Fantasy Project Anima

[Srion Receno]

She remained silent as the dragons wind ripped apart her clone, she was not surprised. After the dragon started on it's second wave of wind the clones moved around the room leaving one standing there like it was her. She moved just as silently as they did moving around quickly as they made there way closer to her.


In moments five of her clones made it passed and went for the queen. She watched for her chance to get through as she ran around the room like the rest. The clones each sliced down at her with blades of shadow.

 

[From Darkness]

Erunt was occupied by Gills at the moment, yet he was clearly trying to get back to Vienne's side. The prince wouldn't have that, though. For each step he tried to evade Gills, the latter would force his way back. There was no escaping this. Erunt's Animus couldn't produce multiple attacks and so Gills happily absorbed every attacks he would made. It was a stalemate.


However, Vienne didn't look too worried with Crimson's attack. Skyfall kept on sending blades of wind toward every shadow-clones coming near, yet each of them kept to turn out as clones. Which was the real one? Not to mention that their movements keep on getting faster. At one point, the blades couldn't keep up. Several shadows finally reached close enough distance to strike, their blades hurling down at Vienne.


Skyfall let out an angry roar. Suddenly, the air felt heavier. Gills fell down to his knees, his body felt like chains was dragging him down to the ground. It wasn't just him. Arty was feeling the same oppressive force coming above, pinning her immobile. Even the King, Erunt Srager, was using his entire strength just to remain on his feet, stubbornly clinging on the sword he had used to prop himself.


The power of gravity, the domain of he who ruled the sky. Only the dragon and his host was freed from this restriction. Vienne looked at the shadow clones with delight. "How do you like the power of Anima Dragon, you filthy assassin?" Skyfall couldn't attack with blades while using this ability, but nevertheless she had succeed in stopping everyone's movement.

 

[Srion Receno]

She smirked seeing the clones at her but out of no were she was forced down. She bit her lip the feeling reminded her of when She was a child memories that she had pushed back. She was there kneeling looking at the queen and her clones at the floor beneath her. She may be pushed down but she could still do one thing and be fine, wile giving her a chance at that women when this was lifted. She looked at the clone and started to slowly raise her hand.


"switch" she mumbled then was under her clutching her blade as she started to struggle to get up like the rest of her clones. As soon as it would lift only she would have the force to get at her and them away from the dragon.

 

[From Darkness]

The Queen pulled out a concealed dagger from beneath her dress. It wasn't made for direct battle, but useful for scaring away assailants or block enemy's attack. When she had pinned her enemies down like this, however, she didn't need to worry too much about the effectiveness of the dagger. All it takes would be a simple stab on the heart. "Well, this might take time, but it's okay. I can keep you pinned down like that for the entire night," she started to walk toward the closest shadow clone, then proceeded to stab it on the chest. The shadow clone disappeared. "Oh well, there's always another."


Gills was trying his hardest to fight the pressure, but to no avail. At this rate, she'll find out which was the real Crimson. The same thought ran in Arty's mind, and for a moment both siblings looked at each other. A brief moment, all they need was to distract the dragon for a few seconds...even a few milliseconds would be enough. Gills nodded at her. With a determined heart, not wanting to yield to the bloodlust rising on her soul, she closed her eyes and prayed.


The familiar black sphere formed above her. Her blood ran faster, her pupils dilated, her mind trying as hard as she could to suppress the desire. Let me out, it sayd. Let me out. Let me out. Let me out. Letmeoutletmeoutletmeoutletmeout.


"Obey me...Steel!"


Unlike the previous summoning, what came out from the sphere was not the terrible dragon made of blade in its entirety. What came out was the left wing, covered in blades of various sizes and shapes. Even so, the bloodlust was still strong. Everyone in that room would have noticed. The bloodlust coming from two Anima Dragons wanting to devour each other. But she didn't let Steel to come out. Instead, the summoned wing just flapped, throwing jet-black blades of differing shapes toward Skyfall.


