Eastern Region - Anti-bandit campsite - evening

Fire from the campsite crackles, burning strong through this unexpected event. Everyone watches with bated breath for the impending fight that’s going to break out. Waiting is all I can do for them to fight while I heal Nunnalé off on the sidelines.

Marie’s possessed body continues to spin the blade in her hand. The Source-user possessing her makes her wear a giddy look on her face, crooked, unnatural even. “1…2…3…3-½…” It pointed at me, Nunnalé, Zell, and Zeal, counting everyone who’s a Source-user. He said 3½, so I guess he’s counting Zeal for his personal skill? “...I wonder how many of you will fall before the sun rises?”

Zeal scoffs at the question. “Pretty damn cocky, ain’t ya? Last time we fought, I went easy on you. Now, you’re gonna get it.”

“Do not hurt her, she’s–”

“Shut up!” Zeal cuts off Alexander, stricken from shock. “...I don’t care what’s going on with her. She’s turned into a threat. Then that’s all I gotta know!”

“Please, do not hurt her!”

“Alexander, I understand your woe, but–”

Marie vanishes in the blink of an eye, reappearing behind Zell. “You’re taking too long.”

Shadows dance across the ground as Zell leaps back. Three separate shadows stretch out, chasing after him. Three monstrous creatures soar out of the ground with a substance akin to ink following behind them. Zell dispatches two of them, leaving the last to catch him off guard. It burrows its fangs into his arm. Quick to respond, he smashes that thing against the ground. It turns into a black ooze that returns slithers back to Marie’s shadow.

“Get away from my brother!”

Zeal, practically destroying the ground below him, kicks off after Marie. The Source-user blocks the full-powered strike. The force of the blow swirls the air into a frenzy, nearly putting out the campfire. His attack was too brash, giving our enemy the chance to slice his knuckles. A short whimper leaves Zeal, but he goes for another attack. Another monster blocks the punch. Only the chest formed to serve as a shield. However, it was nowhere close to stopping Zeal. Grazing it was enough for him to tear open our enemy’s defense. His other arm rockets through the hole, quicker than my eyes can follow.

“So obtuse.”

Another animal spawned from Marie’s shadow. It wraps around the blade, extending its length to 7 feet. Coated in darkness that could consume a star, Zeal gets sliced, caught off guard by the sudden extension. As if it weren’t enough, the shape of the blade changes, taking on talons that shred Zeal’s flesh apart when pulled.

Zell rescues his brother from further damage.

“Shadow Veil: Snipe!”

In a “blink and you’ll miss it” moment, Zell and Zeal took a hit. Whatever hit them left no trace. “I meant to take your head. It appears a century can eat at your aim.”

A century or two!? Something tells me that’s not a term or phrase.

Gilhart sneaked behind our opponent. Despite his gull, the enemy redirects his attack. Quick to counter, Gilhart twists his body for a roundhouse kick. Not letting up, he moves for his next attack. Without warning, that horrific pressure rocks my nerves, setting nails inside my body for a moment. Gilhart doesn’t stop barreling toward him.

“What a surprise.”

Shooting out of the shadows, a monster taking the form of a cheetah comes and pounces at Gilhart. His momentum didn’t break, he just rams his fist through it. Utter shock spreads across Marie’s face as Gilhart draws closer. His fist flashes, striking Marie’s stomach. Between the shock and blinding speed, Gilhart struck the stomach, leaving our enemy open.

“Well, I’ll be… You’re not a Source-user, but you’re quite strong, and you were able to fight through my pressure. No, it’s like you completely ignored it.”

“Can you quit babbling? It’s weird,” Gilhart asks, anger seeping from his words.

“Then excuse me!”

The two of them continue to fight as Chip shoots from the trees. With the two working together alongside Zell, they got the enemy on the defensive.

“Nunnalé, are you okay? Can you hear me?”

She groans in response. Her breathing is heavy. The bleeding stopped, but sitting around won’t solve anything. All I can do is watch everyone else fight. Even if I jump in, I’d only get in the way. Hell, I almost got killed because I tried to do that. But I don't want to sit here, doing nothing! I know I'm useless in a fight, but there has to be something I can do to help Marie!

“...But there has to be something I can do, anything!”

