A Song of Fire, Ice and Hearts

by Jebest4781

Venturing outside of the Heart of his Somebody, a Nobody enters a World where it's at the brink of self destruction. Will he be able to handle and survive the Game of Thrones. Rated M for language, violence, etc. Pairings hidden at current time. KHXGoT/ASoIaF CoWritten by free man writer. Cover Image by Carlos M. Please leave reviews.

18. Monumental Liberation

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Disney, Square-Enix, Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire or anything else. They rightfully belong to their respective owners.

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Writing/Singing

"Foreign Language/Flashback"

-Scene Shift-

Chapter 18: Monumental Liberation

A no more truer sign of winter took place within the cemetery. The wind was whistling in the air, the trees deadly dormant for spring to come and only a small amount of patches of earth peaked through on the ground. And to top it all off, there was this certain foreboding chill in the air.

Visually, it reminded Roxas of the graveyard of Winterfell. The feel of it reminded him of Halloweentown.

"Are you done admiring the place, kid?"

Roxas snapped out of his admiration of the landscape as he eyed the Belmont some feet ahead of him.

"Sorry," Roxas apologized.

"Whatever."

The Belmont briefly wondered why the blonde, blue eyed teen was following him. Then he remembered the kid insisted on accompanying him on this job of his.

Part of him thought the kid didn't trust him while the other thought otherwise.

Regardless, Trevor wouldn't fully mind Roxas tagging along if he didn't get in the way.

The pair soon came across the mausoleum, which lay on the far end of the cemetery. It's gothic architecture was quite old with a pair of praying angel statues that would greet anyone at the entrance. And looking over yonder, they saw Gresit's cathedral.

Coming to the masoleum's entrance, they saw the doorway was partially adjar; giving them a bit of room to properly open it fully. Stepping inside, the pair saw varying suits of armor and swords situated in small ports in the high walls. There was an engraving of the night hordes being fended off against the "Sleeping Soldier". And situated away was the large grave lying near the middle of the building.

"Where would you think the entrance of the catacombs would be?" Roxas asked.

Trevor didn't voice anything at first, brushing his hand against the stone coffin. He inspected to see if anyone else had been here recently, which there was; asides from the adjacent door.

"The Elder's grandchild might've found the entrance one way or another and we just can't find it that well." Trevor stated, moving along as he figured the entrance wouldn't be so obvious from underneath a stone coffin lid. "Or they could've been taken by the Bishop's lackies."

"If it was that, then we would've heard of the priests harming another Speaker already." Roxas added in, inspecting the walls.

"True. Yet it seems not to be."

Gazing upon the stone mural on the far end, Trevor was about to move when he spotted something amiss.

"Hello~"

Roxas came beside him, wondering what the Belmont spotted. This was soon answered with Trevor soon climbing up the stone statues and slipping through a hole which blended almost perfectly with the stone mural.

Roxas followed Trevor's actions and climbed up the statues. He had spotted the empty space and entered with his lower body first. He slid down the angled passage into a new section of the mausoleum and finally entered the catacombs.

The former Organization member saw Trevor light up a torch with a strike of his knife against the wall. With the flame brightening through the darkness, the pair soon traversed through the stone corridor.

They soon heard the faint sounds of running water. Curious, they went to the source and found a metal pipe, which Trevor knocked on its surface. It was vaguely hollow, given the sound rebounding throughout the corridor.

"That's weird." Trevor muttered.

"What is?"

"It's warm."

Roxas narrowed his eyes at the metal pipe and placed his hand upon the surface. Through his leather glove, he can indeed feel heat coming from it.

This was clearly out of place.

If this pipe was warm, then there was some sort of operating system within the catacombs. And if that were the case, then the place might not be as abandoned as people originally thought.

A rustling sound was heard, prompting Roxas to back away and be on guard. And Trevor followed suit, drawing his short sword from its sheath.

Rounding the corner, the pair reached the top of a descending staircase. Trevor decided to go down first with Roxas following behind in case anything were to jump on them from either side.

"My friend and I can hear you." Trevor said into the darkness.

"I'm your friend?"

Trevor looked back and gave the kid a mild glare to shut up before speaking back up. "We're armed and a whole less happy than you are." The pair kept descending further down the staircase with nothing appearing before them. "So you want to stay well out of our-"

The moment Trevor stepped off the flight of stairs, the floor collapsed below him.

"-WAAAAAAAAAAY!"

"TREVOR!"

Both expected the fall to be long, but in actuality it was quite short.

From his place below, Trevor landed in a kneeling position on top of various debris. Getting over his shock, the Belmont let out a chuckle. "Heh~ Nothing to it."

"You alright down there?"

Trevor looked up to see Roxas' look of concern. "Oh, I'm fine, kid. I've got reflexes like a-"

A rumble was soon heard with the floor quickly giving way underneath the Belmont.

"-CAAAAAAAAT!"

This fall sounded and seemed longer than the brief one. Roxas didn't know how deep it went, given Trevor lost his hold on the torch in said fall.

"Trevor? Trevor~~?" Roxas called out to the Belmont. "Ah jeez."

Peeking down into the hole made by Trevor, Roxas saw what looked like a steady piece of the floor below.

Taking the plunge, Roxas hopped on down and felt the wind brushing past his face. And it wasn't long as he landed on his feet before performing a recovery roll.

Quickly getting back up, the Keybearer saw Trevor lying on a heap of rubble, groaning and moaning.

"Trevor." Roxas ran over to him, placing a steady hand on his companions back to keep him from falling back.

"Oh, hey Roxas." Trevor said in a daze. "Nice of you to drop by."

"And here I thought you had reflexes like a cat."

"...Shut up."

Smirking slightly, Roxas stood with his hand offered for Belmont with him taking it and being hefted up to his feet. Groaning, Belmont stretched his back and felt his spine pop.

Taking some steps away from the rubble, Trevor soon spotted glass-like ornaments bolted on the stone pillars. Roxas soon spotted them as well, curious about what they were.

His thoughts were soon answered when he saw them turn on with a familiar hum being heard.

"...What are lightbulbs doing down here?"

Trevor looked over to Roxas with a raised brow.

"Is that what you call them?" Belmont inquired, tilting his head at the glass contraption.

"What do you call them?"

"..."

"You don't have anything, do you?"

"Kinda looks like lightning in a bottle, really."

Roxas made a face of slight approval. "You're kinda right actually."

"But how would you know of these 'lightbulbs'?"

"Let's just say I know my own things. More than most it seems." Roxas said vaguely.

Belmont eyed the greater Nobody before shrugging and choosing to not dwell on what it is that Roxas knows.

Stepping further into the space, the pair saw various humanoid stone figures all over the room.

They were all lying against different pillars and were broken up. Some appeared to be in suits of armor while others were in typical clothing.

Walking up to the most intact one, Trevor inspected it and took notice of the garb.

"What happened here?" Roxas inquired, crouching down before a statue that lay on the ground. The face conveyed great fear and anguish.

Tapping his short sword on the statue before him, Trevor muttered out his thoughts. "Either someone left a statue of a Speaker down here… or…"

Both Trevor and Roxas heard something loud, booming in the chamber. They snapped in attention and noticed it was getting louder with more coming their way.

Focusing, they noticed they were footsteps. And the source of them all came from a large creature, who's steps cracked the stone floor, which traveled up the pillars. One such crack wrecked a lightbulb, shattering it.

"Uh… Trevor…"

"Well this is certainly fucking lovely, ain't it." Belmont stated, stepping back with his short sword held at the defensive. "It's a fucking cyclops!"

"Cyclops?"

"Big fucker, ain't he?"

The central eye started to glow purple, illuminating the dimly lit room.

"MOVE!"

Roxas did as he instructed as both he and Belmont rolled out of the way, avoiding a purple eye laser coming at their position.

The two quickly ran to whatever nearby pillar they could get to in order to hide from the large creature.

"Stone-eyed cyclops. Right out of the family bestiary."

The cyclops looked over to the sweating Belmont's position and charged up it's eye once more.

"God shits in my dinner once again."

With the beam coming at him, Trevor ran away from his position to avoid the blast.

Coming out from his spot in the room, Roxas quickly whipped both hands out; his Oathkeeper and Oblivion appearing in his hands.

Peaking over from a new pillar, Trevor spotted Roxas with the strange weapons in his grasp.

"Fuck me," Trevor rasped out. "Where'd you get those?"

"Long story." Roxas said, getting into his stance while Trevor merely shrugged his shoulders getting into position himself.

"Right then, story for another time."

The Cyclops roared aloud in challenge, eye aglow with its power.

"Watch for that beam of his." Belmont advised, the two preparing to sprint out to fight the large beast. "You get hit, you turn to stone."

"Noted."

"Move on three."

The cyclops charged up it's eye once more, energy gathering within.

"One… Two… Three!"

With the laser blasting at the pair, they avoided it once more with Roxas having to run around in order to get close at the one eyed beast.

Once in it's personal space, he started to slash at it's legs before jumping away from the earth shattering stomps. And while in the air, he struck it's upper torso before being smacked away and collided with a pillar which had a lightbulb bolted on. The glass shattered as the greater Nobody fell onto the ground.

Roxas grunted in pain, but he dealt with stronger hits from tougher foes.

He quickly got back up in time before dashing out of the way from another eye laser.

Moving along the pillars, Trevor had to take aim with his short sword. With the stone-eye beam ending, the Belmont left his cover and threw his bladed weapon right at the beast. It struck it's chest where the heart's supposed to be…

…..

…..

…..

Yet it still stood.

"OH COME ON!" Trevor exclaimed at the still alive Cyclops. "You're dead! Stop moving and notice you're dead!"

"Trevor." Roxas shouted exasperatedly.

"Right, right, sorry." Trevor was already running to the side to avoid the large beam aimed at him with the tip of Belmonts cloak being turned to stone.

Hiding behind a pillar, Trevor quickly shattered the stone off his cloak.

'Sorry excuse I am for being out of practice.' Trevor thought to himself. 'At least it's enough for not becoming a fucking statue.'

Roxas meanwhile ran forward, gaining the Cyclops' attention and moved from left to right to avoid the beam that was being shot towards him.

He would possibly use some spells, but he didn't know how effective they might be. Especially with this kind of space they were in. With how the ceiling above quickly gave way, Roxas didn't know if more debris would fall down and hurt them.

All he can do now was slash and fend it off while avoiding the stone-eye lasers.

Seeing a chance, Trevor ran towards the beast both he and Roxas were fighting. With the beam coming at him, he slid underneath the attack while pulling out his leather whip. In a fluid motion, Trevor wrapped the tail end of his whip around the handle of his embedded short sword and pulled it out. Instead of retracting his whip to grab his sword, he left the two together which made them form into a makeshift rope dart.

Flowing with the motion, Trevor maneuvered his makeshift rope dart upwards to cut the cyclops' neck. As the cut went through, he was able to get his whip to release his sword before rushing in.

