Legend Blood [FINISHED, please lock/PG-13/IC] *remake*

[Love of Ghibli]

Finally the mighty tree beast was vanquished and Clarice had an integral part in its defeat. If she wasn’t busy trying to maintain her speed and gradually slow down to the point that a misplaced pebble wouldn’t kill her she would be smiling right now.  It took a full minute to power down to a reasonable level. She looked around at the other members of the saving all of existence party and wondered should she try to kill any of them. It’s not that she didn’t have a particular need to kill them it was the fact that pretty much everyone she knew had bad blood with her and people she didn’t know. Well best to strike first anyway. Nevertheless she moved against such harsh actions deeming them non-productive to her current situation. With the final boss distraction out of the way she could move on to finding that random vampire who dare made her get serious and she still had to find this Adrian fellow. Clearly with her priorities straight she left to take care of business. The celebrations would have to come later.

Meanwhile Adrian’s battle with the Ice-black flame wielding swordsman was finally over. He had to admit the boy had a lot more tricks up his sleeve than he thought a swordsman would but it was entertaining nonetheless. He was tired a little though having exhausted so much energy…twice. He was down in the cellar beneath the castle trying to figure out how he ended up fighting two opponents like he did that weren’t even full fledge vampires. As he wondered in thought he reflected on the battles and while the second one had a lot more shenanigans in it the first one was truly the most memorable battle. Never before has he seen a human invoke that much of his primal instincts and made him truly let loose and the thought never crossed his mind that it would be a woman. For the first time it was unfortunate that he watched someone die. Oh the satisfaction he would have gotten if he was able to separate her head from her next with his own sword. He knew it would take a load of time to regain some movement in his legs so best to just enjoy this break while he can.

Adrian also sensed the absence of the giant tree of doom that had been plaguing all living things.  Seeing that he and his combatant were underground they managed to avoid a couple of torrents of leafy destruction.  This naturally meant that the rebel alliance had won and that he would have a lot of killing to do when he got better. He was already annoyed yet entranced at the level of strength of his next victims. He let out a light chuckle, but then he heard some footsteps. Adrian knew it couldn’t be the boy he just fought because he went off in a different direction. Well if it was a random peasant it wouldn’t be a problem, enemy soldier…meh still not a problem. What stepped out of the shadows however was much worse. He smelled the blood dripping from her ankle and he immediately knew that it was her, the savage black demon returning from the grave. It was then Adrian had actually entertained the thought that the swordsman he just fought may have actually killed him. But he quickly perished the thought. It was easier to believe that this woman cheated a lame death than to believe he actually lost a fight.

“So I see you’re alive.” He spoke calmly to her still with his back against the wall not moving. Glad to see you are too she replied.  “I got into a scuffle with that swordsman kid who was watching me lay that big black round ass up, down, and across this castle.” Oh Nameless did this. Now that’s sad for both of us and yet you still talkin’ trash. “Don’t count the boy out, he had some tricks. Though I must say, I miss the days when swordsmen used swords.” Adrian used all of his might to stand up straight and face his opponent.  “So are we going to do this thing or do we have more to talk about.” Actually I have one thing to ask you, before I separate your head from the rest of your nicely sculpted body. Do you know where I can find an…Adrian at? “Why?” People keep telling me I’m a human version of him. To be compared to male vampire is nothing but the lowest of insults. “No, being compared to a human female with hair problems is the lowest of insults.” What? “I’m Adrian, hello” Goodbye.

Clarice immediately ran towards the injured vampire with scimitar in hand ready to thrust his head off in one quick motion but her footing would be a little off seeing as she had injured her ankle.  Adrian was ready with a little inventive counter strategy of his own. With the power of his mind he telekinetically shot one of his swords into his own arm and used that force to block her attack. Surprisingly enough the tactic worked as Clarice stand back in shock and awe though that wasn’t going to stop her from making good on her death threats. It was quite clear this battle was going to end with one of them dead. After seconds of back and forth blades clashing they both passed out unconscious.

Weeks later though they didn’t know it was weeks both of the blood thirsty combatants woke up in a fierce panic almost. Warriors of their caliber don’t panic they just look around for the next target to kill. It was interesting to say the least they both looked at each and realized they had both failed to kill each other. A mistake that would soon be rectified by the both of them. They tried to lunge at each other from their respective beds but thankfully muscle atrophy gets the better of both of them.  Both of them trying to move out of sheer hatred and the need for the other die just couldn’t.  It was quite entertaining to be honest to the two on lookers who were waiting in the doorway.

Once the prideful warriors realized they weren’t killing each other anytime soon they looked at their surroundings. While Adrian’s heightened vampire senses honed in on the sounds of farm life. It was Clarice who looked around at the décor and showed the adequate levels of fear. Oh God no! Adrian looked at the color vanish from his adversaries complexion. “What? What is it?” He inquired as in an odd instance he was starting to feel fear. Though that is a good question what scares monsters.  Bigger and more powerful monsters would be the logical answer. He turned his head to the right and then he saw the silhouettes of what would be women.  They walked into the vampire’s line of sight and he wasn’t impressed. What was interesting though is that he could plainly see that neither were they.

They were the same skin complexion as Clarice but they were clearly older. One of them even had the same wild afro that Clarice had; the other wore her hair braided into long thin strands of braids.  Adrian and Clarice were able to struggle into their respective beds without the help of these two ladies.  The two ladies weren’t really offering though they just liked the sight of watching those two struggle. Adrian now prepped up trying to get some feeling into his legs watched as Clarice had just let her guard down. He looked at the ladies and then back at Clarice and he kept going back and forth and his eyes were widening as he was putting it together. 

