Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Another Roll of the Dice
by Storm Wolf77415 and Centurious the Azure
Chapter Four: Castle Mysteries
(Viscounty of Legram, April 28th, 1203 of the Septian Calendar)
It had been a week and a half since arriving in Legram. The days had flown by very quickly, and training with the Arseid students was now in full gear. Master Ka-Fai and Viscount Arseid wowed everyone with a brief but spectacular duel, showing the pinnacle of their respective schools. They were moving at such speeds it was difficult even for the likes of Rean, Laura, and Ezra to follow them. They were just barely able to get faint glimpses of the two masters as their blades intersected each other. Suffice it to say the applause from everyone lasted a good few minutes, so impressive was the match.
It motivated all the students to give their all if just to approach the level of their teachers just by a small amount. So it was the trio of Rean, Laura, and Ezra who had taken to sparring with each other every day. As such the daughter of the Radiant Blademaster and the third apprentice of the Sword Hermit were currently engaged in their latest match. Klaus served as the referee. Laura leapt up to launch an Earth Cleaver, but Rean was quick to respond with a Crimson Slash, before vanishing with Gale.
It was only thanks to her own sharp reflexes that Laura was able to parry away Ashen Void with Brynhildr, and considerable strength that she could swing her massive claymore to try and get at her opponent. She went for a Brilliant Spin, but Rean beat her to the punch with a Helix. Laura flipped in the air to avoid it, landing in a crouch. "Well played, Rean! Your bladework is a true sight to behold." She lunged at him, only for him to sidestep her.
"As is yours, Laura." Rean brought his blade up to his usual guard position, his gaze never breaking with the Arseid Heiress. "You swing that blade with incredible strength, and yet your footwork carries such poise and grace." Laura's smile was so worth seeing. It felt great to be able to spar with her again, Memories of another life flashed in his mind. It hadn't taken long for him to get in touch with her rhythm again. They moved as one, blocking and parrying the whole while. It was almost as if he could read her mind.
"I'm no expert with a sword, but I can't deny how captivating the two of them are right now." Emma figured she should be used to having seen Rean and Master Ka-Fai practice a few times while on the way to Legram. But now that he had a multitude of opponents to face, it was clear that Rean's potential to be a master swordsman was near endless, and Laura was just as much as prodigy, coming from such a rich lineage of genuine knights didn't hurt either.
"It's almost like they're dancing a waltz." Phoebe was in awe at her cousin's movements and how well she synchronized with Rean. She still remembered how bold the young Eight Leaves warrior had been with Laura, complimenting not just her skill with a blade, but also her beauty. Phoebe was one of the few people who knew that her cousin, despite her prodigious skill with a sword, was very insecure about her femininity. Rean's words had given Laura much more confidence in herself as a woman, and for Phoebe that was a good thing.
"They're still not on the same level as Master Ka-Fai or Master Victor, but they're still exceptional in their own right," Ezra remarked. As confident as he was in his own skill, this reminded him that Laura was his equal for a reason. He found himself just a tiny bit jealous at how well Rean handled his blade. His technique was rough around the edges, but he was still far above the average blade slinger. The fire in him grew even more as he saw Rean perform an Autumn Leaf Cutter, only to be rebuffed by Laura's Armor Breaker. They were near their limits if the way both were breathing heavily was any indication.
"That's enough!" Klaus suddenly announced, his arm in the air, indicating the end of the match. "Master Rean, Lady Laura, both of you have clearly pushed yourself to your limits. I think it's best to consider this match a draw. Take some time to rest before the next bout." Phoebe produced a tray containing a pitcher of water and glasses which both of them readily accepted. It was cool and refreshing.
"I call the next bout!" Ezra was quick to stake his claim. He had already crossed blades a couple of times with Rean. He had one win and one loss, and he was looking to make it two to one. Rean and Ezra had formed something of a friendly rivalry, and Rean actually found himself enjoying it. Ezra clearly showed great interest in the Eight Leaves, having pelted Rean with questions about it on the first day of their training. He hadn't expected to basically explain the entire core tenets of the style to his new friend, but it did help Rean and Ezra bond.
Feeling refreshed, Rean walked back onto the training floor with Ashen Void in hand. Ezra followed; his own sword strapped on his back. It was a well-made blade more than the equal of Laura's, but with patterns of brilliant flame red instead of blue. The two warriors raised their blades in salute to each other, before looking to Klaus. The aging butler again raised his hand in the air, before bringing it down, signaling the start of the bout.
Ezra quickly closed the gap. His blade flashed with a brilliant blue glow. He swung his blade in a horizontal arc, trailing blue light behind it. Rean met Ezra head-on, Ashen Void's blade glowing brilliant crimson. It was something he had come up with after facing this technique a couple of days prior, a variation of the Eight Leaves' Sixth Form, instead of letting the energy loose in a blazing crescent, he kept it contained within Ashen Void itself. The two blades, roiling with energy, connected, and created a golden flash.
This wasn't enough to faze Ezra. Such flares of power were common whenever he sparred with Laura. He grinned; the match was getting fun now! Rean raised his sword overhead and flames erupted to life along its whole length as he performed a Flame Impact. But Ezra merely leapt back to avoid the worst of it. The heat washed over him as his hair whipped about by the wind thrown out. Rean lunged at him with Gale and Ezra had to act quickly to deflect it. Both blades flashed in the morning sun as they intersected. "You've got some major skills, Rean! You're like Laura. One of those rare talents that comes by only so often. I mean that truthfully!" Ezra swung upwards diagonally, only for Rean to block it downward into the dirt. "Of course, it also helps you have an exceptional master to train you!"
Rean grunted as they locked blades once more. "Right back at you! Your talent isn't minuscule either, you're easily a match for Laura, and you had just as an exceptional teacher." Ezra nodded in acknowledgment. "Viscount Arseid's reputation is well known to me and the chance to be here is one I won't soon forget." Visions of a duel against the Radiant Blademaster in another time and place and words of great wisdom echoed in his head. He went for an Autumn Leaf Cutter, but Ezra responded with an upward slash of his own. For both boys, this was something that had practically become hardwired into their souls, something they knew so intimately they could do it in their sleep. Their bodies did the work while their minds drifted to other things.
