Chapter 21- Water and Fire III


30 years ago- Capital

Empire, Continent of the Center

It has existed for nearly 1000 years thanks to the creation of the Teigu, weapons of supernatural power. They initially were created with a purpose, but one that has been long since forgotten.

The Capital while maintaining its reputation to keep the upper class prosperous had been declining in character over the centuries of its reign, slowly losing trust with the common folk. With the loss of half of the Teigu 500 years ago and the failure of the Shingu project- an attempt to recreate similar weapons to the Teigu failed. It could continue in its plans to unite the nations of the world due to a lack of trust with the native tribes.

The grandeur of the city remained a facade, as the cobblestone streets, once gleaming with promise, now bore the grime of neglect and corruption. The towers that had once stood tall and proud, symbols of unity and strength, had begun to crumble under the weight of secrets and deceit. The markets, once bustling with a variety of goods from across the continent, now catered to the greed of the elite, offering only the most exorbitant luxuries. The air was thick with the scent of discontent, simmering just beneath the surface, waiting for a spark to ignite a blaze of rebellion.

Lyre, a man whose heart was as unblemished as the purest silver, observed this decline with a heavy heart. His golden iris eyes, once filled with the innocent wonder of a child, had grown sharp with the pain of witnessing the betrayal of his homeland. He walked the streets, his gaze lingering on the faces of the oppressed, searching for the spark of hope that might illuminate the path back to peace. Amongst the whispers of sedition and the shadows of treachery, he found himself drawn to the archives, a bastion of knowledge that had stood untouched for centuries. It was there, amidst dusty tomes and forgotten scrolls, that he discovered the truth about the Teigu, the weapons that had once been the empire's crown jewels.

In the quiet solitude of the archives, Lyre met her. Her name was Reina, and she was a creature of the night, her eyes reflecting the myriad of stars that could never be seen through the smog of the city. She had a secret, one that she had kept hidden from the world, even from herself. Reina was a woman of the slums, born into a life of hardship and forced to work in a massage parlor since her tender childhood. Yet, she had an air of grace about her, a gentle touch that spoke of a soul untainted by the grime that surrounded her. She managed to work herself up to be a maid.

Their personalities were like oil and water, yet somehow they mixed perfectly. Reina's fiery spirit and determination collided with Lyre's introspective nature, and from their clashes, a tender spark grew into a flame. Her passionate nature was a stark contrast to his quiet resolve, but it was this difference that allowed them to complement each other so perfectly. Despite his arranged marriage to the heiress of the Southern Tribes, a union forged in political ambition rather than love, Lyre found himself irrevocably drawn to Reina.

As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, Lyre's research grew more intense. The archives held secrets that could shake the very foundations of the empire, and he knew he could not ignore them. The Teigu, these ancient artifacts of power, had once been the guardians of peace. But as the centuries passed, they had been perverted into tools of war and oppression. It was said that a curse had been placed upon them, a rule that demanded a heavy toll from those who sought to wield them in battle: for every clash of Teigu against Teigu, one of their users would be claimed by fate.

At the same time, Budo was a problem. He was an all-muscular middle-aged man with spiky blond hair that fell in two longer bangs resembling horns, his piercing blue eyes a stark contrast to the shadowy nature of the current nobility, and lived in the heart of the capital His attire was that of a warrior from an ancient tale: a black, skintight top with long sleeves clung to his powerful form, while grey armor, a stark reminder of his military background, protected his vital parts. The armor was not the usual bulky kind; it was sleek and flexible, hinting at the agility and precision that lay beneath the surface of his brute strength. His white pants, though simple, bore the red cloak of the empire, fluttering behind him like a crimson flag, signaling his allegiance and status.

"What you doing?," asked Budo as he saw Lyre working.

Lyre looked up from his scrolls, his eyes weary but focused. "I'm searching for truth," he replied, his voice low and solemn. "The empire is currently rotting from within, and I intend to find out why."

Budo snorted, his expression a mix of skepticism and disdain. "Truth? What good will that do? We have our orders, and those are to protect the emperor's interests. You're wasting your time with these dusty old books when you could be out there fighting the real monsters, the ones that threaten our very existence."

