The Orthos really were beautiful. Noah thought as he stared at the feathered beast. It was large, just like the Griffons in the stories he had heard of, but seeing it up close. "Majestic, barely begins to describe such a thing." The armor it bore, the Empyrean steel was scarred, and dented from countless battles, but it still shined with a wondrous light. Noah just watched the beast be brought towards him and Chayyliel. "I gotta ask." He stated as he turned to the Storm Warden. "Where do you find these guys anyway?"
"The Eggs of the Orthos are originally found within the World known as the Old Lands." The angel stated as he looked to her.
"The Old Lands?" Noah repeated the name. "Never heard of it."
"It is an old world forged by the Makers, one that regrettably fell during our early wars with Demons so long ago." She admitted. "Before it was shattered however, we collected as many of the eggs and brought them to the plains of the White City and let them roam free under the care of the Beast Masters."
"You guys have Beast Masters?" Noah raised an eyebrow as the Orthos was brought before him. "Guess I can't say I'm surprised, someone has to look after these guys." He raised a hand, letting the Orthos lower its head and seemed to smell his hand for a moment.
"I think she likes you." The Storm Warden stated with a faint smile.
"What can I say; I'm a hit with the ladies." Noah watched as the Orthos lowered itself, letting him climb onto its back and settle in on the armored saddle.
"Few humans ever gain the privilege of riding the Orthos, you should consider it an honor." The Angel stated as she pulled something off her neck. "Take this." Charryiel flew up to Noah and handed the teen a necklace.
A Crossblade Necklace. It was the crest of those aligned with the Hellguard.
"This will show my brothers and sisters you stand with us." Noah stared at the necklace for a moment before putting it around his neck and let it disappear under his cowl. "They will not attack you so long as you carry that."
"Riding in on an Orthos won't give em that idea?"
"As loyal an Orthos may be to the White City, they can be forced to fight for the Forces of Hell." Chayyliel stated as Noah made a noise.
"Guess that makes sense."The teen muttered as he rested his hands on Ortho's back. "So how do I get this one to fly - oh fuck!" The Orthos made a noise as it took off, catching it's rider off guard as it started flying off in the distance. "Left! Left! Left!" Chayyliel watched as the teen started flying the Orthos trying to get it to fly in a certain direction and not into a building. "Now right! That's a good girl!"
"He catches on quick." Chayyliel muttered as she watched the Orthos fly off. "Not the most graceful take off though."The angel muttered as she turned and started walking towards the others and started planning her next course of action.
With Noah
"You know." Noah called out as he clung to the armor of the Orthos. "Chayyliel's pretty hot." The teen told the beast. "I mean sure she's got a few scrapes and bruises, but she's really a looker." He chuckled. "You think she's single?" The beast didn't respond. "Figured I ask." The teen muttered as he was lead through the city. As they flew he took a breath, reaching into his mind as he seemed to look for something. "Vi? You there?"
"Always."
Hearing Vivien's voice in the back of his head Noah sighed in relief. Good she was still alive. Got a bit worried for a moment.
"Noah, it's only been two hours. I'm not going to croak in that little time."
He heard his twin chuckle.
"Besides, you'd be the first to know if I dropped."
"Yeah I guess you're right." Noah smiled lightly. "You're in my head after all."
"Anyway, were are you, you should have caught up with us by now."
"Yeah about that." Noah muttered. "Got caught up in something and I think I made a few friends." He could 'feel' Viviane's relief
"Friends?"
She paused.
"Rogue demon or other hunters? Or are they just survivors?"
"Angel." Noah stated as he felt a sense of dread rise in his sister.
"Angel?"
"Angel." Noah repeated as he took a breath. "Heaven's Hellguard is here, they helped me out so I'm gonna return the favor real quick."
"What is the Hellguard doing here?
Viviane asked with a bit of steel in her 'voice', but Noah felt what it was hiding; fear.
"The Hellguard isn't supposed to get involved in Demonblights. I mean it would be really awesome if they DID but they don't. Why are they here, unless…"
"Yeah." Noah muttered. "It's not just a Demonblight we're dealing with." He paused. "It's the Endtimes, The Endwar."
"Fuck…"
Was all Viviane said after a while.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck Fuck. Fuck. Fuck…"
She repeated.
"FUCK!"
Noah winched as he heard the noise in his head. "Not so loud." He grumbled as he rubbed his head.
'That's what all this is? We're dealing with the freaking Endwar?!"
He heard her groan. "Yeah, I asked a Warden and got a bit of info, apparently it came early."
"What do you mean it came early?"
"The Warden, Chayyliel, said that the Endwar was supposed to come in a few ages from now."
"Oh well that's just wonderful news."
The talking fell silent for a minute. "How are things on your end?
"Good… I think."
"What do you mean, you think?"
"Everythings trashed in here, but Lenore said she should be able to do some technical stuff to get it working again."
"Ah, so what are they having you do?"
"I'm basically a lookout."
"Ah~" Noah shrugged. "You and I are better at hitting stuff, so it makes sense."
"Yeah - oh hang on a second… What?"
He heard an echo through his sister's mind.
"Sorry Noah, Duty calls, talk to you later?"
"Sure, be safe sis."
