A grisly cry of ferocity rumbled across the deck, the clean steel of a gauntlet blade carving deep within the scaled flesh of humanoid lizard; dropping it lifeless to the boarded ground. The remaining group scoured the ghostly vessel, but all that appeared was the ribboned pieces of the daemons that nestled upon its spacious structure. As ivory sank through the floorboards - staining its pristeen material - Velvet turned to address the uncouth pirate who's steps creaked across the noble ship. "Is it done Eizen?" she questioned hurriedly, the innocent aura of the young malak hovering at her side.
The man nodded confidently, dusting his gloved palms free of the blackened smudges over them. "We're set. It also serves as a good signal for the Van Eltia," he mentioned on the side. Saving them from taking another step in their arduous plan. From above, flailed the loosened white sails that soared along the oceanic breeze, and down came the figure with spark of gold.
"It pays to be thorough," Sarid mused with a mild nod.
Back among the chambered mountain underground, was the deathly silence of a finished duel. Rokurou's twin blades flicked downwards in his grip, as he heaved a disappointed sigh during the shink of his blades entering his sash. "That was about the saddest practice I've ever had..." the yaksha groaned with a flex of his shoulder. Suddenly, his lone eye of apricot hardened with conviction. "...But at least I learned where he is." The door creaked open, and the samurai readjusted his shoulder piece in practice, until the familiar clinking of chains relayed her presence. Rokurou's rough expression lit up upon catching the sight of his four allies entering the lacerated chamber once again. "Yo! The Abbey's my goal now, too. Now I can do what I have to do and repay my debt at the same time," he explained with a cheerful grin.
However, the unmistakable scent of harsh iron caught the ravenette's keen nostrils first, but the abrupt gasp of surprise coming from the young boy steered her gaze towards the perpetrator, his wariness not alone under the watchful grimace of concerned cerulean at his side. A beaten corpse, garnished with the practiced cuts of a warrior and doused with the common drawl of death; lay headless upon the ruined cobbled stone. His once glimmering helmet of prideful golds and the engravings of a praetor, gashed and caved upon his proud robes. "Is this your doing?" she questioned with a cross of her arms.
"What? Is there a problem?" Rokurou confusingly enunciated, hands poised upon his hips in neutral tone. The killing was expected, but its brutality no less brow raising, as the samurai stood still; blood governing the veils of purple that draped among his cleanly whites and warm shades.
"No," Velvet simply replied, while a hum of thought wandered from the rear.
"A fine companion for the reaper," Eizen finally spoke, no less impressed by the yaksha's willingness to clear his way.
Number Two stayed mindlessly silent, too inexperienced to properly gouge an opinion of the beastly killing. However, all that opposed such brutish dispelling of life, stayed silent amongst the turmoil of acceptance. His innocent white that he so warmly presented over his features didn't appear so innocent any longer.
BOOM!
Sarid flinched. But, the others made no visible reaction to the eruption of flames soon to smother the once great battleship, and reduce it to useless embers of burned ash among teal waters. But, even as he grew to allow this group's antics to go on, he was no less vulnerable to such dispassion among the crude destruction of innocent life. Her watchful eye always remained on him, waiting for a slip up to consume the blaze of potential strength wallowing within.
Although, the dark hint of a wry snort before him that dissipated into a clear of her throat cut his train of thought.
Velvet frowned at the notion she let slip, but instead brought her wandering attention back to the giddy samurai that spun on his heel before them. "Everything's ready. Let's get our gate on," he excitedly joked with a nod. She grunted with annoyance, exasperated, as they began their trek back through the beast-ridden halls of the fallible 'impenetrable' Vortigen. Heading back through the winding chambers and oozing bodies of all that stood in their way - making sure not to leave their power 'unused' - the group found the once drastic numbers of daemons dwindling as they sawed through the forces of darkness with an unwitting lack of mercy. Soon enough, the splayed out steps they once climbed ran downwards into the familiar crossroad room. But, while the majority immediately stepped over to the great metal doors that barred their freedom, only one noticed a lack of a body still dropped amongst the room's dusted emptiness. Not important.
