= - Mature Content Warning - =
The gentle wind blows the scent of flowers and grass through the air, a pleasant addition to the atmosphere for a woman and a young girl, who are playing in a large field of flowers and tall grass.
Laughter fills the air as the two play together, the young girl hiding in the tall grass and occasionally jumping out to scare the older woman, who lets out a fake scream before leaning in and tickling the girl, causing more laughter to burst out from the both of them.
The two girls were mother and daughter, further told by their matching features such as the deep black hair and enchanting blue eyes, by any kind of standard, those features made her beautiful, and she was completely filled with joy when her daughter adopted those same very features.
With the laughter calming down, the mother looked up at the sky, a beautiful shade of blue that filled the gaps between the clouds.
[???]: "It's such a beautiful day today, dear. Don't you think so?"
The mother looked back down to her daughter, smiling warmly. Her daughter shined brightly and agreed with her with a wide and admirable smile on her face, her eyes sparkling with joy.
[???]: "YEAH! The flowers look so pretty today!"
The mother smiles, taking in the sight of her daughters joy filled face for a moment, before raising her gaze again, taking in the sight of their surroundings. They were in a huge field in the middle of the forest, the ground is completely covered by flowers of all colors, with tall grass filling the small gaps between them in most places.
The wind ripples through the grass and flowers, causing a wave effect on the large masses of beautiful plants. This was a special area that the mother liked to bring her daughter when there was time to play there, and when the weather was right. A time like today.
Her mother takes in the sight of her daughter, a small young girl with medium length black hair and pearly blue eyes that take your breath away. The girl wore a snug fitted blue yukata, one that matched her mothers. Her mother had similar black hair, but unlike her daughter, it extended down much longer, reaching down to her lower back, and some flowing over her shoulders.
While looking around, the two spot a man that emerges from the forest, following a subtle dirt path that opens up to the flower field. The man has short blonde hair, and wore a yukata similar to the girls, but his was red, a dark red.
The young girl's mouth opened in surprise and her eyes widen in immense happiness as she shouted.
[???]: "DAD!"
The girl practically leaped out of her mothers lap, running over to the man who continues to walk closer with a happy smile on his face. He is met halfway by the girl that comes hurdling towards him, jumping off the ground as she tackles him, an action that takes him to the ground with ease, and causes the man to let out a loud "Ohf!".
[???]: "Your early! I missed you today Dad!"
He recovers quickly from her leap, now lying on the ground with her on top of him. He places his hand on her hair, ruffling it and producing a hearty chuckle.
[???]: "I missed you too... Lucille."
She smiles brightly at his hand on her head, noticing how her mother has gotten up and approached them, picking Lucille up off of him, allowing him to sit up.
[???]: "I'm glad you can join us this early darling. Did you finish all your work quickly?"
[???]: "Yeah, wasn't a whole lot to do so I thought I'd come and visit my family before anything else."
The man smiles at his wife, who returns one instantly. He stands up and Lucille reaches up to hold his hand. He accepts her offer, Lucille feeling the warmth and security of his grasp over hers. She holds her mothers too, the three of them walking off into the flower field with Lucille in the middle.
-
[???]: "The suns starting to lower, we should head back into the village for the night."
He speaks softly, a strange contrast to his deep voice. His wife quickly agreeing, but getting nothing but a pout from Lucille. The man and his wife stand up off the flower filled ground, the young girl still sitting on the ground with her arms crossed, and pouting at them.
[???]: "I know you like it here but its getting late hon'. Hey, if you come with us now, I'll let you carry a crate for me, do you want that? Help your father out?"
She had always loved helping her father with his tasks, and the mention of being allowed to carry a crate of goods for him pushed her just over the edge of wanting to stay in the field of flowers.
[Lucille]: "Hmmm. Fine!"
