Isaac was leading the front, King walking behind him. Isaac was keeping an eye out for the ghost people, not wanting to have to fight any off. Isaac was still in a state of recovery, not quite knowing how powerful they were. He didn't want to get himself killed trying to fight off something that was potentially difficult to kill.
"How much farther to the switching station?" Isaac asked, relying on King for instructions.
"A few more blocks. We've probably did this five times since we've been captured. But we are always relying on the fourth person to set everything off. But somehow… the fourth manages to either get killed by ghost people or piss off Regina enough that she decides to detonate their collar manually. And trust me, getting dragged away by those fuckers isn't the way you want to die!" King explained.
"Agreed. Running through the cloud wasn't pleasant in the slightest! But again, why are you assigned to the switching station?" Isaac asked.
"Look at me! I'm not really known for being delicate! They need my strength to pull the switches down! The switching station has been exposed to the weather here for centuries. The rusted switches require my strength to break them free and to trigger the Gala event." King answered.
As they walked, a spear embedded itself into the ground in front of them! A trio of ghost people leaped from the shadows, their awkward stances somehow allowing them to land on their feet, holding weapons of their own! Two were holding spears as well, them being repurposed mop handles, three kitchen knives tied to the end with twine. The third stumbled to its spear, pulling it from the ground and pointing it towards the others!
"So much for a calm walk." King responded, activating the electroshock knuckles. King launched his fist towards the lead ghost people, the current pushing it into the adjacent wall! The other two ghost people stumbled towards King, slashing their spears towards him. Isaac quickly ran to King, using his machete to stop the spears from getting any closer to him! While Isaac wasn't at his strongest, Isaac was still able to hold them off, quickly pushing them away!
"Quick! Cut off one of their arms!" King ordered, sending his fist into the returning ghost person. Steeling himself, Isaac leaped towards one of the ghost people, slashing downwards! The machete, while corroded, was somehow able to slice through the hazmat suit easily, severing the arm from the body! The ghost person quickly collapsed, no longer responsive. One of the ghost people retreated, leaving one alone. King reeled back his fist, striking the center of the torso. The ghost person quickly hit the wall, falling off and hitting the ground.
"Damn… this is a good blade." Isaac breathed, not knowing how in its corroded state, that it could still slice through durable hazmat suit materials like a hot knife through butter.
"Yeah… it's made from the same material as those knives on the spears. Doesn't dull, ever! And once it's sharp, it'll slice through anything, as long as it's not the same metal." King explained, having had previous experience with these knives. But as they talked, the ghost person King knocked down was slowly getting up, having recovered from attack.
"Oh shit…" King muttered, already tired. Isaac straightened himself, slicing horizontally at the base of the neck! Its head came off cleanly, a large flow of yellowed blood spurting from the severed stump! It soon collapsed, dead as the one Isaac had killed previously.
"You sent massive volts of electricity into that thing! It made an indent into the wall! How did it survive?!" Isaac exclaimed, not knowing how it could survive such trauma.
"Why do you think I told you to go for the arm? They don't die like you or me would. You can knock 'em down, but unless they're missing something, they're going to keep getting back up!" King explained.
They soon reached the switching station, four massive switches on the wall. They were covered in rust, but by the abrasion near the base of them, they had been pulled recently. King cracked his knuckles, beginning to stretch out his arms.
"Alright, I'll be good here. Close the gate to the station and I'll be fine when the Gala Event goes off." King explained. Isaac nodded, walking from King, slamming the gate closed. Isaac quickly began running, needing to get back to the fountain to escort the next person to their position to trigger the Gala Event. But as Isaac ran, the strange environment of the Villa soon changed, Isaac finding himself back at the Kingdom of Acorn. Isaac looked around, finding that it was winter.
"Winter? That's impossible! What the hell is going on?!" Isaac cursed, finding these visions and their abstract nature frustrating. As Isaac surveyed his surroundings, he saw a younger version of Princess Sally walking through the snow-covered streets with her father, King Nigel. She was looking to the sides, almost as if looking for someone. As she walked, the sounds of a choir singing carols was heard, identifying the season to be closer to Christmas.
"Are we there yet?" Sally asked, beginning to shiver.
"Just down the street, Sally. Alexander rarely invites others to celebrate Christmas. At least, not since…" Nigel began to say, before he lost his voice.
"Since when, daddy?" Sally asked. Nigel cleared his throat, finding the subject a bit sensitive.
