#Rusted Sword / Broken Shield [VERSE]

[eliteseven]

So we all know Shadowheart is a badass, she is a cleric and Selune's favorite little princess after all.

What about Tav? I can see people thinking "human fighter woman" just can't keep up, but imagine Tav standing and with nothing more than sword and shield stopping a group of bandits, or something else to protect Shadowheart/someone else? Even better if the idea that she IS superhuman, as all high level characters have to be, comes to the fore.

"How the hell did she do that?" "No human can do this." "Watch me." and "I am your sword and your shield. I am your armor and until I am broken and dented, rusted beyond all repair, you shall not be harmed."

Oh yes, let’s please talk about Knight Tav for a moment! 😍

I think you’re right. All her life she’s been underestimated! Noble spoiled child who suddenly wants to take up arms? Laughable! But Tav LOVES to prove people wrong!

But also Tav has real fears, real concerns that drive her to learn swordplay, defense, battle tactics. She wants to be able to protect herself- but that eventually blooms into the desire to protect anyone who’s weaker, defenseless, in need of her sword and shield. (Like I always say- Shadowheart saw it firsthand (and first got hearteyes for Tav) with the Tiefling child refugees! Tav sprang into action to defend them, to care for them!)

But let’s talk about Tav’s battle prowess. A fighter, a knight, a Cormyr Purple Dragon (name still cracks me up lmao)- she finds herself in elite company after a decade of sacrifice, of training. She may not be versed in clandestine skills like Shadowheart, but pound for pound, out in the open, she’s absolutely something else. She’s often the last one standing.

The first time Shadowheart sees it in full force, I imagine it’s when she and the other party members are down. Unable to defend themselves, only Tav is left to fend off a swarm of enemies to protect them- be it Bhaal cultists or some simple bloodthirsty bandits. And she does. All power, beauty, effortless grace- blood of her enemies staining her face, her hands, her armor, the blade of her sword. It’s probably breathtaking, in a sense, watching her chest heave as she fells her last enemy and wrenches her sword free. And the dichotomy of the way she fights vs how she drops to her knees immediately after to cradle Shadowheart in her arms??? 🥹 to heal her with no thought of her own wounds???

She lives and dies by her honor and her ability to protect her loved ones. And boy, does she come through. She may not be winged like Aylin but I feel that she is as much of a warrior angel in her own right. And Selûne probably holds the savior and lover of her chosen in high regard 😉 so that’s a little boost in her abilities, too.

[watcher-servant]

Counter guardian ARC

(Including 1st and 2nd ascension)

1st ascension: Rusted Knight

2nd ascension: Professor Arc of the Clock tower

3rd ascension: Counter Guardian (secret/undecided)

Class: Shielder, Pretender, Saber

Parameters:

Strength: B

Endurance: A+

Agility: C

Mana: B

Luck: E

NP: B

Class Skills:

Magic Resistance: B, Cancel spells with a chant below 3 verses. Even if target by greater magecraft and rituals, it is difficult for them to be affected.

Riding: B, Most vehicles and animals can be handled with above average skill, even vehicles that did not exist in the time period one was alive in. Can't ride phantasmal species

Self Defense Field: B

Personal Skills:

Auric Arts: B, Due to gaining a better understanding of aura, along with gaining proficiency in magecraft. He is able to weave techniques together allowing the use of circuits and the manipulation of aura in a tangible form

Guardian Spirit: B, A composite Skill combining effects of Eye of the mind (False) and Battle Continuation. Holds a natural instinct of tactics, which became sharper over time, capable of complete analysis of his enemy and battlefield. Due to his endurance and determination, he is very hard to put down. As he will keep fighting until his foe is dead, he can no longer move or allies can finish. Gains a rank when protecting someone.

Self-loathing: C, Doesn't hold himself highly even with earned wins. Suffers from imposter syndrome, the only pro is that he won't underestimate any enemies.

Noble Phantasm:

Crocea Mors: C+, Originally a weapon that had passed through his family, was upgraded with first partner's weapon, later broken during the fight aganist her killer. In this new world was reforged using a black key. Later with both sword and shield enfused and saturated in his aura started to fuse with his body. Is able to summon a complete copy of the sword in energy form that ripples.

Aura Amp, Enhancing the soul: B, His original semblance allows the amplification of aura's natural abilities. This also applies to prana allowing healing, energy replenishment, and enhancement. Can also infuse his aura into a weapon to strengthen it and apply different effects.

Lore, Abyss of the soul: B, The dark side of aura he discovered by accident. The complete opposite of aura as it allows the absorption of energy and even having its own gravity like a pseudo black hole. Can also be manipulated like aura and usually takes form of a gauntlet shield.

Chevalier's Shard: ???, A mystic code that he created during his time as the Kaleidoscope's apprentice. It allows him to instantly don armor, giving both physical and magical properties. Once infused and enhanced by both lore and his aura, it allows a complete change that further enhances ability. However, its locked due self-imposed restrictions saved for foes up the ranks of world ender or beasts.

Juniper, celestial jackalope: B, the loyal mount of the rusted knight due to bonding with the rider. She can use a form of the knight's abilities. Channeling energy into her horns makes a similar effect of aura Amp and even heal wounds of allies. By calling her true name, she's able to unleash a concentrated beam of energy.

(Context: Lore ability is from Silver by Imyoshi, also a good reference for Jaune using aura more.)

