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Wyatt Graves

When I stumble into the clearing from before, expecting some sign of combat or lingering restlessness, I'm surprised to see everyone up and awake. But before anyone speaks or even looks at me, a ball of fur comes barreling for me, almost knocking me over as it starts whining into my arm.

"Good boy. I'm glad your safe, Dakota."

Even Bonfire is conscious, the scarred man talking to Heath. In the back of my mind, I question how he's here as he wasn't a part of the group, and neither was Heath, but another man calls out to me.

"Wyatt! Great! Skyswain and Virgil were out looking for you! Come here!"

Silas, the fires in his eyes sprouting, waves me over to him as he sits beside Johnny and Abraham. Bandages and bruises cover the pale man as he sits with a hand over his head, his headache evident. I follow his motions and join the ongoing conversation with Johnny as the current speaker.

"...She's somewhere. I don't know where, but I can just feel it. So we best loot the Vault and go."

The undead man throws his lot in next.

"I reckon we investigate that town nearby. We are small in number, and perhaps we could gain some new allies. But if we wait too long and leave them, even if they are mostly Outlaws, they will all certainly die now that Ray is gone. I don't necessarily want to ally myself with their kind, but not all are bad."

Abraham shakes his head at Silas' suggestion.

"No way. Are you crazy? That place is probably crawling with Plagued and Motherbound!"

Silas puts up a hand and enthusiastically shakes it.

"Exactly! We need to clear them out, right? The Nahullo let one slip out, so things will only worsen if we don't stamp this out this instant! One Manipulator! One! Almost got us killed, and we don't even know where he is either. Their ability to weave webs to control others and lead them to death is horrifying."

The words from the undead man cause Johnny to nod sagely before turning to me.

"What about you, Wyatt? How did your fight go? Is Alexos dead? And... something feels different about you. More than just your 5th Sigil."

I spend a moment thinking about the two courses of action before I reply. We either check out the Vault and immediately leave, going to wherever Johnny has planned, or we do the first and then investigate Raystown, clearing out any suspicious activity.

Hmm... These Motherbound are life-threatening. Hell, if not for the Bloody Palm and the Lily, I'd be dead from one, too. To let them spread...

No. We can't do that. The Manipulator probably fetched his strongest with him for this fight, but that doesn't mean he brought them all. Dominus must have some more Motherbound or Plagued in his grasp, and until we clear them all out, the cessation can still spread.

"I agree with Silas. The Manipulator, Dominus, must have more people under his control at Raystown. But the number will probably be relatively small compared to Starkbluffs due to the town's size. So I say we go and clear it out. Should be fairly simple. Plus, don't Motherbound die or go bestial when their Manipulator dies?"

Johnny nods along with me, and so does Silas. I do see Abraham groan a bit, but he doesn't disagree. After that brief bit of confirmation, I move on to the next thing, scooting closer into the square of us four. Darkstep is still alive, from what I heard, so I don't want to risk being heard.

"During my fight with Alexos, and he is dead, oh, and so is the Manipulator, I achieved my second Absolution."

As my words come out of my mouth, each word raises their eyebrows further until Abraham's mouth is partially open at the very end. The pale man pinches the bridge of his nose before closing his eyes. A poignant stillness hangs, and I look at the three with a bit of worry before one of them finally reacts.

A long, drawn-out sigh comes from Johnny.

"...I. I can't with you, Wyatt. I half expected you not to return when you left to face the Phantom Pain. And instead of dying, you come back with something I've never heard of in my whole life. A non-Angel with two Absolutions? You... Did you get your Colt back?"

I nod, pulling the Lily out from the holster I took off Alexos.

"Yeah, here it is."

Johnny points at me before motioning his finger back to my holster.

"Keep it there. The Blooming Spider Lily is a powerful Colt, but its repercussions are just as severe. So until you get another of those bullets from it, only use it during extreme emergencies. I'm talking death or servitude, okay? We still aren't entirely sure where it came from, just like some weapons the Estates possess. Risks will always exist with things like that."

