Chapter 11: Alexander; Shauran 20th, 344SR; 8:20
"Have you ever been to Clayton's Café? The one in the corner of the pavilion, across from the hospital?" Lector asked with a bright smile.
"No," said Freiya.
"The lemonade there is amazing, I go all the time!"
"Hm."
"We should go some time! How about... Tomorrow?"
"If... I'm not busy..." Freiya sheepishly answered.
"Great, I can't wait!"
Alexander rolled his eyes at the one sided conversation between Lector and Freiya. 'Ugh...' The green grass swayed back and forth, each strand faintly brushing against its neighbour orchestrated an ambience conducted by the wind. Along the path, the chains suspending unlit lanterns rattled with an eerie clatter. Alexander lead a party of Hirians and angels on horseback. Avery Sun, the leader of the monks of Welis, sprawled herself out on the back of the horse as she stretched.
"Riva... Why'd we agree to this..." Avery groaned as she lazily slipped off the horse, dangling from her saddle with one foot. "Ah..." She cried with a monotone voice and tired eyes.
"You're the one who said it would be fun..." Rolo grumbled.
They approached the small town of Logos, the center directly in sight. Up ahead, an angel with a white vest made his way down the path. He skipped with a jolly spring in his step, resting a pickaxe on his shoulder. 'A scout? Carrying... A pickaxe... You can't be serious...'
"Oh no... Why is-" Freiya kissed her teeth. "Please give me a moment, I am very sorry!" she shook her head as her smaller brown horse cantered past the group toward the short angel.
The white-haired angel was a little over five feet tall, but quite muscular for his size. Alexander squinted at his outfit, a white sleeveless vest, no mask or robes. 'Why is a scout working in Logos...' The scout was completely unaware of who he was approaching.
"Eos! What are you doing!" Freiya yelled.
"Huh?! Oh- Uh... Hey Freiya!" Eos stammered.
"Don't ignore my-" Freiya froze as Alexander's horse trotted forward.
"What house do you answer to, boy..." Alexander asked.
"Uh.. House-" Eos murmured as he looked up at the noble.
"Speak up!"
"Pendragon!"
Alexander looked down at the scout with disappointment as he heard that. 'This is why you don't give Arthur my-' A large crash echoed through the sky, cutting off Alexander's thought. The clan leaders turned toward the mountain. The horses all trembled, some whinnied in fear. Alexander squinted at the ground, the wooden fence was rattling. 'An earthquake?' The trees around the mountain all seemed to shake, a cloud of smoke rose from the other side.
"What was that?" said Eos.
"You two, Pendragon brats... Go to the eastern outpost, two of my lieutenants should be there, find out what happened, and report back to me immediately," Alexander ordered.
"Yes sir," Freiya nodded. "I'll report to Arthur first and then-"
"No. Go now lieutenant! Consider this an emergency."
"Y-yes sir! Eos! Get on!"
Eos stepped back hesitantly as he looked between his superiors, then hurried onto the back of Freiya's horse. The two of them rode off in the other direction, back toward Roverswood. 'The less Pendragons here, the better...' Lector's horse trotted closer.
"That kid with the white hair is weird, he reminds me of Yami actually... I think I saw him get into a scuffle with a guard from our house the other day..." said Lector.
"Speaking of Yami... I thought I asked you to wake him up..." Alexander turned to Lector.
"He... He didn't wake up," Lector replied hesitantly while avoiding eye contact.
"Tell me what really happened..."
"I'm serious he didn't wake up!"
"Your first and second vacations are going to Vivian and Bruno-"
"Huh- Wait- Okay, I didn't even try," Lector quickly admitted.
"I wanted the both of you to visit a certain house, oh well... Go on your own... You know which, search it, if you find Jack, you know what to do..." Alexander ordered.
"Yeah, yeah..." Lector sighed.
As they entered the town, a guttural roar reached their ears, followed by a black snake-like dragon slithering into the sky. 'Balakin...' Its maw glowed as it spat a red ball of energy straight down. An explosion rippled through the air, and a pillar of smoke rose out of the center of Logos. Rolo and Riva jumped off their horses, and sprinted towards the center of the town.
"Of course... The brat is already up to something," Alexander commented as Balakin dived toward the ground.
"Looks like we shouldn't be here for too long," Avery yawned.
Avery put her hands on the back of the horse, pulling her feet up and crouching on its back. As the horse approached the roof she stood and grasped it, effortlessly pulling herself up with one arm. The brown-haired woman flipped herself onto the house made of logs. She skipped toward the edge, effortlessly hopping across the street and landing on another roof.
Alexander nodded at Lector, his horse turned and started galloping down the path. Alexander followed the hybrids into the center of Logos. He took a deep breath, remembering the filthy stench that permeated the air. 'It's been a while...' As Alexander saw the center of Logos again, he immediately noticed Arthur chasing two people who looked like slaves, and a third person wearing a black outfit. 'Those clothes... A member of the resistance?' Balakin slithered low to the ground, cutting off the resistance member from escape. He tried to run parallel to the black dragon, but quickly lost his hope of escape as he saw Alexander get off his horse.
"Shit..." the resistance member uttered, hesitantly raising his fists.
The resistance member charged forward, shouting to motivate himself through the fear. 'Heh...' Alexander raised his foot and tried to press it into his stomach. The man stepped out of the way, closed the distance, and pulled his clenched fist back. For a moment, Alexander thought he saw something around his fist, but ignored it as he slammed the back of his steel gauntlet into the resistance members face.
