I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
The headquarters of the United Nations was packed with representatives of most countries as humanity faced a situation without an easy solution. Their weapons were mostly taken away from them. Guns, missiles, tanks, and even swords in museums turned to ash as Gaia took them mostly away. Any firearms they tried to make from scratch also turned to ash, as if they could no longer make them.
"There will be no more killing amongst yourselves."
Most of the dangerous substances, radioactive elements, and lethal items were also erased from the face of the planet, from addictive substances to poisons and other manufactured creations that could lead to the death of people around the globe had disappeared in a matter of seconds before their eyes.
"You like to create quite nasty creations from the plants and elements I had created. It seems that I overlook the ingenuity of your minds even without the fruit of knowledge's influence."
The goddess belittled the leaders of many nations and those with significant influence worldwide as she continued to take away elements of human life. Or that is what they most believe.
"None of you own the planet. Nor its resources. Nor its animals. Not even the air you each breathe. I had let human life run its course for quite a long time, but it seems I need to interfere as you have taken more steps back than forward."
Reports about whole factories getting turned into forests reached their hands alongside many other supernatural occurrences worldwide.
"Reports of patients in hospitals worldwide recuperating from their wounds and conditions without explanations continue to be released after the events that had shaken the world." Their cellphones and computers in front of their eyes continued to inform them of the growing occurrences around the globe.
"I created your ancestors; I know more about your bodies than any of you could imagine."
"We have received news of the poorest locations receiving drinkable water and food. People claimed that their prayers are finally getting heard."
"You have turned a blind eye to those you claimed to lead and support."
"News about criminals in jails being either released or getting trapped inside of trees have also spread around. Guards and police had been unable to intervene due to the supernatural forces at work."
"You know who's innocent, yet your laws still take away the freedom of many. You know who's guilty, yet you allow them to remain free."
"Several prominent figures around the globe had been inflicted with an unknown condition. While in hospitals, patients are getting released in masses, and known members of organized crime and violent groups have been taken in as they have been unable to eat or drink any food over the last hour. Experts claim not to understand the inner workings of the condition. Afflicted patients scream in pain as their bodies try to ingest food or liquid, yet they cannot."
The leaders of the nations had concerned looks on their faces as they couldn't see a way of regaining control over the situation. Losing weapons, losing the trust of the masses, the growing wave of support to the goddess giving them more than any government ever hoped to do; all of it was a slap across the face that was starting to hurt more with each second.
Suddenly, the doors swung open, and the leaders grew silent as a small group entered the room while being led by the figure behind the events that had transpired over the last two days.
A copy of Gaia walked toward the center of the room while Typhon, Raphael, and Ajuka followed behind her. As soon as they reached the podium, Gaia took a deep breath before she ignored the microphone placed for her. The cameras around the room turned to her, capturing her face for the world to see.
"Good morning, children. I'm Gaia, one of your creators. I appreciate the invitation of your designed leaders and representatives for this discussion. I hope you're getting along with each other as I won't accept more acts of violence amongst yourselves. Your mom has been asleep for quite a while, and I have awoken to quite a mess, so I have decided to do some house cleaning. I hope you'll understand." Gaia smiled with a warmth that only a mother could have, yet her words transmitted a sense of an unshakable feeling of dread.
A mother can show love, yet she can also punish the actions of her children.
The leaders and representatives gulp as her eyes analyze the room.
"Well, my children. You asked me to come here, so go ahead and say what you want." Gaia said as she sat on a newly formed seat of vines and plants that appeared behind her. Three seats appeared behind the three males as well.
The leaders and representatives looked at each other briefly before one was brave enough to talk.
"I'm the current president of the USA. I sincerely apologize for our previous comments and actions against your holiness. We, humans, make mistakes like that sometimes." The man said as he tried to make his case.
"Threatening mother with nuclear weapons was not a mistake but a declaration of war. Do you really understand your position and your mother's place in this puzzle? You never stopped to think for a second what could happen to the planet if "mother" was ever killed, did you?" Typhon said coldly as his eyes shone with flaming anger.
The president of the USA started to shake in fear after meeting his eyes. "... I… I… I'm… truly ashamed of my actions and comments. I….. didn't care enough to listen to the experts in my cabinet regarding her holiness. I grew up thinking that there was no other god besides the one in the bible."
