Drifters

Linker Core: A magic generating organ that is inside of every Mage/Knight. These core are the same color as the magic the user uses.

Record 03: Feeling of War

Gaia, a world whose history fragments can be traced back to Ancient Belka. Not much is known about this planet or its people. It was said that the people died of disease just before the end of the Saint King Unification War and the fall of the Ancient Belkan Empire. However the real reason for the fall of this world is unknown.

Angeal couldn't believe it, that couldn't be right. Gaia was an uninhibited planet? This is getting confusing; when he died there were no signs of disease anywhere. What could have happened in the years after his death, how many people suffered? Now the main question is how did he get here, a century into the future according to Hayate.

"I'm sorry," Hayate apologized. "I just find it hard to believe that you are from someplace that is deserted. Especially since I was there before I came to this world."

"So where are you from?"Angeal asked.

"Me?" Hayate pointed to herself. "I was born on the planet called Earth and I worked on the planet called Mid-Childa."

Before Angeal could ask any more questions, heavy footsteps could be heard from the other end of the ruins. Soon a man, about Angeal's size entered the room with three dead birds.

"He's awake, that's good." That man commented.

"Hey Zest, did everything go okay?" Hayate asked.

Zest nodded before he sat down next to Hayate and began to pluck the feathers from the birds. Angeal didn't know what to say, he was afraid to find out more.

"Zest." The man answered.

"I'm Sorry?"

"My name, so what's yours?"

"Angeal."

And just like that Zest began to ignore the others to finish preparing the birds so they can have dinner. Hayate let out a small sigh before turning to Angeal.

"Don't mind him," Hayate wove her hand. "He's always like that. But still, it's interesting talking to both a dead man and a man from the past."

"Dead man?"

"In my world Zest was reported KIA 13 years ago." Hayate took one of the birds and handed it to Angeal then took the last one and started plucking the feathers off. "They actually made a clone of him that died six years after his first death."

"I have only been here for 2 years. But Commander Yagami tells me it's been 13 years." Zest added.

"So what does that mean?"

"It means that time flows differently here than in Mid-Childa or your world."Hayate answered. "And stop calling me Commander, Zest."

Zest only nodded before he continued working on the bird. Hayate shook her head; at least introductions were done and over. Now only one thing remains, why were they called to this world? Also what world are they in that they couldn't get a hold of the TSAB.

x-x

Outside the castle ruins a female silhouette watched the three making dinner. In her hands it held a crystal ball.

"What are these guys waiting for?" she wondered. "Let's hope that they can adjust soon, we need all the help we can get."

"It's alright; they're new to this world. They wouldn't know that they are assigned to do. Keep watch for a little while longer."

"Right, master."

The female Silhouette kept watch at the three in the ruins, because their fates are intertwined with this world.

x-x

Angeal woke up at the strange feeling coursing through him. Something was wrong around the area, he could feel it. He looked at his left and saw that Zest also woke up for the same reason. The spear that appeared out of nowhere was more than proof.

"You two are awake, good." Hayate turned around and the smile that Angeal saw a few yours ago was gone only to be replaced by a solemn one. "It seems we have trouble boys, look."

Hayate pointed toward the east. Smoke rose from the ground, even without his eyes he could see the red and orange glow coming from that direction.

"What's over there?" Angeal asked.

"There is a small village just outside the forest." Zest answered. "Two children from that village brought you to us."

"So what do you guys want to do?" Hayate asked. Granted, she wanted to go and help the village but her safety and her new friends came first in this world. However before Hayate could add anything else Angeal jumped out of the ruins and started to run towards the village. "Where are you going?"

"I am going to save that village."

"Are you sure? People from this world don't take too kindly of people who are not from this world." Zest spoke next.

"Does it matter? You two are also from the military." Angeal growled, "I thought we were supposed to serve and protect civilians."

"He has a point," Hayate jumped out of the ruins next. "We're still civil servants, even on this planet."

Zest shook his head before heading towards the direction of the village as well. There was no point staying here any longer, especially since those two decided to run towards trouble. He almost wishes that he would have left them alone.

As they were running towards the village all three came to a complete stop when they saw two children run towards them. Zest quickly recognized the two; they were the ones who brought Angeal to them. The children had bruises all over their bodies, small cuts their arms and legs. They were being chased by two soldiers in full armor. One of the children stumbled and tripped. The two soldiers quickly caught up and one held the child down while the other had his sword ready to swing down at the kid.

