Glimmering, rainbow colors swirled in endless rings. The air itself felt holy, as if elevated by the low hum coming from the door. Among the steps to the door, a winged pig flaps its wings. It knows that it could not open the door.
Far too big, and far too iron-clad.
Yet, the pig has lingered on these steps for centuries. Hoping against hope that salvation would come and its doors open once more.
The thundering steps of an armored figure marches up the stairs. Glittering orange orbs hide between plating. Blood red cape trailing from its neck. As it hikes up the stairs, the pig looks over, defeated.
It was an Azure Knight.
"Who dares trend on these..?" The pig stopped. It knows who this was. Scorn snarled its face.
"I've come to see for my own eyes." The figure answered, brushing past it. The Azure Knight knocked on the door, leaning forward. Eyes scanned door. Was it looking for cracks? Or whether or not something had come through?
Satisfied, the knight turns and descends the stairs. "Why bother staying on these steps?"
"It is our final wish to return to the Heaven's from which we came. Something you know."
"Why bother Zui Fu?" Flushing its cap, it marches down.
"Wait!" They stop. "What did your eyes see?"
"That which I already knew."
-.-.-
Eleanor looked to the open docks as she walked down walkway plank. It was a smaller port towards the western part of the charted lands. Any further would've been perilous for ships. These people had lived here, slightly outside the reach of the former Abbey and the Asgard Empire.
Sometimes she wondered if they too had a problem with daemons.
A lot of good can come from seeing malakhim and daemons for what they truly are. But sometimes, it's a burden. As the resonance of the world was ebbed, the weakest resonating people lost sight of these beings. Now, they saw forces of nature, feral men and women, robbers and thieves.
But the terrors remained. Maotelus's healing light only helped those that wanted to be saved. Or had some semblance of humanity remaining.
If only, if only…
"Shepherd."
Eleanor turned to the side. Aoife leaning her hand on her hip. "You're getting lost in thought again."
"Sorry, sorry. Just thinking."
"There's been a lot on your mind, Eleanor." Alex walked down, holding her blade by a scabbard sling. The blonde gazed around, shielding her eyes. "Small port."
"Nothing like Zekson." Her voice echoed as they walked around. Truly, it seemed like a fishing port village. With friendly faces, the people haggled with gald and other goods. Alex held her nose.
"Fish smells worse here."
"I've smelled worse." The fire-brand shrugged.
In the distance, they could see it. A looming obsidian pillar of rock and magma and smoke. That was their destination. Mount Cuilthionn, the Earthpulse Point for the Empyrean of Fire.
Lady Teresa… Maotelus told her that Teresa Linares reincarnated into that elemental Empyrean.
A pit fell down her stomach as she continued to stare as Alex helped push her out of the way from passing carts and people. Would the Empyrean remember her memories of her life as a human like Eumacia?
Or would those feelings be reflected like that fire malak, Seres?
And about Seres, Velvet. With her back, was she going to follow them here? What would she say to her? That for all her best efforts, being a small-time person to the new leader of the Abbey… It still wasn't enough?
Pain snapped at her head. Eleanor covered her head, turning to see Aoife frowning, hand parallel to her head.
"Focus, Shepherd. We're in an unknown land. Just like our journey to Eumacia's temple, we are unsure about these lands too." Pulling her hand back, she added, "But we should ask for advise here."
"R-right. Alex, I'm sorry, but do you think you could do the supplies? We'll meet at… That inn over there."
The blonde nodded, smiling as she headed to the market. "See you two later."
Eleanor took a moment to catch her breath. There she goes, thinking about her, no their leader on the adventure years ago. And now, here she was, the Shepherd.
Am I becoming like Artorius? She turned back. Alex was lost in the crowd. She was her 'Melchior'. Even trained under his special unit from the original Abbey, despite her own gripes against their methods.
Gods, if Velvet saw me now…
"Focus, mot." Aoife scowled again. "You wanted to check in with the inn before we go around asking."
Heading to the inn, Eleanor looked around. It seemed like a good amount of the people here could still see Aoife. Good. She wasn't going to look like a fool if she was talking to air.
"Welcome to the Loganberry Inn. Would you like a room?" The receptionist smiled.
"Yes, two beds for a night."
"Excellent, that'll be 400 gald please."
