-Chapter 48: A Deadman's Tale-
"We received word from our speculators that they had arrived by the south sea."
"By midday we took those who escaped from the other forts along the coast and the fields, each legionnaire telling the same worrying reports."
"Upon the red sky we saw birds scatter from the trees, and deer flee from the woods."
"From the south forest we heard their drums, and their cries of war and slaughter."
"We saw them break through the tree lines and face us in the clearing."
"The Eldians."
"And the Titan."
…
"It rose up from the trees, as tall as the mountains themselves."
"It bared the face of death, and the body of a woman."
"A mockery of man's companion."
"The she-devil charged our lines, while the Eldians watched and hollered."
"Blade, bolts, and flames could do nothing to stop the She-Devil. Wounds would seal up and burnt flesh would steam and grow again like new."
"The Eldians grinned as the She-Devil crumbled our defenses, and crushed my legion under her feet and in her hands."
"Moment by moment we lost ground, till only but a mere dozen of us remained."
"Some fled into the trees and inside these halls, others like myself stayed."
"I would not give those devils the satisfaction of my cowardice."
"The Eldians did not grant us the honor of rightful combat."
"No, they still only watched as the She-Devil did the work for them."
….
"Understand priest, they are demons, wearing the skin of men."
"They walk among us, like wolves that prowl among lambs."
"There is no other rhyme or reason for their actions."
"For only a demon can unleash such horrors upon man."
"For only a demon can wreath such destruction and death in its wake."
"For only a demon can commit such acts with glee and joy."
….
"You ask why I call you liar and traitor?"
"Simple, for that is what you are."
"Why would a man, who speaks our tongue, join the Eldian demons?"
"For he is a traitor."
"Why would he willingly choose to walk among them? To dine with them? To sleep with them?"
"For he is a betrayer."
"Why would he walk into our fortress, with false promises of salvation?
"For he is a deceiver."
"You are garbed in the robes of a holy man, yet bear the soul of a sinner."
"You bear unimaginable power, of which I see is on par with the demon."
"Only natural for a sinner to surround himself with his own kind."
"For you and the Eldian are kindred spirits."
-oOo-
Maverick's floating form remained still in place, his eyes closed as the old soldier told his tale and laid his accusations of him bare.
He took in every word the lemure spoke. Even if most of it was seemingly mad ramblings from a jaded spirit, in those said ramblings there was valuable nuggets of information that caught the giant warrior priests' interest.
'Heh…Rome and Gaul…always destined to be at each other's throats…'
"Cogitesne nunc sacerdos?" The Centurion asked with a sneering gaze.
A short, and very tense pause followed as the spirits stared coldly at the radiant holy man. Through the prismatic glow his body emanated his eyes shined open, their hidden sights looking back into the sharp, angered eyes of the centurion.
"YOU'VE GIVEN ME THINGS TO THINK ON CENTURION..." Maverick said, along with a thousand other voices alongside his. "HOWEVER, THERE IS BUT ONE, SMALL THING YOU BOTH NEGLECT AND KNOW NOTHING OF."
Still levitating atop the ground Maverick floated closer into the centurion's space, causing the malevolent spirits to retreat from his radiant aura, sinking back into the darkness.
"I AM MANY THINGS CENTURION…."
"A HERALD…A VESSEL…A USURPER…CONQUEROR…WARRIOR…MURDERER…SINNER…"
Despite his incorporeal form, the old soldier found himself moving backwards, vine staff held out, as the giant's far taller and larger form began to loom over him as he spoke, his distance and radiance being most uncomforting to the ghost.
"BUT I AM NO TRAITOR TO MANKIND." The warrior priest said plainly, his eyes blazing with azure flames. "AND I AM NO FRIEND OR ALLY OF THE ETERNAL ENEMY."
"NEVER HAVE I ENTERTAINED SUCH HORRID THOUGHTS, AND I NEVER WILL."
The voices that followed his joined in perfect, divine, and unnatural unison.
"FOR ME TO LIE OF THIS OR DECEIVE YOU, IS TO SPIT IN THE FACE OF MY BENEFACTORS. THEY WHO BESTOWED THEIR POWER TO ME."
He felt the comforting burn from his markings, a warm reminder that they were at his side.
