Ch 5 The Lost Swordsman
"Shosetsu!"
"Sho-sho!"
Both dragons' voices called throughout the dense forest as they searched for their lost companion, guided only by Durandal's connection to his Buddy. They walked with purpose, determination in their gait that fueled Axia's spell and pushed back the invasive fog, giving them a better view of the area. Though considering that it was a better view of denser foliage, it didn't help matters much.
Still, both dragons counted their blessings that the enchantment had been repelled. Their experiences had left a lasting impression on them, and it was only with the counter spell's power that they were able to explore the forest without being drawn back in. On instinct, Axia held onto Drum's arm for support, and while at first Drum was glad for the reassuring contact, what started as a light hold soon turned into a crushing grip that threatened to cut off his limb's blood flow the further they went on, until Drum couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay, I know I said I was okay with the hugging but…" Drum tried to move his arm from Axia's iron grasp, and winced as he felt pins and needles run across it. "Do ya think you could not cling so hard? My arm is falling asleep."
Drum turned to glare at Axia, but stopped short when he saw how anxious the Dragowizard looked. His face was covered with sweat, and he was breathing deeply in an effort to calm himself.
"Sorry…Drum-kins," Axia panted. "I guess I'm still a little spooked from earlier." His grip lessened, but his hands began to tremble, as if even losing that much contact sapped his strength.
"Hey, are you alright?" asked Drum, concern lacing his voice at Axia's condition. "You look like you're about to keel over."
"I wasn't kidding when I said your hugs helped," Axia replied, managing a sheepish smile. "It's pretty much the only thing that's helping me keep my spell up. I'll be fine, though, so long as I keep in contact with you."
Drum couldn't help but look worried, even at Axia's smile. He hadn't given it much thought, but he could feel Axia's aura around them start to weaken the weaker his grip got. Must be part of that whole empathy magic deal. He mentally breathed a sigh of relief that he was more comfortable with Axia's affections now, especially if it meant keeping the spell at bay. Still, all the affection in the world couldn't stop the numbness that was spreading through his limb, and he needed that to stop.
"Alright, here." Drum held out his other arm. "Switch to this side. I need to get the feeling back in this one."
Axia beamed and swung around to grasp the other dragon's offered arm. "Thanks Drum-kins! I knew I could count on you." Before Axia could get a grasp on the offered arm, Drum lifted it over the dragowizard's shoulders, draping it over him and holding him close. Axia cooed at the gesture and nuzzled as close as he could into the crook of Drum's arm.
"Better?" Drum asked, smirking as he got his answer in another nuzzle, as well as the feeling of the spell's aura strengthening considerably.
"Much," Axia said softly as the pair resumed their pace.
"Not to interrupt your bonding, but we do have an objective to focus on here," Durandal spoke firmly from Drum's side.
"Hey, we're just as worried as you are," grunted Drum, lifting up the Buddy sword to eye level. "But we're flying blind here. It'll be a miracle if we find him like this."
"He should still be nearby," Durandal replied. "We might've been separated from the fall, but the fact that you found me with relative ease means that our landings were in close proximity. If anything, I'm positive he's in this direction."
"Well, it's something, I guess," muttered Drum.
"We just need to keep a watchful eye out," Durandal affirmed. "Be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary."
No sooner did he finish his sentence that they heard a loud scream echo through the forest, putting them all on edge. The two dragons broke into a sprint, determined to reach their friend before the fog claimed his mind.
"Shosetsu!" Drum yelled out once more, but received no answer.
As they dashed through the underbrush, they noticed the plant life begin to thin out. At first it was just a few missing limbs from the trees, an effect one could chalk up to natural weather damage. But as the group came to a clearing, it was very apparent something terrible had happened. The surrounding trees had been burnt to a crisp and the dirt was smoothed with a blast impact shockwave.
"What happened here?" Drum asked as he tried to see how large the shockwave spread. "It's like a tank hit the place…"
"Look, Drum!" Axia shouted, pulling the red dragon forward with him. Drum was about to complain before he saw the figure laying in the middle of the clearing. "It's Shosetsu!"
The young swordsman looked worse for the wear. His armor was covered in dirt and leaves, and his face and hands were both covered in bruises. A broken stick lay in pieces at his feet, and his long hair obscured his eyes from sight.
"Is he…" Axia shuddered and clutched his staff to his chest. Drum leaned down and was relieved to see the swordsman's chest move as he took a breath. It was shallow, but it was there.
"He's alive, don't worry. The forest sure did a number on him though…" He brushed Shosetsu's bangs away from his eyes, and winced once he saw their state. Axia peaked over Drum's shoulder and gasped at what he saw.
"His eyes…" Axia shivered as he gazed into Shosetsu's dulled eyes. "They're…"
"Like yours were," Drum finished. "And probably how mine were when I was trapped in the illusion."
"But why isn't he awake?" Axia wondered, still staring despondently at the swordsman. "Both of us were conscious during our experiences, so why isn't he?"
"That's what worries me…" said Drum quietly. He took the knight's shoulders and shook him lightly. "C'mon kid, rise and shine." He knew he'd more than likely end up getting a terrified scream out of him, but it was better than the comatose state the boy was in. But even after being shaken, there was no response from the swordsman. He changed tactics, gently tapping his cheek to try and rouse him. Still no response.
"Drum…" Axia whined, fidgeting nervously.
"This is worse than what happened to either of us." Drum growled in frustration as he propped Shosetsu up against one of the charred trees. "He's not responding to anything we do now!"
"So what do we do? If it's anything like our illusions were…" Axia choked on his words, unwilling to think back to that dark time. "I don't think I have it in me to hit anyone again…"
"You needn't worry about that," Durandal spoke up from Drum's side. "Once he comes in contact with me, our connection should be enough to dispel this illusion."
"It's as good a plan as any." Drum murmured, drawing the Buddy sword. "Do I just put you on his lap?"
"Yes. Any kind of contact should work."
"Got it," He turned to his partner. "You feeling up to watch our backs, Axia?"
"I'll be fine, Drum," said Axia, smiling at the consideration. "Thanks, but right now we need to focus on Sho-sho."
Axia looked on nervously as Drum set to work, placing Durandal on the boy's lap. Once set, the immortal sword shone brightly, its entire blade glowing an almost blinding light. Both dragons watched, anxiously looking for any sign that the swordsman was with them again.
Shosetsu was alone.
The boy sat amidst the destroyed ruins of the forest. Not a single living thing was around him, and his Buddy lay in pieces at his feet. He still couldn't wrap his mind around what had happened. He had fought against a horde of unimaginable monsters, alongside two monsters whom he had called friend, all to protect a sacred lake that his Buddy had entrusted him the responsibility of. He had used a great power with the intention of saving his friends and to repel the evil that threatened Legend World.
Now he was left with nothing.
