Arc 5: The Stars Against Anarchy
The Sect of Anarchy stretched deeper into Walgonia. Deeper into their unified obsession. An obsession to revolt against the world that's held them down.
From the seas of ash left by Arthur, once homes and towns that rebelled in vain. The armies left encased in stone, melting away to acid from Severus. Thousands of Knights and Soldiers, guards turned into massive stains of blood across the streets and buildings by Prometheus. Attempts to gather reinforcements left them laying over the road with soulless bodies. Their souls now inside of Lazarus Sythe for more power. And most recently near Ravoria, the Bird of Sin flew over the north. A shadow in a black sky that flew down into a crowd of Leviathan Mages, and left their ODs completely locked down with the glare of her eye.
All they saw was a flash of darkness erupt from the sky like a meteor, and fell back into their minds. Some lost all control of their body to Sloth. Others foamed at the mouth from a brain bleeding wrath, swinging their swords wildly toward their companions. The greed, the gluttony, the lust, the pride, the envy, had them all tearing out each other's throats. Teens to old men and women, with families and dreams, Marks and diseases. It didn't matter anymore. They just acted, and lost their minds to Pandora's will. Scratching at their own faces, smashing their heads against the dirt, stabbing their own stomachs to stop themselves. Or for what they'd just done.
Pandora: "Sinful creatures. If you were truly free of sin maybe you could have resisted, but nobody exists without it. Be glad you didn't have the strength to even resist. If you did it would have been a lot more painful."
Fifty soldiers all screaming and growling like animals against each other. Shooting arrows, strangling their friends, stabbing the spines of their crushes. And the civilians they were escorting? A tragic loss as the madness spread. A corruption they had no idea of, no way of resisting. They just had to accept this was the end. The mothers and fathers held their children, ran, or held their fists forward. But they just had to watch as their saviors sprintedAn and crawled over another, stabbing and slicing at anything they could until they reached them. Because the had everything they wanted because they were better than them because they needed to let out this rage because they needed to eat them because they just wanted to be left alone they wanted their power they hated their power they needed to kill -
Kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill -
They needed to be free from this hell. They needed to be alone in their sinful madness.
Before their ODs finally crumbled, the sinful men and women, once heroes of their own, fell to the floor in a street already covered in bodies. Just one massacre after another. When one Pillar needed to move, recover, another was, had, or was going to strike right after anyway. And now that Pandora was going toward the North, it was only a matter of time before the other Pillars did; soon, none of Walgonia would be safe.
Pandora: "Where else do you lay, dreadful beings? What sin stings the most!?"
They discussed it everyday. From the hundreds of anarchists preaching in alleys, streets, courtyards, or roads of their Upper Pillars gospel. The plague doctor dressed Yoru spoke on her Communicator while flying atop a rotten and decaying Spirit Bat, ordering the Lower Pillars Donte and Togi down below to rush into a rebel-filled Town with her other Spirit Beasts on stand-by. Arthur did his best to rid any sources of rebellion inside Walgonia Capital, while ordering the people under him to construct a better country. They already had the schools, the government, the farms and prisons. But Arthur took to building bridges between the homes, blocking off streets for anarchist camps, knocking down buildings for more preaching locations.
Soon Walgonia would spread into a truly fallen kingdom. A country of war and nothing else. Until Arthur laid the last flame, and whatever was left finally turned to ash. Arthur's need to unleash his flames. Prometheus desperately needs to take hold of this world. Pandora's hatred of the sinful. Azalea's rage toward the world. Severus aching soul he had to ease. Lazarus love and worship over the souls. It was a pure, absolute obsession. One they all had, one that made them truly mad. Gray didn't see them as people with stories, with powers. They were monsters. Horrifying monsters that lived in nightmares. The Witch of Darkness? The Litch? The Bird of Sin? The Vampire King? An Insane creature that was Serverus? And Arthur, maybe the craziest of them all. They were as unreachable peaks as the Gods of War.
Simply, it felt -
Gray {Impossible! This is so so impossible! Definitely!}
But through the Spirit Biomes, roads, city streets and buildings, moved average people. Regular Demi-humans, a normal boy or girl lucky enough to have an affinity or even a Mark. And they lived lives without any attention to the Sect, so they could go to their job, and meet with others living the same lie. They were guards, knights, Leviathan soldiers. Large groups to a handful trying to find others. This was a constant since Walgonia was first broken apart, but now there were messages coming in mass. The forests and Spirit Biomes coating Godrick Mountain flooded out with wagons, flying Demi-humans, Dire Wolves and Carriage lizards from all sides. Stretching between the Coast of the West, and the border of the East.People arriving from Greenvale, small swarms of Leviathan soldiers clearing out Sect patrols at random.
To reach those awaiting them. To make it so nobody was left behind. And make the first real step in clearing the Sect of Walgonia. Starting with finding their people, and destroying as much of the Sect along the way. They started in swarms of smaller groups all near each other, all working together to not get separated, while collecting everybody they came across. So even if the distracted Upper Pillars attacked,the Sect would be losing more than Walgonia. And when everybody was ready, they would attack in massive waves to the nearest and largest cities.