"Now, now Typhon, there's no other need to scare this child. Understandably, many wouldn't believe our existence as I went to sleep, and humanity has grown distant from the existence of gods and the supernatural. They started to believe less in us since they couldn't see us, and I did ask Youkai and the other communities to give humanity space to grow. But it seems it wasn't the best decision." Gaia says,
Typhon sighs as he closes his eyes and relaxes back into his chair. "I'll say this only once for all humans to hear. If any of you dare threaten mother again, I will kill you with my own hands. You live on this planet thanks to her, you exist thanks to her, and threatening her is an act that deserves death."
The USA president sits down back in his chair as he loses any strength to continue, and in his place, a middle-aged lady stands up.
"I'm the president of France. I would like to ask for your interference to stop. Human society doesn't require the blessing or interference of a deity. I believe that humans can continue alone on their own."
"Alone, you say? But how can you say that when your fellow humans continue to suffer not only in your nation but also outside of it? Are you ignoring the hungry ones in the streets? The ones being subjected to human cruelty inside the walls of many buildings around Paris? Human trafficking still exists even after so many years. Drugs had become a much deeper issue than when I was awake last time. You still allowed power-hungry bastards to influence your so-called nations. If you humans are okay without me, why am I listening to the screams of so many humans right now? Why are there so many praying for someone to aid them? Why did I have to act to prevent more lives from being extinguished in all parts of the globe?" Gia asks the president of France. Her eyes were judging not only the president from France but all of those present.
The president of France gulps. "Well, that's just common for human society." The president says.
"Common for human society, you say? Care to explain the concept to me? I would like to know why suffering, hunger, and violence are accepted even after so long?" Gaia focuses her attention on the lady.
"Humans are not all equal; we all have differences that make us unique. We are born under different circumstances and not with the same luck. Some are born with all that they need, while others don't have anything at all. Some are born in places with resources available to their families, while others are born in nations with nothing to offer. Some humans rise from the dirt to the top, while others fall to disgrace. It isn't kind, but it is what it is. Not everyone wins in this life, and we must make the best of it. Fight to rise to the top or continue on the bottom of society." The lady says.
"And that is acceptable to you?" Gaia asks.
"I try to do my best to change France, but I can't fix every problem." The lady argues.
Gaia shakes her head. "You're right that you can't fix every problem alone, but you're missing the things preventing humanity from achieving a better future. You said you are doing the best for those in France but what about those outside? You said that humans are not equal, but to me, you're all my children. My faulty children continue to take one step forward and two steps back. When I woke up, I was not expecting to find such a chaotic present day."
Gaia stands up and claps her hands. Several images around the room show diverse moments in the past, from the Holocaust to the Holodomor and even the Cambodian Genocide. The many wars that took place over the years and the conflicts continue to this day.
"You have built cities that strive to reach the skies from raw materials, yet you have forgotten to strive to feed your fellow humans before anything else. You have created tools to protect yourselves from animals and tools to hide from the harsh weather, yet you choose to use them to attack and hurt each other or not to aid those under the rain. You have formed nations to unite groups under a language, an identity, and a set of laws and beliefs, but it has also made you isolate yourselves from each other. Those same laws are faulty and full of hypocrisy, as they are no more than an illusion of order. A piece of paper or a shiny rock has become more precious than the lives of your fellow humans. Your so-called laws are easily swayed away by those who have more resources."
The images show even more conflicts and tragedies that had taken place around the world even while she was asleep.
"Your concept of race is faulty, for all of you are human, no matter your skin color. You have committed many horrendous acts because some of you believed yourselves supreme to your fellow humans. You have killed so many of your brothers and sisters for incoherent reasons. You continue to repeat those same mistakes, and I'm at fault for not intervening before. I allowed you to walk alone for far too long, so as your mother, I will do as a mother should do. I will interfere and guide those of you who accept my help while giving those who reject it a way out."
Gaia claps her hands, and the humans around the planet feel how something inside them changes.
"Now you can speak the language of the ancients just like me and those behind me. Language won't be a barrier anymore."
Gaia claps her hands again, and flags around the planet become ashes.
"There will no longer be nations anymore. If a concept of nationality is dividing you, I will crush it. You need to understand that you are all human. All of you are children of mine; even if each of you looks different, you are all still the same."
Another clap. The building around all of those present starts to crumble until only a garden of flowers remains. The leaders and representatives are left speechless.
