Draconic Theatre
Genji trudged through the mud holding his weapon in one hand, behind him followed Varian around them was the wrecked ruins of what was once a small town. The rains weep from the heavens dousing any fires that might spring up, though some may see this as a blessing it merely meant that the Ordo Malleus could use their Flammenwerfers with impunity. Screams and roars of pain echoed across the shattered streets.
Genji turned to see a group of beastmen being lined up against a wall, then the command was given and the cracks of rifles were heard. The beastmen crumpled to the ground, their blood staining the black earth. Then he saw a group of humans being given blankets and ration meals by the white dressed Ordo Hospitaller medics.
"Pays to be on the right side." Varian commented
"They were on the wrong side an hour ago." Genji said gesturing to the surviving captured humans.
"Well what matters is that they were on the right side in the end." Varian replied
"Who is to say when is the end?" Genji replied.
"The beastmen are finished Genji, very soon it will be their towns and cities that are burning." Varian said.
"The war doesn't end here, we still have the Theocracy to contend with. Soon the lines won't be so clear." Genji replied
Varian didn't reply to that, they continued to walk until they reached the resupply area and they took their ration for the day. Genji walked over to a collapsed wall and sat on a chair sized piece of rubble. He put his new gun on his lap as he pressed the stone to the bag to begin heating his food. As he waited he looked to his new weapon, in the light of the coming battles some among the troops have been issued a shotgun.
They would be attacking two of the three cities in the next few days. Genji and his unit were to be sent to the fortress city of Vox Varanus. It lay at the base of the mountain with walls so high it was only scalable with siege towers. How the fortress city fell no one knew but taking it back was the real question. The city was designed in a compact manner with most houses being made of stone and three stories tall. This meant urban combat in tight quarters, their long rifles were ill-suited for this type of warfare. In response high command has given every squad a pair of shotguns to clear out the houses of the city. Known to the forge priests as the Accratran Pattern shotgun but to the troops on the ground it was known under a different name. The soldiers gave it the name the Street Sweeper for one had merely to point it down the length of the street, pull the trigger and a spray of incendiary pellets would cut down those unfortunate enough to be caught in front of it.
It had a simple design, it used a pump to eject its shells and had a medium length stock. The barrel was short about the length of a man's arm. At the front there was a mount for a bayonet, it held 10 shells and could be slam fired. The slam fire mechanism enabled the user to hold down the trigger and continuously pump the shotgun allowing for a constant spray of molten metal. It was a simple but highly efficient design, it was clearly designed for close-quarters combat.
The first time Genji used it against another living thing it was in a house with a pair of beastmen. He had entered the room with Varian close behind him, when he entered he saw one of them charging him. He didn't even aim he merely pointed the shotgun in the beastman's general direction and fired. His shotgun fired in a spray of sparks and the beastmen was blown back his torso and face shredded. It's fur caught fire and the scent of burning flesh filled the room. The other beastman looked at his comrade stunned and the last thing he saw was Genji's shotgun pointed at him.
"How do you like your new gun?" a voice said.
Genji looked up and saw one of the Panther battalion's tankers take a seat next to him and Varian, ration bag in hand. The tanker didn't even bother to heat the bag of food; he merely tore it open and began eating.
"It's good, easy to use, does its job well." Genji replied.
"You guys got used to urban combat yet?" the man asked.
"Yeah I suppose you could say that." Genji replied
"I heard your platoon hasn't lost anyone so far." the man said as he took a bite out of the stone cold meal.
"Yeah we've been lucky so far." Genji replied
"That's gonna change in a few days' time. Massed urban combat is messy when we get into that city one of you is gonna get a knife in the back." the man said.
"I suppose we need to watch our backs then." Genji replied with a slight smile.
At those words the man let out a laugh as bits of pasta flew out from his mouth.
"That's the spirit, here's some advice green horn." the man said.
"We aren't green, this is our fourth battle." Varian countered
"Hahaha, oh but you are kid. You lot are so green you piss grass. You can consider yourself a veteran when you climb over the corpses of your friends. When you walk over the battlefield where millions burn, where hope fades away and dreams turn to dust. When your glorious victory tastes like ashes in your mouth. When you dine with five when you used to dine with thirty. Then you know the true face of war. The truth is that there is no glory in war, it is an abomination that takes all that you have. It takes to a point you begin to fear to have things lest it be taken away from you." the man replied.
"How many of us do you think will go home?" Genji asked as he gestured the rest of his platoon.
"Out of thirty? By war's end my best guess is two. Attrition rates rack up quickly, many a son and father will be in the ground by this war's end." the man said as he finished up the last of his meal.
"On the plus side, Scarlet wing will be joining us for the assault on the city. The wall won't be a problem, they'll blast those manning the wall into oblivion. Major Mia Siox will open the gate before you know it. The Butcher of Elysia we call her." the man said as he took out a white tube and lit it on fire before putting it to his lips.
"Isn't she really small?" Varian asked.
"Size is not a good indicator of strength kid. Major Siox has downed dragons in hand to hand combat. Then there is the Herald of the Abyss, the stories says she once grappled a basilisk to the ground before tearing its head off. Both of which mind you have bodies of young girls." the man said as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"That's good to hear but I heard the hardest part of sieges is taking the walls." Genji replied.
"You aren't wrong but taking the city isn't going to be easy either. The beastmen are borderline suicidal, one particularly big one tried to charge my tank alone." the man said.
"What happened next?" Genji asked.
"He got hit by my front gunner and I ran him over. He was fearless but I never said he was smart, I need to scrape what's left of him off my tank later." the man replied with a scoff.
"Anyway nice talking to you two, hope to see you after the assault. If you're going to die try not to shit yourself." the man said as he stood and walked off.
"Pompous old man isn't he." Varian said.
"He's not pompous, he's bitter… and he's right. Command gave us these for a reason, the cities won't be an easy fight. They will fall for sure but it won't be the easy victories we had in the past." Genji replied as he gestured to the shotgun on his lap.
"Then we'll just have to be careful." Varian said as he munched on his meal.