"AND THOSE WHO STAND BY ME, THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT BY MY SIDE, WHOM I CALL COMPANIONS, ARE NO DEMONS."
"IACET!" Cried out the legionnaires. Their angered shouts of the ghostly peanut gallery went ignored as Maverick kept his focus and attention on the decorated lemure.
"I HAVE SEEN THE FALLEN ANGELS WITH MY OWN EYES CENTURION. THE WIKEDNESS IN THEIR SOULS IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER."
Faces of old demons from his past flashed in his mind as he spoke aloud.
Legion…
Abraxas…
Pazuzu…
Al'Diabolos…
Lilith…
Edwin Black…
Be'Lakor…
"I'VE FACED THEM IN THE CRUCIBLES OF WAR AND IN TRIALS OF THE SOUL, MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER CENTURION. I KNOW WELL WHEN I AM IN THEIR WRETCHED PRESENCE."
Centuries of facing off against the eternal enemy had done wonders for him, he admitted to himself. Even if they masqueraded as man, beast, or even objects, he knew how to sniff them out, and how to end them rightly.
"AND MY COMPANIONS, THESE ELDIANS YOU SPEAK OF, THAT YOU DESPISE, ARE. NO. DEMONS."
Maverick knew it more than anyone. If these old Romans had truly faced the rebellious kin of Lucifer, or their parallel brethren, then this world would have been long lost to damnation and chaos, and he would have had to do some extreme measures to counteract them.
"MENDAX! DECEPTOR!"
Yet the spirits were not listening to his words. Like children putting their fingers in their ears they denied his words, content to believe in their own reasonings.
"THEY ARE THE DECENDANTS OF YOUR CONQUERORS. NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS."
"TACE LINGUAM TUAM!"
"AND IF WHAT YOU SPEAK IS TRUE, THEN THEIR CONQUESTS HAVE LONG SINCE COME TO AN END."
At his words the Centurion swung his vine staff, silencing his legions cries and hollers. For once the priest spoke something worth listening to.
"UNDERTAND CENTURION, MUCH TIME HAS PASSED SINCE YOU AND YOUR MEN'S DEATHS. YOUR LANDS, AND BODIES, HAVE BEEN RECLAIMED BY THE EARTH."
"YOUR CONQUERORS ARE UNKNOWN TO THE PEOPLE HERE. THOUGH THEY BARE THEIR BLOOD, THEY KNOW NOTHING OF THEIR LEGACIES."
"AND THESE NEWBORN ELDIANS NOW LIVE OF FEAR OF THE GIANTS THEIR ANCESTORS ONCE USED AGAINST YOU."
A look of genuine surprise formed on the Centurion's ghastly face, before his and those of his legionnaires began to twist and contort into grinning smiles followed by a most blood curdling laugh.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Their cruel laughter echoed across the headquarters' interior and out into the fields beyond, chilling the air even more as the spirits, for once in their long existence, found some joy in their purgatory.
"Lus servit illis!" The Centurion cackled out. "Divina poena pro peccatis suis!"
Ignoring the sneering satisfaction in the soldiers' voice Maverick continued to speak aloud.
"THE DECENDANTS OF YOUR FOE NOW SEEK TO RECLAIM THE LAND, AND EXTERMINATE THE TITANS THAT HAVE FESTERED SINCE YOUR DAYS OF OLD."
"Tamen adduxisti hic proli-diaboli!" The Centurion cried, as he pointed accusingly at the warrior priest. "Spectatores mei de longe viderunt! Satis unus Titan!"
"THEY ARE UNDER MY THRALL, AND WILL BE DEALT WITH ONCE THEY HAVE SERVED THEIR PURPOSE."
The legionnaire raised a brow at the priest' words. His scouts had whispered of the glow in the Titan's eyes that surrounded the fortress, and soon enough a giant who too glowed appeared. Not hard enough to tell they were in collusion.
Yet the priest's tone seemed to say he held no love for the beasts. If so, then why would he have them under his thrall? There was always a saying of those who fought fire with fire.
"Consis occidere eos semel suo proposito serviunt... Et quid deinde?"
"WE WILL FIND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO CREATE THEM, AND BRING THEIR ACTIONS TO AN END."
