The 7th Nightmare is here.
I'm sorry for the short chapters before!
Ignia: You promised to make a long chapter!
Yes, Ignia... I know...
Let the fairy tale begin.
The 7th Nightmare
Elsword's POV
"What do you mean, Ignia?"
She just told me to stop using Laevateinn.
I know that Laevateinn's Berserk's sword.
But... I need its power to protect them...
"Laevateinn is not a normal sword, onii-chan. The more you used it, the more you lose your sanity, it's a massacre weapon, it is never purposed to be used by a human like you."
Ignia knew about Laevateinn?
"How did you know, Ignia?"
Ignia closed her eyes.
Karis is listening without interrupting.
"I possessed an ability, an ability to look at what happened in the past."
I know, priestesses can look at someone's past.
"When I saw onii-chan's Laevateinn, I can look at its past."
She just looked at a sword's past?
I thought it's only applied to human.
"As you've knew, onii-chan. Priestess can only look at living thing's past. But now that I can look at Laevateinn's past, you should know what I mean, right?"
...!
My eyes are widened in surprise.
Even Karis is surprised.
Don't tell me...
"You're right, onii-chan. 'Laevateinn'... Is a LIVING SWORD."
I felt chill ran down my spine.
Laevateinn... Is a living sword?
That's very ridiculous...
"You may think it's hard to believe, onii-chan. But Laevateinn have its own consciousness. It loves to burn and to destroy, in the past..."
Ignia started her story.
"5,000 Years ago, Laevateinn was found in the crater of a volcano in the demon's realm. However, anyone who dare to get close or dare to touch it, will be swallowed by the deadly lava around it, Laevateinn can control fire and liquid flames at its own will. It always stayed in the crater for 4,000 years, waiting for a suitable person that's worthy to wield it. But after 4,000 years passed... A certain demon managed to get near to the Laevateinn. That demon's name is... Berserk."
She mentioned Berserk's name.
I kept on hearing her story.
"Many demons tried to stop Berserk from advancing to the crater, but Berserk ignored them, when he reached the crater, the Lava's not attacking him. All of the demons are surprised of course. He smiled and he got to the place where 'Laevateinn's stabbed. Before he touch the sword, I can hear a growl of a monster, I can only bet it was Laevateinn's growl. And then he pulled Laevateinn out of the ground, 1,000 years later, Berserk attacked onii-chan and possessed you. That's all I can remember."
"Laevateinn..."
To think that it has such a secret...
"That's why, never use it again, onii-chan."
Ignia said in a sad tone and then she hugged me gently.
"I don't want, the kind onii-chan disappears."
Karis watched us but she didn't do anything, I think she too, is treating Ignia as a little sister.
I caressed her head.
"Ignia, I can't promise you I won't use Laevateinn, but I will try my best to fight without it."
"Onii-chan... If you're worried about power..."
Ignia starts to summon her spear.
Her flaming spear.
"What are you doing, Ignia?"
Karis asked her in my place.
"This spear, is also similar with 'Laevateinn'. It's a LIVING SPEAR."
"What?"
I'm dumbfounded.
Just how many living weapons are there?
"This spear's name is 'Varuka'. It's a spear that possessed a unique flame called 'Purifying Flames', it's the complete opposite of onii-chan's 'Corruption Flames.' However their powers are almost at the same level, so you can rely on me."
Ignia said as she smiles.
Her red hair's beautiful, but...
"No, Ignia."
"Why? Onii-chan's not scared of 'Laevateinn'? It might've waiting for the right time to take over onii-chan's body and mind!"
Ignia's very worried about me, but I'm not someone to be worried about.
"Spirits won't be able to possess me so easily, I will possess them instead."
I remember the day when I took the Dark El.
"Back then when I'm a 'Sheath Knight', Dark El's trying to take over my body too, but it ended up being possessed by me. I'm becoming the 'Infinity Sword' when I'm able to possess the Dark El and make it my own power, that's why..."
I inhale slowly.
"I will possess 'Laevateinn' and use its power for my own too. To protect all of you, I will definitely able to do it."
Ignia's surprised when I mentioned Dark El.
But then her eyes turned serious.
