And now, I'm gonna take even LONGER to get to the Northern War. Gee, I hope it doesn't feel like I'm stalling at this point. Guess that just means I'll have to make sure that chapter ends up really good then.
Oh yeah, I've also decided to take some advice from you all and rename the previous chapter into an "intermission" rather than a "short-story". It was far more fitting due to how story-crucial it ended up being. As a result "side-stories" will be relegated to more slice-of-life or relationship stuff while "intermissions" will be shorter chapters but have story significance.
October 25, S.1205 - Northern Lamare
The road to Dnieper Gate was a rocky one. He had never been this far up north on the western side of the continent before and it surprised him how scarce the railways were in the area. Even when compared to Ymir, at least they had a cable car to get around the mountains.
After the almost theatrical order ritual the chancellor had given him during the festival, Rean had practically spent his entire day on the train. As expected, Altina was there waiting for him at one of the seats. The first thing she said?
"So that's the sort of degeneracy you engage in when we aren't watching you."
Did she spy on him while he and Musse were dancing? Claiomh Solais did have that cloaking ability she so loved to use.
It was an awkward ride to Lamare from there. Aside from him, Altina, and the crew, the only other person on the train was the recently promoted Major Claire. The next few hours had an oppressive atmosphere that made it difficult to exchange any greetings or pleasantries, so Rean kept quiet. Altina was the sort to never really speak unless spoken to and Claire helped out with the crew with miscellaneous tasks.
Once they disembarked the train, it should've been a quick and easy ride to Dnieper on the RMP's armored vehicles that were waiting for them. Evidently, that wasn't the case.
The terrain wasn't something that the cars weren't used to. Quite the opposite, actually. The tires provided proper traction while on the bumpy roads and hills throughout the mountainous area. But no matter how much insurance you bring beforehand, that doesn't guarantee a smooth ride. There was always something that impeded your progress.
"Apologies, Major." Engels, Claire's right-hand man saluted. "It appears that the road damaged one of our tires and the inner workings of the car. Ours wasn't the only case either. We should have inspected more carefully before departing."
The Icy Maiden shook her head. "No worries. I suspect it won't take long for repairs and we should stock up on supplies just in case. There's a town nearby, isn't there?"
"Yes, ma'am. I believe it's a remote town by the name of Alster. We most likely won't be able to expect high-end materials, but our food supplies could see replenishment. I've also heard there's quite an accomplished orbal engineer there to assist with repairs."
"That sounds perfect." Claire looked up to the darkening sky. "Though I fear it's growing late. It would be too dangerous to have them do any sort of repairs at night. It might be in our best interest to stay the night before starting." She gave it a slight thought. "I'd estimate we should spend a few nights at the very least."
"A few? I apologize for speaking out, Major, but the repairs shouldn't take longer than a few hours."
"That's true, but the campaign won't start for another week. In addition…" She glanced at Rean, who was still sitting in the car. She took notice of a dark shadow hanging over his head. "This is a big shock to him. Let's give him a while to gather his thoughts."
Engels followed her gaze and immediately understood. "Of course. I agree wholeheartedly. I shall prepare at once."
She nodded and walked back to the car.
Altina sat on one side, as still as she could be, perusing an informational book on the history of northern Lamare and North Ambria. From what Claire could tell, if the young girl were to have any free time, she would spend it reading non-fiction and historical documents about locations she will have missions in. Hardly did she ever see the girl do anything for leisure outside of treating herself to pancakes at the local bakery.
Across from her was Rean, who was busying himself by fiddling with his ARCUS. He had long finished the novel he brought along the train, so making any adjustments to his equipment was all that he could do. He cursed himself quite frequently for forgetting to bring a few more just to keep his mind occupied and he wasn't too keen on a reread so soon.
"Rean, Altina," Claire called them up. "We're staying at a nearby town for a while before heading out to the gate. I trust this is okay with you two?"
Altina nodded. "That is fine. It is best that we mentally prepare ourselves before heading out to the front lines."
Rean merely grunted. In the time Claire had spent with Rean on his missions, she was able to learn some of his tells. That way he wordlessly spoke told her everything she needed to know. "I'm not happy with my situation, but I will comply." Something he'd never say if he had no choice in the matter.
It pained her to hear him so distant, especially after they had finally cleared the air between each other back in March, but Claire knew there was nothing she could do.
She knew the reason why. Both Rean and Claire knew that the result of the war would end with North Ambria's freedom or its merging into the Empire. Another annexation to weigh over his mind. It didn't help that she had grown close to another reason why he had become despondent.
"May I ask where it is we're stopping, Major?" Altina asked.
"Alster," she replied, "a town known for its vineyards, its selection of crops, and especially well-renowned for producing the ever-popular Steinrose brand of liquor. It's rather removed from civilization, but it does interact with the nearby mining town of Aragon to exchange goods."
Rean's ears perked up.
"Did you say Alster?"
"Yes…? What's the matter, Rean? Have you been there before?"
He shook his head. "No, I haven't. But before I left, Prince Olivert asked me a personal request in the event that we stopped by Alster. He said it wasn't particularly urgent, so I could do it if I wanted to."
"I see. Knowing you, you'd probably want to help out regardless, wouldn't you?"
"Well… yeah, I think so. He looked so sincere about it that I find it hard to refuse. It should take my mind off things at the very least."
"In that case, I shall assist," Altina added. "Whatever the request entails, I shall promise to help you accomplish it as efficiently as possible."
"...Thanks, Altina." Rean turned to Claire. "What about you, Major?"
She held out a hand, stopping him from inquiring any further. "Unfortunately, I must decline. We're running behind schedule as is. Once morning comes, I'll have to report to Dnieper Gate as soon as I can. Once that's finished, we'll have to be on standby."
"I… see." He opened and closed his mouth multiple times, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to voice those thoughts. Before long, he took a deep breath and let a sad smile grace his features. "I hope everything goes well on your end then."
"To you as well, Rean."
Altina eyed the two carefully but said nothing.
October 25, S.1205 - The Remote Town of Alster
Alster certainly had the makings of a town in the countryside. The rustic stone buildings, the medieval walkways and architecture, even the air felt clean and free of the impurities of the city. It somewhat reminded him of Trista, but the variety of farm animals scurrying about made for a different kind of feel.
As it was getting dark, Rean couldn't take the time to drink in the sights. And as interesting as the water well was, he was simply too tired from sitting all day. He followed the party to the Sunny Spot Inn, located not too far from the entrance of the town. It was about what he expected: a tavern that made up the main lobby and a few rooms above for guests.
Nothing in particular stood out, but at least the smell of the food was exquisite to the senses. He had almost forgotten about his fatigue on the trip over. He made sure to order a plate of their signature risotto when Altina and Claire left to prepare their rooms before calling it a night.
However, like with many things in Rean's life, things didn't go as smoothly as he originally planned.
Perhaps it was just his imagination playing tricks on him, but it had felt like the two owners of the inn stared holes into him. It didn't feel like an act of hostility… more like one of confusion or curiosity. Whatever that was bothering them must have put them in quite the trance as it was their daughter - a young girl with bright red hair and about Elise's age - that took his order instead.
That aside, he had also noticed something else.
"H-Hit meh wit anotha, Gilda! Make it a big one!"
...Or rather someone else.
The called-on woman sighed. "Don't you think you've had enough to drink? At this rate, you'll be sleeping on the counter rather than your bed."
"Dun say that~! I gotta try all the Steinrose ya got!"
The raging alcoholic in question raised her empty glass in hopes of scoring another drink. From her tone, it sounded like she had been at this for quite some time. The last thing Rean wanted to deal with in his fatigued state was a loud drunk, so he returned his empty plate to the young girl and paid for his meal. It was time for him to retire for the night.
