Opening Song: "Requiem" by: Jesper Kyd
The orange star in Cainhurst's sky slowly approaches the blue moon. Each movement from the astral ball chips away time like a ticking grandfather clock. I walk around the bedroom and look back out the castle's window with every pass. Annalise told me to get some rest, but the moment I woke up, I couldn't go back to sleep. Since then, the last hour of the azure moon has been dragging by.
Raging thoughts about the Hanzo girls and where they are slam from one side of my head to the other. Are they still alive? What is happening to them? Is Asuka and old man Hanzo okay? What about Mr. K and Katsu? Every minute that goes by only adds another thing to worry about.
I sit down in a nearby chair and shoot back up the moment of reuniting with Asuka comes to mind. Thoughts about being condemned here doesn't cause me to love her any less. Yet, this is the place the Korin Fuma sends those sealed with it. Is there any way to permanently lift the seal rather than being forced to come back after a couple hours? Even if I had to stay here the rest of eternity, will I have the ability to come and go just as long as I return?
My body warms up, and a temporary feeling of serenity washes over me as all the memories about Asuka come back. The morning we first met, those days where I watched her train, days she trained with me, when I saved her from Oliveria, and how Asuka saved me back in the wasteland.
From everyday tasks such as helping her with housework to all the times we had sex hold equal value in my heart. I open up my hands and look at the scarred callouses that rest at the base of my fingers and palms. The feeling of Asuka soft hands intertwined with mine is an experience I will never forget, and it is something I don't want to give up. No matter what, I will find a way to go back permanently.
The orange star lines up with the moon. Blue light leaks into the nighttime sky as the star infuses the moon with its orange hue to the point the star turns a pure white color. A gaping hole emerges in the middle of the star and turns it red. The auran moon has finally arrived. Which means Rutur and Raesetsu should be coming back before too long.
I stretch my arms and legs out to make sure there is no pain. All the soreness seems to be gone, and the limp that was impending my ability to walk has completely healed. The wounds that were trying to reopen appear to have sealed completely. Excellent.
Now comes time to refine the one shot at killing Cavalier. I climb out the window and drop onto the roof of a nearby keep. The strenuous movement placed upon my shoulders, arms and legs draw no reaction as I dangle over the edge and drop down onto the wall's walkway. The sudden bite of cold travels through my feet and all around my body. Other than the sensation of standing on ice, and the cold air touching my body, it seems everything is back to one hundred percent.
I summon Cataphract's halberd and count in my head. Energy rapidly flows out of me and into the gauntlets. I give a couple practice swings and twirl the halberd over my head. Each second that passes causes the weight in the weapon's handle to double.
I use the momentum of the halberd's beak to flip backwards. All the weight shifts behind me as my feet skid across the snow. I bend my knees and manipulate the force to slingshot forward. The halberd's spike stabs through a box and shatters it to pieces.
Blood boils within my heart as I hold onto the halberd as long as possible and keep swinging. Each heartbeat feels like it's causing my veins and arteries to swell up. I put the halberd away and pummel the boxes with a flurry of punches and kicks. Despite all the energy Cataphract's halberd took, I can still put up enough of a fight to defend myself.
The blood stops boiling within my heart, and the veins inside me don't feel like they are about to burst. I jump back and summon the halberd again. This time, it takes almost everything left in me as the halberd feels ten times heavier than before.
I grasp the weapon with both hands and take off charging forward. The spike stabs through a small crevice in the keep and erupts out the other side. I drop the halberd and sit down as the weapon and gauntlets return to me.
Nine seconds. Nine seconds is all the time I get. Five to seven of them will be used to give Cavalier the impression that's all I got. The killing blow must land within two seconds of an opening. The direction of the spike was accurate this time, but under the stress of getting hit, taking damage, Cavalier dodging and deflecting as well as tricks he might have up his sleeve, it's going to take raw skill and tenacity to bring him down.
I collect the strength given from the small bit of rest and return to my room. Despite the stacked odds, saving the Hanzo girls is giving me the small push required to get over the doubt. This is a fight that must be won no matter the cost. Not only for Mr. K and the Hanzo girls, but Asuka too.
Annalise is standing at the window and looking down towards the place I was smashing the boxes. How she sees out that faceless mask is beyond me but was she watching the whole time? Does she have faith, or is she here to warn against going into this fight?
