Hey guys, back with another chapter! For those of you who wanted some drama, hope this satiate your needs.
Now for those of you who haven't guessed yet who our new addition is, her identity will be undisclosed on this chapter. For further explanations on my take on her, read the chapter and read the notes at the end.
Chapter 45
Reality Conflict
Alice couldn't believe her eyes.
Moments ago, the demons were winning and now all of them were laying on the ground, dead. Their bodies smashed and crumpled beyond recognition and the one that caused all of that had just taken down the Hell Knight like he was nothing. One blow and he was history!
She dismissed her binoculars. The honey-eyed Desian and the others on the ground had just stood observing everything that happened. Even Decus felt his anger completely abandoning him and being replaced with a primal urge to flee.
But from what? he wondered mentally to himself as he watched.
Then the source of all their uneasiness made itself known, as she instantly teleported and appeared near them. The entire group took a step back. They hadn't even felt any agitation in the magical currents.
"Oh, just look at all of you. Why do I feel such fear coming from you?" the woman asked with that musical, soft voice of hers and innocent smile.
Alice and Decus didn't fall for it for a second.
Quickly weighting her options, Alice decided that trying to take down something that could kill a Great demon in seconds without any idea of what she was capable off was, at best, idiocy. She turned, ran a few feet away and started to chant a teleportation spell, Decus saw that and quickly grabbed his iron maiden.
"Wait for me, my darling Alice!" he said, running to the circle and getting to it right on time as it activated and the two were transported away.
"Oh, they left," the entity said in her innocent voice, with a sad pout on her face. "I was about to ask them if they wanted to be friends," she then turned to Ratatosk and the others. "Oh well… at least my sister and brother are here," she seemed to become more cheerful at that.
"V-V-Verius?" came Ratatosk's hesitant reply.
Marta and Richter looked at him and saw his face was pale, like he had seen a ghost.
Which in this case was actually true.
Is… is it really her? were Ratatosk's thoughts. He could still remember that day, when he last saw Verius, his sister…
- / - / - / - / - / -
Right after they left Neran's burning mansion and heard that prophesy, Ratatosk and Celsius arrived at the Twilight Palace. Immediately, they felt the heavy aura around the area.
Rushing to Origin's quarters, the two Spirits could sense the aura getting thicker.
Verius usually didn't spend time with them in the Twilight Palace. Sometimes, it would be years before any of the Spirits saw her again, for she was a unique, special existence. Unlike them, she wasn't created by the Great Lords, but came into existence as a response of the human heart itself near the final days of the War of for the Young Aselia.
They didn't know why or how it was possible and Verius herself never explained much. Actually, if one was to describe her, they would say she could be quite secretive. And a bit of a trickster on her free time.
Verius rarely ever parted her knowledge on the hearts with the others and downright refused to say anything related to her duties, besides the obvious fact she was to watch everything that had a heart (although she did it with a smile and posing with her closed hand near face while saying in a sing-song tone "It's a secret").
Some Spirits didn't take her attitude kindly, thinking she was disrespecting Origin and them. The first and last one to call her out on that was the hot headed Ratatosk:
"If you think you're so fucking better than us, then how about you show it to me?!" and just like that Ratatosk challenged her to a fight, his tone showing there was no avoiding it.
Ten seconds latter, the brash Summon Spirit was beaten down in submission as Verius stood over him with a pout on her face, seeming sad and displeased about it, saying she didn't want to fight, but Ratatosk was "being mean" and "pushy" to her, so he left her with no choice.
That brief display of power immediately shut the other Spirits' complains about her up. Origin himself never had anything against Verius, stating that, if she wanted to keep her duties a secret she had that right. She only would have to deal with the consequences of her attitude later.
And she seemed to be facing them now.
When Ratatosk and Celsius arrived, it was to see the fox-tailed Spirit on a bed conjured by Origin and Maxwell to treat her. The Lord of Monsters asked them how she was and Maxwell was the one to answer, his voice, normally quite energetic despite his aged appearance, now seemed to carry all the weight and tiredness of being the oldest of all the Summon Spirits:
"I won't lie, she isn't good. Her aura has been passing through violent 'phases' lately, although she seems to be doing her utmost to reel them back."
"Phases?" Celsius repeated.
"What do you mean?" Ratatosk asked.
"Ratatosk... is that you... ?" came Verius' voice. She sounded really spent of energy, like she had been fighting non-stop against an endless legion of demons.
"Yes, it's me," he approached her laying form.
After their initial mishap, Ratatosk eventually warmed up to Verius (mostly because the fox-like Spirit seemed to insist on making company to him). Out of all the Summon Spirits, he was the one that could safely say who had the most contact with Verius, if only because his Centurions frequently crossed paths with her when she was watching over the hearts of the monsters.
