***
"Ahhh! Here we are. The middle of nowhere"
Former Captain of the Tyrants Rest Guardsmen, a man once known as Morrow, let go of the reins and jumped off the rickety wooden cart to stretch.
A rugged beefcake of a middle aged man, I found his presence was a little peculiar as he refused to go into detail until we could talk in relative privacy.
That opportunity was something we'd have soon, having arrived somewhere between Dragon's Mort and our final destination, the underground megacity of Nala.
The current transport was only temporary, at least in this form. An old farmers cart pulled by a scaly beast of burden, a Newt.
Slow and steady, the animal's stubby legs brought us to, what appeared to be, a dirt road so rarely traveled. Hardly recognisable as such, due to years of neglect and untrampled grass.
Perhaps it was improper to call it a dirt road with nothing resembling the brown earth in sight. Only the cobblestone highway beneath our cart we had become set on abandoning to a sea of green.
Our location was similar to a rainforest, only hidden under a blanket of white held up by colossal trees that planted their resistance against the cold. Undergrowth blossomed here, emboldened by plentiful heavenly blood, clear and pure.
Travel by this long winding road had become less common as of late. After all, many had recently died along this very path by an Overlord's skeletal hands and his undead army.
It still frightened me that Rider could be so easily forced on her back claw. Sure, Cyra's lacky helped orchestrate the attack and it was a bad matchup, but to me, that encounter seemed thoroughly planned.
"Ladies"
Enthusiastically, the man once known as Morrow knelt down offering a hand to two women. Despite that, it was not them who would take his arm.
The former Captain dressed in a custom made black two-piece suit with shoulders as broad as a boulder. It was a wonder how his five o'clock shadow presented itself before lunch.
At least his styled short brown hair presented him as slightly refined, a butlers black tailcoat aided in this affair. I couldn't help but think that all he was missing was white gloves.
"Oh thank you deary~"
"We do appreciate your gentlemanly gesture, Hon-hon-OW!"
Adelard and I put on our best upper class accents to act like entitled old hags, swinging hips past the fellow passengers. Lars went as far to pretend his open hand was a fan to blow air in his face.
Annoyed, Morrow held on tight to lift us up the moment we took his hand.
"Those suits don't make you men, but now I'm thinking we should swap them out for something more ladylike. Maybe style those rags on your head as well"
Both of our get-ups matched perfectly thanks to the 'Swap-Suits'. Just two boy butlers in matching tailcoats with frilly frocks. All that was missing was mountains of makeup and lace cuffs.
"They should- *hic* get match cuts- *hic* hair cuts"
"Mphm- outm of mmph~ threamm mmeady, no more-mm clothes"
"Don't talk with your- *Hic* mouth full Morrow"
"Huh? I'm not-"
"She's talking Mmmph me idiomm~"
Sister Naji, dressed in a perfectly regular nuns outfit of black and gold, stumbled out of our ride with booze in one hand, cigarette in the other. A perfectly elegant outfit for her fake role.
On her coif, a gold 'x' in a circle, matching the Church of Athena's crest, or more specifical, the Goddesses shield. Not only that, but a silver sword pendant around her neck, representing Themis.
Unusual for a race with horns to worship anything, even if they were hidden behind her hat. At least her grey skin tone proved she did not dabble in sin.
Well, little more than 'gluttony' at least.
"Get the booze Bez- *Hic* Izza long walk. Hehe, booze Bez…"
"Really have to drink while wearing that? You're doing a disservice to nuns around the world"
"Tha- *Hic* thaz the rules! *Hic* My rules, dressed like a whore!"
"It- Mmm~ suits you"
"Bitch! *Hic* C'ome ere!"
Dropping her drink on the ground, the Daemon of cloth picked up a large ball of black rawhide that hid a Motte inside and shook it around like she was pre-scrambling a big egg.
Unphased by being tossed while looking like pasta on a fork, Grim kept slowly nibbling on the food, well, food for her race. They ate skin, primarily leather, to produce their own silk thread.
All things considered, Grim wasn't wrong, Naji did look nice in her new dress.
Not to mention it was far less lewd than having her thighs exposed every day. How on earth Naji thought she looked like a woman of the night was something I didn't understand.
"Alright-alright, lets just all calm down"
Lowering us to attempt to break up the fight, 'Bez' quickly found himself facing the reason why we banned the grey-skinned Daemon from drinking back in Tyrants Rest.
"They told me *Hic* to dress for this… I'm never going to get *Hic* married"
Naji began to sob and fell to the ground.
Wow, she can be just as stupid as us
Brimming with emotion, Sinclair jumped from the front of the cart, leaving indents in the grass with her masterfully crafted calf-high leather boots.
This Daemon had morphed her body to that of a mature female sylph with blonde hair and blue eyes. A transformation only possible by perfectly balancing 'Sin' and 'Virtue'. That trait solely belonged to the Daemon race.
Her choice of clothing was an elegant riding suit with plenty of lace around the cuffs of her velvet doublet. With tight cream leggings as fancy as her top, full of golden embroidery running down the sides of her legs.
She looked amazing, the type of woman that'd have portraits painted in her name just to capture her beauty and outfit. Complete with a white lace tail, matching the style of our suits.
If you asked me, her clothes appeared far more fitting for mounted sport than hiking. However, this disguise was all part of her plan. To act as a visiting noble bringing exotic goods for an underground action.
And of course, we appeared to be her personal entourage of servants. For now, that was all the details she was willing to share.
Unfortunately, Sinclair was less than happy with our goofing around.
"Bez, Grim, Naji, all three of you are a disgrace!"
"Never had grace to begin with"
"Shatup Morrow! *Hic* Grim! Fourarms!"
"I'm just here to do my job"
"And what exactly is that, 'Bez'? What skills do you- any of you, possess that I need!?"
Sinclair clearly wanted to leave any excess baggage behind. Her plan involved Adelard and I, no one else. Why was still a mystery, but from everything I knew, Enda didn't have that many people she could trust with this specific task.
Not to mention, she couldn't do this herself. If anything, she'd only be able to act as last minute backup, once she dealt with the Crusade, running the entire city of Dragons Mort, and whatever else might pop up.
Conquest was with Ota and Aoife. War had to stay back- less he spooked the black market into canceling their event. Judgment was probably with Arisu, but she might help Enda.