Yep the afroed woman said out loud. The other one chucked at Adrian’s facial expression. Clarice simply shuttered at the this humiliation. “How is that even possible?” He asked in genuine intrigue. It’s quite simple the braided one stated. We hired someone to be her “father” and I carried the baby hence my fashion choices. She stuck out her arms to reveal that she was in robe liked gown that draped her body to compliment her baby weight. The afro’d one wore more skin tight clothing that showed off her feminine muscles.  Yeah we’re Clarice’s mothers alright and yeah that’s about it. We came to the castle after this random maelstrom of leaves kept killing off all of our livestock and I had to use so much magic just to keep what little resources we have still alive. Nevertheless we managed. We figured that if you were up against something that could affect us all the way out here then you may actually need back up for once.  And by the looks of it you surpassed our imposed limitations what 3 times from what it looks like.

Adrian was annoyed at how these humans were talking about the late Elenear so dismissively he was going to do something about. It was as that thought entered his head he felt a touch on his forehead and he looked up at the afro’d one with her index finger on his head. But when did she get this close and why didn’t he sense her presence…on any level. Don’t think about it she said with slight condescending chuckle, you are in no condition to even attempt to make moves unless we say it’s okay. The braided one grabbed the afro’d one on the shoulder “Come on Latrice let them rest. We have to prepare dinner anyway, it’s getting late.” They both left the room leaving Adrian and Clarice in the same room. Adrian wanted to take another shot at Clarice but when he went to move he quickly realized he couldn’t.

Its mom’s knocking ability. Clarice said lying in her bed. “What?” When she touched your forehead she basically turned off a piece of your nervous system. Your brain will not send or receive signals from your limbs. You are essentially paralyzed. “That’s her magic?” Not really that’s just some random trick she knows Clarice and Adrian chuckled. So this is where you come from. I can essentially respect that.  As they just existed there they actually looked at each other for the first time not as blood thirsty murder rage targets.

For the next week Clarice and Adrian were simply getting their strength back from not having any kind of substance for weeks. They helped out around the farm and Adrian had to constantly be reminded who was in charge because he kept trying to kill when he felt he had the chance.  Though he had learned that Clarice’s parents were Claire and Latrice so logically their daughter gets a combination of those names. Second Claire was quite the powerful magician. Her ability to commune with all aspects of nature was almost like that of Gaia herself. Of course Adrian and Clarice were allowed to have some fun as they raided surviving trade shipments for supplies. Clarice’s mothers were ruthless in a lot of aspects. This did help replenish some portions of Clarice’s armory.

After a week of being taken care of by Clarice’s mothers both Clarice and Adrian were back to their original fighting shape. Naturally they took went to an open area in a forest somewhere and decided to pick up where they left off. One of them has to die or else how can the other live a fulfilling life bathing in the blood of their enemies. Luckily there was not a single soul to interfere this time. Adrian didn’t start off with one sword he unleashed all of them and to show proper respect Clarice opened with her signature Onyx storm body double technique. Though this time Adrian was a little more prepared.

 

Their rematch went on for hours felling many trees and scaring a lot of passersby. Unfortunately their fight spilled into a village and with that there was a lot of unnecessary bloodshed. The innocent humans were just in the way. Their bodies didn’t even slow down the blades as they were in the way. No one was safe. These two were mustering the will to kill each other and eventually they reached some facet of a barn in the village. Their swords crossed and through a twist of fate they both slipped on some hay and simply fell in on each other. They looked at each other. The momentum was gone, same with the murder rage, there was just them. As they stared at each other one thing led to another and…another kind of thrashing went on.

Five Months Later

 

It was an historic day in Lath as the new vampire emperor was about to be crowned. Clarice didn’t really want to have any part of it seeing as that part of her life was over and she had yet to kill all of the dragon’s foolish men who dared to open fire on her and the ladies of Ebony Thunder. Adrian had insisted though seeing as he just wanted to know who would dare replace one such as great as Elenear. They arrived to the event somewhat cloaked and disguised so that none of the participants in the revolution would recognize the two of them. Though outside of the afro one might not recognize Clarice she had gained a large amount of weight in the mid-section, her ankles clearly retained a lot of water, and face was a tad thicker. Nevertheless she traveled to see this “historic” event.

Adrian saw that they were going to name Niasa the new Lord, and thank goodness that she opted out of that title. He would hate to have to throw a sword at her head in public, especially with his new responsibilities.  But the new king appeared to be some boy Alsa, the long lost brother of Elenear, needless to say Adrian clinched his fist and quickly made for his sword.

"He is small therefore weak, he is kind therefore weak..." He beat the massive tree monster that was Elenear, “there…wait what?” Yeah I remember that face he just stood there while we were all fighting but all of a sudden he blasted the tree demon to nothingness.  Adrian wanted to say something about her calling the true king a tree demon but when looked at her he saw that she was more confused than he was.  Clarice came out of her confusion and grabbed her stomach in a sudden pain. Oh there’s a kick. Adrian looked at Clarice and then they both looked back at the newly crowned young king. They both realized and smirked that this wasn’t their world anymore. Hopefully they made an impact on it while they could they may pop in every now and again to make sure the right amount of fear is in place or serve someone some “humble pie.” Other than that there they had to concede this one to the future. If only for a short while.

[Gαr]

Ed had passed out a little while after his fight with Adrian. The next time he woke up, he found himself in a hospital bed with bandages around his chest and smaller bandages everywhere else he was cut and stabbed, which was a lot of places. His body ached all over and felt numb in some places, forcing him to remain bedridden for the remainder of his recovery. A week later, Ed was discharged from the hospital, making him have the second fastest recovery, next to Lyon, though he still felt sore, making him use his sword as a makeshift cane. On the other hand, Ed still remained in the hospital since he had no where else to go. He was there when Alsa woke up, and Ed decided to get to know the kid, since Ed wasn't that much older than him. Eventually, Ed offered to train Alsa in the way of the sword, but he never got a straight answer.

