by S. J. Wist
"Sounds like a plan," Kenshe said as the elevator arrived with a ding. They went inside and the door closed before starting upwards. "I know this is a bad time in our relationship to ask for a favour," Kenshe started as he looked at Nafury. "But could I borrow your wings once this place blows?"
"Like how you left me to die at the Falls?" Nafury replied with a cold tone.
"Hey, I did what I could, you unappreciative prick!"
"Like hell you did," Nafury replied, unconvinced.
"Nafury..." Ubi whined.
"Fine," Nafury said, looking briefly back at Ubi. "But only so I can drop your Bond from space so he can become a stain on the ground that you won't feel."
"Come on, Nafury." Kenshe replied, pretending to whine. "We are supposed to die with a death grip to each other's throats as we tumble into Hell. You are ruining the foundation of our friendship."
"You guys are pathetic," Ubi said as she hid to the side of the elevator as the doors opened. They were greeted with another group of soldiers. Kenshe and Nafury followed Ubi's lead as they were opened fire on.
"Shit, these ones are human," Kenshe said as he looked at Nafury.
"Yeah, I'm on it," Nafury said as he focused his psi on the weak human minds attacking them. He gave their heads the illusion that they were being charged at. While their guns pointed the other way towards the illusions, Kenshe and Nafury struck them down from behind. One of Kenshe's blades hit a little too deep, and a spark of electricity from an overhead light ignited. It was a warning from a Sentry.
Nafury kneeled down and healed the human just enough that he would live. Then they continued forward. "Can you be more careful?"
"My bad," Kenshe admitted and looked back to check on Ubi who stayed close to them.
"There," she said, running to the metal doors ahead.
"Can you open it?" Nafury asked.
"I can try." She set her hands on the control panel and focused on wrecking the circuitry. It worked, and the doors opened a few inches.
Kenshe grabbed one side, while Nafury did the other and they pulled it open the rest of the way. Kenshe went in first, and gave a quick look around to find that no one was inside.
Nafury and Ubi followed him, and they went for the giant Tech in the center of the room.
"There aren't any windows," Kenshe took immediate notice of.
"I have two eyes," Nafury reminded him and looked over the contraption. He peered through its small window and had to look twice to confirm what he saw.
"Congratulations on getting here late," Cirrus' voice said from the only way into the room.
"What have you done to my sister!?" Nafury demanded.
"I'm afraid you still aren't seeing the whole picture, my Prince," Cirrus replied. "When the first Aster was destroyed, Asteria was not destroyed with it. She merged her essence into her daughter, which is why Asil lived and Erebus did not. Within that tank is the most powerful life-giving force in the universe, next to Hino himself. With that power I will recreate the first Aster here, and Sybl will be alive as she was always meant to be."
"Release her! This is madness you're attempting!" Kenshe shouted at him.
"It will all be over soon," Cirrus said and used his Mei to channel his will to Sybl. The dragon-shaped construct shook as it came alive and began to stand up.
"Nafury!" Ubi pleaded, as Kenshe charged for Cirrus with his blade. "You have to stop him! You're the only one who can!"
Nafury desperately searched for a way to stop Cirrus. He felt completely helpless. Kenshe held Cirrus off, relying on him to think their way out of this. It was then that he caught sight of the Mei mark on Ubi's wrist. "Those are unbreakable..." Nafury thought aloud. He went over to the tank that immersed Sybl's unconscious body in golden water. "You belong to me," he said and pressed his head and hand against the window. "You have always belonged to me, my most precious Fay."
The shaking stopped, and Cirrus grabbed Kenshe and threw him to the side on realizing what was happening. The Awl charged at Nafury, and he caught Cirrus' blade against his own. The Awl's strength pressed him against the tank. "You promised me once that you would never leave me. But you lied--I have never seen you further from what we had once hoped for together!"
"Why can't you see that I do this for us and for Sybl--and for the greater of all Asterians?" Cirrus said.
"You will never create a perfect Aster from suffering!" Nafury shouted back, and pushed Cirrus' blade off and away from him.
