Old Rivalries

Act 9: Whispers

Chapter 28

Elanis frowned at the loss reports for Erimos. "While we've managed to push into the Gormott region, they've taken a few crucial islands close to us," Praetor Stolt laid his fingers on the dots of land on their large map. All the high ranks of the Coalition were gathered in the stuffy war room.

"Protests are still going on on Nyx, our people think we're contributing too much while the rest of the Coalition slacks," the Grand Chief of Tenteum stated. "Doesn't help that Alte has been staying out of it with their private militaries just defending their families," Gordon, the governor of Viomachia pointed out.

"Our engineers have been pumping out Artifices but those titan airships are being a pain in the ass for them," Elanis looked at the thick document in her lap. "I can take those islands back, but we need someone to push deep into Mor Ardain, their main stronghold. After that it should be easy," Admiral Argentine proposed.

"You're joking. Getting there through the beaches is suicide." Infinite leaned forward on the table. "I'd rather a decisive battle than the pointless fights we're doing," he countered. "Doable, yes, but at a great cost…" Emperor Marth considered.

"I agree with the Admiral, it seems like the only way to break free of this cycle," Stolt said. "We're going to need a lot of units for this Praetor," Avalon told him. "I'll put that scientist friend of mine on overtime for the demititans, and I hope your engineers can pump out more Artifices," he looked at Elanis. "I'll see what I can do.".

Shing!

"You still sliced off his hand," Astraeus picked up the wooden limb and reattached it. "I didn't kill him though, he did get disarmed," Hazel argued. "Remember what I told you, self control," he told her to try again.

Hazel readied her blade as the dummy sprang to life again. She ducked under its first swing and taking the advantage she slammed the hilt of her blade to the side of its face. This only caused it to stumble and it hit her hard on her ribs with their blade, throwing her to the ground.

"This is ridiculous, why can't I just cut through him," she got back up. "I've explained it to you, the more you kill the more you become like those you're trying to stop," he dusted her off. "Can you at least demonstrate how to do it," she said, exasperated.

Astraeus tapped it on the shoulders, resetting it and he got ready to fight. He moved back as it lunged towards him and knocked the blade aside with one arm and kicked it on the knee, making it fall. As it tried to get up, Astraeus was already behind and kicked it to the floor again before giving it an armlock.

"Not so hard, see?" He tapped it, deactivating it. "Hm, I still don't get it, it would be much simpler just to slice off a limb or two," Crimson folded her arms. "I thought I told you I'd train Hazel in the morning and you in the afternoon," he said. "Yeah but I couldn't watch her just be so bad at this," she rolled her eyes.

"I think I've also told you two to start working together," he propped the dummy up to its original position. Crimson just shrugged. "Alright then, for your next task you'll both go into that cave," Astraeus pointed towards a hole in the wall of a cliff. "Seems easy," Crimson started the hike towards it. "Be careful of what you find there," he warned.

Crimson just smirked, thinking nothing would be that difficult to subdue. "I feel like something is wrong here," Hazel said as she walked into the dark cave. "Please, you're now scared of the dark too?" Crimson cut through some vines obstructing the way. "It just feels wrong. Like it's devoid of life, even the plants are trying to grow away from it," she countered.

Crimson noticed her observation, the roots and stems were pointed away from the cave. "Seems like my kind of place," she took a deep breath, forged onwards. After some time, she tripped and fell down a steep drop. Groaning, she rolled and got up.

Limping forward, she arrived at a clearing. Light shone through pockets of forestry filling up the holes. "What do you suppose he sent us to do here," Crimson asked. "I knew you'd come back." A familiar voice said.

Instantly she turned around and pointed it at his throat. "Don't you know how to greet your master?" Excrucior slowly pushed the blade downwards. "What the- he's supposed to be dead!" Hazel exclaimed. "What do you want," she asked.

"Well, for you back at my side of course, we made the perfect team." He laughed. "Ah yes the 'team' where you manipulated me to do whatever you wished based on a lie." She snarkily replied. Excrucior just threw his hands in the air. "That lie still got you far didn't it? Look where you are now, stronger, faster and smarter than you were. Maybe not such a bad trade eh?".

Hazel noticed that Crimson had relaxed her grip on the blade. "Crimson?…" she said. "I'm fine, I'm still focused." She retightened her grip. "So a fight it is, shame. I was looking forward to catching up." He drew his long gray blade, its raspy metallic breath filled the cave. "Enough talk. Let's dance." the red blade flashed and pointed towards Excrucior.

He gave a wide grin. "You know what I like," he laughed. They walked slowly in a circle, each of them waiting for an opportunity to strike. Crimson lunged first, striking like a cobra. Swinging it from below only to be met by his. Excrucior brought it upwards and countered, barely countered by Crimson who went flying backwards. "What the hell was your plan!" Hazel yelled.

