The Oathsworn

by Liandra Jake

  Arend twisted his ring as he walked out into the empty field. He turned to Pockle. "What's a Pencore?" Arend asked.

  She stopped short. "A very rare kind of Pendragon that can use all of the special techniques that use Pendragon Orenth." She explained. She glanced up as a shadow passed overhead. King landed in a puff of dust next to Arend.

  "Both of you…" Arend glanced between the Kyte and the Pendragon. "Aenfel."

  King took a step back so quickly that he fell backwards. Pockle's legs gave out.

  Arend nodded slowly. "'Aenfel of the Southern White Star, Pencore of the Darkness.' This was what Death's Ring said was sleeping inside me." Pockle looked up to King. He was staring off with wide eyes.

  "Aenfel," Pockle began. "Is a Pencore that could-"

  "My brother." King cut in. "He's my brother. I was never told he was a Pencore, but now I know who my brethren spoke of when they said 'the first Black-Born Pencore has fallen to the Rim of the earth.' They meant my brother had been killed by Celestial Rim."

  "Why is that so significant?" Arend asked.

  "But he was supposed to be immortal!" Pockle exclaimed, ignoring Arend' question.

  "It would seem that is not the case anymore." King replied.

  "But wait! What the Death Ring said, do you think…?" Pockle stopped.

  King's face grew intense. "It could mean my brother's consciousness is still part of this world." King looked at Arend. "Part of you, Arend. Sleeping as your Possessed heart."

  Arend raised two hands coated in the different Pendragon Orenth. "In my Orenth…" Arend whispered.

  His hands flashed with color as he closed his fists and dispersed the Orenth. "Arend-!" "

  Not yet." Arend replied.

  King tilted his head. "What does-?"

  Arend looked to him. His left eye had streaks of sky blue that faded to dark green and transitioned through purple before blooming with red and pink and returning to its original grey.

  "What does what?" Arend asked, tilting his head.

  King and Pockle shared a glance before King shook his head. "Nothing."

  "Okay." Arend said as he walked around to climb onto King's back.

  King looked at Pockle. "How do you know so much about Pendragons anyway?"

  "Gliese of the Western Golden Sun, Pencore of the Artifice." Pockle replied.

  King grimaced. "D-don't tell her I'm here."

  "Why not? She's mentioned you with great reverence." Pockle said.

  "Just, don't." King replied as he took to the sky. Pockle watched them go; only realizing something as they disappeared from view. She had two hours to get across the city on two stubbly feet with very little cash on hand. Securing her backpack, she dropped down to all-fours and raced across the field as fast as she could.

  [X]

  Isaac was searching Neon Street desperately for the women that knocked him on his ass. Partly for revenge and partly because he found her interesting. He spent hour looking through legal and illegal fight registries for some hint to who she was. All he knew about her was a flash of flamboyant colors and a kick that left him thunderstruck. He was left to sit outside for nightfall on the curb next to an empty street outside the club he had first met her at.

  - - - Exiled Innocence - - -

  Arend had the seven potential employees in front of him. José was remarkably skinny and had a naturally tan skin tone that honored his heritage. His dark hair was combed and more styled than when Arend had first met him. Lyre was just as skinny as José, but Panzer's training had given an all-round toning and a light tan that gave his originally pale skin some form of color. A pair of thin squared glasses sat on his nose, accented by the black frames. His reddish-brown hair was left to its own devices and was in need for a trim.

  Russell was a large, portly man with arms that could work metal with little effort. His head was cleanly shaven so the color of his hair was unidentifiable, if he still grew any on it or not. Jaime's hair was almost literally the color of golden sunlight, but a small amount of red greatly lowered how metallic it looked. It was tied back in a neat braid. She resembled a younger Janese that hadn't quite "filled out" yet, although her shoulders were proportionally wider than Janese's and her torso was a bit taller.

  Krien looked like anyone her age, with unwrinkled skin and enough pep and energy to feed a small nation. Unlike Jaime, Krien had the curves and right kind of attitude to deal with people, and proved even more effective as a secretary than Arend first thought based on her age; she was naturally sociable and could find numerous ways to explain something, unlike everyone else.

  Pockle's height was almost laughable as she barely stood at chest-level with Jaime while standing on her backpack. Her skin was a mass of tiny sand-colored bumps that would blend in with the sand of her homeland. True to her name, her belly was a shade of bright red textured by scales that were invisible unless you got close. Her large eyes were the same color as her skin, almost invisible except for the thin black slits that made up her pupils.

  Linel was a taller, wider, and a larger build than Arend, and would have fitted the "brawler look" better than Arend did. Arend didn't let it get to him as Linel's strength was purely power in his back and arms, and didn't have the full-body toning he did. Linel's hair was a blazing red-orange that naturally grew in a swept motion towards his left side. He kept it trimmed somewhere between two and three inches simply because of its naturally styled pattern.

  "Have you made a decision yet?" Lyre asked, silver eyes filled with hopefulness.