Slamming the key into the many locks that protruded to seal the important entryway, they fell with a clatter to stone pointlessly, and the steel gave way to present their goal. Blinding sunlight invaded once again, and the stunning creeping of dusty clouds trembled along the heaving of metal. Scratching at his relentless black markings, the samurai stepped forward with pleased chuckle. "All right, it's open!" he cheered with a grin. Velvet pushed through, and just before they could continue their aggressive venture amongst rallied soon-to-be corpses...
Boom!
A chorus of profound strength rang out along the endless depths of the sea, its explosive power ringing out across the vast dilapidated fortress. "What was that?!" Velvet demanded alarmingly, fist balled in warning as her orbs roved over to the expectant pirate.
"Cannons...!" the half-malak added in warning, jumping out the door into the chilling open air.
Even still, Eizen's features sharpened in dire seriousness. "It's the Van Eltia signalling their approach. Hurry!" he shouted sternly, his boots soon pounding against stone to sprint towards the gate controls. Sarid and Rokurou followed after like the wind.
"All right. We'll pop the gate open for her," the daemon asserted as she began to bound after them. "Quickly!" she cried in earnest to the still processing malak left behind.
"All right. Quickly!" Number Two repeated hurriedly, before actually deciding to dash after them as fast as he could.
In the distance - but much closer now - was the great sea gate that once had them trapped within the border they desired to escape from. And, greeting them along the cobblestone pathway they now tread upon, was a line of various spluttering daemons that snarled and convulsed in feral desperate hunger. The group's charge would not yield at the front of these salivating beasts. Eizen was at their behest, racing towards their adversaries as a colony of bats whirled in like razor blades. He grunted, foot smashing against the stone brashly as they darted towards him. Until, smack! As the daemons soared to tear him apart, earth sprouted mysteriously from the very floor they sprinted upon, and the monsters crashed right into its glimmering amber surface. Knuckles cracking in anticipation, the pirate threw his great fist behind him, before slamming it harshly into his arte. It erupted outwards in a veil of grave shards, ripping apart the bats that sought to feast on his flesh. "Step aside, or die!" he sharply provoked, eyeing the horde that still remained.
Whoosh
Valiant wind dispersed, and the glare of perfectly tempered steel slithered through the air like a pouncing cobra with fangs of lightning. Sarid blitzed past the grounded malak, feet pacing with immense speeds as his hand flicked out; a trio of knives lashing out from nothingness that slipped into the pumping throats of snarling lizardmen. Despite their catastrophic injuries, they clambered forward in a mess of spewing liquid and hostile growls. The half-malak stretched his arms with a click, tightening the headband that still withstood the test of time under his shifting blades of snow. A savage hooked weapon rose wildly, suddenly slashing down in order to carve the man in two. The only blood the blade would taste was that of the wielder, as a kunai twisted deep into its ribcage from behind; licks of thunder addressing its seized tongue before vanishing with the splitting of daemonic flesh. "Don't forget about me!" he proudly announced, until the flurry of vibrancy coalesced within his gaze.
Rokurou chortled, flourishing his amber daggers confidently. "Gotta work harder than that, you two!" the samurai arrogantly goaded, until the first duo of lizardmen set their sights upon him. He smirked. Leaping forward, his lone eye of crimson blazed, and he struck true in a whirling spin of metal; casting a cacophony of bloodied catastrophe across crinkling armour that failed before his strength. He dashed among a clatter of lifeless bodies, his bloodthirsty grin of excitement flashing through the chaos. As he split an axe of resilent steel in two, lightning arced, and his challenge was accepted.
"Too slow," the half-malak mocked as he flipped in the biting winds, until he landed upon a beast of luminescent green; hand wide open as a whirling orb of azure howled within his palm. The energy slipped between his poised fingers, and the orb burrowed deep within his foe's skin of pulsing verdant.
Fwhooom!
