Summary: In which everything is a mess as everyone tries to do whatever they want.
Author's Notes:
Back home now. Well, it was a nice vacation while it lasted. Now I have to prep for my last quarter… please let me actually be productive and prioritize correctly this time…
I'm also sick. Lmfao.
Some fight scenes are rated T for Tomato's action. This includes certain descriptions of blood and injury. Nothing too gruesome though.
Act IV. iii. Ripple of Fate - Pandemonium
Aileen halts the movement of her naginata. Instead of planting it in the ground, she grips it so that the weapon rests diagonally across her back.
"Children are so resilient nowadays. I suppose I should give you and your friends some more credit, Miss Kagari," Aileen says as she appraises the damage of her spell.
Sucy grips her shoulder while kneeling on the ground behind a nearly-destroyed wall of a giant mushroom crown. On the other side, Lotte leans hunched over Akko's immobile body with shaky arms that can barely keep herself over Akko. Once the dust settles, Lotte's arms give out on her and she falls onto Akko's front.
After getting hit with such a powerful spell with no room to evade, it takes the three girls all of their strength to remain conscious. Sucy is close to following Lotte's lead and collapsing face-first herself.
"L-Lotte… Sucy…" Akko groans. She tries to sit up but has a harder time now with the weight on top of her.
"It is surprising that you three are still conscious, though barely. There isn't much you can do in this situation." Aileen starts to walk over to where Akko and Lotte lay. "I suppose I could leave you here without doing anything else. However, that may not suffice if you recover faster than my expectations. It pains me to take the lives of children, but it cannot be helped in this case."
Akko strains to reach her wand. But Lotte's weight trapping her arm prevents her from reaching close enough.
(Come on body, move! You can't just lay here like this! Come on!)
The sound of the forest rustling catches Aileen's attention and stops her from proceeding forward. She turns her head in the direction of what sounds like a rapid destruction of leaves and branches. The noise grows louder as whatever is causing the disruption comes closer to them.
Aileen narrows her eyes. "That is…"
A blur tumbles out of the forest and into the clearing the four witches are at. It kicks off from the ground and lands on its legs with a backflip. The figure turns out to be a human wearing knight armor while brandishing a broadsword with a gold guard and glowing red blade. His short blonde hair and tanned skin are caked in dried and fresh blood.
"You're Diana's cousin!" Akko says, recognizing the boy from the Reinhardt Estate.
Daniel glances back to see Akko on the ground. He rubs the blood from his eyes to make sure it really is her. "What- You're Diana's girlfriend. Or good friend. Rival? Whatever. What are you-? No, that's not important right now." His eyes fall on Aileen. "The Minister is here too? You witches appear to be busy with something."
"Daniel Reinhardt. If you are here, where is Ulfric Reinhardt and Renatus?" Aileen asks.
"They should be following right about… now."
Two figures crash through the forest. One skips back on his feet and blocks an overhead strike from the other who chases after him. The first figure jumps back to evade a slash to his torso and lands next to Daniel.
Similar to Daniel, Ulfric is covered in various cuts and injuries. Blood flows from multiple wounds on every part of his body. In contrast, Renatus appears to be clear of injury. Only a few specks of dust cover his clothes and skin.
"There you are, Daniel. Thought I lost you." Ulfric follows Daniel's gaze to Aileen. "Oh, hello Minister. Your father is giving us quite the trouble." Ulfric's eyes survey the Minister's burnt and tattered form. "You don't seem to be having an easy time either."
Renatus flicks his blade to remove the blood coating the steel. "You are getting old, Ulfric. You used to keep up with me. Even with your family's magic you cannot match an old man?"
"If you recall, I am older than you. And normal people succumb to the weaknesses of old age. You are an anomaly," Ulfric retorts.
"The wonders of intense, proper training, Ulfric. You have become too lax in these few years of peace."
"I would say that eye of yours gives an unfair advantage, but that would sound like whining," Ulfric replies.
Renatus catches movement from the corner of his eye coming from the witches. "I would refrain from interfering in our bout. I have no reason to harm you if you keep to yourselves. However, that does not apply if you attack me first."
"I suggest you heed his warning," Ulfric says. "Neither Daniel nor I are in any position to guarantee your protection. If you throw a spell at him, Renatus could very well lop off your heads in the next second."
Akko grits her teeth, her hand tightening on her wand.
Daniel appraises the witches' haggard forms. "It's probably good for you three to rest. It looks like the Minister did a number on you."
"That lady doesn't go easy on kids…" Akko groans. "I should throw a Murowa at her for good- Hey, where'd she go?"
Aileen Bradley is nowhere to be found. She must have taken advantage of the momentary distraction to retreat.
Daniel sighs. "At least that's one less adversary to deal with."
"Do not let your guard down, boy," Ulfric says. "Our bout resumes."
"Crap-!"
Renatus runs forward and aims for the one he deems to be the weaker of the two knights. He jabs his left hand forward at Daniel's shoulder and follows up with a slash upward slash across Daniel's body with his right when his first strike is deflected.
