Chapter 9: Into the Fire
A/N: A little faster on the update I had some free time and more of a direction that sorta took off when my mind started heading that way. Hope you enjoy.
Remaining quiet in their room on the edge of the capital was the party of the Shield Hero. The other Heros and their groups had departed to other luxuries but Naofumi's group was not afforded such convenience. Elias was unconscious and in effect his magic was not working, meaning his large skull face and large body was on full display.
Elias had appeared as a strong ally to the other Heroes before reappearing as an enraged beast his mind lost and attacking only out of anger. Or at least that's what the Shield Hero believed, even when he had attacked Itsuki there had been some measure of intelligence, not a great deal, but there was cunning and strategy. Comparing that form of Elias to the one on the ship was stark. There was no grace, no plan, just raw animalistic aggression. He didn't attempt to use magic to subdue them, just rip and tear until there was nothing left.
Then as if things couldn't get much worse he had to put himself in defense of Elias from the other's. They already didn't get along and now he was seen siding with the monsters attacking this world. The four cardinal Heroes would easily fall into a fight to the death if they were to meet again.
'They have no trust in me.' Naofumi thought in contemplation while sitting in a chair beside the unconscious mage. His fingers weaved together as they pressed against the crest between his brows. 'This whole thing is just completely fucked.'
Filo was sitting on her knees alongside Elias's form. The childish form touching the mage's skeletal face, perhaps looking for a reaction. He didn't like it when people touched him. "Is there something wrong with Mr. Elias?" Looking to her master for some type of answer.
Naofumi didn't move his fingers from his face but shook his head. "Physically no, but then again he isn't like anything else. Restorative magic can cure his wounds but his status, ailments, buffs, and debuffs are just…" His screen detailing the current state of Elias was a jumble of words, symbols, and signs that he couldn't comprehend. Some were other languages, others not, it was all completely indecipherable. "I don't even know Filo, I wish I did."
"Hnn." Filo's features dipped as she gently touched Elias's face in a gentle stroking manner. Still there was no response. "Maybe there's some magic we could get to help him?"
'Possible.' "I don't know who I could even trust to heal him. There isn't anyone- Well that isn't entirely true There is Chise but apparently she was off fighting a separate wave of catastrophe and did so with almost no effort."
While that should be good news, it only meant trouble for him and everyone else. He would have to be a fool or the spear Hero to ignore the signs of what would be coming. The church was growing in power and standing in this country, if they had their own personal Hero even if reluctant would be more than likely capable of overpowering them and with tens of thousands of people already joined with her and more looking to follow her it would be almost impossible to imagine having to get into a fight with her.
'Sure I can say that I have a small trick up my sleeve with Elias but with him like this in his current state there wouldn't be any saving of my skin. Then the other three Heroes, the King, and the church? How much more can I have the deck stacked against me?' Naofumi wanted to quietly lament his situation and the non-stop string of misfortune that he had been tossed in his way. 'Fate just does not play fair.'
We barely managed to survive against glass who could've killed all of us if the time limit hadn't come and gone and now that I know there are separate waves to deal with who knows how many MORE enemies we'll be put into fighting against them, and how strong they could possibly be.' His head dropped down letting the top of his head now rest against his fingers while his face stared down at the wooden floor. 'What the hell do I do?'
The peace of the moment lasted for another ten minutes until there was a loud pounding on the door. "Shield Hero Naofumi please I ask that you answer the door!"
'Wasn't the two other times I refused to answer a hint?' The Teen couldn't try and deal with people right now.
"The king is demanding an audience with you and is threatening to take action against you if you don't recognize his summons. Please Sir Hero!"
Twenty minutes later Naofumi was being escorted. No he was being almost corralled into the audience chamber of the royal family. King Aultcray was atop his throne, several guards and a servant holding a crystal ball in a pillow beside him. The verbal lashing that followed was all but expected. "Once again I find you lacking Shield," The King's disdain already showing by leaving out any manner of his proper title. "You refuse my summons again and again, yet when you arrive I must be forced to threaten you when you should be following my gracious commands!"
"Please, stop with the cow towing your majesty and bite me." Naofumi was being terse but he really did not give a shit.
"What!? How dare you Shield I am the King of this country you will speak respectfully or I will see you punished for your lack of any etiquette!" The Hero's words made the King stand up which only made Naofumi grin.
"You aren't my King and in case you forgot you haven't held up to any of our bargains so I fail to see the need to honor any of yours. Especially when I have an armed escort sent to me while one of my party members is currently incapacitated fighting the waves for this mess of a country."
'You want to summon your guards… but you won't. No you can't do it because if you wanted you would've sent them directly the first time and forced me here.' The Shield Hero let himself have a mental chuckle. 'You could've forced me here but that wasn't the goal. No…' "You want something from me, don't you?" Naofumi was feeling a grin on his lips growing.
"I don't need anything from you, but what I want is for you to answer some questions of mine." The King re-composed himself, the expression on the bane of his existence's face would only grow if he gave into such basic emotions. "What kind of deal have you made?"
'Deal? What the hell is he talking about?' He wasn't sure what he was referring to.
"I want to know how you've acquired such power that is unfit for the Shield Hero. I saw everything from my crystal ball while you fought and I want to know how you've obtained such power. Is there a dark dealing with that monster you were protecting, is there a corruption on your soul that gives you powers that no other Shield Hero has had? Or is this the true form of the Accursed Shield?" The King was leaning forwards in his throne, jeweled fingers gripping partly onto the edges of the arm of the chair.