It had been decided four days ago. And in those four days, under just as many attacks from the Upper Pillars, under Arthur's wrath, Walgonia started connecting like a spider-web. That fear of the enemy is always around you, at every corner, under every mask and eye lid. The Sect was slowly learning just how terrifying that really is.
Gray {This is a terrible idea!}
Those four days felt instant, but for those in Greenvale, it felt like slow motion. Especially for Gray, Edward, Rosemary, Soku, Julius, and even Peter. As they'd been enduring Gordon's training, harder than ever.
Gordon: "Run faster! Faster dammit! If you learn to run instead of just jumping into action you can actually control yourself! Turn, dodge, block or counter, not just hope for the best!"
Gray had his hands up throwing out kicks as high as he could reach. Over, over, over, again again again, a hundred, two hundred. He didn't know. He just kicked and stood, kicked and stood. Threw out a punch that Gordon screamed was wrong. Got help in posture by Rosemary, Soku, Edward, really anybody that was around. So he'd stop falling back to some strange wild stance, or barley stand after throwing a single strike.
But he wasn't the only one suffering. Soku for one had just as much help with her punches, actual stances, learning to flow like a dance instead of just throwing out wind from Ryo. Constantly embarrassed on top of that, just because of how awkward moving hand and hand with Ryo was in front of the others, and Gray's laughter.
Ryo: "And one and two and one and two, turn, and spin!"
Soku: "You don't have to make it sound like a real dance!"
Ryo: "But the elves of Oni-mas learned to master wind with control, grace! This is their teaching."
Soku: "Their teaching is lame! I don't know any other elf but if I met one I hope they're not some weirdo like they look to be."
Rosemary had to endure Lincoln's own screams and quaking movement. Desperately trying to hold and control the wind pressure her fourth stage allowed her to send around. Alongside Edward, who instead swung desperately toward Lincoln trying his best to unleash his Dragons Spirit. All in one big three way battle.
Lincoln: "You gotta aim it! You gotta feel it! Both of yah! Wind, your body, it's all the same flow yah get me!?"
Edward: "You're always terrible at explaining stuff!"
Lincoln: "WEll sorry! I didn't pick who's actually good at it, it just happens to be me and not you, so listen dammit!"
Rosemary, Edward, Julius, they'd all had the basics drilled into them since childhood. Rosemary and Julius far more harshly than Edward, but Edward had his basics formed by Gods of War. Gray may have trained one hard long month with Musashi, but that only taught him how to take a hit, flare his mana, and swing a sword. Then that first harsh month with Gordon before Athens worked to push Gray's body, basic fighting stances, but not true martial skill or control. And Ryo's training gave him more abilities, it didn't master previous ones.
Everybody else had taken these first steps, but they were struggling to take that final step. The fifth stage, proper wind control, the Dragons Fist. It all seemed so far, so impossible. And yet every time Gray did a kick, he got a little better. His punches slowly turned into faster strikes. His feet moved back and forth not through fear, but memory, intension. However, a lot of his ideas about fighting still came from boxing, tv shows, movies, sword fight videos, or MMA fights he'd watched videos of because he thought they were cool. The way he used his mana may have come from his favorite superheroes and fantasy shows, but the way he moved himself was from a base logic. Things he could realistically replicate, not imagine and give a flashy name to.
Lincoln: "Common five more Spirit Deers! Eight more frog lunges! Twenty more hotsquats!"
Gray: "These names make no sense!"
They'd spent four days with Gordon practicing non-stop on real fighting skills. Four days of Lincoln breaking them down through harsh Warrior workouts like he'd done to Edward in Athens, even replicating the boiling lakes with fire mages and pools.
Soku: "THIS SHIT HURTS MAN WHAT THE HELL!?"
Lincoln: "I KNOW RIGHT! Feel the burn! I loved taking baths in these back before Athens, y'know, went all kabloowy."
Gray: "THIS REALLY HURTS BUT I CAN'T NOT SAY HOW CRAZY IT IS YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ATHENS LIKE THAT!?"
Lincoln: "MY BAD! TOO SOON!? I'M BAD WITH STUFF LIKE THAT!"
And when they finally dragged themselves out of the pool of boiling water feeling half-dead, Ryo smiled and pulled them out into the woods. The forest separated the two villages, and had them meditate on their mana. Where Ryo showed Julius and Edward his sword strikes, got Gray to perform Cenic and Walnic, had Soku flow wind around herself constantly, and Rosemary maintained the fourth stage for as long as possible. So on the third day, five days since Gray began using the spell on repeat, something finally clicked.
Gray {Alright. Focus, and use your hand like Ryo said. Push to the Spirits, then hold the mana like a bubble. Like I do around my own body. Breath and hold, breath and hold -
As he repeated, he took in short breath after breath, and thought to his mana.
