Chapter 84: The Song Remains the Same
Silence dominated the entire rooftop; creeping between each pillar along the perimeter before sweeping across the empty marble platform and into the fading sky, it completely enveloped former Commandant Van Grants. Even the wind succumbed to its enrapture and the world about him was completely still. Alone above the island of Eldrant, he sat on the unforgiving stone surface, awaiting his foes. From his timeless pedestal he had watched events unfold, followed a world on its final stretches: the last legs of a destiny he would unravel by his own hand. His soldiers had all fallen, his God-Generals met their fated ends; he alone remained to defend the future. He and the silence that served as his companion.
Van sensed his opponents long before their footsteps revealed their presence. He felt them approach, a sensation that he once could not perceive but now stood out from the encompassing emptiness. Each step that closed the gap between them was like a pulse that coursed through him, growing stronger with each second destiny grew closer. Next to him, his sword stood plunged into the ground, cutting through the golden sky and gleaming with the hints of red that slowly painted themselves across the horizon. It was a fitting colour; tonight he would deliver the final blow to this cursed world. Tonight he would strike down the last barrier to his success and the sky could continue to bleed until the last of Yulia's curse finally vanished.
Pulling himself to his feet, Van allowed the approaching footsteps to resonate across his ears, piercing the silence enclosing him. Each stride echoed, opening the curtain to the closing act. Salvation or destruction? The final decision would be carved with their blades upon the heart of the world.
Luke could feel his stomach churn as he climbed the stairs. True some of the nausea was left over from the injury that had nearly claimed his life, but more than anything Luke felt the weight of everything they were about to undertake sit uncomfortably in his gut. Were they really ready for this? Were they ready to face Master Van and juggle the fate of the world in their hands? Luke didn't know the answer, but there was one thing of which he was certain: whether they were ready or not was irrelevant. They would stand against Master Van and his replica world and they had no choice but to win. Luke just hoped that the process could somehow spare his former instructor. Why couldn't Master Van accept that the future could change? There had to be some way to convince him to change his mind. Luke wasn't going to give up without trying one last time.
The last step finally passed beneath his feet and Luke caught a glimpse of their battlefield. The roof of the temple spread out unimpeded, save for a tall pillar that stood at each corner. Beyond them all of Eldrant seemed to open out, painting a lifeless tableau against the setting sun. A grim preview of what future awaited the world should they fail.
It wasn't this that had captured Luke's attention, in fact, the sight hardly registered. Every ounce of his attention was focused on the man who stood in the center of the roof, staring them down. In this moment Luke suddenly realized that he hadn't seen his former instructor since his fall at the Absorption Gate. The man that stood before him was a shadow of the person Luke remembered, changed almost beyond recognition. His once neatly bound hair now flew free, falling past his shoulders and framing his hard blue eyes. His Oracle Knight uniform had all but vanished, save for the tan shirt he still wore over his black trousers and old boots. Both his arms were bound by bandages but small breaks in them revealed discoloured skin that shone a deep mauve in some places and pure black in others. Containing Lorelei had warped him, strained his body beyond repair. It was only in his face that Luke found familiar features. Though harsher than what he'd become accustomed to in his youth, Van's blue eyes still shone behind his heavy brows and his tan goatee set below his pursed lips.
"You made it," Van spoke, its familiar deep tones ringing with the faintest hint of surprise. His eyes passed from Asch to Luke then back again, gauging them both. "Though perhaps some with closer calls then others," he added noting the blood that still clung to their clothing.
"Tch," Asch's hand flew to the Sword of Lorelei in a heartbeat.
"I'm impressed," Van's voice cut Asch's motion in its tracks. "I didn't think you would make it all this way, much less together. I was certain that bond of yours would never last, but perhaps I underestimated your will. You've finally made it all the way here to me. Now come, help me eliminate the Planet's Memory once and for all."
"Never." Luke and Asch replied synonymously.
"I should have expected as much," Van said with sigh, lowering the hand he had extended to the boys. "After all these years, Asch, do you still reject me because of that replica?"
"No," Asch answered. "Regardless of what happened, or didn't happen with Luke, regardless of what path life had taken me down, I never would have helped you. What you're doing is wrong! No matter how you tried to blind me, I would never have agreed to this lunacy!"
"Perhaps I was the one who was wrong," Van admitted. "I was wrong to believe that you had what it takes, that you had the strength to do what needed to be done. You're too soft to make the necessary sacrifices to save the world. The only path that remains for this world is the final judgement of the Planet's Memory."
"That's not true!" Tear interjected. Van had to understand, there had to be some way for her to make him see. "The Score Yulia read is only one of many possible futures. Nothing is set in stone; it isn't the planet that decides, it's the people! They have the power to change, to make their own choices and carve their own place in the world!"
"People believe they are choosing of their own free will, but there is always the possibility that their decision was pre-determined," Van pointed out. "They are simply under the guise that the path they follow is of their own making. It was decided for them long before they were born."
"If that was true then your decision to destroy the Score is also pre-determined," Guy argued. "That would mean your plan follows the Planet's Memory too!"
"That argument is meaningless," Van returned. "Whether it is by design or not, once I have destroyed Lorelei, the Planet's Memory will be no more. Then the new world will be allowed to survive."
"I expected more from a man as intelligent as yourself," Jade stated simply. "All things will fade and die in time. This is an inevitable fact of life, one that will not change no matter how you struggle. At the very least people have the right to choose their own path to destruction."
"And I should expect as much from a Necromancer." Van's hard eyes challenged Jade and the clash of wills sent energy roiling across the battlefield. "Still, whether anyone desires it or not, whether the planet itself wants to or not, it is bound to follow its Memory so long as such a thing still exists. I will wipe this slate clean and allow for a truly new future. As it is now... the world has no alternative."
"You're wrong," Luke argued. "We believe that the future is one of infinite choices, one that only we can decide on for ourselves... and we're willing to make that gamble."
"As I expected," Van stated with a mild sigh. "It seems we simply can't see eye to eye. I shouldn't be surprised that it has come to this."
"Please Master Van," the younger redhead pleaded. "I know things don't always turn out how we hope they will, and I know that there are times we want to believe that there was no other way than for things to have happened as they did. It's easier to believe that things are pre-determined than to accept that our choices have led us down the paths we're on, to do the things we've done... but it's because we make mistakes that we can make better choices next time. It's because the possibilities for the future are endless that we can dream for tomorrow. You asked me before, but this time I'm the one asking you: please join us! Let us show you that the future isn't set in stone!"
"And here I thought you might have finally rid yourself of that pitiful naivety," Van replied. "The world will not change, the future will not change. I refuse."
All the tension in Luke's posture melted, the desperate energy melting away to a solid will as a fire sparked within him. Drawing his sword, Luke pointed it at Van, all of his energy coursing through the weapon, mustering his determination at the tip that sliced through the air. "If that's the case," Luke said, his tone unwavering. "Then we will face you with everything we have."
"Oh?" Van spoke, intrigue in his voice. "You're rather quick to concede your ideals."
"No, I will not give up on the things I believe," Luke fired back. "I will accept that you are no different than we are, and that like us, you can't concede your ideals either. Neither of us will give up on what we think is right, what we know to be necessary for the future of this world... that's why we've come to this point."
"Strong words, but you may very well be fighting to protect an empty future. Your path could easily be the wrong one."
"Maybe so," Asch replied, standing next to his sibling. "It could be that the path we're on is one of destruction, but then again, maybe it isn't. That's the point; we don't know what the future will bring. Our path may be the wrong one, but it's still the one we've chosen for ourselves!"
