Chapter 2
Centrica – Elysium Plains, February 4, 997 A.I
Michael could feel her mind slowly becoming blank. Her breath felt cold as her body numbed. She felt her body move without her will. Slowly clambering to her feet, her body grasped unto the object hanging down her left thigh.
Kill Them!
A memory flashed in her mind of a voice ordering her to kill. People with bloodlust came rushing over towards her, but in her hands an object in her hand shapeshifted.
"Kaleidoscope...Activate M313A4" She muttered under her conscience.
The bangle on her right wrist lit up, she felt her body suddenly becoming light and surged with power. Multiple lit screens became visible from her perspective.
Guardian Identity confirmed....executing battle mode...
At the same moment, Kaleidoscope, the object in her hand transformed in sync with the mysterious voice coming from it. Bending forward, it then extended and protruded parts of its body into the shape of a plasma railgun.
Three seconds to full charge...
A humming sound emitted from the Kaleidoscope. With visible white particles sparkling out of the protruded parts of its body, it was slowly reaching its critical point.
In her sights multiple screens illuminated as they calculated multiple trajectories and events. Having locked on her target, the one who shot the arrow at Eve far in the back of the army, bloodlust overcame her.
Fire!
At Michael's will, Kaleidoscope burst out a large ring of light. As if a dragon descended from above, the light arched down the hill piercing through everything between Michael and the target. The knights that were struck by it had half their body from their waist vaporized without a trace. But it didn't end there.
Kill or be killed...
Another voice and another memory flashed in her mind. Michael endured the stinging pain it brought and the nauseating scene that appeared with it. In the memory, she was facing down sprawled on her legs, holding a pair of bloody crystal daggers.
"Phase shift... M622A2..."
Michael muttered, not knowing what was going on anymore. Moving on its own, her body leapt with such inhumane strength that it created a crater, destroying the hill she had leaped off from. It was even powerful enough to offset a shockwave.
At the same time, the Kaleidoscope quickly changed form and split into two daggers, just like the memory Michael had just seen. She now holds a pair of crystal clear daggers in each hand, as it shimmered under the piercing sun.
All eyes were captivated by the soaring figure. The feeling of awe and dread enveloped the plain, the knights quivered upon witnessing such a phenomenon. To those who were in Michael's descending trajectory, the last thing they witnessed was a fearless smile before being shredded to pieces by a swirl of blinding light. A gale of scrap metal, flesh, and blood ripped apart through the battlefield.
"Mira...! Eve...!" Aurellia shouted out as she slipped through the distracted knights.
Up the hill, quite a distance away, Mira was tumbling down holding onto Eve's body. They were previously swept away by the sudden shockwave.
Slightly catching her breath, Aurellia reached the two. "Are you alright Mira!?"
"Unn..." She replied while nodding.
Aurellia then quickly checked Eve's body. "Thank goodness...She's still breathing! Although this wound... it should've punctured her heart... Mira, can you hold up her body for me?" Aurellia had a perplexed look on her face.
Raising Eve's body, Aurellia instructed Mira to help hold her up. With the palm of her hand, Aurellia pressed onto the gaping wound on Eve's chest.
Let flow rescinds of life...
Aurellia muttered, a gentle light lit up the palm of Aurellia's hand. Instantly the wound had shown signs of recovery. As if time had been rewound, blood and seams of her cloth had returned to their original state. Eve's once pale skin had slowly regained its warmth.
"Gaah!" Eve coughed as she gasped for air.
Feeling dizzy, Aurellia swoon over the loss of her own blood. The price for her healing powers was her own life force.
While trying not to lose consciousness, Aurellia embraced Eve. "Thank God you're okay! What were you thinking!?" Her voice was tinged with anger.
"I...I was...somehow I was remembered something and my body moved on its own...but what happened? What's going on!? A-and...is that...is THAT-!?"
The loud sounds of metal clunking against metal and the constant tremors immediately drew Eve's attention towards the battlefield where an atrocious battle unfolded. Eve pointed towards the glimmering figure in a red coat blazing through the army ranks.
"Ngh...Calm down Eve. You were just struck by an arrow where you should've died, and I healed you... Afterwards, Michael became like... that...? Just what are you two...?" Aurellia grasped Eve's two hands as she seriously looked into her eyes.
