Welcome back, dear readers!
Now for new readers. This chapter may be a little confusing. Rest assured you didn't miss anything. This is the first chapter of Arc VII. But the next chapter will return you back to where you left off. There is a fundamental long-term reason why this and four other chapters like this one will exist between each Arc.
All I say is trust me, I know what I'm doing, and just have fun with the mysterious nature of these special chapters.
My Hero Academia Untold: The Fafnir Knight (Remastered Edition)
Saga I: Dusk
Arc VII: The Ephemeral Lands.
Chapter XIII: Denial Part 1
"I protect myself by refusing to know myself."
― Floriano Martins
"Yf Syhh aqqh lfntuvq tf aynwf, jgf xhqtlq jqtn syfi yf."*
"Right," she answered as she lay there waiting. She had been waiting for quite some time now. Waiting for news about him, for some kind of update, anything whatsoever. Now she was about to be taken on a journey to find him.
"Wqufth kbuftkf wtpq, lftupjo abn fiq uqgnth hyuc syfi Atauyn."
"Gntzyfo, fiq uqrf aqs wbwqufl tnq knyfykth. Xhqtlq nqhtr tup mglf abkgl bu iyw, bcto?"
"I understand," she answered as she was suddenly swallowed by darkness, despite the rapid change in atmosphere. She remained relaxed and continued as instructed. She felt like she was sinking; the void felt almost like water, yet it was light as if it were air. As she focused, several ambient sounds were beginning to be drowned out, save for the faintest whispers, and the tiniest beeping sounds could be heard from beyond the veil.
"Hyuc itl jqqu qlftjhyliqp, pyvyfth nqupqnyuv ba t uqgfnth ebuq yl xnbkqllyuv."
"Gntzyfo, nqwqwjwn sitf sq fbhp obg tup fnglf obgnlqha."
She did not answer. She was focused on the task before her. She had promises to keep. She had to concentrate on finding him and bringing him back home. She had to get him back. She needed to bring back their hope for everyone who had been left behind, who waited for them to come back home.
A hope everyone back desperately needed.
Yet, at the same time, a part of her selfishly yearned to see him and only him alone…to be able to hold each other again in each other's arms. To finally tell him those words she failed to say out loud before everything went to hell when the traitor had brought down destruction and chaos.
I love you.
Those words were nestled deep within her heart. But right now, the only words she could think to herself were:
I've missed you so much.
"Nqupqnyuv kbwxhqfq, jqvyuuyuv lywghtfybu."
"Jnyuv iyw ibwq, Gntzyfo, tup vbbp hgkc."
"I will," she whispered back into the void.
In an instant, everything changed again. Gone were the whispers, and she heard a light breeze go past her in their place. Gone was void as now she felt solid ground firmly on her back with the smell of fresh air suddenly filling her nostrils and the sounds of nature filling her ears. The sun's light was barely hidden from behind her closed eyes.
"Ah!"
She had heard someone squeak out in surprise.
"Everyone, please! Come quick!" The same voice called out. Ochako groaned and wished whoever was talking could tone it down a notch. She laid there on the ground, allowing her body to regain all its senses and strength to move. Soon enough, she could hear a small group of people close in, sensing their shadows and footsteps encircle her.
"Are you unwell?" The voice asked more gently now as if to soothe her.
Ochako finally opened her eyes, briefly blinded by the bright white light of the sun's glow. As her sight began to focus and sharpen, she was met with a surprising company of familiar faces. Kneeling before her were none other than the main characters straight from her favorite childhood storybook. The girl who knelt directly in front of Ochako was the one and only beautiful Princess Arianna de Caledonia. She had a kind, gentle face, curious purple eyes, and long matching hair. She wore a flowing white dress in place of her trademark armored outfit.
To her left was the tiny and almost exclusively carnivorous War Magus Chloe. She wore her usual witch's outfit, pink wire trim glasses, and donned an oversized hat with a small star charm that hung on the edge. And behind Arianna were two men. The first was a bulky and unshaven blond knight named Bertrand. He carried on a weary, tired look behind his blue eyes and somber face. The second, younger man, the dark green-haired archer named Flavio, looked down with concern while still donned in his classic green and beige scouting gear.