Gray {Not like Rosemary's stages, it has to be more controlled. Like a gas pedal! I need to push on the gas, fast and hard enough to make the spell work, but just enough so I can actually control it!}
So he pushed on his OD like a gas pedal as softly as he could. It wasn't perfect, but he went from five miles to fifteen in a short burst before letting off the gas. Spreading the mana out from his body and to the spirits he could barely hold mind of, and caused Spirit mana to flash a bright blue around him. It was thin, uneven, and incredibly warped, but it spread like a snowflake. Connecting together to form a complete shape when he closed his wide palm tight.
Gray: "I DID IT! I FINALLY DID IT!"
Ryo: "Kinda, it needs refinement, but yes. You made your first real shield."
The second Gray lost control of the shield flash with cracks all throughout, and fell with a single tap of Ryo's finger into the air.
Gray: "Wait why did it vanish!? I thought I had it!"
Ryo: "This is why Cenic is so easy to use. Once it's used, it exists, but most advanced spells need constant focus. YOu just have to get to a point where it's second nature, like your mana. Before you had to keep control over it or you'd lose your flow entirely. Now you push out mana across your body on instinct when you're in danger! Or how you can use Cenic in a flash of fear, pull in more Spirit mana when you're panicked."
Gray: "So I'm better at fighting when I'm about to die?"
Ryo: "You're better at everything when you stop second guessing yourself. Just imagine everything you try to do that your shivering body stops you from? When you trip over yourself, fail to catch yourself, lose control. It's always because your attention was lost, taken, or forced into perspective. When you use your spells, you don't need a clear mind. You just need to find something you can hold onto. A memory. I use my love for spirits. I just feel that they're there and hold them with me, and it keeps my spell with me."
So Gray planted his feet again, and instead of trying a burst of mana, he slowly seeped it out from his OD. Reaching his hand forward to hold something. Not in some flashy way to look cool, or what he'd seen from a show to help him. He just thought of Rosemary's hand, and took hold. To hold the Spirits just as closely. And spoke calmly, far deeper than his regular demeanor.
Gray: "Walnic."
Ryo stepped back in surprise to find the spell quickly falling into place. The mana appeared as it connected, into a thicker, more complete sphere around him. And with his eyes closed, he was able to keep Rosemary in his mind. But the moment he opened them and broke that hold, the spell slowly fell around him once again. Leaving him to bite his lip in rage, almost making it bleed before he saw Ryo's face.
Ryo: "That…that was a drastic improvement! Incredible! If you're able to maintain it for as long as you need, I'd consider you a proficient user of the spell. It wasn't complete, but when it is, Walnic will be an incredibly useful tool in your arsenal. Now compared to other defensive shield spells, it's the most simple. It defends against a punch just as well as a magic attack, so don't expect the spell to make you invincible. It's as strong as you make it, and stands only when you stand. It can only be made into that shape, not in front or behind, so you'll have to make use of it as a dome or sphere."
Gray: "Alright! Nice! So should I start learning the next level of it! Oh maybe you could show me how to use that Spirit Stage!"
Ryo: "No."
Gray's suddenly happy expression quickly fell, but right after that light in his eye returned. The inner love he had for anything fantasy, one that only seemed to show up in this world when he got to learn a new ability.
Ryo: "I want to show you something I created myself. Your control over your mana isn't to where I wanted it to be when I taught you this, but I don't think we have time on our side. It's a last resort, depending on how well you adapt."
Gray: "To what? And you created it! That's awesome!"
Ryo: "Well more so discover it, but still it'll be unique to us. There are many Offensive Spells that enhance your abilities, but this spell enhances the trait of your mana. However it's the reverse. With my naturally Offensive affinity, it greatly increases my defense. But for you, it would greatly increase your offense. Making your mana far more fierce, similarly to your mana Overdrive. But instead of tearing its way through you, it would stack like a weight. It doesn't last long, but it can be used on others."
Gray: "Okay okay! So what is it called!?"
Ryo drizzled mana upon himself, and spoke forth.
Ryo: "Knightic."
His mana lit a bright blue, almost like a raging flame, but it was so dense Gray felt frozen in place. However, when Gray went to try it right away, the difference was obvious.
Gray: "Knightic!"
Instead of glowing blue, Gray's mana flashed into a bright gold color like Rosemary's stages. As the spell was the same idea as their unique trait, giving Gray a stage of his own. But it is solely a Goldenstage in appearance, as the harsh impact of the flow hits far differently. Gray almost collapsed to the floor before the mana surged and flung him backward, smashing right into a tree and losing the aura entirely.
Gray: "...You're right that it's different from Overdrive, but it still hurts like crazy! You guys are lucky I'm getting used to all the pain or I woulda gone crazy by now! Lincoln's training, Azalea, the screams of the spirit, this stuff just keeps stacking!"
