Back with another chap of LoCG are we? Well we are!, last chap I addressed Shutaura's issue. Likely will play into how I'll remaster older chaps after I finish. Oh yes I changed the story summary, and yeah may have done a goof and forgot to change the cover with the chap posting. Still hoping for someone to tell me the artist so I can credit them… Otherwise I'll feel guilty. It's a temp cover however, so don't expect it to stay.
Anyways, review time baby!
Whwsms:{Indeed, how far is Index willing to go in order to protect Touma? More accurately her arsenal includes anything related to the phases the gods she ate were connected to. Styil totally has been putting faith in Touma for a while, Accel's not happy… he never is. Oh please, if the washing machine is too OP then sphinx is waaaay to OP.}
5had0wHand:{I had to address her feelings, and what her thoughts about the whole thing was.
He's literally called a male tsun by Othi at one point. Another step into darkness for Index, another foot closer to the edge.
Well yeah it's Imagine breaker, so it's gonna be hard.}
Mr?:{the main man is back!
It just felt right there, and yeah I found it important to address how there were multiple factors contributing to the death of Touma. And how each character will feel responsible in their own right. Shutaura's is just one which would have started waaaay back. And thanks, coming from you, that feels good Shutaura and Arisa are characters that we don't know enough about so pulling them off is more difficult.
Having Stiyl realize that pedestal is part of my plans for him, and when you think about it… he kind does subconsciously put Touma on one.
I mean Index doesn't want to destroy reality remember? This is Touma's home which she promised to protect for him. She's pulling a Superman world of Cardboard on everyone, and a lot of her limitations are purely psychological. Ones which I've slowly been unpacking throughout the story.
Thanks!}
Guest1:{… you may be closer to the truth than you think ;) just don't tell anyone}
Now then, this chapter had some more little experimental things, and the next few chaps may feel formulaic, but I hope you'll understand why as you read them.
Now remember constructive criticism is both encouraged and desired. And with that out of the way, let this tale of an infinity commence once again.
Chapter 55
Origins of Myth
Lessar ducked away avoiding a strike from a goblin. Muirean, Galistic, and Baobhan Sith had been patrolling the edge of the sargasso, chatting. When a weird black horse-fish thing with snake hair had leapt from the water to attack them.
Her fey friends had informed her it was a Kelpie. And it was not long after it showed up that they had been overrun by fey.
Lessar used her steel glove to grab a crude spear out of the air and launch it at a seemingly human figure.
They flickered shadowy for a moment as the spear passed through them.
"Why did I think that would work on a revenant?" Lessar asked as she dodged an attack from another Kelpie.
The Kelpie's head snapped past her before a cloven hoof slammed into its head. Baobhan Sith kicked off landing in front of it. Her hoof coming up and slammed the Kelpie in the jaw.
"Not sure Lessar dear," she flashed a smile as she threw the Kelpie to the side.
"Might as well be attacking thin air Lessa-gal" Galistic grinned as she slammed into a large fishman-like creature. "I mean at least Fuaths got an easy to hit physical body!".
The Fuath, a malevolent water fey shrieked as it slammed into the bow of one of the many ships making up the sargasso.
"Ah quit your whining!" Galsitic said, slamming her hooves into its face. "Muireann took a blow from Kamijou Touma to the face and she didn't whine about it."
Speaking of the young Selkie the girl had begun to rapidly freeze shortly after the fey appeared. Touma was suffering and she was nowhere near him now. But that did not stop her from fighting.
Runes glowed across her body as she battled a Each-uisge. A waterhorse fey that took the form of a handsome man to seduce women. But they were just as likely to eat a human woman as they would a human male.
Roars of agonized rage came from Muireann as she kicked the blond haired Each-usige back. They slammed into the wall of a broken fishing boat and it caved in. Ice had begun to form on her now bluish skin. Covering her almost like armor, ice crystals glittered in her hair as the frost encrusted her outfit.
She ducked to the side as a revenant struck at her. She breathed out a cold breath of mist before the arms of the Nuckelavee struck out carving through it.
The revenant shrieked in agony as it rolled on the ground fading. The wind had picked up as clouds rolled in overhead. Waves crashing against the sargasso, and Lessar felt a few drops of water hit her face.
"Great! A storm, fantastic!" she muttered, ducking away as she knocked the goblins aside, "As if today couldn't get more dreary."
