Chapter 3: Karen von Herzog
Alpha is frustrated.
She's far from the only one. Gamma took out her frustrations on one of the leftover soldiers in the facility whereas Beta took her sweet time 'talking' to her own captives.
"We were too late."
It was inevitable when she stopped to think about it. For three years under Shadow's guidance, Shadow Garden laid waste to the Cult of Diabolos' forces in Midgar's capital. It was natural then that the cult would eventually wise up and start thinking ahead. By the soldiers' own confessions, they began moving personnel and equipment to other bases whose locations are known only to the sect leader. The base housing Karen von Herzog gathered their "research" and "specimens" the other night. The soldiers were left behind to ensure no one would stumble on the base until it could be used again.
That they acted too late to save a victim of Possession infuriates Alpha as it stands, but what really aggravates her is the total lack of information. If they had been here only a day earlier, there might have been something they could use to track down Karen's current location.
"Any luck, Delta?"
To her disappointment, the black-haired therianthrope shakes her head. "Sorry, Boss Alpha. There's no scent. Whole place is scrubbed clean."
"They were being thorough," Gamma adds. Alpha glances at the bloodied remains of the soldier behind her before turning her attention back to her comrade. "They really don't want anyone finding Herzog, do they?"
"She's a valuable specimen to them," Alpha replies. "Not anyone can become one of Velgata's Seven Spellblades, especially at such an early age."
Her thoughts turn to Shadow Garden's leader and their savior, Shadow. She fears how he will react when they report their failure. She's known him to be magnanimous in the face of failure, but even his patience has limits. She remembers how angry he'd been when they went to recruit Beta, how the circumstances at that time and her own feelings toward the woman once hailed by the Church as the Saint led to a confrontation. While the situation was resolved peacefully and Beta joined Shadow Garden, the ordeal was the first time Alpha ever saw Shadow get angry.
It isn't a sight she's ready to see again. It is one thing to see someone so calm and collected get angry, but it is another thing to be the target of his ire. It's an unpleasant experience.
Ideally, Karen von Herzog would make an ideal ally. Her experience as one of the Seven Spellblades and history with the Cult of Diabolos makes her invaluable, but internally, Alpha cannot help but wonder if she would join. Even if she was spurned and betrayed by the Cult, she is still a Named Child. They are conditioned to be loyal to the Cult of Diabolos.
Shadow, Alpha thinks. What do you intend to do once we find her…?
X x X x X x X x X
A blonde-haired elf sits in a cell. Were anyone to see her, they would lambast her captors for their inhumane treatment; her clothes are little more than tattered rags that barely cover her lithe female form, scars and bloody bandages decorate most of her arms and left leg. Her right leg is a lump of rotting malformed flesh. Her right eye is in a similar state; the flesh is rotting and blighted, wrought with infection. The pain is almost intolerable.
There is no light source to illuminate the cell. The only source of light comes from the smallest cracks and openings between the cell door and the frame surrounding it.
—The door suddenly opens. The blonde elf winces as bright light floods the dark cell. Standing in front of the cell is a familiar face; the man she once called "teacher". Next to him is an unfamiliar face, a young boy with raven-black hair and red eyes.
The knight rudely shoves the boy into the cell. The blonde elf can't help but notice how coldly he looks at the boy as if there's something the knight finds offensive about his existence.
"You should be happy, Karen," the knight says. "You're finally getting company, even if it's for a short while."
He slams the steel door shut. Darkness fills the cell once more.
The boy groans as he pulls himself up. "That freaking hurts…"
Karen looks at the boy and frowns. His face is marred with bruises. Someone physically struck him with fists, possibly with metal. The only person she knows capable of such a thing is her former comrade, who takes great pleasure in inflicting pain regardless if the recipient is friend or foe.
"Are you alright?" Karen asks softly. She's honestly surprised she can still speak.
The boy looks up at her and smiles slightly. "I'm fine," he insists. His eyes start adjusting to the darkness and sees her form. "What about you? Your leg…" He frowns. "Is this Possession?"
"It is." She sees no point in lying. "I am one of the Possessed."
"Why is a Possessed being treated like a wild animal?"
This is the fate that awaits us all, Karen wants to say.
She is Karen von Herzog. Two months ago, she proudly wore the name Shooting Star as one of the Named Children of the Cult of Diabolos. Before her Possession, she was the heir of House Herzog and one of Velgata's Seven Spellblades. In the Empire's name, she did what was asked of her. In the name of the Cult, she did many reprehensible things for the sake of the world. She believed in the Cult's mission, that they knew what was best for the world. The Cult was her family, and she was to be their sword. For this, she would commit all manner of evil deeds.
