Here we are at Chapter 35. Time for Fuyumi and her friends to solve the mystery of the monster attacks near the elf village. I do not own Code Vein or Skeleton Knight. They belong to their respective owners. I only own my OCs. Here's chapter 35. Enjoy.


Chapter 35: Seen a Ghost

The morning sun's rays sneak in through the curtains of the room Fuyumi had been granted during her stay at the elf village. They fall across the sleeping Revenant's face, causing her to stir with a groan. Her eyes flutter open and Fuyumi slowly turns her head around. She finds Anelia sleeping on her left, and then Iris on her right. The two women didn't want to sleep in separate rooms from her, so they ended up sleeping together, fully clothed of course. Fuyumi smiles at the two girls sleeping peacefully. However, they have a busy day today and they need to get going. Fuyumi slowly frees her arms from their grasps.

"Come on, you two. Time to get up. We have a busy day today," Fuyumi gently shakes them awake.

Anelia groans, "Hrm, five more minutes," Anelia rolls away.

"Need... more... sleep," Iris groans with her.

Fuyumi leans down to Iris' ear, "Come on. If you don't get up, I'll have to get a little... mischievous," she breathes sultrily into her ear. Then she moves to Anelia's ear. "Or, maybe I'll just start the morning off... with some of your blood," she gives her earlobe a light flick of her tongue.

This causes both girls to spring up, wide awake, with blushes on their faces. They glare at Fuyumi, who just giggles.

"Sorry, sorry, but how else was I supposed to wake you two up. I just couldn't resist. Now come on, we have to get up. First we'll have breakfast, then we'll go over the plan for today with the elder. Let's go," Fuyumi goes to get up, but her two fiances hold her down by her arms.

"That wasn't very nice, Fuyumi," Anelia pouts.

"Indeed. I expect some recompense for that if you want us to move," Iris adds.

Fuyumi sighs, "Fine, fine,"

Fuyumi leans in, planting a kiss on Anelia's lips, followed by Iris right after. With the girls satisfied, they all get out and get changed for the day. Coming down, they find Elane waiting for them.

"Sleep well," Elane asks.

"Yes. Thank you for the lodgings. We appreciate it," Iris bows her head.

"It's fine. Come, Mother has made breakfast. The sooner we get done, the sooner we can get going on our mission. I want my people to be safe again," Elane walks ahead of them, once more keeping her distance from Fuyumi.

Fuyumi sighs, which Anelia notices, "Something wrong?"

"I don't know. I think I did something to upset Elane, but I'm not sure what it is?" Fuyumi says.

"Well, hopefully you can figure it out soon. I hope this won't make things hard on our mission," Anelia says.

"Me too," Fuyumi replies. "Is she mad because of the time I drank her blood?"

After having something to eat, the village elder goes over what they know.

"Going through past encounters with these monsters and their locations, we believe we have an idea of where they originated from. Our scouts have found tracks and signs of movement through the forest. The one responsible for this are crafty, but even they couldn't fully conceal themselves from our people. The potential location for all this is east of here, deep beneath the trees. Some of my people will lead you there, but the rest will be up to you. These monsters have injured a number of our warriors. Until they heal, I can't afford to spare more," the elder says.

"We understand, Elder. We'll get the job done, and make it so your people won't have to worry about these monsters anymore," Fuyumi says.

"Good. I appreciate your aid, on behalf of my people. Let us not waste anymore time then," Elane's father rises from his seat, and the others follow suit.

They leave his home, but as they do, Fuyumi catches up to Elane, "Elane, can we talk for a moment?"

Elane glances back at Fuyumi, "We don't have time for idle chatter, Fuyumi. The mission awaits,"

"That is precisely why we must talk now. Elane, if I've done something to upset you, then please let me apologize. If this tension between us should persist in the middle of completing our objective, it could put the others and us in unnecessary risk. We don't know what awaits us down this road. Let's not make this any more difficult than it already is," Fuyumi pleads.

"Fuyumi... I'm not sure I'm comfortable taking about this," Elane gets defensive.

"I sure you're not. Neither am I, but that's precisely why we need to discuss this. I know I can trust you. I told you about my past after all. Even if you don't like me, can you at least say you trust me to watch your back? Are we friends at least?" Fuyumi asks.

The two remain silent before Elane finally sighs, "Fine. I do trust you, Fuyumi. You have done more than enough for my people and I to earn my trust. We are friends, and comrades. I just... have a lot on my mind, is all. But, for now, let us work together to solve this monster problem and save my people," Elane finally looks Fuyumi in the eye.

