Arc 5: The Stars Against Anarchy
A week.
That's how long they had, until the Siege was inbound. Seven days to spread their forces across Walgonia and connect to as many others as possible. And then they had seven more days to prepare to fight. Right now, before either of those two weeks, Walgonia moved. Harder, faster, longer each day. Hundreds of Knights, Warriors, Red Arrows, Leviathan Soldiers, Guards, normal soldiers, Elite Knights. Demi-humans, Spirit Knights, Spirit Mages, regular mages, healers, regular fighters all grouped up together for complete unit after unit. Band together as an ocean in Greenvale, and spread like streams across Godrick Mountain and out into the country.
Venyet: "Go dammit what are you waiting for!?"
People like Venyet, Jong, and even Chris had gone out with the large streams as Commanders. Directing their path between Spirit Biomes, roads and crossings, villages and towns. Not to the cities yet, not to anywhere they could draw a lot of attention to. But the corners and edges of the Sects control, and so they could find the rebellion hiding in the abyss.
Jong {Where should we look!? Maybe I should head into a city, no no! We can't get separated again! Ugh, this stuff was so much easier with Kioshi around, I almost forgot what it was like to live without that kinda strength on our side.}
A lot of them started from the deep South, right off Godrick Mountain, to slowly move over and around the Capital. It's where Jong led the mass soldiers to continuously split into smaller strings that fought to connect to another group, until they took it all. But Chris moved East, and Venyet West, to continue building their army and prepare to take those major cities. But still, Lincoln, Ryo, Gordon, and many more still moved between Greenvale. To prepare. As soon Greenvale would be empty of them all for the first time in what felt like forever, and everyone would be fighting.
Gray {One, two, three, four! One, two, three, FOUR!}
In the long week Gray awaited their mission, everything was advancing. From the short times they spent in the village, they saw more and more people leaving. Those needing healing were out and fighting, others were getting ready in wagons every day, and some returned with messages in and out every few hours.
Gray {Five six seven, eight!}
The other village was running dry as well, turned into a small base of operations for the Commanders. Compared to the main village of Greenvale Gray usually stayed in, the other was far more separated. Larger, more intricate homes with larger yards and wide roads. With various kinds of trees, especially cherry blossoms, taken from Oni-mas. Like a lot of the architecture was, like Gordon's home for example. What used to be a village filled with guards, soldiers, Warriors, Knights, and Red Arrows, was now a village for the remaining injured. The healers, the blacksmiths, the farmers and breeders, and anybody who could help.
Gray {Five, six!}
What used to be streets filled by the thousand, now fell to the hundred, and soon to be even lower than that. And day by day Walgonia got more connected because of it. So they could settle in the gaps of control. Villages, towns, forests, even under bridges and alleys. Tunnels and caves. To surround the Sects hearts, the heads of their control. And there they found civilians using whatever they could. Using the Walgonian crest, the will of Walgonia, and finally joining the fight alongside it. Not just rebels, but soldiers, true blades of their home.
Gray {Seven, Eight!}
Peter had been working half to death throughout it all alongside his training friends. Under Rick day in and day out, working on the armor the soldiers dawned. Whether the simple silver, with simple blessings over their blades and armor. To the denser, blue armor of the Elitie Walgonians. Some special armors made specifically for the Demi-humans and mages' needs. Blades, shields, flails, maces of all sizes. Constantly pumping out tools alongside the other blacksmiths in Greenvale. And while Rick worked like it was nothing, Peter looked incredibly drained, before hammering away at the molten blade yet again.
Gray {NINE, TEN!}
And in those days, in the forest between the villages, was Gray. Practicing his movements, his control, his magic as much as possible. To be the best he could, no matter what, just like he promised.
Gray {Again!}
One two, Gray swung his new Wrist Talon while flowing out mana. It was a single blade, technically another prototype. But the first to be made with Rick's help, and the first one Peter was able to mold himself instead of using scraps. Giving the vambrace a cleaner and thinner look, while also being denser and more stable. Hopefully without the locking issue. But Gray wasn't paying as much attention to the blade as he was his mana. Trying his best to hold it around his body with a stable low power flow with his second slash. Then Four five six, Gray continued stepping forward. Slashing to the side, before kicking, pivoting, and kicking again. Seven eight nine, Gray positioned for a proper jab, then a second strike, before spinning and releasing the Cloak in a large thick wave. Curling it tight while sliding it across the ground before pulling back into its regular shape. And then ten, leading Gray to try and push Spirit mana toward his Wrist talon as best as he could, before throwing out a thin and short slash of Spirit mana.
