Arc 4: What families entail
Within the warring country of Athens was the grand city of Athens. Most of the buildings made with white stone, broken and dirty to the battles held throughout their streets on and off again, with large columns and statues about. Of the Spirit Beast and horses, of the warriors, of the Valentines. Even booze. But under the cobble streets were the large abandoned mining tunnels, another set larger than the many others found around Athens. Catacombs, old dusty crumbling tunnels, inner connecting sewer tunnels and water ways, held by old stone and wooden supports. Through them all moved Red Arrows, gathering all around Athens after the loss of their leader. Moving with wagons, on foot, holding many boxes and barrels of food, weapons, and alcohol. All leading toward the large three story space within, once a large deposit of elemental crystals, to an abandoned entrance to the mines, and now the heart of the Red Arrows. Filled with food, Red Arrows injured and not, wooden boxes upon boxes, and many barracks placed around. In the center of it all was the grieving Horse Demi-human, holding the female Demi-human Red Arrows for comfort. Toll, the large and muscular woman, and the second in command of the Red Arrows.
Soku: "So are you Leo's wife or somethin?"
Toll looked up, surprised to find Peter with an Elf of all things. It had taken so long for them to get here from constant pauses to get past guard posts. Making their way around the Capital before crossing under it. Both holding many heavy bags filled with Peter's things. Peter was more worried about stopping Soku from speaking than reuniting with Toll, but she hugged him anyway. Looking toward the woman around her after.
Toll: "Not his wife, heh far from it. But it's nice to see you again little rabbit!"
Peter found himself crushed in her thick grasp, trying to breathe before talking.
Toll: "Now who's your girlfriend."
However, even through her crushing hold, he had the strength to scream out in defiance. As bright as red as Soku.
Peter: "She's not my girlfriend!"
Toll: "Yeah yeah, just a girl that's a friend, whatever you wanna say. But you're the wind squirt Leo told me about. Or wrote to me about. But where's the rest of yah?"
Sokus expression instantly fell, triggering Toll to drop Peter and go to apologize before Soku wiped the sorrow filled expression off her face. Smirking while glaring up toward the powerful warrior right after.
Soku: "They were captured by a Bearguards group. And I'm Soku, Thief of Winds? Elf thief or whatever that stupid name they made up is. Never heard of me?"
Toll: "Nope never! But you don't look too bad."
Soku could only sigh and take the hefty palm violently rubbing at her hair, sitting down with the heavy bags to rest herself. Toll instead looked toward Peter, trying her best to keep a happy expression with the awful reality between them. Of their dear Capitan and his current state.
Toll: "You doin alright? I know you were there when it happened."
Peter: 'I'm fine. It's Leo and the others who need our help. If we don't act soon, the Pirates, Athens, they might all converge pretty soon."
Toll: "Well don't sound too dim! We've already been planning a rescue, you just need to wait until we're ready. Save your strength, train, get drunk, whatever. Just don't sit in the dumps, for Leo alright?"
Peter: "For Leo."
Even if he groaned, he had to agree. Picking up his bags to lead Soku toward the stone staircase upon the wall ahead of them, taking them up the second and third story.
Soku: "Why is your room so far away?"
Peter: "Because it's the closest to the exit!"
Soku: "Doesn't that mean if any Warriors attacked you'd be the first they killed?"
Peter: "I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT!"
In a panic he fell backward, only to be saved by a blunt glowing breeze shot from Sokus mouth. Whistling through the air to quickly slam him forward.
Soku: "Calm down! Don't die on some stairs!"
Peter: "Yeah I know!"
They continued, up the stairs and across the balcony. Passing more barracks before stepping toward a Dragon Stone door, left cracked open for Peter to force his things through.
Soku: "Can't you just open the door?"
Peter: "No it's way too heavy! Only Leo can do it!"
He took the bags from Soku to do the same thing before trying his best to squeeze through, pulling Soku in with him. Letting her see his workshop.
Soku: "This place is a mess!"
A set of bunk beds, tables stacked with junk and tools, a floor covered in even more junk and balled up papers, with walls decorated with notes, schematics, and Red Arrow Flags. So thick they could hardly step through, for Peter to dump all of the bags over the ground. Creating a pile in the corner of his room before taking out his prototype vambraces, pushing the junk off of the table so he could continue working on it. However, along with that was the wing of Sokus glider. Placed atop a larger schematic for such a glider. Letting Soku see the finished product.
