The rain fell down as they trudged through the mud, dripping wet. It had taken almost a month of walking with very little sleep, but they had finally reached Faralda. The city was in far better shape than it was when they left - the holes in the wall were repaired, and the gates were functioning. An elf and a goblin stood watch, bottles of liquor in their hand as they snickered and chuckled. When the goblin saw the adventurers, he spun and shouted something. The gate opened with a loud creak, the adventurers stepping into the town.
There were still signs of the war; small craters in the ground that hadn't been completely filled yet, abandoned homes left in charred ruins. But for the most part, it was kept safe. Goblins, elves, and humans mingled on the streets under their umbrellas as they shopped, occasionally stopping to exchange a few words. It was clear there was still tension, and even a few problematic humans. But it was far better than what they had expected.
"... P... Pock would have loved to see this," Pyrrha whispered quietly, her voice trembling. "This was something she always wanted..."
No one said a word. Silently they moved towards the Adventurer's Guild, ignoring the cheers as the city's new inhabitants began to take notice of them. They were considered heroes to the people of Faralda.
Those same cheers erupted when they entered the building, quickly falling silent as the thieves and common folk noticed the grim expressions the heroes wore. Not a single one of them was smiling, and they were covered in wounds. Verde was still slumped over Vao's back, her condition never improving, physically incapable of taking care of herself. Pip's body had scabs from where the debris cut into his skin during the fight with Mono, and Sasha's breathing was still awkward. Yin stepped up to the counter, leaning against it. Junior looked up from his cigar, quickly striding over.
"Hey...?" The crime boss stopped, his eyebrow furrowing. "... You alright, kid? You look like you just lost a fight with a giant-"
"Just... A room," Yin rasped. "Give me... A room..."
Junior nodded hesitantly before giving him a key, the healer trotting up the stairs with Vao following behind, leaving the others to finally rest downstairs. The lock clicked before he pushed it open, Vao setting Verde down carefully on one of the beds. He was much quieter than usual: a common theme with the company these days.
Yin opened his satchel and pulled out Jasper, resting her on the pillow before sitting down on the bed and lighting another cigarette, watching Vao begin to undress Verde. "The hell are you doing?"
"I-I... Th-think she went, m-mate..."
"Went...?"
The smell hit Yin. He scowled, turning his head and pinching his nose, not watching as Vao dug around for a napkin, bunching it in his wife's ruined robes. When he finished, he carefully covered her with the blanket before throwing the soiled clothes in the trash.
"... All d-done..."
Yin turned back around, watching as Vao lit his pipe, his eyes brimming with tears. The dullahan tugged his hair tie and let his ponytail fall away, his long hair matted with sweat and rain. He breathed out the smoke, the smell of marijuana sticking to his clothes. They didn't say a word for a long while. There was nothing to talk about. Verde was in a vegetative state, Pock had been eaten alive, Tim was gone, and they watched Summer die in front of them. They had seen it all together. There was no need to talk about it.
"... Wot are you going to do with her?" Vao suddenly growled. He was staring at Jasper.
"Wait for her to wake up," Yin answered bluntly, taking another breath from his cigarette.
"You aren't going to kill her?"
"No, and you won't either," the healer snapped. "You saw her Reality, too."
"And does that change the past?" Vao challenged. "My mum's still dead, your mum's still dead. Tim, Pock, they're gone. And she helped with that."
"Because she was promised some sort of fantasy," Yin muttered. He dug around in his pockets, counting his money before handing it to his brother. "Make yourself useful and go buy me a new staff. I still need to heal everybody."
Vao glared at him. "... Don't talk to me that way."
They stared each other down before Vao stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Yin felt a bit bad. He knew Vao would still be angry at Jasper, but the healer didn't think it was deserved. Not after everything she had been through. He turned his head when he heard a small cough, his blue eyes resting on the fairy. Her green eyes fluttered open, her chest heaving with another wet cough. She tried to sit up, but Yin pressed a finger against her forehead and pushed her back down.
"Don't bother trying to get up," he muttered. "At least wait before I get my new staff."
The fairy looked up at him, and then around the room. She didn't recognize her surroundings. "W... W-where...?"
"Faralda," Yin answered gruffly, taking a breath from his cigarette. "Carried you here so you could recover."
Jasper didn't understand it. Her eyes began to water, the fairy sitting up again. "But... But why...?"
Yin shook his head, snuffing the cigarette butt on his heel and leaning back on the bed, the softness helping him relax just a bit. "... Felt like it."
That wasn't enough for Jasper. "But... I-I killed people-"
"Did you want to?"
"N-no, but-"
"Then shut up, lay down, and get some rest."
Jasper had been unconscious when Summer had died. She didn't know, but she suspected something had happened. She laid back down, staring at the ceiling. After a moment of silence, Yin spoke again.
"... You know about Realities?"
Jasper nodded quietly. "... A... A little... I heard Mono talking to Lord Vao about it..."
Yin sighed. He wanted another cigarette. "... I saw yours. Saw the things you went through," he grumbled. He could see Jasper stiffen out of the corner of his eye. "... That's why I brought you back. Some people might not see it the way I do, but I think you're just misunderstood. You were manipulated."
Jasper felt her heart break. She didn't deserve that, and she knew it. "I... T-tried to kill you-"
"Half the world wants me dead."
"I k-killed your friends-"
"You did it because you thought you had to."
He was stubborn. Jasper was running out of excuses. She stared up at the ceiling, listening to the rain tap on the window outside. She didn't get it.
She just didn't get it at all. Yin sighed, running his hand through his blonde hair. His mouth tasted terrible from the smoke. The door slammed open, Vao tossing the staff on the bed next to his brother, quickly followed by the pouch of coins that he was supposed to use to buy it.
"There, take it. And don't go showing it off around town, either."
Yin sat up, glaring at his brother. "... You stole it, didn't you?"
"Yeah. Shopkeep was some old guy. Pulled my head off, screamed, he passed right out."
Vao spotted Jasper looking at him, his lip curling back in disgust. He didn't say anything to her. He reached into his bag of groceries, fishing out a new robe for Verde. Yin counted his money, furrowing his brow. "... I thought you didn't buy anything?"
"Didn't say that," Vao muttered. "I just didn't buy that staff. I used your money to buy Verde some clean clothes, because the clothing store was run by a goblin who knew I could take my head off."
Yin sighed, picking the steel rod up from the mattress and rising into a stand. Vao's kleptomania hadn't changed, even after so many years. He tapped it against the ground, muttering his miracle. One that he couldn't use in combat because of how much time it took; [Greater Heal].
