Fantasy [Private] El Stories

[NinthSomnus9029]

Ash

After having some food Ash and Cai Er met with Adel who had readied their transport to the Altera Core, "Be cautious down there pong. We've yet to recieve any info from the core so theirs not much I can help with, pong." Adel said, Cai Er gave him a gentle smile. "This transport was more than enough, thank you." Cai Er said. Adel and Cai Er grew close these past few weeks thanks to the errands she ran for him, so Adel couldn't help but worry.

Ash shook Adels hand tightly. "Thank you for everything, if we don't manage to make it back I've left you a gift with Agatha, hopefully I'll be able to hand it to you myself." Ash said. Adel laughed a little. "Don't worry,pong. I believe you'll make it farther than any other has." Adel said.


This was just a memory flowing through Ash's mind....

"Ash..."

He heard a voice calling out for him.

"Ash...!"

It sounded closer...but he couldn't make out who it was.

"Ash!! Get up!" With a gasp Ash looked at Cai Er. Pain suddenly ran through his body, he remembered what he was doing here and how this happened.

"You think I've let you escape me!?" Ishmael yelled as the nasod soldiers charged Cai Er and Ash.

Ash had gotten caught in the explosion that brought Ishmael here, this was the reason for the pain running through his body.

"Why don't you leave us be! Father stopped trying to harm you!" Cai Er yelled. Ishmael raised her habd firing off a blast filled with Fire El

"Shut it demon girl!" Ishmael said. Ash made a sharp turn towards Cai Er, tackling her to the ground.

"Fucking hell Ishmael!" Ash said, trying to get up. The nasod soldiers approached Ash and Cai Er. He tried to fend them off with his shield and sword. "Dammit! My shield won't hold forever!" Ash thought. Cai Er who stood beside him cut down as many nasods as she could. "You're weak Ash, don't think I haven't learned of what you've lost." Ishmael stepped on the ground, no longer floating in the air. With a wave of her hand she halted the nasods. Cai Er tried to rush her but Ishmael smacked her away.

"Cai Er!" Ash said. When he looked over at her body she was unconscious from the impact.

He tried raisong his sword to try attacking Ishmael but Ash remembered. "My oath..." dropping his stance Ash ran in front of Cai Er, raising his shield at Ishmael. She snickered. "I've been kind to you Ash, I haven't taken forced your will to give you a chance. A chance to drop that sword and be a good little boy and cone with me." She said, Ash shook his head. "I have nothing you need. So their's no reason to believe your lies-" ash was saying till something inside him felt cold.

"You've left me no choice Ash but it had to be this way~" ishmaels voice rang in Ash's head.

Slowly his control over his body vanished as Ishmael stepped forward. "You know, I recently picked up a great gamble~ I've taken that dragon boy and hopefully turn him into a great subordinate~" Ishmael said, her hand on Ash's cheek. "I was going to use him to destroy you Ash, but you've done that to yourself...and you made it easier for me to obtain this.." Ishmael with a touch destroyed Ash's armor, she then reached for his nasod arm with the henir core, with her magic the arm fell apart, the only thung remaining was the core.

"I can use this for some amazing things that you never could!" She said with a great smile on her face. Before ash could respond a nasod blader struck him through the chest.

"...!" Ash couldn't believe what was happening. He looked over at Cai Er who was laying down.

"Don't worry about her, a certain demon king wannabe might like her for a bride~" Ishmael said.

Ash tried to raise his arm but slowly his mind faded away.

"Fuck...Cai Er...." Ash's last thought before his body went lump.


"Seems it's time you come to me boy." A voice said. Ash opened his eyes looking up at the giant white dragon.

Ash was confused on where he was. The creature lowered it's head. "You where abandoned by the gods, but still you found your purpose and lived up to it till your death." He said.

Ash nodded his head, "How do you know this?" He asked. The creature stood straight. "I am Cronos, the one who sealed your potential away." Cronos said. Ash looked at him with an unbelievable expression.

"Haa...I see...so, you've come to take me to the afterlife yourself?.." Ash asked. Cronos shook his head.

"I'm here to give you a chance that was taken from you because of your childness. Do you want your power back? Or will you move on?"

​

 

[Phant0m]

The priest looked to Lento and gave a small smile. "I'd appreciate that," He said with a nod and he hummed looking for Komodo in the crowd. With Phantom making sure the dragon was fed, his scales looked slightly better. However, Athena had told Phantom that he was having difficulty sleeping and with Komodo hissing at the priest at every meal, Phantom didn't even have to guess at what would happen if he were to try to overstep his boundaries to help the dragon.

"My eye is only irritated by the bandages...I think if I were to have someone else do it to make the wrapping more even...it would make this less annoying. I can't wait to take them off so I don't have to deal with this." Phantom pouted and huffed.

Oh boohoo. My child, frankly you're just being a brat. I'll let you know when it's safe to remove the bandages, Xiopetec chided her follower.

"I better not go into battle with these bandages on!" Then Phantom realized that he just said that aloud, and his face flushed a slight pink. "Sorry... didn't mean for that to be said aloud."

Fuck.

MementoDei Late

 

[Late]

Xavier

Three Years In Ishmael's Kingdom
​

It won't be long that Xavier will be ready to return back to Elrios to aid the humans against the demons. He grew tremendously well after losing his memories of his allies and most of his emotions. Xavier was only focused on his training and to satisfy his teachers. His body grew fast as the El energy was in sync with him, his height was now something to not snort at and his muscles toned out from the multiple of martial arts classes. There was always something new to learn and Xavier was very fast to pick up the lesson.

With his martial art skills and his staff becoming more of a good use to him, Xavier was able to cover up his weaknesses. There was a cooldown mode for him whenever he depleted his El energy in a sparring match, thus using his staff to self-defend himself as he recovers. It gave a lot of good results and room for improvement. Often the wooden staff wouldn't be enough so Eosforos had an idea. He left to Elrios for a quick mission and returned back with dead specimens in his bag. They were small, creatures with wide jaws and seem to be carrying a large orb in their maws. Demons were so strange. Eosforos discovered that these creatures can steal mana from anyone in the field that is their enemy and goes off running with it. Probably to pass it down to other demon soldiers so they can regain their energy in a middle of a fight. The angel decides to take an advantage of these creatures and had them in a research area where servants were testing out new weapons and abilities.

It was rather easy to understand the concept of the strange small creatures, studying the orbs they were holding as they seem to have an ability to absorb. They tested around with this, whether if the orbs only works if it is in an active body or not. Yet it only reacts when it doesn't have any mana left in the orb. The problem is that it doesn't absorb as fast as the small demon, but rather slowly. Perhaps the host knows how to use it more efficiently than anyone else but it was rather too late to see that as the demon was already dead to begin with. Though, it does works a bit more efficiently when touched so this gave Eosforos more ideas to help Xavier's mana issue.

Eosforos hit up with a blacksmith to form a staff with the mana orbs they extracted from the demons and the blacksmith was happy to take the job. Thus creating a fine piece of work. It was a long staff, formed by the toughest material there is and El energy, with multiple of small mana orbs going around the staff. The carvings around it appear ancient and there was a face of an ancient looking dragon near the top. The blacksmith mention how it should definitely work well with Xavier's ability with the El. With every hit the staff receives, it connects with the user holding it and able to absorb in the mana from the opponent and pass it on once it gets full. He as well introduces a rather handy feature, tapping on the top of the staff so it can minimize it.