(2nd image is made by Diahwasher1910)

[beinfriends-a]

As I announced a while back, I am adding a few new muses to the blog; Bede and Leon-- but I’ve also elected to add Chairman Rose to the roster as well.  While I am still working on their bios (I’m trying to juggle homework and rp jdfsdfbjsd and it’s slow goin-), I stated in my tags of that original post that these characters would be extremely canon divergent, and I hold true to that.  Enclosed here is the in depth explanation for the AU for which all SwSh muses operate under: the Rusted Sword and Broken Shield AU-- or RSBS for short.

Please use this for reference if you are confused about the verse for my muses.  This is an overview for the entire AU, so there’s some extra characters discussed as well aside from my muses.  I’d also like to give a quick shout-out to my buddy Koshi for reading over this and helping come up with a lot of Marnie’s arc (because I completely forgot about her the first time... whoops).  He doesn’t have a blog for me to tag unfortunately, but I sincerely appreciate the help!

Under the cut because it’s long.

Gloria is the player.

Hop like usual, idolizes Leon and has developed an arrogance from being the Champion’s brother.  He can’t separate his own identity from Leon’s and so becomes incredibly discouraged when he keeps losing to his rival.  It’s Gloria that ends up making Hop reconsider his choice to become a Trainer, rather than Bede.  Bede rubs it in, but he’s not the root cause.  Hop realizes he’s thought he was better than Gloria this entire time and learns to see her as an equal.

He learns by the end that you have to lose sometimes in order to grow as a person.  If you’re never challenged, you’ll stagnate as a person.  After seeing Leon struggle to take control of the situation with Macros Cosmos as well as his depression after being defeated, he realizes Leon is another human being, like anyone else.  He comes to respect his brother rather than worship him.

He finally admits that he never really enjoyed training in the first place and Sonia allows Hop to be her lab assistant so he can train to become a Professor.

Marnie is less friendly to the player, Hop, and Bede at first.  She’s taken that resent of Dynamaxing to heart thanks to Spikemuth’s lack of a power hot spot, leading to Piers’ obscurity.  She wants to prove that someone can be Champion without needing to use Dynamaxing, and she manages to convince her brother Piers to give her an endorsement to prove herself.  If she fails, she promises to return and take over Spikemuth Gym for him.

Marnie doesn’t hate her rivals, but she resents them because they’re “special”-- having been endorsed by the Chairman and Champion.  Although she too was chosen by a League member, she feels as though Piers and Spikemuth are at a disadvantage.  Team Yell essentially hold their same position as in the original game, except that they have a strong dislike of Chairman Rose and the current state of the League.

Yell views Marnie as their Champion and cheer her on to victory.  Marnie is just as tired and annoyed by them, but she appreciates the support.  Although she ultimately loses to Gloria, she’s proud to have stuck to her guns about keeping away from Dynamaxing.  She becomes good friends with all her rivals by the end.  She and Piers later help evacuate Hammerlocke during Eternatus’ attack.

THE CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE

Bede starts out the same.  He’s sponsored by Chairman Rose, who has encouraged him to become a Trainer in order to pull himself out of his miserable childhood.  After hearing about Galar’s alleged impending energy crisis, he begins collecting Wishing Stars for Rose.  After he desecrates the monument at Stow-on-Side, Rose pulls him from the Gym Challenge.

However, Rose does not wash his hands of Bede.  He continues to encourage Bede, who is desperate for his approval and paternal affection.  He tells Bede that withdrawing from the Gym Challenge was to show that Bede had been punished properly; however, he sets the boy out on a new mission.

Not only does Bede continue collecting Wishing Stars, he is also attempting to take people’s Dynamax bands from them as well as seeking ways to harness some of the Dynamax energy from the stadiums.  It’s Bede who accidentally causes the first Dynamax incident in Hammerlocke when he is given a tour with Oleana and Rose, who intentionally leave him to his own devices in the Energy Plant.  The power failure is all orchestrated by Rose, but he makes Bede believe it was entirely his fault.

Bede eventually becomes the “fall guy” for Macro Cosmos.  By using the unaware teenager, Rose can divert attention away from himself and make himself out to be the good guy as he attempts to “teach” Bede to be better, all while stringing Bede along by getting closer with the young man as a father figure.

Whilst waxing about the state of Galar’s energy, Rose “accidentally” lets slip the mention of Eternatus, a being that could help forever power Galar if only they could harness its energy.  Although it’s buried deep below Hammerlocke and its energy provides much already to Galar, it’s not enough.

Bede decides to take matters into his own hands and attempts to summon Eternatus to help Rose by utilizing the machine to wake up the creature.  Just as planned, Rose again is able to blame Bede for everything in order to get people to cling even closer to his company.

Chairman Rose then discards of Bede now that his plans have completed, telling him he’s unlovable and too hard to “fix,” but thanks him for the help.  Hurt, Bede finally realizes he’d been used this whole time, but had repressed it due to his wanting to belong and be accepted by Rose.  He slinks back to Gloria and Hop and agrees to help them.  Although Rose hasn’t told him much, he has enough insider information in order to help them defeat Rose and Eternatus before it’s too late.  He’s injured battling Eternatus, but gives Gloria and Hop enough time to summon Zacian and Zamazenta in order to defeat Eternamax Eternatus.