"Waaaaait a minute… Ish dat you, Rean?"
Or so he thought.
He slowly turned his gaze to the drunk woman. She squinted at him, surveying his person with her flushed face and droopy eyes. Though her clothes and hairstyle were different, opting for a reversed color scheme from her old outfit and letting her hair hang out in a ponytail rather than fully tied up, Rean was able to identify her.
"Instructor Sara? What are you doing here?"
Her eyes widened. "It ish you! Look at you, you handsome devil!"
Without even waiting for her next round, she shot up out from the counter stool and pulled him into a tight hug. Though, it felt less like a hug and more like a headlock. The smell of alcohol reeked from her breath.
"You've gotten sho tall! You've grown, what, five rege? It hasn't even been dat long shince I've seen you!"
"I-It's nice… to see you… too, Instructor…" Rean barely managed to choke out through his restrained breath. "But can you…?"
"Hmm? Can I what?"
"Can… you…?"
"You're gonna have to shpeak up, Rean!" Sara merrily laughed. "Or else I'll- GAH!"
"You really should stop teasing him, Sara."
By some turning of fate, Claire had come downstairs to check on him. In her hands was a rather thick novel that she ended up using to sedate his former instructor from choking him to death. Thankfully, it didn't seem like she used that much force since the victim quickly recovered as if nothing happened.
"Am I not allowed to sing the praises of my favorite student and appreciate the man he has become in my absence?"
It looked like the strike to her head also caused Sara to sober up a bit. Truly, Claire Rieveldt was a miracle worker given mortal form.
"I believe that's considered inappropriate in most cases, former instructor or not," Claire replied. "And you should be wary of stating he's your favorite out loud like that, whether or not you mean it."
The cerise-haired bracer scoffed and crossed her arms. "As if I should be hearing that from you. Little Miss Major. I've seen the way you look at my star pupil!" She moved behind Rean and wrapped her arms around his upper body, restricting his arms. "I'm supposed to be the big sister figure here, you know! So why don't you just shoo!" To emphasize her point, Sara made a sweeping motion with her hand.
Claire let out a sigh of exasperation. "That's not important right now. Rean needs his sleep and we need to talk about our arrangement. So please let him go."
Sara snorted, clearly unamused with the situation, but ultimately complied. She released her hold on the poor boy and took a seat by the table.
"Thank you," Claire turned over to him. "Get some rest, Rean. I'm sure you're curious, but either Sara or I will fill you in once morning comes."
"O-Okay…"
Rean made his way up the stairs, looking back slightly to see that Claire had also taken a seat across from Sara. The two exchanged a glance before bidding each other good night.
"See? You just did it again!"
Sara's accusatory voice echoed through the inn.
The next day
Rean could see how the Sunny Spot Inn had heard its name upon waking up that morning. The way the sun's rays entered in through the curtains of the window so beautifully made it such a refreshing routine to greet the day. It didn't hit his eyes nor was it far enough to disguise the coming of a new day. It felt oddly nostalgic despite it being his first time in Alster.
He examined the room. With how tired he was last night (and how much of a hassle it was to deal with a drunk Sara), he never got a good look at what was being offered. The room put most decent inns to shame with a small living area near the entrance of the room paired with a set of couches and a coffee table if one wanted to do some light reading.
Further inside, the side in which he was currently residing in, there was enough room for four decently sized beds. With how small the inn itself was and that they needed enough board to fit a few more RMP officers, Rean ended up sharing the room with Claire and Altina. The latter had been rather apprehensive about sharing the room with him, so he made sure to stay as far as he could lest he suffer at the hands of Claiomh Solais again.
Speaking of which, Altina was nowhere to be found. The girl had a habit of waking early no matter when she went to bed. It made for a great asset at the times she was required to take on a mission, but it generally made him worry whenever she took spontaneous naps throughout the day.
With no one else in the room, Rean got properly dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. He could already smell the blended coffee wafting into his nostrils.
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead!"
"It appears that you are awake."
"Good morning, Rean."
The two women and the young girl greeted him at one of the tables. They each had plates in front of them, filled to the brim of their preferred morning meals. Sara had the classic bacon, eggs, and toast - her usual breakfast back when they were living together at the Class VII dorm. Claire had an oatmeal porridge with a side of a fluffy croissant. She had always been a light eater, so the choice didn't seem far-fetched for her, even if it caused Rean to worry if she was eating enough at all.
As for Altina, she had a full stack of pancakes with a fruit smoothie as she typically did. Rean had to wonder how she had not gotten sick of pancakes by now. If he ate as many sweets and sugary foods as she did, his stomach would probably jump out of his mouth and surgically remove itself.
Oh well. It was likely the only normal thing he has seen Altina enjoy for herself, so he wasn't about to rain on her parade. He sat down in the empty chair and made his order: over medium eggs and hash browns with a coffee to the side. For some reason, he still felt the owners' stares on him.
"So what's you guys' plan for today?" Sara asked, slipping Rean a strip of bacon and a few of her sausage links to add to his morning meal. It was odd to see her so generous with her food, but he quickly brushed it off. He wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"A few of our vehicles are in need of repair, so we will be leaving in small increments," Claire explained. "I'll leave once the first batch is ready and Rean and Altina shall go with the last group. While we suspect the repairs themselves only take a few hours, we thought it'd be a good time to collect supplies before we go. They'll stay behind for a few days until then."
"Huh? But even then, can't you get that done like a day? Why wai-" A swift motion underneath the table caused it to shake and disrupt the neatly placed positions of the silverware. "Ow!"
"It's as we discussed last night, Sara."
"'As we discussed'? What the hell are you… Ooooooh. I getcha."
Rean and Altina exchanged confused looks but decided not to comment.
"A-Anyway, it's not like staying here's a bother. His Highness asked me personally to help out in the meantime. Delivering a few letters and the like. He especially wanted me to visit a specific part of town before I go."
Altina nodded. "And I shall assist. Deliveries should be a simple enough task."
"I know that I said I was fine with it before, but you really don't have to. Neither of us really know our way around town anyway, so it wouldn't help for us to get separated."
"I could give you a quick tour of the place," Sara offered. "I've been here for a while now so a little tourist guide routine won't kill me. Would also give me an excuse to hit the distillery again." She whispered that last part.
Regardless, Claire shot her an icy glare, warning her not to get drunk in the middle of the day.
…
Ha, "Claire glare". That's funny.
Before long, the young girl who had served him last night set his order onto the table. The aroma permeated through his nostrils and he dug right in.
However, the girl had not left yet.
"E-Excuse me," she stammered. "I heard that you mentioned His Highness earlier. Were you referring to His Highness, Prince Olivert?"
"That's right," Rean answered, after swallowing his first bite. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh! Well… you see…" The girl averted her eyes in embarrassment, finding that fiddling with her hair was a task higher on her list of priorities.
"Alster was Prince Olivert's hometown before moving to the capital at a young age," Altina explained. "I would assume most of the townsfolk would already be familiar with him."
"Th-That's correct! I was really young at the time when he left Alster, but he comes back to visit from time to time!"
Rean had suspected that was the reason why the prince had wanted him to check up on such a remote town. It was common knowledge among the populace that Prince Olivert was born to a commoner woman before Emperor Eugent's marriage to Empress Priscilla, but the identity of the woman was never made public. Perhaps the townsfolk were sworn to secrecy on that front.
"If you know the prince, then maybe you're one of the recipients I'm looking for. What's your name?"
