Special thanks to ZakfielRagnarov and CrazyLich for their help with this chapter.
Note: All Omakes are canon unless stated otherwise.
I don't own Arknights or Type-Moon content.
Edward sighed as he carried his friend on his back, the girl shamelessly making herself comfortable while he walked to her home. The two of them had been on a little outing around town after school, only for it to be cut short as Leliana's fatigue grew to be unbearable.
He had noticed the trembling of her body as she struggled to walk, and did not hesitate when she jokingly asked him to carry her on his back. Carrying her as he was, he thought it odd that her right leg felt smaller than her left.
Pushing that thought aside, he turned his attention to his friend. Leliana rested her chin on his shoulder, staring ahead with a leisurely smile on her face.
"Sorry for having you carry me. Again."
"It's alright, feeling any better?"
"Mhmm, not really. I feel tired."
Edward nodded and shifted to make his hold more comfortable for her.
"Just a bit more, we're almost there."
Leliana nodded and tightened her hold. It only took a few more minutes for his friend's home to come into view. Going inside, Edward wondered why Leliana's parents looked so worried when he told them she felt tired. It wasn't like she was bleeding.
Saying his goodbyes and a shared promise to play again later, the boy returned to his home and went to the basement. His father was already there, reading some book he couldn't recognize. Looking up at the sound of footsteps, the old man smiled and gestured for his son to sit, starting their daily session.
The novelty of the existence of the supernatural hadn't worn off yet. His mind had struggled to focus with his heart pounding in his chest like a drum when he conjured a flicker of a flame for the first time. Not nearly as cool as being able to shoot lasers, but one small leap for Edward, one large step towards having his own giant robot.
With these powers, he could help more people than he could ever hope for on his own. Just imagining himself being the one to put a smile on all those people's faces was more than enough to set his mind to it, despite his mother's objections.
Today, however, his mind ceaselessly wandered to Leliana as he dutifully wrote down notes while his father continued their Magecraft lessons.
His heart felt uneasy.
Unlimited Blade Works...
Heroic spirit EMIYA groaned as the vision ended, hand rubbing his temple as the intense ringing in his ears slowly subsided. He sighed as he tried to ignore the woman sitting just beside him, getting too close for his liking as she fretted over him.
"Are you alright, Shirou?"
"Stop calling me that."
The specter huffed, and turned away with a pout, refusing to look at him as she reached for a knife. She began drawing lines on the ground in boredom, her childish behavior only stopping when Eden appeared beside her.
"Staying here would only bring you further boredom, child. The day has already begun."
"Really?! I'll be going then. See you later, Shirou!"
EMIYA remained silent as the girl disappeared in motes of magical energy with a quick wave of goodbye. His attention turned to Eden, the golden-haired man moving to stand beside him at the top of the hill overlooking his inner world.
"You have yet to deal with the pest?"
Eden extended his hand, a black orb appearing in his grasp. Its surface writhed and coiled in his grip, yet its resistance proved to be futile, not even rising to the level of inconvenience for the Pilgrim given the indifference with which he held still.
"I believe the snake might prove useful. The duke's ability is worth researching at the very least."
EMIYA observed the writhing mass of energy with dispassionate contempt, before turning his attention to the sky of his inner world. The Pilgrim in turn focused on the Counter Guardian, his gaze gaining a judgemental glint as he eyed the endless plains surrounding them.
"For how long are you planning to maintain this needlessly stubborn act?"
"I don't understand what you mean."
"You continue to deny your wish despite the circumstances and the compromises haunting you. Even now, that thread of desire to save others still lives in your heart."
EMIYA frowned and didn't deign to respond, choosing to end the conversation then and there. Eden clenched his fist, banishing the seed back into its containment before disappearing in golden motes of energy.
The wrought iron hero observed his world with an unreadable expression, his hand gently pressing his forehead as the uncomfortable headache caused by the memories passed. Shaking his head, EMIYA sighed and closed his eyes, hoping to take advantage of whatever peace he had before the girl returned.
?
Eden returned to his own space, his pace calm and casual as he walked through the beautiful grassland. Before him stood an imposing temple, built of fine marble and sparsely decorated. The golden-haired man moved by the many pillars and up the glass steps of a throne too large for a human in the farthest ends of the temple. Sitting on the imposing throne, his eyes flitted to the figure of the Deathless Black Snake bound before him.
The duke's body remained wispy, akin to an illusion easily breakable with the faintest of effort, despite the splendor of his features and clothing. Weak and beaten as he was, the duke remained collected, his posture dignified and his insecurities hidden perfectly well behind a mask masterfully honed over the ages.
He knew such a facade was completely useless against the creature sitting on the throne in front of him. Eden's gaze seemed to shake his very being and invoke an emotion Kaschey never dreamed of experiencing.
Fear. Pure unadulterated fear.
The mere thought cracked his mask in disgust, fists clenching tightly under his sleeve. Not even the empire's Grand Swords had elicited such a primal reaction from one such as himself, the fact this unknown man brought him to such a lowly state with paltry efforts, doing so little as to not even bother to detain him, only served to rub salt on open wounds.
"Who are you?"
A question he held ever since he found himself imprisoned so effortlessly in this mysterious place. No matter how much time he spent trying to identify the entity before him, he could not remember anyone remotely close to the man, be it in appearance or might.
"I have no intention of humoring you in any way, snake."
"...do you think you can hold me here?"
"By all means, struggle as you wish."
His voice resonated deeply in the temple-like structure and far through the seemingly endless landscape. The duke gritted his teeth under the pressure on his body, defiantly meeting Eden's gaze as he struggled to stay on his feet. Try as he might, any strength Kaschey gathered was broken quite easily by the man sitting on the throne.
"A spirit can never hope to overcome me, Kaschey."
"Then why am I still here?"
"Curiosity. I find your ability and nature interesting to observe, hence I found it acceptable to refrain from killing you, for the time being."
The pressure subsided just in time to prevent the complete annihilation of the ageless snake's soul, the duke's legs wobbling as he struggled to stay on his feet. The pythia could do nothing but glare at Eden, rage and indignation palpable in his demeanor.
Eden observed his prisoner indifferently, even as the snake walked out of the building and into the vast land outside. Releasing a snort of mild amusement, the Pilgrim softly closed his eyes and allowed himself a small respite before focusing on his candidate once more.
Some small part of him still failed to understand the significance behind his constant efforts, knowing how meaningless it would be in the end. Once, He wondered all about the foolishness and madness of humanity since the beginning of time, but now he could see the beauty in their ceaseless advance despite the endless cycle of destruction they had set upon.
Eden sighed, his attention shifting to the roof of the temple. His hands reached upwards in prayer.
Ursus Empire: Unnamed Desert - Outskirts / May 23rd, Year 1094 / 7:00 AM / Sunny...
Edward yawned as he surveyed the landscape around the camp from his vantage point, the nice view of the rising sun did little to assuage his boredom while he occasionally went back to reading the new book he procured lately. He tried to not groan in annoyance as his body tried to adapt to the change in climate, having long since discarded his usual heavy clothes for much lighter ones in addition to makeshift turban and scarf covering his mouth.
His eyes trailed to the encampments near their own, and he frowned in contemplation as he watched the Sarkaz mercenaries go about their duties, none the wiser about his watchful gaze. He still had his own reservations about the teams cooperating with them, deciding to keep a close eye on them for a while during their continuing journey to Chernobog.
Although he had to admit the additional competent manpower will do wonders to their battles. He found it much easier to eliminate his targets without having to cover the others as often as he was used to. Sighing, Edward laid down on the ground and took to admiring the clouds, sensing a presence approaching him.
"You do know surveillance means observing the camp and not the sky, right?"
"Well, thankfully you're looking at the camp right now so I don't have to worry, Randt."
"I fail to see how that matters when it's supposed to be your job."
Edward smirked at the man moving to sit next to him, a katana on hand. Randt wore his usual casual clothing with light body armor underneath, his face hidden by his scarf and cap. The day just started and already Randt felt slightly exhausted with his friend's behavior, the archer and his group having saved him and his tired followers from their pursuers a few months back.
