Tales of Errantia
Sorry for this late update. Finals are annoying, but Summer is on its way, which hopefully means faster updates.
Chapter 4: Forward.
-0-
Silver flames surrounded me. I was asleep, go figure. Checking the area around, there was no Malevolence was here to purge. With nothing to do, I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
"Maotelus, are you here?"
"I am."
Perking up, I glanced around, "Are you able to show yourself?" I cringed at my voice, I didn't want to sound forceful, regretting how I talked to him last time.
"It's okay. You were right to be angry after what is happening to you right now." The flames started to gather before me, it grew into a blinding light that made me block it with my arms. And soon, he appeared. He had green eyes and blonde hair, with a swirl on top representing a halo. He wore a white cloak, a short blue cape, long black socks, black shoes, and a large black choker with a yellow jewel.
I… wasn't expecting that.
He smiled and tilted his head, "Does my appearance surprised you?" It did, it really did. I thought traveling back in time would be the weirdest thing, but Maotelus was actually a young boy over 1000-years-old.
He sat on his legs and smoothed his cloak. "Well, what do you want to know?" Right! I needed answers.
After my talk with Symonne—which still weighed on my mind—I had to know what I was getting into.
"I know the Abbey isn't what it seems to be, I know that Desolation is the name of our world at this time. Hellions are called Daemons, the silver flame is unique to me, that is all I know, what else do I need to know."
Maotelus nodded along to what I said, affirming the points I made. After I was done talking, he sighed, before opening his eyes, ready to give me more information.
"This started long ago on a Scarlet night when a man died that day, and pushed onto a world his cold, ruthless reason…"
He began to re-tell his journey across the world. Allies of Velvet, Rokurou, Eizen, Magilou, Eleanor, Kamoana, and many more. He didn't stop, he wanted me to know everything.
From the Scarlet night that changed Arthur, to the one where Laphicet was killed and changed Velvet for the worse. From his time as a slave to his time steering his life his way. From meeting other-worlders to his team journeying with different goals. To Zaveid's altered path to the heavenly Steppes.
To the fight with Inominat and Artorius, to Velvet's sacrifice…
I listened for what seemed like hours, yet I felt enraptured by the tale.
"—And I became the fifth Empyrean, Maotelus." Mao-Laphicet ended his tale with tears and a smile. He patted his cloak and smoothed it before looking at me again.
"…You want me to save Velvet." I could only whisper it as I looked at the vulnerable boy.
"Not just Velvet, Everyone. I want you to save the world from the curse that the Seraphim put on humans and Malakhim." As he said that I took a deep breath and put my hand on my chin.
The heavenly steppes journey was one I paid attention to the most. Illuyankas and Fafnir were names I recognized. Those were the farthest things from my mind, to be honest. I had to fight dragoons and those wretched beasts, it would be Hexen Isle all over again.
A Curse. One of which turns humans into Daemons and Malakhim into dragons.
The wrongness from what was said by the Seraphim, 'Zui Fuu', humans didn't originally transform into Daemons, they just produced it.
I needed to get rid of the curse somehow and someway.
"You want me to get rid of the curse, right?"
"Yes, that's to stop the Daemons and dragons. Though that won't stop malevolence from being made, it will stop Daemons and dragons from appearing."
That was a good explanation, but something was beating on the back of my skull.
"Those people that you met, Jude and Milla, they came with the Harbinger of the End, right?" A nod. "Do you think if I could find him, he would have answers about the malevolence?"
That got Laphicet thinking. "I… suppose it wouldn't hurt to try. Though, we would need a way to get to Normin Island."
Before I could ask one more question, my head shook. "It seems that you're waking up." I looked towards Laphicet as he said that. He smiled, "Don't worry, you got this."
I woke up.
-0-
My body felt stiff, even when I woke up on a warm bed in the inn. It seemed my mental health wasn't up with my physical strength. I got up and started to stretch, doing that, I looked around the room, seeing that both Zaveid and Symonne were gone.
