Cozy :
... Sigh.
I... I have nothing to say.
I want to write this story. In fact, right now I'm in the middle of writing both Deku Up! 6, and Messiah 26, where Katachi gets arrested.
But, well...
... Let's talk a little.
*** ***
My enlistment date is confirmed.
It's on November 27th. Joy!... ? Is it something to be happy about?
I don't know. My family and friends tell me to go there and accept the training, treating it as some sort of government-funded slimming program. Hopefully, I can shave off enough of my fat to look skinnier and more muscular.
Kind of hard, considering the fact that I already have a beer belly.
That's right - Cozy has a beer belly. Even though I don't really drink beer.
It happened because I was eating foods late in the night and sleeping immediately, thus causing the contents to retain in my stomach. As a result, the improper sleeping position and lack of proper digestion caused my stomach to bloat.
Please eat regular meals, so you may avoid an embarrassing and irreversible fate like my own. Even if I do slim down, my stomach will bloat naturally, no matter how many sit-ups or crunches I do.
I don't support the notion of war, but I guess I don't mind the free slimming. My only request in the army is that I learn/pick up something that I don't need to prepare ahead of time. Making camouflage, setting barracks, those require tools of sorts that need to be prepared beforehand which I don't like consenting to.
Something that's not troublesome, something that can be committed to memory would be nice. Like, first aid skills, or something would be ideal. Well, I say 'ideal', but like the characters in my stories, the ideal is often unattainable, isn't it? Hahahah. I'll probably end up as infantry or something. Not that it's bad, since they are often muscular, but still I won't consent to killing people.
At most, I'll shoot their arms and legs, and keep them as PoWs or something. That's as far as I would compromise, though.
It's more humane in that manner - Retaining them until the war is over, and sending them back to their countries sounds like a rather sad kind of way. Of course, whether their families are still around, whether their fiance is still alive, supporting them, those are the matters they'd have to deal with, but giving them a new lease of life is always better than ending their lives miserably.
I know I can't expect the same from my potential enemies - They've probably been disciplined and trained by their own superiors to kill the enemies on sight. But I like to think of this as an act of mercy, the only kindness and compassion I can show them.
Even if I die doing so, then let it be known that I died staying true to my beliefs. Let the world realize that I died, following in Kotsuba Katachi's footsteps - Where his enemies sought his life, he sought their empathy. He may not have parents unlike myself, but he knows the pain he's had to go through, and he will not consent to murdering a potential father and causing another child to suffer a fate like his.
*** ***
It's almost two years since I've written this story.
I didn't update as many chapters as I used to, but I have noticed that my chapters are getting longer and longer. It's amazing - Although the content I am producing seems to have lessened in quantity, they seemed to have increased in quality.
And on this Halloween night, exactly one week before my 2nd year anniversary of this story, I would like to thank everyone who has read this story of mine.
I bring good news.
After much persuasion, I have finally completed it.
Fate, Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven's Feel.
That HF true ending though... *cries* I actually liked Illyasviel. She would have made an excellent protagonist, and I would have liked to see an Illyasviel route in Fate/Stay Night. Apparently it was scrapped! To think, the horror in my head when I realized that Illyasviel's route was actually a thing before it became not-a-thing :C
... It's a nice, sweet and comparatively short story compared to what I'm writing here. Which is what I am worried about - Slowness.
*** ***
Here's my rough gauge of what the stories will look like / How it'd unfold.
Messiah would be about... 500 pages long. At least, that's my intention - If you consider it for a second, I've written about 132 pages of Messiah already. (Or so-so, excluding most of the notes.) That's like slightly more than an eighth into Messiah.
They get arrested, go forth into the land to pursue more WoP, and they battle with a lot of magi and other travelers along the way. It seems sort-of like a fight club-like series, now that I think about it - Sure, in the first 1/8 of their journey they'd find a lot of Words of Power, but as they go further into the story it becomes harder to find them.
Katachi starts becoming a formidable power by himself, and the countries are worried. Naturally, since he looks like he's from Ohde, the countries' tensions with Ohde increase and eventually that pressure will erupt, signaling the beacon of war. Eventually, they'd have to settle for choosing a side and Katachi will make a difficult decision. And then he dies almost immediately after since he's been eyed for so long that a countermeasure already existed, but it's okay if he doesn't find out.
That's pretty much Messiah in a nutshell. Messiah as itself is supposed to introduce the world, and the various basic things image power can be done with a person's mind.
In Herald, you'd see the other side of image power - Where you've seen it applied to magic in Messiah, you can learn how image power can be applied in a different manner compared to Messiah. I've planned for Herald to go about 400 pages at first, but I realized that it had potential to go 700 pages. The potential is there. I'm not sure if I'd expand upon that, but if it works, it works.
Endus Reignum will have 800 ~ 1000 pages. That's all. Assume a story of that length when it comes out.
"But wait, Cozy! Assuming it's 1000, that's a total of... Uhm... 2383 pages, isn't it? What about the rest of the 700+ pages?"
They're written as side stories and parts of lore. You'll see in the next update what I'm talking about.
*** ***
Deku Up! It's a nice side-story like series I've written in order to introduce the important elements into the story, as well as progress the story while giving a vague idea of the magic applicable in the story.
Magic in this story is simple, but not easy. It is by no means complex, but it is pretty difficult.
This diagram should simplify the process.
Something happens -> Image stored into brain -> History repeats itself -> 'What happened before' is repeated once more.
It's simple. If something's happened before, it will happen again. Again, and again. And again. [x100] (Gin no Saji reference)
But, notice how I've not mentioned 'magic' anywhere in the process?
It applies to daily actions too - The knights and non-magi are also capable of using image power. Rather than applying it in a literal format like the magi, they apply it to their swings and attacks. But how am I going to explain those? Hmm...
... Bael Out!
I'm gonna write a series like this when Herald starts. It's about Bael helping out at the infirmary, giving treatment to the students using suggestions and (to a degree) hypnotism. It can show the non-magical applications of image power pretty well, compared to Deku's own method.
The magic in this story is quite dated - You have to read up on history, understand concepts, and the like. It's like all bran for nerds.
But Bael Out! explores on the more sensual, alternate applications possible. It's important because Katachi will be using similar techniques himself during Herald.- A rather fitting side story series, if you'd ask me.
"Deku Up? Bael Out? What can we expect from Endus Reignum - Is Cillian going to be shown doing a side series?"
No. Endus Reignum... Well, by that point you should be familiar with the story's world enough to understand most of the things possible. At that point, all I'll be posting as 'side stories' are the lores of Gods and Legends, and their Assumed History vs their True History.
It'll be a LONG while before I can get to expanding the inner world within my head on this paper. And the side stories should prove interesting, because each and every one of them is long enough to be its very own story. Until then, take the story slow.
I can only hope I don't take the story as slow as you, the reader, do. More writing needs to be done. Not enough time, not enough resource, not enough motivation...
... Better get back to writing now.
Signing off,
Cozy
Friday 31 October 2014
Sunday 12 October 2014
Messiah 25 : Made_With_Your_Heart
At long last, the borter was in sight.
The caravan slowly made its way along the sandy path, until two guards hailed them.
"停!"
That word was familiar to Katachi - The borter guards from before said the same thing. Perhaps it meant 'stop' or something?
The guards proceeded to have a conversation with the villagers. They all seemed to nod in unison as they removed their respective Bands of Approval.
K : (The band exchange... Right.)
Katachi opened his bag and fished out a gray-red bracer, holding it in his hand firmly. Roberia undid her hair, and removed the green-red hairband, preparing it in her hand neatly.
