It was all over now. The Golem had crumbled away with a roar, terrified as its last moments of life were ripped from it. Bodies and blood covered the entire city, and once proud buildings now laid in ruins while others burned from magic and incidents. It was just like with the Dreadnought. At any other time, he would have been disgusted and horrified by the sight and his actions.
Yet Leon felt nothing but pride. He had proven himself as a formidable threat to the world at large, and this time, there were no rebels waiting to blow everything up and kill him in the process.
That left one more task for him to accomplish. He had been very careful not to reveal his name, even to the one warrior who found it necessary to attack him. The poor fool... In the end, it was a futile attempt. Even saving the people would have been a better option than fighting the destruction’s architect.
The only ones who knew his involvement aside from Romulus himself were Lord DeRosso, his lieutenant, Kunsel, and the firestarter, Claire.....and Ashe. That spoiled, idealistic princess turned out to be a traitor in the end, not that the Dark Knight was shocking in any way. He knew she was as bad as Hilda. Their first meeting alone had proven so. No, he would hunt her down, arrest her, and present her to Romulus. That way, he left no loose ends to pull threads from.
Calling a meeting for the entire town, he helped his own soldiers usher the frightened, heartbroken people of the mining city to the remains of the town square. Not many had survived the slaughter, but the few that had seemed to be traumatized and looking for answers, any answers at all that would explain the nightmare they had just endured.
Leon knew their pain well. He knew he could help them at least cope.
“Citizens of Sheffield, this is a day of great loss. Many of our close friends and families have passed on due to invading beasts within our town. The death toll includes most of our dear leaders and standing army as well as all of the Quartier’s family. It will take much time, maybe even years, to rebuild even a semblance of what we have lost.”
“However, it should now sadly be clear Raksana has abandoned us as has Joyce and her heroes. Where were they as their people were slaughtered? Why weren’t any of them fighting off the monsters like the rest of us? The answer is disheartening: survival. As long as the Quartier lives, they can perpetuate their failed religion, even if this means sacrificing her entire family to live.”
“Now, I consider you all like my family. You’ve all taken me in, allowed me to grow and flourish, and for that, I’ve given back to the community. I protected us from bandits and monsters before, and I tried my best to protect innocent lives today. It pains me to know I couldn’t protect enough people.”
“If you would allow me to, I wish to help Sheffield rebuild in any way I can. Allow me to make executive decisions on your behalf and protect you from any and all threats as we move forward. We have lost much, but the world will see our city rise from the ashes without a Quartier or a god. We can become great again, but only if we all work towards that goal. I only wish to act as your shield until we can stand on our own feet again, a shield against the other cities and any outside threats wishing us harm.”
“I understand the fear you all hold while looking into the future. This is not the first time I’ve experienced it myself. However, that’s how I know we can become great. I’ve been felled multiple times, only to pick myself back up and continue on. I feel I can help you do the same. In time, Sheffield will become a powerful city once again. Please trust me.”
Everyone in the audience seemed to ponder his words for what seemed like forever before they began applauding him. They trusted him fully now. Even his lies were believed. This was the final nail in Raksana’s coffin. The town was his, which meant it also belonged to Romulus. His master would be pleased with his success, and he would become the envy of the other villains.
Leon was triumphant. The Dark Knight had finally won.
Exhausting was the word he would use to describe everything that had gone on. Rather, everything
that was still going on... it was just a matter of him being completely drained. No, not of power. Of
course he wasn’t drained of power. It was... everything else. He was done with it all. Was there
even anything left, anyway? ... It sure didn’t seem like it. After all, any chance at normality from this
point onward was practically unattainable.
There was no going back from this. This was going to stain his conscience, stain his memory, and
most importantly, when it was returned to him, stain his heart. Maybe his actions were out of pure
cowardice. After all, maybe he was afraid of all of the change that would come with being recom-
pleted... So he was choosing, as he stumbled, bloodied and burned, fatigue and exhaustion written
across his features, to end it all.
Fuck, he was so angry at himself. At the world he’d been plunged into.