Her mother covers her mouth as she laughs, taking her daughters hand again as they walk with Lucille in the middle of them, all connected with their hands. As the sun reaches the horizon, and the sky turns an orange and pink hue, the three arrive out of the woods, where a stone path and a cart is seen.
The cart is tied to a single, smaller than average drake, one that chirps in delight at the sight of Lucille.
[Lucille]: "Sina!"
Lucille lets go of her parents and runs up to the drake, wrapping her arms around it, which the drake responds by purring and leaning into her embrace until she lets go.
[???]: "Hop on the front for me Lucille, just gotta secure somethin' back here."
[Lucille]: "Mmh!"
As the man walks to the back of the cart, tightening the fibers that hold down the crates, Lucille and her mother hop onto the front of the cart, holding hands as they sit down.
The man returns to the front and sits down next to Lucille, who rests securely between her parents on the seat. Grabbing the leash that connects to Sina, He signals the drake to start moving towards the village, a short distance away from their current location.
[???]: "Did you two walk here?"
Looking over Lucille at her husband, she smiles and returns her gaze to the road and slowly approaching village ahead of them.
[???]: "Yes, we did. Well, i carried her so technically, I walked."
Lucille looks up at her mother with a shocked and offended face.
[Lucille]: "Huh!? You offered to carry me!"
Her mother and father laugh at her offended reaction. Lucille crosses her arms and looks forward, but her mood quickly changes when her father pets her head again, putting a smile on her face.
They arrive at the village. A lively and active community where everyone knows each other. The village's population couldn't have been over 200, so most were close with each other, or at the least knew their names.
Several people greet the family as they slowly travel through the stone road in the middle of the street. The houses and buildings that occupied the village were made of feudal Japanese architecture and style. The people wearing similar clothes such as yukata's and haori's.
The cart finally reaches their home, a larger than average building with a stone wall at the front, one that reached his waist, and had lanterns fueled by magic stones in them that line the wall.
Lucille's mother headed inside to prepare dinner, while Lucille and her father remained outside. She watched him undo the fibers the clung tightly to the crates, and proceeds to pick one up.
[???]: "Hagh. Here you go Lucille, this ones for you, take it inside and put it in your old man's office please."
She hurries over to him as he approaches her with the heavy crate, grunting a few times as he tries to keep it from falling. He lowers it down to Lucille, who is smiling brightly, happy to be helping her father with his merchant duties.
She takes it from his hands with a small grunt of her own, but seemingly carrying it without a problem. The sight of an 8 year old girl effortlessly carrying a crate that caused a well built adult man strain humbled her father, a defeated but proud smirk appears on his face as he watches her take it inside.
He starts to lead the drake over to the side of the house along with the rest of the crates, when he hears a voice call out his name.
[???]: "Hey! Homura!"
He turns around, to see a familiar disheveled man, wearing a brown yukata that is ripped and worn in several places. The end of its sleeves are frayed and tattered, and the man has straight, flat black hair that reaches his collarbone.
The man was apart of a powerful merchant group, but to say they were good people would be a complete lie. In fact, the only reason Homura was nice to them, was to keep the supplies they provided coming in, no matter how illegal the methods they used to obtain them were, and also to stop them from turning on him.
[Homura]: "A-ah, Hey. I haven't seen you guys in a while."
[???]: "Yeah, we just completed a huge haul recently. Good to see your daughter is still growing big and strong, ehehe."
Homura rubs the back of his neck, offering a slightly nervous smile.
[Homura]: "Heh, right, yeah, she's doing well."
[???]: "She's a really gifted young girl that one, being born with not just one, but two aspects. Makes you wonder just what kind of people would love to see her for themselves, ehehe."
The mans comments were unsettling, to say the least, and Homura didn't feel comfortable with the man speaking about his daughter to him like that.
Homura starts to turn away, wanting to find a way to leave the conversation politely.
[Homura]: "Ah, yes both me and her mother are very proud of her. Sorry to cut it so short but I'm quite busy right now, it was good seeing you, Raiko."