Ryo: "I'm sorry -
Gray: "No no it's not you, I just needed to get a little mad, help with the pain y'know? But how much of my mana do I even have control of? Lincoln says all this body breaking is great for internal mana, but I don't really know what that is, and it's hard to tell when I can use more mana. I know I'm using more, but it feels like I'm using the same source. Like it's just linked to whatever my stamina is for the most part."
Ryo put his arm toward Gray's chest while helping him stand, pushing mana right through his OD. With the consequences of rushing Gray with adrenaline.
Gray: "WOAH WOAH!"
Ryo: "Mmm, it feels as if thirty percent or so has been opened. The rest feels closed off, or more so, it feels like Azalea."
Gray: "Thirty though? That's a pretty good pace! Still more than most people, right?"
Ryo: "Yes! More than your entire group, aside from Soku. But also Rosemary's mana works a bit differently, and Edward has his Helsing body, but also Julius has that Weapon of Alfheilm -
Gray: "I get it, they're awesome! Sometimes a guy likes his own praise y'know."
Ryo: "Well either or, you and your friends are progressing well. Even if Rosemary can't reach the fifth stage or Edward can't get the Dragons fist, they're still getting stronger. Gaining more control. But you and Soku are having to master handling a lot of power, compared to them preparing their body to unleash that power. So take a break from casting spells for today, and go practice with her."
Gray: "Practice what?"
Until that night of the third day, Gray had spent his time falling onto the dirt over and over again. Because while she was able to jump tree to tree, swing between branches, soar over wide gaps, he snapped the branches. Slipped on the bark. Or messed up mid action and slipped over himself.
Soku: "I thought you said you practiced this!"
Gray: "Ugh! It's way harder when I'm trying to hold my mana!"
In his attempt to show off, he unleashed his mana to a Half-Power flow. Leaping toward a tree, back into the air to swing up and off a thick branch, before barely landing up above with a smile. Yet he'd crushed bark, kicked up dirt, and snapped the branch he stood on due to his poor control, and once again fell against the ground.
Soku: "Was that you trying? Or are you gonna show me now?"
Gray: "Yeah yeah I get it I get it!"
For the next few hours Edward swung his blade through trees, boulders, across the ground trying to hit Lincoln until he couldn't stand. Rosemary tagged alongside Edward, flicking and kicking large waves of wind pressure toward Lincoln until her body began to break down. Soku tried her best controlling large portions of wind, blasting them against Lincoln until she ran out of mana. And Julius fought through it all to help in the fight, to increase his already impressive stamina and strength. Leaving Gray, who continued using Walnic, Cenic, and a few other attempts at Knightic that sent him flying back until he couldn't use any more mana. And they all had to quit training hardly able to walk, to be healed by Erline and her other mages once again.
Erline: "What did I tell you about training like that! Using mana is fine, but doing it until you run out!? That causes way too much strain! Vortic!"
In between her reprimands she healed them all with large bursts of healing magic alongside her other mages, tense and awaiting Erline's next spell so she wouldn't yell at them either.
Erline: " Elf brat! You're still a kid dammit, your OD isn't fully developed! You're hurting it by training so hard, and corrupted boy! Vortel! Your OD has some scars already! Anymore stuff like that and you're in for a case of mana decay! And there's no common back from what you hear! Voral! And your bones gotta heal, same with you Golden girl! Vorgel! And Helsing! You're fine! But stop making me heal you if you're a damn Helsing! Vornes!"
After those handful of healing spells they collapsed without any stamina left. Ready to fall asleep right on the road, until a small wagon came toward them.
Jong: "Need a ride?"
The moment they climbed into the back of the mountain, they passed out. Ending that third day, and finally coming into the fourth. Almost two weeks since they've started this training, closing in on the day of the Siege, and still finding new ways to break themselves.
Gray {Did I fall asleep!?}
His eyes forced open to see the blinding morning sun, before he fully sat up to take in the small clearing they slept within. Still in the wagon with his resting friends, aside from Julius who was nowhere to be seen, he stayed quiet beside Rosemary. And put his fists together to meditate, towards his OD.
Gray {...I don't know if you're listening. But I haven't been able to do much for Walgonia since we got back from that Shell town. But what you told me about the Pillars, it's why we've got a plan now. And it's the only thing I've contributed to the war so far. So I wanted to thank you, really. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without you. Even if you're the Witch of Darkness or whatever.}
Soku was still wearing her torn jacket, Rosemary was wearing one of her various white long sleeve shirts she didn't mind ripping during training, Edward was seemingly always in his Dragon Stone armor, but right now Gray was wearing a mix. His Leviathan shirt, pants, but his old torn shoes from earth, along with his stitched up jacket. Gray, looking over them all, couldn't help but see how much they'd changed since the last time they were in Greenvale. Sokus' hair had grown about half in length, along with Rosemary's.