And Death? Well, she wasn't exactly Death, not yet. Considering what last night entailed, each Horsemen must have their own method of gaining power. One thing I noticed imparticulary was how familiar Naji seemed with Grim.
So in terms of backup, there wasn't anyone we could call on and who knows what Merlin got up to. Better yet, military officials were a bit too well known to go in disguised or not, so that ruled out any Generals.
By the look of things, Sinclair was the best we had by a long shot.
"Do whatever you need to, but my priority is to get these two idiots into shape and teach them a few things"
"I can restrain, gather intelligence, dig graves, play guitar, bass and piano at the same time, perform funeral rites, guide sou-"
"Enough Grim. You're useful, he isn't"
"Not useful? Didn't expect the super secret spy to be such a bitch. I'm not here for you Daemon, I don't need your approval"
'Bez' winced at the very notion he couldn't contribute and refused to be thrown out, crossing his arms in protest. Sinclair approached him step by step, letting her bloodlust seep out after his insult.
"You're a Captain that couldn't save his people, a Guard with nothing to protect, a man on a leash, an A-Rank Warrior with no feats of strength, and a sellsword only in it for money. You're not fit for this mission. Go home, or I'll send you back myself"
"Try it. Show me why someone so respected hides behind their sister"
"I do no such thing"
Standing next to each other, their height difference was hard to ignore. Bez towered over Sinclair, a clear foot and a half difference, yet she couldn't care less.
Her blue eyes met his, issuing a challenge. But with nothing to lose, and nobody to be punished for his actions, we saw the former Captains conviction.
"Clair, a former A-Rank Archer and mother. Divorced, some say widowed, others allude to her husband's presence, despite records stating she has no relatives"
"What of it?"
Sinclair ever so slightly winched at the mention of her sister. I knew for a fact Clair had a spouse and kids. Without a doubt, they'd been kept off the books to ensure their safety.
Questionably, Bez changed his approach, noticing her discomfort.
"Does it feel nice to play dress-up as a Guardsman?"
Sinclairs Aura exploded as she lost her composure. Not as powerful as Riders, but easily S-Rank. One close secret she could buff out of, not two.
"You see, I'm real fun at parties. And those parties I go to have a lot of Guardsmen that drink away the stress of the job. Last night, I heard a rumor about a certain skin stealing pervert that walked around chasing couples. Low and behold, the Daemon appeared, disguised as an old man"
She was the random guy I passed!
"What proof do you have?"
"Are you a pedofile Sinclair?"
*BANG*!
Sinclair punched Bez straight into the gut with an attack that instantly broke the sound barrier, knocking both Adelard and I back.
Dust kicked up, snow fell from the top of humongous trees and all manner of wildlife fled, all screeching in their native tongue in surprise.
Bloodlust faded as our environment settled, revealing two figures still standing. Sinclair's arm still pressed against Bez's abdomen.
He did not falter, nor did his clothes rip or tear.
"How!?"
The man did not return her gesture with an attack of his own, instead, he let his unmoving presence do the talking.
I knew he wasn't as powerful as the disguised Daemon, but to take that much damage without flinching was impressive. To this day, he remains the only individual I knew that could willfully take a blow from Rider to the gut, and still stand.
Captain Morrow was once the Tank that carried our little town on his back. Now, as 'Bez', he would rebuild his reputation from scratch. After brushing away some snow that fell on his shoulder, he spoke up again.
"Those records haven't been updated in twenty years. Now, answer the question Sinclair"
Bez looked down at Sinclair with a look of brewing anger before quickly snapping out of his seeping bloodlust thanks to the arrival of another.
"Stawp it! *Hic*"
Naji snuck up on both of the fighters and threw her arms around them. In the chaos, she managed to find two more bottles of booze, one in each hand.
Free from the clutches of an embarrassed nun, Grim wandered back to the cart and unloaded its cargo. A few large boxes, water barrels, and the large coarse blanket everything sat on top of.
"You stewpid Bez- *Hic* -she gotta balance thingy or she- *Hic* -can't do the thing!"
"There's no excuse for spying on kids"
"Kids? *Hic* Hey 'Twinkle Dick', he still- *Hic* -a virgin? I know you can tell hehe~"
"Hey! Don't drag us into this!"
Adelard elbowed me as if that didn't give it away while trying to distance us from the conflict. What nobody else knew was the depth of what happened last night, the pledge Ota and I took.
The idea that what happened could be so easily put into the box of whether or not we had an intimate moment kinda pissed me off.
"I did what I had to for the mission!"
"You could have just gone to Red Leaf if you needed to!"
"Do I look like some cheap whore to you!?"
"What's wrong with a cheap whore!?"
Great, it's getting stupid again
Sinclair and Bez continued to argue in a less hostile manner through faces that became increasingly flustered.
After the cart was empty, Grim unhooked the harness around our stumpy Newt and set him free back the way we came as the 'adults' continued to argue in an increasingly weirder way.
"I bet you'd like it if I was some sellslut, wouldn't you!"
"Yeah! I would! Then I'd finally be able to shut you up!"
"And how'd you do that huh!?"
"Like this!"
And just like that the Former Captain pulled the transformed Daemon close and kissed her, surprising Naji.
"Woaaa"
Grim, having foreseen this problem, threw the dusty cart quilt over the trio of absurdity. After peering at both Adelard and I with her beady yellow eyes, she issued us an order in a monotone voice.
"Right arm up, brace it, open palm and repeat after me"
"Why are we-"
"Just do it, trust me"
Confused, Adelard protested and I quickly shut him down. Such a situation would only get worse if we didn't stop it now. Although, I understood how hard it was to follow the instructions of someone that looked like a rotten egg with four arms.
This was the second time I'd seen people near to Grims thread, knowingly or not, find themselves tempted by lust. Both Bez and Naji wore an outfit she had to make on the fly. Now we had to put out the fire in their pants, so to speak.
"Eros of love, Eros of desire, disrupt their courage and quench their fire. Waters shallow as love is deep, take what little is sacred from their keep. Strike with speed and see our need, force their bleeding hearts to heed"
Motte could not cast magic traditionally, that I knew, but this spell wasn't as straightforward as it seemed, yet we both repeated her words. It was long enough to be advanced yet drew power from elements and a God.
