The House of Spirit: The Aftermath
So many Eliksni POVs lol. Don't worry, it will get back to the proper perspectives. Although this is a short chapter because it's "Birthday" season where I'm at. March -July is where a big chunk of my immediate and extended family's birthdays is, so don't have as much time. Plus, this part in the story was short as well for some reason.
Edited: 04/17/2022
The stillness of the air around them was tangible, Axtris keeping her eyes on Orion as the latter continued to keep his hands up in surrender.
And that is when Axtris spotted a glimmer of a cloak slowly fade behind him.
Before she can let out a cry of warning, Axtris then reeled when another shape rammed into the Stealth Vandal, the latter letting out a shriek of surprise before being crashing into the ground. This was enough to prompt Orion to turn, arms lowering just a bit in surprise as Axtris watched Inkolas easily pinning the attacker beneath him. There were snarls, words that she cannot hear from her position, but she didn't have to. The way that Inkolas had taken one of his shock blades, and stabbed onto the ground just next to the Vandal's face was a telling threat enough.
Watching Inkolas push himself onto his feet, Axtris then held in a breath when he turned his eyes towards Orion, the latter of which froze where he stood. It was obvious the Guardian have little to no idea on Eliksni etiquette; he kept his stature tall instead of either trying to hunker down to the same height or lower. Nonetheless, either Inkolas didn't mind or understood that there is an ignorant Guardian before him, Axtris watched on in shock as the Splicer sheathed his weapons. And held out a hand.
Despite herself, Axtris sputtered; Inkolas had made his stance on Guardians known, he was the last Eliskni she expected to hold out a hand to Orion.
At first, the Guardian didn't seem to know what to do next, Axtris watching him glance down at Inkolas' hand and then at Inkolas himself. Finally, lowering his hands down to his sides, Orion carefully, slowly reached out, and clasped his hand around the Splicer's. It was only when they did a single firm shake that Axtris released a breath of relief.
Spotting movement from the corner of her vision, Axtris turned to see Olkar leading the formerly hostage Guardian towards the edge of the building, watching him carefully as the latter took slow and careful steps. Seeing her littermate glance up at her, he didn't have to vocalize on what he wanted Axtris to do. As such, sheathing her blades, Axtris strode over and slid off the edge of the roof, squaring her feet to lessen the impact. Then, she glanced up and waved her upper arms at Olkar, the latter of which nodded before his head disappeared over the side of the roof. It was then, the Guardian's legs could be seen and Axtris reached up and hooked one of her arms under his legs to lessen the fall before grabbing his arms for better leverage. Then, with a grunt, she helped the Guardian slide off, letting him lean on her shoulder as he slipped onto the ground.
Snarling at those she deemed too close, Axtris then started leading the Guardian through the crowd, feeling him limp next to her. Fortunately, her people seem to have gotten the message, easily parting to allow her and the Guardian through.
Hearing the hum of his Ghost following behind them, Axtris waited until she was near Orion, the latter of which had already released Inkolas' hand and now looked at her with confusion. Without saying a word, Axtris simply leaned the shoulder holding the injured Guardian to Orion, and – much to her relief- he lent his shoulder without hesitation.
"You should leave."
There was a delay in his reaction – more than likely his Ghost translating her words – but nonetheless, it was words that he hadn't expected to hear. Orion visibly jerked back, a sputter clearly heard behind his helmet.
"We have to fix things here." Axtris explained, "and it is too dangerous for Guardians to stay."
It hurt to admit it, to admit that the home that Axtris and her people had tried so hard to build, so hard to welcome not only other Eliksni but, to build a relationship with the Guardians a failure. But she would rather see the Guardians head home safely than allow them to stay and further harm to come to them.
To his credit, Orion seemed hesitant to move, to stay, and it was telling why when Axtris felt his eyes glance over her shoulders; she wouldn't be surprised if he was looking at Olkar. However, after a moment, Orion finally nodded, shifted his grip to keep a better grip on his fellow Guardian before moving to leave. However, the injured Guardian did not move.
Instead, Axtris felt his eyes upon her, and, in turn, she kept her eyes on him. If he was trying to intimidate her, she wasn't going down so easily.
"Thank you."
Recoiling, Axtris blinked rapidly at the Guardian's words, unable to say anything as the latter nodded once her way before finally, he allowed Orion to lead him away.
Watching him and Orion leave, Axtris then slowly turned around, her eyes settling over her littermate, the latter of which kept his eyes upon the backs of the two Guardians until they were completely out of sight. She was surprised that he, at least, didn't try to leave with them.
"Are you alright?"