Daniel steps back to evade the second strike and pushes away the first blade to counter. When Renatus dodges that with ease, Daniel steps back just as Ulfric comes from behind.
Renatus deflects Ulfric's sword and slashes through Ulfric's armor at his shoulders, arms, and legs. Even as Renatus' swords cut through the armor, Ulfric proceeds with his advance without faltering.
Daniel comes in from the opposite side. While Ulfric is on Renatus' right, Daniel takes advantage of Renatus' normal side on the assumption Renatus cannot react as quickly. Daniel aims for the neck as Ulfric aims for the legs.
Renatus leans back and kicks off the ground so the two swords sail over and under his body. He uses both his sabres to deflect the blades in a windmill and kicks the two Reinhardts with the started momentum of his spin.
It is a continuous game of cat and mouse. Except it is hard to tell who is chasing who. At first it seems like Daniel and Ulfric are pressing the charge. Two against one and an enhancement spell should put them at the advantage against one man above the age of fifty wielding normal weapons.
But at some point, the scales will tip so Renatus is on the offensive and the two Reinhardts are forced to stay on the defensive until they can find another opening. Even if Renatus lacks the enhancements that the Reinhardts do, his body has decades of intense training experience that allows him to keep up with their ridiculous speed and strength. Coupled with his eye that allows him to read the movements of his opponents before they occur, Renatus is able to perform the same superhuman feats as Ulfric and Daniel even if he cannot keep up with their speed and strength with his human body alone.
Daniel grunts as Renatus kicks him in the stomach. As Daniel skids back, Ulfric jumps forward and intercepts Renatus before he can advance toward his grandson.
Despite the protection from both his armor and Magna Aestus, Renatus' attacks are strong enough to break through metal. Daniel rubs the dented surface of the armor in front of his stomach.
(That eye of his is truly a nuisance! Even with Magna Aestus, neither Grandfather nor I can injure him? What kind of monster is this man?)
To Akko, the movements of these combatants appear as nothing but a blur. She can barely keep up with the bright red Brisingr, let alone everything else.
(Never mind Diana's grandpa and cousin. How is the general also a monster?!)
A groan from above Akko pulls her attention away from the fight. Lotte starts to come to.
"Lotte! Are you okay?" Akko asks, helping Lotte sit up.
"Wha- What's going on?" The fight to the side pulls her attention toward the fast-moving bodies. "Is that a fight?"
"Apparently the General of the Army is brawling it out with Diana's family," Sucy says as she limps toward them. "They're moving so fast it hurts my head to try to follow them."
"If we don't attack him, he won't attack us. That's what the general said," Akko says.
Lotte winces. "I don't know about you guys, but I don't think I can do much right now even if I wanted to."
Sucy raises her arm and appraises her burnt clothes and skin. "I don't know a specific healing spell for these kinds of injuries."
Lotte shakes her head. "I don't either."
Akko hums. "I might. What was that spell Diana's dad told me to use again? Eman… Emanta… Evanescence… no, that's not right. Uh. Aw, come on, me!" Akko's eyes light up. "Emantur Ligna! That's it!"
Akko first tries the spell on herself to make sure it works. A few failures later, she successfully mends a few of the burns so that they are not as severe. The one on the head is a bit trickier, so she leaves that one alone for now.
"Rather surprising that you know how to use a spell like this," Sucy says after Akko heals her and Lotte. It's one of your rare successes."
"Hey! I can cast spells correctly when I want to!" Akko huffs. "Besides, it's not like I have a lot of room for error. It's get it right or the injuries get worse."
"We are glad you can, Akko. Sucy just doesn't know how to show gratitude." Lotte looks around the clearing, careful to not move her neck too fast. "Where did the Minister go?"
Sucy shrugs. Her knees give out on her and pulls her body onto the ground with Lotte and Akko. Even moving her shoulders hurt. "Who knows. She disappeared a bit after those three came crashing through."
The three turn their attention back to the whirlwind of a fight. Most of what they can pick on is a blur of movement and the constant clash of steel.
"Are those guys human?" Lotte wonders.
"Who knows?" Sucy responds.
Daniel leaps back into the fight, aiming for Renatus' open back. Renatus disengages from Ulfric to dodge Daniel's overhead slash. Daniel switches his grip to block an attack aimed for his neck. He pushes the connected blade to the side and jabs at Renatus' open stomach. When that attack is deflected, Daniel uses that momentum to swing around and down. However, Renatus takes the advantage of the opening and kicks him square in the chest to knock him away.
Ulfric comes up and slashes Renatus from behind. Renatus uses one sword to block and the other to attack Ulfric after turning around with a deflection of his first sword. With Daniel farther away, Renatus focuses his attention on Ulfric.
Renatus attacks with both swords from all sides. Slash, cut, jab, parry, slash. While Renatus presses forward, Ulfric finds himself taking on the defensive for most of the time as he desperately keeps the swords away from his vitals. He can't do much against every attack; the best he can do is ignore the new open cuts he sustains whenever Renatus slips past his guard.
