Chapter 3
The faint sound of water dripping onto the floor resounded in the room as Rin and Mai made their way into the observatory at the designated time. Dawn was just creeping over the base, but Mai had urged for them to be a little earlier than usual considering the circumstances. Mai was carrying a small bag that held the necessary equipment for her Mender capabilities (a collapsed six ring Heliosphere as well as several Enspirels), as well as a set of elbow length gloves used to help temper the energy of a Giver. Mai had no idea what she was walking into being the partner of the raven haired male; many of the partners she'd worked with in the past, she'd grown accustom to their power signature. Kazuya's power signature could very well be much stronger, hotter, restrained and any other number of characteristics different, than, say, Zion's.
A six ring Heliosphere was common among the Menders to use for concentrating one's energy into a single focal point in order to heal a wound that had been sustained in battle. Without a Heliosphere to concentrate the energy onto one wound at a time, the healing process would take much longer to complete because the energy of the Mender would attempt to heal all wounds at the same time, decreasing efficiency.
An Enspirel was what Mai used to convert the energy she received from a Giver into the healing energy of a Mender. Enspirels are delicate metal sculptures that function as transducers for spiritual energies to facilitate change. Transducers convert energy from one form to another, like changing electricity into sound, which is what allowed a Receiver like Mai to put her natural ability to heal into action.
Rin, on the other hand, had a massive sheath slung over her slender shoulders, easily just as tall, if not taller than her slight form. The case held her chosen weapon as a Chaser; a custom blade that she'd requested within her first year of training. The blade was unlike one that Mai had ever encountered; the initial shape of the sword was formed into a large, sideways 'Z' shape, with the hilt and pommel sitting neatly in the middle section that connected the two parallel pieces. Furthermore, the blade had several curves carved into it, creating a number of dangerously sharp points at the end of each curvature. Running along the metal itself were the same runes that decorated Rin's forearms; they were the tools she used to transfer and temper a Giver's energy, much like Mai's gloves.
Tucked neatly beneath the sheath of her sword was a coiled chain with a crescent shaped blade attached at the end. In the midst of battle, Rin was able to swing the lasso-type attachment of her weapon and neatly decapacitate any opponent that was less than 5 meters away. The dual type weapon was what made Rin one of the most feared Chasers in the rank of the Guard. Paired with her lightning fast reflexes as well as her ability to be a perfect Receiver, she was a force to be reckoned with.
The dimly lit room smelled slightly of dampness and mildew, much like it always had. Even through the darkness, Rin could see the outline of the two males they'd met just hours earlier and whom they would be going on this mission with.
Mai's eyes had zeroed in on Kazuya's lean form. He looked good in the garb of a Giver on a mission; A dark grey, fitted tunic with a deep cowl that was sashed in place with a leather belt worn over a pair of custom fit black pants. Shin guards, delicately fitted gauntlets worn over fingerless gloves, a mantle that would protect their back should they let their guard down, and black lace-up combat boots completed the bodily attire. On the face, there was a head piece that was fitted almost like the basic crosspiece of a helmet that would further protect the wearer from sustaining any head injury. A plated mask covered the lower half of his face, leaving only a thin strip of his pale, milky skin to show alongside his piercing indigo eyes beneath the deep cowl of the hood.
Mai could see a small double sheath, almost invisible against the black fabric of Kazuya's attire. Cinnamon eyes locked on the two hilts of the daggers she saw, surprised that he was going to be using a weapon that was not onyx, unless she was mistaken.
N was dressed the same way as Kazuya, his ash blond hair peeking out from the edges of the cowl. Rin smirked to herself; it wasn't often that a Giver looked as good as the two standing in front of them did in the mission attire. Slung across N's back was a tactical penetration longbow. A quiver of onyx and steel tipped arrows was slung onto his shoulder and his left hand was adorned in Iron Reaver Claws, should a fight become close combat.