Ratatosk didn't initially understood Verius' insistence on "being friends" with him. His brothers and sisters would say that was just because he was a sore loser, but he said it was because he couldn't trust her. However, when Ratatosk finally got fed up with Verius standing in the middle of the Ginnungagap just looking at him, he turned and asked:
"What's up with you?! Can't you take the hint and go away?!"
"I would, but I won't," Verius answered, with that same soft smile and lilt in her voice.
"And why, pray tell?"
"Because, out of everybody, you are the only one that still feel like you don't fit in, just because you weren't originally an entity like us."
That made Ratatosk shut up and take a few steps back. Before he could ask, Verius said:
"It's all written over you; the doubt, the hesitancy. Why don't you open up more, Ratatosk? Are you afraid we will reject you? You're already family to us. I can tell the others feel the same too without even needing to read their auras," her smile seemed to brighten up.
He didn't know whether he should be afraid, happy, or worried.
No one could read him like Verius. Maybe Shadow could, but the Summon Spirit of darkness rarely spoke unless it was in a meeting or if he was directed a question. However, the fact remained that Verius could read him like a book.
It was then that Ratatosk started to realize just how powerful the fox-like entity could be to read even the emotions in the aura of her brethren.
After that event, Ratatosk started to open up a bit more to Verius to the point that their relationship grew to something like that of big sister and little brother, even though he was technically older. Sometimes she even acted like a mother to him and in others a friend.
But right now, Ratatosk was the one worried about her.
"Oh my... I didn't recognize you... you're... so worried right now... you're not usually like... this..." her normal lilt was out of her melodic voice and the tiredness in her tone only made his core hurt.
"Yes... I am worried about you."
"Oh, yes... well, I'm sorry for worrying you then..." she offered him a smile.
"Don't be stupid. You're the one suffering here!"
Ratatosk raised his voice and the others could notice a crack on it. Verius did too.
"Silly... I'm not... suffering... it's just... the hearts of people... they're so negative... so full of hate, discrimination... I'm governed by the heart of the world... and the Heart of the World is connected to the hearts of those living in it..."
The others raised their eyebrows at that. This was the first time Verius ever said anything about her existence and her knowledge of the hearts. Although they too felt that the world was affected by the wave of negative thoughts and feelings people had sustained during the war it didn't affected them like it was doing Verius.
Ratatosk, however, only paid attention to one fact out of that conversation:
"You mean... they're doing this to you?!" the anger was evident in his voice.
Verius turned her head to him, her ever-closed eyes fixating on Ratatosk as she spoke, her voice now more serious and completely devoid of its normal lilt:
"Ratatosk, listen to me; don't let anger rule your decisions. It's already... bad enough they are doing what they are doing to themselves... please, don't fall into this too. If you do... the cycle of tragedies... will only... grow..." her voice was becoming wearier.
"Verius? Verius!" Ratatosk called.
Origin and Maxwell rushed to her, trying to see what was wrong. The aura of the Watcher of the Heart was vibrating violently, its energies twisting between what felt like negative and positive spectrums.
"Origin... listen well..." Verius spoke. "Seal me someplace nobody will find... if your plan is to work, I must stay out of the picture until it has taken effect... and the world has been regenerated... other... wise... I don't think I'll be able to hold it back..." she sounded like she was struggling.
"What?!" Ratatosk asked, but was ignored.
"Understood," was everything that Origin said.
"Wait! You can't be serious. Why are you sealing her?" the thought of Verius, one of the Summon Spirits that had grown close to him, being locked away someplace, suspended in a limbo for Lords knew how long, made Ratatosk feel indignant.
"This is not only for her, but also for the sake of everything else, Ratatosk," Maxwell said. "She asked us to do this herself. If she did so, she must have a motive. You know what she is like."
He did. He really did. And that was what worried him all the more.
"Rata..." Celsius said, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. He just stood there and let her. Celsius looked at Verius, who seemed to have noticed and only smiled at the Summon Spirit of ice, forming words with her lips:
Take care of him...
"Let's leave them... they know what they're doing. There's nothing we can do."
Ratatosk followed her listlessly, knowing she was right. Although he showed no emotion on his exterior and kept his aura under control, on his core he was fuming with rage.
How much more will you, wretched humans take from me until you're satisfied?
- / - / - / - / - / - / - / -
Verius looked just the same as the last time he saw her, although her aura now looked quite stable compared to what it was before.
"Even so... what about that explosion of power before?" Emil asked him, but Ratatosk wasn't paying attention anymore. The only thing binding his attention was the entity in front of him.
