Special Thanks to Xolef225 and CrazyLich for their help with this chapter.
I don't own Arknights or Type-Moon content.
Once again, Edward found himself walking towards the familiar lake alongside his energetic friend, the girl happily humming along as she skipped about, observing him.
The two sat together near the lake, Edward reading Leliana a story he found lately. The girl's passion for stories was well known to him by now, having been tasked with the duty of reading whatever stories she found for her.
It wasn't like he particularly minded the role, having taken a particular liking to the heroic tales. Although he wished Leliana didn't cut through his reading with random questions.
Edward sighed as Leliana shook his shoulder, feeling slightly annoyed as he was almost at the climax of an important struggle. He followed her gaze to see two kids in the middle of a quarrel, although judging by the difference in size and the timid behavior of one of them, it was just a case of bullying.
"Let's help him out."
Without leaving him much room to argue, Leliana sprinted towards the two and placed herself between the two kids. Edward closed his book and stood up, walking up to them. It was only once he noted the anger on the bully's face that he felt his body move almost on its own.
He looked at the bully's fist caught in his hand, and then back to Leliana behind him. She looked surprised for a moment before she grinned.
"Adults are watching. You should leave."
Being younger than Edward, the bully chose to back off. Once he left, Edward turned his attention to Leliana, the girl helping the timid child to his feet.
"T-Thanks."
"You're welcome."
The two of them accompanied the boy to his parents, the adults thanking them for their assistance. Walking back to their spot, Edward looked incredulously at his friend, the girl punching the air and acting like an idiot.
"You were awesome, Ed! For a moment there, you looked like a hero from one of the stories, coming just in the nick of time to save the day!"
Edward wisely chose to avert his gaze from his friend's excited eyes, embarrassment welling up within him. He scratched his head shyly and chuckled nervously at the compliment.
Hero, huh?
The thought evoked a weird feeling within him. Even as he continued to read out the story for his friend, his mind kept going back to the word. It remained firm in his thoughts from that day onward. That, and the happiness he felt when he saw the smiles on the parents' faces.
He wondered what it would feel like to help more people…
Hui-Chieh:
Soon we'll be leaving the tundras, yet my fears keep growing with each step we take away from the lands. Many already abandoned us after our brush with death, unable to trust me or the path we walked together up until now.
Patriot remained steadfast in his decision of following me as his leader, Edward and FrostNova's own approval did not help my efforts to dissuade him and our comrades from such a choice.
Speaking of Edward, lately I've been seeing a stranger in a white dress around camp. She always seemed to come to me when I was looking for Edward or when he felt down, guiding me towards him without a word. I tried to ask around, but no one knew her or had even seen her.
However, I am grateful to the lady. Though I've yet to admit it, I can feel my relationship with Edward growing more than I expected. I find myself seeking his company more than ever, a feeling he reciprocates.
I never had the time for romance, nor did I ever think I'd start thinking about it in these endless snowfields. I don't know if I should take such a drastic step yet. After all he has done for me since we met, my feelings grew before I could even realize it.
Would I be too greedy to chase after this desire?
The rest of the letter was filled with unreadable scribblings.
Ursus Empire's Northwestern Tundras / March 1st, Year 1094 / Cloudy...
Within the training grounds of the little village of the infected, the guerrillas trained along with the yetis. Among them, many spectated as Edward trained the younger members of Reunion.
The magus weaved through the coordinated attacks of the yetis, his relentless assault straining their formation to its limits as the fighters protected the casters. He leaned his head back as a blunt crossbow bolt passed in front of him from the side, smirking when he failed to spot the sniper.
Evading Sasha's shots, Edward struggled to deal with the yeti fighters and the casters as he attempted to locate the constantly moving sharpshooter. Eno's constant shifting of formations didn't make his job any easier either, a mixture of pride and irritation building up as the Liberi made good use of the tactics he taught him.
Slowly but surely, he took out more and more of their forces. Eventually, all who remained were Viktor, Petrova, Yelena and Sasha, along with a few casters.
He locked blades with Viktor, his student proving too rash in his assault as he sent him flying with a kick. Edward smiled as he caught the dagger thrown towards him by Viktor while he was midair, nodding in approval even as he was suppressed by a volley of fire from the casters.
The sudden chill in the air warned him of Yelena's approach, his training blade freezing instantly as it collided with her ice sword before it broke to pieces. Disarmed momentarily, Edward noticed a tinge of playfulness in his sister's demeanor as she gestured for him to attack.
"You're being very mischievous lately, little rabbit."
Ice spikes appeared around them, Edward deadpanning at his sister as she smirked in amusement. The magus punched the air and broke all her projectiles with the violent telekinetic energy before they could reach him.
"What can I say? I've been in a good mood, and I'm feeling lucky today."
Edward disappeared in a burst of speed, his fist blocked by a solid shield of black ice despite the shockwave pushing Yelena back. Petrova and Viktor moved to support her, but inadvertently gave Edward the opportunity to arm himself as he disarmed the former and threw her towards the latter.
Ignoring the grumblings of Petrova, Viktor backed up at FrostNova's signal. Edward crossed swords with Yelena once more, Buldrokkas'tee training showing effect as he found himself losing the battle of skill quicker than he thought. The magus baited FrostNova with a fake opening, one she took automatically by her ingrained instinct, leading to her getting swept off her feet and Edward's blade pressing against her neck.
However, before the magus could announce his victory, a purple crossbow bolt collided with his blade and sent it flying out of his hand. Edward cursed as he saw Yelena's blade closing in, ice shards flying as she attempted to break through his barrier.
A final crossbow bolt slammed against the back of Yelena's blade, the force allowing the weapon to pierce through Edward's telekinetic protection and almost stabbing his shoulder.
The magus smiled as he held the ice construct in his hand, its tip touching his clothes. Taking a few steps back, he relaxed and placed his hands on his waist.
"Well done. You win this time."
Edward couldn't contain his laughter as he heard the groans and curses of the downed yetis, Yelena and Faust falling on the ground as they finally relaxed. The magus knelt in front of FrostNova, taking her hand in his and noticing the torn skin from their final stunt. Not wasting any time, he healed her hand and patted her head, Yelena leaning into his hand despite her indignant look.
He smiled at her before moving to check on Sasha, finding the boy examining his crossbow for any issues, his stoic face breaking slightly as he didn't resist the magus's headpats.
"You've done well, Sasha. That last attack was well-timed."
"It was actually Eno's idea, I only tried to look for an opportunity."
Edward nodded before he gave Eno a thumbs up, the little boy shyly scratching his head as he took in the praise of the yetis and their big brother. It took a while for Edward to finish healing the others, explaining much of their flaws as he went along from one groaning fighter to another.
Only once he was done and the teams started to disperse did Edward notice Viktor arguing with Lazarus. The boy left before he could get to them, leaving him with a flabbergasted Sarkaz fighter.
"What's his problem?"
"He's still fuming because of what happened to Kondrasha. The kid's pushing himself too hard, and I'm afraid he's going to break himself if he keeps on like this."
"I see. You've really taken to the role of stepfather, haven't you?"
"I guess so…I think I've been aging much faster ever since I started taking care of the brat."
"It comes with the territory, I'm afraid, though I recommend you ask Patriot about how to deal with children during their rebellious phase."
The two of them shared a long look before they laughed at the notion of Buldrokkas'tee patiently giving parenting advice to a group of parents, although it didn't change the fact he was the most knowledgeable about such things in their movement.
Kutcha landed on the magus's shoulder before cawing loudly, causing Edward to flinch from irritation. He shooed the unruly bird away, throwing him some food after he stubbornly persisted. Lazarus chuckled at the sight of the tundra's Reaper cursing at a bird which seemed to be cursing right back without an ounce of fear.
"Even after all the years we've spent together, I still can't tell if you two are the best of partners or just hate each other's guts."
"As if! This little miscreant's just lucky he's useful for scouting."
Kutcha cawed indignantly, before attempting to poke Edward's head. As one would expect, the raven ended up with its beak caught in Edward's hand, its claws failing to penetrate the protective barrier his arts provided.
"You really don't learn, do you?"
