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 27: Road to Hell
A blonde-haired man stared at Noscrim's hand with an unreadable gaze. His eyes turned to the man as he thought of his deal. To the masses, Monsterkind is a threat that would barely pose a threat to the nation. With the Order holding more territory, and manpower and spanning across the continent, it would be easy to see why anyone would believe that the Order had the advantage.
Alas, to the Inquisition and to those at the top… they would realize how much of an illusion that strength was. The monsters were stronger and more powerful, some being unmatched in sheer power and skill. Over the past century, humanity has lost more and more to its unending lust.
To those with this knowledge, Matthias Noscrim's proposal would seem like a gift from the Chief God herself. The power to counter monsters and fight back with the power of an unknown magic, it was like the answer was given to him without much effort.
After all, if Noscrim had the power to counter the monsters… who wouldn't accept his offer.
But to Albain…
He spat, the biggest act of disrespect Matthias Noscrim has received in over a decade. Matthias looked on blankly, pulling his arm back. He looked down at him with narrowed eyes before he spoke up.
"So… you would reject my solution to mankind's problem." Matthias commented,
Albain snarled, "Solution? Don't make me laugh. You have no idea what you're playing with, Noscrim. The amount of lives you risk by keeping that thing down here… the heresies you've committed."
Looking up at him, Albain's green eyes narrowed. "The Chief God would never allow it,"
Noscrim snarled, moving his hand as he slapped the man hard on his cheek. "And what would she know? That fool who calls herself Goddess knows nothing of the threat we face. Call our methods heretical, but it is the only way."
"I knew it… you have turned your back on the Chief God." Albain uttered out,
Noscrim stopped, he looked down at his hands as he realized his mistake. He had inadvertently revealed that he no longer served the Chief God with that comment. Was that his plan all along? Or was it an act made through emotion. Regardless, the effects remain the same.
"I see… I played into your hands, Albain… you're more formidable than I first thought."
"No, Noscrim… it's just that you're more idiotic than you believe yourself to be." Albain insulted.
"Well played," Noscrim commented, his face blanking as he walked around. "I thought I could convince you through a promise of a brighter future…"
"A brighter future? All I heard from you is insanity." Albain uttered,
Noscrim turned his head. "You're too foolish to see, luckily… your friend was a little easier to convince."
Albain blinked… his… friend?
Footsteps sounded from behind, a form moved up in front of Albain. Albain's eyes widened at the sight, his form freezing entirely as a familiar face looked at him solemnly. "...No, why are you here…?"
Noscrim decided to answer him. "He was one of the first we approached. He was wise enough to join… he's seen the chaos and corruption, the inability of the Order. He's wise enough to see that change would be required. The Order is in shambles, a new one must take its place."
Albain ignored Noscrim… indeed, he couldn't believe the words of a deceiver like him. He needed to hear it straight from the traitor's mouth. Out of everyone he's ever known, this man was the closest he's ever had to a true friend… but now…
"Answer me, Rylan!?" He yelled out.
Rylan just dimly looked at the man. His features were unreadable before he spoke. "I'm sorry, Albain… but this was the only way to fix this broken Order," Rylan answered.
"I admit, we wouldn't have been able to catch you if Rylan never said anything…" Noscrim stated, turning to Albain as he walked forward.
"Which is why I want you to see reason… so here is my proposal then. If you would not be swayed with the promise of a better Order, then I shall ask you to do as we say for the one thing you desire." Noscrim stated, placing his hands behind his back as Albain looked up at him with a betrayed look.
"Tell me then, Noscrim. What do I desire?" He asked insultingly. The man was confident enough to believe that he desired nothing. Alas, that was nowhere near the truth. Albain had one desire, one thing he's ever wanted, one love that he's never let go of.
"I know where Merridith is," Noscrim answered,
Albain's eyes widened, "No… you're lying, how could you-"
Noscrim cut him off. "He was taken by Elt, correct? During the night of the raid, she was whisked away from your hands and out into the unknown. It was Elt who did it, it was Elt who took her away from you."
Albain paused. He suspected that to be the case, but never did he actually be able to truly confirm it. His instincts told him otherwise, and that alone drove him to do all of this. But he couldn't trust Noscrim's words. "I don't trust you,"
"Really? So if I say the location now, you would not investigate it due to its source?" Matthias asked with a raised brow.
Albain stopped once more. He was right; even if he didn't trust Noscrim's words he would still investigate. Desperation clawed at him too much. A mixture of unhealthy obsession and feelings of loss mixed to create an emotion too complicated to assess. His desire to love Merridith burned as equally as his desire to see her killed.
A conflict between his faith and what's left of the love in him.
"I know where she is, Albain. You need not send your sister to investigate that abomination anymore…" Matthias added,
Albain clicked his tongue. So he even knew about that, huh? Nothing really escapes this man's ear. He turned to Rylan, checking to see if it was he who relayed the information. Rylan's face however was like a stone mask. Unchanging, unyielding, unreadable. He looked up at Noscrim curiously, his head tilting before he spoke.
"What do you mean by abomination?" Albain asked,
It was an odd thing to refer to Elt as. He knew that the man was strange. The fact that he stopped a lethal bolt of lightning with one hand while showing not an ounce of pain was enough to put him in the insane category. Who was this man to do something like this, and who was he to inspire such fear and animosity from the most powerful man in Lescatie?
It was all so strange to him,
"You're well aware of his unnatural talents, correct?"
If he was referring to the unnatural strength, speed, and hints of skill within that blade of his? Then yes, he was well aware.
"He is not someone to be taken lightly…" Matthias added, his hands clenching as he did.
It was a sight that Albain couldn't put a finger on. This man, the most powerful man in the nation, was afraid of some commoner he didn't even know existed until now. So it really was connected, whatever Elt was… whoever he is… Noscrim knew.
"I'm surprised that you're so afraid of a mere commoner," Albain muttered, "Perhaps the great Matthias Noscrim isn't as great as we believed."
"Nice try, but it won't work on me twice," Matthias said with narrowed eyes. He already fell prey to it once, never again.
