12/06/19
So I did a bad and started writing ANOTHER multi-chapter fic along with this one. And that one I've been plugging away at like crazy. I couldn't find a way to keep this one moving tbh...then it just came to me and I got this chapter and the next one complete and I'm excited to keep moving. See I said this would not be a novelization of the Code Vein story, but would just use the settings to tell something different allowing me to take liberties here and there. The story events still happen obviously but not as the focus.
2nd time I'm saying that but mostly to myself. The last act of this chapter goes out to all us Code Vein players out there. I feel you.
Memories
In the midst of their argument with the Revenant over the human woman, no one noticed the nest they were near begin to stir. The creature within awoke, a massive Lost that looked to be a woman fused with a flower and a giant head spewing venom.
The creatures split the Revenants and the human woman up before charging at Yakumo. He brought his blade up in defense but was thrown aside by the sheer force of the creature.
"Yakumo!"
Louis leapt aside as the massive head began to spew venom all over the area. Jaynix held an arm up and moved aside, keeping out of range as Yakumo rolled to safety.
"We have to move together!"
She called out while Louis threw something at her and Yakumo, needles. Anti-venom. Quickly they stuck the needles into their necks and charged forward.
Yakumo and Jaynix rolled beneath the massive head as it swung about, Louis leaping over it and striking at the woman, the core of the entire beast. Screeching back at him, the head swung back around and knocked him out of the air.
With a red glow, Yakumo swung his blade in two circles, slamming and slashing into the beast pushing it back. Borrowing from Louis, Jaynix warped from her place right into the creature's face and swung her blade twice before falling out of the air and flipping away.
With another screech, the beast spawned more viscous orbs of venom and scattered them around the field, Jaynix willed a surge of blood in her hand and swung it out, the pellets formed cut through the venomous orbs in her way allowing her access to the beast.
As she charged forward, the beast did the same. Her eyes widened as the full force of the creature slammed into her and threw her aside. Rolling across the ground she got to her feet as quickly as she could, ignoring her body's many complaints.
The beast was focused on her now. That was bad. But then she noted Yakumo and Louis approaching.
"Was that the best you could do?"
Reaching behind her she pulled out a spare bayonet she picked up from a fallen Lost and let loose several rounds into the creature's head. Roaring it swung at her more, spewing venom all around her and now she felt it working on her, the anti-venom wearing out.
But with its attention on her, it didn't notice Louis and Yakumo leaping into the air, red energy covered their bodies as they tore through the back of the creature. It screeched in agony.
Willing herself to move again, she once again warped right up to the creature, her finger on the trigger she felt the bayonet charge up before opening fire, the massive shot took off the woman's head.
With that the body flailed about and fell to the ground, dispersing into ash as Jaynix landed. her heart was racing and she felt sick. Louis was at her side, injecting her with another needle as Yakumo approached the other fallen Revenant.
Despite being on the floor the whole time, he leapt back to his feet with more energy than expected. Yakumo held him at gunpoint immediately.
"The woman is ours."
Now on her feet, Jaynix held the side of her head as Louis moved to Yakumo's side and exchanged words with the other Revenant before throwing him a bag of Blood Beads. After he left the two men rejoined Jaynix.
"You okay?"
"I think so...that thing was more of a nuisance than expected."
Yakumo chuckled.
"Maybe so, but we won! We're pretty impressive together eh?"
Louis and Jaynix agreed before looking ahead into the nest where the woman ran off to after fleeing from the massive Lost. Moving forward the group hoped they could finally put this encounter behind them.
Jaynix, Mia and Io sat around a mistle, darkness had fallen over the Cathedral of the Sacred Blood and the three had found their quarry. A door just like the one they opened after doing battle with the Successor of the Ribcage.
Jaynix had immediately contacted Louis and Yakumo upon finding it and the pair was headed their way.
"I've been a lot more careful around venomous enemies since."
Jaynix stated, hoping to never feel that sickness again. She had enough to deal with when it came to feeling unwell.
"I can only imagine…"
Mia said with a smile. The three of them had taken off their respirators given their close proximity to the mistle. The air was clear, it was safe.
"I don't want to sound ungrateful but why the story?"
Jaynix leaned back and thought for a moment.
"It's because I don't like the silence. I don't think anyone does…"
"You don't seem like someone who speaks much. It's...surprising to hear so many words from you. You even got a little excited recalling how you felled that massive Lost."
Jaynix shrugged, she started trying to emulate the way that Yakumo told stories, then she had forgotten all about that and continued the story as...well as herself.
"I guess that's just me. Fighting excites me."
Jaynix thought about that more, recalling the countless fights she's been in since waking up. She remembered the first time they were attacked by a horde of lost in the city ruins.
"I like the chaos. It makes me feel...like myself I guess."
Jaynix looked up at Mia and Io.
"Do you two have something like that?"
"Being near you, aiding you. It's all that I need."
Io stated softly as she always did. Mia looked to the other woman.
"Is it really? Io?"
"Yes."
Jaynix shook her head.
"Don't worry too much Mia, Io says she's fine, she's fine."