"I suppose so." Genji replied.
Elven Theatre
Zesshi sat amongst the trees of the Everwood, she looked over to the wide plains before her. Past that plain was the land of the Theocracy, the land of their ancient hated enemy. Below her were the bodies of another skirmish, elf and human lay side by side equal in death. Zesshi gazed down and watched as the blood of martyrs fertilized the Everwood and wondered when would this place know peace.
"Looking at them isn't going to bring them back you know." Solanna said from a nearby tree branch.
"I know, the elven bodies are much diminished thanks to you Lady Solanna." Zesshi replied looking to pale long eared high elf.
"Hmm they are easy prey, shame a few got through my kill zone." Solanna said.
"If you could shoot down a thousand men by yourself we could invade the Theocracy right now." Zesshi replied with a laugh.
"Uncle could have done it." Solanna grumbled.
"Peroroncino sama is the god of archers; the stories say he can shoot down the sun. They say his arrows fly so precisely he can hit someone across an ocean. They say his arrows are so numerous his arrows black out the sun, his wrath is so great that his foes die in darkness cast by the shadow of his arrows." Zesshi said.
"If any of the 41 wanted to kill someone in earnest they would not have to resort such mundane means. There are much more crueler ways to kill someone who is deserving of that fate." Solanna replied.
"What do you mean?" Zesshi asked.
"You really need to brush up on your knowledge. The supreme ones all rule over an aspect of mortal existence. Bukubuku Chagama rules life and love, Peroroncino rules desire, Touch Me rules Justice, Takemikazuchi rules War and Tabula Smaragdina rules Fear. All of these aspects must exist in balance. If you take one and disrupt the balance the whole thing falls apart." Solanna replied.
"Do you have an example?" Zesshi asked, not quite understanding.
"Do you know that you can heal someone to death?" Solanna replied asnwering Zesshi's question with one of her own.
"What?" Zesshi asked, perplexed.
"Bukubuku Chagama is the god of life, from life we get healing magic. However, with enough healing magic our bodies will turn on itself. We develop cancers that will kill us over the course of months and years. There is an old story where an old king tried to gain immortality by draining the life force of his entire kingdom. Bukubuku Chagama punished him by granting him his wish, she reversed his age but gave him a slow and incurable cancer. The curse of the Goddess of life upon the sinful king. He died years later in agony that defies mortal comprehension. He died a mass of flesh unable to even move. He died in a pool of his own excrement, his very blood turning to poison. His flesh festering and healing in an endless cycle. He lived much longer than most humans, lasting a thousand years. A thousand years of living hell, for since he desired life Bukubuku Chaggama gave to him in amounts incomprehensible." Solanna said.
"I see… then how would Peroroncino punish a sinner?" Zesshi asked with an odd morbid curiosity.
"Peroroncino the God of Desire and Pleasure. Tell me Zesshi what would life be without pleasure and desire? An existence devoid of mortal wants?" Solanna asked.
"Empty." Zesshi replied softly.
"What is given can be taken away. Desire and pleasure is a gift, a gift that can be taken away. The Profaned Valley where the worse sinners go, is a cold empty place. A place where the very light of hope freezes and shatters. True suffering is not the presence of pain, it is the absence of all that makes life worth living. Peroroncino can rob you of your desires leaving you an empty husk forever seeking a reason to live and never finding it. He doesn't need to kill you, you'll do that for him if his wrath falls upon you." Solanna replied.
"The gods can be cruel it seems." Zesshi replied.
"The 41 rule creation, they create this garden of wonders for us to live in and yet there are those who still defy them. So as parents to all that draws breath they impart a final lesson to those who try to forget their great teachings. Though they try to forget eventually the 41 will remind them." Solanna said.
"Sister? Is… the battle over?" Quacey said as he floated up to the tree branches.
"Yes Quacey nice of you to join us now that everythings over." Solanna said with a scowl.
"I was tending to the druids…" Quacey replied timidly.
"It is fine, Quacey your work is invaluable. With your help the Everwood no longer retreats with every Theocracy attack. The trees now stand strong and the Theocracy will not take one more inch of ground." Zesshi said kindly.
"The woods were hurt… we can fix it. The roots are burnt and weeping… but they will heal." Quacey said quietly.
"Yes the trees now, they are stronger, the bark is hard and moist. In the past they were cracked and brittle, a few fire arrows and trees at the edge would go up in flames. The dryads weep with joy for the forest, they have not seen such vitality in centuries." Zesshi said warmly.
"I think, in a few years the Everwood may begin to regrow what was lost." Quacey added.
"That would be quite the sight." Zesshi replied gratefully.
"Hang on, one of them is moving down there." Solanna said as she looked down the trees and sure enough one of the Theocracy soldiers was trying to crawl away.
Zesshi watched as Solanna jumped down and grabbed the soldier by the back of his armor and lifted him up.
"Ohhh fancy armor, you look important." Solanna said gleefully.
"Fuck off elf." the man spat.
"I'll take him back, maybe we'll find out why they're doing these suicidal raids." Solanna said as she broke his arms and legs before tossing the screaming man over her shoulder.
"Ok… I'll clean up here…" Quacey said nervously from atop the trees.
"See you back at the palace, DON'T be late." Solanna said sternly.
"Yes sis…" Quacey said as he tried to hide amongst the leaves which wasn't that effective considering his armor was white and silver.
Zesshi watched as Solanna vanished from view and the screams of the man became more and more distant.
"Your sister is very wise." Zesshi commented.
"Yeah she's better than me at a lot of things…" Quacey said timidly.
"Yeah but you're better than her in a lot of things." Zesshi replied.
"Really?" Quacey asked
"You healed this forest, it has been bleeding for far too long. Many a dryad have given up and simply left the forest unable to bear the sight of the Everwood dying with each passing day." Zesshi said sadly.
"Dryads die if they leave the forest." Quacey said.
"So they do… and so they did…" Zesshi said with a sigh.
"They gave up." Quacey said.
