Andric's End

Back in the present, Ghislaine calls out to Andric, pain even more evident in his voice. “We were supposed to be brothers, what happened to that? You know I had no choice! If I hadn’t, we all would have perished that day. Then what? How could we avenge her?” His hair flares up, flowing violently with the wind.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up.” Andric screams clutching the sides of his head as a demon horn begins sprouting, tearing through his skull. “I’ll kill that bastard myself and the rest of the ZEPHYR BASTARDS. I BATHE SETERALIA IN THEIR BLOOD.” Fangs grow from his canines.

“YOU USELESS VESSEL. I SAID FINISH HIM NOW.” Andric’s eyes glow green with demonic red sigils appearing in his pupils. Pausing in shock, tears roll down his eyes. Unable to resist Astaroth’s influence any longer, another blade materializes in his off-hand hand. Instantly launching towards Ghislaine, he feels his mind shattering into pieces. Like a portrait being ripped apart.

Ghislaine grips his rapier, knuckles whitening as his gaze drifts to his friend. “I’m so sorry Andy. I’ll make this quick and free you from this demonic scum” Red and white sparks flash across his body as his aura network screams to life. The shard of Blackstone in his pocket burns red as the aura coats him with a translucent membrane, mirroring Astaroth.

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In Fenrir’s chasm the beast attempts to breathe another stream of fire out towards Joshua as a pink barrier shuts it down immediately. “I owe this boy a life debt, stand down beast.” Nanatsumi echoes a command as pink spectral chains pin the colossal wolf to the ground. It struggles to break free, writing in annoyance and fury.

Standing atop the stone altar alone now,Joshua’s battered and bloody starts pouring all the aura he can muster into it.

A fierce red and black aura swirls about, rocks get flung all over the place. The ground begins to shake as ripples of red outstretch across the landscape. The air itself heats up as the radiating energy knocks Susanna back, nearly scorching her skin, as she watches him in awe. “Joshua.” her voice trails.

As the aura swirls into the cube, Joshua's hair lifts up. Like a dragon he floats into the air. Breathing deeply in and out, his chest rising and falling. Draxis remains completely silent, circulating Joshua’s aura network.

Feeling a surge in power back at the camp, his eyes open faintly. “Astaroth?” The totem begins spinning out of control, torrents of aura launching out, scarring the earth around them as it nearly slams into Nanatsumi. Raising her front right paw, it's blocked with ease. Acting upon instinct, he presses his hands shut. The sheer force of aura swirling cuts his hands to pieces as the cube partially cracks. His heart skips a beat in panic.

“Damn it, not now. It’s almost ready. I can’t lose it now” The blood vessels in his head bulge outward, ready to burst.

Seeing his worry, a pink barrier of energy envelopes his hands holding his aura therein. He looks towards the Jikan, her eyes glistening with a pink glow. “It’s now or never, thank you Sumi.” The fox spirit closes her eyes approving of the nickname.

As the rest of his aura flows into the cube, he raises his hands to the sky. “TAKE THIS ASTAROTH.” A primal screech tears from his throat as he launches it into the air. A fourth and much larger final beam pierces the sky.

The red and black energy looks like a lance impaling a shield. As it swirls towards the heavens chaotically. The once thick and heavy miasma of red shatters away like glass as the sky returns to its once peaceful blue state. Joshua collapses, his body clearly over exerted.

Running over to catch him, Susanna holds her sleeping captain up, turning over to the Jikan she questions. “Is it over?”

“It seems like the boy’s plan worked. I can sense that wicked energy dissipating; however, its caster is still alive. For now. The fox spirit shakes her head with a curious look on her face as she walks up to Fenrir.

“Wolfy, your timeout is finished, my debt is repaid to this mortal.” As she turns around, she stomps her left leg down, as a crack forms in the earth.

Deep inside the mountain a black blade coated in the abyss shakes itself loose from the stones it was bound in. Clamoring to the ground it simply rests in its place,a faint black miasma floating off of it.

Turning her head, the Jikan looks towards Susanna, who sighs exhaustedly. Her eyes glow pink as her ears flutter. “You coming child? If you stay here, he’ll feast on the two of you soon enough.”

Understanding the situation quickly, Susanna carries Joshua’s unconscious body into the strange pathway. The ground, closing up behind them with a spectral pink mist.