Emerald hues gazed out, from the peak of the still rumbling, still furious volcano. He looked past
the trivial places, and stopped when he lay eyes upon the absolutely enflamed city of Calcheth. It
was a place he’d called home -- a place many had called home. And as he continued to stare at
the damage he’d done, he couldn’t help but feel sick; feel nauseous at what he’d caused.
It was a good thing the volcano was going to serve as a means to his end. Now he blinked, rather
groggily, down at the boiling lava within. It would just take one more step; he could just make the
scorching substance rise up enough to swallow him whole and then --
Footsteps interrupted him.
That dragon was flying far too close to the temple. And she would not be having it. It was difficult enough to protect the place alone when all of these fiends kept attacking. Even if she only deterred the beast a little so be it. Raising her keyblade, she followed the flight path of her target, aiming carefully. And when she was certain she had her magic locked onto him, she released her shotlock: Lightbloom, striking him with several bursts of light energy as she spun gracefully. Some of the stray beams of light bounced off of her and took out some of the smaller monsters.
"Head back" was the order. Main defense, remain on the city. Archers above, prepare and fire at will. Black mages, to remain below. The temple guards will keep the temple safe. Lenne was exhausted. So much running, all the magic used, so much death... The civilians were now safe inside the secured corridors hidden from outsiders, and their prayers grew bigger by the second. Something was wrong. No matter how fast she ran to track the giant snake, it was as if it knew where she was heading. Did the vile creature wanted to face the wrath of their lord at the temple? Was that it? So be it. The orders had changed. Now Lenne would go to the temple, all but the temple guards would remain at the city. It was time to end it all.
The once harmonious temple road was now flooded. The flowers and other plants that grew, dead, sacrificed so the city could prevail, so the people could feel safe.
The Quartier of Water promised herself to grow all green again, plant everything on her own if she must, but all evil would be cleansed from her city, and Myrefall will shine again.
Pain was all she felt, deep in her heart and with each footstep. She had to go to her city, to rescue her people, to get rid of everything that poisoned her water. Where was the creature that made her waters rot? Where was the person who caused all of this?
Why?
Despair shouts forced Lenne to turn around, all coming from deep in the roads, where a group of citizens attempted to run from a creature. Without much thought, the Quartier ran towards them, casting ice under her feet to slide fast towards them, turning her path into water once she reached her target:
A large creature, unlike any other she had seen on her books. A pale looking serpent, hissing and entangling itself on a city watch soldier who attempted to defend his home.
More soldiers tried to reach this creature, Lenne ran fast towards it as well. The creature had forced the last breaths out of that poor city guardian, and that was enough motivation for the Quartier to swing her staff and point at the creature, casting a shadow with her powers that blinded the creature momentarily. The beast shook violently, as if the movement could free it from the sudden blindness. Such movements forced the guards to stop their approach, and red archers began releasing their arrows, all missing the target in front of them.
It was but that moment when Lenne realized what could be of help, and with a quick swing of her bladed staff, a cold air blew towards the creature, freezing it where it attempted to stand.
{♫} ——— “Hit it now! Shatter it!”
Archers did as told, loading a rain of arrows, all making contact with it every time. So many arrows piercing the creature made too many cracks, and suddenly, the creature was no more, shards of ice meeting the puddles of rain water, melting the evil away.
The monsters were endless. With the first wave of them gone, ogres becoming scant, malboros dispersing, and he hadn’t seen any of those little thorny ones in a while-- he’d thought they had been out of trouble. He had been woefully wrong. More monsters, different ones, came on hordes, gnashing teeth and slashing thorns everywhere and, more over, they were attacking homes now instead of trying to break their way into the wind crystal.
With the other heroes undoubtedly aiding Bahamut in whatever plan he had, Khint had sought to work on the ground, preserving as many lives as he could. He could hear distant music for a long while. He didn’t know if it stopped or not, but over the mayhem and his own heartbeat, he couldn’t hear it any longer. It was hard to focus on anything outside his immediate vicinity.
That girl, Crisis was it? Her ribbon was a crystal-send. His sword could absorb magic, yes, but the charm protected him from status affliction, and for that he was grateful. It did not prevent his eventual tiring, however. After sending a family on its way out of the city, he wavered, barely able to stand. Exhaustion was starting to set in, and he was out of ether.