Gray FINALLY! Now don't waste a second!}
It broke away before it could hit the tree right in front of him, but he'd still managed to do it faster than ever. But he went at it again, this time running forward without any idea of where he was going. To maintain mana flow while running along. Down a short hill, over stones on a small stream, before leaping up to grab onto the thickest branch he saw. Still his mana carved around the branch when he tried to swing around onto his feet, and broke the moment he leapt forward to a higher branch. Allowing him to use the Cloak to yank himself forward, before sliding around a Trees trunk with his fingers breaking through the bark, and quickly glide into a sprint across the grass.
Gray {Can't waste time, what else to do!? What should I prepare for!?}
After the plan had been brought to them by Julius, Gray went back to training in Gordon's yard. Strikes, stances, kicks, over and over while listening to them talk. And when night fell, when he couldn't move anymore or cast a spell, Gordon had introduced him to his team.
Gordon: "I want the battle of Symbol to coincide with others. Lincoln and some groups will attack other towns and villages nearby to help distract the Sects force. But Symbol, while small, is a major Sect fortification. Where the only people there are anarchists, and rebels."
Gray: "...okay? So what do we need to do?"
Alongside him in his training, of course, were his friends. Awaiting the same news, for just when, how, and where they'd be putting their life on the line.
Gordon: "For now, you all will be together. But for you five, I want another. So you can focus and find your purpose, and the others can take the brunt of the Sects forces and clear as much as possible."
Gordon had pulled Leo, Yui, Dershia, Carlos, and the massive Demi-human known as Walter. The massive Spirit alligator, the physically strongest Knight, and somebody Gray was instantly happy to see again. Quickly walking forward to try and first bump the massive and terrifying figure, who gave a soft smile and tried to bump Gray's tiny hand.
Yui: "I can't believe you're making me work with this Sect implant."
Gray: "Are you talking to me!?"
Gordon instantly shoved Gray away in his rage before getting directly in Yui's face, piercing her wide purple eyes with his hawk-eyed glare.
Gordon: "You will fight, and you will win. If you don't want to, then leave them to die. Go ahead. Abandon your Commander's mission."
Yui: "...I'm sorry."
Gordon: "Good. Now all of you, get ready, because you'll be heading out by the end of the week. From here, if you use your Earth bound dragon it would take half a day, a day at most. So you'll be leaving in seven days, but really six, since you'll be heading out the moment you wake up. Now relax, train, go and plan. Do whatever you're supposed to be doing."
Gray quickly began introducing Carlos and Walter to his friends, leaving Leo to speak with them, and Yui to walk away after staring Gray down from behind. Something Rosemary noticed, and responded with her own harsh eyes. But they'd gone home, where Peter slept face first on the floor after a hard day's work himself, and slipped into the second day. Where Ryo's Spirit boot camp was fully on, and they were all blasting through the forest.
Rosemary: "OW OW OW!"
Rosemary pushed the fourth stage to its max, kicking high into the air to throw a large strike against the ground. Slamming a large torrent of pressure against Edward, who put everything he had into resisting it, and stood inside the erupting with a roar. Yet from their sides came two large wind blades, and a speeding ball of green light behind it. Forcing them to push out of the way, right where Gray and Julius struck. Edward quickly swung his blade upward, forcing Gray to jump off of it and roll onto his feet. While Rosemary backhanded Julius' blade, and sent him sliding across the grass with the fourth stage's power. Yet he ran forward just as quickly to rapidly strike her powerful and flaming stage. He didn't get through, only hitting the light spare armor she wore, before she kicked him back and clapped her hands. Thinking of Lincoln, before sending Julius flying back against a tree.
Rosemary: "OW OWWW!"
Finally her stage burst around her, leaving her on her knees and open for Soku to land upon her. Holding her large cleaver like blade high into the air with a prideful smile.
Soku: "I win! I got the first down!"
Rosemary: "Man!"
Gray: "No fair!"
Gray and Edward held themselves in a mix of chokeholds and the Cloak, before giving away and standing together. Before they started the next round of some kind of training. Gray throws out his Breaker with Soku's wind blade and Rosemary's flicks to test aim. Trying to stretch further, attempt small jumps and somersaults. Gray even managed to do a back flip using mana and his Spirit sense. After falling on his face a few times. And as time passed, so did they. So Gray could use Cenic, Walnic, Knightic over and over until he got it perfect. So he could control his mana, so he could heal back from his broken body stronger than ever.
But each day, as more people left. Jong, his other friends, it got harder to survive in Greenvale. It got harder to eat, to sleep, to train. So the third day was rather quiet. Filled with spells, stances, and calm mana regulation. Gray even found the time to look at his new physique. His body was more toned and lean rather than muscular since he was still skinny, but it was enough to make him feel cool and flex in the mirror. Before Rosemary caught him and left him screaming so loud, Soku woke up from her nap.
Gray: "EEEEEEEEK! I promise I was just checking for Spirit ticks!"
Rosemary: "I like my muscles too, but mine are bigger than yours so I'm not as weird for it."