Fenrir, now alone, lays there melancholically. Believing its kin to have all perished in the bloodshed. To his surprise however, a small group of 12 wolves eventually crawl out of hiding and look towards their leader. Three females, seven pups, and two elderly males.

The sight of some of his kin still breathing causes him to rise to his feet to greet his family. Shaking off the battle damage he retained, Fenrir looks to the heavens howling with all his might. Fire, rippling through the air.

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Ghislaine and Andric bounce all around the battle ground, Astaroth now controlling Andric’s body. The ground around them ruptures as pyres of fire burst forth, green enchanted pillars of light as well.

“I warned him to hurry up and kill you fools. The black sun is ending now, and not enough sacrifices have been offered.” Andric’s eyes now look completely blank like a puppet's as Astaroth snarls with Andric’s face.

“So, you finally show yourself demon. Why did you corrupt him, how?” Gail’s voice hardens as he thrusts his blade towards Astaroth’s armor as it begins to crack.under the pressure. His own aura flickering from exhaustion.

“He caught my eye years ago, the built-up resentment, the failures, all of those things attract our kind. I knew it was my moment to strike when he caught onto one of my traitorous liches. All I had to do was offer to be his friend, he was quite lonely.” Astaroth cackles in amusement.

“But he was surrounded by his comrades in arms.” Ghislaine rebuttals as he parries a strike from Astaroth.

“You, you alone were his only friend. Did you not see how the others treated him? Like a nuisance, that all he was good for was his brain. Any idea how that made him feel.” Astaroth taunts aloud.

“You abandoned him when you chose to retire to Blackwood. It’s all your fault. If you had stayed on the front-lines with him maybe he wouldn’t have given up.” The demon gazes towards Ghislaine trying to play mind games.

“Enough of your tricks Astaroth. This ends now.” In an instant Ghislaine disappears from view as he screams at the arch-demon.

“You screwed up when you challenged the Bloody Fang of Terra!” His eyes for an instant look like a tidal wave of blood as all of his muscles channel the aura within. His heart pounds in his chest, his lungs fill with air as a cold gaze rests upon the arch-demon of necromancy.

Before Astaroth could react, his armor shatters, Ghislaine’s blade pierces through his chest. In the distance he feels his power leaving. “Damn it. Stupid mortals.” Rather than stay and meet his end in his vessels form, he jumps from the body. A green spectral mist flows out from all of Andric’s orifices coalescing into a green giant holding a massive battleaxe.

“You win this time mortal, but just you wait. When ‘He’ descends, I’ll be coming for your head.” The green apparition dissolves as Ghislaine looks into Andric’s eyes, the color finally returning.

With a look of sorrowful regret Gail places his hand on Andric’s shoulder. The once stoic commandant begins to cry. “Andy, why. Why did you do this?” through haphazard breaths Andric replies.

“I was hurt, all those years ago. I couldn’t let her go, Gail, even though she loved you instead.” Blood spills from his lips.

“Don’t waste your energy, Andy. I know you did, and all I did was shove you away. I pushed everyone away to numb my pain.” The commandant recollects when he asked to retire and how Andric begged for his friend to not leave him alone and for the two of them to leave Terra behind.

“Life’s a cruel mistress ain’t she Andy?” Gail attempts to joke.

“Who are you telling Gail?” Andric weakly snickers trying to put on a brave smile for his friend.

“We’re still brothers, aren’t we?” Ghislaine questions with a pained expression as looks into his old comrades eyes.

Closing his eyes Andric reaches his hand out to the only person he’d ever called a brother. “Forever.”

As Ghislaine grasps his hand, Andric’s grip loosens as his eyes slowly close, his life having finally left his body.

Taking a moment of silence, Ghislaine stands over his fallen brother. Looking to the sky he watches as the sun begins lighting up again. Its dark glow being replaced by joyous luminescence. As the purple corona shatters, it brings forth its warm and gross incandescence upon his skin.

Re-sheathing his blade, he looks at the destruction to his home with a sigh. He begins making his way to the rest of Blackwood’s residents at the top of Mt. Shiraia. “Thank you, Joshua,” His mind trails to the youngest son of Roderic.

