Chapter 6
Symonne, Helix, and Reed stood on the outskirts of Umbra, concealed behind a tree.
“They got Nobu?” Helix asked. “And that zombie was with them?”
“Yes,” Symonne confirmed.
“That ain't good. I don't think I'll be able to find him this time.”
“They're taking him to the fishing town, Shellbreeze,” Symonne returned. “That's where the public execution will take place.”
“Public execution?” Reed echoed. “Why do they want to kill that guy?”
“He's the last surviving member of the Tempest royal family,” Helix revealed. “Nobu Tempest.”
“Really?” asked Reed indifferently.
Helix scratched its chin. “Will we get there in time? Your men are fine, but the cart's been destroyed. We'll have to walk from here on out.”
“If we leave now, we can get there tomorrow,” said Symonne, before turning to face Reed. “Can you purify that zombie?”
“As long as it's dark out.”
“That may work out perfectly. The execution is tomorrow at five, but they'll delay it with an indulgent speech. By the time Prince Charming's head rolls, it should be close to nightfall.”
“We gonna let that happen?” Reed asked.
Symonne shook its head. “We aren't. This execution is a power play; if they kill the prince of the most powerful kingdom in the world, many will lose the will to fight back.”
“Then let's go,” said Helix.
The three of them slipped back into the woods and headed down the trail.
The next morning, Nobu opened his eyes. A downward glance revealed that he was wrapped in chains, which were binding him to the cart. He tried to move his arms, but his hands had once again been placed in cuffs. The cold shackles did nothing to soothing his aching body, the pain from the previous night beginning to creep in once again.
He began to survey his surroundings: the cart was stationary in the grass, parked at the top of a hill. A brick path sloped down the ridge, extending next to a beach in the distance. While the shore was vacant, the neighboring plaza was clearly populated with a dense crowd. He turned to see a cluster of gnarled trees behind him, their branches scarcely clothed by only a few leaves.
I'm alive, Nobu thought. But where am I? It looks like we came from the woods...
Suddenly, he remembered Spiral's words from the night before.
That's right. They're holding an execution for me here...so this must be Shellbreeze. Damn it. I have to escape...
He unavailingly shuffled in his chains, but the frigid metal only strengthened its embrace, the bitter cold intensified by the visiting breeze. Another reminder of his situation shot through him in the form of a stabbing pain, which he greeted with a wince. Sitting in silence for several more hours, he found himself lost in his thoughts, his anxiety growing as the day progressed.
Then, his thoughts were interrupted by footsteps sounding from the grass. He looked to the side, and saw Alban approaching. Its apathetic eyes were fixed on him, its trademark smile planted firmly on its face.
“Well, look who's finally awake,” it said cheerily, as it climbed onto the cart.
Nobu glared at it, his anger beginning to well up inside of him. “Unchain me,” he growled.
“As you wish,” Alban retorted, removing Nobu's chains.
The instant the chains fell to the deck, Nobu shot up and tried to raise his arms. However, he was quickly reminded of his handcuffs as he fruitlessly tried to summon his magic.
“Let's not make this a struggle,” said Alban. “A prince should go out with dignity.”
“Watch your tongue, Terrace slave,” Nobu growled.
Alban studied him for a few moments, before slowly reaching its hand toward him. Its icy fingers wrapped around his neck, sending a wave of fear flooding through him. While his breathing accelerated, he refused to break eye contact; he glared furiously at the Terrace officer, as though hoping to repel it with his gaze.
“Humans are curious beings,” Alban mused. “Where does your pride come from?”
It paused, as a bead of sweat rolled down Nobu's face. Alban continued to examine him, vague curiosity etched into its features.
“But of course...it comes from your father, doesn't it? You know...for as long as I've known of King Tempest, I've always wanted to see the spell that earned him his epithet: the 'Eye of the Storm.' You could say it was a dream of mine. To observe the peak of magic that humanity has been able to achieve would surely be a sight to behold...but alas.”
It tightened its grip slightly on Nobu's neck. His anxiety intensified, the ice cold grasp of Alban's fingers sending chills down his spine.
“The only surviving relic of the Tempest legacy is his spoiled brat of a son,” it continued. “Nothing more than ego, even on the day of his execution.” Its eyes continued to bore into him for a few more seconds. “Oh, well.”
Alban released Nobu's neck, before stepping back and staring at the path. Knowing the punishment that was in store for him, Nobu did not hesitate – he lunged forward and attempted to swing his handcuffs at Alban, but the latter lifted its arm and blocked it. Alban stared at him, its faint smile painted on its face, before light particles began to gather in its palm. With a fierce thrust, it blasted Nobu with the magic. An agonized howl escaped him, his searing pain reignited, as his back struck the cart's fence.
“I told you not to struggle,” said Alban. “Get up. It's time to go.”
Nobu slowly climbed to his feet and wobbled across the deck, the throbbing intensifying.
“Move.” Alban pushed his back, as he stumbled forward, out of the cart. “Keep going.”
Humiliated and furious, Nobu limped down the path, pain coursing through him as Alban walked closely behind him. Nobu stole a glance at the beach in front of him. The serene waves that accompanied it betrayed his dire situation; the adjacent plaza, however, was a better match. The crowd scattered throughout the square was magnified as he approached, their uneasy expressions haunting the square. They were bordered by a number of men holding weapons, their eyes drilling into the terrified townsfolk.
Behind the crowd stood not only Minerva, but at least a dozen other corpses lined up next to it, staring aimlessly ahead. The attraction which caught nearly everyone's eyes, though, was the execution platform at the far side of the plaza. A lengthy wooden ramp crawled up to the platform, leading to inevitable demise. Nobu's heart sank, and for a moment, he thought the worst.
This is over...this is the end.
Nobu shook his head as the plaza drew closer.
No...it can't be. There must be a way out.
Meanwhile, in the woods, Symonne, Helix, and Reed were racing down a trail haunted by hollow trees.
“I'm exhausted,” Reed said feebly. “Trapped in that tower for so long...walking all this way...”
“Another sleepless night for me, too,” Helix added.
“We're almost there!” Symonne exclaimed. “Shellbreeze is just outside these woods. Let's hurry!”
“You got it!”
Nobu found himself in the plaza, walking past the group of terrified townsfolk as two guards approached.
“Would you take it from here?” Alban asked.
“Yes, sir,” one of the guards replied, before turning to face Nobu. “Move.”
Nobu and the two guards headed up the ramp to the execution platform, while Alban strayed from the group and observed from below. He could feel his breaths with every step he took, the sound overtaking the guards' clanking armor. His adrenaline sapped the pain, but amplified his fear. He began to tremble as he stepped onto the execution platform. The guards hovered on either side of him, drawing their swords as Nobu's heart pounded against his chest.
“Good evening, citizens of Shellbreeze,” Alban announced to the crowd. “We are gathered here today for a very special occasion. As you know, the kingdom of Tempest has stood at the center of the world for centuries now...their magic peerless, their strength unmatched. They were truly the greatest power the world had ever seen...but no longer! Their reign has come to an end, as the kingdom of Terrace declared war against them and crushed them in a decisive victory. However, their prince managed to escape.” It gestured toward the execution platform.
The crowd continued to stare in horror, while the Terrace soldiers' excitement was shown clearly on their faces.
“He managed to elude us for a few weeks, but could only outrun fate for so long. Today marks the end of the Tempest Kingdom. We are ushering in a new era. Terrace will claim its rightful place as the ruler of this world!”
Applause erupted from the Terrace soldiers, their cheers emitting through the crowd.
“Let the countdown commence,” said Alban, turning to face the guards.
“Yes, sir!” one of them said, as both guards raised their swords.
Nobu glanced up at the orange sky, as the sun began to set. Strangely, his breathing began to calm. For some reason, his fear was slowly replaced with an eerie feeling of tranquility. The view in front of him truly was beautiful.
I wonder if Mother saw this sunset before she died?
“Three!” the guards shouted.
He could feel the cool breeze rush past him. He welcomed its embrace; it was a wonderful feeling.
I wonder if Father felt this breeze at the end?
“Two!”
He could see the leaves gently drifting through the air, the serene ocean flowing in the distance. He absorbed the magnificent vista, before a more disturbing thought intruded.
I wonder if Sebastian wanted to see this scenery?
He looked back at the crowd, the people of Shellbreeze staring nervously ahead.
“One!”
Nobu observed the audience, his thoughts growing more distant. His haze did not last long, however – it was interrupted by a loud shriek issuing from the crowd.
“What is that?”
“Something's there!”
“Hm?” Alban said, distracted by the frantic murmurs.
“Something flew by! I saw something--”
Nobu spotted it: a blur rocketing through the crowd, its form flickering in and out of view. Before they could react, a flash of silver traveled up to the execution platform and slashed the guards' armor. With an urgent yelp, they fell off the execution platform, their broken blades plummeting with them. Helix had reappeared on top of the platform, its own swords outstretched.
It breathed a sigh of relief as the fallen guards hit the ground. “Once again, just in time.”
“What?” Nobu asked, his focus returning. “Where did you come from?”
“Who is that?” Alban asked loudly.
Helix sheathed its swords and threw Nobu over its shoulder, before leaping from the platform.
“After him!” Alban ordered. “Don't let him get away!”
The Terrace soldiers, recovering from their apparent confusion, charged in Helix's direction. They gripped their swords and rushed to stop the threat, but the stampede halted as quickly as it had started.
“What are you doing? Hurry up!”
“Sir Alban...we can't move!”
Vines had crawled up from the ground and ensnared their legs. Before they could react, they were launched into the air, frightened whimpers echoing from the crowd. With a fierce swing, the plants released their grasp, hurling the soldiers across the plaza.
“Here!” Symonne announced, panting. It had maneuvered through the crowd, accompanied by Reed.
“The princess of Floral?” Alban asked in disbelief. “Why is she here?”
“Can you get his cuffs off, Symonne?” asked Helix, dropping Nobu.
“Yes, but this is the last time I'm doing this,” Symonne replied.
The floor was pierced by forest green ivy climbing from the depths, which slithered between Nobu's handcuffs and his arms. Suddenly, thorns shot out, piercing the cuffs and breaking them. Nobu's magic soared through him anew, as his haze from moments before began to fade. Recalling the situation, he glared at Alban.
“After them, my undead servants!” Alban shouted. The zombies perked up from the command, and immediately began to pursue them.
“You,” said Nobu, looking at Reed. “Can you kill them yet?”
“Nope. It's still too bright out.”
“Damn...then let's go.”
They turned around and began to dart away from the confused crowd, toward the neighboring hills.
“You can't escape,” said Alban. “Minerva! Come with me!”
Alban and Minerva headed toward them as they sprinted away. Alban leaped into the air, light particles assembling a glowing sphere above its palm. It pitched the luminous orb toward the fleeing group, prompting them to leap out of the way. The magic struck the ground and triggered a massive explosion, blowing a hole in the hills and showering the air with dirt. The barrage of light spheres continued, as they bolted away from the storm. Nobu felt his strength draining, his stomach beginning to growl.
“We really running away again?” asked Helix.
“We only need to buy time,” Symonne stated.
One of the zombies dug its hands into the ground. With strength that betrayed its fragile form, it unearthed a chunk of soil three times its size before hurling it in their direction. Helix withdrew its swords and leaped into the air, cleaving the debris in two and blanketing the hills in soil. The remnants fell behind them, but Alban and its undead army did not relent. Dodging another explosive light orb, Nobu and the others continued up the hills and toward the woods.
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“You won't get away,” Alban threatened.
The group continued to charge forward, before eventually reaching the crooked trees and sprinting into the woods.
“This way!” Symonne shouted.
They turned to the right and ran in between the trees, hurrying across the leaves. The dead trees soared past them as they fled into the depths of the forest, not daring to look behind them. Eventually, they arrived at a clearing and stopped running. Nobu looked up at the orange sky; the sun had nearly sank below the horizon, slowly nudging the shadows out of hiding as the clearing grew dim.
“Split up!” Alban's voice rang from the distance. “Find them.”
“You ready yet?” Helix asked, shiftily examining its surroundings.
Reed flicked its finger, a tiny blue spark appearing above it, before immediately vanishing.
“Almost,” it said in a hushed tone. “By the way, did that guy really create those zombies? He looked like a human to me.”
“That's what it said,” Nobu replied.
Reed turned to face Nobu. “Hey, is my dad okay?”
“It's alive.”
Reed let out a sigh of relief. “That's good.”
Symonne studied Reed. “You really care about your parents, don't you?” it uttered, mirroring Reed's quiet tone. “I can't believe you're willing to throw your life away for nothing. You have to understand how much that would hurt them.”
“'Care about them,'” Reed echoed. “Sometimes I wonder if I can care about other people at all. When people give me affection, I feel this weird disgust. Just saying 'I love you' makes my skin crawl.”
“Practice makes perfect,” Helix said simply.
“I don't think that's the issue.”
“Seriously! Just tell your folks a whole bunch until you remember what's important.”
“Keep your voice down,” Nobu muttered, hearing the distant growls gradually approach.
Reed glanced at him. “Do you get where I'm coming from? When your parents showed affection, did it bother you?”
“My father wasted no time on pointless sentiments,” Nobu replied absentmindedly, eyeing the bushes. “Maintaining the strength of the kingdom and the royal family was always his priority.”
“And your mother?”
Nobu paused. “She was--”
Before he could continue, they were greeted by the sound of rustling leaves. One by one, their undead pursuers crept in through the nearby bushes. Without a moment's hesitation, they scurried toward their quarry, their shrieks sounding an alarm for their allies.
“Over there!” Alban's voice rang out.
Crunching leaves, snapping twigs, and guttural growls surrounded them, a harbinger for the next wave's arrival. A myriad of corpses poured in from nearly all sides of the clearing, their color nearly matching the trees in the dimly lit expanse. Alban and Minerva trailed closely behind, spectating from behind the army.
“There you are,” said Alban. “Kill them.”
With the exception of Minerva, the squad of zombies rushed toward them in a feral frenzy. Maintaining its distance, Alban lifted an arm, light particles dancing above its palm. However, Nobu was determined. He thrust his hand forward, trying to ignore the clawing hunger. A beam of lightning launched from his hand and flashed across the clearing, piercing a line of zombies in a heartbeat. Mirroring the lightning's speed, Helix rushed past several of the corpses, splintering their bodies across the trail.
“There's no end to them,” Symonne uttered, as a series of vines crushed the corpses in their grasp.
Alban pitched its light, prompting them to dive out of the way. The ensuing explosion claimed part of the clearing, launching loose soil skyward. Nobu rolled across the ground and quickly scrambled to his feet, then watched as the zombies' remains ignited, the black embers recalling their shape. After fully regenerating, they pounced back into the fray and continued their unrelenting assault.
Some of them ran in their direction, their overlapping growls playing a disturbing symphony, while others dug their hands into the earth. They flung sizable dirt clods through the clearing, twigs and roots protruding from the compressed soil. Nobu leaped out of the way, before stealing a glance at the sky. The light of the sun was barely visible on the horizon, the evening darkness creeping in.
Just a few more minutes, Nobu thought, blasting another wave of zombies with his magic. Just a few more minutes and Terrace's most dangerous weapon will be no more.
Helix dodged one of Alban's spells as it sliced through the undead army, littering the clearing with their dismembered limbs. Trying to fight through his hunger, Nobu mustered his strength and blasted the entourage of corpses through the air. Panting, Nobu watched as they were revived by the flickering embers.
Another array of zombies were launched skyward, wrestling the grasp of entangling vines. However, a lone straggler hastened toward Symonne, growling as it tore through a series of approaching plants. Symonne nervously stepped back as the zombie raised its arm, spreading its fingers. Before it could lower its hand, however, its attention shifted to a nearby distraction: a tidal wave of blue fire.
Reed had its feet planted firmly on the ground, its hands stretched in front of it. The flames spewing from its hands had formed a torrent, which washed over the fray. Nobu's heart skipped a beat as the center of the clearing was devoured by the inferno. Spared of the magic's clutches, Alban and Minerva observed from outside of the fire.
Then, the night sky was polluted with the corpses' uncanny shrieks. They clutched their skulls as they wailed, their bodies beginning to wither. Reed lowered its arms, signaling the end of the flaming tunnel. Nobu watched as the blue flames around him vanished, but the ragged corpses still dwelled in their embrace.
“You certainly have a lot of energy,” said Alban. “I admire your resilience.”
Nobu watched the flailing zombies, their bodies continuing to disintegrate, before eventually crumbling to dust. The blue embers surrounding them dispersed.
Alban's eyes flickered toward the scene. “Hm?”
Nobu continued to stare at the ground, half expecting to see the black flame appear once again, but nothing changed; the zombies were gone. Reed sighed in relief.
“There,” it said. “You don't have to suffer anymore...you're free.”
“What happened?” Alban asked, looking mildly surprised. “Why aren't they regenerating?”
Helix smiled. “It's over.”
“That's impossible...what is that magic? I've never seen anything like it. You killed them...you killed my zombies...”
“One left,” said Nobu, gesturing toward Minerva. “Hurry!”
“No,” Alban stated, showing signs of unease for the first time. “I won't let you kill Minerva. I worked too hard to procure this Void Instrument.”
“What?” asked Symonne in disbelief, as Nobu glared at Alban. “That zombie is a Void Instrument?”
“She only recently awakened her power,” Alban explained. “A power that traps its opponent in cinematics created by their own memories...and I think we'll test it out on you. Minerva! Use it!”
Minerva held out its hands, before light began to collect in its palms, forming a transparent sphere that shone brightly in the night.
“The hell is that?” asked Helix.
Minerva threw the sphere outward, as it soared through the air toward Nobu.
“Run!” said Symonne.
“You can't escape it,” said Alban, flashing a baleful smile.
Suddenly, Reed ran in front of the group, throwing out its hands. Blue fire began to envelop its arms and expand, ascending to the height of the gnarled treetops. The dark magic struck the flame, coming to a dead stop. Reed dug its feet into the ground and pushed against the pillar of fire, its embers crawling up the transparent orb. Consumed by flames, the sphere was knocked back as it slowly drifted in the opposite direction.
“What?” asked Alban. “What's going on?”
As the orb drifted through the air, it began to glow. Next, it unleashed a blinding light, concealing the entire forest. Nobu felt the ground disappear beneath his feet as the beaming light faded; however, the forest was nowhere in sight. Instead, he found himself in a strange, emerald void with Symonne and Helix. Glancing around, his surroundings consisted of various shades of green swimming around him. He felt as though he was floating in midair.
“Where are we?” Helix asked nervously. “Where'd Reed go?”
Suddenly, a visual began to form in front of them, featuring the inside of a house. A young boy with blonde hair sat at a table in a quaint room, scribbling on a slip of paper. Its green eyes focused on the crude drawing, featuring what appeared to be a man wearing a cape.
“Wasn't that spell supposed to trap us in our memories?” Symonne asked. “I don't recognize this.”
“Me neither,” said Helix. “What's going on?”
Suddenly, a woman's voice sounded from another room. “Gladius!” it said.
The boy quickly looked up from its drawing as the woman walked in through the doorway. It had long, black hair, and brown eyes. It looked at the boy with a bright smile, holding a tray of food.
“I brought you some snacks!”
“Gladius?” Symonne asked. “Is that Gladius Laston?”
“Thanks Mom!” Gladius said gleefully.
“What are you drawing?” its mother asked gently.
“It's Dad! I'm drawing him as a hero because he protected our kingdom! One day I'm gonna be strong and save people, just like him!”
“That's very thoughtful of you,” its mother said, smiling. “Your father would be very proud of you. In the meantime, make sure you eat to keep your strength up.”
It placed the tray of food next to the piece of paper. Gladius began to eat, its eyes brimming with excitement. Next, the room began to flicker, before various holes emerged in the visual, spreading until the scene in front of them vanished. A few moments later, it was replaced by another setting. An adult Gladius – likely in its mid-twenties – was walking across a familiar plaza. It was talking to another man in the square, surrounded by various houses. Garden boxes were lined in front of them, filled with plants. Nobu recognized the area; while it lacked the statue of the warrior, it looked otherwise identical to the plaza he had seen in Floral.
“This is my kingdom,” Symonne observed, audibly confused.
“I don't get it,” said Helix.
Nobu was uncertain if this spell would truly trap them in these memories for the rest of their lives, but he found himself similarly entranced by the images in front of them.
“You hear about those thieves?” the man next to Gladius spoke. “They've been causing a lot of damage lately...I heard they've set their sights on Floral. The king has already located one of their hideouts far to the north. You think he'll be able to take them?”
“Of course,” Gladius affirmed. “I have faith in him. But if it comes down to it, we'll fight them off. I will protect this kingdom.”
“Right there with you,” the man stated. “But still...how did petty thieves get to be so dangerous?”
“We need to be prepared,” said Gladius.
“Yeah...”
The image in front of them dissolved, only to be replaced with another visual. The kingdom of Floral returned, but the scene could not have been more different: men were locking swords, blood stained the roads, and flames consumed various tumbledown houses. The sounds of yelling and clashing blades echoed throughout the kingdom. Gladius was breathing heavily, blood trickling down its face. It then swung its sword, a man in front of it dropping to the ground.
“Damn it!” someone cried. “They had a faction slip in after the king and queen left? What are they after?”
A group of thieves charged toward Gladius, but the warrior held its sword out to block their slashes. With a mighty swing of its weapon, the thieves were thrown off balance; however, two of them quickly recovered and lunged at the warrior. With no time to react, Gladius prepared for the worst as the thieves slashed its shoulder. It stumbled back with a grunt, blood trickling down its arm, but hastily charged forward and swung its blade again. The thieves' cries soared through the war zone as they dropped to the ground in a pool of blood. Panting, Gladius clutched the hilt of its sword with both hands as another group of thieves raced toward it.
Nobu, Symonne, and Helix watched in silence as Gladius continued to fight, striking down thieves and suffering injuries in the process. The situation grew more desperate as Gladius' energy gradually drained. After clearing one of the back roads, it limped through town, past several bodies littering the streets. It was breathing heavily, and its clothes were stained with blood. Sweating, it turned to an empty building, and walked inside to get its bearings, clutching its arm. Its eyes surveyed the empty building, looking around desperately, as though expecting a thief to jump out from the corner. After a few moments, it looked up.
“We need help,” it said quietly, desperation flooding its voice. “Please, Lord Albarin, if you're listening...I need the strength to protect my kingdom. I'll do anything! Please, lend me your power!” The desperation was evident in its voice.
There were a few moments of silence, before suddenly, a light shone through from the ceiling, illuminating the room. Gladius' eyes widened as the light engulfed it, before the scene vanished. A few moments later, another visual formed, once again revealing the war in Floral Kingdom. The Floral soldiers were being pushed back as the thieves continued to pour in.
“Stop!”
Gladius' voice boomed from one of the alleyways as it headed into the plaza, its sword held in front of it. The command traveled through the square, carving through the battle cries. The soldiers and thieves turned to face it, the silence pierced only by the crackling flames.
“Leave now, and I'll spare your lives.”
A group of thieves glared at it for a few seconds. Then, they began to howl with laughter.
“Get him!” one of them shouted.
They darted toward Gladius, gripping their swords, as Gladius held up its own. Suddenly, a shining light began to flow through its blade, its glow illuminating the plaza. Next, it unleashed a mighty swing. A piercing light erupted from the blade and traveled toward the thieves, cleaving the very earth beneath it. The thieves stopped in their tracks, glaring at the approaching shock wave in terror. The soaring light struck the thieves, unleashing a massive explosion. The thieves were launched into the air, their yells drowned by the sounds of shattering glass.
“So the stories were true,” Symonne commented. “Gladius really did receive divine powers from Albarin.”
Gladius leaped into the air as the other Floral soldiers stared at it in awe, before bringing its sword crashing down. As it struck the ground, a massive explosion burst forth, throwing dozens of thieves back. It continued to swing its blade, leaving destruction in its wake as the thieves were repelled in droves.
“He's a monster!” one of them yelled. “Run!”
“We've gotta get out of here!”
The thieves turned around and began to bolt out of the kingdom, their faces dyed with fear.
“Leave this place and never come back!” Gladius commanded.
They continued to storm out of the kingdom, the sound of their yells gradually fading as they disappeared into the distance. There were a few moments of silence, before the kingdom of Floral suddenly erupted into applause.
“GIVE IT UP FOR GLADIUS!” one of them shouted.
“That must've been Lord Albarin's power!” another shouted gleefully.
“I thought we were goners! You saved us, Gladius!”
“He's a hero, just like his old man!”
Gladius grinned for a moment. Then, the smile turned into a laugh. They celebrated their triumph, before Gladius turned around to head home, jubilant. It sauntered down the road, the crowd's rejoicing still ringing in its ears, before eventually arriving at a house. It opened the door, stepping inside.
“I'm back!” said Gladius. “The thieves are no more! Mom?”
It wandered through the house and into another room. Suddenly, its triumphant demeanor was replaced with a look of dread. It saw its mother lying on the floor, blood leaking from its chest.
“Mom!” it hollered, before rushing toward it.
Gladius knelt down and looked at the body on the floor, seeing its closed eyes. The warrior picked up its mother's cold hand.
“No, no...why? Please...please, Mom...please...” Tears began to stream down its face. Next, a voice sounded through the house.
“It truly is a tragedy, isn't it?”
Gladius jumped to its feet, its teary eyes filled with rage. “Who's there? Show yourself!”
Nobu felt a jolt of shock as Alban stepped into the room, its green eyes studying Gladius.
“What?” Helix asked angrily. “Why is that creep here?”
“The war happened twenty-five years ago,” said Symonne. “But he hasn't aged a day. Perhaps he isn't human after all.”
Nobu continued to focus on the scene in front of him.
“Who are you?” Gladius yelled.
“Just a wanderer,” said Alban, its hand dripping with blood. “Don't mind me.”
Gladius' eyes shot open before it charged at Alban, yelling. It swung its sword, but the latter ducked, causing the blade's light to slice through the wall behind it. As Alban lifted its head, Gladius swung its sword once more; however, Alban blocked the fierce weapon with its hand, gripping the blade with its fingers.
“What in the world?” asked Gladius under its breath.
Alban raised its other hand and thrust it forward. Gladius yelled as it was knocked back by an explosion of light. It struck the floor, rolling back toward the entrance of the room.
“All this aggression, and right after you won a war,” Alban taunted with its apathetic voice. “You should be celebrating.”
“You're the leader of these thieves, aren't you?” asked Gladius, as it tremulously climbed to its feet. “What do you want from this place? Why are you here? Why did you kill her?” Its voice was hoarse and desperate, as it glared at Alban.
Alban continued to smile and stare ahead, so Gladius bolted toward it once more, yelling as it unleashed a flurry of slashes. Alban effortlessly dodged them and quickly outstretched its hand. The warrior was launched through the house again, accompanied by another howl of pain.
“What the hell are you?” Gladius asked, climbing to its feet as blood dripped from its face.
Light particles began to form in Alban's hand, before flinging the sphere upward. The magic burst through the ceiling, littering the floor in its debris.
“Perhaps we'll meet again one day.” Alban quickly leaped through the hole in the ceiling.
“Wait!” Gladius ordered, before turning around and bolting out of its house.
It turned its head, scanning the area. It observed the bloodstained streets, fallen soldiers, and burning buildings, but the leader of the thieves was nowhere in sight. It then returned to its house and knelt down before its mother again. “Mom...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry I wasn't here to protect you...I'm sorry...”
The room began to fade, vanishing and leaving Nobu, Symonne, and Helix floating in the eerie dimension once again. Next, another visual formed in front of them. The kingdom of Floral was wrecked and damaged, but there was no quarrel in sight. Gladius was talking to a man near the plaza.
“The king and the queen have returned from their pilgrimage,” the other man said. “Their baby is in good health, and they've been briefed on the situation. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes,” Gladius replied quietly. “I'm going to track down the leader of the thieves and get my revenge. He's going to pay.”
“I understand,” the other man said. “Be careful out there, and don't let your guard down.”
“Of course,” said Gladius. “Tell the others I said goodbye for now.”
The hero set off toward the city gates, before the image in front of them dissipated. Nobu, Symonne, and Helix saw the visual appear and disappear several more times, revealing different locations as Gladius traveled from place to place, resentment in its eyes. Eventually, however, they found themselves looking at the inside of a building. Alban was standing in the far side of the room, watching as the door slowly creaked open. Gladius stepped into the room, wearing a stern glare. It clutched it sword as it slammed the door behind it.
“I've finally found you,” it growled.
“You've been tracking me for awhile,” said Alban nonchalantly. “I wonder what you could want.”
