Elden Ring is the property of FromSoftware, and Monster Girl Encyclopedia is the Property of Kenkou Cross. I do not own any of these properties.
Interlude: Lupus Oculi
A brown-haired boy with wolf-like eyes stared at the ceiling. His form lay upon a bed made of animal hides and cotton, possibly strung together from whatever his Mercenary unit could find. He took a deep breath, sitting up from his bed before he stretched his arms. He couldn't sleep; even when finally presented with a comfortable and warm place to stay, he couldn't sleep. He gazed to his right, eyes softening at the sight of Charlotte peacefully sleeping for the first time in a long time.
She lay within her bed, formed from the finer and softer materials within the tent. It was better for her than Isaac, he supposed. Getting up, he walked around the tent. His feet were bare since no one would sleep with their shoes on. All he wore that night was his white tunic and soft trousers provided to him courtesy of Doon and the mercenary guild.
They were kind, too kind, in his opinion. If he was a thief, he would have accepted all of these and just ran off with them in tow.
But alas, he did not have the heart to do that. Shaking his head, his eyes gazed upon a cracked mirror as he took a moment to inspect it. From the outskirts, Isaac was unfamiliar with many things considered standard deeper into the nation. One of these things was the mirror, which he had never seen or even heard of. He thought it was magic at first, much to the amusement of everyone around him.
He furrowed his brows at that. That was an embarrassing display, and Isaac swore never to do that again. Looking around, he found his pair of shoes before he wore them. Isaac stepped outside and felt the cold air brush on him as Isaac took a deep breath. It was a chilly night; his eyes moved toward the sky as he watched the moon above it.
It was still in the middle of the night, and many of his fellow mercenaries were asleep. The only ones who weren't were the ones who patrolled their current encampment.
His first day with the mercenary guild was a long one. He got acquainted with most of their members, who were pretty cool in his eyes. Nah, that was a lie… they were all jackasses, a lot of them. He grinned at that; it was a fun experience, to be honest. They were all pretty cool, in Isaac's opinion, besides their teasing and gruff attitudes.
He walked around, exploring the camp as he pleased before he found his way near a group of mercenaries just sitting and eating among the campfire. Among them were both Koyoi and Doon, the former sitting in silence while the other was conversing with his fellow mercenaries.
Turning his head slightly, Doon managed to glimpse Isaac as he turned to leave.
"Oi! Isaac! Why don't you join us? We have mutton!" He yelled out with a slight grin as Isaac immediately turned to Doon with wide eyes. Looking at the meat cooking on the fire that the mercenaries were gathered around, Isaac was tempted… really tempted.
He sighed; he was getting hungry anyways, so he might as well. Doon scooched slightly to his left to allow Isaac the space to sit next to him. Sitting there, he was given some mutton before he began to eat.
"So, since you're a new addition here. Why don't you tell us a little about yourself, wolf-eyes?" One mercenary asked, causing Isaac to roll his eyes at the nickname.
"Ooh, Ooh, Doon! Tell us how you found the kid!" Another one of the mercenaries asked, causing Doon to place a finger under his chin and whistle.
"I found the kid down on his luck, with barely enough with him to buy the crappy food from the tavern. I took pity on his ass and let him join us after Koyoi dragged his ass to me after he got his coins stolen." Doon stated, his tone light and somewhat nostalgic.
"Oi! I'm right here, you know!" Isaac yelled out before he took a bite out of his mutton. At that, Doon laughed a hearty chortle before he patted Isaac on the back.
"I'm just joking around, kid. You remind me of how I was when I was your age, eyes filled with wonder at every sight around him." Doon explained with a small smile, causing Isaac to blink once before he blushed in embarrassment.
"Damn it, old man. Don't use that old man tone when talking to me!" He retorted, causing Doon to furrow his brows before he retorted.
"Old Man? I'm only 34, you little rascal!" Doon yelled out with a grumble, causing the group to laugh.
"That's considered Old where I come from, Old Man. Why don't you hang that sword and get a caretaker for yourself." Isaac replied, causing Doon to glare at him, to which Isaac glared as well.
After a few seconds, Doon began to laugh, followed by the rest of the group laughing with him. Isaac looked at them with confusion before Doon turned to Isaac with a big smile.
"You've got balls, kid. I knew that having you join was a good idea." Doon stated.
At that, Isaac smiled as he scratched the back of his head.
"...I'm glad to be here. I just wished you offered me before those kids stole my money." He muttered, causing Doon to shrug.
"For what it's worth, I apologize that you didn't get to get your… 3 pieces of silver coins," Doon muttered with a slight grin as he took a bite out of his own piece of mutton. That caused Isaac to furrow his brows. That much money was practically useless this deep in the city. It only amounted to a few grains of rice in exchange, and there was little he could use it for.
"4 Silver Coins," Koyoi corrected, causing Doon to scratch the back of his head as he recalled.
"Oh, right, right. 4 Silver Coins." He started with a grin. That caused Isaac to twitch slightly before he took a bite out of his mutton.
"So, Isaac, what's your story?" A mercenary asked, causing Isaac to turn to him before he took a bite of his mutton.
"What's there to tell? I lived in the Outskirts of the village and spent most of my life doing chores and farmwork. Nothing interesting really happened to me, to be honest." He admitted with a shrug; he took a bite off his mutton before he turned to the group. That was a lie, there were a few things of note, but he didn't want to talk about it at the moment.
"Ah, I know. Where'd you learn how to fight?" Another mercenary asked; Isaac furrowed his brows slightly before he looked up and spoke up in a low tone.
"...My brother taught me how…." He muttered at the mention of a sibling; Koyoi's head turned to Isaac before a slight and unnoticeable shift in her eyes.
There was a silence that covered the group after that. With the way Isaac said it, from the low tone to the downcast eyes, it wasn't hard to see what might've happened to his brother.
"...I'm sorry, kid, I didn't mean to let some bad memories out." Doon apologized on the mercenary's behalf, who nodded solemnly as he shook his head.
"Do you want to talk about it? It might help you." One of the mercenaries asked, causing Isaac's eyes to narrow slightly.
"It-It's okay… it's been over two years, so I should be over it, but…." Isaac muttered before he grit his teeth and gripped his mutton with a strength that threatened to snap the bone should he hold it any tighter.
"I just… can't forgive them, those monsters… how could I?" He started with a snarl, his fangs exposed as bloodlust invaded his mind. He looked up to see his fellow mercenaries look at him with a mixed expression.
He shook his head, calming himself down as he took another bite. Another man gave him a beer tankard, one Isaac drank without much thought. It cleared his mind, though now he felt a little tipsy. He sighed, looking up at the group before he spoke up.
"...Will talking about it really help me?" Isaac asked, eyes narrowing. He didn't really believe it, but he knew little about the world, and his rage sometimes clouded his mind. Doon looked on at him, sympathy clear in his eyes before he spoke up.
"It depends on the person, but personally, it's a good way to get all that anger and frustration out of your chest," Doon muttered, causing Isaac to turn to him before he nodded.
"Alright… I don't know how to begin, but… here we go." Isaac stated before he began to speak.