[Greater Heal] was a miracle that was costly on his mana, but it was the most effective healing miracle he knew. He could feel his ribs mending back together, watching as Vao's back popped back into place, making the dullahan wince. Their wounds began to close, leaving behind very faint scars. He sighed, moving towards the door.
"... I'm gonna fix up the others," he muttered. "Vao... At least try to get along with Jasper."
"Keep dreaming."
Yin closed the door behind him, leaving the dullahan alone with Jasper and Verde. Vao didn't even look at the fairy, his hand holding Verde's, his thumb gently caressing the back. Jasper didn't say a word. She knew Vao hated her. She averted her gaze, sitting up on the pillow and bringing her knees to her chest.
"... I'm... I'm s-sorry-"
Vao gently set Verde's hand down, the dullahan standing from the bed. "... Fuck this. I'm going somewhere else."
Vao picked up Verde in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder and pulling the door open. He stopped in the frame, turning his head to give Jasper a cold, icy glare.
"... If I didn't have to feed my wife... Well, I'll leave it up to your imagination. Watch your back from now on, bug. You might get lost, and never be found."
He meant every word. Jasper's blood ran cold, staring at him in silence. Vao wanted to kill her. The dullahan didn't say anything else, disappearing down the hall. Yin came back a moment later, holding a mug of beer in his hand. He looked at the empty bed curiously, and then to Jasper.
"... You okay?"
Jasper nodded. Yin sighed and moved back to the bed, sitting down and setting the mug on the end table. "Vao didn't... Try anything, did he?"
"H-huh?"
Yin looked at her, his blue eyes hardening. "... He's tried to kill me before. Quite a few times. His paranoia gets the better of him. Let me know if he does anything."
Jasper looked up at him. The blonde took a sip from his beer, raising an eyebrow. "... What're you staring at?"
Jasper looked down, instinctively biting her nails. "Why... Are you being so nice to me...?"
Yin paused for a moment, staring into his mug. "... I said I saw your Reality. That means I saw your Soul," he replied after a long moment. "... You deserved a second chance. If you didn't, you wouldn't be here."
Jasper looked at the ground quietly, using her arm to wipe at her eyes. "A... A second chance," she echoed quietly.
She looked back up at him, her jaw clenching firmly. "You're... Going against the Church, right? I heard Ruby mention it."
"Yup. Especially after seeing what they did to you."
Jasper's mind was made up. She reached her tiny hands out and tugged at his sleeve, the healer looking down just as he put the cigarette in his mouth.
"Th-then... I want to go with you," she said firmly. "You saved me, e-even when you didn't have to. You wouldn't have been wrong to kill me, s-so... Let me pay you back!"
Yin was startled by how forward she was with what she wanted. He wasn't used to people being so brutally honest. Or maybe it was just Jasper's ego; she had no problems saying exactly what she wanted. The blonde sighed, striking a match and lighting the cigarette.
"... Alright."
"H-huh?"
Yin shrugged, taking a puff from his cigarette. "Not gonna fight it. That's what you want to do, then I'm not stopping you," he replied. "It's not gonna be easy. Really think about it."
Jasper crossed her arms. "... You act like I don't know the risk of raising my hands against the Church and the Cult."
"... Fair," Yin chuckled. He stood up, stretching his arms. "... We aren't staying in Faralda for very long. We're here to restock and get a ride to the east. Before we take Ragna, we need the help of a certain city further east."
Jasper flapped her tiny wings, following him out the door and down the stairs. "Further east? But isn't that the Sea of Sand?"
Yin nodded. "Yeah. Apparently it wasn't always a desert. There's a city on the other side. Just hoping we could meet one of the harpy mailmen to take us across, so we don't have to walk. We don't have the supplies to cross the desert, and we never will."
"A... A city?" Jasper echoed. Yin could hear that she didn't believe him. The Sea of Sand was well-known for being inhospitable, even among nonhumans. Only species with an immunity to fire could survive the day, but would perish under the frigid temperatures of the night. The same went for species with an immunity to the cold. While in theory it was possible to cross the desert, it was so vast that it wouldn't be possible to carry that many resources: food, shelter from the sun, kindling for a campfire, water.
Yin nodded. "Sounds crazy, right? I've been there once. Pip's mom lives there. Wonder how she's doing..."
Jasper looked confused. "Huh? I thought Vao was married to Verde?"
"And how are two humans going to give birth to a harpy?"
"... Two humans?"
Yin had completely forgotten. Jasper only knew Vao after he turned into a nonhuman. "... Vao was a human once- you know what? I'll tell that story later. It's too fucking long."
The rain poured around them as they stepped outside, safe under the canopy of the Guild's front porch. Under the moist air, the cigarette smoke dissipated slower. Yin sighed, Jasper floating next to him quietly.
And soon, he saw a familiar face running towards him through the rain.
...
The sun was blazing hot when a pair of boots and dress shoes landed in the soft sand, their unnaturally cold skin helping them stay cool. But even with such a low body temperature, they could still feel the heat.
"Bloody 'ell... Took too fucking long," the First Vao hissed under his breath.
He had trouble remembering the desert, preventing him from teleporting immediately. He felt like there was a lot he was beginning to forget. It made him feel uneasy. Mono looked around the barren desert, her brows furrowing in curiosity.
"... Milord, may I ask a question?"
"You already know you don't need my permission to chat with me," the First Vao replied. He looked up at the sky, spotting the sun slightly to his left. He spun on his heel, making his way east.
Mono hummed, scratching her chin lightly. "... Why were you so eager to visit the desert? Wouldn't telling Sir Glenroy and Pope Iris about Yin's ability to use Light be more important?"
The First Vao nodded. "Usually. But I remember almost... Nine years ago, I think... I saw him and Salem walking through the desert, heading this way. I want to know why; I've heard nothing but bad things about this desert."
Mono hummed again, lowering her head as she followed him. And suddenly, her cheeks heated up, her eye glancing at the First Vao's back. They were alone together, with no distractions. No Jack to suddenly burst in with some wild story about how he stabbed someone in the comfort of their bed, none of Ruby's dolls causing a ruckus as their creator yelled at them, no injured Tourmaline refusing to eat until the First Vao fed her. The monoeye's lips curled into a soft smile, her hands that were folded neatly in front of her maid apron squeezing together gently.
"... It's like a date," she said quietly. The First Vao wasn't paying attention, barely hearing her.