"Yes… for many years I resented them for it. This is our home, we are nothing without our home. Without it we would become vagrants, a proud people brought low. As long as one of us still breathed we should protect this place, no matter the cost. How could they abandon us to fight this battle…" Zesshi said, her eyes going distant.
"What changed?" Quacey asked
"I grew older, the Dryads feel the forest in a way we can never understand. I spoke to one once, an older dryad. I called that those that chose to die cowards, I said many things I should not have said… many things I regret saying." Zesshi said as she felt her eyes grow hot.
"The dryad told me that they could feel the forest, every felled tree was like a pound of flesh. A pain and heartbreak of unimaginable grief. He told me how he envied me… that I could live in the shelter of the Everwood and not feel it's pain… How blissful your elven existences must be, to be deaf to the screams of the Everwood, he said." Zesshi said as she bit her lip.
"And he was right…" Zesshi said as she turned her eyes away from plains and looked to Quacey.
"I would never know, I am a destroyer. I could heal nothing, I could punish those who tried to destroy but I could not fix what has been lost. I give my service by taking life, I give by taking. Ironic isn't it?" Zesshi said
"There will always be a need for blades, for without strength there is no order to this world." Quacey said his voice was steady, not at all like the cowering boy he was before his sister.
"For every mother that cradles a babe there must be a warrior to defend them. The darkness of those who stray from the 41s light is tempting to those who are weak of virtue. They may not even know it, for that darkness is insidious and hides its true face. The road to damnation is paved with good intentions." Quacey said as he looked into Zesshi's eyes.
"We all have a role to play, my sister is the sun and I am the moon. The sun keeps the world warm, brings warmth to the world, life exists because of the sun. As for the moon it shines in the dark but do you know how the moon gets its light?" Quacey asked as the setting sun began to lower casting a warm glow on his skin.
"How?" Zesshi asked as she felt the sunset glow on her face.
"It reflects the light from the sun. I am strong because Sister is strong." Quacey said.
"Well the sun and moon are both important, without one the other is lesser for it." Zesshi replied.
"Yes, I suppose you are right." Quacey said.
The pair stayed silent for a moment and looked to the setting sun basking in its warm glow.
"Would you like to feel the forest? To feel as the Dryad's do?" Quacey asked suddenly.
"How?" Zesshi asked, taken aback.
"I can commune with the Everwood, it is advanced druidic magic. I can show you but do you truly wish to see? It would worsen your guilt." Quacey said.
"You say that as if you know the outcome." Zesshi replied.
"I do know the outcome, it will bring you grief as it has brought the Dryads." Quacey said.
"Then how are you so calm?" Zesshi asked.
"I have been trained and also… this isn't my home. I do not share the attachment that you do for this place." Quacey said as he looked around at the branches and trees. The sun had sat by now and the only light was from the rising moon casting the world in a silver glow.
"Honestly, I don't wish to show you." Quacey said, turning back to look at Zesshi.
"Why?" Zesshi asked softly.
"It will wound you, I do not wish to harm you." Quacey replied.
"Then why offer?" Zesshi asked as she scooted closer to Quacey.
"Because it is your choice, it would not be right to deny you the choice." Quacey said with a sigh.
"Is this also one the 41's virtues?" Zesshi asked.
"Yes, duty comes easy when it costs you nothing. The true test is one of sacrifice." Quacey said with his eyes hard.
"Then I wish to see, I will not turn a blind eye to the painful truth." Zesshi said
"Then give me your hand." Quacey said as he took off the glove on his left hand and held out his hand.
Zesshi removed her gauntlet and placed her hand in Quacey's. His hand was soft yet she could feel a strength as his fingers intertwined with hers. Under the moonlight he looked every bit an elf aspired to be. He does his name justice to be named after the beautiful crescent moon.
"Are you ready?" Quacey asked
Zesshi nodded in response as she watched Quacey place his hand on the bark of the tree and his hand began to glow. Glowing blue lines appeared as they coursed across the bark like blood vessels. Then Quacey spoke in the old elvish tongue.
Elor bindel felallan morin'aminor
Elu'meniel mal alann
Thas'alah
Zesshi felt reality fall away and she found herself sitting in a grassy meadow. Her hand still intertwined with Quacey. She saw him rise and he gently helped her to her feet. She looked around at the beautiful sights around her with it's beautiful flowers and chirping birds. Then wisps of light flew towards them and landed nearby. The wisps of light disappeared and formed the shapes of humanoids. One of them approached it was an ethereal old man with a long beard and wooden branch like limbs.
"Idraheil…" Zesshi said softly.
"Young miss." Idraheil greeted politely.
"Why is she here?" one of the dryads asked hotly.
"I brought her here." Quacey replied.
"Why Master Quacey? This pup knows not of our suffering, she brands those who have suffered and succumbed cowards. She knows nothing of our trials." one of the Dryads hissed.
"I am here to fix that, I warned her not to come but she insisted. She wishes to share in your burden." Quacey said.
"You seem much more confident Master Quacey." Idraheil stated.
"I am not sure of many things so I don't get to have a lot of confidence but of this… this I am sure." Quacey replied with a trace of his typical unease.
"Then what is this supposed to be?" Idaheil asked.
"I wish to know your pain." Zesshi said.
"Ha! One such as you would not be able to bear it." one fo the Dryads spat.
"Enough, Master Quacey has done more for this wood in an hour than all of us did in 600 years. If he feels this is the right judgement then we must place our faith in him." Idraheil said
At those words the dryads stilled and backed away.
"Young Princess, the lustre you see is the fruits of master Quacey's labour. We have not enjoyed such peace in centuries. If you wish to see the past we can show you but you will not enjoy it." Idraheil said grimly.
"I wish to see." Zesshi replied, her voice strong.
"Very well." Idaheil said.
In the next moment the grass around died and she felt herself gasping for air. Then she felt the heat, the verdant forest around her caught fire and the grass wilted away. She felt her throat grow dry and she felt a ravenous thirst. Then she looked up and saw the fire was closing in and she felt her body catch fire. She screamed as the pain wracked her body and she fell to her knees. She felt Quacey pull her close as the fire seemed to go out, she opened her scorched eyelids and saw the fires burn around her.