"I'll start with what happened years ago… all the way back on a winter's day…."
A young boy awoke, the sun shining down on his wolf-like eyes, twitching in response to its bright rays. He got up, rubbing his eyes with both hands as he turned to the window. It was morning, and children could be seen playing with one another. They used crude wooden swords and large sticks as makeshift swords and spears.
It was winter around that time. The snow could be pretty harsh to their village at times, but thanks to a good and bountiful harvest.
The young boy got up; from his height and form: it was clear that this boy was no older than 11. He scratched the back of his head, stretching his arms before grabbing a pair of shoes for himself. He looked around his house; if one word could describe it: it was modest. It wasn't anything of note, but it wasn't so poor as to render it almost unlivable. They were in the inner portions of the outskirts, more defended from the monsters while still being outside of the capital's direct sphere.
As such, they didn't have much to worry about, and they lived in relative peace.
Moving outside to look at his reflection from the frozen river stream. He looked at his features, his dark brown hair and yellow wolf-like eyes being the most prominent. He placed a hand under his eye, inspecting it to see if they magically turned into normal eyes overnight. Alas, his fates were dashed as he took a closer look.
His eyes were a sensitive topic for him. For some reason or another, he and his brother had been given yellow eyes resembling a wolf's. He caught many of the adults moving in to steal a glance at them every now and then. Whispering at each other with suspicion and distrust in their eyes.
The children were less subtle in how they discriminated against him, however. The snowball that was just thrown at his face was a testament to that. Isaac froze, the 11-year-old reeling from the strike before he heard the children that gathered speak.
"How'd you like that? Freak!" One of the voices called out, causing the rest to spew their own insults.
"Go back to the forest where the rest of you monsters belong!"
"I heard that wolves like to rummage around our garbage. Do you want us to throw trash at you next, Wolf-Eyes?"
Isaac furrowed his brows at that. He clenched his fists, causing him to grab some snow in response before he got up and dusted himself. His brother kept reminding him to check his temper, which he was working on. Unfortunately, these kids just weren't helping him with it.
'1… 2… 3… 4… 5….' He began, counting to ten in his mind before another snowball covered his face. He heard laughter from where children were, all of whom were staying on the other side of the frozen river. They made faces and blew raspberries at him.
His eyes twitched, but before he could retaliate any further.
"Oomph! Oi, what gives!" One of the kids yelled out, his face covered in snow, as another child moved in front of Isaac. She had blonde hair and yellow eyes, glaring at the kids across the river. She wore clothes made from rabbit hides, one specifically tailored for her to use during the winter. She had a rabbit cap on her head to keep her warm during the winter.
"Ah poop, it's Luciana…."
"Damned Rabbit Farmer, all because her parents are rich."
"Come on, let's get out of here before we get into trouble."
"Rabbit protecting the wolf, Ironic, ain't it?"
With that, the kids turned to leave, and soon it was just Isaac and Luciana near the river bank. With them gone, Luciana's glare disappeared before she turned to look at Isaac. Moving towards him, she knelt down before she wiped some of the snow from his face.
"Hey, are you alright? They didn't hurt you, did they?" Luciana asked, causing Isaac to furrow his brows slightly before he wiped the rest of the snow away from his face and got up.
"I-I'm fine… you didn't need to help me there, Lucian…." He muttered, causing her to sigh before she crossed her arms and looked on at him.
"I wanted to help, Isaac. I just couldn't stand there and let them bully you for something so stupid." Luciana stated, causing Isaac to look at her with a complicated expression before he spoke up.
"Look, I don't want you being lonely because of me. Alright? After you defended me, they won't even talk or play with you anymore." He muttered, causing Luciana to pause before she gave him a warm smile. Isaac's eyes widened as he listened to her speak, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm not lonely… after all, I have you, right?" Luciana stated; a bright and cheerful look crossed her face as Isaac did his best to hide the coming blush. He turned his head away, as a result, causing Luciana to tilt her head in confusion.
"...Right… right… thank you, Luciana." Isaac sputtered out, causing Luciana to laugh at the display before she grabbed one of his hands, and they began to walk off.
"H-Hey, where are we going!" He asked, causing Luciana to turn to him as she walked.
"To check if you're alright, Mom's a pretty good healer." She stated with a small smile before Isaac tilted his head.
"I thought you were rabbit farmers?" Isaac asked, causing Luciana to shake her head in response.
"Being a healer and a farmer aren't mutually exclusive; she uses what she knows to help the town every now and then," Luciana replied, causing Isaac to tilt his head before he sighed. As a kid, he doesn't pay attention to much of the town. Most of it was just spent doing chores.
"Oh, and heads up. Big Brother Mikhail's there as well." Luciana added, causing Isaac to pause as he processed that sentence. After a short while, Isaac then picked up the pace. He wanted to see his brother, after all.
…
"And then… you just have to pull the skin right here, and…." A voice trailed off; it was from a man pulling out the skin from a rabbit before showing it to another young boy.
The boy was a teen, around 14 years of age, a year before adulthood here in this village. He had brown hair and yellow eyes, much like Isaac's. His too resembled that of a wolf's. But unlike Isaac, whose personality was brash and frowning all the time. The other boy's face was calmer and more serene, resembling that of adults rather than someone his age.
This was Mikhail, Isaac's older brother.
The man, meanwhile, looked to be in his early thirties. He had blonde hair and blue eyes, a short stubble formed under his chin as he held out a rabbit he had recently killed. He was teaching the young man how to skin a rabbit and all the techniques he used to become a relatively successful Rabbit Farmer. They were still poor relative to Lescatie's upper class but down here, they were considered pretty wealthy.
This was Gregory, a peasant and Luciana's father.
"Here, a freshly skinned rabbit good for a nice stew or over the fire." The man explained, causing Mikhail to nod before grabbing it to inspect it.
"Do you understand, Mika?" The man stated, causing the young teen to turn to him before speaking up. Mika was his nickname, used by those he was close to and bullies who tried to pick on him.
The keyword here: try.
"Aye, I think I've got the gist of it," Mikhail stated, his voice slightly accented in a dialect Gregory had never heard of. It was one of Mikhail's strange quirks, others of which included his wolf-like eyes and an almost unnatural skill with a blade.
With a nod, Gregory gave him the knife before picking up another rabbit.
"Here, why don't you try." Gregory started with a smile as Isaac picked up the rabbit and lifted his knife. But before he could do anything, the gates to the farm creaked open, revealing a blonde-haired little girl and another boy around her age.
"Papa!" She yelled out with a smile, causing the man to kneel with his own warm smile before he held his hands out.
"There's my little angel; give papa a hug!" He stated, causing Luciana to run towards him before giving him an embrace.
Isaac stood by the gate, looking on at the scene with a complicated expression on his face. He held his hands together, trying to look for somewhere else before his eyes turned to Mikhail. Mikhail's eyes softened at the sight; giving a big sigh, he walked towards Isaac before reaching out to pat his head before he stopped. Right… his hands were bloody… and so was Gregory's, but neither Luciana seemed to care.
