[NOVENA]
With them cutting through Foris Falls to get to Mitis Forest, Novena and Executive Gloria managed to cut down their travel time by a considerable amount; a few hours, at least. And with the (relatively) warmer temperature and the absence of snow, the female duo are able to move through the forest faster.
Demons that tried to interrupt them are cut down with ease and viciousness, no time wasted for exhibitions and their other antics. After all, when the Supreme General calls, all Knights are to report as promptly as possible. General Credo, after all, dislikes tardiness, and accepts nothing but efficiency and their best. Novena has yet to disappoint the General – her failed corralling of Nero not included; that particular job is a lost cause and they all know it – and she wasn't about to start now.
Unfortunately for Novena…
"So, tell me about this Nero," Executive Gloria asks, her tone a little too innocent to be really, well. Innocent. "You seem close."
Novena doesn't rise to the baiting, shaking her head in fond exasperation. "We are close, yes. "Novena confirms, her inflection steady and unbothered. The faster her squad leader loses interest, the fast Novena can have her peace. "We were in the same batch, after all, and we started young. We've been friends for years."
Executive Gloria's smirk is wide and teasing, practically dripping with suggestiveness. "Just friends?"
Novena nods simply, her strides unbroken and steady. "Yes." She glances at the Executive from the corner of her eyes. "You seem oddly invested on my relation to Nero."
Gloria raises her hands in a placating manner, smiling widely and unabashedly. "I can't help but be curious, after all! I've heard rumours about the youngest Knight, and none of them are too flattering." She explains in an even, light tone. "I figure that by asking you, whom the others refer to as his 'older sister', could shed more light on the enigma that is Knight Nero."
Novena sighs, wanting to deny the claims of being Nero's sister. But honestly? She can't; the evidence are too much against her, and probably even Nero would insist on this, just to make her life harder. The brat. "I… well, yes. You can technically talk to Kyrie, but, oh why am I even trying to wiggle out of this…" Novena puts a hand to her forehead, before lowering it and resigning herself to her fate. "Well, then, where do you want me to start?"
"The beginning, of course." Executive Gloria replies simply, a smile on her face. "Who is Knight Nero, before the Order of the Sword?"
Ah, a relatively easy one to answer. "Like most children, Nero is an orphan. Same as me. The difference is, that no one knows who his parents were, or where he came from. From what I heard from the officers, Nero was found wrapped up in a blanket outside one of the orphanages in the outer district. No letters, no notes, nothing. Just him and the black blanket." Novena says, recalling one of the stories she heard from her younger years. "Compared to him, I'm luckier as His Holiness personally knew my parents, and that they worked for the Order of the Sword as well. That afforded me a much better accommodation and care when I was an infant, unlike Nero."
"Absolutely nothing about Knight Nero's origins?" Executive Gloria asks, gracefully leaping over a fallen tree just because she could. "No eye witnesses, no rumours?"
"Nothing. Nero's past before being found in the orphanage is a complete blank." Novena answers. "He… he hates it."
The exotic woman hums, her tone considering and almost absentminded. "How old is he?"
"18 years old. Closing on 19, really."
"18…? Hm, how curious…" Novena blinks at Executive Gloria, who waves a dismissive hand. "Don't mind, don't mind. Does anyone know where he inherited his… features? After all, show white hair isn't exactly a normal colour. Especially to a Fortunian. I know, because I'm not Fortunian either, as you can tell."
Novena nods in agreement. "I know. No one looks like you either, Executive." Novena confirms, before sobering and continuing in a much more serious tone. "As for Nero… the doctors said it to be some sort of albinism, a harmless defect in the skin pigmentation. And as for who Nero inherited it from, well… No one knows."
The two of them fall quiet for a while, traversing the forest they're so familiar with. As they've patrolled Mitis Forest frequently, it didn't take them too long to find one of the paths to the Order, though unfortunately, the Headquarters itself is still a ways off. No matter; there are shortcuts, and if they're lucky, the portals would be stable today. Get them closer to the Order's main building. But until then, Gloria and Novena will continue with their route, simple and straightforward barring any interferences.
Novena hopes nothing would interfere; she will be having her Ascension Ceremony soon, and damn her soul to an eternal suffering if she's late for it.
"Your Nero is quite the puzzle, is he?" Executive Gloria says suddenly, almost making Novena run into a tree from surprise. "Seems like a simple boy, but he is anything but, no?"
Novena sighs, walking around the tree carefully. "He… Yes, he is. But I wouldn't change it, no." Novena shakes her head. "He is very dear to me."