"I can't… breathe…" Zesshi gasped as she looked up at Quacey terrified and saw to her horror his body was alight as well. He stood there stoically bearing the flames, she looked down and saw his arms were glowing and a magic shrouded her, shielding her from the inferno.
Water, she would kill for some water, her throat was so dry and the air, there was barely anything. She was suffocating but unconsciousness didn't claim her as she gasped for air.
"To be suffocating and to never die, to be dying of thirst and to never succumb, that is our trial." Idraheil said.
Zesshi couldn't speak, she had no air, then she looked on and saw one of the trees collapse in flames and she felt a rending pain unlike anything she has ever experienced. She croaked out a ragged scream as the pain wracked her body. She felt the warmth of Quacey's arms pull her into his chest, as she pressed her face into his chest she felt another tree fall and she sobbed in agony.
"That's enough." Zesshi heard Quacey say.
"That's all Master Quacey? This but a taste, you bore everything we could throw at you and you didn't even flinch." Idraheil said as another tree fell and Zesshi let out another choked out sob.
"I said enough!" Quacey commanded.
"No, you said she wished to see, so she shall see all of it. She shall suffer as we suffered." Idraheil said coldly.
Zesshi grabbed as tightly as she could onto Quacey hoping in some way he could end this suffering. At those words she felt a growl rise from his chest and in an instant the pain, the lack of air, the thirst, the suffering it all ended. She took a deep gasping breath as she heard the chirping of birds return.
"I was asking to be polite." Quacey said coldly his hand outstretched and glowing.
"You dare?" Idraheil asked outraged as he held out his arm and tried to reconjure the flames but found his powers unresponsive.
"I allowed you control out of respect for your suffering, I restored your home in hopes that you would remember the tranquility of peace. But it seems you have forgotten." Quacey said.
Zesshi still clutching onto Quacey turned to look at Idraheil, his face contorted with wrath.
"Do you hate me that much?" Zesshi choked out.
"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US!" Idraheil bellowed.
"The elves of old made a pact with the dryads of the Everwood. In exchange for being allowed to live in the woods they would grant us their protection." Idraheil seethed.
"What do you think we are doing out there? Every attack elven blood stains the earth. We have been protecting you, we have bled for the Everwood for 600 years. What more do you want?" Zesshi choked out.
"Do not blame others for your own weakness Dryad. Without the elves the Everwood would be furniture and firewood for the Theocracy by now." Quacy said coldly.
"I'm sorry for what I said… truly I am. I wish I could take it all back but I can't. I had no idea…" Zesshi sobbed.
"Your people are not the only ones bleeding because of the Theocracy. The bloodshed they have spread goes far beyond the Crescent Lake. Right now the continent is divided in half, the followers of the 41 rally against the forces of the Six. The flames of war are rising and if you believe peace and tranquillity is on the horizon you are a fool. Remember who your foes are dryad, save your wrath for those who are deserving." Quacey said coldly.
The dryad merely stood there silently gazing at the pair.
"Farewell Dryads of the Everwood. Lótesse tye hir senda." Quacy said as he left the dream of Everwood.
When Zesshi snapped back to reality she was so shaken she almost fell off the branch she was sitting on. As she was about to lose her balance she felt Quacey's arm grab onto her waist steadying her and she couldn't help but blush.
"Are you alright?" Quacey asked his face twisted with concern.
"Yes, thank you Quacey. What was that you said before we left, the phrase of the old tongue." Zesshi replied softly.
"May you find your peace. Peace is something we must find, it cannot be given to us." Quacey replied.
"I'll help you back to the palace." Quacey said as he looked up at the sky and found the moon now high in the sky.
"I think my sister is gonna yell at me for being late." Quacey said as his brow furrowed in worry and dread.
As Zesshi watched the impossibly strong elf boy worry about his sister's temper she couldn't help but crack a smile.
"I'll explain to Solanna, don't worry." Zesshi offered warmly.
"I don't think that will help." Quacey said meekly.
"I'm sure she'll understand." Zesshi said.
"Understand what?" an annoyed voice said from behind them.
Quacey wheeled his head and saw Solanna standing there her hands on her hip looking very… very cross.
"Erm… erm…" Quacey sputtered.
"Solanna, Quacey was…" Zesshi started.
"I don't wanna hear it princess." Solanna seethed.
"It's been five hours! Your father was about to send a search party and where do I find the two of you? Eloping 15 metres over a battlefield!" Solanna yelled hotly.
"We… were not…" Zesshi sputtered turning beet red.
"Then what the hell is that?" Solanna asked, pointing at Quacey's arm which was around Zesshi's waist.
Quacey immediately withdrew his hand when he realised. What he didn't realise was that Zesshi was comfortably leaning into his hand to keep her balance and with the arm gone she fell over backwards with a shriek. Quacey panicked and grabbed Zesshi again pulling her back and she ended up face to face with him. Zesshi could feel his breath on his face and she once again felt her face grow hot.
"You two done?" Solanna said through gritted teeth.
"Solanna, this isn't…" Zesshi sputtered her face now tomato red.
"Shut it, since you're so weak after your activities this evening let me help you back to the palace your majesty." Solanna said as she appeared next to Zesshi and put the warrior princess over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Wait, I can walk!" Zesshi shouted.
"What if you fall again? Or are you hoping to fall again so that Quacey here can catch you?" Solanna said as a vein popped at her temple.
"What? No… I…" Zesshi sputtered.
"Shut it princess, come on Quacey the king is worried." Solanna said her tone like ice.
"Yes Onee san…" Quacey said as he stood up, head lowered like a boy who has been caught stealing candy.
When Solannna finally unloaded her "Cargo" at the steps of the palace, she was met by the king and the captain of the guard.
"Zesshi! Where have you been? I feared the Theocracy had done something to you and Quacey." the Elf King Malon said.
