Aviantei

By: Aviantei

Part Fifty-Three: Journey

The lost continent of Mu was a strange sight amidst the darkness of the deep ocean. Ivy took notice of it because her dousing of Hao's position had fluctuated more as it concentrated on its target. Increasing the flame she'd summoned in their air bubble (carved out via a combination of Mya's water manipulation and Kaede's Soul of the Forest providing a consistent source of oxygen), Ivy did her best to find the entrance to the structure, slabs of rock and staircases almost impossible to make out the difference in.

"Whoa, that's wild," Issebella said, expressing everyone's feelings in one sentence. "Do you think this thing used to be above the surface? Maybe it's like Atlantis or something."

"Regardless of how it got here, it's where we need to be," Ivy said, refocusing her dousing to the new target of finding the way in. Once her rocks shifted, she moved their course downward. Since the Patch had transported the final four teams in an Over Soul submarine, they had to have some sort of dock somewhere. "Thank you two for coming with me. You didn't need to."

"Aw, come, on. This again, Principessa?"

"You should know better, Ka-san," Kaede said, looking somewhat tired by needing to maintain her Over Soul for so long. "We trust you, so we'll follow you wherever you want us to be."

Ivy smiled through her sigh. She didn't know why she even bothered asking, anymore. It wasn't like she'd ever been able to shake Issebella off her back before; why would it start now? "Well, there's no way I'm turning around now. So you guys are stuck for the long haul anyway."

Sure enough, Ivy's hypothesis had been correct, and soon Ha-Gumi's air bubble broke water in the entrance to Mu. The same blocky aesthetic as the outside was just as rampant inside, but it was undeniable that they were breathing oxygen, even when Kaede collapsed Soul of the Forest. It took a few moments for them to get their feet on solid ground once more, and Ivy could tell that Mu wasn't about to lend itself to her powers very well.

This place has been around for thousands of years. It's willful, but it's also been under the influence of the Patch since the very beginning of the Shaman Fight. Aviantei or not, even I can't break this kind of loyalty. She looked back to her dousing, which had become unstable enough that the stones were flying haywire, and dismissed the Over Soul. It was a miracle she'd been able to track Hao this far if that was how her personal elements were reacting.

Issebella looked around with the same sort of bewilderment of an unprepared tourist—which was all but what they were, anyways. "This place is super huge! How are we supposed to know where to go if the whole thing looks like this?"

"We keep moving forward," Kaede said, staring forward at the singular door leading out of the room they'd arrived in. Ivy nodded, and Kaede took the first steps forward. "We've been told the basics. After the contestants arrive at Mu, there's a secondary tournament. The winner of that goes through the ten Plants where they'll be crowned Shaman King. That means if we find the Plants, we'll be on the right track."

Considering that Ivy had overheard the plan of Yoh's group was to forfeit the secondary tournament and instead use the time to try and defeat Hao while he was vulnerable during the transition to becoming Shaman King, they'd be following the same path as well. "Right. The trick is just going to be finding the Plants in the first place."

"Then allow me to help with that."

Ha-Gumi tensed as one before triplet looks of confusion washed over their faces. Luchist had been waiting, in his battle clothes rather than his usual dark jacket. More surprising was the fact that he'd appeared as a spirit, considering his combination of resolve and spirit ally made him a formidable opponent.

Regardless, though, he was dead. The how of the situation didn't matter so much when you looked at it that way.

Luchist waved for Ha-Gumi to follow. Short of any other hints, Ivy did so, and Issebella and Kaede trailed behind her. "If I didn't know better, Luchist," Ivy said, starting the trek up a flight of stairs Luchist had led them to, "I would say that you were waiting for us to show up."

Luchist chuckled as he floated upwards. "That would be because I was." He glanced over his shoulder with a smug expression on his face. "Maybe not for as long as you, Ivy, but I have been with Hao-sama for years. Not once in all that time have you been able to go without seeing him for long." Ivy frowned, but she couldn't say anything against that. Resisting the urge to knock the snickering Issebella back down the stairs was another matter of willpower altogether. "Besides, Yoh-sama and the others seem to be acting on the idea that they'll be able to win over Hao-sama through love. If there's anyone more suited to helping with that, it would be you."

