Chapter Text
Emma
There was always something so relieving about coming home after a long trip away - especially when home was a magical village in the middle of the woods, replete with beneficial mana soaking up from the ground. Emma’s Grandmother had imbued the land for centuries at this point, so stepping foot in Eryn was like taking a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, Emma’s task required her to break the omnipresent peace and quiet. A few of the villagers and witches who had seen her grown up wisely stayed out of her way - she was also brandishing her grandmother’s staff, and people knew trouble when they saw it. Emma knew that Grandmother knew that Emma was back, and she could sense a few wards being thrown up around her grandmother’s atelier. It wouldn’t be enough to stop Emma.
“Emma, maybe patience - “ Celine started, trailing at her feet, but Emma was on the warpath.
“I have some questions that need answering, Celine, and no one can stop me,” Emma retorted, fire in her eyes. They made it to the atelier, and Emma looked up at the invisible barriers around the house. “Grandmother! I’m home!”
“Uh…one moment!” Grandmother shouted back, clearly rearranging things by the sound of it. “I was just…cleaning up for my darling granddaughter!”
“Good grief,” Celine muttered, tail flicking back and forth. Finally, the door opened, and Emma remembered to look down at her diminutive elder. “Rose. We’re back.”
“Emma! Celine! It’s…good to see you!” Grandmother laughed, but she was hiding something. “And you brought me back my staff! What a good granddaughter you are!”
“Before I give this back to you,” Emma shook the staff, once more a familiar red, “I need some answers.”
“Yes…you do, don’t you?” Grandmother sobered instantly. She gave a weary sigh and waved a hand, the wards vanishing from sight. “Come in, come in. Tea? Coffee?”
“I’m fine for now, Grandmother,” Emma clicked her tongue and entered. “Well, first, how have you been eating?”
“I’ve been taking care of my diet!” Grandmother huffed, but Celine padded over to the pantry and opened it.
“No she hasn’t! It’s all candy in here!” Celine yowled.
“GRANDMOTHER!?” Emma looked at her elder harshly.
“Ack! Listen, I had my reasons, and the doctor said I’m fine,” Grandmother crossed her arms with a pout. “Regardless, let us focus on relevant topics. What do you want to know?”
“I guess you can start with the Lance Maiden. How long have you known her?”
“I knew her from the War of the Lions. I was there when she woke up from her death, and we’ve been in touch ever since,” Grandmother took a seat on a couch. “A few years ago we had a drinking game, and the deal was that I couldn’t tell anyone about her.”
“You lost, if I remember Lianne’s commentary,” Celine entered the living room and jumped onto Emma’s lap.
“Shush!” Grandmother reached over and bopped her on the nose. “But let me tell you this, Emma - if you want to know the full story, the whole sordid affair, it will take time. You have yet another six months to a year of training with me if you want to reach Vita’s level, at that. You do not have to do this.”
“I know. But I need to. If I am to become a true Wandering Witch, to fulfill my mother’s wishes and complete her research, I need to know. We all grow up at some point,” Emma replied quietly.
“Yes…you do, don’t you?” Grandmother wiped a stray tear away. “Very well. If the truth is what you seek, I shall give it to you. Not all of it, not yet, but this is what you need to know.”
And Emma sat and listened to the truth, drinking it in like a parched woman in a desert.
Fie
“Alright, we’re done here,” Sara huffed as she leaned back from the table. “I can see you’re not retaining any information I’m telling you.”
“Nope,” Fie rocked back on her heels. The table was covered in books and papers, legalese and bureaucratic nonsense. “I don’t wanna learn this.”
“You have to, Fie,” Sara looked her in the eyes. “Being a bracer is serious business. You do not want to be caught on the back foot in these situations.”
“Talking from experience?”
“Don’t even start, squirt,” Sara reached over and flicked her forehead. “Anyway. The Heimdallr office has some extra rooms if you’d like to stay the night.”
“I’ll be fine,” Fie ruffled the back of her hair. April in the capitol was fine, weather-wise, but she knew she’d need a haircut soon. Or maybe she’d grow it out? Who’s to say.
“You’re stayin’ over at your little boyfriend’s place?” Sara teased, and Fie reached over to smack her arm. “Movin’ a bit quick, kid.”
“Shut it,” Fie felt herself turn bright red.
“So, when did you have that little talk with Elliot? We all saw you dancing around each other during the war, so - Fie! Fie, wait!” Sara started, but Fie turned on her heel and calmly walked out of the Heimdallr bracer guild. Alto Street was thankfully quiet this late in the day, and a spring evening wafted over the city. Fie could still remember the day the Vermillion Apocalypse appeared, draining the city, but it wasn’t worth thinking of at this point. A few deep shadows lingered, and Fie slipped into one as Sara burst through the doors. “Have a nice night, Fie!” She shouted into the evening.
“You too,” Fie whispered, unsure if Sara heard her, and crept off. She didn’t know if Elliot knew she was in town, but it’d be a good surprise, right? Right. Wait, shoot, she should be a good guest and bring something over. Hmm…
Oh, look at that. The cafe was still open, and it looked like they had some stuff leftover. A few minutes later she left the store, carrying a small cake in her hands. It was only a block or two to the Craig residence, and Fie hoped that Elliot was there. However, as she walked, she saw a familiar head of green hair knock on the Craig door.
Machias
“Hello, Machias. Come on in!” Elliot waved Machias inside with a grin. “How was class today?”
“Goddess, if I didn’t know there was a light at the end of the tunnel, I’d be so depressed,” Machias grunted, entering the apartment. “Good evening, Fiona! I brought you something.” He brandished a bottle of wine to the hosts. “Please, enjoy!”
“Oh, Machias! It’s good to see you, and thank you,” Fiona took it graciously before turning to the kitchen. “Dinner should be ready momentarily, if you two are fine waiting.”
