Flynn sat upon a tree within the forest next to the River of Fideline, watching the news broadcast on her phone, witnessing the chaos within V.J.I. She sighed softly, looking up at Yochanan and stood up to walk toward him and pat his shoulder.
"Mr. John...uhm," Flynn began, watching as Yochanan groomed his Coatyl.
"Yes, Young Flynn?" Yochanan answered, grunting softly as he continued to wash Sait's gray fur using the water from the river.
Flynn looked back down at her phone, listening to the reporter give updates upon the action going on around St. Meishi's Institution. She looked back at Yochanan, clearing her throat gently. "How much longer are you going to stay here? The institution is in chaos..!"
Yochanan paused in his motions, letting out a soft sigh and looked up from Sait. He placed his white cloth along the rim of the water bucket, standing up and dusting his hands off. "You know, Flynn...there comes a time where we must sit and be obedient."
"Being obedient isn't an easy task, especially hearing the news about the institution I teach at. However, that doesn't mean I can't do anything on my end. I pray for their safety, I stay in prayer for all, even for those against me," Yochanan said, turning around to face Flynn.
"Mr. John...someone needs to save them. I know the Dark Lord there. Personally...Please, we have to stop him before he does anything crazy! There are too many innocent people about to die!" Flynn begged, gripping Yochanan's robes with desperation.
Yochanan looked down at Flynn, seeing how much she seemed to care about me then exhaled slowly. "I can't go, Flynn. Not until Nox comes here for baptism, but you can. Go to him.."
Flynn looked up at Yochanan with a soft gasp, her worry intensifying at the thought of Yochanan being alone. "But...but what if Squad VII returns? Merin is still after you and Nox.."
Yochanan smiled at Flynn and casted aside her worries, looking up at the dove perched upon the tree next to them, the white bird watching over the two of them. "I have the Holy Spirit with me. There's nothing I should fear. Now go..."
Flynn exhaled softly and let go of Yochanan with a nod, hurrying to gather her belongings before running off into the distance. She stopped for a moment, glancing back at Yochanan and watching him return back to cleaning Sait, a somber smile forming on her lips.
"Mr. John!" Flynn called out, noticing him pause in his actions then sniffled lightly. "Thank you...for showing me the truth! Thank you for everything!"
Yochanan listened to Flynn's receding footsteps rush into the distance, a warm smile forming on his lips as he sniffled softly. He looked back down at Sait, continuing to tend to her fluffy gray coat. "I hope to see you again...Flynn.."
Flynn panted quickly as she rushed through the forest at top speeds, pulling out a whistle from her pocket and blew on it loudly. A loud neigh sounded in the distance, a beautiful silver pegasus galloping toward her quickly.
Flynn leaped onto her back, the pegasus flapping her wings powerfully and taking flight into the sky. As she flew away, the pegasus left behind sparkling silver feathers, each one fluttering with the wind, her call echoing out into the air.
"Nox...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...I'm coming. I'm coming, Brother..!" Flynn cried out softly, sniffling and wiping her tears, regaining her focus for the trials ahead.
To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue...
All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord....
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans....
The Lord works out everything to its proper end – even the wicked for a day of disaster....
----------------------------
I walked outside to the Main Courtyard, noticing Leonidas sitting at the table reading The Chronicles as usual, holding Scarlet's hand as she walked with me toward the floral round table at the center of the courtyard. Scarlet looked up at me, squeezing my hand gently and turned back to Leonidas.
"Papa...w-who...is...that...?" Scarlet stammered, still learning how to speak our language.
I looked down at Scarlet with a smile, turning my gaze back up to the Dean of V.J.I. "He is the Dean of this campus. We just have to speak with him before going back up to spend time with Floria again."
Leonidas sipped his tea as he continued reading, his ear twitching slightly as he heard us approaching. He glanced up at us, setting down his tea cup and watched us sit down. "Ahh, Lord Nox. Without the girls today?"
Scarlet watched as the maid set down two tea cups in front of me, one for me and one for her. As she watched the maid, her instincts began to gain the better of her, her small fangs growing with her own hunger.
"Papa...weird...me..." Scarlet shuddered, quickly taking her eyes away from the Maid beside her and curled into my lap.
