A pre-word to all who stray into this thread. As is normal with my NaNo projects, they are written very specifically with Tricia in mind as my only audience. They are steeped heavily in our RP lore and may be impenetrible to anyone who isn't in the know. Also I'm posting these the same day I write them, so they are largely unedited, be afraid. Be very afraid.
-
Her name is Dr. Vivian Dawn. She is a resident doctor at Sega City General Hospital and is well on the way to climbing the ladder, her pears regard her selfless dedication to saving life and her unquestionable skill at doing so with peerless admiration. She'd started working for the hospital as a early as sixteen years old, but back in those days she was famous amongst staff for a different reason and under a different name.
Back then, her name was Amberleigh Anderson, though many saw her as a Nightingale angel who was blessed with the ability to cure any person she prayed for, and during her brief three year reign as a nurse at the hospital, she was responsible for saving the lifes of hundreds of thousands of people who were lucky enough to recieve her care.
Those days are over now. Ended when a law was passed banning the existance of individuals with special abilities and powers in Sega City. Years of in-fighting, powered terrorism and "heroic" activity had pushed the public to a breaking point, and in their desperation a cure was created, a cure capable of supressing the abilities of 99% of the population forever. And upon it's completition, it was only a matter of months before the cure became a legal mandate for all people, any who were guilty of dodging the needle would be imprisoned for life.
Amberleigh, or Vivian as she now called herself, was one of the 1% of people who slipped through the cracks. She did not have "powers" persay. Unlike the typical person who the laws were born to combat, she was not born with her abilities and was not infact born in the world she now calls home at all. Her healing touch literally did come from prayers. Growing up, she was to be a high priestess of a religion which drew power from a realm of angels and had extensive training in the spells that they used, which mostly encompassed healing magic.
As the power supression serum would not take away her ability to cast these spells, she was forced to go into hiding for she had gained far too much attention as the miracle healer of Sega City General. From there she dyed her hair auburn, took on a new name and using faked identification and doctored grades, attended medical school to become a real doctor. Her philosophy on life was that if the people of the city would not allow her to heal them with her spells, then she would not stop attempting to heal them with her sheer force of will.
She could have moved to another town. She could have been revered as the miracle healer of a thousand cities. But she stayed. She stayed for duty. She stayed for family. For better or for worse, she strived, grew and she stayed.
And this is how Vivian Dawn was able to walk through the halls of the hospital with a confident step. All in all, life was not too hard. Without the temptation to heal at a touch, she was more driven in her endevours. Victories felt like victories and defeat made her feel defeated, and through her lengthy training at med-school, she loosened up, became socially lubricated, expanded a tree of friendships and even relationships. She was living a full and hapy life without complaints.
A life which was soon to come to an abrupt and unflattering end.
It was only 3pm on a Sunday afternoon when she flipped open a chart for a patient of whom she was due to check on. The name was Sandra Parks, an older lady pushing 60 who was suffering heavily from some seasonly influenza, not exactly the most hospital worthy case in the world, but being the overly caring doctor she was, "Vivian" forced a smile to her face and opened the door, wondering why the name seemed so familiar.
The woman sitting up in her bed seemed just as any older lady would, her hair was a little scraggy, but still a faint dirty blonde and she wore a tired smile which gave the implication that the owner was not used to the action. Before Vivian could open her mouth to introduce herself, the woman had looked to her, wiry smile turning into a full out grin, as she cheerfully said "Hello Amberleigh." in a slow and ominous voice.
Vivian's heart froze in her chest, the memory rushed back to her. She was a fool to forget the name, for it was the name of someone in the past who had been a sworn enemy, the one who was currently at the forefront of the war against powered individuals; Sandra Parks, a woman who's son was killed via colleteral in a super powered struggle over 15 years ago. A woman took it upon herself to make sure none suffer like her son did, even if it means causing absoloute suffering to anyone from the side of the fence Amberleigh sat on.
Before doctor Dawn could react or retreat, the door was closed and locked. A stalky man with darkened bags under his eyes and mussy brown hair was hidden in it's shadow and now stepped out towards the doctor slowly, it took Vivian no time at all to take notice of the switchblade he was weilding and the absoloute ice chill in his eyes as he approached.
"Tell me dear..." Sandra asked slowly from behind the doctor, still weilding a wicked smile upon her face "Does your healing power work on yourself?"
Vivian's hands reached to the bedside table and in her desperation clasped around a ceramic mug which she swung at her aggressor with an angry yell, but her panicked motion yeilded no positive results and the cold eyed assassin grabbed her arm and swung her into a headlock, giving Amberleigh Anderson one final look at the relentlessly evil grin of a feable, biggotted woman with no remorse or care for human life.
As the switchblade's cool edge meet the edge of her neck, she wondered for the first time if this fate was worth all of the lives she had strived so hard to save. With one final thought to her beloved guardian and "brother", she smiled back at the evil hag, even as the blade slit across her throat, and decided that no fate could take away the pride she felt for her good deeds. The only only regret she held in her 32 years of life was that she could have save more.
-
His name is Tyler Dawn. He is a floor manager at a franchise book store in the center of Sega City and holds no hopes or aspirations of climbing ladders or making transfers, The college kids they hire for the registers think of him as a stuffy grouchy hardass with no empathy for their needs and wants, his superiors feel he is talented but unmotivated. He started the job about 15 years ago, as a cashier, when he was 25 years old after resisting the neccessity of work for the entirety of his existance. Back in those days, however, he had little need for a weekly wage or low paid job.
Back then, his name was Stressed Bayfield. A lone spirit who was born from the dreams and desires of a child who was carried away with his imagination. He was able to forge himself entirely into an individual and a formidable warrior, expert with shortswords and skilled at wind based magic. In his lifetime he had battled in wars, saved lives and fought in epic battles.
Since the ban on powered people, he was forced underground with the rest of his family. His girlfriend and her sisters took a new residence in the city with new jobs and new identities. His brother and his wife and child left in search of a more tollerable situation, far from the legal hastles the city brought.
It seemed the old days of excitement were over, and now as he stands in the middle of the history aisle, his eyes lack a fire that his younger self once carried. His hair is losing it's color and the parting is showing signs of receeding. He is getting older. It's undeniable.
As a younger man, he was certain his spirit was immortal, that he would remain young and powerful for all of time, but the ever present force had impressed itself upon him and now he found himself unwillingly buckling to the years.
But life was not all bad for Tyler. Even if the times had changed and time was starting to show it's toll on him, there would always remain certain familiar comforts which would soften the harshness of reality. For one, he still lived with his beloved Tamara, girlfriend for over 17 years and both of her sisters Cari and Navi. But most importantly, his best friend Lee Cypher, boyfriend of Cari, lived with them for all of their time in hiding.
Only Lee was able to maintain his original identity, as a low scale rock scale at local venues. Everyone else was forced to adopt new identities, personas and even make-overs to conceal their true nature. Lee, however, was close enough to a human that he was able to operate in the open, with none knowing he was a half-angel from the same world as Tyler's "sister" Amberleigh.
The thought of the adventure was enough to bring a sad smile to Tyler's face. It all happened 17 years ago, when Stressed Bayfield left the world in search of his individuality. What he found was two kindred spirits, one was the half-angel who became his best friend, and the other was a young priestess who was being bred as a sacrifice for her religion. Through his actions, Tyler saved the girl and brought her back to his world where she began a life for him, looking at her savior as an older brother who would always look out for him.
His actions also brought the land of Saygrem close to an all consuming civil war and a neigh on masacre which would have stained his soul forever. But those stories are buried in the past now, and the floor manager who stares emptily at the clock waiting for his shift to be over finds no solace in retreating to them.
It was mid-afternoon, the clock was edging towards the 3:40 point and his shift was not due to end for another two hours. Heaving a sigh, he paced around the empty aisles, watching for his coworkers to see who he could ask to realphabetize yet another stack of books which had not been touched by human hands for weeks.
Being a central city location, it's main clientelle was freeloading office workers on their lunchbreaks who spent more money at the coffee bar than they did reading the books which they flicked through each day. Had he any pride or passion in either his job or the dull blue "Noble Borders" shirt with the "Hi My Name Is Tyler" tag, he may have seen this as a problem, but boredom was a far easier demon to slay than aggressive consumers who demand we open up the "non-dogeared" magazine stacks from the back which we must keep for self-important people who simply must have a mint condition copy of People magazine, it being the collectors item it is.
It's not that he had distain for his job or the people he encounters there, for he does not. But he simply has an all consuming apathy which has drained his soul. There is no pride or purpose in his role, anyone could do it and all he accomplishes during a really really good day on the task is not pissing people off, a job he was perfectly capable of doing without wearing a silly shirt or being confined to a color coded prison 8 hours a day.
But his dreary and dull day was soon to come to a somber twist when he spied a familiar blonde haired man idley walking through the aisles.
"Lee!" Tyler called out, holding his hand up and stepping forward "Why are you here, don't you and Cari have some local theater to patronize or swan boat to waste an afternoon on?"