The shuffling of feet and the rustling of grass could be heard from the sides of the caravan, and the guards soon showed up to receive the bands from the people within the caravan. Katachi and Roberia passed their bands along the row of people who sat beside them, which were then handed to the guards themselves.
After verifying the authenticity of the bands, the guards returned the newly-assigned bands to the respective owners. Most of the Bands of Approval were blue-green, which only served to reinforce the villagers' Auseri lineage, spare two of them - A gray-green bracer, and a green hairband.
"Oh... You're from Rugnud?" The old man sitting next to Katachi commented as he handed the bands to the two.
R : "Yes, I am." Roberia smiled back and nodded briefly in approval.
"I see. Welcome home, miss."
He chuckled a little, and continued absorbing the contents of the bamboo scroll into his short-sighted eyes.
*** ***
The border gaps between the countries are renowned for fugitives to hide. Though the protection of the country is absent, one could travel along them without fear of criticism, albeit at their own risk.
The gaps are also famous for eloping lovers to live in peace, away from people who recognize them, where they can live their lives in solitude. Though, the risk of them running into bandits or the like at night was very real, and the poor couple would either be coerced into joining them or be enslaved to them.
After all, Rugnud was still in an uproar over the disappearance of their princess, the next ruler. It stands to reason that the increasing unrest encouraged people to leave Rugnud. Surely, for the opportunistic bandits who took advantage of the tension, this was a great time for them to haul in the weak and pillage considerable amounts of fortune. The entire border surrounding Rugnud had become dangerous, and Roberia herself was forced into more than a mere couple of fights against the persistent marauders.
Roberia glanced outside the wagon, and took in the sight of the beautiful plains.
Perhaps, it was image power at work. Or perhaps it was something else altogether. But the borders are often a sight to behold - Matterless of which terrain it was, be it a lake, river, forest, plains, mountains... It was often beautiful.
Roberia wasn't well-versed in the lores and legends, unlike Katachi. But, she did understand the sin of Man known as image power, to a certain extent.
R : (I remember Luce and Faust mentioning something called the Patriot's Effect... Is this what they meant by that?)
It was common for a patriot to believe that their country ought to be superior to other countries. For example, should the people in Findel hate the people in Auser, the Findeli's image of Auser is rotten and theirs superior. But the same thing could be applied from Auser - The Auseri could resent Findel, so their positive image of Auser keeps it clean while debilitating the image of Findel in their heads.
R : (The borders cannot be claimed by any of the countries, so the image of the borders in their minds are prettier than the image of the opposing countries. At least, I think it's supposed to be.)
To think, that image power was capable of something this grand and magnificent as beautifying the lands.
And yet, looking at it from another angle, should image power be used for destruction, it would be equally potent.
Just as how Katachi's image of Rugnud being plagued with robbers meant that robbery became commonplace, a person's image of another country could change its economy to a certain extent. With Rugnud being in an uproar, the image it forms in the heads of others must be terrible now...
*cough, cough*
Roberia raised her head. The little girl seated across her next to the aged woman had a pained expression upon her face, sputtering her coughs in her breath.
R : (Poor girl. Has she had enough to drink?)
Roberia fished for the water pouch in Katachi's bag, but it was deflated. She looked around for other sources of water, and found a small pebble with a strange rune inscribed upon it.
R : (This pebble...)
It formed in Roberia's head - How Katachi had been able to create trickles and streams of water with the pebble. She wasn't ignorant of the fact that the water was temporary, but if it could ease the little girl's pain, if just a little...
Roberia held the pebble above the girl's mouth, and recalled Katachi's actions.
R : (This is Urdythari's rune, isn't it?, At least, I think it is... What did he say back then?) "... An unending river flowed."
Nothing. The pebble did not react to her, even in the slightest. Roberia felt a bit disheartened at her helplessness, and drooped her head a little.
The aged woman received the pebble from her hand with three fingers, and gently pulled her child's lips apart with her other hand.
"An unending stream flowed."
Water began trickling down the pebble, and dripped into the little girl's mouth. The aged woman smiled at Roberia, and nodded in gratitude at her gesture of concern.
It eased her mind knowing that the girl was feeling better. Though, it also embarrassed Roberia a little at how she mistook 'stream' for 'river'.
Roberia smiled back at the woman with a troubled look, but something else was... Disconcerting.
She could hear it. The sound of hooves thundering from a distance, gradually growing louder and louder. Did Katachi realize this?
Roberia turned to face Katachi, but he was sleeping soundly on the cart. It seemed as though he was exhausted by the journey, and there he was, resting his head comfortably against the over and bow. It didn't look like he was going to wake up anytime soon.
Have they arrived at the guards' border? Or have they been noticed by bandits? Discretion was the better part of valor, and if possible avoiding any form of conflict or confrontation would be the best.
Then came the sounds of roguish, intimidating laughter, and some chatter in a language she didn't recognize.
R : (Bandits... Curses. They're definitely chasing us.)
They were being chased. The world had changed, according to Duke Harlot; Since the creation of the Words of Power, people have become uneasy and paranoid, and these heinous acts almost seem as if they were encouraged by some force of the devil. It wasn't unusual to meet unwelcomed company, with how the tensions between the countries were rising.
Roberia picked up her twin scythes, and hurried towards the back of the wagon. Nothing odd was in sight; The plains were empty, but the clopping grew louder and louder. Their caravan was much slower compared to the bandits on horseback, so attempts to outrun them is close to impossible. It would only be a matter of moments before they catch up.
It would be best to wake Katachi up so that he may assist in the defense, but the time they had was ever so limited. Something had to be done immediately, and she can't crawl back to wake Katachi on the rumbling, shaking cart without drawing the attention of the bandits. Worse comes to worst, they may start firing arrows at the caravan, which would be too risky.
So she hid. Roberia laid herself flat at the far corner of the wagon bed, with her twin scythes gripped tightly. The bandits would surely halt the caravan, and demand the people inside to climb out into the open, where it is safer.
R : "Everyone, please, pretend that you are asleep."
It may have been her natural ability at leadership. It may have been her firm, commanding voice that suggested ingenuity. Roberia instructed the elders and the adults in the caravan to feign slumber, such that the bandits would be encouraged into a situation where they need to approach the wagon.
R : (I don't hear that many hooves. From the frequency, it sounds like there's about 4 horses chasing after us. I can only assume that they have a minimum of 4 people, though it's possible for two bandits to ride a single horse, in which case... There may be 8 bandits.)
Her years of hunting in the wilds and keeping the peace at night has honed her perception to that degree.
R : (It's fine, though. Even if there's 8 of them, if I can nab the first sucker that comes close as a hostage of my own, they won't be able to act rashly.)
With numbers came strength - That was the natural law of the world. With a swarm of locusts came the destruction of crops. With a pack of hyenas came the downfall of the diseased buffaloes. With a focused team came the success of their endeavors.
The only way to win against the numerical disadvantage was to use the numbers against themselves. The locusts may be bountiful, but they will contest each other for food and die off if they are deprived of crops. The hyenas may be potent as a team, but they will exile their members and separate if they are not given a share equivalent to their efforts. Humans will doubt and question each other, and the infighting and strife will weaken their teamwork.
The sound of hooves could be heard to her sides. In that small window Roberia had to strategize, the bandits had already caught up to them.
There was almost no hesitation at all. The sound of a person's boot pushing against the soil beneath his feet and the rustling of the grass gave her every information she needed - The bandit was already at the cart.
