Arc 4: What families entail
Within the waring country of Athens sat Walgonia's infant Heroes getting ready outside of the inn. While Leo tried to shake off a heavy hang over, Edward stood with Erin. Trying his best to stay focused while talking to her. Not infatuated or taken by a crush, just bad at talking to somebody he found pretty.
Erin: "So you're really a Helsing, without a Mark. Your dad didn't have a Mark either right?"
Edward: "Nope, but he got his white hair. So I'm still hopeful."
Erin: "You don't need it though right? You seem plenty strong."
Edward: "I'm not nearly strong enough. Not strong enough to save Walgonia at least, not yet."
Erin couldn't help but laugh, passing Edward a glass of milk while she took a shot of whiskey. Cleaning the stolen abandoned in while continuing to speak. Edward however was lost to his shyness, her words making his stomach turn with confusion and awkwardness.
Erin: "I've known plenty strong people and you're defiantly strong. A strong body doesn't determine if you're strong. It's your mindset, and you're mindset is what makes anybody strong. I know I'm not strong, and weak people can always tell when strong people are in front of them. So I'd keep your head up, and get ready."
With a smile he'd drink his milk, saying his goodbyes while stepping outside with his things.
Soku: "Talking to your wife?"
Edward: "Wife!? Why not girlfriend!?"
Soku: "Fine I'll remember to say girlfriend."
Soku would get her ear snagged by Rosemary, pulled along to sit within one of the covered wagons. Passing down the hill, they moved away from the town of Pericles. Waving goodbye to Erin as their two covered wagons passed through a small set of woods. One filled with Red Arrows, the other with the soldiers who had come to save them. Looking out to see the hill cleared and a bay to their left, water mills, farming fields and workers, along with the faded blue and crashing ocean. It was the morning, early at that, and the rebels were heading toward the City in the distance. Built across the northeast and east Beaches of Solon. But their eyes snapped toward a knock from a Red Arrow ahead, pointing toward their leader Leo to speak forth.
Leo: "Alright, the city commin up is the only other city on this Island. And a city under the Red Arrows, called Cretan. But I'd be ready."
In front of that city, what used to be orchards and farm fields, along with rice fields and anything else that could make good booze, was scared with battle. Patches of smoke, bodies, medical tents, and screaming Athens Warriors attempting to hold their camp. Spread out enough, crushed enough for them to pass through. A warzone mostly broken, strangely peaceful enough for them to stroll through. Peaceful compared to most battlefields at least, nearing toward the south wall of the city, but in came the arrows and Warriors coming forward.
Leo: "I got it!"
Leo dashed out to take on the guards blocking their way, but still were the guards coming all around them. Fighting toward the city.
Soku: "Sure you do!"
Rosemary went into the third stage, Edward grabbed his blade, and Soku flowed wind around her. All within their armor, all ready for battle, and all leaping out of the wagon to fight on. Edward immediately broke through the back of the wagon to slam his large blade against the few warriors ahead of them, pushing them back for Soku to jump forward. Edward rolled off into more conflict as Soku continued, throwing her built up wind toward the shaken group to send them all flying back. Smirking and turning to Julius behind her, who had an arrow in his hand.
Julius: "Careful now."
She sighed, moving on. Rosemary instead moved toward her, kicking against a sword, punched a shield, broke through a bow with a headbutt, and jumped into the air. Flipping before slamming her legs against a woman's armored face, breaking her armor while sending her flying back. Looking on to keep up with the rushing wagons and her charging friends. The sounds of thunder rippling out; Leo continued his one man army battle style, cloaked in lighting and fighting against about fifty warriors. Charging his spear to throw it into three of them, spinning and breaking a collar bone, throwing out a bolt of lighting like a spear to take out two, slammed against the ground and erupted with bright yellow electricity, forced it to flood forward like a wave before dispersing into the bloody war torn fields to clear a path; the true Warrior of Athens fought on for their safety.
Soku: "If we just ran we'd get there faster!"
Leo: "I'm not stoppin you!"