And yet, despite her contributions and efforts, this is her reward for her years of service. She thought that, when the Cult learned of her Possession, they would make exceptions for her. That they might give her leniency. Instead, they made her into one of their many lab rats. Her parents attempted to have her superiors repeal the decision.
Her "teacher" killed them without so much a spare glance. She can still remember feeling her father's blood splashing across her face and her mother's head rolling at her feet.
As the memories replay over and over in her head, Karen weeps. She was a fool. All of House Herzog were fools! For all they preached of the Cult of Diabolos' "justice" and the excuses they make for the sake of the world, their "truth" is no more than a wicked lie. All they have done is in the name of selfishness and greed. When Karen served, she did not think of how many innocent lives she sacrificed in the so-called "name of the greater good". Now, she wants to wring her naïve self's neck for condemning so many people.
As angry as she is, Karen knows there is no use resisting the Cult. Their influence across the known world is too great, and their power is beyond imagination. All she can do is hang her head in defeat and wait for the day when she will finally know the sweet embrace of death.
"Um, hey…" the boy says, somehow still smiling. "Everything's going to be okay."
Karven smiles weakly, if only because of the poor boy's naivete. She doesn't know why her "teacher" brought him here, save perhaps that they intended to use him for some nefarious experiment. "Thank you… I'm Karen. What's your name?"
"I'm Cid. Nice to meet you."
X x X x X x X x X
One Hour Ago…
For all Iris hyped up the Founding Festival, it's…kind of a snooze fest, to be honest.
Unlike the Bushin Festival which attracts people from all across the known world, the Founding Festival is a local event so the only ones who show up are known quantities of Midgar. I recognize a few faces, some having come to the palace per King Klaus' request, but the rest are bland faces. Their magic is between average and above average, save for a few outliers. There's one person here that caught my attention, Annerose I think her name is? Her magic is strong; nowhere near Alpha and the others, but enough to make her someone of interest.
The only other person that's interesting is Zenon Griffey, but I already know him. He's one of Alexia's suitors. At a glance, he's got the look of a handsome knight in shining armor with the swordsmanship and skill to back it up.
I wonder why Alexia doesn't want to marry him? Does she just have high standards like Beta does?
"You've been watching Lady Nichtsehen pretty intensely, Cid," Iris casually comments with a wry smile.
I shrug. "She's good with a sword. Zenon's one of the best knights in the country, but she's keeping up with him. Actually, I think he might be losing."
In the arena, Annerose is fighting Zenon. The latter's Royal Bushin and magic prowess makes him a dangerous foe, yet he's struggling to keep up with the blue-haired swordswoman. In a contest of magic strength, Zenon wins out, but Annerose's techniques are more than enough to match his swordplay. She's fast enough to outspeed him and her swings are powerful. That said, both warriors are at a disadvantage since their swords aren't up to their respective standards.
Depending on what kind of metal you use, your sword's compatibility with magic will differ. Swords like theirs are ill-suited for magic in that they lose more magic than they gain back, much less not being able to reinforce their sword with as much magic as they would like. This compatibility issue is why I made the slime suit in the first place since slimes are literal magic conductors.
"I'm not surprised," Rose says. "Annerose Nichtsehen is one of the Sevel Spellblades. I believe she only recently took up the position after her predecessor's disappearance. Karen von Herzog, I believe her name was."
Oh yeah, Alpha mentioned looking into her. What did she say happened to her again? Kidnapped by bandits after her family was murdered? If Annerose is her replacement in the Seven Spellswords, I have to wonder if Karen is just as good? Hopefully Alpha and the others rescue her. I want to see her magic in action!
The match soon draws to a close. Zenon goes for an overhead swing with all the magic power he can muster. Annerose sidesteps his attack and aims her sword directly at the hilt. The dull blade tears past Zenon's magic and destroys his weapon, shattering it into tiny pieces.
The crowd roars in response to Annerose's victory. The two exchange pleasantries and walk off the stage after the MC declares Annerose the winner of the match. Zenon takes his loss surprisingly well. I would have thought he would throw a fuss, but I guess he's a swell guy. It probably helped that he was holding back right up until the end, too. I have no idea if he was just being courteous toward Annerose or just arrogant, but either way, he lost because he didn't give it his all.
