Morning came and the citizens of the Citadel went to work with a sense of looming dread. When would the next attack happen? Could their army defend them? Was it worth staying? Gwyneth woke up, feeling Encara asleep by her bedside. He had pushed himself past his limits. His skin completely pruned, and his hair jet black. She rolled out of bed, wincing at the sharp pain still lingering in her gut. He had sealed the internal injuries to a stable state, but not the muscles. Gwyneth grunted lifting Encara into her bed, and getting dressed. She left him in her room, and walked out to see Miranda in the kitchen. Her face scowling at Gwyneth. "You broke your oath." She growled, clenching her fist.
Gwyneth was silent, and took a seat beside her. "You swore that, you would never enter your Draken state." "Would you rather have died out there?" "Yes!" Miranda snapped. Gwyneth reeled back in her chair. "All the torment from the others, the shame and nightmares you have experienced in the last twenty years. Is because you turned into that dragon. I can accept dying today, to a inbred elf. I can't accept you transforming." Gwyneth bowed her head in shame. "I couldn't lose you as well. I'll bear the shame and curses, but I can't lose you, or anyone else again." Miranda watched her make a fist so tight, she broke her skin. Miranda let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. It's just hard to watch you suffer alone. It's why I was so happy when that boy was here." She said before cracking a sly smile. "Then I heard he was shoving his greatsword into your small scabbard, and I was like wow, good for him." Gwyneth broke out into a chuckle.
"I'm worried for him." She said, looking at the corner where Harbinger would rest. "You don't need to." "I know he's strong, and a forsaken knight, but-" "No, I meant you really don't need to." Miranda reassured, gesturing for Gwyneth to follow her. The two of them stood out, looking towards Pest Peak. Soel approached her them with a smile. "Did you tell her yet?" She asked with a smile. "What's going on?" Gwyneth asked wearing concern on her face. "Some of Urkse's mages got us some good news. Even if he was probably teaching them wrong. They scouted something pretty extraordinary, at the base of Pest Peak." Soel said with a proud smile. "They found the Tuskdran army had crossed over the peaks." Miranda said with a smile. "How is that good news?" Gwyneth asked shaking her head confused. The two of them snickered at her.
"Because, roughly five thousand, Tuskdran soldiers and their beasts, were found massacred in an ocean of blood. The mountain path to cross, has caved in from a rock slide." Soel said. A proud smile spread across Gwyneth's face from ear to ear. Without even knowing it, Yamada and Jacara had brought the Citadel, at least two months of time before fighting. Miranda slapped Gwyneth's back. "Your boy toy is going to be fine. He'll probably find some nice girl in Silver City, and settle down." She reassured her, as she rubbed her shoulder. Soel did the same on the other shoulder. "And, after we win this war, you'll get to use his great sword again." Gwyneth gave Soel's sly comment a glare. "She would have to make sure the sword is clean and polished first." Miranda corrected, making a lewd gesture. Gwyneth rolled her eyes. "Come on, we have to get ready for the next assault." "He's only been gone for a day. Can't you wait before chasing after him?" Soel called out. "Shut up!"
Ul'lanna woke up to an unfamiliar sensation, feeling the sun cresting her face. A man's arm acting as her pillow, and his warm body giving her comfort. She kept her eyes closed, running her hand along Yamada's torso. She felt his subtle and delicate skin, and frowned. She cocked her head to the side, and quickly sliding her hand up to his chin. It was sharp yet soft, and definitely wearing a grin. "Good you're awake." Yamada said. His voice came from above her, and not beside her. She winced, and pulled her arm away. She opened her eyes to see Jacara wearing a smug grin from ear to ear. "Morning beautiful." Ul'lanna let out a digusted scoff, and quickly scurried to her feet. "Why aren't you keeping watch?" She asked frowning at him.
