Chapter 11 - Aftermath

(1st Saga - Greater Magius, The Balance | Synoria Outlook Defense Arc)

- Earlier that night

“Listen- I just don’t feel safe leaving her with that guy-”

“Haah, you’re way too overprotective. Sure, he’s marked, but it’s still pretty dormant. Regardless that’s something we’ll deal with tomorrow- And if what you’re actually worried about is that she likes him or something, that’s not something you can change anyways”

“Saw right through me…”

“You think I wouldn’t be able to after all these years? Anyways, trust me, what you’re worried about won’t be an issue. I can tell”

After putting Kaito and Yukiko to sleep with Setsuya’s aura release, the two most reassuring figures of authority began making their rounds throughout the streets of Synoria Outlook, aiding with any issues or concerns that may have arisen as consequences of the attack.

They rounded another corner, returning to the same street where their battle began. The destroyed buildings somehow looked even more solitary and desolate.

“Well, that makes the second round. I say we do one more before heading in?”

“Sounds good to me”

Despite having walked down the same path twice already, something previously overlooked in the scene caught Seika’s eye. 

“Hey, we’ve still got our responsibilities. What are you even doing, anyways?”

She wandered over to the side of the road and picked up a severely bent kitchen knife.

“A knife? It was probably just flung out here in one of the many explosions. We’re going to designate cleanup crews for this street tomorrow morning, so let’s just get going”

“You don’t sense it? C’mon, really focus on this thing”

She held the warped blade before Setsuya’s face, its shape now looking more like a toddler’s attempt at creating a trowel from memory.

“It can’t be…”

His eyes narrowed in contemplation.

“Yup. That’s Yukiko’s mana signature on the handle”

“How could I be so blind to this… I put off that knife as an insignificant consequence of the battle and neglected to notice my own sister’s traces”

“Sheesh- someone’s being overdramatic”

“Sorry- I guess I’m just a bit worried. Her mana signature being there means she used that knife to fight that abomination- But I guess there’s no point fretting over it… she’s fine now, and that’s what matters”

Seika idly spun the knife into the air and caught it multiple times, entertaining herself with the glint of the moonlight reflecting off the blade as it spun. 

“It’s faded, but there’s a hint of corrupted energy on the blade too. She definitely was able to strike a vital point- You ever taught her how to use one of these?”

“Nope. She’s never really shown an interest in weapons-based fighting, so I decided I wouldn’t push her to learn”

“Well, you might wanna start now. She’s got some good talent, I can say that with confidence”

“Yeah, I’ll consider it. Let’s continue our last round now”

The two walked some more in silence, Seika periodically taking in the view, while Setsuya appeared fixated on the knife he had decided to take with him. He said he planned to ask Yukiko about the events of tonight sometime tomorrow, but Seika could easily tell he wanted to keep it as a souvenir of Yukiko’s first true fight on the front lines of anything.

Crunch. The sound of gravel underfoot came from behind, causing the two to immediately halt on edge.

“Guildmaster Setsuya, I’m sorry to bother you so late at night”

Setsuya turned around and inspected the man before nodding.

“Seika, you can go on ahead and finish this round. Head back when you’re done. I’ll take care of this”

“Whatever you say”

She nonchalantly carried on, eventually disappearing from sight around the next corner.

“You have my full attention. What seems to be the matter?”

The person he addressed appeared to be a man in his later years. His face was slightly obscured by the cloak he wore, onto which he tightly wrapped around his body.

Such a sight reminded Setsuya that the nights were supposed to be cold to most people.

“Well, I doubt you’d be aware of this, having just arrived in town, but these… ‘screens’ began appearing shortly after the attack began”

With a flick of his hand, the man caused a strange window to appear before him. He waved his hand through it to show its intangible nature before rotating it with another gesture.

[ Defend Synoria Outlook:

- A rogue entity has started a false Event targeting Synoria Outlook

- Waves of tainted corrupted beasts will strike in groups at random intervals throughout the following week

- Additional Potential Threats: Members of Nightfall, Members of the Ezirok Clan ]

“I see, it is a directive of sorts, reminiscent of objective quests in those new ‘video games’ produced in New Magius. May I have a closer look?”

“Yes, please do. I’m unable to change its distance from me, so you’ll have to come here to inspect it yourself”

Setsuya complied and attempted interacting with the window to no avail. It seemed they could only be influenced by the person they ‘belonged’ to, and apparently only people who were in Synoria Outlook at the time of the attack had received access to such windows.

Despite these specific conditions, Setsuya was sure he had seen such a window before, but from who? 

The thought of a certain swordsman passed through his mind. Right. The only other person in Orientalis’s recorded history to have such a window was Akari, who emerged to World Zero’s society from within a barrier zone. It was a singular case, but it was highly likely that these had something to do with the barrier zones, and it made even more sense in correlation that they’d now appear to the general public after a nearby barrier zone had been broken.

