You've heard a dragon's cry, cursing man and bringing madness. You've seen the past and memories of the goddess. You've seen malice and hate through time. You've let all those voices guide you, cause you pain, yet now...you've learned to bare your fangs...
You can never return to innocence. No matter how much you struggle.
[-]
"What...did you...SAY?!" Arisa roared furiously as the letter sat underneath the magician, who laughed at the furious girl.
"The King of Faerghus and Lord of Snowdrop has fallen! We are now one step closer to our goal! Duscur is only a step to it!" He laughed as Arisa began shaking furiously, her hair began turning mint green as all her anger grew all more.
"So, the Fell Star c-" he didn't finish.
Arisa slashed her sword down at him, cutting him in half. Blood pooled on the ground, the letter a few spots on it. The girl shook furiously as the others looked at her in horror.
"TO THE FLAMES OF ETERNITY WITH YOUUUUUU!" Arisa screamed furiously as the flames of the manner only seemed to grow more.
She shook furiously as the grip on the sword tighten, her eyes flickering. She has never felt such anger right now. They need to get to Duscur and that they will do.
"We need to get to Duscur now!" Arisa said as she turned to Amir.
"W-What?! But, how?! It's too far even for us!" Amir said and Arisa held her shoulders.
"It isn't!" The girl said.
"Arisa, what are you about to do?!" Lucius said and the two males quickly began to back away from the girls as a magic circle appeared underneath them, with the Crest of Flames.
"Arisa?!" Amir said as the girl held her shoulder and spoke.
"We're going to save them."
[-]
In the crimson night, the bird sleeps
unleashed to the sky from the window of dreams
a lullaby wafts from its lips
Nothing left in this drawn hope
Indeed.. there's no sign that darkness will fade away
There're always separated roads beyond ones memories
"Hhaaaahhh!"
The scent of metal clashing, the taste of iron in their lips. The scent of burning flesh as flames of red, white and blood consumed all. The axe brought down those in it wake, beheading all life. Screams of pain and agony surrounded all. The flames touched all. No one spared, for the skies have turned crimson. The young Faerghus prince was on his knees, in shock as he stared with wide eyes at the headless corpses of the King of Faerghus and Lord of Snowdrop. He could not move. He could not hear. All he could see was the corpse of his father and the lord. Remembering the yells of agony and vengeance.
"Avenge us! Those who killed us…..Tear them apart! Destroy them all!" King Lambert's final words rang loud in Dimitri's ears.
"Ghaaaaa!" Zander yelled in agony as his left arm was sliced off by a man with a sword.
"You bastard!" Glenn roared furiously as he charged at him.
"Tch. This is boring. To think that hag left me in charge of this." A man with red hair dressed in black armor yawned as he easily countered the attacks, "Just fall." He said.
"AAAHHHHH!" He moved swiftly as he cut off Glenn's right arm and stabbed his sword in his tight.
"Glenn!" Zander yelled out and froze once the headless corpse of his father came into view.
"Stop!" The man could barely dodge on time Kuza's sword that came at him.
"You...you...how dare you?!" Kuza roared furiously as tears fell from his eyes.
He was covered in cuts and burns, as he shook furiously, holding his magic sword, trying to defend the prince and his friend.
"Haha!" The man laughed as he looked down at the three, "This is what the lord of the nobles are proud of... pathetic!" He laughed as Kuza kept attacking him wildly.
"You'll pay for the death of my father and the King of Faerghus! How dare you hurt my friends! My people!" Kuza yelled and was kicked in the stomach, and the man with pale skin, slashed him.
"ARRGHHHHH!" Kuza's eyes were slashed and fell to his knees, covering his face.
"Kuza!" Zander tried to get to his friend but yelled in agony as a sword as stabbed into his waist.
"Pathetic." The man laughed as he looked over to the traumatized young boy, one of his men was behind him.
"Watch your brother die." He said as his men raised his sword.
"NO DIMITRI!" Zander yelled as the sword came down but...
A blinding light appeared out of nowhere and no one could believe what they just saw. Dimitri slowly looked up to what just happened, his eyes slowly going wide as the familiar color of the forest came into his sight. The sound of glass shattering was heard, the man screamed as a hammer struck him. Glenn and Zander eyes were wide as the familiar pink silver colored hair came into their sights. Sparks of black lighting came into their vision as the owner of that hammer looked up, furiously ready to kill the mam.
"HOW DARE YOU SET MY COUNTRY ONE FIRE!?" Amir roared furiously as she brought down Mjölnir at the man.
"Amir...?" Zander gasped and noticed the gem on his ring had shattered to pieces.
"Arisa...?" Dimitri gasped as the man that was about to kill him, fell to the ground.
Arisa, with The Sword of Creator unsheathe, stood up straight as she turned to the boy, tears falling from her eyes as she fell to her knees and hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry I didn't make it on time!" Arisa wept as she held the boy to her chest.
"You...brats..." the man growled and warped away as he held his waist.
Amir panted as she turned to her friends, horror felt on her as she saw what was down to them.
"Look!" Dimitri pointed to the burning house, and quickly stood up, Arisa right behind him.
The boy could see someone trapped in the flames, and pushed through, his hand reaching out, pulling the person out of the rubble.
"Thank you..." the young Duscur boy coughed as Dimitri knelt down to him to make sure he was okay.
"Dedue..." Arisa thought as she quickly picked up the boys in her arms.
Amir was in almost the same situation as she sent a quick need to her friend as she ran to the group of three. Amir heard the faint screaming of a child as she ran through the burning village.
"Anyone! Please! Anyone!" Amir cried out, praying there were survivors yet...none.
"There..."
Instinctively it flies to barren grasslands
My prayers always center on your face
Paint away my soul to carry my feelings away
I give birth to these wings to run away from love
As for the time, still doesn't overflow ones memories
I said my prayers to the sky
An ancient voice of the blue sky
In the crimson night, a wings' feather falls down ― In the crimson night, the bird sleeps
The shadows whispered as she spotted a pile of burning wood, a child underneath it. She ran towards and did not care if her hands burned as she removed the scorching wood. It's a little girl, yet...
"She isn't going to make it..." Amir sobbed as she held the girl.
"Why...why...why was Duscur...attacked..." Amir wept loudly as she held the dying girl in her arms.
She missed her home, but she never wanted to return to it like this.
"You can save her...." the shadows whispered.
"How do I save her?! How?! Please!" Amir begged as the shadows hugged her.
"Give her...your blood..." they said, and Amir didn't care at this point and took out her knife, cutting the palm of her hand, letting her blood drip into the girl's mouth.
Seconds felt like hours as they passed and Amir could not help but let tears of joy fall from her eyes as the girl began breathing again, her wounds had healed.
"Who...?" The little girl could barely say as Amir just hugged her and wept.
She quickly picked her up and ran to the group.
"We need to go now!" Arisa said as she managed to steal a wagon.
Amir nodded as she helped her get Zander, Glenn and Kuza on, along with Dimitri and Dedue. The Duscur boy looked up to Amir, and eyes went wide at the girl in her arms.
"Sadi!" He yelled as Amir jumped on.
Before they departed, Arisa quickly ran to King Lambert's corpse and grabbed Areadbhar, that was once wielded by the king and the sword of Kuza's father. She bolted back to the wagon and jumped; Dimitri quickly held on to her as she yelled out.
"Hyaaaa!" Arisa snapped the reins on the horse that neighed loudly, taking off at full speed.
"Sadi, Sadi! You're alive!" Dedue wept as Amir handed her to him and began trying to stop the bleeding on Zander and Glenn.
"How...are you...here...?" Zander said weakly as the wagon kept moving, storming down.