She handed the pieces over, writing her name down. "The room will be ready shortly. Until then, please enjoy the small things about the town."
"Actually, I was wondering." The redhead cleared her throat. "The mountain in the distance. It's called Cuilthionn, correct? Is there any way to get to it?"
Silence drew around. A few eyes looked over, curious as to what their business was here. The woman behind the desk coughed and everybody went back to their activities.
"Mount Cuilthionn is sacred grounds." She finally said, "What business do you have with the mountain?"
"M-my name is Eleanor Hume, the Shepherd of the Midgand Abbey. I wish to appeal to the Empyrean of Fire, Musiphe."
The girl drummed her fingers against the counter. Finally, she pulled a small wooden block that read 'Be back soon' before offering the two to a small room behind the counter.
Quietly mushed in, Eleanor looked around. It was just a small break room with cubbies for personal items.
"I'd be careful of what you say Ms. Shepherd." The woman explained, crossing her arms. "The Abbey returning to our shores isn't exactly what we were looking for."
Eleanor furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"
"Years back, the Abbey came here wishing to extend the power of the Empire's reach. We enjoy our autonomy here and declined their aid. When they returned, they brought cannons. We fought back. It got bad enough that the Abbey eventually withdrew from these shores.
"Many of the people here still remember the fighting. Even more still bare its scars. Many of them have not forgotten or will be willing to forget."
She gulped. The old sins of the Abbey are coming back. If it wasn't the nobles that came with Artorius, then it was these people too? "A-and you? What about you?"
"I lost nothing during those incidents. But I remember the same pain and anguish on our people's faces when the Abbey retreated. You, on the other hand," Her eyes narrowed for a moment, inspecting her person. Eleanor felt near naked.
"You do not seem like those Abbey or Imperial soldiers."
The redhead breathed out.
"But I don't trust you. At least, not yet." She sighed. "Did you come alone?"
Aoife walked in front of them, waving her arm. "Nope, she can't see me."
"N-no, I came with another person."
"Then I hope she didn't draw trouble to herself."
-.-.-
Alex looked at some of the fish, fresh from the many fishing boats that roamed the seas. Fresh salmon, cod, and even some herring! The young Legate smiled, flinging gald left and right as she stocked up on supplies. A few would be smoked as they made their way to the mountain.
Or if Eleanor managed to secure safe passageway, a snack for later.
Still, the tense air about her felt like a wet blanket. The very minute they stepped off the ship, she could feel malevolence abound. And from just guessing, it was pointed at her.
Thin layers of purples haze mucked about. She coughed.
It was just the same when she was under Melchior's quaestor Exorcists. They weren't the strongest, or the brightest. Unallowed malakhim or normin, it was their job to accomplish the tasks that Melchior could not accomplish by himself.
Even if the actions were heavily securitized by the Shepherd.
It was their job. To work in the shadows.
Were it so easy to be a saint in paradise.
She was a knight of the Empire before. She's a Legate of the new Abbey now.
Not watching where she was going, Alex bumped into one sailor there. "Watch it!" The man growled as the blonde scurried away. "P-pardon me!"
Nods passed by. But the blonde felt something off. A few of the sailors aggressively approached her. Her hand was already on her blade.
"C-can I help you guys?"
"You one of them Exorcists of the Abbey?"
She gulped. "Y-yes?"
"Blasted imperial rats coming again huh?"
Alex's eyes widened, with tooth and claw and blade, these men were transforming into daemons. Instinct took as she held her ground. A crowd was drawing near. Some cheered the local fishermen. Other's just wanted to break up the fight.
Malevolence kept spreading, slowly morphing men to beasts
"I'm not here looking for a fight." She drew her blade. She wondered what the other town folk were doing. None of them seemed to panic that their fellow townsfolk transformed.
Sweat dripped down her back. If she killed them, it'd be like she killed another person. Blast it!
She pushed back, hopping backwards from the crowd and back to solid land. Eyes darted around. Escape routes to flee. No matter what, she couldn't fight these people so openly.
A shriek pierced her thoughts. She turned.
One of the humans-turned-daemon harassed the villagers. Alex bit her lip.
The beast-man swung his arm at the woman, blocked by Alex's blade.
"Ain't nice to hit a lady."
