For Unity
Wooo, guys were getting though, I'm thinking were only about 8 or 9 chapters away from being done… maybe… I don't know that might be the end… depends on how much more I want to write. But you know… Plot. Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas/ whichever holiday you celebrate, let's get started on this chapter shall we.
Chapter 25
Theme for the Chapter: Hands of a thief, by Natewantstobattle
Illusion in the weeping
I awoke that morning, surprisingly Edelgard was still asleep, usually she was up before me so me waking before her was a rarity. I quietly rolled out of my bed and moved towards my study. I pulled a book out of my selection from on top of my study; opening it and reviewing its contents.
The last couple of months I had been learning how to use this worlds magic, as it wasn't a normal occurrence in my world, I had also spent some time working to apply this magic in to some battle tactics, mainly to replicate attacks from other games or shows I had seen.
The problem was focusing the magic through kinesis in order to achieve what I wanted, one particular move was the Falcon Punch, as it required a lot of displacement of the flames to make a falcon and I couldn't get the flames to concentrate into more than a ball. In my learning I had asked for some help from some my peers and some of my students, Annette had been the most helpful in this endeavor as she explained that magical configuration was a more difficult task but through some of the simpler spells like Bolganone honing that skill I could eventually be able to create the desired effect.
I had been practicing my magical abilities attempting to achieve this with my mastery of Bolganone I worked to disperse the flames to recreate the attack but besides conjure the flames to envelope my fist or my body I could not turn it into the shape of a falcon, but through my ability I had managed to recreate attacks like the fire dragons iron fist, talon, crushing fang, and grip strike. I had also been able to do numerous other small attacks that did not require a high concentration on kinesis.
But today was going to be the day, I was going to perfect the formulation of the Falcon Punch, once I had finished my review I walked into the small alleyway outside my quarters and began to practice dispersing my flames before attempting to try the attack.
"Here I go." I said to myself, 'Falcon punch, falcon punch. Come on falcon punch.' I thought desperately as I began to charge the attack. As I unleashed the force of the punch I released the flames letting them envelope me and take form, I looked to see if I had create the form the falcon, I were to be honest I would say it was a horribly rendered version of the falcon punch, but it was a more a less a falcon and that alone was enough for celebration.
After my short celebration I walked back into my room to find Edelgard stirring herself awake. "Morning." I said softly she did the morning stretches and opened her beautiful eyes.
"Good morning, Drake." She replied softly. "Why are you up so early?"
"Wait it's early?" I replied puzzled
She nodded, "This is usually when I wake up."
"How in the world did I manage that?" I thought out loud, "I suck at early wake ups." I continued, "Maybe it's because of my anticipation of today." I began to mutter.
"Drake, it's fine, just come here." She said gesturing for me to approach her. I knelt down next to my bed leaning into close to her as she pecked my cheek. "Professor?" She cooed. "Y-ya." I replied. "I'm going to head back to my quarters." She said moving out of the bed. "Would you object to me escorting you there?" I asked. "Drake, I can handle getting to my room." She replied. "Please, for my sanities sake?" I begged. "If you must." She replied.
As we walked out of my quarters Edelgard took a look around the snow-covered area around us. "Drake?" She queried. "Ya!" I said turning to her. "What is with the reduction of snow in the ally here?" she asked. "Oh, I've been doing some magic training in that ally and the flames of the magic melted the snow." I clarified, Edelgard nodded with a puzzled look on her face. "I was trying to recreate a move done by a character in my world and it required me to engulf myself in flames and so it did that." I explained.
As we walked back to Edelgard's room I noticed her shivering in the brisk air, I noticed her wearing the light coat she had been wearing last night. I removed my coat and placed it on her. "Drake?" she said concerned. "It's fine, like I said a while back I don't mind the cold." I assured her.
After our long trek to her room. "I'm heading down to the dining hall, anything in particular you want me to get you?" I asked. "No, the usual should be fine. I guess I'll see you in a few minutes." She replied, I nodded. I soon departed with the close of her door making my way to the dining hall.
A little after Breakfast.
"Ah, Professor, perfect timing!" I heard Alois shout out to me. "There has been some commotion at the abandoned church." He reported. "Right, I'll get my class together and get down there." I replied. "No worries, the knights have already gotten the word out, unfortunately we won't be able to join you, but we wish you luck with you mission." He affirmed. "Thank you, Alois, and good luck with yours as well." I returned, he nodded and left.
Approaching my students in the marketing distract I began to take account of everyone coming along most were shivering in the winter air. "Okay everyone!" I shouted, "Let's get ourselves warmed up before we make our march, lets start with stretches!" I said beginning to lead them in our prep exercises.
Quickly making her appearance Edelgard ran to join in our exercises with Hubert following shortly after her. After our exercises we finished our preparations and began our march towards the ruined church at the edge of town.
As we approached, I could hear the noises coming from the demonic beast that had been unleashed in the area, even though this mission seemed to be playing out like usual I kept my guard up for anything I sensed could be off.
"Help!" I could hear the students calling out from the different locations of the ruins.
"Edelgard, take a squad to defeat the beast to our left, Ferdinand take a squad to defeat the ones on our right, I'll take the one in the middle." I commanded.
The class divided and began to fight the beast I stared at the beast ahead of me. 'I'm sorry this had to be your fate.' I thought commencing my charge drawing both the Yato and the Creators sword on the beast.
