Chapter 6: A Demon in the Frontier

Aribeth woke up in her room. Surprised, she got up immediately. She rubbed her eyes for a better vision. When she opened her eyes, she was still in her room. Feeling sure that this wasn't a dream, she headed for the door. She looked at her dress as she walked, surprised that there was no trace of blood to be found. She fixed her hair as she reached the door. She noticed a piece of paper nestled under her door. She bent down to reach it as she held her chest. It was a letter from Mother Superior. She opened it as she sat down on her bed. She pulled out the letter out of the envelope and carefully unfolded it.

Dear Aribeth,

I know you're going through a lot lately, and I know you're exhausted from last night. You were brought home unconscious and covered in blood! I wasn't to know what happened last nigh, so if you have time, come into my office as soon as possible. I'm sorry for bringing much pressure on you, but I care for your well-being that I want you to tell me everything.

Sincerely,

Mother Superior

Aribeth folded the letter and inserted it back in the envelope, sighed and closed her eyes. She set it down on the bed and nervously stood up. She opened her eyes and turned the doorknob, opening the door. She went out slowly and closed the door behind her. She turned right in the hallway, headed towards Mother Superior's office. When she reached it, she took a deep breath knocked 3 times.

"Come in my child…" Mother Superior called out. Aribeth turned the knob of her office and went in. She closed the door behind her and looked into her office. She saw Varil sitting on a chair in front of the table Mother Superior. She was surprised to see him and not only that, he was not in armor. He was wearing a white long-sleeved linen shirt, with a pair of linen pants to match. His katana was slinging from his side. His metal armor boots were replaced with comfortable brown sandals. He was quiet, as though he was thinking deeply.

"You may speak now Aribeth." Mother Superior said softly.

Aribeth took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She folded her hands and cleared her throat, and then she began to speak.

"First of all Mother Superior, I would like to apologize. I was not completely truthful to you, Guile is not just my companion…we're together." Aribeth confessed. Mother Superior looked surprised as she listened to Aribeth.

"Continue my child." She said coldly.

"…he took me to Amatsu." She began with a cold and calm voice, "We frolicked. We were having the time of our lives." She said as she began to smile, "We fought and we broke up." She said softly and started to frown, "I walked out on him, he chased me and tried to bring us home…" she said as her voice started to break.

"Tried?" Mother Superior asked coldly.

"Yes…tried because I refused." She replied calmly as her voice normalized, "He came to me as we teleported, but I rushed out of the circle."

"Why did you rush out of the circle on the first place?" the nun asked as she started to pent her hands together.

"I was mad at him…maybe I did it out of blind rage." She reasoned, "I fainted and woke up in a hut where a lady in a white kimono took me in." she continued, "She heard running footsteps and panicked. She said it wasn't safe for me to be there so I went into the woods. I ran into Guile there and we talked. He apologized, and then an Incantation Samurai appeared…" Aribeth paused as tears fell from her eyes.

"Then what happened?" the old nun asked as she laid her back on the back rest of the chair.

Aribeth's voice started to shake as she continued to speak, "it stabbed him then he died. Varil appeared and vanquished the demon and called for help." She continued as her voice was shaking, "Carrie showed up and gave Varil an Yggdrasil leaf. He revived him as a white light shot Guile." she said sadly, "Then I fainted and woke up here."

"Okay my child that will do…" the nun said as she stood up and pointed to the door with her palm, signaling her to leave. Aribeth turned around and opened the door. Varil stood up and followed her out of the door. She closed the door behind her as Varil walked passed her.

"What were you doing in there?" Aribeth asked, sniffling as she wiped away her tears.

"None of your business." He replied coldly as he began to walk. She followed him out of the church looking puzzled.

"Can you take me to Guile?" she asked with her voice returning to normal.

Varil looked away as he said, "Okay, I'll take you to him."

Aribeth looked more puzzled when she noticed that the bustling metropolitan that is Prontera, was empty. They walked towards the fountain and began to slow down.

"Wait here; I forgot something in Mother Superior's office." He said as he turned back and ran back to the church.

"Okay…" she replied as she sat on the edge of the fountain. He closed her eyes, pulled out a rosary and began to pray. She slowly heard people murmuring. She opened her eyes and saw people slowly fading in. She looked puzzled and continued praying. The people around her began to slowly solidify. She stopped praying and they all faded away again.

"What the…" she whispered to herself. She pocketed her rosary and stood up.

"RUWATCH!!" she shouted. A glowing blue orb appeared and revolved around her. The people started to fade in again and began to solidify. The city was back to normal as she began to worry about Mother Superior. She hurriedly ran to the church as the blue orb faded away. She entered the church and into the hallway, opened the door and looked inside.

"What on earth…" the nun said shocked.

Aribeth saw Varil seated in the chair where last sat in.

"What did you forget Varil?" Aribeth asked suspiciously.

"Where's Varil my child?" the nun asked puzzled.

"RUWATCH!!" Aribeth cried out as a blue orb appeared. Varil shirked in pain and Mother Superior began to see him.

"How'd you get in here Varil?" the nun asked puzzled.

Varil looked at Aribeth crossly as his hazel eyes turned red.