"I would be disappointed if it did. Regardless, your apparent fear of this man is something that intrigues me." Albain commented,
"That intrigue could get you killed," Noscrim warned,
"Accepting your request would garner the same result." Albain retorted, eyes narrowing as he stared at the man. He then scowled, looking defiantly straight into Matthias' eyes before he decided to speak.
"I know that you aren't doing this for the good of Lescatie. So tell me then, Noscrim, what are you planning?" Albain asked, Matthias, looked at him for a second before he sighed.
"That is for me to know and for you to discover yourself." He said, talking to the desk to grab a glass of wine.
"The only thing you need to know is that I have the knowledge you desire, and I am willing to give it to you for a price." He said, turning to Albain. "You need not serve me, all I ask you to do is to keep quiet."
Albain tilted his head. That was a strange turn, from asking him to join to keep quiet. Is he daft? His duty is all that's left in him, keeping quiet about this means losing the one thing he has left.
"But you won't do so, because all you have within you is your faith, correct?" Noscrim asked,
Albain's face grew cold. His eyes narrowed as he glared at Matthias. If looks could kill, then Noscrim would've died ten times over by this point.
"But I ask you, Rejulia. What is faith when put against Love?" He asked,
"Don't lecture me on love, Noscrim. Beings like you and I are unable to truly love."
"If you're unable to love, then why are you so obsessed in hunting down Merridith?" Noscrim asked,
"Because she is a witch, there is no other reason. Once I get my hands on her, she'll be given the pyre she deserves." Albain answered, his tone cold and emotionless. Yet… even Matthias could tell that it was a facade.
"Then I will offer you the same deal, under a different context. I can reveal to you Merridith's location to fulfill your duties to the Chief God." He answered,
Noscrim didn't care why Albain wanted Merridith. All that mattered to him was that he found her. He need not be put under his servitude, him doing this alone would serve a great boon. As for why? Only Noscrim truly knew.
"If you know where Merridith is, how can you prove it?" Albain asked.
Noscrim suppressed a smirk, his eyes moving to the figure behind Albain before he nodded.
"Would you like for me to show you?"
"We're almost there, come on." An eager voice called out from the forest.
It belonged to a red-haired boy, his form moving through the forest with expertise. He wore a standard tunic and pants, boots covering his feet as his form moved through the forest ground. He had an eager look, the face of a boy who wanted to show someone something they found pretty cool.
"Wait- Elt… slow down, you idiot!" Another voice called out,
This one belonged to a female, an elf with green hair and purple eyes. She moves through the forest with even more significant expertise. She avoided ditches and rocks, even when she's never stepped foot in this forest before.
"Sorry, I just got a little excited…" Elt muttered with an embarrassed smile. This caused Primera to pause and sigh, her arms crossing as she looked on at the sight of her crush and loved one. It was nice to know that Elt was still the same idiot as before….
That is what she wanted to say. Truth be told, she's already known for quite some time. Elt's whole act felt… fake… it was the desperate act of a man clinging to something he feels as if he's lost. It was all so strange, and it scared her more than she'd like to admit. She wanted what was best for him, but she didn't know how to help…
Still, that embarrassed smile of his was genuine at least. There were still some bits of Elt in there, the same one she grew to love and cherish despite her disposition. In her hour of need, he helped her… now she needed to be there in his hour of need.
"What exactly do you want to show me?" Primera asked,
"You'll see, just wait… we're almost there." He added,
He then grasped her hand, causing her to yelp as he pulled her toward the forest. She tried to hide the blush on her face but to no avail. Elt didn't seem to notice… to be honest, he never really seemed to notice anything when it came to a girl's feelings.
They moved through the forest ground, and rocks until they reached a bush. Leaning his body, Elt looked through the bush before he turned to Primera. His eyes which were once filled with excitement now had a hint of worry in them. Taking a deep breath, Elt spoke.
"Okay… uh… before I show you, just… promise me that you'll keep an open mind." He stated,
Primera rose her brow. "...Why? What are you about to show me?"
"Please… I can't show you if you don't promise." Elt added, Primera paused for a second before she sighed.
"Alright, I promise you…."
With a nod, Elt turned to the bush before he walked through. He beckoned Primera on the way, causing the young half-elf to pause. Peeking beyond, she found that she couldn't exactly make out what he wanted to show her. Taking a deep breath, she stepped through the forest.
Her eyes widened as soon as she stepped through.
It was a church, dilapidated and crumbling. Yet in the middle of this forest, it looked serene, akin to a storybook location with the sun's rays piercing through the forest. She took a careful step forward, her eyes scanning the place before Primera turned to Elt.
"What is this place?" She asked,
"An orphanage, similar to the one we live in," Elt answered, moving forward.
Primera perked her brow. "An orphanage? Out here? Isn't this a little dangerous, what if monsters find this place?"
Elt paused; his eyes turned to her as he gave a small strained smile. She knew what that look meant, he was about to say or do something that she may not like. Saying nothing else, he moved forward towards the door and knocked. Taking a step back, the door suddenly opens to reveal a little witch.
"Huh? Oh, Elt? You're here," Merridith stated, her eyes looking at Elt before her eyes turned to Primera.
"W-with her…" Edith uttered,
Primera widened her eyes. So he didn't get her killed, after all. On one hand, she kind of predicted this outcome but on the other… the amount of shit they'd have to deal with if she's found would be… well, quite troublesome.
"Yep, I brought Primera with me. Say hi, Edith." Elt said, pointing his thumb towards Primera.
Edith looked at Elt, then at her, then she continued to do this about 5 times before she pulled him into the orphanage.
"Are you insane?! What if we get discovered because of this!" She whisper screamed, the voice loud enough for Primera to hear and for the orphans inside to wake.
"Relax, I trust Primera enough," Elt reassured her, but Merridith wasn't convinced.
"Look, it's not just my life at stake here. The kids, what about the kids?!" She said in a panic,
"What kids?" Primera chimed in, stepping into the orphanage as Merridith looked up at her. She panicked, not knowing what to say. She began mumbling about what to do, how her life is over, and how she regrets everything.
