Here we are at Chapter 17. Time to see if Fuyumi can save Anelia and find out who is after her. I do not own Code Vein or Skeleton Knight. They belong to their respective owners. I only own my OCs. Here's chapter 17. Enjoy.
Chapter 17: Paths Cross
Fuyumi races through the streets of Ustia, desperately searching for Anelia. She takes to the rooftops to get a better vantage point, looking for her fiancé. Unfortunately, she can't find any sign of her.
"Damn it. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" Fuyumi curses as she runs around one corner. Looking over an alley way, she spots a familiar object on the ground. Anelia's staff. Fuyumi jumps down and inspects it and the area. "She must've been taken here. Without her staff, she wouldn't be able to use her magic."
Looking around, she doesn't find any signs of a struggle, meaning they ambushed her before she had a chance. The merchant said she left with two men in soldier uniforms. If that was the case, then they'd be working for the marquess, but he didn't strike Fuyumi as someone with foul intensions. More importantly, Duke Crystalglove vouched for his strength of character.
"Could it be two soldiers who are corrupt, or were the uniforms stolen?" Fuyumi wonders until she finds a note hidden behind some empty crates, a note addressed to Yukina Hikaru.
The note reads, "If you want your friend back, come to this location alone and unarmed. If you tell anyone about this, she dies. Your life for hers."
The note shows directions for the location, but that is hardly comforting to Fuyumi. She nearly rips the note in two.
"Whoever is behind this... will pay," Fuyumi has a nasty look in her eyes.
…
Meanwhile, Anelia slowly opens her eyes, finding herself in some kind of cellar. There are some crates around her. She tries to move, only to find her legs tied and her hands tied behind her back. Anelia starts to panic a little as she recalls the events that came before she woke up here. She went to get some sweets for Fuyumi, when two soldiers came and asked so speak with her about something important. A moment later, she felt something hit her in the back of the head and everything went black after that.
"Where am I? Does Fuyumi know I'm here? Is she looking for me?" Anelia wonders.
Just then, a cellar door opens and in walks two figures. One is an individual covered in a long cloak with a hood, covering their face in the shadows. The other is someone that she is, unfortunately, quite familiar with.
"What's going on here, Allan?" Anelia asks.
"Don't presume to think you can ask me questions, commoner," Allan Beauford kicks her in the stomach. "This is all your fault. If it wasn't for you, I never would have lost that duel that day. How could someone like you defeat someone like me, Allan von Beauford? It shouldn't be possible," he complains.
"If memory serves, she can use four elemental affinities, while you can only use one. And her skill with magic is higher than yours. That seems like a good reason," the woman in the cloak says.
"Silence, you don't get to lecture me, servant," Allan turns his anger towards his compatriot.
"I don't serve you, boy. Perhaps you should remember your place," the woman calmly retorts.
Allan grits his teeth and turns back to Anelia, "Fine, I have much better ways to spend my time," he gives Anelia another kick to the stomach, followed by a second to her face. "That's right, cry, scream, beg like the pathetic commoner you are!"
Anelia was about to do just that, but then she remembers what Fuyumi said about people like Allan. The real reason they lash out like this... is because they're jealous. Anelia holds back her tears and stares defiantly at Allan.
"You can't beat me in a magic duel, so you resort to this, huh. She was right, you are a coward," Anelia fights through her fear.
This pisses Allan off, "Coward? Me? How dare you call me a coward!" Allan yells as he gets ready to use his fire magic.
Anelia gets a little worried, only for the mysterious woman to step up, "Enough. She's worth nothing to us dead,"
"I thought you wanted her dead originally," Allan says.
"Things change. Just like when we agreed to this stupid plan of yours. She yet may be of use but that won't happen if she dies," the woman argues.
"The only way she is useful is luring Yukina Hikaru here. She doesn't have to be alive to do that," Allan retorts.
"What do you want with Fu-Yukina?" Anelia demands.