Isaac and Mikhail's own father were out on an expedition to a neighboring nation. Because of that, Gregory decided to take them in until their father returned. Isaac refused, saying that he wanted to stay in his room. Because of that, Mikhail also declined the offer to watch his brother.
Soon, the girl let go and turned to Isaac before speaking up.
"Oh, can you get mom? Isaac's being bullied again, so he might've gotten hurt!" She spoke out, her tone filled with worry.
"I'm right here, sweetie." A voice called out from the farm. Near the gate stood a woman with dark hair and blue eyes. Looking at her, Luciana turned to Isaac before she spoke.
"Mama, Isaac was-" "I know dear, come inside. I'll get you patched up and you cleaned up." The woman stated, causing the two to nod before they followed the woman. But before she could do anything else, she turned and looked at Gregory before she spoke.
"We need to talk about your habits, dear. I wouldn't want to keep cleaning the blood out of Luciana's clothes." She stated, causing Gregory to look at himself before he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Of course, Elise. I'll handle this week's laundry." He stated, causing Elise to give a satisfied look before she entered their family home.
With Mikhail and Gregory being left on their lonesome, Gregory turned to Mikhail before he held out the blade and offered Mikhail the handle.
"With that out of the way, let's see you skin that rabbit," Gregory stated, causing Mikhail to nod before he picked up the knife and went to skin the rabbit.
"...Luciana wants you to train her again," Gregory stated, causing Mikhail to turn his head towards the man.
"Again? I thought she would've given up on it after she and I fought." Mikhail stated, causing Gregory to sigh as he observed Mikhail remove the rabbit's skin. He shook his head, thinking about the day Luciana first decided to pick up the blade.
"She has a gift, even you have to admit that. She wants to nurture and improve herself, and we don't know a better swordsman than you." Gregory stated, causing Mikhail to pause slightly before he continued to skin the rabbit.
"That's true… but a swordsman I may be, I'm not a very good teacher," Mikhail admitted, causing Gregory to sigh before he placed a hand on Mikhail's shoulder.
"We'll never know until we try. If you want, we'll even pay you for teaching her. Double the amount you're currently earning helping us at the farm, what do you say?" Gregory asked, a small smile on his face as Mikhail looked at it. After a few seconds, Mikhail sighed before he grasped the hand and shook it with his own small smile.
"You better keep your end of the deal, old man," Mikhail stated, causing Gregory to laugh before he nodded.
"Of course, what kind of man would I be if I hadn't?" He asked, a jovial look on his face.
"Honestly, those kids need a proper smacking," Elise muttered, her voice a low huff as she healed the minor injuries found on Isaac's head. The snow they used had bruised his face a little, causing parts of it to darken. A green light washed over his face; he felt the pain go away a few seconds before Elise clasped her hands together.
"...And... done, that should do the trick," Elise stated with a small smile, causing the little boy to nod before he looked around the place.
It was just as cozy as he remembered, nice wooden frame and furniture spread throughout. There were paintings of the family here, something that's often only found within noble society.
"You're free to stay here if you like, Isaac. From the sound of things, Luciana wants to train her swordsmanship again. So if you want, you can go and join her." Elise stated; she sighed afterward as she held one of Isaac's hands. This caused the boy to widen his eyes before he turned to Elise.
"Luciana could be reckless, something she inherited from her father. She's strong, I know that she is, but I worry for her just as any mother should." She stated, causing Isaac to sit there and look on at Elise with a head tilt before she continued.
"I know this is a lot to ask for someone so young, but please... keep my little girl safe. She and Gregory are the only ones I have left." She muttered, causing Isaac to sit there and stare. He blinked a few times as he processed her words.
As far as Isaac knew her, Elise had always been a strong and remarkable individual. Out of Luciana's family, it was her who remained calm and collected while both Luciana and Gregory became fired up. It was her who reeled the two of them just in case they got into trouble. He didn't know what to say to see that woman break down and show him a side to her that he doubted Luciana had seen.
Seeing this, Elise sighed before she got up.
"M-My apologies... I don't know what came over me. Forget this conversation occurred, for you and I's sake." Elise stated before she turned to leave. But before she could, Isaac spoke up.
"I promise... I'll keep Luciana safe," Isaac stated, causing Elise to stop and turn to Isaac before she gave a soft smile. She turned as her smile turned into a more mischievous grin.
"In exchange, you have my approval." She muttered, causing Isaac to widen his eyes.
"A-Approval for what?" He asked, causing Elise to give a short laugh before she shook her head.
"Oh, nothing... you'll understand when you're older." She stated before she walked away.
"...Approval for what?" He muttered again, but only this time, he was met with silence.
After a few minutes, Luciana came to the room wearing her combat gear. Instead of the usual skirt, she now wore trousers with boots. A leather vest covered her top, and a white shirt with blue accents was below it. On her back was a sword, one made of wood but a sword nonetheless.
"Isaac, come on. Big Brother Mika agreed to train me, and I want you to watch." She started with an excited smile, obviously giddy at the fact that Mikhail was helping her train.
"Uh..." Isaac muttered, moving his head up as he thought about what to do next. He took a deep breath and recalled what Luciana's mother had said.
'Keep Luciana safe...'
He looked at her form before taking a look at his own palms. She was strong, a skilled fighter, and a warrior at heart. He was not; he was weak, a liability more than anything else. He wanted to be the one to protect her next time instead of the other way around. She threw away her social life and cut off potential friends by agreeing to be friends with him.
He at least didn't want to be a liability.
"No, no... I'll... I'll join you." Isaac stated, causing Luciana to frown as she looked at his face.
"Isaac, you don't need to," she began before Isaac cut her off.
"No, I want to... Lucian... please." He muttered loudly, causing Luciana to pause before a smile broke through her face. She took a deep breath before she offered him her hand.
"Then we wouldn't want to keep Mika waiting." She said with a small smile that Isaac returned with his own.
The two then went off, hand in hand, to a clearing near the river.
...
"Isaac, you're joining in?" Mikhail asked, his eyes wide as he watched his brother line up alongside Luciana. Isaac stood there, his eyes turning to Mikhail before he gave a short nod.
Mikhail rose a brow; he narrowed his wolf-like eyes and turned to his brother. Isaac, seeing this, had gulped a bit of saliva in the process before Mikhail spoke up.
"Isaac, are you sure you want to do this?" Mikhail asked, turning to Isaac, who stood at attention. He was replicating some of the soldiers he'd seen that passed by the village. Always standing at attention, always looking and standing straight.
"Yes, sir." He spoke out, once again imitating the soldiers he learned. Mikhail let out an amused smile, looking on at his brother before he ruffled his hair.
"You don't need to do all of that, Isaac. I'm teaching you how to fight, not how to be a soldier." He stated, turning to Luciana. Luciana, watching the whole affair, turned her attention to Mikhail. Her eyes widened slightly before she stood at attention.
"In any case, I have an idea..." Mikhail stated, turning to the weapons rack before he turned to Luciana.
"I'm going to assess your ability to fight first. To see what I'm dealing with." Mikhail stated, moving his head to Isaac before he spoke up.