With his sword still in the air, Trevor spotted Roxas coming near and called out to him.

"I need a boost!"

He didn't need to be told twice. Crossing his Keyblades, Roxas lowered himself and had Trevor use him as an impromptu springboard. Once connecting, Roxas pushed Trevor into the air. Coming close to his sword, he kicked it's hilt and sent it flying straight into the monster's singular eye.

The short weapon went in far and deep into the monster's head, killing it instantly.

It toppled over and crashed into the ground as Trevor landed not far away from the Speaker statue.

The small quake from the cyclops caused it to shake a little and come loose from the stone floor. Seeing the statue of the Speaker about to fall, Trevor casually caught it with the effects of the stone cyclops dispersing off of… her.

"Well hello there." Belmont said pleasantly.

As soon as she was about to speak, the Speaker quickly shoved Trevor away before promptly puking on the ground.

Roxas dismissed his Keyblades and came over to the female Speaker's side. "Whoa, are you ok?"

The young woman looked up at him, seeing him pull out a fancy handkerchief from his black coat and offering it to her. She gave him an appreciative smile, taking the cloth and wiping her mouth clean.

She had a soft angled face with sky blue eyes which were highlighted from her tanned skin and short orange-red hair which curled at the ends.

"Thank you for this." She said softly, holding up the handkerchief.

"No problem."

"Granddaughter, then." Trevor muttered out, walking away from the two in order to grab his short sword from the cyclop's eye. "Oh how I wish the Speakers wouldn't do that."

Both Roxas and the woman Speaker looked over to Trevor, who wiped the blood off his bladed weapon.

"Excuse me?" She asked.

"Dress the girls like boys." Was Trevor's response, sheathing his sword in the process.

"It's safer when we travel." Was her response.

"Right, right." Belmont nodded absentmindedly.

"What happened down here?" The girl looked around.

"Walked into a bloody cyclops." Trevor pointed to the carcass of the monster he recently slew. "Turns you to stone with its eyeball and feeds on your terror while you're trapped in your own body. Only way to restore a victim is killing it."

"Are you alright?" Roxas asked with the Speaker regarding them both. "You just didn't look so well."

"Probably because of being destoned, kid." Trevor stated. "Might get some after effects later on with puking being the first."

The Speaker and Nobody nodded a little, with the former eying the two men. "Who are you two?"

"I'm Roxas and he's Trevor."

"I am Sypha Belnades." The Speaker introduced herself. "Now why are you down here?"

"We met your grandfather." Trevor answered. "He and your tribe wouldn't leave the city until they had your body."

"So we came down here to recover… what was left of you, whole or… you know." Roxas said in an apologetic tone. "We just wanted your tribe to be safe outside of Gresit."

"They thought I was dead?"

"Some were, others still held hope." Roxas quickly said. "You were gone for a while… and they assumed…"

"But luckily for the old geezer and yourself, we'll be able to bring back some good news out of this shit town." Belmont said with a whimsical tone. "So come on, let's get you back to your old man and get your people to safety."

"But the Sleeping Soldier is still down here." Sypha said.

"There is no 'Sleeping Soldier', just a cyclops waiting for people stupid enough to go looking for treasure or whatever. It's a trap for grave robbers and the like." Trevor said in a factual tone. "More so with you Speakers, given that you're not popular here."

"The old wisdom says the tomb is guarded-"

"Yeah, yeah." Trevor cutted her off. "Come on. Time to go home and put your old man's mind to rest."

"I can't just leave."

"You should at least assure your grandfather." Roxas stated. "He sent us down here, he's been worried sick about you."

"And once you see him again, then you can come down here and get killed again. Deal?"

"Trevor!"

"What?"

"You suggest letting her come back here after saving her? Come on, man."

"Whatever. Don't get on my ass about it."

Seeing Trevor walk off to find a means to get out of the chamber, Sypha stood beside Roxas as they both glared at him.

"He is quite rude."

"No doubt."

They soon heard an odd sound of cracking and something blended into it. Looking over, they saw the other broken statues de-stone and return to normal.

Yet they all started bleeding out from their wounds as the victims were clearly dead at this point.

Both were disgusted and quickly ran after the Belmont.

-Later, Topside-

The door opened for the Speakers' hiding spot, prompting them all to look over. Some were worried the priests had found them and were about to harm them.

This wasn't the case with Trevor standing in the doorway.

He walked in, scratching the back of his head. As he came further in, both Roxas and Sypha entered the ruined house, making the other Speakers glad to see their wayward tribe member safe and sound.

And the first to greet them was Sypha's grandfather, who was soon glomped by his grandchild.

Roxas merely smiled at the scene… while Trevor looked on with a bored expression.

"Thank you." The Speaker elder said sincerely. "Both of you for this. I owe you two an unpayable debt."

"I failed to find the Sleeping Soldier. I'm sorry." Sypha apologized.

The grandfather comforted her as Trevor gave his thoughts.

"I very much doubt there's anyone down there. It's probably a booby-trapped legend. There's someone wriggling with pleasure in his coffin right now thinking of people like your girl walking into the cyclops he left down there."

This got Roxas to give out a "WTF" look on his face.

What kind of sick joke was he spouting?!

Breaking from her grandfather's embrace, Sypha went to defend the old tale of Gresit. "Or perhaps there is something down there so important that it must be guarded by monsters."

"Your messiah isn't down there." Was the Belmont's argument.

"And what makes you so sure?" Roxas questioned. "What makes you so damn sure that it can be true instead of make believe?"

"Speakers carry information down throughout generations." Trevor began his explanation. "We Belmonts pass things down as well. Do you remember what we saw down there, Roxas? Metal pipes pumping hot liquid? Torches that light by themselves, those 'lightbulbs' as you called them. Those exactly fit the descriptions written by my great-grandfather and others in my ancestry. Descriptions of the inside of Dracula's castle."

This threw the Speakers off guard upon hearing this.

Roxas quickly got out of his small state of questionable shock before pondering a little.

He did question what vampires were, given what Dracula was exactly. Blood sucking creatures of the night, who sleep for long periods of time in order to avoid daylight.

Could it be the catacombs down there could be inhabited by a vampire? Who knows for sure right now.

"I don't know what's down there, but it's not a messiah." Trevor soon made his way out of the door. "I'll leave you all to it."

"No. No-Nonsense. Please stay with us for as long as you like." Pleaded the Elder. "I cannot begin to repay what I owe you."

"You're leaving tonight, remember?" Stated the Belmont, with his tone brokering now argument. "Or did you quickly forget our deal?"

"I… yes." The Elder said, defeatedly. "Until then."

"Right~" Opening the door, Trevor made his way outside. "I'll come back later. See if you can find some beer."

Following him, Roxas voiced out a questionable thought. "Is wine, ale and beer all you think about these days?"

"Basically yes."

With the door closed, Sypha voiced her displeasure. "I could pee in a bucket and tell him it's beer."

"Sypha! He saved your life!"

"And he's rude."

Trevor and Roxas stood outside the Speakers temporary residence, discussing the next course of their actions in Gresit.

"So…. what do we do then?" Roxas asked.

Trevor rubbed his face, thinking for a moment. "Speakers are a bunch of stubborn bastards to say the least."

"Rude."

"Just my personal opinion."

"Still rude though."

"So being honest and truthful is rude then?"

"More or less."

Trevor snorted, shaking his head in mirth with Roxas sharing a wry grin.

Roxas gazed at the door. "You know they're not gonna leave."

"If they mean so much to you, you can stay with them." Trevor offered. "You don't have to tag along with me, you know. Besides, you can make sure they leave this damn city."

Hearing this option, Roxas obliged and made his way back into the Speaker's hiding spot.

With the door closed back up behind him, Trevor made his way towards the marketplace in order to get some food before leaving Gresit. He needed something for the road before the night horde came strolling back in.

Before making it too far from the Speaker's hiding spot, he spotted a good dozen or so priests coming towards his location. They clearly outnumbered him and were going to overpower him if he tried anything; especially with them all wielding weapons.

With them surrounding him, one of the priests pointed a knife at Trevor's scarred eye. "Careful. My knife hand is not too steady." Looking over, the Belmont saw it was the bearded priest he injured earlier today via finger removal. "I could slip and take out your eye."

'Well aren't they a persistent bunch.' Trevor thought. "What do you want?"

"The Bishop of Gresit requests your kind attendance at the church."

"I don't… think I'm allowed into churches."

"The Bishop says he'll make an exception in your case."

Trevor chuckled at that. "No. Seriously. I realize you're trying to menacingly abduct me, but I'm excommunicated."

"The Bishop said to tell you that the terms to even major excommunication means that you are obliged to appear when summoned by the Church."

Trevor let out a frustrated sigh. "Well, shit."

The whole grouping of priests escorted Trevor out of the area with their weapons still trained on him.

"Look, if I enter the church and catch fire or something, it's your fault."

-Church of Gresit-

The sun was inching closer and closer to the horizon as it might be close to an hour before the actual sunset.

Trevor didn't know what'll happen with the Speakers at this point, but he hoped the kid would get those Speakers out of the city.

'Besides, I gotta at least know what kind of trick he did to have those odd swords of his.' Trevor thought as he was unnecessarily shoved inside of the church.

With the group entering, two stood by the door with several others who had moved Trevor to the base of the stairs leading up to the altered pulpit.

And not long after the priests left Trevor alone did the Bishop enter the room.

The man was old and balding, using a small cap to hide it. His white garments were highlighted with red cloths with gold trims.

There was something about this man that put Trevor on edge and he didn't like it.

"I am the Bishop of Gresit."

Trevor stared at him for a moment or two and voiced an estimated guess. "You're not from around here."

"No." Confirmed the Bishop. "I'm originally from Targoviste. I was an aide to the Archbishop. How did you divine that?"

"Well, you're not running away screaming like the rest of the locals, for one thing."

The Bishop scoffed at Belmont's response. "From you?"

"From the baby-eating freakings of nature who apparently raid Gresit every night."

"I'm here to save Gresit." Declared the Bishop.

Trevor snorted as he had other thoughts.

For however long he's been here, he hasn't seemed to be doing his task unsatisfactory at best and his methods were quite ineffective.

"And how do you intend to do that?"

"I brought you here to answer some questions, not ask them."

"Well, tough shit." Trevor remarked. "How exactly do you intend to help these people by killing Speakers?"

"The Speakers brought these troubles upon themselves. One cannot live without God… quite literally, these days."

"You think the night hordes came because the people weren't religious enough? And you were at Targoviste."

The church is to blame for the shit they caused and they place said blame on either the people they protect or the outsiders in some shape or form.

Yeah, great investigation work there.

And where is this evidence you all found? It's nowhere, that's what.

"The Archbishop had certain… interests that I believe compromised his ability to protect the city and the country." Admitted the Bishop. "I was sent away long before Dracula came to Targoviste. We disagreed on matters of clerical discipline."