Vienne had just stabbed another clone when she noticed it. The dragon's roar stopped, and with another flap of his wings, scythes of wind countered the rain of steel blades, clanking and clanging all over the room. His host was unharmed, but the pressure coming up from the sky was stopped. Even if only for a moment.


"No...!" Vienne had realized their plan. But it was a bit too late.

 

[Srion Receno]

The queen was now so close to her she had just stabbed a clone as a familiar feeling came over the room. she looked over to see the wing of steal sticking out of the black sphere above Arty. she was giving her the chance she needed. hearing the roaring stop she felt the pressure leave her, then she was off as the dragons started to fight. she rushed at the queen and grabbed the back of her neck and put pressure on it, as she placed her dagger to her neck. both places were quick kill zones for her. "stop this and call the dragon off" she said in the most dark voice she could make. even if the dragon roared again the blade would slice though her neck in an instant.

 

[From Darkness]

For a moment, there was silence. Vienne, the Dragon Princess, didn't move under the threat of Crimson's blade, and so did Skyfall. Arty was suppressing her bloodlust, preventing Steel from performing another attack. The steel-blade wing convulsed and stirred, but ultimately couldn't move against his host's stronger will.


"...So, it has come to this," Vienne spoke in a sad tone. "What do you hope to do, holding me like this? Do you think that I would give up?" Her eyes turned toward Crimson. Slowly. There was madness within those eyes. A madness beyond normal human comprehension.


"Imagine a little bird, caged from the time of her birth. She wanted to die, but it won't be granted. She wished to be free, but it couldn't be granted. For whose sake does she live? For what purpose does she exist? Is that kind of life, can be called living? She kept on waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Waiting for the day that her cage would be broken, when her wings could stretch out into the endless sky. Even so, that wish will not be granted. For the caged bird to have a taste of that freedom, would she ever trade it for anything else? Even if that something is her life? For that caged bird, there is nothing more fearful than the loss of freedom itself. That, is my answer."


It was sudden. Unprecedented. Unexpected. Without fear, without hesitation. In a swift movement, the Queen moved forward, by her own volition she let the ever-sharp blade of Animus to thrust into her neck, down until it stopped and reached her collar bone. She had calculated it such that though arguably life-threatening, the wound wouldn't be immediately fatal. It was painful. Painful. Painful. Painful. Yet she didn't hesitate even a bit. Life, it was such a cheap price for the sake of freedom.


Not even the weight of life would stop the bird from flapping her wings.


At the same time as the blade slipping into her flesh, her elbow cut down toward Crimson. Even if it didn't do much damage, the move itself would be enough to give her room to move. And that little room was all she need.


Skyfall roared. From within his jaw spit forth jet of wind, made of thousands upon thousands scythes capable of rendering flesh asunder in mere milliseconds. The terrible breath of the ruler of the sky. Even just a slight touch was enough to rip flesh into microscopic pieces, seeable no more by human eyes.


"Miss Crimson!"


Another wing of steel-blades burst out from within the black sphere. The two wings attempting to cover the area from Skyfall's breath as much as it could. But the assassin would have to step back to its range, else it would be for naught.

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson wasn't sure what had happened the queen was talking and then she just went into her blade.she looked at the queen and her slow death, this was something that never happened. she was stunned but only for a moment seeing the queens elbow come to her. she quickly moved back bringing the blade with her and out of the range of her arm. with the blade out she would only die faster but that did not matter to her at this moment her mind was drawn to the dragon and Arty yelling at her.


she looked over at Arty and started to run to steels wings, every thing seemed to be in a slow motion to her as she ran to Arty.

 

[From Darkness]

Thanks to her retreat, Arty had enough time to reach the steel-bladed wings toward her. Right when they closed off the path, scythes upon scythes of deadly wind blasted at it. The resultant shockwave was as strong as the explosion of highest-level fire Magic, yet the steel-bladed wings hold their ground. They were grazed, broken, tattered into pieces, yet they still held their ground. And that was enough. The wings started to dissipate as Arty's summoning sphere started to grow smaller until it disappeared. The princess was struggling to breath, the sheer effort of keeping Steel at bay was greater than her initial expectation. She had done this before, but it was still a heavy chore every time.