Edward sighed and simply let Kutcha go, flicking his head. His arts sent the bird away from him, restoring the peace and quiet. The magus promptly ignored the amusement of Lazarus and the others close by, his mind wandering to a certain Draco he hadn't seen today.
"Hey Lazarus, do you have any idea where Talulah is right now?"
"She and Kevin should be checking the village nearby for the tractor and the group of infected that had gone missing the other day."
"Okay. I'll go check up on her."
"You probably should. The defection of the groups recently seems to have struck her nerves. She tries to hide it, but we can see she's hurt."
Edward agreed, his eyes tracing the infected passing by. He knew many of them decided to stay out of faith in Talulah's cause, as well as the cause they're fighting for, but he also knew a lot of them were just silent about their doubts because of him and Buldrokkas'tee.
It mattered little to him in any case. They knew enough to distinguish comrades from associates with a common goal, and so long as they didn't do anything rash, they wouldn't be an issue. Edward's eyes narrowed as he also wondered if the Royal Guards were watching them, having received no word from them ever since the day they fought against them.
He knew better than to completely believe their words, but it was also confirmed they would be willing to cooperate should their interests align. Whether any of them liked it or not, the support of the Royal Guards and the empire would be an invaluable asset for any of their ambitions to take flight in any meaningful and materialistic capacity.
'I believe our proposal would satisfy both parties, provided the Royal Guards remain true to their words.'
'There is also the issue of whoever made the Golems and the runes on the Royal Guards' equipment.'
'Indeed. However, I highly doubt an aggressive approach would yield any satisfying results compared to a diplomatic one, especially given the current disparity between us and the empire.'
It was a very mild way of putting their current options. The Royal Guards might have underestimated them last time, sending only five of them, but even then a lot of elements played in their favor. Loath as he was to admit it, Edward knew for certain he only managed to save Talulah thanks to the Royal Guard letting him pass in exchange for a deal.
The magus stopped in his tracks in front of Kevin, one of the infected fighters loyal to Talulah. The unassuming man greeted him cordially, a bit of nervousness typical of most fighters interacting with him palpable in his tone.
"I thought you were with Talulah, Kevin."
"I was, sir. She ordered me to return after I pointed her to the village nearest to the last place the tractor was seen."
"I trust you mean the one east of here?"
"Yes, sir."
Edward grunted before parting with the fighter, his steps hurried as he crossed through the snow and dead trees. His thoughts wandered to the experiments he'd been conducting lately; taking blood samples from Yelena and Patriot was of great use to his research on Cautus and Wendigo anatomies, especially since their oripathies had been taking a turn for the worse these past years. Try as he might to limit their participation in the battles or use what alchemical products he could create, his efforts proved only a delay of the inevitable.
Then there was Talulah's own issue, the solution for which was finally ready after much planning and discussing with Eden. Given the fact that most sacraments involved the destruction or burning of the vessel, it took him a while to work out a better approach with Eden.
His contemplation came to a screeching halt once he reached the village and noted the tiny commotion building up near a storehouse. The magus's eyes narrowed once he spotted Talulah talking with one of the villagers, the sight of her pale face and eyes empty instantly worrying him as he pushed the crowds aside.
His reinforced nose picked up the familiar scent of ash and powdered Originium from the building, his eyes noting the handprints inside and coming to a conclusion which threatened to break his composure into a million pieces. It was at such a moment that their cries finally reached his senses, courtesy of his connection with Eden.
'Please! We beg of you! Let us leave!'
'My child is starving! Please spare him at least!'
'You heartless scum! I curse every last one of you!'
'Mom, I'm thirsty…and hungry, they said we can eat here…'
Wails of anguish, pleas for help, curses at the villagers; they all reached him as his eyes saw what those around him failed to. The grudges of the dead stood inside the storehouse, vague humanoid shapes of different sizes looked upon the crowd in silence with none the wiser of their existence.
'They were starved and then burned there, they had no way to protect themselves and no hostile intentions…'
Eden went silent, yet Edward could sense his fury, akin to a tidal wave threatening to devour the entire world. Their connection allowed the two to share their emotions, to feel what the other felt…and if he were honest, Edward couldn't tell his own fury from his partner's. His right eye shifted colors between brown and crimson as his hands tightened and loosened erratically, his mind scrambling between different reactions to what he was processing.
"I hate you."
Talulah's voice snapped him out of his anger, the unfamiliar tone in her voice alarming him considerably. In a single moment, his class card was activated and he found himself locking swords with the Draco, her flames suppressed by the flames generated from the blade in his hand.
A sword of the worthy, just and unquenchable are its flames.
Talulah's flames were overtaken completely under the relentless heat of the sword's inferno. Its white hilt shone resplendently under the sunlight, the black blade unblemished and unbending despite Talulah's best efforts to melt it.
A blade of justice, a weapon of the righteous and the fair, the bane of the evil and the corrupt.
"Draw Dyrnwyn, only thou of noble worth, to rule with justice, to strike down evil. Who wields it in good cause shall slay even the lord of death."
Dyrnwyn, the mighty sword of Rhydderch Hael whose flames serve those of good cause. A noble phantasm quite suitable for suppressing a flame user like Talulah, as the magical flames consumed her arts with little effort.
Edward ignored the racket around them as he gazed into Talulah's indifferent eyes. His face hardened into a mask of neutrality as his grip on the sword tightened and his head loomed closer to the Draco's.
The snake finally left its hidey-hole.
"We will return to the camp. Now."
"You dare stand in my way?"
"Try me."
'Talulah' coldly ignored his words, sheathing 'her' sword and leaving without a word. 'Her' eyes lingered on Dyrnwyn for a few moments, a glint of apprehension fading just as quickly as it appeared. Edward shifted his attention to the crowd, his eyes glaring daggers at the villagers around him.
He approached, ignoring their words as Dyrnwyn's flames shone as bright as the sun, fury clouding his thoughts. Edward lifted the blade and swung…only to stop once his eyes registered the children watching him. His arm shook with barely restrained anger, his crimson eye terrifying the villagers as they fled. In the end, Dyrnwyn disappeared in blue particles along with his class card install, the magus leaving the village without a word.
Once he was finally away from everyone else, Edward punched a tree, his arts activating in response and turning most of it to splinters as a powerful shockwave shook the area. Frustration gnawed at his mind and body, with no outlet to receive it but himself. His fist slammed the ground, the earth shaking and the trees around him falling as the magus took deep breaths in a futile attempt to gain some semblance of control.
A failure. A complete and utter failure.
An unsalvageable situation, where one can not even hope to gain solace in any form of justice, never mind saving the victims. He had almost murdered the villagers and would have ended up with children with nowhere to go and a grudge to bear, should they be lucky enough to survive the tundras.
Just what was this shitty situation? He couldn't do anything! He couldn't even punish the community for their crimes without subsequently condemning the innocent along with it!
Was This how low he'd fallen now? Just passing by and letting murderers go completely free of consequences?
Edward gritted his teeth, ignoring the searing pain as his nails dug into his palm. His chest felt constricted, his hands felt tied and his mind was in disarray. His head felt ripe to burst as he picked himself up and walked towards the camp, unwilling to speak to anyone as his steps took him to 'Talulah'.
'She' simply observed him for a moment, looking completely cool-headed and indifferent to his state as if nothing happened. He knew better, and could easily notice the hostility directed at him.
"You will meet me tonight north of the camp, there's something we must discuss."
'Talulah' scoffed at him and shoved 'her' way past him with an indifferent nod. Uncaring for her behavior, Edward moved north, finding a suitable spot not long after before proceeding with his preparations in an almost mechanical way.
Surrounding the battlefield in a circle of salt.
Placing papers containing holy scriptures on the circle, now hidden by snow.
Building the bounded fields and runic matrix to contain spirits within and to counteract the heat Talulah's arts generate.
His mind distracted, Edward didn't even deign to revise the exorcism ritual with Eden, his companion's strange silence going unnoticed by the magus as he endured the chaos and self-loathing dominating his thoughts.
Edward sat on a boulder, a kilometer north of the camp, gazing at the stars, waiting for the snake to show up. He felt a presence entering his bounded field, and soon, the sounds of footsteps reached his ears.
