Spectre: As promised, a new chapter in two weeks. This will be the final chapter of Vergil's first day before we advance to the second! And now, decided to bring something new here.
rick12: Sin Devil Trigger won't make an appearance until much later in the story. Standard DT on the other hand...
fallendemon248: Thanks man, appreciate it!
kerrowe: We'll get to Yelan soon. I'm a bit excited about writing the dynamic between her and Vergil myself.
HellsinkBathhall: Vergil would have more than a few surprises along the way. And I wanted to make Griffon as a sort of mental confidante to Vergil who encourage him to not to keep for himself all the time. As a support rather.
devinwaynexxxxx: I'll be honest, Jean and Yelan were personal favorites of mine. And then I imagine what kind of dynamic and interactions they would have with Vergil, and so I decided to jump the gun on that.
Chapter 11: First Day, Part 3
"No", the boy responded, narrowing his eyes at the swordsman when his inquiries had reached him regarding Springvale. "We do not attack village. Pack has no intention to harm anyone"
A light hum escaped the swordsman's lips as he cupped his chin at Razor's response. Not that I don't believe him, but it would be less of a nuisance if we had further confirmation. "But it seems, that I have run across a few of your ilk", Vergil said in response. Reaching out of his coat pocket, he presented the boy with the few items that he and Outrider had found earlier in their investigation. "Would this suffice as proof?"
Razor stared at the Wolfhook seeds and the strands of fur that were presented to him. Leaning in with suspicion, he made his analysis by sniffing strands of 'wolf' fur that the man had obtained. In a few moments, Razor backed away, looking firmly at what he had to say to the swordsman in question.
"Scent does not belong to pack", the boy pointed out to the brown fur. "They belong to others. Black wolf and his pack scoured our lands. But we do not know reason"
"So you believe that the wolves who have this scent are not related to your pack in any way?", the swordsman raised an eyebrow, pleased that the flow has not been interrupted. "If so, who is...this 'pack' you are referring to?"
He was already aware that these were from the Abyss Order. But it would be a risk to jump into assumptions, and he would have at least a clear confimation from the accused party.
Razor only shook his head in response. "I do not know. They have caused harm to family. I try to find them. But their scent gone"
Hmmm...I suppose that his explaining everything to the others would work. Outrider Amber may understand, but I am not so sure about those who reside at Springvale, the swordsman thought, shifting his attention towards Razor. "You will not have to worry about them", Vergil assured him. "Although I would need you to come to Springvale to speak with the Knights of Favonius. Not when they suspect that you and your family have been responsible in the attacks made by those...'evil creatures' you speak off"
Razor raised his head to look at the swordsman. "I talk to them?"
"If you are concerned about the well-being of your pack, it is best that you explain yourself to them once you have given back your catch for your family. Besides, are they your friends?"
The feral boy looked down for a moment, pondering his words before he responded with a nod. Returning the gesture, Vergil turned back to the direction of where Springvale was.
As he was about to leave, Razor opened his mouth to speak. "You are good hunter. You did better than burny friend. If she was here, a whole mountain on fire. Couldn't catch one boar"
Vergil allowed those words to get into his head, and he felt a sense of familiarity to who he was referring. Now, who could that be...
Amber took her seat on one of the crates, tired upon answering a distress call from Siegfria when her cart had been attacked by Hilichurls. Although dispatching them didn't take long, both the physical and mental exhaustion had taken a toll on her while she used her time in waiting for her temporary colleague to come back from Wolvendom.
Amber wondered whether or not he had encountered any of them along the way. In her mind, she thought that he may have taken care of the matter given his prowess with his sword. Of his skill, she thought that maybe he is as powerful as the rest of her colleagues, or at least above them like Captain Kaeya or the Acting Grand Master. His focus, both physical and mental discipline in every given situation made the other personnel look like rookies in comparison.