Rock arose with a crash of power, and the culminating dust kicked up while bloodied flesh split apart among the abrupt eruption of blue. Any nearby adversaries scrambled back upon instinct, as the flicker of golden electricity sprung across the ground like a latching web. Sarid proudly huffed through the heaving breaths that he sharply inhaled, the flutter of a kimono approaching with a grin. "Nice one!" Rokurou amended with a chuckle of amusement. "If you wanted to challenge me so badly, you should've just said so."
The half-malak rose with a cough and a mild scoff of sarcasm, "Don't sell yourself so highly. Just thought I'd show you how fast I am," he tiredly explained with a smirk.
"Well, don't expend all your energy when doing it," a voice coldly reprimanded from the steadily vanishing cloud of rubble. Velvet stomped forward, arms crossed, "You have no control over what power you do have. Stop pushing it to prove a point," she brashly snarled with a glower. From around them, a few remaining growls of violent grit grew in waves around them, and from the blinding sun came a darting bird-like shape. The daemonic bat bore its fangs with an animalistic cry, diving towards the girl wreathed in black.
Snap!
Until its neck was snapped within an instant, having swooped right into her palm that caught its insignificant form, writhing desperately. Its throat was feeble in her fierce grip, and she dropped it to the ground without a moment's wait. "We don't have time for this, let's go!" she ordered, and leapt after the fleeing figure of Eizen that clambered up the ladder with purpose, while Sarid's daggers dotted around the landscape all vanished and materialised back in his waiting hands.
~~~
The group eventually all reached a great room after climbing the ladders that lead to it, now connected to the giant arch that hung just above the tremendous sea gate. Entering through the small gate of wood that belated their entry, the stuffy inside coated in neglected disarray was the same as any other. However, what caught their immediate attention, was the large lone switch that sat undisturbed in the corner of this room. It's bronze - potentially rusted - surface gleamed in the dim fire that lined the walls all the same, and the waiting lever positioned forcefully to one side. Velvet's eyes carefully scoured its blemished metal shell, their target for freedom lay before them suspiciously sat bare. "So, this opens the gate," Number Two murmured as he compared its grand size to himself. Soon finding that the lever defeated him by a few inches.
"One side, yes," Eizen revealed with a low tone. "The gate has two giant doors, side-by-side, with matching levers to open each."
"Makes sense," the samurai accepted with a nod of confirmation.
"Unfortunately..." the half-malak groaned with a narrow of his eyes and a elongated sigh.
Velvet approached the lever and tugged it to the side, chains grinding against one another as they creaked from behind the vast walls, mechanisms grumbling with reluctance as a click resounded as the lever reached its place. "Right, let's find the other device," she stated while turning on her heel. At her behest, they turned to begin their search with the ladder that led to the top of the grand gate. Each steadily clambering up with a hint of speed in their movements; she knocked open the trapdoor that signalled their exit. The wooden boards splintered as they rained from above, and the wallowing winds of the deep blue kissed their cheeks with the sharpness of ice. Mild chatter echoed behind her, but even the enhanced senses of a daemon like her failed to pick up there unimportant musings. 'Something about a "good view"? Whatever,' she grumbled in her mind. Stalking ahead, the sheer scale at which the oversaw the fortress was exhilarating - the very tip of this gate vastly trumping that of the bridge they crossed over - and far beyond in the very shrill teal horizon; a chaotic battle raged as their desired method of escape was soon to arrive.
While her mind was stormed by thoughts, her instincts took reign against the few adversaries that lumbered around from such a height. Even without such complex methods of attack, her unyielding march still cleared away as her allies battled behind. Orbs of gold searing a glare once again, Velvet's metal boots sang as she twisted and struck a lizardman across the sleek marbled top, the crunching of its bones as it tumbled like sickly music to her ears. Clenching her bandaged fist, she hummed in thought - glancing back at the two allies that constantly shifted between rocking their enemies with a string of unarmed martial artes - and clicked her tongue. Another humanoid lizard charged her mindlessly, and as the blade shrieked when it spliced the air, a thick clang rang out as it impacted her vambrace. She balled her fist and gritted her teeth.
