As the sun began to rise over the horizon, Salem finished rolling up her blanket and tossing it to Vao. The thief stuffed it into the pack of their supplies, hoisting it on his back with visible strain. It was heavier than before, due to Sasha's armor being inside.
The tall tomboy was armorless for the first time since they had met her, sweat already building up on her forehead. The giant sighed, glaring at Yin. "... The hell you staring at?"
The cleric immediately turned his head, his face a light shade of pink. "N-not you, elf..."
Sasha snickered, folding her arms. For the first time, Salem was beginning to realize just how shredded Sasha was. Every inch of her body was solid muscle. She looked like she could beat a bear to death with her bare hands.
Verde looked up from the ground, adjusting her hat. "... Vao, can you pass me an apple? I am quite hungry."
Vao visibly flinched. "C-can we wait a bit, mate? We really should preserve food..."
"... Okay?"
"Seriously, are you feeling well?" Oswald asked. "You look like you're going to wet yourself."
"F-fine... Just hot..."
Yin looked at his brother worriedly. Would he really be alright? He seemed more distracted than usual, and wouldn't look anyone in the eye when he was speaking to them. But with a sigh, he let Vao be as they continued walking through the desert.
After several hours, the mountains had disappeared out of view, and the heat had grown almost unbearable. Oswald had refused to take off even his helmet, and was staggering and stumbling, his bottle of water nearly empty. Sasha was sweating waterfalls, her back hunched with exhaustion. Verde had hiked her robe up to expose her legs, her hat protecting her face from the sun. Yin had taken his robes off and tied them around his waist, and Salem had taken her cloak off. Vao tied his hair in a ponytail, unable to adjust his armor due to it being made of leather. And eventually, Oswald finally snapped.
"It's been over sixteen hours! Surely we should stop for a bite!?"
"Just wait! Food conservation!" Vao protested desperately. Yin stormed up to him, ripping the pack from his back. "To hell with your 'conservation'! We need food to keep our energy up!"
Vao watched in horror as Yin, Oswald, Sasha, and Salem tore into the pack, Verde stepping closer to the femboy. "... Your reactions... Did you..."
"Where... Where's the food?"
There was an audible heartbreak in Sasha's voice. Yin rummaged through the remains of the pack, his face growing a dark shade of red. But it wasn't from the sun. "Vao... Please... Please don't tell me..."
"I-I... I'm s-so sorry-"
Verde took a step away from Vao, getting out of the blast radius. And sure enough, Yin exploded. Vao yelped when Yin tackled him to the ground, wrapping his fingers around the femboy's slender neck.
"You piece of crap! You nasty piece of crap! Why didn't you say anything!?"
"G-get off me!"
SLAM!
Yin's body locked up when Vao drove his knee into the cleric's hip, throwing him to the side. The thief stood on his feet, glaring down at him. "This is why I didn't say anything! You'd have exploded regardless!"
Oswald and Salem were already pulling them away from each other, Yin struggling to get to Vao. The armored knight sighed, shaking his head.
"You really should have said something," he growled in frustration. "If we don't find food, we could die. You know that, right?"
"I know, I know! And I'm sorry! We can head back!"
Verde was rummaging through the pack again, double checking for food. And to her surprise, she found something. "I have found food."
Yin shot one last dirty look at Vao before stomping towards the witch. "Finally, you're useful for once, putrid lowlife. Out of my way."
He pushed her aside without a care for her own wellbeing, picking up what she found. It was a bag of mushrooms. He gave them a quick count, then counted how many were in the group before sighing. "... There's enough to make us through the day," he growled. Vao leaned over, his eyes widening when he saw the bag.
"Hey... It's not a good idea to eat those," he tried to say. But he was ignored, watching as everyone took their share. Oswald passed Vao his own, the thief staring at the fungus blankly. If they were going to die in a desert, he might as well have fun. That was his thought as he tossed it in his mouth, chewing slowly.
"They're... Really dry," Salem muttered. She was taking sips from her water to wash it down. "Don't taste great either."
"You shouldn't complain," Oswald muttered. "Or are you too used to your rich, pampered lifestyle, princess?"
Salem scowled. "I have my own set of troubles, you know. A foul-tasting fungus is of little concern. Food is food."
Vao crossed his arms, just waiting for them to kick in. He was silent as they packed their belongings again, resuming their march through the scalding desert, more than disgruntled with their thief. Verde lagged behind to talk with him.
"You really shouldn't have kept food for yourself, Vao," she said quietly.
"It wasn't for food," Vao replied. When Verde gave him an inquisitive look, he glanced ahead to make sure no one was eavesdropping before squatting down to whisper back to her. "They're magic mushrooms. I bought them from Junior before we left Faralda."
"You... You bought drugs?"
Vao shrugged. "I do them with my mum all the time. It's not like they're bad for your health or anything, they're just mushrooms. The worst that can happen is you get a bad trip."
Verde sighed. If Yin ever caught wind of this, he'd skin Vao alive. She nodded, adjusting her hat to keep the sun out of her face before clutching her staff closer to her frail body. "... You're not still... Mad at me, are you?"
"Why would I be mad?"
She looked back up into his face. He was giving her a small smile. "If you aren't ready to talk about something, then that's that. But let me know if Yin puts his hands on you again, alright? I'll punch his lights out."
Verde felt touched. As dumb as he was, he could be very understanding. Or was that just for her? He certainly didn't seem to understand that stealing was bad.
Just ahead, Sasha had to catch Oswald from toppling over. "Dude... Take off your armor. It's way too hot out."
"I... Can't..." Oswald panted. "Not while... That thing is here..."
"What thing?"
"That," Oswald growled. He was pointing his finger at Salem. The princess looked furious. "Excuse me!?"
Yin groaned, rubbing his temples. The heat was making his head hurt, and the arguing wasn't helping.
An hour passed, and no signs of a village nor the mountains. They were lost, the heat beginning to drive them mad. It wasn't until they sat down to catch their breaths that Salem noticed it.
