Chapter 37: Wars and Resolutions
The sudden sound of swords clashing made Anise's heart skip a beat and sent her scrambling to her feet from where she had been sitting in the lush green field. How did an enemy get that close without anyone even noticing?! The raven haired Fon Master Guardian spun around, her adrenaline pumping, ready for a fight; but no sooner had she laid eyes on the source, she let out a frustrated sigh and sat back down. Those two were at it again.
Anise lay back in the grass staring at the blue sky and cotton white clouds above her, the sound of metal on metal continuing in the background. Everyone else was just sitting around waiting for Noelle to come pick them up. Their perky pilot said she'd pass by after each round of evacuees to see if they were done with the passage ring. Until she passed by again, there wasn't really much of anything they could do but wait. So that's what they did, well, except for a certain pair redheads who seemed to have found something better to do with their time.
What was with those two lately? It wasn't like she really minded the sparring or anything, but it wasn't the first time they'd practically given her a heart attack in doing it. And it wasn't just sparring either, maybe it was just her but it seemed like they were getting more and more spontaneous lately. Then again, spontaneous wasn't really the right word, they just… did stuff, without ever seeming to talk about it. Like this sparring, neither had said a word, they just starting going at it. Did they just attack each other at random or something? Maybe she was looking into this too much. Anise made a mental note to ask Ion if he had noticed anything, she was probably just imagining things. But in the meantime, at least it was something interesting to watch.
Luke's sword came down but was cleanly met by his sibling's, who wasted no time in retaliating. The younger brother was forced back but quickly regained his initiative and temporarily took control of the scuffle. Asch's blocks became less fluent, and he found himself caught off guard by Luke's offensive. Noticing Asch was starting to have trouble keeping up, Luke attempted to increase the frequency of his attacks. But by picking up his pace, he left himself open, something the eldest redhead quickly took advantage of, and Luke found himself on the defensive again.
Damn it Asch was good! Luke struggled as his brother took control of the scuffle, carefully watching each strike. Other than their recent bouts, it had been awhile since either of them had sparred for any length of time. Sadly, it didn't seem like he had managed to gain any sort of advantage over his older brother in that time. Still… there had to be someway to get the advantage back! But Asch's defence was next to flawless, especially when he had control of the fight, and Luke couldn't find an opening. Luke continued to block, slowly being forced back by his sibling's offensive. Asch was far more refined in his swordsmanship than he was. Then again, Asch did have almost six years of a head start.
Luke was doing well, but it was likely that their bout wouldn't last much longer. Asch quickly noticed that he was starting to get tired, meaning Luke was probably starting to push his limits. His sibling's stamina had drastically increased since the start of their journey, but the two of them still weren't quite on equal ground.
Before Asch knew what happened, Luke pulled off a feint and broke through the redhead's defence, forcing him back. Wasting no time, Asch spun around, drawing the other blade at his side and sending Luke's sword skidding across the dirt.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Luke whined, all the while glaring at the Jewel of Gardios that dangled from Asch's other hand. His brother's own sword still sat against his throat, proclaiming the elder sibling's victory.
"Everything and anything is fair if you're fighting for your life," Asch shot back. He sheathed both blades and offered Luke a hand. "You're getting a lot better. You don't hesitate as much anymore."
"Thanks," Luke replied, accepting Asch's help in getting back up. "You too, I mean, you caught me off guard more than once."
"Good to know," Asch answered with a mischievous grin.
"Hey!"
"As nice as it is to see you two staying in top shape, is there any particular reason you've been so eager to practice lately?" Jade inquired once Luke had retrieved his sword and both boys had sat down with the rest of the group.
"Yeah," Anise spoke up. "On the way to Shurrey Hill, last night and again this morning, what's with all the sparring?"
Both boys simultaneously shrugged. "Well we want to keep in practice," Luke provided. "It's too cramped in the Albiore to do any sparring."
"Oh? And all the monsters we've fought don't count?" Jade taunted.
"It's not the same as fighting a person who can gauge your strategy and adjust to compensate," Asch retaliated. "All things considered, we've been really lucky as far as the God-Generals are concerned. Legretta retreated on her own, as did Sync and Largo, and we managed to catch Arietta in a situation where she couldn't fight back. When you think about it, we have yet to seriously fight any of them. If we keep up what we're doing, it's only a matter of time before we'll have to face them."
"Fair enough," Jade replied simply.
"I noticed you've managed to get that Fon Slot seal figured out," Asch commented.
"Really?" Luke piped up.