"Well it was getting boring, no one was moving," she argued. "Up ahead, watch out," Hazel warned. Excrucior dashed forwards. Crimson flipped above but he still hit her. "Next time, call it out faster," she spat out some blood. She got up and the fight continued. A tornado of whirls and strikes rang around the room, getting faster and faster. They locked blades and he looked right into her eyes.

"Still the same untrained cat as always, too sloppy and slow." he laughed. Crimson broke away and went for an overhead swing but Excrucior could move faster and disarmed her and sliced her arm. She stumbled away holding her right arm. "This isn't working, we need a different strategy. We can't beat him on swordplay alone," Hazel advised. "Alright so now what's your plan smartass," Crimson grimaced as she tore off a part of her cloth and wrapped it around her wound.

"He knows how you're going to fight, so let's do something different," she said. "You're the boss," Crimson listened closely and nodded. She got up and dragged her blade on the rough stone floor creating sparks. Bringing it upwards, she used the sparks to blind him and throw him back with a slash.

She jumped high towards him and midair she switched to Hazel. She slammed into his knocking him off balance. Taking advantage of this she kept pressuring him. "Horizon Slashes!" She yelled.

Even in his disadvantageous state, he parried them all. "Enough, it's time you realized why I am your master," his eyes flashed red. He began attacking her with such ferocity she had to play very defensively. "So, what's your goal," he sidestepped Crimson and kicked her hard, slamming her to the wall.

"To kill you, obviously." Hazel dashed out of the dust. "Really? Why that's good, really good!" He laughed. Hazel flipped over him and cut his right arm and kicked him in return. "The fuck are you laughing about," she got into a stance.

"You've just played into my hands," he continued, shaking from delight. "Explain." She raised her sword. "Even if I die here, I'll leave a perfect successor," he began pacing the room. "You and I are nothing alike," she thrust forward. "Really?" He turned her away with ease. "You and I both grew up with no parents, always being watched by a body of power with the interest of using us as a weapon.".

"We both got tired of the world eventually and stopped caring, but most important of all, we both do whatever has to be done to get what we want, even if it means a few dozen lives. So, ask yourself, what makes you different from the rest of us?" He taunted. They both stayed silent, doubting what they once considered to be right.

"Once. Not anymore," Hazel leveled her golden blade that began to hum as she channeled her power through it. "You really think change happens in a week or two? Prove it then." Red lightning began to course through his blade. This time the duo began to use their full strength, but in a different way.

They switched between each other, the faster Hazel to wear him down and hard hitting Crimson to deal the finishing blows. "What is this!? Why. Won't. You. DIE!" He began to attack more fiercely out of desperation. Crimson surrounded him in a dark tide of energy and when he looked up, Hazel sent a beam of light down on him.

"Because we're stronger than you," Hazel landed and began to strike him over and over in his dazed state. "We may have started similarly, but you gave into hopelessness," She blocked an attack and was sent back. "You chose to abandon who you were at your core and take other people's fate into your hands," Crimson stomped the ground and sent a pillar of rock which he cut in half.

"You decided to moan and bitch about how unfair this world was, doing nothing," Hazel ducked under his swing and kicked his legs out. Excrucior rolled just in time to avoid being decapitated and got up. "You want to know the difference? We. Fix. This. World!" Every word was punctuated with a heavy swing from Crimson. On the last swing, she coated her blade in black fire and brought it down on him.

It shattered his blade and before he could react, she had turned around and stabbed him through the chest with her back facing him. He made a choking sound and fell to his knees. Crimson cleaned her blade by flicking it before turning to stare him dead in the eyes. "Heh, so the student has beaten the master," he collapsed on the floor and his body faded away.

They heard a small clap behind them as Astraeus stepped out of the shadows. "Were you here the entire time," Crimson sheathed the red blade. "Well not really," he showed them the exit to the cave. "So, you understand now?" He held aside the vines that acted as a natural screen.

"Yes. Not killing someone does not mean you are weak. It means you have more control over yourself and your emotions." She stated. "Anything else?" He asked as they both stepped out to enjoy the waning sun on a precipice overlooking the valley.

"Everyone deserves a second chance, we should try and help than use murder as a solution. And if you do kill, it should be as painless as possible and not make them suffer." She took a deep breath of the mountain air. "Well done, I may actually be a good teacher. Tea?" He offered her a large clay cup full of the steaming liquid. "I could get used to this," Hazel thought as they rested with the magnificent scenery laid out in front.

"Move soldier!". Irkye pushed someone just as a bullet whizzed past their heads. "You alright mate?" He looked down at the shaky man who nodded. "Aight chum back out there we go!" He raised his head a little and the concrete beside his face shattered. "Shit, that wanker of a sniper got us pinned." He looked at the group of men around him huddled against the wall.

"General, any time now would be good," he said to the radio. "On it. Hang in there," Infinite's stern voice replied. "Sit right blokes, the cavalries coming." He readied his pistols. Not long after, they heard the building crumble and fall. "Charge!" He vaulted over the wall, guns ablazing.