"The date? It's Wednesday, innit?"
Mono's smile fell in an instant, her eye staring at the ground. "... Yes, Milord... It is Wednesday..."
They marched through the desert, their eyes focused ahead. And soon, they could see something in the distance. The First Vao furrowed his eyebrows again, squinting into the distance. "... Wot...?"
Mono looked up, the view as clear as water to her. Her jaw fell open slightly, her eye wide. "A... City...? Here, of all places-!?"
Her breath caught in her throat when the First Vao grabbed her shoulder, using his Semblance to close the distance. Ash swirled around them as they landed in front of the city, staring at the sandstone walls. There was no doubt about it. It was a city in the Sea of Sand. Mono made a mental note of the cooler temperature, thinking to herself quietly as they moved towards the gate. A couple of reptilian guards were drawing in the sand with their spears. Lizardmen, a species typically found in the Great Swamp. They looked up when Mono and the First Vao approached, their teeth showing in what could've been a smile. Or a snarl. It was difficult to tell when they had no lips.
"Oh! Good afternoon!" One of them greeted kindly. "Haven't seen you before. Are you new?"
"Yes," Mono lied as naturally as she breathed. "May we enter?"
"Of course!"
The guards stepped to the side, the pair walking past. They were taken aback by what they saw; a city of nonhumans going about their day, not a single human in sight. They walked deeper into the Secret City, almost immediately bumping into someone. The blue-feathered harpy yelped in surprise, spinning around. "Sorry! Was I in the way?"
"Nah," the First Vao replied. "Wot is this place?"
The harpy tilted her head curiously. "... What do you mean? Actually, I don't think I've seen you before. Did the other harpies bring you here?"
"... Yeah."
The harpy beamed, flapping her wings in an attempt to tell them to follow her. "Oh, okay! Then I'll give you a tour!" She exclaimed. "My name's Poppy, by the way! What's yours?"
"V..." The First Vao stopped himself. He had no doubt in his mind that the adventurers were coming here. If that were true, it would be best to use a different name. "... Vic. And this is Mono."
Poppy seemed like a ball of joy. Contagious to others, the First Vao found it annoying. He felt like there wasn't a reason to be so happy about anything. She was beginning to remind him of Pip, in a way. They followed Poppy down the sandy streets, the harpy dramatically pointing out places she liked.
"That's my favorite worm rice stand! Oh, and that's the bar I go to! The beach is down that road! I heard it gets really romantic at sunset! I haven't been there in a long time though, not since my best friend left the city! I miss him a lot. He always made me laugh..."
"Left?" Mono asked curiously. Poppy nodded happily.
"Yeah! His name is Vao! We have a fledgling together, but he had to go because he had other things to take care of, I think! So I gave him my egg! I wonder how they're doing? You actually kind of look like him, but he isn't so pale and he, uh... D-doesn't have a hole in his face... Are you a vampire? No, that would mean you can't be in the sun..."
Pip. They just learned how Pip was conceived. The First Vao looked absolutely furious with himself, but didn't say anything about it. Instead, he asked a different question. "Wot makes you think I'm a vampire?"
Poppy looked embarrassed. "U-um... Well, I can't figure out what species you are... You look human, but you don't feel like one... S-sorry if I offended you..."
"None taken," the First Vao muttered. He turned around, beckoning his hand to Mono. "Cheers, Poppy. We're going to explore on our own for a bit."
Poppy waved at the two happily before taking flight. "Kay-kay! Bye-bye!"
Mono looked down at the First Vao, raising an eyebrow when she saw his expression. "... Milord? What is wrong?"
The First Vao's lips twitched, curling into a horrible smirk. "Yin's trying to stop the Church... With Faralda taken, I'd bet he's going for Ragna next. I think he's gonna stop here... Hey, Mono?"
"Yes, Milord?"
"... The Sea of Sand... The books you gave me said it saw wars ages ago. Ancient dwarves? And by now, those relics are buried beneath our feet?"
"That is correct."
"... Oh, I have an idea." Taking Mono's cold hand into his own, he turned to her almost excitedly. He used his Semblance, teleporting further away from the city, hidden behind one of the dunes. His Darkness poured from his back, the dark tendrils scratching at the ground. Mono was curious.
"... What are you doing, Milord?"
The First Vao didn't answer her question. Instead, he looked up at her. "Can you speed up time for me, please? I need to check something out."
Mono nodded, closing her eye. And when she opened it, her pupil had changed, taking the appearance of a clock dial.
Tick, tick, tick...
The First Vao's movements began to speed up, the cannibal soon disappearing into the ground as he dug. Moments later, he climbed back out, Mono returning his time to normal. He looked happy.
"I've got an idea!" He nearly shrieked. "Mono, you're amazing!"
Mono's jaw dropped, her cheeks flushing red. "A-amazing...?" She echoed distantly. She bit her lip, staring at the ground with a small smile. "... I think you're even more amazing, Milord... You're a very special person to me..."
Her flirting fell on deaf ears. The First Vao did not have the social skills to comprehend that, having spent his entire adult life hated and feared. "You're the second person to tell me that," he chuckled, staring into the hole at whatever it was he had found. "The first was Cinder, my old friend. She'd comfort me when that scorpion was doing other things. I kind of miss her, but I can't have her trying to stop me."
Mono's fist clenched at the mention of his old romantic partner. But even still, she smiled politely. "... Perhaps there is someone else?" She said quietly. "Someone who knows your dream is pure? Someone at your side all the time, and would have it no other way?"
The First Vao pulled his head from the hole, scratching his head in thought. Sand fell from the black locks, and he knew he'd have to brush it more than usual later. "... Like who? Ruby? She's my sister, even if this Timeline crap is confusing."
Mono inhaled sharply. She was growing frustrated very quickly. "... Someone else, Milord."
"... Tourmaline? I've found her rolling around in my sock drawer a couple times..."
Mono decided she'd have a talk with the fairy after she recovered. Not a pleasant chat. "No, Milord. Maybe someone else? Someone who respects and holds you very dear?"
The First Vao looked at her, completely lost. "... Wouldn't that apply to the entire Cult...?"
Mono was beginning to quiver. The First Vao sat down cross-legged, staring up at the tall woman. Mono decided to take a different approach. Sitting down next to him, she mustered her smile to be as polite as possible. "Milord, is there a specific trait you find attractive in a woman?"
"... Didn't we have a similar conversation about this before?"
"We did, but it wasn't the same."