That put a damper on the Teen's mood but he didn't really feel like dealing with the king's bullshit. "If you want to know then give me Raphtalia back. I'll tell you everything once she is back with me."
"How dare you attempt to make demands of me. Your slave was freed, you have no right to her and she is in far better care of the Saint than any Devil such as yourself!"
"Then you won't learn a damn thing from me and as much as it would please me to squeeze you dry for the money I'm owed or to even watch your self absorbed ass bend the knee and bow before me. I don't want any of that, I just want Raphtalia, the girl you stole from me."
Aultcray spat unceremoniously to the side. "Your arrogance and self centered posturing are only going to get you further in trouble Devil!"
"Evil may not justify Evil, but I refuse to treat a useless sack of shit like you as anything more than that." The room went silent for a second, guards, servants and the King alike were all shocked by the brazenness of Naofumi.
But then the King recovered, and his shock turned to blinding fury. "How dare you! You misbegotten failure of a Hero! GUARDS-!" Aultcray shouted in a hefty bellow and soon a dozen or more pikes and swords were leveled in his direction.
"Do you think a few soldiers is enough for me? I beat the wave's number one monster, I have powers that you yourself say you can't understand and your answer is to push me into a fight?" His hand raised up towards the King. "But if you are wanting a fight, by all means." He then motioned with his palm upwards. "Bring it." He called his bluff, there wasn't anything the King could do to him. Starting a battle in his own throne room? Yeah right, that wouldn't happen-
"Father!" A younger but more directed voice shouted from the sidelines. Walking from the side was Princess melty. Dressed as she had been on the day she was found by Elias in the woods just wandering about.
All parties in the room were a bit stunned by the girl's arrival. However, Naofumi hardened his gaze at the girl. 'She's damn Royalty?' The way she acted now made sense, directing them to come find her at the palace for a reward? 'Dammit I can't believe I didn't see this earlier!' ALready he was mentally kicking himself. Burned by the King, his daughter, and now apparently his second born as well.
Perhaps forgetting she hadn't directly told him but he was just more irritated that the royal family had once again used him. Immediately placing the same sins that he had for the same blood that ran through both of their veins onto her personally.
"Melty? Melty I-I'm sorry I didn't realize that you were in here." The King's demeanor shifted from the angry dictator to the embarrassed parent that was caught by their child.
She put her hands on her hips and walked towards her father. "I was not originally, but how could I ignore all of the commotion? Father you were being so loud I'm certain the whole palace could hear you yelling, just what would mother say if she saw this type of behavior." Her head shook in disapproval. To the onlooker it would appear their roles were reversed.
"I- Apologize Melty this was unbecoming of me, but," His head's relaxed expression quickly hardened when he was now looking towards the Shield. "This failure of a Hero has insulted me and brazenly mocked my commands."
Melty looked to her father and then back to Naofumi. "Father you can't just up and begin ordering a Hero around like that, we need to be working together to-"
"Hah!" His sharp and disapproving quip caught the Princess's attention. "Work together, that's rich Princess. But I have to admit it even though I didn't realize that you were royalty." The Shield Hero crossed his arms over his chest. "There is no working together, not with your trash father and bitch sister."
"Insolent knave! I'll have you-!"
"Do it then!" Throwing his arms wide open, "I'm right here come on you royal pain in my ass. Come right down here and fucking make me I dare you right now!" He would give this pile of shit nothing. Even if it were a copper he wouldn't even spare him a second glance. 'For everything you've done to me and taken from me. I refuse to forgive!'
Both of them continued to shout and berate the other, their attitudes devolving into childish until Princess Melty could stand no more! "Both of you be quiet!" Her voice a loud piercing screech until it did actually settle down. Yet for a princess she felt it was undignified to act in such a manner. Fixing her dress and recomposing herself she looked towards Naofumi. "Sir Shield Hero you are one of the four cardinal Heroes we need your help to defeat the waves of catastrophe and in doing so we shall offer you aid. This is the agreement is it not?"
The Hero's eyes flicked between the King and his daughter before settling on Melty. "What are you trying to get at?"
"Only that both parties agreed to help one another, it's a fair agreement and once everything is complete you will be sent home. I think that it's fair, far from perfect but fair." Melty began using one of her hands to speak, "You helped me without much hesitation although the promise of a reward did fully convince you so why not just continue with such an arrangement?"
"Because your side has never lived up to any part of the agreement. I barely get paid, i'm treated less than garbage and today I'm summoned before a buffoon who then threatens me because I won't tell him something… but even worse than that Your family stole Raphtalia from me and then dropped her at the first Hero's church so that she would be purified."
Melty had learned some of that information from her mother, but the latter part however…
"Your family took her from me, lied about me, and then humiliated me." No matter how long it had been, that wound in his heart had not healed. It would take only Raphtalia and nothing else in order for him to feel that wound close in his heart. "So tell me then just how is this supposed to be a fair arrangement or are you just like your bitch of an older sister and use me-!"
"Sir Shield Hero-" She tried to speak to him, this wasn't how adults and heros were supposed to act!
"I will tolerate this insolence no more! Guards remove this brigand from my sight at once! Throw him in the dungeons. I do not care, just get him out of here immediately!"
"Father stop!" Still she was being ignored completely, their tempers refused to be taken down. 'They aren't going to solve anything, why are they doing this? The country and people are far more important than this bickering that we can solve peacefully.'
