Chapter XX: Glassy Skies
Absolution Arc
1951 Hours, December 22, 2714
Bannerfall, the Tower, Earth
I give up. That's it!
So here I am playing on the defensive and parrying Rose's scythe that also turns into a lance and halberd, trying to make sure she doesn't accidentally decapitate her father. And when I do get the chance of attacking, I'd hit a decoy she created from thin air instead of her!
Having seen how my own daughter can handle herself, even in a one-versus-one match, there was nothing else I could do but forfeit the match. Her speed and reflexes are on an entirely different level! Even she has her mother's quick thinking and my code of honor! At least she stops herself before the blade would go anywhere near my neck.
I planted Duskdancer in the ground and knelt after being kicked away from her, panting heavily from this entire father-daughter dance. Me, an Excalibur and son of Trionus Pendragon, beaten by my own child?! The humiliation I would face if this was back in the Academy…! My pride felt as though it was shattered into pieces, even if this was a mock match. If I were to lose my pride, I would rather lose it to my daughter or sister.
Rose was a spiral of petals and ashes before she was in front of me a few feet apart, scythe posed as though she was a mentor waiting for me to get back on my feet. "Is that all you got, Spectre?" She asked me without her voice filter. Yeah, it is weird when your own daughter calls you by your name and not 'father' or 'dad'.
"I think… I'll call it a match this time." The defeat screen appeared on my HUD with my own daughter claiming the victory. She held out her hand and I took it, getting back on my feet with her help. "And I thought you needed an evaluation of your combat capability. Turns out I'm the one who needs it!"
"You didn't do as bad as I thought."
"I fought fast enemies before but you're on a different level. Pair that with your decoy illusions and you could just as easily be my enemy."
Rose reached for her helmet and took it off, shaking her hair out. "At least I'm on your side. I don't have what it takes to be your enemy." Thank the Traveler that she isn't an enemy! If any of my family were to turn against me, my own mental state would probably collapse even more than me killing Hayden.
"You're good, Eroxs." Reaper transmatted next to me and protectively linked an arm with mine. My heart sank a bit. I didn't know that Reaper would be worried about me leaving her. Guess that makes two of us. "But between the three of us, he's mine."
Reaper folded her scythe and crossed her arms. "I have no intentions of taking him away from you. It's strictly a mentor-apprentice relationship."
Reaper cheered up and looked at me. Nice save, Rose. The plan's working to say the least. And the plan? Rose has to act like she isn't my daughter when around the uninformed. She's against it but they can't know. Not yet.
"Hey, can we talk alone?"
Back to Gloomsville. As much as I'd like to be alone with her, the thought of Reaper knowing about who 'Eroxs' really is frightens me. Try as I may to get the thought out of my head, I have a feeling it won't go away soon enough. Traveler help me in this situation…
"Shaxx, cancel the rest of my training matches for the rest of the afternoon. Something came up." Hopefully he got the message. "You're done for today, Eroxs. Run along now."
She nodded and left Bannerfall. Shaxx won't let anyone stay in the arenas after the match was over so we took our leave as well. Our walk was silent for the most part, but her affectionate touch was speaking for itself. Guardians that saw me and Reaper together was, for lack of a better word, just unsettling. Was this what father had to deal with with Teshin and Master Asada, my extreme survival mentor back at the Academy, knowing his love with mother? It must be. Even I can sense that some of the Guardians were afraid of me even more than Lightning.
Reaper and I retreated to my quarters and I locked the door behind me ignoring Rez's calls of me 'getting it on'. Bastard… Doesn't he have a shift in training matches by now?
"What's wrong, Reap?" I saw her eyes widen in surprise but then gloomy. Something's definitely bugging her, and it certainly isn't about Rose. Good.
She was at the edge of my bed and I sat down next to her. "It's just…how could you have the fortitude to keep going? Don't you ever think about your health, mental and physical?"
"If I didn't then I would probably be locked up in a coma for Traveler knows how long?" Our gazes met and my hands were folded. "Reap, believe it or not, but I'm not as stable as you think."
"I know. Your aura is reflecting what you said."