For Ezra, it automatically went to his aunt. The things he learned about Wakana from Kasane and Naomi in Roer had given him answers while opening up all kinds of other questions. Why had she been called to Roer in the first place? Had she gotten off the train somewhere between there and Legram? It just vexed him to no end. So caught up in this torrent of thoughts that he made an elementary mistake. He took his eye off Rean for just a second. The Ashen Chevalier wasn't about to pass up such an opening and used a Gale followed by an Arc Slash. Ezra's eyes widened in shock and took the attack full on, sending him down to one knee, his sword falling from his slack fingers.
"That is the match!" Klaus barked. It took a few minutes for Ezra to register he had lost. The image of Wakana smiling at him just before departing that last time was still stuck in his head. Before he knew it, Rean was over him, hand outstretched. He subconsciously took it and was pulled to his feet.
"Are you okay?" Rean asked worriedly. "You zoned out there for a minute, so I just took the opening."
"Uh, yeah." Ezra finally found his voice. "It's fine. Just bad timing on my part." He cursed inwardly for letting such things get in the way of a sparring match. Laura and Phoebe both gave him sad expressions, both having a good idea of just what could have thrown Ezra off balance like that. Both girls knew all too well of what effect Wakana's departure had on him. He gave a short bow to Klaus. "I think I've had all the swordplay I can handle for one day, Master Klaus. As for you." He looked to his opponent, some of his former bravado returning to cover up his real feelings. "You got lucky today, Rean. Rest assured it won't happen again."
Rean wasn't buying it. He had seen that act far too many times for his own taste when someone was nursing wounded pride. Clearly, it wasn't just Ezra's pride, but something deeper bothering him. "If something is wrong, I'd be willing to listen." He offered, having come to see his fellow swordsman as a friend and thus wanted to be there for him. Both Laura and Phoebe found their respect for Rean go up a couple more notches.
Ezra gave a tired smile. "You're all heart, Rean. But it's nothing you need to worry about. We all have our off days; this was just one of mine." He gave a slight wave, and walked out of the training hall without a further word. Rean just watched him leave, about ready to follow him when a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He looked to see Klaus, giving him a comforting smile.
"Just leave him alone for right now, Master Rean. Master Ezra has been dealing with a deep personal loss for the past year. It affected him so much he didn't even want to pick up a sword, much less practice it anymore. It was actually because of your arrival that he found a reason to start his training. But still, the disappearance of Lady Wakana is a deep wound for him. However, I am glad to see that you've come to consider each other friends. Master Ezra needs all the support he can lean on right now." Rean looked to Phoebe and Laura for answers.
"It's not our place to say, Rean. If Ezra feels up for telling you about it. He will in his own time." The Arseid heiress was quite certain that her childhood friend would certainly open up to their guest in short order. "Changing the subject. I have something that you would find most intriguing."
Phoebe cleared her throat. "Emma has shown interest in exploring Lohengrin Castle. Normally the place is off-limits, but Uncle Victor has given us special permission to explore it, on the proviso that he and your own master accompany us." She beamed widely, the anticipation evident in her eyes. "I'll admit I'm just as excited about it myself. History has always been one of my favorite subjects. So, the chance to actually be able to set foot there is something that I've wanted to do my entire life!"
"I'll admit I've felt something about that place calling me. I wasn't sure if Viscount Arseid would allow it, but I'm glad he'll be coming with us." Emma said.
Rean's thoughts on the matter were far more divisive. On the one hand, he still remembered what happened when he and the rest of his team entered the castle during their field study, and encountered the Nosferatu. The undead specter had taken everything they could throw at it and then some and still had plenty to face them. It was only thanks to the intervention of a mysterious rescuer that they managed to prevail against that ghastly spirit. A part of him wasn't all that eager to go traipsing through there, even with two master swordsmen like Victor and Master Ka-Fai with them.
But on the other hand, Rean knew both the Sword Hermit and Radiant Blademaster could make short work of the Nosferatu, and a part of him really did wonder what kind of mysteries the castle actually held. It would certainly make a good way to gauge how much better their training had made all of them. It was then that Rean thought of something. "Is Ezra allowed to go with us? I'm sure he'd welcome the distraction from whatever is troubling him."
"I think he would enjoy it as well." Emma piped up.
"Of course! We were planning on inviting him anyway." Phoebe clapped her hands together, clearly delighted at the upcoming trip. "In that case, it will be myself, Laura, you, Ezra, Emma, Master Ka-Fai, and Uncle Victor. I think that party can handle any surprises that may be waiting for us." Rean still wasn't sure about exploring the castle, but seeing Emma and Phoebe's faces convinced him that if anything bad did happen, He would be ready with his steel to protect and defend those he cared about.
(Later That Night)
Ezra growled as he chucked another rock in the lake. He wasn't angry about losing the match itself. Laura had batted him around plenty of times when they were younger, and he gave back as much as he took. It was the discussion he had a few nights prior with his parents when the night he returned to Legram.
"I can't believe it! Of all the irresponsible things you could do!" Yesenia knocked back a whole sifter of very expensive brandy as she stormed around the living room. An angry glare was on her face, as she wiped her mouth. "It wasn't enough that you went to Roer without permission to search for Wakana, but you had the audacity to go into her room and look through her personal effects!" Ezra just responded with his own sour glare, a perfect mirror of the woman who had raised him, punctuated with a pronounced roll of his eyes. "Oh, don't think I didn't see that young man! I know that you miss your aunt, but this has become an unhealthy obsession!"
"Missing someone close to me isn't an unhealthy obsession, drinking that much at this time of night is an unhealthy obsession!" Ezra shot back at her. "Two years I've wanted to know what's happened to her, but neither of you." Geralt remained unmoved from his place on the couch. "Want to say anything about it! I'm sixteen years old, and I'm not an oblivious child anymore! You, both of you, I might add, encouraged me to never be content with just sitting around and waiting for the answers to come to me. Oh no! You said if you want the answers to something, go out and look for them yourself! Do the leg work! Put in the time! It will come to you, and I did just fucking that so I don't see why you're both pissed off!"
Geralt sighed. He understood how Ezra felt, he really did, and thus resigned to play the part of peacemaker between his wife and his son. "Look, it's no secret that Wakana was important to all of us." Putting a special emphasis on the last part. "But let's be realistic here. She was a shrewd woman who knew how to cover her tracks really well. If your aunt wants to stay hidden, she'll have gone to every length possible to ensure she stayed hidden. The best thing you can do is just move on. It is probably what she would have wanted anyway."
