Chapter 21

"... W... Where's Fai," I mumbled, eased into my new caravan. The bed was sinfully soft, stuffed with Gargwa feathers, matching the two puffy pillows taking my head. Ace Gunner caressed my cheek, smiling down, and stepped out of the way, letting Marm by. "Where's Fai?"

"Oh, Soodle. Don't worry about that. Get some rest. We'll talk more later... I missed you."

She kissed my forehead and pulled up the heavy quilt folded at the end of the bed, stopping it under my arms. My right was wrapped in gauze, a single prick of red peaking at the elbow. The Ace Gunner patted Marm's shoulder as she passed, closing the door before jumping on the cot, lounging beside. She stroked my hair, tittered, shaking her head.

"You had one helluva journey, didn't you?" She said. "Must have hit deep to club a friend and take her armor. It still has your scent, by the way, which, you know what? It's the best gift you could have given me. We all missed you, and all stood for you... Well, except the Commander, but that was because of his principles. He must stand by the Guild no matter what, but it was our words against him. The Veteran's and my word easily equaled his; throw in Faires's and the Cadet's, and there was no way they would have hanged you."

"B... But... Faires..."

"Faires will be back soon, love. He is saving the Veteran and Cadet from Pita."

"Pita? Pita! No. Don't hurt Pita! Don't hurt them. Please!"

She shushed me, pulling me against her chest, straightening my hair.

"Pita will be fine... He's only there to make sure they get back safely... Pita will have to be taken care of, though."

"Pita needs his mama."

"Oh... not that kind of taken care of. Gore... Pita is a threat to all, love. They have to be... removed."

"No. No! You can't."

"Not right now. Of course not. We'll wait until Faires gets back, track it a little-"

"You can't kill it! Please! Let me talk to them. Let me reason with them. It worked for Kechie... The least you can do is honor this after him."

"... I will. Now get some sleep... We are all happy you are back. We love you deeply."

She kissed me and left the caravan, leaving me in the dark, closed confines of that cara-

What's that noise? What's that? Are those eyes peaking out of the chest? Dammit. Why was this bed a solid body? Maybe I can dig under- why won't these planks move? Please. Got to be quick. Not safe. I have no place to run, no place to hide. G-get this door outta here! Good. Good. Room under the caravan, itself, but not able to see. No... Bad Choice.. Must find... Perfect!

"... She just up and fell asleep in my wok," The Streetcat said, footsteps closing in. "I don't even know how she balanced it up nya."

"Soodle? Soodle. Can you hear me," Guildmarm called. "Soodle?"

Something tapped beside, and a shadow loomed. "Oi, Ophelia. You okay?" Ace Gunner said.

I mumbled something and squeezed myself tighter, the wok shifting on the top of the Caravaneer's ship's crow's nest.

"What was that?"

"... Caravan too small. No place to run. Hide."

"Sugar, you don't need to hide nor run. You're safe here."

"Pita not here. Not safe. Never safe. Stay high. Look down on prowlers. Make them work for it. No fliers for miles. Best place. Only place."

"Come on... Let's get you down before you tip."

Air rushed by, and there was another set of taps, the wok clanking against t-

NO.

I leaped out of the wok and onto the pole, panting, clawing my way up it- or would, if the Ace Gunner wasn't keeping me down.

"Let go of me," I screeched, kicking, hitting her knees, but she held, pulling me off. "Not safe. Going to die. Blue Genpray. Green snakes. Sharq Tetsus. Not safe in open. Have to be high. Let- LET GO. LET GO!"

…

…

…

I hugged the pillow, watching the door, returned to its hinges. Ace Gunner laid in front of me, Guildmarm at the end of the bed blocking my way out. The streets of Val Habar were alive with rife and strife and screaming and predators and prey and all sorts wanting to bust that door down, to engorge on my innards. What did I have to protect myself? A bloody pillow. They took my "blade;" they took my lifeline.

The ground rumbled- oh crap. Where is it? Where's it going to come up? What if it's right under? I must move, need to get out. Need to run, to hide. Green snake throw scales, Sharq Tetsu can create ice, shatter things. I need. I have t-

"Easy, Ophelia," Ace Gunner said, hugging, shushing in my ear. "It's alright. Just a passing caravan. Easy. It'll be alright. Just listen to my voice. I mean you no harm, and never will. Just drift away in my arms. It'll be okay."