Lee gave a hollow smile to his friend, brushing a hand through his silky hair, Tyler was not able to supress the urge to envy him each time he saw that the angel had not aged a day in the years they had known one another. "Ah, I am merely checking on you. I may have had a fleeting feeling that you required my presence today."
The way that Lee spoke never failed to irk Tyler, the lazy carefree happiness, even when hollow and forced like this, was just frustrating. It did concern him, though, that there was the hollowness "...Lee. Why are you here?" he repeated, with a harshly serious tone.
Lee gave the look of a guilty puppy, before grabbing his friend's wrist and dragging him at a furiously fast pace that Tyler struggled to keep up with. "Tamara asked me to come down." he stated flatly, "your phone must be in the break room again--- and this is important. Too important for us to call the store." Lee said, more of his playful tone fading with every moment that passed.
Something about the atmosphere made Tyler go pale. A premonition of something bad was biting at him and the less Lee made theatrics of the event, the more severe he was sure it would be.
At last, the two of them reached the break room and Tyler B-lined to his jacket, where he retrieved the cell phone. Lee backed off a step, bowing his head, as Tyler opened it up to see the onslaught of messages that had been left for him. His heart was stopping in his chest already as with baited breath he listened to the first voice mail.
Lee watched in subdued agony as his best friend's eyes dilated, a gulp froze midway down his throat and his skin visibly paled to the most ghostly white.
"I'm so sorry, Tyler..." he said in an unguarded voice, walking to his friend and putting a hand to his shoulder.
Tyler had no response. He did not drop the phone, even after the message had finished, he starred vacantly, the corners of his eyes stinging with tears. He felt worthless, full of shock and struck in the heart. Through this haze, he was pulled straight into the denim of Lee's jacket as the taller man tightly hugged him.
"Tamara and Cari are waiting for you--- you wont be alone." he said, his voice still lacking the distinctive joy that made it so familiar.
Tyler's thoughts were finally starting to seep through the shellshocked haze, and he was finally able to process the situation. Amberleigh, his charge and adopted sister, was dead. Murdered at her job, quite possibly by anti-power extremists. She was young, she was happy. He had watched her grow. He was the one who brought her to the city. He helped her with her new identity. Helped her through medschool. And in a single day, in a single phonecall, she was gone.
Never to see her angelic smile again. Never to be subject to her passionate rants again. Never to comfort after a date gone bad or to praise on a tricky diagnosis made before it became a problem.
The sudden surge of emotion that filled the emptiness was so much that he wanted to buckle to the floor and throw up, he wanted to cry until tears stopped coming. He wanted to punch everything in sight until his knuckles were raw.
But instead he just limply rested in Lee's hug, his eyes which were an hour ago just a hollow reflection of faded glory, were now shrink wrapped with dry tears which could only pinch at the sides of his eyes.
Lee was visibly uncomfortable. Just as unfamiliar with this situation as Tyler was, he too had never had to deal with grief like this. He searched in vein for words to fill the silence, but none felt appropriate. In the end, it was not his voice that broke the silence, but the buzzing of the phone which still hung open in Tyler's weak grip.
This was enough to snap him from his brief moment of weakness, and he straightened up, gulping in his sorrow and putting on his bravado to answer clearly "It's Tyler. What's happenening?"
The voice on the other end of the line was a deep and slow voice, which spoke in a fairly mototone fashion, "Tyler. It's Ken Ellis... I need to speak to you."
Ken Ellis, a reporter for Sega City's largest newspaper, The Voice. In the days before the power ban, he was the correspondant for incidents and stories involving powered individuals. Since then, he has been sticking to covering crime stories.
"It's about Amberleigh, isn't it?" Tyler asked, attempting to feign some drive in his voice, but it came out as empty as his feelings.
There was a grunt of agreement over the phone, before the reporter continued "I will be visiting crime scene soon. Thought you'd like to see. Come to hospital, we will meet you there." and the line went dead. Ken was never one to waste words and was less of a person to make liberal use of emotions.
The idea of finding out what happened, was enough of an enticement for Tyler, though. He was already suspicious due to everyone's careful wording and lack of details, but Ken's use of the term "crime scene" was enough to prove to his mind that Amberleigh was attacked, and that gave him focus to work through the grief.
A new fire in his eyes, he pushed past Lee and stormed out, ripping off his nametag and taking a heavy stride. "Lee, I'm going to the hospital." he stated firmly, without looking back.
Lee sighed, deflated, while watching his friend storm his way into a heap of trouble. Tamara would probably kill him for letting him go through with this, and Tyler would kill him if he tried to stop him. "What is a man to do...?" he idley asked the empty break room, as he suddenly took pursuit.
I know its only the first day of your writing, but I really do love what you wrote. Kept it suspenseful for the most part, definitely going to be keeping tabs on this story 
Part 2. With dialogue!
Every step taken towards the hospital filled Tyler's head with thousands upon thousands of scenarios for his troubled mind to mull over. They ranged from the forgivable accidents with medical equiptment to unspeakable acts of brutality made by raging patients. Whatever the truth behind the situation, he tooked solace in the fact that the worst was what he was expecting, and it couldn't possibly be as bad as he was thinking.
Lee, now a pace behind at all times, was lost in his own thoughts, filled with concern for his friend. For the first time in their years and years of friendship, there was an impenitrable wall between the two of them which he was unable to break through. No mere words or kind acts would be enough and to not act would seem callous. It was a rare thing to see the carefree angel so on edge about anything.
Fortunately, the walk was not all too long, and once they reached the sterile fluorescent lights of Sega City General, it was not very difficult to navigate to the crime scene, it being such a freakshow attraction for staff and patient alike. When, at last, he found the police presence outside of a closed door, Tyler was able to swallow in and puff out his chest in bravado, prepared for the worst.
"What are you doing, bub?" came the ridiculously forced voice of a young police officer who was posted on the outside of the door.
"I was invited by a friend of mine, a reporter infact." Tyler said slowly with an eerie calm about him.
"That's all well and good, but it's a crime scene, buddy. We don't let just anybody in." the kid smugly stated, pulling himself up to full height. He must be new to the job, no one else could enjoy bossing people around from such a stupid standpoint.
"Clearly..." Tyler mused, pacing around idley, "if they keep you on the outside." he paused a moment to see the cocky little kid recoil, before he stopped his pacing and nodded "Anyway, I'd rather not go "in" persay. But I was hoping you could be useful at your job and let him know I'm here. His name is Ken Ellis."
Defeated and put in his rightful place, the kid pulled out his walky-talky and paged in the message, giving both Tyler and Lee a resentful look as he went about it. The desired reaction was soon achieved and the door opened to reveal an older man with a grim, aged and wrinkled face, donning a fedora which hid his receeding hair and a heavy overcoat which did it's best to hid his out of shape body. To his side, a dark skinned girl wearing a slightly more fashionable variation of the outfit of her partner, she craddled a digital camera in her hands and her eyes were trailing along at everything except for the faces of the people present.
"Ken. Asia. It's good to see you again." Tyler said in as casual a voice as he was capable of using in his present emotional state. "What do you have for me?"
Ken, the reporter, flipped open his notepad and scratched his head with the back end of his pen. "Not good news." he began. Ken's voice always had a detachment from emotion that made it sound like he was either bored or uninterested with anything he said.
"I gathered." Tyler snapped, wishing to skip the pity parade before it rolled out the doors. Asia, Ken's young assistant, looked between them and with a huff stepped inbetween them, shoving the viewfinder of her camera at Tyler's face. This was Asia's way. She wasn't a bad kid at all, but whereas Ken, her adoptive father, was emotionally detatched, she was emotionally ignorant. She didn't gauge the damage such a blunt action could cause, she just thought it was the most efficient way to explain the situation.
What Tyler saw in the display was the hospital room, or crime scene as it now stood. The table's contents were splashed over the floor, the bed was flipped to the side and all was in a state of disarray. In the middle of the room was a chalk outline of her body on the ground, after falling. The blood from the attack had been mercifully cleaned up, but the thing that caught Tyler's eye was the wall. Newspaper clippings, hundreds of them. It was difficult to see through the tiny screen, but any images on the reports all bore Amberleigh's young teenage self. The clippings had been glued to the wall in a way that spelled "WITCH".
Tyler breathed in sharply and turned his head, unable to look at the scene any longer.
"I wrote those stories." Ken stated, bowing his head so his eyes were hidden in shadow, "Was how police let me in room. Press badge doesn't usually grant privlidges in active crime scene. But every article on wall. My doing. Back when wrote stories about powered people."
Tyler closed his eyes, it made sense of course. During the initial anti-power marches and gatherings, Amberleigh was looked upon as the spokeswoman for the powered cause. Her healing touch, being used so generously at the hospital was great proof that not all powers were bad, and she was able to use her miracle nurse persona to do some good for the community.
It didn't work in the end, the laws were still passed. People were still taken from their homes and shot with a serum that removed their abilities. People were still forced to leave the city or go into hiding. For all the articles which hung above her chalk line, mocking the life of which she attempted to do good with, not a single one counted in the long run. Didn't count for anything, but to make her a target.