"A DAY WILL COME, NOT TODAY, NOT TOMORROW, BUT A FUTURE DAY WHERE THE TITANS WILL BE MERE TALL TALES AND FABLES."
"THAT I CAN PROMISE TO YOU ALL."
His declaration, once again, earned him a choir of mocking laughter from the spectral Romans.
"Facetus es vir sanctus. Infeliciter redemptionis tempus iamdudum praeteriit!"
The Centurion's face twisted into a scowl as he screamed into the priest's face, even as he felt his immortal and angry soul shiver before the power that the man held, he would not show submission before a stronger foe.
A brave man this Centurion once was.
"SOLA VIA REMISSIONIS IN MORTE!"
But all that remained now was a warped shadow, denied his eternal peace.
A cacophony of shouts erupted from the lemures, for in their spectral eyes their centurion spoke the truth.
The Eldians had made pacts with devilish powers, in turn forsaking their souls to damnation. It was a stain that would never be cleansed, no matter what.
"THE SINS OF THE FATHER DO NOT PASS TO THE SONS." Maverick spoke defiantly, his own face hardening into a scowl.
"NON QUANDO FILIUS PECCATUM EST SICUT PATER!"
The Centurion's words made his legionnaires go seemingly mad, for their ghastly voices and cries had brought the once empty hall of the abandoned headquarters to life with the voices of the lost and the damned.
"ELDIANS AGENDUM! NISI PROPTER PRO NOBIS TUNC EIS QUI SUNT POST NOBIS!"
"DAMNABILIS CREATURIS!"
"DÆMONIBUS IN CARNE!"
"SINT IN REMISSA!"
"IN AETERNUM DAMNATUS!"
"OMNE! MULIER! OMNE PUER!"
"POPULUS MARLEY VINDICABITUR!"
Maverick stood his ground as the lemures encircled him, letting out the no doubt centuries worth of anguish and hatred out to him. Soon enough the remains of the old furniture once more began to float and be chucked at him.
As a chair leg struck and bounced off his back he sighed, deeply. The spirits were not going to listen to whatever reasonings he had, nor give him a chance to make the necessary rites. For they were clearly far too consumed in their own hatred for the 'Eldians'.
A shame he thought, as a barrage of splintered wood bounced off his chest. While he wanted to continue to at least appease the spirits, he was stretched for time as he was certain he was cutting it close to the end of the witching hour.
"I HAD HOPED WE COULD DO THIS PEACFULLY, BUT YOUR ALL TOO FAR GONE…AND I CANNOT RISK THE HARM YOU MIGHT CAUSE TO MY COMPANIONS…"
Sparing the lemures no more further words he spoke in eldritch tongues that caused the legionnaire's actions to cease, as they all held their heated gazes to the warrior priest.
They all found themselves instinctively backing away once more as the prismatic light that surrounded the priest began to glow brighter as he continued to chant. The light rippled across the room as it spread across not only around him, but to the tools in his hands.
The cross in his left hand glowed with an almost blinding silvery light, and the censer chained to his right began to shine an equally blinding light through the small markings etched to its surface.
The Centurion's hate filled eyes were soon replaced with shock at the sight, as the priest lifted his mighty tools high into the air.
"….BY THE DIVINE LIGHT OF THE CREATOR…"
-oOo-
Meanwhile in the border of the woodlands…
By this time everyone from the expedition was up, for no one could ignore or sleep through the bizarre sight of the shining lights peering above the old fort's ruined walls.
Even as the ward stones kept whatever spooks surrounded the clearing at bay, many could still feel the abnormal chill still permeating in the air. On the contrary it seemed that it continued to get chillier with every minute.
At the forefront stood the three Commanders of the group, and their select retinues. Standing by one of the stones they observed as the lights fluctuated in brightness, like a duel of light against dark.
"He certainly puts on a wonderous lightshow." Remarked Pixis, to the bemusement of his fellows. Even in the current situation he seemed to always find the joys in life.
"He's been in there for a while." Nile spoke. He took out a pocket watch from his jacket, looking at the time. "How long did he say that witching hour lasted for?"
"Until four." Erwin replied. Looking up he saw his lieutenant observing from atop a tree branch. "Any signs of him?!"
The wolf headed scout looked down and shook his head.
