My PC blue screened in October making me lose a whole bunch of pre-written chapters – that was rather discouraging… YOU SHOULD DISTORT YOURSELF NOW ahh moment …Anyways, now I'm back.
Fortunate Encounter – 2
FACE THE FEAR, BUILD THE FUTURE.
The past couple of hours for Bell had been… well, to say interesting would be an understatement. Just yesterday he had been on his way, making good progress towards Orario, only to then suddenly find himself in the middle of a horror story and be saved by a super awesome (though slightly odd) adventurer. In the boy's mind, nothing could have possibly topped what had happened last night in terms of sheer insanity. He couldn't help but reflect on these past thoughts of his, as he stared dumbly at, what could only be called a massacre.
Here, a man in an odd black and orange rabbit-themed get-up was mercilessly tearing through several of the same creatures from last night, their strange weapon's loud devastation being quickly followed with brutal displays of twisted mastery of the knife. There, a woman had sprouted flaming butterfly wings and was busy incinerating her latest victim, the unfortunate monster's remains joining the growing piles of ash and charcoal in her wake. Many more such pictures were playing out And standing a little to the side of all this carnage, were three people.
One of those lucky few in this last bastion of sanity was Bell himself, another was Faust, whose side the boy hadn't left ever since her so-called colleagues had appeared and the situation had spiraled out of control. But it was the third that drew the white-haired youth's gaze every few seconds. Dressed in garishly red clothes and having a burning clock for a head, they were clearly conversing with the woman next to them but Bell's ears could only hear ticking.
Said obvious language barrier that should have made communication impossible however, seemed to be brushed aside by Faust who was detailing what had happened after she had been separated from them, only briefly stopping when seemingly the clock-person asked a question. In any other situation, a rather rude exclamation would have left Bell's mouth upon this odd person's sighting, something along the lines – 'WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?!' - Yes that was quite apt, but the slight wisp of a golden aura surrounding the being sealed his mouth shut. One could not mistake divinity, albeit a heavily suppressed one.
'So this is the God who gave Miss Faust her blessing…' Honestly, now that Bell had that little bit of knowledge, all the weirdness and oddities surrounding the clockfa-the God, made perfect sense in the boy's mind. His grandfather had told him that some divinities could be rather eccentric but to see it with his own eyes was something else.
His train of thought was interrupted by the sight of a creature violently exploding in a fountain of gore… and paint(?), just a couple of meders from Bell. It seemed that this one had noticed the observing trio and had been in the process of turning to attack them. The boy had been so fixated on the present deity that he hadn't noticed it at all, while Faust and – 'God Dante was it?' had simply paid it little to no attention. Normally, ignoring an attacking monster would have been madness, however their casual disregard for it seemed to have spawned not from folly but rather confidence. Confidence in their comrades.
The one responsible for their aggressor's demise stood a slight distance from the monster's corpse. He was a man dressed in black and white clothes that wouldn't have looked out of place on a portrait artist. The myriad of colorful stains and splotches upon said clothes and the large brush that served as a weapon further solidified the image of a painter, although for some reason Bell couldn't help but feel on edge when looking at the adventurer. Like there was something off about that one…
"Tick-tock tick-tock…"
"While I must agree that that one provides us and almost unfair advantage at times, victory is all that matters after all."
The brief exchange from beside him snapped the boy out of his strange musings and drew his attention back to present company. Turning towards Faust and the god, Bell's eyes met the hands of a burning clock. A rather embarrassed sounding ticking noise from the deity clued Bell into the fact that while he had been standing and staring at the painter, the being had been trying to get his attention. Red dusted the boy's cheeks.
"AH I'M SORRY! HOW MAY I HELP YOU!?"
"!"
The suddenness and the volume of Bell's words caused a loud alarm-like whistle to escape from the god, serving to only further add to the boy's embarrassment. What fallowed were a few seconds of agonizing silence, during which Bell wanted nothing more but for the ground to swallow him up, then the red-dressed deity let out a slight tick while mimicking the action of clearing one's throat before speaking.
"Tick-tick tick-tock. Tick-tick. Tick-tock?"
