A/N: Bah

Chapter 2

The beast lurches and roars. It swings and snarls.

And it bleeds.

Oh, it bleeds.

I have covered its front with lacerations, having brandished my katana repeatedly on its tough hide.

Orlandou has carved deep swaths from its back.

Rivers of black blood ooze from its body. I ignore the foul stench.

Minerva, our support caster, falls. I signal to ignore her. It's cruel, but we're all wounded and stopping to help one fallen now would leave us with two in short order. Minerva will hang on until the battle is done. I know her fortitude well. She has been with me since our academy days. She was the only girl in our group to take the path of the chemist, accepting the disdained stereotype of women as support with her head held high.

And it proved her as the toughest of us all.

You've never seen a caster with more bravery than faith, until you've seen Minerva.

We're almost through.

I raise my forefinger on my left hand, signaling a big finish in one minute.

We will end this with such a blitzing that it will not know its dying until its dead.

I wish to avoid desperate unpleasantness from it.

Other people would say I am being over-cautious. It is my nature though.

I really do try to appeal to the goodness in people… I really do hope for the best… I especially did during my youth… but at my heart…

I'm a bit of a pessimist.

I beg my katana to answer my cry once more. For me. For the world.

Its soul sings in response. Thank you.

The minute mark is reached. Bahamut roars in freedom and anger. Orlandou, Meilandoul, and Agrias cry out the names of their holy skills. I say nothing, but as it cracks in my grip my Muramasa sings the forlorn tune of what I know is its last song.

And I consider charging straight into the dust and dragon breath before it even settles, but my legs are so heavy… I need a second to recover.

Minerva. Someone 'Raise' Minerva. Agrias, use the monk's spiritual shout, then chakra for your wounds and tiredness.

The dust and fire dims. These ruined airships don't burn well, though they're made of wood.

The natural laws of this place…

And though gravely wounded, the creature has endured it all.

…Damn shit.

And, knowing its death approached, it performed… some desperate unpleasantness.

I see the sacrifice. I see the creature fall.

And the rise of a fell god.

"Ajora…" I whisper, filled with dread.

A fell god… in the body of my sister.

I palm my face. Clammy. Cold.

This is reality.

Oh god.

I…

Oh god.

Sister? She' s never been in my dreams before.

I have to see her.

I… how do I get to her?

We're in the Rhudia Monostary. It is a large and rather abandoned place, its empty halls a testament to days long gone, preserved as a landmark and because it is a sin to take down or fail to tend a house of god.

Alma has infrequent stays at monasteries. She, along with other noble girls, go there to learn 'moral correctness' from priests or teachers.

It's usually quite an inconvenience. I am 11 now, but my nightmares run me ragged and I have no one to talk to. There is still Delita and Tetra, but it isn't the same.

So when father judged my learning of the sword and philosophy to be advanced enough to begin learning the Holy Sword, I took the opportunity to accompany her. Holy Sword arts require a special type of baptism, and instruction under an advanced Holy Knight.

Father… had he been in better health, he would have thought me himself, as he taught my brothers.

But here I was in this enormous monastery. Only I, Alma, one other moral student, and our teachers were in residence.

And somehow I had expected to be able to see Alma, and even sleep with her here.

Apparently, moral correctness involved segregation of the sexes.

But I had to see her now.

Surely she is safe. I know that in my mind. But in my heart, I can't help these fears. It's true what Alma says.

I am filled with worries and fears I cannot brush aside because under it all, I'm a bit of a pessimist.

And even though there are only two adults to catch me, I hesitate to go to Alma because…

….Well, one of them can cut through rock with a Knightsword, and it is generally best not to make her upset.

There is little moonlight tonight. Go as a ninja.

Where had that thought come from? The ninja was such an advanced class.

I couldn't possibly…

Not everything is required. Just the stealth of a ninja. Remove your ring.

I take my ring off and pocket it. I had learned a bit of the theory behind the class during my private learnings. Perhaps I can…

No metal. Metal reflects. Cover yourself in dark cloth. Let no part of your pale skin be shown. Wear many layers of socks to dampen your footfalls. Move quickly and steadily. The less time spent in a place, the less chance of discovery.

