Arc 4: What families entail
Tomorrow, Athens' Last day may be upon them. Yesterday, they all gathered to escape or fight. But so many days ago, centuries ago, Athens was facing that same threat. Brought by Valentine's, the first, a threat of others fighting for an end nobody can survive through. Brought by the people who made Athens in the first place. After giving Walgonia a grand gift, the first Valentine was gifted with the land.
"You may have given Walgonia the chance to love forever, so please, take this land, and help it grow into something beautiful."
Words of one of Walgonia's first kings, a dear friend to the first Valentine, before they went out. With a few forces powerful enough to challenge a small army, they traveled by boat from the west shores, and quickly arrived. To discover the people there, and take it from them, turn it into another piece of Walgonia. Demi-humans and humans living together, without any real wars to speak of in their history with them. Together as a single group, not defined by race, but they did have a similar appearance. With a light brown to far darker skin tone, spoke language similar to that of the spirits, almost identical to Sagas. However Sagas way of speaking can be traced back to a single man, meaning this island was closer to the real way of living in this world.
A tight knit community not split into tribes like the Dark Elves I'm Gaia, not fueled by their radical beliefs like Saga, not inside of a pressure chamber of conflict and growth like the Southern Islands, nor a land frozen in time by blood and tradition like Oni-mas. Using weapons of both wood and iron, dense and magically resistant armor made out of the spirit fauna and spirit beasts, and always moving as one group. All around Athens, setting up small camps and trading routes. Even domesticating entire groups of Spirit beats for consistent food and supply, along with guardianship. The first Valentine witnessed that first hand, saved from a wild beast in a tier above High from the leader himself using a golden spear and his massive strength. Blasting through the head of the monster before extending his hand, and giving the outer world the first real look at the real people of Athens. Simply called, the Arrows. Silent, piercing, instant, and protective. They may have had thicker, much curlier, or even straighter hair, any shade of skin any height or gender. They were just humans, but Saga, Walgonia especially, couldn't see that at all.
While the first valentine spoke, laughed, ate, and traveled with the Arrows, word quickly got around. So many in her platoon resisted, couldn't even eat the same food as them, even if it was just a different type of fruit or Spirit beast, or something they had eaten before. It didn't matter what the Arrows said, sounded like, acted like. To Walgonia, it was so obvious it hurt. That these people were savages. Untrustworthy, rabid beats like the Demi-humans. The murderous, insane, tribe consumed Dark Elf. A dangerous, mana filled bomb like an Elf. Or a mutant monstrosity known as a Half-Elf. Even if they were just humans. Even if the first Valentine herself was actually a light brown skinned, black haired woman with an accent not native to seemingly any country . Only seen as a person by Walgonia because of her incredible healing abilities. And the moment her time had passed, both Athens and Walgonia got rid of every trace of her. Only a few paintings of her back, covered by a cloak to be seen., before the Arrows began to slowly follow. Fading out before Bearguard was born, the last of the Arrows finally left their stolen and overtaken home to find a new place to live. Never to be found again, without any idea of their survival.
The fight they had, the humility, the humanity, were in new Arrows. New lives. Red with the blood of the past, the rejected, their people killed or forced away. The Red Arrows, this land's heart, once called "Villa." Those Arrows piled up more and more, preparing to move out around Athens once again in two days, and their Pillars trained. But now it was night, they were separated after a large dinner of all the scraps they could compile, and there they laid separate but near. Soku slept in Peter's bed after talking to him before he stayed up all night crafting, Edward tried his best to get some rest while somehow half-asleep fully armored with his blade against a wall, leaving Gray and Rosemary to rest in a room by themselves. Rosemary was quiet, tired, hungry, but Gray was a bit distracted. He was sore, his right arm still surged with a tight pain, and his heart weighed heavily, he was still talking to somebody at the door with a wide eyed smile like nothing was wrong. Leaning against the doorframe, trying to figure out why Ceasar of all people had just knocked on the door the second they finally got to be alone.
Gray: "What did you need dude?"
Caesar: "See, that's kinda what I wanted to talk to you about."