"I will no longer accept your concept of society, for it disgusts me. There will be no more killing among yourselves, and I will act as your judge since none of you can do it. I will give adequate punishment to those that have run free from their past. I will act as I see fit and lead those that accept my help into a new age. All of you so attached to the past will have to be prepared to embark on a voyage into the stars on your own." Gaia claps her hands once more.
The land shakes as the world is changed by the goddess once more. The ocean's water begins to rise to the sky alongside large pieces of land as Gaia shows the extent of her might. Land masses started to be changed locations and shapes around the globe as she displaced nations around as she pleased. Although regular earthquakes would destroy cities, Gaia easily evades such an event thanks to her powers.
By the end of it, whole continents and nations were now in the sky while just a few pieces of land remained attached to the planet. Some large spheres of water were now floating alongside them.
If one walked to the edges of the floating pieces of land, one could see the planet below slowly healing itself after losing so much landmass.
"I will give you time to either accept my offer or unite under one banner and go off on your own. Those who want to remain with me on this planet will return to the surface and join the rest. Japan, Greenland, Greece, and other small nations of the old age of humans have accepted. They will no longer interact with any of you and accept what is coming. Those who claim not to need me nor my help will have to create the arc that will take you off into the stars. Dark times are coming, and I have no time to listen to your complaints. If the way the world was before I woke up is what you wish, go off alone. Continue to suffer and kill each other away from me." Her face was akin to one of a parent that had given an ultimatum to a child.
-If you can't live under my rules, then go out and live on your own.-
The leaders couldn't stop shaking as they found themselves so high, yet they still could breathe.
"An arc, you say, but how?" Another leader asks.
"The fruit of knowledge has been awakened inside of each human. Gaia has released the seal alongside the ability to speak the language of the ancients. As she said, language won't be a barrier. Unite and start making the arc that will serve as your home. You have all the materials you'll ever need and the knowledge to do it. These pieces of land are Gaia's last gifts. If a nation decides to return down, then you'll lose those resources. Be mindful that Gaia will choose who to allow back into the surface. Even if a nation decides to go back, that doesn't mean each citizen will be allowed back." Ayuka says.
"Gaia knows what each has done, we angels keep track of your actions, and there's nothing to hide from her. This moment is the start of the Exodus of humanity. Choose wisely. There's no other planet out there like this." Raphael opens his wings.
"The playtime is over for humanity. Things won't be the same ever again." Typhon grows a pair of red bat wings.
"You invited us to ask for Gaia to stop interfering in human societies, so you get this. I wish you the best." Ajuka stretches his wings out.
Gaia says nothing for a moment. "If you truly want to return down, I will always hear from you. Just pray to me." Her clone then transforms into a small white flower.
The three males take off before they descend back to the surface, thus leaving most humanity to decide on their own what to do.
Real Gaia POV.
The goddess was gasping for air as she lay on her seat. "That took a lot from me. It was as if I was cutting off pieces of my body."
Echidna quickly moved to offer her something to drink. "This is soma. Drink slowly. Shiva said that it will help you to regain your strength."
"Thanks, Echidna." Gaia took the container in her hands and began to drink.
"Are you alright, mother?" Ddraig asked her as he kneeled in front of her.
"It was painful, but I'll be alright. We're taking many steps, and although we might be moving too quickly, it is better to start now. Those going off into the stars will need all the time they can get to prepare. The arc needs to be fast and durable, as Trihexa will likely give chase to any target that attracts its attention. If we wait too long, they won't be ready." Gaia worried about the children leaving on their own when the time came. Even if humans made many mistakes, she couldn't help but fear for their future.
Ddraig could see the pain in her face, and he felt sorry for all of it. "Mother…. I'm sorry. I know it must be painful. You care for them as much as you do for us dragons. I hope that after all is done, you don't have to worry about any of us anymore. I'll do my best to welcome an era of peace. I promise not to fail when Trihexa arrives."
Gaia's face softens as she puts her glass down. "Ddraig be at ease, child. You don't need to worry about me. It is painful but not impossible. This situation is not my first rodeo with parting with my children. I left the Golden Archipelago with the death of Uranus at the hands of Cronus. I parted ways with most of the titans, and it has been so long since I was visited by any of the Hecatoncheires, members of the golden race, and the cyclops. They have chosen their paths, and although I was hurt, my wounds have healed. Even if all of humanity goes off and leaves my reach one day, I'll be alright. I know I won't be alone."