"I'm fine father, I was just speaking with Quacey." Zesshi said
"Are you hurt?" Malon said as he cupped her cheek.
"No, I'm fine father." Zesshi said.
"Thank you Solanna for bringing my daughter back. When I saw the way you were carrying her I thought she was wounded." Malon said.
"Oh she's fine, she and Quacey were having the time of their lives." Solanna seethed.
"I'm sorry?" Malon asked, perplexed.
"She needs rest, it's been a tiring day." Solanna said curtly
"I see… well thank you again Solanna, come along daughter." Malon said as he placed a hand on Zesshi's shoulder.
"Wait, Quacey may I have a moment." Zesshi said hurriedly. She knew this was a bad idea, her father was here, Solanna was here. This wasn't the place but she just couldn't help herself.
Solanna took one look at Zesshi and her first instinct was to tell her to go to bed but she took one look at the king, thought through the political implications and through gritted teeth she looked away fuming.
"Sure…" Quacey said apprehensively. He knew this was a bad idea but for some reason he said yes. So he approached the blushing princess.
Zesshi walked up to Quacey, she reached out and took his hands in hers.
"Thank you for protecting me today and showing me what I needed to see." Zesshi said
"Your welcome." Quacey said nervously.
Then Zesshit leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek before wheeling around and headed over to the king. The king was looking on with a very interested expression on his face. He wordlessly placed his hand on her shoulders and began leading her up the stairs.
Quacey for his part was feeling both elated and horrified. He gently touched his cheek where Zesshi had kissed him and felt a warm feeling in his chest. It was good that he felt that because he was also feeling an ice cold dread in his stomach as the aura of anger behind him was teetering on killing intent.
Malon looked down at his daughter and saw her looking over her shoulder at the young high elf boy. Her face was pink and her hand was clenched over her heart. He should speak to her about this but… he was really bad at it…
"Captain could you fetch the queen?" Malon ordered resigning himself for a very late night.
Later that Night
Zesshi had bathed and was now dressed in a flowing green dress, she sat nervously in her family sitting room with her father. She listened to the crackling of the fire as she fidgeted with her dress.
"You're not in trouble daughter." Malon said gently.
"I'm not?" Zesshi asked.
"No, I just wanted your mother to speak to you about matters like these." Malon said.
Zesshi watched as Malon ran his hand through his golden hair, usually he was graceful and noble but now he just looked like a flustered old man.
"You see my dear, when a girl starts to come of age it's quite normal for oneself to develop interest in boys." Malon said.
"Uh huh…" Zesshi replied awkwardly.
"So what I'm trying to say…" Malon started but was interrupted when the door opened.
"Laura! Yes we have much to talk about." Malon said, jumping to his feet.
"Yes dear, I heard from the Captain of the guard." Laura said as she walked over and sat down next to Zesshi.
"Now then, Zesshi tell me what happened." Laura said as she reached out and held Zesshi's hand.
Zesshi sat and recounted the events of the day, Laura and Malon listened with rapt attention. Malon's mind spun as the implications of the events ran through his mind. The dryads it seems have become bitter over the centuries and for the first time an elf has ventured into their world. He would need to speak to Idraheil when he got the chance. The dryads were naturally reclusive and disdained the material world prefering to drift in the Everdream. The last thing he needed was a schism between the Dryads and Elves.
Then there was the other matter the fact that it seems his daughter was smitten with a demigod. In some ways it was a good thing, Quacey was powerful, almost absurdly so. His mastery of the arcane was second to none in the Crescent Lake. The young high elf was a caster of the tenth tier with mastery in many arcane disciplines such as Druidic magic, Thaumaturgy and Alchemy. These three were all from the oldest branches of magic, relying on the bounty of the world to draw their power. He has seen him heal mortal wounds in an instant, the very forest bends to his will as he calls its power to battle. He saves life with one hand while taking with the other.
The political implications would be massive if there was to be a union between the two. Their descendants will bear the bloodline of Bukubuku Chagama herself, it was a powerful thought. He lost count of the many ambitious usurpers who tried to invoke the right of the cube to claim the throne… hang on… Quacey solved the cube…
Would this perhaps be destiny? The legends of yore say only one worthy of the crown will be wise enough to solve the cube. The legends say there were as many possible combinations as there were grains of sand in the world. It is said Ulbert Alain Odle keeps the book of destiny, a tome that shows the paths of one's life. Is this perhaps destiny's command? Is this union written in that all powerful book? Is the ink already dry?
Domain of Ulbert Alain Odle, The Searing Cataclysm
Bukubuku Chagama appeared at the infernal gates of the domain Ulbert Alain Odle. The great giant Sutyr guarded the great gate to the domain of the Infernal God of Catastrophes. The gate towered high into the black charred sky filled with plumes of a thousand volcanoes. Taller than even the great giant who guarded the black gate.
"Bukubuku Chagama sama, what brings you to this burning world." Sutyr greeted
"I have come to speak with you master." Chagama said curtly.
"Certainly, allow me to open the gate." Sutyr said with a bow.
"No need." Chagama said coldly as she raised a technicloured limb.
A wave of force radiated from the outstretched arm, the blast blew the black gates clean off its hinges flinging the black gates far into the forsaken field. They landed with a thunderous crash spewing black dust and lava in all directions.
Bukubuku Chagama then dissolved into a white mist filled glowing with a multicoloured light. She sped across the forsaken landscape past the demons and hellspawn. A journey that would have taken weeks on foot was covered in under a minute by the goddess of life. Then she arrived at the door of the Ulbert Alain Odle's Black Citadel with its gothic towers and grotesque statues spewing lava from open stone maws.
As soon as she arrived the doors opened to allow her to enter the dread fortress. Standing behind the door was the God of Vengeance, Catastrophes and Destiny.
"Does the meaning of a closed door escape you?" Ulbert said with a scowl.
"I have no patience for your props, we both know those that can enter this world will not be stopped by that ugly black door." Chagama replied.
"You seem cross today." Ulbert stated crossing his arms.