Unfortunately, judging by the intense mana drain straining our arms, the spell wasn't exactly efficient.
"Eros of love, Eros of desire, disrupt their courage and quench their fire. Waters shallow as love is deep, take what little is sacred from their keep. Strike with speed and see our need, force their bleeding hearts to heed"
"Eros of love, Eros of desire, disrupt their courage and quench their fire. Waters shallow as love is deep, take what little is sacred from their keep. Strike with speed and see our need, force their bleeding hearts to heed"
As each word was spoken, a massive magic circle formed in front of Adelard and I. Of blue and gold, runes and cursive text filled in blank space or contributed to the circular lines.
Faster than expected, a massive ball of sparking water formed in front of us, then launched directly at the degenerate trio under the blanket. Yellow electricity drew our spells together to form a greater attack as it perfectly hit our target.
In the eruption of water, lighting shifted to match its blue hue before dispersing alongside the torrent of liquid and pink smoke.
Immediately following the cast, sweat formed on our foreheads, leading to a dizzy spell and a wave of complete exhaustion.
After a few seconds, Bez stood up and tossed away the wet cover, quickly whipping saliva off his lips with his cuff and spoke a single word, full of dejection.
"Grim"
"I warned you. Fresh thread carries pheromones"
That spell diffused the effects of her thread, like Rider's lightning…
Death didn't care enough to answer with anything but an uncaring deadpan tone. Her physiology led to their predicament and they'd been made aware of the consequences.
"Ah crap"
Having almost completely run out of mana from a single Advanced tier spell, Adelard fell on his back, breathing heavily as if he'd run a kilometer. Sweat quickly formed on his forehead while Sinclair spoke up, furious.
"Grim! You better have a good reason for letting our Newt loose"
"*Ahem* Oh no! Our ride! Whatever shall we do!"
"Real smooth"
My inner thoughts slipped out to comment on Death's melodramatic, yet all too prepared, fake desperation.
"If only there was some big idiot that could call on a nearby companion to help us!"
Wait a minute
"Urgh- It creeps me out that you know about him"
"He looked lonely, so I took him back to his master"
"*Sigh* Hey Sinclair, I might not have the skills you want, but I have the contacts you need. Charney! Come!"
Wartorha, large animals that spent their time hunting birds in treetops. Covered in white, black and grey feathers, they slowly stalked their prey before quickly grabbing it with furiously fast claws.
Lanky, strange creatures that often get confused for the monster known as a Mapinguari. The major differences were all in the face. Mainly, their large eyes, curved beaks and pink nose, which was really just two holes above their mouth.
Bez once told me that their name came from their history as mounts in warfare a long time ago, but that practice slowly faded with the rise of magic.
Wood creaked and a fresh plate of snow fell from high above as Charney jumped from colossal trunk to trunk, squealing happily.
Thinking quickly, I cast a large Vortex to catch some ice and branches before it hit either Adelard or myself.
"Haa- Nice catch"
"Charney can be a little clueless sometimes"
"You know that thing?!"
"Yeah, I learned how to use a bow with Chilled Stream arrows that used his feathers as felching"
"Damn- Haaa- nobody from my village ever got that creative"
That's right, I forgot he fled to Dragon's Mort after bandits attacked his home
"Morrow- well, Bez taught me a lot of things"
*THUD*
Crashing with a deep thump, the tamed animal landed next to the former Guardsmen and made strange noises. Halfway between a purr and chirp, Charney squealed in delight as Bez reached up to scratch behind his feathery chin.
"Hey buddy, long time no see"
"Errar!"
"Yeah-yeah, we got some catching up to do"
With a frown smeared across her face, Sinclair judged from afar while wringing out her hair.
"Think you're up to pulling a fancy cart?"
"Err…"
"If you do it, I'll cook you a big fat Griffon gullet"
"Erra er"
"No, I'm not going to leave you… not again"
Arisu left out a few details about how she found Morrow and the state he was in. All I knew is that he sold everything to pay for my villagers voyage to another land, and he found himself in grave debt.
By his somber tone, I believed that he felt like his life had reached an impasse and regretted his choices. Arisu paid off his debt, changed his name, then granted him a second chance at life.
Bez, a new start. I wondered if Arisu had given him a second chance, just so she could believe a do-over was possible. In spite of that, it appeared both would always bear the burdens of their past.
"Grim, what happened after we left?"
"Tyrants Rest was completely burned down. I stayed behind and buried the dead with the help of a nearby platoon. Eleven thousand, six hundred and fifty two tombstones stand in place of a town"
So it's gone… all gone…
"Why bother burying those bastards? They tried to invade his home right? Let em' rot"
"Would you like it if I stuck your head on a pike, carved out your brain, stuffed it with last night's curry, then presented it to your family, Adelard?"
"They'd be happy to see me dead anyway"
"..."
Grim and I were taken aback by my friend's honest opinion of his own extended family. Foolishly, I thought it was best not to ask about it, figuring that if Arisu was here, she'd know how to respond.
"If you're all done wasting time, we're heading to a clearing nearby, just down this path. Once we're there, I'll go over what I need each of you to do. Bez, I expect you to help"
"Fine by me"
After shaking his head to rid himself of any remaining spell discharge, Bez reached into his left breast pocket to pull out a leatherbound book filled with plenty of notes and extra pages.
Funnily enough, Grim's thread appeared to be water, or perhaps, magic resistant.
Thanks to his oddly adept skill of multitasking, he grabbed a very intoxicated Naji from the ground while flicking through pages with one hand.
"Alright. Touji, Adelard!"
"Yeah?"
"What?"
"I'll be asking questions. Each time you get it wrong, you'll be punished"
"Argh! What the hell!"
Bez kicked a rock that hit Adelard perfectly in the thigh from an impressive distance.
"That's for getting the first couple wrong. I won't tolerate disrespectful little brats who don't care about the bodies of those that risked their lives for their king and country. If you don't wish to bury people out of respect, then do it before their corpses feed a monster"
"Whatever, that still hurt man- Ow! What the fuck!"
Upon complaining further, Bez sent another rock straight into his shoulder. Not hard enough to break anything, yet it would still leave a bruise if left unattended.
