For as much as she had been prided on her planning, though it was mainly her doing the praising these days, Columbine hadn't the slightest idea of what to do at the moment. Just beyond the walls around her, which she figured were quite feeble given the ordinance being tossed around outside, it sounded like a war was going on.
Of course, war, by definition, implied some greater political objective as well as the presence of established polities between which a state of war could be present. Though the destruction outside was equal to that of a war, if one were being picky, and Columbine couldn't help but be, there was no war outside.
It was more akin to a long, extended bar fight. With stakes generally higher of course, and the reasons more complex than spilled drinks or exchanged dirty glances, but the analogy was still workable. Another thundering detonation shook the ground as Columbine merely sighed. "These people…" She muttered as she dropped her bolter down to one hand.
A short glance around the small cellar revealed nothing new. She was only there because it stopped people from seeing her, though she did have to pray that no telepath was after her, or that anyone with any kind of serious explosive capability would decide to just destroy everything. She really wasn't sure what kind of capabilities her current foes did have, but she at least knew that they were theoretically not hunting her at the moment.
She'd arrived on the planet, Kerch, only half a dozen hours before. Things had been relatively normal then. An independent world in the northeastern portion of the galaxy, it sat in the midst of a sector beset by enough problems that going after a world surrounded by gravitational anomalies simply wasn't worth the effort. Then, somebody had the bright idea to start shooting at someone else.
Though Columbine listened intently to the general chatter, no one was really sure what was going on, except for those who did, and though there were seemingly plenty of those folk around, Columbine was not among their ranks. The rest were left wondering whether this was an Inquisitorial raid, infighting between rival warbands, an actual bar fight that spiraled out of control, or even a mere accident.
Columbine had no intention of getting wrapped up in that mess. In her mind she had her own target, but it was unlikely that the chaos would give her the chance. The building shook violently all of a sudden. Columbine rolled her eyes, raising her bolter as she prepared for the ceiling to collapse in. Her armor covered her, and she wasn't afraid of any cave-in.
Another rumble, and then the ceiling collapsed. Columbine dashed aside from where the rubble fell down, and took cover in an intact corner. Bolter pointed upwards, she waited for the first sign of anyone. The moment a leg poked down through the hole, a curse slipped from her lips. Of course they run into me here.
Then two girls dropped down into the basement, and spotted her immediately. The grenade was already flying as Columbine loosed a couple shots, before she leapt forwards and then upwards. They were right after her as she emerged into the shell of a building that remained. Explosion touching off behind her, Columbine leapt through the ruined wall and into the alley beyond with gunfire chasing after her.
They weren't the only ones. As Columbine ducked around another corner, an axe-blade barely missed her as she dodged to the side. A wild punch was parried by the girl's bare hand, while she swung the weapon in for the kill. Columbine slammed her bolter into the thing, a grenade going along with it. Both leapt away as the explosion consumed the intersection for a brief second.
Knife drawn from her belt, she kept running, while another volley sent her fleeing into another building, this one more intact. Quickly searching for exits, she was stopped by a voice that shouted, "I'm tired of you running." The girl in black armor turned around and saw the one in armor covered in yellow and black stripes. A revolver was in her hand as she entered the building.
"You again," Columbine remarked. She smiled, "I admit, I didn't expect you to come to me."
The smirk hidden behind the other's helmet was clear from her voice. "Really now, don't act like you've the upper hand." Columbine just shrugged.
"Care to see who really does?" She raised her knife, realizing how puny of a threat that was. In part, she was surprised that her opponent obliged. She slid the revolver into its holster, and then drew her own blade.
She nodded, "Let's go, then." Columbine didn't move. Though her was knife was raised, and she was in a fighting stance, she didn't take a single step. Rather, she stepped backwards. Once, then twice. Yet the bait wasn't bit.
"That only works once." Commented her opponent. Then she rushed in, her knife stabbing forwards. As Columbine moved to parry, the knife was flicked to the left hand, already in position to slash with the weapon. The cut barely missed Columbine's visor as the girl leaned back, but her enemy kept pushing forwards and body slammed Columbine backwards into the wall. A slash outwards with the left hand was merely bait for a stab into the gut from the right, the knife one again shooting like a lightning bolt from one hand to the other.
