Tales of the Epitaph 3

[Hayate]

Tales of the Epitaph

Chapter 3: The Isle of Kings

~ Atrum Neux Headquarters ~

~ Sayaday, Gorre-Lunae 16, AC2038 ~

*Beatrice is seen striking Kyuzo continually with a harisen (giant paper fan)*

Kyuzo: Agh! Watch where you’re swinging that thing, you old hag!

Beatrice: I give you one job -- one SIMPLE job -- and you blow it! Are you trying to make me look bad!?

Kyuzo: Hey, don’t go pinning all the blame on me! I was hoping for a one-on-one before that damn white-haired lady-killer showed up!

Beatrice: I don’t care if the damn navy showed up! You DO the JOB I TELL you to DO!!! You GOT that?!?

: …Are you two done making fools of yourselves?

*several feet away from Beatrice and Kyuzo, a cloaked figure is seen sitting in a chair with his arms crossed*

Beatrice: You gonna start talking crap to me too, “no-face”!?

: “No-face”. That’s a new one. Who writes your material?

Beatrice: Oh, shut the hell up!

: How vulgar. I would think the guildmaster of Atrum Neux to project herself with a little more grace and poise.

Beatrice: Hmph! *flicks hair* When you’ve got looks like mine, who needs grace and poise?

: …No wonder Nanao’s got you beat…

Beatrice: WHAT WAS THAT?!? You wanna get on my bad side too!?

Kyuzo: Speaking of “Miss Hotness”, where’s she at anyway?

Beatrice: I sent her and Li’l Mitzi out to finish the job YOU couldn’t. Which reminds me… *hits Kyuzo again with her harisen*

Kyuzo: Gah!

~ S.S. Wielant, on the Azure Sea ~

*on the deck of the ship, Kazuto is seen gazing out towards the sea, his eyes fixated on the island in the distance*

Kazuto: …Mother…

*moments later, he’s joined by Shiro and Ren*

Shiro: Hey, Kazu, you okay?

Ren: You’ve seemed rather dazed ever since we left port. Are you not feeling well?

Kazuto: …

Shiro: …Hmm? *turns to look at the island* …Ah. Now I see.

Ren: What? Is there something significant about that island?

Shiro: There sure is. That’s Hy Brasail. Mac Anu’s “Isle of Kings”.

Ren: I’ve never heard of such a place.

Kazuto: Hy Brasail. It’s where all of the past rulers of Mac Anu are laid to rest, ever since the time of King Apeiron and Queen Helba. Over time, people have started calling it the “Isle of Kings”.

Ren: …Mac Anu’s past rulers… So then…?

Kazuto: …Yeah. My mother is buried there too.

Ren: …

*meanwhile, somewhere on the Hy Brasail shoreline, a pair of individuals could be seen watching the S.S. Wielant sail by -- one was a curvaceous, scantily-clad woman with spiky bleach-blonde hair; the other was a short girl with long crimson hair wearing a lavish red dress; the blonde woman -- Nanao -- observes the ship through a pair of binoculars*

Nanao: There they are. Right on schedule. Let’s see… Yup. Three of them, just like Beatrice said. …Time for the S.S. Wielant to make an unexpected docking. Ready, Mitzi?

“Mitzi”: …

Nanao: … *sigh* Quiet as always, I see. Just do that magic you do so well, redhead.

“Mitzi”: …Understood.

*the red-haired girl nicknamed “Mitzi” takes a few steps forward and stands a few feet in front of Nanao; then, pointing the palm of her hand forward, she starts to move her arm around in a fluid circular motion, meanwhile, back on the ship…*

Ren: …Hmm?

Shiro: What is it, Ren?

Ren: I sense something. …A kind of magic.

*just then, the ship starts to shake as the water around it becomes turbulent*

Kazuto: W-What’s going on!?

Captain: *over the ship’s intercom* We seem to be experiencing some violent water activity. Please remain calm; they should pass pretty soon.

Ren: Something feels wrong… This turbulence isn’t normal…

Shiro: Atrum Neux?

Ren: I can’t be certain.

*meanwhile…*

Nanao: Good, good! Keep it up, Mitzi! Now…bring ‘em in!

“Mitzi”: …Understood.

*then, with a swift motion of her arm, “Mitzi” causes the water to strike through the ship’s hull; an assortment of alarms starts to go off all over the ship*

Captain: Engine room, status report! What was that noise!?

Engineer: The hull’s been breached, Captain! We’re taking on water fast! We need to dock somewhere so we can make repairs, or else we’ll sink!

Captain: Tch! Dammit all to hell! Helmsman, hard to port! Dock at the island nearby!

Helmsman: Aye-aye, Captain!

Shiro: …Hmm? We’re turning?