"Since we lost your mother, Sally. Along with your brother. Listen, Alexander was good friends with your mother, so it's best if we do not mention her to him today." Nigel explained.
Sally nodded, knowing the subject was sensitive to a lot of people, especially her own father. But her own thoughts were to the hedgehogs they had found only a few months ago, whom Alexander had taken in. She had only seen Isaac and Lily a few times since then, but she never had the time to speak to them long enough to find out anything significant about them. Isaac didn't speak much, but when he did, it was in his native language. And it was only to his infant sister.
Soon, they made it to the home of Alexander. It was an old home, one that had been passed down from Alexander's forefathers. It was once a pub almost forty years ago, but once it was passed down from Alexander's father, he made it into a part of his home, in addition to the second-floor apartment. Nigel knocked on the door, the door viewer slid open, Alexander's eyes peering through.
"Какая кодовая фраза (What is the passphrase)?" He asked.
"Do we really have to do this every time, Alexander?" Nigel asked.
"да (Yes)." Alexander responded.
"Security and fortitude." Nigel said, the door viewer quickly sliding shut. Multiple locks soon unlocked, the door finally opening. The warmth of the hearth from inside greeted them, others from the garrison already present, drinking and singing.
"Make yourself at home, Your Highness." Alexander said. The two walked in, Alexander closing the door. The room still had much of the old pub intact, the hearth heating the room and a large bar tucked away in the corner, a large shelf of liquor bottles occupying the shelf space.
"Исаак (Isaac)!" Alexander called out, the sounds of hastened footsteps approaching. Isaac quickly walked around the corner, holding a metal tray of cups and bowls. Isaac was wearing the hide pants and boots he was found in, but instead of his tunic, he was wearing a Rubakha, a traditional Russian shirt made from cotton. After setting the tray down on one of the tables, Isaac walked and stopped near Alexander.
"Нам нужно еще дров для очага. Возьми свое пальто, выйди на улицу и возьми несколько связок, пожалуйста (We need more firewood for the hearth. Take your coat, go outside and get some bundles, please)." Alexander requested.
"Да сэр. Я вернусь, как только смогу (Yes, sir. I will be back as soon as I can)." Isaac responded, walking to the door. Isaac grabbed a Shuba, a heavy fur coat, put it on, and quickly walked outside, shutting the door.
"He's a good kid. A bit hard to understand at times, but a good kid, nonetheless." Alexander commented.
"You're teaching him Russian, Alexander?" Nigel asked, not quite understanding the reason why.
"At his request. He wished to be able to understand us at all times, instead of brief moments. Of course, that strange tongue he speaks to his sister is almost indecipherable! His English isn't the best, either. But that will change in time." Alexander replied.
Nigel nodded, walking towards the bar. He sat down on a stool, one of the guards sliding a mug of cider his way. As the festivities began to get underway, Sally saw the snow begin to fall through the window, attracting her to the window. She looked outside, seeing the young Isaac with an axe, resting it onto his shoulder. He quickly shifted his hands, swinging the axe down and splitting a log.
"I wish dad would let me do that." Sally thought to herself, never having chopped wood with an axe before. Sally stepped away from the window, looking around the home. A lioness, Alexander's wife, stepped from the kitchen, holding a tray with mugs of hot chocolate. She set it down on the table, before picking one up. She walked over to Sally, holding it in front of her.
"Here, Princess. This will warm you up." She offered, Sally taking it. Sally brought the mug to her lips, taking caution in drinking the hot beverage. But as she did, a scream from outside was heard! Everyone's gaze shifted towards the wall it came from, noting it came from outside.
"Was that-?" One of the guards began to ask, before a large splatter of blood laminated the window from the outside!
"Исаак (Isaac)!" Alexander and his wife exclaimed, before running towards the door! Alexander grabbed his gun from near the door, his wife grabbing a fire poker from near the hearth! They quickly ran out, going around the corner where Isaac was chopping wood! Nigel ran out as well, Sally reluctantly following. They quickly ran to the chopping block, unprepared for what they saw!
Isaac was standing in the middle of the alley, his eyes dead. Three Honorius soldiers were dead, their blood painting the fresh snow crimson! The wood axe was embedded into the head of the lead soldier, the other two were charred to a crisp! Isaac was unresponsive to the world around him, almost as if in a trance. Alexander marched to Isaac, crouching down and looking into his eyes.