"How are you feeling child?"
"I'm ready if you are willing."
"Then dress yourself and meet me in the throne room. Rutur and Raesestu will be returning soon."
Annalise walks out of the room. I put all the armor on and lace up my boots. Dread and confidence conflict with one another. Will this fight be a true test of ability and power, or will it completely hinge on luck? This question is the one that's driving me crazy. I mount the wagon wheel on my back and practice slinging it off my shoulders just in case the situation calls for defense.
A thought even crazier comes to my mind. Up to this point, the wheel has been nothing but a shield, and it's been used for nothing other than blocking and trapping weapons. I mount the wheel back and get into a strong stance. That night me and Yumi were fighting Paladin comes to mind. His blows were too fast to swing the wheel around with two arms. Not to mention Paladin knew ways to get around a shield.
I image him slashing from his left side with his flamberges and twist my body to the right. Could this actually be viable option to deflect incoming attacks without getting the wheel of my back? It seems too good to be true, but the more I image it, the more sense it makes. If the blow comes from the left, swing right. If it comes from the right, swing left.
I put a bit more force into the practice turns and cause the wheel's spokes to come within grabbing distance. The wheel dismounts off my back, and the extra momentum allows me to swing the massive wheel in a wide sweep. Wind given off from the counter attack kills the flame in the fireplace and knocks some pictures off the wall. The motion comes full circle as the groove for mounting it touches my shoulder.
"You have grown since your defeat. Most impressive." Annalise states.
"Didn't mean to do that." I reply as I pick the old oil paintings and remount them.
"All is forgiven since you cleaned up after yourself. My faith in you grows. Come."
My ears perk up at the sound of something different. Ever since I've been here, Annalise has always had the same voice other than when she told me my harbinger had no say in my matters. That was the one time it sounded like she put a bit more emotion into a statement. I may not have been paying attention at the time because Annalise sounded disappointed, and I wasn't in the right state of mind.
This time, the tone in Annalise's voice seems to sound somewhat happy. It may have been the hunk of iron obscuring her mouth. It could have been her hidden teeth distorting the noise trying to escape her throat. Regardless of whether or not she displayed some kind of joy, it makes me feel like I'm headed in the right direction. It reinforces my faith in continuing the fight. Yet this confidence should only be used as a morale boost rather than a prophecy.
I still have three major obstacles to overcome, and they aren't going to be push overs just because Annalise might be proud of me. As much as I want to take pride in it, asking what she meant would only fuel ego rather than willpower. I mount the wheel on my back and walk with Annalise to the throne room.
"Raesetsu informs me that she spoke to your bride. Asuka is her name, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Tell me, why did you choose her?"
"It started out as a task given to me from her grandfather. That task of protecting her slowly turned into wanting to protect her out of my own volition. She had never seen the worst of humanity. I was created by it, raised from it, and at one time, played an active part of it. Asuka only brought out the best in me. Curbed me when I was angry and was always by my side when I was scared and hurting."
"I was told she was from a prestigious bloodline. If she were not, would you still love her?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
"I never really thought about it. Now that you mention it though, it would because she'd be the same person without the title."
"You really do love her then."
Annalise clenches a red stone within her hand and blankly stares at the black sediment swirling around. It's the same rock she was holding up that night she gave that grim warning about the impending war. A warning that can hopefully be heeded and avoided.
Annalise unfurls her fingers and gazes upon it with an open hand. She really seems to be infatuated with the stone. All I know is it's solidified blood that came out of my thigh and groin. The black sediment collectively swim around like fish in a glass aquarium. It appears much has changed the last time I seen it. What used to be dust now looks like small tadpoles that follow the movement of Annalise's fingers as she touches it.
"What exactly is this Annalise?"
"The only means for me to birth a child of blood. A decision must be made, but the action that follows either hurt me or Asuka. A decision that must be made, but I am not prepared to make yet."
She keeps mentioning giving birth a child of blood, but why does she refer to me, Raesetsu and Daemogina as children? If we are her children, then why does she feel the need to give birth to a real one? How does that even work? Does she just eat the stone and nine months later, the kid is born? I am biting my tongue and withholding questions because if it's what I think it is, I will not be any part of it.