“Wonderful. If it weren’t for your meals, I’d be living on store-bought lunches!” Machias tried to act congenial, but he knew it was fake.
“You and me both,” Elliot rolled his eyes and followed Machias to the living room. “But still, we promised, right? We’d do what we could, and in a year - “
“We’d all meet, I know,” Machias finished for his friend. “Still, have you been in contact with anyone? I haven’t been able to reach Gaius or Emma for a week or so now.”
“Well, I’ve been in contact with a few people - “ Elliot started before someone knocked on the door. Machias saw his face turn red.
“Hey. It’s me,” Fie’s voice came through the door.
“I’m sure you’ve been in deeper contact with a few other people - “ Machias laughed before Elliot shoved his head, moving to the door.
Elliot
Good grief. Elliot composed himself as he approached the door, opening it to reveal Fie. His girlfriend? It was a bit hard to name their relationship, what with Fie in Bareahard, but this - huh. “Hey! Fie! This is a surprise,” Elliot grinned as Fie lifted up a small bag stamped with a cafe logo. “What’s this?”
“I got you a cake. As a thing. You know. You never want to show up empty-handed,” Fie shrugged. “But this is for you.” She leaned up onto her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his mouth, and one of his hands wrapped around her waist.
“Gross!” Machias shouted, but Elliot felt more than saw Fie shoot him a rude gesture.
“Come on in, dinner should be ready soon,” Elliot leaned back and pulled her inside. “Fiona, we’ve got another guest!”
“I know, I know,” Fiona leaned around the wall. “Sara messaged me earlier that Fie was in town, and to expect her to swing by!”
“Damn it,” Elliot and Fie whispered together. They chuckled, and Elliot squeezed her hand.
“Still, thanks for hosting, Elliot, Fiona,” Machias tugged on his shirt collar. “It means a lot.”
“Oh, I’m just glad to see my brother doing well,” Fiona held a hand over her mouth. “Elliot, would you be a dear and help me grab dinner? Fie, you should know where the plates are, if you and Machias could set the table, that’d be delightful.”
“Yeah. Sure,” Fie nodded and started rummaging around in the cupboards and Elliot helped Fiona. It was a relatively simple dinner - a spring salad, fresh bread from the bakery, and roast salmon Elliot had gotten a discount on the other day. “Machias, do you know where the Craig bottle opener is?”
“How should I know? But it is in the second cabinet on the right, under the drying rack,” Machias replied, setting a few plates on the dinner table.
“How come it’s always us hosting?” Elliot muttered to his sister.
“I think it’s endearing. I do love to host, and it’s not like Machias’ father’s place is suitable for company. We learned that two weeks ago,” Fiona reminded him.
“Oh, yeah, that wasn’t great,” Elliot chuckled under his breath.
“Listen, if I wouldn’t be a burden and my dad’s place wasn’t free rent, I’d move in with you all,” Machias grabbed the bottle of wine as Fie passed him the bottle opener, and he got to work uncorking it. “But…it has its perks!”
“Let’s just say the Heimdallr bracer guild isn’t, uh…pretty, with Sara there,” Fie laughed as she sat down. “Not that the Bareahard office is much better, but…I at least keep the lobby clean for clients.”
“That’s not better,” Elliot said flatly.
“Hey, at least your sister’s fine with me staying the night…in your room,” Fie waggled her eyebrows, and Elliot felt himself go red.
“Okay, that’s more than enough information an older sister needs to know,” Fiona sat down firmly. “However, make sure you use protection - “
“Ughhhhhh,” Machias held his head in his hands. “That’s more than enough information I need to know! As if we didn’t all hear Alisa and Rean - “
“Okay, enough is enough!” Elliot gathered his wits. “Shall we say grace?”
“Yes. Thank you, Goddess, for this meal, and for our company,” Fiona started, reaching her hands out to take Elliot’s and Machias’. The four held hands in a circle, eyes closed. Elliot knew Fie wasn’t particularly religious, but he appreciated that she respected his family. “May we reap what we sow, the good and the bad, and look fondly on our memories. Amen.”
“Amen,” Elliot and Machias replied, letting go and opening their eyes.
“I’m starving,” Fie started serving herself first, salad falling in heaps on her plate. “Elliot? You want any?”
“Just save some for me, vegetables are very important for a balanced diet!” Machias held a hand up, and Elliot basked in the atmosphere. It was the loudest the house had been in many years, and he wouldn’t give it up for anything.
Lianne
“Hmm…looks like a buck, right age range, Teo,” Giliath held up a pair of binoculars to his eyes. The spring snowstorms had blown over Ymir, and the fauna were beginning to emerge from hibernation. That saw Lianne and Lucia tagging along with their husbands on their annual ‘hunting trip’ - more of an excuse to tromp around the mountains and retire in the evening with cigars and Ymir vodka.
“Do we have any traps set up heading south?” Lucia did at least participate, even if Lianne knew the other woman definitely preferred warmer climes. Lucia was always tight-lipped about her original family, but Lianne had learned enough over the years.
“Hm…I could try and sneak around and take it down with a spear,” Lianne suggested, hefting said spear.
“No cheating with your powers, Lianne, we’ve gone over this,” Teo grunted, raising his hunting bow. “Giliath, windspeed?”
“Hmm…” Giliath lowered his binoculars to lick a finger and raise it in the air. “Thirty selge-per-hour, south-by-southwest. Nothing else in the area.”
“Acknowledged,” Teo stood up fully, nocking an arrow to the string. He took a few steady breaths and fired - easily missing by a solid arge.
“Hah!” Giliath laughed loudly, and the combination of the miss and sound scaring the deer away, scrambling into the underbrush - heading due south. “Oh, that was wonderful, Teo.”
“Yuck it up, Osborne,” Teo rolled his eyes and lowered the bow. “I’m still winning in our hunting game.”
