Chapter 0-2: The Child.
"Ok, Dad, I'm happy about having a younger sister…" Ayla said hurriedly. "…but she's way too young!"
"But, Ayla dear…" Sam sighed. "I hadn't the heart to let her die out there, especially when she just came into the world,"
"Dad, I'm the youngest and yet I'm 17! That kind of age gap is like… you know…" Ayla paused and gave a hand gesture while searching for the suitable word to use.
"It's like crap, right?" Natsumi pasted the word to complete her sentence.
"Uh, right," Ayla said with a sweat drop drooping over her head.
"Okay, okay, we'll discuss about it when Mom's back on track, okay?"
Natsumi stopped leaning on the nearby wall. On her two feet, she mentioned, "Been weeks since you said that," She held up a flame bottle, which she took from the cart that she brought along. "We're alchemists, Dad. We may not be those doctor Priests but we know. Otherwise, how can we create medicine?"
"You mean you and your green-haired sister over there are Alchemists," he 'rephrased' her sentence without even bothering about good etiquette. "Why does it bother you so much, anyway?"
"It depends you know… like, if we have to baby sit her and all…" Ayla said while scratching her head.
"Mom can do that,"
Natsumi glared at him with burning eyes. "Mom's sick, Dad! She's sick!"
"I know…"
"Then why the 'Mom can do that'?" Natsumi said loudly, as if she was about to shout.
Sam had nothing to say. What's so wrong with bringing back a little baby?
Natsumi took in a deep breath before she spoke again. "Just think about it, Dad. I doubt she'll even be our younger sister," she turned around and headed towards the entrance.
"When she's 7, Ayla – the ex-youngest sister – would be 24… well, not that it matters, I guess,"
Again, Sam didn't respond. He simply sat on the bench and gazed at the ground.
At the door of the entrance, Natsumi stopped. "Just… make sure you involve us when it comes to her, okay?" she then walked out of the Priest's Shrine. Ayla was right behind her right when Natsumi took a step outside.
"Was that very choice… actually… wrong?"
"Dad?" One of the nurse Priestesses called out.
It was the second eldest daughter. She stood about 5 feet and 8 inches tall, which netted her the tallest child of the 4. Her skin complexion is very smooth – there's a bit of dark spots on her hands but otherwise perfect – and leans a bit more on the fair side. Her priestess outfit makes her legs very sexy. Her chest was large, alright – but not ample like Miya's.
"Yeah," Sam replied with his left hand raised.
"Our doctor wants to see you in Mom's room." She then turned around with her back facing him.
Sam went up to her and hugged her from behind. He whispered into her ears, "Thanks, Melissa, especially the baby…" During the weeks, he had to send the baby into Melissa's care. The other 3 sisters refused to do so. He figured it'd do a 21 year old quite good. Those words that came out from his mouth caused a faint, light pink touch on her cheeks. She shook her head weakly before she went on to continue her work. Can't slack now, can she?
He took in a deep breath. It has been weeks, and finally the "results" arrive. He braced himself before he entered the wooden door.
"Doctor?"
"Please, Sam, sit," he said, patting the nearby chair that was within his reach. Sam walked over and just did what the doctor wanted him to do – well, to sit.
"Will she be-"
"Now, now, Sam…" The doctor cut him off as if he knew he would be going into a flurry of words in an uncontrolled manner, that it would disturb Rachael's rest. "Save your questions for next time. Right now, you have a very important decision to make,"
It's not like there'll be a next time now, is there? But, yeah, he expected a decision alright. Just, a decision to what? He nodded so that the doctor can continue.
"She's stabilized, however she might have to live on a special type of medicine,"
"What's wrong with her?"
"I have no idea, but her heart is damaged and is very weak right now. The medicine will enable her heart to function normally,"
Tears began to collect itself within Sam's eyes. "Is there no other way?"
"There is an experimental treatment," Immediately after Sam heard what the doctor said, he shook his head.
"So, you plan to do the former?"
"What other choice do I have?"
"The latter is risky, but… you could always… you know,"
"No!" Sam exclaimed. She's his wife! Someone he loves! How could the doctor think of such thing? His loud voice woke up Rachael who murmured out some words that caught the attention of both men.
"Rachael!" Sam whimpered before landing on his knees, right beside her bed.
"Doctor…" she called out faintly. The Priest stood right beside Sam before she continued. "May I have… a word with him… please?" Sam looked at the doctor with puppy eyes before he nodded.
Before he exited the room, however, he whispered "If anything happens, yell," and out the door the priest went.
"Oh God, dear, I can't bear to see you like this," He quickly turned his feelings into words but Rachael sticked her finger on his lips.
"Have you named her?" she asked slowly… weakly.