"Don't you even think about touching me. I'll leave on my own. I have way more important things to be dealing with than this bullshit!" But still the guards advanced upon him, some were those who had refused to help him when he fought in the waves, others looked past him with indifference. Naofumi's shield snapped into the cursed rage shield, the amalgamation skull with fire emblazoned on the front was harrowing enough but when Naofumi raised it upwards there was a shift physically. His clothes began to darken and his hair shifted from a black to a white color. Reserved green eyes snapped into a bright red, holding up his shield with a blackened fist showing just out from the bottom he was ready and Eager. "Just try it."
"Stop it all of you! This isn't helping!" Still the princess kept trying to interject and get control over the situation. But that was appearing impossible as every second everyone seemed ready to kill one another.
A royal guard stepped forward and that's all it took. Naofumi's body twisted unnaturally, his spine rotating as his other arm lashed out and grabbed the guard by the top of the breastplate and then in a single motion threw him up into the air.
'This shouldn't be happening!'
[***]
Chise awoke with a gentle stirring, her mind still foggy from everything that had transpired. Her body was completely exhausted. She blinked as she found herself tucked into bed but not alone. Raphtalia was down as well, her head resting on her arms as she slept just beside her a content smile on the Raccoon girl's face. The Surei Beggah wanted to wake her companion but resisted. Not knowing how long her companion had taken to get to sleep herself Chise felt it would be better for her friend to rest.
Looking towards her display she could see that Chise had depleted quite a deal of mana; she had only about ten percent left although she wasn't hurt. 'Maybe I just pushed myself to use more magic than I should've.'
"Chise as a mage you must be careful, you can't let yourself be drawn in by the power of casting magic and instead use it like a tool." The voice of Angelica, her purveyor of equipment and first real person that took an interest in her when she was bought by Elias. Thanks to her, she realized a small fraction of her power when she attempted to mold a crystal into a flower. "We mages have a gift but we can't treat it like it's something to be abused. Take it from me." How she had seen the effects of magic being used incorrectly. The permanent gem shards were embedded inside of Angelica's arm, the tan skin marred by her own arrogance as a mage.
'Sorry Miss Angelica I guess I'm still overdoing it as well.' She apologized though the other mage would never hear her.
Not waking her friend she simply left her to sleep. Grabbing a robe she covered herself although she was dressed in some white nightgown Chise felt thirsty and didn't want to trouble anyone. The teen actually wanted to feel useful for something she could do for herself. She knew where the kitchen was and there would be people there to help her if she couldn't find the water in there herself.
Opening and closing the door quietly Chise stepped into the hallway, there weren't any sounds to indicate that anyone was up and even more surprising… there wasn't anyone hovering outside of her door. She half expected someone to leap out from a corner and begin kissing the sandals on her feet.
'Where is everyone?' Chise thought to herself as the two chairs outside of her own room were left empty. Although she wouldn't ask for the helicopters to return when she actually had some peace to herself.
Walking down the hallway, she still recognized the stone hallway carved out of the mountain telling her that she hadn't been taken elsewhere. Chise kept a quiet pace as she walked down the hallway. Finding the place a little chilly since there wasn't anyone around or this was just the normal feeling of the mountain. Not that she really had any experience living in one.
Still… Making her way down towards the kitchen or mess hall could be appropriate. Pushing the doors open she again found this location empty.
Her green eyes scanned around the location, everything appeared to be unused and left unattended. "Hel-Hello?" Chise called out at least trying to see if anyone was there. Nothing answered.
Walking along the rows of tables lined up with benches to accommodate a majority of the followers of the church in huge sittings Chise made her way to the back, finding this to be more like a school cafeteria than a church, 'Not that there weren't religious schools but this does sort of feel like middle school.'
It didn't take long to find several large barrels of water suspended with large mugs not too far away.
She took several full swigs satisfying her thirst just as the door opened up to the room. 'Well my freedom was short-lived.' Adalee, Etricka or Raphtalia probably had come looking for her.
"Hey look someone's here!" "yay!" "I wonder if they have food." It was actually several children. Coming towards her was a little blonde boy, a tiny brunette girl, and a short cropped redhead. All of them were happy to come up to the counter where Chise was. "Hello!" They all greeted together, "We're hungry!" Their faces and voices speaking in a way that made Chise smile at how cute they were.
It would be a bit rude to refuse them some food, they were children after all and even still none of them were flipping out upon seeing her. 'They must be new.' She thought of giving them a smile. "Well, is there anything you like?
"Something crunchy!" "I want sweet." "Maybe tasty?" The trio had managed to scramble up into stools that were near the kitchen counter.
"Well let me see if I can find something." Chise softly laughed as she saw all three of their faces light up, they were all glowing while looking at her, but the small redhead averted her eyes when she noticed the older woman's gaze.
Walking back around Chise spotted something and her display hinted at another that would probably hit the spot for all three. Grabbing a small knife Chise walked back with two apples and a small little jar tucked into her arm as she held all three.
All three faces remained quiet and observant as Chise delicately cut into the fruit, 'just like Silver' letting herself smile as she cut eight-mostly neat- pieces and set the children out with two each but she took a small knife and smeared a light layer of honey over the top of the slices.
"Here, eat up." She said smiling and the children did. Their eyes lit up at the combination and texture, it probably wasn't anything they were used to in this world. They happily bit into their slices while Chise dipped one of her own pieces into the jar of honey and took a bite with them.
Quiet and enjoyable…
"Chise, Silver has prepared the holiday meal come down before it's cold." Elias called out to her from below. She had just finished bathing and was getting changed when she heard him.
