The Sleeping Wind Awakens ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Special Mission Corp's Temporary Camp, Ravensburg Lilia cast her eyes forward, to the other side of the encampment. Just ahead was Saizaki. Facing the forest, looking away from the camp, with a cigarette between his fingers and a frustrated, pensive look on his face. Lilia felt like she could sympathize with what Saizaki and Rainhande were feeling. Though they didn't like each other anyway, their outburst was born primarily of frustration and anger. The Special Mission Corps had never suffered so many losses in one go before Even when they had procured three of the legendary four swords. Now they were isolated in some dingy forest outside of Ravensburg. What could the next move possibly be? Lilia slowly crept up to Saizaki, being careful not to disturb him. It seemed logical, since Saizaki had been on the edge of a blade all night. She stopped walking when they were standing side by side, looking outwardly from the encampment. "You okay?" Saizaki released a puff of smoky air, orally. "...I feel like I've got one hell of a hangover, without ever touching the bottle. I just don't understand how things could have gotten so bad, so quickly Just three days ago, everything was great. Now it's like we're in hell." "I know," Lilia nodded in earnest, "Things have gotten to me too. But we can't let that get us down. We have to stick together now. More than ever. If we don't, what hope do we have in winning the war?" Saizaki drew more smoke into his lungs, his eyes looking upward to the moon. It was beautiful tonight, none of the clouds overhanging Europe were blocking it from view. It made the image of Saizaki and Lilia's relent from below look... less disheartening. And a lot more uplifting. "Guess we just can't give up." Saizaki said, idly. "Coming this far and throwing in the towel would be a kick in the crotch. Besides, I doubt Dad would ever forgive me if I did." Lilia nudged closer to Saizaki, watching that expression on his face. Saizaki seemed more tranquil and focussed as when he was speaking of his adoptive father, Setsuya Seisuji. "Tell me about him." Lilia asked in a whisper. "Pops?" Saizaki grinned, "I suppose most sons look up their dads. But I actually had good reason to. He was an incredible man. And so skilled with a blade. You know, he single-handedly took out a wild boar when he was my age? Heh, it earned him a Chinese girlfriend. Some girl called Lin-Lin. Then he went so far as to win that tournament, defeating Zephaniah A man who was supposed to be the strongest sword-fighter of western descent. Not even Commander Highland could beat that guy on his own. I always respected that The fact that my Dad could do things that no one else could. And even when he was getting old, he still had time for me. The man found me outside the Safe-Zones... abandoned by my birth parents." "Do you remember anything about them?" Lilia asked, curiously. Saizaki shook his head as a no. "Nope. And I wouldn't much care to. The ones who're your parents are the ones who raise you. The one who raised me was Setsuya. And that's why I talk so much about him. Dad meant everything to me. He was all I had... so losing him really did a number on me. I guess that's why I want to master the blade so badly. So I can live up to him. " Lilia sighed, with a solemn expression. She knew exactly what that was like. To lose your parents, the support you had in this scarred world. "I understand, Saizaki. I lost my Mother and Father to sickness. That is the reason I left Neo-France and came to Neo-Germany. Joining the Order of Light seemed like the right thing to do." Saizaki's neck cricked as his head looked down at Lilia. "I'm sorry, Lilia. Here I am, bitching about how much I miss my Dad, and you've lost both of your parents." That brought on a smile from the younger girl. She didn't feel anger with Saizaki. In fact, she felt the opposite. She loved it when he spoke about his family It was one of the few times that Saizaki showed a completely unguarded side to himself. The silent but conspicuous part of him that was the vulnerable little boy. It far overshadowed his unrefined adult-teen persona. Lilia wrapped her smaller arm around Saizaki's longer one, then rested her head upon his broad shoulder. Just being around Saizaki was enough to make her feel better Saizaki let a small smile cross his lips. Out of all the people left on the face of this cadaver of place called Second Earth, Lilia was the only one who he would lay his life on the line for. And even though the two were dressed in their shredded combat tunics and armour, they looked very beautiful together. Under the moonlight, the sound of light banter in the background, the crackling of the open fires. It all contributed to how they looked together. And how they felt about each other "You don't have to apologize," Lilia said, her voice barely audible, "I like speaking with you about this. It's nice, you know?" Saizaki beamed warmly at the Neo-French woman. "Yeah. I think I do." But all great moments of tranquillity are disturbed... "The summoning of my powers to the transcendent level! I unleash the Silver Devil!" Both Saizaki and Lilia shot their heads around as they heard the distinct sound of a female magic-user's chant. But before they could even see who it was, a silvery blast of pure ferocious power smashed into the campsite. It exploded upon contact with the ground, and the surrounding soldiers at the blast point were