Ch 6- Mercy and Revenge
Aqune felt her chest tighten as they reached the end of the page. As a handmaiden, she could always feel the Oracle's pain. But getting such a feeling just from hearing about it in a book was new to her. Of course, this was some kind of mystical book. From the way things were written, it didn't seem to her that Spirit Oracle had even physically written a thing down in this journal. That the content was simply added as events she deemed interesting happened. Aqune wasn't sure how she knew that either. But it was just the feeling she got.
'A human-like Insector…' Buguese thought to himself. He was aware his own appearance was a bit human for an Insector. But he still considered himself a genuine Insector. There were some occasions when he disliked his appearance, but on the other hand, his breed were a rare few. Standing out made it easier to garner respect from other Insectors. Beerain was another, though she wasn't quite as human as him. Though notably, both were on the Big Four. Buguese doubted that was the reason he was chosen to be on the Big Four, yet… he still really didn't know. As far as he could remember, he was always on the Big Four. But that was impossible. One had to be chosen for that.
He had to wonder if he was ever going to find answers in this absurd book. But somehow, he was intrigued by the appearance of this new character.
"Hello." The Insector acknowledged Aura with a single word. Then he drew out his blade from its holster.
Aura waited, tense, to see what the Insector would do. He stepped closer to her, but despite his weapon, didn't seem to be taking an attacking stance.
"This is Mantid's castle, isn't it?" she asked. Certainly, she believed she was in the Insector lands. The room was quite dark, save for candle light, with nothing but black coming in from the windows. Of course, whether it was day or night, she didn't know. She wondered how much time had passed by.
The Insector flinched at her words. Probably, he didn't expect to be addressed at all.
"Yes," he answered. "I'm sure you're aware why Mantid-sama has taken an interest in you. However, he is quite busy now. The only reason you are being kept alive is because he asked me to watch you until he is ready to see you. An order which has already been wearing on my patience."
"Because I'm Spirit Oracle," replied Aura.
The Insector gritted his teeth.
"Be grateful it is not up to me, or I would have killed you in your sleep."
"Then… kill me," Aura replied.
"What?!"
"Your will is your own, isn't it?" she answered. "Not Mantid's. If that's what you wish… I'm at your mercy." She felt her body shaking just from saying those words. She was helpless to fight back now, before an enemy who hated her so, and held a weapon in his hands. But those words were the first that came to her. She wanted to believe that the Insectors were not a race blindly bent to Mantid's will. She wanted to see his true intentions.
There was a glimmer in the Insector's eyes. He smiled coldly. "You're right." The Insector lifted his blade, holding it up in the air. "Then prepare to die!"
He swung down his sword. Aura lay there, perfectly still, not even blinking. She knew this could very well be the end. Just as the blade was about to reach her neck, it stopped.
"Huh?" She stared at him with wide eyes.
"This is some sort of trick, isn't it?" the Insector asked. "At the last moment, you would turn my strike against me, killing me instead. And then you'll make your escape."
"Wha… no," Aura answered. "It wasn't a trick at all."
"Lies!" he answered.
"I mean it," Aura replied. "I… I don't want to hurt you."
"Then why?" he asked. He hadn't let go of his weapon. He still held it out, threateningly.
"Because I want to understand," she replied.
"Understand?" He answered back with a question. But he lowered his sword to his side, waiting for a better explanation.
"I hardly understand how humans feel," Aura said. It was clear from her voice how troubled she was. "So I can't understand Insectors either. I know about Mantid. I know he despises me. I know that under his rule, the Insectors have lived for generations hating the humans, and myself as well. And I can understand a little why you must hate me. I haven't been fair to your people, exactly, and it pains me just knowing this. So, if you kill me… if you finally have your revenge… will that end this conflict? If it truly will, then I'm willing to die."
"It may satisfy me," the Insector replied. "I have wished for vengeance for so long. But would it truly resolve the conflict? That I do not know."
He glared at her. "To think the one responsible for stealing our sunlight, making our world into the desolate wasteland it is today is just a frail girl with a death wish. It is far from what I expected."
"I… umm…" she wasn't sure what to say. "This isn't my real form. And I don't want to die. I only wanted to know if that would help you." She really wanted to get back, so she could see Trigger and the other Spider Riders again. At this point, she didn't even know if any of them were alright. Although, she hadn't sensed anything terrible. It comforted Aura to know they were probably alive.
"Yes, because you wish to understand me," he replied, cringing at the word he emphasized. "I also believed you to be an all-knowing goddess. But I suppose that too is false. You know nothing."
"I…" Aura nodded. She sat herself up and looked right into his eyes, a piercing purple. "Yes, it's true. I don't even know your name."
"My name is Roanin," he answered. "Not that it makes any difference for you to know."
"Perhaps not," Aura replied. "But I'm glad you told me. If you'd like, you can call me Aura."
"Aura?" he questioned. "I suppose that isn't your real name either?"
"No," Aura replied. "Actually, someone gave it to me. He thought it was strange that I didn't have a name. He was probably right."
