Arc 4: What families entail
In the towns, villages, and cities of Walgonia, chaos was erupting. Guards, knights, royal guards and knights, and soldiers all tossed away by Arthur. Everybody who didn't agree, every group and camp around Walgonia that defected, and the remaining people fighting their hardest as Heroes of their own. All while Arthur kept anyone that would work with the new life. A life that undid everything set before it. Destroying laws, cities, families, Noble factions, while the Sects actual leaders continued to build their ranks across the land of Saga. The continent itself. Even now Arthur walked through the streets of Walgonia's Capital sending torrents of focused black flames into the wooden, brick, and stone buildings. Turning their brighter colors and wider scale into itself before it became a bonfire. Leaving anyone who stood against them in the grave, or hung up to show what happens when you defect.
Worse than anything the Sect had ever done to the innocents. To the country of Walgonia. In its history of existing. There were never this many deaths. This much destruction. Most likely because it was so different from how they acted before. Without any nuance. Not leaving people to survive and spread the word, not handing out food and supplies to those who need it, not giving proper housing; if you were a member of the Sect within Walgonia, you were a soldier.
"You cannot continue this way. It will ruin everything we've built!"
The decrepit, echoing, horrific voice of Prometheus echoed through a golden Sect crest. Their communicator, glowing red with every word, in the rough hand of Arthur while he rode in a carriage.
Arthur: "To take Walgonia we have to do it by force! Musashi made it impossible for so long, you lost so many Pillars through the years! This is our chance!"
Prometheus: "But we've lost four Pillars already! I'm unwilling to take others out of hiding, they're too important to our other plans!"
Arthur: "Then keep letting them fight for the role! Candidates pop up every day!"
Prometheus: "And die each other!"!"
With that, the communicator was cut off by Prometheus, leaving Arthur to sigh in annoyance. Before holding his left eye, one that has been scared by flames.
Arthur: "Eh, that's not good."
Arthur would push on with a devious grin, but the cracks were forming. Even with that scar, something he received a few weeks ago after traveling to Valatroctius to speak with King Cornelius. And it seems his role as the leader of the Dragon Army, Valatroctius second in command, has come to an end. His eyes were becoming more heavy, his face was becoming more rugged, and his hair was getting a bit shaggy, yet his love for the horror he caused never faded. That same smile was held by a leader in Athens. A man who did the impossible, and yet gets no credit because of the war.
Caesar: "YAH YAH YAH!"
Caesar, the grossly scared leader of the Spartans, sends out his forces all around Athens every single day. Not in large groups like the Red Arrows, not with bombastic chaos like Soku, not with mighty strength like Leo, but by slowly chipping away in the darkness. Lead by a man who'd stand no matter what happened to him in an instant. Smiling, laughing, taking sword strikes through the face without wavering, before violently stabbing them with rusty weapons in their sides. He felt his eye bursting, his nerves exploding, his skull cracking before caving in, his entire mind getting obliterated for a few seconds as his brain was bashed in, all for it to reform all at once. The stronger the Warrior the easier their weapon went through his body, so he could keep running.
His Spartans didn't have such ability. So, using Magic, whatever tools they could find, and their Demi-human connections to win. Spitting venom in their eyes, breaking through their bodies with thick claws and massive fists, flying through the air with wings or seeping through water ways with their fins, or sending large balls of magic forth with multi-cast magic. Athens was all about their physical might, making all magic affinities mostly secondary if you didn't just empower yourself. The Dragon Stone armor kept up with it, but the magically dense leather could only resist so much. Sending them flying against the large blasts of fire, balls of water, eruptions of frost, and spikes of earth that constantly went off all around the capital. In the alleys, in the forests, in each town and village. Before Caesar came along, before this war started, Athens was like every other country; Athens had criminal organizations, with one on top of them all. But all of them have been scratched out of history, by both Athens, and by Caesar. It took the last few years of war to break them down, but it gave for the perfect opportunity to remove them and take over. To take root. But he wasn't the only one, not even close.
