"As a high-order being who has traversed the cosmos... I do enjoy dancing in the rain."
. . . .
Izobel and Aurelia thought it was impossible to land a hit on their opponents.
The two maiden knights were cornered, allowing their battle paths to cross. Izobel's breath felt like agony, and her charred and blunted armour felt heavy on her bones.
Aurelia was still quick and agile, but her movements were swiftly condemned as worthless when her opponent had abandoned the concept of speed.
The two knights were facing magnificent enemies; Abbey's Neverland of the fallen titan city appeared more defined and outstanding. The broken throne sat atop a higher altar, emitting a faint blue glow as bent spears, dented shields, and scalded swords arose from the cobblestones. A large giant skull hung from the domed ceiling by its interconnected spine, roaring a chant of a thousand soldiers and spewing out amber colored lava that birthed amber roses, flowers that bloom and burn.
The teleportation itself got more accurate and deadly. Abbey's landed attack felt heavier and more painful as it bypassed Sol's defences. The amber rose released a sweet-smelling pollen that burned Aurelia's lungs. The summoned weapons were also there for Abbey's liking, as she would randomly utilise the damaged armoury. Aurelia tried to summon her own Neverland, but her thoughts were too scattered, and her grace was diminishing as it seemed that Abbey's was increasing by the minute.
"What's wrong, Assassin?" Abbey's voice echoed through the battlefield like a spectator. "Can't your lies save you now?"
Izobel was battling 2 opponents that rendered her arsenal useless. York's spirit animal appeared 10 times larger and looked 10 times more majestic. Its white and brown feathers looked rather corporeal as it glistened. Its underbelly looked like a night sky littered with stars and a halo, two rings that spun in different directions and velocities, appeared atop its massive head.
Accompanied with this animal that looked like Royalty was a girl who sought to tarnish that image. York's skin glowed in a subtle violet light, making her look more like a ghost. Several handheld mirrors orbited the thief, shifting in size and position to adapt to new situations. A broken tiara lay on her long blonde and pink hair, and her gloves extended to her elbows, creating several runes and symbols that danced in the light.
York refused to speak to her enemy, and Izobel did the same.
The Princess and the Assassin were pushed into the middle of the room as they took more attacks that warped space around them. Were they planning to kill them? Will they be kidnapped? All these questions clamoured aimlessly around Izobel's head.
Fortunately, Aurelia's grace and thoughts have been gathered rather impressively, allowing her to think of a temporary solution. She slashed herself with her dagger and planted her bleeding palm on the floor, as the blood spread around her and her partner as she muttered some incantations.
As two more teleporting kicks were inbound, several black and purple colored roses emerged from the ground, their roots and stems growing and stretching, forming a cage of beautiful flowers that successfully protected the two knights.
"Thank you, Aurelia."
Aurelia was startled by Izobel's voice, sending unwanted chills down her spine.
"Don't mention it," the assassin said as she tended to her wound.
"I can heal it if you wa-"
"Don't," Aurelia quickly refused. "My Never Say Never domain is still underdeveloped as I just learnt it yesterday. So this wound must be opened for it to function. But no need to worry, I am not bleeding."
The two knights kept an awkward silence between them as punches and kicks rocked the garden cage, and little fractures appeared on the roots.
"We need to find a way to defeat these thieves, or we are dead," Aurelia noted.
Izobel slowly looked away. "Only if we could do a Divine Synergy."
Aurelia turned to Izobel, who refused to exchange glances. Aurelia made a soft chuckle.
"Yeah, if," Aurelia sighed. "But we both know that won't work. You actually need a connection for it to work."
Izobel pursed her lips. "Why do you hate me, Aurelia?"
"About time you ask that question!!" Aurelia lashed out as the cracks spread around the cage. "What is there not to like about you? How about when you stole the Paragon title from me, the rightful owner? Or no, what about the humiliation ritual you did to me during the battle of Black Meadows?..."
"It was Abyss."