...Maybe... Maybe she's right... I do feel safe... in these arms... Strong, yet soft. Maybe it wouldn't be so b-

The door slammed open, and I leaped into the furthest, highest corner. Color left my vision, staring at... the Ace... Cadet... I slipped down and back into the bed, returning to the Gunner's arms as the Cadet leaped onto the end of the bed, sighing.

"Man, that was a trip," He said.

Guildmarm pushed him off, straightening her collar.

"Do you mind? It's a girl's sleepover."

"A what now? What are you Blangoing about?"

"We are trying to acclimate Ophelia back to the real world, Cadet," Ace Gunner said, kissing my forehead; awfully affectionate, isn't she. "What better way than around those that love her."

"Right... Well, Veteran and Faires are both at the Gathering Hall, and the Guildmaster sent me with the request that you all come."

"Faires?" I said.

"Yes, dear. Faires. He's back. Let's go see him..."

The Gathering Hall loomed again, packed with hunters, buzzing away. Piotre and Garland waited before the curtains, ushering us in. The rest of the Ace Hunters were there, as well as the Guildmaster and Faires –who took me right out of Ace Gunner's grasp, hugging tight. I returned the hug, and refused to let go until the Commander's fifth throat clear.

"Ophie," He whispered, looking me up and down. "W-where's your armor?"

"Where's yours?"

He tapped against his bright blue plate. "Right here."

"You know what I mean."

"Oh. The Tetsu stuff? Yeah, I still have it, but it simply wasn't going to cut it against some of the monsters I encountered when you were gone."

"Can't be any weirder than the ones I ran into."

"Oh? See this set? Comes from a Zamtrios, a kind of-

"Sharq Tetsu?" We both said.

"Y-yeah, actually," He said. "There was also this-"

"Huge green snake."

"Stop that," He said, chortling. "Yeah. A huge green snake, a Narjarala... Wait. Did you fight those?"

"Yup. In the buff. My armor rotted off for some reason."

"It was the Gore's virus," The Commander said. "Because your armor was once a living being, it attached to it and made it eat itself away. Just another reason why the Gore must be hunted down and destroyed."

"Commander," Ace Gunner began, and he raised a hand, looking at Faires, at me.

"You two. You're going to go find the Gore. Reports have come in from the border that it is making its way here, and fast. You can possibly intercept it at the Ancient Steppes. Ophelia."

"Y-yes, sir."

"... If you can talk it down, have it leave and keep to the Everwood, we will leave it in peace. If you can't, however, it will be killed with impunity. Do you understand the gravity of the situation? There is no middle option. You either talk it down and it leaves forever, and you can never see it, or it has to die. You understand?"

… I nodded, tears already spilling.

"Good. Faires, there's already a wagon ready. Get you and Ophelia there ASAP. Stop by the Man's forge first, though. Grab her a weapon. Armor probably won't be necessary."

"Yes, sir... Ophie... Hey. You up?"

"Huh?"

"Open your eyes. We're at the forge."

I did, and the Man nodded, smiling. "Any weapon you want, kiddo? It's on the house."

Faires pointed down at the forge, where a simple scroll was fanned out, multiple layers keeping it that way.

"Go ahead," He said. "Look through. See what strikes your fancy. It's been filtered to what materials we have, so no pressure."

"I... I don't know... Hey. What's this one? Immane Blade?"

"Is that the one you want?"

I nodded, and the Man put away the scrolls, hammer a blur until it was replaced by a pair of tongs, dropping the white blade into the quench tank. Next came the red, forming a pseudo-guard for the hand, keeping it from rubbing on the hilt. The final piece to be added was a bright, blue gem, placed at the base of the sword, and he handed it over. There was something... odd about this blade... I... can't put my finger on it, but, looking at the gem, seeing it shift red a moment, I can't help but feel we have... met before.

Faires slung it over my shoulder and dragged me away, tossing me into the wagon. He threw himself in next, and drummed his fingers against the wood, sighing and grumbling until the driver took off. He held up his Card and Contract to the knight at the gate as we passed, not letting the driver even slow during.

"What's the rush, Fai?" I mumbled, hugging my sword, scanning the sands. "... Fai?"

"... I almost had it."

