Chapter 55
I believe, whatever doesn't kill you, makes you…stranger!!
The Joker
Sixty minutes after the attack of Ifrit, at the ruins of Alberta……
The smokes, come from the burning buildings in Alberta, had vanished. All left now is the ruins of once the port town of Rune Midgard. Other than at least three hundred soldiers of Sagramore in there, there were absolutely no survivors from Alberta. Not even the smallest of bugs has escaped the wrath of the creature known as The Fire God of Midgard.
Elraven Sinclair, sitting quietly in one of the ruins, covered by a blanket. His wounds have been treated by the priests when they and a small amount of Sagramore soldiers arrived right after Ifrit left the destroyed town. But his mind, no one really knows what he is thinking now.
Fiorentin and Frea were found by the Sagramore soldiers too. They didn't sustain any fatal injuries. But George, Olivia, and Felicia haven't wake up from their unconscious state. The damage Ifrit inflicted on them was quite severe, counting that they are normal human, unlike the three others.
The rest of the Sagramore soldiers, led by General Hagi, were trying their best to secure the area, although it is probably unneeded since Ifrit only brought two men with him and both of them have been destroyed by Clyde and Sasha.
Clyde and Sasha were trying to contact their captain, since Elraven seems too devastated to even talking at the moment. He has not said a single word for at least the last sixty minutes, which is so rare for him to do.
Em : El? Come in Elraven!
C: Uh, captain? It's not vice-captain Elraven, its Clyde. Soldier Clyde Williams reporting.
Em : OH? Clyde? How are you doing, Clyde? Where's Elraven? Is Sasha with you as well?
C : I and Sasha are helping Sagramore secure the area near Alberta along with Alexandria, and about vice-captain…I need to tell you a bad news.
Em : (In a serious tone) What news?
Clyde told Emilio the whole thing. The defeat of Elraven and Sagramore at the hands of Ifrit. The fall of Alberta. The loss of Elraven's 'family' in Alberta. Emilio listened carefully without interrupting even once.
Em : My god, Elraven was….defeated? I can't believe this….
C: I feel the same captain, but…that is the fact. He is currently resting. No fatal injuries, but he doesn't want to talk to anybody right now.
Em : Well, I think that's normal. This is the first time he has ever been defeated by an adversary; it must have been a shock for him. Not to mention he lost some of his colleagues. Please let him rest and cool his mind right now, you got that?
C: Roger that, captain.
Em : On a serious note, this is a lesson for all of us. That our oppositions hold such power that would even be regarded as godlike. I'm not trying to burden Elraven or you guys even more, but I think a defeat against Ifrit was….acceptable, even for him.
C: I….I'm afraid I don't get it. What makes it acceptable, captain?
Em : Well, you see…during the war against Prontera Kingdom five years ago, Valdomir accomplished such unbelievable feat that would be regarded as unrepeatable. Prontera Kingdom's King by that time, King Tristan, unleashes his full force in the form of 200,000 lord knights to attack Valdomir base on Mjolnir Mountain. Valdomir, realizing the threat of their oppositions, unleashes their strongest guild, The Erebus Guild, led by Ifrit. Although Ifrit brings almost all his fire monsters possible, he actually told them to let him handle the 200,000 soldiers alone, all by himself. And….after three days of battle, he defeated the entire 200,000 soldiers all by himself. He burnt them into the last crisps possible. And he left the battle unscathed. This event, known as "Mjolnir Mountain's Massacre" is regarded by many, as the major cause of the downfall of Prontera Kingdom.
C: ….For the love of god….how could he...That was transcendental….200, 000 soldiers all by himself? Unscathed?
Em : That is the horrifying truth, Clyde. Because of the massacre, Prontera lost more than half their soldiers and was eventually defeated by Valdomir. And because of the same event, Ifrit is recognized as the strongest warrior in Valdomir, perhaps third only after Beelzephir the Chaos and King Albert Gahn.
C : ……
Em : Clyde, clyde? What's wrong, Clyde?
C: Uh….no, I was just…thinking…I mean…how on earth we could defeat such…powers?
Em : I'm afraid I don't know the answer myself. Let's just…do our best to survive and not giving up to the very end.
C: Yes, sir!
Em : That's the spirit. Oh, yeah about the parts to complete HAVOX, I've send it. It should be in Payon when you get back there. Please inform Elraven about this, alright?
C: Roger that!
Em : And give him my best regards, you'll be my contact whenever he is unavailable starting from now, bye!
And with that, Emilio turned the talkie off.
Meanwhile, Frea is trying to comfort her lover. Elraven didn't even move a bit from where he sat, and that pretty much makes the soul linker worry about him. The white haired girl slowly approaches the purple glassed gunslinger and sat beside him.