"Oh, what about the time you stole my man!!!" Aurelia screamed as she ignored Izobel's plea. "I don't even know what to say. I still love Caesar, the future knight, the man who will change the world, and you pesky fairy chose to steal him away from my grasp. A year's worth of relationship going strong, and you,"
Aurlia jabbed her finger at the Apothecary. "You just decided to swoop him away like a hungry little bird. Izobel Kyra Edger, you have been a thorn in my life ever since you got your divinity, and you want to undergo a Divine Synergy with me. Maybe you should tell your dark twin void or whatever to do it with yo-"
"Shut up!!" Izobel screamed.
"No, you shut up," Aurelia retaliated. "I am not going to let that slide again. I will stand my ground for what is actually mine and rightfully mine."
"Caesar doesn't even love me."
Those faint words drew Aurelia from rage daze as the cage's fractures continued gnawing on the protection.
"Caesar didn't leave you because of me," Izobel started. "He left you...because you changed."
Aurelia stared in shock. "Liar."
"You should see the way he speaks about you," Izobel continued. "How kind, selfless, elegant and intelligent you were, all those features that made you look like a trophy that he worked hard to get. But he realised that you changed. You became more prideful, more selfish, more... more of the nobles that these thieves hate."
Aurelia's eyes looked blank and expressionless. Izobel couldn't tell what she was thinking, but it was most likely the ways to kill her and hide her body. Aurelia slowly shifted towards Izobel, the air getting heavier as the cracks rapidly spread.
In a flash, Aurelia's hands connected to Izobel's face in a devastating punch. Aurelia grabbed her partner's hair, but her armour suddenly stopped her.
[Lady Aurelia, it is not wise to attack your Order mate in the heat of the battle-]
"Did I ask you to speak?" Aurelia grunted as Izobel's knuckles landed on her temple, but her armour also halted her movements.
[Lady Izobel, you are wiser than this]
I don't care, Sol," Izobel made a raspy sigh. You think just flinging your hair and landing punches will distract you from your flaw. Think again you flat chested rodent.
[Lady Izobel, what vulgar language]
Caesar hates you because you have changed, and you are attacking me because you can't stand to hear the truth. Oh, what Irony, didn't Abbey, the thief that is trying to kill you, hate lies? Aurelia Rain Deadelus, you are too weak to face your fears. You are hollow and and proven to be absolutely worthless.
A sinister laugh from Izobel accompanied the banging noise on the flower cage.
Izobel stared at Aurelia with threatening eyes, her lilac hair slowly turning purple, and one of her eyes glowing an evil violet hue that seemed to stab through Aurelia's chest.
You really think looking pretty and acting tough will get you another date with Caesar? You absolute fool. That boy is mine and mine alone, Aurelia. Your time spent was painful to say the least. Crawl into the gutters to hide your face as you have abandon your humanity and principles for the lust of a boy who surely never cared. You lost your entrance battle trial because you were weak, you lost the paragon title to your pride, and you are getting badmouthed by your worst enemy-
"Finally showing your ugly face!!!" Aurelia screamed. "C'mon, let's do a Divine Synergy. Let Order be damned."
[Ladies]
The two female knights cackled in their fear and pride, performing a ritual forged from hate.
Outside the cage, Abbey and York stared at the construct with disgust.
"Not gonna lie," Abbey snickered. "It's a pretty durable cage, no doubt."
"Yeah, temporary durable cage," York sighed. "I really need some Garloc Quiche."
"Aunty's Jojo after all this is done?" Abbey offered.
York jumped for joy. "Now we are talking. What about your Neverland? How long is left till it goes down?
Abbey chuckled reassuringly as it echoed into her mask."Oh, I still have a lot more juice for hours and hours. If Gatwick keeps the Golden heart on, we are, as Warwick likes to say.
York rolled her eyes and chorused with her partner. "We are cool, cool beans."
"Change," Abbey giggled. "We are finally bringing about change."
"This marks our 5 years out of service in that mansion." York shivered as an unwanted memory crawled back into her mind.
"But," Abbey's laughter slowly faded. "Who am I angry at exactly?"
York looked at her companion worringly."What do you mean, Abs?"