"Honestly, the staff itself should know the condition of Xavier's body," the blacksmith explained to Eosforos, pointing out certain parts of the staff. "If he runs out of mana, it will extend itself so he can easily grab it. When he is full of mana, the staff will minimize itself so it longer won't be in use until he is empty again. Of course he can pull off gimmicks with it with the gathering mana but it may be too much of a strain to do that. I hope he finds it useful!"

Xavier was given the staff, curiously studying the sturdy tool. He even tried to see how much it can handle without breaking, such as smacking it hard against a wall but Eosforos had to stop him because he was damaging up the poor wall. Yet Xavier was willing to use it. It proved to be very efficient with his fighting style and even if his staff ever gets smacked away, Xavier was already a swift guy to dodge away as well strong to endure incoming attacks so he can retrieve it back. The staff seems to only be loyal to Xavier's strength. His El energy proved it significantly.

On his 18th birthday, he was gifted with his new gauntlets. The weapon was fused with Ash's hat energy so they have more properties to them. They weren't heavy like before and he felt a connection with these weapons, knowing that he finally felt complete. They have a much sharper edge to them, the claws were more extended than before and it was radiating an icy energy to it. The gauntlets weren't so sturdy as before, noticing after using them he was bleeding from his knuckles. Yet after pushing forward, the El energy improved the gauntlets' condition, covering up his wounds and making the weapons sturdier. Though this happens to fade away once his mana was gone, thus the staff being such an essential tool for him. Besides that, he became more dangerous with having his gauntlets back on him. He already gained muscles to do heavy damage and adapt the El energy to summon out devastating ice attacks, though with his gauntlets back on him, his attacks improved drastically.

The final thing he was gifted was a new mask. There was no purposes for it but to cover up the scars he earned, yet it as well meant to intimidate. With his icy, hard stare with claws that glint in the light and a lashing dragon tail behind him, why not add a little more to his appearances. His new mask held large teeth that bare like a dragon, fangs sticking out and it acts like a jaw itself, being able to open and close. Xavier didn't make any comments about it, yet knowing he was receiving nervous looks from servants. Though Ishmael was very pleased to see that he was close to finishing his training.

"Since the original owner of the hat was Ash, those gauntlets are able to tell you where he is in Elrios if I ever need you to get him. It looks like you're almost done here, Xavier. I am proud of you for making this far. Though...there is just one last thing you must accomplish," Ishmael said to him, petting his hair as he kneeled down before her.

Xavier didn't say a word but he knows very well what she meant. It was time to tame Pryor to be his new pet.

 

[MementoDei]

Lento​

Lento nodded and began to change the bandages. He didn't understand why the priest was embarrassed about, bandages took away a lot of vision and could bother someone in combat after all. Nevertheless, he decided to pretend like he hadn't seen what he had said.
"You spoke too fast...Phantom, was it? You seem to have put this on a hurry."

Lento uncovered his eye partially and frowned slightly. He felt an odd energy come out of it, but it wasn't the kind he felt like the kind he feared. "I hope your eye recovers soon."

He changed the bandages and rinsed his eye by putting a moist towel gently over it before putting new bandages on.

"That...should do the trick."

A flash of Lara's memories returned to his mind and he quickly turned around before the priest could see the change of colour in his eyes.

"Thank you, Phantom. For the healing."

He coughed a little and scratched his head. "...I suppose you heard that. I'd prefer you'd keep anything you have to say about it for now. It's been a...long night."

Phant0m

 

[Phant0m]

Phantom put a hand on Lento's shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. It was a silent reassurance, and also a "you're welcome" if it translated well.

"Thank you for changing the bandages," The priest thanked and his eye softened as he looked a bit to the side. "And take care. Long nights are exhausting."

He gave an awkward pat, a nod, and then moved back to the crowd. Snatching another meal for Komodo and giving it to the hissing dragon before moving about, trying to busy himself, keeping his thoughts at bay with mundane tasks like checking provisions for the soldiers. He didn't know how he ended up with the task, but he figured that since he was a healer he would know how much food was needed to keep everyone healthy.

Not the case, but Phantom didn't correct anyone. Provisions weren't his strong suit: travelling alone for a such a long period of time can make someone used to just worrying about themselves and only packing for what they needed. The priest does not have the mental capacity to monitor food intake, nor can he remember which soldiers had larger appetites than others....but it was keeping him busy. Phantom then looked at the food supply for the dragons...or what they could manage to bring with them. Cornelius said that the dragons could hunt for their own food if need be.

He sighed and gave his notes to the nearest soldier, making it their problem as he wandered off.

Why are you so obsessed with your promise to Xavier? Xiopetec gently questioned.

"Because I'm a man of my word. Have to be. Patients don't trust healers that don't follow through with what they say," Phantom muttered.

You should let go of all your feelings for Xavier, my child. When we meet him again, it'll hurt you less when you see that he's not who he was. Ishmael has that effect on those she manages to snare into her web.

Phantom stilled and he clenched his fists. He let out a long breath and he almost bumped into Aragorn when he was about to take another step. "Oh! Just the dragon I wanted to see!" He cheered, playing off the fact that his face almost collided with the dragon's chest. "I was wondering if you could give me any advice on helping Komodo so he can stop hissing at me whenever I give him food. That kind of stress probably isn't good for him."

Late MementoDei

 

[Late]

Aragorn looks down at Phantom with annoyance written on his face. He glanced over at Komodo to see that the dragon was chewing his food but not making much of a process with it. Yet at least he was eating. The red dragon shrugged at Phantom.

"Let him handle on his own. Sometimes its bad to be dependent on someone because what can you do when they're gone? Komodo will have to learn that eventually. As for his hissing, well he has never been close to humans and hated them, besides Xavier. From what I remember, Xavier found him as a hatchling, very small like the size of your hand. It amazed me how he finds that little guy, but anyways, Komodo was being cornered by poachers. Xavier happened to be wandering off from home and tried to fight them off. He was badly hurt, practically a child who earned himself a scar on his chin and other areas around his body. Komodo noticed him trying to save him and you would think the little guy would run off but no. He ended up teaming up with the boy and they manage to scare the men away...I suppose this is why both of them don't like humans very much. Well, Komodo really. Xavier tries to adjust...but he isn't comfortable. Poor lad, only the dragons here know about his true nature. He really knows how to have fun..." Aragorn's voice trailed off into a sad mumble. He realized the sad tone of his voice so he cleared this throat and shake his head. "Komodo will improve on his own, like Xavier. It's just weird for him to be around humans without having his first protector with him to calm him down. You just can't blame the little fella for acting like that."

Phant0m

 

[MementoDei]

Lento​

The blacksmith looked at the priest that was going away and a faint smile lighted up his face. Phantom was maybe a good person to talk to when he had completely gone through all of Lara's memories. The desert around him still evoked in his mind a thousand images coming from many different worlds and it made him realize one thing: even if the demons were defeated, there would be other powerful forces that would have similar goals in mind.

Lento continued to walk, uncertain of what the next battle had in store for them. Not only for the demon side, but for the gods that would probably have allies on the outside.

