Rokka no Yuusha: Child of the Goddess
Summary: She couldn't have lived a happier life. But today she would be committing suicide. She had no other choice; her duty to protect the secrets that her hidden temple held, and her duty to protect the young child chosen by the Goddess of Fate was more important than her own life. It was a sacrifice she had to make. For the child, and for the world.
Disclaimer: This is a fan-fiction story of the Anime/Manga/Light Japanese Novel; Rokka no Yuusha, and is in no way affiliated with the actual story in any of the aforementioned media. All characters and other materials related to the show that are used are not intended to infringe on any Copyrights. Elemental-Zer0 takes sole responsibility for any mistakes or offence that may be taken but truly not meant. However, any characters that are not related to any copyrights are copyrighted to Elemental-Zer0, as are any adaptions/variations to the plot set out in the original author's story/plot.
Authors Note: So I played the "What If…?" game and came up with this little ditty. Don't expect regular or quick updates though as I'm a sporadic writer and my real world life kidnaps me often. Sorry in advance.
Anyways, let me know what you think, but no flames please. If you have any criticism to make please do it politely otherwise I shall ignore your words. (It's happened before, I'm sorry to say, and I hadn't even posted any real chapters…)
Chapter One: Distracting Dreams
Adlet Mayer wasn't normally one who dwelled on the pointless lingering feelings of dreams. After all, a dream was just one's imagination attempting to recap one's experiences but with a flamboyant and unnecessary flair that seemed to confused matters rather than creating any kind of relative clarity. Dreams were inconsequential. They weren't beneficial in the waking world. They had no tangibility.
So why had this one stuck with him?
Why was he so confused and distracted by this one dream; a dream he couldn't remember when awake? He'd had this dream before. Many times as a child he'd woken in a cold sweat but only ever able to remember one small lingering feeling of being smothered in darkness. It had sent his heart racing in the past and it sent his heart racing now and to this day he still had no recollection of what he had just dreamed about. He breathed heavily as he tried to calm himself down. What was the point in getting so worked up over something he couldn't even remember? It served him no purpose other than to distract him when he needed to be focussed and alert.
His older sister – rest her soul in peace – had asked the village healer to help him when he first started having the dreams but the old woman had just told him it was stress. He was working himself too hard and worrying over things too strongly. Well, with what had happened over the last few days; becoming a Brave, the daring chase through the fog forest after having been accused of deceit and trickery, the battles with several of the Kingdom's greatest warriors, the exhaustion and the mental despair when his first friend; the Princess no less, turned out to be a traitor… he really couldn't blame his mind for conjuring up a stress related dream now, could he?
The flame haired boy gave out a frustrated sigh before sitting up and moving closer to the camp fire they had built earlier that evening. It was a quiet night, no demons had bothered them for a while and it was beginning to make him nervous. Quiet demons in the human realms were always something to be very cautious of so quiet demons in their own lands couldn't be a good sign. Having studied demonology to the point of exhaustion, Adlet could confidently say that this was not a favourable omen. And where was Hans? He was supposed to be on watch tonight.
"Nyah, couldn't sleep?" As if it had been timed, the catlike assassin emerged from the shadows of the strange deformed trees they had taken shelter in. Adlet hid his surprise well, just as he'd been taught over his years with Master Spiker. Hans was a strange one. The darker hued boy claimed to be an assassin for hire and from their battles in the barrier – both against and side by side – Adlet could tell the boy had some very formidable fighting skills. He was very stealthy and had the grace that only a feline creature could best. However, the boy's mannerisms were disarming and confusing. The boy killed for a living but was charming and seemed to honour a very considerate and sympathetic set of morals. Was it part of the charm to disarm and then strike? Or was he just an honourable killer? What made him choose the path he currently walked? Adlet didn't know but as they travelled together he felt the answers creeping forward. He could trust Hans not to suspect him again of deceit. He could even trust the boy to have his back in a battle and worked incredibly well with the other's movements. He could read Hans' battle stances and know where to avoid, parry and strike when fighting alongside the other teen. It was like they'd been fighting together for years. But could he trust the assassin not to carry out a contract if the catlike boy was paid to kill him, even if he was one of the Braves? What would the boy do?