"Then come!" Van shouted, grabbing the sword that still sat plunged into the stone roof. "Destroy me for that future of yours!"
The power rolled from the former Commandant, and even as Asch charged in he could feel the raw will coming from Van. When his first strike was met, the ice in Van's eyes pierced him with the startling realization that until this point, he had never really fought Van seriously. Even their previous battle was nothing by comparison. The weight behind Van's strikes, the fluidity with which he moved, countering each person as they attacked in turn, leaving not so much as the whisper of an opening left Asch without any doubts that they would be facing Van at his fullest strength... and that it was not going to be an easy fight.
Asch unleashed a flurry of strikes, each effortlessly parried by his foe, but the redhead refused to let up the pressure. He could see the amusement in Van's eyes and it only drove him onward. He wasn't going to let Van toy with him, play him like he knew his instructor always had. This time was different and he was strong enough to stand on his own. Feinting left, Asch swung his blade down on Van but was blocked with ease.
"Who do you think taught you the sword?" Van taunted. "Do you really think you stand a chance at defeating me?"
Asch's eyes narrowed and the fire in them doubled. "I don't have to," he replied.
The young monarch tried to break through but Van countered, throwing the boy off-balance. A quick sweep of his blade from the left all but disarmed Asch and Van continued his assault. He found Asch staring him down, but making no move in his defence.
Resistance exploded against Van's blade and Guy's sword barely halted Van's attack. Breaking through the brief opening, Asch lunged forward, his sword grazing its target as the former Commandant leapt backwards, distancing himself from the pair.
"You've grown weak," Van spat, sidestepping the arte that Jade loosed against him. The icicles rained to the ground, shattering harmlessly against the stone. "You can't even defend yourself; I'm disappointed. I expected greater things from you, Asch."
"It's not weakness," Asch fired back, readying his blade. "It's trust. I'm not up here fighting alone; I have friends that I know will watch my back and compensate for my weaknesses. That's why I don't have to surpass you on my own, together we will defeat you."
"You're a fool."
"No Vandesdelca," Guy finally replied. "You're the fool. You're the one who has abandoned the world and everyone in it. You're the one who gave up on the people important to you!"
Guy charged his former attendant, supported by Asch and Luke, who joined him on either side. Behind them Jade and Anise were providing an array of offensive artes while Tear and Natalia both offered supporting ones, all while keeping everyone free of injury. Despite what should be overwhelming odds in their favour, Van was too quick and too experienced to fall for any of their usual tactics. Natalia's arrows met nothing but air, and if Jade's artes landed, it was usually dangerously close to his allies, rather than his foe. Van had long since mastered directing the flow of battle and he used their numbers against them. They had to watch out for each other as much as they had to watch out for his attacks.
Those attacks were nothing to scoff at either and each hit was draining the blond. That Van had yet to use any artes of his own was starting to worry Guy. Van was conserving his energy, biding his time while they mounted their fruitless offensive. If this kept up, they would be too exhausted to fend off Van's offensive when it came. They had to find a way around his defence, another opening in his carefully guarded wall that they could slip through. One chance, that's all he needed!
Switching from her artes Anise jumped in the fray. With one of Jade's fonic artes running toe to toe with Tokunaga, she lunged at Van only to meet nothing but air. She swerved to the right, nearly falling from her doll's back as she dodged his counter strike. The wind from the sword sent a chill down her spine but she had little time to shake off the feeling before being forced back again. Taking advantage of her retreat, her foe chased her down, leaving her more unstable with each hit he dodged. Trying to escape to the left, Anise was cut off by Van who knocked Tokunaga out from under her, his blade swinging mercilessly down on the now defenceless girl.
Asch's sword met his attack, the power of the strike resonating down the defending weapon and paralyzing its wielder for just long enough. In a swift motion Van's free hand met his student's gut and the air flew from Asch's lungs. Guy dove into the fray, throwing Van's ensuing strike off course from its target, in a single clean hit. Swinging around with his sheathe, Guy forced Van to leap backwards and away from his recovering comrades. Desperate to ensure his friend's safety, Guy went on the offensive, determined to occupy Van's attention as Natalia rushed in to aid the fallen pair.
"Sacrifices are necessary to create a new world," Van stated, facing down his childhood friend. "There can be no birth without death, no creation without destruction. If you cannot accept that, then you will never find a future for the world."
"Is that all anyone is to you?" Guy demanded. "Is that all that Cantabile's friendship... that Legretta's love ever amounted to? Just another sacrifice for this so called world of yours?"
"They were prepared for their fate the day they agreed to follow me," Van answered, as pitiless as the attack Guy hastened to dodge. "They acknowledged and accepted this outcome from the very beginning." Swinging his sheath around, Van sidestepped Guy's attack, opening himself to the blade that followed it. Van was faster than Guy gave him credit for and his strike grazed the man's side.
"How do you expect to build a new world on feelings like that?" Guy asked. "Your sword is one that was born to protect, Vandesdelca, not one meant for destruction. If you truly believe those things... then you've no right to wield it any longer."
"I've no need of your approval, you are no longer my liege-lord," he retorted, quickly parrying Guy's strike and forcing the blond on the defensive.
"No I'm not," Guy acknowledged. "But I'd hoped you might still count me your friend, someone whose words were worthy of consideration at the very least."
"The destruction of the Planet's Memory is all that matters," Van's icy voice sliced through the blond's words. "So long as the world is freed from Yulia's curse, there's no need to be concerned for anything else."
"Then as one who still considers you a friend, I will put an end to this madness," Guy fired alongside his offensive.
His foot rasped across the marble, bringing Guy up short as he ducked under Van's swing. Before the man had time to adjust, Guy slipped behind his defences. Too close for his sword to connect, Guy's sheath collided with Van's chin sending him reeling back a few paces. Guy swung his blade around, but Van had already recovered and was waiting for the blow.
Van's counter was intercepted by Luke and Guy took advantage of the opening to strike back. Jade launched an arte but the spikes that rose from the earth simply gave Van a platform from which to stage his retaliation. Luke met his assault, deflecting the weight of the blow and throwing his instructor off balance. Recovering even faster than before, Van's second attack came flying at his head but Luke ducked and struck back. Van defended but the parry was too weak and Luke threw him open, forcing Van to jump back to avoid the strike.
Van was surprised when the hesitancy in Luke's strike hadn't come and the fire in his foes eyes left the former Commandant to wonder where the weak replica that had once clung to his heels had gone. It was a question he was left to ponder as he continued to defend against his student's ensuing assault. Luke's style had changed somewhat, mingled with another's while under different tutelage and in many ways his swordsmanship was more refined than even his original's. The replica he had so quickly written off had grown into something more than he had ever intended.
Refined or not, he was still a mere replica, a failed creation that had impeded Van every step of the way and though he had proven he had skill, he wasn't a match for Van. Luke's muscles tensed, betraying the power behind the next strike. Ready for the force his student had somehow harnessed, Van readied his defence. Enough was enough and this mistake of his ended now.
Luke's blade ducked around the back, assaulting from the opposite side as he redirected his attack. Caught off guard by the feint, Van's resulting block was weak and Luke broke through his guard. Lunging forward, Luke was thrown off balance when his strike was dodged and the retaliating arte sent the young noble skidding across the ground.
"Still as readable as ever," Van stated, readying his blade anew. "You always did broadcast your intentions for the world to see. Here I was thinking you might have actually scraped together some talent."