After redeeming himself to the best of his abilities, Opal finally offers Bede the position of Ballonlea Gym Leader.  She met him during his initial withdrawal from the Challenge, but knew he had growing to do, but she encouraged him from the sidelines, always hoping that he would come around and learn to be better.

UNLEEFEATED

Leon is quite the same to start out as well.  He’s kind and cheerful, but ultimately shallow and arrogant.  Being the undefeated Champion of Galar for over ten years, he’s stagnated.  Although he never loses until Gloria comes along, he doesn’t learn much from his experiences.  His arrogance rubs off on Hop.

Although Leon believes in Hop, he still thinks his little brother will never match the talent for training that he has.  Gloria he sees more potential in, but still doubts he’ll ever be defeated.  However, curious to see how they’ll grow, Leon gives the two starter Pokemon as well as an endorsement so they may participate in the Gym Challenge.

Leon and Sonia’s formal rivalry is more highlighted.  The two had a falling out years ago due to Leon’s arrogance.  Sonia had enough of his inadvertent talking down to her during the Challenge as well as when she decides to quit in order to become a researcher, and the two had a massive falling out once Sonia felt she couldn’t even recognize Leon anymore after he took the Champion’s title.

Leon carries a lot of guilt for how he treated Sonia, but has repressed it enough to ignore it rather than ever try to bridge the gap between them.  He instead throws his investment in a rivalry and friendship with Raihan.  As he begins to encounter Sonia more and more over the course of Hop and Gloria’s journey, those feelings of sadness and regret return.

Before the Gym Finals, Rose approaches Leon to discuss business with him about Galar.  Rose is concerned for the energy that Galar will have, and shows Leon that the “endless” energy emanating from deep within Galar is starting to rapidly deplete all of the sudden.  Leon is shocked, and feels uncertain about Rose’s plan to fix it, and promises to think it over after the finals are done.

Once Leon is defeated for the first time by Gloria, he experiences a huge mix of emotions.  While he knows he should be proud of Gloria, a sadness eats away at him.  He feels empty now that he isn’t Galar’s undefeated hero anymore.  He had attached his entire identity to that ideal, and now, it’s gone.  While Rose exploits him at his lowest, Leon eventually comes to terms with his defeat.

He becomes proud of Gloria defeating him and throws himself at a new project: renovating Rose Tower into the Battle Tower so he can continue battling new and strong trainers.  Once Hop is given the assistant position to Sonia, Leon finally swallows his pride and apologizes to her.  While it doesn’t completely fix the tension between them, it’s a start, and Leon works at becoming at growing as a person and trainer.  Things are looking just as up for him as ever.

GALAR’S MOST BELOVED

Chairman Rose is a fucking bitch and I’ve had enough of him.  Basically, he’s not a big fucking idiot in this version.  He plays much harder into the role of the good guy, using Bede and other distractions in order to draw attention away from the fact that he is orchestrating a plot to take over Galar.

After all, Rose already controls a vast majority of the industry in Galar, as well as having the Pokemon League in his pocket.  He orchestrates a fake crisis about Galar’s energy, hoping to scare people into giving him more power.  This eventually culminates into false attacks on energy in Hammerlocke as well as the summoning of Eternatus.

He unintentionally almost summons Eternatus earlier in the story whilst attempting to pull more energy from the power spot in Hammerlocke, but fails, only to realize what opportunity he has.  Eternatus is stirring, and begins to eat away at the energy reserves at a dangerous rate.

After he tricks Bede into summoning the beast, Rose lets Eternatus wreak havoc by acting as if it was another error by the boy, who he constantly manipulates and feels little for.  He hopes to re-establish his role as the leader of Galar by helping defeat Eternatus, taking responsibility for Bede’s actions.  He has an untested device that will ideally contain Eternatus, but only in the event of Leon and his failure to defeat it.

Seeing Leon unable to beat Eternatus, he attempts to kill Leon in hopes of drumming up sympathy, wanting to make Leon a martyr for Macro Cosmos.  Then, he would attempt to use the device to placate Eternatus and utilize its power to further help Galar and prove how badly the region needs him.  However, he is defeated by Bede and then captured by authorities, jailed and his business dissolved.

HOW ABOUT THE PLOT?

There’s a lot of the same beats as in the vanilla game, but with some changes.  When the Dynamax incident happens in Hammerlocke, Hop and Gloria go to investigate, only to find Bede responsible for the incident.  They battle, argue a bit, and then try to help fix the problem, only to be stopped by Leon.  Leon is upset that the kids would disobey him when he told them to move on without worry, but was glad to see them stop Bede.

Bede is encountered a few more times throughout the game generally causing trouble on behalf of Chairman Rose, who continues to sigh and look like the tired father figure to the boy.  Opal attempts to nudge Bede towards realizing his true potential, as well as that he will not find meaning or value in trying to fight for Rose’s affection, but goes unheard.

There are unusual earthquakes and things happening with Dynamaxing.  Sometimes Pokemon randomly start and stop Dynamaxing in different areas.  Macro Cosmos promises to investigate but encourages everyone to continue their Gym Challenges and Dynamaxing to the best of their ability.

