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.
Chapter 25: River Crossing, Part 3
Olivie ran as fast as she could, her feet pressing onto the soft ground with the force of a meteor. Sweat formed on her face, rapier clutched in hand.
Soon enough, she was met with the sight of her unit…
Or at least what was left of it.
Her eyes widened, horror gripping her heart. Immediately, she rushed in to see what had occurred. There were corpses thrown around, both men and monsters alike. The river stream turned red with blood. There was a lone figure, one that stared off into the distance with regret.
Slowly approaching the figure, she spoke. "Alameria… what happened?"
Alameria clenched her fists. "The monsters did… because of my stupidity, you had to leave Paula here on her own… Dammit!"
Olivie's eyes widened, her hand reached out to Alameria's shoulder. "Where's Paula?"
Alameria turned to her, looking up at one hilltop where Paula lied. Widening her eyes, Olivie ran up to where her fellow musketeer was and knelt by her side. Her eyes turned to her injuries, grimacing at the sight.
"Olivie…" she muttered out,
Holding her hands, Olivie turned to her fellow musketeer.
"Paula…" she trailed off.
Looking at her injuries, one could see that they were pretty serious. First aid had already been administered, but until they returned her life was in danger. They needed to retreat, regardless of the mission's status.
Suddenly, a white-haired boy moved to her position. His form was ragged and injured as well, but unlike with Paula he wasn't in a critical condition.
"Lady Olivie…"
"Corin, tell the rest that we are to retreat back to camp. We need not stay here any longer, lest we risk annihilation." Olivie ordered, turning to Corin who dumbly nodded in turn.
Letting out a sigh, Olivie stood up.
She recalled the events that lead her to this moment.
…
"Hold on… this-this is a lot to take in." Olivie uttered, hand clutching her forehead. Her eyes wandered to the forest, mind jumbled and confused.
"I know it is, dear. But I'm afraid that all of this is true." Wynne said, crossing her arms as she watched Olivie pace around. Her mind was in a state of utter confusion, understandable considering what she was told.
"You know I can't trust your words at face value?" Olivie said,
Wynne scoffed, "you're the one who asked for the information, did you not? Whether or not it's something for you to believe is not my concern, but yours."
Moving around the forest, her eyes turned to Olivie before she spoke again. "But believe me when I say this. You will curse the day you ever doubted what you hear from my mouth."
Olivie nodded dumbly, it was still hard to process. I mean, a secret society of otherworlders? Some kind if golden god? A radiant golden tree and an Order far more tyrannical than the one she served?
It was a bit much on her end, but who could really blame her.
"Wait… but… what does this have to do with my father?" Olivie asked,
Wynne looked at her with a critical eye before she crossed her arms. "That is for me to know and for you to find out. If you want answers, you now know where to find them."
If she told her outright, then there was a less likely chance that Olivie would investigate it herself. Curiousity killed the cat, but Olivie needed to learn this information herself.
Before anything else could be said, a cracking red light formed up above. Both Wynne and Olivie widened their eyes at the sight. A red bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, striking down at a location far from their direct view.
Even still, Wynne immediately understood its connotations. "Blaidd…" she stated in a panic.
Turning to Olivie she spoke up, "I need to cut this conversation short."
Turning as she jumped up onto a tree. "I advise that you return to camp…" Wynne began,
Her red eyes turning to Olivie. Olivie stared with a raised brow. "...With you away, you could only imagine what could happen should someone attack."
Realizing her implications, Olivie ran off.
…
It had all been a trap, a set up. That vampire sought to lure the three musketeers away and it worked. Was she counting on Alameria's hatred? Or perhaps it was a mere gamble that paid off on their part?
Regardless, the result was clear. She could see the signs of vicious fighting all around. Bodies were being carried and moved to be given a proper burial. And now they bately had enough to hold off the men.
She grit her teeth, this was her fault. She just had to stay and listen to the vampire's words. If she returned with Alameria in tow then she could've made a difference.
But in that situation, Wynne would've just fought them to keep them distracted.
If Olivie was calm, she would've realized this as well. Regardless, they needed to retreat. This mission was a failure, most of the monsters had fled through here and it was obvious.
Now they ran rampant all across Lescatie, near the border.
She sighed, now wasn't the time to think about that. She needed to get her men home,
She just hoped that the rest had better luck than they did.
Lupine eyes glared at a set of draconic ones, their irises illuminated by the sparks of their weapons. The Dragonspear faced off against the Shadow, their clash caused the surrounding men to look in fear and awe.
No words were shared between the two, no words needed to be said. Both had come here for a singular purpose, to slay the other. Alas, the surrounding men could not be ignored.
"It's-It's the Wolfman!"
"No way, he's actually real!?"
"He's a monster, right, so… who do we fight!?"
Wilmarina grit her teeth, the appearance of these new players had ruined whatever stratagem they came up with before. The mission was as good as a failure, they needed to retreat and regroup. Their focus was on one another, good. That meant that they should be able to fall back.
"Neither, we fall back and regroup. Signal the other two squads to retreat back to base!" Wilmarina yelled out,
This was met with a few nods, they knew that they were outmatched here. Throwing away lives pointlessly would do them no good. If they were fortunate, then perhaps they could retreat without facing any other threat.
Despite the logic in this order, Isaac could not heed it.
The wolfman, the one he was looking for, was standing right in front of him. His eyes were widened, pupils shrunk. He recognized that blade, that growl, even those eyes.
And while there was doubt in his mind, it was clear in his heart. So as the unit moved back, he stepped forward.
"Isaac!" Luciana yelled out, grabbing him by the shoulder. "Don't! We need to go!"
Isaac looked at his friend with widened eyes, he could see the desperation in her eyes, he heard the pleading in her tone. But he couldn't do what she wanted him to do.
"Luciana, let go…" He began, trying to gently push her off but she wouldn't budge.
"Isaac, Please… you could get yourself killed!" Luciana yelled out, Isaac grit his teeth.
