-Chapter 36 Shade of Truth-
After that brutal fight, the tournament was postponed for the day until tomorrow. Like before, I was taken to a hospital, but this time, some Atlas soldiers and android soldiers guarded outside my room, inside the hospital, and even around the hospital. It caused worry tension for the patients, staff, and people around the place, but General Ironwood reassured with everyone that this is all part of a safety precaution, under the reason for is classified. The media, however wanted the answers, but the Atlas soldiers prevented them or anyone else to come into the hospital for the time being.
Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang were the only people I know allowed to be at the hospital, but they couldn't be allow to go in my room, nonetheless even get to the room.
"Hey! What's the big deal!? Why can't we see and meet Ellix!? He's our freaking teammate!" Yang yelled.
"Sorry, Miss, but we cannot let you pass through. Only authorized people are allowed, and you are not one of them." The Atlas solider said strictly.
"Didn't you listen to me!?" She pulled the guy by his neck.
"Gragh!" The other knight pushed Yang away from his partner's neck as Ruby, Weiss, and Blake pulled her away.
"Yang, stop!" Ruby shouted.
"But they are keeping him away from us!" Yang shouted back.
"We know you are upset and so are we, but as much as we want to meet him, we can't disobey! You got to calm down!" Weiss stated.
"So, you are on their side, Ice Queen! It's no wonder you're under your sister!" Yang argued.
"Hey! Don't say I am under her! I am capable of myself as you should know when I fought in that fight with you! Should I remind you about it?" Weiss frowned at Yang.
"Oh! Bring it on! I need to let off some steams, and I don't mind to do with someone else, even on YOU!" Yang argued back.
"Enough! Both of you!" Blake shouted, pushing in between them. "You guys are acting so immature! Think about Ellix's state!"
They huffed and looked away from each other with their arms crossed.
"Well…she started it." Weiss said.
"Weiss!" Blake yelled at her.
"Yang, Weiss. Please stop fighting." Ruby said as tear started falling down her eyes.
"Ruby…" Yang approached her sister and hugged her. "I'm so sorry."
"It's…It's alright, Yang. We are all stressed out about this. I am, too." Ruby said, sniffled.
Weiss sighed and turned back around. "I…I apologize for my outburst earlier. I didn't mean to upset you."
"Not, you are right." She admitted. "I...I do need to calm down."
Suddenly, walking down from where my room is, Professor Ozpin, General Ironwood, Glynda, and Qrow came.
"Uncle Qrow…is Ellix going to be fine?" Ruby asked.
Qrow gave them a calm stare until he grinned. "Don't worry. He is now sleeping like a baby."
The girls looked relieve, especially Yang.
"Thank to Dust." She said.
Qrow smiled. "You three go ahead. I will stick with these ladies."
"Alright, Qrow." Professor Ozpin said. "We will be heading back to my office."
He and Glynda walked away. General Ironwood glanced at Qrow and then to the hallway where my room is before he walked away, following after Ozpin and Glynda.
"Hey Uncle Qrow, why couldn't we meet Ellix? Just why?" Yang asked.
"Yeah. Why Uncle Qrow?" Ruby asked.
Qrow sighed as he walked to a window and look out with his forehead on his arm on the window. "How to explain this…guess I will be little bit direct then."
He turned back to the girls with their eyes looking anxious. "Well, you see…there is a reason why I am here. Well more than one, actually. First was to report Ozpin about what I gathered about the second head that I mentioned to you girls two days ago. As you all know, that was Cinder Fall, which thankfully your friend stopped her, which is great and all, but…now with her gone, and whatever her scheme was, it ended, but now we have another problem…."
"Another problem?" Ruby repeated.
"Your friend and teammate, Ellix, he's that another problem." Qrow revealed, shocking the girls.
"What!?" They said in unison.