Moro: "Love the smell of salt in the morning."
Across the land, at the North West cost of Athens, were a plethora of Demi-human pirates. The Demi-humans were mostly aquatic or jungle based, sitting in camps drinking and partying on the sands. With only a single large ship in the bay anchored down, everyone tried working on it while Moro stood above smoking a cigar. Ju'stone was by his side drinking while Bella ate in pain. She was covered in bandages, while her left eye was completely destroyed, all because of Edward.
Moro: "Didn't I tell you to go looking into the forest for the Helsing?"
Bella: "We haven't found anything, and I'm still injured!"
Moro: "That's your own fault! You're lucky you haven't been demoted!"
Bella: "The only thing that sets us apart is your transformation! You can't use your Inner Spirit, none of us can! -
Before she could continue Ju'stone leapt to stop her, but Moro was even faster. Grabbing hold of her thick skin with his massive fist and picked her up by her entire face.
Moro: "I'd crush and eat yah, but it would be a waste of effort."
With that, Moro tossed her off the massive ship and against the rough sands and pirates below. However she stood and screamed to the others to build a small party before marching into the woods nearing Mount Yelira. Stepping over the same ground that, far below, ran the Helsing they were looking for. A man still broken by wounds, by his mental burdens, but still charged forward. The tunnels were growing large, the beasts were getting angrier, but so was he.
Edward: "DIE DIE DIE!"
He threw mighty right hooks against the Magma Wolf, crushing the stone skull in two blows before grabbing the throat of another lunging toward him. The pack continued to surround him, howling for more Spirit beasts to slaughter the thing that's been doing the same to them. Summoning Sizzling Worms that he crushed with his feet, Ash Moths he broke with swinging backhands, more Wolves he broke with knees to their jaw. His eye was blank, but his mind was partially clear; his flame was as bright as ever and yet he was thinking and growing. He grabbed hold of the arm of a Golem to slam leaping and lunging wolves away, chucked it like a foot ball into the mouth of a Molten Bruin. A Mid-Tier Spirit Beast. Like the Winter Bruin and Spirit Bruin, it's a large leaner bear like a wolf. It has black fur with molten insides and rough stone skin, with teeth burning hot enough to bite through the arm.
It only gave Edward the chance to run up a stalagmite, pull back his legs, and bash them against the Bruins dense face. As it was stunned he slammed his shoulder into its gut, before throwing his hand into its sternum to crush its massive heart. The moment it burst Edward pulled his arm back, seeing it burned after the Bruins magma insides began to pour out.
Edward: "ANY MORE!?"
Huffing and puffing, with more than enough spirit left to fight, he found the nearby beasts crying in pain. Taking their broken bodies away, eating the dead beasts, or dying to their wounds. Leaving Edward to shake his head in denial before running off into the caves. Across a thin bridge of stone over a boiling pool of magma, swinging across stalactites to cross oceans of lava, jumping between broken pieces of stone, swinging Charcoal rats like bolas. All with a single purpose in mind. To make it out alive. Eating the flesh of the beasts cooked by their existence, drinking from the steaming pools of water, sleeping only when he absolutely had to. And arrive back at Lincoln.
Edward {I'll do it. And I'll show him…that I'm truly worthy.}
Like Gray did for Musashi. Something he saw. Something he would earn himself. Something he wouldn't ever take for granted, and use its strength to grow just as Gray had. No matter how long it took to get out. So while he waited for the water he collected to cool down, he used the scraps of Spirit Beasts and stone to fashion something. Using pure might to break the earth, while wrapping the skins and bones around it. Taking it for clothing, for armor, for weaponry.
