Chapter 24: Crashing Information
"Mikleo, how are you doing?" Dezel asked breaking the silence.
"I'm fine." Said Mikleo.
"Have you stopped shivering?"
"Yeah."
"Have any idea what caused it?"
"I have a theory." Said Mikleo. "I think it was the death tyrant, like while we were fighting it I felt extremely cold even though we're around flaming hellions and I had to pretend it didn't affect me out of necessity. And I think that because I was an undead type hellion for a while I think I'm sensitive to malevolence produced by undead hellions."
"You might be onto something. When we fought the echidna and when I was with Lailah, whenever we found a snake hellion that we ended up running from, I felt lightheaded." Said Dezel. "But I mostly ignored it."
"So seraphim who have previously turned into hellions are particularly sensitive to the type of hellion they turned into. Interesting." Said Edna.
"Rose, what do you plan to do after we part?" Sergei asked.
"Well I'm gonna check in with Lucas first. Then most likely head to Rolance. Malevolence is everywhere after all and that includes Rolance." Said Rose. "What about you?"
"Well maybe get my brother out of prison, and I promised Atakk that I would help with museum restorations and even if Marlind is recovering from the plague I'm still gonna be stationed there for a little longer." Said Sergei.
"Shame though. If you didn't give me eye problems and you didn't have plans I would've loved to travel with you more." Said Rose.
"Same. And Rose." Said Sergei, Rose turned around. "Thanks for everything."
"I should be saying the same thing." Said Rose. "Thanks. I've wouldn't've made it this far if it weren't for your help."
"Get a room you two." Said Edna.
"I swear to god if you two kiss I will puke." Said Dezel.
"Don't get too sentimental it's not like you two will never see each other again." Said Mikleo. When the group got back to Marlind Sergei and Rose separated. Rose walked through Marlind until she met up with Lucas close to the tree.
"Oh hey there Shepherd's pie." He said as she approached.
"Sup Lumberjack." Rose replied. "Everything went well?"
"Yeah, it all managed to work out. There were no troubles and we managed to ignore anything from your personal bullshit." Said Lucas.
"So what are you gonna do?" Rose asked.
"We've been set up for another job in the capital so we're gonna be heading out." Said Lucas.
"Nice." Said Rose. "Well best of luck."
"Same to you." Said Lucas. She then went to the tree where Rohan and Atakk were.
"Ah, Shepherd." Said Rohan.
"Hey yer back!" Said Atakk.
"Yeah, how are things here?" Rose asked.
"Take a look." Said Rohan. Rose turned to see people in front of the tree, praying. "Thanks to you my blessing has returned and people are getting better and slowly people are going back to worshipping the tree."
"What we needed to do." Said Edna. "So we don't really have a reason to stay here."
"Aw yer leavin'?" Atakk asked.
"Yeah, we're gonna leave tomorrow for Rolance." Said Rose.
"Very well, safe travels." Said Rohan.
"Come back soon! I'll be rootin' fer ya!" Said Atakk.
"Thanks." Said Rose. She left the seraphim and shortly after she ran into Muse.
"Hello sweetie, is your job going well?" She asked.
"Hi mom." Greeted Rose. "Yeah it's been going well."
"I can't believe they're still saying that lie." Said Dezel. "How the hell is that fooling anyone?"
"With charisma and charm Dezel." Said Muse.
"Wait. Do you know all my seraphim's names?" Rose asked.
"Indeed I do." Muse confirmed.
"Of course she knows she's probably been spying on us and listening to us." Said Edna.
"Not completely true. I did that for you Edna. As for Dezel and Mikleo … I have other ways." Said Muse.
"About that … can I ask you something?" Mikleo asked.
"All right but we'll have to save that for the inn." Said Muse. "So how did your little hellion excursion go?"
"Well I was having vision troubles that nearly got Sergei and Dezel killed." Rose said bluntly.
"That normally shouldn't happen unless your squire has low resonance." Said Muse. "In that case you have to either just separate yourself from your squire or find a squire that has high resonance."
"Hey, Sergei can at least sense seraphim on his own." Rose defended. "And you don't have to worry about that anymore, we ended up parting ways as soon as we got to town."
"Well that's a relief, unfortunate, but a relief." Said Muse.
"Muse, since I'm squire less and you likely have very high resonance would you like to be my squire?" Rose asked rather dryly.
