Pure...?
Axel's brow furrowed, what does that mean, it doesn't have anything to do with anima wielding does it, I'm technically a wielder though.
"Father," Drazen said respectfully, still kneeling his head bowed, "but he has travelled so far, shouldn't we at least allow him rest first?
Besides, it's not like anyone would bel…"
He stopped mid-sentence as the old man's glare sliced through him like a blade.
"It doesn't matter," the man said, his voice calm but heavy, like thunder hiding under velvet. "There are things I can't allow."
Drazen dipped lower. "I understand."
The old man turned to Axel. His gaze was steady, unshakable.
"I thank you on behalf of all anima wielders. But our rules do not allow strangers into our land. I apologize."
"But why stop just him?" Amy blurted, her mouth moving before she knew it.
The man's eyes darted sideways, and Amy froze. The color drained from her face. She bowed lower, almost headbutting the floor.
"Forgive me," she stammered. "But… I am also a stranger."
"But your father is not," Serif said sharply, "forgive her my lord."
The old man held his gaze on Amy for an uncomfortable silence before turning back to Serif and giving a curt nod.
"As I said," he repeated, "anything you want will be provided by Dezon."
Axel crossed his arms, tapping his finger against his bicep. Doesn't seem like a bad deal, he thought, his eyes darting between Serif, Amy, the old man and finally stopping on the Gishiki.
"You said anything right," he asked, squinting suspiciously.
"Absolutely," the old man said, "as long as it's within our power."
Axel nodded. I'm guessing entry to the fancy floating village isn't on the list, it was a bummer, but that wasn't what he really wanted anyway.
Still, he had to ask."What can I do in order to be considered pure?"
The old man looked at him for a moment, "Nothing," he said flatly.
Dezon looked up, "but," he paused.
A single glare from the old man shut him down instantly.
"Nothing," Dezon muttered again, looking like a scolded child, Axel totally losing respect for him, while his awe at the old man increased.
"Nothing," the old man repeated.
No choice then, but first.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright then… can I ask something?"
The old man nodded. A faint breeze tugged at his robes as he waited. The air around them was so still it made Axel's heartbeat sound loud in his own ears.
"Can you bring someone back from the dead?" Axel asked.
Amy turned to him, her eyes wide with confusion.
"No, we can't do that, what's lost is lost," the old man answered dismissively, his tone even like he had rehearsed before.
I see, he wouldn't just lie to get what he wants, it seems he truly wants to compensate me, Axel nodded.
"How about healing, restoring to a whole state," Axel asked.
This time the old man nodded.
But Dezon's eyes went wide.
"But—" He started again, in protest.
The old man raised one hand. Silence.
"We can help you with that, and only that. Is that acceptable?" the old man said.
Axel looked at Ginshiki. The sword gleamed faintly in the moonlight, its surface breathing soft silver.
"Yeah," he said finally. "But how do I trust your word?"
The old man looked at him, "on my honor as Ursa of the Council." His tone was the same as normal but the words carried weight, Axel could feel it, it was like even the air grew still. Not to mention the reaction of the others.
The guards' eyes widened, not just them, even Dezon and Amy. Even Serif's calm mask cracked for a fraction of a second.
Even Serif huh, Axel swallowed hard. So definitely not just an old guy with good posture.
The thought to test the old man further flashed in his head.
He looked at Ursa, his aged eyes focused on Axel waiting, probably not, he decided not to push his luck.
Axel took a deep breath, "fine," he said, holding out the Gishiki.
At that instant, as if already in waiting, two people came out of the forest with a rectangular chest, each dressed similar to the guards.
They bowed to Ursa, who simply nodded towards Axel.
The two hurried up the stairs towards him.
We had good times buddy, he thought as he looked at Gishiki, a faint smile on his lips, dangerous times though, I almost died so in a way it's good that we're parting, yet…
He looked away at the men, as they hurried up the stairs, you must mean a lot to them huh, Axel thought as he noticed the wide grin on the men's face.
His head tilted as the men approached, still moving fast, why are they in such a hurry, almost like…
Then his eyes widened, his stomach dropped as he remembered a cliff was behind him, the shimmering of the portal had died down, so it was just a normal ruined archway, no building beyond, just a cliff.
Oh come on, they're not really going to…
But his eyes narrowed as the men rushed forward at the last second, speed suddenly increasing, aiming to push him with the chest.
But a small smirk appeared on Axel's lips, too bad.
He leapt up, ready to vault over the case. But the men froze mid step and their faces met the stone floor with a sickening crack, their bodies slamming following the next instant.
In that split second, while mid air, he noticed Ursa, glaring at the men, a hint of disbelief in his aged eyes.
Then Amy's voice pierced the chaos: "AXEL!"
He turned and time seemed to slow. A spear was slicing through the air toward him, the tip gleaming cold and merciless. His reflexes screamed, but he was still mid air and it was too late. Pain bloomed white-hot across his shoulder, and the world tilted.
The spear's momentum yanked him backward.
At that last second, he caught glimpses, the old man's eyes wide for the first time, Amy tackling a guard, Dezon's faint smirk, Serif's chain extending towards him.
But it wasn't fast enough to save him, and then the cliff swallowed him.
Wind roared in his ears, the sky spinning above. His vision blurred, the pain spreading like fire through his arm.
Figures, he thought dimly, I survived all this time just to die via gravity…
Darkness claimed him before he could complete the thought.