"...are you okay with it, Jaynix?"
Keeping her eyes on Io, Jaynix watched as the other woman's golden eyes found her. With a nod, Jaynix looked at Mia again.
"Yeah. For now at least...I figure while we're out here, Io will find something else to pique her curiosity...and you, Mia?"
"I figured it was obvious. My brother, Nicola. He's why I'm here, why I'm doing all this."
"Siblings. Family. I wonder what that's like…"
Mia looked to Io, who was lost in thought. Then over to Jaynix, these two were very mysterious to her. Louis and Yakumo were normal...or at least what passes for normal these days.
Jaynix forgot everything, yet she seems so sure of...something else and Io is wholly devoted to this woman. Why?
"We should get some rest while we can, Mia. Io. At least a few quick winks before Louis and Yakumo show up."
At that suggestion, Mia found herself feeling weary.
"That's a great idea."
As she laid back, Jaynix looked to Io.
"Aren't you tired?"
"If you are going to sleep, I shall watch over you. Protect you, as is my duty."
Jaynix smiled.
"As much as I appreciate that Io...if you really want to protect me, I think you'd fare better if you were well rested. Don't you?"
Io tilted her head before agreeing. Lying down she closed her eyes. Jaynix moved closer to a wall and leaned back against it. Closing her eyes she silently asked the dream to stay away, at least for tonight.
To her surprise it did, instead of the burning city her mind returned to those memories from within that Vestige she found. Her Vestige. In the midst of battle with the Ribcage, meeting Aurora, finding Karen and then the appearance of the Hunter, Jack. She did not have the time to properly consider exactly what it meant to be the Queenslayer.
She wanted to tell the others immediately but then the Successors, and the opportunity to truly move forward with Louis' mission arose. And after that came the burning vision. She went from having no memories and nothing beyond what lay before her to now having so much to consider and think about.
It's no wonder she felt distant from everyone else, she was trapped in her mind. As Louis had warned her she became lost in a world of what ifs. That had to change and soon.
Closing her eyes, Jaynix began thinking on how she'd bring this up with Louis. She could tell that he had a strong connection to Cruz. The Queen. Through that Vestige of his they found what felt like ages ago.
Sleep found her much quicker than she expected. But so did something else.
"Jaynix? Training again?"
"Sparring too? When was the last time you took it easy?"
"Ever seen a Horror?"
"Everything will be fine. We're the best there is."
"They're coming! A horde! They seem endless!"
"Here? Why?"
"Prepare the defenses! We-"
Screams drowned out any further conversation as the sounds of battle filled the air.
Shooting to her feet, Jaynix drew her blade and examined her surroundings. Io and Mia were still resting and there wasn't a sound to disturb them...save for some faint footsteps.
Louis and Yakumo appeared just as Jaynix sheathed her blade.
"Hey there Jaynix, hope the wait wasn't too long."
She shook her head.
"Given how big this place is I expected you to take longer."
Louis smirked.
"I think we've got a handle on our surroundings. We ready to keep moving?"
Jaynix knelt down and tapped Io and Mia, rousing the two from their nap. Once the five were together they approached the door. Holding her hand out, Jaynix watched as it faded away to nothing revealing a new mistle of a different color.
Stepping forward she activated it as she did all the others. The light blinded the group, and once it faded they found themselves at the Cathedral no longer but rather in a frosted open cave. Outside they could see a terrible snowstorm.
Mia moved ahead of the group. Recalling the snowy vision she saw of Nicola.
"This is it. He's here."
She then turned to the rest of the group as Yakumo put his blade on his shoulder.
"Then let's go find him."
The mountain climb was far rougher than anything the group has done so far, even wading through the Howling Pit was easier than the sheer drops, cramped cliffside and blistering weather they faced now. The Lost did not take it easy on them either.
Large Boreal Savages sprung up from the snow to hound their every step and the more standard Lost combatants began attempting suicide charges to blast the Revenants off the cliffs.
Grabbing one seconds before, Jaynix flipped him over and threw him off the edge as he exploded.
"Look out!"
Yakumo covered her, his blade stopping a Savage's axe. That gave Louis the chance to strike from behind, his Claw ripping the Savage apart as Mia and Io held off the approaching balls of flesh, dodging their repetitive charges.
"We gotta find someplace easier to fight, we can't risk getting thrown over!"
Jaynix looked to Louis and Io, together the group swung their arms, various elemental attacks struck the cliff above them letting loose a small avalanche that carried most of the remaining Lost to their doom.
A grenade fell near the group, Yakumo quickly covered them, the ensuing explosion throwing him farther than expected. Jaynix launched towards him, grabbing his arm.
With a yell her Veil shifted and she slammed her claw deep into the cliffside they were hanging from. With a mighty roar, she mustered her strength and threw Yakumo back over the edge.
As he landed in a heap, still exhausted from the explosion Io ran to the edge and reached out for Jaynix. Louis followed suit as Mia tended to Yakumo.
"Jaynix!"
