Chapter 12: The Wailing Noises of Forgotten People
A/N Angry9guy: Hey guys I'm happy to help my new friend write this and yes I do have a different yet fun writing style. It is an honor to be doing this.
Merlin smirked as Elizabeth gasped and realized immediately what he meant. Then grabbed a hugged Akko, holding her tightly.
"You can't! I won't allow it!" Elizabeth screamed. "I mean…we can do something else! Like— maybe send one of our servants or—"
"They are all undead like the rest of us."
The Old Master then pointed towards Akko as Elizabeth hugged her tightly.
"She's the only one in this mansion who is still registered as a living being. She is the only one who can do it."
"No way!" Elizabeth shook her head. "You don't know what could happen to her in that dimension! She could get hurt or worse!"
"You know she's the only one quit wasting time!"
Hans shouted as he tried to grab for Akko, but Elizabeth was quick and sliced off the older vampire's hand with a quick slash from her own. Hans did not even scream in pain and just stared at his sister in annoyance as black blood sprayed from where his hand used to be.
"NO! You guys suck! This is honestly the dumbest plan EVER! Akko and I are one and one! I'm going to let you take her away from me!"
Multiple different reactions happened after Elizabeth said those words. Hans and George stared down at her with disgust. Annabelle and Lilith sighed in disapproval and shook their heads. Ivans was laughing aloud like a madman. And Merlin simply closed his eyes and wore a small smile.
"Aw~! Is poor Elizabeth getting attention from another human?" Ivans teased. "I thought you learned your lesson after all these years!"
Elizabeth turned her 180 degrees to face Ivans. Her eyes became wild and darkness radiated from her body.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!? DON'T YOU DARE—"
"ELIZABETH MYRDDIN EMRYS!"
The vampire girl stopped as if she was a statue and calmed down. She turned over to her mother who put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Look, she'll be ok. After all, you trained her, remember?"
"B-but I just–"
"I know sweetheart," Annabelle replied quickly. "But this needs to be done. You have to do this. Trust in Akko…"
Elizabeth wanted to argue more but nothing could come to mind. The vampire girl sighed in defeat as she looked over at Akko who still did not showcase any emotion. It was at that moment that some part of Elizabeth wished Akko would have some emotion so she could feel more alive, but she knew Akko would never truly want to stay.
"Fine…"
Elizabeth gives Akko to Merlin, and with his regenerated hand holds her gently and gets close to her face.
"Now child…your duty is a simple one."
Merlin quickly chanted some words in Luna language and conjured a thin golden magical line which he tied around Akko's waist. The line seemed to move and coil around her as if it were a snake.
"This is a Leyline Thread which is made from one of the millions of dead roots of this world. Your job is to find the core of the 'Fair Realm' and tie it to the orb so that we can now have a connection. Is that understood?"
"Yes…"
Akko answered emotionlessly.
"Good!"
Merlin then picked up Akko as if she were an object and threw her into the portal without care. The maid fell through the blue dimension and in seconds she appeared in what seemed to be a grand city that seemed to fit in the period of the medieval ages. However, the buildings were all destroyed and darkness coated the skies. Only the stars were the source of light— not even the moon or the sun showed up. It was also unbearably cold, but the hypnotized Akko cared not for the weather.
Akko then slowly went deeper into the ruined city, ignoring the broken buildings that seemed to have been destroyed by a great disaster. Then the emotionless maid laid eyes on the giant castle that was at the center of the city that looked ready to fall over. At the top of the class was a ripped white flag that had the emblem of a blue eye.
The brunette walked down the barely stable stone bridge and entered the castle whose doors were wide open. All over the floor of the castle were corpses that were gray and covered in dust and webs. They all seemed to share the face of suffering and on most of them were what seemed to be long and pointy ears.
"Akko, can you hear me?"
The voice of Hans rang in Akko's head.
"Yes master…"
"Good, you made it inside the castle. I'm sensing high levels of mana activity down the hall. But be careful, the Old Master says that there should be traps—"
"If you get in trouble, don't hesitate to run Akko!"
The distant voice of Elizabeth boomed in Akko's ears. And then the noise of pushing and shoving came quickly after.
"Will you stop that!? Now Akko, go on."
Just as Akko took her first step, she accidentally stepped on a loose rock and suddenly some arrows were shooting everywhere.