"You're a Paladin, so start acting like one. Shut up and heal yourself"
It was clear he was going to train us like he'd trained other Guardsmen. I wasn't sure if they left with the rest of the villagers, but I did know one thing, each and every single one of them held a strong sense of right and wrong.
So far, it didn't matter who was teaching me, as it was always the same message; 'People are people'. The world wasn't black and white, but I never learned what either side truly meant.
A small memory stirred in my mind and I questioned if it was right to try to kill the Scout after I burst out from my Orphanage's door two nights ago, after he panicked and let loose his crossbow.
In the end, he chose to flee, yet I still tried to kill him as he ran.
Wait
"Shit! Grim! There was a wounded Scout that fled during the battle, what happened to him?"
"A second group of Scouts tasked with observation found him before he bled out. After the battle, they joined us in digging graves"
"They joined you!? Wha- why? Why would they help the people they were trying to kill?"
"Tell me Touji, do you feel anything after killing those Scouts?"
"No, but they- Dammit!"
The Former Captain launched a pebble right into my calf. I didn't even feel a hint of malice, or the intent to target.
"Teaching with such a cruel method can result in resentment, Bez"
"They need to learn when they're being stupid, Grim. Critique my methods all you want but we both know they need to change. If they remember the sting of pain and know what it means to hurt, then I've done my job"
"Barbaric"
"Would you rather have a monster that strikes out of ignorance or necessity?"
Grim simply shook her head in disapproval, realizing that Bez was set on his path and nothing would dissuade him.
"Touji, I fear you may end up walking down the same path as your mentor. If that day comes, I pray her mistakes do not become yours"
"..."
***
*Whack*
"Why not just use it?!"
*Whack* *Thwack*
"It's not that simple! I can't use it any time I want and I'd end up- Argh! Relying on it too much"
"So what?!"
*Whack*
"I have to embody her Relic's will too!- Can't- Just- Use it whenever!"
*Thunk*!
We found ourselves in a rather tranquil location next to a small creek, roughly four hundred meters from the main road. Perfect for camping if you didn't fear Bandits, Monsters, or the local wildlife.
As it turned out, our 'Swap-Suits' could shift into big baggy shorts, and so Adelard and I found ourselves shirtless, beating each other with wooden sticks in a small open area.
With each strike, the silver chain around my neck jingled, holding tightly to Hawk's Lich stone. Sweat rolled down our backs, having fought for what felt like an hour in a small clearing surrounded by all manner of foliage.
Most surprisingly, Adelard wasn't as buff as I expected. He was fit, yeah, but without any real definition to his body.
*Swish*!
"Like when those Paladins attacked and you had to help-"
*Swoosh* *Whack*!
"-I was thinking about surviving- and protecting someone else- so I couldn't use it"
*Thack*!
"So it's only for others? That's kind of stupid. Ow!"
One more rock found itself flung at Adelard, and both of us had sustained a few blows already.
Sister Naji watched both of us fight while swaying side to side while taking a swig of whatever devilish brew she had in her hands.
"What is this? A duel or a casual conversation?"
"Let Naji handle it. Grim, can you make lunch?"
Bez replied to Sinclairs confusion through a jaw holding several nails.
They had the task of refitting, then redesigning our cart into a visiting noble's large carriage. So far, they'd completed its skeleton using materials our spy had tucked away.
"*Hic* Wadda gotta do?"
It would only be a matter of time before we could set off, although it'd take a bit longer than expected.
"Wait, before that, I need to talk to Grim about something"
"What is it?"
"In private"
***
Down by a rushing creek, I explained what I experienced while asleep to Grim. We sat on a mossy boulder, still in view of everyone, yet our voices had muted thanks to the rush of water masking everything we said.
I gave her the description of all the individuals involved and what they may have been after, a supposed 'shard'.
"There are many tales about the Mad King's visions, Touji. None of them mention memories"
"What do those stories say?"
"That he saw possibilities that led him astray. Outcomes so obscene it drove him to madness trying to stop them. Or at least, that's what was told in the years after he absorbed Irminsul"
"It sounds like you're skeptical about the whole thing"
"Yes- Mayhap a story for another time, hmm? As to Otamaru's assailants, Gae Bolg's previous owner was killed last year- the 'bone-spear' Relic"
"Well, it's at least something, right?"
"If what you saw is indeed real memories, untainted by the erosion of time, then it's a better lead than what I have now. Care to explain how you perceived them?"
"..."
Recalling falling asleep last night with Ota flushed my face with red. Thankfully, Grim caught the gist of things and didn't pursue her question.
"Best left unsaid, I see. I'm sure the Witch will happily recite how she reclaimed Gae Bolg. Apparently, it's a rather interesting story involving your sister"
"Arisu… I need to get back to training"
"Touji, hold on to that feeling. Never forget, we each have a reason to fight"
"Then- why do you do it? Continue fighting, even after dying"
"Because sometimes… sometimes a hero needs a monster to push them forward- make them into something greater than what they once were"
"If that's the case, then what am I? A Hero, or a monster?"
"Hmpf- You're something this world hasn't seen in a long time, something this world may desperately need soon enough"
"That's a little ominous. By the way, that spell-"
"A little concoction of my own making. Before you go, I should congratulate you"
"Uhhh, why?"
"For all your sister's speed, you managed to do something faster than her. Consider visiting a jeweler when you have the chance"
"Hah- will do"
Deep in the recesses of my mind, a memory stirred. One in which Ota fidgeted about my Recall Ring, concerned with what hand it should go on, and the exact finger.
I didn't realize its symbology until later, reaffirmed by what was on Arisu's left hand. From fighting, to comforting, then saving, our bond deepend.
Perhaps we were moving faster than we had any right to go, but there are no rules when it comes to a war of the heart, and both of us had conflict running through our veins. She proposed in her Oni fashion, and I accepted.
We'd make it work, even if it took a long time.
It'd only been half a day and I was already missing Ota. Perhaps it'd be best if that piece was made by my own hands.
How does she even know about that?
"Touji, wait"
"What is it?"
Before I could walk away, Grim stopped me in my tracks and grabbed my arm to seat me back down, all so she could examine my back.
"Your Scapula isn't human"
"Uh-huh…"
"There's a different bone structure here, here, and here"
Of course Death is an expert in bones… Well, it might come in handy with what we're looking for
Shoulder to shoulder, diagonal across my back, then to my tailbone, and eventually Grim made a full symbol of two triangles on top of each other, pressing against their tips.