"Victory or not, I'm getting the feeling that we'll lose a lot of lives. But I have trained enough to at least reduce that number. We need to change our strategy depending on how things are when we approach Velder."
Phant0m Late

*****
Elesis
(2 months after the Red Knights pushed back the demon forces from Hamel)​

It had taken some time for Elesis to completely recover from her wounds, but her and Penensio's presence calmed the troops and the townspeople. They had maintained the hold of some agricultural regions and the sea provided them with enough food to make the demons' siege pointless. The townspeople had helped reinforce their defences so the numerical advantage of the demons didn't help them push the Knights back. One afternoon, a soldier came running towards Elesis' office. He slammed the door open and crouched slightly to catch his breath, he had a letter in his hands.

"Commander! We've received a report from Feita."

"Feita?! Let me see it, Tibirio."

Elesis took the letter from her subordinate and read it silently. She frowned at some point and closed her eyes before letting out a heavy sigh and turning herself towards the window.

"Tibirio, can you call Penensio and the other generals to the War Room? We have something big to discuss."
"Aye, ma'am!"

*****​

The generals gathered around the oval table and sat down one after the other. After ten minutes, all four generals sat down and looked at Elesis, who sat solemnly at the top of the table. Elesis took out the letter and put it in front of her so everyone around her could see it.

"I got this letter from Feita's Alchemist and mayor: Allegro Vanderweiss."

Some generals frowned while others simply widened their eyes. Amelia Aerwynn, a forest elf known as the Wind Shooter, talked first:

"How many survivors are there?"
"Many more than what you might think. Forty people died before the explosion out of a village of three hundred people."

Speka Oscurità, the Shadow Witch, frowned and asked just how reliable was the letter. To her knowledge, there would've been no way for so many people to make it to safety unless they knew what was coming from them, which seemed unlikely. Elesis showed her the wax seal and Allegro's signature at the end of the letter and continued her speech.

"The explanation of how so many could be saved is...hard to believe. And that's putting it mildly. Lento put them all in a pocket dimension and they all stablished a village between Elder and Ruben."

"What?"
"Speka, is this even possible for humans?"
"...That's beyond Angkor's capacities. There are some ways to get to the Dimension of Darkness, but...to take three hundred people with you..that's beyond anything I've seen."

Altair Indrago, who had inherited the title of the Lord Knight, decided to finally speak.

"Remember the undead assassin we had to deal with for years before she vanished? The one that sank Resiam on her own? Someone like her would have that power."
"Altair, do you know how rare Vampires are? I thought they were a myth until we had to deal with that Priestess. She is no more. The demons sealed her away after her power backfired to their plans, we all saw that. No other Vampire has been seen since then, and we've been looking for them. That's why Penensio and Elesis left to Ruben in the first place. No other Vampire, with or without elven blood has been seen or created in Lurensia."
"Elesis, does Allegro mention how they even made that possible?"

Elesis looked down at the letter and put her hand over her mouth. All the pieces were falling together in such a way that it scared her.

"Guys... I'm going to ask you a few questions that might be sensible for you. I want you to answer me truthfully, no matter what. I fear that if my hunches are right, they'll change many things to the plan I was going to suggest. You all remember Resiam's Silver Fang, right?"

Everyone's expressions darkened. They all knew who she was talking about: Lara Tureen.

"Miss. Tureen died in Resiam. There's nothing more to discuss about this. She is resting now, after all she gave to the Red Knights!"

Amelia got up, almost in tears, and left the room. Speka simply took her head in her hands and murmured how obvious it was. Altair shook his head and hissed that the demons were the worst trash in the planet. Penensio simply clenched his fists and agreed silently with Altair's words.

"The letter mentions her. Lara Tureen opened that dimension up to evacuate everyone. Lento Asini simply kept the portal open. After that, Lara mysteriously vanished and Lento's forces are going to Velder to help."

"So she was set free...that's somewhat of a relief. She didn't change, after all what she's-"
"Penensio, she's part of us, we abandoned her, but she's still fighting to protect what she's always been fighting for! We can't leave her alone anymore! Let me-"
"Are you out of your mind?! Did you forget what she went through when we came back from Velder? Do you want her to go through the same things time and time again? Do you even remember how she spent her days staring at nothing and how she almost-!"
"Enough, Penensio! We all know how that war hurt her. It hurt us all. She got over it, with Darhan's help. She got to walk again and live a normal life until the end. Altair, Penensio is right. We can't force her to come back with us. We might be her brothers and sisters in arms, but the Knights are, probably, a huge scar on her mind she might never be able to heal completely."
"THAT'S WHY WE MUST LET HER RETURN! SHE NEEDS US! W-we are her friends...and we abandoned her...we left her to die. I must do something. I-I can't just...do nothing...again..."

Altair began to cry silently as he remembered Lara's warm smile, her unbreakable will to find a way through the most difficult situations, even when she was desperate. Altair had heard some demon prisoners talk about a woman that had put a fight in Resiam before dying pathetically to a single strike of Ran's sword. It was unforgivable and the prisoners had died shortly after, before Altair could question them. They were apparently spies.

Speka and Penensio also felt some tears cloud their vision. They all felt guilty to have let Resiam be destroyed, but the demons had also attacked a village close to Velder and their alliance with the Centurion Guard had forced them to help the overwhelming demon forces while the demons rampaged on Resiam and its outskirts. By the time they were back, it was too late and Elesis was still a newbie among the Knights. Penensio was the leader back then, and he felt Altair's words like salt poured over the open wound of his guilt. Elesis got up and punched the table, which took by surprise the rest of the commanders. They all looked at her determined face and she presented her final decision:

"I think it's better if I stick to my original plan. I've heard you argue right and left and I have come to the conclusion none of you are in any state of finding Lara Tureen's whereabouts. Which is why I will go, alone, to Velder and lend my help to Lento's forces and maybe find out how bad is the situation in Lurensia. Penensio will command our defence for the time being and, once we've pushed back the demons in Lurensia, we'll manage to make a counter-attack here. Speka, inform Amelia of my decision and tell her that she's in charge of the scouting mission to Resiam's outskirts. We need to know what the demons are planning, they've been too quiet. Altair, you're in charge of the defence enhancement, do not let those demon bastards take away what this Order wishes to protect. Understood?"

"Yes Ma'am."
"Roger that."
"Of course, Commander."
"You're all dismissed."

 

[NinthSomnus9029]

Ash
He looked up at Cronos. "I can have it back you say...but what's the catch? We don't know each other, if Ares had asked me this question I'd immediately say yes but, you're different." Ash said looking up at Cronos.

Cronos chuckled. "You are not wrong, as someone who I've chosen to be my keeper I can see their is something your forgetting." Cronos said.

"What is that?" Ash asked. "What it means to be a protector of the people." Cronos stomped his foot as Ash's vision faded to white.


Earth: Ash 18 years old. 460 AD

"Remember this day boy?" Cronos said.

Ash was sitting in carriage speeding through with two horses and their riders following.

"Let's make camp here for now." Ash said. Violet appeared from out behind the carriage. "Is it already time to stop?..." she asked, Ash nodded his head. The other two escorts showed up.

"Alec and Zen we'll be here for a while. Get your horses some water and food. I'll prepare the fire." Ash said. Alec and Zen nodded their heads. When Ash sat down and began trying to make the fire Violet knelt beside him.