"Goddamit…"
The exhausted voice of Hans said, but Akko showed no fear. The maid gracefully ran from all the arrows as they hit nothing but the stone wall and she ran down the corridor a giant ax was swinging from side to side. Akko timed her run right and easily avoided getting sliced. She continued running— her speed that far surpassed any normal human.
As she was getting closer to a doorway, a pit had opened up suddenly. Like a ballerina, she leaped over it landed gracefully on the other side, and immediately ran into the doorway.
And as Akko pushed through many more traps popped up, but Akko used her skills and magic such as using metamorphosis magic to transform into a rat and dodged some traps and then immediately ran into a hole— climbing on the other side and reverted to normal.
The benefit of being a vampire (or half of one) was that Akko had to use magic without the necessity of a wand. In contrast to her normal human self, she was far better and stronger.
Just as she gets up the ground shakes and starts cracking.
"RUN!" Hans shouted in Akko's head. The Japanese girl ran so fast that she left a dust cloud in the shape of her silhouette.
Akko leaped over another pit and grabbed some poles that daggled on the walls. She used it to swing herself high to higher ground as she dodged the arrows firing at her through midair. As Akko was getting closer to the exit, she noticed two walls closing in from both sides.
"Metamorphie Fociesse…"
Akko transformed into a fly and ran inside a small hole that led to a different room. Inside the room was an army of cockroaches that crawled. The floor. They then quickly vanished into the cracks of the building, but not because of Akko. But because a giant boulder fell behind her.
"Lord have mercy! How many traps are there!?" Hans shrieked.
"That place sounds incredibly dangerous," said the pouting voice of Ivan. "I wish I was there~!"
After outrunning the speeding boulder, Akko jumped through a window to another room and did not stop as the walls and ground crumbled away like sand. The maid saw a rope made on the ground and quickly grabbed it. She made it into a lasso and tossed it as it hit a ledge. Akko then swung like a monkey, bursting through the wall and entering a new place.
"T-this is it!" Hans shouted. "This is the room!"
In this room were some pictures that were cut or burned up. Rocks and bricks were piled up everywhere with more long-eared corpses and at the center of the room was a golden throne that was broken in half. Laying in its middle was a small dark glowing orb.
The entire Myrddin Emrys Family was in awe at the reveal of the throne room while Merlin remained silent.
"Okay Akko," Hans ordered. "Tie the thread around the orb."
"Yes, Master."
With no delay, the maid tied the golden line around the orb as it melted right into it like cheese that heated in a microwave. Once the entire thread was consumed the orb grew bigger and became a glowing blue light. The temperature was insanely hot and blue flames started to appear and burn everything.
"W-woah!" Hans shouted. "Old Master—what has happened to the core!?"
Merlin chuckled.
"The connection is complete. The leyline thread combined with the dimensions core turned it into a form of a life…a sun."
"That's a sun?" Lilith questioned. "But it's blue…"
"A blue sun for an already dead world," Merlin commented. "It's quite fitting if you ask me…"
"Wait…"
Elizabeth spoke up.
"If that's a sun should Akko be that close to—"
Before Elizabeth could even finish, some of the blue flames clung to Akko and started burning her flesh. Despite that, she did not scream or try to put the flames out.
"Oh crap—AKKO, GET OUT OF THERE! "
The scream from Elizabeth caused Akko to immediately run straight into the nearest stone wall. With great strength, she burst through and plummeted to the castle ground creating a crater.
The huge dust cloud cleared to show an Akko-sized hole. The girl quietly got out, her body battered. Burnt flesh and broken bones in almost every place. But thanks to the healing factor of a vampire, the wounds were already going away as if they never existed.
"Akko!" Elizabeth shouted. "Are you okay!?"
"Of course she is!" Hans yelled. "Her healing factor is doing her wonders!"
"Still surprised she got her healing factor so fast!" Ivan commented. "Usually it takes other humans a month or so! What makes that girl so special?…hm?"
"Huh? What?"
Hans turned to his twin who wore an uncharacteristically serious expression.
"Hans…you don't sense that?"
"W-what do you—"
The male vampire's face turned blue and his legs began to shake. Instantly all the other vampires in the room began to feel the strange pressure as well and started to feel weak. The only ones who didn't seem affected were Ivan and Merlin.
"W-what is that!?" George shouted.
"Hans," Merlin turned to his grandson. "Tell Akko to get out of there. Fast."
