by Jake Taylor
Isabella seemed to get shy when embarrassed; Haruka usually got angry, which is why she reminded herself not to try to punch the good doctor for her intrusion into… whatever that was. It isn’t like she knew something was going on, she told herself. Wait… Was something going on? What was going on? What did she interrupt? Damn it, this is why she shouldn’t have intruded.
Okay, so her attempts to ward off violence only encouraged her towards it. Frustration had a habit of doing that. She had to calm down; after all, Isabella would surely say what she had intended to say later. Except that she’d seemed very nervous about it, and this might have scared her out of saying it at all. Haruka tried not to glare at Vivian. Two minutes. You couldn’t have come in two minutes later.
The doctor stood up, smiling. “Well, good news, you’re clear to leave if you want. Your sickness seems to have subsided and the infection was defeated, so you just need to be careful what you do for a while.”
Isabella smiled, standing up from the bed and showing no signs of the fatigue or weakness she had the day before. “Thank you, Dr. Heart. I’m grateful for your saving my life.”
“As you should be,” she said with a smile. She retrieved Bella’s now-clean golden robe as the blue-haired knight counted out a sum of money. She accepted it without bothering to count it as she laid the robe on the bed, smiling. “As with all of my patients, I hope I won’t have to treat you again, but I won’t complain if I do. It’s a compromise between greed and care. Do try to be a bit more careful, though.”
“Believe me, I’m trying,” Isabella said as the woman left the room. She then turned and smiled at Haruka. “And you… The one that really saved my life,” she said, continuing softly, “in more ways than one…” She switched to a grin. “We missed some… most… pretty much all of the festival, but focusing on the bright side, we get to travel now!”
Haruka stood and stretched. “Get to, have to… Same thing.”
“Yes, but that’s not optimism!”
“Realism.”
“Realism is depressing. I’m excited.” She pointed at the door. “Now get out of here so I can change.” She tilted her head. “Or…” She grinned. “I mean, if you want to stay and watch…”
Isabella probably expected her to flee in embarrassment. Knowing that, Haruka sat back down and lifted her legs onto the bed, crossing them and keeping her gaze on Bella with a raised eyebrow. Two could play this bluffing game.
Isabella blinked, and then a smile spread across her face. “Oh, I see how it is. Calling my bluff. Well…” Isabella lifted a hand to the top of her robe. “What if I… call your bluff?” She smiled at Haruka’s blinking stare as she undid the tie, sliding her hand down the center of the robe slowly, but not opening it fully; just enough to show some skin. “Because you know… I really have no problem undressing right here.”
The game seemed to have backfired on both of them, as now Haruka couldn’t bring herself to look away, her eyes locked on Isabella’s wandering hand. Isabella noticed this change and her self-satisfied smile was unabashed. “Bold,” she said. “But how bold is Haruka…?” She turned her back to Haruka, looking over her shoulder as she pulled the robe off her shoulders, letting it slide down until it barely hung off her hips. With everything above her waist bare, only the way she was facing hid anything.
Haruka couldn’t help the eyes that wandered down, travelling over Isabella’s skin. She noticed some of the scars the doctor had spoken of now; dozens, hundreds of lines showed where long-healed scars had once been, and there were more that didn’t heal, including several nasty slash or stab marks that left raised lines or deep gouges marring her skin. All of it just made her more attractive; damaged, but strong, surviving the injuries that had marked her so permanently. And her figure wasn’t ruined at all, quite the opposite, but once Haruka found herself focusing on her body, her curves, the toned and subtle hints of the experienced muscle beneath, her thoughts headed down an entirely different trail.
That was, of course, too much, and Isabella laughed softly as Haruka forcibly clamped her eyes shut followed by turning her whole chair the opposite direction. She let the rest of the robe fall then, walking over to slip into her own golden one. “You’re getting tougher, Ruki, but you’re still too easy.”