"O-Oh! My name is Sandy! It's nice to meet you…?"
He chuckled. "I'm Rean. The pleasure is all mine, Sandy."
"Altina Orion. The sentiments are the same."
"'Rean'..." Sandy repeated back to herself. She tapped the bottom of her chin as she did. "'Rean'..."
"Is… Is there something wrong?"
"N-No. Sorry about that. I just thought the name sounded familiar."
Altina's ears perked up. "Perhaps you recognize him from the papers. 'Rean Schwarzer, the Ashen Chevalier'?"
Rean shot the young girl a glare, but she promptly ignored him.
Sandy shook her head. "No, that's not it. Sorry, I must have been acting strange."
"Not at all. Don't even worry about it."
The three chatted a while longer. With the inn being relatively empty outside of them four, Sandy's attention being taken away from serving the other tables didn't hinder the operations. Rean was actually quite impressed by how much the redheaded girl knew about current events and was able to break down the causes and effects of those events. With how faraway Alster was from modern civilization, he'd expect news would take a while to reach here. Sandy possessed quite the analytical mind.
However, an attention-grabbing clap broke their conversation.
"As fun as this conversation sounds, we should probably get started on those requests," Sara announced. "Letter delivery, you said?"
"That and whatever the mayor may want us to do."
"Well, no time like the present, right? Let's get crackin'!" Sara raised up her arm in excitement.
Claire, gently placing her coffee on the table, cleared her throat. "I believe that the first set of repairs should be done by now. I apologize, you two, but I'm heading out for Dnieper Gate now. I'll see you there, but please, take your time."
"Of course. We'll see you later, Major Claire."
"I look forward to it, Rean. Altina, Sara, I'll see you two soon as well."
The RMP major sent him a warm smile and salute before leaving the inn.
Sara scoffed.
"Ugh, would it kill her to loosen up a bit? She's seriously killing my vibe here."
"If your 'vibe' was to spend the entire morning drunk, then perhaps it was best that she does…"
"Seriously? You too, Rean? To think, my number one pupil doesn't want to indulge me in my greatest pleasures!" With a dramatic sway of her arm, she offered her hand to Altina. "Come now, Altina! Let's get this job done and leave this goody-two-shoes behind!"
"Negative. I am supposed to be watch-"
"No buts!"
The older woman grabbed Altina's arm and dragged her outside the inn, the latter's face as confused as her usual expressionless face would allow.
"W-Wait, hang on!" Rean, being left behind, had to scarf down the rest of his meal before apologizing about leaving the table in a state of disarray. He dashed back into his room to grab the bag of letters given to him by the prince and ran out of the inn.
"Quite the rowdy bunch, huh?" Ranson, the owner of the inn asked. "I still can't place where I've seen that boy before."
"Neither can I," Gilda, his wife, replied. "It's on the tip of my tongue, I swear."
"Did you mean Rean?" Sandy asked, coming back from delivering her latest order. "He seems pretty unfamiliar with Alster, so I don't think you've seen him before."
…
"Sandy honey…" Ranson looked at his daughter weirdly. "Did you say 'Rean'?"
"Yes…?"
Ranson and Gilda exchanged wide-eyed looks.
"He's here."
Perhaps it was some strange tradition in Alster to greet new visitors with incredulous glances and hawk-eyed stares because Rean felt all eyes on him during his deliveries. The only ones who paid him no mind (or at least looked at him with innocent curiosity) were the children, younger folk, and the livestock. Everyone else gawked at him as if he had grown a second head.
None of them felt malicious though - just… awkward.
After every delivery, the resident would gape at him for a good few seconds before coming back to their senses. Maybe they mistook him for someone else?
Despite that, Rean got a good feel of the town. Seeing the variety of animals sprawling through the streets was an amusing sight to behold (he remembered Sandy joking that there were perhaps more sheep and chickens living in Alster than people) and he was surprised to see a rather advanced orbal factory right across the inn. Though the Steinrose Distillery would've been more fascinating if not for the fact that he and Altina had to hold Sara back from inhaling their entire stock.
Once the time came, the mayor heard of their exploits and invited them to lunch. "Prince Olivert is the pride and joy of our small town. It's only fair we treat those who are fulfilling his personal requests with the utmost hospitality."
"Thank you very much, Mayor Matim. He's helped us so much in the past. The least we can do is to repay the favor." They had a few letters left to deliver, but it didn't hurt to take a break before that task was done.
"That young man was always the helpful one. Good to know that part of him hasn't changed since leaving for the palace."
"There are times when I feel that he is being too helpful. It borders on nosiness."
"Altina!"
The mayor howled guffaws bounced across the house. It seemed like Prince Olivert was always a curious and adventurous soul, even in his youth.
"That aside," Sara directed the conversation. "Are there any requests you might have that are causing concerns? Anything bracer-like? Preferably one dealing with Steinrose?"
"Ah yes, there are a few," The mayor fished through his pile of letters to grab a small document full of tasks that needed to be done. "Though, nothing from the distillery, I'm afraid."
"Dammit…" the former instructor cursed, earning her some unimpressed glares from her student and his partner. "Well, at least there's an extermination request here. Something to keep me busy before I die of boredom."
"Speaking of which, Instructor. You never told us why you're here in Alster. Did the guild tell you to come here for surveillance?"
"Something like that." Her expression turned grim. "It's to oversee evacuations in… in North Ambria."
The tension in the room became tangible. Rean mentally cursed himself for forgetting. With the war drawing near, the citizens would undoubtedly be caught in the crossfire. Haliask, the North Ambrian capital, would become a battlefield. It was no wonder that Sara would be the one who would lead their evacuations, seeing as how she was originally from there.
Mayor Matim turned his gaze to him and Altina. "Then you two are also…?"
Rean responded with a dour nod. "Yes. We were assigned to assist with the war effort by the imperial government. We'll be stationed at Dnieper Gate once we leave town."
"I see… What cruel times we live in when we're forced to deploy young folk such as you to war."
"It's… it's the role we've accepted. You don't need to worry about us, sir."
A momentary melancholic silent.
Rean took that time to look back on what had transpired for the past year. He was as much as a pawn of the government as the nobles had called him. He knew many of his friends back at Thors sympathized with his situation, but that could never erase the guilt behind what he was forced to do. With the annexation of Crossbell and soon North Ambria, it wouldn't surprise him if he ended up following in his father's footsteps and causing another Jurai. Create another Crow. Except this time, that Crow would aim for his head and not Osborne's.
The door swung open, snapping Rean out of his thoughts.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor!" A little girl made her way into the house with a skip in her step. She was young, probably younger than Altina, that had her platinum blonde hair tied into twin braided pigtails. In her hands was a basket full of flowers with a lunchbox saddled on top.
"Ah, Tilia! It's good to see you. Have you come to make a delivery?"
"Yup! The herbs and tea leaves, as you requested." The girl, named Tilia, handed the old man several packets. The scent of one of the packets gave off a similar aroma to the tea being served to them at the moment. "Oh, I didn't realize you had company over."
"Thank you. Ah, before I forget, I should introduce you. This girl is Tilia. She's a local flower girl who collects herbs for the older citizens here in Alster and flowers to decorate the town. If it weren't for her, the town would probably be as droll as the basin further out."
Tilia casted her gaze at Rean and the others, her emerald eyes growing wide and stunned at the new arrivals in town.
"Wow…!"
"Is everything all right?" Rean asked, tilting his head in confusion. She was staring. "Is there something on my face?"
"O-Oh no! Not at all. It's just… Forgive me for being so straightforward, but you look so dashing!"
"Uh… thank you?"
She turned her excitable gaze to Sara.