"Do you understand me?" Arianna was clearly worried about the mysterious brunette foreigner she had discovered.
Ochako blinked, then answered calmly as she could.
"Y-Yes…."
Even in her bleary state, Ochako did her best not to nerd out. After a quick nod, she gave Arianna a small smile to put her at ease. While Princess herself, in turn, sighed in relief, happy to know that they could understand each other.
"Oh, excellent! Now, are you injured, or is something else wrong?" Arianna carefully asked, "I find it strange to find anyone in this land, especially to find one simply on the ground unconscious…."
"No, no, I'm fine…I was just looking for someone." Ochako answered as she finally sat up from the ground, gathering her bearings and seeing that she now wore a flowing white dress that mirrored Arianna's.
From what she could see around her came clear into view: the lowlands of a great valley, the lush and dewy greenery, and a bright purple and orange sky of dusk were evident in the sky. And there, at the center, was the most remarkable feature to behold in the land. As its crown reached far into the heavens above, a grand and mighty tree stood proudly.
"You are searching for someone as well?" Arianna wondered as she offered her a canteen of water.
"Yes, I am…." Ochako answered, refusing the drink while looking around herself. Amazed at the sight that she and the others were in right now. 'This isn't High Lagaard, no… this seems like a different place altogether, but that is Yggdrasil...'
As she looked in awe at the great tree, she remembered her task and knew almost out of instinct that was where her destination lay. 'If Izuku was following the storyline from the book, he should be heading toward Yggdrasil...just like any Fafnir Knight would have done.'
"You know, Princess. You tend to always get on our case about being polite. Yet, you haven't introduced us," Bertrand remarked, snapping Ochako out of her thoughts. The remainder of the crew shared a chuckle between themselves, causing the young Princess to fluster.
"Oh my! Yes, please do forgive me!" Arianna said in horror, scrambling to compose herself. "Where are my manners today?!"
"My name is Arianna, heiress to the Duchy of Caledonia. With me are my companions: Sir Bertrand, Sir Flavio, and Dame Chloe," Arianna continued as she motioned a hand over to the Knight, Ranger, and Mage, respectively, before turning back to Ochako. "As for yourself, what is your name?"
Ochako could not help but giggle at the introduction. She had known who they all were ever since she was four years old. Still, she knew better than to interrupt. Arianna was kind and wonderful most of the time. Still, she could also show no mercy to her foes nor patience for anyone who lacked manners and courtesy.
"My name is Ochako," She replied, unsure if this would be the best way to answer. "I'm from the Land of the Rising Sun."
"I've never heard of this Land of the Rising Sun," Arianna replied, looking a bit confused as she tried to remember the names of the various countries in the known world. While thinking it over, she helped Ochako stand up but not before noticing something that caught her eye.
"Are you a daughter of the mark as well!?**" Arianna questioned with a look of surprise on her face as she saw the mark on the back of Ochako's right hand. Ochako, however, gave a sad smile when she saw that familiar tiny cross-shaped black flower that marked her hand and the memories tied to it.
"I am, and I'm here to find my Knight. A Knight of Fafnir," She said resolutely, to the shock of everyone else in the group.
"It must be fate that brought us here together!" Arianna exclaimed cheerfully. "I've been on the search for my own Knight of Fafnir as well! His name is Jin, and what is your Knight's name?"
"Izuku..."She paused as her mood turned dour. "His name is Izuku, and I came here to find him after...after he stopped a great evil..."
Ochako's voice was weighted with sadness and bitterness when she remembered the last few days. Arianna saw that familiar pain cross Ochako's face, a pain she knew all too well when they had lost Jin to the Black Guardian at the end of her own journey.
"Well then…let's work together to find them," Arianna decided, giving Ochako an assured nod and smile.