At this point, neither Ulfric nor Daniel have successfully injured Renatus. The two are covered in bruises, dripping blood, and dented armor. Yet the General of the Army remains unscathed.
Daniel reenters the fray, relieving Ulfric of some injury. Although they still sustain injury, it is at least distributed between the two. The two of them together increases their chance of survival.
Renatus understands this as well.
(In the end, it is better to deal with one at a time, is it? Very well.)
Renatus deflects the Brisingr and roundhouse kicks Daniel in the ribs. Daniel feels his armor and body cave in from the impact. He flies back and tumbles through the forest floor. Daniel brings up the Brisingr and stabs it into the ground to stop his momentum.
"Guah… crap…!" Daniel grabs his side, feeling the broken armor.
(No broken ribs, I think. Thank god for armor!)
Once he sends Daniel flying, Renatus turns his attention to Ulfric. The older man grits his teeth as he's once more pushed back by Renatus' flurry of blades. Ulfric grows so accustomed to blocking his upper body that he neglects his lower.
Renatus notices. He aims one sword low and slashes across Ulfric's inner left thigh. The sudden strike cripples the old man's leg and causes him to falter. It gives Renatus the opportunity to sweep Ulfric off his feet and jump on top of Ulfric as he lands on his back.
Renatus raises one sword and aims down at Ulfric. Ulfric jabs up and forces Renatus to twist to the side to evade. Renatus parries the upward thrust and uses his other hand to drive his sword through Ulfric's armor and torso and into the earth.
"Guh-!"
Renatus grabs Ulfric's sword from his slack hand and jumps back. But instead of finishing Ulfric, he turns around and runs toward Daniel.
Ulfric reaches up to pull the sabre out from his body. His vision blurs.
(He's aiming for Daniel?!)
Daniel wipes his mouth with the back of his gauntlet for a moment before looking up at the sound of rushing footsteps. He pulls the Brisingr out from the ground just as Renatus brings down his sword. Daniel twists his body out of the way to evade the second sword.
Renatus presses forward with quick strikes in succession. Daniel ignores the trickle of blood that begins to accumulate as Renatus gets past his guard. When Daniel tries to get a strike of his own in, Renatus uses both swords at once to break up Daniel's two-handed grip. With Daniel's arms open, Renatus follows up by pressing closer and disabling Daniel's right arm and stabbing one sword through Daniel's shoulder.
Daniel grunts as he's pushed back. He tries to slice across Renatus' chest but misses. Before he can counter, Renatus slashes Daniel's face across the bridge of his nose.
"Gh-!" Daniel jumps back and grips his face. His shoulder also throbs for attention. As he's distracted, Renatus uses Ulfric's sword to sever Daniel's right arm from the forearm up.
Akko's breath hitches. Lotte gasps beside her.
(Oh man, oh man. That's not good!)
Daniel's eyes bulge at the missing limb and the sudden rush of blood. Renatus takes advantage of Daniel's shock and grabs the Brisingr with his free hand.
"-?!" The Brisingr drops to the ground when Renatus feels his palm sizzling. The smell of burnt flesh tells Renatus before he sees his wound that touching the artifact of the House of Reinhardt is not a smart idea.
"Shame. I wanted to use a better sword for myself."
Daniel trips over his legs and falls to the ground. Even with a sabre embedded in his shoulder, he grips the stub of his arm and tries to hold on to consciousness and the desire to scream.
Ulfric rips the sabre embedded in his torso out and roars, "Magna Aestus: Saeva!"
Renatus feels - rather than hears or sees - something approaching. He turns around and evades Ulfric's jab by a mere centimeter and blocks the next counterattack aimed for his shoulder.
Renatus gets a long look at the circuits decorating Ulfric's skin. Instead of the usual green, its color has changed to black. He does not flinch even as Ulfric's blackened eyes bore into his own.
"The berserk version of your family's specialized spell?" Renatus hums. "You must truly be desperate, Ulfric. I have not seen you use this enhancement in years!"
Ulfric roars and presses Renatus back. Ulfric gains a momentary advantage with his monstrous tenacity and strength against Renatus' single sword. Ulfric does not injure Renatus, but the injuries he sustains as Renatus counterattacks feel like nothing but wind. Ulfric pays no attention to the open wound in his torso that throbs and bleeds, nor to the large cut across his thigh. He only keeps hacking with the borrowed sabre. He pays the chipping steel no mind. All he cares about is to keep attacking until his opponent is dead.
Trading sanity and rationality for brute strength and endurance. If one does not dwell on the hindrances, one does not let it affect them. Nothing can hold back the soldier. That is what Saeva does. In essence, the user becomes an unstoppable monster who only knows to destroy and will do so no matter what. This monster will not stop until its body is destroyed.
The spell registers through the haze of pain in Daniel's head.
"Has he… gone mad…?!"
(That spell… why is Grandfather activating that forbidden enhancement?! Is the situation truly that severe?!)
Considering the blood pouring from his missing arm, Daniel should realize it really is.