This all seems very sensible. Is being a ninja very easy?

Knock before entering her room, or she'll clock you with a lamp.

… Of course.

The reception is not what I had envisioned.

There is squealing, lights, and a distressed sister flying into my arms. "Oh brother! You came!"

My face is peppered in kisses of gratitude. Her roommate ducks behind me and squeals things.

The first thing into my mind is: I didn't bring my armor.

My teacher was always harping about armor.

I didn't bring my sword either.

Stealth is over. "Get behind me." I tell them in my no-nonsense big-brother voice. "Both of you get behind me and stay there."

Make yourself the primary target. Be loud. Be obnoxious.

I fling the door opened with a slam and in as mighty a voice as I can I demand: "Who's there?"

Nothing.

Pull back, but don't turn your back. Guard up. Prepare for ambush.

"Alma. How may? What class?" I grunt.

Thieves? Goblins? I didn't bring my sword.

"Rats!" She responds fearfully.

I stop. I stare at her. "Rats." I say

"One rat." She clarifies, peeking over my shoulder.

One rat. The threat just keeps getting smaller.

"A big one." One of the other girls tells me. Blond hair, blue eyes, slender build. Common traits of aristocracy, but in her they seem somehow… more aristocratic. "Enormous."

I sigh.

Okay. Okay.

"I'm going to go be a big brother now. I'll be right back." I promise, kissing Alma's forehead. "I'll go take care of it."

"Oh, be careful brother!"

It's just a rat.

I edge into the room quietly and check under the bed that the girls are pointing fearfully at.

A pair of large, animalistic eyes stare back.

A malevolent aura surrounds the creature, greater than anything I have ever felt. And, enshrouded by darkness as it is, I still somehow know… It is evil.

I can feel my expression slacken.

That's not a rat.

"Alma, that's not a rat!" I yell as I get out, slam the door, and brace my shoulder against it.

A solid 'thud' sound tells me that the beast is chagrining the door. The next sound is louder, the push stronger.

It's growing in power and size. Maybe it was a rat, once. Now it is something foul and selfish.

This must end quickly.

"Well what is it then?" She asks, panicking with me as the door buckles under the assault.

"Well it's not a rat, I can tell you that!" I argue. "Go. Get out of here!"

"I can't just leave! I left my ring in there!" Alma disagrees.

"And my broach," her friend says, "it's worth more than my life!"

"I… but…" I splutter. They're being ridiculous! "It's just jewelry! Get out of here!"

Alma stomped her foot, tears in her eyes. "It's our promise ring! We said we'd always be there for each other!"

My hanging mouth closes with a click.

Oh.

That ring.

Designate.

What?

DESIGNATE!

"If you want to help, then get my sword!" I see their lack of comprehension. "Go!" I order.

They scamper off as if chastised.

Good.

Let's handle this before they get back.

I slip to the side, allowing the creature to charge through the door and crash into the opposite wall. Then, while it's disorientated, I leap onto its back and begin to punch it.

I have fought goblins before. My father had called it good exposure. But they are nothing like this.

This is a thing from my nightmares… a fell creature. I can feel it in my bones.

Do not brawl. This is a position of no leverage. Your offense must be precise and powerful. A battle of attrition would not stand against this enemy.

I let the giant rat's bucking throw me. Because I control the timing, I am able to keep my feet under me.

Do not fear the rat. The rat is not as dangerous or as evil as it seems…

Yet.

Fear time. Time is your enemy.

I know that these thoughts are correct. My feet under me, my stance set in the monk's ready, I dash in to face off against time.

My enemy is a rat as large as a man, and low to the ground for it is on all fours. All together, a difficult foe to practice martial arts on.

But it has one weapon, being a rat. Its teeth. I had two hands, two feet, and my mind.

I would outpace it.

I open with a left straight from my high position. It does not flinch.