"I'm fine...I'm fine…"
Forcing her claw deeper, she began to push herself up closer to Louis and Io's outstretched hands. Feeling the cliff begin to give way she pushed off, her comrades' hands finding her and taking hold, bringing her up the rest of the way.
As Io and Louis checked Jaynix over she kept her eyes on them, words escaping without thought.
"I trusted you."
Louis and Io stopped, the former speaking.
"What?"
"I was going to fall...but I trusted that you would catch me…"
Louis and Io exchanged a look, Yakumo and Mia joining in. Yakumo even laughed at that.
"Of course we would...and thanks for the save Jaynix. Falling down there wouldn't have been fun."
With Io's help, Jaynix stood up.
"You're...welcome, Yakumo. I didn't really...I didn't-"
"Think?"
Louis filled in as he and Mia got Yakumo to his feet.
"Yeah. In moments like that, people tend not to think. We just do."
Jaynix looked at her hand, the one she used to grab Yakumo, to save him. A smile came to her face.
"I liked it. The feeling it gave me…"
The group continued their climb, keeping their eyes out for mistle as well as any suspicious lumps of snow. Jaynix had many thoughts in her head as always but that feeling was still strong within her.
Moving to Louis she asked him to slow down a bit. The rest of the group kept moving, once there was enough space between them, Jaynix began.
"Something happened in the Cathedral."
"You mean the bridge being destroyed? It's alright. Yakumo and I-"
"No. Before. Remember the Argent Wolf Berserker?"
Louis shook his head.
"How could I forget? The sight of you and Yakumo stepping forward to hold back that beast's weapon with brute force. The absolutely monstrous yells you both let out as you threw him aside. It was awe inspiring."
Jaynix thought back to that moment and recalled that...thrill. That excitement at the stupid plan she and Yakumo pulled off to defeat the beast.
"After that fight we found a mistle to rest at but...something was bothering me…"
Louis watched Jaynix curiously as she continued.
"I went back to the battlefield and I noticed something in a sort of...mural. I don't know what to call it. But, it was there...buried in the bone of the walkway...a Vestige."
"You found a Vestige? What was...whose was it?"
Jaynix came to a stop, Louis doing the same. Locking eyes, he understood immediately.
"It was yours."
A terrible roar distracted them as Mia called back for them. Looking ahead the pair saw a new Lost. A giant lumbering creature with massive claws and spikes extending from its back. The creature roared again before curling up and shooting across the snow.
Mia and Io dove aside as Yakumo attempted to guard the blow only to get thrown aside by the immense force and slam into a cave wall.
"This isn't good."
Louis stated as he charged ahead. Jaynix focused a flame in her hand and waved it over her weapon. All their arms lit up and they engaged the Boreal Brute.
The creature was far more nimble than its size would suggest. It's claws slicing through the air, the cave walls and deep into the snow. One strike caught and threw Mia right up into the cave ceiling. The force of the blow knocked the wind out of her and she fell to the floor, still and unmoving.
Louis warped behind the creature and buried his flaming blade into its hide as Io swung her lance with all her might, the burning weapon slicing through its chest.
Jaynix launched herself at the creature, blade sinking deep into its shoulder. Roaring in rage the beast swung about, one claw clipping Louis and throwing him from the cave onto another snow covered cliffside.
Raising its claws the beast slammed the cave floor with immense force, Io lost her balance and was thrown aside. Curling into a ball the creature slammed itself into a wall, Jaynix was then flung off the beast, rolling through the snow.
The Boreal Brute roared and began pounding its chest. Water, snow and ice from the air and land below gathered around the beast and covered it, forming some sort of barrier.
"Hey you bastard!"
Yakumo charged forward, red energy covering his blade as he struck the back of the beast, his force was repelled, pushing him back. Eyes wide as the Brute turned, claws tearing into Yakumo and throwing him down to the red snow.
"Yakumo!"
Screaming in rage, Jaynix charged forward. Louis followed, the same anger evident in his expression. The two Revenants were agile, dodging the creature's fierce blows but the barrier it put up was negating any significant damage.
Reaching into the ground, the beast solidified the snow and formed a large ice pillar which it then hurled at the Revenants. The pillar exploded on contact with the ground. In the confusion it charged forward, striking Louis and throwing him aside.
Jaynix stood, her breath visible in the cold, her body aching. She readied her blade, conjuring another flame she covered the weapon and glared at the beast.
She saw Io standing slowly and shook her head. Internally asking her faithful attendant to leave this to her. Io didn't want to, Jaynix could tell from her eyes but-
Another roar cut her off as the best curled up and charged her. With a roar of her own in equal fervor, Jaynix brought her claw and held the Brute at bay with all the might she could muster as it continued to try to push through.
Raising her blade she stabbed into the rolling creature, she heard it roar in pain but then the blade was pulled from her grasp and she felt her arm give way. One painful snap later she found the beast's full force against her entire body, throwing her off the cliffside.
She watched as the creature came with her, looking past it she saw Io on the cliffside reach out towards her. Despite knowing there was no way she could be saved, Jaynix stretched her hand out in response, her eyes locked on Io as she and the Boreal Brute fell and disappeared into the white.
