Rhodes Island.
A peaceful and normal place.
Peaceful when the exotic characters that inhabited it weren't doing everything they could to cause chaos aboard the Ark, and normal if you disregarded the paramilitary force sufficient to overthrow entire mobile cities.
Two weeks had passed since the last mission to Chernobog. For the Rhodes Island operators, it was just one mission, harder and more mentally demanding than the others. But for the students, the two weeks that had passed were surprisingly even harder for them. Their survival instincts had subsided and now the students had no way to protect themselves from the terrible actions that some had committed. The medical staff did their best to help them, but most were helpless in the face of psychological injuries, as Rhode Island had very few psychologists.
It was still very early in the morning where the ark was stationned. In the middle of the endless deserts of the eastern Ursus wastelands. And who says that it was early in the morning, says that in the gym two most interesting characters were training as usual. A giant with extraordinary strength and a kuranta with an iron will. An hour of intense combat every morning against an opponent who was equal to them. This for them was a real exercise. Perfect to develop and maintain the muscles required for the fight.
The sparks flew between the weapons as often as the sounds of the clash between the weapons echoed in the air. Sebastian was covered in sweat with his arms screaming in pain from all the physical exertion he had been doing. Nearl was out of breath and she too was beginning to overheat inside her armor, one of the flaws that the latter offered her that and reduce her mobility as well as her speed. But offering him an almost unbeatable protection. Sebastian did not bother to wear armor because his muscles, his skin and his unmatched constitution allowed him to be as resistant to attacks as the kuranta if not more.
Nearl sighed, detaching her shield from her forearm to pick up her mace with both hands. Deciding to adopt the same fighting style she had during the kazimierz major with no one to shelter behind her shield or herself it was now useless. The doctor was a worthy opponent and deserved to be fought at one hundred percent of her combat capacities. Seeing this Sebastian had a beaming smile on his face. One thing animated both of them during their trainings, to push the other one even further beyond their limits. And the giant couldn't have been happier to see Nearl giving it her all for their fight.
Sebastian: Finally... I was wondering when you were going to get serious about fighting...
Nearl: I was, Seb. It's just that I want to try new things today...
Sebastian: I like that better... Let's do this!
He twirled his sword in his hand, as he made an extra effort requiring a little more of his energy, red sparks began to travel down his body and along his blade signaling that the giant was beginning to charge up with electricity as his irises turned blood red. Nearl smiled with a corner of her mouth. She knew that it took a lot of effort for Sebastian to use this ability that he had, and that he only used it voluntarily at the end of the fights to finish his opponent because of all the energy it required.
She stepped forward with one foot, and then charged straight at Sebastian with a diagonal mace strike at the giant. The giant parried the kuranta's attack as electricity surged through the metal of their weapons, sending a shock through Nearl's nervous system and almost causing her to drop her weapon. But fighting her own biological reflexes she continued to clutch her mace and went to deliver another blow to Sebastian, again he parried as he blocked attack after attack from the kuranta. This time too busy using her weapon in a new way Nearl had not thought of an effective fighting strategy and little by little she was beginning to exhaust all her energy reserves. She already knew that this morning she would lose their fight. Concentrating all her strength in one last attack she raised her weapon above her head and brought it down on Sebastian.
Too slow.
This time the doctor dodged as well by making a simple side step, having the effect of making the kuranta miss her attack completely, her mace hitting the ground heavily. Making her feel very silly at the time. Sebastian placed the edge of his blade on the back of Nearl's neck in a way that made her realize his victory. The knight sighed and the doctor smiled, savoring the sweet taste of victory.
Nearl: How stupid I am...
Sebastian: Don't say that...
The kuranta fell backwards completely exhausted and breathing heavily because of all her efforts.
Nearl: I have to stop trying things without thinking.
The doctor too fell forward due to exhaustion, Nearl moved her large blond tail to her side to cushion the impact of the doctor's head in the kuranta's blond mass of hairs, earning a sigh of pleasure from Sebastian who enjoyed it like the best pillow in the world.
Sebastian: Ah that's the definition of heaven...
He said rubbing his hand against the warm floof pillow he had against his head as the kuranta tried to contain any moan of pleasure.
Nearl: D-doc... Not here! We might get caught...
Sebastian: *sigh* Well...
He turned around, now lying on his back on the floor, his friend's horse tail still serving as a pillow. The two being oriented in the opposite direction of each other making that they could look at each other in the eyes.
Sebastian: More seriously it's your gloves. The fabric under your armor is made of conductive aramid. So in fact if you just wear an extra pair of gloves underneath yours my electricity won't do anything to you.
Nearl: I'll take it in note... I don't know if it was a good idea to use my mace with both hands...
Sebastian: No, it was fine. I could tell you were more comfortable with it. You were only using your shield to block my punches and kicks anyway. But since you became fast enough to dodge them you could just drop your shield on me. And next time do it at the beginning of the fight and not when you are barely standing.
Nearl: Okay, okay...