"Ahagh!" the resistance member wailed in pain as his body flipped in a full circle before falling flat against the ground.
"Tell me where the others are already... You've wasted enough of my time..." Arthur asked as he caught up.
"Go to hell!" the man on the ground cursed as he gritted his teeth, blood running down his nose.
Alexander didn't recognize him, he wasn't a slave from Logos. He had short black hair, a well-defined face, and a scar under his left eye. He looked up at the two nobles with nothing but contempt, Alexander turned to Arthur. The young noble was drenched in sweat, his eyes had bags under them. 'He looks exhausted...'
"Yeah, go to hell Arthur..." Alexander said with a deadpan tone.
"You're here earlier than expected," Arthur responded, he pushed his thumb against a bruise on his cheek.
"You're real funny... You allowed yourself to be hit by such weaklings... I almost cant hold back my laughter..." Alexander spoke with a calm tone, glaring at Arthur with contempt.
Across the field, Riva stood calmly over a slave with dark skin and curly hair, her sheathed blade pushing down on his shoulder. In the other direction, Rolo rested his greatsword on his shoulder, his foot pushing down the other slave who ran.
"So... Have you gotten Jack out of Logos yet, runt," Alexander asked.
"Huh?" Arthur responded in confusion, "What are you talking about-"
"It's beyond obvious you're up to something, don't even try to lie," Alexander grasped Arthur's collar. "I'll make sure your status as a noble is dragged through the mud as soon as I prove you're full of shit!"
Arthur looked Alexander in the eyes, then shoved his hand to the side. Arthur shook his head, his eyes conveying how much he wanted to say something. 'Huh... For once he looks irritated... He's unnaturally tired... Did he even sleep...'
"Again..." Arthur walked past Alexander. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Tsk..." Alexander turned as well, infuriated by his lack of care or even acknowledgment
"I found a group of suspicious individuals lurking around Logos during the night. There were more of them... But they went somewhere north past the mines..." Arthur informed them as he dragged the resistance member by the collar.
Alexander shook his head, but then turned to the north east. 'They went north? Toward Roverswood?' The pillar of smoke that rose earlier had stretched further into the sky. 'Bruno... Vivian... Hopefully nothing happened to them...' Alexander reached into his pocket and pulled out a stone with a golden circle on it.
"Lector, did you find him?" Alexander spoke into the stone.
"No. He isn't here," Lector's voice came through the stone.
"Arthur was in Logos before us, Jack might already be gone..." said Alexander.
Alexander put the stone back into his pocket, then started toward the center of the town. Riva, Avery, Rolo, and Arthur surrounded the three Non-unified.
"One of the people within the party entered the town last night, I tailed him until he met with these two to exchange information. I don't know exactly how many there are, but those two are slaves who've been communicating with the resistance, and this one looks to be higher up in the resistance's current ranks," Arthur pointed to the man with short black hair.
"Try not to be upset about the bruise. You deserve worse after all," the man on his knees spat.
Arthur looked down on the resistance member, whose eyes were wide with intent and rage. His toothy grin conveyed how much he hated all of them, but failed to hide his fear. Alexander glanced at the other two. 'I recognize these two... The big one was named Ben... And the scrawny was the boy who led me to Jack a year ago, Franklin...'
Ben's eyes shook with fear despite his muscular appearance. He grimaced at the resistance member, as if silently telling him not to provoke anyone. Alexander turned to Franklin, causing the slaves brow to furrow as he made eye contact with the noble.
"I remember this one," Alexander crouched and looked the slave in the eyes. "You were the one who told me where Jack was before, why don't you tell me once more? Go on," Alexander asked with fake kindness.
Franklin looked at his fellow captives in confusion.
"Don't look at them, they didn't ask the question," Alexander's eyes twitched.
"I... I don't know?" Franklin uttered.
"Is that so?" Alexander stood up and adjusted his gauntlets, the slave gulped. "What's your full name?"
"My name?"
"That's what I asked for, yes."
"F...Franklin... Franklin Huvic..." he stuttered.
"Franklin don't say shit to that ty-rf!" Alexander turned and pressed his boot into the resistance members chest, knocking him onto his back. "Ahagh!"
"Adam!" Ben shouted in fear.
"Huvic? Huvic... Huvic... Huvic..." Alexander repeated as he turned and walked off slowly.
Franklin gasped as he saw Adam wheezing, but then nervously turned as he heard Alexander repeat his name. Riva tilted her head, confused as to what the noble was doing. Alexander paced back and forth before he raised his finger.
"Huvic!" Alexander shouted gleefully. "I remember now! Ha-hahaha! That day was amusing!"
Alexander noticed more slaves awoken by the commotion. They looked concerned about what was happening, until they saw Alexander and their faces sank. It made the sadistic noble even giddier.
"If only your parents just didn't say a thing that day... They'd still be alive, and maybe you wouldn't even be here right now..." Alexander reminisced with a smile on his face. "How ashamed in themselves they should be..."
Franklin went completely still. Arthur cringed in disgust. Rolo's eyes looked disappointed as he watched Alexander. Riva's gaze softened as she looked at Franklin, there was worry in her eyes. Avery didn't reply, her expression was blank.
