The Visitor

> ”At first, I was doing it for Kat. Now, I admit, there are a lot more people I care about. I’m doing this for all of them.” ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor

Kristel braced herself for the killing blow. Her life flashed before her eyes, as if time had suspended itself so she could savor every fleeting instance of her remaining moments alive.

Images from her sparse encounters with her father, the training and camaraderie she had spent with Cross Irista, bonding times with her younger sister. Lor. Liona. Frill. Katherine, Frein, and Elizzel. Enza. Venry.

Everyone.

It all rushed through the Princess’s head during this precious dilation of time. Even now, even after all she had achieved, she still envied Frein. This she couldn’t hide. She envied how he worked so hard despite the small amount of time he had left in this world. How he was so considerate of people he barely knew, how he loved Katherine and Elizzel. And how his Shinemoon Scabbard suddenly appeared beside her head.

Kristel blinked, and reality caught up to her. A wash of relief and confusion mixed with the pressure of meiyal as she looked upon Frein. He was under Art fatigue, but also, he wasn’t. It was difficult to explain. How else would he have enough meiyal to Ribbon Blink next to me?

The Visitor had interrupted Alphazzel’s fatal strike with his own hand. Much to Kristel’s surprise, he did it in an awkward way. He didn’t catch it with both hands. He didn’t block it from underneath either.

Frein had caught the blade from above, pinching it in between his index finger and thumb. How he had arrested the downwards strike in such a way was beyond her understanding.

But it had happened. That was all that mattered.

“There’s really no point in killing her, is there?” Frein asked rhetorically, his voice calm and controlled. His eyes were black and emotionless. Kristel knew she was staring at someone far more dangerous than Alphazzel right now and was glad to have him by her side.

“What in Brymeia’s name…” the faunel’s eyes widened. As far as Kristel was concerned, this was the first time Alphazzel was truly taken aback.

“Wow… So you really didn't foresee this.” Frein smirked. “That’s good to know.”

Alphazzel spun his wrist to force the blade free, but Frein deliberately released his hold. The unexpected momentum from the lack of resistance threw the faunel out of balance, committing more of his arm’s length into his swing.

The Visitor didn’t miss a beat and skillfully caught the blade again by just pinching it. This time, he pulled back, directing Alphazzel’s balance into a helpless frontal lunge. He drove a knee in the opposite direction, straight onto the faunel’s stomach.

Meiyal exploded, passing through Alphazzel’s body and into whatever ruins remained from Aderis’ Tower. Just like that, the faunel was on his knees, gagging.

“He’ll be recovering for a while,” Frein commented, turning calmly towards Kristel. “We should get you to Kat and the others.”

“Are you okay?” the Princess asked. But before the Visitor could answer, she caught a movement behind him. Alphazzel was struggling on his feet, sword raised. “Behind you!”

“I’m okay, don’t worry,” Frein said, ignoring her warning.

Kristel tried to Draw, but the disgusting pressure from the Nightmare suddenly slammed on her, causing her to withdraw and fall on the ground.

“I can’t help you up,” Frein said. “Sorry, but you’ll have to get up on your own and walk. Crush the windpipe.”

The last sentence confused Kristel. She looked up only to see Enza pouncing over Alphazzel, her jaw clamped on his throat. The yuma ripped it out and spat.

“That’s for taking Frein away, you poop!” For good measure, Enza clawed his neck, completely decapitating the faunel. “Yuck! Disgusting!”

Kristel had seen yumas fight to the death before, but not from someone so young like Enza. It was a clean strike, direct, brutal, and efficient. Alphazzel didn’t see it coming. Whatever advantages the yuma’s Nature’s Favor had, unrestricted by her intent, completely took her enemy by surprise.

And as if to prove a point, Enza simply vanished.

“Is he dead?” Kristel asked. The faunel wasn’t moving, but it felt too good to be true.

“Of course not,” Frein replied, unperturbed by the madness in his own response. He started to walk. “Let’s go.”

Kristel turned to follow, but for the second time, she saw a sudden movement. And like the previous one, she couldn’t react on time. She quickly realized why this was the case. Her Siffera wasn’t working properly.