"Wow, great advice, Dad. Are you sure guidance counselor is part of the Bracer job description?" Ezra snarked to which Geralt just gave a muted grunt. He looked to Yesenia, who had poured herself another shot of brandy. The bottle was a third empty, and she started to look a little sloshed. "Mom, at the very least hear me out about what I learned in Roer. Her old employers called her for some urgent matter, and she never made it back. It wasn't just a whim that Aunt Wakana left. Something happened, and she never made it there. Certainly, that has to count for something? Enough to re-open the investigation so we can dig deeper?"
Yesenia knocked the whole thing back in a single gulp. "No, it is not enough to reopen the case file! The investigation was closed and sealed by Viscount Arseid himself. He is the lord of this land, and his word is law. In other words, It's a moot point, mister. Wakana Sumeragi is gone, and she isn't going to come back. So, live with it!" She stomped out of the room in a fury. Geralt just gave Ezra an apologetic glance before following his wife to try and calm her down.
"Stubborn old woman!" Ezra thundered as another rock went flying into the water. Like a lightning flash, his anger subsided immediately. He sighed. "Maybe she's right though. Aunt Wakana was always the slippery type. Even if I did eventually track her down, there's no guarantee that she would come back even if I begged her to." It was the truth, even if he was doing everything to deny such a truth. Wakana was her own person, and it was selfish to think he'd do it just for him. "Maybe this whole thing was just a colossal waste of time, and I should just move on with my life."
"Do you really believe that?" Training and instincts flashed to life. Ezra had his blade out, to see The Sword Hermit standing there, hands behind his back. The old master just let out an amused chortle as he walked up to Ezra, gently pushing his blade aside. "Good reflexes. All the time you've spent training with Rean and the others has served you well. But it means nothing if you let your mind be plagued by negative thoughts and insecurities. Your mind should be as placid as the waters of this very lake on a calm day. The minute you slide out of that mindset, then your enemy has already won."
"I'm fully aware of that, Master Ka-Fai." Ezra did his best to sound respectful, but the frustration seeped through. The older man put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "But the whole thing with my Aunt Wakana is something I just can't let go that easily. Both of my parents say it's a dead issue and that I'm just wasting my time trying to track her down. I've tried to make them see reason about it and not give up on her. But it's like talking to a brick wall. They won't act on it at all. I feel so lost."
"Then you can't give up." He made it sound so simple. "If your aunt is truly such an irreplaceable fixture of your life, you must make that your whole reason for living. Leave no stone unturned, as the adage goes. You must be vigilant, and dogged in your search. Track every lead and follow every clue. The path lies ahead of you, but you must be the one who takes that first step and travels it to the very end. Now I can't guarantee it will have a happy ending, but at the very least you'll be able to find closure. Don't do it for those who so easily dismiss what's in front of them. Do it for yourself."
Ezra's hands clenched as he tried to bite back the tears. Now this was exactly what he needed to hear. Yun smiled, patting him on the back. "I see much of Rean in you. He too carries his own burdens, and isn't usually the type to share them with others. He is getting better about that though, but he still has a long journey ahead of him. It's clear you two have formed a close bond, I encourage you to deepen that friendship with him and it will benefit you both. Help him to carry his own burden, and he will carry yours in return." The Sword Hermit yawned and stretched. "Well, it's getting late, this old man is going to get some rest, and you should as well. A good night's sleep does wonders for clearing the mind."
"Wait a minute, Master!" Ezra stopped him in his tracks. He looked the older man in the eye. "My aunt's disappearance made me not want to pick up a blade ever again. But since I learned you were coming to Legram. That passion has come back to me. Having sparred with Rean and getting to know him better, I realize that alone isn't enough for me. So, I ask of you Master Ka-Fai." Ezra bent at the waist, bowing low. "Please take me on as one of your students! I want to learn the ways of the Eight Leaves, One Blade School in full. I want to become a better swordsman, and a stronger man so I can search for my aunt, and let her see how I've grown when I find her at last."
Fear, desperation, and especially hope was in the young man's eyes as he slowly brought his head up. Yun pulled out a small sake bottle, and gave it a good long chug. He belched once and smiled wide. "Okay!" Ezra's face lit up. "I would never turn down a talent such as you. Rean would certainly welcome a fellow disciple, and between us." He leaned in. "He needs a little motivation from time to time, but don't let him know I said that." Ezra chortled, as Master Ka-Fai's face became firm. "That being said, my training is not to be taken lightly. I will push you and push you until you reach your breaking point and then beyond because that is where you find your true self. Get a good night's rest, because we start at 4 am sharp, do not be late."
"Of course, Master!" Ezra was uplifted. He wasn't going to despair. Wakana wouldn't want him to anyway, and now he had a new path to power, a new way to become strong. He stayed at the lake for another half hour before heading back home. He didn't want to disappoint his new teacher after all. So it was that Ezra stood beside Rean in the morning, much to the latter's surprise. The sun was rising over the castle, its light giving the lake an orange luster.
"So, what is this about?" Rean asked, noting the wide grin on Ezra's face. Yun simply pulled out his sake bottle and took his customary drink.
"Ezra has asked to become my newest apprentice, and I said yes." The Sword Hermit replied matter of factly as he pocketed the bottle. He produced a curved wooden sword which Ezra gingerly took. "He has shown interest in the ways of the Eight Leaves, and we both know that he's quite talented with a blade. Ezra will become your brother disciple, Rean. I expect you to help me out with his training. You learn a lot about yourself when you're teaching another." Rean didn't even need to consider it. He had become fast friends with Ezra, and if this was a way to help him with his issues, why wouldn't he?
"Then, in that case, I welcome you as a fellow disciple, Ezra." Rean outstretched his hand, which the Eight Leaves' newest student accepted readily. The beginnings of a strong bond were now forming. "Here's to many days of training together. Have you decided which sub form you like the most?"
"The Third Form, Karmic Flame it's called?" Ezra's grin just grew wider. Rean could see the inferno dancing in his eyes. "Yeah, that one. I'll go ahead and admit that I'm a total pyromaniac. So I think Karmic Flame fits me quite well."
"Truthfully the Third Form is one I use more than others, so I can give you some pointers in that department." Master Ka-Fai watched with quiet pride as his two students began swapping ideas. He had a feeling this new arrangement would work quite nicely. He also made a mental note to make a couple of phone calls later in the day. It had been a long time since he talked with some old friends.