The world seemed almost brighter. The effects of the mushrooms were beginning to kick in. Vao sighed, setting down the pack and sitting on top of it. "This heat is killing me," he complained. "Can we take a break? Oswald looks like he's about to drop-"
"I'm not hot, you're hot!" The armored man screamed deliriously. Vao smirked.
"I know, I'm stunning. But seriously, you don't look too great."
"I concur," Verde agreed. "It would also be a poor decision to continue when the hallucinations begin. If we become separated, we may never find each other again."
"... Wouldn't mind if you kept walking then," Yin growled. "You and the escaped slave."
Sasha looked like she was ready to punch his teeth out, but didn't say nor do anything. She just inhaled deeply and counted to ten quietly.
Salem felt her worries begin to grow again. She had never been under the influence of anything other than alcohol and the eldritch blood that Yin had purified. A pat on the back from Sasha broke her from those thoughts. "It'll be okay, Princess," the elf whispered. "Just relax, and enjoy the trip. Think happy thoughts, like brownies."
"B... Brownies?"
"Yeah. I love brownies."
...
The sound of a shrill scream pierced the impenetrable darkness that surrounded the source of the voice, and soon the shriek died down to silence. All that was left was the sound of flesh being torn from the bone, devoured by a hungry monster. That monster was madness personified.
The darkness began to fade along with the thrill of the hunt, the cannibalistic killing machine sitting upright, a thin, red tongue licking at his lips, cleaning what remained. His single eye stared down at the desecrated corpse, his shoulders shaking. It wasn't enough. He needed to eat another one.
Thin hands clasped over his stomach as the growling intensified, nearly doubling over from the sheer agony. It was the equivalent of swallowing a grenade. Drool dripped from his deathly pale lips as he cracked the bones just to get at the marrow inside, desperate to satiate the unnatural hunger. While it did work, it only worked little - a temporary solution to a permanent problem he would have to live with forever. The hallucination of someone long dead gripped his shoulders from behind, leaning her lips close to her ear.
"Look at you, taking this child's life so naturally..."
He gripped the sides of his head, pulling at his ankle length hair. "N-no... I-I didn't mean... I d-didn't mean to...! A-Auntie, I'm sorry!"
The hallucination giggled darkly, moving to his other ear. "And what have you done to be forgiven?" She cooed gently. "You've taken the lives of millions... Ate them, devoured their Souls. Not even Yin could figure out how to save you from your fate... So very sad... So very sad indeed, Vao..."
The man shivered, his finger pushing past his lips, his deadly teeth gnawing at the joints. The woman continued to speak.
"... Perhaps I could forgive you."
She had his attention, and he knew it. He had gone still, the Darkness that swirled around him swirling to a stop. Another giggle. "Have you forgotten your drive, Vao? To return everything to what it once was, just so you could admit you've always been an awful human being?"
"... N-no... I-I don't... I don't want..." A frail, weak, and deranged whimper escaped his throat. "I... Don't want... To kill anyone else..."
"But do you have a choice?"
He didn't. It was a fact that haunted him. Because of the mistake he had made so long ago, he would never live a normal life. The Blood of that demoness flowed through his veins, plagued his mind lick a sickness that had no cure. And even then, there was the aftermath of involuntarily slaughtering others by the thousands - his schizophrenia, his PTSD, his severe psychosis, and the night terrors that came with what little sleep he could get.
"... I didn't think so. No matter what, you will always be a murderer." The woman started to sound angry. "You owe me everything. You murdered me in cold blood, ignored me every chance you had! And when I finally was able to see you, you carved a hole into my fucking chest!"
Vao doubled over, his hands covering his ears as the woman screamed. His eyes had begun to water, his lips curled back with his distress. "I-I-"
"Shh... Calm down, Vao," the woman whispered softly. "I suppose I should feel flattered. After all, I was your first victim, was I not?"
"Y-you were..."
An eerie grin from the woman. "... Perhaps..." Her fingers traced underneath his single scarlet eye, sending shivers through his body. "... I should take your other eye?"
Another shrill scream. But it wasn't from one of Vao's meals - it was his own scream. He tried to get away from the hallucination, but no matter how fast he ran, he could never escape. As it had always been, it was growing from his back. The woman was laughing, laughing at his struggle.
Crack.
The laughing stopped, and the screaming stopped. A loud crack, like that of lightning resonated through the dark forest. The woman's smile fell. "... It's happening... Brace yourself, Vao - your next meal is coming sooner than expected... But you would just love that, wouldn't you?"
Grrrrroooooooooowwwwwwwwllll...
Vao's fingers twitched, his reason beginning to slip, his sanity crumbling again as the groans of his stomach grew louder. And finally, his lips began to curl, revealing his reddened teeth. In the socket where his left eye once sat, the bloodred light began to flicker with life - his Aura. The very power of his Soul. It flickered until it blazed, the tail of the mist arcing over his head.
Just like before, the hunger drove him mad. And as the world began to crumble and fade around him, he could feel the intense heat of a desert.
The world shimmered around them, the adventurers sitting in the sand. Well, more like laying in it. Verde was the only one who remained composed - she used to forage for food in the Great Swamp, after all. She was no stranger to mushrooms, though she usually ate them by mistake. Yin was curled into a ball and shivering, his mind not ready for it.
"A-ah... I hear mom..."
Vao snickered, poking him with a dead bush. As usual, he was being an ass. "Watch out, bruv. The spiders are gonna get ya."
"N-no! Get them off!"
"Nyahaha!"
Sasha was staring into the sky, watching as the clouds drifted past. She wasn't saying anything - she was just staring. As for Oswald... He was the only one still standing, his expression unreadable underneath his helmet. Salem staggered towards him, touching his shoulder and receiving no reaction from the knight. "What... What's wrong with you?"