 

After a month, the hospital kicked Ed out. Having nothing really better to do and nowhere else to go, Ed went back up north to train and master his black dragon technique. He stopped by his old tribe of ice mages and holed himself up in a nearby cave. For four months, he trained, making new wounds, opening old ones. Ed took a short break in his training to attend Alsa's coronation. Afterwards, he offered Alsa the training he did when Alsa in the hospital, which he declined, and Ed told him where he would be if Alsa ever needed him. He returned north and continued training.

 

After about five years, Ed mastered the black dragon technique. Ed stayed with the tribe for the next five years for no other reason than to pick a few new tricks and just be with nature. A year before Ed left, a young boy no older than ten, named Dave, approached Ed asked him to train him. Ed happily agreed since he always wanted an apprentice, which was kind of the secret motive to why he offered to train Alsa. While they were exploring the mountain, they came across a a good sized chunk of strange metal. Dave assumed it was a magic rock, and Ed said it might've fallen from space, but that it might have magical properties. When the year was up, they traveled out of the north and back to Nuevida. They passed Lyon and Kate, said hello, and continued on each others way.

 

They built a small house on the outskirts of Nuevida to set up a permanent base of operations near the capital. They would make trips to the castle to establish a presence there and to train with the Royal Guard and to train them a bit. Despite living near Nuevida and making annual trips, they would travel around most of the time traveling. Ed wanted to expose Dave to as much of the world as possible, so he could develop a love for nature like Ed and learn about the application of swordsmanship and ice magic in the real world, outside of the north. When they came back from one of their trips, Ed got around to finding a use for the rock they found, make it into a sword.

 

Ed spent several days in a forge with Dave keeping close watch. When the sword was finished, Ed said that the sword would be Dave's when his training was complete, in the meantime, Ed would hold on to it. With the leftover metal, Ed made a short sword for personal use. Ten years had passed since Ed started training Dave an it been twenty years since the rebellion and his fight with Adrian. Ed and Dave went to the castle for the anniversary and meet with Alsa. Despite being an such an important event and meeting with royalty, they didn't wear anything special they both didn't really care and they weren't exactly known to dress nicely. Twenty years had gone by so fast, yet so much had happened. Ed couldn't wait to meet with former friends and allies and introduce them to Dave and introduce Dave to his former friends and allies.

[Asriel Dreemurr]

Alexi Sa'Lien awakened in the pile of rubble which his body had been secreted away in, and found himself somewhat disappointed to be robbed of his proper flesh again.  Though this body of his had its benefits, one of them being that it was stronger than he had been even in his prime during the war which had earned him the titles of Butcher and Doctor.  Proof of this mechanical body's strength came from the fact that it had survived what would only be described as a super-massive eruption of mana.  Sitting up from the rubble, which had in fact been turned into a pile of slag from the explosion, he looked around at the destruction that had been wrought and found Asla von Mira lying upon the ground unconscious as well as finding none other than John Alexander's body laying upon the ground though still intact. 

 

The good doctor was well aware that there was sure to be an influx of people towards the ruins of the castle, and he knew that his plans could not be brought to fruition if John's body was ever found.  And so he did something which many would find unthinkable.  He stole the body of who was likely the greatest hero the humans had ever known, and disappeared into the night with it.  A simply invisibility spell had him hurtling through the air carrying the body completely unseen towards his laboratory which he entered through the upper window.

 

"Well, John, seems I'm going to be saving your life.  Though not in a way you're likely to thank me for."  He laid the gold-clad corpse of the hero upon a large table, and immediately set about the necessary proceedings.  He didn't have a power source like his own, that would have to come later, but for now he did have something else. 

 

There was a time when the souls of the dead would be entrapped in small, specially crafted gems to enchant weapons.  A few centuries ago this practice had been outlawed and every piece of literature on the subject that could be found was destroyed.  However, the good doctor had managed to come across an old tome which concerned the production and use of these "soul gems" in his years of military service.  It was what had originally interested him in magic, and though it was punishable by death simply to possess a soul gem he not only possessed them but also grew them.  And so he held a particularly large, sinister looking gem over the body of the phoenix. 

 

He smiled widely as he saw the tell-tale signs of a soul being sucked into the gem from the body.  It seemed that John Alexander had not chosen to pass on to the next life.  This was a very good thing, as it allowed for his rebirth.  Though...with the proper spells this pour soul would believe anything that Alexi wanted him...or perhaps HER to believe.  Oh this was going to be a most enjoyable...experiment for sure.

 

............................

 

Six Months Later

 

............................................

 

In the crowd gathered for the coronation of Lord Asla von Mira there were two figures present.  One was one who many among the group recognized immediately as the famed soldier, sorcerer, and scientist that was Alexi Sa'Lien, and not in the form of a metal construct either.  Through his own experimentation, he had managed to change the shape of his body to perfectly mimic that of his own vampiric form.  It was a most fortunate thing that Elnaer had discreetly disposed of his body rather than give him a funeral, as showing up after several months of absence was easier than coming back from the dead.  He stood there clad as he had been many times before, wearing a freshly cleaned and pressed military uniform bearing more than a few medals awarded for valor in battle and generally serving in the vampiric armies.  Over this, he wore a plain white lab coat which he was very fond of.  After all, this way he could carry many things with him at once.  He did not, however, carry his officer's saber as he had before.  Today he bore a pair of new sabers, brightly shining silver hilt guards stylized into dragons curled about the hilts themselves were all that showed of these blades aside from the plain black scabbards within which they sat.  He had been showing himself around in this new replication of his former body for some time now, and many had stated that, despite the hair which was still white and the pointed beard of the same color, there was a certain youth to him again.  He certainly did not look the part of a frail old man, and despite having recently celebrated his One hundred and sixty second birthday he seemed ready to live another century at least.  There were several ideas as to how he had achieved this, but not a single one of them came close to the truth.