There has to be something, something I can do… Why am I remembering… That’s it, that’s what she meant! All I can do is concentrate and relax myself. Focus on my ‌Source… I always felt it and I thought that’s all I needed, but I never tried to understand it. If I can feel it, then I have to paint that picture, the energy that shifts around my body, that empowers me, and gives me strength. What does it look like, the shape, texture, motion, all of it…

It’s smooth, yet it feels as if it’s ridged around some of the edges, unrefined yet flows how it should. Not just that, it’s bursting with energy as it flows all around me. This…is Source!

Removing my glasses reduces the clarity of my eyesight a little, but my perception of Source is clearer. “I…I can see it!”

This white energy is mine. Not only that, but I can see everyone else's. Everyone besides Zells is minuscule. Marie’s shrouded in a dense, pitch-black Source. Every part of it is devouring her body, mimicking a hungry beast. Following its flow, it’s coalescing from the tip of the blade… This might get me killed, but I need to see if this is true.

“Sorry, I’m going to do something stupid, Nunnalé.”

Okay, time to do something stupid. I rush into the fray.

Source around the sword spikes when the user notices me. They’re going for a swing! Dodging the slash by the skin of my teeth pushes my reflexes to their limit. That attack was made of Source! Those monsters that came from the shadows weren’t real animals. Hell, those aren’t real shadows. Our enemy morphs that Source into shadows, then makes beasts out of them to be used as attacks and defensive measures. That slash was probably using an avian as a long-range attack.

“Shadow Veil…” His Source bursts, stopping its constant flow around Marie for a moment, yet it keeps flowing around the sword… Wait a second… I think I get it now! “...Snipe!”

His Source shoots from his sword, jetting out faster than my body can react. Blood explodes from my side from whatever ripped past my flesh. I bite down on my lip to stop myself from shrieking in pain. A majority of Source travels through Marie’s feet. Before the shadow can form below me, I jump at Marie. We crash and roll against the ground. Using my feet to stop us, I end up on top. My hands' dart for the sword.

“Get off!”

An unruly, monstrous pressure forces me off her body. Every bump on the ground rattles every bone in my body. Anyone can break just from being in the wrong position. A tree stops me from going any further, although it sends a chill down my spine. Nothing bad. Maybe I should’ve enhanced my torso?

“Boy, how did you learn to see it!”

A dry chuckle is the first thing to come out of my mouth. “I have no idea what you mean?”

“Don’t lie! You’re able to see my Source, aren’t you?”

“Seriously, I don't know?”

Anger doesn’t begin to describe it. If I had to put my finger on it, it’d be murderous hatred, all of it trained on me. Chip fires a needle at Marie, puncturing her shoulder. The enemy noticed right when Zeal aims a punch at Marie’s stomach. With no defense, he easily makes his mark. Her body goes hurling through two trees.

“‘Bout time I hit you!”

That punch definitely broke most of her ribs. But this isn’t over yet, not until we take that sword away from her.

"Shadow veil: Hawkeye!"

A black blur flies past me, giving me little time to register the action. It destroys the campfire, spreading the embers all over the small glade. The darkness of night envelops us, trapping us in a glade where our opponent can spread his shadows without any of us catching it.

"Shadow veil…"

A wide net of Source stretches below our feet, covering the whole glade in their demonic presence!. Nunnalé! I run to her. If this goes off, then she’ll die! Even if I can’t save myself, at least let me save her! What about Alex, what about everyone else!? Damnit, I don’t know, I don’t know! Just go to her!

"...Predator jaw!"

This isn't good! It's transforming into something! There's no escape from this. All I can do is run, run as fast as I can. I close my eyes, waiting for the worst to happen… Nothing, my body is still intact. The Source below us vanishes. Something happened to the enemy.

Zeal chases after the enemy. He must have noticed that too! I drop to the floor, examining her wound. Her auto-heal is working, although slowly, I can see the wound close, little by little. Good, then I can go help Zeal. But first…

My eyes fall on Alexander, slumped on his knees. “Alexander…” His face, despair is all I see on his face. It’s as if someone ripped away his optimism and courage. Can I even blame him? Seeing his sister like that isn’t something he can easily get over. I’d think I would be angry if he didn’t care. “...Alexander, I’m sorry, but please look over Nunnalé… I promise I’ll save Marie!”