Oswald's head slowly turned in her direction. "Yucky. Get away from me. Don't touch me with that hand. Gross."
He couldn't even match his tone to his words. He sounded like he was about to laugh, cry, and groan all at once. Salem couldn't even bring herself to get mad. She just stumbled away, a tired sigh escaping her lips.
If anyone had told her that she would one day be as high as a kite in the middle of nowhere with people she tried to kill and partially succeeded twice, she'd have laughed in their face. Now she couldn't do much laughing. She was as high as a kite in the middle of nowhere with people she tried to kill and partially succeeded twice.
It was due to the mushrooms that she initially thought she was imagining things when a bitter, fell wind blew over her. She was going to ignore it before Sasha suddenly shivered. "Hey... It feels almost like back home..."
"Hm?" Salem turned to the giant curiously. Sasha waved her hand in a circle over her head.
"It got cold and then hot... That's cool."
Salem didn't know what Sasha was going on about. Turning to Verde, she waved her hand to get the witch's attention. "I'm going to the bathroom..."
"Do not stray too far."
"Okay."
The sand burned against her bare feet as she wandered away, looking for a cactus to hide herself. And finding one a good distance away, she jogged towards it with her legs kicking out at awkward angles. Running was harder when she was high, she realized.
As Salem finished her business, another cold breeze blew through her hair, sending a shiver down her spine. She pulled her trousers back up, looking around warily. The world seemed darker, the cold only growing. For a moment she thought a cloud had passed over the sun, but one look at the sky proved her wrong.
Her mind began to turn, the memories clicking together perfectly like a jigsaw puzzle. She knew this feeling. She had felt it for over ten years, after all. Her heart stopped.
He was here.
"Goddess... I finally found you..."
...
Scritch, scritch.
Pope Iris's quill scratched at the paper only twice before he dipped it into his inkwell, his eyes hard with concentration. And finally he looked up. "... Leaf, where are the others?"
Leaf breathed out the smoke from his cigarette, flicking it into the ashtray. "Glenroy's preppin' for the Festival, the executioner had a kill scheduled today, Jack is... Who knows where. And Rojo is doin' his, er... Thing with his choir. Please don't make me go into detail with that, Your Holiness."
Iris let out a disgusted groan. "... Very well. Then this meeting will consist of only the three of us..." The third person stood in the corner, her head hung low in shame. Iris didn't pay her any mind "Any news on those four?"
Leaf shrugged. "Jack told me they were in the mountains. Something about them heading east."
Iris's quill stopped, his eyes shifting from the paper to the Archbishop. "... East? To the Sea of Sand?"
"Yup."
Iris found that very strange. There was nothing of interest in the east. The only thing he could think of were the Dwarven Wars thousands of years ago, before the Sea of Sand became an inhospitable desert, when it was rolling green hills and meadows. "... Would you mind sending a group to investigate? Or perhaps visit yourself?"
Leaf chuckled. "Not worth it. We'd lose anyone we send lookin' for them. They're probably lost, dead, or both."
"There is still a chance," Iris warned. "My mind can only be put at ease when it is confirmed."
"Relax, Your Holiness," Leaf said. "Even if they do come back, we have eyes 'n ears on their personal lives... Isn't that right, you?"
The third person shivered, her body trembling as she stepped out of the shadows. Leaf snickered darkly, standing to his feet and stalking towards her. She could feel his hand ruffle her hair, his lips curling into a smirk. "Doin' the God of Light's work... You'll tell us everything we need to know, right? Or dear old Mommy and Daddy pay the price... Maybe even Big Sis..."
Her head nodded slowly. Leaf wasn't satisfied with that answer, tapping his hand against her cheek. "No, no, no. You see, when an Archbishop talks to you, you answer. It's a respect thing."
The girl's mouth opened, tears brimming in her silver eyes. "Y-you p-promised... You w-wouldn't hurt anyone..." Ruby stammered quietly. Iris nodded.
"No one will be hurt... Provided that I see no issues with Yin and Vao. And provided that you work with us, and not against us." Ruby started to nod again.
SLAP!
It was like the sound of a whip, the sheer force of the blow knocking her to the ground and leaving a dark red handprint. She didn't even have time to try and stand before Leaf's boot kicked her chest, stepping on her like he would a pebble.
"I'll give you a pass the first time because it was me," he snarled. "But when the Pope says something to you, you fucking answer, you little bitch! This close! This fucking close before you get your head shipped home in a fucking box!"
"Leaf!" Iris shouted. The Archbishop looked up at the older man, grunting audibly. Pushing his full weight into Ruby before taking his foot away, he stalked back to his chair and lit another cigarette. Iris sighed, setting the quill down and rising. His hands folded nearly behind his back as he walked forward, towering over the young adventurer. "... Do you know who I am?"
Ruby pushed herself to her knees, staring up at him. "Y-you're the P-Pope..."
"Correct. I am the most powerful man in this world," Iris answered calmly. "To even look in my direction is... A privilege, to say the very least. I could have you simply disappear, and no one would dare question it. So, for my first question..."
He kneeled down, bringing himself eye level with her. "What type of magic do Yin and Vao possess?"
Ruby had never heard something so outlandish before. "Th-they can't use magic, Y-Your Holiness... They a-arent mages!"
Iris frowned. "... So the God of Light lied to me? Is that what you are attempting to say?"
"N-no, I-"
A hard kick from the Pope almost fractured her ribs. Ruby's breath caught in her throat, choking and gasping when her lungs jolted in her chest. Iris didn't kneel again. "Do not lie to me. Surely you've seen something strange. Or perhaps they even told you. Speak."
"Th-they... Can't u... Use m-magic...!" Ruby protested. "Th-they only strange thing is... I-is the Princess!"
Leaf looked back at her, his cigarette hanging from his lips. "... Didn't Jack say something about her?"
Iris nodded. "... He did. And we're going to find out more, aren't we, Ruby?" Iris frowned when she didn't answer right away, striking terror into her heart. "... Speak."