Fuyumi smiles a little, "Thank you, Elane. Come on, let's catch up with the others," she walks ahead, leaving Elane to her thoughts.

"What are you doing, Elane?" Elane mutters before catching up to Fuyumi.

Outside the village, Fuyumi, Anelia, Iris, and Elane, along with a small group of elven warriors, head out to the location the elder informed them of.

"Better to travel out of sight in case they're waiting for us. To the trees," Elane commands.

The elf warriors jump into the trees and start jumping from branch to branch. Fuyumi picks up Anelia in her arms while Umi takes to the air. Fuyumi jumps into the trees along with Iris. They follow the elves, moving faster than they could by ground.

"If we find anyone that isn't a monster, what's the plan?" Fuyumi calls out.

"We'll interrogate them for any information we can get out of them. If they resist, we kill them. The less that know the possible whereabouts of my village, the better," Elane replies.

They move through the trees, keeping watch for possible signs of danger. However, they find none along the way. That only makes them all more tense. After all the monster attacks they've had to deal with, even before Fuyumi's group arrived to help, to suddenly have nothing left. While that could mean the monsters are all gone now, the elves don't feel like that's the case.

"Fuyumi, what is it?" Anelia asks.

"Something's wrong. There's no monster. But, I also don't see any regular animals around either. No birds, boars, or other animals. That's not normal," Fuyumi says.

"Wait, I think I see something up ahead!" one of the elves at the front calls out.

They all stop on separate branches, but Fuyumi goes up to the front to get a better look. She notices the disgusted looks on the elves faces as they are looking down on something. Looking below, she sees the dismembered remains of a small herd of boars. The bodies had been completely torn apart. Fuyumi, Anelia, and Elane jump down for a closer look.

"What could've done all this?" Anelia is unnerved at the sight.

"I don't know, but whatever did this... it didn't eat them. Was this all... for sport?" Elane mutters with worry.

"Are there any predators that live here that usually do this?" Fuyumi asks.

"No, they would've eaten the meat. Even the monster that we've fought against recently wouldn't just leave behind a dead kill. That be a waste of good food," Elane says.

It is then that Fuyumi notices something, "Wait... where's the blood?" How could she not have noticed sooner. There was no stench of blood in the air. The scent would've affected her. "There's no blood. They were all drained of it,"

"But, the monsters we've encountered thus far don't do that. Maybe vampires, but we're too far away for their kind to roam here, and vampires are relatively few in number these days," Elane explains.

"Then what could've-," Anelia begins to ask when they hear a sudden screech throughout the forest.

"Up, now!" Elane says.

Everyone heads back up into the trees, waiting to see what might come out. They hear a few more screeching noises, but nothing approaches. However, Fuyumi gets an idea. The boar corpses had no blood on them, or around them. If whatever attacked them prefers blood to meat, then maybe...

"I have an idea. Be ready to attack," Fuyumi says before jumping back down.

"Fuyumi, wait!" Iris calls out.

Fuyumi lands in the brush. Taking out a small knife from her inventory, she makes a small cut on the back of her hand, letting a little blood flow and drop into the grass. She waits patiently, as do the others. The tension in the air only grows as they wait. More screeching noises are heard and Fuyumi notices something approaching. She takes out her sword, waiting for whatever may come. However, her eyes slowly widen as she sees red eyes in the shadows, and physical forms begin to appear.

"No... It can't be..." Fuyumi mutters. "How could I have not foreseen this? If mistles could suddenly appear in this world, then why not... them?"

What appears are monstrous, humanoid creatures with glowing red eyes and somewhat deformed bodies. They carry dark looking blades in their hands. They spot Fuyumi and roar.

"What... What are those things?!" Anelia says, scared.

"I've never seen anything like those," Elane mutters.

Fuyumi narrows her eyes, "...The Lost,"

The Lost roar and charge at Fuyumi. Fuyumi casts Flame Weapon across her blade, coating it in flames, before charging at her foes. She deflects the attack from the first Lost, spinning around to make a slash across its backside, followed by a thrust through its heart. She backflips over an attack from a second Lost. She casts Blast Bolt point-blank, electrocuting her foe until it falls. Two more come at her flanks, but Fuyumi casts Crimson Moon, creating a large blade of fire and swings it around behind her, slicing the two foes in two burning pieces. More Lost run out from the shadows, charging at her. Fuyumi gets ready to fight, but a rain of arrows from above pierce a few of the monsters. Fuyumi looks up, seeing the elves joining in on the fight, with Elane at the lead. Iris jumps down, slashing her sword straight down the center of another Lost.