"Well, I was keeping watch and then I came to wake you up and-" "He fell asleep while 'keeping' watch." Yamada said grabbing his rucksack. "Then how did he end up next to me?" She asked strapping on her armour in an irritated huff. "He was shivering, and you're naturally warm." "So you just placed him next to me?" Yamada looked at her askance. Why was she so annoyed? The answer was so obvious. "Yes...are you getting sick? You were sneezing a lot last night." He asked strolling towards her. She was taken aback as Yamada placed his palm on her forehead. She begun to blush and heat up. His kind dark eyes stared into hers, the look of concern made her melt inside. "Hmm, your affinity is fire. I can't really tell if you're sick or not." She shook herself out of the daze, and cleared her throat. "I'm fine. We should keep moving, we've wasted enough time as it is." They marched onwards with Jacara struggling to keep pace with them.
After a few hours, Ul'lanna was puffed, with Jacara sweating and Yamada casually staring at the scenery. All the while, Harbinger rested on his back, attached by heavy rings made of Orichalcum. "Yamada, aren't you tired?" Ul'lanna asked. "Nope. Why do you want to rest?" "Yes please." Jacara pleaded from behind. "No, we should cover as much ground as possible." "Okay." Yamada said nonchalantly. Jacara let out a loud groan, continuing to lag behind. "How do you do it?" She asked, inspecting the blade, resting against his rucksack completely motionless. The blade had razor edge, and yet his rucksack was unscathed.. He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Do what?" "Carry all that weight. It must take an insane amount of arcane energy, to keep that up." Yamada drew Harbinger from his back, keeping his pace. He inspected the blade, feeling his arcane energy swirling around it. "Gwyneth gave me good training to make my body use to it." He said with a smile.
'He doesn't, even realize how strong he is. The amount of arcane energy he has, and control over it. That can take decades to achieve and master. He would have been a Magic Knight rivalling Begron, if he was raised in the Citadel.' Yamada waved his hand in front of Ul'lanna breaking her trance. She shook her head and blushed. "You okay? You've been staring at me a lot." Ul'lanna shied away, hiding her wince. "Is there something wrong with the way I look?" "No!" She swiftly exclaimed. "Strongly disagree!" Jacara called out, who struggled to keep up. Yamada stopped and turned around. "We should take a small break. If we run into a fight, it's best we're rested for it." Jacara quickly collapsed breathing a sigh of relief.
They sat under some thick shade, on some thick grass, with rays of sunlight seeping through the canopy. The wind rustled the leaves, the air was cool and birds sung. Yamada wore a peaceful and warm smile, enjoying the atmosphere. Ul'lanna became lost in another trance staring at him. And Jacara laid flat on his back, trying to recover. "Yamada, can I ask you a question?" Ul'lanna asked. "Go for it, nothing else to do while we wait for him to rest." Yamada said with a sly smirk. "Fuck you." Jacara snapped. "What does being a Forsaken one feel like?" Yamada froze, he had never once been asked, and so never thought about it. "I read stories, that it feels like a hunger in your stomach, that can never be satisfied." She said with a small shudder. Yamada shook his head. "No, doesn't feel like that." "Journals from the Silver City, say the Forsaken one will lose their humanity over time."
"That's not it either." Yamada said staring at his scarred knuckles. They always brought him comfort, when he felt lost. How could he describe, what this transformation felt like? A feral instinct taking over? A raging maelstrom inside that never calmed? "It's like trying to dream, while you're awake." The two of them cocked their heads at him. "When I let myself transform, it's like trying to enter a dream, but I have to stay awake, if I want to stay in control."
"I think the better question, is what does it feel like being a Draken?" Jacara asked sitting up. "I'm still me. It is strange to grow wings. And my vision for a second goes black, when I shift from armour to scales." Yamada said summoning his helmet. "Come on, we should keep moving and make the most of our daylight." He said, dusting his pants off, and banishing his helmet. "It hasn't even been 30 minutes." Jacara groaned. "You can rest later." Ul'lanna said following Yamada's lead. Jacara pouted and quickly got up to his feet. He wondered if they were putting on brave faces, ignoring the throbbing pain in their feet. Or where they so calloused, they had armour on their soles. Ul'lanna walked beside Yamada, stealing glances at him.