"Uncle Qrow, what the hell are you saying? Why is Ellix a problem!? He practically stopped Cinder and her lackeys, stopping whatever she was planning to do! He saved everyone and maybe evens the whole kingdom!" Yang argued.
"I understand that, Yang, but it is that he…he is not what you seem to be, or better yet, he is not what you will seem him to be."
"What are you saying, Uncle Qrow? I don't get it…" Ruby asked.
"You see, you know the gauntlet he wears?"
"Yes, sir. We are aware of his gauntlet. He wears it all day; well actually, it is stuck on him, more or less." Weiss stated.
"Yeah, but that gauntlet brings bad news. It is actually an ancient relic, used by very powerful dark warrior of the past…"
"What!?" They said in unison again.
"What do you mean, sir?" Blake asked.
"You kids may have heard of it, but not know about it. There is an old prophecy called Second Coming of Darkness."
"Hey! I remember that! That dragon Grimm mentioned that back when we fought it during the Grimm attack." Ruby remembered.
"So I heard. Ellix, your teammate is happened to be that Second Coming of Darkness. According to the prophecy, he will be awakened or reawakened the dark warrior himself, and once that happen, he will reign again and begin the new era of darkness, under his rule."
The four girls looked shock.
"You girls have encountered the Church of Darkness?"
"Yeah, we did. We first learn when…we found Ellix sneaking out to find out about it." Ruby admitted.
"Right. Well, your friend is worshiped by this crazy cult because of that prophecy. They believe that only the return of this great dark warrior will bring this world into a new era of peace, but all of that are just craps. The truth is it will be the end of the world, end of everything, all things good. And, it will happen when your friend, Ellix realize it."
The girls looked silently, scared and confused.
"Uncle Qrow…you're saying that Ellix…will turn into some kind of monster?" Yang asked, looking like she will get angry again as her eyes turned red again.
"Unfortunately…yeah, that's exactly what I am saying. Soon, there will be a solar eclipse, according to the prophecy. I don't know when it will exactly happen. It may happen tomorrow, but when it does, your friend…he will become into that dark warrior, commit his first death, and then…you girls can probably guess what will happen then."
"Uncle Qrow…" Ruby spoke up. "Is this for real?"
Qrow shrugged his head. "Unfortunately. Believe it or not, it will happen, and when it does, we will have to make a decision, a very big decision. You girls may not like it, but it is something each of you may have to do."
They were silent, looking disappointed and sad.
"Sorry, girls. I wish there is other way, but I really don't know. However, one more thing I would say is expect the unexpected. See ya and goodnight." He said before he left.
"Excuse me, um, Mr. Qrow…" Blake spoke up, causing him to stop and turned to his side.
"Please, refer to me just Qrow or Uncle Qrow if you want." Qrow said, grinning.
"Umm, may I ask what this dark warrior name is, if it has a name?" She asked.
"Oh, that. Well, it is kind of generic, but the name is…"
-Not Team RWBYE's POV-
"Ozpin, I think it is best to relocate him somewhere else. He is too dangerous to stay at the hospital."
Professor Ozpin sat on his chair, thinking to himself as he had his eyes closed with his elbows on the desk and his chin lying on the hand.
"Professor Ozpin, I was against the idea, but after what we saw, I agree with James. It may be the best to relocate him." Glynda said.
"…Even so, it does not matter if we relocate him or even lock him up somewhere else, it is inevitable of what will happen." Ozpin said.
"Then, what do you suggest, Ozpin!? Many people are now afraid of what he had done this morning! You're the Headmaster! Don't you care about the safety of others!?" General Ironwood yelled.
"I do, James!" Ozpin argued until he settled back to his calmer self. "However, I…just can't do that."
"Why? Why can't you do it? I…hate to say this, but perhaps if you want another solution…"
"James, don't even think about it! We will not harm Mr. Knight in anyway as possible!" Glynda pointed.
"I'm sorry, Glynda, but what other choice do we have besides not doing anything!?" He said, gritting his teeth and raising his eyebrow. "We need to take action, and we need to take it now!"