Soku had also gained a bit more weight, finally eating enough after years of living off scraps. Rosemary seemed more muscular. But Edward had gone from his more bulky, to a large and leaner build. He was the same height, the same age, and yet he felt older, taller. With longer pushed back hair, sporting a branded and missing eye, and a far more dangerous demeanor. And then Julius, who wasn't even there, seemingly hadn't changed a bit. Which made Gray feel a bit scared of him, especially after what Gray knew Julius definitely did in Athens Tower.
Even thinking about it sent an incredible chill down his spine. Olivia, and those two other women he didn't know the name of. Lorraine Una and Gracey Thorn. But he'd still hold it over Julius, even if Julius wouldn't say a word about it.
Azalea: "Why do you keep trying to contact me! To laugh in my face!? To boast of your control!?"
In the darkness of Gray's thoughts, he fell forward, into the darkness of reality. He instantly jerked away from the oozing floor, and yet the ground surged upward anyway. Latching tightly around his fingers, then his arm, before another tendril held him still by the neck. So he wouldn't budge, and had to stare upward toward the Witch.
Gray: "I already said it! I just wanted to say thank you!"
Azalea: "For nothing! I have no reason to be thanked! Nor do I want to be! Especially by you of all people!"
Gray: "Well who else is gonna tell you!?"
Azalea: "SAY ONE MORE STUPID THING AND I BREAK THAT ARM OF YOURS!"
Even when he should have been full of fear he felt a sudden flare of anger. So much torment, so many times this woman had thrown him around while screaming or shouting at his failures. So, like before he awoke at the Town of Shells, he matched her in the screams.
Gray: " -
But, he bit his lip so hard it bled, and tried his best to speak calmly. Amidst the creaking, whispering, fog stricken darkness.
Gray: "Just let me go, I didn't want anything from you, like I said, I just wanted to say thank you."
Azalea held a tight face of rage, but it looked like she was truly struggling to act. The Witch of Darkness didn't love anybody. Maybe Prometheus, but a few even knew of that. She truly hated the world, and everybody in it. Including the Sect of Anarchy. Even in death she held her grudges more than maybe anybody else in this world, as the Witch of Darkness after all, and yet the only end she could reach was through this boy desperately trying to make peace with her.
Disgusting.
A joke.
Pity. How could he? How could he pity the Witch? Who did he think he was!? WHO DID HE THINK HE WAS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIM!?
Why why why
Why was this joke better than her!?
Why did he get to live, why did he have her power!? Why did he get to use HER CLOAK OF DARKNESS!? How could he talk to the spirits!? Disgusting!? How could he use her mana like this!? The corruption from the Cloak and her mana and her vampirism and her centuries of melding and and and and -
Azalea: "I DIDN'T DO IT TO HELP YOU! IT WAS TO DESTROY! THANKS TO ME EVEN MORE WARS WILL BE WAGED! IF THE SECT WIN I WIN IF YOU WIN I WIN IF EVERYBODY LOSES THEN I DEFINITELY WIN!"
Her melting, absolute madness. Her absolute obsession. It rose. From Gray to the world. Like anything she was becoming was silenced. Like he was seeing the Witch of Darkness, saw her laugh into the abyss. Screaming with her rising Cloak, before she broke two of Gray's fingers to fill the void with his screams.
Gray: "AUGGGGUGH __AHGGUH -!??!"
She laughed and rose and laughed and rose, consuming him in her hate. Her love of her hate. Her Darkness.
Azalea: "YOU'LL ALL KILL AND TAKE AND KILL AND TAKE AND BURN AND TAKE! AND BEFORE LONG I WILL TAKE YOU THE CLOAK WILL TAKE YOU PROMETHEUS WILL TAKE YOU! YOU CAN'T WIN YOU WILL ALWAYS LOSE NOTHING IS WITH YOU EVERYTHING WILL DIE EVERYTHING WILL KILL YOU EVERYBODY WILL HATE YOU! THANK ME THANK ME THANK ME PRAISE ME LOVE MY DESTRUCTION! ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU WANTED!? BE A HERO GRAY KYOJIN KILL ME KILL ME WHY AREN'T YOU KILLING ME!? AREN'T YOU MAKING ME NICE OH AREN'T YOU TRICKING ME INTO LOVING YOU!?"
Her madness melted with Gray, sinking deeper and deeper into the Cloak, losing sight of Azalea before he could hear the rest of her words. Yet he could hardly focus, as he was too busy crying in pain from his snapped fingers. Almost too distracted though, as he saw her breaking down in tears yet again. Making all of that madness seem like a desperate mask. One he knew all too well.
Gray: "UUCK!"
He awoke with a loud gasp, but he held in the panic for once. Allowing the others to keep sleeping while he stepped away, and found Jong resting in the wet grass.
Jong: "Oh you're finally awake! Want a coffee?"
Gray: "I do, and I'm not gonna question how you guys even have that."
Jong: "What do you mean?"
Gray: "Nothing. I just like it."
Gray sat with Jong , and took out the magically heating thermos Ryo had given him during his training for Jong to fill.
