Back after a self-imposed lazy break :D i hope it didn't feel like too long for my loyal readers and reviewers. Onward!
Chapter 9 - The New Front
Finally back at Wieteio Soren and Mia managed to find Mist who took Soren to her room to see if she had some elixirs around despite Soren claiming to be fine. Less than half an hour later he was treated and sleeping peacefully while Ike approached Mia
"Do you know what happened?" she shook her head
"I was there when he fought Kanahana but I didnt see Kanahana do anything to him that could have caused internal bleeding..." she recounted the events to the point that Soren unleashed a fury of black flames...without a tome. She was going to point that out but decided against it. She would talk to Soren about it later.
"You must be tired...go rest because we are leaving to join a united front under Yuuten to drive off the vampires." Mia got up
"Does that mean Lyger was successful in removing the Order of Rein from the West Island?!" Ike nodded
"Lyger still fights on but Yuuten thinks this is the best time to mount an attack on the Order of Rein here. Him, Klein Kruse, and Wyre Reh will back as up as Iteo is with Lyger." Leah appeared
"Ike...about coming with your group are you sure Im necessary?" he nodded "I know you hate fighting the vampires but your skills are very furnished; we could use someone like you on our side." Mia nodded as well
"Promise to train with me though! I can whip you into shape with my skill!" Leah sighed and nodded "I hope this will help overcome my phobia...Im coming." the two left but Mia stood behind and looked at Soren.
Whatever you didnt tell me...please don't keep it a secret... She then left the room as well.
Ulyus glared at Tukero, Futarr, and Hiew "I cant believe how 2 of my commanders and my 2nd in command!" he spat in rage and fury and stared at his three last commanders.
"Tukero! You are the one I believe is most suited for the coming battle! We need all the members of the Order we can muster so I am pulling our forces out of the West and back here! You are in charge of the united front as we prepare to stave off what may be a large attack from those cursed Knights of Heiken!" Tukero bowed
"I will serve you with all my strength!" he turned and left.
Soren awoke after a few hours of rest and felt much better than yesterday. He sighed at the memories and remembered what he had told Mia and what she had answered... Have I truly found...love?
He was thinking that over when Ike came into the room and gave him a serious look
"Soren...what happened? I am sure that whatever it was; it wasnt Kanahanas doing." Soren knew he was referring to the condition in which he returned. Soren grabbed an elixir and led Ike outside to a clearing near a forest.
"I told you that I have Laguz blood in me right?" Ike nodded
"Sometime ago I learned that this brand isnt the only thing we get from it but we can actually reach our races power." Ike gave him a questioning look
"For example if you are a branded tiger you can focus that locked up power into your hand and tear someones face open but your hand is torn in the process as well...I call this exchange of power 'Branded-Magic' y'know. Keep it simple..." he held up a finger to silence Ike
"Im a branded dragon so my power comes from within me...in exchange...my inner organs are damaged depending on how much power I exert. As of now I can only use up to four of my fingers to unleash my fury." he inhaled and pointed out one finger sending a burst of black flames into a tree melting it on contact before cutting it off. Ike watched as the rest of the tree melted to almost a puddle.
Ike noticed blood begin to drip from one of the corners of Sorens mouth. He drank the elixir and sighed
"As you can see I've found something I doubt I could ever truly use...yet..." Ike approached him
"Soren, you will kill yourself if your not careful...Im guessing you used all four yesterday?" Soren looked down "No." Ike looked at him
"How many did you use..." Soren turned to him "All ten." Ike shook his head
"Were you asking to kill yourself!" "No. But Kanahana is dead so you shouldnt be so angry... and I rescued one of our mercenaries so don't get angry with me!" he yelled at Ike. Ike stared at him before turning away and sighing
"Youre right. But please, I shouldn't have to tell you this Soren: be more careful with your powers." he then walked away leaving Soren to his thoughts.
Upon returning to the town he found out that the Greil Mercenaries have packed up and along with Leah left to the city where they will meet with Klein, Wyre, and Yuuten before mounting an attack on the Order of Rein. He went to his room and took his elixirs and placed them on the inside of his cloak before leaving the room. The mercenaries began as soon as they were packed up as the moved to Eqas the grand central city that has held off many Order attacks since the beginning and continues to stand. Soren saw Mia come by and she smiled at him
"Hey why didnt you come tell me when you were all better!" she said with a big smile. He turned to her
"I was talking with Ike about last night..." she nodded
"Soren Im still a little upset that you wont tell me anything of what happened last night...dont you trust me?" Soren shook his head
"Its not that- I just..." she sighed before putting an arm around him
"Its alright I guess. I can wait for when you decide to tell me right?" he nodded
"Yeah." "I wasnt lying about what I said yesterday either. No matter what it is or how long you take to tell me I still love you Soren." he closed his eyes "Thank you...Mia..."
