Felinis: I was supposed to be writing my shitty self-insert, but I got struck by the muse and was compelled to write the last act which meant I had to write this...
Karol feels beyond useless right now as he sits with his friends at the inn. As a friend, he's failed to do anything to help Yuri and as a guild, they couldn't even complete their first job.
"It was so-so-so revolting," Rita says grimacing at the memories of watching Yuri in that cart. Karol nods because he admittedly feels the same way. Several times he thought of vomiting on the cart just from the smell alone. "Really, how are you guys supposed to deal with that?"
"What do you mean 'you guys'?" Karol shouts as the mage guiltily turns her head away.
"Look, this is too much for me. It's been fun, but once we get our answers from Belius I'm going on my own to study aer krene. Yuri may be a facet for the next step in my research, but if it means dealing with that no thanks. Count me out of the creepy body meddling shit."
Raven nod. "Me too. My job is ta follow around the princess and that's it. And ya hear that sound his bones were making? Ughh gives me the willies."
"Fine then. Leave." Judith says firmly and Karol can only watch as an argument starts to break out. What to do next. Their moral responsibility to Yuri. Finding a way to fix Yuri's problem. How they all feel over the matter.
Karol finds himself leaning back and falling silent as exhaustion consumes him. Constant yelling and complaining from everyone on what to do. He expects Patty to provide words of wisdom like last time, but she stays silent.
Estelle finally snaps. "You all haven't batted an eye at the fact I'm not normal."
Everyone turns to Estelle and Karol shamefully holds down his head. "Well, it's different for you Estelle."
"How so?" She says as silence drifts in the air.
"You look just like us." Karol blurts and regrets the words instantly.
She sighs. "I'm staying with Yuri till we can figure this out. That's my choice. You can run away and I won't stop you."
Karol is unsure because he's afraid of Yuri, yet Yuri is his friend. Someone who has shown time and time again to have faith in him. But, he's terrified! Absolutely terrified at the idea of watching Yuri change or of Yuri turning on them because he's lost his sanity. Of anything that will happen... Karol wants to stand as a friend all the same. It's just a matter of courage that Karol sadly lacks, but wants to have.
"I'm staying as well." Judith is firm in her statement and Karol almost thinks there's venom in her voice.
Raven sighs. "Damn. Then I guess I'm stuck here. What about you, Rita?"
Rita looks at Estelle and around the room. "I'm waiting till after we meet Belius."
Patty grips her hands. "I'm staying with Yuri too. I... for a second, I thought I remembered something. I think that being with him will help me."
"I'll stay too!" Karol says to his own surprise. This is crazy. Very crazy! But, Karol is running into this despite his better thoughts. But, he wants to do this as a person.
Estelle smiles in relief. "Thank you. I was afraid I'd be alone in this."
"Of course not! We're friends and we're gonna stand together."
Yuri wakes up at some point from the aer driven daze. He feels much better… great even… His hands instinctually drift to the horns on his head. Yuri cringes as he looks at his hands… Precisions cutting doesn't seem like anything he can do on his own with how his fingers are. Flynn would normally take care of this sort of thing for him.
Flynn...
Yuri shakes thoughts of the blonde from his head because he's still mad at him. Or at least trying to be. Yuri isn't sure what to think of anything! He just knows he needs an escape goat for his anger and Flynn is the easiest to focus on. So he fills up his head with mean and vicious thoughts. Ideas of being used or the pity in Flynn's eyes. It's easier to be angrier towards the world and Flynn for now.
He isn't sure what to think otherwise.
Those tails flicker on the bed just outside his view as a reminder. Yuri doesn't even think as he starts licking the pads on one his hands. He stops thoroughly embarrassed as he recalls Repede often doing the same thing. "No. No. No! I am not grooming myself!" But, they are very dirty and dirty paws are unpleasant. "Hands! They're hands!" Yuri paces clumsily around the room trying to ignore the idea. He paces for an eternity before the thoughts fade to the background of his mind as an ungodly itch. Maybe he feels fine physically, but he feels closer to how he had when the antennas had first grown.
Emotionally off and kind of crazy.
He flops down ignoring the urge to actually chase the three tails. He keeps moving around the room uncomfortable as he swallows thoughts that make Yuri want to gag. "Come on, pull it together." He feels nightfall as his blood starts humming for him to change more. Yuri loathes the way those tails try to wrap around him in some sort of protection; he's not having an episode or is going to let himself change more.
