Special thanks to Xolef225 for their help with this chapter.
I don't own Arknights or Type moon content.
Unlimited Blade Works...
Edward opened his eyes and beheld the desolate wasteland that was Shirou Emiya's inner world once more. The sky was still stuck in a twilight, the light covered by the clouds as the innumerable armaments laid as far as the eye can see, many of which tarnished by rust.
The sight was pitiful, infuriating even. It made him sick to his stomach to know such weapons that had carried him and Shirou through many battles were in such a state.
He walked up to a particular rust-covered longsword, average on most levels as far as he could tell. A simple crossguard, a leather grip, and little to no decoration save for a few symbols engraved in the guard. He remembered Shirou using it to save him from getting shot in the past.
Sitting down on the ground, Edward sighed and laid the sword across his lap, ripping a piece of his clothes and beginning to do his best to get rid of the rust that covered it.
"It seems you've yet to learn your lesson, or should I just consider you a glutton for punishment at this point?"
He took his eyes off the sword and looked to the figure that appeared on his right. EMIYA looked down on him, his hands crossed and eyes betraying nothing as he simply glanced between Edward and the sword.
"You of all people should know that's not going to be enough to sway me, Shirou."
"Stop referring to me by that name, I am not that worthless fool."
"Not going to happen To me, you will always be Shirou Emiya: my best and incredibly dense friend. Just because you got buff and a cool hairdo doesn't change that in the slightest."
EMIYA glared at him and shook his head.
"Your persistence is futile, you should give up on those foolish ideals of yours while you have the chance."
"It's not going to happen. It's actually funny to hear these things you constantly say, all things considered."
"What?"
Edward smirked at EMIYA, his eyes shifting their attention to the light hidden behind the dense clouds.
"Our friendship taught me that your inner world speaks of you more than anything I could ever find out on my own or even from what you could tell me outright. The light over there alone tells me that the "you" I know is still in there, buried deep under the guilt you feel and the pain you've been through."
Edward examined the blade in his grasp, a bit cleaner than before. He activated his magic circuits, strengthening the sword and eliminating the damage and structural degradation it suffered.
Standing up, Edward moved to face the heroic spirit as he stabbed the blade back in its place.
"You may not be the Shirou Emiya I knew, but that would never matter to me. The dream we carved together, and the vow we made to each other will never disappear."
The magus smiled as he moved to the spear next to them, ignoring the incredulous look the archer servant gave him.
"I suppose you must have forgotten a lot of things, given the kind of existence you are. I can't even imagine being in such a state. It's ok though, I'm sure my memories will remind you of the important things you've lost soon enough."
Edward felt the familiar feeling of something pulling him from this place, he could see his hands disappearing in motes of blue particles.
"I guess my time is up for today. Don't miss me too terribly, I'll be back here before you know it. Even if I have to clean this world one sword at a time, I'll definitely bring you out of the hole you dug yourself into, just like I've always done."
Giving the wrought-iron hero a wide grin, Edward disappeared from the world of unlimited blades. EMIYA stared blankly at where the magus once was, the idiocy of his statement leaving the counter guardian at a loss for words.
To clean his world of unlimited weapons one weapon at a time? Even suggesting such a thing was so stupid it was bordering on insane.
EMIYA didn't care much for Edward's words. That man could hold on for only so long when faced with endless death. He would break eventually, even if it took a thousand more times for him to bear witness to their hell.
The counter guardian stood once more atop the hill, gazing at the skies as he recalled some of the memories he glimpsed of his summoner's life: memories of an empty boy that sought a purpose to call his own as he sat near a lake, observing the serene scene in front of him, until a curious girl approached him.
A girl who would teach him how to live.
Ursus Empire's Northwestern Tundras / November 3rd, Year 1093 / Clear Skies...
Edward knew the day wasn't going to be any good the moment he observed the infected currently fighting with the yetis under Talulah's command as they took over an old run down mobile city.
The moment they had their sights on the city, he could sense the shift in their behavior, some were more obvious than others. It was not his first time encountering such a sight, having grown used to it after dealing with many would-be opportunists who sought to make a scapegoat of him or Shirou for one thing or another.
Letting out a long sigh, he mentally prepared himself as he plucked the soldiers fighting against the yetis. Under his cover, not a single foe was spared. He took a few moments to watch Talulah as she fought, soldiers around her exploding into a fiery mess out of nowhere. He noted her arts usage's growth since they met.
'Her growth is impressive, to be able to go beyond simple applications into more complex techniques so quickly.'
'She is a genius, I think Kutcha's going to get roasted the next time he tries to pull a fast one on her.'
Soon enough, the fodder troops were completely eliminated. Petrova finished delegating the resource collection squads and organizing the patrols as she walked up to Talulah.