Kenshe slashed at Cirrus from behind, and Nafury got a firm grip on his blade to assist the phelan shifter.
Ubi focused on trying to free Sybl from the metal prison. She hit everything, and it was enough as it opened and spilled a flood of water across the room. She grabbed Sybl before she could go with the water closer to the fight. "Mom! Mom wake up! We need your help!" Ubi shook her till she opened her eyes.
Sybl took notice of Ubi, then of the fight at the other side of the room. She pulled herself to her feet, channeling all of her aeri to her as she did. "Kenshe!"
Kenshe heard her thoughts and unleashed a flare of estus energy at Cirrus. He grabbed Nafury and pulled them to the ground as Sybl's aeri hit the Awl immediately after, resulting in a massive explosion. When the energy and debris cleared, Cirrus had vanished.
Ubi let out a breath of relief, and ran over to Kenshe and Nafury as they rolled over in pain. Kenshe had taken most of the hit from the blast for them both.
"Sister..." Nafury started, with the wind knocked out of him.
"We have to go," Sybl replied and pulled him to his feet. "We don't want to be in here when it blows up."
TWENTY-NINE
They followed after Sybl as the Dragon Moon shook violently. Once they were outside, Alexia and Kenshe's shift rejoined with them. Now it wasn't just the Dragon Moon they had to worry about, but the military fully armed and ready to shoot them down. Several tanks stood in the way of their retreat. Ubi looked up as a helicopter blinded them with a spotlight from above. They were completely surrounded.
"Oh no, not this again," Nafury said as he took up position in front of Sybl. "Please tell me you have a plan?"
"Yeah, we have our own Tank," she said and nodded in the direction of the military.
Several large black shapes emerged from the shadows, in a chorus of low growls. The military froze as the massive wolf-like creatures surrounded them. One of the giant wolves fearlessly walked right through their center.
"Hold your fire!" the lead officer ordered, then looked back at the entourage in front of the building. "Who are you and what do you want?"
"We retrieved our kind and just want to go home, General Ray," Sybl called back. She had read everything she needed to know from his defenseless mind. "We have no conflict with anyone else on Earth or any wish to hurt anyone."
Tank feared none of the guns and machinery as he walked over to them, pushing aside a car with his paw like it were a mere toy. "Caelestis, we have come to escort you," he said in English. His voice caused several of the soldiers to soil themselves.
Sybl smiled and looked back at General Ray. "We will be leaving now, is that alright with you?"
The growls became lower, challenging the General to say no. He couldn't say no, as his men would be slaughtered.
Nafury helped his sister by using his own psi to increase the General's fear of them. When Kenshe saw what he was doing, he did the same and a mischievous grin grew on his face.
The General nodded after some minutes, and Sybl let Nafury pull her into his shift. Kenshe pulled Ubi onto his back and shifted, and they followed their escort towards the Gate.
The phelan moved through the streets like shadows. Traffic and people stopped and screamed in terror as they passed. Many had taken refuge in their vehicles.
"Maybe I should have let Feryl come instead," Tank said to Prisca as they raced the last few blocks for the Gate. "He would have loved to have seen this all again."
Ubi hung on tight with one hand, as she reached d
own to grab a cellphone from an unsuspecting man. Her victim had been too engrossed with it to notice the wolves till they had already passed him. "Souvenir, check."
"Ubi," Nafury said as he dove closer to them.
"On it," Ubi said and she turned around on Kenshe. She focused back on the Dragon Moon and visualized the controls she had seen. Remembering the connections, she focused her power to set it to explode. It erupted into the sky as the cries of fear echoed as far as they were now. "I hope that didn't hit anyone important..." Ubi turned back around on hearing what sounded like a fight up ahead.
"Master Gei!" Kenshe said ecstatic and rushed ahead on seeing the Iynx. He skid to a stop before the human form that the once cat-shaped General had taken to. Gei's short blond hair sparkled, as his green eyes glowed from the face of man who looked anything but thousands of years old.
"Holy cheese he's pretty," Ubi said first, and Kenshe's fur stood slightly on end.