He looked up to the darkening sky, no doubt the result of the evil presence taking over the powers of the lake. He had failed his quest, had lost his friends and his Buddy. Now his duty was well and truly lost.
"I failed them all… Arthur… Drum… Axia… Durandal" His breath hitched as he said his buddy's name. "What kind of Buddyfighter am I? To let my Buddy shatter…"
Young Swordsman, a deep voice echoed out across the aether. Is this how a knight carries himself?
"I'm no knight," the distraught human spat. "Just a boy in over his head who ended up just trying to play the hero."
You've proven your worth to Excalibur. Acceptance like that doesn't not come easily.
"Excalibur was wrong. I'm no king. Merely a jester…"
You've earned my acceptance as your Buddy, Shosetsu Kirisame, the voice commented softly. Surely that is not without merit.
"Buddy…?" The boy whispered out, his voice shaking. He slowly opened his eyes, almost dreading what new misery he might see.
His gaze was met with a bright light, and in the center was Durandal, whole and intact.
"Durandal…Can it really be you?" He crawled towards his restored Buddy, a hand raised as he prepared to grasp the hilt, but jerked it back. The images from earlier flashed through his mind. "But I saw you shatter… I destroyed you…"
That was merely an illusion, a representation of your worst fears brought to life, Durandal stated. Rest assured, I am undamaged. I am only waiting for you, alongside your friends.
"My friends?" He shakily turned his head to the battlefield, wincing away as he caught sight of two charred figures that stood to his left and right. He shut his eyes, desperate to keep the scene out of his mind. "But I…I failed them… No worse, I k-killed them! I know I did! I saw-!"
You must look beyond what you see, Shosetsu, Durandal spoke, voice reverberating in the humans mind. You've overcome the darkness in your heart once before. You are no longer the same person who craved nothing but power.
"It doesn't matter. I still voluntarily put them at risk without any remorse!" He shook his head violently, his double's accusations coming back to him. "What right do I have to call myself a Buddyfighter if this is how I treat my allies!?"
You need only hear their true feelings to know the validity of your skill.
"I knew their true feelings!" Shosetsu spat. The image of the ravaged battlefield came to him again, and he held in a sob as he remembered the state the dragons were in last he saw. "They trusted me…they put their faith in me and I…"
"Killed them," finished a warped voice.
Durandal's light dimmed as it was grasped, and the sword found itself in the hands another Shosetsu. But this one was much different; it was practically glowing with dark energy, and had half of its face cored in a white mask. Its red eye flared and glinted off of Durandal's surface, as if scrutinizing the blade.
"Something wrong, Durandal?" The illusion asked. "You look out of sorts."
"You," the sword responded, now fully aware of the situation.
"Yes, me. Who else would it be inside your Buddy's mind but himself?"
"You are not my Buddy," Durandal spat.
"Funny, last I checked, my name was Shosetsu Kirisame," the copy said with an airy laugh.
"You are nothing. Just a bygone image of a mistake long since mended."
"Keep telling yourself that. But here, I hold power." The copy held up a hand, opening a swirling, dark portal behind them. "You are the intruder here. Now get lost!"
"No please!" Both beings turned to find the real Shosetsu, holding out his hand in a desperate attempt to reach his Buddy. His eyes were hollow, but brimmed with tears brought about by rekindled hope. "You're real…you must be…"
"Persistent," the double's voice cut through his counterpart's. The aura that surrounded his double intensified, and his hair grew out, resembling how it looked when the swordsman lost himself completely to the Dark Core. The ends of his hair formed tendrils latched onto the real Shosetsu, wrapping around his neck and arms, choking him slowly.
"Shosetsu!" Drundal yelled, but was jerked back by the illusion. It shook its head in a chastising fashion, and forced Durandal to watch on helplessly as Shosetsu's eyes dimmed, the young human falling to his knees once more.
"As I was saying, your time is over." Its red eye lens flashed, a massive shockwave accompanying it. Durandal could feel his power diminish, and found himself catapulted through the portal and out of Shosetsu's mind…
"He's been gone way too long," Drum huffed, staring intently at the glowing sword. "I don't like it…"
"Don't forget, he's in much deeper than we were. It only stands to reason that it'd take much longer to get him out," said Axia stealing worried glances at the human. "At the very least, we know we're safe out here."
Drum was about to reply, but stopped short when Durandal started glowing brighter. Both dragons looked on, expecting a triumphant return from their friend, until the light turned dark, and erupted in a massive wave of energy that catapulted them back, the two dragons yelling out in pain as they were each pushed onto the ground.
"What the heck was that?" groaned Drum as he picked himself up.
"Magical backlash," replied Axia wearily. "Something took all the energy that Durandal was using and threw it back at us. But what…?"
"The forest's enchantment repelled me," answered a frustrated Durandal. "It created a copy of Shosetsu from when he was possessed by the Dark Core and shattered me in his vision. He can't even hear me now, and I have no way to jumpstart a reaction…"
"That's terrible!" Axia exclaimed as he rushed up to Shosetsu's side. "You gotta try again! I know you can reach him!"
"I'm afraid I won't be of much use," Durandal replied somberly. "That copy can freeze me at any time. Without a Buddy to wield me, I am powerless."
"We can't just leave him like this…" Axia whined, gently shaking the comatose swordsman. "There must be something we can do…"
Behind him, Drum silently wracked his brain, trying to remember what happened with him. Think Drum. You managed to find a solution to this before. What did yours and Axia's illusions have in common? He grit his teeth as he realized that he didn't know the exact details of Axia's illusion, so he focused on the solutions instead. Slapping him wouldn't do any good, and I'm sure as heck not kissing him. He grimaced at the thought, but remembering the circumstances of that kiss did give him a better idea.
"Axia, do you think you can use your illusion breaking spell on him?" At Axia's confused look he continued. "We need to prove to Shosetsu's that what he's seeing isn't real. Your spell might have what it takes!"
"I… might be able to," he said uncertainly. "The spell was really only designed to dispel outside illusions. I didn't even know it could dispel them like it did with us."
"Well we have to try something!" Drum pressed. "Who knows what'll happen to him if we don't get him out of there?"
Axia looked unconvinced. "Even if it did work, I was only able to cast it because we have a connection through Magic World and each other. Sho-sho and I might be friends now, but I don't have an affinity to Legend World at all…"
"If a connection through Legend World is what is needed, I can provide the conduit." Durandal spoke up.
"You can?" Drum asked incredulously. "Wait, since when can you do magic?"
"I have existed an incalculable amount of years. I know a thing or two about spellcasting," Durnadal replied, a hint of indignation in his tone. "Regrettably though, I cannot perform any on my own, save a few passive spells that have warded off the enchantments of this forest from my own being."
"I'm sure," Drum snorted, but looked over to Axia reassuringly. "But this means we have a chance. Ya gotta at least try, Axia."