The block he was in was majorly void of monsters for now, scared away by fear spell or dead on the ground. He’d seen to that. So it couldn’t hurt to take a brief rest.
And that was what he did, finding a secure place in the rubble, he allowed himself to collapse against a broken piece of wall and rest.
Luckily, following the encounter with the Adamantoise and their fellow guardsmen, Logan and Kamiizumi manage to make their way quickly to where the Lady Lenne was at the moment. Of course she was busy - how could she have not been, given the circumstances? - but at least she seemed to be safe.
What a relief.
“Lady Quartier, m’lady.”
Despite the dire situation the Swordmaster bows down before the woman he had sworn to protect before he continues to speak.
“Forgive me for leaving my assigned post at the main gates of the temple... But I could not stand by idle when your innocent subjects are being slaughtered...”
Oh yes, we had almost forgotten: He did defy her direct order to stay and defend he Main Gates... - But his reason for doing so was quite noble, so hopefully she’d understand him. He just couldn’t turn a blind eye when the town that had taken him in so kindly was under attack, was in danger of being destroyed? No, there was no way he could do that. He... he just couldn’t...
“On my way here I ran into this woman... she appears to be a spellcaster... - and... m’lady... she... she publically threatened... to rip out your throat...”
Logan - who had tried to maintain posture as good as he could during this - stared at the swordmaster with wide open eyes. Just what kind of woman had he been carrying around here then? And why had she not been punished for this heresy yet?
The number of monsters around had only increased, much to the Swordmaster’s dismay as he and Logan the townsguard made their way towards where Lady Lenne was supposed to be. And it wasn’t just the giant amphibians or oozes anymore either, no. Somehow, the enemies had become more dangerous during the short time he fought with that woman. That was worrying.. very much so.
Just right this instane he was dealing with another snake that had elected the people of Myrefall as it’s newest snack, cutting it through in the middle finally. The snakes had been one thing, so long as he kept avoiding their poisonous fangs he was fine - the bizarre shelled creatures that also came forth were far more worrying in that regard.
“Logan, can you go on? Lady Lenne should not be much farther now, so do your best!”
He could tell the young guard was getting tired from having to carry this unconscious woman, as well as her weapons - the tonfas were hanging at the poor lads side and thus joined the spear strapped to his back as parts of his arsenal for now. And ultimately, this was a lot of weight to carry, especially in a stressful time like this, and the rain did nothing to help... - He felt sorry for the lad. But sadly he could not show compassion at this time...
At least they had not run in any real obstacle so far..
As if to spite him for this thought a low cry of a large creature can be heard in that instance, and indeed... how could it be any other way right now...
An Adamantoise.
“Logan! Try to go around it, I’ll hold it off!”
The blade raised defensively in front of his body, he tries to draw the attention of the large turtle, creating an opening for the young guard. And at first, it seems to succeed. The Tortoise focuses on him as he circles around it, observing him intently.
But then...
Just when Logan tries to slip past with the unconscious prisoner he carries the large beast deems it fit to turn it’s attention to these two again - and why would it not? An unconscious woman and a young man unable to defend himself right now? That was ideal prey, hands down.
“No, don’t! Logan, watch out, run!”
Just as the Swordmaster shouts out and tries to rush towards the unfortunate townsguard a small lightning bolt hits the side of the Adamantoise’s head. And another. And one more!
Perplexed Nobutsuna Kamiizumi turns around - and finds a small group of guards ready for battle, some of them obviously knowing rudimentary magic.
“Please hurry Ser Kamiizumi, You need to protect our Lady Lenne! We can handle this here, so go! We count on you, Captain!”
For a moment he is perplexed, almost as if hearing this all to familiar word had thrown him off balance. Captain... he couldn’t shake the feeling he had been called that before... by someone that looked up to him...
“... Understood men. I shall not disappoint your trust. But you stay safe as well! Don’t underestimate the foul game that is being played here!”
With these words the Swordmaster turned around and ran after young Logan, in the direction where the Quartier had to be.
He didn’t know it yet... but these soldiers who were the first to call him their captain... He would never see them again...
