The tears that had flushed down Rowan Agoul's face quickly made him aware of the feelings that had came and went in a flash. He'd wanted to die, a fact that he screamed out from the depths of his heart. Now was this due to the excruciating pain the young man was feeling? Or the feelings of inadequacy that had come bursting out at the time of [death.] One couldn't say,but if the man himself had to garner a guess at his own psyche, he'd guess it was a combination of both realities. Indeed guessing was the best Rowan Agoul could do, as the unpredictability inside of him was so good at its job that even he couldn't understand the matter of the mind that belonged to him.
Sylphine: "Omur! Geralt! Help me with Rowan! He wont start healing!"
Matthew: "No. I'll handle this, you two secure the royal family."
Rowan: "M-Matthew..."
Matthew: "You idiot...just hold still..."
It seemed as if they'd wanted to argue on the matter but Rowan couldn't tell how long that discourse lasted as the two warrior's silhouettes disappeared moments later. As he looked down a green light accompanying the first started to hum above Rowan's stomach. The hum drowned out the heat he was feeling as the two somewhat-mages worked on Rowan Agoul's body. He had no idea how long this process took, as his sense of time had become extremely warped, causing him to lose track of the reality before him. So to him that hum could've been going for hours as there was no obvious indication the content of his entrails had slinked its way back into his body.
The hum finally stopped and Rowan Agoul felt as if time started to speed up for him once again.
Rowan: "W-Woah...I'm healed I guess I oughta thank you for-"
Something slammed into Rowan Agoul once again, though having realized what an abnormally lethal amount of force he'd been attacked with earlier felt like. He knew the attack he'd received had been like that of a kid's in comparison, which said a great deal about Rowan Agoul as she still slumped over in pain clutching his stomach where his entrails previously hung. The attack had come from someone standing right in front of him and while the attack was that of a light one, kicked he'd received could only have come from one person. Matthew has kicked Rowan Agoul's stomach smashing his boots into the young man's body with a look of absolute anger.
Rowan: "Ouch! What the heck was that for?! It still hurts even though you healed me ya know!"
Matthew: "You know exactly what it's for! I could see in your eyes you'd all but given up on life right there! You accepted your fate, and waited for the Hellspawn to end it, didn't you?!"
He opened his mouth to speak but the words didn't come out. No, it wasn't that words didn't come out it's just that there were no words to refute the claims the young man standing before him had made. It had been exactly that, and trying to frame it as anything differently wasn't something that would've been acceptable to do. Nor would it have been possible as the he'd already been turned into a see-through man once the one throwing this accusation at him turned into a friend. This reasoning culminated in Rowan Agoul staying quiet removing his gaze from the man standing before.
Rowan: "There was nothing I could do…"
The young man spoke his voice carrying nothing inside of it.
Rowan: "No matter what I did...it wouldn't have made a difference. Wouldn't it have been better to die with me accepting it? At least then I know I'd have no regrets."
It was a shallow attempt to defend himself. Seeing as the young man had been called out on his actions, it only made sense for him to defend himself. No matter how pitiful that was or how selfish it seemed, it was the defense Rowan Agoul had chosen. The defense he'd lost associated himself with. Hoping to find relief in this desperate words.
Though it was not found.
Matthew: "Tch!"
Those words fell on deaf ears as the collar of Rowan Agoul stretched and he was forcibly pulled up to a stand. It was a weak stance—one befitting of the man at the moment. He'd wanted to sit back down and had been trying to, but the young man before him hadn't allowed this to pass. He was resolute in his actions holding a resolve that Rowan Agoul simply did not have. Or
Simply did not believe he had.
Matthew: "So you think dying is the answer!? What happens if she died trying to save you?! What happens if she died trying to save someone with no fight?!"
Rowan could only guess that he was talking about Sylphine though he honestly couldn't tell. His eyes had been aimed squarely at the ground, not looking at the people around him. Especially refusing eye contact with the boy who held him by the collar. Though even without looking the boy could tell that rage—-rage and a mix of something else was plaguing the boys mindset. Rowan didn't want to look.
Rowan: "Then...we'd both have been dead and I'd have felt worse. But at the point at least I could stop being a disappointment."
Matthew: "Are you kidding me right now?"
His voice fell low, and before Rowan knew it his view had changed and Matthew was once again standing above him. He'd fallen—no he'd been pushed to the ground by Matthew. When contemplating why, the young man finally lifted his eyes meeting the eyes of his friend. That was when he realized why he didn't like looking into those eyes. They saw Rowan Agoul as more, more than he'd ever been and more than he would ever be.
And right now they didn't see that.
Matthew: "You think people are supposed to feel bad for you!? That because Elara rejected you the world owes you or something?! Look around you Rowan! It doesn't so wake up!"
No...…you don't know. You don't.
Rowan: "What do you know?! What the hell do you know about what I'm feeling?! You have no idea the pain I'm in! No idea the world I'm fighting!"
The young man for the first time since the conversation had started, felt an emotion he hadn't been experiencing as of late. He desperately lashed out, standing back up as he raised his voice at the man in front of him. And put on the persona of wrath. No it wasn't a persona, what he was feeling was indeed the truth of wrath, but hadn't it been overshadowed by something more? It had, with a feeling Rowan Agoul knew all too well.
Matthew: "No idea huh?! You think you're the only one going through pain?! Think you're the only one who wants to give up!? That you're the only who's ever been hurt?!"
Rowan's spirit faltered.
Rowan: "No it's not that,I...…"
I can't say it. I can't say it.
Matthew: "Then what?! What it is it Rowan what's eating at you so bad you don't even wanna fight for your life?!"
Rowan: "I-"
Say it! Say it!
Rowan: "I...…I can't. I can't say it I'm sorry."
The matters of his heart had fallen into silence once again, the feelings of Rowan Agoul having nowhere to escape. They simply ceased to exist falling back into nothingness as they did. Rowan Agoul made no move against this, accepting his feelings as true.
Matthew: "Why you!-"
Matthew seeing this once again sent his hands towards Rowan coated in a diligent hostility. Before these hands could reach him however a new pair of hands had entered the conversation ones that promptly stopped the hands of hostility that had aimed themselves at Rowan Agoul. Their slender hands stopping the hands they would've wrapped around his collar once again. They were peaceful and gentle but in that moment had a firm sense of purpose surrounding them. Which only served to further complicate the feelings of Rowan.
Sylphine: "That's enough Matthew!"
Mathew: "I—-Princess!"
Matthew who was still running high on emotions quickly tempered herself, as his standing in the [Hero's Party] reminded him he was dealing with one who could one day be the ruler of these lands. His temper had been quelled but the ferocity that had been aimed at Rowan Agoul had unmistakably hid behind the surface. Rowan Agoul's feelings though would not go away so easily.
Sylphine: "We don't have time for this! Elara's fighting that Hellspawn alone and the rest of them could use all our help! We don't have time for these petty squabbles!"
While it was easy to tell by her tone that she was trying to help the naming for the situation couldn't help but strike at the heart of Rowan Agoul. The fact that the matters of his heart could be foreseen as "petty squabbles" (no matter the situation) was still too much for his heart to bear. And while the young girl before them didn't mean to trample even further ok the man's heart...she did. Rowan wanted to say something—-anything, but his mouth would not move.
King Alden: "You're absolutely right."
Everyone turned to see the king of Geonosia, King Alden standing behind them accompanied by Queen Seraphina and their son Gelderan. Geralt and Omur stood beside them, their blades dripping with black blood.
Matthew: "King Alden!"
Matthew bowed his head to the king.
King Alden: "Our time is better spent mobilizing our troops against the enemy. Omur!"
Omur: "Yes sir?"
King Alden: "Take Geralt and gather the rest of the troops, Elara is strong but she'll need us to clean up after her while she fights. Matthew while he's doing that you head back and assist your party, you'll need to hold them off while we gather our troops from the blast."
Matthew: "Yes sir."
His eyes then shifted to another part of the area, to the man known as Rowan Agoul. It was an unexpected development and Rowan didn't know what was in those eyes or what words were about to come from his mouth. But the King's eyes softened as he looked at the man, once again hardening as he cleared his throat. His battle-tested instincts taking over as he switched from a King to a warrior in an instant. This was the resolve of the king of Geonosia.
King Alden: "Rowan, please accompany the rest of my family back inside I need someone to watch over them while we rally the troops."
Prince Gelderan: "What?! Father you can't be serious?! You're leaving us with him?! What about fighting?! If these Hellspawns are attacking I want to fight too!"
King Alden: "No. this fight isn't your place, you'd just get in the way and we don't have any time to waste."
Gelderan wanted to refute the actions that his father had just taken towards him but was unable to do so as King Alden stepped towards Sylphine.
King Alden: "Sylphine take your mom and you brother and head to the inner part of the castle. Use your magic to keep them safe if you have to, but I doubt it'll come to that."
Sylphine clenched her first inching closer to her father.
Sylphine: "Father please! If you're going to fight I wanna fight too! Let us help you!"
Queen Seraphina regally interjected herself into the conversation, her eyes soft as she spoke to her daughter.
Queen Seraphina: "Sylphine listen to you father, he's trying to protect us."
Sylphine: "I know but—"
King Alden: "I promise I'll see you when I get back…"
Alden smiled at his children then his face stretched up to the rest of them there, taking on a suddenly different expression.
King Alden: "Now everyone go! We'll meet up later!"
With that everyone left, the royal family a bit reluctant at first. After awhile the area had been cleared and the only indication there had been a battle there was the black blood plastered on the floor. Rowan stood there not taking his eyes off of it, his body not wanting to move from that spot. The blood seemed to stare back at him, calling out to him as his body started to tighten.
But why is it tightening?
Sylphine: "Rowan come on! If we stay out here too long, another Hellspawn will show up!"
Why am I shaking?
Sylphine: "Rowan?"
Why does my heart feel so tight?
Rowan: "Sylphine, I'll catch up with you later I just wanna make sure everyone has their weapons. I am the [Weapon Holder] after all.
What is this feeling?
Rowan: "You go on ahead, I'll meet you there later alright?"
It was a leap of faith, a leap of faith that required many things. Or more so used many things, regarding the character of Sylphine. Her kindness, her compassion, all these were being used in this moment, but she could tell these things weren't what needed precedence at the moment. Or what has taken precedence in the form of Sylphine as she stared at the face of Rowan Agoul. It was one of the most simple things one could had.
Sylphine: "Right! Hurry back Rowan!"
With no hesitation she ran the other way headed toward the rest of her family. The one thing she held not all that meaningful in the grand scheme of things but the one thing Rowan Agoul needed most. Belief. If Sylphine had made any mistake it was that she didn't share this belief with Rowan himself, leaving him to chase the coattails of it elsewhere.
That Hellspawn...…I won't let kill Elara. No matter what!
Rowan Agoul took off the other way running back towards the battlefield. His steps still shaky, but holding something in them he hadn't had with in him before. The will of someone within the [Hero's Party] the will of Rowan Agoul. The will of the [Weapon Holder.]
* * *
Elara: "HAAA!"
Elara Fey swung her blade as fluid as water, her swings so fast that giant gust of wind flew out every single swing that she took. Regardless of this speed though, the connections her sword made were scarce as they only grazed their opponents skin. Maia Astroud, the Hellspawn general weaved through her sword strikes with amazing speed. The reality of her dodging the strikes wasn't all due to the woman's speed though, it was all due to the hellfire that surrounded her. It acted like a shield of sorts guarding the parts Elara Fey had managed to strike. However, it wasn't like Elara Fey had given any ground to Maia Astroud as well.
They threw flurries of attacks at each other with both dodging everything the other threw at them. Maia Astroud had the slight advantage though as she was producing more long range attacks, a move that always helped in battle. Even so Elara Fey slashed through them all with a precision that would scare even the [Devil's Spawn] himself. Though Maia Astroud had expected this from the so-called [Hero of Geonosia.]
Maia Astroud: "What's wrong Elara Fey?! You haven't landed a hit on me yet!"
Elara Fey: "I could say the same to you! I'm not the one cowering behind her hellfire!"
Maia shout of a burst of hellfire that Elara Fey sliced into pieces. Immediately following that she spread her arms out wide creating giant balls of hellfire. She threw her hands together as if she was trying to clap, Elara Fey flipped out of this narrowly slicing the back of the Hellspawn when her attention was taken by a Hellspawn flanking her from the right.
Hellspawn: "Diediediediedie!"
It aimed its teeth at her flashing the same malice that had been thrown at Rowan Agoul just moments prior to this. Though Elara Fey's reaction was extremely different from the one the [Weapon Holder] had. He hadn't had anytime to move and was subsequently caught in an attack that almost resulted in [death] at the moment of impact. Elara Fey however could be said to be the exact opposite of this. She had all the time in the world, as the Hellspawn's advancement might as well have been in slow motion to her, she made no move to avoid its attack though.
The shadow that had appeared above the Hellspawn was the answer as to why she didn't move at all. It got closer and closer until a behemoth of a man landed on the Hellspawn's back.
Hellspawn: "—Ghk!"
Leo: "Jeez, why do you all keep trying to attack Elara? What are we not good enough for you?!"
The behemoth of a man was Leo who had crushed the Hellspawn beneath his giant body. He wore a smile on his face as he stood on top of a crater that he'd created. The strength this man possessed wasn't entirely human, but neither were any of the people in the [Hero's Party.] This was true of everyone except Rowan Agoul of course who was about as average as anybody could be. Though this man's physical ability was definitely far above human standards of even abnormal strength. Despite that the man named Leo, the tank of the [Hero's Party] was an all around easy going guy.
Mika:"Could you please start taking these things more seriously? I'm putting the brunt of the work on my back ya know!"
Mika bantered back with the tank of the [Hero's Party] but her face had a look of immense focus on it. In one hand was the green light of [Divine Supremacy] a technique which attacked those in alignment with the [Devil's Spawn.] In her other hand was a golden light which swirled around the rest of the [Hero's Party] its effects putting the brunt of the battle onto Mika Faelan. It was indeed a dangerous technique, one that could prove to be fatal had one of her companion been grievously injured. Though for now it was simply her having to deal with the exhaustion from the [Hero's Party.]
Tarran: "It's not a game! But if we're being factual! I have factually taken out the most Hellspawns."
Tarran shon an arrow of light that slammed into a mass of Hellspawns sending them flying.
Matthew: "Oh please!"
The Hellspawns flew into a box made of a yellow light, a light that been created by none other than the all-rounder of the [Hero's Party] Matthew. He brought his hands close together as if crushing an imaginary box, that was in his hands. The light that had formed the box followed his actions shrinking as he brought his hands closer. It left the Hellspawns effectively trapped.
Matthew: "We all know I put in the most work!"
Mika: "Babe! Took you long enough to get here! What were you doing?"
He dodges a strike from a Hellspawn.
Matthew: "I might've got a little carried away saving Rowan's ass! He need a good kick in the rear to get going!"
Mika: "Rowan? You weren't too hard on him were you?! He's been having a rough time?!"
She jumped and dodged a slash that was aimed for her but ended up tripping as she did. Matthew seeing this focused the light underneath his feet and with a speed that would've made him a blur to a normal person rushed over and Mika plopped down into his arms. Still smiling she conducted the two lights from her hand with a skill that only the arch priest of the [Hero's Party] could be capable of.
Matthew: "Well I might've got a little rough with him, it's not like he didn't deserve it though!"
Matthew smiled as he the same light that shined in Mika's hand appearing within the palm of Matthew's. Though it wasn't as strong or as skillful as Mika's it was still proficient enough to produce the same effect.
Matthew: "Alright guys! Finish it!"
Leo: "Man you really need to learn how to put things off for a better time! Tarran!"
Tarran: "Yes!"
Tarran aimed his staff at Leo and a light spanned across the entirety of his body. Tarran threw his staff up into the air and Leo's body shot off into the sky with lighting-like speed.
As she reached the clouds Tarran slammed his staff back downwards,and Leo shot down on a ball of fire his body cracking into the Hellspawns with a sound so loud it would've been mistaken for thunder in different weather conditions. The Hellspawns scattered like boiling pins after a ball came smashing into them.
Matthew: "Well we've got a good amount down, King Alden is gathering the troops so they can handle the rest but that leaves a pretty big problem..."
Tarran: "Yeah..."
Elara Fey slashes through the hellfire that had come flying at her, stopping it as she slashed through the brunt of the fire. The force of it pushed her into the [Hero's Party] whose demeanor switched when turning their attention to Maia Astroud. She was different from all the Hellspawn's they faced. In fact, if there was a scale on the strength of Hellspawn's then the ones she brought with her would be about a five, while Maia Astroud herself a
Fifteen. Perhaps even more as she showed herself, to be equal to that of Elara Fey—-at least in what had been shown so far.
Elara: "Man, she's strong I've never met an opponent this tough. Especially not a Hellspawn."
Mika: "You want us to jump in? We could overwhelm her if we fight together!"
Elara Fey: "No. she's strong but it's my duty as the [Hero of Geonosia] to beat her alone. She attacked the capital, hurt the royal family,and made a threat."
Elara tightened her grip on her sword.
Elara: "As the hero of Geonosia...it's my duty to slay her here!"
This was the greatest power that Elara Fey had. That is, the ability for her to be able to add lightness to any situation to be the hero that everyone needed to be no matter the situation. Elara Fey was truly the word "hero" in every sense of the word, there was not a facet that she did not embody. While this was her fatal flaw, it was also her invulnerability the thing that made her flawless in a battle of ideals.
King Alden: "Elara!"
King Alden arrived with all of the troops running behind him.
Elara: "You guys go help King Alden and leave this to me!"
There was no reason for anybody to object—-nobody really could. There was no room to object as her personality that was larger-than-life was simply too loud to not agree with. It didn't allow for anybody to get a word in edge wise and they weren't going to be able to anytime soon.
Mika: "Right! You better kick her ass! Don't lose you hear me!?"
Elara simply nodded turning her energy back to Maia Astroud whose hellfire blazed as she stepped near Elara's blade.
Maia: "You really think you can beat me?! Youhavent even landed a hit on me!? What makes you think that'll change anytime soon?!"
Elara: "Because..."
Elara Fey smiled.
Elara: "I'm the hero of Geonosia!"
Elara Fey rushed at Maia Astroud slashing at her. Maia Astroud dodged it but something still slashed upon her, body the black blood inside of her spewing across the courtyard.
Maia: "What the?!-"
Elara gave her no time to rest sending slash after slash her way, no matter how much Maia dodged them more and more blood splattered across the courtyard. Elara Fey's attacks reaching Maia Astroud not only cutting through her hellfire but completely neutralize the technique as if it wasn't a point of trouble for her in the first place. Her slashes only increased in speed as she found her rhythm, each slash coming as naturally to her as breathing. Her sword had a green hue that colored it as slash after slash was sent at Maia.
It was If her swords slashes were invisible.
Maia:"Damn it! What is this?! What are you up to Elara Fey!!!?"
Elara: "It doesn't matter if you know the outcome will still be the same! You're done!"
The king and his men stood by the [Hero's Party] watching as Elara Fey started to overwhelm the proclaimed Hellspawn general. His men gathering up the Hellspawns around the battlefield that had been defeated by the [Hero's Party.]
King Alden: "Secure the area, gather the Hellspawns but stay out of the hero's way!"
His command echoed across the battlefield, and the remaining soldiers started to apprehend the Hellspawn's that had been defeated securing the area. Elara Fey continued her battle throwing slash after slash at Maia Astroud who tried to counter with fire to no avail. That was when a sole pair of footsteps started to come from behind [The Hero's Party.] They turned around to see Rowan Agoul—-their [Weapon Holder] racing towards them a renewed look in her face.
Rowan:"Hey guys!"
Leo:"Rowan what are you doing here?! I thought you left to find the royal family?"
Rowan: "Yeah I did that's why King Alden is here you dummy!"
Leo: "Ouch so cold!"
Rowan runs up to see Elara Fey facing off against Maia Astroud. He couldn't actually see the slashes or even how fast they were being fired off. Elara Fey's hands were simply blurs as she dealt out slash after slash. She was truly a spectacle—-a thing behind human comprehension.
Rowan: "Looks like Elara's got the upper hand."
Mika: "Yeah so you ran over here with your worried face all for nothing!"
Rowan: "Oh shut up Mika!"
Matthew and Rowan made eye contact, with Matthew looking away slightly. Rowan at this looked away a bit as well with a sour look on his face.
Matthew: "Rowan...about earlier I-"
Rowan: "We can talk about it later. Right now let's just...…be here for Elara."
Matthew: "Yeah."
The other members of the [Hero's Party] seeing this interaction had decided to stay out of it. Not only because it wasn't their place to butt into but also because they knew the quality of the two men that were standing beside them. No good would have come from intervening so they kept this focus on the battle with Elara Fey, who started to overwhelm her opponent.
Elara: "HA!"
Elara threw slash after slash slicing the leg off the divine general Maia Astroud as she fell to the ground. That black blood that everyone had gotten so used to seeing sprayed from the wound, but the reaction of Maia Astroud was simply anger rather than pain at this wound. Another facet of why Hellspawns didn't get along with humanity was because of their insanely high threshold for pain, and of course the regeneration that each Hellspawn had. If Elara Fey had truly wanted to kill Maia Astroud it would take many more than slashes than what she'd previously delivered to her.
Maia:"Damn you...what did you to do me?!"
Her leg started to regenerate slowly. But Elara Fey stood over her, her eyes having the resolve expected of a hero.
Elara: "It's over Hellspawn! For your crimes against humanity, this is where your life ends!"
Maia:"Tch!"
The [Hero's Party] and even the soldiers of [Geonosia] started to relax as Elara Fey's victory had seemed all but assured.
Matthew: "Well Elara's got this in the bag guess we were worried for nothing!"
Mika: "Did you really think she was gonna lose? I'm insulted for her!"
But there was one who didn't buy into the lightness that started to creep onto the battlefield.
Why am I getting this feeling? Why do I feel like this isn't over?
Rowan Agoul couldn't shake the feeling that something was terrible wrong. It was strange why was he the only one feeling this? Was it because his cowardice granted him the ability to feel danger more than others? Or was there another reason at play? There simply hadn't nene a desirable answer anywhere within his brain, a testament to the man's nature. The nature that allows him to rule out possibilities on which he himself is praised.
Maia:"No...…this isn't over...…this isn't over...I still have one thing left..."
It wasn't uncommon. That is, for the Hellspawns when at deaths door to use a technique regarding their mouths. They'd shoot fire out of them or anything that was harmful when at the point they feel threatened the most it wasn't uncommon.
Then why?! Why don't I see it?!
The attack that should've been coming hadn't. The last minute attack that all Hellspwan's used...for the first time in his life Rowan thought this: is that attack limited to their mouths? Without thinking Rowan Agoul rushed towards the battlefield shocking everyone.
Mika: "Rowan! What are you doing?!"
Elara: "It's time to finish this...Symphonic-"
As Elara Fey did this Maia Astroud lifted her eyes and Elara caught a glimpse of something a glare. It was accompanied by a smile that could only have been warn by a deranged person—-no, not a person a deranged thing. And that's exactly what wore it at the moment, a thing. A thing on its last legs desperate for victory! Its pride so wounded that it would not hesitate to throw honor or pride out the window to win it was simply a need for survival. A beam shot of her eyes aiming itself at Elara Fey who in a rare moment had been caught off guard by the sheer speed and delivery of this attack.
Elara Fey: "Oh no! I can't stop my swing!"
But there was one on the battlefield who hadn't been fooled. As the attack made its way towards Elara the course of it suddenly changed grazing her cheek as it did so. It allowed her swing to go through as planned which would have been a good thing had the person who was now on the battlefield not showed up.
Matthew:ROWAN!!!"
Mika: "DAMN IT ROWAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Ah. Damn it. I'm an idiot.
The sound of Elara's voice was the last thing he heard as a great white light came flying at him and Maia Astroud. He'd diverted her attack from hitting Elara Fey by pushing her head to the sky effectively changing the course of the attack. Though the attack of Elara Fey was already in motion and approached them as it it started to envelope Maia and Rowan.
Maia: "YOU DAMN HUMAN! GET OFF ME!!"
Maia moved her hands in a deliberate way as Rowan held onto her he'd assumed she was trying to shake him off but he didn't let go. Taking advantage of her weakened state to hold her in place as the attack enveloped them both in a light. Regarding that possibility—-that reality in which Rowan gave himself credit...the reason he was able to tell Elara Fey was in trouble was a simple one. So simple in fact Rowan Agoul didn't assume it only applied to him at the moment. Regarding the folks on the battlefield there was only one within that grandiose moment as Elara Fey stood over her opponent that saw her as simply Elara Fey.
And that was Rowan Agoul.
Elara: "ROWAN!!!!!!!!"
And as that white light finally swallowed him whole, the woman known as the hero of Geonosia, had simply been reduced to a crying young girl.