"... But, 'Laevateinn's inner devil's even worse than Dark El, do you sure you still want to do it, onii-chan? You might end up killing us."
I shook my head.
"No, Ignia. No one will die. Because I'm going to be the new 'Laevateinn's host."
Ignia smiled when I said it.
"Onii-chan is really an idiot..."
"You just knew it, Ignia? He's always so reckless."
Karis added.
You just hurt my feeling you know?
But oh well, all I need to do is to conquer 'Laevateinn'.
"Oh, Ignia, about your spear..."
"Different than 'Laevateinn', 'Varuka's a gentle one, it will only burn those who are deserved to be purified."
That's right, her flame's 'Purification Flames' after all.
My flame's 'Corruption Flames'.
It's pretty compatible with my Dark El power, I think I might amplify 'Laevateinn's power even further with my Dark El's power.
"Els, are you going to see them?"
"Yeah, after all we're done already, let's have a dinner, we talked for too long, they must be hungry already."
Karis giggles.
"You're right. Let's go, Ignia."
Karis held Ignia's hand, and walk outside of the cottage.
There I can see Harza and Vara are preparing the foods.
Looks like they're the one in charge of cooking, I felt bad to let them do it.
Aisha's reading a book, I wonder if she really can't cook?
"Hey, Harza, Vara, what are you two making?"
"Oh, Elsword, We're making a pot of curry! This will be very tasty! Eat as much as possible!"
"-It's a chicken curry, so I think everyone will like it."
I patted both of their heads.
"Thank you, you two are really a great help."
Harza's smiling, but Vara's looking at other direction.
I think she's embarrassed, but she's very cute even though she's a little emotionless.
I walk to Aisha's side.
"Hey, Aisha, what are you doing?"
"Oh, Els, I'm just trying to find out something."
"Something about what?"
"The 'Void's leader, Zeron."
My breath stopped for awhile.
"How will you find it?"
"I got many information from Vara about his personality and abilities, so I write them down at this book, but I'm still wondering just what kind of person is he, he seemed to be pretty strong."
That book's about 200 pages thick.
Just how much information written in it?
"Is that book consists of only the Zeron's?"
"No, it consisted of all the remaining 'Void's. But..."
"But?"
"Vara said that she forgot their names, so I can only get their specialities."
"Even that are already helpful, we need to rescue Ignia's little sister as soon as possible, though."
Aisha closed her book and stare at me.
"What is it?"
"... Zeron's speciality... Is Pretty much similar with yours."
"... What do you mean?"
"He can summon swords, but, he's one grade higher than you, he also can cast magics."
"Magic? He's a Magic Knight?"
Aisha shook her head.
"He's more of a Rune Slayer. Please mark this in mind, Elsword."
"What is it?"
"A rune, is one step stronger than magic in term of power."
"... I will be careful."
"Even though their size are not as wide as my meteor shower's damage range, it's more powerful than mine."
Even Aisha who never fought him realized that he's a pretty strong opponent.
I need to conquer 'Laevateinn' before that time came.
"Aisha, Elsword, let's eat!"
Karis is calling us.
"Okay, coming! Let's go, Aisha."
She nodded and we get back to them to eat our dinner.
The curry's pretty delicious indeed, did Vara did something with the taste by her magic?
But her magic's gravity one, I don't think that she can do something like this.
"It's pretty delicious, what's the secret?"
Karis asked them in my place.
Looks like we really have a similar way of thinking.
Harza's standing in triumph.
"Fufufu. Don't you know? The secret spice that can made any kind of food delicious!"
"What is it!? Is it rare herbs!?"
Aisha who's quite silent all this time suddenly popped in the conversation, did she actually love cooking? I think I just hear her saying 'Herb'.
"The secret spice is; LOVE!"
Harza said in a proud tone while she put her hand on her chest.
Aisha and Karis who were interested before are very disappointed with the answer.
"Look, Harza, love is just a myth in cooking, they mean what ingredients that you use to make it. That delicious."
I said to enlighten her.
"Oh! I see! Well... Actually..."
She timidly look at Vara.
So it was Vara's doings, huh?
"We simply use an instant curry packages and put any side dishes inside, luckily the curry turned out great, so it was purely a beginner's luck."
Vara said in a flat tone.