"I have ensured that this Gate will take you back home," Gei said as he released the dead griffin shifter from his grip. He then looked to Nafury as the dragon landed.
Nafury unshifted to let Sybl see him for herself.
"You found your wings," Sybl said as she stood up straight and walked closer to Gei. It made a sad kind of sense why Gei had torn them off to begin with--Serena would have been instantly taken by him. "Will you not come back with us?"
"Cirrus must answer for his crimes, as Hino has his Laws as well," Gei explained.
"We've missed you," Kenshe said.
"You will be fine without me. I have taught you everything I know. Now hurry, all of you. You must pass through the Gate before they are able to close it again."
Kenshe unshifted and proceeded through the Gate's watery portal, and the others followed. Nafury stayed another moment behind. "Gei."
"Damek," Gei replied. "I'm happy to see that you've come to your senses."
"Heh, I just wish I did sooner. Will you be alright on your own here?"
"I can hold my own," Gei assured him. "You and the other Generals have babied me long enough."
Nafury laughed as some memories returned from ages past. They did used to overprotect him, but that was only because he was too trusting and timid.
"We are the only two left of the once renowned Four Generals, but it is enough to get done what needs to be done. I am far more concerned with you and the possible futures I have foreseen."
"Oh?" Nafury asked in concern.
"Do not let your wishes from the past consume you in the present. You must let go what must be let go if there is to be peace on Aster."
"I don't understand," Nafury replied.
Gei looked at Nafury's wrist. "You understand exactly what my words are conveying to you. Now you just need the strength to see that the peace we have obtained today is not undone."
Nafury looked at his wrist, before looking back at Gei. The General had shape-shifted into his slender, cat-like appearance, and his white fur glowed. "What if I don't want to?"
"There are consequences to every action," Gei replied. "If you defy the dark Fay, he will have his vengeance. With his strength returned to him from Aragmoth, he may very well obtain it."
Nafury set his arm back at his side and started for the Gate. "Will you help me if it comes to that?"
"We exist to serve the Caelestis' wishes. She is all we have left of Asteria now, and she is all that we need to define our existence. Just do not do anything rash," Gei said. "I have raised and loved Kas like my own son. I will not assist you in destroying him." He then turned and jogged off into the trees as several sirens could be heard coming closer.
Nafury committed his words to memory, then stepped through the Gate. He wanted to keep his sister safe and at his side. Any and all possible consequences of pursuing his wish fell on deaf ears.
GLOSSARY
Aeger -- The Sylvan Aur is the equilibrium for the aeri and estus Aurs, creating a balance of life and death energy over the world of Aster. When the Sylvan Aur was destroyed at the end of the Last War, this balance was lost, and the estus energy began to spread uncontrollably across the world. The Aeger is a sickness caused by being overwhelmed by estus energy and its related emotions. Those with the Aeger usually lose their minds before they die of starvation, injuries as they don't feel pain, or they are destroyed. When the Sylvan Aur was restored after Sybl's death, the Aeger ceased to be.
Aeri -- Light energy channelled easiest through Animus Threads by positive emotions such as love, happiness and contentment. Used best as a restorative healing energy, but can be channelled into an intense, pure fire that is most effective against those infused with estus energy.
Alexia -- Originally believed to be a human woman from Earth who Dyaus caught after venturing through a Gate from Mer City to Earth. She later becomes Cirrus' mother and Dyaus' Bond. Once loved and remembered by the dragons for her beauty, foresight and singing voice. She lives on as her original form now, as an unusually powerful Sentry from Earth.
Aliyr -- Twins on the first Aster were born as a Mei (shield) and an Aliyr (sword). Usually it was the male of the twins if one is a boy and the other a girl. In the case of Bonds on the new Aster, it is usually the male.
Animus -- Also known as 'Thread,' it serves as connecting lines for telepathy, shifting, and can be manipulated by estus and aeri energies to heal or destroy amongst many things. It's an endless weave of spiritual links that can only be seen in a trance, by trained Novaists or Callers, Awls, or by those who are connected to the inner realm of death and Aragmoth.