They stayed in that position for a second or two catching their breath and strength until Sebastian noticed a small cut on the side of Nearl's head from which a tear of blood was flowing. He took his sword in hand and calming his breathing he gently pointed the tip of the sword at the kuranta's wound. Nearl calmed her breathing and watched carefully as the doctor did what he was going to do. He took a deep breath and began to concentrate. Strands of light formed around the originium on Sebastian's sword before swirling around the blade and finally concentrating in the tip into a ball of concentrated light, Sebastian's face showing the effort he was making, looking more tired than when he was lifting an object made of dozen of tons or facing a hundred enemies during an annihilation operation. The cut slowly began to close, blood flowing back into the wound, and after maybe three seconds when the wound was healed Sebastian lowered his arm and stopped casting his arts, breathing heavily and exhausted. The kuranta's wound completely healed, earning a smile from her.
Nearl: I think it's funny that we are the same arts...
Sebastian: The same?! You can turn me from a lump of coal back into a normal human while I can barely heal a paper cut and I use all my energy for that...
Nearl: At least you made some progress...
Sebastian: Yes, I've figured out how to use it with the originium of my sword but I've been practicing every day for two weeks with almost no results, it's almost depressing.
Nearl: Don't say that Seb... And anyway you still have your lightning...
Sebastian: 90 percent of the time it happens without me being able to control it and it gets limited tactically... This afternoon same time as usual ?
Nearl: That's fine with me... What are you doing today?
Sebastian: This morning Exia should be back from Lungmen so I have to prepare her sniper. Then at nine o'clock we have the team coordination exercises. And all this afternoon I'm at the children's hospital. I should also welcome some new recruits at some point...
Nearl: Busy schedule huh?
Sebastian: You said it...
A few seconds of silence passed where Nearl seemed to think while Sebastian buried his head a little bit more in the best pillow he could imagine but as he was about to fall asleep he was brought back to earth by the voice of the knight.
Nearl: I'm sorry.
He raised an eyebrow and looked into her kuranta eyes to see her filled with sadness.
Sebastian: Why?
Nearl: Chernobog... I abandoned you then... When you were attacked by the hounds...
Sebastian: Hey. Margaret look at me.
He moved his arm and put his hand on Nearl's cheek and forced her to look him in the eye, causing her to jump in surprise before her cheeks turned very slightly pink from the sudden contact.
Sebastian: You didn't abandon me, you even saved me with your arts. And now everything is settled. So there's no reason to be sorry.
Nearl: It's the dogs... It was the major's semi-final. I was competing against a dog master. It was the first time I was seriously injured in a fight. I often see the fight as if it was happening again before my eyes... I can still feel the fangs of his hounds sinking into the flesh in my arms and against my bones... The referees and the chamber were bribed of course... every time I see a dog, I think about it and I find myself paralyzed and useless...
Sebastian: Who else knows?
Nearl: Shining. Liz. And you.
Sebastian: I wouldn't send you on a mission where there are dogs without one of us, in this case...
Nearl: Ridiculous, huh?
Sebastian: Margaret, do you remember what happened at the contigency contract training last Tuesday?
Nearl: Broken path?
Sebastian: Yeah.
She looked up at the ceiling, quickly remembering the scene...
The kuranta wiped the sweat from her forehead making sure Cuora next to her was okay, the petram already practicing baseball moves as if the assaults she just took from a butcher were nothing. So were the burning granite blocks right in front of them. She turned to Nightingale and Lava to make sure their support was okay and except for Nightingale's legs that were getting tired both were fine.
Cuora: Hey Mrs. Nearl.
Nearl: Yes?
Cuora: Don't you think it's weird that we're at risk eleven but we haven't run into the infused originium slugs?
Nearl: It's true that we're usually meant to catch them when Mrs. Weedy pushes them, but this time the doctor took the bottom line with Shining.
The kuranta put a finger on her radio headset.
Nearl: Doc we're done on our side, where are you?
Sebastian: AAHH! AAAHHHHHH! It's spiders! Why didn't anyone tell me it was spiders?!
Shining: D-doctor calm down!
*BOOM*
An explosion sounded in the air where the doctor was on the other side of the battlefield.
Sebastian: THOSE ARE FUCKING EXPLODING SPIDERS ! HELP !
The kuranta looked at the other operators who had also heard everything on the radio. And in particular the girlish screams that the doctor had given in the face of his greatest fear.
Nearl: I remember... It's a good thing Gravel and Projekt red were there...
Sebastian: So, you're saying that your fear of dogs is ridiculous to a six-foot-two, 250-pound guy who turns into a five-year-old girl in a haunted house when he sees a spider the size of a grain of rice. Everyone has flaws that may seem ridiculous. But if you ask me, someone without flaws is just not human.
Nearl: I guess you are right...
Sebastian: I've got your back on dogs and you've got my back on spiders. Is that a deal?
Nearl: Is that a deal...?
The kuranta laughed slightly.
Nearl: It's one hell of a deal... And Seb?
The two began to look into each other's eyes as the young woman's hand began to move ever so slightly towards the giant's hand to graze the top of it, the action being done unconsciously by both.
Nearl: Thank you...
The kuranta's phone began to vibrate in her pocket, shifting her eyes from the giant's to one of her pockets, her hand also withdrawing from the doctor's, picking up her cell phone.
Nearl: Hello?