"You're taking your time today Chise. Are you nervous?" The monotone voice of her familiar Ruth, the black dog lay near the door staring at it.
"It will be the holiday's soon and I've never really had one as a family." Chise said feeling her own personal jitters coming out as she finished towel drying her hair.
"Hmmm, you are nervous."
"I am not Ruth." She retorted but her familiar lifted his dog head towards her. She was lying, he was a part of her and he felt whatever she did. "Okay, a little."
"You shouldn't be, Elias isn't really one for gifts, well not counting your night-"
"Do not bring that up please!" She hurriedly said, her face a full flushed red. "That's the last thing I need to be talking about."
Ruth almost cracked a grin with his dog face before putting his head back down and letting her get ready.
Coming down several minutes later wearing a sweater knitted by Silver with a tree and reindeers on it she saw that the dining room had been especially prepared. A table for all four of them in the home. Elias, sitting in his usual spot as their caretaker, set out a glazed honey ham, breads, cheeses, a decorative fruit bowl and a special jam made just for these holidays.
"..." Silver lady said nothing, wearing her pink Victorian clothes and bonnet but her bright smile spoke much more as she set down the food before coming over and giving Chise a very tight hug. It was love and appreciation, even though Chise did nothing but wear her clothes.
To a spirit like Silver just having a family to care for and look after, to share in their moments of happiness and joy was an incredible fulfillment. Sleigh Beggy or no, she loved Chise and enjoyed her almost as much as Elias himself, but in an entirely separate way. A hug was more than enough, not quite as seeing her smile, and her laughter filling up the hearth.
"It looks and smells amazing Silver." The redhead smiled at the blonde fae spirit.
She smiled, her eyes closed releasing a soft sound of approval before leading her to her seat. A nice and quiet family meal… where she felt like a-a family.
"Children are you in here-!" A nun or follower of the church came in through the door, her eyes settling on the trio of little ones and Chise's form. "There you are, why did you wander off here?" Despite the obvious setting of a mess hall/cafeteria there wasn't more of a hint as to why. The woman approached and took in the woman's face. The brown bun of tightly knit hair.
'Wait… I know her.' She looked familiar, it wasn't any of the regulars but the face… then the children. Young children… 'The day I was attacked. She's the one!'
The mother of the abused and badly injured child.
It was a little shocking to Chise, it had only been weeks since she had last seen this woman. It was a little surprising to see a woman who had abused her own child now working for the church and even so in the position of caretaker of children?
"Children! Bow your heads!" The woman's shot outwards before almost completely tucking her chin down into her chest.
The youngster's looked at one another before doing as they were told. Despite the enthusiasm of the older woman they peeked at each other wondering how long they had to continue to do this.
Perhaps it was fate trying to show her hubris, "You can lift your heads, you don't need to do that for me." A few moments of being seen as just a person were now quickly gone again.
The younger children lifted their heads up immediately. "Who are you lady?" The girl asked her head tilting to the side as she didn't see anything special about her other than being a nice person.
"She is not some Lady! Children do you have any idea who you are with!?" The woman's voice was like she was out of breath. "This is the great Saint of our Church, the phoenix of God and his most holy child sent to aid us from the heavens!" She looked to them before they looked to Chise, then back to her. "This is our Holy Mother!"
"Ohh! That's amazing, no wonder she's so nice!" The boy said happily, "Can you do cool magic?" The revelation not truly having the impact that the older woman had clearly tried explaining.
"Well it's not cool magic, but I can-"
"Children please!" The woman grabbed several of them. "You do not ask a Saint such things, her kindness is a blessing you do not ask of things of her she was here because God put her here to show you her benevolence towards all."
'Why is she treating this like a sermon, I was here because I was thirsty.' Exhaling, Chise looked at the woman though she did not like how her child had been given over to her at the church she wasn't going to pin all the blame solely on her. Judging one by their sole appearance was not something she had wanted done to herself and she would not pass those same judgments along. "It is okay, the children were hungry and I was just here. I am just as human as you are."
She shook her head, "No, that is not true Saint, you saved my own child, you had the church enlighten me of my faults and through you I've given myself over to God. I see all the wonders he has done. I know that I was once a sinner but through the church I've repented and see clearly my misdeeds. My child is now healthy thanks to you, I have a wonderful home and a community because of what you did for me." She got on her knees and bowed her head, she was beginning to cry- no sob- as she had been given so much because of Chise's actions. "I was but a poor wife of a farmer and- and now I know that this world is so much better because of God's will. Please we are unworthy of such kindness. We do not deserve your blessing but still you have come to aid us most Holy Saint!"
She held such conviction that even Chise felt almost moved by her words. Still, Chise did not see herself that way and refused that notion. 'Because I know what I have been before. I was unwanted, neglected, and unloved. I was never a gift in anyone's eyes until I was brought here against my will.' Once Elias found his way into her life, the people she met, friends and family she made were the reasons for her becoming who she was today.
God had nothing to do with it.
"Please this isn't necessary," wanting this worship to end, but unfortunately the waves of religious fervor passed through the air faster than expected. Lady Adalee and Etricka came into the mess hall next and immediately spotted Chise.
"Most gracious Saint, what are you doing here? You should be resting!" Adalee said, shaking her head, "Etricka fetch Raphtalia and see that she is escorted back to her room and find out whoever was supposed to be watching her door to be chastised!"
"Adalee it's fine, I came here to get some water. You don't need to start a circus over this. I can walk around and do things for myself. The entire church doesn't need to fall all over me because my throat is a little parched."