It's a shame you're a handsome bastard, Zenon. In another life, you would have been the ideal mob character. Better luck next time!
"There are quite a few practitioners of the Royal Bushin swordstyle here," Rose notes.
Iris smiles bashfully. "You can thank me and Zenon for that, though I feel he's contributed more to its fame here in Midgar than I have."
The magic signatures hiding amid the crowd are suddenly on the move. Unable to resist the opportunity to see what's going on, I rise from my seat and make an excuse. "Sorry. I gotta take a dump."
"CID!" Iris shouts in mortification. I repress a snicker as I leave the VIP booth. My cousin is so prim and proper, she's surprisingly easy to rile up.
I notice almost immediately that I'm not the only one who takes a leave of absence. Adist is following me at a distance, even going so far as to suppress his magic signature. The other magic signatures change course and converge…on…
…wait. Hang on a second. Is this what I think it is? Oh, please tell me this is what I think it is!
I keep my excitement off my face and make my way toward the bathroom. Adist and his seeming accomplices are now surrounding me, blocking every possible exist. I make it to the bathroom and find it unoccupied. That's when Adist and his friends make their move. Adist ceases hiding his mana and suddenly appears behind me, slapping his hand over my mouth while his other hand holds a needle and slides it into my neck.
Holy shit, it is! It's a kidnapping! Better yet, they're kidnapping me! I've rescued kidnapping victims before, but this is my first time actually being kidnapped!
This is the best day ever!
X x X x X x X x X
Present
Jack S. Adist is a noble of Velgata. House Adist is not a prominent name, far from it. In fact, they are at the very bottom of the Empire's totem pole. To call them a "noble house" is the same as calling a cockroach useful. Their sole claim to fame is their ancestry. They hold no political power, not even a position in the royal court. For all intents and purposes, they are a "noble house" in name only. Not a single name who comes from this family has ever achieved anything worthy of notice.
Jack is the second son of Baron Adist. His older brother is the heir and was groomed as such. His brother is the definition of a "nice person". He shies from conflict and does his best to find compromise, seek out solutions where everyone will benefit, and doesn't like it when people get hurt for unnecessary reasons. He spoils Jack rotten and gives him spending money when their father won't give him the time of day.
His older brother is a pacifist and a terrible diplomat.
Jack hates him so much he wants to kill him.
"You're an embarrassment." Those are the last words he ever said to his brother when he left Velgata.
Even at a young age, Jack desired nothing more than glory and prestige. He could not stand the mocking and ridicule his house endures because of its low status, and so he sought to earn achievements and merits to elevate its standing. Even if he could not gain influence in the court, he could at least give it power from foreign countries. It was natural that he chose to begin his journey in the Kingdom of Midgar, a country famed for its knightly orders.
His beginnings were hardly worth a bard's time, as was his time in the Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy. He never became an honor student or stood at the top of his class. At best, he was "above average" in terms of magic ability and swordplay. Worse, this was during a time when the academy was blessed with prodigies, among them being Zenon Giffrey. They never developed a rivalry, if only because neither one of them cared about the other, much less acknowledged each other's presence. It hadn't been until a man calling himself Fenrir contacted him with the offer of a lifetime.
Rumors about a shadowy organization within Velgata were sparse, but they were frequent enough that Jack grew curious and tried to investigate them once. His efforts bore no fruit, and before long he forgot about them. That same organization offered him power in exchange for his loyalty.
Jack S. Adist accepted the Cult of Diabolos' offer without hesitation. He dreamt of having the power to accomplish his goals, of turning House Adist into a true noble lineage, and thanks to the Cult, he's only a few steps away from attaining that goal.
As the years went on and Jack accumulated accomplishments with the Cult's backing, the Midgar royal family took notice of him and assigned him to be Iris Midgar's instructor. He was excited at first, and the first couple of years proved enlightening. The girl is a genuine prodigy born once every generation. She would surpass him given time. He wasn't mad or infuriated a child was better than him because simply having been her teacher would give him no small amount of influence back home in Velgata. She learned quickly, and before long, she was a master of the Bushin swordstyle.
Three years ago, however, Iris suddenly grew stronger by leaps and bounds. She began practicing with a second blade, an expensive investment in a sword that could better conduct magic power and began incorporating the Royal Bushin into her swordplay. She was growing so fast that Jack well and truly had no idea what caused it. He tried asking her what spurned her ambitious desire for strength, and the only answer he received was, "There is someone I must defeat, no matter what."