(Lake Ebel, May 4th, 1203 of the Septian Calendar)
Rean was very happy that he didn't get seasick as the boat chugged across the waters. Today they were going to explore Lohengrin Castle. Victor was at the helm, looking every bit like a good captain should. While Master Ka-Fai's attention was currently taken up with his newest apprentice. Ezra was a veritable sponge in soaking up the Sword Hermit's teachings, and was currently determining the best way to get the best spin out of his Helix strike. Emma and Phoebe were chatting excitedly about what discoveries awaited them, even if there was some kind of danger waiting for them. As for Laura, she was looking stoically across the lake, her ponytail whipping about in the wind.
Laura turned to see Rean looking right at her, and smiled at him before going back to look at the water. It was a memory the Ashen Chevalier would forever burn into his mind. That smile was for him alone. He caught a smile from Emma out of the corner of his eye. She had seen their little quiet interaction. "We'll be arriving soon at the castle!" the Radiant Blademaster's voice cut through the moment and ever became much more alert. All of Rean's senses were sharper than ever before, that familiar feeling the higher elements of time, space, and mirage gave off were heavier in the early morning air than they had ever been before.
The boat gently bumped up against the dock and the party stepped out. "Before we go any further, I'll go through the official warning. I know everyone here is a very capable fighter, but regardless there is no telling what we will find within the castle's walls." Viscount Arseid was his usual regal self, but now his voice was laced with stern authority, proof of his status as a noble of the land of Erebonia. "We stick together and remain on guard at all times. Do I make myself clear?" His authoritative gaze swept over everyone present. Not that anyone was going to try dispute it, Rean especially, knowing what was within the walls.
The seven adventurers hiked up the sweeping hills before arriving at the ornate doors of the castle itself. The pull of the higher elements was at their zenith in that moment. Both Emma and Phoebe were the ones most affected by it. "I've seen this castle so many times before, its majesty is never lost on me. I could feel its power, but I never really took into account what that power was or where it came from now that I'm staring it in the face." Phoebe had a new respect for the place so connected to her blood, as she gazed upwards toward Lohengrin Castle's majestic spires.
"It shouldn't come as any surprise, dear niece. The Eisenritter did have a small contingent of mages in their ranks in the latter parts of the War of the Lions." Victor said as they entered the front entry hall. His was hand on Galland-Sharl the whole time. "A few of them even went so far as to marry steel with the power of the arcane. Those mage knights were said to be some of the most fearsome combatants amongst Dreichels's forces." A few spectral creatures approached them. Victor just smirked and with a flick of his wrist sent a wave of brilliant golden energy out that rented them asunder.
Rean smirked, most of the creatures in the castle were pretty nasty as he recalled, but with a couple of powerhouses like the Viscount and his master. He didn't think it would be an issue.
"So, what exactly are we looking for here?" Ezra looked upward to the vaulted ceilings of the entry hall. So far it all looked pretty mundane and boring to him. "Is there something specific that caught your eye, Phoebe?" He looked at the girl in question who seemed zoned out. "Phoebe?" Ezra became worried, walking up to her hurriedly only for her to hold up one hand as an ornate-looking staff appeared in the other.
It was painted in the blue colors of the Legram Viscounty, a series of ancient runes carved into the handle. It was topped by three quartz crystals and Emma recognized them as belonging to all the higher elements, Time, Space, and Mirage. Phoebe held her staff up, and the crystals started glowing prominently. "Something is here." She whispered, before chanting under her breath. "Something ancient and very powerful." Her head snapped up. She quickly ran over to an area under the steps. Her staff came to life. Clearly, Phoebe had found something. Her hands and her staff gave off a slight blue glow, and to everyone's surprise, a series of glyphs appeared on the wall.
Emma was amazed at her apparent knowledge of spellcraft. She looked to Rean, who was equally surprised. She quietly sidled up to him. "Did this happen the first time around? Is this where you found that Nosferatu?" to which he shook his head.
"No, the orb containing that thing is upstairs." He pointed in the direction for emphasis. "This is all just as new to me." The Ashen Awakener hadn't expected Laura's cousin to pull out something like this, who was clearly entranced trying to piece together what the glyphs were hiding. And it looked like she was struggling to decipher it. He gently nudged Emma in the side. "You know what, I bet she could use some help with whatever it is she's found." He already had a suspicion of what Laura's cousin was and if so then having another true magic user on their side would only benefit them.
Emma went over to the wall with Phoebe and pulled her own staff out. The two shared a slight smile and began unraveling just what it was Phoebe had found. Emma wished she had Celine to aid her at that moment, she really did miss her familiar. Perhaps a letter to Rose was in order. Celine would probably find the entire scenario hilarious. A glowing circle of purple light appeared underneath Emma, purple light began radiating off her. The glyphs suddenly flashed and shattered, dissolving off the wall as the stones and bricks came away revealing a staircase leading downward. "No way!" Ezra couldn't believe his eyes as the party looked down in at the steps leading into the inky blackness.
Rean took a deep breath and began walking down. He looked over his shoulder. "You guys coming?" He quipped and smirked a little. To which Master Ka-Fai and Ezra both smirked themselves. It wasn't long before they descended these strange stairs to whatever lay within the depths of the castle and beyond. For some reason he felt a sense of familiarity seep into his heart, it was almost deja vu in some way and not because of the field study from the first time around. Clearly, there was something about this place that called to him on a deeper level.
"Uncle Victor, there was never anything mentioned in the family records about there being any kind of caverns beneath the castle was there?" Phoebe asked conjuring up a light so they could see where they were going. Emma was trying to keep stride with Rean, walking faster with every step, clearly something about this place had triggered something in his head and he was going to find the answers as quickly as possible.
"No, and nothing I ever read in the Eisenritter Chronicles either, and I know both sets of them cover to cover. This is indeed quite the find." The Radiant Blademaster wasn't the type to be surprised easily but even his curiosity was piqued about what could be found. Ezra said nothing, but his mind was working on the fact that there were even stairs there in the first place. The stairs kept going down further and further with no sign of stopping. Before they could see what looked like a pair of double doors at the bottom of the stairs. Ezra and Rean pushed the doors, and they swung open, a cold gust of air rushed through. It was musty and foul smelling, like a grease trap after being emptied.
Emma's eyes widened at what the doors contained. "It's a library!" She exclaimed with almost childish glee, running inside with Phoebe on her heels. The room was circular, covered in bookcases eleven shelves high, and filled with books and scrolls. For the witch, it was like being in a candy store. Phoebe was equally delighted, her eyes lit up in pure joy. This was exactly what she was looking for. The two of them circled the room, eyeing the numerous tomes on the walls.