However, it was too late. Dozens upon dozens of the followers of the three Hero's church quickly poured into the same room all of them looking to find their Saint for blessing or just to gaze upon her. This was what she didn't want or asked for.
The fervor of the faithful masses almost caused a riot until Chise's personal body guard entered. Raphtalia pushed through the crowd -as carefully as possible- reaching Chise and then with Adalee and Etricka's assistance kept the crowd at bay as the demi human had a far greater level of strength than anyone would expect. With their training and their appearance at the waves of catastrophe had rocketed both of them up in levels. This also gave Raphtalia access to more magic gear, and some very important class upgrades.
The Raccoon Girl, former member of the shield Hero's party, was now a Guardian. A powerful sword wielding fighter who was capable of powerful light and holy magic, a benefit gained from being so close to the Saint as her radiance amplified her natural affinity. Then as Chise gained in power so did her closest friend and protector.
"Chise you could've woken me up I just put my head down." 'That's a lie, I have been watching over her since she used up so much mana fighting the waves… but still I felt such a pit inside of my chest when they came and found me.' Her soft brown eyes were unable to tell Chise that she could not stand the thought of her being away from her. It made her sound unstable and dependent upon Chise's presence, it might make her be sent away from her by her friend or the Church and any notion of being permanently separated from her would without a doubt drive her mad.
"You were tired, it's not like-" She started.
"I don't want to see you hurt, I am your friend and protector there's plenty of other time for rest." Raphtalia kept a hold of her wrist as they headed back to the room. "I know how much you push yourself and I always tell you I'm here to help."
"It doesn't mean I can't help myself you know I hate it how I don't ever get a chance to be myself."
'We're right back to our old arguments, she's far too important to m- everyone!' Her mental correction came quickly as they entered their private domicile. Etricka and Adalee kept the hordes of faithful followers at bay as Chise was secured within her own room. The ventilation allowed the two of them to still hear some rumblings of the crowd as they were given a small measure of privacy.
Taking a chance to exhale Raphtalia put a smile on her face as the bodyguard noted the annoyed look on her friend's face. "Look, forget about that, I did hear something from the others that you need to hear." The green eyes shifted and Raphtalia felt some tension leave the room. "I heard about Master Naofumi and I believe it to be Elias."
"What!?" The name alone was enough for her to forget about the situation.
"Yeah you were so tired I didn't want to wake you once I heard it but I can tell you that Elias was seen fighting the waves…." She told her everything she had learned, with her ears nothing was that hard to keep from her so long as she was close enough to the conversation. Explaining how Naofumi had killed a massive soul eater that had spawned during the battle but not without revealing how a twisted creature unlike anything else appeared and attacked the soul eater.
The Devil and the Shield were working together, it was good news for both of the girls but not so much for the two who owned that title. Naofumi was being even more ostracized by the church and the clear involvement of what was obviously Elias was near impossible to ignore either. The chaos of the battle had been the biggest source of rumors considering Naofumi had come out as the strongest Hero of the entire fight. His party of a Filoliali, himself, and another mage had been a great help when fighting the waves.
Of course that hadn't been the only thing, Naofumi had defended the presumed Elias standing up to the other Hero's and trying to make them stand down was perhaps the talk everywhere.
The creature had done a fair share of damage and for it the Shield Hero refused to let anyone strike him down, but before another battle could take place a newcommer had arrived and all but incapacitated the Hero's and the giant monster before the waves had ended.
"It sounded like that Elias might've been hurt by this new assailant but I can say with good certainty he wasn't killed." Raphtalia told her as Chise hung on her every word. Finding a very small amount of comfort from the news.
'He's still alive which is good, but he lost himself again, he threw himself into a frenzy just like when I was messed up by that monster Cartaphelius sent after Ruth.' The young japanese girl knew that in that state the only thing Elias cared about was ripping and tearing, there wasn't any chance of a conversation. Elias would kill and it would take a shock to bring him out of it. But even after that shock she knew that the mage would require a long amount of time to regain control over himself. 'I just hope that he's alright.' Vindictive Elias was not a pretty sight.
"It's not the best news but it looks like he and Naofumi are possibly working together which presents its own problems."
Chise nodded, "Yeah the church doesn't seem to want either of them around." Letting all of this soak in Chise let her head fall back onto the bed, her legs still hanging off the side as she stared upwards into the ceiling, a mirror reflecting back her own image. Her long mess of red hair covered most of the bed as she looked hard at herself.
Reaching up a hand she stared at the mirror and remembered the pink flowers of the dragon aviary. How they had once been able to communicate through the water's surface. "Elias."
Red eyes flared right back to life. "Ch-is-se?"
They both heard one another, "Elias!?" He sounded hurt! "Chise!?" She sounded lonely and scared.
Raphtalia heard something beside her friend's voice there was something else. It had a darkness to it. "Chise, speak to me."
"No way, Elias.." She had to breathe. "Elias is that you?" A part of her couldn't believe it. Had she actually done it again? Like before it was a surprise to both of them. This time was much different. "Elias! ELIAS!" Her voice shouted as she looked up into the mirror, a blackness covering its surface before a long missed face appeared to her.
"Chise! My bride!" Elias's face almost slammed into the portal transmitting their own images to one another. His face straining as if he were actually able to come through. "Chise, please speak again, I need to hear your voice, I need to know that you are well that I might see you!" It was a desperation that she'd never heard from him before.