Caesar stared longingly at the jacket Gray was wearing over some extra clothes, before briefly locking eyes with Rosemary behind Gray, and looking right back into his eyes. Before throwing his arm around Gray and walking him away from Rosemary, leaving her to lay over on the side of the bed. Almost angry with Gray. But she was just hurt. Scared. Enclosed by walls at every turn, by war, here, the Tower, the Golden Knights, and her light kept fading elsewhere. All of her lights.
Caesar: "You have corrupted mana right?"
Gray: "Yeah. I'm connected to Azalea for some reason."
Immediately Caesar stopped, causing some of the many civilians and Red Arrows in the tight hall to wake up. Like they sensed Caesar's corrupted mana, his soul spark, even if Gray was standing right there with far, far more.
Caesar: "I think we've got more in common than you think dude."
Caesar tried to find a few empty rooms or halls, only to find refugees and Red Arrows filled to the brim at every turn. Until he finally found a dark corner in one of the tunnels to sit in, waving at the passing people even still.
Gray: "Why are you taking me so far out? Kinda spooky."
Caesar: "I don't wanna scare yah! It's the opposite. You can't tell? It's not rude to bring up how I talk, it's faint but you can hear it right? Or how I look?"
The second Caesar confirmed Gray's suppositions Gray went silent, took a deep breath, and spoke so only Caesar could hear. Preparing for a wave of pain to shock his recovering body. Even with the healing, resting, and his healing factor from the spirits, and Iris giving her life to save him, he still felt like he had just gotten beat up by a group of people.
Gray: "...I'm from Earth."
No mana surge, just his voice and a roller coaster like feeling in his gut. However nothing happened, just like with Arthur. A third person from Earth is alive in Saga.
Caesar: "Me too bro! I've been here for almost five years man!"
Caesar immediately held Gray tight with a hug, sounding like he was about to cry, before he pushed Gray away and continued yelling. Making it feel a bit too obvious to Gray that whatever Caesar was, it wasn't who was inside. However Gray just thought of it as a "deeper, probably self-loathing, type of vibe".
Caesar: "When did you get here!?"
Gray: "Shhh! Keep it down! And I've only been here for a few months, since October. Weird they have the same months right?"
Caesar: "I threw me off too. I expected more general fantasy, but this shit has sucked! I spent the first year trying to figure it all out but it was impossible! It's hard to write the language, it was hard to get a job in Athens and then I got stuck in all the fights and protests before this war started. How'd you get so far so quick? What's your Corrupted ability?"
Gray: "Just a whole bunch of mana, it's got a lotta perks. I guess technically it's a big Spirit connection."
Caesar: "I've got a lot of mana, or people told me, but I could never get the hang of pouring it out. All I can do is heal, like from almost anything. Hell probably from anything that's not meant to vaporize me or something. But I don't have an affinity, I've had a hell of a time trying to train with all this war, and the only thing I had at first was just a gang. That gang got beat by another, but I sold 'em out to stay out of the beating and joined them, but I was mad about the first gang so I sold out the second to a kinda boss in the area, then I just kept going while all this war broke down the underworld."
Gray: "Wait so you went right to a gang? Why not the Warriors!? Or just leave and go somewhere else?"
Caesar: "Because most people don't like Corruped mana man! Not the way I talk, or look, and the war kinda trapped me in. I didn't have a house, nobody wanted to give me a room or job because some Warriors might burn it down, and I wasn't trying to get captured by the Warriors for fightin with the Red Arrows! I care about this place as much as I did the earth. That's why we're here right? Because our souls were dead, filled by these corrupted ones."
Gray sat down, staring at the ground while his burdens began to flow around him.
Gray: "I guess. But I saw this as another chance, another life. To try and do all the stuff I thought I should do but was too weak to do it. I got really, really lucky, especially considering how you and Arthur got -
Caesar: "Arthur is from Earth Too!? That's crazy! Continue."
Gray: "Uhh, okay? Well it's nothing more than that really. I just want to do good for once, to feel worth it. Reignite that soul. What about you then? You got really far didn't you?"