Elt was about to answer, but before he could…
"Big brother?" Out in the corner, a pair of eyes peeked through the corner. Her pig ears were on full display, as were the rest of the monsters present.
Primera's eyes widened; she raised her bow and pulled it before Elt moved between the two. "Primera wait!"
Primera paused, "Wait? What do you mean, wait? That's a monster over there, you know, the same type that tried to kidnap us over a week ago!?" Primera asked incredulously.
"I-I know but, look… she isn't that Baphomet, alright. She's just a lonely little girl with nowhere left to go… they all are," Elt said,
Primera didn't budge, "Elt, step away… please, this is for our own good." She pleaded, but he didn't budge.
Before he could say anything, however, Adelie had suddenly moved between the two with raised arms. "Stop! Don't bully big brother!"
Primera stopped, her eyes looking into Adelie's own. She was scared, and confused, and yet she stood strong. It was… an admirable look, a familiar one. She took another glance at Elt, his eyes turning to Adelie before he patted her head.
"I appreciate the help, Adelie… but let me handle this,"
"But-" she tried to protest,
"Don't worry, your big brother has this in the bag," Elt said with a confident look.
Adelie paused, her eyes turning to Elt before she reluctantly nodded. Stepping away, she moved to the side as Elt then turned to Primera. "Primera…" He began,
"...These kids are all alone; they need help… you should understand how that feels." Elt said, his voice calm.
Primera's eyes scanned the kids, a difficult expression crossing her face before she let the bow fall. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Elt as she crossed her arms.
She understood; she understood too well. But even then, the amount of risk this held was just too much. If this was in any way discovered, it could spell disaster for him and the rest of those she cared for. She doubted that even Akito would let this go. But there was one thing that she needed to know, first.
"Was this your idea?" She asked,
Elt paused, his eyes turning to the side of the room. Before he could say, someone else answered. "No, it's mine."
Out from the door leading to another room, another figure stepped forth. Still wearing her Order clothing, her green hair flowed down. Her eyes looked at both Primera and Elt, a sigh escaping her lips. "I assume that you have questions…"
Primera widened her eyes, her form freezing as she thought of what to say. "S-Sasha?"
She gave Primera a warm smile, "Hello, Primera, it's nice to see you here."
"But- wait… what?" Primera continued on,
She was confused, lost in thought. This was Sasha's idea? All of this her idea? The priestess who often preached about the Chief God's values was responsible for all of this? It was absurd, and she didn't know what to make of it.
"I know you're confused, but… Elt and I spoke and… we both believe that it would be for the best if you knew." Sasha calmly explained, taking a step towards Primera before she continued.
"Elt shared with you his secrets; and it would be unfair if I didn't do the same," Sasha said,
Taking the half-elf's hands, she caressed them as she gave her a gentle look. "Do you hate me for doing this, Primera?"
"I-... No, Sasha… I just don't know what to think about this, about all of this." Primera said,
Sasha nodded. She understood her feelings. After all, Elt himself was just as stunned as she was when he found out. She began to think that maybe this wasn't a good idea. She trusted Primera, but her feelings towards the monsters remain firm. Especially after the Baphomet, there was little she could do to change her feelings.
"How about this, then. I and Primera will stay here for the rest of the day, get her to know the people around here more intimately. If she's unsatisfied… then we won't stop her." Elt said,
"Elt, that-..." Sasha began before she paused. Looking over at Primera, she waited to see her answer.
Primera stood silent, her eyes scanning the room. She first looked at the expectant eyes of Elt, then at the worried ones of Sasha. Her eyes turned to the tense Merridith before turning to the steadfast look of Adelie. Her eyes then turned to the rest of the monsters, all of whom were peeking through the edge.
Looking at the sight, she took a deep breath and sighed. "Alright… I'll spend a day here, see if you can change my mind." She said,
Elt smiled, and Sasha too… the kids all looked confused, Adelie was much the same. Merridith breathed a sigh, whether it was from the relief of irritation she didn't know. Merridith opened her mouth to speak, but before she could.
"Ugh!" A strange feeling overcame her, her form dropping as a faint golden glow showed for just a millisecond. She fell to her knees, her hands clutching her stomach before the pressure left. It was instantaneous, a blink or-you-'ll miss it moment.
"Edith!" Sasha said, her form moving to help the poor girl up.
"I-I'm fine, Sasha…" she uttered,
Getting up, she dusted herself before she looked at the group. "Must've been something I ate…" she noted,
Sasha tilted her head, "Has the food gone bad? That won't do, I guess I'll go visit the market soon."
"No, no… it's still okay, must've been how I prepared it." Merridith said,
A monster's digestive tract works differently from a human's. Instead of absorbing the nutrients and expelling waste, it instead absorbs the demonic energy from the food, leaving no waste. It didn't matter how raw, spoiled, or poisonous something was. A monster should be able to eat it without much issue.
But Merridith wasn't a normal monster, so it's possible that something went wrong.
"I see, in that case. Go and rest, Merridith… we'll handle things from here." Sasha said,
With a nod, Merridith walked off.
"So… I guess we should all get started then," Sasha awkwardly said…
"Yeah," Primera uttered,
Elt stayed silent, his eyes watching as Merridith retreated into her room.
A brown-haired boy walked through an empty void, the ground covered by water. The vast landscape of stars and moonlight acted as its only source of light. Its astral glow reflected below, illuminating the otherwise darkened void with a warm light.
Isaac found himself here. Appearing inside as if it was a dream. Moving through, he tried to look for anything.
Was he alone here? No, he can't be. He felt that someone was here; he just knew that there had to be someone. After all, he felt as if his every move was being watched.
"Hello!" He called out,
"Anyone out there!" He yelled out again,
Silence is what greeted him. His voice didn't even echo, a testament to the endless void he found himself in. Before long, however, a voice called out.
"I see, so a new Shadow has been born…." A soft, regal, yet powerful voice sounded through the void. There was no source, at least none to be found. It was as if the sound was coming from the landscape itself.