Her eyes looked into the mirror and the surface of it shifted, an inky blackness covered her reflection before changing. Darkness giving way to a bright porcelain bone and then burning red eyes. "Chise!" His hands slammed into the surface, as if to force himself through the portal connecting their linked minds.
No matter how far apart their connection was, it was far too great to be held back by separation. Elias's fury slowed as he realized that he wasn't able to break through. Laying his hands upon the surface as he looked at Chise.
Both of them just looked at the other, the silence remaining until Raphtalia wondered what her friend was rambling about until she saw what was looking back at her in the mirror. She gasped but the redhead did not break away.
She wasn't going to look away from him. She wasn't going to break this moment they had together. "Elias… are you okay?"
"If I were able to pass through this portal and find you I would be okay, but with you so close and so far from me I find myself in agony. How I desire to touch you, hold, smell, and hear you speak to me in my arms would only make me feel okay. This pain in my chest swells upon seeing you, my bride and love. I find my words hollow, please speak to me and help ease this pain."
This was her Elias. "I'm not hurt or anything, but I know what you mean. I miss being with you, our home in England, Silver, Ruth, Angelica. I miss all of it." She felt like she wanted to start crying, she couldn't though, that would only further upset everyone. Elias did not like it when she shed tears, both of them didn't need to hurt anymore.
"Can you tell me where you are Chise? I can come and find you, I can start immediately."
She softly shook her head, "No, I don't really know other than a big mountain. It's some temple that the church brought us."
"Chise? Who, who are you talking to?" The demi human was unnerved by the visage of Elias, it was hard for some people to accept so easily.
"It's Elias," Her head did not turn from him. "The man who bought me, he's sorta like your Naofumi." If she did, their connection might sever. Right now she had Elias and just wanted to have some time with him.
'Maybe it's just me, but he doesn't exactly seem like a Nafoumi.' Raphtalia thought, still looking up at Elias, but he didn't give her any notion whether he knew she was there or even cared.
"I'm relieved you're okay. They told me that you had been in a fight with the waves of catastrophe and that you were struck down." Chise changed topics as Elias nodded his head.
"I was, unfortunately, this world's rules are nothing like our own. I had almost all of my mana drained by a spirit. That was not a pleasant experience and then even after that I was pinned to the ground by a raven haired woman known as Glass. She was much stronger than any type of mage i've encountered, they can use magic without heavy incantation. Bolts of energy that can cripple me, I have been brought low before… but that pain is still nothing to being without you."
"Stop," She said, feeling her tears well up but forcing a smile. "You keep talking like that, it's going to make a girl blush."
"Once I get my hands on you I-"
The link was broken not a goodbye or we have to cut this short it just ended. And the Capital of Melromarc quickly felt the repercussions for it. Every hero, knight, merchant, and peasant alike heard the savage cry rip from the voice of Elias even if they did not know where it was from.
"CHHHIIIIIISSSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"
It shook the entire very ground, the ground outside the city became pitch darkness, it cracked and the grass broke apart becoming soot, the leaves on the trees wilted and fell like it had turned to fall. The bark of the trees broke apart and cracked, the water nearby also fouled as all the mana in the area was scarred and ripped apart.
"Damnit!" Elias punched the water, his fist sinking into the mud, "Damnit! DAMIT!" He tore large chunks out from anywhere he could find. Once again his beloved was taken from him. Stolen like she was not his already.
He let out another bellicose roar that shook the very ground and sent any form of wildlife running in any direction except one.
"Hey you said you wanted to get some fresh water you didn't say anything about ruining the entire area you bonehead!" Filo jumped out from atop a tree in her human form landing on top of Elias's shoulders. "If you keep screaming people are going to come and that means I won't be able to get any good lunch you jerk!" She pounded on top of his skull with her fists though with no real intent to cause harm her target simply let her hit him.
"Since you're dead set on causing issues for master , let's go somewhere else." Filo said, grabbing onto the gnarled horns on the back of his skull and turning him to a section of the forest. Surprisingly he didn't offer up a word or even resistance. He stood up, his shoulders still heavily slouched.
He looked more defeated than his battle against the soul eater and glass. Muttering only the words of his lost love as he slowly walked in the direction Filo made him.
[***]
Chaos was springing up all over the capital, the entire place shook with the fury of a beast of war cries, then there was a scene of chaos inside the royal palace.
Naofumi had lost his patience and any ability to work beside this country any further. The only problem however, was the king didn't quite seem to understand that. His pure white hair and red eyes were in the center of everyone's attention.
Foolishly the guards believed they stood a chance and in a few short moments they realized that they were not of the caliber of a Hero or in their eyes. 'Devil'
His arms stretched to inhuman lengths sending one man slamming into the ranks of others. His strength and speed were only amplified by the rage inside of him.
But as the roar caused by Elias in his own anguish came, the windows of the palace cracked and shattered. The screaming voice calling out to Chise was heard by all in attendance as it echoed for a near impossible minute. Bouncing off the walls of every building and causing those outside to cover their ears as the ringing grew in sheer intensity.
"You want to know my anger, Aultcray! You want to see what it's like to have something you care deeply for ripped from your arms?" Naofumi's voice was low as he took in full breaths of air his entire body was shaking from an unbearable feeling of loss and anguish. It had invaded him out of nowhere, but he couldn't stop himself from acting upon it.
Bottling it was painful, and without thinking of it it simply came out of him. He felt as if he had lost Raphtalia all over again but that pain was amplified.