"Oh, silly Rata. It's me. Why do you doubt your own eyes?" Verius said in that musical and soft voice of hers.
That was enough to sate his doubts as Ratatosk approached her even as Marta and Richter stayed on guard. Then he did something that shocked the two; he hugged the fox-tailed woman.
"Verius... it's really you," his voice was so low Marta couldn't almost catch, but the relief and longing in it made her all the more aware that something was going on.
"Poor Rata," Verius said, stroking the blonde's head with all the care and tenderness of a mother treating her child. "You've been feeling lonely haven't you? I can understand... I felt the same, bound behind that seal," she then turned and looked at Marta and Richter. "You're looking different Sylph. And who's your friend?"
Ratatosk didn't notice the light inflection on his sister's tone, but Richter and Marta did. And when the red head felt the Summon Spirit was looking directly at him, he suddenly felt a strong urge to run away as fast as he could.
"Oh, right..." Ratatosk said, letting go of Verius. "Verius, this is Richter, Emi... my friend, I guess..."
"You surely know how to present people to others," Richter couldn't help, but jab at Ratatosk, who ignored him.
"And that's Marta. Sylph reincarnated..."
"And Ratatosk's girlfriend," the girl completed, running and latching her arm on him in a possessive manner.
Verius tilted her head, making an expression of cute confusion. Richter just raised his eyebrow while keeping his distance.
"Weren't you dating Celsius? Oh my, how time has passed," Verius mused.
It was then the rest of the group landed and looked at the fox-tailed woman. Raine was the first to speak, asking her what she did with Presea.
"Presea, Presea... oh, you mean Shadow. She's right there, by that tree."
Raine ran there to check at the girl while Lloyd and the others approached cautiously...
"Well, hello there, my exotic, foxy hunny."
Until Zelos appeared, almost instantly near Verius. Sheena and her boyfriend sighed as the red head strike conversation with the female Spirit. In Richter's point of view, it was almost comical, as Verius was taller than any of them and seemed confused as she looked at him.
"Celsius? Did you dump Rata and is now onto me?" the sincerity on the question disarmed and confused Zelos. "I mean, I do know of your tastes, but I thought you would be all over him like you were..."
"Um... let's just say I'm not exactly Celsius," Zelos said, sweatdropping and appearing to be slightly disturbed at the suggested scene.
"Excuse me, ma'am," Lloyd called, making the Summon Spirit of heart look at him. "But who are you?"
That's what was on most of the group's mind. That woman surely was powerful and clearly wasn't mortal and Ratatosk called her Verius, so who could her be?
"Oh right, you all wouldn't remember," Ratatosk spoke. "Everybody, this is Verius, Summon Spirit of the heart."
"WHAT?!" the group let out.
"A Summon Spirit?!" Richter let out. "But weren't you all reincarnated?"
"Not all of us. Verius is... a special case," Ratatosk thought on how to explain that to them. "I'm sure not even you heard about a Summon Spirit of the heart in your time on Sybak, did you Raine?"
"No. I looked through all of their records and studies on them and not even once was there a mention of a Summon Spirit of the heart," Raine spoke, her tone one of undisguised curiosity.
"That's because Verius' existence is supposed to be a secret. Few people know that there exists another Summon Spirit and the ones that know her identity could be counted on one hand."
"But why so much secret?" Sheena asked curious about the situation.
"Because of her power, the power that comes from the hearts of every living being. It's as dangerous as it's great."
"Um... I'm confused," Verius said in an innocent tone, tilting her head. "Why do I feel so much surprise and confusion coming from you all? And what happened to your powers?"
"You... don't know about Origin's plan Verius?"
"Well, I heard he had one, but I never asked the details. ... wait. Didn't I know?"
The way she said that line made she sound a bit ditzy to the group and made Ratatosk sigh. He would have to explain everything to her.
Richter cleared his throat, calling the group's attention as he spoke:
"I must return. I'll try and think something up along the way to report back to Nebilim."
"Do you really have to?" Marta asked, her tone a sad one.
"You know that I..."
"Actually, he doesn't need to," Verius suddenly spoke, interrupting the red head and surprising Marta and Emil, who took the control back.
"What did you say?" he asked.
"Oh, what happened to you, Rata? You feel different."
Richter, however, glared at the Summon Spirit. What was she implying? He had to go back, for the demon blood in him forced him to obey the orders of demons of higher ranking. He tried to resist them before and failed to do so.
"Actually, that would be because your heart isn't strong enough," Verius spoke, startling him.
