Reviews:
Greer123: No problem. As for when They'll be back in the HP side, it's coming soon. Very, very, very soon, believe me.
Pyromania101: I'll have to go back and edit that name to make it in line with canon. Yeah, I try to not outright bash a character, but just point out their flaws. Some more Sonia foreshadowing is to come.
EVA-Saiyajin: I'm happy you think the build up was believable, and yeah, with the treatment, Casca has lost some intimidation.
PrometheusDark: Not a problem. I know you were looking forward to it, and I'm happy to have delivered.
Hairul The Nightrage Beast: I have plans for that final battle, it's just a manner of getting to writing all of it out. But I hope to make it an epic fight.
Necrogod: No problem, I hope you like this one.
horus100: Yes, Rosine is still alive. Harry let her live after the Misty Valley fight.
kaxipoptos: I'm glad you like how the side characters are handled, and I like writing for Charlotte that is a bit wiser from canon. Luna and Sonia definitely have a lot of parallels between them. The HP debut is fast approaching, as for Skull Knight and Harry's new staff, more information will be revealed about them.
Guest: Thanks! Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer- Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling and Berserk is owned by Kentaro Miura. I own nothing.
Vernon Dursley was having a good day – scratch that – he was having a great day! He didn't even know where to begin; it could be due to Dudley being accepted into the Boxing Finals for his school – Smeltings, or it could even be due to his recent promotion and subsequent raise at his drill company of Grunnings, because of that he would be able to put down a payment on the new model car he had been eying for quite some time now. Or it could be the smell of a fresh cooked meal prepared by his wife, Petunia. Ham with pineapple and a side of buttered rolls. Thank God, Petunia had quit that ridiculous practice of trying to get him and Dudley on a diet; that school nurse didn't know what she was talking about, Dudley was a perfectly healthy boy.
Indeed, there was no finer boy than Dudley, not one. He was the model every boy should strive to be; assertive, caring toward his mother, a prime athlete, and all around normal; perfectly Dursleyish.
Nothing at all like that freak nephew of Petunia's. That boys abnormality had been a black plague over the Dursley household, and despite getting paid a visit by some of those freaks those years ago, not one freakish thing had occurred since then. That boy pulling a Houdini was the single greatest freakish thing he had ever done. No longer would he be a financial burden on Vernon and his family. They gave that boy a roof over his head, gave him Dudley's old clothes and took him in when none of those freaks would. Vernon hardly though of the boy anymore, but when he did, he remembered how great their lives were now that he was out of the picture.
"How do you like it, Vernon?" Petunia asked. She had just delivered Dudley's plate up to his room for him to eat. A teenage boy needs his privacy after all.
"It's lovely, Petunia dear." His plate was practically already clean; she had outdone herself for this meal. "You should make it with that cake the next time the Mason's come over to follow up on that deal we had made."
"Oh, that wife of his is a gold-digger," Petunia wrinkled her nose like she had smelt something foul. "She was practically flaunting that bracelet that time we treated them to dinner. A complete air-head of a woman, not a thought in that shapely head of hers."
"I got that impression as well," Vernon agreed with his wife. "But Mr. Mason is a prominent business of the company, so we must stomach their tendencies when we have to."
"Oh, I know you're right, Vernon. I'm just on edge because I overheard the neighbors talking about me. I have no idea where she gets off saying the hedge under our window is in need of a trim. Her husband didn't cut their grass for a week over the summer. And her garden has weeds." A true disgrace if there ever was one on Privet Drive.
A knock sounded at the door. "Are we expecting company, Petunia?" Vernon asked. Everyone on Privet Drive knew what time they usually ate dinner, who would stop by now?
"Not that I'm aware of, Vernon."
He rose from his chair, waddling out of the kitchen and passing through the hall to the front door. "Yes?" Vernon asked as he opened the door. "What is we can do for-?" his jaw hung slack as he took in the sight of the two men – the two freaks standing on his doorstep.
The first one he recognized as being on the police report the previous year, the wanted criminal Sirius Black. The second was shabby looking dressed in dirty and ragged robes – robes of all things!
"Vernon!" Black's face broke into a wide grin. He spread his arms and tried to wrap his arms around him in an embrace. He couldn't do it. "I've heard the most wonderful things about you from James and Lily, how's it going, Mr. Bigshot?"
Vernon did an excellent impression of a fish gasping for air. "Y-you… wh-what… y-you… h-how…?"
"I think he's so excited he can barely speak, Padfoot," the shabbier looking one spoke.
"Too true, Mooney, too true. Oh, I think he's inviting us inside."
"I believe he is as well. It would be bad manners to keep two guests out here where all the lovely neighbors can see us. They might think that he was a bad host."
"Well, we don't want to make kind Vernon here look bad, do we?" Black began stepping around him, into his house.
"Not at all, Padfoot." The shabby man patted Vernon on the shoulder as he passed by too.
"Vernon?" he heard Petunia call. "Who was at the do- oooorrrrhhh!"
"Petunia!" Black exclaimed. He had no trouble wrapping his arms around her. "Bonjour! How lovely it is to see you after so long. I was hoping to see you at Lily and James' wedding, but I get it, other matters come up. I actually missed over a dozen of my godson's birthdays when I was in prison."
"Oh, Sirius, don't say it like that. You might frighten them."
"Y-you… you freaks must leave at once!" Vernon bellowed. "You are breaking and entering! You are-,"
"-Actually, you opened the door for us," Black's accomplice remarked. "We weren't actually sure if this was your address or not, to be honest. Sirius and I had to do a bit of asking around. I must say, your neighbors are extremely nice people, pointing out where you live and all."
Petunia blanched, going as white as a sheet. "Y-you talked to our neighbors?" she was on the verge of tears.
Black smiled and waved his finger. "Right as rain, we did. Like Remus said, very nice people, I don't believe I've ever seen people look down their noses at us so professionally before."
"And the sneers, Sirius, don't forget about the sneers."
"I could never forget those sneers." Black sent Petunia a knowing wink. "It was almost as if they didn't expect to see people like us here."
Her eyes started to roll back, and she slumped against the wall in an attempt to stay on her feet. "Petunia!" Vernon shouted as he waddled over to catch his wife. His surprise was quickly turning to anger, the bully attitude of his starting to shine through. "This is mad, you hear?! You barge in and assault my wife; I'll be phoning the police, yes I will!"