"I don't care what you think of me," Luke replied, spitting the blood from his mouth. "I don't need your acknowledgement anymore. I have more than enough reasons to live and to build a future for myself. So whether you think I have talent or not, whether you think I'm Asch's equal or not, I'm done letting you or anyone else decide my value. No one will decide my worth but me."
"I think we've dragged this out long enough," Jade announced, his blast forcing Van away from Luke and drawing the man's attention. Drawing his spear, Jade met Van's attack blow for blow, dancing around the man who chased him down. Truly Van wasn't an opponent to be underestimated, but Jade hadn't mounted such a fruitless offensive without purpose. Each attack, each strike confirmed what he suspected, and what he was sure Luke and Asch had picked up on already. Seventh fonons seeped from the commandant with each hit; Lorelei's power was slowly leaking from him as the battle drew on. "Don't you think it's about time you concede defeat?" The Colonel asked.
"Don't begin with me Necromancer," Van retorted. "You're a fool if you think I'm on my last legs. I'm just getting started."
"That is irrelevant," Jade stated, striking forward and forcing Van back, narrowly dodging the arte that ensued. "You have no way of destroying Lorelei without Luke and Asch's hyperresonance, that's why you've kept them alive this whole time, is it not? Neither intends to cooperate with you, so you have no way of advancing your plans. You've already lost." An evil grin spread across Van's face.
"That's why I called you a fool!"
In a split second, the power that had been meaninglessly seeping from Van converged on the man and the recoil swept across the battlefield nearly knocking Asch from his feet. Damn it! What had just happened? All the fonons were suddenly focused, channelled through their opponent whose increase in strength was so intense that Asch could feel it. Just what the hell had Van just done?
"I no longer need your power to destroy Lorelei," Van stated plainly, a wave of fonons blasted across the field as he swung his sword through the empty air. "You've arrived too late: Lorelei is already dead. His thoughts, his will are no more, he is nothing but an expendable power for me to use at will."
'This is... Lorelei's power?' Luke asked.
'What else could it be? As much as I hate to think he's actually using it... you can tell too right?'
'Yeah... This isn't going to be easy.'
'No one ever said it would be,' Asch answered.
"You think that's enough to scare us off?" Asch taunted. "You're slipping if you think the light show is going to make us surrender."
"You're the ones who are slipping. There is no longer any chance of victory for you, you are simply too foolish to see it."
"I told you before," Asch shouted as he charged Van. "I'm not giving up!"
"Oh?" Van easily parried Asch's attacks, but the boy was unusually persistent; less put off then such toying typically left him. "And just what do you intend to do?"
"Well I'm going to start by killing you and seeing how that works," the redhead fired with a surprisingly level headed air about him. "Then I'll go from there!"
Van sidestepped Asch's attack, throwing the noble sideways. His knee came up, but Asch was quicker the second time, throwing his weight to the side and crashing to the ground rather than take the hit. Rolling a few paces he flew back up to his feet as Van's voice filled the air.
In a spilt second Asch found himself back on the ground, this time pinned under Luke's weight as a blast of Seventh fonons erupted from the earth where he'd just stood. The pillars erupted all around them, painting the battlefield as they raced to the heavens.
"Careful," Luke's voice was barely a whisper in Asch's ear. "Master Van knows all the Fonic hymns, just like Tear does."
Damn, Asch cursed under his breath, sparing a second to ensure no one had taken a hit from the arte that had just torn through them. He'd forgotten that fact, if he'd ever actually known it. Asch realized he still knew so little about the man they fought. As much as he'd like to deny it, Van's existence had profoundly and inexorably influenced his own, and yet he knew next to nothing about him. For better or for worse, it was thanks to this man that he had found himself on the path he walked today, so why did he not understand what made Van tick?
Deep down, Asch knew the answer, and like so many other things, it stemmed back to the frightened child he had been for so long. At first he'd been too young, too focused on the comfortable shell in which he'd lived his life to consider the circumstances of his new instructor. Then the kidnapping had occurred. At first he'd been scared, uncertain and ultimately afraid of finding out why Van had done the things he'd done. By the time Akzeriuth had rolled around it was too late for any of that to matter anymore. He understood Van's past, seen through his friends the agony Van had lived through but even then he hadn't stopped to try and understand any of it. Why was Van so completely devoted to building his replica world? Why was any other course of action unacceptable? What scars was Van trying to mend with this destruction... with his desperate need to have everything start over? Perhaps it was pointless to ponder such things now, and maybe it was too late for Asch's feelings to get through, but at the very least he wanted to try. He wanted to see the person beyond the radical ideas, beyond the cruel things he said and the crueller things he had done. They had started as student and teacher, now they faced each other as enemies... as equals, but whether it was by his design or not, Van had been the one to lead him to this place.
Asch wanted to see the person Luke still called 'Master.'
Van began to sing again, but Tear's voice mingled with Van's baritone and the melodist's brother was quick to jump aside as several blades of fonons converged on empty air, narrowly missing their mark. Wasting no time, Tear flew forward with a second arte that was met by Van's barrier. In the momentary opening, Van struck but Tear was prepared and she narrowly dodged it, the tip of her staff coming down on Van's arm. The skin hidden beneath the bandages resisted the attack and Tear was forced back several paces where Luke joined her assault.
Tear flew forward once more, putting all her feelings behind each strike. All the uncertainties she had entertained along the way here were gone. Lost in the flurry of reactions, there was no hesitancy in her movements or regret in her heart. All this time she had been afraid, scared that when the time came she wouldn't be able to face her brother, to look him in the eye and put an end to his life. Now that she was here, now that she could look at him and see the satisfaction behind his neutral expression, she knew that she could face him. Van had chosen this path; and though he had done many terrible things along the way, he had poured his heart into making it here, into defending a future he earnestly believed in. As his sister, she would not insult him by giving him anything short of her all. She would show him the heart she had put into her future as well and let their battle decide the outcome.
His little sister continued to attack wordlessly, but the passion he found behind her attacks could have filled entire conversations. Gone were the reservations, the cold calculated movements that Van had once expected of her. So they continued to converse as strike after strike was exchanged, each blow painting the heart he found pinned on his sister's sleeve. Yet there was none of the weakness he expected from this development, none of the rash or foolish mistakes that such emotions entailed. Before him was a woman who had not only discovered her emotions, she had conquered them.
You've grown, Mysterica.
Tear was forced back several paces and Van retreated from the space between them where Jade's arte landed. Van swung his sword, sending with it a second wave of fonons that blew like a fierce wind, knocking Natalia's arrows out of the air and forcing the entire lot of them back. Tokunaga was tossed by the strike, sending Anise crashing into Guy and both fell hard on the stone beneath them. Tear retreated to tend to the injured duo.
'Looks like we're up,' Luke stated.
'Yeah,' Asch agreed. 'How about we show Van what this journey has really taught us?'
'You know I'm game for that,' Luke fired back, catching Asch's train of thought. 'Let's show him exactly what he's playing with.'
Luke was the first to intervene when Van tried to attack the injured pair and Asch was quick to provide backup for his replica. Van struck at Asch but was easily dodged. Feinting Van tried to catch his student off guard but Asch saw through his ruse and parried, allowing Luke to counter and force Van back. The former Commandant attacked with a blast of fonons but the pair had already slipped behind him. He swung around and forced them back but they were quickly back on the offensive.
Van retaliated, shattering his opponents' attempts with ease, but with each failed attack he grew increasingly curious. He'd credit his students, there was no denying they had talent, but the degree to which they were evading him was starting to be disconcerting. Why were they proving so hard to pin down? Every feint was predicted, each block was countered perfectly... there was no way they should know his style well enough to predict his moves on the level he was witnessing. They were reading him too well.