Abbey picked up a dented Slaver sword, chipped to the sides but still lethal. She plunged it into the lava spewing out from the large skull hanging on the ceiling. With a bead of sweat that still hanged on the air, Abbey teleported past the flower cage, and the sword successfully sliced away parts of the roots.
"You know this giant skull in the ceiling?" Abbey asked.
'The one I keep telling you to change because it freaking creeps me out."
Abbey giggled. "This giant skull belonged to a Titan named Gallas. He was a member of the brave legion, The Order of Ragnarok, forming around the 3rd Void age."
"Gatwick knows about some of the dark ages, right?" York asked as her spirit animal used its powerful claws to pull out a significant bit of the cage. "Way to go!!!"
York cheered as her spirit animal made a victorious scream.
"Gatwick knows about it, but refuses to share it," Abbey answered disappointingly. "Gallas dies during the great Battle of The Gunjabo, as even though all who moved during the warning were already dead, he still fought against the enemy.
A tear fell from Abbey's eyes. "A great warrior was killed by being forced to drink magma."
York stared at Abbey with her mouth ajar. "Are you trying to trauma dump on me?"
"What, no, no, sorry," Abbey cleaned the teardrop from her eyes. "It's just that his final words stuck with me and many more Titans in this world."
York continued to stare with curiosity. "Which is?"
"My anger was never directed at you, but at the stars."
York tried to ponder the words that she just heard, as her spirit animal showed the same confused expression.
"I don't get it," York gave up with the assignment. "Why haven't you told anyone before?"
"Oh, I told Canary and Ocean," Abbey gave a weak nod. " But Gallas fought, just like us. Not for change, but for a massive revolution. He fought against Titan racism and the unfair Ymir delegation treaty. But, he was never angry at those that oppressed him, but those that allowed the oppression to happen-"
"God?" York tilted her head as she and her spirit animal took out more chunks of the flower cage. "Humans have The Almighty, Fairies have The sister, which is just the gender swapped Almighty."
Abbey giggled. "We giants worship Ymir and her Star Pantheon, but she never aided us in the struggle." Abbey sighed. "He fought because he knew what he was fighting against and who he was targeting, but I do not actually know what I am angry at. The Noble system? The corrupted knights? The lingering and hidden racism? The royals? That disgusting noble that corrupted us? Ymir? I do not know, York."
York examined her companion with pain in her eyes. The lava boiled the air with a humming effect. The air was warm, but York felt like she was on fire.
"You know I am not good at giving advice, but you just had to throw me in the mix."
"Oops, sorry."
York once again pondered the words her partner uttered. Once again, she came to an unsatisfying conclusion to her standards.
"I do not really know what to say, but I trust you, Abs." York smiled and patted her in the back, as her spirit animal snuggled in the warmth. "I know you will figure it out soon enough. You are not particularly intelligent, but you are smart enough to know what you want, and I believe in you.
Abbey's chest felt lighter and less painful. She could at least breathe. "Cool, cool beans."
"Okay," York smiled to herself. "Now let's get this over wi-"
The two thieves sensed something deadlier, more aggressive and chaotic growing out from the cage. As the maidens tried to escape from the cage, a massive explosion emerged from it, sending them flying.
Aurelia and Izobel stared at each other in pure disgust. Would they have to put aside their hatred to win this battle? No, they will weaponise that hatred.
York swiftly teleported, and Abey expertly positioned herself for another devastating blow.
"Another round, Abs."
"We are getting Aunt Jojo's."
As the two thieves closed in on their enemy, the two young knights uttered a word that sent fear through the thieves.
"NEVERLAND: APHRODITE'S SHADOW GARDEN," Aurelia commanded.
"NEVERLAND: HIVE OF THE GODS," Izobel-Abyss screamed. "Let's get crazy!!!!"
Unlike a normal Divine Synergy, the two Neverlands lacked synergy and harmony, thriving in chaos and colliding into one another.
And in the wake of the battle, chaos ensued.
The domed ceiling of Abbey's Neverland tore open, revealing hexagonal and heptagonal. roofs merging into pure anomalies. No neverland was open, but at the same time, they were all open.
The boundary of grace and abilities broke further, and Abbey struggled to keep her Nerverland in check.
"Abs, I know you can keep that Neverland up!!" York screamed.
"What do you think I am trying to do?" Abbey screamed back.
The battlefield was cracked and fracturing rapidly, as multiple phenomena began to occur. Aurelia's statue emerged from the shadows, a large violet and indigo insect hive dominated the centre of the room, the large Titan skull screamed in excitement, and York's spirit animal screamed in response to the overflowing grace.
"Their Neverlands are pouring into mine," Abbey gritted her teeth.
Suddenly, Aurelia appeared in front of Abbey, her silhouette accompanied by multiple inhuman insects fluttering around her.
"I am done lying," Aurelia muttered as she landed a heavy blow on the thief's mask, shattering it. Shamefully, Abbey hid her mouth.
Immediately, Ancient ruins of the Charred Motherland went down.
York rushed to Abbey, tearing a piece from her dress to hide her partner's mouth. York fell to their knees, their breath laboured and their spirits broken. They raised their eyes to see a terrifying sight. They knew they had lost, but they felt oddly satisfied.
"These are the new nobles?" York asked. "Such fire and determination."
"I don't know if it is their divinity talking," Abbey coughed. "But...But... These nobles are something different."
York laughed. "So what, you like them all of a sudden?"
"Hell no," Abbey chuckled. "I still hate them. But I feel I am one step closer to knowing who I am angry at."
York made a weak smile. "We all fight for different things. That is the beauty of the Silver Thieves."
The two thieves sat side by side as a giant centipede avatar abominated over them.
Izobel grasped her face in terror, her heart beating uncontrollably as sweat and tears poured. Her hair returned to the normal pink hue, but she felt as if a large sword was thrust into her chest.
She could almost hear Abyss giggling in joy, watching as the princess writhed in pain that she caused.
Aurelia looked away from Izobel as she collapsed from fatigue. Even though she hated the fairy, she could admit that her plans for victory were immoral and selfish.
What would Caesar think?
"What a shitty battle," Aurelia murmured as Izobel punched her in the face and she passed out.
[LADIES!!!]
But as the two maidens wallowed in their unsatisfying victory, the prince was near death.
Chalybe was sent flying through the battlefield as his Nephilim form was exhausted, leaving him drained. Ever since one of his three hearts was destroyed, his divinity control and grace sensitivity have been reduced drastically.
Chalybe dived into a shallow lake, where he saw Fenrir, grabbing his throat as blood poured out profusely.
"Fen!!" Chaybe screamed as he rushed towards his ally. Chalybe wasn't proficient in the Surgeon's attribute, so he had no idea what to do in this moment. The prince felt lost and helpless.
A bullet pierced through his armour and wounded his right knee and left shoulder. His blood poured out faster as the grace around the bullet expanded the wound more and more.
[Master Chalybe, I estimate 9 brumite before you lose your limbs, taking into account your nephilim tissues and ligaments]
Canary appeared in front of the two young knights, his arm loaded with a large crescent attack.
Even through the agony, Chalybe forced himself to lunge at the thief, pushing his hands away and therefore redirecting the majority of the attack.
Unfortunately, the divine blade grazed his eye, causing excruciating pain as he went half blind.
Chalybe wished he could freeze the thief, but he knew he couldn't use his divinity anymore, because any more fluctuations in his grace efficiency, and the hole in his chest would be active and bleed out...
"How are they harming me?" Chalybe suddenly thought. "I am still locked in time, so how are the attacks hitting me? Even though it is not yet a perfect defence, this amount of damage is absurd. Unless..."
Canary's hands glowed as another attack, a larger crescent blade, appeared aimed at him once more.
But instead of trying to block or redirect it, Chalybe stood facing it, his body failing and falling apart as he stared down the blade of the gods.
Fenrir tried to say something, but his lack of vocal cords prevented him.
Canary stared at the prince, confused, wondering whether he was chivalrous or foolish.
"I hope I am right," Chalybe thought, before his brain created the face of Caesar. "Oh, who am I kidding? This is stupid.
