I gather up the rest of my belongings and head out, leading the small group out of Franco's house. Everyone bids him farewell and thanks him for his hospitality. Now that we are leaving the Alchemist's house, our minds drift to Whitewind. We don't know what we'll find there, but the hope is that we arrive there before Merava does.
As we are walking along, Kael and Kavella distance themselves from the rest of the group and talk amongst themselves. I'm not sure why, and I'm not sure what they're talking about. They've been close ever since they rescued the Alchemist's son, Noah. Or is his name Fox? He introduced himself to me as Fox, but everyone's been calling him Noah.
Noahfox is talking to the newest addition to our team, Laela, and he is also talking to Cabel. Apparently the three of them all know each other. Friends of the Alchemist, I'm assuming. Since they have their own little group, and Kael is off with Kavella, that leaves two people for me to talk to. Natalia and Portia.
I turn, half expecting to see the two of them eager and ready to talk with me, but I'm mistaken. The two girls in the back of the group are chatting up a storm. Apparently Natalia and Portia have overcome their differences and are now close friends. It makes sense, they have a bit in common, plus they were picking herbs together. Who doesn't bond over herb picking?
Right about now, realization kicks in. Everyone has their group and their friends, and yet I'm walking all by myself in the middle of them. Nobody is talking to me, or trying to talk to me. Aren't I supposed to be the leader here? Shouldn't…
Well, it's not like they all hate me. I can just squeeze myself into one of these groups and start talking away. I mosey over to Kael and Kavella and sync my steps along with theirs.
"Hey!" I say. "I haven't talked to you two since you got back. How did it go?"
Kavella turns to me, and I notice her face is a little flushed. "I'm sorry Sigmund, but can we have a minute? Kael and I are talking about something personal."
"Uh…y-yeah, of course," I stutter. I move away from them, feeling a little bad. Since when has Kael not talked to me about personal things? And I thought I was the one who Kavella confided in. Did I miss something here?
After being rejected by my two best friends, Portia and Natalia are glad to engage me in a conversation. Whatever they're talking about doesn't interest me too much, but it's nice having someone show they care.
Portia walks alongside of me and gives me the occasional flirtatious comment and smile. It bothered me when I first met her, but now I've warmed up to it a little. She's actually not that bad of a person…and she's pretty, too.
If all that wasn't enough, she's also completely interested in me. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to start dating or whatever. I mean, I should wait until after Merava dies, but…I don't know. Portia is certainly nice and sweet enough to get along with. I'll have to think more on that one.
I look back at Kavella and Kael, and I see they are both still absorbed in whatever it is they are discussing. It doesn't seem like I'm going to get a chance to speak with them before we arrive at Whitewind.
We see the smoke coming from the town long before we get there, and when we get there we realize the extent of the damage. "I don't like the looks of that," Laela announces to the group, pointing at the smoke on the horizon. "Let's pick up the pace…"
The town of Whitewind is literally on fire when we get there, and there are Imp Spirits zooming around everywhere. This is definitely the work of Merava, the Imp Queen. She has the ability to summon Imp Familiars, and it seems like she's finally taking advantage of that.
"Dear gods!" Laela exclaims. She rushes forward into the town. "Hurry, you guys! We need to stop this right away!"
Cabel and Laela take charge of the situation and proceed into the burning wreckage. I run alongside Kael and Kavella, when a group of six Imps suddenly sets upon us.
Noah is there in a flash, and he kills three of the Imps before I even have a chance to draw my sword. Once I do, though, I take care of two more of them. Kavella uses the slow but powerful Animus Technique Banish to send the last Imp away.
I take a look around, and I see there are Imps everywhere. I don't know where Cabel and Laela went off to, but as Natalia runs up to me, she informs me that Cabel is protecting Laela while she uses Animus techniques to put out the fire. Portia rushes up with her gun, pointing it around everywhere. I don't think she understands that her bullets won't do her any good against these things.
"I'll protect this lunatic," Natalia ushers to Portia. "We need to clear these Imps out, though, and fast! They're starting more fires!"
