Kingdom of Hallos, Beswind Execution Grounds, Present day.
Portions of sunset leaked through the brown seams of the sack. The rough burlap expanded and contracted with Xeto's rapid breaths. He felt the weighted rope grip his neck, as loose strands stung his skin like thorns. This was the end. He attempted to force his fear away, how could he? He was going to die and leave everything he loved behind. He pleaded to the goddess that he had denied the very existence of his entire life. Pathetic. Sounds around him were nearly whispers as he drowned out everything, all but the one word.
"Commence," said the voice of Ered.
Xeto's chest tensed as the floor beneath him vanished. The noose tightened around his neck, catching him midfall. His body's instinct took over as he kicked and squirmed at the sudden pain, his chest begging for precious air. Gravity pulled him down while the noose aimed to keep him suspended until there was no life left.
A sudden thunderous boom surrounded him.
The goddess had answered his pleas as gravity won the bout. He crashed into the dirt. The satchel on his head prevented him from taking large breaths of air that this body ached for. Every inhale was quickly followed by a series of coughs.
People screamed from all around as another large explosion came from the flank.
Xeto rolled over to his side. An explosion? He was being saved! His mind just now recalled the sound he heard before his fall. It was the sound of Rebecca's rifle. Both halves of his mind argued whether or not he should have rejoiced in the fact. If she was saving him, it only meant she'd be putting herself in danger.
A warm hand landed on his shoulder before someone another hand lifted him from the dirt.
"The Thorn owes you a debt, knight," said a familiar voice.
Xeto swallowed, causing a stinging pain to overwhelm his throat. His hands were cut free before his vision was momentarily blurred as the sack was pulled from his face. "You?" he barely managed to say as he met with the blue eyes of the mercenary Adulfus.
"Move, Alcazar," retorted Adulfus as he forced him through and endless bog of smoke and dust.
Xeto's body betrayed him as he limped at a snail's pace. The field of grey clouds knew no end, how was there so much smoke and yet no flames to accompany it?
Adulfus positioned himself under Xeto's arm, serving as a crutch. "You're being influenced by a poison that was meant to slow your body down. It'll wear off shortly."
Xeto shook his head attempting to return his still groggy vison to normal. "Where are my friends?"
"They're safe, they're waiting for us on a ship at the end of the beachfront."
They finally reached the end of the hazy grey fumes and were greeted with a large gaping hole in the surrounding wall's infostructure. The screams of men and women diminished behind them with every step down a rocky slope.
Xeto inhaled the cool wind of the sea, savoring it like a decadent meal. His strength returned as he broke away from Adulfus. "I can manage now, thank you."
Adulfus gave him a nod before pointing at a dark shape in the distant waters. "That's the ship, let's move."
The duo trekked down the gravelly incline at a steady pace, one wrong step could lead to a quickened yet fatal descent.
Xeto's heart found a moment to slow as he reached the soft sands of the beach. He panted loudly with hands on his knees. His ears welcomed the sound of the tide climbing up and down the shore.
"Can you make it?" asked Adulfus.
Xeto nodded between breaths as he continued down the coast. His ankles ached, a combination of the poison and his boots sinking into the sand with every step.
"By the Epica," uttered Adulfus as he looked behind them, the reflection of flames in his eyes.
Xeto paced backwards, now taking in the ghastly scene of the city in flames. How had he missed the sight before? His throat went dry. "Was this your doing?"
"No," answered Adulfus, mouth agape.
"Xeto!" shrieked a voice of happiness from behind.
Xeto turned and was immediately embraced in a hug.
Anaria smiled up at him before burying her head in his chest. "I'm so happy you're alive."
A soothing wave of energy coursed through him, relaxing his muscles. Never had he thought he'd hold her in his arms again. Her warm skin, slow breathing, the scent of flowers.
Roy walked up from behind with a smile "Noose wasn't enough to best you, aye mate?"
To Xeto's surprise another mercenary joined the group as Keilerah came from behind them, her footsteps muffled by the sand.
"Save this play of romance for after we escape," she said with a scowl. "The job isn't done and it's solitude up there."
Adulfus kept his focus on the furious flames. "What do you mean by that?"
Keilerah looked back to the horrific spectacle. "Seems the Zuland heiress killed Loradel's king. Worse yet, the entire Regalia District is overrun with demons."
"Demons don't simply appear from seemingly nothing."
"Those did," she retorted coldly.