"Your mother sprained her ankle in the mines, and decided to stop working." Alexander snickered. "Your father tried to explain, but since I was already annoyed that day, I told him to kill her."
Franklin blinked repeatedly, twitching as he processed what he just heard. "What..."
"He didn't obey me at first... Until I mentioned that I'd drag you... The useless filth they call a son into this town to be killed in their stead!"
Franklin's horrified face turned to shock. He blinked repeatedly, his throat cracked slightly as he sobbed while looking directly at the noble.
"Dad... Killed..." Franklin stuttered.
"Franklin don't listen to that piece of shit!" Adam uttered weakly, he rolled onto his front, his face against the dirt.
"For... Me?" Franklin uttered in despair.
"They must've loved you, your mother demanded your father do it... Of course, he couldn't, so do you know what I did after?"
Franklin couldn't take his eyes off Alexander.
"I was getting bored, so I broke her other ankle in front of him to speed things up..." Alexander flicked dirt out of his nails. "Told him I'd work my way up... Slowly too... He tried to stop me, but he couldn't... After some time, he got the point. Wrapped both his hands around her neck, and strangled her while bawling his eyes out... Then there was pretty much nothing else to do but to kill him too... Not like he was ever going to be loyal again..."
Franklin grimaced, his fists clenched. Tears fell off his face. A gasp of breath escaped his throat as he wheezed, his eyes quivered as he started to sob uncontrollably.
"Why... Why?!" Franklin screamed.
"Why? Do I have to repeat myself for the thousandth time..." Alexander rolled his eyes.
Franklin's face sank, he was about to cry, but he stopped, grimacing instead as he rubbed his tears. "Jack..."
'The only way for these rats to cooperate is for them to understand their place...' Franklin inhaled sharply, whimpering between breaths.
"Jack-" Franklin sobbed, but his head rose. "Jack kicked your ass! And you're scared he'll do it again! You little bitch!"
Alexander twitched as his head tilted. 'What did he just say...' He pursed his lips, gritting his teeth behind them. 'Jack... Did what now?' Alexander laughed slightly, he almost couldn't believe Franklin said that.
"Sir Alexander," Riva spoke up, she looked upset. "This isn't what we're here for..."
"Is that so, Franklin?" Alexander stood and looked down with a blank stare.
Alexander suddenly grasped Franklin's hair and dragged him forward. Franklin cried in fear. He desperately held onto the noble's wrist to stop him from pulling his hair out.
"Hey! Stop-" Ben hesitantly tried to say something.
"Let go of him you bastard!" Adam spat.
Alexander lifted Franklin effortlessly and threw him by the hair. He spun like a ragdoll toward the slaves who watched nearby. They weren't expecting the boy to be flung so far, and at such a speed. Franklin crashed into them, knocking several people down. Alexander looked at his palm and shook off the hair he had ripped from the slaves head. Franklin tumbled against the ground to a stop. His face was horrified as he quickly grasped his head.
"Aah!" Franklin wailed.
"Arthur, the one thing you've done right and wrong, is not shaving them. Good job," Alexander said with a smile.
"Enough! You have Logos back, and you're already working to lose it again?" Arthur glared at him.
"You are why the logorite supply was too short though..." Alexander pointed at him. "I'm back, because you're a failure, Arthur."
Franklin grasped his head and tried to stand, but he stumbled forward and rolled onto his back. Alexander walked toward him, each step he took made Franklin more terrified. The noble stomped on the slave's back, and then twisted his heel into him.
"Ah!" Franklin cried as he reached forward.
"You know what else you forgot Arthur?!" Alexander laughed. "You forgot how important fear was!" he repeatedly slammed his foot on Franklin's back again.
"Ah!"
Before Alexander could step on him again, a light blue sword stopped inches from his head. The noble's gaze followed the edge of the masterfully crafted blade, until he met eyes with the member of the royal guard. The right side of Riva's face and right arm were marked with three blue slashes. Her right eye glowed light blue, and her pupil had stretched vertically.
"Stop!" Riva seethed with grit teeth, rage spilling from her eyes.
"You're just a substitute for Shina... I'd watch where you point that sword..." Alexander took his foot off Franklin and turned toward her.
"Why is someone as twisted as you a noble?!" Riva hissed.
"I'm good at what I do," Alexander answered as his greatsword appeared in hand.
A hand fell upon Riva's shoulder. Arthur grasped Alexander's wrist.
"Let's not start any infighting," Avery tried to calm the situation. "Riva, sheathe your blade."
Riva lowered her weapon, sheathing the long sword. The marks on her face and arm disappeared, and her right eye returned to normal. Her gaze was still locked on Alexander. Arthur backed away, letting out a sigh as he shook his head. Alexander was focused on the woman's sword.
It was an abnormally large weapon, the blade alone was at least six feet long. The guard of the sword was silver, its handle wrapped tightly in a white fabric. At the back of the handle, a red string was tied to it.
"One of the two sabers of Ginpa, not just a fang. Vala must think highly of you," Alexander observed.
Riva didn't reply, her eyes still conveyed nothing but rage. 'She might be a formidable fighter, it's a shame... I wouldn't mind seeing her strength.' Alexander heard several flaps grow louder. 'Huh?' He looked up to see Vivian soar through the air. She landed, but quickly stumbled and fell onto all fours. Her eyes were wide, shaking with terror.
"Vivian?" Alexander tilted his head.
