This one is huge. I would say a monster of a chapter! I don't remember having wrote something this big, aside, maybe, chapters of the final boss fight.
Anyway, I've finally got a second beta-reader! : ) So now this fic is brought to you by me and my reviewers Maurice A. Nigma and Toske.
Also, here the writing format in the story will have an addition, so I'll put right down here the different formats of speech of the characters:
"Speech"- normal talk.
"Speech" - exclusive of Emil and Ratatosk. It's when, for example, Emil is in control of his body and Ratatosk speaks with him and vice-versa.
Speech - normal thought's and, in Emil/Ratatosk's case, the thoughts of who is in control of the body.
Also, here comes another Skit! The characters involved are in the tittle.
Sheena and Ratatosk
Sheena: So, Ratatosk, how are the other Summon Spirits? Did you have any contact with them since you woke?
Ratatosk: No. Why do you ask?
Sheena: Well, let's say I know a thing or other about summoning, so I know how they must have suffered with the mana being burnt from the world and everything.
Ratatosk: And who exactly are the ones to blame for it?
Sheena: Oh, right… I'm sorry… I just wanted to…
Ratatosk: If you need this knowledge in order to live, I could tell you. Then again, I could not to.
Sheena: You know, for a Summon Spirit, you're pretty cold.
Ratatosk: You're one to talk.
Sheena: Uh?
Ratatosk: I heard from Lumen how you beat people senseless and then throw them out of your work place.
Sheena: H-hey. Those were perverts, they don't count. They deserved the beating I gave them.
Ratatosk: Huh. And Origin called me violent.
Sheena: You know what? You're probably the most temperamental spirit in existence.
Ratatosk: What?
Chapter 7
Richter Abend
Two figures approached the entrance to the Refuge of Ruins, Asgard. One of them was floating while the other, the tallest of the two, walked. The floating figure then looked around the city, as if it was searching for something. The other figure asked its companion:
"Are they here?"
"They were, but it seems they left not too long ago. And I can feel Ventus' presence too," the floating figure answered.
Together with what they had discovered from the Tower of Mana, that meant Ratatosk already had three Centurions at his side once again. The taller stranger adjusted the glasses on his nose and turned, leaving the entrance of the city. The floating figure followed him while he said, more to himself than to his companion:
"If they already passed by Luin, that means their next stop will be the Thoda region. If we go on a quicker pace, we might be able to catch them before they arrive at Palmacosta..."
- / - / - / -
The group now composed by four humans and three Centurions passed through the Hakonesia trial, facing some monster along the way. Sheena had that chance to observe Emil perform the ritual of the pact and was impressed by how much energy was released and how the spiritual bonds between him, the Centurions and the monsters were formed.
They never commented about things of this kind in training… the guardian user thought.
After they left the pass between the Hakonesia mountains, the group arrived at the Palmacosta region. From there on, they knew they had to be cautious, since they would pass near a human ranch on their way to one of the biggest cities in Sylvarant. According to what they knew, the Cardinal that ruled the area was Magnius, also known as the Flaming Lion, due to his affinity with fire element and according to some words of people that claimed to have seen his demonic form.
However, all of their thoughts ceased once the members of the group with spiritual sensibility and the Centurions looked behind. Lloyd and Marta asked why they stopped. Emil then answered:
"There's something coming. I can feel it absorbing the surrounding chaos energy as it approaches."
"Same here," Sheena said.
"It might be the demons. Let's hide," Tenebrae suggested.
The group jumped out of the main road, descending a cliff that was nearby. There they saw a salience in which they could hide. Before they crawled on it, they saw something approaching by the main road. It seemed to be some short of vehicle made of metal and with its windows darkened in a way they couldn't see who was driving.
Deciding to leave the questions for later, they hid right as the strange machine stopped where they had been moments ago. The group heard what seemed to be a door opening and footsteps. A masculine voice then sounded:
"Do you see something?"
"No. Maybe it was just some stray demon entering or having fun," another masculine voice answered.
"I don't know. The reading didn't seem to match with demonic magic at all."
"In that case, let's continue searching," after that, they heard the door closing and what seemed to be wheels rolling.
The group got out of their hiding spot and back to the main road, where they could see the vehicle disappearing along the plains. Ratatosk took control of Emil's body again and spoke:
"Damn! I was careless."
"So you mean they can feel the energy emanated by the ritual?" Sheena asked.
"This certainly makes things complicated," Ventus stated. "It would be wise for us not to do any pacts near human ranches for the time being."
"Yeah, but the Desian guys already sensed us. What are we gonna do, boss?" Lumen asked.
"How the hell would I know?" Ratatosk said, turning his head to Lumen, speaking in his usual brash tone. "I didn't even know they had this kind of technology in the first place."
"There's a House of Salvation nearby," Marta said, making the group look to her. "Maybe we can go there and blend with the travelers while waiting for the Desians pass."
"Sounds like a good idea," Lloyd said. The group started to walk again as the red clad swordsman asked. "What was that thing anyway?"
With another change in the air, Emil took the control of his body again and turned his head to look to Lloyd while explaining, in the slightly serious and concentrated tone he used when toughing about something, which made Lloyd think of a scholar or how people called the blonde Aster:
"I think that was an Armored Van. It was a vehicle used during the Kharlan War. It uses the mana in the air as fuel and possesses an energetic core, which receives the captured mana and creates energy to make a series of gears and switches to work together and…"
Lloyd had already lost himself at the part of the "energy core" and didn't understand a word of what Emil said after it. Sheena was also having problems to understand so many technical terms; she was never good with machines and things in theory.
After apparently five minutes of explaining, Emil stopped and saw the clueless looks on Lloyd and Sheena's faces. The blond swordsman sighed at seeing they hadn't understood anything he had said. Sheena spoke, trying to take out the useful speech out of all information Emil gave them:
"In other words, it was some short of vehicle used in the war that runs with mana, right?" Emil nodded to her.
"No wonder she and Sir Lloyd are attracted to each other," Tenebrae whispered to Lumen and Ventus. The three Centurions were behind the group, with Ventus flying to accompany them.
"Indeed. Both can't understand the bases of magitechnology and get bothered easily," Ventus commented.
"I didn't understand any of that, magi-vehipec-thingy boss spoke about too," Lumen said, with a confused look on his cheetah face.
"That's no surprise, since you didn't understand the theory behind our roles in the mana balance either," Ventus talked to his brethren.
"What does he used to say? Oh yes. 'I'll find out when I have to do it, anyway.' " Tenebrae said with a bad impersonation of Lumen's voice tone.
Before the three Centurions could continue, Sheena stopped, turned to them and bonked the three hard on their heads, making them fall to the ground in a pile. The angry, young woman then said:
"You three should watch what you say in case someone is listening!"
"Sorry…" the three Centurions said, at the same time.
Marta and Lloyd had sweatdrops running down their heads at seeing the scene while Emil just sighed. Sheena then turned to the reincarnated Lord of the Monsters and asked how come that Armored Van could work now with no mana to power it. Ratatosk took the control and said:
"They probably infused some demon technology to make it work with chaos energy instead of mana. It's probably how they tracked the magic of my pact too."
"'Demon technology'? I didn't know the demons had that kind of thing." Lloyd let out.