But Leo would fight on for his nearby Red Arrows protecting the city, smiling while snapping his fingers to call his spear toward him through the Warriors. Soku, Edward, Julius, and Rosemary would instead look toward each other, getting ready to charge forward.
Edward: "Then we do the same, just run run run and fight along the way!"
Leo: "Sure thing Helsing!"
Charging with more bright crackling energy, he bolted forward while spreading it would to every solider in his way. Sending them flying with splintering lighting. Soku ran forward while wind enveloped her, Rosemary tried to keep up in the third stage, Julius ran with his arms behind his back right beside Rosemary, and Edward was behind them all fighting and heavily breathing. Struggling to keep up with all of the action. Yet he held his conviction, swinging his blade forward with all he could. Not giving into the building rage to keep his sights on his friends. Julius, using his monocle to doge and dodge, slowly fought his way back to Edward. Flipping into the air to swing and behead an archer about to shoot out a flaming arrow toward Edwards own head. Leaving Edward a bit embarrassed.
Julius: "I would not lag too far behind."
Edward: 'Yeah yeah I know."
As they neared the light stone and chipped walls of the city, the archers above the city fired down at the Warriors. Shooting out flaming, water, and earthy streams of magic to further clear their path. Athens was a country based on strength, using the plethora of natural resources to build their wealth and the resilience of their home. Demi-humans were regarded highly for that reason, as well as other non humans, as their natural ability to sore higher physically than humans allowed them to flourish In the mines or the battlefield. But now, the all human Athens warriors, faced the might of the Red Arrows. Their cultivation of the torn and forgotten. Whether it be magic, or the Demi-human fighters tearing through the Warriors to reach their Brother in War. To reach their leader, the golden shining and violently zapping symbol of their will.
Leo: "Just a little further!"
The large Dragon Stone gates of the city's South Wall loudly began to open, allowing them to run forward as they reunited with the Red Arrows. Allowing them to continue holding their guard while the Red Arrows they helped back did the same, or got taken to a medical tent. Thanking Leo while the Gate began to shut behind them, solidifying the fact that they had made it, and survived the short journey through the scar. Leaving them all heavily breathing and looking around, breathing in the salty muggy air of the city. Both of the ocean, and the many refineries and factories along side the city.
Julius: "Is this your factions heart?"
Leo: "Our base? No, but that's what Beauregard thinks. This city isn't with us officially, but most of the people within are Red Arrows. But we got bases all around, and our true heart is under the capital. Now come on! To the heart of Cretan!"
Soku: "What about our stuff!?"
Leo: "You'll get that later! Now come on!"
As she sighed they followed, to the cheers of the many people walking about. Citizen, child, Red Arrow or not, their flags upon the many houses and shops. Even if there were the small majority screaming against them, their own flags burned while their bodies were beaten by the Red Arrows. Parts of the city louder than others, with two out of the four districts completely against them and open to Athens. But, with both the Fourth and Third districts with them, they moved through with peaceful breathes. The buildings tan and a withered white as the sandy windy air slowly broke against it. Colum's, statues, and small farms all about. Along with the smell of horse droppings, blood, salt, soot, melting steel, and booze. Then, after a few blocks, they would leave the taller buildings and enter beneath it; Leo had taken them them into a smaller stone building built over a cave. A retired mining facility filled with Red Arrows cheering for their leader. Causing Leo to fall back into his more aloof and drunken state they met him in, still following him into a small rusty elevator.
Soku: "What is this thing?"
Rosemary: "Whatever it is it isn't safe."
Edward: "And you're sure it can hold us?"
Leo: "Don't be such babies! And you've never seen an elevator before? This one is a normal one but they've got magic ones, hell Ravoria and Valatroctius have them. And The Southern Islands have tons of them! You've really never seen it?"
They shook their heads and left him surprised, aside from Julius of course. Leaving them shaking with fear as it loudly stared, the gears and thick cables lowering them past the earth and under the city. Stopping with a kick of steam and struggle, entering the old tight mines. Passing through to enter a larger carved out room held by steel beams, seeing a handful of Red Arrows patching up other red arrows.
Leo: "Here wait up."
While they waited they watched as Leo spoke with the other Red Arrows, cheering and drinking. Leaving them behind to wait for whenever he would be back.