Vienne was smiling, although her face was pale from the loss of blood. She was covering the wound on her neck with her hand, trying to stop the blood from flowing out. It wasn't enough to kill her, though. Sharing fate with a Dragon, there was no way that kind of wound would kill her outright. The enemy had withdrawn Steel, and they were in range for Skyfall's attack. She was about to command the Dragon when the King, Erunt Srager, suddenly walked forth in front of him.


"My King...?"


The King stabbed his sword into the ground, and with that move, his armor dissipated into dusts, carried away by the wind. The Animus Braveheart granted his owner unprecedented offense and defense in proportion to their determination. For the armor to disappear would means that he had no more desire to fight.


"Enough...you are hurt. Just stop for now," he murmured, his voice no longer a demanding tone of a King, but that of a young man talking to the love of his life. "Intruders. I still can't trust you, but I can feel that you have no desire to kill us. Is that true?" He looked at Gills, then to Arty, until his eyes stopped at Crimson. "You will not summon your Anima Dragon, and you, assassin, you should have killed Vienne instead of holding her captive if assassination is your goal. But it is not, isn't it?"

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson watched as the wings went back into the black sphere then looked at the queen she was surprised to see her still standing from the loss of blood. she gripped her dagger still dripping with the queens blood as she readied herself to attack again if needed. it was the king that made her move back a bit, why was everything about this night confusing to her?


Crimson looked away from the kings gaze slightly annoyed. "i was not paid to do so, so no it is not my goal to kill her" she flicked her dagger getting the still wet blood off, then put the blade back in its sheath to show she was no threat at the moment. she crossed her arms then turned away slightly from them then move to Arty's side. "are you alright?" she asked looking at her as she kept the others in her sight as well.

 

[From Darkness]

Arty was still breathing heavily, her body covered with sweat from the exertion. Although most of it was mental, the fatigue ate away on her body, turning it heavy like lead. Yet she still smiled at Crimson. For a moment there she had thought that the assassin would have killed Vienne right away. "I'm...okay, I think," she replied meekly. At least she didn't look harmed.


Vienne was still glaring dagger at them, the Dragon ready to attack at any moment. Yet she couldn't do it. If she did, then Erunt would got hurt as well. "Move aside, my King. I will shred these intruders to pieces."


"No."


"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? MOVE ASI..."


Turning his back at the others, the King suddenly turned back at his Queen and pulled her into his embrace. Even Vienne was dumbfounded by his action, her eyes widening from shock.


"Enough. You're hurt."


"My King. This kind of wound will heal with time. An Anima Holder is not like ordinary human, we won't die from this..."


He silenced her by putting a finger on her lips. "If we keep on fighting, only one of you would live. Either you, or that girl over there," he glanced toward Arty.


"...You..." Vienne was trembling, although the reason was not known to anyone, not even herself. "You are merely a puppet I chose to spare by a whim...and yet...why would you oppose me so..."


"A puppet I might be, but I'm still a King," Erunt smiled at her. "And the only thing I would wish for is to see you safe and sound."


Throughout the exchange, Gills was watching with a bored look on his face. He felt like they're intruding on something. "Hey...is this...over?" He said to Arty and Crimson. The former giggled.


"Yeah, big brother. It's over."

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson didn't want to bother even looking at the bloody romance behind her, she only nodded at Arty with her words of it being over and her being alright. She may have said so but Crimson was unsure the dragon was still there and anything could happen. She was always confused by love he had know he was a puppet by this women yet he still loved her it made her feel...like she needed a drink.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills could see that Crimson was uncomfortable with this entire affair. Heck, he is uncomfortable too, sitting here like an idiot while other two idiots were making out in front of him. "Oi, are we done?" He called out to the King and the Queen. Vienne seemed embarrassed after realizing that they were still there, while Erunt just gave him a kindly look.


"Yes...we will abide to your will. If it is peace that you want, we will do it."


"So...will you postpone the war?" Arty looked up with a hopeful look.