Asia was the next to speak, she had the typical voice of a twenty something, though spoke fairly formally. "It makes no sense. She hadn't used her ability for years. Why would they come for her now?"
Ken made a faint sound of agreement, always quick to praise his kid for the correct question at the correct moment. Lee took a step from the backline and raised a hand, "Perhaps it is not key to question such things now, the police are capable of doing their jobs, are they not?"
For all his selfish motives, of wanting to keep damage control to a minimum, Lee was right. Tyler knew this. He looked up at the two reporters and asked a far more productive question of them, his voice barely able to conceal the livid distain he had renewed for the culprits.
"Who did this?"
Ken frowned and looked to his page, Asia was the one to not mix words and once again spit out rather bluntly.
"The patient was Sandra Parks, leader of the Humans For Humanity group, there's no doubt it's a coincidence."
Ken's frown intensified and he looked to Asia and then Tyler, speaking now with a careful tone of one walking on eggshells, knowing the incorrect tone or phrase could cause a bad reaction.
"The patient was also attacked. She's cleared of suspicion, pending further investigation. Doctors say she'll be out in a week."
"@!@%**+#!" Tyler yelled, loud enough for all present to look at him in astonishment, "how can the police handwave that kind of crap?! Where is she. She's in this building right now, isn't she!"
The young officer who was watching the entire conversation was starting to look a little lost and panicked, wondering if he would actually have to act rather than talking about doing so in his smug fashion. Fortunately Lee was able to grab his shoulder and swing him around to look him directly in the eye as he spoke with a firm tone.
"You are not thinking correctly. If Tamara were here, she would be beyond ashamed. You cannot simply act on impulse and make grandeous assumptions."
He was right, damn him. But it didn't make Tyler feel any better. Two sentances of information and conjecture were hardly worth taking a life, so he sagged, defeated again. It wouldn't bring back Amberleigh to have justice delivered, anyway.
Ken, stepped forward and with one hand took Tyler's other shoulder and with the other, pushed Lee away so he could lead him away a few steps to speak with him privately. Tyler knew before the man started speaking what the subject would be.
For Ken had suffered a tragedy greater than the one Tyler was facing. Infact, his story made Tyler's own seem like a minor inconvinience. He was in a serious relationship with a woman who would have been his wife. The two were happy and prepared to begin a happy future together. But a desperate mugger took all of that away with a bullet who's affects haunted the man it did not hit for the rest of his life.
The single act was enough to fracture Ken's soul, leaving him as the blunt and detatched man he was today. His hatred of crime grew into legendary depths and he took up a costumed identity to fight against criminals in a vein attempt to right the wrongs he made by not standing up against the masked gunman from years gone by.
The obsession was finally buried when he adopted Asia, but the hatred and the pain never went away. And so it was this in mind, he took Tyler aside and spoke slowly.
"I'm torn. Much of me says get revenge. Make things even. But I know from experience. It will make things worse, in the long run. Will make you thirst justice, brutal justice. Fixing your own gate will only make you notice how broken the houses in the world are. World is very broken. Justice is unobtainable."
Perhaps it was the emotional exhaustion, perhaps it was the shock of seeing the crimescene photo, perhaps it was just the day catching up to him... but Tyler had nothing to offer at that warning. He had no emotion either way or thought to agree or disagree. He just felt drained and did not even want to absorb the words the slightly insane reporter had bestowed upon him.
As Ken retreated back to Asia, Tyler called over for Lee. "Thanks." he weakly mustered, waving and turning to leave.
Lee run to catch up and started jogging backwards to catch the pale expression on Tyler's face.
"Is everything okay, Dawn? Are you going to do anything stupid?" he asked, a little bit cautiously.
"No." he flatly replied, not stopping his pace. "I just want to go home. I'm sick. I'm tired... and I really didn't need to come here. We'll just get a funeral set up, send invites and we can deal with this when I am more equipt to deal with it."
Lee gave a empathetic smile before giving a short jab to his friend's shoulder and shifting to walk by his side now. He waited until the two of them were finally out of the hospital before raising his hands above his head and smiling with a curiosity fueled inquiry. "What did Ken say to you?"
Tyler looked at his friend out of the corner of his eye with a furrowed brow "He told me to find justice and then exact it."
Lee blinked twice, lowering his arms "...such an ominous statement. I do hope this means you will not be killing, for you know I cannot allow that."
"It doesn't mean I'm killing anyone." he stated, with a voice which seemed more lucid than anything he had said all day. "It means I am going to find justice. Nothing more."
Hearing the tone in his voice, Lee had to look over. Tyler's stride, his eyes... ignoring his callous skin, fading hair color and obvious signs of middle age, he seemed his youthful self again... and something about that was haunting and chilling.
Stressed was oblivious to Lee's stare as he looked back to him giving a half-smile, his eyes undeniably full of fire as he stated "Let's go home, Lee. Tamara's waiting for us."
Less effort today, due to a long day trip. Will make up for it tomorrow.
Home was an apartment in west Sega City, lurking on the fifteenth floor of a fifty floor high rise. It was far from the luxurious and spacious accommodation that the family once enjoyed back in the days before the law, but with the amount of powered activity linked to that roomy lodge in the suburbs, they were forced to take refuge in a three bedroom apartment with modest but functional features.
When the duo finally opened the door, Tyler could feel the atmosphere change. It was a mixture of worry and relief. A few steps into the living room revealed both Tamara and Cari, sadly eyeing him. Tamara stuck to her chair for an instant too long, so Cari ceased the opportunity to hop up and grab Tyler into a forceful hug.
"Oh, Stressed." she wailed, her voice fueled with concern "I am so very sorry. You must feel so awful."
Cari, the tallest of the three Goddess sisters and Lee's girlfriend, was an intriguing woman. Her happy attitude matched Lee's, but hers seemed to Tyler to be more purposeful, forced. Often she would revel in the joy of a person or situation until it became an emotional burden and then dropped it to move on to the next thing. He decided that her grief and sympathy were more results of formality than empathy. Still, he did concede that this was all judgmental from a cynical outlook, and the girl did genuinely care for her family and their feelings.
Tamara got up meekly behind her sister and as Cari moved aside, she slowly wrapped her arms around him. "Stressed..." she whispered, giving him a soft kiss. As she did this, he was able to spy Lee reunite with Cari and kiss her with as much passion as there was no scene at all. This was their nature, however, he would not judge.
"How are you feeling?" Tamara asked, bringing Tyler back to the moment.
"It's strange." he said, slowly "I've been bouncing through emotions for the past two hours. I'm really upset, but it's not really hit home yet. Right now. I'm just happy to be home." and with that he lead Tamara back to their room and fell back against the bed.
"We'll have to plan a funeral." he began, starring up at the ceiling, as Tamara curled up behind him, running a finger up and down his arm.
"I can call the others from out of town... we'll make sure the funeral takes place outside of Sega City jurisdiction, or they wont come." Tamara replied, she seemed to be a lot more comforted now that Tyler was home and did not appear to be cracking apart at the seams.
A brief moment of silence filled the room before Tamara finally filled it, asking "What took you so long to get back, anyway? We sent Lee ages ago."
"Ken wanted to show me the crime scene." he said, evenly, "So we went to the hospital, found out something pretty interesting... I've not decided how to react to it yet." Tamara was silent for a moment, he wasn't sure what her reaction to the bold statement was, "seems like the Humans For Humanity group assassinated her. Leader herself left a pretty convincing paper trail. I doubt she's hiding the fact."
Tamara sat up, alarmed, punching a hand into the mattress in rage "What the hell?! Why?! There was no reason for that!"
Tyler shrugged before shifting himself around to look at his girlfriend "I really don't know, Tamara, I doubt there is a reason. They just found her and decided to kill her. Unfortunately that's how things work sometimes." his voice carried a dark undertone.
Tamara's righteous indignation was not to be so easily swayed, however, and with a clenched fist she continued "Did they arrest them, then? I hope they're put away for life."
Tyler shrugged again "They probably will be, but the police are "still investigating"."
"That's crap!" Tamara protested, and she seemed ready to go another two or three rounds, but Stressed caught her hand and suddenly locked his lips against hers, catching her entirely by surprise.
"Tamara. I'm just happy to be home. Let's just try to enjoy one another's company this evening, before you go back in to work." Tyler said, with a hint of a smile.
Tamara's own lips curled into a brief smile to see him dealing a little better than she'd been expecting as she shook her head, "I'm not going in tonight, I'm sticking with you--- and if you need me to make arrangements or calls, I'm doing it. You wont have to worry about a thing."
With that said, Tyler pushed her down against the bed sheets with assertive force and loomed above her with a devious smirk. Her eyes widened in surprise, but a single look was all it took to confirm that the action was hardly unwelcome. She reached a hand up and brushed it across the leathery texture of his skin, as he returned in kind her own smooth and soft skin being a perfect opposite.
"You're not usually this passionate..." Tamara sighed, clearly thankful for the extra attention, but not prepared to drop her caution at his emotional state.
"It's strange..." he mused, looking down into his girlfriend's loving eyes, "something about death just makes me feel so... glad to be alive? Do you know what I mean."