Looking squarely into the King's face with nothing but a snarl his arm shot outwards to the side twisting and bending a dozen or so meters and then wrapped itself around the waist of King's daughter.
"Sir Shield Hero Ple-" She didn't finish as she was drawn backwards and into his side. The malformed arm wrapped completely around her waist.
"You Bastard! Unhand my daughter at once! I'll-I'll"
"YOU WILL WHAT!?" Naofumi screamed, the fury showing as his voice spat outwards that it silenced the whole room. No one could say a word, not when there was such a hostage. "Take, take, take! That's all you people do, you don't give a damn about me and never have, so I'm going to return the favor!"
"Nao-fu-mi! Please!" Melty found the black appendage wrapping around her tighter and tighter and it was making it hard to breathe.
"Release my child at once!" The King shouted, shoving one finger hard in the direction of the shield hero like it were a spear. "I swear that your head will roll if you do anything further!"
There was only a grin on Naofumi's face. "You think to keep that which is mine?" Two voices were speaking simultaneously; it was both Elias and Naofumi. "Then you will lose something that you care about until I get what was never yours to take!"
"Father, Hero! Both of you- Just stop!" Melty was lifted off the ground, her legs no longer able to find a perch along the floor as Naofumi threw his other hand backwards. The spindly limb grabbed onto the remains of the shattered glass wall and without even looking threw himself backwards.
Slamming through the frame and into the air. With momentum carrying him outwards he landed on the railing of a nearby balcony and took off, his limbs twisting and bending in every manner to keep him moving at top speed.
The bells and alarms followed soon after but the Shield Hero was already moving far too quickly, the chaos of the day no one bothered looking up as he jumped over the palace walls and came downwards. Melty shrieked as they went flying towards the ground and braced herself but the heavy impact never came. They were already moving before she had even realized it. Looking up, Naofumi kept sprinting and didn't even seem to be breathing. "Shield Hero-" Please just calm down, taking it this far won't solve anything."
"It probably won't, but right now I don't care! I just want that old crippled bastard to know how I feel. No- How I felt when he took Raphtalia from me, When they stole Chise."
Melty's eyes went wide as she heard the other voice speaking through the Hero's mouth but he didn't even seem to notice.
Keeping up a strong pace Naofumi cleared the half of the city separating them from the outside. He didn't know where he was directly heading or why but he was being pulled along by some force. 'Like they're holding onto my head and pushing me!' It was like a phantom limb, not actually there but he felt it as if it were real.
Scaling the walls just as more alarms sounded The Shield landed near the edge of the forest and practically ran into the remnants of his party. Filo was standing atop Elias's head, his real one.'
"Oh hey it's Mel and Master! Hey are…" Filo's voice tapered into silence when she saw how Naofumi walked forwards, his body covered in that black substance which was also wound around Melty's stomach. The silence carried on as Naofumi set down the Princess.
"About time you put me down!" She then dusted herself off and resumed her regal posture. "Now just what exactly is going on? Is this some type of vendetta you have against my father that you are actually going to use me as some type of hostage? Mother will be exceptionally cross with both of you if you continue to do such childish things!"
"I see." Elias spoke his English tone coming out as he walked through a few pieces of brush and stood before the princess. "You are royalty, not simply nobility." His eyes looking down at her studiously, "Quite the plan Naofumi."
'Plan? I don't even know what the hell I just did right now…' He brought a hand to his head as the darkness returned to his hair, and his clothes and physical form reverted back to normal. 'I was just so overcome with this sense of loss I just felt like I had to make someone responsible for all of this pain to feel it as well.' Completely out of nowhere he felt it like a bolt of lightning and the next thing he was just yelling at the King and then… this. 'None of this is going to help me… Christ, just what have I done?'
Melty turned her attention towards Elias, "I assume you are the monster that has been traveling with the Shield Hero?"
"Who has told you this?" Elias said, leaning his head down at her, feeling relieved. "You speak as if you have some idea as to what I am, so how would you know this?"
Melty took a slight step backwards as the large wolf skull head was a foot from her own face, even with Filo sitting atop her it wasn't exactly a face that screamed welcoming.
"Hey, be nice Mel is a friend." Sliding down his face she landed beside Melty. "Don't you be mean to her, she's a nice person." Holding the princess with both of her arms and giving an overly exaggerated frown towards the mage who hadn't moved.
"I have no intentions of being mean to her, this is actually more ideal." Elias slowly leaned back putting his gloved hands into his pockets. "A simple exchange or bargain for what we both desire." There was the neutral underlying threat in his voice, it might be true that he had no intention of doing something to her, but to those affiliated with her? That was a definite possibility. Chise was the only thing that mattered, this world, its people, plight, and the waves had nothing to do with him. It was Chise and that face alone that mattered.
"Hey! Are you really planning on using me as a Hostage? This isn't going to be beneficial for either of us. Especially you Sir Shield Hero, this behavior is completely unacceptable. How do you expect to defeat the waves if the only thing you are doing is causing more issues with Father!?"
Was this all that she cared about? Her approval with Daddy? That if things didn't get better she might not get enough head pats or approval? 'There are the same.' he thought tearsly. "What does it even matter at this point? Your son of a bitch of what you call a father had me ordered to his throne room and then threatened me when I didn't tell him what he wanted. Exactly how is this my fault? What did I do to deserve any of this?" Leaving out the kidnapping of his daughter but that occured well after the fact.
