Here we are at Chapter 48. Been a while, but I was finishing up another story and I had writer's block on this one for a while. Anyway, let's continue with Fuyumi's journey as it begins a new stage. I do not own Code Vein or Skeleton Knight. They belong to their respective owners. I only own my OCs. Here's chapter 48. Enjoy.
Chapter 48: The Fire Rises
Several days have passed since the party where the king officially announced the alliance formed between Anatolia and the Dragon Alliance, and where Fuyumi met a member of the church from the Conclave. Since then, Fuyumi has had more time to relax at home much to her joy. Sometimes, a change in pace can do one good. Of course, not everything has been entirely peaceful for everyone. In the royal capital, King Gaius is reviewing reports from his advisors.
"Are you certain of this?" King Gaius asks one minister.
"Indeed, Your Majesty. All our investigations into the illegal human trafficking ring have come to a halt, primarily because all activities we were investigating have suddenly ceased simultaneously. Almost as if in consort together. It's strange. We're unable to make heads or tails of this. But, that's not the only troubling report we've received. Reports have uncovered strange movements from those within the Theodosia Conclave and the Gravlon Empire. Our spies have reported that military forces in the empire are amassing in large numbers. There's the possibility of an invasion on the rise. Similar reports have come in from the Conclave as well, though their numbers are much, much lower," the minister explains.
The Conclave is a religious nation. While they have a military in a manner of speaking, it is small compared to some other nations on the continent. Still, they may not need it when a majority of the populace practice the faith of the goddess. Should the church call its believers to arms, many may answer its call. And some may be fanatical enough to rush to their deaths, chanting in the goddess' name and believing that salvation awaits them. King Gaius would like to avoid his people killing each other, especially when they believe their killing for their goddess when in reality, they're killing their fellow countrymen for some old men with selfish ambitions on their minds. As for the Gravlon Empire, they've been a military state for a long time. It's not unusual for their military to start making movements. However, on the side of caution, and with everything else that's happened recently, King Gaius can't neglect the idea that the Gravlon Empire is making a big move. There's too much going on right now for it to be a coincidence.
"Have our soldiers remain on guard at the borders, but order them to not launch any attacks. We can't give our neighbors any legitimate excuses to invade us," Gaius gives his command.
"At once, Your Majesty," the minister bows his head before taking his leave.
The king sighs before turning to look out the window, "Please, let this not be what I fear it to be,"
...
Meanwhile, in Crystalglove city, while Fuyumi is out doing a mercenary job, Eleonora had called Emilia, Anelia, Iris, Hikaru and Elane into a private 'women's only' meeting. For what purpose, no one really knew yet.
"Now then, I've called you all here for a very important reason," Eleonora says, donning a pair of glasses now.
"Um, Mother, why are you wearing glasses?" Emilia raises her hand.
"Right now, you will not address me as your mother, but as your professor," Eleonora closes her fan with a loud smack. "Understand?" her innocent smile only makes them more nervous.
"Understood," all the girls answer together.
"Now then, the one thing you all have in common is your connections to Fuyumi Kusanagi. As you all know, Fuyumi's prestige and accomplishments are growing at an incredible rate. More noble families and women will try to get into her good graces as her fame grows, from this and other countries. To ensure you all can deal with any potential competition, I am here to teach you all the things you'll need to know about being good wives to your spouse," Eleonora explains.
"Mo-Professor, what do you mean? I've gone through quite a few lessons in preparation for any future engagements, and after I became engaged to Fuyumi," Emilia asks.
"And I'm kind of wondering why I'm here when I'm not engaged to Fuyumi," Elane adds.
"Yes, you have received training before, as have Iris and Hikaru, I'm sure, but not Anelia and Elane. And there's always room for more training. It's simple: these are not normal lessons. As the wife of a duke, I've learned quite a few things over the years. Things I will teach you. I will teach you lessons for when you are by your spouse's side at parties, at home, and when it comes time for 'nighttime' services," Eleonora says, the last part making the girls blush except for Hikaru.
"U-uh, are you sure it's okay to be talking about something like this?" Anelia stutters.