"So both of you are actually can't cook!?"
Karis yelled.
"Enough, Karis, as long it turned out well there's nothing to fuss about."
I calmed her down as I continue my eating.
The curry's delicious, it's not because of it's an instant curry but there's something that made it so delicious, I wonder what is it...
Just when I look around I found a weird empty package.
I took it.
"..."
No wonder about it.
It's because of this food seasoning that made the taste stronger, they just randomly put in anything but they didn't realize that food seasonings can be very helpful in the taste.
Well then, just finish this up and wash the dishes.
Karis' POV
Finally we finished eating.
Elsword's washing the dishes, I want to help him but he said that he's fine by himself.
So I entered the cottage, but I'm so bored.
"Karis onee-chan?"
"Oh, Ignia, what's up?"
Her hair's pink again, she sat beside me.
"Onee-chan, do you love onii-chan?"
"W-Where did that came from!?"
"Because Harza onee-chan and Vara onee-chan are saying so."
Big sis... Vara too...
I sighed and nodded.
"Yes, I love him."
"Then, why don't you go out with him, onee-chan?"
"... I'm simply not ready yet, Ignia."
She tilted her head.
"Why?"
"I'm not a normal human, there will be many people disapproves our relationship, not to mention I'm the one who killed his friends."
"Onee-chan killed them? But aren't they the one that's a vile one?"
"... It's rude to see other's past without excuse, Ignia."
I patted her head.
"But it's true, right? Even onii-chan's onee-chan tried to kill her own little brother."
"Yes... But, I'm still the one who take someone precious from him, I can't simply forget that."
"Onee-chan..."
Ignia's looking at me sadly.
And then she poked my cheek.
"I-Ignia?"
"Don't worry about small details, onee-chan."
"Eh?"
"If no one will approves, just ignore them, you don't need their approval to love each other! And we're all are survivors right? Laws didn't work with us! Just go all out!"
She smiles brightly.
Survivors, huh...?
What a choice of words...
I think she meant people who are not bound by rules.
"Thank you Ignia, I'm feeling a bit better now."
"You're welcome, onee-chan. Hurry up and date onii-chan!"
"When I felt like it..."
I smiled at her.
She's smiling as she got out of the cottage, I wonder where's she going.
I lay down on the sleeping bag.
"Laws... Didn't work with us... Huh...?"
I smiled.
If only that's the case I won't have to feel so guilty like this.
It's because I know what's 'sins', that I can felt like this...
My sins are too heavy.
That's why I can't.
Ignia's POV
I wonder if Karis onee-chan's really feeling that guilty that she can't date onii-chan.
Did she still worried about her sins?
I'm still young, so I don't really sure if doing sins will cause you anything bad.
But all I know is...
The closer someone to death, the more something like 'sins' haunts them.
Onee-chan didn't plan to die, right?
I hope that's not the case.
But onee-chan's a zombie, no, half zombie.
Death shouldn't be a trouble for her.
She only missed her pulse but she's still living.
I don't think I need to be worried of Anundran for now, Zeron, their leader should've got nothing to do with her, judging from his personality, I think he forgot about Anundran already.
I hope that's the case...
Now, where's onii-chan...
Onii-chan's...
Ah, there he is.
I sat beside him who's laying on the ground as he stargaze.
"Onii-chan."
"Oh, Ignia, what's up?"
Clearly the same reply like onee-chan's.
They're pretty similar in a way.
*throb*
Eh? Why did my chest hurt?
Ignore it.
"What are you doing here, onii-chan? Aren't you sleepy?"
"I'm stargazing, try to lay down, Ignia."
I lay down beside him.
Then I look at the sky.
"... Woah..."
"Beautiful, right? It's not as awesome when you're at the top of a mountain, but it's still a good view, I really love stargazing."
The sky's so beautiful...
My heart felt really warm just by seeing it.
Stars are everywhere.
"Hm? What is it, Ignia?"
"Eh?"
Without I knew it I'm holding onii-chan's hand.
I quickly pull it back.
"S-Sorry!"
But then onii-chan took my hand again.
"O-Onii-chan?"
"If you want to hold hands I don't mind, sometimes you might feel like you want to hold someone's hand when you stargazing so it's normal."