"I know that, Luciana! But I've been waiting a whole year for this, if I don't do this now then I might never be able to see him again!" Isaac yelled out, causing Luciana to pause.
He then shook her hand off roughly, running towards both Vyke and the Wolfman in a desperate sprint. Luciana reached out, once more calling his name but he didn't listen.
Vyke and Blaidd had their blades locked onto one another, their beastial eyes glaring at the others form. Before long, the Wolf decided to move first. Swinging his blade upwards, Blaidd managed to push Vyke away before he swung it down.
Vyke dodged, but as he did a flurry of ice exploded at where he struck: partially freezing parts of Vyke's armor. Taking a few steps back, Vyke countered with a thrust of his spear. Blaidd sidestepped it, but was cut in a few parts of his body. He grit his teeth, holding in the pain as the dragonspear's bolt surged through his system.
Using the momentum of his initial strike, he positioned himself onto a more advantageous position. Lifting his blade up, he then thrust it upon the Dragonspear.
Vyke jumped, stepping onto the large blade before he thrust the spear once more. Widening his eyes, Mikhail swung the blade onto a nearby tree to get the draconic knight off.
Vyke jumped off just in time to avoid the tree, one that was roughly cleaved in two with that one strike. It fell with a mighty crash, the space where it was cut being covered in ice.
Vyke charged in for another strike, one that Blaidd caught with his massive blade. The two were locked in another struggle, one that attempted to overpower the other.
Underneath his armor, the Dragonspear grit his teeth. In terms of sheer physical strength, the Wolf had him beat. If he was in his old body, then perhaps things could have been different. Unknown to him, The Shadow was also having similar thoughts.
He wasn't as fast as he usually was. That and his strength was miniscule compared to his old form. This was the first time he's been pushed this hard. That being said, Blaidd noticed that Vyke was struggling in holding him off.
'Physically speaking… I guess I'm still stronger than him… in that case.' He thought before he suddenly pushed forward, forcing the Dragonspear away.
He was about to swing the blade against him, however…
"Mikhail!" A yell sounded out from the background.
Immediately, Blaidd's eyes widened. He turned to the source of the voice, his worst fears coming true. There stood another boy with a large blade and wolven eyes. He was breathing heavily, somewhat exhausted but still standing.
'No, No, No, What are you doing here, Isaac!?' He thought in a panic. His eyes looked on at the surroundings. He noticed the shadows gathering around, their hooded forms and daggers laid bare.
He clicked his tongue, his eyes turning to Vyke. He had two choices, leave Isaac here and continue his fight. If he did that, then it was likely that he'd get killed by the assassins sitting atop the trees. Or he could come and move Isaac away, giving up his current initiative and showing his back to a foe who was faster than he was.
The answer was already clear in his mind. Killing Vyke would be a great boon in his fight against the Golden Order, but he can't just let his new brother die. He grit his teeth, his fangs showing beneath his wolf mask.
Immediately he ran towards the boy and grabbed him. Isaac yelped, asking him what he was doing but Blaidd ignored it. Placing him over his shoulder, he raced away through the trees.
Vyke looked on at the sight with confusion, his eyes narrowing before a thought hit his mind. 'I see… so the wolf might have family here…' he could make good use of this knowledge.
He nodded to the figures in the trees, signalling them the go ahead to pursue. Quickly, he too moved forward. Channeling his draconic powers to its fullest before he sped towards their direction.
…
Isaac's eyes were widened, his irises catching the trees speeding past his form. Or… no, it wasn't them speeding by his body, rather it was he who was moving at speeds faster than he could process.
It was a dizzying experience, he had to admit.
His eyes turned to the Wolf speeding through the forest. One arm carrying him by his waist, his body lying on the shoulder. The rest of his limbs moved to aid the wolf move through the forest. He jumped through streams, climbed trees, leaped from branch to branch, all in an attempt to get him away from the fighting.
"Hey! You're going a little too fast!" Isaac struggled, but he found his form to be locked firmly in place.
His eyes then turned to the forest, his eyes gazing on at the trees before something caught his eye. There in the distance was a figure bathed in red, their form speeding through the forest. Not only that, there were other figures on the trees. Speeding through in a similar vein, with daggers that glowed a deep red.
He widened his eyes, the figure in the distance soon became clear. An armored helmet and draconic eyes stared at him impassively, as if he saw him as nothing more than collateral.
A red glow sparked in his hands, a spear of lightning manifesting before Isaac's very eyes.
Before long, he threw, and for a split second Isaac could feel the intense heat flying from the spear. It moved as fast as lightning, and would strike with a devastation that only dragons were truly capable of.
But before it could strike his face, Blaidd had ducked out of the way and changed directions. This forced the Dragonspear to slow down for just a split second before he continued on his chase.
More spears of lightning formed, but this time it was accompanied by the faint red glows of daggers. His eyes widened, his one pursuer had become multiple. All of whom were doing their best to slay them both.
A barrage of red flew towards them, Blaidd grit his teeth. He dodged and weaved through most, cringing as he was lightly grazed by one or two strikes. Destined Death invaded his form, Blaidd almost bucked but kept on his move.
'So this is destined death, I can see now why Godwyn fell to it… Lady Ranni is ruthless…' Blaidd thought grimmly. He held no allegiance to the Demigod. In fact, being Ranni's shadow, he was indirectly involved in his death.
'But… no wait- something's off, it feels… weaker…' Blaidd thought to himself. The feelings of death weren't as intense as it should be. It stung, sure, but it wasn't the same type of death that they had used on Godwyn. '...A sham? Or… perhaps something else.'
"Watch out!" Isaac yelled out in a panic. Widening his eyes, Blaidd narrowly dodged another lightning strike. Almost a direct hit, he almost died right then and there.
He shook his head, now wasn't really the time for such thoughts, and he almost found himself on the receiving end of the Dragonspear's lightning because of it. He knew this forest in and out, and wanted to use that as an advantage. Getting up the trees, he lept from tree to tree, moving asymmetrically to confuse and lose his opponents.