The Each-usige burst from the wreckage at Muireann who casually swung the arms. It pierced the creatures flesh and the Each-usige gagged. Quickly rotting and collapsing as frost rose from Muireann.
There was something Lessar had noted as she blocked an attack from another Kelpie.
All of the fey, while the malevolent type, seemed… off. Their eyes were focused, but even the intelligent ones didn't act like it.
"I swear that ripping these things from the other phases really can't be good for the world." Baobhan Sith pulled out a dirk from a sheath on her thigh and sliced through a second revenant.
"Agreed sis," Galistic crouched away from a Kelpie's strike before back-hoofing it into the ocean.
Muireann roared as she charged to aid them. Frost had begun to form around her forehead as she swung the arms. The cold seemed to follow her as it coated her body in ice.
The daggers in the hands of the arms glowed red hot as they were swung through the air at blinding speeds. Whining was heard and they carved through the attacking Kelpies.
A shockwave burst out knocking the pesky goblins into the ocean where they vanished.
"Sheesh! Muir-gal's really gone, Berserkinger!" Galistic grimaced as the young selkie breathed out bouts of frost.
"She's really upset with herself for being unable to protect Mac-Kamijou." Baobhan noted as Muireann roared at the top of her lungs.
The four of them stood back to back with each other as they observed their surroundings. Thunder cracked, as frozen wind blew, and Baobhan's eyes narrowed.
"Galistic dear sister?" she said suspiciously
The goat hoofed girl grimaced, "yeah… I know"
"What you guys talking about?" Lessar asked.
Muireann was breathing easier now, but runes still glowed across her body. Ice beginning to from above her brow. Lessar was honestly shocked she was alive despite clearly experiencing hypothermia.
"Black Annis," the young selkie muttered her grip tightening.
"Wha?" Lessar began before she was suddenly struck to the side by a mass of water.
""Lessar!" Gaslistic shouted but a cloven cow hoof met her face and she was launched back.
"No! It ca-" Baobhan began before a fist slammed into her chest.
Muireann's eyes widened and she leapt backwards and rolled in the air. A bolt of lighting struck where she once was as two blasts of air past her.
Lessar rubbed her head as she pulled her glove out. "Okay the hell was-" she cut off seeing who it was that had attacked them.
Riding down on the mass of water was three figures. An Old woman with blue skin, iron claws and a single blue eye . Ice followed her footsteps as her half aware gaze followed her opponents.
A girl of pale complexion with red irises and slightly sharp nails. Raven's wings sprouted from her back out from under the black feather hood she wore. She floated downward without flapping her wings.
A slender girl with long gold hair, cow's hooves covered by her dress. A bovine tail swaying slightly from her rear as she stood on the sargasso. Her body would pulse every so often as rage seemed to fill her.
Finally bursting from the mass of water that had hit Lessar earlier. A young woman with ankle length blue-green hair and emerald eyes. Moss seemed to cover her body as she landed, the water swirling around her like it was part of her.
Galistic's eyes were wide as she had a look of betrayal. "Sis?" she asked in disbelief.
"Sisters?" Baobhan looked at them with baited breath.
Black Annis, or Gentle Anne
Carmillia Dracul
Huldra Hylda
And Thames Jena
"I thought the Anglicans had sent them to England!" Lessar shouted.
Muireann grimaced "I don't think that matters to Index"
Friends became foes as the battle continued.
No words were spoken from the four as they instantly engaged.
Just like the other fey, they too were under Index's control.
"Whoa!" Lessar shouted as a column of water swung at her.
She rolled sideways and it slammed into the ground next to her, sending splinters and chunks of boat into the air around her.
"Oi! Huldi! snap out of it!" Galistic tumbled away as Huldra's fist slammed into the ground. It caused a crater as she roared in anger, tears falling from her eyes. "Oh for the love of! Are you… SERIOUS!" Galistic barely managed to avoid as her sister's hoof slammed down where she once was.
Boabhan wasn't faring much better with Carmillia. "Stop it! You're acting like the beast the Christians say you are!" she hissed.
But Carmillia seemed unable to hear her as her sharp nails came whizzing past her face. Her eyes glowed as she kicked her sister, Baobhan was launched back as she slammed into the the ground.
She gagged and leapt away just as Carmillia threw a fishing boat at her. "Oh by Nuada! You're way more difficult like this!"
Muireann didn't seem as phased even as she fought Black Annis. The ice had begun to form almost a tiara-like object on her head. Her eyes seemed colder, her emotions dulled.