all tossed helplessly into the air. Along with tents, supplies and soil. Saizaki and Lilia were thrown off their feet and knocked to the ground by the shockwaves of the 'Silver Devil' blast. They tumbled away into a growth of bushes, as a cloud of dust blew through that area. The thundering sound of that blast echoed into the black darkness of the forest, the animals and birds all scampering for safety. Saizaki scowled in the bushes, but kept his eye on Lilia. "Are you alright?!" He asked urgently. Lilia nodded She was shocked. She and Saizaki were talking, then all hell breaks loose. The Japanese boy looked over at the campsite from the bushes they were in. He could see enemy troops barge their way in. The surviving soldiers for the Order of Light all unsheathed their weapons and began fighting back, out of sheer instinct. The cries of a fresh new battle were soon filling the dank forest, fresh blood about to be spilt. Saizaki then looked up into the night sky, to see something he might not have wanted to. Diana. The sorceress was floating high above the campsite, in midair, her silhouette being cast by the light of the full moon. Both Saizaki and Lilia were shocked. Diana and her forces had managed to track them down to Ravensburg! "Damn!" Saizaki whispered under his breath, "How in the hell did she find us? I knew camping here was a bad idea!" Hovering high above the campsite was an inpatient Diana. "Come out, Saizaki I know that you are here. You know I will find you. Show yourself. Or I swear I shall kill every single member of your remaining forces myself. I command you to appear before me!" Saizaki gripped the hilt of Fire Cutter, which was sleeping in the sheath strapped to his waist He was fully prepared to fight Diana. But winning was a whole new issue. He had tried to defeat her at Rosenheim and the only thing he succeeded in doing was humiliating himself. Considering the circumstances now, he had even less of a chance to win But what choice did Saizaki have? He had to stop that psycho before she did anymore damage to the Order of Light. But more than that... he had to protect Lilia. Lilia... Diana was losing her tolerance up above. "I am waiting, Saizaki. And I am not bluffing!" Saizaki growled angrily, but tried to keep his cool, focusing on Lilia rather than Diana. "I'm gonna have to go and fight her." "No!" Lilia shook her head fanatically. "She'll kill you..." Saizaki sighed "It doesn't matter. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't step in. I promise that I'll win. But you have to get out of here. Now. Run to town. Hide there." "I can't leave you behind!" "You have to!" Saizaki yelled back, trying not to be heard, "If you stay here, I'll just end up worrying about you and make mistakes! And I would never forgive myself if anything ever happened to you, Lilia. Please just grant me that." Tears were stinging Lilia's eyes. "...Saizaki..." Yet still, up above, Diana had lost her control. "Saizaki Seisuji! Do you think you can play me for a fool? I swore I'd kill everyone here unless you showed yourself to me! Now the soldiers of this army shall suffer the ultimate price for your cowardice!" Saizaki's heart skipped a beat. "No!" It was too late. Diana had mislaid her patience. And she was playing for keeps. The English woman spread her right hand open and breathed inward, building up her power. The wind below her grew, until it was so strong it was tearing through the blades of grass covering the floor of the forest. Energy began gathering at Diana's hand, a swirling energy that burned the air itself. The soldiers duelling below her were unaware of what she was planning to do, and so they could not have escaped. Not that they would have. At that point, the bloodlust of Diana was so strong it would have laid waste to the earth. The white-hot energy at Diana's hand grew and grew until a huge orb was circulating around it, sparks of blue lighting coursing around it violently. The woman screamed femininely. She pulled her hand back, than pointed it back down toward the battlefield as cried, "Ragnarok!" There was no way the common soldiers could have prepared for it. The orb burst into an even larger sphere, and that sphere was shot down to the battlefield. Some of the battling warriors saw the enormous ball coming their way, but they would not have been able to escape it in time. By the time the Ragnarok touched the ground, the soldiers fighting below were already dead. It exploded with a kind of violence that shook the earth. Both Lilia and Saizaki gasped in fear and awe of the haunting white light that surged up from the blast point. Screams of the people could be heard inside it, their flesh burning, fading instantly. Their bodies evaporated like so much water, and the grassy ground beneath them was broken open. Cracks appeared in the ground as holy light purified the battlefield. They snaked out from the epicentre of the pure Ragnarok blast as the ground below it began to collapse into itself. The light was so bright that Saizaki and Lilia had to cover their eyes to keep from being blinded. Nobody who was in that forest could have ignored something like that. Soon after the blast, the echoing, thunderous impact began to fade. The last sounds to be heard were the sounds of airborne rocks clattering to the ground, accompanied by the sounds of Diana's panting. What followed that was a chilling silence. The campsite was gone. All the soldiers that were fighting there were gone. Not a shred was left of