"It doesn't matter. These are lessons you MUST learn. Now then, Princess Hikaru, I understand that you have plenty of experience in the last part, correct?" Eleonora turns to the dragon.
"I do, indeed," Hikaru smirks.
"Excellent, then you'll be my assistance when we get to that. For now, let's begin the first lesson," Eleonora claps her fan again.
...
Later in the day, Fuyumi is on her way back to the manor after hunting down some monsters outside the city for a mercenary job. As she walks through the streets of the city, people glance at her in awe and wonder. When she offers quick waves and a smile to any ladies that watch her, some start gushing like fan girls at a high school. A few men stare at her like hungry dogs, but a quick glare from her shuts them down fast. Most of the people in the city know who she is by this point. She's practically a celebrity now. As she walks, Fuyumi gets a feeling that she's being followed. Her past experiences have helped her hone this instinct. Taking a detour, Fuyumi walks down an alleyway and then casts Night Fog Veil and Nightstalker to mask her presence and footsteps. Now to just wait for her pursuers. A few seconds later, four men in dark cloaks move into the alleyway, obviously looking for her.
"Where did she go?" the one in the lead looks around.
"Report said that she can teleport. She might've already escaped. If she returned to the manor, we won't be able to go after her so easily. It would make things a lot more difficult. Worse, if that animal is there, then we won't stand a chance either way," another states.
Fuyumi narrows her eyes. They're definitely after her, and they're well-informed. What's more, with that 'animal' comment, she has a sneaking suspicion of who these people work for. Deciding to capture them alive for some answer, Fuyumi casts Stun Trap. The second they walk into the trap, it shocks and stuns them all. It won't last for long, but hopefully she'll have what she needs before then.
Fuyumi reveals herself to them, "So, care to tell me who you are, who you work for, and why you're after me?" she asks.
The men glance between each other, still frozen in place. Just as Fuyumi is about to make them talk, she senses something behind her and leans her head to the side, narrowly dodging a thrown knife aimed at her head. She looks back to see two more goons in cloaks running down the alley towards her. One draws a long sword while the other mumbles an incantation. Fuyumi draws her sword and blocks a strike from the first assailant, pushing him back. The second raises a hand and shoots off a ray of light at her.
"Holy Ray!" the attacker calls out.
Fuyumi jumps over the attack, but then notices that the followers from before are now free from her trap. They all draw weapons and swarm on her. However, Fuyumi has faced off against numbers before, and against far stronger opponents. These people, despite knowing who she is, are underestimating her. Fuyumi casts Cloak of Winter, freezing everything and everyone in sight. The attackers are frozen solid, all stuck in place.
"Now then, let's try this again," Fuyumi conjures a small flame in her hand to melt the ice around one of the attacker's heads, freeing him. "Who are you and why are you after me? Tel me now, and i will spare your life and the lives of your comrades,"
"T-They said you w-were strong... And yet, y-you use that power to walk down t-the wrong path. Y-You're no a-angel!" the man replies in a shiver.
That confirms her suspicion. These goons were sent by the conclave. Only they would call her an 'angel'.
"I see. Can't say I'm surprised since I refused to become their puppet. I'm sure the authorities will love to talk to you," Fuyumi notes.
"You won't get the chance... For the will of our goddess!" the man yells before his right hand breaks out of the ice with something inside its grasp.
Fuyumi jumps back, and rightly so, since a second later a bright light engulfs the man and spreads through the alley. Fuyumi narrowly escapes as a huge explosion rings out, taking all her attackers with it. The explosion causes quite the commotion with the populace nearby. Thankfully no one was injured besides the culprits. The chaos brings in soldiers working security.
"What's going on here?!" the leader of the security team demands.
Fuyumi turns to them, "It seems security is pretty lax around here,"
The soldiers stand at attention, "Ah, Ser Fuyumi! What happened here?!"
They serve the duke of the city, and since Fuyumi is a knight, and the fiance of the duke's daughter, she outranks them.
"Someone sent assassins to take my life. I captured them, but they decided to kill themselves, and try to take me with them, in order to keep any information coming out. I don't know if there are more lingering around. Tighten security throughout the city and detain anyone suspicious for questioning. I'm heading back to the manor to inform the duke about this," Fuyumi explains.