They were waiting for me.
Quickly getting dressed, I sped-walked out of the room, closing the door behind me. I nodded to the innkeeper, which she gave me a dubious one back. I'm already making waves in this town.
Dragging a bunch of supposed Daemon-turned-people will probably do that to you. This happened during my first few days of the Shepherd. Some things really don't change.
Leaving the Inn, someone caught my eye.
To anyone else, they would look inconspicuous. But being on a journey for so long I can tell when someone is off, even if it's by a smidge of evidence.
A woman with short red hair, average clothes, and a red scarf on their left wrist. Now that I think about it, I always felt the eyes of someone on me when I was out in the open. Now I know who.
It also seemed that she noticed me as well. She perked up and started to walk towards me, Seeing as I had people waiting for me, I wanted to make this quick.
"Hey, do you need something from me?" It came out as forceful, but I didn't want to waste time.
"No, I just wanted to ask a question."
"Ask away."
The woman put on a casual tone, but her eyes drifted and scanned me for any information. "The people, last night there was an abundance of people that came here, I was wondering if you knew anything?"
She was fishing for information. I wanted to keep my ability secret, for the most part, sure people will question how Daemons are reverting back into people again. But they won't know-how. So, the less information on what my ability is, the better.
"The people? Yeah, many of them are settlers that traveled from across the land. Others…I don't know, you'll have to ask them about it." It was a flimsy excuse, but it had to do.
Before anything else could be said, I briskly walked away to the entrance of Stonebury. I still felt her eyes on me, but she hadn't stopped me to question me more. I blew a sigh of relief as I exited the gates of Stonebury.
There, Zaveid and Symonne waited for me. Zaveid make idle conversation and Symonne making jabs.
"Hey now, you don't have to say that."
"Maybe, but your brain somehow cannot comprehend what I'm saying."
"Seems like you two are getting along fine." They both stopped their conversation and turned to me. Zaveid gave a lazy wave and Symonne gave an, albeit a hesitant, nod to me.
"Just fine, Symonne was telling me an interesting story."
"No, I wasn't. Don't believe him." Zaveid gave her a grin while she sneered back at him. I let out a puff of air, this was going to be like when they were arguing in his head, my old party of course.
We began walking through Aldina plains, making sure to avoid Daemons along the way.
Before they could start again, I interrupted, "Enough of that, let's plan a course. Since Zaveid is the one who knows the place, where should we go?"
Thankfully, that stopped them from bickering, Zaveid put up a thoughtful face, "Well, Theodora usually goes to the Gaiburk Icefields when she isn't at Aldina plains, buuut…" He showed a face of frustration.
"Northgand is currently closed right now, we can't access it because some people burned the place down." I had to guess that was Velvet's group. So going after Theodora was a no-go.
I looked towards Symonne, but she shook her head, okay. I looked back to Zaveid, "Got any other plans? I'm willing to whack some Daemons around or the Abbey."
Zaveid lit up like a Christmas tree, "I have another target, this one not so kind like Theodora. In fact, I would rather this one be rotting in a cage somewhere no one can find him."
He looked towards us with a determined and angry expression, "Melchior." I saw Symonne's fist tighten around her baton.
Zaveid wasn't much better, veins appeared on his forehead as he continued talking about the man, "Pointy beard is a vile human. Just thinking about him makes my blood boil."
That was a place to start, I got a nod from Symonne, this was as much as her fight as Zaveid.
"Do you know where he is?"
Zaveid smiled, "Nope!"
I gave him a deadpan stare, same as Symonne, who jabbed his side, "Augh!" Zaveid reeled, but he didn't stop smiling.
"At least let me explain myself!"
"Then stop egging us on you pinhead!"
"Alright Alright! Sheesh, you need to teach her manners, Sorey."