"That tickled…" Varil said menacingly. She jumped out of his seat and ran towards Aribeth. She turned back and ran out of the room.

"Aribeth!" the nun called out. She ran to the door but immediately felt exhausted. She held on the door's railings and tried to catch her breath.

"I have to tell her now…" the nun said as she took the wrapped gem on the table and left the room.

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty!!" Varil cried out as he unsheathed his sword, running towards her.

"AGI UP!!" she cried out as a white aura wrapped her. Her speed greatly rose as she ran to the fountain, knowing someone would help her.

"Two can play that game…AGI UP!!" Varil cried out and a white aura wrapped him as his speed increased as well.

Aribeth arrived at the fountain panting, "Help me!!" she cried out.

Varil arrived a few feet away from her, "No one will help you!!" he said menacingly as he raised his sword. His sword glowed purple and shot out two purple smoke balls. The balls settled down on the ground and took shape. It was 2 Nightmares.

"You're…you're a Doppelganger!!" Aribeth said, shocked.

"You've finally figured that out…" the demon said as he grinned at her. "I like this copy…its handsome..."

The people around them fled and screamed as the Nightmares appeared.

"I told you no one would help you..." the demon said as he pointed his sword at her, "Now, time for vengeance!" the demon exclaimed.

"Vengeance? For what?" she asked nervously.

"You killed my brother!!" he cried out angrily.

"Your brother?!" she suddenly thought about the Incantation Samurai Varil killed the yesterday,

"But I didn't kill him, Varil did! Why are you taking it out on me?!" she cried out as she backed up a little.

"Killing him would be to easy, but killing the one he loved, would be a fate worse than death!" he said as his Nightmares advanced on her.

"He loved?" Aribeth asked, looking puzzled.

"You're so oblivious! You could see it from the highest mountain…anyway…time to die!!" the demon exclaimed

Aribeth froze with fear, unable to speak as the 2 Nightmares finally reached her. They stood on their hind legs, as their flaming manes rose up forming a big fireball.

"Any last words?" he asked menacingly.

"HOLY CROSS!!" a voice from afar shouted.

"FINGER OFFENSIVE!!" another voice from afar cried out.

A blinding white cross shot out behind the Doppelganger and a small electric ball shot out from behind the fountain. The cross hit the Nightmare on Aribeth's right and the ball hit the other on her left. They both immediately exploded and turned to smoke.

"Hey! Who did that?!" the demon shouted, puzzled as he looked around.

"We did…" the voices replied. Varil emerged from a few meters away from the demon and Guile emerged from behind the fountain. Aribeth looked at both of them, surprised.

Varil was in full armor. His Plate mail was shining with metallic luster. His royal blue cape was flowing from his shoulders and to the ground. His arm, leg and battle armors were thick and were shiny as his plate mail. He was pointing his sword at the demon as his mahogany short hair flowed gently with the wind.

Guile was wearing a long white sleeveless coat decorated with black and gold trimmings, which was open revealing his built physique, and was matched by a pair of long white pants also decorated the same way. His arms were wrapped in white a bandage. His silver knuckle weapons were replaced with gold glowing ones. His forehead was wrapped with a long white bandana whose ends flowed gently with the wind. His dark brown hair flowed slightly as the wind blew through.

"Sorry to drop in…" Guile said, smiling at Aribeth as he walked closer to her. She smiled back, looking happy.

"Whoa! Why'd you copy me for?!" Varil cried out angrily as he approached the demon.

"STAND BACK!!" the demon shouted, leaped towards Aribeth as he pointed his sword on her neck, "…or I'll kill her"

Guile pulled out his dagger from his pouch behind him then disappeared.

"You're pulling a fast one! You leave me no choice but to kill her!" the demon cried out as he pulled his sword back, attempting a fast pierce through her neck.

"DEVOTION!! SAFEGUARD!!" Varil shouted as a blue ray shot out of Varil's chest and into Aribeth's chest. Then a translucent barrier shrouded Varil.

The demon pierced Aribeth but nothing happened, it just ran through her. Surprised, the demon pulled his sword and made a run for it.

"BACK STAB!!" Guile shouted as he emerged behind the demon and stabbed him with his dagger. The demon slowly turned to dust as the wind blew him away. Guile flipped his dagger and sheathed it back in his pouch.

Aribeth stood there staring at both of them. She clenched her fists, bit her lower lip and turned away, running.

"Princess!" Guile called out as he chased her.

"Aribeth!" Varil shouted as he chased her as well.

"It's nice to see you again Guile, but I'm not ready to face you…"Aribeth said to herself in her mind.

"Princess wait!" Guile called out as her ran, "AGI UP!!" he shouted as an aura of light shrouded him and as his speed increased.

"No fair!" Varil complained. He whisteled as he ran, trying to call something. Suddenly, an armored Grand Peco-peco bolted chasing Varil. He stopped then he jumped on the bird and rode it to catch Aribeth.

Guile ran passed Aribeth and blocked her path. Aribeth stopped and turned back to run in the other direction but stopped as soon as she saw Varil approach.

"Why are you running from me?" Guile asked sympathetically as he slowly approached her.

