Shattered Realms
Chapter 6: Lucrecia's Waterfall
Serge quickly tried to make sense of what had happened but could not come up with a plausible conclusion. There was just no way that he could have travelled to Another World once again... His anxiety was overwhelming and the thirst for adventure was getting the better of him; He slowly looked all around him, only to discover that his surroundings were entirely unfamiliar. How could this be? Were there more worlds? Serge's spirits surrendered. If he was in some other world then he had next to no hope of finding his old friends again. Finally, he remembered that he had not used the Astral Amulet to open the portal to the other world like he had last time. Was it possible that he was summoned here for some reason?
Because of all these thoughts swimming through his mind, he failed to see a cave a short walk away. Foolishly, he shouldered the Sea Swallow, and headed toward the cave. Serge walked along the edge of the island, enjoying the sound of angry waves smashing into the rocks below. Out of sheer boredom, he kicked a large pebble off the land's fringe where it disappeared in the murky darkness of the sea. Savoring the refreshing touch of cold, wet grass, coated with morning dew against his feet, he neared the cave. It was a gracious change from the sweltering sands of Opassa Beach. Serge welcomed this pleasant change openheartedly.
All thoughts of returning home temporarily banished, he closed his eyes as a particularly glacial wind hit his face. He had not felt this kind of coldness in a long time. This was certainly different from the gentle breeze back home. As he relished the rare moment, he felt a stinging burn on his right shoulder followed by a severe blow to the face which sent him sprawling. His eyes snapped open, in time for him to roll out of the way as a massive black panther made a leap, claws outstretched. It must have sneaked up on me... He thought. Ignoring the burn on his shoulder and the streak of blood running from his nose, he brandished the Sea Swallow at the cat. If the situation wasn't so serious he would have admired its beautiful dark-blue sheen.
If only I had brought some damn materia... He thrust his weapon at the beast hoping it would back away but it looked as if it had other plans. It snarled and threw itself right at Serge. He would have dodged it if he could have focused, but his injuries were difficult to ignore. The panther's skull connected with his chin which knocked him flat on his back, the back of his head hitting the ground. Head throbbing, he managed to stand up on shaky legs, still grasping the Swallow firmly. As the beast pounced again, Serge knocked it a few feet away with a mighty blow from the flat of his blade. To his horror, two more panthers were emerging from the bushes to aid their injured comrade.
He breathed heavily as he watched spit dripping down those awful yellow teeth. Their eyes narrowed into slits, fixing themselves on Serge. With a roar they both attacked. Serge rolled to the right and one of the attackers blew right past him but the other slammed all of its weight into him, knocking his breath away. He lay there unable to pant, choking for air, as the beast glared at him with its clawed paws leaning heavily on his chest. This is it... He thought grimly. He shut his eyes tightly waiting to feel those gruesome fangs to sink into his throat... It didn't come... He opened his eyes in time to hear something immense shoot out of the sea and in a haze of water he saw creature of which the likes he had never seen, even during his epic journeys.
It was about seven feet tall, enshrouded in fine, aquamarine fur. Equipped with fearsome fangs the size of tusks, enormous claws, and vast, pointed horns, he was truly a sight to behold as he landed on the grass on all fours. Amber eyes set on the panthers, it let out a bloodcurdling howl. Serge began to cough as the panther leapt off of him, and accompanied by the other two, they circled the new predator. Flexing its sinewy muscles, the beast grasped the cat nearest to him in its deadly claws and tossed him easily, right over the edge of the island like a rag doll. There was a satisfying noise as the feline hit the water below. Before the other panthers knew what hit them, the monster had one in between its lethal jaws.
Serge stifled mad urge to vomit as a sickening crunch split the air and blood splattered over the dewy grass. The creature released the victim from its bloodstained fangs, the panther's head severed. Suddenly, it didn't look as if the remaining cat desired to do battle with the new opponent. Whimpering, it scurried away into the trees. Serge's blood ran cold as the beast approached him. I'm dead... He just tore its head off, oh shit I'm fucking dead... He closed his eyes once again, and waited for the finishing blow but like the last time, it didn't come. He opened his eyes wearily and to his surprise, the monster was no where to be seen. In its place, stood a mysterious-looking young man.