"And you, Miss! You're so beautiful!"
The Purple Lightning lost all the blue in her name, turning her face into a hue of red.
"Aww, that's so sweet! Do keep with the flattery."
Tilia then examined Altina.
"And you look so cute! Like a small little rabbit!"
Altina responded with a blank stare. "I believe you are smaller than even me. Calling me small has no basis coming from you."
Rean and Sara glared at the silver-haired girl, but Tilia only laughed it off. "Haha, I guess so."
"Do visitors not come by often?" Sara asked. "I didn't expect such a string of compliments when I first got here."
The mayor shook his head. "Tilia here is quite fond of stories. It seems like you all remind her of the heroes and heroines that reside in books."
"Mhm!" She pointed to Rean. "You remind me of Pedro from The Doll Knight!" She pointed to Altina. "And you're like the black rabbit in Iris in Fantasy Land!" She casted her gaze at Sara once more. "Annnnd, I think Toval told me a thing or two about you. He never mentioned how beautiful you were though! Just about your drinking habits."
"I see…" A vein popped in Sara's forehead and the teacup in her hand shook vigorously. "So Toby's got a death wish, now does he?"
"O-okay, that's enough of that!" Rean exclaimed.
The mayor laughed. "This house hasn't been this lively in years! You still have time here, so please make yourselves at home in our humble town of Alster."
"Of course," Rean nodded. "Though it hasn't been long, I find myself thoroughly enjoying the countryside. It feels weirdly nostalgic in a way."
Matim's eyes widened. "'Nostalgic', you say? Forgive me for asking, young man, but have you been to Alster before?"
He shook his head. "Not that I recall. I was adopted by my parents at a young age, so I don't remember much from my life before then."
"...I thought you looked familiar. You said your name was Rean, correct?"
"That's… right?"
Sara and Altina exchanged confused glances.
"By the goddess… If I may ask, do you have any more letters to deliver?"
"Just a few. Why do you ask?"
"I believe there's one in particular that you must deliver. There must have been a reason why Prince Olivert chose you to be the courier. Tilia, would you mind leading the way? I believe they still need to go visit the Augustyns."
"Of course, I don't mind!"
Rean and the others were left perplexed as they were led out of the building.
"This must be the place, huh."
Rean compared the address on the envelope to the one of the house. Seeing as how small Alster was, it was more of a game of matching the right address numbers due to there not being a need for street names. Luckily, Tilia knew the place like the back of her hand, making the entire trip as uneventful as possible.
"The Augustyns?" Sara wondered. "You familiar with the name?"
He shook his head. "Not at all. With how tight-lipped my parents were about my origins, I never heard of them before. I doubt even they know who they are."
"I am also quite unfamiliar with the name as well," Altina added. "Augustyn is not a name that appears anywhere within the Intelligence Division's database."
Leave it to the intelligence agent to memorize the whole thing. "So Tilia, do you know why the mayor wants us to meet them so badly? What are they like?"
"Oh, the Augustyns are the nicest old couple you'll ever meet here in Alster! Mr. Richter tells all the funniest stories and Mrs. Mila cooks these fantastic meals! During the harvest festival, they probably contribute the most to the party. Sandy's parents do a lot too, but Mrs. Mila always insists on taking the brunt of the work."
"Sounds like they're quite the characters."
"Sure are! As for why the mayor wants you to meet them… Well, I honestly don't know."
Rean chuckled. "Well, it was worth a shot."
"Don't worry, I'll go intro- oh wait." Tilia blanched.
"What's wrong?" Altina asked.
"I completely forgot that I was supposed to be delivering my brother's lunch to him! Oh dear, I hope he doesn't get too hungry!"
"Well, don't worry too much about us," Sara said. She paused for a moment before giving Rean a wink. "In fact, why don't I escort you there? I could tell you all the things about myself that I know that Toval had to have left out."
Tilia gasped in sheer joy. "Really?! Okay! Bye Rean! Bye Altina!"
And with that, the young girl waved at them before she and the former instructor disappeared into the distance, leaving only Rean and Altina to stand in front of the door.
"...Was it just me, or did Instructor Sara figure out what's going on?"
"The Purple Lightning truly is as perceptive as they say. Absolutely worthy of her A-rank."
Rean sighed. "Well, let's just get this over with."
He knocked on the door, hearing the sound of his knuckles hitting the entryway echoing inside. Footsteps approached.
"We're coming!" A woman's voice came from inside.
While his body stood still, his mind raced a million arge a minute. What was the significance of meeting the Augustyns? Did it have something to do with all the weird stares he got all day long? And why did the town feel so familiar to him? So many questions swam through his head.
Before he could have some sort of mental breakdown with all the uncertainties that came up, he felt a tug on his jacket. He turned to the side to see Altina standing oddly close to him.
"It's okay."
He hadn't noticed how much he shook while standing in that spot. He didn't feel like he moved much from his position, but to her, it looked as if he vibrated constantly in the same spot.
"...Yeah, it'll be fine."
The door creaked open. On the other side was an old woman, around her seventies. Her gray hair was neatly tied into a bun, giving the impression that it would be rather long once untangled. Her dress was rather plain, but fitting for someone who lived in the countryside.
"I'm so sorry for the wait. My husband wanted to munch on the meals before sending them over. I had to- Oh? What do we have here? New faces in town?" Her eyes wandered to Altina first. "Oh dear, what an adorable little girl! It's a pleasure to meet you, little miss."
"...Likewise."
She turned to him. "And who's this handsome young-"
She stopped.
Rean awkwardly waved. "Um, hello there. This is the Augustyn residence, right? I'm here to deliver a letter from Prince Olivert."
The woman stood silent, her mouth agape and her lilac eyes wide open.
"Ma'am…?"
"It… couldn't be…"
"E-Excuse me?" Rean asked with an arched brow.
"R-Richter! Come over here! Quickly!"
A gruff voice could be heard from a distance.
"What's the matter? Someone botherin' you?"
An old man manifested behind the woman. He looked to be about the same age as well, only taller and more built. Seeing as Alster thrives on its crops, he appeared to be an old farmer who hadn't learned when to retire yet.
"Hmm, I see some new faces. Are they here to make the delivery?"
"Th-That's not the point! Look! At this young man!"
The woman frantically pointed at Rean, who was well beyond confused at this point. From how Tilia described them, the Augustyns were the friendliest people in town. This sort of behavior must have been far from the norm.
And just as the woman before him, the man's eyes also widened.
He moved past his wife to examine Rean more carefully. His hands grazed and pinched his cheeks as he eyed his features under a watchful and discerning eye. Rean almost wanted to push him off, but couldn't bring himself to do it. He didn't sense any malice.
"The hair and eyes… They're both the same. Impossible… could it be?"
"Umm, sir?" Rean attempted to speak up once more. "C-Could I ask what you two are talking about?"
The elderly couple exchanged a knowing glance before the man gave him a stern stare.
"Young man, this might sound strange… But is your name perhaps… Rean?"
…
"Um… Yes, it is. How did you know-?"
"By the goddess, it really is you…" Tears welled in their eyes.
"We thought you died fourteen years ago…"
The two went in for a tight embrace. Despite their age, it felt like their hug could break every bone in Rean's body. The force was great enough to have Altina jump back as if she sensed oncoming danger. Rean could feel tears wetting his shoulders.
"Our grandson is alive!"
…
…
"...What."
Richter and Mila Augustyn were probably the oldest residents in Alster, only rivaling the mayor himself. Without any hesitation, the two invited Rean and Altina into their home to stay for a spot of tea. They would have mentioned that they already had some with the mayor, but Rean shouldn't have to explain that turning down your grandparents who just found out you were still alive would, at the very least, be rude.