Columbine leapt forwards into the stab, punching out at the other's face, while her knife stabbed up from below the waist. Her knife hand was grabbed, but her fist connected, and in order to ensure her stab connected, the girl deactivated the counter-magic field around the armor so as to not be deflected back by Columbine's punch. It worked, and she stood firm to bury her knife in Columbine's stomach. Then she tried to leap back, but not before Columbine opened her palm and struck at the girl's head.
She instantly focused herself, and easily overwhelmed the magic barrier surrounding the armor. But the girl was moving too fast, and though she stumbled backwards from the attempted strike on her memories, she did get away. But Columbine rushed forwards, and a quick pair of punches sent her opponent to the ground. Then she dropped herself straight down into a punch right into the chest. It left a small dent in the metal.
Columbine stood up, and shook her head. Her helmet dissolved in blue light as she looked around the ruined room, "Why are we even fighting like this?" she sighed.
The other girl climbed to her feet, and her helmet went away too, exposing a head of platinum hair. She smiled as she looked at her foe, "So you're Columbine, the girl who was with-"
"Don't say it," Columbine spat. "That was a long time ago."
"Nine months isn't very long." The other countered, but that just got her on the other end of an angry glare. She nodded in some form of understanding. "Well, I suppose you're looking for someone else to follow."
"I'm looking for something to do, yes." Columbine replied. Then she frowned, "Aren't you supposed to be killing me?"
The other looked to be unable to find a reply for a few moments, then she said, "I've grown tired of my current commander. Too boring, too wrapped up in petty grudges against people like you." She looked outside, "I doubt they'll be back, I told them I can handle you, and we've other interests at the moment as well."
Columbine stayed silent. She understood what the other was proposing. "I don't think you really get what I want."
"What is it?" asked the other, as though she was accepting of anything.
The blonde took a deep breath, and said quietly, "I want everyone to know my name." A pause, then she continued to explain, "I want to be known by everyone in history, whether it's as a hero or a villain." She turned to fully face the other, "That's my desire."
For a minute, the other mulled over what she'd heard. Her face brightened up at the end of her deliberation, and she happily said, "That's a far better desire than anything else I've heard." She reached her hand out, "I'd be glad to go wherever you go, just call me Ingwe."
Columbine looked down at the proffered hand. Perhaps begrudgingly. she shook it and replied, "Columbine." For some reason she couldn't figure out, she found herself smiling.
"Sifras Astikai," the girl introduced herself, "But I prefer just Astikai." There was a wicked sort of grin on her face. The kind one couldn't trust and made one think twice about approaching, yet still intrigued one enough to entice them into inquiring about what exactly caused that smile.
The girl sat across from the two of them, in her armor. It was a bit strange, for the other two weren't looking battle-ready. Columbine figured the other girl found it to be some sort of advantage, that she hold the high ground in terms of appearance, but at least in Columbine's mind she didn't.
"What do you want from me?" Columbine wondered. "From us?" she added as she nodded to Ingwe.
Astikai cut straight to the point, thankfully enough. "I've heard that you want to make a name for yourself." That grin somehow grew even more sinister, "For the specific reason of making a name for yourself." Columbine was about to cut in and ask exactly how she knew that, but figured that it was best to remain calm. "I'm the leader of a meager little band, and I could use some more help."
She looked at the two of them, "And you two are perfect fits."
"What do you mean?" Columbine demanded, "I'm not doing grunt work for you."
"Second-in-command. For all intents and purposes the chief strategist and tactician." Astikai replied. "I can provide you with the men and materials, even the power, and all you have to do is manipulate it."
Columbine thought for a few seconds, as she tried to find some sort of catch to the deal she was being offered. But no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't find anything, even that grin Astikai wore, to suggest she was being played. Though Columbine knew that the girl certainly her her own agenda, it remained to be seen how smart she really was. Even if she did, Columbine figured that would only give herself more of a reputation.