"El, are you alright?" She puts her right hand on his left shoulder, staring at him compassionately. The gunslinger doesn't not give any reply, his eyes looks blank.
His mind is somewhere else, perhaps still regretting his lost against The Fire God of Midgard.
Frea, not being insensitive like her lover, realize what is going on with Elraven's mind once she stared at him. There is some kind of pain inside his heart, and that kind of pain is never easy to be cured. The least she could do for him right now is comforting him and let him rest.
"Elraven, you look tired, how about a little rest? " Frea puts her arms on Elraven's neck and stays like that for a minute. Elrven finally reacting by slowly touch one of her arms, and trying to rise, releasing Frea's arms. "OK, I'll take a rest. But…I have something else to do first" He said while walking towards the remaining of Peco Inn's barn with Frea looking at him from behind, wondering what he is going to do.
Elraven kneels at the mentioned spot and start collecting some ashes. Frea realized he is trying to collect the ashes of his dead colleagues. She wants to help but something inside her tells her that Elraven wants to do this all by himself. After fifteen minutes, Elraven is done collecting the ashes. He rises up and slowly walks towards the port.
Upon arriving near the sea, he stretch both his hands while slowly opens his palms, letting the wind blows the ashes slowly to the sea. "Boss, children…May god have mercy upon your souls. Rest in peace, my dear family…." Elraven said as the ashes slowly vanishes into bits above the sea.
Frea didn't say a word; no words would enlighten Elraven right now. The gunslinger slowly walks back to Frea and says, "Let's go back right now". Frea nods and follow him from behind.
Meanwhile, in the outer area of Alberta, near the forest……
The searchers team, led by Fiorentin and Alphard, didn't find a single trace of Valdomir soldiers in the forest of Alberta, Erebus Guild surely have left the area. The soldiers went further ahead to check some more places, as Alphard, Fiorentin, Clyde and Sasha stop for a second.
"They're gone. They are completely gone" Fiorentin, with Clyde and Sasha behind her, muttered slowly as she takes a good look around.
"Sorry for arriving so late" Alphard said to the female lord knight, who shakes her head, "Don't apologize. Ifrit was surely too strong for us".
Clyde suddenly remembered what Emilio told him awhile ago, about how fearsome Ifrit is. But apparently, Alphard think the other way around. "Well, had the so called Angel of Darkness lived up to the hype surrounding him, perhaps we would not suffered this humiliating defeat" The wielder of Tegron said while looking at Clyde and Sasha.
And of course, the two young gunslingers take offense to what he said. "Beg your pardon, Sir? Are you trying to blame our vice-captain for this?" Clyde sounds angry when he asked. Sasha follows her brother, "Take that words back".
Fiorentin, sensing the heavy atmosphere, trying to cool the other three down, "People, people please. This is not the right time to argue among ourselves". But it seems that her companions don't care at all. "Why would I take my words back? I was not insulting anybody. I only stated the truth, whether you like it or not it's up to you. I'm not taking my words back" Alphard calmly replied much to the anger of the gunslingers.
"You talk all high and mighty, it's not like you're better than him anyway!!" Clyde shouted as Alphard glares at him. "Perhaps you're a crisp now if you faced Ifrit earlier!!" His sister follows.
But Alphard confidently declares, "Speak all you want. Who knows I would have survived Ifrit or not? But I know one thing, I am better than your vice captain. A lot better".
"That's enough!! Stop this at once!!!" Fiorentin, fed up with the 'debate', shouted to stop her companions before Clyde and Sasha react any further. The other three stop, Alphard sighed and looks away from the gunslingers, doing a favor to end the heated discussion for his fiancé. Clyde and Sasha glare at the male lord knight before apologizing, "Sorry princess, we got carried away" Clyde represents her sister as well, humbly states.
Afterwards, Sagramore left Alberta. They didn't find any remaining Valdomir soldiers left because they have entirely gone. When they arrived at Payon, no one was cheerful at all. That day has become one of the most painful days for Sagramore. After a long year of victories they have finally suffered their first defeat.
Elraven found his HAVOX parts near the stairs of the main temple. He picked it up and wasted no time to go to his room along with Frea, sleeping. But that not that 'sleeping', this time he is really sleeping. He has no mood on having *** at the moment.
Clyde and Sasha are nowhere to be found.
Felicia, George, and Olivia finally awake an hour after Sagramore returned to Payon.
The three still take some rest at their beds.
"Man, we're beaten up" Olivia mutters as she rests her head on the pillow. "Not really, it was Ifrit you know? We're lucky we're still alive" Felicia responds her sister. George looks at both siblings and stared away to the ceiling.
