The Fallen arc
TRIGGER WARNING!! Intense violence and physical abuse
The Azalea Forest
Oak Village
After arriving at Oak Village the group had spent the night over for some R & R. Henro himself was undergoing a dangerous ritual to recover his magic and save Luca. Emilia hadn't left his side since and spent the night in his room awaiting his return.
The next morning, Emilia was sitting next to Henro while he laid in bed. She gripped his hand tightly and looked at him with worry.
Knock. Knock.
"Emilia, it's us." That voice belonged to Ziera. Emilia turned around and saw Ziera and Jayden walk into the room.
"Jayden. Ziera. Good Morning." Emilia said.
"Good Morning Em. How are you feeling?." Ziera greeted her.
"Yo! Morning! And how's sleeping beauty doing?" Jayden asked. Ziera elbowed him in the arm. "Ow." Jayden winced.
"Henro is still asleep but he seems fine so far. As for me, I didn't get much sleep though. But I'm fine really! How are you guys?" Emilia asked.
"Good enough. Would have slept better if it wasn't for this guy's snoring." Ziera replied.
"Oh yeah? Says the princess with the morning breath." Jayden cheekily retorted.
"Morning breath!?" Ziera shouted with embarrassment.
"Oh yeah. Look I don't know how things are done in your family but over here with the common folk, we have this thing called hygiene. You should try it sometime." Jayden said as he covered his nose. Ziera shot Jayden an angry and flustered look.
"You cheeky little! Why I outta!" Ziera exclaimed. She grabbed onto Jayden and put him in a tight headlock.
"Ow! Ziera, you're hurting me!" Jayden cried out.
"Good. Now maybe you'll think twice before insulting a former princess." Ziera growled.
"Princess of bad breath you mean? Gah!" Jayden choked as Ziera squeezed harder. "Ziera, I can't breathe!" Jayden choked out.
Emilia watched this all unfold but she wasn't upset. In fact she began smiling. She put her hand over his mouth and giggled. Then she began to laugh as tears started to form in her eyes.
"Ahahahahaha!" Emilia laughed loudly.
Jayden and Ziera stopped their struggling and looked at Emilia with confusion.
"Uh Em?" Jayden asked.
"What's so funny?" Ziera asked. Emilia finally stopped laughing and wiped her tears.
"Sorry. I'm just so happy that things are finally starting to go back to normal. Like you two are starting to act like friends again." Emilia said.
Jayden and Ziera looked at each other realizing what Emilia meant.
"I guess." Ziera replied as she released Jayden and turned away from him, folding her arms. While Jayden was coughing trying to regain his breath.
"Yep. We're good." Jayden coughed out. He then turned his head back to Ziera who didn't look fully convinced. "We are right? Ziera?" Jayden asked with concern. Ziera still wouldn't look at him.
"I.....". Ziera hesitated to continue.
"Ziera, it's okay. Whatever you want to tell me I'll listen. I promise. I know I have a long way to earn your forgiveness but..".
"No Jayden you no longer have anything else to apologize for. I'm the one who needs to apologize this time. I was angry with you for pushing me away but I did the same to you. I should have been more considerate of your feelings. I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me." Ziera said.
Jayden smiled. "I already did. So friends?" Jayden asked as he lifted his fist towards Ziera asking for a fist bump.
"Friends. But you better not slow me down, Cortez." Ziera playfully said with a smirk.
"Wasn't planning on it." Jayden replied with a smirk of his own.
"AWWWWWW!" Ziera and Jayden looked over to Emilia who had her hands on her mouth while shedding tears. "You two are just so CUTE! I knew you guys were gonna hit it off!" Emilia cheered with excitement.
"Hit it off?" Jayden and Ziera asked simultaneously. They looked at each other blushing. They turned away from each other feeling embarrassed.
"Haha! I-I wouldn't say we hit it off. I mean..". Jayden said nervously.
"Pfft yeah. Me and Jayden? No chance!" Ziera blurted out.
"Yeah wait. No chance?" Jayden asked.
"Absolutely not! Zero chance. Negative even! No chance in hell am I right? Ahaha!" Ziera laughed nervously.
"Oh. Right." Jayden looked down feeling gloomy.
"Uh-huh". Emilia smirked while stroking her chin.
Ziera looked back at Emilia and coughed to break the silence. "Anyways. We should discuss our next move. It's not just the imperials we have to worry about. That draugr is still out there too. Hey Emilia, did you regain your magic yet?"