"You want to ask me something." Yamada said, without turning to her. Ul'lanna stammered for her next words, beginning to blush. "I want to know more about you." She asked wincing at her words. Stupid. Who is going to just answer that? Stupid. Stupid. "I'm guessing, you want to know what happened to me, after Kal'Nar attacked." Ul'lanna quietly bowed her head before nodding, biting her lower lip. Would he really answer a question like that? Would he speak about such a horrible past? "After the attack. I simply trained every day. Lifting, punching, kicking, running. The guardians, taught me the basics of how to manipulate arcane energy. And then I guess after a while, I made myself strong." He shrugged. "How can you be so happy? After everything my people did to you, and your family? And travelling with me of all people?" She asked fighting back the tears in her eyes.
"You didn't do anything to me. You would have been...how old are you?" Yamada asked, confused and abashed, that he had never asked. "I'm twenty two." She said smiling at him. "Okay, you were eight, when my people got attacked. You didn't do anything to me. Begron did. Also Kapuna would scold or hit me, whenever I looked grumpy around her. Said, I should show the right emotion to the right people." He said smiling at her. "I guess after a few years of that, I learned to smile at everything." She felt a weight lift off her shoulders, watching him gaze into the blue sky. After everything her people did to him. He wasn't an animal blinded by rage, only guided. "What rank were you in the army?" He asked. "I made it to the rank of Captain." She said glumly. "Is that not high?" She shook her head. "High in our ranks, but clearly, I'm not strong enough to defend myself."
"You can always become stronger. Jacara over there could only use up to six cards a fight, before passing out. Now he can use ten." "Eleven, you dick." Jacara snapped lagging behind. Yamada snickered, with Ul'lanna joining in. "Kapuna once told me that, everyone has the strength to do what they must, but need and help. You just need more time to get your strength up." He said giving her a warm smile. 'Damn it. Why is he so sweet?' Yamada came to a sudden stop, quickly drawing Harbinger. He took a fighting stance, and summoned his armour, quickly scanning the area. Jacara and Ul'lanna froze in a panic. "Show yourself." Yamada called out, scanning the area. An ominous snicker echoed around them. "You've gotten stronger. That's good." Jacara and Ul'lanna took a fighting stance, feeling a shiver run down their spines.
The mysterious man dropped from the tree line in front of them. His cloak shrouded his humpback posture. "Forsaken one. We meet again." He said, with a bow. "You again. What do you want from me?" "It is not what I want from you. But what I can give to you." He said holding out his hand. Yamada caught an azure medallion, tossed to him, with a dragon's head engraved into it. "What is this?" He asked inspecting the medallion. The man quickly tossed Jacara a magenta medallion with the same image. "You two have been invited to join us. Keep those medallions on you." "Who the hell are you?" Jacara snapped, drawing out his card. The man snickered, and opened the Earth gate.
Ul'lanna begun the process of opening the gate of fire. The lines of fire begun to weave, at a rate Yamada found incredibly slow. With a sudden gust of wind, the lines of fire disappeared. Her eyes glazed over, and she fell to the ground unconscious. "Ul'lanna!" They called out, rushing to her. "Another gust of wind brushed past them. Jacara's eyes glazed over. He fell unconscious over her body. "Enough of that cryptic bullshit." A man snapped. Yamada spun around and took a defensive stance. "You shouldn't be here Valsko." The mysterious man snapped, his voice became more feminine. From behind the tree line walked out a man with a shaved head. His olive skin had remnants of recently shaved white hairs. He had sharp features, and wore an electric blue coat, that hung to his knees.
'Unarmed, responsible for them falling asleep, gusts of wind in his presence. Wind Affinity, and mage.' Yamada analysed, stepping in front of Jacara and Ul'lanna. Valsko spun around to Yamada ignoring they hunched man. He wore cotton shirt, over his leather trousers. The coat had golden metal buttons, down the middle and on the cuffs, that jostled around. He gave a deep bow to Yamada, and rose with a smile. "I am Valsko Vitic. I apologise for my...associate's behaviour. Skora can be a real idiot." Yamada watched on stunned, as Skora removed the cloak, and drew out long, thin great sword.