"Questions later..." Amir sobbed as she saw where his left arm was cut off.
She quickly wrapped bandages around Kuza's eyes and then looked out back to her home. Duscur was in flames, in ruins. As the wagon passed through the burning town, corpses were all in sight. Arisa wept as she kept steering the horse. How much she hated herself right now.
"You did what you could..." Sothis said to her as the girl began sobbing loudly and Dimitri hugged her tightly.
Right now, they didn't care where they go, just far away from these flames of hell.
The angel's price is paid, I burn atop a bizarre plate
Burn to nothingness, burn away
A dream projected an empty blue sky ― Unleashed to the sky from the window of dreams
The children are singing, telling a story about The Flower ― A lullaby wafts from its lips
- 3 Days later -
"THERE ARE SURVIVORS!" Cornelia roared furiously at the man from the crystal ball he held in his hand, "OTTO, KILL THEM ALL! EVERYTHING WILL BE RUINED IF THEY RETURN TO THE KINGDOM! OUR PLAN IS ALREADY FAILING THANKS TO THAT BITCH THAT INSTANTLY WENT TO INFORM THE LORDS THAT OUR MEN KILLED THE KING AND THE NOBLES OF DUSCUR! I DON'T CARE HOW YOU DO IT BUT LEAVE NO SURVIORS!" she said.
"Relax Cornelia." Otto said, "You focus on the princess. I'll take care of those brats." He said.
"I don't care how you do it. None are to live." With that, the crystal ball went silent.
Otto groans as he put the damn thing back into his pocket and looked out to the snow-covered forest.
"General, we've confirmed the survivors have escaped to the forest but... unfortunately, their trail has disappeared because of the snow." One of his men said as Otto looked up to the sky, the wind was string to pick up.
"Heh...they won't survive. The blizzard is the worst in this time. But...better to be safe than sorry. We'll head out in two days." Otto said as he turned.
He'll get back that brat with the silver hair.
[-]
Far deep in the forest, no one knows where they were, and at this point, no one cared. Thankfully, they had found a cave they could take shelter in for them to rest, however.
"GHHHHAAAAA!" Amir covered the eyes of the three children as Arisa unfortunately had to operate on Glenn's right arm to properly seal the wound.
She was using numbing magic, but it could only do so much. She wore a mask as she began to stitch together the flesh, blood all over the extra cloak she brought. Dimitri, Dedue and the little girl, Sadi, who they all found out was Dedue's younger sister, all flinched at the older boy's screams of agony. Zander was in the worst condition of them all. His left arm was cut, not to mention the stab wound in his ribs. He was becoming paler. Amir was using her own life force to try and keep him alive during the operation she did on him. Next was Kuza. His eyes were saved but...he'll be blind for a year at most. The little girl, Sadi, had silver hair, sun kissed skin like her brother, yet one dark green eye and one silver eye. She wore a tattered gray dress and has been attached to Amir for a while.
"Gasp...gasp...done!" Arisa gasped out as she banged the wound.
"Thank you..." Glenn panted as she made him lay down on the blanket that came with the wagon.
"How...are you two here...?" Glenn said as Amir changed the towel on Zander's forehead, "I... thought...you two...went to the Empire..." he said.
"We did but..." Amir muttered, "We...found out...you were attacked...even I don't know how we got here..." she said as she looked at the campfire.
"I do." Arisa said as she removed her mask, along with gloves, throwing them into the fire, "Dimitri, take out your bracelet." She said and the boy moved his sleeve, his eyes went wide as he saw the once beautiful green gem, now shattered to pieces.
"It's...the same as...Zander's ring." Dimitri said and Arisa nodded as she sat down next to him, letting the boy snuggle closer to her.
"I...made those gems...using my blood...,should anything extremely dangerous happen and I find out, those gems were to help me warp to your location. I... didn't think it would happen so soon..." she said as she hugged the boy to her chest.
"Arisa...you...used your lifeforce?" Amir said as realization hit her, "Do you have any idea how much damage you took warping us to such extreme?!" Amir said and Arisa gave her a small smile.
"I'm just happy...I was able to...save them..." She said.
"Kuza...could you...tell us what happened?" Arisa said as her eyes went to the Duscur man, who was silent, the bandages wrapped around his eyes.
"My father and...King Lambert...were in the middle of negotiations for trade." He began as Dimitri looked over to Areadbhar, that laid on the ground next to them, " Everything was going well...but...out of nowhere...magicians dressed in black appeared along with a couple of Demonic Beast...they set the place ablaze...we did everything we could...yet...tch!" He slammed his first to the ground, "Whoever those bastards were...succeeded in killing...my father...King Lambert...Lady Patricia walked into the flames...we both saw our fathers beheaded...hic...guh...just...I don't know..." he wept.
"But...thank you...for helping the two children..." he said, referring to Dedue and Sadi, "I'm happy...to know...at least...they are alive...all of you...I'm grateful." He grits his teeth as he wept.
Arisa smiled sadly as she nodded and turned to the two kids.
"I...I'm Arisa...and...that's Amir...but...I'm sure you two already know her." She said.
"Wait...Amir?" Sadi said as she looked up to the older girl, "Are...you really her?" She whispered and Amir nodded.
"It's me...Dedue...Sadi...I've missed you two..." Amir sobbed as she hugged the two tightly.
There was silence as only the sound of the cracking fire could be heard. Arisa let go of a sigh as the hours passed. Everyone else had fallen asleep. Dedue and Sadi in Amir's arms, Glenn on the blanket, Dimitri on her chest. She gently moved not to wake up the price, and walked over to Zander, who was turning paler.
Time heralds in the blackened morning
Corrupted blood returns to the forest
The blood's tide instinctively flies with wind of the greens ― Instinctively it flies to barren grasslands
"He isn't going to make it..." Sothis said as Arisa gritted her teeth.
"I can save him...but...I don't know if it will work..." She muttered and Sothis shook her head.
"You're thinking a blood transfusion, aren't you?! If you that...he..." Sothis said as Arisa dug into her bag and took out a blue bottle, the Crest of Noa on it.
"Do you really want to go through with this?" Sothis said as Arisa popped the bottle opened, using magic to make the liquid float out of the bottle, to form a floating ball over her hand.
The older girl was silent and turned to her, nodding.
"I do. Originally...Glenn nor Dedue's sister were supposed to be alive...I already changed the flow of time...I'm not stopping. Not now." Arisa said as she made the ball float over his lips.
The crimson liquid entered his lips, making him drink it. His veins glowed faintly for a bit and relief filled her as color began to return to his face. The girl placed her hand on his chest, closing her eyes, a faint magic circle appearing above him, sealing the Crest away.
"Once we get to Fhirdiad...I need to tell Emily..." she muttered and stood up, feeling her body weak.
The chains on her slightly rattled and there were cracks in them. The girl took a deep breath as she touched the stone on her chest, closing her eyes.
"Please...protect us..." she muttered.
"Argh...aaah..." she turned and saw Dimitri testing in his sleep.
She walked back to the boy and light shook him awake.
"Dimitri?" She said and the boy gasped awake, his forehead swearing and his eyes wide, terrified.
Yet the minute his eyes landed on her, he calmed down. He quickly hugged her tightly and she smiled sadly as she patted his head.
"I hear... voices...they're here...mother...father...the knights...they're all gone..." he whispered, barely able to move.
Arisa was silent as she used her magic to heal the cuts and bruises, he got. They were going to leave permanent scars unfortunately but the one that scared her the most was the one that circled around his neck, making it look like the guillotine fell on him.
"Who is here...? Are they here?" She whispered.
Avenge us.
Kill them.
