I do not own Dragon Quest 11 or any of the characters.
New Lease on Life
"You've lost your home, your family, your love, they've gone to Yggdrasil above. But what you now seek to do, makes these things, for others, true. I will not stop you, it is your right, but I have one request, if I might. When you return, my child my son, I wish that from your desire for vengeance you would have run."
Kai stared emptily into the waves, tears rolling thickly down his cheeks. He had never given up his vengeance. He'd never shown her he could be a better person than what his pain had made him into. And now, he never could. She was gone, and her last act had been to accept her death in exchange for his life. A life he didn't deserve after the way he'd lived it.
He wiped his eyes as a Khalamari Kid scooted itself over to him, "Ooo"ing curiously. He reached out, stroking its head for a moment before staring down at the ruined armor at his feet. His Dragovian Armor had been mangled for the second time, now. It couldn't be repaired, this time, however, because the two gemstones in the torso were shattered when Alizarin had struck him and even a Fun-Sized Forge couldn't make them, nor could it temper Dragovian Scales into plate as he'd need to replace the boots. He sighed heavily, looking down at his clothes. He wore a long-sleeved black shirt, loose, black pants, an open, short-sleeved, red brigandine, a black leather belt around his waist to hold his satchel on his right side and his dagger in the back, a square, red cloth folded in half and tied around his waist under the belt so that it hung down on his left side to his knee, and his pendant sat proudly on his chest outside of his shirt. His sword and claws sat at his side, and his feet were still bare.
The Khalamari Kid cooed again, scooting into his chest and wrapping the two long tentacles it used for arms around him. He smiled, hugging it, and suddenly missed the Sprite Bulb that had taken a liking to him who had died during the first blast Jasper had hit them all with. He hadn't thought much of it at the time, as they'd been busy failing to beat Jasper, and then after that he'd been too preoccupied with trying to think of a way to save Marina and the others, but now, as this Khalamari Kid hugged him, and as he held it, he missed the little thing.
"I need to find David," Kai finally said, standing and forming his scales over his feet.
The Khalamari Kid cooed, reaching up to him, and he smiled, holding a hand down and letting it hold onto it before he lifted it up to the back of his shoulder, where it attached itself with his suckers. He collected his weapons, storing his claws in his satchel and holding his sword in his left hand. He picked up the mangled remains of his cuirass, slipping the gauntlets back on over his sleeves, then started inland.
"I don't deserve this life," Kai muttered to himself. "But if I'm going to keep living it, I'm going to earn the gift Marina gave me. I'll make her proud, this time."
The Khalamari Kid cooed happily, hugging his head. He smiled, reaching up to scratch its back affectionately, then narrowed his eyes as a pair of slimes hopped toward him, their eyes glowing an ominous red. Then, as they launched themselves at him, he drew his sword into a slash, splitting both across the middle and killing them before continuing on his way. A skeleton in red armor wielding a shield and sword charged at him from the left side, but Kai turned, stepping around the skeleton's blade before drawing his sword into a slash again, splitting the skeleton across the middle, killing it again. The next thing to attack was a skeletal dragon, but Kai shot forward, the Khalamari Kid holding tight to his back and head as he did, then slashed the skelegon down the front and killing it. A Corpse Corporal burst up from the ground behind him, but he spun, decapitating it before sheathing his sword and continuing on his way.
He was near Cobblestone, and if he knew David, that'd be the first place he'd go. So, he walked through the valley leading toward Cobblestone in silence. Finally, he stopped, staring at a massive, log gate barring the way to Cobblestone. Unless he was mistaken, this was a sign that there were survivors of Mordegon's dark world taking shelter ahead. He looked up at the dark, violet clouds overhead. There was no day anymore, only the eternal darkness caused by the clouds Mordegon had filled the sky with. Then, Kai dropped his gaze back to the gate and pushed through it, shutting it behind himself. Ahead of him was a narrow valley, but it was unguarded. He frowned. Usually, gates had guards, but he was alone. He followed the valley in silence, keeping himself ready to fight at a moment's notice, but there was no one in sight. And eventually, he found Cobblestone. It had been rebuilt as a fortress. Huge wall made from countless trees surrounded everything, their tops sharpened, a lookout tower adorned the tops of several of the higher buildings, and there was an admittedly meager defense set up just outside of the front gate, only two Heliodor soldiers standing outside the gate.
"You, who are you!?" one of them demanded.
"My name is Kai," Kai answered, walking down toward them. "This is my friend." He gestured to the Khalamari Kid. "How long have you been at Cobblestone?"
"Cobblestone?" the soldier asked. "Is that what this place was called?" he shook his head. "Sir Hendrik rounded up as many soldiers and survivors as he could when Heliodor fell and brought us all here. This is The Last Bastion."