Boom!
An explosion of red ran behind his back. Turning his head, he found that Vyke had burnt a few trees to ash in an attempt to get closer to him. All with a single lightning strike to the ground.
Blaidd grit his teeth, with how fast and agile Vyke moved, he just wouldn't be able to lose him. Not without him sacrificing Isaac, and that was a prospect that he wouldn't even consider. Has this place made him soft? Perhaps, but he was always overly loyal to those he found to be his family.
Case in point, his refusal to do his duty as a shadow and keep Ranni alive. Even when madness took control, he would not submit to the Golden Order's will for their sake.
The same way he would've died for Elt, for Ranni, and for Iji. He now found that he would willingly suffer the same fate for those he became close to.
Turning once more, he continued on his run. This time, his destination was clear. A clearing just nearby, one where he'd attempt to make a stand because it was clear that he couldn't leave Isaac alone.
As he moved, he found two black knife assassins blocking his way. Gritting his teeth, he used one hand to grab his greatsword before he cleaved through them both. Red covered the ground, their bisected forms being thrown across the forest.
Before long, he managed to reach the clearing where he placed Isaac down. "Isaac, what are you doing here!?" He asked while he prepared himself for a fight.
"W-What am I doing here!? What the fuck are you doing here!?" Isaac began, getting up slowly. He sounded frustrated, annoyed, and angry; a combination of emotions that Blaidd was all too familiar with. He understood him, he left both Leopold and Isaac on their own while he began his crusade against the Golden Order.
He hit himself mentally, he shouldn't have assumed that Isaac would've stayed put. The incident in the forest showed him that Isaac was as reckless as he was stubborn.
"Isaac, I can't answer that question but you need to listen to me-" "You were gone for a year! Without any sort of explanation at all? You could've left a letter, something of the sort but you just left!" Isaac began, angrily looking on at Mikhail.
Blaidd grit his teeth, he didn't have the time to deal with Isaac's questions. As valid as they were, this just was not the time.
"Isaac!" Blaidd suddenly yelled, shutting Isaac up before he sighed.
"Listen to me, I'll explain to you later but for now I need you to do what I say." Blaidd demanded, Isaac just stared dumbly before he nodded.
"Pick up your sword, and get ready to defend yourself." Blaidd stated, causing Isaac to pause before he pulled out his own oversized sword. He couldn't tell him to run, not out here in the middle of nowhere. He saw how fast those assassins moved, if he ran then it was likely that they'd simply catch up with him.
"Do you remember everything I've taught you?"
Isaac nodded,
"Good, because you're going to need to use everything you've learnt… I'll try to protect you as much as possible but…" Blaidd trailed off. He was unsure at how capable he was at that, considering who it was he was fighting.
Before long, the sounds of footsteps ran around the forest. Looking around, he could see the hollow looks of the Black Knife Assassins stare back at him.
They raised their red glowing daggers, ready to make a move. He heard the sounds of footsteps and clanking armor from the front, its owner moving forward with lethal intent. Soon, the armor of the Dragonspear showed itself.
His Draconic eyes once more glared at the Lupine eyes of both opponents. His spear raised, he pointed it at the Wolf. "I assume that the boy next to you is of great importance."
Blaidd said nothing, only glaring at the Draconic knight. Isaac gulped, gripping his blade as he readied himself.
"I offer you an accord, surrender yourself and the boy shall be spared." Vyke offered,
Blaidd paused. Even if they were enemies, Vyke was a knight through and through. If it came from his mouth, then there was a high likelihood that he would follow. But…
His eyes turned to the Black Knife Assassins. While Vyke could be trusted, his colleagues could not be. He's personally seen them, they have no real regard for honor and the like. As soon as they see Isaac as a liability, they will have him killed.
So in response to his offer, Blaidd's response was to send a shard of ice flying to him. Vyke dodged, an expected outcome. Narrowing his eyes, Vyke sighed before he spoke.
"I see, then may this battle be as glorious as our past lifetimes." He then got into a stance, Isaac did much the same. Blaidd too got into one, readying himself as red lightning surged through the dragonspear.
The surrounding assassins did much the same, bearing the arms for all to see. Isaac took a deep breath, his lupine eyes glaring at the figures above.
"Isaac, word of advice." Blaidd began, gripping his blade tightly. "No matter what, do not get hit by their daggers."
Isaac paused, confusion clear on his face. He just nodded in turn, unsure of what to make of that advice. Looking on at its glowing forms, Isaac could feel a sense of dread. He'd heed that advice, even if his abilities were far from Blaidd's own.
A tense silence filled the area, both sides waiting for the other to make a move. Before long, the Dragonspear decided to strike first. He launched himself forward, moving towards blaidd with his spear held up.
Seeing this, Blaidd widened his eyes. He swung his large blade to the side, moving in an angle that was difficult to dodge from. Vyke jumped in response, moving up before a cackling red noise came out of his arm.
A red symbol manifested behind the Dragonspear, a cloud forming on his arm before…
'What the fuck!?' Isaac thought, his eyes glued to the draconic arm sprouting out his hand. Blaidd widened his eyes, quickly rolling to the side as a dragonclaw slammed itself on the space he once stood in. Dust flew out, a cloud of dirt and debris formed as Vyke's draconic eyes turned to the staggered wolf.
Recovering quickly, Vyke pushed himself towards the Shadow. Spear held aloft, he took this opportunity to thrust at his target. On his backfoot, Blaidd moved his sword up to intercept the strike.
A series of clashes followed, sword met spear, armors were pierced and cut through, and blood flew out. Yet none of the two seemed to stop, if anything, they only intensified the onslaught. With Vyke preoccupied, the Assassins set their sights on the lone wolf standing at the center.
Quickly, they charged forth.
Isaac widened his eyes, preparing himself for the onslaught ahead. He swung his blade, but the Assassins were too fast. One of them sidestepped out of the way, the other moving under it before she attempted to cut into his cuirass.
