AN: This is the first side story, just like I said last chapter this is the night of the attack from the perspective of Ch'en, so to understand a little better her view.
This chapter will be smaller since it's just a part of the last chapter.
Hope you enjoy this !
It was just another day, well, it was also the day of Sauin, so calling it average would have been a insult to the prepartation her uncle made for this day.
She and her friends decided to enjoy the day without having to be watched, it was the day of a festival ! What could possibly go wrong the day when guards litter the street, where every streets is filled to the brim with people ?
After succeding in ditching their guards, they approched the slums- since one of them was the grand daughter of the head of the slums they never had any problem there.
Trying to enjoy the day, they decided to go ahead and see what those in the slums did during the festivity.
So they took a shortcut to said slums, a dirty alley way yes, but one tha could get them there faster and most importantly, not caught by their guards.
It was there that she saw someone weird.
He was in a dirty cloak, in the darkness you couldn't see it perfectly but he seems to have horns, hidden under a hood. Those horns curved towards the back and curving again in a circular motion towards the front. The halo on top of his head gave the faintest dark purple light, allowing them to discern it's shape.
It seemed to be cracked on the front, as if it had been damaged, and in the back of the halo a symbol of an horizontal eight, one side seemingly eating the other.
He had dirty short black hair and gray eyes.
She hadn't seen eyes that gray in normal people, only the blind, yet seems to see just fine.
He had a difficult to describe expression.
His firearm on his back not helping him to look like a normal person.
In all honnesty, he looked like a hobo.
A armed, horned sankta(?) hobo, but one none the less.
The first thought she had was...
"Hey, what are you 4 doing in the middle of the night, in a dark alleyway ..? This totally makes me suspicous doesn't it ?! Wait, I'm friendly, I'm genuinly wandering what the hell you guy- girls are doing here ?"
That man, he seemed even more suspicious.
But well, her uncle had hired weireder people.
"What are you doing here ? A guard from my uncle ? He doesn't know when to give up !"
Seriously, he could just let her live her life a little.
She even had Tahlula, Beatrix and Lin with her !
"I'm not a guard, but you 4 needs to go back to your home, it's not safe out there. And I know I'm not the most qualified to say this, but you really shouldn't walk in the middle of the night in dark alleyway near the slums, you don't know who could have bad intention."
What kind of person he is to say that to them ?
They will be just fine !
"Hmpf, I'll have you know we risk nothing in downtown, grand father had his men around here, nobody would dare attack us there."
Well, unsurprisingly, it's Lin who spoke first.
It was normal, she knew the people of the slums better.
"Doesn't matter, it's not the slum inhabitants that I'm worried about here."
What is he-
"Then who ?"
"Well you se-"
What ? Are those footsteps ?
"Us. He's worried we would be here."
Who are those guys ?
One of them is a Ursus and the other seemed to be a Cautus.
"Guess we're doing it the hard way, nothing personal, kid."
"You four stay behind. Don't run away right now, they have friends. Stay vigilent and if you feel like someone is behind you, run and don't look back."
What the hell is he talking about ?
"Hold on- ! What's happening ?"
"No time to explain, stay close."
"This is going to be a fun night, don't you agree kid ?"
"Fuck off."
And with this, the fighting started.
After pulling out his firearm, and what seemed to be a eternity staring at each other, bullets were fired.
After this, the two men started to run him down to slice him in half.
He doesn't even move to counter this, what is he thinking ?
"That's not going to work on me."
Those swords aren't even penetrating his clothes ! That's just so-
"*whisper* cool..."
I want to be able to do that !
Those two jumped back before he could shot them.
And unhand his firearm and take both swords in hand.
"If you think getting rid of our weapons is enough to force us to leave, you are dead wrong."
"Funny, I would think that two guards running away at the first sign of danger would be in your blood, little cub."
"Taunts will not affect either of us, don't bother."
"Well, if you say so !"
*BANG*
His firearm that he dropped started to fly and fire all on its own !
"What ..? This is ?"
"Art, and a powerfull one at that."
"This is going to be more difficult than we thought. We should wait for the blade to come."
"Don't bother, we shall kill him and complete our mission alone."
"... Very well."
Mission ? What are they talking about ?