Caesar: "Yeah. I just rounded up all of the people getting separated, thrown out, left to drown as all the gangs and bosses' territories shattered during the war. My spartans only formed a year ago, and it doesn't seem to be doing much. I -
Caesar immediately spoke, like he'd said too much, and stood up. Unable to go further, his own heart not allowing him to do so. He didn't know how to feel knowing Gray or Arthur was from Earth. How different Gray's journey had been. It felt like it was too much for the current situation. And so with a smile, he simply waved goodnight. Before stopping again to give one piece of advice, I stepped away.
Caesar: "The Sect were the second biggest group of criminals when I first got here, and even if I've got control of everyone else, the Sect are still acting here. The war in Walgonia has supposedly taken them away, pulling out all the culties and the powerful Lower Pillar here, but they may act when the Capitals war begins. Be ready, and maybe listen to Leo, and leave before anything bad happens."
Letting Gray sit in fear, before breathing and standing. Beginning to walk alone, confused, before the thoughts of his friends, of the many people all around him who needed him. The injured, starving, broken families filling every inch of these tunnels, spreading out of the Capital and still filling. There were so many people in the streets, forests, any kind of civilization moving to escape this island anyway possible. All of this, the Sect, Walgonia, was such a massive burden. One he took on without a second of hesitation by just looking at them. Old and young, all in need of help, not gifted the powers and chances Gray has been. So, when they looked toward him with some hope, when the kids who heard of how he fought for Toll glared, he put on a wide smile. Finally dropping it when he got back into his room. Stepping with a real, small smile, that another person from Earth was around. And wasn't trying to kill him or a part of a massive maniacal cult. That maybe it might mean something.
Gray: "Hey Rosemary. Sorry I -
She was awake, but she just looked toward the stone wall away from Gray like he wasn't there. He immediately got into the bed and tried to figure out what was wrong, getting out a few jumbles before any words came out.
Gray: "What's wrong!? Are you okay? Do you need healing, too talk, too sleep, too -
Rosemary: "I don't need anything."
Gray reached toward her hand, and like a strike of lightning she surged. Without any idea of what she did or why she did it. She just looked at Gray quivering in fear, as she'd smacked his hand away. Inside that flash was Calgary, right over Gray. And deeper was Iris, not the one who saved Rosemary, but the one who brought her into this world. She saw, she felt all of her screams, the pain, the fear of war. So much that she thought had been pushed away finally coming to the forefront. In painful, simple, fear. Leaving her quickly rushing to the corner of the bed and covering her head. Just trying to be safe.
Gray: "I'm sorry I didn't -
Rosemary: "It's not you it's not you I just I I -, fuck! I just! I don't know, I don't know!"
Gray finally pulled back, frozen. He knew that despair, but he always came out in rage to whatever was in front of him. But Rosemary wouldn't do that. She wouldn't hurt somebody she cared for, someone innocent, no matter how hurt she was. So it all burned her instead. And Gray couldn't do anything but be there. And that was something Gray just couldn't understand, because how would anybody feel better by being near him? So he sat against the bed instead, leaving Rosemary to feel even more alone, both in sorrow after finally reuniting.
Gray {Maybe…I really wasn't meant for her…}
Rosemary {Maybe I wasn't mean to anybody after all.}
And they sat like that all night. Somewhat sleeping, listening to all the constant rustling. The Warriors prepared for conquest as they tore through the streets and tunnels looking for the Red Arrows. Getting closer and closer to their core by use of Spirit Knights. While the Red Arrows used their own, along with Elixirs and potions to mask such presence. Above, the people of Athens finally ran. Spoke out, pulled away and pushed back on the Warriors. But many did the same to the Red Arrows. Wanting nothing to do with this battle, the war that's taking it all. Others began to push back in smaller groups; Athens looked like it did in the first year of the war, a harsh mirror to what really seems to be the last battle.
Gray {What if this is like the eye opening. That none of this is gonna work, that me and Rosemary can't work or we rushed things and now I can't fix them! I've gotta do something, help Athens, try and spend some time with Edward and Soku, Julius and Peter too! And then Walgonia, damn who knows how long it'd take.}
He was sweating, overloaded barely two days before the next battle. From seven In the morning to eleven thirty Gray battled. Trying his best to roll, twist, jump, perceive, and hopefully push away the many Red Arrows coming at him. Other Red Arrows tried their best to teach the many civilians joining in on the battle anything they could, and thankfully because of Athens Warrior culture, almost everyone had knowledge better than some soldiers in other countries. Using spears, shields, maces and flails, random knives and pieces of metal, even stone. To fight for their lives, even if their only goal was to run, to help. All around, others practiced their magic by closing off tunnels to trap and throw off the Warriors, the Spartans began to gather for a battle against the Gravestone Pirates, and the protests grew in number. So much land, so much business, so many people killed in the battles across Athens just a few days ago. The entire land changed in a second.