"Captain... There's... Bruno is... " Vivian stuttered.
"You and Bruno had orders to watch the outpost-"
"There's- there's a demon! A demon attacked us!" she cut him off.
"A demon?" Avery stuttered.
"Are you certain?!" Alexander asked, his full attention now on his lieutenant.
"He... He... Bruno was... I had to leave Bruno behind... Or else I wouldn't have escaped, I, I-" Vivian huffed, however, Alexander put his hand on her shoulder.
"Calm down Vivian, you made the right call. Take a minute to catch your breath... It's alright..."
Vivian's sharp expression had crumbled, but the nobles words made her wipe her tears and nod. Alexander remembered the massive sound earlier, he looked toward the mountain. 'The outpost... That's also where the smoke rose from earlier...'
"That might have been what caused that sound earlier..." Avery mentioned.
"It could be what we're looking for... We should stop wasting time here!" Riva added as she shot a glare at Alexander.
"I'll help Arthur here and join you," Rolo told them as he knelt next to Franklin. "Get up, you aren't through yet, I want intel on the resistance, inside and outside of the non-unified," Rolo asked calmly.
Alexander heard a muffled voice come from his pocket. He reached for it and pulled out the stone, then put it to his ear.
"Sir... He's here," Lector confirmed.
"Where!" Alexander's tone became serious, immediately dismissing the current matter.
"In front of the house," Lector responded.
"The Eldritch house?"
"Yeah... You're not gonna believe this," Lector added, but Alexander had already put the stone in his pocket and started toward Jack's house.
"Hey! Alexander! Where are you going?!" Arthur shouted.
"Shut your mouth, runt. I'll rejoin you all in a moment..." said Alexander.
'Jack... Why did Geral utter his name... The dream... The child of the two responsible for the mines closing... And now even that maniac utters your name... This isn't some coincidence... I know it...'
* * *
Alexander stood still along the south east edge of Logos. Violent gusts of wind and massive impacts came from the east, but he wasn't focused on it. He was speechless as he saw the scene in front of him. He turned to the right, looking at the ruined house that belonged to the Endoran family.
"There are a lot of things I don't believe here, Lector..." Alexander whispered to himself.
Lector was unconscious on the ground. A wooden supply wagon with children from the east outpost was in the middle of the path. A gust of wind from the west pushed Alexander's cape back. He watched from a distance as Jack and someone else ran frantically in and out of the Eldritch house. 'The children from the outpost... Demons... Jack...' Alexander reaffirmed his prior suspicions about the slave in front of him.
Alexander stepped forward, his presence still unknown. His cape whished and flapped from another sudden gust of strong wind. The clanks and clicks of his armor gave away his presence. Jack turned his head, and his expression immediately turned to shock as he locked eyes with Alexander.
"Unfortunately, that brat Arthur is busy, there's no one to save you this time..." Alexander declared.
Jack shivered in fear, his legs rattled as he held a child in his arms. 'He looks more like his mother...' Alexander doubted himself for a moment, the boy in front of him didn't even resemble the thing he had seen in his dream. 'No... You may not look like the monster, but I know it was you...' Jack huffed as his eyes darted between the wagon, Alexander, and the child.
"Hey, Jack what's up? Why do you look... Oh shit..." A different person Alexander didn't recognize walked out of Jack's house.
He was a young adult with brown hair past his eyes and a light skin tone. The defining feature of his appearance was the clothing, he wore a similar uniform to the resistance member. Alexander looked down at Jack.
"I'm not wrong... I know I'm not..." Alexander reassured himself once again.
Alexander inhaled sharply, he squinted as he realized he forgot to breathe. 'What is this... It's not the same... It's not like the other slaves...' He looked down at his hand, and realized he was trembling. 'This feeling... It's the same... I feel nothing but fear looking at him!' Jack put the child back in the wagon, turned, and ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction. 'I feel it in my bones, you need to die, Jack Eldritch!' Alexander opened his hand, and summoned his greatsword
"I won't let you get away this time!" Alexander declared as he jumped with his sword raised high.
Jack glanced back, his eyes widened as he dived out of the way. Alexander slammed his blade into the ground, the force of his landing launched everything away. Jack's body lifted off the ground and his body spun directly into a house on the left of the street. His back hit the wall and he fell flat on the dirt.
"Ah!" Jack gasped in shock.
"Jack run!" the other yelled as he charged forward at Alexander. "Hrah!"
Alexander raised an eyebrow at the non-unified approaching. 'A pointless effort...' Alexander didn't bother to defend himself, the man clenched his fist, as a red aura shrouded the non-unified man. Alexander squinted at the substance that flowed through his body, a mass of it collected around his fist. 'What is that...'
"Take this!" he yelled as he threw his fist into Alexander's chest plate.
A metallic impact rattled through the air. The force pushed Alexander a step back. 'Huh?!' Alexander looked at his chest and saw an imprint of the resistance member's fist. 'He dented my armor? That felt different from a regular punch... Was that a gift? No... A non-unified shouldn't have a gift?' The resistance member charged in once more and braced for another punch, red aura coursing through him again. He swung, but Alexander caught his wrist and lifted him off the ground.
"Ah!" the resistance member whimpered in fear as his feet dangled in the air.
He kicked, grunted, and struggled as much as he could to get free. Alexander tilted his head as he observed the man's fist, trying to find something out of the ordinary. 'He doesn't look strong enough to make that much of an impact? Where did that power come from?'