And besides, she was being offered precisely what she wanted. She reached her hand across the table. "We have a deal," she paused a moment, then grinned, "Yes, we most certainly do."
Had it all been a lie? That was what Columbine found herself forced to ask as she sat upon that mountain-top for a long minute. She had to question if Ingwe had ever told anything close to the truth, or if everything was merely a lie. It means this was all arranged from the very beginning, Columbine realized in horror. Ingwe came to me to get at Alicia, and what Ushio knows, and from the beginning Astikai planned for me to help her.
She looked to the side at Ushio. Ciuatl…she realized, was she on their side too? Has this entire thing just been a set-up? Overpowering that despair, that feeling close to acceptance of all this, was pure, unadulterated rage. Her fists clenched tight, and even as she stared at Ushio's fallen body she stood to her feet.
A desperate voice called out, "Columbine!" Cherepia landed just beside her, having hurried back from the battle.
Tears poured down her cheeks, but Columbine didn't lose any conviction. "Pull them back, keep them alive." Columbine said, "I don't care if we win or not, I'm not losing anyone else." She glared furiously at the girl, "Don't die, you bitch." She spat with the greatest rage she'd ever felt, "You're going to help me make Ingwe and everyone she works for suffer." With that, she leapt away.
She'd seen the direction Ingwe leapt in, and followed her with the longest jumps she could possibly make. Hundreds of meters were cleared in an instant as she poured all the energy she had into the girl's pursuit. The magical energy of every impact and subsequent launch left marks in the snow, sending it flying into the air as the wind whipped around Columbine's face.
In the distance, she caught sight of the girl, certainly moving to meet with her comrades. Cherepia, if you can, pull the squad over here. Delay them if you can! She screamed the order, not leaving any room for interpretation. But as she touched down again, Columbine leapt backwards, tumbling down the snowy slope as a golden bolt smashed into where she'd just been, exploding in a brilliant detonation of energy.
As she came to a halt in the depression below, she jumped to her feet, bolter already in her hands. Astikai landed gently a dozen feet from her, a smirk on her face. "Things have gone horribly wrong, haven't they?" she cooed. She looked off in the direction Ingwe went, "I must admit, I thought Cherepia was their mole." She shrugged, "Really, her joining with you made me think that you were aligning yourselves with them." Astikai laughed triumphantly, relishing in Columbine's pain. The blonde stared at her with fury, barely suppressing the anger that coursed through her. She knew she could do nothing, and that fact only gave Astikai further pleasure.
"But it seems that you even you couldn't figure out who it was." Astikai mockingly applauded, as she started to step closer to Columbine. The girl tilted her head to the side, her voice suddenly becoming quieter, a sort of compassion leeching into it. "Tell me Columbine," She stopped right in front of the blonde, and whispered, "Would you like to die?"
Columbine's arm snapped out, and her fingers clenched tightly down on Astikai's neck. They stared into each other's eyes as Columbine growled, "Even if it hurts, I'd rather live." She spat into the girl's face. Astikai raised her eyebrows, her expression questioning the seriousness of Columbine's actions.
Her left hand came up, and all it took was a slight squeeze to send pain shooting up and down Columbine's arm. Armor and bones cracked alike as the girl gripped Columbine's wrist, and as Columbine flinched from the shock of the pain, Astikai put her hand on the girl's head, and slowly pushed her down to her knees.
Columbine was powerless to resist as her knees came into contact with the snow. Astikai held her arm up, while she kept her palm laid on her head. Columbine's eyes were open wide as she stared straight ahead. For a moment, everything was silent. "It really was a pleasure," Astikai said quietly, "But I'd rather see you die in despair than in hope." Columbine felt a strange sort of peacefulness, as if this was a fitting punishment for her failure.
Then suddenly, from the side came the sound of energy releasing, and then a bright blue flash struck the distracted Astikai. Snow erupted into the air as she was slammed into the slope beside them, while Columbine was dropped down to the ground. She hastily pushed herself up to find her savior, only for her to freeze in shock.