  Arend nodded, filling the lobby with even more anxiety. "I think you all will do fine."

  "I'm sorry, what?" José asked.

  "He never specified how many spots there were." Krien explained.

  "Aye." Arend replied. "Though there are enough of you to fire and still have a working team, so don't go thinking special relations or skills will circumvent poor work."

  Iode waved from across the lobby. Arend smiled and stood up to meet him. Iode gave the seven a nod before looking to Arend. "I can say with confidence that the plans you sent me will work, with a few modifications for structural stability."

  "Good! When can we begin?" Arend asked.

  "In a few days. We should have it built and fully stocked in a month and a half." Arend frowned. "There's nothing I can do Arend." Iode said. "The shipping of materials, the appliances, prepping the groundwork and building the damn thing is a hell of a lot of work for the small group I work for. Construction isn't really a sought-after career."

  Arend sighed. "Alright, fine. We can at least show them what to expect."

  Iode held up a stack of papers, notes, and blueprints in cardboard tubes. "That, I can do."

  Iode laid everything out on the long table. Before Iode could begin to explain everything, Arend' phone rang. Arend flipped it open and stepped away from his group.

  "What's up?" He asked.

  "We've got a problem." Kronth replied. "And it's about Ros."

  "Shit." Arend cursed, walking father away from the group.

  "And the Sun Legendary Weapon as well. Silver Napalm is concerned over the heat they're receiving from the other Syndicates. They can handle the Weapon, but Ros has to go."

  "Fine." Arend growled. "He's my responsibility and I'll find him a place to stay."

  "Arend…" Kronth said, a soft sigh audible to Arend' ear.

  "I know Kronth." Arend said gently. "But that's all I've got. I don't know what else to do."

  Kronth sighed again, this one drawn out with a slight pause. "I don't know either. I'll send him your way."

  "Love you." Arend replied.

  "You too." Kronth replied quietly before they both hung up.

  Arend turned back towards his group. "I've got some business to take care of. I'll be back soon." He said to them before walking towards the front door.

  A passing Corenden found him seated on a bench a half hour later. He paused when he saw Arend. He had briefly appeared to be someone else with the look he w
as giving the sky. His hat filled the space to his left, dropped onto his bag.

  "Hey Arend, what are you doing out here?" Corenden asked as he joined Arend on the bench to his right.

  "Not much." Arend replied, not breaking his gaze with the sky.

  "Okaaay, why are you out here?" Corenden asked, frowning.

  "Ros." Arend replied.

  "What about him?" Corenden asked warily.

  "Kronth says there have been some complaints about his remaining presence and lack of punishment."

  "That's ridiculous! Even I know he's unaccountable for his actions!" Corenden exclaimed, suddenly angry.

  "They weren't there." Arend replied, placing a hand on Corenden's shoulder and finally looking at him. He glanced away immediately, staring now at the sidewalk's concrete. "They don't trust me anyway."

  "So what!" Corenden puffed, his fur rippling. "They have no right to argue!"

  "They have every right!" Arend exclaimed, finally showing emotion. "You're being ridiculous!"

  "No-I-am-not!" Corenden replied, accenting his words with a poke at Arend. "I know powerful that control was; I felt that dark presence filling his body. Normal men can't stand up to that."

  "Exactly." Arend batted away Corenden's still poking hand. "It's the fact that I'm not a normal man that makes them so wary. Not just human, not fully Monster; if I was Changed I would hold a hell of a lot more ground. If I wasn't a Myshcell, if I wasn't also part Pendragon, if I hadn't fought Ros alone; my voice would be held in high regard. As of now, I have to rely on Kronth to get my voice heard in this bull shit they call politics."

  Corenden brooded for some time. He had a thought that made him frown further. "If your strength is what's limiting you now, why do you want to get stronger? I'm sure with what you have now; a peaceful life would be incredibly easy."

  "Because power still sleeps within me." Arend replied, tapping his heart. "Something I need full control of. I'd rather be an outcast who's fully capable, than a public figure in an insane asylum."

  Corenden frowned. "Insane asylum?"

  "I know what chaotic Orenth can do to a person. Just ask Hunter about Finch." Arend replied.

  Arend' phone buzzed. 'He's headed your way. Hell of a lot of red tape.'

  'Thank you. Are you busy tonight?' Arend replied.

  'Yeah, sorry. Almost every night for the next week. Tomorrow my schedule's mostly clear, so we can hang out while I "review" your contract. At least that's what I'll tell them.'

  Arend smiled. 'Alright, sounds good!'

  Corenden had watched the conversation over Arend' shoulder. "You two don't have any pet names? No sweetie, honey, cutie pie?"

  Arend shut his phone and shook his head. "We both agreed to wait until later for that. We both felt a little weird about it."

  "Huh." Corenden said as he sat back down.

  "'Huh?'" Arend asked. "I detect a hesitant tone~!"