"What the hell do you think the demons are? A bunch of mindless beasts that live in a messed up spiritual plane?"
"But boss, wasn't that exactly how you described them?" Lumen asked in his tone of innocent bluntness as he and the other Centurions got up.
Silence passed for some time as the humans and the Summon Spirit in the group looked to the cheetah-like Centurion. Lloyd then crossed his arms, looking to Ratatosk in a pose that said "and you were talking about me". A vein throbbed in the harsh Summon Spirit's head as he looked to Sheena and asked:
"Can you beat Lumen senseless to me?"
"Gladly," Sheena said, cracking her knuckles.
Lumen gulped and teleported right behind Marta, hiding (without much success) in the slim frame of the petite brunette. Deciding to prevent Sheena from further harming the Centurion, Marta asked to Ratatosk:
"What about this demon technology you were talking about? Does that mean the demons are some kind of advanced civilization?" there was a tone of fear in Marta's voice.
"Not exactly. I think it's pretty much on the same level you humans had during the war. But theirs was designed to work using chaos energy. The demons also have a hierarchy in their society and an entire culture of their own."
"If they didn't have the least of organization, they wouldn't be able to consume as many worlds as they did," Tenebrae said.
"I hate to admit, but we should probably be grateful that they were able to advance to this level of competence and organization. Otherwise, the Treaty would never have been possible," Ventus commented.
"Treaty?" Marta, Lloyd and Sheena asked.
"It's a thing that was set between us, Summon Spirits, and the Grand Demon Lords at the final days of the War for the Young Aselia. It's far too complicated for you, simple mortals, to understand," Ratatosk said.
"Then why don't you try to explain to us?" Lloyd suggested.
"I rather not waste my time."
"What did you say?"
Seeing the tension rising between them again, Marta suggested that the group go to the House of the Salvation before the Desians came back. Lloyd agreed, but was still giving dirty looks to Ratatosk as they walk. If there was another thing the dual swordsman didn't like was people hiding things like that from him, just because they thought he wouldn't be able to understand.
- / - / - / -
The Houses of Salvation were originally built by the Church of Cruxis as a signal that the angels would also be protecting the travelers, that is, as long as they showed their loyalty to the Faith. However, after the formation of the Vanguard and the Renegades, some of the families who ran the Houses of Salvation offered the establishment as a meeting spot for traveling troops of the organizations in exchange for their protection.
That was the case of many Houses of Salvation in Aselia, though others were still loyal to Cruxis. The one in the road to Palmacosta was one of those who allied to the Sylvaranti Vanguard. Lloyd and the others arrived at the place after a short walk and rented a room in the second floor. There were only three beds there, so Sheena offered to share her bed with Lloyd, which made the swordsman blush wildly at the suggestion.
When night fell, the group decided to spread; Sheena and Marta were in the first floor while Lloyd, Emil and the Centurions were in their room. There weren't much people in the House of Salvation, so they would have some privacy.
"So, Sheena…" Marta said as she and the voluptuous woman sat in a couch that there was in a living room in the first floor . "you don't seem to have problems to show your feelings to Lloyd at all."
"Do you really think that?" Sheena asked raising her eyebrow, curious to know why the petite brunette touched that subject.
"It was your mother who taught you to be upfront like that, right?"
"Yeah. That was one of the many things she taught me."
"Then, could you… teach me?" Marta asked, getting a little nervous while asking that.
"Huh? Why?"
"I want to keep Emil interested in me. What if he suddenly sees another girl and falls in love with her? I can't let that happen! And I'll do anything to fight for him!" the younger fighter said in a determined tone.
"Don't you think you're exaggerating a bit? I mean, Emil looks pretty interested in you to me."
"D-do you really think this?"
"Believe in me, it's quite obvious. And you can't exactly prevent him from looking to other girls, if you try and put him on a leash, the guy will run away of you faster than you think," as Sheena was talking, Marta was hearing with an undivided attention. "Mother always said that, the more you try and forbid someone from doing something, the more he will feel tempted to go and do it. If another girl calls his interest, just show him you can do even better than her."
"But…how? Do I do it like you with Lloyd?" Marta asked.
Sheena's smirk froze in her face while she tried to picture Marta saying to Emil the things she said to Lloyd. She could just picture either the blond boy would back away, freaked out of his mind, or would faint from sheer shock. Trying to think of a way to convince Marta not to do that, Sheena spoke:
"I…wouldn't advise you to do that… I mean, Lloyd is one kind of person and Emil is another. Plus, you two have known each other since you were kids, right?" the petite brunette nodded. Lloyd had told Sheena some things about Emil and Marta after asking the two if he could. "So, things are a lot simpler in that case. I say, continue being yourself and you'll figure out what to do eventually."
"Ok, I'll try. Thanks Sheena," Marta smiled to the older woman, who said it was nothing.
- / - / - / -
The two figures approached the frame of the House of Salvation in the road to Palmacosta. The taller one asked its companion once more:
"Are they here?"
"Yes. I definitely feel Ratatosk's and the others' aura inside this building."
"Then let's go and do what we came here to do."
The tallest figure then approached the building while the other concealed itself. He then opened the door and entered. Looking around, he saw two people talking in the living room of the first floor. Recognizing the younger one, he approached and made his presence known:
"Hello Marta."
The petite brunette almost jumped out of the couch, startled. She and Sheena looked to the man that had entered the place…
- / - / - / -
"I wonder what the girls are talking about…" Lumen mused, as he, the Centurions and the boys were in their room in the Inn.
"Why the sudden interest?" Tenebrae asked his counterpart.
"Well, they might be talking about the boss and Lloyd. Maybe we should help them to stay together. After all, we are Lord Ratatosk's Centurions! We have to help him," Lumen said with a proud, yet goofy, smile on his cheetah face.
"I don't think playing matchmaker is part of our duties," Ventus commented.
"Indeed. What if we actually end up getting in their way?" Tenebrae questioned. "Humans tend to think they know everything, even regarding affairs of the heart. When things don't work out in their relationships, they tend to put the blame on those around them, even if these people actually tried to help them."
"Oh, c'mon. Don't you remember what happened the last time boss tried to get a girl?" Lumen insisted. Ventus and Tenebrae stopped talking, reflecting about that.
"On second thought, you do raise a good point," the eagle-like Centurion said.
"I agree," Tenebrae spoke.
"Hey, you three!" Ratatosk's angry tone sounded, startling the three Centurions and making them look to their reincarnated lord. "I'm here, you know? So it's better you start watching your tongues before I decide I need to create new Centurions," the three entities apologized, deciding to talk about other subjects that wouldn't threaten their positions or existence. "Ugh. I swear, they passed too much time around the mortals."
Lloyd had an interested look as he gazed at the Centurions. Ratatosk noticed that and asked what was up with the dual swordsman's expression. Lloyd gave a boyish grin before he turned to Ratatosk and spoke:
"So, you tried to get yourself a girlfriend before, huh?" the eyes of the Summon Spirit went wide, as seemed to be in shock. The expression was quite comical in Lloyd's opinion. "Was she pretty?"
"A-and why are you asking that? What, are you thinking in ditching Sheena?" Ratatosk asked, soon finding a witty comment to revert the situation at his favor.