"But you were there for the burning of Dracula's wife." Trevor stated. "I heard all about that."

"Oh, yes, that. I arranged it, in fact."

This clearly caught Trevor by surprise.

The Bishop was so high up on his pulpit, figuratively in his bit of arrogance, that he didn't see the Belmont's expression.

"The woman was a witch and there can be no doubt not that she consorted with the Devil. She even married him."

"I see." Trevor narrowed his eyes and soon questioned the reason for his summons. "Am I here to be disciplined?"

"Not as such, for I have a gift for you and that boy you were with." The Bishop said, in reference to Roxas. Extending out his opened left hand in Trevor's direction, he gave his gift. "Your lives. Take it and go." Retrieving back his hand, he continued. "Tonight, the Speakers will be dealt with and Gresit will be secured. I refuse, however, to toil so hard for the soul of this city with an excommunicated heretic within its walls, defiling the good people living here with their influence." The Bishop's hands tensed as they grasped the pulpit. "You can undo everything by your very presence."

Trevor, for his part, was actually, genuinely stunned. "My God… You really believe it, don't you?"

"You and that boy will leave Gresit by sundown, or you will not see the morning. Do I make myself clear?" The Bishop threatened the Belmont. "Despite the crimes you two committed against my aides, despite the crimes your family has committed against God, you will walk safely until sundown."

Hearing all this made Trevor think otherwise. And he soon snapped at the Bishop before him.

"My family committed no crime." Trevor growled out. "You people simply decided we were wrong to defend this land against the supernatural. And now-"

"YOU BELMONTS HAVE NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD!"

With the Bishop interrupting Trevor, he soon composed himself with some bits of controlled anger leaking in his voice. "The people of this city are mine and the Lord's now and they'll do as I ask in His name. By morning, no Speaker will defile these streets and you and that boy would either be gone or dead. Do you understand?"

Trevor didn't like what he had heard, but he gave his answer. "Yes."

He clearly understood a death threat when he sees and hears it.

The Bishop was preparing to leave before turning back at the Belmont. "Do this thing for me and the matter of your excision from the church will be something we can discuss."

Trevor scoffed, knowing the game the man was playing. If he miraculously rejoined the church *cough* which he won't *cough*, he would be kept on a very tight leash and it's something he clearly doesn't want to ever have.

Besides, if he chose the Bishop's offer then he would be dooming the people he just saved not long ago. He would not be choosing that evil at all and would go with his own option.

Trevor started to make his way out of the church building when he voiced a bit of correction. "No offense, but you are just a bishop. Excommunication came from a little higher up the ladder."

As Trevor was out of earshot, the Bishop lowered his head and bore a small smirk. "Targoviste is gone. The other great cities are lost or losing. Gresit will be the last city of Wallachia." Exiting the room, he walked back to his chambers for preparations very soon. "To all intents and purposes, I will be the church."

Once out of the church, Trevor quickly made his way back to where Roxas and the Speakers were located.

He needed to warn them immediately for what would happen by sundown.

-Back with Roxas-

Since returning inside of the little hideout, Roxas decided to learn much of what he can of these Speakers after befriending and getting to know Sypha. And so far, things have been rather good.

"Our whole purpose as Speakers are to pass down our knowledge that we have learned through verbal means and for us to use said knowledge to aid others in their time of need." Sypha's grandfather said in a teacher-like manner. "We are nomadic in nature, thus meaning we usually stumble upon trouble more often than not."

"Like here in Gresit." Roxas said, making the elder chuckle.

"Yes, like here in Gresit. Though it appears your friend wishes for us to depart before our work here could be done."

"Guess he's worried about your safety." Roxas said with a shrug.

"We were asked and chose to come here." Sypha stated.

"You were asked to come here? By the people of Gresit?"

"Not necessarily." The Elder said in a soft tone. "After many armies were decimated with very little effort, the Pope himself personally requested that all Speaker tribes -among other groups- lend their support to Wallachia. Gresit is just one of many stops we are to undertake. And we were happy to lend our support."

"So you're gonna go to the next town over after everything is settled and done here?" Roxas asked.

The Elder nodded. "Precisely."

"Well hope everything turns out alright then."

The Elder only hummed. "What of you, my boy? Forgive me for asking, but you are a rather unusual sight to see. There is… magic emanating from you."

Roxas blinked in surprise.

"You can tell?"

"It is a very important skill to have amongst our people." Sypha answered for her grandfather.

"Though in all our travels, in our many generations, I can confidently recount that we have never encountered the likes of you before." The Elder said with an intrigued tone.

Roxas was silent, unsure of how to speak here. He wasn't necessarily keen on revealing just who or what it is he was. World order and all on top of that being a bit more personal.

"I'm a bit of a special case." Roxas said enigmatically. "Though it seems like I'm not the only one."

"You refer to Trevor Belmont?" The Elder asked with Roxas nodding.

"Who is he exactly?" Roxas inquired.

"Are you not travelling with him?" Sypha asked.

"I actually only met him earlier today." Roxas admitted. "When we helped your grandfather out before coming to find you."

"Of which I am eternally thankful for." The Elder said kindly with Roxas smiling at him.

"So who is Trevor Belmont exactly?" Roxas asked.

"To our knowledge, Trevor Belmont is the last son of the Belmont lineage." Sypha said, as if reciting these words from an ancient text. "The Belmonts are a family of demon and vampire hunters that have long since protected most of Eastern Europe from creatures of the night for nearly five hundred years."

"That is quite the family line." Roxas commented. "I somewhat know of some other families that have similar roles."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but I don't want to get off track now."

"Of course." Sypha said before adopting a thinking pose. "We had thought they had faded away some years ago, given the Christianic church excommunicated them and cut off their support. Apparently not."

"Since Belmont is here, what happened to the rest of his family?"

The Elder's expression became one that was more somber. "When we stated that he is the Last Son of the Belmont Lineage, it is probably in the literal sense. Aside from Trevor, there may be no other Belmont left alive."

"Admittedly, we don't know everything that goes on. We mostly learn from the word of commerce. And it's often hard to tell truths from falsehoods."

"Probably will have to learn from Trevor directly on how he survived."

"Correct, but probably on his own terms."

"Right~" Roxas said. "He seems like the guy that would snap at me if I said the wrong thing."

The Elder gave the boy an amused smile. "Truly? Well, a man like himself seems to have more patience then he lets on. Perhaps it's all a facade in the end."

Roxas nodded absentmindedly, thinking on the Elder's words and on his situation here.

"For now, all we could do is do our duty and await Belmonts return." The Elder said calmly.

"How do you know he'll-"

Their discussion soon came a halt with the front door opening up. Looking over, they all saw Trevor standing there.

Sypha frowned at his presence while her grandfather welcomed him. "Ah, Trevor! Join us."

"Yeah~ Sure, why not." Trevor nonsilauntly said in a casual manner, walking in and closing the door. "By the way, you're all going to die."

…..

…..

…..

"What?"

It was hard to tell who exactly said this all resounding thought, but the message was clearly given.

"The current Bishop of this place is… well… he's beyond insane." Leaning against the wall, Trevor continued. "Over the top and into new lands of just snake-fuckingly crazy and convinced that the salvation of Gresit lays in you people being torn to pieces by a mob."

"You seem to have no problem giving us this straight, huh?" Roxas said, earning a snort from Belmont.

The Elder gave a soft groan. "When?"

"Before the sun fully goes down."

"Are you serious?" Roxas asked with a tense tone.

"Unfortunately." Trevor said grimly. "Like I said, the Bishop is suffering from being a fucking psychopath."

By his logic, you all have to die before the night creatures conduct their next raid. Not to mention Roxas and I have to be out of the city as well."

"...Okay, why?"

"Undoing everything he's working towards." This earned some more confused looks. "Like I said, he's insane."

"What happens if we stay and survive?" Inquired the Elder.

"Well, then the night creatures will come anyways and the church will blame you, and it'll start all over again."

Roxas tightened his fists with a shake of his head. "This feels wrong, Trevor. To have them driven out for a lie that will doom not only the Speakers, but also the inhabitants of this city."

"I agree with him, Belmont." Said the Elder. "It's not a Speaker thing to do."

Trevor glared at the Elder, who was trying to get out of the deal. "We had an agreement."

"Well I don't think it's a Belmont thing, either."

Trevor got off the wall and came closer to the Speakers. "I don't care. You need to leave and leave now."

Roxas was conflicted on what's going on now and voiced his displeasure. "The lives of the few over the lives of the many. Not one person or group can properly handle everything."

Even if he tries to help everyone he can from the Heartless, he still needs help; no matter how big or small it is.

Sypha then voiced her thoughts. "I don't think we can leave these people, not in their time of need!"

Trevor walked up right into her face and glared. "These people believe you're causing their time of need!"

"Only because they are being misled by the Bishop." Roxas spoke up. "They said the Pope was asking for their help and they accepted the task. Yet the Bishop here is making the people of Gresit think otherwise. I just don't get it."

This bit of information gave Trevor pause. This clearly was a surprise for him, making him piece things little by little into an intricate puzzle.

But this will be solved one step at a time.

The Elder took this bit of silence for an opportunity to speak up. "Does one run away when someone tells lies about them? What has the Church said about the Belmonts? That you have been corrupted by dealings with the supernatural, that you mock God, that you are a threat to the common good, and that evil follows wherever you go. And what did you do in the face of that?"

Trevor quickly glared at the Speaker Elder, not liking him bringing up the history between the Church and his family. "I didn't run away."

"Then what are you running towards, Trevor?" Roxas questioned. "To another bottle or a tree to climb in order to watch the slaughter?"

Trevor looked at Roxas for a brief moment, turning away a second later.

"Are you calling me a coward?"

"No, I'm not. I'm saying you are just tired and defeated." Roxas softened his features a little. "I know what that is like and it hurts so very much. Every time I think back to my mistakes and defeats, I didn't know if I had anyone to turn to. Yet I did for what friends I had, helping me pick myself up, mend my mistakes and try again. What of you? What of your family?"

Trevor turned around, avoiding both the Speakers' and Roxas' gazes. "We didn't have a choice. I didn't have a choice."

"Perhaps. But we do." Sypha said. "We carry with us the accumulated wisdom of this great country. We will use that to fight our battle."

"You'll lose." Trevor said with a defeatist attitude.

"We might well lose." Began the Elder with the other Speakers looking on. "But, if nothing else, we might show someone that, although battles are won and lost, there is a large war at stake."

"With Dracula's armies?"

"No. A war for the soul of our people. Because if we truly are the sort of people who will kill one another at the behest of a madman's fantasies, then it is right and proper that things from Hell should rise up to wipe us out."

"It's time for those of us who fight that war to stand up and be responsible, Trevor Belmont." Sypha added in, standing beside her grandfather and her fellow tribe members.