Jack used the Cult's resources to figure out who could have possibly become a rival in the eye of a budding genius, but their efforts were ultimately fruitless.
Iris' rapid growth was startling and infuriating if only because he could not claim responsibility for it. The girl achieved it all on her own, and thus her future achievements would belong solely to her. His "ticket" was slowly falling out of his reach. And that wasn't the worst part.
No, the worst thing that could have happened to his investment was Cid fucking Midgar.
The whoreson embodies everything Jack S. Adist despises. The boy's mother is a member of the royal family, but his father is a commoner. A lowborn man who dared to reach well above his station. That fact alone dirties Cid in Jack's eyes. Even if the boy is of royal descent, his commoner blood invalidates the privileges the king bestows him. He once argued with King Klaus about such favoritism to a boy who deserved none of it, but the king insisted and claimed Cid reminded him of his late sister. The boy's mere existence is an eyesore, and his further actions only continue to sour Jack's view of him. He is no expert with a sword and is the furthest thing from a scholar. The boy is so painfully average it hurts.
The boy is worthless. He is a blight to his very noble blood, and it infuriates Jack that he must interact with him. His blood boils when, despite his best efforts, Iris Midgar insists on getting to know her cousin. She treats him with indifference, acting the same as his older brother like the boy was somehow worthy of her attention.
It is illogical.
Jack cannot stand to see someone of such high birth dirty themselves.
Fortunately, he did not have to suffer in Cid's presence any longer. For reasons he did not understand, the Cult wants him. They believe his blood is special, even among descendants of the Three Heroes. He fails to see why, but one of the higher-ups promised him a suitable reward if he did his job. They assure him the king won't care if his nephew disappears, and he takes them at their word.
If it was up to him, Jack would kill him and hand over his corpse, but his superiors explicitly stated they want him alive. He hopes Cid's life from this point forward will be nothing short of agony and pain.
It's what that fool deserves, after all.
"Were there any complications in bringing the child here?" his superior asks.
The man before Jack is not ordinary. He is a man of great power, stronger than him by a large margin. Behind those tinted glasses is a darkness Jack cannot fathom, nor does he want to. Simply being in his presence is unpleasant.
"He barely put up a fight," Jack replies tersely. "I have him in the same cell as Karen."
Petos smiles. "Well done, Sir Adist."
"Thank you, sir, but if I might ask, what's so special about that worthless commoner? Royal blood or no, there's nothing special about him."
"What do you know of his mother, Sofia Midgar?"
"Admittedly not much. I know she is the younger sister of King Klaus and was involved with a commoner, but that is the extent."
For some reason, Petos' smile grows into a mocking leer and glances at the strange fellow standing off to the side. Jack does not recognize him, but he knows just by looking at him that fighting this man is suicide. Every cell in his body screams for him to run and never look back. He cannot see the man's face on account of the blank mask covering his face and the hood drawn over his head. The only discerning feature is the strange sword at his hip.
"This is not public knowledge, but Sofia Midgar was Possessed while pregnant with her child," Petos says, surprising Jack. "As you said, the boy is not special, but one of our spies in the palace mentioned how oddly precise his control over magic is. I'm curious to know whether he possesses any…peculiarities." The Knight of the Round looked back at Jack. "Sadly, I will not be present to oversee the procedure. There are other matters to attend to. I trust you will handle things in my stead?"
"Of course, Lord Petos," Jack says. "You can count on me."
"I would certainly hope so. I risked quite a lot bringing you into the Cult," the man chuckles. "On the subject of risks, I would advise you to strengthen your security. It seems that the upstart group nipping at our heels caught Shooting Star's scent."
Jack frowns. He knows little of Shadow Garden beyond that they are an enemy of the Cult. Several bases fell at their hands, many of which were research stations and personal ventures by Fenrir himself. Information on Shadow Garden is vague beyond that their leader is a man named Shadow.
While he appreciates Petos' warnings, Jack is confident he could repel against what was little more than a group of rabble-rousers. Viscount Grease died at their hands because he was weak, more concerned with ensuring his daughter's safety and health than pursuing power. Jack is different. He is stronger, and he will not fail the Cult. Shadow Garden will fall at his hand.
X x X x X x X x X
It's been ten minutes since I got thrown into this cell. I gotta say, I'm a little disappointed. My first kidnapping experience, and yet all I get is a dark and cramped cell. Where's the torture implements? The savage beating? Adist gave me a beating, but as far as I was concerned, those were love taps. He wasn't giving it his all.