Axia was silent for a moment, staring into Drum's determined gaze. There was no doubt in his eyes, and he felt no small amount of pride that Drum would have such confidence in him. He nodded and raised his staff back up. "I can try, for you, Drum."
The armordragon smiled back and picked up Durandal. "Alright, let's go kick this thing's butt!"
"Your determination is admirable, but we still face one last obstacle." Both dragons shared a confused look this time. "The spell has a consciousness all its own, and will no doubt be prepared for any counter attack we throw at it."
"You mean even with the spell's power, it won't be enough?" Axia whined in dismay, looking forlornly at the sleeping human.
"Not while the enchantment has sway over his mind, no. With our current World alignment, it'll be much harder to dispel the curse."
"If only we could get in there. I'd bash that stupid spell and shake some sense into him!" growled Drum as he clenched a fist in frustration.
"There might be some merit in that," Durandal said thoughtfully. Both dragons looked at him expectantly, and Durandal continued when he saw their conviction. "So long as you can hold the connection, I can transport one of you into the mental realm. There, you might have a chance to defeat this mockery of my Buddy."
"You can!?" asked Drum. "Then what are we waiting for? Send me into the kid's mind so I can give that thing a beat-down!"
"There is a large risk involved," warned Durandal. "You will be fighting on an uneven playing field. That illusion will hold all the power there, and will no doubt attempt to put you under its spell again. You will have to match wits with it, then destroy it. Only then will I be able to awaken Shosetsu from his nightmare."
"If that's all there is to it, then consider it done!" Drum said, pumping a fist confidently. "I can take that no good double down, no problem."
"Just be careful Drum," Axia whimpered. "I don't know if I can help with my attention fully focused on one spell. You'll be there by yourself without anyone beside you."
"Hey, you'll be right beside me the whole time," Drum joked. Axia still looked uncertain, so Drum grasped his shoulders and met his gaze. "I'll get Shosetsu back, that's a promise."
Once more, Axia looked into Drum's eyes and saw nothing but determination. His eyes were alight with the fire he so admired, and it reassured him that the dragon meant what he said. Grasping his staff firmly, Axia took a deep breath to calm himself before turning to face the unconscious swordsman.
"This'll be my first time working with a conduit from another world, but it should be fairly simple. Cross Durandal with my staff. I'll channel my spell, then it'll be up to you to do the rest," Axia instructed, leveling his staff with Shosetsu. A moment later, Durandal met with his weapon. "Now, this might sting a little…for all of us. Now that the illusion knows what we're up to, it'll actively repel us, but you can't let go of Durandal, or the connection will break and we'll all be catapulted back again."
"Right," Drum braced himself, gripping Durandal tight in his claws before nodding to the teal dragon. "Ready when you are."
Axia nodded and aimed his staff at Shosetsu's head, the tip glowing alight with magical energy. Durandal reacted similarly, the sword glowing a pale blue that intermingled with Axia's energy. The combined magic slowly made its way towards Shosetsu, tendrils made of light slowly wrapping around his body. As soon as the energy enveloped his entire body, he screamed in pain, and both dragons could only wonder what was happening to him.
"Don't let up, Axia!" Drum yelled over Shosetsu's cries.
The light shone brighter than ever, and its energy backlashed everyone involved. Both dragon's cries joined Shosetsu's own as the magical energy lashed through each of them, streaks of light crackling and running through them. Still, the dragon duo held their positions, waiting for Durandal to start.
"Are you ready, Drum?" Durandal called out. "I'm sending you in!"
"Ready or not, kid! Here comes Drum!" Drum's eyes shone, his body surrounded by a red energy that made its way into Shosetsu' body, mingling in with the green of Axia's Magic and the gold of Durandal's power.
Axia shut his eyes, tears at the edge of his vision from the excruciating pain the boy seemed to be going through.
"Come back to us! Shosetsu!"
A bright, multicolored light flashed in the dark abyss that was Shosetsu's mind, and Drum and Durandal found themselves floating listlessly in the darkened sky.
"Charming place," said Drum after taking a look around. "So where's the kid?"
"Down there," Durandal called, already floating lower.
Drum looked under him and saw the swordsman, lying in the middle of what appeared to be the aftermath of a mass genocide. He held back a grimace at the amount of disfigured bodies that littered the ground. It was easy to see what had broken him.
"Well, look what we have here," a voice called from above.
Drum looked up, and growled as the swordsman's doppelgänger floated towards them.
"You again," Durandal muttered distastefully.
"I thought I told you to stay out," the illusion said, glaring at the sword.
"Give us back our friend and we'll be glad to leave this dump," growled Drum.
"Drum Bunker Dragon… I suppose it's only natural that you managed your way here," the false Shosetsu said. "Still, I'm surprised to see you. Last I remember, I gave you quite the verbal lashing. Something about not trusting you around that dragowizard?"
"Like I'd believe anything you'd say!" Drum growled. "Besides, we both know you didn't have anything to do with what he said. I wouldn't trust you for a minute!"
"Oh, but you should!" the double taunted, his tone oozing with malice. "I represent Shosetsu's darkest thoughts and desires. Deep down, he still harbors a distrust in you. That you cannot deny."
"Even if he does, it doesn't matter! We've got more important things to worry about than that!"
"More important that what your friends think?" The illusion looked aghast. "You would willingly ignore what's so obviously bubbling underneath the surface? I thought you had learned from last time."
Drum hesitated, the words striking a painful chord in him.
"That's right, you remember what the forest showed you." A wicked aura radiated from the double's form as he advanced on the stunned dragon. "I'm not just an amalgamation of Shosetsu's fears. I've seen what's in the deepest part of your heart as well. You've always held that doubt deep inside, and you would have this one fall into the same trap."
"Don't you dare mock my loyalty to my Buddy!" Drum growled and lashed out, throwing his fist forward and socking the false swordsman in the face, knocking him back through the air. Drum smirked as he saw several cracks splinter across the copy's mask. "Whoops, broke your face plate."
Though the copy gave no verbal response, his mask slowly began to crumble. Drum braced himself for whatever new abomination was behind that mask. No doubt the illusion would pick something obscene to throw off his concentration, or mimic a person from his past to mess with his head again.
He was right.
The copy laughed quietly as it righted itself, its voice distorting into a higher pitch that put the armordragon on edge. Despite telling himself that he knew whatever he saw next would be some kind of trick, Drum couldn't hide a gasp when the doppelgänger raised its head.
In place of the crumbling mask was Gao's face.
The two faces looked grafted together, the boundary line between them made quite apparent by the marred skin that ran down the middle, holding them together like some unholy patchwork doll. The being opened its mouth, its voice a mix of Gao's and Shosetsu's, and rasped out, "When will it end? The endless distrust, the hidden anger. This human will continue to bare these feelings in silence, all because of you."