Avenge us, seek revenge.
Rip them, tear them, bring us their heads.
Those were the words the boy heard as he looked around. The voices of the dead that have clung to him these past few days. They seem to grow more terrifying and louder by the day. Arisa bent down a bit and nuzzled his cheek, like how mother does to her child.
"Mother...father...they are here..." he whispered as the two laid down, "Can...I hug you?" He said and Arisa nodded.
"I gave you permission the day Lestia snuck you into my room." She said and the boy hid his face in her shirt.
"Why did you have to bring that up?" He chuckled softly and Arisa snorted.
"Don't worry. It's not the first time a boy sleeps in the same bed as me." She said and his eyes went wide, "I used to share my bed with my brothers when I was little." She said and for some reason the boy let go a sigh of relief.
"Arisa...will...we be alright...? Will...should...we return to Faerghus...?" He said and the girl frowned.
"I know...it's difficult...but...we should focus. I...don't know how things are going to be once we return...but...for now...let's focus on getting you home." She said and he snuggled closer to her.
"How about I sing you a song? My mother used to sing this to me." She said and the boy nodded.
"In...time flows...see the glow...of flames ever burning bright..." she sung softly, the boy was beginning to doze off in the chest, the sound of her heartbeat, made him feel safe, "On the swift...rivers drift...broken memories aligned...hmmmm..hmmmm... hmmmmmhmmmhmmmm~ hmmmm..hmmmmm~" she smiled softly and began to doze off, the boy feeling safe in her arms.
While they all slept, two more guests joined them. Two adult female wolves were also seeking shelter from the blizzard that finally came. With them were two wolf pups. A white furred one and a black furred one. Sothis appeared as she saw the two other wolves guard their children.
"It's alright." She said as she floated to them, "These children... have escaped death. Please, not now." Sothis said as the two adults glared at her.
"(Wait...you're... Heaven's Wolf Star...)" the first female said, "(The one said to watch over the land...then these children...)" she said and Sothis nodded.
The other female wolf sighs as the two pups ran over to Arisa and Dimitri, sniffing them, they suddenly slugged themselves between the two.
"(Blanca...Hessian...ughhh...Very well Wolf Star,)" the other female said, "(Just don't expect us to protect these humans. The second we sense out children are in danger; they are on their own.)" They said and walked near the fire and curled together.
"Are you two sisters?" Sothis smiled softly as she floated to them and sat herself on one of them.
"(No. We come from different packs, but we chose to leave. The demonic beast has been invading the lands of old. Even the ancient tribes we coexist with are having difficulties.)" The other said as she looked over to their children.
"May I ask, can you at least leave the children on the road that will take them to Fhirdiad? We aren't exactly sure where we are." Sothis asked.
"(That explains a lot. You're deep into the Keilman Mountains. It will take another 10 days to reach the nearest port. Tch.)" They said and Sothis frowned.
"What about fae? Are there any here?" Sothis said.
"The home of Kelpie is not too far from here. We'll lead you there." They said and Sothis nodded.
The goddess yawned as she began to close her eyes, she needed rest. Tomorrow, was going to be a long day.
- Dream -
Darkness digs everywhere thinkable
to arrive at last to the guillotine
My prayers always center on your face
My prayers always center on your presence ― My prayers always center on your face
O the Ancient Voice, It is me ― Paint away my soul to carry my feelings away
Once more, like the dream from many months ago, she stood on the river of black blood, yet, no arms, came out of them. Arisa looked around, worried as the water of the black river began to bubble yet only one figure climbed out. It stared at her with golden eyes, the girl took a step back, yet the figure smiled at her.
"Do you really think we can change everything?" It spoke in a possessed voice.
"...no...I don't..." Arisa answered honestly and the figure chuckled.
"Of course, you can't. Changing the course of time is the power of a God. You aren't God...yet." it said.
"I do not wish to be god." Arisa said and the figure frowned.
"Of course, you don't but know this..." Arisa froze the figure cupped her cheeks and rose above her, its smile, only growing.
"All things that scare us, must be destroyed."
- End of Dream -
"KYYYYAAAAA!"
Arisa's eyes snapped open at the scream of a little girl, bolting awake, along with Dimitri. They heard small yelps, as they looked at their laps, the same questions running through their heads.
"Where did the puppies come from?" Dimitri and Arisa looked at each other then back to the puppies then to the group.
Zander was awake, looking much better, yet his left arm was gone. He was shirtless, and bandages wrapped around his waist. He held his lance with his right arm. It was the same case with Glenn, but he held his sword with his left hand. The two older boys pointed their weapons at the full-grown female wolves. They stood in front of the children and Kuza.
"Drop your weapons!" Amir stood between the two, trying to stop a fight from starting.
"How the hell are you here?!" Zander said as he remembered everything that happened three days ago, "And move! Those are wolves!" He yelled, and he wasn't in the right state of mind right now.
"Zander please! I swear I'll explain how I'm here! But drop your damn swords! They won't hurt us!" Amir pleads as the children were held closer to Kuza.
The two adults growled till they finally noticed the others were awake, holding their children in their arms.
"(Damn stupid children...)" one growled and Sothis appeared.
"ENOUGH!" Arisa boomed loudly, shutting up everyone.
The little white wolf pup in her arms looked at her sadly as she stood up and walked over to Zander, a glare that made him flinch.
"Put your lance down now." She snarled and the prince quickly obeyed.
"Zander, I know you have many questions and we already told the others, but you need to get ass back on the fucken blanket right this instant because you are in condition to be up!" Arisa roared, shocking everyone yet Sothis already knew.
No one was in a stable state of mind right now. Zander put his lance down and flopped down to the ground, gritting his teeth.
"I...I'll listen..." he choked out as Amir walked up to him, and hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry we were too late..." she whimpered, and he shook his head, smiling sadly to her.
"It's not your fault...nor any of us..." he said and looked over to the wolves, who now stood next to Arisa.
"(Vessel of the Wolf Star, be honored we will guide you for a short time.)" They said but to Arisa it sounded like small barks.
"(Pretty world! Pretty world! The girl with the world in her veins!)" The one named Blanca barked cutely at her.
"(Boy with Justice in his blood, maiden haircut.)" Hessian said and Sothis and Amir giggled a bit.
2 hours later passed after the girls explained to Zander of everything that happened. How Arisa used the gifts she gave them to get here. How they managed to rescue them barely on time, and that they had to operate on his arms to save his life. It was going to be difficult to get used to one arm only. Arisa also revealed to him who she truly was. Zander wasn't exactly happy learning that everyone else knew who she really was but him, but thankfully understood why she went by a different name. Kuza was also surprised to hear all this.
"At least it wasn't my good arm..." Zander sighs as Amir was changing his bandages and Arisa was changing Glenn's.
The two wolves laid curled at the far-off corner, since they did not trust humans one bit. Yet the wolf pups played happily with Dedue, Sadi and Dimitri.
"At least...they're having a laugh." Glenn sighs as he looked at his left hand.
"Hey Glenn, does that mean we're "armless" brothers?" Zander said and Glenn looked ready to murder him on the spot.
"No puns." Amir said yet Dimitri could not help but snicker while everyone else just stared at him.
"Sigh...even if I can't see, I know exactly what face everyone is making." Kuza chuckled as Arisa finished and began changing his bandages.
"We'll be heading out tomorrow morning. Think you can manage?" Arisa said.
"Professor, I'm your student. I'm not letting this take me down." Kuza said as she helped him up.
The man tried walking, using the wall for support for now.
"Have you sent a message already?" Glenn said and right at that moment the flames of the fire turned blue, a letter flew out of it.
"Just on time." Arisa said as she got it and opened it.