"Would that sentiment remain even if you find something ground-breaking about him?" The exotic woman asks, curious. "What if you find skeletons in his closet?"
"Then I won't judge him." Novena replies easily, readily. "After all, don't we all hide something?"
There's something about Gloria's gaze, then. Approval. Amusement. And something Novena can't quite put a finger on, something darker, foreboding. It made Novena wary. "True enough," And just like that, the spell is broken, the atmosphere light, easier, and Novena exhales a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Now, we ought to start running again. I'm sure you've gotten your breath back-"
The ground shakes from beneath them, and the two women stagger to their knees, hands braced on the ground as they steady themselves. A beastly roar rends the air, unlike anything they've heard of before, and the very trees seems to tremble in response. Novena looks to her squad leader, dread pooling at the pit of her stomach.
"That's… not good." The younger Knight says, voice faint.
"Clearly," Executive Gloria replies, warily getting up to her feet, one hand straying to her thigh holsters, where her knives are stowed. "Moreover, it sounds too close-"
"-We need to confront it and neutralize it," Novena says, urgency colouring her voice. "The General would understand if we're delayed!"
The other woman shoots Novena a sharp look. "Do you think we can handle it? You do know it's just the two of us, right, dear?"
Novena chews on her lip, before nodding decisively, rolling her shoulders – she's completely healed now, whatever Nero gave her has run its course very effectively – clenching her fists. "The roar would've been heard all the way to Headquarters; Angelos will be sent to investigate, and we need to hold on long enough for reinforcement to come. We can make sure the fight ends in our favour, whatever we will be fighting."
Gloria sighs, a little dramatically, a little fondly. "There are times where I wonder about who is really in charge of this squadron." Novena flushes horribly, stammering apologies and deflections, and the exotic woman manages to chuckle, reaching out with one hand to pinch Novena's cheek. "I'm just teasing. Now, shall we be off?"
Novena didn't need any more prompting; she takes off, taking point as they run through the forest, ignoring the other demons they come across in order to give chase of whatever demon- Devil that caused the massive ruckus. Whatever it was, it's massive, it's powerful, and it's fast. It must've sensed Novena and Gloria giving chase, and so it flees deeper into the forest, most likely aware of its pursuers.
She pulls out one of her Vital Stars – remembering she has some of these life-saving items on hand this time – and downs it in one go, grimacing through the vile taste and powering through it. She has more important things to deal with than her sensitive taste buds. She tosses the empty container over her shoulder, and brimming with renewed energy, she pumps her legs faster, pace quickening even more.
They run, the two Knights giving chase to the demon through the forest, leading them closer and closer to the old ruins in the forest, leftovers from the earliest years of the Order. It was quite a ways away from the Headquarters, but at the same time, the people manning the watchtowers would be able to see the massive demon, especially if it's flying around. The Angelos would be called upon, and Novena and Executive Gloria would have their backup.
"I don't think this is a simple demon, dear!" Gloria calls out, running just as fast – if not faster – as Novena despite the exotic woman's ridiculous high-heeled boots. "We could possibly be dealing with a Devil!"
"Then all the more it needs to be dealt with, Executive!" Novena replies, urgency in her tone. Normally, she wouldn't dare act so brazen, wouldn't dare speak this strongly against her officers. But Novena can admit she's not feeling completely herself at the moment, chest tight with terror and burning with hate for the man in red, the one who apparently caused this. Feeling something horrible for the man who killed His Holiness. "Please, we need to-"
"Alright, alright, no need to tie yourself into knots," The Executive sighs. She shakes her head, before shooting a sultry smirk Novena's way. "Well, see you there honey." And with that, the exotic woman curls up, crouches, before shooting off, putting on a burst of speed and taking to the trees, manoeuvring the treetops with nigh inhuman agility and ease.
Executive Gloria is almost as talented as Nero – if not on the same footing, actually – and no wonder the woman rose up the ranks as fast as she had. If Nero wasn't… well, isn't as stubborn and dismissive as he is, Novena is sure he would be an Executive now, if not higher.
But Nero is Nero, and Novena is fine with him the way he is.
Novena shakes all thoughts not related to hunting out of her mind, before putting her hands on the hilts of her sword, gripping them tight to ground herself, remind her where she is, remind her of what she has to do.
Kill demons. Avenge His Holiness. Protect Fortuna.
"In the name of the Knight, of the Dark Blade, of the Glorious Rebellion…" Novena whispers the prayer to herself, letting the familiar words comfort her, bring her calm, provide her with the strength to make it through this ordeal.