"I…" Drum looked down at his hands, remembering how real his own illusion had felt, and had to shake his head to keep from thinking back. "I won't fall for this again! You tried to pulled that one already! It won't work a second time!"
"You should realize the deeper meaning, dragon," taunted the copy as it slowly crept forward. "I have access to Shosetsu's mind, as well as any others who wander into my domain. You are bound to your Buddy, body and soul. And there's just enough of Gao in you for me to know the truth…"
"Shut up," growled Drum. Despite his words, he found himself backing away from the monstrosity before him. "You're nothing but talk, just lying to get inside my head!"
"What would I gain from that?" It asked, sounding genuinely curious. "If I am, use that wizard's spell to break free! Or could it be that…" Its tone shifted, taking on a slightly higher pitch. It looked at Drum, and he recoiled as he saw Axia's eye, in place of Shosetsu's, stare right at him. "You don't trust him either?"
"Now I know you're running out of material!" Drum huffed, standing up straighter. "Axia just saved me from this sorta thing! He and I have a special bond now, and I trust him without a doubt!"
"'Now?' Only 'now' do you have it?" The horrific being smiled widely, its grin pulling at its grafted skin and disfiguring its joint faces even further. "Only after he'd proven useful to you do you see any value in him. Just like before when he became a part of your deck." Its grin tugged even wider, showing off terribly jagged teeth. "And just like with Gao, whom you rejected as a Buddy until he gave you a reason to care!"
"Drum!" Durandal yelled, still hovering behind him. "Do not let it deceive you!"
But Drum didn't hear him. He was fully focused on the abomination in front of him. Or more accurately, trying to deny what it was saying. "That's not…"
"Isn't it though?" It continued, heedless of the dragon's words. "You appeared before him to 'defend' the dignity of dragons!" It drew out the word 'defend', coating it with malicious sarcasm. "You would've tossed him aside and gone looking for another human if you were able!"
"I've grown since then!" Drum yelled, voice shaky and filled with fright. "I know the value to his unconventional behavior!"
"And yet you remain the same, denying others their natures as soon as you learn about them. Chastising them for it and recoiling from their very presence. Yes, how much you've grown indeed…"
It didn't take a second for Drum to figure out that it was talking about Axia, and he hesitated for a brief moment, shutting his eyes.
The false swordsman didn't give him time to recover; its long hair shot out, wrapping around Drum's arms, legs and neck. Drum gasped as he gripped the now black tendrils, trying desperately to pull it off. But his restraints held tight, and the illusion cackled hideously as it hovered closer to the struggling dragon.
"How simple it is, revealing those doubts you hold. They must hold a kernel of truth if they got to you this badly!" It cackled, a horrific melding of all three impersonated voices filling the void. "Yes, even before you came into this forest, you had doubts. You never could trust Shosetsu, nor Axia."
Axia… Drum's mind stuck on the dragowizard for a moment, repeating the copy's words. He's wrong. I do trust Axia…if he were here, the two of us could stop this monster, no problem! …But he warned me I'd be on my own here. Even though we're literally connected to each other…! His thoughts came to a screeching halt as he remembered his Magic World connection with Axia - the very thing that brought them back together in the first place.
He half wondered if his thoughts could even reach the other dragon in his current state, but he still tried. He visualized his connection with the dragowizard, his eyes shimmered for just a brief moment as he mentally envisioned Axia's tether…
"A final prayer?" the copy asked, noting Drum's silence. It scoffed and held out its hand, conjuring up a demonic looking Excalibur. "A fitting action, but pointless now. This is the end for you, dragon." He said and thrust the sword forward…
Axia held on. Despite the strain of maintaining a spell between three different monsters and a human, with only one pair having a World affiliation with one another, Axia still held on. It was all he could do to keep his feet planted firmly in their spot, but he knew Drum and Durandal were doing so much more. Their's was a task that was monumentally difficult, one in which he knew he was a crucial part of.
And yet, he still felt helpless.
He knew how important his job was, and that he needed to remain behind to maintain the spell, but it did noting to quell the unease he held. He remembered how the forest's enchantment had engulfed him, and he could swear he could see the shadows dance out of the corner of his vision. Nevertheless, he kept on, closing his eyes to better visualize the spell and keep away any distractions.
It was all he could do for them.
Axia…
The Dragowizard's eyes opened, and he glanced at Drum. The armordragon's eyes were still glowing white, but he knew he had just heard Drum's voice.
Axia…
Once more, Drum's voice echoed in his mind, and he closed his eyes to concentrate on it. Axia almost lost his breath as a different plain of existence flashed before him; a pitch black sky that overlooked a scarred battlefield with dozens of ruined bodies littering it. But what most unsettled Axia was the being hovering in front of him; its face a mashup of Gao's and Shosetsu's, with hair that stretched out, restraining his limbs and cutting his airflow.
Only his limbs weren't restrained, and he could breath just fine.
Then it hit him. He was seeing what Drum was seeing; the red dragon had established a mental link somehow, in order to ask him for help. A moment later, another series of images ran through Axia's mind. He relived the conversation Drum and Shosetsu's doppelgänger had in an instant, and scowled at the accusations the monstrosity had claimed Drum responsible 's breath hitched, emotions overflowing him, before he glared harshly at the abomination.
"You despicable forest…" Axia muttered. "Trying to take away my Drum-kins… filling his head with all these terrible thoughts…!" He yelled out, his eyes glowing brightly and his magic aura surging! "Hear me now, you wretched illusion! You will not hurt my friends anymore!"
CRASH!
A bolt of lightning struck from above, shattering the dark blade in two, and forcing the illusion back.
"What was that!?"
"Hear me now you wretched illusion! You will not hurt my friends anymore!" Axia's voice echoed across the void, punctuated by another bolt of lighting that struck the fake swordsman head on. It screamed in pain and stumbled back, its tentacles loosing their grip on Drum. The armordragon gasped as he was freed, and smiled confidently at the wounded monster.
"I told you before. That trick ain't gonna work on me a second time," Drum said, coming up towards the illusion. "The only reason you exist at all is because Shosetsu doubted our ability to trust in one another. Without that, you've got no leg to stand on!"
"This is impossible…" the illusion groaned, clutching its body in pain. "You shouldn't be able to work with him like this!"
"Looks like you don't know anything about us dragons then. We're a stubborn bunch that'll never give up on anything we set out minds to!" Drum reared his arm back, drills spiraling fiercely. "And I'm not about to leave, not after I promised to bring the kid back!" He snapped his arm forward, giving the illusion a fierce uppercut. His drills embedded themselves in the being's stomach, easily piercing it and letting loose an inky, jet black fluid leak from the wound. The illusion let out a piercing wail as it was eviscerated, and struggled backwards, tearing the drills out and letting more of that dark substance flood from its wound.