"Go on, choose which weapon you want to use," Mikhail stated, causing Isaac to pause there for a second before he nodded. Moving his way towards the weapons rack, he looked through the various swords before he stayed at a certain one.
It was a greatsword, over two and a half times his own height. Something he tried to pick up but had miserably failed to do so.
"...Isaac... that might be a little too big for you," Mikhail stated, causing Isaac's eyes to furrow before he turned to Mikhail.
"You're one to talk! I've seen you carry massive swords before, so why can't I?" He asked incredulously, causing Mikhail to sigh before he turned to the weapons rack and grabbed a smaller but still pretty large blade.
"My situation is... different, to say the least. It'll take you years before you can even properly wield the sword. So for now, just make do with this one." He offered, causing Isaac to furrow his brow before he let go of the sword and picked up the one Mikhail offered. It was heavy, which would make perfect sense considering it was still bigger than Isaac.
It was a much more manageable blade than the one he wanted to grab. Once he chose his weapon, he took a few steps back before Mikhail beckoned Luciana to take a few steps forward.
"This is the first thing I want you to do. Luciana, go fight Isaac." He stated, causing Luciana and Isaac to widen their eyes before turning to each other.
"Uh... Big Bro that might be a little-" Luciana began before Mikhail spoke out again.
"I need to judge his strengths and what he needs to improve. If you're unwilling to do it, then I will. And I'm sure you know how our last match went?" Mika stated, causing Luciana to freeze before she pulled her blade out.
"Wait, wait! Don't I get a say in this?" Isaac stated.
"You can talk; just know that it'll be ignored," Mikhail stated, causing Isaac to furrow his brows before he lifted his sword up. His hands were shaking; this was for a variety of reasons. The most likely reasons are nervousness about the fight, The chill air, and the weight of the sword.
Isaac took a deep breath, and Luciana did the same. Luciana mouthed a little 'sorry,' looking at one another before the fight began.
And not even a few seconds later, Isaac's eyes stared at the sky.
Isaac's eyes opened suddenly, and he found himself staring at the ceiling of an unfamiliar house. His eyes blinked, once, twice, then a few more times before he got up. He clutched his head; his eyes blurred as he felt a bit of pain.
He felt his bed shift a little; turning to the side, he saw Luciana sleeping on his bed... only... his bed felt a little more comfortable than he remembered. He looked around, checking where he was, only to find himself in an unfamiliar room... only, no, it wasn't unknown. He's been here before...
This was Luciana's room, and the two of them played here when they were still kids. He moved in to check on Luciana, seeing if she was alright. He heard the door to the room creak open to reveal Gregory looking on at the boy.
"You're awake; that's good." He stated with a small smile before he turned to Luciana. Isaac clutched his head; he could still feel the pain, even if it was slowly subsiding. Turning to Gregory, Isaac spoke up once more.
"What happened to me?" Isaac asked, causing Gregory to sigh before he went over and patted his daughter's head.
"From what she told us, she hit you a little too hard and knocked you out." He muttered with a sigh before a teasing grin came on his face.
"Don't tell her I told you this, but she came here crying and telling us that she killed you. Luckily, it was just a mild concussion, so Elise managed to heal you quickly." Gregory explained, causing the boy to look up at the man before she sighed.
"It wasn't her fault; I just... I got distracted, I guess." He stated, trying to think of a way to justify his loss. Gregory just sighed at that, placing a hand on Isaac's shoulder before he spoke up.
"Listen, Isaac... you don't have to do this for her." He muttered, causing Isaac to widen his eyes and turn to Gregory. He figured him out? How?
Frankly, anyone intimately familiar with the family would immediately understand why Isaac was doing this. It was for Luciana's sake; he wanted to protect her like she did with him.
"But... she's always protecting me, always saving me from bullies along with Mikhail. She sacrificed a lot for it, and all she got was a weak and pathetic friend." Isaac said, holding his blankets tightly before Gregory spoke with a soft smile.
"I know... and as much as we want her to make more friends, she seems happy as she already is. Being with you makes her happy, and seeing you get hurt is something that she hates seeing. It was her choice and her choice alone that let you two be friends; from the looks of it, she's happy and satisfied as you are." Gregory explained, causing Isaac to turn away before he spoke again.
"But I still don't want to be a liability." He continued before Gregory sighed.
"That's a perfectly reasonable way to feel, Isaac. I'm not saying that you shouldn't do it; I'm just saying that you shouldn't force yourself to do it. Ultimately, it's your choice and your choice alone..." Gregory stated, getting up before he stretched.
"In any case, get some rest... you have a long day ahead of you." He said with a soft smile before leaving the room, leaving both Isaac and Luciana alone. Isaac blinked a few times before his eyes turned to Lucian's sleeping form. He moved his hand to caress her hair but stopped himself.
He was weak... too weak to even carry that sword. He needed to get stronger...
Isaac stretched out of the bed before he moved around to explore the room. As he did, however, he heard murmurs coming from the room next to Luciana's. It was the dining room if he remembered correctly; curious, he pressed his ears onto it before he listened in on the conversation.
...
"I don't approve of this, Mika." Gregory's voice rang through the dimly lit dining room, his tone stern and his arms crossed. The room was lit by only a few bits of candlelight and the moonlight peering into it from the window.
Mika stood there and crossed his arms before looking away and sighing.
"Listen, Sir... I don't want my brother to take the path of a warrior." Mikhail stated, causing Gregory to sigh and place his palm over his forehead before he spoke up.
"You could have just told him that instead of sending Luciana after him, now look, he came home injured, and she returned crying her heart out." Gregory retorted, causing Mikhail to sigh as he looked at Greg with a neutral expression on his face.
"It's something that the two of them should get used to if they continue to train under me. As I said, I'm not a teacher, so I'm not sure how much knowledge I'll be able to impart." Mikhail stated, turning to Gregory, who sighed before he sat down on one of the chairs.
"I don't understand you, Mikhail. Don't you want to make sure that your brother becomes stronger? With enough training, I'm sure he'd be able to hold his own in combat." Gregory stated, causing Mikhail to speak up.
"I do, but he's doing it for the wrong reason. His loyalty to Luciana is admirable, but that path will only bring him pain and loneliness. It's not a path that I want him to follow, and not one I believe that he's strong enough to take." Mikhail stated, his eyes narrowing as he recalled... something.
"...You... sound like you're talking from experience..." Gregory commented, causing Mikhail to shake his head before turning to the window. His gaze fixated on the moon; there was a full moon tonight that shone through the dark winter sky.
"No... just an observation on my end," Mikhail stated, his voice hoarse and tone indescribable.
"In any case, I still think you should train him. You know how dangerous the lands are. And even though we're deep in Lescatie's borders, there would still be a few monsters that could slip through the cracks." Gregory stated, his eyes turning to Mikhail.
"I suppose you're right..." Mikhail replied, his eyes turning to the window once more as he looked at it.
"In any case, let's change topics then." He stated, moving to a shelf before taking out a bottle of wine for them to drink.
"I bought this recently and meant to drink it with a good friend. Since you're already nearing adulthood, I'm sure you'd want to get a taste of alcohol soon enough." He stated with a slight grin before Mikhail waved him off.