Erunt nodded.


"However," Vienne glared at her. "If you, or the other Kingdom tried to attack us, then there will be no peace. For now, at the least, I shall hold back my thirst for revenge and stay behind."


"Thank you!" the princess bowed down, tears streaming on her cheek. It made Vienne grew more awkward, not knowing what to say. She lifted her hand up, and the whitish-sphere appeared again, into which Skyfall dissipated and went into before it collapsed back into nothingness. What's left was a broken hall with no ceiling, and five ragged people with all kind of wounds.


"It will be bad if the guards found you here," Erunt sighed. "You can leave through the back passage. I'll specifically order my guards not to hinder your path."


"I'm fine with that, but," Gills turned to Crimson. "Hey, can you take my sister out first? I have something to discuss with them. I'll join you guys up shortly after."


Arty gave him a questioning look. What kind of discussion?


"It won't be long. Please?" He smirked at Crimson.

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson sighed with relief when all was done. "kingdoms affairs are such a bother" she mumbled as she held her hand out to Arty. "we shall leave my way I have no interest in you knowing were we ran off to" she glanced over at the king and queen then at Gills.


"hope this holds because I don't want to come saving you" she then looked down at Arty. "are you ready?"

 

[From Darkness]

Arty giggled upon hearing Crimson's reply. That was so like her. "Yes, let's," she took the assassin's hand and followed by her side. She had thought that the guards would've come after hearing such commotion, but the coast was unbelievably clear. It must be the work of that King. "Miss Crimson, are you uncomfortable with the affair?" She looked at her curiously. "That two seems to be in love with each other...it's nice."

 

[Srion Receno]

She walked down a hall silent for a moment then nodded to her. "love is a feeling I never really understood nor have I felt it so yes in a since I am uncomfortable with it" she walked up to a window that was out of the way of anyone's sight and opened it. "I hope you are alright with this" she lifted her up bridal style then stepped in the window. "but I'm getting tiered and it's the easiest way to get us both out fast......Lanuae Magicae Umbra" she whispered the last part, as the shadows once again went over them. She wanted them back at the other prince's house it would be the easiest place to meet as well as the horses were close.

 

[From Darkness]

Arty gave her a mischievous look. "Hmm~ no worries, miss Crimson. Love is something that will come to you naturally. Even if you don't understand it. You will know," she giggled. Then she realized that they weren't going toward the hallway, nor were they going down. Crimson took her to an open window instead. She didn't plan to jump out through this, right?


"Miss Crimson? What...WHAA?!" Arty yelped when Crimson lifted her up. Then the assassin mumbled her invocation spell, and once more Arty felt the cold, broken feeling of melting together with the dark of the night. She clung to Crimson, feeling that if she let go, she would be lost within the shadow. The teleportation spell took them through the roof faster than normal walking, although she would still preferred walking but oh well.


When they arrived at Cruz's house, it was still empty. Seems that the original owner didn't even come home that day.

 

[Srion Receno]

When they got there Crimson put her down gently, she was worn out from the use of magic though she tried not to show it. "sorry... I just didn't want anyone fallowing us" she gave Arty a small smile before going into the house. She sat down in one of the chairs with a sigh, then looked at her with a slightly serious face. "what do you think your brother is talking about with the king? " she asked leaning back a bit.


It was something that was slightly bothering her, what was his reason for staying back? They could kill him if they wanted to with out them there.... Why did she care? Well she did want to be the one to kill him.

 

[From Darkness]

Arty felt relieved when they finally reached the house. It wasn't that Crimson was holding her poorly, but she just didn't like the feeling of teleportation spell. Even after this long, she still doesn't like it. Perhaps she would never will. The princess took a seat beside Crimson. All they had to do now is to wait for Gills to come back.


"I...don't know. He didn't tell me anything," she replied. It was the first time Gills had done something without telling her beforehand. Even she was clueless on what he wanted to do. What did he want to discuss with the King and Queen? Would he asked for protection? Or perhaps asking them to allow them to evade Cruz and Riz? Even she was dumbfounded. But it is her brother. She believed in him, he must have a judgement of his own. "Let's believe in brother, okay, miss Crimson? He must have planned something," she smiled.