"Assault?" Black put a hand to his chest in mock accusation. "I don't remember doing anything except give a well overdue greeting. But I've been told that I possess dangerously charming looks."
"You haven't met a girl you love more than your hair." Remus stepped further into their home. "Such a humble abode. The interior really makes up for every house on this street looking exactly the same." The two continued their sarcastic back-and-forth.
After Vernon fanned her face, Petunia began to come to, quickly rushing to close the door and shut all the curtains, peeking out ever two seconds to make sure no neighbors were out watching. "W-what are you doing here? You… freaks have no right being here."
"Oh, contraire." Black wiggled his eyebrows. "Please don't think bad of me, your opinion means so much," every line he spoke was riddled with sarcasm, "but I've been neglecting my duties as godfather to your nephew, Harry Potter."
Petunia blanched again, shaking her head vigorously. "The boy is not here. Three of your lot stopped by years ago asking about him. He's gone, vanished. You'll find nothing here."
"Petunia, Petunia, Petunia," Black patter her on the head, making her tremble. "We know Harry is not here. We just came to gather a few belongings of his. Moony, where was it Dumbledore said Harry had been sleeping here again?" both Dursley's paled.
"Ah, I seem to recall him briefly mentioning that he had a room in the cupboard under the stairs."
"Under the stairs? How inviting." The sarcasm was still present, but the jovial tone was starting to slip. "Why don't we take a peek under there and see what we can find?" he pulled out his wand and the cupboard door swung open on its own. The Dursely's backed away from it, Petunia taking shelter behind Vernon, although her head still poked out.
"Very accommodating," Remus said as some dust floated out. "He probably had an immunity to allergies."
"Yes, and very roomy for a small boy, but what child really needs space to move around to begin with?"
"How do these look, Sirius?" Remus held up two knight figurines, a white and black one that once belonged to Dudley.
"That'll do. It's nice to see you didn't spoil Harry with gifts, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley. God only knows the kind of fat, bratty, and abnormal teen he would have grown into if you did."
"I do believe we've overstayed our welcome, Sirius, we got what we came for, no need to ruin the rest of these normal peoples day. Shall we be off?"
"Yes, I do believe we shall." Black approached the two cowering Dursleys. "It was lovely seeing the two of you again." He took Vernon's large ham-like hand, shaking it, hard. "You're the epitome of normalcy, Vernon, keep up the good work. And Petunia," he took her hand, planting a slobbery kiss on her bony fingers. "Lily always considered you to be the more beautiful of you sisters. Thank you for taking her only son and treating him as if he were own. I'm sure she would have done the same for yours." Silent tears began streaming down Petunia's face. "Well, until we meet again. As the Spanish say, adios!" the two loudly slammed the door as they exited.
Two loud gunshot sounds rang out along Privet Drive, but they were preceded by the sounds of glass shattering. Risking a glance, Vernon cracked open the door. The two freaks were gone, but the windows of his car were completely blown out, the glass scattered all over the drive. Much to his and Petunia's horror, many of the neighbors were looking outside as well.
Today was a horrible day.
Windham, Capital of Midland
The city held an almost eerie quietness to it, befitting a graveyard rather than a place of hustle and bustle. Of course, considering the capital was under siege by Emperor Ganishka, it made sense that there would be a strict curfew enacted to ensure that any and all citizens were at home to quell any hope of rebellion popping up. But there were some whispers going around of an underground resistance led by Minister Foss and a Sir Laban.
Perhaps my clan can gain favor by finding those rats. Silat considered the possibility as he and his two bodyguards stalked the battlements of one of the cities walls. They had been able to sneak in through the sewer system, looking for a way to approach the occupying Emperor in the central castle. The Bakiraka had stayed out of the main conflict of the war for too long, Emperor Ganishka had control of the city, over most of the land, over most of the continent in fact. Anyone could see which way the wind was blowing; especially in the city. The strange mist that hung over the city all seemed to stem from the castle. Free to pursue my own intentions.
"Keep close for now," Silat instructed his two followers. "As it stands, our clan still bears a mark of shame. Stealth is our ally; if we find these so-called 'resistance fighters' the gracious Emperor Ganishka might see fit to bestow a gracious pardon to us and the rest."
"Oh yes, no need to be reminded about the shame of the Bakiraka Clan." A soft, heinous, and cackled voice sounded from above them.
Silat's almond-shaped eyes widened at the sight of the figure cloaked in a full body black cloak and wearing a bone-white mask with an abstract facial painting. "Rakshas…"
"You haven't forgotten about me, I see. How are things since I've left the clan? I can't say that I've been at a disadvantage. Joining up with the Hawk of Light and his merry band, there is no denying that he is the one, the absolute." Silat couldn't see the face of his former clan brother, but he thought he could picture the smile forming behind that mask. "I wonder what it would be like to kill him."
Silat drew a katar, his two escorts assuming their own fighting poses as well. "You know, we were hunting you for a time after you deserted."
"Befitting for an assassin clan like us. You wouldn't want me going and blabbing precious clan secrets. But you can relax; I'm not here to fight you, I've been sent to observe and report. Do you seek forgiveness from the Emperor? Bring glory back to a clan long disgraced? Do you want to know a secret about him?"
"You're a snake. Your words are poison." With his other hand, Silat readied a chakram.
"Your words are like ice, they are cold and they burn. Allow me to spoil the surprise; he is a demon who opposes the Gods."
Silat hurled the chakram at Rakshas, whose body twisted out of the way. Seeing Silat make the first move, his two guards jumped at Rakshas. While they may not have had weapons, their physical physique had allowed them to earn the rank of high combatant, able to kill a man in just a few short moves. They flanked the dissenter, one closing in with a fist, and the other with a high down kick.
Rakshas' body twisted under that cloak of his, darting past and under both of their incoming attacks, only to emerge with a tilt of his head. It was an act only children did. He was taunting them.
"I have gathered much information from just observing this city. You can chase me however long you please, but I will evade you and you will leave empty-handed; disgraced as always."
His back was turned, and Silat leaped from behind him. Rakshas sensed this a second before he was to get skewered by the katars. Black cloak twirling, Rakshas once again evaded the attack. But he wasn't quick enough to completely escape unscathed. A part of his black cloak did get snagged and subsequently torn off. Not good enough.
"You are a slippery one, Rakshas, you always have been." But you were one of the best.