"I'm sorry, Gregory, but I'd rather wait until I'm older before I drink," Mikhail replied, waving his hands before Gregory blinked and looked at him before he smiled and shrugged.
"Suit yourself then, more for me, I guess." He stated, a grin on his face before he grabbed a cup and poured himself a shot.
"Still, your birthday is soon, correct?" Gregory asked, causing Mikhail to nod before he replied.
"Yes, sir, around 3 weeks from now." He stated, causing Gregory to give a small smile. He sat down on a chair and took a sip of his wine before he continued to speak.
"I still remember the good old times when you were still a little boy. You were quiet, dignified... sometimes you had me worried since you didn't really act like a child. But now look at you, turning 15 in 3 weeks. How the time flies, doesn't it?" Gregory stated, reminiscing the good old days as Mikhail gave his own smile and nodded.
"We should throw you a party; I'm willing to spend some money on it," Gregory stated, causing Mikhail to shake his head before he spoke up.
"That money of yours could be used elsewhere. Don't worry about me; I'd be fine with just a good lunch as a birthday present." Mikhail stated, causing Gregory to laugh before he nodded.
"If you say so-" He replied.
Just then, the door to Luciana's room burst open. Out of it came Luciana, still wearing her combat gear and her face showed worry and horror. She turned to both Mikhail and her father. Gregory was the first to notice her; tilting his head, he proceeded to speak up.
"Luciana, dear, what's wrong?" He asked, worry evident in his voice.
"I-It's Isaac!" She stated. That caused Mikhail to move instantly, dashing through the room before making his way to Luciana's room. Moving around, he spotted an open window before he stared out into it.
"...That idiot..." Mikhail muttered, his eyes turning to the ground as he saw footprints that led out into the nearby forest.
He turned and jumped out to follow his trail, followed by Luciana. Turning to her, Mikhail spoke out as they ran.
"What are you doing? I'll handle this; go back!" He spoke up, causing Luciana to give him a stern look. It was a look Mikhail had recognized, of conviction and steely resolve. In other words, the face of a warrior.
"I'm not leaving him. You'll have to fight me if you want to stop me!" She yelled out, causing him to sigh before he spoke up again.
"Did you at least carry your sword?" He stated, causing Luciana to smirk before she showed him her blade's handle. He gave a short nod. As they passed Isaac and Mikhail's house, he quickly moved towards it before he punched through the window to grab his own blade. It was large, more prominent than even the one who wielded it.
It was a long blade, having just one edge and slightly curved. Mikhail moved it on his shoulder before he got on his knees and placed one hand on the ground. He then began to move, running on three limbs that made Luciana compare him to a wolf. She followed closely behind, trying her best to keep up.
The two entered the forest, blades in hand and conviction in their minds.
"Keep your legs and back straight, hold your sword with two hands, and swing downward twenty times..." Isaac read out loud... well, more like look at the pictures and do what they did. Isaac was and still is illiterate, the only reason he could read the numbers was that Luciana taught him how to write them. With a slight nod, he and held up his wooden blade. He tried his best to get into a stance, but unfortunately, with the soft snow, he couldn't get into the proper posture and ended up tumbling a few times. He got up repeatedly, trying to do what the book was telling him to do, only to fail again and again. It was frustrating, incredibly so.
After his 47th try, he decided to stay down. He took a deep breath before letting it all out.
He looked up; the moon hung directly overhead. It was as if it was watching him with its cold, blue stare. He thought back on what led him here, taking a deep breath as he did before looking down. He eavesdropped on Luciana's father and Mikhail's conversation. He listened on at their conversation, on how they lamented over his own weakness. Or at least, that's how he heard it.
'It's not a path that I want him to follow, and it's not one I believe that he's strong enough to take.'
He furrowed his brow at that. He was called weak by his own brother, and they expected him to stay there and take it. If Isaac could be described with one word, it would be stubborn. Hearing that made him want to train, to prove them all wrong and show them that he could be a warrior. And so, Isaac looked around until he found Luciana's old training book, a series of forms for one to practice their swordsmanship. Making sure she still slept, Isaac grabbed the book before he jumped out of the window and ran into the forest to train.
Mikhail and Gregory would force him back to rest if he did it out in the open.
He didn't understand what Mikhail meant when he said he was trying to get stronger for the wrong reasons. Wasn't getting stronger to protect someone you care for a valid reason? How could Mikhail say something like that? What does he know? Isaac grits his teeth, swinging his blade again and again. Frustration gripped his mind, and in the process, he managed to hit a tree which caused the wood to smack onto it and crack slightly.
Isaac took a deep breath, stepped back, and inspected his wooden blade. He furrowed his brows, moving a hand through the cracks before sighing. Isaac was calm now, taking a deep breath before the boy began his trek back home. But as he did, however, he managed to step a little too far. The snow gave way, causing him to trip and roll down a small hill. He picked up speed as he moved, and at the final moment, he was slammed arm first into a tree. He felt intense pain; he clutched his arms, fighting back the tears as he got up and inspected his surroundings.
"...Where am I...?" He muttered, turning to look at the woods before he began to walk. The forest was unfamiliar to him; all the natural landmarks he took note of were gone, and the realization of what was happening gripped Isaac's heart.
He was lost.
Here in this dark and dreary forest, out in the winter cold and he was lost. He fought back the tears, telling himself that crying would do him no good here. Isaac got up and walked, picking up Luciana's book to return it once he got back. He limped through the woods, a snow trail following his wake, before seeing a distant light source.
Widening his eyes, Isaac limped his way through before he found himself in an empty clearing. He widened his eyes, looking around to see where the light he found was. But he found none, just the cold and open clearing of the forest.
"Well, what do we have here?" A voice called out.
He widened his eyes as he turned and tried to look for the source of the voice. He moved around, stepping through the snow. He clutched the book in his hand as if it would somehow protect him from whatever it was.
Gathering as much courage as he could, he spoke up.
"W-Who are you!? Show yourself!" He yelled out.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. The cold wind blew as the moon reflected on the snow's surface. He took a few steps, moving his head to find the source of the voice but to no avail. Suddenly, the voice spoke up once more.
"I'm not one to listen to incessant and naggy humans, let alone a little lamb like you. But... I'm in a good mood today, so perhaps I'll give you some leeway." The voice stated before there was a sudden gust of wind. Isaac covered his eyes, making sure that none of the snow got in his eyes.
When he opened them once more, he felt a presence standing behind him.
"Curious," The voice began before Isaac turned around to see the source, only for a hand to grab him by the collar.
"Ah! Hey! Let Go!" He yelled out, placing his hand on his attacker as she lifted him up from the ground and stared at the boy with a raised brow.
Isaac struggled and tried to break free, but as his gaze met that of the woman's... he froze.
Blood red eyes met with wolf-like yellow; a smirk on her face showed a particular amusement to his actions. Shoulder Length Blonde hair covered her head, and braids could be seen on the side as her hair lazily swayed from the wind. She wore clothes far more expensive than anything Isaac's seen before.