"Besides, it's better to lose by trying than not trying at all." Roxas jotted in. "Regardless of whatever war is going on, as long as you're alive, you're going to be a part of it somehow."

After what felt like an eternity, Trevor released a sigh of frustration. "Okay, fine."

The others seemed pleased with the given response.

Stepping closer to the Belmont, Roxas voiced a question now forming in his head. "What do we do now, Trevor?"

"We? Well, because the two of us are those types of idiots, we are going to fight those night creature bastards off. Sound good?"

Roxas gave the man a wry grin, nodding in agreement.

Trevor soon jabbed his thumb over to the Speakers. "But first, we gotta get these lot to safer grounds before the mob arrives."

On that Roxas could agree on.

"But what about the mob?" Roxas asked.

"Well they aren't exactly bright and rather stupid cause there will be a bunch of them." Trevor stated with a shrug. "Got any bright ideas on how to deal with the village idiots?"

With a thoughtful look, Roxas gave his idea which Trevor soon smirked in response.

"Sharper than you look."

"You're no walking genius yourself with the way you act." Roxas said with a flat look making Belmont chortle.

"On that, I could only agree half heartedly."

A snowy Twilight had soon descended upon the land and the night hordes were ready to act and terrorize the city of Gresit.

As they ventured towards said city, it's angry residents grabbed their spears, pitchforks, torches and anything else for a weapon. They were all led by the priests of the church and made their way towards the ruined home which the Speakers took refuge in.

What may happen this night decides not just the fate of Gresit, but the potential of humanity against the terrors of the night.

A pair of villagers armed with an axe and a hammer respectively walked up to the locked door and started breaking it in. Once it caved right through, the light gave way to reveal the building was vacant of Speakers.

The only occupants it held was Trevor, who stood in the back with his head lowered, and Roxas, who was sitting not far away with his hood drawn up.

A small group of priests walked through the ruined entryway, no doubt curious on a few things.

"Where are the Speakers?"

"We put them somewhere safe." Responded the Belmont.

"Somewhere you lot will have quite the hard time finding." Added in the Nobody.

Down below the mausoleum, where the dead cyclops currently resided, the Condrii Speakers were a bit nervous upon seeing the corpse.

"I swear it just moved." Arn muttered out.

It's quite the dreadful hiding spot, but it's a whole lot safer than anywhere else in the Wallachian city.

The mob can be heard outside of the ruined building as the priest glared at both Roxas and Trevor.

"You defend evil. Give them to us!"

"Shut up."

The priest scoffed, marching right up to Trevor. "What?"

"He told you to shut up." Roxas said, glaring at the priests from underneath his hood. "Or are you so thickheaded, you can't hear things the first time around."

Trevor snorted softly before glaring at the priest as well. "You're not getting the Speakers. You're not getting any of their blood today. So shut up."

The priest backhand slapped Trevor for his insolence. "You will give us the Speakers so that we can save this city."

"More like dooming it." Roxas commented, earning a weapon drawn towards his face from one of the other present priests. "Now that's just rude. You know it to be true."

"I agree." Trevor said onto the priest. "The city became lost once you and the rest of your scum moved right in."

This earned another slap to the face.

The Belmont will give that priest that second hit, but there will not be another.

The priest walked to the side, giving everyone outside a proper view of both Trevor and Roxas. "And what? You two here to fight us? You two here to convince the people that nomad black magicians are good for Gresit, and it's the presence of the men of God that brought the night hordes upon us?"

"Pretty much, yeah." Came Roxas' quick response.

"SILENCE!" Snapped the priest before pointing at the Belmont. "You're a wreck. You stink. You can barely keep your eyes open." He then turned his attention to Roxas. "And you."

"What about me?"

"You are a sinful man who wears the robes of darkness and you bring death wherever it is you walk. A walking monument of heresy."

"You got all that just by looking at him?" Trevor said with a bemused look.

"I see through all with God's eyes."

"Now you're just spouting nonsense." Trevor remarked.

"Well he is the head village idiot." Roxas shrugged. "Not much we can do about that."

Oh if Axel could see him now. He would surely be proud.

"What do you expect to achieve against us?" the Priest asked sneeringly.

Trevor merely gave a small smile. "Absolutely nothing."

"So you're going to die for nothing? For people you don't know?"

"That's the point." Roxas said to the priest. "It's the right thing to do, after all. No matter the circumstances."

"I don't know any of you, but that doesn't matter, does it?" Trevor turned around and faced away from the priests. "My family, the family you demonized and excommunicated, has fought and died through the generations for this country. We do this thing for Wallachia and her people." He starts to unfasten his cloak. "We don't have to know you all, but we do it anyway. And it's not dying that frightens us." His cloak dropped to the floor, presenting his family crest on the back of his tunic. "It's never having stood up and fought for you." Trevor turned and faced the priests. "I am Trevor Belmont, of the House of Belmont, and dying has never frightened me."

Standing from his seat, Roxas pulled down his hood as he stood beside the Belmont. "And I am Roxas." With a flick of his wrist, Winter's Howl appeared in his hand which drew some gasps from the priests. "Chosen by the Keyblade to fend against the darkness." He then aimed his weapon towards the corrupt members of the church. "And the only thing that frightens me is never existing, in order to help out those that need it most."

The leading priest growled, drawing a bladed weapon from his clothes with his compatriots following suit. "Slay both the heretic and the Belmont!"

Both Trevor and Roxas eyed the priests and then each other before going into action. Quickly crouching down, the Belmont threw a handful of knives at their hands, causing the majority of them to drop their weapons. Whoever else was left was met by the blunt side of Winter's Howl, knocking them all down in rapid succession.

The pair soon rushed out of the ruined home, with Roxas spinning back and striking the entryway, causing part of it to collapse and trapping the priests inside.

Turning around, Roxas saw the townsfolk slowly coming towards them.

Eying one of them, Trevor got an idea. He brought out his whip -named the Hunter's Whip- and used it to snatch an axe from a mob member. Once in his possession, the Belmont threw it sideways into the air, curving it so it would boomerang around and strike a rope which kept a giant wooden cross suspended at a far off building. The object came crashing down, partially dispersing the mob.

"First off, nice throw." Roxas commented.

"Thanks."

"Second, we should move. They are rightfully pissed on what you pulled."

Trevor didn't have to be told twice as the pair used the distraction to enter the alleyways. The mob soon recovered and chased after the two "defilers".

As the two outsiders eventually got their pursuers to lose their trail, Roxas heard something whizzing through the air. Zipping in front of Trevor, Roxas blocked and knocked away a volley of arrows with Winter's Howl. Looking up, the pair saw several priests using bows and arrows on them from a high vantage point.

Giving Roxas a thankful nod, he soon got him to notice the other priests coming towards them on the ground.

"You take the ones ahead of us, I'll take the ones above us."

Trevor didn't wait to give his response as Roxas leaped into the air, landed on the wall and bounced off the surfaces to reach the top. He then rushed in, swung Winter's Howl and started knocking the archers out with quick precision.

Turning his attention from the action above, Trevor quickly avoided a knife stab from the one bald priest he partially blinded earlier today. Grabbing him, he used him as a meat shield from an incoming attack from one of the other priests who wielded a mace. The studded weapon caved in the semi-blinded man's head before being knocked over with the recently made corpse.

With a bit of space provided for him, Trevor brandished his short sword and parried away the spear strikes on his person. Swiping his sword upward, the Belmont cleaved through a priest's arm to let free the weapon from his grasp. Quickly using the spear, Trevor slew what few priests were left on the ground before throwing it at one coming towards him and rendering him dead where he stood.

With the last of them dead, Trevor sheathed his sword and had to catch his breath as Roxas landed on the ground not far from him.

"You good?"

"Yeah, just give me a second."

Pulling out an Ether from his belt, Trevor crushed it and felt the energy from the object rejuvenate some of his stamina.

"Oh~ that feels mighty good."

After convincing the Speakers to retreat underground, Trevor and Roxas had to prepare for what surely will go down later. And part of it was learning each other's capabilities for not just the fight against the priests and the mob, but also the incoming night hordes.

Hence they each learned a summarized format of their skills and weapons respectively.

Trevor was partially surprised on learning a bit on Roxas' Keyblades while the younger man got the basics on the Belmont's Hunter Whip. And to help broker their little alliance, the former Organization member bequeathed Trevor a handful of Potions and Ethers to help him out on this night.

Roxas nodded, before seeing more of the mob coming towards them.

"Rest time's over, we gotta keep moving."

Within the Church of Gresit on the other side of the city, the Bishop stood behind the pulpit. His head was lowered with his eyes closed, appearing as if he was praying.

In fact he was, praying for his men and the locals to properly dispose of the Speakers and for the night horde to not attack Gresit… well to some degree.

He wanted the pagans to die, for they were giving him problems for what he had formulated since his arrival here last year. They knew too much, from what he knew of them. He was afraid of what they'll spout out and make the residents turn on the church.

More like turning on himself.

His concentration was interrupted upon hearing the church doors opened. He opened his eyes to see who was there, but the light coming from outside was too bright to see any descriptions. But as he tried to make out anything, the doors closed rather quickly.

All he was met soon after was both the darkness and silence.

"Who's there?" He questioned. "Are the Speakers dead?"

The Bishop heard something walk closer and closer to his position. And he didn't know if his hearing was tricking him as he heard something speak in a bestial tone.

"No."

"Well, get back out there." Ordered the Bishop. "The Speakers have to die before the sun goes down."

The figure kept walking before it slowly revealed itself. "The sun… is already down."

Coming into the light, the Bishop saw it was one of the invading demons, bearing glowing blue eyes and long fang glowing in equal color and intensity from it's pitch black furred body. And coming out from it's back with bone-like spikes protruding at every other angle.

The holy man then heard something behind him, making him look and seeing bat-like creatures crawling down the walls and ceiling as they hissed all around.

...A moment of silence for this poor, prideful bastard who tried to be a false, tyrannical savior… even though doesn't deserve what's coming for him.

…..

…..

…..

Oh who am I kidding, he so deserves it.

Stepping back in fright, the Bishop tried composing himself and mustering his courage. Even grasping onto a rosary as tightly as he could, staining it with the blood coming out from his freshly cutted palm.

"You cannot enter the house of God."

The glowing blue-eyed demon snarled. "God is not here. This is an empty box."

"God is in all of His churches."

"Your God's love is not unconditional." Refuted the demon. "He does not love us… and he does not love you."

"I have done his bidding." The Bishop began defending his love for God and his loyalty towards Him aggressively, despite trembling like a leaf. "My life's work is in His name. For I am the Bishop of Gresit!"

"Your life's work makes Him puke." Snarked the demon. "Your God knows that we wouldn't be here without you. This is all your fault, isn't it?"

"SHE WAS A WITCH!"

"Lies? In your house of God?" Mocked the demon. "No wonder He has abandoned you. But… we love you."