IXH
Two hours later, Isabella and Haruka rode out of the town of Stahl on two fine horses. Stahl was too far outside the Empire to find vehicles, or any technology really, but that was best, as Bella was nervous around such things since her homeland of Areya was still at a ‘horse and cart’ level of technology. They planned to ride all day. They had to get as far away from the city as they could since it was where the Black Sun would look for them first, so they rode east. Stahl was fairly close to the coast, and it was only two days’ travel or so to the port down of Daubin.
From there they would book passage on a ship to the south. In the more populous lands of the Ravakan Empire they would find it easier to lose pursuers. Nature seemed to be against them, though; they seemed to be riding into the storm. It grew worse the further they got until they weren’t even sure they were near the road anymore. The lightning above them seemed ridiculous as it sparked between clouds with unnatural frequency, blinding them if they looked up. Both started to get a bad feeling about it, and after a total of five hours of travel their feelings were proven right.
A massive bolt of lightning hit the ground in front of Isabella’s horse. The animal reared in terror, tossing Bella off. She managed to twist and land on her feet but the horse took off in a random direction. Going after it would have to wait, as the air in front of her was shifting as if it was collecting energy from the lightning strike. A vaguely humanoid-like form appeared from chunks of rock and flowing electricity and wind, emitting an unearthly screech that hurt their ears.
“Storm Elemental!” Isabella called out as she pulled her sword from her belt. She had never fought one in the state she was in now, and she didn’t think it would go well this time.
Haruka, who had been about to ride after Bella’s horse, untied the packs from her horse and let them drop to the ground, then leapt off her own mount to help as she couldn’t leave her alone against such an entity. What she’d be able to do against it was probably limited, but they had to stand together.
The thing was like a collection of floating rock chained together by lightning and swirling wind. It “stood” about twelve feet tall, forming hands out of the pieces of rock as it flew forward with a sound like thunder, swinging a “fist” at Isabella. She dodged to the side, striking at one of the rocks floating along its “arm”. Her strike knocked it away and the arm collapsed, but this, she knew, was false progress; it would take one specific strike to defeat it in any meaningful manner.
A bolt of lightning shot out from the elemental, striking her in the chest. She had her armor on so she wasn’t burned, but the gold was all too great a conductor, electrocuting her as she was sent flying and skidding through the mud. Haruka took the opportunity to leap forward and strike three rocks in the center of the creature before a backhand from its remaining “arm” knocked her away. A Death Mark appeared on each rock and the explosion scattered a large amount of the creature’s composition, earning a screech from it.
Unfortunately it simply pulled itself together after that and came at her. She cursed, doing her best to dodge and evade its strikes, but a whirlwind of rock and lightning was difficult to dodge at the best of times and she found herself struck several times before she made it away from the thing. Isabella came back in, flowing around a lightning bolt and hacking away at pieces that came at her. Finally she saw it; a small, round rock floating just under the “neck” bearing a very soft glow and a white rune.
She was knocked back by a pelting of heavy stones before she could hit it, but she made her way to Haruka to share the discovery. “There’s a single stone inside it with a white rune on it. It can move it around so it’s hard to find, and even harder to get to, but if we can destr
oy that stone, it will collapse.”
Haruka nodded and both women broke into a run, splitting up when near it to attack both sides. It was a frustrating fight where skill and strength meant nothing and reaction time was the only important thing. There were no moves or counters for fighting flying rocks and electricity, only wild dodges and struggling to reach one specific stone that kept moving and getting lost in the whirlwind of debris and light.
When they got close the creature transitioned into a tornado-like form, spinning rapidly and sending both flying with bruises and electrical burns. Another strike came from the heavens and hit the creature, followed by another, and another. Each time it grew in size and ferocity as if it was enraged, and each time their chances of winning shrank. Now twenty feet tall and composed of several near-boulders as well as the chained lightning and large amount of debris, the Storm Elemental headed for Haruka, who could only do her best to dodge what she could.