Gray {Why did I think I could be a boyfriend. I can't even live on my own. I wonder if Rosemary's finally realizing that. I can't make her feel safe, I can't help with her or our past. I'm just a fighter now, a boy, hell a baby compared to everyone. I can take down the Knights Gordon sent after me, I can fight Warriors, and that's it. I just have to fight harder, take in more mana, think more. No more Overdrive, any more devastation to this body could be the end of it. It's control, it's skill, determination, and nothing else in my mind. That's how I can be the best Gray Kyojin I can be.}
He threw out his wrist talon with hardened precision to knock away a mace, stepped forward to vault over a Demi-human, before sliding and kicking the legs out from under another Red Arrow. Cloaked within a middle state between Low, and Half Power flow, pushed by Spirit mana. Not doing any real damage, but practicing tight conflict anyway, while trying to get used to these new weapons. The slightly better versions of the ones he destroyed against Calgary, however Peter was now working on the second official version of them. Attempting to fix the blade getting stuck randomly, and make it faster to draw. He did so while overlooking Soku, bursting toward Gray and forcing him to barely block a wave of wind that sent him tumbling. Peter couldn't help but smile even with everything going on, because everybody was here. Leo sat a floor higher with Toll and Ceasar mapping plans, Erin walked away from Julius to almost make Edward squeal in panic from scaring him.
Erin: "You look stronger. So are you leaving with your friends or are you staying to fight? Julius says if you win the battle, then Saga will be a far better place. But it'll feel impossible to do."
Edward was tense, trying his best to keep his red face away while keeping his chest out.
Edward: "They're not the type to run even if we're gonna die, not when they're needed. Maybe we won't win, but either or, our fight really comes with the Sect in Walgonia. If we manage to lose this battle, we wouldn't be able to take back Walgonia anyway."
It was strange. The second Edward spoke from his heart his real, deeper, focused voice came out. Losing all of his anxiety toward Erin and instead falling back to himself. Leaning against a railing, looking toward a completely nervous Erin, and back down at a clashing Gray and Soku. Her wind soaked Cleaver's constant clanging, sparking against Gray's bright blue flow.
Erin: "Julius, no, I chose to leave. I'm heading away to Valatroctius, it's been my home forever."
Edward: "Did you only come to Athens because Julius asked you then? Or did you get stuck or something?"
Erin leaned against the rail with Edward. Letting her short, straight brown hair shutter in the wind. Her green eyes faint, focused out, staring at Julius as he walked into Leo's meeting. A meeting that had grown with some of the Red Arrows lower ranked captains, and even Rosemary.
Erin: "Julius isn't my master or something, I just know him. This place, Athens, is a harsh spot in my life. I was born here, but I ended up in Valatroctius Capital when I was a kid. Being back here, when it's all about to fall, kinda feels like this is a new beginning."
Edward: "I get that. Feels that way for me too. I have a history with Moro, and it almost distracted me from my mission, but now they're one in the same. If I'm able to help them win, and defeat Moro, with help or not, then I'm finally stepping forward for the first time since I was a kid. I wonder if it's gonna be peaceful, quiet, maybe cold? What about you? Would winning fix your troubles? Losing? Neither? -
But Edward instantly jerked back, his face red, moving erratically in a Kyojin-esc way.