Turning to face Inkolas, Axtris didn't answer the Splicer, at least, not right away. Instead, she nodded, and she saw the relief settle into his eyes. Then, before she could even realize what was happening, Axtris felt arms wrap around her shoulders, and Inkolas pressing into her form.
Unsure of what to do, Axtris just went stiff, four eyes wide as she heard Inkolas release a quiet rumble. Feeling the vibrations reverberate into her body – an action she realizes that is to help ease her – Axtris decided to relent; he had been patient with her and with the chaos that had happened today, she should at least return the affection.
As such, she wrapped her arms underneath his, and returned the gesture with a soft rumble of her own. Instantly, she felt Inkolas go rigid but, then relax; Axtris heard a small purr of content.
"Round up the traitors!"
Ixrsis' shouts were enough for Axtris to jerk away from the embrace, sliding her arms away from the Inkolas' grasp, and ignored the clicks of protests. Nonetheless, she appreciates that Inkolas also slipped his arms from her shoulders, enabling Axtris to turn her attention fully to the Kell.
With her weapon still in her arms, Ixrsis let out growl as she shouted, "I want them all accounted for by the next dawn! Round them up! Now!"
Chitters echoed around Axtris, both in protests and in agreement, she jumped as several Eliksni – ones who still bore the colors of House Spirit – brushed past her, and started picking up those without their capes, leading them away. Despite the rebelling Eliksni's snarls of protests, Axtris watched as they put up little to not fight as they were dragged away. It was then, when efforts were put into handling the traitors, when Axris saw Ixrsis' shoulders slump, her scorch cannon now held loosely in her hands.
At first bewildered by this sudden shift in attitude, Axtris then shifted her eyes over the Kell's weapon, only to abruptly halt. The Scorch Cannon that Ixrsis held in her hands was all too familiar, Axtris recognizing the familiar scarring of wired rifles etched onto the side from all too many conflicts with the House of Devils.
The realization that the Archon was not seen in sight, Axtris then saw the familiar tall shape of Vellak limping over to the Kell. Dread sank into her stomach as she saw him place a comforting hand onto Ixrsis' lower arm.
Taking in a sharp breath, Axtris finally decided to approach.
"Kell Ixrsis."
At the call of her name, Axtris watched as Ixrsis shrugged off her eldest littermate's touch and release a shuddering breath.
"I found him on the way here." Ixrsis started, "a shock blade buried into his neck." Axtris watched her squeeze her four eyes shut, "I had hoped all of this be a bad dream, yes. However…"
It wasn't, a feeling that Axtris sympathizes with. A sentiment that she believes many of those present sympathizes with.
Hearing the Kell release another breath, Axtris decided to say nothing when Ixrsis pushed herself to her feet. Then, threw her head back and howled.
If Axtris had been a bit more ignorant, before a few years younger, she would have been taken aback by this action, startled by it. But, she had heard it before, back when her father had finally been buried, and all those present released their grief.
As such, Axtris decided to follow, taking a step forward and released a howl of her own. Soon after, she heard Vellak join in, followed by Olkar. Soon, she heard a cacophony of howls echo around, releasing their anguish and grief to the air, to mourn those that they had lost in the civil battle.
Xxxxxx
Growing up, Axtris was taught that traitors do not deserve decency, even in death. As such, she couldn't help but find it strange that Ixrsis, despite her grief, ordered that the traitors were given a proper burial. Not the expected response, but a response that she would wholly agree with.
As such, Axtris helped shift through the dead, dragging the bodies – cloak or no cloak – just outside of their home, bringing them to the designated spot where they bury their dead. And just like them, she set about finding the proper sized stones, ready to use her shock blades to carve the proper names and rank.
Then, she finally made it to Anikis.
Axtris wasn't surprised when for the longest while, no one touched his body, and she knows it's more than cleaning up the mess that once was his head. No doubt that many will hate him for centuries to come, for disrupting the sanctity of their home.
Despite this, she set about to gathering as much of him as she could, wrapping his head – and what remains of it – in a cloth to ensure that all the pieces remain together, and then proceeded to half drag, half carry his body outside. Then, after placing his body in a grave, she proceeded to find the proper stone and started carving his name and rank upon it.
"Are they making you work alone?"
Axtris jumped, releasing a yelp as she twirled around, only to stare blankly at the Spicer behind her.
"Inkolas." She muttered, "I told you not to sneak behind me, especially since your steps are quieter than before."
And if it were anybody else, she would have been in disbelief at that probability but, Inkolas had more than proven himself a capable Splicer. Besides her prosthetics, he had also recently created boots that, not only would quiet your steps in unstable terrain, but also improve agility and strength. And he was currently testing them out, considering that she had not heard him approach.