"Well, Aura…" Roanin spoke. He glanced down at the sword in his hand, then back at her. "Answer this. Would killing you undo the damage you've done? Would it break whatever wicked spell you cast to take the sunlight from this world?"
She cringed. That was the second time he'd mentioned the sunlight. Aura knew well that the Insector world was a place cursed with eternal night. The sun never shone there anymore, even though it continued to sustain the human world. But if there was truly something she could have done about that, she would have restored it long ago.
"It won't," she replied.
"As I thought," Roanin said, bitterly.
"Listen…" she said. "That's because it was never my doing at all."
"Who else would have such power?!" Roanin shouted in disbelief.
"It was a wish," she answered. "Mantid's wish."
"Mantid?!"
"He collected all four Oracle Keys," Aura replied. "Having the Keys together gives the bearer great power. The only way to undo his cruel wish is to collect the Oracle Keys over again, and wish for the sun to return."
Roanin looked furious.
"Even if what you say is true, which I have no reason to believe, what sort of ludicrous system is that?! If it is your power, in the form of Keys, which was able to take the sun, then you should be able to bring it back!"
"I can't," Aura replied. "I'm sorry."
"Why?!" he demanded.
"Because the Oracle Keys exist to begin with," she answered. "To explain why they exist… well, that too is because of Mantid. You probably won't believe me, Roanin, but I can explain if you're willing to listen."
"I suppose I have no choice in the matter," Roanin replied. He placed his sword back in the holster. "Tell me everything, and then I'll see if I believe."
"Alright," she said. She was comforted by the fact that he appeared willing to cooperate. "Well, the first thing you should know is that Mantid was my first protégé." She decided to leave out the fact that Mantid was an Earthen. Though it was true, that was likely to make the whole thing even harder to believe. "Mantid came to resent me, and has spent his whole life since plotting revenge. He wanted all of my power, to use against me. Back then, I chose to split my own power into five parts. The first part is the power which I possess now. The rest were divided among the Oracle Keys. These Keys I scattered all across the world. Therefore, no one could ever harness my full power."
"But your foolish plan backfired," Roanin replied. "As Mantid found the Keys."
"Yes. I was foolish," Aura agreed. "I didn't believe even he could find them all. I guess I didn't realize how tenacious Mantid really was. I never could understand human emotion." Her face turned red at her slip of words. "That is, human or Insector emotion."
Roanin seemed thoroughly puzzled by her reaction.
"That… that's all," Aura concluded. "That's the reason."
"Mantid?" Roanin paused, seemingly pondering. "I am still not sure whether to believe your story. But if Mantid truly did collect the Oracle Keys and take the sunlight away as a form of revenge on you, what did you do to hurt him so much?"
"Well…" Now he was pressing on exactly what she hadn't wanted to say. She hadn't even explained this much to the Spider Riders.
"You can't even tell me?" Roanin asked. "Is this the hole in your perfect lie?"
"It isn't a lie," Aura insisted. "I'll tell you. Mantid is an Earthen. A human!"
"What?!" His eyes widened.
"He's changed his form over the years. But he isn't an Insector at all. Mantid loathes me, because I brought him here from the surface world. He experienced something very unfortunate here, and resents me… and this very world because of it."
"An Earthen?" His fists were clenched, as he echoed her words.
"Do you believe me, Roanin?" Aura asked.
"I can't simply say I believe you," he answered. "But I will say this. It is clear to me that killing you will not bring back the sunlight. It will not satisfy my own quest for revenge." He looked away from her. "I will leave your fate in Mantid's hands, Aura."
"So you believe in Mantid?" Aura wondered. She was somewhat disappointed. She wanted him to trust her word. Perhaps the Insectors really were manipulated so deeply by Mantid that they didn't have wills of their own. But for a moment, she almost saw a glimmer of hope in this man. If only she could understand him just a little more. Then maybe, she could reach him.
"I do," Roanin answered. "All my life, I have fought for Mantid. I worked hard to make it up in the ranks and become one of his Big Four. I wish to restore the sunlight, to save the Insector world. And Mantid has promised to help us do this, and destroy the humans, who live selfishly in light each day, in the process. If he took away our sun, what reason would he have to fight for it now?"
"Th-that's because… he wants to deceive you," Aura replied. She realized stuttering didn't make her argument very convincing. But she had no idea how she could put it to make him believe.
It didn't matter. Just then, the door opened. Mantid stood outside, an Insector guard standing on either side of him. Aura froze in worry.
"Thank you Roanin, for keeping an eye on our prisoner," Mantid spoke.
Roanin bowed to the man.
"You may go now," the Insector leader continued. "I'd like to spend time with her alone."
"Very well," said Roanin. He turned his head back for a moment, glancing at Aura. He still looked thoroughly puzzled by her. But his face transformed into a scowl before he turned away and walked out.
"I truly am impressed with the way you handled yourself, Spirit Oracle," Mantid said.
"What do you mean?"
"Roanin has always despised you. If he didn't outright kill you in cold blood, I expected him to be a bit rougher. Yet it seems you don't even have a scratch on you."