Lloyd sighed. Dealing with Ratatosk proved to be a real pain sometimes. It seemed that each core they hatched, the Summon Spirit gained new witty comebacks and sarcastic comments to add to his already vast repertoire.
Better I don't even bother myself… Lloyd thought to himself. He then talked to Ratatosk. "Anyway, can you give the control back to Emil? I was talking with him."
"Why should I?" Ratatosk replied. Lloyd let out an "huh?" at that. "You know, you should get used with me around, because, after all, this whole journey is for me to recover my powers."
"But, what about Emil?"
"Who cares? He's a wimp, a coward. Without me and my powers, he would never survive this journey."
"Hey! Don't talk about him like that," Lloyd protested.
"Oh, and who are you to defend him? His boyfriend?" Lloyd shut up at that, eyes wide. The malicious and sharp tone Ratatosk used made the young man think the Summon Spirit really wanted to strike a blow on his pride. "Well, if you're so worried about him, I'll give him back to you."
With a pulse of energy that sounded like a heartbeat, Ratatosk gave the control back to Emil. The blond swordsman was blushing, no doubt because of what his other self implied. The Centurions looked at the scene with analytic looks (Tenebrae and Ventus, at least. Lumen looked just confused).
"Ok. I seriously don't want to talk with him anytime again. What kind of bug bit him?" Lloyd asked.
"I don't know. I'm sorry..." Emil said, head downcast and an apologetic look on his face.
"You don't need to apologize, Emil. If someone needs to, its Ratatosk," the red clad warrior said the name with a bitter tone. "Ugh! I swear, if he keeps up like this, I'm going to beat some good manners into him, Summon Spirit or not."
Emil then looked to the Centurions, but they quickly averted their eyes from him. That made the blonde think there was definitely something behind all of that. However, before he could think further on the subject, Marta opened the door to their room. She was panting like she had run for kilometers.
"Emil! Came down, quick!" the girl said in a hurried tone.
Sensing it was a serious matter, Emil and Lloyd jumped out of their beds and rushed down the stairs with the Centurions at their tow, concealing themselves. Upon arriving in the first floor, the two saw Sheena there, talking with a tall, red haired man.
The man then turned to Emil and Lloyd and the dual swordsman could take a clearer look on the stranger. The man wore glasses with a silver frame and brown gloves. His brown, travel coat was a bit tattered as was the rest of his clothes. However, his green eyes shone with an inquisitive and serious gleam and his expression passed the impression of someone who had been hardened by the hardships of life.
Though all of that worried Lloyd enough for his hand to reach for the handle of his sword, Emil just opened a big smile and ran to the red haired man. The blond boy then hugged the man, who didn't seem startled at all, just showed the tinniest of the smiles.
"Richter! It's you! It's really you!" Emil said, like someone to a good friend he hadn't seen in years.
"Good to you see again, Aster," Richter said in a strong voice tone with a tint of happiness in it.
"Wait. Who is this guy, Emil?" Lloyd said, approaching the group.
"That's what I've asked Marta, but she just ran up to call you guys," Sheena said.
"And you two would be?" Richter asked, his tone as strong as before, but now with a tint of deviousness in it as he looked from Lloyd to Sheena.
"They're our friends, don't worry," Marta said with a big smile on her face as well.
"In that case, it seems they need to realize the importance of aliases in these dangerous times," Richter said, adjusting his glasses on his nose while Emil let go of him.
"Don't mind him," Emil said to Lloyd and Sheena, who narrowed their eyes at the red head's sentence. "Richter tends to be a bit curt, but he's really a good person."
Lloyd and Sheena eyed the man. They could already see that kindness wasn't one of Richter's qualities. Emil turned to his friend again and asked:
"Richter, what happened? We thought that you had been killed when Nebilim attacked that temple to kill me."
Sheena then noticed something about Richter: he was clearly a half-elf. However, there seemed to be something more that was escaping her senses. The guardian user decided to keep her eyes open around that mysterious friend of Emil and Marta's. Richter then spoke:
"I think we should first organize things before going into details. Your friend certainly seems confused enough as it is," the red head looked to Lloyd, who indeed seemed to be lost in the talk. The red clad swordsman almost got startled at seeing Richter had been paying attention to him without even looking.
The group sat in the couch and the chairs around the living room of the House of Salvation. In the next few minutes, Emil and Marta explained to Richter who Lloyd and Sheena were and how they had met the two. After that, the young adventurers explained to the two warriors Richter was the scholar friend of their parents they had talked about and the one that had taught Emil about ruins, history and even some fighting to Marta and him.
"He was also researching about Ratatosk for me before the night Nebilim tried to kill me," Emil spoke.
"What happened then?" Sheena asked.
"I was captured by Nebilim," Richter said, making everybody look at him and gasp. The half-elf then looked to Aster as he spoke. "While the others were taking you away, I stayed behind to make sure no demon would get to them."
"I remember that. If I at least was stronger…" Emil said, head down cast.
"It was my decision, Aster, and as so, it was my fault I got captured. Anyway, Nebilim eventually showed up and I had to fight him. Logically, I lost. But he seemed to have gotten impressed by my skills and captured me."
Marta and Emil gasped once more and Lloyd had an expression of compassion in his face. Sheena, however, had a devious look on her face. The female warrior asked:
"And how exactly did you managed to escape?"
Richter stayed silent at that. Everybody waited the answer from the red head. After what seemed some seconds, Richter said in a curt tone:
"I found a way. That's how."
"Really…" Sheena said, making her suspicions about that clear in her voice.
"Sheena, give him a rest! It's obvious it wasn't an easy experience for Richter," Marta said in tone of protest.
"Fine, fine. Don't need to get all protective. Sheesh."
Though she had stopped asking questions about it, it was obvious the guardian user was still suspicious of Richter. After all, it wasn't everyday you heard about somebody that was captured by the demons and managed to escape alive and unscathed.
Deciding to change the subject, Richter looked to Emil and said:
"Before I came to you in that night, there was something, or rather, someone I wanted to present you. Someone I was sure would help you with your doubts about Ratatosk," with that, Richter threw one red bang, which was hanging at his front and to the right, to the side. "Aqua. Come out."
Water and bubbles seemed to form in the air, as a form materialized. At first, it seemed like some kind of fish, but then the group realized it actually had a human figure. The new entity had long, thick ears, with fish earnings on it, legs that had the form of fins and its hair was in the shape of a fish tail.
"Here, Master Richter," Aqua said in what sounded to be a tone of admiration.
As one, the other Centurions also appeared, all seeming surprised to see their brethren before them. Emil had his eyes wide at seeing there was a Centurion that wasn't in its core form right before him. He was even more surprised she appeared to know Richter.
"Aqua-girl! You're not a core!" Lumen piped in.
"Oh… hello Lumen… and thanks for stating the obvious," Aqua said in a sour tone.
"I see you haven't changed a bit. Always the wet blanket…" Tenebrae commented.
"What? You too? Grrr! I can't believe I'll have to put up with you again!" Aqua said in what appeared to be anger.
"Can't you two cease the animosities for now? Don't forget we are in a human settlement and in front of our reincarnated lord and his friends nonetheless," Ventus said, meaning Lloyd, Sheena, Marta and Emil, who all had their eyebrows raised.
"Oh. At least there's someone with brains and not annoying for me to talk to. How have you been Ventus?"