In any case, I'm surprised this place is still standing! Either Alpha is losing her touch or these guys moved their base before she could get to them. For a bunch of scumbags, they're awfully well-prepared. They must have someone backing them, maybe one of the city's noble factions. Question is, who would benefit from kidnapping the heir of House Herzog? They're a noble house based in the Velgata Empire, so unless inter-kingdom politics is going on, there's really no point in kidnapping her.
It would make sense if they're looking for political clout with the Church, though. Her Possession isn't too bad compared to Delta's when we found her, but it's pretty unpleasant to look at. It must suck for her, too. Even though she looks kinda boyish, Karen definitely strikes me as the type that would be popular with boys and girls.
I can heal Karen right here and now, but that will just expose me. I can't afford that…not yet, anyway. See, while this kidnapping attempt sucks, it does give me a chance to show off more of my chops as the premiere royal eminence in shadow! Seriously, what better way to announce yourself to a criminal organization than to reveal the kid they thought would be an easy mark is a powerful shadowbroker? The thought sends chills down my spine.
If I'm going to do this, though, I need to set the appropriate stage. I need an audience and a distraction, a fitting place to unmask myself before these thieves.
In a moment that would take a person to blink, I release a pulse of raw magic from my body. The burst lasts for only one-thousandth of a second, barely enough time for the average spellsword to discern the location of the person releasing such magic. For my Shadow Garden, however, finding me is child's play. As if reacting in response to my burst of magic, I sense four flares of magic power. My fellow playmates are on their way. All that's left now is to wait.
"What…" Karen is stunned by the sudden burst of magic. "Did-did you feel that just now?"
I feign ignorance. "Feel what?"
"That magic… Someone just released an enormous amount of magic. That level of power, it-it's unreal. Not even one of the Seven Spellblades could have such power…"
"Then, is someone here to rescue us?"
"I… I don't know." Her face turns sour and looks at the floor. "Even if we could, I… I have nowhere to go. My family is dead. The people I thought were righteous… They killed them. And you know what happens to the Possessed."
Believe me, I'm aware. I even got a chance to see some of their handiwork in Lindwurm a while back. It was really unpleasant, to say the least, not to mention difficult to reign in Alpha. I never saw her get so angry before, though I couldn't blame her. What happened at Lindwurm still makes my stomach churn.
Karen looks depressed like she doesn't have the will to live anymore. I suppose anyone would feel like that when you lose your parents and get a front-row seat. From the sounds of it, her family was betrayed, which only strengthens my suspicions that politics and noble rivalries are involved somehow. I would have to ask her about it when she's in a better headspace.
In the meantime…
Faster than the eye can perceive, I create a slime sword and slash open the lock as well as the chains binding Karen to the wall behind her. The door groans and slowly opens while the chains limp uselessly toward the floor. Karen blinks, not understanding what just happened while I put on my best "mob" face. Thankfully my high school years gave me plenty of practice!
"Karen, look! The door!"
"W-what?" The blonde elf looks up in surprise before looking at the useless shackles around her wrist. "W-when did…?"
"Nevermind that! Come on! Let's get going while the going is good!" I insist. I don't bother waiting to hear her reply and throw her on my back. She's surprisingly light and very thin. She must not have been eating well since she got here. "Time for a jailbreak! Hang on tight, okay? If anyone finds us, I'll protect you!"
Blegh!
I never want to repeat the words of a shounen protagonist ever again!
X x X x X x X x X
What's with this boy?!
Karen didn't understand what was going on. She doesn't know how her bindings were destroyed or who opened the cell, and she truly doesn't understand what Cid's deal is. Despite knowing she is Possessed and knowing her for at least a few minutes, he treats her warmly and acts with concern. He wasted no time in picking her up, an act that shocks and surprises her. Her current state is far from attractive, and most would feel repulsed at the thought of touching a Possessed. Karen certainly felt that way when she first laid eyes on one.
And yet Cid touches her without care. It's as if he doesn't care that she's Possessed. It makes no sense because it flies in the face of everything Karen knows. People fear and abhor the Possessed, and for good reason. The Possessed are dangerous and should not be left alone. No one knows the truth except for her. It's partially the reason why she hasn't fought back against the Cult when they perform experiments on her. Possessed like her are cursed. They are not normal.