Suddenly, a figure formed on the edge of his peripheral vision. Turning to it in a panic, he was met with the sight of a doll. A single opened blue eye, blue hair, blue skin… all akin to the moonlit sky.
Isaac panicked, grasping behind him only to find empty air. He turned to the figure, the doll. Her lone opened regal eye looked at him impassively, her hands holding one another as she took a delicate step forward.
"Be not afraid, I shan't harm you…." She voiced. Her voice was akin to that of an angel, regal, divine, godlike. It was a calming voice, a soothing one… yet also one that held a glint of power.
"Who the hell are you!?" Isaac questioned,
His tone was the complete opposite. Panicked, forced, and a little fearful, with a side of crudeness to it. She looked at him impassively, and she continued on, pausing just before him. Her moonlit eye gazed at him, and he could swear that he saw an ethereal figure form on her other side.
"Depending on the choices you make, an ally… or perhaps an enemy." She said,
"What are you talking about…." Isaac questioned,
"Exercise caution, Wolf… the path laden before you is filled with pain and madness." She warned, her lone opened eye narrowing.
With that warning, the figure disappeared in a flurry of stars.
"Wait! What do you mean!? Who are you!?" Isaac asked,
Alas, his questions would remain unanswered. All he was met with was a nauseous feeling. His mind spun, his form grew weaker, and his eyes began closing. Soon enough, he lost consciousness.
…
"Ugh…" a pained groan escaped the mouth of a certain lupine boy. His yellow eyes groggily opened to the sight of a moving wagon. He felt the vibrations of the road; every bump and ditch caused the wagon to shake.
Looking up, the brown-haired boy looked around to see where he was. It was cramped, his body hurt, and there were lingering malicious thoughts running through his head. Isaac groaned again, clutching his head in response.
What was that? A dream? It didn't really feel like one. It all seemed too real; he could still feel the wet floor on his injured feet. It felt clear yet vague as if someone had just screamed the answer to the universe to him without him asking. He was left with a lot more questions than answers. Who was the blue moonlit girl? Where was he? What did she mean by Shadow? And most importantly, what did she mean when she said that his path was laden with pain and madness?
It… scared him as much as it confused him. The past few weeks have been confusing as it was frustrating. Fulfilling as it was unsatisfying. A paradoxical age where he didn't know what to feel. The dream he just had made things a whole lot more complicated.
"Isaac?" A voice called out beside him,
Turing, yellow eyes met with the golden hue of Luciana Sausare. He didn't know what to say at that moment. He was still confused, with little recollection of what happened or where he was. He tried to sound something out, only to stop when a coughing fit overcame him.
Luciana moved quickly, taking a cloth for Isaac to cough into. It continued on for a few seconds, and when Isaac pulled the cloth back, his eyes widened at the sight. Among the usual spit and mucus, there was a tint of red. He'd been coughing out blood…
"Isaac, are you okay?" Luciana asked,
He gave a small nod, but Luciana remained unconvinced. Isaac didn't really know what to say to her. He wasn't even sure if he was okay. As his consciousness began to return fully, he suddenly had a thought.
"Mikhail!" He yelled out, nearly leaping out of his bed. He only stopped when his body started hurting again. He clutched his chest, his mouth hissing in pain as Luciana moved over closer.
"Isaac, please… you're still hurt; just calm down." She said, trying to calm him down. He gave her a small desperate look,
"Where's Mikhail?" He asked,
Lucian paused, her hands twitching before she spoke. "The vampire probably took him with her before leaving… I don't know where they are."
Isaac paused, disappointment crossing his face before he leaned back. "So he's gone."
He wasn't even mad. He was already used to the fweling of disappointment. Most of his life had been just that, disappointment after disappointment. The only real happiness he's found is with Luciana and Mikhail. But now one of those is gone…
"...I'm sorry, Isaac… I should've done something," Luciana stated,
He shook his head, "It's not your fault, don't beat yourself over it."
Even still, Luciana couldn't help but feel a little apologetic. The two sat in silence, thoughts running through each of their heads before Isaac spoke. "Where are we headed?" Isaac asked,
Luciana turned to him, her eyes narrowing before she spoke. "Salvarision. That woman and the other mercenary said that you were headed to the capital. They thought it best to leave you to us, since Salvarision is just a few hours away from the capital. Oh, and the man asked us to give this to you."
She then handed him a pouch, it was his share of their earnings. Looking at it, Isaac's eyes widened. Picking up the bag, he shook it and took some of the coins out. There was a small piece of paper attached, taking it… he tried to read it.
There was a slight problem, he was illiterate. "Uh… Luciana, can you read this for me," Isaac said, handing her the paper.
"Uh sure, hold on… Isaac, you've never learned how to read?" She asked,
Embarrassed, the young man looked away. A blush formed on his face as he stuttered out what to say. "O-Of course I do… can… it's just that I want you to read it 'cause I like listening to your voice… yeah, that's it…." 'partially…' he added in thought,
Now it was Luciana's turn to blush. In all honesty, she wanted to scream into a pillow right now. It kind of made her happy for him to rely on her like this. Awkwardly grabbing the paper, she cleared her throat before she spoke.
"Dear Isaac,
You can't read this, so ask your girl-... your friend to read it for you." A furious blush formed on her face. Isaac's brow rose, he felt like she wasn't reading it right, but he trusted her enough. "I'm cutting the deal a little short. Don't worry about the kid or us; we'll be fine. You wanted to go to the capital, right? Hitching a ride with the Order should be the fastest way there. I'll miss your annoying ass.
Good luck out there, ya little shit.
Signed, Doon."
Isaac listened intently, his eyes widening with each word. He was touched, to be honest. Those two were probably the other two people he'd consider friends in this messed up, chaotic nation. Picking up the pouch, he let a few coins fall down onto his hand.
"...Damn… Holy Shit… I've never held this much money in my life."
Luciana gave a small, sad smile, "...I'm sorry I left you… you and Mikhail. If I knew about your situation, then-"
"Luciana, shut up." He said,
Those were harsh words, yet his tone was warmer than any before. "Look, what happened to us was shit. But don't let our problems get in the way of your dreams. You wanted to be a knight, right? I'm just glad that you're able to live it out…." He uttered, a small smile crossing his face.