"O-okay, Akko—"
But instantly surrounding Akko was a whole congregation of people wearing long cloaks that seemed to mirror the entire galaxy. Their faces were hidden in shadow but poking out of the side of their hoods was purple long ears. They outstretched their pale and malnourished arms to the sky and started singing in a deafening tune.
At first, Akko showed no reaction but then it was as if something invaded her body. The girl started to scream. She fell to her knees clutching her head as blood came out of her ears and eyes.
"AH AH!"
The Myrddin Emrys Family looked bewildered and terrified at what they saw.
"AKKO!" Elizabeth screamed. "W-what are those things!?"
Everyone turned to Merlin who quickly answered.
"They are Elves. Citizens of the Lost Kingdom…"
"Those are Elves?" Annabelle asked in awe.
"Yes, and they seem to see Akko as a threat and are trying to destroy her…"
"WHAT!?" Elizabeth grabbed the cloak of Merlin. "Do something! The Elves have mighty magic that will surely kill her! Regardless if she is an undead or not!"
"Elizabeth!" George stood up and grabbed his daughter. "Let go of the Old Master at once!"
"NO! YOU CAN SAVE HER! WITH FANTASIA YOU DEFINITELY CAN!"
Merlin hummed.
"You are right dear Elizabeth, I could. But for now, I will choose to do nothing…"
Elizabeth's face turned red with anger.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!?"
Elizabeth pushed Merlin to the side and tried to go through the portal herself, but her hands instantly turned to dust the moment she touched it.
"You are undead Elizabeth," Merlin stated. "The 'Fair Realm' will not accept you."
"No…no no no no!"
The purple-haired vampire stared at the portal in horror as Akko continued to scream out in pain. The memories of a certain someone she loved long in the past and the suffering she went through flooded her mind, causing her to release tears.
"AKKO!"
The Elves surrounded Akko, singing so loud that the ground started to shake. The earth was breaking up and buildings tumbled over. Akko was starting to suffer herself but then a recent memory came into her head. The memory of her earlier practice with Elizabeth…
"S-…Spiritus Inmensus!"
The magical boundary surrounded Akko and automatically as the Elves were being pushed back. However, different from when Akko did the spell in the mansion, it was even bigger like the size of a nuke explosion. The houses and buildings nearly were blown to pieces and the clouds were parted.
Seeing the scene through the portal, the Myrddin Emtys Family was left with their mouths wide open in complete astonishment.
"N-now!" Elizabeth shouted at Merlin. "Bring her back—NOW!"
Merlin tapped Fantasia to the ground and instantly Akko reappeared back into the library.
"AKKO!"
Elizabeth ran to her familiar and encaptured her in a tight hug.
"I thought you were a goner!"
Hans approached and took Akko from Elizabeth's arms.
"H-hey!"
"What magic was that!?" Hans shouted. "She is not even a full vampire yet and she was able to conjure up such a spell? What is this girl!?"
"Hans."
Merlin walked up to the young man.
"Let me see her."
Hans did as he was ordered and pushed Akko in Merlin's direction. The old vampire put his hand on her upper chest and closed his eyes. A minute later he opened them and stared at the Japanese girl in fascination.
"Her soul…is fractured…"
"What do you mean?"
"The ability to manipulate mana is within the soul," Merlin explained. "With that truth, it means that technically all living beings have the power to use magic and that ability comes from within. But…something has tampered with her soul."
Everyone turned to Elizabeth who immediately raised her hands up in defense.
"I didn't do it! You guys know I don't have the magic power to harm the soul directly!"
"I know Elizabeth," Merlin stated. "Sensing the scar on this girl's soul…the damage that was done to her has been there for a while. Perhaps to eleven or ten years…"
"F-for that long?" Hans said while sweating. "What in this world could have possibly fractured her soul?"
Merlin shrugged.
"That's the mystery. I'm not sure whether it was something or someone. Regardless, the damage is not permanent."
"It's not? But what has been damaged is the soul! Are you sure?"
Merlin nodded slowly.
"One of the most powerful things in this universe is the soul itself! Even when our mortal bodies decay, our souls will go on to exist in another reality. Souls are eternal and can heal themselves if they are damaged. Although I'm not sure when it will completely heal…"
"But this definitely answers some questions," Elizabeth said aloud with her finger to her chin. "Like how Akko's magic was super chaotic! It must be because of the fracture of her soul! And making her a vampire was…"
"Yes, turning her into a vampire may have heightened her magical capacity. It's like drinking out of a cracked glass of water and then pouring more water into it. While the glass will get filled at the same time it will continue to spill— may even shatter from the pressure!"