"You expected him to kill me?" Aura wondered. Even if Roanin hadn't told her he was ordered to keep her alive, she wasn't certain Mantid even wanted to kill her right away. Sadistic behavior was more to his style. A fast death was too merciful.
"It would not have surprised me," Mantid answered. "But I am blessed to have such an obedient general. Now you are mine to play with." He grinned at her coldly. It was enough to send a chill down her spine.
"Mantid… I… I don't want you to hurt the Insectors anymore!" It came out awkwardly and out of place. But Aura was truly at a loss for proper words.
"Hurt them?" Mantid questioned. "I haven't done anything of the sort. It's you I wish to hurt. You and your precious Spider Riders."
"Do what you want with me," Aura replied. "But please… leave the Spider Riders out of it." She still wasn't certain completely if Trigger and the others were safe. She could try to use her powers now and see for certain, but it wasn't really a good time. She would need to be able to concentrate on them.
"Leave them out of it?" Mantid smirked. He already seemed to be enjoying this encounter entirely too much. "All six of them that remain went off into battle the last I know. I sent out my remaining three generals to their locations. They will be fighting for their very lives."
"The fights must be over by now!" Aura argued. She knew she was unconscious for some time. If she was taken all the way to the Insector Empire in the process, it had to have given them time. Even the three who went all the way to the seaside village. And definitely Prince Arachna, whom she gave power to, would have no trouble winning. It would only last temporarily, of course. But wouldn't that be enough? She hoped so, with all her heart.
"Are they?" Mantid asked. "I haven't found out the answer myself. Let's let this be a mystery to both of us."
"I believe in my champions!" Aura declared. "They won't lose."
Mantid snarled at her.
"I should not be surprised that you won't be broken so easily. You never were in the past."
Mantid whipped his cape aside, bringing in to view one of his pincers. He slashed it down at Aura. She held up her hands, blocking her face from the assault. But where she was struck, blood started to flow.
"I thought you said I could do whatever I wanted with you?" Mantid questioned. "Yes, as long as I didn't harm the Spider Riders."
"Well…" Of course she had said that. She had blocked only on reflex. Mantid hadn't broken her like he wished, which didn't mean she wasn't still afraid. She had already thought of healing herself to stop the bleeding. But she decided not to, just yet. She wasn't going to die because of that.
"Perhaps I'll make sure they really were finished," Mantid continued. "Then you will have no champions left to save you. Not even the Hero Brade. Not even that new Spider Rider."
"Trigger…" she thought out loud, worriedly.
"I can tell just by the look of him. The clothes he wears. That boy is an Earthen. Just like me, you brought him to this world, to obey your will. And just like me, he'll one day come to resent the hell you put on him."
"That isn't going to happen!" Aura declared. "Trigger isn't like you. He has people he cares about… who care about him in return. And he wants to stay!" From the start, that was the only thing Aura wanted. For her experiment to succeed. For Trigger to be happy in this world. Maybe now, it was more than just an experiment. But if somehow Trigger did turn out like Mantid… if he came to hate the Inner World, Aura would be devastated.
"For now," replied Mantid. "But when he loses someone, someone he truly loves, then you will see."
Before Aura could do a thing, Mantid slashed at her once more. She hadn't even blocked. Her clothing tore, and a red streak dripped down from her chest.
"I want you to think about that," Mantid said. "Know that I am far from done with you. I plan to savor every bit of revenge I can get." He turned away and walked through the door, along with his guards. One of them shut it behind them, leaving Aura alone now in the closed room.
"Someone he truly loves…" The words stung to Aura. She remembered Mantid's love well. A woman named Lorraine. She was a compassionate and lovely young woman, and was also a fighter, though she didn't look it. But she was slain. And after that day, Mantid finally broke.
"Does Trigger even have someone like that?"
'He wants to remain right here with you.' Brade's words echoed in her head. Images flashed in her mind as well, of her encounter with Trigger in the main hall. The way he apologized so earnestly. How his face turned red when he held her hand.
"Me?" She felt guilty for even letting the thought cross her mind. After all, even if she was Aura now, first, she was Spirit Oracle. She belonged to all people. Even if one person did favor her, and it might be rash to assume that when there was still so little she understood, she could never give herself to a single person.
"I don't even know if he's alive," she thought. "Even if he is, he's still in danger. Mantid could very well kill him and all the others, just to hurt me. I can't allow that."
Aura took a deep breath. She concentrated her powers, and healed the wounds on her body. At least, she attempted this. The wounds were mostly stitched, as was the tear on her dress. But a residue of a light stinging pain remained, as did scratches and traces of the blood. Her powers were dulled.
'How…' she wondered. Aura's first thought was that it was a side-effect of whatever she'd been drugged with. Mantid did have all sorts of unusual technology. Anything was believable. She just hoped it would wear off soon. In this case, her life was in more danger than she'd even realized.
Slowly, she pushed herself up from the bed where she sat. At least she had the strength to manage this. She made her way to the door of the room and turned the knob. It was open.
'Good,' she thought to herself.