"Most of these probably have never seen the light of day in centuries!" Phoebe said, clearly having found her new favorite place in all the world. Rean may not have been the bookworm Emma and Phoebe were, but a part of him was curious about looking through the contents of this collection for himself. But it was then he felt that familiar sense again. It was then he caught sight of another pair of double doors identical to the ones they had just come through, the higher elements radiating heavily.
"You girls might want to hold off on your browsing." The girls looked up as he slowly approached the doors. "Because I think the real prize is behind these doors." Every single one of Rean's senses pulled him toward the door with a near-mechanical gait. His hands came up to the twin iron handles and with a single heavy shove, threw them open. Emma gasped and Phoebe's hands came up to her mouth. Ezra's jaw fell open at the massive, cavernous room twice the size of the town of Legram itself. A ceiling rising beyond any of their vision, and what appeared to be the crumbling remains of a massive labyrinth as the centerpiece. "It's just the same!" He whispered to himself.
Everyone strolled into the chamber, taking the whole thing in. Rean slowly walked toward the narrow bridge that led to the stony maze itself. "This is inconceivable!" Laura exclaimed. "To think such a place would exist beneath the castle like this. I may not be as well versed in the lore of the Eisenritter as you are, Father, but I would think the discovery of a giant cavern such as this would have warranted a major entry within the chronicles. The Eisenritter scribes are usually so meticulous in their record keeping."
"Indeed, my daughter. Although I'm sure they had their reasons for keeping the cavern a secret." The Radiant Blademaster commented, his gaze going to Yun and then to the labyrinth.
"I think calling it a mere cave would be doing this spread a massive disservice, Master Victor. I mean come on." Ezra knocked his fist against the smooth alabaster stone walls. "No natural cave would have walls like this! And what about that thing?" He indicated the labyrinth itself. "This place is manmade, someone constructed all of it. That's the real question that needs to be answered. Who built this place and what for? That's what I want to know."
"Perhaps it was a secret training ground for the knights of the order?" Master Ka-Fai offered, taking a swig of his sake. "They wanted a place to hone their skills in private and so hollowed out the crag the castle sits on. That way the Eisenritter could train away from the prying eyes of their enemies. The labyrinth certainly lends credence to that theory." He then caught sight of his apprentice still rooted to the beginning of the bridge. Silently noting this was probably old hat to Rean.
The Ashen Awakener was rooted to where he stood before the bridge. His eyes closed in deep concentration as he felt the mystical energies of the higher elements swirl around him. All the while memories of a specific time and place ran through his mind, Memories of running through a series of corridors beneath an old schoolhouse, where an identical aura ran through the air. "It's exactly the same." He said again. "I'm sure of it!" A hand on his shoulder made his eyes snap open and he found himself facing Emma and the rest of his companions.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Rean replied. The only ones who knew the whole story were the witch and his master, and while he was confident in bringing Victor into the mix, he didn't want to play his hand just yet. He cleared his throat. "This labyrinth, there's power here. I can feel it."
"He's right." Phoebe said, her staff out again, the quartz crystals glowing once again as she flared her own power. "The maze seems to be the source of it all. Clearly there was some powerful relic being kept here." Everyone's gaze fell on large monolith at the center of the maze, and it was clear what their destination was going to be.
"I suppose we'll have to navigate the labyrinth and see what lies within." Laura drew her blade, the dim light catching off Brynhildr's edge. "It should be quite challenging to our skills."
"Or…we just could walk through the big gaping hole in the wall?" Ezra quipped, gesturing at where a hole large enough for a train car to pass through sat, and they could see an identical series of holes in every following wall, leading all the way to the center of the maze. "I mean I know you like to test your limits, Laura. But I think this would be a whole lot more practical. I'm just saying." This made Phoebe and Emma giggle. Master Ka-Fai let out an amused snort through his nose and Victor just gave a slight smirk at the young man. That was one thing about Ezra, he always had a clever remark handy.
Rean said nothing, but he was glad for the dry humor, it helped him to keep his wits about this place. The party tentatively entered the shattered maze. No surprise it was full of monsters, but with the strength of everyone present they were a minor issue. It's just like being in the old schoolhouse at Thors all over again. It doesn't quite work the same way, but the architecture and the general feeling are all the same. He thought to himself, helping Laura take down a pair of large lizard-like creatures.
"Are you holding up well, Rean?" He never got tired of listening to her voice. Even when she was cleaving a monster in half it was so pleasant. Laura's competitive spirit had ignited since entering the maze. This was truly a great test of her skill, and she loved every moment of it. "I must say this is quite the discovery!"
"You're not wrong about that, cousin." Phoebe launched a Luminous Ray into a score of goblins that were leering at her in a way that she didn't like. "In fact, I think I may have put together the purpose of this facility. Master Ka-Fai's remark about it being a training ground for knights may be closer to the truth than you think, and it would explain why this place isn't mentioned in the records of the Eisenritter." There was a knowing gleam in the art user's eye, one that made Rean think she had put it all together. "Are you familiar with the legends of the Deus Excellion?"
"Are you talking about the Divine Knights?" Ezra piped up, excitement coloring his tone. "You think they had a connection to this place? If so then I can definitely see why it was left out of the chronicles. If word got out that a Divine Knight was kept here, this castle would have been sieged by every army in existence."
"What exactly do the old legends say about these Divine Knights?" Rean may have known better than anyone the truth behind those stories. But he had never really paid that close attention to them. "You clearly know quite a bit about them, Ezra."
"What can I say? It's one of my favorite tales. I mean what kid doesn't like the idea of giant mechanical knights? Aside from that, they're mostly passed off as mythical figures, fighting battles in the shadows whenever internal conflict erupted in the Empire. Sometimes as destroyers that burned everything that came in front of them and other times as protectors against great threats that would have left Erebonia a dead land. The Lance Maiden, Lianne Sandlot, is very prevalent in some of those latter stories." He paused for a moment to tap his chin. "It makes me wonder if she knew something about that Divine Knight."
"But what purpose could the labyrinth serve?" Laura asked, beheading a nasty-looking basilisk. while Phoebe used Golden Sphere to bombard more of the fire-breathing lizards from earlier. "I suppose it would make a decent defense, but any halfway capable group of warriors could traverse it and claim the Divine Knight for themselves."
"It's not just to protect the machine. It's a test as well." Rean finally spoke up, getting everyone's surprise. He gave an idle shrug. "I've heard a couple of stories of the Divine Knights myself over the years. It's not enough to just claim the power of a Divine Knight, you have to prove yourself worthy of it. At least that's what I've heard. I imagine if we traversed the labyrinth properly there would be trials to overcome, puzzles to solve, and so forth."