"That's very observant of you," Jade replied.
"That's good to hear, Colonel." Tear smiled.
"Yes," Ion agreed. "Especially since it was partially my fault it happened in the first place."
"Well, it was only matter of time to begin with," Jade shrugged. "Fon slot seals aren't meant to last indefinitely. They were designed to restrain a strong fonist long enough for them to be killed."
"Man, when is Noelle going to get here?" Anise whined, breaking the tense silence Jade's comment had created.
"My, my," Jade pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose, an evil gleam sparkling in his eye. "You're the last person I expected to be anxious to get up in the air."
"Shut up, Colonel!"
"Don't be so embarrassed," Jade continued his taunting. "Why, you're the first person in all of Auldrant to be afraid of flying. You should be proud."
"I am not afraid of flying!"
"Oh? So then you'd be okay if we cra-"
"Shut up! I hate you, Colonel," Anise pouted.
"Well if that's the case, she won't be hiding it much longer," Asch commented, suppressing his own chuckles as he pointed out a small object in the western skies. "There she is."
"I wonder how everything is going," Natalia wondered. Asch placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"We'll find out soon enough."
--
"So Noelle, how's the evacuation of St. Binah coming along?" Asch inquired as soon as the blonde pilot had them safely in the air.
"Not so well, I'm afraid," she replied, keeping her eyes fixed on the air ahead of them.
"Why, what's the matter?"
Noelle simply nodded towards the mountain range on their left. "You'll see," she stated solemnly, still refusing to look away from the air ahead of them. What had her guard up? Everyone shuffled over to the windows on the left side to try and get a decent view. Did a storm come up? No, something like that would be visible from here. Just what was impeding the evacuation? None of them had to wait long for answers; moments later, the last mountain vanished beneath them and their view opened up onto the Rugnica plains.
There wasn't one passenger on the Albiore whose heart didn't drop into their stomach.
The Rugnica Plains were enveloped in war.
Seas of blue and red crashed sending waves of blood and bodies scattering across what was once an endless green sea of fields and forests. Land ships were scattered among the forces, their cannons launching massive fonic artes. The explosions left in their wake sent smoke, flames and debris so high, even the Albiore had to be wary of them.
This was… this was terrible! Luke felt like someone had dropped a boulder into the pit of his stomach. Everywhere he looked, people were dying. Blood stained the once pristine meadows, bodies littered the field like embers in a dying fire; and once again Luke found himself surrounded by death, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Asch saw Luke look away, turning from the grim sight before them. He couldn't blame his younger sibling; he was ready to look away himself. It was almost more than he could bear. And after they had tried so hard! He had known at the back of his mind that the war could still break out, but somewhere deep down, he had actually believed they could still make it in time.
"Damn it!" Asch's fist pounded against the window.
"H-How?" Natalia's hand was trembling as her fingers lay gently against the glass. "How did this happen?"
"It was inevitable," Jade said, his voice stone cold. "Though we did stop in Baticul, we didn't succeed in speaking to the King. Like Asch said, it was Duke Fabre against the remainder of the court, I'm afraid it was a hopeless venture to begin with."
"But this is terrible!" Natalia continued. "All those soldiers are down there; Asch, that land is going to fall!"
"I know!" Asch gave the window one last frustrated pound. "Noelle, what's the situation in St. Binah?"
"Most of the citizens have been evacuated to Grand Chokmah. We've been bringing them to the Theor Forest where the military has arranged to have them brought into the city."
"That's quite the risk his Majesty is running," Jade commented. "Normally in war time, Grand Chokmah is completely closed off. It becomes an impenetrable fortress."
"There are only a handful of people and the soldiers left there now," Noelle replied. "From what I've been told, Grand Chokmah will be closing off the entrance once the last of them arrive."
"So what's the problem?" Asch inquired.
"It seems the Kimlascan army figured out that the defences in the St. Binah area are weaker, so they're trying to gain ground in that region. The entire city is under siege. The people in St. Binah have enough supplies to last them awhile, and from the looks of things they're fine in terms of defence, but the only way they're getting out is if they board the Albiore."
"So without any of them going by land, how many more trips do you think it'll take to get everyone out?"
"At least two, maybe three or four."
"Noelle, can you send a message to Sheridan with the transmitter?" Asch requested.
"It's no good, I tried earlier; I can't get it to work."
"It's likely due to interference from the battle in this area," Jade commented.
"What do you think Jade?" Asch pondered. "Do you think there's enough time to get everyone out of St. Binah before the land or their defences fall?"