The newcomer wore a black cloak to match the rest of his outfit. He had long black combat boots, along with red steel shoulder-pads. His long black hair also matched his glove. On the other hand he wielded a vicious looking gauntlet of crimson. He wore a red headband and the lower part of his face was covered by a crimson bandana. He looked very menacing yet impressive at the same time, his amber eyes glinting in the sunlight. They looked just like the eyes of the creature. Serge decided that he deeply resembled a vampire. He sized him up and his eyes fell on a silver gun at his side which depicted a word. Serge strained his eyes to see it, and noticed that it said 'peacemaker'.
"Who are you? How did you get here? This island is surrounded by water. There is nothing for you to seek here. I ask you to leave at once." He said in a forceful tone. Serge hesitated. "I-I-I don't know how I got here..." He stammered. "I was back home and suddenly I was pulled into some kind of hole and the next thing I knew I was here." He half expected to be accused of lying but the man simply glanced at him unblinking. "I have no time to babysit. I demand that you leave at once and never return to this place." He finally replied. Serge felt some of his confidence return. "Where do you want me to go?! I don't even know where I am!" He yelled in anger. "Where is it that you live?"
"Arni Village." Serge answered. "I have not heard of such a place."
"Where do you want me to go then?"
"That is not my problem. I suggest that you go where you please. Just don't ever return here."
"What?! Do you expect me to swim away?!!"
The man glanced at him again. Serge could have sworn that he caught a glimpse of a smile playing around his face but it was difficult to tell because half of his face was covered. But... No. He must have been imagining it for his facial features seemed to be rock-hard again, absent of emotion. "Very well..." He broke the silence. "You can come with me for now. I'm running late on my schedule anyway. But for now I have something I must quickly do, and I ask you not to disturb me."
"You haven't even told me your name. I'm Serge." The man turned away, and froze. He was silent for a few seconds. "Vincent. Vincent Valentine." The name seemed alien to him, feeling awkward as it escaped his mouth. He then started towards the cave. The second he was engrossed in its darkness, Serge followed him, despite Vincent's request. The cave was extremely dark. His footsteps were muffled by dirt as he walked, his hand outstretched to prevent himself colliding with a wall. Soon, he noticed a light close by. It was lancing through a fair crack in the stone ceiling and Serge saw the end of the cave and he heard a familiar sound of running water. Vincent stood in front of what resembled a gravestone which was centered before a glamorous waterfall. After a few moments he kneeled down and sunk his gloved hand into his robes.
When he drew it out, he revealed a blood-red rose. He then placed it gently on the grave. "Lu...crecia..."He whispered. Vincent wiped his eyes with his sleeve and Serge knew he was about to turn back. Just as he was about to run for it, he noticed a pale glimmer where the rose lay. Serge rubbed his eyes to make sure he was not seeing things. He looked again and saw a transparent figure of an angelic-looking girl in a white dress kneeling before the rose. He wasn't sure if Vincent was able to see her too but it didn't seem like it since he looked as solemn and stone-faced as he always did.
Serge blinked and the girl vanished. At that exact moment, Vincent began to turn and and Serge ran for it, tearing his eyes away from the spot where he witnessed the magnificent apparition. He ran blindly for a few moments until he saw light coming from the cave's opening. It grew larger as he neared it and soon he darted outside. The second he got his speedy breathing under control, Vincent emerged from the cave. Serge was dying to question him about what he had seen but he knew it would mean revealing the fact that he had followed him against his orders, and he had no intention on getting on Vincent's bad side. "Get on." He said simply. Bewildered, Serge gazed around him, attempting to figure out what he was referring to.
"But what..." He stopped suddenly and gasped. Vincent was nowhere to be seen. In his place stood a ten foot tall red-eyed creature. Its skin was composed of a thick black leather and massive bat-like wings protruded from its back. He tried not to look at the monster's fatal claws which looked capable of slicing through tree trunks. "...Vincent...?" Serge stammered, uncertain. The beast merely bent its knees and folded its wings. Serge caught on. He wobbled over to it, placed his shaky hands around its leathery neck and hoisted himself onto the creature's back. Without warning, it propelled itself into the air and within moments, Serge found himself enjoying a frantic ride, streaking across the cloudless skies.