"You... can read my thoughts?!" Richter exclaimed. He never heard of any Summon Spirit capable of doing that. "What do you mean by me being weak?!" that was the part that incensed him the most.
"No, but I can read the feelings on your aura. Through them, it's quite easy to read you and guess what you're thinking. As for what I meant, it's exactly that. The heart is something the demons would never be able to control, for they don't understand it by not possessing one. The fact that they can control you just points to how weak your heart is."
She said all of that with that bright smile and lilt on her tone, but Richter could feel the sharpness of her words. Even the others were surprised. Emil felt Ratatosk was confused. Then Verius hammered in the final nail:
"I wonder if you even care about my brother and sister, if you let yourself be controlled by those that wish them harm. Or is it that you actually see an advantage at being besides the demons?"
That made it. In the blink of an eye, Richter had his sword and ax drawn, glaring daggers at the fox-like woman, his expression one of cold fury. Richter didn't care when people insulted him, he had grown used to it during his time as an "underground" researcher in Sybak.
But if there was one thing he absolutely couldn't stand was people doubting about his dedication and loyalty to those he cared.
"I don't care if you are a Summon Spirit or not, I won't have you even suggesting I am such a scum as to betray them!"
"Anger is generally the most common way of denial," the venom in that tone and smile was enough to drown a monster scorpion in it.
"Both of you, stop!" Marta said, putting herself between them. "We're on the same side. Verius, Richter is our friend, he cares for us!"
Verius seemed like she wanted to retort, but didn't speak anything, merely looking at Marta with her closed eyes in a neutral expression. Richter merely glared at her and sheathed his weapons.
"I'll be leaving. Be safe you all," the red headed half-demon said. Emil wanted to call him back, but the way Richter spoke indicated he wasn't in the mood to talk. Richter had always been like that; when somebody pissed him off like Verius did, he either dealt with that person, or, in case he couldn't, left, so he wouldn't have to stay in that person's presence.
However, internally, Emil's mentor couldn't help, but think on what Verius had just said. If he was to be honest to himself, part of his reaction was mostly due to his injured pride.
Could her claims actually work against the demons? Richter stood with that thought the entire way back to the Ginnungagap...
- / - / - / - / - / - / -
When Emil and the others came back to the Renegade base, Brute had, predictably, already left. But when they appeared before Yuan in one of the many briefing rooms and presented Verius, the blue haired half-elf and his wife were more that a little impressed.
"A... Summon Spirit... ?" was everything Martel could utter from her lips.
"Yes. Summon Spirit of the Heart," Ratatosk concluded as he had explained to the two the entire story again.
"Um... things surely have changed..." Verius mused, looking around with an expression of innocence in her face. She seemed more interested in looking at the people walking about in the other side of the glass window that gave view to the corridor than the base itself.
All of the reincarnated Summon Spirits in the party were there. Colette, as soon as she heard about how Presea had been injured, had shot rapid-fire questions to the pink haired Shadow, asking if she was alright. It took Presea around ten minutes to tranquilize Colette and say she was better thanks to Raine's treatment.
"And why was it that she was sealed, again?" Sheena asked. That was the part that had been bothering her the most. You didn't seal one of the guardians of the world for nothing. Besides what kind of power would be able to seal her? She still shivered every time she thought on how Verius had disabled all those demons and trashed the Hell Knight.
"To be honest, I don't know," Ratatosk said. "Last time I saw her, she was looking severely bad, but now..."
"I'm better now," Verius interrupted, making the group look at her. "In fact, I feel better than ever. Maybe all that I needed was a good nap."
"Would it be possible Origin and Maxwell were the ones that did it?" Regal suggested, looking at Verius as he asked the question. "They were the last people with you, right?"
"That..." the group inched closer as Verius spoke. "Is a secret," Verius said with a cute giggle and an innocent smile.
The party, plus the leaders of the Renegades, sweatdropped at that. Sheena sighed:
"Great... another Raine..."
Said half-elven woman was about to retort, but closed her mouth.
"Don't mind her. She's always been like this. She's actually pretty harmless, unless provoked," Ratatosk guaranteed.
"Like you did that one time, right boss?" Lumen said, materializing. "I do remember Cooldine had to treat you."
The group now shot looks with raised eyebrows at the brash Summon Spirit. Ratatosk had a vein pulsing in his forehead as he spoke, his eyes closed and twitching in anger:
"I thought I told you to never speak of that."
"Oh, right! Oops."
"Cooldine, huh?" Zelos thought aloud, while looking at Raine and trying to picture her as Undine. "You know, that's actually very suiting to you too, Bewitching Professor Raine."
Raine sighed. Why did she have to go through this?