Ren: Towards Hy Brasail, it seems. The ship must need emergency repairs.

Kazuto: … (We’re going to…Hy Brasail…)

*watching the ship turn towards the island, Nanao smirks*

Nanao: Heh. Nice work, Mitzi. C’mon, let’s get into position so we can give them a proper welcome.

“Mitzi”: …

*as the S.S. Wielant pulls into the port on Hy Brasail, Kazuto, Ren, Shiro, the captain, and the rest of the crew disembark; before the ship could sink any further, the magic-using members of the crew lift the ship into the air on a series of small whirlwinds, causing the water that the ship had taken on to drain out from the hole in its hull*

Captain: *addressing Kazuto, Ren, and Shiro* Real sorry about this, folks. Looks like our crossing into Lumina Cloth’s hit a little snag. But don’t worry -- we’ll get on repairs right away and should be ready to set sail in just a couple of hours.

Ren: Thank you, Captain. *sighs* So… *turns to Shiro* …what should we do in the meantime? …Hmm? Kazuto?

*facing their rear, Ren and Shiro notice Kazuto already making his way towards the center of the island*

Shiro: Kazu?

Ren: Where are you going?

*as the three walk along the cement path towards the island’s center, they find themselves in a sort of cemetery; a multitude of tombstones stood tall in the ground*

Ren: This place is so morbid…

Shiro: I know what you mean… You’d think that the burial site for Mac Anu’s past kings and queens would be…shinier…

*just a few feet ahead of them, Ren and Shiro find Kazuto standing before a particular grave; the tombstone he was standing in front of read “Gardenia Rei Anu-Takeuchi”*

Shiro: …Queen Gardenia…

Ren: …Tell me about your mother, Kazu.

Kazuto: Hmm? Why do you want to know?

Ren: I’m just…curious. I never knew my mother, so I’m interested in learning about yours. What kind of woman was she?

Kazuto: *smiles* She was warm. Caring. Always kind. All the people in LeGable loved her.

Shiro: And if memory serves, she was also quite the looker.

Ren: …What happened to her?

Kazuto: Mother’s never been very healthy. Long before I was even born, she came down with a deadly disease that slowly ate away at her. Not even the best doctors in Mac Anu were able to discover a cure. Whenever she wasn’t out addressing the people, she was confined to her bed. Then, one day…out of the blue, she just…

Kazuto (11): MOTHER!!!

Shiro (12): Kazu, stop! There’s nothing you can do now!

Kazuto: NO!!! LET GO OF ME!!! MOTHER!!!!!

Shiro: …The queen’s funeral was the very next day. Right where we’re standing.

Ren: …My goodness… I’m so sorry, Kazu…

Kazuto: …

*an eerie silence overtakes the island; just then, Ren’s long ears twitch as if sensing something*

Ren: … *gasp* Scatter!

*at Ren’s warning, the three leap away just in time to avoid a magically-conjured whirlwind*

Kazuto: Where’d that come from!?

: …I missed.

: Tch! I never did like that girl’s kind!

Shiro: Who’s there!?

*from behind a large tombstone, Nanao and “Mitzi” emerge*

Shiro: !!!

Nanao: ‘Sup, guys? Hope we aren’t interrupting anything.

Ren: Who are you!?

Nanao: Oh, just your average everyday mercenaries looking to earn their daily bread. We’d been waiting for you to show up for a while now. It’s not nice to keep a pair of lovely ladies waiting.

Kazuto: …Atrum Neux…!

Nanao: And here I thought it was just another ordinary hit job, but BOY, was I wrong! Not only do I get some serious coin for taking out the prince of Mac Anu himself, but I also get another chance to throw down with the “Neon Blade”! This day just gets better and better!

Ren: “Neon…

Kazuto: …Blade”?

Shiro: I believe she’s referring to me. *steps forward* …We meet again, Nanao.

Kazuto: You know that woman, Shiro?

Shiro: We’ve…crossed paths. *flicks hair* Heh. You’re even more beautiful than I remember, Nanao. Time does wonders.

Nanao: Flattery ain’t gonna save you this time, whitey! Now, Mitsuru!

Mitsuru: …Understood.

*pointing her arm towards the sky, the red-haired girl Mitsuru conjures a magic that generates a large blue transparent dome, trapping the five inside*

Mitsuru: …“Battle fence” successfully generated.

Kazuto: A barrier!?

Nanao: There. Nowhere to run now. Hehehe.

*reaching behind her, Nanao takes out a pair of dual swords, while Mitsuru draws a large scythe*

Ren: Damn! *draws magical staff* It seems we don’t have a choice!

Kazuto: Grrrr… Why here of all places…!? *draws sword*

Ren: Kazu…?