  "Well, of the boyfriends Kronth's had, at least the ones I've met; they usually shower her with affection." Corenden explained.

  "Until they have sex and the relationship begins to fall apart." Arend replied with a snort.

  "…Did she tell you already?" Corenden asked, a little taken aback.

  Arend nodded and leaned back. Sighing, he replied. "I had a feeling before she did, and she only confirmed my suspicions. For being as headstrong as she is, she gets very timid when it comes to a relationship."

  "Well, she's only human. You guys are full of contradictions." Corenden replied with a soft laugh.

  Arend couldn't help laugh as well. "Yeah, but I think that's just part of nature. Animals and Monsters alike have their fair share of contradictions. Hell, some Monsters are more human than humans." Corenden nodded.

  'But then again,' Arend thought. 'What makes a human, human?'

  [X]

  'What am I?' Ros thought as he stared up at the ceiling of the armored van. He chewed absently at pieces of bread picked from the roll in his hand.

  'I can't be nobody; I have a name, a body, a mind. But a name not of my own, a body foreign to me, a mind void of memories but full to the brim with thoughts. Does that mean I'm a thought? Something there, but gone in a snap?'

  Ros shook his head once. 'No.'

  He shook his head three more times, popping the rest of the crushed roll into his mouth. 'No, no, No. A man I am. A man given a crumbling slate. Empty of substance, but still responsible. I am not a child, I don't need a hand to hold and guide me. What is done is done, no matter the cost. I know I put the Ring on freely. My body still remembers that first pain for me.' Ros flexed his arm under his cast. As stiff as it was, it still gave to a flick of his wrist.

  His body tilted as the van came to a stop. The door opened and Ros was thrown unceremoniously out. Ros crossed his arms and sat. He spun around with a foot as the van drove away. He dropped his arms and tilted his head as Arend did the reverse.

  "So…" Ros started, voice cracking.

  "Yeah…" Arend replied.

  Corenden waddled up; his head level with Ros'. Ros glanced between the two. "Do I know you?" Ros' asked.

  "No. We fought each other." Arend replied.

  'So he's the one who dared face Death?' Ros thought.

  "My uncle broke Death's Ring." Arend added.

  "Oh." Ros nodded. "C-could you thank him for me?"

  Arend shook his head. "He already knows. You were lucid when the doctors fixed your arm. Most of it was babbling, but that was some of what was decipherable."

  "Hmm." Ros said thoughtfully.

  "The rest was disturbing. Mostly about those you had fought alongside." Arend added.

  "Why am I here?" Ros asked.

  "Silver Napalm was tired of you." Arend replied.

  Ros nodded. "I know why."

  "You really do have no Orenth…" Corenden said as he poked Ros.

  "Nope! Death's Ring rejected it all. It's part of the contract required when you accept its power. Anyone can use it, but Death Orenth in itself is the absence of Orenth, and can only be used when none is present." Ros explained.

  Arend was impressed. "So you know about Legendary Weapons then?"

  "A little. Celestial Rim taught me the basics. I learned everything else from the Ring." Ros replied.

  Arend half turned to the Den building. "I've got some business to do…"

  Ros stood. Corenden flew up onto Arend's shoulders. He kept a close eye on Ros as they walked across the lobby.

  Ros followed, distracted by his thoughts. 'Why would they send me here? It's not like I need much security with my lack of Orenth; any well-aimed blast would knock me out cold. They even had rookies stationed outside my cell! And now I'm free to walk shackle-less in the Guild of the man who faced me on the battlefield? Dragon's Den is sure a strange one.'

  Ros bumped into Corenden's tail when Arend stopped. Apologizing, he stepped to Arend' right. The eight sitting at the table were confused; more than half shooting dark looks his way. Ros shuffled slightly behind Arend.

  "Why is he here!?" José demanded, standing up.

  "Because Silver Napalm couldn't continue to take care of him. He's here on my request until we can find him a home." Arend replied.

  José opened his mouth to argue, but Iode cut him off. "Ros was Arend' responsibility the moment he and Ros began to fight. The way I see it, Ros himself is very much a victim as he has no memory about himself and is left with the blame of something he had no control over. It's more than pleading insane when a man is left blank and another one of nature's oddities."

  Pockle was the most confused. "Who is this man?"

  "He was the wielder of Death's Ring in the war." José replied with the twitch of a snarl on his face.

  "Oh. So that would definitely explain the Orenth and memory problems." She replied.

  "Enough of this." Arend said as he pulled up a chair. "Let's get down to business."

  Ros sat alone a table over. 'It will always be the same. People can't help feel the way they do even if
they know it's wrong.'

  [X]

  "Alright. Let's start with the basics." Arend said, turning to the man operating the projector slides at a computer.

  The next image slid onto the screen behind him. A variety of people were showing off their Orenth abilities.

  "Orenth! The basic energy for all practical life on earth; in the air, in the water, and so on. But as you will soon learn, Orenth is far more complicated than that." Arend nodded at the man.