Edward: "Sorry for dropping all that and you don't have to answer either I can just go if you want sorry sorry I can -
Erin just looked toward him. Quiet, but warmed by his presence. Before giving a soft smile with her soft red lips, and stepped back a bit. Edward didn't know why he felt this way. Why his heart was hot, his stomach flying, his brain sweating. He never really thought of people as attractive or not, and didn't think of that at all when with Erin either, but still there was something there. A type of connection that didn't exist with anybody else. Maybe it was because Erin was one of the first real people Edward had met, not getting much of any interaction with people before Gray and the others arrived in the mansion. This calm, serious, focused, never angry, and always humble man was molded by training. Trauma. His life at the mansion with himself and a sword. Thought to be like Al or Musashi, a Knight and somebody to be respected. Yet this was really Edward wasn't it? Smiling, joking with Gray, awkward and jittery. Until the weight of his armor, the flame of the Warriors Spirit, the chilling Helsing blood, and the blade on his back was felt again.
Standing up, firm, and focused.
Edward: "...Sorry. All of this, it's just been a lot."
Erin: "Don't apologize, I know how hard of a battle it is to relax. But I think that time is over anyway. And something bigger needs you right now. I'll say goodbye when I leave, don't worry, but don't waste this time with me when you have them."
Edward: "But this is important, you're important."
Erin looked blank for just a second, before flashing back into a smile and backing off.
Erin: "Not as important as you, Helsing."
That made Edward stop this time. Looking toward his armored hand, and gripping it tightly, before looking up to see that Erin had completely vanished. He felt a bit lonely, and it was hitting him hard. A sudden rush, from a river constantly moving within. Boiling from the Warriors Spirit. So he stepped through the dense crowd of Red Arrows and civilians between them, twisting around the square upper floor, to be let in by upper ranked Red Arrows. Into the meeting for Athens' future. Finding Gray there using the Cloak as a hammock, and Soku blowing bubbles with Spirit sap. Something Gray considered a better tasting, far too sticky form of gum. Between them was a small wooden table laid out with a map of Athens, focused on the Capital.
Leo: "Tomorrow we finish gathering our people, and when the clock strikes twelve, we attack once again. Red Arrows in thick waves around the Capital, moving from the outside in as long as the inside out."
Toll: "With the Red Arrows still stationed around the rest of Athens, moving them to hold Cretan seems to be the best idea. While the civilians push toward the great bridge, docks, anything to get off this island. Those that want to stay and fight will likely join the journey to Cretan. Just because they want to help doesn't mean we'll send them right into death just to get some use out of them. If they want to fight, no matter how badly, we have to help them get to a place where they can actually do something."
Toll likely wasn't going to fight, so she was in the lead role to help make Cretan their base once again. However Garly's spirit had washed over them the moment she inspired Leo when they finally reunited. The need to act, to fight, to stop prolonging this death, and push to the end to insure the safety of the people in any way possible. Instead of the safety of their ideals. Yet that seemed wrong as well. People were going to die, get caught up in combat, lose limbs and lives. War was War, and it was as wonderful as it's always been. Which happened to be none, none at all. Just stress and pain and blood and hunger and fear and and and -, the drowning feeling of everything mixing together. Creating the cloud of despair consuming both the Warriors and the Red Arrows.
Caesar: "Word is the Gravestone pirates are soon to move out and hunt us too. With their enhanced senses they'll find us far faster than Athens shitty Spirit Knights. My Spartans are ready to split, some in the Capital, and most to end the Gravestone Pirates. But after all this war, and my Spartans getting pulled away, I've only got a few thousand soldiers spread around. Not enough to fully challenge the Gravestone Pirates."
Gray felt a bit odd knowing Caesar's origin, like learning a strange secret about a boss that kinda equals you out. But he was more concerned with Rosemary, taking everything in with a focused blank stare. Lost within her own head. The people in armor, the meetings, speaking of how many people will get caught in the cross fire, how much death is going to happen, made everything look just like a Golden Knight camp. And everybody, the Golden Knights, is ready to do anything to win. But they all looked to Edward, who kneeled down in front of them.
Edward: "I will lead the charge. The Gravestone pirates are strong, versatile, but they aren't an army. They're a crew, a gang trying to make cash. Maybe they used to be extremists, something like the Sect of the Sea, but Moro's rule has turned them into brutal bounty hunting coin focused criminals. I managed to challenge around one hundred fifty of them, coming in big waves over the course of two hours, but still. If I can push forward, with your help, then we could actually challenge them."