Four fingers and a thumb came into view, pressing against the rim of the wagon bed. Another hand reached outward at one of the elders, probably for him to grab the elder and yank her out. It was an effective method of coercing the people in the caravan to exit the wagon, but Roberia was well-positioned to prevent that.
She raised her scythes and scissored the outstretched hand between the blades. With a powerful, ruthless yank, she severed the bandit's hand off cleanly.
"Aaaaaaarrrrrgh!"
A man's raw, primal cry resonated out loudly. That was a bad sign - Had he simply tried to hop in the normal way, she would have been able to force him to roll further into the cart in an evasive maneuver and pin him on the wagon bed, retaining her element of stealth and gaining a hostage to deter any arrows while eliminating the bandit's potential to pose as a threat properly.
*Cozy's Notes : Murphy's Law - Nothing goes according to plan in reality, Roberia. All fights are hardcore, not all plans succeed, and not all strategies work. Your ability to take proactive decisions is considerably better than Katachi's, though Katachi's ability to predict his own range of errors (and thus plan even further ahead than she does) is drastically superior. Since, well, he is weak, after all. And the weak cannot fight using the methods of the strong, they can't simply over-power their opponents.*
Roberia quickly leapt out of the wagon, and locked the crippled bandit's neck between her scythes.
He was muttering and shouting something in a tongue she didn't understand, a language she had never heard of. This could prove troublesome.
The other four bandits around her were on their guard, with their swords and knives ready and their guards up. They had a hesitant look in their eyes, at the situation before them.
R : (Okay. I've made it this far, but... How do I tell them to lower their weapons?)
That problem hit her almost as if in retaliation to her attack - She had no way of telling the bandits to disarm themselves. The only thing she could do was to threaten the hostage's life mid-action in response to their approach, but that's just buying time before they sneak up behind her and attack her from an angle she can't defend from.
She needed to do something - Fast.
Roberia shouldn't take advantage of the hostage - At this stage where they cannot negotiate, she held no significant strategic advantage by holding him hostage. She could leave him alone as long as she crippled him sufficiently to the point where he can no longer retaliate.
With a shift in her body and a thrust, she loosened her right arm and used her left arm to choke her hostage. Using her freed right arm, she slashed at the hostage's calves one by one, and pushed him down to the ground before swinging her scythe forward, and stabbing her gardening tool cleanly into his healthy left arm.
*Cozy's Notes : Back, I say! Back! I have a menacing trowel and I'll smear that pretty face of yours with cow manure! (Actual quote - Aeehh! Stay back! I've got a butter knife! I'm gonna BUTTER THE CRAP OUT OF YOU!!) Shout-out to NicoB for making a Let's Play on both titles of Zero Escape.*
Two of the bandits stopped hesitating. Seeing their comrade being put down meant that they had no need to hold back - They charged in, with a confident and murderous look in their eyes. The other two stayed back and observed her like eagles eyeing their prey, intent on scouting her style of combat first.
R : (His right hand... A posture that indicates a stab, or a slash. Dodging in the direction of the hand is the safest, to a side of the swing.)
Roberia dodged to her left and hooked onto the sword with her scythe in defense. With her right scythe catching the blade in place, she swung her left arm forward, threatening his life with a broad swing.
The bandit ducked out of the way of the slow and obvious swing that left Roberia wide open - Except Roberia used that momentum along with the shift of her feet and the lowering of her right shoulder to spin herself further to her left, and used her right elbow to fall onto the bandit's head, knocking him out with a clean blow.
*Cozy's Notes : You go girl! Dat 八卦掌/Western brawler hybrid fighting style awesomeness.*
The other bandit slowed down and skidded across the grass a short distance upon witnessing his opponent's prowess. That was enough proof that the red-haired warrior was not an opponent he could carelessly approach. He was afraid of attacking offensively and having his guard worked around, like the fallen man before him.
The bandit reaffirmed his grip on his dagger, and lunged at Roberia.
R : (Thrust attack with a short weapon... Although the killing potential is very high, stabbing works more effectively when it is unexpected, or when it is from a longer weapon.)
Roberia relaxed her right foot and fell to her right, dodging the strike aimed at her chest, her heart.
R : (The fact that spears are designed with reach in mind shows that stabbing is powerful but predictable, thus the need to do it without being detected, or while distancing yourself from the enemy appropriately.)
Her memories of training with the various knights increased her awareness towards the opponents' patterns and attacks. Rather than waiting for a recovery from a heavy blow that would never be dealt, it was better to pressure them and force an opening. Roberia re-applied strength into her right foot, and elbowed the bandit's face with a solid knock.
The pain and impact was tremendous, given Roberia's stature - He quickly fell onto the ground with an agonizing groan. She dispatched the bandit, slashing at his arms and legs with an efficiency that could only show her experience at the feat.
Roberia raised her head to see a hooded female bandit with a long sword, holding the grip perfectly in two hands.
R : (A long sword?... Her weapon looks like it's been tailored to fit her. The grip is at a length she can grip at comfortably, and the way she steadied the weapon in her hand almost instantly... She can use it as though it were natural.)
Roberia changed her stance a bit, into one which was more suitable for catching and dodging slash attacks.
R : (She has probably used that weapon for a while now... This won't be easy, I think. The long sword's advantage is that it can still be used with one hand, though it can be held with two. The grip length is a trick - She will probably try to punch me and catch me off-guard before landing a killing blow.)
Thus far, Roberia had left all her foes alive, simply knocking them out or rendering them incapable of further combat. But she could not guarantee that her opponent would do the same, especially considering the fact that they spoke in a tongue she didn't recognize.
It was entirely possible that they did not have the same beliefs nor notions on taking another's life. Roberia may fight with honor, but she can't afford to be too careful - The bandit may throw sand at her face, stunning her for a window that could prove fatal.
Had the bandit noticed Roberia's acts of honor while observing her? Was she contemplating on using dirty tricks to end Roberia quickly? She didn't know - And that was a risk she didn't want to take.
Before her opponent could be granted the chance to pin Roberia down, she lunged at the bandit. Roberia held her arms close to her chest, so that she could protect well against stabs and slashes, and ran straight-ahead.
The bandit woman adjusted her sword in a stabbing motion, and threatened to impale Roberia should she approach any further. That was expected of a person without much arm strength, but it was a good thing - She moved the sword in reflex to protect herself.
Roberia, who had fought the two bandits from before defensively, surprised her opponent by taking the offensive out of the blue.
She skidded across the grass and changed her body's position, shifting her feet forward and leaning backwards. With a twirl of her wrists, she rotated the scythes in her hands and caught the bandit woman's sword between the bladed portions of her scythes. With a twist of her body, Roberia tugged hard and separated the long sword from the bandit woman.
But, the bandit woman withdrew a dagger from her back. How fitting, for a vigilant person who observed her enemy from afar - A back-up weapon to aid in her success should the situation turn bleak. Roberia held her arms closer to her chest, and loosened the clasp of her twin scythes on the long sword.
R : (! Something's behind me?!) "!?"
Roberia spun around quickly and whirled the scythe around her left wrist to protect her forearm. The other bandit, who had been making his advance while she was engrossed in fighting, had closed in on a range that was uncomfortable for Roberia to deal with.
She leapt backwards, but the bandit leapt forward in response... Or perhaps, in reflex? Two daggers were in his hands, and one was raised at her face while the other aimed at her heart. This was the strength of an experienced killer - She had failed to keep both bandits in her field of vision.
She had failed to recognize the teamwork these two possessed compared to the other bandits.