"Your friends will be coming soon. Will you go meet them?" Belius walks in back in her Entelexeia form. Yuri almost hesitates to say yes to her. He's ashamed of himself for what he is… Not to mention he's wearing chaps! Fucking chaps! A large hand sets on his shoulder. "It'll be fine."
"I know."
He waits inside her chambers with Belius for his friend. "Try rubbing your hands on cloth or a textured surface. It curbs the need." Yuri is a little shocked because it implies that Belius also fights the urge to groom herself. "Instinct is something even humans fight. It's not that bizarre for I to find myself feeling the pull to indulge it."
"What do you have on chasing tails?"
Belius laughs into her hands. "Oh, I haven't felt the need to do that since I was a kit." Yuri flushes and tries to hide behind his cowl. "No need for embarrassment. Almost all of have done something of that nature. I used to nibble on mine in my sleep; I was so ashamed to be doing something like that."
"I'm not gonna do that, right?"
"Most likely not, or at least not anytime soon." Well, that's somewhat of a relief? "Don't worry too much about that. It's a phase; you'll do it four or five times and you'll be done with." Her eyes narrow and Belius runs a tongue on his hair. "Stop moving. You're an absolute mess." Yuri his whines in frustration as Belius goes about thoroughly grooming him.
"I'm not a kid!" Yuri scoffs as Belius starts smoothing his hair.
"From my standpoint, you're barely past infancy." The Entelexeia croons when she deems him okay with few nuzzles that Yuri doesn't want to like. Yuri crosses his arms in frustration as he decides his time is best spent staring at the door.
His friends walk in a few minutes later rushing over to him. Estelle hugs him tightly as she glances at the tails tucked between his legs. Everyone falls silent unable to think of what to say until Karol finally blurts. "You're wearing assless chaps?"
"All chaps are asslesss, Karol. That's why we call 'em chaps." Raven states and the boy seems fascinated.
"But, why not just wear a kilt? Or a floor length robe?"
Rita scoffs. "Seriously, a skirt? If he wore one of those he'd be flashing everyone, it's not like Yuri can even wear underwear."
"Maybe panties or a thong," Judith adds.
"No, more like a g-string." Patty grins.
Yuri rolls his eyes. "You realize I'm right here?"
"But, what about the robe?" Karol circles back.
"Way too conspicuous. Everyone would think he's shadier than he really is." Raven states.
Estelle hums. "That's a lot coming from you."
"Whaddya mean by that?" Yuri laughs at the statement as Belius coughs for their attention. Basic greetings are made and Raven hands over his letter.
"I've known that old badger too long ta be surprised by who he knows, but just how're you connected?"
Belius scans over the letter with a hum. "I am indebted to him for his assistance during the Great War."
Karol's eyes light up. "The Great War...! So the rumors that you were one of the masterminds behind it are true?"
"Heh, well, I did participate in the war. However, I never exceeded that which my duty as an Entelexeia required. I was not a mastermind of anything."
"The Great War was fought against the Entelexeia..." Karol mutters in shock. Yuri's certain the others placed those facts together after some time, but it still leaves him wondering why.
Belius waves a hand. "At any rate, my acquaintance with the Don dates from those times. I have long lamented that a man of his talent was not born instead as one of my race." The letter regards the matter of Whitehorse requesting assistance that Belius agrees to comply with. "Now then, this letter is not the sole reason for your visit..." Her eyes drift to Estelle. "Is it, Child of the Full Moon?"
"I have to know. What exactly is the Child of the Full Moon?" Estelle says stepping forward. "Please."
"Hmm. I know not whether your fate may be swayed by such knowledge, but-" Belius stops as a scream runs through the halls and the door bursts open to reveal Tison and Clint of the Hunting Blades.
The hooded one pushes front with fury. "At last we've found you, Entelexeia! Leader of monsters! Origin of evil!" At Karol's yelp of surprise, he stops to spit at the boy. "Well if it isn't Karol and friends. You've got some twisted tastes, hanging out with freaks like this."
"Keeping monsters to use in your Coliseum? You're an enemy of humanity, and now you die!" Clint says pointing his sword.
Patty up turns her nose. "You really are unfit to be acquainted with Karol."
"What's with this little kid?"
"A shame for you, but I have no intention of sharing my name with a mere thug."
Karol runs forward desperately. "Wh-where's Nan...?"