Leo: "They've got a hold of the North West bay, spreading out near the front of Mount Yelira right? They have the advantage, and then we'd have to break through whatever camp they built. It'd chip away at everybody while giving the pirates enough time to retreat, or crush yah. You're strong Edward but the Gravestone pirates are still stronger, I don't think I could challenge all of them and get out Unscathed."
Gray: "Then why don't you fight them with the spartans?"
Leo: "Because, without Garly…I'm the only person in the country who can lead the battle against Raylice. Only Lincoln could save us, and according to Edward, he gave up hope a long time ago."
Soku swallowed her Spirit sap and took out her blade, ready to walk into battle. After all of these fights, all of this training, last second saves. She has to be ready, or be prepared to drown in flames.
Soku: "I'll go. With Leo, Gray, Rosemary, Julius, Ceasar, and so many people in the Capital, I don't have to stay."
Filled with worry, and with a sense of useless pilling up, Peter spoke up. Stuttering as he did so.
Peter: "We have to play it smarter than just who fights who. We have cultivated a lot of resources, and with everybody joining we're as ready as we're gonna be soldier wise. We don't have time to cultivate more, so we use the rest of what we have. We have a lot of flame crystals, stuff to make Elixiers, even some potions. We could send carts of explosives right into the Tower, and into the Gravestones base. Use Elixirs to stun Raylice, archers and magic to stall and stun instead of wasting time fighting."
Rosemary: "He's right. If you consider us the top of the army's strength, we need to consider everybody else just as important as a force. We're all one big Pillar, and we have to topple the disjointed Warriors. We lost Garly, but we managed to seriously damage all of their Top Elites. Raylice is the biggest problem, so when it comes down to it, it's how we handle her. For the Gravestone side, it'll be how you survive getting close to the end."
Edward: "So then use Peter's idea! We'll clear a path, send in the bombs, and we'll come in and clean it all out! I can push through and then target Moro, Soku can help clear the path around me. With enough Spartans and Red Arrows, I know we can do it!"
Leo: "Then that's settled. We'll gather our things, and we'll prepare for a more explosive entrance. Thanks to Peter Day."
Leo gave Peter a grand smile, patting his quivering shoulder to strike confidence into the boy. However all he could feel was the difference in their strength. As to Peter, his usefulness ended here. Giving others things, making weapons, fixing others stuff, and helping make plans. He never fought, he never acted, he never won. Though this was a win, finally. And he smiled. Sitting down to listen to the rest of the plans. How to group up the Red Arrows, which entrances they should use, how they should keep themselves hidden, before yet another idea came about.
Gray: "Why not lure the Warriors into the tunnels when we're leaving? They're looking through them and we're gonna lose this base eventually, especially if this battle really isn't the end. Maybe luring them in, and closing it all in is the best bet. Maybe we could even get one of their Top Elities inside, could even work against Raylice. Even if she survived it't be pretty hard to get out of that."
Word spread through the ranks, triggering even more movement from the Red Arrows. Gray and the others helped move boxes of Flame crystals onto carriages, some that Dema could pull through the air. Peter worked on gear, even giving some more extra that Gray could wear. However they lacked the knight-like armor Gray usually wore, leading to Rosemary and Gray sporting some Red Arrow armor. Dense reinforced leather with chainmail inside, black with red arrow linning across it, atop Grays Leviathan clothes and Rosemary's spare clothes. The world was moving so quickly and it was more than suffocating, but the fact they had to push forward no matter what kept them acting.
They walked past each other, trained and ate near each other, spoke to each other, but now that they were finally together they couldn't be more alone. So much struggle, so many battles, all different and disconnected. All pulling them away in completely different ways. The Warriors did the same, even in their castle, planning how to respond next. Or they should have been. They worked, the lower ranked Warriors worked harder, and the top of Elities sat on the top floor of the devastated tower. Across from Bearguard, taking his wrath.
Beauregard: "This is supposed to be our might?"
Kacy, wrapped in bandages and outside of her Dragon stone armor. Olivia, now possessing lightning shaped burn scars. Ethan and Grace, scuffed up but mostly okay. Ena was in the best condition. And then came Frank WIll. Rolling slowly forward in a makeshift wheel chair, his muscle mass deflated, his skin burned, his veins almost exposed. Rotted away and melted down by all of the Elixiers in short succession.