Lyre leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "You're right, Budo. There are monsters out there, but they don't lurk in the shadows waiting to pounce. They walk among us, wearing the faces of our neighbors and friends. The true enemy is the corruption that festers in the hearts of those who have forgotten what it means to serve with honor." He paused, his gaze drifting to a tome titled "The Secret History of the Teigu." "I suspect there's a secret society that's been manipulating events from the shadows, twisting the empire's destiny for their own gain. And if I can expose them, perhaps we can cut out the rot before it consumes us all."

Budo's skepticism melted into concern. He knew Lyre wasn't one to be swayed by conspiracy theories, and if he was onto something, it was likely deadly serious. "But the rebels," he said, his voice taking on a warning tone. "They're growing bolder by the day. They're not just attacking the empire's outposts anymore; they're striking at the very heart of the city. We can't ignore that."

Lyre's gaze remained steady, a hint of resolve in his eyes. "Budo, perhaps there's a reason for their boldness. Maybe, just maybe, we've misunderstood their intentions. After all, aren't we all seeking the same thing? A world free from the tyranny of the Teigu?"

Budo's hand clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning white. "Rebels are traitors, Lyre," he growled. "They defy the emperor's rule, and for that, they must be eliminated. There is no common ground with those who spit on the very foundation of our society."

Lyre watched as Budo stormed out of the archives, his heavy boots echoing through the ancient halls. His friend's words hung in the air like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over his thoughts. He knew that Budo was a loyal soldier, a man who believed in the empire's cause without question. But the whispers of doubt that had been planted in his mind grew louder with each passing day. Was he truly on the right path? Was he just a fool chasing after ghosts in the archives while the real threats ravaged the city?

Suddenly, the sound of light footsteps interrupted his contemplation, and before he could react, he was glomped by a figure that smelled faintly of lavender. He looked down to see Reina's smiling face, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She had snuck up on him again, her lithe form wrapped around his much larger one like a vine. "Reina," he chided gently, "not here."

"Oh, Lyre," she said, a playful scoff escaping her lips as she pulled away, her hands still resting on his shoulders. "You're no fun." Her eyes searched his, looking for the spark of amusement she had grown so accustomed to seeing. But instead, she found something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Concern? Danger? "What were you talking about?" she inquired, her voice dropping to a whisper as she glanced around the archives, ensuring they were still alone.

"The rebels," he replied, his own voice hushed. "Could there ever be a world where we stand together, instead of against one another?"

Reina's smile faltered, and she looked at him with a seriousness that matched his own. "Perhaps," she said thoughtfully, "but not while the Teigu remain in the hands of those who would use them to oppress. A revolution is needed, Lyre. A cleansing fire to burn away the corruption and give rise to a new era."

Lyre sighed, the weight of her words settling heavily on his shoulders. "And what of the innocents who would be caught in that fire?" he murmured, his eyes searching hers. "What of the lives that would be lost?"

Reina's gaze hardened, a steely resolve replacing her playfulness. "Those who hold power, even if it's through obligation, are complicit in the suffering of the masses," she replied, her voice firm. "They may not wield the Teigu themselves, but they stand by and watch as others do. In the end, they are just as guilty."

Lyre felt a chill run down his spine. Her words were like a dagger to his soul, cutting through the very essence of his beliefs. He had always considered himself a just man, one who served the greater good, but Reina's perspective painted him as just another pawn in the elite's game of power. He swallowed hard, trying to reconcile his love for her with the growing conflict within himself. "But what of those who serve out of duty?" he pressed, his voice quivering. "What of those who had no choice but to take up arms to protect their families?"

"Well, that's if I were a spy.," she remarked, going back to being mischievous. It tore some trust between them, but they continued their romance.

8 Years Later...

While his engaged lover gave birth to Syura, he saw that his own liaison had birthed fruit.

Reina held the blond baby Leone in her arms, the child's eyes closed in peaceful slumber. The soft golden hair was a mirror of her mother's, and the gentle curve of her cheeks bore an unmistakable resemblance to Reina's own. Yet, there was something else, something that set her apart from the others: a small, fiery tuft atop her head, a trait that could only have come from her father, the man who had once been Lyre.

Reason, Lyre's heinous father, was caught in human trafficking, and his family lost standing. Iokal, his cousin would take out his frustrations by whipping Lyre in private. He hated his family and almost considered rebelling, but he thought he could change the Empire from within to make the Empire more reasonable.