It was comfortable inside. Rather spacious for only two people, but still maintained a cozy feeling with its furniture and decor. They were led into the living room and offered a seat on the couch.
Mila quickly rushed to the kitchen to warm up some beverages while Richter sat across the coffee table from them. He settled into his chair and smiled warmly.
"I'm sure you have a few questions."
"That… might be a bit of an understatement. For one, I didn't even know I had grandparents."
Altina turned her blank stare towards him. "Biologically speaking, unless you were artificially created, not having grandparents would be an impossibility."
"...You know what I meant."
Richter barked in laughter. "This girl has quite a way with words! But before we ask you anything, why don't you start? I'll do what I can so that Mila and I can ask you ours together."
"Uh, sure. Well first… How do you know who I am? How were you able to tell that I'm your grandson?"
"Ha, as much as I want to say it was familial intuition, it was because of your hair and eyes." Richter answered, pointing to his own features. "Your mother had the same traits, getting her hair from me and her eyes from my wife. You're practically the spitting image of her. Baby face and all."
"My… mother, huh?"
Rean paused. Ever since finding out about Osborne being his birth father, he never took the time to figure out who the woman he married was like. The less he thought about that man, the better. However, that was unfair to the woman who birthed him. He might not be able to ever see her as his mother, but that didn't mean he should dismiss her memory.
"What was her name?"
"...Kasia. She perished fourteen years ago in the same fire that we thought had consumed you. We assumed that only your father lived."
Pushing aside his personal turmoil, Rean tried calling back before he was adopted by the Schwarzers.
A fire…
A fire…
He drew a blank. The only thing he could remember from back then was Osborne leaving him in the outskirts of Ymir right before Teo Schwarzer found him.
"What… What was she like?"
Mila walked in at that moment, serving everyone a warm cup.
"Kasia was a free-spirited woman. Always looking for adventure and helping out in the fields. She was far from prim and proper, but there was always a smile on her face. It was no wonder that your father took a liking to her."
She handed him a framed photo from a small table. It lacked any distinct color, but Rean could make out who looked in every way his mother. Her hair was styled similarly to his, except with softer strands and the extended length being braided into a ponytail. Everything about her looked breathtakingly beautiful.
"Wow…"
"I see similar physical features between you and her," Altina commented. "Had she been right next to you, there would have been no mistake that she would be your mother."
The elderly couple beamed.
"She was our pride and joy. Still is. Your father used to be stationed in Dnieper Gate. Since Alster was the closest town there, we were once considered a garrison town. He'd come to visit often for work, but we saw him steal looks at our daughter." Richter laughed jovially. "For a man of the military, he was shyer than a porcupine!"
Giliath Osborne? The Blood and Iron Chancellor being shy? That must have been the sight to see.
"Yes," Mila nodded, "he had to be pushed by his superiors to even speak to her. He seemed nervous due to their age gap. But once he made his move, you could already see the fireworks fly!"
They were talking about the same man, were they?
"...How do you feel about him? Osborne, I mean."
The two of them looked at him in surprise.
"We assumed that you've been living with him this whole time."
Rean shook his head. "No. In fact, I didn't even find out about him being my father until recently. I've been living with the Schwarzers since I was five years old. I go by Rean Schwarzer, not… Rean Osborne."
Even the thought of saying that made his tongue numb.
"I suppose that would explain it…" Mila pulled out several newspapers from a bin underneath the table. A few of them were rather recent, but it seemed like most of them were from months back.
She held out a specific one, pointing to an article dated back to January.
"This is you, isn't it?"
Ashen Chevalier Rean Schwarzer Reclaims Capital for Imperial Army
On the scribed pamphlet was a picture of him wearing his jacket from the civil war. To its side, an entire column about his efforts to quell the chaos in Heimdallr and take it back from the Noble Alliance.
"We considered the possibility since you shared the same name, but… We hadn't thought that you might have been taken in by another family."
Rean softly sighed.
"Yeah. That's me alright." He let a dry laugh escape through his gritted teeth. "The 'Ashen Chevalier', 'Hero of the Erebonian Civil War'. A title he gave me."
Altina stayed silent.
"...I take it that you and your father don't get along?" Mila asked quietly.
"It's… It's a little bit more complicated than that. I honestly can't say how I feel about him. …Is that disappointing to hear?"
Richter got up from his seat. He sauntered over to his side and pulled him into another hug.
"Don't worry too much, son. No matter how good someone can be as a person, it don't always mean they'll make a great parent. If you're satisfied with your new home, then we have no right to complain. We're just glad to be able to see you again. The last was… when was the last time, Mila?"
The old lady giggled. "You must have been only two or three years old. Your mother came back from Heimdallr to visit so that she could introduce us. That girl didn't even warn us beforehand. She just came back out of the blue with a small child in her arms!"
"Yeah, that sounds like Kasia! Doing whatever she wanted no matter what!"
Rean cracked a small smile. He may not have remembered who his mother was or what she was like, but he was glad that she was blessed to have amazing parents like Richter and Mila. Maybe that was why the home was larger than was necessary for an elderly couple. To preserve the memories of what came before.
"I apologize for not asking before but," Mila turned to Altina, who had been silent the entire conversation. "Who might you be, young miss?"
The young girl glanced at Rean, who had shrugged. She took it as a cue to introduce herself.
"I am Altina Orion, an agent for the Imperial Army's Intelligence Division."
Rean facepalmed. Sometimes that girl just said too much to others.
"Oh my, a talented young woman, isn't she?"
"You can say that again… But yeah, this is Altina. I guess you could call us… work partners?"
"That is the appropriate label, yes. Though, despite what he might say, that is strictly what we are."
Rean's glare could cut diamonds. "Could you please not in front of the grandparents I just found out existed?"
The elderly couple laughed, leaving Rean embarrassed. Altina still wouldn't let the whole Pantagruel meeting go.
DING
"Oh!" Mila's face lit up. "I almost forgot about the muffins!" She shot up from her seat, faster than any old woman should. "You two sit right here while I get those out."
Without waiting for a response, she dashed back into the kitchen.
"You two aren't in a hurry or anything, are you? I insist that you stay and try them. Ain't never a day went by where I wasn't eatin' good with her as my wife."
"So that was the aroma going through the house since we came in." He definitely smelt it upon entering. Forgive him if discovering his grandparents took priority. "I wouldn't mind staying for a bit. What about you, Altin-"
The young girl's eyes sparkled and her mouth drooled.
"We must stay."
Rean knew better to deny her sweets.
"Rean, I know this might be a strange question considering the circumstances, but do you still have your mother's necklace?"
The boy in question had his mouth gaping wide open as he was about to sink his teeth into what was probably his fifth muffin? Richter was right about Mila's cooking being delicious. In just the first batch, she had all sorts ranging from apple-cinnamon to classic blueberry.
"Uhh, not sure if I do?" Rean answered after taking a large bite. "What does it look like?"
Mila brought out a photo album with a burgundy leather cover. The pictures inside were all as rustic-looking as the photo he had seen earlier of his mother and just as well-preserved. She turned a few pages and settled on a specific photo. She showed it to Rean.
"It was a necklace your father gave to Kasia when he proposed to her," she explained. "He found it during a military investigation of the Osgiliath Basin. They couldn't find any known value to the gem embedded inside, so he decided to refashion it into jewelry. Giliath wasn't the greatest craftsman, so he begged poor Gasco to do it for him. Was willing to pay his next three month's salary on the thing!"