Gray: "Again Soku is rubbing off too much! Other way around other way around! I gotta make a law or something, a law of no bullying Sir Kyojin!"
Rosemary: "Well then I guess I'm a villain, oh well."
Gray: "Noooo!"
Under their laughs came the moving day, and the further into the day the more obvious that things were really ramping up. From the constant messages back and forth, Ryo having to astral project to other Spirit Knights for communication, Rick looking over the Sects communicator, Peter finishing the group's armor soon. Leo felt it too, surging lighting from his fingers easier, stronger, and faster than ever through the woods. Flowing his lighting like water, from his arms, to his legs, into kicks and slashes, before pulling it in and releasing it through his fingers.
Leo {That volatile blue lighting, how far did it push me? Compared to that, my lighting feels so much different now.}
It was like a limb now, a part of him, instead of just a Mark. No longer an ability that makes him stronger, lets him shoot out some blast, or even faster. No. Now he moved, breathed, flowed, and commanded that lighting with ease. With far less stamina and mana use. Far less strain on his Mark. And when he finally snapped his fingers, and called his spear after almost two weeks of being awake. Causing it to burst through a bathroom, then a roof, before surging through the air and down through the trees, right into Leo's hand for the lighting to perfectly encase it.
Leo: "I guess you did something good after all Raylice. You pushed me, and now I can't deny I've gotten stronger. Thank you for that, at least."
He wore his Dragon stone gear, made to be lighter and thinner than before so it could be repaired. But instead of a Red Arrow head band, he wore a light blue Walgonian one. With a Walgonian crest right on the center. His hair had also become more messy, instead of held by the head band it sat underneath and above it. His mustache was still growing back in, his new scars were here to stay, and he'd even lost weight from all the healing. Making him finally look his age, now that he wasn't the soul leader anymore. Yet, he was so much stronger.
Carlos stocked up on Arrows, Walter got some needed rest after fighting his way through Walgonia, and even Yui practiced in the forest with her blade. Using her powerful, dangerous Curse to send blazing purple and black slashes through the tree line. Until the fourth day, where a violent storm rushed against Godrick mountain. Making it harder for Gray to use his Spirit senses, and giving a golden opportunity to force Gray to use his Spirit senses for practice. So while he sat in the rain with Ryo meditating to feel, see, and push mana toward the Spirits with the Cloak over him like a rain coat. Rosemary used that day to get food for the night, Edward was out swinging against the rain under the screams of Lincoln. Finally without his armor, as when he went to walk Peter to work, Rick took hold of it to fix all the damage Edward had done. Leaving him in spare jeans, a tight short sleeve shirt, and spare greaves. Julius was trying to pierce the rain with quick slashes, and Soku finally got a new compact Glider from Peter.
Soku: "No way this thing doesn't break."
Instead of the large glider that folded into a staff like before, this time the glider was far smaller. Folding onto itself like a tight N, and could fold out into a straight glider with retractable green bat-like wings. Where Soku could put inside her jacket when needed, and take out to jump into the air and start soaring through the rain like she was now. While Peter watched on, jumping with joy, it worked.
Peter: "I knew it! Rick was a genius for making it as sturdy as it is with the wood but I knew the compact style would hold!"
The day was slightly relaxing. Even if they didn't know of the people dying, screaming, fighting under the same rain. But they thought of them. They trained for them. And soon, they fight for them. But when Gray walked with Ryo back to Gordon's home, that slight peace from the rain broke under the sight of reality.
Gray {No way! What happened!?}
He stood in the doorway, letting Ryo walk inside while Gray stood watching in horror. Unable to breathe, unable to do anything but quiver, he looked on. Lanner, with a thick cast on his arm and a new scar across his cheek. The old Rabbit Demi-human Muther, now missing his left hand. And worst of all, Gabby. Once the strong, loud, kind woman, and best Earth mage Walgonia's Knights had. And now a disheveled, sorrow filled, broken woman bound to a crude wheelchair. With a broken glare locked to her unmovable, absolutely useless, awful, terrible, dreadful legs. Covered by a thick blanket, while still wearing her thick armor all around.
Gray {...What have I been letting happen? Why did I do this to them!?}
Lanner stood under Gordon's sour glare, before groaning in pain as he went to one knee before his Top Commander.
Lanner: "After we separated from Jong's group in Gurren, we fought to save as many people as possible. And we were able to get maybe a thousand or more of our forces here. But…but we lost our core group. And we barely escaped him…"
Muther: "...It was The Litch."
Over a week prior their group fought through the night inside a tight village. Once a home for the Sect, turned into a battlefield, one heading toward a victory.
Lanner: "KEEP GOING!"
The large mix of Knights, Soldiers, guards, and Elite Knights fought alongside them to take out the heavy anarchist presence. No matter their daggers, their Elixirs, they sent out large spells. Balls of fire, ice, walls of earth. While Gabby sent stone dragons blasting into groups of anarchists, bashed a few skulls with her mace, before holding her mace high into the air.