The time has come…
'Eden, prepare to activate the class card and prepare the cooling bounded field.'
'Affirmative, initiation of class card install, as well as the bounded fields, on standby.'
The footsteps stopped after a few moments. He could feel the vile creature's presence a few meters away from him.
Edward sighed as he turned to gaze at 'Talulah', his heart aching at the sight of that stone-cold face, so unnaturally contrasting the cheerful smile she always had no matter what happened. It affected him more than he was willing to admit.
Regardless of his knowledge of the situation at hand, seeing that look from her directed at him felt painful, it struck him harder than he could have prepared for.
Hardening his heart, he faked a smile.
"It's a nice night tonight, isn't it, Talulah?"
Her expression remained the same, if not growing even colder. He could already detect the subtle and unnatural black tendrils trying to stealthily surround him. The snake likely wanted to make use of this opportunity to eliminate him
"Why did you call me here?"
His smile turned into a knowing smirk, although his eyes carried a sharp edge in them. Edward could say he found the outlet he was hoping to pour his anger on.
"Why, you ask? Well, it's quite simple."
The air suddenly shifted, and the surroundings felt tense. 'Talulah''s instincts flared, and alarm bells rang in 'her' mind.
Edward stared at the young woman in front of him attentively, his voice turning cold as the install initiated and the bounded field's effects launched.
"I'll have you leave her body, Kaschey."
'Talulah' 's eyes narrowed sharply, the temperature increasing explosively as the snow around them turned to steam, although the heat was soon hampered, thanks to the bounded fields.
Kanshou and Bakuya appeared in Edward's hands, his right eye turning crimson to his foe's surprise.
"I kill, I let live…"
Edward's voice mixed with Eden's, the magus holding well under the pain of the piece of authority Eden was channeling through him. The duke groaned in pain as their words pierced into his core, and 'Talulah' immediately dashed at Edward.
The distance between them was rendered null in less than a second. Talulah's sword, covered in fire, aimed to separate her opponent's head from his shoulders.
Edward expertly parried the blow, the flames getting a bit too close for comfort. His eyes got irritated by the heat despite his arts shielding them from most of it. He pushed through regardless in favor of completing the exorcism.
"…I wound and I heal…"
Edward stepped back to create distance between them, throwing the married swords at Talulah in the process.
The duke grew even more agitated than before, Talulah's arts flaring wildly as the heat increased even more. She swung fiercely at the incoming swords, sending them flying, before releasing a wave of searing flames at Edward.
The magus immediately created a barrier in front of him and took cover, the heat almost overcoming his hastily made cover.
'He's still getting used to Tal's arts.'
His instincts flared, and his body acted on its own as he jumped away from his cover. Talulah's sword stabbed through the barrier, and a sudden burst of heat and flames exploded from it.
The blast sent Edward flying before he rolled and finally regained some semblance of balance, only to quickly trace Dyrnwyn to block the incoming blow.
The swords met in a fierce clash, sparks flying as neither the weapons nor their wielders gave an inch of ground to the other. Their feet dug into the soil, the earth turning to mud from the heat of their flames.
Edward felt his throat dry, and his eyes grew more agitated from the heat radiating off of the weapons. Even with the bounded field in overdrive, it still felt like he was standing in front of an inferno. He smiled as he noticed Dyrnwyn's flames gently shielding him from his foe's flames, a warmth providing some measure of comfort.
"It's useless, little Ursus. Your current self has no hope of beating me."
The magus smirked as if he heard a funny joke. He could feel the heat trying to pass through his ears and nostrils, blocked by the tiny barriers he placed every time he came close to Talulah.
"…None can escape me, None can escape my grasp…"
The duke flinched once more as if visibly struck. His guard lowered for a split second.
Using the opportunity, Edward put more force in his arms. He twisted the sword away, keeping it locked with his blade as he advanced and slammed his head into Talulah's own with no small intensity.
"…Be crushed now…"
Before Kaschey could gather his bearings, a black key stabbed into Talulah's shadow, and he found himself immobilized. Edward hurriedly retreated, the barriers protecting his nostrils dissipating to allow him to breathe once more.
"…I welcome those who have grown old, and those who have lost…"
The deathless black snake screamed out loud for the first time, howling in apparent agony. Talulah's eyes turned feral as her pupils shifted to a more reptilian appearance and his control over Talulah's arts grew even more chaotic. The shockwave of the blast removed the black key from the ground.
The duke glared at Edward with bloodlust fit for a beast, his cold and aloof appearance from before discarded. Edward readied himself for another round, sword in hand.
His breathing felt haggard and labored, his eyes felt dry, his throat felt hoarse, and his lungs felt as if they were on fire. He was almost sure that were it not for his magically enhanced clothes, the reinforcement and the bounded field, he would have been a pile of ash a while ago.
However…
"…Devote yourself to me, learn from me, obey me, I give you rest…"
Black smoke began to discharge from Talulah's body and she fell to her knees, looking as if she was getting choked. Edward held Dyrnwyn in one hand, black keys appearing in the other.
Two black keys pierced her thighs and another stabbed her sword arm. Her weapon fell to the ground and her arts weakened considerably as the duke lost concentration.
"…I shall take away all of your burdens and make you forget them…"
"I will kill you, wretched filth!"
Standing up, Kaschey grabbed the sword with Talulah's functional arm. Heat gathered around it in the blink of an eye, all of her arts concentrated in one singular strike.
The energy beam, carrying enormous heat, barreled towards the magus. The attack reduced all in its path to ashes, the ground around them bubbling from its power as it pierced through the wind.
His eyes widened before he dispelled the remaining keys in his left hand and immediately extended it forward. The ethereal pink glow of the legendary shield of Ajax the Great illuminated the night.
"Rho Aias!"
Edward had only managed to erect the first two layers of the shield before the attack slammed against it.
Edward nearly lost his footing then and there. His body desperately fought against the force as the backlash from the shield set in.
"…You…find forgiveness here…., on my incarnation…I swear so…"
He felt the bones in his arm shatter, and the muscles tear as the first of the two hastily-built layers shattered.
Heat penetrated through the cracks in the remaining layer and his left sleeve was set on fire, his arm burned deeply; he could see his fingers turning to ashes.
Gritting his teeth, he put all of his remaining energy into that layer and into his arm. An explosion erupted, and even the bounded field shattered from the force.
Talulah fell onto her back, unconscious, as the black smoke completely exited her body. The smoke formed a blurry figure of a Pythia man.
"How did he manage to do this? It should be impossible!"
The blurry figure of the duke looked at the clearing smoke where the troublesome Ursus was supposed to be, looking relatively relieved.
Perhaps from the panic of what happened or due to his lack of knowledge, the duke failed to notice that the weapons had not disappeared.
Three black keys emerged out of smoke without warning, piercing through the wraith. A blue fire erupted upon contact and consumed him in a blink of an eye.
Wails of deep pain and anguish rang loudly, the blue flames completely engulfing the ghost's form.
Footsteps echoed from the clearing smoke as a figure came out from its cover and moved ever closer to the spirit, black sword in hand.
"How are you still alive!? you should be nothing more than dust!"
The ghost cried hysterically as it tried to escape the flames, but it was to no avail.
Kaschey could only look helplessly as the Ursus boy came closer to him step by step until Edward stood just in front of him. Unfazed by the blue flames, Edward slashed at the ghost with Dyrnwyn.
"By the grace of the almighty, all taboos shall be broken. Amen."
With a single, clean slash, the creature turned to nothing as the flames subsided and the black keys clinked as they fell on the ground.
Edward paid it no mind as he staggered as fast as his feet could allow him towards the downed body of Talulah, his class card install dissipating.
As the drain on whatever's left of his reserves finally subsided, Edward couldn't help sighing in relief, before he quickly used his healing Magecraft to close the wounds left by the disappearing black keys on Talulah's body.
His circuits flared and protested, yet he kept going until he completed the healing before he was overcome with a violent coughing fit.
He sat there, holding her in his arm, unable to muster any other effort. He looked at her closed eyes and her peaceful-looking face before smiling.
Talulah felt herself falling. Her surroundings were dark and she was alone. She had no idea how much time had passed like this, her head aching as her emotions ran wild.