He also knew he wasn't the only one, having grown aware of Edward's stellar reputation amongst the people the Reunion movement saved on their way. Still, he shook his head as he noted Edward's excessively relaxed posture.
"You shouldn't leave yourself open like that, even if you are strong."
"Joke's on you, I'm not alone."
Randt's gaze remained neutral as he briefly shifted his attention to the boulder near them, noting the very miniscule difference in texture on a part of it thanks to his experience with some of the camouflage Arts he trained against the past few months.
"The midget cosplaying as a rock doesn't count."
"Who are you calling a midget!"
Edward laughed wholeheartedly as the hiding young Savra clad, in his white overcoat, showed himself, his blue tail swishing to match his fury. Edward sighed as he composed himself, the sight of Randt easily keeping the little boy at bay by just holding his head threatened to have him laughing again, but he managed to pull through.
"Randt, don't bully little Ethan."
"I'm not little! You want to have a go at it too!?"
"Maybe after your growth spurt decides to kick in. Assuming I'd still be alive by then at least."
A glint of amusement shone in Randt's eyes, his smirk hidden from sight as he made a show of observing Ethan's frame.
"I wouldn't bet on it if I were you. I think that's about as tall as he's going to get in this lifetime."
Ethan fumed as he crossed his arms and tapped the ground with his foot continuously while the two grown ups smirked at him. Deciding it was enough teasing for the time being, Edward pulled some candy he got from the village near them and threw it to Ethan.
The boy happily ate the sweets with a satisfied smile, soon realizing his blunder when he noticed Edward giving him a knowing look. Shoulders slumped, Ethan dejectedly sat himself next to Edward as the trio observed the horizons.
"So Ethan, any progress on your end?"
"You could say so. I noticed a couple of good warriors among those mercenaries who didn't seem to stick out that much, one with a mallet and the other had a sword like Randt's. Others seemed to be too close to their comrades for you to approach them discreetly."
Randt hummed in thought before his eyes narrowed, an idea coming to mind.
"I heard the scouts spotted a big hunting force of mercenaries heading our way. You could make use of the battle to get close to them."
Edward nodded and stood up, dusting off the sand on his pants. The three of them went back to camp, passing by some of the kids playing around. Edward stopped when a feline teen stood in front of him, an excited expression on her face. Her name was Nina, she was one of the infected freed by the Royal Guards and later joined them. She carried her favorite scimitar, given to her by her deceased father if he remembered correctly.
"Edward! I managed to get a compliment from Petrova during our spars!"
"Well done, Nina. Keep up the good work."
Edward patted her head, much to the teen's delight. Observing the girl walking next to him, Edward couldn't help but wonder if he could still change the path she's chosen after her father's passing and the resulting hatred she developed for Ursus because of her loss. Such was the plight of every infected when one thought about it, their struggle leaving no path other than fighting.
Still, he dared to harbor a hope that such a thing would change should their plans succeed.
His thoughts came to a halt once he spotted Talulah, his mind completely focusing on the Draco. Her reaction was similar, momentarily halting the conversation she was having as her eyes took in his figure, pausing slightly over the prosthetic left arm. A happy smile spread on her face as the magus made a show of flexing the metallic limb, much to the amusement of his companions.
The Ursus man garbed in a pristine military uniform and scimitar under a gray cloak next to her nodded towards him, a friendly smile on his face. His name was Alexander, the representative of Ursus and the Royal Guards in their movement.
"Good day to you, Akhmatov heir."
"Good morning, Edward."
"Good morning, you two."
"I trust the prosthetic arm is serving you well?"
Edward nodded, casually unsheathing the black scimitar strapped to his waist without any issue as the limb made of D32 steel shone under the sunlight.
"It does. I didn't expect it to be this good."
"The Grand Sword spared no expense in its making, as well as your sword. I'm sure he's going to be relieved to know you find it satisfying."
"Is that so? Please relay my gratitude to him."
"I shall."
"What brings you here, Edward?"
The magus turned his attention to his lover, the woman standing close to him as her eyes focused solely on his figure. Ethan rolled his eyes at the awkward moment of silence, only to be bumped on the head by Randt, the boy's annoyed grunt bringing the couple back from their stupor.
"I'm here to request you to send me along with the mercenaries to deal with the bounty hunters on our tails. I wish to evaluate their combat prowess."
Talulah's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. She shared a glance with Alexander, the Ursus giving a simple nod, before shifting her attention back to Edward.
"I see. Their numbers should be more than enough for the mercenaries to deal with them, given the intel we just got."
"The Marquis ruling the territory we passed by before settling here hired them to eliminate you. He also supplied the bounty hunters with golems, my brethren are already investigating him to uncover how he obtained them from the imperial army."
"It feels a bit overkill to provide them to a force of bounty hunters. I don't remember us having any bones to pick with such a place."
"The Marquis' views on the infected are colorful in all the wrong ways, so it is safe to assume he didn't need any justification to pursue your movement with such aggression."
"Figures. I'll go get the Sarkaz ready for deployment and get going then."
"Are you sure you don't need any further help?"
Edward smirked playfully as his hand slowly approached Talulah's cheek, much to the fighter's bewilderment. Once he got close, he deftly flicked Talulah's forehead.
"I'll be fine."
Talulah huffed, exasperated by his behavior. She smiled and turned to leave, her tail swishing unexpectedly and almost smacking Edward in the face, the magus backstepping just in time to avoid the strike. Talulah showed no reaction to her failed attempt, leaving to her work without a word.
Alexander chuckled as he bowed and moved to leave, halting a few steps away from the trio.
"Akhmatov heir, I urge you to proceed with care if you aim to make allies of these Sarkaz. Although I doubt all of them harbor ill intentions, they sought Reunion for a reason."
"I'll keep that in mind. Keep an eye on them for the time being."
"Of course, sir."
The three young men watched the enigmatic soldier walk away without a word. The representative of the Royal Guards was certainly an impeccable individual whose counsel proved to be invaluable so far, be it when he aided in finding and stamping out the rowdy and chaotic individuals joining them, or providing tactical and combat assistance.
Moving on, Edward separated from Randt and Ethan before he entered the camps of the mercenaries. Immediately, Edward could sense the eyes watching him as he walked up to their commander's tent. Most of them were simply cautious or weary of his intrusion in their personal space, while others were more curious. Only a few felt explicitly hostile, although it was difficult to pinpoint their origins amidst the other figures around him.
He stopped as the armed figure of Garcin, leader of the mercenaries around him, stood before him at the entrance of the tent, his face hidden by his mask.
"Greetings, Reaper. What brings you here?"
"I'm here to tell you to prepare your troops to deal with the forces sent after us. I'll be joining you."
"Understood. We'll be ready to leave in three hours."
Edward nodded and turned to leave, his steps coming to a halt not long after as a sudden unnatural discomfort came over him. Turning to his left, his eyes met a stunned female mercenary whose amber eyes seemed to gaze at his shadow. Activating his class card momentarily, his eyes scanned the coiled sword strapped to her waist, scrutinizing its history and understanding the Arts the woman in front of him used.
It didn't take Edward much to note why her probe left such a reaction, sighing as he walked up to her. The mercenary grew tense the closer he got, but still maintained enough composure to keep her hands away from her weapons. The magus passed by the agitated woman, his sights set on the scenery behind her.
"If you wish to know me, all you need to do is ask."
Not waiting for a response, Edward continued on his way, ignoring the intense stare the woman leveled his way as he walked away. Ines tried to calm herself as her heart pounded against her ribcage, the stinging pain in her eyes briefly overlooked in favor of trying to properly understand what she saw in the Reaper's shadow.
Her eyes saw two distinct shadows before he detected her. One she could recognize as his, heartfelt sincerity and passion filling it to the brim.
Ines wasn't ready for the other shadow she saw; a lingering fear causing her to subtly grip on her sword to tighten considerably. The woman has never seen any shadow possessing such an almightiness that made her feel akin to a helpless insect, further fueled by an aura of peerless wisdom.
She shook her head, putting such thoughts off for later in favor of reporting her findings to Hoederer as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Garcin sighed as he finally received confirmation of Edward leaving his camp. His eyes narrowed as he turned his attention to the two Sarkaz swordsmen accompanying him.