Edward sat near them, his usual mask hiding the fact that his eyes were focused on the group of infected talking in the background.
"Petrova, have you informed the others of my instructions?"
"Yes sir, we're ready for anything."
He nodded before quietly going back to his observation, not caring much for Talulah's small talk with Petrova about the city and such. His eyes narrowed when he noted the people coming to some sort of agreement, before one of them walked towards them.
'Here we go.'
"Talulah!"
Talulah turned to the newcomer, and Edward could see her silently examining their surroundings just like he was doing. They could both see the people in the alleyways entering the nearby buildings.
"You're one of the infected from Earcurl village, if my memory serves me correctly."
"We've got a pretty big group ourselves! At the very least, we're no smaller than you guerrillas."
Talulah's face sank further into neutrality as the infected man tried to appear confident mentioning their numbers. Edward could only scoff at such an attempt.
"Well, you're almost there. I'm not exactly part of the guerrilla force."
"We still definitely had more men in this fight than you."
Edward looked up to one of the floors of the nearby ruined building, he could spot the crossbowman there. The magus watched as a hand forcefully covered the sniper's mouth and a blade stabbed right through his chest.
Zack appeared behind the dead sniper, giving a small peace sign to Edward as he took the crossbow and kept his position. His little brother already had his sights set on one of the men in the alleyway behind them.
"So? What do you want from me?"
"Let us go our separate ways here, Talulah."
"Are you serious?"
"We've fought plenty of battles with you people, and we've taken the shirt off our backs for you more times than I can count. You can take half the resources in the city. Hell, take more than that. Just let us keep the city."
Edward observed the conversation without saying anything, he could feel his presence was noted from the frequent times the man stole glances at him. He continued to survey the nearby buildings for snipers that his siblings didn't take care of yet.
Judging by their surroundings, the yetis had done an excellent job eliminating them.
'As expected from the brats. I guess I should make a move now.'
Standing up, he could tell that the people watching them were tense, their spokesperson most of all. Each step he took seemed to strike more fear into him as the man kept his distance.
"I care not for your cowardice so spare us your pointless excuses."
"Reaper! A merciless monster like you and the yetis wouldn't understand!"
"Why you son of a-"
Edward waved Petrova down before she escalated their conversation into a full blown massacre. His face undisturbed as he glanced towards Talulah, waiting for her response with a smile.
Talulah knew something was up at that moment, her eyes stealthy wandering to the buildings next to them. Finally taking notice of the yetis primed and ready to act should anything happen.
Edward was supporting her, he wanted to know what course of action she would take.
"We'll get the supplies right away. The city is yours."
"That's good to hear."
The infected fighter found Talulah's sword against his neck, her eyes cold as she sized the opposition up.
"I won't stand for any insult to our fighters, apologize to the Yetis immediately."
"We don't need the apology of some lowlife like him; we leave immediately. Petrova, gather the others. We need to itemize the loot."
Petrova nodded as she left Edward's side, stopping briefly as Talulah whispered something to her. The kuranta's eyes widened just a bit, but quickly composed herself and left.
He could tell she was moving towards the place they kept the comms terminal in. It didn't take long to store the resources in Edward's inventory before they left the city to rendez-vous with Patriot.
The group of infected watched them leave, discussions soon starting on where they would take their city next and what their course of action would be.
"Turn on the terminal we have, we need to inform the ursus army of the guerrilla's location before they move out. We can disappear into the tundras while they have their hands full."
Some of the group looked uncomfortable with the spokesperson's commands, but no objections were heard after the bodies of their snipers were found dead in their ambush positions.
But before the informant could open the terminal, a sword stabbed into the device and completely ruined it. All present turned their attention to the person who threw it, palling at the sight of the masked Edward sitting on a nearby rooftop.
Edward's hand reached out, and the people in front of him fell to their knees as the damaged, deteriorated ground underneath them cracked under the pressure of his arts. Some cried out in pain as their legs broke from the weight, while others couldn't lift their faces from the ground.
"Did you truly believe it would be so easy to betray us? I'm almost offended."
Dropping down from the roof of the building, Edward calmly walked towards the group. Casually moving amongst the infected fighters, he stopped in front of the one who spoke with them previously: the apparent leader of the group.
"For someone who was supposedly terrified of strong enemies, you found a great deal of bravery betraying us and insulting my siblings in front of me."
Edward squatted in front of him, his mask terrifying the ursus man to no end.
"Well, your bravery was hilariously misplaced, because you're coming with me to face the consequences."
He punched the man, knocking him out completely. He placed his unconscious body on his shoulder, speaking not a word as he left the group in their sorry state.