"Th-the Princess!" She shrieked. "The Princess acts weird around them! I-it's like she knows them! She doesn't like it when they address her by her title, she's even eaten dinner at our house! Yin and Vao, they've never even been to the Royal Capital!"
Iris and Leaf looked interested. The Archbishop snickered. "... Guess we should've followed up on what Jack told us, huh?"
Iris scoffed. "Believing every word from that thing's mouth is suicide. You know how he is, Leaf."
"... Yeah. That's true."
The Pope looked back down at Ruby, his eyes hardening. "... How does the Princess act around them? What do you mean by 'weird'?"
Ruby instinctively backed away, her boots scraping the floor. "Sh-she... She treats them like they're friends! E-even when she visits, she asks that we call her by name! Yin and Vao think it's weird, but Yin wants to suck up to royalty, and Vao thinks it's funny! A-and whenever Yin starts yelling at the elves, she sometimes asks him to stop! That's all I know! D-don't kick me again!"
Iris and Leaf stopped. The Princess had grown up in the Royal Capital her whole life. If anything, she should have been one of the most racist people in the kingdom. But soon, Iris nodded. "... Very well. I am still quite hurt by your rudeness earlier by not answering to my question."
His foot moved closer, making Ruby flinch. But he wasn't kicking her. He was holding his leg out. Iris snarled, staring down at her like she was the most disgusting piece of filth in the Royal Capital.
"Prove you don't deserve to be kicked. Lick my boot, you nasty commoner."
"W-wha?"
"Lick his boot," Leaf snickered. "Or you're gonna have a playdate with Uncle Leafy again."
With a gasp, Ruby dove forward, her tongue trailing over the dirt and dust that had accumulated on the sole of his boot. Iris smirked down at the desperate adventurer, watching her clean to save her own life. This level of power was intoxicating to him, like a drug. And after a moment, he scowled in disgust. And with one swift kick to the face, he knocked her back down. Ruby was holding her broken nose, curled into a ball against the wall.
"From now on, you are one of us," he hissed through his teeth. "You obey my orders without hesitation. When I tell you to kill, you kill without a shred of mercy. Fail to obey me, and I'll let Leaf deal with the punishment... You're what, sixteen now? I may even hand you to the Cardinal."
Ruby looked up at him. She didn't have a choice. If she didn't listen, this man would have everyone she ever talked to hung in the gallows. Her parents, her siblings, her party, her friends. She didn't know why Iris wanted to know more about Yin and Vao - he made it a point not to tell her - but if she kept quiet or lied, their deaths couldn't be more certain. And not just their deaths; the deaths of their entire family. Amidst these thoughts, she had only one question. "W-why...?"
Leaf exhaled the smoke, raising a brow. "Why what?"
"Why are you doing this!?" Ruby screamed. "Th-the Church! It's supposed to protect people! You're supposed to keep the peace, but there's slaves here! A-Archbishop Leaf kills kids! And C-Cardinal Rojo is a monster! I don't know who Jack is, b-but I bet he's a killer too!"
Leaf snickered. "That last bit is a huge fucking understatement you couldn't even comprehend..." Iris ignored the Archbishop, leaning forward to stare down at her.
"... Do you think I care about the people?"
His voice was low, dangerous. It made Ruby's heart stop beating. And slowly, Iris's lips began to curl into a smirk.
"... I don't. All I care about is power. Do you understand? I want power!"
"B... But you're the P-Pope..."
"You think that's enough!?" Iris screamed furiously. Leaf stopped snickering, taking a step back from the holy man. Iris threw his arms out, taking a deep breath.
"I want more... The people still have a choice to make their own decisions... I want them all to bend their knees to me. Every last one, man, woman, and child. I want total control, I NEED total control. And if it means working with the worst this world has to offer, then so be it! I'll send thousands more to their deaths! I'll start thousands more wars! What you call 'people' are nothing more than stepping stones for me to grind my heel on! Using the corpses of anyone who stands in my way to ultimate power! If they do not provide anything useful, they are worthless! Trash that would not be missed!"
He was insane. A true megalomaniac. Ruby was quickly realizing he was the worst of them all. Without him, his inner circle would be serving life sentences. They only walked free, and had such high places in the Church because he allowed it. As long as they remained useful to him, he would protect them. He saw people as objects to be used for his own gain. And there wasn't a shred of doubt in her mind that he became the Pope with those exact tactics. When in public, he always wore the air of a kind-hearted man who wanted the best. But on the inside, he was horrible, cruel, and twisted. Iris reached down and seized a fistful of her hair, yanking Ruby back to her feet.
"You're mine, now. And should you ever betray me... You already know what I'll do to your family of lowlifes. But you, oh, Ruby... I'll lock you up with my personal slaves. I'll let them tear you into bloody pieces. I'll order them to make it as painful as possible. Marvellous what the desperation to live can make people do. Are we clear with each other? Or am I speaking too rich for a poor brat like you?"
"W-we're... C-clear..."
CRACK!
Her ribs finally gave out when he punched her in the side, cracking in half. Ruby's shrill scream bubbled and spluttered, her eyes rolling back in her head. "You will address me as 'Your Holiness'! I am not the Princess! We are not friends! I am your master, and you are nothing more than my fucking property!" He threw her back to the ground, turning to Leaf and pointing his finger at her. "Get her out of my sight! She's all yours, Leaf! Ensure she's properly educated!"
Leaf let out a loud cheer, his hands grabbing Ruby by the wrists. "Fucked up big, didn't ya!? I warned ya, Ruby! Now we're playing some Leafy Games!"
Iris watched as the Archbishop dragged the screaming adventurer out of the office, her hands grabbing at the door frame desperately. "I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Your Holiness! I'm sorry!"
Iris stared for a moment. And then his lips began to curl into a cruel smirk. Raising his hand, the only thing he did was wave goodbye. He revelled in watching the hope die from her eyes, listening to her scream down the halls, begging for his mercy. Mercy he wouldn't give. Turning back to his desk, he picked his quill back up and finished writing.