Gabby: "EL-DIGKOL!"
Using the earth crystal embedded into her mace to expand her affinities' reach to the Spirits, she took in a large swarm of dark green earth Spirit mana. And used her large, bloody weapon, as a wand. To send a large wave of stone pillars through the dirt street, and broke an entire formation of anarchists in a single wave. And to her side ran Lanner, spinning and blitzing through groups of anarchists to leave them in pieces. Before leaping to another one, cutting through their weak fire balls and blocking streams of water, before stabbing right into their chests.
Lanner {Alright! Who's next!?}
It should have been a sheer victory. And yet, even though it was a small farming village. Even though they'd appeared in the night just an hour ago. They seemed to stumble into the territory of a true monster.
Lanner: "What is that!?"
His Spirit affinity let him feel the Spirit's fear. Their absolute, shaking, screaming terror. Piercing his spirit sense, and forcing him to look backward. Those fighting anarchists ahead, through the streets and wooden homes, on top of the hay roofs, all found their breaths visible. A freezing cold that only got colder, deeper. And they all saw him. Walking through the skin of his vessel, creating a Cloak of skin to wear over his skeleton body, whilst a long wooden scythe formed inside of his hand.
Lanner: "RUN RUN RUN -
He saw him walking far in the distance. But everybody was frozen, even the anarchists, before it moved. Through a single street, slashing over and over with the glowing green blade of the scythe. And it left the knight, no matter their race or strength, face first in the dirt. Dead before they could understand what happened. All they could do was scream in fear, before the Litch used their souls to charge a large slash, and slam his scythe into the ground. Throwing forth a violent wave of air force and mana, along with the soul's power, to tear through anybody in its path.
Lanner: "NO NO -
It slowly reached its end, and flung Lanner through a small home. Where he could barely stand after, and could only listen to Lazarus move. Where he took soul after soul, onto to use them instantly. Sending out large slashes, bursts of strength, enough to cleave through street after street. Home after home. Leaving the village to be lit aflame by the anarchists, and drawing out anyone left.
Gabby: "ALL-DIG -
Ready to unleash all of her mana for as high-level of a spell as possible, Lazarus stepped forward, attempted to cut through her. And yet she'd still dodged, enough to not get her soul ripped out. But not enough to avoid the pressure of his slash, and had her back torn open. Left to lay against the ground screaming, staring up into the snake-like eyes of the Litch. Pitch blade voids inside the skull of his vessel, where that small green like laid. To silence her. To freeze her. And leave her soul for the taking.
Muther: "AWAY FROM HER!"
Bouncing across the debris at high speeds, he bashed right into Lazarus. Pushing him slightly to the side, just in time to grab hold of Gabby and leap away into the flames. Yet he couldn't get through them before Lazarus sent out a fierce slash in a rage. Whistling toward, and right through the land holding Gabby. And leaving them both to lay bleeding, screaming, and crying inside the flames. Where Lazarus surely would have taken their souls, if not for Lanner dragging his body through the village to help them. Before using as much mana he could in a single, dense spell, one he begged towards the spirits to work. And cast it.
Lanner: "El-Voris"
It was a second tier spell, one that pushed your healing to its limits all in one powerful burst of bright green mana. Burning through them, their stamina, their minds. So Murther's hand could sizzle into a closed stump, and Gabby's back could heal over. Even if it left her with permanent damage. So Murther could help Lanner get Gabby, and themselves out of the village. And off into the wilds of Walgonia, to soon rejoin another part. And now they stood in front of Gordon, ready to drop to the floor.
Gordon: "...I'm sorry that happened to you all. But what did you want to say? Lazarus has surely moved since then, and if you didn't lose many soldiers then the loss wasn't too great. -
Gordon continued, but Gray couldn't help but feel overcome by rage. Gordon's harsh words, the words of a Commander only focused on winning. But to friends of Gray? To Knights in such a state, after trying to fight for their country? It felt revolting, absolutely disgusting, and yet Ryo knew to stop Gray with a single look. And have him walk back into the rain alone, so Ryo could console and heal the group, while Gray went to rest. However that rest was still work in some way, as he finally argued Soku into letting him fix her jacket.
Leaving him sitting beside Rosemary in a bit of an award silence outside their house, looking over Greenvale amidst the heavy rain. Sticking Soku's jacket together, even if he had to make it short sleeved to be anywhere close to even instead of thin torn pieces. And make the bottom of the coat shorter along with it, so it would actually fit instead of taking up her entire body. But to break that silence was a surprising face. Pushing the silent Gabby, with Muther by his side smoking a pipe, was Lanner. Scratching at his scraggly chin hair between his new large scar, a few stitches, and deep burn marks from the battle with Lazarus.