Edward {Any real warrior woulda gotten outta this already. But I can't just cry about being weak. I have to do everything! Does that mean something right?}
With each punch be broken down the sharp stalagmites into something grabbable. A Sword that weighed about the same as his previous, but far less sturdy. Yet this time, by chipping away carefully, it had edged sides. Creating gear that both would keep him from being naked and something to protect him long enough to make it out of this endless looping maze. But, as he began what might be his final march through the volcano, Gray Kyojin finally made the last step. Riding atop Dema at high speeds, screaming with tears drooling from his eyes. They dove between, over, and under the trees as his Cloak violently shook through the air. But, even if it was terrifying, even if he hated heights and falling and flying and dying, he was smiling.
Gray: "WWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Then, leaping off of Dema and high into the bright sky, he extended the Cloak. Using his momentum to quickly snag, pull, and release the ocean of branches in his way. Deep in the snowy forests of Greenvale mountain, something is soaring around in the trees. Swinging off of them, and jumping between them. Looking down below he saw a small critter hopping through the snow. With its faint bit of Spiritual energy, Gray tried his best to focus and hone in. Chasing a snow rabbit, barely visible to the naked eye, and right as it's about to run out of the forest, it gets grabbed by something black and stretchy near a cliff. It gets yanked right into Gray's hand.The rabbit squeals in fear before the man starts to pet it. Yet it still rapidly kicked in the face.
Gray {Even the normal lookin' animals are Spirit boosted!}
Mid-air, mid kick, it looked Gray right in his fearful eye like it knew what he was thinking, before attempting to bite out his throat.
Gray: "DIE!"
In fear Gray threw out a punch, sending the bunny flying off the cliff. Causing him to make a face of nothing. Just a blank stare of surprise to what happened. Letting his light brown hair flutter in the wind, something that's grown slightly longer through the three and a half months he's been here. breathing in and out, in silence. When he looked at his hands, he felt real calluses. Not something he formed because of his body's accelerated healing, but something he worked for through his own effort. Real muscles underneath his earned armor. Even if it wasn't much compared to what his mana was doing, it was enough to feel it. His Cloak, his ability to reach toward the Spirits, his ability to track mana, that was mostly all skill. It just seemed that no matter how much he told himself it was his work, this body made from the Spirit Affinity he was blessed.
Gray: "Boosh boosh boosh."
He swung his arms back and forth, muttered nonsense, and took in the massive expanse above. The large flaming sun was setting, reflecting with orange upon the mountain. After so much time practicing with his mana, control with the spirits, and time multitasking various abilities, using the cloak was seemingly to be a cake walk. Just by using his own mana and will it moves to his will, and even if it doesn't seem that strong, it's just another tool in his belt. Gray turns away -
Gray: "Yeah figured, there's not even a roadrunner!"
The ground quickly broke underneath him, sending him off the cliff.
Gray: "I BLAME THE RABBIT! EVEN THOUGH I SHOULDA JUMPED INSTEAD OF MADE THAT STUPID REFERENCE! NOBODY WAS EVEN HERE!"
Falling and falling, with the trees close below, he took the deepest breath he could. Holding a face of horror and sweat while extending his arms.
Gray {FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS! WATER SPOUT! THINK OUT, THINK LITTLE INVISIBLE FLOATING BALLS!}
Gray let out his breath and his reach, to the Spirits, before pulling in some Spirit Mana to the cursed crescent charm. As it surged purple, his stability slightly fixed, before his attention broke and he was sent soaring back down once again.
Gray: "TIME TO PANIC SHIT! I'M GONNA DIE! THINK! THINK! TRAINING!? SPIRITS!? SHOWS!? VIDEO GAMES!? I GOT IT!"
As the trees approached like massive nature spears, he instead nose dived toward the ground. Spinning and spinning, letting his Cloak fling out to gather momentum. And right as the large tree came face to face, he swung the Cloak with mana pouring out against the tree to smash the top off. Canceling out a lot of his momentum, he let the rest flow into the smashed trunk with his shoulder. Even if it hurt, the shoulder guard protected it enough, along with his mana. Allowing him to stand atop it. Up there all alone. Letting him take in the scenery once again.