"Исаак, У тебя все нормально (Isaac, are you okay)?" He asked, looking Isaac over for injuries. But besides the blood on him, Isaac was unscathed. Alexander's wife ran over, quickly scooping Isaac up and holding him close to her! She was stroking his head and whispering into his ears, an attempt to bring him out of his state. After a few tense moments, Isaac snapped out of it, beginning to cry. She held him close, turning around to prevent Isaac from seeing the resulting carnage he had caused.
"Тссс. Все в порядке, детка. Они больше не могут причинить вам вреда (Shhh. It's okay, baby. They can no longer harm you)." She whispered, walking towards the back door to let Isaac back inside through the kitchen. Alexander sighed, not knowing how Isaac had fought these three and brutalized them in such a quick manner.
"Whoever this one is, he is strong." Alexander said, before turning around, finally noticing the young Princess Sally. His eyes widened, realizing she saw the carnage.
"Princess!" Alexander exclaimed, alerting King Nigel to her presence as well.
"Sally! No, look away! You shouldn't see this!" Nigel responded, attempting to block her vision with his arm. But the image of the dead soldiers was already seared into her mind! And she knew Isaac was the one that did it!
30 Minutes Later:
Alexander and his wife had sent the others away, the current situation being a delicate matter. King Nigel and Sally were the only other guests that didn't leave. Isaac was cleaned up and sitting in front of the hearth, noticeably quiet. Sally was keeping her distance from him, unsure of what was going on inside of his mind. Alexander soon walked out of the kitchen, looking furious towards the following King Nigel.
"Alexander, you saw what he had done! He needs special care!" Nigel argued, trying to reach Alexander.
"You are not sending him to a mental institution! He defended himself from three savage killers! That is not grounds for locking him up and being medicated!" Alexander yelled.
"There is something terribly wrong with him, Alexander! He needs to be treated!" Nigel replied. Alexander shook his head, not believing a word he was saying.
"King Nigel, if I would've done that to those men, would I be locked away?" Alexander asked.
"Of course not! You are an expertly trained solider! If you would've done that, it would've been in self-defense!" King Nigel answered.
"And so did Isaac! He defended himself from the people that most likely killed his parents! If he wouldn't have done that, he would've been killed!" Alexander returned.
"This is different! He's just a kid!" King Nigel said. Alexander's blood was boiling, not believing this conversation was going this far!
"You're not taking him away from us! He's going to stay here!" Alexander argued.
"Well, it's not like he's your son! You and Anya can't…" King Nigel began to argue before the clattering of a metal tray with silverware was heard. King Nigel and Alexander turned their heads, seeing Alexander's wife standing there, the tray and silverware on the table. Shedding tears, she quickly made herself scarce, hastily going upstairs to their bedroom. Alexander turned his gaze to King Nigel, his teeth biting into his tongue, attempting to refrain from yelling at his king.
"How dare you?! How dare you come into my home and think yourself far superior in the matter of raising children?!" Alexander hissed, venom spilling from his voice. King Nigel looked towards the floor, realizing he had unintentionally struck a nerve.
"Alexander, I didn't mean to imply what had happened to Dimitri was your fault! It wasn't!" Nigel exclaimed. Alexander walked towards the bar, quickly grabbing a bottle of samogon and tilting it to his lips, drinking down half the bottle in a few seconds. He slammed it back down, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
"Leave. Now." Alexander said, his voice beginning to fail him. Nigel nodded, knowing his presence was no longer welcome for the time being.
"Sally, it's time for us to leave." Nigel said, taking his coat off of the coatrack. Sally nodded, feeling sorry for the young Isaac, not quite knowing what was going to happen to him. They soon left, Alexander sitting down, putting his face into his hands. He was sobbing softly, horrible memories of what had happened to his son resurfacing in terrible clarity.
Isaac walked over to him, feeling responsible for making Alexander upset. He grabbed a mug of hot chocolate, silently offering it to him. Alexander looked from his hands, seeing Isaac offering the drink. Alexander, his throat aching, took it from him. But before he could take a drink, Isaac quickly hugged him, his head resting against his chest.
Alexander hesitated for a moment, but soon placed a hand on Isaac's shoulder.
"It is alright, child. No one blames you for anything." Alexander said, setting the mug on the counter. The vision soon faded, Isaac finding himself near the fountain, the last two survivors waiting for Isaac to escort him to their designated Gala positions.
"These visions… it's almost like I can recall them as memories. But I know they had not happened. How is it possible?" Isaac asked himself, unknowing in their origins. He was soon escorting Kiara to her position, deftly avoiding the cloud and Ghost People as they made their way to the underground maintenance tunnels.