"Should we send someone to check on him?" Hange asked aloud. While she had said someone, in reality she meant herself. Both concern feelings for Mav and her own fascinated curiosity for the paranormal had joined to coerce her.
"This is his area of expertise, gotta trust him to handle it!" Levi exclaimed from above, knowing full well what Hage wanted to do.
"Look!" A scout shouted, pointing towards the fort.
Looking back Levi could see the prismatic glow from the forts sole remaining building begin to grow in intensity.
From below everyone saw the lights from the wall begin to rise up, as if the sun itself was rising over the sky. The runes from the ward stones began to flash brightly in synch, causing some scouts to back away from the rumbling rocks.
Just as someone was beginning to ask what on earth was going on-
"BY THE HOLY TRINITY!"
"BY THE MIGHT OF THE ANCIENTS!"
BY THE POWERS THAT BE!
"I CAST YOU OUT OF THIS PLACE! NOW AND FOREVER!"
-Maverick's thunderous voice was shouted all across the land. Followed by a flash of divine light that enveloped the old fortress.
"HOLY-"
"GAH MY EYES!"
"SHIELD YOUR EYES!"
Arms were raised and fur cloaks were draped over heads, as the expedition force had just received a flashbang of nigh monumental proportions. It was a force on par with the blazing sun itself.
Of course, there were some who chose to watch the miniature sun shine.
"HANGE LOOK AWAY!"
The leader of Delta Squad ignored the cries of her comrades as her eyes were glued to the sight before her. And how could she? To bear witness to such divine beauty was something one couldn't just look away from, like a carriage crash or a morning street murder.
With her gaze still in place Hange was one of the few to witness a massive wave of divine energies spreading out from the fortress and onto the clearing, and soon to the forest.
She was nearly blown on her rear as the wave passed through her body, as a nigh overwhelming sensation of warmth had enveloped her, eliciting a pleasant fuzziness in her soul, like a warm blanket on a cold day.
And as quickly as it arrived, so quickly did it leave, much to her disappointment.
"HANGE?! HANGE!"
"Huh?"
Coming to her senses she was surprised to see Nanaba, shaking her while holding out her three fingers towards her face
"Are you alright?! How many fingers am I holding?"
Blinking a bit absentmindedly she looked to her comrade as if she had grown a second head. For she could clearly see Nanaba was holding three fingers.
Before she could voice this, she paused as she felt something, or in this case didn't.
"Do you feel it, Nana?"
"What?"
"The air…do you feel the chill anymore?"
Entertaining her words Nanaba took a moment, and with wide eyes she realized the abnormal chill that was in the air, was completely gone.
"No…"
She looked back towards the ruined fortress, the once blinding light that had shined was now completely gone, as if it had never even appeared. She could only assume whatever Maverick had done had succeeded.
Hearing the sounds of crushed leaves she turned to see Hange was making her way towards the clearing.
"Hange?"
Hange turned to give her a smile, motioning for her to follow her as her walk soon turned into a light jog.
"Hange hold on!"
Sparing a glance to her squad mates, Nanaba received a nod from Miche. With a bisk pace she followed her wayward comrade, while stopping at times to observe the ground, a ground filled with overgrown skeletons and old rusted weaponry.
Hange meanwhile race walked through the arch entryway, passing by through the ruins of the old barracks and stables, straight into the sole standing building.
Slamming the double doors open she got a good look at the state of the interior. It was as if an explosive had gone off inside the hall. The most unusual detail was the still singing bun marks on the floor, and the numerous bits of what was once furniture and other interior decorations.
"Maverick?" Hange said aloud, receiving no response. Moving in further in she stepped over towards the spot she assumed he was standing. "MAV?!"
"HANGE?!" Hage's eyes lit up after hearing his booming voice.
"Maverick, where are you?!"
"Second floor!"
With a skip in her step Hange rushed up the nearby set of stairs to meet Maverick. Going up to the second floor she was meet with two large halls with numerous doors on each side.
"Maverick?"
Taking the left sided hall she wandered about checking the rooms. A majority of them were empty, save for old worn weapon racks, moldy crates, and other such long-spoiled supplies.
Continuing her search she began to make her way towards another room, only for its door to swing open.
"Ah!"
Backing away she reached for her chainblade, only to release a relieved sigh as her giant came out.