At the top of the mountain, having been defending the base for hours, the majority of the cadets were exhausted, most of them collapsed on the ground or sat down covered in blood and sweat. Broken swords littered the place. Yet the barrier remained standing.

Walking to the top of the watchtower, Weil shakes his head, trying to come up with an inspiring speech as he yells out. “GOOD JOB CADETS, YOU SURVIVED. THIS HELL IS FINALLY OVER. LOOK TO THE SKY AND RECEIVE ITS WARM EMBRACE.” They turn to face him from all directions, looks of both confusion and relief on their faces.

Gripping his canteen with a death grip, he lets out a sigh.“Good job Weil. I need a drink; I’m not cut out for this.” Turning his head, he sees Layrn and Gyles coming in with Ghislaine following quickly behind. The two look a bit worse for wear while the commandant has a distant look on his face.

“EVERYONE; ATTENTION. OUR COMMANDANT HAS ARRIVED!” Weil screams with joy, grateful he can drop his responsible persona as he reaches down to his side and grasps his flask taking a swig. He lets out a sigh of relief as it burns down his throat.

Everyone hearing these words stand up as straight as they can before their commandant. Ghislaine looks around curiously noting how many cadets are still here before turning to Gyles. “Where’s Orthon and wolf squad?” Layrn clams up slightly having not told him about Joshua’s plan to stop the Black Sun Ritual.

“Umm, Ghislaine sir, Wolf squad and Orthon have been out taking care of the side effects of the black sun ritual.” Layrn stammers out, slightly terrified of Gail. He turns his gaze, waving her off. “Don’t worry about it Layrn, I’ll overlook it.”

Gyles interjects. “Yeah, Joshua informed us of his plan to break the ritual, something about a ritual the holy knights can activate with their aether, apparently it works with Aura as well as we can see.” Shrugging his shoulders he lets out a tired sigh.

Ghislaine pauses for a moment before lifting his eyebrows in intrigue. “I was right then, that boy is very entertaining.” “Let’s see him explain this one away.” With a chuckle, he bumps his chest with his fist. Stepping forward, he raises his voice with power from his diaphragm.

“Cadets, this nightmare is behind us. The Bloody Fang of Terra has slain our demonic adversary and cleansed Blackwood of its filth. It’s a pity that all of our hard work has been destroyed.” Ghislaine takes a deep breath before continuing.

“But I plan on rebuilding Blackwood. A fire has been reinvigorated in my heart, the passion you cadets have shown, the will to fight and survive against all odds. I personally take blame for this entire situation. If I had taken proper care of my associates and enforced proper protocols and discipline in camp this would have not occurred. As of this moment I hereby graduate you all, good job on surviving. You’ve shown the resolve necessary for the future of Terra. I’m proud of you all, and once again I apologize for my lack of foresight.” A smirk crosses his face as he turns to his captains.

Looks of surprise fill the crowd. The cadets were not expecting this result. They begin to cheer as Weil chuckles to himself. Gytha stirs back to consciousness clutching her head.. Staring at her, she gives him a weird look. “Hell, you looking at?”

“Nothing dear, I’m just glad you’re back.” With a satisfied smile on his face, he takes another swig of his flask; Gytha closes her eyes as a splitting migraine pounds in her head. The demonic influence over her body fades away as she takes a deep breath.

Ghislaine chuckles, overlooking everyone speaking aloud once more. “I will reach out to everyone’s guardians, and explain the situation the best I can. Letters aren’t the best medium for explanations. But that’s a problem for later, for now it’s time to celebrate.” A warm smile rests on his face as the sun beams over the horizon.

“That's just creepy,” Layrn mumbles to herself looking at the commandant. Still seeing the vicious soldier back in the fight with Andric.

Gyles pats her shoulder, shaking her head. “Oh Layrn, he’s just happy for this mess to be over with. He probably had a bunch of baggage on his chest he was finally able to let off.”

Shaking her head, she walks over to Joshua’s quarters as Wil, Vil, Orthon, and Susanna climb out scrambling over one another, everyone looking worse for wear. Nonetheless they’re all alive and breathing. A smile stretches across her face. “Good job, cadets. I’m proud of all of you, but where’s Joshua?”

“Oh, the Jikan still has him.” Vilhelm blurts out earning a smack on the back of his head from Susanna. “You weren’t supposed to say that.”