The maid glanced at Scarlet with a cautious eye, standing up straight and returning to Leonidas's side. Leonidas hummed softly at Scarlet, taking another sip of his tea and closing his book.
"Do not worry about Scarlet. Though she is half monster, she will not attack without my permission. She's just learning to control herself...after our little bout with Squad XII," I sighed, picking up my tea cup and looked at the tea inside.
"Ahh, I see. So, she's your daughter huh? A bit young for a kid don't you think?" Leonidas asked, letting out a light chuckle and continued to study me.
I took a sip of the tea and sighed softly, setting down the cup then reach into my bag to pull out a piece of candy for Scarlet and unwrapped it for her. "Allow me to cut to the chase...You knew about this institution's true hatred toward me didn't you?"
Leonidas stared at me for a moment, sighing softly as he sat back in his seat and fixed his suit jacket. "You're approaching me with this now why? You seem to be handling it just fine so what's the issue?"
"You know the issue...I could care less about what they do to me, but they are dragging my loved ones into this. Why? Why are you sanctioning this..?" I asked with a demanding tone, locking eyes with Leonidas with a firm gaze.
Leonidas released his maid from her duties, never breaking eye contact with me then sat up straight with a soft exhale. "Nox...I knew you'd be here this entire time. From the moment you walked into my office until now. My niece, Effie, talked about you all the time..."
"But something never sat right with me, just as it doesn't with everyone else. You are chosen...and yet, you are a Dark Lord. How..? Ryoma was flawed with Arrogance and Pride, yet he was still chosen and never had Dark Lord potential," Leonidas continued, keeping his eyes locked onto mine.
"And?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and taking hold of the handle of my tea cup.
"Adamiel, Henosis, August, Misaki, Ryoma, Hisumi... they were all chosen and never shared anything with a Dark Lord... Nothing in The Chronicles says anything about the Messiah having Rebirth Energy or sharing Luca's power," Leonidas said, sitting back in his seat.
I closed my eyes and took a sip of my tea then set my cup back down, letting out a soft sigh and sat back in my seat as well, gently rubbing Scarlet's head. "August...he had Dark Lord power. He fell to Marielle when she reawakened in St. Goken, she gave him his power.."
"And that is what was needed to fulfill the final stage of prophecy. Why? Because Ascea, the same Ascea Ryoma believed in. The same Ascea Henosis mentioned to August during his journey...the same Ascea that is the child of Genesis and Ragnarok...is the true Son of God," I answered, opening my eyes to look at Leonidas.
Leonidas took a sip of his tea as he studied me, noticing my Holy Fire emitting from my chest with powerful conviction. "Say what you really want to say..."
I gently set Scarlet on the ground, leaning forward upon the table to stare Leonidas down. "You know it...I know it...they know it... You all want me dead because I am Ascea. It took me a while to find it out on my own...but it all makes sense.."
Leonidas chuckled softly at my comment and set down his empty tea cup, letting out a soft sigh with a nod. "It all makes sense to me as well..."
Leonidas stood up from his seat and pushed his chair up, walking from the small patio and onto the soft lush grass. He looked up at the sky, covering his eyes from the bright sunlight. "The weather is perfect, the birds are chirping...Nox, you come to me now which means you're ready..."
I looked over at Leonidas, gently pulling Scarlet behind me and stood up from my seat, my sights locked onto Leonidas. I walked down from the patio as well, summoning my Steel Buster in my hand. "It took a while of thinking...my enemy isn't the Sinner...it's the Sin itself."
I readied my sword, gathering all 13 of my butterflies around me and got into my stance. "You were the enemy I needed to seek out. The direct descendant of Ryoma Miyazaki...The Prideful Warlord."
Leonidas chuckled lightly and summoned his staff in his hand, a Crest forming upon his hand and water energy began to form around his body. "You know of my true identity huh? Who told you? Laneret? Aah, it doesn't matter anymore does it. I was hoping to keep those women under control."
I scoffed at Leonidas, my Chains of Light extending from my lower back. "You should know better than to think you can control Rulers!"
I dashed toward Leonidas and leaped toward him with a swift diagonal slice, but Leonidas blocked my slash with his staff, pushing me back then thrusted his staff toward my stomach, managing to land a strike. He tapped the bottom of his staff upon the ground, a blast of water erupting beneath me and blasting me into the air.