"We have an opportunity. You two will stay while the Reaper accompanies us on this mission, make full use of the time you have."
"Understood."
His subordinates hurriedly left, and the mercenary leader could only look in the direction Edward left as he contemplated how to deal with the obstacles in his ruler's way.
The Reaper must be dealt with before they could even begin to make use of Reunion to generate chaos. His popularity and power made him too big to be dealt with using direct means, which left them with only discreet and slow means to exclude him from the movement and drastically reduce his influence.
Even as he moved to meet Edward hours later, he could clearly spot the reverence and fondness the people around them had for the Reaper, his eyes narrowed as his subordinates remained hidden in the crowds, ordered to lay low until they left for battle before beginning their mission.
All for his Majesty, and the Sarkaz people.
11:00 AM…
Edward quietly observed the incoming troops, focusing particularly on the golems in their ranks and the armored casters next to them. Most of the originium constructs appeared to be shaped like bulls, while the rest looked like wolves. The bounty hunters themselves appeared to be decently armed and armored up for the most part.
The magus began to move as soon as the skirmishes started, arrows of steel sailing across the battlefield, plucking the commanders and exploding the golems in the midst of all the chaos.
The magus was once again impressed by the prosthetic arm's resilience as it withstood the strength of his draw weight without issue. Scanning the battleground, he soon spotted one of the mercenaries Ethan had scouted. Their bulky form was hard to miss even amidst the chaos as they charged across the battlefield with a large mallet in hand.A glimpse of their weapon brought up its history, bringing with it the surprising discovery of its wielder. A lean Sarkaz woman hidden underneath the bulky frame.
Mudrock was the name she goes by.
Noticing her holding the line on her own, Edward immediately moved to support her. Arrows zipped by the Sarkaz warrior and demolished the drones firing her way, although they failed to penetrate into an approaching golem's core. Edward cursed as he saw the construct charging towards Mudrock while she was defending herself from the hunters surrounding her.
'The golem's too close to deal with, the explosion would hurt her. I guess I'll just improvise.'
'This stunt you're attempting will end poorly for you.'
'When do stunts ever end well for me?'
Ignoring the snort Eden gave him, Edward's arrows made short work of the enemies near Mudrock, his legs tensing as a shockwave sent him flying towards her. Underneath her helmet, Mudrock's eyes widened as she found herself in the bull golem's path, her life flashing before her eyes with each booming sound the huge construct's legs made as they slammed into the sand.
Just as it seemed like her end was upon her, a force pushed her heavy frame out of the way, her legs leaving a trail on the sand just a dozen feet away from where she was. She could only watch as the floating figure of Reunion's Reaper was rammed to the sky by the golem as the shock passed. Edward grunted as his metallic arm almost broke from the blow, before he traced a few swords and bombarded the originium bull into smithereens once it got a safe distance away.
His ribs ache fiercely and blood escaped his lips, preventing him from maneuvering to land properly as the ground got closer. Edward shifted to land on his prosthetic, but he found himself saved from the fall as two bulky arms caught him with some ease. He heard a soft grunt from Mudrock, before she silently set him down.
"Thanks for the save."
"..."
Mudrock remained silent, offering a silent nod as she recovered her mallet. Edward nursed his side, the impact he felt when pushing the Sarkaz fighter felt akin to pushing against a fortress wall, and he was almost certain his arm would have been turned to paste if it was of flesh and blood.
Edward took notice of his sole companion tensing as more hunters surrounded them, the two of them turned back to back as they surveyed their enemies. Kanshou and Bakuya appeared in Edward's grasp just as the first bounty hunter made his move, the former deftly beheading the charging Vouivre before Mudrock caved an Ursus's chest in with a single blow, armor proving useless against her absurd strength. The group charged together, but their numbers proved useless as each of the two warriors covered the other's openings despite the lack of precision in their teamwork.
Throwing the married blades, Edward dealt with a couple of retreating fighters. His body, warned by his mind's eye, instinctively twisted to intercept the sword aiming for his neck with his prosthetic.
"Reaper, get down."
Edward immediately ducked, Mudrock's mallet sailing right above his head and striking the bounty hunter in the head. Edward traced a black key and threw it at the spearman running behind the Sarkaz, the weapon piercing his chest before it disappeared back into motes of magical energy.
Their teamwork grew with each enemy they felled, and the two soon found some rhythm as they held their position until the hunters began to retreat. Edward sat in the middle of the carnage while Mudrock chose to remain standing, ever watchful for any nasty surprises. Edward sighed before he opened his communication device.
"This is Reaper here. Position E secured, any development?"
"We've got the bounty hunters on the defensive, some reinforcements are headed your way to further secure your position."
"Then I'll be pushing forward as soon as they get here."
"Roger that. Be advised, we've noted they had a number of Arts drones and expert snipers on their side which we failed to eliminate. Our hands are full dealing with the golems at the moment."
"Got it. Reaper out."
Closing his device, Edward noted the curious looks Mudrock threw his way. She looked like she wanted to say something, but couldn't think of a way to start a conversation. He smiled and pulled his flute out of his inventory, twirling it around lazily.
"Are you doing well? I hope I didn't cause any injuries when I pushed you earlier."
"No…I'm fine, it was nothing. Are you well?"
"I just need a bit of rest and I'll be good. My name's Edward by the way, it's nice to meet you."
"Sarkaz mercenary, Mudrock…thank you for saving me."
Edward smiled and continued to twirl his flute as the two of them waited for their back up to arrive. After a few minutes, Edward sighed, growing bored of the silence and the stench permeating their surroundings. He huffed and placed his flute on the side before his hands touched the sandy ground and channeled his magical energy into it.
Mudrock observed with intrigue as the corpses around them sunk into the ground, the earth under her shifting and in mere moments, the only remaining traces of battle being the blood on their armor. She watched as Edward grasped his flute and sat cross legged, his eyes closed as he began to play the tunes he's been practicing.
The Sarkaz mercenary sat near him, her gaze focusing on the magus as he leisurely played the flute. The tune felt different from what she expected, almost like a gentle call. Mudrock immediately tensed as she witnessed a dark substance slowly leaking from the earth and floating in the air near them, slowly but surely approaching Edward.
The magus's tunes shifted accordingly and the disturbing aura entered his flute bit by bit. Once all the aura entered the instrument, Mudrock bore witness as small transparent blue spheres decorated the dunes, the tunes shifting once more to a somber tone, akin to a tragic parting. One by one, the tiny specks filling their surroundings disappeared, the last one extinguishing just as Edward finished playing.
Noticing her staring at him, Edward laid down on the sand and decided to answer her unspoken questions.
"When a person passes away, their souls would go through a stage of instability as the shock of death settles in and during which they can be very susceptible to influences. The tune eases the process, using the flute as a vessel for their grudges, so they feel free to leave."
"...Why would you do that for them?"
Edward didn't respond immediately, his eyes observing the clear sky.
"For one, it helps prevent the festering of the grudges of the dead which can become dangerous for unfortunate passers by, and I guess it gives me peace of mind to know they passed on properly,especially when it costs me basically nothing."
Although it was hidden beneath her helmet, Edward could feel Mudrock's incredulous stare. Their rest was cut short by whistle, the two taking notice of the ashen haired Sarkaz woman approaching them. Edward's brow briefly rose at the sight of her rather casual attire and the worrying amount of explosives on her, but decided not to comment. Casually observing them, the newcomer took notice of the bloodstains on their clothes with a strange smile.
"I heard this area should be filled with hostiles, looks like you two had something to do with the lack of resistance we've had coming here."
"You could say that. I assume you're the back-up?"
"I sure am~. Sarkaz mercenary, W, at your service, Reaper~."
She nonchalantly held her gun's strap with complete disinterest, a sadistic glint in her eyes as she sized Edward up. Rolling his eyes, Edward decided to take his leave.
"I'll leave you to your job then. Take care."
W's smirk didn't falter because of the magus's disinterest, instead she grew curious as she saw an armored Sarkaz follow right after him silently. Edward was also surprised, stopping in his tracks as his eyes met Mudrock's.
"...You've saved my life, I'd like you to let me return the favor."