Slam!
Smashed it right into the snarling face of the daemon before her, sending it reeling back as she stalked after it. The lizard could only glance up until its face was bashed in again, making it splutter in pain as it fell to a single knee; weapon clattering on the ground. Velvet narrowed her eyes in interest as it dazingly stumbled about with its tongue flicking out incessantly. It was pitiful really. Its long red tongue flailed out one more time, before she pounced.
Riiiiip!
Her left hand siezed it's moist flesh, and pulled. Right hand constrained around its large throat, ivory splattered out upon her unblemished pale skin, and the daemon contorted with disturbing ferocity; its dying breaths upon fountains of vermillion. Dropping the slicked pulpisating muscle with a dismissive look, she continued her trudge to the opposing trapdoor that contained the final switch. Far behind, the remaining four watched in stupefication, colour having drained from the lone half-breed's face.
The faded rays of flame highlighted her fall as she lept down from the thrown open hatch, the collection of more following behind as she searched the foggy structure. '...There,' she announced silently, catching sight of that dingy shine among a brazened metal. Reducing the splotches of red upon her cheeks into smudges, she approached and immediately wrenched it back to the choir of clunking mechanics. And as the final chain chugged along into place, an enormous roar of displaced water funneled throughout the fortress, the sloshing of seawater dispersing among the separating of the inescapable sea gate. As if a beast had announced its presence, the gigantic embroidered metal wall bellowed out as it pushed against the strength of the sea, stilling upon connection with the great stone formations. It was time. "And it's open!" The daemoness announced as the lever clinked into place, Eizen briskly walking forward as the time they had was cut ever shorter.
"Let's meet up with the Van Eltia. Back to the docks," he asserted with a conforming nod, wringing his wrists to loosen them for any final daemonic blockades that may stand in their way. They swiftly manuevered around the forgotten resources dotted around the room, and ascended back up the ladder to prepare the marathon back to the docks. However, as the integral deep blue filled their gaze, one knew something was amiss upon setting foot on that roof.
"Wait. Daemonblight!" Sarid hurriedly gasped out, as the figure hued by the rolling mountains stumbled forward uncomfortably.
The group stopped on high alert, the encroaching man gripping his gleaming chestplate with painful ferocity; flakes of malicious violet emanating from his gradually paling skin. The knight that Eizen had dealt with crumpled onto his knees, heaving gouts of crimson upon the smooth stone as the miasma raged like a wild beast. "I can't let you do that..." he rasped crudely, overcome by the burden of extreme emotion. "...This is my... This is my..." he grimly breathed out.
Velvet's eyes sharpened aggressively.
"THIS IS MY FORTRESS!"
The daemonblight chaoticly flared around him, grisly bones crunching and snapping as his insides were scrambled and torn at the seams. His shouts were overcome by deathly bellows of a unimaginable monster, clawing out of the depths of his soul as the body melded into a great daemon.
And Number Two wondered ahead without a care in the world, eyes caught up in the amazing shimmer of the golden compass.
Blazing red eyes narrowed hungrily, and the foe bounded towards the unaware boy. Velvet's orbs of aurous widened in a sudden spout of dismayed dread, and as her fingers sprung out to grip any part of the malak; the lingering sense of soft material only graced her fingertips. The young malak spun in fear, his blonde hair shuddering in the wind that carried death. Blood matted blonde could fill her vision at any moment. And, no matter how much she pushed her reach to get a hold of his unblemished robe, her palm remained alone in its dry isolation. Viridescent eyes hued by the longing for the endless adventure and limitless cerulean sea.
Whoosh!
Crack!