Luciana paused, gripping her hands tightly as she thought of what to say. She did all of that for him, for him to look at her. She was so afraid of losing him to someone he had never even met before that she never thought of how he must've felt. She left him unceremoniously, without so much as a goodbye. It must've hurt, especially now that he's lost everything.
"Isaac, I-" she began before she looked away. She wasn't ready, not yet… "...I want to ask, why were you going to the capital?" She asked,
Isaac paused, it should be safe to tell her. He trusts her enough, and it wouldn't do him anything to keep it hidden. "I'm looking for someone," he confessed,
Luciana paused, her eyes turning to Isaac before she pushed on. "Who?"
"Someone I began to look up to. He's super cool and fucking badass, like, super strong too. He's got the strength and power of a hero, and he helped us deal with the Amazons." He said with bright eyes. The sheer admiration in his voice made Luciana pause… and also feel a little jealous. Even Wilmarina had never received this much praise from him, and he had a crush on her back then.
"I- I see, he must be a powerful hero… then," She said, her eyes turning down as Isaac continued.
"I'm not even sure if he's a hero, to be honest. But I made my choice; I'll go over to him and ask him to help me train." He said, his voice laced with determination.
"...I can help you train too, you know?" She whispered.
"Huh?" Isaac asked,
"Nothing!" She panicked,
A cloaked figure walked through the darkened streets of the slums. His brown hair and red eyes were barely visible under the hood. He wore the standard Inquisitorial uniform, noting that he was out on official business. He had but one simple goal, to get information. Luckily for the man, he had one somewhat credible source of information that he could turn to.
Originally, Akito wanted to go to Elt to try and warn him about the Kunoichi. But when he tried to look, he couldn't find the red-haired man. With no other option, he decided to go to Kara instead to ask about it (read: threaten her for information). So here he was, walking through the streets as he tried to look for a certain squirrel.
Walking into the alley, he entered one of the dilapidated buildings. He was met with a few stares, but none dared stop him. Something of note about each of them, they all had squirrel-like features around. This was Lescatie's local branch of the Ratatoskr, protected by the Inquisition.
Or parts of it, at least. His more radical compatriots would've had him killed for committing such a heresy.
He was a regular here, and despite his allegiances, he's tolerated their existence in this place for one simple reason. They were more useful to him alive than they were dead.
Walking up to a desk, Akito looked down at one of the Ratatoskr. She looked like she was about to piss herself off from the sheer terror Akito exuded. Despite their crafty natures, they were all very much cowards. The one he wanted to talk to was no exception.
"Where's Kara," it wasn't a question; it was a demand. The Ratatoskr gulped, her pawed finger pointing at a door before Akito stormed in that direction. The squirrel let out a sigh of relief, praying to whatever god she adhered to that the man would leave soon enough. She just felt sorry for poor Kara, that girl just had to bear the brunt of Akito's abuse.
Walking into the door, he slammed it open, causing a loud thud. The squirrel on the other side yelped, her brown eyes turning to Akito. "A-Akito, what are you doing here?" She asked,
Akito said nothing, just looking at her before he spoke. "I need to ask you something,"
'Yeah, obviously… why else would you be here?' She thought, but she didn't dare say. "If-if this was about the rings earlier, I'll have you know that I didn't use a single bit of demonic energy. They were just regular copper rings… made from a meteorite…."
Even now, she couldn't help but lie in front of him. It would've been pretty amusing if Akito was in a better mood. Unfortunately, he wasn't. Akito needed information, and he needed it quickly.
"That's not what I came here for, you idiot." He sharply said,
She paused, "So… why are you here, then?"
He didn't say anything, instead pulling out a red gem before he tossed it onto the table. Kara froze when she saw it. Her eyes widened as she looked down at the crystal. The reaction caught Akito's eye. 'So she knows what it is…' he thought,
She picked it up, inspecting it to see if it really was what she thought it was. Red gem, eye design, faint traces of Demonic Energy… yeah, this wasn't good.
"W-Where did you find it?" She asked,
"On a Kunoichi," he answered.
Okay, yeah… that was all the confirmation she needed. Looks like it was time to leave Lescatie and look for greener pastures. Polove's looking like a pretty good destination; how about she move there instead? Ironic, considering Polove lacks any sort of greenery.
"I- uh… I have no idea what this is, oh, and look at that… it looks like my time here in Lescatie is over, and I've been called over to Polove. Tough luck, Akito… looks like you'll have to harass someone else for this information." She said, picking up a bag to put her things in only for Akito to grab her by the arm.
"Gakh! Hey!" She yelped,
"I'm not joking this time, Kara. What exactly is this thing, and why are you so scared of it?" Akito asked,
Kara shook her head, "What? Me? Scared? Pfft no… I'm not scared; I'm just running away from a potential shitshow." She said with a dry look on her face.
That gem spelled bad news for her and for every nation that's ever seen it. It was her mark; it was her insignia. If she was here, then Lescatie was as good as gone. No amount of propaganda, heroes, false bravado, and other shit Kara's seen from this place is gonna help them when she comes marching in with her army of radical monsters. The best option for her, and for anyone for that matter, is to bail.
Akito was unamused; he pulled her in closer until their eyes were staring directly at one another. "Explain," he demanded,
Kara's features scrunched up. "Okay, okay… I'll explain; just let me down." She uttered. With that, Akito let her go. Dusting herself, she sat back in her chair as she explained.
"Okay, okay… I don't know where to begin… so, ah fuck it." Kara said, her tone as exasperated as it was panicked. "Northkeen, Lenstadt, Caulin… what do they all have in common?"
Akito paused, his eyes narrowing. All of those were former Order Nations overrun by monsters. Their falls were said to have happened overnight, almost as if a disaster had descended on them without much warning. With a simple snap, they ceased to exist as a nation of the Order and are now prominent monster realms.
"That they all fell to the Monsters?" He said,
Kara nodded, and her eyes then turned to the gem below. "That's not all… among the many things there; it was said that this red gem was a symbol of the one who orchestrated their falls." She said, her eyes narrowing before she continued on.