“No, last I recall from our childhood years, I’ve won - “
“You’ve won thirteen times, lost eleven, and tied three, while Teo believes the opposite. We know,” Lucia cut him off, and Lianne laughed. “We’ve only heard it for almost twenty years, Lianne and I.”
“Still, let us check to see if we’ve had any success,” Lianne stood up and dusted off her hunting attire. “Besides if I recall correctly, that was my trap that I placed. Which is another point for me.”
“Changing causality to ensure you win a hunting game is cheating, Lianne,” Teo said gruffly, but his eyes were shining. “How about a bet, Giliath - if the deer’s dead in Lianne’s trap, you get the first round. If not, first round’s on me.”
“Deal,” Giliath and Teo did a complicated handshake from their younger years as the quartet marched off to the south. Unfortunately, the deer was still alive in Lianne’s trap, but her spear finished it. She said a prayer of thanks automatically, giving back as she could to the Goddess and the world. “HAH! Looks like the first round is on you!” Giliath cackled, a true belly-laugh. “Well, let’s head back home. We’ll break down the buck and have a wonderful evening! Haha!”
“Of course, dear,” Lianne smiled at her husband, but a shift occurred in the world and dumped a treebranch’s worth of snow right on his head. Teo snorted in response as Lucia gave a refined chuckle, and Lianne basked in the moment.
Jusis
The Albarea estate was quiet that day as a beautiful May afternoon burned through Jusis’ windows. It felt like the sun was mocking him, if only slightly, given that he was stuck inside with his paperwork. Sure, he had visitors every now and then - Fie would bother him over bracer business, and Class VII would regularly message him on the ARCUS, but he felt stunningly alone. Better than what his father did, surrounding himself with sycophantic yesmen; or whatever Rufus was up to, but he did feel lonely. But the work didn’t seem to end. If it wasn’t rebuilding Celdic, it was reorganizing the Provincial Army. If it wasn’t that, it was Rufus’ new tax plan that Jusis’ staff was rallying against. And if it wasn’t that, it was the Intelligence Division in his home, poking around.
Speaking of…
“C’mon! Put a smile on that face!” Millium poked his cheek. “Isn’t this what you always wanted? You can change things!”
“I…it’s necessary, not wanted,” Jusis batted her hand away and leaned back in his ducal seat. “Responsibility, Millium, like your responsibility to spy on us during the Civil War.”
“You’re not still upset about that, are you?” Millium pouted, poking her fingers together. “Listen, I didn’t spill a ton of secrets! Like, like…uh…what didn’t I say…”
“The fact that you can’t think of one is telling,” Jusis said dryly. “Still, what are you doing here? Surely you have agent things to do.”
“Hmm…it’s a s-e-c-r-e-t!” Millium teased. “Nah, it’s just that your big bro wants someone looking after you. I volunteered! Besides, I’m sure you’d rather see me than Claire or Lechter, hehe.”
“That is true.”
“Aww! You do like me!”
“I do not,” Jusis leaned forward and began to look over his documents.
“Hey. This guy’s lying,” Millium shoved a finger in front of his eyes and pointed at a name. “McNamara? One of your minor lords? Yeah, his crop yields are totally bogus. He’s lying to you.”
“And how do you know that?” Jusis raised an eyebrow before Millium showed him her ARCUS. There in plain text was a report from McNamara, with the actual crop totals and profits. “So why’s he lying?”
“Jusis, you’ve been on a kick the last few months firing your subordinates who lie to cover themselves up, or the people who blame the common folk and take their anger out on them. He’s saving his skin,” Millium explained. He had been doing those things, yes. “The report he’s giving you says he has less than what he’s actually producing. So, the next question…”
“...is who he’s selling to,” Jusis narrowed his eyes. “Sometimes I do forget you are a prodigious intelligence agent. Do you know who he’s selling to?”
“Not yet, but Claire and I are workin’ on it. Do you wanna bring the bracers in? This does affect their beloved commoners.”
“If need be, but the sooner this is resolved, the better,” Jusis gave a curt nod. “My thanks, Millium.”
“Yep!” Millium flounced over and splayed out on the couch in Jusis’ office, legs kicking. “Hey, question.”
“Yes?”
“How many cups of tea do you have in a single day?”
“I do not know. And I do not want to know.”
Alisa
Someone knocked on Alisa’s office door. “Yes?”
“Ms. Reinford? You have a visitor.” It sounded like one of her mid-level managers.
“Hm. I don’t have any meetings the rest of the day,” Alisa murmured as she pulled out her calendar and paged through it. “Who is it?”
“A Mr. Rean Osborne? Do you know him, ma’am?”
“Rean! Yes, yes, send him in!” Alisa stood up, bustling around to clean up her office.
“Hey,” Rean stepped into her office as she was bent over, picking up some papers. “Here, let me help.”
“Thanks, you’re a dear,” Alisa sighed as they cleaned up a bit. “How are you? What’re you doing here?”
“I’m fine, but also we had a date planned for fifteen minutes ago,” Rean shook his ARCUS, showing that it was fifteen-past-six. “I also had a feeling that you’d be here working late. Again. So I’m here to free you.”
“Rean, I’m the head of the Development Division, I’ve got to set a good example - “
“By staying late on a Friday? C’mon, Alisa!” Rean pleaded.
“Don’t you dare pull out the puppy-dog eyes. No, no, Rean, don’t do that,” Alisa sighed as his lip trembled. Goddess. “Fine. Fine! I can save the rest of my work for later tonight or tomorrow.”
“Or…you demonstrate a good relationship with work by spending time with your boyfriend and save your calls or whatever for Monday,” Rean tugged her out of her office. “Oh, Sharon! There you are. Could you let the rest of the Development Division know that Alisa will be out-of-office until Monday at the start of business? Thanks.”