"I imagine there'd be some giant monster at the end we'd have to fight as well. It wouldn't be a labyrinth if it didn't have that." Rean laughed inwardly at Ezra's comment, knowing just how right he really was. The party finally reached the last gaping hole before the center. A massive pillar made of finely polished granite reached into the darkness above. Both Emma and Phoebe were very taken with the large sliding door made of the same heavy stone, or rather the complex glyph on said door. But before the girls could start any kind of detailed observation, Rean had pushed them behind him, Ashen Void out and ready.
"Rean?" Emma asked worriedly when she noticed the glyph started glowing and the air rippling in front of them as an ethereal violet light shimmered into existence. She produced her orbal staff as Phoebe did the same.
"Crap, that whole thing about the giant monster was just a joke!" Ezra grimaced, pulling his own blade out. Laura was milliseconds behind him, and Victor and Master Ka-Fai were primed as well. The air continued to ripple, and the violet shimmer split off into three points of light. Eventually forming into a trio of towering beasts, they all had the same basic humanoid shape, but one was short and stocky wielding a massive axe, the other tall and thin holding a sword and shield, and the last one could only be called a hulking dump truck with the biggest lance any of them had ever seen.
"Magic Knights." Rean was now extremely grateful that his master and the Viscount were present. Even if the whole of Class VII, Phoebe, and Ezra included, fought just one of them it would have been an uphill battle, but a trio of them? Wasn't it just lucky they had some heavy hitters of their own on hand? The Sword Hermit and Radiant Blademaster could easily each take one of them, and indeed both masters looked excited. It wasn't often they got to really flex their full might, and thus Yun helped himself to the squat knight on the left, while Victor brandished Galland-Sharl against the right-side creature. Rean was sure they could both handle themselves.
In the meantime, the five teens arrayed themselves against the central knight. Rean stood in the middle with Laura and Ezra flanking him, and Emma and Phoebe a short distance behind. "We're going to have to put this strategy together fast, so listen up. Laura you're the physical powerhouse here, it's going to be up to you to keep him occupied." He found it natural to slip into the leadership role, given that he had engaged in plenty of battles with Laura and Emma during their school days. "Ezra, you and I will take any openings we can and chip away at him."
"Understood," Laura said, her knight's pride shining through. She had no problem being the tank of the group.
"Ha, Easy enough!" Ezra smirked, taking a ready stance. "I've heard Magic Knights are pretty tough customers. Time to see if they really live up to that hype!" Despite his cocky demeanor, Rean knew that Ezra was no weakling. He was equal to Laura in skill and the minimal training he had in the Eight Leaves ensured he could hold his own. And a Magic Knight would be a perfect way to put those newly gained skills to the test.
"I'm ready to heal anyone who's needed and I have buffs on hand," Emma said. Her staff flared with a brilliant purple light. It was comforting to Rean that Class VII's resident witch hadn't let her training slide. Emma swirled her staff around, mana radiating off her.
Phoebe said nothing, merely brandishing her staff in hand, the light of the quartz on top flashing with color. She was the one that Rean wasn't sure of but given her discovery of the entrance to the labyrinth, it was clear that she was on par with Emma, skill-wise. In fact, it was the blue-haired mage that started the proceedings. "Hands of Time spin, whiling blades rend my enemies' very spirit asunder, Soul Blur!" there was a grayish flash of slight, and three whirling discs of energy flared into existence. With a wave of her staff, the orbal art flew straight and true, slamming into the Magic Knight's armored chest.
Rean and Ezra took that as the signal to begin their assault, opening with an Autumn Leaf Cutter and Flame Impact respectively. Ezra was still a little clumsy with the technique, but he swung with all he had, the flames surrounding his blade, cutting across the beast's armored thigh. And Rean augmented his Leaf Cutter with Helix, allowing himself two nasty cuts along Magic Knight's shoulder, a greenish blue miasma leaking out. The creature roared, thrusting its lance forward, looking to impale Ezra, but he just barely avoided becoming a kebab.
Emma was quick to follow her fellow spellcaster's lead, chanting her own spell. "Majestic light of the moon, devastate my enemies with your silvery touch, Luminous Ray!" A brilliant silvery-white light lanced out from her staff, taking a chunk out of the Magic Knight's shoulder. Laura gracefully swung across the beast's lower legs, making it stumble. Rean took this chance to throw out a Crimson Slash, but the Magic Knight batted it away like it was nothing. The magic golem spun its weapon, a sizable cyclone forming around it. It pointed its weapon at the sky, and the entire party found itself buffeted by gale-force winds.
Phoebe and Emma shrieked as they tried to keep their skirts from blowing up before they were knocked off their feet, and Laura planted Brynhildr on the ground to steady herself. The creature roared again, a golden aura surrounding him. "Looks like he just got pumped up!" Ezra was crouched low, managing to avoid the worst of it. The maelstrom faded and Ezra pounced, his trusted blade in hand. "Horizontal Square!" His voice rang out, his blade gleaming as azure energy traced the form of a rhombus in the air, slashing across the beast's torso once again. A spray of spectral blades slammed into it. Emma was quick to regain her footing and came in with a surprise attack.
Rean launched a Gale at the beast, striking from multiple directions madly slashing the entire time. Only to find the Magic Knight's lance right in his face. Time seemed to slow for him. "Hands of Time spin, the scythe of the reaper claims those whose time has ended for, Demonic Scythe!" Phoebe's voice rang out. A wicked, ornate scythe materialized, spinning rapidly around the massive golem, before slashing upward, thus giving Rean an opening to escape. The Magic Knight stumbled, its armor dented and with several holes. But there was still quite a bit of fight in the beast.
"Armor Breaker!" Laura leapt up swinging her blade with all the strength she could muster, doing all she could to keep this behemoth off balance, battering the titanic golem. Rean was close behind, using Autumn Leaf Cutter and Ezra pulled out his own version of Laura's Brilliant Spin. The Magic Knight then let out an angry roar, lightning arcing along the tip of its lance. The weapon was pointed to the sky and a bolt of lightning shot upward. Clouds formed and lightning bolts flashed in them. It was clear this was a big move that was meant to wipe them all out very quickly.
Emma's staff flared, "Majestic light of the moon, shroud us in your protective veil!" She uttered; glowing spheres of silver light surrounded everyone. Her shield spell went up at the perfect time. Lightning bolts of different colors stabbed downward. But thanks to Emma they avoided the worst. The attack was reflected back at the Magic Knight five times over. Ezra capitalized on its stricken state. His blade flashed and he swung it overhead, cleaving off the tip of the knight's lance.