"At once, Ser Fuyumi!" the guards salute.
Not wanting to waste time, Fuyumi teleports back to the mistle in the manor's garden.
...
When Fuyumi returns to the manor, she finds a mess waiting for her. She sees one goon in a dark cloak flying right by her, crashing into a tree with a hard smack. She looks back at him and then turns to find Iris as the culprit.
"Fuyumi!" Iris calls out with relief.
"Iris! What's going on?" Fuyumi asks.
"We were all enjoying our day when these people showed up out of nowhere and started attacking everyone. Some of the servants have been injured and others... worse. A few of the knights guarding the manor have died as well," Iris explains.
"Where are the others?" Fuyumi is worried now.
Iris, Elane, Anelia, and Hikaru can take care of themselves, but Emilia is not a combatant. Not to mention everyone else in the manor that can't fight.
"We got separated. I've already dealt with several of these bastards, but I don't know how many are left," Iris explains.
"Let's find the others, quickly. I was attacked by these goons in the city. That's why I rushed back here," Fuyumi replies.
Iris nods, ignoring the fact that Fuyumi said she was just attacked. If she's here, then it means she's okay. Besides, she's faced far worse and lived to tell the tale. They head back inside the manor, finding more dead servants and goons in the hall. Racing through the building, they come across three attackers who turn towards them.
"It's her! Kill the demon who masquerades as an angel!" one of them yells.
They all draw twin short swords and charge at the pair. Iris nimbly dodges one's double slash and slashes through his chest with her blade. Fuyumi follows it up with a quick swing of her blade to break one attacker's blade in two, and then a downward slash to finish him. One attacker stabs his blade through the body of his comrade, hoping to stab Fuyumi with it, but Fuyumi teleports behind him and makes a quick slash down his back. They watch the dead bodies fall for only a moment before moving on.
"Just who are these people?!" Iris notes.
"I have an idea about who and why, but that'll be for later. Let's focus on finding the others," Fuyumi says.
They move through the manor, cutting down any assassins they come across. Rounding a corner, they hear a scream that makes Fuyumi's blood go cold.
"Emilia!" Fuyumi races forth.
Kicking down a door, she finds Emilia in one corner of the room with Elane standing guard, her sword drawn, and three more assassins on the other side. Three lie dead on the floor, but Elane is injured.
"Emilia! Elane!" Fuyumi yells.
"Fuyumi!" Emilia cries with relief.
The assassins turn, but Fuyumi doesn't hold back and fires off several Frost Spikes at them. Two get skewered, but one ducks under the attack. Iris comes in and swings her blade down, but the assassin blocks it with his own. However, Fuyumi comes at his right. Just as he's about to counter her, a blade comes in through his ribs on his left side, courtesy of Elane. The last assassin falls.
"Fuyumi!" Emilia runs into her beloved's arms.
"Are you two alright?" Fuyumi asks.
"We're fine-ugh, mostly," Elane glances at her injured left arm.
"Here, let me heal you," Fuyumi quickly heals Elane's injuries and then regenerates her strength. "Where are the others?"
"We got separated. Hikaru should be with Eleonora and Anelia. I'm not worried about her. She can take on dozens of these guys and still come out on top. But, I am worried about the others. As dor the Duke, I don't know where he is right now," Elane explains.
"Then let's find them. Hopefully, Ser Conrad should be with the duke," Fuyumi grasps Emilia's hand. "Stay close to me. I'll keep you safe,"
Emilia nods and they follow her. Fuyumi is, of course, concerned for the rest of her lovers, but Emilia is the only one of them with no combat training or experience. So she's the most vulnerable. If Ser Conrad is with the duke, then he should be safe, and Fuyumi is not worried about Hikaru. Anyone who tries to kill her is just walking into a fiery grave. They race through the manor, finding several dead assassins on the floor. A few of them are smashed into the walls. Likely Hikaru's work. As they go deeper, they see another assassin fly right into a wall, his bones breaking against the stone. Fuyumi looks to see Hikaru walking towards them, dragging another assassin by the back of his throat. Behind her are Anelia and Eleonora.