Xeto's heart froze when he saw the weapons in her possession. On her back was his broadsword and, in her arms, Rebecca's Arc Radiance. "Where did you get that! Where's Rebecca?" He suddenly realized his partner was nowhere to be found.
Adulfus stepped between them. "Calm down, Alcazar. Your scout gave us that weapon to better aid you."
"Where is she now?"
Roy pointed towards the burning nightmare behind them. "She never left the city, lad."
Xeto broke away from Anaria as a new wave of vigor coursed through his veins. "I'm not leaving her, I'm going back."
Keilerah put a hand on his chest, pushing him backwards. "Not happening. The job was to save you—and only you."
Xeto slapped her hand aside. "Get out of my way."
Roy put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm coming with you, mate."
"I will too," added Anaria. "If she's hurt, I can help," she continued before he had the chance to argue against her.
Adulfus sighed. "Erik expects us to bring you to him alive. Suppose my only choice is to join you."
Keilerah's swept over the group before rolling her eyes. "You're all fools." She scoffed. "Adulfus, you need to head back to the guild and make sure everyone is safe."
"But—"
"I'll help the knight find his squire. Now, let's move."
~~~
The light of a full moon lit the courtyard that was now free of smoke.
For first time Xeto saw the scene that was set for his death. A podium of aged wood with a torn rope that swung with the wind. An almost coliseum-sized seating area surrounded it, enough space for hundreds to bear witness to the execution they knew nothing about.
"Eyes up, Knight. Stay focused, stay alive," said Keilerah, breaking him from his thoughts.
"I don't need your reminders," he shot back as he kept his sword at the ready.
"That'll be the last time I offer aid," she walked beside him with her shortsword drawn. "If I'm left with a choice of saving myself or any of you, I'm choosing myself."
Xeto felt the same sense of annoyance rise up but managed to keep a level mind. Arguing with her wasn't a priority, finding Rebecca was. "What will you tell Erik, thought you said he wanted me alive."
"To solitude with him too," she said in her usual steel tone. "I owe him nothing now after what he—" She paused, stopping herself from voicing too much. "It's none of your concern."
Roy pointed to a nearby tunnel that led towards the city. "I'll check the edge the district, we'll find Rebecca faster if we split up."
"Roy, wait," countered Xeto as he pulled his friend back.
"Don't worry, lad. I'll travel by rooftops and avoid any demons." His eye was full of confidence. "Xeto, I promise you I'll be fine."
Xeto hesitantly nodded as his friend quickly vanished into the darkness of the coliseum's gullet.
"One less liability," said Keilerah under her breath.
The group moved in a triangle formation through the stands above the courtyard, eyeing every section for any sign of life. The task was made more difficult as clouds covered the moon, masking the night in an even darker shadow.
Xeto looked in all directions as anxiety and the cold made him shiver. "Rebecca," he called out. "Rebecca are you out here?" His hopes had reached a new low seconds before he found her. Rebecca was sprawled against the border of the seating area. His mind was a marsh of happiness and worry. Happy to have found her, worry in not knowing if she was alive. "Rebecca!" His voice cracked. He ran down the stone stairs, skipping every other step. Please please please don't be. He landed beside her, a surge of grief coming over him as he noticed the countless wounds she had. He knelt down and held her in his arms. "Rebecca?" His spirits lifted lightly as he felt her body rise and fall with slow breaths.
"Thank the gods," said Anaria as she caught up and knelt beside him.
"It may be too soon for that," said Keilerah as she motioned towards a figure that stood in the level above them.
Both of them in black hooded robes. One had six red eyes in a dual vertical row of three on a long silver skeletal face. "It's been a long time, boy," said the demonic figure in an unnatural gravelly voice.
It was him…the demon from his nightmares.
Both figures vanished in a newborn cloud of ash.
"Let's move," commanded Keilerah. She leapt off the edge and landed in the dirt arena.
Anaria rested her hand on Rebecca's exposed bruised arm. Her palm let off the warm glow of celestial aura. "We shouldn't move her too much. Her arm is broken and I can feel multiple fractures in her ribs."
"We don't have a choice," argued Xeto as he stood and cradled his scout in his arms.
Anaria climbed over the stone edge, one leg at a time she lowered herself slowly onto the dirt.
Xeto leaned over the edge. "Keilerah, help me get her down."
"Fine but—behind you, Knight!"
