Arc 4: What families entail
It was a little over four weeks into their journey, in the middle of the day, all pushing on. The few villages and towns within Athens were in a deadlock of battles, filled with Red Arrows, rebelling civilians, Warriors, and Soldiers. The City of Cretan was still fighting on, the Capital was slowly thrown into more disarray, and the Gravestone pirates were taking hold of the northwest end. Deeper within, near the west side of Athens, under Mount Yelira, was Edward.
Edward {Where'd he go!?}
Then there was the Helsing. His right eye was branded, heavily brushed, and gushing with pain as he ran through the iron woods. The tree line was tight, quaking under Lincoln's movements, forcing Edward to twist, jump and slip through the snowy mud. The harsh rain piling on under the cracks of lightning.
Lincoln: "How you gonna hit me if you're slower than a rock!?"
Lincoln was able to blitz through the space. Rapidly stepping off the ground, iron hard trees, and the air to land blunt blows against a struggling Edward. Smacking him through the forest, sending him flying and flying to roll and run again. Unable to read where he was, unable to feel anything other than a burning sense of failure.
Lincoln: "I thought you were a Helsing! I have never seen somebody give up so fast!"
Edward rolled, dodging a slam from Lincoln only to be flicked high into the air. Breaking through the steel branches before spiraling into the damp sky, soaring back through the trees to bounce across the ground. Landing face first, hardly able to breathe, and unable to move.
Lincoln: "Hhaha! Nice wipeout."
Edward: "Uggg."
Lincoln reached forward, getting the back of his palm lightly slapped by Edward.
Edward: "I just hit you with all my strength. I beat you."
Thinking of Gray Kyojin's strategy against Kioshi, he put his hopes into his friends. Only to get a stern look from Lincoln right after, chilling his smoldering soul.
Lincoln: "Nah that's lame. Try again."
In an instant Edward was spun and hurled even further up the mountain. Lincoln Valentine was a specific specimen to say the least. Even if Musashi was a bit more laid back and snarky, Ryo was a pacifist and Spirit connoisseur, Kioshi was a shy and confident monster, Lincoln was something else entirely. Down to earth but completely outside of it, impossible, strong but incredibly bumbling. Drinking his breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between, completely absent from the front lines or any position at all, and having the time of his life toying with the baby Helsing.
Edward {What am I even supposed to do!?}
Edward instead was lost to himself. Moro's constant laughing breaks him down, the utter failure of his life's mission, his constant loss so much more important than training with a God of War. The Dragon of Athens in the flesh. Hit against trees, the strongest man in the world greatly held back punches, bouncing across the muddy snowy floor, all to pile on the pain and strain he was already under. Landing within a boiling pond to wake him out of the loop. Screaming out and charging forward while Lincoln's boot held him back.
Lincoln: "Spending a minute in a Boiling Lake is a Warriors Right of passage, I love to take baths in it. And here you are cryin and cryin."
Edward: "I was already beat to death the moment you found me!"
Lincoln: "Sob some more why don't yah!"
The water bubbled and steamed around Edwards skin, burning through his clothes and seeping into his skin to break and unravel him. So, unleashing the Warriors Spirit, he lunged from the water to slam his fist against Lincoln. However with ever punch, kick, turn, swing, and headbutt, Lincoln backed away. Dodging each own while taking a swig from his gourd, smashing Edward across the face right after to throw him into the distance.
Lincoln {This kid may be a bit troublesome to teach.}
Even if it was hard, even if their missions success was completely in the air, they charged on to stay afoot on the bumpy road. Rosemary found herself absolutely stuck, whether it be in a large bedroom or common room. Always guarded, always watched over by Calgary, hardly speaking. Simply sitting and focusing on her stages, destroying the beautiful clothes she kept being given. Peter tinkered, built, and took apart anything he could find to work on Sokus Glider. Soku trained with Red Arrows, launching them all around while she pinballed between the stone walls with her wind. Toll looked over Athens Warrior patrols to find a hole to rescue Leo. And Gray slept under Ryo's guidance atop a Summit of Godrick Mountain. Under the passing days.
Edward {COME ON!}
Edward sprinted as hard as he could no matter the pain he was in, hitting trees, smashing under branches, running through boiling pools of water from Mount Yelira, all to both flee and find Lincoln. All to get swarmed by a group of Ash Crows. Low Level Spirit Beasts that resemble large crows coated in scolding hot feathers, their eyes a red flame, and their peaks sizzled through Edwards back. Causing him to scream out in a raging panic, throwing out mighty punches to crush the birds with single strikes. However, continuously slicing through, piling on the punishment, Edward fell to his knees. Staring back in a panic as a deafening roar encompassed him.