Angeal's eyes turn from their normal blue to light green in rage. The actions of those two soldiers were despicable. He started to run faster to stop them before they killed the child but before he could reach them he was beaten to the punch.

"Blutiger Dolch"

Four red kunai zoomed past Angeal and towards the soldiers. Each of the kunai exploded on contact and sent the soldiers flying. The soldiers crashed against a tree and fell to the ground unconscious. Angeal looked behind him to see Hayate pointing at them with her brown book open.

"Honestly." Hayate muttered to herself. Only Angeal caught what she said due to his advanced hearing.

"You need to hold back more Yagami." Zest scolded.

"Sorry, I guess I overdid it a little." Hayate closed her Tome and walked over toward the child that tripped. "Are you alright?" Hayate's voice was very gentle towards the child.

"Please help us." The child pleaded. "We need your help."

The older child's fear stopped and he was able to move He pointed towards the village.

"I think he's asking for help." Hayate guessed.

"Are you the two children that saved me?" Angeal asked.

"They are." Zest responded.

Angeal walked towards the youngest one and crouched down to be at eye level with him. He gave the child a pat on the shoulder.

"Thank you."

"I am not sure that they understand Angeal." Hayate looked at the direction where the children came from. In normal situations the first thing that Hayate would have done was ask what was happening at the village. However, since the children speak different language it wouldn't help at all. "Now let's go the village."

Angeal and Zest nodded in agreement while the children looked confused. Zest pointed to himself, Hayate and Angeal then he pointed towards the direction of the village. Once they understood they looked at the three with smiles full of gratitude.

x-x

When they arrived Hayate and the others saw all of the villagers at the center of the village. Hayate could smell the smoke coming from the fragile houses. After signaling the children to hide in one of the trees Hayate joined Angeal and Zest to come up with a plan.

"First we need to secure the safety of the villagers." Angeal looked back at the center of the village from where they were hiding. "Any Ideas?"

"Leave that to me." Hayate opened her Tome once again. The pages flipped by themselves and landed on a specific page. "That leaves you two to drive these soldiers out of here."

Zest nodded and held his spear tight in his hands. There was one thing that has been bothering Hayate since she got to this world.

"Zest how many cartridges do you have left?" Hayate asked.

"2 magazines of 8 cartridges."

"Save them for an emergency."

"You got a gun?" Angeal asked.

"I'll explain after we take care of them." Hayate answered.

"So do you have a plan?

Hayate nodded and signaled them to come closer to listen to her plan. A series of whispers was heard from Hayate before she pulled away and raised her hand. "On my signal."

Angeal cracked his knuckles, since he didn't have a weapon his fists will have to do. It was too dangerous to use Materia on simple soldiers. The dull pain still lingered but it was barely noticeable. He looked to the side and saw Zest preparing to jump and Hayate holding her book open.

"Now!"

Angeal and Zest sprang into action, heading towards plain view of the soldiers. Hayate jumped up to the roof of a house and jumped from to the center of the crowd. Both villagers and soldiers were surprised at her arrival A few archers were ready to fire their arrows at her.

"Panzerhindernis, complete defense!"

At once a crystal-like barrier surrounded Hayate and the villagers. The arrows that were fired bounced off easily. Hayate kept her tome opened and looked at the villagers. They were simple normal looking humans. The only thing different was the cat-like irises in their eyes. Now all she had to do was wait until Angeal or Zest took care of the ringleader of this operation.

Meanwhile Angeal dodge another sloppy sword swing. These soldiers were not properly trained, greenhorns.

"The best plan is to take care of their leader." Hayate's voice echoed in his mind. "So look for the man with a unique crest on his armor. Once he is defeated then the rest of the soldiers will lose morale."

'it wouldn't be that hard to find him.' Angeal knocked out another couple of soldiers. 'These soldiers lack training to use those swords.'

Angeal took a sword from one of the unconscious men. He looked around and saw one man different from the rest. On his metal shoulder pads there was a phoenix insignia with three stars on top of the bird's head. He was the only person who had an insignia like that; he must be the leader of this troop.