"Are you sure?"
Mudrock nodded, her mallet held tightly in both hands. Edward scratched his head, unable to refuse her gesture. Sighing, the magus smiled and continued on his way.
"Let's go then, Mudrock."
W watched the duo leave in silence, her intrigue growing even more. A hand grabbed her shoulder just as she was about to call the Reaper, grasping it tightly.
"Don't do anything idiotic, W."
The Sarkaz rolled her eyes at the familiar voice of Ines, turning to see her unusually serious and dare she say, anxious. W's brow rose in surprise, a very amused smirk growing on her face the more she watched her comrade eye the Ursus worriedly.
"And why is that? Are you scared?"
"Just trust me. He's unlike anything I've ever seen before, be careful what you do around him."
W shrugged and turned to order her subordinates as they set up camp, deciding to wait until they dealt with the current problem before prying a bit more into the Reaper's identity.
Neither Edward, Mudrock nor W and her crew noticed the lone figure watching them in the distance, their gaze set in the direction the magus and his Sarkaz companion left to. With a feral smile on their face, the swordsman moved to follow the duo, hands clutching his swords tightly in excitement.
'I'm looking forward to having a taste of your swordsmanship, Reaper.'
Nina rubbed her shoulder, nursing the bruise she got from sparring with Ofnir. Her swordsmanship came a long way from the idiotic waving around she called swings back when she started, a smile of pride blooming on the Ursus's face when she remembered the praise Edward had for her in the morning.
She could feel it. She's getting closer and closer to obtaining the power to take her revenge on the tyrannical nobles who threw her and her father into the hellish snow fields to work to death for their convenience.
'Remember, Nina. You must live on. Live on and never forget what we've been through because of the nobles.'
Her steps came to a halt when she took notice of two Sarkaz men talking to each other in whispers, looking terribly anxious. The girl approached as silently as possible, hiding near them as she eavesdropped on their conversation.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yeah, I'm sure of it. The reaper's definitely selling the movement out to the empire."
Nina's eyes widened at the statement, her hands covering her mouth to suppress the shocked gasp escaping her lips. She couldn't believe such accusations about Edward were going around the camp.
Why would-
"He must have made a deal with Ursus to gather as many of the notable infected as possible so that the empire could destroy them in one go. My sources say he used to be a noble, and was promised to be given back his status should he provide a big enough group of infected for them to crush."
Anger bubbled inside Nina as she heard the motive, memories of the suffering she and her father went through because of nobles and their pettiness fueling her fury at the thought of being deceived by one of them. Her nails dug into her palms as she remained silent, trying to get as much information from the mercenaries as possible.
"I heard many of the leaders in the movement like his music, do you think he's using Arts to influence them?"
The two Sarkaz looked contemplative, an air of tenseness about them as far as the hiding teen could tell. They seemed to look around nervously ever now and then, as if a monster would pop up any second.
"Honestly, anything is possible. Just be careful from here on out, if anything gets suspicious, we can just get out before these sorry bastards get offed."
"Talk about unlucky. I can only imagine the pain they'd feel to have the rug pulled out from under them when everything seems so well."
Unable to take any more of their conversation, Nina sprinted into a random direction without any care, uncaring for the people she bumped into or the voices calling out to her. Her eyes burned with rage and frustration, unable to come to grips with such a revelation.
The two Sarkaz mercenaries casually observed the Ursus as she ran with all her might, content with a job well done.
"Hook, line and sinker. The young infected can be such suckers sometimes."
"That's one seed well planted, now let's keep going. We don't know when the Reaper will come back from the subjugation."
The two warriors made their way through the crowd, analyzing the passers by and looking for the next prey. They had many more rumors to spread before the subjugation force returned. The two warriors were completely oblivious to the watchful gaze of Alexander, the soldier observing them with narrowed eyes before he followed after them stealthily.
3:00 PM...
Edward frowned in annoyance as he ducked under the sword aiming for his head, before attempting to punch his enemy in the stomach, only for his Arts-infused fist to collide with cold steel, the resulting shockwave driving the unknown swordsman back.
Dodging the crossbow bolt coming from the side and throwing a black key towards the sniper, The magus wondered how he could have fallen into the weird situation he was in now, having never expected he would end up stuck fighting one of the Sarkaz mercenaries while eliminating an enemy checkpoint.
"Now this is a true battle! Come, Reaper! Show me more of your swords!"
The source of his headache was grinning from ear to ear as he casually deflected the big ax coming his way before beheading the poor fighter along with anyone unfortunate enough to stand in his way with the slab of sharpened metal the Sarkaz used as a blade. Already expecting the overhead feint from reading the history of the weapons he had, Edward maneuvered a few swords lying around to block his swing, his palm slamming the katana back into its sheath before he fully pulled it out.
In a show of impressive reflexes, the mysterious swordsman let go of his heavier weapon and stepped back just in time to cushion the impact of the metallic fist hitting his right side. Edward frowned once he realized he missed the man's liver, his irritation growing as he turned to eliminate some enemies trying to flee, three arrows piercing their heads near simultaneously.
Rolling to the side and avoiding the katana aiming for his heart, Edward's brow continued to twitch as he struggled to contain the boiling irritation building up in him. He watched with a neutral expression as the Sarkaz picked up his big sword before he turned to the magus and pointed at him with his katana, his condescending smirk ever present on his face.
"With the insects finally dealt with, the warm up is well and truly finished. Let us enjoy this dance to the fullest!"
Just like that, Edward felt his frustration boil over, and a menacing thought for payback appeared in his head. Taking a deep breath and exhaling calmly, Edward stood up and approached the swordsman, stopping just outside of his strike range. Having observed the history of the blades before him, the magus could immediately tell how valuable this warrior could be to their efforts.
And the fact he discovered that this guy detected Ethan when he was checking for potential recruits only made him more invested in tying him to Reunion rather than the mercenaries.
"Pray tell, why should I bother fighting with you? Or rather, what would I gain from defeating you?"
The man's bloodthirst was practically palpable, his smile not faltering in the slightest as he hefted the big slab of sharp steel casually over his shoulder.
"Are you implying you can subdue me?"
"Absolutely."
Edward's response got him the reaction he was looking for, the swordmaster lowering his katana as his smirk slowly vanished and was replaced with a challenging glare.
"What is it that you seek then?"
"Simple; your loyalty and your strength."
"So be it, Reaper. Your life is sufficient reward for me."
Edward nodded, Kanshou and Bakuya appearing in his hands. Immediately, he leapt backwards as the Sarkaz warrior's longer weapon became a blur, the man's slash visibly generating violent winds in its aftermath. Acting on his knowledge of his opponent's patterns, he swung with Kanshou and deflected the incoming katana before he forced his enemy back with a flurry of swords.
His enemy easily maneuvered himself between the deadly weapons, deflecting and dodging gracefully even as he was surrounded by them. Edward prepared himself for the charge his opponent was planning, purposefully leaving an opening in his right side, faking a slip up. The Sarkaz was all too happy to go for it, escaping the encirclement of weapons in an instant with an astounding show of speed.
He thrusted his big sword, hoping the longer reach would be his decisive advantage, but could only realize something was up when it was too late. Edward leapt forward the moment the swordsman extended his weapon, and slammed his foot on the weapon with great force, embedding it firmly in the ground, the warrior's grimace and his loss of his grip betraying the dislocation of his shoulder.
Not to be deterred, the swordsman immediately chose to attack with the katana instead. Edward quickly leaned to the side, the blade leaving a deep wound on his right cheek, before he blocked it from slashing his neck with Kanshou. The magus immediately tried to punch him with his metallic fist, but his blow was intercepted as the swordsman used the attack to push his dislocated bone back to its place before locking the metallic limb under his armpit.
Unable to overpower one another, the two headbutted each other, the swordsman grunting in pain as his head violently collided with the Arts protecting Edward's body. Momentarily stunning his foe, Edward followed with a punch with his free hand, but was intercepted as his metallic fist got caught in the swordsman's grasp.