"So, Ash why did we stop?" She asked, Ash had finished setting up the fire and looked up at Violet with a sigh. "You always ask me all these questions everytime I have to be your escort." Ash said. Violet pouted. "It doesn't matter, I always have questions." She said.

Ash looked at her for a second then back at the fire. "Someone's been following us, if we kept moving like we've been now they'll learn of our destination." Ash said. This sent shivers down Violets back. "H-how can you tell?..." she asked.

"When we left the city their were 8 men on horseback riding through behind us. They didn't go down the main path and went off road. One of them had a bow and arrows, fron what I could tell they weren't made for hunting. When we took a water break I heard more horses than we had. So putting those together that's the idea I had." Ash took a drink from the pouch he had.

After a few minutes Alec and Zen returned. "So what do we have for a nice meal?" Alec asked. Ash pulled out some hard bread and nuts. "This is all I got from the city." He looked at Violet and gave her a portion as well. Violet looked doen at it with a sad face. "I don't see how you eat this regulary." She said, taking a bite from the bread.

Alec and Zen laughed. "You get used to it after years of service." Zen said, "Or if you had it everyday like we did, right Ash?" Alec nudged Ash's shoulder. He nodded in response, "It's almost to die for." Ash joked. Everyone let out a soft chuckle.

About an hour into camp, Ash began to hear footsteps. "Alec...Zen, shields and spear as the ready.." Ash said grabbing hold of his. Earlier Violet took a nap so they didn't have to worry about her all they had to do was find the enemy quickly.

Then it happened. "I don't see any-" with a quick pull of the bow, the arrow fired at Alec struck him in the neck. "Enemy fire!" Zen yelled. Ash couldn't believe what happened to Alec, when he looked in the direction of the arrow he saw 8 males come out with swords in hand. "Protect the carriage Zen, we'll make our stand here!" Ash leaned back and threw his spear piercing one of the bandits in the chest. "My shield is yours brother!" Zen said with a grin.

"And mine yours!" Rushing forward Ash slid for Alec's spear. Takibg hold of it he thrusted forward to the appoarching bandit.

In this moment Ash had confidence that he and Zen would make it out but, "What's with all the noise?..." Violet had woken up and poked her head out. Ash and Zen immediately moved in closer to the carriage. Zen looked at Ash, "Make sure they both make it back!" Zen then rushed forward taking out two of the bandits before another arrow flew, striking Zen in the leg. Ash was taken back by what happened, "Zen!" Ash yelled.

With the swing of the bandits blade Zens head flew off clean. When he looked at the numbers only 2 of them remained. When Ash threw his spear once more at the bandit with the bow he thought his troubles would have ended, but the from behind Ash heard a shriek. When he turned around Violetwas on the ground trying with a bandit raising his sword above his head.

At that moment a fear arose in Ash's heart. Unconsciously Ash rushed forward and moved Violet out of the way taking the strike himself.

"Ash!" Violet said with a shriek.

The pain burned his soul, but with the strength that remained in him Ash smashed his shield against the bandits face. Staggered Ash used thid chance jumped on him and began to beat his face in with his shield. He gasped for air as his vision slowly faded.

Present

"Your choice led to the death of your allies, you had since regretted stopping on the side of the road." Cronos said. Ash looked down. He clenched his fist remembering that he was at fault for the deaths of his allies and almost that of Violet.

"Why did you show me this?" Ash asked. Cronos leaned in. "What did Violet tell you later on, that you should've never forgotten boy!" Cronos yelled. Ash looked down for a second.

"Don't try and run from what has already passed. Live with the consequences of your actions, as long as never forget what's important don't ket their deaths be in vain." Ash said. He had remembered thar when he was recovering he let himself go. But if it wasn't for Violet, Ash would continue to hate himself.

He looked up at Cronos. "So it seems you remembered something huh boy?" Cronos said.

"I may not completely be the same man I was back then but I'll continue to strive to earn your trust again. I'll live up to the consequences of my actions. I'll be the shield of the people and yourself. The lives of those who can't fight and look up to the warriors who fight to defend then, I'll both their shields. To be your keeper I know I have a long way to go. I'm only human...so I ask of you..lend me your strength. Help me protect those I can't and save those I've lost."

Ash said as he got on a knee. Cronos tapped his head against Ash's. "I can sense fear. I can tell what happened in feita wasn't your intentions but the world sees you as some who's evil, but I can see thatyou want to fix yourself. Fine, Ash Lockard. From here on we are one. We'll grow stronger together, if you ever fall from the path you've chosen to follow you'll lose all that is."

Then it hit Ash, the power he once had. "Your body is no longer yours. You'll need a stronger body that can hold that demonic power and mine."

With a flash of light Ash felt the chill of the area he was in. He looked down at his hands, he had armor on already. Two swords where sheathed on his left side as a sword mark was placed on his right hand. "You have three blades. The third one in within you, only call it forth when it when you've become able to withstand the backlash." Cronos said. Pulling out a blade Ash looked at his reflection. His eyes remained golden, but his hair had turned white, on his back he sae four white wings. "Because of my power you'll have that appearence, of course you can hide the wings. Now, the old Ash is dead. I leave the choices to you Ash but whatever you do, until you find a solution, don't kill Ishmael. The balance of this world relies on her power for now, till a solution comes up we'll fix it." He said. Ash nodded his head "Then back to where I died. I need to finish what I promised." Ash said. Cronos vanish into the air as the space fell apart.



​

 

[KizayaTaishuro]

Did he think disoriented? Did he think confusion? No, this was beyond that. An emotion of new heights called confusion of the sexes. He listened to this hilarious exchange, but one thing was bothering him the most.

"So if they're always on each other, will they ever off each other?" he said in utter confusion. He really didn't know what he was saying. So his tone was completely innocently questioned.

Heavengiver

 

[Heavengiver]

This is a disaster.

Add doesn't let his sinister smirk leave his face as he glances at the elf, who's trying oh so very hard to not explode in a flurry of red. Raven actually coughs at Oblivio's question and uses his Nasod hand to hide his increasingly growing blush.

"Oblivio, Oblivio. You are asking the right questions. To answer, yes, they will, if they like it so much that they can't hold back!"

"A-A-ADDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!"

Oblivio then asks how they could, and that's when Rena drags Raven away in her embarrassment, mumbling about how she won't take this anymore.

"H-Hey, Rena..."

"I should've just kicked the both of you to the ends of Elrios..."

Add takes a second to think about how to proceed, and decides that maybe using terms that Oblivio might know would be better. He takes a bunch of spare Nasod parts and begins to explain the exercise that is reproduction to his horribly innocent brother. The tracer had too much fun, repeating certain gestures a little bit too aggressively as he clarifies on what each behavior means. There's the twinkle of excitement in Oblivio's eyes as he watches his knowledgeable big brother shove a pipe into a cylinder faster and faster...

"I-I tried to stop him okay? Oh El, when Lara and Rain come back..."

Rena didn't hear him over the rushing flow of blood flooding her ears. Is this why Rain thought they would be together, why they actually were together? Just the thought of the siren teasing her until her heart explodes...the elf drops Raven to screech in a desperate voice.

"THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!!!!"