A strange surge of energy splashed against my heart for all but a second.
"What did you do?"
"...Not as much as I had hoped. Be careful letting anybody see your back- at least, for now"
"Alright, thanks I guess?"
"You showed my odd roommate kindness, and for that, I've returned the favor, no more- no less. Now, train like your life depends on it"
"I will"
"Touji, I'm serious. Strengthen yourself for others, less you become the one that needs saving once more. And if all else fails, call Rider by her true name. For you, she will ride the lightning and answer an honest summon"
Through the darkness of her rawhide exterior, I say her yellow eyes flare up with earnesty. As it stood, she believed we were too weak, yet here we were, about to throw ourselves at a problem far beyond our capabilities.
"Listen, Grim… about Alameda"
Death stood up while avoiding eye contact and guided us back to the group.
"I- found her a body that was compatible. You won't have to worry about her being blessed again"
"Was it the girl Red fought?"
"It was the best option. Do you hate me for it?"
"..."
In the body of a woman that seemed related to royalty, she should be able to achieve a decent amount without requiring a civil war to destabilize her country and push for power.
That is, if Alameda stayed in that body and had no other plans. Time would tell.
"If an outbreak of Devils occurs, we will need the help of her forces"
"But half of them were killed"
"Hidden deep recesses of Alameda's soul, I saw something stirring in her mind. A project to create holy soldiers capable of matching an Empire's 'King', or perhaps, even us. Whether she succeeds is another question altogether"
"I still don't understand why you think that Devil will become a problem"
"'That Devil' was a man we're all too familiar with. He's sold a world once, he'll do it again"
***
"Woaahkay *Hic* Todeshs lesson ish aboutha… uhhhh… *Hic* What am I doin'?"
"Touji and Adelard must learn to circumvent the natural defence of their foes"
Back at camp, Grim reluctantly started cooking up a storm using a portable wire grill, alongside other apparatuses contained in one of the large wooden crates we brought with us, all while Bez and Naji prepared to teach us something we needed to master.
I figured the Horsemen wanted to focus on making some clothes to wear instead of looking like black spaghetti on a fork, minus the silverware, but maybe that was just me.
"Oh yeah *Hic* Aaaand if ya don't *hic* do it- no food! Ha!"
"What!? I'm starving!"
"Well maaybweh if yoooou *hic* you pazzed the test *hic* we'd give it to- already! Yep!"
"Eat my ass"
Passed the test? He failed to rank up?
Our devoted nun armed herself with two new bottles of whatever substance made her breath smell like rotten fruit.
"Come at me! *Hic*!"
"Your goal is simple: use those sticks to smash her bottles. Strike it hard or they will not break. Fail, and Charney eats your lunch. Times up when it's ready. Grim?"
"About a five minutes"
"Thaz a girl. She alwayz ma- *Hic* sammiches"
…Wha-What?
"Begin!"
Bez and Sinclair sat down on a pair of mossy logs with our large feathered friend curled up behind them. While they took a break to watch our fight, the disguised Daemon appeared to be rummaging through exotic contents of out second large wooden crate.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of what looked like a few chrome 'Reverb Rods' and a wooden box with metal clawed feet. Sinclair presented them to Bez, who shook his head and looked back at us.
Is music meant to help with this?
Our weapons were rather unwieldy, but given the circumstances, we made do. Besides, what they lacked as a longsword, they made up for as an unrealistically heavy Kriegsmesser instead.
Slightly curved, weighing probably triple of a regular weapon and not at all balanced.
Refusing to waste time, Adelard prayed with closed eyes, his 'sword' in front of him. A mistake that he'd quickly find out as Naji took a swig of her grog and blew over his face with the pungent smell of hard liquor.
*Bung*!
"Ah you bufudgrr! That's disgusting man!"
His reactionary strike managed to bounce against a bottle without breaking, or cracking its glass shell. A one handed strike wasn't enough, but that alone gave me confidence to try to attack.
*Whoosh!*
Right overhead, left uppercut, then a thrust. All perfectly dodged without so much as a glace.
I know this…
Only once in my life, before I left Tyrants Rest, I managed to duel somebody else. Shortly after Rider fled, before I turned fifteen, Naji agreed to a mock battle.
No doubt only to ease my confused and agitated mind.
That duel's outcome was precisely why I never got the chance to fight again. On that day, she spoke two words as she left the ring in disgrace, her hand over a bruised cheek; 'You're ready'.
And yet, I felt that the only thing I achieved that day was failure. And so, I misunderstood what she meant up until now.
Adelard just did it, Bez can do it with rocks, and I'd done it before. Striking as a retaliation rather than a planned attack was one thing, but to nail that thoughtless attack was something Naji referred to as 'Flow'.
"Iz *Hic* not that hard"
On the opposite side of Naji, Adelard tried his best as well, swinging with power to no effect.
Both of us had followed our training, striking with as much precision as we could.
"We need to attack without thinking!"
"That doesn't make any sense!"
"Excuse me. If I may be so prudent, if the point of this is for them to grow, perhaps they should fight with their bare hands with the rhythm of that 'Dupe Box'?"
Surprisingly, Grim interrupted the fight before we could sink our teeth into the battle with an idea, one that Bez would seek input on.
"What do you think, Naji? Are they ready?"
"Fer- *Hic* -For glass? Shure, just *Hic* let twinkle shine a bit *Hic* get him used to buffin- self *Hic* No music- baysics first *Hic* Yeah"
"Then I'll leave the decision to Adelard. Do you want to rank up in a few days, or by the time Scorch rolls around?"
"..."
My blonde friend didn't wish to speak about what happened this morning. He let his actions speak for him and tossed his wooden stick aside.
That confirms it
"No offensive magic, understood?"
"Just had to open your mouth Touji"
"Yeah-yeah. Buff up idiot"
I don't need magic. Not for this
Naji and I trained together for a week. Negative Fist was one technique we primarily focused on, although she tried to teach me many. Including a core fundamental, strengthening the body at will.
Turning flesh into steel, or as close as possible to the mana-depleted alloy. It was the neutral state I needed to achieve before filling my hand with negative chi.