Raiko looks at the man with a snake like smile, his sharp eyes piercing Homura's soul.
[Raiko]: "Oh yes I'm very sorry to keep you from your work, i know just how much it means to you."
The rugged man turns around and starts to walk away. He puts up his hand and waves without looking back at Homura.
[Raiko]: "Bye bye now!"
[Homura]: "B-bye!"
Homura heads back inside after guiding the cart and drake to the side of the house. Lucille runs up to him with a smile on her face.
[Lucille]: "I put the crate in your office like you asked!"
He playfully pets her head, getting a satisfied and excited reaction out of Lucille.
[Homura]: "Thanks hon, what would i do without ya'."
He held Lucille close to his heart with pride. Having a daughter that was born with two aspects was a blessing and a good omen on their family, as well as the whole village, as everyone thought. They originally discovered her aspect of cooking when she clashed some food together on her plate as a baby, splattering it all over her mothers face, who licked it off and was taken by complete surprise at how good it tasted.
Even though all she did was mush together some weird mixture of jam and honey, It was the greatest thing her mother had ever tasted. As for her second aspect though. That was discovered by her father, when she was 4 years old.
Her mother had taken her eye off of Lucille one day as Homura was moving heavy stones around to build their front wall. The young Lucille admired her father and wanted to copy him, so before anyone could stop her, she approached the pile of large rocks, and effortlessly picked one up, carrying it over to the partially constructed wall, and throwing it on the ground with an amused giggle, looking up at her father, who's mouth was wide open in shock.
They took her to the capital, about a 2 hour carriage ride away from their village, and had her looked at by a magic doctor. The aspect of cooking. And the aspect of strength. This child had both of these gifts.
Her strength continued to grow. At her current age of 8, she was able to lift a limit of 116 kg.
[???]: "Come sit down at the table you two, I'm just finishing up here."
Homura and Lucille sit down at the request of Alice, Lucille's mother, who had just finished cooking dinner.
Even though Alice had been teaching Lucille to cook proper meals, she often cooked for the family herself, not wanting to take advantage of her daughter, and finding the role of housewife, pleasant.
Alice serves the table a large bowl of soup, the broth forming a delicious foam on the surface. The dinner causes Homura and Lucille to drool and stare at it in awe, their looks completely the same. Looking at them like this, you could easily tell that he was indeed her father.
Once Alice sits down at the table next to Homura, the three enjoy their dinner, the sounds of slurping and chewing fill the air.
[Homura]: "Incredible as always, honey. Thank you for dinner."
[Lucille]: "Mh-yegh! Thangk youh for dginner!"
They all laugh as Lucille thanks her while still chewing a large mouth full of food. Alice smiles, happy that everyone is enjoying her cooking.
[Alice]: "It's my pleasure, I'm happy you like it."
[Homura]: "Of course we like it, anything made from your hands is perfect. I love you honey."
Alice looks back at him and smiles warmly, leaning closer to him and closing the gap between the two, their lips melding together as they kiss.
[Alice]: "Love you too!"
Pulling away, they see Lucille staring at them with a pout.
[Lucille]: "GROSS!"
Her reaction to their show of affection cause them both to burst out into laughter.
[Lucille]: "What!?"
[Alice]: "Darling, It's not gross for your parents to show that they love each other. One day when your older, you will find someone that makes you want to do that too, I'm sure of it."
[Lucille]: "Mh-mh! No Way!"
[Homura]: "Hmhmhm. Your a bit too young to be worrying about that anyway, lets just enjoy each others company and this lovely meal that your mother made for us, kay'."
The warm atmosphere of the loving family radiates strongly through the house as the three enjoy a peaceful dinner, the room being illuminated by a single bright lantern in the middle of the ceiling.
With the filled stomachs of the family and the empty bowls that lie before them finally relaxing, Homura pats his hands on his knees, and stands up from the table.