It was a letter to her family. A letter stating that she had proven herself worthy of working at the side of the Pope. Of course, major details were left out, and most of it was lies. But with this, no one would suspect anything. All he had to do was send it to Faralda.
Iris set his quill back in the inkwell, leaning back in his chair. He couldn't help himself anymore. Leaning his head back, he began to laugh.
...
Salem didn't dare to turn around. She knew he was standing behind her. She knew he was the source of the frigid air. She could feel his cold breath on her neck, his fingers grabbing her shoulder. Only one person alive could have such a low body temperature and remain alive.
"Goddess... I finally found you," he cooed. Salem took a deep, shaky breath. It was a hallucination induced from the mushrooms, she told herself. With that in mind, she turned around - and came eye-to-eye socket with him. A walking nightmare, doom with one eye.
Vao's lips curled into a smirk, his fist driving square into her nose. The sheer, monstrous strength sent her flying through the cactus, crashing into the ground with the others. Oswald broke from his trance, looking down at her. "Can you be more quiet?"
The laughter stopped him. And when they turned, they could see him stalking forward, his Aura glowing.
Click, click, clunk.
Grimm Demise unfolded in his hand, the massive blade carving scars into the sand. And in his left hand gleamed Misery, the serrated dagger. Vao, the thief, stopped poking Yin with the bush. "Is that... Mum?"
The First Vao stopped his approach, staring at the third version of himself with a look of confusion. He looked over his shoulder. "A-Auntie, he... He has two eyes..."
They couldn't see who he was talking to, but Salem knew what was going on. He was hallucinating again. After a short moment of silence, he hissed. "Then I'll take one of them!" He screamed in a shrill voice. Salem took a step back, the color draining from her face. If he was hallucinating, then that could mean two things. He was just going through one of his psychotic episodes.
Or her Blood was still running rampant inside him. And that would mean he was hungry. The sound of a sword being removed from its sheath tore her attention away. Oswald jumped in front of them with his sword in hand, his hands shaking. With a look back at them, he gave his order. "All of you, run! This enemy is beyond anything you've fought!"
"To hell with that!" Sasha roared. "I ain't going down without a fight!"
She had already begun her charge, Oswald reaching his hand out to stop her, missing by an inch. "Sasha, don't!" But Sasha let out a war cry as she swung her great sword, already feeling the sensation of victory when he didn't even try to get out of the way.
Woosh.
"H... H-huh?"
Her sword only cleaved a cloud of ash, the weight throwing her off balance. And then she could hear Salem's scream.
"Behind you!"
Sasha didn't even have time to breath before Misery tore through her unarmored skin, pain rocketing through her nerves. She let out a shrill scream when she felt his freezing hand grab her shoulder and spin her around, driving his foot into her gut. She could feel her abs being bruised, threatening to crush her insides. She took a swing with her free hand, aiming for his face.
But to her horror, he caught her with one hand and pushed against her strength. Terror gripped Sasha. She rarely ever met anyone who was stronger than her, and never someone who could push her away like it was nothing at all.
SLAM!
Blood squirted from between Sasha's lips when he lifted her off the ground and swung her into the sand like a hammer, bouncing the giant elf like a toy.
Grrrrooooowwwwwllll...
"Nygh! Ow! Ow!" The First Vao screamed. He was gripping his head, pulling at his hair. He looked back at them, his lips curling into a crescent smile.
"I'm going to eat you down to the Soul."
He began to approach again, Sasha crawling away. She was helped to her feet by Yin and Vao, who hoisted her into their shoulders. Oswald jerked his head. "Get her out of here! Let me handle this!"
"W-wot's going on!? That's not my mum! She has no tits!"
The First Vao looked furious. "I'm a fuckin MAN!"
With Verde's help, the four began to flee the battle field. But only Salem remained with Oswald. The knight glared at her. "You don't even have a weapon, you moron! You're in the most danger!"
Salem bit her lip. Every instinct in her body screamed at her to run away as fast as she could. And looking back up at Vao, she knew this was her fight. "... I'm staying... This is... I-it's my fault, anyway..."
"What are you talking abo- hey!"
Salem pried his sword from Oswald's hands, standing in front of him. She looked Vao square in his eye, taking a deep breath to relax her body. "... It's me that you want, right? Then come and get me."
The sound of an explosion signalled the dry-fire of Grimm Demise, the recoil launching him forward with a shrill laughing fit.
CLASH!
Salem was thrown back when sword met axe, the blade of her weapon shattering on impact. It was nothing more than a dagger now. She rolled out of the way when the deadly blade slammed into the sand where her head had been only half a second before, Vao's smile growing. Oswald charged at his exposed back, swinging his fists. Vao did a handstand on his axe and swung, sending a smokescreen against the knight. Oswald couldn't see his enemy, feeling the flat side of Grimm Demise against his skull.
His armor clattered as he tumbled to the ground, his ears ringing loudly. Salem helped him to his feet, never taking her eyes off the serial killer in front of them. Vao's stomach was growling, drool dripping from his lower lip like a waterfall. His Aura grew brighter, and a void of his dark magic began to form behind him. And in an instant, they couldn't even see their noses.
"Sh-shit," Oswald groaned. "Where... Where is he...?" They could hear his footsteps all around them, his voice echoing in their ears.
"Goddess looks weird! She looks weird, right Auntie!? She looks human! Nyahaha! Wot a sick joke, that's for true!"
Salem's eyes whipped around, searching for it. And finally, she saw the glowing scarlet orb fast approaching. She tackled Oswald to the ground, feeling the axe cutting at the tips of her hair. "Look for his Aura! It's that glowing red dot! It's how he sees through the Darkness!" She screamed.
C-CRACK!