"What'd you do?! Answer me!" Alexander demanded as he squeezed his wrist.
"Ah!" the young man winced in pain.
Alexander suddenly heard rapid footfalls behind him. Jack charged forward and braced his fist, the same red aura shrouded him as well. 'Don't tell me- Him too?!' Jack jumped and threw his fist forward at the same time, pressing it into Alexander's jaw. 'Rgh!' Alexander let go of the man's wrist as he stumbled to the left. His cheek felt numb, it rattled slightly from the impact. Jack tried to get the other man to his feet.
"Get up! We can't beat him without Ajal!" Jack warned as they ran in the opposite direction.
Alexander touched his cheek as Jack ran off. He suddenly remembered his dream, and a chill ran down his spine. 'I wasn't wrong!' Alexander crouched, then kicked off the ground. He soared through the air, raising his sword with both hands and pointing the blade toward them.
"Die!" Alexander roared.
John pushed Jack out of the way. Alexander stabbed his blade into the ground between them, cracks rippled through the dirt. The two non-unified were flung off their feet, tumbling into houses on both sides of the road.
"What was that! What did you do?! That couldn't have been a gift! Answer me! Where did you acquire that power!" Alexander demanded as he approached Jack.
"You killed my parents!" Jack screamed, then charged forward. "You killed Carol!"
Alexander hesitated as the slave planted his fist into the armor, another metallic impact reverberated through the air. Jack huffed nonsensical grunts and growls, smashing his other fist into the armor even without the red aura. His knuckles cracked as his fingers shook, but he just kept going with madness in his eyes.
"You bastard!" Jack readied for another punch and pressed his fist into Alexander's armor again making another dent. "Why aren't you dead!"
The noble watched the slave pathetically swing his bloodied fist into the silver breastplate once more. His hand bounced off and they both heard an audible crack. Jack dropped to his knees, holding his wrist as he curled forward. 'He isn't afraid of me?' Alexander felt another chill run down his spine.
"Ahagh!" Jack winced in pain, his bloodied fist dripping. "Dammit!"
"Just disappear... Right here, right now!" Alexander raised his greatsword into the air.
Alexander swung the sword down. Jack shielded his head with his arms, shutting his eyes in anticipation of his demise. The blade was inches from his head, but something heavy smashed into Alexander's right shoulder, causing him to drop his greatsword. 'Ah!' Alexander could barely see what hit him. 'Huh?!' Alexander lost his footing and fell over, rolling over his side and onto his back. 'What just-' Alexander saw the white-haired scout from earlier on the ground a short distance away, unconscious.
"You... Why are-" Alexander stuttered.
'What happened to him... Didn't I order him to go to-' Heavy steps on the dry dirt caught Alexander's attention, he turned in the direction the scout was thrown from. A tall man with black hair and red eyes walked down the path. The sun was directly behind him, casting a shadow over his face and the ground between the noble and the slave. Alexander stood up, keeping his eyes on him. He felt threatened by his gaze, like he was being challenged. He wore a large coat over a simple shirt and beige pants, similar clothes to the rest of the slaves, but something was different. 'Are his clothes too small... No... I've never seen a slave as tall as myself...'
"Ajal! This guy is Alexander Rael! He's bad news!" John yelled.
"Ajal?" Alexander repeated.
'I've never heard that name before... And he looks too old to have come to Logos while I was gone...' For a moment, Alexander remembered his original mission. 'The trail ended in Logos...' He took his eyes off Ajal and then looked down at Jack.
"I was right, I was always right all along! I am chosen by the Celestial!" Alexander hollered.
Alexander raised his foot to stomp on Jack's head, but didn't expect to feel a hand press against his chest plate and push him back lightly. 'Huh...' The black-haired man was suddenly in front of him, his red eyes still locked on Alexander. He made a fist with his right hand, and it started to glow. 'When did he get in front of me...'
"So, this is Alexander Rael," Ajal said before he swung his fist.
* * *
The warm orange light shone through Alexander's eyelids. A piece of wood cracked off, the light hitting his face began to flicker. He opened his eyes and squinted at the light. The piece of wood dangled back and forth. It was still attached by a single loose nail, but fell off into a pile of similar broken pieces. He felt his nose crackle slightly. He blinked repeatedly, his neck ached, and his head was pounding.
"Ah..." Alexander whimpered in pain.
Alexander tried to reach for his face but his arms were under even more wooden debris. 'What happened?' He struggled to open his eyes, every time he tried, his eyelids would quiver from the pain. Alexander gasped as he grit his teeth, with some effort, he pulled his hand free and reached for his face. 'Light?' There was a large hole in front of him, made from the broken planks and the wood of a house, Alexander touched his face and felt a warm liquid slide down the tips of his fingers. 'Blood?' There was dust in his mouth, his back ached, and his face hurt even more. 'That guy... Did he punch me? When did I end up under all this?'
"Rgh!" Alexander writhed in pain.
"I thought you weren't trying to kill people? Not that I'm complaining though!" Alexander heard a distant voice outside.
It felt like something was moving under his face, his nose suddenly cracked on its own. Alexander's strength slowly returned. He put his hand against the ground and felt pricks from shards of glass and jagged wood. 'He knocked me out? Me?' Alexander huffed in and out as he felt his blood boil, he pushed himself upright and pulled his legs out from the debris. He looked out of the hole and saw the man named Ajal. Alexander shoved a part of the broken floor off himself. Ajal looked back toward the hole, staring directly at the noble. Alexander stepped forward, gradually speeding up until he started running.