"Nah, had a freaky dream. I can never seem to drop off again after it happens." He replied nonchalantly, unwittingly letting it slip that he'd had this dream before, enough to have a routine when it occurred. Hans picked up on it, displaying his ability to pick up on the smaller details and know when they were important and when they weren't. It was another unnerving trait that had Adlet on guard with the other boy.
"Sounds like you've had this dream a few times. Nyah?" He observed. Adlet chastised himself for letting it slip. Their friendship was only skin deep here. They had a job to do and then when it was completed, they'd all go their separate ways back into their previous career paths and that would make Hans quite possibly a formidable enemy again. Especially if the King was still angry at him for interrupting the melee and for breaking out of prison with the Princess no less. Adlet was sure the King believed he'd kidnapped his daughter. He could only imagine what the man would say when he found out the Princess was missing too. No doubt the blame would be on his shoulders then too. If the King decided to hire Hans to find and kill him, then the less inside information he gave the assassin, the better off he'd be when that time came. Of course Hans wasn't an idiot, he was a witness when Nashetania had proclaimed her traitorous actions out loud and Hans would probably testify the truth. However, an assassin's job wasn't to question whether their target had done anything wrong or not. Their job was to kill their target regardless of crimes committed or innocence claimed.
"It's been a few years." Adlet replied vaguely, not elaborating any further than necessary. They sat in silence for a few minutes more before Hans broke it again.
"You know, it's widely believed that dreams are an omen of something coming." The dark-haired boy began. Adlet frowned lightly into the fire, wondering where Hans was going with this line of enquiry. "You'll be sure to let us know if it's anything big enough for us all to worry about, nyah?" He added with that cheeky but serious smile in place. Adlet just stared at the boy for a moment, it was hard to read the boy. Was he joking? Poking fun? Or serious? Would he offend the boy if he laughed or would he offend him if he didn't? Adlet was lost. "Is it that bad?" Hans asked, staring back at him and clearly misinterpreting Adlet's silence for ominous news. The question threw Adlet for a second before he let out a soft laugh of disbelief. It seemed Hans truly believed that dreams were warnings. Who'd have thought it?
"No. It was nothing. Just a feeling of helplessness." Adlet finally relented. He leaned backwards onto his hands and stared up at the star scribbled sky, losing himself to his thoughts.
"Never thought you'd be familiar with that feeling, nyah. Thought the 'strongest-man-in-the-world' wouldn't have that kind of weakness." Hans ribbed, his tone light but Adlet frowned in response all the same.
"Strength isn't defined by the lack of weakness or feelings of the same ilk." He replied, "Strength comes from knowing your weaknesses well enough to greet them like an old friend and set them aside to achieve what they are talking you out of doing." Adlet knew this was the truth, and knew it well. He'd experienced his fair share of seemingly helpless situations but had still come out the victor nonetheless. It was only fair to believe that true strength came from the perseverance to see something through and be the one still smiling at the end despite whether the battle was lost or won.
Hans stared at him, Adlet could feel the other teen's eyes picking him apart and trying to figure him out. The flame haired teen had apparently piqued the young assassin's interest on a more intellectual level and Adlet wasn't sure if that stood in his own favour or not. If he could get Hans to become friends with him perhaps he'd have a potential ally when this was all over instead? He'd like that option preferably. But Adlet wasn't an optimistic thinker, he was a practical opportunist. He'd take what he could get and make the most of it.
"You talk like an old man sometimes." Hans replied after a time. "It's unnerving, nyah." He added with a hint of emotion in his voice. This piqued Adlet's interest immeasurably.