Xeto spun around only to be met with a sudden palm strike to his chest. He flew black but managed to catch a glimpse of his attacker, the six-eyed demon. As he braced himself for impact, he made sure to land on his back, keeping Rebecca from further harm. There was a tug at his heart as she flinched from the impact. I'm sorry. Just bear it a bit longer.
"Quite impressive," said the demon from above. He had no mouth to speak of yet a deep voice came from him.
Xeto stood slowly as Keilerah took position beside him, Anaria behind her. "Who are you? What…are you?" he said as he narrowed his gaze.
The demon opened his arms wide. "You don't remember me, boy? I'm hurt." He put a hand on his chest mockingly.
Xeto gritted his teeth as his memory came back to him. The demon before him had no unchanged feature than the one he saw that night. Six red eyes with a long silver skull-like face. Black tattered robes with thin rusted chains snaking around his body. At his waist was a necklace of skulls that rattled as he began walking down the stairs.
"My name is Boltrick, one of the first necromancers to walk this pitiful planet." He cackled aloud before vanishing with the wind and reappearing in the arena just a few feet away. "Ah this scene before me…I've seen it before, now when was that?" He tapped his silver-boned skeletal finger against the base of his skull where a chin would be, had he been human.
Xeto felt a weak tug at his tunic.
Rebecca looked up at him with groggy eyes. "C-commander…"
"Don't speak," whispered Xeto as he held her tighter.
Boltrick released another series of inhuman laughter. "She's still alive even after everything she's endured. Quite fascinating."
"Shut up, demon!" yelled Xeto, gone was his low voice.
Rebecca tugged at his top once more."You…you have to know," she continued between shudders. "Roxas…is a-alive…" Her body went limp as she lost consciousness.
"What?" Xeto felt the birth of a headache as he reran her words through his mind again and again, searching for any sense in it. Had he heard her correctly? She must have said it out of term.
Boltrick snapped his skeletal fingers. "Ah yes, now I remember why this scene struck a note of familiarity. A boy holding a loved one in his arms. On the surface his eyes reflect fear—but below that is nothing but anger and hate. Hate for me? Undoubtably," he scorned.
Keilerah walked forward. "Knight, get your huntress to the ship, I'll cover your escape." She moved up slowly without turning.
Xeto retreated with a single step. "I thought you said you wouldn't give your life for ours?"
"I'm not—I don't plan on dying here."
Boltrick tilted his head. "Oh, confidence? There's nothing better than ripping away one's hope."
Keilerah scoffed as she conjured light crystals above her palm. "How is it you don't have a mouth yet talk so much?" She gripped one of the shining gems in her left hand.
Xeto continued backing away, he felt a new sudden liking to the girl's steadfast poise.
Boltrick shrugged. "I'll make an example out of you."
Xeto motioned for Anaria to follow as he turned to leave.
"Roxas. Kill the girl."
The name echoed in Xeto's mind. No, it couldn't be. He froze in place as he stiffly turned back to the demon.
A sudden shadow dashed towards Keilerah from behind.
Before Xeto could warn her, the girl reacted with equal speed, dodging the robed newcomer's sword swipe.
Keilerah ducked another swipe that missed her by inches as she dug her light crystal into the dirt, the reason unknown. She pounced up and slashed at her foe's neck.
The newcomer failed to fully avoid the attack as a new cut decorated his robe, unfortunately no blood was drawn. His facial features were hidden by his hood, all but a beast fang mask and glowing red eyes that is.
Keilerah used her already gained momentum to land and roll.
The unknown swordsman spun around and followed up with another horizontal slash that Keilerah predicted.
She flipped above him, wrapping her legs around his neck and spinning like windmill before her arms found a way to his neck and brought him crashing down.
In the blink of an eye the man vanished into ash and reappeared in the air above her. He thrust his sword downward.
Its over! There was no way for Keilerah to get off the ground and escape the attack.
A bright flash came as the opposition's sword was inches from piercing her exposed abdomen. She had proved Xeto wrong once more as she teleported back to the crystal she had placed earlier.
The rapid displacement was not advantage however as her opponent was upon her in the following second. His free hand found it's target as he gripped her by the neck and lifted her from the floor.
Unlike Xeto, Keilerah's steel eyes were unfazed by the man's speed. Instead, she quickly dropped her sword and took hold of her attacker's forearm with both hands. She managed to hoist up her lower body, her legs taking hold of his neck like tongs once again before using her weight to bring him down.