Beauregard: "Kast, your Mark is the most powerful magic Athens has. And you wasted it destroying our own city! Getting your own men killed in the cross fire! And now your mark has what, weeks before it'll be at full power again!? Will threw his strength away for those childish Elixirs! And Grace, Ethan!? You did nothing to help Raylice against Garly! The only people who fought intelligently were Olivia and Ena! And they didn't do anything of relevance either! Why is this happening!? WHY are you all doing so badly!? If I had any bit of the luck you did, had a mark half as strong or an affinity half a weak, I would have killed Leo years ago!"
Frank could hardly look upset by his words due to all the damage he'd taken. Completely unable to step back into battle, just like all of the Elites and Warriors under him who were abusing Elixirs. But at least Bearguard had his leaders right? Irsa, standing silently against the wall while holding her shaking hand over an eye patch. Calgary, using a crutch to stand and covered in bandages under his disheveled Dragon stone armor. And Crevasse, standing with a wide smile and a bottle of whiskey. The only person here who fought, who led their forces to victory, and left with a completed mission. Without any massive wounds or losses to speak of at all.
Beauregard: "WE LOST THE CROMWELL, THE GOLDENWIND! IF ARTHUR HADN'T BEEN HERE TOLL WOULDA KILLED ME AND YOU COULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT! CALGARY YOU! IRISA! DAMMIT DAMMIT! WHERE WERE YOU!!?"
He was spitting, red as a fire, bursting veins with rage. Leaning forward like an animal.
Beauregard: "IF YOU'D BEEN HERE WE COULD HAVE SECURED IT IRSA! BUT NO YOU NEEDED TO PROTECT THE CAPITAL RIGHT!? THE ONLY PLACE THAT WASN'T TARGETED!? OR YOU CALGARY, MOVING THE PRIOSNERS, STAYING IN THE DOUNGEON TO FIGHT SOME BRATS INSTEAD OF HELPING YOUR FUCKING KING! DO YOU WANT TO DIE!? DO YOU WANT US TO LOSE THIS WAR!? ARTHUR, DAMMIT THE SECT WANTS TO TAKE THIS FROM US! BUT IT WON'T HAPPEN! THE RED ARROWS, THE SECT, THOSE WALGONIANS, THESE RATS CALLING THEMSELVES ATHENIANS! IT'LL ALL BURN BEFORE THAT! BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO IF YOU WOULDN'T KEEP FIGHTING LIKE CHILDREN!"
Beauregard finally pointed to Crevasse, triggering the muscular Dark Elf to step forward and embrace this king's rage for as long as necessary. With a pay check in two days, it didn't matter at all.
Beauregard: "ALL FOR YOU TO GET SHOWN UP BY A DARK ELF! A BOUNTY HUNTER FOR GODS SAKE! THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO KEEP OUT OF ATHENS! THOSE PIRATES, RAYLICE!? HOW HAVE NONHUMANS ACHIEVED MORE IN THIS WAR IN A FEW WEEKS THAN YOU HAVE IN FOUR, ALMOST FIVE YEARS!"
On and on for who knows how long. Walking in circles drowning in a despair born rage. Under the flags of Athens, the status of dragons, the paintings of the past Valentines. Other than the large torn portrait over the throne, as he'd torn his father right out. Leaving only his uncle and his mother to glare softly toward his hatred. Until it came time to send them off and gather. Gather the Warriors around the Capital. Build their army, their positions, hold this capital. If they took all of Athens, they'd still be on the backfoot, still have to react. The Red Arrows will always have to adjust for the Warriors. But it meant the Red Arrows were always one step ahead. The scariest feeling in a war.
Gray {Walgonia, we'll make it back.}
Gray worked on dodging punches from Edward while Edward trained his ability to keep up with him. They all dodged Soku's wind blades, took some hits from Rosemary, and listened to Toll shout advice mid-blow. Calgary, Irsa, and Crevasse gathered their men. Their gear. Civilians continued leaving in mass, or screaming out at the warriors pushing them away. Like criminals over taking the country. Killing any civilian who dared attack. Who dared to start chanting a spell, take up a piece of wood, look too strong.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO US!?"
"WHERE IS OUR KING! WHERE IS HIS POWER!"