"That's right, Typhon and I will stay here with her until the end of time. Us and our descendants will always remain here with her." Echidna says.
Ddraig could hear the monsters not too far from there roaring as if they agreed. "Mother-"
"Be at ease, child. You have other things to worry about other than me. Typhon will arrive soon, so you don't need to stay much longer. Go back to the underworld; someone is likely waiting for you to return to them. Tiamat? Maybe Serafall? Le Fay?" The goddess teases him.
Ddraig blushes as he stands up. "Please stop spying on my private life."
"Oh, but you two looked so cute on that date. Sharing an ice cream, going around buying clothes, watching a movie, I was expecting you two to end up in a hotel by the end of the night." Gaia says as images of the date between Ddraig and Serafall appear around them.
"Mother, you're worse than the paparazzi." Ddraig starts to form a magic circle.
"Don't be mad; you do look cute together, Ddraig. I didn't expect the bad big Welsh Dragon to be such a sweetheart with his loved ones." Echidna joins the teasing.
"..." Ddraig continues to blush as he disappears.
"Oh, he's such a sweetheart. Please let me know if he has another date like this. I want to witness it with my own eyes." Echidna says.
"Sure," Gaia said as she smiled.
Her eyes turned to the pieces of land in the atmosphere, and she heard the many prayers of humans asking her to take them back to the surface while others started to experience the effects of the fruit of knowledge.
Humanity was on the eve of its awakening to a new era.
Ddraig POV.
"Mother needs to stop looking into my life." The dragon said as he looked around and came to the view of Grigori's main entrance.
The guards opened the doors for Ddraig as soon as they saw him. The dragon was welcomed with open arms into the city of the fallen ones.
"Come inside, sir."
"Thanks," Ddraig said as he entered the city. Then, walking around, he noticed many fallen angels and their descendants waving their hands at him. "Things have changed way too much," Ddraig told himself as he waved back.
The dragon never expected to be welcome so openly by the fallen angels in the past, yet this was the current status quo.
"Former enemies working together? Me, the famous Welsh Dragon, being seen as a symbol of the future? Me having a family. So much has changed since my youth. What would my younger self say if he saw all this?"
His inner thoughts were then interrupted by a scent he didn't expect to detect in a million years. His eyes search for the source among the masses.
A blueish flash attracted his sight around the city's tall buildings, and his instincts went into full-on overdrive as he chased this target. "This shouldn't be possible. Please tell me this is a dream."
The eyes of the residents of Grigori watched as Ddraig flew as fast as he could after the blueish flash until he finally captured the target and pinned it to a wall. "Why?"
Ddraig's eyes met those of Vali. The girl was gasping for air as she met the eyes of the dragon. "Hi?"
"Lunafreya, what did you do to your body?" Ddraig held her right arm against the wall. The arm looked nothing like her left as it was filled with scales and jewels. It was no longer the arm of a girl but that of a dragon—the right arm of Albion.
"I… sort of mess up?" Vali tried to buy her way out as she showed him a silly smile.
"..." Ddraig was not amused yet; nonetheless, he released her. "Do your parents know?"
"They do, and they are not happy either. They asked me to stay home until they could find a way to hide it from others or revert it to how it was before." Vali said as she massaged her wrist.
"You're an idiot. Why did you give him ownership over your arm Lunafreya? Giving parts of your body to Albion won't end well for you. I wanna smack him for even telling you about this."
"... He said that you would also be mad about it. He said it should be the last thing I should ever do, but I had to try it."
"Why?"
"... Because I want to move on with my training. I want to be stronger. Albion said he would help and train me, but he wouldn't teach me how to use the juggernaut drive. Albion said he would shape me into a great wielder of the divine divide gear, but he claimed that I wouldn't be taught everything."
"Luna, the juggernaut drive is a dangerous tool that I hope you never have to use. It is a curse that should vanish into oblivion, for it only brings pain to the user. It runs on the user's life; if you fall victim to it, your soul will get absorbed into the diving gear. Is not something you should ever use."
"I know, but even then, I need to be stronger. I needed a way to move to the next stage of my training."