"So, Hendrik is here, huh?" Kai asked. "Figures he survived, too. Wish I knew how I did, or where..." He trailed off as Marina's advice to him a couple days before Nautica fell echoed through his mind.
"In Octagonia, you will find a friend. And they will need your help, else it will be their end."
Of course, remembering Marina brought back the last moment he'd seen her, and his shoulder sank slightly, the Khalamari Kid cooing and hugging his head.
"Can I go in?" Kai asked.
"Yeah," the soldier nodded. "Go ahead."
Kai nodded, passing them and pushing through the gate. As he walked through the town, he looked around, staring at the Heliodor soldiers lining the streets. The surviving civilians of Cobblestone were also present, doing odd jobs around the town, but there were more soldiers than civilians. Finally, after walking through the town for a few minutes, he stopped as he spotted David. He was seated by a campfire, speaking to a young blonde girl with a plain dress and a red bandanna over her head and a heavyset woman in an orange dress and a poofy white hat. Kai stood where he was, not wanting to interrupt what he assumed was a family conversation, but after a few moments, the blonde noticed him and pointed him out to David. David turned, then stood, smiling and waving him over. Kai walked over to join him, but even before David could ask, he had his answer as to Nautica's fate from Kai's eyes.
"Mom, Gemma, this is Kai," David introduced him. "He's probably the strongest person I've ever met, and he helped me a lot before."
"It's nice to meet you!" Gemma smiled. "And who's this?"
"He's a new friend," Kai said, scooping the Khalamari Kid off of his shoulder, the young squid going willingly. "I haven't given him a name, yet, but he'd friendly." He passed his new friend to Gemma, who cradled him like a baby and smiled.
"He's adorable!" Gemma squealed, the Khalamari Kid cooing happily.
"So, you helped my little soldier, huh?" the older woman asked. "Thank you very much. My name's Amber."
"It's nice to meet you," Kai nodded, smiling. "David, do you still have your Fun-Size Forge?"
David nodded, leading Kai to where he'd left it at a tent housing what was left of the weapon shop. "I left it here after I reinforced my new sword." He reached back to the new Cobblestone Sword on his back. "You going to fix your armor?"
Kai shook his head. "This can't fix my armor, but I can turn it into new armor. It won't be the same, but it'll be better than almost anything else I make."
David nodded, leaving Kai to work in peace, and Kai put his cuirass's front half into the forge, which melted it down into a shimmering liquid through a magical process Kai would never understand. He added some Molten Globules, the remains of Liquid Metal Slimes, then began to pound the armor into shape. As he finished, he held it up, inspecting it. It was almost identical to the Dragon Scale Armor he'd worn before, but instead of cloth holding it together like the last suit, and instead of basic Dragon Scales, it was made out of scales formed from the plates of his armor, making them even harder than his own scales, and they were secured by the same liquid metal making up Liquid Metal Slimes' bodies. Once he'd formed it, he shrugged off his brigandine and shirt, pulling on the armor before putting his shirt and brigandine back on. Then, he turned back to the forge, using the back half of the armor and more Molten Globules to make David a matching armor shirt, then made himself a set of red, leather boots with black on the toes. Next, he set to work making him something else, something he never thought he'd be making. Platinum, gold, and a Celestial skein mixed and expertly hammered into a teal suit of Drasillian Armor. The only thing he didn't put on it was the cape that would otherwise bear Dundrasil's crest. Then, lastly, he made a second weapon for David, a Zombie Slayer. A holy sword that dealt extra damage to the undead thanks to being forged using Saint's Ashes.
Once he'd finished, he slung his sword across his back and collected the things he'd made then left to find David again. When he found him, he was standing outside of the tent where, if Kai had heard right from a few of the soldiers he'd passed, King Carnelian was waiting for him. David had changed his own outfit. He'd swapped his purple jacket for a clean, light blue short with fastens up the front, a pair of green pants and a long-sleeved green shirt, and had traded his worn out green boots for a new tan pair.
"David, I brought you a few things," Kai said.
David looked over at him, his eyes widening, and accepted the bundle of tied-together armor and the sword. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Kai said. "I'd...rather not lose anyone else."
David's expression fell, and he nodded. Then, together, they walked into the tent to meet Carnelian.
"So, you are alive and well, I see," Carnelian mused, staring at them both, particularly Kai's pendant. "I was told that a Dragovian had survived and was traveling with the Luminary. I had not expected to see you, I will admit." He sighed. "You have nothing to fear. I have regained my senses at last. The living nightmare that began for me on the day of your birth has ended."
"You'll forgive me if that doesn't reassure me," Kai said flatly.
