Chapter 16: At What Cost?
Zelos sat shivering at breakfast. It seemed, to his extreme displeasure, that everyone had forgotten about the fact that he had been dropped into the well. That well had become his residence the previous night, and he was fished up the next morning, cold, wet, and very angry.
"You, good sir, have no eloquence when it comes to addressing women. You make your intent known far too early," Efreet said to the shivering chosen seated next to him.
"You're not much better," snarked Celsius, disgusted that a summon spirit would be capable of being a pervert, even if he was a bit more subtle about it.
"Such cold words…" Efreet remarked back with a grin. Celsius simply crossed her arms and glowered.
The door slid open, and a man wearing a deep blue shirt with black pants walked in and sat down, helping himself to the food prepared before them. Everyone looked at him, confused about the fact that a stranger had simply walked in and begun eating. He quickly buried his face in the food, but, after noticing everyone's stares, he looked up. Much to everyone's surprise, it was Xylek.
"Oh, Xylek, I didn't recognize you," Raine said, staring at the man who seemed to be in an extremely cheery mood.
"Why?" he responded with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, you're not wearing your armor, for starters," said Genis.
"Ah, yes, it was getting to be a bit inconvenient, and it was not appropriate attire for… well, I'm not saying anything, on the account of the fact that I apparently have a tendency to get myself in trouble saying things I shouldn't."
With that, Setsuna walked in, also lacking armor, but instead garbed in the traditional clothing of the people of Mizuho. She sat down next to Xylek and also began eating. Everyone felt awkward, for some reason, and Sheena spoke up.
"Hey, what was it that you guys needed the chief for earlier this morning?" she asked, and Xylek coughed as he began choking on the egg he was eating. He looked at Setsuna, who didn't show any sign of responding, as she was hiding her face behind her food.
Regal, being rather insightful, spoke up. "It seems these two are no longer engaged, if my intuition is correct."
Everyone's eyes got big at the revelation, and Lloyd stood up.
"Wait, you guys broke it off? Even after all of this time? What happened?" he asked, shocked.
It felt as if a gust blew through the room as everyone simultaneously sighed.
"Lloyd, you're an idiot. Sit down," Sheena said, yanking him back to his seat.
"Look at those two," said Marta, pointing at Xylek and Setsuna. "If they broke it off, would Xylek be sitting there with that idiotic grin on his face?"
Setsuna looked over, and sure enough, Xylek had a huge, stupid grin on his face. She smacked him in the back of the head, and he immediately buried his face in food, as to avoid possible brain damage from repeated slaps to the head. Lloyd still looked confused, and Tenebrae rolled his eyes.
"It means they got married, Lloyd," he said.
Lloyd's face went blank as he realized his own idiocy, and he, too, buried his face in his food to avoid the looks he was getting.
"Awww, why didn't you guys invite us?" Colette said, sad that she had missed seeing it.
"Probably because they didn't want certain people here making a big fuss over it," Raine said, looking at Zelos, Marta, and Efreet. They all attempted to look innocent, but failed miserably.
"I see you guys have matching necklaces, now, too," said Richter, inserting himself into a conversation he would normally just observe.
"Ah, yes, these were the gifts from Yukimaru. Such a nice gift…" Xylek trailed off, seemingly less-than-thrilled about it.
"Is there something special about them?" Stacie asked.
"They allow you to read the heart of the person wearing the other one," Setsuna said.
"Why does Xylek seem annoyed by it?" Genis inquired, curious as to why such a gift would make him unhappy.
"It's because it reacts to certain emotions. Dishonesty, for example, will make the gem in the center glow red," she explained.
"Yes, but who was it that got all self-conscious about her cooking this morning and asked the nearest person their opinion?" Xylek snarked.
"Well, I thought I should try making a meal for once instead of always letting you do the work," said Setsuna back. "I asked if it was good, and-"
"And I said it was fantastic," Xylek interrupted.
"Yes, but you were lying. The gem pulsed red as soon as 'fantastic' came out of your mouth."
"Considering your history, it was…" Xylek muttered, and the gem pulsed red again. Setsuna raised her hand to smack him again, but the gem had lost its glow as Xylek spoke up.
"To me, since you prepared it especially for me, it tasted fantastic," he said, and the gem remained transparent. She lowered her hand.
"Yes, that would be a troubling gift," Efreet said. "It keeps him from being able to lie for her sake."
"Honesty is the best policy," Celsius said quickly.