When Leon takes the kids out to dinner to celebrate them making it to Wyndon, Hop doesn’t freak out.  Leon texts them to let them know he’ll be late, and eventually, the kids are invited to Rose Tower when it appears that the meeting is growing longer and longer.  Rose gives them a tour, and explains that he and Leon are simply discussing some troubles with Galar, again disparaging Bede for his foolish actions in order to “help” the issue, before sending them on their way.  Hop and Gloria have a bad feeling about it, but don’t say anything.

Leon is defeated without any outside interference from Rose.  After a party celebrating Gloria’s win a few days later, Eternatus breaks out of Hammerlocke and starts wreaking havoc.

Rose approaches Leon and begs him to help.  He tells Leon that although Gloria overcame him, he is still Galar’s strongest hero, and that he’ll be loved in the hearts of millions if he is the one to defeat Eternatus.  He’d show Galar that he didn’t need to be undefeated to be a hero and a winner.  Leon agrees both out of duty and out of a need to “prove” himself to Galar once more.

Leon and Rose confront Eternatus together at the top of Hammerlocke Stadium.  Rose promises to fight alongside Leon, but soon disappears as the battle grows wilder.  Leon hardly notices as he fights to protect his and his Pokemon’s lives.  Leon tosses a Master Ball given to him by Rose just before in order to catch the dragon, but it fails.  Eternatus is uncatchable.  The beast bursts out of the ball and attacks Leon and his Charizard with even fiercer determination.

Leon starts to lose hope and confidence in himself, and soon nearly his entire team, save for his Charizard, is wiped out by Eternatus.  He attempts to escape, but Rose reappears to stop him, demanding to know why he’s giving up.  When Leon tries to leave again after explaining himself, Oleana knocks Leon out and they leave him to be devoured by Eternatus.

Bede soon arrives to stop the Chairman from his plans in order to give Hop and Gloria time to grab the sword and shield and to arrive back in Hammerlocke.  He manages to fight off Rose and Oleana, but finds himself beaten by Eternatus as well.  It’s just enough for him to try and drag Leon to safety before Gloria and Hop soon arrive, and begin to battle Eternatus with the help of Zacian and Zamazenta.

Leon comes to in the middle of battle and rushes back out once he hears the sound of the beast from outside.  As much as Bede attempts to stop him, they both arrive at the top again to see Gloria, Hop, and the legendary wolves defeating Eternatus’ Eternamax form.  The Pokemon loses its form and collapses into a pile of bones, the energy dissipating and being taken by the wolves, who returned to their resting place in Slumbering Weald.

Authorities catch up with Rose and Oleana and the two are arrested.  Macros Cosmos is dissolved.  Dynamaxing is no more thanks to Eternatus’ defeat, but the Gym Challenge roars on.  Zacian and Zamazenta absorbed the energy, spreading it evenly throughout Galar, helping the energy issue but preventing Dynamaxing from occuring.  People cope with the loss, but enjoy the act of simply battling anyways, learning about other forms of ultimate evolutions, such as the Megas from Kalos.

Not sure about the post game yet because I hate those sword and shield hair fucks and I don’t feel like coming up with a reasonable plot for them.  That’s not really important to the AU anyways, but if I come up with something, this post will be amended and I will make a note of it.

[wlwinry]

WIP Week - Day Three: Canon-Verse WIP

uhhhh…as was proven in a recent challenge, I don’ t really write anything but AUs? So this is as close as I’ve got! It’s a segment of an upcoming chapter of How Not To Re-Raise Demonic Children, a piece that @galfridus1 and I have been collabing on for...nearly a year, wow! Go check it out on Ao3, and enjoy the snippet! 

It was cold out on the open plains. Estarossa couldn’t quite tell where they were--in the midst of a ruined wasteland, maybe, mist swirling and hiding the world from view. Subconsciously, he knotted his fingers together, barely beating back the sudden waves of fear crashing over him.

“You killed them.”

He whirled, eyes widening as his gaze landed on Zeldris, his little brother back in his fully-grown state. White fog swirled and spun around him as dark eyes drifted to him, wide and sorrowful and horrified. Zeldris gazed at him in disbelief and horror, face streaked with tears. “You killed them,” he whispered again. “You killed them all.”

Estarossa stiffened, bringing his hands up as if to shield himself. I knew I was poison, knew I would hurt them, but…but I didn’t mean to do anything, what did I do, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. “I--I--”

The mist danced and spun and twisted wildly, before lifting entirely, revealing shadows and…desolation. He felt the blood drain from his face as he took in the crimson-soaked earth, the slumped corpses, the blades--his blades--embedded in their bodies, started to tremble as tears pricked at his eyes. No…no, please, this can’t be happening…no, no, no…   

Ban was curled around Elaine, blood running from the corner of his mouth as the little faerie’s torn wings leaked scarlet. Diane looked almost as if she were sleeping, despite the gashes across her stomach, King’s broken body cradled gently in her blood-soaked palms. Arthur laid sprawled on the ground, Excalibur lying broken beside him and tinted rust-colored with dried blood with Gelda crumpled a few feet away, gray eyes wide and unseeing. Gowther seemed almost normal, if not for the trickle of blood running from behind his closed eyelids and the glasses that lay broken a few feet away. And Meliodas…Meliodas and Elizabeth were hand in hand, broken and bloody and gazing blindly up at the gray skies above them, the familiar curved steel of his silvery swords bright against the lifeblood that soaked their bodies.

Blood he’d spilled.

He’d become a monster. Again.