"With the Knights of Fafnir. We know their fates are tied to both their Markers and to the Yggdrasil tree," She continued motioning towards themselves and then towards the great tree ahead of them. As the group looked toward their destination, a great flash of light suddenly appeared by the tree's base, somewhere among the roots.
"That's him!" Ochako and Arianna said in unison, knowing that one or both of the knights must have transformed upon seeing that familiar shine.
"Arianna, come on! There isn't any time to waste!" Flavio shouted as he started running towards the tree with excitement.
"Right!" She turned to Ochako after motioning for Chloe and Bertrand to proceed. "Ready to go, Ochako?
Ochako looked at the tree and then gave her new companion a determined nod.
'Izuku, wait for me! I'm coming!'
"Yes!" She answered as she joined the group properly.
The group had arrived at where the bright light flashed, at a small ruined town nestled among the giant roots of the great tree. Ochako was awestruck by the dense sight of the town that was built in a classical style of high fantasy, something that was only seen in movies or books in her world. She had to calm down to stop her inner fangirl from completely gushing out from the sight of it all.
However, in her efforts to suppress herself, she failed to see that Bertrand had separated from the group, leaving Ochako and the three other party members behind.
"Looks like no one has lived here for ages," Flavio observed, looking over the buildings Mother Nature had long since reclaimed. Much of the brick and cobblestone was covered with vast amounts of moss, with large roots running through and creating wide cracks within the groundwork.
"So, no chance to find any leftover jerky?" Chloe quietly pondered, facing away from the group and gazing over what appeared to be an abandoned storage room.
"Afraid not, Chloe," Flavio laughed, Arianna and Ochako joining in with a chorus of giggles as well. Their teasing laughter made the tiny mage pout ever so slightly. At least until she finally noticed that the Knight of their group, her last remaining blood relative group, was gone.
"Bertrand…?" She began nervously calling, looking for the Knight. "Bertrand!"
"Chloe! Is something wrong?" Flavio suddenly appeared before her, bow and arrow in hand and ready to face any possible threat, along with Arianna and Ochako in tow.
"Bertrand is gone!" Chloe frantically cried, looking for the large man. The remaining three found it strange how someone as prominent as him could simply disappear like that.
"With all the tall buildings, we could easily get to some high ground and get a better view," said Flavio as he put away his weapons and looked for a large root to climb on.
"I have a better idea!" Ochako interjected, getting everyone's attention.
'Mr. Urashima said this should be able to work,' Ochako thought as she used her Quirk on herself. Tapping her fingers on her body before kicking off from the ground, Ochako began to float upwards. Within seconds, she gained enough height to scout for the missing Knight.
"Whoa! Is this some kind of magic...w-whoa, hey, what gives!?" Flavio exclaimed right when Arianna went before the young man to cover his eyes.
"Trust me, tis better if you avert your eyes!" Arianna nervously answered as she struggled to forcefully turn away the indignant archer.
Poor Ochako didn't notice that her modesty was far more difficult to hide with the dress she was currently wearing. On the other hand, Chloe stood in awe at seeing the foreign-born Princess taking flight like that. Ochako's eyes scanned over the rest of the town as she floated above it, only to see some kind of reflective light shine further up the hill and deep within the great tree's roots. Instincts kicked in for the girl; it felt like her very soul was telling her that was where they needed to go.
Where the real journey would begin to find Izuku would begin.
"Everyone! Over there!" Ochako called out to the group below before pointing to the direction they needed to go. Arianna nodded and began to lead the party in Ochako's direction.
"Shift..." She whispered, using her Quirk to direct herself towards the light. She quickly spotted Bertrand standing before a grand archway and slowly descended, releasing herself from her Quirk. She stood there a few feet away, watching the solemn Knight.
'The failed Fafnir Knight,' Ochako remembered from all the times she had reread through the story, how Bertrand had failed his duty and just how unfair life was to the poor man.
The man who chose family over duty and the price he paid was losing his lady love and was cursed to wander for the next century.