Emilia pulled out her arm and out from the palm of her hand came a small gust of wind and electricity. "Yeah! It's not at full power but it's starting to come back! That talk with Henro helped so now my mana flow is back on track." Emilia said with confidence.
"Good. We'll need you for support. You attack it from the air. Jayden same goes for you. I'll fight it directly and..".
"Wait Ziera! Let me fight it directly alongside you!" Jayden announced.
"No way! That thing is too dangerous. It's not just strong but it's cunning too. And it can adapt. You're still not ready for a fight like this." Ziera stated.
"Then when will I be ready!? We won't know unless I try!" Jayden argued.
"Jayden please, I'm saying this for your own good." Ziera pleaded.
"No! Ziera I appreciate you looking out for me but I don't need you to protect me all the time. I'm holding the most powerful weapon in the world. Eventually I'm gonna fight those spirit relics and later Zenal. But I can't get to that level if I can't even fight one draugr. I don't want to be a burden any longer." Jayden said.
"Jayden, that's not..." Ziera tried to say.
"And you were right back then when you said I can't have it both ways. That especially goes for trust. Which is why I want to earn your trust. So please let me earn it. I want to get stronger! Strong enough to be as good as you! Please Ziera!" Jayden begged.
Ziera was taken back by Jayden's words. As strong as me? No that's not...No. now is not the time to doubt yourself Ziera. Jayden and the others are counting on you.
Ziera sighed. "Okay fine. Let's do it." Ziera said. Jayden looked at her with excitement but Ziera got up and approached him with a serious look. "But you do exactly what I say to the letter. Do anything reckless and I'll pull you out. Got it?" Ziera sternly asked. Jayden stood up straight, intimidated by Ziera's stern expression.
"Yes ma'am!" Jayden complied.
"Good. Luckily I already have a strategy in place. Now as for Henro. I don't want to force him to fight it if he doesn't want to but.." Ziera said.
"Don't worry! When Henro comes back I know he'll regain his confidence! He always does." Emilia said as she looked at him. Jayden and Ziera smiled in approval.
"Pardon the intrusion."
The group looked towards the door and in came Arkin, Reisha, and Rudy.
"You guys! Good Morning!" Emilia greeted.
"Sup. Did you guys come to check on Henro?" Jayden asked.
"I just came to make sure he's doing well. Amira is downstairs checking on Luca." Reisha stated.
"The ghost woman? Why does she want to check on Luca? Does she know him?" Jayden asked.
"It's...complicated." Reisha said with hesitation.
"That aside, there is a matter I would like to discuss with all of you. It's about my....".
"RAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Suddenly Henro let out an ear-piercing scream. The group were caught off guard and had to cover their ears. Emilia was the first to run towards Henro.
"Henro! Henro, what's wrong!?" Emilia asked, feeling scared.
"Stand back!" Reisha ordered as she got in between Emilia and Henro. She placed her hand on his head and began healing. Henro was sweating as she screamed and shook all over the bed. "Rudy! Tell me what's going on!" Reisha ordered.
"Nightmare! It's his nightmare! His mind, breaking! Breaking!" Rudy stated.
"Breaking!?" Jayden asked.
"Wait, do you mean?" Ziera asked.
"Yes! If Henro doesn't confront his past soon, the fear will consume him and his mind will break. He'll be stuck in a coma." Reisha explained.
"WHAT!?" Jayden, Ziera and Emilia asked simultaneously.
"You have to get him out!" Jayden demanded.
"We can't! If we do now he'll never be able to use his magic here!" Reisha said.
"What good is magic if he's in a coma! Hurry and let him out of there!" Jayden ordered.
Stolen novel; please report.
"STOP!" Emilia screamed, causing everyone in the room to be silent.
"Emilia?" Jayden asked.
"Jayden. Thank you for worrying about Henro. I know you two never got along before but it makes me happy to see you so concerned for him. But please, please let Henro finish this." Emilia pleaded.
"But Emilia! What if Henro...!"
"He won't let that happen. Henro is stronger than that. I know he is. He won't let this beat him. He'll come back to us. Because like I said yesterday, he won't beat this alone. We'll be here by his side. Right?" Emilia asked with a smile.
"Em." Jayden said. Ziera placed her hand on Jayden's shoulder.
"She's right. It's time we put our faith in him this time." Ziera said.
"I'm sorry Em. You're right. Besides, that jackass would make fun of me if he saw me worrying about him like this. So I'll put my faith in him too." Jayden said with a confident smile. Emilia nodded.
"Okay. Reisha, what can we do to help?" Emilia asked.
"First I need Jayden to help me hold him down. I'm gonna try a different spell to ease his mind." Reisha ordered.
"On it!" Jayden complied.
"Ziera, go get Henro a wet rag for me will you? Reisha asked.
"Understood!" Ziera complied and dashed out the door.
"Emilia. Keep speaking to Henro. Your voice will help put him at ease." Reisha said.
"I will." Emilia complied. As Jayden held Henro's fidgeting body down and Reisha kept healing, Emilia placed her hand gently on Henro's forehead. "Henro. I believe in you." Emilia said.
***
The Azalea Forest
Outside of Oak Village
Right outside the village unbeknownst to the group, the infamously large terrifying creature had landed onto a large tree. It squealed on a branch and saw Oak Village right up ahead where it found it's prey.
"Henro." The Draugr growled.
***
Fury's Imperial Warship
The Bridge
"General Fury sir! The draugr has finally located the targets. They are all hiding out in Oak Village." Said one of the soldiers.
"Hmph. Finally. SIX. Get me in touch with your men in the forest. You got three imperial warships over there so use them to wreak some havoc." Fury ordered.
SIX bowed. "As you wish General Fury. Admiral! I'm sending you the coordinates to where you will find the targets. When you arrive, aim your Omni-Cannons toward Oak Village. I"ll give the signal for you to fire." Six instructed.
"As you command Lady SIX." The Admiral complied. Fury chuckled and rested his head on his hand.
"This should keep Arkin at bay. So what's your move now? Ziera?"
***
Henro's Pov
4 Years Ago
The Capital: Andromeda
The Citadel
"Henro".
"Who said that? Who's calling my name now?"
"Henro."
"That voice. Why does it sound familiar?"
"Henro. I believe in you."
"Who are you?"
"Hey mom!"
I heard a voice. It belonged to my younger self who was 18 at this point. He was in his cell with mom.
"Someday, I'm going to get us out of here. Then I'll become a doctor and cure you! And find us a new place where we can call home! I promise, mom!" My younger self said. My mother coughed up some blood but smiled.
"That's so sweet of you Henro. I know you'll make a great doctor. Maybe it'll help you find a nice lady friend who also needs some medical attention." Mary quipped.
"What!? Pfft yeah right. Like I care about that." My younger self grumbled and blushed.
"Oh come now you are already a handsome young man. I'm sure you'll be a fine lady killer. Just be sure to treat them as a gentleman would. And don't be so rugged. Some women love sensitive guys." Mary said.
"Yeah. Yeah." Young Henro waved away. Mary giggled.
"But seriously I'm proud of you Henro. Despite what you've been through you still grew up to be a fine young man. I know it hasn't been easy for you even before this. Without your father I mean. But...".
"Don't worry about it. To be honest, I stopped caring wherever my old man ran off to a long time ago. But I never needed him. I still don't. Because you're the only parent I'll ever need mom. As long as I have you, I'll be fine." My younger self said, blushing from being shy.
Mary was taken back but then grew a cheeky grin and hugged my younger self tightly.
"Aww you really are so adorable Henro! My sensitive young man!" Mary said cheerily.
"Gah! Cut it out mom! I'm not a little kid anymore!" Young Henro yelled out.
"Even so to me you'll always be my adorable baby boy! And Henro, I'm fine if we don't find a new home immediately. Because as long as I have my family I'll always feel right at home. My home is with you, Henro." Mary said as she hugged my younger self tightly.
My younger self began to tear up a bit and hugged mom back tightly.
"Thank you. Mom."
I looked at the exchange in front of me. "If only I kept my promise back then."
2 Weeks Later
"MOM!"
I heard a voice coming right in front of me. The scenery had changed again and now I was at the last place I wanted to be. The place I lost everything. The Draugr pit.
Directly below the citadel is an underground facility where Silas takes and imprisons any draugr he considers failures. They are eventually conditioned to become hunting dogs for the empire.
I never wanted to see this place ever again but I had no choice but to look as my arms, feet and neck were chained to the ground. Not that it mattered. I barely had any energy to resist at this point. I just wanted it to be over.
In front of me was my younger self being held back by guards. Around him were cages of draugr within the walls of the pit and right in front of him was Silas who was holding my mother in the air with his tail around her throat.