Chalybe laughed heartily. "Isn't that right, brother?"
Suddenly, Chalybe quickly walked towards the divine blade, driving it into his chest.
The pain was simply unbearable. The attack's heat scalded through his veins and boiled his blood, as the blade sliced through the prince diagonally.
Chalybe then opened his eyes, and a white full face mask stared at him.
Warwick above him.
His head was lodged between her thighs as multiple tendrils from her back were driven into the prince's body.
A faint light flashed inside the mask of the thief.
Chaybe concentrated his blurry sight to see inside the eye hole of the mask. Warwick's eyes were open, her pupils shaped like an upside-down cross, emitting a bright purple light.
"You are a Nephilim?" Chalybe asked excitedly.
Warwick leapt out of reach, but Chalybe caught up with her and drove her into the ground. Warwick reached for her rifle, but Chalybe used his feet to incapacitate her arm.
[Good to have you back, Master Chalybe]
"Nephilim ability?" Chalybe smiled. "Pretty ironic, don't you think?"
Warwick's heart ached. What was this noble about to do to her? Her biggest fears clouded her thoughts: rape, slavery, death, or worse- The Glutton sacrifice.
Nephilims, The Almighty's forgotten children, a race that Warwick despised being a part of. She has been sold, enslaved, weaponised, experimented on... Even though she bore the blood of Paladins, she has gone through hell.
Chalybe slowly brought his face down.
She knew it! Of course she did! Nephilims are not praised. They are weaponised and abused. She was scared. No, she was terrified.
Her father told her himself, her life was worthless and expendable, and it was only her Nephilim blood keeping her alive. Brutal.
Forced to be a weapon, forced to be a puppet, forced to be a pedestal, forced to be a lie.
And now this noble is about to do the same. Would this world ever change?
She hated herself, she hated the world, she hated her village, she hated the Nephilims, and above all else, she hated this nob...
Chalybe slowly pulled the mask; great enough to reveal the thief's forehead but small enough to keep the majority of her face hidden.
Gracefully and gently, the prince planted a kiss on Warwick's forehead. It wasn't forced or lustful; it was sincere and genuine.
Warwick stared into Chalybe's eyes, his pupils now in the shape of a blue cross. The prince's eyes were filled with tears, slowly dripping down the thief's attire.
"Pardon me," Chalybe smiled. "You don't know how long I have waited to see my own race."
Warwick's vision became blurred as her eyes were filled with tears. Her heart felt warm, and her skin tingled with comfort.
"Plus, isn't Warwick a boy's name?"
Warwick unexpectedly chuckled, finding hersel encharmed by the prince's gaze. His cross eyes were magnificent, and his smile was simply gorgeous as it shined besides the three suns.
"Tell that to my papa if you have the chance," Warwick replied.
Chalybe tilted his head. "Oh, Father issues?"
"My father named me Warwick to fool my entire village," Warwick sighed. "If anybody found out I was a girl, I would have been sacrificed. Plus, a female nephilim? Every priest wanted their dagger thrust into my heart."
Chalybe's smile slowly faded, but the sincerity in his eyes was still there. "You don't like being a Nephilim, do you?"
Warwick's fear returned. What should she answer? She was petrified that if she said the truth, her father would kill her. His memories haunted her day and night; His cursed blade, the smiling red shadows, the figure with the crows...
But then she remembered, she was in the embrace of the most charming boy she had ever met. She felt safe and secure, like the embrace of her brother.
Though not bound by blood, she felt untouchable. She felt seen, she felt free...
... She felt like she could say the truth.
Warwick began to cry, her tears pouring out uncontrollably. "I don't ..."
"Say it, Warwick," Chalybe's smile returned. "It's okay. You can speak. Say what your heart says."
Warwick felt lighter and lighter, her blood flowing like the gentle stream in her village, her heart felt warmer and warmer.
"I hate it," Warwick cried out loud." I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, I REALLY FUCKING HATE IT!!"
"Language." Chalybe chuckled.
The two Nephilims touched foreheads as they laughed and cried together, reminiscing about their present, their wings, their blood, and their future.