Despite his apparent efficiency when it comes to dispatching his enemies and the tendency to radiate fear, his calm and stoic mannerisms made him stand out among the rest. He was formal, and seemingly polite in his way of words, solidifying his penchant to make his actions speak louder than words. Kind of like Eula when she strove to make good out of her word to the people of Mondstadt.
Speaking of which, Amber hasn't told Eula about what happened when she first encountered Vergil back at Windrise. The reason is, is because the Outrider knew that Eula would not take this news very well. And the Outrider couldn't imagine what would happen between the two of them if things went out of hand.
Even with everything she had known of Vergil so far, Amber is willing to trust him if he offered a hand to assist her with her mission, but that doesn't mean that she couldn't be wary of him, at least for now.
"Well rested are we, Outrider?", a calm voice went through her ears, nearly causing Amber to yelp out of surprise and her nearly falling out of her seat when she turned to face a familiar man in black.
"Vergil!", Amber called out, panting for a moment as she stood up. Regaining her bearings, she immediately noticed that he wasn't alone, and a feral boy with crimson eyes stood beside him. "And...um..."
"Razor", he answered for her. "You are also a Knight"
Vergil raised an eyebrow at his lack of familiarity. "You two haven't met?"
The boy only shook his head in response. "The girl is in red, but not burny. You ask that I come here. What now?"
A pair of eyes looked toward the swordsman, who merely huffed and crossed his arms. "I've taken care of the actual perpetrators who had their designs in Wolvendom", he said. "And Razor here can provide a testimony and aid to our investigation"
Amber observed the boy a bit more closely, noticing the sincerity and determination he had held, and added with a nod from Vergil indicating that he could be trusted. "I...guess we could use some extra help. But what do you mean that you've taken care of the actual culprits?"
Razor stepped forward as Vergil pulled out a lock of brown fur to display for Amber. "Wolf fur do not belong to pack", he first pointed out to her. "Black wolf and bad pack scoured and hurt other family. Scent had gone today. And seeds were misplaced by them as well"
"As it turned out, another party had been responsible for the recent attacks that had been hounding Springvale", the swordsman further added. "Suppose you are aware of the Abyss Order as well?"
The Outrider's eyes widen at the mention. "You mean...they were the ones who were behind the attacks?"
Vergil reached out for his coat pocket, pulling a branch-like object and presenting it to the girl. As Amber examined it with her fingers, realization kicked in. "These Ley Line branches were only dropped from Abyss Mages"
"Other than that, he was not alone when he stood in the way", the swordsman further added. "His 'pets' all bore resemblance to wolves that made others have the impression that they are dealing with those from Wolvendom"
Razor agreed with his testimony, stepping forward. "They might try to take over land. They broke Guardian's code"
Amber opened her mouth to speak when the feral boy took a sharp turn in another direction. "Another clue. Follow me."
"Hey wait!", the girl called out as he ran away from them. "You can tell everyone that it wasn't your fault!"
Vergil only watched with a straight face as he moved in from of her, looking at the arena-like structure where the boy began to descend even further. "Consider this as the next step. Come."
Razor could only grit his teeth in anger and despair as he knelt to find his kin laying on the ground, motionless. Fresh wounds were still present on the body, and the wolf could only whimper as the boy slightly lifted the animal to feel any signs of life. Fortunately, it did.
"Who...who could do this?", he uttered.
"Is this where your scent had led you?", he heard the swordsman's voice, walking towards him with the other red girl following closely behind him before kneeling to examine the wolf's wounds. No signs of infection or any foreign substances have entered the bloodstream, he observed. "If you intend to save him, there is still time as long as the infection hasn't spread. Outrider, do we have anything to use?"
Without any response, and not wanting to make a negative impression, Amber pulled out a half dozen wolf hook seeds and placed them on top of Vergil's palm. "Crush then put on the wound. Bleeding will stop", Razor advised them.
"They act as painkillers and hemostats when their liquid coating", Amber explained, helping Vergil crush a few of the seeds. After doing so, both placed the crushed Wolfhook seeds onto Razor's palm, proceeding to apply them to the wolf's wounds.