She did know what he meant. Their relationship had been growing stagnant for years, and she was confident the entire reason behind this was due to his ageing, or more accurately his mortality. She'd thought long and hard on the conundrum. Tyler was the only person in the house of five who grew older. Where the three sisters were immortal Goddesses, Lee was an angel with a lifespan which pushed tens of thousands of years. Tyler may be extraordinary, but he was human. And a human in a house people who were two centuries old at youngest was a very vulnerable creature.
That thought made Tamara wince at Stressed's comment. An affirmation of life would just bring his fear of death around to new heights when it did swing back. Perhaps this was the eye of the storm where he was finally facing his mortality, rather than skulking about the sidelines assuming it would happen, but not thinking of death as a practical concept.
"I know." Tamara replied with a short smile, hiding her inner concerns. A selfish part of herself just wanted to keep him in this state, far from the pains and concerned that he seemed to enjoy thrusting himself in, masochistically.
Fortunately, the evening passed with no incident. The couple were enraptured in their mutual love and shielded one another from the darkness of the reality they'd found themselves locked in.
Morning light broke through their window and the couple groggily pulled themselves from the sheets, put on some clothes and entered the apartment. Tamara seemed refreshed from a night of attention and a decent rest, as the graveyard shifts she had been growing acustomed to were taking their toll on her soul.
Only one other person was up and about at the time, and she was already dressed and ready for her own job.
"I am sorry for your loss." she stated simply, before exiting the apartment.
Tyler snorted, as he passed into the kitchen and found an already prepared pot of coffee. Navi, the third and final sister, was a very blunt and cold woman, but there was a certain charm to her ability to work in subtle acts of kindness. This particular act did not mean very much, but it was something.
As he poured the drink, he gathered his thoughts. "This was kind of nice of her" he mentioned casually to Tamara, prepping a second cup for her, "I wasn't expecting anything like this out of her... to be honest, I thought I'd end up arguing with her."
Tamara nodded, sadly, taking the cup "It's not really her fault, Stressed. You know that, right?"
"I do." he conceeded "But you can't deny she played a part, and I recall her enlisting Amberleigh's help for that whole anti-protest group, even after I asked her not to."
Tamara didn't reply, she just took the first swig of her morning coffee. It was too early to have heavy debates like this, and she was not prepared to take her boyfriend's irrational side of a meaningless debate. She just hoped it wouldn't come to blows later, when the two actually were forced to endure a conversation.
The day that would unfold would be pure preparation. There was a lot of things to do, Tyler had resolved that if there was to be a funeral, then she would be buried as Amberleigh Anderson and not Vivian Dawn, this meant asking for the body to get a post-mortem dye job. Then there was finding a place for the funeral procession to happen where powered members of the family would be welcome and of course calling and informing said family.
It would be stressful, that was certain. But her memory deserved any amount of effort for a peaceful and dignified passing.
"I'm glad she was able to live this long." Stressed said, out of the blue before taking another sip of his coffee "When I think about Saygrem, about how her father raised her as a sacrifice for an angel to be born into the world... I just feel really depressed. But she was able to live a life she chose, doing her own thing. I'm proud of her for that."
Tamara smiled back. Normally any mention of the world of Saygrem would lead to a week or so of pouting from her boyfriend. His adventure there, all those years ago, stands as his one regret in life and he often has moments where the guilt catches him and he starts kicking about the idea of finishing up his business there. During his adventure, he uncovered a plot to fuel war in the world to cause it's religious citizens to use it's followers as vessels to summon angels into the world. Sickened by the plot, he tried to destroy the religion and save the people from themselves. Alas, he was overwhelmed and sent back to Sega City lost and defeated.
He caught Tamara's uncomfortable silence and he smiled to her "I'm just happy she was here with us. How often do I make a comment about all that stuff and make it sound positive, huh?"
For what it was worth, his sincere smile did put her at ease, and allowed the two of them to get a good start to the day. Tyler was able to use family emergency as a legitimate excuse to get out of work, and the couple began their preparations for the funeral event.
Thought I'd roll my lot out early today, make time for work and play. Hopefully I'll actually start the plot sometime this week.
It took a week for the event to be fully prepared. Invitations were sent out as far as they were able, a cemetery a few miles from the bittersweet nostalgia of the old lodge was found and keeping busy, even with the somber business, was enough to keep Tyler's mood from plummeting again, though Tamara did often find him lost within thought whenever she left him alone for a few minutes.
There was something not quite right about the focused frown on his face and his piercing stare which penetrated anything it fell upon, it unsettled Tamara whenever she saw it. Something was going on inside his head, and just like always he was unwilling to share it.
Cari and Lee helped where they could, but the majority of the help came from a surprising source. One of her colleagues appeared to be the most distraught of all of them and was taking it upon herself to impress herself into the lives of those her friend called family and be a part of their grieving.
The woman in question was another doctor, Monique Velazques. The two of them attended medical school together and spent a lot of time working together and talking. Tamara made quick friends with the woman, as she appeared to be more helpful during the troublesome week than her boyfriend was prepared to be. Beyond making firm and irrational demands regarding the procession, he seemed unwilling to reach out and actually talk to people.
But even with obstacles and sadness in the air, the day rolled around and the preparations were complete. Tyler and Lee both wore stuffy suits which neither one of them appeared comfortable in, whereas the three sisters wore their best black dresses for the day. Cari's, of course, was by far the most fashionable and attractive, which gave Lee a lot to be attentive about.
For once, Tyler was glad his best friend was occupied with his lady meat rather than his bro-pal, any time he attempted to emote what he was feeling, he was unable to find words, and so on the train ride out of town, he simply stared out of the window, wondering idle thoughts, attempting to organize his feelings and mull over words to give to the crowd.
The ride did not take more than forty minutes, and no matter how long they felt to the passengers, they did finally arrive at the station. As the train pulled to a halt, a familiar looking family waved from the platform. It was Lee and Cari who leaped out the door first and rushed to embrace the familiar faces.
"Craig! Tricia!" Cari exclaimed brightly, taking them both in her arms, as Lee kneeled down to the level of the two children flanking them, adding in "Hey, kids. Remember your uncle Lee?"
Tyler, Tamara and Navi hopped off behind, catching up. The Bayfield family smiled back at them, some meekly or shyly, but in the case of the parents, with sincere happiness.
After the anti-power laws were passed, Tricia was forced to leave the city due to her publicly known abilities and secret identity as Electrawoman. She decided to find another city to set up shop and actually do some good in the world, aspiring to become a police chief some day and advocate powered rights. Craig went along for the ride and was able to use his experience as Ken's old photographic assistant to get work with his camera wherever and whenever he could.
During their time away, they had finally set up a family and had two beautiful red haired children, the eldest was named Mauri and was a meek little red headed kid who had her eyes averted from the group and seemed overwhelmed by the number of people present. The younger was a boy named Leo and he was extrovert enough to pounce into Lee's arms and get swung around. Tyler had difficulty remembering the exact number of years, but theorized that Mauri would be 12 or 13 and Leo about 7.
"Hey, Stressed. Tamara." came a soft female voice from the side, and Tyler turned to see the anomaly of the Bayfield clan, Kay Bayfield, now a fully grown woman with fiery hair that matched her siblings. She was also one of Craig and Tricia's children, but not of this world. Circumstance had brought her from the future to the present world several years ago and she was raised, from 8 years old to her current 26, by the married couple who were only 12 years older than her at best.
"Kay. It's been years, what've you been up to lately?" Tyler asked, giving his niece a quick hug.
"Working office admin in some place or other" she said idly with a smile, "Just got out of a relationship, so I'm here on my own today. Mom and dad send their sympathies, by the way... I think it was a bit extreme moving the funeral all the way out here for our sake, you know..." she'd grown up into a mature woman, but Tyler noted that she talked too much and often without substance. He trailed off pretty quickly.
"Anyway!" she exclaimed "I was thinking if I'm in town I could visit Kim and Marek, and mom said I could go in to town if I don't raise suspicion" Tyler imagined that the particular agreement was no way near cut and dry as the child was making it seem, and was preceded by a lot of shouting.
Tyler smiled and bowed out, moving on to his brother and sister-in-law. He was barely through with his first round of catch-up and was dreading how the rest of the day would progress. Pushing past Lee and Cari, who were both fussing over the kids, Tyler took Craig's hand in a firm shake, while nodding at Tricia. "Thanks for coming, guys. It means a lot."
Craig hadn't changed much in the years. The two of them were near identical twins, excluding some muscle mass, pigmentation and wrinkles. It had been quite a number of years since the two had last seen one another in person, and it was quite shocking to both men to see how their mirror image was looking worse for wear and aged. Craig took it well, giving an awkward chuckle as he exclaimed "You look like crap, man."
Tricia shot him a sharp look which actually did cause Tyler to laugh out loud. "You look well, so I wont complain." he said brightly, Tamara smiled off to the side.
"How're your jobs treating you?" she asked, eager to get in on the catch-up session.