Renatus grunts as Ulfric continues to push him back. His right is still giving him predictions, but it isn't as accurate when Ulfric is acting on pure instinct alone. The mind of a wild beast is harder to read than a rational human.
However, it is a double-edged sword. Just as it is hard to read, it makes it easier to anticipate and understand the berserker's goal. It is simply to hack and kill.
Without proper technique or form, the soldier merely becomes a novice with many openings. The proper strategy and positioning allows the opponent to overpower the berserker even if they have the advantage of pure brute strength and other capabilities.
Ulfric's speed is greater than Renatus' overall. But Renatus' eye processes the information even faster than that. And it tells him the right moment to strike.
Ulfric's body is momentarily left open as he raises his arm to bring down his sword. Renatus shoots forward like lightning at that moment and drives his sword through the center of Ulfric's body. The broadsword runs through skin, tissue, organs, spine, and finally back out the body.
Ulfric's eyes widen. For a moment, the veil of insanity draws back as a flash of pain shoots clarity through his body.
"You could only ever come close to matching me if you used this enhancement. But a wild beast cannot defeat a proper general," Renatus says. "Unfortunately, I have no intention to join you in the depths of hell, Ulfric."
Ulfric spits out blood. The black circuits running across his skin flicker as it struggles to keep Ulfric alive.
Of all things, Renatus does not expect Ulfric's lips to curl up into a dangerous smile with teeth stained red.
Ulfric chuckles with blood choking behind his throat. "You have become deluded. Do not underestimate the House of Reinhardt, old friend."
Renatus' body jerks as a sudden protrusion skewers both Ulfric and Renatus' bodies. Renatus feels warmth leaving his body and notes the glowing red blade stabbing into his torso from the small gap between his and Ulfric's bodies.
(From behind?!)
A low chuckle from behind Ulfric. "Heh. Even if you possess the eyes of god himself… you can't block an attack you cannot see!"
The tides of war turn. At that moment, Renatus understands that this is an unfavorable turn of events for him.
Daniel roars. "That is a shitty blind spot to have, old man!"
Daniel tears the Brisingr out of Ulfric and Renatus' bodies, shoving the former's body out of the way as Renatus tries to retreat. Daniel follows after the general and slashes upward blindly. His vision swims and fades with the lifeblood flooding from his missing right arm and other injuries. Ulfric's limp body burns in the back of his eyes through this increasing black haze of unconsciousness, pushing Daniel onward to channel his remaining strength on a single strike to maim his opponent in any way possible.
As luck would have it, Renatus' side protests its new injury. His leg falters, giving Daniel the opening he needs. The Brisingr tears through the sword Renatus brings up as a last attempt to block and tears across Renatus' right eye, sealing the special eye's usefulness.
Renatus puts distance between himself and Daniel. He continues to retreat even after he disappears into the darkness of the forest.
"Wait-! Gugh!"
Daniel falls to his knees and drops the Brisingr to grip his right arm. Hot, burning agony originating from his arm shoots through the rest of his body as his vision swims in black dots.
Someone appears by his side and says something that he can't hear through the loud drumming of blood pounding in his ears. Daniel doesn't even have the energy to react if this is an enemy.
Somehow, the annoying yet familiar voice tears through his addled brain and finally processes enough for him to understand what she's saying.
"Hey, hang on, alright? Geez, how are you guys still alive? Getting your arm chopped off and getting run through isn't something normal people can survive for this long!" Akko shouts.
Daniel groans but allows himself to lean on Akko's side. "Please… will you please stop talking."
Akko sputters indignantly. "Are you really Diana's cousin? You're so rude." Akko turns to check on Lotte and Sucy. "How's Diana's grandpa?"
Lotte shakes her head with her wand raised over Ulfric's body. "He's slipping away. And Sucy and I don't know how to save someone with such a serious injury."
"Emantur Ligna! It should at least help stop the bleeding!" Akko says.
Ulfric coughs, letting the blood dribble down his chin. "Do… not… bother. I… do not have… much longer…" He tries to turn his head but can't even move it a single millimeter. He settles with speaking up to the air. "How long… have you… wanted… to… stab me… through… the back… Daniel?"
Daniel chuckles, barely clinging to consciousness. Whatever Akko is doing to his right arm is helping wonders at least. He's so lucid that he doesn't hear Akko cast Emantur Ligna to stem the bleeding in his arm and leg. It helps that Magna Aestus is doing its best to keep him alive as long as he remains conscious.
"This does not count. I would prefer injuring you when you aren't skewered through your spine," Daniel says. "Pay you back… for all of the bruises… all these years."
Ulfric's laugh gurgles in his throat. "Only to be… worthy of… our name." Blood erupts from his lips, barely missing Lotte and a displeased Sucy. "Honestly… how pitiful. I… cannot even… properly appoint… the new head… in… my state…"
"If this is how you show… love, I do not think… I want it…"
Ulfric smiles. "Ah… is that why Arthur…?" He turns his head to the sky, his eyes growing more vacant as he searches for a boy long gone. "My son… Where have you gone…?"