[Homura]: "Now that dinners done, It's time for you to head to bed, hon."
Lucille's full stomach and growing sleepiness make it difficult for her to put up much of a fight. She lightly taps her belly, before standing up next to her father, and walking towards the bedroom with her name etched into the wooden door.
[Alice]: "Goodnight Dear."
[Lucille]: "Goodnight!"
Inside the bedroom, he lifts the covers up, allowing her to climb into them. Once she is fully in the bed and on her back, he pulls the deep blue sheets up to her chin, tucking her in and giving her a kiss on the forehead.
[Homura]: "Night night, Lucille. Love you."
She smiles at being tucked in so comfortably, and the forehead kiss sending warmth through her body.
[Lucille]: "Goodnight, Love you too!"
-
*Bang Bang Bang*
Lucille jolts awake at the sudden banging at the door. She hears footsteps coming from her parents room rush over to the door, and open it. She gets out of bed and moves closer to her door, putting her ear up to it.
Opening the front door, Homura sees one of his neighbors, in a panicked state, and behind him is a sight that shows that something bad had happened.
[Homura]: "Whats going on? What happened?"
[???]: "HOMURA! ITS- ITS RAIKO'S MERCHANT GUILD! THEY'RE BURNING THE HOUSES!"
Homura's eyes widen in shock, he can see the clear signs of smoke and the screams that come from the streets just a few buildings down.
[Homura]: "What!? Why!?"
[???]: "I DONT- I DONT KNOW! BUT THEY'RE HURTING PEOPLE!"
[Homura]: "Hurting people!? Where are the guards!?"
[???]: "ALREADY DEAD!"
He is taken back by the man's answer. "The guards had already been killed? How?" He thought. The sounds of screaming grow closer, he knows there's not much time left before they reach them too.
Lucille is trembling behind her door, listening in on the conversation. She cant believe it either. Her village was under attack? And the guards had already been wiped out so quickly? That would mean that someone strong was with them.
Before Lucille could think any longer, her door flies open, she takes a few steps back from the sudden movement. Her father moves closer to her and kneels so his face is level with hers, and he places his hands on her shoulders.
[Lucille]: "D-dad?"
Despite trying to hide it, Lucille can see the terror on his face, the panic that sets in as now her mother is up and moving around.
[Homura]: "Lucille, listen. We are going to put you downstairs. I cant explain right now why, but i need you to hide down there. There's a room made of thick stone and it has plenty of water."
Lucille can barely take in the instructions with how fast they come out of her fathers mouth. She can see her mother opening a small hatch under the kitchen, looking over at them.
[Lucille]: "I'm... I'm scared."
[Homura]: "I know baby, i know, but it's going to be alright, okay."
She nods her head, her face still full of fear and confusion, but mostly fear. He leads her over to the open hatch that her mother sits next to, and starts to help Lucille into it.
[Homura]: "Your mother and I are going to join you in here soon, okay. We just need to do something first. We are going to signal for help, a close friend of mine will come to help us."
[Lucille]: "Y-your leaving!? No!"
[Homura]: "Not for long honey, not for long. We will be back, we just need you to be safe and hide in here, okay?"
She doesn't say anything, she just simply nods quickly, tears starting to fall down her cheeks. Tears that are swiftly wiped away by her mothers soft hand.
[Alice]: "Your father and I love you so, so much, darling. Please remember that."
Lucille starts to cry heavily, feeling her mothers hands on her cheeks.
[Lucille]: "I-.. I love y-you t-toooooo! Haaaah! aahhhh!"
[Homura]: "Baby, We will be back, okay. It's all going to be okay. Lucille, i know it's a lot to ask right now, but... please..."
She looks up at him through her tear filled eyes, seeing how he reaches his hand out to her.
[Homura]: "Wait for me."
Those words resound within her very soul. She slowly starts to move her hand towards his as her mind starts to break from the separation.
Before her hand could reach his, a loud scream is heard from outside. The noise catches all their attention, and he pulls his hand back.
They quickly close the hatch above Lucille, leaving her in the silence and darkness of the cold, stone room. The last words her father said to her still bouncing around in her head. How could they not be. She was so scared. She was terrified. She cried. And she cried. And she cried...
-
-
-
An hour passes. Then two. Then three. then four...
There are new sounds of fighting outside. She can hear new screams and the smell of smoke has gotten closer. The fighting died down a long time ago, so the sudden outburst shocked her. She looks up at the hatch, her face red and puffy, but dry. She had lost the ability to cry any more than she already had. Her body ran its supply of them empty.
Her hand reaches up slowly towards the hatch, but stops right before touching the handle. She was told to stay inside. To hide. To Wait.
But she couldn't stand it anymore. What if the new sounds of fighting were caused by her parents? She had been told her whole life that she was strong. That she was special. If she could go out there, then maybe she could save her parents. Her mind suffers a traumatic internal conflict. Until, eventually, it breaks.
She reaches for the hatch, and she forces it open.
[???]: "GAH!"
Lucille looks ahead, and sees a woman who was badly frightened by the girls sudden appearance out of the floor. The woman quickly regains her composure, and movers closer to Lucille, who flinches and steps back, now fully out of the hatch.
[???]: "It's okay dear. I'm not going to hurt you, I'm here to help. I was looking for any survivors."
The woman's voice was soft, and calming, despite being in the worst situation. She wore a deep red kimono with flower patterns on the sleeves. She had medium length blonde hair that was tied up in a bun at the back, and she had beautiful brown eyes.
The woman reaches her hand out, inviting her into a handshake, which after a long time of consideration, she slowly reaches out and accepts it. Her hand is soft, and her skin is smooth.
[???]: "I'm so sorry this happened to you. We are going to try our best to help you, okay dear."
The woman reminded Lucille strangely of her mother. The two were similar in energy and mannerisms.
[???]: "My Name Is Muriel. Muriel Astoria. What's yours dear?"
She thinks for a moment, reluctantly removing her hand from the soft and delicate grip of Muriel's.
[Lucille]: "It's.... It's Lucille. My name is Lucille Anastasia."
The woman's face shifts into one of shock, and curiosity, but also deep worry.
[Muriel]: "Anastasia? No. You cant be-...."
The woman trails off, looking out of the open door, before shouting.
[Muriel]: "Honey! Come in here! Now!"
She is caught off guard by the sudden shouting, jumping slightly as she yells out for someone. Within a few seconds, a tall man appears. He is dressed in fancy noble clothes, and he has white hair, which doesn't seem to be caused by his age, as he only looks like he's in his late twenties.
Lucille recognizes him just as fast as he recognizes Lucille. She had seen him many times. He was his fathers closest friend. One he had met in the merchant business. The man that had just fallen to his knees at the sight of Lucille, was a noble and respected sorcerer, one that lived in the inner ring of the kingdom.
[???]: "You're... You're Homura's daughter. L-.. Lucille?"
She nodded slowly, letting out a soft and quiet 'Mmh'. Her face shows clearly that she is confused. She has no idea what is going on. She just wants to reunite with her parents. So she can apologize. Apologize for not waiting like she was told.
[???]: "We need to get you out of here. Come on, lets leave."
[Lucille]: "Where are my parents!? They said they would come back for me! Where are they!?"
His face turns even more sad and sympathetic.
[???]: "Lucille. I-.... I'm so sorry."
She doesn't understand what he means. Why was he apologizing? Finding her parents was all she cared about.
The man turned around, standing there for a moment, before walking back out into the street. She jolts again as Muriel takes her hand, now standing next to her.
[Muriel]: "Sorry, did i scare you dear? I didn't mean to. Come on. We need to go."
[Lucille]: "- - -"
She takes the silent Lucille out of the house, and Her eyes shoot open in shock, her jaw drops open as far as her body will let it. Her pupils turn tiny, and she starts to tremble violently.
The sight before her broke any remaining part of her mind. The village she had lived in, burnt to the ground, and countless mutilated bodies filled the streets. Most of the stone road was no longer visible, now covered in blood and corpses. The nobleman stands in the middle of the street, in the middle of the bodies, looking away.
Muriel tries to rush her out of the area as fast as possible to avoid the sight, but just after taking a few steps, Lucille spots familiar faces amongst the bodies. The faces of her mother and father, still huddled together, as they spent their last breaths in each others arms. Lucille drops to the ground, her body finding any last tears within her and forcing them out.
Muriel tries to use her body to block the sight, falling onto her butt, and holding Lucille tight against her.
[Lucille]: "MOOOOOOOM! DAAAAAAAAD! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Her scream penetrates the air, almost deafening Muriel, and spreading as far as the next village over. Muriel's heart shattered. She had failed to stop Lucille from seeing them like she feared.
[Lucille]: "AGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! HAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Goodness. Such passion from such a young girl. I wondered where you had scurried off to, little lamb."
The voice had caught them all off guard, and the three look towards the voice. They see a man with a sharp grin, his eyes closed as he walks towards them. It was the man that Lucille had seen talking to her father when she took the crate inside.
[Raiko]: "Hand her over to me."
Lucille falls silent, starring at the man, trying to process his words. "Hand me over to him?" she thought.
[???]: "Are you the one who did this? Why do you want her? What purpose do you have with this child?"
The nobleman's voice was stern and powerful. But Raiko continued to approach with that same snake like smile.
[Raiko]: "None of your concern. Lets just leave it at boss's orders."
Muriel's embrace on Lucille tightens, she stares at the man with hate filled eyes. The nobleman takes a few steps closer to Raiko, his face also filled with disgust and hatred.
Raiko sighs.
[Raiko]: "I guess that's a no then? Fine. Whats two more bodies to add to the pile?"
Suddenly, Raiko appeared next to the nobleman in what seemed like a fraction of a second, and hitting him in the chest before he could react, throwing him back against the wall.
The two girls watch in shock, Muriel's breath catching in her throat as her lover is launched backwards.
[Muriel]: "ISSHIN!"
Raiko's gaze flickers to Muriel and Lucille for a second, before moving back to the man, who gets back up onto his feet.
[Raiko]: "Isshin, huh? Say, you wouldn't happen to be... Isshin Castellan, would you? you look fancy enough to be him, ehehe."
[Isshin]: "Hmmm."
The man growls, starring angrily at Raiko, who admires his strength at being able to get up so easily after a hit like that one. The man stances up as if about to run at him, and in the same amount of time that Raiko disappeared, so did Isshin, leaving behind a large outburst of lightning bolts that shock the area around him.
Appearing in front of Raiko, He throws a punch towards his chest. Isshin's hand is covered in a powerful aura of pure thunder. The arcs that fire off of it hit Raiko in the face, causing him to bleed. But he blocks the punch, which cause a large amount of smoke and yellow energy to explode from the two as Raiko leaps backwards out of the cover.
Isshin walks forwards out of the dust cloud, his eyes widening and his brow furrows in confusion and disgust. Seeing a large appendage that emerges from the loose sleeve of Raiko's brown yukata. The appendage moves around like an insect, and it has a large, long body that contorts as it crawls around.
[Isshin]: "Centipedes?"
Raiko smiles even wider, now revealing his teeth as he throws his arm back as if preparing to attack again. Isshin prepares to defend against another punch, but instead, Raiko swings at him from about a meter away, and several more centipede like tentacles emerge from his sleeve, slicing at Isshin, cutting up the front of the buildings as it scrapes over them in its path.
[Isshin]: "AGHH!"
Isshin jumps backwards, covering the gash in his forearm, that creates a pool of blood underneath him at his feet. He looks up at Raiko with rage. Seeing how he now has four extremely large centipedes that come out of his sleeve, an extension of his own body.
[Isshin]: "You have a commandment."
Raiko laughs loudly, smiling even wider.
[Raiko]: "Ehehehehehe. That's exactly right. I am Raiko, the third abomination of greed. I wield the Commandment Of Vermin."
[Isshin]: "Tch. The Commandment Of Vermin, huh. I guess ill just have to squash you then, pest!"
Arcs of lightning fire off of Isshin's body, his arm has stopped bleeding, and he walks towards Raiko, who returns the pace. They start of slow, but quickly end up running at each other. Another four centipedes appear on Raiko's other arm as he outstretches both of them ready to attack. Isshin charges up another aura on both of his fists, lightning bolts firing off of them as his magic's mere existence tears up the area around him.
The two charge into each other, releasing a barrage of swings at each other. The attacks could barely be seen, they were moving so fast that all you could see was the thick lightning bolts that flew off of Isshin's body and attacks, and the blood of the centipedes, that either healed instantly, or another would take its place.
[Isshin]: "aaagGGHHHHHH!"
[Raiko]: "gaaaAAGHHHHHHH!"
The two screamed at each other as they flew around at sonic speeds, the slashes of their attacks flying through the air, contorting it, and the effects of their swings devastating the village. Every few clashes, an arc of lightning would hit Raiko's body, quickly shredding it to pieces.
Muriel And Lucille watch in awe and shock, never having seen such a powerful display of magic, nor this intense of a fight before in their lives. The two finally slow down, ending up near the two girls again as Raiko starts to lose balance, having lost so much blood just from the stray arcs alone.
Out of all the attunements, Lightning, was one of the most terrifying. As Isshin sees an opening in Raiko's assault, he throws a single, more powerful punch at the weak point, landing on his abdomen, shattering, and tearing apart every muscle in his stomach.
[Raiko]: "G-GAAAHHH!"
Raiko spews up a large amount of blood as Isshin carries through with the punch, several large bolts of thunder shoot out and devastate everything around them, blowing the houses and walls behind Raiko to pieces as he is sent flying into the debris.
Muriel brings Lucille into her chest, shielding her from stray stones or lightning.
Isshin stands in the same position with his fist outstretched, covered in a cloud of dust. The arcs of lightning slowly dissipating. He tries to regain his breath as he heaves heavily. He slowly walks back over to the two girls, with a small grin on his face, clearly proud of his victory. If what Raiko had said was true, that he really was an abomination of greed, then Isshin had just accomplished something big.
As Lucille watched him stand over them, slowly regaining his breath back through heavy exhales, she sees the silhouette of a beat up man appear behind Isshin. Raiko still stands, slowly regenerating from his injuries, but before Isshin can see him, he steps on the body of Lucille's mother, not seeming to care at all.
Lucille is filled with rage, seeing Raiko carelessly stomp over her parents bodies to get to Isshin sends her into a craze. Muriel and Isshin watch in confusion as she charges out of Muriel's embrace, and runs behind Isshin.
Both their eyes widen in shock as they see Raiko still alive and standing, the centipedes starting to slowly emerge from his arms again. The upper half of his yukata is practically gone, ripped to shreds, revealing his torn up body, muscle fibers still stringing off of him as he limps over with a smile.
[Muriel]: "LUCILLE! WAIT, STOP!"
She fears for Lucille's life, terrified that she will get hurt like her parents, but her fear quickly turns into shock, as Lucille reaches him, and punches him. A single punch that pierces the sound barrier as it connects.
[Lucille]: "AAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
A deafening boom reverberates through the sky as the very air around Raiko is distorted from the force, and he is sent flying back into the debris.
[Raiko]: "GYAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
Lucille quickly runs over to him again, finding him leaned up against a large block of stone. She punches him again. The memories of her parents flooding her mind, the visions of their bodies on the ground, covered in gashes and blood. The thoughts of Raiko laughing as he killed them.
[Lucille]: "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Another deafening boom reverberates through the air as her hit connects, dust and debris flying around as blood splatters everywhere. Raiko is unable to make any noise as her punch obliterated his throat, all that comes out is gargling sounds and splattering. His jaw is left hanging, forced open as it was broken by her second punch.
She looks into his eyes, that stare up at her in terror, she sees a plea in them, a beg for mercy, but it only reminds her that he most likely saw that same look in her parents eyes. And did nothing about it. She hit him again. A third deafening boom flies through the air as the stone behind him cracks and dents, blood spraying everywhere. She hits him again. She hits him again. And again. And again. And again. And again and again and again and again. She hits him again....
Muriel watches in horror. A child. An eight year old child, Mutilating the man that begs for his life with her immense, superhuman strength. A hand is placed on Lucille's shoulder, Isshin's hand, that brings her back from her craze. She looks down, Raiko's head is practically missing, an unrecognizable mess, her hands and arms are covered in blood and brain matter. His body lies lifelessly below her, the centipedes on his arms slightly twitching as they too die out.
[Lucille]: "AH- AGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
She falls backwards, looking upon the body that has its head crushed in, the wall behind him painted red in his blood, and the floor below them, flooded with the red matter that once filled his veins. She screamed at the terrifying sight, she tries to wipe away the blood and chunks of flesh that cover her clothes and arms, but she cant get it off.
[Lucille]: "AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
She screams once more in terror. The thought that she did this. That she could cause such a traumatic sight. That she took the life of another person so recklessly, in a fit of rage. She was indeed incredibly strong, and she hated it. It scared her. She never wanted to use this strength again.
[Isshin]: "Lucille, calm down, it's okay. Please come with us. I was very close friends with Homura. Please. Come live with us from now on. We can still make this better."
Her eyes widen at his request. Muriel approaches Lucille too, nodding while pulling out a gourd of water from her Kimono, and trying her best to wash away the blood on the young girls arms.
[Lucille]: "L-... Live with you?"
[Isshin]: "That's right. You would live in a manor. You can finish your education there and you can even get a job there as a maid. You'll be looked after by me and Muriel. We will take care of you. It's the least we can do."
Lucille tries to look over at the bodies of her parents, but Muriel Blocks the way with her body. Lucille slowly turns her head back over at Isshin, who blocks the sight of Raiko behind him. She looks downwards at her hands, which are now mostly clean thanks to Muriel's efforts, but her clothes are still stained with blood.
[Lucille]: "O-... Okay."
She looks at Muriel, who smiles warmly, trying to comfort her as much as she can. Lucille has an expressionless face, her mind had suffered too much pain in one day to repair itself. This day would forever change her. She slowly nods her head, getting helped up onto their feet.
[Muriel]: "Come on Lucille, dear. Lets go home."
The three start to walk down the street. They try their best to lead her down the most clear path, but there are still bodies everywhere they look, the blood that pools the ground stain the Geta that cling to their feet.
Lucille looks blankly ahead, past the burnt and destroyed homes as they walk. Lucille is in the middle of the three, holding the hand of both Isshin and Muriel as they walk slowly through the street as the sun rises. A scene that reminds her of the all the times that she walked with her parents, a happy memory trying its best to soothe her shattered mind. Muriel's soft grip tightens on Lucille's hand, showing great sympathy for her, and guilt that they couldn't make it in time to save her family.
But even with the nights events plaguing her mind, she cant help but wonder what her new life is going to look like. Her new life with Muriel and Isshin. She looks up slowly at Muriel, who's hair is now no longer in a bun, and flows gently down to her shoulders. Her gentle and kind face reminds her of her mother, and cant help but smile up at her, feeling the warmth of a mere memory...
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