Ushio slowly walked down the hillside. Around her hand dissipated the last fragments of the program that just blasted Astikai. Her hair whipped in the wind, and though her glasses were still on her face, and her armor was no different, she looked like a different person. Her expression was a look of staunch conviction that Columbine had never even imagined on Ushio's face.
"You've protected me for this long," Ushio said sternly. She spread her arms out, magic already beginning to trail from them to form the complex matrices. "It's time I returned the favor."
Astikai slowly got to her feet, laughing in joy. "Oh, this is simply beautiful!" She shouted as Ushio began to weave the program. "You're finally back, you little coward!"
The girl in the glasses wasn't cowed by the shouts. Her face spread into a little grin, the kind of grin that Columbine did know Ushio for. "Don't think I'm not scared," she said as she met Astikai's, "Rather, understand that fear won't hold me back anymore." The magic circles fully materialized, and she outstretched her arm to release the attack. She said resolutely, "I'll finish this mess we started ten years ago, Astikai." The bolt of energy shot out as she continued, "I'll free you, and I'll free her."
A golden lance from Astikai met the blast head on, and Columbine was sent rolling away as the two collided and detonated in a bright flash. Another bolt chased Ushio into the air, as she jumped towards Columbine. She dodged another, before she touched down just long enough to grab the blonde's hand. "That's assuming I desire freedom!" Astikai shouted, "In truth, this is a most wondrous state! And surely, you do not believe that she's happier with me, her savior, rather than you, her tormentor?!"
Columbine held tight in her arms, Ushio leapt down the slope, sliding halfway before jumping away from another one of Astikai's shots. She called back, "I'll end her suffering! You just prolong it!" They cleared a small ridge, and Columbine got herself down from her friend's arms.
"We won't be able to fight her," Columbine said frantically as she struggled to regain her footing.
"But we'll try," Ushio said sternly. Suddenly the sky seemed to roar, and both glanced up to see a wave of Thunderhawks swooping down from on high. In the same moment, Astikai came leaping over the ridge, a pair of bolts sending the two scattering down the mountainside.
"Keep running!" Astikai shouted, "It's all the more enjoyable!" Barely dodging the bolts in midair, Columbine and Ushio landed near the bottom of the slope, finding themselves on an icy plateau. They took a few steps back as Astikai landed in front of them, clearly taking joy in her cornering of the two. "I must say I never expected poor little Ushio to be so brave, not after so long." She smiled wickedly as she took a step forwards, hand outstretched.
"I'm not running from myself anymore." Ushio said, "Even if I'm the cause for all of this, I'll fix my own problems." She took a stance, ready to do whatever she could. Astikai was clearly focused on her, Columbine little more than a side note at this point.
Astikai just smirked, "Once again, you're wrong. There's no problem to be fixed. She's in absolute bliss right now." She chuckled, "Indeed, so am I."
The lance flew forwards. Columbine leapt towards Ushio. Though Astikai's eyes weren't on her, she hadn't just given up. The counter-magic field around her left arm was as strong as it could be. She pushed Ushio aside, holding the limb out, and with the nanosecond she had braced herself for the pain.
In a bright explosion of light, her arm disappeared. As did a chunk of her chest. Columbine was sent flying backwards as the world spun around her. But Ushio didn't miss the chance. A leap forwards sent her into melee range, and her hand parried aside Astikai's other palm.
Several quick strikes hit the girl's body, before the program she quickly wove coalesced around her right hand and sent Astikai stumbling back. But as she tried to press the advantage, Astikai denied her every strike, and sent her retreating, opening up a perfect window for the girl's open palm.
Columbine watched in terror as the bolt flow forwards, sure to strike Ushio right in the gut. It wouldn't kill, but it would end the fight without a doubt. Then something stopped it. A flash of light that embedded itself into the ice, sending cracks snacking through it, and even the rock underneath. The bolt struck it and dissipated in a burst of sparkling golden particles.
It was a sword. A simple straight sword, lacking any special ornamentation. Then came a foot in a dark green boot. The ball landed on the blade's hilt, driving it down with enough force to split off the entire chunk of the mountainside, before the heel of the foot kicked the blade around and out of the ground.