"We come from an assassin clan, or did you forget? I could imagine you would want to, considering an assassination is why we were banished in the first place." He dares mention to mistake of our ancestors?! "I shouldn't be too surprised. You're pride always made you turn a blind eye to the slipups of our history. We were always faultless, everybody else was to blame. Spoken like a true child."
Silat whipped out his urumi, the long, thin, blades went lashing out toward the taunting Rakshas, but the former Bakiraka's movements were like shadows in the wind; impossible to hit even though nothing is in the way. He was good, but never this good. Silat remembered the bloody creatures and the men with wings back from that accursed tower. He is one of them… one who serves the Hawk of Light; a demon.
"My, you've improved with your urumi, Silat, but still not enough to damage me. So long as you don't bust my mask, I won't mind. I'm rather fond of this one."
Like shadow fleeing from light, Rakshas zoomed backward, hoping to the roof of a nearby house. Silat drew his katars again, making chase after their former clan member; his two bodyguards not far behind. Silt led them from roof to roof, keeping a trail of Rakshas who continued to move like a ghost among tombstones. The mist made things harder to see, but Silat could hear the faint chuckle of Rakshas from further still, and if he were to squint hard enough, he could discern that bone-white mask and painted face from the surrounding darkness.
As he made readied to make the next jump between buildings, a dark shadow flew up from below. "Almost."
Silat nearly fell off the roof, but a strong hand grabbed onto his wrist, pulling him back up to safety. "Young Master, are you harmed?"
"No." Silat pulled his hand free. "But startling me is not enough to kill me." Yet he had a chance to put a knife through my heart. Rakshas was moving along some more rooftops still. He was taking sheer delight in making a mockery of them. He mocks himself. A true Bakiraka would never serve one as the Hawk of Light. "We continue our pursuit." He worked his legs hard to pick up to the pace Rakshas was moving, not an easy feat at all.
Rakshas came to a stop on the roof of some large shop, a storage space at that with a multitude of open windows on either side. Silat made eye contact with the painted face of Rakshas' mask as the cloaked figure slid in the open window, trapping himself inside. A trap for us then. He was using amateur Bakiraka techniques.
"Be on your guard," Silat instructed. "Get ready to flank him from above and from the side."
"Yes, Young Master," his guards nodded, following his lead and slipping through the open window after Silat.
It's hot! The air inside of this building was smoldering hot, no wonder the windows were open. The top floor that they were on was more a makeshift balcony for what was constructed below, the source of the immense hellish heat. Dozens of cages were on the bottom floor, each filled with various women in undress, and each of them pregnant as well. They didn't cry or try to escape, they were too malnourished to do much of anything.
Then a Kushan Soldier – not a demonic soldier or supernatural being like those Disciples of Mozgus – took one of the women from her holding cell and strapped a rope harness around her top, pulling until she was dangling over a giant cage, this one was not filled with women. There were demons in that cage, tortured, dying, weak, but still living demons. Almost like back at that damn tower. But there was something different about these demons, they looked mashed together to form something entirely new with a strange swirling pool of … something in the center of it all.
The woman was lowered down until her swollen belly was fully submerged. She was held there, too weak to scream or cry out or even to try and wiggle her way out. The soldier shouted a command in their native Kushan tongue and the harness and woman were pulled up from that concoction of nastiness. Her harness was undone, but she was not put back in the cage with the rest of the women. She began making the first sounds Silat had heard out of her, whimpering.
She was crying silent tears, letting out small gasps of pain, clutching her stomach. Then she screamed. "AaaaaAAAAAHHHHH!"
Crawling out of her womanhood were three baby-sized demon children. Red-skinned with small curved horns and protruding fangs, crying and wailing some inhuman screech that was painful just to listen to. The woman's cries came to an end as her head fell back against the cold stone tiles. A second soldier came in with a set of chains and collars, leading the newly birthed demonic children away from the corpse of their dead mother.
It was beyond sickening. The Tower of Conviction hadn't been this bad; yes, there were demons and monsters, but for something like this… atrocious. Silat did not easily empathize with people, not at all, he had killed more than his fair share of targets, but those were targets that could fight back or had done some wrong previously to warrant a target placed on their life.
Rakshas' voice spoke from behind them. "See the work constructed by Emperor Ganishka and his advisor? He breeds a demon army to fight a demon army. Children still in their mother's womb corrupted by the darkness of captured and weakened apostles. A beautiful sight." Rakshas slid back out the open window, not even worried about being stopped.
This is the Emperor's doing? He is powerful, he is strong, and no kingdom dare oppose his might, but… to delve into this darkness. This is like that tower, it is all the same. Regret was not something that came naturally to Silat, but for a moment, he considered if he should have continued traveling with that ragtag group from before, if for nothing else than to get away from all this madness.
"He just showed up out of nowhere?"
Casca held the boy in her arms, cradling him and playing with the boy's long black hair. In return, the boy did the same to her, pulling at her dark hair as well, both equally fascinated with one another. They had taken Casca and the boy back inside the cottage where Serpico had ruffled through an old trunk to find something for the boy to wear. He settled on a white tunic that could easily fit over the boy's frame, but Casca seemed insistent that she be the one to dress him.
"There were no adults, no one else there?" Farnese asked as the boy looked at her with his obsidian eyes. He reached out a hand toward her and Casca smiled, lifting him up so that he was at eye level with Farnese. Much like Casca, he seemed to have a fascination with her hair. "Uh, yes, I see that you like hair."
"No, there wasn't anyone else out there," Harry shook his head. "No footprints either. It was like he just… showed up."
"Wait, you saying this kid might be one of those monster types?" Isidro asked, backing away slightly. Casca heard this and covered the boy's ears, seemingly offended by his question.
"He isn't," Guts said, his lone eye trained on the boy who seemed so at ease around Casca. "The brand hasn't bled or even prickled since we found him."
"Perhaps he is a flower-child," Puck scratched at his head. "He could have popped up from the sand to begin his new life." Everyone looked at him funny. "What? We have those in my homeland."
"Yeah, well, we're not in your homeland," Ivalera corrected the other elf, sounding annoyed to be doing so. "And I'm pretty sure flowers don't grow in the sand."
"How would you know?" Puck asked her. "Didn't you live your life in a forest?"
"Isn't your homeland one big forest?" Ivalera quickly asked in return.
Puck hovered there with a dumbfounded look on his face. "…Oh. Right."