"Work is work." Tricia said, sounding a little bitter and or fatigued, "Climbing the ladder from the inside isn't so easy, but I'll get there. This one's been freelancing to look after the kids and keep us in the black." Craig wiggled his fingers and mimed snapping a camera to enunciate his wife's point.
"We're doing our best," Tamara said with a soft smile "He's working whenever they throw hours at him and I'm working the graveyard. With Cari teaching in the mornings and Navi doing afternoons, I think we just about miss one another at any given hour... except Lee. He just plays that damn guitar of his whenever he feels like earning a pretty penny."
"You got to give him credit, Tamara." Craig said with a goofy smile, "He has a profitable talent, the best the rest of you can do is blow stuff up, set it on fire or blow it down."
This earned a three way glare from Tamara, Tyler and Tricia. But despite his stupidity and awkward humor, he was lifting the spirits of everyone present, and if it wasn't him, it was the two kids. Lee and Cari were already running up and down the platform with the two of them laughing. Tyler saw the scene and couldn't help but feel that the day was more of a reunion than a funeral. This was not necessarily a bad thing. He was devastated by Amberleigh's passing, and was sure that seeing her dead body for himself would cement his grief in, but for now he just felt comforted by the presence of family.
From the train station, it was not a very long walk to the cemetery. One of Tyler's outrageous demands was that the entire funeral must not be linked to religion. Given that, firstly, Amberleigh belonged to the Blessed religion of Saygrem and not any of the local denominations, but mostly because it was the existence of religion which caused Amberleigh's early life to be a tragedy, and Tyler did not want to have to deal with any righteous anger during what should be a day of making peace with a loved one's passing.
Unfortunately, that righteous rage was going to find him whether he wanted it or not.
When they reached the cemetery grounds, they found the gates lined with a thicket of protesters carrying signs and shouting out a hateful message against powered individuals.
"Oh bollocks..." Craig hissed, as Tyler marched ahead of the group with a heavy footed stride, Tamara and Cari both ran to catch up with him and stop him from doing anything stupid, where Lee just put his arms above his head and took a grin of one about to be very amused. Tricia's face was plastered with anger and it looked like she, herself, wanted to have some angry words herself.
It didn't take more than a few seconds for Tyler to spot the ringleader and upon noticing it to be Sandra Parks, the one suspected of orchestrating the murder in the first place, his fury took away all restraint. "What the hell is this?!" Tyler demanded, just about able to summon enough restraint not to punch her in the face right there and then.
"Right to protest." she hissed frowning disapprovingly at the unseemly bunch of misfits who dared to approach her. Her eyes scanned the group and spotted the pointed ears of Tricia and her children as well as Navi's vibrant green hair, she'd already made her internal judgments and arrogant hostility seemed to be her way of expressing them.
"They're not worth it." Cari pleaded, though a good third of the group appeared to be ready to take this confrontation to blows.
"We read that people might be grieving for the loss of that arrogant witch and we wanted people to know just what they were praising." Sandra indicated pictures that some of her followers were holding, crime scenes and bodies related to powered incidents. "You scum should be taken off this planet. You're not welcome here."
Tyler finally grabbed the woman by her shirt, bringing his face close enough to hers so she could feel his breath as he hissed "I should kill you right now, you miserable hag. You're the one who did this to her."
Sandra just smirked back at him "Go ahead, prove my point. You wont be the first. I'd rather be a martyr than face imprisonment for my crime." the snarky +*%%@ didn't even conceal her crime, she was proud of it "I did the world a favor. Go ahead and do the world a bigger one and prove to us all that your kind are demons to be wiped out."
Tyler slammed her up against the fence, rage pouring out of him like fumes of smoke, it would take a few whispered words and he could use a variety of spells to end the miserable woman forever, she could be crushed against the gates by a forceful wave of wind or ripped apart by razor gusts or even extinguished by the controlled black hole that was his most powerful spell, the Abyss Spear.
But Tamara's hand on his shoulder softened him enough to back down, dropping her and turning back to his family. Sandra's Humans For Humanity brethren crowded her to see if she was okay. The family slowly passed through the gates, giving final looks towards the gathering attempting to shed the distain they felt towards them. As they moved up the pathway, towards the burial grounds, all of them felt plagued now by the bitter hate that the group had spewed upon them.
Craig and Kay lead the charge, eager to usher the young children in as swiftly as they could and shield them from the protest, Lee's smirk had been shut down by the outburst and the tense atmosphere that hung in the air and the sisters seemed to be ranting amongst themselves about the injustice that the woman was still on the streets and able to stand outside and do such a despicable thing.
Tricia, however, hung back as soon as she was far enough in to the site to be clear of the shouting and chanting from the front. Craig stopped and ran back as soon as he noticed, "Is everything okay, love? Are you okay?"
Her green eyes flashed as a dirty smirk came to her face. "I'm fine, Kitty. I'm just calling an old friend and making sure he knows that the skank just confessed for murder."
The old friend in question was undoubtedly former detective McKale, Tricia's old mentor when she was starting out in the Sega City Police Force. The years had been kind to him and he had climbed the ranks. Not to police chief, but high enough to have sway and influence.
"How the hell did they not arrest her off the bat, anyway?" Craig sighed, rolling his eyes. Tricia just shrugged in response, finishing up the call.
"I don't know, but she'll at least be put away on suspicion now. But she sounded like she was expecting it. Maybe she really did want Stressed to just finish her out there." Tricia said, catching up with her husband.
"What a crazy +*%%@." Craig sighed, shaking his head.
Somehow all the joy of reunion had been sucked from the air, leaving only a harsh reminder of the meaningless reason why the young doctor died before her prime. The somber air effected no one greater than Tyler. Everyone could see his livid expression and most avoided speaking to him, and even when Tamara attempted to, he would blow off meaningful response.
It wasn't until they reached the site where the burial would take place that a single smile could be reignited. There were hours until the ceremony itself was held, but already a group of over a hundred people of all ages were gathered, talking and trying to keep their spirits among them. Beside the open grave were all manners of tributes and mementos between bunches of flowers. Drawings from young children depicting a stick figure doctor or nurse with a huge smile holding hands with a small stick figure smile also smiling. Newspaper articles all talking about the lives saved by the miracle healer.
Tyler looked on at this display of affection for a woman who had done great things and then looked to her headstone, prepped and ready for her descent into the grave, bearing a painted red cross embossed into the stone. It read "Amberleigh Anderson: She gave us life."
He'd always known that the woman saved lives, he was always proud of her for it. But this was not what he was expecting. So many lives that she had touched and saved, without asking for much, without doing much, she left a permanent impression on the community which would be her living legacy. It was enough to bring a tear to his eye.
Weaving in and out of the crowd was a dark skinned woman, talking to people, shaking their hands and giving the occasional person a hug. The moment she spotted Tyler, she raced over to him, taking his hand and shaking it.
"My name is Monique. We spoke a little on the phone... Amberleigh was my best friend." her voice was cracking, the poor woman had been crying all day it appeared. "I'm sorry about the crowd out there, we tried to get rid of them, but they're holding firm."
"This is... more than I was expecting." Tyler gaped, breathlessly.
"I just made a lot of calls, got a good article in the paper advertizing the funeral to make sure people attended... I didn't think it would bring those people out too. But--- well the response is overwhelming. And look!" she pulled out an envelope which seemed to be stuffed to the brim with various bills of currency.
"I'm going to donate it in her honor." she said, her voice overflowing with emotion, it was hard to tell if she was crying or gushing. "She would have wanted to keep helping people, even after she was gone."
Monique's eyes shifted and looked down "That one guy from KingCorp is here, too. He said he felt a personal responsibility and came to pay respects... he donated 50 million in her name. What kind of man has that kind of money to throw around?"
"Ethan King does." Tyler said darkly, spotting the mastermind businessman in the crowd, keeping close to his personal assistant. The man's eyes found Tyler and he gave a brief nod. "The guy made a fortune from exploiting the powered people of this city. He damn well should give something back."
Regardless of the history, it was a good gesture and Monique seemed overwhelmed by it. She probably started the collection as a way of making life at the hospital a little more comfortable, but with money like this, they could probably open up an Amberleigh Anderson wing, dedicated solely to her. Possibly rename the hospital.
While Tyler was distracted by all of this, Tamara quickly stole Lee away from Cari and took him out of ears reach of the others. Her growing concerns for her boyfriend's mental well-being starting to need reassurance.
"Lee, do you think he's okay? You're his best friend, and you might be able to relate to him better than I can right now..." she seemed a bit timid asking, but there was no other way to get into Tyler's stubborn skull.
"Ah, he is of course sulking as he is prone to doing. I would not hold too deep of a concern." Lee smiled, gazing across the crowd of mourners. "If he had physically attacked the Humanity group woman, perhaps I would be shadowing your concerns, but for the time being I believe he is healthy. Perhaps more so than usual, have you not noticed that he has some focus now and it is helping him break through the haze he has left himself in."
"That's exactly what I'm worried about." Tamara grumbled, "If he's got focused, it means he's planning something and he's not telling me. What about you?"
"I've heard not a word, I promise." Lee assured, keeping his neutral smile, "But we are both at least aware of the worst case possibility, are we not?"