Ulfric's heart stills at the same time the circuits on his body flicker from black to green, then fade away completely. The smile remains even as his eyes close for the last time.
Lotte and Sucy glance at one another, not sure what to say.
"Akko…" Lotte says slowly.
Akko looks down at Daniel's barely conscious form. The green circuits covering his skin also begin to fade as his eyes flicker before closing as well.
"…Go find Uncle Arthur, Grandfather… Maybe he can… knock some sense… into you… I… am tired…" is Daniel's last grumble before his breathing evens out and darkness pulls his consciousness away.
Akko dabs her sleeve on Daniel's relaxed face to wipe away the single pair of tears that escape from his closed eyes.
Ursula jumps back and dives behind a tree just as one of the chains sails past her head. She quickly wipes the dust from her eyes and scans the forest for her friend. She finds Croix not too far from her, also hiding behind a tree and panting for breath.
Croix reaches into her pocket and pulls out her last syringe. She grits her teeth as she presses the needle into the vein in her arm and lets the antidote combat the poison flowing through her body. Her vision clears and her limbs feel lighter once the remedy takes effect. She would also heal the wound in her arm, but that requires taking too much of her attention off of Egor.
One of the nails strike the trunk of the tree Croix is hiding behind. Egor uses that fixation to pull himself straight toward Croix with the other nail in his other hand. Egor throws the other weapon toward Croix as he sails through the air.
Ursula jumps forward to intercept the nail. When Egor notices the flash of red hair, he redirects the towards Ursula and forces her to stop and block instead. As Ursula defends, Egor raises his legs and lets the rest of his momentum crush Croix against the tree.
Croix rolls out of the way and and points her wand at Egor. He evades the offensive spell thrown his way and removes the nail embedded in the tree to attack Croix. He swings both chains to drive the two witches back into the confines of the forest.
Croix grits her teeth and tries to cover for Ursula as the redhead trades blow-for-blow with Egor.
(My Sorcery Units are destroyed and I'm out of antidote. This is the worst possible situation!)
But as injured as Ursula and Croix are, that doesn't mean Egor is unscathed. He may have the body of a homunculus, but he is not an insane combatant like Renatus. Croix's long range attacks and Ursula's own physical prowess allowed them to deal a few injuries to Egor as well.
It's only a little concerning since Egor is still fighting as well as he is with a broken knee.
Croix grits her teeth. "Does this guy feel no pain?!"
Egor spins and wraps one of the chains around Croix's ankle, pulling her to the ground. He darts forward and lands over Croix with his free hand raised. With neither anger nor glee, Egor drives the other nail into Croix's shoulder. "Pain? Agony? Suffering? How can I feel a little bump in the knee when my soul has wanted to rip itself apart for over a decade?!"
Croix's shout drives Ursula forward as fast as her legs allow her. Egor throws the other nail not embedded in Croix's shoulder toward Ursula. Even with that nail shooting in her direction with a velocity and force so great that it knocks her wand out of her hand and tears through her arm, Ursula clenches her fist and punches Egor across the jaw. She chases after him as he reels back from the blow and roundhouse kicks him in the stomach.
"Hgh?!"
Blood coughs from his mouth. That and Egor's eyes wide with pain are all Ursula sees before her kick propels him back and crashing through the forest in a cloud of dust and debris.
Ursula clutches her arm and leans on one leg. If her leg hurts this much from striking Egor, that feeling of cracking bones must not have been her imagination.
But that is not her priority right now.
"Croix!"
Ursula runs back as much as she can manage as Croix turns over onto her back. Pain flares through her body from her shoulder when Croix tries to sit up with barely any strength in her arms.
Ursula kneels down and helps steady Croix against her own body. "Don't move. That wound is deep. If it's anything like the one Diana got before, we need to give you the antidote now!"
Croix glances at the blood dripping from Ursula's own wound with bleary eyes. "You should probably take your own advice."
Ursula grits her teeth and shakes her head. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out the last bit of antidote left. "There's no time. I can't let you die. Egor will come back soon. I can't-!"
Blood bubbles in the back of Ursula's throat. She can't do anything to stop it except to put a hand over her mouth. She still coughs the liquid out and stains her hand and some of Croix's face with red.
Croix places a weak hand on Ursula's other hand with the antidote. "You're right. If I'm down, there's no one who can get us out of this forest. Since you haven't regained your ability to fly."
Ursula's vision blurs as the poison travels through her bloodstream. "You've always been someone who thinks ahead… So you should know…"
"Yeah. Thinking ahead will really help us here."
Ursula's grip on the syringe slackens. "So take the antidote… and escape…"
Croix takes the syringe with a small nod. "Yeah, we're getting out of here."
With movements as swift as an injured person with a bleeding hole in her shoulder can do, Croix finds the easiest vein and injects the antidote into Ursula's body.
Ursula's eyes widen as her vision starts to clear and her strength returns. "Croix?!"
Croix collapses against Ursula and chuckles into her shoulder. "So get us out of here, Chariot."