Despite its condition, it smiled at the red dragon mockingly, its face distorting even further. "You think it's that easy to get rid of me? I could never be destroyed by one with such doubt in their heart. You may trust in him, but there is plenty of doubt buried deep in you. More than enough to give me strength…"
To prove it's point, it pointed at Drum's hand. "Behold! Even your past sins continue to plague your mind!" Drum looked down and saw that the blood that had been part of his illusion was back again. "And as long as you hold that doubt in your heart, I am never ending!" The substance that coated his drills came to life and crawled onto his hand, merging with the ooze and becoming much more fluid. The copy laughed in manic glee as the foul liquid slowly advanced up Drum's arm.
Yet Drum didn't flinch at the sight. He stared at the creeping darkness as it coated his scales before scowling at the false swordsman, clenching his covered fist with little difficulty, much to the double's surprise.
"You sound like a broken record," barked Drum. "So what if I feel guilty about what I did? What matters is that I'll do everything I can to make up for it. And if I can't do it by myself…" He reached back, grasping Durandal in his coated hand and held it up high. "I can count on my friends to help me! Axia! How about some dispel magic for your Buddy?"
Another thunderous strike of lightning reigned down, striking Durandal and coating it in Axia's magic. It slowly spread along Drum's arm, before enveloping his body in a shimmering, teal light that broke apart the blackness clinging to Drum's body as soon as it touched it. As soon as the last of it had been disintegrated, Drum held Durandal level to the false swordsman, grinning confidently.
"No matter what you do, you'll never free him!" The copy shrieked, slowly floating away from Drum. "I've sealed his senses, he can see nothing of what has transpired! No amount of magic can free him from me now!"
"You really don't get it." The being recoiled at how confident Drum sounded. "You said it yourself, you could get a read on other's minds just by their presence here. Well two can play at that game." He raised Durandal up again, the glowing sword shining brighter as its own energy mixed with Axia's. "Durandal is his Buddy, and there isn't anyone more qualified to speak on Shosetsu's behalf!"
The false swordsman backed up as Drum lowered his arm, and stared as the dragon kept the sword level.
"These dragons have proven themselves trustworthy," Durandal spoke, his voice echoing throughout the abyss. "My Buddy has nothing to doubt. You are the one that doesn't belong."
The sword's words left the copy frozen in place, the being grimacing as the gash in its stomach slowly leaked out more black smoke. "I won't forget this…" It said as its body slowly began to dissolve.
"Oh, no you don't! You're not getting away that easily!" Drum yelled out charging forward and driving Durandal into the copy's open wound. This time, the results were more apparent; The illusion wailed in renewed agony, grasping onto Drum's wrist as it desperately tried to pull itself away, but Drum held firm, and soon he too started to glow, a red light intermingling with Durandal's and Axia's. The energy surged through the sword and poured into the false swordsman, causing cracks of light to spread throughout the illusion's body. With a final, roaring wail, it shattered violently, bursting into light and dispersing into the abyss above.
"Good riddance," Drum huffed once the energy dissipated. "Only one thing left to take care of."
"Leave it to me," Durandal's said, floating under his own power. "I shall be the one to waken him."
Drum nodded and followed him down, slowly heading to the real Shosetsu…
Shosetsu's world was empty. Gone was any sense of time or space. He felt like he could drift on endlessly into the darkness, forever unaware of the world around him. It was a tempting offer, and he would've acted on it had it not been for a bizarre tugging at the back of his mind.
Feeling surged through him, and he remembered all of what had transpired. He kept his eyes shut, unwilling to look at the carnage he had wrought.
"Please, leave me be," Shosetsu pleaded in a hollow voice. "I don't know what you could take from me now. I've lost my Buddy and my friends. I've failed my mission, and put the world at risk. You've already snatched away my hope. What more could you possibly take way from me?"
"The only thing that can be taken from you is what you let be taken."
Though the knight knew the voice was just a trick, he still winced when he heard Durandal's voice say those reassuring words.
"I know you're not real… I won't fall for your false hope," Shosetsu said despondently. "I've let everyone down, and nothing I can do can change that…"
"You haven't let anyone down, kid!" Came a familiar dragon's voice. Shosetsu's eyes snapped open, and he jerked his head up, seeing the source of the voice. His breath hitched as he saw Drum stand before him alongside Durandal, both back to their former selves. The two were surrounded by a red, ethereal glow, the light of which felt warm and reassuring, a far cry from what he had experienced before.
"Drum…?" Shosetsu asked, still hesitant. Desperate though he was to believe it was the genuine article, he was still apprehensive. "What are you doing here…?"
"Just got done taking out some trash!" The dragon's voice had an echo to it, but it sounded so very much like him. "Wasn't easy either. Your mind has a lot of clutter in it."
"That's why he needed some help!" Another voice joined in.
Even Drum looked surprised as a third figure joined them. There, bathed in green light, was Axia, looking as cheerful as ever. Shosetsu's eyes misted over as he focused on the trio, the warm glow of their combined light soothing him unlike anything he had experienced while in the illusion's control.
"Drum… Axia… the both of you…"
"Are here to save you," finished Durandal. "You still have a mission to complete and we will do all we can to make sure you complete it."
"We made a promise, remember?" saidDrum, raising an arm out.
"What kind of buddies would we be if we left you in this smelly old forest?" Teased Axia, holding out an arm as well.
"You two…came back for me?" He focused on Drum, eyes filled with concern, fear and doubt. "Even after I accused you of…"
"Water under the bridge, kid," Drum shrugged, cutting the swordsman off. "It'll take a lot more than that to get under my scales."
Shosetsu waited. He waited for the inevitable crash that would destroy this joyous reunion, that would send him once more into the darkest recesses of his mind…
But it never came.
Drum and Axia looked at him with stalwart conviction and genuine smiles, and the knight found himself frozen in place as the realization that they were truly real slowly dawned on him.
"Rise up, young king," Durandal's voice echoed out. "It is not your time to lay down your weapon. Stand up, and continue your quest!"
This time there was no hesitation in his actions. Shosetsu stood up and grasped onto the dragons' outstretched hands, his whole world becoming enveloped in a bright light…
In the dark recesses of a cavern, two beings watched the proceedings. Light flittered up from underneath a watery pool, illuminating the viewing orb that hovered in the air. It was playing back the inner workings of Shosetsu's mind, as well as his rescue by the two dragons. One of the figures, a silver haired girl wearing a blue cloak, watched with a cold disinterest. The other was female as well, an older women with raven hair that framed her fair face and dark clothes that blended in with the low light, who looked on in amusement.
"And you said he knew fear," the woman said. "Seems like he still had a lot left to fear than fear itself. We owe those dragons a debt for saving us a load of trouble."
"The mission remains the same," the girl said coldly. "And they remain a stubborn obstacle in it. Especially if what you told me is correct."