Isaac dodged, stumbling through attack after attack. He grit his teeth, compared to the monsters, the assassins here were far more deadly. Each move was calculated, each strike was aimed at a vital organ, and all had the cold dispassion of a true assassin.
Comparing them to the monsters would be like comparing a savage beast to a cold and methodical killer. Isaac just wasn't skilled enough to deal with them.
He blocked an incoming strike with his greatsword, moving out of the way to dodge another. He parried, blocked, dodged for as much as he could but the fatigue was sligjtly getting to him.
He grit his teeth; he needed to act now lest he get himself killed. He wasn't fast enough with his greatsword, so instead…
He swung his greatsword, and predictably, the assassins dodged again. He let them get close, using this perceived slight as an opening for them to exploit. But before he finished his swing, he pulled out the dagger from his sheath.
As one of the assassins came close, he stabbed her in the hood causing blood to flow out from its wound. Kicking her away, he used this momentary pause to get away. Now gaining distance between them, they looked on at him before they reassessed their stratagem.
Getting close proved to be unwise, so they instead decided to unleash a barrage. Red flames washed over him; his eyes widened as he tried his best to defend but it was too much. But just before he could be struck, a wall of ice rose to block their advance. Out from the corner, a familiar blue-haired heroine burst through the forest with her blade held aloft.
Swinging her blade, she took down one of the assassins before she moved right in front of Isaac. "Are you alright?" She asked, her attention still on the assassins.
Stunned, Isaac stuttered to get words out. "Uh… I think- wait, how did you find me?" He asked,
Wilmarina just pointed in a certain direction, and Isaac's eyes turned. Immediately, he understood how. In their mad dash out, he and Mikhail had caused quite the devastation to the local flora. Burnt trees, collapsed stone, scratches, and bodies all made for breadcrumbs that Wilmarina followed.
She wasn't alone, however. Another figure burst through, her blonde hair and golden eyes skillfully moving into position. With her blade held out, Luciana readied herself for a defense.
The Black Knife Assassins all turned to one another, each strategizing before they readied themselves once more. Spinning her blade around, Wilmarina got into another stance with Luciana. Not wanting to be left out, Isaac too joined in.
They were outnumbered and in some ways, outmatched. If they wanted to live, they needed to keep watch on each other's backs. Before long, the battle began once more.
…
A torrent of flames burned through the forest, a draconic head spewing out an endless sea of fire. Blaidd had taken refuge behind a rock, one that nearly fell under the burning power of a dragon. He grits his teeth, he should've expected that Vyke was still capable of dragon incantations.
Once the onslaught was completed, Blaidd launched himself upwards. He swung his blade down at Vyke, aiming to close the distance between himself and the Dragonspear. Vyke dodged, the strike causing a mist of ice to explode out onto the surroundings.
Vyke reeled back, feeling his armor cool rapidly under the mist. Using this, Blaidd swung his blade towards him. Finding no time to dodge, Vyke raised his spear. The force of the strike, however, was too much for the Dragonspear. He was sent flying, his form crashing into a nearby tree.
Seizing this opportunity, Blaidd ran in with his sword held up. Once near, he swung his blade down and used the momentum to spring himself up. Spinning, used the force to strike at where Vyke was.
Widening his eyes, Vyke brought his spear up once again. A loud boom echoed out, ice and lightning once more clashing. Dust got kicked up, the tree bark below breaking into splinters from the strike.
Once more, the two combatants locked blades. But this time, there was nowhere for Vyke to escape. He grit his teeth, his draconic eyes glaring once more at the lupine eyes of his opponent. Lucky for him however, he wasn't alone in this fight. A Black Knife Assassin snuck up from behind, raising her dagger before she swung it at the wolf.
Widening his eyes, Blaidd hastily defended himself, swinging his blade at the assassin. Metal met with armor, the sheer force crushing the organs beneath and even cracking the assassin's spine.
The armor soon gave out, the blade cleaving through metal, skin, and bone. The corpse was sent flying away, but it provided Vyke with the opportunity he needed to move away. He looked on at the corpse of the assassin. A begrudging respect forming for his fallen comrade.
'I didn't even know her name,' Vyke thought to himself. A shame, was it bravery or cold desire that drove her to throw her life away like that? He guessed that the rest of the Assassins were the same.
With both combatants recovering, they resumed their brawl. The two clashed, stabbed and slashed one another. Wounds formed on both combatants, blood spilt through the forest ground. Lightning clashed with ice, the wolf bit the dragon and the dragon bit back.
Soon, the two were standing exhausted and injured. Their surroundings had all been reduced to ash in a brawl that would've leveled the entire capital if left uncontained. Vyke grit his teeth, his eyes looking on as Blaidd got into another stance. He looked over to the corner of his eyes. He watched as the Assassins fought against the blue-haired heroine and the two others.
His eyes narrowed at the lupine boy with her. He was obviously precious to the shadow. That much was clear when he gave away the initiative to attempt to get him out of harm's way. If so… he had an idea he could use.
It was a tactic he hated doing, but something he needed to try. The Golden Order already saw him as a failure and an abomination. They looked at him with mistrust and hate. He had a mission to fulfill, and he needed it done no matter what.
Lifting his hand, red lightning poured through once again. A glaive formed in his hand, sparking red lightning and illuminating the forest with its unnatural glow. Blaidd widened his eyes, the rest of the combatants in the clearing followed suit. Immediately, the Assassins retreated back into the forest.
Wilmarina, Luciana and Isaac all stood stunned; the sheer scale of what the glaive was absurd. Thinking quickly, Wilmarina moved forward to shield her comrades with a raised blade. As soon as Vyke swung, Wilmarina swung her blade up. A torrent of lightning came crashing down. The surrounding forest was burnt in an instant. The ground charred and the rocks around turned into molten stone.
From where Wilmarina, a large wall of ice had formed. Towering above many in the forest, a large glacial wall of ice blocked the advance. Sparks flew and the mountain of ice cracked, but Wilmarina did her best to keep it from striking those behind it. An impressive display, one that fit her status as the greatest heroine in Lescatie.