"Like I said, this is all your fault. If you weren't in the way, I'd have Yukina Hikaru in the palm of my hand. But, since she seems to think of you like a friend so much, then surely, she'll come here. And when she does, I'm going to enjoy making her mine. I am the son of an earl. In the end, I always get what I want," Allan explains and starts snickering.
"I'm afraid that won't happen," the woman says.
Allan stops snickering, "What are you talking about?"
"My master has plans for this Yukina Hikaru. We agreed to help you capture her alive, but she will then be in our custody. That is non-negotiable," the woman explains.
"You dare?! You dare to steal what rightfully belongs to me! You're nothing but some cheap whore serving her master's every whim. Don't presume to lecture me about what does and does not belong to me!" Allan grabs the woman by her shoulder, only for a sudden, powerful shock to occur and electrocute Allan.
Allan screams from the pain before releasing her shoulder, falling onto his hands and knees. The woman then lands a black, high-heeled boot on the back of his head, forcing him to the ground.
"I will only say this once. Never. Touch me. Again. Or the next time you lay a hand on me, or her... will be the last time you have hands," the woman threatens him as she forces his face into the floor. "You and your father serve us. We make the decisions here. End of story. Do you understand?"
"I... I understand," Allan painfully replies.
The woman steps off his head and Allan slowly rises to his feet, still grimacing and glaring at her.
Allan turns back to Anelia, "Stay there like a good little commoner dog. This will all be over soon enough," he starts walking to the door. "This isn't over woman," he mutters before leaving the room.
The woman gives Anelia one last glance through her shadowed hood before leaving as well. Anelia loses her defiant look and breathes a breath she had been holding in.
"Fuyumi... please, save me," she allows a few tears to come out now that she's alone.
…
Fuyumi makes her way to the location that was revealed in the letter. It was outside the city. Fuyumi couldn't risk going to the marquess or the headmistress, in case she was being watched. She has no idea how far this conspiracy goes. She makes her way through a forest. The information the kidnappers left indicates there should be an abandoned settlement some distance away. A former attempt to expand the city that failed due to monster attacks and was left to rot. She keeps her eye out, in case there is an ambush waiting for her along the way. No doubt there is one waiting for her at the destination. But that still won't stop her. Just then, an arrow comes flying at her. She nimbly dodges it, the arrow imbedding itself in a tree behind her. She draws out her blade from her inventory.
"I expected as much," Fuyumi mutters.
Several figures come out from the shadows, surprising Fuyumi as they are not who she thought they were. Elves, at least a dozen of them, all armed with bows or swords pointed at her.
"Hand over our kin, human scum!" one elf, a male with long, blonde hair tied in a low ponytail, demands.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I am here searching for my friend who was kidnapped," Fuyumi replies.
"You won't fool us, human. Return our kin to us, or you will suffer for it. We have you outnumbered," the elf doesn't budge.
Neither does Fuyumi, "I have no time for this," she mutters as she prepares some ice in her hands.
The elves are about to fire more arrows when... "Enough! Hold your weapons!" a new voice rings out.
Everyone stops and looks to see a newcomer come out from the shadows. One that Fuyumi quickly recognizes.
"You're..." Fuyumi trails off as she sees none other than the elf warrior Elane Mistral Glendas.
"It seems we meet again, Fuyumi Kusanagi. Orion, lower your blade. All of you, lower your weapons now. This human is not our enemy," Elane commands the other elves.
"Elane, what are you doing? This human must be working with the slavers who kidnapped the rest of our missing people," the male elf, Orion, retorts.
"No, she isn't. Orion, do you recall the story I told you; about two female humans who helped me save those children. And how one of them had earned the blessing of a Hydras Helioptas," Elane asks.
Orion takes a moment to recollect, "...Wait, are you saying that she..." he looks back to Fuyumi.
"Yes, she is the one I spoke of before. She hates the slavers as much as we do. She helped free the children and removed those mana collars from their necks. The Hydras trusts her, and that's good enough for me. Or would you doubt my word on it?" Elane says.