If she must pass, then she shall pass without anonymity. Roberia used her left hand to knock the dagger raised at her face away, while her right hand swung at the bandit's right hand, hoping to deflect the dagger aimed at her heart while maiming her murderer.
R : (So, this is the end?...)
If she was going to die because of her inexperience at fighting multiple enemies, then so be it. At the very least... Let her face be recognizable, such that her passing may be made known.
If to no one else, then to Katachi, at least.
Had she wore proper armor before setting off, instead of clothing herself in that garb to remain disguised...
*clang*
A ringing sound that accompanied her chest being stabbed... ?
The icy pain from being pierced by cold steel wasn't there.
R : (Wha- What?)
Roberia quickly rolled and got up, distancing herself from the two bandits. She backed up a considerable distance, such that they both would stay in her field of vision.
When she was at a safe distance, Roberia peeked down, and caught a glimpse of the breastplate upon her chest.
The breastplate she was certain she had left in her room, before she begun on her journey.
Where had the breastplate come from? The weight, the feel, the small dented part nearing the bottom that pressed against and hurt her left rib slightly... This was, without a shadow of a doubt, her breastplate.
She had abandoned this armor back at home. She was certain of it - Had she worn something this bulky and uncomfortable to combat Katachi, he would have been able to run away before the battle started and she would not have realized his potential.
But... How?
R : (This... This can't be real! It's a dream... Isn't it?)
As she thought that...
*** ***
B : "Father, please!-"
Y : "No more, Bael!"
Deku could hear them arguing along the hallway while he cut the rocks into neat, squarish bricks.
Y : "Your obsession with that boy is far enough! I won't tolerate your usage of my Transition tickets just to meet him!"
B : "But Father, you don't understand! He's been bewitched by that tramp! I'm sure he-"
Y : "Then you shall have to live with him being bewitched! I don't care what you think of him, or whether you are right or wrong! You're taking this to the extremes again!"
It was awkward listening in, but they were speaking at a tone loud enough for people to get away with 'eavesdropping'. They couldn't complain about having their conversation ed if they kept at that volume.
B : "But it's different this time, Father! Katachi is-"
Y : "-an expelled student, who has violated our regulations and used a class of magic outside of healing or dispelling magic on a teacher! How do you even plan on keeping him here, even if you did 'win' him back?"
Their voices grew louder and louder... Deku was certain that they were approaching the library at an unnerving pace.
B : "I... I don't! I just want to break the bewitching cast upon him!"
Y : "You mentioned that the woman is his only companion. Do you intend to abandon your duties as a caretaker and journey with him, even when you are under a magic contract?!"
B : "I-"
Y : "If that is indeed a hex placed upon him, then you can dispel it at your own leisure, when you're no longer part of this academy. There is no need to involve the school or anyone else in this matter!"
Deku felt the furious pounding on the floor, originating from Yorn's huge, gorilla-like fists. Honestly, he couldn't care less - Walls don't repair themselves. He placed the brick on a neat stack next to him and began cutting another stone.
*Cozy's Notes : I intended for Yorn to be fiercer here, reprimanding Bael on her own behavior. But, well... I considered the fact that Bertund was gone for tomb-sweeping, so Yorn wasn't under as much pressure since he doesn't have to deal with Bertund. So I made Yorn approach the problem more rationally for this part. Also, not all the students know of Katachi's desire (and quest) to collect all the WoP.*
B : "... Deku..."
There she was - Blond hair, four braids and a bust size that portrayed her femininity in an exuberant manner that would make men ogle.
The person who got him into this mess in the first place.
D : "Thanks for nothing, Bael."
He didn't really want to see her, not after what she had done to him. To be asked to deal with someone is a matter which questioned his potential devotion towards another, but to be forcefully manipulated into attacking another person like a puppet was another issue altogether.
B : "... I'm sorry, Deku."
Deku could only sigh.
D : "... You know what? I'm tired of this, Bael. I do respect you, both as a practitioner of magic and your childhood friend, as a distinguished magus. But that's not the first time you've apologized, and yet you never seem to learn from your mistakes."
Deku didn't feel like cutting stones for the moment. He absorbed the stack of bricks he crafted into his body, and used his Conduit Imbue to meld them onto the unfinished wall.
B : "... I do learn from my mistakes."
D : "No, you don't. You did such intensive research on an obscure magic Lotz used, all because that Auseri boy you liked wanted to see Fuegil in action. And in the end, what happened? He tried to mimic you, got in an accident and fell in love with another girl instead!"
B : "Shut up! I DO learn from my mistakes!"
D : "You don't look like you're reflecting on your own actions, if you asked me."
Deku absorbed another stack of bricks into his body as he continued repairing the damage he caused. He was expecting a form of reply from Bael, but from the way she turned silent she must have had a severe tongue-lashing from her father.
D : "... You know, Mister Yorn's right to a degree. That black-haired kid's companion is that... That run-away princess, isn't it? Matal-... Matal... Matal-something Roberia, the future Empress of Rugnud, eh?"
B : "Yes. He's been bewitched by her. I don't believe that Katachi is that avaricious of a person... But how does that make my father right?"
D : "Do you really intend on making Katachi journey all alone? At least he has some company to aid him in whatever the hell he's doing. It's gotten more dangerous these days, and strength in numbers doesn't sound so bad."
B : "... I..."
Bael looked miserable enough, but Deku had no intention of holding back his anger.
D : "Look. I don't care what you think, or how you justify your actions. At the very least, you need to be held responsible for your actions."
Deku clicked his tongue when he realized that he was out of bricks to mend the wall. He sat back down and began cutting the rough stones into bricks.
D : "... I heard Cillian de Vorsche died while trying to stop me."
It was a sensitive topic - One such that he didn't feel like talking about it at all, considering the fact that he was the one who supposedly punctured multiple holes in his body.
And yet... His life was sacrificed for Bael's envy. Deku couldn't let that rest easy.
B : "..."
D : "He's not that bad a person, you know? He had those strong, young eyes that aspired for the top, eager to learn about image power and bring glory to his country."
B : "I know."
D : "And for your selfish desire to kill Katachi and that red-haired companion or whatever it is you were trying to do, you forfeited him of his life. You ruined him of his future. How will you answer to his family? I even heard that Chotil Nea was supposed to be his fiance!
B : "I... I didn't mean to!"
Bael's tears were seeping into the uncut stones by then.
B : "I... I just wanted him to return to Findel... I wanted him to choose between her, or Findel..."
D : "By making me a threat to the country?"
That line of reasoning was so warped that Deku didn't know where to begin. Was this the gradual degeneration of a magus' ability to reason properly as they delved deeper into the secrets of image power?
For her to become this twisted... It wasn't unexpected, to say the least. That's the struggle a magus faces when trying to learn the sin of Man, Image Power. His uncle had been a victim himself, falling far enough to relish in depravity.
D : "... I won't confront you on that end. But you should at least show up for his funeral."
It was not mentioned to any of the students, though it should have been known through their parents already. Reciting the stories of legends and using image power to stand where the men of the tales once stood meant throwing away one's individuality.
No magic was safe in the context that one was giving up their right to live like a proper human. But in another context, as long as one was strong enough to remain undaunted and independent, magic will never produce such undesirable consequences.
It can't be helped. Bael had simply advanced that far in understanding image power. Deku wasn't sure whether to be afraid of that progress, or be awed. How will he fare when the same fate befalls upon him?
B : "I'll be sure to. I definitely will."
D : "... I sure hope that was made with your heart, and not spoken without any sincerity."