"Bertrand!" She turned to see the remainder of the party arriving, with Chloe running ahead harder than the rest. Ochako couldn't blame the child for that look of fear in her eyes. She remembered the part of the story where Bertrand was ready to sacrifice himself and possibly leave his only bit of family left alone in the world. The tired Knight turned with a slight smile on his face before Chloe tackled the man.
"Whoa, whoa...where's the fire?" He chuckled as he comforted the girl rubbing her back, who was doing her best not to cry. Ochako smiled as the sight reminded her of Eri; it wasn't hard to picture her and Izuku in their place.
"You could've given us a heads-up, ya know?" Flavio muttered breathlessly, his face expressing his frustration as he lowered his bow.
"Yes indeed, Bertrand!" Arianna added with her hands at her hips with a slight pout on her face. "You worried all of us!"
Bertrand gave a hearty laugh before apologizing.
"I know, I know, and I'm sorry about that, but onto the good news: I found it," He motioned to the archway before him. "The gateway."
The rest of the group took a chance to really look over the site. It was a town center square with an old ruined fountain at its heart and the central archway standing straight ahead where the two roads from both sides of the hill ended. Next to the archway was an old worn pedestal with what appeared to be stone feet severed at the ankles and a faded stone tablet that had once held some engraved writing upon it.
Parts of stone and marble were shattered about on the pedestal's base.
"A statue once stood here," Bertrand continued as he removed the armored gauntlet that covered his right arm. He revealed a greenish-black clawed hand with a long hooked blade gradually extending out of his forearm.
"This is where The Knights of Fafnir and their Markers are to gather," he answered, turning to look at Ochako and Arianna. "The Daughters of the Mark."
Ochako and Arianna looked at each other before looking down on their hands, both baring the Mark of Yggdrasil, proof of their ties to the Cursed Fell Dragon Fafnir. With a silent nod between them, both ladies began making their way forward before Bertrand put his arm out to stop them.
"I'm afraid the rest of us won't be able to join you, Princess," Bertrand warned. "It'll be only you and Miss Ochako here who would be able to cross the archway."
"Wait, how do you know that, Bertrand?" Flavio questioned with suspicion.
"I just tried myself," Bertrand answered with a tired sigh, flexing his clawed arm.
"It pushed me back as a voice called out to me. Damning me as a failed Fafnir Knight and said, "Only True Knights of Fafnir and Daughters of the Mark may cross,' " He continued bitterly. "At the very least, I know that they are making their way up. I felt Jin's presence along with that of another Knight."
"Only True Knights of Fafnir and Daughters of the Mark may cross," Ochako repeated, thinking over Bertrand's words. "The ones who choose Fafnir Knights to be their Champions in efforts to break Fafnir's curse on Yggdrasil."
"It makes sense..." Arianna added before facing the archway herself.
"Though I broke the curse with Jin's help," She looked onto the archway. "Yet it seems like my journey has not ended."
"Well then…I guess that settles it," Flavio determined with a nod. "You heard the man; go on ahead, Arianna. We'll wait for you here; just make sure to come back with Jin."
"But…"
"It's okay; we'll be safe here. Now go get that reckless idiot," Bertrand followed as he placed a reassuring hand on the Princess's shoulder. "We've been missing him for a while now."
Chloe, too, simply gave Arianna and Ochako a silent and firm nod, granting them permission in her own way.
"Alright, I will…I will bring Jin back home," Arianna swore to them, determination clear on her face. "I promise – no…I swear I will bring him home."
Ochako beamed another sight that was all too familiar to her.
"Ochako, are you ready to find our lost Knights?" The Princess asked as she extended her marked hand to Ochako. The brunette nodded confidently, accepting Arianna's hand with her own marked hand. The two girls waved and bid their goodbyes to their party before heading towards the archway.
Ochako would have loved any chance to spend more time with her favorite characters from her childhood stories. Still, time was not in her favor, and she knew she needed to get going. The two Daughters of the Mark looked at each other one last time before taking the plunge and crossed into the archway. The moment their feet stepped through, the sight of the town behind them faded away along with their companions.