Ivalera just sighed at him. "I swear, think before you go around asking stupid questions."
"Most likely, he lives here," Serpico had returned to tending to the stew, filling a new bowl for the new arrival. "In that case, he is probably wondering who we all are and what we are doing here." He presented the stew to the boy. "Are you hungry?"
The boy eyed the food and reached out to put a finger in. his dark eyes widened a bit as he quickly pulled it out once he realized how hot it was. He began sucking on his finger, but he didn't cry or yelp out in pain as so many other children would have done. Casca's smile faded as she examined the boy's finger for herself.
"Huut." Casca planted a kiss on the tip of the finger and playfully flicked the boy on his nose.
Schierke smiled at the scene. "She certainly seems happy." She looked at Guts. "Guts?"
He was silently studying the boy as well. The way he and Casca interacted with one another, it seemed natural. Ever since Casca had become this way, she was always more at ease with younger persons like Erica. But she had never quite opened up this easily even with Farnese. Flora had been able to partially heal her mind before the apostles attacked the tree, maybe a part of her remembered the child they had lost and her maternal instincts were kicking up due to this boy. Maybe, if their child had not been corrupted, this is what it would have looked like. The boy was right around three years of age, almost how old theirs would have been, and he had dark hair and eyes like him and Casa both, with fairer skin that favored him. Maybe she sees it too.
He caught the boy glancing over at him. "Huh? What?" his tone must have sounded harsh for the boy buried his face in the crook of Casca's neck.
Casca frowned at seeing this and scowled at Guts. "Nnn. Goo bo." She stroked the child's dark hair soothingly. The boy eventually peeked back out at Guts but would avert his attention whenever Guts would glance at him, like he was ashamed or embarrassed or something.
"What are we to do with him?" Schierke asked. "If he has no parents, we wouldn't just leave him here alone."
"He does appear to be quite taken with Miss. Casca," Serpico began cleaning off the table. "And the same can be said on her end of things as well."
"He doesn't look dangerous," Harry studied how the boy acted with Casca. "But that doesn't mean that-," Casca reached over and took Harry's glasses from his face and held them up for the boy to examine closer. "Now I can't see."
"Whoa, it's weird seeing you without your glasses," Isidro tilted his head.
"Like a whole new person," Puck agreed.
"It isn't that drastic, is it?" no one spoke out. "Schierke?"
"Well… it certainly is a new look for you. Your eyes look better this way."
"Too bad I can't see."
The boy, meanwhile, was figuring out how to put the glasses on his own face. Once he did, his dark eyes widened as he looked around at everything that must have been all blurry to him now. He shook his head and took them off. Then, he held his hand out to Harry, offering the glasses back. Of course, Harry could not see this and Schierke put them back in place. "Better?" she asked.
"Better."
Casca saw him start to squirm so she set him down so he could move about more freely. "It's a bit weird, isn't it?" Isidro kicked his feet up on the table. "He hasn't said a word yet."
"Maybe he's mute?" Serpico offered. "Or perhaps no one was around to teach him how."
"You think he could be an orphan of this war with the Kushan?" Farnese asked. "He doesn't appear to be malnourished or anything."
"He probably scavenged for food," Isidro shrugged. "I did plenty of that when I was tight on money back in my village."
"You actually had money to be tight over?" Ivalera asked, astonished.
"Well… not my money."
"That explains it."
Guts felt a tug on the hem of his black cloak, looking down he saw the boy was tugging at it, playing with it. "What are you doing?"
Realizing that he had been spotted, the boy threw the end of the cloak to cover his face and head, obscuring him from sight. "Goo bo!" Casca managed, kneeling down to get with eye level of the curious boy.
He poked his head back out, clinging to Guts' cloak, trying to climb up. Casca watched him climb, but Guts knew that it wasn't going to last. "C'mon, cut it off. You're going to-," just as he reached the shoulder, the boy fell. Both he and Casca reached out, catching the boy before he could hit the hard floor of the cottage.
Dark eyes gazed between the both of them, studying their faces. Casca, after overcoming her concern for the boy's safety, quickly pulled him away from Guts, hugging his small frame into her own. Her eyes narrowed at Guts. "Nnn. Goo bo, nnn ba! Nt fau!"
She blamed him for falling, that much was clear. He looked at the boy, who stole a brief glance before nuzzling back up to Casca again. That boy really has the same eyes as she does.
"It doesn't appear Casca intends on letting that boy go anytime soon," Farnese said. "Would it really be too much trouble to bring him along?"
"This journey hasn't exactly been the safest one," began Serpico, "I've made this known before. But the next time a fight ensues, can we ensure the safety of one so young?"
"We can still invoke the protection of the Four Elemental Kings," Schierke reminded. "Casca and this boy would have to stay inside though."
Harry was looking at the boy cuddling up to Casca as well. "What do you think, Guts?"
So he sees it too. "We're not an orphanage."
"Nnn. Ou! Bo ous!" Casca covered the boy's ears as she shouted her words at Guts.
She's insistent. Does she remember that child we had? Does she this as a replacement? "But who the hell am I to say? I'm not the kids' dad, I can't make him leave." The two mages looked at him funny, Farnese was more concerned with Casca, and Serpico and the two elves seemed to waver between the two.
They finished eating their dinner in near silence, the main source of noise coming from Casca who was making faces and noises to entertain their unexpected arrival. Puck plopped himself down on the window sill, rubbing his stomach from the food he had snagged from Isidro while the boy wasn't looking. "Ahhh! That sure hit the spot; I won't eat for a week, or at least until the next meal. Oh, we have some fog coming in."
"Fog?" Farnese asked. "It was a clear night up until now." She looked outside as well.
"Nnn!" Casca hissed. And then Guts felt it as well; a prickling of the brand.
"Something's moving out there," Farnese noticed a shape walking through the fog, straight for their cottage.
"Keep away from the windows," Harry instructed. Isidro and Serpico flipped the table, pushing it against the door as a makeshift barricade.
"Think that'll keep whatever out?" Isidro asked.
"Not with our luck," answered Harry.
The dark shape passed by the window, scratching at the door. Guts readied Dragonslayer, the scratching did not let up. And then, the tip of a spear broke through the door, a scaled hand holding onto the other end. The spear was pulled out and then rammed through again, widening the hole. Guts could now partly see the body of whatever it was that was attacking; a greenish-yellow thing covered in scales and a long snout with pointed teeth.