Arisa, help is on the way. Thankfully I managed to tell the Lords that an unidentified group claiming to be the enemy of the world, were the ones responsible for what has happened. The messenger that managed to escape barely reported what happened. Both the King of Faerghus and Lord of Snowdrop were attacked by an unnamed organization, ruling that people of Duscur were victims as well. Yet, unfortunately out of impulse, Lord Keilman has sent an entire army to destroy the land. Duacur...is no more. Before everything went down, thankfully the people were evacuated by the help of the water fae and merfolk. The soldiers of Faerghus are unable to reach islands that the citizens were evacuated to. But those that did choose to remain in Duscur...were killed in cold blood. Do not worry, Lestia is safe and by Rufus order, has been placed under my protection. You should have seen how pissed Cornelia was when I dropped the news as well as Lord Keilman and Count Rowe. Ha! Lord Keilman's name is now stained for destroying an entire land as well as having soldiers commit massacre on the innocent. I also said that Dimitri, Zander, Glenn are alive, and have been rescued. Listen, the needless to say...I pray you are doing well. Start heading the nearest port, over the Keilman mountains. We'll hopefully meet you all there.
May Sothis protect you: Emily.
"What does it say?" Zander said as Arisa looked over to them.
"Duscur is gone...Lord Keilman...out of impulse to avenge the King...sent an army...and...committed mass murder of the people that chose stay in their homeland..." she said and Amir and Kuza could barely speak.
No one could speak, everyone could barely process what was said as Arisa looked down to the ground.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN DUSCUR IS GONE?! WHAT DID THE NOBLES OF FAERGHUS DO TO OUR HOME?!" Amir roared as she held her friend by the collar of her dress, "WHAT SICK TWISTED JOKE IS THIS?! MY PEOPLE! MY HOME! HOW IS IT GONE?!" Amir wailed as Zander used his arm to quickly pull her back, forcing her to let go of Arisa.
"Our people are safe." Kuza's voice made her snap to him, "Amir...remember the blood of seers runs through the Snowdrop bloodline...I...managed to foresee that...Duscur was going to be attacked...However...I did not know who...we evacuated the majority of citizens. Yet...around 400 chose to remain...in our homeland...while everyone else was evacuated." He explained that the others let go of her.
Amir gritted her teeth as the tears kept falling from her eyes. Her homeland was gone. Burnt to the ground. All gone...
"I'm sorry..." was all Amir could say as Zander had her sit down next to him.
"I promise you all...when we get back...We'll make Lord Keilman go to trial." Zander said and Amir just laughed dryly.
"Even if you do that...our home won't come back..." Amir said.
Arisa sighed as she began to walk away to the entrance of the cave.
"Where are you going?" Sadi asked and Arisa stopped, slightly turning her head.
"I'm going to go hunt." Arisa answered.
"(Hmm...you don't like hunting. That's easy to tell.)" One of the adult wolves said and Sadi blinked.
"Miss wolf, she doesn't like to hunt?" Sadi said and instantly Arisa turned to her shocked.
Everyone looked at the 9-year-old shocked.
"Y-You can understand them?" Arisa choked out and noticed Amir quickly hid her hand behind her.
"Gray...eye-!" Arisa looked at her friend shocked, releasing what she did.
"Amir...we need to talk." Arisa said as the girl stood up and walked towards her.
"I know." She said turned to the others, "You guys remain here. We'll be back soon." And the two left, with little Blanca following behind them.
The girls continued to walk for another 5 minutes as they went through the cave entrance. By then, Arisa had Blanca in her arms, sighing, wondering why the little wolf pup followed them. Another five minutes passed, and they were now in the forest, the snow had piled high. Icicles formed on tree branches because of the blizzard last night, much of the water was frozen solid. They stopped at a tree where Amir leaned on it, silence was there till Arisa spoke.
"Did you give Sadi your blood?" Arisa said and Amir glanced over to her and crossed her arms.
"I did. The shadows said I could save her. I didn't care at that point, I just wanted someone to live. I don't regret my decision. However,...even I am confused. Did she inherit my ability to understand animal language because I have her my blood?" She asked.
"Amir...she gained...far much more, than the ability to understand nature." Arisa said as Amir increased her arms.
"What are you saying?" The girl said, as panic slowly began to settle in.
"What I'm saying...is that...Sadi...is no longer a normal human. She...now possesses the same Crest as you do. She now possesses a Major Crest of Timotheos because you shared your blood with her. A blood transfusion." Arisa said as her friend's eyes went wide.
"What...That...that...that...that shouldn't be possible." Amir said as her shoulders shook.
"It is...but...you aren't the only one that did a blood transfusion. We're both guilty." Arisa said as she turned to look out to the snow, "I did it to Zander...to save his life...just like you did...to Sadi." She said as she closed her eyes.
Blanca looked at the girls sadly as Amir looked down to the ground, guilt filled her face as she realized she just put a target on the girl's back without even knowing it. Arisa felt she endangered Zander's life even more.
"I don't regret my decision." Amir said as she walked over to her friend, "I chose to save her. Dedue and Sadi..I haven't seen them for 7 years. But with the way things were...it was the worst reunion in history. I'll take responsibility on Sadi." Amir said.
"Hmmm." Arisa said as she opened her eyes, looking over to her friend, "I don't regret my decision either. When we get back to Faerghus, we need to report to Emily about this. I'm sure she would take Sadi and Dedue under her wing to protect them. Just like...Kaimu and Lysithea." Arisa smiled sadly and Amir hugged her.
"We'll make it...I know we will...please hang on a bit longer Arisa...I don't know why but I feel if I don't say this, I'll never get the chance." Amir said and Arisa smiled softly as she hugged her friend back.
"Thank you. Now let's go. We need to hunt." Arisa said and the three went on their hunt for food.
While that was going on, the group in the cave were having their own talk. Dedue notice a change in his sisters' behavior since they were rescued 3 days ago. Her left eye had turned to strange gray color and the girl seemed too often be staring at her shadow and poking it. But he couldn't complain. All of them have been through hell.
"No. No, big brother, nice." The girl said suddenly, and everyone turned her way, "Big brother strong." She said.
"Umm...Sadi?" Zander said, "Who are you talking to?" He asked.
Sadi turned to him and blinked, then pointed to his shadow.
"I'm talking to the voices of the shadows. They say they are happy we are safe. That they welcome a new brethren to the family." Sadi said as she turned back to her shadow.
"Must be a coping mechanism..." Kuza thought and then Sadi turned to him.
"The shadows are saying you all think I'm crazy. Rude!" The girl pouted to them angrily, "Big brother, do you think I'm crazy?" She turned to Dedue.
"Don't answer if you want to live." All the boys thought.
"I do not. Mother always said you were always connected with nature. It reminds me of the story of the Forest God." Dedue answered.
Hessian was silent as he was next to his mother then ran up to Dimitri, barking cutely.
"(Maiden haircut, when is the Wolf Star and The Star coming back?)" He barked and Dimitri just petted him.
"He says when is Arisa and Amir coming back. Also, is your name Maiden Haircut?" Sadi said and Zander burst out laughing, while Kuza and Glenn had put their hand over their mouths to keep themselves from doing that.
"Sadi!" Dedue said while Dimitri...had turn to stone.
"No...its fine Dedue...it's perfectly fine..." Dimitri said in the deadest tone ever as waves of depression fell over him.
"Maiden...Haircut..." he whimpered while his older brother was howling.
The two adult female wolves let go of soft barks, their way of laughing at the scene. Dimitri turned when he heard footsteps coming and saw it was the girls, each carrying a deer. Arisa walked up to the female wolves and laid down in front of them.