It spun around in the air to land in a hand gloved in the same shade of dark green, before it became another bright flash as it was swung at Astikai. The girl leapt backwards, just as surprised as Columbine and Ushio were. As the figure, wearing a dark green colored cloak, raced upwards at Astikai, Columbine and Ushio began to fall downwards. The entire motion had been a couple of seconds.
And the figure didn't stop their movement. Thrusts faster than the eye could see sent Astikai retreating backwards, though it seemed there was no escape. Ushio leapt over to Columbine, scooping the girl into her hands and leaping away from the collapsing plateau as the air started to fill with Astikai's golden bolts.
But the cloaked figure, their face concealed in a strange shadow that didn't appear to have a source, was unfazed by the barrages. Not a single one of the blasts could touch her, but with only one hand she was moving her blade fast enough to send Astikai packing.
"W-who is that?" Columbine asked in astonishment as Ushio carried her. "What is it?" Overhead, the Thunderhawks were diving in for attack runs, squads of knights teleporting out as they did.
"I don't know," Ushio replied as she nodded forwards, "But she's not important. Let her go after Astikai. We need to worry about Alicia."
It was a blink of light that brought her to the snow-covered mountaintop. And before her eyes was a sight most wondrous, even more so than the admittedly beautiful mountains. Through the shining white range a duel was fought. Between two individuals that reminded her of the stories that spoke of the primarchs.
Bright flashes of light came from one figure, beams that reminded her of that girl from Cyprus. They demolished the mountains wherever they touched, with not a single one touching the cloaked figure that danced around the other with impunity. Wild flurries of slashes and thrusts were barely dodged or parried by the other's bare hand, with the blade moving so fast that even Meryet's advanced eyesight could barely glimpse it's motion.
They stared in awe for a moment, before Caelina, near to them, called out to the entire force, Stay away from them! Do not approach Astikai, or the cloaked one. I repeat, let them be! Neither of them are our allies. She said no more about the matter, and instantly began directing the troops to counter the wild assortment of traitors arrayed before them.
Meryet didn't listen, paying attention only to finding Alicia. She glanced back at the rest of her squad, already knowing Lucine's opinion but still questioning the rest. We're with you. Tentheta assured her, do what you must, we'll follow.
Taking a gambit, a risky one too, she called out to the whole area on a broad signal, Alicia! Repeating the call several times found nothing, so she repeated on the squad's special frequency. Though there were thousands upon thousands of squads in the universe, they were enough subtle differences in telepathic frequencies that each one could set their own unique one. I will find her, I will find her. Repeated again and again in her mind.
But that garnered no reply either. Sporadic fighting began to erupt throughout the area, but the traitors were disorganized, with many retreating. Though it was a few seconds later that a response did come, but from an unlikely source. This isn't your Alicia, but this is someone who's also looking for her. Came an unknown voice to her mind. We'll show up a couple hundred meters ahead of you. Then a group of traitors in black armor appeared down the slope from them. The response was immediate, but Meryet held up her hand.
You're the ones from Cyprus. She observed, did you lose her?
We did. A traitor, working for your Inquisition, funnily enough. Replied the girl, If you want to get her back from your own side, then follow us, our commander's going after her right now.
The Inquisition?! Meryet responded in shock. She instantly sent word to Caelina. Lucine stepped forwards.
An Inquisitor just shot at your friends in orbit, starting this whole mess. I think I'm seeing a common enemy here. She commented. But ultimately, it was Tentheta's decision.
The sergeant looked at the rest of the squad briefly, before she shrugged, I think we're all with Meryet.
Meryet nodded. Thank you, she sent to them, before she sent to the traitor knights, We'll come along. But don't try anything.
We won't. Trust me, I've had enough of betrayals for a little while. Replied the other.
In all her thoughts, Columbine had never imagined ending up in Ushio's arms. Though she'd never imagined anything about the current situation. Not a single thing had been considered. That was the real root behind all her anger. Shame. Her mind was consumed by the horrific shame that she had allowed this to happen, despite all the clues being right before her eyes all along. She remained silent as she lay there, wondering if it would have been right for her to die.