"You're a child. There's no need for you to rush." Ddraig looked concerned for the child. "Even if we allowed some of you to join a few missions, we don't expect any of you to grow up into adults from one day to the next."
"But I need to be prepared. If the day comes when Azazel or Shemhazai is in trouble, I want to be able to support them. I don't want my remaining family to die."
Her words touched Ddraig, but he could see something deeper hiding in Lunafreya's eyes. "Who are you trying to kill, Vali?"
"Me? Killing? Who said anything about killing?"
"Lunafreya, Princess of Grigori, I'm not an idiot. I know those eyes. You're hoping to be strong, not just to protect Azazel, Shemhazai, or Grigori but to kill someone. I may know him, but I need to hear it from you. So who are you trying to kill?"
Lunafreya was surprised and cornered by the dragon as he had seen right through her.
"Don't try to escape. Look, I can see why but you shouldn't be the one to do it."
"Why no? He-"
"He's your father. A bastard? Yes. The reason for your terrible early life? Yes. The one behind the death of your mother? Yes. But even with all that, you can't be the one to kill him. If you do, you won't be able to come back. A point of no return, and I don't know if you can do it without losing control over the divine divide gear. Users of the 13 Longinus and other sacred gears should always be careful with their emotions and the reasons behind using those powers. Many former hosts of the booster gear fell victim to similar circumstances as you. They fought for their vengeance, and in the end, they all got absorbed by the gear. So don't be another one on the list, Lunafreya. Leave it to Azazel and Shemhazai to take care of him."
"But I… Mom…" Vali clenches her fists as she lowers her head.
Ddraig kneels in front of Lunafreya. "Look at me." The girl raises her head just a bit. "Azazel and Shemhazai love you as if you were their own blood. They would do anything to protect you. Azazel proved that to me before, so don't throw your life away. I don't want another host of the divine divide to fall victim to its curse. You don't need the Juggernaut drive, you don't need to fight me, and you don't need to become a mindless husk for the sake of vengeance. Live on because that's what your mother wanted. She did everything to save you, so don't betray her sacrifice. Parents don't want to bury their kids, and I know for a fact that your mother doesn't want to meet you in the afterlife for a long while. So promise me that you'll choose life at all costs."
"But-"
"Lunafreya, promise me that you will choose life. I won't allow you to say otherwise. If I have to go into a battlefield filled with enemy forces to get you out alongside your parents, I will make you regret it."
Lunafreya felt the weight of his words. He meant what he said; she couldn't help but accept. "I promise."
Ddraig smiles as he pats her head. "Good girl. Now let's see if I can help this situation. Let's find a place to sit down."
The pair looked around until they found a small terrace on top of a building nearby; both flew until they finally reached it and sat down.
"Host of the booster gear would sacrifice parts of their bodies to obtain dragon parts to make it easier for dragon powers to circulate through their bodies. Eyes, ears, maybe even their legs; even the smallest body part could improve any host's abilities. An arm is a good choice, but the host must realize that the arm is no longer theirs. Albion can take control of that arm anytime due to your actions, so don't be surprised if he does as he pleases."
"I understand; Albion told me so."
"Yet you did it." Ddraig shakes his head. "There's nothing to do but to teach you how to make it look "human" once more. As you know, we dragons can change into humanoid forms, but these forms are fakes. Now that you have an arm of a dragon, you'll have to do the same. I want you to close your eyes and imagine your body as that of Albion." Ddraig says.
Lunafreya closes her eyes and starts to focus.
"Imagine the scales, the tails, the wide wings of the vanishing dragon. Be one with its shape."
Lunafreya relaxes her body and starts to fall into a trance.
Ddraig watches as the bluish flames of Albion start to circulate Lunafreya's right arm. "Very well, Vali. You can feel its form and power, but now you need to imagine that same body changing into your current body. Imagine the big vanishing dragon shrinking in size and taking a humanoid form. Your human form, think about how your body looks. Imagine your arm as that of a human, not a dragon."
Lunafreya continues in a trance as she follows Ddraig's instructions, but instead, she starts to sink deeper into her subconscious.
Ddraig notices how the largest jewel in Vali's right-hand starts to glow. "Albion, what are you doing?"
"Just taking a chance to speak with you while the child is not listening."
"... I have nothing else to say to you. I already told you that I couldn't go back to our rivalry. I can't go back to being that old dragon."