One night, as the moon cast a silver glow through the arched windows of the archives, Lyre found himself drawn back to the dusty tomes that held the whispers of the empire's dark secrets. The air was thick with the scent of ancient parchment and the lingering aroma of candle wax, a silent testament to the countless hours he had spent seeking the truth. As he delved deeper into the labyrinthine shelves, the flickering candlelight danced upon the spines of the books, casting eerie shadows that seemed to stretch and twist like the very whispers of the long-forgotten past.

The quiet solitude of the archives was shattered by the sound of soft footsteps echoing through the hallowed halls. Hooded figures, their faces obscured by shadow, moved with a purpose that sent a shiver down Lyre's spine. At first, he dismissed them as mere researchers, lost in the sea of knowledge like himself. But as the night grew late, and the archives grew quieter, their presence grew more pronounced, and the space between them began to shrink. His heart pounded in his chest, the steady rhythm a stark contrast to the sudden silence that had enveloped the once-bustling sanctum of wisdom.

The candle flames danced erratically as the figures approached, casting an eerie glow upon their forms. The hoods obscured their eyes, but Lyre could feel their gazes upon him, scrutinizing his every move. His hand hovered over the scroll he had been studying, his mind racing with thoughts of concealment and escape. The whispers grew louder, the shadows grew denser, and the air grew thick with tension. It was clear that these were not scholars seeking enlightenment in the annals of history; they were agents of the very corruption he sought to expose.

The taller of the two figures lunged at him, moving with an unnatural swiftness that belied its human form. As it grabbed him, Lyre felt not the firm grip of a human hand, but the cold, slithering embrace of what seemed to be multiple arms, each tipped with a chillingly human-like hand. The creature's eyes gleamed in the candlelight, a ghastly amber that sent a shiver down his spine. The leader's voice was a hiss that seemed to echo through the very stones of the archive. "You know, Lyre," it spoke, "you and your fiery lover were both correct. There is indeed a conspiracy, but it is not one of inheritance and legacy as you may have thought."

The creature's tendrils tightened around him, and the pain was exquisite, a stark reminder of his mortality. "What do you mean?" he choked out, his voice strained with fear and curiosity.

"We are the puppeteers," the leader hissed, its eyes burning into his soul. "The ones who pull the strings from the shadows, who orchestrate the chaos that fuels the empire's hunger for power. We are the whispers in the dark, the unspoken fears that keep the populace in line. We are the Evil Beings and we want you and your Teigu gone because it threatens our very existence. Think stakes and crosses for vampires, garlic for werewolves, silver for demons, salt for witches, holy water for ghosts, and so on. If your kind and the rebels win, it's the end of our world as we know it."

The creature's smile grew wider, more terrifying, as it spoke. "But fear not," it continued, its voice a chilling purr, "for I shall not end your life so swiftly. Instead, I shall destroy the very foundation of your purity, the sanctity of your soul. You shall become a monster, a twisted mockery of the man you once were."

"Huh?," asked Lyre before he was knocked out.

A Few Days Later...

The capital was abuzz with whispers of a peculiar newcomer. The man, who looked as though he had been pulled from the pages of a forgotten fairy tale, walked the streets with a sinister grin, his golden-amber eyes gleaming with malicious intent. His gray hair and beard were a stark contrast to the youthful visage he had once known, and his belly, now round and protruding, was a constant reminder of the feasts he had indulged in while plotting his schemes.

The man, who had once been the embodiment of honesty and virtue, had transformed into something unrecognizable. His name was now Honest, a twisted parody of his former self. The Empire's secret puppeteers had erased all traces of Lyre, as though he had never existed. In his place, they had planted this imposter, a creature who delighted in the corruption and chaos that he now helped to perpetuate.


Present

Murasaki and Leone looked dumbfounded by the revelation that Ignis had told them.

Wha-wha? asked Leone, as she felt queasy.

Ignis chuckled, his eyes alight with a sadistic glee that sent a shiver down Murasaki's spine. "Ah, the look of realization," he said, his voice a haunting melody. "Yes, my dear, your beloved Lyre was once a man of virtue, much like your band of rebels. But unlike him, Lyre was weak. He sought the truth, thinking he could change the world by playing by their rules. How naive. I was one of the people there that day."

"So Honest was...," Murasaki asked.

Ignis cut her off with a wave of his hand, his grin growing wider.