Aribeth fell silent as she turned back facing him. Their eyes locked filling them with the love they've seemed to lose. She paused a while then turned away, giving no reply to Guile.

"Well Guile, looks like you win thin round!" Varil said as he pulled the reins on the bird and turned back, "I'll beat you next time!!" he shouted jokingly as the bird ran.

Guile chuckled as he looked at Varil running back.

"We kinda made a pact…" Guile said as he continued to laugh. He then brushed his head as he walked closer to her.

"I-I'm not ready to face you…" Aribeth stammered as she turned back avoiding looking at him.

"Why?" He asked as he lowered his hand, "I think I know why…"

"Look, I'm sorry about the fight…" he said as he lowered his head.

"It's not the fight…" she reasoned as she held herself.

"Was it what I said?" he asked half begging.

"It's not that too…" she said as she raised her eyes. To her surprise, she saw Mother Superior headed for her.

"Aribeth!!" she called out as she ran towards her.

"Mother Superior!!" Aribeth ran to fetch her as Guile followed her stealthily.

"Aribeth, I need to tell you something before you make the biggest mistake in your life!" She cried out as she approached her.

"What do you have to tell me?" she asked quietly as she helped the nun stand up.

"Aribeth…don't turn him down…" the nun said as she slowly caught her breath.

"What?" Aribeth asked, puzzled. Guile slowly approached the nun to help her.

"I don't want you to end up like me…a worn out old hag who didn't have the chance to love." She said softly. Guile knew this would benefit him, so he smiled secretly.

The nun unraveled the cloth and held the gem. Aribeth gasped as she looked at the nun touched the gem.

"Mother you're…", "Yes I know…" the nun interrupted.

"Being the Mother Superior makes you pure and holy." The nun said as Guile helped her to a seat.

Aribeth followed them and asked, "How come?"

"Before you become a Mother Superior, you'd have to undergo a 40 day fast, to enter a trance where you would actually meet god." She said as she sat down.

"Wow!" Guile exclaimed as he let go of the nun and stood next to Aribeth.

"By having that experience, you are made a leader in the church." The nun continued, "You are in charge of the church's affairs and you are in charge of maintaining the balance of good and evil until the last battle."

"That's a lot of responsibility…I can't handle that!" Guile said as he smiled at Aribeth. She turned away sadly as she crossed her arms.

"…Aribeth, the reason I came here is to ask you to decide…will you continue your training, or will you stop?" the nun asked softly.

"No one will replace you, so I'll continue my training." Aribeth replied as she looked at the nun.

The nun shook her head and stood up, "Aribeth, don't worry about me…"

"But if you die…who will take your place? I can't just leave the church alone…" she replied uncrossing her arms and looking at the nun sympathetically.

"How old am I, Aribeth??" the nun asked as she looked at her smiling.

"Well, according to the church's records, you're 91." She replied surely.

"Are you sure?" the nun questioned as she raised her brow. Aribeth nodded yes as she smiled.

"…I'm 703 years old." The nun said as she smiled. Aribeth and Guile gasped, looking surprised, "I knew people would look me up so I requested the church to change my records."

"How?" Guile said as his eyes grew.

"…this." The nun said as she looked around. Seeing no one was there, she raised the gem.

"INTERCEDES GLORIFICA!!" the nun shouted. Suddenly, a white light from the skies beamed down on her. The light grew brighter and slightly blinded the couple. They took steps back as they covered their eyes. The light slowly dimmed and revealed the nun. To their surprise the nun's old physique changed into a young one. Her wrinkled skin was replaced with a beautiful young one. Her liver spots disappeared as her veil fell off. Beautiful brown hair revealed itself as the wind blew slowly. The nun stood there; wearing her black uniform revealing the hidden beauty she had years ago. The couple looked at her and gasped.

"Wow…you're hot!!" Guile exclaimed as Aribeth looked at him crossly. Guile smiled at her nervously as he brushed his hair.

"This can be yours, so choose wisely." The nun said with a soft sweet voice.

Aribeth paused a while as she lowered her head, thinking. She then looked onto the sky and finally spoke.

"A life without love, even an immortal one, isn't a good enough reason to live." She said as she turned to Guile, smiling.

The nun sighed, smiling, "7 generations, same answer. Well, not word per word, but the same meaning is the same." She said as she giggled.

"I'm sorry Mother Superior, but I may be not able to continue my training…" Aribeth said sadly.

"I understand my child…" the nun replied as she turned away and walked back to the church.

"You may fetch your things later!" she said half shouting as she waved behind.

Aribeth fell silent as the nun left. Guile suddenly hugged her sweetly as he smelled her hair.

"Thank you for choosing me…again…" he said softly.

"What makes you think I chose you?!" she exclaimed, half roaring. She shoved Guile away looked at him crossly.

"W-what?! You didn't do that for me?!" he asked with a needy voice, "then who did you do it for?"

Aribeth smiled slightly as she turned away, "that's for me to know, and for you to find out."

She left Guile standing there. He smiled as he looked at her leaving.

"You love me, I know it!" he said to himself, addressing Aribeth. He turned back and headed for the inn.