However… compared to Vyke, the man who came closest to becoming an Elden Lord outside of Elt. The man who followed grace and fought off against horrors beyond this world. From Gods to warriors of great renown. A man who could've flattened this forest and all surrounding it if he so desired…
It wasn't enough,
The strain was too much for the poor girl to bear, with gritted teeth she pushed through as much as she could but it was clear that she'd fall sooner or later. Using this opportunity, some of the assassins came out of hiding to attack, uncaring of the danger their lives were in. To them, their lives were inconsequential compared to the mission they were tasked with.
Luciana and Isaac put up a good defence, but without Wilmarina their fighting prowess had all but dwindled. Seeing the trouble his brother was in, Blaidd grit his teeth. Vyke stood there, his eyes watching impassively as he waited for Blaidd to move.
Isaac blocked another dagger, but he couldn't defend himself against a strike from his back. He yelped, hissing in pain as he felt his power dwindle. Death called to him, beckoning him to its cold embrace. And for a while, it appeared as though he might've succumbed to it.
He felt his head get light, he felt his body feel heavy. The sounds of screaming and shouting had all but dulled, all Isaac could do was collapse. The last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was his fellow wolf running after him.
…
Blaidd ran in with a roar, a howl. With a few swift strikes, he struck his brother's attackers dead. Blood covered the forest ground as he knelt beside his injured brother. "No, No… No!" Blaidd stuttered out,
He should be used to this, used to the feeling of death and pain. It was the price one had to pay for being Ranni's shadow. He wasn't even sure as to why he'd feel so strongly. He had only known Isaac for a fraction of his existence, 20 years was nothing in the face of eons of his life.
And yet here he was, worried over someone he only knew for a fraction of his existence. He paused, the same rang through for the Tarnished. He only knew him for months at most and yet he left a deep impression.
For all his life, Isaac had been a mystery to him.
Questions like 'What's my purpose here?' to 'What purpose does having a brother in this place have?' rang through his mind.
But what was clear was this, he held a deep familial love towards him. He'd only ever experienced something with Ranni, Iji, and even Elt. They were brothers, both in blood and now in arms.
He cradled his body, checking his pulse to see if he lived still. He let out a small sigh of relief but that was cold comfort. Luciana had also dropped by his side, shaking his body and pleading for him to wake.
But alas, he stayed still. On a hero, the effects of the false Destined Death were temporary. But Isaac was no hero, strength aside there was little of note about the boy.
Blaidd grit his teeth, trying to think of what to do. He placed himself before both the other heroes and Vyke. His draconic form moving forth, eyes lit like a flaming torrent.
Enraged, Blaidd grit his teeth as he ran forward without mercy. He fought like a ruthless beast, struck with madness and rage. Vyke widened his eyes, hastening a quick block before their clash continued.
In the beginning, his vicious style of fighting became more erratic, he poured more strength into each swing. He was relentless in his attacks, but in his relentless fury he also became predictable.
Seeing an opportunity, the dragonspear thrust his blade forth.
Blaidd felt a sharp pain on his front, his form reeling as his eyes looked back. The spear went through armor, flesh tearing as his blade caused a gaping wound. Vyke stood impassively, holding out his spear before he pulled it away.
"Forgive me," he commented, his eyes turning to the others who looked at him with fear and hate.
"But orders are orders…" He added, this method left a bitter taste in his mouth. But it was the quickest and most efficient way he could think of.
He already threw his honor away. Vyke was in a sense, 'Tarnished', in every sense of the world.
"If you want forgiveness…" a voice called out from the background, Vyke immediately turned his attention to the forest.
Holding his spear out, he looked around before…
Clang!
The Dragonspear struck with sharpened claws, blood red eyes meeting with his draconic ones. A certain blonde vampire skidded through the dirt, stopping just where Blaidd was before her eyes turned to him.
"Offer me your head first, dragon." She snarled out.
The wolf still lived; in fact, he was still conscious. Getting up, he pulled his blade up to attack. Even with a mortal wound, Blaidd would not fall so easily. Seeing this, Vyke raised his brow. Swinging his blade around, he readied himself for another attack.
Alas, Wynne had other plans. "Blaidd, most of the monsters have retreated. It's time we leave…"
Blaidd wanted to protest, fury and rage crossing his form before he looked at Isaac. "I need to save him,"
Wynne didn't even say anything, her blood-red eyes turned to the other three. From the looks of it, both Wilmarina and Luciana were hostile to her. But…
"Blaidd, we don't have time for this. The other assassins are on their way, we need to leave." Wynne argued,
"I know you can save him, Wynne… please," Blaidd pleaded.
Wynne's eyes took on a difficult form. She clicked her tongue, frustration filling her mind as she sighed. "If I do this… I might not have enough mana to heal your injury." She warned.
This particular action would cost her much, but she had already drained some of her demonic energy on another matter… If she helped Isaac and the others escaped, she may not have enough to save him.
Or at least, to bring him back into his full capabilities.
Blaidd didn't even hesitate, "Just do it, Wynne."
"...Sigh, Alright… I got it." She muttered out. Soon enough, a flurry of bats moved through the forest, covering it in darkness. Vyke shielded his eyes, swatting away a few of them before the swarm vanished.
Once gone, he found that the others had disappeared with them. He furrowed his brows, his eyes turning to see where they went.
His comrades moved, turning to him as they awaited their next orders. Looking at the bats flying away in multiple separate directions, he sighed and turned back. They weren't going to catch up, their mission was a failure.
"Retreat, we've lost enough today." Vyke ordered,
His draconic eyes turned to the blood pooling below him. That fight had also left him drained, he needed to recover first before he could do any more chasing.
He resolved himself,
The Dragon would meet the Wolf once more.
"We haven't really had a chance to just talk like this in a while now, huh?" Elt voiced out.