"... I know." Albion takes a slight pause. "I have slowly started to accept it. You don't even act like the Ddraig I used to know anymore. I will tarnish our rivalry if I try to force you to fight this child. You started and ended the rivalry; I have no right to object. I need to know one thing: would someone else ever take my place as your rival?"
"Nobody can ever take that place." Ddraig places his right over his chest. "You were my only rival. The one that pushed me to be a better warrior. I will never forget our fights or our small alliances to defeat common enemies. To me, the Vanishing Dragon, Albion, is my equal. The only one that I will ever acknowledge as my match. Enemies will continue to arise, but not a single one will ever take your place."
Albion was silent for a moment. "... That puts me at ease, my former rival. I thank you for those words. I ask only for a favor. Continue to aid this child in the future, for I will ask the same of her. Vali is a good child, but I fear that not even my words would be able to reach her if that time comes."
"I will stop her. I promise that. Just prevent her from using the Juggernaut Drive; that accursed power shall remain sealed."
"I will do so; I leave the rest to you, Ddraig." Albion goes silent as Vali regains consciousness. Her arm regains its human shape as she opens her eyes.
"I did it?" Vali asks in shock.
"You did. Good job. Now stop sacrificing parts of your body for power. The more you sacrifice, the harder it will be to turn back as your body will no longer be that of Lunafreya, and instead, it will be that of the Vanishing Dragon or closely resembling Albion's old body."
"You're not sure?"
"Nobody ever got the chance to offer their whole body. The most I saw was 90%, and that host died shortly after. I forbid you from ever texting it out."
"I know. I won't try it. Although having a tail and horns sounds cool, I don't think Azazel and Shemhazai will be happy about it."
"No, they won't, trust me. Anyways, get up. I came to visit someone while I had time." Ddraig says as he stands up.
"Who?" Vali asks as she does the same.
"The only being beside my sword that hungers my blood; I want to see how Elmenhilde is doing."
"Oh, you came to visit her. Follow me then." Vali spreads her wings and takes off with a smile on her face.
Ddraig follows after her.
A few minutes afterward.
The pair arrived at a laboratory that had fallen angels and devils heavily guarded.
"Past that gate is her lab and room. She doesn't come out unless Azazel or Shemhazai asks her to. Karnstein-san seems focused on her job right now." Vali said.
"Is she eating?"
"Ask the guards. I lack the full report in regards to her daily life."
"That's alright. Thanks for the help either way. Tell your parents that I will see them at another time. I'm planning to visit the Sitri and Phenex domains after this. I have the time now, so I should use it while I can."
"I'll let them know." Vali stretches her arms and hugs Ddraig.
"Huh?"
"Thank you for being my friend. Is good to know that I don't have to fight you in the future."
Ddraig smiles as he hugs her as well. "I will always have your back, so don't hesitate to ask for help. Now run along."
Vali releases him. "Goodbye, Ddraig."
Ddraig watched as the child ran away before he approached the gate. "How is she?"
The guards salute him before one of them answers. "Ms. Karnstein has been rather peaceful, although she occasionally screams when frustrated. She has eaten most food but has rejected any blood besides yours. Seems that she won't accept any other."
"I see. Ask one of the nurses to come around to get some of my blood. I'll try to keep her supply fresh and as regular as possible. If Elmenhilde is the only one that can make the remaining vampires on earth join us. I prefer to avoid a fight with them since they have been calm and haven't attacked humans for blood." Ddraig says.
"That would be the best result for everyone. Go right in, sir. I will call a nurse for you." The fallen angel says.
Ddraig nods and walks up to the gate. A scanner analyzes him before the gate opens for him. As Ddraig made her way in, he noticed towers of documents nicely packed into a few tables while on the left side of the room, several glass containers held small pieces of strange dried flesh.
"Oh my, is that you, my Apple of Life?" Elmehilde's head popped from behind her desk, filled with documents.
"Call me Ddraig. The term Apple of Life makes me feel that you're trying to consume me."
"But I am drinking your blood for sustenance?"
"It doesn't matter, Elmenhilde. Use my name. I prefer not to feel that you see me as a piece of steak."
"I apologize if I made you feel like that. But Apple of Life is a term my family started to use to refer to those that would provide us with food to survive. If you die tomorrow, I will follow after unless I figure out how to revive our old home." Elmenhilde stood up from her seat before she made a reverence to Ddraig.