The First Vao hummed thoughtfully, picking the sand from his hair again. "... I don't really know, honestly. I never thought about finding someone. Cinder and I kind of... Happened, because we were both scared of Salem at the time... I'm usually focused on working towards my dream."
Mono's jaw clenched, her grey eye staring at him hard. "... What physical appearances do you find attractive, Milord?"
"Okay, wot the hell kind of question is that?"
"Please answer."
The First Vao was feeling uncomfortable. He never really talked about what he liked other than his dream. "... Well, I guess I like it when they take care of themselves. I know that's difficult with the Blood making our skin so pale, but it's the effort that counts," he muttered. Mono didn't need to worry about that. She was nothing short of confident in her daily routine. "... I guess I also like it when they have black hair. It's cute when it ends near their shoulders, too."
Mono deliberately twirled her finger around a few strands of her hair. Her hair was black and trimmed perfectly at her shoulders. The First Vao didn't seem to notice.
"And this isn't physical, but I like smart girls too," he added. "Physically, I like it when they take care of themselves. Abs are perfect to me."
Mono was growing very frustrated. He was describing her, but he wasn't talking about her. "... Anything else, Milord...?"
The First Vao was quiet for a moment, looking down at the ground. He seemed a bit more depressed. "... I'd... I'd like it if they were my friend..."
Mono's knuckles popped when her fist clenched again. "... Surely there is one person who comes to mind...?"
The First Vao shrugged, shaking his head.
"... I've got too much to think about," he muttered. "I won't forgive them for tricking me into killing Summer twice. As of right now, I have no interest looking into a relationship."
Mono froze, staring at him in complete silence. The First Vao looked at her in confusion. "... Something wrong? You got a vein in your head."
Mono stood up, dusting herself off. Her shoulders were tensed, her eye closed. "... I just remembered there is something I must take care of. May I be excused, Milord?"
The First Vao raised an eyebrow. "... You don't need to ask. I can take care of things from here."
Mono bowed politely, vanishing without a trace. The desert heat didn't bother her in stopped time as she sprinted through the sand, her lips finally curling into a snarl.
They had screwed her over.
...
"Yin!"
Yin's cigarette almost fell from his mouth as the man ran through the rain, his mop of blonde hair dripping wet. The healer found a lump in his throat, his eyes beginning to burn.
It was the last person he wanted to see. His father.
Tai climbed the steps, shaking the rain out of his hair before looking at him, his lips curling into a smile. "You're back! Had us worried sick, going after that crazy chick." He stopped when he saw Jasper, a playful smirk crossing his tanned lips. "Oh, got a girlfriend too?"
His playful attempts to embarrass his son fell on deaf ears. Yin knew what question was coming next.
"Where's your mother? Is she inside? I can take her home."
Jasper looked away guiltily, Yin's eyes meeting his father's. No words needed to be spoken. Tai's grin faltered and fell. It didn't come back.
"Yin... Where's your mother...?"
He was trying to tell himself he was wrong about what he thought. Yin could see that. The healer took a shaky breath from his cigarette, blowing it towards his feet.
"M-mom... Is d-dead," he said quietly. Tai was frozen in place. A part of him didn't believe it. At this moment, just when things were beginning to look brighter, they were already losing people. Tai's lip quivered slightly before he stopped it through sheer will, gently placing a hand on his son's shoulder.
"... I'm... Sorry, Yin..."
The healer sniffed and let out a low chuckle. "Not your fault," he breathed. "It's... M-mine..."
"That isn't true," Tai answered. He knew Yin needed to talk with someone. Looking at Jasper, he spoke. "... Can we have a moment, Miss Fairy?"
Jasper nodded quietly, struggling to pull the door open. It was heavier than it looked, and Tai had to open it for her. He closed it behind him before guiding Yin down the steps, the two walking down the muddy, wet streets of the town they had grown up in. Yin hunched over and twisted his wrist to keep his cigarette dry, the smoke billowing behind him. Tai didn't look up from the ground.
"... Smoking's not a good way to cope."
"... Calms the nerves."
A silence fell between them, Tai looking back up at Yin. "... You shouldn't blame yourself for whatever happened while you were away," he said quietly. "I know it hurts, and you might think things could've gone differently if you did something different. That's the thing about life; some things aren't in our control. We can't tell the future - it comes in one big surprise."
"... I could've jumped in the way," Yin hissed. "She was injured, weak... And I just laid there, and... W-watched..."
"You were startled," Tai replied. "And I heard you were really hurting when you showed up at the gates. It's not your fault, kiddo."
Yin was silent. He didn't respond. Tai couldn't tell if he was crying or if it was just the rain. The older man sighed, looking back at the ground.
"... Life ain't easy. It'll take every chance it gets to get a shot it, and it'll keep punching and kicking until you finally fall down," he nearly whispered. "And when you fall... It's up to you whether you stand up and fight back. The only other alternative is staying down, with life spitting on you."
Yin thought about those words. He was used to the father who loved to pull pranks, not a philosopher. He sighed, taking a puff from his cigarette before moving his hands and letting the raindrops snuff the smoldering ember, slipping the butt into his pocket.
"... Thanks, dad. You can't change my mind, though. I know I could've done something different. If I had been more aggressive, searched a little harder, we might all have come back... Pock, Tim... Even A-Alice would be the same..."
Tai decided the best route would be to avoid the topic of his friends. The blonde man looked up, spotting a bar he frequented. Patting Yin on the shoulder, he guided the healer with him, towards the front door.
"C'mon, bud... Let's get a drink."
"... Okay."
...
Alice found no interest in being downstairs. The large crowd had made her uneasy, paranoid. And with so many eyes staring at her head, she quickly moved up the stairs with permission from Chuck, who was drinking more than usual. Her feet made the floorboards creak, her spine tingling.
Every time she blinked, she could see that face in the split second of darkness. The single grey eye that stared at her, pale lips curled into a cruel smirk. The face of Mono, staring at her, taunting her when she cried.
She nearly bumped into a tiny figure on her way down the hall, her blue eyes glancing up to see Jasper. The ginger looked worried and nervous. "O-oh... Hey, Ali-"
Jasper didn't finish her sentence. With a faint whimper mixed with a sob, Alice pressed against the wall and slid past the fairy, walking faster without looking back. Alice was among the many in the party who didn't agree with Yin bringing Jasper back. Pyrrha, Chuck, Vao, and Violet all believed they should've killed her. Sasha, while upset at Jasper's actions, felt indifferent. When asked, she'd say she'd met real awful people, and couldn't decide whether Jasper counted or not. The only ones who supported Yin were Salem, Pip, and Ozpin, with Midori too focused on her mother's state.