them. The only man who had survived have been Rainhande, most likely he set up a magical defence with the Lightning Tooth sword. But aside from him, everyone else had been killed. Including the ones that had been fighting for Diana. Never in his life had Saizaki seen anything like it. A woman so desperate for revenge that she would take out her enemies and allies to get her way. It was unbelievable. And Saizaki would stand for it no longer. "Get the hell out of here, Lilia!" Saizaki's face contorted in furious anger, and he ran out of the bushes, drawing Fire Cutter from its sheath. The young man charged over to what was left of the campsite, which was now a wide black crater. Rainhande had been thrown into the trees at the other side of the crater. Most likely from the first blast. And floating above that crater was Diana, with an emotionless glare. "...So you finally show yourself." She spat Words could not express the hatred he was feeling for this woman. "I hope you rot in hell." Diana did not waist time throwing another verbal jab. Rather she lowered herself to ground level. Her sandaled feet lowered to about a metre off the floor, the smoking crater that had been mercilessly left of it. "You must pay for Setsuya's crimes." Diana claimed. Flames were coursing around Saizaki's sword. "What the hell kind of sick freak are you? Are you so fixed on a dead guy that you'd kill all those people just to draw me out? If that Zephaniah man was anything like you, then he deserved to die!" Magical energy grew at Diana's hands. "How dare you insult a dead man's memory!?" And so she acted. The ageless woman thrust her right palm forwards, and fired a bolt of her naturally white magical force. Saizaki saw it coming a mile away. He had been gathering power too. "Burn Flow!" Saizaki slashed downwards with his sleek Fire Cutter sword, and from it came a waving ball of flames, straight for Diana's attack. The two magical forces collided at the rim of the crater, sending a flash of light throughout the whole forest. Diana spat when she realized that she had lost sight of Saizaki. The light vanished a few moments later. But Saizaki was nowhere to be seen. Until... "Yaaah!" Diana's attention when up, along with her eyes and hands, as Saizaki descended from above, his sword at the ready. The Fire Cutter clashed with an invisible force before it could hit her squarely. Saizaki scowled when he realized that she still had those invisible magic defences. The boy leapt away from Diana, and vaulted over the left of the crater, which still looked scalding hot. His focus remained on her, and his sword was at the ready. If nothing else, Saizaki had the Fire Cutter's magic to rely on. The Japanese youth pointed at Diana. "I'm gonna kill you if it's the last thing I do!" He then rushed in with all the fierceness of his father, his predecessor, Setsuya. Diana noted the similarities between. Notably the will to fight. But that would not stop her revenge. She waited for Setsuya as she floated above the ground. The boy yelled a great battle cry, akin to that of a tiger, and slashed at the woman in all forms possible. From the right, from the left, diagonally, vertically, stabs, slashes Each one expertly timed. The kind of timing you would expect from a student of Setsuya and Aarin. But each blow fell on deaf ears. Diana's hands performed all sorts of gestures and movements, and each one of those brought up a particular barrier to defend against each strike. For every speedy strike that Saizaki made, Diana had a movement to block it. After one final slash, Saizaki leapt away from the sorceress and jumped back to his first position, at the tip of the crater. His boots touched the rim, and Saizaki paused for a moment, drawing in momentum from his spirit and determination. Flames burst open around the blade of the Fire Cutter again. Saizaki swung the sword up and the down against the floor, lips screaming for a second time, "Burn Flow!" A second wave of volcanic fire surged from the sword and towards Diana. The woman was fully prepared for this technique. She crossed her arms over her chest, then spread them open each of her limbs pointing in a different direction. The Burn Flow reached Diana but was smashed into cinders and embers by another of Diana's invisible defences. Soon what was left of the Burn Flow dissipated as if it were never there. Diana was just about to taunt Saizaki about his lack of variety But she then realized that he was gone. Her smooth marble eyes searched for him Around the crater, near the trees. But there was no sign of him. Diana continued the search until something rumbled. She looked to her left, where the sound was coming from. A tree. It was just about to collapse in her direction. Diana extended her hand, balled it into a fist, and then brought it downwards. An energy slash cut through the tree before it could touch her. But then... "Yaaah!" Saizaki came at her again! Diana swerved to her back to see the young soldier rushing towards her with his sword at the ready. But it was too fast an action to dodge or block All Diana managed to do was tilt her head backwards. Saizaki scowled in frustration, as the blade past over her face and chest almost in slow motion. The two alternated and Saizaki jumped over the crater to the western side of it. Diana was about to attack, until she noticed Saizaki grinning. "What are you smiling about?" She yelled. Saizaki pointed to her face. "Got a little something on your cheek there." Diana held a hand to