"Nope," he answered with a smile. "I think… you have a better taste when it comes to names,"
Rachael giggled. "That's because all of our children are daughters," she picked up the pace, as if her condition is returning to her normal state.
Sam scratched his head. "Now that you mention it…" Rachael laughed faintly.
"Let's give her a really unique name," Sam suggested. Rachael thought of the same thing. She asked, "I think Aya would be nice,"
"You really like those Gonryun, Amatsu-ish names, huh?" he joked. He brushes her hair before he gave his suggestion, "How about… Axial?"
"It sounds nice… but, isn't that a bit more on the boy's side of the names?"
"Nah, it works fine for our daughter…" Sam then went nearer to Rachael. He bent over and leaned his head onto hers, face to face, eye to eye, mouth to mouth.
"I'll get you out of here as soon as I can, okay?" he told her before he kissed her forehead before he returned to his original, straight posture. "In the mean time, you get well as soon as you can, so…" he then gave a hand gesture, telling her to rest.
"Thank you, honey… thank you so much,"
Sam simply smiled. More like, he simply forced a smile on his face. He went out of her room to find the doctor sitting on the bench.
"Will the medicine be expensive?"
"It won't be, over here, but in the world outside… who knows how high that medicine can go,"
"Okay then," he began walking towards the entrance of the Priest's Shrine.
"Are you sure?" the doctor asked. He needed to make sure Sam was very firm with his decision.
Sam paused a while in his steps, before he continued walking out of the small building. The doctor took that as a yes and went to prepare for the prescription.
When Sam was outside, he saw the area where he and Nova fought. The memories of his problems returned. He had to take care of it, somehow… but, just how?
"Mr. Cresentfall?" a deep, monstrous voice called out. Sam's head turned to the side so that the person is at the very corner of his view.
"What the hell does a monster like you have to do with me?" he questioned him.
"We're here to take you down today," a very familiar voice spoke up. Sam's eyes opened up wider before he turned himself around.
"I guess Shorty really listened to my comments?" he said sarcastically. Sam was staring at a half a dozen Assassins, accompanied by Nova and a large… monster. "Oh, by the way, what kind of experiment is that?" he said while pointing at the large "person".
"One designed to kill you," Nova gladly told him. "Go get him, Rybio," he ordered. The large monster responded "Yes, sir!" before he leaped towards Sam, aiming at his heart for an instant kill.
Sam threw an energy bolt towards the Rybio. However, when the bolt hit him right in the face, the Rybio didn't flinch at all. It was if he moved through the bolt like he moved through the air. There was no effect!
"So, energy bolts don't work anymore?" he said sarcastically. "Well, there goes my fun spell," he added before he began to charge an energy force on his palms
"It's useless! Your spells won't work on me!" The Rybio boasted before he held up his razorblade to slash down on Sam. However, before he did so, Sam crouched and slammed both of his palms onto the ground. Immediately, at the Rybio's position, large spike emerged from the shaking ground, forcing the Rybio to leap backwards.
"At least they work on your reflexes," Sam said before he held up a small, red crystal. The crystal flashed brightly a few times, and fused with his Damascus. It was the Endow skills that the Sages were proud of. The red crystal represented the element of Eddga – the fire element. The Damascus began to glow in red as fire began to coat its blade.
From the air, Sam materialised a shield. He equipped it and casted the Increase Agility spell on himself before he dashed towards the Rybio with amazing speed.
The Rybio did the same, of course. Using both of its razorblades, when Sam was within range, it swiped across horizontally. Sam merely blocked the Rybio's attack with his shield and using his Flame Damascus he attempted a pierce on the Rybio's chest, but it side stepped out of his range.
He turned around just in time to block the Rybio's second attack, which was an overhead, powerful slash. Sam had to use both of his hands to withstand the force. Knowing he needed to be stronger than that, he began to charge an energy force at his hands – which he unleashed to break off the Rybio's force. From there he tried to slash the Rybio by its chest on purpose because he knew that it will step backwards to avoid it, and it really did. Immediately, he smited his shield that had an energy layer on its surface onto the Rybio, which knocked it meters away from Sam, back to where Nova is standing at.
That successful hit made Nova clap his hands. "Spectacular skills!" he praised sarcastically. "Since the bolts won't work, you used the energy to aid your physical abilities. Simply a genius!"
"Unlike a roach," Sam said while his eyes looked away.
"But… it's just too bad we were sent here to assassinate you!" Nova continued while trying to keep his cool before unsheathed his katana and moved at his top speed.
Immediately, he was behind Sam. He was about to stab him from the back but Sam swung his shield around, which Nova dodged with ease. Sam's other hand, however, had a spell on it which he tried to inflict on Nova, but missed because of Nova's agility. He leaped into the air before Sam could actually hit him.