I understand where he's coming from and place the Lily back on my belt. Lily was made by my father, but even I don't really know how. He's a Craftsman, but so much is unknown. It's at this time that Abraham and Silas reawaken from their stupor. The paler man stares at me, his lips unable to move as he mentally asks me a question.

"What's it do? The second one? My father never told me."

Pointing at the other two with us, I reply through my mind, tugging on the weird connection I've only just now become aware of.

"Include them."

I feel a mental nudge before the presence of two more minds joins us, Abraham visibly straining to hold the connection. It seems that his headache is awful. Once I sense Johnny and Silas join the telepathic conversation, I continue.

"The second Absolution is different, The Cabin itself saying so. The Virtue given seems to be a passive effect, and mine gives my chains a secondary effect. The more injured I become, the tighter they hold me together, increasing my recovery, strength, and endurance the closer to the Pale Lady I roam. But like a Power, the Virtue is incomplete because I am not an Angel."

Johnny butts in next, his reply also mental.

"Virtues are incredibly substantial boosts to one's power. And even if yours is incomplete, I'm sure you'll feel the difference. That's not all, though. The doors along the path to an 8th Sigil are now open to you, Wyatt. All you're missing is time. The hardest part for most is the Absolution."

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I physically shake with excitement at the idea of reaching levels of strength like Kai, an inspiring prospect to imagine. But, on the other hand, I wonder... if I'm heavily injured and use all my skills, how close do I come to him?

My Merit, which I will call a Virtue for simplicity's sake, was enough to hold me alive and fight even at death's doorstep. Alexos' left me with so many wounds that without it, I would have just died, unable to even move. And yet, with it, I fought.

I haven't gotten to experience it while I'm lightly wounded or majorly, only while lethally injured. But even right now, without any wounds, I feel... durable and robust. Far more than usual. Does... my Virtue count my missing arm as injured? Or does it merely enhance me like this at all times? If the former is the case, missing my arm might at least hold some boon.

Hmm... I was thinking of regenerating my arm with the Philiam. Hopefully, my neighbor in my arm won't be against that anymore. I'll have to see what changes when I do.

But I'm pulled out of my thoughts by Silas beside me, the undead asking me a question unrelated to my Virtue.

"So, you killed this Alexos and the Manipulator, right?"

I confirm his statement by nudging him with my mind in some kind of mental nod.

"Yeah. Both are dead. The Manipulator took a bullet of the Lily, and I stabbed Alexos in the eye, along with dozens of other wounds."

Silas then continues, proposing another thought for consideration. At first, I think it'll be something serious, like he doubts I killed them, but the honest idea is entirely different.

"Take me to the dead bodies. I doubt you took any money off of them."

I can't help but laugh as Silas rubs his thumb on his fingers, the greedy bastard. But when I laugh aloud, the mental connection breaks, Abraham also laughing.

"Yeah, sure. It's on the way back to the Vault, anyway."

The discussion breaks from the gravity breaking apart as we stand, Johnny giving one last monologue.

"We'll head to Raystown after we finally loot the Vault. This time, we all go down together. I don't want to be ambushed again."

I nod as Johnny steps away, his eyes still closed, and he hollers for everyone to move on.

"Alright! We're going back to the Vault. Everything is fine!"

People start moving, and as they do, I see a figure over the trees that descends rapidly with large flowing wings on their back. Only when they land a few feet away do I recognize them as Skyswain, the sole remaining 5th Sigiled Bado. Skychaser's mate.

She lands beside me, and I see her face scrunched up in anger. I try to talk to her, expecting her to ignore me, but she doesn't.

"Skyswain, you alright?"

"No."

Her response is simple but far more than she's ever given me before. So, I step beside her as she walks.

"Well, what's wrong?"

The Bado woman growls out an answer, her voice low and rough as lightning fizzles from her beak.

"I was useless."

I immediately retort her, but she has none of it.