He currently stood near the abandoned orphanage in the forest. He sat on one of the rocks nearby, his back leaning on a tree. Beside him stood Sasha Fullmoon, violet eyes staring at the children playing around.
"Indeed, but that's understandable considering our circumstances. I hope that things will calm down now, but…" she trailed off. There was doubt in her voice, a feeling that washed over her ever since that baphomet was finally driven away.
"It will, Sasha. Don't worry about it," He reassured, his eyes turning to his other side as he looked at Adelie beside him. The little Orc girl was trying her best to make a new garland, so far her progress was minimal but she was working quite hard on it.
Sasha bit her lip when he said that, 'He couldn't look me in the eyes when he said it…'
It was one of the habits he had. Whenever he says something or lies, he can't look that person straight in the eyes. It was the reason why she trusted him when he said that he'd get rid of the baphomet for her. His eyes were locked with hers, and she could see the steely gaze within.
Elt was and still is afraid. But as to what he's afraid of, she couldn't tell.
Elt, wanting to change the topic, decided to speak up once more. "...I think we should let Primera know about the Orphans."
Sasha tilted her head, "A-Are you sure? I don't want to doubt her, but letting her know would be risky."
Elt just shrugged at that, "It would… but… hiding this from her after everything just feels… wrong."
'Besides, she's not the type to betray her family.' He mentally added. He saw no real downside to letting her know. At least this way, she can come and help out every once in a while.
Sasha paused and thought about it, nodding as she processed the information. "...Even still, I'm not sure how she'd react to the monsters considering…" She trailed off.
Elt just shook his head, considering what he told her, this was practically nothing. "If it comes down to it, I'll try to talk her out of anything rash."
Sasha just sighed. "I'm not sure that I can agree with this, Elt, but… I'll trust you." She finalized.
With a small smile, Elt just gave another nod before he leaned back in place.
"So-" Elt began, turning his eyes to Sasha before he spoke up. "You said that you stopped hearing the Chief God?"
He never really had the chance to ask, but now that he was here, he might as well. Sasha scratched the back of her head.
"Is… that a bad thing?"
Elt shook his head, "Considering what I've done, I'm not really the right person to ask." He admitted.
"Is that the reason why you've stopped praying to the Chief God?" Sasha asked, head tilted.
Elt blinked, a hand scratching the back of his head as he let out a nervous laugh. "...Well… that somewhat has to do with it, yeah… I'm surprised that you noticed."
Sasha let out a soft giggle, "Of course I did, you diligently followed the Chief God before… but… ever since then, I haven't noticed you praying. That, and your reaction to me harboring monsters could be considered blasphemous."
"I can't really hide anything from you, can I?" He started with a soft smile.
"Neither can I hide anything from you," She retorted with her own small smile. Elt laughed slightly and looked back up at the sky. Moving his hand up, he conjured a small flame as he thought.
"Do you think it's bad that I stopped believing in her?" He asked, turning his head to Sasha.
She shook her head in response. "Not at all… I myself have been questioning my faith, yet…" she trailed off, her eyes turning to the children.
"I wouldn't say that I've lost faith yet, but… I suppose that I'm simply confused about everything." She answered with a small sigh.
"...I know the feeling well," Elt sighed with her. He leaned back on the tree as he looked up at the sky once more. He narrowed his gaze, eyes turning into hollow sockets as thoughts rang through his mind.
It had been a hard pill to swallow at first, but the similarities between the Greater Will and the Chief God couldn't be ignored. Tyrannical Deities holding sway over all of creation, leading armies to destroy and kill all who didn't conform. They both represented the word Order, the difference was that the former had clear control of the world.
At least until the Shattering…
He couldn't fool himself, the Chief God was on her last ropes. Surrounded on all sides by monsters, the only reason she still lived was because the Demon Lord still allowed it. Should the armies of monsterkind march forward with unyielding intent, the Order would perish forevermore. It was a pitiful sight, an underdog struggle that even he almost felt sorry for.
But after seeing the atrocities committed in the name of Order…
He couldn't bring himself to aid them, nor could he do so for the monsters. All he cared about now was the safety of his friends and family, an apathetic worldview that ran against Ranni's own in a way.
It was one of the reasons as to why the two couldn't really be together.
In the end, he was as selfish as they came.
"You said that it somewhat had to do with it, I'm guessing that isn't the main reason why you feel that way." Sasha began, sitting down on a rock beside him before Elt spoke up.
"...I guess I just had a realization," He shrugged, a tired look overcoming his face as he leaned back.
"I saw a world both neglected and abused by the divine. I saw a shattered and broken world: where life, death, time, and reality are all a jumbled mess." Elt began, eyes closed as he recalled his time there.
"This broken world couldn't send me home, so I had to fix it first. I destroyed gods, altered reality and manipulated the very concepts to bring a new order onto the world." Elt added, he opened his eyes once more and held his hand out.
"Seeing all of that, and then coming back to this. I guess I just realized that it isn't that different." He started with a tired shrug. A golden glow covered his hand, a rune forming above his palms before he clasped his hand closed.
Sasha blinked, looking at Elt for a second before she moved in close. Tilting his head, Elt looked at her with a confused look before she pulled him in for a hug. He widened his eyes, moving back a bit in surprise but Sasha wouldn't let him move any further.
Her soft arms pulled him into her chest, a warm feeling overtaking him as she caressed the top of his head. She let him stay there in her gentle hands, eyes turning down as she spoke. "It must've been difficult for you, hasn't it?"
Her tone was gentle, familial and soothing to his ears. He widened his eyes in response to it, lips twitching as he processed this act. It was hard, the hardest thing he's ever done in his life. An act of legend, one that would've been recorded in history if it were to get out. But to him, it brought him nothing but torment.
"...Sasha-" he began, trying to think of what to say. As much as he wanted to stay in her embrace, he didn't know if he deserved such kindness.
"Hush now, Elt. Your big sister is trying to comfort you." She stated with a small smile, one that Elt mirrored with his own.
