Velvet faintly wondered why everything had to happen at once now, but shook off the notion. There was no helping it. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," the burning dragon ground out. "Take. My. Heart." She had to break for every word, clearly troubled to even compose a full sentence. "I, can not, hold on." Her crimson eyes narrowed on Eizen, who had followed Velvet; Alisha and Margaret flanked him. "End, me. Take, my, heart. Make, make Edna, happy."
Her wish was simple, yet it also made Velvet's heart clench; her companions were just as distraught, but no one broke down yet. Even Alisha soldiered on despite just learning that her idol was an enemy to be destroyed. Taking a deep breath, the goddess of darkness nodded. "Alright. I'm sorry I can't bring anyone else to see you off, Lailah. Sorey is out at sea." Hearing the young shepherd's name made the dragon twitch; Lailah tilted her head toward Velvet.
"Sorey. He does, well?"
"...yes. He will be fine, don't worry."
It was not much of a lie, even. Before Velvet got to begin however, Eizen stepped forward with a scowl. "And this is actually what you want?" he asked the dragon. "There is a way to return you to being a seraph. Are you sure you don't want this more?"
Lailah seemed to stew on that for a long moment. When her mouth next opened, it was to let out a steaming breath. It faded quickly into the earthpulse's surroundings, the vast stone platform they stood on illuminated by red mana running underneath. "Edna, she, she always, pretends. Never smiles." Eizen's expression changed minutely, but he did not interrupt. "Take, my heart," Lailah pleaded again. "Turn, her frown, upside down. It is, my, my heartfelt desire." She left a long pause and huffed another steaming breath while everyone else stared. "She is, always, so, down to earth. I want to, to, to rub-y some cheer, into her. Give her some, some, saph-fire." The dragon giggled and wiggled out of Minkkubi's embrace, baring herself to the motionless Velvet. "Now, please?"
She scrutinised Lailah a moment longer, more unsettled than annoyed by her puns. Her gaze wandered to Eizen, who nodded back at her with a faint, fond smile. Margaret's stared at the ground, trying to wipe away her tears. As for Alisha, she firmed up and stepped forward the moment their eyes met; her tail began to come alight with a deep blue. "Allow me," the therion requested while stepping next to Lailah's neck. "You focus on the heart."
The dragon studied her calmly, a bit of curiousity making its way into her question: "Is this, revenge?"
Velvet already rounded her frontlegs, but she still saw Alisha shake her head. "No," she reassured Lailah. "I forgive you, and I will see you off. Thank you for your service to Glenwood, firekeeper. And thank you for helping protect those who remain up until your final breath, and beyond."
The erstwhile firekeeper's eyes closed, then shot open in pain when Velvet's hand pierced her chest. A scream began to erupt from her throat, only to be silenced when Alisha severed it with a water jet from her tail. Its high pressured edge cut the entire platform in two and threw a wave of mana a hundred metres high where it landed in the earthpulse.
A moment later, Velvet pulled back her hand; in it lay a core of gentle flame, surrounded by several rythmically pulsing rings of darkness. She carefully pulled away the rings, extracting the core and handing it to Eizen. He took it solemnly, forcing the flame down his mouth without even chewing. "It was what she wanted," the earth seraph mused while his body shone. "She gave her life for this. The least I can do is honour her wish." The glow intensified before abruptly cutting off, leaving Eizen as he had always been. Opening and closing his hands a few times, he then pushed them into his coat while Alisha took a knee and prayed before the dragon's corpse; Margaret joined her moments later.
Velvet watched the remains, taking note of the steaming Malevolence; like all dragons, this one would soon dissolve. Her gaze fell on Alisha again, the therion's bushy tail drooling; she clearly suppressed the urge to feed on a meal as bountiful as this, but Velvet thought otherwise. "Devour her," she told Alisha once she and Margaret were done.
Seeing her hesitate, the younger blonde spoke up after a moment: "She always struck me as a nurturing woman. One who was kind enough to wish her heart was used to aid another. She would wish for her body to nourish you, too."
"I agree. It still feels horribly wrong." Despite her words, Alisha stepped forward again. Her maw opened wide just as the first flakes of Malevolence fell off her meal. Velvet put a hand on her shoulder as she ate.
"I know how you feel. She reminds me of Seres like that, I hated eating her, too." Margaret flinched, though Alisha's head merely turned in curiousity. "My brother-in-law's bonded seraph," Velvet elaborated. "And my big sister's reincarnation." The therion's eyes widened, but she did not inquire further about the who or why. Now that she started however, Velvet felt like talking: "They were both kind, nurturing women. Women willing to go beyond their own lives in order to make the world a different place. Seres fed herself to me when she could go no longer, gave me her flame, so I had the strength to carry on."
"..she sounds like a wonderful person."
"She was."