"Well, you couldn't have done anything. You were charmed by Alexos, right?"

"No. I was out watching for danger. By the time I returned after hearing gunshots on my way back, everything was over. I. Did. Nothing. Had it not been for you, Johnny, and the other two, I would be the last of my kind."

Her blunt cynicism leaves me without a word to respond with.

How do I reply to something like that? I didn't know she was out and about during all that. But if I was in her position, unaware that everyone was fighting for their lives and not there to help, I'd be pissed. Very pissed.

The smoke coming out of her mouth from tiny sparks of lightning now makes more sense. She's literally fuming. I walk a little more with her before I finally come up with something to say.

"Shit happens, Skyswain. You can't be there for every struggle. You can't save everyone--"

She glares at me, electricity spiraling in her eyes, but I continue.

"And that's okay. No one can. We're not Gods. We're just... people. We can't be everywhere at once, save everyone at once, or know everything at once."

A sigh comes from Skyswain as she lifts a claw to her face, covering her eyes as she shakes her head.

"I know. I know. I-- know. I just wasn't expecting to do this without 'Chaser. Leading is... tricky."

I raise my hand and put it on her shoulder, careful not to touch her sparking wings. She glowers at me as I do so but quickly cushions her gaze.

"Then don't lead. Skychaser worried that your people would fall behind, become useless, and therefore abandoned. But, the thing is, Skyswain, Johnny doesn't abandon people. Once you earn his trust, and mine for that matter, we'll die for you."

Skyswain pauses, her pace hitching for a moment as she examines me.

"Is it that easy? We won't be left behind if we are too weak? You'll protect us regardless?"

My eyes glance over at Johnny at the front of the group, leading without any eyes himself. Then, I gaze into her beady and electrified eyes.

"Yes. Skychaser died protecting Blake, and Blightraven died protecting us all. Sacate gave his life for your people. You all will be safe, I promise. And you know, a Graves never breaks a promise."

She smiles a bit, the edges of her beak curling up. It's a similar movement on the surface as Dominus' evil grin, but the emotions are entirely different. The Bado woman laughs a tiny chuckle before hardening her gaze.

"I have heard that before, yes. Thank you, but I won't be a freeloader. It seems I am an awful scout, so instead, I will spend a while improving myself. Then, hopefully, I can reach 'Chaser's standard and be helpful."

I grin back at her, happy she's not as ravenously furious as a few minutes ago. She nods before walking away to speak to Johnny, leaving me a goodbye.

"Again, thank you. I-- I needed a little redirection. And... you can call me 'Swain. We're friends now."

Waving at her as she walks away, I say her name in my mind. The Bado culture is fascinating. From their homes to their names, it all is so different. Different, but not bad. It's just different. But... it's likely going to fade away. We all know the truth, even if no one wants to say it.

The Bado, as a whole, are over. With at most two dozen remaining people, the race will never recover. I don't know if they can intermingle with humans like Nahullo and Pygmies, but I don't think they can because I've never heard of a half-Bado. I'd wager a guess they are like demons, unable to have children with humans. That means this group of two dozen will likely be the last of the Bado, even if we keep them all safe.

They will never regain their homeland. Never see another tribe. Never soar their wings without worry. Never... do so many of the things they are known for. And that... that is a fate worse than death for 'Swain. She wants it all back; I can see it in her eyes.

But we both know it won't happen. The Nahullo did it. After centuries of war, they killed one of the oldest races in the world, leaving just a few stranded to patter on until the embers die.

Even if... someone was strong enough to return their home to them, it wouldn't matter.

Shaking my head from those thoughts, I step to Silas, the man who wanted to loot the dead bodies of Alexos and Dominus.

"Hey, we're getting closer. Wanna step aside and go to the bodies?"

Silas nods, his skull-flames waving with the movement.

"Hell yeah. Ray had a fortune on him, enough for one hell of a Wish, but none of the others had jack-shit. Hopefully, these two do."