I scratched my cheek, giving a sheepish smile, "I…Don't think I can do that." Symonne huffed and turned away from the both of us. Hehe…
Zaveid re-situated himself before smirking, "Anyway, I'm not that worried because…There they are." He pointed straight ahead of us.
I looked ahead, squinting my eyes as I did so. From what I saw, it was three people in white uniforms and masks that covered the entirety of their heads, they had white capes and walked with a sense of conformity and purpose.
One had a single blade, a rapier, another had a shield along with a blade, and the last had a spear with a shield.
As they got closer, both Symonne and Zaveid shifted their stance, ready for battle. It seemed that I should do the same.
They finally stopped in front of us, I already had my hand on my blade.
"Is there—something we can help you with?" I questioned unhelpfully, as the three Exorcists started to unsheathe their weapons.
The one with the rapier spoke, their voice androgynous and cold, unfeeling, "The Malak in black is under arrest for interfering with the Abbey's work and will be brought to justice, as for you two who are now accomplices." Came the forceful reply. Though, they looked upon my garb with a curious glance.
Well.
Alright then.
Wait.
This sense of welling appeared in my stomach, and dread filled inside my body. Soon enough, my fears were finally in front of me. Light green motes of light came out from the Exorcist's bodies. One for each one.
Soon, the enslavers were joined by three Malakhim. One in red, another in blue, the last in green. All had a golden mask that covered their faces and stood stiff as wooden boards. They relaxed into a fighting stance, ready to fight and die for their masters.
Revolting. I hated it.
And so did the others.
"Tch. Of course, they send the small fries after me." BAM! And with that blast from Siegfried, the fight began.
It began as fast as one would expect and ended faster as one wouldn't expect.
The one nearest to me, rushed towards me with their spear aiming for my heart, twirling my sword, I blocked the strike and sidestepped to their shield side. I reared my sword back and punched my sword through the shield, breaking it.
As they reeled in surprise, I felt something swell inside me, primal and wanted to be let out, A new arte. "Wrought and rend them, Blazing Pillar Smash-Fiery Lion!" I punched my left fist forward as I would with Lion's howl, but I put my red flames and rock into it turning it into something more powerful, pumping out an image of a lion's head that burnt and melt.
It drove the Exorcist into the ground, latching onto them as I slammed my foot onto their face, taking them out of the fight. The fire was still going.
"Nice one~ I better pick up the pace too." I blocked a strike from the red Malak as they swung their lance-blade at me. Zaveid never knows when to shut up, I couldn't stop myself from smiling. It already made me feel more at home.
"Constrictor, Jealousy Cyclone, Hah! Deceiving Pummel!" Zaveid punched the ground, sending countless chains that tore apart his enemies.
"I hope you like this, condemning strike, Recursion, be crushed! Magnetic chaos! Lowly worm." A dark violet glyph appeared under both the Exorcist and their Malakhim, in two waves, dark spheres appeared at the rim and spun and collided at the center.
I ducked a swipe from the red Malak before striking them in the head and kicking them in the chest. "Crimson thrust!" I followed them and struck again at their chest, knocking them out.
Bam! Whump!
I looked towards my companions, only to see them finished with the others. Zaveid used Siegfried to release the knocked-out Malakhim. Symonne sat bored and fidgety, keeping her eyes on the knocked-out Exorcists, but not the Malakhim.
Zaveid shot the Malak's in their head. Thankfully, I was briefed on what would happen, so I didn't panic. The one in blue began to stir.
"W-where am I?" It was a boyish voice that came from inside the mask. Zaveid gave them a kind and reassuring smile.
"Don't worry friend, you've just been freed! How great is that!" Zaveid helped them take off their mask, which showed a boy with dark blue hair and a dreary expression.
Zaveid sat him down and started to explain what was happening and what happened to him, to say the boy, Orgue, was glad would be a massive understatement.
"Hey calm down kid. I need to ask you a few questions."
"S-sorry, but anyway, what did you wanted to ask me?"
"It's about a person, his name is Melchior."