Swinging his sword forward, Van unleashed an unexpected arte mid-strike. The boys dodged in opposite directions, retaliating from each side and he stepped forward to escape their attack. How could they have anticipated-?
Of course, Van spun around knocking both boys back with a massive blast of fonons. Foolish of him to have overlooked such an obvious fact: it wasn't his style or swordsmanship they were reading. They could read the way he channelled Lorelei's power because that power was a twin to their own. It simplified matters, really. If he was unable to fool them, then he simply had to crush them head on.
Searching deep within himself Van found the source of his power. Effortlessly he coaxed the fonons forth; there was no resistance to impede him, no struggle against his inevitable victory, simply a flawless obedience, what he'd expect from any fonon he summoned. The Seventh Fonons poured forth from within, flooding his body and melting into his extremities, swirling about him chaotically until the only thoughts that flooded his mind were the memories such a sensation invoked.
He was not the same pathetic young boy who had been forced into all those experiments years ago. In the aftermath of that horrific day, Van had sworn it would be the last time. The last time such power would be beyond his control, the last time it would be used for anything outside his own making. He would destroy each and every one of the fools who clung mindlessly to the Score and who revelled in the destruction it brought about. His revenge would come not just to them, but to the entire cruel existence that would force such a fate upon a child. Then over their corpses he would build a world where such things did not exist, that would not repeat the same foolish mistakes unto eternity. That had been his vow the day he had failed to protect those he loved and he would hold to it until there was no breath left in his body.
Van launched himself forward and Asch struggled under the weight of his attack. For a moment Van could have sworn his student took on a golden hue and he retreated as a multitude of the fonons he had summoned were all but dissipated. Asch cursed, barely able to put a dent in the mass for his attempt to reroute Lorelei's power. They couldn't just leave Van to abuse Lorelei that way! No, as it was they weren't equipped to do anything about it, but that was going to change right now! If Van wanted to play that way, then Asch had a few tricks up his sleeve too.
"Luke!" Asch called, launching the Sword of Lorelei into the air.
"Foolish boy!" Van sneered, heading Luke off, his eye never leaving the sword. He hadn't forgotten the ruse that had bested him the last time they'd crossed blades. It had caught him off guard then, but it was an easy tactic to intercept. "You didn't think that trick would work again this time, did you?"
"Of course not!" Asch shouted, the smug grin on his face sending Van's thoughts askance. From the corner of his eye, Van saw an object flash by him. A glance over his shoulder revealed the replica with just as much satisfaction painted across his face. Impossible! A feint?
Asch snatched the Jewel of Lorelei from the air, and with a leap caught the blade, he himself had launched.
'It's all up to you now,' Asch fired and was immediately flooded as Luke took control of his actions. It was a simpler technique than Asch thought it would be to break down the Jewel into its fonons, but one that he had never bothered to learn. Luke expertly tuned into their fon slots and unleashed the arte. The Jewel in Asch's hand shattered into a mass of glowing fonons that converged within the Swords hilt. Both of them felt the Sword pulse, the Jewel reforming and locking into place creating the Key of Lorelei that hadn't existed since Yulia herself had held it.
Luke retreated, fighting the weariness that flooded him. Across from him he could see the Key glowing in Asch's hand and the satisfaction in that accomplishment alone gave him some energy back. Now they were ready. It was time to take Master Van down!
"You've figured out how to revive the Key, but it's of little use to you now," Van stated with enough satisfaction rattle Luke's burst of confidence. What did he mean? He'd tried all this time to seize the Key... it must factor against him somehow.
"You expect us to believe that?" Anise asked sceptically, finally back on her feet. "After all the effort you put into chasing Asch down and trying to steal it, you really think we're going to believe it's not dangerous to your plans?"
"Believe what you will, it's of no consequence to me," Van replied.
"You're bluffing," Guy called.
"You're free to find out for yourself, if you can!"
Van attacked and this time Luke was ready for it. He parried the strike but still felt himself pinned under the massive force behind Van's attack. Guy jumped in but was quickly met by an arte that blasted him skyward. Righting himself midair, Guy landed on his feet but found himself on the defensive upon landing. Natalia fired a volley of arrows that did little save force the commandant to re-adjust his assault.
"What do you think, Jade?" Asch asked, stepping back from the fray for a moment, offering his support with artes alongside his older companion. He was rattled by Van's claims, and even more so by the power their opponent was suddenly putting out. He and Luke could barely get a grasp on the fonon flow anymore, there was just too much going on all at once to single out any one arte from the hoards of others waiting in the wings. Even from a distance it was proving impossible to read. Van had seen through that tactic too. They had the Key now; they just needed some way to get through his defences!
"What concerns me more than his claims regarding the Key is the way he is so freely wielding Lorelei's power," Jade replied between castings. "How is it possible for him to harness such a large amount of power from Lorelei without encountering resistance from the being?"
"I told you, didn't I?" Van cut in, lunging for the Necromancer and halting his arte mid-cast. Jade easily sidestepped the strike and went on the offensive. "Lorelei is already dead."
"What do you mean by that?" Tear demanded.
"Lorelei is no more, his existence has vanished. All that remains is a mass of expendable fonons for me to command."
"Impossible!" Natalia insisted. There was no way that Lorelei could truly have perished. Surely Van was trying to sew confusion among them. If Lorelei were gone, then they had arrived too late! Then everything they had worked towards would all be for naught. Natalia refused to believe that all their hard work would lead them to an end like this!
"Do you finally understand what that means?" Van asked. "It is now impossible for your world to survive. There's no longer any way for you to win. Even if you defeat me, the world will destroy itself to try and compensate for the lost Seventh Fonons. That is why the Key is of no consequence to me anymore. There is no longer a Lorelei to free."
"No," Luke argued.
"Deny it all you will, but a replica world is the only way for this planet to have a future," Van insisted, his tone nothing short of malicious.
'No...' Luke continued privately, barely mustering the concentration for such an effort before finding himself pinned under Van's assault. There was no mistaking the expression on his former instructor's face. It was smug, relishing in a victory he was sure he'd finally attained. Why had Master Van reached that conclusion? 'He's wrong.'
Luke didn't harbour any doubts about that fact. As sure as he was still breathing, Lorelei was alive. He could still feel it; a familiar presence that existed at the back of his mind if he dug deep enough. It lingered quietly, so frail that a wisp of thought might sweep it away entirely, but the entity Luke had come to know was still there. They hadn't lost hope yet!
'Yeah,' Asch concurred. 'Lorelei may not have the strength to exert himself, or to resist what Van's doing to him, but he isn't gone completely. We still have a chance!'
Luke nodded in agreement. 'Then let's not waste it!'
Luke charged forward and Asch fell back, providing support with his artes. Jade could tell Asch knew none would hit, rather he focused on forcing Van into a position that would give Luke an opening. Seeing the boys' determination, Jade renewed his assault as well, and everyone followed suit. They might not know the particulars, but after coming this far they all trusted Luke and Asch's judgement in the matter. If they were still willing to fight, if they would continue to defy Van's plans for his replica world, then Jade, at the very least would continue to support them. Even if everything Van said was true, and they had lost their chance to preserve the future, as long as those two continued to fight, so would the rest of them. Though Jade doubted such was the case. Asch and Luke... they whose existence held the world in its grasp knew better than anyone Lorelei's fate, and it was not going to end at the hands of Van Grants.