"Fuyumi, what are these monstrosities?!" Iris asks as she joins her side.

"I'll explain later, but right now, we need to take these things down, and fast. Come on!" Fuyumi replies before racing back into the fray.

"Spirits of wind, form a blade and slice through my foes. Air cutter!" Anelia casts her magic, cutting one Lost into pieces with some wind blades.

Fuyumi and Iris stand back-to-back, blocking the sword strikes from two Lost. They both kick their opponents back, followed by Iris jumping over Fuyumi to swing her blade down, cutting off the arm of one Lost and then bisecting it with a second strike. Fuyumi parries an upward strike from her Lost, then knocks the pommel of her sword into its face. She then makes three quick slashes across its body that kills it. Seeing only a few Lost left, Fuyumi casts Guard of Honor to pierce them all with ice shards. The bodies fall to the ground, joining the others. With the battle over, the elves and Anelia come down from the trees and even Umi flies down to land on Fuyumi's shoulder.

"What are these things?" one elf asks as he kneels down to inspect the body. However, the body starts dissolving into ashes, along with the rest, which spooks him and the other elves. "What's happening to them?"

"This is what it looks like when they die. It was the same for my people as well, should we lose our hearts," Fuyumi mutters, watching the bodies disappear.

"Fuyumi, are these things..." Anelia asks as she approaches her.

Fuyumi sighs, "Yes... These are the Lost. They are what happens when a Revenant, one of my people, is consumed by their thirst for blood and lose their humanity. They... were once my kin,"

Her confession stuns Anelia and Iris who was listening in, "But, if these are the Lost, then why are they here?" Iris asks.

"You know what these things are?" one elf asks as they all focus on Fuyumi. "You said these are your kin. What the Hell is that supposed to mean?" they ask.

"I'm not human, though I used to be a long time ago. I'm a Revenant; something like a vampire if that helps. My kind need blood to survive, but if we don't get it in time, our thirst consumes us... and turns us into these monsters. The Lost. We lose our sanity, our humanity, and become mindless beats, endlessly trying to quench a thirst that will never be satisfied. A fate far worse than death," Fuyumi explains.

"These things... are your people?" the elf is horrified before he turns his bow towards Fuyumi, as do the rest. "I knew we couldn't trust these humans, or whatever the Hell you are!"

Fuyumi keeps Anelia safely behind her while Iris has her sword lowered, but at the ready. Umi squawks at the elves. Fuyumi doesn't want to fight the elves, but things aren't looking good right now.

"That's enough!" Elane yells. "It doesn't matter what Fuyumi is or isn't. The fact remains that she has helped our people on more than one occasion and has showed no prejudice to our kind. How many of our kin have been saved because she lent us her aid, asking for nothing in return?" she glares at her fellow elves.

"But, those things-," one elf points to where the Lost once were.

"And she fought against them for our sake. Her own kind. But, these were not her own kind anymore. They became something else, as she once told me. Tell me something, of one of us turned into a bloodthirsty monster, with no way of turning them back to normal, would you be ready and willing to kill them before they kill you?" Elane argues. The elves are unable to answer. "I trust Fuyumi, and her friends. Because... they're my friends. Even if you can't trust them, then at least trust me. We all fight the same enemy here, which makes us allies. Now, do you wish to waste anymore of our time, or do you want to find the ones responsible for sending these monsters after our people?" The elves hesitate and say nothing, but they eventually nod in agreement, even if they don't like it. "Then let's get moving. These things all came from the same direction, so let's see where it leads. Move out, now!"

The elves head back into the trees and follow the path the Lost came from. Elane turns back to the others.

"Thank you for standing up for us, Elane," Iris bows her head.

"It's nothing. You've helped my people time and time again. It's the least I can do," Elane replies, but notices Fuyumi is just staring off at where the Lost dissolved. "Fuyumi? Is everything alright?"

Fuyumi shakes out of her stupor, "Huh? Oh, yes, yes. I'm fine. Come on, we need to get moving,"

Fuyumi picks Anelia back up and jumps into the trees, followed by Iris and Umi who takes to the air. Elane watches for a moment before joining them.

"Even if they've become monsters who can never come back, it must still be hard for her... To have to kill her own kind, again and again, just like when she told us about her past," Elane thinks as she stares at Fuyumi's back.

"Why? Why are they here? HOW are they here? This makes no sense! They would need BOR parasites to create Revenants and then have them lose their sanity to become the Lost. Something's not right. Something's definitely not right here!" Fuyumi thinks as she keeps her eyes focused ahead of her.

They use the tracks left behind by the Lost to head deeper into the forest, the dense foliage blocking out some of the sunlight.