… Or rather tocking. It was clear that they were trying to communicate with the boy but he understood not a word. "U-Uhhh…" Was all that came out from his mouth as he tried to find the right words to explain his inability of understanding without offending the deity. However, before he could find said words Faust intervened on his behalf.
"The Manager's words cannot be understood by most people, you need not worry yourself about offending them. Thus Faust will relay their words." The encouraging nodding from said god, while the woman spoke put Bell's worries to rest.
"Okay, so what did they say just now?"
"Ah, the Manager introduces himself. Their name is Dante. Furthermore, they wish to express their gratitude in regards to staying by Faust's side." A friendly wave from the deity and slight bow of his head accompanied the woman's words
Ah, it all became clear in Bell's mind. Despite their strange appearance this Dante was a kind god. Whatever apprehension the boy still harbored for the odd figure melted away then and a bright smile appeared on his face.
"It was nothing at all! I couldn't just leave her there. I never would have let myself live that down!"
"! Tick tock… Tick tock…" Another whistle, this one Bell interpreted as cheerful, trailed off into a few quieter ticks and which then transformed into a rather sheepish sounding noise. Faust's translation fallowed before Bell could have the time to interpret what it meant.
"It seems that the Manager has taken a liking to you. However, that aside they also wish to extend their apologies for dragging you into this situation and are wondering if you'd like an explanation for what is going on."
Suddenly, images of previous night flooded Bell's mind. Of the strange phenomenon he had observed… and of the horrors he had encountered. The mere memory of the grizzly sight caused him to become nauseous. One of his hands flew to his mouth as vomit threatened to surge forward. He had been forcing himself not to think about it all this time – it had been a mere bad dream he comforted himself. The fact that there had been no corpses in their current area had helped as well. Yet, now that his mind had been brought back to it he couldn't get it to leave his imagination. The visceral remains. Fleshless faces locked in an expression somewhere between ecstasy and torment. Limbs littering the ground. It just kept flooding inside his head.
The dreadful torrent of images would have probably kept on coming had it not been for a gentle hand finding his shoulder. Red eyes, terrified into pinpricks, shot up to gaze at the clock. The god uttered not a word, instead choosing to spread his arms open and embrace the boy in a hug. The being's warmth seeming to chase the fear away.
They stay liked that for a short while before Bell, a bit reluctantly, separated himself from Dante. Inside the boy still felt the fear, but for now it had been buried deep down for a new feeling to wash over it – curiosity. Determined eyes met Dante and Faust.
"I'd like that explanation now please."
"Where to begin…"
While Faust was busy filling in the boy – Bell Cranel, the Sinner had introduced him as in her brief report; Dante turned their attention back to the ongoing fight, trying to tune out the monotonous explanation. Although, they couldn't help but notice that Faust was leaving out certain details, like for example anything involving the City, instead simply calling it "a distant place". It was a bit odd in the humble Manger's opinion but a commotion on the other side of the battlefield drew them away from such thoughts. A new group of Bloodbags had appeared from the woods. The fact that they appeared to have been created from some local monsters and the sheer number of the things made it clear that Casseti was definitely up and about and producing more of the abominations. If they didn't find the Bloodfiends soon this could escalate out of control fast.
Although on the positive, the Bloodbag reinforcements had arrived a bit too late – the Sinners methodically eliminating the last few stragglers from the first wave. 'No, the Sinners are having a way easier time than last. Unlike the ones on the train these seem weaker overall – maybe because we are not in Warp? Questions for a later time.'
With the first wave obliterated, Dante was free to direct the team's full attention on the new arrivals. Their numbers were lesser than what they had faced just moments ago, so Dante decided to commit only a few of the Sinners, namely those that had mostly stood on the sidelines during the previous battle. They had briefly considered sending in Heathcliff as well but the R. Corp ID was running out of bullets so they decided against. For a brief moment the Manager had toyed with the idea of switching him to THAT ID for a quick solution to the problem but had changed their mind as Heathcliff had expressed apprehension towards donning said persona. A few Sinners had IDs like that – twisted reflections of what could have been. Dante couldn't blame them for treating said mirror world variants as a bit of a taboo topic.