Skora was a woman, with long blonde hair, a round face, and piercing blue eyes. Yamada scanned her physique, her hunch was fabricated, and she was as tall as Gwyneth. "Why the fuck did you say my real name!?" She exclaimed pouting at Valsko. Her face red. Valsko ignored the blade pressed against his throat, scanning Yamada."Because the mysterious stranger approach, has never worked." He remarked. "Annorak gave me the mission to recruit the Forsaken Knight, and the Master of None." "And you've been doing a spectacular job at it." He said snidely, sticking his tongue at her. "Yamada, would you rather talk to this cute little girl or the hunchback man?" Yamada cocked his head to the side. Skora was cute, and petite, wearing a leather cuirass and trousers. "See he's at a loss of words, after gazing upon your beauty." Valsko said pushing the blade away from his throat.
"What the hell are you people after?" What do you want from me?" Yamada snapped. The two of them sighed. "Our boss takes a special interest in those with great power and abilities. And you Yamada Ken, caught his attention the moment you landed on Jux." Valsko said approaching Yamada. He planted his foot and gripped Harbinger tightly. "From that hulking weapon, undergoing the Forsaken ritual, and having a water affinity. He would want nothing more than for you to join us." Skora said walking beside him. Her great sword dragged along the ground without making a sound. "What do I get for joining you two?" Yamada asked. His heart pounding against his chest. He steeled himself, even with his instincts telling him to run.
"What we want is for you to join us." Valsko said confused, at Yamada's hostility. "I don't know even know who you are!" Valsko rolled his eyes, throwing his hands into the air. Skora bowed her head in shame, blushing heavily. "You didn't even tell him!? You just did your stupid MYSTERIOUS man approach." "I was enticing him!" Skora yelled back. "You're an idiot!" Yamada started to kneel down slowly, attempting to pick up Jacara and Ul'lanna. The two of them quickly stopped bickering, and glared at Yamada. Valsko let out a sigh and took a deep breath. He smiled at Yamada offering out his hand. "We are Vasha's Drakens. And you have been invited to join us." "And if I refuse?" Yamada asked, feeling himself begin to tremble. A sense of fear filled his body. The same feeling that a lower predator felt, when baring its fangs at a larger predator.
"We'll ask again, after convincing you." Valsko said, with a smirk. He snapped his fingers together. "Don't kill him." Skora said calmly. Yamada felt a force punch his gut, and send him stumbling backwards. "I'll be damned, he really does wear all Deiridium." Valsko said surprised. Yamada held his chest, shocked at what just hit him. "You get five minutes. Then you leave." Skora said glaring at Valsko. She opened her gate fully, and submerged Jacara and Ul'lanna into the ground. Valsko let out a groan, and slouched. "Only five minutes?" "Don't make me kill you." She growled. Skora created an hour glass, with sand running through it. "Yamada fight with everything you have. I came a long way to fight you and-" Valsko stopped seeing Yamada leaping towards him.
Yamada swung Harbinger with more precision and speed, than he had ever done before. Yet every swing struck nothing but the air. Valsko was retreating and swaying out of the way, smirking at him the whole time. Yamada did a pirouette swinging Harbinger in a spinning arc. He felt Harbinger stop and make contact. Valsko let out a sigh. He had caught Harbinger in his palm. "This is very disappointing. You're a Forsaken knight. Start fighting like one." He said snapping his tongue. Yamada felt the force of a punch hit his helmet, and sent him stumbling back. Valsko snapped his fingers once more, and knocked Yamada to the ground, disarming Harbinger from him.
He tossed the sword to Skora. Harbinger fluttered gently towards her, as if it was lighter than a feather. She caught the blade and planted it beside her. "Four minutes." Valsko smirked and cracked his neck. Yamada raised his fists, taking a fighting stance. He fell back to his close combat training he had learned on Yamata. Fists raised and close to his head, lead foot sticking out on its toes, and light on his back foot. His armour gave him two protruding blades from his vambrace. Jot Muay would be a perfect fighting stance to use in this armour. Yamada dashed in throwing a combination of punches and kicks. Valsko begun to bob and weave, slipping and dodging the punches, feeling the gust of wind pass his face.