"Eh...? Yes...I do remember I was struck....wait what!?" Eve looking shocked pulled away from Aurellia as she inspected her own body in disbelief.
Seeing Eve looking fine, Mira who was worried about her sister moved over besides Aurellia lending her support. Meanwhile, Aurellia waved her off smiling saying she's alright.
After waiting for Eve to calm down, Aurellia continued. "You two are unmistakably Ancientiers. The minority, where only one every thousands of people are born with unique innate abilities that separate you from the rest. But, you two are different...even for me who can see the future with my clairvoyance never anticipated this turn of events. Just what are you two...?"
Eve didn't hide her confusion, after a moment of pause she replied.
"We are-...."
Her voice became inaudible as an explosive sound rattled through the plains.
"RAAAAAGHHHH-!!!"
Michael blazed through the battlefield, the pair of daggers in hand were glowing as they tore through everything it touched. It was possible because previously, the firing of the plasma railgun loaded Kaleidoscope with so much heat that to discharge it, its crystal like material became coated as if it were a laser sword with every swing leaving a trail of blazing white flame in its trail.
More...I need more...
A voice deep inside Michael continued to demand more. The desire for vengeance, the desire to destroy, with just a stroke of her hand another life was snuffed out. But during her onslaught, another part of her wanted to stop.
No....I never wanted this...
With her wavering will, her body stopped amidst her onslaught. Michael dropped her weapons and fell to her knees.
In that moment, the knights that were keeping their distance had become aware of her defenseless looking state and decided to attack her. With a loud battle cry, they mounted their counterattack pointing spears closing in on her.
Now's our chance! Attack!!!, the knights shouted out. Arrows were shot, and spears were thrusted. But, the arrows never arrived, and the spears never reached.
"....M214A3..." Michael softly murmured.
Michael smiled coldly, her hesitant self was already gone. The Kaleidoscope had broken into pieces and flew randomly around her, each piece generated a strong magnetic shield repelling all of their attacks while also blowing them a distance away.
After that short exchange of attack, it became dreadfully clear to the knights the difference in their strength as those far in the back started to slowly retreat from the battlefield.
Why do I know these things...? Michael thought to herself. Between joy and sorrow, it felt hardly different. The feeling where you became so happy you can't even speak or the guilt of doing something unimaginable. Which is it? She asked herself. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she clenched her chest still on her knees.
Another memory returned to her. A voice tells her not to let a single one escape. The scene of clouded individuals, running away from her bloodstained figure, they ran as they screamed for their lives. In sync with the memory she is witnessing, she recited the very same words the memory commanded.
"....Discharge M303A7...plasma field activate."
Following her commands, the shards of Kaleidoscope quickly spread in an omnidirectional trajectory around her. It then pulsed before shooting out prismatic lasers that bounced between the shards. As if that wasn't enough to kill the fleeing knights that were severely impaled by the lasers, the shards discharged antimatter which immediately reacted, creating miniscule explosions in a large scale. This caused a bright light to engulf the field, out of the one hundred and fifty knights sent to execute Aurellia only a few were swift enough to flee from the predicament although none of them left unscathed.
Michael recalled Kaleidoscope as it returned to its dormant state. Having gotten up and was about to chase after the remaining knights, sharp pain reigned throughout her body. Her distorted awareness was suddenly brought back to reality. She thought everything that had happen merely a bad dream. But that wasn't the case as she felt as if every muscle in her body had been torn. The fleeting feeling of an urge to destroy that had moved her body on its own had subsided.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-!!!"
Falling to her knees as she looked down on her blood stained hands, Michael collapsed. What is....reality...? She muttered as she slowly lost consciousness. A warm memory of being embraced by someone special eased her pain. The last thing she notices was the sweet voice of someone calling out to her.
"MICHIII!!!"
Aurellia and Eve shouted out as they ran towards the source of the explosion with Mira trailing behind them.
There was almost nothing left between them. If the lush grassy plains from before was equivalent to a heavenly sight, then the sight they are seeing now is hell. The plain was barren, the earth was scorched, the heat and scent of burning remains were so strong that the fragrant smell that once enveloped the plains was no more around the affected area.
