Chapter 35: Phoenix

Yami

20 Years ago

The trip back to Dangai felt so much shorter than it did the other way around for Yami. It felt like he had rehearsed what he was planning to say countless times but it still wasn’t natural for him. He knew when he was placed on the spot that sincerity would not fall from his lips as did with snark. For once, He would have to throw aside his regular joking attitude and take responsibility for what had happened. It may have not been him who had killed Zena, but it was his fault, he had failed to protect her. That was the part he was least looking forward to admitting to Zena’s mother when he arrived back.

Yami sat on the empty dock of the ship next to the railing with his knees tucked into his chest and arms wrapped around them, with Zena’s corpse lying next to him with her eyes closed. He had done his best to clean all the blood off her body as a form of respect but it was still hard for him not to notice the garish wounds and bruises across her body. The young man sat silently as the boat rocked through the ocean waters, debating whether or not he should even be allowed to cry when he was responsible for letting this happen. Yami raised his head and looked out towards the ocean where the ship’s course had set.

The view of Dangai’s coast began to fade into the water’s horizon. Not long now… Thought Yami as the dread and anxiety rose higher within him, overpowering his thoughts and what happened in the prior day. It was so much for him to process that he had completely put the assassins’s Devil Relic in the back of his mind. However, it was easy to forget it was part of him now when he was told originally that someone’s body should only be able to hold one Devil Relic at a time.

Upon the young man looting the Relic from the corpse of Lock’s flesh, it began to bond with him. Despite it not being absorbed like his Mirage Blade for whatever reason, Yami still felt like he had new potential within him, potential that lay outside of Mirage Blade. Though he hadn’t taken the time to try his new Relic, the responsibility of bringing Zena’s body back to her mother had to come first, yet, he still kept the new relic in his pocket. He was confused, yet fascinated as to why he could use two relics at once. Despite not having used it’s power at all, he could feel it deep within him, the same way that Mirage Blade sat inside him.

Yami sat at the dinner table with his teeth grit and anxiety strewn across his face. The cries of Zena’s mother were still audible from his mother’s home even after an hour since Yami had carried Zena’s lifeless corpse to her. He could have explained what had happened better to Zena’s mother, it was easy to see that in hindsight but executing a task with high amounts of emotional intelligence proved to be difficult for Yami. The hard part was over though, the young man should have been able to relax even slightly, but it was impossible. He sat with his head in his hands. Blaming himself over and over, replaying the moment they were attacked and what he could have done to save her.

The image of their attacker kept fresh in his mind as Yami was reminded he was the only person who managed to surpass Yami. The only person to ever best him in a fight. The only person who ever gave him some sort of challenge. How can I forget his face? Yami asked himself as the moment of him barely breathing on the brink of death replayed in his head. The desperation to survive and channel his demonic energy into something that could help save him was something he had never felt before.

A gentle hand pressed onto Yami’s broad shoulder and as it did, he turned to find his mother looking down upon him with a concerned expression. His guardian had already seen what happened with Zena’s mother and decided to give Yami space to deal with his emotions. It was common for her to see Yami deal with problematic situations on his own through humor and stoic nature, but never had she seen the young man in a state like this before.

“Yami,” She started slowly, carefully watching her words. “I just want you tae know, I’m here to talk if you n-” Started the kind woman before she was interrupted.

“I’m going back tae Elden,” Yami said firmly as he shrugged off his mother’s hand to stand back up. His mother kept her hand held out to him in surprise, before returning it slowly to her breast.

“To Elden? Why?” She asked with worry and confusion in her voice.

“I’m going tae free the magicless from their lives,” said the young man as he stormed over to his leather sack resting on the counter. His mother’s face became distressed upon hearing what he had said, resulting in her hurrying over to him in a small panic.

“Wit are you saying Yami? What’s spurred this on?” She asked as reached her hand out to touch him hesitantly. Yami didn't reply and instead sorted through his supplies that were still left over in his sack.

“Yami, please din’nae do something so reckless! You're still going through grief! Din’nae feel responsible for Zena’s passing. I-I don’t know the full story of wit happened, but I know you would have done everything you could. You're a kind young man Yami, please din’nae do this!” She pleaded with her voice beginning to crack under the pressure to convince her only son to stay. Yami turned back to his mother, looking down at the shorter woman with a determined look in his eye she had not seen before.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“I have tae dae this Mum, The things I saw over there wernae right. It wasnae just Zena’s death. I hadn’t even reached Elden before I saw the magicless being shoved aboot like animals. I dinnae know why Zena and I were targeted. But if what she told me aboot how the magicless are treated in their countries is true…Then I can’t just ignore it…no after seeing what had happened to her.” Yami turned and slammed his palms on the counter, rattling the dishes that were left out. “I have tae do this. I made a promise with her that I could’nae keep, I owe her that at the very least. She may not have said it but she also wanted Magicless to be treated fairly, even if she wasn’t one herself.” he turned back to his mother as he tried to find the words to be a bit more comforting for the fact he was leaving so abruptly.