Ushio kept leaping, now progressing into the forest. All they could do was hope that Ingwe had yet to regroup, else Alicia was gone entirely. But the next moment she hit the ground, the air flashed around her, and around twenty girls flashed into existence. She came to a stop, recognizing Cherepia and her comrades, but also seeing the armor of the Fallen Angels. The girl stared at them, recognizing that they were the ones they'd taken Alicia from.
Our interests are aligned, explained the girl who'd fought Columbine so fervently, at least for the moment. Let's not waste any time. She leapt again, and Ushio followed right behind with the others.
Enemy approaching from the east, called the clairvoyant amongst the Angels.
Cherepia called, I'll go after them. Seven of the Fallen Angels split off with them.
Just hold them off. Ushio called, you can't fight Dvasia and Tamashii, just give us some time.
We have reinforcements incoming. Replied the girl who appeared to be the sergeant of the loyalists, go get Alicia.
Telepathic scanning revealed one signature in the forest. Alicia had been shot, so it made sense only one mind would be active. As the battle erupted near the edge of the forest, they caught sight of Ingwe. She was leaning back against a tree, but there was no one else to be found.
Ushio touched down beside her, the two Fallen Angels next to her. Alicia was nowhere. And Ingwe looked as though a demon had just reached out to her. She sat in a state of shock as she lay against the tree, eyes wide. Her hands were malformed and crushed, utterly destroyed.
What happened? Asked one of the loyalists, while the other merely reached out to her in anger.
Wrapping her hands around her throat, she screamed at the top of her lungs, "Where is she?!"
Ushio shook her head, and lowered Columbine to her feet. "That's no good." She commented. Then she asked Columbine, "Can you?"
Columbine nodded, "For her I can." Then the rage that drove her before renewed as she stood up. She looked at the other knight, and said, "Give her to me, I'll rip the memories out of her head." The knight looked at Columbine for a moment, but all it took was seeing that similar anger on her face for her to comply.
Ingwe was dropped, only for Columbine to catch her with the one hand she had. Palm glowing bright blue, she slammed the girl against the trunk of the tree, and dove forth into her exposed mind, even as Ingwe tried ineffectively to squirm from her grasp.
Ingwe was jumping through the forest. The meeting point was only a little ways ahead, though her comrades were being delayed by Columbine's forces. In her arms, the body remained lifeless and limp. As she made another jump, suddenly the air ignited with energy. Around her materialized four points of energy that linked together to send electricity coursing through her body.
Alicia hit the ground at the same time Ingwe did. As the platinum-haired girl struggled to get to her feet, she looked up into a pair of eyes that brought fear to her heart. Ciuatl's hand wrapped around her throat. "You dirty little traitor." The girl said with a maniacal grin. Ingwe tried to summon her revolver, but her hand seized up with pain without Ciuatl even moving. The girl's mind was in her own. But that couldn't be what made Ingwe's collapse in on itself, the bones warping and snapping as some invisible force turning it into a twisted mush. Even as Ingwe tried and failed to scream, the same happened to her other hand.
"This is what traitors deserve," Ciuatl explained calmly. Her grip was just light enough to let Ingwe breathe, but she didn't release the girl. "I would destroy every bone in your body, slowly too, but that would just slow me down." She stared right into Ingwe's eyes. "And besides, I want Columbine to know exactly who took her precious little doll."
Ingwe was cast against a tree trunk, and slid down. Some force held her there, and she could do nothing but watch as Ciuatl lifted up Alicia's body. "I'm the only victor on this day," the girl smiled at Ingwe, then laughed as she walked away. After a couple seconds, she seemed to fade away. Not like she teleported or activated invisibility, but like she simply dissipated from reality.
Though Columbine had those visions, which were sent to Ushio, she didn't stop there. She kept digging down through the girl's mind, breaking through the mental barriers to rifle through years and years of memory. Deep within, she saw what Ingwe had been doing for ten years, sending steady reports to her masters on everything Astikai did, all the people she came into contact with.