"We got it on the ropes! Let's put this thing down!" Ezra declared. He could smell the blood in the water, and it was time to finish this up. The party regrouped; they would not be denied a victory after coming this far. Ezra led the charge with Laura at his side. they swung their swords downward at the same time, angry red crescents of light flying outward. Rean slammed his blade back into its sheath. "Fifth Form, Morning Moon." He whispered. "Luminous Void!" He swung, letting loose a silvery blade of energy, that would put the glow of the moon itself to shame. The attacks hit the Magic Knight from three directions, taking huge chunks out of the beast's armor.
"Majestic light of the moon, let the hand of the mighty emerge from shadow and strike down evil from on high, Claimoh Solarion!" Emma and Phoebe both uttered, holding their staves to the sky. The skies darkened opened and a pair of giant hands poked through, letting loose larger, stronger versions of Luminous Ray, bathing the Magic Knight in the potent light of the moon, its armor smoked and burned, and the charred piece of metal that was once its weapon clattered to the ground.
"Time to finish this!" Rean yelled, holding Ashen Void with its blade downward, flames sparking to life. "Flames gather around my blade!" Laura's eyes widened when he took that pose and uttered those words. Rean launched forward, swinging his fiery sword multiple times across the titan. "Flame Strike!" The brilliant fires of the Ashen Awakener's soul grew with each consecutive slash. Recovering from her shock. Laura followed suit, Brynhildr wreathed in a brilliant light, and a blade of light jutted out. Leaping in the air and Holding her blade to the sky, Laura S. Arseid slashed downward, cleaving the Magic Knight in half. It let out a pained roar before vanishing in an aura of purple light, even as her father and Master Ka-Fai did the same to their respective adversaries, dissolving in the same violet haze.
"Nicely done! I'll admit I'm surprised it took you that long." The Sword Hermit quipped as he sipped his sake.
"Oh, come off it, Master. We downed that thing mere seconds after you did!" Ezra shot back.
"But those seconds could make all the difference, Ezra. I'm sure I taught you that." Victor sheathed Galland-Sharl.
Ezra just shook his head. "At least we kicked that thing's ass." He said, flexing his hand. "I've still got a long way to go." The battle against the Magic Knight had taught him a few things. He had sparred against Laura enough times, they knew each other's moves pretty well, and even when Phoebe had gotten involved, he was confident fighting alongside both girls. What really surprised him was how well Emma and Rean flowed with the three of them as well. It was a good thing their teamwork was so solid because Ezra knew he would have lost if he had tried soloing the Magic Knight. If anything else, it provided him with a good measuring stick for his current skill.
"Let's fall back to the library for now. Those Magic Knights were tough, and I don't want to imagine if this place can conjure up anything worse than that." Victor said, looking at Emma and Phoebe. "Besides I'm sure the girls want to examine those books further." They both lit up at this. The entire party retreated through the holes and back to the library. The two girls wasted little time wading in to explore the myriad volumes. Rean found it kind of cute how they scurried about, holding the books and scrolls contained with the deepest reverence.
"It's going to be nigh impossible to extract the two of them from this place," Ezra remarked to Laura, watching the girls gathering piles of books on the table. "I suppose I can't judge them for being happy. Nothing wrong with picking up a good book or two to read."
"Improving yourself mentally is just as important as physically. After all, a strong body means nothing without a strong mind to guide it." Laura proclaimed. "A good plan can make all the difference in combat."
Ezra couldn't deny that at all. Neither could Rean. "We shouldn't let the girls have all the fun then. We may find something that catches our fancy as well." With that, they started searching the shelves as well. Victor and Yun looked on.
"Ah, always good to see the next generation actively searching out knowledge. It proves we've done our jobs right." the Sword Hermit sighed contentedly as he nipped a drink.
"I'll have to put in a request to the guild to send an archival team down here. This should be preserved for all time." The Radiant Blademaster wasn't the type to boast of his accomplishments, but the discovery of the library and its contents was a nice little feather in the cap.
"I found something!" Excitement colored Phoebe's voice. Clenched in her hands was a large tome with a thick cover, colored a dark midnight blue color, almost pure black, the edges and spine trimmed in gold. She slowly opened it. "Oh, Emma look at this!" Her fellow magic user came up and they started perusing it together. Delicate fingers ran over the runes displayed and the delicate script in blue ink outlined what each rune meant. "I think this is some kind of spellbook." A delighted squee escaped Phoebe's lips when she turned the page again. "I don't believe it! This goes into depth about the higher elements! This has never been seen before." She hugged the book to her chest. "I think I found my midnight reading!"
Emma giggled, "Just make sure you pass it to me when you're done. I wouldn't mind looking through it myself." She had to admit, the mention of the higher elements caught her attention as well. She left her new friend to continue reading the weighty tome, and the bespectacled witch began examining the shelves, a part of her resolved to include the discovery of this place to Rose in her next letter. A part of her wondered if her grandmother had in fact been the one to seal the entire basement area off. Her eye then caught sight of a single book tucked away on a distant part of the shelf.
"What have we here?" She said quietly, picking it up, noting the cover was a brilliant shade of blue, embossed with a majestic-looking eagle, its wings spread open and designs all around the corner in glittering silver. Emma tentatively opened the cover. "The Journal of Niobe Arseid?" She read, noting the handwriting was exactly the same as from the spellbook. Hurriedly she went to Phoebe, who had put the tome aside and was looking at some old scrolls. While Laura had found a book on the techniques originally used by the Eisenritter. "Girls, you should take a look at this. I think it belonged to the same person who wrote the spellbook."
Phoebe opened the cover and gasped, before passing it over to Laura, who looked equally startled. "Where exactly did you find this, Emma?" She asked, after finally finding her voice.
"Tucked away on a shelf by itself." Emma noted how in awe both girls were at the owner of the tome. "Who exactly is Niobe Arseid?"
"Our ancestor." Phoebe spoke with a deep reverence. "She was a powerful mage who fought with the Eisenritter, and trained its mage knights. She married Viscount Gavin Arseid, the second in command of the Lance Maiden. They fought together with Dreichels and Roland Vander during the War of the Lions. Our family has searched for Lady Niobe's writings for years. The spellbook is one thing, but her journal is something else entirely! Uncle Victor look at this!" The Arseid patriarch came over. "Emma found Lady Niobe's journal! It was down here the entire time."