Carnelian nodded. "Though in truth, I remember little of what I did...I have inflicted so much pain on so many...On you." He bowed his head. "I do not ask for forgiveness. I do not deserve it. All I ask is that I be allowed to atone. To pay for my crimes by protecting those who remain." He looked up at them again. "Tell me, do you recall what happened on that fateful day? The events that came to pass beneath Yggdrasil's branches?"
"Of course we do," David said.
"I see," Carnelian bowed his head. "I recall nothing. All I know is that whomever, or whatever, had me in its grasp for all those years left me there. And when at long last I returned to my senses, I was here. There is something else I must ask you. Tell me...do you know if my daughter is alive?"
"For now," Kai said, David looking at him in surprise. "My adoptive mother told me where to find a few of the others."
Carnelian sighed in relief, nodding. "I see. I tha-"
"Your majesty!" a soldier shouted, running into the tent. "The Hero has returned! He brings more survivors seeking sanctuary!"
The king sighed, glancing at Kai, who had his arms folded and his hand gripping his biceps, as his hands clenched and he took a long, agonizingly slow, nearly silent breath. "Come. You must meet he to whom we owe our survival. Though you may not wish to, at first."
He and David left, but Kai remained. Once he was alone in the tent, he snarled through his nose, twin tongues of flame racing out and nearly hit the floor, only to curl back on themselves and fade. Finally, he took several deep breaths to calm himself. He shouldn't be surprised. Even before Mordegon, Carnelian had viewed the Dragovians as vermin. Kai shouldn't be surprised that Carnelian had no apology for what he'd done to them. It infuriated Kai, it reminded him of why he wanted to raze all of Heliodor in the first place. They were arrogant. They were cruel. They thought themselves the superior of anything that wasn't them. He hated them. But he had lived that way his entire life, and it had gotten Marina killed. He wouldn't live that way. He may never forgive Carnelian, but he wouldn't slaughter him or any of the others from Heliodor for it. And finally, Carnelian returned. He stepped into the tent alone, and Kai turned to leave.
"They're going to attack soon, right?" Kai asked. "I'll go help."
"Wait, Lord Dragovian," Carnelian called after him.
Kai's eyes widened, and he turned, seeing Carnelian on his knees, prostrating himself on the floor of the tent before Kai.
"I do not deserve your forgiveness, even more so than the Luminary's," Carnelian said. "It was not because I was being controlled that I helped lead the slaughter of your people, but because I was a fool. I could not see through the trick being set for us, and as a result, your people died. That was my decision. That was me. I do not deserve your forgiveness."
"No, you don't," Kai growled. "You deserve to suffer. To watch as I slaughter all of Heliodor, and then die painfully."
"Please, spare them," Carnelian pleaded. "I submit myself to your punishment. Do unto me as you see fit. I have instructed Hendrik already that if you strike me down, he is not to harm you, as it is what I deserve. So, please, punish me as you see fit, but please spare everyone else."
Kai stared at him, seeing him tremble and seeing tears drip to the floor. "Why do you weep? For yourself? For your people?"
"For yours," Carnelian said. "For the innocents I murdered that day. Since that day, the only day I've been able to hold a sword was the day Dundrasil fell. Aside from that day..." he shook his head. "If ever my hand grasps a sword, I recall that day, and I lose myself to grief and remorse."
Kai stared at him for a moment before stepping out and taking a sword from one of the two soldiers outside, then stepping back inside, both soldiers stepping in to ensure he didn't harm the king. "Show me."
He dropped the sword in front of Carnelian, and Carnelian nodded, reaching out a trembling hand to draw the blade. The scabbard rattled as he withdrew the blade, but no sooner did he have it out halfway did his entire face go pale, his eyes glazed over with anguish, and he doubled over, vomiting across the floor, fresh tears cascading down his face. Kai watched him for a moment as he vomited twice more before Kai took the sword from him, sheathing it again and handing it back to the soldier who strapped it to his side again.
"I forgive you, Carnelian," Kai said. "I accept your proof of your remorse, and I forgive you. You and your kingdom have nothing to fear from me."
Carnelian stared at him in shock before prostrating himself again, resulting in him pressing his forehead into his own vomit. Kai grimaced instantly.
"Really, now, Carnelian, get out of that," Kai said. "Clean yourself up. I have a battle to assist with."
Carnelian stood, accepting a cloth from one of the soldiers to clean his face. "Thank you, Lord Dragovian."
"Kai is fine," Kai assured him. "And don't worry. After I've helped here, I'm going to go and find Jade next."
Carnelian bowed at the waist, and Kai left the tent, heading for the main gate where Heliodor's forces were massing for the looming battle.
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