 

Next to him, though, was a surprisingly young vampiric woman who seemed as if she could have been his daughter.  Though there were a few exceptions, as where Alexi's eyes were a bright and vibrant green her own were pale blue.  Also, it was well-known that in his youth the doctor had sported coal-black hair yet this woman's was a light and almost coppery brown.  She wore a dress befitting the occasion, as well as the upper-class of the man whom many assumed to be her father or grandfather, as the apparent difference in age was great enough for either to be the case.  Of course there was an interesting piece of adornment to her.  The dress she wore bore a breastplate, a bright golden heraldic breastplate in fact.  This was not the only armor the woman wore,  though the rest of it was well hidden behind the dress.  As the time came for the appropriate honoring of the new vampire lord, both of the figures brought their right hands up stiffly to their foreheads in a salute.  Of course, not feeling much like a social person at the moment, Alexi Sa'Lien was not going to stay for the party to follow the coronation.

 

"Come along, Joan," He stated as he turned away to return to his home and the laboratory within it, "let's go home."

[Piercer of the Heavens]

With his shield protecting Alexi and his lance lodged into the tree Luis could do nothing but watch the battle. For a brief moment it seemed that the tree was going to gain the advantage again, but then, then something incredible happened. Alsa somehow got incredible power and fired one blast at the tree destroying it. Luis couldn't help but be in aw, this young vampire prince, who didn't have much fighting abilities, managed to destroy the monster. Something that all the mighty warriors in this battle couldn't do. He gave a small smile, realizing that everything was going to be fine after this day. With that his armor, shield, and lance dissipated; ready to be called upon once again.

 

Once he was sure the tree was dead he went to go find Alexi, but something was wrong. When he reached the rubble were he placed Alexi Luis couldn't find him. Luis began to nervously check all around, but nothing. He just couldn't find Alexi's body anywhere. Could it have been destroyed during the fight? he nervously thought. No, my shield was protecting him from all the rubble and attacks. Did he leave? Luis searched for a few more minutes, but just couldn't find anything. He then felt his body grow severely weak, finally feeling the effects of the battle. "No, I must find him." he whispered as he fell to the floor losing consciousness. 

 

Luis awoke in a bed, and unknown bed to him. He saw that his hands were covered in bandages along with his chest and head.  "What the heck" he said to himself as he sat up on the bed. "Where-"

 

"In a hospital." A soothing female voice responded. "They found you along with many unconscious people and you're all here in the hospital." 

 

"Arael!?" Luis said with excitement. He looked at the door and there stood Arael and her daughter Capella. "I'm glad you're okay, both of you." With that all three of them hugged and began talking. All of hem were laughing and having fun, something that neither of them has had in a long time. Something that they have craved for a long time. With that they new that their love at first sight was real. Nothing from now on would tear them apart. 

 

::::::::::

6 Months Later

::::::::::

 

All three of the newly founded family was at the celebration were Alsa was to be crowned Lord. Something was different with Arael though. Her stomach seemed inflated. It couldn't be that she was getting fat though, since it was only her abdomen that was larger than usual. A smile was on every person's face. Somehow everybody knew that everything was going to be fine. That peace would once again be brought between humans and vampires. After that 3 more months passed, and that when Luis finally had a kid. It seems that Arael was pregnant those moths ago and finally gave birth to a healthy daughter. Of course this daughter was a human-vampire mix, but no one really cared anymore. After that Luis lived a peaceful life, never needing to fight again. Capella ended up becoming a teacher, needing never to fight as well. Luis and Arael grew old together, although Luis died years before Arael, he was only human after all. The tale of this warrior was over, but that does not mean that his daughter won't have one. It might even be more exciting than this one.

[a bad post]

Niasa faded in out of consciousness groaning even as the sounds of battle erupted around her it all seemed go in slow motion as Niasa slowly struggled to regain her senses. She shook her head attempting to clear her vision and blinked rapidly, which only blurred her vision even more and only regained her senses when a whizzing sound was heard from above, and the screams of someone near her.

 

Niasa’s senses restored she wiped her head around to see Aro hunched over the body of a man screaming at him, and her still fuzzy brain to take in the words he was saying… Commander… who… Commander Ptolemy! Niasa crawled over to where Aro kneeled ignoring the pain that shot through her with every movement to wear the commander of the royal gaurd lay dead. She stared incredulous, mouth agape. How… how could this have happened… as a young girl Niasa had remembered thinking that Ptolemy had been invincible that nothing could every defeat him, yet here he lay.

 

Swallowing her own grief she turned to Aro, and placed her hand on his shoulder, “He was proud of you. He died a happy man knowing that you’ll be here to help with the royal guard.” Of course Niasa had no way of knowing these things, but she just felt that it was the right thing to say.

 

The boy lifted his eyes they were full of despair, a deeply etched sadness, “How can you know this? I looked up to him, now what … as a kid I always dreamed of joining the royal guard and serving under him. So what do I do now forget and move on?”

 

“No, you can never forget, someone special like this will leave a mark on your heart forever, whether that mark is for better or for worse well that is all up to us. See we think that once someone dies it is the end of their story, but really its just another chapter to it, but now we, their loved ones, must write it in, and it us, the living, that show the people what kind of person they were.  I believe that you can use this to make you stronger, and I have confidence that you can do this Aro, show him his pride was not misplaced.” Aro looked up miserably as the princess finished, and found her face in a smile of kindness and gentleness.  

 

Both of their gazes were ripped away as they noticed Alsa launched a massive blast of energy totally obliterating Elnherjar and effectively ending the war. After everything had settled a concerned Niasa rushed to her brother collapsing over her brother’s unconscious body, and wept she had lost one brother tonight, could she really bare to lose another? This time it was Aro’s turned to comfort Niasa, and he cuddled the young vampire princess into her chest as she cried herself into unconsciousness.