"You know, that actually sounds like you. You are pretty cool sometimes, Raine," Lloyd said, offering her a smile.
And just like that, all thoughts of exasperation left Raine as she crossed her arms and looked to the side so Lloyd wouldn't see her blush. Zelos gave his "bud" a thumbs up, even though Lloyd himself didn't understand why. He just thought that Raine looked really cool when she was using those demonic spells. Sheena just looked at all of that and didn't know how to feel about it.
"Anyway..." Yuan spoke, trying to get them back on track as he turned to Verius. "Verius, I would like to..."
"No," Verius interrupted, saying it so suddenly and with such finality that most of the group jumped in surprise when she spoke.
Yuan looked at her with a confused look. She hadn't even let him finish, so why is it that she jumped ahead and answered...
"I saw what you were going to ask me through the emotions flowing in your aura. Remember, my power is that of the heart, so I know how to read people's emotions and from there interpret their thoughts," Verius said almost as though...
She read my thoughts!
"Not really. As I said, I can guess what your thoughts are through your emotions. And again, yes, my answer to your question if I'll help you is 'no'."
That actually got the group to look at Verius with wide eyes. They were sure she would help them restore the world. She was a Summon Spirit after all, a guardian of this world. Why wouldn't she...
"Oh, c'mon. Do you all really forget it? That's so sad," Verius said, making a cute pout as she looked the members of the party with her closed eyes.
"But... why?" Martel questioned. "Surely you've seen the state of the world, why can't you help us? We all just want to regenerate Aselia."
"My dear, even though I feel such a purity in your heart, I must warn you, words and feelings won't convince me, no matter how much your heart speaks out," Verius said with that musical lilt in her voice and smile that seemed to be akin to that of a prankster. Yet her words completely shattered the illusion of that calm and happy visage. "It's not a matter of 'I can't', it's simply that 'I won't'."
"You mean, you would willingly choose to let our world face this destruction?" Regal asked, surprised he was hearing such a thing coming from one of the beings he was always taught that protected the world and held its balance.
"I exist simply to watch over all that has a heart. The state of the world today is a direct result of the action of those that were moved by their petty, greedy hearts, so in that light I won't help you because I am not to interfere with the hearts and actions of the mortal beings and its consequences."
So it all came back to that. Yuan gritted his teeth. That was the same argument Desians used to justify their actions:
"You caused all of this, so shut up and suck it," he had gotten tired of hear it from the Desians. That was why he founded the Renegades in the first place.
"You can get angry and revolted all you want, but it is the truth," Verius quipped, smile never leaving her face.
"But... didn't you fought for this world during the War of the Young Aselia?" Raine tried to argument. "Wouldn't this situation fall into the same category as that?"
"Actually..." Emil was the one to speak, his tone hesitant. "Verius never did take part in the war."
"What do you mean?" Colette asked.
"According to Rat... my memories, Verius only came to be near the very end of that conflict, so she never really fought on it. But still..." he then turned to the Summon Spirit. "Isn't there anyway in which we can convince you to join forces with us?"
Verius seemed to ponder that as she put her long-sleeved hand under her chin and tilted her head up in thought. She eventually spoke:
"Well, I could help you, but only if you have every heart in this world call out for that. Just like their will to survive called for me to come into existence."
That left some of them confused. Martel asked the fox-like woman what she meant with that.
"I came into being as a result of the Heart of the World responding to the calls and wishes of the many mortal hearts to survive. In that sense, you could say I serve the Heart of the World and only it. If it were to respond to your desire to restore to this world, then I would help you. But it isn't. Actually, I can sense there are many that are waiting for others to restore this world, or merely gave up and sit back and watch and there is a significant parcel wishing for everything to just burn."
Yuan muttered "Desians" under his breath. He looked up to Verius and spoke again:
"So, you're saying that unless every single person in this world, half-demons included, wishes for its regeneration, you won't help us?"
"Exactly," Verius said with such a happy smile that some people in that room felt the urge to punch it off her face. "Oh, c'mon. No need to get all angry, Efreet, Volt, Luna and Sylph. You all knew I was going to say it. That's how I always acted."
"Can you stop speaking to us as if we are them?" Lloyd spoke, his voice sounding angry. "In case you haven't noticed yet, we aren't the old Summon Spirits."
"And why is it that I feel like you're clinging to some short of 'feeling of humanity'? It's almost like you're refusing to see the obvious," Verius said, sounding honestly confusing and like she hadn't heard a single word that Lloyd spoke.
"Are you listening to me? And what do you mean with that?!"