Fortunately, Frein had seemingly formed a habit with catching swords effortlessly with his fingers. This time, it was a Forged Weapon of Smyl, who had suddenly showed up.

The Visitor simply flexed and snapped the sword’s blade. Kristel’s mind, however, was racing past the spectacle she just saw.

If Smyl’s here then…

The Princess couldn’t bear to finish the thought. She scanned the horizon. The rotten trees and the undead nature mixing with the Nightmare had completely changed the visibility of the terrain. Where dunes were once their only obstacle, now there were far too many varieties. But eventually, she found them.

Katherine was sitting on the ground. Frill was completely collapsed. From this far away, Kristel couldn’t see their actual condition, not without the help of an observation Meiyal Art. She realized how dependent she was on the discipline. Still, that was her way of life. The way forward was to adapt to the Nightmare, not to live without her Arts.

That was beside the point. Urgency and confusion had brought Kristel’s mental faculties into a haywire state. Without Siffera to help stabilize her focus, she was lost between decision paralysis and panic.

All the while, Frein stared at her. Like a reliable anchor, Kristel found a focus. The Visitor was ignoring Smyl completely. Whatever he was trying to say—for she also couldn’t find the mental energy to understand—never found a recipient.

“You good to go?” Frein asked. He wasn’t even concerned about Frill or Katherine’s condition. “I don’t have a lot of time, so the quicker you get over this panic and confusion you’re going through, the better it is for all of us. Sorry, I can’t really afford to be gentle right now.”

Kristel quickly nodded. If there was one thing she was absolutely sure about, it was that Frein always knew his priorities. If he was under some kind of time constraint, she wouldn’t be the one to waste all of it.

As they moved, the Visitor finally turned to the traitor. Whatever Meiyal Art or Armament he had prepared were completely nullified by Frein’s hand.

“My only concern is Alphazzel, Smyl,” he said. “If I were you, I’d run away now. You’ve been warned. If Frill couldn’t finish you off, I can’t promise you that same leniency from my end.”

They had taken a few steps before the traitor finally found the courage to retaliate with words.

“You can’t scare me, Frein! You’re just one man. Your friends can’t help you, and you can’t possibly kill Alphazzel!”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Pathetic. Despite this, Kristel admitted the same for herself.

As soon as they reached Frill and Katherine, Kristel quickly assessed their conditions. The Aria stirred awake, but her eyes were out of focus. The Lady had completely recovered from Art fatigue and was beginning to Gather and Mill.

“You look cute with white,” Frein said to Katherine, pointing out the change in her hair. “Is that permanent, or…?”

She shrugged. “No idea.”

Elizzel appeared from within Katherine. An action that, as far as Kristel was concerned, shocked Frein.

“You two Tethered?” he asked. The two ladies nodded. “But what about the whole pregnant thing?”

“We can talk about that later,” Katherine said, frowning. The sudden topic disturbed the flow of her Milling. “We have things to do here.”

“That’s sort of important,” Frein insisted.

“Nothing’s changed, Frein,” Elizzel said finally. “I’m the one in between, not either of you. But you, Frein. You’ve changed a lot. You’re a Contradiction.”

“For the next forty minutes,” he said. “If I don’t get Alphazzel to die in my stead, then I’ll be gone. Also, Brymeia mentioned that Visitors are already Contradictions, but she didn’t have time to explain that one.”

At this, Katherine completely broke concentration. But before she could even get up from where she sat, Frein had already held up a hand.

“I can’t afford to touch anyone not bonded to my meiyal core, Kat. Since Eli’s acting as the middleman, that means we’re technically not bonded. I can’t risk losing you on a technicality.”

Kristel saw the longing in Katherine’s eyes. She was close to just risking touching Frein, despite not understanding the full extent of a Contradiction. Even the Princess herself wasn’t so knowledgeable with the concept, but she knew it was dangerous. In the end, the Lady relented.

“Once we get Alphazzel, this will get fixed, right?” she asked.

“That’s what Brymeia said.”

“Fine.” Katherine sighed and returned to Milling.

Frill stirred once more, shaking her head. Finally, Kristel saw her retainer using both hands.

“Your arm’s back!” said the Princess.

“I had to…” Frill clutched her head, wincing in pain. She was in complete Art fatigue.

“Brymeia,” Katherine answered for her. “She gave Frill a Blessing, World’s Chosen. It lets her use Heaven’s Grace, which is a different Blessing. This one completely regenerates her body.”

“Frill,” Frein called. The Aria slowly looked up, locking eyes with the Visitor. Then she turned away. Kristel saw shame in her motions. “Did you hesitate?”

The Aria in Red made a silent nod.

“Do you regret it?”

A pause. Finally, she shook her head.

Frein relaxed and smiled a little. He turned, heading back to the ruined tower.

“Smyl’s right,” Kristel called out. She took stock of the situation. “You’re fighting alone. We can’t help you. We’re out of resources. Frill and I can’t Gather here.”

“Forty minutes is a long time, Kristel,” was all he had to say in return. It didn’t explain or argue anything.

“Besides, he’s not alone,” Elizzel said, playfully sticking out her tongue. “You really have a knack for forgetting I exist, you know.”

“That wasn’t my intention…”

“I know,” said the faunel, smiling. “Just trying to lighten up the mood a little. There’s also Enza, remember. We practically outnumber them.”

“Unless Alphazzel summons more Nightmares,” Frill said, turning to the skies.

They all followed her gaze. The numerous Nightmare Signs in the sky were starting to manifest all sorts of abominations.

“Enza,” Frein called out. “Stay here and keep them safe.”

“No problem,” said the yuma.

“That makes us a tie now,” Elizzel said, shrugging. “Numbers-wise.”

“Frein,” Katherine called out this time.

The two met eyes. Suddenly, silence filled the air. Kristel understood what was happening. As always, she was amazed at how the both of them could communicate in utter silence.

“How much?” Frein asked at last.

“Fifteen should be enough,” Katherine replied.

He nodded and finally started heading for the tower in earnest while stretching his arms in all sorts of ways.

“I’ll be done in ten.”

Without any other argument for her to convince Frein to do otherwise, Kristel turned her attention towards Frill. Her heart sank at the sight of the Aria.

“I’m sorry, Liona,” she whispered, sobbing. “I failed.”

----------------------------------------

Frein made sure they were out of earshot before slowing down for Elizzel to finally speak in private.

“They defeated two Blessings,” she said. “And you look like you’re going to fall over with a push.”

Everything had been devoured by the Nightmare, now prime and true to its name. It might still be waiting to connect with the rest of the Nightmare Lands from the east, but at this point, that was only for the sake of becoming permanent.

Frein ignored the faunel’s implications and presented his wrist instead. “I need to know everything.”

She gave a nod and bit through his meiyal core.

At first it was confusing. Splitting images of visions from what had happened flashed before Frein all at the same time. Then, it gradually slowed down to the beginning. He saw Katherine’s brilliant and magnificent display of prowess, Kristel and Frill’s fusion performance, their defeat against Alphazzel, Frill losing her arm, Kristel showing her Law of the First Monarch for the first time, Frill becoming the World’s Chosen, all of it.

“Thank you,” he said, breathing slowly.

“Your core’s more complete now,” Elizzel said. “You have the Fragment.”

“No audience, though.”

“Maybe because you’re busy. How are you feeling?” The faunel gestured all over him. “Except for all the smoke, I mean.”

“A bit unstable, but I should be alright,” Frein replied. “That reminds me, Brymeia said you’re her daughter, but you’re not exactly doing as she commands, right?”

“I don’t know.” Elizzel shrugged. “I’m my mother’s embodiment of Freedom and Consequences. I know I do what I want, but just like everyone else, Destiny ever so subtly influences where I end up being and what I end up doing.”

“And what do you want to do right now?”

“Get even.” The faunel smiled. “Alphazzel left me for dead. Twice. Let’s get rid of him, and I’ll call it quits.”

For whatever reason, Frein saw Smyl sitting where the entrance to the tower had been. He was alone, Alphazzel was nowhere to be found.

“I told you to run away,” Frein said, his eyes focusing on the traitor, reading the flow of his meiyal. Mesiffera saw two rhythms. The Visitor reached out a hand, and just as quickly, Elizzel returned to his Mind Palace, settling snuggly into their Tether.

It had been so long.

“I don’t take orders from you, Visitor,” Smyl said.

“You can still surrender and take responsibility for your crimes. Leave the faun—”

“There’s no coming back from this, Frein!” A sword with a Nightmarish black blade appeared on Smyl’s hand as he pointed the tip towards the Visitor. The corrupting meiyal reached out, inviting. “I killed Liona! I killed half of Cross Irista! I killed my own sister! The only thing I’ll gain from surrendering is my own death!”

“Tell us everything you know about our enemies. I know someone’s pulling the strings behind you and Alphazzel. If you help us out, I’ll convince Kristel and Frill to spare you.”

Frein knew it was pointless. Not even he was confident enough to shoulder such a burden. Still, it was worth a try.

A snicker escaped Smyl, reading through the obvious bluff. “If you won’t make the first move, then I will.”

Smyl charged in with incredible speed, brandishing the Flourished Weapon. It wasn’t something Frein couldn’t handle. Compared to Kristel, the traitor moved like a zombie without feet.

The Visitor’s footwork handled the dodging and his arms stayed low for a counter. He almost pitied Smyl. The attacks left so many openings that he could’ve ended the poor soul’s misery on the very first strike. But there were things he needed to know.

Without a doubt, like her sister, Smyl might’ve been a victim of Time’s Eye. It could be that his memories had become extremely distorted to the point that he’d lost hold of his reason, fighting for the wrong things while believing he was just for it.

If so, Frein would be taking away the traitor’s chance for redemption.

“You should know you can’t beat me, Smyl.” Frein’s Siffera alone, emphasizing his authority as a Contradiction, his confidence, and his anger, was tearing on the traitor’s stamina like a ravaging yuma.

“Stop running away and fight like a man!” Smyl retaliated. He hadn’t even noticed that Frein never took a step backwards. He took heavy breaths while lashing out a flurry of attacks.

Waves of meiyal rushed past Frein as he weaved around them with just the right amount of movement. The most damage he received was tears on his shirt. He maintained a close distance as he danced around the former Sky Knight, rendering his long-ranged display of prowess a mere spectacle with no real threat.

Frein eased his way through the combination of attacks and flurries and waited for his chance. At this rate, his time would run out before he could discern whether Smyl was a victim or not. He decided to move on to his actual target.

The traitor finally gave in to his frustration. Frein didn’t miss that chance to step in.

The Visitor did many things simultaneously. He Displayed his Exhibit, Drawing his Fulgurblade. His Sandai-Siffera flared his killing intent. The moment of fear froze Smyl on the spot, leaving him wide open as Frein drove the back of his hilt straight into the traitor’s abdomen.

He followed with a backhand swing to the ribs, keeping the blade within the scabbard. And as Smyl bent down in reaction to the pain, Frein quickly pulled the traitor’s head with one hand while sending his knee straight to the cranium.

In a blink, Smyl was on the ground, unconscious.

Almost immediately, the Nightmarish sword swung upwards as Alphazzel manifested out of Smyl. Like before, Frein simply caught the blade with a pinch before snapping it. The faunel took that chance to create distance.

“Is that your world’s way of fighting?” Alphazzel started with a mocking tone. “Dodging like a coward and attacking when it’s most comfortable. Katherine chose poorly. Zerax’thum’s gambit will never pay off. You might be Contradicting Destiny right now, but you still can’t kill me, Visitor. You can’t kill a faunel.”

“Good,” Frein said, much to the faunel’s puzzlement. “I don’t have to worry, then. All my opponents so far have been too fragile, Alphazzel. At least you can take more beatings than the others.”

Frein erased his Fulgurblade. There was no reason behind it. He simply didn’t feel like using the Art.

Smyl’s attacks, though they had completely missed, had torn away from his rugged clothes. He ripped them off and flexed his muscles, showing the faunel a body forged by years of training, scarred and sharpened by extensive experience, and strengthened by the power of this world.

“Make sure you don’t die on me, faunel. Because I’ll kill you so many times, you’ll wish you could die.”