"St. Binah's defences are nothing to laugh at; I don't doubt that they can hold, even given the limited number of people they have to hold them. I think our primary concern is the land falling. I can't be certain but there should be enough time, especially given the fact Noelle doesn't have to pass by to pick us up. That being said, I believe it is imperative that we get those remaining citizens evacuated as soon as possible."
"But what about everyone else?" Natalia asked, her voice still laced with panic, betraying how shaken she was by what was going on below them.
"Yeah," Luke agreed. "What about the people of Engeve? We have to evacuate them too! And we need to find somewhere to bring them if Grand Chokmah is going to be closed off."
"Engeve? What about all those soldiers?" Natalia's protests were directed at the younger redhead. "We need to head to Baticul right away to stop the war!"
"There's no guaranty that we can stop the war in time, even if we do go to Baticul," Luke stood his ground. "We should start with evacuating the people we know we can save, and then we can work on getting the soldiers out of the way."
"There are a lot more soldiers on this field than there are people in Engeve!"
"But even if we could somehow get all the way to Baticul, stop the war and get the soldiers to retreat, what about all the Malkuth soldiers? We leave them to die?!" Luke's voice was steadily climbing alongside Natalia's.
"Emperor Peony doesn't want war. If Kimlasca retreats then so will Malkuth! Then everyone is saved!" Natalia retaliated.
"Except the people of Engeve! They're the ones in the most danger right now!"
"A few hundred farmers are hardly worth the lives of over half the Kimlascan and Malkuth armies!"
Everyone else in the Albiore had fallen silent in the wake of the nobles' quarrel. It was astounding, none of them, Asch included, had ever seen the two of them fight like that before. Though it wasn't unusual to see Natalia that passionate about something, it was the fact that Luke refused to back down that had allowed the fight to escalade to new heights. No one was quite sure how to interject; both of them had very valid points after all.
"It's never going to happen in time!" Luke yelled. "Engeve is a huge source of food for well over half the world. You think it won't be a target of the military as it is? Especially once St. Binah is taken; it'll be Kimlasca's next target! It's not like St. Binah; they don't have walls or soldiers to defend them. If the Kimlascan front gets that far, there won't be anything we can do! We need to get everyone out of there while we still can!"
"If we stop the war, that will no longer be of any concern now will it?" The young princess shot back, her patience with her fiancée's replica growing thinner every second. Just who did he think he was, sentencing thousands of his own countrymen to death?
"The people of Engeve can't defend themselves like the soldiers can," Luke replied, his voice possessing an edge of venom to it. "Weren't you the one who told me to make priorities?"
Natalia fell silent but her hateful stare didn't subside. This was clearly a different situation! They had to help as many people as possible, and the best way to do that was to stop the war. It was so obvious, even a child could see it! It didn't matter; Asch knew it was the best course of action. He was the heir to the throne; he would never abandon his country, not when it needed him so desperately. Luke would simply have no choice but to follow their lead.
"So where are we heading?" Noelle finally asked, being the first to dare break the silence that had filled the Albiore.
"Can you drop us off in Sheridan?" Asch said quietly, his gaze never leaving his brother and his fiancée. "After that, we'll get you to go finish evacuating St. Binah."
"Sure thing, General Frings and that McGovern fellow have things pretty organized. I don't expect there should be any problems," Noelle replied.
"Good," Asch said with a nod.
"So what about us?" Anise asked. "What are we going to do?"
"We're going to pick up the first Albiore, and then we're going to evacuate Engeve."
"What?" Natalia demanded when the answer she had been expected didn't come.
"I'm sorry Natalia, but Luke is right. The people in Engeve are in a lot more danger right now. Even if we went to Baticul, things like this are complicated; you know that. It would take awhile to get worked out, and even longer to get the soldiers to retreat. We need to save those we can right now, and once we do, then we can see about ending the war."
Natalia's fists trembled but she said nothing. This was complete and utter nonsense. Everything was wrong, but why was Asch so intent on making it worse?! It was all Luke's fault. Asch had been doting on his so-called sibling ever since Akzeriuth. Sure maybe Luke hadn't been entirely at fault, but he still bore some responsibility for his actions. Their reactions and attitudes towards Luke hadn't been that out of line; certainly not enough to merit this kind of babying. Didn't Asch see how much he was sacrificing just to make his brother happy? She could handle Luke's new found attitude, she could take being proven wrong, and she could deal with Asch doting on Luke; but to the point of sacrificing lives? When the path they needed to take was clearly laid out in front of them? Maybe what she'd been told wasn't so far off after all. This was going too far, and things were quickly getting out of hand.