It's no secret that Imps are masters of Animus techniques, specifically ones that involve fire. A swarm of Imps this size could easily raze an entire village. This isn't good. I've spotted at least a dozen Imps zooming around the fires, eager to engulf the entire town in flames. I can't help but wonder where the hell all of the Spiritguards and protectors are. Are they dead already? Did Merava take care of town security first?
"There aren't any Spiritguards or protectors here," Kael says darkly, almost as if he read my mind. "Because the town hasn't been letting Vitarine sell here, they've run out of money to support the local Spiritguards, and they've all left town!"
"Damn, are you kidding me? This whole town is unprotected from stuff like this?!"
I behead an Imp that gets too close to our group and we continue to run through the flames. Portia is in the center of all of us; since Portia cannot kill any of these Imps, she's a huge liability in this situation. I think I understand why Kavella didn't want to bring her along, now. Still…Portia makes me happy, and I can protect her while killing these Imps without a problem.
We proceed into the burning town and we take out at least a dozen more Imps as we go. Kavella and Kael are using Animus techniques to douse the flames while we go along. We're proceeding along the eastern edge of town, while I believe Laela and Cabel are at the western end. I would worry about the two of them, but I think they have more than enough power to protect themselves. They are both older than the rest of us, and much more experienced.
As I watch Noah flash through the Imps and take them out three to four at a time, I am absolutely stunned. He's never even been through the Spiritguard Training Program, and yet he is insanely better than any of us. I've never seen someone move so fluid and so quickly. It's almost like the kid was born to kill.
His face turns to me as he drives both of his swords into an Imp's head and throws it to the ground. His eyes are reflecting off of the burning flames, and I swear I see a demonic look in his face. When he's killing, it's almost like he ceases to become human.
Natalia is taking out a fair share herself. Because she uses a spear to battle, she's able to have a much bigger range than all the rest of us. She's single-handedly shielding the group, while Noah is off killing Imps that are only slightly near us.
As we wind into the town center, I see a familiar form standing in the center of Whitewind. It is not Merava, it is the other Spirit we have been hunting for. Andrakias.
During our last encounter with Andrakias, we didn't get a chance to see his powers at all. He ran off with Merava in tow and as such I have no idea what he's capable of. I know he's physically powerful, strong enough to throw me down to the floor with no effort at all. The disgustingly distorted goat head turns to all of us as we see him, and I see long dagger-like claws retract from the flesh on his hands.
Before Andrakias can attack us, we are ambushed by a group of Imps from behind. Noah is the first to respond, but he doesn't head for the Imps. Instead, he's charging toward Andrakias. That idiot. Does he really think he can kill a Spirit Lord by himself?
Oh wait, he did. That's not important though, because Andrakias is much more powerful than even an average Spirit Lord. If Noah goes for this alone, he'll be ripped to pieces.
Because of that revelation, I run alongside Noah in order to attack Andrakias with him. If I don't help, Noah will die. If I do help, we might make some progress. As I start to charge, I see Natalia has taken the initiative too. I hear a gunshot from behind me and I see a bullet lodge itself into Andrakias' arm. I'm glad Portia is helping, but she's doing more harm than good. A bullet won't hurt the Spirit Lord, but it can certainly hurt one of us!
I can't use Cross Style here - I'd just launch myself into the flames. Good old-fashioned swordplay will be the best I can do - unless I learn how to leap around like a maniac. Like Noah.
Kael and Kavella are battling the Imp group that ambushed us when we arrived. They're buying us some time to attack and kill Andrakias before he has a chance to fully respond.
Noah reaches Andrakias first, and cuts him twice with miraculous swiftness. As Andrakias swings his claws to counter, Noah blocks the first attack and scampers away to avoid the second. He is sort of like a fox, with his quick and cunning movements.
Natalia attacks next, while Andrakias has his back turned. She lodges her spear right into Andrakias' back, but she gets it stuck in there. Andrakias wails in pain and starts thrashing around while the spear's pole swings around. He catches Natalia in the stomach with the pole of her spear, and she crashes to the floor. She could have easily dodged that attack, but she was clumsy. The burns on her shoulder have no fully recovered yet, and she's in a ton of pain. I don't blame her for being clumsy.
Now that Andrakias has taken quite a bit of damage, he's in a total bloodlust. He closes his fist right as I reach him and punches me in the chest. It hurts, really bad, and I find myself falling to the floor. I see my sword land at least three feet away from me, and I curse under my breath. Why am I always on the floor during these fights?
Andrakias surely would've killed me, but by now Kavella and Kael have finished up the small group of Imps that were attacking us before. Kavella's staff knocks against the side of Andrakias' head while Kael uses an Animus technique to bind the Spirit's legs together. It only works for a short while, because Andrakias is too physically powerful to be constrained by such a technique.
I jump to my feet, ready to attack for real. I see Noah is creeping around to my left, trying to look for an opening, but Andrakias is going too wild to attack.
To my right, I see Natalia rush up to the Spirit, unarmed. I have no idea what she's doing, but maybe she's planning on ripping her spear out of him to get her weapon back. It would be a lot smarter for her to stay back and let the fight progress, but she's never been one for making good decisions.
"Nat, get back!" Kael screams. He's not a good fighter, but he's good at analyzing the situation. He knows what Natalia is doing is risky, and it could cost Noah or myself if we have to jump in and assist her. She turns to Kael as he screams, but the distraction proves detrimental. While she is distracted, Andrakias lunges at her and drags one of his claws all the way down the front of Natalia's body. I feel the blood drain out of my face as I see Andrakias pull back a bloody claw and see a spray of red come from Natalia's body. She crumples to the floor immediately, and Andrakias lets out a loud noise that sounds like a triumphant wail.
None of us have time to check on Natalia, not with Andrakias so close. After seeing her go down, though, my blood reaches a boiling point. I promised myself I wouldn't let another person die to these damned Spirits, and yet I just saw Natalia get ripped open. Without thinking, I rush in. Kael calls my name and tells me to stop, but I don't listen to him. I'm rushing forward, recklessly, and I know that if Andrakias attacks me like this, I'm as good as dead. I'm completely open and susceptible to attacks.
I see Andrakias' arm come up. It will reach me before my sword reaches him. I'm terrified of the claws, because I know in just a few short moments they'll be digging into my intestines.
From my left, I see a flash of green and suddenly I notice both of Noah's swords are sticking out of Andrakias' body. Noah has hurled himself onto the demon's right shoulder and arm to pin down his claw, so that I wouldn't be hit. If I don't kill Andrakias now, Noah will die for trying to save me. He's putting all of his faith into my attack, so I can't let him down, no matter what.
I let Crossed Heart thrust forward, and I catch Andrakias just at the side of his neck. I drag the sword through mercilessly, and in a flash it is all over. Andrakias' severed head lands next to me, the grim eyes still looking onward with rage.
Noah hops off of the decapitated body and shakes off his swords. "That was excellent, let's do it again!" he drools. I can sense the bloodlust coming off of him. He didn't fear death in that situation at all. The only thing he could think about was victory.
I have a lot more on my mind, and apparently so do Kael and Kavella. They've already reached Natalia. I run to her side, leaving my sword there on the ground.
I'm thankful that Natalia is still breathing when I get there. "Are you alright!?" Kael holds Natalia's head up and speaks to her.
"I…need a…elixir," she moans in pain.
"Damn, Natalia, stop thinking about Vitarine elixirs! You're bleeding all over the place!"
"We need to get her to a doctor, or at least to Laela," Kavella says. "Laela can stop the bleeding. I never learned the Animus technique for that, it was too difficult to pull off."
I look around the burning town. There's no way we're going to get her to a doctor like this. Anybody that lived in Whitewind has either fled or died by now. Precious few buildings are still standing, and there are probably a few Imps still lurking around. Once I get a good look around the town, though, I notice almost all of the fires have died out. Laela must be working exceptionally hard.
Kael and I brace Natalia in between us. We're hoping we can carry her somewhere safer, out of the smoke, where Laela can take care of her. I know Natalia won't last long like this. There's far too much blood.
We've only moved about thirty feet before Laela comes rushing over to us. She sees the problem immediately and she asks us to set Natalia down. At that point, she starts working her magic on the fallen Spiritguard.
Kavella offers to go put out the rest of the fires, and is joined by Cabel, Portia, and Noah. Kael and I stay by Natalia's side.
As Laela is trying to heal Natalia, she keeps shaking her head. It worries me, that she does this. "I can stop the bleeding with my Animus techniques, but that's all I can do," Laela sighs. "This isn't good. We need to get her somewhere soon, to a doctor, or she won't make it."
"Where the hell are we supposed to find a doctor!?" Kael shouts. "Look at this place!"
"The far western part of the town hasn't been damaged," Laela says. "There were several people over there, I think that's where they're gathering refugees. We need to bring her there immediately. These wounds can't just be sealed, she needs to be treated, or this will get infected and she will die."
After the bulk of Natalia's injuries are taken care of, Kael and I haul her over to the other part of town. Sure enough, there is a large group of people there, just on the outskirts of town. They haven't fled yet, because they have nowhere to go. They simply stayed in the one part of town that was still intact and hoped it would stay that way.
Laela is running around asking for a doctor, and someone refers us to an emergency house that was set up to take care of the wounded. We bring Natalia there, only to find that the emergency building has very few people in it. There's more staff than patients. That must mean…
It must mean almost everyone in the fire died before they could escape…
It's not hard to get a doctor to come over to Natalia and start taking care of her. The female doctor takes a look at the claw marks, and then notices the burn on Natalia's shoulder. We tried our best to care for that burn, but now that a real doctor is on the scene we should be able to get that taken care of.
"We need to go after Merava," I growl. I'm standing there with Laela and Kael. Natalia has fallen unconscious after asking the doctor if he was selling Vitarine.
"Right now," I plead. "We can't let this happen to anyone else!"
"I agree with you," Laela says. "You've already killed one of the Spirit Lords, correct? That means that Merava is all by herself. We must move quickly."
"Yeah," I say. "Doctor, is she going to make it?" I ask.
"She should be okay," the doctor sighs. "I can't promise you anything, but she's certainly stable right now."
"Then we have to go," I order. "Come on, you two. Doctor, I'm going to have to ask you to take care of her for me." I set down my bag on the table next to Natalia. "You can have all the money, anything in there you want, if you make sure you keep Natalia alive. Come on Kael, Laela. We need to find the others and get moving."
"I…want to stay here with Natalia," Kael says. "I don't want to just leave her alone. I know Merava is still out there, but honestly…am I much help? I'd rather be here, where I'm needed."
One of Natalia's eyes pops open, and she looks at Kael menacingly. "You better not stay," she growls. "Because even if I die here, I'll come back to life just to kill you for abandoning Sigmund! They need your help, just like they need my help. I…ugh. I obviously can't fight, you moron. You need to take my place."
Kael stands up from the chair. "You want me to just leave you here alone!?"
"Yes!" she coughs. "Go find me some damn Vitarine elixirs while you're out. Now hurry up and get going!"
Laela and I bid farewell to Natalia and proceed out the emergency building. Looking out to town, I see there is still a large amount of smoke, but the orange glare of fire is gone. Kavella must have successfully put out the rest of the fires.
Kael joins us shortly. He had some final arguing to do with Natalia before he could come down. It's just like her, honestly. She's sitting up there on what could be her deathbed, shouting at Kael and asking for Vitarine elixirs. Some things never change.
The three of us head out from there, back to where we fought with Andrakias. We figure if we are going to meet the rest of the group, it would be there.
We catch back up with Kavella and the rest of the group toward the center of town, exactly where we thought they'd be, and inform them of Natalia's situation. She's in bad shape, I explain, but she's most likely going to survive this one.
"So we're going after Merava?" Kavella says. "She obviously set this whole town in flames in an attempt to slow us down. The longer we stall here, the closer Merava gets to awakening the Spirit King."
"Even Spirits have to rest," I growl. "We'll travel all day and all night if we have to. We'll find her…and kill her!"