Salem's breath caught in her throat when she felt the devastating kick, sending her flying. When she landed, the Darkness disappeared. Vao was sitting on top of Oswald, digging Misery into whatever chink he could find in the armor. She snapped back to her feet, running at him.
"I'm going to rip you open like a can of sardines!" Vao screeched. "I'll bet you aged like fine wine with your immortality, right Ozzy!?"
He had just finished tearing Oswald's helmet to pieces when Salem lunged at Vao. But to her surprise - and sheer horror - he spun around, jumping at her instead. She was behind him. There was no way he could have known she was attacking. She pushed back against his head as his teeth clamped down, nearly taking her nose. He suddenly pulled away, her arms shooting forward from the force.
CRUNCH.
At first, Salem didn't feel anything. And very quickly, she felt the searing pain in her left forearm. Vao had bitten her, his teeth digging through her skin, breaking her arm, and her blood dripping onto her own face. With a muffled laugh, he yanked his head back, tearing off a mouthful of flesh. She could hear him chewing, followed by the distinct sound of him gulping down what he had taken. His one-eyed gaze hardened as he stared down at her, his smile faltering. "The taste... It's different..."
She could feel terror wash over her when his smile returned, larger than ever.
"And yet it's still so addicting!"
Salem braced herself when he lunged again, squeezing her eyes shut. She readied herself for another bite. But it never came. When Salem opened her eyes, Vao was gone without a trace. She lay there in the sand, blood oozing from her arm, her breath heavy as the sun beat down on her. It was over. She survived again. But how many more attacks would she live through? Yin had nearly killed her, but showed hesitation. Vao wasn't the type to hesitate for revenge. After all, she destroyed his mental state, turned him into a cannibal against his will. If he hadn't disappeared, Salem had no doubt in her mind he'd have finished eating her. It was only when a face appeared in her vision that she broke from her thoughts. Her eyes widened.
"Y... You..."
The knight glared at her, pulling the princess to a sitting position. From his satchel he pulled out a roll of bandages, tending to her broken arm. "You're-"
"Shut. Up."
His voice was low. Oswald finished applying the bandages, giving Salem one last glare. "... You're right. This is all your fault," he snarled. He stood up and began to walk away, Salem reaching for him.
"O-Ozpin, I-"
"I told you to shut your mouth," he snapped. He turned his glare at the ground, gritting his teeth. "... Despite your injuries, you still got Vao off of me."
Salem nodded, averting her gaze. Ozpin looked back at her, his eyes filling with disgust. "... You aren't fooling me, witch."
"Huh?"
He jabbed his finger into her forehead, not hard enough to hurt her, but hard enough to tell that he meant business. "You aren't fooling me. You may take the appearance of a human now, but I know what you are. I can't chase you away because there is no advanced technology or Huntsman Academies on Twist, so I can't keep an eye on you. But so help me, Salem, if you even pull a single hair from Yin or Vao's head, I'll cut yours off as many times as it takes for you to stop coming back."
He didn't know she was mortal again, she realized. His words proved it. He didn't know that Yin had purified her at the end of the Second Timeline. In fact, she was growing convinced that he thought the timeline resets were her fault. Ozpin gave her another nasty look before turning around, scanning the horizon for any sight of the adventurers. But there was nothing. He heaved a sigh. "... I have no idea why we saw the same Vao from the First Timeline... And from that look on your face, I'm guessing you don't either."
"I... I don't..."
Ozpin was quiet for a moment before shaking his head. "... I'm going to find FRSB. And you remember my warning, Salem. One wrong move, and I'll murder you."
...
Ruby let out a wail when the red-hot iron seared into her back, struggling against her restraints. This annoyed Leaf greatly.
"Oh, clench your teeth or somethin'!" He screamed at her. "You're givin' me a fuckin' headache!"
"I-it hurts! Stop! Stop!"
Leaf only laughed at her, pushing the iron deeper, branding her skin with the insignia of the Church. "Get over it, we all got one when we sided with Iris! 'Cept for Jack. He's a bit of a special case. You'll meet him at some point."
The pain continued even after he pulled the iron away, the smell of burnt flesh reaching Ruby's nostrils - her burnt flesh. When her head fell forward, Leaf was quick to snatch her hair and force Ruby to look him in the eye.
"If you think I'm bad, you've seen nothin'," he snickered. "I love torturin' kids like you. Best part is when I shut 'em up for good. But I'm far from the worst. You piss off Jack, and you're dead. Not even Iris would save ya."
Ruby wasn't very eager to meet Jack, given how Leaf spoke about him. The Archbishop dropped her back on the ground, unlocking the chains that bound her to the walls. She could hear him striking a match, quickly followed by an inhale, and then the stench of his cigarette. "Get your ass up. Unless you still want to play with me?"
That got her moving. In an instant, she was on her feet, her arms rigid at her sides. Leaf smirked when he saw her expression. "Aww... You mad at Uncle Leafy? Why're you lookin' at me like that?" He mocked.
Ruby hated his guts. She glared at him, feeling the aches and bruises on her body he had left her with. He had beaten her to a pulp, and then branded her like cattle. Leaf seemed to pick up on her thoughts. "You don't believe me when I say we were all branded?" He snickered. "Answer me."
"I-I don't..."
Leaf stopped smiling. "You don't what?"
He watched Ruby's expression shift from fury to horror, her body tensing up. "I don't Your Excellency!"
He scoffed. "That's more like it." He flicked his cigarette, the ash landing on the stone floor before his free hand lifted to pull back his robes, exposing his chest. Just as he had told her, there was a scar over his heart - the insignia of the Church. "I may love killin' kids more than anything, but I'm not a liar," he growled. "All of us have it - myself, Cardinal Rojo, Sir Glenroy, and the executioner. It's a way for Iris to know we're to be trusted, in case anyone takes our appearance through some magic. They're all in places that're hidden, so mages can't see them. Rojo's got it on his butt."