Ignis cut her off with a wave of his hand, his grin growing wider. "Indeed, he was your dear father," he sang, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And he's not even the first person we inverted their moralities to screw them over. Like your targets!"

Murasaki- or rather Akame a component that fused with another to create Murasak- and Leone had killed heinous people who were morally bankrupt but his revelation seemed to change that notion.

The revelation hit Murasaki like a bolt of lightning, her mind racing with the implications of Ignis' words. The very fabric of her identity, woven from the threads of her past as Akame, felt as though it was unraveling before her eyes. Her heart ached for the man she had once loved and the ideals he had stood for. Yet, the reality that lay before her was a harsh reminder that the world was not so black and white.

Leone, however, remained unfazed, her expression skeptical. "You expect us to believe this just because you say so?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the tumult of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. "Where's your proof? Show us something concrete, or this is just another one of your twisted games."

Ignis then summoned from his flames, a tall, muscular young man with short, black hair and narrow eyes. It was Ritone of the Revolutionary Army. Leone and Murasaki looked confused.

"Wha-wha?," he said before Ignis' hand turned black as he declared-

"Impuritas!"

Suddenly, Ritone collapsed in agony as he writhed in agony.

"What have you done to him?!" Murasaki's eyes blazed with a fit of fiery anger that seemed to mirror the very essence of her Teigu Murasame, Demon's Extract, and Incursio.

Ignis stepped closer, his smile never wavering. "I merely gave him a taste of his own medicine, my dear," he said, his voice as smooth as silk. "I've simply inverted his moral compass. Those dark thoughts that lurk in the shadows of every man's soul, the ones we all keep tightly leashed... I've set them free within him. And now, he is a weapon of chaos."

Ritone, now a cold shell of his former self, rose to his feet, his eyes gleaming with a malicious intent that sent chills down Leone's spine. "My mission remains," he said, his voice eerily calm. "The corruption must be purged, and if that means eliminating the bloodlines of our targets, so be it."

But before he could land the fatal blow, Leone's reflexes, honed by a lifetime of survival and her innate bond with her own Teigu, kicked in. She launched herself at him, her hand shooting out to grasp his neck. With a swift, decisive motion, she snapped it to the side, the bone-cracking like a twig under the pressure of her unnatural strength.

Ignis' grin faltered, the flames around him flickering with surprise. "Impressive," he murmured, watching as Ritone's lifeless body crumpled to the ground. "But you see, my dear, that is the very essence of your kind. You act without question, without seeking to understand. You are the embodiment of the chaos you claim to fight against- killing because they don't agree with you."

Leone's glared at Ignis, her eyes narrowing with a fierce determination. "We're not the same," she spat. "You twist people into monsters for your own amusement. You have no right to judge us."

Ignis chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "Ah, but you are, my dear," he said, his voice like a serpent's hiss. "You're all just pawns in a game much larger than you can comprehend. And your dear father, Honest or rather, Lyre, was no exception."

"Then I'll go to Hell and punch his lights out till he gets a hold of himself. What a dumbass. I thought he was a fatass, but he's just a sucker like everyone.," Leone remarked with tears in her eyes.

"Go to Hell, what do you mean?," asked Ignis asked as she fully turned into a Lion due to her Teigu, Lionelle, and grabbed him by the jaw. She glowed with holy light as Ignis gritted his teeth.

She turned to Murasaki, seeing the Akame in her, and said-

"Going out in a bang isn't too bad."

Leone's voice was a mix of anger and sorrow as she squeezed Ignis within her jaws, her eyes burning with a divine fury that seemed to resonate with the very air around them. Her body began to glow, the holy light of her Teigu, Lionelle, building up in intensity until it was almost unbearable to look at. The flaming figure of the demon struggled, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and fascination at the power she wielded.

The beach they stood on, a realm of sand and surf conjured by Marli's power, trembled beneath their feet. The serene waves crashed against the shore with newfound ferocity, as if the very fabric of the dimension was reacting to the turmoil of their confrontation. The palm trees swayed precariously, their leaves rustling in a cacophony that mirrored the tumultuous emotions of the two combatants.

The sand grew hot as the light from Leone's eyes grew brighter, her Teigu's power threatening to engulf Ignis in a fiery embrace. The ground around them cracked and split, the once pristine beach now marred by the burgeoning battle between light and dark. The air grew thick with the scent of brimstone and ozone, a potent mix that stung the nostrils and set the hairs on the back of their necks on end.