We make our way into the throne room. Daemogina stands at attention while Rutur and Raesetsu kneel for Annalise. I kneel down right beside Rutur and wait for Annalise to take her seat.
"Report." Annalise states.
"Asuka, and her family are safe." Raesetsu answers.
"As for the teacher and yellow head girl that was rushed to the apothecary." Rutur adds.
I breathe a sigh of relief from Rutur's statement. Mr. K and Katsu are still alive. Nor did Cavalier or Knight get any ideas to annihilate the hospital to kidnap Katsu. Yet there is still the possibility they could come back to finish the job.
The first thing I'm going to do when I get back is reunite with Asuka. From there, I will collect the food for the burnt offering. After that, I'll head to the hospital to check on Katsu and Mr. K. It might not be safe, but it won't take long to stop by and say something. Once that's all done, it's onto the Starving Scorch.
"Alan? Do you think you can complete your goal in fifteen hours?" Annalise asks.
"It shouldn't take long to gather the resources. Nor should my fight take that long."
"Daemogina? Gather the syringes. Load Rutur's, Raesetsu's and yours with a normal dose, but load an extra four for Alan."
"Yes Annalise."
"Five doses? That's a whole day." I state.
"I want to ensure you have more than enough time to win this fight. You are free to return as you please. Yet I would advise you to spend the remainder of your time with your loved ones after this battle."
Annalise distributes one syringe full of serum to Rutur, Daemogina and Raesetsu. They bow and step back as Annalise jabs me with one syringe after the other. Twenty-five hours? Why is she giving me this much time? It shouldn't take that long to complete this task. Unless she knows something about the upcoming battle I don't.
"Now children. Go forth in my name." Annalise states as she raises her hand and dismisses us.
The four of us bow and exit the throne room. Rutur leads the way to the carriage and opens the door.
"Take me to where Asuka is hiding, please." I state.
The driver snaps his reins, and the carriage takes off.
"What's the plan?" Raesetsu asks.
"Before anything, I want to go see Asuka. Rutur? Can you watch over Mr. K and Katsu?"
"Yes."
"Daemogina? I don't mind if you go look for Fubuki but don't abandon Rutur completely. Raesetsu? I want you to come with me."
"Sure thing." Raesetsu says.
The carriage comes to a stop and Rutur opens the door. The ground crunches under my boot as Raesetsu and I step into the altered reality. The carriage rides off, and the laws of the real-world seep through the barrier. The purple sheet under our feet turns into a snow-covered dirt path that winds around the environment and descends into a shallow valley. Shadows from the snow kissed leaves blot out the sky and prevent anything aerial from seeing the road from above. Raesetsu tenses up and goes into a state of high alert.
"There you are." Raesetsu growls.
"It's okay. She isn't hostile." I reason.
Raesetsu glares at a particular set of crooked tree roots that lay bare due to the intense erosion. She holds her hands up and clenches them. Thorny barbs sprout from Raesetsu's hands and form a serious of bloody crystals that line all her knuckles.
"Those old men aren't going to save you this time." Raesetsu states.
"Let's just go." I try and override Raesetsu's one track mind.
"I tried being nice to those people, and they called me a leathery harlot. I don't care if they are Asuka's parents, they deserve a fist between the eyes."
Raesetsu steps in the direction of the trees. I grab her shoulder and yank back, "Raesetsu, stop! I'm a couple of steps away from seeing my bride, and I don't want you screwing it up!"
Raesetsu aggressively points towards the bundle of trees with a determined scowl. The spikes on her knuckles retract into her hand, and the thorn like tattoo stitches the gaping wounds shut. This is already heading towards disaster, and we're not even at the doorstep yet. Raesetsu told me that she was aggressive. She also told me she was bred to be aggressive so she could be married off to some warlord to breed with.
Other than the occasional outburst back at the prison, most of her actions were justified because Raesetsu was trying to keep us safe. Bringing her along for this little reunion might not have been the best idea. However, Raesetsu is the one I've been around the longest, and she's the one I trust the most.
We descend into the valley with Asuka's mom following us from a distance. It's almost like she sees us as threats because she didn't even bother saying hello nor was there an attempt at any kind of interaction. Even with Raesetsu's outburst, Asuka's mom could have at least said something.