"Very well, as you can see."
"Aqua," Ratatosk's brash tone sounded. All Centurions looked to the now crimson-eyed Emil, as he had his gaze set on the Centurion of water. "Explain yourself. How come you're not a core and traveling around with this guy?"
"I see you still haven't gotten over your unfounded grudge against me, have you?" Richter said, in what sounded more like a statement, rather than a question.
"Please… why would I waste my time forming a grudge against you?" Ratatosk said, shrugging at the beginning of his line.
"Well, it certainly seems you do not consider forming a grudge against others of my race a waste of time."
Silence hung up for some seconds, Ratatosk almost frozen on his pose. It was then the Summon Spirit mumbled a "Shut up!" to Richter. Marta sighed. The petite brunette turned to Lloyd and Sheena, saying:
"There they go again… Ratatosk and Richter were never very fond of each other."
"Considering how our lord was angry with the humans and half-elves, I would say his and Master Richter's relationship is quite okay," Aqua commented. Ratatosk then dismissed his talk with Richter and turned to Aqua, asking again why she was in her corporeal form. "Oh, well, you see my lord, before you called us to the Ginnungagap, I have imbued some of the remaining mana on the water around my altar to give it healing properties. I had an intuition I would need something like that ready, just in case."
"Seems your intuition was right, for once," Tenebrae commented.
"Nobody asked you, Tenebonehead!"
" 'Tenebonehead'?" Lloyd asked, looking to the other two Centurions. Lumen was the one to answer, with his ever present goofy grin and cheerful tone.
"It's Aqua's nickname to Tenebrae. Though I still rather call him T-man."
"Well, I have to agree with her. It kinda suits him," Sheena spoke.
Ratatosk and Ventus sighed at the two, bickering Centurions. The Lord of all Monsters demanded attention again and Aqua continued with her story after casting a last, venomous glance to Tenebrae:
"After we transported your core to safety and were teleported back to our altars, I managed to get in my healing pool before I reverted back to a core. I stayed in a semi-conscious state since then and as the mana left, I also took the time to make my adaptation to the new state of the water."
"But for that to be concluded, she said she would need to renew her bond with Ratatosk, which was lost once the world was drowned into chaos energy," Richter stated. "I found her thirteen years ago, in a hidden sanctuary in the Thoda Geyser while trying to find information about the symbol on Aster's chest and Ratatosk's core."
"So, all that thing about you teaching me about magic, how mana worked on the world and combat was…" Emil asked, remembering about his training and education tutored by his friend.
"Aqua asked me to pass the knowledge on to you, including what she told me about Ratatosk. When Ratatosk's personality manifested, I came back to her and she said it was time for you to regain your bonds with the Centurions."
"But before Master Richter could bring you to me, Nebilim attacked you and… Master Richter was…" Aqua stopped there, seeming sad for Richter.
"It doesn't matter, anyway," Ratatosk said, not affected by the sad mood that downed in the room. "With you here, we don't have to go to Thoda Island," an energetic pulse emanated and Emil was back in control, his eyes and pose normal once more. "But, how are we going to remake the bond? I only knew how to do it if she was in core form and…" as Emil suddenly ceased his talk, another pulse emanated and Ratatosk was back in control, his tone now one of arrogance. "Correction: I know how to do the ritual of the hatching. You just take me to the altars to do it."
As the rest of the group didn't mind the talk between Aster and his Summon Spirit personality, Richter had a stone and serious look on his features. Nobody, however, noticed his expression, too concentrated on Emil and Aqua.
The blond, possessed swordsman then extended his hand to Aqua, like they were about to shake hands. The Centurion of water reached for it and held Emil's hand. A glow emanated from the ancient Summon Spirit of the Kharlan Tree and passed by his hand to Aqua. The Centurion's mouth twisted slightly, like she was experiencing something uncomfortable, but it soon passed.
The glow then faded and Emil suddenly collapsed without warning. Marta called for the boy's other name as she rushed to him. Aqua floated lower, seeming to try and look for any clue of what happened to her lord. Lloyd, Sheena, the Centurions and Richter also approached the boy. Marta then asked Ventus:
"Another effect of the merging?"
"Possibly. Though it seems the intervals between reforming a bond and this reduced to almost none," the Centurion of wind answered. "I assume he will sleep for the rest of the night."
"We should take him to bed, then," Lloyd suggested, the whole group nodding to him.
Marta and the dual swordsman passed the reincarnation of Ratatosk's arms by their shoulders and left the room. Sheena also left the local as the Centurions were still inside it, though the violet haired woman stopped when she heard Richter, who had stayed behind, spoke in a low tone, probably to not warn anyone else.
"How often has this happened?"
"Boss also passed out after hatching Ventus," Lumen's voice answered. Tenebrae and Ventus called his name in reprisal. "What?" the cheetah-like entity probably had said something the other Centurions didn't want him to speak.
"In that case, there's something I would like to discuss with you, Centurions, regarding your… boss and his soul on Aster's body," Richter said in his usual curt tone.
"We do not have to answer to your questions," Tenebrae stated.
Sheena thought about risking it and take a peep at the room, but she didn't know how accurate Richter's senses could be. She was already concealing her magical energy and keeping the vibrations of her aura at minimum, so as to not be discovered. However, if the female fighter had looked in the living room, she would have seen the almost comic, angry expression in Aqua's face as she lashed out at Tenebrae:
"What did you say to Master Richter? How dare you? You… spiteful, old dog!"
"Spiteful… old dog," Tenebrae said in a tone of repressed anger.
"Stop you two, before you wake the humans sleeping here," Ventus said.
"I'll wait for you all outside after I check on Aster," Richter said in a final tone. "That is, if you value the one that basically helped to educate and raise your lord and saved his life once," the scholar warrior said, pushing his glasses a bit up his nose.
Sheena hid behind the statue of an angel at the lobby after hearing Richter give that ultimatum to the servants of Ratatosk. The half-elf passed by without even noticing the female fighter had been spying on him. The Centurions also left after some time.
Feeling the presences of everybody up there, Sheena left her hiding place and took the stairs. Something was up with Emil and Richter seemed to have caught on that. The guardian user knew the Centurions would probably know what was going on, but trying to pry it off them certainly wouldn't work.
In that case, I'll let Richter do it for me. After all, the guy even verbally owned Ratatosk. Sheena thought with a smirk on her lips and a chuckle. Pity she didn't have anything to record that moment…
- / - / - / -
After taking Emil to bed and making sure he was alright, the group settled themselves to sleep and wait the blonde wake up in the next morning to know what their next course of action would be. That is, everybody less one half-elf and the Centurions.
Sheena approached Lloyd's bed after she successfully got out of the bed she was sharing with Marta without waking her up. It was in those moments she was extremely thankful for the stealth training she had done since she was little and had perfected later by sneaking on Tanny, when they were children, and on the perverts that talked about her, so she wouldn't give them the chance to escape.
The violet haired woman saw Lloyd was deep in slumber and started to think on how she would wake him up without having to resort to blast him with her Pyre Seal. She then remembered one thing that she had always had with her that could wake up anybody. Reaching for her bag at a corner, Sheena rummaged through it and took out a little bottle.