If Cid knew the truth about Possessed, would he still touch her so carelessly? Would he still treat her the same?
Who are you, Cid?
She does not ask the question because she fears it will not matter. She knows escape is impossible. No matter who their rescuer is, they do not stand a chance against the Cult. Even if they manage to escape, it's only a matter of time before they find her. Karen expects they will either subject her to worse experiments or outright kill her for her defiance. They will likely kill Cid as well, though not before putting him through the worst sorts of experiments possible. The thought of him suffering for his kindness tugs at Karen's heart. She can't stand the thought of it, and she doesn't understand why she feels this way.
Karen only just met Cid, and yet he's easily become one of the most fascinating, caring people she's ever met.
"Exit, exit, where's the freaking exit?!" Cid hisses under his breath as he races through the corridors.
He rounds the corner and comes up on the path leading to the exit. Karen opens her mouth to tell him, but then he opens the door. Any thoughts of escape die when she sees who's waiting for them. It is not her "teacher" Jack S. Adist, but one of his subordinates. She does not know his name because she never bothered to learn it. She abhors him because, like Adist, he enjoys seeing other people in pain.
"What do we have here?" the soldier smiles evilly. His sword is already unsheathed. He eyes the two like a predator. "Looks like a couple of rats looking to make a break for it."
Karen digs her fingers into the fabric of Cid's shirt. Defeating this man is impossible. She cannot fight in her current condition, and Cid's magic is too weak. Karen is not afraid to die and would welcome the sweet embrace of death if it meant she could see her parents again. She did not, however, want Cid to die.
She has killed enough innocent people. She does not want to be responsible for one more.
"Cid," she whispers. "Give me your sword. Leave me and run."
It is unlikely she will be able to distract him for very long. Possessed do not have control of their magic power because of the Diabolos cells in their body running amok. Even her training as a Named Child will do nothing to help with that. In her current state, she is trash as a spellsword. Her skills will not matter if she can last at least a few seconds.
Cid stares at her aghast. "Wha—?! Are you crazy?!"
The soldier laughs. "Will wonders never cease. Our beloved Shooting Star, sacrificing herself for some stupid brat? It seems becoming Possessed has made you soft. I remember a time when you would have sacrificed someone like him to save yourself."
"You can't win against him," Karen insists. "Leave me here and save yourself!"
To her dismay, Cid shakes his head. "No way! I'm not leaving here without you!"
"Don't be stupid! He's a Second Child! You'll die fighting him!"
"She has a point, brat. I may not measure up to Sir Adist or Sir Pentos, but I'm still way stronger than you. Honestly, killing you right here would probably be a mercy. The commander has a lot of plans for you, ya know." The soldier takes a step forward and readies his sword before he suddenly stops. His expression turns thoughtful. A moment later, a twisted smile makes its way onto his face. "Buuuut, I like to think of myself as a merciful guy. So, how about this? Shooting Star, why don'tcha kill the kid? Do that, and I'll convince Sir Adist to welcome you back into the fold. What do you say?"
Had this been months ago, Karen would have accepted the offer. Hearing the words only makes her want to vomit.
"As if you'd do that. You would just kill me afterward."
The bastard does not even try to hide the malice behind his smile anymore after hearing those words. "Aw, you caught me~" Suddenly, his sword thrums with magic. He swings his blade, creating an arc of mana and aims it right at the duo.
Cid panics and throws himself to the floor. His hold on Karen slackens to where she tumbles away from him. She lands on her rotting leg, sending painful jolts across her nerves. The pain nearly causes her to scream. As she pulls herself from the ground and sits up, she finds Cid's sword lying near her. The raven-haired boy is pressed against the wall, pinned in place by the soldier. His smile exposes his pearly white teeth, eyes gleaming with pure sadism. His sword still thrives with magic. Slowly, he raises it above his head.
Cid's face is overcome with horror, so scared he can't even beg or whimper.
Karen recognizes that face. She wore it a long time ago when her parents died in front of her. She looks at the truth staring her dead in the face, the truth she should have realized years ago. This is the true face of the Cult of Diabolos.
Anger blossoms in her chest. A primal scream tears its way from her throat. Despite the overwhelming pain coursing through her body as she rises to her feet, she grabs Cid's sword and unsheathes it, gathering as much magic power as possible and launching herself at the soldier.
He won't die! I won't let him die! At the very least… At the very least! Just one person! Let me save at least one person!