In the frozen marshes of the valley lies some makeshift shelters that particularly sticks out from the eroding ground. Due to the thick tree lines, steep descent and low light, it would be impossible to find this place without some kind of prior knowledge.
Old Man Hanzo and Jonathan keep watch over the small campsite. Asuka and her father are having some kind of conversation. One which she doesn't seem too happy about having. The sight of her makes me want to call out her name, but I keep myself restrained and pick up the pace.
"Slow down Alan! You're going to trip yourself up!" Raesetsu states.
Her words go through one ear and out the other. A true statement, but one that isn't good enough to slow me down. Halfway down the incline, Asuka notices Raesetsu and I approaching out of the corner of her eye. The familiar light that only her deep hazel eyes can give sends me into a euphoric frenzy. The sight of Asuka jumping to her feet causes me to forget I'm standing on a sloped surface. A sudden rush causes me to stagger forward.
The tip of my boot drags across the glazed snow, and all the weight crashes forward. There's no point in fighting it. I tuck myself into a ball and let gravity slowly roll me. The loose snow attaches to my duster and flies up into the air with each turn on the way down.
My body unwinds at the foot of the valley. I can hear Asuka rushing over so I lay on the ground and pretend to catch my breath.
"I warned you!" Raesetsu giggles as she grabs me by the shoulder.
Asuka grabs hold of my hands and anchors her feet into the ground. Her and Raesetsu hoist me back up.
"Are you okay?" Asuka asks.
I dust the snow off me, "I've survived worse. Much worse."
Excitement takes hold of me, and I snag Asuka up in my arms. The both of us spin around in a state of bliss as the snow elegantly encompasses where I am stepping. Although I was laying by Asuka's side in that cave the other day, it feels as if that short period had been exaggerated by time's cruelty.
Asuka's father tries to come over but Raesetsu steps in the way and crosses her arms, "You're not interrupting anything. Either of you."
"Glad you finally made it. What took you so long?" Old Man Hanzo asks.
"I ran into some problems along the way."
"What kind of problems?" Asuka's dad questions.
"The realization that Paladin isn't going down without being a hassle."
"So this isn't over?" Asuka's mom adds.
"No."
"Great. Just great. And here I was thinking everything would go back to normal when you came back. Of course not, because it's you. It just had to be you. Hundreds of other guys out there I could have called son in law. No. Baby girl had to have whatever you are. Now he's walking around with monsters and fighting with biblical figures. Things that aren't even supposed to exist." Asuka's dad rants as he walks off.
"Yeah. Thanks for the moral support. Douche bag." I whisper under a suppressed hush.
Raesetsu runs a hand down her frustrated face and bites her tongue. Johnathan and Old Man Hanzo intentionally block Asuka's mom and dad from my view and Raesetsu's. A petty rant that should be taken with a grain of salt. Yet, The fact I took a mouthful of teeth to my back and was left to burn inside Hanzo Academy isn't helping.
"So what are you going to do now?" Old Man Hanzo asks.
"I need to gather some stuff so I can face the horseman called Cavalier, and I was wondering if you could rig me up two smoke bombs, and one packed full with gunpowder and quicksilver shrapnel."
"I will, but I need to get back to my shop, and time is not on our side." Old Man Hanzo replies.
"No worries. I have a way back."
"How's that?" Asuka's mom questions.
"A carriage provided by your royal Highness Queen Annalise. Conqueror of the Korin Fuma, and Queen of all that is Damned." Raesetsu states.
"Wonderful. A first class ride straight to hell." Asuka's mom sighs.
"Beggars can't be choosers, and it seems to me you've done nothing but beg for results the past couple days." Raesetsu answers in an extremely sarcastic tone.
"Is it even going to be safe to return to the city?" Asuka's dad asks.
"My daughter and I will be. Alan and Asuka will. Jonathan and Raesetsu will. You? Not so much." Old Man Hanzo states.
I attempt to keep a chuckle suppressed as I pull the carriage whistle out and blow. A puff of blue wind comes out of nowhere and forms the skeleton work of the driver. The rest of his carriage, and horses take form. Yellowed bone that represents his hand holds up four fingers.
"I see. So that's all?" I ask.
"Is there any other way?" Raesetsu adds.