A lean left saves me from its overbite-equipped jaws, and I take the opportunity to bring my elbow down upon its overextended noggin.

Don't stop.

I follow up with a rain of blows, focusing on its head. I will pile damage there.

It groggily raises its head even through the attacks, to attempt another attack.

Its intention is telegraphed. See it. Interrupt it. Hamedo.

I couldn't possibly.

But I already had, my elbow falling to the crown of its head and my knee simultaneously coming up into its jaw…

How can it stand? When will it die?

"Brother!"

Alma? So soon?

"Here!" She attempts to throw the scabbard to me.

It's too heavy, it falls short, clattering and sliding by my feet.

You are too close to the enemy. This is super close-range. More distance is required for the sword.

I back step, sliding the heel of my left foot to push my scabbard onto the toe of my right.

A child's flashy exercise, which I had learned from Delita when we were young and enchanted with dreams of a swordsman's glory.

Finally it would come to use.

With a kick I send my scabbard airborne and unsheathe with a strong flick of the wrist.

I am armed just in time to meet the rat.

Has it gotten bigger in those brief moments?

Finish with one decisive strike.

Do not allow for any desperate unpleasantness.

Right.

I lean in and duck down as it launches upwards at me. Sliding underneath it's lunging form, I stab diagonally upwards through the soft of its jaw and into the soft matter of it's brain.

It is done.

Twist.

It might not have been enough.

What?

It bleeds black. It is a fell beast. Twist. Withdraw. Stab again. And again and again. Just to be safe.

If it grows to true power, every good thing that you love will be in jeopardy.

What a foreboding thought.

But if it really would become a beast from my nightmares…

It twitches. It growls.

Even though I have three feet of steel buried in its cranium.

Okay.

"Alma?" I check if she is still within earshot, as my eyes stay focused on the monster in front of me.

"Y-Yes brother?"

"Look away."

I twist.

"Alma?"

"Y-Yes?"

"You can look now."

She does, and gasps. "Where did it go?"

"It vanished." I explain. "Into smoke."

Only the black blood remains.

And a small magical orb that I pocket.

"What's that?" Alma asks.

Power. Great power… that corrupts greatly. Power that promises much, and it will fulfill that which it promises…

…except you won't be yourself when the promise is resolved. You will be dead, replaced by a…

"I don't know." I answer. And I really don't. I have this instinctual idea… but I might be wrong.

"Was it… some kind… of summoned creature?"

Not exactly.

"…Maybe." I accede. "But what's important is that it's gone."

"Oh." Alma gasps. "My ring!"

She and her friend enter their room in a fuss. I follow just in case.

As the precious items are retrieved I have to ask. "Did you meet my teacher on the way back, Sir Guinivere? Or the preist?"

"No." Alma shook her head. "Nothing like that. It was very quiet. Almost eerily so."

"Do you think that they're just asleep?" Alma's friend asked.

"Well it's a very secluded monastery." I say. "But teacher is a masterless Holy Knight. She's told me that she sleeps very lightly."

Something has likely happened. The rat was probably part of something greater.

"I've got to go investigate." I explain. "But I don't know where to leave you, that you'll be safe."

"Just take us with you." Alma suggests. Her friend nods.

"…okay. But stay close to each other and to me. And be ready to close your eyes."

We make our way back to my room. I armor up and grab my shield. Then we clank down to see what has kept this place so silent…

In the dark of the night, once familiar halls seemed filled with threats in every long shadow. Alma's a tough girl, perhaps because she grew up in a warrior family. She gets scared, but she is capable of putting that aside when needed, but her companion doesn't take it too well.

We reach the dining hall and I open the door a fraction, then slam it shut.

Ah.

"What is it?" an inquisitive Alma asks.

Death.

"Nothing." I answer.

It's fairly obvious that there was a struggle, though imagining a form of struggle that could have taken the life of my Holy Swordsmanship teacher…

…it's beyond me.

Check for survivors.

"Stay here." I instruct. "Scream if you need me."

I slip into the room, calling for survivors.

My instructor, bloodied and armored, coughs weakly where she is propped against the wall.