*Cozy's Notes : Guess you now sort-of know why Katachi doesn't use any magic, despite being so knowledgeable in the stories and lores of the world. Fear is a great thing, enough to paralyze anyone.*
The caravan slowly made its way along the sandy path, until two guards hailed them.
"停!"
That word was familiar to Katachi - The borter guards from before said the same thing. Perhaps it meant 'stop' or something?
The guards proceeded to have a conversation with the villagers. They all seemed to nod in unison as they removed their respective Bands of Approval.
K : (The band exchange... Right.)
Katachi opened his bag and fished out a gray-red bracer, holding it in his hand firmly. Roberia undid her hair, and removed the green-red hairband, preparing it in her hand neatly.
The shuffling of feet and the rustling of grass could be heard from the sides of the caravan, and the guards soon showed up to receive the bands from the people within the caravan. Katachi and Roberia passed their bands along the row of people who sat beside them, which were then handed to the guards themselves.
After verifying the authenticity of the bands, the guards returned the newly-assigned bands to the respective owners. Most of the Bands of Approval were blue-green, which only served to reinforce the villagers' Auseri lineage, spare two of them - A gray-green bracer, and a green hairband.
"Oh... You're from Rugnud?" The old man sitting next to Katachi commented as he handed the bands to the two.
R : "Yes, I am." Roberia smiled back and nodded briefly in approval.
"I see. Welcome home, miss."
He chuckled a little, and continued absorbing the contents of the bamboo scroll into his short-sighted eyes.
*** ***
The border gaps between the countries are renowned for fugitives to hide. Though the protection of the country is absent, one could travel along them without fear of criticism, albeit at their own risk.
The gaps are also famous for eloping lovers to live in peace, away from people who recognize them, where they can live their lives in solitude. Though, the risk of them running into bandits or the like at night was very real, and the poor couple would either be coerced into joining them or be enslaved to them.
After all, Rugnud was still in an uproar over the disappearance of their princess, the next ruler. It stands to reason that the increasing unrest encouraged people to leave Rugnud. Surely, for the opportunistic bandits who took advantage of the tension, this was a great time for them to haul in the weak and pillage considerable amounts of fortune. The entire border surrounding Rugnud had become dangerous, and Roberia herself was forced into more than a mere couple of fights against the persistent marauders.
Roberia glanced outside the wagon, and took in the sight of the beautiful plains.
Perhaps, it was image power at work. Or perhaps it was something else altogether. But the borders are often a sight to behold - Matterless of which terrain it was, be it a lake, river, forest, plains, mountains... It was often beautiful.
Roberia wasn't well-versed in the lores and legends, unlike Katachi. But, she did understand the sin of Man known as image power, to a certain extent.
R : (I remember Luce and Faust mentioning something called the Patriot's Effect... Is this what they meant by that?)
It was common for a patriot to believe that their country ought to be superior to other countries. For example, should the people in Findel hate the people in Auser, the Findeli's image of Auser is rotten and theirs superior. But the same thing could be applied from Auser - The Auseri could resent Findel, so their positive image of Auser keeps it clean while debilitating the image of Findel in their heads.
R : (The borders cannot be claimed by any of the countries, so the image of the borders in their minds are prettier than the image of the opposing countries. At least, I think it's supposed to be.)
To think, that image power was capable of something this grand and magnificent as beautifying the lands.
And yet, looking at it from another angle, should image power be used for destruction, it would be equally potent.
Just as how Katachi's image of Rugnud being plagued with robbers meant that robbery became commonplace, a person's image of another country could change its economy to a certain extent. With Rugnud being in an uproar, the image it forms in the heads of others must be terrible now...
*cough, cough*
Roberia raised her head. The little girl seated across her next to the aged woman had a pained expression upon her face, sputtering her coughs in her breath.
R : (Poor girl. Has she had enough to drink?)
Roberia fished for the water pouch in Katachi's bag, but it was deflated. She looked around for other sources of water, and found a small pebble with a strange rune inscribed upon it.
R : (This pebble...)
It formed in Roberia's head - How Katachi had been able to create trickles and streams of water with the pebble. She wasn't ignorant of the fact that the water was temporary, but if it could ease the little girl's pain, if just a little...
Roberia held the pebble above the girl's mouth, and recalled Katachi's actions.
R : (This is Urdythari's rune, isn't it?, At least, I think it is... What did he say back then?) "... An unending river flowed."
Nothing. The pebble did not react to her, even in the slightest. Roberia felt a bit disheartened at her helplessness, and drooped her head a little.
The aged woman received the pebble from her hand with three fingers, and gently pulled her child's lips apart with her other hand.
"An unending stream flowed."
Water began trickling down the pebble, and dripped into the little girl's mouth. The aged woman smiled at Roberia, and nodded in gratitude at her gesture of concern.
It eased her mind knowing that the girl was feeling better. Though, it also embarrassed Roberia a little at how she mistook 'stream' for 'river'.
Roberia smiled back at the woman with a troubled look, but something else was... Disconcerting.
She could hear it. The sound of hooves thundering from a distance, gradually growing louder and louder. Did Katachi realize this?
Roberia turned to face Katachi, but he was sleeping soundly on the cart. It seemed as though he was exhausted by the journey, and there he was, resting his head comfortably against the over and bow. It didn't look like he was going to wake up anytime soon.
Have they arrived at the guards' border? Or have they been noticed by bandits? Discretion was the better part of valor, and if possible avoiding any form of conflict or confrontation would be the best.
Then came the sounds of roguish, intimidating laughter, and some chatter in a language she didn't recognize.
R : (Bandits... Curses. They're definitely chasing us.)
They were being chased. The world had changed, according to Duke Harlot; Since the creation of the Words of Power, people have become uneasy and paranoid, and these heinous acts almost seem as if they were encouraged by some force of the devil. It wasn't unusual to meet unwelcomed company, with how the tensions between the countries were rising.
Roberia picked up her twin scythes, and hurried towards the back of the wagon. Nothing odd was in sight; The plains were empty, but the clopping grew louder and louder. Their caravan was much slower compared to the bandits on horseback, so attempts to outrun them is close to impossible. It would only be a matter of moments before they catch up.
It would be best to wake Katachi up so that he may assist in the defense, but the time they had was ever so limited. Something had to be done immediately, and she can't crawl back to wake Katachi on the rumbling, shaking cart without drawing the attention of the bandits. Worse comes to worst, they may start firing arrows at the caravan, which would be too risky.
So she hid. Roberia laid herself flat at the far corner of the wagon bed, with her twin scythes gripped tightly. The bandits would surely halt the caravan, and demand the people inside to climb out into the open, where it is safer.
R : "Everyone, please, pretend that you are asleep."
It may have been her natural ability at leadership. It may have been her firm, commanding voice that suggested ingenuity. Roberia instructed the elders and the adults in the caravan to feign slumber, such that the bandits would be encouraged into a situation where they need to approach the wagon.
R : (I don't hear that many hooves. From the frequency, it sounds like there's about 4 horses chasing after us. I can only assume that they have a minimum of 4 people, though it's possible for two bandits to ride a single horse, in which case... There may be 8 bandits.)
Her years of hunting in the wilds and keeping the peace at night has honed her perception to that degree.
R : (It's fine, though. Even if there's 8 of them, if I can nab the first sucker that comes close as a hostage of my own, they won't be able to act rashly.)
With numbers came strength - That was the natural law of the world. With a swarm of locusts came the destruction of crops. With a pack of hyenas came the downfall of the diseased buffaloes. With a focused team came the success of their endeavors.