Soku: "How do I fight with this thing? I need to use my hands and feet to fly it!"
Peter: "Well it's not for fighting, it's for flying!"
Soku: "Mmmm."
Peter would sigh, continuing to grab random gears and gizmos, scrap and tools, to work on whatever he could. Whether it be his prototype MK 3 slingshot, the vambrace, the glider, his poppers, or anything else he could scrounge up. Leaving Soku to lay upon his bed and stare into the bunk above, trying not to think of whatever pain Rosemary, Edward, and Julius might be feeling right now. And how she was laying on a bed while they were stuck. Cursing at herself over and over again before Peter stepped over.
Peter: "I know you're worried, and I know my words won't help, but they'll make it out of this. We'll save Leo, and we'll use his strength to save your friends! Then with us all together we'll win!"
Soku: "Can't you hear how faulty that is!? We couldn't win on that bay, we won't win anywhere else. Why do you have so much faith in him!?"
Her loud voice, her focused eyes, her shaking heart all slammed against Peter. Feeling truly unworthy to do anything. But, without Leo, in such a dark time, he had to stand up.
Peter {I ran in that fight, I got taken hostage and got Leo captured. I don't care if I'm scared, I have to do something!}
So he did, swallowing his fear to match Soku.
Peter: "It took me a while too, but he's the son of the world's strongest man! Before this war he was the Captain after Lincoln stepped down. And even after his fathers absence, after Bearguard took charge, he's been fighting every day ever since. I have faith in him, I have faith in the Valentines."
Soku: "Is Bearguard not in the same seat!? He's the first born of Lincoln, he's the king, and dammit even if I don't agree with him a lot more people do. We're out numbered, out matched. Why can't you just retreat? Why don't you want to live!?"
Soku pushed out wind without even thinking, blowing all of Peters schematics around within their debate. Peter however stood his ground, even it he struggled.
Peter: "Because it's my home! It's all I know, and the Red Arrows are all I have. But I have faith."
Soku: "Just look at the facts! It's impossible!"
Peter: "Do you know how many things have happened that are supposed to be impossible!? Saga stood after a seventy year long war, Lincoln and Musashi and so many others fought and beat fate time and time again. They -
Soku: "The dude that's dead!? Or Lincoln, wherever he is. Those people are just strength, not some God of War, not some deity. Just people with more power than others."
Peter couldn't help but agree with what she was saying, but he couldn't give up hope. The only power he had to use. Sweating, trembling, filled with anxiety, but still speaking forth.
Peter: "What happened to make you lose hope?"
Soku: "My past doesn't matter."
Peter: "Of course it does! Bad or good, it's what makes you who you are!"
Soku: "And you think I want to let death define me!?"
Peter: "I don't!"
They locked eyes, leaving Soku surprised to see Peter truly worked up. Like she had struck a nerve.
Peter: "I lost my mom and my dad to this war! A Librarian and a Blacksmith, respected by everyone, and they were murdered right in front of me by those damn Warriors! Their deaths don't make me who I am, but it's what I chose to do after that!"
She couldn't help but step back, sitting onto the bunk while Ophelia's horrid screams ravaged her psyche.
Soku: "Well then I'm happy you're so lucky."
Peter: "It's not luck! If anything I'm more unlucky than you! You have your strength, your magic, your mana, your Mark. I -
Soku: "I don't understand! Do you not like me because I'm strong!?"
Peter: "What are you talking about!? You're the first person I've met that isn't crazy! Or too focused on others to actually speak to me. That's the only reason I'm saying any of this! Because I know you're smart enough, strong enough to understand!"
Soku couldn't help but fall once again, her emotions sinking along with her heart. Completely unable to speak, to scream out, to fight. Just shaking, holding her hands over her face with a small chuckle behind it.
Soku: "If you think I'm strong then you're way too far gone."
Before Peter could say anything more Soku rushed toward the Dragon Stone door, pulling with all of her might. Straining, sweating, yelling and erupting with wind. Slowly pulling back the massive and impossibly dense door before stepping through the slightly larger crack. Trying to combat her erupting emotions without becoming a whirlwind of force. Leaving Peter to sit with himself, muttering away his uselessness. However he would try his best to fill the time, focusing on his tools and gadgets instead of his emotions.