Ruby wasn't sure if he was trying to make her laugh by telling her that last, unnecessary part. Leaf glared at her. "... Laugh, dildo."
Despite having to force it, Leaf still seemed content with her. He took another breath of his cigarette, flicking the ash on the ground again. "The difference between us, though... We all got it willingly. You struggled and cried like a bitch. Fuckin' loser."
Ruby bit her tongue before she said something foul. Leaf sighed, dropping the cigarette butt on the ground and snuffing it out with his boot, lighting another. "... Come to think of it," he muttered. His face lighted up. "I got an idea. Hey, Dildo. Meet me at my cathedral in like, an hour, hour and a half. I have some plans."
Ruby didn't like where this was going. Leaf ran his own cathedral in the southern district of the Royal Capital - it wasn't like the cathedral they stood in now. This building was the Cathedral of Light; the headquarters of the Church. "... W-what am I supposed to do in that time, Your Excellency?" Ruby asked quietly. "It'll only take twenty minutes to reach your cathedral if I take a carriage..."
"Do whatever you want, I don't really care," Leaf replied dismissively. "Just be there. You've never been to the Royal Capital, have you?"
"No, Your Excellency."
Leaf looked annoyed again. "Can you like, speak the fuck up? No one gives a flying fuck about your pity party."
"N-NO, YOUR EXCELLENCY!"
Leaf winced when Ruby screamed, rubbing his ear. "First off, ow. Bitch. Second, props to the motivation. And third, scream in my ear like that again and I'll cut your tongue out. We clear?"
"C-clear, Your Excellency..."
Leaf nodded. "Good. Anyways, go explore. One word about the Church out there, and... Well, no one's gonna believe you, and I'm sure I don't need to explain that you'll be killed. I need time to prepare our little bonding activity, so fuck off."
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
Ruby fucked off just as she was ordered, more than happy to leave that dungeon. The smell of cigarette smoke followed her, clinging to her clothes. Every time her undershirt brushed against her brand, it hurt. But she gritted her teeth, trying her best to ignore it.
When she stepped out of the Cathedral of Light, she was once again met with the golden sheen of the Royal Capital, the golden rooves shining in the light of the afternoon sun. She didn't have much of a chance to go sightseeing when she first came here - not that she was particularly willing. She had received a letter inviting her to the Royal Capital a day after Yin, Vao, Verde, Sasha, Salem, and Oswald had left for their adventure in the mountains. She had only begun walking down the steps when she bumped into someone.
"S-sorry!"
Her breath caught in her throat when she recognized the one she bumped into. His golden shield almost glowed in the sunlight, the gems sparkling. His hair, as white as snow and his eye as blue as the waters of the sea.
"Hello, Ms. Rose," Glenroy greeted kindly. She wished his face were as kind as his words - he didn't even crack a smile, remaining stoic and serious. "I assume you're done with that business with the Archbishop?"
"I-I am, s-sir!"
Glenroy scoffed. "Please, relax. This isn't official business - I am simply on my break, and you are on yours. Call me Glenroy; we work together, after all."
Ruby was finding it incredibly difficult to believe Glenroy was a member of the Pope's group. He certainly didn't act the way Leaf and Iris had. In fact, he was widely considered a hero by the entire kingdom. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Th-thank you..."
"Of course," Glenroy replied. He crossed his arms, leaning back casually. "So, where are you off to at this hour?"
"His Excellency told me I could explore for a bit," Ruby answered. "I... Don't really know where anything is..."
Glenroy chuckled, a small smirk crossing his lips. "I could show you. Are you hungry? I was about to visit a restaurant myself."
Ruby's stomach growled. She was quick to take his offer, following the Knight Commander down the stairs. "... Erm, Glenroy?"
"Yes?"
Ruby looked around warily, ensuring no one was within earshot. And even when she was certain, she lowered her voice to a whisper. "... Is it true that everyone in the Pope's circle has..." She trailed off. Glenroy nodded his head.
"... If you are talking about the brand, then yes. Everyone has it, except for Jack."
So Leaf really wasn't lying. Ruby looked up at the Knight Commander curiously. He seemed to pick up on what she was thinking. "I will not tell you where it is," he growled.
"O-oh..."
As they walked down the golden streets, Ruby took notice of the seemingly endless stream of women that approached Glenroy. He was even more popular in the Royal Capital than he was in Faralda - though Ruby only knew how Glenroy was whenever Vao was around. Otherwise, the Knight Commander would have no reason to talk to them. But for every woman who approached him, they were turned down by the white-haired hero - and Ruby was given death stares.
"So... You're really popular, huh?" Ruby asked.
"Of course I am," Glenroy answered confidently. "I was selected by the people to be Knight Commander."
"Y-you were?"
Glenroy nodded. "Yes. I used to be an adventurer, in fact. It was my skill in combat and my quests in the God of Light's name that made the people want me as the Knight Commander. Amongst everyone, I am a hero."
Ruby didn't know he was selected by the people. In fact, she thought he had always been a soldier. She had to remind herself that he likely wasn't a good person - he was aligned with Iris, after all. "... What do you think about the Pope?" She asked quietly. Glenroy turned, leading her into an alley, away from prying ears. He turned around, staring down at her.
"Pardon?"
"Everything that the Pope allows," she continued. "Cardinal Rojo... Archbishop Leaf... A-and keeping slaves-"
"Is there a problem with it?"
Ruby felt her heart stop. Glenroy was staring at her. "What the Pope does comes straight from the God of Light," he muttered. "And whatever the God of Light commands, I follow it. For what purpose is more pure than to follow the holiest idol?"
"B-but-"
"There are no 'buts', he growled. Ruby was treading on thin ice, she realized. And she was jumping up and down. "If you are wise, you will never question the God of Light," Glenroy continued. "The elves may have won the war, but they are still not people. The God of Light created humans to subdue the lesser races. It is in the Holy Text - I suggest you read it if you want to remain in good standing with me."