K KizayaTaishuro

 

[KizayaTaishuro]

He wasn't completely sure what this had to do with bodily sex, but he thought his brother was doing this wrong. First of all, if one was to complete fluid motion. One needed to add a vital ingredient, a vital substance to make the job easier.

"o-o don't you need to oil the cylinder to make the movements more fluid? Because I'm pretty sure that's rough...without it?"

As of this moment, there was only so much oil to be added to this fire that was blazing.

Heavengiver

 

[Heavengiver]

"I'm glad you noticed, Oblivio. Yes, it makes the process much more enjoyable and painless. Hand me some oil."

His brother grabs a bottle of oil and slathers it all over the cylinder and pipe. The sensual way Add does it though...it brings a shiver to Oblivio's spine. The tracer continues the notion with renewed passion.

"Now that you understand the gesture, let's apply this to the human body. Tell me, Oblivio. What part of your body resembles this shape?"

Add lifts the dripping wet pipe and smirks as he watches his brother think. He first points to his arms, but Add only shakes his head and makes him think again. When he gives up, the tracer commands one of his dynamos to point to Oblivio's junction between his legs. Of course, having no shame, his brother only stares at him confusingly.

"That's what men have. For girls, it's different. They have this shape instead." He holds up the cylinder like it's a dissected leg of a specimen.

"When two people, particularly a girl and boy, feel an attraction, like an electric charge, they tend to have a reaction down there. And if they fail to fix this problem, well...I'm sure you know by now what happens." As if he hasn't done it so many times already, Add shoves the oily pipe into the slick cylinder again.

K KizayaTaishuro

 

[KizayaTaishuro]

"Hm...I've never felt that before, but I see...what is this supposed to be called?" he said, pointing to between his legs. "And what kind of reaction o-o? How would they fix it?"

He had never learnt this sort of information. If one gave him different tools, he would be able to use them efficiently. The camp of zealots often taught him the art of torture. So many times he had been on the rack, awaiting for a new 'experimentation'. Each day they'd offer him if he wanted to get off the rack, but doing that meant a price was to be paid. Not that he was thinking of this currently, he was engrossed in learning about cylinders and oil.

Heavengiver

 

[MementoDei]

Durahan
(1 day after Xavier's departure)​

He dreamt of the brunette woman again. She sat down on a wheelchair in a candle-lit room and stared at the window. Her gaze was lost in something he couldn't see. Something that terrified her to her very core.

"It's my fault. I left them to die. They ambushed us. I couldn't do anything."

She mumbled those words over and over again, like a mantra. He approached her and she looked at him without letting her terror out of her. He crouched so they could see each other without having to tilt their head up or down. He gently passed his hand over her cheek to wipe the tears that were silently rolling down her face and smiled before hugging her tightly.

"Hello, my love. Welcome back."

The woman's arms hesitantly wrapped themselves around him and she whispered an answer before being overtaken by sobs:

"I made it back, Darhan. I made it back. I kept my promise to you, Darhan. I..."

He woke up to find some tears wet his pillow. He got up and wiped roughly his tears off his face. He had slowly been controlling the sudden surges of power that those memories of his past provoked in him, but, in exchange, he often woke up in tears. He didn't feel sad, but it was a reflex he couldn't control. It bothered him somewhat, but not enough to keep him from focusing on his training. After all, the past wasn't something he should cry for, but something that should give him the courage to continue his mission.

He got ready and began to train once more his magic abilities. He wasn't suited for melee combat, but his nature as a mage was enough to compensate for it. In fact, in his free time, he studied anatomy to find the weak spots in every mana circuit and bones to create a lethal technique of combat with the least amount of hits possible. Ishmael looked at his new style of combat against dummies and gave a name to it: Kapu Kuialua.

"Kapu Kuialua? Doesn't that translate to 'The forbidden way of fighting'?"
"Yes, in another world, it does translate to that. But did you know why it was forbidden? Because only the royal family had the right to use it to defend their people. You've reached a new level and it's time I teach you the next steps to take, Durahan."

Ishmael's image vanished and he felt the ground at his feet begin to collapse. He simply opened his wings to float above the tunnel that formed to his feet as other guards began to run to report the situation to Ellia and Ishmael. A giant hand appeared behind Durahan before he could notice it and, once it touched him, zapped away all his energy from him, making him drowsy on the spot. He felt scared for his life. He didn't have the strength to fight, but he had to. He had to protect his life and those of his other companions.

Those thoughts felt like a déjà-vu.

"Durahan. This will be part of your trials. If you survive this attack from our enemies, you'll have proven to deserve the true power of a warrior."

Ishmael's words calmed his mind and allowed him to concentrate for one last second in the hand that was grabbing him and dragging him down an endless pit of darkness.

It was powered by Henir's energy. Ishmael was testing him and he would not let himself be corrupted by darkness no matter what.

 

[Heavengiver]

"The reactions that you would get is tightening of your pants and an uncomfortable itch. And there are less interesting ways to deal with that, some being to just ignore it or think of something less...savory."

Add was about to reveal the forbidden name of the appendage between their legs when he finally notices that their other members had left without them. A scream not far from them echoes in the valley, and Add recognizes it as Rena's.

"Are you kidding me? Just how long have I been...you know what? We'll continue this later. Time to bail our teammates out."

...
​

"R-RAVEN! DON'T LET GO!!!"

"I'M TRYING, RENA! I DON'T THINK I HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PULL US UP!"

"AHHHHHHHHH!!"

Somehow, a giant portal had opened up beneath them as soon as they stepped foot into Return Plains. The elf's cry, despite nearly blasting off Raven's ear, is lost by the swirling vortex under their feet. Raven is desperately grabbing the ledge with his Nasod arm, but his grip is slowly slipping. It doesn't help that Rena is clinging a little bit too tightly to his hyper-aware body.

"I can't...hold on for too long..."

"N-No! Not like this!!"

If someone was given this without any context, their sullied, dirty mind would have thought that they're having a rather intense, but unwilling romp in some weird dungeon porn.

After a few more moments of paranoia, Raven loses his grip on the ground. Both him and the elf tumble down the portal, but Raven makes sure that if they ever reach the bottom, his back would suffer the blow instead of Rena. They hold each other tightly as they descend into the void.

K KizayaTaishuro

 

[NinthSomnus9029]

Ash​

After Ash and Cronos pact he was told a bit about their contract and what he could do. Ash who was once a regular human with no affinity with the El was given a new body that could learn magic, he no longer needed to rely on someone else's power, Cronos gave him this as a way for Ash to train himself than being limited to what his kind would put him at. Cronos did him a favor of keeping Ash's demonic awakening he recieved from Cai Er and the armor of Titanium that Cronos had blessed him with. When Ash asked Cronos how Titanium was made Cronos responded. "That armor grows with you, Minotaurous was a gift from Ares and so was his armor that gave you unimaginable abilities. Titanium is different. It can learn, like the swords I gave you, become a legend with that armor, or become nothing but history." Cronos said. Ash really didn't understand him but he knew that only he could figure out how Titanium works.


When he finally dropped to the spot of his death, Ash looked around the area. All the blood stains against the floors angered Ash. It angered him that he wasn't strong enough to protect Cai Er no one could tell him otherwise,"...No traces.." Ash said, getting off his knee. He looked ahead into the dark dimness of Altera Core.