The rapid grapple seemed to have caught her assailant off guard as he flew forward. His only option was to roll and break his fall. As he did his hood fell to his neck.
Xeto's mouth went dry as what he had feared came to fruition. Rebecca was right. He blinked rapidly, hoping that would make the horrid truth disappear. Roxas was alive, now standing before home like phantom of his memories. "I…saw you…you're dead," he uttered under a shaky breath as he gently lowered Rebecca.
His brother's crimson eyes landed on him. It was as if he hadn't aged since the last time he'd seen him. But unlike the brother Xeto grew up with, this horrid reflection of Roxas was devoid of emotion.
Boltrick cackled even loudly than before. "What's the matter, boy? Shouldn't you rejoice? You're brother lives!"
"That can't be Roxas," said Anaria in a trembling voice.
Boltrick put out his arms in a grandiose fashion. "Well, perhaps not alive. He is my personal corpse puppet after all."
Xeto felt years of anguish rise up to his throat as he felt the urge to retch.
Boltrick clasped his hands together. "Oh, that's right. Roxas, is Ered dead?"
"Yes, nothing but a husk remains."
Xeto forced the uneasiness down as best he could, a near impossibility as he heard his brother's voice. So long he had begged to hear it just once more. It didn't matter when or how, that's what he had told himself for the past two years. But now as he experienced it firsthand, he felt nothing but disgust. Disgust and hate for the monster that used his brother's body like a puppet—defiling his memory. "You undead piece of filth! I'll fucking kill you!" His throat stung as his head burned with hatred.
"There is the hatred I wanted to see!" shouted Boltrick. "Rage, hate, anger and pain—I love it!"
Xeto's panted heavily as his threats could never come to fruition, not as long as he had Rebecca.
"You should rejoice in knowing that your brother has been a great help to the Shadowcreed. He successfully fashioned the events of this night. Not only did he plan the deaths of all the people of this city, but also gave me more corpses to add to my creed. Now imagine how many more will die with the upcoming war between Loradel and Zuland. I suppose I should thank you and the heiress for that. It makes me cherish the night I reduced Nyre to a pile of ash after I let my pets feast on the people there." Boltrick walked beside his brother. "Roxas here is an obedient slave, he knows his worth and his place. He doesn't let the fact that I ripped your mother into ribbons gnaw at him. Isn't that right?"
Roxas' cold expression remained unchanged.
Xeto's heart beat in his ears. Everything was laid out before him like a tapestry. The sudden rise of demons, the dead returning to life, his and Roxas' being orphans, it was him. Every hardship that had ever fell upon him was because of this thing before him—because of Boltrick and his Shadowcreed. He gritted his teeth. "I'm going to kill you; I don't care what it'll take. You will die screaming at the end of my sword—that I promise you." He raised his blade.
Boltrick turned his back on the group. "Not likely, considering you're about to die by your brother's hand. Roxas, bring me his body once you're done, I'd like to add him to our band of misfits. Oh, and you can stop holding back and consume the girl as well. I know what she is." With those final words he vanished as he cackled aloud, leaving only ash in his wake.
Roxas' crimson eyes landed on Xeto.
His mind screamed for him to call to his brother, to ask him to stop and listen. But there was effort in trying, the puppet in front of him was nothing more than another undead. Or was it? Was his brother in there somewhere? No, that was impossible, Roxas would never murder hundreds.
His elder brother began towards him, dirt crunching under his boots.
Keilerah rearmed herself wish her blade. "You'll have to cut me down first, Roxas." She readied herself. "Come at me, I'll put you out of your misery. I know you're nothing but a fake."
He came to a halt as he pointed his sword towards her. "The Allseers are real, but you know that now, don't you? You call me a fake but in the end you're just like me. You're not her—you may have her memories but you'll never be the real Keilerah."
The fearless mercenary was now gone, replaced by a trembling girl with widened eyes. "You…knew?" she said quietly.
Roxas teleported behind her and took hold of her nape before flinging her through the air like a doll. She slammed into the wall with an unsettling crunch.
Xeto readied his blade. His morale was tested as he took notice on how much he was quivering. Was it the poison, or was this his own body's doing? NO time to ponder it as Roxas dashed towards him. Xeto blocked his attack, it felt familiar, just like when they had trained years ago.
"Good, but it's not enough," stated the puppet before releasing a flurry of attacks.