"Okay, then, honestly, you're looking lovely this morning," he said back, and she simply picked up a bowl of oatmeal and threw it at his face.
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
Zelos began laughing to himself as oatmeal dripped from Efreet's not-so-happy face. The rest of the meal went without incident, though Setsuna kept trying to get Xylek to lose his indomitable grin, to no avail. She found it so goofy that she herself had started smiling. Unfortunately, the cheery mood would soon turn to more serious issues.
"So, do you have any idea how to find Xegros?" Yuan asked Xylek, who was now garbed in his signature armor.
"Well, I'd say he'll find us eventually. Knowing him, he's not going to be too happy about Setsuna knocking him out cold, and you guys almost killing me. And now, to him, it'll look like I've gone and betrayed him."
"So, he'll probably attack us when he feels like it? Shouldn't we get out of Mizuho, then?" Raine said, thinking about what an attack would do to the village.
"Yes, which is why we're leaving today," Setsuna said. "I asked Stacie to get everything ready earlier. Everything should be all set to head out in a few hours."
Everyone stopped what they were doing when there was a loud explosion outside. The very ground shook from the force of the blast, and the heroes hurried out to see the cause, though they had already guessed who was responsible. The main gate to the village was engulfed in flames, and Xegros stood in the opening.
"Xegros, wait!" Xylek yelled, running forward to stop his friend. Xegros simply raised his hand, and a massive serpent of flame erupted out of the ground at Xylek's feet. Xylek was thrown through the air, and he landed in the forest outside the village. Xegros turned and ran to where he had landed. Setsuna, not waiting for everyone else to grab their weapons, dashed after them, as she was already armored and had her sword drawn. The rest of the heroes worked as fast as they could to catch up.
Xylek and Setsuna stood together, looking at Xegros, who stood a short distance from them. Everyone else had yet to arrive.
"Xegros, wait," Xylek tried to say again, but Xegros cut him off.
"Wait, wait, wait. I'm done waiting. 4000 years, Xylek, 4000 whole years! Even after all of this time, this world remains the same. Look at it. People still fight. Racism is everywhere, and that damned brat Mithos was worshipped as a hero! It can't be fixed. It can't be saved. I've decided to just start over. A blank slate. With that, perhaps I'll finally be able to see a world that I've always dreamed of." Xegros' eyes were glowing a dull red, the pupils small slits in the middle.
Everyone else arrived, but Kratos kept them all back.
"We need to let them try to reason with Xegros first," he explained. "If this can be solved without conflict, those two would be the only ones capable of it."
Setsuna yelled back. "You would sacrifice all of the living creatures on this planet to see a world 'without war?' That can't lead to a peaceful planet, only an empty one."
"Empty? Of humans and elves and everything between, perhaps, but this world would simply inherit new, better residents." Xylek glared after hearing Xegros' words.
"What are you talking about?" he said to his "friend."
"Ah, yes, I suppose I never told you about the friends I made when we were sealed away. I'm not quite as weak as you anymore, Xylek. You were always my equal, but at the same time you were my opposite. The scales have gone in my favor, you see. I relied on you too much, and you betrayed me. I have a few things I have to do now, but I don't need your help anymore. All I have to do is open the door, and everything else will take care of itself."
"So that's what it is… Xegros, you listened to them? The voices? They sought to take advantage of our solitude while we were sealed. Xegros, those were inhabitants of Niflheim. You couldn't tell?"
"All I needed to know is that with them, I wasn't alone. Now, and forever, I won't be alone. I won't lose anything important to me. It's perfect." Xegros had begun laughing as he spoke, a chilling, inhuman laugh.
Xylek bowed his head, and Setsuna put her hand on his back.
"Fine, if you won't listen to us, we'll make you hear!" Xylek shouted as he drew his sword. Xegros didn't flinch, but also drew his blade, his laughter subsiding.
"You don't have the strength to make me do anything anymore, Xylek. I'm greater than both you and Setsuna, now. I am the strongest being on this planet."
"Too bad you're not the fastest," Setsuna said, suddenly behind him.
He turned and blocked the slash she aimed at him, only to see her place her hand in his face. His eyes widened for a brief moment once he realized he couldn't get away. Setsuna's hand glowed for an instant before a massive beam of light shot out, sending Xegros hurling through the air. Before he could steady himself to ready a counter attack, Xylek had gotten behind him and sent him careening back to earth before holding him down with his foot.