"I am cross, I need to speak with you about the book of destiny." Chagama said.
"And on whose destiny are we speaking about?" Ulbert asked.
"Mare's." Chagama said
"And? What do you wish to know?" Ulbert replied calmly.
"You placed a rubik's cube in the possession of the elves of the Crescent Lake didn't you?" Chagama asked.
"What makes you say that?" Ulbert replied with a hint of a smile on his face.
"Realm 235 was never supposed to be anywhere near advanced enough to use Thaumaturgy. Yet this training toy appears there randomly and with a prophecy no less. Only he who solves the cube is wise enough to wear the elven crown for there are as many combinations as there are grains of sand. Why would such a prophecy be there?" Chagam said coldly.
"You know these natives of the realms Chagama, they make things up. Why one realm worships an old wooden bucket as the saviour of the world." Ulbert replied innocently.
"Don't be coy with me Ulbert Alain Odle." Chagama seethed.
"Why has Mare found a certain someone on realm 235?" Ulbert asked innocently.
"It was you." Chagama spat.
"So it was." Ulbert said
"So what is it? That cube." Chagama asked.
"Is it that hard to believe I merely put it there to help with Mare's love life?" Ulbert replied.
"From Nishikienrai maybe, from you? No, there is something to that cube." Chagama said.
"It is an anchor. I used it to stabilise the threads of fate." Ulbert replied.
"What Destiny did you see in that book that was so important?" Chagama asked.
"Come now Chagama san, we both know how this works. I tell you and the weave unravels and we are right back where we started, potentially for the worse." Ulbert replied coldly.
"Why did you stabilise the destiny?" Chagama pressed.
"It was to ensure an outcome I could live with." Ulbert replied.
"You are cruel, you know that Ulbert?" Chagama said bitterly.
"Destiny is cruel. Why should the God of Destiny be any different?" Ulbert replied.
Ice Gate Valley
Pavel walked towards the edge of the army camp towards the latrines. Nature wasn't calling, he was going to sneak out to see the work camp. Neia would be working but that was ok, he just wanted to see the camp. To see what the prisoners were going through. What his daughter was going through. He glanced back at the camp to see if anyone had spotted him, satisfied he darted towards the edge of the forest. When he reached the tree line he darted behind a tree and peered back at the camp.
"Going somewhere captain?" a familiar voice said
Pavel turned to see his second in command, Percy Reveil, a peasant born in one of the mountain villages. He had a head of brown curly hair with small brown eyes. He was an expert mountain hunter before he joined the army. His archery skills were second only to Pavel's in the Holy Kingdom.
"Reveil." Pavel said.
"Are we using last names now? Come now captain I brought us horses and everything." Reveil said with a smirk.
"This can be considered desertion." Pavel said.
"No one other than you can outride me on a horse and unless I'm mistaken we'll be going together." Reveil replied.
"Are you sure about this? This is my burden, mine and mine alone." Pavel said.
"United we stand captain, your burden is my burden. Seeing as you so readily carry ours I would be no true man if I did not at least offer to come with you." Reveil replied.
"Very well but remember this is towing the line of treason." Pavel warned.
"I see this as no treason captain, I am loyal to you. You just so happen to serve our queen." Reveil replied with a smirk.
"Then let us be on our way." Pavel said with a smile of his own.
"Yes captain, I have a fast route." Reveil said as he turned and began to walk to where he hid the horses.
Pavel and Reveil rode through the forest on dancing hooves, their horses dancing lightly over dead leaves. Their mounts weaved between the trees as they sped towards their goal, the icy cold winds numbing their face. Then they reached the edge of the forest and saw the metal bars that were the fence that kept the repentant within their prison. They tied their horses to a nearby tree and climbed up a tree...
Neia cracked another bit of Iron ore, this time the ore was purer which meant it was harder. It didn't require that much more strength for her but she could tell it was much more difficult for the rest. It's been three hours and she alone has filled four carts while the rest combined have filled slightly more than half a cart.
"Oi hurry up you lazy heretics!" a guard shouted in the distance.
Neia turned and saw a pair of guards with wooden clubs shouting at a group that had barely filled half a cart. The group was all thin with sunken cheeks, mostly women and children. Neia looked on as one of the women approached and began speaking to the guard. The women pleaded with the guard and the guard responded by backhanding the women across with a mailed hand.
"Neia don't." Noah said.
The guard loomed over the women who was sprawled in the snow and kicked her in the ribs eliciting a cry of pain that carried over the wind.
"I can't watch this." Neia muttered as she tossed her pick axe into the snow and began walking over to the group.
"Neia, calm down. Even if you stop this you won't be there for everyone." Noah said.
Neia kept walking and soon she could hear their conversation.
"Leave mommy alone." a girl said as she ran at the guard.
The guard snorted and kicked the girl viciously in the chest, knocking her into the snow. The girl lay in the snow clutching her chest gasping for breath.
"Please don't hurt her. I gave you what you wanted, don't harm her." the women pleaded tearfully.
"A whore doesn't get to make demands." the guard sneered.
The guard raised his club intent on striking the girl but a hand grabbed his hand. The guard turned and saw the eyes of death.
Neia glared at the guard and saw his face change the moment he looked into her eyes. Malice turned to disbelief as he gazed at the blonde teenager with the eyes of a hellspawn.
"Oi Boris." the other guard said hesitantly.
"Who the fuck are you?" the guard said.
"A prisoner who isn't afraid to hit back." Neia said coldly.
"Let's see you try girl." the guard sneered as he wrenched his arm free or perhaps more accurately Neia let his hand go.
"You called her whore and she mentioned she gave you what you wanted. What was that she gave?" Neia said dangerously.
"Hmph what else can a heretic whore give?" the guard sneered.
"Oh I am going to enjoy hurting you." Neia seethed as she took a step closer to the guard.
"Boris! Seriously stop." the other guard said with rising panic.
"What can this girl do? She's half my weight and I have arms and armor." Boris sneered as he drew his sword.
"Come and try it then. Or are you only good for brutalising women and children." Neia taunted.