Yet no matter how much she tried, she only kept falling deeper and deeper. Her ideals, her efforts and everything she fought for were spurned by the world around her.
She wondered if everything she did up to this point held any meaning at all. In the end, she gave up, and had it not been for Edward's timely intervention, would have stepped past the point of no return.
All she had left was a plea. A desperate wish to see everyone again.
'Anyone. Please help me.'
She felt completely helpless and isolated. She didn't expect anything when she made that wish, but then a familiar voice called out to her.
"I'm here. Don't worry."
A gentle voice cut through the darkness around her: a beacon of light, beckoning her to come. She reached out to it, and when her hand was exposed to the light, she felt warmth and safety.
"Wake up."
That voice again. Tt was telling her to wake up. She closed her eyes and smiled, recognizing the owner of the gentle calling. A stubborn fool who wanted to be a hero.
She felt the light wash over her completely.
Talulah opened her eyes, feeling extremely fatigued and sore all over.
"You're finally awake."
Talulah smiled at the boy next to her, and yet when her vision cleared once she sat up, she froze. Memories of what happened came back to her: of the village and the fight between her and Edward.
Whatever question she would have asked stopped dead in her throat, as her gaze beheld Edward next to her, her eyes widening greatly in shock and horror, an expression contradicted by the magus's relieved, happy expression.
"It's good to see you're ok, Talulah."
"Your…your arm…"
…his left arm was nowhere to be seen, only a blackened stump, smoke still emitting from the area while whatever living flesh near his shoulder sizzled a disgusting shade of red.
Edward sighed somberly. He already guessed Talulah would have a big reaction. He knew she was aware of what was happening around her at that time after all.
"You were possessed, Talulah. It wasn't your fault."
Talulah didn't respond, although her hands shook ever so slightly. Edward's eyes widened as he couldn't believe Talulah was sobbing, it was such a foreign sight to her usual composed and confident image. The reaper was left flailing as he tried to come up with a way to cheer her up.
"But, But, Edward, your arm…"
Edward smiled at her, as he hugged her with his right arm.
"Hey, now, it's just an arm, there's no need for you to cry."
Talulah continued to cry, her tears falling on his shoulder. Edward patiently comforted her.
"As long as you're safe, nothing else matters. You're free now. I wish to see you happy."
The Draco shivered at Edward's words, a feeling of happiness and gratitude bubbling in her heart as she hugged him tighter. The two stayed that way for what felt like forever until Talulah regained her bearings, her eyes appearing slightly bloodshot from crying.
"I believe we've spent enough time here. It's time for you to go back before the others get worried."
Talulah nodded before she gazed at his stump. He sighed before flexing his remaining right arm with a confident smirk.
"Don't worry about me, I'm just a little exhausted. If anyone asks, tell them I'm doing a quick perimeter check in case the villagers contacted the patrol unit. I'll try to think of an excuse for this by the time I get back."
Seeing how she didn't seem focused, Edward's eyebrow twitched and he flicked her forehead. The Draco rubbed her forehead, her worry turning into a pouting face, looking wronged and hurt.
It looked very cute, the magus wished he had a camera on hand for such a rare sight.
"Stop blaming yourself and focus. You should see someone waiting by the edge of camp with Kutcha. The first thing you need to do is show them this. They'll know you are no longer possessed by the snake then."
Talulah nodded, her worry clear on her face as she took a small token in the vague shape of a deer. She solemnly nodded and helped him away from the battlefield and next to a boulder.
"I'll go get some medical supplies and come back, don't strain yourself while I'm away."
Edward nodded with a smile, silently observing her back as she ran towards the camp. Hopefully, the gift he has prepared for her would help get her mood up again.
He sighed as his nose itched. The scent of his burnt flesh invaded his nostrils and caused him to gag. His eyes turned to the approaching giant in black, his entire body trembling despite his best efforts.
The figure casually approached him, the darkness around him veiling everything in black, the land itself drying up and dying before Edward's very eyes. The moon's light seemed to be snuffed out in his presence as he finally stopped in front of the magus, his mask distinctly devoid of the pipes his brethren donned.
"Greetings, Edward Akhmatov."
Before him stood Alyosha Belov, current Grand Sword of Ursus's Royal Guards.
Talulah looked behind her hesitantly, an act she had done repeatedly ever since she left Edward. Her heart felt uneasy, but she resisted the urge to return to his side without anything to tend to his wounds.
Her sprint came to a halt as she spotted Kutcha perched upon the shoulder of a cloaked figure, the antlers of an Elafia the only discernible feature.
The unknown person raised their delicate hand, gesturing for Talulah to stop. Immediately she remembered what Edward told her to do, showing the Elafia the token he gave her, expecting to be let through.
Talulah certainly didn't expect the sudden forceful hug from the stranger, the hood falling down and revealing delicate silver hair.
"You're free, Talulah."
Talulah felt her world stop then and there, the voice she would never mistake reaching her ears and sending her mind in disarray. Before she could refute it as a figment of her imagination, gentle hands held her face, and a face she didn't believe would ever see again appeared before her.
"Alina? Is it really you?"
Alina smiled as Kutcha cawed and affectionately rubbed his head against the Elafia's cheek. Alina gently pinched her dearest friend's nose, her usual gentle smile on her face.
"But how? I-I saw your-"
"It was not my body. It was just a corpse of an Elafia among the infected you expelled."
"I..just…"
"It is me, Talulah. You promised me you'd let me meet your sister. How could I leave without meeting her?"
Alina's giggle was cut short as she was pulled into a bear hug, Talulah's hold almost painful as she held onto her like a lifeline. The Elafia gently patted the Draco's shoulder and patiently caressed her hair. Tears of joy fell on Alina's cloak as her friend smiled.
"I missed you so much."
"Me too."
"I have so much I want to tell you."
"I'm sure. We'll have a lot of time to catch up. I'm not going anywhere."
Alina glanced behind Talulah, searching for the familiar figure of Edward.
"Talulah, where is Edward?"
Talulah's eyes widened in alarm as she remembered what she was trying to do. She quickly ran with Alina towards the camp to get the medical supplies. Alina smiled brightly as she ran after her, noting her friend's determined gaze and the extra stride in her step as she ignored the calls of the others around her.
With this reunion, Talulah Artorious was free.
Edward coughed as he held eye contact with the towering Royal Guard in front of him, still trying his best to suppress the constant trembling of his body. The magus knew just how helpless he looked right now, but refused to give the executioner in front of him any satisfaction about it. For the first time in his life, Edward felt fear grip his heart as his eyes shifted between the Royal Guard and the encroaching abyss, much more tangible and domineering than the black smoke the Royal Guards he fought with last time.
'How peculiar. The Royal Guard before us is in a league of his own compared to the ones from the last encounter. His energy levels are many times superior to all the ones from before combined.'
'I can tell by the strong magical scent assaulting my nose. How does he even walk around without proper ventilation for his mask?'
'Although the ones we encountered before had their demonic powers imbued in their armor, this Royal Guard has managed to assimilate one of those demons, absorbing its powers to a far greater capacity. His body is functioning perfectly well despite the lack of oxygen running through it.'
Alyosha smiled behind his mask, retracting his dominion with a huff.
"I am not your enemy, child."
"You sure don't look like a friend."
The Grand Sword casually sat beside Edward, his figure completely obscuring Edward's as he gazed at the sky.
"For what reason would I harm my kin unjustly and betray their trust?"
Edward's thoughts came to a screeching halt as Alyosha's words sunk in. He didn't remember any relatives who were so big, never mind an actual Royal Guard.
"Are you trying to mess with me, Royal Guard?"
"I have no reason to do such a thing to my own Godson. If you require proof, then I'm aware you have three birthmarks on your body; one is at the center of your chest while two of them are on your left shoulder."
"How the hell do you know that?"
"I was the first to hold you after your parents on the day of your birth, little one. You were small enough to fit in one hand back then. It was your father's wish for me to be your Godfather, despite the overprotectiveness of your she-wolf of a mother."
Edward snorted at the comment, a longing in his heart as he closed his eyes before any memories of the past could come to haunt him.