She launched forward and struck at black Annis. The old hag whose skin seemed to have gotten a little softer. Less wrinkled sidestepped and flicked the selkie with her wrist. Muireann rotated in the air and slammed her feet down staring down the Black Annis.
Winter itself almost seemed to follow them as frost and ice coated the area around them.
"Great" Lessar moaned as she deflected an attack by Thames.
Just how did things get so bad so quickly?
…
Muireann felt cold, not physically no, she had already grown numb.
She was emotionally cold right now, her heart was practically frozen by her binding runes. She had been in agony for the first few minutes as she was forced to live despite freezing to death.
Then, she became numb, she knew she was angry, but she could not feel the anger.
Her mother's spiritual Items clashed against Black Annis as ice and wind whipped around them.
The others did not matter
Touma, the boy she wished her coat to, was suffering.
She bent sideways as Black Annis sent a spike of ice her way.
"Muireann! Look out!" Lessar shouted, but Muireann had already moved.
A mass of water hurtled past her at Black Annis. The hag, who was looking younger than last she saw her. Merely looked at the mass, and it froze, she deflected Muireann's attack with her metal claws as Muireann went to strike.
Something confused Muireann
Last she saw her, Black Annis was nowhere near this strong. And being a fey, she should be in agony from those Iron claws. Yet, here she was using them like she had always had them.
Skidding to halt in front of her black coloration in her veins. Muireann breathed in releasing the black breath of the Nuckelavee at her.
"Muireann! What in the name of Nuada are you doing!?" The panicked voice of Boabhan Sith shouted as she kicked Carmillia in the face.
What did she mean? She was trying to defeat the enemy.
"Tír-nall Oi! Sis look at her, isn't that!?" Galistic said eyes wide as she used two dirks to hold Huldra back.
Lessar grabbed the mass of water that was launched at her with the steel glove. Swinging it back she whistled seeing Muireann, "Whoa! She's a right snow-queen now!"
Muireann raised an eyebrow as she ducked to the side from a strike by Black Annis. Catching her reflection in the ice, Muireann's eyes widened slightly.
The ice, frost and snow had formed a wintery dress of armor upon her. A frozen crown on her head, and she understood.
The snow queen, a danish folktale by a man called Christian anderson. However being fiction did not mean it held no power. One need only look at HP Lovecraft's work and the cabal dusk waiting to awaken.
The Snow-queen likely had multiple inspirations, however most don't know the actual folktale. Mainly due to a certain multimedia company that had a mouse as its mascot.
But in the story the Snow queen herself was stated the ruler of winter, mistress of cold and without a doubt, beautiful. However her image is often mixed with the boy she kidnaps by accident in the story of her name.
Because of this, the snow queen was often seen as emotionless. When in reality, she was not, but that did not change how it was affected.
Muireann's heart had frozen, and she had unintentionally begun drawing upon the snow queen. The arms of the Nuckelavee only hastened and empowered the spell as the beast they were based on was most active in the winter. When the Cailleach or hag of winter was at her strongest.
One of the many inspirations behind the Snow-queen as she too was a 'queen' of winter.
Muireann wasn't emotionless however, but she had become severely out of touch with her emotions. Only her promise to Kamijou Touma, and her desire to be with him still present in her.
"Shit! Did she just do that to the old lady!?" Lessar spun sideways as she smacked Thames with her steel glove. The Grindylow howled in pain and stumbled back as Lessar leapt up and kicked her in the head knocking her out.
"I… can't believe it" Baobhan said with fear in her eyes at her friend as she was being pushed back by Carmillia.
"Oi! Lessar if you're done over there! A little assist would be nice!" Galistic shouted as she was thrown into the ground by a hulking Huldra.
"R-right" Lessar said shaking off her shock from Muireann's literal cold hearted action.
But the young selkie-snow queen narrowed her eyes.
Leaping sideways she barely avoided the iron claws of Black Annis, as they glanced off the icy armor that now surrounded her.
Skidding to a halt Muireann faced Black Annis, Gentle Anne once more.
"If I recall correctly, you said you may once have been a goddess." Muireann stated, her voice monotone, "I wonder… what brought you down to this form?"
The old woman merely gazed coldly a white gown having formed around her during their battle. Thunder cracked and wind whipped as waves crashed against the sargasso.
Muireann crouched a moment and launched forward, swinging her mother's spiritual items forward.