Orion seems to hesitate, but eventually lowers his blade, "No... I will not doubt your word, Elane. Everyone, lower your weapons," he asks the other elves, and they do so.
Elane walks up to Fuyumi, "It seems fate has brought us together again. But, I must ask: why are you here Fuyumi Kusanagi?"
"Just Fuyumi is fine. The truth is... Anelia, the girl you saw with me before, was kidnapped. The bastards that took her left a note saying to come to a location outside Ustia city. I was on my way there now to rescue her when I bumped into all of you. Why are you here?"
"We've been tracking the slavers movements to locate the rest of our kin that they kidnapped. Our search led us here. It is likely that whoever kidnapped our people also kidnapped your friend Anelia. It seems are enemies are one and the same," Elane explains.
"So, they've spread this far, huh," Fuyumi notes, and then gets an idea. "Elane, I need your help. I know there's a trap waiting for me at their hideout, but I cannot run from this. I will help you free your people, but in return, will you help me save Anelia?"
The other elves listen in and are surprised that a human is willing to aid them in their cause. Elane said she was trustworthy, but to hear her say it herself is something else.
"Elane, we don't have time for this. Our goal must be to save our kin," Orion objects to the idea.
"I have not forgotten our mission, Orion. However, Fuyumi is a powerful warrior. I have seen it myself. Plus, they will be expecting her but not us. We can use that to our advantage. Besides, if they kidnapped Fuyumi's friend, then there is another innocent our enemies have in their clutches. Fuyumi is going there, just like us, for the same purpose. That makes us allies. Freedom is everyone's right. Isn't that right, Fuyumi?" Elane smirks.
Fuyumi smiles back, "You have my thanks, Elane, and my aid in your quest,"
"Good, then let's get going. Tell us everything you know," Elane asks, and they plan their next move together.
…
Fuyumi approaches the abandoned settlement. It was smaller than she expected. Less than a dozen buildings, all in ruins from the prior monster attacks. However, as she got closer, several individuals shrouded in cloaks appeared from some of the buildings.
"Where is Anelia? I came alone as you asked," Fuyumi demands.
One of the cloaked figures steps forth, "She is still alive. But, first we ask that you cooperate with us," the woman says. A few of the cloaked goons approach and check Fuyumi for weapons. After that, they restrain her hands behind her back and place a mana collar around her neck. "Don't worry, the master wants the both of you alive. Simply do as your told, and your friend will live,"
"Where is Anelia?!" Fuyumi demands.
"Take her to the cellar," the woman commands.
The cloaked figures escort Fuyumi into one of the buildings, one that is mostly intact. Inside, they open a door in the floor, leading to a cellar. Going downstairs, they open another door and Fuyumi quickly spots Anelia, tied up and on the floor.
"Anelia!" Fuyumi calls out.
"Fuyumi!" Anelia replies, horrified at seeing Fuyumi bound like her. "What are you doing here?!"
"What does it look like? Rescuing you, of course," Fuyumi replies as the cloaked figures situate her at the opposite end of the cellar.
"But... you're also..." Anelia takes note of the mana collar around her neck. By this point, the goons leave, leaving the girls alone. "I'm sorry... because of me... now you're trapped too. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault!" she starts to cry.
"It's not your fault. I came here of my own volition to save you," Fuyumi shakes her head.
"But, what about you? You can't use your magic anymore now!" Anelia cries.
"Anelia... look at me," Fuyumi coaxes her to look up and all she sees is her confident smile. "Do you trust me?"
Anelia sniffs a bit but shakes off her tears, "I... I do,"
"Then trust me now when I say that we will both get out of this, safe and sound, together," Fuyumi remains confident.
Just then, the door opens again an in walks Allan Beauford, "Ah, there you are my sweet Yukina. You finally came back to me," Allan sounds delusional as always.