Jong: "I wanted to take you guys home last night but you all just fell asleep, and that pink haired guy vanished. I just took you all here, but I was gonna wake you up soon to go eat breakfast! Paid for by me."
Gray: "Before we did that, I wanted to know. Is there anything I, or we can do? Like on the field before the Siege."
Jong: "Like help out with the Knights like yah did in Gurren?"
Gray: "Yeah!"
Jong: "I dunno how Gordon would feel. It would have to be worked into this big plan he's got going on."
Gray: "But we could use the experience. We free a place near the Capital, maybe use it for something or so we can get inside the Capital! Me and the others could use it to test out all the stuff we've been learning. Or at least me, since I've got Walnic and Knightic now!"
Jong: "Sounds like you've been thinking about this for a bit. If you've got an actual plan, don't be scared to go tell Gordon directly. If it's good, he'll use it. But if you're too scared I'll put a word in this time."
Gray jumped forward desperately, bowing over and over before getting into a firm straight up stance with his arms by his side. Eyes closed, mouth squeezed tight, before bowing even harder one final time.
Gray: "Thank you! If this works then I can finally do something to help! And Gordon is super scary!"
Jong: "I know right!"
Jong stepped forward, slid to the side, and held his hands forward.
Jong: "I made this spell myself! Wigblern!"
A burst of water clumped together into a trumpet of ice, allowing Jong to blow a loud and annoyingly repetitive ear piercing blast from an old Walgonian nursery rhyme. Instantly sending Edward, Soku, and Rosemary into a panic. Before they all got together to eat at one of the small cottage-dinners in the central district of the main Greenvale village. Jong on the other hand had to leave the group on a journey back through the forest, and to the other large village filled to the brim with soldiers for his day of work. Leaving them to finish eating on a paid tab, and walk out stuffed with food and stepped by Ricks Blacksmith shop.
Peter: "Guys!"
Over the last week and a half Peter had spent almost all of his time stuck in Rick's shop. Either watching over Rick in his classes, getting personal training, or working on his own gear, he was off to work with his own mad obsession. The same type of obsession Edward had about becoming a true Helsing. The obsession Rosemary had toward being perfectly fine. The obsession Gray had with being useful, being needed and praised. The obsession Soku had for living up to Ophelia's dream. They were all focused, but together, it pushed the obsession away, so they could just exist as themselves instead.
Gray: "So when are you gonna get a break!? And have you made anything cool?"
Soku: "And where's the new Glider! I haven't gotten to practice flying with it at all!"
Peter: "Sorry sorry I've been having to practice with a lot of armor and weapons, but we've been making stuff for you guys! It should be ready soon too, and I made it just how you said you liked it before. Other than Edward I guess, he's already got his gear."
Peter stood outside polishing a small sword while Rick smoked behind them, ready to flick it toward Peter for being distracted.
Rosemary: "Well thank you, but what did you make for me? I don't remember telling you anything."
Peter: "I just tried making the stuff Rick had for you before better, and I did change something though."
Rosemary: "What did you change?"
Peter: "A handful of stuff, but the big one was the GoldenKnight crest. I didn't know if you wanted to keep it and I can change it if you do, but I made it the Walgonian one. I thought you might like it more. Oh and I put them on my shoulders because it looked cool."
Peter felt a bit fearful toward whatever Rosemary's response was going to be, but she seemed pretty happy to hear it instantly. And agreed that the symbol on the shoulders was cool, even if she didn' t say that part out loud.
Rosemary: "No, I like it. And thank you again. But It seems we should come back when you're actually on break."
Peter: "What do -
Rick grabbed hold of his arm to take him back inside, leaving Peter waving goodbye desperately before the door shut behind them. Leaving them all looking between each other for a moment, before shrugging their shoulders and stepping away, while Rosemary stayed for a moment worrying before Gray pulled her along.
Gray: "So did you hear what I said to Jong? That we should go into the field to help?"
Soku: "NO! What are you talking about!?"
Gray: "I wanted to go into Walgonia and help in the fight! I figured you guys would want to do it too, and use what we've been learning!"
Edward: "I'm up to do that -
Soku: "But we're supposed to be training!"
Gray: "Technically that could be called training too -
Soku: "NO! It's fighting with our life on the line! Sorry I don't wanna run into another battle right after that Shell town shit! And Athens!?"
Soku pushed toward Gray in a rage, but Gray's heavy eyes leaned in with just as much. Ready to fight for his need to take action, while she was ready to blast him back with wind to her need to stay safe. To protect all she had left.
Gray: "After those losses!? That's exactly why we need to fight! How many people have died already we could have saved!?"
Soku: "You can't put that one on us!? On me!? People die of old age, diseases, random wars all over the world every second! Just as fast as people are born! Like Spirit Beast come and go! Is that our fault!? No! So why is it our fault for resting, waiting!? What could Lincoln or Ryo can't!? And they're here!"