"Your pack does not venture far out of Wolvendom, do they not?", the swordsman questioned the boy as he finished applying for the medicine. "From the way you speak, you seem adamant that you and your pack refrained from doing so"
Razor gave him a nod. "Rule of Wolf. Leave people alone if they are no threat. In that way, they will leave pack alone"
"That may explain why you're sure that it wasn't your family who did it", Amber piped in. "But then..."
She turned to Vergil. "How are we supposed to prove to anyone that it wasn't Razor's fault?"
Before the swordsman could even reply, a pair of voices began to pipe into the atmosphere. He and Amber shifted their attention to the men they had recognized from Springvale. One of them was Hopkins, and the other was another hunter named Jotun. Based on the weapons they carry, it is no surprise for both that they were on the prowl for any sighting of wolves. "Still no sign of any wolves" here, Hopkins said, his tone indicating light exhaustion and weariness.
"Yep, The one we ran into probably is a stray", his partner replied, rubbing his palms amidst the cold atmosphere of Wolvendom, before his eye caught sight of three figures in front of him as they tended to their only hunt for the day. "Wh–What are you doing here?"
Razor stood up, his eyes narrowing into a glare toward the men in question. "Revenge"
Jotun accusingly pointed a finger at the feral boy. "It's him! The one who was raised by wolves!", he called out, causing both Amber to step in defense for Razor. "Easy there, Chief. I think a solid warning would be enough for these deuces", the Avian Familiar advised to his retainer when he watched the scene unravel before him.
I wouldn't be so certain about that, Vergil replied as he took a few steps in behind Razor. "So, it was you. I should have known wolves aren't smart enough to be behind this.", Hopkins angrily accused the boy. "I can't believe you would help wolves plot against your kind"
"It wasn't him or his pack!", Amber stepped in defense of the boy. "Vergil and I had concluded that neither he nor the pack from Wolvendom didn't have anything to do with the recent attacks! It was something else!"
Her words fell on deaf ears to both Hunters, and Razor only stood still, evidently keeping himself at bay towards these men. "They throw you some scraps and you treat them like kin? Have you forgotten what you are?!"
"We. Did. Not. Raid. Village.", Razor uttered every word with as much restraint as he could.
Such impertinence..., it was at this time that the swordsman stepped in front of Razor. "That's enough. There is no need to point accusations without any basis"
"The Knights of Favonius are gonna let this guy off!?", Jotun exclaimed in anger. "How would you feel if any of your family ended up being in danger and you didn't get to do anything about it? You're just gonna leave it like that then?"
Griffon resisted saying anything in his retainer's head upon hearing those words. "Not the best choice of words, shithead..."
Those were indeed words that the Hunter wished he would never utter again.
Before either Hopkins or Jotun could further give out their complaints, they became frozen as ice when they met the man's hardened gaze evolved into a glare. Immediately, they felt as if something had been gripping their throats, but they neither couldn't see nor feel it. And they were savvy enough to realize that the man was silently warning them to back off, now.
"I understand your concerns, but there is no need to make a fuss for something that is already gone", Vergil's voice was calm, but it was cold as ice at the same time. "Whatever threat that surrounded Springvale has been dealt with, and that further foolishness will mean unwanted results"
The Hunters fell back, whimpering as they fearfully stared at the swordsman. Amber's mind became shrouded with memories of his first encounter with the swordsman, remembering why she had been afraid of him, causing her to slowly back away in fear, with Razor holding her shoulders to keep her from collapsing. Not even Razor was spared from the shroud of fear, as he used every bit of willpower to resist it. But even he knew, that whatever the man was capable of, is not meant to be crossed.
"This place is already dangerous as it is. So if you still value your weak and pathetic lives, then now is the time to make use of it", Vergil finally finished, his expression returning to its usual stoicism as both hunters nodded furiously. Without anything to lose, both Hopkins and Jotun released the grasp of their weapons and ran away from the group, unaware of the terror that lies before them.