"This was the least I could do for you helping us... thank you." Arisa smiled softly as the adult wolves stared at her.
"(Hmmm...you're not too bad.)" One said as the two began to use their fangs to RIP the deer apart to eat.
Thankfully Glenn was the closest to Dimitri and covered his eyes and Kuza did the same to the other two kids. While that went on, the girl began preparing the other deer, for them to eat.
- 5 days later -
5 days have passed since they were in the cave. The wolves guided them as they walked by their side through the cold forest. At night, they found shelter under the trees, staying together to remain warm. Arisa was using a spell to keep everyone else warm but at the cost of her own safety. Right now, she didn't care. Everyone was mentally damaged badly after the Tragedy of Duscur. Amir has been speaking with Sadi, explaining to her that she must not speak about her ability to talk to the shadows to anyone but only the people present only. They continued through the forest's day and night. Careful not to be tracked.
"Cough!" Arisa coughed as she was starting the now feel the effects of the warping spell.
She spit and quickly covered it with snow to hide the blood she coughed. That feeling of fear began crawling to her mind as she saw the blood that she spit.
"Snap out of it..." she hissed to herself as she continued walking.
As much as she wished she could have brought the wagon she stole, they couldn't. It would leave obvious tracks.
"(Wolf star, are you okay?)" Blanca barked at her as the group continued to walk through the snow.
Arisa looked down at the little wolf pup that had become attached to her and the other one became attached to Dimitri. Arisa smiled sadly as she picked her up in her arms. Their parents watched silently as they walked beside them.
"I'm okay..." Arisa muttered.
"(Foolish girl.)" Blanca's mother said as she stopped, lightly nudged the girl.
Arisa looked at her confused as the wolf motioned to her back.
"You...want me to get on?" Arisa said.
The wolf growled, her form of saying it wasn't going to repeat itself. The girl carefully got on her back; the wolf began walking once more.
"(Sleep. You need it)" it said and Sothis translated.
As much as Arisa wanted to protest, Amir quickly used a sleeping spell on her, forcing her to rest. The girl's light snores were heard as they continued.
"Why did you put her to sleep?" Dedue asked as he helped his sister over a fallen tree trunk.
"Just like Dimitri saved you...she saved me." Amir began, "She is my friend. We look out for each other." She said.
"Amir...we never got to talk properly but...I'm glad, to see you are alive." Dedue said and the girl smiled softly to him.
"Dimitri, how are you holding up?" Glenn said as he turned to the young prince.
"I'm alright." He smiled at them as he was using Areadbhar as support.
Arisa shrunk it to the right size for him. Zander ruffled his hair as they continued, but in truth, Dimitri was not doing well. It has become a daily routine these past few days. Dimitri would at first sleep next to his brother and Dedue, then at some point he would wake up, and shuffle to sleep with Arisa in her arms. He did not want to wake up any of them with his screams. His dreams were plagued with nightmares of that day. The flames crimson and burning hot, the screams of knights and the soldiers, and people of Duscur screaming as they were slaughtered by magicians dressed in black. The beheading of his father and Lord of Snowdrop before him. His mother, her face in pure shock and grief, walked into the flames, the woman did not scream as the flames ate her alive. His body trembled each time and Arisa would always unconsciously hug him closer to her, even if she was asleep. But the prince was no fool. He noticed how the color was draining from her face each day. He didn't want to lose anyone else. His brother and friends just barely managed to survive. What about his sister? Is she safe? How will Ingrid react when she learns how Glenn was injured? What about Chris? He dreads when the news reaches him. Chris loved his mother more than anything and was protective of her. While those thoughts ran through his head, Zander's mind was elsewhere. It was clear to him that those magicians and bandits were trained to kill. Not to mention the demonic beast that was unleashed. Glenn and he had barely managed to kill them off with help of the Kuza's men and his father's knights. However, they were killed in battle.
Whoever ordered this damn attack wanted them dead. To wipe out the Blaiddyd bloodline as well as the people of Duscur. To leave no survivors. It was for fucken political gain and quite a few certain nobles came into his mind. The first one was Count Rowe, who has been losing power over time. Despite being a minor house, he had bad blood with The Zoltras House. He wanted their land and wasn't happy with the new political reform his father had proposed. The second noble that came to mind was Count Keilman. Learning that he had sent an army to decimate all those that lived in the mountains in retaliation for the fall of the king...it left a bitter taste in his mouth. Also, Lord Keilman has been trying to track down the Ice tribe that lived in the mountains. The Lord must have believed he would be rewarded the lands for such attack. No luck and he pray he never finds them. His uncle, Lord Rufus? Completely out of the bag because he knows damn well his uncle did not have the brains or guts to do such a thing what's more, he got along well with the family. Despite knowing his uncle was denied the crown, and the death of his brother, he could easily take the throne, but it made no sense why he would attack his brother at his strongest? Then Lord Arundel came into mind. As much as he hates Sylvain calling him noisy, it was true. Zander was looking at the book of donations to the Church of Serios during his academy days. Lord Arundel would donate every year but suddenly stopped in 1174.
"Who the hell planned this...?" Zander muttered as he looked over to Amir, who had the children get on the other adult wolf, and then to Arisa, who was completely knocked out, the color barely returning to her face.
He looked over to Kuza, who was had the palms of his hand glowing to be able to steer himself properly. The boy felt a pang of guilt as he looked over to the older man, his eyes were bandaged from fighting that man with pale skin. Zander felt useless. Both Glenn and he suffered severely. His left arm is gone and Glenn's right one is gone. Both were weakened badly by the loss of blood and his own injuries were barely healing thanks to the elixir the girls forced them all to drink. Both will have to re-learn how to wield their weapons with one arm. He then looked over to Dedue and his little sister Sadi, who he learned was found buried under burning wood. The fact that she even was alive was a miracle. Both children lost their parents in the burning flames. Lastly, his eyes landed on his little brother. He knew Dimitri was putting on a genuine smile, yet it did not reach his eyes.
He saw his brother kept staring over to Arisa, the collar of his shirt moving a bit, revealing the scar that was around his neck. It looked like the guillotine fell on him. What's more, his brother witnessed the death of their father and Kuza's. Zander looked up to the sky and closed his eyes for a moment.
"What are we going to do...?" He thought as they all continued to walk through the snow.
He reopened his as he heard the children speaking to Amir.
"Amir," he suddenly said, making the girl turn to him," Thank you. You and Arisa. I'm sorry you two as well as your friends have been dragged to this mess. Looking back...it's clear the attack is for political gain." Zander said and the girl walked up to him.
"When we get back, we'll do what we can." Amir gave him a small smile.
"Get a room you two!" Glenn yelled and the said two quickly looked away from each other.
"Hmmmm..." Arisa briefly opened her eyes and sat up, shaking her head, "Uuuugghhhhhhhhhh...what happe-!" And instantly Amir used a sleeping spell on her again.
"Annnnndded back to sleep you go." Amir said.
Sadi blinked at this and began to look towards the trees, the birds were chirping and some were shivering.
"Hooooooo?" She said quietly as she slightly tilted her head, "Hello birdies! How long till we reach the port!" She yelled out and the birds all stopped chirping.
"Oh boy..." Amir sighs as she looked over to the birds, "Please excuse my friend. But we could use some help. Can you tell us how long to the nearest port?" She said and the others looked at the two girls weirdly.
The birds began chirping again.
"Big Sis, they said we are 5 days away." Sadi said and they all heard Zander and Glenn instantly start groaning.
"But they also said to be careful. Someone is trying to track us down." Amir said and the others looked at each other worried.
"What can we do?" Dedue said as Dimitri gulped.