Isabella stood panting for breath, covered in mud and soaked through. She knew she only had one option. She lifted her sword, pulling away the grey cloth strap that held it tied into its scabbard. Bai…
Yes?
I want to protect her, Isabella said as she watched Haruka narrowly avoid a hurled boulder.
…Then protect her we will. I will give it my all. Will you?
Isabella drew the blade with determination. “Always.” The ensuing scream of pain and burst of light drew the attention of both the elemental and Haruka, the latter of which stared in surprise and confusion as Isabella was lifted into the air and her hair and eyes became a shining gold. Her sword turned bright silver, and a light transferred from it to her left hand where it formed into a golden shield bearing the symbol of a living tree on the front. The light ripped around her in a cyclone of power, emitting a high-pitched keen as it shredded the ground and air at the same time.
“It’s been… a long time,” Isabella said calmly, feeling the power flowing through her as her feet touched back on the ground. It excited her, drove up her adrenaline and battle lust, and she fought to control it and retain her true thoughts. There was a different look in her eyes, a hungry and threatening one that dimmed only slightly as she fought her desires. Her voice was different as well, colder and bearing an underlying fury that was even more terrifying because it seemed so repressed, invisible in her hard expression, only boiling beneath the surface.
Isabella walked forward slowly, her eyes fixed on the elemental. Her sword lit with white flame and she broke into a jog, then a run. The elemental turned its attention fully on her and flew at her, stone and lightning whirling to meet her charge. She didn’t slow but sped up, even as it flung a bolt of lightning at her. She brought her shield up and deflected it, then launched herself into the air, cleaving through the creature and coming through to the other side.
Rocks shattered in her passage and two of the boulders splintered into tiny pieces before she landed beside Haruka. She stood and turned golden eyes on the monk, who still had no idea what to think. “We need to deal with this creature quickly.”
Haruka blinked, taking in her new appearance. “What… I don’t…”
“Haruka!” she said sharply, snapping the brunette out of her confused daze. “Now is not the time for questions. We must kill the beast first, and then we can talk.”
Haruka nodded, pushing aside her confusion and curiosity. She looked at the large entity that was moving towards them again. “You first… Block first strikes…” She looked at Isabella. “Then me. Explode… Knock away defense.” Her eyes moved back to the creature. “Then you… go for the kill.”
Isabella nodded, taking a step forward. “A wise course of action. Stay right behind be!” She took off running and Haruka listened, keeping right on her heels. Their steps fell into a rhythm and they ran as one straight into the heart of the storm. Isabella raised her shield as the creature reacted, launching rocks and lightning at them. She knocked away rocks, hacked bigger ones apart with her sword and deflected the lightning with her shield, weathering the volley.
As soon as it was done Haruka leapt up and Bella raised her shield over her head. They didn’t need to talk about it; Haruka stepped on the shield and launched herself forward into the center of the beast. She struck in every direction, her hands a blur as she hit every rock, stone and boulder within reach. After a few seconds she was finally flung out of the whirlwind, but her job was done. She flipped to land on her feet and watched as the ensuing explosions scattered the parts of the creature in every direction.
Isabella gathered her strength and jumped straight up as soon as the explosions started. She entered the field of dust and debris, clear of the usual defenses. There; the runed stone hung suspended, turning slowly, unguarded. Her sword shot out and split it in half. She immediately brought her shield up between it and her, a memory triggering the reaction. Fortunate, as it exploded with energy that sent her flying. The impact would have hurt, but Haruka caught her, skidding back in the mud from the force but taking no damage.
Another unnatural shriek filled the air as the stone and lightning flew about madly. Light flared up brightly for one final second before everything just stopped in an instant. All the remaining rocks fell to the ground, as inert as they had always been. The storm in the skies above them immediately relinquished; the lightning and thunder faded with one last sound and, only seconds later, all that was left was a light, calm rain.