"No. I suggest doing neither of the plans."
The three turned to see where the voice came from. An elevator was open, and Councilman Newton was standing there with Gojira and Nene.
"Councilman Newton, Lady Nene, and Gojira-sensai! We…did not expect you all to come here." General Ironwood gasped.
"Yeah, yeah." Gojira shrugged as he smoked through his pipe. "We are here to tell not to relocate the boy nor kill him."
"It may be hard to accept, but no matter what we do, the future already knows what will happen, and we cannot stop it. However, we should not worry about it. Since we know it, we can only act when it happens." Nene said.
"Indeed. All we can do is be patient, watch, and act when it happens, but also be prepare." Councilman Newton said with his narrow eyes.
"But sir!" Ironwood complained.
"Sorry, James, but I won't allow you to do anything unless I tell you to do it. That's an order from me as councilman and former teacher." Councilman Newton said with a serious look before he turned back. Lady Nene and Gojira followed after him.
General Ironwood clenched his fist tightly. Ozpin sighed, feeling frustrated for himself, too. Glynda looked at the two, feeling worried for them and the mess they are in.
-Team RWBYE's POV-
Meanwhile, back at the hospital, the time was past 9 o'clock. Weiss checked the time while the other girls were very silent. Yang just stared in the direction of the hallway where my room was.
"Hey, it is getting late. We should go back to our dorm." Weiss said.
"Yeah." Blake said, getting up from her seat.
"I guess so." Ruby nodded.
The three, except Yang, got up from their seat. "Hey, Yang, you're coming?"
She shrugged. "No, I want to stay here little bit longer."
"…Hey, I know!" Ruby exclaimed. "I got an idea."
The three girls looked perplexed at their young leader. About an hour later, they were back, with sleeping bags and snacks.
"Now, isn't this feel good? It is like slumber party." Ruby said, smiling softly.
"Yeah. It does feel nice." Yang said, giving a small grin. "Thank you, sis."
"Your welcome." Ruby replied.
"So…." Weiss said. "…Yes, what did you all think what, you know, your uncle said?"
They all looked at each other with unsure face.
"Well…I don't believe it all, to be honest. I really don't want to, but Uncle Qrow never lied to us. Well, at least most of the times." Ruby said. "Although, I am not quite sure about this."
"I think everything is just craps." Yang said. "There is no way Ellix will turn into…it."
"I agree with that. Everything is very ridiculous, but still…I feel like…everything that had happen since we met him feel like it is all make sense." Weiss said, looking to her side. "I am not sure, but I can just feel it."
"Me too." Blake nodded. "Back at the Humana Beasatiam Village, when I faced my old mentor…Adam, Ellix came in to rescue me, but when he was fighting against him, he…showed himself in the way that terrified me."
-Flashback-
"Ellix?" Blake questioned, looking astonished.
"What is this!? Is this your…hidden power?" Adam talked to himself.
My body glowed in pitch-black aura as I roared like a monster. Adam got his weapon ready as he countered with his attack, but I counter back with mine.
I shot him with gauntlet gun, which now I had two. Adam absorbed some of the energy bullet as the motif on his backside glowed in red along with his mask.
"You will not overpower me!" He yelled. He strikes back with his attack, slicing at me, but I dodged it completely with an afterimage.
"What!?" He gasped.
I punched him hard into his stomach before he flied off to the burning house. I walked up slowly to him. He got off the debris from his chest, coughing out.
I walked up to them, looking down at him with a silent, serious expression.
He just chuckled to me, with his mask cracked. "So, I guess you really are who they claim to be. So, how about it? Why don't you just finish me, right here and now?"
I felt some agreement with on that, summoning the sword out of my right gauntlet as I ready myself to strike at him while he was vulnerable.
"Ellix, no! Don't kill him!" Blake yelled.
I heard Blake's voice, piercing through my heart and soul.