"U-Umm..."
I nodded and then I let him hold my hand.
I stare at the sky.
His hand is so warm...
"Ignia."
"Yes, onii-chan?"
"Have ever thought of going to visit the stars?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean... Yeah... Something like wanting to reach the place those stars are at."
"It's impossible, onii-chan, these stars are actually very huge and very hot the brighter they are from here."
"Hahaha, you're very serious, Ignia. If you're still young you should be imagine more of fantasy so that you will be more relaxed."
"... But I've never done such a thing..."
"Then try this, see that star? The brightest."
"Yes, and then?"
He closed my eyes with his hand.
"O-Onii-chan?"
"Now, try to imagine that you're flying toward the star."
"Umm..."
I tried, slowly but sure...
I'm reaching the star, my body starts to feel relaxed.
What's this feeling... I'm really at bliss...
"This is what's amazing with imagination, Ignia. You can be relaxed whenever you want just by imagining this like this."
My body's feeling really... relaxed.
"Ignia?"
"Hmm...?"
When I opened my eyes, I'm already hugging him.
When did I do it?!
I tried to seperate myself from him, but onii-chan didn't allow me to do so.
"It's okay, if only to hug."
I blushed.
No matter he's just like my older brother or not...
To hug a boy is still very embarrassing...
But I don't hate this feeling.
You seemed to be enjoying it, Ignia.
Varuka?
Is that you?
Yes, to think that you will hug someone's very surprising indeed.
S-Shut up!
After that Varuka didn't say anything anymore.
My burning form...
Is because I used Varuka's power.
I don't really like that form because it's not the real me.
However I need it to protect myself and those who are important to me.
I stare at the stars again.
And then, I fell asleep.
Fufufu...
To think that 'Purifying Flames' user and 'Corruption Flames' user who are supposed to kill each other are actually hugging each other like this...
Ignia, your road is still very long, don't exhaust yourself.
Elsword's POV
Ignia've been pushing herself too hard, that's why I want to help her relax.
But it looks like she's asleep now, let's take her back to cottage for now...
I princess carry her.
She didn't look like she will wake up anytime.
"Oh, Elsword!"
"Sssst... Ignia's sleeping."
"Oops... Sorry..."
Karis apologized.
I nodded and lay her in her sleeping bag.
"She's so cute when she's sleeping like this."
I said.
"Yes, it's just like a cute daughter..."
"Eh...?"
I think I just hear something outrageous.
"A-Ah! Sorry! I'm only talking to myself!"
She explained while trying to lower her voice.
I'm already blushing when she said that.
But then I smiled.
"I'm waiting for that day, Karis."
"H-Hauuu..."
Karis's face exploded and steam is coming out from her face.
She's very cute, indeed.
Too bad she's still not ready to start a romantic relationship.
Well, I will not rush things, I only want to stay with her forever.
"Good night, Karis."
I kissed her forehead and I headed out of the cottage.
I got as far as possible from the camp and then-
"-'Laevateinn'."
I summoned Laevateinn.
The demonic sword that possessed a darkness flames called 'Corruption Flames'.
"Nuoohhhh...!"
I mustered my strength to control its power.
It seemed like Laevateinn's trying to possess me too.
It's more powerful than Dark El, indeed...
But I will not lose...!
I must keep on training like this so that I can control it at whole!
To protect them! Even thought I must cross the path of blood...!
I will not let anyone harm them!
It seems like you desired my power, Elsword.
This voice... It's not Berserk's...
Are you Laevateinn...?
Khukhukhu...
Indeed, I'm Laevateinn, the demonic sword of flames.
You think you can control me?
We won't know before we try.
Just you wait, I will certainly possess you power!
Interesting, even Berserk can't do anything to me.
Let's see what you can do, khukhukhu.
That's what I hope for!
I gripped the sword tightly.
The dragon-like hold is emanating red aura.
It seems like Laevateinn's going to get serious too.
Hehehe... This is getting fun!
7th Nightmare End
7th Nightmare is finally released.
Phew, quite a pain to think of a way to write a
long chapter, but I need to do this!
Hope you guys like my story!
Since there are so much original weapons and skills, I hope
it may not bother you guys... D: