She laughed.
"That's right Nomu! The fight was crazy!"
They did not laugh.
They did not smile.
They cried.
White shadows swooped in. She looked around. Everything was imbued in light. Her friends were gone. A trunk-like nose. Fin-like arms. An open skull. A green dagger stuck inside.
"Dsb! Dsb wrw blf wl gszg?!" Shrieked the two by his side, in unison. But the girl understood. She could understand them.
"Why! Why did you do that?!" They had asked.
Floods of still white tears streamed down their cheeks.
"You were one of us! You were perfect! What corrupted you?"
As the rotting corpse of the dead Ounga dropped to the ground, the other two approached.
"Redeem yourself! Come! Join us! Save us! Save Nopte!"
They grabbed her face, and she was pulled from her nightmare.
Adei was shivering, and Nomu was sitting in front of her, holding her still.
"Are you okay, little one? What's wrong?"
She tried to speak, but ear-splitting sounds were all that was heard.
She scoured around. Frantically searching. Searching for something. She was beathing fast. She was grey. No longer black. She jumped on her feet. Clicking sounds. She ran away.
Everything was flashing around her. People. Strangers. She saw it. Sitting on an anvil. As beautiful as ever. It was all she ever had, and all she ever needed.
Adei sighed. Like she had never sighed. The elation from her recovered brand made her split skin colour finally reappear as her tail finally could rest. And her blade, shining darker than it had ever before, seemed to pulsate in excitement emitting a rhythmic, irregular heartbeat. She was happy. Or rather her body was happy but not her mind. Her limbs may desire to dance but her gaze, ever fixed onto the imposing man standing before her, expressed clearly that the answers it will seek and find. Seek and find.
"Hello, A-Adei." The Neponian was panicked, but not surprised. "That blade you have is marvellous, I am Sidiro, this tent's blacksmith. Our Brachy told me about you"
The girl snarled.
"Oh, come on, just look at your sword and you'll understand"
A deep whirr could be heard. Looking down, inscriptions were seen on the blade.
"Curiously, this isn't black steel, it's diamond, but I've never seen black ones. I took the time to polish and sharpen it, but while cleaning I saw those inscriptions. Don't know what it means, but sure is freaky. Also… it tried to join you, pulsating and shaking… don't ever lose this sword."
On the blade could be read "Etafàzo" in fine print.
"Adeiàzo"
It was as if time had stopped running. Eyes glued on her blade, the bustling town melted away.
"Hello, Adeiàzo, I am your guide. An unseen torpor seems to have delayed our encounter, but now, welcome to the dawn of your journey. Now wield me, for I am your extension."
As colour came pouring back and the city could be seen again, Etafázo's power came rushing through Adei. Sidiro the blacksmith stood there mesmerized while Nomu and Katala finally caught up.
"What happened?"
It was Katala. In response, Adei… no, the sword answered.
"Do not fret, I was simply meeting her, in the same way I am meeting you all right now. Sidiro, I give you my sincere gratitude, your skilful work brought me back from slumber."
As the unexpected newcomer met the group, Adei watched, a serene, focused smile on her face.
The Dio started waking up, and the tents were now mobile. They were going north-west, marching towards the mountains. Now with light, lush multi-coloured patched were seen on them.
A multitude of Drata came, indicated by the swarm of small eyes approaching.
"Beware! The Lontra are here!"
It was too late.
From the sand, hundreds of slender Tritonians covered with brown-white fur and red eyes emerged. Panic set in, but the warrior city knew what they had to do. Around the civilians, shield-like Neponians set their feet into the sand, and behind them, three-meter-tall giants with slender legs acted as spears.
"We've never had so many attack us! Ducta shields, stay strong!" It was the Brachy giving orders.
The Lontra lunged forward in unison, and although many were impaled by the spears, one Ducta fell. Even with their shells, the Neponians were no match to the Lontra's precise attacks, reaching their most hidden weak spots.
Screams.
As innocents were slaughtered, in the middle of the day, light seemed to seep away.
Now that it all mattered, lights steps were heard, walking towards the horde.
Ten of them fell. The black knight moved as an illusion. Sword swings were everywhere. She front flipped over a Lontra, slashing it vertically in the motion. Instantly, she dashed to the next one, plunging her sword in its chest. Soon, death was all that was left. As she looked to the citizen, her sclera was fully black, and her iris shone red.
"Treat the injured" Ordered Etafázo. "We will go help the other tents."
She jumped onto one of the tent's metal poles, and, still sideways, leaped to the closest tent.
As they watched their saviour leave, the group gathered up. Nomu gave first aid to those who needed it, covering their wounds with liquid poda patches.
"I know it's burning hot, but it'll stop the bleeding" he thought.
He was tired. As he saw the darkness still encompass nearby tents, he was unsure if it was the dawn of the dark lord, or the dusk before the calm night.
One thing was for sure, it was twilight.
As things settled down, the darkness dissipated, and Adei lost her fully black appearance to appear normal once more.
The tents gathered. All the Brachys were at the centre, and people awaited an answer.
"The world is dying!" They protested
"We're going back to the dark ages!"
"We have to return to Nerei faster!"
A brachy raised its claw.
"I am your brain and mouth, your Brachy.
Success may only come from strategy,
Whereby may my words appear as the ones of a deity.
Nepo! You may not lose hope. Today we would have been bested if not for the warrior here, but there is a reason why we sill exist. Through the hardships we persevered. Through the losses we grew. Take this attack not as a doomsday warning, but at a call for improvement. Our nation needs defense, so all camps shall merge into one. Sharpen your claws, learn from each other. A tent will be transformed into a training arena. Adhering Brachys, raise your claw with me."
A majority raised their right claw. As they were all of a different colour, it looked like a festival of purple, orange and brown. All cheered.
Etafázo spoke up.
"Citizen! Your resilience is admirable. Me and my master would like to head to Nerei as our next stop. However, the Tritonians are not simply increasing in number, but rather they hunt my master. Your hospitality has been admirable but prolonging it may only bring danger for your people. It is your choice. We will not impose our presence."
Adei nodded in approbation. And the group stayed silent. Some were convinced she had to leave; others were confident they could defend the attacks.
As the city prepared their verdict, Nomu took Adei aside, eyes low.
"Hey, little one… I will not waste your time with useless chatter. This city is all I ever wished, and my limbs are failing me. In our fight against the Ounga, a single blow almost knocked me out." Tears seemed to escape his eyes. "You have a guide now. You don't need me."
Adei remembered their first encounter, when she failed to comfort him. She would not do that mistake again. She hugged him.