Amber watched as the two were no longer to be seen while approaching the swordsman. "Will they tell the others what happened here?", she asked.
"They won't", Vergil turned to face the Outrider. "They'll know"
Both turned towards Razor, who stood silent as if he had felt a presence approaching. "I guess we're done here, Razor", Amber mused for the boy, only to be replied with silence. "Razor?"
The boy raised his head, his expression evident with concern at what is to come. "He's here..."
She didn't like that response one bit. "W-Who's here?"
The air around them began to thicken, evolving into a fog made of both ice and wind that circled them. "Uh, Razor...what's going on?", Amber called out, her voice cracking when it finally shrouded most of the arena.
"What is this disturbance to which I awaken?", a calm and yet share the voice of an unknown origin hounded the den for the three to hear. In front of them, the walls' 'eyes' flashed, causing the area to be clouded even further.
Until a huge figure took the form of a wolf whose fur was as white as snow and blue as the ice of Dragonspine. It began to approach the group slowly, leaving a trail of frost on the cemented ground as it did. "Boreas...", Amber marveled at the creature's identity.
Vergil noticed his colleague's change of demeanor. "Would you spare a few details about him?", he requested.
"One of the Four Winds of Mondstadt", she explained in a tone akin to facing a divine figure in front of her. "A protector chosen by Lord Barbatos to watch over Mondstadt for countless generations. I...I did not know that I would see it for myself.
The wolf bared its teeth toward them. "Not only do you come for my kind, so too do you fail to recognize your own transgression...", he snarled at their presence.
Razor took immediate notice and approached the wolf carefully, stretching his arms as if to appeal to the beast m. "Please. Calm! They are not enemies. They are friends who helped."
"And yet they are the same kind to those who violate the sanctity of our land", Boreas hissed, his feral visage never fading out. "If you desire to protect them, then you pay the price for their sins!"
"Razor, look out!", Amber cried out, watching as the Wolf lunged into the boy, bringing its claws to bear that forced Razor to back away, summoning his Claymore as he did.
"Show me what your humans have taught you", the wolf taunted him. "Bare your claws of steel!"
The boy clicked his tongue in anger, setting himself into a stance when the ground beneath him became covered with frost. Watching as the wolf jumped over for the attack, he brought his Claymore to bear when the wolf's teeth caught between them. Releasing his weapon, Razor backed away, augmenting his weapon with Electro as he lunged over to the wolf spirit.
But Boreas was too fast, and he quickly moved out of the way and darted for another attack. This time, swiping his tail forced Razor to use his Claymore as his shield and sent him flying from a short distance from Boreas.
"Kid's getting hammered down there", Griffon spoke out as he observed the fight. "Shouldn't we be doing something about it, Chief?"
The wolf spirit jumped on over for another attack, using both claws to lunge over him. However, a surge of Electro energy ran through his body and exploded. Because both Amber and Vergil looked as if a spectral 'ghost' of a wolf-like being acted as Razor's shadow appeared before him, using both its arms to intercept both wrists of the front legs of Boreas, barely holding on with his current size.
Vergil stared in very mild astonishment before him. The sight of the boy's power for some reason, felt very nostalgic as if he had seen and felt this power before. But he could not put his finger on it, but he was certain that he had known it before.
Griffon too shared his sentiments. "Why do I have the feeling that we've seen this somewhere else, Chief?"
"You cannot tame my fury...", Boreas declared, applying more pressure to the boy as Razor struggled to keep him at bay. Even with his training, he was not yet prepared to fight one of the Four Winds, and it wasn't long until it was becoming evident that Razor was about to break.
Amber watched in concern as she wanted to help Razor in his predicament. Even though it was clear that Razor had no intention to fight one of the Four Winds, he was already losing and they need to act fast before something happens to him.
The swordsman only took a few steps forward, observing the climate around them. Hmmm...perhaps this would not be such a dull day after all...
"You were waiting for this, huh Chief?", Griffon spoke in Vergil's mind, noticing the man's change of demeanor into anticipation and curiosity, a reprieve from the dangerous mindset from earlier.