Enough was enough.
--
Priorities…
Asch sighed and continued to fiddle with his small golden trinket as he pondered all possible meanings of the word. Luke had put emphasis on it, and whatever he meant, it made Natalia fall silent pretty fast, not to mention ticked her right off. Though he highly doubted he had helped that situation much by siding with Luke, even if it had been the same course of action he had been planning. There was no way around it; it just wasn't possible to stop a war in the time they had to work with. No matter how much Asch hated it, all they could do was get the people of Engeve out of the line of fire. But for some reason, Natalia refused to listen to any of the reasons they had offered. The livid young princess had long since stormed off to one of the cabins, and would probably stay there until they reached Sheridan. He wanted to go talk to her, but before he did, he wanted to know what he was talking to her about.
"Thinking about something?" Tear's voice broke him out of his train of thought. The melodist was seated across from him and her gentle blue eyes held a hint of worry at the redhead's troubled state. It wasn't until she had spoken that Asch realized she was the only one left in the seating area behind the cockpit.
"Yeah, priorities," Asch replied, still subconsciously fiddling with his trinket. His eyes followed the shine of the metal as it bounced around, ironically reflective of his current state of mind.
"What sort of priorities? Are you worried about having disagreed with Natalia? If it's any consolation, I think you made the right decision."
"No, the word 'priorities'," Asch corrected the melodist. "The way Luke said it, and the way Natalia got mad. I can't figure out what he meant, or why it would have upset her like that."
"I see," Tear's reply made Asch look up. The melodist was no longer looking his way but was instead staring out the window.
"Do you know what he meant?"
"I might know why it upset Natalia, but I can't be sure. I wasn't there either," Tear finally admitted.
"What do you think it might be?" Asch inquired.
"I can't say."
"What? Why not?"
"Because Luke made me promise not to tell you," Tear said rather hesitantly. She obviously didn't want to reveal the reason for not answering, but apparently couldn't come up with any sort of believable explanation. Tear never was good with excuses.
Asch eyed the melodist, but it was easy to tell that she had no intention of breaking her promise to his little brother. But why didn't Luke want him to know? What was going on behind his back, or better yet, why did Luke feel he could confide in Tear but not in him?
"Why don't you go ask Luke yourself?" The melodist suggested when she saw how upset Asch had become. "I'm sure he'd tell you if you asked him about it."
"He's sleeping in one of the cabins," Asch replied.
As much as he wanted answers, Asch didn't have it in him to wake his little brother up. Luke's lack of sleep lately hadn't gone unnoticed, but no matter how many times Asch asked him about it, he refused to admit anything was wrong. And yet, it was obvious something was amiss. What else was Luke keeping from him?
Asch let out a sigh and returned to his pondering. Tear watched him as he gazed out the window and into the horizon. They had finally gotten away from the battlefield, but it was something that still weighed heavily on everyone's minds. So many people hung in the balance and it seemed unlikely they could save them all. But somehow, Tear had a sneaking suspicion that wasn't what had Asch so worried, if only from the broken locket he rolled between his fingers.
"Why don't I go get Luke and you can talk with him. You're never going to get anywhere thinking in circles like that," Tear said after a moment.
"No, let him sleep," Asch interjected when the melodist motioned to get up. "He probably needs it. He hasn't really been sleeping very well lately, so let him get some now. We may not have time for it later."
"I suppose you're right," Tear sat back down. "I wonder why he's been having trouble sleeping."
"He hasn't said anything to you?"
"No, nothing." Asch let out a silent sigh of relief at the melodist's reply. So maybe it wasn't just him. But what reason did Luke have to be hiding things? Tear didn't seem to be quite as concerned as he was; maybe he was just blowing things way out of proportion. After all, Luke trusted him… right? "I wonder how long it's been going on," Tear wondered.
"Of course," Asch could have kicked himself for not noticing sooner.
"What? What is it?"
"It's been since around the time Akzeriuth fell," Asch replied.
"You think it has to do with Akzeriuth?"
"It wouldn't surprise me; Luke isn't the kind of person who could get over something like that very easily."
"Are sure it's about Akzeriuth? I mean he's changed a lot since then," Tear commented, her voice becoming quiet.
Tear had a very valid point, Luke had come a long way since then, and if his fight with Natalia had been any indication, he had become a lot stronger. He was determined, desperate even, to save as many lives as he could, and Asch was worried to the extents to which that may drive him, or break him.