Tears well up in his eyes. He fights back the urge to do so. He takes Nunnalé’s shoulder and head, resting her against the ground.

“Thank you.”

I speed off into the dense sea of trees. Since I’m focusing on following the Source trail left behind by the user, I can’t use enhancement; doing so is like playing two different games at once. The way he’s leaving this trail is haphazard. This Source-user’s control is almost non-existent outside of battle.

Zeal is up ahead, but he isn't heading forward anymore. He's leaning upon a tree, applying pressure to his leg while blood gushes from a wound on his thigh.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Zeal!"

I immediately heal him, turning off my perception of Source. With this wound and the other ones on his body, I’ll need to stay back to heal him. Going after Marie’s body will only get me killed if I don’t have Zeal as backup.

Damnit, this is all we can do right now. We’ll have to recover from this fight before going any further... I promise Marie, I’ll save you!

Anti-bandit campsite - medical tent - midnight

Despite his wounds, Zeal recovered, thanks to my healing. All he needs is to rest in the medical tent. Proxy is in there, sound asleep. Kind of surprising, really. Nunnalé is still recovering from her wound, but she isn’t in critical condition from my healing and her own. “So, those needles Chip shot were filled with sedative?” I ask Doctor Crow after he took the time to explain what he and Chip had done.

He noticed Marie was exhibiting violent urges, so he was prepared to subdue her if he needed to.

“Indeed. Thanks to his marksmanship, we were able to inject her with enough to ward her off. It’ll be awhile before she becomes mobile. In the meantime, let us recover from this attack.”

He’s right, rushing off to fight might be a bit rash. So for the time being, I’m going to go investigate the mine.

“Doctor Crow, please take care of Nunnalé and Zeal.”

“Of course, I am a doctor after all,” he said with a hint of joy lacking malign intent. I have no reason to distrust him in any way, but hearing someone say that with nothing else but joy is odd to me… Doctor Crow is a good person through and through.

“Doctor, may I ask you something…? Do you think we can save Marie?”

He places a hand on my shoulder, his firm grip tightens the area. “...If someone is bleeding in front of me, I don’t ask if I can save them. I only do what I can to save them. That comes from belief in my abilities. If you hold no confidence in yourself, then, of course, it could seem impossible.”

Wow, he’s amazing! Belief in my abilities… What am I doing? Getting cold feet isn’t going to save Marie, and it won’t help Alexander. That look of total despair was too much for me to handle. I never want to see that ever again!

“Thank you, Doctor Crow. I have to go.”

“Then take care to–”

“Allow me to accompany you.”

Nunnalé!? She’s standing, but barely. The torn part of her dress is repairing itself, wearing bandages underneath.

“No, you need to go back to bed!”

“I must! No matter where you go, I must go with you.”

I knew she would say something like that. But no matter how you look at it, she’s still recovering.

“Again, no, and that’s my final answer. So return to your bed,” I command by throwing around my authority. I don’t like speaking to her like this, but it’s effective when I need to get my point across. “...I’m going to go investigate the mine with Ovan. We’ll be back in a little while.”

If that mine has anything of value, then I just hope it’ll shed light on all this…

“Richard. May I have a moment of your time, please?” Alexander is speaking from behind me. He seems to be doing a lot better now, but from his words, I sensed guilt and shame. “I know this may be sudden, but I would like to apologize for earlier.”

“Earlier?”

“I…did nothing. As my sister rampaged around the camp, I stood around, stupefied by the events that were unfolding. It was a pathetic moment on my behalf.” This is really eating away at him, each word comes off as a form of punishment, to repent by confessing his moment of hesitation. “...I shall do anything to make up for my weakness… Even if it means my life.”

Nothing about that bodes well with me. He shouldn’t have to blame himself for this. Even if he did step in, there’s nothing he could’ve done. In any case, I better get going.

“Alexander, when I come back, let’s look for Marie together.”

I leave in search of Ovan. We’ll make this investigation quick to go after Marie.

…

Richard left me alone to myself. He swore he would save Marie. Everyone is doing their best to recuperate from this sudden assault, yet here I am, standing like some dolt. Those younger than me had to take care of my burdens and were harmed because of my inability to act. If I had taken action, then maybe Marie would have calmed down… But I was terrified of her, frightened by my sister! Instead of helping her, saving her from whatever had a grasp on her, I just lay there! I am pathetic, I am a worthless brother! If I cannot protect her, then can I even accomplish your dream, father…? No, I cannot allow things to remain the way they are now. Even if it means my death, I will rescue her!