Razor held onto his position as much as he could, hoping to persuade Boreas to stand down and listen to reason. But his power was already dwindling as every second had passed, and it won't be long until he would break.
And break he did. Because the avatar behind him had been dispelled and Andrius' claws met the ground.
Only for him to discover that Razor was no longer to be there. And he watched as a black and turquoise flurry appeared beside the Outrider, revealing it to be Razor and the black swordsman he was with. "Thank you...", Razor said to the man, panting in and out of exhaustion.
Boreas growled at this impertinence. "Who are you to interfere with the wolf's affairs?"
"My sincere apologies", Vergil's stoic face never faltered at the wolf's preying eyes. "But you made it a part of ours when you acted first"
"And do you intend to take Razor's place in clearing your name?", the wolf questioned the swordsman, circling him to meet a single affirmative nod. "What made you think you would be able to do what he could not?"
"There is no need if I know that I would be able to", the swordsman replied, gripping the sheathed weapon strapped into his waist. "It would even be worth my while in the meantime"
"Wait!", Amber called out to him, unsure as to what insanity that ran through her colleague's head when he decided to fight basically one of the protectors of Mondstadt from a simple misunderstanding. "You're going to fight him, Vergil?"
He turned to her, giving an expression that slightly resembled a smirk. "We cannot stop now, can we?", he said. "Besides, we can simply say to the rest that we have taken care of the rest of them"
The wolf was unimpressed at the man's response. "Your vanity will be your undoing", he replied, but within him, he immediately surmised that he was different from the rest. "Now, show me your claws of steel"
Vergil suppressed scoff at this declaration. "You would make an excellent guard dog", the swordsman mused, strapping the sheathed weapon onto his waist. The moment he did, a glowing light illuminated his arms and his legs. Within a moment's notice, they had been covered by a pair of thick gauntlets and graves, all of which bore resemblance to wolves, setting himself in a fighting stance as his opponent did the same.
"But you don't know how to heel yet".
With a howl, the wolf dashed towards the swordsman, disappearing into a flurry of black and turquoise as the spirit skidded above the frosted ground. Boreas' senses kicked in with mild astonishment when the man appeared above the wolf, giving a powerful diving kick wrapped in light that met the beast's back, causing him to back away and met the man appearing before him in a shroud of turquoise. Without any restraint, he raised his front legs for a slash, his claws meeting the gauntlets of the swordsman who stood his ground at the attack.
Looking unimpressed at this move, Boreas was astonished when he began to lose his grip onto the swordsman. With his strength, Vergil forced the wolf away from him by breaking the lock between them, dashing over below him. The wolf felt his artificial body being struck with a powerful knee followed by an elbow and then a diagonal kick, sending him skidding over the other side of the arena when he regained his balance.
As the man in black dashed towards him, Boreas spun as tail launched icicles made of cryo rained towards his adversary. Vergil's eyes narrowed as he side-stepped every projectile hurled towards him during the dash, skidding down when the Wolf Spirit brought its claws to bear, which narrowly missed him by neck. Demonic energy enveloped into his gauntlet, and Boreas could only look below him when glow of the man's gauntlet grew brighter before a single punch with the force of an avalanche sent him flying, tumbling down into the surface below
The arena surrounding Vergil darkened as the wolf's body became reminiscent of an Aurora borealis. The beast ran as it circled the swordsman with considerable speed, releasing trails of frost around him before he stopped, charging the swordsman with a ferocity that reminded him of Geryon. But Vergil stood still, allowing the wind to guide him when the wolf dashed behind him, to which he quickly jumped out of harm's way and reached Beowulf's claws to severely scratch the wolf's body before he landed gracefully onto the ground.
Growling at this, the wolf did the maneuver once more, dashing across the area in a circle while leaving a trail of frost. Once he had done so, he charged again, only to be struck with the man's claws from his greaves. Vergil allowed his focus to take over his mind, breathing in and out at a smooth pace when the wolf charged again with the similar tactic. However, frost began to envelop on the ground beneath him, and a shadow loomed above the swordsman, using this opportunity to dash back from the circle.