"Maybe I'll have some fun with you before I gut you like a fish." Boris growled as he readied his sword.
"Come then, let me see what pathetic display you can put up with that shit you call steel." Neia said as she advanced.
Boris roared as he raised his sword and brought it down in a swing. Neia didn't take her eyes off his face as she caught the sword in her hand.
"Feels brittle and it's freezing out here. Did you know? Steel gets brittle when it's too cold." Neia commented as she squeezed the sword barehanded and the steel began to deform.
"What?" Boris said in shock as he watched the sword deform.
Then the sword shattered in her hand. Boris took a step back and looked at the shattered sword. He looked back at Neia and his eyes which were once filled with arrogance began to cloud over with fear.
Neia looked down at her bleeding hand and grabbed at a piece of steel shrapnel and ripped it without so much as a flinch.
"You seem to like kicking people in the chest." Neia said.
Boris saw her pupils glow red for a moment then he felt a force like a battering ram strike his chest.
Neia watched as the guard tumbled and rolled across snow before landing face up in the snow. The guard gasped as blood gurgled from his mouth and he grasped at his chest. His chest plate was concaved in the centre with an impression of Neia's boot. She turned to the other guard and watched him raise his hands in surrender.
"You might wanna get him some healing magic, he may have some intact ribs left. But I doubt it." Neia said coldly.
The guard nodded and ran over to Boris and began dragging him back to the buildings.
"Wow, that was quite something." Eudico said as she walked up from behind.
"That was the worst sword I have ever had the misfortune to touch." Neia replied.
"How's your hand?" Eudico asked
"It's fine." Neia showing her hand which was healed.
"If you can do more than heating cheese I think that girl could use some first aid." Eudico said gesturing over her shoulder.
Neia walked over to the girl who now was in her mother's arms. The girl was weeping as she gasped for breath.
"Mommy it hurts…" the girl sobbed.
"I know dear, everything will be fine." the mom said with a cracked voice. She knew her daughter probably won't survive this wound. Everytime her daughter breathed she could hear her shattered ribs crackling under her chest.
As Neia knelt beside the mother, the mother looked up tearfully at Neia.
"Thank you for protecting us." the mother said tearfully.
Neia wordlessly reached out and placed her hand on the girl's chest.
"Noah, could you give me a hand?" Neia asked
"This will hurt, alot…" Noah replied.
"I know." Neia said
[Light Cure Wounds] Neia intoned as her hand glowed. The runes of the collar around her neck began to glow and crackle. Neia hissed as sparks of arcane light coursed across her head, still she followed through and the girl was bathed in a soothing green glow. Neia let out a gasp as she collapsed on all fours. She opened her mouth to let out a gasp and a cloud of steam came out with her breath. Rivulets of blood ran from her nose and it stained the white snow below her as the droplets dripped down. The snow that touched her hand melted away as her body began to steam.
"Ow." Neia muttered.
"You are so stupid sometimes." Noah replied.
"Hey I wasn't the one that stabbed the commander of the paladins." Neia replied.
"Dumb bitch had it coming." Noah replied.
Neia felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned to see Eudico standing next to her.
"You ok?" Eudico asked
"Yeah I'll be fine just give a moment." Neia replied with a weak smile.
"Tough little thing aren't you." Eudico replied with a smirk.
"This pain is nothing, I'm fine." Neia said as she looked to Eudico's hand.
"Oh this? I am just warming my hand, it's terribly cold out here." Eudico joked.
At those words Neia let out a chuckle as she raised her torso and knelt in the snow and gathered herself.
"Thank you." the mother said gratefully, her tears still staining her face, the rivers of water freezing on her cheek.
"I did what any decent person would do. There is no need for thanks." Neia replied.
The mother leaned in and pulled Neia into an embrace. Through the tattered rags that passed for clothes Neia could feel how little meat she had left on her body. She was but skin and bones, how long has she been left in here to freeze and starve?
"Six bless you, if there is anything I can do to repay you please tell me." the mother said.
"If any of the guards abuse you or anyone else let me know. I will not stand idly as injustice persists. That is how you can repay me." Neia said though weak her eyes showed a resolve of iron.
At those words the mother's eyes watered once again as fresh tears trickled down her face.
"If only the world was full of people like you, the world would be a much gentler place." the mother lamented.
"If only…" Noah said
Neia merely gave the mother a sad smile as the group gathered in silence in the freezing snow.
The border fence of Ice Gate Valley Moral Debt Internment Colony
"Little Neia is still as strong as ever." Reveil said as he and Pavel sat atop a tree looking at the girl they had watched grow up.
"This place is rotten, it should be burned to the ground." Pavel said through gritted teeth.
"Are you truly that surprised? We are of common birth, a mother selling her body for a loaf of bread to feed her children is not an uncommon tale." Reveil said
"If they touch Neia…" Pavel began.
"Then woe to those foolish enough to try. She threw a wooden toy through a stone wall when she was four. Nearly took your head off if I recall correctly." Reveil said.
Pavel went silent at those words.
"Neia is strong Pavel, she always has been, always will be. I love her as if she was my own and believe me if someone tried to harm her I will be right beside you when you gut whoever tries." Reveil said.
"We should head back before anyone notices we're gone. We have lingered long enough." Pavel said.
"That we have. We should find an excuse to visit again with official reasons." Reveil said as he stood up and began climbing down the tree.
"I'll think of something." Pavel said as he began lowering himself.
"You always do, captain." Reveil replied.
The next day
Neia was marched in chains towards the head warden's office. The guards were tense, they knew what she was capable of. The chains that she had around her wrist were made of steel, when mithril could not hold her what chance would steel have? The guards knew those chains were a joke they might as well have been made of parchment. The fact that at any moment the small teenage girl could crush them into smears on the stone floor terrified them to no end. When they reached the door they hurriedly shoved her inside before shutting the door behind her.
Neia stood facing the head warden who sat behind his find Mahogany desk. His face was sour as he gazed at the most troublesome prisoner of his career.