Sadi blinked again and Amir noticed a small rise in magic in the girl. The little slowly turned her head back to the birds, her voice loud yet clear.
"Distract the ones that want to hurt us. Where are they?" She said, and the other shivered.
"(You must hurry! Find shelter! The blizzard is returning! They will lose track of you!)" The birds said and Amir nodded.
"Where is the nearest place we can rest at?" She asked.
"(A lake is not too far from here! The kelpie can help you!)" One bird said and Amir nodded.
"Please lead us." She said and a group of five birds began flying in the east direction.
The rest of the bird flew away in the other direction. Amir was silent as she looked over to the others and then looked forward. She didn't know why, but she felt something was going to happen and it wasn't good.
- 3 days later -
An opened field they had to go through now to reach the nearest port. Arisa was feeling a bit better now as she walked besides everyone, the wolves next to them. During the time Amir put her to sleep, she kept hearing a strange whisper in her mind. It wasn't Sothis, that she was grateful for. The goddess has been manifesting herself, to keep watch over them. She also learned that a kelpie had helped the group while she was asleep. She mentally cursed herself for being asleep that time. She looked over to Dimitri, who was using his father's relic as support and then back to the others. She sighed a bit as she looked around the opened field they were walking through. Everything covered in snow as they continued to walk.
"Hungry..." she muttered softly and licked her lips.
There was something...that was making her hungry. It wasn't food. Yes, she ate some of the dried meat they had been eating the past few days but not even that made her hunger go away. She was hungry...but for what? Just as she continued to walk...
"AAAWWWWHOOOO!"
A wave of arrows suddenly came their way, Arisa barely managed to use a Ward spell on time shielding them all. The one that warned them was Blanca's mother. The two adult wolves snarled as a group of 10 men dressed in black and their leader was the man that cut off Zander's and Glenn's arm, and cut Kuza's eyes.
"Well, well, well." Otto smirked as he and his men stood 10 feet away from the group, "You kids really did a number on us. Especially since all the damn forest animals kept attacking us, making it difficult to track you all." He said lowly.
"It's you..." Zander growled as the grip on his lance tighten, "You're the lacky of the man that beheaded our fathers!" He yelled.
Otto shrugged his shoulders as his eyes landed on Amir, who summoned her hero's relic.
"You humans are dying soon anyway. My order and I'm glad to do it!" Otto licked his lips and charged at them, his sword clashing with Arisa's, who had a cold glare. Left, right, powerful blows dealt. Amir began to swing her hammer, then slammed it down on one the soldiers that dared tried to attack her.
"Run now!" Arisa yelled out as she spun to dodge Otto's sword.
"Wait no!" Dimitri yelled as Hessian's mother bolted with him, Sadi, Kuza and Dedue on her back, Blanca and Hessian in their arms.
"Heh. Those cold eyes..." Otto snickered as he jumped back, as well as Arisa, "and that stance...only one man and woman in all of Fodlan know how to move like professionals in the darkness. So, you're a friend of Florencio and Sandana..." his smirk grew as the girl's cold expression turned to one of shock.
"You...now I understand...you work for Thales!" Arisa yelled at him and the man instantly frowned.
"Hey now...how do you know the boss 's name? Do you work for Serios..?" He growled and the two clashed once more.
Despite being at a huge disadvantage, Glenn and Zander forced themselves to adapt as they fought off the assassins. Glenn brought down his sword at the chest of once, cutting right through the armor. There was a reason why the armor was demolished easily.
"Sword of Moralta..." Otto thought as his sword kept clashing with Arisa's, who's blows were becoming much more...deadly.
There was a dark look in her eyes as she kept swinging The Sword of the Creator at him. Otto jumped and did a spin kick at her, then folded in her arm to defend her face on time. Amir and Zander fought back to back. The silver haired girl's relic crushed skulls as if they were made of sand, Zander's lance pierced through the chest, Glenn's sword sliced through bodies as if they were made of butter.
"Hungry..." Arisa muttered as she managed to slash at Otto's arm once more.
"Argh." He growled as he jumped back, looking at his arm.
"That sword..." he growled, and the grip tightened," The Fell Star!" He yelled out and Arisa's eye became cold, "Kill them all! Don't let the servants nor the Fell Star live!" Yelled out.
I give birth to these wings to run away from love ― The soul's reincarnation doesn't know "love"
"AHHHWWHOOO!"
Otto laughed as he saw the girl looked at him confused.
"Why are you laughing?" She said.
"Who said these were the only men I brought?" He laughed.
"THE KIDS AND KUZA!" Zander yelled out as he and Amir began running to them.
"Glenn!" Arisa yelled out as the two stood back to back, "We need to take these punks down!" Glenn answered back as they were surrounded once again.
With Kuza, despite the man being blind, he was putting up a good fight even though he was struggling keeping the barrier around the children. He hissed as fire spell barely scraped him. Dedue held his sister tightly as the girl was shaking at the sight of flames.
"No...no...not the fire again..." she whimpered as the memory of the burning sensation of scorching wood fell on her when she pushed her brother out of the way to save him.
Kuza yelled in agony as a wind spell hit him, causing him to shatter the barrier protecting the children. Dimitri shivered as he held his father relic, cursing himself because right now of danger, all of the training disappeared in a blink of an eye.
Then...Sadi screamed.
Darkness digs everywhere thinkable
to arrive at last to the guillotine
The magicians began to back away as a magic circle appeared underneath the screaming girl, the symbol of the Crest of Timotheos manifested in the center of it. Amir felt the exact same surge of pain through her chest, screaming in pain as the exact same magic circle manifested underneath her. Zander quickly caught her on his arms, Dedue's and Dimitri's eyes went wide as a terrifying creature crawled out of both magic circles.
"DON'T HURT MY FAMILYYYYYYY!" The girls screamed in sync as a demonic beast came out of Amir's and a Giant Crawler from Sadi's.
Kuza quickly jumped towards the children as the giant Crawler began attacking everything else but them. The same case with Amir. The girls went limp in their arms. Dedue screaming in worry while Zander tried to fight the magicians. The monsters did not attack them. That was the will of the one that summoned them.
"What on earth...?" Arisa and Glenn could barely process what had just happened as they cut down the enemy soldiers that just kept coming.
"Argh!" Arisa yelled as Otto managed to stab his sword into her waist and it hurt like hell.
Seeing her own blood ozzy out of her body made her heart rate rise. She was terrified. She was scared.
"You're becoming sluggish." Otto smirked as one of his men managed to pin down Glenn on the ground.
The demonic beasts were killed easily because they were hatchlings.
"Enjoy watching your people be killed Fell Star." Otto laughed as she barely managed to dodge his sword, however, the stone on her chest, its chain was broken, sending it flying into the air, landing a few feet from Dimitri.
"Ghaaa!" Arisa yelled as she was kicked down to the ground, she could hear the screams of agony of Glenn as a sword was stabbed into his thigh, Zander desperately fighting to protect Amir, Kuza was slashed from behind, and Dimitri suffered a stab wound on his shoulder, protect Dedue and Sadi.
"It's all falling apart..." Arisa thought as Otto was above her and stabbed his sword onto the side of her waist.
The girl's scream was so loud. The adult wolves were killed protecting the children. The chains on Arisa began cracking yet, the minute she turned her head, her eyes went wide as time seemed to slow down. She couldn't activate Time Pulse because of the sorry state she was in.
"Good night Fell Star." Otto as he raised his sword, Arisa was too stunned to move.
"Didn't I say...destroy everything that terrifies us...?"
An assassin raised his sword to finish off Dimitri, the blade piercing through the boy's chest. Everything went downhill. Her mind was shattering as the voice became louder and louder, drowning out Sothis's warnings.