"It doesn't matter, he's still Luke," Asch finally answered. Maybe he had changed, maybe he hadn't, but Luke still had the same stubborn tendency to put everyone's happiness before his own. If it really was something related to Akzeriuth that was bothering him, he'd be keeping it to himself. But why wouldn't he even talk about it with his own family?
"I guess you're right," Tear admitted. "But try not to worry so much."
That was easy for her to say.
--
Sheridan was much of what he expected, with none of what he'd hoped for. Guy sighed as he aimlessly wandered the city's streets, hoping beyond all hope that he'd catch a glimpse of red hair, a flash of Jade's blue uniform, the sound of Natalia lecturing Luke in the distance, hell, he'd even settle for one of Anise's bear hugs at this point. Guy shuddered at the thought. He took it back. He didn't need to find them that badly.
Then again, just how badly did he want to find them? Guy wasn't too sure of that answer himself. It was highly unlikely that they wanted to see him; of that much Guy was sure. He may not know exactly what they had overheard, but to have them flat out abandon him like that… they had certainly heard enough. He'd be lucky if they didn't attack him where he stood, forget even talking. Guy could see the look in Asch's eyes already, and just the thought sent chills down his spine. They had every reason to deem him a threat; he couldn't honestly say he'd feel any different if he was in their position. Still, he wanted to talk to them, if nothing else, they deserved a reason.
But whether he wanted it or not, Luke, Asch and everyone else were nowhere to be found. The hangar where the Albiore was kept had been closed and locked, though whether it was empty, or because Iemon and the others had been given a heads up about him, he couldn't be sure. Either way, it told him nothing. Not surprising really, given what was going on with the war and all. Sheridan was the probably the last place they'd be; but he knew they had planned to come back for Ginji once repairs were done on the Albiore, so he thought he might have had a chance to catch up with them. No luck, that window seemed to have already closed. Maybe he'd have better luck in Grand Chokmah, or perhaps in Baticul, even if Guy doubted the safety of the latter option.
A sudden movement just to his left drew the blonde's undivided attention. Who was it this time? These people were starting to try even his seemingly limitless patience. But there was one way to put an end to this once and for all.
Guy spun around suddenly, surprising the figure he had identified. A rather startled middle aged woman staggered back a few steps and dropped the basket she had been carrying.
"I'm sorry," Guy apologized, motioning to help her recover her possessions, embarrassed at his careless assumption. But before he could intervene, the woman had collected all her belongings.
"It's no trouble," the lady said with a smile before continuing on her way.
At least it wasn't another one… Guy let out a sigh; seriously, he'd never had so many stalkers in his life, at least five since he'd arrived in Sheridan alone. Some wore cloaks, others didn't, and they varied in age from a young boy to an elderly lady, but they would all follow him in spite of his best attempts to shake them off. Guy couldn't get any information out of them either, not since he had caught Noir in Daath. What business did the Dark Wings have with him? Oh well, he wasn't getting anywhere just standing around, he might as well find somewhere to stay the night before it got too late.
There were a lot of things Guy had been looking for when he came to Sheridan. But it was on the street leading up to the inn that Guy found himself staring into a pair of very familiar blue eyes. This was the one thing he hadn't been expecting to find.
"Hello, Gailardia."
"…Vandesdelca."
--
Luke brought his hand up to cover the yawn he let out. Despite his extended nap aboard the Albiore, he still felt rather tired. His sleep was still fogged by nightmares, and it seemed like no matter what he did, they just wouldn't leave him alone. Perhaps that was his punishment for what he had done.
"All that sparring must have worn you out, huh?" Anise commented, noticing how he was dragging his feet.
"Yeah, I guess so," Luke answered with a chuckle. The redhead eyed Jade, and was grateful when the Colonel decided not to pry. It was a bad lie, and even he knew it.
"Do you think Noelle will be alright?" Tear asked as everyone made their way through the streets of Sheridan. Though it was only about mid-day, there weren't many people out and about, maybe because of the clouds that hung overhead and their threats of rain. But whatever the reason, at least it made the normally bustling city easier to navigate. Hopefully they could catch up with Ginji soon.
"I'm sure she'll be okay," Asch replied. "She did just fine on her own before, I don't see why she'd have trouble now, as long as she's careful while flying over the battlefield."
"I doubt there's much to be concerned about," Jade stated with a shrug. "The battle will likely die down to some extent once night falls. The explosions will be easier to spot in the dark as well. She's safer now than she was while carrying us."