Putting Dragonslayer aside, Guts slapped on his crossbow, shooting half a dozen bolts through the hole the monster had created. He heard it yelp in pain, followed by the sound of it hitting the ground, dead.
"Open the door," Guts said, picking up Dragonslayer again.
Harry and Serpico pushed the door open, each watching one direction for any more dangers. "What the hell is this thing?" Isidro asked as he loomed over the dead creature. "Some kind of lizard or something?"
Serpico spared a glance. "That is a crocodile. A creature from foreign Kushan lands."
"So what's a crocodile doing all the way out here?" Puck asked.
"And do they usually walk on two legs like that?" Isidro wondered. "And hold spears?"
Schierke followed them out. "If this is a Kushan animal, it might be serving as a familiar."
"What's familiar about it?" Isidro ignorantly asked.
"A familiar is an animal that's been involved in magic," Harry helped clarify. "They are loyal to a certain spell caster. But this one, it must have been enchanted to walk and fight like a soldier."
"So, does that mean that the spellcaster is somewhere around here?" Farnese asked.
"I'd say it sounds pretty spot on," Guts spotted more of those familiars making their way through the mist that now radiated off of the sea. "I'd go as far as saying this is a new Kushan invasion force."
"Yet another obstacle to overcome," Serpico drew his sword, his cloak lightly fluttering as well.
"Farnese," Schierke spoke to the older girl. "If they are handling the bulk of their forces, you can help me invoke the Elemental Kings barrier."
"But, I don't know magic as of yet."
"You don't have to for this. Here," Schierke handed her a bag of salt. "Make a circle with this around the cottage; we have to keep Casca and the boy safe. After that, just watch how I summon."
The crocodile familiars were wadding their way forward, some held spears, but others held ornate shields as well. Their legs were stumpy, clearly not made for walking upright, but they were numerous. Guts mowed some more down with his crossbow, and Harry began cutting down a few as well. Serpico's wind sylphs allowed him to breeze through the ranks of crocodile familiars, slashing with grace as he did so. A few seconds later they would bleed and fall over from the cuts inflicted from the Wind Sylphs. Even Isidro had his Salamander Dagger ready for battle.
"Let's see how you crocs like some fire!" Isidro used his skinny frame to his advantage, rolling under the familiar's swing and cutting it on the leg with his dagger. Flames appeared from where Isidro had cut, slowly but surely engulfing the familiar. "Alright, yes!" Isidro cheered. "I had to refine my fighting style a little, but it paid off!"
He was so caught up in his boasting that he neglected to check what was behind him. A second familiar got ready to skewer him through, but Harry knocked its spear aside and drove his own sword through its soft underbelly.
"Didn't Puck teach you how to dodge?"
"Uh, maybe. Hey! I got one at least!"
"There's plenty more to go."
"So I'll keep count!" Isidro ducked under another attack, cutting the familiar again with his dagger.
Serpico, meanwhile, was making his way through the familiar ranks, carving a path as he did so. Miss. Schierke said something about a spell caster. If one were to take him out, perhaps it would clear away these pesky familiars as well.
The sylphs carried him a farther distance as he leaped over the gaping maw of a familiar. Slashing down, the top portion of the head fell off, blood only just staining the sole of his boots. He would have to clean them later, he still hated the sight of blood.
He studied the formation of the familiars' ranks. They were emerging from the sea, but a select group of them seemed to be standing by near a couple of large rocks near the surf. If he were to take a guess, that was where the spell caster was hiding. Using the power of the sylphs, Serpico gained air, gliding gently over the stationed familiars and spotting the group of three Kushan men wearing turbans and tunics. Their eyes were closed, but their hands were making odd movements, no doubt that was how they were influencing those animals.
With a few cuts from his blade, the Kushan spell casters dropped like flies. The familiars that had been standing guard dropped their weapons and went to all four legs as well. They hissed but otherwise went crawling back to the sea.
More of them began reverting back as well, but a few remained standing and willing to fight. 'I found a few spellcasters.' Harry heard Serpico speak thanks to thought transference. 'However, it appears that there still some more out there somewhere.'
Schierke, I kind of have my hands full right now; could you search for their od? We might be able to end this soon that way.
'I will just give me one moment; the spell to summon the protection of the Four Kings is nearly complete.'
Harry stabbed another familiar through, but even as he did that, the water from the sea suddenly sprayed out as a new familiar emerged. It was dark blue in color, larger than the crocodiles with the body of a fish but the trunk of an elephant. A chimera familiar.
The chimera familiar shot a blast of water out of its trunk, dosing them all and pushing them back along the beach. In that time, more crocodile familiars began to emerge as well, wading to the defense of their new arrival. Guts was already rising to his feet, but Harry noticed that a red light was visible from beneath his dark cloak and it was slowly making its way up to his head.
The "jaws" of the Berserker Armor's helm began to close in around Guts' face, obscuring it from view. The chimera made ready to shot another blast of water, But Guts was already moving, cutting down a dozen familiars as he neared the chimera. It brought its large trunk down on Guts, but Dragonslayer cuts it clean off. The chimera howled in pain, and soon a second chimera familiar emerged from the sea to heed the aid of its wounded brethren.
Clutching his staff, Harry experienced that swell of power once more, starting at his hands and moving to spread all over his body. That sense of something popping from behind his eyes returned and it seemed like all of his senses had been enhanced, amplified almost by the power of wizards prior who had all left some of their magic behind. And now, his magic was feeling that too.
With a will and a spell, the sand from the surf began to rise, wrapping around the body of the second chimera, pulling it further out of the water. "Solis Terraous!" the wet sand began to harden, reverting into a more solid and tangible state of matter, solid rock.
What next? What more could he do next? To his internal question, the staff seemed to answer, providing a voice to heed his request. 'Mordium Submeria.' He had heard it before when he first used it back at the tree, but he was sure that it was the piece of Merlin's magic that had been left behind after he gave it up.
Repeating the spell, the rock around the chimera began to tighten. Tighter. Through his will, the rock prison began to constrict, getting tighter around the chimera until it violently began thrashing trying to free itself. Tighter and tighter Harry willed for it to go. It became too much for the chimera; the rock constricted so tightly that the body exploded from the force applied to it.