“I’m sorry, I really am. I know I just got back. But I win’ae contine to live responsibility free. I have tae do this.” a tear fell from his mother’s eye as she lowered her head and accepted what he wanted.

“It's okay,” she sniffled and trying to smile as best as she could, “I only worry aboot keeping you safe but I also want you tae live a happy life. I-I still don’t want you to go but I won’t stop you if this is what you really want,” the two met eyes and Yami nodded as she ended her sentence. “Aye, I do,” His mother quickly dove into his chest and gave the young man an overbearing hug. She leaned into him and began to sob, Yami hugged her back, patting her on her smaller back slightly.

“S-sorry,” She said between her sobs “I din’nae mean to cry… it's… it's just hard to see you go…but I want you to be happy,” Yami continued to hug his mother and comfort her as much as she needed. It’s his fault his mother is in this state, so he will take responsibility for it, he will not shove it away.

A few days had passed and Yami had finished the necessary packing he needed for the ship that would arrive at the Dangai port. It wouldn’t be long until Yami would have to build a new life in a completely different country. One that most certainly wouldn’t accept him as a person with their preconceived notions of magicless. It wouldn't be long until the young man was practically declaring war on all three empires that made up Elden before he had even turned eighteen.

All of this should have bothered him or filled him with some sort of fear considering the fact he would soon be all on his own. Despite all of that, Yami felt better than ever. It was a gargantuan task he had set out for himself but equipped with two Devil Relics and the desire to see his kind treated as equal, there was no room for any sort of fear in his body. Yami found himself waiting just outside his mother’s house.

It still pained him when he saw Zena’s mother as she only seemed to drown in more and more misery. Yami decided to keep his distance, he wouldn’t be sure of how to console her and would probably make things worse. He would do his part by acting on the promise he made to Zena and what she had asked him. To liberate Magicless and become a better person respectively. Yami’s mother came out the door and slowly descended down the stairs, meeting with Yami down the short flight.

“Good to see yer no winge’ing still,” he said turning to her with a smile. She gave a caring, if still sorrow smile towards him.

“It's good to see you being yourself honey,”

“Aye, Cannae keeping moping around, it's this charisma that will help build the group I need, still, it may be a wee bit tricky to find people who ar'nae keen aboot Elden like me,”

“I’m sure you’ll meet plenty of like-minded friends,” Said his mother supportively as she held on to a pile of clothes. Still slightly apprehensive about letting her son leave.

“They’ll be mare than friends,” Yami said standing and turning to his mother. “Anywan who wants tae join this fight with me will be family, anyone willing to put that amoont of trust in'tae me deserves that at the very least,” Yami’s mother smiled proudly at her son, admiration welled from her eyes as they soon then shifted down to the pile of clothes she held in her hands.

“Ya need help hanging that?” asked Yami. His mother shook her head with a warm smile

“No no, It’s actually a gift,” she replied with her voice perking up slightly.

“That's a relief,” Said Yami as he overexaggerated his exhale. “hanging laundry was my least favorite chore,”

“Oh you're still going to have chores in Elden young man, You're going to need tae take of yourself from nue on,” she lectured in a motherly way.

“Liberating a country comes with a cost I suppose,” Yami said taking the red cloth and rolling it out. Holding it by the collar revealed it to be a long crimson coat with black trims that accented the collar, finished with a deep crimson, almost black interior to the coat. Finally, the jacket was adorned with golden buttons that were paired with button holes to close the jacket properly.

“This came fae yer father’s wardrobe, I thought you might get cald over in Elden,” Yami took in the design of the jacket and knowledge that his father had once worn this. He decided to throw on the jacket with that notion, despite his dislike for the colour. He stretched his arms out to let the fabric properly adjust to his figure. His mother held her hand over her mouth as she took in the sight of her son.

“You're…just like your father,” She uttered warmly,

“You think? I’m no that ugly am I?” he said with a smug grin, The older woman only shook her head in displeasure. She strode over and adjusted the collar that was out of place forcefully.

“Just take care of it, will you?” Yami released himself from her grasp and grabbed his large leather sack that rested against the wall.

“Aye, I will,” He replied sincerely. He then leaned down and gave his mother one last hug with his free hand before quickly departing to avoid the inevitable tearful departure.

“Please be safe, Yami! I love you!” Shouted his mother abruptly as he left for the docks. Yami kept his back towards her and with a swift motion, brought his arm up high and gave a small casual wave to signal his goodbye. His hand soon returned back to his side and parted his new jacket's long drapes that flowed at his side to reach for the relic held within his pocket. He pulled it out, clutching the metallic hourglass as he looked down upon it.

“Let’s hope you're no too hard for me tae figure oot,” he said to himself as he shoved the Relic back into his trouser pocket, with the Dangai dock’s expanding on the horizon as he raised his head.