Van was easily holding his own against all seven of them and that left Asch worried. It took Luke, Guy and Anise just to keep up with him in the fray, and that was with Natalia and Tear constantly focused on healing the injuries they were steadily incurring. His and Jade's artes took too long; by the time they were cast, Van knew what was coming and was clear of their trajectory. They didn't have the time for this! Lorelei may not be dead yet, but even he could tell the being was teetering dangerously on a precipice and if this kept up too much longer, Van really will have won.
What puzzled Asch was why Lorelei was in such a state. Sure he had been confined within Van, but that didn't differ from his captivity in the core by much. Lorelei may have worn himself out from fighting his captor, but this was beyond sheer weariness. It was beyond Van using up his power. Something else had happened that had consumed Lorelei's strength so drastically.
You've arrived too late: Lorelei is already dead. His thoughts, his will are no more, he is nothing but an expendable power for me to use at will.
Of course! The realization dawned on Asch that this was a recent development. After all, Van had set traps for them here in Eldrant, why bother doing such a thing if their presence didn't make a difference? No... it had happened very recently, in a moment that Asch would never be able to forget. Lorelei had been the one to save Luke. When Luke had been dying in his arms, it was Lorelei that brought him back from the edge. Lorelei had healed his wounds and guided Luke back to them. In exchange it was Lorelei who had taken Luke's place on the precipice. He had exhausted all the strength that he had left, leaving him in a state where he had no choice but to submit completely to Van's whims and commands. He had almost sacrificed his very existence to spare Asch's little brother. But why?
If Lorelei was so desperate to save Luke, there must have been some kind of purpose. There must be some reason that it was critical for Luke to survive, no matter the cost. Could it be... Luke was the one that needed to free Lorelei? Asch didn't need to think on it long; he realized that he had already known the answer. It had to be Luke. Luke who was born outside of the Score's confines, who was born into a world of endless possibilities... he had to be the one to open the door to the future!
Finally understanding what needed to be done, Asch returned to the fray. Running alongside Jade's arte, he hurled himself at his former instructor. Anticipating Van's dodge, the redhead landed on the stone ground and swung around, sweeping with the blade that forced his foe back another several paces. Asch shifted his weight and threw himself at the retreating commandant. The Key bathed in the light of the familiar fonons, slicing through Van's barrier like water and leaving a gash in the man's shoulder. Van stumbled back a pace but recoiled faster than Asch could have anticipated with an arte that left him scrambling to evade.
"Asch!"
Luke jumped in, deflecting the shot intended for his sibling. He fought back Van's assault, able to keep up with the man whose injured shoulder had slowed him just enough. Flowing with the momentum of battle, Luke thought only of pushing Van back, each step was another small victory, as long as he could continue, as long as he could keep moving forward he knew that no matter how insurmountable the odds were, they would eventually get through. They were so close Luke could feel it! He wasn't going to let their hopes and dreams slip through his fingers now!
Luke felt the fonons begin to swirl about but paid them no mind, there were so many Seventh Fonons abound from Van's manipulation of Lorelei that to try and make sense of them took too much concentration away from what he was doing. Van countered with an upswing and Luke spotted his opening. The arte came out of nowhere and Luke hastened to get out of its path, the process of shifting his momentum threw the young noble dangerously open. An evil grin swept across Van's face.
"Watch out!"
Luke found himself flung to the ground, protected by the silhouette of his sibling that now overshadowed him. Several drops of blood hit the marble surface next to him.
"Asch! Are you-"
"I'll live," Asch replied, his hand slipping upwards and detaching Luke's grasp on his blade.
"Asch what are you-?"
"It's your turn Luke," Asch stated simply. His free hand slipped the Key of Lorelei into his brother's, and closed Luke's fingers around it. "It's your turn to show Van the world you dream of. Show him a future filled with endless possibilities."
"But- But you're-" Luke's voice shook as he watched more blood spill onto the marble below.
"Relax, I told you, I'll live," Asch answered, flinching as the cut across his back insisted on reminding him of its presence. "We're finishing this together, right?"
"Right," Luke answered, determination painting the smile across his face.
Standing up, Luke swung the Key of Lorelei through the air, bringing it to a tight stop as the air behind it whipped in pursuit. The blade moulded to his hand, responding to his slightest whim. It power radiated up into Luke, feeding the fire that spilled out from him and in exchange Luke fed the sword his feelings. He wanted to protect everyone... but in reality that didn't even begin to cover how he felt. Right here, right now, staring his destiny eye to eye, Luke realized he wanted so much more. Everyone who had ever helped him, everyone who had ever offered him a hand back up when he'd fallen, he wanted to show them all that he had the strength to make their efforts, their sacrifice worthwhile. For those that they'd lost, and those that continued living, Luke wanted a world worthy of their legacy. He wanted to carve a place where people could be happy, where everyone he loved could continue to smile and laugh as they built a future that was all their own. He wanted to protect not only his friends, not only his family but all the possibilities that their lives would entail. Yes, this was the blade that would answer his dreams, it would carry his burdens and carve his hopes onto the very fabric of the world itself.
Asch stood up, but the pain radiated up through his shoulders from where Van's sword had landed. The wound was deeper than he given it credit for and he could feel the blood running down his back. Gripping Luke's sword in his hand, Asch willed the pain away. He wasn't going to let Luke carry this fate alone. Taking a step forward, every muscle spasmed in protest and overwhelmed, Asch dropped to one knee.
"Asch!" Natalia ran to her fiancé's side. Her heart set itself racing when her hands met his coat, already wet with the blood he was losing.
"Same weakness for your replica as always," Van commented, disappointed lingering in the depths of his voice. "You consistently fail to see the bigger picture wherever he's concerned. You've let yourself be blinded."
"Shut it," Asch spat, flinching as Natalia attempted to reach the gash. "I don't want to hear anything from you about being blinded."
"Have it your way," Van replied, his voice sent ice crawling down Luke's back. Shaking off the sensation with a shudder, Luke barely had time to contemplate the dangerous energy radiating from his opponent. Arm raised, Van's sword struck down towards the undefended couple and Luke's blade arrived just in time to parry the hit. Van's empty fist collided with Luke's arm, throwing the youngest noble aside. Unable to react in time, Asch and Natalia took Van's following arte head on and the pair went skidding across the marble surface, leaving a trail of blood in their wake.
"Damn it!" Luke cursed, charging Van before the man could follow up on his assault. From the corner of his eye he could see Natalia and Asch move, though their movements were obviously pained. They were down but not out; Luke barely had the chance to let out the breath he'd been holding before he found himself on the defensive again. Struggling to keep up with Van's assault, he spared his full attention just long enough to see Tear safely reach the fallen couple. She'd get them fixed up; Luke just had to buy her some time!
The Key of Lorelei in hand and with Guy and Anise at his sides, Luke turned his attention to forcing Van back. Enthralled in a world of action and reaction, Luke let his instincts govern his movements as his hits flowed from one to the next. Luke honed in on his opponent, following him when Guy or Anise's attack pushed him in one direction or another. He wasn't going to let Master Van hurt anyone he cared about ever again. This was their journey, their fight and if it took everything Luke had he would see it through until the end!
The Key of Lorelei pushed forward and Van's barrier melted beneath it. Luke felt his hit connect; the mass of Seventh Fonons tied together by Yulia's hymn was no match for Lorelei's blade, proof poured in the form of the blood that seeped into the fraying bandages around Van's arm. Though stitched within seconds by the fonons that ran rampant within Van, the stain betrayed the strike. Slightly dishevelled from the hit, Van's ensuing strike sent Guy reeling and Luke picked up the slack countering with a will on par with his foe's. Their clashing swords rang across the empty air, singing a requiem upon the empty island below.