They all found themselves stuck in some kind of daze. Rosemary was taken from her cell, given a long sleeved golden shirt and a long blue skirt, and taken around the castle with Calgary to lead her. Quiet, staring at her feet, completely lost to herself. Constantly looked over by Calgary, up and down, feeling the disgusting glares from a far. Julius was multiple floors up within the large tower of Athens, bound by a mana dampening vambrace just as Rosemary was, but far more comfortable. Smiling, sipping tea with Beauregard, and always managing to annoy Iris in some way or another. Going over ideas to end this war once and for all. With Beauregard standing by a large window facing out to Athens no matter which room they entered, staring toward the post Leo was chained to.
Beauregard: "Whatever we do, I want you to keep Athens in mind. Always."
Julius: "Of course."
Iris: "I still can't believe you would trust such a person."
They stood within one of the many white stoned rooms, pictures of previous Valentines and Spirit Beasts all around. Along with various weapons, sets of armor, and preserved skulls of Spirit Beasts. Lit and warmed by a large fire to their side and the sun shining through.
Julius: "I cannot believe Beauregard would keep a subordinate as sensitive as you."
Iris instantly went to grab Julius long buttoned collar, face to face with his ever lasting closed eyed smile. His smug expression left to reflect in her purple eyes.
Beauregard: "Don't let him get in your head! How are you supposed to take Calgary's position if you can't hold yourself together?"
Iris: "Whatever."
In a rage she threw Julius against the soft white chair he was just sitting in before storming out through the iron doors. Motioning for the large Dark Elf to take her place.
Beauregard: "Okay, now back to business."
Athens was entering a state of change after being frozen for the past four years. However, what group will take on the new era is still completely up in the air. If word got out that Rosemary, Soku, Rosemary, and Julius were here Arthur may even personally step foot onto the land. If not him than a Lower Pillar or two, along with the anarchists and chaos that comes with them. In reality, even if the Gravestone pirates, Red Arrows, and Warriors took charge, it may only take an Upper Pillar or a powerful Lower Pillar to cleave through them all. Such was the nature of this world.
Gray: "I HATE NATURE!"
Gray was four, almost five days into his journey alone up the mountain. Feeling a bit sick from the poorly cooked Frozen Ravens he had eaten, even if it tasted like thick properly cooked chicken. That, or the many frozen berries he was eating were stacking up, the spiritual water from the streams he drank out of, and constant pressure placed onto him. Forced to run run run with his mana lit ablaze, resisting the extremely powerful frosty gusts. His Cloak was unable to move due to being frozen shut, his teeth chattering, and everything feeling like it was going to fail. But, because of his mana and constant stops, he was managing to resist the frostbite.
Gray: "It can't be that much further right!?"
It seemed the closer he got to the top, the more spiritual dense it was, the more night seemed to be nonexistent. The sky is lit by mana at all times, along with the white snow. Raining down against Gray like spikes due to just how cold it was, each droplet like a dagger. All he could do was breathe and push out mana. He couldn't think of the pain, hardly able to feel it due to how cold it was, and could only heat himself while charging forward. He couldn't even take in spirit mana because of how strong the biomes hold was, like it would instantly overwhelm and break his brain if he even tried. The only beasts around didn't care enough to chase him, aside from the massive High Tier beast charging behind him. A Blue King, searching for a feast for its cubs, slightly charging through the snow before lunging into the air.
Gray {SHIT!}
Even with the absolutely overwhelming and overpowering spiritual presence of the mountain, being a mix of his incredible spiritual connection and his slowly building skill, he was able to sense it. Screaming with all he had while leaping into the air to dodge, barely missing the massive eruption of snow behind him. Sending strong quakes through the snow to force it to rush down. With the tsunami of snow ahead of him, mixed with the large glaciers shattered in its way, the Blue King roared. Sending out a powerful blue wave of mana to trap him.