'Stay calm… breathe, one, two, three.' She repeated several times as the princess was wondering why she had to explain any of this. Adults… well a Hero should know something like this. It was self explanatory. 'But right now, of all times we need diplomacy and a unified front.' "You have done nothing wrong, Shield Hero. I know all of the crimes that have been levied against you and while I believe most of them to be false and prejudiced against you I still feel that you haven't done enough to prove that you are above the King's accusations and outbursts like this only fuel his hatred of you, now we need to head back before any more chaos can come as a result of this."
"I disagree." Elias said, tilting his head at her bringing both of his hands out of his pockets and drew over the large red silk covering over his head shielding his boney face from sight.
Melty didn't show her fear as Elias's form moved closer, "You must see reason, you can't get what you want if you pursue this path. If you come back I promise Mother can see to it that you can be rewarded. Further infighting only weakens us." She continued to berate Elias, and while it would probably have an effect upon a creature who wished to see reason. The position she wished to ensure fell upon deaf ears for his heart did not care for this world, but just a single life.
'I totally messed everything up, damnit! Why did I do this?' He didn't have a single rational thought as to why he would act so irrationally. He hadn't lost consciousness or anything, it was all just overwhelming. "We have to let her go…"
"Why?" The older mage almost snarled, throwing away such a gift? It was pointless to discard such a prize, they could exchange what they desired. He had no intention of harming the princess unless they did so to Chise, but if she was given back to them then without injury then he failed to see how either side benefited.
"We can't kidnap a Child, second the King has no measure of control over the church," If they moved forward with such a demand it would only further escalate hostilities not that they weren't already boiling over. But it would basically send everyone on a collision course and possibly be the death of Raphtalia as some sort of retribution should he keep his daughter. This path would only ensure that Aultcray would probably die from his own or Elia's hands; he mostly wanted to avoid his friends suffering for his mistakes. "Third, they could easily trap us and utilize an entire country to bring war down upon us. We don't have friends here, the best bet would be to leave her and head for another country, Shieldfrieden borders Melramarc we head there, they actually like me there and see if we can levy for both of our Ward's release with their power."
"You insist on an action that does not guarantee Chise's return!" Elias shouted, "I want my bride back, I know that she is in the mountains with your Raphtalia! I saw them before our link was broken and I will not remain passive any longer!" He moved to grab Melty but as his hand moved to grasp her a slight whistling sound came to his side and then the force of an arrow landed just a foot from the princess.
Atop the ramparts of the cities walls, one Archer had his arrow knocked, his face hidden by a cowl as he drew back another shot and then was gathered by others who appeared to fill in the slots to either side. Reaching upwards of two dozen or more men training their arrows on the Shield Hero's party.
The Shield Hero reacted first, casting his airstrike shield and second shield overtop the group as several more arrows landed upon the group's location. "Damn let's move!" Naofumi kept up his barricade as more arrows began to let loose in further flurries.
"This discussion will be held again Naofumi." Elias stated his veiled face looking directly towards the teenager.
He snorted in response to the mage, 'like I don't have enough to deal with right now.' , "Just get moving, we can argue about this later!"
"Hop on Mel!" Filo transformed into her larger form letting the princess and Elias jump onto her back as Naofumi retreated with them into the outlying forests, his defenses holding up well to the onslaught of continuous arrow fire. Wooden arrows with metal tips were not quite on par with a magical bolt fired by Glass.
Several minutes later once deeper in the woods and well out of eye sight did Naofumi jump into the stirrups of Filo's back and the group took off.
"Don't you see Sir Shield Hero! This is only going to make things worse, please we need to go back and resolve this before either side takes it to the next level!" Princess Melty could see that this escalation of force had already boiled over and further rising aggression was going to raise the stakes for all of those involved.
"See? I saw plenty little Miss Princess." He told the purple haired noble, not bothering to look back, "Filo stick to the side roads, they'll be expecting us to head straight out. Push to the forests north and towards the mountain ranges that'll lead us to Shieldfrieden."
"Sure thing Master!" Filo said sticking to her own directions and letting Naofumi address the threat that had not been directed at him.
"I saw it as well, humans in this world only continue to disappoint me." Elias crossed his arms and looked at the girl between them who didn't know the true intent of the attack. Looking between the two of them.
"Melty," The Hero's voice was serious as he had to be more than blunt to counter her foolish-but noble- idealism. "That wasn't an attack against me. They were trying to kill you."
'What!?" She was shocked, "No, no that is incorrect, why would father send men to kill me? Perhaps it was merely a poor shot?" Trying to process that the attack was probably a fluke. Why would her country attempt to kill her. Her father wouldn't want to see harm come to her so just-
"Think! They didn't even attempt to stop us, the first thing they do is shoot, and keep shooting!" He grabbed her hand tightly. "Your father said not to lay a finger on you so explain to me why then they would just unleash a volley of arrows and the ones fired land closest to you?"
'Well- I mean- it's..." She trailed off as she wasn't able to process this further. This had to be a mistake, 'Father would never do anything like this I mean only-' Her eyes went wide. "Oh no…"
"Yeah, do you get it now?" The Shield Hero turned his head back towards the road, releasing the princess's hand. "There's someone else who wants you dead and I'm guessing that you being out of the picture would probably help them in their goals in ascending the throne and is a big supporter of the three Hero's church."
Elias had that inkling before with so many interactions with Princess Myne. A person who craved excesses would never know when to stop taking. Yeah when he looked at his own crossed arms he felt a strange itch. 'Another emotion… but My actions have purpose and I'm not taking, I am saving that which is mine and No One Elses…'
R&R