"Curious, huh? She should be leading the raid on the remaining monsters in the Coliseum about now." Tison says. "We Hunting Blades give no quarter to any who would obstruct the justice we mete out, humans or no."
Clint is waiting for the Entelexeia to strike as Belius stands still. "What's the matter monsters? Trying to play nice? If you won't attack, then I'll make the first move, beasts!"
Clint aims to at Yuri and he ducks out of the way as Belius bears her fangs at the man. "Don't you dare touch my grandson!"
"Even more reason to slay you," Tison yells charging at her as Belius jumps through the window leading the men on. Clint seems to hesitate following her in turn for killing Yuri but does all the same. They take off running through the halls overrun with Palestralle and Hunting Blade battles in a chaotic battle. They find Natz deeply wounded and Estelle can only spend a moment taking care of him as he follows behind.
Once in the ring they see a slaughter of monster corpses and fallen guild men. Nan stands tall with her weapon at ready. "The Coliseum is now under the authority of the Hunting Blades! Withdraw immediately!"
"Nan! You've got to stop!" Karol yells.
Her eyes widen. "Karol? What are you doing here...?"
"You know that fights between guilds are strictly forbidden by the Union!"
Nan just shakes her head frigidly. "What are you talking about?! This job was commissioned to us directly by the Union itself!"
Raven looks by her side and his eyes go wide. "What?! Harry! What're you doin' here?!"
"Hey...isn't that someone from the Union we met in Dahngrest...?" Rita asks.
"That's the Don's grandson, Harry." Raven runs to the man with stern anger. "Just what in blazes is goin' on here, son?"
"You're under the same orders from the Don yourself, right? To locate apatheia?" Harry says as his eyes drift to Yuri. "What the hell is that thing?" Yuri feels his tails bristle. "Nan, kill it!"
Karol stands in front. "Wait! Yuri's not a monster!"
"No, he's a demon!" An explosion is heard to the left and Yuri dashes off with Judith to where they know Belius is.
A circle of humans diving in on her as Belius strikes one down only for another to rise. "You would yet challenge me, humans?!"
The leader of the Hunting Blades struggles from the ground blood trickling from his face. "...Your kind...is the root...of all evil... All monsters serve evil...! They must be hunted down... It...it is up to us...to the Hunting Blades...!"
Judy strikes at the grunts with deep rage as Belius smacks the rest into the Coliseum walls. The Duce is covered in gashes her fur matted with blood. Estelle starts a spell only to stop remembering the pain she puts Yuri through. "I-I- I'm sorry. I can't heal you."
"It's all right. These are flesh wounds." She huffs licking a thick gash in her arm when a surge of fire blasts into Belius's back. The Duce screams as they see approaching knights and mages enter the scene. At the helm of the group is Flynn the magic circle blazing under his feet.
"By order of the Imperial Knight, I Flynn Scifo, have been tasked with your capture or death Duce Belius." What the hell? "I will also be taking the Krytia in your care into custody as well."
"You'd take my city and my people!" Belius growls, ice erupting around the knights who all but Flynn rattle in their formation. Flynn gestures to the mages and Belius howls leaping in the air reigning stalagmites of ice. Yuri keeps his eye on Flynn who dances around the hail fire casting artes into the sky.
"What do we do?" Estelle cries as they can only stand back watching the fight unfold.
Yuri just looks on because he has no clue how to deal with this Flynn is fighting against the Duce with no desire to stop. Does he fight for Belius or his friend? What side does he stand on? Belius dive bombs shifting forms as she closes the distance between her and Flynn; shifting back instantly she bites into Flynn's shoulder tossing him to the side. Flynn's brigade strikes at her and she knocks at them till a hoplon blastia blasts through her chest knocking her to the ground as the wound floods with crimson. She lunges again and arte strikes her in a crash of light and the Duce's movements turn wild for a moment before recomposing herself; blood still pouring from her wounds. Estelle rushes forward and fear strikes Yuri's heart as she runs to the monster. "Please don't die!"
The air turns cold as Estelle's arte tears apart Belius's body. The wound slows its bleeding, but her screams turn from words to incompressible howls and yips. She rises from the ground hissing at Estelle teeth bared as ice pools under her. "Belius?" Yuri's blood is freezing as well because he knows the look in those eyes it's the one Flynn and others have described of Yuri's episode. The Entelexeia hisses backing up and Yuri finds she's circled back around him.