A now Berserker Guts was making quick work of the first chimera with the aid of his armor. The chimera tried biting down on him, but Guts fired a cannon blast into its gaping maw. Fire and smoke clouded its insides, and Guts leaped up onto its head, driving Dragonslayer straight down. But he didn't stop there; he dragged the massive blade all the way down the length of its body, cutting it in two.
More crocodile familiars approached Guts, but he moved Dragonslayer in an unrealistic way, almost like a windmill, always moving, never stopping, only slowing down when there were no more targets. That is until they emerged from the sea. The sandy beach was soon soaked in red.
'Harry!' with his sense of self-feeling enhanced, it was as if three Schierke's had just yelled that last part into his ear.
I'm here. What is it?
'The barrier has been set up and I've tracked for the od of more spellcasters. They're in a boat a short way off the coast.' Looking out into the fog, Harry was able to discern the bobbing light from a small rowboat.
I got it. Walking until he was ankle deep in the surf, Harry pointed his staff out towards the small boat, summoning a wave. And then he pushed and sent another wave after it, this one bigger. He repeated this process until a six-foot-tall wave obscured the bobbing light of the boat. And when it passed, no light was in sight.
The remaining familiars dropped their weapons, took to walking on four legs and retreated back into the sea. The Berserker Guts, however, did not seem to be finished with the fight. Those menacing red eyes turned to lock in Harry's direction. Schierke, you said the barrier was up.
'Yes.'
Good, keep it up.
Not recognizing Harry, Guts charged, Dragonslayer held out, ready to skewer him through. Acting fast, Harry formed a rock wall out of the sand like he did the chimera, hoping to contain Guts until Schierke could pull him back out. It did not work.
Guts' enhanced strength saw him ripping through the rock like it was paper. The way the Berserker Armor helm was shaped, Harry felt like a stag being hunted by a rabid wolf. Hearing the remnants of past users speaking to him, Harry created a spiraling pit of sand between him and the Berserker Guts.
It slowed him down some, but channeling his strength to his legs, Guts was able to push through, clawing his way out, metallic eyes blazing as he raced forward again. Seeing Guts push himself, Harry had to do the same as well. It felt like he was moving a house, but he summoned forth a large wave from the surf, the water flooding the beach until it formed a bubble around Guts, suspending him in mid-air.
'Schierke, go into your luminous body, try to pull him out of it!'
Dragonslayer broke through the water barrier, Guts was spinning his body around like a cyclone, forcing the water bobble to pop and for him to emerge, more enraged than ever.
From back at the cottage, the boy watched.
All I see are enemies. Everywhere I look, there they are. They want to kill me. I have to kill them.
'Kill them all. They will only hold you back. You have yielded to me. Obey me.'
One is right here. I… what is that light?
Through the haze of the Berserker Armor, Guts could discern one thing with absolute truth; there was a small figure made of light right in front of him. It was unafraid, it reached out a hand, and it touched him. Touched him right on his torso.
The next thing Guts knew he was on his knees in the sand, the helm of the armor sliding down from his head and back into its resting place. Fatigue took him, unable to rise, just kneel there until his strength returned. What… what just happened? His vision was blurry, but he spotted the boy in Casca's arms back by the cottage. The boy was looking at him too, but there was no way Casca had let him approach him while he was Berserk.
"Harry! Guts!" Schierke came running. A few meters from Guts, Harry was down as well, looking almost exhausted as he felt. "Serpico, Farnese, can you go get some fresh water and our medical supplies?"
Harry coughed, his eyes half-lidded. "Guess I used more magic than I was used to."
"What happened to starting small?" she sounded irked but extremely relieved.
"Kind of hard to do when your life is on the line…" he coughed some more, the amount of magical power he had used must have cost a lot. "Good job by the way." He grimaced. "Pulling Guts out just in time."
"Harry… I didn't do that."
Farnese approached him with a ladle of fresh water. "Here, Guts, you should drink."
His hand shook as he took it. He had lost control of himself once more, and now, he would pay the price for his own body. The Skull Knight had been right.
Come the next morning, the boy was gone. Vanished without leaving so much as a trace or even a single footprint in the sand. Casca had been in a fuss, yelling and crying her lungs out all over the beach hoping that he would return. He did not. Serpico and the elves took to scouting the surrounding area, a child could have only gotten so far, and Schierke had scanned for his od, but could find not a single trace of him anywhere. It really was as if the boy had just vanished without a trace.
Of course, they were all tired after that escapade with the familiars, Schierke had been running back and forth between Guts and himself all night, checking on their injuries and making sure both were drinking plenty of water. Isidro had joked she was acting like a housewife so she retaliated by giving him a monkey tail that would wear off again in two hours. They stayed a few extra hours after that, with Schierke scanning one more time for the boy's od and still turning up with nothing. After Schierke admitted to him that she was not the one to pull Guts out of his Berserker state, Harry was sure she would have been able to detect the boy's od. Harry had a feeling the boy had something to do with it.
After forcing himself to sit up, Guts decided that they should keep on traveling. Casca practically had to be dragged by Farnese to leave the cottage, still crying out for the boy to return. "Come on, Casca," Farnese urged, not trying to sound rude. "You might see the boy again if we keep going. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
Casca must have understood the word "boy" in that sentence as she followed along behind Farnese, still looking in every direction for the runaway.
They continued following the beach, Serpico promised that the port city of Vritannis would be close now. The city was a holding for Holy See worshipers, and also the home of the Vandimion family of which Farnese was a part of. Her family business was banking, and if anyone could charter s ship to get them to where Casca could get fully healed, it would be through her family influence.
"You realize this means returning to the estate to ask your father's permission?" Serpico told Farnese.
"Yes. I am aware of that, Serpico." She didn't sound too thrilled.
"What's so bad about your father?" Harry asked, lagging behind a bit, still recharging from channeling too much-stored magic from the staff.
"He is a well-respected lord and businessman," Farnese said. "He just expects certain things from each of his children. My third brother, Magnifico, he has all but given up on."
"Lord Vandimion expects much but gives little in return," Serpico added. "Not to speak ill of him, but his parental methods are just about standard for nobility." Farnese didn't bother to say anything objecting to that.
"Well if he gives us any trouble, I'll just do to him what I did to those crocs," Isidro balanced the hilt of his dagger on his finger."
"I take it you're joking," Farnese said.
"Yeah," Isidro yawned. "But I killed at least five of them, did you guys see?"
"You kept track?" Harry asked.