Alice didn't have the guts to take matters into her own hands. While she believed Jasper was better off dead, she was too scared to even approach the fairy. The fairies in the Cult were nothing like the peaceful people in the books she used to read. Her first encounter was violent, unforgiving.
She stopped at one of the doors, turning her head to the sliver of light that seeped through the crack. It was open ajar, and she could hear something inside.
"Auuughh, aguah gho..."
Alice stepped closer, peering inside. Vao was sitting on a bed with Verde, the witch making strange sounds. Vao looked up when he saw Alice's face, his red eyes wet. But he still tried to manage a smile for her. "... Wot's up, Alice?"
The bald girl carefully stepped into the room, looking around instinctively. She knew she wasn't in danger, but it still helped her be at ease. She fidgeted with her fingers, looking at her aunt miserably. "... W... W-what's happening, U-Uncle Vao...?"
The dullahan's smile fell, his eyes moving back to his wife. Her fingers were twitching, almost like she was trying to grab at the air as her arms lay unmoving at her sides, her head rested on his lap. "... She's talking," he answered shakily.
Alice wasn't a fool. She was almost eighteen. She knew there was little hope Verde would be able to do things on her own again. Not even Yin, the healer of the group, could heal her scrambled brain. She was the smartest person Alice had known, and was now reduced to a vegetable.
Alice looked away. She couldn't watch her aunt anymore. "... W... Will we... F-fight the Cult...?"
Vao was quiet, playing with Verde's hair. "... Most likely."
Alice shivered. She didn't want to meet those people again. Their powers were nothing short of terrifying. Saril, who to their knowledge wasn't even a part of the First Vao's Inner Circle, was capable of making them hallucinate and lobotomizing them. And the higher the rank, the stronger they were. Hell, Mono was capable of stopping time. And what was worse, the Cult leader was born with that power; she never displayed what the Blood gave her. Alice wordlessly left, trying to block out the strange noises that Verde uttered as she tried to talk. Vao didn't stop her. He didn't even look at her.
She could see something down the hall. Violet had Jasper pinned against the wall, screaming death threats at the fairy.
"You ever get in my way again, I'll pop your noggin like a bloody cherry, you jumped up little pipsqueak!"
Alice didn't intervene. She knew most of Violet's words were empty. Instead, she moved past them, stepping outside. The rain had diminished to a light sprinkle, but the air was still damp. The door creaked open, Pip pushing it awkwardly with his elbows. "Wait for me!"
Alice helped him with the door, the harpy standing next to her. He looked worried. "Hey! Are you okay?"
Alice shook her head, her eyes growing wet as they trotted down the steps and into the muddy streets. "N-no... E-every time I c-close my e-eyes, I see h-her," she croaked. "I-I... I c-can't f-feel safe..."
Pip felt a bit responsible for it. If he had paid more attention, he'd have noticed Alice following him that night. It didn't make him feel good. "... C-can I walk with you, then?"
Alice only nodded.
Neither of them saw the figure leaning from the alley next to the Adventurer's Guild, two yellow eyes staring at their backs. His permanent toothy smile gleamed in the cloudy sky, his boots squelching in the mud, out of earshot as Jack followed them quietly.
Alice and Pip walked quietly together, the harpy trying to brighten up the mood. "I... I heard Ozpin say we were going to a secret city before we take Ragna. A-apparrently it's a really nice town and we'll be able to relax there! Salem even said my mum lives there."
"Secret city...?" Alice echoed. "I think I remember Uncle Vao talking about it... But whenever he mentioned the girls, Aunt Verde would get mad..."
Jack's eyes flickered with interest, drawing closer. Alice and Pip stopped at a bench, sitting down on the wet seat. Jack slipped into an alley and went around, staring at their backs from the shadows.
"Mhm! We're going north of the Royal Capital tomorrow... It'll take us a really long time to reach the desert because we'll have to sneak through the mountains..."
Jack heard everything he wanted to. The First Vao was right to send him here. The Ripper stepped back deeper into the shadows of the alley, turning on his heel.
When the First Vao mentioned that he once saw the adventurers in the Sea of Sand, he immediately launched an investigation into the matter. He and Mono, having their unnaturally low body temperature, went to the desert themselves. And while Jack's body was cold too, Mono would've attacked the adventurers on sight. The First Vao had tasked Jack to stalk them, and learn more information about their plans. And while Jack had a suitable amount of information, his curiosity was beginning to grow. He wanted to see where this went.
The Ripper's smile began to grow, his boots squelching through the mud as he disappeared into the darkness of the alley.
...
None of them slept very well that night. Even in the comfort of a warm bed at the inn, they just couldn't fall asleep. But then again, that was most nights. When the sun rose over the horizon, it was only a matter of packing proper bags, and preparing themselves for the long journey ahead. Yin clicked the buttons into place, watching as Vao slipped his pack on his front and then carried Verde on his back, immediately headbutting Jasper out of his way.
"O-ow!"
"Get out of my way, cunt."
Yin sighed, slinging his pack over his shoulder and bending down to let Jasper climb into his hand, setting the fairy down on his opposite shoulder. "... You okay?"
Jasper nodded, giving the dullahan a dirty look. "... Yeah. That asshole's just beginning to get on my nerves. He spat on me last night just as I was about to fall asleep."
That sounded like something he'd do. Yin sighed, shaking his head. He could hear Jasper's ego in her voice again, but he chose to ignore it. He genuinely believed she wasn't as bad as even she seemed to think. He felt someone touch his back, turning his head to look up at Salem. The princess gave him a reassuring smile, the healer grinning softly back.
"... Let's go," she whispered. "The carriage is waiting for us."
The rain had stopped during the night, but the grey clouds still hung low overhead, blanketing the town in a dreary atmosphere. The mud squelched underneath their feet as they moved to the eastern gate, where the carriage waited for them. But when Yin climbed inside, he stopped.
"D... Dad?"
Tai sat on the ground, a bottle of water in his hand. He nodded to the healer. "Hey, Yin."
Yin stepped inside, shaking his head. "No... No, what are you doing here?"
"Going with you."
"Since when!?"
"Since last night," Ozpin answered. He was closer to the front, his helmet covering his face. "He asked to come with us. I allowed it."