Soku: "UHHH! We're gonna be waiting here for hours!"
Rosemary: "You're sure this is the right guy?"
Edward: "He looks like how other knights describe him. And his spear is a weapon of Alheilm. Made of that godly alloy."
They moved over to sit on the wooden floor, allowing the Red Arrows moving other injured soldiers and crates of food to pass by them as they sat and waited. The trembling ground causing them to feel the tightness of the earth around them. Resting within the palm of Athens. An old mine that may collapse, a district that could be swept up in conflict, a country that could break out in to all out war just like they had struggled to get through earlier; they couldn't help but feel trapped. So they tried to keep their minds off things, leaning their thoughts else where.
Julius: "Soku, wouldn't you want to wear some better armor? That coat is old and worn out. I assume you could get a better one."
Soku: "No, this is important to me."
Edward: "Um, what about Erin? Will she be safe in her Inn?"
Julius: "I told her to wait there incase Kyojin makes is way to us. That will be the easiest way for him to get in contact with us, unless we find a permanent place of stay."
Soku: "Awe the big guy wants to see his girlfriend."
Edward couldn't help but light up red, unable to speak while he quaked with anxiousness. His mind jotting around with so many ways to deny her words while his mouth struggled to keep up, sweating and trembling while Soku laughed and Julius smiled. Rosemary however, the only one who could relate to such feelings here, playfully patted his back to ease the embarrassment.
Rosemary: "I think its nice you're worrying about her."
Edward: "Okay wheres Leo!"
Leo: "Leo's right here!"
Edward would stand with a sudden burst of fear, jumping beside him while the others stood to speak.
Soku: "Ummm…who's this kid?"
Right beside Leo was a small boy, roughly fourteen, with fluffy curly black hair and dark skin. Apart from his other features, like large round eyes, a small round nose, a few freckles or his confused soot covered face, was what drew Soku's eyes immediately. His long, Elvin ears.
Soku: "You're a Dark Elf! That's awesome!"
The jittery quiet boy went from confused to embarrassed, flashing as bright red as Edward as she poked his ears. The same length as hers.
The man that walked through the door was a young boy, looking about Sokus age. With his elf-like ears, black hair, and dark skin it was obvious what he was. However, trying to regain her composer, she stepped back. Looking at the rest of his outfit, being some brown overalls, a belt full of pouches and tools, and a torn red cape. A thick collar to slightly cover his usually scared mouth.
Soku: "What's with the cape?"
"Cause capes are awesome?"
Leo would pat the boys shoulder with a smile, sitting down with a flask in his other hand.
Leo: "This here is Peter, my Third Hand man."
Soku: "This kid is that high ranked? What kinda set up do you have here?"
Peter: "I'm fourteen! And I don't look any older than you!"
Soku would lock eyes with the boy, unable to see past how much he felt like Gray. The others continued though, moving toward the current standing of everything they were going to have to deal with. Letting the reality of their mission ground itself into place more and more.
Peter: "Walgonia has been silent since the crowing of the new king, lots of people being fired. Noble families going silent and dying out of nowhere, and nothing from Arthur. Even Valatroctius hasn't said anything, but that's probably because the King is an old fart."
Leo would quickly lean over to inform Peter who Julius was, leaving Peter to quickly cover his face in extreme panic. Julius never wavered for a second, continuing to star forward with a blank smile, while the others chuckled. Moving past it while Peter continued to rampage from fear.
Leo: "But rumor is Arthur is going to speak with my brother. We don't know when but we know it's going to happen, and that means we might have to act a little faster. And get more desperate."
Athens had been controlled by the wealthy family of the Valentines. The first Valentine had married the founder of Athens, with an eccentric and powerful personality uniting the island together. However, Leo's grandparents had begun to fall to an unknown illness. An illness that would take it's next queen, his mother, and set up his uncle to take the thrown. They had stepped foot onto the world with conviction, but fate was against them. So they would need to take that step, they would need to form their connections and over right the world, to fight on like they had before. Again and again.
Julius: "I must ask this if we are to go forward. When the time comes, are you prepared to take the life of your brother?"