"Sasha- please… I think you should let go…" He stated, his tone somewhat pleading.
Sasha's eyes widened at that, this reaction wasn't one that she expected. Taking a step back, she looked on at him before he spoke. "S-Sorry… just… it just reminded me of something." He stated with a small sad smile.
Sasha's eyes turned down a bit. "O-Oh…"
"...Something from that… place?" She asked,
Elt didn't speak, only nodding in turn. Such an intimate form of contact gave him memories. While he himself is able to give it out, receiving it just felt… off… for him. It reminded him too much of…
No, he promised himself that he'd put that place behind him.
"I-I see… unfortunate, then." She stated, she had a difficult expression on her face. She honestly didn't know how to help him here. What exactly could've happened to him over there, to the point where even an act of intimacy like that would cause him to freeze up.
Elt gave a small sad smile, "Yeah… Sorry about that, Sasha… but- I'll be fine." He stuttered out.
She gave him a reassuring look, placing a hand on her lap as she leaned back. "No-No, don't worry about it… but…" she trailed off, trying to think of what to say.
"...Elt… I know I asked this before but… are you really okay?" She asked once more.
The answer he gave her before was unsatisfactory, a lie he told them all to keep face. He was wearing a mask, one to protect him and them from who he was underneath. He wanted for things to return to what it once was, for everything to go back to normal but even she knew that this was impossible.
Elt was living in a delusion, but Sasha didn't know how to get him out of it. She was too kind, and because of that kindness she couldn't just tell him straight. All she could do was to play into this delusion, tell him that everything was going to be fine.
But something told her that things would change. Better or for worse? She didn't know.
"...Sasha… I-..." he began, thinking of what to say before she gave him a kind look.
"You don't need to force yourself to speak, Elt… you can tell me what you want to say when you're ready." She stated,
"...No matter what, I'll be here by your side…" She continued on.
Elt looked at her with a conflicted look. He was happy about what she said, but…
Before this line of thought continued, Adelie suddenly spoke up.
"I will be there too! Along with Big Sister Merri!" She yelled out proudly, showing off her newest garland to Elt with an expectant look. Seeing this, Elt just smiled at her before he patted her head.
"...Thank you, Adelie…" he stated, his blue eyes turning to Sasha.
"...Thank you…"
A black-haired blue-eyed boy walked through the streets of Lescatie with a book in his hand. The sun hung overhead, the crowd surrounding him conversed, bantered and bartered as he walked. Currently, he was on his way to Cafe Loumède once more. He's managed to acquire a bit of money from his master as a sort of allowance.
A fact that he was both happy and irked at, considering the circumstances. Regardless, he moved through the streets without much thought. He just wanted another Sacred Parfait, he wouldn't admit but he's become quite addicted.
Lucas never really knew that he had quite the sweet tooth, but he supposed that it was only natural. Eventually, he reached a flight of stairs that led to the plaza. Stepping one foot down, he walked down the steps before a voice spoke up.
"In the darkened abyss, the moonlight tore through the void and all that was left was pure white."
Lucas widened his eyes, that verse… it was from the book he was currently reading.
His eyes turned and his gaze fell upon a girl that looked his age. White hair topped her head, a beret sat above it bearing a pin that resembled a goat. Her violet eyes looked on at him with both amusement and caution. She wore a green dress, a skirt that reached down onto her knees.
A cane was pressed firmly on the ground, her small hands holding it as she stared at him with a small smile. Despite her childlike appearance, she exuded a more mature aura: as if she was older than her appearance.
It was more accurate to say that she resembled a petite short girl than an actual little girl with how she looked.
"My apologies, I noticed the book you currently held in your hands and I couldn't help but speak. The Tragedy of Clover Carstein, correct?" She asked,
Even her voice betrayed her appearance. Instead of the childlike tone he expected, it was instead mature and lady-like. Soft spoken but sure of herself. Confident yet humble.
"...Yes… that is the book in my hands…" He started out, a hand moving to his back and readying an incantation just in case.
The Tragedy of Clover Carstein was an old tale. It was a cynical story, one that was too grim for most readers and yet it had a certain allure. He wasn't going to lie, it might be his favorite story coming here.
"I see, a good choice… But I'm unsure if the themes are appropriate for someone so young." She added, her eyes then turned to the plaza below the steps. Her eyes narrowed at the sight before she spoke once more.
"Are you headed to Cafe Loumède?" She asked,
Lucas panicked, 'How did she-'
"Considering your current belongings, I'd assume that you're here for a good place to read. And seeing as how the library is in another direction, Cafe Loumède seemed to be the obvious choice." She answered, seemingly reading his mind.
"...Yes… I suppose so…" He added,
"Do you mind if I come with you? I've been meaning to try their Sacred Parfait. I heard it was to die for." She then asked,
Lucas looked around, his eyes turning to her before he analyzed his choices. As much as he wanted to say no, this might be the only opportunity for him to learn who she was and what she wanted. Judging from the goat pin on her beret, he already had an idea on what she was.
Would it be wise, however? With it being midday and crowded, she couldn't reveal herself. Café Loumède should also be quite populated at this hour. This should mean that she wasn't out to fight him, and he's already discovered that Demonic Energy couldn't affect him. That at least meant that she couldn't manipulate his mind, at least not with Demonic Energy.
There was no apparent danger involved. In fact, he held the advantage.
But she should know this too…
He assessed his options, with her showing herself here then it was likely that she was not here to fight. Then the only other explanation was for the two to negotiate, that was the only logical conclusion. That or she was here to gather information.
Both options seemed likely… in that case, he'd just hold his tongue.
Reluctantly, he spoke up.
"...Very well…"
The girl smirked, her eyes turning down before she suddenly perked up. "Oh, but you know…."
"If you're going to invite a lady to a Café, then you could at least lend her your name."
Lucas' eyes would've twitched but he held it back. This girl was annoying, that much he could infer. Not to mention the possible threat she served. He needed to handle this situation delicately,
"...Lucas," he said curtly,
No need for long introductions, she asked for his name and he gave it. Seeing this, the girl sighed.