Yin felt himself beginning to get a little angry. "Would've been nice to... Oh, I dunno. Talk about it?"
Sasha scoffed. She seemed annoyed with his attitude. "Get over yourself, Yin. Honestly, the extra help is welcome, considering what we're up against. World's strongest military and a group of psychos."
Yin gritted his teeth, glaring at them. He felt a bit betrayed. They knew he was still tender about what happened to Summer. The last thing he wanted was something similar to happen to his father. "Does he even know-"
"Yup. Ozpin told me last night," Tai interrupted. "I'm going with you. That's final."
Yin threw his pack down and sat next to it, Jasper nearly bouncing off his shoulder. She flapped her wings took to the air, sitting down opposite to the healer as the last of the adventurers climbed in. Violet and Midori helped drag Verde inside, setting their mother into the most comfortable position they could. Vao climbed in not long after, looking down at Jasper. His eyes flickered with disgust, dropping his pack over her head. The fairy yelped and dove out of the way just as it slammed against the wood. Vao seemed disappointed.
Yin growled under his breath, lighting a cigarette. "Vao..."
The dullahan shrugged. "Didn't see her. Not my damned fault she's four inches tall."
Both Yin and Jasper knew better than that. The healer pinched the bridge of his nose, the stress already beginning to eat away at him. He'd have to keep an eye on Vao before the dullahan killed her. Vao sat down next to Verde and, without thinking, pulled his head off and set it down in her lap. The witch's lips twitched.
"Oooaaagh ghoo..."
Vao's head grinned up at her, trying to support her attempts at talking. Tai watched the scene with horror in his eyes. "W... W-what...?"
Yin looked up from his cigarette as the carriage began to move, rocking against the ground. "Oh, thought you heard everything?" He muttered sarcastically. "Somehow, Vao found a way to become a nonhuman. He's a dullahan."
Tai did not look the least bit comforted. Ozpin chuckled, lifting his visor. "Reminds me of our reactions when we first found out."
"Now imagine finding his head in your sleeping bag," Chuck growled.
"Ghuuughao, oraaa..."
None of them spoke a word after Verde tried to speak. They couldn't even tell if she was trying to participate in the conversation, or just trying to speak in general. It just put them down. Vao wasn't smiling anymore. He just stared at the ground, his teeth biting his lower lip gently as his body sat with his kids.
The carriage rocked as it passed the gate, the city of Faralda shrinking behind them. Salem sighed, watching it disappear from the canopy's flaps. She didn't like leaving the city. It was arguably safer than travelling. And with Yin's change of demeanor, she wished they stayed so he could have some Tim eto be like his old self. The princess tore her gaze away, her hand slowly reaching for the healer's. She wondered if he remembered what she said to him when their party first split up, almost nine years ago. He hadn't acknowledged it at all since then.
She wanted to avoid him turning into the same person he was in the First Timeline. For him to be the best person he could be. She still owed him a lot; she destroyed his life twice, and he still found it in him to save her. While he didn't think so, Salem believed he was a hero. Even at his worst in the First Timeline, everything he had done was for the betterment of the world, carrying the stress of his mission so no one else would have to. Her fingers brushed his, the healer pulling away.
"... Give me some time to myself."
Salem felt a slight pain in her chest as she looked at the floor beneath them, nodding her head quietly. "... Okay..."
Jasper watched their interaction closely, a spark of jealousy flickering in her small green eyes. She vaguely remembered Saril saying that she thought Yin was with someone else - which she had called cheating despite the fact that the healer and the arachne were never in a relationship to begin with. The pieces were slowly clicking together for the fairy. To her, Yin was the one who offered her a second chance. He was still nice to her even after she took a direct role in the Cult. She gritted her teeth in annoyance.
Pip shuffled a bit closer to his father's headless body, a warm feeling filling his chest when Vao's arm pulled him in, squeezing his shoulder gently. He could feel the genuine affection; something that the First Vao didn't have. While the First Vao did hug him, they lacked real compassion. Violet and Midori curled up between Vao and Verde, neither saying a word.
Ozpin sat with Chuck, the guardsman staring at the ground. The one-armed knight was quiet, his arm draped over Chuck's shoulder like a friend. Chuck hadn't been the same since Tim died. The chubby man puffed on his cigarette, holding the smoke in for a moment before letting it out. Tai continued to try and get over the sight of Vao's severed head having a staring contest with him, genuinely shaken.
But Alice sat by herself. Close to the canopy's flaps at the very back of the carriage, she stared at the passing ground blankly. A one thousand yard stare. She didn't move a muscle. She barely breathed. She only stared, remembering the horrible memories of that day she spent trapped under Mono's cold thumb. She could distantly hear Tim screaming at the monoeye, vaguely see the blood as she stopped time and cut his skin open. She vividly remembered the taste when Mono forced her to eat him. Her eyes grew wet, but the lump in her throat didn't grow. Yin looked up from his cigarette, worry growing in his blue eyes.
"... Alice? You doing okay?"
Alice's shoulders tensed, her back arching. Her lips twitched, curling into a hollow husk of a smirk. But she didn't look at him
"I-I'm... Okay..."
She didn't believe her own words. But they sounded convincing enough for Yin to nod, turning his focus back to getting what little sleep he could. Alice's fingers gripped the edge of the carriage tighter, her knuckles beginning to turn white.
She wanted it to stop.
The things running through her head were beginning to drive her crazy. The memories wouldn't stop. She wanted the nightmares to stop. But they wouldn't. She was beginning to feel trapped ever since that day. She just wanted it all to stop. This entire nightmare. She wanted to wake up back in the Wilds, with her family waiting for her. Her thoughts began to grow darker with each passing moment.
Stop.
Stop.
Stop.
But it wouldn't. She knew it. Things would only get worse. Her hands finally relaxed, her blue eyes staring at the moving ground below.
She felt trapped, and she wanted to wake up.
...
Leaf had his feet kicked up on his desk, a dirty magazine propped up in his hand. He took a breath off his cigarette as he turned the pages, snickering to himself. "Ooh... Fuckin' nice."
His smirk faltered for a moment, his mind travelling back. Usually Rojo would be there with him looking. But the Cardinal hadn't been heard from in a while. And with Glenroy busy with training his men, the Knight Commander didn't have time to visit Faralda. A part of Leaf was glad Rojo didn't stop by - the Cardinal would always bring his own magazines, none of which interested Leaf in the least. But even still, he was someone the Archbishop considered his friend. He looked back down at the magazine, shrugging his shoulders.