But the most notable feature was the cape that sat behind her... only... it wasn't a cape, it was a pair of wings that folded neatly onto her back.
Her lips opened, voicing her thoughts and conveying them to the boy.
"What's a little lamb like you doing in the middle of the forest?" She asked, tilting her head as she spoke before he inspected his eyes.
Isaac's face contorted to that of horror, his form twitching as he struggled to escape her grip. Seeing this, the woman made an amused look before she spoke once more.
"Oh, right... I forgot how much my race could terrify you, humans. Honestly, do you realize how much trouble your kind has brought me." the woman stated. She sighed, turning to the boy before letting him go and having him drop onto the snow.
Isaac let out an ample grunt, rubbing his back as he turned to stare at the woman who flexed her wings a little before she turned to Isaac with a small smile.
"You still haven't answered my question, lamb. What were you doing out here in the forest?" She asked, causing Isaac to look up at her with a complex expression. The woman checked herself to see if something was wrong with her person. Seeing nothing, she turned to Isaac before she spoke.
"What's wrong? Do I have something on my face?" She asked, only to be met with silence as Isaac struggled with what to say.
"...Oh, I get it. I have yet to introduce myself, right..." She muttered, moving a few paces back to stretch her wings before she stood behind the moonlight.
"I am Lady Wynne Von Castigan. et Hominid Vampirus... or... a vampire, if we use your human terms." She stated with a slight shrug and nonchalant look. When she turned to where the boy should be, he was gone. All that met her were the snowy footprints he left behind.
"...Was it something I said?" She muttered to herself with a puzzled expression.
...
Isaac ran his expression that of terror and desperation. He's heard of vampires from folk tales and priests. They were said to take out your intestines and eat your liver... among many other things. The Order could be... really creative, for lack of a better term, when it came to what monsters did.
Isaac, being the gullible child that he was, believed every word and was currently trying to escape one of these monsters.
'Chief God, Goddess Almighty... please spare me from this dark fate, I don't want to get my intestines eaten, and my liver pulled out!' He thought as he ran, mixing up the details the Order Priests told him.
Alas, attempting to run, he stumbled and fell down another hill. Once again, he rolled; at least this time, he didn't slam into a tree. He let out a deep breath, his form slowly getting up as he rubbed his eyes and opened them to see where he rolled down this time.
He opened his eyes, only to be met with six monsters with pig ears on their head gathered around a fire. They all stared at him; their eyes widened in surprise as Isaac caught the sight.
Much like the Vampires, The Order had a lot of creative things to say about the Orcs.
'...They're gonna rip my brain out of my head and use my skull as a mug!' He screamed in horror as he stumbled back and tried to crawl away. The orcs got up, looking at one another before they approached the boy. He tried to get away, but he found that he had injured his leg during his fall, so he couldn't move any faster.
He closed his eyes, accepting his fate before a loud thud could be heard. In front of him stood the vampire from earlier, her eyes glaring at the orcs as she stood up.
"Orcs... of course, it just had to be orcs... back off, pigs. This one is mine." She stated, causing the lead orc to furrow her brow before she pointed a club at her.
"We found him first, vampire! Back off or else!" The lead orc shouted, causing Wynne to sigh before she flexed her wings and stood her ground.
"Or else what? Do you honestly think the six of you have any chance against me?" The vampire stated, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the six. The Orcs took a step back, but they didn't back down. In their nature, they were as tenacious as they were stupid.
They wouldn't back down even when a more powerful monster threatened.
"Not a chance, vampire!" She yelled out, the six orcs getting ready to fight as Wynne sighed.
"Alright... you-" She began before being cut off by another large thud. A figure jumped out from the forest and onto the snowy ground; Mikhail's form was covered by a tattered cloak and on his shoulder was a blade larger than any of them could see.
He was followed by a girl around Isaac's age, her form dropping down onto the ground before she pulled out her own sword and stared down at the group of monsters.
"...Well... isn't this an interesting sight?" Wynne asked rhetorically, to which the two turned their heads before she inspected the newest arrivals. Her eyes turned to Mikhail, examining him before her blood red eyes widened at the sight of his eyes.
Putting two and two together, she turned her head to Mikhail before she spoke up.
"Aren't you being a little too careless? If your brother here ran into these Orcs first, he'd leave the forest a very traumatized boy." She stated with an amused tone, causing Mikhail to grip his blade before he turned to Isaac.
"Isaac, did she hurt you?" He asked, causing Isaac to turn to him before he replied.
"N-No, but she's going to take my skull out and use it as a mug!" He yelled out, causing Wynne to raise her brow before turning to Isaac.
"...I'm gonna do what?" She asked, her form looking on in confusion before she turned to Mikhail. Mikhail glared at the sight, pointing his blade at her. He then speaks out.
"Give him back, or you'll force my hand." He declared, causing Wynne to stop and look at his blade before turning to Isaac. Then, a mischievous smile formed on her face as she thought of an idea.
"...No, I don't think I will," Wynne stated, placing Isaac over her shoulder before she gestured to him.
"I need a new mug, and this boy's skull is the perfect size for it. So... if you want him..." She stated before she suddenly jumped up onto a tree.
"Then come and take him!" She yelled out before she began her run. Mikhail turned to it before he jumped and followed, Luciana was about to follow, but her form was stopped when an Orc came and tried to strike her with a club. She dodged to the right, smacking the orc with her blade before she took a few steps back.
"Luciana, handle the orcs! I'll try to get Isaac back!" He yelled out. Luciana gritted her teeth and wanted to follow suit, but she knew they needed to deal with these Orcs first.
Besides, knowing how he fights, she'd only be holding him back.
She stood her ground, looking at the orcs with her blade at the ready. Orcs weren't considered to be anything too intense. Even the weakest of Order Heroes would think of them as nothing but fodder, and a sufficiently trained human would be able to handle them without being too overwhelmed. However, this would be Luciana's first combat experience, and as such, she'd have to use everything she had learned up until that point.
She took a deep breath, preparing herself as the six orcs did much the same. No words were exchanged, no taunting was done, nor was there an exchange of names. They were enemies, and that was all that mattered to the two.
"...I'll protect you, Isaac." She declared with a whisper, "I swear it." She finished.
With that, she charged into battle.
...
Mikhail grit his teeth, his form moving like a blur as he chases the vampire around with his blade on his shoulder. Wynne looked at Mikhail with a grin; this human was one she took note of. He had the speed to catch up with her and the strength to carry that blade around. She wanted to see how much this one could throw and how much he could take.
After leading him through the forest, she stopped just atop the branch of a tree. She set Isaac down before she turned to Mikhail with a slight grin on her face.
"You're not a normal human, aren't you?" She asked eyes narrowed as she placed a hand on her hip.
Mikhail said nothing, pulling out his blade before pointing it toward her. He looked up, his wolf eyes glaring at the vampire before he spoke up.
"It doesn't matter what I am; what matters to me is the boy you've taken without his consent. Give him back, and we'll leave you alone." He stated, causing the vampire to raise her brow before she decided to clear a few things up.
"First off, I didn't take the boy without his consent. He ran off and got the attention of 6 orcs along the way. I stood by him to protect him from the Orcs." She stated, causing Mikhail to raise his brow.