As Boreas landed, he witnessed as Vergil's gauntlet glowed and he felt a great deal of energy being channeled into his body. Without warning, the swordsman punched the ground beneath him, causing a shockwave that sent anyone nearby staggering back from the pressure.
Amber felt her body losing its balance and it was threatening to send her flying out in the arena had Razor had not reached out for her hand, using his claymore as a support when he dugged into the ground. "Man with sword is powerful. Where did you find him?"
What form of power is this?, Boreas thought to himself, perplexed that a human like Razor possessed such power he had not seen for all his generation as he landed back, staggering away as the icy cloud obstructed his vision. His instincts kicked in when the man again appeared below him, and out of impulse and of mild desperation, opened his mouth in an attempt to skewer the man in black.
But this effort only proved to be in vain.
Because by doing so, the man caught one of his canines of by the gauntlet. While one of his greaves stepped onto the lower jaw to jam his mouth altogether despite his attempts to try and force the man to break. With a hand onto one of his canines, demonic energy surged through him and into his Devil Arm when he lifted the God's feet into the ground. Amber and Razor's eyes widened in astonishment when he lifted the god by the tooth, throwing him aside but at the same time, ripping it out of the god's mouth, causing Boreas to yelp in anger as he crashed into the surface once more.
"Haha! You got'em, Chief!", Griffon cheered within Vergil's mind as his retainer watch the spirit trying to get up. "Just a few more, and we might get ourselves a new toy to play with!"
He is no Cerberus or Geryon, Vergil observed, carefully recalling on how the fight had went on for the both of them. But it'll do...
A lowly growl escaped the wolf's mouth, bearing its fangs as it struggled to stand up against the swordsman. As it struggled to regain its bearings, the white and blue fur of Boreas began to glow in a brighter light, almost to the point it was almost transluscent to the eyes of those who would be able to wintess it. His form slowly shifted in a more majestic tone, the braids that were seemingly connected to the 'eyebrows' grew longer. As his evolution was now complete, the wolf howled into the skies as it signified its resolve to fight on.
Without any word to one another, Vergil felt the wind blowing against him from behind when a pillar of ice formed behind him. He quickly vanished in a flurry of black and turquoise once it had exploded behind him, finding himself a few meters away from the wolf. He looked as the ground below began to form a circular formation out of ice, quickly dodging the burst of icicles that are meant to skewer him, before doing the same towards another that formed of the position he found himself in.
The wolf raised its front legs, crashing them onto the surface where a wave of ice was unleashed towards the swordsman, sidestepping out from the line of fire. He watched as he quickly jumped away from a wave of three vertical wind blades darting towards him for the kill, performing the same manuever thrice as Vergil noticed the increase in aggression tenfold by the spirit in question.
Sinking into his anger, Boreas fought for his pride as a protector. More than his pride: each whirl of wind and whipcrack of snow was a strike in defense of Wolvendom, of the fragility of the pillars as its protector, of the justice that needs to be brought against his kin. Anger, disbelief and desperation had rose through the wolf in question.
This man before him could not be human. He had to be something else beyond that.
Razor blinked and rubbed his eyes again. Maybe he was flash-blind—the Man with a Sword seemed to be fading in and out of existence, half swallowed by a thickening black haze in which danced a meter-long bar of winter. Vergil pressed back the winter with a relentless straight-ahead march; his own arms, that distinctive bright light that had been the final sight of so many evil beings, made a haze of its own: a glowing pillar of white light within which there seemed to be a spirit crying out in anger as he was used by the swordsman.
Amber watched as the atmosphere between them roiled and burst and crashed around them, boiling with power and unprecedented speed ricochets of lethal intent. And it was becoming thicker for her to see. Amber could feel how the swordsman used the wolf's anger to his advantage; she could asel fury spray into their psyche though some poisonous abscess had crested in both their hearts.