Like flexing a muscle, it was hard to maintain for long, especially while using that muscle's limb.
"Don't go too easy on them Naji"
"*Hic* Won't mistake again"
Naji popped the cork off one of her drinks, caught it in her other hand, and gave Bez a sloppy salute while tilting her head back to balance the bottle in her mouth.
We looked on with concerned expressions as she chugged the entire drink in one go.
Confused, Naji asked us a question.
"Whadda not *Hic* phight?"
"It kind of feels wrong to beat up a drunk woman"
"A nun as well…"
"Shawdup- *Hic* I- I'm naw-w-wah- Faight me!"
Annoyed by our hesitation, Bez circled around us and pushed me forward before doing the same with Adelard.
My first right-handed strike was immediately swept aside by Naji's sweeping left leg, her black dress stretching perfelty to avoid being torn apart.
Instead of fighting her leg, I moved with the flow of battle and performed a jump reverse turning kick, narrowly skimming the bottom of the bottle in a shock to both Naji and I.
"Ha *Hic* Iz not e- nuff"
"How bout this!"
Knocked forward by Bez, Adelard performed a spinning kick easily avoided by Naji with a small leap backwards.
Unfortunately, my friend tumbled to the ground and I rushed to pick him back up while resisting the urge to belittle his failure. Clearly, he had no martial arts training.
"Don't target, just swing in a rhythm. Plan to miss then strike again in a combo"
"Yelling didn't help, did it?"
"No, but it's a good idea. I've heard it can help focus"
"Got it"
This time, we attacked together, running into either side of Naji.
Jumping forward into a slide, I aimed for her legs as I noticed Adelards direct attack on the bottle once more.
Naji spun around, ducked under Adelards fist and performed a cartwheel over my legs in one swift move, taking the initiative to perfectly avoid both out attacks and only using her pinkies to touch the ground while doing so.
I dug my fingers into the dirt to stop my slide and aggressively flung back into the fight with slightly greater strength than I expected, mimicking Rider's four limbed launch back when she fought the Devil.
"Yah!"
Adelard followed up with his own reverse kick, slightly too slow and not very refined. His attack convinced me that he'd never partaken in martial arts training with a kick so pathetic.
Once again, Naji dodged our attacks. This time, she spun her body in clockwise mess, tipsy from all her drinking. Somehow, the Sister remained perfectly focused during our attempts.
Rolling once, I got back up and rejoined the fight as Adelard managed to get an accidental weak hit on a bottle and fell over, causing Naji to bounce back to gain some distance.
She was giving us a chance, that was for sure.
Focusing on the heat of the sun peaking through the trees above, the sweat dripping down our foreheads, my friend's subtle smile despite falling on his ass, I felt warmth flow into my left palm.
"Haa- The hell…?"
"Come on, one last push"
I tapped Adelard on the back and saw a small sparkle of white light seep into his torso.
"Touji, what was that?"
"I figured something out"
Yin cannot exist without Yang. Where one destroys, the other mends. Perfect opposites. A bit weak, yet it invigorated Lars all the same, or maybe a bit more than I thought.
As I pulled him back up, his body gave off a slight golden shine. Not the sun reflecting off his sweat, but rather, the light within him responding to his determination.
"Listen, Naji can tell where we're aiming, or a lack of it"
"Then- how do we-? Ohhhh~ I got it!"
Himeros help this man out
From the lecherous look in Adelards eye's, I instantly understood our next move, using Naji's insecurities against herself.
"Hey Naji, you got a boyfriend?"
We took up positions on opposite sides yet again, but this time in an attempt to restrict her movement.
As I moved forward to strike, Lars kept at a slight angle incentivising a steady path towards Charney.
Using a boxer's stance, I swung my fists rapidly without thinking about anything apart from speed, ensuring my fists were as hard as a rock.
Somehow focused, Naji ignored Adelard's question to expertly move the bottle to dodge my attacks. Occasionally, I'd get a glazing blow in, but it wasn't strong enough.
"I mean, you've got beautiful THIGHS-"
*Crack*
Staring down Naji's legs, Adelard used his peripheral vision to strike her half empty bottle of booze as he made the Daemon blush.
"Ah~?!"
"And a great ASS!"
*Smash*!
Refusing to let the opportunity go to waste, I followed my friend's example with a left round kick, making sure to only look at her legs.
"Foods ready"
Just like that, our session came to an end, and Naji quickly grabbed Adelard and I by wrapping her arm around our necks. She moved faster than either of us could react, humbling our assumptions of her true strength.
"You- *Hic* little bastards. When erlgh move like *Hic* that?"
Both of us laughed through the pain as we were dragged over to the mossy stump that'd be our seat. Still, I couldn't let go of the feeling that when I got struck by Rider's lightning, I was granted a bit of her knowledge.
"Kewep laughing *Hic* no sammish for you"
"Oh pwah! Stop breathing on me!"
"Nwo!"
Our punishment came in the form of alcohol ridden breath.
And of course, one less meal.
"Here"
Grim presented me with a triple layered sandwich with a tender herb covered cutlet, melted cheese, crispy lettuce, sour cream and bloodroot, conveniently cut in two.
Naji was right, it was really good, but better off shared with a friend.
"Thanks man"
"We did it as a team, dude"
"Yeah. Hey, what should we name our party?"
"I dunno. Maybe 'Shadow Colts' or something"
"That's kind of cringe"
"Then you come up with something!"
We discussed our future plans and Alameda's powers as we ate the tastiest lunch I'd ever eaten.
***
After our meal, we helped out constructing the box carriage and reflected on our fight. They praised us for our teamwork and ingenuity, however, stated we failed to find a viable method.
Bez believed that we only smashed a bottle because we were familiar with our opponent, and we wouldn't always get a chance to find exploitable ideas during a fight.
If it was a random opponent, we'd each need to refine our fighting style and see our weapons as an extension of ourselves.
"Each person you face will be different. Sometimes, precision will be key, other times, rapid unwavering, unpredictable strikes will land you victory, understood"
"Not really man. Shouldn't we just attack randomly then?"
"No, never attack without purpose or form"
"But then they'll see it coming!"