The only way to win against the numerical disadvantage was to use the numbers against themselves. The locusts may be bountiful, but they will contest each other for food and die off if they are deprived of crops. The hyenas may be potent as a team, but they will exile their members and separate if they are not given a share equivalent to their efforts. Humans will doubt and question each other, and the infighting and strife will weaken their teamwork.
The sound of hooves could be heard to her sides. In that small window Roberia had to strategize, the bandits had already caught up to them.
There was almost no hesitation at all. The sound of a person's boot pushing against the soil beneath his feet and the rustling of the grass gave her every information she needed - The bandit was already at the cart.
Four fingers and a thumb came into view, pressing against the rim of the wagon bed. Another hand reached outward at one of the elders, probably for him to grab the elder and yank her out. It was an effective method of coercing the people in the caravan to exit the wagon, but Roberia was well-positioned to prevent that.
She raised her scythes and scissored the outstretched hand between the blades. With a powerful, ruthless yank, she severed the bandit's hand off cleanly.
"Aaaaaaarrrrrgh!"
A man's raw, primal cry resonated out loudly. That was a bad sign - Had he simply tried to hop in the normal way, she would have been able to force him to roll further into the cart in an evasive maneuver and pin him on the wagon bed, retaining her element of stealth and gaining a hostage to deter any arrows while eliminating the bandit's potential to pose as a threat properly.
*Cozy's Notes : Murphy's Law - Nothing goes according to plan in reality, Roberia. All fights are hardcore, not all plans succeed, and not all strategies work. Your ability to take proactive decisions is considerably better than Katachi's, though Katachi's ability to predict his own range of errors (and thus plan even further ahead than she does) is drastically superior. Since, well, he is weak, after all. And the weak cannot fight using the methods of the strong, they can't simply over-power their opponents.*
Roberia quickly leapt out of the wagon, and locked the crippled bandit's neck between her scythes.
He was muttering and shouting something in a tongue she didn't understand, a language she had never heard of. This could prove troublesome.
The other four bandits around her were on their guard, with their swords and knives ready and their guards up. They had a hesitant look in their eyes, at the situation before them.
R : (Okay. I've made it this far, but... How do I tell them to lower their weapons?)
That problem hit her almost as if in retaliation to her attack - She had no way of telling the bandits to disarm themselves. The only thing she could do was to threaten the hostage's life mid-action in response to their approach, but that's just buying time before they sneak up behind her and attack her from an angle she can't defend from.
She needed to do something - Fast.
Roberia shouldn't take advantage of the hostage - At this stage where they cannot negotiate, she held no significant strategic advantage by holding him hostage. She could leave him alone as long as she crippled him sufficiently to the point where he can no longer retaliate.
With a shift in her body and a thrust, she loosened her right arm and used her left arm to choke her hostage. Using her freed right arm, she slashed at the hostage's calves one by one, and pushed him down to the ground before swinging her scythe forward, and stabbing her gardening tool cleanly into his healthy left arm.
*Cozy's Notes : Back, I say! Back! I have a menacing trowel and I'll smear that pretty face of yours with cow manure! (Actual quote - Aeehh! Stay back! I've got a butter knife! I'm gonna BUTTER THE CRAP OUT OF YOU!!) Shout-out to NicoB for making a Let's Play on both titles of Zero Escape.*
Two of the bandits stopped hesitating. Seeing their comrade being put down meant that they had no need to hold back - They charged in, with a confident and murderous look in their eyes. The other two stayed back and observed her like eagles eyeing their prey, intent on scouting her style of combat first.
R : (His right hand... A posture that indicates a stab, or a slash. Dodging in the direction of the hand is the safest, to a side of the swing.)
Roberia dodged to her left and hooked onto the sword with her scythe in defense. With her right scythe catching the blade in place, she swung her left arm forward, threatening his life with a broad swing.
The bandit ducked out of the way of the slow and obvious swing that left Roberia wide open - Except Roberia used that momentum along with the shift of her feet and the lowering of her right shoulder to spin herself further to her left, and used her right elbow to fall onto the bandit's head, knocking him out with a clean blow.
*Cozy's Notes : You go girl! Dat 八卦掌/Western brawler hybrid fighting style awesomeness.*
The other bandit slowed down and skidded across the grass a short distance upon witnessing his opponent's prowess. That was enough proof that the red-haired warrior was not an opponent he could carelessly approach. He was afraid of attacking offensively and having his guard worked around, like the fallen man before him.
The bandit reaffirmed his grip on his dagger, and lunged at Roberia.
R : (Thrust attack with a short weapon... Although the killing potential is very high, stabbing works more effectively when it is unexpected, or when it is from a longer weapon.)
Roberia relaxed her right foot and fell to her right, dodging the strike aimed at her chest, her heart.
R : (The fact that spears are designed with reach in mind shows that stabbing is powerful but predictable, thus the need to do it without being detected, or while distancing yourself from the enemy appropriately.)
Her memories of training with the various knights increased her awareness towards the opponents' patterns and attacks. Rather than waiting for a recovery from a heavy blow that would never be dealt, it was better to pressure them and force an opening. Roberia re-applied strength into her right foot, and elbowed the bandit's face with a solid knock.
The pain and impact was tremendous, given Roberia's stature - He quickly fell onto the ground with an agonizing groan. She dispatched the bandit, slashing at his arms and legs with an efficiency that could only show her experience at the feat.
Roberia raised her head to see a hooded female bandit with a long sword, holding the grip perfectly in two hands.
R : (A long sword?... Her weapon looks like it's been tailored to fit her. The grip is at a length she can grip at comfortably, and the way she steadied the weapon in her hand almost instantly... She can use it as though it were natural.)
Roberia changed her stance a bit, into one which was more suitable for catching and dodging slash attacks.
R : (She has probably used that weapon for a while now... This won't be easy, I think. The long sword's advantage is that it can still be used with one hand, though it can be held with two. The grip length is a trick - She will probably try to punch me and catch me off-guard before landing a killing blow.)
Thus far, Roberia had left all her foes alive, simply knocking them out or rendering them incapable of further combat. But she could not guarantee that her opponent would do the same, especially considering the fact that they spoke in a tongue she didn't recognize.
It was entirely possible that they did not have the same beliefs nor notions on taking another's life. Roberia may fight with honor, but she can't afford to be too careful - The bandit may throw sand at her face, stunning her for a window that could prove fatal.
Had the bandit noticed Roberia's acts of honor while observing her? Was she contemplating on using dirty tricks to end Roberia quickly? She didn't know - And that was a risk she didn't want to take.
Before her opponent could be granted the chance to pin Roberia down, she lunged at the bandit. Roberia held her arms close to her chest, so that she could protect well against stabs and slashes, and ran straight-ahead.
The bandit woman adjusted her sword in a stabbing motion, and threatened to impale Roberia should she approach any further. That was expected of a person without much arm strength, but it was a good thing - She moved the sword in reflex to protect herself.
Roberia, who had fought the two bandits from before defensively, surprised her opponent by taking the offensive out of the blue.
She skidded across the grass and changed her body's position, shifting her feet forward and leaning backwards. With a twirl of her wrists, she rotated the scythes in her hands and caught the bandit woman's sword between the bladed portions of her scythes. With a twist of her body, Roberia tugged hard and separated the long sword from the bandit woman.
But, the bandit woman withdrew a dagger from her back. How fitting, for a vigilant person who observed her enemy from afar - A back-up weapon to aid in her success should the situation turn bleak. Roberia held her arms closer to her chest, and loosened the clasp of her twin scythes on the long sword.
R : (! Something's behind me?!) "!?"