Eastern Mine - midnight

I exit from Ovan’s vehicle, which is surprisingly not cluttered, and the interior, while a bit rough around the edges, was safe. Facing the mine for the second time, a more menacing pressure emanates from it than it did last time. The air itself smells of blood, irritating my nose to no end.

Ovan steps behind me, brandishing a weapon. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

Ignoring my fear, I take a step forward. The soft ground is soon replaced with a hard, rocky surface that echoes my footsteps the deeper I go into the mine. Okay, let’s begin. Like last time, I need to focus on Source, my own, as well as any other nearby… Just focus on that… Opening my eyes reveals a black trail leading further into the mine, down the same path we went through last time.

“So, may I ask how you are able to see this, ‘Source’?”

“Well… How do I put it…? At first, I concentrated on my Source, bringing the feeling to the front, using that to paint a picture, giving it form. This worked so I can see mine and the person possessing Marie.”

“Interesting, but how did you unlock this ability?”

“It’s funny. I already had the means to do this, but I was narrow-minded. A while back, my teacher told me that understanding my Source is the key to understanding Source. At first, I thought it meant learning how to control mine, so I never thought much of it. But when I was desperate to do something, I suddenly remembered her words. Teacher isn’t the type to say something without meaning… ”

“That’s far too interesting. Care to give me a lesson on the subject?”

“Oh, um, well, I’m still a novice, so…”

Killing my train of thought, he lets out a boisterous laugh that betrays the image of a silent and calm man. It quickly dies down as he tries to get a grip on himself.

“...I kid, I kid. It seems your tendency to be overly serious has not changed.” Geez, why does everyone keep laughing at me!? Am I that amusing? “But may I impose a question?”

“Sure?”

“Why did you speak to Nunnalé in such a course manner?”

He was listening in on our conversation? He’s good at hiding, I’ll admit that.

“I just didn’t want her to come along. She’s hurt and needs rest.”

“Was that the best method?”

“She’s stubborn when she wants to be, so I need to be like that sometimes.”

“Is stubbornness all you think of it?”

I sense nothing coming from his words, but I can tell that he’s posing it to bait me into answering, wanting to satiate his curiosity.

“No, I know why she wants to come with me, but stubbornness plays a large role.”

“I see…”

“You’re not going to tell me off?”

“No, it is not my place. I can see that you are coming from a place of goodwill, so I will not say that you are wrong. However, at times, goodwill is sometimes hurtful‌.”

That comment is a dig from what I can tell, but there’s nothing else behind it.

“Maybe so…”

It’s not like me to probe someone’s words unless I have to. What’s up with me…? Gah, I can’t lose focus.

Returning my focus to the trail, we arrive at the part of the mine we found those bodies. Ovan and his group emptied it. The blood remains as a permanent reminder of the horrific scene that plagued this place the other day. Stepping around here feels weird, more than that, wrong. But there’s no time to be getting disgusted… There’s a trail at the back. It doesn’t take long for us to reach the end of the trail. It leads us into a small room filled with flowers that glow as bright as the moon, giving off a delightful feeling that calms me.

“I bet Nunnalé would…”

Hmm… Even trying to talk about her puts me in a dower mood. Maybe I was a bit too cold with her. I had my reasons, but maybe I should’ve spoken with her more lightly? No, enough of that, I need to focus! A slab of stone on the other end of this small room is teeming with Source, and it’s the same as the one possessing Marie.

Ovan walks up to the slab. “Look. This stone has a thin hole in it.”

He’s right, a couple of centimeters, it looks like something is supposed to go inside… Hm? Are these scuff marks by the edges of the hole? On further inspection, the hole is big enough for a sword to slip into. No doubt about it, that sword came from here…

“So that’s how it is.”

“What is it?”

“I know what’s going on.”

“Care to explain?”

“I’ll explain while we leave.” Ovan follows behind me out of the room of flowers. “...Nunnalé said she saw traces of Source, the same Source that belonged to the boy Marie killed. At first, I thought he skirted death by somehow putting his soul into the sword.”

“His soul?”