"O-oh. Him…" Just from that voice, it was shaken and afraid as his eyes wrinkled in despair.
"Yes, him, I guess he gave these fella's—" He waved his hand at the Exorcist, "—A mission to try and lure me somewhere, right?"
Orgue gave a surprised expression, before nodding along, "Y-yeah, that's exactly right, he said that they were to capture you, but…Even when I was enslaved, I still felt a chilling notion as he said it. Like he knew they couldn't do it and still gave them this mission."
Melchior was a crafty one, and a heartless one at that. I grimaced at the future fights with him.
"He knew that they would break and give information on where he was…"
"And where is he."
"Lothringen."
"I see thanks champ. Take your friends with you as well." He pointed at the unconscious Malak's. The boy nodded and bowed.
As they disappeared, he turned back to Symonne and me. "What about these folk?" I pointed to the humans.
"Psh. They'll be alright."
"If you say so…"
"Are we done? We're dawdling, let's go." Looking towards Symonne, I saw impatience, but I heard her breathing rather harshly like she was panicking a bit.
"You're right. Zaveid, if you would."
"You got it brah." I shook my head as Zaveid said that the man always had a way with words. He pointed Siegfried at his head and blasted himself full of mana.
He grabbed our shoulders in each hand and smiled, though it wasn't that confident, "It might get a bit rough here, To Port Zekson! …oh boy."
Uh oh.
Oh dam-
Fwoosh.
Skit: Sheltered life?
Sometime after leaving Stonebury.
3rd POV
"You know Sorey, for someone who seems to know how to fight, and has a secret ability that is one of the biggest mysteries, you're quite ignorant of our world." Zaveid put his hand on his chin as he looked at Sorey. Of course, Zaveid didn't know that Sorey had Maotelus within him.
Scratching his cheek, he chuckled weakly, "Haha…yeah. I'm starting to figure this place out really." He saw Symonne give that insane smile she always wore at the times they saw each other when he was on his journey.
It sent chills down his spine.
"He really is. Probably one of the most sheltered people I know." So this was the angle she was getting him with.
"Really?" Zaveid looked surprised.
"Really. It's like he's nothing more than a toddler. Hah…I feel responsible for him when he makes mistakes. Oh what am I to do…" She put her hand on her cheek and sighed dramatically.
"Sorey…"
"Don't believe her lies Zaveid, don't you see her smirk—oh she's grinning now."
"Sorey, you can't let a lady down like that…"
"And what am I supposed to do then?" Zaveid put an arm around Sorey and brought their faces closer together. Smiling along the way, not know Sorey was choking.
"Don't worry young one, I'll teach you how not let down a lady, and how to woo one~"
He pointed forwards before marching on, "Onwards!"
"Zaveid…Y-you're choking m-me!"
Symonne grinned maliciously as she followed along.
End Skit
-0-
Danaan Highway: Southern entrance
I slammed into the ground, "…Ow…"
I felt a body crash into my back, and another on my legs, "Augh…Sorry." So Zaveid landed on my legs, neato. Now, get off.
"Warn us next time, you dolt. Please…" Symonne was on my back, and she was crushing my chest, I couldn't breathe.
I kicked my feet, startling Zaveid, "Ah! Symonne get up! Sorey's under you!"
"Fuu-Ah! Jeez, I thought I was gonna die. Zaveid, please warn us in advance." I looked towards him, breathing hard as I did so.
He at least looked sheepish, "Heh, sorry. Anyway, port Zekson should just be up ahead. You guys have money on you guys, right? I don't feel like stowing away again." Just by looking at his face, I could tell that brought up bad memories.
I checked my pockets, seeing if I still had my wallet, I forgot to give it to Mikleo or Rose when I left to fight Heldalf.
That brought up bad memories, I shook my head.
Feeling the cotton pouch, I could feel the shape of many gald in it, I let out a sigh, yay, I still had money.