A spark of auric lightning and a cry of pain. Number Two was flung away from the imminent danger, the sailing form of the gleaming artifact disappeared under the beast's stampede. However, as she quickly snapped her vision to the young boy, the malak sat still and unharmed; completely locked on to whatever remained behind her. Velvet rapidly turned to catch sight of the immense danger, until what lay before her caused a well of wrath to gouge the heart. Sarid was collapsed off to the side of the growling beast - left shoulder shattered with pooling scarlet - eyes of bright cerulean staring daggers at the daemon that could bear down on him at any moment. But luckily enough, it turned with a roar of anger, it's pupils of deep crimson boring right into the pirate that glared back with even more ferocity. Velvet seethed a savage snarl as she finally got a good look at the disgusting adversary.
It's pulpus enlarged wreath of plum skin horribly encompassed it's volumous stomach that strangely shifted as it dragged upon the ground. Its lower body was completely deformed, lodged deep within an vertical engraved wall of durable stone that functioned as a stiff but sturdy replacement. To drag along its unpleasant figure, two muscular arms were broadly strung out into meticulously hardened stumps to crush prey. Lastly, to finalise its horrendous appearance - fit for a failure - was its embroidered sludgy face covered with a sharp mask of accented stone and gold that scowled with daggered teeth and crimson eyes.
However, no matter its sculpted features of horror, it could not match the rage-filled gaze that assaulted its mindless instincts. Velvet growled again, feeling a warmth spread around every vein and pump along every limb, cracking the once perfect ground with every stomp. "Number Two. Heal him," she ordered without a single glance. "This one's mine." Unlike before, no one dared oppose the choice of such a person; the boiling wrath poised under bandaged chains was inexcusable. Inescapable.
Squelch!
Painful.
"NO MERCY!" As the volatile appendage roared out from its bindings - enveloped in screaming tendrils of darkness - Velvet's irises glazed over with a sickening crimson as she raised her unrelenting limb skyward, before smashing it into the ground and soaring into the untouchable azure sky. "Wounds that won't heal..." Piercing down like a vermillion rocket; sending her leg slamming right under the beast's lone arms, a wave of ruby expanded outwards like a tidal wave, sending the foe writhing into the air; limbs limp and motionless in the bellowing of chilling winds. "...Carved into flesh!" Pouncing after her airborne prey as the feeling within enveloped as if an ever expanding flame. Her wristblade slicked out doused in fire, rendering a flurry of searing slashes deep within its egregious flesh. Twisting through the shrill call of the gales, her boot rocketed into the degrading husk and crushing its melded skeleton into shards as it was pelted into the scarred stone. Her claw roared in earnest as she whipped it back, tensed and hungry, and plunged towards the downed monster; carving her serrated talons across its vulnerable meat with a cry of blazing anguish. "LETHAL PAIN!" she bellowed across the open waters, the entire bounds revered by her riveting call of bloodshed.
It's ruined carcass shuddered in innumerable violent spasms, bloodied frame crumpled against the devastated roof as the abnormal groans rumbled from its broken soul. A single raise of its torn facial structure released pitiful whimpers of scorned discomfort. Nothing was hidden behind her cold gaze, as the daggered nails of the therion stabbed into its collapsing gullet, and a single boot pressed against its mangled shoulder for savage leverage.
RIIIIIIIP!
It's very cranium was steadily torn from the ligaments that held it together, the monstrous cries of torment becoming crackled and disfigured as its flesh ruptured and burst. Until, crrrrrruuunch! As the limb pried its head from the body, and reduced it to mashed pulp in the palm of the superior monster. Lashed with its volatile insides, Velvet frowned in grim hate as the slicked ivory was sapped away beneathe the pale skin, the appendage gulping pleasantly as she stood among the divided remains.
The daemoness huffed with a tch - red fading to gold - before turning to scour over the wounded. The group waited in silent contemplation, as Number Two knelt at the injured half-malak's side; hands wreathed in a glistening peaceful green. She began to make her approach, Eizen soon humming with appreciation as she stepped past, while the samurai chuckled nervously at her still 'grimy' appearance. As she too knelt at the fallen man's side, his kind teal orbs fluttered open with a smile of thanks. "You didn't have to do that, it was just a scratch," he tried to reason as he lent forward slightly. Until, he sharply inhaled and immediately laid back down.