Roberia spun around quickly and whirled the scythe around her left wrist to protect her forearm. The other bandit, who had been making his advance while she was engrossed in fighting, had closed in on a range that was uncomfortable for Roberia to deal with.
She leapt backwards, but the bandit leapt forward in response... Or perhaps, in reflex? Two daggers were in his hands, and one was raised at her face while the other aimed at her heart. This was the strength of an experienced killer - She had failed to keep both bandits in her field of vision.
She had failed to recognize the teamwork these two possessed compared to the other bandits.
If she must pass, then she shall pass without anonymity. Roberia used her left hand to knock the dagger raised at her face away, while her right hand swung at the bandit's right hand, hoping to deflect the dagger aimed at her heart while maiming her murderer.
R : (So, this is the end?...)
If she was going to die because of her inexperience at fighting multiple enemies, then so be it. At the very least... Let her face be recognizable, such that her passing may be made known.
If to no one else, then to Katachi, at least.
Had she wore proper armor before setting off, instead of clothing herself in that garb to remain disguised...
*clang*
A ringing sound that accompanied her chest being stabbed... ?
The icy pain from being pierced by cold steel wasn't there.
R : (Wha- What?)
Roberia quickly rolled and got up, distancing herself from the two bandits. She backed up a considerable distance, such that they both would stay in her field of vision.
When she was at a safe distance, Roberia peeked down, and caught a glimpse of the breastplate upon her chest.
The breastplate she was certain she had left in her room, before she begun on her journey.
Where had the breastplate come from? The weight, the feel, the small dented part nearing the bottom that pressed against and hurt her left rib slightly... This was, without a shadow of a doubt, her breastplate.
She had abandoned this armor back at home. She was certain of it - Had she worn something this bulky and uncomfortable to combat Katachi, he would have been able to run away before the battle started and she would not have realized his potential.
But... How?
R : (This... This can't be real! It's a dream... Isn't it?)
As she thought that...
*** ***
B : "Father, please!-"
Y : "No more, Bael!"
Deku could hear them arguing along the hallway while he cut the rocks into neat, squarish bricks.
Y : "Your obsession with that boy is far enough! I won't tolerate your usage of my Transition tickets just to meet him!"
B : "But Father, you don't understand! He's been bewitched by that tramp! I'm sure he-"
Y : "Then you shall have to live with him being bewitched! I don't care what you think of him, or whether you are right or wrong! You're taking this to the extremes again!"
It was awkward listening in, but they were speaking at a tone loud enough for people to get away with 'eavesdropping'. They couldn't complain about having their conversation ed if they kept at that volume.
B : "But it's different this time, Father! Katachi is-"
Y : "-an expelled student, who has violated our regulations and used a class of magic outside of healing or dispelling magic on a teacher! How do you even plan on keeping him here, even if you did 'win' him back?"
Their voices grew louder and louder... Deku was certain that they were approaching the library at an unnerving pace.
B : "I... I don't! I just want to break the bewitching cast upon him!"
Y : "You mentioned that the woman is his only companion. Do you intend to abandon your duties as a caretaker and journey with him, even when you are under a magic contract?!"
B : "I-"
Y : "If that is indeed a hex placed upon him, then you can dispel it at your own leisure, when you're no longer part of this academy. There is no need to involve the school or anyone else in this matter!"
Deku felt the furious pounding on the floor, originating from Yorn's huge, gorilla-like fists. Honestly, he couldn't care less - Walls don't repair themselves. He placed the brick on a neat stack next to him and began cutting another stone.
*Cozy's Notes : I intended for Yorn to be fiercer here, reprimanding Bael on her own behavior. But, well... I considered the fact that Bertund was gone for tomb-sweeping, so Yorn wasn't under as much pressure since he doesn't have to deal with Bertund. So I made Yorn approach the problem more rationally for this part. Also, not all the students know of Katachi's desire (and quest) to collect all the WoP.*
B : "... Deku..."
There she was - Blond hair, four braids and a bust size that portrayed her femininity in an exuberant manner that would make men ogle.
The person who got him into this mess in the first place.
D : "Thanks for nothing, Bael."
He didn't really want to see her, not after what she had done to him. To be asked to deal with someone is a matter which questioned his potential devotion towards another, but to be forcefully manipulated into attacking another person like a puppet was another issue altogether.
B : "... I'm sorry, Deku."
Deku could only sigh.
D : "... You know what? I'm tired of this, Bael. I do respect you, both as a practitioner of magic and your childhood friend, as a distinguished magus. But that's not the first time you've apologized, and yet you never seem to learn from your mistakes."
Deku didn't feel like cutting stones for the moment. He absorbed the stack of bricks he crafted into his body, and used his Conduit Imbue to meld them onto the unfinished wall.
B : "... I do learn from my mistakes."
D : "No, you don't. You did such intensive research on an obscure magic Lotz used, all because that Auseri boy you liked wanted to see Fuegil in action. And in the end, what happened? He tried to mimic you, got in an accident and fell in love with another girl instead!"
B : "Shut up! I DO learn from my mistakes!"
D : "You don't look like you're reflecting on your own actions, if you asked me."
Deku absorbed another stack of bricks into his body as he continued repairing the damage he caused. He was expecting a form of reply from Bael, but from the way she turned silent she must have had a severe tongue-lashing from her father.
D : "... You know, Mister Yorn's right to a degree. That black-haired kid's companion is that... That run-away princess, isn't it? Matal-... Matal... Matal-something Roberia, the future Empress of Rugnud, eh?"
B : "Yes. He's been bewitched by her. I don't believe that Katachi is that avaricious of a person... But how does that make my father right?"
D : "Do you really intend on making Katachi journey all alone? At least he has some company to aid him in whatever the hell he's doing. It's gotten more dangerous these days, and strength in numbers doesn't sound so bad."
B : "... I..."
Bael looked miserable enough, but Deku had no intention of holding back his anger.
D : "Look. I don't care what you think, or how you justify your actions. At the very least, you need to be held responsible for your actions."
Deku clicked his tongue when he realized that he was out of bricks to mend the wall. He sat back down and began cutting the rough stones into bricks.
D : "... I heard Cillian de Vorsche died while trying to stop me."
It was a sensitive topic - One such that he didn't feel like talking about it at all, considering the fact that he was the one who supposedly punctured multiple holes in his body.
And yet... His life was sacrificed for Bael's envy. Deku couldn't let that rest easy.
B : "..."
D : "He's not that bad a person, you know? He had those strong, young eyes that aspired for the top, eager to learn about image power and bring glory to his country."
B : "I know."
D : "And for your selfish desire to kill Katachi and that red-haired companion or whatever it is you were trying to do, you forfeited him of his life. You ruined him of his future. How will you answer to his family? I even heard that Chotil Nea was supposed to be his fiance!
B : "I... I didn't mean to!"
Bael's tears were seeping into the uncut stones by then.
B : "I... I just wanted him to return to Findel... I wanted him to choose between her, or Findel..."
D : "By making me a threat to the country?"
That line of reasoning was so warped that Deku didn't know where to begin. Was this the gradual degeneration of a magus' ability to reason properly as they delved deeper into the secrets of image power?
For her to become this twisted... It wasn't unexpected, to say the least. That's the struggle a magus faces when trying to learn the sin of Man, Image Power. His uncle had been a victim himself, falling far enough to relish in depravity.
D : "... I won't confront you on that end. But you should at least show up for his funeral."
It was not mentioned to any of the students, though it should have been known through their parents already. Reciting the stories of legends and using image power to stand where the men of the tales once stood meant throwing away one's individuality.