Both females were dressed similarly like the men with only slight variations; the mantelpiece that the Givers wore was not present on the girls, instead of a grey tunic, their tunic was a dark blue to signify the status as a Receiver, and the headpiece for the men was also not present, though the plated mask was.
"Are we ready?" N's husky voice was muffled from behind his plated mask. The girls nodded before parting ways to stand by their respective partners.
There was a great rattling sound as the door to the far side of the observatory ground open, revealing the portal that would take them to their next location: New Orleans. The staticky voice of the Captain rang out across the speakers, loud and authoritative.
"Best of wishes to the four of you. The building has been labeled to have high amounts of malevolent spiritual activity. Exterminate all beings."
Rin traded a glance with N and they both nodded in silent agreement; they would watch each other's backs as well as keep an eye out for Mai and Kazuya. There was a crackle of static, letting them know that the Captain had finished speaking. As a unit, they all walked towards the portal that glowed a brilliant silvery blue, almost matching the color of Rin's runes when energy was being tempered.
Ever the gentlemen, N and Kazuya stepped through first, sliding through the swirling, glowing doorway of light easily. Mai looked over at Rin, her composure astounding even herself; she felt no fear going into this mission whatsoever. Rin nodded minutely and they clasped hands before stepping into the portal of light together.
The stomach roiling sensation of vertigo slammed into Mai, her sudden awareness of her surroundings momentarily swayed as she fought to calm her stomach. The scent of cold, wet stone assaulted her nose and she glanced up. They were in a central courtyard of some sort, grass growing between the cracks and on all four sides of them were ionic columns and fancy lattice work that had rotted away over the course of many years. It looked as though they were in the middle of a hotel or company building courtyard; countless windows lined the five stories that surrounded them and Mai bit her lips to keep them from quivering.
She could feel them. Everywhere. Spirits closing in and congregating towards this new beacon of energy that N and Kazuya exuded without meaning to.
"N, your energy is attracting them. Yours, as well, Kazuya. Put a clamp on it," Rin warned, her hand reaching backwards to grip at the hilt of her weapon firmly. Both males started out of their momentary stupor, their eyes hardening as they focused on realigning the mental constraints that bound their energies to them.
And just like that, the attention they drew to themselves dissipated. The spirits here were mostly blind, from what Mai could tell. Not blind in the fact that as live humans they were blind, but in the fact that they weren't strong enough to manifest those physical qualities they once had when they were part of the living.
And for spirits to become stronger, they needed to consume other spirits. A form of cannibalism, you might think.
Both Rin and Mai breathed a soft sigh of relief. The amount of spiritual congregation was astounding in this location and when the spirits had become aware of the Givers' energy, they'd come forward, pressing against the consciousness of the two Receivers.
It felt like suffocation. They could not sense anything other than the presence of the undead.
Once the tickling sensation of the spirits reached the outskirts of their awareness, Rin knew they were safe for the time being. Everyone knew, though, that the longer this mission trailed on, the more chance that the spirits would be able to consume each other creating some that were more capable of combat than others, and they were never much fun to exterminate, because it meant they had the consciou thought to fight back.
"Let's get this done and over with by sunset, if possible," Kazuya stated monotonously. That left them with just under twelve hours to complete the mission, which should be fairly easy if they worked fast enough to prevent evolution.
"Go find a high vantage point and watch our backs, Kazuya. Rin and I will fight close combat to exterminate all that we can here," N replied lowly, the muffled quality of his voice making it hard to understand him. Kazuya nodded before turning to look at Mai; she understood the implications. She took the initiative, turning on her heel promptly before walking towards the nearest corner where a flight of stairs wound its way upwards, a landing at each floor.
The overwhelming desire to impress Kazuya, this mysterious man from her dreams, clouded her thoughts. She would prove to him that she was able to help as something more than a Receiver.