Velvet could only close her eyes in exasperation, tearing down her stoic demeanour for but a moment, and settled for placing her hand upon his left shoulder; a motion of a thousand words.
Crack!
"OW! What the hell!?" he yelled out angrily, a shooting pain zipping across his body like a circuit.
"It was dislocated," she answered simply. Sarid sighed in exasperation as he dryly laughed irritably.
"Oh," he mumbled with a slight lapse in his streaking discomfort, until he broke into nervous close-eyed smile. "Thanks, Velvet."
Already low time cutting even shorter, the pirate stepped over to address the situation. "We better be prepared, the Van Eltia will be here any second now." His stern orbs of azure hovered over his fallen ally, before he placed an open hand down to him. Sarid's smile widened honestly, and he gripped the pirate's palm fiercely as he was suddenly pulled up swiftly; earning a grunt of pain but a steadied man. Shaking his head of ruffled white hair, the half-malak sent a thankful nod to the young boy that hovered behind him for the assistance. The wound already settling on a severe ache compared to its searing paralysis.
After he gently dusted himself off, Velvet was the first to peer over the edge of the ridge to inspect the dock of the fortress, only to groan quietly in irritation upon processing the sight. "Reinforcements..." she grunted with a hand on her chin. Far below, the once daemon swarmed docks were now overtaken by countless figures in distinct noble white; the monstrous bodies lay withering at their feet.
"Damnit! That praetor was right, some of the ships must have come around. Should've known they wouldn't let this fortress go so easily," Rokurou grumbled in befuddlement, staring out among the now righteous devastation. "We'll lose the Van Eltia!"
"Hopefully they won't catch it..." Sarid mumbled as he stumbled forward at the side of the daemons, a blunt hand pressing into his chest so he stayed a few steps back from the ledge.
BOOM!
Again, a cacophony of cannon fire from the horizon much closer now. "Rats. We don't have long," the samurai murmured in increasing worry.
"Eizen, can you signal for them to go through without stopping?" Velvet quickly questioned, the pirate in question stepping up to their side with narrowed eyes.
Rokurou was still concerned about the desperate idea, "That'd keep them safe. But what about us?"
"We'll jump onto it as it goes past."
"Huh-h!?"
"Is there another option?" she sternly demanded. "Eizen, give some kind of sign--"
"There's no need," he bluntly responded. "The Van Eltia will sail through."
Velvet's brows furrowed. "Without an order?" she asked in hurried confusion.
"It was part of my plan. Welcome to the Aifread way."
Soon enough, the great bat-like crimson sails of the Van Eltia protruded out from the cliffside as it traveled through the fortress and approached the open sea gate. "It's coming at full speed!" Rokurou assessed with a cry.
"Let's get a move on then," Velvet ordered, as the group began their walk to the opposite side of the ridge, preparing their great jump. Although, the small bob of blonde hair was nowhere to be seen.
While the Van Eltia's remarkable vessel split through the azure spitting waves like a knife, the samurai peered over the edge with a sigh smothered in anticipation, his blackened strands and ponytail flailing in the overbearing breeze. "Will this really work?" he questioned aloud, the sheer drop almost seeming impossible to live past.
Eizen's smirk was stretched and wide, arms crossed at the concerned daemon's side. "Do you want the reaper's reassurance?" he sarcastically goaded with a silent chuckle. Rokurou sneered at his joking tone, making note of the vibrant pompous colours of a
pink dot that pranced around the ship below.
Sarid chimed in with a suggestion, one of his brilliant kunai glistening in the watching sun. "I could try and transport us all down ther--"
"No." Velvet immediately denied his idea with a firm look of dismissal. "You are injured, I'm not risking it with you in that state. Teleport yourself and we'll jump," she coldly stated with a blank look over the shining depths. While the four all stood poised over the dazing drop with confident looks, one still remained far from them with a desperate searching expression over his features. Until, it caught a glimmer of gold that was splayed out just teetering on the edge of the ridge. Finally, the Van Eltia glided through the open gate, and soon after, did Rokurou and Eizen jump. The half-malak's knife raised, and just as he was about to send it spiralling onto the deck far below... "Wait. What are you--!?" Velvet's suddenly concerned voice interrupted his swift descent.