"Elane, anything in this part of the forest we should know about?" Iris asks.

"Not much, but we don't know what could be lurking in there now with recent events. However, this is one of the densest parts of the forest, so it would be a good place to hide from others.

However. As they get deeper, several rock spikes fly out at them. The group scatter as the spikes shred through the branches. They land on the ground and find multiple cloaked figures standing before them. Behind them are cages, mostly empty, but a few have a pack of orcs in them. There are also large wagons behind those.

"Damn it, they did find us. To think they'd make this much progress this soon," one of them curses.

"Try to capture them. We need answers!" Elane commands the other elves.

They all charge, while the hooded figures meet their attack. Two of their rank appear to be mages as they begin conjuring magic. Two more open the cages containing the orcs and release them.

"Kill the elves!" one of the goons commands them, and the glowing red rings on the orcs' neck glow before they attack.

"They're controlling the orcs. We've got monster teamers here!" one of the elves yells while firing off arrows.

"I'll take care of them. Iris, Anelia, with me!" Fuyumi says and heads for the beasts.

While Elane deals with the hooded goons, Fuyumi focuses on the orcs. One of the orcs roars and tries to slam an axe down on her head, but she vanishes in red mist, only to appear in the air behind its head. Making a quick slash, she beheads the beast. Meanwhile, Iris evades the swing of another orcs club. A sudden fireball nails the monster in the face, curtesy of Anelia's magic. Iris hops onto its shoulder and stabs her blade through its skull. The monster slowly falls onto its knees and then lays flat on the ground. Meanwhile, Elane uses her short-sword to block a strike from one of the hooded figures' blades, kicking them back and then stabbing them in the chest. She sees the last orc go for Anelia, but she quickly switches to her bow and fires off three arrows that connect to its back. The orc turns and roars in anger, only to get sliced into multiple pieces thanks to Fuyumi and Iris. The rest of the fight goes quickly enough. A few of the cloaked figures were killed by the other elves, but they managed to capture three alive. Checking the bodies of the dead, they couldn't find anything to indicate where they came from.

"Now talk. Who are you? Where did you come from? Who hired you? And why are you here? Answer with truth and we will spare your lives," Elane says.

One of the three laughs, "Hahaha, you have no idea what's coming,"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Elane demands.

"We couldn't find your village, so the mission has failed. Even if we did return home, we'd just be executed anyway. But, all you've done is delay the inevitable. Soon, everything will change. All will submit to him. It's only a matter of time," the hooded figure says.

"What's that supposed to-," Elane begins, only for Fuyumi to walk up, grab the goon by his shirt, and fling the hood off, revealing a man with a tattooed face.

"Where did you get those creatures? What are your plans for them? Answer me!" Fuyumi yells.

"What makes you think I'll tell you anything?" the goon taunts her.

Fuyumi narrows her eyes and hits him with a Lightning Charge, shocking him. She keeps doing it until he's almost dead and then stops. She then heals him with her Sympathetic Boon, using her own strength to heal him. She then regenerates to regain her lost strength. She then shocks him again and repeats the cycle a few times to make a point as his two remaining friends watch on in horror.

"I can do this all day, and you'll end up begging me to kill you. Where. Did. You. Get. Those. Creatures?!" Fuyumi demands.

The goon breathes ragged before answering, "We have no idea what those things are. We were handed them in cages by some benefactors that paid us for our services. They wanted to find out where the elf village was, and wanted us to use our monster to lure you all out and track you down. All I can say is that we talked with some dude in a uniform with black hair,"

"What kind of uniform?" Elane demands.

"It was fancy, real fancy, like for someone higher up the food chain. I remember their insignia. It was-ack, argh! What... is..." the man starts writhing in pain, as do his cohorts.

Fuyumi and Elane step back as their bodies start convulsing, veins bulge all over their skin, and then their eyes roll to the back of their head before they finally stop, dead.

"What... What was that?" Anelia asks, frightened by the scene.

"They must've been poisoned, so whoever hired them won't have their identity leaked. They must've done it without these idiots realizing it. That takes crafty work. We couldn't find out who was responsible, but at least now the village should be safe," Elane says.

But Fuyumi is hardly happy about that right now. Because the Lost are in this world, and someone is using them for their own ends. And whatever those ends are, they can't be good.


And that's the chapter. Fuyumi helps the elves save their village, but now the Lost from Code Vein are here in this new world. Enemies lurk in the shadows, but soon they will reveal themselves. The question is: which is worse? The Lost? Or the ones attempting to control and use them? Until then, please Read and Review.