?: Heeeelooooo Margaret~!
The kuranta pulled the phone away from her human ear, making Sebastian laugh slightly, and he could already tell who was on the other end of the line. The Nearls must have had a bad habit of talking a little too loudly on the phone... A young, energetic, cheerful voice.
Nearl: Maria... You sound like Aunt Zofia...
Blemishine: He he... I'm sorry... I just wanted to see how you were doing. Am I bothering you?
Nearl: No, of course not... Why would you bother me in the morning...
Blemishine: Well, it's Zofia who says that you've found a boyfriend and that you're doing... um... Things... In the morning.
Sebastian laughed. The more time passed, the more he appreciated Whislash for the fact that they both shared an appreciation for teasing Nearl... The proud Kuranta found herself once again with red cheeks.
Nearl: I told Zofia he's not my boyfriend! And we only train in the morning...
Blemishine: I thought it was weird too...
Nearl: How weird?
she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Blemishine: You never were very good with men... Maybe that's the Nearl curse after all...
Sebastian tried hard to stop himself from laughing at the two sisters' shenanigans.
Nearl: E-excuse me?! You've never had a love story either!
Blemishine: S-stop stirring the pot Margaret! You know very well that I am right anyway... Me, you, Auntie and even Uncle Mlynar are the eternal bachelors...
Nearl: Maria please... Stop believing what Zofia tells you... And stop saying such weird things... To get back to where we were. I'm fine. It's pretty calm on Rhodes Island right now, by the way. But we do have a news crew from 3B on board right now that we rescued from an operation. They're putting together a news shoot on what happened at Chernobog and on Rhodes Island. So you might see me on TV...
Blemishine: Wow on 3B! Hehe... Let me know when it airs so I can watch on TV. Two weeks ago you were already in the background during that hostage situation that aired live, but now you can be in the spotlight!
Nearl: I'm not sure that they'll interview me... I'm not that important to Rhode Island. That's why I said maybe. But I was thinking, did you see what happened two weeks ago?
Blemishine: Yes I was watching TV at the time... I don't know how, but they managed to keep the live feed going... Luckily you and your group got there in time. By the way, I recognized Shining, Nightingale and Gravel but I didn't recognize the other two. Are they new?
Nearl: Not really... The red horned sarkaz came back here after a long time...
Blemishine: And the other one? The huge guy ! He was really acting cool !
The radiant knight laughed.
Nearl: That's my boss.
Blemishine: Eeeeeehhhh ?! That's your boss ?! But he looks like Tytus Topola only taller and beefier! And then he took care of all his soldiers in no time! Are you sure you work for a pharmaceutical company Margaret ? Because I'm beginning to doubt it on my side...
The kuranta looked over at the doctor, who had fallen asleep peacefully on his improvised pillow, enjoying the floof Nearl not bothered in the least by the extra weight on her tail as a smile unconsciously played on her lips.
Nearl: Even I doubt it at times... But don't worry. To know him, he's a really nice person.
Blemishine: He was looking cool... But you're lucky that he's your boss because he's pretty hot-
The youngster stopped in the middle of her sentence, preventing herself from finishing it.
Blemishine: F-Forget what I was going to say...
There was some embarrassment in her voice, but you could also tell she wanted to change the subject.
Nearl: Okay...?
Blemishine: Today was registration day for the major...
The young woman's tone changed from cheerful to more serious and Sebastian, who had been asleep, instinctively woke up and opened his eyes. The two looked into each other's eyes waiting for the next sentence from Nearl's sister. The kuranta on the other end of the line took a deep breath.
Blemishine: I've signed up. Now there's no turning back. I'm going to participate in the major.
Her voice was filled with pure determination, surprising Sebastian.
Blemishine: I'm sorry Margaret... But I can't give up.
Nearl: Don't be sorry. You are an adult. It's your decision, you know the risks, so I can't stop you from doing it. You are my sister. And you will be for eternity. So even though I'm exiled I'll do my best to help you. If you ever need to talk or need advice you can just call me.
Blemishine: Thank you Margaret... You almost made me cry~.
She said, putting a happy tone back into her voice.
Blemishine: That's all I have to say for now...
Nearl: Maria, reassure me, did you at least tell Zofia? Or uncle Mlynar?
Blemishine: Huh... I'll think about it!
*beep* *beep* *beep*
Nearl: She hung up on me...
Sebastian laughed at his friend's disappointed expression and the fact that Blemishine was certainly not going to tell the rest of her family, the kuranta put her phone in her pocket and sighed.
Sebastian: So. Ready to join the Major again Margaret Nearl?
He asked, raising an eyebrow, expecting a solid answer from the young woman.
Nearl: Of course I am.
She said with a determined smile on her face.
Nearl: And you? Are you ready to join me in this adventure?
Sebastian: Till the end of the world.
Nearl: Let's recap. Step one?
Sebastian: I'm done. Ansel, Hibiscus, Sussuro, Gavial, Myrh. All of them have already given their agreements. But the harsh part is going to be Kal'tsit.
Nearl: Why?
Sebastian: Besides hating me, she doesn't trust me very much. But don't worry, by the end of the week and with a little effort they will all agree to the manufacturing. Then it will take a week to start production. Grand total, two weeks before it's ready.