With every attack that connected to Van's, Luke felt a pulse, as if his heart beat in time to the Key's strikes. Each pulse flooded Luke with heat, gentle and warm at first, it slowly intensified until Luke could distinctly feel each clash between him and Van. What was going on? He knew the feeling that stirred with each hit. It was one with which he had become so intimately familiar it was impossible to ignore. What was Lorelei suddenly reacting to?
Tear's gentle voice filled the air, and Luke instantly recognized the 4th hymn. Its healing effect spread out like the glyph that lit the ground and while it was focused on Asch and Natalia, Luke felt his own energy returning. Gathering the newfound strength that flooded him, Luke threw everything, his heart, his dreams and each and every one of his friends' wills behind his attack. Anticipating the assault, Van raised his sword to block.
The second their blades met, Luke felt his entire body resonate along with the Key of Lorelei in his hands. Van leapt back in surprise, which was more than enough for Luke to confirm his suspicions. This was unlike anything that had happened until this point: Luke had very distinctly felt Lorelei stir. Even Asch's mind had sharpened, alerted to the sensation they had both experienced. Luke stared at his blade, the Jewel still pulsing at the heart of the sword in which it lay, still beating in time with his –no- with Lorelei's heart. Silence swept across the battlefield, and the pulse deadened. Luke attacked again, but the sensation did not repeat, and despite his efforts, he felt Lorelei slip away once again.
Why? Luke mustered all the attention he could spare from his battle with Van to ponder the strange occurrence. They had gotten a response from Lorelei, but how? What had separated that one strike from the countless others that still rang a steady beat throughout the Key. What had dragged the dying creature back from the brink, even for just that brief second?
'Tear,' Asch's voice rang across Luke's mind.
Of course! Luke swung widely, forcing Van to leapt backwards to dodge the swing and ensuing arte. It was the Key that had been calling out to Lorelei. The Key of Lorelei was part of the pact between him and Yulia, he had no choice but to answer to it. The beating he felt was Lorelei being forced to respond, but only barely. It wasn't enough by itself. Luke needed the other half of that pact. He needed-
"Tear!" Luke called out. "You need to sing the Grand Fonic Hymn!"
Tear looked up from her charges just long enough to meet Luke's eyes before he was under her brother's assault again. The Grand Fonic Hymn, at a time like this? Asch and Natalia were both still injured, and her brother's attacks didn't show any signs of letting up. Besides, she had never sung the entire hymn before, and she couldn't be certain she truly understood the meaning of the final piece.
"You can do it," Asch's voice cut through her concerns, and she turned to see him helping Natalia to her feet. They weren't fully healed by any stretch of the imagination, and she was prepared to say as much when Asch began speaking again. "We both know you can do it... you have to do it."
There was a light behind Asch's eyes, an eagerness and determination that weighed heavily on the words he spoke to her. She could feel it in his voice, in the way his words were an aching reflection of his younger siblings': she had to do this, and this was something only she could do. After so many months of chasing her brother, of vowing to make sure his twisted world would never come to fruition, she had finally reached this moment of truth, and she wasn't going to give up now.
Standing with her staff firmly in hand, Tear took a deep breath to settle any remaining doubts that lingered in her mind. Had Yulia been uncertain when she had created the Score? Had she doubted what was right and what was wrong? Or had she simply ploughed ahead with the support of her friends, trusting in those who would inherit her world to take care of it? With one last sigh Tear dismissed the last of her doubts. Yulia had passed her hymns, passed the world that she loved onto Tear, and the melodist knew exactly what she- what they both- wanted for it.
Tear's voice rose above the sounds of battle, her song drowning them out until the fonic hymns were all anyone heard. The familiar melody ensnared them all, its power cutting their breath short. There was a weight to the words, a force behind the harmonics that left no one untouched by its enrapture.
"Your efforts are in vein," Van declared, leaving no pause in his assault. "The hymns will do you no more good than the Key of Lorelei did."
"Do you really believe that?" Luke asked, flying toe to toe with Van as they danced across the battlefield that sparked alight with the power of Tear's hymn. He felt its power, its strength coursing through him, with each word that wrapped itself around the combatants. "Do really believe this is all for nothing or are you just pretending not to feel it?"
The Key of Lorelei traced a golden arc through the air as Tear flowed flawlessly from the 4th to the 5th hymn, her voice picking up as the melody intensified. Coming down on Van's sword Luke felt every fibre in him resonate, ringing in time with the song that flowed through him. "Tell me Master Van!" Luke demanded, the glow of the Key spreading to encompass its wielder. "Can you really not feel our will? From all the destruction that the Score promises, we were able to find hope! We were able to discover a path that doesn't mean sacrificing everything, that builds a better world on the one we have! Can't you see those dreams? The hopes of every single person on Auldrant have all gathered right here, right now!"
The 6th hymn reached its peak and Tear effortlessly slipped into the final verse. The song ensnared Van, each lyric curled itself around his limbs, melting into them until his every extremity was leaden. Pinned under Luke's attack, the golden aura that enveloped his student flooded from his sword, encompassing Van as well and he felt a familiar stirring. The waking of a conflicting will deep within ripped his focus in half as he fought to maintain control of the storm of fonons that no longer so readily obeyed him. Never. He would never give in- never allow Lorelei to run free. Their future was a lie, the hopes of ones who were too weak to do what needed to be done, he could never let it come to pass... no matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice. They were too weak... too naive... he would show them how feeble their ideals were. He would crush them, shatter the Key of Lorelei and claim his victory.
Weak are they?
Van fought to move his unresponsive arms but every motion he made was countered by an equal force that pulled him back. Each nerve in his body seared in protest, the movement he commanded refused, his will clashing against the power that ran rampant throughout him. Throwing Luke back should be nothing! Why could he not muster the strength?
You can never overcome him. You who have been trapped by Yulia's Score could never fathom the will, the resolve that they possess. Their potential has surpassed the Planet's Memory, their dreams have broken through those shackles. They have discovered the future.
Can you not feel it?
Van's eyes widened as they connected with Luke's. Reflecting the golden aura surrounding the two combatants, they seemed to burn with determination, but within Van saw a flicker of regret. Naive to the very end... Van smiled. Luke drew his sword back.
"If you've lost even that..." Luke said, hesitating for a split second in which Van knew he saw sorrow cast its shadow across his face. "Then it ends here!"
Luke's sword lurched as it pierced through Van's chest, sending a torrent of blood spilling out onto the marble surface beneath them. Still leaning in, Luke felt his teacher's weight as it fell forward, regret pouring over him with that single sensation. He wouldn't feel sorry; Luke wouldn't insult Master Van that way. Instead he let those feeling escape on the breath he let out.
"Master Van... thank you."
Ripping his sword from their foe, Luke watched Master Van fall to his knees, his fatal injury still pouring what life remained out onto the battlefield. Tear's voice died and silence swept across the platform; only the wind dared move.
"The final hymn," Van's deep tones carved through the silence. "You remembered it."
"I remember," Tear answered, swallowing the lump that sat like lead in her throat. "You sang it to me when I cried. You knew what it meant, what Yulia wanted for the world... and you were telling me right from the beginning."
"Master Van!" Asch ran several paces until he stood at Tear's side. "Thank you."
"Foolish boys." Van coughed. "You would both still call me Master?"
"Of course," Luke replied, smiling as he stood beside his sibling.