Lanner: "Hey I didn't know you lived over here! I was sight seein, cause I aint never been to Greenvale! It's pretty rare for a regular Knight to be here, this place is supposed to be super secret or whatever, but it's got a lot of famous stuff! Like did you know Musashi used to live in this place!? Or that Sultan took a lot of things from Oni-mas because she liked it, that's why the Commander's house looks like that, and the other village is all Oni-masy."
Gray: "I didn't catch you for being a history nerd, but I didn't know this used to be Musashi's house!"
Lanner: "Well it was up until his parents died when he was like nine or whatever. I think they died there! Barely right! ALSO I DON'T KNOW WHAT A NERD IS BUT I'M NOT NO NERD! YOU'RE NERD! You look like what it sounds like!"
Gray: "Ew gross, I didn't wanna know that! What if there's ghosts or something!"
Lanner: "See, nerrrrd!"
Gray: "I get it! You like that word! Now don't tell me you accidentally walked up to our porch. What did you wanna talk to me about? It's been a while since we last saw each other."
Lanner shrugged, trying his best to find an excuse. Yet Muther was distracted with lighting his pipe in the rain, and Gabby just stared off into space while Lanner held an umbrella over her. Leaving him alone in his efforts, and forced to come clean.
Lanner: "Yeah whatever. I just wanted to tell you I'm tagging along, Muther too! Carlos and Walter are good friends of mine, and I wanna get some good ole revenge."
Gabby: "...You need to kill them for me. All of them…"
Gray and Rosemary were surprised, but Lanner almost broke to tears from her words. As this had been the first time she'd spoken since her screams when she first woke up, and realized she couldn't fight anymore. No matter what. But that single world. It could have been to stop them, finish them, defeat them. But kill? That struck Gray the hardest. Because after all this pain, all this death he's trying to prevent, why didn't he know what to do? Whether or not he had the power to take a life, even if he'd done it before.
Lanner: "I hear you loud and clear, and it's a promise. Right Gray?"
Gray: "...Yeah…right."
Rosemary: "Well I'm glad that you have our back. Thank you for that."
Lanner: "No problem. Well uhh, I guess I gotta go now. Lincoln told me about this great bar Greenvales got! They mix Elixirs in their stuff to boost it, or make it taste better, real nice quality booze! Hardy has a hangover!"
Gray: "Well go have fun."
They moved into the rain, and Gray stitched and sowed till nightfall. Where he and Rosemary would quickly fall to sleep after another harsh day of training, to wake up for the fifth day. And do it all again. This time not with rain, but a heavy mist. A steam from the spring heats upon the drenched earth. Along with thick morning dew. Creating what may have been creepy, but was mostly a calming atmosphere for them to walk through. Watching how quickly more and more people were moving out, along with how many people finally arrived at Greenvale from across the land. So they could be a part of the massive Siege. But still Gray and the others were away from it, two days away, and he had no idea how to feel.
Gray {Man I wanna fight but who's gonna show up!? That Donte dude with the shield still wants to kill me, and Conna got away! And there's a bunch of random Lower Pillars, like that random ninja I fought! Or another bounty hunter, and they're probably not gonna get talked out of hunting me! Gordon said we'd be targeting the central base too! That means we're definitely going up against at least one Lower Pillar or something. I know we're strong enough, right, I hope!? Are we!? Lower Pillars range right!? Cause even if Jeremiah was a lower Pillar, or that Conroy dude, so is Arthur! And he's like an Upper Pillar vessel strong! But he's still called a Lower Pillar! So what if another Arthur shows up, or another Ceasar!}
Lost in panic, he threw out his first of many kicks for the day in Gordon's training yard beside Rosemary. Following her guide of strikes, rolls, kicks, twists, lunges, and even quick grabs. Soku was back to dancing across the grass, even if she hated it. Stepping through the field side to side, flowing like air while pulling wind along with her. So she'd gather more wind with less mana, gain far more control, and when she took that last spinning step, the wave of wind was far more powerful. Blowing through the grass, and even knocking over a handful of Leviathan soldiers in the distance.
Soku: "MY BAD!"
Gordon: "Don't apologize! You did good! YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE DODGED THAT!"
Leviathan Group: "YES SIR!"
Beside them Julius struck with all his might, as fast as he could, as many times as he could. While Edward swayed his blade black and forth, held it down like a shield, and managed to push him back amidst every single strike. Still Julius slithered around Edward, ready to slash through his side in a small gap between his armors plating, before Edward hardly pivoted. Bashing Julius in his shoulder with his own shoulder, before spinning and kicking Julius. While Julius managed to block the strike, both his both and the air shook with the force, before Julius was sent sliding back across the grass.
Julius: "...You truly are a Helsing, or at least becoming one."
Edward: "A real compliment from you must mean it's true. I think it's a complement right?"