“You killed them all,” Zeldris said again, and Estarossa turned, tears slipping down his cheeks. Those black eyes, usually so cold and distant in this form, were wet with tears and blazing with hate and fear. “Y-you killed our brother--killed M-mama--”

He flinched at that word, eyes widening as a whimper escaped him. No one--no one was supposed to know that I wanted--that I kept thinking--I-- “I don’t--don’t remember…” Estarossa froze as Zeldris turned his sword in his hand, the steel brushing the curve of his throat as scarlet trailed down pale skin. “Z-Zeldris, no, please--”

The blade went in, and he choked on a sob as Zeldris’s legs gave out, those dark eyes cold and accusing. He shuddered, a hand coming up to cover his mouth as the light slowly drained from his little brother’s eyes, leaving an empty husk where his powerful, vibrant brother had once been. Zeldris…gods, Zeldris, this is all my fault, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry…

“That’s right!” a voice crooned, and he flinched back as a familiar, hulking form melted out of the shadows, golden eyes shining. No, I killed you, you’re dead--just like t-them, just like Meliodas, just like E-Elizabeth. Mael, still somehow bleeding from the seven stab wounds in his chest, leered down at him, lips curving into a wicked smile. “It’s all your fault~”

He skittered backwards with a whimper as blood started pulsing from the wounds, soaking into the ground. More shadows rose from where the crimson brushed the ground, forming humanoid shapes. Faeries with torn wings and slit throats loomed over him, giants carrying their heads advancing slowly as blood leaked from their wounds, goddesses with blood-soaked wings shuffling toward him. Humans, burnt and broken and battered and blood-soaked, limped toward him, some toddling children among them. Somehow, he knew that that they were all people he’d killed, people he’d hurt come to exact the punishment he deserved.

One by one, the Sins picked themselves up off the ground and staggered along with the ghosts, bleeding and watching and baring their teeth like they’d rip his flesh from his bones. Estarossa collapsed to his knees, shaking uncontrollably, as Elizabeth emerged at the front of the ground. Crimson ran down her face in a grotesque parody of tears, and when she smiled, her teeth were soaked red. “All your fault,” she purred, fingers wrapping around his throat and squeezing. “You’ve earned this, sweetheart.”

The witch’s laughter echoed as he wept, no longer struggling, no longer fighting against the fate he’d managed to escape for so long.

He did deserve it.

Estarossa woke with a scream, reaching out blindly into the darkness of his room (not safe not safe gonna find me should find me I deserve it I should die, not them not them never them). His grasping hands touched something smooth and cold and he recoiled instinctively, sending the glass of water flying. There was a loud clatter as the glass shattered on impact, a sob tearing from his throat as he managed a strangled gulp of air. Nightmare, nightmare, nightmare, just a nightmare, breathe, you idiot. Tears coursed down his cheeks as he tried to get a handle on his racing hearts, fingers knotting into his sheets and gasps shaking his shoulders. You have to clean that up, have to fix it, they wouldn’t want you if they knew.

[gothicmagpie]

Vampire Hunter D: The Northern Castle, part 5

Author’s notes: This piece of fan fiction is written for @vampires-and-dhampirs‘s VHDweek celebration. One section will be posted each day, and the final work will be posted to AO3, if you prefer not to read it serially. Readers should be aware that this work contains violence and cursing, equivalent to a PG-13 film. This work is primarily based on the version of the VHD ‘verse as seen in Kikuchi’s novels. Part 1 can be found here: X

"Well, this one of your crazier ideas," a hoarse voice muttered at D's side as he cantered towards a well-hidden castle beneath technologically-enhanced rock. Anyone who knew his usual appearance as a rough, black-clad drifter would have hardly recognized him when he left the shack beside the waterwheel. Hair braided back revealed the inhumanity of his pale features in full-force, the ragged black coat had been swapped for a velvet one in a shade of blue so deep that it was only a hint brighter than the previous garment, and the rest of his faded garb had been replaced with silk that gleamed and reflected the traces of moonlight despite the numerous, well-constructed patches that demonstrated that these clothes had been worn by plenty of previous owners. Even his scuffed boots had been shined and what had once been a fine scarf had become decorative wraps, hiding the spurs under gauzy trails.

His sword still rested on his back, but his weapon belt was strapped to the saddle rather than his waist. He certainly didn't look like a Hunter at the moment. The sound of his mounts hoofbeats changed, and the traces of an old Noble road peered through centuries of dirt. 

He reined his horse in, slowing the pace to a pace that any normal cyborg horse still would have struggled to maintain for this long ride. He studied the passing trees and the occasional rusted ruin of some old roadside tech. The road slowly improved, until the full path was a visible expanse of the self-maintaining surface. He hadn't ridden on this long before there was a loud beep and D's horse shied. The Hunter was thrown against his mount's neck and seized a handful of mane as the horse pranced sideways, kicking out and shaking his head, hoofs clipping sharply against the hard plastic road. When D urged the horse forward again, it snorted and moved only a few steps.

D looked up and out into the woods, eyes blazing red this time as he searched for whatever had frightened the horse so much. This time he sensed something too, a tingling trace of some kind of electric field. One could only imagine how uncomfortable that must have been for the cyborg horse, as it travelled through all its metal circuitry and augmented organs. D bushed a finger across his blue pendent, re-activating it. It immediately lit up, spreading a soft blue glow over the scene. The horse relaxed and happily trotted forwards, resuming their journey.