Rean froze. He looked carefully at the design of the piece of jewelry, scrutinized every detail. There was no mistaking it.
"...You two didn't answer my question earlier. What do you two think of Giliath Osborne?"
Richter and Mila traded knowing looks. Richter started them off.
"He was a kind man. One of many upstanding principles. Commanding and insightful, yet gentle and trustworthy. Most men would be afraid of who their daughters end up with, but I couldn't have been prouder of who she chose."
"... 'Was'? I take it that you're aware of what he's become, right?"
"...It's difficult to be an Erebonian and not know his current reputation. Being as far out as we are, we don't completely understand the extent of his policies. Just that they are enacting a change in this country."
A "change".
Such a simple way to put it.
The position of imperial chancellor meant almost absolute power of how the empire was governed and Osborne had been the first commoner to hold that position. Not that someone of noble stature would have been more fitting for the role, but it only symbolized the winds of change that were brewing in the country. That very change was what caused Class VII to go their separate ways in the first place.
But did that change require the take over of Jurai? The death of Crow and the pitiful fate of his grandfather?
Did it necessitate annexing his second home? To uproot the lives of the Crossbellans and the one he cherished most?
To send his own son to war?
There was just so much Rean wanted to say - so much he needed to tell them. But he held his tongue. It wasn't fair to them. Richter and Mila were merely old folks in the countryside - far from anyone that would be able to do anything about his situation.
If Giliath Osborne was the tempest causing such a transformation in Erebonia, then Rean Schwarzer was the unfortunate pedestrian who got caught up in the storm.
And yet, part of him felt afraid that he was becoming more like the chancellor. The kind of person that would have to take life by the neck in order to get what he wanted. That part of him made him afraid and angry.
So afraid that he'd completely shut down and so angry that he'd once again release the beast inside him.
…
The last thing he wanted was a repeat of the Infernal Castle.
Rean closed the photo album.
"I'm sorry, I don't think I've seen it before." Rean said with a false smile. "It's a beautiful piece though."
"Oh, that's all right, dear," Mila comforted. "It's been years, after all."
Her genuine tone hurt him.
He couldn't bring himself to tell them the truth.
Because he knew exactly where that necklace was.
It was the same one he gave Juna for her birthday, after all.
…
RING RING RING
The vibration in his pocket provided a sense of relief for Rean. Anything would have been a more preferable situation than the one he was in right now.
He flipped open his ARCUS and spoke into it.
"Schwarzer speaking."
"Hey, uh, Rean? Got a bit of a situation going on right now."
"...Instructor Sara? What's going on?"
"You know, the usual bracer thing. Big scary monster. Long tentacles and… I'm pretty sure those are pincers? Think it might be a cryptid. Which is weird, considering that they only appeared during the civil war, but hey. When has anything in our little world made sense? Oh yeah, and I should probably mention that it's coming right this way."
"Wh-What?!"
"Yeeeeeah. So, if you could, can you and Black Rabbit come over here to help me kick its ass? It's in the direction of the basin. You might wanna meet up with Tilia's brother Kai for directions."
She hung up before Rean could even protest.
…
"Shall we be going?" Altina asked. "As strong as Sara is, it isn't wise to let her face off against a cryptid on her own."
Rean nodded. "Yeah, you're right. She'll need all the back up she can get." He turned to face his grandparents. "Sorry, but we need to go. I doubt it'll take too long."
The two gave him an encouraging expression.
"Do what you gotta do, Rean." Richter said. "Beat it into next week!"
"And do come by for dinner tonight! I'll be sure to make something extra special for you." Mila sent them off with a smile.
"Will do! Thank you!"
It occurred to Rean that even being the largest country on the continent, not a single soul in Erebonia had ever stop to consider the strange coincidence between the name of their imperial chancellor, Giliath Osborne, and the name of the depression within the central north region of the country, the Osgiliath Basin.
The former took on the moniker of the Blood and Iron Chancellor, a title best fitting for a man who gets what he wants through shows of force and expert diplomacy.
The latter went by a local title. The people of Alster call the basin the "Forbidden Land". An eerie and dangerous place where monsters come out to feed and was thus barred from entry from visitors and locals alike.
A tad too fitting, if one were to ask Rean. He'd imagined the bleak and empty lands of the basin were a fitting comparison or even a clear mirror to the heart and soul of the man he's been forced to work under.
"You sure you're okay with doing this, Kai?" Rean asked the boy. "The townsfolk all talk about how dangerous this place is. You don't have to come if that's the case."
Kai was a polite young boy, probably only about as old as Altina, if not a bit older. He had heard from the mayor that the two lost their parents when they were younger and had to get by on their own. Cruel as it may have been for kids of their age to grow up without a parental figure watching over them, it made them into very reliable and self-sufficient people. Even Rean could learn a thing or two from them.
"Don't worry, I won't enter the area itself. I'll just lead you two to the entrance. I know my way around the area decently well, so it won't be a problem." The boy chuckled. "Besides, I felt as if I owe at least that much. Richter and Mila have been helping me and Tilia since we lost our parents. Color me surprised when I find out they had a grandson too!"
"That makes two of us." Rean laughed with him. Though, as amazing as a discovery that was, Rean decided to make some small talk. There was the danger of the cryptid approaching, but Sara could distract it for a bit before they got there. "So, Kai, how did you come to know the area so well? I guess that's a pretty silly question to ask a local, but you seem even more well-versed than most people are with their home regions."
Kai scratched his cheek. "Well, it kinda goes back to a few years ago. Before then, I was basically holed up at Gasco's with my work. I had to save up money for Tilia's eye treatments, so I worked myself to the bone. Rarely ever took time for breaks or even to go outside. I was a mess." He skipped a bit forward, avoiding a sinkhole on the pathway. "But then, a few bracers came into town. One from the Empire with a pair from Liberl. They saved me and Tilia from jaegers and an out of control artifact from some nearby ruins."
"I take it that the Erebonian bracer was Toval?"
"You know him? Pretty small world after all, huh? But yeah, all of them made me realize that I should be putting in a better effort to help out the town. And with the money they got from the request, the bracers put all the money towards Tilia's treatment. I didn't have to keep working as hard as I was."
"Sounds like they were really good people." Rean commented with a smile.
A pair of bracers from Liberl, huh? Could it have been them?
"I believe we are approaching our destination." Altina said while riding on Claiomh Solais's arm. The black puppet floated across the landscape, easily avoiding all the obstacles Rean and Kai had to rigorously maneuver around.
The scenery around the area was much darker in comparison to the rest of the area. Despite it only being past midday, the basin was encased in a gloomy atmosphere covered in ominous clouds and dead greenery. Fitting for an area sharing the name of their beloved chancellor.
"Ah, good. You made it."
The voice came from behind and above. Rean heard a hop coming from the short cliff and a smooth landing onto the ground.
"Instructor Sara. What were you able to find out?"
Sara pointed towards the walkway leading to the center of the basin. "The path zigzags a bit on the way down, but it's relatively straightforward from here." She turned her finger slightly to the right. "We could go up that ledge for a higher vantage point, but the monsters there seem a lot tougher from what I can tell. The path branches out too, so it might be easier to get lost."
"So we have to choose between the straightforward and less tiring path and the more advantageous one. What do you think, Altina?"
The young girl surveyed both paths, her mechanical tail moving ever so slightly to the sinister whispers of the calm gales. She looked to the left, that led all the way down to the large basin, and to the right, that went up higher to the cliffs.
"I suggest the upper path. The lower one may be easier to trek, but with only three combatants, we cannot make full use of our combat links. And by using Claiomh Solais's cloaking abilities, we can bypass the stronger monsters up there. If our target really is a cryptid, then we must make use of any advantage we can grasp before engaging in full-on combat."