I see spider web cracks there above her, indicating that she had been flung to her position with much force.

"Sir Guinevere." I say as I kneel beside her. Her muscled form seems so weak now. Her beloved armor is ruined with a deep gash across its length. Her tomboyish short hair is matted to her face with blood from a small cut on her forehead. "Hold on."

I don't have any potions or ingredients with me.

Cure won't do. Use the monk's sacred 'Shout'.

That thing. I had been musing on it but can I…

I… I have to try.

"Too late, squire." Miss Guinevere caughs. "Too late."

I try to recall what I knew of the technique and its application in saving the dying and the clinically dead.

Ignore her. She's delirious. The wounded cannot truly mark their own condition. It is not accurate.

Focus your energy. Focus your emotion. Let them boil and both escape you in a moment so blindingly condensed that you loose sight of yourself.

Let your heart bleed into your voice in a scream that calls to the soul, anchoring it.

Let your life-force simultaneously bleed into the body. It will knit it's wound, so long as it hasn't been too grave or too long.

… I don't really know what I'm doing.

…It will never work. She is going to die.

"If… If I hadn't taken a stop for my armor…" I mutter aloud.

"Blasphemy." My teacher dryly chuckles. "Always get your armor. See me? I took time as well, to arm myself. If I hadn't I might have saved the merchant, but I'd be dead and then the saved would die. And you… you would have had to fight it. That thing…" A gauntlet-laden hand brushes my cheek. "You aren't ready for that."

Keep her talking. Speech and alertness help keep the soul steady. If the soul leaves, no amount of magic or energy will save her. It would be true death.

"You had so much promise, young one…. I regret leaving you half-trained…" She says sadly. "When I pass, take my crystal. It shall be the one last lesson… the last…"

I 'shout'.

Guinivere gasps as her eyes shoot wide, the most critical of wounds stitching and life-force flooding her veins.

"…Well…" She blinks. "… well now this is awkward."

"I'm just happy you're all right."

The same couldn't be said for the others. One stranger and one hulking beast lay dead.

Guinivere nods, brushing off her para-death experience, and staggers to her feet.

"What happened?" I ask.

"A travelling merchant." My teacher answers in a brisk tone, identifying the stranger. "He came seeking refuge from the night. This being a monastery, of course he was met positively."

Guinevere met him as a guard. The priest met him as… a facilitator.

"He showed… a peculiar stone." My teacher frowned. "One that he had been transporting, allegedly. His convoy had been attacked though… by all manners of foe… and by rain, thunder, and rockslides."

I blinked. "Most unfortunate."

"He was wondering if the stone was cursed." Guinivere nodded. "And asked the priest to inspect it."

I look around. "Where is the priest? Did he make it?"

Guinivere shook her head. "You see him before you."

The monster.

"The stone changed him." Guinivere frowned. "Drove him mad. Made him into… that…"

She killed it on her own, although the priest likely didn't know how to use the stone and did not assent. She must have caught it when the Lucavi was young to this world.

Still, she's quite strong.

"I presume the stone vanished with the beast…" Guinivere mused. "I do not see it here, though it is dark…"

Do not reveal it to her. She is strong, but it is impossible to know another's heart in the brief time you've had with her. The stone can speak to the worst in us all, and those that are called 'holy' are far from immune. It's promises and power can tempt and corrupt almost anyone.

But not you. You have defense against the promises and the lies. Something more basic and instinctual that 'good' or 'evil'.

At your heart… you were always a pessimist.

"Leave this scene. I will bury these two, then send message to the town."

"I will help you." I offer.

"No. This is my business." Guinivere dismisses. "My lack of strength caused this. And you… you saved my life. I shan't forget. We'll talk of debts in the morning, but for now you protect your sister and the other. I will keep watch tonight."

Water washes over me.

"Thanks." I say as Alma moves on to scrubbing my back. We had done that for each other when we were very small. It's been years though, and we've grown.

But this night I needed a bath after being drenched in black blood – never mind that it had vanished into smoke upon the creature's death – and Alma wouldn't leave my side.