"I'm still somewhat concerned for her safety," Ion commented.
"Well it's not like there's much we can do from here," Anise pointed out the obvious.
"Shht," Asch harshly hushed everyone and quickly signalled them to take cover behind a nearby building.
"What? What is it?" Mieu bounced. Pre-empting his older brother, Luke grabbed the little creature by the head mid-bounce and forcefully replaced him on the ground. Taking the hint, the little cheagle fell silent. But what had Asch spotted all of a sudden?
"You won't reconsider?" A very familiar voice was carried on the cold breeze. It was Master Van! A feeling of apprehension washed over the man's younger student, a feeling Luke was becoming far too familiar with lately. What was Master Van doing here? Was he trying to make Sheridan fall too? But they had already stabilized the Passage Ring in this area so he couldn't do anything, right? Was he there to stop them from saving the people of Engeve? But how would he know they were here? Luke's head began spinning with an endless tirade of questions that served no purpose but to spur on his already racing heart. His growing anxiety must have been showing, for Tear placed a comforting hand on Luke's shoulder and gave him a gentle smile. Luke took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
Master Van didn't have any way of knowing they would come to Sheridan, so he must be here for some other reason. But who was he talking to? The young noble peeked further around the corner into the virtually empty city street. Luke's heart sank when he saw the second person, for standing in front of his former teacher, was Guy.
Damn it! Why here of all places? Asch cursed to himself as he clutched the second sword at his side. They didn't have time for this! Engeve could fall any day now; they couldn't afford to get caught up in a mess with Van and Guy! Neither of them seemed to have noticed the groups' presence; with any luck things would stay that way, and they may learn a thing or two about what Van's plans were.
"I'm sorry," Guy's response halted everyone's thoughts and drew their undivided attention to the two men in the street. "Even if you do revive Hod, all those people are still gone. No matter what you do, they won't come back. I just can't agree with what you're doing. "
"You'll still side with them, even though they abandoned you?"
"It's not just for them," the blonde finally said. "They share the same beliefs that I do, and they want the same things for this world. So even if Luke and Asch abandoned me, even if they think I'm a murderous spy and are willing to attack me on the spot, I will still defend them."
"They killed your family," Van pointed out, the look on his face growing dark.
"No," Guy shook his head. "Their father killed my family. It's not the same thing."
"But you wanted revenge all the same. Didn't you want to hurt him like you'd been hurt? Show him the suffering he inflicted on you and all the other families of Hod?"
"Not if it means hurting Luke or Asch. I won't make them suffer; they have nothing to do with this."
"You're being rather noble to a family of murderers."
"It was a war," Guy pointed out.
"The slaughtering was needless none-the-less," Van retaliated.
"It doesn't matter anymore; it was a long time ago. I may not like it, and I don't have to accept it, but getting revenge now isn't going to solve a thing!"
"Why doesn't it matter? Because the Score said it would happen? Because the Score said that Hod would fall? Or is it simply because not a soul on this planet did a thing about it?" Van's voice was rising, a rare occurrence in itself for the man who normally had perfect control of any situation he found himself in.
Guy watched his former comrade with mixed emotions: sadness for the person his friend had become, anger at the world that had driven him to these lengths, and hatred, for the people that had taken away his innocence. Yet, beyond all that, Guy nurtured a small feeling of hope, hope that the once bright young boy could be made to understand, to turn away from the destructive path he was on. But the more Van spoke, the more that small flame was smothered.
"Gailardia… we wanted the same things once. Won't you consider joining me? Together we can right the wrongs of your past, right all the wrongs the Score has written for this world. We swore to help each other out, why do you hesitate now?"
"When we last left Baticul, you had promised me you would protect Luke in Akzeriuth; but you left him to die in the passage ring. So tell me, why should I believe you now?"
"It couldn't be helped," Van offered a bit too quickly for Guy's peace of mind. "The boy didn't trust me, he wouldn't come."
"Can you blame him after what you pulled?" Now it was Guy's voice that was beginning to rise. "I'd be worried if he still did trust you after a stunt like that; and it sure as hell didn't stop you from saving Asch!"
"I couldn't have both of them die. Try to understand Gailardia; this is for the greater good, for the freedom of the world. There are bound to be sacrifices along the way."
"Then what's to say I won't become one of those 'sacrifices'?"
"I pledged my sword to your service, to be your protector and to give my life for yours should that day ever come," Van replied. "A lot has happened since then, but I still hold to those words. I will not see you die if there is something I can do. Right now, the best I can do is to have you alongside me, where I can ensure your safety and your happiness."