She saw how everything had been carefully planned, planned so that Columbine would be the unwitting pawn. A plan to obtain Ushio's memories and hopefully some other link to the Athena experiment. The experiment that Hjalma failed to interrupt, whcich gave birth to a special force designed to hunt down those responsible for the Disappearance, and prevent them from replicating it. But Hjalma and her group lied, and whilst reporting that they were unsuccessful and feeding back occasional bits of choice information on the whereabouts of some highly-wanted individual, secretly planned to conduct the experiment themselves once they could figure out the process.
But that was all Ingwe knew.
She dropped to the ground in a daze, as Columbine looked away from her. As she regained her consciousness, Columbine spat, "I trusted you. I trusted you with my life and this is what I get for it."
Ingwe didn't reply for a few seconds. "I trusted you too." She said quietly.
Columbine turned and grabbed the girl by the hair. She lifted her up straight into a punch to the face. "Don't ever say that again," Columbine growled as Ingwe staggered back against the tree. She stared at the other girl for a long second, before she spat, "Killing you won't satisfy anything. Get out of my sight before I question that."
The platinum-haired girl paused, looking confusedly at her, till Ushio stepped forwards. She nodded to the two Fallen Angels, "You just robbed them of their closest comrade. I'd suggest you start running, before I betray Columbine's wishes and make you suffer."
Ingwe sighed, and turned around. "The next time we meet, then." She called back to Columbine. "Then we'll decide things once and for all." The platinum-haired girl sounded as though she knew what she'd done. But it was hard to tell if she regretted it, savored it, or both.
Columbine smiled sadly, "Sounds good to me," she replied as the girl walked away into the woods. Ingwe looked back one last time, eyes filled with a longing for something. She spoke, and after the first word Columbine joined with her, "May we meet again, in this world or the next." A few seconds later, a girl appeared beside her before they both disappeared in the flash of teleportation.
Ushio turned to the loyalists as Cherepia's voice came into her head, they're pulling back. Looks like they've realized they lost.
An affirmation was sent back, right before Ushio said, "I apologize that we were unable to retrieve Alicia…but…" She wondered how to put it for a moment, "But she wouldn't have returned with you anyways."
Alicia's self-declared protector's helmet dissipated, and she questioned, "Why is that?"
"Because she knows the truth about her existence," Ushio explained, careful not to tread on emotions, "She's linked intrinsically with whatever happened on Athena ten years ago. She can't run from that fact. Alicia would rather turn her back on the Imperium to find the truth."
The dark-haired girl looked ready to unleash a furious tirade, but the other put her hand on her shoulder. "Let's not be too hasty, Meryet," warned the other.
"You're the ones who took her in the first place, why should I trust you?" Meryet demanded, as tears streamed down her face. She was close to breaking completely into weeping, but held herself together for just a bit longer.
Ushio didn't say a word for several seconds, not even trying to. She looked to be ruminating on something; her expression suggested shame. "Because in a way, I was the one who cursed Alicia in the first place. That girl with Astikai, is somehow her twin." Ushio shook her head sadly as regret flowed through her, "Were it not for me, none of this would have happened."
Meryet opened her mouth to shout back angrily, tears flowing down her cheeks like waterfalls, but it was Columbine who cut in and said, "Don't you say anything to her," she demanded, "She accepts her mistakes." A pause, "And besides we're not the ones who have her anymore." She glanced back at the mountains, where the duel between Astikai and the mysterious figure still raged, "Really, I don't know who does at this point."
The larger battles had effectively ceased. In orbit, both fleets had backed off from one another as Alandia's ship, on the other side of the planet, received a gunship and then shot off at full speed. On the ground, Astikai's forces were encircled, whilst what remained of Vlasta's troops had withdrawn, albeit with heavy losses.
But all remained to watch the duel unfold. It was as though two gods were locked in combat. The sword was shot fast enough to shatter entire cliffsides, and the simple scabbard of the weapon often followed along with it, both being used as weapons to keep Astikai on her toes.