She climbed the stairs, her combat boots clicking softly against the rusted metal of the staircase. For a few moments, she thought that the rusted metal wouldn't be able to hold her weight, let alone the combined weight of Kazuya and herself, but the metal held after a bit of groaning and readjusting. They made it to the fifth floor, no conversation passing between them whatsoever.
Kazuya nudged her arm gently, almost scared that at the slightest touch, this tiny female would break into a million sparkling fragments. He'd spotted a prime spot to stay and take out any apparitions that caught their partners unawares. The area lay in the shade between two of the ionic columns, the railing that surrounded the perimeter of each floor offering them further camouflage.
Once they were situated with Kazuya lying on the ground, he pulled the sheath from his belt and what Mai had originally thought to be two daggers, was actually a twin set of guns. Not big ones, but smaller, ornately decorated pistols. They seemed to have a Russian influence on the design; the curved edges and the lovely metalwork could be held accountable for that, and the gorgeous sheen of the gold work impressed Mai, who had no previous experience with ballistics.
"They're beautiful," Mai breathed as she watched Kazuya twirl the two guns expertly with his slender fingers. Kazuya smirked.
"I know. I made them," The raven haired Giver snarkily replied in his usual cold manner. Mai scoffed softly.
"You're such a narcissist, you know that, right? You act as though the ground you walk upon should be worshipped, but I can tell you right now, Mr. Narcissist, that isn't happening with me," Mai turned her nose up indignantly. She was startled when a low chuckle resounded beside her in answer to her huffyness.
"I wouldn't want it to. Now, I need your abilities to help me load the guns - They run off of energy bullets rather than physical. The fight is about to start." Kazuya answered, the seriousness back in his tone. Actually, it never left, Mai amended in her head. He was always going to be serious, she figured.
Down below, Rin and N were situating themselves, getting ready for combat. Rin had unsheathed her blade, the Z-shaped blade catching N's attention immediately; he'd seen nothing like the blade the female held. The edges curved wickedly, glinting in the soft light of the morning and the loop of delicate metal chain she held in her left hand with the crescent shaped blade attached at the end shimmered in a dangerously beautiful way.
"It must be a custom," He'd commented upon seeing the entirety of her weapon. Rin nodded, her lips quirking up as she admired the beauty and tell tale death message her sword seemed to give off.
"She is," Rin had answered back, running one gauntlet clad hand along the flat edge of her sword, tracing one of the many runes that covered the blue steel.
"She?" N inquired, swinging his bow off of his back as he nocked an arrow into place with expert fingers. He'd been shooting with a bow for so many long, arduous years he could shoot within a centimeter of his intended mark on his target in his sleep.
"Her name is Krasivaya," Rin had replied, lovingly running her fingers along another of the black runes. N looked up, eyebrow raised in questioning; he recognized the ancient language.
"'Beautiful Death'? Russian?"
Rin nodded in affirmative. The chain attachment ringing delicately with each movement she made. "Death by Krasivaya is truly a blessing. I have several cleansing runes engraved into her so any spirit I slay will be cleansed and sent onwards to a happier place."
N nodded in understanding. This woman was a phenomena in the likes of which he'd never seen.
Just as he was about to respond, a flash of light sparked in his peripherals and he turned, catching the indigo gaze of Kazuya. The doe eyed female was laying beside him, her gloves glowing as she tempered the energy Kazuya gave. They were ready.
N fixed his stance, swinging his bow into an offensive position. Rin, taking his cue, raised her blade in preparation for combat. Her blood rushed in her ears and her heart pounded but she let none of it show.
She exhaled deeply before giving a minute nod to N.
It was calm for the next few heartbeats before N released the constraints in his mind and there was an explosion of energy that bathed the entire courtyard in fiery light.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ FIN ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hello everyone! I'm so very sorry for not updating this in a long, long time, but do forgive me. I try my best to outline what I want to happen in each chapter before writing in specific parts and then connecting them all in the end. In any case, I hope you all enjoy!
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SimplyFalling211