“Don't mess with me,” Gladius growled. “You're going to pay for killing my mother.”
But Alban was unabashed. “I see.”
Gladius charged at it, its sword glowing with radiant light. It grunted as it fiercely swung its arms, but Alban ducked. The wall was destroyed by the ensuing explosion, its remnants crumbling onto the floor. Alban lifted its head, light collecting in the palm of its hand. With no time to react, Gladius was launched through the room by the ensuing explosion, wincing as it fell to the floor.
However, this did not waver its resolve. It quickly jumped to its feet and charged after its enemy, unleashing a storm of slashes, but Alban effortlessly sidestepped them. Unable to escape the pattern, Gladius was sent careening through the building by an explosion of light, its yells reverberating throughout the room.
“Why...?” asked Gladius. “Why?” It had begun to yell, before climbing to its feet. “Why did you do it? Why did you kill her?”
“Gladius,” Alban calmly addressed it. “Surely you understand that power doesn't come from thin air. There's always a cost.”
“What are you saying?” Gladius croaked.
“You said you needed power to win the war, did you not?” Alban replied. “So I gave you the power you needed...but there was a price to pay. A sacrifice needed to be made...a sacrifice of someone close to you.”
Gladius looked shocked and confused. “You're...you're--”
“I am the one they call Albarin. I gave you the power you needed to repel the thieves.”
Symonne looked shocked as it stared at the scene in front of it, but remained speechless.
“I—I never wanted--”
“As I recall, you said that you would do anything to get this power, did you not? I simply gave you what you wanted.”
“No!” Gladius shouted, tears streaming down its face again. “I would've never given up my mother! I never wanted her to die!”
“This is what you asked for,” said Alban, still unfazed.
“Shut your mouth!” Gladius roared.
The warrior charged at Alban once again, swinging with all of its might. Its desperate swings grew more careless as Alban evaded the strikes. Another burst of light sent Gladius soaring back, its sword escaping its grasp. The warrior landed on its back, while its blade pierced the floor near the entrance. Alban watched with mild amusement as Gladius climbed to its feet, wobbling, its eyes brimming with anger and desperation. Tears began to flow from its face, leaking onto the floor.
“I never wanted this to happen,” it sobbed hoarsely. “You're a monster...you need to die. You need to die!”
“Gladius,” Alban spoke. “You know that I have incredible power. Power that transcends human comprehension. Isn't there something you else you want from me?”
“Something else?” Gladius stammered, defeated and confused.
“Think about everything that's happened,” Alban explained. “I granted you divine power in exchange for a sacrifice. Imagine what else I'm capable of.”
Gladius continued to glare at it, trembling.
“Why have you truly come all this way?” Alban asked.
Gladius began to calm down, its voice lowering. “You killed my mother.”
“I did,” Alban said simply.
“Would it be possible...?” Gladius paused, hope beginning to surface in its eyes. It mustered all of its determination before its next question burst forth. “Would it be possible for you to bring her back?”
Alban smiled, its eyes narrowing.“Yes. But it will require--”
“It needs a sacrifice,” Gladius deduced.
“Exactly,” said Alban. “You are rife with emotion. Sadness, anger, guilt...if you willingly give up your life, I can use that power to revive your mother. But it needs to be your choice. Are you willing to die to save her?”
“Of course!” Gladius exclaimed. “It was my fault! It was all my fault! Please...bring her back!”
Alban studied the warrior for a moment, before walking up to it. Light began to collect in its hand, pulsating and growing larger. Gladius gritted its teeth, before Alban drove the sphere through its chest. Its eyes widened as blood streamed from its chest, light bursting through it. Then, they froze. Alban pulled its hand back and watched Gladius drop to the floor. The room dissolved in front of them, leaving Nobu, Symonne, and Helix glaring ahead, speechless. Another visual formed in front of them. This time, Alban was standing in some plains, the grass blowing in the wind.
“The world is in chaos,” it said. “And the road to get here has been filled with tragedy and misfortune. But you've been given a second chance at life. Isn't that wonderful...Minerva Laston?”
In front of it stood a corpse, long black hair falling down its back. It growled incomprehensibly, its vacant eyes glaring ahead.
Alban smiled, as they stood in the grass, the sun shining down on them.