Just as she suspected, he was terrible too. He was a fanatic, obsessed with the God of Light. And the worst part? He reminded her of Yin. Yin was the exact same way, inflicting pain on others in the name of his god. That scared Ruby; that one day, Yin would become like her new associates. Glenroy hummed thoughtfully. "... I do not particularly agree with Cardinal Rojo's... Hobbies... Nor do I agree with Archbishop Leaf's. And I am certainly not a fan of Jack. But what the Pope commands, I follow. That is what makes a hero - to follow the God of Light and his everlasting wisdom. Are we understood, Ms. Rose?"
"Y-yes, sir..."
Glenroy nodded, a firm, stern expression in his face. "Good. Any other questions?"
Ruby thought for a moment. And at last, a question came to mind, one she had been wondering for a while. "... W-who is Jack?"
Glenroy's body stiffened. And for a moment, Ruby could have sworn she saw a flash of fear in his eye. "... Do not worry about that," the Knight Commander said quietly. No, he didn't say it. He was warning her. "Just know this; even the Pope thinks twice about angering him, as impossible as that may seem." He stood up straight, turning his back to her and starting to leave the alley. "... You upset me with your questioning of the Pope. I will let this first offense slide only once, but if you should ever question him or the God of Light again... I'll hand you to Cardinal Rojo myself. You dwell on the edge of what he considers too old, but you're still young enough for him. With that said, have a good evening, Ms. Rose. You'd best get to the Archbishop's cathedral - he despises tardiness."
It was only after he left that Ruby realized how much time had passed. She needed to meet Leaf as soon as possible. Even though she was hungry, she broke into a sprint.
...
The setting sun beat down on the four, Yin and Vao sweating under Sasha's weight. And even then, the sweat was thin. They had abandoned the pack when they fled, their legs wobbling until they finally gave out.
Thump.
They fell to the ground, the heat nearly driving them mad. Verde, who had been leading them, didn't even have the strength to hold her staff anymore. Their highs were beginning to die, slowly coming to terms with what had happened being nothing more than a hallucination. They couldn't even remember why they had run away from Salem and Ozpin. Sasha was breathing awkwardly, the wound on her back already beginning to congeal and scab over. Yin looked at Vao, too exhausted to even get properly angry. "Th... This is... Your fault..."
"H... How...?"
Yin couldn't even reply. His eyelids were growing heavier, the world beginning to turn grey. Lost in the deadly heat, with no water to hydrate themselves. Sasha had already lost consciousness, a mix of blood loss and heat exhaustion. Verde was staring into the sky dazedly, her green eyes dull with confusion, like she didn't know where they were, or even who they were.
Despite Vao questioning Yin's accusation, he believed it was true. If he had been a little more intelligent, he'd have remembered to bring food. Then they wouldn't have eaten the mushrooms. He knew they were going to die, and he blamed himself for it. "I... I-I'm s-sorry..."
Yin looked at his older brother. Vao was lying on his side, his eyes growing wet. "I-it's... My fault... Y-Yin... I don't want to die..."
Despite his anger towards the thief, Yin knew when Vao was being sincere. This was one of those moments; he really did regret forgetting the food. He knew Vao didn't want anyone to die. With the last of his strength, Yin crawled towards him, his fingers, paler than the sand, hot to the touch as he pulled himself closer to Vao. His fingers entwined with his, a soft, weak smirk growing on his lips.
"... Sh... Shut up, V... V-Vao..." He whispered hoarsely, his throat and mouth as dry as the land around them. "I kn... Know that... You didn't m-mean to... You b... B-b... Big idiot..."
Vao didn't look the least bit consoled by that. Yin groaned as he pulled himself on top of him, his arms hanging limply over his brother in a loose hug.
"... A-at... At least, I... Can die with you, Vao..."
Vao strained to move his arms, managing to sling one over the cleric. "... I... I love you, Yin..."
"I... Love you too... Vao..."
Yin could feel Vao's body relax as he lost consciousness, the cleric lifting his head just enough to look at Verde. "... I... Had fun... H-heretic..."
The witch looked at him blankly, her skin reddened from the sun. "... You'll hate me... To the very end, won't you?"
But Yin shook his head. "No... I..." He bit his dry lips, feeling them crack under his bone dry teeth. "I want to say... I'm s... Sorry..."
Verde hadn't expected that. She wished she could raise an eyebrow, but her face wouldn't move. Yin continued, coughing out the hot air that had built up in his lungs. "I... W-wish... We could have been friends... That I... Wasn't so mean... I know it's n... Not worth a-anything, but... I... S... Sorry..."
His head slumped forward, his eyes going dull. He had blacked out. Verde groaned as she rolled over onto her stomach, pulling herself towards them. If she was going to die, she wanted to die with them. Mainly with Vao, but with Yin's rare words of kindness, an air of familiarity stuck with her. Almost as if, in another time, they had been friends. She only made it as far as Vao's hand before she passed out, her grip loose, but holding it nonetheless. And Sasha, with the last of her strength, only managed to reach Yin's foot.
Lost in the middle of the Sea of Sands, they were unable to survive the intense heat. They didn't have the strength to build a campfire. If they didn't die from the heat, the intense cold of the night would finish them off. As the adventurers lay in the sand, they were ignorant to the eyes that watched them from above, wings beating through the bone-dry air.
Six pairs of taloned legs not unlike that of a bird landed nearby, stepping closer. And finally, a voice spoke out.
"... These are the ones that were invited by King Hazel, right?"
The sound of paper unfolding was heard before another, feminine voice spoke. "Yeah... They match the description Pock sent us... We need to get them to the village and put them in ice water. If their heat stroke continues, they're going to die."
"What about the other two we found?"
A third voice. "They already got picked up by the rest of the squad, you birdbrain."
"Be quiet, both of you," a fourth voice spoke. "Help us carry them. The girl with the axe and the elf girl are really heavy. And someone take the witch girl's staff and hat."