"Have a seat." the warden said, looking to the chair in front of his desk.
"No guards?" Neia asked.
"What good are sticks against a dragon? If Remedios can't hold you my guards might as well be clay soldiers." the warden replied.
"Is that why I'm wearing steel chains?" Neia asked, raising her hands.
"Protocol demands you must be chained, that damned book never said anything about what to do when I don't have chains capable of holding a prisoner." the warden replied.
Neia stayed silent as she took a seat in front of the warden.
"Put your hands on the table." the warden said and Neia obeyed. The warden took out a key and released the chains.
"I dislike acts and shows." the warden said.
"What do you wish to speak to me about?" Neia asked rubbing her wrists.
"I would like to ask why one of my guards is lying in my infirmary with his ribs shattered?" the warden said.
"He was a thug and a rapist. He beat a helpless woman and child. When I approached him to stop him, he threatened to rape and kill me." Neia replied coldly.
"Is that so?" the warden said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, I could have killed him but I'm no murderer." Neia replied.
"No you just beat people to the brink of death." the warden said.
"A subtle difference that I am sure you can appreciate." Neia replied coolly.
"Yes very subtle, do you have any proof?" the warden asked.
"None but my word, your guards are useless I'm afraid if you want to get to the bottom of this." Neia replied with a sigh.
"What makes you say that?" the warden asked.
"You are aware I am a Paladin correct?" Neia said replying to his question with one of her own.
"You were a Paladin." the warden corrected.
"No I am a Paladin, my vow is given to the queen and only she can relieve me of this sacred trust." Neia said cooly.
"I think that slight technicality is of little consequence in your current situation." the warden replied.
"Oh but it is, it has everything to do with my current situation. We Paladins are called to defend the justice of this world and that is what I shall do until I am relieved of my oath." Neia said.
"Very well, I assume you have a proposal?" the warden asked.
"We paladins do more than learn how to swing our swords and cast magic. We also learn how to dispense justice the proper way. When in a situation when neither side can provide a credible judgement an impartial party must be acquired." Neia said.
"So you suggest I call in a third party to conduct the investigation." the warden said
"Yes, I suggest Pavel Baraja the Black of the Nine Colours." Neia said.
"Given the circumstances I'm sure he will accept but wouldn't your relation to him mean he isn't as impartial as you say?" the warden asked.
"He would be because he would not be investigating my guilt. I admit to it and am willing to bear the punishment. He would be investigating the abuse of prisoners under your guards. The investigation would have no bearing to the incident between me and the guard lying in the infirmary." Neia replied calmly.
The warden paused and ran through the proposition in his mind. It wasn't a bad proposal, Pavel Baraja would accept because of his daughter. What's more Pavel was of the Nine Colors, lying to someone of such rank would be punishable by death. He could get more done in an hour as compared to what he could get done in a week. Some of his guards were little more than bandits in uniform, he needed someone to straighten them out...
"Very well, I will send word as soon as I am able." the warden said.
The warden rose from his seat and picked up the chains. Neia stood up and held out her hands allowing the chains to be locked around her hands.
"I take no pleasure in doing this but I have my orders." the warden said.
"I understand." Neia replied.
"As for your punishment I suppose an extra cart to your quota would be sufficient. Should be harsh enough for you." the warden said.
"Heh, I suppose that will suffice." Neia said with a grin.
"Oh yes one more thing Paladin Baraja." the warden said.
"Yes? Head Warden." Neia replied.
"Next time something like this happens please just knock one of their teeth out. Healing potions are expensive and the less budget I have the less food the prisoners have. I will not spend a potion on a missing tooth, those deserving of your wrath can always buy dentures with their own pay." the warden said.
"I'll keep that in mind." Neia replied with a smirk.
As the warden closed the door behind her, he returned to his desk and sat down wearily. He had known the guards were abusing the prisoners for a while but he was powerless to stop it. He had no authority to hang them and if he punished them they would merely take it out on the prisoners which helped no one. The gold he received to run this accursed place was a pittance, the food was scarce because the camp couldn't afford more food. He suspected that was the point, keeping the prisoners too weak to rebel. He has held the post for years and his commanders knew what kind of man he was which was probably why the budget was so low. The irony of fate it seems that he was being punished for his integrity…
Authors Notes:
Hey guys this one came out fast and was fun to write. I had the Mare part planned out beforehand. I was just finding the right time to do it. This isn't some token romance arc it will have implications in the future of the story. As for why I decided to insert this romance, the simple reason is this. I want to give every guardian some time in the spotlight to do something impactful. Aura already has hers in the Re-Estise Kingdom. Mare's will be in the Elven Kingdom and the rest of the guardians will follow. The only one I don't have any ideas for would be Victim and to be honest a suicide bomb fetus isn't much to work with but I'll see if I can come up with something. For me Mare was a challenging character to write because in canon he's just this timid elf that punches way above his weight. It is said he could go toe to toe with Shalltear which is saying something considering his build is half support based. Also one interesting thing about Mare in canon is that he was the first example of what can be described as a programming glitch. When he was capturing Hilma it was revealed that he kind of has a dual personality and his timid exterior is just an act. So for my story Mare will have a kind of dual personality as well but I will try to make it organic as much as possible. Lastly I feel it is fitting that the child of the Goddess of Love would have a little romance. So stay tuned and see where I take Mare in future chapters. As for Neia's arc, I guess you can say it will be an attempt at tackling the idea of the good man on the wrong side.
Anyway I've rambled on long enough hope you enjoyed the chapter and please leave a review if you liked it. If you have thoughts or ideas for Victim I'd love to hear it, inspiration can come from anywhere. Hope the love scene wasn't too cheesy, I'm not very good at writing romance.
Last thing, I am also thinking of doing bits of flavor text at the end of stories or as a separate story. It will be like letters and journals to add a bit of flavor text to this world and to help with character development. Like for Genji it will be letters from the front while for Renner it would be a Royal's Diary. These will be short so it won't detract from the main story.
So tell me what you think, see you guys in the next chapter!