Oh, please, like you don't broadcast your feelings like a beacon. You're always trying so hard that it just ends up being counterproductive.

I hate to admit it, but Anna was probably right. Ivy exhaled, the sentiment not bothering her as much as it had before. Considering that she'd come here for the purpose of having an honest conversation with Hao, it wasn't like there was a point in keeping it a secret.

"Do you think something like that will work on Hao?" Ivy asked. Though she almost pronounced the honorific, it didn't feel right on the end of his name anymore.

Luchist raised an eyebrow at the change in referral, but he didn't comment on it. "I don't know," he said. "I'm still skeptic that such optimism can change anything. But…Marco believed in the power of love. So, maybe, it's worth placing a bet on." He let out a laugh. "Besides, I'm dead anyways. It's not like the outcome will impact me much, now will it?"

Ivy stared at his back, only half registering the X Laws tattoo there. "Luchist, what kind of state is your body in? Is it in good enough shape that I can revive you?"

"Now, now, don't go wasting your energy on something like that." If I wanted to do it, there's nothing you can do to stop me, though, you know. At last all the way at the top of the stairs, Luchist turned and continued along a long stretch of platform, with several other blocky areas visible. Luchist paused for a moment when he was near his body, which had fallen next to Marco's, and Ivy scrunched up her nose in frustration. Luchist laughed. "You're not very likely to heal Marco as well, are you? Besides, I'm sure those kids that went on ahead are going to need your help way more. I'm content to help you lot out and stick this way for now."

Considering that Ivy had been willing to just sit on the beach and wait it out not that long ago, she didn't have the right to judge Luchist's decision. "Alright then," she said, earning a surprised yelp from Issebella. Ivy turned back to her. "What? He's got a point. Why waste the mana on someone who doesn't want to come back?"

"Well, yeah, but wouldn't, like, having more people be way more helpful for getting through all the stuff up ahead? I'm sure Horo and everyone else is gonna get worn down on fighting the Patch officiants." Issebella looked from Ivy to Luchist himself. "Besides, if you've got the opportunity to stay alive, why wouldn't you take it?!"

"Stop it." Kaede yanked on the back of Issebella's dress, knocking her off balance. "You can't go and force your ideals onto other people like that. If Luchist wants to stay dead, that's his business."

"Yeah, but—"

"It's not like I plan to give up on life," Luchist said, cutting Issebella's protest short. "I just happen to know where I'll do the most good. Having Ivy waste her mana on someone like me just yet isn't going to contribute in any way." He started moving again, this time heading further into the labyrinth. "Once everything's over, we can sort out who's going to be alive and who isn't. For now, it's better for you kids to keep moving forward."

Issebella gave Ivy one more look, but she shook her head. Just because she could revive the dead didn't mean it was her prerogative to force it on people who didn't want it. "I'm not here to play god, Issebella. If you're that worried, I'll take care of them both once the Shaman Fight's over. That's the most I'm willing to compromise right now."

Seeming to recognize that now wasn't the time to argue about it, Issebella followed along without a further protest. Kaede reached out to take Issebella's hand, and together Ha-Gumi followed Luchist's spirit further into Mu.

The Plants themselves were nothing short of incredible. The doors that lead to them were massive, and the metal resonated with the fresh connection to mana. And beyond that, each one held a perfect replica of one of the planet's environs, down to the very feeling they left among the elements. Thanks to her travels with Hao, Ivy had had the benefit of seeing almost every corner of the world. The first Plant's dessert felt and sounded the exact same as one on the surface. If she hadn't taken the journey into the depths herself, Ivy would have believed that she was in the real thing.

They couldn't stay there marveling for long, though. The body of one of the Patch's officiants was in the middle of the hot sand, burnt to a near crisp with Ren and Horohoro's mana still crackling in the air. Yoh's group had been successful, which meant that the next doorway was open. All Ha-Gumi had to do was follow the path given to them.