Guy let out a heavy sigh. "Then as your master, I ask you to stop this foolishness. If you can't do that, then I will return your sword to you."
"That I cannot do," Van said sternly.
"Then I return your sword to you Vandesdelca."
"You always were foolish," Van said coldly, his voice betraying his disappointment. "Your greatest mistake is choosing to stand by an old enemy rather than an old friend,"
"No," Guy retorted, "my only mistake was ever deluding myself into believing Asch was my enemy."
"Should you choose to stand against me the next time we meet, I won't show you any mercy." And with those final words, Van turned around and walked away.
"Farewell Vandesdelca," Guy said softly as he watched the man who had been his closest childhood friend vanish into the grey horizon.
"Well now what?" Guy wondered aloud, still staring down the street where Van had vanished. Given the clouds overhead, it was hard to estimate the time. It must be getting closer to super by now. Guy's stomach rumbled at the thought. He could use a good meal and then he would just have to resume his search. Maybe he would have better luck in Baticul. Given the current war and the fact that it was unlikely Natalia had changed that much in the past few weeks, it was a safe bet they'd be going there eventually.
With renewed resolve, Guy turned around to make his way back to the inn, but instead, he found himself face to face with a shadow from his not-so-distant past.
"A-Asch? Luke? You guys, what are you-"
But before Guy could even get his question out, he found himself staring down the blade of a sword he had seen all too often in his dreams these days. But what in all of Auldrant was it doing here, and why did Asch of all people have it?
'Asch?! What are you doing?!' Luke demanded, infuriated by his brother's harsh actions. Asch had heard the things Guy had said, just like the rest of them. What the hell was he thinking?
'Shut up Luke!' Asch cut off all his sibling's protests with a single sharp command. He didn't budge an inch, and the Jewel of Gardios remained pointed at the blonde. Luke may not like it, but this was necessary.
It was his father's sword. The heirloom of his family that he was supposed to inherit when he came of age and took over the household; a precious treasure that was stolen as a trophy along with his father's head in proclamation of the loss of all he had ever held dear. Guy's clenched fists turned white and it took every drop of the will power he'd built up over the years not to react any further. This was too much. Maybe he had made some mistakes, maybe he did deserve their hatred, but to point his own family sword at him? And in the hands of the son of the man who had killed his family? It was just-
"Guy..." Luke hesitantly began, but was cut off by a sharp gesture from his older brother. Damn it Asch! Luke bored holes in the back of his brother's skull. What was he trying to do? Was this all supposed to be some sort of stupid excuse to finally have at it with Guy?
The blonde eyed his best friend; maybe former best friend, Guy silently reminded himself. Luke seemed willing to talk, but Luke wasn't the one he would have to contend with. Asch wasn't the only one giving him hateful stares. But still, as long as there was that small chance they would listen, maybe it would be worth the effort. None-the-less, as Guy stared down the length of his family's last remaining treasure, he couldn't help but wonder.
Was Asch really his enemy now that he knew the truth?
"I suppose you want an explanation, huh?" Guy managed to choke out. No one dared say a word, but the two emerald daggers before him were enough of an answer for him to find the motivation to continue.
"Van and I have been friends since we were kids," the blonde explained. "We both used to live in Hod along with Cantabile. Van's family technically served mine, but I was the one who looked up to him. Of course, everything changed when the war started. Duke Fabre led the attack, and was the one who killed my family. For a long time, all I could think about was revenge. I wanted to hurt the people who had hurt me; I wanted revenge on your father for what he did to my family. I had planned to kill both of you, to make him go through what I had. Van and I swore to help each other as much as we could, as two survivors of Hod, and as two friends looking out for each other." Guy paused, but the sword Asch was holding didn't budge, so the blonde continued his tale.
"To be perfectly honest, I knew about Akzeriuth, Van had told me long before it happened. I didn't know the details, but I knew what the Score said. But when the time finally came, I started doubting what I wanted to do. I wanted my revenge, but I didn't want to see Luke get hurt. I had tried so hard not to get close to either of you, but I guess I failed," Guy said, his last comment directed solely at his best friend.
"So Van promised me he would make sure that Asch was the sent to Akzeriuth in Luke's place." Guy could almost feel Asch tense up as soon as the line escaped his mouth, and given who was holding the sword, he wondered if it had been a smart idea to say it at all. But if he was going to come clean, he may as well give them the whole truth. "Of course, we all know what really happened. Believe me, I was pissed to high hell with him all the way to Akzeriuth. But I swear, I had no idea what he was planning. I didn't realize that Akzeriuth's destruction was going to be his doing. It's not an excuse, I know it isn't; Akzeriuth is just as much my fault as it is Van's because I wasn't able to stop him. If you don't believe anything else I say, believe that."