Isidro blinked. "Don't all of you?" he didn't receive a "yes." "Well… I mean, I think that's how many I killed, who really keeps track?"
"I saw you counting," Puck voiced and Isidro blew him off course.
"How are you feeling?" Schierke asked him as the grass started to turn into sand.
"Fine enough," Harry answered, seeing her concerned look. "Nothing to get too worried about."
"Hey," Guts spoke from behind them. "You really feel alright?"
"Yeah, really, I'll be back to normal soon. I just went a little too far with what I thought I could do before."
Guts looked like he wanted to say something, but wasn't quite sure how to put it. "Yeah. Last night was a bit of a shit-show for the both of us."
Schierke's worried gaze landed on Guts now. "If you hadn't insisted we keep moving, then you should really lie down and rest."
"Maybe. I feel what he was talking about though. This armor… it takes its toll."
"We can stop then," Schierke offered. "We could set up camp here, rest until you're feeling better and then continue."
"No. I'll make it, don't worry."
"She's an expert at worrying," Harry told him.
"And you're an expert on making me worry," Schierke deadpanned. "I suppose that evens it out."
"Well, if he hadn't, I probably would have killed him last night," Guts admitted, the tinge of regret sprinkled in among the dryness of his statement.
"You were in Berserker mode, Guts," Harry told him. "Your actions weren't-,"
"-Weren't my own," Guts finished. "Exactly. But I was only able to stop this time because of this light. And you said it wasn't you." Schierke shook her head. "Hm. We still haven't come across that boy yet either."
"What are you thinking?" Harry asked.
Guts shrugged. "I don't even know. Whatever he is… never mind. I'll leave the two of you alone. You don't need me interrupting anything." He stalked off to the front of their traveling company.
"What did he mean by that?" Ivalera asked.
"Well…" Schierke began.
"-Hey!" Isidro shouted. "I think we found it!"
Resting in a bay area was a high walled sprawling port city with dozens of army sigils being displayed. Harry recognized banners from Midland, Chuder, and an island nation of Lith. The others must have all been from neighboring countries. "This is Vritannis indeed," Serpico confirmed. "And it seems delegations from all over the west are here to deal with the invading Kushan forces."
"Has it really gotten that bad?" Puck asked. "I don't really know politics, but it seems a bit much."
"Hey, Chuder was in a war with Midland, what are they doing here?" Isidro crossed his arms.
"New wars are always being fought," Guts told him. "Enemies become friends and so on. The west sees the Kushan as the biggest threat, so screw old rivalries."
"A rather crude analogy, but true all the same," Serpico agreed.
The drawbridge leading into the city was down, allowing them entry. Normally they would have had to check in with the gate guard, but it seemed that if you weren't a Kushan, you were okay to enter. Of course, then there were the people. They were everywhere, standing and chatting, walking and yelling, or sitting and selling; no matter where you turned there was a person.
"So this is the city, huh?" Isidro asked over the crowd surrounding them.
"So. Many. People." Schierke looked around at it all. "So much od, too, but, less connection with magic. All of this is made by humans."
"This must be where all of Windham's population fled," Harry reasoned. Even for a city, Vritannis seemed to be overflowing. Windham hadn't been this bad in terms of population, but an invading force would do that to a country.
"You two are the residents of this city," Guts didn't look it, but even he seemed a bit annoyed with the crowd. "Any inns nearby?"
"Several," Serpico answered.
"Any that would still have rooms?"
"… We may have to do a bit of searching."
"Why not just stay at your place, Farney?" Puck asked.
"Well… I'm not sure how my father would react. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy all of your company, but…"
"Don't worry about it," Guts brushed it aside. "Whatever we get as long as it has four walls and a roof, it's better than nothing. And let's get the hell off this street. I might end up breaking the jaw of the next man who bumps into me."
They spent a total of six hours combing through the city for an available inn. Six hours filled with tried patience and a dozen men walking off with broken jaws for bumping into Guts or staring at Casca and Farnese the wrong way. Just when it seemed they were running out of options, they came across an old inn owner who offered them the attic of her already packed inn.
Guts instantly took one of the bed's eager to get off his feet and rest from the draining effects of the Berserker Armor.
"How are our supplies looking?" Farnese asked, eying the resting Guts worriedly.
"Low," Schierke said, sadly. "But with all the vendors here, it may be possible to buy the necessary supplies for his recovery."
"Well you'll find no short supply of vendors here in Vritannis," Serpico told her. "While Lady Farnese and I return to her Lord Father's estate, some of you could get some shopping done and we all meet up here after."
"Would you agree to come with me?" Schierke asked Harry.
"Are you sure you wouldn't have me resting like Guts?"
"Without a doubt, but I'd rather walk around with you than the monkey."
"Count me in," Ivalera joined in. "I want to see some more of this city. Not all of it can be a dump."
"What about Puck and me?" Isidro asked.
"Stay here and help me watch Casca," Guts turned on his bed. "I might be drifting in and out; I don't want her getting lost in this city."
"…Fine," Isidro mumbled. "But bring me something shiny."
The streets were pack, to be expected of a bustling port city, but even in a crowded place, both mages got strange looks thrown their way. Considering Vritannis was strong with Holy See connections, it must have been a bit odd seeing two people dressed as mages in public. Harry was able to pass his staff off as a walking stick by adding a limp with his step, but Schierke made no effort like that.
"They're starting to stare," she whispered.
"Try limping," Harry whispered back. "It's working for me."
"I don't want to hide who I am though," Schierke told him. "I don't have any other change of clothes, and this is common to dress like this."
Harry paid a local merchant for some of the supplies they needed. "I'm not saying to hide who you are, just try to blend in. Cast a disillusion charm or something."
"The natural magic isn't as strong here in the city. There's no telling how long it would last, and I doubt that some of these people would react to seeing me just pop into existence."
They headed off down a less crowded street, one where they weren't shoulder to shoulder with strangers. "This better?"
"Much." She seemed more at ease now than before, which was a good sign.
"Yeah," Ivalera settled on the top of Schierke's hat. "Fewer people means less interrupt-,"
"-Hey!" a youthful voice called from behind them. Running up to them was a blonde girl with large blue eyes and a slightly larger than the average forehead. "Hi, there!"
"Um, hello?" Harry answered, not sure who this girl was or what she wanted. Maybe she was a local of the city and recognized them as outsiders figuring they would be easy targets for a scam.