“Of course, Master Rean,” Sharon appeared out of nowhere with a curtsy. “Please, enjoy your time with your paramour, Lady Alisa.”
“Sharon, not so loud!” Alisa hissed, but unfortunately it seemed like the entire Division was listening in on them. This was not the first time that Sharon had teased her in public about Rean, and it would not be the last.
“Have a nice night, young miss!” Another manager waved her goodbye as Rean tucked her hand along his elbow and ferried her to the elevator.
“Rean, this is embarrassing,” Alisa turned to face him as the elevator whisked them downstairs.
“I’m sorry. I think it’s sweet, how much they care about you,” Rean replied, but looked somewhat chagrined. “Still, we’ve got a dinner reservation at 6:30 at that new place in the plaza.”
“You’re telling me we had plans for six, but you held off the reservation until then?”
“I knew I’d have to liberate you from the foul clutches of the office,” Rean shot her a sly smirk, the elevator doors chiming quietly as they opened.
“Ah! Lady Alisa and Master Rean. When can we expect you back?” Dalton bowed stiffly as they walked through the lobby.
“Not ‘til late, but please don’t tell my mother,” Alisa gave an uneasy smile. “If we…don’t return until the morning, we’ll be at the bracer’s guild.”
“Ah, continuing negotiations, eh? I understand completely, my lady,” Dalton winked.
“My thanks. Come on, Alisa!” Rean led her into the open air, the early summer’s sunset drifting over Roer’s rim. “Ahh. Isn’t it nice to get some fresh air?”
“I don’t spend all my time in my office,” Alisa huffed in response. Rean raised an eyebrow. “I don’t spend most of my time in the office!”
“There we go. Honesty’s supposed to be good for you,” Rean squeezed her arm.
“Well, what about you? It’s not like you’re constantly in the field, either.”
“True, but at least I do go out into the field,” Rean replied quickly. “Not a lot of bracer jobs these days, but it’s enough to fill my time. Why shouldn’t I then spend time with the love of my life?”
“Where do you learn to say those things?”
“My father is quite the romantic. I guess I picked it up from living with him, haha,” Rean leaned back, and the sun sloped down his neck. “Still, I’m glad to spend time with you. You look great, by the way.”
“Oh! No, I don’t, I’m a mess, my hair’s a mess, I feel like I’ve slept in these clothes - “
“Alisa, we’ve seen each other naked.”
“Rean, when a girl says they look awful, you’re supposed to reply that they look great anyway.”
“Ah. You look wonderful, Alisa. I can’t take my eyes off of you.”
“Good boy,” she flicked his chin. “Now gimme. I haven’t had my greeting kiss.”
“So needy,” Rean pulled her under an awning and pressed a kiss to her mouth. Unfortunately, it was at that moment they heard a camera go off. “Good grief.”
“Just ignore them. Let’s have dinner, okay? I can tell you about my day.” Alisa tugged on his arm. “Well, after you, I don’t know where the new place is.”
“Fine, fine. So, what happened?” Rean asked politely.
“Well, my mother was unbearable, as always…” Alisa continued her complaints, mind wheeling in another direction. Truthfully, she had been working on a custom Soldat, one that she could pilot at Rean’s side. It was still just a blueprint, but she knew she’d get it done.
And, well, the rest of the night? You don’t need to see that now, do you?
Patrick
Patrick T. Hyarms, third son of the Marquis, was not prone to fuming or brooding. Leave that to the Albareas. He was calculating. He was plotting. (More accurately he was at the Fencing Club, but that was irrelevant.) He was leaning against a wall, taking a breather, a respite, what-have-you. He had earned it as a second-year student at Thors Military Academy. The new students were terribly hopeless - no form, no discipline, no drive or ambition. Not like him, Patrick T. Hyarms. He would keep getting better, keep getting stronger, until they’d finally see his worth and potential. He’d finally prove to Class VII that he was their equal, nay, their better! The noble creed would demand nothing less. Nevermind that Class VII was gone along with their joke of an instructor, but the loss of the Battle of Thors still hung heavy on his shoulders. A burden he would bear for many years until he paid them back.
Well…actually…
There was that invitation from the Chancellor in his room he had yet to respond to. It hadn’t clicked yet, but as he observed two nameless first-years try and struggle against each other, he realized something. His Excellency wanted HIS help to push out the bracer guild. And Rean Osborne was now a bracer. A way to show his worth to his father and get one-up on Osborne? Sold. A few words to his father and his staff, some pointed comments to the Imperial Chronicle about how the RMP and Intelligence Division could pick up the slack the bracers were trying to fill…if the bracers couldn’t do enough to warrant their stay, it’d pass through the Imperial Government to ban them once and for all. Why need an organization to fill a role that was already handled?
Heh. He impressed himself sometimes.
“Sir! You’re up!” One of the Fencing Club members called out to him.
“Heh. About time,” Patrick tugged on his helmet and stood ready. “En garde!”
Sara
North Ambria was cold. Colder than blood and bones. Colder than sin. Sara had forgotten how cold her former home could be after all these years, but it was familiar, in a sense. Bracer HQ’s orders were still fresh in her ARCUS as she camped out in a small hovel in Haliask’s suburbs. Several other homes were burned down and destroyed, a result of the Provincial Army’s push through North Ambria.
“Sara, Rean, Altina. It’s time,” Claire cleared her throat as she approached. Altina perked her head up as Rean looked through his binoculars at the rest of the capital city. “It’s been six days since General Le Guin’s declaration. We still haven’t gotten a reply from the Northern Jaegers. This time next morning, the army is moving in.”
“You’re the bracer with the most seniority, Sara,” Rean gave a firm nod. “I’ll follow your lead.”
“Yeah. Claire, Altina, you’re fine following my lead?” Sara let her head thunk against a wall.