Thought I was one to have something to hide. "And I believe you that you're an aura reader. I sensed something different about you," my hand was on top of hers and caressed the back of her hand. "Look, if you're still feeling 'tainted' by falling in love with me, don't be. I'm a Guardian of Equilibrium, despite being raised among Dark Knights and fighting like one of them."
"That's a mouthful to say, don't you think? Isn't there a shorter term for 'Guardian of Equilibrium'?"
The thought hasn't crossed my mind for a good while. Guardians were warriors of the Traveler, blessed with Light and given extraordinary power. That I know already. But were there ones who were blessed with Darkness to fight for the Traveler before my father started the Dark Knights? The Warlock Halls barely have a record of when the Guardians came to be, and so did the Archives with the Conclave. Honestly, I'm not that worried about finding a shorter term for 'Guardian of Equilibrium.'
"Look, I know something is bothering you. You can tell me anything."
Reaper looked at me and I saw the glint of pain in her eyes. Not the physical type of pain.
"Spectre… were you in love with someone else?"
Oh hell. Don't panic, don't panic…! Argh, should I tell her or lie?! She might even know something's up from the moment we got together! What do I do, what do I do?! She's even giving me a look that put my back against the wall with no way out!
"Spectre…" Vesper's melodic voice reached my thoughts. "Don't lie to her. 'A lie hurts even more than the truth in the long run', remember?" Her soothing voice calmed my nerves and I could envision she was here with me. "She needs to know, even about Rose. I'm sure she'll understand."
But was I ready to spill the truth? For the most part, no. But Vesper is right. I can't keep lying to Reaper about my love life or it may ruin our relationship in the long run. Breathe in, count to four. Breath out, count to four… You can do this, Spectre. You're a Pendragon, so stand up for the family name! I can't believe I'm giving myself this serious of a pep talk…
My hand in my jacket's pocket came out of hiding and I stared at my engagement ring. "I did, but it was a while ago."
"What happened?"
"She…was my childhood friend. Someone who shared the same thing of being born with half Light, half Darkness," What the hell? That's not cutting to the chase, dammit! "Four years ago, I proposed to her and we were on the way to being married. But, I was ordered by the Cyphers to execute her because she was showing signs of corruption. They were against having Dark Knights forming relationships like being a couple. So, I had to track her down for hours until I found her. Back to the beginning where we met. Vesper wasn't herself; the corruption caught hold of her almost completely. It was like she was possessed by a demon. She attacked me, resulting in my scar. I killed her against my will." Before I knew it, the First Curse hovered before me from its place on my bedside table and I took it in my hands. "Vesper was one hell of a sharpshooter and a gunsmith. She built some custom weapons for me and Lightning. This handcannon was the last weapon she built. As a present for me being the spearhead of the Cyphers' Absolution Directive. And I killed her with it."
"I…I didn't know. I'm sorry, forget I asked."
"Don't be sorry. This was my burden to bear. I kept this from you because I was afraid you'd think I was just asking for attention and maybe a player."
She looked at me and I could see forgiveness. Just the same as Vesper did that day we met in the Afterlife. Her finger traced my scar from my fiancée reassuringly and made me look at her. Reaper smiled to the best of her ability as she could.
"This is a lot to take in, Spectre. But I'm not thinking of you as a player."
"Thank you, Reaper." Now begs the question of whether or not to reveal to her my daughter. Telling her about Vesper is a lot for her to take in and Rose may overwhelm her. "That's why I do what I do now; to make sure no one else close to me dies. Even if I go in head-first guns blazing."
"Was she better than me?"
"Don't say that. Comparing yourself to Vesper won't help the both of us," I put aside the First Curse and look at her in the eye. "Both of you are similar to one another. You remind me of her but you're not Vesper. You're yourself, no one else."
She sat on my lap and rested her head against my chest. The so-called 'Predator' being soft with her marked prey that she would love. A Huntress nailing herself a dragon. It's poetic, really. As a hand strokes her hair and my chin resting on the top of her head, I could feel the blur between reality and memories return. Reaper does act like Vesper after all…
"Did you ever let go of the pain? Found redemption for what you've done?" Reaper mumbles as she relaxed from my hand on her head.
"It's not easy for me. My hands are stained with the blood of my best friend and allies before Vesper, so can you imagine how hard it could be?"