"Not always. The trick is to switch it up on the fly. Movement and creativity can be determining factors to win a fight. That's why you should never fight someone with a quarterstaff"
"Hehe *Hic* Rider got you good"
Unfortunately, with my lack of dedicated weapon choice, it might be a little hard for me. Nevertheless, 'Confidence is key', and apparently I 'Already had the makings of a monk', whatever that meant.
When I managed to strike Naji across the face with a quarterstaff several years ago, she told me that I was ready because I found my groove faster than expected. Upon reflection, doubt filled my mind, as I believed it might have been a flute.
Half an hour before we set off, Adelard practiced Longsword drills, and I pulled out my Relic to try something new. Striking, then swapping weapon type.
***
Instructed to recover in the box carriage, Adelard and I found ourselves with Sinclair for a lesson that will aid in our incursion, apparently. After a brief sponge bath, we changed out 'Swap-Suits' into bath towels.
Behind us, our cargo offered Grim a small amount of privacy as she wove herself some clothes with what little thread she had left.
"This is kind of gay"
"You must learn this skill for our mission. If you're truly embarrassed by this act, Adelard, then keep in mind this ability can work wonders on the fairer sex"
"Yeah but why does it have to be me?"
"Touji will be next, then both of you will rest. We'll be scouting at night. I'll have Bez and Naji gather information"
"What about me?"
Grim spoke up, her voice carried through a gap large enough to crawl through above the wooden crates.
"You'll be mapping out our surrounding area, as well highlighting any old rundown stores we might find exotic goods, things that rich criminals might take interest in"
"I understand, although, I do hope you aren't considering auctioning off that 'Dupe Box'"
"What do you have in mind?"
"Allow Bez to personally show off that music device to other attendees. He'll take note of who they are"
"It'll mostly be upper class rich folk wearing themed costumes lined with enchantments. There's no point"
"Very well, if you insist"
After Grim's odd exchange to involve Bez in a more meaningful way, I was instructed on how to perform a massage by Sinclair, including the various techniques, hand movements and muscle groups.
I figured if I didn't use it on this mission, I was sure Ota would appreciate it.
***
Slowly, we continued to creep up the mountain in our renovated cart pulled by Charney, a harness around his surprisingly thin waist. Turned out that his feathers often gave off the illusion that he was bulkier than he seemed.
Nala's oppressive shadow of an early sunset slowly passed over us. The mountain range's highest point was said to be one of only a few places that truly pierced the heavens through several layers of clouds.
We probably slept in the back of the cart for roughly six hours, only to be woken up by Naji tasting defeat at the hands of her own sickly stomach. Not exactly a sound I wanted to hear, yet it still worked.
Adelard and I now sat in between Grim and Sinclair for the last section of the trip to Nala. Our rickety old cart had been transformed into a royal box carriage carrying a drunk Daemon in the back who'd fallen asleep.
We did run into a single issue, that of not enough cloth as a substitute for often solid wooden walls. A problem quickly rectified by a very unhappy Motte who barely had enough thread left to make a quarter of an outfit.
By Sinclairs idea, she would be her 'Jester', requiring an appropriate getup.
"Do we really need matching hairstyles? This sucks man"
"It helps sell the idea. Now, tonight's operation will be about scouting the exterior of our objective, Opera Elite. Obviously a grand performance center of the rich and famous in the Royal-Quarter"
"At least we got revenge"
Adelard complained about our new matching hairstyles, given by Grim. Unsurprisingly, her fingers could function as scissors.
Slight fades on the side, longer at the front, a little spiky so it could be combed back for a servants elegant look. Not the fanciest, however, I thought it fit us and was similar to Bez's hair.
My friend got the best deal, as Grim used a bit of light brown hair dye from Sinclair's stash on his fade to give him a more interesting look.
Annoyed by her sudden snipping, we restyled her hair in return. A pair of tails you'd often see small kids have. It was that or a bowl cut. Topped off with ribbons we rubbed in grass to match the Motte's pale green streaks that ran through her hair.
For some reason, Adelard felt the urge to brush her hair, then tiddy her sidelocks and bangs. I couldn't help but wonder if he had a pushy sister.
Compromise led Grim to wear an outfit of interlocking black diamonds that ran from her neck to slightly above the chitin exoskeleton on her thighs. And in between each patch of fabric, was nothing.
More erotic than trendy, if there was an area she could save thread, she did, including her navel.
Her dress just so happened to be rather loose, shifting with the wind. A single strong gust could imprint a memory I wished to avoid. Ota was the girl for me, no one else.
"Grim, could you wear something else? It's, uh, a bit much"
"Touji's right. We'll pick up some fabric as soon as possible, but you should make a quick skirt and jacket to cover up"
"I'm out of thread"
"Use the white blanket from before. It should be dry by now"
"*Sigh* Understood"
Questionably disappointed, our four armed friend walked over the top of our Carriage, past Bez who sat as lookout, then performed a cartwheel to swing into the hole at the back.
I had to quickly wrestle Adelard's head away from catching a glimpse of something best left unseen. And yet, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Bez giving Sinclair an aggravated look.
"Come on man!"
"Bro, what do you think Fae would say if she saw you acting like that?"
"Most women aren't fond of seeing their boyfriends lust over other girls, Adelard"
"Yeah well- argh! Whatever, stupid body…"
Sinclair spoke up yet again, concerned with the attitude of my blonde friend as his voice trailed off.
"It's natural to be interested at your age. What's important is that you don't let those feelings force you into a situation you'll regret. Tell me Adelard, is there something you wish to do for that special someone while you're here?"
"Unless we come across a Grail, not really?"
"Woah what? A Grail? As in 'Holy Grail'?"
"Coney don't live long man. Her old man is fifty three, and none of them live to see their sixty first. I don't… I have-"
"It's ok, I get it"
He was human, which meant with magic, he could outlive Aoife by a factor of three times, or maybe more. They wouldn't be able to grow old together, and for some reason, that small thought hurt more than it should.
***
Darkness crept over the mountain path, still visible thanks to the dull lighting of glowing stones embedded into the road itself, and judging by the melted snow, seemed to generate a small amount of heat.
"So it's true…"
"Huh? What is?"
"You're not completely human, Touji"
Dammit. I need to be on my guard
It was at this time, as dim light made my pupils split, that Grim returned holding a small crystal lantern, a newspaper and some notes in her new getup.