Sensing the blades aiming for his back, the swordsman quickly sidestepped and pulled Edward to use as a shield, the magus quickly shifting their trajectories and allowing them to avoid him. The swordsman threw Edward upwards before he was forced to deflect more weapons attacking him from multiple directions. Rolling on the ground, Edward had just enough time to use his metallic limb to bat away the incoming blade before swiftly tackling the Sarkaz to the ground. Before Edward could take advantage of his position, the man expertly threw him off with his leg.
The two got to their feet simultaneously, both of them throwing a strong punch towards the other. The swordsman was once again driven back as the blow from the metallic fist left him dazed, while Edward felt his vision blurring for a few moments from the force, his Arts protecting him from the brunt of the impact.
Edward spat the blood in his mouth, frowning as he felt his reserves running low. He examined the area for any weapons he could use, but soon banished the thought when his skin started itching, the miniscule portions of originium all over his body heating up to uncomfortable levels.
'I advise against using Arts any further, otherwise I won't be able to regulate your infection. An acute oripathy reaction would be inevitable as a result.'
Edward remained silent as he redirected two partitions of his mind to search for a suitable weapon to use while he defended against the bloodthirsty Sarkaz's strikes. It didn't take him long to stumble upon the perfect solution for his predicament. A nodachi appeared in his hand, and with an incredible show of skill, pushed his foe back with a few strikes, the bewitching blade coming dangerously close to beheading his opponent.
With wide eyes, the man casually traced the thin cut on his neck, and stared at his bloody fingers with something akin to wonder. His attention shifted to the nodachi in Edward's hands, and he immediately shifted to a stance, holding his katana in both hands with a serious expression.
"Immaculate. Show me more of your swordsmanship, Reaper."
"I hate to break it to you, but I'm ending this fight here."
Taking a deep breath, Edward held the long blade in both hands and followed the stance of the exceptional swordsman who once wielded it. The crystallization of his ultimate technique, made to fell a simple sparrow yet becoming a trancendent art.
Tsubame Gaeshi.
In a flash, both fighters were upon each other. The swordsman's eyes beheld three blades attacking him simultaneously, his own blade only managing to deflect one of them before dread filled him as the other two aimed for his gut and heart.
Yet the blows never landed.
The mercenary stared long and hard at the sharp edge of the blade held to his chest with something akin to contemplation. He sighed, a sharp glint in his eyes as he evaluated Edward.
"Victory is yours, Reaper."
The nodachi dissipated into motes of magical energy, the warrior watching it intently every step of the way. Edward sighed and sat on the ground, his eyes noticing Mudrock running their way.
"I trust your promise still stands?"
"Of course. My blade is yours from this day forth."
"Well then, what should I call you?"
The Sarkaz smirked, sitting on the ground near him and casually sheathed his katana. Mudrock only spared her fellow Sarkaz a fleeting glance before she approached Edward.
"You can call me Flamebringer."
"Good to know, my name's Edward. I assume things went well on your end, Mudrock?"
"Yes. I met up with the same group from earlier, they said the other side is done as well. The hunting force's been scattered beyond any hope of regrouping."
"Great. We'll rest up a bit as I deal with the mess here and then we'll regroup with the rest of the force and go back to camp."
Once more, the magus flourished his flute. Its consoling, empathetic tunes filled the surroundings with an air of tranquility as the dead departed the world. On the side, FlameBringer observed the souls quietly while Mudrock cleaned her weapon. Only an hour later did the now trio regroup with W and her subordinates, the ashen haired woman twirling a grenade lid, whistling merrily as she watched them approach.
Her eyes met Flamebringer's, and Edward immediately saw the glint of recognition. Since neither of them made any comment, he chose to ignore it in favor of some information on what happened on their end.
"Well, well, well~, to think you three handled a checkpoint on your own. I'm very impressed~."
"I guess you guys had a harder time?"
"Sort of. They had way too many of those freaky constructs for my tastes, so I ended up wasting my precious customs on them. A lot of them ran for the hills because of it though, I'm sure they'll end up dying somewhere in this shitty desert without their supplies."
"Which direction did they run in?"
"East."
'I believe you should head there in great haste. I have spotted a settlement around a small oasis in the mentioned direction.'
'Well, shit.'
Edward visibly grimaced, drawing the attention of those around him.
"Do you have any bikes I can use?"
"Can I ask why?"
"Well there's a real chance those hunters are going to attack a small settlement on their way in order to resupply."
W's smirk faltered for the briefest of moments, clutching the grenade lid and tilting her head inquisitively.
"Sure thing. Are you sure you want to go though? There's got to be at least fifty of those meatheads left, and we don't have any shot at catching up to them if we move in numbers."
"I'll take care of it on my own, I should be able to move quickly enough to beat them to the village and deal with them when they arrive."
W's eyes focused on Edward as he got on the bike, clear amusement on her face as the magus instructed his two followers to stay. She curiously observed FlameBringer, idly wondering how he managed to get such a battle maniac to follow him. Shifting her attention back to one of her bosses, she sighed.
"Talk about picking the single-plank bridge over the broad road. You're not a masochist, are you?"
Edward laughed, a playful smirk on his face as the engine roared to life.
"Who cares about the overcrowded wide road? I'll just stick to my little, narrow bridge. You should try it sometime, it's a nice feeling."
The three Sarkaz watched as the magus sped off without a second thought. W smirked challengingly as she placed her hands on her waist, turning to the two next to her.
"I'll get the bikes ready, can't let the boss have all the fun."
A girl like her has a reputation to maintain, and letting prey run wild is bad for business. In no time, the trio left the camp on bikes and caught up to Edward.
8:40 PM...
It took them most of the day to take care of the threat and return to camp. Although fatigued, Edward could still note the subtle shift in the way a lot of the people around looked at him compared to before they left in the morning.
Choosing to ignore the looks given his way, Edward continued on his way to see Talulah, followed by W, FlameBringer and Mudrock. The three mercenaries remained silent despite the hostility they sensed towards him.
The group stopped in their tracks once an Ursus teen blocked their path. Nina was clutching her scimitar as usual, but her eyes focused only on Edward. The magus felt the tension in her, wondering what could have happened to elicit such a reaction.
"Nina, what's the matter?"
"Edward, tell me the truth. Are you really a noble?"
Edward's eyes widened in surprise, having never shared his background with anyone other than Talulah. His reaction fueled Nina's frustration further, the girl drawing her scimitar and pointing it at the reaper.
Edward raised his hand just as the two following him were prepared to step forward, his eyes downcast as he sighed. He tried to continue on his way, but found Nina's weapon held to his stomach. He took a long look at the teen in front of him, noting the trembling of her hand, before he shook his head.
"I used to be a noble, but now I'm not. I have no wish to speak of it any further than that."
The magus moved away from the blade and walked forward, only to stop once he registered the searing pain coming from his abdomen, a grunt of pain escaping his lips. Everyone visibly recoiled in shock at the sight of the scimitar stabbing Edward, blood leaking from the wound and dying his clothes in crimson. Nina stared blankly at the weapon, frozen in panic as her mouth opened and closed, unable to find the words she wished to say.
W was the first to react, pushing the teen away with a harsh kick once she took notice of the approaching Cautus behind her. Edward stood perfectly still as his hand felt the wetness staining his midsection, blinking repeatedly as he looked down at his bloody hand.
"Are you alright?"
He could feel Mudrock trying to steady him when his body almost faltered. He nodded with a grateful smile, slightly off putting with the small trail of blood dripping from the corner of his lips. Eden already started healing the wound to stop the bleeding.
"I just need some time alone for now. You three should get some well deserved rest, I'll see you tomorrow."
Without waiting for a response, Edward turned around and slowly walked out of the camp. People around him cursed his name in whispers, encouraged by the fact he was wounded and seemingly alone.
"Deceiver."
"Traitor."
"Ill-bred noble."
Nina's sight didn't leave the ground as she lost her grip on the scimitar, the bloody weapon falling on the sand without a sound. A violent push brought her to the ground just as an ice spear buried itself in the ground where she previously stood. The Ursus felt terror grip her heart as an ashen haired Sarkaz stood in front of Yelena, the leader of the Yetis looking murderous as her cold eyes took in every single person present.
"Get out of my way."
"My, my~, don't we have bad temper. How about you calm down a little before things escalate."