"It's thanks to you that we're here today," Asch continued. "You guided us to this path, forced us to rethink what we believed and discover a new future. Is that not what a teacher does?"
Van sighed, unable to hold back the smile that pulled at his lips. "Naive... to the very... end." His voice came out strained, struggling to hold onto the last of his life as he slouched over and fell to the ground. "Surely... I taught you better... than... that..."
"Van!" Tear called out, water leaking down her cheeks.
"Farewell..." his whisper floated on the wind to his little sister's ears. "Mystearica..."
"Goodbye... brother."
Tear took a deep breath, wiping the water from her eyes. They weren't done yet... she could sort through her feeling later, properly put her brother's memory to rest once everything was finished. Besides... he had been satisfied; Tear didn't doubt that. Perhaps... this was what he had wanted from the beginning, that she would overturn the Score, just like the lullabies he had sung to her so long ago. The melodist let one last tear slip down her cheek.
The silence lingered across the battlefield for several moments longer, a pause to regroup as much as it was in respect for the one that had just fallen. Even Jade had to take a moment to respect the man. For all the atrocities he'd committed, there was no denying the amount of skill his accomplishments had required. Once everything was boiled down, their goals really hadn't been all that different, simply a different means to the same end. Now it would stand to see if they could make good on the future they had earned.
"Is everyone okay?" Guy was the first to speak up, breaking the tense silence. The sound shattered the heavy moment and drew everyone together from where they had been scattered across the platform.
"For the most part," Asch replied.
"So now what do we do?" Anise asked "I guess we've still got to find those fomicry facilities, huh?"
"That's very true," Natalia agreed. "Van may be gone, but we still need to put an end to his plans." Before anyone could utter a response, a violent shudder rattled the entire island, leaving everyone scrambling to maintain their balance.
"What was that?" Anise pitched.
"Well that didn't take long," Asch muttered.
"Indeed," Jade agreed. "Without Van to suppress Lorelei's power, the Seventh Fonons are too unstable. The island is still an incomplete replica, it won't take long for it to begin coming apart."
"Meaning what exactly?" Guy asked, his voice sharp with concern.
"I doubt the island will hold together once we free Lorelei," Asch provided. "You guys need to clear out as fast as you can."
"But what about-"
Jade's sigh cut Tear's protest off. Adjusting his glasses, he met the boy's gaze over their rim. "Are you both sure?"
Luke and Asch simultaneously nodded.
"Aright then," Jade replied. "I doubt the fomicry facilities will survive the island's collapse so we'll take our leave. First, however, there is one last thing to attend to."
"Oh?" Asch inquired, watching Jade step forward from the others. Stopping a foot in front of him, the Colonel extended his right hand. Asch smiled and reached for it, but as he did, the Colonel retracted it.
"No," Jade mused. "That's not quite right, is it?" Lowering his right hand, Jade offered his left instead. Asch's smile spread to a grin and he took the Colonels left in his own, giving it a firm shake.
"Who'd have ever thought?" His smirk widened.
"Certainly not I," Jade returned.
"Thanks for everything Jade," Luke said, echoing the gesture. Jade couldn't resist a small smile at Luke's subtle emphasis on the word 'everything'.
"You're welcome," he answered. "Though really, you ought to give them more credit, don't you know your friends better than that by now?"
Luke wasn't left with much time to ponder Jade's cryptic message. No sooner had he let go of the Colonel's hand, he found Anise latched onto his waist. "You guys are jerks, the both of you."
"Good to know some things never change," Asch fired back at her.
"Oh please," the dark haired girl returned, unwrapping herself from Luke. "You two are ten times worse. Who do you think you're talking to here? Sure it worked the first time but we know you way better than that. Besides..." Anise wrapped her arms around Asch. "I'm invested in the two of you. I need someone whose name has weight if I'm going to claw my way back up the Order's ranks. So you had better hurry your sorry ass back."
Asch laughed outright. "I'll keep that in mind," he managed between chuckles.
"And..." Anise continued, her voice softer than before. "I'm glad to see you happy."
"What?" This time confusion painted the monarch's face and he looked down at Anise who responded only by pulling him in closer, burying her face in his jacket.
"You used to be a real snot. A closed off brat... and I couldn't stand you... but... I'm glad you let me see the person behind all that. I'm glad I got to really meet you. We're really just getting to know each other so... make sure you come back, got it?"
"Got it," Asch said with a smile.
"Good." Anise gave him one final squeeze before letting go. "Well, good luck with this one," she shot playfully, nudging Guy with her elbow as he brushed past her.
"Hey," Guy protested, jostled by Anises jibe, but he chuckled when her cheeks puffed up. It wasn't half as much fun when he didn't jump at the contact. "Well," he spoke up facing both his former charges. "She's not the only one who never changes."
"And what exactly are you trying to imply?" Asch asked tauntingly.
"Exactly," Guy fired back. "Though really, you guys could have said something."
"What are you talking about, Guy?" Luke asked.
"Come on now Luke," Guy chastised his best friend. "You didn't think we were blind, did you? We're your friends; we know when something's not right. It's funny, I used to think I'd look forward to the day you didn't have to rely on me all the time, but now that you're able to handle these things yourself, I kind of miss it."
"I'm sorry Guy," Luke hung his head.
"Don't be, it just goes to show how much you've grown. I know why you made the choice you did, and you had the courage to hold through to the very end. I'm proud of you Luke."
"Thanks."
"That doesn't mean that I'm going to let it slide next time though," the blond pinned Luke with a glare. "When you get back I'm going to show you what we do with people who keep secrets from their friends."
"I'll look forward to it," Luke said.
"I'm going to hold you to that. You better not bail on me. That goes for both of you."
"Nice try," Asch remarked.
"Not a chance," Guy fired back. "You are just as guilty as Luke is. I'm going to teach both of you not to hold out on your best friend."
"Really?" Asch asked, betraying a hint of surprise.
"Of course, you idiot." Guy placed an arm around the older redhead. "You're both my best friends, so you're both going down together."
"Well then, I'm looking forward to seeing you try," Asch replied mischievously.
"Good." Guy put a hand on each of his charges heads and simultaneously ruffled their hair. "When you get back, we're on."
"Hey!" Asch protested, but Guy didn't turn around, instead simply raising a hand and giving the pair one final wave.
"Luke..." Tear began, hesitantly approaching the younger redhead.
"What is it, Tear?" Luke asked, his entire face painted with a gentle light.
All the words she wanted to say were suddenly caught in her throat. Listening to the others' conversations with the twins had set her stomach roiling; uncovered ancient doubts that she had long since wanted to leave buried. How could she even give voice to such fears? She had let herself become caught up in her feelings for Luke, caught up in the chaos of everything that was going on around them because she was afraid of what she would find if she actually sought an answer. It was always a thorn at the back of her thoughts, though. A persistence that told her if she didn't figure things out she would regret it forever.
"Are..." Tear fought to tame her voice. "Are we really saying goodbye?"
"For now," Luke replied gently. As the words escaped his lips, he smiled at her, and that smile made Tear's heart stop.
It was an expression she had never seen on Luke before. She'd seen him smile countless times, smiled in the face of a multitude of emotions, from awe to elation to an earth-shattering sorrow, Tear had seen them all. This time was different though. This smile hid everything and nothing all in the same breath, and Tear knew it like she'd woken to it every day of her life.
It was a smile that told her she'd never see him again.
"Luke! Promise me!" She choked out, tears threatening to spill over. "Promise me you'll come home! Promise you'll come back to me! I... I love you Luke!"