We're we really the targert ?
Is it to attack uncle ?
Why ?
...
It's been a while now, about half an hour I would say.
The fight still rages on, but the expression of the Sankta seems to be bleak.
It looks like he's trying to hurry it up but can't.
"... It takes the both of you to fight a child. You are the shame of our Emperor's might."
Who is this ?
"*whisper* damn it, not now you shitty mech..."
... What's a mech ? Why call this armored man a mech ?
"This is going to go two way, child. Either die fighting, or die accepting your death, in either way it is a win, as your life shall be a gift to our glorious Emperor !"
"God damn lunatic, I know it's rich comming from the dude that lives in a religious nation, but that's beyond fanatiscim right now."
"All for this moment, your life shall have meaning. Come, child, and meet your end."
"Alright, but can you allow me to do something first, I want to try something."
"... I shall allow it, as to let you savor your life one last time."
"Good, it's my final and most secret technique. One so profound and so powerfull, it has been given the rank of strongest technique to ever grace this world, one so important that the entire world would not be the same without it."
What ? I'm really curious as to what that technique is ? Maybe some kind of secret technique that only Sankta can use !
"Don't test me, child."
"Ahaha, it's a serious technique, don't worry about it."
He started to whisper to us.
"*whisper* Go along with my plan, I'll take care of this."
What ?
"*whisper* Give us a second."
Tahlula, ever the serious one...
"*whisper* That halo guy seems to have lost it."
He saved us, Beatrix ..!
"*whisper* What shall we do ?"
We could just...
"*whisper* I don't know, should we follow him ?"
Yeah !
"*whisper*... Let's give him a chance !"
"*whisper* Alright !"
"Well then, I guess it setteled, let's try this out !"
So, what kind of technique it is ?
Some kind of super weapon, a firearm so powerfull we had to hide behind him to not get hit ?
Some kind of super sword swing that would cut all of the surronding in half ?
"This technique is called... RUNNING AWAY ! AND AT MAX SPEED !"
Wha-
H-he just grabed us and started to fly ?!
What ? Why ? How ?
Could he just have always flied away ?
Why fight them if he could do that ?
...
We were on top of a building.
I can see Uncle's tower from here...
He's getting back on the sword, trying to fly away !
"Wait ! What are you doing ?"
"I'm going to end this, what else ?"
This guy, what is he thinking ?
"... Can you beat him ?"
Can he ?
That armored man looked like he could kill everyone here 3 times over...
"Of course I can. I just couldn't do it while protecting you guys. Just trust me."
Is he serious ?
What is this thing that's gathering at his finger ?
"I can do something that'll allow me to beat him, I just need to get him to stop moving for a while."
"... Alright. Let's wait here then."
"Are you serious ? You think we can trust him ?"
"There's no other way."
... I agree with Tahlula on this.
"... Let's follow what Tahlula said."
"You serious, Ch'en ? You think that guy can beat him alone ?"
"No, but I trust Tahlula's judgment, so I'm going to trust her."
I can't tell them it's because I really want to see this technique he has...
"Beatrix, back me up here !"
"Well, I normally would be with you on this, but I don't think we have much of a choice."
"Urgh ! You guys, we can't ..!"
"Let's just trust him for now. He saved our life right before, so let's wait it out."
"You guys are impossible !"
"Well then, I'll come back in a little bit, let me just-"
What is he looking at ?
"Yeah, we don't have the time, so I'm just going to end this."
The man in the armor is moving quickly towards us, jumping from building to building.
Is he really going to fight him ?
*BANG* *BANG*
Two shots and the fight start.
Every item that is down below comes flying towards the armored man.
But while it slows him down, it doesn't stop him in the slightest.
He gets closer and closer to him.
Come on ! Didn't you say that you could beat him !
What ..?
He's getting faster... Faster and faster, it's almost like he just started fighting seriously ..!
I see ! He was playing with the armored man since the begining !
This is why he said it was alright, it's because he can defeat him whenever he wants !
So cool !
I want to become as strong as him, become strong enough that no one can tell me what to do !
Strong enough that no people could do evil !
*BANG*
*DING*
Wow ! What is this shot !
I thought he shot nothing for a second, but that is insane !