"Why's that?" He asked, attention riveted on the mysterious boy before him. However Hans just gave him a long glance before revealing a very feline grin. It was a message that said if Adlet wanted to keep his secrets, then Hans would keep his own secrets also. Adlet couldn't stop himself from smiling at being caught. He glanced up again at the stars above, ignoring the nagging feeling his dream had left behind. It worried him that he couldn't shake the feeling like normal. Its echoes still resonated within him.
Perhaps Hans was right? Perhaps the dream was trying to warn him of something?
The following morning they'd packed up quickly and efficiently and were on their way to their next destination. Mora stayed toward the rear of the group where she could watch the other Braves with a calculating eye. Being the saint of Mountains and the Head of the All Heaven's Temple, there wasn't much she didn't know about the legends of the Braves and the Goddess of Fate. So she didn't appreciate not having in depth knowledge of three of the Braves stood among them. She'd hoped that she could work her knowledge of each individual's weaknesses to her advantage and hopefully do what any parent would do for their child. However, there were three Braves she knew next to nothing about.
Hans was formidable and unknown. A self-proclaimed assassin with the mannerisms of a cat. His outward nature appeared laidback and fairly carefree and what little he'd revealed of himself showed that he had a fairly unhealthy trait for monetary gain. He was sharp minded and quick to pick up small details which was mandatory for his line of work. However, she knew nothing about him other than the aforementioned facts. That made him dangerous. She could gamble on his apparent perverse greed for money, but somehow she wasn't sure if he'd fall for it. He was a strong fighter too, his abilities would easily outmatch hers. She couldn't target him easily.
Fremy was curiously not the oddest of the three. She seemed pretty clear cut in what motivates her actions, and she'd pretty much explained truthfully, her abilities and why. Her ability to create explosive material on command was formidable and she was clever, a quick learner. Being half demon was only a skin deep oddity. Inside she was as human as the rest of them with emotions and feelings. Mora could use those to her advantage. However it was the half demons feelings and loyalty to the last remaining unknown Brave that had Mora hesitating and a little concerned.
Adlet Mayer.
Mora had to be careful with this one. He was smart. Very smart. And despite previously scoffing at his declarations of being the strongest man in the world, Mora had to admit the boy was more than capable at fighting. He had single handedly fought off each of their combined efforts to track, capture and kill him all whilst simultaneously figuring out the traitor's plans, protecting everyone else from each other's suspicions and being injured to the point of collapse. He was also quite the leader of their little troupe too. He wasn't too full of himself (despite his arrogant claims of being the strongest) to believe he could do the job alone. He'd ask for opinions from those who had the most experience or expertise in the related topic. If someone disagreed, he'd hold it to vote and he listened to reason. But that just made him indispensable. He was needed for the bigger battle. He'd be the fiery force behind defeating the Maijin and that was why they'd been chosen in the first place.
And if she wanted to save her daughter, she'd have to get close to him. Earn his trust. She wasn't accustomed to buttering up to someone. It was usually the other way around but here she had no choice. She couldn't afford to be suspected as the seventh otherwise her mission in order to save her daughter would fail.
She also had another worry on her mind. The Seventh.
Her mission to kill one of the six braves was difficult enough, but if she happened to accidentally kill the seventh then her plans would have all been for nought. She'd be discovered as a traitor and her opportunity to kill one of the braves would disappear along with any proud standing she had with the group of capable fighters. Her only hope of pulling off her plan was Rolonia but the girl was smitten with Adlet too. The odds were stacked against her and she was rapidly running out of time.
Her options were limited. She'd have to either wait-and-see if they could figure out who the seventh was or hope she got lucky on one of her targets. Hopefully Rolonia would be sympathetic to her cause.
As they travelled, the day waxed and waned and they soon found themselves in a cavernous area somewhere inside a mountain range. There were brackish carcases of what used to be trees and shrubbery all around bearing no fruit or wildlife to fend off their growing hunger, and the stream they'd found was murky and smelly. If they wanted to stock up they'd have to find something less poisonous.