Gray {COME ON COME ON! EVERY DAY WITH THIS! MONSTER THIS STUPID INCONVENCE THAT! WHO IS THIS INNERTAINING!? CAUSE IT'S NOT ME!}
He jumped again, toward the arching glaciers above. Grabbing hold to slide and swing straight off, soaring toward another to jump off of. Pinballing across the snow, to each pillar of ice, over and over to get away. Running on autopilot, charging and charging. As the snow piled, as the frost got harsher, as the King Blue got lost to the blizzard, Gray sprinted on. Even if the memories of so many lost held him down he had to run, for those that were left. To help the people who saved him for once.
Gray {For Rosemary, for Soku, for Edward and Julius. For Ophelia, Musashi, Al, Kioshi, Walgonia. If I don't make it up this mountain I'll never be ready. I have to be ready, no matter what happens to me.}
Such thoughts made him feel a bit angsty, although he was too focused on the rushing winds to care. Thrown around with only his mana to carve through it. Trying his best to keep a face that wasn't one of absolute fear, even if it was to no effect. Trying his best to do everything no matter the burden. Even when he fell into the snow he stood, even when the chilling breeze caused his mana flow to be off, even if his ears and eyes were constantly ringing from the spirit mana, he would do it. Edward could, Rosemary could, a real knight, a real hero could. Repeating it to himself like a mantra, like he had been for months, but it was slightly different. Heated and refined, but not even close to being forged. And even if he wasn't nearing the absolute peak of the mountain, he was reaching a top. Over the hills of icy snow, frozen tree like glaciers and even larger glaciers, through the frozen hell to reach Ryo's chosen summit.
Edward {Great Spirit! This hurts like hell!}
Then there was Edward, upon his own mountain, stuck in the darkness before awakening. Feeling pain, numbness, and a disgusting feeling in his gut. But before he could even open his eyes he felt a massive influx of pain. As his right eye was still completely destroyed.
"Quit squirming and drink this."
Before Edward could even try and think of who was speaking to him his mouth was filled with a thick putrid slime. A just as putrid bottle of liquor poured down his throat to force it down right after. Causing Edward to surge upward, opening his left eye while attempting to grab hold of whoever's neck was beside him. Finding himself in a long one story cabin, covered in a dense mess, with a single life within.
Lincoln: "Feisty, you really are a Helsing."
His heart quivered as his hand lost all strength, grabbed and frozen in an instant by the world's strongest man. Edward instantly dove to bow, even with the pain overwhelming his entire body.
Lincoln: "Stand up yah fool, nobody should be groveling at my feet. Now are you good?"
Edward: "What do you mean?"
In an instant Edward fell to the floor faced first, unable to move, as whatever liquid Edward drank first began to set in.
Edward: "What did you do to me!? What kinda toxin was that!?"
Lincoln: "Calm down it ain't no toxin. It's an elixir, my wife was great at mixing them, and I picked up some things. Hah if this is holding you down no wonder you slept for like two days, I got you to eat a bunch of it on the way up here and rubbed it all over your body! A way more concentrated mix too! I thought you were a Helsing!"
Under Lincoln's laughter Edward felt strange influxes within his body. Even if his body was shattered and utterly defeated by the hands of Moro Gravestone, whatever Lincoln had done made his injuries feel like they were being held back together. The immense healing, his Helsing blood factor, and his own insurmountable will, allowing him to stand and fight after three and a half days since his loss. Even if it hurt more than the fight itself.
Edward: "I am a Helsing! I'm, I'm the Last Helsing."
Lincoln instantly stopped, his eyes frozen in surprise, until he took a mighty swig from his large gourd.
Lincoln: "How'd those two Gods die?"
Edward: "The same way Walgonia got taken by Arthur. The Sect."
Lincoln: "Ahh makes sense. They always find their hands in everything."
As they spoke Edward looked toward his hands, his entire body covered in bandages. An old torn tan shirt, black pants, and boots atop it. Forced to feel where his eyes used to be in horror.
Lincoln: "I know the feeling."
Staring forward Edward saw Lincoln's smirking, destroyed mug. Sharing a face halved by wrappings.
Lincoln: "But those Pirates didn't just take your eye."
Before Lincoln could get another word in, Edward tore off the bandages, running toward anything that could be used as a mirror. Finding a large empty bottle of whiskey to see his eye.
Edward: "You're kidding me."