Nearl: Stage two?
Sebastian: I'm struggling. But I've already got a way to contact the principal people involved.
Nearl: Stage three?
Sebastian: Already working on it. Everything is ready to go, I just need to put it into action. Will you want a sponsor from Rhodes Island?
Nearl: No, it's okay... I've never taken a sponsor before, I wouldn't do it now... Stage Four ?
Sebastian: I'll have to have a nice dinner with a good bottle of wine and trigger stage three if I want to convince the old hag...
Nearl: You don't really like her either...
Sebastian: She doesn't make it easy for me...
Nearl: Step five?
Sebastian: I'll think of it last. But don't worry, one way or another I'll be there.
Nearl: What about the rest?
Sebastian: In one on one combat I think you have reached the maximum possible power at elite 1. Then we'll just have to train for the rest.
Nearl: Running, swimming events, all-in battle and archery... All the things I suck at.
Sebastian: That's okay, we'll train you to do your best...
Nearl: I was lucky to have met you...
Sebastian: That much?
Nearl: Yes.
The giant rose to his full height and held out a hand to the kuranta, which she immediately took in hers to help him up.
Sebastian: You'll excuse me, I'm going to go. It's going to be a long day.
Nearl: Okay, I'll see you later anyway. Bye Seb.
Sebastian: Goodbye Margaret.
Holstering his weapon the doctor set off, ready to begin another long day of work.
- Later -
A certain doctor was sitting at his desk, having made room on it for a white cloth, on which were meticulously organized parts of a firearm, Sebastian cleaning each one carefully before putting it back where it was before. He had hurried to do his morning's work so that he could take care of the gun that he borrowed from Exusiai. The latter one was attached to her weapons, then if he had just borrowed an object dear to her for nearly two weeks the least he could do was to clean her rifle. It was already completely clogged two weeks ago, so the sanktah never took care of her weapons and was more driven by her acute collectionism than a true love for firearms and the necessary knowledge about them.
Speaking of love for firearms...
He turned his eyes to his left, seeing Andreanna beside him. The aegir had come into his office as soon as he had started to disassemble the weapon as if she had been attracted by the smell of the originium powder contained in the cartridges. Sebastian didn't mind, enjoying the young woman's company as well as her particular interest in Laterano weapons. She leaned on the left side of his desk, resting both elbows on the metal of the furniture, her head resting on the palm of her hands. Her glance alternated between the concentrated but calm face of the doctor and the dismounted weapon as if she looked at a piece of theater unfolding in front of her eyes the whole a smile to the lips and the tentacles that she had in the back moving in the airs of concerts demonstrating the very particular interest that the aegir possessed towards these weapons.
As he put down the firing pin, which had gone from being all dirty to being new, Andreanna began to speak.
Andreanna: I was thinking about it doc. Are you sure you're not an Aegirian? You know about your race and all that since you don't have any animal features... Plus I heard you can breathe underwater...
Sebastian: No, I looked at my genetic code. I do have the raceless mutation.
Andreanna: Huh I thought it was too big to be true...
Sebastian: But I can breathe underwater.
The young woman's eyes widened as she heard that the doctor had achieved this feat, which was impossible for anyone who wasn't Aegir.
Andreanna: Huh?! But how?
Sebastian: You have gills inside your trachea and that's how all Aegir breathe underwater.
Andreanna: Yes I know.
Sebastian: I don't. It's because of my lungs. There is an electric current going through them all the time. When water enters my lungs it goes through electrolysis, the hydrogen separates from the oxygen. Then my lungs absorb the oxygen and I exhale the hydrogen.
Andreanna: I was never very good at science doc but from what I know it's not really possible...
Sebastian: What do you want me to say. I'm accumulating so many genetic mutations that it's an incomprehensible miracle that I can live in the frist place... And all last week I was used as a lab rat to discover the limits of my body in Kal'tsit's crazy experiments...
Andreanna: I guess it is necessary to relearn what you have forgotten about your own abilities...
Sebastian: It is...
Andreanna: So maybe your race is the giants. Like the durin, but instead of being a small pipsqueak you're huge.
Sebastian: That would have been a funny idea, but I doubt it's the case... By the way Andie, I have a question, why do you wear that mask all the time?
Andreanna: Oh this? It's to hide my mouth...
She said pinching the light black cloth she was wearing under her mouth for a change. Instead of hiding her face as she often did.
Sebastian: What do you mean?
Andreanna: Look.
She opened her mouth wide and showed that everything in her mouth cavity was the same purple as the glass of her goggles, her tongue as well as the inside of her cheeks except for her teeth which were naturally white.
Andreanna: Gross huh? I've always been laughed at because of that... When I was little I even tried to drink red paint once to get my mouth to be a normal color...
She looked at the doctor who had not taken his eyes off her.
Andreanna: You don't have to look at me like that, I'm used to people being disgusted by it...
Sebastian: I was going to say more that it was both strange and surprisingly exciting but you can still think it's something ugly...
Andreanna: E-exciting?
she asked, her cheeks slightly tinged with pink.