“Affirmative. While my primary orders are to subdue the Northern Jaegers and their archaisms, my secondary orders are to assist the citizens. I will prioritize said task.” Altina’s ears flicked slightly.
“Glad to hear it,” Sara hummed to herself. The Salt Pale burned beneath her eyes. “Those schmendricks…this isn’t what he would’ve wanted…”
“Who?” Claire raised an eyebrow.
“Never mind,” Sara shook her head. “Any word on when Crow’s getting here?”
“Hmm…” Rean let out a pulse of mana, reverberating through the stricken land. “He should be here in a bit. Otherwise, it’s just us.”
“He’s always been a slacker,” Sara shook her head fondly. “If it’s standard loaned Society archaisms, they’ll be pretty simple. The big ones will be tougher, but with our combat links we should be fine. Rean, will you be able to summon Valimar if worst comes to worst?”
“I’ll be ready,” Rean replied with a firm nod. He had grown so much over the last few months, and it impressed her. “Well, instructor?”
“Not your instructor anymore,” Sara stood up and stretched, her spine popping with the movement.
“Now might be a good time to move out,” Claire hefted her pistol as an Imperial airship patrolled overhead. “I don’t know what the General’s orders are, but they’ve been moving their patrolling airspace closer each day. And I don’t know how much she supports bracer presence.”
“Yeah, good point,” Sara twisted her shoulders, a ripple traveling down her back. “Here goes. Rean’s with me, Altina’s with Claire. We’ve got a straight shot up Main Street and towards the former Royal Castle. That’s where the Northern Jaegers will be - or at least their leaders. We’ll apprehend them and hopefully force a surrender. That should be the easiest way to assist the civilians. If it doesn’t work, we’ll patrol the city and mop up before the Army can make their move. Questions?”
“None, ma’am,” Rean gave a quick salute, all seriousness. “Permission to take point?”
“You’re with me up front,” Sara readied her blade and leaned around the window. “Claire, Altina, you’re on ranged damage and support. Shoutout anyone in need and we’ll divert.”
“Acknowledged,” Altina snapped her fingers to summon her orbal doll. “Let us proceed.”
“Move out!” Sara kicked the door open and began to run. It wasn’t quite a straight shot, but it was a pretty direct path out of the suburb and into Haliask’s main district. A few archaisms whirred to life and began to fire, and Sara felt the ground beneath her feet bolster her with energy. “Ranged combat! Take ‘em out!” Her gun flashed to life and lightning struck, Claire’s frozen bullets ricocheting from machine to machine. Rean’s sword burst with fire, throwing out flares and explosions as Altina fed more orbal energy into their ARCUSes.
“Incoming!” A Northern Jaeger shouted, assault rifle on their shoulder. “It’s Valestein! Her ghost’s come back to haunt us!”
“Not quite!” Sara leapt in the air and pounced, sending an electric shock through the cobblestones to topple the jaegers. This wasn’t quite revenge for Celdic, not quite. But it hit home well enough. More and more jaegers swarmed out from the castle, guns raised and archaisms lingering.
“This is getting us nowhere!” Rean snapped as his tachi lashed out, deflecting bullets. “We need to split up!”
“I hate it when you’re right!” Sara rolled her eyes, easy as could be. “Okay, time to switch it up! Rean and Altina, take out the archaisms! Claire, you’re with me in charging ahead! One bracer, one imperial! Any questions?”
“Just a statement - Kaleido Force!” Claire summoned a massive icicle over the horde of jaegers and shattered it, causing a rain of ice to fall. “Altina, make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid!”
“I take offense to that!” Rean turned and struck quickly, disassembling an archaism. “Altina, I’ll be relying on your support!”
“Fine. If only because Crow has vouched for you,” Altina replied, and Sara could tell she had rolled her eyes. She liked that kid.
“C’mon, Claire! Forward! Lightning Charge!” Sara wreathed herself in power and dashed forward, bowling over the jaegers and storming towards the castle. Part of Sara hoped - prayed - that the Northern Jaegers’ commanders would be in the castle and would be willing to surrender. But another part of her (the logical side that her father had cultivated all those years ago) told her that they wouldn’t surrender or back down. That they’d throw every Haliask citizen’s life to the pyre for the sake of a coin. Well, screw that! “I am Sara Valestein, the Purple Lightning! Daughter of Colonel Valestein! All those willing to fall, step right up! And everyone who isn’t, too bad!”
Crow
“You are tired.”
“Yeah, I am, bud. But we got work to do,” Crow rubbed his eyes as Ordine soared over Haliask. “How do things look?”
“Hmm…detecting Imperial chatter,” Ordine hummed back. “Northern Jaegers are not standing down, despite Valestein’s efforts. Commanders are subdued, but archaisms and all standing forces have been given orders to attack and destroy.”
“Shiiiit…and Le Guin’s gonna take that exactly how she should,” Crow grit his teeth. “She’s not even gonna wait for tomorrow morning, is she?”
“She is not.”
“Damn. Well, where is everyone?” Crow smacked the radar screen.
“Ow.”
“That didn’t hurt, just tell me.”
“Ashen Awakener is with Orion, heading southeast. Valestein and Rieveldt are heading west.”
“Hokay! Let’s do this, Ordine!” Crow flexed his grip and pushed his Knight into a dive. Sure, he may be an Imperial lapdog, but he had his friends. And he’d do anything to protect them. Rean and Altina were in front of a massive archaism, armed with a plethora of guns, and Altina had her doll’s shield up to protect them. Enter Crow, stage right. “Chaos Saber!” Ordine carved right through the archaism, and it split into two distinct pieces.
“Armbrust!” Altina’s face lit up for a moment. “I see you arrived.”
“How many times have I told you to call me by my first name?” Crow rolled his eyes fondly. “Heya, lean, mean smokin’ Rean machine. How’s tricks?”
“Took you long enough!” Rean waved a hand dismissively.