Liquid chaos... the young woman thought to herself as she looked in the bottle. Remnants of some minor demons that tried to attack Asgard. Tanny and I used to make stinky bombs with it when we were children. If left in closed recipes for a long time, it starts to get concentrated and rot, releasing a smell so strong it could knock out a dragon if it inhaled great concentrations. she then uncorked the small glass and took a small sniff, immediately putting it away at sensing the foul smell coming out of it. Urgh! It's also perfect for distraction. That is, as long as you have a gas mask with you.
The guardian user then approached the bottle to Lloyd's nose, but taking care not to put it directly under it, otherwise, he would be going deeper into slumber (and maybe even have nightmares). Lloyd's nose seemed to wrinkle after sometime and the young man sat up with a start, seeming ready to even scream if Sheena have not put her other hand on his mouth, making a "sshhhh" noise to him.
"Stay quiet, ok?" the violet haired woman spoke, taking her hand off Lloyd's mouth.
"Sheena? Why did you wake me up like this?" Lloyd asked, starting to get his sense of smell back to normal.
"Follow me and you'll see," Sheena said, as she bottled the glass containing the liquid chaos.
"Where? What do you want to do with me?" Lloyd asked, a little startled at realizing they were the only ones awake late in the night and Sheena wanted to take him somewhere, possibly away from the others.
"Now, now, Lloyd. Speaking like this, people might think you're the one with dirty thoughts around here," Sheena said in a malicious tone and smirking seductively to Lloyd, who realized what he had just said and looked down, his cheeks a crimson tone. "But as tempting as it sounds, no, that's not it. Follow me and you'll see,"
Blaming his later statement on his hormones, Lloyd dressed in his signature red jacket and exited the House of Salvation with Sheena. The two walked until near the road, hiding behind a wooden wall nearby. Peeking from behind it, they could see Richter standing with his back to them, looking at the horizon.
Lloyd was about to ask what Richter was doing out of the House of Salvation by himself, when four figures materialized behind him, taking the form of the Centurions. Aqua was the first to talk in the lovely tone of admiration she used to speak with Richter:
"Master Richter! We're all here."
"Though, mainly because somebody forced us to," Tenebrae commented.
"Shut up before I decide that facing Lord Ratatosk's fury is worth your death."
"You said you wanted to inquiry us about our lord's state, right?" Ventus asked the adult half-elf, not even bothering to try and stop Tenebrae and Aqua from starting another argument.
Lloyd had his mouth mild-open in surprise while Sheena had a sharp look on her slightly narrowed eyes. Would the Centurions really tell Richter what was the deal with the merging of Ratatosk's spirit with Emil's own? The red haired man spoke, after throw one of his red bangs to the side:
"Yes. More specifically about this merging process you were speaking about. My question is simple: if Emil is being affected like this each time he hatches one of you, what's going to happen to him when the last Centurion is awaken?"
Sheena and Lloyd had their eyes wide at that. They hadn't even stopped to ponder about how the merging process was affecting Emil or what that merging exactly meant. Tenebrae and Ventus looked between each other, as Lumen and Aqua seemed confused. The former obviously didn't have any idea about what they were talking about, the latter, having just been reunited with her lord, hadn't have time to analyze the situation.
It seemed the two had already debated on that subject, for Ventus soon looked to Richter and started to speak:
"Considering the circumstances in which the merging happened, we can only assume the human personality you know as Emil Aster Castagnier will eventually combine with our lord's own, though, what the final result will be is still uncertain to us. Maybe the stronger of the personalities will remain. Maybe they will become a new one."
"Is Emil aware of all of this?" Richter asked.
"He is," Tenebrae answered. "Lord Emil once asked me about it when he hatched me. He asked Ventus too. He says he is on this journey to discover what it means too."
"Yes… he is…" Richter said, looking to the ground. A tension settled in the air. Sheena and Lloyd almost didn't breath as Richter started to talk again. "Does your lord have any idea about it?" by the emphasis Richter gave to the word "lord", Sheena and Lloyd knew he was clearly meaning Ratatosk's personality.
"He doesn't talk much about it. We tried to ask once, but couldn't get any concrete answer," Tenebrae said.
"In another words, we won't know until the time comes."
"Possibly," Ventus confirmed.
"In that case, allow me to ask you another question: is there any way for Emil and Ratatosk to separate? The two still seem not to have any effect on the other's personality yet."
This time, all Centurions looked between themselves. Lloyd then remembered the question he had once made to Emil about how he could stand all of that; being an important Summon Spirit and having to fight the demons. He could still remember the heavy, sad tone of Emil's answer:
Sometimes I… really feel like I can be crushed by all of this…
Was that why Richter was asking if there was a way to separate Emil from Ratatosk, so that the blonde could live his life like a normal human? Ventus looked back to Richter and spoke in his soft, yet strong tone carrying wisdom:
"Actually, there is a way. If Ratatosk/Emil gained a certain portion of our lord's former power before the hatching of the last Centurion and their consciousness still hasn't merged until then, it would be possible for his human and Summon Spirit self to separate from each other and become their own beings. Though, that might come with some minor side-effects…"
"That was all I wanted to know," Richter said in a tone of someone who thought of the subject as finished. "Thanks for your attention."
"Anytime you want, Master Richter," Aqua said. You could almost see hearts floating over her head as she regarded the tall man.
Sheena and Lloyd hid further once Richter passed by their hiding spot, who still did not notice the two. Once the red headed scholar was back to the House of Salvation, the Centurions followed, speaking between themselves:
"Is it my impression, or does that guy not like our boss very much?" Lumen asked to his brethren.
"Of course it's just your impression, Lumen," Tenebrae said in a sarcastic tone. "Why would he come to us and ask if there's a way to separate Lord Ratatosk from Lord Emil?"
"Oh. Good then. I was worried he really didn't like boss," Lumen said with his goofy smile and cheerful tone on.
Tenebrae stayed silent at the obliviousness and blunt statement of his counterpart while Ventus talked to Aqua:
"I don't think it would be proper for you to get so attached to that man. There's something about him that's bothering me."
"Pfft. And what do you know about Master Richter to say this?" Aqua retorted.
"Just watch out to not fall in the traps of love, or you might get hurt later," Ventus said in a wise tone.
"Why, thanks for the warning, Vent-know-it-all."
The Centurions then passed by Sheena and Lloyd and entered the House of Salvation. The couple got out of their hiding spot and stayed looking to the door of the building for some time, thinking on everything that they heard.
"Do you think we should talk to Aster about it?" Sheena asked Lloyd.
"I don't know. It seems like he already knows about this merging thing and all," Lloyd answered.
"In that case, I suggest we wait and see what happens. After all, this is Emil's personal matter. I don't want to butt in."
"Yeah."
- / - / - / -
He was floating at the middle of the field. In front of him were three people, all of them half-elves. At the head of the group was a young, blond one, wearing white clothes with details in blue. He started to talk to the boy in an angry tone:
"Didn't I make myself clear? Protecting the mana is more important than going around playing mister hero!"
The blond boy answered, in a tone that edged defiance, which irritated him:
"Then do you expect us to simply turn a blind eye to someone who's suffering right in front of us?"
"Fool! If you don't hurry up and do something about those mana consuming weapons, there won't be any people left for you to save!"