"Jack, John, take those kids and run... Get as far as you can!" Ajal ordered with a serious tone.
"Huh? Why? You just wasted Alexander Rael?" John babbled.
"That guy's strong so I didn't hold back... But he isn't down- Go... Now!" Ajal commanded fiercely.
Alexander lunged out of the ruined house. Ajal took a stance and raised arms to defend, quickly catching Alexander's fist. Alexander was caught off guard as Ajal didn't budge, in fact, he seemed to him hold back without much effort. 'Huh-' Ajal shoved him back, then jumped forward and spun, swinging his leg toward Alexander's face.
'Fast-' Alexander raised his gauntlet and just barely blocked the kick. His foot smashed through the armor, Alexander grunted as his feet dragged against the dirt, before lifting off it all together. 'Rgh!' Shards of his armor chipped off as he flew toward the roof of another house, crashing straight through it. 'Where is this force coming from?! It can't be raw strength?!' Alexander winced as the bones in his forearm rattled. He descended into a field of crops and collided with the plants, the impact launching chunks of dirt and corn in all directions.
'Ack! Damn it, I was so close! I was just seconds away from killing him, why didn't I do it soone- Ahagh!' Alexander writhed as the movement under his skin returned, it felt like his bones were moving. 'Ah, and this?! What is-' He had no time to process the strange feeling as he looked up and saw Ajal on the roof. A purple light gleamed off his forehead. 'He has a gift as well?!' Alexander got to his feet, conjured his greatsword, and held it ready. The purple light condensed into a single point, before releasing a radiant beam of blinding light.
"Huh-"
Alexander quickly conjured his sword, blocking the beam with the surface of the blade. Stray beams reflected in multiple directions, burning rows of crops, and leaving clean orange cuts in the nearby houses. Alexander felt the dirt pile up behind him as he struggled to keep his footing. Multiple fluctuating frequencies oscillated across Logos. 'Ah!' Alexander slammed his palm against the surface of the blade, feeling the searing heat it absorbed. Sweat dripped down his head, the vicious heat of the beam reminded him of the purple flame he witnessed a year ago. 'He's the one... The one from the crash site!' The beam dissipated, causing Alexander to stumble forward and drop to his knees, panting on all fours.
Alexander looked up, squinting at Ajal's forehead. 'An... Eye... A third eye? Is that supposed to be his gift?' A black shadow spilled out of Ajal's hand. 'Huh...' The viscous shadows shaped into a weapon, forming a sickle shaped blade on the end. 'Is that... That's a scythe... Where did that come from... Did he conjure that? His gift is granting him more than one ability?' Alexander lowered his blade and shook his hand, it still burned from the heat. He gripped the handle of his greatsword despite the pain and charged forward.
"You think you can defeat me!" Alexander roared.
Ajal jumped off the house, landed on the ground, and then sprung forward with his scythe in hand. Alexander grabbed his greatsword with both hands, green flames wildly spewed out of his palms and engulfed the blade. Ajal's eyes widened, he slammed his foot down and came to a stop. He raised the scythe to his mouth, biting on the handle to hold it with his teeth.
"Burn!" Alexander roared, as an enormous ball of fire enveloped his sword. "Jealous flame!"
Alexander swung his sword down. Ajal's hands suddenly turned pitch black, they radiated with a strange dark aura. The ball of green fire hit the ground, exploding outwards violently and setting the farm ablaze. However, a single speck of darkness sprouted within the fire, before spreading across it. 'Huh-' Alexander was speechless as he watched his flames get dyed black. The bright green flames suddenly became murky, falling like a clumpy mass rather than fire. Ajal grasped the flame like it was a cloth, pulling it around his shoulders and wearing it like a cowl.
"What'd you- You took- my fire?!" Alexander hesitated, stepping back as he looked down at the black embers on the ground. "Damn demon! The scouts reported that they've been stopped each time they tried to reach Pandora... Where is the demon king?! Why are you helping Jack!"
Ajal stared at him, all three of his eyes wide with confusion as he took the scythe out of his mouth. "I don't know what you're rambling about, but I am not a demon... At least not the ones people on this world seem to speak of... I am the divine being of the planet Imperion. You punks trashed my ship... Now I can't go home until I find someone who can fix it..."
"The- planet?" Alexander tilted his head with a raised eyebrow. "Another world? You aren't from Grelt..."
"Yeah, I didn't want to end up here... I just happened to... As for Jack... I owe him, and he seemed like he could use my help. Why are you trying to kill a kid? One whose barely even a threat at that..."
"The Celestial itself has shown me... Jack will kill us all. I almost stopped him, until you showed up!"
Ajal's brow furled. "What? The Celestial showed you? Since when did a Celestial talk to people to begin with... I've never heard of that..."
Alexander paused. "Your world possesses... The Celestial?"
"Yeah, six... There are six Celestials on the planet Imperion..." Ajal shrugged.
'What...' Alexander paused, listening to the black embers crackle. The thick mass of black fire moved toward others like itself, collecting like a bubble before bursting. 'The Celestial exists on another world? And there is more than one?! Could Grelt possess more than-' Alexander's head hurt as he tried to ponder that. 'Impossible...'