When they reached the second Plant, Jeanne was there, perhaps having exhausted her mana on battle and resurrections already. She'd just washed in a pool of water at the bottom of the ravine, as her silver hair hung damp behind her shoulders.

"Ha-Gumi," she said in her soft voice, still wearing that unflappable holy smile. "Or I suppose at this point it would be more appropriate to call you Lon Ivy, Issebella Vargas, and Kiha Kaede, yes? Or have I misinterpreted why you've come here?"

Issebella raised her hand in a salute. "If you're thinking we're here because the Principessa's way more romantic than you would have guessed, then you're right." Ivy logged the comment in her mind on the list of Things to Get Back at Issebella for Later. "Of course, I'm also here to check on Horo!"

"We want to help our friends," Kaede said.

"I'm glad to hear that," Jeanne said, her ruby colored eyes looking over them each in turn. Maybe Ivy was projecting, but Jeanne looked much livelier than she had in the arena, as if she'd found her purpose outside of serving as a vehicle for the X-Laws' ideals already. This girl was no longer just a weapon. "While we've stood on opposite sides beforehand, I think it's foolish to cling to such things now, and even more so if you don't plan on facing us as an enemy from here on out." When Ivy shook her head, Jeanne was all but glowing as she beamed. "Thank goodness. I overhead Lyserg and Ren talking about you on the way down here. Both of them seemed to be worried about you, Ivy."

Issebella and Kaede exchanged curious glances, and Ivy couldn't deny she wanted to know more, too. But that was the sort of thing she could ask about whenever they met up and under better circumstances. "I'm guessing you stayed back because you worried you'd be a burden without any mana left, huh?" she asked, and Jeanne's expression flickered into one of regret. "That means they only have Faust left as a healer, huh? That's going to be rough on them…"

Jeanne nodded, the light reflecting in waves off her hair. "Maybe I'm not in any position to ask, but would you please go tend to them? Not only the Five Warriors, but everyone. We've already had to deal with some terrible losses," she said, and Ivy wondered if Jeanne was thinking about Marco's body, lying on the ground with Luchist back at the entrance. Regardless of what Ivy thought of Marco, he had to have meant something to Jeanne. "I know that you have incredible strength. So please watch over them."

Ivy gave a curt nod. "I don't need you to tell me that, little miss Iron Maiden." She started to walk but paused. "If you want to come along, I don't intend on slowing down for you."

Just like Luchist before her, Jeanne shook her head; Ivy should have seen it coming. "I already made my decision when I told the others to go on ahead. I don't plan to be a burden on anyone." She dipped her head and clasped her hands together. "All of the Patch Officiants are manning their respective Plants, so you can go forward without worrying about me. I'll pray for your success, along with the others. That's how I can be the most use right now."

While Ivy may not have put much stock in prayers, she recognized that the time to move on was now.

With one more moment of hesitation, Ivy shrugged her jacket off her shoulders and tossed it to Jeanne so the kid would at least have something to cover up with.

Though they'd just arrived at the halfway point and hadn't even defeated Kalim as the representative of the Highlands Plant, there wasn't much choice for them to take the opportunity to rest. Most of their group had exhausted their mana, and Horohoro had already taken a beating that required medical attention. Pushing themselves to go farther wasn't going to do anyone any good, and even less so since they were still well within the time limit.

Ren still felt antsy, though. Maybe that was unfair to say, because he felt antsy most of the time, but logic still couldn't quell his thoughts. The instincts in him recognized that they were in a race against time that could very well determine the fate of the world. Those very same instincts shouted that there wasn't any time to waste, with every inactive moment a potential second they were losing to stop Hao. Having Ludsev's ghost arrive while toting the Spirit of Fire as a "gift" from their soon to be opponent wasn't helping matters any.