"I'm not trying to sound like a wise guy, but…" George slowly speaks as the two sisters turned their attention on him. "Today's defeat just showed us how strong Valdomir are when they start showing their powers seriously. Take an example, I wonder if there's some kind of way to defeat an elemental being like Ifrit. And Ifrit is just one of Valdomir greats" The champion, in a rare occasion, speak wishfully.
Felicia blinked her eyes before answering, "True. Even Elraven was defeated. We all have weakness after all, don't we?". Olivia nods, but unfortunately George doesn't take to kindly of the paladin's comment.
The champion rose and stared at both sisters, "Oh, is that how you guys think?!". Olivia awkwardly looks at him, "What's up George? What is your problem this time?".
"My problem? You want to know my freaking problem?!! What is so great about Elraven? 'Even Elraven was defeated'? So what?! Since he was defeated are you saying no freaking one would defeat Ifrit?!!!!" George harshly answered, much to the surprise of the two siblings.
"Calm down, George. That was not what I was trying to imply. That was just a comment, that's all" Felicia tried to calm down the champion, but George was too angry to listen and rushed out from the room, leaving Olivia and Felicia staring at each other.
"What the hell is wrong with him?" Olivia grunted. Felicia closed her eyes for a second before answering, "He envies Elraven".
The answer makes Olivia rolls her eyes, "Because Elraven seems to be stronger than him?". "And more reliable, if I may add" Felicia agreed with her sister.
"But.." Felicia continues as her sister is listening, "It's only normal for him to feel so, just like you did awhile ago", Olivia doesn't respond, she can't say anything because her sister is right.
"George has been with us since like…forever. Among the four of us since we were little, he is the only 'male' who keeps hanging around with us since the days on Prontera Castle. Maybe, it's become his nature to feel that 'men need to protect women'. That's why he always does his best at any mission given to him. Lately, we encountered many powerful enemies, and he seems to have a hard time facing those enemies henchmen, while Elraven, the guy we just knew a month ago, keeps facing the 'tough ones' and keeps winning…until today, of course. And within the last month, Elraven has proved he is more powerful and reliable than George ever does. Perhaps George doesn't like this fact and start seeing Elraven as his…'rival'" Felicia finishes her explanation.
Olivia sighed, "At times like this, I hope he doesn't lose his mind and open his forbidden seal". "Let's hope so" Felicia agrees, as she noticed General Dorn and Talia are entering the room.
"Mom!" Olivia, like a little kid, running and hugging her mother. "My poor little girl, thanks god you're alright" The professor returned the hug as her husband approaches their older daughter. "Are you alright, Felicia? God, I was so scared something happened to my daughters when I found out Ifrit was attacking" General Donald aka Dorn, express his gratefulness seeing his daughter is fine.
"Oh, come one dad. You know we are stronger than that" Felicia giggles as her father smiles. "Oh, by the way what is wrong with George? He seems pretty pissed when we met him in the corridor. I wanted to tell him about the mission for Geffen, but he didn't want to listen" General Dorn asked the paladin as Felicia starts explaining the problem.
Meanwhile, at Elraven's room…
Frea awakes from her sleep to find Elraven sleeping beside her. Frea rose and put a blanket on the gunslinger. "Rest for now" Frea whispers in his ear. The hanbok clothed soul linker sits down in one of the chairs, as she heard someone knocks the door.
"Knock, knock".
"Come in" Frea says as Fiorentin enters. "Oh, it's you…" Frea slowly speaks seeing the lord knight. Fiorentin looks at Elraven and asks, "Frea, I need to tell you something. Can we talk outside so we will not disturb him?". Frea nods and the two go outside to the corridor.
"What is it, princess?" Frea slowly asked. "We…have decided to take Geffen down" Fiorentin answers. Frea pays attention as she continues, "The attack of Alberta and Comodo was…my fault on not realizing why our battles in Midgard were too easy the whole time. It was because Valdomir wants us to feel we got the upper hand and lessen our security. We…I've underestimated them and that costs me my people's live. I won't let that happen anymore". Frea could feel sorrow on her last words, losing is never easy.
"Upon returning here, I realize we cannot afford losing anymore. That's why, led by Alphard, 60,000 soldiers of Sagramore will march through Glast Heim to take that cursed place down. I will take George, Olivia, and Felicia to Geffen with me. We still need to learn more about The Prophecy of Eisenheim. I'm planning to take you, Elraven and his two subordinates with me. Can you tell him that? Geffen and Glast Heim are under the supervision of Acheron Guild, led by Dracula. We need any power possible to defeat them" Fiorentin calmly finishes her plan.