"That's impossible!" Alexander roared. "We are the blessed race! We were chosen!"
"Yeah, yeah, believe what you want, I don't care. You should be more worried about how far you've crossed the line..."
"Oh?" Alexander squinted.
"The crystals that came from my blood... You used them on people... Infants!" Ajal tone rose as he stared Alexander dead in the eyes.
Alexander paused. "Marberg's research... I know nothing of what he wanted to achieve or what he was doing. Nor do I even care... The Lightbringer's funded it though, so they should be honored really, commemorated even..."
"Huh..." Ajal twitched, his grip on the scythe tightening.
"Heh... After all, to be anything more than the unblessed wretches they were destined to be! To serve the interests of the Lightbringers! They couldn't be blessed with a better fate!" Alexander laughed with his arms outstretched. "Slaves should dream to be of use to the royal family!"
"They deserve better than to be treated like tools in this shit hole..." Ajal said sternly. "But I get it, you're just another bastard whose clearly not the type to get something so simple..."
"Shit hole..." A sudden rush of anger filled Alexander. "You heathen... What you're looking at, is the linchpin to Helios's economy! My work, is the reason our alliance has prospered! And you dare mock it? I have crafted a perfect factory of profit. Who are you to insult my work here in Logos! Are there any more eyes you need to open before you get it? Damn three-eyed freak!"
"Heh..." Ajal reared his head back with a toothy grin and wide eyes. "I can see why Jack hates you so much..."
Ajal suddenly crouched, his right foot glowed as a second scythe appeared in his other hand. 'He can conjure more than-' White sparks crackled around Ajal's hands as black and white flames suddenly ignited over them, they flowed through the black scythes and set the blades ablaze. 'Another ability?!' Alexander twitched as he stepped back, he channeled his fire through his blade, but stopped. 'No... He can take my fire, then what do I do? Shit?! What do I-' The ground cracked as Ajal kicked off the ground, launching himself straight into the air and raising both scythes overhead.
"Spirit!" Ajal yelled as he pulled the scythes all the way back. "Ignition!"
Ajal swung both scythes down, launching two arcs of black and white flame. 'He can launch slashes-' Alexander quickly jumped back, just barely dodging the attack. The two slashes came down with so much force they cut straight through the ground. Wisps of the black and white flame were left along the edges of the cross-shaped gashes. Alexander looked back up, but his eyes widened as he saw Ajal pull the cowl of black flame off his back.
"Oblivion Flame Magic!" Ajal chanted. "Weeping Flame Drill!"
'Magic?!' The cowl of flame suddenly stretched out, and begun spinning rapidly, taking the shape of a spear. Ajal pulled the spear of flame back, then threw it straight down. Alexander raised his sword to block the explosive attack. But he was caught off guard as the spear struck the center of the cross-shaped cut in the ground. 'Huh...'
A purple light glowed within the slashes, before a massive explosion rippled outward. The force and debris struck Alexander's greatsword, but he kept his feet planted as the ground was launched in all directions. 'Shit!' A chunk of dirt shrouded in black and white flame struck Alexander's shoulder, leaving a patch of it on him. 'Huh-' He squinted as he tried to wipe off the black and white flame, it wasn't hot, or cold.
"What the hell is this?!" Alexander grunted as he tried to wipe off the flame, but it just spread to his hand instead.
Ajal landed behind him, Alexander didn't hesitate, immediately turning and swinging his greatsword. However, a black and white wave suddenly spread out, and the world was suddenly sapped of all color. 'What the-' Alexander paused as he realised his greatsword and armor vanished upon touching the wave, revealing his black pants and white shirt. The green flames he had summoned were all extinguished. 'He- erased my entire gift-' Ajal stepped forward with his right fist clenched, slamming it into Alexander's face and breaking his nose.
"Triple-" Ajal grunted. "Ignition!"
Three more bursts of force suddenly struck Alexander, it was like getting punched multiple times at once. 'Rgh!' Alexander went flying through the farms, only for Ajal to suddenly grab his right shoulder and then redirect Alexander head-first into the ground.
"Ahagh!" Alexander grunted.
Ajal got to his left side in an instant and grasped his wrist with both hands. 'Huh-' Alexander was shocked as Ajal effortlessly lifted him over his head, pulling him down and slamming him into the ground like a rag doll. Ajal pulled him as he spun, whipping Alexander back in the direction he came from. However, the moment Ajal let go, Alexander suddenly felt a foot press into his face. 'It feels like- Ack!' Ajal slammed the back of his foot into Alexander's throat. Before he could even think, Ajal had already pressed his fist into Alexanders ribs. 'Like I'm fighting more than one person?!'
"Ahag-" Alexander's grunt was cut off as Ajal slammed his foot into his stomach.
Another precise strike hit Alexander's temple, followed by his leg getting swept from underneath him. Ajal struck the opposite side of his head, and then hit him in the same spot as before. 'How is he attacking so fast- And from so many angles?!' Alexander tumbled but quickly got up, only to get struck in the back of the head. 'Why is he behind-' A strike to the chin suddenly made his vision blurry, it felt like time slowed down for a moment. 'There!' Alexander opened his palm, conjuring his greatsword and turning to slash Ajal.
"Hrah!" Alexander swung wildly.