Sebastian: Forget it.
A second passed and the door of the doctor's office suddenly opened letting in a certain sanktah, her red hair surrounding a beautiful face and the halo above her head shone with a pleasant light as gentle as the beautiful smile she had all the time. The young woman walked with a cheerful step towards the doctor's desk.
Exusiai: Leader~! Hi to you too Andreanna.
Andreanna: Yo Exia.
Sebastian: Exia. Nice to see you again, you're just in time.
The giant said, finishing to reassemble the firearm as he finished his sentence, taking the weapon in both hands and presenting it proudly to the sanktah, the latter had stars appearing in her eyes seeing her possession so well maintained.
Exusiai: Wow, it's like new!
The young woman took her weapon in her hands and opened the chamber to check that there was nothing in it, then she pulled the trigger, the click of the firing pin in the air confirmed Exusiai that her weapon was working properly.
Exusiai: Thank you very much leader!
Sebastian: You're welcome. All I did was giving it a cleaning. It's the least I can do since you lent it to me for so long. And thanks again for that, by the way.
Exusiai: You're welcome...
The sanktah made her other weapons appear on her back with her arts, the firearms giving the illusion of angel wings but with a slight pendant on the second amendment. The sight of so many Laterano weapons made the Aegir salivate next to the two. Then using her arts she put away her lead wings.
Sebastian: So it went well in Lungmen?
Exusiai: Yeah, it was cool to meet the other members of Penguin Logistics... I did some jobs and enjoyed the city a little bit. But it's good to be back on Rhodes Island, I missed the ark... Maybe we should go to Lungmen sometime. You and me...
She said the tone of her voice becoming more and more discreet, while she crossed her fingers on her hands a slight apprehension being felt from her.
Sebastian: Exia.
The young woman looked towards him with a happy smile on his lips.
Sebastian: I would love to.
She began to blush intensely but the two were drawn back into their little discussion by Andreanna who coughed into her hand intentionally to remind them of her presence.
Exusiai: I forgot, I have something for you leader~
In her usual voice the sanktah took out a package from the bag she was carrying and placed it on the doctor's desk, a smile forming on her lips, as the doctor recognized the package he had just been given.
Exusiai: I heard that you had made an order so I wanted to bring it to you.
Andreanna: What is it?
Sebastian: Ladies, I present to you the indispensable tool of the modern man.
He says, taking a brand new cell phone out of the box.
Sebastian: Closure made me pay a fortune for it...
Andreanna: Didn't you have one doc?
Sebastian: No. It was quite a handicap...
Exusiai: I can believe you...
Sebastian: That reminds me, I have a present for you too.
He opened a drawer of his desk, Exusiai raising an eyebrow as did Andreanna, the latter shifting to see what the doctor was pulling out of that drawer and as soon as her eyes filled with interest. Sebastian placed a handgun on the desk, a 357 magnum with a six inch barrel, the Laterano weapon mark engraved on the barrel. The giant looked the sanktah in the eye.
Sebastian: Retrieved from Chernobog from a fallen angel of the reunion I killed. I've already dismantled, cleaned and reassembled it.
Exusiai: A fallen angel?! What did she looked like?!
Sebastian: He. It was a man.
He replied surprised at the young woman's outburst.
Exusiai: I should have known she wouldn't use firearms too...
Sebastian: Exia, are you okay?
Exusiai: Yes... I don't know if I should tell you about it... But if you ever come across a fallen sanktah with blue hair and oozing ominous vibes. Tell her one thing for me, tell her I've never forgotten her.
Sebastian: Are you sure you're okay?
Exusiai: Yes... It's just bits of my past I don't want to dwell on... Are you sure it's okay doc if I take it?
Sebastian: Go ahead. By the laws of Laterano, I killed its owner so it's now mine. I give it to you so it is now your property. And didn't you want a ninth weapon? That was one of the reasons I took it. So think of it as a birthday present. A month late...
Exusiai: heeeehhh?! You knew about my birthday?!
Sebastian: Yes sorry... I didn't know it at the time. I have to say that you joined the day after I arrived in Rhodes Island...
Exusiai: Thank you thank you thank youuuu~!
She took the firearm in both hands, her voice sounding like a child's on her birthday inspecting her new toy with care, an indescribable joy showing on her face. The joy and smile of the sanktah was enough to satisfy him, but he glanced at Andreanna next to him to see the young woman almost sad as she looked at Exusiai's new acquisition. The aegirian met his gaze and tried to give him a smile but he could see the sadness behind it. So he began to smile at her and beckoned her to come closer with his index finger as he opened another drawer. The young woman approached him and couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the shiny metal object before her eyes.
Another gun. A 357 magnum. The same one he had just given to Exia.
Sebastian: He had two. The second reason I took it was because I know how much you want one.
She didn't believe her eyes at first but now she thought it was her ears that were failing her.
Sebastian: So go ahead and take it. Think of it as a gift, a month and a half late this time...
As if it was made of the finest porcelain Andreanna put her hands on the gun and took it in her hands. Its weight. The coldness and texture of the metal and the polymer of the stock. For a second she thought it was a dream. But no, it was reality. After decades of wanting only one thing, she finally had it in her hands.