Aragmoth -- The immense, living essence that supports the world of Aster. The first Aster was destroyed by a moon-size monster of energy, known as the Dragon Moon, that was sent by Earth. After the destruction of their world, the Eminor spirits combined their energies and Aragmoth was formed. Aragmoth defeated the Dragon Moon and absorbed its dark energy into itself and hurled the Dragon Moon's light essence back to Earth. It then tracked down and absorbed into itself the lost souls of the Sylvans and Ancients. From Aragmoth, the second Aster was recreated within Earth, and the Sylvans, Ancients and Eminor were later reborn onto it.
Asil -- The female Fay twin born to Asteria and Daath on the first Aster. She was an airy spirit who could command all six elements. Aragmoth releases her onto the new Aster without her Sylvan energy in her body, making her more of a physical creature. She is killed by Moon before the end of the Last War and then later reincarnated as Sybl.
Aster -- A spiritual and physical world existing inside Earth by means of a Great Dragon known as Aragmoth.
Asteria -- While most Sylvan on the first Aster were born as twins, Asteria was born as a Sylph -- a treasured rarity that was able to exist by itself without a twin. The spirit of aeri energy was chosen as the leader of the first Aster by the Sylvan kind. Aster was also named after her. Her Bond would later be Daath.
Atrum -- A black, tower-like castle, on the center of the Suzerain Continent. It serves as the base of the estus Aur, the death energy from the Great Dragon. It provides a heavier light accompanied by rain and haze and it amplifies negative emotions. It was ruled by Vanir, then later Kas for a short time. Kenshe presently reigns as Atrum Lord.
Atrum City -- The city surrounding the Atrum. While it was heavily industrialized from relations with the Falls, it has decayed back to its previous dark-ages state over the last ten years.
Aur -- Concentrated estus or aeri energy, usually from the Soph Aur of Toria or the estus Aur of the Atrum. They lighten and darken most of the atmosphere of Aster when they rise individually.
Awls -- A creature or shifter possessed by a Sentry who has chosen to 'fall' to Aster and live out their existence. They are natural fortune tellers who can read the Animus Threads connected to one's Fate. Dangerous if angered or insulted, Awls can utilize Thread to their needs, but cannot alter the Threads of gold. Most prefer to live quiet, solitary lives, which also helps them in avoiding Aragmoth's wrath. Considered immortal, dark angels and demons by many
. They hide in their human-like appearances that are merely an illusion over their true form, which resembles a dark, winged demon when it touches the Animus Threads of Aster.
Ayame -- A female phelan shifter.
Berion -- A former town of phelan on the Torian Continent that was not controlled by the Atrum. Jasper and his Bond, Ishtar, were its leaders. Named after Master Berion who is Jasper's father. It is completely destroyed by the Deathmare.
Bond -- Another word for mate.
Cael/Caelestis -- The Asterian words for god/goddess.
Caller -- An ayame capable of creating a Nova which is a powerful song that affects Animus Thread. Ayame are the leaders of their Packs for this reason, as their mastery over the Thread allows them to control their Packs and avoid conflict where possible. In battle, it is often the most powerful ayame Caller who determines the victorious Pack. Similar rules apply to daoran Novaists, with the exception being that they are all connected to the High Priestess as assistants, instead of being individual leaders like female phelan shifters.
Casus Beli Canyon -- Territory of the plumas. Created by Nephena when she hurled Livry across its field in anger of his failure.
Cecil -- A 42 year old dragoon, and first born son of Tynar and Trista. His blood falls under the Line of Moon. A mild-hearted dragoon once, Cecil became bitter over the years because of his born blindness, combined with the pressure put on his family by Yri's influences in Toria. His Bond is Rose.
Celia -- Gwa's human mother, and a scientist from Earth who once worked for the Falls. She later falls in love with Mersael, but she flees when he tries to kill her and his son, Gwa.
Chimeras -- Also known as 'Outcasts.' Soulless and animal-like descendants of Nephena. Chimera are usually a combination of two or more animals. Many have allowed their bodies to be possessed by the Sentry, giving them souls and a human-like form in becoming an Awl.