Upon reaching Eqas the mercenaries were greeted by Yuuten and Wyre Reh who told them that Klein Kruse has the force oh over 1200 soldiers moving into their companies and lines 1 mile south from the city over the ridge.
They were waiting for them and the other 300 who were already seen approaching. Once joined the 1500 soldiers marched under Yuuten Heitnaro, Klein Kruse, and Wyre Reh. The mercenaries joined the Knights of Heiken in the front anxious for the coming battle.
Tukero stood in front of his vampires
"Everyone! As I am sure you know some humans have helped the Knights of Heiken turn around this war and we have lost our hold on the West Island of Hitenticul and so now we must fight to kill!" the vampires cheered
"We have been given Ulyus blessing and all of you have your Alchemy Potions! Drink them and even in the daylight humans cant stop us!" there was another cheer before the vampires drank the blue liquid and raged with fury and a need to rend human flesh. Tukero screeched and the vampires charged northward intent on killing every single soldier marching under the Knights of Heiken.
It was an hour before the sunset when both armies met in the Wefga Plains which was close to the 3 villages the squad of 7 went to before. The Knights of Heikens hope with this victory is to drive the Order of Rein further South before hitting them once more to send them to their South Island were Ulyus makes his plans. Tukero overlooked the battle as his soldiers quickly dispatched the humans in furies of attacks one after another.
He grinned in satisfaction but the humans continued to attack and his front lines were in tatters as well. Tukero was also angry at Ulyus for not letting Futarr or Hiew come with him. He was left alone to command this massive force of vampires against the human army.
He continued to observe as the battle began to sway with the vampires being pushed back fiercely by what seems to be the newcomers the joined the Knights of Heiken.
He growled before turning his attention to Klein Kruse That is the one that betrayed the order! Prepare to die! he leapt from his post into the battle intent on killing the traitor.
Klein Kruse whirled his lance at an oncoming vampire throwing it back with intense force. He leapt over another and caught it with his lance before his horse came crashing down on the other.
He swung the lance and dislodged the vampire sending it soaring before countless arrows impaled and killed it. He heard a loud screech and turned to see Tukero bound straight for his. The sun had fallen and the battlefield began to darken. He grinned
"My former commander is coming to fight me himself?" he twirled his lance and charged at the insane vampire.
"Klein Kruse! This is your final battle!" Klein smirked before leaping off his horse and driving the great lance through the vampire lifting it up and sending it soaring. Tukero flipped himself in midair deflecting the lethal arrows and landed before resuming his charge on Klein. The silver knight caught him with his lance and pushed him back following up by 3 quick swipes from his lance. Tukero leapt back at him and tore the lance from his hands and broke it.
Klein pulled out a bow and arrow and fired at the vampire which quickly dodged by rolling away and then leapt at him. Klein through himself onto the floor on his back and shot an arrow right into Tukeros mouth. The vampire fell back and tore it out before growling at Klein
"You may be a formidable opponent but you arent the vampire-slayer!" he jumped into the air preparing to crash onto Klein but was struck by an intense lightning bolt. Wyre Reh ran over to Klein and helped him up
"That Tukero is powerful...but we can handle him!" Ranulf jumped from behind Wyre onto Tukero throwing him to the ground again
"Rend!" he began to tear at the vampires neck but it kicked him off and shot its nails through the cat.
Ranulf fell a ways off before Wyre shot another Rexbolt at Tukero throwing him through the battlefield again. Tukero slid to a stop and looked up in time to see 4 lightning bolts coming at light speed. He flipped over them and landed with his back to his adversaries
"Dont think simple tricks like that could get me!" he back flipped over another onslaught of beams before landing behind Wyre Reh. The shocked sage couldnt react before being raked across the face picked up and hurled towards a group of vampires. Ranulf leaped up to his defense and beat off the vampires. Tukero screeched as a lance tore through him.
"Dont turn your back on me!" Klein yelled before dislodging the being from his lance again. Tukero landed in the midst of the battle were a company off paladins charged over him. He screeched in fury.
Klein ran over to Wyre Reh but before he could make it Tukero threw himself at him knocking down the paladin and began raking his arms that he raised in defense.
Ranulf leaped onto Tukeros back and sank his teeth into his neck then twisted his head as far as he could before both were assaulted by another powerful Rexbolt throwing them into the distance. Ranulf transformed back into his human form and fell into a heap but Tukero got up again and twisted his head back. Klein struggled to get up and drew out two lances before leaping back onto his mount. He spat out blood and charged straight at the vampire.
"Sol!" he swung both lances at the vampire as he ran around it and then leaped off and impaled him with both throwing the vampire into the air before landing and crumpling within itself. He twirled both lances and shoved them into the creature then pulled them out and shoved them back in
"Die you son of a bitch!" Tukero grabbed both his lances and twisted them before digging his teeth into his shoulder as hard as he could. Klein fell back as the vampire continued to tear at his shoulder until Ranulf jumped on his back again and tried to tear his head off but the vampire shook him off.