Sebastian: Don't forget that if you don't have a license you can't use it. So don't try to shoot with it yet.
Anreanna: Y-you sure?
Sebastian: Yes. Keep it. It's yours now.
Slowly she put the gun back on the desk, surprising the doctor. But inwardly a myriad of thoughts invaded her mind while Exusiai still admired her toy. Andreanna's face, which had mysteriously darkened when she placed the gun on the desk, was visible to the doctor again when the young woman raised her head to look him in the eye, and her gaze, her smile and her facial expressions gave her a look of madness. Scaring the doctor like Kroos was when she was caught by Dobermann sleeping in a closet on her training hours. The Aegirian threw herself at the doctor with her arms outstretched, he tried to dodge but only fell from his desk chair, falling heavily to the floor as the young woman did her best to tackle him to the ground. The doctor reopened his eyes which he had closed because of the pain of his fall but it was a mistake because he saw Andreanna's face only a few centimeters away from his with a sick smile on her lips and a heavy breath.
Andreanna: And how am I supposed to hold myself back now?!
Sebastian: W-wait! Andie stop let me go! Ptilo help me!
Said the doctor turning his head to the underside of his desk where a liberi was sitting on the floor, hiding in the space provided to accommodate the legs of the one sitting on the chair.
Ptilopsis: Miss Andreanna, I recommend that you leave the doctor alone.
The young woman's almost robotic voice echoed in the air, calling out to Andreanna as well and alerting the Aegirian to her presence next to them.
Andreanna: Huh? Ptilopsis, what are you doing under the doctor's desk?
Ptilopsis: This is one of the best places for this Ptilopsis to rest.
Andreanna: Anyway it doesn't matter, I have other matter at hands~... Hey Doc, are you still intrigued by the inside of my mouth~?
Sebastian: AH! Stop! There's one of your tentacles inside my pant- AAAHHH! RAPE!
Andreanna: Oh, that's quite a body you have there doc...
The sanktah snapped out of her euphoria upon hearing the doctor's desperate cries and looked towards Sebastian's office as her brain processed everything that had been said, but she remained motionless her cheeks beginning to turn red at what she heard.
Ptilopsis: Miss Andreanna, this is not an appropriate place for reproductive interactions with the doctor.
Exusiai: R-reproductive?!
Sebastian: It's not helping! PTILO, EXIA, FOR GOD'S SAKE HELP ME!
The sanktah who had been frozen like a statue until then started to run towards the doctor's office to help him, with a little strength she managed to free the sniper from Sebastian, the young woman being clutched to her victim like a mollusk to a rock. And again even once Exusiai was holding Andreanna back from pouncing on her prey again, the aegir was doing her best to fight back.
Andreanna: Let go of me! I'll let you share him if you let me do what I want with him!
Exusiai: But you're completely crazy!
Ptilopsis, who until then had only been a witness to the scene, came out from under the doctor's desk and helped the sanktah subdue Andreanna. Exusiai took the handgun that the doctor wanted to give to his attacker and put it in Andreanna's hand before pushing her to the exit door using Ptilopsis' precious help to finally get her out of the office and lock the door behind them.
Exusiai sighed at the chaos of the scene which was now calmed down. But her attention returned to the doctor as he had not moved from behind the desk for some time but as she approached the giant his voice rose in the room.
Sebastian: I need a shower... Goddamn it, she's got mucus all over me... And... Is that ink?
Full of apprehension the young woman glanced at Sebastian to see him covered in a transparent and gelatinous substance visibly spread by Andreanna's tentacles as well as various black stains here and there on his clothes this time being the ink that the sniper was secreting.
Exusiai: D-doc?! Are you okay?! How are you feeling?!
Sebastian: Dirty. Like someone who almost got raped by an octopus...
Somewhere else in Rhodes Island in the middle of the morning a kuranta in armor could be seen walking peacefully through the corridors of the mobile base to her dormitory, a calm and restful facial expression as usual. Greeting with a smile the few operators who passed her way, the latter recognizing Kazimierz's radiant knight, she finally arrived at the dormitory she shared with Nightingale and Shining, entering the common room that separated their rooms.
Nearl: I'm back.
She said with a happy smile on her lips as the first sight that greeted her when she entered her quarters was Nightingale sitting on one of the couches in the middle of the room.
Nightingale: Oh hello Margaret!
She too had a slight smile appear on her lips.
Nearl: Good morning Liz.
Nightingale: You were up at the crack of dawn again...
Nearl: Yes... But morning is the only time I can call my family and practice with the doctor...
Nightingale: You could at least take one day a week to sleep in instead of pushing your body to the limit...
Nearl: Yes, that's right, ha ha...
She said as a bead of sweat broke out on her forehead. For if she was honest with herself the main reason she continued these morning workouts besides having a fun and entertaining time with the doctor was because of the service the two had for each other. This service often resulting in an afternoon session of Nearl tail patting. And while she had a hard time dealing with the reactions she had and what she looked like during these "sessions" she had almost as much trouble dealing with why she enjoyed these morning workouts so much or why she would disappear for an hour in the afternoon without saying anything. The kuranta came to sit next to her friend but realized that their dorm was missing a presence.