"Oh, I see," Sara purred. "Get the jump on it from above. Maybe go in for a snipe or two before we give it the old beatdown. That was my idea if we did go up there, but that whole disappearing act makes it the easier choice. Nice going, Altina!" She gave her a thumbs up to which Altina awkwardly returned. "Seriously, she's good, Rean. She might be better than you at this whole planning thing. No wonder she's been working as your partner."
Rean sighed. "While it's true that I rely on her a lot, I'm not fond of the implication that I'm useless at creating a plan." He surveyed the area one last time before nodding. "Perfect, there's an orbment station. Kai, you stay here and wait for us to come back."
"Wh-What? Why?"
"Well, we can't just let you come with us to exterminate a monster, can we? The orbment station also operates as an orbal lamp to ward off monsters. You'll be safe here."
"But I want to help!"
Sara gently placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You did plenty getting them here, Kai. We'll take care of the rest, okay?"
Altina nodded. "Agreed. It is already forbidden for you to enter the area at all. It is best to not push your luck."
Rean's lips formed a soft smile. "Don't worry. You won't even miss us."
"Okay, fine… But I'm holding you to that, alright?"
"You got it."
"Wow…"
"Yup."
"And is that…?"
"Uh-huh."
"And it's coming out of its…?"
"That's right."
"It's so…"
"I believe 'disgusting' is the correct term."
It appeared to be some grotesque plant with an unnatural pale blue coloring. The "tentacles" Sara described earlier looked to be roots and tree branches sprouting from its body and the "pincers" were repurposed fly traps hanging from where its shoulders should be. Its body, from top to bottom, exhibited a large light blue flower and a hairy torso (with a big asterisk there) with a wide gaping mouth and rotting teeth. At the base of its visage were gelatinous egg sacs ready to burst open. Burst open with what - Rean didn't want to know.
"So what's our plan now? Shoot at it until it gets mad?"
"That's definitely an idea, but my orbal gun is meant to compliment my swordplay. It won't do much from this high up."
"Claiomh Solais's Brionac could deal some damage to it, but it won't be as effective if it is all we have available."
"We have arts, sure, but my art compatibility isn't that stellar." Rean cursed his ARCUS's abundance of lines. "And like Altina said earlier, with only three of us, one has to go on without a combat link."
"What do you suppose we do then?"
Rean scanned the bottom of the basin. The beast had just been standing there menacingly. No movement to speak of except for the slow flailing of its… "arms".
However, he noticed something. A second path they could take to the monster.
"There." Rean pointed to the walkway that led down to the basin. Unlike the other path, the cryptid paid no heed to it. It was the perfect entry point.
"We can attack from there. Two of us will serve as our vanguard while the unlinked one can attack from afar and serve as a distraction should we need to switch out. I can take point with the first team since that's where I'll fight best."
Sara nodded. "Sounds good. See? You're good with coming up with plans too!"
"Oh, very funny…"
In the end, Altina volunteered to play the role of back support after taking in account her and Sara's fighting styles. Out of the three, Altina had the best arts compatibility and her mobility with Claiomh Solais made her the prime candidate to fight on her own.
A light manifested underneath Rean and Sara's feet as they unsheathed their weapons.
They slowly closed the distance between their little group and the sentient plant. With every step they took, the overwhelming odor got even stronger. If he wasn't about to slay the cryptid to ensure the safety of Alster, he was for sure gonna kill it so he can take a bath afterward.
"Go!"
Sara dashed forward, running to the monster's front side to catch its attention. She aimed her orbal gun forward and fired multiple shots. All of them made their marks, none of which were the monster itself. Instead, she shot the ground in front to lead it away from Rean's area of attack.
Altina's combat shell glowed, the two orifices in its center shining like eyes. A reticle of purple light skated across the cold ground of the basin, stopping at the monster's center.
"I have analyzed the enemy. It appears to be weak to wind and mirage elemental arts. It can absorb mana from surrounding sources, so I must advise caution."
"Good job, Altina! I'll keep that in mind."
Rean steadied his breathing and focused. Over the past year, he had been gradually improving his swordsmanship. He wanted to become worthy of the intermediate rank his master bestowed him with since that class trip to Ymir and made sure his self-training to be as rigorous as he could make it.
Ever since Master Ka-fai put a halt to his formal training, Rean put all his efforts in learning more about the seven main forms of the Eight Leaves. Rather unconventional for a swordsman in his school as most would specialize in one form and take it to its pinnacle of mastery. Cassius Bright being one of the few exceptions as he had shown mastery in both the first form of Helix and the seventh form of Void.
Rean's specialization was also in the seventh form of Void. To become the shining light to cut through the darkness, even for a brief moment. It was the more conceptual of the seven basic forms, making it the most difficult to master. But his master saw potential in him.
That made it even more devastating when he was forced to learn on his own. He frantically studied the other forms and took the time to at least learn one or two techniques from each of them.
Rean exhaled and quickly drew his sword back. He dashed forward and cleanly slashed at each of the cryptid's limbs. The monster howled in pain upon losing its arms, but after some time passed, new ones took their places.
The second form: Gale. Striking as swiftly as the wind to overwhelm his opponents. The technique was most effective against a group of enemies to turn the tide in the user's favor. However, in this case where there are multiple targets, the same principle could be applied.
"Haaaaa…"
Rean dipped his sword back, enveloping his tachi in flames roughly in the shape of an eastern dragon. He slammed his blade into the ground, letting the fire disperse forward, granting Sara an opening to shoot her lightning-infused bullets and slice off more limbs.
The third form: Karmic Flame. Gathering strength and manifesting into your blade one powerful strike. Rean's strongest techniques once hailed from this form such as the craft he improvised in Lunaria Nature Park during their field study in Celdic. Over time, he started relying on it less, opting to redevelop his skills in the seventh form.
"Silver Thorn!"
Blades of silver light rained down from the heavens, encircling the monster within their grasp. With a snap of her fingers, Altina made the blades explode into a brilliant pillar of light and colors to severely damage the cryptid. It howled in pain.
"Taste the power of the Purple Lightning!"
Sara called her battle cry, summoning electrical energy onto her sword. With an empty swing, she unleashed a ring of violet lightning that surrounded the enemy. It grew larger in size to encapsulate the cryptid and converged onto itself. The attack pushed the monster back farther,
Rean sheathed his tachi and prepared a readied stance, analyzing the monster's attack patterns. Sara's quick movements were enough to keep its attention and Altina's defensive abilities could easily block whatever arts it wanted to throw at them. The moment he saw it begin charging another art, Rean made his move.
He moved at blinding speed and drew his sword at the last possible moment. He dealt a flurry of slashes, throwing the plant monster off balance and impeding the use of its arts. The movement was so quick that it appeared that Rean unleashed his craft utilizing only a single cut from his sword.
The fourth form: Autumn Leaf. The ability to be as still as nature and read your opponent's movements so that you can deal precise attacks and throw them off balance. The Autumn Leaf Cutter was the first technique in the Eight Leaves One Blade school Rean had learned and mastered and it had proven useful time and again.
The pale blue hue of the cryptid turned black as the cuts from Rean's slices spewed a dark liquid from its body. The monster turned to face the young swordsman, finally recognizing him as the bigger threat. Rean held his sword back, reading the monster's next moves. It lunged at him, extending one of its flytrap-like arms with its fangs wide open.
Rean quickly sidestepped the attack, drawing his blade right the moment he saw an opening. He cut off the branch-like limb and sealed its amputated arm with flames, preventing further regeneration.