"Nothin' a little porn won't fix," he muttered. He flipped the page again, interrupted when his door opened.
"Your Excellency? I have returned."
Ruby stood in the doorway, fury etching into Leaf's face. He slammed the magazine down, standing up from his dirty chair. "And where the fuck've you been, runt?"
"I was with Jack-"
"Oh, didn't realize Jack was your mentor," Leaf hissed. "Remember your place, you creepy little bitch. You obey me, not Jack. He ain't even a priest."
Ruby bit back a bitter remark. She didn't need to say anything. Not with who stood behind Leaf, curiously picking up the magazine he left on his desk, trying to pull the pages open. Almost immediately he dropped it on the ground, the noise catching Leaf's attention. The Archbishop spun around, glaring at the deathly pale figure.
It almost reminded him of Vao. Only this woman looked more... Dishevelled, to say the least. Her hair nearly touched the ground, and she was missing an eye; replaced by a strange, red floating speck. "... Who the fuck are you?"
The First Vao shook his head. "... I'm going to pretend that those pages weren't sticking together-"
"Oh cut the bullshit, I jacked off, okay?" Leaf growled. "Man up. Now answer my fuckin' question! Who the FUCK are you!?"
He was just as much of an asshole as Ruby said he was. With her warning, the First Vao wasn't too bothered. Instead, he leaned on the dirty desk, his smirk stretching. "... You're Leaf, right? Ruby told me about you."
Leaf glared at the doll-maker suspiciously, lowering his cigarette from his lips. "... The fuck kinda game is this, Ruby?"
Ruby's porcelain-like lips curled into a soft smile. "... I think you should listen to my Lord, Your Excellency."
"Lord?"
Leaf turned back to the First Vao, his eyebrows knitted together in confusion. The First Vao smiled at him, stepping around the desk. Almost immediately Leaf felt the temperature decreased, a shiver running down his back. He didn't know people could be so cold and move so freely.
"Names don't matter," the First Vao cooed seductively. He put a hint of sway into his hips, knowing full well that Leaf didn't know he wasn't a woman. He could already see the perverted Archbishop lowering his guard.
Ruby had told the First Vao all about Leaf. That he was a sexist scumbag with a deep love for killing those who couldn't fight back. By playing the part of a woman, the First Vao was deliberately putting Leaf at a spot where he wasn't ready for a fight. He sat down on the desk and crossed his legs, resting his elbow on his skinny knee and planting his chin into his frigid palm.
"... Ruby's told me so much about you," he said softly. "You see, I'm the kind of person who likes to know things. And I'd bet you're wondering wot happened to your bestie, right?"
Leaf was on edge again, glaring at him. "... The fuck did you do to Rojo?" He snarled. The First Vao waved the question off.
"I didn't do anything. But he's dead."
Leaf's shoulders were beginning to rise. The First Vao knew the Archbishop was about to start swinging. The Darkness shot through the air, seizing his wrists. Leaf's eyes went wide with confusion, struggling against the binds. But the tendrils only began to constrict, slowly cutting the circulation off in his hands and feet.
"O-ow! Th' fuck!?"
The First Vao smirked, his eye narrowing at the dirty blonde. "... It was Yin, you know. Him and his party - Vao, Verde... And I believe you already know Sasha."
Leaf gritted his teeth at the name. "Giant? That knife-ear helped kill him?"
The First Vao nodded. "... I've got a proposition for you, Leaf. You see, I want them dead, too. Especially that princess they're with. So how about we work together for a while, 'partner'?"
He knew Leaf would be easy to convince the moment revenge was mentioned. The tendrils loosened their grip, feeling returning to his fingers and toes. Leaf pulled away harshly, staring at the First Vao hatefully. "... Just who the hell do you think you are, lady?"
The First Vao snickered. "Does it matter? Didn't you want them dead, too?"
"Kinda does matter. I don't take orders from dish washers."
"Guess it's a good thing I'm not a woman."
Leaf paused for a moment, staring at the First Vao's chest. He didn't see anything. The Archbishop felt sick. He was checking out another man. The First Vao pushed off the desk, stepping closer.
"... I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm not giving you a choice. I have a plan, and I think you're going to absolutely love it.
Leaf growled, raising his fist to punch the First Vao's smirk off his face. But he froze. He could feel something pressing into his back. He turned his head, the colour draining from his face. Ruby had her scissors pressed against his robes. If she jerked her arm forward, she'd puncture his lung. And for the first time in a long time, he saw emotion on her usually stoic face. She was furious.
"If you dare lay a finger on my Lord," she breathed. "I'll perfect your nasty impurities. You'll be my next dolly."
Leaf's breath caught in his throat. Her words were colder than anything he heard leave her mouth. In a way, that was exactly what he wanted her to be. But he wanted that hatred to be directed at the elf and orc slaves, not a human. He looked back at the First Vao. The murderer wasn't bothering to hide it anymore. In his one scarlet eye, Leaf could see genuine insanity.
"You see, Leafy... I wasn't exactly giving you a choice," the First Vao snickered. "If you think a few swords and arrows is going to stop me... Well, I'd be more than happy to prove you wrong."
The black tendrils were seeping from the ground, pitch black shadowy limbs reaching for him. Leaf shivered, a cold sweat beginning to build up on the back of his neck. It was Darkness, twisted cold, corrupted by the overpowering aura of Blood. The First Vao leaned forward, the stench of old meat on his breath. It didn't take Leaf very long to recognize the smell of a corpse. After all, his dungeon was filled with them. His cold hand gripped the Archbishop's wrist tightly, and in an instant a frigid breeze washed over them, the ash blinding Leaf.
And then, heat. Leaf tugged his arm free, wiping his sleeve over his eyes. And when he opened them, he found he wasn't in his office.
He was in a large cavern, hooded figures excavating the site. And at the far end, a metallic face stared out blankly, the lights in its eyes dim. The First Vao turned to look at it, a sigh escaping his lips.
"... I hope I don't have to explain wot this is."
He didn't. It was something Leaf had only seen illustrations of in his history books before he dropped out of high school. It was an ancient golem. And with the size of its face, he could tell it was massive. Ruby stepped to the cannibal's side, her silver eyes trained on the Archbishop, flickering with hostility. Her scissors were still held in her hands, the blades gleaming in the light of the torches that stuck from the sandy ground. The First Vao turned to him.