“Ehheh, my bad.” Vilhelms cheekily grins, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Jikan?” Layrn raises an eyebrow, concern stretching across her face. “Long story master, I’ll explain it, come over here with us. The group of five make their way to a more secluded area of the mountain top.

As they explain what happened to Layrn, back inside the mountain Joshua sits in front of Nanatsumi and Yoko, the little one hopping into the boy's lap. “Yip.” The tiny kitsune wags its tails in glee.

“Child, I know you have many questions for me, but just like you I’m bound by laws beyond my control. But if there is anything you’d like to ask, I will try to indulge you.”

The fox spirit takes on a more humanoid form. As sakura petals scatter out around her in a brilliant light. A beautiful white and pink haired busty woman stands before him, an elegant veil hiding her face. What resembles a scarlet robe drapes over her traditional white kimono with pink accents, her tails still visibly present despite the change in appearance.

“She’s beautiful.” Joshua thinks to himself as he blushes, her body curving in all the right places. “Of course she is a kid, they also have a tendency to kill humans!” Draxis yells into his ears as they begin to ring.

“I get it, ouch.” Joshua replies out loud, clutching his head.

“That noisy dragon in your head causing a fuss? He was always jealous that Durand enjoyed my company more than his.” With a sultry voice she giggles.

“Don’t listen to her ki—-” Draxis' voice was sealed as the scenery and air turns blue.

“Don’t worry about him. Joshua, I just froze him so that we can talk without interruption. That’s the same reason I escorted your friends from this place.” Letting out a sigh of relief Joshua lowers his gaze.

“Okay then, do you know who sent me back in time and why?” Joshua mumbles out; the question having nagged him since the last time they spoke.

“I apologize that I can’t say, but I promise that you’ll find out one day. There are other beings like myself who aren't bound by causality like me.” Nanatsumi bows her head.

“Then what about Draxis? Do you know where his body is?” The fox opens her eyes with a smirk. “That would ruin the game if I spoiled it. Let's just say it's closer than the two of you think.” Clicking her tongue she runs her hand down her body.

Joshua looks at her in a deadpan look, before asking another question.

“Can this curse on my body be broken without Draxis’s help? I know he’s been my guide and teacher, but I don’t know if it’s worth binding myself into a contract with him.”

Nanatsumi grins. “He will do you no harm Joshua, mostly. Unless…. Never mind.” Cutting herself off she snickers, shaking her head. “Like yourself he just likes throwing temper tantrums when things don’t go how he wants.” Joshua tilts his head.

She shakes her head in a manner that said it wasn’t her place to speak on the subject before continuing. “Yes child, It can be broken, albeit quite painfully. Of course what you went through fighting his highness was brutal to watch.”

“His highness?” Joshua, mouth left agape continues. “Do you mean physically or mentally?”

“Yes, Joshua.” She eyes him with a sadistic smile. “Pain that you couldn’t ever imagine or prepare for.”

Joshua looks toward the kitsune not quite understanding what she means as he feels a sharp pain in his chest. After grasping down over it and looking down, nothing seems to be wrong. “The hell was that. It felt like my heart was just stabbed.” Hand still on his chest, he exhales.

“Oh dear, I guess that it’s time for me to leave, child. It was nice chatting. ‘He’ doesn’t want me speaking further. Any more and you’d be at risk.” Nanatsumi winks at Joshua before turning around, walking away with Yoko in tow, her body swaying in a seductive manner. Joshua shakes his head trying to get her image out of his mind.

Immediately after leaving, Draxis is unfrozen and continues where he left off only to notice that the fox spirit and her child were long gone.

“Hey kid, when did she leave?”

“They left just a moment ago.”

Looking down at his tattered outfit he shakes his head. “Any idea how we get out of here?”

“No clue, hopefully that fox left a way out.” Shaking his head, they take a look around,eventually stumbling into a corridor leading out of the ruins/cavern.

Quickly making his way out, he surfaces at the bottom of the mountain as the sun begins setting in the distance. He slowly makes his way to the top; his body having been once more restored by the Jikan unlike his poor outfit. “I tried to keep it in tact.”

“Bullshit.” Joshua rolls his eyes in annoyance.