"It's the mark of the Radical faction, extremists who seek to spread the Demon Lord's influence by force." Her eyes narrowed, turning to Akito to show him the gravity of the situation.
"They're led by a Lilim."
Akito paused, his eyes widening as his pupils dilated. A Lilim? A Chief-God damned Lilim? Shit… that makes things infinitely more troublesome. And here he thought the Baphomet was bad, but if there's a Lilim involved, then things just went from bad to worse. Shit… the past few weeks have been hectic, but now there's a whole new threat on the horizon. He should warn the Inquisition and maybe even the bulk of Lescatie itself. There's no way he should leave this unnoticed. Nodding, he was about to leave before Kara stood up.
"Wait!" She said, her eyes turning to Akito before she spoke. "If you tell them, it'll just make things worse."
Akito's eyes narrowed. "And how would that be the case?" He asked. It didn't make any sense; if there was a Lilim involved, then it would be beneficial to inform the higher-ups. As corrupt as they were, they wouldn't leave this be.
"L-Look… it's just a feeling, but even you should understand that something's been off about this country for years now." She said, her mouth trembling as she thought of what to say.
He reluctantly agreed with her on that front. Over the past few years, especially during the past few weeks, actually… things have gotten a little strange from Elt and his newfound abilities to Merridith and her strange nature. Something was going on, something big, something horrid. But even then, none of these, at least to him, come close to the threat a Lilim posed.
However, this was something that Kara disagreed with. And for all her faults, Akito could see that she at least had good intuition. If she had a gut feeling about something, it was usually true. "Lescatie's at an impasse… no, even more than that, it's rotting from the inside. There's a parasite hiding in its walls, feeding off it and making it worse."
"I'm afraid that telling them about this would only feed that parasite," Kara added,
"Besides, the Lilim being here… it isn't a guarantee. It's possible that it's just a rogue force, so you can't really jump to conclusions…" she muttered.
She found that to be unlikely. A mix of the Baphomet and now a Kunoichi being here, it makes things all the more difficult to deny. Druella was probably here, and she probably intended to conquer this place. Lescatie would make for quite the target, too, the city of heroes falling to monsters? Not only would it give Royal Makai vital new territory, but it would also damage the morale of mankind.
Taking this city would be the ideal scenario for Druella. To be honest, it was only a matter of time before someone took notice.
"You're asking me to keep vital information like this away from the Inquisition?" Akito asked,
"N-No! Just… I'm asking you to tell this information to people you truly trust. Please… for your own good too." She added,
Akito paused, his eyes turning to her before he thought. He'd already done this once with Elt, was he really about to do it again? He thought about it… if there really was a Lilim, did anyone in Lescatie really stand a chance fighting off against such a threat? To the masses, their faith would be placed in the hands of Wilmarina Noscrim, and for a good reason. She's skilled with a blade and powerful with her magic. A single swing from Orofuyo would level an entire city at full power if the legends were true, that is.
But to Akito, there was only one person who came to mind. There was only one person who managed to felll a Baphomet, one person who could match them in strength and power. There was only one who could stand a chance against the Lilim.
He resolved himself; he'll tell Elt first before telling Rylan. Those two were the only ones he could really trust. The former because of his understanding and the latter due to his friendship. He loathed to admit it, but he'll trust Kara's words on this front.
However…
He pulled out his blade and placed it on her neck. Kara yelped, moving back a few paces before he spoke. "You're staying here, Kara. If I find out that you left Lescatie, I will personally hunt you down and behead you."
Kara gulped, "Why, though?"
"You're the leader of this damned organization. You leave, and they follow with you. As much as I hate you, you're still a vital information broker for me." Sheathing his katana, he moved to leave. He gave her a small cheeky grin, one that pissed her off more than it scared her. "And because you're really fun to fuck with,"
With that, he left. She paused and looked on in frustration. "Fucking asshole."
"Keep your distance from me,"
"Obliged,"
"If you try anything, the deal's off."
"Naturally,"
"Keep your hands where-"
"Okay, enough of this farce, doll. If I wanted to hurt you, I would've done so already." An exasperated voice called out. Purple eyes looked on dryly at the blue eyes of a doll. His eyes gave a similar deadpanned look as he turned and crossed his arms.
"Listen, I have no reason to trust you. You may be planning an ambush the moment I enter your encampment." Lucas said with a wry look.
"An ambush? Do you think me that barbaric? I wouldn't do something like that without much reason." She said with a sigh, gripping her temples as she looked at the boy with a deadpanned look.
"You do have a reason, as far as you're concerned… I am partially responsible for your sister's condition." He noted.
Shiro paused, her eyes turning to the side before she sighed. Touche, he had a point there. Currently, they were out in the outskirts of Lescatie near a magic circle meant to transport them to the encampment straight into Kuroferuru's tent. Lucas was risking himself by going there. It was foolish and borderline suicidal, but it's what he planned to do. He didn't care much for himself. As was stated over and over, he was a doll. He was meant to be disposable and easily replaced. If he died, then that simply meant that he did his purpose well.
It was also a risk for Shirokuto. She was essentially revealing to the boy the true extent of Druella's force. That's the reason why she had it connected to Kuro's tent directly. To prevent him from seeing what's going on outside. She was doing this without Druella's knowledge, but she didn't care.
Shirokuto didn't serve Druella, and being her senior, she had little reason to listen to her. She wasn't doing this to help Druella's servant recover; she was doing this to help her sister recover. That being said, it would be best if both didn't see each other. As such, she cast a great ward on Kuroferuru's tent letting only Baphomets and those she approved in.
She did it under the guise of helping her sister recover. In a way, she didn't lie… she just didn't tell Druella the method on how. Though, there was a risk that he'd meet a few of the other Baphomets. But it was better to have that than to let Druella see him.
"Look, I signed a Geis with you. I am magically obligated to return you to your desired location, unharmed." She said, pulling out a piece of paper bearing a magical contract detailing each of their terms. She is magically contracted by the paper to return him unharmed as soon as he finishes curing her sister without incident. If she doesn't, she could face dire consequences.