After a while, there was a sound of someone running for dear life. The door was thrown open, and there was Gills, trying his best to catch his breath. It was as if he had run from the castle up to there without even stopping for a bit. "I'm here. Let's go. You have readied the supply, right? Let's scram, while the night is still able to conceal us."


He looked like he was in a hurry, but Arty didn't ask anything and followed him to the stable.

 

[Srion Receno]

Crimson sighed there was no reason to think about it, he would most likely tell them when he got back well...if he did. she shrugged then turned away from her and looked down a her dagger, she didn't like to be left in the dark over things that could effect her job.


It was the sound of running that broke her thoughts and she quickly stood up as Gills ran into the house. he was out of breath and looked like he ran all the way here. as he said that they should go she really had no objections she would just have to ask what was going on, on the way to the next destination. she fallowed behind them and to the stables quietly.

 

[From Darkness]

Gills took the lead this time, taking out the horses toward the city gate. It was locked, as expected, but nothing a few coins couldn't help. Without long they had been pacing through the prairie, retracing their path back east toward Serion.


"Brother, what did you discuss with the King?" Arty finally asked now that they had been out of the capital. Gills gave her and Crimson an uncomfortable look.


"Nothing. I just asked for a free pass outside, and promise that nobody will follow us out. That's all."

 

[Srion Receno]

She was about to ask what that was all about until Arty beat her to it and his answer was not one she really believed. another question struck her when she had seen the way they had come from coming closer. "why are we going back the way we came?" she asked in a stern voice making her horse go to beside his. If there was another Dragon princess then they should be headed a different way not the way back to the place they just killed a High Priest and destroyed a church. "what was all said prince?"

 

[From Darkness]

Arty replied to Crimson before Gills could. "I think we're going to Zebeth next. Lapant is the easternmost Kingdom which has a Dragon Princess. Zebeth is in the south of Serion, and the fastest way to reach it would be to return to the forest we've been before and take the branching path south instead of east."


"What she said," Gills nodded. "Arty had told us which Kingdoms have Anima Holder, didn't she? Well, I didn't expect you to remember though," he gave her a mocking smirk. His eyes, however, still show anxiety.


At that moment, a fireball was shot right through the space between Gills and Crimson.Gills turned toward the source of the attack, and to his horror he saw them.


"Hold it right there!" In the distance, two horses were coming at them. It was the ninth Prince, Cruz, and his bodyguard, Riz. "You bastard...how dare you run away!"

 

[Srion Receno]

After listening to Arty she thought about it and was about to calm down when she heard his mocking tone she shot him a glare. She was going to say some smart ass remark when a fire ball went right past her arm. "who the hell? " she said then looked back and seen the prince and his little body guard.


She turned to Gills with a irradiated look "what did you do?" she had thought they were on good terms, even after she tried to kill him.

 

[From Darkness]

Cruz was pacing his horse even faster than the group, and soon they were in close enough range to hear each other. Gills looked like he wanted to run, but he can't just leave Arty and Crimson. Cruz was sporting a very angry look.


"That stupid brother of mine had just destroyed King Erunt's royal weapon!" Cruz roared. The royal weapon, the Animus Braveheart. It was the sword Erunt had used in their fight before. "I know that they are potential danger to our Kingdom, but what the hell, Argyllis?!? Are you trying to start a fucking WAR?!"


Arty's face was pale from hearing that news. She couldn't believe what she had just heard.

 

[Srion Receno]

Hearing this Crimson stopped not physically but mentality, she looked at Gills then at Cruz. They had just went through all of that just to have him start a war anyway? She looked over at the kingdom they had just left it was getting farther and farther away wile Cruz and Riz got closer.


"what....what the living hell!" she looked over at Gills, she was clearly angry. "is what he saying true?" she was trying to hold her self back from tackling him to the ground, at this point she didn't even care that they were on horses.