"You're twenty years too late." Said Muse. "While yes I do have high resonance I simply can't due to having other commitments. But I do know someone who might fit the bill, and I suspect that he'll do more than just not blind you."
"How much more?" Rose asked.
"He might just be able to armatize." Said Muse.
"Squires can do that?" Rose said freezing temporarily.
"Yes. Provided that they have high resonance, are in the squire's contract or serving as a vessel for a seraph, either one works, and have the consent from the seraphim." Said Muse.
"What happens if you don't have either of those three?" Rose asked.
"Well with the former two you just won't armatize, the last one the armatus will instantly fall apart with plenty of harm done to the squire's, or shepherd's, pride." Said Muse.
"So about armitization does it come with any side effects other than your pride getting smashed if you instantly separate?" Rose asked.
"So you've been using the armatus without considering that it could kill you or learning much information about it? Wow." Said Edna.
"Oh it's not like you'd know anything about it." Said Mikleo.
"Well that's about it." Said Muse. "Though if you get hurt the seraph you fused with will also get hurt so you need to be a bit careful while you're fighting if you're using the armatus. Other than that you'll be fine."
"So who is this guy that you think might be a good squire and armatize?" Rose asked.
"Sorey." Said Muse.
"No." Said Rose.
"That's a mistake." Said Muse.
"Muse, he gets sick often, so when that happens he'll cause major setbacks, like you he has obligations to the guild, and he'll limit the destinations that we can go to in the interests of keeping him healthy." Said Rose.
"He has a lot of potential, on par with you Rose, and if you had recruited him earlier you probably would've kept Sergei around for longer, not that you could stop him from his other duties but having him around would've lessened the impact of Sergei's relatively low resonance." Said Muse.
"What?" Said Rose.
"That is another thing about squires, besides being assistants to the Shepherd and the purification process high resonant squires act as a buffer between the Shepherd and the low resonant squires." Said Muse. "This is why the S.H.I.T.S. was actually mostly squires to help make sure the low resonant squires don't strain the Shepherd."
"The S.H.I.T.S. were mostly squires?" Rose asked.
"Probably should've mentioned that when we were in Lady Lake." Said Muse. "But yes the S.H.I.T.S. was indeed mostly human and most of those humans were squires. And yes it was mostly to help out the Shepherd's dearest friend see the seraphim and eventually armatize."
"So this buffering can eventually have a low resonant squire able to use the armatus?" Rose asked Edna looked at Muse just as surprised.
"It would take years but yeah, it's possible." Said Muse with a shrug.
"Still not convincing me to take Sorey along." Said Rose.
"… Oh all right." Muse sighed as they got to the inn. They went up to the front desk.
"Let me pay for this." Said Muse.
"Mom, you have whole guild that's most likely not gonna be staying here. I can pay for my own room." Said Rose.
"… Can I help you two?" The innkeeper asked.
"Yeah, just one room with a single bed oh and I'll be having meals with that." Said Rose.
"All right that will be 500 gald." Said the innkeeper. Rose handed over the gald. "And for you miss?" He asked Muse.
"I'm with her, and I'm just here to have a private talk with her about … job security." Said Muse.
"All right but if you end up staying with your daughter you're gonna have to pay 500 gald as well." Said the innkeeper.
"I promise I won't be long." Said Muse. When they got to the room the two women sat on the bed. "What do you plan to do after this?"
"Well I'm considering going to Rolance tomorrow." Said Rose.
"That would be good. And you better get through Glaivend Basin quickly with war approaching." Said Muse.
"So things aren't going well between Hyland and Rolance?" Rose asked.
"Yeah they've been at opposition for years so conflict has been boiling up and it's about to reach a breaking point." Said Muse. "Wars get ugly to say the least and it's best that you stay out of it until it cools down." They were quiet for a while. "By the way before you go I suggest stopping by the sanctuary because they dropped off an Iris gem. If anything it would give you insight on what's going on. Just saying."
"Well we've been collecting them, so we'll do that." Said Rose.
"All right." Said Muse. She then turned to Mikleo. "What did you want to ask me?" He looked to the ground and didn't reply. "Mikleo?"
"Are …" Mikleo began. He then fell silent again. Muse tilted her head. "Are you my mother?" They were silent for a while.