"Subject 6167. You were found trying to steal medicine for subject 6166. Do you deny this?" Silas stated.
"Of course not! Cause you said you would heal her but you haven't! She's only gotten worse!" My younger self spat.
"Worse? Whatever do you mean? She's fine" Silas said.
"Are you blind!? Look at her! She can barely see or think straight anymore! All because of your damn drug!" My younger self cursed.
"Precisely. That's what the treatment is supposed to. So what's the problem exactly?" Silas asked.
The younger Henro was in shock. Sweat poured down from his face. "What?" He asked.
"Hmm? Oh. I see now. This was a misunderstanding on part. To put it in simple terms, I injected her with a drug to slow down her brain thus removing any noise she could make while I continued my research. Listening to her cry and scream for her offspring all the time grew quite tiresome." Silas explained.
"What....why?" My younger self asked.
"Why? I just explained why to you. Is there something wrong with your hearing 6167?" Silas asked sarcastically.
"Why...WHY THE HELL ARE YOU LIKE THIS!? SILAS!? Me, my mother, and our kind! Just what the hell have we ever done to you!? For you to treat us like nothing more than test subjects! You kidnap us, tear us apart, turn us into freaks and then throw us out like we're garbage! Just what have we done to deserve any of this!? WHAT DID WE EVER DO TO YOU!? TELL ME!!!" My younger self roared.
My younger self's roar agitated all the draugr inside their cages. They began roaring and even bashing on the Omni-Barriers that kept them inside. Silas meanwhile stood there staring at my younger self. My younger self stared back.
My younger self's roar agitated all the draugr inside their cages. They began roaring and even bashing on the Omni-Barriers that kept them inside. Silas meanwhile stood there staring at my younger self. My younger self stared back.
The roars from the draugr grew louder and louder that it began to make the guards nervous enough for them to cocked their weapons. This went on until Silas let out a horrific ear-piercing screech that silenced everyone in the pit. Even the draugr.
My younger self fell over. Completely shook from the screech. I remember how terrifying it was. I never heard anything like it. I used to ask myself, was Silas even an ordinary android? Or something worse.
Silas dropped my mother's body and slowly walked over to my younger self. He took a knee and looked at my younger self straight in the eye. My younger self was angry but still terrified of Silas he was shivering all over and could barely breathe.
This stare down went on for some time until....
"Hmph." Silas waved his tail and launched right at my younger self impaling him through the chest.
"GAAAAAAAAAH!" My younger self spat out blood. I remembered every feeling I had back then when Silas pumped me with those drugs. My skin was burning as if I was showering in acid, my throat felt so dry like I was dehydrated and worst of all my mind was slowly breaking. It was the second worst painful experience I've ever endured.
"NO!" My mother roared as she rose up then slashed at the two guard's necks decapitating them.
"GET AWAY FROM MY SON!" Mary roared.
"No. Don't." I begged.
My mother roared and made a dash towards Silas. Silas didn't look at her and just simply snapped his fingers. The barrier of one of the cells was shut off and what came out was a small draugr.
"RAAAAAAAH!" The draugr roared.
The Draugr ran and leaped towards Mary. Mary saw it coming and gave it a swift kick to the face. The draugr yelped and flew back. Mary made a beeline towards Silas again but the ruthless scientist just sighed.
"You still never learn. You pitiful creature." Silas said.
"SHUT UP! What's so pitiful about a mother protecting her son from a monster!? If you can't understand that, the only pitiful one here is you!" Mary yelled out.
Silas picked up my younger self's body and threw him at Mary. Mary gasped.
"HENRO!" Mary caught my younger self in her arms. He was still screaming and fidgeting. "Henro! You're gonna be okay! I got yo-."
Mary felt something impale her from her back and through her stomach. It was the draugr from before. She threw up blood, some of it got on the younger Henro's face. It finally managed to get him out of his phase and look at my mother. He was beyond shocked.
"Mom?" He asked with worry.
"Henro. Always be proud....of who you are." Mary said with a weak smile. She then fell over with the younger Henro in her arms. He didn't say anything. He just sat up and looked at her with shock. From behind Silas came walking up and started clapping.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!" I cried out. I tried harder and harder to break my chains but I couldn't. I couldn't do anything but watch.
"I'll admit. For a lower demon to fight against my drug like that was impressive. However, that was still quite foolish." Silas reprimanded.
"Help her." My younger self begged.