Aurellia stopped for a moment taking in the surroundings with a perplexed look and was met with Mira's worried look as she stood by her side clinging onto her arm.
"It's alright Mira, we've already prepared for this day for a long time...let's see it through"
The two then dashed after Eve who had already arrived by Michael's side.
"Michi....hey Michi...!? Wake up!!!"
Eve hysterically grabbed Michael's body and shook her.
"Hghh...."
Aurellia gritted her teeths, a sharp pain coursed through her head. It was another premonition. A vision of the future, an overwhelming army is coming for them. Only in this vision the future was unclear. Is it because of these two? She thought to herself.
"Sis...?"
Mira's grip on Aurellia's arm tightened.
"No...now's not the time to worry about that..."
Aurellia shook her head to calm herself down and moved over towards Eve. She then quickly checked on Michael's vitals.
"Thank goodness she's alright too..."
Aurellia took a deep breath to catch her breath and reassure Eve before continuing.
"I know there are a lot of things going on right now and even I have plenty of questions I want to ask. But right now our top priority is getting out of here."Aurellia said with urgency.
"But, Michi...she's not waking up! Can't you heal her like you did to me!?" Eve demanded.
"Eve! Trust me...if I can I would, but right now we don't have the time to argue. We don't know when they are coming again. Since you tried to help me, and Michael...she...-"
In Aurellia's mind, the thought of Michael killing others was the greatest taboo there was. As she didn't have it in her to say it, she briefly paused before continuing.
"Anyway, now that you two have also broken the rules, you are now targeted by the order. We really have to go NOW!!!"
Aurellia quickly became restless, her unease was worst then when it was at the time it showed her own death. Her calm composure was long gone becoming more desperate by the minute.
"O-okay!!! I...trust you...but what are we going to do?"
"For now let's carry Michael away from here and head east, maybe there's a clue on how to leave this place."
"You mean you've never been outside of Centrica!?"
"Well we've been told not to leave the boundaries of the plains surrounding Centrica so no...the furthest I've ventured was the spot across the bridge to the east where I found you two. But we'll be pretty close with the eastern gates of Centrica so we need to be as quick as possible."
The sound of a horn being blown could be heard echoing throughout the region. The looks of fear struck Aurellia and Mira's face.
"That is...the third trumpet...!? It's a signal to mobilize the gryphon riders. They aren't holding back. We need to go right NOW!!!"
Aurellia quickly grabbed onto one side of Michael and started to lift her up. But due to anemia from her lack of blood using her healing she staggered.
"Sis!"
Mira rushed over to support her from falling.
"It's alright Lia...I don't know why but I'm feeling weirdly strong right now. So let me carry Michi by myself. Just lead the way okay."
Eve smiled wryly, there really were too many things that came at once but something inside her tells her to trust Aurellia. Eve then took a deep breath, and sure enough to Eve and the others surprise, she could easily lift Michael up.
After nodding to each other, the three ran towards the east. Not a single word was exchanged between them as they focused their breaths on reaching their destination.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoIp6YI2MO
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Centrica – Arc of Covenant, February 4, 997 A.I
An hour has passed since they had started running, Eve still looked quite okay despite sweating quite a lot, Aurellia was also struggling to keep up but it wasn't so for Mira. She was almost at her limits. The plains were too vast and her legs were too small to keep up with the other's pace. So far, they have only managed to run three quarters of the long bridge.
"Ah..."
Mira tripped over, her breath was already ragged and her face was starting to turn pale.
"Mira!?"
Aurellia stopped and turned around helping her up.
Still struggling to catch her breath Mira replied, "I'm okay...O-ow my leg" A fresh cut had appeared on her knees.
"No you're not okay, let me heal you-"
Mira pushed Aurellia away.
"It's alright... it's just a little scratch..." Mira then tried to get up but her legs were so unsteady that she almost fell over.
Eve couldn't bear to witness Mira struggling like that. She herself feels a slight pain in her chest but for some reason she doesn't actually feel that much tired. In an attempt to persuade Aurellia who seems like she would drag Mira if she had to, Eve rested Michael on her lap at the sides of the bridge and pretended to look tired.