Radio Station
"Will do." Vivien stated as she pulled herself off the wall and stretched. "Well, time to get some more exercise in." She muttered, reaching for that mammoth blade of hers as she started walking off. "We'll see you in a bit." She looked to Lenore who was hard at work opening up the broadcasting equipment and doing so rewiring. 'The Endwar huh…' She thought. 'I'll tell her later.' She told herself. "Best not distract her right now." She muttered as she stepped outside the broadcasting room and cut her finger before smearing the blood on the door. The crimson pulsed, burning as if formed a red sigil that started to spread around the doorframe. "That will keep you safe." She muttered as she turned back, her attention drifting to the few demons that were already creeping into the hall room from the other end of the hall. "Look." She muttered as she grabbed her sword before stopping. 'Tight corridor, won't really be able to swing this thing without it getting caught on something.' She thought as she shifted her hand to let it be at her sibe before slamming it into the opposite. 'Guess It's time to go old school.' She thought as the demos continued to creep forward.
"Now look here." She began. "Before we start this, normally, I'd be more than happy to play with you." She muttered. "But I just got some concerning mood and my mood is just…" She paused as she cracked her knuckles. "I'm angry, annoyed and disappointed, so I'm going to take that out on you." She stated. "Just know it… not personal ok." The demons charged across the hall and Viviane was already on them, her fist slamming into a demon's skull as she heard it crack under her fist before she chose to backhand another into a wall. The next one she uppercut into the ceiling before she grabbed the next one by the neck and raised them up before slamming them into the ground. She raised her fist and the last thing the demon saw before she brought it down was murder in her eyes.
New York, Streets
"'Wo~" Noah breathed as he felt something creep into his brain. "V is pissed." He muttered. Noah muttered as he looked at the Orthos. "That ever happen to you? Getting so pissed others just feel it?" The Orthos said nothing as it flew on, eventually reaching the waterfront as it landed. Noah was greeted by an angel, his armor scarred and stared up at the human. Without a word Noah flashed the crossblade necklace around his neck as he jumped off the Orthos. "Chayyliel sent me. Said you needed support."
"We were not expecting a human to come to our aid." The angel stated as he looked at the Orthos. "And we did not expect you to come alone."
"Your Storm Warden and the rest of her division. are going to need some time to heal up." Noah put the necklace away. "Hope you understand."
"I do." The Angel stated as he looked to his wounded division. "I understand all too well." Noah just looked around. It looked like these angels were on their last legs; this month long Endwar obviously hadn't been kind to them.
"Can't fight a war alone." Noah muttered as he reached for his sleeve, pulling it up to reveal a symbol of sorts etched on it. He tapped it, pulling at arcane embers and ash as a water bottle came into existence. "I wanted to save this though." He grumbled as he chuckled it at the angel. "Here. Don't use all of it ok?"
"What is this, water?" The angel stared at the liquid before noticing the strange glow that it carried. "No, not water." He stated as he looked at the young human. "This is healing magic condensed into a liquified state."
"You can drink it straight, or sprinkle it on a cloth and apply it to a wound and you'll be healed right up." Noah stated. "Everyone from my faction carries a bottle of it on them. It's part of our emergency kit."
"I see, and you offer this to help us?"
"I offer you some of it." Noah corrected. "I'm still gonna need that when this is over."
"I see, you have my thanks, child of man."
"Noah." The teen stated.
"I am Anpiel." The Angel stated as he looked to his division, and started towards the closest. He barely got three feet before a call went out.
"Anpiel!" Both Angel and Noah looked to see a new angel flying towards them. "They are coming!"
"It appears your gift will have to wait."
"Looks like it." Noah muttered as the Angel tossed him his water bottle as he made it vanish. "If this was a damn video game we at least get a few minutes before things start, give us a minute to heal up and stuff." The Orthos roared as Noah glanced at it. "Can't have it all right?" He pulled at his twinblade, frowning as he broke it in two. "Let's go." From both sides of the waterfront demons swarmed them, the Angel's picking themselves up as they prepared to fight.
London, England
Galahad stabbed her blade into the ground, exhaustion overtaking her for a moment as she breathed, her helmet's rebreather making the noise come out like a faint hiss. She was tired. It The morning had yet to turn into afternoon, and yet she was already tired. 'Shows what to expect in the coming days.' She told herself as she looked ahead, her attention focused on the horizon. She pulled her sword from the ground and looked around, her attention turning to the knights of her Order. Brothers and sister lay dead in the streets, and her people gave them a sending, whispering words to their fallen before returning to their feet and prepared to press on. Many would die before this was all over, but their deaths would not be in vain. "We will remember the sacrifices you made for us to press forward." She whispered as she looked ahead. Much as she wanted this day to end, there was still much to do before the night came. Touching her helmet she took a breath, frowning slightly as she activated comms. "Tristan."
"Galahad."
"How are things in your front?"
"We have our dead, but the battle is ours."
"I see." Galahad muttered. "The battles this day are but the prelude to a frighteningly long war."
"That may be, but we were trained for this."
"Agreed." She stated. "Have you had any contact with Gawain?"
"Last I heard of him, was under a month ago, he was trying to make contact with the military."
"And?"
"Nothing, I'm afraid I haven't heard from him since."
Galahad didn't say anything, just clenching her hand around her blade as she took a breath. "MGawain is alive." She muttered after a while. "He'll contact us when he can."
"Right, what should we do in the meantime?"
"We press on as planned." Galahad stated. "Merlin will train the acolytes down below, they will provide reinforcements when the second wave is ready."
"Understood. Stay safe Galahad."
"You as well Tristan."
Tokyo, Japan
He overslept. That was the thought that ran through the mind of the man with no face as he pulled himself from his stubber and stepped out of his temporary shelter. He cursed himself. He didn't mean to oversleep, but he was just so damn tired…
He shook his head, as he looked around. Trying to decide which district he needed to visit next. A choice was made as he headed off, disappearing down the streets as he tightened his grip on his sword.
He had a lot of hours to make up, and just as much ground to cover.