Gray: "I did it!"
And as he looked down he smiled even more, jumping further down to bounce between the thick branches. Like a jungle gym, stepping down around the tree with jumps, drops, swings, backward pivots, before finally swinging around the tree to get back into the air. As he plummeted he began to seep mana out of his body, pull in Spirit mana, and Push Spirit mana out to the Spirits. Trying his best to regulate himself as he fell, to flow with the wind. All so he could descend quickly and safely, before rolling across the snow. Finally able to stand and see Ryo's home.
Gray: "I made -
As he stepped and spoke, he stopped. As he felt tears streaming down his face. For whatever reason he was crying, and he couldn't stop no matter how much he wiped his eyes. All he could do was laugh, unable to walk, unable to stop.
Gray: "I really made it."
He was leaning over like he was out of breath. Both because he couldn't breathe, and because everything came pouring in like a truck. Four, almost five weeks of grueling training. When he started he could summon mana, cast Cenic and Static, and use the Titans Impact. He had some sword training but it was more for overall combat. But he had adapted to the rising altitudes, the freezing winds, having to forage for his own food and water, and having to survive in the wilderness alone. Connecting to the Spirits, pulling in their mana and pushing him out to them, stopping use of Satic, gaining real skill with a sword. Real skill in acrobatics, control over his mana flow, control over the Cloak. The Spirit Sense, Breaker, Astral Projection. Even if he couldn't do it all quite on command or perfectly, he could do it. He had made it through. And he could call himself a Spirit Knight. A Fledgling, but a Spirit Knight none the less.
Gray: "But I'm not done yet."
He and Dema walked through the snow, feeling each snowflake upon his shoulder, the warm sun on his back, the harsh winds against his hair. Even the weight of his armor and the soft comfort of the Cloak. Everything hitting him kept the tears flowing, and the memories coming in. Of Musashi, Edward, Soku, Ophelia, Al, the Mansion, but especially Rosemary. The thought of seeing her again pushing him more than anything else. It even helped him raise his hand to open the door. Until Ryo opened it from the inside, holding Gray's bags, and was confused to see him crying.
Ryo: "Are you -
Gray: "GOOD! Chillin! So…we're done?"
Ryo: "Yep. So you're ready to go back to Greenvale?"
Gray: "I thought I was going straight to Athens!?"
Ryo: "Calm down, it's just a briefing. You have a few things left before you're free to act on your own."
He sighed but patted Dema's head as she landed and moved along, following Ryo back through the woods.
Gray: "I fly with Dema to get here. Are we gonna ride on her to get back?"
Ryo: "I had something else in mind. Before we get to Greenvale I want to make sure of one last thing. Something I know you've been working on."
Gray: "Oh really now? A SPELL!? IS IT -
Ryo: "No."
While he sighed once again he picked up the pace, jogging with Ryo while letting mana flow out around his body. It didn't hurt, it just felt like a heavy blanket of energizing power. Something that made him both lighter the heavier it got, letting him move and exist in such a way that made him completely different than an ordinary person. Both in this world, and his previous. But it was all different. The people, the food, the brightness of the sun and the size of the moon, all so much larger. A dream he'd never really get used to living in. A world that even now he was looking over with constant wonder. After he almost went running right off the edge of a massive edge, only to be stopped by Dema's tail.
Gray: "The view, it's amazing. As long as I don't fall right off."
Ryo: "It is my favorite."
A view that overlooked the large village of Greenvale. Along with the snowy woods surrounding it, and the sister village across the woods to the west. However, apart from all the houses and dirt roads with smoke stacks and shops, the people had risen. The once peaceful streets were filled with men and women, mostly men due to Walgonia's hierarchy, but all soldiers. Filling homes, Gordon's large red home, and now the roads. Loud, crowded by fires and camps, moving food, supplies, and the injured all around. Changing the peaceful village to an active war camp with Soldiers running around and training their hearts out. Covered in an ever falling snow. Snow, Grays' third favorite thing in the world. Behind Rosemary and Pancakes. Something that dulled the sight. But lit the hope for Walgonia's survival, making the sight something more meaningful than just a nice view.