Edward: "Dammit."
A large Stone Bear; it was a Mid-Tier Spirit beast, a larger bear completely made of dark iron hard earth, with razor sharp claws and fangs about to sink into Edwards neck. Although Edward roared just as loud as the monster, slamming his fist across the beasts face to crack the rock. Again, again, again, over and over, balling his fists to force the monsters head up into the air before he leapt atop it. Over and over he attempted to crush its skull, forcing the beast to fall while the other lower level spirit beasts ran from the sight. Overlooked by Lincoln, his legs swaying over the branch he sat on.
Edward: "What!?"
Lincoln: "Just waitin."
Growling, throwing all his rath forward with absolutely no control, watching as Lincoln changed to Moro, he flew into the air with his fists raised. Only to fail to do anything, getting grabbed and swung against an iron tree. Lincoln then hit his chest, then his side, his collar, his shoulder, his leg, his face, slapped his head, kicked his groin, and left him vanishing into the air.
Lincoln: "How are you gonna be a true Warrior if you can't handle a little action!?"
Edward: "I'm no warrior! I'm a knight!"
Lincoln: "Hah! I might be drunk but I'm not stupid!"
Before Edward could blink he was crashing through the thick trees, right into a gushing guizer of rushing steam. Throwing him against Lincolns Dragon Stone hard chest.
Lincoln: "Mount Yelira's startin to build again."
Edward: "Shouldn't you report it?"
Lincoln: "Eh. They'll call a Mage or Scholar in a few months."
Edward laid against the mud, his shirt and pants burned and torn by the action. His wounds feeling like stabs of blades.
Lincoln: "You done?"
Edward: "No, I haven't hit you yet."
Lincoln: "Look kid you can but that on the back foot. You're never gonna get anywhere like this. Throwing yourself everywhere, fighting without reason. You're -
Edward: "Then give me my blade! Like I said I'm a Knight, an official one that passed the Knight Exam, then I can show you -
Lincoln: "NO!"
Lincoln grabbed Edward by his collar before breaking the ground beneath him, rapidly dashing threw the forest while Edward swayed back and forth in a panic.
Lincoln: "You're a Helsing, a Leviathan Soldier! You're Warriors Spirit, your rage, your might. You're no Knight. A Knight is someone who fights for a greater reason, with control and order, with honor. You are a beast, you fight for your own reasons. You are a Warrior Dammit!"
Edward: "Then turn me into a Elite Warrior! The best of the best!"
Lincoln: "I figured you'd like the Lincoln training. Hell in a bottle."
It was legendary. Waking up at five in the morning to eat as much as possible, drinking throughout to numb the pain, and breaking yourself. Weather it be hitting trees until they fell, swimming through boiling lakes and drowning himself over and over, jumping off cliff sides and trees, fighting Spirit Beast after Spirit Beast, lifting and breaking boulders; you did everything you could to test every part of yourself, to create a perfect best. Not sitting down and reading about styles, not listening to a mentor, just sitting with yourself and nature to forge yourself.
Edward: "I told you I'd train under you didn't I?"
Lincoln couldn't help but smirk, right before throwing Edward against the mud. Sliding right in front of the cabin.
Lincoln: "Good. You're more like your father than you'd think. And Musashi, Jasmine, Borjn, hah all of em."
That was something that forced a smile from Edward, even if he was standing under immense strain. Ready to keep going, no matter how long it took, no matter how much it hurt.
Edward: "We're not stoppin are we?"
Lincoln: "No way in hell."
Through the night, until Edward passed out from the strain. Falling into the same deep sleep they all stayed in. Even with the constant nightmares they all fell to the floor, struggling for what seems like forever. Punching into a void no matter how strong they got to the same affect. But even if it felt like it was hell on earth. Even if Soku pushed back groups of Red Arrows, Rosemary tried her best to stay as far away from Athens Warriors as possible, Edward was rampaged through the forests, they would never be able to beat themselves. Their own voices ripping away at themselves. In thoughs nights, as they hardly slept with the strain of their training, they were all watched over. By Lincoln, by Peter, by the strange Calgary. Eagerly awaiting for the time these figures may awake a bit better than yesterday.