Nearl: Where is Shining?
Shining: Your observation senses are falling apart, Margaret dear...
She heard the other sarkaz's voice from the kitchen of their quarters, as well as the sound of dishes being washed.
Nearl: I thought maybe you were in your room. I swear these quarters are too big...
Nightingale: Don't say that. If we ever need to take in more members to our little team we still have the two rooms left.
Nearl: I can't see us taking on any new members to be honest...
Shining: Or maybe that would be a spare room for your dear doctor if he were to spend the night. Or maybe you'd rather have him sleep in yours?
Said the sarkaz coming towards the two sofas holding a tray in her hands with a teapot, several teacups and a plate with cookies. Her hood was down for once and a teasing smile was present on her lips. The kuranta began to blush profusely and look away from the words of her friend the sarkaz.
Nearl: Stop Shining...
Shining: *sigh* Margaret, Margaret... You are too easy to tease... I can see why Sebastian and your aunt enjoy doing it so much...
The sarkaz formulated as a complaint for the kuranta as she set the tea tray down in front of the two, eventually sitting on the couch opposite the one where Nightingale and Nearl were seated.
Nearl: I didn't know it was tea time already...
Shining: I thought it might be better for the story I'm about to tell about the doctor. I think it's time.
She said with a tone of voice that was both determined and sad, remembering her past and giving a serious demeanor.
Nightingale: Oh Shining, do you want me to go?
Shining: No, stay. This story is more or less concerning you. Like all sarkaz.
Answered the tall sarkaz woman, serving tea to the three friends, all focused on what was about to be said.
Shining: Girls, I'm not telling you anything new if I tell you that I was a confessor.
That was the first revelation, but Nearl and Nightingale nodded in confirmation. It was like a silent agreement between the three of them, and it was obvious that Shining was part of Kazdel's mysterious group. But to see her reveal it so easily was already a first shock.
Shining: And I'm not telling you anything new if I say that Sebastian was close to Queen Theresa...
Nearl: He was her war advisor, yes...
Shining: Her war advisor? If only you knew how much of an understatement that is... There are not many who know that... I don't think even Kal'tsit, Ace or W know the full extent of the relationship between Sebastian and Theresa...
Nightingale: were they lovers...?
The tall sarkaz smiled slightly at her friend's question.
Shining: No. The doctor's heart was already taken by then... Although that didn't stop her from trying to get it...
She says, whispering the end of her sentence so that Nightingale and Nearl won't hear her.
Shining: If all of Kazdel could see Theresa, all of Kazdel could see the consequences of the doctor's choices. Theresa was the face of the Sarkaz while Sebastian was her shadow. Her bodyguard. Her right hand man. Her most faithful ally. The one on whom she relied completely. She gave him the directions and the morals, and it was Sebastian who ran the country in the shadow, taking the decisions. He was even the one leading the army and not Theresis... But his love for the shadows meant that he never took on this role publicly and left it to the regent... In fact, maybe before the queen's exile Sebastian was the most important person in Kazdel... But he had an unshakeable faith in Theresa and was perhaps the person who would have followed her to the end of the world, as well as an even greater affection for Kazdel. Maybe that's why I met him... The day of Theresis' betrayal.
Confessor 1: Admit it! I saw you send a letter to the queen!
Shining: N-no I swear I didn't!
There she was, lying on the cold marble floor with a sword threatening to slit her throat at any moment. She was surrounded by her former comrades the confessors, all wearing the same black hooded robe as her. The gray stone walls of the cathedral in which she found herself gave no sign of escape for the young woman, but the dozens of swords pointed at her gave her no such hope either.
Why was she being threatened by her former comrades?
Well, she was in the middle of a faction that had sworn the death of the person she respected most in this world.
Everything happened so fast...
The day before, Theresis had left the kingdom on a 'trip' without announcing anything or where he was going.
And today in the morning there were reports of an army of tens of thousands of sarkaz mercenaries showing up in front of the royal palace and that most of the royal guard had rebelled against the queen. These rumors were spread all over the villages and towns by the messengers who suddenly disappeared after spreading the message. But what shocked Shining even more was that her fellow Confessors did not react to such news, as if they did not care. But it was their job to prevent and organize the defenses if something happened to the palace that would put the guard in trouble. But no one would move a finger, and the army didn't respond. It was too suspicious for Shining to sit on her hands, so she sent a letter to the palace by carrier pigeon to warn of the situation here, but apparently she had been seen doing just that.
Confessor 2: Father, she won't admit it!
Said the sarkaz as he turned to where their leader, Confessarius, was standing. The latter was hiding in the darkness of one of the corridors.
Confessor 1: I swear I saw her do it!
Confessarius: It's nothing. Her allegiance to the Queen is well known. Kill her-
He didn't have time to finish his sentence when the sound of exploding flesh echoed through the air, causing all the sarkaz to turn toward the entrance of the cathedral, and then barely had they time to wonder what was going on when the corpse of one of their fellow confessors slid down to them, leaving a trail of blood on the marble floor. Their eyes widened when they saw the corpse, which was now an amorphous mass of flesh and black cloth, impossible to say how it was folded, but one thing was certain: it had suffered. Some fell to the ground in fright and the sarkaz that had been threatening Shining a second before began to vomit on the ground at the sight of horror.