There was only one who had freed himself from such restraints. Boreas had been cutting loose.
While it seemed it was only an exercise for the man in black.
From the ledge outside. He bounced off and the wind cleared his head and once again he gave himself to his aggression.
Andrius could feel the end of this battle approaching, and so could the shadow of the human he faced. Foolishly, he had become a pulsar of his own rage, his own desperation. Almost easily, Boreas saw the swordsmen using it against him: he angled the battle to bring them both out onto center of the arena.
It was their last chance. Either one of them had to fall here.
Out in the wind. Out with the snow. Out where the wolf's hesitation made. Out where the wolf's anger turned into the shadow's weapon.
The wolf's legs quickly made haste as it poised for a final charge. Its claws glowed into a shade of light blue as his form was becoming reminiscent of a blue flaming arrow hurling towards its target. The shadow stood still, the light that surrounded him being the only sense of any indication of his presence. As he neared his foe, the wolf leaped with a roar towards him, the world seemingly slowed between them as the claw of Boreas neared the man's gauntlet-covered fist.
And for a moment, all became white.
The 'arena' became engulfed with a blinding light if a blue burst of superb power erupted when Beowulf's fist collided with the massive claw of Andrius, causing both Razor and Amber to look away from the sight that caused them to slightly back away from them.
The light had dissipated in moments, revealing the giant white wolf had been sent flying by the immense velocity from the swordsman's gauntlet, before regaining his balance and skidding away, a short distance away from the man in black. His fur slowly faded back into a darker shade of blue and white as his form had dissipated, watching with utter disbelief.
On the other side, Vergil simply stood still as his gauntlet glowed into a fading hue, composing himself as stood down his guard.
It was over for the both of them. The man had won.
"You...", the Wolf Spirit spoke, the right leg of his artificial form limping from the recent strike. Although no longer capable of feeling any pain since his body had long died out, his astonishment and intrigue remained to those who surprised him. "You are no human"
The swordsman merely straightened himself up, watching as the wolf tried to stand up for itself. "Unfortunately I am", he responded, dusting off the frost on his coat. "Though I do not have many compliments about it. Would this little scruffle ours would be enough to settle our little misunderstanding?"
Boreas looked closely at the man. His eyes were a cold and cool blue, and they gleamed like those of a predator lurking beyond a fringe of firelight; his face had indicated that it was not the first time he had fought someone with such caliber, and the weapons that he had used - he had intentionally kept his blade aside, in order to test his opponent's worth for something else.
Stunned with disbelief, stunned with the display of power, Boreas could only stare at the creature. At the shadow.
"I have seen and fought countless others who had abilities beyond those of a human", the spirit spoke, walking towards the swordsman as the rest who have watch in awe and in sheer silence, approached him from behind. "But you...you are different. Even more so than those who came before"
The spirit then turned towards Razor, who took a few steps forward as he observed the visible wounds inflicted onto him. Although none proved lethal, it was a disheartening display for him to watch. "I have chosen to abstain my judgement towards your Lupicals, Razor. Their nobility and commitment to prove your innocence was commendable. Is it true that your Lupicals have drove them out of this land?"
Amber stepped forward, wanting to lift the spirits of the boy. "Yes. Those who were truly responsible in both the attacks towards your pack and towards our citizens have been already been dealt with"
The spirit looked at the sincerity that the girl in red had shown, and a nod from the feral boy affirmed it further. "However, such business does not require your presence should the time come again, Razor. This is a matter settled between wolves"
The boy felt his spirits crushed at the proclamation. "But I am wolf!", he reasoned out. "I don't belong with them!"
"It is for the better that you do not pursue our matters further", Boreas then turned to Vergil, who silently stood as he crossed his arms at the conversation. "If you wish to train with me, I will be looking forward in testing your might once more...swordsman"
Vergil resisted the urge to scoff at this proclamation, but it was a better alternative if he said so himself. "And make sure it would be my time's worth"
Knowing that it has come to an end, Boreas felt his body began to slowly dissipate out of its form. "I have nothing further to say. May we meet again, Razor, and company..."