"I have no interest in talking about the past. I assume you're here about the deal?"
"I am. As you have fulfilled your end of the bargain, his majesty might be inclined to help you achieve your goal, so long as our interests align."
"Then it should be good. My plan is very simple;"
Edward opened his eyes, his sight set on the horizon as he clenched his hand. He and Eden already agreed on the best possible target for them and Ursus's ruler.
"Our movement requests his Majesty's assistance to take over Chernobog. We both know count Boris, despite his behavior before my exile, had been part of the old aristocracy, so I highly doubt his Majesty's inclined to keep him in charge of a city of such importance to the empire. Talulah can easily run circles around him without much trouble, and unlike Boris, we would have an agreement."
Alyosha silently contemplated the proposal. He scrutinized Edward further, his evaluation of his Godson changing drastically.
"For what reason did you choose Chernobog specifically? There are other cities we can select for you to occupy with fewer complications than a mobile city in the midst of old Aristocracy territory."
"Chernobog has two things other cities don't."
"Ah, I see. You speak of the clinic and the ancient construct the count tried to hide."
"Yes. Using the construct as a power source will cut off any need for Originium as a power source, making us much more mobile and adaptive, while having Azazel is vital as their expertise and technology will provide the care that our infected need. We also have an edge over the aristocracy as they don't know that Kaschey is no longer in control of Talulah. They will let their guard down, letting us do as we please."
"Once it's too late for them to fall back, my brethren and I can make our move. Well thought, little one."
Edward failed to react as Alyosha's big hand patted his head, the act awkwardly affectionate, but sincere nonetheless. The magus tried to push his hand away to little avail.
"Your proposal is certainly acceptable, Edward Akhmatov. By the authority bestowed upon me by his Majesty, we shall cooperate with your movement for a better Ursus."
"Unfortunately, I am not the leader. You will need to talk to Talulah to solidify the deal."
"Noted."
Edward finally relaxed, weakly leaning against the boulder behind him. His thoughts returned to a question he pondered ever since his first encounter with the Emperor's Blades.
"Royal Guard, what is Ursus to you?"
"A peculiar question. May I ask what brought this on?"
"You could say I was surprised by your comrade's conviction, the words he spoke to my friends have remained in my mind for a while."
Alyosha didn't answer immediately, humming as he contemplated the answer. He remembered a time when he searched the garbage for food in the dark alleys of Sankt Grypherburg before Agnessa picked him up, and the first time he met the Emperor.
The regal ruler kneeling in front of the orphan tightly holding his wooden sword to his chest. His hand gently rested on the boy's head with a hopeful smile.
The words spoken then remained etched into the child's memory for all his days.
"It is our precious land, as tragic as it is benevolent. Glory, beauty, sublimity and splendor are in its hills. Life, deliverance, pleasure and hope are in its air. I fight in the hope of seeing this land safely comforted and victoriously honored, as those who sacrificed life, limb and honor for it would have wanted."
Alyosha's hand reached out to the sky as if to grasp the moons above. His mask hid his pain and sadness well, yet it couldn't contain a certain passion in his voice. A fiery spirit unbent by neither degradation nor despair.
The dream his emperor and brethren cherished was as beautiful as it was mesmerizing.
"I wish to see it in its eminence, reaching for the stars. It is our deepest desire for all of Ursus to live a happy, fulfilling life. We curse and fight its corruption and the aggression seeking to desecrate its sanctity, and we hail its achievements and joys as the motherland blesses its denizens with its brightest diadems. That is Ursus to me, my precious and detestable land."
The Grand Sword clenched his hand, his fist tightening. Turning his attention back to Edward, his eyes flashed with a hint of sympathy.
"I assume this is more about the village you visited today than any words my comrade has spoken."
"You saw it too, then."
Edward fell into his sorrow, unable to come to grips with his helplessness in such a situation. Alyosha silently observed the young man, the weight of his conflict palpable to the Godfather. So different was this strong, wise and compassionate young man from the innocent and ignorant babe he held twenty-three years ago.
"You've done well in controlling your anger. It wasn't an easy decision to walk away."
"Yet here I am, only a small distance away from the site of a massacre with the perpetrators free of consequence."
"Had you done otherwise, I would have been less inclined to applaud a mentality in which you are so ready to slaughter strangers for the sake of dead strangers, innocents be damned. I assume you are not so delusional as to believe their deaths would have mattered to the deceased."
"You think I don't know that? I already spent my day trying to feed myself such justifications for my inaction."
"Then pray tell, oh wise sage, what would have been the ideal course of action? I doubt that any other path would have done anything but increase the body count meaninglessly."
Edward felt livid, yet could not find any way to refute Alyosha's point. He cursed his weakness as his fist was easily intercepted. The lack of balance from his missing limb would have tripped him had it not been for the executioner catching him.
"Allow me to give you the facts of your situation, foolish Godson; killing them would have been meaningless, as the infected group was already dead, not to mention the children orphaned with no means to survive. Terrorizing them would have been meaningless beyond controlling them for a while at best. Even killing the adults and taking the children would have been detrimental to everyone involved. Edward Akhmatov, there was nothing you could have done that would have mattered."
The two gazes locked, Edward flinching and avoiding the giant's glare. Words failed him as he tried to find any way to refute his claim, but in the end, nothing came out. He wanted to believe there was some way things could have turned out well, yet his anger boiled as he came to realize he was simply helpless.
Alyosha stood up, his attention shifting in the direction of the camp. Looking back at his Godson, his hand patted his head one final time before leaving, his smile concealed from the magus.
"You are a kind one, Edward. I shall visit you again soon, you should focus on recovering for the time being."
Darkness coalesced onto his figure before he disappeared from view and into the night. Alyosha's eyes trailed towards the direction of the village before he began uttering code words through his transmitter. Closing the device, Alyosha sat and observed the settlement from afar.
The great discomfort and fear grasping his heart ever since he laid eyes on his Godson finally vanished, causing him to narrow his eyes. His heartbeat calmed down, and his demonic powers settled.
He briefly considered the chances of Edward meeting and absorbing a demon he stumbled upon but rejected the notion as a simple demon wouldn't agitate him.
He only had a similar reaction to one other person, and he doubted it was a coincidence. He would continue his investigations at a later time.
A much more pressing matter required a resolution.
"Such acts will not go unpunished in Ursus."
Even if the dead cannot be saved, there is still meaning in punishing the wicked. It was the duty of the authorities to properly deal with transgressors.
A Royal Guard nodded as they received his orders. He turned to his nine comrades sitting beside him, looking around the storehouse and the handprints inside.
"We have our orders; we are to terminate all adults in this settlement, make it clean and quick. Grand has already notified the recovery unit and they are heading to pick up the children."
Unbeknownst to the villagers, the blizzard turned an unnatural shade of black, and not a single one of the adults would live to see the light of tomorrow.
Edward struggled to stay awake, his condition already stabilized by Eden. As tired as he was, Alyosha's words still rang in his mind.
'Eden, do you think I could've done anything?'
'I do not. You seem to have forgotten the fact there are some things you can't do anything about, no matter your talents, power, or wealth, for the sole reason that you are human, blessed with the gift of choice, not foresight.'
Edward smiled, looking at his empty hand. He wondered how Leliana would have answered him.
Would she have been heartbroken? Disappointed? Disgusted?
No, she was too kind to ever do such a thing. His fatigue must have really been getting to him if he even considered such notions.
It couldn't be helped in the end.
Edward's ears faintly heard voices calling to him, but could not answer them. He could have sworn he saw the edges of a white dress in the corner of his sight.
Waking up, Edward could feel his body ache all over. His left shoulder felt extremely itchy, his eyes still felt dry and his lungs stung a bit with each breath he took. He took notice of a presence nearby and found a sleeping Talulah next to him.
Edward chuckled as his companion groaned in annoyance as he moved, her eyes opening slowly when he poked her cheek gently a few times. As soon as she realized he was awake and observing her, Talulah sprang up and glared at him, giving him a thorough examination.
"You're finally awake. I was very worried when I found you unconscious."
"I'm sorry for worrying you."