This clearly shocked the Bishop greatly. "What?!"

"We love you." The blue eyed demon stood up on the other side of the pulpit, dwarfing over the elevated false holy man and leaning on the wooden structure for support. "We couldn't be here without you." It started bringing its hands up to grasp the Bishop's head, who let out a series of terrified grasps. "Let me… kiss you."

Opening it's toothy maw, the blue eyed demon mauled on the false holy man's head and quickly ended him, who had doomed Wallachia and the human race from his blind actions.

Back with Trevor and Roxas, they were doing their best to avoid confronting the mob. Neither of them wanted to harm them, but this can only go so far. Sooner or later, they'd be force to go against their better nature and possibly harm the innocent.

Which is unlikely.

Coming to a stop in the marketplace, partially tired from all the running and jump all over the place, they were soon surrounded by the mob.

As the villagers closed in on them, a ring of fire was formed across the ground, separating the Belmont and Keybearer from everyone else present.

"Was this your doing, kid?"

"Nope." Roxas answered quickly. "My magic control isn't that good."

"Then who did?"

Roxas' eyes wandered before spotting a figure on the rooftops. "Her."

Looking over, Trevor saw Sypha standing on top of the wall in the city. Her hands were positioned in such a way with both of her index and middle fingers were glowing brightly in an orange light, highlighting a faint smile she bore.

The one priest with the injured hand on the ground spotted her, quickly pointing his knife at her. "WITCH!"

"No! I am a Speaker and a scholar of magic!" Sypha repositioned her hands, which now switched from orange to blue. "I serve no demon and I do no evil."

Her hands glowed brighter before a blast of cold wind was shot out from her outstretched palm. It collided with the present market place occupants, which frightened the mob.

Immediately after, her hands glowed into an orange light again and raised her left arm into the air with a spirited grunt. Two trails of fire started to form on the ground towards the ring which Trevor and Roxas stood in.

With an opening made, the two now had a path to possibly reach for safety. Not long after stepping along the path did they give Sypha looks of gratitude, which she smiled in return.

"You never told me you were a magician." Trevor spoke out.

"You never asked." Came Sypha's reply.

"That's sadly true on most things." Roxas muttered out. "Though I guess I now understand why it was you who went down into the catacombs in the first place."

He honestly should've seen it coming with what he learned on the Speakers so far. With them having some magic users in their ranks, Roxas honestly didn't think Sypha was one of the particular ones.

Though this did beg the question on why neither he or Trevor spotted any traces of burns or ice attacks in the catacombs before finding her.

Best he could think of was that she was taken by surprise with no effort of resistance.

"What are you doing here?" Trevor inquired. "Shouldn't you still be with your tribe's people?"

"I didn't ask you both to fight for me. I fight for myself."

"Well if you actually told us you could fight, then you could've tagged along."

This ended up having Sypha become a little sheepish on the Belmont's comment.

Trevor was about to traverse further along the path when he spotted the bearded priest from earlier. The same one who threatened him to come quietly to the church. The same one who threatened Sypha's grandfather.

"You." Trevor growled out.

Seeing the attention placed on him, the bearded priest commanded the mob. "Kill them. Quickly!"

"No." Trevor said fiercely. "Just you and me. No one else. Come on." The priest glared at the Belmont, who continued to talk. "You're very big at telling other people what to do. Getting the good people of Gresit to commit murder for you. Let's see how you do on your own."

With the challenge given, the mob soon backed away as the flame path disbursed; beckoning the priest to act. And seeing the "holy man" stepping back, Trevor walked forward.

Resting his hand on his short sword's handle, Trevor continued talking. "I can see you're carrying a blade. I wonder if the people of the great city of Gresit have ever seen a priest draw a knife before unless it's for self defense."

The people within the mob whispered to themselves on this little fact.

"C'mon. Your long knife, my short sword. Let's go."

Roxas stood to the side, watching this all as he merely held his Keyblade to his side and waited for whatever it was to transpire.

As Trevor grew closer the priest broke into an agitated sweat.

Challenging the "holy man" in front of everyone was possibly a good tactic to bring disbelief into the corrupt church.

Now there just needs some more push for it all.

"You had no problem beating an old man this afternoon." This got the mob's attention. "Huh? You had no problem lying to these people about the Speakers."

That little fact only incentivized the crowd with all their eyes now glaring spitefully at the "priest".

"The Speakers brought this upon us!" The bearded priest desperately said.

"That's bullcrap!" Roxas shouted as Sypha jumped down and used her magic to safely land beside him. "You only wanted to find an excuse to execute them."

"And they did not bring this calamity upon this country -let alone this city- and you know it. The Speakers stayed here to offer aid. Not just because of their good will, but also upon the request of your beloved Pope."

This got more commotion from the mob, directing glares at the sweating priest.

Belmont's glare turned murderous. "It was your Bishop that started all this. Your Bishop that brought down the armies of Hell, the armies of Dracula down upon us all. Your Bishop who murdered and burnt a defenseless woman alive to death, claiming her to be a Witch when he knew this to be false."

The crowd was now radiating with rage.

"And you would have murderers out of all of these people here." Belmont raised his voice as he raised his blade. "And the only guilty man in all of Gresit that stands before us… is you."

The results were instant with someone rushing past Trevor and in a surprise turn of events, stabbed the priest in the chest with a knife. Other people within the mob followed suit as they brought their weapons down upon the corrupted priest, killing him where he stood.

Roxas reeled back from the surprising act.

"I know the truth can cause such responses, but I didn't expect that to happen."

"It may seem difficult to get people to do something, Roxas." Sypha said, out of pity. "Generally speaking, the hearts of mankind can be swayed easily. Especially if it regards simple, common people living their lives with whatever circumstances brought upon them."

Trevor overheard the bit of dialogue and voiced his displeasure. "Yeah, it's bloody unfortunate-"

Suddenly, explosions from behind caught the attention of Trevor, Roxas and the assembled crowd.

Turning towards the source, Trevor and Roxas saw multi-eyed demons flying about with either civilians in their jaws or breathing blasts of fire from their mouths.

"It's them." Sypha said in a grim tone. "They're coming."

Roxas only whipped out his other hand, Oblivion appearing in a flash.

"We can't take them all." Sypha said.

"We have to try." Roxas argued back.

"We won't do it alone." Trevor said, turning to the assembled group of native Gresit villagers. "Time you lot learned how to defend your keep. Head back to the far side of the square with pikes up front, now."

"What?"

"You heard me!" Trevor shouted. "I'm the only one here who knows how to fight those bastards so those with pikes, long swords or weapons stand in front of me. Get in rows of six, one row in front, one behind and in between."

Following his instructions, a small group of Gresit villagers assembled in said order with Belmont moving to the rest of the crowd.

"Hold steady." He instructed. "I need a priest. One who was properly ordained by the church."

A moment later, said request was answered with a priest stepping forward from the crowd with his hand raised.

"Gather some people and get some water here now." Trevor said. "You know what to do with water, yes? For the aspersion?"

The priest nodded quickly.

"Then go, now." Trevor turned to the present Speaker. "Sypha."

"Yes?"

"I want them walled in when they hit the square. I want it so they can only come to us. Is that something you can do?"

"Will ice do?"

"Better than fire, anyway." He then turned to Roxas. "And I need you to stop any of those bastards from getting airborne."

"You got it."

Trevor turned back to those who had yet to move. "I want salt over here! As much as you can find!"

It was surprising how quick the people of Gresit brought out several buckets worth of salt before the Belmont.

A handful of salt in hand, Trevor went on with his instructions.

"Everyone with a sword wipes their blade in the salt. Now!"

Doing as he said, the group of villagers were all prepped and ready.

Everyone saw bursts of flame travel along the alleyways they were facing towards the square. And from those flames came the night hordes.

"Sypha, walls!"

Using her magic, the Speaker used her magic to conjure tall and thick walls of ice on both sides before closing them in. The action distracted the night horde creatures long enough for Trevor to toss a bucket of water into the air. It was quickly emptied as it's contents landed on the creatures, burning them upon contact.

"Well. That priest really could make holy water after all."

"Did you have any doubts?" Roxas questioned.

"In this shithole? Yes, obviously." Belmont said.

"...Forget I asked."

Trevor ignored this and gave his next order. "Pikemen! Four steps forward!" He turned back to his companions. "Close the door behind them. Roxas, you know what to do."

With their orders given, the respective people did their work. The path of ice became a box. And the pikemen were quick to impale any stampeding monsters.

"Cut them down!"

The delegated swordsmen with salt coating their blades sliced through the demons and made decent work with the others.

One of the Demons attempted to fly up into the sky but Roxas was right on him. Using the icy walls as a means of gaining elevation. Upon reaching the demon, Roxas spun forward rapidly into a ball and slashed through the demon.

"Salt kills demons." Trevor shouted, throwing a bucket of holy water into the air. "Spread the word."

Sypha concentrated her magic upon the bucket, freezing the holy water before sending a shockwave of sorts from the frozen center sending ice shards into several demons. Frozen water it may be, the ice was still holy water which greatly burned and killed those demons that were pierced.

This made the remaining demons begin to change tactics, resorting to more long ranged attacks.

One of the fireballs shot by the winged night horde creatures went towards some villagers. Seeing this, Trevor intercepted the attack by using his Hunter's Whip, which disbursed it. And with a crack of his weapon, he struck the monster which soon bloated like crazy, glowed like fire before exploding soon after.

"Whoa!" Roxas let out in awe, clearly voicing the townsfolk and Sypha's reaction. "Since when did you have a whip that could do that?"

"The whip's enchanted and consecrated." Belmont said plainly. "Made for killing vampires and demons. Didn't I tell you?"

"I think I would've remembered the detail on how they exactly die!"

"Oh. Well… Whatever then. Swords!" Trevor called out.

Suddenly, pools of shadows appeared upon the ground with beady yellow eyes appearing followed by the eyes moving upwards belonging to humanoid shapes.

"Oh great." Roxas grumbled. "I was wondering if these guys would appear or not."

Trevor grew cautious and voiced his curiosity. "And what the hell are those?"

"Demons?" Sypha asked.

"No… Those are things I fight against on a daily basis." Roxas stated. "Creatures of Darkness, the Heartless."

Roxas didn't wait for a response as he ran forward at full speed, Keyblades grinding against the ground.

Not wanting to waste any time with the growing threat around them, Roxas mustered a lot of magic into his weapons. The Keyblades glowed brightly right before their wielder slammed them into the ground.

"LIGHT!"

The earth shook for the briefest of moments before pillars of white light shot out and struck down many and all present night horde creatures and Heartless. Mixtures of dark vapors and charred bodies were flung all over the place as many looked on in awe.

"Well… that was something." Trevor commented.

"Didn't know he could do that." Sypha added in.

"The Holy Light!"

"Is he a child of God?"

"And here we go with the hero worship." Trevor said with a dry tone.