"I can understand it, but please use my name."
"Alright, as you please, Ddraig. So what brings you here to my lab?"
"You need to eat, and I'd like to learn a bit about your work. I'm a bit curious about your research and its goals."
Elmenhilde claps her hands in joy quickly as she grabs his hand. "I'm more than happy to show you. Come and take a seat. The blood can wait." She drags him closer to the glass containers before she pulls a chair for him.
"Thanks." Ddraig sits down.
"Well, I'll give you a small story of our creation. Vampires are creations of the primordial vampirs Dracul Tepes and Carmilla of the Red. Both were deities that matched each other's powers and abilities, which led to their union. As primordial gods created their separate realms, our vampirs did the same and created a realm of immense charm. The Realm of the Never Ending Eclipse is the original home of the vampires. A land showers by the rays of a black sun that get replaced by a crimson moon that always sits on top of each other. Our old home had rivers of crimson "waters" similar to the blood of humans which ran through wide valleys while in the center of our land, a tall tree with orange leaves and black bark would produce these." Elmenhilde signals the flesh inside the glass containers. "These are the remains of the last Blood Apples that served as food for the vampire race."
"Blood Apples?"
"Yes, that is their name. Their shape was akin to that of a heart-shaped peach. Their textures were akin to a fleshy strawberry, and I can't describe their flavor, for I never got the pleasure of trying one. My family's work has been restoring these fruits and our realm. We have fought an uphill battle for centuries as we sought to recreate the fruit. This fruit would solve the vampire crisis forever as there would no longer be a need to seek blood from humans or other races."
"A food source to feed your people?"
"Yes. A food source that would allow us to reclaim our honor as descendants of the vampirs. Many of us have become creatures that crave blood like rabid beasts, but we were never meant to be that. The current vampires' diet is an act of survival that pains many of us."
Elmehilde's face turns sad. The girl approaches the glass containers.
"These fruits will put us closer to returning to our true selves. My siblings won't fear death anymore, nor will my people fear hunger if I can achieve my initial goal."
Ddraig listened to her words in silence and noticed the hopeful expression on her face. "Can you tell me about the current state of that realm?"
"Our old home has become a putrid wasteland after our sacred vampirs die on the battlefield of the previous war. The land's flora rotted away, releasing hazardous gasses into the air. Our supply of "water" dried up alongside the tall tree that acted as its source. The tree is akin to what Gaia is to the earth; once the tree died, the realm went alongside it. I had tried exploring the tree before but lacked the necessary resources to survive for long periods inside the realm. The gasses burn our bodies from the inside, and if we stay for too long without protection, we will rot away like the tree."
"I see. You hope to recreate the fruit with the help of the alliance to show that there's hope that we could restore your old home together."
"Yes, my dear Ddraig. If I could provide my queen with such a fruit, it would show her that my gamble was right. I wish to see my people return to our sacred land once more. No longer fearing the sun shining on top of the earth nor fearing hunger. I wish to see it back to its glory."
Her eyes shone hopefully as she reached out to the sky as if trying to capture a fruit with her hands.
"What about what happens after vampires get their sacred land back? Would you people isolate each other once you had regained your realm?" Ddraig asks the girl.
Elmenhilde shakes her head. "That would be impossible and idiotic. We have mixed our blood with humans and other races already. Our descendants are the bridge between our worlds. Our queen's sister is a dhampir and highly respected within our faction. Although we didn't plan for them, dhampirs have blessed us. While we sleep during the day, our hybrid children protect us. They are the ones that keep a connection with the outside world and keep us fed. Yes, we could have rejected them like the Tepes faction, but to the Carmilla, faction dhampirs have been our biggest blessing. Nothing would change if we were to return to the sacred land, as dhampirs would continue to be born amongst our faction. The blessed children that walk on the yellow sun."
A smile forms on his face after hearing such words; The dragon assures himself that her words are true as she is not showing signs of lies in her sentences.
"Did you find my description funny?"
"No, it just gave me hope for the future of the dhampirs. I rescued two of them from the Tepes faction some time ago, and I have been raising them as my siblings since then. Hearing that the Carmilla faction cherishes their descendants puts me at ease."