*leaping forward, Kazuto charges in towards Mitsuru*

Ren: K-Kazu, wait! Stop!

Kazuto: I won’t let you defile this place! Leave here at once!

*once within range of Mitsuru, Kazuto swings the blade…*

Kazuto: Kyaaaaaaah!

*…but having anticipated such a direct attack, Mitsuru bends her body back to avoid it*

Kazuto: !!!

*then, while Kazuto was up-close and open to an attack, Mitsuru readies her scythe, grasping the handle with both hands*

Mitsuru: …Die.

*almost in slow-motion, the girl swings her weapon horizontally*

Kazuto: *gasp*

Ren: SUVI LEI!!!

*with the casting of Ren’s spell, Mitsuru’s scythe freezes in place just inches away from Kazuto’s face*

Mitsuru: …G-Gadelican…paralysis spell…

Kazuto: … *falls back onto the ground* Whoa… That was too close…

Ren: You idiot! Don’t go rushing in so recklessly like that!

Kazuto: S-Sorry…! Thanks for the save…!

Ren: …Look out!

*looking ahead, Kazuto notices Mitsuru -- freed from the effects of Ren’s spell -- with her scythe poised to strike; just as she swings the scythe down, Kazuto flips backward and jumps to his feet; the scythe misses its target and slams the dirt*

Mitsuru: …

Kazuto: *assumes attack stance* Hmph!

Shiro: …Do we really have to do this, Nanao? I wouldn’t want to blemish that perfect face of yours.

Nanao: Oh, for the love of Aura, are you always on? Even mercenaries have pride… *dashes towards Shiro* …and I ain’t going anywhere until I reclaim mine!

*as Nanao swings her blades down onto Shiro, Shiro fends her off with a blade of his own*

Shiro: I warn you…! Once I get going, it’d be impossible for me to hold anything back…!

Nanao: Like I give a damn about that! Come at me with everything you’ve got!

Shiro: …Very well…!

*drawing his other blade, Shiro swings forcefully towards Nanao’s midsection; having spotted his attack, Nanao pushes herself off the ground and lands a few feet behind Shiro, immediately lunging at him again; spinning around to counter Nanao’s lunge, Shiro meets his rival in a fierce clash of blades; attacking at almost blinding speed, Nanao slowly pushes Shiro back; then, swiftly shifting her body weight down, Nanao bends down and swings at Shiro’s legs with her foot, causing him to trip up, then slashes harshly at his side; Shiro stumbles away from Nanao but eventually returns to his feet, immediately noticing the wound on the right side of his torso*

Shiro: …You’ve gotten better.

Nanao: What do you think I’ve been doing for the past 9 months, huh?

Shiro: …Heh. I can see this is gonna be fun. *assumes attack stance*

Nanao: Hehehe… *dashes at Shiro* Here I come, whitey!

*dashing towards Nanao as well, Shiro and Nanao meet in another fierce clash; meanwhile, at the other end of the blue barrier, Kazuto defends himself against Mitsuru’s powerful scythe attacks*

Kazuto: Gah! Ugh!

*then, as Mitsuru holds her scythe away from Kazuto…*

Kazuto: (There! An opening!)

*…Kazuto shoots forward and rends his blade through her forearm*

Kazuto: (Got her!) …Huh!?

*just then, Mitsuru spins around and connects her foot with Kazuto’s chest, causing him to fall back onto the ground*

Kazuto: Oof!

*rising back to his feet, Kazuto notices that Mitsuru’s expression remained unchanged even as the blood trickled from her arm*

Kazuto: (…What the hell…? She didn’t even flinch… It’s like she doesn’t feel pain…)

Mitsuru: …Why do you resist…?

Kazuto: Heh! Is it that much of a mystery!? I want to live! It’s as simple as that!

Mitsuru: …What is your reason for living…?

Kazuto: H-Huh? Uh… I dunno. I just…don’t want to die yet. There’s so much I haven’t accomplished. …Besides, there are people who don’t want me to die either. My death would bring them sorrow.

Mitsuru: …Death…brings sorrow…

Kazu: …?

Ren: Forces of darkness, arise! Ani Zot!

*beneath Mitsuru’s feet, a black pit opens up from which a series of teeth-like spikes appear; leaping away, Mitsuru evades the spikes’ “bite” and lands several feet further away from Kazuto*

Mitsuru: …Meddlesome girl.

Ren: I won’t let you kill Kazuto! *raises staff* Luminescence, pierce through! Lei Zas!

*from her staff, Ren then shoots out a series of beams of white light; Mitsuru fends off two of the beams, but the third strikes her left shoulder; once again, Mitsuru doesn’t even flinch from the attack*

Ren: …This girl… This “Mitsuru”… Just who the hell is she…?