He couldn't help but chuckle playfully at the mess she looked like, hair all over the place and clothes wrinkled. Talulah smiled at him before she playfully punched his shoulder as her tail swished to and fro.
"I see the two of you are doing well."
Alina entered the tent with a meal, the Elafia gently laying the tray of food next to him. He reached out to grab it, but was stopped by Alina as she sat next to him, carefully bringing a spoon to his mouth.
"You know I can eat on my own, right?"
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that without risking Yelena skinning Talulah for caring for you so poorly. She was positively hysterical the entire night."
Edward flinched, realizing how bad his sister would have taken to him being carried back to camp, unconscious and missing an arm. The magus tried to stand up, only to lose his balance and thankfully get caught by Talulah before his face met the ground.
"Easy there, you're still recovering. Walking out there would only get you the beatdown of your lifetime from FrostNova. I don't know if she's back from her mission with Patriot yet."
"Patriot would probably give his own two punches too. He thought the Royal Guards were back, so he took the Shield Guards and went to scout around."
Immediately, the bed looked ten times more comfortable to sit on. Of course, the world outside his tent looked a hundred times more apocalyptic as well, the fear of God in Edward's eyes amusing the two women with him.
Thanking Alina for helping him with his meal, Edward managed to gather enough courage to walk out of his tent with Talulah right beside him, having scouted the camp using Kutcha to make sure Yelena and Buldrokass'tee weren't around. He still needed to do something important before they decided to move.
Hiding his injury under a cloak, Edward carefully moved out of the camp along with Talulah as Alina stayed in case Yelena or the others decided to check up on him. Talulah chose not to comment about the fact they were heading to the village from yesterday, her gaze hardening at the thought of seeing such a vile community again.
They were surprised to find it completely void of any living being. Some lights were still working strangely enough, but no one was in any of the houses. Further investigation proved even more puzzling due to the lack of any clues; there was no sign of struggles or forced entry, no sign of any chaos or movement of any scale which would merit the current circumstances.
The villagers seem to have simply vanished…
As mysterious as it was, neither of the two dwelled much on this mystery. Edward moved to the storehouse the victims were imprisoned in, apprehension building inside him unknowingly. Once inside, he stood in front of the vague figures, his throat feeling constricted as he struggled to find the words.
The magus looked at them, his only hand clenching tightly as his neutral face crumbled. Talulah watched with worry as Edward seemingly looked at something she couldn't see, his body trembling in a manner she couldn't believe possible.
"I'm sorry."
Tears fell on the black handprint in front of him as the magus's head hung low. His self-loathing, his frustration and his fury from yesterday all disappeared, leaving only a man who couldn't accept such tragedy.
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
"Edward…"
Talulah's hand grasped his shaking shoulder before she immediately stepped back once she noticed another woman in the storehouse with them. The unknown woman grasped her hand before Talulah could question her, her look pleading as her voice rang in the fighter's mind.
'See what he sees.'
Bewildered by the words, Talulah turned to Edward. She managed to contain her gasp as the specters came into her view. They stared at him, remaining silent even as her dearest companion fell to his knees, apologizing again and again as his forehead touched the ground.
Both women became alarmed when the shadows writhed and grew agitated. Their attack was sudden, pouncing on the bowing Edward with feral bloodlust. Grudges they were in the end, nothing but vestiges of the victims' strong hatred, regrets and animosity, the spirits of the fallen long since dissipated.
Black snow filled the storehouse as the biggest Royal Guard Talulah had ever laid her eyes on appeared to shield Edward from the vengeful curses. With a single clench of his fist, all of the specters were consumed by the dominion almost instantly, unable to muster even a feeble resistance to the overwhelming might of his power.
"It appears you haven't recovered yet."
His voice didn't feel as distant as Talulah expected. Her body stood there, paralyzed as she watched the Emperor's Blade help the magus up. Edward didn't answer him, his eyes glassy as he stared at the ground.
"Get away from him!"
Alyosha sighed, his attention shifting to Talulah. She struggled to move, overwhelmed as she was inside his superior dominion. He could see much in her gaze, past the fury and the worry she currently held in her eyes. Alyosha nodded in approval of her blazing spirit, the Draco holding strong against his pressure with a stubbornness fit for an Ursus.
"I can see why he believes in you so completely. You are lucky to have each other."
"What are you doing here?"
Edward's voice pulled him back from his observation. Alyosha was glad to see his Godson was able to pull through and focus on the task at hand despite his fatigued mental state. He was initially worried about the mental strain the recent events placed on him, expecting him to be barely functional.
Perhaps he was only somewhat right. Even without mentioning his missing limb, the little one standing before was not fit for any battle as he was, at least for a while.
"I am here to complete a sweep over the settlement for anything my brethren missed."
"What did you do?!"
"We have passed judgment upon the village. All culpable persons have been executed, while the minors were recovered and are to be taken to an appropriate establishment which would give them proper care and guidance."
"You think we'd believe you?!"
"Your belief is of no consequence, and I trust this would not be detrimental to the agreement."
"It won't."
Talulah looked shocked as her gaze shifted between the two. She could tell Edward was emotionally exhausted just from the defeated tone in his voice, even though she herself didn't feel so inclined to defend the villagers after what they've done.
"What is he talking about, Edward?"
"They agreed to help us with the project I shared with you as long as I eliminated the duke. We now have the support we need to realistically make it happen."
"Would you trust them?"
"I trust only the fact they will aid us as long as our interests align, as agreed upon."
"It is true, Talulah. This is but a beneficial cooperation between your movement and his Majesty. We are also sincere in our desire to see the infected freed of their shackles, but I suppose our materialistic support will be more concrete than my words."
"Are you mocking us, Royal Guard? Ursus's tyranny and injustice is the reason we fight!"
"His Majesty already leads change on his front, but it is our shared belief in the need for an infected movement to be the vanguard for the rights of the infected. It is a front on which only you can fight directly. Why else do you believe we freed your brothers and sisters from the clutches of the overseers across the tundras?"
Alyosha calmly moved to the exit, the shadows in the storehouse writhing unnaturally as the sickening feeling in Talulah's stomach finally subsided. She shared a look with Edward, the two turning to the Royal Guard just as he stepped out of the building.
"Neither our opinion of your movement, nor your opinions on us should prevent you from making the right decision. For Ursus to truly begin its change, we need to work together. Despite being on different paths, I believe we share a common desire to see a happier world. A better world for everyone. If you truly hold such a wish in your heart, then the choice is clear."
He didn't turn to face them, gazing at the buildings around them with disinterest and almost disdain. Such a place would have never aided in the betterment of Ursus, its denizens so utterly lost in cruelty and indifference as they were. Alyosha could only hope the young ones they recovered could find a better path than their forebears.
"So, Talulah. What is your answer?"
Talulah's eyes widened in surprise. She didn't expect the Royal Guard to ask her such a question without letting her think it over. She hated being called a leader, and never once thought she was fit to lead their movement or be in any way their superior.
Her eyes shifted to Edward as he approached her. He stood beside her, his gaze completely focused on her with a weak smile.
"I am…with you."
Even at his worst, he still chose to put his faith in her completely, regardless of her decision. The fighter felt slightly shaken as her heart fluttered for a brief instant, her hesitation faltering. She chastised herself for thinking he'd do anything less. He had fought hard and sacrificed to present this opportunity to her and the movement as a whole, without pushing her to accept it.
She held no trust or faith in Ursus, the Emperor or the Royal Guards. However, she would always trust him.
"State your terms, Royal Guard."
"Per this agreement, we shall provide your movement with necessary vital resources, equipment, intel, as well as our indirect military support in the form of sabotage and assassination in case of conflict or unforeseen circumstances as we move together towards the future plans for Chernobog."
"The reunion movement shall not engage in any violence against any towns or settlements unless necessary, and we also declare ourselves of Ursus and will remain so even after taking hold of the mobile city. We shall also accept any of the infected you choose to send our way as we move to Chernobog."
Alyosha nodded, satisfied with the conditions for this alliance.
"I accept those terms."
"So do I. I also require a representative on your part to join our movement in order to facilitate future cooperation in regards to the future of Chernobog."