“Do you need my assistance? Or will you continue operating in Ordine?” Altina tilted her head slightly. At that moment, a few more big archaisms emerged from the ground, guns priming and blades rising.
“Yeah, it’s still Ordine time,” Crow huffed a breath. “Rean, get Valimar in here!”
“Crow, you know that if Le Guin sees us, she’s gonna move in!” Rean protested.
“She started moving as soon as you did, her deadline be damned,” Crow snapped back. “I know how these guys work. Plus - shit! Tidal Shield!” He raised Ordine’s double saber as a mortar strike blasted apart around them, thankfully warded off by his shield. “This bites!”
“Then here I go - Valimar! The Ashen Knight!” Rean threw his hand in the air, and his Divine Knight slammed into the ground a moment later.
“Ordine.”
“Valimar,” the two knights greeted each other. “Brother, we have much work to do.”
“We all agree there,” Rean’s face appeared on the telecom screen. “Altina, do you think you can link to Crow through me?”
“It’s worth a shot,” Altina huffed a sigh. “I am going invisible regardless.”
“Better safe than sorry, tater-tot,” Crow gave a wink.
“Do not call me that,” Altina replied with a scrunched nose.
“Pfft. Tater-tot,” Rean snorted into his shoulder. “Alright. Well, Crow? Let’s get to work. Altina, scan for civilian outposts that are being attacked by archaisms. We’ll head there.”
“I will also update Bracer Valestein and Captain Rieveldt,” Altina gave a short nod. “Best of luck.”
“Yeah. C’mon, Rean! Betcha I can get more archaisms than you!”
“Normally I’d be upset that you’re betting on something so serious, but…you’re on! Let’s save this city!” Rean blasted into the air, sword shining with light. “First Form: Helix!” Spirals of flame burst from his blade, and Crow joined him.
“Hydro Cannon!” Crow unleashed a torrential downpour that shredded an archaism to its base wiring. He could also feel Altina’s support drifting through his systems, a small boost to his nigh-impenetrable defense. “C’mon, Rean! I am Crow Armbrust, the Azure Chevalier! Taste the ocean’s wrath!”
And off they went.
Rean
December 28th in Roer was always cold. The city didn’t insulate well, the cold mountain winds blowing over the rim of the deep city. The orbal furnaces didn’t help much either, it seemed that they sucked out all the heat, leaving people to shiver on their own. Even with the lack of work for the bracer guild to do, Rean had enough saved up to at least keep the place working, and the landlord was at least nice to him. Still, there were only a few days before the new year, and Rean was tired. He and Sara had been in North Ambria negotiating with and against the Imperial Government on behalf of the North Ambrians as they were slowly but surely annexed by the Empire. The Northern Jaeger commanders had been confined, with only a nominal officer leading the opposing side. Seeing them and Sara sit down and converse in North Ambrian had been an experience, but General Le Guin was a fearsome negotiator. Claire had slipped him some intel about what Rufus’ minimum demands were for the new province, so Rean couldn’t fault Le Guin that much, but the lengths she went to…were not ideal.
Complete monetary control over taxes. Deregulate the banks to comply with Erebonian standards. Complete dissolution of the Northern Jaegers and any military capability. Taxpayer money (minimal as it was) would go to funding a railroad up to Haliask. Monetary compensation dependent on total taxes paid - which meant that the upper 1% would get the bulk of the financial aid, while the poor would still suffer. Rean and Sara argued the best they could, but they knew they didn’t have much legal footing to stand on.
“I’m home,” Rean said to his empty guild branch. There were still no new postings, but at least the heat was still on. He flicked on the lights, one, two, three, and headed to his personal mailbox. There wasn’t much - an ad for a Kleist Co. sale, an invitation to the Reinford Group’s Winter Solstice party that was two weeks overdue, a letter with the Bracer Guild seal, and one last letter stamp marked with…nothing. Odd. He took the mail in a bundle under his arm and flopped onto the couch, setting his tachi nearby. The ads went to the trash pile, and he opened the guild seal.
Rean Osborne,
For your accomplishments and prowess over the last year in your field exercises, the Civil War, and your adept handling of the Northern War, we as Bracer Guild Headquarters (Wayne Ave., Berne, Leman), do hereby recognize you as a B-Rank bracer. See attached documents for further responsibilities, resources, and rights. Congratulations.
-International Representative A-Rank Bracer Zin Vathek
Would you look at that? Rean felt a wave of accomplishment wash over him. It felt a bit odd being a B-Rank bracer younger than twenty - the same rank as Toval - but it felt right. North Ambria was still a mess, and the repercussions of that fiasco would tremble through the spirit veins for months (or years!) to come. At the bottom of the guild envelope was a small badge - his official pin as a bracer. The supporting gauntlet for the common people…
However, at that moment, he felt someone arrive outside the guild branch. They didn’t knock, but they…waited. Odd. Well, if they weren’t gonna come in, he wasn’t gonna bother. He was tired! Still, he opened the last letter to reveal a single sheet of paper.
Rean,
By the time you will read this, it will be approximately 7 PM, on December 28th. I am outside. It is time.
Yun
Unbelievable. Rean dropped the letter on the table and stood up with a groan, snagging his blade and belting it to his waist. He took a deep breath as he stood at the front door.
“Master,” Rean greeted as he opened the door. He bowed deeply, as was the custom.
“Young Rean,” Master Ka-fai stood before him, uncaring for the cold. “May I come in?”
“Of course, Master,” Rean gestured behind him. “I don’t think I have any green tea - will Imperial Breakfast be sufficient?”
“Only sufficient in keeping me up all night. I’m an old man, Rean,” Master Ka-fai rolled his eyes but entered regardless. “Besides, we have other concerns. Are you busy?”
“I just got back from North Ambria, so I’m a little tired. How’d you know I’d be back now?” Rean crossed his arms as the two sat down on the couches.