"What-?! Croix, I can't fly us out!" Ursula grabs Croix wand and hastily casts a spell to stop the bleeding on her shoulder. "What were you thinking?! Croix!"
"Egor is going to… come back… you better… win this time… Chariot."
Ursula grabs onto Croix's arms as her mind races to understand just why. "Why?! You're going to die! Now isn't the time to think about anyone but yourself!"
Croix gives her a bloody chuckle. "Speak for yourself… hypocrite." She sighs after coughing blood onto the grass. "Ah… so this is… how it feels to… do something… selfless… It hurts a lot… more than I thought…"
Ursula watches as Croix grows paler in her arms. "Don't die on me! You're not allowed to die!"
Croix smiles. "Then you better… get going… Chariot… Time's ticking…"
Ursula's ears react to the sound of breaking twigs and rustling trees. She places Croix down and quickly casts a spell to perform basic first aid on her own injuries before turning around.
Egor limps closer with one hand holding his dagger while the other grips his side. Half his face is nearly caved in and his leg is bent at an odd angle.
Ursula tightens her hold on her wand, ignoring the dull throbbing in her arm. She wipes some of the blood from her face to clear her vision.
Both Egor and Ursula are covered in blood and bruises with other internal injuries too numerous to name. Meanwhile, Croix coughs her life out and stains the forest floor red. None of these three will last long if left alone. But that does not mean they will allow each other to leave this forest so easily.
"So only one of you live," Egor says. "And it is the one I prefer to play with."
"I'm ending this now, Egor." Ursula ignites Croix's wand as a makeshift sabre by condensing the magic energy into a green blade from the tip of the wand. "I won't let this drag on anymore."
Egor eyes Croix behind Ursula as the dying woman coughs blood. "I suppose that's true. None of us can last much longer. In that case, I will reciprocate with my dying breath."
Egor raises his dagger. This time, there is no sound of rattling chains to signal the renewal of their struggle.
"-Ngh?!"
Arshad groans as he stirs awake. When he tries to sit up, he realizes his arms are in the grip of cold metal. For some reason, his feet are being dragged along the ground as well.
"What… what is this?!" His eyes linger on the unconventional weapon pointed at him. "Is that a gun?! What kind of witch uses a gun?!"
"Oh hey, you're awake," Amanda O'Neil says. "Just sit still. Try anything funny and Constanze will make sure you look so ridiculous you never go out in public again."
"Do I have a choice in matter?"
"Not really."
Arshad finds Diana Cavendish in the arms of the girl who knocked him unconscious. Jasminka's unimpressed stare sends a shiver down his spine. He focuses on Diana's right arm wrapped in what appears to be her jacket.
"I see the Curse of Blades continues to spread," Arshad says, noticing a few blades peeking out from the jacket closer to her right shoulder.
Diana ignores Arshad's observation. "What does the Minister wish to accomplish with the philosopher's stones?"
"Do you really think I'm going to answer that?"
Diana continues regardless of Arshad's unwillingness to cooperate. "You mentioned Goetia and the Demon Witch. What is their relation to all of this?"
"You basically have all the pieces to the puzzle. It is now a matter of putting them together." Arshad warily eyes Constanze's gun pointed at him. "I'll give you two hints. The ritual site is designed to function as a large-scale summoning. And Goetia and the Demon Witch are the same people."
"Come on, don't be stingy. Can't you give us more information?" Amanda complains.
"Why should I comply to the people who have me tied up and dragged across this forest?"
Amanda gestures to the gun aimed at Arshad.
Arshad rolls his eyes. "Fine. The Minister plans to break the seal confining Goetia, the Demon Witch, to learn the secrets of the soul. Goetia was the witch who specialized in soul thaumaturgy during the time of the Nine Olde Witches. Aileen does not seem to care that breaking the seal on Goetia will essentially lead to the end of the world."
Amanda scoffs. "That Goetia person can't have been someone that great. Calling yourself a 'Demon Witch' is like asking for attention."
Diana's eyes widen. "Goetia… the Demon Witch… the traitor of the Nine Olde Witches?"
"You know her?" Amanda raises an eyebrow. "Geez, you really do know everything."
Diana shakes her head. "Only in brief. I came across her description as I was researching the Grand Triskelion and the Seven Words of Arcturus. She is the reason why the Nine Olde Witches sealed the Yggdrasil in the first place."
"I thought it was because people weren't believing in magic as much because of technology."
"No, that only began a few centuries ago. There was a different reason magic was in danger during the Golden Age of Magic. If that person is who the Minister is planning to summon…"
"So what's so bad about her?"
Diana clenches her eyes shut as more of her flesh converts to steel. "One of the Nine Olde Witches used to be a different witch. Along with Woodward, Beatrix, Alaya, Medea, Undine, Shakti, Nuwa, and Orisha, Goetia was the original ninth witch. In the end, she was not satisfied with what she had. Her hatred toward humans and other living things she believed beneath her drove her to seek more power in order to become the best witch, even above the other eight. To do so, she turned to the origin of our miracles, the Yggdrasil. However, a human cannot harness the powers of the cosmos no matter how talented or powerful. Therefore, Goetia resorted to an indirect method to control the Yggdrasil for herself."