Ajal was about to strike Alexander again, but quickly conjured a scythe from the shadows. He blocked the strike from the greatsword. Alexander grit his teeth and pushed with all his strength, launching Ajal back toward the houses. Alexander huffed, grinning with blood falling from his head. But the moment Ajal hit the ground, he vanished. 'Huh- Ack!' Alexander felt Ajal press his foot into his back.
"Imperial Battle Arts!" Ajal chanted. "Cannon!"
Alexander flew off his feet, the last hit was far stronger than the others. He flew through the wall of a house, bouncing against the wooden floor. He slammed his greatsword into the ground and stopped himself, panting as blood and sweat dripped off his head. 'Dammit! Fuck! How did he vanish like-'
"Dark!" Ajal chanted fiercely.
"Huh-" Alexander looked through hole he had made when he crashed through the wall.
A purple light glowed on Ajal's forehead, focusing into a single point. "Blast!"
'Shit!' Alexander raised his greatsword, blocking the purple beam, but getting launched through the other wall of the house. Alexander lost his footing, he couldn't stop himself from crashing straight through another house. As the beam dissipated, Alexander crashed into the ground, sliding to a stop over green grass.
"Agh!" Alexander grunted.
'If I don't block that, I'm dead!' Alexander rolled onto his front, grasping his side, it felt like his bones cracked back into place. The pain suddenly left, he gasped for air.
"Alexander?" Arthur shouted. "Where were-"
"Rah!" An aggressive voice yelled over Arthur.
Arthur blocked the punch of a large red-haired man, the man wore clothing like the resistance member from earlier. Alexander turned to see patches of grass torn up and ruined. 'What the...' Arthur kicked the red-haired man in the chest before he spun his staff around and slammed it into his jaw. The resistance member fell to the floor, grasping his face as he grunted.
"Alexander... Where were you!" Arthur shouted.
Alexander stared at Arthur with a confused look on his face. He pushed his fist against the ground, and slowly stood up. He could barely muster the anger toward Arthur, he turned and raised his greatsword to fight.
"We were attacked by more resistance members and you suddenly disappeared! What the hell were you-" Arthur paused as Ajal landed on the roof of the house Alexander flew through. "Huh..."
"Stop wasting time with those fools! That thing is the real threat here!" Alexander shouted.
With the flick of his wrist, Ajal threw one scythe. It spun through the air like a wheel, Alexander deflected it with his greatsword, causing it to ricochet straight upwards. As he looked back, he noticed another scythe already spinning toward him, while Ajal charged in. Alexander jumped back, dodging the scythe as it landed where he stood. Ajal dashed forward as Alexander was airborne, pressing his knee into the nobles stomach. Ajal raised his other foot, and kicked off him. 'Rgh!' Alexander stumbled backward as he felt the wind knocked out of him.
Ajal flipped backward, grasping his scythe in the ground and catching the one falling from the sky with graceful skill. As he landed, black and white flames ignited over Ajal's hands, spreading through the scythes once again. He raised it overhead, and threw it directly at Alexander.
Alexander planted his feet, then deflected the scythe with his greatsword, sending it into the air. In that instant, Ajal suddenly appeared in front of him. 'Shit!' Before Alexander could swing his sword down, Ajal slashed upward. The scythe dragged through his clenched fist, before it hooked onto the guard of Alexander's greatsword, and knocked it out of his hand. 'Rgh!' Alexander clenched his other fist, and tried to slam it into Ajal's face, but Ajal ducked low in an instant. Alexander's eyes widened as he looked down, only to see both of Ajal's feet pointed toward his face. Ajal pushed off the ground and pressed his heel into the bottom of Alexander's chin, launching him into the air. 'Agh!' Ajal pressed off the ground, spun and landed another kick to Alexander's stomach, sending him even higher.
Ajal flipped forward and landed in crouched position, then jumped up to Alexander, kicking off him while still holding the other scythe in his left hand. Ajal caught the scythe he threw earlier, and then vanished once more. 'What just-' Alexander hesitated as he saw Ajal in the corner of his eye, standing on the greatsword that had been knocked out of his hand earlier. Ajal was crouched upside down on the blade, taking a stance with both scythes. Alexander's eyes widened as Ajal kicked off the blade, flying straight toward him. 'Shit!'
Alexander conjured his greatsword back to his hand to block, but Ajal passed right by him like a blur. All he heard was a slash through the wind, then felt the weight of his sword become lighter, almost like it had disappeared entirely. Alexander's back hit the ground as Ajal landed in a crouched stance. He stood up and whipped his scythe, splattering blood onto the grass. 'Huh... He cut me?' Alexander was puzzled as his sword pierced the grass in front of him. His severed limb still held the handle, the other hand fell a second later, hitting the ground with a thud. Alexander started to breathe heavily, a look of terror on his face. He tried to consciously move his fingers, but he felt nothing. A river of blood spewed out of his arms.
"My- my hands!" Alexander panicked as he raised his severed arms.
"You deserve to lose a lot more than that..." said Ajal.
"Ah- Aah!" Alexander screamed in terror as he looked down at his arms.
Ajal didn't even look down at Alexander, walking right past the noble like he was nothing and striking him in the head with the back of his scythe. The strike caused his vision to blur, his conscious quickly fading. He fell forward, landing face first into the dirt. 'He's... A monster...' The last thing Alexander could feel as Ajal walked away, was the shifting in his severed arms, humiliation, and rage. 'Damn... You...'