Serge quickly tried to make sense of what had happened but could not come up with a plausible conclusion. There was just no way that he could have travelled to Another World once again... His anxiety was overwhelming and the thirst for adventure was getting the better of him; He slowly looked all around him, only to discover that his surroundings were entirely unfamiliar. How could this be? Were there more worlds? Serge's spirits surrendered. If he was in some other world then he had next to no hope of finding his old friends again. Finally, he remembered that he had not used the Astral Amulet to open the portal to the other world like he had last time. Was it possible that he was summoned here for some reason?
Because of all these thoughts swimming through his mind, he failed to see a cave a short walk away. Foolishly, he shouldered the Sea Swallow, and headed toward the cave. Serge walked along the edge of the island, enjoying the sound of angry waves smashing into the rocks below. Out of sheer boredom, he kicked a large pebble off the land's fringe where it disappeared in the murky darkness of the sea. Savoring the refreshing touch of cold, wet grass, coated with morning dew against his feet, he neared the cave. It was a gracious change from the sweltering sands of Opassa Beach. Serge welcomed this pleasant change openheartedly.
All thoughts of returning home temporarily banished, he closed his eyes as a particularly glacial wind hit his face. He had not felt this kind of coldness in a long time. This was certainly different from the gentle breeze back home. As he relished the rare moment, he felt a stinging burn on his right shoulder followed by a severe blow to the face which sent him sprawling. His eyes snapped open, in time for him to roll out of the way as a massive black panther made a leap, claws outstretched. It must have sneaked up on me... He thought. Ignoring the burn on his shoulder and the streak of blood running from his nose, he brandished the Sea Swallow at the cat. If the situation wasn't so serious he would have admired its beautiful dark-blue sheen.
If only I had brought some damn materia... He thrust his weapon at the beast hoping it would back away but it looked as if it had other plans. It snarled and threw itself right at Serge. He would have dodged it if he could have focused, but his injuries were difficult to ignore. The panther's skull connected with his chin which knocked him flat on his back, the back of his head hitting the ground. Head throbbing, he managed to stand up on shaky legs, still grasping the Swallow firmly. As the beast pounced again, Serge knocked it a few feet away with a mighty blow from the flat of his blade. To his horror, two more panthers were emerging from the bushes to aid their injured comrade.
He breathed heavily as he watched spit dripping down those awful yellow teeth. Their eyes narrowed into slits, fixing themselves on Serge. With a roar they both attacked. Serge rolled to the right and one of the attackers blew right past him but the other slammed all of its weight into him, knocking his breath away. He lay there unable to pant, choking for air, as the beast glared at him with its clawed paws leaning heavily on his chest. This is it... He thought grimly. He shut his eyes tightly waiting to feel those gruesome fangs to sink into his throat... It didn't come... He opened his eyes in time to hear something immense shoot out of the sea and in a haze of water he saw creature of which the likes he had never seen, even during his epic journeys.
It was about seven feet tall, enshrouded in fine, aquamarine fur. Equipped with fearsome fangs the size of tusks, enormous claws, and vast, pointed horns, he was truly a sight to behold as he landed on the grass on all fours. Amber eyes set on the panthers, it let out a bloodcurdling howl. Serge began to cough as the panther leapt off of him, and accompanied by the other two, they circled the new predator. Flexing its sinewy muscles, the beast grasped the cat nearest to him in its deadly claws and tossed him easily, right over the edge of the island like a rag doll. There was a satisfying noise as the feline hit the water below. Before the other panthers knew what hit them, the monster had one in between its lethal jaws.
Serge stifled mad urge to vomit as a sickening crunch split the air and blood splattered over the dewy grass. The creature released the victim from its bloodstained fangs, the panther's head severed. Suddenly, it didn't look as if the remaining cat desired to do battle with the new opponent. Whimpering, it scurried away into the trees. Serge's blood ran cold as the beast approached him. I'm dead... He just tore its head off, oh shit I'm fucking dead... He closed his eyes once again, and waited for the finishing blow but like the last time, it didn't come. He opened his eyes wearily and to his surprise, the monster was no where to be seen. In its place, stood a mysterious-looking young man.