"…Yes." Said Muse. Everyone was silent for another moment before Dezel spoke.
"Mikleo … aren't you a seraph?" Dezel asked.
"The two do look oddly similar ..." Said Rose. "But … yeah …"
"Seraphim can be born from pure dead humans." Said Edna. "If he has a human mother that means Meebo here died and came back."
"Yeah … he did. In the same event where I lost my brother, my dearest friend, was left taking care of Sorey, and that lead me to create the Scattered Bones." Said Muse in a low voice. "Of those I lost that day only one came back as Seraph with my baby boy they were found by Zenrus and Lailah." Dezel's eyebrows raised and snapped head toward where he heard Muse's voice.
"You know Lailah?" He asked. Muse didn't reply but continued with her story.
"They took them home and Zenrus agreed to help raise my son and Sorey. Lailah left and the other seraph stayed with me and Zenrus rather catatonic. Months passed and Mikleo turned one in that time and I gave him my circlet. But one day the other Seraph disappeared with Mikleo. While starting up the double act of the Light Sparks and Scattered Bones I looked for my son. I searched almost the whole continent for him but could never find him. I kept going off of local ghost stories in hopes of finding my son but all of my leads went cold. Sometimes I thought that they left the continent or they died on Rayfalke from the rumored dragon dwelling there though those thoughts proved me wrong when I saw you in Ladylake for the first time in years." Said Muse. Mikleo gave her an absolutely lost and heartbroken look. "Mikleo …" She started again. He didn't reply instead he took off the circlet that was hiding under his hair.
"I chewed on this thing so much as a kid and hid it from Bahamut because he'd get mad when he saw this." He said quietly. Muse looked at him confused at the name 'Bahamut.' "This was yours?"
"Yes." Said Muse.
"Why?" Mikleo asked.
"Because I care so much about you." Said Muse. "I know I missed you growing up, I only raised you for a year, and that I am a very twofaced assassin. I know you are under no obligation to love me back, but even so I never stopped loving you and hoping to see you again Mikleo."
"Probably why despite your profession and all the sins you've committed you haven't succumbed to malevolence." Said Edna. Mikleo clenched onto the circlet and held it close to his chest.
"I don't know how to feel." He admits. "I know you said that I don't have to love you back because you're a murderer but you telling me that you've always loved me makes it so much harder. I don't … I just don't know what to do."
"Then don't decide now Mikleo." Said Dezel. "Start over and take time to know each other. Because from where I'm standing neither of you know each other because of the time you've been separated. Once you've feel like you've known her well enough decide whether or not you love your mother back."
"All right." Said Mikleo.
"I think that's agreeable." Said Muse then getting up from the bed. "I need to get back to the guild." She left the room. Rose then lay back on the bed.
"Rose." Said Dezel.
"Yeah?" Said Rose.
"How's your eye?"
"Since we parted with Sergei it's been better." Said Rose. "Let's get some rest, from the sounds of it we can't take time staying here with war starting to brew." So they ate and slept at the inn and at the next morning the went to the sanctuary now back to its original use with the morning mass in session with Father Kailen, preaching to the worshippers one of whom she recognizes as Neif.
"Our town may just now be getting back on its feet but let's not forget to have faith in the seraphim especially now when faith is most important." Father Kailen preached. "But know that just mere faith will not help the seraphim but our actions as well. We need to be like the Shepherd and show the seraphim that we are worth giving blessings to and maintaining their vessels and places of worship." Rose stood in the back of the sanctuary and went off to the side as the father talked. Edna came out and leaned against a wall fumbling with the closed umbrella in her hands.
"Oh if only they knew you better." Said Edna. Rose scowled at the earth seraph. They waited in the back of the church until mass was over and many people left the sanctuary. She then went up to Father Kailen.
"Shepherd, I saw you in the back today. How was the sermon?" He asked.
"Uuuuuh … okay." Said Rose. "Father Kailen I heard that an Iris gem was donated here."
"Yes. It's on the altar." He said.
"Do you mind if I borrow it for a bit?" Rose asked.
"Touch it and look at it." Said Father Kailen. "Take it and I'll have the guards after you."
"Yeesh for someone preaching about being like you he sure is harsh." Said Edna.
"Maybe he heard you." Rose muttered under her breath.