She hummed and both of her hands held my engagement ring-bearing hand so she could get a closer look at it. "The craftsmanship…it's so beautiful. Did Vesper make it?"
"A friend of mine back home made them. His craft is making armor with extremely elegant designs fit for a champion. Like the Ruin Wings and Mark 44 Stand Asides. Making rings like this wasn't that hard for him."
"I assume a favor?"
"No. He knew that I wanted to marry her so he did it for me rather than having to make them myself."
She turned her head to face me and I brushed some of her locks away from her face. Reaper's sadness was dissipating quickly, I could sense it. The burden that was on my shoulders…it felt like it melted away when I revealed it to Reaper. For a long time, I thought no one could help me cope with her death, not even the rest of the kazoku. They did help, but not to the degree I felt with Reaper when I told her about it. Maybe the phoenix-dragon that I was associated with was starting to give me hope again.
"I won't let you die, Reaper. Because right now, you're what matters for me to protect."
"So you're letting go of the guilt?"
Honestly, I don't know. Am I really letting go of it or am I slowly doing it? I know I'm not cut out to be a true Dark Knight by the Cyphers' standards, but that isn't what I am. I could care less if they kicked me out for good alongside Lightning and the others. At least the other factions will have a leveled battleground amongst each other. Because for a long time my faction of the Dark Knights, Red Veil, was close to being the strongest faction out of all the rest. And it was because of me. Or rather, my subclass as an Excalibur. None of the other factions have their Excaliburs to fight against Red Veil since none of their Dark Knights were worthy of such a subclass. In a nutshell, an Excalibur is a trump card to any faction. That's what they believe but I'm not some weapon they can just swing and order around. Not after the bullshit they put me and my family through.
"Maybe not completely, but right now I want to forget the guilt."
Reaper lightly laughs and our noses touch. My hands cradle her face and my thumbs caress her cheeks. "I can think of a few ways to help with that."
Remembering our oath to take it slow, I merely grinned. "Oh do tell." This time around, I took the lead and leaned in to kiss her. As expected from her, she sighed contently and moved forwards deepening the kiss.
Vesper, I hope you can forgive me.
-Destiny: Skyfall-
"I was wondering how long it'd take for you to get over here." Lightning sourly muttered, giving me her signature death stare and leaning against the railing of the Traveler's Walk. Me? Pretty sure I look like a tornado ran by me and left me disgruntled. Don't get any bright ideas either. Reaper and I only had a make out session to relieve some of the guilt. So do me a favor and get your head out of the gutter.
"So bite me, sis," I say throwing my arms over the railing. "Why, did you and the others put up a bet or something?"
"You and Reaper. You're jumping bases too quickly compared to you and Vesper. Why?"
"Might as well do it before I die."
"What are you talking about?"
I turned to face my beloved sister, face away from the setting sun. "If I die, how else would people remember me besides from being the best of the best?"
Lightning had a glint of denial in her eyes. "No, you're not thinking of—"
"You're right, I'm not. Not yet. But if it ever does happen, I don't want you to be the only Pendragon left alive. I know you would crack under pressure from such a burden on your shoulders." Admittedly, this isn't coming out the way I want it to be. "You could've been an aunt, Light."
Silence. Taking a deep breath, I figured that Lightning was still processing the idea. Real smooth, dumbass… Go dig myself a grave, why don't I? Now I fear that Lightning will actually strangle me. I can see the tombstone now: 'Here lies Nero Pendragon: loving brother and father killed by his sister for telling her she's an aunt.'
"Was Vesper…?"
"Maybe she was. I don't know for sure, aside from seeing her not feeling well in the weeks after New Year's." I said 'mournfully', hopefully rebounding from letting it slip through my mouth. "Then again, you probably wouldn't have heard of it from me that I proposed to Vesper. At least Leon told you when I couldn't."
"I…I'm not cut out to be an aunt if she was alive, Nero. Not after what happened to me."
"C'mon Tohsaka, you were there for me when we were kids, remember? After mother died and Teshin wouldn't care for us as often as she would?"
"This is us as adults, not kids. But if I was an aunt, could I control my anger around them?" She held out a hand and the ethereal claw outlined itself around her hand. "What if they were bratty and get scared of me when they see how much of a freak I am now?"