He clicked his tongue and lowered his blade slightly, keeping his guard up just in case she tried anything. There were no lies in her statement; he could tell just by the look in her eyes and the way she moved.
It was a common misconception, even to those who know of the monster's true nature. Not every monster out there was a sex-crazed maniac; some of them were pretty similar to humans regarding how they handled relationships. Vampires just so happened to be like that. Although it was confirmed that her kind constantly abducted men to use as cattle, this was less to do with the current demon lord and their new status and more with their vampiric blood and tradition.
Of course, that didn't excuse what they did; even Wynne would admit to that much.
As much as the Demon Lord wants, she'll never be able to get rid of what the monsters were before their transformation. A vampire will always be a vampire, no matter how much the Demon Lord would try to take that away from them.
"So why'd you run off then? If you were there to protect him, why didn't you just give him back to us?" Mikhail asked, causing Wynne to smirk before she stretched her wings out.
"Simple, it's because you interest me... human." She stated, taking off her gloves to reveal her claws. She turned to them before she scratched the tree's bark, causing clean cuts to appear over where her fingers trailed over.
"I haven't been this entertained in centuries... so how about you and I strike a deal? This night, give me a good performance, and I'll give Isaac back to you." She stated. She remembered Mikhail calling the boy that name, so she assumed it was the case.
"...By entertainment, do you mean..." Mikhail trailed off before Wynne shrugged.
"It could mean many things: theatrics, music, art... pleasure..." She trailed off, looking on at him with a demure gaze before she suddenly disappeared.
"...Or in this case... Combat!"
Mikhail felt a presence from behind. Quickly, he ducked to his left just in time for Wynne's claws to miss him altogether. Mikhail then did a flip, using his blade to launch himself up before he put some distance between the two of them.
"Well then, what do you say, little wolf?" She stated, a vicious grin on her face as she summoned a dark rapier for her to use.
"Why don't you and I dance?" She asked, causing Mikhail to grip his blade tightly before he prepared himself for combat.
No more words were said, the two charged into battle.
Luciana moved to dodge a club before she struck the orc with the butt of her blade, causing them to stumble back a bit. She felt the adrenaline in her veins move; she felt her breath become heavier as she fought. During this battle, Luciana learned a few things about the Orcs. They were more robust, taller, and durable than normal humans. Every time her blade moved to cut them, it resulted in a minor cut that wasn't in any way lethal.
It was probably the quality of her blade. Though it wasn't terrible, it's definitely seen better days. It was a miracle that it hadn't broken under the constant pressure she subjected it to.
Along with all of those, she also learned a few other things to her advantage. The Orcs were clumsy and reckless; their moves were easy to telegraph and dodge. Their strikes had considerable force, and one direct attack would put her out of the ring. But because of their relatively slow movements and easy-to telegraph moves, she managed to hold on despite being way younger and physically weaker.
She grits her teeth as she dodged another incoming strike from a crude ax, her form skidding across the floor. She took a deep breath as she planned out her strategy, using everything she learned from her training and what Mikhail had taught her.
'In combat, every move you make needs to have a reason. Meaningless actions would only waste your energy. Ending the fight as fast as possible is what I recommend for someone like you. You're still young and weak, but your skills with a blade are unmatched. If your opponent could last against your onslaught, then consider the fight as good as lost.
His words rang out, and that much was true here. The Orcs had far more endurance than she did. It would only be a matter of time before fatigue, and the cold would catch up. She needed to end the fight now, or else she'd be at the mercy of these orcs.
She looked around, gathering as much information as possible before formulating a plan. The six orcs surrounded her, but they were spaced enough to allow her room to move. She moved her feet, using them to check the snow. There was a thick amount of it gathered here.
She observed each of her opponents, noting any openings she could use before she thought of a plan. Kneeling down, she grabbed some snow before suddenly rushing into one of the orcs, catching her off-guard.
She threw the snow at her eyes, which the orc desperately tried to wipe away. Alas, Luciana was counting on this, and in this moment of indecision, she plunged her blade straight into the orc's neck, causing blood to spill out.
The other orcs looked on in horror, the shock was evident in their face, but Luciana wasn't done. She didn't have time to think about what she had just done; she needed to take them out before they got their bearings back. And so, she descended upon the unfortunate orc besides the one she killed with a simple slash of her blade. Two down, four more to go.
The others looked on at her in fear before it turned into rage. Another orc moved with a crude ax held aloft with a heavy cry. In her anger, she was unable to take into account Luciana's position and her blade. Luciana struck the third orc by her neck, cutting her down as the others took a step back.
The orcs that remained stood still, unable to move as Luciana let out her battle cry. It was enough; the battle had been won. The orcs quickly threw their weapons down and ran off into the forest. Luciana took a deep breath, clutching her form as exhaustion took over. She collapsed on the floor; the weight of what she did finally came to bear.
It was her first victory, but...
Her eyes turned to the corpses she made; their eyes widened in horror and regret. Luciana's own widened in response as the urge to vomit overcame her.
"...I... I killed them..." She stated,
'...No... No... I did it to protect Isaac, but...' She thought to herself as she turned to the dead orcs. They looked so terrified, so scared... She gritted her teeth and tried to convince herself she had no other choice. And even though that might've been the case, it was still hard for an 11-year-old to process. She did have a gift with a blade, one she acquired at a young age. Talent was refined by practice and a mentor who knew the intricacies of swordplay.
But right now, Luciana just wanted to lay down and stare.
...
Isaac couldn't believe his eyes. He knew that his brother was strong, but he never imagined that he would be this strong. Isaac sat up on the tree, his leg still injured and possibly broken by the fall. He turned to check on Mikhail and Wynne's duel. Their forms were nothing more than a blur; the snow danced around them with every step as blade swings and claws traded blows over and over.
He caught glimpses of the vampire's form, her eyes were wide, and her mouth formed a grin with every strike. She was enjoying this, that much Isaac could tell. Turning to Mikhail, Isaac saw nothing but a grin, determination born from a desire to keep his brother safe. Ironic, the same reason that Mikhail had discouraged him was the one pushing his brother to such extreme heights.
The sword swings and strikes weren't just thrown without much thought. Every one of their moves was a calculated strategy in its own right. Every swing from either party was made to attack, defend, or even to get them to move to a better position.
It went on for who knows how long. The two danced around the forests and had even cut down entire trees in their wake. Eventually, Mikhail was kicked hard in the stomach. He felt a grunt of pain as he was thrown across the forest and slammed into a tree. He collapsed on the ground below, his eyes glaring at the vampire who made her way to him.
"Well, that was a fun little game, was it not?" Wynne asked; she had a smile on her face and was even sweating heavily. It was obvious that she, too, had been fatigued by their fight, no small feat considering the amount of energy a vampire has.
Mikhail said nothing, just glaring at Wynne, who looked on at him with her head tilted.
"On a closer look, you're actually pretty adorable for a human... hey, why don't I take you back home for you to live with me?" She offered.
Mikhail shook his head, speaking up once more as he gathered his strength.