"I just saw it by chance." Emma blushed, not used to so much attention.
Victor just gave a gracious smile and kissed her hand. "But still, you've returned a priceless family relic to us. That in itself is a huge gesture, Miss Millstein. It goes without saying but you have become a friend of the Arseid family, and you are always welcome here in Legram."
"Way to go Em!" Ezra clapped. Rean and Master Ka-Fai just gave approving smiles to the embarrassed young woman. While the monster attack hadn't been their idea of a fun time. By finding the library and the resting place of the Divine Knight, they had restored a valuable piece of history. So, they could consider this trip a success.
(Viscounty of Legram, May 18th, 1203 of the Septian Calendar)
The morning was light and clear, as the ringing of steel permeated the air. Rean and Ezra were engaged in a brisk sparring match. In the two weeks since their adventure at the castle, Ezra had sunk heavily into his training in the Eight Leaves school. Both Master Ka-Fai and Rean had been quite surprised at how quickly he picked it up. Wielding a tachi procured by the Sword Hermit, Ezra threw out a Crimson Slash at Rean, who used Gale to evade it. But then he found himself on the receiving end of a devastating Flame Impact. The heat from the downward slash left a burning sensation across his skin as their blades met in a hard lock. "You've gotten really good with that you know?" Rean grinned as he tried pushing Ezra's sword back.
"I owe it to you and the big man," Ezra grunted, twisting out a Helix to try and keep Rean from using Autumn Leaf Cutter. The sound of steel rang again as Ezra parried Ashen Void and leapt over the Ashen Awakener's head to try and get him with an airborne Morning Moon strike. Ezra landed in a crouch, just missing a swing from Rean's blade. The two of them leapt back and threw out their own Crimson Slashes, both projectiles striking each other. They were about ready to go for the next round when they felt something approaching. Both of them turned, batting away the rocks Master Ka-Fai had thrown at them.
"Bravo, Neither Cassius nor Arios was ever able to develop their senses enough to detect when I'd do that when they first started their training. They always would get too focused on the duel in front of them and lose sight of the bigger picture." The Sword Hermit said from his seat on a large boulder. "Take a break for right now, boys. No need to burn yourselves out yet. After all, the day is young." The fellow disciples shrugged and took the bottles of water their master provided, and sat down to catch their breath.
Ezra's initial enthusiasm at becoming Yun's student had died down a bit when it was apparent that the Sword Hermit was an even stricter teacher than the Radiant Blademaster, but it was replaced by an appreciation for his teaching methods when he started seeing results. "I have to say, this is like starting over completely from the beginning for me. The Eight Leaves is just so different from the Arseid School." His muscles burned but it was a good feeling all around.
"And yet you've taken to it so readily." Master Ka-Fai said as he took a drink from his ever-present flask. "Between Cassius, Arios, and Rean. I had always known he had the most potential for growth, but it seems you're equally talented, Ezra. Of course, Victor saw that potential as well. Even as disparate as our the two styles are, the basic principles are more or less close, so it's not the same as if you hadn't ever picked up a sword beforehand. Speaking of which, I contacted a friend of mine who's a master swordsmith to forge a new blade for you. Tell me what you want for it and I'll let him know what to do."
Rean saw the excitement on Ezra's face. "It's almost a rite of passage to get your own blade. It's how I got Ashen Void after all. I'll admit I've come to enjoy having you as a sparring partner, Ezra. Master Ka-Fai usually only takes one student at a time, so I've never had the chance to face someone at the same level of skill as myself." Ezra was about to reply when Rean sensed something. He looked over his shoulder to the trees. His eyes narrowed slightly. Which didn't go unnoticed by either his master or fellow student. Rean held a finger up to keep them from speaking. His hand went to Ashen Void, and a playful smirk appeared on his face. "Sorry, Fie." He whispered and threw out a Crimson Slash at one particular tree. The birds perched inside flew away in a flurry and a feminine cry could be heard as a dark figure fell out of the branches, landing in a crouch.
Ezra's eye widened at the young woman slowly standing up, clad in a long black jacket worn open, revealing a sleeveless turtleneck in a dark green, a white vest with pockets, and dark brown shorts showing off a fairly nice pair of legs. It also gave him a very good view of the two holstered pistols she wore on each hip. Her hair was on the shorter side, not to mention a magnificent silvery hue, gleaming in the mid-morning sun. The girl's green eyes carried a mix of annoyance and amazement. He noticed the wide grin on Rean's face, it was a grin of reuniting with an old friend, so clearly, he knew her. "How did you know she was there?" He finally asked.
"Yeah, that's what I want to know." The girl huffed, the wind blowing through her hair. "The only other person who was ever able to find me was the boss." A light smirk formed on her lips. "Although I suppose I should give you a couple of points for finding me in that tree."
"You always did have a habit of lounging in them to get a good nap." Rean drawled, cautiously approaching her. While he was familiar with Fie, she didn't know him, so a certain degree of caution was needed. "Hello again, Fie. You saved me quite a bit of trouble coming here. Although it does beg the question of why you're here in the first place. Can I assume you're here with the rest of Zephyr?" She flinched just for a moment. "I can assume by your reaction the answer is yes. So now I must know what business Zephyr has in Legram?"
"We were called here for some kind of job, at least I assume that's the reason." Fie shrugged, stretching at the same time. Ezra thought her mannerisms were very cat-like. "Then again, I don't ask too many questions. The Boss just gives us our orders and we do it."
"Glad to see Rutger still runs such a tight ship." Master Ka-Fai spoke up, surprising Rean. "I'll go ahead and say that I was the one who called Zephyr here. You did mention Miss Claussell was a jaeger in service to them." Ezra's eyes shot upward. This was news to him! But Rean seemed non-plussed by it all. "All I had to do was find where they were operating and ask them to come out here. I imagine Xenophilius and Leonard are still with him as well?" Fie merely nodded to which the old master just gave a fond smile. "Glad to see some things never change then."
"Wait master, you actually know the Jaeger King?" Ezra asked. He had heard of Zephyr and their exploits.
"But of course, Ezra. I've known Rutger Claussell since we were both your age. After all, Zephyr, and my old corps, Ikaruga, have fought against and alongside each other for many years."
"Wait, what?" Rean asked. It took him a few minutes to put it all together. "Master, are you saying, you used to be a Jaeger yourself?" The Sword Hermit said nothing, just taking out his flask of sake and knocking back a shot. That alone was all the answer he needed.