Turning on a dime, he caught eye of the young malak sprinting for his valued golden compass that had been knocked to the very edge of the gate roof. Alarms blared in his head. The Van Eltia is currently passing through, and the exorcists flooding below have must have caught sight of Rokurou and Eizen's daring leap of faith. That only meant one thing. "Kid! Get away from the ledge!" Sarid cried out hurriedly. The urgency in his voice. Velvet didn't hesitate. As Number Two finally reached the edge and caught dainty grasp of his beloved artifact, a rude awakening awaited him as his eyes corrected upon the docks far below.
Boom!
Malakhim artes suddenly bombarded the ridge, sending a ricochet of volatile detonation among the great arch. And one in particular almost struck the young malak directly, and he was sent flying; shimmering compass with him. His cries switched the daemon into overdrive as she bounded towards his flailing figure that soared in her direction. Even as Number Two was being sent to a potential death, his fingers danced along the rim of the compass as he desperately attempted to grasp it once again. But, he never needed to. As the object went sailing out of his reach, his falling body was abruptly snatched from the sky and caught by Velvet; skirting her boots just before the imminent fall. Gasping heavily, the boy's fearful gaze softened as the woman placed him gently down upon the stone. "Don't scare me like that!" she sternly warned with a scowl.
"...I'm sorry!" he replied, frowning from the fearful anger that hung in her eyes for a brief moment.
"Hey, kid. I've got something that belongs to you!" a familiar voice stated, as Sarid appeared with that same compass in hand. Number Two's green irises sparkled with a smile as he held the item once again. "Take good care of it," he said with a kind smile, which suddenly vanished as more artes began to rock the ridge precariously; crumbling just beneath their feet. The man looked to Velvet quickly, "We need to go, now!" the half-malak loudly announced, before leaping up with a wince. The daemoness nodded and roughly siezed Number Two's hand, hurriedly pulling him along to the opposite edge to make the leap. Until, the trail of steps at her heel abruptly halted.
Sarid's orbs widened in dread, as his mind lit up with a resounding hail of sensors coming from the hatches that lay on either side. The artes went quiet. "MOVE!" A kunai zipped to palm, and was immediately lashed into stone. Velvet's feet only barely left the edge and felt the weightless air shake her stomach, before a cacophony of searing flames and shredding winds bellowed unto the place where her ally had been only moments before. Decimating the one that protected her from the exorcist's sudden assault. But, she could spare no time to process this, as the grip she had forced upon the young malak's wrist so tightly, only felt the cold, chilling grasp of air.
She violently twisted as she fell alone, snapping her dreadful gaze at the great cloud of spitting flames and ruined debris settling across the great ridge. Velvet's bandaged hand reached out fruitlessly to grab a hold of the ledge, seeking to keep the boy safe. The young malak who remained the spitting image of him, no matter how her mind toiled. And, as the futile grasp failed her once again, her voice of dread and sorrow broke out from its cage of thorns. "LAPHICET!!!" she grisly yelled out in vain, figure plummeting towards the waiting sails of the Van Eltia.
Whoosh!
However, this was not the end. Out from the cloud of clashing artes, came that same figure holding the young malak in his hands at their descent, the sheer wind bristling his snowy white hair and onyx headband. Sarid shielded the boy as his back pushed heftily onto the ship's expansive transparent white sail that veiled above the vessel, slipping down its smooth texture until he crashed painfully against the wooden boards of the deck. As soon as he did so, the group pushed through any surrounding pirates and immediately inspected for injuries.
The samurai was on it instantly, "Woah, that was a nasty fall! You alright you two?" he asked as he carefully pulled the man and the shaking boy up from their position, and patted them down from the back.