Leonidas warped above me with a kick, but I phased through his attack then shot one of my butterflies behind Leonidas, warping behind him and wrapping my chains around his waist. I let out a roar as I launched him toward the ground and summoned thorns of light behind him.
Leonidas's Crest shifted into a Wind Crest, powerful winds blowing around his body to stop his momentum from the thorns. He handed upon the ground with a light chuckle. "Interesting...but don't let your guard down. This is only just the start."
I landed upon the ground and got back into my stance, locking onto Leonidas and dashed toward him once again. "I'm aware!"
Flynn soared through the air on her pegasus, noticing the institution in the distance then snapped the leash of her pegasus, commanding her to fly faster toward the campus. As she flew past the broadcasting crew, she noticed a series of skirmishes taking place, each skirmish attempting to capture the Council.
She turned her attention to the Main Department, noticing a single duel taking place there and commanded her Pegasus toward the Main Department building. Landing upon it, she dismounted her winged steed and looked ahead, letting out a panicked scream as she noticed Floria's Bud.
Be not afraid, Flynn...
It is only me...
Floria...
Flynn sighed with relief with her hand upon her chest then hurried toward the edge of the roof, looking down at the Main Courtyard and noticing Leonidas fighting me in a one on one duel. "Nox!"
I heard the sound of Flynn's voice and grunted heavily as Leonidas landed a powerful blow to my jaw, sending me crashing into the table upon the patio. Scarlet cried out for me and hurried to me, holding onto my shirt with a worried expression.
Leonidas exhaled sharply and lowered his arm, looking up at the roof and rose his eyebrow, noticing Flynn standing upon top of the Main Department. "The Dragon Slayer..? She's here..?"
I grunted softly as I stood up slowly, the white streak upon my hair glowing faintly as I stood up on my feet. I walked down from the patio, rubbing Scarlet's hair with reassurance and looked back up at Leonidas with a sharp glare.
Leonidas looked back toward me, smirking lightly then readied his staff again. "Nox, I don't deny who you are...but you aren't ready for what this world truly has in store for you. This is the reality... You think St. Meishi is the only district with this ideology?"
"I am not the only descendant from our line either. There are three more like me. And even when you get past us, how will you deal with Merin? How will you deal with Lament? Your mother is still out there..." Leonidas continued, watching my every move with a steady eye.
"I know that...and I also know that mercy without backbone won't change anyone. Justice without morals won't fix anything. However... I would rather you all hate me and never know the reason why than to have you all know the reason and still hate me," I said, my chains shifting black and my aura changing into Rebirth Energy.
"Leonidas, you are Effie's kin. The last of her family here. I would rather you surrender and turn yourself into the Prison than have to kill you. You're my kin as well..." I added, taking on my Avenger Stance and exhaled slowly.
Leonidas inhaled deeply then exhaled softly, closing his eyes with a somber smile. He dropped his staff and his Crest shifted into the Crest of Arcane. "There's no other way out for me, Nox. And you know this as well...the veil has been lifted. It's time for the New Covenant, and the only way to get it is by flooding the old."
Leonidas dashed toward me at high speeds with a lunging spinning heel kick, slightly catching me off guard and forcing me to block hit attack. I grunted from the power behind his attack, my sword flying out of my hand and leaving me unarmed.
I phased through his next series of attacks, warping toward my sword, but Leonidas shifted the earth beneath my sword to move it away from me. Knowing he wanted hand to hand combat, I cracked one of my fingers and scoffed lightly at him.
"So be it..." I said, hopping up and down then from side to side, energizing my body with my eyes closed.
Rush...
Rush...
Rush...
I continued to energize my body, red lightning sparking and crackling around my my body. Flynn and Leonidas watched closely at my actions, seeing more energy generating around my body and my butterflies becoming Red Morpho Butterflies.
Rush like a Ram...
Boost through your adversaries!
Charge!
I got down into a running start, my body becoming a blur as I boosted toward Leonidas at near invisible speeds with a ramming strike, pushing Leonidas backwards against his own defenses. Leonidas bellowed as he pushed back, creating space and began parrying my flurry of strikes.
