A/N: Shorter than I'd like, but I've a doctor's appointment so I'll be gone for most of the day.
As stated in an earlier post, Scarlet Vow, Forget Me Not, and One With Spirits have been moved back in the update rota soon. They're not all that popular compared to the rest.
But onto other matters.
As my fifteen year anniversary on this site draws near, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. The recent earthquake in Turkey/Syria serves as a terrible example. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
No questions this time. I think I've kept you waiting long enough..
So here we go. As always the continuation of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this story, and all others.
I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact. Alright, then. As ever, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
Once more, time and feedback will determine if this remains a story.
In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!
Henceforth, the titles will have "Scarlet" in their names.
"So what if I can't feel? I still remember it. In the name of that memory, I will always extend a helping hand to those in need. Enemy or ally, stranger or friend.
...you're making a strange face. I'm sure it sounds a little confusing. Try thinking of it like this, then.
All children leave home sooner or later. The joy, is to watch them fly."
~?
Scarlet Journey
Malenia followed Naruto like a lost puppy.
He found a bitter black irony it all; if only because he'd thought himself done with this sort of thing. Life, it seemed, had a twisted sense of humor. After all, he had sworn long ago that he wouldn't involve himself in the affairs of gods or goddess anymore. Furiously. Loudly. Vehemently, when it became clear that few -if any!- appreciated his well-intentioned attempts to rectify the wrongs in the Lands Between. As he soon learned, the gods could be petty, childish creatures when they didn't get their way.
Children, the lot of them. Unruly brats. Someone ought to give 'em a spanking.
The Greater Will and its kin couldn't hope to best him in a fair fight. Hell, none of them dared try.
Instead they banded together behind his back; pooled their might, and cursed him when his guard was down.
Wasn't even a particularly powerful or potent curse at that; the hex on him didn't restrict his ability to fight or move as he pleased. It just...inconvenienced him. He couldn't feel anything these days. Not pain, not the wind on his face, nor the touch of a lover with their gentle embrace. Even food held no taste for him. It was such a petty, childish thing to do, and he couldn't kill those responsible for fear of being stuck like this. Nearly all the Outer Gods had pooled their power to blight him save one. Spiteful bastards. He'd make them pay for tat someday.
When Godfrey finally fled the Capital so had he; in a fit of exasperation he'd walked away from it all.
Yet here he was now, walking down this dirt road, having taken a little godling under his wing. A girl fresh from exile, damaged, and so very...full of questions. The badlands were no place for a child. She must become a warrior. A small part of him wept for that, for while he could no longer feel, that didn't preclude his emotions. There were only two demigod girls with red hair in the lands between that he knew of, and only one guilty of the crime of fratricide. He pitied this "Millicent" because if she was who he thought she was...then she had a long road ahead.
"You're cursed too," her voice at his elbow tugged him back to reality as surely as the hand tugging his arm. "Aren't you? Like me?"
He looked down as they waled, mildly nonplussed by her inquiry and how close it struck to home. "What makes you say that?
Malenia's brow furrowed. "Back there, when the men...struck you. You said you couldn't feel anything."
He'd let that slip? Sloppy, Naruto, sloppy. He chided himself for the mistake. Numbness had made him careless. Reckless, too. He never would've taken a risk like that before the Curse. Nowadays battle meant nothing to him; nothing could kill him, and he couldn't feel anything; not the harshest of pain and poisons, nor the sweetest kiss of a warm body spooned against his.
...sir?"
"Don't worry about it." he ruffled her hair, drawing a fearsome pout from the child. "Just because I can't "feel" doesn't mean I don't feel, ya know."
Malenia tilted her head, golden eyes regarding him quizzically. "I do not understand."
"Its the nature of a thing that matters. Not it its form."
"That makes even less sense!"
The place he was taking her...it was not for the faint of the heart.
Neither were the badlands he supposed, but he had little choice in the matter now...
He hoped she would survive.
(.0.0.0.)
All was not well in Leyndell.
Marika could feel the anger of her people, the discontent of her family, simmering just under the surface. They were furious; not just with her, but with what had become of Miquella and Malenia. Two blessed Empyreans lost in an instant, one to death, the other sealed and sentence to exile. Was it any wonder then, that there was talk of rebellion? She'd seen the outrage in Ranni's eye. Godwyn's silence spoke volumes. Rykard and Radahn hadn't said a word to her since. Battle lines were even now being drawn, sides being chosen.
And yet the Greater Will -and through it, Radagon- insisted upon moving on; acting as though nothing had happened.
Even now he stood before her, seemingly uncaring of the missive in his hand.
"We need not concern ourselves with this." he cast the guard's report aside. "If the girl was foolish enough to see the badlands, then she is surely dead by now. She will not survive the horrors there."
Marika held her tongue; if only because she knew otherwise. She baited the hook instead. "What are you suggesting...?"
He turned to face her fully. "Our numbers have been thinned. We must cull this dissent before it takes root."
Silence stretched between them. Was he suggesting-no, surely not. Even he wasn't so foolish.
"Are you asking me for another child...?
Radagon pause. And then. "I would not say no to such. We must replace those we have lost."
"Our son is not three days dead!" Marika nearly killed him then and there, consequences be damned. "Our daughter is gone! And you would just have me forget them?!"
"I would have us move on and prosper-
Her brow twitched.
CRACK.