We can't afford to get hasty here, he reminded himself for what had to be the twentieth time since they'd chosen to stop for the night. The moment we do is the moment we lose. I know that, but still…

Sitting on the opposite end of the room, Lyserg gave Ren a reassuring smile, though there was a worried look in his eyes, too. Ren wouldn't be surprised if all of them were thinking the same thing. The single one of them who looked to be at peace was Opacho, who'd already curled up on a futon and was attempting to get some sleep. How much of that was because she trusted in her own fate if Hao was victorious, and how much of that was because she was still little more than a child?

"…nee-chan," Opacho mumbled, her voice muffled by the blanket that she'd buried her face in. Then her brow furrowed, and she sat up, rubbing at one of her eyes. "It sounds like…Onee-chan's here…" Ren registered the meaning of the words a split second before Opacho did, and Lyserg was already on his feet.

"Hey ho! Buona serata!" called a voice that wasn't Ivy's but was indicative enough of her presence regardless. Issebella Vargas leaned in the nearest open window. "Is this where the party is? Oh, hey, there's loads of food. Looks good. Hey, you two, everyone's over here!"

Horohoro recovered from his initial shock first, though perhaps "recover" wasn't the best way to put it. "Issebella?! What the heck are you doing here?"

Issebella pouted. "What do you mean? I'm here because I'm a good cavaliere—where the Principessagoes is where I go. And of course I wasn't about to pass up the chance to see you again, Horo—wait, how'd you get so beat up?!"

"Yeah!" Chocolove chimed in, launching into his third-party straight man pose. "This is supposed to be a meet up, not a beat up!"

"If dinner's ready, then it's time to eat up," Kaede's monotone voice said as it floated in through the opened window. And then her hand chopped at the back of Issebella's head, causing the taller girl to slouch over the window frame and make her teammate visible. "Issebella ,stop shouting. Everyone's had a long day; they don't need you wearing them out anymore."

"But Kaede, Horo's gotten hurt real bad!"

So business as usual, huh? Ren let out a chuckle, then wiped the smirk off his face before anyone noticed. He pulled himself to his feet, noticing that Opacho had already abandoned the blankets and was moving towards the door, with Lyserg at her heels. Ren decided to follow them, taking the opportunity to completely avoid the brewing comedy skit around the table. The group's voices were still audible from the next room over, yes, but at least the racket was more isolated. By the time Ren had arrived, the door to Kalim's cottage was open, and Ivy was there, as if she hadn't traveled all the way to the bottom of the ocean to follow them.

"Aviantei-onee-chan! You came!" Opacho hopped up, reaching for a hug, and Ivy picked the girl up as she'd done earlier that day on the beach, looking all the same, except for the warmth that was now present in her eyes instead of the look of resignation she'd had before.

"Of course I came," she said, dropping a quick kiss onto Opacho's forehead. "You and I made a promise, didn't we?" Opacho nodded, nuzzling against Ivy, and the latter looked to Ren and Lyserg in turn. "Besides. The people I care about are here, too." She smiled, and it was with genuine joy at seeing them both again. "I saw that Faust was done for, earlier. How about I help take care of Horohoro and put Opacho to bed, then we can talk?"

[Author's Notes]

And, so, this week we finally received the SK 2021 anime, and today I finally received my copy of the first omnibus of the English language rerun of the manga! It's a good time to be a Shaman King fan, is it not?

Thanks go out to HikaRinChan, Aywen, LyriaHart, and ShuLuo (whose notif I just got while preparing to type up this thanks list!) for the favorites, follows, and reviews since last update. I super appreciate you all, and I hope you're having a fun time with the new SK media we're getting this year, just like I am. May this fic be a worthy supplement to the original.

We've made it to Mu! And we've united with the main squad! And we had a lot of thematically relevant conversations! There's just a little bit more quiet before we get into the finale, so I hope you're ready to roll! Out of curiosity, what are you readers' predictions for this final fic arc? I'd love to hear your thoughts after so long together~.

Next Time - Part Fifty-Four: "Salvation." Please look forward to it!

-Avi

[04.03.2021]