Parental Concerns

Disclaimer: I don't own the Cold Steel series or any of the Kiseki series. They belong to Falcom.

"Let the ancient Arnor blood course feverishly through your veins!"

Duke Cayenne – clearly frayed from everything that has happened so far – picks up the Crown Prince and began moving toward the slumbering red giant. Vita, alarmed, immediately prepared a spell while Class VII rush up the ramps to try and stop him.

Just as they thought they won't be able to reach the two in time, a gigantic lance skewered through Cayenne, allowing the Crown Prince to free himself from the former's grips while impaling the Duke into the ground.

"Urgh!"

"My apologies" The voice that spoke was soft and melodic, yet it contained such an authority behind it that Class VII unconsciously shivered. "But awakening the Verillion Apocalypse is not a wise choice"

Wide eyed, everyone – even Vita, who managed to cancel her spells – turned toward the source. Some of them felt their jaws drop as they beheld the figure calmly walking towards them.

The first thing they noticed was the armor, or rather, the gracefulness exude by the figure despite wearing a heavy looking armor, enhanced by the white cape behind her. Silky platinum threads cascaded down her back, some of them trailing gently behind her as she advances. An aristocratic face set into a firm frown, yet her azure eyes looked far too gentle for the possible wielder of that lance. Although, some of them can't help but feel that her face looks familiar…

"… Steel?" The first to spoke – and also the one to breaks everyone out of their reverie – was Vita, who looked both shocked and resigned from the unexpected appearance. "What… what are you doing here?"

The barely hidden fear in her voice shooks Class VII – Crow included - and then they remembered how McBurn had mentioned somebody like that. The youths paled, wondering how on earth would they fare with the one person the #1 Enforcer had implied to be capable of matching – if not defeating – him.

"I was… worried" The woman frowned "Last time, we sacrificed much –perhaps too much – to seal this … machine, and I'd rather my daughter and her friends not go through the same process"

The line was delivered with perfect calmness, as if discussing the weather. The content, however, throw them for another loop. Her daughter?

"H-hey! W-why are you looking at me like that?" Laura flushed as the class – plus Vita – turned to her "I d-don'-!"

Her protests were cut short when the blond appeared right in front of her. Before anyone can react, their mind blinked the armored lady's action.

"You've grown quite a lot, my dear Laura" A soft smile graced the blond lips, her arms wrapping around the Arseid heir in a warmth embrace.

Laura S Arseid froze. This is … It has been a long time ago, but somewhere in the back of her mind, the blue haired swordswoman still remembered it this sensation.

"… mother?" Unbidden, she can feel tears – of joy? Of sorrow? She didn't know – gathering in her eyes.

"There there… It's alright." TO Laura, this felt just like that time when she were young and scrapped her knees during practice "I'm here now"

"See? Told ya Steel was here… "

McBurn, trailed off, his sunglasses slipped down as his eyes blinked rapidly to take in the image in front of him. His arrival also heralded the appearances of practically EVERY other people involved, from Prince Olivert to Sharon, with the surprising addition of Lechter Arundel and that girl – Altina – from the Noble Alliance.

"W-W-W-WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?! WHY IS LADY ARIANRHOD EMBRACING THAT DAMN ARSEID?!"

Almost everyone looked rather dumbfounded – except for Duvalie, who was shrieking at the top of her lungs and the Viscount, who looked utterly delighted – by how the blond – now identified as Arianrhod – was comforting Laura.

"Well, that would explain why she's pretty strong for her ages…"

No one knows who said that, but the ones that know about Arianrhod's identity can't help but agree.

(Just for fun)

"Laura, dear…" The blond paused, her eyes narrowing into slits as she noticed something on her daughter's neck "When did this little mark happened?"

A resounding slap reverberated around the room as Laura's hand slapped her hand over her neck, her face turning an interesting shade of red rivaling that of the sleeping menace.

"W-w-what mark? I-I-I don't know what y-you're talking about m-mother!"

By now, Laura's friends had gotten over their shock and had just silently agree to chalk this up as "Weird things that happens around us" and gathered around the two. Thus they were able to see the … interesting mark on the back of her neck.

"Wait… that kinda looks like…"

"Laura, just who is the young man that … inflicted this injury upon you?" They really really should be surprised, but at this point? Class VII was starting to get used to the craziness. Especially when the Viscount somehow appeared right next to Laura and started to scrutinize the injury in question.

"I don't think that looks like - UMMPPPFFF!" Elliot – who was about to spoke up – find his mouth covered by Fie, who had taken the opportunity to cling onto him from behind. "FIEEEEE! What gives?"

"Self preservation. Duh"

A certain pair of Jaegers narrowed their eyes at the interaction and decided to plan a later "conversation" with said redhead.

"In hindsight, it's rather obvious, really" The blond shrugged, her eyes narrowing at something in the distance "Like father like son, I suppose"

"… Ummm…" Emma spoke up, still nervous about the whole situation "W-what do you mean, Lady Arianrhod?"

"Ozzy liked to do it to Kasia a lot" Nostalgia spread across the Saint's face, a wistful smile playing on her lips "She had to wear a scarf all the time because of that"

"…Wait… Kasia?" Vita blinked, wondering if she was hearing things wrong' You mean my predecessor, THAT Lady Kasia?"

"Quite" Arianrhod chuckled at the flabbergasted looks on Vita's face "Oh she may present a stern and serious front, but put her in Ozzy's hand and she's just an adorable little kitty"

By now, the Ouroboros forces were frozen on the spot, their ears refusing to believe the things that were spoken. On the other hand, Prince Olivert and Toval can't help but laugh at the sheer hilarity of the situation. At least, until Captain Claire spoke up, her face ashen.

"L-l-lady Kasia? Not Kasia Dore Papillon?"

"… How did you know?" Everyone turned her eyes toward the Icy Maiden, especially Vita

"Because she was-"

"My wife, yes"

"… Oh come on!" This time, it was Crow who shouted, looking stuck between anger and disbelief "What is this? Bomb dropping days? Sheesh"

"Bu-bu-bu how?" Cayenne – who everyone almost forgot – followed up "Y-you were supposed to be DEAD!"

"As you can see" Gilliath Osbourne smirked, his arms raising dramatically to the side. "Reports of my death were greatly exaggerated"

Everyone tensed, wondering what would happen now that the Chancellor somehow returned from the death.

Tension which were prompty broken by the Steel Maiden when she spoke up with an amused smirk "How long did you wait for that delivery … Ozzy?"

"Must you call me by that infernal nickname?"

The fact that the smirk remained on her face was answer enough.

"Wait… but that means…" Laura pointed at the man with a trembling finger "You're REAN'S FATHER?"

In hindsight, that was probably NOT the best thing to say at the time, considering that Laura just announced- or for some, confirmed – the identity of the marker.

"… On one hand, I can't believe that he's Osbourne's son" Crow facepalmed, before turning toward Class VII's leader "On the other hand… Rean you dog! Didn't know you had it in ya!"

Only to find an empty spot where the young swordsman was supposed to be

"Wait, when did he…"

"Around the time Vic rushed to Laura, I believe" Arianrhod smiled, inclining her heads towards where Ordine was kneeling "I must admit, I didn't expect him to be so stealthy. He even managed to grab Valimar before running"

"Not that it would help him much. Come, Algreion!"

Despite everything, everyone agreed that Rean was in for a world of hurt. Especially when the Viscount somehow grabbed on the newly appeared Divine Knight.

Something cracky written before CS 3 then finished after the clusterfuck that is the ending of Cold Steel 3. Seriously, Rean's life SUCK.

(Note; Not betaed)