Fuyumi groans, "Great, I guess this is how they torture us. By annoying us to death,"
"Yukina, how could you say such a thing? Are you still blind? Can't you see that we were always meant to be together. After all, why else would you come all the way out here," Allan replies.
"If you're here, then that explains things. You and your family are the ones kidnapping and selling the elves to those slavers, aren't you," Fuyumi says.
"Oh, you won't have to worry about that once we leave this place and we can finally be together again. But, I suppose I can tell you. There should be no secrets between me and my new bride. Yes, my family have been helping some very powerful backers get their hands on some elven slaves. They pay a high price on the slave market. Of course, slavery is forbidden in Anatolia, but it still occurs, and it won't stop anytime soon," Allan reaches up to stroke Fuyumi's cheek, but she backs her head away from his touch.
"Don't you dare touch Fuyumi!" Anelia yells, disgusted.
"Will you ever shut up?!" Allan yells back as he turns towards her. "If only you were gone, then she would finally see how amazing I am and fall for me like she should!" he is about to kick Anelia again, but then stops. "Wait... Fuyumi?"
Suddenly, a blade imbeds itself in Allan's right leg. He screams in pain as he falls to the floor. The blade rips out of him and he looks back to see the blade at the end of a tail coming out of Fuyumi's back.
"Yes, Fuyumi, as in Fuyumi Kusanagi. Betrothed to Emilia von Crystalglove, daughter of Duke Joseph Crystalglove. And betrothed to Anelia Lumare. Honorary knight of the kingdom of Anatolia; the Sword Maiden. And you made a big mistake when you decided to kidnap my fiancé, Anelia," Fuyumi burns through her bindings and then takes off the mana collar, much to the shock of Allan and Anelia both.
"But... but how?" Allan cries while holding his injured leg.
"Let's just say I cast a little spell on myself that prevented the mana collar from working, even after it was placed upon me. I won't fall for tricks like that," Fuyumi replies.
Before entering the settlement, Fuyumi had cast Panacea's Essence upon herself. That ability sure comes in handy.
"W-Wait, then when you showed up at the academy..." Allan trails off.
"I was under an alias, to find the ones that were trying to kill my precious Anelia," Fuyumi walks around him to free Anelia and hand over her staff from her inventory. "And now I know who, and more... Of course, I didn't come alone,"
…
Outside the building, the cloaked figures get ready to move when one of them suddenly gets an arrow to the head. More arrows come flying in as they scatter for cover. From the tree line, the elves make their move.
"Attack! Free our kin!" Elane commands her forces.
"Damn it, how did the elves find us so quickly?!" one figure curses.
The cloaked woman remains calm, "They were waiting to make their move. It seems our white-haired friend has more connections than we thought,"
"What do we do?" the man asks.
"We clean up our tracks. We're outnumbered here. Take care of the cargo down in the other cellar. They're dead weight by this point," the woman says, and her ally nods before heading to one of the other ruined buildings.
Back with Fuyumi and Anelia, they hear the commotion up top, "Sounds like Elane and the others have made their move. Best to head up and join them," Fuyumi says while drawing their blade.
"Elane? You mean that elf we met before?" Anelia asks.
"Yes, we bumped into each other as I was making my way here. They were looking for more of their lost comrades. We agreed to work together against a common foe," Fuyumi explains.
"Elves? Here? How?" Allan pleads.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot," Fuyumi sticks her sword into the ground next to Allan's terrorized face. "I thought about killing you, but no, you don't get off that easy. I think you being here with the slavers is evidence enough about your family's illegal dealings. But, you can worry about that later," Fuyumi then kicks him in the face to knock him out. "Let's clean things up here and then head up to help our friends,"
Carrying the unconscious Allan on her shoulder, Fuyumi and Anelia rush up top to find a melee before them between the elves and the slavers. The elves seem to have the advantage, but one of the cloaked figures is holding their own; the woman from before. She is wielding a black scythe with a few purple crystals in the head of the blade and is easily pushing the elves that attack her back.