*readying her scythe, Mitsuru leaps towards Ren with the intent of beheading her; Kazuto suddenly jumps in and staves off Mitsuru’s attack with his sword*

Kazuto: Argh…!

*at that moment, as Kazuto and Mitsuru gaze intently at each other’s faces, the vision of another man enters Mitsuru’s mind*

Mitsuru: *gasp*

*once again, Mitsuru backs away*

Mitsuru: …That… That face… Where have I…? Aah! *collapses to knees and clenches forehead* My…head…! It hurts…!

Kazuto: W-What’s going on now!?

Ren: Never mind that! Now’s our chance to take her out! Conflagration--!

Kazuto: No, stop! She could be in serious pain!

Ren: You’re showing her compassion!? She’s our enemy, Kazuto! If we don’t do away with her, she’ll do away with us!

Kazuto: I-I know that, but…!

Mitsuru: …N-Nanao…!!!

Nanao: Mitzi!?

*focusing away from Shiro, Nanao rushes to Mitsuru’s side*

Nanao: Is it the headaches again…!?

Mitsuru: It…hurts…! Make it stop…!

Nanao: …Alright. I understand. *picks up Mitsuru* You guys got off easy this time! Next time, you won’t be so fortunate! We’ll finish this another day, “Neon Blade”!

*having said this, Nanao retreats with Mitsuru in her arms*

Kazuto: … *sigh* Thank Aura that’s over…

Ren: What on Earth were you thinking, Kazuto?!?

Kazuto: H-Huh…!?

Ren: Sympathy is the last thing you show your enemy in the heat of combat! Recklessly rushing into battle and showing your enemies compassion will surely get you killed!

Kazuto: …I… I-I’m…

Ren: … *turns away* Let’s go. The captain’s probably waiting for us.

Kazuto: …

*just a short time later, Kazuto, Ren, and Shiro return to the S.S. Wielant; now that repairs on the hull were completed, the ship leaves the vicinity of Hy Brasail and once again sets sail for Lumina Cloth; Ren is seen looking over the side of the ship and down at the seawater*

Ren: …

*several minutes later, Kazuto enters*

Kazuto: …Um… Ren?

Ren: !!! *turns to face Kazuto* …

Kazuto: I just… I just wanted to say…that I…

Ren: … *turns away* …My brother Kaga… He was…a lot like you, Kazu…

Kazuto: Hmm?

Ren: He had a tendency to rush into battle without thinking. And he never killed or wished death upon those who held a grudge against him. No matter how badly someone wanted him dead or how closely someone brought him to the brink of death, he never used his power to kill.

Kazuto: …

Ren: One day…I approached my brother. I asked him, “Kaga, how come you don’t kill those who want to kill you, even when you have the power to do so?” He smiled at me…patted me on the head…and said…

Kaga: The purpose of power isn’t to take lives. It’s to prevent lives from being taken.

Ren: …Back then, I didn’t really understand what my brother meant by those words. But after his death, I finally understood. Slaying your enemies doesn’t mean you’re strong. True strength lies in the value you hold for human life. …I apologize, Kazu. I mistook your refusal to kill Mitsuru as naiveté and cowardice. But I was wrong. Your kindness towards others and sympathy for human life may perhaps be your greatest strength.

Kazuto: *blush* Hehehe. Thank you, Ren.

Ren: …Just don’t overdo it to the point where it gets you killed, alright? Atrum Neux may be human, but they’re still our enemies.

Kazuto: Right. I’ll keep that in mind.

*several hours later, the S.S. Wielant makes port at a harbor in Lumina Cloth; Kazuto, Ren, and Shiro disembark shortly afterward*

Shiro: Well…here we are. The beautiful kingdom of Lumina Cloth. We should stop by Lia Fail. I bet a certain princess there is dying to see her darling Kazu again.

Kazuto: Oh, shut up.

Ren: …Hmm?

*looking ahead, the trio notices a small group of armored soldiers approaching*

Shiro: *gasp* The Mac Anu Royal Guard!?

Ren: …No. The insignia on their armor is different. That’s…the Lumina Cloth Imperial Forces!

*once they get within range, the group of soldiers forms a straight line to block Kazuto’s path; moments later, a man and woman emerge: the woman had long black hair and wore elegant red cloth under her silver body armor; the man had short brown hair and wore a combination of blue cloth and gold armor*

Saber: I am Captain Saber of the Imperial Forces of Lumina Cloth!

Jack: And I am the Imperial Forces’ second-in-command, Lieutenant Jack Russell!

Saber: By order of his Majesty Emperor Kaito and her Highness Empress Ryoko, we hereby place Mac Anu crown prince Kazuto Rin Anu-Takeuchi and his consorts under arrest!

Kazuto/Ren/Shiro: !!!

TO BE CONTINUED…