 

Niasa would wake to the sterile environment of the court hospital a bandage around her chest the stab wound caused by her Uncle Lyon… Lyon was he alive. Niasa looked around to find Lyon unconscious on a bed a short ways away from her. She smiled hoping that after this ordeal they could patch their relationship up, have a new start in the name of family. Everyday Aro would visit her while he wasn’t helping train the new royal guards and would bring her news of the outside world. Niasa was one of the first released from the hospital her recovery unusually fast, even with the help Azami’s magic had provided.

In the coming months she would slowly return to her old routine, and care for the castle as it was rebuilt trying to find any books that had survived Elnear’s wrath and finding new ones for the library. She would practice her magic in offensive combative ways not wanting to be helpless again, and learned how to fight with the knife and bow from Aro. Speaking of which the relationship between Aro and the princess grew during these months, and by the time Alsa’s coronation toke place the two where nearly inseparable.

 

6 Months Later

 

It had been a month since Niasa’s coronation had taken place, but she had refused stating that Alsa was more fit than she to rule the vampires and patch their still shaky relations with the humans. Niasa smiled on that day looking down on the ceremony from balcony of her room sister love obvious in her eyes, she was proud of him he had been reluctant at first to accept the throne, but he had taken the responsibility of the vampire people on his shoulders, something Niasa would not have been able to do. Niasa watched as they put the crimson cape of the Vampire Lord around him, thinking that it fit him well, and the crimson sword of the Von Mira family. She would not be staying for the festivities though.

 

“Shouldn’t you be down there enjoying the celebration,” Aro had materialized in the doorway of her room, a smile on his face, as she had been packing what few possessions she would take with her.

 

“No I think its time I left this place there’s nothing for me here… nothing except for loss. Alsa will do a fine job as Vampire Lord this city doesn’t need me anymore, so I’ve decided that I’m leaving, plus… well let me show you.” Niasa lead Aro off to a small side room, were two baby girls slept in a crib.

 

“There Elnear’s, his fille de bas, he didn’t even know about them. Three months ago the mother asked me to take care of them saying that she couldn’t support them and that every time she looked at the children she thought of the darkness and violence that they were born out of, and so I toke them. I couldn’t just leave them, and they’re a peace of my brother.”

 

“Hmmm…” Niasa mused, “I can’t believe I still care for him after all this. You’d think I’d hate him for everything he did, but after all this I just can’t have that emotion in me anymore.”

 

“Well time to get moving I have a lot of ground to cover and even by horse it’ll take a while,” Niasa lifted up the two children, and placed them in a small whicker basket.

 

“Do you even know how to ride a horse?” Aro asked with an arched eyebrow.

 

“No, not particularly I was planning on improvising. Do you know how to ride a horse?” Niasa replied with a shy smile.

 

“Actually I do.” Aro said a smile forming on his lips.

 

“Come with me then Aro?” Niasa extended her hand walking out of the room.

 

“Where you go I go my Lady.”

 

------

 

In the next twenty years Niasa and Aro would build a large home just a little outside of half a mile of Noirelune, getting supplies from the town, and hiring a maid staff, but other than that no contact was made. Niasa would also be troubled by the fact that she hardly seemed to age at all, but Aro convinced her that it was just her immortal beauty; even the assurance of her love though did not put her worries to rest. Niasa would also hear voices from time to time not sure where they came from and they seemed to be in a sort of whisper.

 

Tamara and Scyllia though, the couples adopted daughters, grew up to be strong women, and the family happily lived together unaware of Niasa’s troubles, but on the eve of the New Year, the twentieth anniversary of the Battle of Nuevedia, Niasa snuggled into her husband assured everything was right with the world. 

[Kōsuke Ueki]

A child, born of a mysterious purpose. Born into a secret legend misinterpreted over many generations.

 

The legend originally speaks of the "City of the Dark" unleashing a mysterious plague when the full moon "glows like the crimson blood of the impure". As a result, a phenomenon takes place when humans begin to take the form of unspoken abominations that host the plague within them to be able to infect other humans, with a nature like an unrelenting predator. It is not known as to how the plague is possible, but theories explain that the plague is a form of viral mana that takes away the will of the victim and replaces it with natural predator instincts. The legend says that it will start in a certain point in time and continue to happen annually.

 

The legend also speaks of a "Draconic Beast" with the ability to retain his human will, take advantage of his predator instinct, and be able to tame others with the plague and lead them to his own ends. But, there also speaks of a resistance team, some of which have helped in the destruction of Elnherjar, who have the power to fight against the abominations and the "Draconic Beast". The legend also speaks of a man in that team who has a special mana from birth that have the power to resist and destroy the viral mana of the plague. He would come in contact with a "Cave of Gods" and be granted the godly power of the elves of old to push back the plague for good.

 

Over time, though, the legend had become nothing more of a myth to the people who believed that this man was a destroyer of worlds and the "Draconic Beast" was sent to protect the people of Lath, creating an army to do so. But, very few people know the truth. This man, is the one with the power to return peace to the "City of the Dark", otherwise known in Lath as the dark city of Noirlune, where the sky is always gray, and sunshine indicates a bad omen. As of Elnherjar's destruction, it has not come to pass, but it is rest assured to come to the light in the coming decades.

 

On the day of Elnherjar's destruction, the man, at age seven, was lying peacefully in his bed, sound asleep. By his face, he seems to be sleeping peacefully, but in his mind, something mysterious is happening. He is dreaming about walking through a cave, not knowing as to how far he's in to see if he can run back out. But, something is driving him to walk deeper into it. Soon enough, he walked into a room in the cave which seemed out of place. He saw a glass seal in front of his way deeper into the cave, and he noticed how it looked. It was tinted yellow and had a symbol in the middle that was, unknown to him, the elven word of "Seal".

 

He walked up to it slowly, and suddenly, the symbol began to glow. He then heard a booming, terrifying voice that he couldn't find the source to. "WHO ARE YOU!?" yelled the voice. "WHY ARE YOU HERE!? ANSWER ME, CRETON!!" The young boy screamed in sheer terror and wanted to run. But instead, he jolted from his sleep, his screams following suit. Soon enough, his mother ran into the room, his father not too far behind. His mother then embraced him as he soaked her beddress with tears. "Richard, dear, what is the matter?" she said to the boy, named Richard, with deep concern. He just kept crying while his mother patted his head. "It's alright, dear, I'm here."

 

5 minutes later, Richard had gone back to sleep, hoping that the nightmare wouldn't come back. And thankfully, it didn't, at least for a while.

 

::11 Years Later::

 

18-year-old Richard Mason stood in Noirlune's main square, where an announcement was taking place, though his parents couldn't make it as they were busy. The strange phenomenon that had plagued the city annually for the last two years was now to be expected to happen on this day. The leader of Noirlune's City Council, whose name escapes everybody's memory, has prepared to speak about this crisis. His plans would benefit all who knew someone to have fallen victim to the plague and prevent more casualties. But young Richard, he believes that if the plague are to be avoided, the source would have to be unveiled and be rid of.

 

"Thank you all for coming." began the leader of the City Council. "Today is the day in which the new phenomenon that started two years ago will come about again. As of now, there's no sign of the crimson moon taking place, but here's what you can do to avoid becoming infected with this plague and becoming one of 'them'." He then took out a piece of paper holding a list of actions. "Firstly, if you are unaware of when the crimson moon shall take form, the bell tower will ring three times to indicate it's begun. Second, you must all board up all open areas of your homes, including fireplaces, to ensure you don't come in contact with the crimson moon, or 'them'. Now any questions before I continue?"

 

He waited a few seconds to make sure he didn't miss anybody wanting to ask something. "Nobody?" he asked te crowd. Sighing, he continued to read off the list. "Thirdly, if any children or parents are left out of their homes the moment the crimson moon comes about, it's already too late to save them. Either they will be found by 'them', or become one of 'them'. Finally, do not confront or fight any of 'them' if they enter your house. It'll be too late once they find a way to reach you and infect you." He then put down the list, finishing his point. "Now, who would like to input on these new rules? Anybody?" Waiting a little longer, he noticed Richard's hand go up.

 

"Ah, you have some input young man?" he asked. Richard nodded as he walked up to the stage and lifted himself onto it. The City Council Leader then gave Richard the stand and he proceeded to the pedestal. "Actually, there is much that I'd to touch upon, if you do not mind?" The Leader then gave Richard the 'go ahead' gesture. Richard nodded as he looked out into the audience, all diverse with humans and vampires alike. "The day that this phenomenon took its course two years ago, was a day that brought confusion, but also a great relief to my life. Why? Because I was unaffected by this plague in its entirety."

 

Confusion and coversation spread amongst the crowd as the City Council Leader was shocked. "But how?" he had asked. "I cannot explain it, but it seems as if I'm the only human who is completely resistant to this plague." Richard began. "But I'd like to touch upon my opinion to these new rules. What I believe is, we should not have to cowardly hide ourselves in order to live another day. We should be able to fight back with every ounce of strength within ourselves, to make sure that we try to push this force, whatever it is, back into the chasm in which it originated." The coversations began to grow louder, and Richard had begun to chuckle.

 

"Your skepticism is healthy." he told the crowd. Silence then ensued as Richard continued. "But if we don't fight, how will peace be achieved? The coward's way out of a battle is either suicide or just letting the enemy finish you without any clear hesitation. Do you all want to be seen as cowards? Cowardly actions are foolish even in the face of death. These abominations are nothing more than savages that can be hunted down. Once one of your family becomes one of them, it's already too late to save them. They become complete animals, and will do nothing more than eat your flesh if you don't fight back!"

 

Richard's anger had become to take over a little, but he sighed and calmed himself as more silence continued through the crowd. "All I am saying is, you shouldn't let your lives be in vain. If you fight, you'll know that you did what you could to stop this plague. That's all I have to say. Thank you." He then walked off the stage and left through the back of the stage, returning home. "Well, that was an interesting opinion." said the City Council Leader. Then, Richard heard the Bell Tower ring once. His heart stopped. If it rang three times, it's time to run. He heard the bell a second time, and then a third...

 

Not hearing a fourth, Richard ran with a rush of adrenaline bringing him to his house. He then sees the moon glow crimson red, and begins to hear screaming from behind him. But, he knew that he wasn't effected, so that was something. But, he was the only one, and so his life is at serious risk, and most likely everybody who is outside. Because he was running so much, he could hear snarls from behind him, and the abominations were chasing him. But, because he didn't want to look back, he barely saw what those things had on them. Rough brown fur, claws, and fangs. Just like a wolf. He had the perfect word to describe them. Werewolves.

 

Getting a pretty good distance on the human-wolf hybrids, he slams the door in his house and seals it up with a wooden bar. Breathing heavily, he begins to search for his parents. "Mother, Father!?" he called, though there was no response. Entering the largest room in the house, mainly where the front door is, he kicks down the door to see if his parents are there. They were there, alright. But the door was open, and the only thing in the room, was blood, his parents' corpses, and a werewolf devouring both of them. The Werewolf had noticed him after Richard kicked down the door, and had begun to snarl at him.

 

The blood, the death, and the predator. Rage had consumed Richard as the werewolf had lunged on him, Richard keeping the beast's fangs at bay with his hands. His anger has gone over the edge. He struggled the push the werewolf off of him using his feet. He eventually knocked it off and pushed it back pretty far, far enough to recooperate and look to his right. There was a sword, a longsword to be exact, used mainly for display purposes, that would be the perfect weapon. He then jumped for it and barely grabbed it, as the werewolf had lunged again. Richard then stabbed the beast through the stomach, and it screeched it pain.

 

Quickly pulling the sword out of its wound, Richard dodged a swipe from the werewolf and rolled behind it. He then proceeded to swing at its neck as it turned its head. Before it could attack, Richard decapitated the beast, breathing heavily as the human-wolf hybrid corpse fell to the ground lifeless. He proceeded to close the door and placed the bar down to prevent any more break-ins by those beasts. Richard then dropped the sword and walked up to his parents' corpses. He dropped to his knees in despair. Tears had begun to flood his face, and he now wished that he was home when this happened, and that this would be the most tragic plague out of them all.

 

::3 Months Later::

 

Richard looked at his parents' former bedroom. He kept getting reminded of his parents' sudden death by those ruthless lycanthropes and the fact that he didn't get to them in time. They were buried in Noirlune's Cemetery, but there was a section of it for all who have died during the plague. After the second plague, the graveyard had begun to fil up, so that section was built so that there would be less bodies filling up the Cemetery itself. As each day passes, Richard wished that he had gotten home sooner so that he would have been there with them when they were devoured, along with him. But, fate, allowed him to live.

 

The reasons, were unknown...

 

Suddenly, a lantern near the cupboard had fallen and a section of the wall had moved. Filled with suspicion and curiosity, Richard investigated by pushing the section of the wall forward, and a passageway had opened. It was a small tunnel with a door at the end of it. He opened the door, and he noticed what looked to be a statue. But upon closer inspection, it was actually a suit of armor with a noticeable lion symbol across the chest with a sword in both hands pointing downward. There was also a shield with the same lion symbol on it  Richard wondered where this came from, and he then noticed the plaque on the bottom that said:

 

Here lies the legendary Girard "Maximus" Mason. An amazing father, husband, and a mighty warrior. May his spirit pass on to the next in line to attain his role in Lath's fight for peace.

 

Richard had never known about this, and it had begun to remind him of something. You were born for something more than what you have been brought into, Richard. said Richard's father in a flashback. It was the last thing he had said to him before the tragic incident that left Richard without the most important people in his life. However, he denounced the tears that were forming, and determination had taken over. "If this is what my father meant about me having a higher purpose..." he began as he noticed a second sword to the left of the plaque. He then took it and held it in his hand. "...then I shall embrace it!"

 

Over the next 9 years, Noirlune would become the main priority, and Richard could possibly be the source to stopping a new threat...

[Admiral_Stalfos19]

Both Shanna and Kaname had attended the funeral of John Alexander, even though his body was never to be seen again. Although Kaname had attended his fair share of funerals before, not one time did he ever attend the funeral of a human being. He just didn't hold much respect for many of them... and this was before Elnaer had foolishly sparked up the war between the two races. But John on the hand, had made a name for himself, and at least deserved to be recognized as such. After all he did try to take Elnaer on one on one; a valiant ambition, but ultimately a failure in its own right.

 

Although Kaname got through the service just fine, Shanna was crying most of the way through it. She always had feelings for John stored somewhere in the back of her own mind, but never had the chance to tell him. Shanna didn't even get to say goodbye, and now the only man she ever loved was just... gone. However, what Shanna hadn't realized was that that was the last time that she'd ever be sad; at least not for the longest time. Now, it was Shanna's turn to make a name for herself.

 

[hr]

3 Years Later

[hr]

 

As per usual, Shanna had awoken for her resting place; the same water-filled glass tank back in Kaname's fortified laboratory. She didn't think anything out of the ordinary, but when she let out a yawn and stretched her arms out wide, she'd gasped midway through, unable to believe what she was hearing from herself. Her own voice; it sounded... human. No more demonic, alien, badly distorted voice that Shanna was so accustomed to for more than a thousand days in a row. Shanna was at a loss of words, only letting out the occasional unintelligible murmur of nervousness every so often.

 

"I hear you haven't realized that you can speak now," Kaname said, in a tone that one would use to break the ice.

 

"I... I can... speak?" Shanna asked hesitantly, "Err... since when was I... able to speak?"

 

"Precisely seven hours ago," Kaname answered, as he headed straight for the door, "There's more; from now on, I'm leaving you to be free, and explore the world once again. It's the least I can do to repay you for keeping you as a personal pet captive for so long. I just hope it's enough..."

 

With that, Kaname lifted the secret door to his lab so that Shanna could see the outside world. Quite frankly, Shanna was amazed. She let out a beaming smile and a joyful laughter to suit, as she rushed out into the open city of Nuevida. This was it, the start of a new life for Shanna Keynes, who'd just been set free for the first time in almost three of the longest years of her entire life. And now, she had just saw the first person out there; a female vampire socialite.

 

"HI!!" she called out, before approaching said person, "I'm Shanna. How are you, today?"

 

"I'm alright," the socialite responded, "You?"

 

"Never felt better. Y'know, I've never seen a lot of places. I wanna see all the new cities, the beaches, the forests... I wanna see the whole world!"

 

"I suppose our lord Alsa has given you a new hope too, huh?"

 

"Oh no... this has nothing to do with Alsa..."

 

Back at the lab, Kaname watched the two women with a genuine smile across his face, before closing the door behind him, and turning his attention to an old expedition; that of the comet that would soar across Lath. Kaname had already made one dream come true. And now, it was time for him to work on his own.

[Merci]

.............………………..……...
Eighteen Years Later

(after Lord Alsa rose to the throne)
...…………………………

 

How long had it been? She hadn't really kept track over these past years. With this new body of hers, it was hard to tell how fast time went by. Although, she could easily recall each and every day since then without much effort, which was like some sort of photographic memory granted by the construct-like armor.

From this spire that towered over all of Noirlune, this skyscraper whose height was outmatched by no other building, she looked out of a window and stared out at the sky. The heavy winds didn't bother her.

"It isn't like you to space out, Doctor Yamada," a voice remarked in an amused tone.

Azami sighed and looked over her shoulder, to see a familiar figure. It was a man of a thin stature, clad in a dark lavish 'suit' with shoulder-blades equipped, wearing a dragon-shaped helmet that he then took off and set onto a nearby desk, revealing a handsome face that foretold of ancient times. His skin was a dark purple, his eyes crimson red, and his ears pointed. His expression was hard to read - overconfident, excited, composed, natural, yet envious, vain, power-hungry. It took Azami a minute to finally describe it in one word; 'expectant'.

"Once upon a time, Elnaer von Mira almost destroyed this little planet," she replied, looking back out to stare at the red comet, an object that had been slowed down tremendously when it was supposed to have crashed into Lath a very long time ago. "It wasn't his fault he forgot who he was...oh, Desectum, I know what your prophecy means now."

"Oh?" The ancient being raised his eyebrows, obviously intrigued. "Do tell. It's been a very long while since an apprentice like you has been this amusing."

Turning away from the window again, she snapped her fingers and the symbol of a bat burned itself onto the metal wall behind her, on the left side of the glass opening. It was followed by an outline of skulls and blood scattered about.

"With blood, a bat hates all. We all know who this refers to. Lord Elnaer, the vampire lord who despised all humans and tried to destroy them by turning himself into a tree-like abomination - the catalyst blood of Feredir was too much for him, and it overwhelmed his sense of reason."

Desectum nodded, recognizing the name but chose not to say anything about it. "Go on."

Clicking her fingers again, a second symbol carved itself, this time below the bat symbol, in the form of a tilted sword. Either it was falling down or it was rising up.

"A mere legend to rise or fall. This could refer to just about anyone. Adrian and Clarice, both well-known legends of their respective races, dropped out the radar and 'fell' from their status, as did others like Ed and Luis. Many people who participated in the battle were elevated to higher statuses and 'rose up', like Aro or Doctor Sa'Lien."

A smile formed on her face, hollow yet with a tiny hint of amusement mixed in.

"But of course, my personal favorite is Lord Alsa. His 'death' became a legend over the course of those dark three years, being the true catalyst for the vampires siding with Elnaer's cause. However, through this and his own weaknesses, he was able to overcome his fear and rise despite the risk of Elnherjar's seed destroying his soul."

At this point, several howls echoed throughout the night, followed by a series of three bells. It appeared as though once again, the werewolves were attacking. Neither Azami nor Desectum cared, and the destruction was ignored. She was running for mayor, expecting an easy win, but the election wouldn't be for a while longer.

"And what about the last two lines?" Desectum asked. In response, Azami clicked her fingers once more and a third symbol materialized onto the right side of the window. It took the form of fire, with different kinds of weapons and artifacts moving away from it.

"From fire, the blessed to disperse. This one is obvious. Because John Alexander - the Phoenix - died, there was no reason for all the talented and blessed warriors to stay together. Thus, they spread out, began living their own lives, and probably still are at this point. As for the last..."

Azami's smile deepened as the final symbol etched itself below the third, into metal, and deeper than all the others. It took the form of a red moon.

"And in the end, be cursed." She quoted, turning away from her teacher to look up not at the red comet, but a red moon...even though it was supposed to be a crescent white moon. This phenomena only occurred in Noirlune, while outside the valley everyone would see a white moon. But why was this? "Isn't it a shame that despite the defeat of the greatest tyrant in history, the greatest monsters will arise from the night?"

"This...spire of yours is ingenius." The dark elf remarked, suppressing laughter. "Now, what should have been four centuries is now only---"

"A dozen years. I've done the math, Lord Desectum." Then Azami's smile broke into a full-out grin. "There's just one problem."

"And that is?" The ancient ancestor of the von Mira family frowned.

Once upon a time, he was lord of the dark elves. Maybe it was because of this that he had chosen not to mutate alongside his comrades into vampires, better suited for Lath's new environment - thus, when they were all awakened, he still retained his power over magic yet also his brittleness. His descendents became the royal family.

The doctor had found him trapped in an iceberg shortly after escaping Lord Elnaer's tyranny in horror, and had nurtured him back to full condition. In return, he granted her as much knowledge and power as possible...more than she had intended.

"I won't allow it."

With that, a large icicle pierced into his chest from behind, purple blood spilling out. Desectum was quiet, with a slightly confused expression, up until he looked down. Then it twisted into horror, and he let out a scream that nobody heard. It was cut short as a rock smashed into his face, killing him. His body fell onto the ground with a light thud, and more of his blood oozed out over a carpeted floor.

To him, she had only been a pawn.

But to her, he had always been a inferior insect, unevolved and too much of a coward to have undergone the transition of evolution, to have kept up with a moving world.

The last dark elf was dead.

"You trained me sufficiently enough, Desectum. My eyes are opened now...but our ideals were simply too different. Your only desire was to harness the power for yourself." Azami stated. "Wylfred, get rid of this thing. It's staining the carpet."

"Yes, sensei."

Nodding, a silver-haired man obeyed, levitating the corpse up into the air and taking it out.

Wylfred was her very own apprentice, an elemental magician with no affinity but with a talent for scientific investigations. He was a human, and she would undoubtedly outlive him due to her armor, but apprenticeship was still an activity worth doing, for the sake of passing time if nothing else.

It helped that he didn't drool over or admire her like many others did. Having gone from an ordinary medic to becoming the legendary hero who had brought peace between humans and vampires in a seemingly eternal war, too many worshiped her these days.

Azami's grin faded away into a much simpler smile, with a simple desire. Looking up at a starry sky beyond the moon and closer to the stars, she seemed honestly, truly happy.

Earth... she thought to herself. .....It isn't long now...


------



Somewhere, lost in the universe,

 

 

lies a world called Lath, where the moon shines bright.

 

Its legend is not yet over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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