Elmenhilde claps her hands once more in joy. "I did not know such a thing. Would you bring them to me once? I would love to meet them and maybe get some of their blood for examination. Dhampirs are such amazing blessings in our lives. They take the best parts of both parents while ignoring most of our weaknesses. I'm always amazed at how each dhampir differs completely from the previous one. No two dhampirs are the same."
"I will gladly bring them one day. Anyway, we talked enough. I feel it is time for you to feed already." Ddraig offers his wrist.
Elmenhilde nods. "I appreciate your openness to offering your blood. Now if you excuse me." Elmenhilde sits on his lap and grabs his wrists.
Ddraig is taken aback by such an action. "Elmenhilde-"
"Sush Ddraig. Yes, I realize I'm sitting in your lap, which is not very ladylike, but I wish not to feed while standing. I want to eat in peace, so be a dear and allow me to eat. I reflected on the last time and realized that I bit too hard and made a mess. I will make sure that doesn't happen from now on." Elmenhilde licks his wrists before she slowly sinks her fangs into his flesh.
*Bloodborne Ost- Gherman's Theme*
Ddraig feels less pain than before as the girl starts to drink his blood. "Such a dedicated lady to her craft. You're one curious vampire Elmenhilde."
At least two minutes go by until Elmenhilde finally releases his wrist. She cleans the injury with her tongue and puts a band-aid afterward to prevent any mess. After taking care of it, she finally allows herself to sigh and relax into the chest of Ddraig. "Such an exquisite taste. My lips can't believe to this day that such a wonderful flavor exists just for me. Please don't disappear from my side, Welsh Dragon, until I achieve my goal. Until my people are finally free from the blood."
Elmenhilde closes her eyes as she takes a small nap after her meal.
Ddraig smirks as he admires her porcelain face and red lips before carefully caressing her head, allowing her to enjoy the moment.
A nurse comes in and finds the pair in such a curious situation. "Should I come back at another time?"
"Is alright. Come and take my blood. This girl must be tired after pushing herself so far for the future of her race." Ddraig offers his other arm to the nurse.
The nurse nods and starts to work on collecting the blood.
Minutes passed, and Elmenhilde didn't wake up, not even when the nurse finished her work. Ddraig saw the time on the wall and decided it was time for him to leave. So he carefully lifted the girl in his arms as if she was his bride and followed a small passage in the back of the run.
The passage was dark initially, but as he walked inside, the lights came on—a crystal coffin lay at the end of the room.
Ddraig made his way to the coffin while ensuring not to disturb the sleeping beauty in his arms.
As he reached the coffin, it opened up as if by magic. Red roses adorned its inside, and he also noticed a few small photographs on the side. His eyes see Elmehilde, two younger kids, an older man, and a lady with several similarities with Elmenhilde. "Family is always a good driving force. I'll help you in any way I can, Elmenhilde. Rest, for now, sleeping beauty."
Ddraig placed her body into the coffin before it closed itself. Then, as he walked away, the lights turned off behind him one by one, yet at the last one; his ears detected a small voice.
"Thank you for your trust."
The dragon smiled and continued his path.
Several minutes afterward.
As Ddraig made his way out of Grigori, his eyes captured the silhouettes of a curious pair that seemed to be waiting for him.
"Grayfia and Rossweisse never expected such a pair," Ddraig said as he approached the duo.
Grayfia bowed to him alongside Rossweisse. "Rossweisse-sama has been visiting places as she awaits the preparations of the mission to be completed. She needed a guide, and I offered myself."
"Grayfia-san has been a welcoming guide to me," Rossweisse said.
"Grayfia is, after all, the ultimate maid. Anyways, you needed something from me?" Ddraig asks.
"I wanted to talk to you. I read many things about the famous dragon which stole from Odin and evaded capture, but myths and records can't help me now. I want to know the Welsh Dragon in the flesh and know if I can trust you. One can learn more about the person by interacting with them." Rossweisse says.
"Understandable; I have places I hope to visit today, but I'll welcome some company. Follow me." Ddraig spreads his wings.
Both girls do the same, and together the three take off into the sky.
"May I ask where we are going?" Rossweisse asks.
"Phenex clan first and then the Sitris. I have to offer my thanks to the Phenex, and I have personal business with the Sitris." Ddraig says.
"So the rumors are true. Serafall has finally flourished. Good for her." Grayfia says in a low tone.
Rossweisse seems curious about her words while Ddraig smiles.