“The Dragon Veins show much, my young student. I’ve been impressing that on you and my granddaughter for years now. Cassius and Arios picked that much up, at least…” Master Ka-fai’s lip twitched.
“They’re also at least twice my age.”
“Fair enough!” Master Ka-fai chortled, rubbing his mustache. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m here.”
“I am, yes. But why are you here?”
“I thought I taught you never to answer a question with a question.”
“I’ve learned from war. Things you never taught me.”
Master Ka-fai’s face softened imperceptibly. “Yes. You have learned things. You’ve grown, Rean. I have been traveling this land the last year as fate twists and turns, walking the path of justice…and I have seen you walk that same path. You have reached the end of your initial path. You have changed much since I first met you, when you were but a young boy struggling under the weight of an inherited name. I have but one trial to give to you before you reach mastery.”
“I am ready to learn, Master,” Rean tipped his head. “Shall we go to the backyard? There is space there to spar.”
“That would be ideal, yes. I’d hate to destroy this bachelor pad of yours,” Master Ka-fai’s eyes roamed the somewhat barren walls.
“Hey! This is the business part. It has to conform to guild standards,” Rean huffed as he led Master Ka-fai outside. “And besides, the upstairs is a bit more…’me’.”
“Not to mention that I’m sure a man like you has a girlfriend he spends a lot of time with, hm?” Master Ka-fai’s eyes twinkled. “I can feel the bond you have with her even now, in this busy city.”
“Boundaries, Master.”
“I apologize, then. This should be sufficient.” Master Ka-fai slowed to a stop in the middle of the guild’s yard, one hand on his tachi. “I have had many disciples, Rean - of which you are the last. Cassius, Arios, my granddaughter Anelace, the Princess…I have taught you, and you alone, the full secrets of the Seventh Form - Void.”
“The shining light that burns through the darkness. Yes.”
“That knowledge is imbued in this sword - THE Eight Leaves One Blade,” Master readied his blade, of which eight leaves were scratched along its edge. “It came from the Black God One Blade school, that of darkness. This is my final lesson. The light and dark reach out and connect everything, everyone. To understand this is to reach enlightenment.”
“I am him…and he is me…” Rean drew his tachi.
“You have learned much, if you can speak those words,” Master Ka-fai gave a bitter smile. “To master oneself is to master fate. Show me that mastery…conquer thyself!” Darkness spewed from the Master's sword until it swallowed up Rean.
But for this Rean, this Rean Osborne, that was an easy feat. He knew who he was. He was the Ashen Awakener. But more than that…he was his mother’s son. Kasia’s, too.
“Eight Leaves! Breaking Dawn!” Rean slashed away the lingering shadows, December’s cold moon shining down on the two men. The force of his blow ruffled Master Ka-fai’s clothing, and the mountain range’s winds howled over Roer. He twirled his blade a few times before stowing it at his waist, eyes closed. The spirit veins sung with joy, as if a gentle heat was billowing to life from the balls of his feet.
“I’m getting too old for this,” Master Ka-fai laughed as he sheathed his sword, a gentle kindness seeping from his pores. “I am proud to announce you as a Master of the Eight Leaves One Blade style. You can now take disciples of your own, and I encourage you to take my school to new heights. What title will you call yourself?”
“I…I am Rean Osborne. The Divine Blade of Dawn. I swear to use my talents to push back the darkness overtaking this land, to protect all those who need it!”
“Figures,” Master Ka-fai snorted and tossed Rean an eastern-style scroll. Rean slowly unrolled it to reveal the official documentation, and it even had the title he had just declared. “I’m not prescient, you and the rest of my disciples are just so predictable that it seems like I can read the future.”
“But you knew when I’d read your letter…?”
“I do know how technology works, Rean. I called the train line to see when you’d get in, and remembered how you’ve always been. Now, Master Rean - where’s the best place to get a drink around here?” Master Ka-fai headed back into the guild to exit into Roer’s streets.
“Master! Wait!” Rean chased after him. He remembered how drunk Master Ka-fai and Uncle Teo would get at times, and had no wish to unleash a drunken swordmaster on the streets of Roer.
Laura
Legram in the winter was always comforting for Laura. Lake Ebel would always freeze over, Castle Lohengrin watching from afar. Well, Laura had a different perspective on said castle and the Lanzritter statues, but she put that from her mind. It might have been cold, but Laura was unphased. Out there, meditating by the lake, she was one with nature. The lake’s water intertwined with her inner flame, creating a gentle steam. Cohesion. Completion. Oh, she knew she had more to do - it was her duty as the next Blademaster of the Arseid School to grow and strive. One day, she’d take up the Galland-Sharl, but for now…peace. It was the new year, after all.
However, that peace would not last forever. A calling ran along her spine, as if sent from the north. A second later, her ARCUS rang. Laura emerged from her meditative state, remembering that she was on Legram’s docks. She hesitantly picked up the line. “Laura S. Arseid. Who is this?”
“Come on, Laura! Have you still not figured out how caller I.D. works yet?” Rean’s voice said brightly.
“Rean! It’s good to hear from you. How have you been?” Laura couldn’t help her smile. “I have much to apprise you of.”
“I’ve been…well, all things considered,” she heard some scratching on the other side - he was doing paperwork, perhaps? “North Ambria was a mess, but technically…you should call me Master Rean now.”
“I owe you congratulations, then,” Laura replied warmly. “As it should go in reverse - I am now Master Laura.”
“Would you look at that!” Rean laughed. “Congratulations to you as well! When did you achieve mastery?”
“December 27th. Yourself?”
“Unbelievable,” Rean groaned. “I got it on the 28th.”
“Hahaha!” Laura couldn’t help her laugh. “You know, if this was me last year, I would have been overjoyed that I had finally accomplished something before you. But now…I am simply happy for the both of us.”