Roxas panted a little, prying his weapons out from the earth. Just when he was about to replenish his reserves with a Mega Ether, large torrents of flame appeared around the square.

"Oh great. What are we dealing with now?"

A larger one soon appeared not far from the city's central statue as dark shadows formed within the flaming tornado.

"A bigger pain in the ass." Roxas said, tossing the Mega Ether into the air. Above him, an ethereal orb appeared along with Trevor and Sypha who blinked while both felt a surge of energy. "Ether for the two of ya. Trevor, Sypha, I'm gonna need your help on this one."

The Hunter and Speaker nodded as they rushed towards Roxas' side as the flames disbursed to reveal what vaguely looked like a muscular horned monkey demon with gold bands on it's limbs sitting atop a stack of logs that were on fire as the Heartless emblem stood prominent on its forehead.

And floating all around this large pire were a good dozen Flame Core Heartlesses, black orbs with bat wings, comically large mouths and fire spouting from their heads.

"So… he looks friendly." Trevor remarked, preparing his whip while Sypha held up both hands placing her index and pinky fingers together as she concentrated on her magic.

"He looks like he needs to cool down." Sypha stated.

Belmont couldn't help but chortle. "That was fucking awful."

"You get some credit for trying."

After Roxas' quick response, he shot forward and slashed through a Flame Core with Winter's Howl before smacking another with Oblivion. Spinning around, he coated his blades with ice and threw them in order to perform a Blizzard Raid. The attack cleaved through some of the smaller Heartless before they collided against the boss one lording over them all.

Belmont joined after Roxas, flinging his whip and had it wrap around one of the Flame Cores. With a literal whipping motion of his arm, he sent his ensnared Flame Core crashing into another with both promptly exploding.

"Boys." Syph called out, throwing her hands forward. "Boost."

Both Roxas and Belmont skidded to a stop, feeling the ground beneath them shift about. Bending their legs down, they were flung high up into the air via ice pillars that Sypha brought down upon the flaming Heartless.

The creature screeched from the intense cold brought upon it, more than the Keybearer's earlier attack. In retaliation, the Heartless conjured balls of fire and flung them at it's opponents.

Trevor used his Hunter's Whip to knock the fire ball away before having to dodge roll from another. Coming up from the motion of recovery, he kicked a Flame Core away before seeing a nearby bucket of Holy Water. Having a little idea, Trevor ensnared the bucket's handle with his whip and flung it across the square. Once it collided against the Heartless, the enchanted water caused some significant damage onto the creature.

"Well that's better than nothing." Trevor muttered out. Dodging an incoming Flame Core, he struck it with his consecrated whip before calling out to his companions. "I'll deal with these little shits! You two focus on the large bastard!"

The two magic users nodded and continued on with their work as the Belmont did his.

Roxas had conjured several Blizzagas at the large Heartless, which exploded all over with each consecutive hit; entrapping it in an icy prison. As the flaming Heartless roared in pain, Sypha manipulated the recently formed ice and had the spikes break off. With those pieces floating in the air, the Speaker had them rocket towards the being and impale the Heartless several times over before it broke free from it's confinement.

Trevor found himself surrounded by the Flame Cores yet that little in scaring him, the Belmont heir quickly flicking his arm with whip in hand. He caught one Flame Core by the tip, making it blow up. The force in which sent those closest staggering and stumbling about both on the ground and in the air. Trevor ran forward, stabbing one in between the eyes pulling out in order to slash at another close by.

He suddenly felt a forceful sphere smash into his back, making him fall forward. Reflexively, he managed to pivot himself in the air and swing his whip in response, destroying the Heartless that got the jump on him.

"I really am out of practice." Trevor grunted out. "I can do better than this."

"Maybe this can help."

As Roxas landed some feet away from the Belmont, he raised both of his Keyblades into the air as a large silvery, black shape shifting orb formed above his weapons. Soon enough, many Fire Cores were ripped off of the ground and air as if they were being drawn towards the orb. And once there, they seemed to fly around it as they struggled to break free.

Getting the idea, Trevor soon got to work. Leaping into the air, he hurled his body and spun in a whirlwind like fashion. The Hunter's Whip struck each and every Heartless caught onto the gravity sphere. Soon enough, they all died out by the time Trevor landed back onto the ground.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Leaping into the air once more, Roxas formed a large ice crystal as it burst into smaller projectiles as he performed Blizzard Burst. Each of them struck the large fire Heartless dead center as it roared from the chilled pain.

"Gonna need some extra work on that one."

Roxas had felt his Keyblade, Winter's Howl, begin to resonate with a greater power and form. A familiar sensation that he had experienced a few days back upon the Twins in Westeros.

Grinning, Roxas thrust his Keyblade forward which glowed a bright bluish-white sheen before dispersing into five separate pieces. The faint how of a Direwolf was heard in the background with clawed greaves and gauntlets formed around his feet and hands capped off with a Direwolf helm.

Both Sypha and Trevor caught all this and stared in their respective fashions.

"Alright, since when the fuck could you do that?" Trevor bluntly asked.

"Bout two or three days ago give or take." Roxas stated with a grin as he crouched down, pouncing forward a moment later.

"...Is this about my whip earlier?"

"Perhaps." Roxas then gave a coy grin underneath his Formchange helmet. "Didn't I tell you?"

"...Sneaky little shit."

Sypha looked amazed at what Roxas just did and wanted to know how he did this. Yet she fought back the urge to ask as she avoided the fire blasts from the opponent all three were now facing.

Conjuring forth a set of ice spears above her head, Sypha quickly launched them at the large Heartless who increased the fire around it to melt the ice away.

"Alright, that didn't work." Sypha grumbled.

"Maybe this will." Roxas said aloud. "Been meaning to test what I could do with this form."

Roxas's vision narrowed, focusing exclusively onto the large burning Heartless. Though it was difficult to see, Roxas's eyes were rapidly moving about in small motions, targeting multiple areas of the Heartless until he stopped.

Power began surging around for a brief few moments until….

Flecks of icy light formed and condensed at the palm of his Formchange gauntlet before being unleashed for a Shotlock attack. Like last time, the icy orb of light exploded with miniature direwolf heads sailed across the sky with howls filling the air before colliding against the large Heartless. This time, however, they were larger and appeared more fearcer than his first time using the attack.

Upon contact, a thick layer of ice formed around their opponent as it was soon immobilized.

"Well that was a neat trick." Trevor commented.

"Now while it's frozen." Roxas went on all fours and was ready to strike. "That won't hold for long."

The Speaker and Belmont did have to be told twice, launching themselves at the large Heartless.

Launching at the flame monkey-like Heartless, Trevor whirled his Hunter's Whip and delivered a series of blows onto the exposed areas of their opponent. Even throwing several knives in the process for good measure.

Roxas, however, was basically running all over and swiping his bladed gauntlets and boots on the Heartless to add more ice onto it's prison.

From the sidelines, the Speaker focused much of her magical power in this next attack. Pulling more water from the air, Sypha condensed and froze it all into a large stalactite-like spear. With a gruntal yell, she thrusted the construct into the beast as it went past the frozen coffin and skewered it through.

With this massive attack delivered, Roxas dived in from up high and delivered a powered downward kick onto the Heartless. The bladed boot cleaved through the beast as the fire's around the area started going out soon after.

The Heartless froze, arms raised though unmoving. It suddenly began jolting and trembling about until it slumped over. The body began to disappear into wisps of fiery darkness followed by a large glowing heart which rose into the sky until vanishing a moment later.

"Is… is it over?" Belmont asked, looking to Roxas whose armor piece dispersed and reformed into his Keyblade before fading away in a flash of light.

Roxas only wordlessly nodded.

The smoke dissipated quickly, leaving nothing behind as to where the Heartless once stood. Nothing except for what appeared to be a charm, a flaming ethereal fire made solid into a charm before falling to the ground in a soft 'Tink'.

"What… is that?" Belmont asked in confusion with Roxas approaching the trinket that lay upon the ground.

Inspecting the item, it was a metal tag with several colors over the surface to make it look like it was melded with fire itself. And carved into it was some sort of fire insignia.

Roxas picked it up off the ground and held it up to inspect it carefully.

"It's…" The small trinket glowed in a red color before dying down.

Before anything else could escape from Roxas' mouth, the ground beneath the three started shaking, crumbling and falling apart.

They lost their footing as they tried to get out of the square. Yet their attempt was useless as the majority of the square collapsed, causing Roxas, Trevor and Sypha to fall into the chasm below.

The trio started separating during their descent, prompting Trevor to use his whip to ensnare Sypha and pull her towards him. Roxas had to adjust himself during their freefall to get close to them. And in this time, Sypha used her magic to let out a small torrent of wind in order to break their fall.

While the fall and landing didn't kill them, the duo ended up going through a rough recovery roll; crashing into an unknown underground room.

Landing not far away from them, Roxas rushed into the room.

"You two alright?"

"Peachy." Trevor groaned out as Sypha shakily stood up.

"Maybe this can help." Roxas soon casted Cura on Trevor and Sypha, getting a green aura around them to help mend their injuries.

"Thanks, kid."

Sypha gave Roxas an appreciated nod for the assist. She did want to ask about the spell he used, but placed it aside as she took notice of their surroundings.

"The… catacombs again." Sypha said out of surprise. "I think we're deeper than I went before."

Blue light bulbs illuminated the dark area with faint sounds of machinery heard in the background. From gears moving like clockwork and pistons colliding against each other.

With the three exploring the area, as Roxas soon pocketed the charm, they could merely wonder how big and deep this place went in order to fill all these machines into the earth.

They soon had to quickly move out of the way when large pistons collided near their positions and in rapid succession. As they ran, they lost their footing and fell down another height and slid down onto another level, consisting of platforms, beams and giant gears.

The trio didn't get much time to properly inspect the area as the platform they stood on started to crack, indicating it was starting to collapse. Sypha reacted quickly and used her magic to boost herself up to one of the giant rotating gears. Trevor and Roxas went into a running sprint and leapt onto a different gear.

Climbing down from the rotating gears, the three dropped onto the shaft connecting the two giant metal parts. Slowly coming together at the middle, Roxas spotted a beam in the distance.

"I can probably make that jump." He commented. "You two will need assistance."

"Oh like you can bloody do that."

"You'd be surprised."

Proving his point, Roxas crouched down and focused his sights on the beam in question as a small aura covered him. Uncoiling his legs, he shot towards the intended target with a trail of light following him. Landing on the beam, he looked back and waved at Trevor and Sypha.

"Pfft… Showoff."

Unfurling his Hunter's Whip, he took aim towards Roxas' location and whipped his arm. The leather weapon stretched out and wrapped around the beam. Tugging to be sure, the Belmont ushered the Speaker to use his whip to traverse through the enlarged space.