Adel sent him on a quest to find out what has been going on down here in Altera core. He needed to find the source of all these nasods appearing on the surface.

Ash rested his hand on the hilt of of swords. "Time to move forward I guess." He said. Ash then made his way to the second bottom level, the amount of nasod bodies slowly decreased. "Is this how far other adventurers have gotten?" Ash said. He noticed burnt marks on the ground. Looking a little more in the distance he could see a sword laying on the ground. "This person must've been torched to ashes." Ash said. Further into the floor Ash began to find cores all over. They where different colors. "Interesting." Ash didn't know what they where for but soon tge sounds of gears turning could be heard. Ash looked around to see lights in the darkness light up. "Oh shit." Ash jumped out of the way as a laser beam materialized in front of the core. Ash was surprised by the beams and nasods that appeared. He immediately ran for cover. "Wanna give insight on what I can do Cronos?" Ash asked. "Titanium is available as well as your demonic awakening. You should know what to do. Afterall you where a warrior in your previous life no?" Cronos said. Ash rolled his eyes. "Pólmos..Titanium." slowly the nasodic armor formed up on Ash's body, but it felt different. It felt incomplete. Ashs two swords changed shape, one became a shield the other a blade with a blue edge, when they finished materializing Ash stood up. "Thrusters on." With a burst of speed Ash charged forward, his blade dug into the chest of the nasod, the armor felt heavier, the speed slower, the power output was all relied on Ash's own strength. When he looked up the beam was coming towards him, using his shield Ash tried to reflect the beam, that didn't work as an electric current ran through his body.

Ash groaned in pain, when the flow of electricity stopped he took a deep breath before a nasod blader sent Ash flying back. "You seem to be struggling." Cronos said. Ash rolled his eyes. "I'm rusty okay. This ain't exactly the right time to experiment." Ash replied.

Ash looked around. He could see about 8 nasods in front, he looked even closer and noticed an aura of red and green on their bodies, he then looked at the cores. "So that's why the beams are there." Ash said as he noticed that the nasods weren't moving away from the cores.

Watching the movement of the beams, Ash timed his thrusts as he jabbed his sword into the cores terminal. With this action the nasods the aura around the nasods died down. He didn't know what this did but when he struck the nasods their defenses weren't as hard compared to the one he destroyed earlier.

Soon Ash finished up tge remaining 7 nasods, he felt drained, he never had to control his own power output like this. Soon he reached near the end of the second bottom floor. Looking around the burnt marks started to appear along with blocks of ice. "What the heck?.."


​

 

[KizayaTaishuro]

"Their screams are coming from there...!" he pointed out, trying to follow the sounds. It was suddenly cut off when the sound of a portal closing resounded. Raven's and Rena's yells were gone and they were left with silence. "A portal closing...? This doesn't sound good..."

Suddenly, the crystal implanted in his chest was reacting. Sharp pain flew through his chest as if he was being stabbed again. Taken aback by the pain, he felt like something dangerous was arriving on the horizon.

"Oh no...!" Something appeared to be grabbing him from behind, but it was a dark portal yanking him inside. Without thinking about it, he grabbed onto Add's arm as they were pulled inside.

Heavengiver

 

[Fume]

[Velder - survivors camp]

"Hmm... This place is below average. Not many weapons, not much food or other supplies. This is bad for them, not to mention that the wounded keep increasing, even if it is slowly building up." He thought to himself as he took glances of the many tents. Children stuck close to their parents or orphans stood in a corner depressed. Some people shared their supplies with others out of good faith and others simply took out of greed.

In all truth, this scene was not new for him. Since the fall of Luciela, many people rebelled against the pentagram order and many fell just because their opinion didn't had any meaning to it. This was a repeat, but this time it accentuated on how war looked on both sides.

Dust doesn't regret it, but can sympathize with them to a point. They need the El and the priestess, for just a little bit. A year or so should do it. Not to mention, the humans grant him the opportunity to gather forces, a decoy for now.

A ball touches his walking feet, tapping it slightly forward. He looked at the child, afraid to come closer to him, after all he was a stranger that nobody knew. He grabbed the ball and very softly threw it back.

Catching it, the boy bowed slightly and then ran back beside his family. He couldn't help but feel an odd feeling, but it was so strange that he disregarded it and continued on, maybe it was for the best that he didn't pursued it or tried to understand it.

As he walked he spotted on a corner something odd.

"Hmm?" He voiced out loud and slowly looked at it. He was bewildered for a moment, looking to the side to see if anyone in the vicinity could see it, but nobody was there except him. It was a portal swirling a bit too dangerously. "That reeks of Henir's energy, maybe Glave's doing. Not my business." He turned around started moving away before a chain grabbed him on his left leg.

"What the heck!?" He pulled it, trying to be free of the weapon before another one grabbed his torso and then another one grabbed his right arm. "Oh you little bastard! I won't go in there!" He pushed and pushed, trying to reach a wall to grab hold on to, until multiple chains wrapped around him and pulled him towards the portal with immeasurable strength. "Glave you basta-" He was cut off as the portal closed with him inside.

 

[Late]

Xavier

Four Years in Ishmael's Kingdom
​

Who said it's an easy task to tame a dragon that can potentially destroy the whole castle without breaking a sweat? Pryor was an extreme case for Xavier but Xavier wasn't one to be easily backed down, especially anything that is bigger than him. It simply took a lot of time for the two of them to buddy as close as they can. Xavier often has to fight the beast into submission, in which he received broken bones in the end after a succession. Not like it bothers him, the important thing for him was the results from the dragon. He always looks for a change of body language once he enters the room, any signs of trust within the beast's eyes. Xavier would always take his risks as he is unfamiliar with fear yet driven by curiosity.

Progress was slow, yet at least there was progress. By the end of the year, if Xavier would have to give a percentage of how much trust he gained from Pryor, it would be at least 75%. Through the blood and sweat from both of them, Pryor finally understood Xavier's strength and willpower that the man will never give up. After a large fight, Pryor found himself stunned for a full five minutes after Xavier found out his weak spot. Thus it frightened the beast that Xavier was learning more about him. So eventually the beast showed signs of submission, showing some sort of trust that Xavier wouldn't sell off the weakness of having a certain sensitive area under one of the scale plates of his chest. Often the beast would feel annoyed about the treatment he was receiving and earned him another stun in punishment. Though it was only Xavier doing this to him, giving slight hope that Xavier never shared about it with anyone outside the room.

Months later, the chains were loosened and they only have a muzzle around Pryor's snout. He was finally able to step out of the damned room. It took a lot of adjusting as Pryor hissed at other servants surrounding him, shooting off electricity yet stopped after Xavier had to pull one of the loose chains for the dragon's attention that he was here watching. Xavier was always by his side, always watching him and making sure Pryor was on his best behavior. When Pryor showed enough trust, Xavier took him out to spread out his wings to fly. The feeling felt somewhat familiar to Xavier when he watched the dragon flying above. He wasn't sure why and noticed that his cheeks were wet after Pryor came back to him.

On the last month of the year, before his 19th birthday, Eosforos went ahead to give Xavier information about the people he may be encountering once getting back into Elrios. The angel actually had a book ready and gave it to Xavier so the man can read it in his free time. After a few days of going over his recent training with the dragon and other variety of things, Xavier was ready to finally head on back. Before he could though, he was busy with something else.