"Belius snap out of!" Judith shouts as she bats Yuri closer with her tails. "Belius!"
kit- safe- protect-
Flynn gets up his healers having fixed his injuries as he walks forward towards the Duce. "Fire more rounds."
"Flynn stop this!" The rounds pierce through Belius's flesh as she howls in pain still covering Yuri. Blood drips and the shots have drilled holes into the great creature's flesh. "Please, Belius snap out of this. Run away or fight back! Why are you doing this?" She just licks his face and Yuri thinks he understands. "Run!"
Flynn is yards away sword at the ready. "Yuri, get out of the way."
"Not until you explain what you're doing!" A groan launches from Belius's lips and relief fills Yuri till that arte from before strikes and Belius returns to lost sanity. Yuri charges, but Flynn pulls up a barrier and zaps Yuri past Belius who tries to run after him.
Squelch
The sound lives in Yuri's ear as Belius as the Duce's body breaks away into aer dropping a giant blue apatheia. Yuri scoops in his arms backing away from Flynn looking to Estelle and tossing it at her. The knights are surrounding them and now's a good time for making a run for it.
"Yuri, I will be taking you and Lady Estellise into custody." Flynn's sword is pointed squarely at him and for the first time, Yuri thinks Flynn would actually hurt him. Yes, Yuri has been angry with hate smearing in him, but it's the hollow kind. The kind that spews out angry words because it can. Yuri has never once thought Flynn would hold his sword at Yuri like he was a stranger. Worse a real monster.
Yuri grips his sword and hopes that his new additions won't fuck him up. "No way in hell." Flynn falls into a scowl that feels so foreign than the ones Yuri has always received. Flynn's blade flies by so fast that Yuri stumbles back falling on all fours for a split second. "Flynn, why are you doing this?" The blonde says nothing as he closes the distance pressing his sword hard against Yuri's. "Flynn?"
Suddenly, Flynn drops his blade and pivots behind Yuri pulling him into a vice grip. When Yuri attempts to pull away Flynn tears at his antennas making him scream. "Please calmly turn yourself in." Yuri tries to buck Flynn off him, but the knight holds Yuri tightly. "Fine. The hard way then." Yuri's head is thrust up to the moonless sky as Flynn hold's him by his antennas. Yuri tries to keep his eyes closed as Flynn continues to prod him. Don't look at that sky, but that humming in his blood explodes the fallout coating Yuri's mind as he stares at a sky as empty as his mind. Why, what, why, how- all things turn irrelevant. Emotions... He knows what his emotions were and he's only left in confusion. Why was he mad at his pretty one? The pretty one smiles as Yuri turns slack and leans on him the rage subsiding. The pretty one pets his head softly and Yuri wags the three tails happily. "Good, Yuri. Very good. I promise I'll get you fixed soon."
Yuri knows those are sounds of praise and he waved his tails even more eagerly. He nuzzles as the blonde's cold face looks at the collar in his pocket. It slips on easily and Yuri is blissfully unaware; his mind unraveled to pure instinct. He's an animal. He's unaware of the heartbreak in Flynn's eyes as his friend's scream trying to escape the arms of the knights. He just nuzzles and asks for more praise and pets. He wants the pretty one to dote on him he like he usually does. The pretty one should be attending Yuri now!
"Secure him," Flynn orders a nearby knight tossing him a leash as he scrambles to drag Yuri away.
Flynn strides towards where he sees the princess clutching the apatheia horror-stricken. "Princess Estellise you are to return to the capital at once. Please follow orderly and quietly. I'd hate to take more drastic measures." He ignores Yuri's screaming as he fights against the knights who are likely trying to muzzle him.
"How could you?" Estelle whimpers. "Yuri trusts you! You love him! He's family!"
"No, he's not." Flynn states and a shiver crawls through Estelle's spine. "Yuri is a glorified animal right now. He's a pet."
"You don't think that!"
Flynn sighs shaking his head as he walks up to the struggling Yuri. Flynn whistles and the man halts raising a hand. "Sit." Yuri plops on the ground and the knights are in awe at their captain. "Hand." Yuri holds at hand like a trained dog that Flynn takes petting Yuri as he showers light praise. "I had to start training Yuri when I was thirteen so he wouldn't try to bite me or run away. He's not even aware of any of it." Flynn instructs on how to properly walk the man because more than once Flynn struggled to get Yuri into a bathroom or to get him to stay in one place. He's never been proud of it, but Flynn has had to do these things just so Yuri would be safe when he can back to himself. "This thing never has and never will be Yuri Lowell. I can firmly say that I hate this monster with every part of my body."