Xegros' breathing slowed as anger coursed through his veins. The runes on his armor pulsed, responding to his will. A massive explosion erupted from Xegros, sending Xylek flying back crashing into a tree and knocking it over. Even after the attack, Xylek quickly got back to his feet, ready to continue this battle.
"You two are more trouble than you're worth," Xegros said, spitting off to the side.
"You say you're not alone, Xegros, but where are your friends?" Setsuna asked. "You won't be able to beat both of us, and there are even more people here to stop you, even if you could take both me and Xylek on at the same time. You're fighting a losing battle."
"Really, now…" Xegros waved his sword in the air, and several massive flame dragons erupted from the ground. The flames were much stronger than the previous ones Setsuna had faced.
"I have a few tricks too," Xylek said, planting his sword in the ground. Two of the flame dragons stopped moving as they instantly turned to ice.
"You think a little ice will stop beings of fire?" Xegros asked, amused that his old friend would even try such a thing.
"Who said I was stopping them?" Xylek responded. The two dragons started moving again, and they lunged at Xegros. The other flame dragons blocked them and the elemental creatures began fighting. Outnumbered, the ice dragons were shattered quickly, but Xylek and Setsuna hadn't stood by and watched. They charged at Xegros again, and the three warriors became a blaze of clashing swords and armor. Xegros had formed a second blade of flames to help deal with the combined swordplay of Xylek and Setsuna. It didn't help much, with Setsuna's deft sword play easily able to get around his defenses, and with Xylek also pressuring him, he had no way to counter.
Xegros leapt back, but Setsuna continued pressing the attack. Xylek saw that the fire dragons could cause a lot of damage if left to their own accord, so decided he had to get rid of them before they'd join in the battle. However, as he raised his blade to channel a spell at them, dozens of pillars of light descended from the sky pelting them with holy magic. Xylek looked behind him, seeing Kratos Yuan and Colette all with their wings out. "Well handle them; you help Setsuna take care of Xegros."
Xylek nodded and returned to the aid of his wife. With his dragons gone and seeing Xylek rejoin the battle against him, Xegros started getting frustrated and began making careless mistakes which his opponents capitalized on.
Setsuna deftly kicked her opponent's sword wrist, loosening his grip on his blade, which she then struck out of his hand. Xylek, seeing his opportunity, lunged in and stabbed Xegros in the ribs, causing crimson blood to flow out from the armor. The air shook as Xylek began forcing the power of the summon spirits out of his old friend. The essence of shadow was blasted into the air, and Shadow himself appeared and reclaimed it. Efreet ran forward, knowing his power would be next. Xegros, on the other hand, would not allow that to happen. He let out a feral growl, and he unleashed the full extent of the power of fire he had.
A giant column of flame leapt up, surrounding Xegros. Xylek and Setsuna jumped back, and Efreet stopped his advance, as he knew what his own power was capable of. Xegros' sword pulsed, and flew back to its owner's hand.
"It seems like we need more power…" Xegros said, his eyes smoldering from the rage behind them. "More… we'll get more… we'll open the seal… and then, all will be dust before us…" His voice was warped, and the flames around him had begun to blacken.
"That…that's no longer Xegros. He's gone."
Setsuna said this, looking at Xylek, who had already sheathed his blade.
"But he was talking earlier… he still had his old dream, distorted as it was. There's still a shred of his humanity left." Xylek stood at his best friend through the raging flames, not willing to just give up like that. No, there had to be something he could do to save his best friend.
"No, Xylek. He's sold his soul for this power. They've already devoured it, Xylek. That thing there is the embodiment of the demons' hatred. That 'dream' is a hollow memory of what he was. He's gone. We can't bring him back…"
Xegros turned and slashed the very air, opening a rip in space. He walked into the tear, which closed behind him. Xylek staggered backwards, his hands on his head. He took off his helm and threw it to the ground. He collapsed to his knees and punched the earth in frustration.
"We're going to have to kill him, it seems," Kratos said, and Richter nodded.
"He's gone far beyond what I had," Richter said, having almost lost his soul to the demons not too long ago.
Everyone stood, shocked at the scene they had witnessed. They looked at Xylek, who was crushed at the loss of his friend, and Setsuna, who was at a loss for words to comfort him. A day that started with such joy shouldn't end in such a horrible way.
Xylek: Yeah, so much for the honeymoon…
Tiger: I have the feeling these next few chapters won't have much comedy…