"He's not that stupid..." Tamara said weakly, trying to comfort herself more than assert the fact, "He normally calms down after a little while, anyway."
"Indeed, and he is sticking around for closure, so long as he receives it, I believe we do not have a thing to be concerned about." Lee said, with a shrug.
"You're right..." Tamara sighed, forcing a smile back on her face. "Thank you, Lee."
"What are friends for, Tamara?" and with this, Lee waltzed back over to where he had left Cari. Leaving Tamara to look at her boyfriend from a distance and see his shallow attempts of socializing and mingling. Closure was all he needed, that's exactly right. But what type of closure he was looking for was the exact thing that was keeping her mind swimming with concern.
Wooo, plot progression!
-
The mix and meet atmosphere kept strong for the next few hours. The guests casually browsed the letters and tributes and absorbed how treasured the one single life was to so many people. Tyler shook hands with many people and learned how and when she was able to save their lives or the lives of their loved ones. People discussed the atrocious behavior of the protestors, they recalled fondly her charming quirks and the kind deeds she did, even outside of the hospital.
Time passed and eventually the casket was brought in and it was time for the ceremony began. Up until this moment, both Tyler and Tamara were assuming it to be a gathering of the lodge family with a few of her closer friends, given that the girl's biological family was in another world. There was no one to lead the procession and no speeches or sermons planned, everyone agreeing to speak from the heart.
There was an uncomfortable moment where people crowded around the open grave, as no seating was provided, and they looked amongst one another to see who would lead the proceedings. Tyler felt a large ache in his heart as he began to realize it was his duty to step up, and he had nothing meaningful to say now that the moment was in front of him.
But then a lonely violin began playing a soft dirge, the straining sounds of the string against the bow enough to give him the strength to walk behind the headstone to address the crowd at last. His eyes trailed to Kay, of all people, with her eyes tightly closed as she lovingly poured her soul out into her musical instrument.
"Thank you for coming, everyone." he began, trying to control his voice to be loud enough for all to hear and level enough not to be carried by emotion, "Amberleigh would have been proud to see how many lives she touched... and for those who knew her as "Vivian", then she would have been even more proud to see that she was able to touch people's hearts without her abilities."
He closed his eyes, Kay's small song had stopped and she retreated to her mother to cry against her, "I promised myself I wouldn't speak ill of those who took her from us and even with their presence outside of this cemetery, I request that the same be held true for any other speakers today. She was a bright and vibrant soul and I wouldn't feel right using her body as a platform for a moral or political agenda" as Tyler said these words, he noticed a seemingly large group among the crowd silently agreeing with his proclamation.
With that said, he felt it was time to get what he needed to say off his chest, he paused briefly, long enough to look at Tamara who's eyes told him that he could do it, "Amberleigh was a sister to me, sometimes she was even closer to me than a daughter. Nothing made me prouder than seeing how she spent her life--- saving people, caring for people and giving back to the world selflessly... right up until the end." his voice was already cracking, the reality was finally caving in. She really wasn't going to come back, she was gone and never coming back.
"Just--- thank you... for showing up." and with those last words said he hastily retreated from the spot, back to Tamara who's open arms greeted him, smoothing out his hair and whispering that it was okay and that he did a fine job.
From that point on, the spot behind the grave was used as a stage for many different people, all with different stories, mostly of their near death experiences and how she came in like an angel to save them. Tyler resented any person describing her as an angel, given that she was originally bred to be a vessel for one, though forgave the speakers as they would never have known this fact.
Regardless of this, he couldn't bear to hear the constant testimony over her absolute dedication to her work. It made him sick to the stomach to think that all these years he didn't call her enough, he didn't visit enough. Lost in his thoughts, his feet guided him to the casket, where he looked down at her silent and still form.
She looked tranquil. Her blonde hair restored from the auburn it had been prior to her death, her skin was a ghostly pale and she seemed more like a wax statue than a human being. It was far from a comfort for him to see her in this state, it just reminded him too strongly of the last times he saw her, how normal the meetings were. With deep regret, he realized he couldn't even recall the last time he saw her. Whether it was weeks ago for a coffee and conversation before or after his own job, or if it was months ago on her birthday or maybe a party. The harder he tried to think about the exact last time he saw her, the more it hurt that it required so much effort.
"Dawn..." a male voice whispered from behind. "Are you okay?" it was Lee, who was sounding uncharacteristically somber, and his question was as stupid as any Tyler had ever heard.
"Of course I'm not!" he responded, "I just want to leave. I don't want to be here."
Lee scooped him into a surprisingly strong hug "You do not mean that, Dawn, and I am sure you know that. If for no other reason, you require this closure. For life is built on death and one must define their own existence based on their thoughts and regrets on those who have passed."
Tyler pushed against his friend, annoyed by the presumption of his comment "Maybe for you immortals!" he yelled, shocked at how angry he sounded.
Lee's response was quick and he took his best friend away from the funeral scene, so that he would attract no further attention with his outbursts. "Dawn, I understand you are upset and you have a right to be. But you must calm down, there is no need to be angered at this time."
Tyler huffed in, "I can't live like you can, Lee. I've seen how you and Cari treat mortals, like ships passing by the islands of your life that will always drift off the horizon. You may be able to treat every person as a fleeting moral message, but I can't. I can't wait a couple centuries to do it right when the next Amberleigh comes into view. She's gone and in a couple decades, maybe less, so will I."
Lee sighed, brushing hair from his fringe while shaking his head, he'd suspected that this attitude of Tyler's was built upon his vulnerability, but right now the normally formidable man seemed absolutely petty. "As you say, Dawn. But one must at least respect the grieving process for a single afternoon. If you still wish to be angry and to come to argument, then Tamara, Cari and myself shall of course oblige you, with no measure of disappointment, I may add. But for this time, you must calm yourself."
Tyler starred defiantly at his friend. He was right, of course, but he was not prepared to admit it. But for now, the rage had collapsed in on itself like a black hole and left an empty feeling inside his stomach. Deflated he just nodded and shuffled back to the procession. Lee put his hand on Tyler's shoulder with a grin.
"I shall be up next. I brought my guitar with me, I feel Kay's violin, as well as it is played, does not provide an appropriate sound for young Amberleigh's sending."
Tyler rolled his eyes. Maybe years ago he was amused by Lee's act as a guitarist, but it had grown old over a decade ago. He wondered idly how he was still able to get work doing the same thing on different nights.
Tyler retreated back to Tamara, silently. Bless her soul, she didn't say anything, though she was of course concerned and slightly irritated by his outburst. Heaving in, he watched the makeshift stage as Lee took to it with his guitar.
"My name is Lee Cypher." he announced, smiling at the crowd. Even while preparing to play a dirge that damn smile was plastered on his face, "I have known Amberleigh longer than any other in this place, even my good friend Dawn. It is my eternal shame to say that she was no a friend. The woman, when a teenager, was a stuck up brat who refused to respect opinions that differed from her own--- one could easily argue that I too was of this line of thought." the crowd didn't seem to enjoy his casual insults towards the angelic martyr figure that they had all been praising.
"It is with that said, that I am to play a song which I would not play for any other occasion. A song which was performed among those in Amberleigh's faith, for she did have one, though few among you would be aware of it. Please, if you would be silent a moment, as I have never attempted this before and it will require concentration. I shall now play, The Blessed Prayer."
With a strum of his guitar, he broke off into a haunting melody. Saygrem, the land where Amberleigh was raised, did not have the same musical conventions as existed here. Different clichés brought about different sounds for different themes. It was this fact that made Lee's Saygrem learned musical talents so popular in the city.
The other key thing about his music which made people enjoy it was that he sang in a beautiful language which no one was quite sure how to decipher. Tyler knew it quite well, having studied it intensely before his trip to Saygrem and perfecting it in his time there. Therefore, as Lee sang his beautiful song, he was the only one who heard the words he sung.
The purity of white shimmers as brilliant as the stars.
Cleanse us of darkness and bring us close to paradise.
We bow our heads to the angelic magnificence.
We give our souls to the glorious perfection from beyond.
Teach us.
Heal us.
Save us.
We pray to you, offer ourselves to you. Oh wont you save us from the darkness.
End the evil and fill our world with light and love.
White wings majestic in the sky, your love heals all wounds.
The song continued, but Tyler had stopped listening. The words were a thinly veiled love letter to the angels who served to destroy the humans of Saygrem and call them to fight the "darkness" of the opposing Ascendian religion who used offensive magic from the same angels.
It was a kind gesture from Lee, Tyler admitted that much, but he couldn't find it in his soul to give respect to Amberleigh's faith, after uncovering it's secrets all those years ago. All the song and it's lyrics did was remind him of the injustice still going on in Amberleigh's home world. How girls like her were still being sacrificed to bring angels into the world. Even as he stood there, feeling self pity, hundreds or thousands of people just like Amberleigh were suffering.
His introspective thoughts gained momentum as the train of thought continued. Lee playing a song after she was already dead hardly honored Amberleigh's memory, as touching as the gesture may be. But being able to stop the cycle of death that robbed her of a loving family and raised her as a tool... that would be respectful. It would do her memory proud. Surely.