"Hello," Schierke greeted as well. "Can we… do something for you?"
"Not really, I just wanted to ask you a question." She smiled at them, her blue eyes focused on Schierke's hat. "What is that on your hat? I thought it was a bug at first, but now, I know that it isn't."
"Wait! You can see me?!" Ivalera exclaimed, clearly not expecting a city dweller to see a magical creature.
"Sure can! I can see all sorts of stuff ever since I saw him that day." Neither of them knew what to say to this girl. "My name's Sonia by the way." She held out a hand.
"Uh, I'm Harry." he quickly shook it.
"Schierke. It's nice to meet you, Sonia. You're probably the first friendly face we've seen here so far."
"Yeah, the city isn't really my style either. Too many people who don't even stop to say 'hi' or 'good day.' And I can only imagine what two people dressed like wizards must think of it." She leaned in close. "You are wizards, right? I mean you don't dress like my one friend, you know, no crest on your clothes or radish earrings, but close enough."
"You… have a magic friend?" Schierke asked, clearly surprised. As far as either of them knew, Flora never had any other students, nor talked about any other mages in Midland.
"Sure do," Sonia smiled fondly. "But she's not from around her in case you were wondering." She tilted her head a little as she looked at Harry. "Hold on…" she put her hands on Harry's shoulders, moving him back and over to the right a little. "Stand… right… there! Perfect!"
"Okay, what is this?" she hadn't tried pickpocketing him.
"I thought it was only with my leader, but you… now after seeing him…" Sonia broke off and waved at someone behind Harry. He turned to see a bunch of people, but none of them waved back. "I see it again!"
"Where are you looking?" Schierke saw nothing as well.
Sonia pouted a bit. "So neither of you see it too." Her pout quickly changed to a smile and she waved again. Nobody waved back. "Nice to see you again, Luna."
"Who?" Harry asked.
"My friend, now shush, she's trying to talk. Uh-huh, really?" she looked at Harry. "Him? What about his scar? Famous? How's that?"
'Is she talking to us, or…' Schierke's voice sounded in his mind.
Still trying to figure that one out myself.
"Luna says she knows you, Harry."
"Well… I don't know Luna."
Sonia clapped herself on the head. "Sorry. She says she knows of you. You're Harry Potter; she says the scar is a dead giveaway."
It was like having a bucket of ice poured over his head. "How… how do you know my last name?"
"I don't, Luna does. She saw your scar, she knows all about it. Huh?" Sonia tilted her head. "You want me to ask them what?" she began to giggle a little. "Luna wants to know if the two of you are together."
"Wh-what?!" Schierke started to redden. "I-I don't think that's any of Luna's business, but…"
"…You could say that." Harry more or less finished for her. They hadn't really had time to talk about it since last night with the mystery boy and the fight, but it had to have come up at some point in time. Truthfully, Harry had never really given much thought to romantic interest, the only woman in his life before was Casca and she and Guts were together and she was always more of a big sister type. He had known Schierke long enough to know all her little quirks and interests and if he let someone enter his mind by thought transference, that spoke on account of trust. She had a temper that was shorter than she was, but she would still always do her best to help any way she could. And if he managed to live through everything, Schierke had expressed a desire to maybe one day open a magic academy that they could both head. Things had just sort of… fallen in place.
"What?!" Ivalera suddenly cried out. "When did this happen?! Schierke, why didn't you tell me sooner?! Tell me everything!"
Schierke caught Ivalera in her hat, quickly holding it in place on her head. "Please…"
"Erm," Harry cleared his throat. "So why did Luna want to know?"
"Well not so much her, but for a friend of hers," Sonia told him. "Apparently Ginny and a lot of other girls are in for heartbreak."
"You're not making any sense," Harry told her. "How does she know my name?"
"You're a big deal where she's from. Luna says you belong there, or at the least, that it was your home at one point."
The Dursley's? "Well, she must be mistaken."
"Nope." Sonia popped the "p." "In fact, she has an allegory to share. A few years ago, there was a snake, the most dangerous and venomous kind there was. Then, the snake tried killing a raven with messy black feathers and green eyes." Despite it all, Schierke smiled a little.
Not funny, Schierke.
"But the snake couldn't do it, and all the other birds thought him to be dead while the raven lived on. But before the raven could go to raven school, he vanished. Then all the birds started freaking out wondering where he could have gone. But then one day, a kite stumbles upon him and his friend, the owl."
How's it feel, owl?
'That's not funny.'
"One bird so far away from the nest. But maybe… once the dust settles, that will change and the nest will be up a raven and an owl."
Before either of them could question her about that, someone else was approaching on horseback. "There you are, Sonia!" it was a teenager, and he sounded annoyed. "If you're going to go wandering off, let me know beforehand."
"Relax, Mule, I was just talking with some new friends of mine." Sonia smiled warmly at the both of them.
Mule gave a polite nod of his head. "I give you my apologies if she gave you any trouble."
"Er…" Sonia looked at Harry pleadingly. "No, no trouble." Just a hell of a lot more questions.
"Very well. Come along, Sonia, we best meet with the rest of the camp before dark."
"Oh, well. For what it was worth, I really enjoyed talking with the two of you."
"Yes… it was… unique." Said Schierke.
Sonia waved one last farewell to this invisible "Luna" before following after Mule.
"We should probably get back to the inn," Harry suggested. "Farnese and Serpico may be back by now."
Ivalera finally escaped from Schierke's hat. "Don't think you're getting off easy, mister! If you plan on taking advantage of Schierke, you got another thing com-!" Schierke quickly trapped Ivalera under her hat again.
"Y-yeah, let's just get back."
Sure enough, Farnese and Serpico had joined them back in the inn's attic. Guts was still resting, and Casca was happily eating an apple. "There you guys are!" Isidro spotted them.
"We're back." Harry plopped the satchel with the goods on one of the beds. "How'd your end go, Farnese?"
Farnese's gaze was downcast. "My father wasn't in a very understanding mood. My brother Magnifico, however, was more… investing. Magnifico is great friends with a Lith noble, Roderick. He's seen fit to grant you passage on his ship, the Sea Horse."
"Alright, Farney!" Puck cheered her.
"That's amazing, Farnese," Schierke told the aspiring witch. "What is the payment for the trip?"
"Well… Magnifico offered Roderick my hand in marriage. And I agreed."
A/N: Next chapter coming soon.