Gray: "For us! We're wasting their time! If we went out maybe they'd go too -
Soku: "Maybe!? See you don't even know!"
Gray: "When do we know anything!? Every time, the answer is to move! So let's do it on our terms! And if you don't want to, then stay. I don't want you to get hurt anyway."
Like a few days prior, Gray fell to that deeper look of desperation. The sweat, the loss of light, the ugly expressions with his harsh breaths. He was wrinkling back to the disgusting, putrid core of not Gray Kyojin. But the name, the idea, the world he swore he'd stepped away from. The burdens of that boy. The need to see his family, the need to see Al or Ophelia, Musashi or Kioshi, Toll. Caesar could have been a friend, maybe Marker or Jeremiah could have been saved. Red or Carla, Donte, Charlie or Anibys, any random Warrior. Everything was being burned away, and it wasn't a matter of his own feelings. Whether he was sad or not, overblowing it all, the fact people were dying and they could be doing something about it, was true. It was all a choice. If they'd take on the burden, or even try and step foot out of Greenvale.
And Gray didn't want somebody as young as Soku, somebody he cared about as much as Rosemary, or his Brother in War Edward to step foot into their broken home. But he'd fought through it, he'd actually won battles and gained small but needed land in Walgonia. Connections like Jong, Chris, Lanner, Venyet, and a few other Knights. Experience against so many members of the Sect. And new spells on top of the strength that's pulled him along so far. Even if he could hardly use them correctly. Even if he didn't get a handle on Gordon's training. Even if Erline kept screaming about keeping his OD from bursting. He'd rush to wherever Gordon was, and -
Rosemary: "Even if Gordon says yes the plan hasn't been formed yet!"
Gray jerked his head back to see Rosemary almost in a rage, gripping her fists tightly. That look of annoyance, even if Gray wasn't seeing straight, burned fear into him. One that stopped him in his tracks instantly, and just left him staring toward his feet.
Rosemary: "We can't rush into anything! So please, keep staying calm. If the training is getting to be too much than just relax, and if you can't relax then find something. You don't have to be fighting for your life to be useful! Fix some clothes, help the Healers, help move stuff! There's things you're good at you can do, and just stuff anybody can do."
Gray: "But doesn't that feel like wasting time!? Compared to Lincoln -
Rosemary: "Yeah! Don't compare yourself to Lincoln for one! Ryo, Musashi, Kioshi, any God of War. There are the monsters of the monsters. Stronger than any army by themselves. Even if I got to the tenth stage, Edward awakened, Soku got better. Even if you master your mana, we'll probably never compare to half of their power! But the world is bigger than them! Without Erline, Rick, people like Peter or your Knight friends, what would they have? The people who aren't fighting are doing far more than those who are in the greater fight. So save God , fight for the Gods, and find something you can do."
Gray wanted to scream back. He felt anger he couldn't understand, an intense fear pulling him back. But every time he tried to start speaking, he cut himself off. Jerking back, unable to say or think what he really wanted to say. His eyes, those usually large and round eyes, looked deeper. Sharper, molded under the heavy bags only getting deeper. The glare of uncontrollable pain, of fear, the need to act. His obsession with the Heroic ideal. His obsession with being useful. His obsession with love, for Rosemary. Maybe everybody had their needs, their unexplainable traits and desires. The things that made them who they really were, aside from anyone else in the world.
Ryo and the Spirits, understanding, loving them. Gordon and Walgonia, his bow. Musashi, the blade, his family. Lincoln, his might, and what used to be his home. Kioshi and maintaining balance, no matter what it cost her. Arthur, and his desires to do exactly what he wanted to, so nobody could ever control him again. Their unique Obsessions were who they were. And Gray was being torn to pieces by his ever growing list of them. He thought of it all. And how easy it would be to go out by himself. He didn't need to listen to them did he? If he took out the Sect for Walgonia even if ordered not to, what would really come from it? Does Gordon even have the time to reprimand him? Tell him he can't save the country?
He wouldn't be running away no he couldn't be. He wasn't leaving them, he wasn't running, he wasn't. He was helping and he was doing the right thing. It wouldn't mean he gave up it wouldn't mean his Third Chance was useless it wouldn't no no no -
Gray {SHUT UP! SHUT UP PLEASE JUST GO AWAY GO AWAY!}
In his panic he instinctively flowed mana harshly against his right arm. Slowly tearing at his muscles, fading into the air, heating his blood. To distract him. To pull him back into reality. So he could speak, with quiet broken words.
Gray: "...I don't think I can do anything. All I have is my life, and I'll use it, every last piece. No matter what happens."
Rosemary: "And what does that leave for us?"
What obsession was stronger. His love? His friendship? His brotherhood? His knighthood? Being a hero, being a warrior. Or making himself feel better? At the end of the line, everything he wanted was true. He wanted to save, he wanted to help, he wanted to be a factor in Walgonia's victory. But, all of it, it always seemed to stem from the same place. What pushed him through Athens, his training with Ryo, the Castle, his life before his world. Maybe, this time, he'd find something that made living far less terrifying. Whether it was getting his license or a job, or flying with a Dragon over a Volcano torn country. He was always just as scared. He needed to do something. And he simply couldn't. He never could.