"Sorry... I'm afraid not." He muttered, causing Wynne to drop her arms before she sighed.
"A pity, then..." She stated before a snowball was suddenly thrown at her back. She turned around for just a single moment, and in that one instance, Mikhail struck.
He pulled out his blade from the snow and stabbed it straight into Wynne's stomach. She stumbled back, her eyes widening as she turned to Mikhail, who had gotten up. She looked down at the blade in her stomach before she coughed up blood.
"...That was... a dirty trick..." She stated, a grin forming on her face before she spoke once more.
"You're an interesting one, human... I'll be sure to keep an eye on you. Til next time..." She sputtered out. Her body then began to turn into bats, an entire swarm flying out of her body until there was none left of Wynne. The bats flew off into the night until she was nowhere to be seen.
Mikhail took a deep breath, getting up as he clutched his back. That hurt... and it hurt a lot. This was his first combat experience in this body, so he wasn't running at total capacity. Mikhail turned to Isaac, whose hand was outstretched, indicating that it was he who threw the snowball.
He made his way to the tree, getting up before pulling Isaac down from its branches.
Putting him down, Mikhail looked on at him with a stern look as Isaac looked away. He was in trouble; he knew that he was. After all, he caused all of this, and he deserved to be told off for it. But instead of being scolded or hit by his brother, he was pulled into a hug.
"Isaac, don't you dare do anything like that ever again. I don't even want to know what I would've done if I lost you..." Mikhail stated.
Isaac's eyes widened; his brother's tone was... vulnerable, for lack of a better term. It was the first time he's ever heard it from him. Mikhail had always been stoic, always so composed. Hearing him be this... vulnerable stirred something in him. Hugging his brother back, Isaac felt tears well up in his eyes before he wept.
"I-I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." He cried out, causing his brother to hold him closer. With a small smile, he turned to Isaac and patted his head.
"Come on, let's go home," Mikhail stated, and with a swift nod, the two made their way home.
On their way back, Mikhail and Isaac managed to find Luciana sitting there with a blank look in her eyes. Isaac had come to comfort her, but Mikhail stopped him before talking to Luciana himself. Isaac didn't know what he said or their conversation, but it at least made Luciana feel better about what had happened.
The three managed to make their way through the forest. On their way, they passed an overlook with a great view of the moon and night sky view. The snow reflected the moonlight, as northern lights could be seen in the sky above.
The sight left all three of them speechless, two of whom, due to the sheer beauty of it, while the eldest for an entirely different reason. Before the group could move any further, Mikhail spoke up first.
"Isaac... do you want to be a warrior?" Mikhail asked, causing Isaac to turn to him before he softly nodded. Mikhail turned to the moon, his gaze indescribable as he basked in its cold stare.
"It's because you have someone you want to protect, right?" He asked, causing Isaac to pause before he said a soft yes.
"...Then, first thing in the morning, I want you to join Luciana in training... I'm turning you into a warrior." Mikhail stated, causing Isaac's eyes to widen as a smile came to his face.
"Just remember, this road you walk is long and arduous. You'll be met with many hardships, and you'd be forced to sacrifice things precious to you... even still, do you still want to take this path?" Mikhail asked, turning to Isaac this time with eyes filled with an indescribable thought.
Isaac paused, his eyes staring intensely into his brother's own before he looked at Luciana, her blade still covered in the blood of the orcs. His gaze turned to Mikhail; his injuries from his fight with the vampire were still fresh.
With a deep breath, Isaac had but one answer.
"I accept."
"...Eventually, we all made it back home, and I apologized profusely to Luciana's parents... it was a little awkward for me at the time, but things eventually went back to normal." A 17-Year-Old Isaac stated, his form sitting near a fire surrounded by his fellow mercenaries. His mutton was all but finished, the last of it being eaten during the middle of his tale.
"Damn, that's quite the tale you have there..." One of the Mercenaries asked, causing the rest to nod before one of them spoke up once more.
"Wait... hold on a second, by Luciana... are you talking about Luciana Sausare, the second-in-command to Wilmarina Noscrim herself!?" One of the mercenaries asked, causing the rest to widen their eyes as they turned to Isaac for an answer.
Isaac turned away as he took a sip of ale. He took a deep breath before nodding slightly, causing the group to utter an 'Eh!' in response.
"Your girlfriend is Luciana!?" One of the mercenaries exclaimed, causing a tankard to be thrown at his forehead as a red-faced Isaac stared on with a furious look.
"She's not my girlfriend! I haven't even seen her in over 3 years now!" He yelled out, causing the group to look at him apologetically before Doon patted him on the back.
"That's okay, son, we all know how it feels..." He stated, causing Isaac's eyes to twitch.
"...What the fuck are you saying, old man?" Isaac asked. An incredulous look formed on his face as Doon let out a small awkward laugh.
"Nothing, nothing..." Doon muttered before he turned to the side and drank his ale. Isaac sighed; Luciana had never returned since she left for the Order. She probably didn't even know that he had moved, so she might have tried to visit him only to find out that he was no longer there.
"In any case... as much as I want Isaac to continue his story, it's nearing morning already. Go and get some sleep, Isaac. Even 3 hours of it is better than none at all." Doon stated, causing Isaac to nod before he got up and turned to the group.
Koyoi, for some reason, looked disappointed. Strange, considering that he didn't peg her as someone interested in his tale. He supposed that his story at least piqued her interest, as it did with everyone else.
Soon, Isaac made his way back to his tent before lying down. He took a deep breath before letting it all out, his wolf eyes closing as he took in the cozy feeling of his tent.
Elsewhere, the howl of a wolf echoed through the forest; the full moon gazed down upon her once beloved shadow.
Author's Notes:
Hello again, everyone.
If you couldn't already tell, this isn't a typical chapter. It's an idea that I've had for a story for a long while now, where I explore the stories of my different OCs in this world both to flesh them out and to have a better foundation for me to write them. Some of you might be disappointed that this isn't a new chapter, but worry not. The next chapter should be out in a few days, posted around the same timeframe as the rest of the chapters.
I have a few more of these planned. If I feel like it, I have one in mind for Akito and Albain and one for Lucas and Merridith. They'd be pretty spread out and only be posted between essential plot points, and they won't get in the way of the regular chapter releases.
Onto the chapter proper, if it wasn't already clear who Mikhail is supposed to be... I think this chapter makes it pretty clear who he is. How is said character here, and why? I'll keep it in the dark for now.
Isaac being the childhood friend in Luciana's profile was an idea I've had for the longest time. I never really brought it up before because Luciana won't show up for a while, but with this Interlude, I finally had the opportunity to reveal it.
Luciana's ability to fight orcs at 11 may be a stretch, but I've taken liberties with what was said in her profile. She's a gifted swordsman, enough to the point where she was placed as Wilmarina's second-in-command.
Wynne's a fun character to write about, and she'll be an essential character in the future. I'm keeping that to myself for now as to what her role would be.
In any case, as usual. Feel free to leave your Reviews, Criticisms, Reactions, Comments, and More in the Review section. My PMs are also open if you want to use that instead.
Whamo out!