"Morning Hanji." Said the giant warrior priest. "Take it you saw that little light show?"
She didn't respond immediately as she took in his appearance. She had seen him make the garbs some time ago, and this was her genuine first time seeing him dressed in this priestly outfit.
From the multiple symbols on the stole, to the chained bear tooth trinkets draping below his neck. Brought about a nice mix of simple clergyman, and savage shaman.
"Heh yeah…you nearly lit up the entire forest."
She readjusted her glasses, recalling the flash. The fact she hadn't gone blind herself was a miracle. While she wanted to figure out just why her eyeballs hadn't melted there was more important matters at hand.
"So, is everything all set here?"
"Almost. In fact I was just going to come ask you and the others for some help."
Hange's eyes beamed, elated to know that Maverick needed her help. While she would have wanted to help out with his exorcism, she wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Of course! Whatcha need?"
Her warrior priest moved back into the room he exited from, gesturing for her to follow. Once inside she saw that the lit room was a command center of sorts.
Her eyes widened in shock at what she saw. For on a large circular table, sat a number of corpses.
Donned in old, rusted armors these skeletal bodies laid, either in seated or fallen positions. The table was littered with dust covered bottles and vials, with some still in the skeletal hands of those who drank from them.
Hange felt a gloomy sense of familiarity as she saw these bodies, for a memory of a certain cave came rushing back into her mind.
Looking to her companion she saw him looking to her with a calm expression, yet the glow in his eyes was dim, as he held the crumpled body of a small corpse in his arms.
"Help me bury them."
-oOo-
Outside the old fortress, Midmorning…
Silence filled the cool air as the entirety of the expedition force stood at attention as Maverick paced around a mass grave, reciting prayers in ancient tongues.
It was a shock to many to see he had returned to the camp, dressed in the garbs of a Wallist priest with a skeletal corpse in his arms. Even more shocking was his request to have it and the bodies of those he had found inside the headquarters be granted proper burials.
As strange as it was, the request was fulfilled. A section of the clearing was chosen, and with eager hands a burial ground was made.
In the time of its completion Maverick and his closest companions had wrapped the near dozen bodies and carefully placed each one down, with a gentleness many didn't believe the giant held.
From his own coin pouch he placed a set of two silver coins over the eyes of the bodies before wrapping their faces, much to the confusion of some onlookers. To them it was money wasted, but for the giant, who knew of the ancient rites and practices, it was an essential parting gift.
"*May the ferryman accept my tokens and grant you passage along the river.*"
With the gentle sway of his censer Maverick stood over the pit, his glowing gaze on the resting bodies. Though it was not the entirety of the legion he had faced, he hoped these few could find their way home.
"*May you all find peace at last in the Blessed Isles...*"
"*And know, I shall make good on my word…that, I swear on my immortal soul...*"
With one final prayer to the heavens above he gestured for the bodies to be covered.
A sigh escaped the giant's lips. While he had evicted the lemures forcefully back, he hoped this small token would be enough to appease what little amount of humanity remained in their warped souls.
"Thanks for the help everyone." He said aloud. He received warm and kind words in response from his comrades.
"It's the least we could do for them." Erwin spoke aloud. While it took some time it was better late than never to give these bodies the burial they deserved. He wished he could say the same for his old comrades.
Soon the crowd began to disperse, as individual squads began to inspect the old roman castra. Maverick of course received an eager audience, curious to know what had occurred in the night.
"Just sent the spooks on their way." He would say, which seemed to satisfy them enough, but for others like the Commander, it was an obvious sign that something else was afoot.
As such, when the group finally dispersed Erwin approached and spoke quietly to the giant.
"Did something happen?"
Maverick nodded, and lowered his head to each the Commander's ears.
"Best we speak about it inside."
With a nod Erwin joined Maverick as he made his way through the arc entryway of the fort. Along the way Commanders Pyxis and Dok were also called to join the two. For what Maverick had to tell was for their ears as well.
After all, they were all in this together now.
-oOo-
Inside the Castra Headquarters' War Room
Maverick had brought the commanders into the room where he had discovered the remains of the last few ancient soldiers stationed in the old fort.