W casually gestured towards the crowd they're attracting, people congregating towards them to understand the reason for the sudden commotion. Some Yetis showed up, instantly moving to stand behind their elder sister in complete silence. Completely ignoring the people around them, Yelena took a step forward, the sandy ground immediately freezing under her feet as all the surrounding heat succumbed to her Arts.
"I don't care. She dies regardless."
W smirked condescendingly, unbothered by the menacing approach of the group as she checked her nails. Her eyes briefly shifted to the distraught teen, silently looking at the ground and refusing to meet anyone's gaze.
"I think checking on the reaper would be more important than killing an impulsive teenager, don't you think? It's been quite a long day, and as far as I could tell, he's been fighting without rest for most of it. That wound looked pretty bad too."
FrostNova paused, her fist clenched tightly as she struggled to calm down. Casting one final look towards Nina, Yelena sheathed her knife and followed the bloodstains on the sand while shoving anyone unfortunate enough to be in her way.
The three Sarkaz watched the group silently leave, but soon enough the whispers around them quieted down as the people parted to allow Talulah, Alina and Alexander through.
"What is going on here?"
The Draco took in the scene in front of her and her eyes trailed the retreating figures of the Yetis. Her eyes caught sight of the mysterious woman she always sees, she was beckoning her urgently, clear worry and sadness on her face.
'He needs you.'
Immediately her face hardened as she nodded to Alexander and Alina before she sprinted after the strange woman. It didn't take her long to find him, the ethereal sound of his flute reaching her ears. She stood there, watching him from a distance as he was surrounded by flickering spheres of light illuminating the land around him, while the woman beside her sighed.
"What is he doing?"
'He is searching, asking for a response.'
"From who?"
'His parents. Being called ill-bred left him hurt, and opened his old wounds. Let me show you.'
The woman's hand reached out to her, expectation and hope clear on her face. Talulah carefully grasped it, and instantly felt a deep migraine take hold of her as she found herself in an unfamiliar manor. Her eyes immediately focused on the little Ursus boy she identified to be Edward running through the entrance, his face filled with panic.
She followed him, going through the hall and upstairs to the second floor. In a few turns, Edward stood in front of a door to a room. His hands trembled ever so slightly as he knocked on the door, with no response. Talulah watched as he entered the room, following right after him and bearing witness to the sight welcoming him.
Inside the well decorated bedroom, the Draco saw the bodies of an Ursus man and a Lupo woman, hanged. Her gasp of shock melted in her throat as the child Edward fell to his knees in front of the bodies of what she deduced to be his parents.
Her heart ached something fierce as she stood there, helpless as the Ursus boy cried and wailed until his tears ran dry. It was only when he stood up, that Talulah felt something was wrong. Edward's eyes looked glazed and completely dead as he methodically put the bodies on the floor and closed their eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Talulah's heartbeats quickened as the boy approached the ropes hanging in the middle of the room, apprehension making her stomach churn. She clenched her fists as the boy climbed on the chair, tying the rope tightly around his neck, before pushing the chair off and falling.
The Draco's hand covered her mouth as she felt herself on the verge of vomiting, hoping and praying whoever must have saved him would come sooner rather than later. Every second felt more painful than the last, until the scenery began to turn blurry.
She resisted, determined to see this vision through to the end. Just before everything disappeared, she caught sight of a small figure of a child sprinting past her and hurriedly cutting the rope off.
Returning to reality, Talulah gasped for breath as she fell to her knees. It took her a few minutes to let what she saw sink in, the gentle flute tunes helping her mind settle down. Standing up, Talulah once again glanced at the woman next to her for the briefest of moments before turning her attention back to Edward.
'You should go to him, playing that tune for such a prolonged time puts a great strain on his mind and body.'
Almost on cue, the tunes stopped as the magus keeled over and began coughing violently. Talulah immediately ran towards him and made her presence known, hurriedly checking on him. The magus chuckled weakly before he winced as he felt a stinging pain in his chest.
"Here I thought I managed to throw everyone off with the blood trail. Looks like I couldn't fool you, Talulah."
"Stop this. Come back with me."
Edward looked around at the dissipating spirits around them, his eyes carrying a pain she hadn't seen ever before, before he reluctantly shook his head.
"I'll come back later. I'm not in the best state of mind right now."
His hand gently caressed her hair, before he leaned forward, their foreheads touching. He gave her a reassuring smile, though it failed to assuage her worries in any way.
"I'll be fine, I promise."
She stared long and hard at him, trying her best to spot any warning signs given what she saw just earlier. Talulah sighed, deciding to trust that the Edward before her would not be so desperate again.
"Fine, but if you take too long, I will come find you along with Yelena and Patriot."
"Threat received."
Edward watched his companion reluctantly leave with a casual smile. Only once the coast was clear, did he shift his focus to a different direction just as Alexander appeared. The enigmatic man looked quite somber as he straightened his gloves, his friendly face long replaced by a contemplative frown. The experienced soldier was able to uncover Garcin's plot after interrogating his men, and Edward felt thankful for the timely discovery of such a dangerous entity within their ranks.
All that remains is to deal with this danger.
"I assume you're ready, Akhmatov heir?"
"Yes, but now we have a small time limit, so we need to hurry. Just follow my lead."
"Of course, sir."
Dusting himself off, the magus and the soldier began walking in the direction of the Sarkaz camp.
10:00 PM...
W was feeling very antsy.
She couldn't shake off the feeling of discomfort ever since what happened earlier with the Reaper. Pacing back and forth inside the tent, the Sarkaz explosives expert ignored the amused look Ines was giving her, as well as the incredulous stare Hoederer was giving both of them.
"Can you just calm down? Seeing you like this gives me the creeps."
"I know, right? I can't believe I'm getting this worked up."
The trio felt chills down their spines as they instinctively turned around, weapons drawn. Edward sat on a nearby table, flipping a coin without a care in the world. Silence permeated the inside of the tent, until the magus decided to break it.
"W, Ines, Hoederer."
The three tensed, wondering how he knew their names. Not caring for their reaction, Edward continued.
"I'll get straight to the point, I am perfectly aware of the true reason you and most of the mercenaries sought us out, and I'm here to give you an offer. Join Reunion and abandon your allegiance to the regent."
His eyes moved from the hesitant Hoederer and the contemplative Ines, choosing to focus on the only one to display interest. W's eyes shone menacingly as she smirked at the magus, a bit of hostility leaking through the playful facade.
"Assuming I'm loyal to such trash is really gross, and I feel very insulted by the insinuation. But more importantly, we need more details about this deal."
"It's quite simple, by joining us, we will protect you from the regent to the best of our ability and completely welcome you all as a part of us. Rather than being used as tools of war, I believe we can fight for a common purpose and a better future for both you and us. Should you have plans against the regent, we will endeavor to provide you with the resources we can spare. Should we fail to provide safety and payment, you are free to leave should you choose to."
"And what if we refuse?"
"You will die."
W gave a quick glance to her two comrades, Ines and Hoederer looking grim as they carefully weighed their options. Unbothered by the threat, the woman maintained her usual demeanor as considered her choice.
"One thing I need to ask before I answer; what happens to Garcin?"
"I already dealt with Garcin before coming here, out of all the options for a replacement, you three were the most promising candidates."
"Well, since you eliminated him, I accept."
W could practically feel the hateful glare Ines was giving her, but she couldn't care less. Edward already showed his commitment by taking out Theresis's leading agent in their group and giving them her and her friends free reign to assimilate the Sarkaz who haven't sworn allegiance to the regent.
It was a perfect opportunity to advance her agenda and ruin Theresis's plans. She was already feeling giddy just thinking about it.
Edward's eyes shifted to Hoederer and Ines, the two of them tensing but did not make any movement towards their weapons. W laughed in mirth as the two still failed to decide, casually approaching Edward and resting her arm on his shoulders. Immediately she noted how unnaturally hot his exposed neck was, deciding to keep that little bit of information in mind.
"I can vouch for those two, so can you do a girl a favor and let them off? I'll owe you one~."
Edward snorted, before silently shrugging off the woman's arm and walking to the exit of the tent.