No magic was safe in the context that one was giving up their right to live like a proper human. But in another context, as long as one was strong enough to remain undaunted and independent, magic will never produce such undesirable consequences.
It can't be helped. Bael had simply advanced that far in understanding image power. Deku wasn't sure whether to be afraid of that progress, or be awed. How will he fare when the same fate befalls upon him?
B : "I'll be sure to. I definitely will."
D : "... I sure hope that was made with your heart, and not spoken without any sincerity."
*Cozy's Notes : Guess you now sort-of know why Katachi doesn't use any magic, despite being so knowledgeable in the stories and lores of the world. Fear is a great thing, enough to paralyze anyone.*
*** ***
... The chestplate turned back into a feather.
Yvolki's feather.
R : (The feather? It transformed into my breastplate?)
Grabbing the black, glittery feather, Roberia backed off slowly as the two bandits re-positioned themselves while facing her, afraid of dropping their guard. The female bandit picked up the sword Roberia had disarmed from her, and sheathed the dagger with extra care, hinting at the poisonous nature of its wicked blade.
R : (Now that I think about it, this isn't the first time it's happened. The same thing happened with the twig as well. Did the twig transform into my grey sword because it touched the feather?)
That added a new element to the battle - She could, potentially, create that grey sword once more and hold a great advantage against them. The sword's length and range made it suitable for deterring them and dragging the battle into mid-range combat, which Roberia was accustomed to with the big, cumbersome blade.
If they were to try any long-range battles with projectiles, she could probably deflect or dodge any projectiles with ease. Her twin scythes worked best at short range, which meant that she was well-covered in all fields.
*Cozy's Notes : In case you haven't noticed, Roberia's 'grey sword' is actually a relatively thick Zweihander with a reinforced core.. Zweihanders in real life weigh about 2 ~ 3.2kg, and the Zweihander in Dark Souls weighs 10kg. (in Dark Souls 2, it's 12kg. Like, lolwtf, that's absurd.) I settled for a good balance - 8kg, or slightly over 17 & ½ pounds. A sort-of halfway point between 3.2 and 12.*
Now, the important thing was figuring out the problem. The grey sword lasted for a good while when she fought Yvolki, but the breastplate lasted only for a short moment just now. Something must have forced the feather to transform.
As Roberia thought that, the two bandits continued standing in a cautious pose, being unnaturally still. That worked in her favor - She had more time to work out the problem-
K : "Roberia? You can relax now. They can't move, you know?"
That voice.
Roberia recognized that voice - It belonged to her sleeping partner, Katachi.
She turned her head and looked back at the caravan behind her. Katachi was walking towards her calmly, and then... He walked past her and continued towards the bandits.
R : (That's right! He did mention something about being able to stop things from moving in part.)
She had misjudged the situation.
Had Roberia alerted Katachi carefully, he would have easily 'fixated' all the bandits in place, reducing any and every possible risk that could have been. Had Katachi been awake to stop them, the entire battle would have been unnecessary.
The black-haired boy removed the weapons they held, and dislodged their respective sheathes. He stripped all the bandits of their tools and equipment cleanly, with diligence similar to a blacksmith sharpening their weapon with a whetstone carefully.
... Did Katachi see the crest embedded upon her breastplate?
R : "It took you long enough! What were you doing all this time?"
K : "That really scared me there. I heard the sounds of blades crashing and got the fright of my life. By the time I climbed out of the cart, you pulled that sword out of her hands."
Did Katachi recognize the emblem engraved on its front?
R : "Then what? I was almost killed there!"
K : "Well, I uh... I did want to-... Uh... I wanted to scream that the guy was about to hit you from behind, but you seemed to realize it yourself. I... I didn't want to distract you by calling out to you, so I kept silent and tried to hide myself from sight first."
As expected, his choice in resolving the situation was cowardly and kept battling to a minimum.
Roberia certainly wasn't used to fighting with a partner this timid.
It would probably take a long time before she could accustom and familiarize herself to him.
*Cozy's Notes : Why is it Made_With_Your_Heart? Cuz a dream is a wish your heart makes! Get it? Yvolki's the Bird of Dream. Heh. Heheh.*
... The chestplate turned back into a feather.
Yvolki's feather.
R : (The feather? It transformed into my breastplate?)
Grabbing the black, glittery feather, Roberia backed off slowly as the two bandits re-positioned themselves while facing her, afraid of dropping their guard. The female bandit picked up the sword Roberia had disarmed from her, and sheathed the dagger with extra care, hinting at the poisonous nature of its wicked blade.
R : (Now that I think about it, this isn't the first time it's happened. The same thing happened with the twig as well. Did the twig transform into my grey sword because it touched the feather?)
That added a new element to the battle - She could, potentially, create that grey sword once more and hold a great advantage against them. The sword's length and range made it suitable for deterring them and dragging the battle into mid-range combat, which Roberia was accustomed to with the big, cumbersome blade.
If they were to try any long-range battles with projectiles, she could probably deflect or dodge any projectiles with ease. Her twin scythes worked best at short range, which meant that she was well-covered in all fields.
*Cozy's Notes : In case you haven't noticed, Roberia's 'grey sword' is actually a relatively thick Zweihander with a reinforced core.. Zweihanders in real life weigh about 2 ~ 3.2kg, and the Zweihander in Dark Souls weighs 10kg. (in Dark Souls 2, it's 12kg. Like, lolwtf, that's absurd.) I settled for a good balance - 8kg, or slightly over 17 & ½ pounds. A sort-of halfway point between 3.2 and 12.*
Now, the important thing was figuring out the problem. The grey sword lasted for a good while when she fought Yvolki, but the breastplate lasted only for a short moment just now. Something must have forced the feather to transform.
As Roberia thought that, the two bandits continued standing in a cautious pose, being unnaturally still. That worked in her favor - She had more time to work out the problem-
K : "Roberia? You can relax now. They can't move, you know?"
That voice.
Roberia recognized that voice - It belonged to her sleeping partner, Katachi.
She turned her head and looked back at the caravan behind her. Katachi was walking towards her calmly, and then... He walked past her and continued towards the bandits.
R : (That's right! He did mention something about being able to stop things from moving in part.)
She had misjudged the situation.
Had Roberia alerted Katachi carefully, he would have easily 'fixated' all the bandits in place, reducing any and every possible risk that could have been. Had Katachi been awake to stop them, the entire battle would have been unnecessary.
The black-haired boy removed the weapons they held, and dislodged their respective sheathes. He stripped all the bandits of their tools and equipment cleanly, with diligence similar to a blacksmith sharpening their weapon with a whetstone carefully.
... Did Katachi see the crest embedded upon her breastplate?
R : "It took you long enough! What were you doing all this time?"
K : "That really scared me there. I heard the sounds of blades crashing and got the fright of my life. By the time I climbed out of the cart, you pulled that sword out of her hands."
Did Katachi recognize the emblem engraved on its front?
R : "Then what? I was almost killed there!"
K : "Well, I uh... I did want to-... Uh... I wanted to scream that the guy was about to hit you from behind, but you seemed to realize it yourself. I... I didn't want to distract you by calling out to you, so I kept silent and tried to hide myself from sight first."
As expected, his choice in resolving the situation was cowardly and kept battling to a minimum.
Roberia certainly wasn't used to fighting with a partner this timid.
It would probably take a long time before she could accustom and familiarize herself to him.
*Cozy's Notes : Why is it Made_With_Your_Heart? Cuz a dream is a wish your heart makes! Get it? Yvolki's the Bird of Dream. Heh. Heheh.*
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)