Leo: "Yes. We're prepared to do a little more than that."
Julius: "What of your father, have you found him?"
That was something that made Leo's heart waver for a moment, feeling a bit of anger in the back of his throat.
Leo: "No. No we haven't. And we probably never will."
Rosemary: "The way you speak of him, is he dead?"
Leo: "I don't know but I don't really care. He failed the past king, he let my brother take the fold, and he left. He left Athens. So yeah, he's dead."
Julius would look to the others, feeling bad for asking the question and feeling too awkward to go forward. Getting a similarly awkward and confused reaction from Julius and Soku, staring toward a still embarrassed Peter for help.
Leo: "There are others, ones that have been within this country, and those off shore inbound for Athens. And they're coming to help, if things go well."
Julius: "Might I ask who they would be?"
Leo: "A group who took over the criminal factions in Athens, The Spartans and their leader Caesar, and the remnants of the broken Pirates. The Gravestone Pirates, and their Leader Moro."
Edward instantly feel into a primal despair, a hatred like nothing else. He felt the fear and rage that came with it, the screams of his mother, the flames that ravaged him. From paniced, to sweating, to frozen, and his mind filled with dreadful memories of his past. His mother is being eaten, and his stepfather is being struck down. His childhood home was burned down. His village covered in blood while the flames turned to the rage that swung his blade and beat his heart. Only to be brought out of this trance by Peter, his worried eyes forcing reality back into him.
Edward: "You can't work with the Gravestone priates!"
His scream of rage caused the room to go silent, grasping onto Leo's shoulder with desperation.
Leo: "They fought for the Demi-humans, and they've been crushed since the war ended twently years ago. Just some extra -
Edward: "THEY KILLED JASMINE VAN HELSING! BJORN! THEY DESTORYED GREENVALE ISLE, THEY KILLED SO MANY WALGONIANS DURING THE DEMI-HUMAN WAR! YOU CAN'T DAMMIT!"
Seeing the sorrow in Edwards eyes, Leo would motion the guards coming forth to back away. Sighing and standing up to push Edward back.
Leo: "You don't have to talk with him, you don't have to fight with him. But Athens needs us to work with them."
Filled with even more anger, he sat, staring at the floor until the conversation ended. Unable to come to terms with what supposedly had to happen.
Soku: "I don't know about the Spartans but Caesar is pretty notable. He's called the immortal for some reason."
Julius: "When and where will this meeting be held?"
For a second they looked toward each other, until Leo took a great swig of his flask and stood up with glee.
Leo: "We'll do it by the shores! Solon Bay! That's it yeah!"
Julius: "Well then there we have it, I think our meeting is adjourned is it not?"
Leo: "I guess so yeah, hey I'll contact you guys when the date is decided, and if we feel like you guys are really, REALLY trustworthy, I'll tell ya where our hideout is."
Julius: "Very well then, I hope you all have a nice day."
Leo would immediately roll backward to the Red Arrows to drink and assist, leaving the others confused for what to do. Staring toward Peter once again for help, while Peter looked toward Julius with worry.
Peter: "Uhhh, I can show you to the training hall!"
They all looked toward each other, with Soku loudly sighing in annoyance. But they were ready, following him through a narrow path and into another large carved out cavern. Red Arrows battling amongst each other all around. Before Edward could speak Julius and Soku stepped out to duel, surprising him and Rosemary.
Rosemary: "When did they start training?"
Edward: "I think it was last night. I think it's good for her, and probably him too."
Looking toward them again he held his blade, pointing it toward Rosemary. Trying to push past the despair over taking his heart, the flaming memories burning against his psyche.
Edward: "Wanna duel?"
Rosemary: "Sure."
She would flare into the third stage to slam her fist against his blade, tossing him back and into the action. Peter would watch on, tinkering with a vambrace as the time passed on. Awaiting for when the Gravestone Pirates and Spartans would arrive, for when the mission to free Athens could truly begin, and so Walgonia could be saved. Etching closer to victory, growing stronger with every chance they got. No matter what held them down, using their connections and this short time of peace to flourish. For the coming time to be crushed.