Sypha nodded as she carefully grabbed hold of the leathered length and scooted across the entire time. Trevor held and pulled on tight so she wouldn't have any problems while Roxas was ready to get into action in case of anything.

The moment the Speaker finally got across, Roxas hoisted her up so she could stand beside him. Seeing them both on the other side, Trevor readied himself from a seated position. Wrapping the whip around his arm for good measure, the Belmont swung across the chasm and smacked into the beam below his companions.

"You good?"

Trevor was about to respond to Roxas' question when the beamed structure proved to be unstable as it broke apart.

"Oh, for God's sake."

Trevor quickly climbed up his whip with Roxas pulling on the other end in hopes of getting him up with them. The moment he got up, giant gears started falling down from up high with them shaking as a result. Grasping hold of the nearby beams for dear life, the three soon plummeted further down below.

The moment the beamed structure hit the ground, the three were thrown off and fell into a much deeper hole with them all screaming.

When they came too from their fall, each of them groaned, voicing that each of them were still alive.

"This… is ridiculous." Roxas muttered as the trio pried themselves out of the rubble. "The concept of gravity should not be this bad."

"Gravity?" Sypha questioned.

"Later."

Casting Curaga on themselves, Roxas helped get his companions onto their feet and walk away from their harsh landing spot. It wasn't a long way from the rubble where they saw a more distinct room.

The elongated chamber had a red carpet with an intricate pattern along the length and lightbulbs giving white light instead of blue. On the far end was some sort of altar, which upon walking closer to it was some sort of coffin with two glass cylinders of a red liquid hooked up to it.

Once reaching a certain spot, Trevor stepped on a hidden switch which triggered something.

"...I didn't do that."

Sypha looked at him like he was stupid while Roxas was more focused on the sounds that came after, with steam eminating from the coffin before them.

This made him and his companions wary of the result of Trevor's recent action.

The top of the coffin slid off by itself, falling onto the metal alter's floor with a resulting, echoing thud. From within it, a pale male figure floated out from the resting place.

He was shirtless, which displayed the elongated scar from shoulder to hip diagonally. The only other clothing he wore were a pair of black pants, black boots and some sort of belt jotting over part of his hips. Finished floating in an upright manner, the man lowered his head, letting his long platinum gold-blonde hair drape down to cover up his face.

"Why are you here?"

"The story," Sypha began with happiness filling her voice, "the Messiah sleeps under Gresit! The man who will save us from Dracula."

The floating man shifted his head over to possibly where Roxas stood. "And you?"

"Well… I'm merely helping out someone seeking the solution to a problem. Because right now, it's the right thing to do."

"...And you?" The man finally questioned the Belmont. "Are you in search of a mythical savior?"

"I fell down a hole." Was Trevor's blunt response.

"Dracula is abroad in the land. He has an army of monsters. He's determined to wipe out all human life wherever he finds it."

The floating figure frowned upon the Speaker's words. "Is that what you believe?"

"Of Dracula releasing his horde upon Wallachia?" Roxas voiced. "I don't know about you, but that's a fact."

"I agree with him." Trevor said. "There's no belief involved. But that's not what you are asking."

"Correct."

"You're asking if I believe you're some sleeping messiah who'll save us, and no, I don't."

"Belmont!" Sypha exclaimed.

While Sypha was excited about finding the Messiah, Trevor thought otherwise while Roxas grew more cautious with each passing second now.

Roxas had a feeling this whole situation right now was not what he originally intended earlier today of the 'Sleeping Soldier'. The information Trevor spoke of once getting Sypha back to her people still loomed over his head.

"I know what you are."

The floating man smiled on the Belmont's words. "And what am I?"

"You're a vampire."

The long haired man finally rose his head, giving the three a perfect few of his face. He opened his eyes, showing they matched the same coloring as his hair.

For a brief moment, Roxas swore he saw several people flash before his eyes, all baring similar eye colors to that of Xemnas, Ansem the Seeker of Darkness and three other people… of an old bald man with a goat-like goatee, a black haired teen which oddly looked eerily similar to Sora and the silver-haired teen Sora seemingly interacted with in the Dreaming Worlds.

In an instant, those images went away for Roxas to witness the floating man bearing a pair of long canine teeth in his mouth.

A sign of the man's vampiric heritage and species.

Trevor gritted his teeth, narrowing his eyes more upon the vampire. "So, I have to ask myself, have we come down here to wake up the man who'll kill Dracula, or did we come here to wake Dracula?"

This bit of information threw Roxas off while Sypha looked scandalized.

Floating down to ground level, where his feet almost touched the carpet, "Dracula" spoke. "You call me Dracula."

"I'll call you anything you like if you're gonna show me your teeth."

The vampire ushered his hand over to the Speaker. "She called you Belmont. House of Belmont?"

"Yeah, what's it to you?" Roxas said.

Trevor held his hand to the Keybearer as he clarified himself. "Trevor Belmont. Last son of the House of Belmont."

"The Belmonts fought creatures of the night, did they not? For generations."

"From what I've seen and gathered, yes." Roxas muttered out.

"Say what you mean." Trevor said, approaching the vampire.

"The Belmonts killed vampires."

Roxas didn't know if the vampire had a grudge against Trevor's family who were slaying his kind. The tone of his voice was controlled and didn't slip anything out. So it was hard to tell if there was a grudge at all or not.

Trevor merely smirked, walking towards the floating vampire from the right side of the room. "Until the good people decided they didn't want us around."

"And now Dracula is carrying out an execution order on the human race. Do you care, Belmont?"

Trevor was silent for several moments. "Honestly, I didn't, no." He then looked upon the floating vampire. "But now… yes, it's time to stop it."

Both Sypha and Roxas smiled at Trevor's words.

At first he didn't care for the safety of others, but now that's changed.

"Do you think you can?" Inquired the vampire.

"What I think is…" Trevor grasped the handle of his Hunter's Whip. "I'm going to have to kill you."

This alarmed his companions to different degrees.

"Belmont, no! He's the one we've been waiting for."

"No, he's not, Sypha." Trevor quickly said. "He's a vampire and he's not been waiting for hundreds of years, have you?"

"I don't like your tone, Belmont."

"I actually have to agree on Trevor on this one." Roxas was soon met with the gazes of both the Speaker and the vampire in the room. "Everything outside of this chamber is old while said room looks relatively refurbished, still being used and well maintained. If this guy was indeed the 'Sleeping Soldier' then this whole place would be the opposite… among other things. For instance matching the age from the catacombs outside."

The vampire looked at Roxas as he was able to deduce this bit of logic. He could even feel impressed.

Sypha had her doubts on her young companions words and wanted to voice her thoughts when Trevor interrupted her attempt.

"Then go on, vampire, tell her how long you've been waiting down here."

The vampire did the small request upon asking Sypha a simple question. "What is the year of your Lord?"

"1476."

"...Perhaps a year, then."

"There. And on top of that, what kind of Messiah creates mechanical death traps to buy himself an uninterrupted nap in a stone coffin?"

"He does bring up a valid point, Sypha." Came Roxas' response.

Yet for argument's sake, the three could've actually skipped passing whatever booby traps Trevor brought up during their falls from the collapsing machines and platforms. Roxas didn't know of those counted as "traps".

So there may or may not have been any to begin with.

"Those defenses were not for you."

Okay so there are booby traps.

"You could've told your defenses that." Came Trevor's sarcastic remark.

"They are machines, nothing more." Spoke the vampire. "They were not intended to protect me from you. And I asked you a question earlier: do you care?"

"I care about doing my family's work. I care about saving human lives." Trevor answered. "Am I going to have to kill you?"

"Do you think you can?" Challenged the vampire. "If you're really a Belmont and not some runt running around with a family crest, you might be able to."

With a small gesture of his fingers, the vampire called upon a long silver sword as it shot out of the coffin and flew into his hand. Catching effortlessly with a swipe of his wrist, the vampire held his bladed weapon.

"Let's find out."

"Belmont, you can't do this!" Sypha exclaimed a plea.

Trevor instantly unfurled his whip. "Tell that to your floating vampire Jesus here."

"You've got nothing but insults, have you?" Floating down, the vampire was about to attack. "A tired little-"

So far the vampire thought Trevor was all bark with no bite. Yet that wasn't the case as he was quickly struck hard by the Belmont's whip. He was sent back several feet away from his starting position, but landed on his feet in a crouched position. He hissed at Trevor for that sudden attack.

Flexing his whip, Trevor started to maneuver it and lashed out another attack.

"Stone the fuck up."

The vampire dodged the attack and then either avoided or parried the follow-up strikes.

"You can't do this, Belmont!" Sypha cried out over the fight.

"He isn't your messiah." Trevor didn't break his attention away from the vampire he was dueling against. "Dracula's castle can appear anywhere, Sypha. And I told you what it looks like on the inside."

The vampire kept on dodging and parrying from the mid-range combat, soon questioning his opponent. "And you know what Dracula looks like?"

From Sypha's side, Roxas had wondered the same thing. Asides from vampiric features, there wasn't anything else he knew of what the vampiric lord actually looked like.

Trevor was panting while he kept working with his maneuvers. "Nobody knows what Dracula looks like. Everyone who does is dead and gone." He had to keep the vampire from getting close to him at this point now with exhaustion starting to seep through. "You've got fangs and you sleep in a coffin. That's good enough for me."

With the whip soon aimed at his face, the vampire narrowly dodged the strike and landed near the altar. Trevor then threw a knife at him, who reacted by jumping out of the way.

Now that the fanged creature was midair, Trevor smirked as he bended the trajectory of his whip with the back of his left thumb. As the whip went into the air, it cracked against the vampire's side, knocking him across the room and against a pillar hard.

"Neat trick." Roxas commented.

"You've seen nothing yet, kid." Trevor said, sending out another strike at the vampire.

The Belmont's opponent saw this coming, bringing up his long sword to block it. Trevor had the whip coil around the blade and hoped to pry the weapon out of the man's hands. Yet the vampire was really strong and hardly made the effort to let go.

Wanting to rid Trevor of his whip, the vampire pulled his ensnared sword back hard. As a result, Trevor was pulled off the ground and sailed across the room while losing his grip on the whip. Seeing he was coming in fast, Trevor pulled out his short sword and once landing he ran forward to engage in close quarters combat.

Seeing the Belmont coming right towards him, the vampire removed the whip from his sword without touching it. Once close enough, the vampire responded to each and every one of Trevor's attacks with all sorts of parries. He then jumped back at a point and landed on the altar.

Trevor tried to chase him, but the vampire moved at a fast pace to seemingly become a blur with a red outline with some after images. The fanged man appeared behind Trevor and did a horizontal slash. Trevor blocked the strike, but was sent flying back from the force.

Roxas surveyed the fight and from his experience teaching alongside Ser Rodrik Cassel, his mind started going to work in critiquing things now.