"I'll leave the convincing of the Sarkaz warriors left to you."
"Leave it to me, boss. Pleasure doing business with you."
Exiting the tent, Edward came face to face with Alexander, accompanied by three Royal Guards as they waited for him. The guards were silent and indifferent, any expression masked by their armor. Alexander seemed to evaluate his every action, the man still thinking back to the magus's use of hypnosis as they cleared the camp of the agents his brethren caught and those they uncovered through his intel extraction.
"I trust everything is well?"
Edward nodded, feeling his skin crawl from the collective pressure behind the Royal guards. His discomfort showed and Alexander signaled to his comrades to retreat, the three guards nodding before they left without a word.
The two soon exited the mercenaries' territory and entered their camp, Edward hiding the fever his body is suffering from the taxing use his circuits endured during the day. Alexander seemed to know his troubles, but did not act.
Once they reached Edward's resting area, Alexander couldn't help but snort in amusement as he observed the fearsome Ursus visibly deflating at the sight of FrostNova standing there, tapping her foot on the sand. The older man decided it was safe to leave Edward, wordlessly waving at him as he walked away without a word.
Edward awkwardly scratched his head as Yelena began to examine him all over. Noticing his fever, Yelena took off her gloves and placed her hand on his forehead to cool him. Quickly guiding him into the tent and laying him down, Yelena quietly cooled his body with her Arts and sat near him.
"It's ok, Yelena. I'm fine."
"You got hurt. You need to rest now, otherwise everyone will be upset."
Letting her have her way, Edward left himself to Yelena's care until his tiredness got the best of him. Gazing at his sleeping face, Yelena's eyes narrowed as she fixed his blanket and silently left the tent. Once outside, she was greeted by the rest of her siblings, all of them looking anxious and worried.
"How is he, big sis?"
"He's doing alright, just needs some rest. You guys stay here and don't let anyone get in, deal with anyone trying to be smart without waking him up."
"Sure thing, sis. You should go to Talulah, we've spotted a small group of infected looking for her. They didn't seem like the best of folks."
Yelena nodded and left, a frown on her face as she came across the group her siblings mentioned. One of them stood at the forefront, talking with Talulah and Alina. FrostNova immediately took note of the agitation clear on the Draco's face, and she pushed her way to stand by her side.
"Talulah, Alina, what's going on here?"
Alina approached her, whispering in her ear while keeping the group in her sights.
"They came here to ask Talulah to kick Edward out of the movement."
"How dare…"
Sensing the tension building in Yelena, Alina grabbed her hand before FrostNova could grab her wand. The Elafia winced as the biting cold permeated into her limb, letting go before her fingers were lost to frostbite.
Yelena stopped when Talulah blocked her path, their eyes met for a few brief moments before FrostNova relented. Talulah shifted her attention back to the group, her eyes cold and indifferent.
"So in short, you would have me expel Edward for mere rumors?"
"You have to admit those rumors are not baseless, Talulah. The Reaper always charges on his own to battles, yet comes back practically unscathed! There must be something going on."
"Besides, he admitted to his status as a noble himself! Having someone so suspicious around would only bring us misfortune."
"Please understand, Talulah. We don't doubt your sincerity, but we believe the Reaper is insincere in his intentions. We do not wish him harm either, we only want him to leave."
Talulah stood silently as the crowd before her continued with their tirade, her eyes shifting ever so slightly to make sure FrostNova did not escalate the situation. Her own fury was far from small as well, but her composure won out in the end.
"Enough."
The crowd grew silent, the coldness leaking in her voice compelling their obedience. Talulah crossed her arms, her repressed frustration causing a small amount of heat to leak from her body. She pointed at the infected at the forefront of the group.
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes. If I have heard rumors you assaulted children, then by your logic, I should have you expelled immediately from Reunion."
The Ursus visibly recoiled, discontent clear on his face as he made to argue. Talulah began walking towards the infected, trying her best to contain her anger.
"But-"
"Or should I find out you were a noble once, then I suppose you should be kicked out without question, even as an infected. Better yet, since I have the ability to take out a certain number of Ursus soldiers without a great risk of injury, then I automatically shouldn't be here."
"No, but-"
Talulah grabbed the man by the scruff of his shirt, glaring at him hatefully. Her eyes turned to the crowd behind him, looking each and every one of them straight in the eye, none daring to maintain eye contact lest they suffer her ire.
The vision she saw came to mind, her grip tightening on the man.
"Then how dare you question his sincerity and his bravery before me? Do you believe I would relent when faced with numbers?"
Pushing the man back, Talulah let out a long sigh. Her glare did not relent despite her best efforts, and her heart still pounded in indignation. Alina grasped her hand and shook her head, urging her to maintain her cool.
"Your proposal is preposterous, and it is refused."
"Snap out of it, Talulah. He must be using vile witchcraft to manipulate you! Many of us have seen those lights that appear once he plays his flute, it can't be simple Arts!"
"Why you-"
"Who dares. accuse. my son?"
Silence fell once again, the only sounds heard were the clanking of the pristine armor Patriot wore as he approached, his steps unhurried. With every step he took, the crowds retreated three steps back, fear and terror forcing any words they wished to speak down their throats.
The wendigo cared not for the people around him, his towering frame only halting once he stood right in front of the group of infected. None spoke a word, too intimidated by his presence to dare defy it.
"None of you. are qualified. to question. his virtue."
With the simple act of tightening his grasp on his halberd, many of the group fell to the ground. He huffed, leaning down towards the people at the forefront.
"You reek of cowardice. and of betrayal. those who. are sincere. in their concern. would not fear. reproach."
The wendigo pulled back, turning around and giving Talulah, Alina and Yelena a nod before moving to stand behind his daughter. Talulah observed the group one last time, coming to her decision.
"I will not expel Edward and that is final. Should it displease you, then you are free to leave and we shall provide you with what supplies and food we can spare."
The group dispersed rather quickly, trying their best to get themselves out of the wendigo's sight. Talulah sighed and shook her head, wishing it had never come to such a scenario when their movement was still in its infancy stages.
"You did well. leader."
"I just wish it never came to this."
"The infected were wronged by nobles and are quick to mistrust others out of the fear the world embedded in them, do not take it to heart, Talulah."
Talulah smiled as she grasped Alina's hand gently, her reassurance giving the Draco solace.
"Have any of you seen Edward?"
"I have, I left him sleeping in his tent. He looked very fatigued so you'll only see him tomorrow."
"Fair enough, it's getting late in any case. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Mr. Patriot, can you keep an eye around? I don't want us to be caught off guard."
"Understood."
With her duties done, Talulah separated from the others. Her eyes turned to where Edward would be, her heart aching at the revelation she was shown.
The next day…
Edward felt something was off as he walked through the camp once he began to note the absence of some faces he was used to. Stealthy entering a certain tent, Edward sneaked behind Talulah and gently embraced her. His arms hugged her waist as his head rested on her shoulder.
Talulah tensed for a moment, before she let out a sigh once she recognized who was behind her. She smiled playfully as her tail curled around his leg, her hand reaching up and caressing his hair and ears.
"Aren't you a mischievous bear?"
"When you're involved, I can be a bit unfair."
The lovers giggled and remained in their embrace. Edward glanced at the different reports on the table, his eyebrow rising in intrigue as he noticed the name of Chernobog coming up with some numbers he couldn't make much of.
"What are you doing?"
"I was revising these reports Alexander gave me about Chernobog's socio-economics. He and I both agreed that change can only begin by tackling the socio-economic conditions many citizens go through, in addition to a good use of rhetoric and our own counter-propaganda."
"I see, sorry I can't be of much help with this."
"No need to worry. For better or for worse, I've been ready for this sort of thing for quite a while. Having the cooperation of the empire was beyond all my expectations, and the fact Chernobog has such a robust underground clinic we can work with is more than we can hope for in other mobile cities."
Edward hummed in thought as he leaned into Talulah's hand once she scratched his ear, greatly appreciating her touch. The Draco smiled as she leaned against him, her mind clearing as she enjoyed the moment. It didn't last long, a figure casually entering the tent and whistling at the scene.