Julius just smiled, before kicking into high gear and flashing right beneath Edward. Kicking him in his liver while Edward was distracted, and pushed him into the air before falling right on his back.
Julius: "Do not think you will surpass me so easily. Remember, I won the Knight Exam."
Edward: "I do remember that, but I also know I'm a hell of a lot stronger than I was then. You didn't even make me angry. Or that angry at least."
Once the morning had passed and Gordon was needed, Gray and the others moved to conditioning with Lincoln.
Lincoln: "I'm leaving today, so let's make this last session a good one alright!....I SAID ALRIGHT!"
"ALRIGHT!"
They screamed it aloud while trying their best not to explode. As Rosemary pushed the fourth stage to the max, in her best attempt to control it. Edward was trying his best to unleash his Dragons Spirit, thinking toward his mother while roaring at Lincoln. Swinging and swinging his sword even when Lincoln spoke orders to the rest of them. Julius on the other hand was forced to keep the Dragons fist activated, to either unleash the Dragons Spirit, or break down his body and build it stronger. More resistant to his internal mana, and gain a greater mastery. Pushing a large amount of wind past them all while she tore through her mana. Pulling in as much mana with her Mark as she could while outputting absolutely everything. It was an insane torrent of wind that almost forced the training to end, but Lincoln constantly swatted it away.
Still she was forced to stand far back in the forest they trained in, creating a large whirlwind of green winds that pierced the trees above. But Gray couldn't admire it because he was trying his best to control his Full-power flow. Pushing the gas pedal toward ninety miles an hour, and trying his best to maintain it. Before letting it fall on top of itself, instead of fading away through his muscles and into the air. They all screamed in pain under Lincoln, and Lincoln just smiled, drank, and looked toward the lighting in the distance.
Edward: "COME ON!"
Lincoln grabbed hold of Edwards face before tossing him back, knocking the group over to topple into a pile. Yet they were too weak to push Edward off, and were laughed at by Lincoln and Soku. Even if Soku was unable to move, and lay far away in a large circle of destroyed dirt, bits of trees, and torn up debris.
Soku: "...haha!...ow, ha! It hurts but it's still funny."
With Lincoln leaving, soon did Lanner and the others. Leo, Yui, Carlos, Walter, Dershia, Lanner, and Muther all in two wagons pushing away from Walgonia. While Lincoln simply leapt into the clouds to cross miles mid-air, drinking, and soon to crash far away from the mountain onto a Sect camp before leaping away again. Gray and the others just looked on in disbelief, before heading back home after their training.
Starting the sixth day. Where Gray had been counting his steps early in the morning, before having to head back into Greenvale. Right at Rick's shop, where the others stepped forward. Edward, still without his armor, a tired Rosemary, Soku wearing her fixed coat, and Julius forever calm, smiling, and chipper.
Gray: "Is it time?"
Before Rosemary could walk up to him, the door of Rick's cottage blew open, with Peter falling right down the stairs. However Soku managed to slide forward with a burst of wind to catch him, until she just collapsed into the dirt with him and all the heavy armor he was carrying.
Gray: "Our gear! Nice! So what do we have!?"
Peter: "Just let me get up first!"
He was tired, hungry, covered in soot, and yet he stood with a massive smile. Handing Gray the first of the few bags holding their armor, two from off Soku's back. Where Gray dawned light silver armor. A chest plate that strapped to armor upon his back from his waste, and his shoulders.
Gray: "Nice! I can move my neck without fightin against the armor too!"
Most Walgonian gear had dense armor around your neck, with room to move, but still to protect. However the chest plate didn't have it, as it was now small plates like Edwards armor strapped over the tall collar of his Levithan shirt. Surprisingly, even if it was partly due to Grays growth in strenght, it felt incredibly light but still dense enough to protect him. Along with tight shoulder armor, greaves attached to iron soles around shoes similar to his ones from earth. Finally putting on his final two new Wrist Talons, he felt prepared. Like he could move, breathe, and fight how he should be. Not dawning old broken armor because he destroyed his, spare scraps he could strap on, but something truly his own.
Peter: "And Rick made sure to bless all of your armor. Against magic, and your powerful mana, it should be connected to your signature. I don't really know how it works but Rick said it did. So it'll be harder to destroy your own armor using your attacks, my Wrist Talons too!"
After the hardship the training, maybe they were really getting somewhere. Until he saw the Levithan Mengu mask inside the back, and moved away. Instead, he took the new short sword beneath it.
Peter: "Do you not like the mask? I figured you guys wanted to show off your Leviathan name!"
Gray: "I don't really feel like a Leviathan soldier. And I have my own mask, it hides how scared I look. It makes being confident way easier when they can't see me."