Gray: "...Does that really matter? If anybody needed to die, is it you? The last user of a powerful ability? Edward, the last of an ancient race? Soku, after all she's been through, being a kid? The prince of a country with crazy strength and gear? Or me. The weakest, the most scared, the one who's lost the most? The guy who keeps making everything go wrong? Who would you choose?"
Edward and Soku were surprised by just how far Gray had fallen, but really they were seeing where he's been since they met him. Maybe they heard some of his screams back at the Castle, but here? He wasn't screaming about himself, screaming at Rosemary. He was speaking like he was pleading. Begging to be told it was okay to die for what he's done. Begging to be called a Hero, that can actually go and win.
Rosemary: " -
Before she could speak, Gray had his question answered for him, by a slithering hand across his shoulder.
Julius: "It is obvious. It is the fools who chose to stand in front of them all."
The touch of Julius' hand sent flashes of Olivia, Lorraine, and Gracey's lifeless bodies like a knife into his heart. But his calm, soothing words froze the tense situation between them. And they continued to stand quiet in front of Julius when they noticed the paper in his hand, one he flashed forward.
Julius: "Jong and I spoke with Gordon, and a rather distraught Ryo, before we came to an agreement. The Town of Symbol, closest to the walls of Walgonia's Capital's West district, the slums if you may."
Soku: "You're saying that to somebody who lived in the west district all my life! At least I think so."
Julius: "Anyway, the Town of Symbol is a fortified sanctuary for the Sect. Word is rebels were planning an attack before they met with some soldiers who've left Greenvale with the other mass of forces. But we aren't supposed to leave until the Siege is soon to commence. So we can either go now with the rebellion, or we let them escape the town over the next few days, and go in ourselves."
Gray had seen those mass battles too many times. Bodies lining the streets, constant attacks and slashes from every alley, building, and street you could see. Constant Potential Pillars or Lower Pillars or Bounty Hunters who always seem to make their way to them due to some horrible luck. If they went now, if Gray acted on his Heroic obsession, he knew there was no way of knowing anything. How many people would die, who would appear. So to him, no matter how much waiting hurt, the answer was obvious.
Gray: "I want to go in alone. We need as many people as possible for the Siege, so we can't risk a giant battle destroying the town and killing all the people. We need to act like Lincoln would. Even if we aren't as strong, we can still stand strong together. After all those pirates Edward and Soku fought, the Warriors you and Rosemary fought, all the anarchists I've fought. We can handle them -
Soku: "And what about any Pillars! Even if it's one of those recruits they're still tricky right!? That guy with the knives you talked about transformed into Serverus for gods sake! We trust them alone! We only got out because Lincoln stopped that Legend and you had that teleporter! What happens when they try to kill us the second they get us all alone!?"
Gray: "Then we bail. Even if we don't take the city, taking out any of the Sect is a win. If we died, we could take out way more of them than us. It's like Gordon's plans. Even if we lose, we still win."
Edward didn't want to give into Gray's panic, but he knew he'd stand to fight if he was needed. Rosemary felt the same way, but she put her foot down for Gray, and Soku.
Rosemary: "Alright, but we have to still use those days. Ryo was probably distraught because he's worried about us. I can use the fourth stage but not for as long as I'd like, no offense but Edward hasn't been able to use the Dragons fist! You still need to get used to your new spells and Soku still needs better control of her Mark! We're all so close to making breakthroughs, so we have to use our time!"
Gray: "You're that we need to train. But in my experience, with all of us, in life or death moments we tend to rise the hardest. Maybe it's because of adrenaline, but you unleashed the Fifth stage. Edward used the Dragons fist. Soku killed that vice captain dude. I managed to outlast Ceasar, all because we weren't training. Our life, the country was on the line, and we forgot about all of our problems. If we go to Symbol, I think it will give us the real push we need for the Siege. Not spamming spells or practicing punches right beside Gods of War to protect us."
Gray was ready, Edward was ready, Julius was ready, and Rosemary gave in, but Soku still couldn't shake the idea that it was all useless. That they were walking right into death. But, for better or for worse, she felt Ophelia. And thought what she'd say. As she watched her running head first into a room with all of the Upper Pillars, and Kioshi, to protect her.
Ophelia: "You need to protect them!"
It pushed through her like a wave of flames, but she just crossed her arms in silence.
Julius: "So it's a yes then?"
Between their fear. Surrounded by soldiers constantly on the move. They stood together, even if barley, and all stared closely toward the map of Symbol. So their shared obsession could take hold. Their hate for the Sect, their desire to help, and an opportunity to take back something after the Sect took everything. So Gray spoke proudly, even with his quaking eyes.
Gay: "Definitely. Now, knowing you, what's the plan?"