That was it; Guy's shoulder's sagged, clearly indicating that he was done. He had nothing else to tell, that was the whole truth; that was how he felt. Now there was nothing left but to wait for Asch to run him through with that sword he was holding.
But much to the former servant's surprise, when the Jewel of Gardios finally moved, it wasn't towards him. Asch withdrew the blade from the blonde's face and flipped it around, skilfully catching the blade without cutting his fingers. Guy could only stare in amazement at the hilt of the sword that was clearly being offered to him.
"What on- After all that… why?" Guy finally managed, accepting the sword from Asch.
Asch remained silent.
"It's because he's going to trust you," Luke provided with a smile, finally understanding Asch's intentions.
"Even though I was going to kill you? Even though I tried to arrange for you to die in Akzeriuth?" Guy still couldn't believe what was happening, this couldn't be real… he must be dreaming. The glistening blue jewel, the shining gold hilt it was wrapped in… there was just no way. But the warm metal hilt in his hand along with the feeling of cold raindrops on his face as they slowly began to fall betrayed the reality he found himself in.
"We knew all that stuff already," Anise pitched in. "Père told us all about it when we were in Baticul."
"But wait, if you already knew… then why didn't you…"
"That was rather cunning of you," Jade commented to Asch who chose to ignore it. Even his compliments sounded insulting. "He was testing your reaction," the Colonel explained.
"Jade?" Guy eyed the colonel whose harsh and condemning gaze from just moments earlier had completely vanished.
"A clever plan I must say," the colonel continued as he used his uniform to wipe the raindrops from his glasses. "It was simple; if you had truly been our enemy then you would have reacted as soon as he pointed the sword at you."
"Yeah," Anise agreed, "and you wouldn't have told us all that stuff. You would have lied and tried to make yourself look good."
"You told us the truth," Ion commented. "Even though it put you at a disadvantage and was more likely to earn you our hatred and distrust. That alone is proof of your integrity."
"I-I don't know what to say," Guy managed.
"Say you won't do it again," Luke teased. "Next time we'll have to send Anise after you."
"Gah! Please don't!" The thought alone sent shivers down his spine.
"But seriously," Luke continued, his smile vanishing in place of the solemn expression that washed over his face. "Don't do that again. I really thought…"
"I won't," Guy cut his best friend off. "I swear, I will use this sword to protect the both of you." Guy nodded to Luke and turned towards Asch who stood alone and still refused to look him in the eye. "Asch… are you okay with this?" He didn't really want to ask, and his question may have just relit the proverbial fire, but he'd rather deal with this now than later.
"You were still honest," Asch finally replied. "Even though every word out of your mouth made me want to run you through, you still said it. So I'll trust you… for now." Asch pulled the matching sheathe from his belt and held it out, his eyes meeting Guy's for the first time since he had handed over the sword. All the sharpness in Asch's eyes was gone, though Guy could still see a flicker of distrust. But distrust, he could handle. Maybe not right now, but eventually. He would prove to Asch that he meant what he had said, that he wanted to protect them... now more than ever. At the very least it was a start.
Guy smiled and reached out to grab the sheathe he was offered, but as soon as he did, Asch's grip tightened.
"But," Asch continued, his intensity reaching an all time high. "If you ever do betray us, next time, I will run you through."
"I wouldn't expect any less," Guy said happily. The redhead let go of the sheathe and allowed him to put his family's -no- his sword away.
"So what's next?" Guy casually inquired. He had no idea why everyone was here in Sheridan or what they had been doing up until this point.
"First I think we should get out of the rain before someone catches a cold," Jade provided as if it had been the most obvious thing in the world. Well, it was comforting to see that he never changed. "Then, provided the weather lets up and it is safe to depart, we will locate Ginji and evacuate Engeve."
"Engeve? What's the matter with Engeve?" Guy asked worriedly.
"Can we save the explanations for once we're inside and dry?" Asch grumbled, upset at being caught out in such terrible weather yet again. He'd had enough rain in Grand Chokmah to last him half a lifetime.
"Umm, I think we may have a problem," Ion hesitantly spoke up.
"What is it?" Tear asked.
"Uh guys…" Anise drew their attention, noticing the problem that Ion was talking about. "Where's Natalia?"