Just now, he shot the bell behind that armored man, the bullet rickocheted towards the armored man back and shot him close to the heart.
The armored man is seriously wounded, what is he trying to do ..?
This ? Is he blowing himself up ?!
Anyone could feel how much energy is gathering in one place ..!
This is bad. What are you going to do, mister ..?
... Thats...
What ? It's, just, what ?
Cut in half, before he could do anything, and then he just vanished, and exploded in the sky ..!
He can teleport ?! That's so COOL ! I want to do that !
Can he teach me ?
Can he ?
I'll have to ask Uncle for that ! I'm sure he can make him teach me some tricks !
"You- What the hell was that ? How can you do something this cool while looking like a hobo !"
Well, you're not wrong Lin...
"Do I really look like one ?! I mean, um, I just can, my art is just that."
That's- Art can do that ?!
"Really ? Arts can do something like that ?"
Thank you, Tahlula ! You're my favorite sister !
Well, not like I have another one...
"Well, I could teach you the basic, but this arts is in my blood, only my parents and so on could use it."
That's-
"Really ..? That sucks..."
... So you wanted to do it too, Tahlula ?
"Ahahah, don't be so down ! I'm sure your talented at arts, you just have to try !"
Is she ? Is my sister talented in arts ? Well, if it's him, maybe he can tell ?
"You girls come with me, I'll send you home."
Chance ..!
"Can I go on your back ? Holding on to four people must be tireding."
That will allow me to get a better look at his horns and halo !
I mean, I never saw a single sankta since now, even less one with a black halo !
It's much cooler than those I heard from Uncle.
"Eh sure get on blue kid."
Yes !
After getting on his sword he start flying, but not moving towards any direction. Why ?
"... Where is you girls home ?"
Oh, yeah, I kinda thought he knew about Tahlula and me... Let me just...
"Oh yeah. It's that way !"
There, now he should see it !
"How rich are you girls ?"
Are we that rich ? Well, Uncle Wei always tell me to answer this to people asking !
"Tahlula and my uncle is the leader of this city !"
"Which one of you is Tahlula ?"
Wait, we forgot to introduce ourselves didn't we ? I don't want him to know me as just 'that blue haired kid' !
"Me."
Way to spoil my fun, Tahlula.
Well, this is fine.
"Now that I think about it, I never got your name."
Yes, my chance again !
"I'm Ch'en Hui-cheh, The tiger is Beatrix Schwire and the pink haired is Lin Yüshia."
"Urgh, Ch'en ! I wanted to introduce myself, why are you always like that !"
Heheh, Nope, my turn ~!
"Sorry Beatrix, it's funnier like that."
"You little ..!"
"Nice to meet you four, my name's Dante."
"Dante, huh."
"Yeah, I'm part of the Pontifica Cohors right now, which mean I'm an Envoy of Laterano."
"If your a Sankta, why is your halo black, and you also have horns !"
"That's 'cause I'm a Fallen Sankta."
Fallen ? What ? Is that a subrace of Sankta ?
"What's a fallen ?"
Thank you again, Tahlula !
"Eh, it's a Sankta that violated one of Laterano's sacred law, as a non beliver, I fell."
"It's that easy ?"
"Yep, well, for the horns it takes more than just not being a beliver, but well, I wouldn't know. I was always a fallen, you see."
Hold on, if he was always a fallen, does that mean his existance is a sin in Laterano's eyes ?
Why ?
"I was just born that way, as to why ? I have an idea, but I can't be sure, so I'll refrain from speaking about it."
"Urgh, unfair ! Why not ?"
" 'cause it's a boring old theory that doesn't have any basis. Anyway, we're here."
Doesn't matter ! I want to know !
" 'Those your parents ?"
Oh, we're here...
"That's our uncle, Wei Yenwu, and Fumizuki."
" 'Aight, all off of me then."
Urgh, I wanted to stay a little more...
"A fallen who decided to help random children on the streets ? We find something new everyday..."
"Wei, that's rude. He saved Ch'en and Tahlula, after all."
"Urgh, you're right. How are you both ?"
Uncle ! I was so scared !
Well, if he wasn't there, we could have all died...
The realisation sinks in so late...