Yet, Ochako knew no fear for them as they were never truly there.
The two began their ascension quickly, hoping that they would make it in time. Ochako knew that she only had until night, a heavy reminder looking back at her where she stood.
The sun now setting in the west.
"Lyn, sq tnq lftnfyuv fb qrxqnyqukq kbuuqkfybu yllgql syfi Atauyn."
"Sitf yl fiq lyfgtfybu?"
"Bukq Gntzyfo jnbcq finbgvi iyl aynlf wqufth jtnnyqn, fiq lolfqw jqvtu pqfqkfyuv loukyuv yllgql."
"Hqf wq lqq fiq ptft...Styf...yl Yegcg ayvifyuv iywlqha? Nqlqf fiq kbuuqkfybu tup tpwyuylfqn tubfiqn pblq ba fiq lqptfyzq."
Jin knelt on the ground as he tried to comfort his young friend, who trembled violently beside him while he lay in a fetal position. Unsure what caused this emotional breakdown, he simply stayed there to ensure that he wouldn't fall from the branch they rested on.
"I'm sorry...!" He heard Izuku cry out. "I'm so-so sorry that I'm a weak coward! I'm-I'm no Knight..." He continued to sputter on. "I'm no hero."
Izuku couldn't explain why he suddenly felt trapped underneath a wave of guilt. His memories had slowly and intermittently begun to return, and with them came waves of dark emotions crashing into his psyche. Only for a sudden rush of mashed memories of people he didn't know but yet seemed so familiar.
You failed them!
His thoughts were ruled by the dark laughter that now haunted him. A burst of laughter that Izuku now feared to relive as he had yet to uncover the source from his foggy memories. His family, his friends... and the Golden-eyed traitor among them. He clutched his head, trying to piece what little he could as images continued to flash through his mind.
Names mixed with faces.
Smiles with hidden intentions.
Trust that had been broken.
Wrath and Anger.
Did he really know who indeed was his friend or foe?
Or did he simply deny what he thought was the truth?
Were these memories even true, or were they false?
How did he get here? What really was this place?
Who really was Jin?
And yet, as these thoughts continued, a warm inexplicable feeling flooded his head, and suddenly, Izuku felt more relaxed. This feeling did not make his fears disappear, but it did put his mind at ease to the point where the tension from his body was lifted, and he could start to think a bit more clearly. As the guilty feeling began to ease down, a new memory returned. A brown-haired girl with a rounded face with chocolate brown eyes. She was smiling at him as she held his hand with the mark of a flower on it, spreading a sense of warmth and comfort Izuku had not felt in a long time.
Instinct screamed at Izuku that this person was important to him.
Yet he didn't even know her name.
"Are you feeling better, my friend?" Izuku turned to his climbing companion, who looked concerned.
"A little bit..." Izuku said as he collected his thoughts. Out of the whole ordeal, one good thing did come out of this experience. He remembered something new or, more accurately, someone very important. "I finally remembered... her."
Jin looked at Izuku for a moment with a puzzled expression on his face before the realization dawned upon him.
"Ah...Did she have a mark on her hand?" He questioned, motioning to his transformed arm. "A dark cross-shape flower?"
Izuku nodded, happy to know that Jin seemed to understand what he was talking about.
"Then she is one who marked you and made you a Fafnir Knight."
Izuku was amazed; how he could have forgotten someone so vital to him?! After everything she had done for him, how could he ever have forgotten about her? Even now, as faint as his heartbeat was, the thought of her made it beat just a bit stronger and faster. He wanted to know more about this mysterious girl. As he shamefully admitted, he could not attach a name to that beautiful face, not with his memories still blurring together.
"I'm sorry about that, Jin..." Izuku apologized to his friend concerning his prior mental episode. "I'm ready to continue."
Jin still looked uneasy, given the complete one-eighty Izuku had pulled in such a short amount of time.