The scabbard flew outwards as Astikai, striking her straight in the gut, before the sword flew smoothly into the sheath, the energy being transferred directly from the blade's movement to Astikai's body. Sent flying backwards, the cloaked figure's jump outpaced her flight to grab the sword. A motion so fast it was invisible brought the blade down directly in front of Astikai's body, sparks flying as it sliced through the very outer layer of the armor. Astikai came to a halt where she landed, and a magnificent golden glow started in her gut.
Sheathing her blade, the cloaked girl didn't seem worried. She started to slowly walk towards Astikai across the snow-covered plateau they were on. Her pace didn't increase, and she didn't even try to interrupt Astikai's charge. Indeed, it seemed that the golden sphere of energy forming around the girl, a phenomenon never before seen during this attack, would have prevented any such effort.
The light was brighter than the sun in the sky by the time Astikai finished charging, and the entire world took on a weird golden tint. Then in a single instant it was all released. Innumerable bolts of bright golden light, each as bright as a star, shot towards the figure. Every single one. A barrage that had destroyed capital ships now homed in on the single girl.
She started running, sheath held in her left hand. Just as one would have hit her, she started running on the air. There was no surface for her to be on top of, but she was running. She ran around in a spiral towards Astikai, even though gravity should have pulled her down from any platform of magical particles.
Then she leapt forwards, hit the ground, and rolled aside from another several. Around another volley she gracefully danced, perhaps one of the most beautiful motions Columbine had laid eyes upon up to that moment. But it didn't end there. Even as the mountain range was reduced to bits by the tremendous power, the girl still dodged.
Then she was running again. All through the air, jumping from one platform to the other, taking other spiral paths, rolling aside as she landed on the ground, performing that same graceful dance around a dozen beams at a time. Not a single one touched her.
It looked to be completely impossible. Yet there it was, happening right there before them. Massive golden beams carved apart the mountains, even going out of control and shooting down into the forests around them. Absolute destruction was being wrought upon the world, but this girl avoided it all as though it were nothing.
The cloaked swordsman was only a dozen feet from Astikai now. A last final leap brought her to the girl. Her right hand reached to the hilt of her blade. A motion that seemed to slice apart the air severed Astikai's left arm. Then before Astikai could react, she'd severed the right. Then the swordsman swung her body forwards and released the sheath, sending it flying into Astikai's stomach. As she flew backwards, the blade joined the sheath, sending her even further.
The swordsman once again outpaced her own attack, and as Astikai landed, the sheath bounced up from her chest. A single fluid motion snatched the scabbard from the air and drew the blade from within. The sword penetrated Astikai's chest in a stroke that seemed almost underwhelming, yet it still landed. Upon Astikai's face was at first surprise, but that quickly changed into content, which gave way to a victorious grin.
Then the world held its breath. Ushio gasped in shock, even horror at the sight. Columbine rushed forwards, wishing to hear whatever last words Astikai might have. But they were too far away. Luckily, somebody was listening, and everyone heard the girl.
Staring up at the figure in green, Astikai merely laughed. It was a haughty laugh, the kind more fitting for one's victory over a lesser than one's death to a superior. But still, she laughed. Even as her soul gem fragmented and prepared to split entirely, she laughed.
The swordsman sheathed her blade, and waited respectfully for her final words. Astikai looked up at the sky, the bright blue sky, and whispered, "You fools….I wasn't the host. All along…I was the parasite."
Astikai's arm reached up as tears streamed down her cheek. "Now go," her words almost inaudible, but her voice so sweet and calm, "Go my little golden bird. Spread your wings and be free..." Then a sound like glass cracking echoed through the peaks, and Astikai's arm fell down. Her eyes shut, and her expression was one of peace.
In the sky, there was a brief golden flash, almost like a shooting star. It disappeared as soon as it came, but it burned brighter than the sun.
There will be another chapter out by Sunday or Monday that wraps things up for this portion of the story. Goods news is that I have a lot less of Volume 2 of In her Holy Majesty's left than I thought I did, so I might actually be able to finish it in the next month, but that remains to be seen.