Marika's hammer whistled out and struck Radagon square in the skull, cracking his face and sending him spinning to the floor. He took the blow in stoic silence. She wanted to slay him. Bash his head in with her hammer, consequences be damned. She could do it. She was stronger than him. The Greater Will would punish her for it surely, but she was certain she could kill him before "it" intervened.
She wanted to. So very badly.
...be gone from my sight." she hissed. "I will speak no more of this today."
Radagon stat up, rubbing his chin. Golden blood sluiced between his fingers. "The Greater Will dictates-
Her weapon cracked out again, fracturing her other half's chin and knocking him flat onto his back. From there she dropped her heavy tool onto his chest, its great weight pinning him where he lay. Marika planted a foot on his throat and pushed down, drawing a low wheeze from his windpipe.
"I will "dictate" my hammer into your heart if you do not leave this room."
Credit where it was due, Radagon didn't dare challenge her further. A shame. She would've liked an excuse to kill him. He dragged himself upright and limped out the chamber. Marika slammed the door shut behind him, making sure to catch his heel with it as she did. His annoyed grunt was music to her ears, but her relief proved painfully short-lived. She leaned against the wall and heaved a sigh. It was only hidden knowledge that stilled her hand.
She'd received a report of her own from Malekith, her loyal hound. He had done as asked.
Malenia had been steered into the arms of the one person who would protect her.
She could sense her in the Badlands, far from here.
Her daughter lived. She lived! So long as she held her tongue and kept the Greater Will and Radagon distracted...little Malenia would have time grow. Time to flourish, come into her own. Perhaps she might even break the seal placed on her and grow into her true worth as a goddess...
She would return one day...and then...
...then there would be vengeance.
It was the least she was owed.
(.0.0.0.)
"What is this place? Why are we here? Where are we going?"
"In order?" Naruto hummed and shouldered his pack as they walked past another crumbling corpse. He didn't miss the way her gaze lingered on the fallen beast. "The home of an old friend, one helped me when I was down on my luck. Second, I'm hoping he'll help you. And third...we're already here."
"Is that why we walked all the way out here?" Malenia looked past him, consider the hillside before them. "In the heart of the badlands...?"
Naruto didn't answer her. Words were wasted here. Instead he plucked a horn from his belt and blew into it. A single, sharp note traveled over the wastes.
Something answered, just over the hell ahead of them. A long flat note from another horn.
"Good," he hummed. "Seems they're still here."
Malenia blinked, quite puzzled. "They...?"
He ushered her up the hill with a smile.
The moment they crested it, someone dropped out the sky.
They didn't so much fall as they did plummet, landing in a mighty crash before them. Dust and smoke kicked up from the sudden impact, blasting their hair back. Malenia balked as she found herself staring at an absolute giant of a man; a behemoth of a brute even now rising from a pointed crouch before them. His great bulk cast them in his shadow-the poor girl barely squeaked and cowered a little more in his presence. A mighty ax creaked ominously in his grasp, gripped in both hahds.
"You return at last." his voice was a low rumble, so much that she hid behind him. "What kept you?"
Naruto nudged the little demigoddess out. "Ran into a bit of a trouble...among other things."
"Oh?" the warrior noticed Malenia a moment late. Frowned now. "So it would seem...
Malenia found her voice -her courage!- at last. "That lion on your back...are you...?"
"I am." the man rumbled. "Once great Godfrey now Hoarah Loux in name, if not form. And you are...?"
She firmed up her lip and lifted her chin. "M-Millicent."
...I see." Godfrey saw right through the lie but didn't call her on it, bless him. Laughter rumbled across the plains. "Welcome to the Badlands, child."
Malenia managed a tremulous nod and sketched an awkward curtsy. "I-I thank you for your hospitality, Elden Lord."
Laughter rumbled across the plains. "Ha! I am a Lord no longer. Lets get you some food, shall we?
It was but the beginning of the journey to come.
Her vow continued.
A/N: Aaaaand scene.
Can't wait for that Elden Ring DLC.
Do you want this to be a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.
So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly? And have some previews -potential blot bin things- that I'm working on.
(Previews)
"Your father speaks well of you. Even if he is cursed in his own way.
The very word caused her pain. Father? She had no father.
"He is not my father. He is my mentor. That is all."
"Methink thou doth protest too much, child."
Malenia kicked Godfrey's leg.
The former lord laughed. "Ha! I would expect no less of Marika's daughter...
Malenia found herself frowning at this strange girl. "...who are you?"
The girl smiled. "Nepheli Loux. Pleased to meet you."
"Fight as hard or long as you like, won't make a difference." he dodged swipe, blue eyes flashing. "There's one thing you oughta know before this ends."
He stepped in, let the weapon bit into his shoulder. Grinned, now.
"I. Can't feel. ANY OF THIS."
She hit the dirt.
"Again." he nudged her up. "You're better than this."
Malenia hauled herself to her feet. Her knees wavered. Still, she stood. Took her stance.
"Thatta girl."
"You will always be a monster, Naruto.
"Ha! Where I come from that's a compliment. I'm a monster alright. Monstrously strong." He stood. Cracked his neck. His wounds closed as they looked on. He spread his arms once with that same, kindly smile. "Care to try again?"
EDIT: As ever, the Embers rule remains: If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I' won't be able to continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; holidays are HERE and basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore.
My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact...
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!
Warm regards,
~Nz.
R&R~!