The newcomer wore a black cloak to match the rest of his outfit. He had long black combat boots, along with red steel shoulder-pads. His long black hair also matched his glove. On the other hand he wielded a vicious looking gauntlet of crimson. He wore a red headband and the lower part of his face was covered by a crimson bandana. He looked very menacing yet impressive at the same time, his amber eyes glinting in the sunlight. They looked just like the eyes of the creature. Serge decided that he deeply resembled a vampire. He sized him up and his eyes fell on a silver gun at his side which depicted a word. Serge strained his eyes to see it, and noticed that it said 'peacemaker'.
"Who are you? How did you get here? This island is surrounded by water. There is nothing for you to seek here. I ask you to leave at once." He said in a forceful tone. Serge hesitated. "I-I-I don't know how I got here..." He stammered. "I was back home and suddenly I was pulled into some kind of hole and the next thing I knew I was here." He half expected to be accused of lying but the man simply glanced at him unblinking. "I have no time to babysit. I demand that you leave at once and never return to this place." He finally replied. Serge felt some of his confidence return. "Where do you want me to go?! I don't even know where I am!" He yelled in anger. "Where is it that you live?"
"Arni Village." Serge answered. "I have not heard of such a place."
"Where do you want me to go then?"
"That is not my problem. I suggest that you go where you please. Just don't ever return here."
"What?! Do you expect me to swim away?!!"
The man glanced at him again. Serge could have sworn that he caught a glimpse of a smile playing around his face but it was difficult to tell because half of his face was covered. But... No. He must have been imagining it for his facial features seemed to be rock-hard again, absent of emotion. "Very well..." He broke the silence. "You can come with me for now. I'm running late on my schedule anyway. But for now I have something I must quickly do, and I ask you not to disturb me."
"You haven't even told me your name. I'm Serge." The man turned away, and froze. He was silent for a few seconds. "Vincent. Vincent Valentine." The name seemed alien to him, feeling awkward as it escaped his mouth. He then started towards the cave. The second he was engrossed in its darkness, Serge followed him, despite Vincent's request. The cave was extremely dark. His footsteps were muffled by dirt as he walked, his hand outstretched to prevent himself colliding with a wall. Soon, he noticed a light close by. It was lancing through a fair crack in the stone ceiling and Serge saw the end of the cave and he heard a familiar sound of running water. Vincent stood in front of what resembled a gravestone which was centered before a glamorous waterfall. After a few moments he kneeled down and sunk his gloved hand into his robes.
When he drew it out, he revealed a blood-red rose. He then placed it gently on the grave. "Lu...crecia..."He whispered. Vincent wiped his eyes with his sleeve and Serge knew he was about to turn back. Just as he was about to run for it, he noticed a pale glimmer where the rose lay. Serge rubbed his eyes to make sure he was not seeing things. He looked again and saw a transparent figure of an angelic-looking girl in a white dress kneeling before the rose. He wasn't sure if Vincent was able to see her too but it didn't seem like it since he looked as solemn and stone-faced as he always did.
Serge blinked and the girl vanished. At that exact moment, Vincent began to turn and and Serge ran for it, tearing his eyes away from the spot where he witnessed the magnificent apparition. He ran blindly for a few moments until he saw light coming from the cave's opening. It grew larger as he neared it and soon he darted outside. The second he got his speedy breathing under control, Vincent emerged from the cave. Serge was dying to question him about what he had seen but he knew it would mean revealing the fact that he had followed him against his orders, and he had no intention on getting on Vincent's bad side. "Get on." He said simply. Bewildered, Serge gazed around him, attempting to figure out what he was referring to.
"But what..." He stopped suddenly and gasped. Vincent was nowhere to be seen. In his place stood a ten foot tall red-eyed creature. Its skin was composed of a thick black leather and massive bat-like wings protruded from its back. He tried not to look at the monster's fatal claws which looked capable of slicing through tree trunks. "...Vincent...?" Serge stammered, uncertain. The beast merely bent its knees and folded its wings. Serge caught on. He wobbled over to it, placed his shaky hands around its leathery neck and hoisted himself onto the creature's back. Without warning, it propelled itself into the air and within moments, Serge found himself enjoying a frantic ride, streaking across the cloudless skies.