The group started to get nervous that a confrontation might be eminent between Lloyd and Verius, Sheena being the most nervous of all. She knew Lloyd could get pretty narrow minded and hotheaded when he saw injustice and apathy towards the suffering of others right in front of him and sometimes could even overlook the consequences of his actions.
Also, she was remembering Verius' display of power.
"Verius..." Colette spoke, making the fox-like woman turn her attention to the blonde. "I know you might still be confused from learning that we're your family, but we're not at the same time. We're also still trying to accept all of this. It's not that we're refusing the fact we're Summon Spirits. It's just... it's just that we don't consider ourselves worthy of carrying on their names and titles yet."
The reincarnated Summon Spirits felt like Colette was speaking out something they had kept to themselves all along, buried deep in their minds. Sometimes, the blonde could do just that. That was one of the reasons they valued her as a friend and why Presea fell in love with Colette. The blonde passed through so much and yet she seemed to be able to understand and even share people's pains.
"But we're doing our best to hold up to what we should do as them. That's why we need your help. You're the only Summon Spirit that knows what it means to be one, besides Ratatosk. But the world is in danger and we need all the help we can get. So, please, couldn't you help us?" Colette pleaded, almost to the point of begging.
Martel and the others felt moved by the blonde's words and Presea was absolutely entranced.
Verius, however...
"You feel just like that... if she really is your grandma?" the fox-tailed woman looked to Martel.
That shocked the group.
They saw many people react to Colette's speeches in many ways, but that was the first time they met somebody that acted so... indifferent towards the blonde. It was almost like Verius hadn't even pay attention to Colette's heart-spoken words at all.
"Did you even listen to Colette at all?!" Presea was the one to speak this time.
They could feel an oppressive aura of anger coming from the pink haired girl that made those closer to her inch away.
Again, Verius didn't seem to even care as she spoke:
"I listened to her alright. It's just it doesn't matter. It's like begging to your dying, best friend to live."
That made Colette reel back as if she had been physically struck, her heart beating painfully as she was suddenly reminded of Maki. Martel was shocked that... woman had the audacity to make her granddaughter feel like that. Sheena, Yuan and Presea fixed murderous glares at Verius and Zelos thought:
That was a dick move, if I ever saw one.
"Doesn't matter?" Marta asked, trying not to let her own anger show. She had to remember this was an entity that could read her thoughts through her feelings.
"Yes, because you, her, him and them might feel this same way," Verius said pointing to Marta, Colette, Yuan and making a vague gesture. "But in the end it doesn't matter. The entirety will still not agree on your feelings and while that doesn't happen the Heart of the World will not call me out to do what you're asking. Words and feelings are like wind; go in one direction one day, go for the other in the next.
"The heart is just as inconstant. So, crying or begging will not change reality. The entirety let everything get to this point, so I will not interfere."
Martel, who was hugging Colette, while the blonde tried to regain her bearings, glared at the fox-like woman and said:
"So you say that even if this world dies and its heart together with it, you won't do anything?"
"Everything that is mortal dies one day, worlds are no different," Verius explained, still maintaining that smile that now many were finding insufferable. "When the heart of this world dies, I shall just go on to the next world... wait. That's what they say..."
Verius then scrunched her face in confusion and she went to mutter inaudible things to herself, completely ignoring the seething group in front of her.
It was in that moment that Kratos entered the room, intending on talking with Yuan, but stopped as soon as he felt the heavy atmosphere. He looked around, seeing the strange woman and the group, plus his superiors, glaring at said woman.
"Um... did I arrive at a bad time?" Kratos couldn't tell what was the last time he felt so awkward like he was feeling now.
"Oh. Origin, finally! Can you remind them that it's not my duty to help them with the problems of the mortals?" Verius said, sighing in relief as she saw Kratos.
That made the group's minds do a one-eighty as they looked from Verius to Kratos with dumbstruck gazes. They all let out an "WHAT?!". Kratos himself had a deer-in-the-headlights expression.
"O-Origin?" Raine muttered.
"D-Dad?" Lloyd let out.
"What? Oh c'mon, you at least know who you are. Why are acting like that?" Verius said, sounding a little exasperated.
Kratos' eyes shot through all of the room, taking in the group's expressions. Yuan looked the most shocked of all. No, he looked almost... betrayed? Martel had a similar expression.
"I..." Kratos started, but found his voice dying and his vocal cords refusing to work at the moment.
"C'mon," Verius insisted. "I can see that you found it out a long time ago. Like, when... wait? Efreet's your son?"
"Kratos..." Yuan spoke up.
"Oh, some serious talk is gonna take place. Well, I'll see you all latter," and with a smile, like the entire situation was amusing for her, and her musical lilt back, Verius disappeared, leaving behind a group of shocked warriors.