"Not much of a speaker, are you? Very well…" She then stated before she gave a small bow.
Blue eyes met with violet ones once more. Both of which assessing the other and determine the possible threat they served. She gave a small smirk, he gave her a frown in turn.
"You may call me Shiro,"
…
"...Interesting," Shiro stated, her eyes inspecting the parfait in her table. Dipping a finger into it, she gave it a small taste as her features noticeably brightened.
"The texture and the combination is fantastic, not to mention the sprinkles and combination of chocolate." She commented, taking a spoonful of it before placing it in her mouth.
"And the way it melts in your mouth is delectable… I can see now why this dish is so famous." She added before she continued eating.
Lucas' own parfait was just sitting there and melting. He found that he didn't exactly have the appetite after she came along… whatever she was.
'Why is she here? What purpose would she have for coming here? Vengeance? Information? What is it that she desires?' He thought as he took a bite of his own.
Once she finished her parfait, her eyes then turned to Lucas. "Well, that was a delectable treat. Was it not?"
Having had enough, Lucas decided to just be blunt. "Enough of this, Who are you and what do you want?"
Shiro blinked, her purple eyes narrowing before she spoke. "Awfully rude, couldn't you wait until we're somewhere more private?"
"No, as long as we're in a public space then neither you nor I could act. I'm not risking being alone with one of your kind." He hissed out. He was understandably hostile to her, considering who she was and what she wanted.
"So you've discovered me quite easily. Was it the pin? Perhaps I should've left it behind, alas, that was a mistake on my part." She stated as she took off her beret. Taking out the pin, she placed it on the table before she wore her hat once more.
"...regardless, I needed you to recognize what I am. I had no intention of hiding myself from you." Shiro answered, leaning back she played around with her glass before she continued on.
Lucas raised his brow, "Answer me then, what do you want from me?"
"If I may use a euphemism, a white flag often means the desire for negotiation. I wish to talk, to negotiate with you on a matter concerning someone close to me." Shiro answered,
"A white flag was also used to feign surrender. How many times has honor been abused and exploited in war? I am not beholden to such things, I desire nothing from you." Lucas retorted, his tone sharp as knives.
"I came here into arguably the most anti-monster nation on this side of the world. Strolled deep into the center and I am now sitting across a doll with the capability to harm a Baphomet. I am making a gamble by coming here." She sighed out, closing her eyes as she leaned forward.
"Believe me when I say this, I desire nothing from this miserable nation, nor do I want to harm your lord." Shiro added.
Lucas raised his brow, "Then what is it that you desire?"
"All I desire is a cure, the red-haired one caused great harm to my dear sister so I sought you to broker a method to fix her current predicament." Shiro answered,
The black-haired boy tilted his head, his mind running through the possibility before his eyes widened. Destined Death, that must've been the cause. His eyes saw his master conjure the Black Blade, a weapon that made use of Destined Death to force the concept of death onto an individual. It was the same thing that brought Godwyn low, nice to see that it was also effective against the seemingly unbeatable Baphomet.
He'll make use of this fact in earnest.
"You desire a cure for her current ailment, is that it?" He asked, tilting his head before Shiro nodded.
Lucas narrowed his eyes, leaning forward a little as he tried to read the girl before him. "Perhaps I should make one thing clear, your sister came to us. She was the aggressor and so she brought this fate upon herself."
He began, taking another bite out of his parfait before he continued. "There's a certain benefit in letting her stay ill… perhaps even to let her die, the price of the cure will be steep."
Shiro nodded, not denying a single word before she continued. "Indeed she did, but the matter was already settled, had it not? Are you truly unwilling to bury the hatchet with an enemy who already promised to keep her hand away?"
"Let me make this clear: I do not trust her, I do not trust you. Your sister almost cost my Lord's life and livelihood, this fate was one she wrought upon herself." Lucas admonished sharply,
"I will not bury the hatchet with someone who might dig it up and swing it at me. She's already proven herself to be fickle, and there is no benefit to giving you the cure." Lucas stated before he finished his parfait and sighed.
"Enough of this folly, I will not grant you what you desire. Leave this place and I shall forget this matter." Lucas stated, getting off his chair and turning to leave before he suddenly heard her speak.
"So you admit that there is indeed a cure," she stated, causing Lucas to pause and mentally kick himself. In denying her what she desired, he had inadvertently confirmed its existence with her.
"...You are mistaken about one thing, Lucas. There is a benefit to me getting the cure from you," She stated, her eyes narrowing as Lucas turned to her.
He was still standing next to her, so only he was able to hear her words.
"And what is that?"
She took a deep breath, letting her pupils turn to slits and gazing straight into Lucas' eyes.
"If you don't, you'll be making an enemy of me,"
Lucas paused, his form unwavering and even a little defiant.
Internally, Lucas was sweating. Kuroferuru herself was a difficult thing to deal with. Dealing with her would be another headache he just wasn't willing to confront. If all she desired was a cure then perhaps he could grant her that much.
Narrowing his eyes, he sighed as he sat back down.
"Know this much, Baphomet…" He began, his eyes turning to the girl who tilted her head in turn.
"If I have to destroy every single one of your kind, then so be it."
Author's Notes:
Remember when I said that the next chapter was almost done? I Lied. Well, kinda? About 80% of it was done but after a few rereads I was unsatisfied with how it was. Took a little hit on my motivation so it took a while before I got it finished.
I don't really have anything to say here, so I'll just say this much. Might be working on something new, but I don't want to split my attention on two fics. It's not a guarantee on whether or not I want to post it, but just in case I'll say that new chapters might take more time.
This is the last part of River Crossing, by the way. The next chapter should act as an epilogue to this part, and would set up the next chapter.
In any case, as usual, leave your reviews, comments, criticisms, reactions and other concerns on the review channel. PMs are open just in case you want to use that instead.
Whamo out!