"I think...we've run far enough, how about we take a short breather...it doesn't look like they are coming for us yet. They might've went to search the plains first right?"
Eve smiled towards Mira but changed her expression when Aurellia turned over to face her.
"But this place is still dangerous. We don't know when they will find us, we are still out in the open without any cover...-"
Aurellia stood up, still insisting on continuing.
"Well look at Mira...she is obviously at her limit, don't you care about her? But if you want to go on ahead I won't stop you. You did entrust Mira to us remember? So for Mira and our well-being, let's take a short break before continuing. We don't want to collapse halfway there now do we?"
Mira slowly walked over to Eve's side and sat down beside her as she hid behind her doll.
"Mira...."
"See Lia? It's two to one! So sit down here and take a short break. Nothing is going to happen. The sky is clear and there weren't any more sounds coming from the city. We're safe."
"But..."
"No buts! I might remember something on how we arrived here if took a short break."
Eve smiled gently as she patted the space beside Mira from behind her back.
"Okay then....we are in this together anyway, I suppose. I'm sorry Mira for not thinking about you..."
Aurellia sat down taking a deep breath as she curled up hugging her knees.
Mira replied her by leaning her body, clinging to Aurellia's arm.
Aurellia was slightly surprised by her gesture and smiled. Loosening up, she laid Mira who had quickly nodded away to sleep on her lap, she then healed the wounds on her knees. Because of the use of her healing powers, anemia quickly took over her and including her fatigue, she slowly lost consciousness.
Looking at the two from the side, Eve envied their relationship. If I had a little sister would we be that close? She muttered as her hand slowly stroked Michael's head. But, you're the older one right? So why are you the one always being spoiled by me? Eve pouted as she lightly pulled on Michael's cheek before lightly laughing.
The sun had already slow shifted to the west, just as Eve felt like she was about to forget what they've been thorugh and doze off as well, the ground started to rumble once more and up above Eve could see small winged creatures far off in the distance.
"Oh no....have they noticed us!? Lia! Mira get up!" Eve gasped as she quickly tried to wake up the two beside her.
Waking up surprised and gasping, Aurellia looked around and quickly remembered their predicament. "H-how could I have fallen asleep!? How long have we been here!?"
"Calm down Lia! We haven't been here for 10 minutes, but it looks like they've already made their move here. Can you wake up Mira?"
Eve quickly got up and lifted Michael again in her arms.
Looking at her sleeping face, Aurellia sighed.
"I'll just carry Mira don't worry, she did well to make it this far. I'd fail as an older sister if I can't just do that much."
Aurellia smiled, her fatigue stilled showed on her face but she was determined to carry Mira all the way.
"Ahaha...I envy you two's relationship...I wish Michi here would spoil me too"
Eve started to lead the way as she smiled wryly.
"...I said I would protect her..."Aurellia said in a low voice.
"Hmm...? Did you say something Lia?"
"This morning when Michi collapsed feeling distressed, I said to her that i would protect her...as an older sister...but it seems she protected me instead. Ahahaha..."
Aurellia weakly laughed.
"Is that so....? Thank you for comforting Michi though...We've only had each other for all these years, so I'm sorry if I've acted immature when it comes to her."
"N-no! Not at all...But honestly you seem more like her older sister when I look at you now."
"W-whaa-? But I'm supposed to be the younger sister!!!" Eve pouted as they continued to run.
Despite being pursued, the atmosphere became warmer as the two continued to exchange pointless banter. Moments later, the end was in sight. Smiling towards one another they raced each other towards the finish.
"Look, we're almost there! It's just up ahead!" Aurellia exclaimed.
"I...I think I'm sort of remembering something here..."
"You remembered your way into Centrica!?"
"N-no...but I do remember something big...I think...?"
"Something....Big-!?"
The bridge rumbled beneath them, it was then a part of the bridge collapsed causing Eve and Aurellia to retreat to the left side of the bridge.
"W-WHAT IS THAT!!!?!?" Eve yelled out trembling.
A large sea serpent of legends, also known as a wyvern had appeared before them. It had wings that resembled fins and a barbed tail at the end of its scaly body that it had used to strike down part of the bridge. The only path before them had been blocked.
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