"Come again?" Silas asked.
"Please. Help he-." The younger henro couldn't finish as Silas slapped him across the face with his tail and sent him crashing into a wall. The small draugr that attacked Mary ran over and held Henro down on his stomach.
"Defective creature. After you and your mother showed me nothing but disrespect you think can now expect favors? I'm insulted." Silas grumbled.
My younger self glared at Silas and tried to move but the draugr kept him pinned.
"Don't look at me like that. It's your own fault this happened. All I did was punish you. When a dog bites you do you give it a treat or proper discipline? 6166 still couldn't understand that despite her being your mother. And for that, she paid with her life." Silas said.
The younger Henro's eyes opened wide after hearing those words.
"With...her life? What are you talking about?" My younger self asked with fear.
"She was already in a fragile state with the amount of drugs I injected into her system. Her lashing out only accelerated the process. On top of the draugr's poison entering her bloodstream, I'm afraid she's now in a lobotomized state. She isn't dead but....her chances to recover are zero to none." Silas explained.
"No. No. No. No. No. NOOOO! YOU HAVE TO HELP HER! PLEASE HELP HER! I'LL DO ANYTHING! I'LL NEVER QUESTION YOU AGAIN! I'LL GIVE UP RESISTING! I'LL GIVE UP EVERYTHING! JUST PLEASE! PLEASE SAVE HER!" My younger self begged and cried.
"No. Even after everything you still don't understand. So I'll say this only once. You are valuable. Your mother is expendable. Just like the half-breed child I killed in front of you years ago. I can always find more of their kind to replace. And if you keep defying me, I'll make sure the only happy memories you have of your mother are watching me feed her to my draugr. In pieces." Silas threatened.
My younger self couldn't talk anymore. He just laid on the ground petrified.
"Now. Show me the proper respect while you are still valuable. Is that understood, 6167?" Silas asked.
".......Yes. Lord Silas." My younger self compliad.
"Good. Now it's time to go. Your next surgery is long overdue. Carry him, creature." Silas said.
My younger self looked over at my mother laid out on the ground. He began breathing heavily as he recalled the memories he and his mother shared together. The cathedral where he helped make a home for him and his mother, the games they would play together when he was little, him telling her his dream of becoming a doctor, and him promising to cure her. I remember it all clearly. All of those memories leading up to this moment, finally broke me.
"MOM! RAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!" My younger self wailed. He kept wailing and wailing as he looked at the body of my mother. The draugr on top of him began to fidget. It looked at Mary and then at Henro. Soon it growled and then roared.
"RAAAAAAAAAH!" The draugr roared as it raised it's hand to slash at my younger self but was slapped away by Silas.
"I didn't give you permission to kill him. Bring him with us to my lab. Don't make me repeat myself again. Creature." Silas threatened.
The draugr got up and growled. But it obeyed it's master and picked up Henro over it's shoulder.
"MOM! I'M SORRY! PLEASE MOM WAKE UP! PLEASE! MOM!"
And that was it. I saw my younger self get carried away while I just sat on my knees still chained to the ground. I began to cry. I lost everything that day. And looking at it again, what right do I have to live?
I wanted to become a doctor to heal my mother and help countless other people. But all I did was end up hurting the one person I loved the most. Not only that but I'm a Fallen. No matter what I do I'll always be discriminated against by humans or the other races just for having demon blood in my veins. Why should I care to help people who spit in my face?
And worst of all, I'm a coward. I talk big but I'll always run away like I always do. Just who the hell would be dumb enough to ever wanna help worthless scum like me?
Then out of nowhere I heard a noise. It was the sound of my cell door opening. I looked up ahead and saw my younger self on the floor depressed. I remember. I was practically a potato back then. I didn't care about living anymore just like now. But what gave me hope again? What made me want to get back up? Just what, or who made me want to live?
"Henro".
Who keeps saying that? Who are you!?
The door to my old cell finally opened. Both I and my younger self looked up ahead and saw someone. It was a girl. A girl with long blond hair made into a wrapped up ponytail. She had a Greene tunic, a bow over her shoulder, green tattoos on her cheeks, bright blue eyes and a beautiful smile.
Wait a second. I know you. You're...
"Who...are you?" My younger self asked.
The girl's smile grew bigger and she said: "My name is Emilia! And I've come to rescue you, Henro Akumura!" Emilia said while lending her hand out to my younger self and me.
"That's right. Emilia....you."