Clearing away the centuries of dust and evidence of a suicide pact he seated them down and after checking the hall for any eavesdroppers, proceeded to reveal all that had transpired during his exorcism of the fort, and the words that had been exchanged with the resident angry spirits he had sent on their merry way.
The three commanders were silent for some minutes, processing all that the demigod had recalled. Though it seemed the spirits were far from pleasant or welcoming of their guest, through their centuries' long hatred they had revealed certain things that brought into question all that they, as the people of the Walls, had known regarding certain aspects of their own history.
It was a good thing Maverick had brought only the three to this meeting, less all manner of existential panic be wrought upon the expedition force.
Erwin Smith would be the first among his comrades to speak.
"So were Eldians now? Didn't you say we held many Germanic roots?"
Looking over to the giant, who had been observing the interior walls at the moment, answered.
"That you do, but I suppose Eldian could be the German equivalent in this world." Maverick mused, while rubbing his bearded chin. "Wouldn't be surprised if the peoples of this world have such differences."
Since his travels began Maverick had come to realize just how much his life had turned into those old fictional novels he used to read in his youth, one such aspect of those novels being the concept of mirrored similarities.
Regardless of the names or variants, there were parallel similarities he could compare to the cultures, histories, and aesthetics of his own people and home world's vast history.
An example he could quickly recall was the nation of Chon'sin, whom he ruled over as regent with his beloved queen. Her peoples and culture mirrored that of the island nation of Japan during their feudal times, and its industrial era once he brought the majesty of firearms and automobiles.
His life in the Old World was essentially a massive blast into the past as well. His summers in Estalia and Tilea practically mirrored his family vacations to Spain and Italy. Minus all the magic, human-sized rats, and the interactions with a vengeful sun god.
"Hmph, another one of your so called cosmic coincidences." Erwin said with slight amusement. He was more than privy to the concept, thanks in part to Maverick's tales.
"Forget the cosmic nonsense!"
All eyes turned to the commander of the military police, who wasn't taking any of this well.
"Are you brushing aside the fa- no, the accusation that were responsible for the titans?!"
"Indoor voices Nile." Erwin said in a hushed tone, glancing to the entry door. With a sharp breath Nile apologized before continuing his fiery, but toned down, words.
"They had to have been lying to you! Anything to get you to leave them alone!"
Pressing his hands to the table Nile leered at the giant with a look that was a mix of concern and rising anger. "I refuse to believe that we had any hand in our own extinction!"
Maverick knew and well understood Nile's feelings and denial. Not only were the dead capable of being communed with, but his peoples' history had been brought into serious question.
It was similar to his own turbulent stages of grief following his first rebirth, followed by his second, and so on.
"Even if we were responsible, what did we gain from it? What would these Eldians have acheived from utilizing man eating monsters?!"
"Hubris is one hell of a personality quirk."
Nile's brow raised, and his tone turned to shock. "You honestly believe their words? Why?"
"As a man who's seen the many, many results of what our species' hubris can do, the centurion's words are something I give some benefit of the doubt."
Memories resurfaced of such examples he had witnessed. There was the chaos that arose from a single man's dreams of bringing long extinct creatures back to life and mastering such power over life.
A world bought to ruin by man's creations, who in turn were brought to ruin themselves following the murder of a sun named moon. Their once thought immortality gone as their bodies turned to rust, mimicking mankind's aging and eventual expiration.
A grand galaxy spanning empire, led by a being who thought he knew all the answers and solutions, reduced to a warped shadow of itself, and the once god-like being would be reduced to a corpse atop a golden throne, forever suffering for a species he failed.
And now these Eldians, who apparently long ago used these man eaters to terrorize others, were now on the receiving end of their pets hunger, and have been brought to apparent near extinction.
"Maverick has deduced the titans were of man-made origins some time ago Nile." Erwin spoke, shocking the military commander and getting Maverick out of his inner thoughts. "These revelations from the dead are simply another assurance to his theory."
Nile of course demanded to know said theory, and the demigod obliged. Recalling his lifetime of combating the horrors brought upon by a foul pharmaceutical company, he made comparisons to the mutants that had been created to the giant man eaters that plagued their lands.
Nile of course struggled to believe it all, and soon enough the mother of all migraines began to be felt through his skull. Seeing his old friend completely overwhelmed by all this Erwin motioned for Maverick to hold off.