D didn't spur it to a faster pace though, and if his eyes no longer blazed, they still held a gleam of unnatural light. Apparently he had decided to proceed more cautiously. 

There seemed to be good reason for that, as half an hour later an ornate gate suddenly loomed out of the darkness, blocking his path. He squinted at it, a hint of irritation creasing his elegant features. How had he not seen it as he approached? It had no apparent latch, yet even when he pressed it with his super-human strength, the door did not open. He spied a control panel on one side, corroded like the metal of the gate, yet the cracked screen still glowed with a faint light it would take a Noble's eyes to detect. Dismounting, D examined it. "Handprint activated, I think," he murmured. "Anything we can do about that?"

"Try your credentials first," suggested the face peering from his left palm. "If that fails, see if we can find an override. That'll attract attention though, and probably put a hole in your plan. You'll meet Vasmer as a know enemy."

D reached his right hand over the screen, and pressed it down firmly. "Reading. Please wait," said a calming female voice from the almost invisible speakers. "Welcome to the Northern Castle of Lord Vasmer. Please leave your transport in the garage to the right. It will be attended to. Upon entering, please proceed directly to the entrance hall. You will be greeted there." 

Whatever garage may have been in place once, it was no longer standing, so D waited until the door unlocked, and lead his horse inside behind him. There was an odd feeling as he crossed the threshold and the cyborg mount balked for a second. "What was that?" D asked in the softest possible whisper.

"A dimensional shift, I suspect. No wonder no human ever found this place; it isn't quite here. It was probably pushed even further into an alternate reality until he awoke. Nice escape planning on his part. I wonder if the tech is OSB?"

"I doubt we'll have a chance to examine it." D had tethered his horse to a stout tree, and now peered towards the castle that half-stood, slumped in the rock that formed its foundation. It had seen much better days, and some of the slag-like rock suggested that even if the humans hadn't been able to identify the exact location, high-powered explosives had done some damage. The other option, that the melting has been the work of the multi-dimensional beings the Nobility had warred with, was significantly less encouraging.

The castle had a high, worn flight of spiral stairs to the door, which was several stories up. As soon as D's boot touched the bottom step, there was a faint whir of machinery, the stairs lit with a faint luminescence, and D could feel that the gravity-reduction system had survived the centuries. With that aid, even a frail human could reach the door without being winded. 

As his feet left the stairs, they dimmed and the doors opened automatically. Here was another sign of the castle's neglect, as they swung unevenly, the left door repeatedly sticking with an unhappy groan. The entrance hall was shabby; rotted traces of rugs over the dusty floor, wall hangings slumped, a broken table lay in a tangle of mutual annihilation with the vast painting that had apparently fallen onto it, and there was shattered glass everywhere from the lamps that had once lit the space. Now it was dim enough that even D squinted.

He stood in silence for only a moment before he heard a faint rattle that no human's ears would have detected. He turned to face one doorway just as the door swung open, emitting a ray of bright light and a handsome figure. Lord Vasmer was the picture of Nobility before their fall. His waist-length hair was caught back by glittering gems that matched the rings around his thin, pale fingers and the jewel-encrusted toes of his velvet shoes. His outfit was a blaze of red that matched the shine of his eyes and a deep black that nearly seemed to absorb that light, a spectacular display for his white-blond hair and paper-white skin. He spotted D and smiled, lips parting to reveal fangs that flashed across his currently-pale lips. "Ah! What an unexpected surprise to see you at my gate! I'd not thought my awaking enough to attract the attention of our most esteemed Ancestor. Please, be welcomed." He swept forward with a grace that only the true-born nobility could hope to match. "Ah, you carry his stamp so clearly. Not the usual bastard, are you?" His fingers trailed through D's dark locks. D stood like stone and did not answer the question. "Come with me, let us find somewhere more comfortable to sit, and you can tell me why you are here." 

"Are there areas less damaged?" D's voice was steely.

"Of course, I couldn't very well live here if it all looked like that. Good for keeping away the pests though. I'm very sad to see their bombs penetrated my shielding. Those turrets took decade to build, and melted rock is all but unusable. Eventually I'll track down those fools who did it. Then we'll see who grieves." A small, wicked flush rose in his cheeks as he spoke. 

"Do you even know when the damage was done? You slept for a long time. They and all their relations may be gone." D's quelling tone apparently ended the conversation. They rode the elevator car to Vasmer's dwelling place in silence.

The room the elevator opened to was lush and well-cared for by a robotic maid, which lurched forward to take Vasmer's cape. D declined to part with his coat, but Vasmer insisted that he give the robot his sword. D did so without argument, and wandered over to a vast panel of computers, half-hidden by a red and silver drape embroidered with flowers, which repeated throughout the decor. The screens appeared to show a vast network of surveillance machines across the Frontier sector, and a great deal of tech that was still active. D had only looked it over for a moment before the screens went suddenly dark. Vasmer had flipped a switch at one end, and was staring sternly at D. "I hope you aren't here merely to spy. If he wants to know what I do, then he will have to come himself. I won't tolerate insubordination from the likes of you, no matter how much alike you look."

"I'm not here to spy, I promise you that. But I do have questions about your actions recently. You have been preying on the travelers in this sector. Why? Surely in this mecca of technology, you have a blood synthesizer."