Edward's instincts flared, alarm bells ringing in his mind as he felt a sinister presence nearby, his fist lashing out subconsciously and his arts demolishing the building to his left with a shockwave, before he got rid of the dust in one soft push.
His eyes traced the ruins for any signs of the stalker, while his arts examined the place for any bodies under the rubble. Finding nothing, Edward frowned before he picked up the pace.
'Whoever that was, they disappeared too quickly and silently to be one of the infected fighters or even an elite Ursus striker. It leaves only one possible option.'
'Analysis didn't indicate the presence of black snow, but it is possible that it could be a royal guard who held back their power, or one who specializes in stealth.'
'I can't believe he got so close without me realizing.'
As he approached the camp, he was greeted by the sight of Talulah and Patriot arguing. He sighed as he threw the body of the infected fighter in front of them, the sight surprising the two into silence.
"There's no need to argue amongst each other like a pair of elders. Here we have the leader of the ragtag group from the city. They tried to tip off the Ursus garrisons about our location, I managed to destroy their terminal, but I'm not sure if they have a backup somewhere."
Talulah frowned, her eyes focusing on the infected man on his knees in front of them. Patriot signaled to Lazarus, the sarkaz man picking up the traitor and moving to the group of infected near them.
"It is strange that you said so, Edward. Talulah just informed me that Petrova intercepted a message from the city."
"It was most likely sent by whoever surveyed me on my way out of the city. I'll keep the garrison I scouted earlier busy while you guys prepare. Igor and his soldiers are still dealing with another garrison to the north, but they should be back soon."
Getting on a snowmobile, Edward threw one last glance in the direction of the mobile city before driving to the Ursus garrison's direction.
Talulah watched him leave, before she turned her attention to the infected gathering around Lazarus and the man Edward brought back. Patriot ushered her as they approached.
"You said that you would list the charges of the ones who broke the manifesto. Show me."
The wendigo observed the draco as she moved through the crowd, and read the traitor his charges. He saw the outrage of the crowd and their growing agitation at the realization of being used as scapegoats, the place growing tense.
Talulah conducted herself masterfully, calming the crowd with soothing words and building up her momentum as her sword left its sheath and was buried in the traitor's chest.
It was imperative to make examples in such delicate situations, their lifestyle left little room for errors. Hopefully, such a brazen betrayal and its failure would make sure such a thing won't happen again.
"Captain, looks like she managed to handle herself quite well."
"Indeed. Even if Edward didn't join them, I am confident she would have made a good decision, all things considered. That city doesn't have much left in it, and I have a feeling they won't get far before tragedy befalls them."
"The royal guards do hate traitors more than anything else."
Patriot nodded, his grip on his spear tightening as he walked towards the guerrilla's camp. Although Lazarus seemed quite casual as he followed his leader, he couldn't shake off the tension across his body despite his best efforts.
"Organize the men, we're going to deal with the other garrisons bound to be nearby while Edward's show keeps the main force busy."
Back in the ruined mobile city, the bodies of the infected fighters were scattered across the streets. Five royal guards sat amidst the carnage, sharpening their swords as they contemplated the events which unfolded.
"The Akhmatov heir and those around him continue to exceed expectations, the reports do not do his abilities justice."
The royal guard broke the silence with his remark as he dusted himself off. He recalled the surprising attack that leveled the ruins he was observing the boy from, a distorted hiss leaving his mask.
"Indeed, he would become a valiant star of Ursus in the future. Grand will be most pleased."
"Now that he and Patriot are on their guard, we need to lay low for a while. The snake's days are finally numbered."
The royal guards stood as one, leaving the ruins and the massacre behind them. Neither the white snow nor the crimson blood could overcome the utter blackness of the dark aura shrouding the area.
Looking at those in the camp, Edward could feel the sense of tension and sadness in the air among the infected after today's events. They have already dealt with the Ursus army opposition and managed to clear out of the area before any reinforcements came in.
He could feel the fighters giving him looks as he passed by, varying from fearful to hostile. Lazarus told him rumors had spread that he secretly killed the rest of the defected group, growing more gruesome and wild as time went on.
Nothing he wasn't used in any case, he and Shirou had worse rumors about them both in the moonlit world and the regions they traveled to. Although he hoped his siblings wouldn't take them too seriously.
Walking through the snow, he found himself sitting with the yetis minus Yelena. He noticed they were strangely silent today, looking at him intently. Petrova sat down beside him, hugging his arm.
"What's wrong?"
"We've heard the rumors going around in camp, are you ok?"
Edward chuckled, the action coming off as an attempt to hide his feelings in the eyes of the yetis. They sat down near him, gathering around their caretaker in an effort to shield him from the eyes of the others.
"You don't need to worry about me."
"We're always here for you, brother. You don't need to bear these things by yourself."
Maintaining a serene smile, Edward patted Petrova's head. The rascals piled on him almost immediately, a cheerful chorus of laughter banishing the former gloom hanging over the group previously.
Edward freed himself from the yetis, his eyes noticing another missing sibling.
"Where is Kondrasha?"
"He went that way, said he wanted to be alone for a bit."
"I'll go see him. Don't start any trouble while I'm gone."
Taking his leave, Edward continued walking to the edge of the camp. Through the snow and trees, his ears noted familiar flute notes. Following the sound, he soon found Kondrasha, the savra's blue eyes meeting his own as he stopped playing. Edward sat next to him, his eyes inquisitively staring at the young boy's frustrated face.
"Your tune is slightly off, little brother. It's not like you."
"I guess it is. Maybe today's not my day."
"What troubles you?"
"I've been thinking back on what happened today. I recall what that infected man said and wonder if he was right. Maybe we are monsters after all."
Edward didn't respond, his gaze shifting to the scenery in front of them. As someone who shared similar thoughts a fair amount of times in his life, he couldn't offer Kondrasha a good, honest answer.
"Maybe it is the case, but does it really matter what they call you? You'll still be the one who gets scolded by Petrova for skipping on your training, who Ofnir relies on for his experiments, and the only one I've taught my tune to. Whether others call you a monster or not, always keep in mind these facts will never change."
Edward's hands gripped Kondrasha's shoulders, his smile allowing his little brother to relax. The magus gestured for the flute, and the young yeti happily gave it to him, listening to the flute notes attentively.
For a while, the only sound amidst their surroundings was that of the flute, the gentle notes banishing their worries. Their reverie ended as the sound of footsteps near them interrupted the tune.
"So this is where you were."
Talulah stood in front of the two, her face neutral as she sat next to Edward. The draco let out a long sigh and stretched her arms, feeling actually relaxed for the first time today.
Smiling at Talulah, Edward returned the flute to Kondrasha and urged him to return to the other yetis. After Kondrasha left, Edward's attention returned to the brooding woman next to him. He smirked as his head casually leaned against his fist, his eyes unblinkingly observing Talulah with interest.
For her part, Talulah didn't flinch or so much as budge under his gaze, giving him a playful smile of her own.
"Why do you keep staring at me?"
Edward chuckled, a small fire blossoming in his open hand and shifting into a butterfly which approached her, settling on the fighter's nose before dissipating.
"Because you're beautiful."
The sight of Talulah blinking owlishly as his words sunk in was most amusing to Edward. Regaining her bearings, Talulah smiled and didn't speak a word, using the scenery to distract herself from the magus's playful gestures.
"It seems their betrayal left its mark on you."
"Not really, they simply had goals different from ours from the beginning. The moment they asked to separate, there was no way to convince them to stay, nor would I really want to keep such people with us if I were completely honest."
"Then should I assume that you're trying to overthink matters again? Sometimes I think your hair is gray due to stress rather than naturally so."
"Well, forgive me for trying my best to keep our group safe and healthy."
Talulah sighed, her hands covering her face as her thoughts ran wild. Even though they gained a great amount of supplies from the mobile city, eventually those resources would run dry. Their group needed a sustainable source of food and energy for them to thrive and live with dignity.
Her contemplation was cut short by the magus carrying her suddenly, casually walking back to camp despite Talulah's initial resistance.
"You worry too much and try to resolve all the problems we're facing on your own. Once you stop doing such a thing and start counting on us for help, you'll find your life to be less stressful."
"I understand, now put me down."
"Absolutely not. If I let you go now, you'll start going around the camp trying to run yourself ragged, so I'm personally carrying you to your resting place."
Talulah found herself exasperated by her companion's stubbornness. Deciding to make the best out of her situation, she got more comfortable in his embrace, a wicked smile on her face as she spotted a certain someone in their peripherals.
"So is the big, bad, but handsome reaper going to imprison the helpless young lady in her own quarters?"
Having successfully drawn his attention before he noticed the figure behind them, Edward turned his head to the lady he's carrying. Edward found himself ignoring all warnings and chills he felt, focused as he was on Talulah's genuine smile.
"Indeed. The reaper had deemed your life too precious to die from overwork."
"Is that so? What would the reaper do once he delivered me to my tent? Is he perhaps planning to take advantage of little old me?"
Not falling for her teasing, Edward stopped and leaned in towards her. Their foreheads touched, their eyes meeting for a long moment until Talulah averted his gaze, feeling shy for once.
"The reaper plans on watching over you until you sleep. He will make sure no nightmares touch your dreams."
He walked through the camp without a word, ignoring all the onlookers. He soon found himself inside Talulah's resting place, having laid her on her bed before sitting down next to her.
She looked amused if anything, a playfulness masked perfectly by an incredulous expression. Seeing him unmoving, a sigh of defeat escaped her lips.
"Would the reaper be kind enough to play a tune for me?"
"Your wish is my command."
Listening to the tune, Talulah felt a sense of tranquility wash over her as her mind wondered.
How long ago was the last time someone had treated her like this?
How much time has passed restlessly fighting, running, strategizing and agonizing over the future, terrorized constantly by the looming threat of the duke?
Even she couldn't tell.
Her body began to relax while Edward continued to play, her eyes closing and peacefully falling asleep in a matter of minutes.
Noticing her peaceful breathing, Edward stored his instrument away. He covered Talulah with a blanket before silently exiting the tent, coming face to face with Alina. For some reason, her casual smile sent shivers down his spine, his eyes subconsciously analyzing his surroundings for an escape route.
"Edward, may I ask why you came into camp carrying Talulah bridal style?"
"You may not."
"Would you care to repeat that?"
"No, ma'am. I was just trying to force Talulah to get some rest because she was stressing herself too much."
"Was answering so difficult?"
Shaking his head, Edward moved past Alina. Kutcha watched the discussion from atop Alina's head, Edward could almost feel the amusement in the raven's eyes.
Edward whispered threats to the ungrateful runt, Although he didn't go far before Alina called out to him once more.
"Edward, thank you."
Nodding his head, the magus continued onwards. His steps took him to the training grounds, still lively as ever as both guerrilla fighters and new infected recruits honed themselves. His eyes soon spotted Sasha amongst the crossbowmen, while Eno watched from the sidelines.
"Hello, Eno."
"Hi, Edward."
Sitting next to the white-haired boy, Edward continued to observe Sasha's training as the boy maneuvered across obstacles with surprising agility whilst firing arrows at the targets. The marksman's precision was a bit off, but still incredible for his build which lacked the arm strength for continuous shots with a bow and was completely unqualified for reloading a decent crossbow.
"So how's life treating you so far, Eno?"
"I guess it's alright. We have food and we're safe, so we're happy."
"Have you thought about what you want to do in the future?"
Eno shook his head, his eyes trailed the people passing by with curiosity before he turned back to Edward.
"Edward, mind if I ask you a question?"
"No, ask away."
"Do you hate the people that sent you here?"
Edward hummed in thought, his smile faltering almost immediately. The question brought back many painful memories, visions of an empty room devoid of life and the two corpses hanging in it haunting him more than any suffering which followed after.
No humiliation nor punishment could equal that sight.
"I do. But I came to accept that nothing I do would right the wrongs I was subjected to."
"You don't want to take revenge?"
"There were days when I thought about it, anger still clouded much of my judgment at the time. Time had cleared my mind, I managed to find my life again when I understood that despite everything, the people I lost would be within me and everything I do."
Phantom pain flared in his chest, Edward closed his eyes and tried his best to hide his weakness. More than anyone else, his was the back which must always remain steadfast, his was the smile which must remain undisturbed.
A most arrogant notion, but one he doesn't wish to see the consequences of its fall.
"I know what you and Sasha went through. That's why I want you to promise me, Eno: promise me you'll never do such things to others."
Edward knelt in front of Eno, his hands gently holding the child's shoulders. A mutual understanding born of shared suffering connected them more than words could express.
It was what it meant to be infected. To be the punching bag of the world and its people, the recipient of endless pain, humiliation and despair.
"I will not ask you to love your enemy, nor will I ask you to do what I believe to be right. Just promise me, you will hold on to hope no matter how bad it gets or how lost you feel. We have to be greater than what we went through."
"...I promise."
Edward sighed in relief and patted Eno's head. He had high hopes for both Eno and Sasha and what they could become in the future. Sasha soon joined the two, having finished his training for the day.
"Let's go hang out with the brats, you two."
The two boys followed after him enthusiastically without a word, enjoying their time with the yetis most out of everyone in the camp save for Talulah and Alina.
Despite the tribulation, the day ended on a rather satisfying note for most of the village…save for one unfortunate draco.
Talulah yawned lazily as she exited her tent after a long relaxing nap, only to be grabbed and shoved right back in violently. A shadow loomed over her as she tried to retaliate, only to freeze at the sight of an exceptionally pissed off FrostNova.
"Listen here, you little сука. What is your intention with my brother?"
"Oh~, is little Yelena wor-"
Talulah was cut off by an icy spike landing between her legs, dangerously close to her pelvis. The chills from the ice projectile caused her to shiver as the temperature declined exponentially with Yelena's mood.
"Answer my question."
"What the hell, you violent rabbit!? You know full well we're close friends, that's all."
Yelena's visible eye shone an ominous red in the night, a pressure comparable to Patriot's presence bearing down on Talulah with the weight of a thousand mountains.
"So am I to assume that your earlier act was just you leading my dear brother on false pretense? That you are in fact toying with my brother's feelings?"
If not for the cold, Talulah was sure she would have begun sweating profusely as Yelena approached and crouched right in front of her. The fighter would never admit that she felt a sense of imminent doom as the cautus woman pulled the spike out of the ground, the icy construct morphing into a particularly barbed sword.
"Listen very closely, if I see my brother so much as sigh and you had something to do with it, I will take my time disassembling you with this sword, piece by piece, as you watch. Am I understood?"
"Crystal."
Yelena's eyes narrowed further.
"I meant yes, ma'am."
"The next time you try such a thing, I better see a ring on your finger or else it will be me who'll be 'taking advantage' of you."
Talulah felt her heart almost give up when the menace finally left. She flopped back into her bed and decided that more sleep was definitely needed after whatever that was.
For her part, Yelena stopped in her tracks when she caught sight of her brother amidst the yetis along with Alina, Sasha and Eno. Her hands grasped the red shroud, feeling the familiar warmth of the holy relic.
Seeing him happily interacting with everyone brought a smile to her face, further reinforcing her resolve to protect his precious heart from women who could take advantage of her brother's kindness.
Edward welcomed his sister with a big smile, one mirrored by FrostNova's own, the rabbit puffing her chest in pride. The reaper pampered his sister, blissfully oblivious of the terror his sibling was capable of.
Truly her older brother's star.
Hui-chieh:
Today I realized how scary Yelena can truly be. A part of me prays for any woman unfortunate enough to draw her precious brother's attention.
Maybe that's why he doesn't have a girlfriend despite being popular among the females around here. Funnily enough when I asked Alina about it she only gave me a strange look, before Kutcha started pecking on my head!
Wonder what that's about.
Edward's been spending a lot of time with Eno, something Alina is very glad about. She said the boys are slowly growing more confident and active.
I should make time for them before he steals their affection completely.
Ursus Empire's Northwestern Tundras / 7th December, Year 1093 / Snowy...
Edward yawned as he got off of the snowmobile, having finished his scouting. The fourth army's sentries ten kilometers away from the village didn't seem to be leaving any time soon, luckily for them some of the settlements nearby were willing to trade with them.
He examined the bounded field that he placed around the village for any anomalies as he walked around the place. For once, he found his thoughts returning to a subject he had been putting off for a long time.
Namely, the very unwelcome parasite in Talulah's body.
He could recall the articles and information he researched about the duke of Kaschey back before he was banished from Chernobog, as well as the memories he glimpsed through Talulah's sword. The magus knew he couldn't make his knowledge and plan known.
He needed to bring the snake out, believing he was still in control with none the wiser about his existence. Only then could he exterminate the duke before he could use the others or Talulah as hostages.
Spotting Alina walking out of the entrance, he quickly ran after her.
"Alina!"
Hearing his call, Alina turned towards him. A gentle smile blossomed on her face as she waved at the incoming local reaper. Kutcha was with her as usual, making himself comfortable on top of her head.
"Going out somewhere?"
"Yes. I'm heading to the eastern village to trade for some food."
"It's dangerous out there, mind if I accompany you?"
"I wouldn't want to impose."
"Don't worry about it, I have something to talk to you about in any case."
Walking through the snow and dead trees, the two of them remained silent for most of the way. Edward noticed his companion frowning, a behavior unusual for someone like Alina.
"Is there anything bothering you Alina?"
"You probably aren't aware of it since you just returned from your mission, but the guerrillas caught some infected trying to steal food. I worry about how Talulah's going to handle the situation."
"I'm sure it's going to be ok. Although I think Talulah can be too lenient sometimes, she's quite capable of taking the right course of action."
"I hope you're right."
The two decided to switch to simple smalltalk about the kids as well as the different people in their group the rest of the way. Time flew as Edward watched the gentle village girl barter with the extra supplies he gave her. Quite satisfied by the basket filled with fruits, the two began their trip back to the camp.
Edward observed Alina with a conflicted expression, a scowl on his face at the idea that he developed along the way.
It was worth a shot, despite the costs.
Hardening his heart, the magus followed behind his friend.
Talulah took a deep breath as she oversaw the clean up of the fighting they were forced into with the Patrol unit. Thankfully the fight wasn't as difficult as she estimated thanks to the support from the guerrilla fighters Patriot left with them.
Hopefully this should be enough to draw any ire from the fourth army or the patrol unit on them rather than the villages. Talulah turned her attention from the corpses to the infected fighter heading her way.
"Are the other people safe?"
"Yes. They're safe and sound in the backup safe house."
"Did you do a headcount?"
"Sure did. Although the kids were crying about how one of the older girls was missing."
In an instant, horror overtook Talulah. A bone chilling terror shook her core muted all other noises around her, her rampant heartbeats banging against her eardrums. She didn't even notice the guerrilla fighter approaching them.
"Talulah! We got our sights on the remnants of the patrol units. Looks like they're just running away."
"Which way did they go?"
Talulah barely held back from screaming for an answer. She prayed and hoped for any answer other than-
"East. Makes me wonder if they would come across those exiles."
All inhibitions broke at once. Talulah didn't register the shouts and calls of the soldiers as she sprinted into the wilderness. She ran through the chilling waters and the snow, her mind failing to register the stinging chill in her legs and the pain in the chest as her heart threatened to burst through her ribcage as well as her lungs aching from the cold boring into them.
Even as the pain grew too much to ignore, her legs would not slow down. No matter how endless the path felt, she would neither stop or slow down.
Until she reached her destination, the disgusting stench of burning flesh which welcomed her overwhelmed all other sensations decimating her senses.
Her eyes immediately focused on the singular corpse of an Elafia which laid before her, burned beyond any possible recognition. Not much remained of the clothes it wore, easily allowing Talulah to note it as the body of a woman.
The corpse's hand seemed to reach for a basket next to it, fruits and trinkets laid all around it.
Words failed her as she fell to her knees. Tears dripped down her mortified face, disbelief at the gruesome sight caused no end to the chaos which threatened to drive her insane.
She approached the body, snow slowly covering most of it, she noted the strands of lovely gray hair next to the basket. Whatever hope she might have had was dashed mercilessly by reality.
"A-Alina…"
Talulah picked the lifeless body gently, spotting cracks forming on the limbs. Her voice cracked as the girl's name escaped her lips in an almost inaudible whisper, silence was her only answer.
The arms fell first, followed by the lower half of the legs. Talulah's voice failed her as she set the rest of the body down in fear of breaking it further, her fists clenching against the snow.
"Talulah."
She couldn't turn to the source of the call, nor did she respond to the hand gently grasping her shoulder. Talulah shivered as Edward pulled her into a hug, her cries muffled by his clothes as he caressed her hair.
It took her a lot of time to find her voice once more, the sight of the corpse covered by the magus's figure.
"Who could have done such a thing, Edward? Was it the patrol unit? Or was it the village?"
Gone was the grief the draco was drowned in, replaced by pure, unadulterated fury. Edward didn't need to look down to note that the snow underneath him was vaporizing from Talulah's flames.
"I…encountered the group you exiled not far from here. After interrogating one of them, I found out about what they did. I dealt with all of them accordingly, and retook the supply the guerrillas gave them."
Edward carried her in his arms, his arts easily carrying the body near them as he walked back to the camp. Talulah remained silent along the way, her hands clenching on his cloak as she suppressed the sniffles and cries.
The man remained silent even as the woman in his arms lost consciousness, the body floating next to him. Ignoring everything around him, Edward blocked out the sound of his siblings calling out to him, and the questions from the guerrillas.
It was the very first time he ignored his little siblings, Yelena included.
He said not a word as he entered the darkness of the forest, Talulah waking up not long after he set the blackened corpse down. The draco saw him drawing the ansuz rune, a flame engulfing the remains and turning them to ashes.
He sat down next to her without saying anything, silently watching over Talulah as she mourned her lifelong friend.
"Thank you, Edward…for avenging Alina."
His eyes would not meet her gaze, his clenching fist and minute trembling the only indications of his grief in her eyes. She moved to his side and sat closer to him, the two of them made a most pitiable sight.
Hui-chieh:
Winter seems to last forever, unrelenting and merciless. It feels like spring has abandoned this place entirely.
Will this winter be the one to bury us in snow? Will it be the next one?
Will we even have such mercy? Or will the world deny us even release?
Are we supposed to feel gratitude or pride for making it to the night, only to pray and plead for a peaceful slumber?
Were it not for Edward, I fear much of life would have lost its colors in my eyes, or perhaps even succumb to the worst outcome. His presence continues to light the way for all of us…but himself.
He teaches the children, trains the yetis, Sasha and Eno, dares the most suicidal and dangerous battlefields and odds, heals the wounded and comforts us as best he could.
Yet who teaches him? Who trains and aids him? Who heals his bullet wounds, the gaping gashes of blades, the deep wounds left by the broadheads of the crossbow bolts?
Everyone reveres him, and relies on him. I see their eyes sparkle and backs straighten in his presence. Even Buldrokkas'tee himself would trust him unconditionally.
But who comforts him? Yelena confessed she was reaching her wits end, any words and actions she took failed to bring any change to his increasingly cold, machine-like behavior, hidden by the persona the people needed.
I remember the subject of his family being mentioned once by an infected fighter near us as we conversed. His haunted look was enough for me to realize the deep trauma he went through.
I have no idea what to do…
Omake: an Exhausting pair
Chernobog:
Hellagur quietly enjoyed the charming mood the gardens of the Akhmatov manor provided. The gardeners took special care with the diverse fauna decorating the space, and it showed through the magnificent aroma filling the air.
Having finished his visit for the day, the old general turned to the exit. His eyes narrowed when he spotted Ivan leaving the premise, the boy's eyes scanning to make sure no one was watching.
Intrigued, Hellagur followed after him while noting to have a few more lessons about stealth for his clearly lacking student. Ivan headed to the poorer section of his self-proclaimed territory, observing the place with a critical eye while greeting the people he met.
Hellagur finally noticed the boy had reached his intended destination. It appeared to be an old house, looking worse for wear. The general waited patiently from his position behind the house.
As he sat there, the general contemplated the reason for which the boy would come to a house in such a remote part of town. His thoughts turned for the worse for a moment, considering the low, but existing chances of him conducting either drug trade or equally illegal activity which required the discretion the place offered.
The sound of the door opening once more and Ivan saying his farewells brought him back to the task at hand. Once the boy was out of sight, Hellagur knocked on the door.
The former general was greeted by an elderly woman. She looked very frail, using most of her strength to keep herself standing thanks to her cane. Her eyes, white all over, indicated she was also blind. Hellagur's tall build allowed him to see the kids playing around behind her, the oldest among them a mere adolescent.
"Greetings, my lady. May I ask what your situation is?"
"I'm a simple blind elder, sir. These are orphans I picked from the streets, to shield them from the elements as best my house can."
"Do you have no one to take care of you?"
"I do not, although I'm extremely grateful to the young man who visits us daily."
"May I ask who that visitor is?"
"I don't know his name sadly, he never once shared his identity."
"What does he do?"
"He visits us thrice a day. Each time he cleans our home, he washes our clothes, he cooks our food, he brings all manner of toys and books to the young ones and medicine for me, then he leaves. On the weekends he stays to teach the children what he knows about different subjects."
"Do you pay him for his services?"
"He wouldn't accept anything I could have offered him."
The old woman smiled, her wizened features receding for a moment. Hellagur helped her sit down on the closest chair when he noticed her fatigue. Inspecting the house interior, he was struck by the refined state the furniture was in. His finger slid against the surface of the table, coming up completely clean.
"Thank you for your time, my lady."
"You are welcome, sir. Would you care for a meal before you leave?"
"I appreciate your benevolence, my lady, but I must refuse. I bid you a good day."
Leaving the house, Hellagur walked back home with an incredulous expression. He couldn't help the stupid smile which appeared on his face. He wondered how unbelievable it would look to the citizens of Chernobog to hear the undisputed tyrant of the underworld doing such a thing.
"Old man."
Hellagur's eyes widened, turning to the alley to his right and finding Ivan glaring at him as he leaned against the wall. It looked like his student didn't need extra lessons after all.
"Don't tell anyone about this, you hear?"
"Why are you doing it?"
"None of your concern."
Shrugging off the rude behavior, Hellagur nodded and watched the boy leaving in the direction of the manor. He chuckled despite himself, having already figured the gist of it.
"You and him are an exhausting pair. I wonder how aspiring heroes and their followers who come after you could come close to surpassing you."
Name: Ahkmatov Edward Viktorovish. (Formerly Edward Miles)
Race: Ursus.
Age: 23 years old.
Element: Fire, Air, Earth.
Originium-Cell Assimilation: 6.5%.
Originium blood concentration: 0.04 u/L.
Arts: Telekinesis.
Current condition: Healthy.
Inventory:
-" Introduction to the field of Alchemy. "
-" Intricacies of Transmutation. "
-" Advanced Bounded Fields. "
-" Advanced Runes and the engraving process. "
-" The paths of Healing magecraft and Spiritual healing. "
-" Holy sacraments "
-" Puppets. "
-Ursus weapons and Equipment.
-Food and Rations.
-Flute
-Class card( Archer class heroic spirit designation: "Nameless" )
-Holy shroud.
-Carbon (20Kg)
-Ammonia(4L)
-Lime(1.5Kg)
-Phosphorus(800g)
-Salt(250g)
-Niter(100g)
-5000 LMD.
Points: 3000.
Thank you for reading.
Have a Nice Day and Stay Safe.