"Keep dreaming Rose." Said Edna. They went up to the altar where the Iris gem laid just as Father Kailen said and the other two seraphim came out. Rose touched the Iris gem.
The same blond man from the first gem but lacked the beard and looked several years younger than he did there was trying to console a woman in her bed. A maid came in to switch out the bloody sheets and the man snapped at her to leave them alone for a while longer. Some time passed and the man and woman were at a small grave where they left flowers and had "May this little one learn to fly" engraved on the tombstone. They started walking away assumingly on their way home though the streets of a city. Then a rather dirty looking, brown haired, green eyed, little girl crashed into the man. He only stumbled over while she fell flat on her face. The woman looked at him as if to say 'don't do it.' But he ignored her look and knelt down to the girl. He helped the girl get up and took out a handkerchief and whipped off the dirt and blood of her face taking extra care with her nose. He then asked if she was okay and she nodded. He then told her something and left with the woman.
"Hey Mikleo isn't that the guy from the gem you gave us?" Rose asked as she withdrew her hand.
"Yeah looks like but at least ten years younger." Said Mikleo.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Said Dezel.
"Oh right you weren't there when Mikleo gave us an iris gem." Said Rose.
"And I'm blind." Said Dezel.
"That too." Said Rose. "Well anyway long story short Iris gems give us visions of the past. This is the fourth one we've come across."
"… Okay." Said Dezel. "Is there any reason these gems are giving you visions?"
"I dunno I just figure they're parts of our world's past and it just happens whenever you touch them." Shrugged Rose.
"So what did you get this time?" Dezel asked.
"Well a man, presumably rich as he had a maid was trying to comfort someone who I guess was his wife but what do I know about rich people, she could be his sister for all I know." Said Rose. "Then they run into a little girl."
"Well there was a little more than that." Said Mikleo.
"How so?" Dezel asked.
"The couple or at the very least the woman lost a child, likely through a miscarriage." Said Edna rather bluntly. "The little girl that ran into them likely reminded the man of the child, or what the child could've been."
"Were the other Iris gems related to this?" Dezel asked.
"Not really. Well aside the one that Mikleo gave us where the same man was being told something by a woman who actually … now that I think about it she looks like the little girl all grown up with someone who I guess is her husband." Said Rose.
"So whatever the relationship was between the two we can assume that they remained close." Said Dezel.
"Yeah that's what I figure too. Though there's something rather familiar about that girl." Said Mikleo.
"Would she be someone you knew as a human?" Dezel asked.
"Weren't you listening to Muse? I was a baby when I … died and became a seraph so I don't remember anything when I was human." Said Mikleo. "It's more likely that she looks like someone we've met. In fact … that's been a common thread with the Iris gems so far."
"Now that you mention it, every person that we've seen in an Iris gem either looks like someone we know or we just know them." Said Rose. "The first and current one you seem to think are familiar Mikleo. The one we found in the Galahad ruins I thought a hat that someone wore looked familiar while Mikleo thought the same on someone else, and the one we found while conducting a prison break actually had Lailah in it."
"Really?" Dezel questioned.
"Yeah she was lecturing a guy who ends up writing the Celestial Record to go to sleep." Said Rose.
"My guess is that particular set of Iris gems takes place within the last twenty years." Said Edna.
"Why do you say that?" Rose asked.
"Because the Celestial Record was written only roughly twenty years ago by a relatively young man that had a thing for ruins. Since I started seeing that around that time." Said Edna.
"Okay so in terms of time lining these Iris gems the Orange ones are around twenty years ago, and the others are at an indeterminate time right now." Said Mikleo.
"Sounds about right." Said Edna.
"Okay you've seen the Iris gem and you've been told to not take it by Father Kailen. We've done all we could here and we need to get going soon. If Muse is right then tensions are getting close to a boiling point and we should hurry if we're going to avoid the war." Said Dezel.
"Fine! Let's leave and then talk about the time line of the Iris gems." Said Rose. They left the sanctuary and started for Marlind's southern gate when they ran into Sorey and Mary Jane walking with a wounded soldier with Zenrus behind them holding onto the reigns of his horse. "Hey what happened?" She asked. "And are you sure that you should be here Sorey?"
"Friend of yours?" Mary Jane questioned. Rose nodded to her.