"No...no..." Arisa mentally screamed as the voice became louder in her head.
"Do you want it...destroy all that scares us...?" It smirked.
Black hands mentally covered her eyes, Sothis was screaming to not listen to the voice, yet...
"NO STOP ARISA! DON'T LOCK ME OUT!" Sothis screamed as chains began to surround the goddess like a cage, "ARISAAA!" Sothis screamed but it was too late.
The black humanoid figure covered Arisa's eyes and smirked as the girl began to change. Arisa finally understood…..that this was her own voice.
"Destroy all those that terrify us."
The angel's price is paid, I burn atop a bizarre plate ― Becoming an angel, becoming a machine, while hoping for your light
[-]
At the church of Serios, Rhea suddenly shot up from her chair, knocking it down onto the floor. She felt it. She felt it! This power!
"Rhea?" Seteth said then he felt it also.
Flayn gasped as she also began to feel and the same was happening with Emily. The red haired woman's eyes widened in horror as she realized what was happening to her friend.
"Mother...!" Rhea whispered and quickly ran out of her office, storming out to the stables, and mounted a pegasus.
"RHEA!" Seteth yelled but the woman took off before he had the chance to stop her.
"Flayn, get ready! Have Beleth guard the Monastery!" He said he ran to his wyvern quickly.
"What is going on?"
[- ]
Time reversed for only those she chose, for others was too late she could do nothing. The wolves that aided them were gone; their souls departed. Yet, she barely managed to save the young prince, by using time pulse to stop the attack. However, it was different this time. Dimitri's eyes went wide as the sound of bones crushing were heard, Otto screaming in pure agony as he was thrown away. The assassin that was attacking Glenn screamed in pure horror as they were massacres on the spot. Everyone could only stare shocked at the once mercenary, now...
"Ahhhh...ah...RAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
Sleep. I shall give thee death.
Sleep. I shall give thee disaster.
Sleep. I shall give thee death.
Her nails had grown longer like claws, her once brown teal hair had turned a mint green, green like scales were on her cheeks as her teeth turned to fangs.
Two curled horns grew on the left side of her head, her tied hair now completely let loose, sprawled terrifying, also it was snakes. Her eyes had become like slits, yet her right one the Crest of Flames manifested.
"Arisa...?" Amir could barely whisper she snapped open her eyes.
Arisa was no more. Arisa...
Her hands were covered in the blood of those she killed. She raised her head and her scream was terrifying, as if it was a dragon's cry.
"RRAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" The girl roared as she threw the arm, she ripped off Otto the ground.
Many of Otto's men began to back away in terror as the girl turned to him, snarling and growling like a beast.
"RAAHHHHHH!" She roared again.
"KILL HER! KILL THAT WOMAN!" Otto roared furiously as his men charged at her.
Arisa got on all fours and lunged at them like a monster. Glenn, Zander, Amir, Dimitri, and Dedue could not move one muscle as they watched the woman tear apart her enemies gruesomely.
"No...no...this...was what I was afraid of..." Amir wept, "Arisa...has given up her humanity...to protect us..." she said and Zander looked at her horrified.
"Y-You can't be serious...please!" Dimitri said desperately as he ran to her, the girl could only cry as she watched her friend keep killing the mages dressed in black.
"Why...why would do that?!" Zander said.
"BECAUSE SHE LOVES US ALL! " Amir boomed, "ARISA'S BIGGEST FEAR IS BEING ALONE! TO LOSE US! TO LOSE HER FAMILY! US! SHE LOVES US ALL! THAT'S WHY!" She yelled out as Glenn managed to force himself up and run to them.
"That idiot..." he muttered.
Arisa had no sense. She had no will right now. The only instinct she had, was to destroy all those who dare harm her loved ones.
"Arisa please! Come back! Please!" Sothis yelled out in the cage of her mind yet her words could not be heard.
"RAAHHHHHH!" She roared as she kept killing.
Those low-lifes who went along with the sacrifice shall be cursed.
Suffer. I shall give thee thy punishment.
Suffer. There shall be no forgiveness.
Her eyes instantly darted to the group and lunged at them. Zander raised his lance to strike her, but she went over him completely. He was confused till he saw the next group of Assassins that were heading their way. Otto roared furiously as he grabbed his sword and stormed to the group.
"DON'T THINK YOU WON FELL STAR!" He yelled as he brought down his sword on Dimitri, yet the blade never came.
Suffer. I shall give thee thy punishment.
The sweet scent of death is near.
The young prince's eyes went wide as droplets of blood fell on his face. A sickly gurgling sound was heard, as his friend, stood in front of him, her hand had stabbed through the man's chest, his heart crushed. Arisa threw his body 5 feet away, covered in blood completely as she panted. The once pure white opened field was covered in blood of the angrathans.
"RAAAHHHHH!" She roared mournfully ad she stormed over to Otto's body, grabbing her sword, and stabbed it repeatedly into him
Everyone could only watch, too stunned to move. Dimitri still felt numb, ignoring the yells of everyone as he slowly walked towards Arisa. The girl roaring to the sky, no humanity in her eyes as her hands dripped with blood. Yet...
"Please...stop... that's enough..." Dimitri hugged her from behind.
Her screaming halted as she slowly turned to look to the boy, who hugged her tightly. He had rested his head on her back, his body shook.
"Please...that's enough... you've done enough Arisa...please...stop..." Dimitri wept as the girl stared at him for a moment.
He was scared. He was terrified. Yet deep down, he wanted his friend to return. To be the girl that made him smile. To be the girl that taught him to wield a lance properly. A sword. Helped him read. Helped him improve. He looked up to her, seeing the change she went through. Even her appearance changed somewhat but she was still the same. She had that voidless expression on her face, but she looked like a Goddess of Death because of the blood. Everyone else could only watch as the girl raised her hand, gently touching his cheek.
"I..." his eyes went wide as tears fell on his cheeks, her eyes flickering between slits and human ones.
"I...want..." hope was returning to all as her voice, despite sounding possessed, held that of a young girl, "I...want...to...go...home..." she said weakly and Dimitri smiled sadly as he rested his forehead on hers.
"Let's go home..." he said and just when things were to calm down...
"Chains of Heaven."
Arisa instantly pushed Dimitri away as golden chains rose from the ground, surrounding her.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Zander yelled as pillars of plants surrounded them, trapping them inside.
"RAHHHH!" Arisa roared as she tried to escape the chains to save her loved ones.
"Look at you...you're so beautiful." Dressed in a white cloak, the hood covering her hair and veil covering her face, Rhea slowly walked towards the girl that was trapped in gold chains.
"RRRAAHHHH!" The girl roared as her eyes were glued to the cage, desperately trying to escape.
Rhea smiled softly as she continued to walk.
"Oh...you look so beautiful... you're finally returning..." Rhea said as she made the chains pull the girl back.
There was a crazy look on her eyes as she kept walking, and watching the girl desperately clawing to reach the children. Arisa's eyes landed onto Dimitri; her roar became louder. The boy laid still on the snow. It was clear to Rhea that the girl wanted to return to her children. It brought a smile to her face, seeing her wishing to save her children.
"That is just like you." She said happily.
"LET US OUT!" Glenn yelled out as he slashed at the vines, yet they only fixed themselves like nothing.
"LET GO OF HER!" Zander yelled and Amir screamed as she swung her hammer yet no damage. Even Dedue tried to help with the axe that was given to him but no avail.
Rhea turned their way and smiled.
"Fear not children. Everything will be over once I give her this." She took out a bottle from her purse and popped it open.