"Does this have to do with why she's called the 'Demon Witch?'"
Diana wipes the sweat from her eyes. "Goetia summoned a demon from the depths of hell, one of the worst atrocities a witch can commit. To this day, no one else has attempted to summon a demon because of the severe consequences; whether from the government or the demon itself."
"But that Goetia person did it."
"No one knows the incantation or summoning technique Goetia used. It was never documented."
"So then what? Did she fuse with the demon or something?"
To Amanda's horror, Diana nods. "Impressed with Goetia's talent, the demon offered her a contract to grant her more power. And that is exactly what Goetia wished for. From the moment she formalized the contract with the demon, history no longer considered Goetia a human." Diana grips her arm. "Perhaps that is what she wanted. As something not human, she was able to exert her influence onto the Yggdrasil by contaminating its branches with her own defiled magic. This extraordinary feat granted her the title as the 'Witch of Corruption.' With corrupted powers and equally tarnished morals, she gathered others who shared her beliefs and lusted for power. Her followers formed contracts with lesser demons and created the first dark magic cabal known as Purgatorio. Together, the Witch of Corruption and Purgatorio took the Yggdrasil for themselves and nearly destroyed magic and humanity."
"If she messed up our source of magic so much, how'd she lose?"
Diana leans against Jasminka and takes a few seconds to gather the strength to continue speaking. "There was a war, a long war. Those against Goetia and Purgatorio were able to use philosopher's stones to fight, but not for long. Near the end of it all, the original eight witches, along with Jennifer as the new Ninth, pooled their powers together to stop Goetia. However, at that point she had contaminated too much of the Yggdrasil and became too powerful for them to kill. The most they could do was seal her existence until they found another solution. At the same time, the Nine Olde Witches sealed the Yggdrasil and devised the Grand Triskelion to allow the Yggdrasil to recover from Goetia's defilement."
Amanda snorts. "Well, obviously the Nine Olde Witches didn't come up with anything since that Demon Witch is still sealed where they left her."
"Goetia the Witch of Corruption specialized in soul thaumaturgy," Arshad says. "At least, that is what the Minister says. The madwoman believes she can learn the secrets of the soul from the original witch who perfected the magic enough to nearly destroy all of magic."
Diana frowns. "Even for the pursuit of knowledge, it is foolish to endanger the world for one's desires. That is the pinnacle of selfishness."
"What? Is the Demon Witch going to destroy the world if she gets released or something?" Amanda asks.
"No, but she will most likely enslave humanity and torture all witches for eternity as a consequence for the Nine Olde Witches sealing her away and stripping her of her powers," Arshad says flippantly.
All color drains from Amanda's face. "I think I'd rather her destroy everything instead." Amanda turns to Arshad. "And why are you on board with all of this? Isn't this pretty dangerous for you guys too?"
"Egor and Renatus have their own motives for assisting Aileen. My own is nothing so noble, and nothing a few children should concern themselves with."
Constanze levels her gun at Arshad at the same time Amanda narrows her eyes.
Arshad rolls his eyes. "You can shoot me and I still won't say anything. At this point I've exhausted all energy for conversation. And it isn't as if you will let me go anytime soon."
"Nah. You look better like that anyway," Amanda says.
Grink. Griiiiink.
Diana's breath hitches as red, hot agony sears through her body. At the same time, the steel cuts into Jasminka's hand as it spreads. It elicits a small yelp and forces Jasminka to drop Diana unceremoniously onto the floor as she tries to draw away from the sudden source of injury.
But Diana's cry of pain isn't because of the impact onto the ground. She curls in on herself and presses her left palm against the jacket wrapped around her right arm. For a moment, Diana forgets everything except the fact that she has an arm of steel.
Amanda runs up to Jasminka. "Jasna! You okay?!"
Jasminka cradles her bleeding hand but nods. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to drop you."
Jasminka's guilty voice breaks through the haze of pain clouding Diana's mind. She shakes her head and reaches for her wand. "It is… not your fault… I should… apologize… instead." Diana grits her teeth and successfully filters through the pain to remember the correct spell. "Neuros: Dolor."
Green light enters Diana and does its job to shut off the nerves which transmit pain signals across her body. Once Diana feels no pain and only a dull throbbing in her right side, she pushes herself onto her knees and takes five steadying breaths.
"You okay there, Diana?" Amanda asks as she takes a hesitant step forward. Jasminka lingers behind with her head tilted in confusion.
Diana wipes the sweat from her face. "I will be. I only need a few seconds to reorient myself."
As Diana prepares to push herself up, she feels something underneath the soil change. Nothing visible on the surface changes. But Diana is certain she feels an abnormality.
(As if… magic is coursing through beneath the ground at a uniform trajectory and rapid speed. But why?)