Blowing back, the daemons gathered around her. There was no way to get out of this now.
Axes, spears, and even a boat oar flew in her face. The blonde twisted and turned. None of them hit.
First two. Then three. Finally, four. Still nothing could hit her.
Alex was getting tired. She couldn't continue dodging their attacks forever.
She tightened the grip on her blade.
"Ghost Wolf!"
She hacked away, slowing her slice just enough to smack the offender with the blade's bare side. The others immediately swarmed. Her free hand slapped wrists and forearms. A shimmering edge glowing around her head.
The blonde twirled the blade around her body, centering again. To the people before them, what looked like a drunken brawl steadily evolved. As the artist works a masterpiece, the shapes and forms yet to reveal themselves.
"Move or be moved!" She howled.
Flashes and sparks sprang about. The very air pulled towards hers, drawing them into a cyclone of metal and blood.
"Azure Wolf! Shining Fang! Dragon Swarm! Wolf Strike!"
The men levitated in the air. She hopped into the air, spinning her blade before crashing down into the cobblestone.
"Tiger Azure Blast!"
Earth violently erupted. Stones flew like smaller cannons shots. A neatly done hole laid where Alex's fist connected. She looked around, seeing the men she fought. All incapacitated.
Gone were the gentle blue eyes that wished to avoid the fight all together. Icy bellicose orbs darted, making sure that all were done. From the corner of her lips, a small smile struggled to bloom.
The Legate swiped her blade clean of the small blood on its edge. It barely cut, just enough to spark pain in her foes. Harsh features evaporated, immediately sheathing her weapon and tending to the knocked-out opponents.
People ran in opposite directions, gathering whatever security force they could manage in the village. Alice continued tending to wounds. All these men had transformed into daemons. She only hoped that Aoife's purification abilities would work.
And just in time. Eleanor and Aoife ran over. "What happened?" The Shepherd rushed. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm peachy." She fixed up some wounds. Nodding at her handiwork, Alex looked back at Aoife.
"Can you purify them?"
The Flame malak held her hand out, small paper talisman in hand. Whispered words transformed to power as she tossed them at the men. Silvery flames consumed their bodies, charring away at the malevolence as they burnt into grey mist.
Those that attacked her were as they were before, just men.
A small bead of sweat trailed down her neck as she saw the small militia of town guards come by. Eleanor closed to shield her from them before Alex pulled her shoulder. This wasn't the business of the Shepherd.
And as her Legate, the duties as an Enforcer was hers to bear.
"Alright lady, for disturbing the peace, you're gonna be sitting in our little jail." The guardsman ordered. "Unless your pretty lady friend is willing to pay for bail?"
"H-hey, it wasn't Alexandra that started th-!"
Again, Alex hushed her. Lazily holding her arms out, the guards shackled her hands. Shoved immediately, they escorted her away. Aoife's eyes narrowed but Eleanor continued to stare in disbelief, tears forming in her eyes again.
"I'll be back." The blonde shrugged, feeling the guard snag her blade.
-.-.-
Alex groaned, tossed into the cell. They hadn't walked very far from the docks, maybe a few minutes later. She could still hear the ocean. Small seagulls crowing in the distance. Falling back into a small pile of hay, the blonde wobbled her hand. Still tied up.
And good thing too. She almost felt like throttling them.
Dark thoughts were just that, she hoped. Dark thoughts. But day by day, they grew intense. Before, she was the daughter of a knight, grown from a family of them. It was expected that she would become one too. The cycle of a knight that passed down from all family members.
Destiny and the Abbey said otherwise.
Father bore daggers. Mother cried. Her little sister sniffled.
It was for the better, wasn't it?
He taught her how to fight. It was expected of her. He expected more from her. That she'd be the next in line, the echo of her father. He displayed no niceties with his words as they play-fought.
A sword is a weapon, and swordsmanship is the art of killing. Anybody that says so otherwise never spilt blood before.
But Alex's sense of justice always seemed forward. Constantly they argued. Whether or not he or she was right was out of the questions. They knew each other's points, just as they discovered the pointed edge of the sword. Fights and arguments took to blades and she found herself on the losing edge.
They had their strengths and weaknesses as known from a father to his daughter.