She can do this.
She breaks through the treeline, finding herself in a massive clearing – which seems to be a building, years and years ago, if the broken foundations on the corners of the clearing are to be judged – and seeing their prey for the first time.
It's massive, Novena could say, arguably bigger than the fiery Devil she and Nero fought in Ferrum Hills. Serpentine in shape, if not a little draconic, and it seems to be made of organic materials, made out of plant matter like vines, bark, leaves and the like. Its head – well, Novena assumes what she's looking at is the head – suddenly splits open, peeling away like a banana, and a woman-shaped figure comes out of the mouth, grotesque and horrifying.
"Foul, annoying pests, you dare attack me?!" It screams at them, voice shrill and grating, and Novena finally spots her squad leader off to the side, sees Executive Gloria fighting. Dodging what seems to be massive, sentient vines that is showing focused intent in skewering the exotic woman. Of course, with her skill, it was easy for Gloria to dodge them, even cutting some with her usual flair and her usual dramatics. "I'll feast on your flesh!"
Novena joins the fray at that point, grabbing a Holy Water from the depths of her coat and lobbing it at the she-demon viciously yet precisely. Unlike the fire demon she and Nero fought back in the mines, this one had nothing to burn away the blessed water, nothing to defend with, and so the she-demon gets the full effects, the water eating, melting away unholy flesh with no remorse.
The she-demon screams, wails, and Novena draws her weapons with single-minded focus and zeal. She groups with Executive Gloria, leaping over her and twisting, cutting at the vines herself, giving them elbow room to work with. Still distracted and occupied with pain, the she-demon didn't give them attention, which is fine. Novena can work with that distraction.
"Eager to play, aren't you?" Gloria teased, smiling her usual sultry smirk and sending it Novena's way.
The younger Knight, however, didn't chase down the she-demon to play. "I see a demon, and I need to kill it." Novena replies simply and truthfully, cutting right to the matter. "I must kill it."
And so Novena takes out another Holy Water, tossing it, but the she-demon is aware enough this time to twist out of the way, pulling away its main body and gigantic green coils out of the path of the blessed water. Novena purses her lips when the glass orb shattered on the ground harmlessly, wasting precious resource, but no matter.
She just needs to get up close and personal, then. See how the monster likes her swords coated in holy water.
There was something in Executive Gloria's tone, something both wary and amused, but Novena has tuned her unnecessary words out now, still clocking the other's position with her senses when Novena moves forward towards the she-demon for an attack. The other woman follows up, settling in their usual combat strategy with nary a complaint or hesitation. Novena may sometimes disapprove of some of her squad leader's… choices, but Novena does respect and admire her, especially the older woman's combat prowess.
Like now, the two of them flows together, movements in near-perfect synchronization as they danced around each other and with their opponent, swords and knives flashing, cutting through the air and through vines and Chimera seeds the she-demon keeps spawning throughout the fight in order to distract them. Not that the Chimera seedlings did much; Novena was on them and tearing them apart before they even hatched.
Novena watches the she-demon – who had mentioned a name sometime earlier, Echidna, she thinks – roar with fury and anguish, before disappearing into the plant dragon's maw, completing the monstrous form. It snarls and hisses at them, before launching itself up into the air, circling the area at high speeds, sticking low to the ground, slipping within the trees to hide itself.
Novena and Gloria has their backs pressed against each other's, standing in the middle of the area as they watched the forest itself shudder around them, roused to 'life' at the presence of the she-demon. A unique and extremely powerful demon, Novena acknowledges to herself in the privacy of her mind, and she flexes her grip around her swords.
The she-demon must die, definitely. And if that thing to her right – the massive slab of black-coloured monolith – is what she think it is, then that thing must be destroyed as well.
"Executive Gloria, that thing-"
Gloria hums, almost nonchalant if not for the way she's coiled tight like a spring, like a predator about to pounce and snap her prey's neck. "A Hell Gate."
Novena slows her breathing, ignores the forest for a moment. "It's the same to the one Nero and I found. In Ferrum Hills." She breathes, eyes tracking the she-demon making a ruckus in the forest but failing to keep up at times. Curse her human capabilities. "How… how did those things come up here?"
There's unease in Gloria tone then, as the forest's shudders increased, the disturbance reaching a fever pitch now. "I don't know, but we will destroy the Hell Gate, one way or another." That's comforting, at least.
Executive Gloria may be flashier and fancier than a peacock, but she's a peacock with deadly knives and even deadlier skills. Novena may not have been under her command for long – just a little over three months, really – but she trusts her squad leader with her life, trusts Gloria to command her as needed.