"Huh?"

He shook his head and smacked the wagon, sneering.

"I almost had it down. I had broken its hands, its wings. Its tail was barely on, and it decided to fly away. I could have taken it down. It should be dead right now, if it wasn't such a f-"

I smacked him, heart thundering in my chest again.

"Watch your tongue."

"... Ophelia-"

"We are going to spare Pita, if we can. You are going to keep your twitchy hand away from your blade, or this pretty on my back will taste blood today, and it's not going to be my Pita's."

"Okay. Okay. We're friends, remember? Let's not get too carried away."

You have no idea how true that was, Fai...

We reached the Ancient Steppes, and the place felt... wrong. The sun shined high, yet it did not warm the stone. The ruins didn't cast a shadow over the plains, the steps all the same shade of gray. Aptonoths, Kelbi were absent, Jaggi mewling from their nests, tucked away by the Jaggia, whimpering at our approach. The Felynes and Melynxes in the hanging garden were even absent, but you could see the darkness, the decay, the misery rolling across the vines, thickening as they reached the steps, the valley. We entered from the Old Bridge, and darkness simply flooded down the stone, flowing by with the water. Dark wings twitched at the top of the rock.

"Pita," I exclaimed, dashing towards the stone, clawing my way to it. "Pita! Mama's here. Turn around, Pita. Please. Please look at mama."

It did turn around, and snarled, swooping along the cliff, the darkness clearing a bit when it landed, holding me. The veins on its heads settled once more, whining in my ear, licking my neck...

I shook my head, and pushed away.

"No. We can't... I'm sorry, Pita, but you have to go. Have to leave... leave me."

It cocked its head, growling as Faires approached, standing behind.

"It's okay. He's not going to hurt you, Pita. He's here with me. He's a friend. Okay? He's. A. Friend. Please, Pita. You have to go. Forget me... Forget the happiness we had... Forget the promise I made."

I collapsed to my knees, sobbing hard, my face buried in my hands. Pita... The Gore took a step, closer, reaching for my shoulder, and I shook my head, pushing it away. It whined, reaching again, and I slapped it away, crying aloud.

"You have to go, Pita. Don't you understand? They'll kill you otherwise. Please... I can't lose you. Not after everything. Please... Thank you, for all you've done. I don't know if you can understand me after all this time, but I am eternally grateful. I... I love you, but you must go."

It scoffed and pushed forward, rubbing against my face, licking away the tears.

"It's not listening," Faires grumbled, stepping beside.

"Fai. Go sit somewhere. Let me say goodbye."

"You already said it. It didn't listen. Look around. Don't you see what its very presence brings? If it won't leave, we have to take it down. Do you understand that, Ophelia?"

"Of course I do... Now let me say goodbye."

The Gore lifted its head and cocked it his way, snarling. Faires drew his weapons, snarling.

"It's not saying goodbye, Ophelia. It's using you. Don't you get it? The longer it stays, the stronger its plague will be. It will have full control of this area, then what? Val Habar? I can't let it happen. I won't."

I stood and spun on him, drawing my blade.

"You will not touch him."

"You don't have a choice."

He raised his swords, the Kut Ku Pair-

And kicked me in the stomach.

I bent over, and his knee caught my chin, raising me up so he can grab my shoulders and throw me against the wall. He straightened his collar as he did, turning back to the Gore-

Whose feelers were completely out.

Darkness bathed the land, clotted the sky and air until only the Gore's wings, its vibrant, glimmering scales, and its bright, violet feelers were all that could be seen. It shrieked, and the world crumbled, stone torn and tossed. Sparks broke through the murk, lightening the Gore's maw, before they flew against the stone, and bright pillars covered the cliffs in black fire, opening around me. Faires's blue plate was illuminated on a higher step, black smoke rolling from his lips as he coughed, but he leaped down on the Gore all the same.

The Gore caught him midflight, and slammed him against the wall, white fire roiling, flooding from his lips. He let Faires go, and he fell beside, his face burning. He reached into his ouch and pulled out a yellow phial, breaking it on his forehead, and the flames, the scarred flesh were gone. He lunged at the Gore, caught again, thrown towards the Old Bridge.

"Pita," I whispered, reaching out.

It whimpered and rubbed against my hand before chasing after Fai, leaving me to fade away.