Oh, it appeared that while they had been absorbed in their thoughts, the situation been resolved courtesy of the deadly combo of Dawn Sinclair, Ring Yi Sang and just a smidge of support fire from Outis' Magic Bullet. And coincidently Faust had also finished her explanation of their circumstances, though from the perplexed and at the same time awe-struck look on Cranel's face it was clear that said explanation might have not cleared all of his questions. Well, there would be time for that later they supposed. Now, it was time for the boy to properly meet the team... How bad could things be, it was not like Bell Cranel was a freshly traumatized child right and they a bus full of oddballs with violent anti-social tendencies, right? Suddenly, this seemed like a bad idea but it was far too late as the Sinners were already making their way towards them.
'This is going to be a tragedy…'
Even as such thoughts filled the Manager's head, they suddenly shot their gaze towards a shadowed section of the forest. They didn't know why they did it – sure it was a bit dark but there was nothing out of the ordinary there. However they just couldn't shake the feeling of wrongness. That's when they saw it. It was slight and obscured by tree trunks but Dante caught. It glowed a dull red and looked like a bubble of blood floating in the darkness. 'A soul' the word came to them spontaneously – no scratch that there were two, one glowing brighter than the other. There was no doubt about it – they were here. Just as they were about to notify the Sinners, the presence reacted, turning and looking around for a bit before locking their sights on Dante, only to then shift their gaze on to the one that seemed most defenseless of them all. Realizing their intention the Manager was about to raise the alarm, yet alas they were too late. The "souls" launched themselves at their target.
Bell's mind was a abuzz with new information. From the supposed miraculous means of transportation that Miss Faust had described – these "WARP trains" to the fact that this strange Familia hailed from a land where adventurers where referred to as Fixer. His thoughts drifted to the creatures – apparently called Bloodbags – and how they were created by an even more powerful monster, a Bloodfiend Faust had called it. A humanlike thing that fed on blood. Bell's grandfather had told him tales of Devil Mosquitos that would drain unfortunate adventurers in the Dungeon to scare him but this monster was on whole another level than those, apparently having the ability to manipulate blood at will. To say he was unnerved would be an understatement.
Still, he was in the midst of a Familia skilled enough to accept a quest to kill said Bloodfiend, so he rationed that they were plenty strong. It was a dream come true for him, to be surrounded by what were clearly no ordinary level 1 adventurers. Said line of thought brought question to the fore of his mind – 'Wait, what level even are they?' In other words, the boy was wondering just how strong they actually were. But that question was quickly forgotten – for Bell realized that he was in a position that he would never find himself in again. This was his chance to join a Familia. To become an adventurer. To take the first step towards his dream of picking up girls in the Dungeon.
Just as he was about to open his mouth and make said dream a reality, pandemonium erupted. One moment he was standing on the ground, the next – something had him by the scruff of his, lifting him up into the air, a halberd of red crystal pressed against his throat and several of the adventurers knocked to the ground around him.
"Thou should lay down thy arms and surrender, lest this little one have the honor of becoming a snack for the Prince." The dramatic voice of Bell's captor echoed, hints of madness lacing his every word. All color drained from the boy's face as the realization that the monster he had been filled on just moments ago was holding him hostage. Ashen-faced, Bell desperately tried to escape the Bloodfiends grasp; alas it was iron-tight, the boy's flailing seeming to only annoy the monster.
"Now, now, doesn't thou know that unruly children get punished?" After those words had left the creature's mouth, a gauntlet of red crystal found itself around Bells throat, choking him, while sharp fingers carefully opened gashes in his flesh. Bell saw several of the adventurers trying to get up, said efforts resulting in the clawed gauntlet tightening further and leaving even deeper sanguine trails in his skin. "Now, surrender I said!" Bell couldn't see his face but it was clear that he was terrified. The boy's eyes found the hands on a burning clock, pleading for them to obey the demands. From here on his terror petrified him and made him merely an observer of the events.
"Tick Tock! Tick…" A reluctant series of ticks echo into the air.