Alisha finished her meal in the ensuing silence, darkness visibly roiling through her entire being. It erupted a few times like a geyser, but soon calmed while the therion rubbed her belly. "It went, well, easier than the first dragon. Although I am still a little hungry." She ducked her head after saying so, but Velvet merely smiled. It was an eventful day, so everyone should have a full belly and a good night's sleep. She could give them at least one of these things.
"Then let's make dinner."
. .
. .
The view was exhilarating! Enya could not get enough of it ever since she was shown this place up high. A giant temple flying so far above the world one could see it was round! She drank in the sight for hours, then did the same with the magnificent flame above, the sun. She was so, so happy; not for any truly important events, but because she got to see such beautiful sights.
The kindness of strangers had quickly warped into what felt like familial warmth. She was born merely two weeks ago, but every day had been wonderful for Enya; the other seraphim taught her many things and had a lot of patience when she messed up. She messed up a lot, actually. Regardless, she apologised and tried again until she succeeded, which seemed enough to mollify everyone who taught her anything. Even Velvet, whom she had been scared off at first, always gave her a warm smile, although Enya kept feeling as if there was more to her behaviour than she said. But as long as they were all together, she hardly cared.
Climbing up a narrow stone pathway, she peeked into the vast cathedral all the other seraphim were gathered in. Several gazes went her way immediately and Enya ducked away from the high window, but there were no reprimands; daring to look again, she found everyone mingling with each other again. A stage was set up in front, though no one stood on it yet; this was some kind of meeting, she could tell. Curiousity began to burn brightly within Enya, the young seraph settling in to wait for what would happen. She did not have to wait long.
Just a few minutes after she reached her perch, Velvet herself appeared and jumped on stage. Her arrival silenced most, the final conversations petering out over another few moments. The imposing woman surveyed everyone before she spoke, a fond smile tugging at her lips. "This is the first time we have the guild present in its entirety," she began, curious whispers filling the short pause that followed while Velvet's smile fell away. "This is good news and bad news, for all of us.
"The good news is, our main purpose will be fulfilled before Summer is out. The Lord of Calamity is dead." Enya gasped, having heard how horrible any Lord of Calamity was by now. "However!" Velvet immediately shouted over various exclamations, returning all attention to herself. "However, this was only the first of two steps. Laphi and I, we kept a few secrets from most of you. I doubt no one noticed the things we never advertised, but it is only fair that I explain them now." From her perch, Enya could see a few disgruntled expressions and some nods, but mostly just curiousity. She was curious, too. Her eyes began to widen when Velvet spoke of Maotelus himself being under threat, almost falling out of their sockets as she explained her own godhood. The moment Enya learned she stood on a god's body, she softly patted the stone near her knees to ask forgiveness.
"Those of you who remember the last age will remember Innominat's short reign as well," Velvet continued once the general surprise, worry, and excitement had been dealt with. "Suffice it to say, this will not happen again. I will see to that." Some chuckled for an unknown reason, but Velvet did not mind. "Either way, we sent Margaret, Alisha, Symonne, and Eizen to dismantle the Lord of Calamity's own network the last few months. Once they are done, Laphi and I will deal with Maotelus; without a silver flame in our hands to try purifying him, we have to use drastic measures... no, we won't kill him," she immediately silenced the worried muttering, her voice growing softer despite carrying to every corner of the room. "At least we don't want to. With a little luck, we can free him."
Velvet stopped there, clearly lost in thoughts; going by her grimace, Enya felt that she did not like the thought of killing Maotelus. It faded soon, the awestruck seraph noticed; she wished she could have that kind of inner strength.
"Moving on, Innominat's body will soon return to Desolation below. Him being up here was a temporary solution to keeping him hidden, but there is no need for that anymore when Maotelus is taken care of, one way or another." This news was taken with mixed reactions, though far more subdued than before; Enya's face fell, too. She just found this wonderful, beautiful place, and it would be gone within a few months. Of course she understood, and so she held back on any tears and kept listening: "And lastly, we will disband the Bloodwing Butterflies within-"
Velvet did not get to finish, surprised and silenced by shouting from various people. Enya could hardly hear anything clearly in the cacophony of many voices conveying their displeasure, but she gathered that whatever those butterflies were meant for, everyone wanted them to continue. Velvet appeared to get the same impression, making the seraphims' protest fade with a raised hand. "I understand," she told them simply. "However, neither Laphi nor I can remain leaders of the guild. We are Empyreans and shouldn't interfere with the world as much as we did the last years. We only did because it was necessary. Show of hands, who wants to continue the Bloodwings under new leadership once this crisis is over?"
Almost every hand rose. The non-human seraphim raised paws and hooves or whatever other appendages they had. Even Enya did it weakly, hidden as she was; something that brought people together like this and made them so fond of it, she did not want it to end even without knowing what it was.