“This is quite the development. I will order a deeper investigation to be carried out regarding these windows. Is there anything else you’re seeking or are concerned about?”

“I only wanted to make the existence of these windows known to you. Thank you for your time”

The man made another gesture, causing the window to return to a ‘main menu’ that stated there were no other directives at the present moment. Finally, he closed the window completely, its light no longer illuminating the ruined street.

“I find it quite amazing that you’ve gotten so accustomed to using these in such a short span of time. You must be quite the ingenious individual”

“Yes… quite ingenious indeed…”

The next instant, the man whipped out his cloak from around him, creating a frantic disarray of cloth and dirt. 

Beneath the exaggerated display, Setsuya glimpsed the outline of a dagger.

“Die!”

Through the veil created by his cloak, the man thrust his weapon forwards, his aim perfectly on course for Setsuya’s heart.

“How pitifully obvious…”

Tink!

“...Huh?”

Setsuya had unsheathed his hidden katana halfway, bringing up the end of the hilt to meet his aggressor’s blade. 

In spite of the guildmaster’s awkward grip and clearly disadvantageous position, the man soon found that he couldn’t budge his dagger another inch forwards, even when straining every muscle in both arms.

“It’s a fine dagger you’ve got there. I presume you lot are part of the remnants of the Merchants’ Guild?”

The man stubbornly held his ground.

“You lot? Whatever could you mean?”

“You, the one before me… and the three behind me”

With a flick of his thumb, Setsuya propelled the katana from its scabbard, flipping it midair before catching it with his left hand in a more desirable grip. 

The sudden force had flung the first man back, who now dug his heels into the ground to regain his balance

In a single slash, Setsuya repelled the blades of his other attackers, knocking their daggers from their grasps.

“A feeble attempt. Now, give me your best shot”

The four men each produced a sizable red gemstone from their pockets, firmly fitting in the palms of their hands. At once, they crushed their crystals, sending torrents of corrupted energy coursing from their bodies as unique tattoo-like markings snaked across their bodies.

“So they’re all marked… just like that boy. Have they really stooped so low and grown so bold as to openly declare their alliance with the corruption?” Setsuya thought.

Some of their pupils elongated to slits while the others retained their original shapes. Those whose appearances grew animalistic seemed to lose their sanity, mindlessly salivating as their bodies swayed back and forth.

At once, they pounced, exuding confidence in their numbers and enhanced physiques.

For the next few blows, Setsuya didn’t strike back, only dodging while observing the behaviors and capabilities of these men.

As the seconds ticked by, the stability of their minds continued to flee from their grasps until all but one had been reduced to mindless beasts.

The first man that had sought out Setsuya at the beginning of this encounter. His hands, now coated in a hardened layer of corrupted energy, clashed with Setsuya’s blade. The two locked eyes.

“Say you all manage to kill me. What next? Why lay down your lives like this? Why go so far? The mark will certainly overwhelm your body until there’s nothing left, and even if you do manage to survive, you’ll be nothing more than an empty husk”

“Can it, you damn politician! We’re here to kill you, then everything you love next- Your city, your people, your precious sister, all of it! And we won’t stop until we’ve succeeded, regardless of the cost!”

Those were the last words he said before his mind sank beneath the corruption.

“So that’s how it’s going to be…”

“One to the north, one to the east, one to the south, and one to the southwest… Silently and swiftly”

He ran through these thoughts almost like a chant.

Verse 2: Fleeting words of parting rime

His blade became covered in an almost blinding pristine white that shone through the streets. This was the density of mana required to flawlessly perform this technique.

A dance that mimicked the gentle yet elusive drift of a snowflake when it passes by one’s ear, a single slash that flowed through the vitals of each target without making a sound.

The final arc of the blade traveled directly through the head of the last man, cleanly severing the upper portion of his head from the lower jaw.

“Keep my sister’s mention out of your filthy mouth”

The street was silent once more.

“Y’know, you coulda just asked for my help if you wanted this done quicker”

The witty remark came from Seika, who leaned against a fragmented piece of a stone pillar and had been watching the whole time.

“You would’ve been too noisy. Nobody’s going to be out at this hour, and we don’t want to wake any other townspeople up or alarm them after all that’s happened tonight”

“I guess you’re right. What do we do with those guys?”

“Bury them separate from the casualties of tonight’s attack, but bury them nonetheless. They were citizens of Synoria at one point or another”

Seika nodded and tossed a square cloth to Setsuya.

“For cleaning your blade”

“Thanks. I couldn’t let my skills become too rusty… movements beyond our control are beginning to wake in the territories of Orientalis”

“You gonna involve Yukiko in what’s to come?”

He thought long and hard, furrowing his brows in conflicted struggle.

“That will be her choice”

***