“Yeah…we’ve grown, haven’t we?”
“Time does that to us all. Regardless, I believe we now owe each other a duel. I have been training relentlessly these last few months - I did have to defeat my father to claim my newfound title.” Laura smirked as she remembered her duel.
“Mine was more…metaphorical? It’s hard to say. Also, I went out drinking with him afterwards, which was a much more difficult trial than the mastery itself.”
“That sounds better than mine - my father started talking about my late mother for hours on end.”
“Oof.”
“Yes. ‘Oof’ indeed,” Laura shook her head. “He means well, but…we cannot all be focused on the past. Let us look to the future. What will you be up to?”
“For now? Bracer work here in Roer, little there is of it,” Rean snorted derisively. “I don’t know where the Chancellor gets off on this, forcing us out.”
“You did shove it in his face at the Infernal Castle by my recollection.”
“Well, yeah. But the fact that other nobles are supporting him is odd…anyway, what about you?”
Laura hummed to herself. “I’ll be traveling to various other martial schools over the next few months - the Vander school in Parm, the Schleiden school in Nortia, and the Imperial training grounds. I’ll be sure to visit Roer at some point for that duel, Rean. You’d best prepare yourself.”
“Sure thing, Blade Mistress,” Rean chuckled fondly.
“And what is your fancy title, Rean?”
“Well, I’m the Divine Blade of Dawn,” Rean said sheepishly.
Laura couldn’t help her laugh, “and you call my title overbearing? You are one to talk, Rean Osborne.”
“You’d better put your money where your mouth is, Arseid - it’s on.”
“Very well. I accept your gauntlet,” Laura could feel herself heat up at the prospect of a challenging duel. “Until we meet again, Master.”
“Until we meet again, Master,” Rean replied and hung up. Laura slowly lowered her ARCUS with a sigh, leaning back in her seat and once more slipping into a meditative trance. She could sense a few children slowly slipping onto the ice with skates, darting forward at breakneck speeds. Did Saint Sandlot ever do that? Did she ever sit at the docks and wonder what the future held? It was somewhat of a moot question - she could just call Mrs. Osborne right then and there. The world was open to her - and she couldn’t wait to dive in.
Gaius
Arteria was so different from the Highlands. Gaius couldn’t remember the last time he had even seen the sky, stuck as he was in knight training. But thinking of that led him down into that dark spiral - that his home was attacked, that he almost died, and that Barkhorn had died for him. The Stigma burned deep in the recesses of his mind, reminding him of his failures at every turn. But he wouldn’t stop there - it was Class VII’s way to keep moving forward. But then thinking of that made him miss his friends. His ARCUS had been confiscated almost immediately after Father Thomas had brought him to the holy city, replaced with an orbment lacking communication features.
Still, he had his thoughts. Had Father Barkhorn been training and honing Gaius for all those years for this purpose? He was from the Nord Highlands! He believed in the Goddess, yes, but the wind flowed through his veins more than an institutionalized religion. Winds and earth help him, this was almost too much. Still, he had a purpose.
At times, it felt like he was back at Thors in classes - hurrying from one office to another while carrying stacks of books and notes, reciting facts about the Church’s history and procedures for new Gralsritter. Some of the other knights treated him kindly - Father Kevin and Father Wazy among them. Gaius hadn’t seen Grand Master Ein all that much since he had gotten to Arteria, and he had already been in the Holy City for a few months. What month was it then? February, maybe? Time had started to lose meaning in between trainings and lessons. He missed home. He missed his mother’s cooking and his father’s kind hands.
“Gaius? Is that you?” Gaius shook himself from his miseries to see Mrs. Osborne walking along with Grand Master Ein.
“Oh! Mrs. - I mean! Saint Sandlot!” Gaius almost fumbled his books, trying to remember the correct greeting. “What are you doing here?”
“We have a few meetings every now and then,” Grand Master Ein lit a cigarette and took a deep drag a second for Mrs. Osborne snatched it from her lips. “Hey.”
“Hey is for horses, and those things will kill you,” Mrs. Osborne pursed her lips.
“You’re not my mother,” Grand Master Ein pointed out.
“Well, according to scripture, Saint Sandlot is the ‘mother’ of several of our traditions - including our martial ones we practice as Gralsritter. Ma’am.” Gaius looked between the two women. Silence responded to him, and he fidgeted in place.
“HAH!” Grand Master Ein cackled, holding her stomach. “Oh, that’s a good one! I’m sorry I haven’t gotten to know my newest knight yet, but you seem like a good kid.”
“He indeed is,” Mrs. Osborne said congenially. “He helped with the Civil War and is an adept fighter as well. While we will miss Father Barkhorn, I have high hopes for Gaius.”
“Thanks, Saint Sandlot.”
“Gaius, I’m your friend’s mother. Please treat me as such,” Mrs. Osborne gave him a smile.
“What is with your family? Anyway, Worzel, I’ll be meeting with you more in the future. Tommy only gives me what he thinks I need to know, and I have high hopes for you. Lianne, we still need to discuss things,” Grand Master Ein gave Mrs. Osborne a significant look.
“Ma’am. Mrs. Osborne,” Gaius tipped his head and stepped to the side of the hallway, giving the two ladies room to pass.
“I’ll see you around, Gaius. And I’ll be sure to tell everyone that you’re alright, despite your lack of contact,” Mrs. Osborne nodded at him.
“What, did Tommy take away your cool orbment? That man…I’ll see if I can get you a replacement so that people don’t think you’re dead as well,” Grand Master Ein pulled out yet another cigarette and lit it. “Have a good day, Knight Worzel.” The two stepped off, quiet conversation drifting through the hallway. Gaius looked down to see a few other guards and knights snapping to attention, the ones in the know shocked at a saint’s presence. But that was just a day in the life for Class VII.