I gave him a nod, and took it out and—
"Hot dang Sorey! How did you get that much money," was his response when he opened it and saw all the gald I had with me. My ears grew red, I didn't think it was that much, Rose held most of the gald on our adventure.
"Well, anyway, let's get a ride. We're getting sidetracked." I brought Zaveid out of his stupor and got a nod, he gave it back and we headed towards the gate, which…Symonne was already at. We really needed to keep an eye on her.
Catching up to her, we opened the door to the port.
The port town…was normal. Nothing out of the ordinary, I looked around and saw people bustling about, uncaring about what was happening on the outside.
"…Let's walk."
As I took the lead, I made sure to hear the passing conversations of the people.
"When do you think Hellawes is going to open up again? Trade already took a hit when the Abbey refused to let the sailors go out, now that it's been blown up and ruined, flamestone importing halted completely. It's a disaster." One man ranted.
"I'm more worried about that Daemon that's been running amok across our kingdom…Hasn't the Abbey been doing something about it!? It feels like they're dragging their feet!"
I could feel malevolence wave off of people, their anger and fears palpable to me, it wasn't as strong as the first time in Ladylake, but it was close to it.
Skit: Vessel
While walking in Port Zekson
3rd POV
"Hey, Symonne, Are you okay?" The girl turned her attention to Sorey, confused and a bit miffed.
"What do you mean okay? If you mean like the general problem that we're in, then no, I'm not okay." Zaveid snicked a bit at that.
Sorey crossed his arms in an 'X' motion, "No, not like that. I mean, like…" Sorey started to motion to everything around him. Symonne, who was trying to decipher the motions, started to scrunch her nose at him, confused and frustrated.
The gentle Shepherd sighed before leaning towards her and whispering, "Is the malevolence getting to you." Malevolence was the big secret a lot of Malakhim were keeping. The heads of the Abbey also made sure the general public didn't know either.
"No, I'm used to larger kinds of Malevolence, something like this will have no effect on me, but I guess I could use one." Symonne was hesitant, though she looked unbothered by the miasma that surrounded them.
Unnoticed by the both of them, Zaveid listened in silently. He whispered to himself, "So, Sorey knows what Malevolence is—just who is he…"
"Hey Zaveid, c'mon pick up the pace." Zaveid blinked before realizing that Sorey and Symonne were already far ahead of him.
"Yeah, I'm coming. Just hold on." He needed to ask more about them later. And maybe help Symonne get a pure vessel. He had one, it was just on his left hand where no one could see it. Only for him and Theodora.
End skit
Reaching the docks, Zaveid led us to one of the dockworkers. He gave a kind gesture and pointed to one of the boats, the worker listened before he began to talk. This conversation took only a few minutes before Zaveid waved me over.
"Sorey, got the money?"
"Yeah, it's right here. How much do you need?"
The dockworker looked towards me, "three members, right? The guy told me." I nodded and pointed to where Symonne was waiting.
He crossed his arms and started to think, "Alright, if it's for three people, and you guys are going to the Reneed docks, that'll take about three days to a week to get there…So, how 'bout 15,000 gald."
That was a lot, but I didn't feel like arguing with the man, "Okay, sounds fair." I handed him the amount, which he smiled and got ready with one of the ships.
Zaveid turned to me, "15,000 gald, really? I felt that that's a bit much, we could've bargained a bit."
"Maybe so, but a lot of people where I come from care a lot more for things like traveling." I didn't say that the lords of the land forced us to cough up a bunch of money to quickly travel to where we wanted. Rose kept on planning to murder them in their sleep.
"Sheesh, man. If people, where you come from the need that much money, then I guess having that much money in the first place, is needed."
"Hehe…"
"So, are we going or not?" We both turned to Symonne, who pointed at the dockworkers, who were already clearing up one of the ships for passengers, which included us.
"Yeah, let's."
"We got an appointment with a pointy beard after all."
So, off we go to the Reneed docks. One step closer.
Next update: Pokemon: Pallet Town Heroes