The idea solidified and every moment sounded more and more realistic, pleasant and... just. His mind traced back to Ken's words about justice. Imprisoning the one who ended Amberleigh's life would not be justice. Making sure no one would ever suffer the way that she did. That was what he meant. Now more than ever he was certain of it.
As Lee played the final chords to the silent crowd, Tyler relieved himself of Tamara's grip and walked off slowly and purposefully.
this part made me cry "she smiled back at the evil hag, even as the blade slit across her throat, and decided that no fate could take away the pride she felt for her good deeds. The only only regret she held in her 32 years of life was that she could have save more. "
maybe cause i was listening to reflection by christina at the time.. but you write very emotionally, my heart cant read the rest of the story. at least not right now. you're very talented.
Woah... I missed a few days of posting, huh? Better make up for it...
And thanks for the huge compliment. Given that I'm writing specifically for my wife, who's bias, I'm fairly sure I'm not that good a writer. A compliment like that gives me some extra drive, so thanks.
-
He didn't get more than a few steps before Tamara took pursuit, and Lee dropped his guitar to follow suit. This didn't detter Tyler, however, and he maintained a sturdy pace which seemed to hasten in order to avoid the inevitable conflict.
"Stressed!" Tamara called, "Where are you going?" she didn't attempt to veil the aggrivation in her tone.
"I have something I need to do." Tyler stated flatly, not turning back to look.
By this time, Lee had caught up and overtaken his friend, placing his hands on his shoulders. "Dawn, what are you thinking?"
"I'm done, Lee. I'm done sitting on my hands. I'm done wasting my life hiding in a stupid polo shirt babysitting teenagers and bending over for ten dollar's worth of business." Tyler growled bitterly, his eyes didn't look to Lee, instead they looked towards Tamara who had also caught up at this point.
"Stressed, whatever is going through your head right now, we'll talk about it tonight." Tamara stated, losing her patience with her boyfriend's crap.
"I don't have to answer to either of you." Tyler huffed, pushing past Lee and continuing. This scene was gathering a decent amount of attention from the crowd, but Cari and Craig were able to regain the mourners attention and keep the ceremony going.
"Do you have any idea how dumb you sound?!" Tamara yelled, grabbing his arm which Tyler shoved away. "Just calm down, you're acting like a spoiled brat."
Tyler's face didn't flicker, he just kept walking. By this time, both Lee and Tamara could see where he was walking towards. A fountain, set up at the end of the opening path to the cemetary. What made this an important fact was that Tyler had long ago learned a spell which could create portals to other worlds, but required a body of water, no matter how small, to activate the magic.
"Dawn!" Lee warned, a sense of urgency in his voice. "If you are thinking of returning to Saygrem, you must consider the consequences. You may very well die."
"I'd rather die for something than live for nothing." Tyler mumbled. From the corner of his eye he saw Tamara's reaction. Her eyes grew wide in shock and then any trace of patience or love vaporized, if only for a moment. Her hand balled into a fist and swung destructively at her boyfriend's jaw with enough force to knock him from his footing to the ground.
"You selfish idiot!" she all but screamed at his floored body, "Don't tell me that I'm nothing. You have a family here who all love you. Do we really mean so little to you?"
Lee stood back and watched the scene, crossing his arms and silently judging his best friend, as he pulled himself back to his feet.
"You mean everything to me. But when I die in a few decades and you guys move on, you'll look back at our time together and think "all we did was sit in a tiny apartment and work all the time". Tell me what's meaningful about that, Tamara."
"What's meaningful is that we're together!" she protested, all but ready to floor him again, "Are some idiots in another world really worth throwing away everything we've built?"
Seeing Tamara's pleading eyes gave him a moment of doubt, but it was fleeting, "It's only meaningful that we're together until I'm not there anymore. I don't want to waste away in a hospital room with you people pitying me until I pass. You should come with me. We can do great things, side by side."
In another time, in another world, Tamara may have been swayed by his offer, but the anger of his stubborn childish attitude was too much. "I really don't know why I waste my time on you." she huffed out, "If you're so obsessed with dying, then just go away. I don't want to hear you whine for the rest of your life about this." and with that she stormed off, a maelstrom of anger and sadness warring in her heart. She didn't want him to go, every part of her heart wanted him to stay, but he was just too stubborn to speak with.
"What a fine job you did there, Dawn." Lee sighed, shaking his head, not having moved since the start of the arguement.
"Shut up, Lee." Tyler growled, storming towards the fountain. "And don't try to stop me."
"Alas, I know you better than that. Your idiotic resolve, as baseless and pointless as it may be, can be stopped as little as the morning sun. The best I can do for our family is keep you alive and deliver you home when you are cured of your stupidity." he paced a step behind his friend at all times.
"What about Cari?" Tyler asked, his voice pointed as a spear, attacking anything he spoke to.
"She may very well be upset, perhaps she will not forgive me. But if I am to sacrifice my place in our family to preserve yours, then perhaps you are not the only fool with martyrdom on the mind." Lee's voice sounded far too bright and perky for the statements he was making.
Tyler's pace didn't slow and eventually he reached the fountain. He did not begin his spell immedietly, he just starred at the water for a second, perhaps expecting a second assault from Tamara, perhaps expecting Cari to step in or even expecting his resolve to fade.
None of these things happened.
"Lee. I'm opening the portal to Saygrem." he stated, his voice a little more relaxed for the brief reprive. "The only way I can honor Amberleigh is to prevent the churches there from sacrificing children like her. It's just my nature. You understand that, don't you?"
Lee was silent. He never validated nor condemened his friend's proclamation.
"Are you sure you want to follow me. As a half angel, you're an abomination. Either faction discovers you, you'll be executed. I know you haven't forgotten that much."
Lee was silent again. Tyler could feel his silent wishing, as if a silent mantra in the air chanting "Please don't do this."
And with all attempts to stop him having fallen short, he opened his hand up and began speaking words that had been left unspoken for over a decade and a half. The magic spells he had perfected so long ago were hardwired into his brain and as he gently spoke the incantation, his lips remembered, his body remembered and the magical seal appeared as it always did, forming a shimmering portal in the air above the fountain's water.
With not a word or moment of hesitation, Tyler walked through. It was only Lee who turned his head and looked back towards the funeral for a final silent farewell to his beloved Cari and the rest of his family.
As the pair walked through the portal, their bodies underwent a chilling sensation, like being immersed in icy water. The sensation lasted all of a single moment before the pair emerged on the browning grass of a lake's bank. Tyler marched forward, observing the landscape. The climate was different out here, far colder. The sky was overcast, coating the landscape in a dull shadow.
The sudden temperature switch was not favorable for Tyler, who was still wearing a suit and tie, but his foolish determination was enough to press him forward regardless. Lee followed and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. It was warm, given Lee's fire based abilities, his skin was always warm. He's seen him walk barefoot in snow and have puddles form in his steps before.
"Where did you land us, Dawn?" he asked, scanning the landscape. "I had assumed you would shoot for a city."
Tyler sighed, looking around futilely at the fields which dipped and rose dramatically into the horizon. "I didn't notice any terrain like this when I came last time." he muttered, trying to gather his bearings, "As for why I didn't hit a city--- I haven't been here for 15 odd years, you try remember the exact position of the Julis' fountain. It's a wonder I can even remember the name of that city."
"Ah, I do forget, where I spent centuries here, you spent weeks. You must forgive me." Lee's hand removed itself from it's rest on Tyler's shoulder as he paced ahead. Tyler briefly bemoaned the loss of heat that the touch had given him, but soldiered on.
"We have vantage points." he called out, following on, "Let's climb a hill and see what we can see."
"I must warn you, Dawn." Lee mused in a playful manner, "Given the climate and the landscape, I am quite sure we are in Ascendian territory, to the north east of the map."
"Beautiful..." Tyler sighed, watching the plume of breath emitting into the cold crisp air, "So we're in the brute side of the war. I was hoping we could take out the Blessed angels first, there may be more of them, but the healing magic is less of a threat."
Lee shook his head, smiling, "This is the first I have heard of your plan. You once again wish to challenge the angels? I would claim it full hardy, but you are a foolish man. I shall humor you for now. But to claim the Blessed outnumber the Ascendian is a rare show of ignorance, a trait I had not accredited you for."
"What do you mean?" Tyler grumbled, a little annoyed by how much Lee seemed to enjoy insulting him today.
"The Blessed followers do, indeed, outnumber the Ascendian forces, but to assume that the Blessed side have more angels is foolish. You of all people should know that mastering offensive spells is quite easier than healing. I would say there are no more than twenty Blessed angels. Ascendian, I am unable to say, though the number is significantly higher. The thing that makes Blessed's strength is it's number of followers, not angels. Recall the last time you attempted going after it's followers"
Tyler closed his eyes. Long ago he had read about how a group of angels had found a portal from the perfect world of angels to the world of Saygrem. Discovering that on the new world, they were able to summon elements and magic from their home world, they were revered as deities for being able to conjure the elements and heal.