It's been a rough night for her.

"No problem brother. It's the least I can do." She whispers. "You're my champion now, you know. I should show my gratitude and I don't have any trinkets on hand. We're not allowed to bring much to the monastery."

"I thought I was your champion already." I observe. "Remember Burtus?"

Burtus the mad dog was an infamous creature that I had stared down in my youth quite bravely for my sister's sake.

Well… we later found that it had been chained though.

"Yes of course." She laughs gently. "My Hero."

"Mine as well." A voice whispers behind me.

I start. What?

"Don't worry." Alma chides. "We're both fully clothed of course."

"I'm not." I blush and observe. I have a towel to protect my modesty, and Alma was one thing, but being shirtless in front of another girl? A noble girl?

Alma slaps my bare shoulder. "You're a boy! Don't worry about it!"

"Do you treat all your heroes this way?" I demand. Can you not tease me for one day?

"Y-You don't have anything to be embarrassed about." The other girl says. "You… um… oh, don't make me say it!"

Say what?

"She means you look better with your shirt off, brother."

Oh god.

I feel tentative hands begin to rub me down. "Like this Alma? I've never…"

"It's the thought that counts Olivia."

"Olivia?" I ask. Odd name. "I know it's frequent enough amongst the commonwealth, but I thought it was considered bad form for a noble to copy the princess's name."

"Oh." Alma pauses. "Well… she's… from the country. They don't really worry about things like that there."

That made sense.

"Your muscles are so hard." Olivia whispers. "Are all boys this hard?"

"You'd be surprised how hard they are in the head." Alma jests.

"Hey!"

It takes some getting used to, with the stranger here, but eventually I do relax into the scrub.

It's nice. I had been tense. Even more so than after a regular battle with some random monster.

That had been… more. The threat of it. The fear.

… a fell creature…

"Alma, tell him!" I hear Olivia whisper.

"Why me?"

"He's your brother!"

"Well he's not yours. You can bat your lashes at him and flirt to get your way!"

"Alma! I never!"

"Okay, okay!" I hear Alma concede. "Um… brother?"

…At least they're lively. "Yes?"

"Can… we sleep in your room tonight?"

I turn over my shoulder and stare at her.

"We're scared." She clarifies sincerely. "Both of us."

"But I…" I look to Olivia. "That's really improper, isn't it?"

"The whole night has been improper, brother." Alma says. "We should be safe here, but we aren't… A common, if oversized, rat became a creature out of a nightmare within seconds… And after you slew it, it vanished into so much smoke."

Alma's scrubbing stops and she just sort of massages my shoulders. "Brother, it bled black."

"Yes." I close my eyes. "It did."

Like the creatures in my dreams.

"You said not to try to report what happened tonight, and to say nothing of the stone you found, and I trust you." Alma assured. "We both trust you. You are our hero now, and if a lady can't trust her hero then she can't very well trust anyone. So we will do as you say, brother. We will keep our silence. Only… we are scared."

I look at her. "Put the puppy-dog eyes away. They aren't needed. I had thought I would sleep by your door…"

"We… We don't want to go back in there." Olivia explained.

"Then I could sleep by my door I suppose, but we'd have to get you back to your room before sunrise." I explain.

It can be done.

"Oh, just let us sleep all together brother. We won't be able to sleep at all otherwise, for fear of some creature coming through the window or out from under the bed, and then becoming a monstrous thing. We must have a hand on you to feel safe tonight, as you would need a hand on your sword. And it's only improper if we are caught."

What a brazen thing to say.

But she's right. I will be sleeping with my sword out tonight, if indeed I sleep at all.

I look at Olivia and she nods tentatively.

Oh… very well.

"…Do you snore?" I can't help but ask.

I receive "ladies do not snore." In perfect stereo.

…right.

A/N: Humbug.

I was surprised when people started reading this without having played the game. 1, because it's just a little unusual. 2. because the game is just so damn good.

Minerva really is the name of that chemist. At least for me. I don't know if it's randomly generated.