Aftermath of a Heavy Loss

Back at The Association, the four of them sat down in defeat. Clara continued to cry and even Natsuki began to shed tears for Iki as well as for Clara who was missing her son. Yureth came through the inner doorway into the room.

Yureth: “I assume a heartfelt loss then? My nephew isn’t here either. I see. Oh, how the Great Swordsmen have fallen. I remember the days where they used to be formidable. Every race feared them and dared not to mess with them. This was even before my time and my brother’s. He tried to create something and it most certainly was better than what it is today. When I was a kid, the stories heard around the world were truly astonishing. Too bad most of them have died off from old age. I wonder if there are a few still around?”

Wally: “Did you come here to remind us that we lost?”

Yureth: “Sort of, yeah. The Swordsmen are a flaw. You can only go as far as your sword takes you. Even with covenants, it only increases it to a certain limit. The only thing you can do is train your mana so that you can last in battle. You all are useless during the day. You rely so much on your moon’s strength, that any fighting done in the day against someone even equal to you likely results in a loss. Many exist that are stronger that have weaker swords than you all, but are smarter and know how to fight better and use chaplets to their advantage. Then of course, there are those born with talent such as Michiaki Sen. The Swordsmen have become the weakest race. Elves, fairies, and witches are far beyond you all. Anybody can pick up a sword and form a covenant to become strong. So, what is the difference in your strength compared to the other races? Nothing. You are ordinary people and 10 of you, oh I’m sorry, 11 of you…are granted power because of a stupid ceremony. My nephew isn’t the smartest and he is too young to lead large territories. He can’t even bring all the Swordsmen together to fight as one. If I were him, I would’ve started with the witches, and tried to form a pact where everyone fought together.”

Yahiko: “Is that all you have to say? If you’re done pestering, then you can leave. We have things to discuss.”

Yureth: “I don’t know how you lost or what happened, but let me say this…I’m an assassin. I’ve spent years perfecting my craft. I can sense a lot of things. First off, those 2 shards that you have is most certainly the key to beating whatever you all lost to. Second off, Iki has an underground section of this place right below us. I think it’s in your best interest to check it out before you decide what to do.”

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Back at Michiaki’s abode, he hugged his wife and kids while explaining what had happened and why it had been so long, but they didn’t really know that they were even frozen until they got out of it. He promised that he would never put them in that sort of danger again.

Julia asked what had happened with the kid and Michiaki explained that as of right now, he couldn’t do anything, but it was a possibility depending on the strength and mental fortitude of Astro.

Michiaki: “However, if he cannot pull it off and come back, then we have to move worlds…Ezra, I know you can hear me. Shame me all you want, but if you have any respect for that man like I do, then I need you to find out where the Devil went and why his sword is down on our world.”

Ezra teleported her real body down into his house and shamed him for what he did, crying, and screaming at him. Because she got her body back, she could not fight anyone unless her sword directed her to and in that moment, she could not help the Swordsmen.

Michiaki told his wife to go upstairs with the kids while they talked. Ezra went on and on, but Michiaki only agreed and apologized.

Michiaki: “That’s all I can do. I made a choice. I choose to live my life how I do. I’ve already explained my motives. I helped Astro, and I will follow through with that promise, but I need your help. If you can find the Devil, then maybe, just maybe, this world won’t be destroyed. If those beings enter back into this world and plan to destroy the 9 Protrations, then you have my word that I will do everything I can to get rid of them.”

Ezra: “Don’t do that to me. You already know I’m going to help because that’s who I am and that’s the choice I make. I’m delaying the entire plan we had against God to help you! Someone that abandoned people in need. I respected you many years ago, but this–”

Michiaki: “This? You respected me years ago? You respected me when I killed evil people in the eyes of many? When I killed endlessly for the sake of peace that just became disrupted every time someone new was born. That only exists in the Realms, Ezra. Specifically, your realm. The other 4 are abysmal demonstrations that are similar to this world. Well, unless the Devil came back. Spirits are guided towards misfortune and despair unless they are sent to you. Is that not the same as this world? Good people fight against bad, but the bad always seems to come back?”

Ezra: “Y-You’re strong enough to protect so many people. Why? Why do you run?! What’s the truth?!”

Michiaki: Who will be there for my children, Ezra? Who will be there to teach them what is right versus wrong? If we’re the only people left in all of the worlds, then I can at least start anew and try to change this world. People can change, they just choose not to because it’s too difficult to stray from the path they have been on all their lives. I choose to let evil defeat good and then evil will defeat itself.”

Ezra did not say another word.

Quietness filled the air.

Ezra understood, but she also didn’t.

She couldn’t stray from the path she was on, but understood the path he chose. She didn’t know what was right and wrong. She only did what she believed was justified. She didn’t know what to say, but she whispered something loud enough for him to hear. “Maybe we don’t give people a chance to change.” She then teleported back to the Spirit Realm out of Michiaki’s sight…