Eizen approached from the side with hum of thought. "I'd have thought you would teleport yourself down here," he stated with a cross of his arms. Until, his stern expression lifted with a sharp smirk, "Good to see we can all take risks," he stated with a dry chuckle. His faithful crew surrounded with cheers of victory as the steady vessel skirting the wrath of the Abbey, a devastated Vortigen crumbling in their wake. No ships were seen at their swift tail.
Number Two arose from the grasp he was coiled in to keep him safe, and nervously walked up to the man who stayed silent. "...I'm sorry, Sarid," he shamefully looked down at the unaffected compass that swayed gently in his tiny palms. "Thank you for saving me." And, through the mass of flailing hats and the surrounding group that all passed looks of pride, searing orbs stared on, eventually fading from the crowd and out of mind. Her jingling accessories hung on the air as they swayed away.
Nevertheless, who could forget their ever pompous jester; "Well, I'd say it was an absolute shameful performance myself, refusing the assistance of such a fine and youthful maiden as myself should be sacrilege!" Magilou crudely imposed with a skip and a huff, banging the top of a hefty iron cannon positioned at her side. "Dare I say, you should have taken even longer! How could you deny the Great Magilou from such a thing!?" she dramatically enunciated with the back of her hand to her forehead.
And through it all, Sarid had still not spoke a word, mouth fastened shut as if stapled.
"Where's Velvet?" Rokurou murmured with a hand to his chin, scouring the gleeful crew that surrounded them.
"Up here! At the stern-!" The pirate that commanded the helm shouted, his little yellow bird tweeting in tandem with his chattering. However, a growl of discontent came from behind him, and he nervously scratched his head as he turned slightly. "Oops, sorry," he chuckled with slight worry. Even so, the group stepped up to the stern to address the lone figure adorned in black that peered over the railing.
Velvet brooded silently once again, eyes trained on the gradually disappearing fortress, the flashes of recent events driving through her mind like a freight train. Her words at that moment echoed around her skull like ricochet, souring her mood and pulling her into a pit of annoyance. She knew they were all back safe, she could hear the commotion along the sails and across the deck. Still, her emotion reigned her back as if still bound by chains, and she neglected her thanks. Only her thoughts, and the great deep blue bubbling silently under her feet. The shrill breeze cupping her face, and the gentle threading of her voluminous hair through the fair fingers of wind. It was almost peaceful.
"Velvet...?"
Almost.
The daemon stayed silent for a while longer, simply basking in the fleeting moments of calm they could be gifted. Once the atmosphere's weight grew heavy, and the bite of the wind grew hateful, she spoke. "...Are you alright?" she mouthed blankly, tone monotonous.
She heard the soft patter of footsteps upon the deck grow slightly louder. "Yeah... I'm alright. Thanks to you and Sar--"
"Good."
The shuffling grew a bit harsher, and the awkward silence that came by sank into her skin like irritable needles. "He's... here, if you want to thank him! Or, something..." the young malak's voice grew meek again, and Velvet didn't make a move. She only had one answer.
"...I'd rather speak to him myself, not that empty husk," she harshly spat without turning around. As her coat shifted, it took only moments for someone to try and voice their confusion. Until, 'Sarid' raised his palm, still blankly silent. The man looked down in indistinguishable sorrow and solitude, before he cracked, and burst open in an abrupt expanse of wisping air.
Just a clone.
Even as the befuddlement raged on behind her, Velvet's fists tightened ferociously with a mix of volatile emotion.
"Velvet..." Rokurou's now steely voice reverberated from behind her, unusually cautious. "What's going on? Where's Sarid?" he questioned lowly, almost afraid to recieve a definite answer.
The daemoness clenched her teeth, as her golden orbs pooled with a restrained wrath picking at the sanity of her mind. "He's still stuck on the ridge," she crudely admitted with a crack of her knuckles, as they grew white upon the creaking of the railing she harshly gripped.