"Good." Novena breathes, muscles coiling tight-
A roar, different from the first one, rips through the air, and it has the two women tensing up. And for good reason, because the ground beneath them shakes and trembles as whatever new hellish beast charges towards them. The trees to their south east are shuddering moving, and they turned to face the new demon.
A massive creature – distinctly leonine in shape – leaps out of the forest, roaring in defiance and challenge, and Novena can feel her stomach sink down to her very feet, dread pooling inside her. One Greater Demon they could handle.
But two?
Novena grits her teeth, tightens her grip on her swords, on Brutus, on Cassius. One sword in each hand, one for each demon? No. She can't make it. She's not strong to take one on her own; still too weak, still painfully human. Her medications makes her stronger than humans, the medications makes the Knights stronger than humans – because if they weren't stronger than a human, they wouldn't survive a day in the brutal isle of Fortuna – but she's no Nero. No Gloria. No General Credo.
She's just Novena.
The Knight curls up, ready to pounce, engage the green lion when someone snags the back of her coat, drags her back a moment, drags her mind back to something more coherent and level-headed, something less feral and wild.
"At ease soldier," Executive Gloria often doesn't act her superior, but when she does, her frigid tone and sharp words cut through whatever haze Novena's mind is fogged up with. "Let's not get too excited, yes?"
In the sky, the dragon circles, the she-demon cackling in glee, in what she thinks is their imminent death. In front of them, the lion waits, snarls, paces around them and waiting to pounce. It's funny; Novena has always wanted a cat growing up, ever since reading about it in her lesson book, but there are barely any animals in Fortuna, what with the presence of demons driving their senses up the walls, turns all of them into prey, into food.
Novena breathes in, jaw aching from how hard she clenched it. Executive Gloria makes sense, speaks sense, and Novena forces herself to calm down. "What do we do?" She asks, back to being a soldier, a lower ranking Knight, a person to direct and order around. She's fine with that; it easier to live when you have direction.
"Echidna seems content on letting her little pet deal with us. Unless we pose a serious threat, she will not come down, not to deal with the 'vermin' when her kitty cat can do it for her." Gloria saunters up to stand in front of her, facing down the demon lion with her usual calculated recklessness, confident – not at all arrogant – of her skill to face the unholy creature. "So we'll stall. Fight this one, drag it out, make it look like we're losing."
"Echidna will think she'll win, make her complacent," Novena immediately catches on, eyes widening, hands shifting on her swords. Yes, yes, the plan is not only logical but effective, and it would give their reinforcements ample time to arrive, prepare. They can do this, without massive loss on their side. "Lead the way."
Gloria titters, twirls her odd knives in her hands as she crouches low, smirking. Novena moves beside her, two women, two dancers, two demons, four blades.
They clash.
Or rather, Gloria and Novena danced around the plant lion, neither winning nor losing, extending the stalemate for as long as needed. The constant motion – the constant act of dodging, feinting, and attacking – is tiring Novena, true, but she holds fast, dregs up every last bit of energy she has. She'll pay for this later, she knows, but at the moment all she can see is the demons in front of her, and what she has to do.
All the noise the she-demon and the lion caused could wake the whole island, Novena is sure, and she's confident that the Angelos would reach them soon, provide backup-
A high whine builds up in the air, the air pressure changing, shifting, and Novena grins, aborting her lunge with a twist. She spots Executive Gloria, surprise and lack of comprehension on her face, and Novena doesn't think, she tackles her superior, just in time for a beam of energy to hit the lion, scorching its side, burning away bark, vines, leaves and other plant matter, burning a sizeable chunk out of the hell beast. It roars in pain, loud, primal, threatening to burst Novena's ears, but she could only grin in satisfaction at its plight, anticipation blooming in her chest.
The air hums, whizzes over and over, and Novena uncurls from Gloria, lifting her hear to see the air filled with the Angelos. Novena spots three Alto Angelos, leading six Bianco Angelos each. Three full squadrons; this fight is their win now.
A delighted laugh bursts free from Novena's lips; they'll win! She turns to her squad leader, both of them climbing to their feet and backing up a little, giving space for the armoured Knights, and the two demons – with Echidna finally joining the fight with a wail of fury.
"Let's run interference, Executive," Novena suggests, sheathing Brutus and Cassius and palming the orbs of Holy Water she still has on her. "Joining the thick of the fight would just mess up the others."