The beautiful white haired girl smiles and nods, "I'll let him know. When are we going?". "A week from now" The lord knight quickly answered. "OK".
Later that night……
Elraven wakes up to find no one on his room. Realizing the blanket covering him, he is sure this is Frea's doing. "I'll have to thank her later" He said to himself.
He takes a bath afterwards. Upon finishing his chores, he quickly packs his bags and readied his HAVOX parts.
"Knock, knock"
A sound of the door knocked could be heard. "Come in" The purple glassed gunslinger said. Just like earlier today, it was Fiorentin. "Oh, good evening Alexandria. Can I help you?" Elraven, just as always, politely greets her.
"No, just come to check you. Thanks god you're fine" Fiorentin states with a smile on her face. Elraven smiles, but she could feel sadness on his smile. "Wanna talk about it?" Fiorentin asks the gunslinger again.
Elraven, no matter how insensitive he is, understood her intention and what she meant. "Sure. Let's go outside" The two goes outside in the veranda. Elraven sits in a chair as Fiorentin sat beside him. The two look at each other before start seeing the dark sky.
"So, are you feeling better now?" Fiorentin, still seeing the sky, asks. "Not quite. Losing people you care about are never easy" Elraven answers without looking at her.
"I know how that feel does" Fiorentin, now looking at the gunslinger who returned her looks, answers. "I was very devastated after the loss of my parents" Her start sharing her story makes Elraven quietly listens. "I cried for days, not wanting to eat nor sleep. I felt that I was better off dead. I lost my spirit to live and wanted to see my parents again" The lord knight emotionally continues.
"I was even considering committing suicide. But, by that time I also realized that..I didn't live for myself, I couldn't. Because if I lost to my own sadness, then why would my parents bother protecting me…and my people? Their deaths would have been for nothing. My parents fought not only for themselves, but also for the people they cared for. And died without live my life, this life which is given by them and protected by them, to its fullest is just the same as disrespecting them. That's why, I have decided to fight…until the very end. Because the only thing we, the living, could do for the dead is by living our lives to its fullest without forgetting them" Fiorentin finishes her saying.
Elraven looks at her in awe, not believing such young girl would have had so much spirit inside her. He remembers Olivia once told him that Fiorentin used to be a brat. Just now, he seems to know what changed her drastically.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Fiorentin comments on the awkward stare from Elraven. Elraven quickly pretends not looking at her, "No, no! I was just….well, you know, kind of surprised listening to your story".
"Really? Never thought a brat would try to comfort you?" Fiorentin giggles seeing Elraven tries his best to hide his embarrassment. "But you're right", Elraven admits, "The only thing we, the living, could do for the dead is by living our lives to its fullest without forgetting them. Thank you, Alexandria. I feel a lot better now".
"Oh, never mind. I'm glad if I can be of any help, what kind of a leader I am if I can't motivate my men right?" Fiorentin confidently stated as the gunslinger nods. "Well, I'm going for now" Elraven said as he roses.
"What? Where are you going? I haven't told you anything about our plan for Geffen!" Fiorentin rose too.
"I'm planning to complete HAVOX first, that's why I'll go to the forest to find some quieter place" Elraven explains thoroughly.
"…Alright. But, be sure to make it back within a week, alright? We're going to Geffen in a week" Fiorentin informs the gunslinger.
"OK. Please tell Frea and the others about my leave, OK?" Elraven lift his bags and readied himself to dash to the forest. But before going, he looks at Fiorentin and said, "Thank you, Alexandria. When I return, I'll be stronger than ever. And I owe you one
this time. I'll repay your kindness someday, bye" With that, he goes leaving Fiorentin wondering alone, "You're welcome".
Meanwhile, inside Thanatos Tower…
Ifrit is seen kneeling before Beelzephir The Chaos, who could be seen smiling. "You did a marvelous job at Comodo and Alberta, Ifrit. As expected from the notorious Fire God of Midgard" The white high wizard praised the fire entity.
"THANK YOU, MY LORD. IT IS AN HONOR TO PLEASE YOU" Ifrit responds.
"But, I don't understand one thing, why did you let Elraven live?" Beelzephir asks for an explanation.
"BECAUSE I THINK A STRUGGLING WORM IS MORE INTERESTING THAN THE DYING ONE. I, FOR ONE, DOESN'T THINK HE IS WORTHY ENOUGH TO BE KILLED AT ALL" Ifrit politely answers.
"That is so like you, Ifrit. You may leave now" Beelzephir responded as Ifrit rose and quickly shifts himself into fire and vanishes. Beelzephir, still smiling, mutters, "I wonder if The Tertium are ready by now?".
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Well, I planned to update earlier by my works were hell!!!
Hope u enjoy, see u next chap!!!