It was Goldof who had found the cave they'd decided to stay in. It had a long, narrow tunnel into the main area where they'd decided to take refuge. Within that area they'd found a stream that ran along one side of the cavern. The water was clear and fresh and fell from an opening near the top of the cavern's roof which held two fairly sized holes that lead straight to the dusking sky. Over the years, the water had dug a deep ravine into the rocky floor which now formed the stream they were admiring. The stream seemed to disappear into another larger opening at floor level and looked rather dark and ominous. The cavern was fairly large with huge stalagmites and stalactites littered here and there. They made for good dividers when they hung sheets between them; cordoning off several small areas for each gender to change and freshen up in moderate privacy.
The group was soon sat around a roaring fire which was the only light source left after the final rays of daylight left the sky. Chamot chattered away with stories she'd been told - and had been enthralled with - at the temples, with Mora constantly correcting them as she went. Rolonia had heard them too but dutifully listened anyway so as not to appear impolite. Goldof was silent, as had become his depressive nature since Nashetania had revealed her traitory. Fremy merely stared into the fire, listening but not listening simultaneously. Having not really interacted with humans for a long time, the stories half fascinated her but her nature to hold her emotional attachments at bay fought dominantly in the social setting.
None of them however, noticed Adlet's far away and pensive look except for Hans. The young assassin had secretly been keeping tabs on the flame haired boy ever since their discussion the previous night. Despite his indifferent nature, Hans truly believed that dreams held a prophetic quality when it's after effect wouldn't disappear. Watching Adlet in the firelight, Hans could definitely see that the young man's dream had not left him yet and that had the young cat-lover concerned. He waited for the right moment to ask the young leader about the dream he'd had but the opportunity just hadn't revealed itself yet. He'd even laid his bedroll out next to Adlet in the hopes that the task would set them aside from prying ears but Chamot had been consistently present at the time, chatting away at Adlet's polite smile. Hans had wanted to speak to the boy about it all before they found their bedrolls but it was looking to be a fruitless idea. Until Adlet took a breath and sighed as he stood up.
"Sorry Chamot but could you tell me your story tomorrow night? I'm too tired to listen to it all tonight and I want to be able to concentrate on it when you tell it. It sounds like quite the adventure and I wouldn't want to ruin it with my yawning." He said obligingly to which Chamot blinked and gave a wide grin. She hadn't expected such polite manners from the boy who'd tied her up and gagged her back at the temple. It had been the first time she'd been beaten by anyone and she held a slight reverence and almost respect for the young man. So when he treated her like royalty she felt a small sense of pride at his affections. Mora hadn't failed to notice the change in the young girl and it both surprised and annoyed her that she was now no longer the only one who could influence the strongest Saint's behaviour.
Adlet smiled as moved around the fire and behind one of the sheets to find his bedroll. Hans thought quickly but acted slowly so as not to tip anyone off.
"Save me a seat on that date to, Nyah? I'm pretty tired too." He spoke as he stood up. Chamot glanced at him briefly before frowning a little. 'Crap!' Hans thought, 'She's suspicious, quick add something…' "It's been a long day and I haven't had my cat nap today. I look forward to hearing what the Princess did with the dragon scale." He added on quickly as he left the fire circle. Both brushing off any suspicions and proving he'd been paying attention, albeit half-heartedly.
The group went back to their murmuring while Hans slipped behind the sheet intent on finding Adlet… only to find the flame haired youth already snoring away in his bedroll. 'Crap!' Hans grimaced to himself. He could just wake the guy up but he didn't think that'd gain him any merit with the young leader. Eventually, Hans admitted defeat and laid down on his bedroll situated a meter or two away from Adlet's. His was the third watch, Rolonia would be waking him up sometime after the second moon and then he'd be waking Adlet up anyway for his turn after him. He could just ask him then.
With that in mind, Hans allowed himself to drift off.
A/N: Nothing too dramatic. Just informative for now. I'm not completely happy with this chapter so I may come back to it later to tweak and or fix.