“I know, it’s a bit farfetched to be true, even I thought so. But with how Marie was acting and how she had the same presence as the boy we fought, there’s only one conclusion to come to: the boy was also possessed.”

“Did he acquire the sword from this mine?”

“Yeah, so he had to be a worker from here. Anyway, the boy also said something interesting. He called Nunnalé a doll. No matter how you see it, she looks human, but he could tell Nunnalé was a doll. Even if he can read her Source, he shouldn’t know that. Then, when he was possessing Marie, he said, I meant to take your head. It appears a century”. A statement like that makes no sense, even as a saying. I think he meant that literally.

“Are you trying to tell me whoever possessed Marie…”

“Exactly. The Source-user who possessed her is a Source-user who implanted their soul into a sword!”

I don’t know if something such as this is workable with Source, or if it’s an irregularity even with Source, but since she emanated the same presence as that boy, and when she did that “Snipe” move, all the Source around her body stopped flowing, but it never stopped for the blade. Even if she just poured all her Source into the blade, it shouldn’t mean her flow would suddenly stop, at least that’s what I think.

Though, it doesn’t matter in the end. There’s one thing that vexes me. He said something about Marie being perfect. Did he mean for possession? If so, then what are the requirements? It can’t be Source. If it were, then why not me or Nunnalé? There’s still more to this that I’m not seeing…

Easter region - midnight

Her trail ends here. The boots that my sister wears have done me a service by leaving noticeable footprints. I approach a village that is overshadowed by an enormous cliff, blocking out any possibility of natural light. Nothing but cinders and ashes of civilization remains in this forgotten village. In the middle of the ashen village sits Marie, or at least, I think.

Ever since my talk with Richard, I followed her. I told no one about this. I must be the one to save her, as her brother, that’s my duty.

Each step crushes the ashes against my foot, making a noise akin to hands gripping a person’s neck. Further and further, I walk into the shadow that looms over this village.

“Are you awake, Marie?”

No words are shared, only silence itself. I plant my hand on the hilt of my blade. Every fiber of my being wishes to believe Marie has come to her senses, but I know better. Whatever has a grasp of my sister will not let go so easily. If defeating this thing is my only hope of saving her, then I will give no less than 100%!

“Her brother came, how touching… But to come alone, how sad.” It’s her voice but it lacks what makes her my sister! “...Are you even worthy of challenging me alone?” The wind fights against me, telling me to run away, escape with my life, and never set foot in front of her again. Daggers pierce every part of my skin, giving me the same warning as well…! “That’s a shame. That big fellow was able to ignore my pressure.”

I…will never leave her! Regardless of the torment that follows, or if my body breaks down from the pain itself, I will save my sister! My muscles work against me, holding me back, and preventing me from raising a single foot off the ground.

“I suppose you aren’t worth my time. Run along, tell those Source-users to come. Perhaps they’ll–”

“SHUT UP!”

My voice bellows inside this isolated village. Even if I have to tear my legs, destroy them, or even rip them off, I will move forward! A visceral scream booms from my lungs, pushing me to go further until I can’t move anymore! The knives dig deeper into my skin, pushing ever closer to my organs, threatening me to stay away. No matter what, I will get there, I will! For father, for mother, and for Marie!

Enduring this pain, moving will all my might, and persisting no matter what, all of this allowed me to place a foot forward. The daggers that tore at my flesh, ripping into my organs, disappear. My body feels significantly lighter than a moment ago.

“Well, I’ll be. Maybe this’ll be ‌fun.” Marie’s body stands up. The enemy’s blade comes spinning out of its scabbard. Her arm catches it without taking a glance at it. “...You’re the first to endure my Source like that… Don’t get my hopes up just to disappoint; at least last for an hour.”

“I do not care to amuse you…!” I clench the blade in my hand. Intense, fiery hatred courses through my veins. Such a thing is ugly, but a despicable being parades around in my sister's body. Why should I not burn with hatred!? “...For your foul actions, this will be the last you walk the night!”

It forced a nauseating laugh out of Marie’s lungs. It cackles, spilling its hideous visage through Marie. “Then, by all means, make this a night to remember!”

With my sword drawn, I have officially challenged this monster… Marie; I failed you once, but never again. If I fail you again, then death is the only thing that awaits me tonight.