"What should we do about the Krytian woman?" asks a knight and Flynn glances at Judith.
"Take her into custody like the rest. She's likely infected too." Flynn orders walking up to Estelle. "Now, would you kindly hand over the apatheia Lady Estellise."
She merely grips tighter. "… I guess you weren't the man I thought you were, Flynn. Hurting people like this-"
"I have my orders."
"Forget them!" Estelle screams. "Your orders are hurting the people you swore to protect! Don't you care about hurting Yuri like this?!"
"No. I don't."
"Loving someone means you never want to hurt them." Estelle sobs tears streaming down her face.
Flynn just stares her down. "You're sadly naïve your majesty. People who care for one another do things to hurt each other all the time. And it is because I care about him I can feel confident in my actions. Now, give me the apatheia."
"No." Estelle lets that power inside her stir and rumble like a swirling vortex as the magic circle beneath her crackles. "I won't let you! I won't let you hurt any of us!" Like a strike from the goddess herself divine light pelts onto the knights. The light passes harmlessly through her companions but it pummels everyone with all the strength of a titan's fist. Judith is running towards Yuri who's now hovering protectively over Flynn's body.
The air tenses as Flynn stands up gripping his sword. "Let's get the fuck out of here!" Rita yells grabbing Estelle's hand.
"But-"
"If we don't leave soon things will just get worse. We'll come back for Yuri, but for now, our own safety is priority."
Patty cocks her pistol. "I agree. The city will be swarming and they'll have closed off the docks here if we waste time fighting here."
"Judith darlin, let's get ta skedaddling out of here," Raven calls already backing out towards the door.
She just levels her spear at Flynn. "I'll catch up once I have Yuri."
"I'll fight too!" Karol says, but the Krytian shakes her head.
"No. Sorry Karol, but you'll just slow me down." Her grip is so firm and her stance perfect. "I'll be fine. Just get to the docks." The Krytian stands alone in the Coliseum as Flynn glowers at her. "He really does care about you and it's a shame. Yuri could do better if the man who loves him hates half of his entire being."
Flynn just casts healing artes on himself to deal with any injuries. "What do you even know about Yuri?" He parries forward and Judith launches herself high dive bombing around the knight. Flynn comes inches from cutting her skin but struggles to draw blood. "I've known Yuri my whole life. What would some Krytian hussy who came out of nowhere know about him?"
Judith cuts Flynn's cheek and now deals with dodging a feral Yuri. "Calm." It slows his feet a moment, but Judith still dances around the field unable to do much. "You're probably right, on that one. I only know the thoughts I hear or what I've seen while traveling. But, I know enough!" Flynn's blade finally strikes as he cuts her in the stomach. "Ba'ul!"
Flynn draws his blade flicking the blood as he starts performing artes on her enough to close the wound. It'll scar, but she'll live. "I won't let you die. I'm not a murder."
"Then why are you having the knights hunt down my people?" Judith hisses as she tries to think of something she could do. Flynn doesn't answer and relief floods her as Ba'ul strikes down on the knight. "Ba'ul!"
Flynn hisses. "Another one…"
Judith, climb on we must leave.
But, Yuri-
Now!
She hates it, but she takes off all the same as Ba'ul guides her injured body to the Fierta. Everyone rushes to her and Judith screams. "I couldn't save him!"
"You're the dragon rider." Rita hisses seeing the Entelexeia and her rage bubbles. "You have explaining to do!"
She staggers a bit as she goes to Estelle who's starts to heal her, but she puts her spear to the princess's neck. "I told you-" Judith heaves. "If you hurt an Entelexeia I would draw my blade on you."
Everyone holds their weapons at ready except Estelle. "And, I told you-" She glows in light and Judith feels her body turn heavy. "I would hurt you if you raised a hand against my friends."
Judith just sighs. "You're right." She walks away letting her anger burn inside as she walks to the ceres blastia. "In the end, this is the best path I can take." She slams her spear shattering it as she jumps on Ba'ul. "I'll be taking care of things on my own from here."
The group watches in the distant the burning city of Nordopolica as a dread takes them on Yuri's fate.
Felinis: That awkward moment when you decided to fuck with everything because you weren't sure where to go if you kept it on plot.