A strange portal seems to appear before him when he was trying to head into the washroom, causing him to tense up in reaction. He stared at the portal in such confusion, taking a step back after sensing heavy negative energy. Xavier was ready to alarm the others about this, smacking away the hands that tried to grab him in. He was very annoyed and was ready to run off until it grabbed his tail. His tail.

Xavier never felt so violated in his life until his tail was touched by this force of pure negative energy. In an upset manner, he yanked his tail out of the grip and glared at the portal. In response, the portal's hand smacked into his face and have a nice grip on his head and arms, pulling him in. He struggled a lot, his frustration grew as ice shards scattered all around the room but the portal successfully pulled him in and closed up once the servants rushed in to see what was the commotion about.

 

[NinthSomnus9029]

Ash

As he continued forward down the Altera Core, a man with a masked appeared before him. Ash raised an eyebrow he never seen him before, hell he didn't even see where he came from.

"Your presence, hmm yes you'll do in this little game of mine." Ash was startled as the masked man threw a sphere at Ash which started to pull him in. "W-what?!" Before he knew it he had appeared somewhere he didn't recognize, when he looked up snow began to fall.
"Where...?" Ash didn't know know where he got dragged to but this place was strange to him. He could only walk about.​

 

[MementoDei]

Lento
(Velder's Outskirts, 1 month after their departure from Bethma)​

During their travel, they had encountered more bandits and some demons, especially around his old town. Seeing nothing but a crater full of ashes instead of roads, homes and villagers. He was reminded of the ones who had died and a small ceremony was held over the ashen and desolate place. Lara's memories sometimes haunted him during his sleep, provoking nightmares of the Void and seeing his brother die at the demons hands in different and cruel ways.

No wonder Lara had lost hope. She could never save anyone she desired to protect.

Their military caravan continued and was now approaching their final destination. It was then where something very strange happened. The horizon began to crack and reveal a dark tunnel where thousands of chains took him, Phantom, Aisha, and the dragons towards it.

Once behind the portal, only darkness and silence greeted them.

Late Phant0m

*****
Elesis
(Velder's port, 2 weeks after her departure from Hamel)​

She had to force the naval fleet to let her go in the smallest ship they had and to change their flags to those used by the Demon army. It was a nasty surprise for the lower ranked demons left to guard the port. Thanks to some mixed-blood dark elves faithful to the Knights, she had managed to get in and replace the weak marine guard with powerful allies.

Once out of the boat, she left the continuation of her plan to liberate Velder in her subordinates' hands and snuck in the various alleys of the city. She knew Velder well, it was the city where she was forced to travel to begin her training to the way of the sword at seven years old.

She didn't hold any fond memories of it, except certain festivals that had brought a halt to her usual and monotone training. Elesis found herself in front of a dead-end.

The roads had changed.

The wall in front of her began to break and she unsheathed her sword. However, what had broken the wall was not a demon but something worse. A hand cut itself from the darkness and covered her mouth in an instant. She widened her eyes in fright and began to fight against the hand, but a hundred more came to cover her completely and make her cross the portal of darkness that had appeared in front of her.

 

[Heavengiver]

"What the...? What did those two get caught up in now?"

While Add is glaring at the hole where Rena and Raven had disappeared into, a portal opens up behind him and his brother. It seems intent on sucking in Oblivio, but he latches onto Add's arm to drag him in.

"Oblivio! Wait, stop! Let go! No! NO! LET GO, OBLIVIO!!!! FUCK MY LIFE!!!"

Add's stream of curses afterwards was cut short by the mouth of the portal closing once it had swallowed the two brothers.

K KizayaTaishuro

 

[MementoDei]

Lara Tureen
(Henir's Time and Space - Unknown time)​

The last night of the festival, Lara and Darhan went drinking together in a bar and sung Summer wine and got some attention from the crowd. They had gone back with Elesis to the inn and she had fallen asleep in her husband's arms. She woke up in a prison of blue and black, it was a cube. She touched the surface and her fingers turned into marble and her memories returned.

She was put here by Glave and her life had ended. A nostalgic smile formed on her face as her whole arm froze into the shape of a statue. Henir had destroyed her original body and conserved her soul in a statue of a special marble so she could resist being in and out of the Void for as long as she did.

"So that was your gift, huh?" Lara said to the emptiness around her. A wall of her prison dissolved and she saw Darhan sit down, visibly confused, on the other side.

"Soul Priestess, you... just who are you?" He mumbled before turning his green gaze away from her.

Lara felt her heart clench in her chest with anticipation and sadness. Darhan's mind had truly forgotten her, but it was her last chance to make him remember. She took a breath and replied with a serenity that surprised her.

"I've had many names. Resiam's Silver Fang, Lost Soul, Dark Water Priestess, Soul Priestess...I was even known as Larian Ishmael for a while. But I am, above all those titles, Lara Tureen."

Darhan repeated her name and he took his head in his hands. This had to be a trick of Henir's forces, but his intuition told him that the black-haired woman in front of him was indeed Lara Tureen. She was the woman of his memories and, above all, the one he loved. He didn't know what to believe, he had contradictory thoughts roaming inside his head. He saw from the corner of his eyes Lara move and walk to his side. She sat down to his right and he saw that her arms were slowly turning into stone.

"Darhan, you've begun to recover your memories, haven't you? Through dreams, I mean."

Ishmael's guardian nodded and Lara continued: "It's always hard remembering who you were. I know for a fact that it would've been better for me if I just ignored all my failures. I broke all my promises, I let everyone down..."

Darhan turned his head to see some tears roll down her cheeks and he remembered the last dream he had about her. She had the same look of terror in her eyes and he felt the need to wipe gently her tears away like he had always done. His gesture startled Lara and Darhan began to speak from his heart, although his mind was still paralyzed in time. He spoke and a part of him felt like it was a stranger that had taken control over his body.

"That isn't true, Lara. When you were back, in that candle-lit room, you said it yourself. You made it back and you fulfilled your promise to me. You protected our town with your last breath and I... couldn't protect you back. I was the one to break-"

"T-that's...y-you willingly took on a sword that night, you gave me the hope to fight back and I still let everyone die! I still failed everyone!"

Lara began to sob and he took her in his arms until she calmed down.

"Lara, my dear, we all made mistakes that day and I also did horrible things I still regret to this day, but remember what you told me after you returned from Velder?"

"...what I said?"

"You said that the path of a warrior was full of thorns, but that seeing the people you cared for be at peace was enough for you to find the strength to go through the pain. I think I can now say the same, my love. We both went down paths full of regrets, but, as long as we both know that everyone we knew is at peace, we can move forwards. Lara, you're the most humane woman I know, and seeing you shoulder all that guilt alone makes me want to help you shoulder that weight with you. You don't have to martyrize yourself once more. I won't let you fall apart again. Never. Not while my soul is still in this world."

His voice was breaking as he held her tightly in his arms. Lara looked down and wiped her tears away. He probably thought that they'd be back into the real world together, but that wasn't the case. She had to tell him, she had no choice anymore. She smiled and returned Darhan's embrace, breaking the mold of marble her body was made of. Some fragments of her arms fell down to the glass-like floor before turning into a white dust.