Gray put on his armor the quickest, but Soku had the least to wear. Due to her own words, she only had to put on a dense chain main over her tank top under her jacket. It went toward her legs, stopping at her tall boots, before she was done. Hardly looking different, aside from the chainmail on her arms and legs. Rosemary on the other hand got far denser armor. Instead of being styled like Grays, her sides were now protected by armor, along with more of her legs and arms. Sealing her in the light blue armor, dawning Walgonian crests along its shoulders, and her chest. And Edwards armor didn't really change, it was just repaired, along with becoming more dense between the gaps.
Gray: "Wait Julius what about you? Do you even wear armor?"
Julius: "This coat has been blessed against flames, being torn, a few other things. I have a gift for being the king's son, along with my monocle of course."
Gray {Is this guy even strong or just some super nepo baby? And didn't he only survive Bearguard because of his name? That's what he told us. And that lava took out Irsa, and he definitely sprung up against those three Top Elites out of nowhere!}
As Gray stared toward Julius with a face full of various emotions, and none happy, Julius just smiled. Waiting for them to finally step away any moment now.
Julius: "I assume we will be resting today?"
Edward: 'I figured you already knew. It's more of a planning day. And yeah a break day too."
Peter: "I'm definitely sleeping for a week! I don't think I'm going with you, but I wanna help against the Sect! So I'll make sure I've got weapons of my own. I'll get good enough to fight alongside you, and create the tools to do it. Just you wait!"
Peter didn't sound inspired, hopeful. It was the opposite entirely. He sounded desperate, out of breath, completely out of energy. But they all knew his words were filled with the truth. But he was quick to take his own bags forward, so Rick wouldn't pull him back in, and he waved goodbye. So they could walk forward to Gordon's home for what felt like the millionth time. Step through the large sliding doors, then deeper into the palace, before standing with the training yard open to their right sides. In the large, circular meeting room. Finally empty enough for you to see the redwood walls, the many plants and paintings of previous Helsings between bookshelves and maps. Random filled chests, stacks of read and unread messages, and other tables for meeting in the corners.
But standing over a map of symbols in the middle, was a fierce Gordon, and a smiling Ryo, toward the newly clothed group of knights. Gray, Edward, Rosemary, Soku, and Julius all together. And for just a second, Gray stepped forward with his Wrist talon out and his Cloak flowing, sporting a flashy smile.
Gray: "Cute right!"
Gordon: "I don't know how you made it here, I can't deny any of it, but still. You're too strange to believe."
Gray: "Whatever, ruined the moment."
Ryo: "I think you all look great, ready at least."
Gray: "See thank you -
Gordon: "Come over here!"
Gray looked to his sides and found them empty, as the others had already moved around Gordon, and left Gray rushing by himself to join in. Staring over the map of Symbol. A town broken up by hills, trees, short roads, and strangely tall brick homes. All surrounding a rather large manor, what seemed to be a home of Pillars.
Gordon: "This town was founded by the Gol family, an old family of nobles who were pretty high ranking. But after rumors of Sect involvement, the head of the family vanished, and the family fell quickly out of favor. Now I'm not supposed to tell you this, but the only reason I know is because Musashi was there. That the head of the Gol family was a powerful Lower Pillar, and it seems they sprung to use that. And this mansion may be a very dangerous place because of it."
Edward: "Well what would make their house dangerous? Beasts or Pillars inside? Traps?"
Ryo: "Well honestly we don't know, we just know anybody who's ever moved into that home didn't stay for long. It's standing almost like a monument. It's beautiful, and yet for the last fifteen or so years, since the Gol family came to an end, it's remained unclaimed. The town itself even renamed itself from the City of Gol, to something the people actually liked, but the mayor had his own home made. Leaving this to stand, and now to be taken by the Sect."
Rosemary: "And is this house our target?"
Gordon: "You all and Lanners party, while Leo's group targets the town around it."
Gray: "Shouldn't we be away from the Pillars!? Leo's group is way stronger than ours!"
Gordon: "You aren't anything close to weak. I have faith you all can handle one or two. I know we could be playing off luck, but there aren't too many real Lower Pillars. You all have killed so many of them, and there weren't many to start. The potential pillars are dangerous, but they're manageable. If anything major happens I've commanded somebody from Leo's group to respond no matter what. But after all this training, even if it's been a few weeks, you should be ready. After all, wasn't this your idea from the start?"
Gray: "...well yeah, I just don't wanna get killed before we can do something! But if we're all together we should be able to handle ourselves, I hope. People like Arthur seem to be out of the norm. Even if the Lower Pillars strength wavier pretty hard, we shouldn't be running into anybody that crazy right? And I was able to find a way around Caesar's healing, if it's something like that, then all of us together should definitely think of something! Or at least run away!"
Soku: "Really? That doesn't sound too hopeful."