"This is as far as you go Drifter." The soldier spoke in a language similar to villagers. "I will end your life here." The solider pulled out his sword from his sheath and pointed at Angeal.

Angeal didn't understand what the man was saying but once the man pointed his sword at him it became very clear. The look on the man's face, his posture, the sound of his voice; it all sum up to one thing…

...The man wanted to kill him.

While he doesn't know what is going on or how he got here one thing was for sure, he had to help Hayate and Zest return back home. Maybe he would go with them; he had no other place he could turn to after all.

The soldier rushed forward, his held steady in his hands, aiming at Angeal. However, Angeal didn't seem fazed by the soldier. He was analyzing the soldier's movements.

'Good footwork, but still leaves too many blind spots.' Angeal blocked the incoming blade with his own holding it in his right hand. 'These are high quality swords.' The soldier pushed forward trying to use his weight as a support. 'it won't work, I'm heavier than you.' Angeal pushed the soldier away with easy and took a few steps back.

"I won't be defeated by you, I am a lieutenant damn it!" The soldier growled. "I will kill you Drifter!"

Having enough of this, with one quick swoop, Angeal disarmed the soldier. The Soldier's sword flew a few feet before landing on the ground with a clank. He then used the hilt of the sword to knock the soldier off his feet. The solider flew right through a wooden door.

'I need to hold back more.' Angeal thought to himself.

The solider lay there unmoving, only looking at the roof of the small house. Angeal pointed his sword at the soldier's neck.

"Get out of this village and never return." Angeal growled, his mind went back to the children that came so close to dying by their men. "You and your men act dishonorable by attacking unarmed villagers. I will not hesitate next time."

The solider looked at Angeal's eyes and saw the bright green glow in them. The soldier gritted his teeth in disgust of his failure. He had no choice but to retreat for now.

"Attention men!" the lieutenant shouted, all the men stopped what they were doing and looked at the direction of their leader. "Retreat for now!"

Zest looked up from the group that he was fighting. All of the men that were surrounding him scrambled like flies and picked up those who were too weak to stand up and escape. It was really too easy for him to fight against them, they really didn't know what they were doing.

'I guess Angeal did it.' Zest thought as he let his spear turn back into a ring. He turned around and headed back to where Hayate was. When they got there they could a crystal cage surrounding all the villagers. Hayate let down the barrier when she saw Zest. With her large reserves of mana it would take a lot more than simple arrows to penetrate that barrier.

"We did it." Hayate closed her Tome and turned around. There were a few injured but nothing too serious. It doesn't require her to heal anyone other than the children.

Zest nodded in response, their work here was done. It would be for the best if they left the village now, before anything else happens. "Let's get Angeal and go back to the castle ruins."

As much as Hayate didn't want to admit, Zest was right. There wasn't really anything they could do for the villagers at this point. But first…

"Hold on a minute." Hayate saw the two children that hid themselves in the trees earlier. Hayate took each their hands and closed her eyes. A triangle sigil appeared beneath their feet, the triangle had strange gothic-like symbols on each circle making the triangle and strange writing on each line. In the center of the triangle was a cross, similar to the cross on Hayate's book. The white glowing sigil started to rotate slowly underneath their feet.

"Tranquil breeze, carry forth a blessing of healing." She whispered to herself. "Calming Heal."

A light breeze surrounded Hayate and the two children. Their torn dirty clothes became like new and all of their bruises and cuts were gone. The children looked at Hayate, surprised at the sudden surge of energy that ran in their veins.

Hayate was glad that Calming Heal was one of the spell unharmed by the Tome's memory damage

Once Hayate deemed them to be alright she let go of the children's hands. The white glowing triangle seemed to disappear. Hayate stood up and walked over to where Angeal and Zest were waiting for. All three started to walk back towards the ruins when the two children called out to them.

"Sank yo." One of the children cried. They might have picked it up when Angeal thanked them for bringing him to the ruins. There was a heavy accent on those words due to the unfamiliarity of the language but they each heard it loud and clear.

"Any time kid." Hayate responded.

Zest watched Hayate wave to the villagers and started to make plans. After all it wasn't as if those soldiers were just going to give up. No, they are going to come soon. When that happens, it will be up to them to drive those soldiers away once and for all.

…By any means necessary.

Record 03 End. Record 04 holds period ****-**** 0215 hours, Stand by Ready…