"But Ratatosk, it's not that simple," the green haired woman that had been behind the half-elven boy stepped forward. He felt some compassion for the woman. Her soft, sweet tone bringing distant memories. "People aren't very willingly to listen to half-elves like us regarding this subject. Some think this war is for the pride of their countries."
"And if they don't stop it, there won't be any country for them to defend its pride. Can't you see that?" his tone was now softer and a little more appeased, though it hadn't lost its strength and brash connotation.
"We know that and that's because we've been trying to gather able bodies and sabotage some factories, but we can't do anything about the weapons that are already in use," the blue haired man that had his hands entwined with the woman moments ago said.
That man…he didn't particularly like him, but always felt he could at least keep a logic dialogue with him. That man, at least, understood the gravity of the situation.
"So, you mean your efforts are useless."
"No, not useless," the green haired woman said. "We've already achieved to convince a parcel of the population about what we're doing is right…"
"And yet that isn't even close to solve the main problem, is it now?" he interrupted her.
"But… they will eventually understand," the blond boy spoke up. The insistent tone of that half-elf was starting to make his anger rise again. "These same people you recriminate us for saving are the ones who are supporting our cause."
"Have you heard anything I've said? We're running against the clock! If you aren't able to help me fix this, then I'll find a way to do it myself."
"But didn't you say that you and your brethren couldn't interfere directly, Ratatosk?" the blue haired man asked.
"It was exactly because of it I asked for you three to make the pacts with my brothers, so we could interfere through you. But it seems Mithos wasn't able to even get past three pacts."
"But they've already helped us a great deal…" the blonde, Mithos, spoke, but was interrupted.
"And yet you spend their powers 'saving' other people, when you should be using it to take care of the main problem. Don't you see? As long as this war continues, it doesn't matter how many you save, they will get in danger again."
"So what do you suggest we do? Use them to destroy the armies of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla?"
"YES! You people created these weapons for the purpose to kill each other, didn't you? I don't give a crap about it, but now they started to harm the world and you all simply refuse to listen to reason! They don't deserve to live in this world if they are willingly to destroy it for their own selfish reasons!" his tone was harsh and angry.
"But… there must be other way," the green haired woman spoke in an almost begging tone.
"Don't be so naïve Martel! These people won't listen to you, isn't that already clear enough?"
"Hey! You don't need to speak with her like that. We all are working hard to stop this conflict…" the blue haired man said, but was interrupted again.
"But it's not enough, Yuan! Soon, if you don't do something, mana will be all burnt out and your vows with my brothers and sisters will be automatically broken, annulling your pact with them," he said that looking to Mithos, who didn't back away at the angry tone. "If the humans didn't want to get killed, they should have thought about what they were doing before ever inventing this cursed magitechnology!"
"No! I refuse to do this! There must be another way! Creating a slaughter won't bring anyone peace!" Mithos said, stating his belief.
"If you aren't able to do what's necessary, then it seems I just lost my time talking to you. You three are nothing more than selfish parasites, using the Derris Emblem I gave you and the power of my brothers and sisters for your own causes." his tone was now one of cold accusation.
"No!" Martel said, seeming now desperate, tears coming out of her eyes. "That's not true! We only want to…"
"SILENCE!" the very earth seemed to shake with his powerful yell. Martel, Mithos and Yuan backed slightly at his fury, eyes wide. "I won't be swayed by soft words anymore, no matter how much of your heart they carry! If you think there's a path, then show me, I dare you!" his tone suddenly lowered, turning as cold as the depths of Celsius' glaciers. "I will follow mine and do what's necessary to protect this world and my tree…"
With that, he left. He could come back and collect the Derris Emblem later, throwing in that half-elf's face how wrong he was. However, the situation was far too worse now. He lost too much time by thinking that those three would comprehend what was necessary to be done to save that world. They were just like the others he tried to call to defend the world; too afraid of the disapproval of others, to go against their petty ideals to take action and do what was needed.
From that day on, Ratatosk swore he would never trust in the mortals again. They didn't understand that protecting the world and the Kharlan Tree came before everything. They preferred to cling to their idealistic visions instead of seeing the real situation, acting to reach their ambitions instead of hearing even to the ones that guarded their ingrate lives…
Emil woke with a start, sweating. That dream…it wasn't a normal dream, he knew that…it looked more like a… a memory. But it certainly wasn't one of his. He never met anyone named Mithos, Martel or Yuan.
Thinking about that now, he remembered something: hadn't Asuka commented that the name of the Tethe'allan Renegades' leader was Yuan? That meant the leader of the Renegades was a half-elf. He had heard rumors about it, but never thought they were actually true. However, Emil was sure he never met the leader of the Renegades before. So, what was that memory?
Looking around, he saw it was morning; the sun was slightly making its appearance and bathing the room with a mild light. Lloyd was on his bed, deep on sleep, in the other side of the room. Emil looked to his right and saw Marta and Sheena sleeping on the bed they were sharing. The brunette girl was turned to Sheena's back, who was a bit further from her. Marta probably had tried to hug the older woman during sleep. She did that to Emil when they traveled together and had to sleep close to each other.
Sighing, the blond swordsman got up, dressed himself with his scarf and scabbard and got out of the room. The House of Salvation's workers had to yet wake up, so Emil decided to take a stroll outside to clear his head and think about what he just saw in his dream/memory.
Could that be an effect of the merging between his and Ratatosk's spirit? It probably was. But that memory…he even felt the emotions Ratatosk felt during that time. Emil had to admit, considering the critical situation in which the world was, he would be as angry as Ratatosk. But to kill thousands of people to protect the world… the thought was unacceptable to him. They weren't talking about just one human life.
"They should have thought about that before killing my tree then. Those who don't value the world they live in, don't deserve to live in it at all," a brash, strong voice sounded inside Emil's head, making he stop and jump. He knew that voice very well since he was thirteen.
"R-Ratatosk?" the afraid blonde asked aloud.
"What? You can hear me? Oh, that's just great…" Ratatosk's voice sounded inside Emil's head, with a sarcastic edge on it. "What next? You'll take on my appearance?"
"Th-that's serious? Why am I hearing you in my head?" Emil asked, getting a little desperate.
"Uh, I don't know. Maybe because our spirits are further merged? Duh."
Emil had to admit: dealing with Ratatosk wasn't an easy task, but hearing his thoughts was a completely different thing. The young swordsman sighed, thinking:
Gosh… What am I going to do now?
"How about stop whining for once?" Ratatosk talked back. Emil narrowed his eyes. Great, it worked two ways. "And don't give me that expression! I don't like this situation as much as you."
"Then what should we do?" Emil asked the Summon Spirit aloud again.
"Just keep collecting my Centurion's cores. The faster you do this, the faster we can get rid of each other. After all, that's what you want so much, isn't it?" Ratatosk asked, his tone a sharp one.
Before Emil could reply, he heard someone calling his name. The blond boy turned and saw Richter coming, seeming completely awake. Emil never saw when Richter went to bed. The tall half-elf was generally the first to awake and the last to go sleep.
"Who were you talking to, Aster?" Richter asked.
Emil smiled to his old friend. He even missed Richter's constant lectures about how he and Marta should use the intelligent boy's alias while in public, though the two never really took what he said to the letter. Richter raised his eyebrow to the boy's expression, wondering what he was up to.