Haruka steadied Isabella, who smiled. “Sometimes it’s worth it.” She lifted her sword and scabbard, staring for a few seconds in indecision. She looked… regretful, as if she truly didn’t want to sheathe the blade. Her hand shook for a moment before sliding the blade into the sheath. She shuddered as the light faded; her hair turned back to its normal dark blue color and her eyes returned to grey. In the next instant pain shot through her and she collapsed in a spasm of agony. Haruka was at her side but could do nothing; fortunately the pain didn’t last for too long.
The fatigue was immediate, though, and irreversible. Haruka looked around but, as expected, neither horse was anywhere to be seen. Luck was with them in one thing, however; her packs were still fine. She hooked them over her shoulder and then carefully picked up Isabella, and headed towards the forest just to the north of them. Inside she found a clearing big enough and set the other woman down. First thing to do was obvious; she set up the tent they’d brought, grateful that had been with her packs. The blankets had managed not to get soaked through so she tossed those inside as well.
Isabella washed all the mud off of her armor that she could before she eventually gave up. She pulled off her armor just inside the tent, setting it outside the entrance. Now clad in a simple sleeveless white shirt and shorts she fell onto one of the blankets, staring up at the “roof”. Haruka followed her example, removing her longcoat, boots and gloves. She joined Isabella inside, sitting on her own blanket but choosing to stare at her companion. “What?” Isabella asked irritably, getting a raised eyebrow from Haruka.
It wasn’t that it was wrong to be irritable. It just seemed wrong for Bella to be irritable. “What was that?” she said, deciding to ask her questions anyway. “Back there?”
Isabella sighed, laying her arm over her eyes. “That was me. Sort of. I told you I was a second-generation fallen. The mixing of my parents’ angelic and demonic blood had… odd effects. They don’t mix, really, that’s the effect. To keep me from being overloaded - or overtaken - by it, they tied the power into a release; my sword. In other words, if I draw my sword, I take on one of two forms.”
Haruka frowned. “Effects?”
“It’s not important. It’s just a weapon I can use if I really need to. I don’t like to for multiple reasons.” She moved her arm to look at Haruka. “None of which I wish to talk about.”
Haruka sighed, shrugging and turning to lie down. Both of them remained in a tense silence for the first time until Isabella gave a frustrated groan, sitting up and looking at the monk. “Look, it’s been a… real
ly long time since I’ve felt that power. Years. It’s kind of… intoxicating. Sometimes it’s hard to turn back, which is bad because I’m not really me when using it. My refusal to kill? That disappears. Feelings for allies or discerning between friend and foe? That’s sometimes lost as well. It’s dangerous and not a good option to use if I have an option, but sometimes it’s the only thing I can do.”
She looked out the crack in the tent flap at the light rain. Haruka just watched her quietly, listening. “And right now part of me is angry at myself for using it, another part is angry at me for giving it up, and another part is angry at that second part for being angry about giving it up. At the same time I feel like an addict who just took a hit of something she’d been off for years; all the cravings are back, the pain from giving it up, and it… kind of aggravates my sickness,” she said, looking away.
Haruka pushed herself up on her elbows, studying her. “Why use it, then?” She shook her head. “Shouldn’t have.”
“Yeah, well, I did. Okay? I did.” Isabella lay back down on her side, facing away from Haruka. “Just… Shut up and go to sleep,” she muttered. “I’m tired of talking.”
Clicking her tongue in thought, Haruka watched her for a few seconds longer before falling back to the blanket. They’d left that morning in high spirits, but so far this trip was not going well at all. Neither of them was in a good mood and Bella, well, she was obviously keeping a lot of things to herself. Trying to get her to talk about them now would only anger her further, though, and the last thing they needed was to be further apart. She just hoped they’d get over this; she hoped it was just a short thing brought about by them both being cold, wet and hurt, having lost both their mounts and half their supplies. Haruka closed her eyes, praying the next day would be better.