Alyosha nodded, code words transmitted to him as he sighed and turned to the two behind him, his amused smile hidden under his mask.
"Naturally, you will be informed once our agent arrives. I suggest you return with haste to your camp before the wrath of Buldrokkas'tee and his little Cautus boils over."
He watched as all color drained from their faces before they ran at such speed that he hardly had the time to bid his farewells. Shaking his head at their behavior, Alyosha decided to attribute their lack of attention to their youth.
He blinked a few times before groaning once he realized he was already beginning to think like an old man. He hadn't even passed a hundred years yet! He refused to believe that his best years were already behind him!
"He is too kind, brother. Are you sure he's capable enough?"
Alyosha huffed at his brother's comment, before snorting as he moved to exit the village.
"It is precisely such an overabundance of kindness that we mustn't ever lose sight of, young one. Never allow such cynicism to become natural, lest you find yourself losing more and more of yourself as time goes on. Sadness, pity towards others, empathy: they are all things we should nurture and protect, for ourselves and for others as well. You think he is frail for crying over the misfortune of others? You would be correct, but it's exactly such a "surplus" which will determine whether we rise or fall."
"There he goes again with his rants…"
"Do all seniors act like this?"
"Shut it, you two. Thank you for your wisdom, Sir."
Alyosha sighed as his eyebrow twitched at the comments of his juniors. He contemplated the various ways he could discipline them, but in the end, shook his head and continued on his path. He'll allow them some leeway: youth was meant to be enjoyed, regardless of the circumstances.
…Alyosha's shoulders slumped and his back hunched. He definitely felt old, thinking such thoughts. Unknowingly, he smiled as he thought back to the retreating figures of Talulah and Edward, a particularly amusing prospect presenting itself in his head.
'You will be just fine, Godson. I fully expect to be a great Godfather in the future.'
After all, when blessed with a soulmate, all of life's hardships and helplessness can be solaced.
Meanwhile, Edward was currently cowering in a corner along with Talulah as the two hugged each other. The two were completely surrounded by the yetis with no way out, as Yelena and Buldrokass'tee approached them.
Edward and Talulah could swear the eyes of the yetis and Yelena shone in the same crimson light as Patriot's, the sight only serving to terrify the two even more. Their faces turned pale as Yelena happily presented them with her candies, the subtle shifting of her wand enough to let them know that refusal was not an option.
Safe to say, the two spent the day nursing each other's bruises under Yelena's watchful eye as the magus apologized profusely to everyone over and over again for worrying them. It was only at nightfall when Alina joined them and whispered something into Yelena's ear that Edward was briefly released.
He didn't know why, but the way Yelena's eyes narrowed at him and the way her ears twitched when Alina spoke to her had him worried for some reason.
Sitting together in a secluded space, Edward eyed the Elafia with caution. Alina simply laughed at his fears as she stirred the wood, her smile filled with joy.
"Tell me Edward; Do you love Talulah?"
Caught off guard by the question, Edward silently stared at Alina for a brief moment. Once her words were processed, his face turned serious and he nodded.
"I do."
"Could you tell me how it came to be?"
The magus smiled lovingly at the bonfire, his eyes filled with longing.
"At first, I guess I was simply attracted to her noble qualities; she was kind, wise, competent and she didn't know when to call it quits. Even when I knew about the duke, I found myself enjoying my time with her more than anything. Over and over again, I would spend my day observing Talulah like a beautiful mystery, each time more fascinating than the last."
"You've really lost yourself, haven't you…"
Edward shyly scratched his head, averting his eyes from Alina's teasing smile. As honest as he was about it, revealing such details was always embarrassing, to say the least.
"I hope you're aware she didn't take the deception of my death well."
"Yes."
"What would you do if she refuses you? Or if she decides to never trust you again?"
"I will continue to protect her, even the heartlessness she gives me."
Alina chuckled at the quick and serious response, her eyes sweeping him in silence. Edward suddenly had a sinking feeling in his stomach, an urge to fidget washing over him as he hoped for Alina's blessing.
Only once she approached him and patted his shoulder encouragingly did he feel relief. His nervousness returned with a vengeance when Talulah suddenly appeared from behind him, equally as nervous as he was. He turned around to see Yelena and Alina walking away, his sister giving him a smug smile.
The two remained silent as they gazed at the flames, unaware of where to begin with such a conversation. Edward felt his heart punch against his ribcage as he struggled to put his feelings to words.
"Why did you interfere?"
Hearing Talulah's question, Edward found himself at a loss for words. The Draco couldn't help but giggle as the magus looked like a deer in the headlights, face locked in worry.
"When you faked Alina's death, trying to goad the snake out of hiding. Had you not interfered, he could have taken over. I wish to know why you showed yourself and comforted me."
"I see…"
Shame overcame him as he visibly withered under her scrutiny. Gritting his teeth, he sighed.
"I could not bear to see you in such pain. As I stood there watching you, I could not stop myself from rushing to your side."
Talulah couldn't help but find it fitting. It sounded just like him: not able to stand by when people were sad or in pain. She could feel it too, whenever she saw him healing his wounds in a secluded place, or when she saw his figure, burned from the aftermath of his battle to save her, and his defeated state as he begged the specters for their forgiveness.
Even now, watching him avert his gaze in shame and self-blame for her sake, her heart felt constricted. They had always shared their woes, smiled together and fought side by side, and here they were now, having reached rock bottom the day before.
"I am very upset you would do such a thing to me."
Talulah could see him visibly deflate and hunch over more in acceptance. Taking a deep breath, she kept her feelings under control as she approached to stand in front of him. Her hands reached out, gently holding his cheeks as she urged him to look at her. Nervousness reared its ugly head, a lump forming in her throat as she took in all his features patiently.
"But I forgive you. Thank you for saving me, Edward."
Talulah smiled brightly, the sight mesmerizing the magus instantly. His hands hesitantly held hers, his eyes speaking more than any words he could speak.
"Thank you, Talulah."
He leaned more into her touch as he closed his eyes. A glint flashed in Talulah's eyes, her heart pushing her to take the opportunity presented to her. Taking it without hesitation, she took Edward by surprise with a loving kiss.
Edward's eyes widened in disbelief before he returned her affection with equal enthusiasm. Their lips separated as the two of them ran out of breath, their eyes transfixed on each other as their faces reddened.
No words were spoken as the two became drunk off each other's gazes. Their silence was cut by the collective cheer of the yetis as they appeared around them. Edward brought Talulah close in a tight hug out of instinct before sighing once he realized it was only his siblings.
"Seriously you guys…"
"Finally! We don't have to worry about our big brother's love life now."
"Talk about a relief. I was afraid it wasn't going to work out there."
Yelena snorted as she placed a hand on her waist, her other hand held out for a high five which she received from Alina.
"It is only natural. My brother is peerless and deserves as much. It would have been a shame if Talulah chose the wrong answer. I can't have my brother's heart broken after all."
"Of course."
Edward swallowed nervously as he noted the threatening aura hanging over Yelena and his siblings, their smiles doing little to diminish the looming promise of violence they casually threw out there.
'I can't tell if they're warming up to Talulah or terrifying her.'
'Such actions still elude my understanding as well.'
Edward shifted his attention back to his new lover, finding her unaffected by his siblings' words. Her smile bright and intoxicating, Edward pulled his flute out of his inventory, and with a flourish brought it to his mouth.
Using his arts, he played his tunes excitedly as if his missing arm were there. Talulah listened to his tunes, leaning on his shoulder and cuddling into him much like the yetis as they crowded them and merrily sang along to his melodies.
Patriot watched from a distance with a smile behind his mask, the sight of his children's joy filling him with happiness. Deciding to retreat before they noticed him, he was halted before he could turn around.
"Please join us, mister Patriot."
Alina gently held his hand, her encouraging smile unaffected by the Wendigo's intimidating frame. Noticing the old one's hesitation, the Elafia gestured towards Yelena, the white rabbit happily chatting with her siblings.
"I'm sure FrostNova, the Yetis, and Edward as well would be happy to have you with them."
Buldrokkas'tee hesitated, his eyes returning to his children for a few moments. He couldn't help but relent to the pleading look the village girl gave him and soon he found himself with the group. Silent as he was, his heart felt at ease, showered as he was by questions from the yetis and their hugs.