"Good thinking, dear." Gloria replies, eyes darting to the Angelos, to the demons they're fighting – quite effectively, Novena might add, chest bursting with pride for her fellow Knights. Novena knows for a fact that Gloria has yet personally see the Angelos in action – has only seen the empty, unmanned armours – so Novena knows that seeing Angelos in flight are a sight to see.
Chief Alchemist Agnus is a genius, and a blessing to the Order.
"Hail, Knight Novena!" One of the Altos has flown closer, and Novena can't help but beam, moving closer to the golden-white Angelo. She knows this voice! "Are you and Executive Gloria unhurt?"
"Nicene!" Novena calls out happily, reaching out with a hand to touch the Angelo, manned by Knight Nicene, and letting the other Knight look her over. "We're fine, thank you. I'm relieved all of you came just in time. Who's with you?"
"Knight Maria, and Knight Angelus. Scouts spotted the demons, and we deployed as fast as we could. I… We're glad you're safe, Knight Novena," Nicene says, voice distorted by the helm, yet the warmth in his voice is clear, unmistakable. Novena smiles widely in response. "We thought we lost you."
"You have to thank Knight Nero for that." Novena replies, making her tone purposefully light. She knows Nero isn't rather popular with the ranks of the Knights – she's no fool, and her ears work fine – but damn her if she wouldn't try to soothe the other Knights, make them lighten up, even just a little bit.
"Oh." Surprise is clear in Nicene's tone, and if Novena could see the other Knight's face, he would be blinking his tawny hazel eyes in surprise. "Oh, is that so? Then I shall… thank him. Once this is over."
Novena nods, content with that for the moment. She steps back from the Alto Angelo, who flies to join the others once more. The air is loud with the sound of almost everyone flying, the thrum and whine and snarls from the Angelos, and the screaming and roaring from the two demons. Two squads are dealing with Echidna, and one squad on the lion. It's fine, they'll be fine; Maria is there, the second best Knight of their batch, and Angelus is the top ranker of his batch, the one preceding Maria and Novena's own batch. Nicene is nothing to underestimate as well, just as skilled as the rest of them, just as competent.
"… I don't think we are needed here, actually," Executive Gloria says, and Novena has to agree, watching her fellow Knights, her brothers-in-arm, work together seamlessly, dealing with the demons well enough. "Should we head back?"
Novena is about to answer, when suddenly Maria's voice call out, thick with excitement and relief. "General Credo!"
Novena perks up, a smile over taking her face. The General is here?! Then the demons no longer stand a chance!
She whips her head around, looking for her superior, and she sees him then, descending down from the heavens, the Order's very own avenging Angel; Angelo Credo. He has shed his human shape, instead taking on the features of a divine being, the strongest of the Saviour's holy servants. General Credo's marble and gold feathers catch and gleam in the sunlight, casting him with an ethereal glow, making him look more divine, look more the perfect Angel. His lone wing is spread, magnificent and encompassing, a symbol of safety for his fellows, and an advent of death for their foes. The shield in his left arm is held aloft, ready to defend, and the golden sword is held in General Credo's right hand, ready to strike and cut down demons.
Echidna and her lion becomes hesitant, clearly wary of the new arrival, and Novena can't help but whisper a prayer of thanks. If she has any hesitation and doubts left, it's all gone now. General Credo surveys the battlefield, quiet and tense, before he looks down at Novena and Gloria. Novena straightens in reflex, when the General's glowing eyes fall on her.
"Head back to Headquarters, Knight Novena, Executive Gloria," He orders, voice chilling but exuding the feeling of protection. "Angelos, escort them. Get them out of here as fast as you can."
Two of the Biancos break away from their group, landing in front of Novena and Gloria. The rest of the Angelos group closer to Credo, who points his sword towards the demons, the others doing the same and presenting a rather daunting united front. Echidna hisses at them, trying to intimidate, and Novena can't help but grin when no one reacts, no one moving in response to the display.
These demons will die, and soon.
It's a shame Novena wouldn't be the one to land the killing blow, she thinks as she allows the Bianco Angelo to gather her into its arms, shifting to find a position that isn't as uncomfortable for her. Beside them, she can see Executive Gloria also being carried by the Angelo assigned to her. She looks… bewildered, and Novena stifles a laugh, just in time for the Angelos carrying them to take flight, forcing Novena to wrap her arms around the Angelo's shoulders.
As they fly away, Novena peer's over the Angelo's shoulders, past his wings, and whispers a prayer for her fellow Knights and their General. She turns back towards the direction they're flying towards – towards Headquarters – and she yearns. Soon, soon. Just a little bit more.
Just a little bit more, and she'll finally Ascend.