"I love you too Tear," Luke replied, pulling the melodist into his arms. Here she was flooded with his warmth, against his chest she could feel his heart beat. Strong and steady it pulsed through her and she held him back, letting her tears spill over. Though his words warmed her, they did little to appease the small boulder that sat sickeningly in the pit of her stomach.
He hadn't promised.
"Please Luke," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Swear to me, you'll be coming back after this. Please promise me... promise me we'll be together again."
"I promise you Tear," Luke's voice filled her ears. "I promise I'll come back to you. Wherever you go and no matter what happens I'll be by your side. We will be together again."
"I'll wait for you," Tear replied. "I'll wait as long as I have to." Tear felt Luke's entire posture sink into her gesture and he held her for all she was worth.
For you, Luke, I'd wait forever.
"I knew about the two of you, you know," Natalia's voice snapped Asch back to reality. Completely focussed on Luke and Tear's discussion, he hadn't even noticed her approach. Natalia only waited for his eyes to meet hers before continuing.
"Did you really intend to keep your secret until the end? Were you really going to just disappear without ever saying anything?"
"Yes, I was," Asch answered directly.
Natalia was struck by Asch's bluntness, but the shock lasted for no more than a second before an entire surge of emotions flooded her. All the anger, the fear that she had buried away for the past month, the nights that she lay awake in bed trying to will it all away, the indignation at having it kept from her surged and she could feel tears in her eyes. "Why? Why would you do such a-"
Natalia was silenced by Asch's lips, his kiss swallowing any of the protests that might have come forth. Flustered, the princess stepped back, and for the first time she could see the regret in his eyes. The part of him that had never wanted to harbour such a painful secret, that had suffered in silence so that such an ugly truth would never come to light. "Why..." she asked again.
Asch stepped forward until she could feel his breath against her skin. He reached up and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Natalia found herself completely lost in his emerald gaze.
"Because," his voice came out gently. "Because this is what I want you to remember: not the pain, the fear, the unknown... just that I love you."
"I love you too Asch-"
Natalia was cut off by a second shake, much stronger than the first and one of the pillars across the roof slipped from its base, shattering against the marble rooftop.
"We need to go," Jade re-iterated. "It's getting more violent, we need to be clear of the island's main infrastructure before Asch and Luke free Lorelei."
Natalia bit her lip, turning to Asch one final time. "I believe in what you told me in Chesedonia... I trust in those words, and I will hold you to that promise."
Asch smiled, letting go of her hands. "I wouldn't break it for the world."
"Tear," Natalia called, offering a hand to her friend.
The melodist reluctantly allowed herself to be pulled from Luke, though every inch of her screamed in protest. She didn't want to leave! It didn't matter if the island collapsed around her, if that was to be her fate, then so be it. She wasn't just going to leave him here!
"Luke!" Tear turned around, but was halted when she saw the look on Luke's face. Though his lips were still twisted into a smile, there was such a sharp pain behind his eyes, Tear could feel her heart being ripped out. She understood then; more than anything, Luke was doing this for her... for all of them. He shouldered this burden so that they could give birth to a new hope, a new future... and a world in which everyone could keep smiling. After all, isn't that all she ever wanted for him? Choking down the ice in her throat, Luke smiled for her and Tear knew she couldn't ask for anything more.
"Goodbye... Luke."
Luke held his composure while his friends crossed the platform, and it wasn't until they were finally out of sight that he let a tear slip down his cheek.
"You're such a liar," Luke's broken voice came out.
"So are you," Asch answered gently and Luke wiped his eyes dry. He smiled weakly, a gesture that did little but echo the lingering ache of farewell. Asch felt it too, the regret that throbbed in the pit of his stomach, but in the same breath there was a satisfaction that sat there, making the pain bearable.
"You're right," Luke said, giving voice to their silent feelings. "I wouldn't have done things any other way."
"Me neither," Asch agreed. Another quake rattled the island, sending a massive crack splitting through the platform on which the siblings stood. "Looks like our time is just about up," he commented when the tremors didn't immediately subside. "Shall we?"
"Yeah," Luke agreed, pulling the Key of Lorelei from his sheath.
Standing over the ground where Van had fallen, Luke could distinctly feel the blade pulse. The Jewel began to glow, bathing the sword in an eerie red light. His arms shaking, Luke held the Key forward, blade pointed straight at the ground. Asch reached out and placed his hands on the hilt over Luke's, the action bathing both siblings in a familiar golden glow. Asch looked up and his eyes met his brother's.
"Ready?" Asch asked.
Luke firmly nodded. "For our friends."
"For tomorrow."
The Key of Lorelei plunged into the stone below them, and the moment it did, a fonic glyph traced itself across the grounds. Surrounded by a mass of Seventh fonons, the roof below them shattered and the siblings found themselves supported by the power of the Key alone. Pieces of stone rained down about them, harmlessly shattering against the barrier that had enveloped the pair if they fell too close. Asch watched on silently as the last of Van's replica world crumbled around them, hoping only that everyone had escaped safely.
No. He didn't wonder, he knew. They knew. Their friends were just fine.
A flicker of flame erupted at the base of the barrier, disappearing so quickly Asch was sure he'd imagined it. The second fire was not so transient and before long they were swirling about the noble, painting the world in orange and gold. Asch reached out and one of the flames passed across his hand. It was warm, not the scalding heat that one would expect of a fire, but the warmth of a summer day, of a loved one's embrace. It was an all encompassing feeling of safety, gratitude.
Thank you.
The deep voice resonated within their minds, and the swirling flames congregated, tracing out a vaguely humanoid shape, all while still dancing about them.
You have sacrificed much and made it far, and you efforts have not gone unnoticed. You have both done admirably.
"Do you think... we really succeeded?" Luke asked.
The Score I gave to Yulia that day is no more. You have taken her future and you have made it your own. This world owes you a great debt, little one.
"Well we didn't do it alone," Asch replied. "Thank you for all your help along the way, Lorelei."
Though he didn't have a face, Asch could have sworn he saw the being smile.
I am happy for you. I am glad that you were able to finally find yourself.
It was Asch's turn to smile at that, and he nodded once, not the least bit surprised by the creature's level of insight. He was glad too, like the shackles he never realized bound him had finally been released.
"Good luck," Asch offered the creature.
This will not be our final meeting.
"Well, until then."
Indeed.
With one last swirl around them, the flames exploded upwards, painting the darkening sky a brilliant shade of gold before fading completely into the night.
Now alone with Luke in the protected confines of the Key's barrier, Asch felt a peculiar sense of peace flood him, one that he could sense flowing through Luke as well. Though they were isolated here, they could feel the entire world opening up before them, welcoming in a future of endless possibilities. Beyond the overwhelming sense of freedom that had consumed him, Asch felt another, smaller sensation.
"What's wrong Luke?" Asch asked.
Luke's eyes met his brothers and he tried to smile, but the expression only revealed the underlying regret. The young sibling knew he hadn't fooled Asch for a moment and he let out a sigh.
"I just..." Luke began, unsure how to continue. "I wish... we'd had more time, that's all. I look at the future, at all the possibilities that it holds, and it just seems like our lives were so short."
Asch approached Luke until their foreheads were touching. About them the glyph began to recede and the golden glow that encompassed the pair intensified until it washed out everything but each other. "They may have been short," Asch replied, his voice almost a whisper. "But we lived them."
"Yeah," Luke voice came back at him. "We did."
Stepping back Luke smiled; one last true genuine smile and Asch could think of no better start then that.
The last of the fonons dispersed into the air, leaving nothing but darkness and a single thought on the scattered breeze.
Thank you.