"Yes, that red one, Drum was it?" The girl remained still but she took the silence as an affirmative. "You don't need clairvoyance to see that his potential is great. His power shall increase greatly over the coming period, which will prove to be exceptionally problematic for you."
Once more, the girl regarded the information with an analytical coldness before asking, "What of the other one?"
"The other armordragon? The one you refer to as Jackknife?" At the girl's nod she continued, holding up her hand to the viewing orb. The scene changed to a very fuzzy picture of the named dragon, who seemed to have a different aura about him. "That one's future is clouded. He too shall receive a great power, but it gets foggy after a certain point. One thing I see is that you're involved in it somehow. To a startling degree."
The girl nodded and turned away. "That's all I need to know."
"Where are you going?"
"I need to make a report. If this continues, I may need to advance our plan of attack." She held up a card, a portal materializing behind her. "See to it that you intercept anyone that makes it to the lake. I'll deal with the dragons if need be." And with that, she vanished.
"Mm, that's such a shame," the woman sighed as she turned to face the viewing orb, the image switching back to Drum's group. "Such potential with this one. It's a pity you had to be caught up in all this." The image flickered, and zoomed in on Drum. "But who knows? Maybe you'll surprise us. I'd love to see what you can do that has little miss frozen stars so worked up."
"The girl is rather high strung," a male voice said from behind her. "But she has proven herself quite capable. Were it not for her, I would still be under that very same curse."
"Much as I hate to admit it, her powers are something else," the woman sighed melodramatically. "To think that I had to resort to outside help. Though if it helps us achieve our goals, it shouldn't matter, should it Lancelot?"
"A wounded pride is a small price to pay," the male figure-Lancelot-chuckled. "We've all had to make certain sacrifices for this cause."
"So it would seem. Speaking of which, have you managed to procure the last piece?"
"I have indeed. Mordred was already scheming to take the throne, just like you predicted. It took some convincing, but I managed to rally him to our cause."
"Excellent work. With your actions, we have already changed fate," the woman held up a hand to the viewing orb, changing the image to a sword obscured by a bright light. "Soon it will be time to make our move, and we shall make the power of the lake our own."
Lancelot smiled for a moment, then frowned as an important detail came to mind. "What of the girl? What does she hope to gain from all this?"
"Most likely what we are after," the woman replied as she dimmed the viewing orb with a wave of her hand. "It is of no concern. We shall lend her the power she seeks and then she will bother us no longer. After which we will be free to make the Kingdom anyway we see fit."
An almost reverent smile came to Lancelot's face at that. "Then that future I saw will not come to pass…" He murmured to himself before turning away, his dark cape billowing from the movement. "Come, we must prepare for the approaching storm ourselves. Our idealized future is within our grasp."
The woman followed eagerly, a steely gaze on the dark knight all the while. "Yes, a perfect future for all of us…"
Reality came slowly to the exhausted knight, and not without a few sore limbs. His throat ached and his body felt stiff, but as he opened his eyes to see his two dragon companions looking over him, he couldn't help but feel elated. Though their armor was singed and their hair looked a mess, they were still with him. Alive and well.
"Sho-sho!" Axia cried, diving into a rambunctious hug once the swordsman sat up. "I'm so glad you're awake!"
"Good to see you're still with us, kid." Drum remarked, smirking at the display. "You had us scared there for a bit."
"Drum, Axia…" He managed out with a small smile on his face. That smile grew wider when he saw his Buddy at his side once again. "Durandal…"
"I knew you would return to us," said Durandal. "You have the will and courage of a true king in you."
Emboldened by his friends remarks, the young swordsman slowly stood up, only to have his legs buckle from under him. Axia was at his side in an instant, helping him steady himself. "This is real isn't it? Not some illusion…" Both dragons nodded happily, and Axia gave him another, softer hug to drive the point home.
"I don't think an illusion's hug would feel this warm, do you?" said Axia as he gently embraced Shosetsu. He felt the human cling to him, his body trembling slightly as he began to sob quietly into Axia's shoulder. A tear came to the dragowizard's eye, and he slowly rocked the two of them, whispering soothing words to the distraught human. "There, there. Everything'll be okay. You're with friends now, and we'll make sure it stays that way."
I never thought a hug could help someone that much… Drum thought as he watched Axia comfort Shosetsu, rubbing his back until the tremors that wracked his body began to slow. Never before would he have thought reassuring physical contact could help someone so much. You really are something else, Axia.
After a few more moments of quiet sobbing, and more than a fair amount of quiet reassurances that they were real, Shosetsu pulled back from the embrace. His eyes were red and moist with tears, but he still smiled at the two dragons. "Thank you. Both of you. Without your help, I'd be…"
"Eh, think nothing of it," Drum waved off any further explanation. "We're teammates now, right? We wouldn't leave you in the lurch like that."
"That's right!" Axia chimed in. "We'll be with you for as long as you'll have us."
With the reassurance that he was once again of a sound mind, Shosetsu couldn't help but chuckle at their continued resolve. "Thank you, truly. Now more than ever, we need to stand together as one." He let go of Axia, but quickly found himself falling down again. Axia grabbed him before he hit the ground, but it was obvious the swordsman was at his limit.
"Take it easy there, kid. Out of all of us, you got hit the worst," Drum noted, much to the human's chagrin. "'Stand' nothing. We need to find a good place to lay low for right now. We may be safe from the forest's spell, but that monster from earlier could still be out there, and we're in no condition to take it on right now."
Axia shivered at the thought, and Shosetsu nodded in agreement.
"You're right, we need to find shelter. It'll do us no good to be wandering this place at night." He pointed to a rough path of forest, one marred with many broken branches. "Down that way. There should be a clearing where we can set up camp."
Axia helped the swordsman hobble his way down the path, Drum joining in and holding up the human's other side. Axia smiled at the attention, walking easier with the bigger dragon's presence by his side. Their trek was a quiet one, the silence of the forest providing a calm respite after the cacophony of fantastical nightmares it had produced, with only the sound of their own footsteps filling the still air.
It relieved them all when they came across the clearing Shosetsu spoke of, an array of splintered branches and fallen foliage indicating that this had been his landing spot. "We can make camp here," Shosetsu told them. "It should be safe for the most part."
Both dragons nodded and sat the swordsman down against one of the thicker trees to let him rest. While Drum made sure he was secure, Axia walked to the center of the clearing, closing his eyes and lifting his staff up above his head.
Drum stared at him curiously for a few seconds before asking, "What are you doing?"
Several seconds afterwards, Axia struck the ground, embedding the bottom of his staff into the dirt. Electrical energy surged through it and crackled as it shot out the top of the staff, a dome of energy forming around the group's modest campsite.