Shrieking noise of metal on ice was heard as the Black Annis produced a staff of ice from her hands and deflected the attack.
Sailing over her head, Muireann landed behind her and swung her leg kicking the hag.
A grunt came from Black Annis as she skidded to a halt before the water.
Lessar slammed her steel glove on Huldra in the corner of Muireanns eyes. And she saw the Hulking Norweigen fairy get thrown towards Baobhan and Carmillia. Baobhan smiled and rotated sideways, her two sisters slamming into each other as they fell unconscious.
"Muireann dear, Stop!" Baobhan told her.
"Why?" Muireann asked
"Oh please Muir-gal you know full well! Gentle Anne is part of our big ol family that Celt built."
Muireann only tilted her head, and looked to Black Annis. The hag held her head a moment shaking it, "she's in the way of saving Touma-sama and Index," Muireann stated.
"Thats not her fault!" Galistic said as they approached.
Lessar skipped alongside them "Like you said earlier, Index summoned them here!"
Baobhan nodded "she's not in control of herself," she grabbed Muireann's arm. Ice beginning to form on her hands, "So, please Muireann dear, don't."
"It doesn't matter, she's still a threat to the plan," Muireann stated.
"Oh no you d-" Lessar began but Muireann's body lit up with runes and the three were launched back. "Fuck!" the wannabe succubus shouted as she slammed into a pulley.
"Muirean- ahk!" Galistic coughed and held her stomach, "Gah… I feel so… ill!"
Baobhan wasn't much better as she stumbled and hurled, "so… you too"
A vomiting noise came from Lessar, "ahh… there goes breakfast," she muttered.
Muireann merely turned to the Black Annis, who was shaking her head holding it in one hand. "Stay there" she said as she launched forward, arms poised to strike.
"Just do it"
Her blades stopped, pressing against the woman's soft neck. "Why would you ask to be killed?" Muireann asked with a confused tilt of the head. It made no logical sense that Black Annis would desire to die.
"Because" the old woman looked much younger now. "I remember everything," she looked the selkie turned snow queen directly in the eyes. "And the weight is too much for me to bare."
Muireann slowly pulled the arms of the Nuckelavee back. Placing them either side of her, the daggers held in the tip scraping the ground. "You have control over yourself again then?" she asked.
"Why does that matter?" Black Annis spat as she supported herself with the icy staff. "It doesn't change who, and what I really am and became." She shook but it wasn't because she was feeling ill.
She was overwhelmed with guilt.
Muireann readjusted her grip as a groan and vomiting sound came from her friends. "Yes it does matter, as if you are in control of your own body. It means you may not get in the way of saving Touma-sama," she stated as the ground around her continued to freeze. "So, will you get in my way of saving Kamijou Touma?" Muireann asked flatly.
"If I answer yes?" Black Annis asked, she smiled sadly as she gazed at Muireann.
"Then, I will grant your wish, but only if I believe you mean it," she pointed both of the arms forwards, "So?"
Black Annis sighed "No… I couldn't, not after what he's done for us all. Humans and legends alike," gazing sadly at the sky the woman shook her head.
"Then, for what reason did you want me to kill you?" Muireann asked, further perplexed.
"There's a number of them," Black Annis stated "But before I answer that, tell me Muireann." She looked to the selkie as she put her guard up. "Do you know what the fairy spell does to a god who wasn't once human?"
Putting the arms down, Muireann shook her head. "No, why?" she was curious how this applied to the fey woman wanting to die. "I do recall you mentioning once being a goddess." She thought for a moment, "is that related?" she asked.
Black Annis nodded "yes," she stated curtly. "I was Beira, Queen of Winter, the Cailleach." She chuckled darkly, "and then the monks came."
"And you were hit with the fairy spell? What changed? Why do you remember now?" The selkie snow queen's questions were not asked out of emotion. But logic, logic on how best to protect and serve Kamijou Touma.
"The Imagine Breaker is what changed," Beira Queen of Winter stated. "Whether he realized it or not, when he hit me. He had negated a spell that was placed upon me so, so long ago." She hung her head, "but the damage was already done."
Muireann stayed quiet, even as thunder cracked and the frozen winds howled. Listening to the former god's story, anything to help her.
"The fairy spell brings a god down to a level humans can kill them. But do you know how it does it?" Beira gestured to her chest "It severs out connection to the phase our power was made into. This is why the idol theory of those gods still works." She pushed herself up a little "The power still exists, just the one who it came from can no longer access it."