Velvet did not even bother to count, she simply nodded. "Alright, so the guild leader will change. Any volunteers?" All of a sudden, all the excitement was gone. Hands lowered as men, women, and others glanced between each other, uncertain; Enya wondered by herself just how much work being in charge might be that no one wanted it. Within seconds, an odd and uncomfortable silence hung over the room she spied into. Velvet's eyes wandered, the woman clearly waiting for someone to step forward. "I'm not going to force anyone," she added after some time passed, "but the Bloodwings need a leader. Laphi and I can teach our successor, or successors if several want to share the burden, but we won't just appoint you." There were more searching gazes now, but still no one stepped up.
Enya worried; if no one wanted leadership, then would this guild be disbanded anyway? All these peoples' happiness might burn away into so much ash.
She had to do something.
"I-I'll do it!"
The shout echoed through the silent hall and Enya felt relief that someone had the courage. Only then did she realise all eyes were on her now. She was the one who shouted, she realised with widening eyes. Then however, her expression firmed up; she hopped through the window, landing in a crouch before the surprised guild. Even Velvet was dumbfounded by her entrance.
Taking heart, Enya kept going: "If, if no one else wants it, then I'll do it. I, um, I don't know what exactly you do, a-and I'm really sorry for eavesdropping! But I can tell you love this guild, so I'll do it. For all of you."
Her words came from the heart, shrill and clearly not as elaborate as Velvet's, but they reached nonetheless; daring to look, Enya found herself confronted with smiles and understanding. She slowly brightened as well, then sought Velvet's eyes; the goddess of darkness appeared almost proud. Once they looked at each other, she nodded. "Very well. We still have a few years before the Crowe's Nest becomes obsolete; until then, Laphi and I will mold you into a proper leader." Enya blinked, surprised by how easily she was accepted. "Come up here."
The fire seraph began to move slowly, almost cautious of it being a prank of sorts; when no one stopped her, she started to speedwalk, then run. The room was a lot bigger than she thought. In the end she jumped, clearing what few metres separated ground level and the stage. Velvet made her take position to her right, looking out onto the many cheerful faces; this felt different from here, knowing everyone could see her. She could see everyone, too.
When Velvet next spoke, it was clearly orders; her firm words almost echoed: "Starting today, we will clear out Innominat. Our enemy's forces in Rolance are practically destroyed, but Hyland is consolidating; we assume they know the game is up and will march on the Empyrean's Throne, where Maotelus is. To that end, the Bloodwings' final mission in this Age of Chaos is to keep the two entrances to Camlann under observation. I doubt they can break past Zenrus up in Elysia without their master, but we will do our due diligence. Inform us the moment Hyaci Maltran and her forces get near the passage in Glayvend Basin, then our combat group will take care of her."
There were calls of agreement and the crowd got moving; Enya watched them file out, listened to the excited chatter permeating the hall. She stayed in place, nerves having caught up with her; she just volunteered to lead a guild she was not a member of. A guild she did not even know about until half an hour ago. Why had she done that? "...why did I do this?"
Her quiet mutter drew a huff from Velvet, who turned with a fond if melancholic smile. "Sometimes we surprise ourselves," she told the young seraph. "Now let's go. There is much for you to learn, Enya."
"O-Okay!"
Enya left Innominat's body that day, never to return. The Bloodwing Butterflies removed all their belongings and workshops within hours, leaving the giant structure as bare as it had been before their arrival. Then, once the last of them left, Innominat began to crest away; slowly, ever so slowly, he returned to his original position above the Empyrean's Throne. Teleportation artes fizzled out, leaving no way to return onto his majestic form.
Maotelus failed to notice his movements, lying in fitful slumber. He missed Minkkubi as well, the obsidian dragon swimming through the earthpulse beneath as if in sync with her brother up high. Corruption incarnate and light reborn readied themselves to strike.
Meanwhile, Shepherd Sorey stepped off the ship and onto a dilapidated dock. One need no eye for architecture to know it had been abandoned ages ago; the heavy, sturdy rock was torn apart in places and ground down by the elements, yet still strong enough to allow mooring their vessel. Above them towered a partly broken structure that once stood rigorous, traces of Malevolence still echoing in the entire area. Deformed metal tips were lying in small notches they struck as arrows in the past, the faint slices and impact craters of powerful artes yet remaining.
Scholars huddled off the ramp right after Sorey, already arguing among each other just what this place might have once been. Mikleo and Edna were quietly speculating with the shepherd while Rose whistled at the sight. Even Dezel turned his head this way and that as his winds explored.
Only Zaveid was not curious. He knew this place and saw it before; long ago, when he traveled around aimlessly. Seeing that no one paid attention to him, the wind seraph huffed as he beheld the changes. "Titania, huh? Wonder if you knew it'd be this place." He received no answer of course, knowing that neither Velvet nor Laphicet were present. Then he strode forward to follow the enthusiastic shepherd.