"You're a Baphomet, a being of great magical power. I'm sure that whatever curse the Geis could place on you would easily be reversed." He said dryly, crossing his arms.
Her eyes twitched. True, Normal Geis contracts could easily get nullified by her sheer magic power. But here's the thing, it's a Geis contract specifically made for beings of great magical powers. She's used this on her fellow Baphomets; she'd be bound to follow it. A more rational mind would see where Lucas was coming from. He was unfamiliar with how this world's magic works, and as such, he has his doubts.
It could all be a trick, a ploy. And yet here he was, doing what she wanted because he didn't want to risk angering her. Despite that, however, Shirokuto found herself to be quite annoyed. Despite acting like an adult most of the time, she could be just as childish as her sister.
"Regardless of what's written here, my original point still stands. I'll have my sister sign another contract preventing her from bothering you or your lord." She said, adding another deal.
"Not enough, have her stay at least 10,000 miles away from my Lord and me at all times." He added,
"Listen, she'll leave you alone. Is that not enough? What has she ever done to you?" Shirokuto asked,
Lucas meanwhile just raised his brow. His face alone was essentially asking: 'are you seriously asking that right now.'
"..."
"..."
"Nevermind, don't answer that… very well; your request is within reason," Shiro added dryly,
This caused Lucas to deadpan, 'She changed her mind too quickly….'
"Ahem, regardless… we're near the spot," She said,
Out on a hill overlooking Lescatie were several witches moving around and setting up a magic circle. This confused Lucas, considering that they weren't even hidden by the forest. Seeing this, Shirokuto smirked. "Confused? It's only natural. This is the by-product of centuries of research. To you and I, they are as visible as the castle that sits at the center of the nation. But to all around them, they may not as well be there."
Lucas looked at her, his eyes turning to the scene before he nodded. As begrudging as it was, he had to admit that this was pretty impressive. He suppressed his natural curiosity; right now, he had a job to do. Despite the fact that he tried to keep it hidden, Shirokuto caught on all too well.
"Impressed?" She said, her tone as smug as could be.
Lucas rolled his eyes,
"Don't flatter yourself, I should be capable of something similar." He uttered, annoyance clear in his tone.
"Should be doesn't often mean that you can," She retorted,
"I severely want to strangle you right now," Lucas said, his voice sounding as intimidating as he could muster.
"I'd like to see you try," was her casual response.
Moving forward, he inspected the scene with widened eyes before they narrowed. From the looks of it, this entire circle was prepared just before he even met her. This meant that she already knew or had hoped to convince him that he'd join.
"How long ago did you make this?" He asked, turning to Shirokuto.
"A few days, usually something this trivial wouldn't even take an hour, but… the circumstances were special." She said with a shrug,
'Trivial?' Lucas dryly thought, shaking his head.
"Yes, Trivial." She answered, almost as if she had read his mind. She had her now signature smug look.
Lucas could've sworn that he felt his brows twitch. This girl was annoying; it didn't help that she was undoubtedly better at magic than he was. If he hadn't been born a defect, then perhaps he could pull some similar feats. But alas, his birth had been botched, and now he was stuck with this body.
"Don't be like that; it was written all over your face," She commented,
"So what does my face say now?"
"That you severely want to skewer me… and not in the mamono sense." She said,
"...Your mind needs to be purified, you white-haired wench." Lucas said,
"How crass,"
Soon enough, a witch came forward before bowing to Shirokuto. "Shirokuto-sama, the magic circle is operational." She said, her eyes turning to the Baphomet expectantly.
"Excellent work, Katrina. Be prepared to destroy it on my orders." Shirokuto said, a satisfied smile forming on her face as she turned to Lucas. Said boy had a look of confusion on his face, his eyes turning to her.
"Is… something the matter?" Shirokuto asked,
"Yes, it's been on my mind ever since I first met your sister." He said, his eyes staring straight into her own.
"Why are you two using Zipangese honorifics? From what I could infer, you're not even Zipangese." Lucas asked,
It confused him more than anything. As far as he was concerned, neither Shirokuto nor Kuroferuru was Zipangese. Their features didn't match, and their styles were obviously of western influence. So it feels strange seeing them use Zipangese honorifics when everything else about them was Western.
"Is there a particular reason needed? Kuro and I just thought that it was cute." She said with a shrug.
There was no deeper reason; she just preferred this method of referring to herself. It flowed well and noted the hierarchy in her sabbath. She didn't find any issue with that, and the Lilim Druella herself used it.
"In any case, let's not waste any more time." She said, walking towards the magic circle. Lucas paused, his eyes scanning the circle before they narrowed.
"This circle doesn't use Demonic Energy, does it?" He asked,
He had a right to be cautious. Though it doesn't exactly affect him, he's seen what it could do. If she was in any way as capable as her sister, then there was a chance that this could be a trap. In response, however, Shirokuto gave him a dry look before she spoke.
"No, it doesn't. My sister already told me about your immunity, so this magic circle was made with pure mana. I thought you were supposed to be a genius mage; something like this should've been clear to you with a glance." She questioned,
Lucas, furrowed his brows in response. "My brand of sorceries differs from yours, Baphomet. I'm still a learner when it comes to this land's magic." He said,
This piqued her curiosity slightly. Kuro told her much about him, but this was new. He said his brand of sorceries. Does that mean he uses a completely different set of magic? If so, she'd love to learn. Though, knowing him, he would never teach it to the enemy.
"Regardless, I will reluctantly trust your word. If this is in any way, shape, or form a trick, then-" he said as he stepped into the magic circle. Too irritated to even let the arrogant boy finish, she activated the magic circle. In a flash, the two disappeared from view.
In the darkest depths of Salvarision, the cacophony of monsters sounded. They sit waiting with feral eyes. In the deepest and darkest halls sat a boy with red eyes. Impassive, unmoving, unchanging. Surrounded by the bodies of those that were fed to him.
Soon, another would join them in his little hill of corpses.