I agree with him, and we step aside from the large group walking back to the cabin, Dakota skittering behind me. Petting the large fox, I ask Silas a question as the dark texture of my overcoat touches Dakota.

"You ever heard of a Bulwark, Silas?"

Walking, the undead twists his head in thought momentarily before replying.

"Uhm... I think so. I vaguely remember Birdie saying something about Issac's Bulwark long ago. Something about an eyepatch."

I motion to him and point at my coat, telling him about it.

"Well, I found one in the Vault. This is called Adumbral. It's some kind of created item that came with a skill inside of it. The skill, Shadowed, lets me turn into some shadowy form that makes me faster and much harder to notice."

Silas nods thoughtfully as we continue through the forest, nearing the battle area from before.

"Hmm... I've never seen a crafted item be so extensive before. Even the largest Claymore probably has less area than your coat. I know that the larger the Claymore or Colt, the easier it is to imbue it with complete skills from a Sigil, with smaller things forced to be rudimentary even with higher Sigils. I thought that was a limit, that no Craftsman could go past that limit, but it appears I was wrong."

I shrug as I hold out my arm, compelling Ether into Adumbral, the Bulwark turning my skin shadowy and indistinct. I talk to him while in this form, but my voice is garbled and low, unlike my typical tone. I doubt even Ma would recognize me like this.

"Yeah, I thought a similar thing. I never even heard of a Bulwark until I found this thing down there, but it's amazing. I basically get a free skill that comes around with me. Plus, it makes me faster!"

He laughs, pointing at the coat.

"Good for you, but maybe you stop it. Kinda hard to understand you, and you look creepy. Very creepy."

I stop the flow of my Ether, unsure what he means.

"Huh? Creepy?"

He nods, reiterating himself.

"Yeah. You look like some kind of Falaya or Wraith with how you wave about in the dark. Really creepy."

I glance down at the coat and hold up the leather of it, and for the first time, examine it closely. Minuscule lines of darkness run along the leather, like seams in most clothes. But when I stare at it, the coat seems to undulate oddly.

"Uh... What do Falayas look like? I've heard of them, but not in detail."

Silas waves his hand as he describes them.

"Kind of like a wavy shadow figure of a person. They tend to stay in dark corners, waiting for a time to attack, using hair and whatnot. They're more common in the north as they like the cold."

I think Blake had one of those as a spirit. The name and description sound familiar. Hmm... Fally she called it, right? Odd that a ghostly being can even have skin. Almost as if in denial of my words, the coat kind of vibrates again, the familiar chill of when I activate Shadowed coming to mind. Could it...?

"Say, Silas. You think this coat could be made from one?"

He turns and glances at it again before nodding.

"Probably. Some spirits have corporeal forms that they can leave whenever they want. I imagine that would be the only way to make such a potent creation. Unfortunately, standard materials struggle to withstand Ether, so for a Bulwark to have such a complete skill without being an Arca means that it is almost required."

A bit uncomfortable at wearing the skin of some ghostly monster, I pat the arms to calm down the tiny movements of the coat. I won't take it off, as that's just stupid, but it doesn't hurt to keep an eye on it. Worst comes to worst, according to my hand, I belong to it, so I think I'll be fine.

After discussing my new coat, we finally reached the region Alexos and I had been fighting in earlier. Trees are broken and fallen. Holes are made in the dirt that are filled with blood. And said blood covers a smallish field, spilled by only two combatants.

When Silas notices the damage, he whistles impressively, but another discovery rapidly changes his tone.

"By the Devil, Wyatt. You fight like a demon, destroying everything around you. I'd swear you were a Forerunner if I didn't know any better. But, wait a second... where are the bodies?"

His words bring the absence of the dead to my mind. I frantically scrutinize the surroundings, looking for a wolf or bear that might have moved the bodies, but I find nothing.

All we find is a patch of blood where the two bodies used to lie, and the blood is tinged with silver.

I meet Silas' eye as we crouch over it, and we immediately come to the same conclusion.

"The Manipulator is alive."