The driver folds out his thumb and makes a five.
"What is he saying?" Asuka's mom asks.
"He's saying that the carriage can only carry four at a time. Maybe five if one rides up front." Raesetsu answers.
"Well I'm freezing my ass off so I'm going now." Old Man Hanzo states as he climbs up in the carriage.
"I've got a hospital to check on." Jonathan gets in.
"If I have to go, I'm riding in the front." Raesetsu sits beside the driver.
"Asuka, you go on with your dad. There's something I need to talk to Alan about."
"I wanted to ride with Alan, but fine. I'll see you both in the city. Love you mom." Asuka states as she steps up into the carriage with her dad. "And Alan? I love you."
"I love you too." I answer her statement. "Take them to the city outskirts."
The driver acknowledges my statement and pops his reins. The carriage takes off and disappears into a rift. Blue wind that forms the framework of the carriage immediately collapses as the driver disappears.
"Alright. What are you scolding me over?"
"Scolding? Scolding can't even describe how pissed off I am! What have you gotten yourself into, and why did you drag Asuka into this!?"
"I didn't 'drag' Asuka into anything. She's got something the Horsemen want."
"What's that!?"
"Her awakening scroll. Not the scroll her body produces because of her shinobi heritage. The scroll that was bestowed upon her."
"The scared scroll? Why!?"
"Because it's made from the flesh, blood and bone of the Horsemen's wives and children. All four of them to be exact, and if I can't keep those scrolls out of Paladin's hand, then people better start begging for some kind of salvation to whoever they call God, because Paladin can't be stopped then."
Asuka's mom paces around and growls under a confused breath as she tries to come up with some kind of response. She sits down on the ground and rubs her face. Tears from stress and worry drip out of her red eyes and seeps through fabric of her black leggings.
As difficult as it is to mention this, it needs to be said. Otherwise, it could make things even worse later if it stays covered up.
"To let you know how determined these men are to get those scrolls, Paladin forced Yumi into willingly handing her scroll over as his brothers ransacked Hanzo academy in search of Asuka's scroll."
"What!?"
"I tried to stop them, but there was too much going on at once. It was either let Paladin beat Yumi within an inch of her life over a piece of paper, or try and stop his brothers from destroying Hanzo Academy and kidnapping the girls."
"Where are they now!?"
"Mr. K and Katsu are in the hospital, and I'm about to go have a chat with the Horseman that kidnapped Ikaruga, and the others."
"What makes you think you're going to win this time!?"
"Sheer fucking willpower. I either come back with the girls, or Raesetsu will with my shredded body in hand." I say with confidence.
Despite there being doubt, it's almost negated by the fact that I am the only one that can stop Cavalier, and I will not let him turn Yagyu, and the others into busty bygones of the past.
"That's not very reassuring Alan. In fact, it sparks more question than faith."
"Then I don't know what to tell you. If you don't believe in me, fine. Nobody does after what the Horsemen did to Yumi and Hanzo Academy, but I will not let those girls or my bride, yes, my bride Asuka Hanzo fall victim to that force again." I snap.
The both of us turn our backs to one another out of pure scorn. There's nothing left to say. People don't have to believe because I don't need their approval to make things right. Although it raises more questions about the willpower needed to keep fighting.
The driver should have had enough time to drop them off by now. I blow the whistle and sit down on the white ground. The carriage appears out of nowhere and stops right in front of me. The driver throws the door open for Asuka's mom while I climb up and sit by the driver.
"Same place you took the others please."
The driver slams the door shut and pops his reins. Unfamiliar wind skirts across my face as the rift opens up. Strange cosmic dust shines like gold against the purple hue of the void, and star shaped objects unravel and snap like thread as the carriage plows through the chaotic environment.
"Is this what it's always like?" I ask.
The driver bravely nods his head and continues to drive through the void. I lean back in the seat and stare off into the distance. At the other end of the void is a bright reflection of our intended destination. Deep within the mirror like image lies the city, and a set of train tracks that lead into the old part of town.
"You never cease to amaze me. You know that?" I state.
The driver tips his hat in gratitude as we ride towards the best way to get into the city undetected…
Ending Song: "Yamiyo wa Otome wo Hana ni Suru" BGM version by Ruka Kawada