While Trevor has the speed advantage, his opponent has the range. Regarding their physical skill, the vampire has the superior strength, good reaction time and equal if not better speed. And because of this, Trevor has the disadvantage but puts in the effort while fighting.

The fight soon went on with Trevor starting to lose in the confrontation. Having had enough of this, Roxas soon left Sypha's side, who soon called out to him. He ignored her, rushing forward as he brought out Winter's Howl and Oathkeeper in order to intercept a sword strike onto Trevor's blindside.

The vampire was honestly surprised in seeing the boy holding off his attack with equal amounts of strength. Their blades let out sparks as they grinded against each other.

Being so close to the Keyblades now, the blond vampire did a quick scan of them and soon voiced his inspection.

"Those weapons you carry." The vampire narrowed his eyes. "They are of a magical property that are beyond that of what I have seen."

Roxas only pushed the vampire away and stood defensively before Trevor, who eyed him in curiosity on his recent action.

"This isn't your fight, boy." Spoke the vampire. "My confrontation is with him."

"I know, but I'm not going to stand aside as he is being outmatched." Getting into a stance, Roxas eyed the vampire with a critical gaze. "He might not be my friend, but so far I'm willing to fight beside him against you and anyone else."

Beside Roxas, Trevor could feel a bit touched with the kid's words. He might not like him all that much, but the boy can tolerate him. And they have indeed fought alongside each other so far today with no form of backstabbing at all.

To him, that was traits of loyalty in his book.

Meanwhile, the vampire regarded the greater Nobody before grinning a moment later in approval.

"Guess you're a more respectable chap then this dimwitted fool."

"Dimwitted?" Trevor remarked with an amused glare. "How is a dimwitted fool like myself able to keep pace with a fanged freak like yourself?"

The vampire scoffed though he kept up his grin, turning more arrogant now.

"If that's the case…"

With a wave of his sword, dark fireballs were conjured around the vampire in an arc like fashion. He sent them flying at the two.

Roxas crossed his arms and with a dual diagonal slash dispersed the fireballs in an instant.

"Oh, you are certainly more skilled than I had thought."

Sending more dark fireballs, which Roxas quickly named Hellfire, Trevor and Roxas avoided the attacks as they tried to keep up with the more enthusiastic vampire.

With quick reflexes, Trevor and Roxas traded fending off the vampire's sword strikes with each and every other swing. Disappearing with reddened after images, Roxas had to quickly move to intercept a blow against Trevor. In return, he covered the Nobody's blind spots.

In an effort to get the upper hand, Roxas casted several Thunder spells. They had caught the vampire off guard on the first few strikes upon his person, but he was quick to act in avoiding the following ones.

From the sidelines, Sypha could only watch and think about not just what she heard before the fight, but also about the teamwork the two men were sharing now. And parts of her waged war with each other on what to exactly do at the present time.

Said men were starting to seemingly impress the vampire bit by bit with how they were able to predict his movements and strikes. And as the fight waged on, his vampiric eyes started glowing in order to possibly up his game.

Yet he shoved such feelings down, given he had something to do with them.

In a moment of Trevor holding off against the vampire's blade, Roxas went to attack their opponent from behind. Out of instinct, the vampire casted Hellfire from point blank range from behind. As a result, Roxas was sent flying back.

Seeing his companion sent away, Trevor had to find a way to win this confrontation. So in a sudden moment, he kneed the vampire's pelvic region.

…..

…..

…..

"Please, this isn't a bar fight. Have some class."

This merely earned him a headbut to the face.

With the vampire staggered for the briefest of moments, the Vampire Hunter flung himself forward, managing to tackle the vampire down who instinctively tossed him off via palm strike. Trevor was sent flying back for quite the distance. After a moment to quickly get back up, he soon avoided the incoming lunge attack from the vampire's long sword.

Their swords soon clashed once more in close quarters combat. With their weapons holding against each other soon after, Trevor mustered much of his strength and forced the vampire away. He then tried to cut the vampire's body.

However, the vampire quickly moved and decided to not attack Trevor himself, but his present weapon of choice.

With a powered blow from both opponents, Trevor's sword was broken near the base… but it had blood on it.

How this came to be was simple, the vampire now had an x-shaped wound on his chest to seemingly match his older scar.

Recovering from the attack, the vampire felt mighty pissed. And in retaliation… he punched the Belmont in the face, which resulted in him flying into the steps on the side of the room.

While the vampire was impressed with how the Belmont was able to wound him, part of his pride was actually hurt and his darker nature took over moments ago in order to finish the fight for the win.

Dropping his long sword, the vampire quickly approached the downed Belmont, who tried getting up. The blond man pinned him down from the top of his head and arm.

"Do you have a god to put a last prayer to, Belmont?"

Trevor let out a grunt from his defiant smile. "Yeah… Dear God, please don't let the vampire's guts ruin my good tunic."

"...What?"

The vampire then let out a pained grunt. Looking at the source, he saw Trevor used his broken short sword to stab him near where his heart is.

"And don't let the bastard's ashes give me something bad."

Through the pain, the vampire wondered what the Belmont meant by that. And his wonderment was answered as he felt some heat coming from behind him.

"Back off." Roxas growled out, aiming Oathkeeper right at the vampire's head with a Fire spell concentrating at the tip.

"You know I can still rip your friend's throat out."

"And it won't stop me from staking you." Trevor stated with a cocky smile.

"I will kill him before you." Said the vampire.

"And I'll stop you before you get the chance." Responded the greater Nobody.

"So you don't care to lose your lives?"

"I don't know about the kid, but for me, I don't." Trevor answered. "Killing you was the point. Living through it was just a luxury."

"For me, I never had a life so to speak to begin with." Roxas said with mirth. "Benefits of an existence that was never to be."

The vampire and Belmont actually stopped in their heated glare with one another too gaze at the teen in utter bewilderment.

Silence beheld the three combatants as it was quite thick for them to handle. But after what felt like hours, the vampire started laughing.

Yet he stopped once hearing Sypha approaching them.

"Enough." Sypha held her hand with her index and pinky finger pointed upwards, a small orb of fire glowing in between the two fingers. "I will incinerate you before your fangs touch that man's throat and your hands skewer the boy."

"I thought I was your legendary Savior." The vampire stated.

"So did I." Sypha said evenly. "But they both saved my life."

The vampire paused for a moment. "You're a Speaker-Magician."

"Yes." Sypha said. "And his goal is mine, to stand up for the people."

The vampire then let out a snort with a sense of relief soon enveloping him. "Good… Very good." He then let go of Trevor's form and stood up, showing his wounds quickly started to heal up. "A vampire hunter, a magician and a hero. You three will do."

"What does that mean?" Roxas inquired.

Despite disepating the Fire spell, he still had his Keyblade out and aimed at the vampire in case of anything.

"I am Adrian Tepes." The vampire at long last named himself. "Known to the Wallachians as Alucard…" He gazed intently at Trevor. "Son of Vlad Dracula Tepes."

"Wait, Dracula had a son?" Roxas questioned before hearing the man's second name. "Wait, Alucard… is Dracula backwards?"

"I think it's quite lazy, if you ask me." Trevor said, slowly getting back onto his feet.

"It matters not." Said the now identified Adrian or Alucard. "I've been asleep here in this keep under Gresit for a year, to heal the wounds dealt by my father when I attempted to stop him from unleashing his demon armies."

Sypha extinguished her flame. "Then you are the Sleeping Soldier."

"I am familiar with the stories," Alucard said blandly. "Though I cannot deny nor confirm this." He then eyed the Speaker a bit more. "I'm also aware that the Speakers consider this story to be information from the future. Do you know the whole story, perhaps?"

Sypha suddenly blushed out of some form of embarrassment. "Yes."

"Okay, I'm confused." Roxas said.

"Me too, Roxas." Trevor muttered out. "Would've been better to learn of this specific tale beforehand in greater detail."

Composing herself, Sypha regaled part of the story. "The Sleeping Soldier will be met by a Hunter, a Scholar and a Hero."

Both the "Hunter" and the "Hero" blinked at this and soon voiced their responses.

"No one told me that."

"Sounds far fetched."

Sypha then spoke her excuse. "Why do you think my grandfather tried everything to make you stay, Belmont?"

Trevor frowned, learning the Speakers had withheld certain information from him.

"This is why I don't like Speakers." Trevor said, voicing his displeasure.

Alucard strolled over to his coffin and started pulling out articles of clothing. Slipping on a long white V-neck like shirt, he then put on a long black jacket with gold trims.

Pulling out his sword sheath from his coffin, he slipped it through the dual belts before calling out for his enchanted longsword to sheath itself.

"The four of us." Alucard nodded his head to the trio before him. "The four of us must bring an end to Dracula's war on Wallachia, on humanity."

"Why?" Belmont shot him a suspicious glare as he collected and filled up his Hunter's Whip. "Why help us at all?"

"Simple really." Alucard's tone shifted into one that was more forlorn. "It's what my mother would have wanted. And we are all, in the end, slaves to our families' wishes."

Roxas and Trevor shared a look at one another.

"You'll help us kill Dracula, your father, and save Wallachia?" Belmont inquired, still slightly on guard.

Adrian eyed the Vampire Hunter with confirmation in his gaze. "My father has to die. Us four… we can destroy him."

-End Chapter-

AN:

Some people asked why Castlevania. Well I thought it was a fun series and something to tackle as it shares a lot of elements and themes with GoT/ASoIaF. Wanted Roxas to get a taste of how bad things can really get early on as a means of preparation to better play the Game of Thrones. From both political and religious aspects.

There was some potential back in Dream Drop Distance when doing Hunchback of Notre Dame as some themes are used in that film; especially with the novel the animated film it was based off of. Yet they had to adjust things accordingly and make it to what we see in the game.

A shame, really. So much potential wasted.

I keep getting PM requests for Lenore to be in the pairing… so I gotta quote Huey and Riley from the Boondocks: "She's a hoe!"

FMW: She is a hoe, isn't she.

Jeb: No kidding. Playing Hector like a fiddle.

So at the present time, we have to cut a lot of content from season 2 in order to slim things down and focus on the immediate parts in the Castlevania arc.

And in case you guys forgot, Lenore is with her other two vampire sisters back in mid-15th Century Austria. I highly doubt Carmilla would want to bring anyone else with her in order to speed up her travel.

I understand some people wanting to possibly see Lenore interacting with Roxas, but I honestly can't see it at the present time given what I've done in story planning so far. If this was a completely different story idea, then this interaction would be a maybe.

As for any other female Castlevania characters… sorry but I don't have any plans for them to be with Roxas at the present time. So sorry on that. Once again, would have to be a different story idea altogether.

FMW: For now all that we can do is give you the plot trajectory that would make the most sense within the context of said plot lines, seasons and so on. But we do have several unique surprises to play around with in the world of Castlevania for you all to look forward too…. Eventually. All good things come in time.

Anyways, be sure to review this story guys! Would like the criticisms. Please and thank you!

R&R