"No sht, Sherlock. That dumb trick won't work on me again," Nova then landed on Sam's back and leaped of him – pushing the lone Sage onto the ground. Immediately when Sam landed on the ground, however, earth spikes began chasing Nova, who whined annoyingly about Sam's futile attempts to hit him.
Sam stood up while the spikes kept Nova occupied. On his left palm, he was charging up an energy bolt, and on his right palm, he was creating the Decrease Agility spell. When both of the spells were ready, he fused both of them into one, and called out to his Mighty Staff – which appeared on his right arm. He then endowed the magical effect onto his weapon, and turned towards his enemies in his offensive stance.
"Oh, that stupid thing again?" Nova said before he cracked the last Earth Spike with his oridecon sheath before he leaped towards Sam.
"It might be stupid, but it always work on roaches," the Sage insulted calmly. He threw the shield towards Nova, who knocked it away with his sheath, but was caught off guard when Sam dashed at him with incredible speed. His Mighty Staff came in contact with Nova's katana with such force, that he was pushed off into the air. Right after that, Sam instantly launched a Fireball towards him. Since the Assassin was still in mid-air, he had no choice but to throw his sheath towards the sphere of fire. When both came into contact, a large explosion was created and Nova landed on his feet – this time, one oridecon sheath lighter than before.
"Damn it, what are you guys doing? Get him!" He ordered with rage, but his crew ran off for their lives. "The Great Nova" was beaten by a Sage. Of all things, a sage!
"Fine then, hopefully boss'll eat you alive or something," he turned towards Sam. "Rybio, get up you lazy ass, we have to take him down or boss's going to kill us,"
The Rybio stood up. It shook its head a bit before it held up its razorblades. Together with Nova, it charged recklessly towards Sam, who prepared himself for another attack.
Half-way through, though, Nova suddenly disappeared into thin air and within a split second he appeared behind Sam with his katana high up in the air. Right before he was about to swing the weapon onto Sam, he shouted "Now!" towards the Rybio, causing it to increase its own speed.
Using his right hand, Sam held the Mighty Staff above his head, blocking the attack. Immediately he turned around – with the katana still stuck to his staff – and tried to do a palm strike covered with Fire Energy onto Nova's abdominal area, but to no avail as he immediately side-stepped and withdrew his katana. From there he stabbed the blade into the ground, causing spikes to emerge from the ground, forcing Sam to leap into the air.
The Rybio immediately leaped up into the air, reaching towards Sam. It tightened its grip on its weapons and outstretched its hands high above its head – ready to attack him. Sam held up a red gemstone and threw it towards the Rybio. It tried to knock the gemstone away using its razorblades, but that was what Sam wanted it to do – when both items came in contact with each other, they fused and the razorblade turned into stone.
So the Rybio is one weapon lighter. Fine, it still has its other weapon – which doesn't stop it from attacking Sam who is right next to it. However, before it decided to land its weapon onto Sam's head, the sage swung his Mighty Staff towards it – making the Rybio block his attack with its only weapon left. Then, with his free hand, he did a palm push into its abdomen and the energy force on his palm shot the Rybio, which instantly sent it flying towards the ground.
Sam landed safely, still keeping the Rybio in his view. "Why must Shorty experiment on Glast Heim's monsters anyway," he remarked towards himself. Nova was right behind him without his knowledge, well, only for now.
"Dad, behind you!" exclaimed a really familiar voice. Sam turned around to see Natsumi, who threw acid bottles towards something behind him. He looked to the side to see Nova. The Assassin was about to slice him into half if Natsumi didn't throw the acid bottles with such high speed and accuracy.
He used his psychic energy to hold the staff in air. He held both of his palms near each other and an energy sphere began to appear from thin air, which kept growing larger and larger.
Nova kept on dodging and knocking away the knocking acid bottles. "Stinking btch," he mumbled with rage before he began dashing towards her, somehow forgetting all about Sam.
The oncoming acid bottles were easily evaded, but when he was about to reach her, Sam aimed his massive energy sphere at Nova and shot a laser towards him – which pushed him off towards the mountain nearby with so much force that it was like a meteor from outer space hitting the ground.
"So, is everybody dead?" he wondered out loud, as if done on purpose.
Natsumi scratched her head. "Well, least you're not dead," she turned around and returned to the local laboratory. Half way through, she turned back towards her father.
"Um… have you named her yet?" she asked timidly.
"Pardon me?" Sam replied.
"Have you named her yet?" she asked, this time in a much louder voice.
Sam nodded. "Axial," he answered her.
"Well, something different, eh?" she said before continuing her way back to the local laboratory.
"What's so different about that?" Sam thought before he decided to return back to his home.