Lord Vasmer laughed. "That's why you were sent here? A poaching concern? My apologies, I never intended to hunt territory held by your family. I had noticed the mark on one of the men, but it was faint enough I had assumed it was no longer valid. Now that I meet you, it did carry a trace of your power. And I haven't seen any other Nobles on my scanners, although I suppose they are a bit antiquated now." He sat, beckoning D towards the seat across from him. "Let us sit down, have a drink, and we shall settle the new boundaries of this land. I've been out of this world for a while, and clearly if your family has need of this land, we can find a way to share."

"You've been out of the world for much longer than you think, Lord Vasmer. The world has changed in ways you can hardly comprehend." There was something melancholy in D's tone as he stared at the dark screens in front of him. 

"Then it is good I had a young, vital messenger bringing me that news, is it not? Come, tell me about these grim changes. If you continue to resist my hospitality, I am liable to take offense, and I hardly think that was the task your father sent you on."

"No, but his tasks and my responses have not always been in step." D turned away from the computers and made a circuit of the room, finally taking a single anemone bloom from the vase above the crackling fireplace and accepting the glass of red liquid Lord Vasmer held out.

Vasmer laughed again. "A bit of a rebel, eh? Well, I won't tell if you won't. So, tell me about these changes. The reasons you think I have an imperfect understanding of the local politics."

"How long have you slept, Lord Vasmer?" D didn't sit, but leaned against the table, staring down at the amused Noble.

"For a very long time. Centuries, at least. Perhaps a few millennia. The technology I had relied on was faulty. It failed to take into account the differences in time on either side of my dimensional barrier."

"Then you missed a rather important point; the fall of the Nobility happened while you slumbered."

Vasmer again laughed, but then stopped, eying D. "Sure you don't think me as gullible as that. Who are we supposed to have fallen to? The OSB were in retreat when last I heard from the Capital."

"Which was, as you pointed out, a long time ago. But no, the victors were the humans. They rule this earth once again."

"Impossible! They were our slaves, our playthings, far too weak to fight us, and too grateful for our protection to try."

"Can you truly not imagine how they felt? Why their fury might overthrow even so mighty a civilization?"

"They never would have succeeded."

"Perhaps not, if the Nobility were actually as prefect as many claimed. But the Nobility's power came with its own weaknesses too. Who can explain those? A genetic flaw? Or merely the universe's sense of humor."

"I don't believe you. You are one of his sons, that much is obvious, and I can't imagine he would allow that to happen, even with his weakness for certain aspects of humanity. Prove it to me."

D leaned forwards, extending the flower he had plucked from the vase. In one smooth motion, he tucked it into Vasmer's pocket, curled a finger under his cuff to touch a hidden trigger, and a blade sprung from hiding at his wrist, sinking into Vasmer's throat.

With a choking cry, Vasmer shoving himself backward, tipping his chair and thrusting a jeweled fist at D. D blocked the blow, letting Vasmer pull himself free of the knife, then dove for him again. Vasmer twisted, attempting to get to his feet before D could strike, but failed. D's second blow was to his chest, puncturing a lung, but missing the heart. Vasmer's throat had healed enough for him to scream, and his long, claw-like nails raked at D's face, drawing blood as they grappled. D dodged wildly snapping fangs and flailing fists, diverting them just enough to avoid real injury until he thrust his knife into the base of Vasmer's skull. 

His opponent dropped, spinal cord severed. It wouldn't be a fatal blow for a Noble of his strength, but he also couldn't heal it until the blade was removed. Without a need to breathe, Vasmer could survive in this state for quite a while.

D lifted the near-corpse to the chair, righted with a swift kick. He crouched in front of the immobile Noble and stared into his face with eyes that glowed as brightly as the full vampire before him. "You tortured and killed humans, not only for your sustenance, but for sport. The last man you slowly slaughtered was a friend of mine. By rights, I should return the favor."

If it was possible for that bloodless face to grow paler, it did. There was a moment of rasping, choking noises before Vasmer gagged out a intelligible reply, fighting use the few muscles he still had control over. "Please, I already told you. I didn't know he was yours."

"But he wasn't mine. Not in the way you mean. Those ways are obsolete, and those who follow them will join them in the dust of the past." D's eyes darkened, as he let his bloodlust fade. "It is the current rule of the earth."

"You won't dare," Vasmer spat. "Do it, and that precious village will be ended, half-breed. Don't you think I have enough wits to prevent an uprising?"

"How?" D's voice was cold as ice, and his stare was just as cold.

Vasmer only smirked, a horrible expression as severed muscles spasmed, trying to obey his will. D's expression didn't change, but he gripped the vampire's forehead with his left hand. The Noble's eyes dimmed, and his eyelids drooped before he suddenly screamed, trying futilely to struggle. "I won't tell you! Ah!" Another shriek. "You never found the other victims, let that be a hint! Stop!" 

D did, lifting his hand away. He stared at the pathetic man before him for a moment, before approaching the robot, claiming his sword, and removing Vasmer's head in a single, swift stroke. He plucked it up, and threw it into the fireplace, which would soon render it harmless ash.

Then, with a look of uncharacteristic rage, D plunged the knife that been freed by the decapitation into Vasmer's torso, slicing several swift, vicious cuts and seizing the still faintly-twitching heart from his chest. "D, I think that's enough." The hoarse voice from his left hand sounded a bit worried. "You're taking this too far. We need to go and deal with the other victims."