"The town's recovering and most of the plague is gone. I'll be fine." Sorey replied. "But we found him at the outskirts nearly falling off his horse. Mary Jane managed to stop the bleeding but that's the most she could do."
"I …" The soldier began. "I need … to get to the capital…"
"No! You're too injured to go anywhere!" Said Sorey.
"Please … I have a message …" Said the soldier. "Rolance … The Rolance Empire … is … is attacking!"
"What?!" Exclaimed Dezel.
"Shit." Rose muttered under her breath.
"Looks like the war has begun." Said Edna looking to the side and twirling her umbrella. "So much for skipping it."
"Please … tell this to the people of Marlind … I need to get to the capital." Said the soldier.
"I don't think so." Said Mary Jane. "You may not be bleeding but you're still hurt. We're getting you to someone that can treat you."
"So you can't…" Rose started.
"I've only specialized with pregnancies and illicit drug making. I can't do anything about battle trauma." Said Mary Jane.
"Let me go … there's no time to waste!" Said the soldier.
"Sorey, do you know if either Hyland's Military or the Light Sparks have any messenger animals?" Rose asked.
"We don't have any carrier pigeons or sylphjays so we can't relay any messages. Hyland's Military might have something even if it's another soldier that can ride out." Said Sorey.
"Great! Can you go tell some of the soldiers here while I tell the people after helping out Mary Jane?" Rose asked.
"Why? I'm already helping her out." Said Sorey.
"Because a certain Kendra Ferron started instantly hating me as soon as she met me." Said Rose. Sorey gave her a blank stare. He then face palmed and groaned.
"Oh my god what did you do?"
"Just hang out with Sergei and insulted her crush some." Said Rose.
"Is that what we're calling Bartlow now?" Mikleo asked.
"Meebo she called him the smartest and greatest man she's ever known." Said Edna. "If that's not indicative of a crush … albeit a creepy one then I don't know what is."
"The guy we're talking to and our water seraph." Said Dezel. "Though far less creepy."
"Fair point." Said Edna.
"Okay okay fine, my blatantly obvious crush on your water seraph friend aside, I'll just go find Sergei or someone and tell them about the just started war and have them send someone while you help Mary Jane." Sorey snapped. He and Rose traded places and rushed off. They started walking.
"So can you still see or hear seraphim after you've been purified?" Rose asked.
"Not really. That boy mentioning his crush seems out of nowhere and ultimately confusing." Said Mary Jane, "I have an idea that they're there but I can't really sense them."
"You were thinking of making her a squire weren't you?" Edna asked.
"You all know I have objections to bringing a sick boy along." Said Rose.
"It is a valid concern if you're referring to Sorey." Said Zenrus. "The boy might not have the twelve year sickness but he has a rather unknown and unpredictable illness that's plagued him all his life. It oddly acted like the twelve year sickness when he was younger but now it's primarily unpredictable spells of coughing fits and a sudden inability to breathe which will take him out for several days. So being unwilling to have him as a squire is justified."
"See?" Said Rose gesturing vaguely over to Zenrus.
"No." Said Mary Jane.
"I wasn't talking to you…" Said Rose.
"Ah yes, the seraphim." She said, she then tugged the soldier and Rose in the direction of the sanctuary.
"Think someone will help there?" Rose asked.
"Father Kailen namely, for the last few years he's been the one to go to for rather serious injuries." Said Mary Jane. "He may not be able to heal this guy completely but there isn't an injury that he hasn't treated yet."
"Really." Said Rose.
"Yeah, they say that he previously studied battle field medicine." She said. They got to the sanctuary when Mary Jane lifted the soldier off of Rose. "I'll take care of it from here."
"Kay." Said Rose running off and grabbing the shoulder of the nearest person. "Hey, I heard the war just started up. Maybe we should evacuate."
"What?!" The person exclaimed.
"Calm down! I said that there's a war going on and it's possible that Marlind might get caught up in the crossfire can you please help me spread the word and not panic?" Rose asked.
"You're asking a lot." They said.
"Yes I know but can you please help me with this? I'm pretty damn sure I can't cover all of Marlind on my own." Said Rose.
"Okay, I'll spread the word and I'll try not to panic." They said before walking off. Rose then went to another person telling them the same thing and trying to get them to calm down and help her with spreading word of the war and repeated the same process with the next person and the one after that. That is until she got to near the tree where Lucas was with his men.