"This may help explain things. It came out just before we left"
Grim took up her seat once more, this time wearing something far more stylish and somewhat appropriate, while maintaining the diamond pattern. She turned the white quilt that she once tossed over Bez, Naji and Sinclair into rather fashionable clothing.
An asymmetrical short skirt with a split to reveal the side of her right thigh, and a short sleeve jacket, sweater hybrid just shy of covering her breasts.
All with her grey thread weaved in to form a diamond pattern similar to the stichiching I'd seen on gambeson jackets.
"Why do you wear such- that sort of thing?"
"Well, Little Lars, I cannot weave in tight clothing, and failing to wield a weapon in my arsenal is the folly of ignorant fools"
"But, sometimes it looks like your asking to have sex with anyone on the street"
"*Ahem* Little Dragon-"
"Men and Women have different strengths and weaknesses, we don't use what we have out of some honorable view of debauchery. If shame is the price to pay for saving lives, we'll do it any day of the week. One day, you two will face a price that brings your own morals into question. When that happens, I hope you'll come to the same concussion we did"
Breaking up the conversation, Grim reached over to hand Sinclair the newspaper and dropped some notes addressed to me in my lap. Six pages of study notes Enda left to Bez, so he could deliver them to me.
"'Empire and Boree Declare War On Nala Alliance', 'Enda Harboring Elder Dragons?'. That explains Touji's eyes, but not the attack last year"
"The man that abducted Red kids while almost killing Arisu and ripped out Ru's tongue was half Elder Dragon from what I understand. It's possible they're only talking about Touji, although, I expect its an excuse"
"For what?"
"So they can march their armies to Dragons Mort and demand an answer"
"It says here that Enda will be holding a press conference later today, meaning it may have already occurred"
I sat in silence as the news was discussed by those around me.
Enda wasn't the kind of woman to wait by while threatened, and once her people were involved, so was she.
Further conversation would be cut short as we rounded the last bend of our journey to see a door carved into the mountainside, with battlements above.
All built around the figure of a humanoid on his hands and knees, the door below his torso. Large enough to comfortably allow a flying Dragon to pass through unimpeded.
"Strange, there should be soldiers out front…"
Before we could contemplate Sinclair's statement, Grim's grey feather-like antenna shuddered.
Alarmed, the Horsemen stood up, requesting the attendance of our fellow passengers.
"Bez! Naji!"
"Come on man, what now?"
"I fear many souls are about to cross the veil. Be on your guard, Paladin"
As Bez and a drunken Naji joined us, Sinclair spoke up, questioning the only woman on earth that would know if life had come to an end nearby.
"If people are about to die, we need to stay away"
"It might be your policy to let people perish, but it isn't mine. Charney! We're up!"
"That isn't your call to make Bez!"
"The last time I trusted you to do the right thing, two of my friends died because the spy Enda sent couldn't be fucked to tell us they'd been charmed by a blessing!"
Sinclair was immediately taken aback by the former Captain's aggravated reply. He recognized that she was the same individual sent to rescue the four people taken hostage by Amelda after I feld Tyrants Rest.
Our carriage groaned under increasing pressure as Charney built up speed, thumping along the paved road.
To our left, down a steep dive, the river passed through a water elevator and into Nala via its own complex, three tiered gate. Giant bronze clockwork wheels controlled water flow on both sides.
"Bez, I didn't-"
"Don't apologize to me, apologize to the people that froze to death chasing a hollow dream. Naji, sober up, we need to be ready for anything"
As we passed through the humongous tunnel into Nala, Naji performed a sequence of complex asymmetrical hand signs that formed a transparent Taijitu, that of a Yin-Yang symbol, and pressed it into her stomach.
Once inside, the city opened to reveal a densely packed urban megalopolis, with the artificial, three leveled river serving as a dividing line between classes.
To our right, the Royal-Quarter, bordering the Noble-Quarter on our left, which sat on a lower elevation. Waist high metal balusters shaped into closed fists held up a thick metal chain to stop people falling into the artificial rivers below.
Slightly rusty signage bolted onto thick brick posts pointed past the Noble-Quarter to the Commons and Serfs much further down, completely out of sight.
The entire mountain range had been hollowed out for the biggest settlement on the continent.
Nearly ten million people lived in this vast stretch of underground land. Each building was over five stories with many exceeding that, and all included three additional levels below the surface, linked to the canals that ran through Nala.
All manner of garbage piled up the lower I looked. Corroded metal, moldy leather, rotten wood, shattered glass. I saw nothing but rubbish through the cracks that granted visibility to the bottom.
It was like the dividing line of a propped up waterway gave a glimpse into a multi-layered cake of poverty, held up by steel beams.
And yet, all eyes were not on the disgusting living standards just below, but a fight occurring far off in the distance, on top of one of many Gothic buildings tall enough to touch Nala's cover of condensed black earth.
Several dulled yellow orbs attached to the caves ceiling gave the city a subtle glow at night, yet street lights and the glare inside buildings truly gave life to the city.
"It's too late…"
"What is? Speak dammit!"
With each blow, silver and gold sparks lit up the city illuminated by false suns. The tallest building, of where they fought, began to crack on each of its four corners, and its windows began to break.
Our position was far too distant to make out any details on the battle, yet we all knew the outcome of this fight as we turned into a diagonal road that led right towards the conflict.
"That building will collapse, killing thousands"
"Grim, the Opera House is right next to that place, is there anything we can do to stop it?"
Citizens, Guards, Soldiers, many watched in awe, some dressed in ragged clothing encouraging the impending destruction.
All save those dressed in high-class frilly clothing lined with white lace, and an odd group of grey robbed religious individuals. An overweight balding priest, his head pressing against his staff in prayer.
One final blow, both crashed down the center of the fifty story building, sending copious amounts of debris everywhere at high speed and causing a wave of dust to envelope the street, like a wall of destruction.
We didn't turn to hide or run for cover, it was too late, and soon, we found ourselves charging straight towards ruin.
A pale golden light enveloped all as the sound of a single church bell rang out.
***
"Coney don't live long man. Her old man is fifty three, and none of them live to see their sixty first. I don't- What the fuck, it's night?"
"How- what… ARGHF!"
Searing heat burned my back, along the lines Grim's traced lines and sweat poured down my face. We had been sent back an hour, yet the world remained unchanged.