"Don't worry. It was just Ratatosk, Richter," Emil said to his friend.
"How? I didn't hear his voice," Richter asked with a serious look on his features.
"I can hear him in my mind now."
"You can?" the tone of the adult half-elf was a little louder now and with a tint of worry.
"Yeah. Is something wrong?" Aster noticed the tone in Richter's voice.
"Actually, there's something I wanted to talk with you about. You see…" before Richter could proceed, someone called him.
The red head's entire body went stiff at hearing the voice, which came from behind him. Emil took a look to behind the half-elf and saw someone coming, dressed in torn clothes and with a feral look on his face. Emil recognized the newcomer with a gasp: Grawlrus.
"Ah, there you are. Lord Nebilim ordered me to come and find you. You should have been back about…" the disguised demon stopped his talk once he noticed Emil, whose hand flew to his sword's handle, but stopped at hearing the almost friendly tone the demon was using with Richter. "Hey! You captured Ratatosk. Good work! And here we thought you were serious about the whole 'I'm not doing this because I want to' thing," the demon said, making a bad impersonation of Richter's voice tone.
"Richter…what is he talking about?" Emil asked, looking to his friend, who let out a grunt, still not seeming to be able to look to Emil or Grawlrus.
"Oh, didn't you realize yet?" Grawlrus taunted. "Richter is one of us; he works for Lord Nebilim and…" the wild-looking demon had to stop at mid sentence to jump back from a sudden attack from Richter, who quickly drew his weapons; the ax of round edge drew by its red blade, Sol, and the red sword, Mani. "What the hell? What are you doing?"
"Aster! Take the others away from here! I'll keep Grawlrus occupied!" Richter said, turning his head to look by the corner of his eyes to Emil.
"But…" the blond swordsman hesitated, looking from Richter to Grawlrus.
"GO!" the half-elf commanded, charging to attack Grawlrus again, who avoided the attack once more.
Emil decided to obey Richter and ran inside the House of Salvation, he found the others going down the stairs, all dressed and seeming ready to depart. The group gave the young boy confused looks at seeing him nervous. Emil then spoke:
"We were found. We have to get out of here!"
Marta brought her hands to her mouth, as Lloyd and Sheena wore determined and sharp looks as they drew their weapons, ready for combat.
"Then what are we standing here for? Let's go!" Sheena said.
The group quickly exited the House of Salvation, in time to hear a loud thud. They looked to the side and saw Richter standing there, ax and sword in hand, and Grawlrus on the floor, sitting with an angry look on his face.
"Richter!" Marta called.
The half-elf looked to the brunette girl upon hearing his name. That moment of distraction was all that Grawlrus needed. He called for Graar, making a portal open at his side and the big, grayish-blue wolf jumped out of it. The wolf demon charged against Richter, who just had time to turn and lift his arm as Graar dug his fangs on it.
Marta and the others gasped as Richter went to the ground, blood flying from his arm as Graar seemed to be trying to rip it off and left big stains on the ground and in the half-elf's clothes. The red head, however, was still with his weapon on his grip and had just his teeth gritted instead of shouting in pain like any other person would be doing under that kind of attack.
"BURN!" Richter shouted.
Flames involved the body of the half-elf, setting Graar aflame, hitting even his mouth. The wolf barked in pain as it seemed to be thrown back by the burst of flames. When the fire died down, Emil and the others had their eyes wide at what they were seeing.
Richter's appearance had changed completely: his coat and clothes had turned into what seemed to be pure darkness, there was some kind of dark matter floating around the ends of his coat, which apparently had merged with his body, his skin gained a reddish tone and his hair now seemed to be made of liquid fire and shadows and his glasses had disappeared. His weapons also transformed, their blades turning into that same liquid fire as his hair.
Seeing they were still there, Richter turned his eyes to Emil and the others and spoke, his voice seeming the only thing unchanged:
"Didn't I say for you all to go? What are you waiting for?"
Emil and the others nodded, getting away from the place as fast as they could, all too confused by what they have witnessed. Richter turned to Grawlrus who was tending to part of his feral companion's burnt fur. The disguised demon looked to Richter and pointed an accusing finger to him while proclaiming:
"You… you traitor!"
Richter simply sighed at that, seeming completely unaffected. He talked back:
"When did I ever show any pretensions of being loyal to your 'cause'? You demons are so delusional."
- / - / - / -
Night had fallen as the group had got a good distance away from the House of Salvation where they left Richter facing Grawlrus. No one was speaking, still too shocked by what they had seen. Emil and Marta, in particular, couldn't believe their friend was a half-demon. That should be some kind of really bad joke. Aqua had a sad look to her face while the other Centurions just looked to be in deep thought.
Sheena then stood and the whole group looked to the guardian user as she spoke:
"Look, I know this might not be the best time to bring this up, but ever since I saw that Richter guy I sensed something strange about him. By the looks of it, he was occulting the chaos energy that every demon and half-demon emanate."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Tenebrae inquired.
"You mean you didn't feel it? What kind of servants of Summon Spirit are you?" Sheena said with her eyes narrowed and crossing her arms. Tenebrae seemed to grumble as the violet haired woman continued. "Anyway, I didn't tell you because Emil and Marta seemed so trustful about him, I doubt they would have believed me."
"But Richter tried to save us!" Emil said in protest, getting up together with Marta.
"Yes! He can't be bad! There must be some sort of explanation," the petite brunette said.
"How about we ask Aqua then?" Lloyd suggested, making everybody look to the Centurion of water, who almost jumped on her place at seeing everybody fixing their stares on her. "You were with Richter before, right?"
"Aqua, you knew that and didn't tell us?" Ventus' tone was a recriminating one. "What if he had attacked us while we had let our guard down?"
"Because Master Richter would never do that. He was turned into a half-demon against his will!" Aqua proclaimed.
A heavy silence came after the declaration of the fish-looking entity. Emil and Marta were divided between feeling worried for Richter and relieved he wasn't against them. Lumen looked to everybody before looking to Aqua again, asking:
"You mean Nebilim did capture him?"
"Of course he did, you idiot!" Aqua said in a defensive tone. "Do you really think Master Richter would ever betray Lord Emil and Lady Marta? He has been withholding information from Nebilim ever since he was forced to participate the Chaos Ritual, but he can't disobey him if Nebilim gives him a direct order."
"Why not?" Lloyd asked. Tenebrae was the one to answer that question.
"It is in the demon's nature to obey those of a higher ranking than theirs. The demons were all created by the Descendants of Chaos, the original chaos, from their souls to serve them, so it is in their nature to obey their superiors, no matter what kind of order it is."
" 'Descendants of Chaos'? 'Original chaos'?" Marta asked.
Ratatosk took control of Emil's body in that moment. The Summon Spirit decided to explain to them about that concept, mostly because Emil had been "pestering"him about what that meant:
"The original chaos is the one that existed before all creation. It's from it that our Lords created everything. The Descendants of Chaos are the first demons and, as the name implies, its direct children. There are three and they draw their powers from any kind of chaos energy.