Edward watched his siblings' antics with a fond smile, sharing a look of exasperation with Talulah before chuckling. Even though what they faced had yet to be left behind them, this small joy remained a blessing they would revel in.
Lonely the flute sang, carrying both joy and pain. Its player watched the moon wax and wane, his heart searching for an answer to a question he couldn't quite put into words.
Hui-Chieh:
I'm free…I'm free…and loved. My heart beats wildly every time I think about it.
I hope I'll see you someday…No. One day, I'll definitely see you again…and when such a day comes, I have people who want to meet you.
One of them is already very anxious to see you.
My dear Hui-Chieh…I'm free. I've been saved.
The rest of the letter was stained with wet spots.
Omake: A Grand Duty.
(Alternative Title: The Council of Swords Shall Decide Your Fate...)
Alyosha calmly walked through the hallways of the imperial palace, mindful not to be spotted by any of the staff. Navigating through the extravagant maze of halls and stairs with familiar ease, he soon pressed a specific brick in the wall facing him. The distinct sound of the contraptions activating preceded the opening of the hidden doorway, dark and devoid of any lights.
Traveling through the dark passage with hurried steps, Alyosha found himself in a spacious meeting room, the center of which was occupied by a large round table, engraved with Ursus's twin headed eagle in the center.
Alyosha sat on his usual chair, a very serious and contemplative look unchanged even as Agnessa joined him not long after his arrival. Soon, Ursus's Grand Sword saw holographic figures appearing on each of the other chairs.
"It's been a while, dear siblings. How have you been?"
"I've been okay, Bolivar's weather has been most relaxing. Still dealing with the mafia, little sister?"
"Don't get me started! I've already spent enough time with Sicily to merit a very long vacation. Last place I'd want to be is Syracuse."
"We can switch locations if you want, I've grown tired of Kjerag and their deity, some underworld activity might give me a good exercise."
Twenty figures fully occupied the table, Alyosha included, as they caught up with each other. Agnessa stood by him as she took in the vague figures around them, although he could tell they were getting nervous under her scrutiny. He wondered why they were so jumpy all of the sudden.
"Hello, my dear children. I missed you all, yet you haven't even bothered to send a single letter in all these years."
So it was a lack of communication. Alyosha silently prayed for his elders and former Grand Swords as they all apologized profusely without the slightest probing from the matron.
"I'm sorry, Mother. Dealing with Kazimierz corporations has been most exhausting and time consuming. It won't happen again I swear!"
"The abyssals had been acting up, and I couldn't make time for sending letters. You have my sincerest apologies, mother."
No matter how terrifyingly strong they grew, none of them would ever grow to speak up to their cherished mother. Agnessa sighed, shaking her head in apparent disappointment much to his elders' dismay.
"Let us get to the main subject; We have gathered here today for the most important duty in our existence, my elders. I trust you've had the time to inspect the documents I've been sending you for months now."
The figures around him turned silent and the atmosphere felt suffocating as Alyosha placed a paper in front of him. Receiving a nod from Agnessa, the current Grand Sword of Ursus took a deep breath.
"The time has come for us to decide on a candidate for the position of Empress."
The pressure in the room became even more oppressive, as if one wrong move would spell destruction. Agnessa motioned to Alyosha, and the man passed the paper to her. Clearing her throat, she took a deep look at the content with a critical eye, humming mysteriously as she examined the names written on it.
"We have Grand Duchess Mikhaylova, age forty eight, her territory is fairly vast and prosperous. Her loyalty was already verified and confirmed."
"Rejected. She is too old for his Majesty, and being relatives, however distant, their union would pollute the bloodline."
"We agree."
"Okay. Next up is Countess Morozova; age thirty two, hailed as a prodigy in her exemplary governance and loved by her citizens. She shares no relations with the Royal Family as her family was bestowed the title after the great rebellion."
The elder of Kazimierz groaned as she read her details. Her humming drew the attention of the rest, as she was the most cunning among them. Sharing a look with the elder of Syracuse, the two nodded in agreement.
"Rejected. Reports show us she possesses more ambition than cognition, however abundant the latter is. I can easily tell she's bad news from her use of the underworld and the sacrifice of her own followers for her goals. We would not have a vixen inconvenience his Majesty…Besides, her figure and fashion sense is so mediocre! It would reflect poorly on his Majesty!"
The others agreed, their mood taking a turn for the worse as the list of names diminished little by little with no suitable candidate. Even Agnessa began to grow annoyed as she narrowed her eyes at the list in her hand, soon spotting a name she was somewhat familiar with.
"Now then, we have Duchess Kulikova, age thirty six. I can vouch for her lack of blood relations to the Royal family despite the high rank. I have frequently visited her family ever since she was a child, and can vouch for her admiration for his Majesty's work. She has shown acceptable political acumen in her time as Duchess so far, and I see no reason she would falter as Empress."
The elder of Aegir took a closer look as he seemed to reach for files he had near him. He began reading them, flipping the pages with almost blinding speed. Once he was satisfied, he nodded in approval.
"Background checks confirm a lack of pre-existing conditions in their family history, further verified by my own tests on the samples you provided. On the contrary, in fact, medical reports show an excellent evaluation of the constitution of new offsprings. A fine addition to the bloodline."
The elder of Kjerag frowned, his eyes reading over the economic and social reports on the territory of the duchess in question. The elder of Columbia observed the reports on the Duchess's behavioral patterns and habits.
"Her policies are acceptable and sufficiently progressive, I trust she would not be rigid in his Majesty's pro-infected projects?"
"She won't present a problem, Kulikova has shown herself to be an exception among the old aristocracy in regards to her policies towards the infected. Thanks to his Majesty's discreet support, her interests were protected from the attempts of disruption done by her peers."
The questions and answers went on and on, the back and forth going for two hours as ever facet of the Duchess's life, and that of her family was discussed in precise details. No stone was left unturned during the screening of the candidates, and thus a simple conclusion was reached once they ran out of details to inquire about.
"Mother, elders, I do not believe it presumptuous to say this, we got her."
The elders nodded in satisfaction. Agnessa smiled in amusement, wondering if she should tell them these meetings made them look like children picking a step mother rather than an empress. In the end, she chose to keep her thoughts to herself, letting the brats enjoy their moment.
"You shall keep us updated about this Duchess, Belov. We must move with haste to ensure his Majesty's partner is secured."
"Have no fear, I swear to give my life if need be for this duty."
The holographic figures disappeared one by one, leaving only Alyosha and Agnessa. The two of them proceeded to the exit immediately, discussing the ways to facilitate the meeting and development of their ruler and his would-be bride.
Meanwhile, the man in question felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort. He took a look at the heating of the room, wondering the reason for which his body shivered. He looked through the different reports awaiting his inspection and signature, pausing on a peculiar proposal from Alyosha to summon Duchess Kulikova to discuss potential growth and further cooperation. He stamped the report with his seal of approval without much thought before frowning when he felt he missed something very important.
Perhaps his body was fatigued…
Far away from the capital and in her private study, one Duchess Kulikova would receive an invite from the Emperor, both anticipation and dread filling her heart as she scrambled to prepare herself for the trip. The lady's vibrant black hair fluttered as she made her way to her vehicule, ruby eyes vibrant with excitement.
Name: Ahkmatov Edward Viktorovish. (Formerly Edward Miles)
Race: Ursus.
Age: 23 years old.
Element: Fire, Air, Earth.
Originium-Cell Assimilation: 9%.
Originium blood concentration: 0.16 u/L.
Arts: Telekinesis.
Current condition:
Mentally exhausted
Missing left arm
Severely burned left shoulder
Strained magic circuits.
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 (15Kg)
-Ammonia(3L)
-Lime(1.0Kg)
-Phosphorus(600g)
-Salt(170g)
-Niter(85g)
-Blood Sample (Yelena)
-Blood Sample (Buldrokkas'tee)
-5000 LMD.
Points: 5000.
Artificial Ursus arm (manufacturing in progress: 0%).
Thank you for reading.
Have a Nice Day and Stay Safe.