Her magic fluctuates wildly, but Karen doesn't care. Even a sliver of magic is enough. She crosses the distance within a moment and thrusts her sword at the soldier's exposed side. Her opponent is faster, easily dodging the thrust and countering with a harsh kick to her abdomen. She feels bones crack and the contents of her stomach rise to meet her. She goes flying, bouncing off the ground, and rolling to a stop in the middle of the floor.
"You are really pathetic, Shooting Star!" the soldier laughs madly. "How did someone so weak ever become a Named?"
"Stop…" she begs pitifully. "Don't kill him!"
The soldier doesn't listen. Instead, he resumes his original intent and prepares to bring his sword down on Cid. Karen futilely reaches for him.
"No!"
—That moment, magic power explodes like a tidal wave and rolls over the facility.
"W-what the…?" The soldier abruptly stops his swing and looks up at the ceiling in confusion. "What the hell was that?"
A familiar voice cuts through the confusion. "At last, the curtain rises."
"What?!"
Cid suddenly disappears from underneath the soldier, startling him and Karen. They both look around in confusion until Karen feels a gentle hand on her shoulder. She gasps as she feels foreign mana surge through her body. It feels warm, akin to bathing under the sun on a cool day. A tingling sensation runs up her spine. Her body feels lighter as if a great weight is lifted from her shoulders. The ungodly pain disappears like it was never there at all. Something in her vision changes. It takes her but a moment to realize her right eye is fine as she can now see the blonde bangs hanging in front of it.
She looks down at her leg and sees unblemished pale skin. There is not a trace of rotting flesh anywhere.
Karen looks up. A young man dressed in black stands over her. Under the shadow of his hood, she sees raven-black hair and glowing red eyes that burn like hot coals.
"Cid…?" she breathes in shock. Belatedly, she realizes the magic flowing around him is the same magic she felt earlier back when she was in her cell.
The soldier is startled by Cid's appearance but fails to recognize him at that distance. "W-who the hell are you?! Where did you—" He cuts himself off when he sees Karen. "Wait, Shooting Star's Possession. It's gone? How?! What did you do?!"
"My name is Shadow. I live in darkness so that I may hunt the shadows."
Both Karen and the soldier's eyes widen in shock. Karen recognizes the name instantly; it is the name of the Cult of Diabolos' newest enemy, one who proved a surprisingly difficult opponent. Many of their research bases have fallen to him.
The blonde elf stares up at Cid, at Shadow in awe. His magical might alone is enough to impress her, but it is his presence and actions that captivate her. This person knew who she was from the very beginning. There was no reason for him to plead ignorance or play pretend. All this time, he knew she was part of the Cult of Diabolos, and yet he went out of his way to protect her. To save her even. She didn't understand why. Surely he saw her as an enemy?
His actions disprove this. More than that, the disappearance of her Possession is proof that he does not see her as his enemy. The very act is enough to send shivers down her spine. She did not know if it was possible to cure Possession, and if the Cult knew of a way, they purposely did not share it with her. She even believed curing Possession was impossible, and yet Shadow did exactly that.
Karen's face heats up. Her heart starts racing. What is this feeling in her chest? Why does she feel so…happy?
"You're Shadow?" the soldier starts in disbelief. "T-then… You're my enemy! Die!" He roars and charges at Shadow, readying his sword for a killing blow.
There was no doubt in Karen's mind that Shadow could easily defend himself. Something within her spurs her to act. Faster than she thought possible, Karen places herself between the soldier and Shadow. Her magic flows through the sword in a way she hasn't felt in a long time. In fact, her magic feels stronger than ever. She sees the sword coming as if it moves in slow motion. She knows where the blade will land and responds appropriately.
She swings her sword, easily slicing through the soldier's blade. The other half of his sword goes flying through the air and stabs the ceiling. The soldier stops and stares blankly, not understanding what just happened. Karen herself is stunned by how easily she manages to disarm the soldier. Had her strength returned to her, or was this the power Shadow gave her?
"Karen von Herzog." She feels Shadow's expectant look. Her heart beats even faster. "This play is yours and yours alone."
I see…
Karen now understands what Shadow expects from her.
Show me your resolve, your desire for penance.
The blonde elf readies her sword. The soldier finally realizes what's happening and pales. "W-wait! Wait! Stop! Shooting Star, think this through! If-if you kill me, you'll become our enemy! The Cult will hunt you down for the rest of your days!"