Although neither he nor the Bloodfiend could understand a word of what was said, the fact that the adventurers ceased their attempts at resistance made it clear what the one called Dante had ordered. "I see that even mangy mongrels such as thou may listen to thou's betters with sufficient incentive. Good, good. Now then I believeth we art at an impasse. Thou can't kill me while I hold the boy and I can't flee this place while holding him hostage…"
A brief silence fallowed the Bloodfiend's proclamation. "What are your demands-?" Miss Faust's finally breaking it but before it could finish it was cut off. "Thou can't be serious, verily, we shan't parlay with villainous scum?! Right, Manager Esquire?!" One of the two blonde adventurers had raised her voice in opposition much to her comrades' anger – "Seriously not the time Chiquita-" "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU LASS-" "Don Quixote the Manager has spoken who are you to-"All manner of variations filled the air but – "SILENCE!" The Bloodfiends shout causes everyone to go quiet. "Only the one with the clock head and the white haired one may speak! I demand silence from the rest of you lest I lose the number. Oh yes, the count is very important you see. Now then, in my infinite graciousness I propose a simple deal – you let me and my Kindred leave and I swear upon my honor as a Sixth Kindred and Prince of the Parade that I, Casseti, will not harm the boy and set him free once I get away fro-"
"Manager Esquire, surely thou would no-" The blonde one tried to object once again but…
"!" The loud alarm of the clock cut her off. Even to the dimmest person it would be clear that Dante was reaching the limits of their patience with that one. Whatever it was that they said had a profound effect on the woman. Her eyes, mere moments ago filled with righteous anger, now dimmed and took on a shocked disbelieving look. "Manager Esquire…"
"Tick Tick Tick! Tick Tick… Tick Tick" Even more ticking noises. The last few so quite that they were barely heard, however whatever it was that the deity had said it seemed to placate the blonde adventuress. "Verily?..." Oddly enough Bell could have sworn he saw another member of the Familia twitch – the one who had been wearing the odd bunny costume. And for whatever reason was the deity keeping one of his hands inside their coat.
"What did they say? Speak!" The irritated voice of the boy's captor addressed Faust, who had adopted a much more interested expression upon hearing her god's words. However, as quickly as it had appeared it was gone, replaced with Faust's usual lethargic one. The adventuress calmly answered the Bloodfiend's question.
"The Manager has decided on a gamble. That is all. We, the LCB, accept the terms of your deal. However, Dante and I would like to accompany you in order to make sure that you keep your side of the bargain. "
"Thou wouldst doubt my word?! N-no it is fine, everything is fine. Fine, thou may accompany us, but only you two."
With the deal seemingly struck, Bell felt the grip on his throat ease up. And that's when it happened. The clock-faced deity, whose time hands had previously stood still spun with unreal speed. What came next Bell almost couldn't believe. Miss Faust exploded with the same shattered-glass-like effect and her equipment had taken the appearance of a patchwork bear suit with large nails protruding from everywhere. The boy barely had a fraction of a second to take in her appearance before a giant nail embedded itself within his shoulder and he was pulled into Faust's embrace, the pain of said nail all but forgotten amidst the rush of adrenaline he was feeling. He couldn't help but remember Faust's previous words: "The Manager has decided on a gamble. That is all."
Now that Bell could get a better grasp on the situation, he took in the Bloodfiends, and yes it came as quite a shock to him that there was a second one as well. The one who had caught him was half covered in some form of red crystal armor and wielded a halberd, the other one had more in common with some of the Bloodbags he had encountered last night – four prosthetics limbs held onto two great swords, pockets of the same red crystals growing over her body, even hiding her face beneath a jagged outcrop of the substance. Both had clearly been taken by surprise.
Initially, Bell chalked up the fact that the Bloodfiend had let him slip out of his grasp purely on the spontaneity of the action, however taking a closer look revealed several gashes in the hand that had held him. The cause of said gashes? – The purple phantom holding a sabre that had appeared next to Casseti. And the source of said purple phantom? – Try the laughing madman wielding an iron coffin as a weapon that had taken the place of the man in the bunny outfit… Oh, and he was on top of a giant headless wolf.
Yes, Wild Hunt Heath rides a wolf, it's not a horse, I am willing to die on this hill, fight me.
So Casseti finally makes his grand appearance – boy it sucked writing him. I hope I did a good job keeping it somewhat close to the original but even if I failed meh. This is this and that is that.
But anyways, hope you enjoyed the chapter and as always see you next time (hopefully). Have fun and good luck pulling for the new season 5 ID next week.