Sebastian: Where is Confessarius!
As the voice echoed through the air, even more terror began to fill the traitors to Theresa. The one thing they could all fear had made it this far. Theresis had underestimated him and for effect a real army was not enough to stop him. Its presence here alone signaled that their main plan for an attempted coup had failed. Confessarius felt the danger coming and retreated into the hallway and lowering a lever he knocked down the heavy metal portcullis separating him from the room where all the other confessors were, then began to flee disappearing into the darkness. And it is when he disappeared that Sebastian appeared in the sight of the confessors and Shining. His armor might have been gray, but it was hard to tell because it was covered with fresh blood and his hands were unarmed, but by the blood on them and the posture they were like claws you could tell he was killing with his bare hands. He only walked quickly towards them, but both by his walk and his face, whose eyes had completely turned red, leaving no white or green visible, his skin was gray and black veins like night ran across his face looking like they were ready to explode due to the blood pressure and his teeth looked like those of sharks made to tear up its prey.
He was mad with rage.
The confessors drew their weapons and the one who was about to execute Shining under the pressure raised his sword to kill the young woman and finish her off quickly, making her close her eyes.
A second passed while her eyes were closed.
The noise was the first thing that almost made her vomit. The flesh being torn and shredded, the dozens of liters of blood that fell to the ground and the bones that broke and were torn apart from the bodies. The screams of pain and terror all around her. It was a massacre.
Two seconds passed.
She began to feel the hot liquid that was all over her and that was dripping down her back onto the floor. Only one smell came to her nostrils, the smell of blood.
Shining finally decided to open her eyes to see that she was indeed covered in blood from head to toe, she wiped the blood from her eyes with her hand and looked around to feel terrified.
Two seconds.
Two seconds had passed and all the confessors were dead. Their blood was spread all over the floor of the cathedral forming a real pool, as well as their bodies, none of them were in one piece now, some had their intestines spread over a dozen meters in length while others could have known the taste of their spine if they were still alive because of the way they were bent in two.
He didn't care about the mercy, the pain, all he wanted was to calm the unfathomable rage that was inside him at that moment.
In front of Shining was Sebastian, who seemed to be looking at her because of the two red orbs that were pointed at her. Terrified, she thought that she too would die. But she was surprised when the giant demon in front of her pulled out a piece of paper from one of the pockets of his armor and threw it at the young sarkaz, which Shining recognized as the message she had sent to the palace.
Sebastian: Go away. Kazdel is no longer a safe place for Theresa's followers.
He left, moving towards the portcullis that Confessarius had lowered to grab it with one of his hands and pull it off the rock as if it were nothing, disappearing into the darkness of the corridor.
Shining: I never saw him again until Rhodes Island... I didn't even know he was here. But that's how he saved my life that day.
Nightingale: Are there any confessors still alive?
Shining: I don't know. Confessarius is in Victoria with Theresis, but some of them were not present at the cathedral that day. So maybe they are still alive, but I wouldn't know.
She said as she finished her cup of tea and put it down. Her two other companions were speechless at the story Shining had just told.
Nearl: I've heard rumors... That it was the doctor who killed Theresa...
Shining: I heard them too... And I don't know. I don't think he did it. That woman in Kazdel was the piece that completed Sebastian, like his half that made him do his best. I would be surprised if he killed her. But maybe he changed when he and Theresa ran away from Kazdel.
A silence passed, leaving Nearl and Nightingale to reflect on all that had been said.
Nightingale: In a way... I'm glad he has amnesia. Every time we talk about the doctor before his amnesia it's scary...
Deciding to break the tension that was sent by Shining's story Nearl spoke up.
Nearl: Hey, you said his heart was already taken at that time. Do you have any more information on that?
As Nightingale and Shining began to smile at little gossip, the confessor poured her friends another cup of tea.
Shining: You don't tell anyone...
The young women nodded.
Shining: He was dating Kal'tsit at the time...
Nearl spat out the tea she was drinking, her eyes looking like they were going to burst from her head when she heard what Shining had just said, while Nightingale coughed at the fact that she had swallowed her tea wrong.
Nightingale: What?
she asked incredulously and laughing while Nearl was still choking on her tea.
Shining: Yes, that's what some of my comrades told me at the time...
Nearl: I couldn't imagine that seeing how they are with each other nowadays...
Nightingale: They're not likely to get back together...
Nearl: I can't believe it...
Ah yes a laugh... That was all that Shining needed to divert attention from her story. She indeed revealed a part of her past today. But with all the things she swore to keep secret...
She only revealed a part of it.
In fact there was a minor detail that made Sebastian so important to kazdel and all the sarkaz in general but that Shining decided to hide. A deep secret that she knew who else might know this secret. Theresis. Confessarius. Her. Theresa. They are or were the only ones that knew why Sebastian actions concerned all the sarkaz.
This little detail that she hid
What was floating above the head of Sebastian at that time.
A symbol for his love of Kazdel, and his right to lead the demons of Terra.