To Xeto's own surprise, he managed to keep up with the attacks with ease. An orchestra of steel clashes took over the night as Xeto deflected attack after attack. He was doing well; at this rate he would come to the end sooner than he had expected. The thought of what had to be done still haunted him, but it had to be done. He would have to put this undead to rest. It wasn't Roxas, just a moving body. He exhaled as he felt just enough energy to call on his aura. Then came the familiar feeling of crystals encasing his hand, turning it into a crystal claw. An opening was coming up in the puppet's form, it was using his brother's form after all. A form he grew up fighting. He gulped. I'm sorry I couldn't save you, Roxas. Tears blurred his vision as he pulled his claw back for the fatal strike. Goodbye, brother.
The undead's eyes fell on him. "Do you remember Nyre?" His voice echoed under the mask.
Xeto froze in place. "What?"
"Xeto, watch out!" Anaria's scream was muffled, almost distant.
Roxas, are you alive in there— His thoughts were interrupted as a searing pain came from his gut. The tip of Roxas' sword dug into his gut. Fortunately, Xeto's instincts allowed him to catch the blade with his crystalized hand before it could go any deeper. "Roxas?"
His brother looked into his eyes with solid detestation. "You're weak, Xeto. That is everyone you love will die. You have to die; this is the only way."
"Stop—brother, please." Xeto clenched his teeth as his arm strained to keep the blade at bay. No luck, his arm would give in soon. No. I won't let that happen! I have to save Rebecca. I have to protect Anaria! I won't die here! He pulled the sword from his midsection and powered through the second wave of pain.
Roxas jumped back and readied his sword once more.
"I'm ready this time. I'm not weak. You wear the face of my brother but you're not him. And I'll live to protect the ones I love and to kill Boltrick and the rest of his Shadowcreed. You'll all pay for what you did!"
The puppet wore a face of boredom. "Let's see if you're strong enough to protect her." His eyes looked past him and towards Anaria who was knelt over Rebecca. He raised his hand and a cloud of ash took the form of a solid bone spear before he launched towards an unsuspecting Anaria.
Xeto attempted catching it mid-flight but failed as it sped past.
The ground quaked as a brute-sized miracle landed in front of Anaria and Rebecca.
"Aovku! You came back!" said Anaira with unrenowned joy.
Xeto never thought he would praise seeing the Zuland emblem as much as he did now.
The Lionslayer was on one knee, the bone spear inches from penetrating its chest. "I remorse. No more…pain," said the deep voice behind the helm. The massive knight crushed the spear into marrow. It looked back at both girls before looking back towards Roxas. "Protect…my own."
The undead man pulled his hood back over his head, his eyes still glowing with what looked like his second show of emotion. Anger. "Our bout ends here, Xeto. We'll meet again, I'm sure. You won't have this Forbidden Aura using undead to protect you next time we cross paths." In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
What am I doing!? The Zuland knight was a monster! Xeto quickly turned his blade on the Lionslayer who now had Rebecca in his arms like a babe. "Put her down!"
Anaria jumped in between the two, arms spread wide. "Xeto, no! He won't hurt her—he won't hurt any of us. Please trust me!" Her voice was laced with grief.
Xeto felt weak as he drowned in her beautiful amethyst eyes. He then looked up to the brute that had almost killed him in Hansel. Maybe Anaria was right. She deserved to be trusted. "Thank you, Lionslayer," he mumbled.
"Aovku," corrected Anaria.
Thanking a demon felt idiotic, but if Anaria believed in this thing—no this man. Then he would too. "Thank you, Aovku."
The knight gave him a nod of approval.
"Why don't you both find an inn to quench your lust already?" called Keilerah from behind. She limped as she by them as her arm dandled uselessly.
"I can help you," said Anaira.
"Don't touch me, Priestess," she spat back. "I have this under control." She took her arm and groaned as she forced it up. A loud discomforting pop followed as her arm locked back into place. "Just a simple dislocation."
Xeto still felt a sensitivity of guilt. She denied she'd help and yet she could barely walk from the injuries she endured. Injuries from protecting them. "Don't fight this," stated Xeto as he took position under her arm and helped support her weight.
"Don't touch—"
"Just be quiet," said Xeto as he rolled his eyes. "You'll have to force me away if you don't my help. But I don't think you can."
She scoffed, further proving his point. "Don't push it," she mumbled.
Together the group walked out of arena and into the night, leaving behind the nightmare that had plagued them all.