Handing his own waterskin he attempted to comfort the man. Nile nearly downed the entire skin and took some very deep breaths before recomposing himself.
"I….I just…"
Nile struggled to find the words. The situation was changing far too fast for his mind to make heads or tails of. With a shaky hand pointed to the giant Nile spoke with equally shaky breath.
"I-I'm willing to believe a lot of things Maverick….but that, is just too much…"
"Believe me Nile, I was in the same boat as you." Moving closer to the comer he placed a hand over his shoulder. "I once thought crap like this could only exist in the most bizarre fictions ever conceived."
Said the man who got married on the moon.
Rubbing his temples Nile didn't quite find the marked man's words as comforting. "I swear life was much simpler before you showed up….didn't have to deal with the thought that everything I knew would turn upside down…"
His jab got a chuckle from the demigod.
"How can we even be certain of his story?" Nile muttered soon after. "Can the words of one old soldier really be all it takes?"
"Certainly not." Maverick said, recalling the centurions' tale. "The lemure spoke of other forts along the southlands. Perhaps any lingering spirits residing in them might have a different tale to say."
Nile felt the headache return. The idea of having to venture off to these fortresses just to hear ghost stories was not what he imagined these expeditions would entail.
Turning from the struggling MP Erwin's eyes shifted to the physically eldest of their retinue.
"Pyxis any thoughts?"
All eyes turned to the elder, who remained silent, as he continued to stare off into the middle distance, seemingly deep in thought.
"I was born in the wrong time..." Pixis muttered. "To think that the first titan was mad in the female form..."
Maverick, Erwin, and Nile all sighed at once.
"I can only wonder where she is now. Perhaps we coul-"
"Commander."
"Oh you know I jest Erwin." A dry chuckle escaped Pyxis' lips, though his face soon turned serious. "Though this does bring up a serious idea. These spirits only faced one titan, compared to the hundreds that we face now."
"That also intrigued me." Maverick remarked, scratching his beard again. "He seemed surprised to see more of them around the fort, called them the She-Devil's spawn."
"But titans can't reproduce."
"Thus cementing my man-made horrors theory." From his satchel Maverick took out a demi-god sized journal he'd use at times for notes and rough sketches. Turning to a clean page he began to jot down the clues he had picked up from the centurion's story.
"These current titans are being made in mass, whether controlled or sporadic. The source of their production is still unknown, but based on scout reports they seem to mainly congregate from the south."
Talking aloud the giant began to pace about the room. "The centurion said that his scouts reported their arrival by the sea by other forts."
"Sea?"
"Think of the biggest lake you can and multiply it by a hundred." Maverick quickly retorted.
"So, whoever's responsible for them now, are just southwards from the Walls and this massive body of water." Erwin chimed, getting a nod from the giant.
In that moment soon after Maverick pulled away from the group, as his ears heard the sudden, and approaching sounds of rapid footsteps.
Seeing his comrade look towards the door Erwin and the other commanders did the same, just as a series of rapid knocks erupted from the entry door.
*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*
"Commanders!" A feminine voice sounded. Pyxis' ears sprang up as he knew the voice.
"Oh Anka! Come in my dear, come in."
The door sprang open to reveal young Rheinberger, and her fellow comrade Gustav. Both of whom had rather alarmed looks on their faces.
"Squad Leader Miche's sniffed out some incoming titans! Also, the stones Maverick marked started flashing really fast."
"Ahh, that's probably the perimeter alarm." Maverick said calmly. With curious eyes on him he elaborated. "They'll flash whenever hostile creatures are detected withing a certain radius."
"Hmph, thought this morning was too peaceful." Pyxis muttered. Rising to his feet he gestured for his aides to lead the way back. "Well then gentlemen shall we?"
"Some target practice sounds good right now." Nile said aloud, a hand on his holster as he took his leave. Though he tried to muster up some confidence, it was obvious to those close to him could tell he wasn't quite all there.
Walking behind the group Maverick and Erwin took the moment to discuss the matter at hand.
"Keep an eye on him. He's in the anger stage far quicker than I thought."
"That was always the plan." Erwin said. Nile's position at his side in the formation was no coincidence. "Marie would kill me if anything happened to him."