her cheek. When she felt nothing she put her hand on the other one. That was when she felt something. She pulled her small hand back and looked at it. There were traces of blood. Saizaki had managed to cut her after all. But purely from the wind resistance. Just that, and he managed to cut her. Saizaki's smile made a welcomed return. "Not so invincible now, are you, darling?" "No more games!" She retorted in anger. "I have had enough of you!" The Japanese man was just about to contest that. He pulled his sword back up into attacking position and was about to lunge in to strike. It took him a second to realize that he could not move. Saizaki struggled and struggled, even to so much as wiggle his nose, but he was paralysed. Diana's eyes glowed with vigour, as she held him in place with magical force. She Diana. The mistress of hidden magic. There was no way she was going to allow this upstart to make a fool of her Not unless she wanted something to end this cursed sadness... The blonde woman floated over the crater towards Saizaki. They were face to face in seconds. She sneered at him. Then spat her saliva in his face. "The son of Seisuji, eh?" She jabbed at the frozen youth, "You're just a novice." Saizaki couldn't do anything but let Diana's spittle dribble down his cheek. But, he did find that he could speak. "...At... least... I-I'm not... a... heart...less... murderer... of his... own allies..." Diana drew back her hand and slapped the boy. "Silence!" His cheek grew red as it jerked back from Diana's hand. But Saizaki still could not move. From the current position of his head, he was looking the direction that he emerged from. And his heartbeat raced as he saw Lilia standing there. With the Wind Soul in hand. The girl released a gust of wind from the blade, obviously her Whirlwind Slash technique. The miniature twister went straight for Diana. But she blew the thing away with one effortless slap of her wrist. Lilia was, however, undaunted in her will to defend Saizaki. "Leave him alone!" The soldier girl yelled. Diana stared at her. "Stupid girl. Get away! I have no business with-gah!?" In the seconds that Diana had let her concentration waver, Saizaki launched the butt of his sword at the woman's face, breaking him free from her paralysing magical grip. Saizaki ran around the rim of the crater towards Lilia, so he could get her the hell out of there. But Diana recovered in seconds. The first and last Deity sneered once more, then gathered power into the fists she gripped together Saizaki ran and ran, desperate to get to Lilia before Diana could. The English sorceress pushed both arms forward with spread hands, unleashing a bolt of her signature white magical power. It swirled into an arrow-shape, travelling straight across the crater while Saizaki ran around it. The two forces rushed to meet with Lilia first. Something was going to be struck down. And they were. It just happened to be Saizaki. "Gaaah!" The young man screamed in pain as Diana's arrow-like bolt struck him dead-centre in the ribs. He was diving to save Lilia. And he had done. By taking the blow for her. Saizaki collapsed to the ground, dropping the Fire Cutter in the process. The way he landed was stomach down. A gasp escaped his throat when his face smacked the blackened grass. "Lilia..." He mumbled, his body wracked with pain. "...Get... away..." Lilia Lemieux Morin was chilled to the bone. Saizaki had been injured. And he was struggling to move. All her allies had been killed. And Rainhande was unconscious over in the bushes. All thanks to Diana. Not only had she obliterated what was left of the Special Mission Corps, she had brought harm to her friends. Even Saizaki, the man she... Fate always has a twist. And though neither Lilia nor Diana were realizing it, one was about to happen. Lilia looked over at the floating Diana, her eyes burning with unhidden hatred. Her fists were shaking, her heart was pounding, her throat dry as a bone All symptoms of a hate that transcended hate itself. Lilia's eyes flashed a dark blue, blocking out all other tones in her previously bright orbs. The girl was not thinking, but subconscious, her latent mind did all the work for her. It was like she was in a trance. Saizaki watched but could do nothing but that. Lilia's soft hands pointed towards Diana, dropping the Wind Soul. And in seconds things began happening as the French girl screamed the words, "Charade Sphere!" Lilia's body began glowing with luminosity so strong rivalled that of Diana's Ragnarok attack. And this light was cast from her body in a gigantic dome of golden light. It passed over Saizaki and Rainhande like water, but to Diana it was as corrosive as acid. She was dumbstruck. Was the this girl using...? "Impossible!" Diana yelled this as she strained to hold back the blocking force of the Charade Sphere. But it was too much, even for her. Diana's throat released a horrific cry of fear as she was thrown way back by the force of the sphere. Out of the forest and whirling endlessly as far as the energy could toss her. The sphere eventually engulfed the entire forest, but did nothing to harm it or its inhabitants. And when the sphere faded away, Lilia's eyes reverted from dark blue to light blue, then closed completely. Her body fainted from the shock. Lilia collapsed to her knees then to her stomach, left unconscious. Saizaki stared at her in utter disbelief. It was impossible. Was Lilia... ...a magic-user?
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