"So be it," Karen replies coldly. Resolve hardens her heart. "You lot have already taken what I held dear. It's only fitting my weak self must die here with you and Adist."
X x X x X x X x X
Jack doesn't realize what's happening until it's too late. The walls come tumbling down, magic power erupting violently and destroying everything in sight. His men are culled like ripe wheat, and no amount of power is enough to defend them. He himself is suddenly forced on the defensive when a woman with a hauntingly familiar visage assaults him with a black sword.
"The Saint? Here?!" He doesn't believe it. The reports told him that the Church's most valuable pawn was found to be Possessed and moved to eliminate her, only to suddenly disappear before they could get their hands on her. They had never met before, but Jack committed the girl's face to memory in the hopes he might one day be able to curry favor with her.
He doesn't understand why the Saint is here, challenging the Cult of Diabolos no less. Did she know what her former comrades intended for her? Was this revenge for their betrayal?
Ridiculous.
Utterly ridiculous!
Jack grits his teeth and pushes back against the woman. They break off their clash and he puts distance between them. The Saint's gaze is cold as if she finds his presence personally offensive. Her comrades make short work of his men in the meantime. In particular the wolf beastkin bites and claws at his men until they are little more than savaged lumps of flesh.
"Who are you people?!" he demands.
The Saint speaks up. "We are Shadow Garden."
"Tch! Of course… The rabble-rousers. Lord Petos warned me you might come here!" The gold-haired therianthrope suddenly stops, her full attention now on him. "Fools. Every last one of you is a fool! You challenge forces beyond your comprehension!"
"This sounds familiar," the Saint muses. "if I recall, Viscount Grease uttered those very same words. He died rather easily."
"He was weak. I won't fall like him!" Jack's magic swells throughout his body. Between his opponents, he does think he will have enough time to take one of the Tears and undergo an "awakening", but he feels he will not need them. Although weaker compared to Zenon, he's still confident he will be able to give these girls a run for their money. He need only buy enough time to—
Behind?!
He whirls around and raises his sword to defend. The black sword comes down upon him like the angry hammer of god, nearly forcing him into the ground. A blonde-haired elf with blue eyes wearing a black bodysuit glares down at him.
"Karen von Herzog?!"
Jack doesn't believe it. He cannot believe it. This stupid girl, a brat he trained personally on Petos' orders, is fighting him. Her magic is back, stronger than he's ever felt. It's more potent, as if it is physically bearing down on him. At a second glance, he realizes her deformities are gone; her right eye is healed and her leg is in pristine condition. None of this should be possible! She was Possessed, she should not be able to fight!
With impressive strength, the elf forces him back with a kick. Jack digs his heels into the ground to halt his retreat. He then notices the man dressed in black standing from afar, observing the battle like some sort of spectator.
"What is the meaning of this?" Jack demands incredulously. "Karen, why are you aiding the enemy?"
She tilts her head inquisitively. "What do you mean?"
Was she being serious? Had she taken leave of her senses? Did her Possession finally drive her to madness? Jack opens his mouth when she suddenly speaks.
"My enemy is in front of me."
His blood turns cold.
"Oh?" The rampant magic power around them suddenly quells. The Saint looks on with intrigue. "It seems Lord Shadow's plan was successful this time as well."
Plan? What plan?! Jack doesn't get this at all!
"Do you realize who you are pointing your sword at, you ungrateful bitch? Is this how you repay me for teaching you how to wield a sword?"
"I am fully aware. You have my utmost gratitude, Adist. I learned a lot from you. It's only fitting that our final duel will become our farewell" Karen says coolly.
The hooded man behind her speaks. His voice is calm, yet somehow it carries across the sounds of chaos. "It's time, Zeta. Show them you are worthy of a starring role."
She nods. "Understood, Lord Shadow."
"You—" Jack gapes. The sheer absurdity in front of him nearly causes him to bust a blood vessel. "Do you even realize the meaning of what you just said?! Do you understand what you're doing?! This isn't just betrayal! This is treason, Shooting Star!"
"That woman is dead." Magic power flows through her black sword as she assumes a familiar stance. His stance. The mere sight of it nearly makes him froth at the mouth. "I am Zeta of Shadow Garden. Come, Adist. It is time we part ways."
At this point, Jack no longer cares if he dies or not. He will not suffer this absurdity, this humiliation any longer. How dare she use his tutilage against him?!
"KAREEEEEEEEEN!"
With a roar, the worthless second son charges toward his death.