There was no denying what the Perrin Sequence did to her, made her into this mess of a Dark Knight that gave her two subclasses. The bastards…I'll never forgive what they did. But that was in the past. Lightning's doing her best to cope with it. And at least she was satisfied with killing the man responsible.
"You may never know, sis. Maybe they're curious about their family members and the people they care about."
"Why are you bringing this up, Nero?"
My chin was against the railing. "No reason in particular. Just trying to live my life before I'm forced to kick the bucket one of these days." I felt my shoulder be patted and I looked at my sister. Oh boy, it's her sisterly serious stare. Brace yourself, Spectre…
"I won't let you die, brother. Not as long as you and the rest of us have a war to finish."
You may never know, sis. You may never know… I could die before the war against the Taken ends, hell, maybe before I get to see the reunion of Dark Knights and Guardians. But at least she's giving me a little morale support. That's what matters at least. Mentally, I breathed a sigh of relief when I stopped myself from telling her that she has a niece among us.
"I know sis, I know. Promise me that you won't do something completely stupid that'll endanger you. That's the last thing I need happening." Actually, scratch that. The worst I need happening is the Taken corrupting me into a Taken Dark Knight right now.
"And you have to promise that you don't do something completely ridiculous and idiotic without giving me a heads up."
Like I heard that a million times. Tohsaka, you practically hammered that into my head for as long as I can remember. Of course I won't do something behind your back because you're a sister that deeply cares for me and the others underneath that harshness.
…
…
…Ah, what the hell? I'll probably do it again for one last time. When? I don't know. Depends on how bad it is. It's like Teshin said: 'There will be many battles on the road you walk, and there will be those you must face alone.' For someone who's my adoptive father, he's as much of a hermit as I thought. Not that I had any issues with it. As much as I don't like going behind her back, there are — and there will — be things I have to face on my own. Including the Stalker. My path is mine to walk; no one else's.
"Deal." I held out a fist. "For old time's sake, sis?"
Lightning looked at me and then at my fist. I was hoping she wouldn't forget how we keep our promises. The last time we did this has to be twenty-one years ago. Lightning and I often fist bump to keep our promises, and we did it a lot growing up. Even our little bets back then.
She looked at me in the eyes and faintly smiled before it became more obvious. Finally I can breathe a sigh of relief. Good to see that some of the Lightning I know is still there. Even when Lightning was battle-hardened, at least she didn't change completely.
"For old time's sake, bro." She lightly bumped her fist against mine and we shared a smile, knowing that some part of the old me was also here. "For the family name and the Dark Knights? To free them from the Cyphers?"
"For the family name and the Dark Knights."
The Stalker punished themselves for not taking advantage of when Spectre was downed. For not taking care of the Hatchling. For running from the battle. They roared in absolute rage as they swung the massive sword into one of the plentiful Taken Knights. The Knight was pulled into a black hole upon its death and Darkness seethed from their hand like smoke, swirling and raging completely out of control. The Stalker planted the sword into the blackness of the area and knelt, panting aggressively.
"You have not failed me or your King, my Stalker," the Right Hand — or what remained of him in a sphere of Taken energy — spoke, appearing before the Taken Dark Knight. "You will get another chance. He will be at his weakest, at the brink of despair. And only then will you have your chance."
The Stalker took a breath and meditated before the sphere of their master. Yes, he was right. Their first meeting with the son of Trionus Pendragon proved something; he was starting to break, just as the Right Hand wanted. Like a flock of vultures fighting over a carcass, the Darkness and Taken within the Stalker continued to fluctuate between fighting and working together.
All they had to do was wait for the perfect opportunity.
A/N: And there we have it. I knew that eventually this had to happen so I might as well have done it. We will still take a break from fighting, maybe for another chapter or two.
The Crimson Commando (II-XIX): Yeah, I know the feeling although I don't know which is more painful: being on the losing side when Mercy Rule is declared, or waiting for a long time for it to be activated. As much as I have standards, snaring an easy victory with Mercy Rule doesn't feel satisfying at the least.
I'll see you guys in the next chapter, so in the meantime, enjoy Iron Banner while it lasts!