Marli watched in horror as the dimension he had created was torn apart by the sheer force of Leone's rage. The waves grew more violent, the sea frothing with an unnatural power that reflected the chaos unfolding before her. His scales rippled with tension, her heart racing as she felt the fabric of her reality stretching to its breaking point.

When Leone was just five years old, she had watched as the light in her mother's eyes slowly faded away. The disease that had ravaged Reina's once-vibrant form had claimed her, leaving the young girl with a void that no one could fill. In those last moments, Reina held her daughter close, whispering words of love and encouragement into her ear. "Leone," she had murmured, her voice barely a whisper, "life is hard and it's taken away at a whim no matter how high-standing, strong, noble, careful, or vile you are. Don't try to live forever. It's ultimately gonna get dull. Try to live in the moment and experience it all so you can say you had a good life."

Those words had stayed with Leone through the years, guiding her through the tumultuous storm that had become her existence. And now, as she faced the demon that had corrupted her father, those words echoed louder than ever. With a roar that seemed to shake the very heavens, she released the full power of her Teigu, sending a blast of holy light toward Ignis.

His angry grunts gave way to wails of terrified agony. The sand around them turned to glass, the air crackling with energy as the two forces collided in a display that was both terrifying and awe-inspiring. For a brief moment, the world around them stood still, the battle between good and evil hanging in the balance.

Leone saw visions of the clumsy purple-haired girl- Sheele, the pink-hared genius girl- Mine, the green-haired perv- Lubbock, the pompadour gay man- Bulat, the neat freak- Susanoo, the sassy redhead- Chelsea, the silver-haired boss- Najenda, her cool-headed friend- Akame, and the sweet Tatsumi along with the people she met along the way.

Her thoughts turned to the quiet moments she had shared with them, the laughter, the tears, and the camaraderie that had grown between them. Each memory was a precious jewel, a reminder of the beauty that could be found even in the darkest of times. And amidst the chaos of the battle, she realized that she didn't want to leave them behind.

What you know. I used up all of my nine lives...but I don't wanna die. Maybe next life, I won't have to worry about dying so I can enjoy life., she thought.

The light grew blinding, the heat from the blast causing the air to shimmer. The ground beneath them shattered into a million glittering shards, the glass-like sand reflecting the intense radiance that washed over the beach.

Ignis's body writhed within the holy embrace, his form contorting and distorting as the purity of Leone's Teigu sought to purge the darkness from his soul. His flaming eyes grew dim, the malicious grin on his face fading into a rictus of pain and fear. The demonic essence that had once fueled his power was now being consumed by the very thing he had sought to destroy.

As the light faded, so too did the tremors that had shaken the fabric of the beach realm. The waves calmed, the palm trees stilled, and the sand grew cool beneath their feet. The air, which had been thick with the scent of burning and brimstone, was now filled with the gentle scent of the sea breeze.

Murasaki cried as she saw just a metal plate- the remnants of Lionelle- remaining and assumed that this sacrifice was worth it-

Suddenly, flickering flames billowed as a body reformed itself- Ignis was also skeletal from that strike.

"Wait, you're gonna need medicine. Here. I'm not doing it because I like you. I need as many fighters to die with that bitch.," Marli said as he tossed a vial of green substance to Ignis. He injected it and restored himself.

"Don't ignore me.," Wave said, his face angered at Marli.

Ignis looked at the plate with disgust and said-

"All that show and it results in nothing. What a waste of a good life and death-"

Murasaki's fist connected with Ignis' jaw with a resounding crack, silencing his taunts. Her eyes were a maelstrom of anger and grief, a stark contrast to the calm, composed demeanor she had once known. Her knuckles were white with rage as she unleashed a flurry of blows upon the demon, each punch and kick fueled by the weight of her pain.

"I don't care if your the Devil or a God!" she roared, her voice echoing through the beach. "All those eons of living by brushing off our struggles! You're going to answer for them. Today is your Last Judgment!"


Next Chapter: Water and Fire IV- Murasaki and Wave face Marli and Ignis in their Gula Forms

Author Notes: This revelation doesn't excuse Honest's actions, but does paint him in a sort of Ice King kind of light- being a nice man warped into a monster by outside forces.

Leone dies a good death that will inspire Murasaki. And Ignis reveals what a heinous monster he truly is.