Calgary: "I'm sorry things are so hectic. When things get better, I promise I'll make it up to you."
The Dragon stone armored, Elite Warrior, masked leader, sitting at Rosemary's bedside. Pretending to asleep while waiting for Calgary to leave. However, for the first time in the three, almost four days that she'd been here, she finally responded. Scaring Calgary as her annoyed, tired, sorrow filled eyes locked against his soul.
Rosemary: "Why do you care about me so much!? Why won't you leave me alone!?"
Calgary: "Isn't it obvious! If you know me then you have to know!"
Rosemary: "But I guess you don't want them to know?"
As her eyes jotted to the many warriors in the large bedroom Calgary attempted to draw her gaze elsewhere, stepping toward the balcony facing the back of Athens. Facing back toward Rosemary, rocking back and forth with her legs in her arms. Leaving Calgary to hold his mask while leaning out over the balcony, taking in the salty air and the beautiful view. The garden of Athens Tower, planted by his mother. The long forest, the hills to the bay and the crashing sores. All under a bright starry sky.
Rosemary: "I don't think they'd be mad, they'd probably be happy."
Calgary: "Most people aren't. We don't really have the best reputation when it comes to places outside Walgonia. Hell there's plenty of villages, cities, tows and people in Walgonia who despise us."
Rosemary: "You're saying that to somebody with an entire country looking for them?"
Calgary: "Good point."
With long breath after long breath, he unlocked the dark helmet masking him. Slowly taking it off to reveal a broken face riddles with scars, stitches, burns, and broken bones. Most of his teeth replaced to silver or gold. But what stood out the most was what Rosemary had already anticipated. His straight, spikey, bright golden hair. Along with his sky blue eyes. A Goldenwind in the flesh. Calgary Goldenwind, the son of the Goldenwinds First ranking Lieutenant. Right under Rosemary's own mother and father.
Calgary: "Happy?"
Rosemary: "More so relived. But if we survived, how many others made it out?"
Calgary: "Ehh I wouldn't be too hopeful. Trust me, if anybody survived the Sects attack they didn't live soon after. I know you had some trouble with them didn't yah?"
Rosemary: "You could say that."
The moment he could Calgary placed the helmet back over his head, sighing with relief from being able to mask his failure. Sitting over the balcony hoping for Rosemary to step forward.
Rosemary: "If you're really who you're supposed to be, then why don't you hate me? Most people have given me crap for leaving them, why aren't you mad?"
Calgary: "Because I know as well as you do that they were shit! When you ran most of us were happy to hear somebody finally had to gut to do it. Your mom and dad were scary as hell! But I guess we got our karma for staying too long."
Rosemary couldn't help but freeze. The idea of a Goldenwind was similar a Helsing. That they had to have immense strength, immense confidence, immense pride, and of course their Golden Sages. If not they were an complete failure, a spit in the face to their history. Running from them was unheard of, especially in the higher ranks. As the Golden Stages were a rare find within the large militia, even if people said other wise. Making Calgary and Rosemary both one of a kind, two of a kind now that they were reunited.
Rosemary: "You're so they're gone. All of them?"
Calgary: "All of them. I watched Judge die. My father, my friends. The Sect showed up in their strongest forms and wiped us all out in half an hour."
The scale, the fact it happened, the loss of so many. Even the few that showed her kindness. Crushed and thrown away to be forgotten. A weight taken from her, the fact it made her feel happy crushing her down further.
Calgary: "So, it's just us."
He reached his hand toward her, only getting a hesitated breath in response. Rosemary saw Calgary was nothing more than a Golden Knight. Although Calgary saw Rosemary in a much, much different light. Causing her rejection to stab into his very OD. He held it down the best he could, crushing the stone balcony with his grasp while chucking alone. Moving toward the guards and motioning for them to leave, finally leaving Rosemary alone for the night.
Rosemary {Gray, I miss you so much.}
Bound by mana dampening crystals, Elite Warriors, the country of Athens and Walgonia, she was completely alone. In the cold hands of fate. Thinking to Ophelia, Soku, Al, Musashi, Edward, even Gordon and Peter. Trying her best to draw her mind away from the constant feeling of failure.
Gray: "Rosemary!"
Gray flung awake, freezing cold in a light blue tent. Rushing out to find a bright blue sky ahead of him, and a large fire ablaze in front of him. Atop the mountain, wearing his Levithan clothes, and facing Ryo for the first time in almost a week. Awake at least.