"Protecting us through the night, Drum-kins," Axia said. He sounded winded and actively had to calm his breathing before continuing. "This forest might still be out to get us. If we let down our guards for a minute, those illusions will come back in full force." He turned to the others, a cheerful grin on his snout. "Luckily, yours truly had just the right counter spell for this. And from the looks of things it seems to be working!"
Yours truly? thought Drum bemusedly, more from Axia's choice of words than anything.
Still, Axia's boast was not without merit. Neither dragon nor human could feel any lingering trace of the forest's enchantment once the barrier was in place.
"Well done, Axia," Shosetsu commented. "I still think I should take the first watch. Who knows what sort of monsters roam these woods."
"Ahh, but you underestimate my field!" Axia playfully chided. "This dome is also equipped to discharge one of my powerful Great Thunder Shocks. Guaranteed to stop just about anything. Or give us a loud wake up call if something bigger than it comes a-knockin'."
Shosetsu conceded with a nod, still too tired to offer a proper argument
"Looks like you've got everything covered," observed Drum.
"Well, not everything," confessed Axia, exhaustion flooding his tone. He yawned widely and propped himself against his spear, looking ready to drop on the spot. "This spell takes a lot of energy, so I'll be pretty drained for the rest of the night."
"We should eat now, then." Shosetsu spoke up, rummaging through his still intact backpack. "Fortunately, even with all that happened, I should still have something."
Though dirtied and torn, his pack had survived the worst of the ordeal, and he pulled out three boxed lunches, each with the Magic World crest on them.
"Are those what I think they are?" Axia beamed with a hungry look that put Drum's to shame. His smile reached his cheeks when he popped open one of the boxes and saw the delicacy within. "It is! Magic World sushi!"
"They have sushi in Magic World?" wondered Drum.
"Apparently it's quite a delicacy with the studious folks," Shosetsu remarked, handing a box to Drum.
"It's been so long since I've had any," Axia said excitedly. "Oh, it's just like lunch hour in Magic Academy again! Only this time I'm not fighting for my spot in line!"
"Never thought I'd see you go so crazy for food," chuckled Drum.
"Well, you've never seen a starving University student before!" replied Axia. "Trust me, it was an all-out rush to get to the front of the line on sushi day."
"I think I have an idea." Drum smirked at Shosetsu, remembering his time fighting off dozens of Sengoku Academy students for food. By the look on the human's face, he remembered similar incidents of his own as well.
"Time to dig in!" All three said in unison, as they opened their respective bentos.
Right after he said it, Drum hesitated when he saw the contents of the box. It was all brightly colored, rather appropriate for Magic World, but he had trouble telling where the rice ended and the fish began. It looked similar in shape to Earth sushi at least, though it was a small comfort when the whole thing looked like it might come to life at any moment. He turned to ask Axia if that was normal, but did a double take seeing the teal dragon ecstatically digging into his food. The dragowizard managed to scoop up a large bite in a neat manner and yet still devoured half the meal in less than 30 seconds.
As if sensing the armordragon's eyes on him, Axia halted his speed eating just as neatly as he had started, gulping down what was in his mouth quietly before asking, "What's the matter Drum? Aren't you gonna have any?"
Drum grinned nervously, though more out of surprise from seeing Axia so into eating. Never knew he had it in him. He gulped and nodded, picking up the chopsticks and looking at the colorful dish. Drum prodded his sample, eyeing it carefully. He thought he could recognize some fish in it, but with the rice colored so similarly, he had to wonder if the entire thing was some other animal native to Magic World. During his prodding, he felt a particular set of eyes on him, and turned to see an eager looking Axia beam at him, the dragowizard's lunch still only half eaten. He put on a nervous smile and picked up one of the sushi, closing his eyes and sticking it into his mouth in one bite.
"Well?" Axia asked eagerly. "How does it taste?"
Drum let the food linger on his tongue for a moment, partially to savor the taste, while fighting hard not to laugh as the other dragon practically started vibrating in anticipation. "It's not pudding, but it's pretty tasty." Drum acquiesced as he took another bite. it was enough to put a smile on Axia's face, and he dug back into his meal with gusto. Shosetsu watched in silent amusement, hiding his smile with quick bites of the bento.
After all the food had been consumed, Axia yawned once again. Whatever energy he had gotten from his excitement was spent, lethargy quickly taking its place.
"You should get some rest," said Shosetsu. "I'll keep an eye on the camp."
"I told you, you don't have to worry yourself, Sho-sho," Axia said, fighting down a yawn. "My barrier will keep us plenty safe."
The knight nodded but looked insistent. "I'll just make sure it holds through your sleep."
"Speaking of sleep," Drum joined in while Axia yawned once more. "Guess it was too much to ask that the sleeping bags and tent survived. Looks like we're roughin' it." He sighed and propped himself against a tree. Axia followed suite, not so subtly cuddling up against the bigger dragon, and almost immediately falling asleep. Drum smiled softly at the content look on the dragowizard's snout and hooked an arm around him.
"Bunking with your Buddy tonight?" Shosetsu teased from his side. Drum blushed but, to his credit, managed to keep a serious face on.
"Axia said he needs me close to help him keep the spell up," he said quietly. "And, ya know… sharing body heat, and…"
"Whatever makes things easier," said Shosetsu, saving the dragon from his fumbling and pulling out a large cloth from his pack. He draped it over the two dragons, getting a happy yawn from Axia and a nod from Drum.
True to his word, Shosetsu took over the first watch, tending to the fire as he surveyed the area. After a while, it became clear that Axia was not just boasting about his skill. The barrier was still glowing steadily and showed no signs of breaking down. Satisfied, the young knight turned to look at the two dragons. Concern welled up in him as he saw Drum still awake, now looking almost forlornly at the sleeping dragowizard.
"Are you okay?" he asked, rousing Drum with a jolt. The armordragon glanced around briefly before facing him, never letting go of his friend.
"Yeah, I'm alright. The forest just took a lot out of me," he shrugged with one shoulder, trying to play it off. But even to him it sounded like hollow words.
"Is he though?" Shosetsu asked, his eyes on the teal dragon. "He seemed dead on his feet."
Drum nodded. "He went through a lot too. Don't worry though. He'll be fine, so long as I'm with him." The words came so easily to him that he hadn't even known he had said them. It caused the swordsman to raise a curious eyebrow at him.
"Is that so?" His tone was unreadable and his voice stoic and even, but for some reason it put the armordragon on edge. "You'll be able to keep him safe?"
Drum swallowed the lump in his throat down as he matched the boy's eyes. It was the same look he had the first time he'd asked about their relationship. Drum steeled his gaze nodding his response, instinctively pulling the sleeping dragowizard closer to him.
There was a tense silence as Shosetsu seemed to size up Drum, the crackling fire the only noise present, its flames deepening their gazes.
Eventually, the young swordsman shut his eyes for a moment and nodded. "Good."
Drum was taken back by the laid back way he said it, and couldn't help but stare perplexedly at the human. "G-good? What do ya mean 'good'?"