The fifth form: Morning Moon. Anticipating his opponent's next move and taking advantage of openings that they leave. It was a defensive form relying on iaijutsu - sword drawing techniques - that he didn't utilize much outside of piloting Valimar. His natural speed often gave him enough of a foothold so that he could rely on that instead, but at this close range, he didn't have much of a choice.
"Nice going, Rean! Let 'em have it!"
Rean sheathed his sword once more, charging flames into the tachi while still inside. With the monster now against the back wall of the basin, he can now finish it off!
The monster roared once more, flailing its remaining arms towards its prey.
No! He needed more time!
"Claiomh Solais!"
The black puppet in question swung its bladed arm into the monster's jaw. The attack pushed the cryptid back onto the back wall. Altina called Claiomh Solais to jump back to make some distance as it fired a magenta colored beam out of its core.
"Brionac!"
The beam travelled across the ground and up the wall, unleashing energy from its trails. The cryptid was on its last legs.
"Now, Rean!"
"Got it!"
"Crimson-"
Without warning, the monster's tentacle-like branches menacingly stretched out, shrouding the sky above. Its mouth opened wide - wider than its jaw could have allowed it - and began sucking in like a vacuum. The surrounding air grew thin and his strength began to fade. The flames on his tachi flickered.
"No!"
Altina jumped in front of Rean, faced the cryptid, and crossed her arms to summon her combat shell once more. Claiomh Solais mimicked the girl's actions, crossing its arms to deploy its signature shield to protect them from the mana-sucking whirlwind.
"Al-Altina!"
"D-Don't worry about me! N-Now's y-your chance!"
Rean watched her, wrought with worry, but she stared back, urging him to finish the job. He could vaguely hear the gunshots from Sara's orbal gun keeping the monster from accelerating its suction, but all he could focus on was Altina's brief moment of expression.
That all came to a stop when the cryptid swiped across with one of its tentacles, swatting Altina and Sara away with Rean just barely out of its reach.
"Altina! Instructor Sara!" Rean watched frantically as the two were pushed aside onto their backs. The color from their bodies began to fade as the monster absorbed increasingly more mana.
"Go!"
"Kick its ass, Rean!"
His hold onto his sheath tightened. His breathing became erratic. His throat produced growls as he prepared his stance once more.
The flames on his sword burst forth, even brighter than before. Dark energy momentarily consumed him. He firmly held his grip on his tachi and unleashed the power of his latest technique.
"Crimson Slash!"
Rean slashed forward, summoning a powerful shockwave of flames that flew towards the cryptid. The wave cut through its powerful storm, cleanly slicing the monster in two, and singeing the ends of where it made its cut. Both halves of the monster flopped onto the ground unceremoniously before fading away into light.
He fell over, his burst of power fading with the monster. His breathing had grown heavy, but rhythmic. Sweat rained down his forehead and cheeks, some of which fell into his eyes. The moments of respite felt like they lasted forever, but soon enough he saw Sara hover over him, offering her hand. He took it without a word.
"Up you go, champ. That a new move you've come up with?"
Rean nodded.
The sixth form: Scarlet Sky. The act of gathering energy from your surroundings and concentrating it into a powerful shockwave. Before then, Rean had a craft that used this form: Arc Slash. Now, he had learned how to combine his skills with the sixth form with that of the third, birthing a new technique.
Out of the eight forms of the Eight Leaves, he had some level of mastery over seven of them - including its weaponless eighth form. Perhaps it was a sign of his improvement as a swordsman, being able to learn from so many sources. Or maybe it was symbolic of how lost he felt over the years with no clear direction.
Rean was willing to bet on the latter due to his sudden surge of strength only came in when he saw Altina in danger. And that power was what brought them the victory, not his set of skills.
"...? Is everything all right?" Altina asked. "You're shaking."
"...It's nothing. Come on, let's report back. We don't want to keep Kai waiting for long."
The trip back to Alster was rather uneventful. Night started to set in and the orbal lamps powered on, keeping away the monsters from the main road. Kai pressed them on everything that transpired down in the basin and Sara was more than happy to indulge him. Though there were a few embellishments and exaggerations, Rean and Altina occasionally chimed in to make sure that she kept the story straight.
Not too much later, they arrived at the back entrance of town.
"Kaaaaaaiiiii!"
At the gate, Tilia waved her arm back and forth, cupping the side of her mouth with her free hand to call out to her brother. Seeing Kai return her wave, she ran up to them with a basket of flowers in her arm.
"I'm so happy you all made it back safely! That monster sounded scary."
"Ha! Nothing to worry about, little miss." Sara pressed the side of her fist onto her chest as a sign of confidence and triumph. "Nothing we haven't handled before. When you face the best, you fall just like the rest!"
"Woooow! Just like the heroine in one of my stories!" Tilia's eyes glowed as Rean and Altina rolled theirs in response to Sara's boasting. The former instructor cackled like a madwoman.
"So is something up, Tilia?" Kai asked.
"Oh yes! Mister Richter and Miss Mila wanted you all to come back for dinner! They sounded really excited. Something about 'welcoming their new grandson'?"
"That's weird," Kai mused. "I don't recall them having any children of their own. Much less married with kids."
Altina gave Rean (who facepalmed) a blank stare, leaving Sara confused for a second before making the connection.
"Well, dinner does sound good right about now. Exterminating monsters builds up a pretty big appetite." Rean said.
"Yes," Altina agreed. "Perhaps we could ask that girl from the inn to join us. Sandy, was it?"
"Oh? It's not like you to invite more company."
"It is merely to thank her for breakfast. Nothing more."
"Aw, isn't that adorable? The little rabbit is growing up. It always happens so fast…" Sara wiped away an imaginary tear from her eye.
The group let out a collective laugh with the exception of Altina, who held on to her usual blank expression.
"Why don't we head out now? Best go before the food grows cold."
Everyone nodded and made their way to Augustyn Residence.
…
…
Rean came to a halt.
He looked back at the direction of the Osgiliath Basin.
And clutched onto his chest, hovering his grip over the scar above his heart.
He frowned.
"...Rean?"
He turned back, noticing that Altina had broken off from the group and gazed at him with worried eyes.
"Is something the matter? You look concerned."
"...No. Sorry."
The expression on his face was nothing short of a pained smile.
"I'll be right there."
Normally, I follow a philosophy when it comes to AUs that only change a minor detail. If it's overall the same universe aside from that detail, everything else about the world should be the same except for anything that's directly affected by that changed detail. But, as you can see, I've started to break that rule. First with Musse's early introduction and now with displacing where the events of Alster take place.
There are two reasons behind this. First being the obvious change of having Kasia be from Alster. It's never stated where she comes from other than she's from the countryside and that Osborne met her at a garrison town. With Alster being the closest town to Dnieper Gate, it was the best choice to run with. Second, I honestly thought Alster's place in the timeline didn't make much sense. In the Drama CD, it's supposed to have happened right after Class VII takes control of the Courageous. However, right after that, they were tasked with dealing with Eastern Erebonia even though Alster is in the west. It always bothered me, so I just changed when it takes place.
But yeah! Rean has grandparents! I really wanted a way for Rean to learn about his mother earlier than in canon, so I thought this was the best way to implement it. In hindsight, maybe I could've just had the mayor tell him but I've already written this much so I might as well run with it now. And hey, if it gives our boy a bit of light to hold on to, well, it's fine.
Anyway, as mentioned before, the one-year anniversary for the fic is quickly coming up. Though it will delay the Northern War chapter by a bit longer, I do have something in mind for that. I've got eight days to meet that deadline, so I'm hoping for the best!