Thanks to Dante we managed to deal with it, so that's a plus I guess...
"We're fine, uncle. Dante helped us flee, and he took care of the ones attacking us."
"I see, I already got the gist of what happened, but thank you, young man."
"Already knew, huh. Well, I had a feeling we were being watched. Why not inteverne tho ?"
What ..?
What does he means by that, did Uncle still have guards with us ..?
"... You felt his gaze ?"
Who's ..?
"What great instinct you have."
"Some dude with a raincoat right ?"
"!"
What ? I never saw anyone like that in the guard ever ..!
"You saw him ?"
"Not exactly, he probably told you about my arts right ? It's the same thing as 'aiming'."
'Aiming' ? You mean the thing he does to always hit his target ? He use art for that too ?
"I see. This is indeed extremely powerful."
"Mhm... I know. Here, Wei."
Aunt ? What are you saying to Uncle ?
"Mhm ... Yeah, this would be for the best, since they would at least listen to him."
"Wouldn't it ? Let's try this then."
"... Wait, what was your name young man ?"
"Dante, why ?"
"Are you with the Pontifica Cohors ?"
That's what he said he was associated with.
"Oh, you know of them ?"
"Indeed, they came here, signing some paperwork and cursing someone from ditching them."
"Ahahahah, I wonder who that person is ?"
Urgh, that's unresponsible...
"Well, I was wondering too, I guess we will never know."
Uncle ! Don't enable this kind of behaviour !
We start to make our way inside...
Well, this was a long night...
...
I don't think I can sleep tonight...
C-can I ask Dante to stay with us ?
J-just to be safe...
I know Uncle's guards are strong but...
"Oh, are you wondering what this sword is doing here ?"
Is he talking about that enshrined sword ? I never knew what it was for...
"Kinda, having a sword exposed like that is weird. Usually a weapon would be used, not displayed."
"Oh ? Is this your point of view ? Well, if you can use it, I can lent it to you, if you want."
What ? Uncle, who never allowed anyone to even get close to that sword allows him to try and use it, even to lent it to him ?
Hmm... He seems deep in thought... I wonder what he's thinking right now.
"... The sword of soverignty."
What ?
"You know of it ?"
Uncle is agreeing with him ?
"Well, kinda. Because of my art, I had to learn how to use a lot of weapon, so I also searched for those that are considered the 'strongest'."
"I see. Well, you're right, it is indeed Chi Xiao."
So that's that blade's name...
"I see. I only heard a description, it's really striking."
After getting it in his hand, he looks at Uncle...
"You sure ?"
"Of course. Well, if you can really unsheath it."
He's deep in thought again.
Is he talking to it ? Can sword really have consciense ?
...
T-that's... The tower is shaking a little ..!
"So that's what you want, huh ?"
Uh ? H-he unsheathed it !
"So you managed to unsheath it, huh."
"Yeah, I understand it a little, so it answered my called."
"Truly ? You can understand it ?"
"Eh, just a bit."
That's ..! Incredible !
"So, what was that condition you wanted me to do for the weapon ?"
"Two things, one, I'm lending it, I will need it back in a couple of year."
"Yeah, I figured."
"Two, I will need you to teach someone how to use it later."
Teach ? Who ?
W-wait, why are they both looking at me ?!
"Yeah, sure. I have a sneaking idea about who I'll teach, so yeah sure."
Is it really me he's talking about ?
Is he ?
"Anyway, I shouldn't overuse your hospitality, I'll go back to our hotel and-"
Wait NO-
"You can't !"
Urgh, I said it...
"C-can you stay here for the night ? Can he, uncle ?"
Please say yes...
"Well, if he wants, I'm not going to stop him, espetially if you want him to stay."
Yes ! Thank you !
"Well, sure. If you'll have me here."
Yes, yes, yes !
"Very well, I'll show you to the guest room."
Ehhh ? Well, this is for the best...
I should probably get going...
"Did you really want him to stay ?"
"Urgh- Tahlula, don't sneak up on me !"
"Answer the question, then."
"Y-yes..."
"Mhm... Alright. I just wanted to confirm something."
What ? Well, she sometimes does this...
Let's just, sleep, and hope for a better tomorow...
Yeah, let's !