In response to her words, Inkolas nodded apologetically. Axtris, in turn, released a soft breath.
"No, there were others, but they had retired for the night." She answered as she sat down upon the earth and set about to returning to carving Anikis' name onto the flat piece of stone; she had been halfway through it when Inkolas had startled her, "I find myself unable to find rest so I decided to continue my duties."
There was a rumble of understanding from her fellow Vandal and she watched from the corner of her eyes as he approached the makeshift grave behind her. And paused.
"Anikis told me that all he ever wanted was a family." Axtris halted, "Had a mother in imprisoned at the Prison of Elders as well. Had. That's when he confided in me that he planned to find a mate so he could start a family of his own." She felt Inkolas' eyes settle upon her, "I imagine since you were the first female he interacted with, he chose you."
That would explain a lot of his strange behavior, Axtris realized as she slowly lifted her eyes towards the Splicer.
"Then why did you stop him?" She asked; she frowned at this quizzical look he sent her, "That day when he asked me to be his mate. Why did you intervene?"
It was funny to her, to see the harsh and solitary Vandal suddenly turn nervous, shy, the latter lifting his shoulders and shifting his four eyes to the floor.
"To me, it looked like you needed help." Axtris blinked at his answer, "The way you held yourself, I couldn't help but intervene. Being your mate was just an unseen circumstance."
He was blushing, despite his attempts to hide his face behind his hands. Axtris had already seen the color appear onto his pale face. She suddenly found it endearing.
"If you do not wish to be my mate, then I can easily declare the annulment." Axtris once again paused at Inkolas' words, "You may be a lone female once again, if that is what you wish."
Pondering upon it, Axtris released a soft hum as she finally finished carving Anikis' name and started working on his rank; all she knew was that he was a Scout. And that shall be said upon his marker.
"The day when the two of you challenge my hand to be my mate, I thought that Anikis would have been ideal for me." Axtris started, "He had seemed gentle, genuine, the best choice when it comes to siring my children. But, after today." She turned her eyes back at Inkolas, "It seemed that I have – what do humans call it? – judged the wrong cover."
Inkolas snorted at her words, "Close. I believe it is from the saying, "Do not judge a book by its cover'."
Humming at this, Axtris then said, "For someone who seems to strongly dislike Guardians, you seem to know their culture." Then, before Inkolas can protest or change subject, she then asked, "But yet, you saved Orion. Why?"
That is when she saw Inkolas suddenly go rigid, any sign of movement, even breathing, seemed to have ceased. It didn't take Axtris long to realize that somehow, she had overstepped a boundary. But, before she can part her mandibles to apologize, Inkolas answered.
"It would have completely broken the Treaty between the Guardians and our House if he dies, correct?" Axtris, deciding to play along, nodded, "If I had not stopped the attacker, that would have led to the Treaty being broken, which in turn, would have made you upset. And I, do not want to see you upset, Axtris."
That, that was not the answer she was expecting, and in honesty, the last thought that Axtris had in her mind that there was a possibility that all of the things that Inkolas did for her – the gifts, the gestures, his actions – would have been genuine.
Her mind whirling to understand, Axtris decided to say, "Then you still do not trust Guardians?"
Expecting him to answer with a resounding 'no', instead, Axtris was surprised to see instead hesitation in his eyes, a pause before he finally answered.
"I am not certain?" Even he seemed confused at his own answer, "At least, I thought that all Guardians were the same. Self-serving. Greedy. Violent. But, then I finally met Pure One." Axtris did her best not to smile; she already knew where this was going, "When he found me in my shop, I snarled at him, threatened him to leave. But instead, as I worked, he stayed, asked me questions, and complimented my work. Despite my best efforts, I found myself engrossed in conversation with him and in the end, I found myself wanting him to stay when he had to take his leave." His confused expression is obvious, even with the goggles he wore over his eyes, "I had thought that I had trusted my last human years ago, but that seems unlikely."
"Years ago?"
Watching Inkolas' head and shoulders rise, Axtris waited until the former released a breath, his head tilting as if quietly debating to answer her question. However, before she can receive an answer, Inkolas instead perked up and looked towards the direction of their home. Narrowing her eyes, Axtris followed his gaze, only to pause as she spotted Olkar walking towards them, his cloak wrapped tightly around his shoulders to stave off the cold.
"Axtris. Inkolas." He nodded at the Splicer, "The two of you are needed in the Plaza. A discussion is currently taking place."
"A discussion?" Axtris set aside the stone from her lap, "A discussion of what?"
That is when she saw her littermate's eyes harden, a growl easily permeating from his throat.
"A discussion of relocating."