She smiled as she looked at the crimson liquid inside of it, then looked at the girl. She ordered the chains to wrap around the girl's neck to raise her chin, smiling as she walked closer.
"STOP! YOU'LL KILL HER!" Amir screamed as she knew immediately what was in that bottle.
"STOP!" Dedue yelled as the chains forcefully raised the girls chin.
"AHHHHHHH!" Arisa roared as tears streamed down her eyes as Rhea began to hold the bottle over her lips.
"It's alright dear...just a little longer and all this will be over!" She said sweetly.
Unknown to all, Dimitri moved his head slightly, his grip on Areadbhar became deadly as his other hand gripped the stone that Arisa owned. The boy slowly rose, anger unlike before rising in his chest. He could hear a voice. It was different. It was kind yet it kept desperately screaming to stop this woman. To stop her from turning his friend to something she never wanted to become. The bottle was now only a few inches from Arisa's lips.
"It's alright. It's all over." Rhea smiled.
"NOOOOO!" Amir screamed as Arisa roared then...
"TEMPEST LANCE!"
"AAAHHHHHHHH!"
Everyone's eyes went wide as a left hand went flying into the air landing in front of the cage, bloody. The woman screamed furiously as she held her wrist, where once her left hand was. The bottle with the crimson liquid shattered onto the ground. The boy sent another blast at the bottle, causing it to burn to ashes.
"AHHHHHH!" Rhea screamed as she stepped back, looking up furiously at the one that dared attack her.
"Thank you..." the voice whimpered as he stood in front of Arisa, Areadbhar glowed as he held it, his eyes were cold and furious as he glared at the woman who dared try to turn his friend to something she wasn't. The chains let go of Arisa, who stared at him with wide eyes. The cage of vines undid themselves, the group scrambling quickly and charged at the woman, Kuza stayed behind to protect Sadi.
"YOU BITCH! HOW DARE YOU!" Amir screamed as she brought down her relic on the woman, yet a woman easily dodged and kicked her away.
"I never seen that relic..." Rhea growled as she spotted her hand and ran towards it.
"NOOO!" She screamed as Kuza sent a fire spell to it, burning it to ashes before her.
Dimitri glared at Rhea, who gritted her teeth as the group stood in front of her prize. The prince pointed Areadbhar at her and growled coldly. Her dress became even more bloody as her blood spilled onto it.
"You dare try to harm my friend...? To turn her forcefully into something she isn't?! You just made yourself the enemy of the Royal Family of Faerghus! Say your name before we take your life!" Dimitri roared.
"Grrrr..." Rhea growled and warped away.
"GET BACK HERE!" Zander yelled but the woman was gone.
"Who was that?" Dedue said.
"I have no idea...I honestly don't..." Glenn said as they turned to Arisa, who was on her knees, staring at them.
"Arisa..." Dimitri whispered and his eyes went wide at the girl's words.
"Please...strike me...down...before...I...HURT YOU ALL! AAHHHHH!" She suddenly screamed and gripped her head, thrashing around, trying to fight back the urges to kill everything in her sight.
"The stone!" The voice said to Dimitri, "Give her the stone!" And the boy ran towards her, trusting the stone to her chest.
It began to glow a bright dark green, Arisa screamed as it seems magic was being sucked out of her, the horns, scales, even the tail that she had, began to disappear, her eyes returning back to her original color. Her screams of agony made everyone flinch as seconds seemed like hours. The glowing stopped, her appearance was back to normal, the Crest of Flames appearing on the stone. Arisa began to fall to the ground but was quickly caught by the prince.
"Arisa! Arisa!" Everyone yelled at her, but she did not move.
Her skin was covered in veins, her condition horrible. A bit of blood dripped from her lips.
"Please! Please Arisa!" Dimitri wept as the girl opened her eyes weakly, every bit of strength she used to gently caresses his cheek, his tears falling on hers.
"I'm...so...happy..." she wept as she looked around, everyone alive, "You're...all...safe..." were her last words before her world went black, his hand dropped heavy to the ground.
"ARISA! ARISA!" Everyone yelled her name as they tried to use some form of healing magic.
Tsukiru (Burn away) ― Tsukiru… Tsukiru.. (Burn away… Burn away…)
Burn to nothingness, burn away
High above the clouds, the Knights of the Kingdom rode the peagues, and on the ground, were calvary. The ones leading the sky were Emily and the ones on the ground were Lord Rodrigue and Gustave.
"FOUND THEM!" Emily yelled as she ordered her kinshi to dive down, her eyes went wide at the sight.
Assassin and mages dressed in black, massacred, the group of children all huddled together plus two wolf pups with them. She spotted the adult wolves dead, arrows and swords piercing their bodies.
"YOUR HIGHNESS!" Rodrigue yelled and his eyes went wide when he saw Amir, and the girl Dimitri was holding, who was in the worst condition.
Emily jumped off her Kinshi, landing a few feet away, then bolted to them. The others quickly moved out of the way as she made her way to Dimitri, the boy crying loudly as the girl in his arms did not move. He turned to her, crying. Lord Rodrigue and Gustave, running towards them, the medical team behind them.
"What...happened?" Was all the older woman could say as Amir was sobbing into Zander's chest, the boy holding her tightly.
"Please...help her!"
[-]
"Rhea! What happened?!" Seteth said as the woman had returned to the hiding area in the forest, holding her left arm, now it no longer had a left hand.
"I...I...I was so close! She was so close!" She yelled out, unable to comprehend that her prize was taken away.
"That doesn't matter right now!" Seteth said as he ripped his coat, tying the cloth around her wrists, "You need medical attention immediately!" He said.
Rhea swallowed her pride but nodded. He will pay. He will pay. He will pay! HOW DARE THOSE HUMANS RAISE THEIR WEAPONS AGAINST HER!? SHE WAS THERE! HER MOTHER WAS RIGHT THERE! HOW DARE THEY?!
"I will not forget this...PRINCE OF FAERGHUS!"
Chapter 31: Eternal Flames: Part 2: Insanity:End[-]
Songs used:
Drakengard 3: Exhausted/Growing Wings
Drakengard 3: deemed Invasion/Corroscience. Armisael, Ezrael
This chapter was nerve wracking. After many chapters, the curtain has fallen. All of them have been affected horribly and the most part, the result of the burden of knowing the future and the years of trauma from both her past life and current life, have finally crashed down on Arisa, shattering her mentality even if for a moment. Despite the complete urges she had to kill in her chaotic state, there was the single remaining instinct that kept her from fully losing it completely. She completely locked out Sothis. She locked out all reason. The voice she heard was her own voice. This a reference to my favorite manga, The Ancient Magus Bride, where Chise hears a voice as she was being attacked, and causes her to fight back.
Sadi and Amir being able to understand animals but also summon monsters to their aid is a reference to Linhardt's and Hapi's support conversations. That ability isn't strong yet but you'll see it in the future. Arisa's transformation a bit of a reference Corrin's from Fire Emblem Fates.
Also, Dimitri cutting off Rhea's hand felt so satisfying to write for some reason. The liquid that she was going to give Arisa was her own blood, to accelerate the process of Sothis and Arisa becoming one. That would have ended badly if she succeeded.
Originally, I wasn't going to have Dedue's sister live in this story but in the end, I changed my mind. I just want that man to be happy, he deserves it. So do expect Sadi to appear during the Academy phase. She'll be fun to write. Best friends with Hapi. Also, she is the same age as Lysithea.
When I chose songs to use in my stories, I usually chose them because they tie deeply with the lyrics. The next chapter we will see the aftermath of everything and whose voice Dimitri heard. Around chapter 34 or 35 is when the next time skip will happen and soon, The Academy phase will begin.