"If there's one thing I hate, it's interruptions," Hikaru tosses the body up and smacks it into a wall with her tail. "Fuyumi!"
"Emilia!" Eleonora is filled with relief at seeing her daughter safe.
"Mother, I'm glad you're alright!" Emilia hugs her mother.
"Yes, I'm fine dear. Thanks to Anelia and Hikaru," Eleonora holds her close before looking at Fuyumi. "I'm glad to see you're safe as well, Fuyumi. When these assassins suddenly showed up and you weren't here, I feared that something might've happened to you,"
"There will be time for that later. We need to find Duke Joseph and make sure the rest of these intruders have been taken down," Fuyumi says.
They move as a group to the duke's office. Along the way, they find more dead servants and guards, along with a few more assassins. Eleonora and Emilia do their best to keep their composure at such dark images that now plague their home. They reach the office and kick their way in. Inside, they find Duke Joseph cornered by several assassins. His left arm is bleeding, but he's still wielding his sword. Ser Conrad is with him but is heavily injured. He's still standing but can barely hold up his sword. There are a few more assassins dead on the floor. Seems he pt up quite the fight for them.
"Father!" Emilia yells.
They all turn to the new arrivals. Fuyumi teleports in between the assassins and Joseph and Conrad and casts Guard of Honor, skewering two assassins with her ice shards. The surprise attack catches the assassins off guard, giving Elane the chance to fire two arrows at another. He dodges them, but he can't dodge the powerful punch of Hikaru, which goes right through his stomach. Elane clashes her blade against one assassin, while another goes for her back. However, he gets blasted away by a fireball from Anelia. Elane fires an arrow at the first one's back, making him groan in pain and giving Iris the chance to finish him off with a thrust of her sword. The last two pull out small devices from their cloaks.
"You heretics will burn in the fires of the goddess' wrath. For the will of-," the assassin stops talking with both of their heads fall to the floor, courtesy of Fuyumi.
"I never did like suicidal maniacs. If you want to kill yourself, then kill yourself, but don't drag others into your antics," Fuyumi mutters.
With the last assassin dead, the fight is over.
"Father, are you alright?!" Emilia and Eleonora approach the duke.
"I'm fine... For the most part. Thanks to Ser Conrad. He's in worse shape than me," Duke Joseph looks at his knight who kneels on the ground.
"Just doing my... duty, milord," Ser Conrad grits in pain.
"Ser Conrad! Don't worry, I'll heal you," Anelia kneels down to use her light magic.
"I'll help," Iris joins her and uses her own.
Meanwhile, the others discuss what happened, "How could so many assassins get into my manor like this?"
"I may not know how, but I have an idea on who. A few of these guys were stalking me out in the city. I cornered them, but then they blew themselves up just to keep from talking. They tried to take me with them, but failed. However, they said that I wasn't a real 'angel'. And they cried out for their goddess before they died. There's only one group of people who might hold a grudge against me and talk like that," Fuyumi explains.
"The Theodosia Conclave. This must be retaliation for declining to go with them to their country. I remember you telling me about your conversation with one of their clergy members at the king's party," Duke Joseph says.
"I had the same idea. But, why attack all of you as well? And how DID they get in here?" Fuyumi asks.
"The faith of the goddess spreads across the continent, with a few exceptions. There are plenty of believers even in Anatolia. They may have had help from people in the city to get inside, probably saying they were 'serving the goddess' will' and all of that. Faith is a powerful thing. But even the conclave wouldn't make a move this risky. It would give cause to start a war and would only hurt relations with other nations if they found out the church sent assassins to kill people. Unless...," Duke Joseph looks out the window.
...
In the capital, the king has just received an urgent report. Reading over the document, he furrows his brow and sighs.
"Is it... as we feared, Your Majesty?" a minister asks.
King Gaius looks up, "I'm afraid so... Together with the Theodosia Conclave... the Gravlon Empire has declared war."
And that's the chapter. Fuyumi and her loved ones managed to stave off an assassination attempt on their lives, but that was only a prelude to the true battles that now await them. The Gravlon Empire has declared war, so now the real conflict begins. Will Fuyumi and her friends be able to push back the empire before the damage becomes too severe? Until then, please Read and Review.