Diana's eyes widen as she detects a sudden change in the flow of magic. It feels like the rush of a waterfall before the water falls over the edge.
"Step back!" Diana shouts.
Just as Diana rolls back and the others leap away, a green sheet erupts from the ground toward the skies. The higher it goes, the more it begins to curve toward the center of the Arcturus Forest. They notice that this green sheet seems to spread across a large diameter around the Arcturus Forest and also curves toward the same area until they meet to form one giant green dome.
Amanda walks forward and places a hand on the barrier. When nothing shocks or attacks her, she closes her fist and bangs against the barrier. But it does not waver no matter what she tries. Even shooting a few spells does no damage.
"What the heck is this thing?!" Amanda shouts.
Arshad frowns. "This barrier…"
Diana pushes herself to her feet and wobbles to the barrier. She places her left palm on the surface and frowns when she feels little to no resistance.
She knows the purpose of this barrier. She understands the importance of her positioning. And so, Diana settles on the decision for her next course of action.
"This appears to be a high-level spell to keep unwanted intrusion from the inside of this dome," Diana says. "There may be a weak point elsewhere. I will have to look for it." Diana watches as the blood drips from Jasminka's hand. "Use Sano Pellis or Sarcio to heal the wound on your hand. Once you are done, look for Akko and Professor Ursula as I search for an opening on this barrier."
Amanda eyes the blades peeking out from the collar of Diana's long-sleeve. "You sure you're going to be okay? That looks like it'll keep causing you problems as it gets worse."
The fingers on Diana's right hand twitch. She wraps her left hand over the jacket covering her right arm. "The nerve suppression spell should hold for some time. I will reapply if necessary." Diana shakes her head. "Do not worry about me. Your priority should be finding the others."
"Alright. But if I find Akko first, she's not going to like to hear what's happening to you."
Diana releases a shaky sigh. "I suppose she won't. Please reign her in for the time being."
"Wow, you must be hurting really bad if you're asking me to do that." Amanda frowns. "But seriously. You're going to be the one telling Akko that you're fine. You got that, Diana?"
Diana's eyes drift down as her mouth pulls up into a small smile. "Of course."
With her left hand on the jacket over her right arm, Diana turns around and makes her way away from the barrier.
Before she's out of earshot, Amanda shouts, "I mean it, Diana! If you make Akko cry, I'll personally pull you from the afterlife and kick your ass!"
Diana doesn't turn around as she slowly walks deeper into the forest. Yet, she cannot stop her lips from pulling up into a small smile as she shakes her head.
"I expect nothing less from you, Amanda," Diana whispers as her solemn eyes keep track of every step she takes.
Every small movement sends hot fire through her body. She can feel even the slightest twitch of her fingers. Hand, forearm, upper arm, shoulder; all of these burn with an intense pressure that should be enough to knock her unconscious from the pain alone. But with Neuros: Dolor Diana feels no pain; only the sensation of a thousand strikes pounding on her flesh and bone. She can push the feeling to the side if she puts her mind to it. She's used to sweeping unnecessary thoughts to the side to focus on other priorities.
So Diana does just that. She forgets about the pressure on her right side until it only becomes a dull throbbing. Instead, she focuses on remembering how to breathe and to keep moving her legs. Inhale, exhale. Right foot forward, left foot forward. Repeat.
Breathing and walking are her acute priorities at the moment. Forgetting how to breathe will only cause more problems than she likes. And Diana needs to keep moving if she wants to get anywhere within the short amount of time she has.
Minutes pass. Diana isn't sure how long she walks through the forest. She isn't entirely sure where she's going in the first place. Her hazy consciousness tells her to place her trust in her intuition; it will lead her to the right location even with her current state of mind.
Diana steps on a twig. The sound barely filters through her preoccupied senses. But it does catch someone else's attention. And when that person moves, that is when Diana notices that she is not alone.
Sitting on the ground with his back leaning against a tree is an old man with messy black hair and a closed right eye with a deep gash running through it. His military top is stained red and open to reveal a deep gash that needs immediate medical attention. Due to whatever magic, it appears to be healing at a snail's pace. An empty bottle lies discarded by his side along with two of his sheathed sabres.
The general rolls his head in her direction. He doesn't seem to be surprised by Diana's presence. All he does is release a long, tired exhale.
"Good afternoon, Miss Cavendish. I must say, you have excellent timing."
Diana's fingers curl around her arm.
"Renatus… Bradley."
Author's Notes:
Uh oh.
Saeva is mentioned in Chapter 7 (I guess it's Chapter 8 by FFN and AO3 naming conventions) of Heart of Iron. I said Diana would never use it, but I never said it wouldn't be used at all.
Fun Fact:
I did not start LWA until after episode 21 aired. I've seen gifsets and images of the series floating around from a few of the people I follow, but I vowed to not start a new series and get attached right before my final year of undergrad. Then I saw gifsets of Akko and Diana's flight back to Luna Nova at the end of episode 20 and lost it. It was over.
That was the moment I knew. Diana Cavendish. This character would be my new obsession.