The boy, Clover Carstein, sat alone…
Guards opened the gate, keeping their distance as they dragged another poor unfortunate soul. Monstrous red eyes looked upon his next meal, his prey waiting. He struggled against their grip, arms thrashing and mouth screaming. He was thrown into his den, his cage, his prison.
Feared by those around his throne…
Standing up, the man looked around. His form was torn yet regal, indicating his noble rank. He looked around, sounding a small "Hello?" As he walked through the cage. The monster wasn't let loose, instead his eyes continued to watch, to observe.
"Is anybody there?" He asked, moving forward.
The monster felt his binds loosen, just enough to move around his prison. He would savor this, for it was his only moment of freedom in this dark depths. Darkened tendrils began to form from below, writhing, darkened, and with an unquenched bloodlust. Crawling, writhing, eagerly biting; it moves to find its destined soul.
His mere gaze holds the abyss,
The man slowly moved forward, his eyes turning to the darkened halls before he was met with but one source of light. Moving to it, he tried to see what it was. The moment he saw red, despair gripped his heart. Whatever those monstrous eyes held, it was enough to shatter whatever resolve the man had left.
Met only with cries, boos, and hiss.
He ran, he ran, and thrashed at the doors closed behind.
"Help! Please! Let me out!"
He cried, pleaded, and begged, but all he was met with was silence. He banged the door until his knuckles bled, he bashed it over and over until his skin tore off. A mere glance was all it took, but it was enough to send this man into a terror unlike any other.
The monster quietly observed, watching and waiting as the man thrashed and cried. His eyes watched in silence, watching, observing, noting, and piercing.
When he stood, he was only met with stone.
The monster stood up, his form moving forward as the man turned around. Quickly, the man thought of what to do. He turned and saw silver, a rusted dagger that once belonged to someone. Picking it up, he pointed it at the monster in antlers. He walked slowly, methodically, and carefully. His face was expressionless, his red eyes staring impassively.
"Stay back!" The man yelled, pointing his dagger forward.
The boy didn't stop, continuing forward until the man stood with the door pressing on his back. The monster stopped just before him, his head tilting as curiosity took root. He reached out, his hands moving to grasp at the man, but…
Stab!
Crimson fluid fell from his palm, his eyes turning to the side impassively. He felt the sting, he felt the pain, but the monster was used to it at this point. Turning back to the man, he tilted his head the other way. The two were locked in place, frozen, waiting, and watching.
The tendrils from before moved, shooting out from the darkness. The man lept back in panic, but it was no use. His arms were bound, and pain seeped in from his sleeves. A burning sensation formed on his skin, one akin to molten rock being poured over the skin. He cried, begged, and pleaded as tears fell down his eyes.
The monster just watched curiously, the tendrils lifting him up until he stood far above the room. From his back, spiked legs akin to an arachnid sprouted. Stabbing itself onto the ground, the monster lifted itself up to the man's level as he stared impassively.
In a last desperate attempt, the man began to pray. "O lady of the Order, Chief Goddess… please protect them, grant them salvation, grant them peace, grant them a life long-lived."
Them…
Curious, the monster tilted his head at that. His curiosity bloomed, alas, the bloodlust won over. Tracing his hand over the man's chest, he then began digging into it with his sharpened claws and unnatural strength. The moon groaned, and blood spilled down as the monster dug his fingers deeper in the man's chest.
He clawed through skin, flesh, and bones until he made his way to the man's organs. Shifting his hand, he moved to grasp the one organ he sought, the heart.
Grasping it he felt the heightened heartbeat, he felt the man's terror, and he felt the resignation. It was a feeling the monster was all too familiar with, but it was one he couldn't find himself caring for.
He grabbed it hard, twisting it as the man felt the blood in his body cease movement. His skin began to pale, eyes becoming bloodshot as they stared into crimson eyes. The monster said nothing, with one swift motion…
He pulled,
Snapping sounds could be heard as the man's heart was ripped out of his body. With the organ retrieved, the monster set himself down and feasted on the blood. The man fell with a resounding thud, his form twitching as his life left him. Out of his pockets, a picture fell out.
Curious, the monster moved to see what it was. Picking it up, he was met with a sight he was once familiar with. A picture of a man, woman, and child all gathered around in a small, crude drawing. It was a child's drawing, one was often done by kids in loving families.
He didn't know what it was like, or more accurately; he's forgotten what it was like. He turned to the monsters in the darkness, their howling, crying, and snarling continuing for him to listen to.
How noisy…
He looked up at the deepest ends of a hall to the gate that led to the outside. He took a glance, scanning its frame and composition before he reached out to the door. A flash of gold and pain seeped into his hand. Looking down, he felt it burn away into ash before it regenerated.
Of course, he was trapped. Unable to move out, unable to be freed. Forever lost and forever damned, with nothing to look forward to.
No, he refused… he'll bide his time; he'll wait and watch. This gate could not hold him forever. The more they fed him, the stronger he grew… soon enough, or later he would be able to leave. And when he does…
All will know his name,
But for now, he retreats, his form returning to his empty throne. He sat on the cold chair, bunding him down. He felt the runes suppress his power; he felt chains wrap around his body. His crimson eyes stared at his empty room once more, another body added to his hill of corpses. He leaned back, waiting, watching, readying…
In the darkness, he sat once more; his mind had only one thought.
'Ah, indeed… I am all alone…'
Author's Notes:
Alright, new chapter done relatively quickly.
So, a few things first. This essentially marks a new chapter in this story. All the pieces are in place and all I have to do now is to move them.
Clover Carstein isn't gonna be relevant in a while. I just wanted to set up what he was and what was at stake beneath the surface. He still has a leash on but that leash won't be able to contain him at his rate. Hopefully they'd be able to keep control but we all know how good of an idea it is to keep a super-powerful demonic entity in your basement :)
Anyways, there's gonna be a big change in the story soon. I won't say what but it'll happen in this new arc I've got cooking up.
In any case, as always. Make sure to leave a review, criticism, reactions, etc. Feedback would be much appreciated and would help me decide what to do with the story.
Whamo Out!