"Are you sure, my friend? It may be better if we rest here a bit longer." Jin tried to reason, but Izuku refused, shaking his head.
"No... I've wasted enough time for the both of us," He said, regaining a bit of his confidence back, looking up towards the heavens. "I think my memories are slowly coming back as we climb up Yggdrasil..."
"I see," Jin responded, scratching his chin. "So it seems that you have another reason to continue our journey."
"I want to remember..." Izuku explained, looking crushed, "I need to remember who exactly am I, and I want to learn more about her."
Jin continued to look at Izuku with some hesitation. Still, he decided against it once he saw that determined look on Izuku's face. A look that held no room for arguments. After all, Jin should know precisely how Izuku felt, feeling the need and wanting to find answers to their mysterious pasts.
"Very well... Let's continue onward...carefully now."
"Wqufth hyuc jqfsqqu Atauyn tup Gntzyfo itl jqqu nqlfbnqp."
"Qrkqhhquf, thh sq ktu pb ubs yl fb cqqx fiqw lftjhq tup xnto fiyl sbncl."
"Wylfqn Gntliywt, ya fiyl sbncl, obg syhh jqkbwq t ibglqibhp utwq."
"Y pb ubf ktnq tjbgf fitf, Wyll Liyqhp; Y mglf ktnq fitf Y ktu ayuthho iqhx wo anyqup...Stfki bzqn fiqw, Iyltliy. Sq uqqp Yegcg jtkc."
"Lyn, wtojq obg libghp vqf lbwq nqlf. Thqr tup Y ktu stfki bzqn fiqw syfi fiq nqwtyupqn ba fiq lftaa; obg itzq jqqu gx abn lqzqnth ibgnl."
"Fitf'l ubf t jtp ypqt...wtojq Y ktu vqf sbnp fb Ptzyp fb lqq ya iq ktu itzq fiq kbgukyh jnyuv Y-Ylhtup khblqn fb Mtxtu. Ltzq gl fywq bu fiq nqfgnu fnyx. Siqnq yl Lxnyuvayqhp tuosto?"
"Iq'l vqffyuv kbaaqq abn gl...Y itzq uqzqn lqqu iyw hbbc wbnq pqfqnwyuqp. Qzqn lyukq obg tlcqp iyw fb mbyu gl abn fiyl bxqntfybu. Iq itlu'f lwyhqp bukq."
"Lxnyuvayqhp gnpqnlftupl fiq lftcql yuzbhzqp, jqlypql hycq wolqha. Iq, fbb, itl t wtllyzq pqjf fb xto fb fiq Wypbnyot ibglqibhp. Tup iq sbu'f aqqh nyvif gufyh fiq mbj yl pbuq."
Author's Commentary
*Cryptogram: Several lines of dialogue have been hidden behind this cryptogram. Break the cryptogram, and you can discover a ton of what will happen by the time we reach Arc VII proper.
Unlike the previous version, all future Arc VII chapters will use one unified cryptogram, so clues here will work on later cryptograms. And vice versa.
Finally, I will give you two clues. (Note the second chapter of Arc VII: Anger Part 1 has not been updated with the new cryptogram key. So beware.)
Finally, for those who solved the cryptogram before? You might want to try again; I added a lot of new information from the original version. So yeah, have fun breaking the code.
Clue 1: Y = I
Clue 2: This does not mean that I=Y. (That would be boring and easy)
I painstakingly made this cryptogram by hand (and double-checked it for errors.) So please do your best!
**Daughter's of the Mark: A term straight from Etrian Odyssey Untold 2: The Fafnir Knight. It refers to the cursed mark that female heirs to the Duchy of Caledonia receive when called by Yggdrasil. The mark bestows The Marker to choose a champion to serve as their Fafnir Knight, binding the two together.
The characters accompanying Izuku and Ochako, respectively, are, in fact, the characters from the Story Mode version of the game. Not my OCs.
Well, guys. I hope to update more frequently soon. I hope you've enjoyed the story so far and look forward to more I have prepared.
ZX