"Keep an eye on him and support the others however you can. That one is mine," dropping Allan to the ground, Fuyumi draws her blade and charges at the woman.
She fires off some frost shards at the woman's back, but she twirls her scythe around to cut them all down easily and then blocks a strike from Fuyumi's blade.
"Oh, so you might actually be some fun. Tell me, who would be so interested in Anelia, the elves, and me to want us all so badly?" Fuyumi asks as sparks fly from their weapons.
"What makes you think I'll answer that?" the woman retorts.
"Oh, just thought I'd give it a shot," Fuyumi then pushes her back for a spinning slash that force the woman to jump back.
The woman grunts but lands on her feet. Fuyumi then casts Impact Wave and Lightning Weapon to increase the impact of her strikes and coat her sword in lightning. However, the woman glides her hand across the blade of her scythe and it takes on a dark aura as the purple crystals glow.
"Hmm, dark magic huh, but... no incantation?" Fuyumi mutters, but doesn't dwell on it.
The woman charges at her and Fuyumi meets the charge as their weapons clash. Meanwhile, down in a cellar of another broken building, one of the cloaked figures approaches a set of cages. Within those cages, several elves sit around in chains and with mana collars on their necks.
"You've served your purpose," the man takes out a sword and prepares to kill them.
Suddenly, an arrow flies by and nearly gets him in the head, but he leans his head to the side to avoid it and it bounces off a wall. He looks back to see Elane behind him, another arrow already notched and ready to fire.
"You will not harm them while I still draw breath," Elane says. The man lunges at her with his blade, forcing Elane back with each strike. "Spirits of earth, swallow up my enemies. Earth pit!" Elane casts earth magic, creating a hole in the ground under the man's feet.
He steps into the hole by accident and it swallows him up to his waste. With his guard down, Elane dashes forth while drawing her short sword, making a clean slash across the man's neck. He chokes on his own blood before he dies.
Elane sheathes her sword and turns to her people, "It's okay now. We've come to set you all free," she says, and they all smile with relief from her words.
Back up top, Fuyumi continues her duel with the mysterious woman. The woman's allies are on the defensive, but she's holding her own, much to Fuyumi's surprise. Fuyumi casts flame roar, but the woman counters with a blast of darkness to match it. Next, Fuyumi fires off some more frost shards, but the woman dodges each one. Fuyumi closes in with a downward swing, but the woman blocks with the staff of her weapon. They parry and block a few strikes from each other. Fuyumi then casts Lightning Charge when she gets an opening. However, the second she touches the woman, she herself is suddenly hit by a painful shock that makes her reel back.
"AHHH!" Fuyumi yells as she pulls back her hand, which is a bit burned. "What the Hell was that?" she grits through the pain and glares at the woman.
The woman just stares back through her cloak, "No one can touch me," the woman then looks around, seeing her allies either dead or captured. "We will meet again, Fuyumi Kusanagi,"
"Spirits of darkness, engulf my movements in shadows. Dark whisper," the woman casts a spell and disappears in a thick, black smoke.
When the smoke clears, the woman is gone. Fuyumi sheathes her sword and looks around to see the elves finishing up on their end, along with Elane coming out from another building with her freed kin. She spots Anelia, safe and sound, and Allan still knocked out. Fuyumi walks over to Anelia.
"You okay?" Fuyumi asks.
Anelia nods, "Yeah, I'm alright. Thank you... for saving me,"
Fuyumi takes her into a warm embrace, "Of course I will save you. I will always be there for you," she mutters to her.
For now, the battle was over, and Fuyumi and the elves saved those they care about.
And that's the chapter. Fuyumi saves Anelia, and the elves recover more of their kin. However, it seems that there are those who want Fuyumi for nefarious reasons, and now she may have found herself a rival in the woman with the scythe. What challenges await Fuyumi after she cleans things up in Ustia city? Until then, please Read and Review.