Ryo: "Alright, I'll see yah down there."
Gray: "Okay, Dema lets -
And once again Ryo sent Gray flying into the air to free fall. However this time it was mostly a straight drop, as he was flung quite far. Screaming, crying, flailing, but not surprised.
Gray: "YOU'RE SO UNTRUSTWORTHY!"
As he began to soar through the clouds and plummeted toward the ground, he once again attempted to slow his descent by holding out his Cloak. However, with the speed, his low output couldn't resist the wind. So he continued to spiral and spiral toward the village. His throat began to hurt from how loud he was screaming, but he couldn't even hear it over the rushing winds and his flapping cloak. He only fell further and further and further and further. Watching in absolute terror as the cottages, wagons, villagers, and trees got closer by the second. It would have been a beautiful sight if he could stay in one position, think through the urge to puke and survive, or overpower his beating heart.
Gray: "COME ON COME ON COME ON!"
He burst with mana no matter the raging pain that shot through him, to fight and resist the wind to take proper control of the Cloak. With his mind within the charm, within the Cloak, he spread it straight out. He then stretched forward, flattened his body, and dove straight down.
Gray: "JUST LIKE THE GAMES JUST LIKE THE GAMES! PLEASE GAMES BE RIGHT!"
As he approached the ground he moved his head up through the air, increasing his mana flow and his reach toward the Spirits. He then took in Spirit mana, but flowed it into the charm, causing it to surge purple before the Cloak took proper hold in the air. It was just then, as Gordon's spire roof top was about to pierce his gut, when Gray took off straight through the air and over the village. Gaining ahhhs and oohhhs from the men, women, and children. Stopping the pain and despair for a second to see a true spectacle. Even Gordon watched with a smile from his training yard, before walking on to meet up with him. Gray however was still melting with fear. As he was getting closer to the roofs, the streets, and everything below. So he had to land, doing so by smacking his foot against the end of a wooden roof and interrupting his momentum to send him barreling through a window. Leaving him in a bathtub, leaping up with joy.
Gray: "I LIVED I LIVED!"
But in that bath tub was a large, old Pig Demi-human washing his snout. However he wasn't angry, instead he was smirking. Showing off his wrinkles, toothless grin, and pierced tongue.
"Hey baby."
Gray: "Oh man, I don't know how to process this."
Gordon ran as fast as he could, almost tripping, before finally stopping in front of the house Gray landed in. Completely out of breath, before jumping back to dodge Gray diving head first into the snow floor with a face red of embarrassment.
Gordon: "What happened -
Gray: "I don't wanna talk about it."
As Gray awaited for Gordon to ask him something, he found himself confused. Gordon wasn't mad, annoyed, super tired, but genuinely smiling. He wore a white kimono atop a black hakama, his arrows within a thick Spirit Beasts hide quiver, and a beautifully carved wooden bow across his shoulder.
Gray: "What? Do I look stupid or something?"
Gordon: "Yes but that's besides the point. You actually made it back."
Gray: "You didn't have faith?"
Gordon: "Not until I got Roy's letters. When they reminded me of Musashi, I knew I had to see it myself."
Gray quickly thrust forward, pivoted his foot, and twirled. In that motion he pulled out his blade, let his mana flow, and allowed his Cloak to flutter in the wind. Ending it with a massive grin.
Gray: "Tada!"
Gray was promptly punched in the face, or would have been if he didn't barely lean to the side to dodge.
Gray: "What was that for!? I thought you were just gonna brief me!"
Gordon: "I will. After your final exam. Then you can call yourself a real Knight."
Gray: "Not Leviathan army member!?"
Gordon: "You have way more to learn before that. Everybody is different, so everybody must meet different needs. You haven't reached yours yet."