A knife nearly hit Irkye's face, impaling the soldier behind him. "Oi! That almost hit me!" He yelled at Jess, shooting two behind her. "Well those two almost got me, so you owe me now!" She ducked under a driver's axe before stabbing him in the back and fired her pistols rapidly.

"Heh, crazy kid," he said as took a breather in the cover of a wall. He watched a unit escort an artifice on his right. They broke through the lines, demolishing buildings that the enemy were hiding in. The piloted artifice staggered and groaned as a large round punched through it.

Another hit the ground and exploded, annihilating the soldiers and causing gravel and small debris to rain on Irkye. "New orders Captain, we've got to retreat, the gunship is here," Infinite's voice said. "What!? Let them take the city?" Irkye was in disbelief. "They have aerial superiority, we can't hold Otokan.".

"Fine, I'll get ''em out." He groaned. "This way men! We've got to get into the sewers!" He yelled and waved his hands. They desperately ran and occasionally fired back. And that's when they saw it. "Shit! Get in now!" Irkye opened a pothole.

The large metal underbelly appeared from the clouds, bullets ricocheted off the large brown scaly skin. "It's the Ardainian Royal airship! Move 21st!" He watched the men scramble like rats into the sewers and jumped in at the last moment. He barely had time to roll out of the way as the tunnel behind him collapsed.

"Captain! I found your recorder," a soldier ran up to him and handed him the device. "Thanks chap. Head for the exits, we have to leave Otokan as fast as possible," he lit his flare and guided them through the rank tunnels.

"There!" Gunfire lit up the tunnel. "Split up! Run for the exits lads!" He fired around the corner. He heard them reload and ran to the opposite side as fast he could.

After what seemed like an eternity of running accompanied by the sound of his pounding heart and splashes of water, he came to a clearing. Line shone through a small gap in the ceiling. "Who's there," he cocked his gun and pointed towards the opposing hole.

"Woah woah woah don't shoot!" A young man came up with his hands in the air. "I take that you're a civilian?" He studied the man's actions and clothing. "Y-Yeah, please tell me how to get out of here," he wiped the sweat off his brow. "I was hoping you'd tell me, these tunnels are confusing as shit," he pocketed his guns.

"Think there's a way here," he pointed to a different hole. Irkye stayed behind him as they looked for a way out. "I see something," he announced and dashed to the left. "Hey kid! Wait up!" He jogged slowly there.

It was another opening, this time there was something in the middle. "Hey! Step away from that!" He froze. On the ground was a large metal sphere with little prongs sticking out of it in various places. The man was about to touch it but he stopped. "Kid, I ain't no expert but that's a bomb," he slowly stepped towards the man.

"Indeed it is. It's a shame we couldn't spend more time, I'm sure you would've been a nice person. For the Saviorites!" He lunged towards the device. Irkye quickly shot his leg but he tripped and hit a button. "Fuck!" He ran out of the tunnel as fast as he could, dread growing more and more with each beep that filled the tunnels.

Then it happened. He threw himself forward as a last ditch effort as the bomb exploded. Dust rained down from above before the ceiling gave way. Fire raced through the narrow pathways as if a dragon blew them in.

When the dust settled, Irkye found himself on his back. Ears ringing, he pushed a piece of debris off him with much effort. He looked around. The city had been annihilated, the sewers were destroyed and as a result the buildings caved in.

Holding his ribs, he started to walk away. Eventually he came across a group of men. "Soldier! Are you alright!" One of them called out to him. "Could be worse," he staggered his way to them. "Someone get a medic!".

A few hours later, he sat down at a table with Infinite and Avalon. "City's devastated, only a few of my men got out." He read the report. "None of us won that, both of our casualties are through the roof, protests in Tenteum are going to increase now one of their cities is gone," Avalon groaned as he buried his head in his hands.

"Is there a captain Irkye here?" Three officers barged into the room. "That would be me," he stood up to face them. "You're under arrest," one of them tried to cuff him but Irkye turned around and cuffed him instead. "On what charges," he asked.

"This," he brought out Irkye's recorder and pressed play.

"Alright kid this way," his voice said.

"Hey! What are you doing!" The young man yelled.

"Killing those bastards, all of them. For the Saviorite's!" Irkye yelled and the sound of him pressing the button and shooting the man followed soon after.

"That… was not me," he paced around the room. His mind flashed to all the events that happened during the day. The man who planted a fake recorder on him, the soldiers who made sure he found the other agent who would set off the bomb.

"I've been framed." He stopped in his tracks. "Well until you have evidence you didn't cause the countless deaths of our own men, are not part of a terrorist group and razed a town, we'll take you in," the officer said.

"Take him away," he barked. They cuffed him and he desperately looked at Infinite and Avalon who sat there grimly. They marched him out of the building and he looked at where he would be spending some time in, military prison.