Holding his eye closed was a deep brand, the three slashes of the Gravestone pirates marked into his body forever. Letting forth the endless might of the Warriors Spirit.
Lincoln: "Don't get angry here. Come on, it seems like you're ready."
Edward: "For what?"
Lincoln: "For Warrior Boot Camp, Elite style, Lincoln style. Now come on! We're wasting precious daylight!"
Edward struggled to step over the wooden floor and toward the door that came bursting open, slipping in the mud to fall into the dense freezing rain. Finding himself in a thick forest, the Iron Forest, with trees dense with spirit mana. Turning them into what looked like large pillars of iron and steel. But further ahead, resting for the past few centuries, was Mount Yelira. The Volcano is most likely responsible for the Islands resources. Filled with Molten and flaming trees, magma Spirit Beasts. Spreading out onto Molten Bay, the West Coast of Athens. A perfect training ground while Lincoln began to beat his lessons into Edward.
Edward: "Alright, what's up first?"
Lincoln: "I want yah to hit me."
Edward instantly felt the burden, thinking back to a similar challenge with Kioshi during the Knight Exam. Where he failed and relied on Gray Kyojin's ingenuity to pass forward.
Edward: "Okay then."
He stood as best he could, holding up his shaking fists. All while Lincoln drank and chuckled. Before instantly vanishing from sight, leaving a small crater behind before the Iron tree line was broken in by Lincoln's force.
Edward: "This isn't gonna be fun."
As Edward began his own training with a God of War, Gray began to near the end of his. Pushing through the intense blizzard with everything he had, stepping closer and closer, climbing up the ice. Scaling the massive Summit to reach the top. Without gloves his skin stuck, the mana rushing around them burning such skin to free him. Leaving a blood trail as he forced his feet into the ice, slammed his hands upward, and pulled to rise. Even if it broke and he slid down he would grit his teeth, scream out with everything he had, before climbing harder. Trying his best to wall jump up the cliff like he had down when he fought Jeremiah in the Castle.
Gray {I gotta make it! If I fall I'm dead, and I don't have enough mana to make it! I HAVE TO MAKE IT!}
The fog got heavier, the storm louder, but he still rose. His shoulders were covered in frost, his Cloak was breaking to pieces, he constantly shook his head to rid the snow; he struggled and went on anyway, like the Hero he had to be.
Gray {If I can't survive this, I'll never be able to survive battle! If I can't survive in this world how can I fight for it!? How can I help them in a war, save Walgonia, if I can't even save myself!?}
He could do it, he could do it, he could do it. No matter how cold his blood felt, no matter how quickly he was running out of mana, no matter how much pain he was in he still went on.
Gray {Al, Kioshi, Musashi all fought to the death so I could go on! They accepted the end for a greater future, and I can't even climb this mountain!}
He leapt, unable to grab into the iron hard ice. So, before he could go into a free fall, he gritted his teeth and grabbed his sword to stab it into the ice. Holding on with all he had while he stared upward, unable to see even five feet ahead from the haze. Even denser than it was a few inches ago.
Gray {Rosemary's power breaks her no matter what, Edwards power is all himself, Soku's just a fourteen year old! And Julius is all skill! How can I stand beside them when I'm this weak!?}
In his despair he felt a surge of something deeper. Not his will, not his mana, but the cursed charm around his neck. Breaking through the ice while taking in his mana, giving him the chance to stretch it upward and grab on light his life depended on it. Pulling himself up in the next moment with all he had to fly upward, rolling against the mountain before stabbing his blade into it once again. Still unable to see the top, only getting worse. Yet he stabbed the blade into the ice again while sticking to the mountain with the Cloak. Again and again, slowly but surely, to fight against the blizzard and win. Forgetting everything but the need to go on. And then, after about five days, so much fighting, so much blood, tears and screaming, he went to stab the blade into the mountain. And felt nothing.
Gray {Is this -
Before he could think he stabbed his blade into the summit, using the rest of his mana to pull himself the rest of the way up. Laying face first in the snow with tears and laughter flooding out of him.
Ryo: "I knew you could make it."
Gray stared up, seeing Ryo smiling, a camp behind him, and the bright blue sky above him. Above the storm, below the warm sun, and pulled toward a raging fire. Falling asleep instantly.