After that, Emil decided to call Ratatosk:
Please, please tell me this is not really the Verius we remember!
"I... am not really sure. But she is right, you know?"
About WHAT?! Emil himself found out the entire thing revolting. He almost felt physically ill hearing Verius speaking all those things to his friends.
"Everything..." Ratatosk simply said.
Emil wanted to retort, to mentally yell with his alter-ego... but, deep down, he couldn't. Because, in the end, Ratatosk was absolutely right.
And so did Verius...
- / - / - / - / - / - / -
Reriki and Rahishi practically invaded Genis' room, such was their haste. The silver haired, young-looking Desian was looking through some of the data projectors he had swiped from Rodyle when his two aides entered.
Rahishi was the first to speak, bowing in contingency to her general:
"My General, we've felt a very strong magical agitation in the chaos currents around the world."
"It's like somebody just dropped a bomb, or something," Reriki spoke.
"If you want to put it in layman's term, yes..." Rahishi spoke, narrowing her eyes and sweatdropping. Sometimes she wondered about Reriki's mental age.
"Rodyle's dead," Genis suddenly said. Confusing his two aides by the apparently random change of subject. He didn't turn to face them. "Just now, my connection to the Submarine Ranch's servers was cut off. Rodyle never leaves his data center offline. That can only mean one of two things; either he found out I got the access codes, or he is dead and Submarine Ranch was deactivated."
The Desian General's aides looked between themselves.
They didn't really care about Rodyle, or even the fact that his ranch was potentially taken down. After all, demons didn't exactly need bases in this world.
"And now this humongous magical agitation..." Genis spoke, seeming to look up. His aides looked back at him as he returned to the subject they came to discuss with him. Genis then turned to them, showing his "Magical Mania" smile. "Things started to get real serious!
"Reriki, Rahishi... we're back on game! And our first act shall be taking advantage of this event..."
- / - / - / - / - / - / -
Yuan had asked most of the party, sans Raine, Emil and Lloyd (more due to insistence of the young man), to leave the room while he and Martel talked with their long time friend.
Kratos could swear this was the first time since Anna broke to him the news she was pregnant that he felt so nervous. The difference was, this time his fears weren't about the future, but the immediate present.
"Since when?" Yuan started with the question that everybody in the room had.
Kratos wasn't a fool not to know what his friend/superior was talking about. He sighed:
"A while back... when Lloyd told me about his birthmark being a Summon Spirit crest, I remembered I had one such peculiar mark in the exact same place on my back."
"Show me," that was voiced as a command and Kratos knew better than to disobey Yuan when he used his "Lord Yuan" tone.
He turned and pulled his shirt up.
There, in the same place that Lloyd had his mark on the skin of his back, was an intricate crest on Kratos' back. Emil felt Ratatosk gasping. Raine was dumbstruck.
"From your reactions I can surmise this is a Summon Spirit crest," Yuan spoke.
"Yes... the Mark of Creation's Warden... Origin's secret seal," Emil spoke.
"In that case, Kratos, might you enlighten us on why didn't you come to your son and his friends with this news? It would have lessened their work of going around looking for missing Summon Spirits when they had the King right in front of them," Yuan said, his tone that of a superior officer asking for his subordinate on a report about a failure.
"I admit I thought about that, but... I have my duties for with the Renegades and the Vanguard to consider. I can't abandon you all."
Lloyd understood what his father was doing: following his moral code. Lloyd was always taught to stay true on his promises. His father himself was a practitioner of loyalty and chivalry. This situation proved it.
Yet, it seemed this wasn't the answer Yuan wanted.
"So you leave your only son traveling around the world, fighting Nebilim, Grand Cardinals and Spirits-know what else, just because of your duty with us?" the blue haired half-elf asked pointedly.
Kratos now felt like he was being scolded. This was a first for him.
Martel then walked around the table and stopped near their friend and General of Unity. Kratos didn't dare to make a single remark or question, only standing in attention at her.
He then received a punch on the head, strong enough for make him gasp in pain...
Lloyd the others could only gape.
"If you want to apologize, then apologize to Lloyd," Kratos looked up at the green haired woman as she continued. "Did you forget why me and Yuan started the Renegades? We told you the story; we wanted to protect those we could and their families. You should have come to us with this in the first place!"
Kratos looked down at the reprimand and had to admit Martel was right. She and Yuan always said this had been one of the objectives of the Renegades; to provide for all those they could and their families. In a way, he had failed on following one of the main directives of the two resistance groups.
The auburn haired man turned to his son and apologized to Lloyd for hiding that secret. Lloyd spoke:
"It's fine, really," Lloyd said, looking a little embarrassed at having his father apologizing to him. "You did what you thought was right, dad."