Klein grabbed its head with his left hand and a nearby lance with his right before thrusting it through the creatures head.
It screeched and threw Klein away before pulling the lance out of his head and charging towards the fallen paladin but a powerful thunder bolt tore through one of his arms and the remains fell limp to his side. Tukero screeched again and turned to Wyre Reh; his eyes burning as he turned to the sage.
"Youll pay for that boy!" Wyre shot another Arcthunder at him incinerating his left side. A sword ran through his stomach as he turned to see Klein smirk
"Ill kill you!" Then he threw the creature back and leaped on him shoving a knife into his throat causing blood to shoot out. The vampire tried to screech but its throat caved in on itself as it tried to speak more blood rushed out of the wound. Klein cleaved its head off, killing Tukero, before falling back and having Wyre Reh and Ranulf run to him
"Are you alright!" Ranulf asked as Wyre helped Klein to his feet
"Not really but at least Tukero is finally dead..." the vampires corpse turned black and melted before forming into a ball and exploding in a dark mist. Klein, Wyre, and Ranulf covered their eyes as the smoke expanded "What is this!"
A terrifying screech was heard as Tukero shot out of the mist and onto Klein before raking his claws across the paladins face and arms as if to tear them right out of their sockets.
"Dont think you can kill me so easily you bastards!" Ranulf charged at him but the vampire turned around and swiped the cat away
"None of your old tactics will work twice!" Elthunder spells were launched at him but he evaded them and attacked Wyre Reh picking up the sage in a death grip
"Ill choke you to death boy!" Wyre struggled to get the creatures arm off before pulling out a knife and stabbing his hand. Tukero laughed and threw the sage across the battlefield like a rock skipping on a pond before finally crashing into trees. Ranulf came around again and leapt at his face
"Take this!" he tried to chew it off but the vampire dissolved into liquid and an iron spike protruded through Ranulf before the cat fell into a heap. Tukero leapt up and was struck by two lances as he turned to face Klein again.
"Leave them out of this! This is our fight!" He attacked the vampire again but each lance was countered by its fierce claws.
Klein leaped over the vampire and turned around trying to impale it but it leapt over him and brought both claws down his back tearing flesh before leaping away to avoid Kleins lance.
The vampire landed and charged again but Wyre got up
"Flare!" another Rexbolt shot out of the sky and landed on the vampire lighting it up and the area around it before throwing it to the side. It skidded across the ground on its shoulder before coming to a stop and getting up.
Already beat up and his flesh simmering and burning the vampire charged again as if the attack had no effect. He threw Klein to the ground upon colliding with him and tore at his arm tearing it open.
It dropped limp to Kleins side and another attack cut across his neck as blood poured out of wound and mouth.
"S-shit!" he rolled away but the vampire leapt after him only to be hit again by another thunder spell AND a fierce cat that began to gnaw on his bone with renewed fury.
"Fucking die you vampire!" Ranulf yelled but the vampire kicked it off and leapt up. Klein drove a lance through its heart and it froze instantly "Your heart...is most vulnerable...isn't it? Commander?"
Tukero laughed before striking a lethal blow across Kleins neck throwing him to the floor. He prepared to feast but jumped back as another lightning bolt landed in front of him.
Klein saw the opportunity and grabbed the lance that was still protruding from the vampires body and drove it into the ground holding it still.
The vampires body thrashed as it moaned in pain and agony trying to tear Klein Kruses arms to shreds. Klein turned to Wyre and tried to yell something out but his throat was bleeding making it impossible. Wyre understood what he wanted and focused his magic
This time you die Tukero! "Corona!" the skies flared with new intensity as a massive yellow bolt shot out of them at light speed attracted to the lance like a lightning rod.
Klein jumped away at the last second as it crashed down with mighty force. A wide range lit up in yellow light and deadly flames and the battle halted as everyone turned to the phenomenon; awed by its ferocity.
Finally, there was a massive surge and explosion before the screeching died away leaving scattered ashes and a lance standing tall in its place.
Klein Kruse stood ragged but not breathing as he stared at the ashes as they were blown away by the wind. He turned to his army then the enemy vampires and finally to Ranulf and Wyre Reh. He smiled as best he could Thank you... before falling over and landing in the dirt; dead.
I forgot to explain again! Too much laziness! Hitenticul is a 3 island nation, most of the action is on the main island, the west island that Lyger is clearing out is a vantage point that would allow a massive vampire force to overrun the mainland. THe south island is completely overrun by vampires already and before moving down there the knights needed a clear route.
Besides that Soren's branded-magic is an idea I came up with when I originally wrote this story (January 26, 2008, last altered June 1st according to my comp) There is another breaking point in his magic that will be most likely addressed in FENE: Ymarkteg. REVIEW!