And even she was drawn into Melchior's subjugation missions, her sense of justice was tested again. They were doing things for the Abbey right? Consolidating the power of the empire. And yet, she led several missions for forcing the blame on dissenters, making the Abbey appear as the beacon for humanity.
It felt like she was drowning. She's worked under pressure before, so why did it feel bad now? Was it the constant reports as the Wings moved in and no lead? That whomever they captured committed suicide by geas before they could talk?
And for all those failings, was she worthy of being called a 'Legate'? The word came from come older civilization, borrowed and reborn into modern times.
If she couldn't succeed as a Legate, then she's failed as a knight of the empire.
Fingers thumbed a stray piece of hay as the prison guard opened a small hatch with basic food. Water, and some bread.
Alex snagged her food, retreating into the hay corner. Clawing at it from the restrains around her wrists.
Maybe a slightly filled belly would get her mind back straight.
-.-.-
Funny enough, the guardsman handed Eleanor Alex's sword. Polishing the blade, the Shepherd tried to distract her mind from what happened. A few of the people there admitted that the sailors started the brawl. But that only aggravated the others. Yelling matches were common.
The inn receptionist said it was just something that happened. That they'd fight over petty things and eventually it'll get resolved.
Eleanor stopped her work, seeing Aoife reading a small book. A complimentary book that came with the inn.
"Getting distracted, are we?" The Firebrand looked up, smirking.
Eleanor put the blade to the side and sighed. "Kind of. I'm glad that you managed to purify those men."
"Please, it was nothing." Setting the book to the side, she turned to her. "But, how long do you think the Knight will be in jail?"
"Hopefully not that long." Eleanor shifted in her arm. "She's been hiding a lot of emotion, hasn't she?"
"Indeed. Many malakhim would stay away from her, if possible. Much conflict in that one." Aoife leaned forward. "But that's what we expected from a member of Melchior's exorcist corps."
"I guess. She was the first to volunteer when the idea was on the table."
The room fell silent again as Eleanor's thoughts trailed again. Her mind replaying the same situation with meeting the therion again. Velvet… She would come and slap her across the face. Everything was repeating again.
"Your thoughts betray you, Shepherd." The Firebrand spoke. "Is it about the Therion again?"
She looked to the side, a small red blush on her cheeks. "Yes."
"Is there something I should know?" The malak set her book aside. "Would she hurt you?"
"I…" Eyes looked around the room. "If she saw me as I am, yes."
"And what would you do?"
"… Nothing." She closed her eyes. "The Abbey's collapse, Maotelus's power fading, the Wings… It's my fault."
"It really isn't it."
"But that's what it means to be the leader. All things, both good and bad, you must take responsibility of the actions surrounding you. Alex's targeted eliminations, Amelia's flirtaous behavior. Dealing with village attacks because the exorcist corps can't be everywhere… And now, here.
"No matter where we go, we are making up for the old Abbey's transgressions. Maybe… Maybe rebuilding the Abbey was a mistake."
Aoife walked over, taking a seat on the bed with Eleanor. "Shepherd, you're losing yourself in this cycle again. If it wasn't for you, then those vengeful malak would've terrorized the villages."
"I know, I know. Some listened because I helped seal Innominat away." She sighed. "But there were other's that didn't listen."
"Malakhim are just as prideful as humans are. There's very little difference between us in that. The issue comes from the fact that not all humans can perceive malakhim. Changing one's perspective doesn't occur overnight."
"Or a few years."
Aoife solemnly nodded. "Should the Therion come to harm you, then I shall be your shield. And if not, I'm certain that you'll be able to defend yourself."
A small smile bloomed on her face. "I don't think we'll actually fight but, thank you Aoife. I needed that."
"Very good Shepherd. I'll be heading off to bed now."
She disappeared in a flash of light. Eleanor feeling her power residing inside her. Taking to the bed, her thoughts continued to dwell on her charge. Her friend during those things.
"Velvet… please don't hate me…"
Author's Note:
If you need a good voice reference for the characters here it is:
Amelia Le'Blanc = Karen Strassman / Yoko Hikasa
Alexandra Breuse = Amanda Lee / Aoi Yuuki
Malakhim Aoife = Misty Lee / Aya Endo
It is under these hard times, Under Pressure, true character is shown.
watch?v=o8DW-QolX5s