Valsko caught Yamada by both his wrists, and gaze him a disappointed headshake. "This isn't good enough! You have to fight me like a-" Yamada transformed his head lunging to snap his jaw down. "BETTER!" Valsko shouted. A gale wind force sent Yamada flying away. He crashed into the ground, his ears ringing and his head heavy. Valsko marched towards Yamada, as he stumbled to his feet. "Three minutes." Skora called out, inspecting Harbinger. Valsko begun a low hum. Yamada started to feel vibrations run through his armour. Valsko stopped and smirked, doing a sharp high pitched whistle. Yamada went wide-eyed and dove to the side. The ground behind him was torn to shreds by invisible blades. "Good instincts!" He applauded.
Yamada was suddenly barraged by multiple strikes of air. Each one strike with the same force of a maul. Yamada stumbled back into a tree, clutching his chest and wheezing. He ran his fingers along his breastplate, feeling no dents or marks. "Normal weapons wouldn't work on you. Too hard to find the gaps in your armour. But the wind doesn't care." Valsko said smirking at him. "Now, will you reconsider and-" Yamada cut him off letting out an enraged roar, and begun to transform. "I'll take that as a no." He said glumly. Yamada flew towards him letting out a roar, stretching out his claws, and baring his fangs. Valsko planted his feet and let out his own primal roar. Yamada's claws stopped in front of Valsko's eyes, before he was blown away by a sonic boom. He was sent crashing through several trees and reverted back.
The Deiridium had protected him from the impact of the trees, but not the attack. He stood up coughing and fumbled to find his footing. A high pitched ringing droned in his ears. "One minute left." Skora called out. "Is Annorak really interested in someone this, weak?" Valsko asked, watching Yamada stumble towards him. "He hasn't chosen wrong before." "He better show me something. I am thoroughly unimpressed." He pouted, folding his arms. Yamada planted his feet into the ground, and held out his hands. Valsko gave a look of intrigue, watching him open the gate of water. "Now that's impressive. Come on Yamada! Show me the magic that has been lost to time!" He called out. Yamada let out a roar letting more of transformation take over.
In his draconic state, Yamada flew towards Valsko, with the gate of water in front of him. Valsko sighed, his shoulders slumped. "You already tried this. It didn't work." He said drawing his lips to a line and planting his feet. He took a deep breath, waiting for Yamada to close the distance. With a roar, the gate expanded into a towering, opaque wall of water. Valsko was stunned and let out his roar. The sonic boom blew apart the water wall, and behind it Yamada stared him down. His claws reached out ready to strike, when he was dragged into the earth, by stone tendrils. Valsko stood motionless, taking a gulp, feeling the trickle of blood run down his cheek. "Time." Skora said banishing the hourglass. She smirked at him and wiped the blood off his face. "Haven't seen you that scared, since I recruited you. Now run along Valsko." "He got lucky." He sulked, before leaping into the skies.
She raised her hand, and the three of them rose from an earthen tomb. All of them were unconscious, and laying atop of each other. Skora looked to the west, and looked up to think. "Hmmm, as a thank you for teaching Valsko. I'll shorten your trip by about five weeks." She smiled. Skora stopped and spun around wearing a smug smile. "I would suggest you keep flying towards Kal'Nar." She said as Urkse stood in front of her. "Not without him." He said pointing to Jacara. "Awww, that's so sweet. The traitor with a heart of gold." She said, resting her hand over her heart. "Give me the boy now." He growled, popping the flask. Skora raised her hand, and the ground encased Jacara's throat. "Run along, Artist. Unless you want to see him die? Then again, I guess he'll always remember you as the loving uncle and father he never had." Urkse corked his flask and snarled at her. "If anything happens to him. I'll kill you and your entire organisation." She feigned a shudder. He leapt onto his mount and took off. She sucked on her teeth and scowled at Urkse leaving. "I think, I'll have some fun. I'll shorten your trip for you. Remember to thank me." She said caressing Yamada's face. "I wonder if there are more cuties on Yamata."