"Hey, Talulah! Hi, Edward! I Hope I'm not interrupting anything~."
"Hello, W."
Edward unabashedly held on to Talulah as the two turned to W. The magus noted the knowing smile on her face, giving her a nod.
"I just came to let Talulah know I finished reorganizing the Sarkaz forces. A few decided to leave after the 'desertion' of Garcin and the others, but most were very open to a tighter bond with Reunion, so long as we are treated fairly."
"Excellent work. We look forward to working with you and your teams, W. Prepare to move out."
"Sure thing, boss."
With a smug smirk, the Sarkaz twirled around and exited the tent while twirling a grenade lid. Edward turned his attention back to his companion.
"Did something happen in the camp?"
"Why do you think so?"
"I noticed a lot of people were missing than usual, so I got the feeling something must have happened."
Talulah sighed as she separated from Edward, her hands grasping his tightly as she looked him in the eye.
"Yesterday, a group of infected came to me, asking to expel you from Reunion because of the rumors about you. I refused, and they decided to leave."
Edward didn't seem too shocked about it, given what happened yesterday. He shook his head, his smile disappearing as he sighed.
"Looks like I made a lot of trouble for you."
"No. This was not your fault."
Talulah's hand tenderly touched his cheek, an encouraging smile on her face. Her tenderness felt like a breath of fresh air to the magus, his sadness diminishing.
"None here could deny the contributions and dedication you have for helping others. We believe in you with all our hearts, so don't be discouraged by those your sentiments could not reach."
Edward smiled at her encouragement, deciding to reassure her as he placed his hands on hers and leaning further into her touch with a childish pout.
"Talulah, I'm really hungry. Let's eat."
Talulah snorted at the display, amusement clear on her face as she lightly pinched his cheek. Edward acted wronged as he gently caressed his cheek.
"Out of all things, you come to me to act like a child?"
Edward laughed even as his lover poked his chest with her finger. The magus thought back to an idea he's been considering for a while now, yesterday especially. His smile receeding to give way to a solemn look.
"Talulah, can I ask something of you?"
"What do you need?"
"I want to leave for a while…I want to go to Syracuse to be exact. I can't really elaborate on it other than it being about a promise I made to my parents."
Talulah stood still in shock, not sure how to respond to the request. Seeing his pleading eyes, she was certain it was something of utmost importance, especially since it involved his parents. She sighed and nodded, before she held his hand and dragged him out.
"Thank you, Talulah."
"It's alright, now let's get you something to eat before you start crying."
The two exited the tent, coming face to face with Yelena who was about to enter. FrostNova's surprise faded fast as she observed the two, Edward especially. Her eyes lingered on the slight redness on the cheek Talulah pinched, and she immediately turned to the Draco with a terrifying smile as she beckoned her to come closer.
Talulah decided to save herself using the only shield she had.
"Hello, Yelena, we're going to get Edward something to eat since he's hungry."
Yelena turned to her brother for confirmation, before humming once he nodded and moved to his side.
"I'll take care of you later."
Looking at his sister, Edward patted her head as the three of them headed to the camp, feeling content in the moment.
Omake: Wild "Tales" of Eden 2 : Elden Sword
Alina sighed as the children finally dispersed for the day after their studies and Edward's storytelling. She giggled as she noticed the magus lost in thought as was usual after his strange tales, perhaps as he thought of how to develop them further for the next time.
"Edward, you look unsettled. Are you alright?"
Her voice breaking his concentration, Edward turned to the Elafia with a reassuring smile as he adjusted his headwear.
"Yeah, I'm ok. I'm just contemplating my choice of main character. His description reminded me of someone I once knew."
"I see. He must have been very precious to you."
Edward nodded, feeling apprehensive for some reason, a small seed of doubt that the character was who the magus thought he was. Given the world the guy he talked about was in, between demigods, outer gods and all sorts of phantasmal existences, he could only hope the story Eden gave him was simply that, a story.
….Edward ignored the headache he was feeling, trying to distract himself from the story he told in any way.
'Happy thoughts, Edward, happy thoughts. There's no way Shirou would be so unlucky as to find himself in such a place.'
'I detect a great unrest in you, Edward.'
'I'm just looking back at my choice of friends, Eden.'
Edward's hands covered his face as his shoulders slumped, completely giving in to his doubts and letting out a sigh of frustration as he whispered.
"Goddammit, Shirou."
Unbeknownst to him, EMIYA frowned within his reality marble, feeling greatly annoyed for some inexplicable reason.
Lands between / Liurnia / The academy of Raya Lucaria...
Within the usually silent great halls of the academy, the bustling of chaotic academics, servants and Carian knights overflowed the institute as well as a good deal of the surrounding land following orders from the Queen.
A great enthusiasm and happiness can be felt from all around as they excitedly awaited the arrival of the country's beloved prince, returning from the clutches of the Golden Order.
None were as excited and impatient as the Queen herself. Rennala stood at the entrance of the academy, pacing back and forth excitedly as she used her magic every now and then to peer at the horizons, hoping to catch a glimpse of her most beloved son.
The sound of the welcoming horns made her entire body still, immediately her eyes shone as she glanced at the gates, spotting the figure descending from a steed and walking into the institute. Her vision grew slightly blurry as she began to tear up when he smiled as he caught sight of her, his steps eloquent and measured as he stood before her.
He tried to kneel, but found himself locked in a tight hug. The queen caressed her son's short red hair, feeling nostalgic as he hugged her reassuredly.
"Welcome home, Rahadin."
"Mother, I'm home. Just like I promised."
Rennala held her child and her eyes took in his every feature, frowning as she noted his dirty and shabby clothes. Not letting his state affect her any further, Rennala held his hands gently before glancing at the commotion stirring behind him. Rahadin did not turn around, simply smirking playfully.
"I also brought some company with me."
Rahadin offered Rennala his arm, the mother smiling brightly as she locked her arm with his and followed his lead. Her eyes widened as soon as she laid eyes on the gigantic frame of Radahn, accompanied by Ranni and Rykard. Rennala felt her eyes watering as her children surrounded her.
"Welcome, my children. I missed you all terribly."
Rahadin watched as his mother welcomed his siblings, relieved to know she has long since overcome her heartbreak. He laughed at the sight of Radahn carrying their mother on his hand so she could kiss his cheek, the giant man's embarrassment making him stutter as he put her down.
"I'm sure you all have a lot to discuss. Tonight's dinner shall be on me."
Rennala chuckled at the sight of her children getting excited at the prospect of eating the exquisite meals made by their eldest brother after so long.
Even little Ranni was smiling brightly at the thought.
"Indeed, my son. I shall ask you to spare no expense, for I too have suffered without your food for so long."
The Carian royal family proceeded with the formalities before they secluded themselves to enjoy each other's company.
Rahadin, formerly known as Shirou Emiya, could only chuckle as he wondered how his life shifted so drastically. Watching his family together made him even more resolved to ensure things stayed this way, his eyes briefly meeting his sister's, the two of them sharing a knowing nod.
Come what may, the sword of Liurnia would not falter.
Name: Ahkmatov Edward Viktorovish. (Formerly Edward Miles)
Race: Ursus.
Age: 23 years old.
Element: Fire, Air, Earth.
Originium-Cell Assimilation: 10%.
Originium blood concentration: 0.18 u/L.
Arts: Telekinesis.
Current condition:
Minor injuries.
Slightly strained magic circuits.
Fatigued.
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 "
-" Oriental Spiritual Evocation and Music "
-" Puppets. "
-Ursus weapons and Equipment.
-Food and Rations.
-Flute
-Class card( Archer class heroic spirit designation: "Nameless" )
-Holy shroud.
-Carbon (38Kg)
-Ammonia(7L)
-Lime(2.5Kg)
-Phosphorus(600g)
-Salt(400g)
-Niter(200g)
-Blood sample (Yelena)
-Blood sample (Buldrokkas'tee)
-5000 LMD.
Points: 1000.
Artificial Ursus arm (manufacturing in progress: 40%).
Cautus Puppet Body (manufacturing in progress: 0%).
Wendigo Puppet Body (manufacturing in progress:0%).
Thank you for reading.
Have a Nice Day and Stay Safe.