The beast lifted its massive foot in attempt to stomp me out, quickly dodging it I took both blades and did an X-scissor slash on its leg, but my attack was stopped as my blades were caught in its tough hide. 'Now I know why it's stupid to fight one of these things by yourself.' I thought, I managed to remove the Yato from its leg, but the creators sword was still in its leg. Sheathing the Yato, I made a mad dash to attempt to retrieve the creators sword.
The beast attempted once more to stomp on me, missing as I dodged its attack. Getting to its leg I managed to remove the creators sword from its leg only to realize it had grabbed a boulder, amongst the rubble at its feet, to throw at me.
Quickly I dropped to the ground to dodge the boulder only to have to quickly dodge the beast trying to step on me, taking the Creators Sword I lashed it out grasping on to the beast hind leg. Moving to my new safety as the beast tried to move in its small area of space, I took this chance to climb the beast.
The beast thrashed about trying to remove its unwanted rider.
Trying to keep myself steady I stabbed the creators sword into the beast back making it thrash about more violently as it began to run amok in the ruins, quickly drawing the Yato I stabbed it into its back making the give a screech in its new pain.
I began to move my blades like trekking sticks as I traversed the beast back, moving to its spine I took both blades piercing its spine and feeling the beast drop with its back half being paralyzed. The Beast, although with a more struggle, continued to thrash about. I continued to move up the beast spine reaching its head, where I found its broken crest stone surging with its unorthodox power.
I raised the creator sword driving it through the broken crest stone killing the beast instantly reverting it back to the student it mutated. As my students vanquished their beast, they realized the same thing. My students continued to take on the last two beasts as I made my way to the ruined church in the middle of the ruins.
Walking in I had expected to see Kronya in your disguise as Monica but instead I was greeted by Doppel.
"Well, Well, WELL!" he said stressing the last well. "We finally get to chat." He said giving a small, sinister chuckle. "Where's Kronya?" I asked surprised by his appearance. "Oh, I swapped out with her, once she did her task, I decided I would take it from there." He explained. "Cause the only way I can make your life an ever-lasting hell is by doing it myself." He added.
"Professor!" I heard one of my students call out. "Is there anything or anyone in the ruins?" They asked. "No!" I shouted, "Get the rest of the class together and head back I'll see you guys shortly after I finish a final inspection of the grounds!" I ordered. "Really!" My Doppel shouted, "Your buying that shit lie!" He followed up. "How about we put on a show." He said is sinister smile growing wider. "Get everyone away from here!" I shouted beginning to run out."
"Tsk, Tsk. I can't have you ruining my fun." He said shaking his figure.
He snapped his finger immediately teleporting himself to the middle of the ruins. "Now, I know one of you has a connection with your professor. And by connection I thinking a little more personally." He said looking amongst the crowd of students.
"Who are you?" a lot of my students asked. "Well that is quite rude, wouldn't you recognize your professors evil Doppel?" He questioned his smile turning toothier as he grew more anxious to do his next deed. "Hubert, quick!" I shouted as I came running up from behind my Doppel. "AH!" My Doppel shouted raising his hand and snapping his fingers. With his snap Edelgard was whisked to his side bound by his magic.
"Now what are you going to do?" He asked menacingly. "Leave Lady Edelgard out of this!" Hubert demanded. "Oh, that's where you're wrong. Oh, so wrong." He mocked, "She is the very piece to the puzzle I'm trying to solve." He spited. "Hmm." He hummed, "Where should I start?" He said looking over his new prey.
Forming a magic blade, he made a cut in her left leg. Edelgard winced in the pain of the cut. "My, not really fazed by that." He said shocked by the lack of pain. "Well, I can do so much worse." He taunted. "I said leave her out of this!" Hubert shouted casting miasma Δ. "Now you're becoming a pest!" My Doppel replied, flipping his wrist, reflecting the spell back. "You bastard!" I shouted. "You would know!" He replied. "You made me!" He countered making a quick slice as he made a large gash into Edelgard's torso. "Now, to ruin your life!" He shouted.
Taking his blade, he made one last, quick slashing motion.
As if on cue the moments I had watched began to unfold in reverse. "Damn you, I guess I'll just have to do it faster this time." He said. When time resumed my Doppel and I were back into the ruined church.
He descended into his evil laugh quickly move to commit his deed. "NO!" I shouted as I ran out to move only to see him reading his blade. "You have one thing you can do to stop him." I heard in my thought. "Do it." I heard her say.
I was swift to remove the dagger I had at my side, quickly I moved the blade towards my chest. "See you in hell!" I growled shoving the blade through my heart. "Gah!" he sputtered. "You!" he said teleporting away.
With him no longer there to hold her captive with his magic she was dropped into Hubert's arms the gash in her chest had opened her previous wounds leaving her in a more weakened state. The healers present were quick to administer their aid to both Edelgard but as they approached me, I lost consciousness.
TBC
Okay so now we have a confirmed weakness for my Doppel woo, but what's to happen next. Well I guess you guess will have to wait a bit before I'll let you know. Anyway, if I don't get around to making the next chapter before the new year, I'm going to wish you guys a happy new year now. So Happy New year and I might see you before the new decade but probably more likely after the new decade. Bye guys.