Shosetsu opened his eyes and smirked at the flummoxed dragon. "I mean that I'm happy for you two. I had thought his affection for you was still unrequited. At the very least I wouldn't have thought your own opinion of the matter would change so quickly after I had previously asked you."
"It's a… recent development, yeah," Drum mumbled, but stopped short as his mind fully registered what he meant. "Wait, I never said anything about us being…"
"It was pretty obvious," said Shosetsu, still grinning. "Neither one of you can put up a good poker face to save your lives. I'm just glad your feelings for him are genuine."
Something in Drum's eyes must've held an unasked question, for the swordsman merely had to nod his head towards the Dragowizard sleeping at Drum's side, and whom Drum was holding tight in a half hug, though not tight enough to rouse the other from his slumber. If anything, it seemed to make him smile in his sleep, dreaming a peaceful dream of some sort. Drum flushed as he noticed it too, but put on a stubborn face, keeping his arm where it lay and snorting at the boy. It did nothing to remove Shosetsu's grin though.
"Why are you taking such an interest in my personal life? It's one thing to tease me, but this is the second time you've asked that kind of question. What gives?"
Though his question didn't remove Shosetsu's smile, it did remove any humor it had.
"You recall how, back at Sengoku Academy, I attacked Rouga Aragami when I was possessed by that Dark Core?"
"Hard not to forget something like that." Drum grimaced as he remembered the incident. "You plowed through 4 buddy monsters, Axia included, and it took Tasuku using Dragonic Punisher to stop you. Why did you even take that Dark Core in the first place anyway? You had to know something was off about it. That thing reeked of something foul."
Shosetsu's gaze turned to the flickering flames, his smile now gone completely."I was not always the fighter you know me as now. Before I met any of you and before Rouga joined Sengoku Academy, I witnessed him fight as the Wolf. I admired his fighting ability and power. It was stronger than any fighter I had seen before that point. I looked forward to when I could face him in a Buddyfight, and when he did knock on Sengoku's gate, I answered the challenge… and lost."
Drum stared silently at the human, watching the flickering flames reflect off his eyes as he reminisced.
"He defeated me soundly, and showed strength far beyond what I thought was capable." Shosetsu shut his eyes, almost as if the next sentence hurt to say. "I revered him for that strength. I wanted him to take me on as his apprentice, so I could become stronger as well. I can't help but think several other feelings might have developed in that time. Especially when I became enraged when he chose that boy, Kiri, to mentor instead of me."
His smile came back, a melancholy shadow of what it was before. "Hard to believe I could ever be jealous of a boy like that…but I was." He turned to look at Axia, the dragon showing no signs of waking up. "I see some of me in him. He has that same admiration of one's personal strength and the same assumption of someone's character that I had with Rouga. I deluded myself into thinking Rouga was a god among men, and it drove me down a dark path. One where I would do anything to be able to be considered his equal."
He looked down at the slowly dying fire and tossed another small piece of timber on it to keep it lit. "During the Gaen Cup, though I lost, it became clear to me that Rouga wasn't the man I thought he was, and that had I gotten involved with him like I wanted to, it would've been extremely toxic to me. Possibly even enough to destroy me."
A scowl had been developing on Drum's snout ever since Shosetsu made the comparison to Rouga. He wasn't liking where this was going. Not one bit.
"That is why I show my concern. I was worried Axia's trust might've been misplaced with you. He's an incredibly strong wizard, and if he turned to a dark path as I did, it would not be a favorable situation for anyone involved."
Drum was practically glaring daggers at the young swordsman. He was doing an impressive job at holding back a yell, the sleeping dragon at his side making him hesitate and settle on a glower. Shosetsu, returning his gaze to the upset dragon, held up a hand in a placating gesture. Drum snorted, but let him continue.
"And I've seen, through your trial in the forest and through your own actions, that I was wrong to doubt you as I did."
Drum's scowl relaxed at that, a confused frown replacing it.
"No one with a truly wicked soul could make it past their own demons in that forest. And if Axia was telling the truth about that spell, you must have strong feelings for it to be kept up even in his sleep."
The armordragon glanced down at the remark, looking over at the sleeping dragon nestled in his arm. Indeed, though he was fast asleep, even snoring quietly, the barrier that radiated from his staff still shone brightly. Drum looked back at the swordsman, who was wearing a kind smile once again. He mirrored that smile and leaned back against the tree, finally relaxed.
"I'm just glad you're not… well…" Drum trailed off. After hearing the swordsman reveal his personal fears, his almost seemed silly by comparison. Still, he felt somewhat obligated to share after what they'd been through. "Judgmental…"
"Judgmental?" Shosetsu repeated, sounding amused at the idea. "I wouldn't have thought you'd be concerned about that, not with the company you keep. Your friends don't seem the type to worry about things like that. And I'm fairly open minded, as you could probably guess."
"Indeed," Durandal joined in softly. "My Buddy has a knack for adapting himself. Plus you are all comrades in arms. Your orientation means nothing so long as your loyalty never waivers."
"That's something you'll never have to question, believe me."
"I know I can trust your word on that," Shosetsu said, smiling softly. "For now, we should get some sleep. We've got a long day ahead of us."
Drum watched as the boy poured dirt on the crackling fire, darkening the campsite as the burning embers faded away. Shosetsu took one last cloth from his backpack and wrapped it around himself, settling beside a tree with Durandal by his side. Drum smiled as he saw the swordsman's contented look; completely at peace but ready to spring into action if need be. It made him feel at ease knowing he had such capable teammates.
His reverie was short lived. Shosetsu said a quick 'good night' before settling in, leaving Drum with his thoughts. His mind traveled back to what the boy said about him and Rouga, and he remembered the swordsman having said he had admired Rouga during their fight in the Gaen Cup. He never would've suspected that the swordsman's 'admiration' had run so deep, and as much as he hated to admit it, there were some similarities between their situations. Both Axia and Shosetsu had become deeply attached to what they saw as an ideal fighter, after only one display of such power no less.
The thought that Axia had fallen for a mere idea of who he was didn't sit well with him. He recalled all of their previous physical interaction before and sighed when he remembered how terribly he had acted; Pushing away affections and always berating the dragowizard's exuberance? It was definitely not the behavior of somebody who should be admired. Yet the dragowizard always put Drum on a pedestal, as if he could do no wrong. He then thought back to the forest, and how Axia looked when he thought he had harmed him. How hurt and ashamed he was…
No one should have to be put through that, least of all him.
Drum gazed at the night sky, the star spotted expanse helping to calm his swirling thoughts.
I won't let anything like that happen to him again. That's a promise.
He sighed and leaned back against the tree, rubbing Axia's arm one last time. Sleep came easier than he expected, and before long, all 3 members of the odd trio were peacefully dreaming.