept her grip on his hand. "Are you really okay, Alternis? I know some horrible things must have happened to you. You said that bastard put you through hell."
"I think I'm more okay than I've ever been, since I acquired this power," he said, looking at the hand she held. "I think I understand what Roanne was trying to tell me. I have to be able to accept all of myself, and be at peace, to really be able to use the darkness without it running out of control, like it did at the Fire Temple. Really, what happened to me was my own fault. But it ended up making me stronger." He ran a few fingers through her blonde hair, so similar to his own, as if they really were related by blood. "I don't want you to worry about me or be in pain because of what happened. But if you want to know, I'll tell you what happened. Then and now."
She didn't respond right away, watching the movement below. "Tell me how Father died."
He rubbed her shoulder, and closed his eyes. "He was taking me to the Earth Crystal's chamber so he could prevent the vestal from activating it. He told me just to wait there and close my eyes while he did it. Just as he finished, she came in and attacked. He tried to fend her off, be was weakened from putting up the shield, and he told me not to interfere, told me I must run... Before I could, she… stabbed him. I don't remember that clearly after that. That was when my power as a dark knight awakened."
She stayed silent through the whole story. "Thank you, Alternis."
They sat there until Einheria approached, waving them to join her. "The commander's looking for you," she said.
Alternis nodded, getting to his feet, Edea following. Kamiizumi was outside the Grapp Keep, supervising as a few of the now-former assassins were escorted out. "Greetings, son and daughter of Braev," he said as they approached. "It's been a while, hasn't it, Alternis?"
"Five years." Alternis gave him a bow. "Thank you for all your help at that time."
"I'm glad it proved to be worthwhile. You've grown up," Kamiizumi noted. "You as well, Edea." She smiled briefly at the compliment. "My understanding is that you will be traveling to Caldis next?"
Alternis nodded. "We're going to be meeting our sisters there. Mephilia's old master has a villa there."
"I understand. I've arranged for the Heavyblow to make a trip."
"The Heavyblow?" Edea echoed. "I didn't think they were available."
"Commander Goodman is lending them to me for a short while. Your efforts here kept Hartschild and Starkfort from being at each other's throats, so it's a fair trade. They'll also bring to you our encampment in Eternia once you're done there. In exchange…"
"Yes, sir?"
He turned to Einheria. "I would like you to come with me directly to Eternia. I have need of your skills as a valkyrie."
She blinked in surprise. "Me? But…."
"Go ahead," Edea spoke up. "Eternia is what we trained for, isn't it? You can leave Mephilia and Artemia in our hands."
"I know I can. I just wanted… to see them a little sooner." She straightened her back, turning to face Kamiizumi. "When do we leave?"
"Soon, though the Heavyblow will be here first."
"Then we'll be heading out first, it seems like," Alternis said. "You draw first blood for the Lee siblings, Einheria."
"I will."
Agnes and Konoe were already waiting for them when the Heavyblow appeared overhead, standing by its landing site. "You two want to come with us?" Alternis asked. "It should be a short trip."
"You are my bodyguards, are you not?" Agnes said with a soft smile. "It would be difficult for you if I was not with you."
Konoe gave them a nod, fidgeting. "You look like you want to say something," Alternis said.
She fidgeted again, then transformed in a puff of smoke to an unassuming bartending woman. "I apologize if this new appearance is a bit disconcerting," she said, her pace so fast that it was difficult to follow, "but I feel as if I should explain myself and it would be difficult as I am. To explain, my natural pace of speech is slow and difficult, and people often would insult me or treat me badly because of it, so nowadays I find it difficult to speak at all when I am not in disguise. When I am in disguise, I take on a different persona, so it is easier for me to speak, so most of the time when I was instructed to speak, I would take on a different form like this so that people would not get irritated with me or think me stupid. At any rate, there is much I feel I have to say to you, to offer you my fullest apologies and explain-"
"Konoe," Alternis cut her off. "Just go at what pace is comfortable for you. We won't make fun of you or think you're stupid."
She looked at him, and the transformation dropped in another poof. "A-Alter...nis," she stammered out.
He smiled, patting her head. "Let's go to Caldis."