With a howl loud enough to be heard throughout Mondstadt, the white wolf disappeared in a flurry of snow.
Now we are done here, Vergil stared onto the 'tooth' in renewed curiosity as it did not disappear with wolf. The object glowed in a faded hue of blue, and the swordsman could feel the energy that flowed through it. It was cold as ice and sharp as the wind. Its power lay dormant, waiting for it to be awakened through other means that he could.
He clenched his Beowulf-covered hand, crushing the tooth in the process and watched as the dust splattered all around it into the other and his eyes gained a glint of curiosity when the both gauntlets began to glow into a shining hue of blue and white. The remaining dust harmlessly fell into the greaves where it shared the same phenomena as it did with the gauntlets. In a moment, both acrouments had a layer of frost above them while giving out a small singe of cold moisture. Looking at the Devil Arm's new form, the swordsman crashed his fist onto the surface below him, causing the floor to become enveloped in ice. Satisfied with the results, Vergil watched as the frost covering his weapon slowly fell back upon will before he dispelled the Devil Arm completely from his body.
"For your sake and of the boy, it is best that no one has to know what has happened here", the swordsman then spoke up, towards Amber, who stood next to Razor. She held the boy's shoulder as he stared on the ground below him, blankly. "Otherwise, we may have to come back to deal with larger consequences"
"I'll do what I could, Vergil", she spoke, her tone hollow as the memory of the swordsman fighting one of the Four Winds was slowly becoming permanent for her. She then shifted her attention to the boy beside her. "Razor, would like to stay in the city for few days? Maybe you can meet with the burny girl you were talking about"
Razor raised his head to look at both of them. Any solace out of his own troubles would be great, but it was just too much for him. "I'm fine. No worry. But I am not city human, but I am also not wolf"
The boy felt both of his shoulders being held by a pair of gloved hands, and he watched as the girl in red gave him a re-assuring grin "Cheer up, Razor!", she encouraged him. "Wolf or not, you're still a friend to the Knights of Favonius! You can always count on us if you need anything! Even Vergil here!"
A pair of incredulous eyes glanced at her proclamation, wondering why she had to drag him into her little space. A small smile graced Razor's lips as he looked at the both of them. "Thank you, Man with Sword. And other Red girl"
Amber's face shifted in embarrassment and disbelief. "Hey! We've been with you all this time, and you still don't even know my name!?", she exclaimed to him, as the swordsman turned around and breathed out a sigh of relief, knowing that their task are all but concluded.
Guess the first day didn't end up to be so boring after all.
Voiceovers/Character Thoughts
Amber (About Vergil)
"Vergil had always been someone that I prefer to avoid at anytime. Ever since we met at Galesong, there was never a time where I'd feel that something was out to get me. While I appreciate that he'll be helping out the Knights, I just wish that I wouldn't get the chills running through my spine whenever I meet with him"
Thoughts on Amber:
Vergil: Though the Outrider had her limits, she does her work well. According to her peers, her eagerness to help both citizens and outsiders had gained her a reputation to be among one of Mondstadt's well-known protectors. Given her potential, then perhaps she would be a reliable connection within Mondstadt.
Griffon: If you like it that way, maybe you can start by sounding less like someone who'd stick the Yamato to everyone for shits and giggles.
Report:
New Mode for Beowulf Unlocked
Frozen Fang - It allows Beowulf to use ice-oriented attacks and its ability to wield and charge ice comparable to cryomancy.
Spectre: Yep, this chapter is pretty much and excuse for me to have Vergil fight Andrius, as well as to give Beowulf a some sort of upgrade, kinda to contrast itself to Dante's Balrog who wields fire. Decided to also do one reviewer's suggestion for some voice lines or thoughts of characters regarding Vergil or vice versa, and I find it appealing because it can be 'fleshed out' in a way.
Next chapter would be less action and more of society. Where Vergil decided to go visit a cathedral.