"Even so... this was something I should have told you all from the beginning, so... I can't really say how much I regret all that you have gone through that could be different should I have been there."
"I don't think you should beat yourself up because of it," Emil said. "You can't change what already happened. What you can do is make the most of what is in front of you," there was a heartbeat-like pulse and Ratatosk's voice sounded. "Plus, stop with the self-depreciation and pity act. If you're really my brother Origin, I will not allow you to go guilt tripping. It makes us both look bad."
The crimson-eyed spirit gave a dismissive wave with his hand. Martel smiled to him in appreciation and Yuan seemed to recover from his foul mood at seeing Kratos was genuinely sorry and was suitably reprimanded.
"Well, now that it's settled we can move on and..." Yuan started.
"Plan our monthly picnic," Martel interrupted her husband. She then stopped and put a finger on her chin as she looked up on thought. "Or maybe we should call it 'Family Outing' since we finally found our daughter and granddaughter and can have them with us. What do you think, Yuan?"
As Martel looked at him, Yuan made the best to hide his panicked face as the others only looked at Martel with a raised eyebrow. The Renegade leader had completely forgot he had agreed to have his and Martel's time off two days ago.
If there was one thing one could say about Yuan it was that he was a workaholic. Martel sometimes had to literally drag him off his office, otherwise he would work himself to death. He was also pretty stubborn, even more so than Kratos sometimes, and was prone to escape and go back to make sure everything was running smoothly.
So, to spare the supplies of duck tape, ropes and stun guns of the Renegades, Martel had "convinced" Yuan to agree on taking a time off every month to themselves. A time where there would be no talks of work, plans or demon/Desian attacks. A time where the two of them could enjoy their lives as a married couple.
It was sufficient to say that having this time off was non-negotiable with Martel.
Lydia Lualdi, Marta's mother, once asked Martel how she convinced her husband. Martel only smiled a smile of pure innocence, saying:
"It's pretty easy when you are the one that literally has his manhood on the palm of your hands."
The two women laughed at that, startling and scaring many of the males present at the cafeteria where they met, some sending prayers for their leader.
"Um..." Yuan made, not sure that he should tell Martel he forgot or that they should concentrate on the revelation of their friend being the former King of the Summon Spirits.
The last time he tried to convince Martel to postpone their time off... he didn't like to think about it.
"Oh, we will think of something, I'm sure," with that Martel grabbed Yuan by the collar and physically dragged him out of the room while the others only watched. "We should first ask Colette and our daughter."
The door then closed, leaving the party alone.
"That sure brings back memories," Kratos mused.
"Oh yeah. Mom used to plan our family weekends too," Lloyd said.
Are all mothers and wives like that? Emil wondered.
"Seems the females are leading the relationships these days. When did things change so much?" Ratatosk spoke, although he felt a bit hypocrite by asking that, considering how most of his relationships went in the past...
Of all the forces in action in our world, none is as mysterious or entrancing as that of the heart.
Many discussed before about it. Some claim it is the true source of all our power, based on how you are able to temper magic with it. Others say it is only rubbish made by theorists and layman in magic. However, studies have concluded that those that proclaim about the heart's power, might not be so deluded as some previously thought.
(...)
During the days preceding the Years of Demons, the power of the heart became even more pronounced as it greatly affected an entity to that date completely unknown to most of humanity and the world. The list of affected beings also include the Summon Spirits, although not directly.
It is believed the fact humanity gave in to their greed and hatred, the spirits abandoned them. We could change it and say that due to humanity giving in to hatred and greed, they forced the Spirits away, opening the door to the demons. (..)
The Heart of the World is believed to be what ties all of us to our world, to Aselia. It is affected when a great number (some say 90% of humanity, others 87%) of hearts are attuned to certain emotions, be them on the negative spectrum or positive, the Heart of the World acts towards these emotions, prompting strange, unpredictable phenomena to happen.
Seeing what happened near the end of the Years of Demons, I am forced to agree with them...
- Excerpt from "The Mysteries of Aselia, Vol. III", by Raine Sage -
About Verius' OOCness, let me say this: anything I write in a story is according to the plan. Everything is for a reason that will be latter revealed. I'll just give one tip: remember what was happening when Verius broke out of her seal. This will be further clarified ahead.
Anyway... no, I didn't take a turn and started talking about Kingdom Hearts when I mentioned "Heart of the World". For future reference, there are theories about planets being sentient, living beings (the theory of Gaia, if I'm not mistaken), so I merely took a little advantage of that, coupled with creative liberty and there we have Verius!
See you all latter!