Maverick nodded, though there was still an issue at hand. An issue Erwin knew as well.
"We have the king's support Maverick, remember." A confident tone was in the commander's tone as he spoke. "Even if there are those who don't agree, and might even act, we are in the right."
A nod of acknowledgement was all Erwin got in response. As Maverick was anxiously thinking about the number of possible outcomes that would arise from this.
"By the way…" Erwin suddenly asked, "Did you ever get a name from the centurion?"
Brought out of his thoughts Maverick took a moment to think back on that moment and mentally slapped his forehead.
"You know what? I never did."
Erwin chuckled. "What about a name for their people then? I imagine, like us, they go by another name."
Once again, he thought back to the events from the early morning, recalling the words the centurion said. It took little time to remember a line of words from the enraged spirit.
"POPULUS MARLEY VINDICABITUR!"
"Marley." Maverick said. "They were people of Marley."
-oOo-
In that moment in time, in a land far beyond the Slayers reach, far beyond the lands he resided in, and far beyond the sea, the collective peoples of a mighty nation all sneezed at once.
-Tales from The Book Of Maverick: Volume 1-
On his hunt for the last remnants of the Dark Brotherhood, Sir Maverick's travels would take him to Skyrim's northern hold The Pale, where upon he would find the oldest and last of the orders sanctuaries.
No secret words were needed as Sir Maverick's divine strength would allow him to break through the stone entrance and make his way into the foul hideout, ready to face and slay the last of the Brotherhood's order of the Black Hand.
The last Listener of the Night Mother, the Mad Jester Cicero.
But the unfunny Jester would expect his arrival, and in a desperate act would sick upon the hero the sanctuaries ancient guardians. They were spirits of assassins of old, destined to protect the sanctuary in their wretched afterlife.
But the Divine Crusader would be ready for such a spectral foe. With bound mace and divine word he would banish the wayward spirits, their incorporeal forms unable to withstand the awesome power the crusader bared.
-Passage from the tale The Brotherhood's Fall-
The great demon Grydal, the Scourge of the South, loomed over the silver-clad warrior. With a great poleaxe in his hand he swiped the ground between him and the knight that had stood against him.
"DO YOU TRULY THINK YOU CAN BEST ME? WITH MERE LAKE WATER?!" Said the demon, with a sharp toothed grin.
A horrid boisterous laugh erupted from its mouth as it looked down at the one who dared to faced him, pointing a taloned finger to the bottle his challenger held in his hand.
Unfazed by the demon's mockeries the hero would calmly uncork the bottle, speaking prayers to the powers that be, much to the exalted demon's hilarity.
"YOU TRULY ARE A FOOL AMONG FO-AHHHHHH!"
The demon's jeering laughter turned to alarmed screams, as Maverick splashed the demon's chest. The warped skin the water fell on immediately boiled, burned, and steamed.
The demon clutched its sizzling chest, dropping its mighty axe with a thunderous thud. Its leathery wings curled into himself as he fell into a fetal form.
"WHY DOES IT BURN?!" The demon said with agonizing breaths.
"WhY dOeS iT bUrN?!" Maverick mockingly repeated. Scooping more water into his hand he threw the liquid towards the demon's face. "Ever heard of holy water? It works wonders against your kind."
-Passage from the tale Bane of Chaos-
A/N: I hope everyone can get a rough understanding of what the conversation between the Centurion and Mav entails. Despite the Latin not being the best translated (as I used Google translate, and lord only knows how effectively accurate that is) I wanted to show that Maverick can speak dead languages.
Considering in my massive headcanon, he lived throughout the days of Ancient Rome. Even wooed the Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom herself.
Back on topic we see Maverick is oh-so close to finding out about the truth about Paradis and the greater world, thanks to the spirits of some old 'Romans' (*wink wink*). Hell he already has a decent rough idea, its just a matter of time before things are confirmed.
But such revelations will have to be put on hold for a time, as with my story's upcoming anniversary I want to switch POV's with our dear little Ymir, and see how she's holding up.
See you all next chapter! Hopefully, as I'll be going on a trip to see family, and we'll be going by plane.
Pray for me.
Also, completely off topic, but was anyone else getting bombarded by these spam/scam messages from people who wanted to make comics out of their stories recently? Got like three of them in the same month.