"And you've regained your connection as the spell was negated?" Muireann asked.
The former goddess chuckled "If it was that easy Othinus would never have become a fairy." She stated "No, that's the first part of it," she gave a cruel smile. "After it cuts us off from our phase, It completely shreds us into small pieces, different fragments and misconstrued interpretations. What the Christians say we should be."
Muireann nodded in understanding as she placed the arms on her back. "That would explain why it was nearly lethal to Othinus. Had it not been for the other magic gods, she'd have died. But unlike some she's born human, cutting her off from her phase robs her of her power. Which means she's only able to survive the same things a human can. If not less," she gestured to Beira, "but with goddesses not born of a human achieving godhood?" she asked.
"We become echoes, fragmented shadows… like the Black Annis you knew me as." Beira gestured to herself, "can you understand what kind of fate that is?"
Muireann shook her head
"Worse than what christians and Catholics call hell. I lost my identity, but I was aware, I was twisted into monsters and demons." She pointed to her head, "I'd have some vague sense of origin. But I'd never truly remember who I was or what I did."
A sigh from the old woman, the icy winds dried the ground and the smell of rot had grown stronger. "The Black Annis ate children… but there is no such thing mention with Beira" Muireann noted as origin and Idol faced each other.
Beira sat down, no longer interested in fighting. "Yes… I was forced to be things I could not approve of. Sure I was a cold and cranky goddess, but I never desired to kill children." She grimaced, "let alone eat them so horrifically"
The storm wailed and whined around them as if it was crying for the former goddess. "You can't bear what you did, and desire to end the pain?" Muireann asked.
Beira chuckled darkly "Oh… that's not the main reason," she let out a long, sad sigh. "It's what I did in spite… After Othinus invaded my home as Woden," Beira's eyes shook in regret. "The very reason I was summoned here," she took a breath. "During her time as a god, Othinus invaded my home. There I tried to fight her, but she easily defeated me, she ransacked my home and then just left."
The sound or retching and moans of pain were heard. Muireann leaned to the side tilting her head, listening to the former goddess's story.
"So, In my rage, my anger, just in spite of the one who rode in on an eight legged horse across the sea!" The queen of winter grit her teeth "I created it," she looked up, straight into Muireann's eyes. "You know it very well, Just as you are currently calling upon my power in the form of the snow queen. Your mother called upon its power every time she used her spiritual items."
A finger rose and pointed as Muireann reached to her back.
Beira smiled shakily "Just as you do now," she looked out to the ocean. "Just as I bring winter, it grows stronger in the winter."
"But it's nearly spring" Muireann noted with a raised eyebrow.
"And yet, it's still winter is it not?" Muireann's eyes began to widen as the former goddess continued. "I may never obtain my full power again, but It never lost its power." A crack of thunder as a gurgling noise was heard from the ocean. "I wished you killed me, because then eventually It could be killed. I created it, but I lost the power to destroy it."
Muireann stood up, her eyes wide in realization at Beira's words.
"Had you killed me, Index would have likely dropped summoning it out of annoyance." The Cailleach started shaking her head "but you didn't, And now it's too late. There won't be any freshwater around to save you" she hissed.
A sickening sound was heard, one that caused Muireann. Even in her frozen hearted state, to feel disgust. It was like a gurgling wailing neigh, as if a man and horse were drowning.
Turning ever so slowly, Muireann's eyes caught sight of It.
It looked like a one eyed horse with a human torso attached.
Its legs had fins and the arms were misshapen and elongated.
It had no skin, and its mussels and sickly yellow veins were visible pumping black blood through its body.
It towered above them the top of its human head reaching half the height of a two story building.
It was a harbinger of plague, famine, drought and death.
It was said to hate the scent of burning kelp.
It was a creature Ainmire had fought alongside Celt.
It was the creature her mother based her spiritual Items off of.
It was none other than the Seadevil himself.
The Nuckelavee stepped ashore, its eyes trained on the young Selkie who dared mimic its creator.
A/N: A big thanks to user 'all hail lord Megatron' for the idea of Snowqueen Muireann, it came up in a RP and I liked it. And Thanks to rails for his approval of her cough cough, fangirling of her.
Please, feel free to tell me if she works, and if not, what I got wrong.
I wonder how many of you were shocked to see Black Annis show up.