D dropped the organ, stooped, and thrust the knife into its center, pinning it to the floor. "I know," he said, voice soft as if he was speaking to someone else than his usual companion. He  stripped off the dark velvet coat, now ripped by Vasmer's struggles and soaked with both their blood, and dropped it as he made his way back to the elevator.

Part 6 is here: X

[ivy72376]

CAN’T SAY ENOUGH - July 18, 2020

This has been a rather long day, but it was also very encouraging and uplifting.  As usual, during weekly grocery runs, we hear songs of praise and worship on the supermarket sound system.  Then in the afternoons, I joined and viewed online meetings on the closing ceremonies of Accountancy Week first with the National Federation, then the Cebu Chapter, then much later in the afternoon, an online talk from Husband-and-Wife Pastors on how to properly look at the situation the world is in now from a godly perspective, and how to manage everyday life with it, from a Biblical point of view.

 I must admit, attending webinars and online meetings and forums can be fun and very convenient.  We can view the same, and at the same time, do other tasks besides, although the latter shouldn’t be done during official online work meetings, if the one on the other screen is your boss.

 Anyway, what I realized from the things I heard today is that there is really no cause for despair, no matter the difficulties and challenges we may all go through, because there is always hope, and even if they are physically far from us, there is always a community, a non-blood related family we all belong to, and who are equally concerned about our wellbeing.  That is why, it is sad to learn that a well-known successful Japanese actor committed suicide today at the age of 30.

 It’s hard to accept that such young person, and many others who were actually younger than him who did the same, could lose such hope early on, that they had to take their own life.  One wonders where the problem lies.  We could not say if it was from family, career or relationships.  One can only hope and pray that for those who are feeling down and depressed, there is a chance to reach out to them and make them know that there are people who care about them, and who are very much willing to help them and support them with whatever they are going through.

 But I believe such support system really does start with the smallest unit in society—the family.  And that is why, the Word today in Ephesians 6, the first four verses are a favorite passage during children’s Sunday school classes.  We learn that obedience and honoring or respecting our parents and elders are the basic ingredients to having a long and truly successful life. But the fourth verse does set the foundation—where fathers (and mothers too) not provoke their children to wrath, meaning that they should not overly reprimand their children or abuse them, so that their mental and psychological state remain healthy, and they grow to be proper-minded, mature and psychologically balanced individuals.  The second part of the fourth verse lays down the parents’ ultimate responsibility: “…but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”  This is not the carrot-and-the-stick, but nurturing (feeding the basic and supplementing with more) and admonition (instruction, responsible, reasonable teaching and discipline).

 Verses 5 to 9 are often quoted during bible studies dealing with work and career.  In it we are reminded to faithfully obey our superiors and masters, even when they are not looking at us.  We are reminded to be faithful and trustworthy in our work, and not be flatterers or “men-pleasers”, because even if the business owner pays us our salary, indeed our true master is GOD Himself.  Bosses and masters are also told to treat their employees and subordinates well, as equals who help them achieve the goals of the organization, and realizing that they too have GOD as their real master.  This is not the master-slave situation, but the apostle Paul is teaching us that in work and in any way we earn a living, it should be a symbiotic, partnership or team-based relationship.

 Then in verses 10 to 18, the apostle laid down the real purpose why familial and work relationships must be strengthened and managed well: because every day we battle against an invisible enemy, one that is so powerful that it rules over the world, and one that can kill not just our bodies but our souls. And so we have to put on “The Full Armor” of GOD: first, being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, not by our own strength and power; second, the girdle of truth; third, the breastplate of righteousness; fourth, the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace; fifth, the shield of faith; sixth, the helmet of salvation; seventh, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of GOD.  Our ammunition is prayer, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, “.  And our communication and monitoring system is to, “watch(ing) with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (GOD’s people),” meaning, we should look out for each other.

 In the last 5 verses, the apostle went on to ask that he be prayed for, being an ambassador in chains.  He also said that he is sending Tychicus, to apprise the brethren how he is doing, and to comfort them.  He then closed the epistle with a blessing on all GOD’s people.

 Here we know that human life is essentially one long process of obedience and readiness for battle.  The battle is not just for our health, our bodies, our resources or our nations, but for our minds and spirits.  And we get to prepare for this battle by starting in the home.  Our home is where our minds are molded, and our characters are built up.  If we fail to follow and not be able to put on the things mentioned above as part of our armor, any little dart or attack by the enemy could weaken us or make us lose self-esteem.  And that will be the death of our souls and our spirits.  Let it not happen to us.  The last part of the chapter tells us how we can be encouraged in spite of the attacks of the enemy, and even when we feel that our armor is getting rusted or broken.  We turn to GOD’s ordained shepherds and our brethren in the faith because they can both encourage us and we can also encourage them.  Like a master and a servant that does not operate on a system of slavery, we grow and increase in hope and knowledge if we work in partnership in a symbiotic relationship with each other.

 In these trying times and even in more challenging times ahead, doing our best to encourage and being encouraged, keeping our faith well, and strengthening our minds and spirits will always be the sure way for us to survive. And we really can’t say enough of that because it will take us to the last dying breath and beyond.

[beinfriends-a]

Tag dump for my SwSh muses before I forget