"All right boys! Playtime is over, let's show those frou-frous in the capital what we're made of!" He shouted. His men shouted as well. Rose looked to the ground and back to Lucas and his men.
"You're thinking of going aren't you?" Dezel asked.
"Well yeah. I can't let some rather unaffiliated group get slaughtered." Said Rose.
"If I were you I wouldn't." They heard someone say. Rose turned to see Muse standing nearby.
"If the Shepherd enters a war then the side that they lend help to will definitely be victorious." Said Muse.
"And what's the problem with that?" Rose asked.
"Well there's no guarantee that you'll come out untainted and it might cause malevolence for any other party involved." Said Muse.
"So are you saying that we should just watch?" Mikleo asked with both concern and anxiety in his voice.
"Yep." Said Edna. "Your mother might be a cocky know it all but it really isn't our place to get involved with the war. We have to let humans find a compromise for themselves."
"But we can save people." Said Rose.
"Rose? Did you hear her when she said that there's no guarantee that you won't come out untainted?" Dezel asked.
"Well people from Hyland." Muse corrected.
"So Rolance wouldn't be so lucky, right?" Said Mikleo.
"That's right." Said Muse with a smile and a slightly more cheery tone.
"It's war." Shrugged Edna. "It knows neither justice nor malice."
"Rose I know you're relying on your base instincts and you've been doing this often." Said Muse. "But sometimes you can't do that because you can't follow your every impulse as the Shepherd. If you keep relying on whatever your gut tells you it can have serious consequences not only to you and your seraph comrades but every person you've come in contact with and quite possibly the world."
"… Fine…" Rose groaned through her teeth. "But would it be all right to ask Lucas to take refuge with the villagers?"
"I'm pretty sure there's nothing against Shepherds calling for evacuations." Said Muse.
"Thanks." Said Rose then going up to the Woodsmen. "Heeeey Lucas! Whaddup man?" Lucas rolled his eyes and gave a very long sigh.
"What soldier did you piss off this time?" He asked.
"Nothing like that!" Rose claimed. "I just want you and your boys to seek refuge with the villagers."
"You're joking right?" He asked.
"Dead serious." Said Rose.
"Shepherd, we're mercenaries, we make our living on the battle field through whoever party pays us." He said. "And we just helped restore this town, do you really want to see Rolance to tear it apart?"
"You're technically unaffiliated with either army for one." Said Rose. "Yes, you might get a Hylandian employers to help you out with the war and it would be a big benefit for your men from Hyland as they're gonna be praised as heroes. But would that really be fair to your men from Rolance who mind you are going to be asked to slaughter their former family, friends, and neighbors?"
"You're getting off topic Shepherd." Said Lucas.
"Answer my question." Said Rose. Lucas paused for a second.
"Fine. We'll withdraw beyond Griflet River." He said. "But it's a goddamn shame. We're just gonna abandon this town after it's getting its spark back."
"Marlind can be rebuilt. People can't." Said Rose.
"Hmph. Guess I can't argue with that." Said Lucas. He turned back to his men. "Change of plans we're taking the town's folk and heading to Griflet River. Get your preparations in order!" He then looked back to Rose. "I suggest you get ready as well. Griflet Bridge still hasn't been completely restored so we're gonna have to camp by the banks."
"I'd say I'll be all right. Let's go." Said Rose. She started walking to the northern entrance.
"Hm. Appealing to his humanity huh." Said Edna. "I didn't expect that coming from you."
"I just thought they're mercenaries, they get jobs from whoever's hiring so they must travel a lot and when you travel a lot you're bound to pick up men from both countries participating in the war." Said Rose.
"In other words appealing to his humanity." Said Edna.
"Hey! We're both human. So I figured I'd try to appeal to the thing we have in common." Said Rose as they waited at Marlind's entrance looking at the people leaving the city.
And so ends the Marlind Arc which was half the size of the Lady Lake arc with what is effectively a filler chapter. And here comes the stuff I've been actually looking forward to writing, the encounter of the Lord of Calamity and Sorey joining the party. Though admittingly the stuff about the armatus being harmless though only your pride getting hurt is something I wanted to write out of pure spite for the anime, just like the making fun of the dragon corpse in churches aspect from the last chapter.