"GET BACK! GET BACK!"
There was no sadness. Not from the children, the elderly, the retired Warriors that filled the streets. They screamed with rage. Violent, trembling aggression that stalled the searching for Red Arrows in the tunnels. And as the hours passed, as they trained through the night, they were moving so close to the end. The Spartans prepared the crystals, enough for five to ten crates of flame crystals and explosive power made with mixed herbs and spirit fauna. But in the end the Red Arrows had two for the Tower, and three for the Gravestone pirates. Leaving the rest to close these tunnels off for good, on top of the Warriors, and hopefully Raylice herself.
"To all my people!"
As they night sat, so did the Red Arrows. Tomorrow was to finalize the preparations, to begin moving out through Athens. The Spartans had already begun taking the explosives for the Gravestone Pirates out. Separating the last wagons from the left over crystals, all while their leader drank and drank down below. Kegs of booze and boxes of liquor bottles, home brews, any scraps that could get turned into a meal. Red and Toll watched over in silence, tapping their glasses together before gulping down Garly's favorite mixed drink. Down below Caesar acted as a bar tender, which he did actually have some experience in. Only three months but enough for him to pretend he knew more than he did.
Caesar: "So what do you guys want? We don't get much but you get the top pick."
Edward: "It's okay, I'm good."
Rosemary: "I'm fine as well."
Gray & Soku: "We'll take -
Rosemary pulled them back before they could ask, ending in two hard sighs of despair. However she looked to the warped wood, and let Gray's collar go. Reaching to a small bottle of liquor to pour their dranks.
Rosemary: "Maybe we could, since this could be it. For everybody we've lost. Except Soku though."
Soku: "What why!? I'm only a year away from being allowed to drink anyway!"
Gray: "Wait what?? You can drink at fifteen?? I know we've all done it but legally!?"
Caesar: "Yeah it's pretty cool right!"
Gray: "No, not really."
Either way Gray and Rosemary shared a drink. Then another, another, and another. The Red Arrows cheered, the Warriors slept above, and Athens Tower was moving at a hundred and fifty percent. While all the civilians continued leaving, fighting, screaming, even burning what stood in their way of escape. And for Gray, he was now laying on Rosemary's shoulder half awake. Quiet, calm, and there for her, all she's been wanting. She held her alcohol better than anybody in the group, but that more than tipsy feeling had her mind cold. Looking out like it was all fuzzy, confusing, but so slow. Slow enough to take it all in.
They were together. About to go into battle with everything on the line. It felt like the Golden Knights were walking around her, she could see the bloody grass and endless tents. Edward was off training, Peter off crafting and stressing in circles, Soku finally went to sleep for once after a single sip of liquor that knocked her dead, and Julius stood silently watching over them all. Left alone as the Red Arrows and civilians went back to their rooms or passed out right on the stone.
Rosemary {Iris, Ophelia, Musashi, Al, Kioshi ... .watch over us, just one more time. I can't lose them, not yet.}
Edward stayed longingly into the stone as each of his swings curved finely. Up, across, turn, slams, always correcting into a second, third, fourth, and endless attacks. The flames of Moro around him. Soku looked into her hand as she fell asleep, trying to imagine Ophelia holding it as best she could. Peter, staring up at a wide map of Athens, and what it used to be. What his life used to be like, before he ended up in a room filled with ideas for weapons, armor, and tools. Julius, forced to really understand the world around him to survive.
But there was Gray. Rosemary looked at him with worry. Edward hoped the best for his Brother In War. Soku thought of him kindly when embracing Ophelia's hair clip he gave her. And even Caesar looked closely at Gray, worrying for his new earthly companion. Although Gray just floated into his mind. Into the darkness. Where they all eventually found themselves. Except for Rosemary, who stared and stared at the ceiling for what felt like forever. Until a drunken, asleep Gray reached around to hold her instinctively the moment she shivered. Leaving only tears to fall from her eyes, while Gray was yet again separated by his own indulgence. Unable to really save the person he wants to save most. Always at war, hundreds of years ago or right now, with others, and always with yourself.
Athens time was up. Now all that's left was the battle that decided the end. And there was nothing anybody could do to stop it, because as far as everything's considered, the war has already been decided.