"Please, Ellix! Don't kill him!" I turned to my shoulder, looking at her face as there was tear rolling down her eyes.
The black aura disappeared from me.
"Sorry, Adam, but I won't kill you."
He looked at me and said, "You are pathetic. Both my arms are broken, so I couldn't use my sword and yet, you refuse to kill me here!? You have no will."
"It is not that I don't have a will to kill you. I do, and I can, but I have conscious and unlike you, I am no monster. Besides, I have a partner who needs my help." I said to him as I walked away from him, approaching to Blake.
-Flashback Ends-
"I…really appreciate him for saving me back then, but that glowing black aura and his anger are just…too scary. I felt…something terrible from him, something…fearful."
The other three girls looked at Blake. Ruby padded on her teammate's shoulder.
"And that feeling…I felt it again when he was fighting Cinder. I…thought he would become like Adam, a monster…and I can't bear to see that, but I felt powerless and I feel I am, even now!" She clenched her hands tightly that looked painful.
"Blake…you're not powerless. It was his match, but at least he didn't…well…kill her." Ruby said.
"You know, now that I realize it, we…really don't much about Ellix, do we?" Weiss questioned.
"What do you mean, Weiss?" Ruby asked.
"Well…we do not know exactly where he came from. We found him back at Emerald Forest, which he claimed that he doesn't even know how he got there. During that mission with Dr. Oobleck, he said he came from a place where there is no Grimm. To me, there are some mysteries around him, and to be honest, I think he's hiding something from us. He doesn't want us to know much about him." Weiss explained.
"Yeah, but…" Ruby said, but couldn't find a word to counter it. "Actually, you're right, Weiss. We actually don't know a lot about Ellix, even though he's been with us over these past months."
"I…I wish I could've talk with him more." Yang said as the three girls listened to her. "He's always thinking to himself, worrying about something that bothers his mind, and never says anything to any of us, and yet…he helped with everyone else problem. He doesn't ask a lot of help from us or anyone, but he always helped everyone else and never asks anything in return. I wish I could've asked him more about what he was thinking."
"Don't feel bad, sis. You and Ellix get along well…but yeah, I wish I could've talked with him more, too." Ruby said.
"There are just too many questions and mysterious surrounding him. We don't know where he came from, and we actually don't quite know him either." Weiss stated.
"Well…as much as we think about this, we won't find our answers. Maybe when he wake up, we can ask him." Blake suggested.
"Yeah. Good point, Blake. Let's go to sleep for tonight." Ruby decided. They turned off the lamp as they all went into their sleeping bag.
However as much as they try to fall to sleep, they couldn't stop thinking.
-Ellix's POV-
"Where am I?" I asked myself, dripping down into the darkness.
Suddenly, random images spurred through my mind. It showed everything about the future. I saw many things I couldn't explain. Some images of my friends fighting against hordes of Grimm. Ruby fighting against a black-armored figure, but losing painfully. And last thing I saw was a familiar person, but with angelic wings.
"What are these? Are these...another visions of the future?" I asked.
Author's Note: So, what did you all thought up this chapter? I have decided that since I have written all the chapters and the only thing I have to do with them is just edit them, I will upload it daily, maybe even two chapters per day just like today. Except on Christmas day because it is a holiday and I rather spend my family and take a break from this at least once. Anyway, shoutout!
gamelover41592-Glad you enjoyed the last chapter and Chapter 33 that you skipped by accident, but we make mistakes sometimes. It is life! Also, do not worry about the Church of Darkness. Their secrets will be reveal in the future.
OK, here is another QOTC:
Q. This may spoil to people who have not thought deeply into this, but what do you think would happen in this fanfiction? What do you think would happen to Ellix?
Next times in Tales of Ellix Knight, we will see what happens next and let's just say a certain character that have appeared in the series, but never talk at all will appear and hopefully you will like how I interpret that character. See you guys in the NEXT CHAPTER!