"Niflheim is a giant, spiritual realm overflowing with chaos energies which are closer to the original one. It's because of it the demons took control of it and call it their home. There, the Descendants of Chaos, or the Grand Demon Lords, rule all of their kind with god-like powers. Their goal isn't simply to destroy everything, but to return it to its original state, the chaos it was before. They like to call the original chaos Great Father, believing everything must return to him."
Ratatosk then looked to everybody around him. Marta and Sheena seemed to be clueless while Lloyd was trying really hard to keep his mind from shutting down with the overflowing information that had assaulted it. The crimson-eyed entity sighed, putting a hand on its face.
See? That's exactly why we can't explain things like that to you, mortals. the Summon Spirit spoke mentally. Emil apologized through the connecting between their merged spirits.
"Can you repeat it, boss?" Lumen asked, seeming as lost as everybody. The Centurions looked away from him in shame.
"What?" Ratatosk asked.
"Like, from the beginning?" Lloyd asked.
"Ok, to shorten things..." Ratatosk said, his temper quickly raising. "Original chaos; everything that the universe was before creation. Chaos Descendants: the three Grand Demons Lords, leaders of all demons and who created them to follow every order of their superiors, whatever they may be. There! Is that clear enough or do I need to draw something for your simple minds to get it?"
"You don't need to be so cranky, you know?" Sheena said.
Muttering a "whatever", Ratatosk gave the control back to Emil. The blonde could hear Ratatosk mumble "idiots" before feeling the link between their minds weakening, but still present. Having understood that, everybody turned to Aqua, who continued the story:
"According to what Master Richter told me, Nebilim had tried to force information out of him, but he simply wouldn't speak, telling half-truths or twisted and unimportant parts of it. It seems Nebilim then gave up and send Master Richter to do some missions in his name. They frequently involved threatening people or killing those that opposed the demons. Master Richter hated doing them and has been trying to do his best to get the people out of it with their lives."
"But wouldn't that be disobeying Nebilim's orders?" Marta asked.
"I don't know. But he mentioned something about playing with the meaning of Nebilim's words and putting some tasks in the missions as a higher priority than others so he could avoid them."
"Ah, so he's playing with words," Ventus mused. "Very cunning, I must say. Of course, if he focused more on part of his mission or twisted the meaning of his orders in a way it looked like he would be carrying them out, he could dribble the nature of the demonic blood flowing in his body."
"So, you mean that the servant nature of the demons isn't as strong in half-demons than it is in complete ones?" Emil asked the most intelligent of the Centurions.
"It would seem so, though I cannot tell with much accuracy, since half-demons never existed before."
"Word play… dribble nature… what exactly does this mean?" Lloyd mumbled, feeling as lost as a penguin in the middle of the Triet Desert.
"I think it means Richter can resist follow other demons' orders to some level, or something like that," Sheena said, scratching her head as she tried to understand so many extravagant words.
"And here I was, thinking Lady Sheena was actually smarter than she looked," Tenebrae commented in a whisper, however, the voluptuous female caught that.
Before anything else could be spoken, Sheena hit Tenebrae in the head, making the Centurion kiss the earth. A vein was throbbing on the guardian user's head.
"Thanks a lot. I've been wanting to do that to him myself for a long time," Aqua said, flashing a smile to Sheena.
"No prob," the violet haired woman said, smiling back to the feminine-looking Centurion.
"Anyway…" the Centurion of water said, making everybody look to her again. "Master Richter also used the time he had between his missions to ensure that other people and his friends were safe. He didn't make any contact with the Vanguard or the Renegades for he feared Nebilim would try and press that information out of him somehow.
"When he met me, before he went to you in that night, my lord…" Aqua looked to Emil. "...he promised he would bring you to me for us to renew our bounds. But then he was captured and turned into a half-demon, so, instead, he decided that as soon as he got word of Emil, he would come and take me to you.
"I got shocked when I saw Master Richter again, I almost sent one of my servants on him. But then, I saw…even with all the chaos around him and the demonic blood in his veins, Master Richter was still that same marvelous person of when I first met him."
Aqua's tone was a sweet one as she looked up, the expression on her face and hand over her chest telling the group she was daydreaming. Tenebrae and Ventus had big sweatdrops running down behind their heads. Sheena had her hand on her mouth, trying hard not to laugh. Marta had closed her eyes, putting her hands behind her back and inclining her body forward, a sweet smile on her face:
"Wow. You must really love Richter. Few people would describe him like this."
"I-I… I don't…" Aqua stuttered, recovering from her daydreaming and blushing beet red.
"C'mon, Aqua-girl. You're even stuttering and getting your face red," Lumen said. "Humans had this expression when they are heads over heels for someone. At least, that's what V-wing explained to me."
"S-shut up, Lumen!" Aqua said, quickly reverting from her embarrassed state to an angry one.
This time, Lloyd was the one with a sweatdrop running down his forehead, thinking:
Great… even the Centurions with feminine appearance have this mood swing thing girls have.
"So he brought you to Emil and here we are," Lloyd decided to conclude. Aqua nodded to the boy. "Good. Can we go to bed now? My head is already aching."
Tenebrae would have made some remark about that, but he was still fearful that Sheena would inflict some harm upon him should he talk about her man like that. The group and the Centurions agreed to get a rest. As Lloyd and Emil went to the tents they had set earlier, Sheena, Marta and the Centurions stayed talking some more:
"Well, it's certainly good to know Richter is still our friend," Marta said, with a relieved smile.
"Yeah. I would hate if we had to fight against him," Sheena spoke. "I mean, he's your friend and I hate seeing friends fighting one another."
"A noble attitude, however, what if it might come to that someday?" Ventus inquired.
"Oh, I'm sure Master Richter will find a way. After all, Master Richter is amazing," Aqua said, her tone one of pure admiration.
"Yeah. Not as amazing as my Emil, but amazing anyways," Marta said in the same tone of admiration, but only for her crush.
"Excuse me? What did you say?" Aqua spoke, seeming to get very protective. "I agree that our lord is good, but he's still young and Master Richter taught him most of what he knows today. So, in a way, Master Richter is better."
"No. It's Emil," Marta talked back, also in a protective tone.
"Master Richter!"
"Girls. Calm down, okay," Sheena said, attracting the attention of the two. "You two like our men and everything and I don't blame you… but Lloyd could beat the two of them any day," the guardian user had a smile to her face.
There was one moment of silence, until all three girls broke in an argument, speaking the name of their loved ones again and again. The other Centurions just stayed there looking to that, unable to think on anything to say. Lumen was the one to speak:
"Isn't it nice they are so friendly with each other enough to talk about their guys?"
Ventus and Tenebrae decided not to reply to that…
Wew! That was some chapter... and as you all noticed, I used Richter's final form from ToS2 as his demonic form. You have to admit, in the game, it practically screamed "demonic badassness!"
Now, I would like to call your attention for an annoucement (which you can see in my profile too): since I've basically added an entire background story to the realm of Niflheim and its inhabitants, you can already guess by now that the volume of information aboout it is too big to be presented all at once and has to be spread through the chapters. So, after a certain character joins the party, which should happen around the beggining of the Act 2, I will publish a side-fic organizing the entire demonic mythology that was already revealed.
However, I'm not going to publish it as simply a text book or some kind of diary. No. It's going to have a very different format. How different, you ask? Well, once the character I meantioned appears, you all might have a clue.
Well, that's all. Until the next chapter!