She was glad to see him again in the real world; in the world she had grown to consider hell itself. He was truly there, with her, sharing her own pain one last time. It was no illusion, it was no dream and it was precisely because of that that her tears began to flow again. She had never hoped to have the chance to say to him a farewell. His words didn't change her guilt, but they made her realize that this was her last chance to at least truly save someone. Darhan also felt guilty and powerless and they were having their last moments together. She had to swallow her true feelings and transform them into a good memory for him. She owed him that, he wanted to see himself as her saviour and, in a way, he was already. But this time, she needed him to know it more explicitly, despite lying to herself once more.

"D-Darhan. I'm...I'm glad to see you here. My only regret is to know that you'll have to see me go before you. There's no guilt left, no one to hate, only someone to care for and in my mind, I've always looked out for you..."

"Lara...I wonder what I did for you to care so much about me....I'm probably the luckiest elf in Elrios. But don't worry about me this time. Let me take care of you for the last moments we have left."

They looked at each other and, for the first time in months, Lara noticed that Darhan's eyes had taken back their natural amber colour. They were clouded by tears she took the time to wipe as gently as he had done with hers. He clutched her hand in his and she smiled warmly before closing her eyes. Darhan's lips met hers and Lara's arms began to lose their strength, returning to their natural state. Her torso also transformed into marble and, as her neck was also returning to its original state, Darhan pulled back to see her serenely beautiful face once last time.

"Darhan, you remember the festival we were in, right? It...it was probably one of the happiest memories I could have with you. And now that I can see you one last time, I'd like to thank you for all the time we spent together. No matter what others say, I can safely say that my first love was like the one from a fairytale. Including the ending. So, please, Darhan, don't keep my memory full of sadness, don't carry my burden. It'll break you too. And that's something I wouldn't forgive you for. Never."

He closed his eyes as her face became like those of the statues in Hamel. A small blue shard, Lara's soul, came out of the statue's heart and turned into dust once it reached his hands. He clutched the dust close to his chest and he let out a cry of grief. Lara's shell fell down and Darhan fell to his knees. Between his sobs, he watched as the dust itself vanished slowly from his hand.

She was gone.

 

[NinthSomnus9029]

Ash

When Ash handed off the final order of the evening he turned around to look at Cai Er, "All done! Man..that was a rush." He said leaning back, while he did so Cai Er didn't move from her spot. instead she slowly seemed to fade from existence. "E-eh? Cai Er?" Ash said. Reaching out for her but it was no use. His hand directly through her, when he tried to assess the situation the space around him turned pitch black. "It's time you wake as well." A man said and with a loud thump Ash gasped for air as he laid on the floor, looking up at the dim lighting that he remembered was the Altera Core.

"Wh-what the hell..." Ash held the back of his head as he sat up, realizing that the two nasods he had seen earlier were gone, but that didn't sound right to him, he had no recollection of ever defeating them at all. "D-did I black out..?" He tried to remember the feeling but all he could remember was feeling cold and warm, as if surrounded by all sorts of people. "I must've been dreaming..." he said as he picked up his sword, putting it back to his side as continued on with his mission, "Find out what's up with all the nasods that have been appearing in Altera lately." he said to himself.


Alec

"Day: 730,486 State: Encapsulation. Reviewing orders...Orders found. Order One: Protect Eve. Classification: Urgent. Order Giver: Master Adrian. No other orders found..." Alec would review his orders over and over again as he laid in his capsule on standby. Over the course that he laid here he would wonder, "What kind of nasod was Eve?" He found it strange that his programming gave him such thoughts, he didn't know what a "thought" was anyway, he was never taught any of these things he would experience from time to time again but then again he had nothing better to do.​

 

[Late]

Xavier
​

Excitement. Happiness. Freedom. Warmth. Xavier had a happy smile set on his face as he watched the dragons taking off with the sleigh, enjoying how wide their wings spread open. He was swelling with emotions as he felt the comforting warmth of his partner’s flame dancing around in the skies. He never wanted this amazing feeling to end.

Yet seconds later, he watched the light die out before him. Xavier was confused on why it suddenly became dark around him, thinking his vision was failing him. The warmth suddenly was gone, causing him to snap his head back to where he thought Perkisas was standing. Except there was a man kneeling down with chains at his arms and around his neck, keeping him down on the ground. He appeared broken, lifeless yet Xavier can see clouds of breath escaping from the man’s mouth. It made him uneasy.

Xavier reached out for him but noticed there was a barrier around him, unsure where it came from. Perkisas suddenly became aware as he abruptly pulled his chains around, having a fierce, scared look on his face. Xavier wanted to help but when Perkisas looked up at Xavier, he froze from the stare.

“Look at you...” Perkisas meekly laughed, having a mixed emotion stare. “A goddess’ pet. A winning chess piece of a match. My, such sacrifices you gone through,” Perkisas sneered. “I really thought you were different, Xavier. I almost had a change of hearts for humans, but I guess not. ...Greedy for power, for glory, hungry for more. Same old thing. Sure, I am the same thing. Difference is that I am not afraid to admit it...I was born like this...” Xavier watched Perkisas tugging the chains once again, unsure what he can say to the man. “Just wait Xavier, you’ll see how much your power will really cost you. I only hope you’ll be ready to face those consequences...and the majority of sacrifices you will make....”

Xavier frowned in reaction as Perkisas had a sad smile on his face. “...” He wished he got something to say but Perkisas was right. It made him angry, wanting to break through the barrier yet Perkisas seem to cease of movement, as if he was freezing up. Before Xavier could even perform such actions, he was pulled back by a pair of hands and watched Perkisas fade away.

Next thing he knows, he was wrestling around with a man who seemed to be pulling him away a portal that was shrinking. “Easy there tiger, it’s me.” Xavier recognizes Eosfóros’ voice yet his heart was racing. His head was spinning, emotions rapidly fading. They fell as Xavier lost his balance from thrashing around, making the room shake from the weight as Eosfóros shouted in surprise. “Xavier, relax!” Eosfóros grumbled out. “I got you, alright? You’re safe here.”

Xavier finally registered his surroundings and froze as he was on his back ontop of Eosfóros. The angel had trouble breathing as he squirmed out of his tail’s area. It took him a bit to quickly get off and help Eosfóros to sit up. Eosfóros had a small smile and slightly winced when he sat up as Xavier was on his knees beside him. Xavier was ready to apologize for his behavior and injurying the angel yet stopped when Eosfóros gently got a hold of Xavier face to check if he was alright.

“Man, you worry me a lot, Xavier. I thought I lost you there for a moment,” Eosfóros said as he inspected Xavier’s face. Xavier wasn’t sure what to say or do yet he subconsciously pulled away. Yet Eosfóros held him there, the angel having a concerned look as he thoughg Xavier was still panicking. “Like I said, I got you. You won’t get out of my fingers that easily...” Xavier stayed where he is, feeling confused on why Eosfóros was...affectionate. Their foreheads touched as Eosfóros got a nice, gentle grip on him.

Xavier’s heart gave a nervous jump but eventually he was able to breathe steady. He slightly shying away when Eosfóros brushed his fingers through the short ends of his hair. The angel kept his assuring smile going as Xavier didn’t break his steady gaze.

“Safe and sound,” Eosfóros whispered, quiet yet close enough for Xavier to hear.

The dragon tamer didn’t dare to do anything else until he was given orders to do.