"It's yours. It'll take some time before we can dig enough for it to move, but... It'll get the job done," he growled. "We're in the Sea of Sands, see. Not far from here is a nonhuman city. Those adventurers you're hunting are going to visit so they can take Ragna, and I want you to use this thing to kill them. After that... Go ahead and do wotever you want to that city. I really don't care."
Leaf's heart raced. He was beginning to realize just how much danger he was in. In a matter of a mere moment, this stranger had taken him several thousand miles east. The First Vao jerked his head towards the ancient golem. "Go on, get used to the bloody thing. We're jolly good partners, aren't we?"
Leaf nodded, his shoulders tensing. He looked back at the ancient dwarven mech, his brow furrowing. "... You ain't askin' me to stab His Holiness in the back, are you? Gonna have to rip my balls off before that happens-"
Ruby snipped her scissors almost eagerly, but the First Vao shook his head. "Nah. I don't care wot you do. Our interests are the same; you want them dead, and so do I. Just different reasons; they killed your mate, I... Well, that isn't important."
Leaf stepped closer, dwarfed by the massive face. It almost looked like a girl. While he had issues with that, he wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to have a new toy. The blonde looked back at the First Vao, a small smirk crossing his lips.
"... You know what? Yeah. I'm in."
The First Vao snickered, turning around. "I'll leave you to it, then. Take it easy, Leafy."
Ruby followed the First Vao as they trotted out of earshot, the Archbishop trying to figure out how to get inside. The genocidal madman glanced down at the doll-maker, his smile fading. "... Ruby."
The pale woman looked up at him. "Yes?"
"Keep this off Iris's radar, will you?" The First Vao whispered. "We have a doppelganger in the Cult. I'm going to leave him in your care; ensure he plays the part of looking and talking exactly like Leaf. At least until this is done, anyway."
"And then I can turn the real Leaf into a doll?"
The First Vao nodded curtly. "Yeah, go right ahead. Might happen sooner, if he lays a finger on the lads..."
They looked back at the Cultists hard at work. The First Vao had specifically chosen humans to avoid Leaf having a temper tantrum. He sighed, taking Ruby's shoulder.
"... Let's go. There's still a lot we have to do. Is Sapphire's new body ready yet?"
Ruby shook her head. "No. I still need to run some tests. My Blessing can only do so much to this new model, though. Do you have her Soul, perchance? I may need it."
"Safe and sound," the First Vao replied. "And wot of Tourmaline? How is her recovery?"
"My dolls report she has awoken a few times," Ruby reported. "They explained to her Jasper's betrayal. Needless to say, she didn't... Take it very well."
The First Vao raised an eyebrow, staring at her. "... Explain."
Ruby was quiet, her fingers tracing the edge of her scissors. "... She grew very upset. She believes that Jasper lied about caring for her and Sapphire, because they were left to die. She doesn't know that Jasper was close to turning into an abomination."
The First Vao hummed, stroking his cold, hairless chin thoughtfully. "... Keep that under wraps. She doesn't need to know. I only turned Jasper because I knew her Soul would affect her decisions; I suspected she wasn't entirely loyal. Proven right when she sided with Yin."
Ruby nodded. "Very well. Just one more question, if I may?"
"Wot?"
Ruby stared at him hard. The First Vao turned to face her. Whatever it was, it was important. "Should we give Tourmaline a proper Blessing? She will be leading the surviving fairies, after all."
The First Vao was very hesitant to answer. He hated giving the Blessing to his Cultists. One wrong move, and they'd turn into abominations. But Tourmaline wasn't as respected as Jasper was on account of her necrophilia - if she was to lead, she'd need to have something over the other fairies.
"... Fine. I have some of my Blood stored in my room," he muttered. "Do not muck it up."
"Of course not."
The First Vao used his Semblance again, the two disappearing into a cloud of ash. And further away, Leaf had finally found the hatch to climb inside, pulling it open with much struggle. The hinges were old, and while the ancient metal couldn't rust, the sand had clumped together. But once it broke loose and fell away, he had no problems dropping inside, the steel door slamming shut above him. He fished around his pockets until he found his matches, striking one to light his surroundings.
The dark halls smelled old and long-abandoned, his boots echoing as he stared around at the things that the small light allowed him to see. He could see an assortment of ancient weaponry, the dwarven influence visible in the architecture of the ancient golem's interior.
"Cool..."
As uneducated as Leaf was, he still found it fascinating. Certainly better than the field trips he'd go on in school before he left. He ran his hand across the old wall, staring at the dust that piled up on his palm. Without hesitation, he began to explore. He found the core fairly easy, somewhere in its chest. He didn't know much about technology, but it didn't look like it was damaged. Just old and unused. Ignoring the power supply, he struck another match and kicked open a wooden crate, the rotted wood splintering with a light tap of his boot.
Inside were weapons unlike anything he had seen before. Bending down, he picked up what looked like a sword with a strange chain around the blade. He leaned closer, a vivid memory coming back to him.
For a split second, he could see himself in a desert, wielding that same weapon he held now, or at least something similar to it. Instead of strange crystalline rocks though, this one seemed to run on oil.
That same memory faded away just as quickly as it came, the Archbishop eagerly digging through the box like a kid searching for his favorite toy. And finally he found what he was looking for. Old steel canisters of oil. Sticking the wooden end of the burning match between his lips, he quickly began to fill the chain-sword. Tossing the empty canister aside, he raised the weapon, his thumb finding a trigger of sorts underneath the guard. He pressed it.
The weapon sputtered for a few seconds before roaring to life, the chain beginning to spin. Leaf released the trigger, the weapon slowing to a stop. His lips were spread wide in an astounded grin, his eyes wide with excitement.
"So fuckin' cool... This thing makes me hard as a rock."
He scratched the dirty blonde hairs on his chin, wondering if he should name it. He wanted to keep it, after all. And even if it sounded nerdy to him, naming something he'd use on the orcs and elves locked in his cathedral sounded natural. After a moment of thinking, he uttered one word.
"... Bloodlust..."
It sounded familiar. Vaguely, he remembered the desert again, the strange crystals powering up a weapon just like this one. And like last time, the memory faded.
He jumped when the core began to click, clunk, and whir. The Archbishop looked up in silent awe, the heart of the ancient golem beginning to glow a dim blue, growing brighter and brighter. "Th... Th' fuck...?"
He shielded his eyes as the light became unbearable, and finally it dimmed to something much more tolerable. Leaf carefully approached the core, staring at it silently. He was dumbfounded. And finally, a metallic voice spoke in the long-abandoned halls.
"SALUTATIONS..."