Gordon: "Your hope doesn't really matter. What matters is that you leave tomorrow, and when you arrive at the edge of the Spirit biome overlooking the town you'll meet with Lanners party. After, you'll be going toward the mansion, to clear it of the town's leaders. It could just be a major base of anarchists, maybe the home of a single Lower Pillar, or a place to train others. But yeah, if it's too much, I want you to fall back. Don't worry about the city, the battle. We aren't saving civilians, yes there are rebels, but this town was made a home of the Sect. Even one kill before you leave, and I'd consider that victory. Anything else is extra."
The sight loomed over them all. Gordon gave them directions and a map, while Ryo helped gather things for their few hour trip, while they walked back home to rest. And in their house, where everyone but Julius groaned with anxiety. Laying in their armor, under the breeze leaking into their home, while Peter carefully worked on Poppers on the kitchen table. Where it just felt like they sat and sat. Waited for time to tick down. Until they finally had to force themself to sleep and wake up again. But the time getting there was so long, so painful for their hearts. Even Gray, who wanted to be of use so badly, now faced the weight of battle on the line.
Gray: "...I'm sorry if you guys are mad. I know we were gonna fight in the Siege, but we would have had a bit longer to train, and we wouldn't have to go into battle."
Edward: "I'm thankful we're finally going back into the fight. The sooner we start the better."
Rosemary: "I dunno, I like that we're getting to test ourselves. Most of the time we're just jumping head first, now it's kinda like Athens or the Knight Exam. Training for days without any idea of what awaited."
Soku: "You guys might wanna fight but are you sure you can be this hopeful!? What happens when one of the anarchists summons an Upper Pillar. There isn't a single one of them we can defend against, even if they're just vessels or whatever. Leo, that Yui lady, it doesn't really matter. Unless Lincoln's with us we're dead!"
Gray: "But we can fall back, we can still run. That's what Gordon told us to do."
Soku just sighed. Without any energy to argue, without any way to really get out of it either, she just leaned back against her chair. And instantly stood to sit with Peter and see what he was doing, leaving Edward to move into the kitchen and cook something with what Rosemary bought, and Gray to sink further into the couch with Rosemary. Getting used to their new armor, and trying to break the silent tension that's seemed to stick between them since Athens.
Gray: "Do you think we can do it? Raid the mansion, even with Lanner and Muther? Every time I've gone up against Potential or Lower Pillars, even if we win, they always have something up their sleeve. A spell, a power, a bomb. Something, it's always something."
Rosemary: "Everything we've gone up against has been like that. I've been trying my best to stand tall against it. For the mission, like Athens. Maybe I thought I could run away from this life, but for better or for worse I'm fighting again. This time for something worth fighting for. And compared to Athens? It seems like we can actually do it. So maybe we'll get hurt, but like Gordon said, even if we lose, the Sect will lose way harder."
Gray: "I hope you're right."
Truly, he just wanted to go out like he had on his way to Athens. Flying with Dema and stopping at every scream he heard, every battle he saw. So he could clear through, and save them, before moving to another and another battle. But now, when he looked outside to that same, larger Dema, he knew he'd be taking his friends into that battle. Maybe he was ready to fight, and to die all alone. But the weight of their presence would keep him from blowing up. It should be pushing him even harder. But he just couldn't accept it yet. So when the hours slowly passed, then they struggled to eat Edwards delicious dinner, and finally found themselves unable to sleep in their beds all alone in the cold darkness. Staring into the walls, the ceiling, or in Gray's case, a window out at a silent Greenvale.
He knew Rosemary was behind him, and yet he couldn't help but hold the Cloaks charm. He couldn't help but lose all focus to his own pain, his fears, the world. And Rosemary saw it, but knew she felt the same. And she knew that this war was making their connection almost impossible. From the first day they arrived in Greenvale all those months ago, it had all felt brighter. Even with Ophelia, Kioshi, Musashi lost, Walgonia lost. They had each other. But now, after so many others had faded, after all of Athens had faded. They were going to leave Greenvale to go into war yet again, and that connection couldn't be more than frozen.
Still he turned back to her in his fear to hold her hands, and they could both at least breathe easy in the heart their love still had beat, and slowly faded into the darkness. And for Gray, that darkness was all too familiar, all too disgusting.
Gray: "Couldn't just let me sleep huh?"
The mist got tighter, the ground rose while the sky oozed down in long spike-like tendrils. And, as always, sitting over him on her Cloak of Darkness. Sporting a face filled with pride, resentment, but in this case it almost felt nostalgic. After so many recent conversations filled with apologies, questions, screams and pain. She was smirking, her purple eyes shined into his soul, completely in control. But Gray didn't take any steps back. The fear, the pain, it was always gonna be there.
Azalea: "I needed a word with you, — "
But those words, his experiences, his new state of mind. It didn't bring out the panic, instead, it only brought forth his own rage. Squeezing his face tight, and letting his own dim eyes pierce with the flickering flame of his soul.
Azalea: "Heerrrrooo."