Ryo: "Are you alright?"
Gray: "Just had a bad dream. But did I make it!? This is the top right!?"
Ryo: "Not the top top but yes, you made it. Faster than I expected. To be honest I was preparing to go rescue you. But you made it! You focused, rested when you needed, acted when you needed, and did it all on your own!"
Ryo's smile and ecstatic voice only served to make Gray blush, looking away with an instant inner defiance. Unable to bear the lies.
Ryo: "I was watching over almost every second. And you've shown me that you're ready."
Gray: "To go to my friends!?"
Ryo: "To make it down the mountain. And after, your friends."
Gray instantly turned to the massive cloudy drop below, coated in the dense spiritual blizzard. Leaving him sighing and falling to his knees.
Gray: "How long will that take?"
Ryo pulled Gray toward the fire, opening a dense wooden box hand carved by Ryo himself. Revealing black gloves with white fingers, the same material as his Levitan gear. Along with some shoes with white bottoms, completing a Leviathan Soldiers gear. What they wear under it alt least.
Ryo: " I've had this regimen planned from the start, and you've been moving through it far better than I expected. A harsh week of mana control, building your resilience, seeing just where you were. Then a second week to hammer that in, throwing you into battle, all while training your connection. Next, a third week about maximizing and pushing your spiritual arts as far as you could handle."
Gray: "And did I do it?"
Ryo: "You did spectacularly. Throughout it all I was pushing your bodys resistance to spirit mana, you adapted to so many scenarios, got used to flowing out mana in a pinch. Every week you fought until you couldn't and fought even more. On your third week, with a bit of unusual methods, we were able to push you into your astral form. You reached the Spirit Sense! And you spent the rest of that week and some of the fourth making it here! You have impressed me, genuinely. I see why Musashi saw so much promise in you."
Gray: "Well I'm not some prodigy. Far from it."
Ryo: 'I never said you were. Prodigies don't have to practice their connection. So many can take in spirit mana like it's second nature, so many have mastered spell after spell, but it was your work ethic that truly grabbed me. Your devotion to truly being better is what made you better. And now, you're ready for the last stage in all of this."
Down by the fire was another, larger wooden crate. Within, a set of light silver armor shining with the suns light. Two light shoulder guards that laid over them, a chest plate strapped to his back, leg guards, and vambraces. All light, made to handle his mana, specially crafted for Gray Kyojin specifically. By The Leviathan Armies Black Smith, the greatest Armor Smith in Saga, and what most say the world. Although this armor was very clearly for a beginner.
Gray: "Hah! This awesome! Fits just right too!"
Ryo: "You still have much, much to learn. But, you passed the Knight Exam, and after my tutelage and Gordons, you're almost an official Knight."
Gray: "I thought I was already a Knight!?"
Ryo: "Yes but you don't seem to agree. I figured you'd like to make sure, and be officially taken in, not just told you're ready. Is that right?"
Gray: "Uh, yeah. Thank you!"
His smile was enough to make Ryo feel like all of this was truly worth it. Handing him his thermos of coffee right after.
Gray: "Thought you didn't like coffee?"
Ryo: "Yes but I know you prefer it. Now come and sit."
And they did, near the edge of the mountain, looking down toward the descending hills leading toward the south coast. Looking out in the early morning, sipping on their coffee and tea, simply taking it all in. Almost like something momentous had happened. A long building road with a checkpoint snagged. Without corruption, without hatred or vengeance. A true, stable foundation, around a soul struggling but managing. Even if his internal despair may never leave, mountains of doubt, and the possible loss along the road. Even if the Cloak of Darkness was slowly making it's way within, his friends were in danger, Walgonia was on the cusp of destruction. Even if it all seemed hopeless, he felt like he was on top of the world for once. As he had an absolute purpose, and the strength to accomplish it. And if he didn't, he was ready to share the burden to his family.
Ryo: "Before you return to Gordon and leave, I need you to have a basic understanding of rudimentary spirit arts skills. I want you to be able to consistently fight, not use giant bursts of power. To flow mana and fight on without breaks or large openings, This next week will be a bit treacherous, but if you make it through, then you will be able to officially call yourself a spirit knight. A Novice but a Spirit Knight anyway."
Gray: "Well then, let's get this thing started!"
Under it all they tried their bests. Forced to wait until they were ready, while the world moved at a breakneck pace around them. Adapting, or dying trying.