Gray looked around, and strangely enough, everyone around him was staring right through his soul. Piercing gazes from cloaked men and women, only getting closer.
Gray: "What is this?"
Gordon: "Your headstart. Which started a couple seconds ago. You got nine, eight, -
With that Gray took off faster than he ever had before. Watching in terror as the streets crowded with more cloaked people, dropping such dark cloth to reveal the knight armor underneath.
Gordon: "Ah hell, go get him!"
They all roared and roared before sprinting toward the boy. To test him for all he had and more, before the world took even more from him. So he could finally call himself a true knight. However, that was just a title. Heroes, knights, warriors, however you wanna say it, were nothing but people with the will to harness their strength. Trained or not. Through Walgonia everyone fought. By locking their doors, by hiding their neighbors, by resisting the Sect. You didn't have to be able to use magic or swing a sword to help. You just needed a set of hands to carry extra food, legs to get yourself to safety, heads to think your way out of it. Anywhere around the world, but especially Walgonia and Athens. For Athens, under their protected tower, were heroes unofficially titled. But the fact that they were going to put everything on the line for a chance, meant the world.
Soku: "You have more power than I do, a lot more. You need to flee, I'll cover.
They were still in their cell, where they had been for over a day. Without food, water, or the squeak of a visitor. All they had were the walls shoulder to shoulder, bugs by their feet, and the lights of their mana dampening cuffs. However their chains were unlocked by Soku's red hair clip, giving Rosemary the freedom to place her ear against the door.
Rosemary: "No. You're far faster."
Soku: "I'm a kid, they'll treat me way better than you!"
Rosemary: "You're a nonhuman. They'll kill you if you help. And be quiet. Please."
They had absolutely no idea what was on the other side of the door. So Rosemary used the somewhat silence of their fellow prisoners and captives as a bar. If they were loud, most likely somebody walked in. Giving her a chance to quickly put the cuffs back on completely. Soku yanked hers off the first second she could, but she was only now regaining complete control over her OD. Without a blade, all she'd have is blunt blasts, but Rosemary was without her armor. Leaving her open to anything that gets past her golden aura.
Rosemary: "Calgary is a Golden Knight. He's reached the fifth stage, even if barely. I can't keep up in a one on one fight, so you'll be killed if you try. You have to use your speed, your skills, and make it out another day. I'll figure it out."
Soku: "But you've been here for over a week. I can't let you stay here any longer!"
Rosemary: "I haven't tried anything because Julius advises me not to. He's right, and I can't let anger ruin years of hardship because of my pride."
Soku: "By the way things look Julius isn't even on our side! We can't trust that! Please! Please don't let them kill you!"
Rosemary stood, trying her best to keep an eye on the door while pushing Soku back. But Soku resisted, using a bit of wind to push Rosemary against such a door.
Soku: "I won't let you die like Ophelia! I won't leave you behind like Al or Musashi! And I won't let you fight when I know I could help like Kioshi!"
She was holding in her outpouring emotions, letting rage flow out into her balling fits and tightening eyes. Rosemary only looked on in what could be described as horror. Before she saw a girl about her height with a rounder face, bigger light blue eyes, and longer golden hair. Wearing armor far too heavy, holding the burdens of murdered civilians and her own family, while screaming at her mother. Forcing Rosemary down to her knees, holding her head in absolute despair. Denial, resisting it all. She began to lose control of her body, fidgeting and hitting all around to push it away.
Rosemary: "STOP STOP!"
Soku pulled back, not knowing how to act, so for once she held it in without letting it become a burden. Just sitting there.
Soku: "Look I'm -
Rosemary: "It's okay. But if you want to do anything, fight our way out, it's you or nothing. I won't have it any other way."
With it all on the line, and no idea when they might call the time for her own existence over, she nodded.
Soku: "Then let's go do this. But I have an idea in mind on how we're gonna do it."