The Old Master grabbed Akko's chin and leaned closer to her face. His hair began to move wildly and his eyes grew pitch black like the void. He wore a wide grin, showcasing his sharp and crooked teeth while drooling.
"After living for so many years you would think I had learned everything there is to know about mana, yet this world still continues to surprise me…I must study her…I want to know more about her…"
"Hell no!"
Elizabeth grabbed Akko and dragged her away from Merlin.
"She nearly DIED because of what you tried to make her do today! And if she became your test subject you definitely wouldn't be able to take care of her!"
"How dare you talk to the Old Master like that Elizabeth!" George roared, his size increasing to that of a giant while his voice became ridiculously deep and his eyes flashed red like streetlights.
Elizabeth simply huffed in response.
"I don't care what any of you have to say! If you even lay a finger on Akko without my permission I will kick all of your asses!"
George was ready to bring down his fist but the tap of Merlin's staff made everyone turn to him. The Old Master's face had returned to normal and he wore a gentle smile.
"…It's fine George. Elizabeth, go and take your familiar, we are done for today."
"Come on, Akko," Elizabeth said quickly while pulling her hand.
Everyone watched them head up and sighed.
"She's making the same mistakes as she did years ago with that other girl," George commented as he thought deeply. "…was her name…Jessie?"
"Samantha," Annabelle answered. "I'm surprised you forgot, she never stopped crying about her for years."
"Like I would remember as insignificant as a pathetic human girl."
"Watch your tone, George," Annabelle's eyes flashed through her hair. "To Elizabeth, Samantha means the world to her…and what happened to her was…"
Annabelle released a heavy sigh and walked away.
"Something that didn't need to happen…damn you Woodward…"
"That's finally over!"
Elizabeth, who was now in her pajamas, was putting sleepwear on Akko as well. Dressing her up like a doll.
"Does that fit you? It's my old pajamas from like a hundred years ago! Don't worry, Mom always cleans my clothes, even the old ones!"
Elizabeth then took Akko to bed and cuddled with her.
"I'm glad that you're safe and don't worry about that creepy old man or anybody else! I can sense if anyone messed with you so you don't have to be afraid! I promise to always protect you Akko…"
Elizabeth smiled and brought Akko in a big hungry French kiss as their tongues swirled and she kissed her neck and licked it.
"You said you wanted to be a performer like that Shiny Chariot right? Well since I don't really have any dreams of my own, I'll be a performer with you! What would our stage name be? Hmm…maybe— Akko and Elizabeth: The Two Sorcerers of the Night! Hmm…or maybe…"
As Elizabeth was brainstorming stage names, the eyes of the emotionless Akko saw something that not even the vampire girl could see. A faint green light of a figure of a woman in a long dress. Her shining eyes stared down at Akko, making her heart beat fast in fear.
"W-what is that!?"
The voice of Akko which was deep with the sea of consciousness that was in the dark corners of her mind, was freaking out by seeing the spirit. But all she could do was move around aimlessly in the void as her body in the real world did nothing.
The brunette witch grumbled in frustration.
"Why is this happening!? I can't talk, I can't move, I can't do ANYTHING!"
Akko clutched her head and rolled up into a ball. She began to ball her eyes out as her consciousness sank deeper and deeper into the darkness.
"Somebody please…HELP ME!"
But the screams of Akko could be heard nowhere and Elizabeth let out a yawn as she rested her head on Akko's chest.
Elizabeth takes Akko to bed and cuddles with her like a teddy bear, at the same time a spirit seems to be watching the two sleep.
"I love you…"
A/N Angry9guy: Holy Moly I am a big fan of this story and it was a big honor to help even if the scene with Ursla betraying Akko broke my heart. Honestly, this story deserves more reviews man.
A/N: Thank you so much for your help, Angry9guy! Stay tuned for what happens next!
Please check out my own original web novel, "The Branded Hero Volume 1: Baxter the Failure". The tale of a hero who has been outcasted by the world since releasing The Demon King: /series/The-Branded-Hero-Volume-1-Baxter-the-Failure/info
And please check out my webcomic, "The Curse of Gringerfield" on Webtoon and Tapas!
Webtoon: en/canvas/the-curse-of-gringerfield/list?title_no=970667
Tapas: /series/The-Curse-of-Gringerfield/info
Next Chapter: Elizabeth and Akko's Day Out