Flynn gasped softly at my speed, her eyes barely able to track and trace my movements. She watched me with wonder, tears welling in her eyes as memories of us as children began playing in her head, her eyes opening for the first time in forever.
"Nox!! I'm coming!!" Flynn yelled down toward me, backing away from the edge of the roof quickly to leap over it.
I dodged Leonidas's powerful strike then blocked his kick and boosted forward with a shoulder strike into a sweeping kick. Leonidas evaded my kick then noticed my body becoming a gold and red silhouette, noticing me vanishing in thin air.
I appeared at Leonidas's blindside, landing a heavy body shot then warped in front of him with a roundhouse kick, causing him to stagger backwards. Leonidas shook his head and looked up, watching me warp toward him with another spinning kick.
Flynn took multiple deep breaths as she prepared to jump off a building, knowing her draco-skeleton wings don't carry her far. "This is so crazy, but this is for Nox!"
Flynn yelled as she charged toward the edge of the roof and leaped off it, yelling loudly as she glid toward the duel to assist me against Leonidas. She watched as I warped toward Leonidas with another spinning kick, waiting for the perfect opening to strike.
Leonidas parried my strike and used a burst of wind to knock me away then generated a butterfly, launching it toward Flynn and warped above her. Flynn's eyes widened slowly with disbelief, looking up toward Leonidas then groaned painfully as he struck her back with a heavy chop.
I grunted heavily as I hit the ground and rolled backwards onto one knee, looking up as I heard Flynn scream in pain, my eyes widening as I watched Leonidas break her wings. My heart thumped heavily against my chest, a flash of dark energy appearing around my butterflies.
"Flynn!!" I yelled, scrambling off the ground and rushed toward her pushing Leonidas out of the way and crouched down before Flynn and looked at her broken wings. "Flynn..."
Flynn winced in pain, her body shuddering in my arms. Tears of pain fell from her eyes, but she looked up at me with a soft smile, reaching up to me and placed her hand upon my cheek. "Look...I'm here like I said I'd be, Baba.."
I held Flynn tightly in my hands, glancing down at my hands and noticing blood leaking from her broken wings. I quickly looked back at Flynn's face as I felt her hand slip, watching her pass out due to the shock of Leonidas's vicious attack.
"This is reality, Prince... To bear your cross means you will suffer in this life. I'm merely prepping you for the true outside world. The people you love will die. Because of you," Leonidas said, his tone awakening an anger I hid away since the death of my brother.
Because of you...
It's all your fault...
You should've stayed hidden...
Lament's whispers had begun to return into my mind due to Leonidas's accusation, my gaze unable to break away from Flynn's pained resting face. Multiple flashes of memories of me and Flynn played in my head, Leonidas's words echoing in my head.
'My...fault..?' I thought to myself, my hair shadowing my eyes as I gently laid Flynn down upon the grass.
I stood up straight and turned around to face Leonidas, my eyes gleaming ominously behind the strands of my hair dangling over my cold expression. My once faint Rebirth Energy became fully visible, symbols slowly forming in my eyes and shining with wrath.
"It's my fault your school of bastards are wicked? It's my fault you're nothing but a senseless coward who has to hide behind his defected sheep when the wolf comes to feast? It's my fault huh?" I asked, lowering my head with a soft chuckle.
"Then allow me to fix your mistakes..." I said, snapping my fingers and shifting the entire Zone into one full battlefield, Rebirth Energy flowing up from the ground around us.
Leonidas glanced around his surroundings, grunting softly as he noticed the Mark of Ragnarok glowing largely upon the ground. He turned to look at me once again, his head swinging to the left as he heard the panicked screams of his students.
"The Trials start now... everything from this point on willbe MY fault! Woe unto this entire campus for it shall suffer the reckoning of my Father above! Judgement...is now truly upon you," I said, walking over to Flynn and picked her up carefully before walking away.
Scarlet grunted as she hurried behind me, sticking close to me and glanced back at Leonidas with a concerned expression. Leonidas watched as I walked off, dusting off his clothes and exhaled slowly.
"Hm...it has truly started now. I guess I should give them a call," Leonidas said, walking off toward the Main Department building.