The war originally began because some of the people put the one angel who could heal above those who could use their magic to conjure fire, wind and water. Thus creating the religion who taught healing magic and the religion that taught "offensive" magic.
The entire "religion" however was a ploy to use human beings as vessels to transport angels from the angelic world to Saygrem, via a summoning ceremony, where the angel would be inserted into the body of a magic practitioner and would feed on their spiritual energy, which was refined by the use of magic.
Until now, Tyler had assumed that due to his encounters, the Blessed religion was the dominant force with more followers. Lee's words had made him second guess that assumption.
As for the last time Tyler had challenged the followers...
His heart was uneven, but his resolve did not break. This was a defining characteristic of the man who stepped out of the portal, back into Saygrem. His errands were finally complete, Amberleigh was safe with Tamara in his own world, both herself and Lee were safe from the war and it's obsession with hunting them down.
There were no more distractions now, no more obstacles to overcome. Simply a man and his resolve, to end the Blessed faith and save Saygrem from it's race towards destroying itself. To say it was an easy errand would be a lie and to say it was a sane one would be insanity. But knowing that they would stop at no ends to reclaim their prized possession in Amberleigh or prosecute the abomination they saw in Lee, he knew that it was the right thing to do.
The man had no name to call his own at this point. He had two names others called him, though neither one felt right at this time. His heart was awash with confusion, mixed between being the great hero Tyler Dawn and the ego remnant Stressed Bayfield.
Having just said goodbye to his life as Stressed Bayfield, leaving his farewells with the people who would need them, he walked towards his objective as Dawn.
He marched along the road towards the holy city of Julis. He knew that in it's central cathedral, the angels were waiting. Like kings hidden in a palace, they loomed over the city and controlled it all. The masses too contented in their ignorance to question things or break the illusion that had been crafted around them.
His mind coiled with ideas. He could step up and speak to the people, for what good it would do. He could plot and scheme. Or he could just rush in and do as much damage with a full on surprise attack and see what happens from there.
He decided to go with the one which would keep people talking. Fuel the fans of rebellion. Though he did not agree with their methods, the existence of the third group, the Outcasts, was hope enough that a suicide attack would not be a wasted effort.
His lips began moving, slowly reciting the words making up the most powerful spell that he had learned. The ability to shoot a blast of pure darkness, a void which crumples and abolishes all that it touches, even angels. The Abyss Spear.
The magic seal formed in his palm, shimmering and attempting to escape the clutches of his clenched fist. His tattered cloak flapped in the wind. He passed by children at play, vendors on the street, distractions all trying to ruin his concentration. The church was closer now. Not long before the incantation was complete.
The behemoth building towered over the city, magnificent in it's grandiose splendor. Dawn eyed it for the right spot to hit for the inner sanctum. Almost ready to fire, he pointed his hand towards the dome, revealing the shining magic seal for the world to see as the blast rippled forward in an explosion of energy, rushing to collide with the building.
People gasped, gaped helplessly as the attack crashed into the stone walls, through into the main temple and into the secret sections that lurked beyond. Dawn watched with focused eyes. The single attack was far from a finishing blow and the retaliation would begin soon enough. For now, however, the present populace were stunned by the display of stone crumbling to the ground amidst plumes of dust rising up.
From the rubble, several figures flew into the air. Angels, white wings spread wide upon as they swooped down. Dawn withdrew his short swords and readied himself to meet with them. The onlookers retreated for safety, leaving the empty town square for him to do battle. His first swing was able to connect with flesh, but that was all the room for movement he was given. A second angel knocked him off his feet, two more from behind pinned his arms to the ground.
A defiant glare up at his oppressors was the only satisfaction that Dawn offered them, he studied their features. All of them were physical perfection, none seemed to appear older than twenty six years of age, their hair colors ranged from blonde to blue.
As he memorized their features, one that seemed far more muscular than it's companions stepped forward as his wings wrapped around his body like a cloak, all Dawn could see was his jet black hair which cascaded down in sheer contrast over his wings and instinct told him one very important fact. This was an Ascendian bred angel. The secret leaders of both factions had allied to protect one another.
It raised it's hand and pointed it at Dawn, he watched mesmerized by the blue light which poured out in the shape of a magic seal. He was preparing a high level spell. Possibly the Abyss Spear, the only spell which could harm him.
The features memorized, his work done, Dawn closed his eyes and accepted oblivion. As promised, his last thoughts were of Tamara.
Back in the moment, Tyler shook his head vigorously, trying to shake away the mental images. "That didn't go too well. But I learned some interesting things from it. And if I'm attacking a group of Ascendian angels I know to gun for the healer. They seem more delicate in form than their bulky counterparts. I'd hate to see a female Ascendian angel."
"Ah, indeed. They would be hulking harpies, would they not?" Lee joked, enjoying himself too much as he walked ahead. He suddenly stopped and spun around to look at his comrade with a straight face. "But don't forget, the first time you were a spirit who was not able to die. You are entirely mortal now, if you were to jump into battle, you would perish and only my songs would carry your memory."
Tyler walked straight past his friend, a dark feeling swelling inside of him, making all possible replies seem bitter and angry. He chose silence instead.
The duration of their conversation had taken them to the peak of the hill they had been climbing. From this point they had a far better view of the land below them. There were no towns or cities within view. Just stretches of plains which filled the gaps between the hills. Many of these flatlands were just spots for water to gather and form into miniature lakes. But there were still appropriate fields which for the most part were abandoned.
The glaring exception was the thing that caught Tyler's attention. A sea of white sheets set up with four wooden towers erect at the perimeter.
"The Ascendian Army." Lee announced, ominously. "We should retreat, we stand out too much from this poi-" his eyes grew wide as he noticed an orange glow from one of the lookout towers "Watch out!" he yelled, while his body moved in front of his friends. A ball of pure flame raced towards the pair and caught Lee directly in the chest.
Not bothering to react to the attack, Lee grabbed Tyler and jumped down the hill, rolling along it's steep slope, catching small rocks and twigs along the way, until they were back on the ground by the lake that they had entered the land in.
"What the hell was that?!" Tyler yelled, pulling himself up and brushing off his suit, noticing all the rips and tears their little tumble had earned them.
"I assume the Ascendian Army spotted us and viewed us as non-friendly targets." Lee casually stated, removing his burned shirt and jacket and tossing them to the water where they sizzled for a moment, before bobbing on the surface as useless rags.
"We were just standing there!" Tyler protested angrily as he glared at his friend.
"My assumption would be that we are close to a border and that any passing through the area would be known by those posted at that base. They shall be coming, if you do not act fast. Perhaps we should return to the funeral. Tamara's justifiable rage is but a walk in the park compared to what may happen if we remain." Lee paced close to his friend, smiling all the while, eager to convince him to go home.
"Lee, I'm not going back. Not while I have unfinished business here. If they force us to fight, we will fight. I'm not afraid." he replied, his voice full of gritty determination.
"Then clearly you are a fool, but you are my best friend and thus I am a fool too, am I not?" Lee said, leaning towards Tyler's face with an all encompassing grin.
"You've been calling me an idiot for the past ten minutes. Do it one more time and I'll add another angel to my hit list while I'm out here" Tyler responded snarkily.
"As much as I enjoy you warming to the idea of humor, Dawn, you must recall that you are not to refer to me as such in this place." Lee warned, dipping back into a serious tone. Tyler noticed that this was the first time he had seen Lee act so seriously in all the years he had known him. Had the circumstances have not been as dire, he may have felt some remorse for the situation he had put him in, as he was only now realizing how much it must be bothering him.
"They're here." Lee said, indicating a passage between two hills where a group of horseback riders approached.
Tyler looked at them, six or so individuals, all wearing the same uniforms of white with heavy cloaks draped over long shoulder guards. The rider in the lead of the charge had a variation, his shoulder pads were angled and his cloak was heavier, more regal looking in tone. He was undoubtedly the leader, and he approached the duo alone, leaving his subordinates with their bows and spells to hang back and observe.
"What do we have here?" the leader asked in Saygrem's native tongue, his voice was gruff. The man had a shaggy blonde beard which obscured most of his facial features. Only his bold dramatic eyes drew attention and allowed anyone to visually gauge his emotions during any given conversation. "You're a long way from home, lads. You'd best have yourself a decent excuse, because we're not the type to offer mercy."
Though Tyler had not spoken in Saygrem's language for a long time, he was able to understand what was being said and was preparing a reply, when Lee spoke for the both of them.
"We mean no harm." he said, "We are simply bards who had a carriage attacked, we are without food, shelter or instruments. We beg your support."
The leader regarded both men, his piercing eyes absorbing every spec of detail about them. "You wear strange garb. Your story may well be a fabrication as no road passes through these valleys, but we shall question you further at camp. Consider yourselves prisoners until we have the truth at hand."
Lee bowed dramatically, "We thank you." he stated with a smile. Tyler starred at him bewildered, unsure why he would be so welcoming to the idea of being imprisoned.
The walk back to the camp did not eat up too much time. Tyler eyed all of those working underneath the golden bearded general, their faces were young, they all looked startled by the presence of the two intruders. Tyler had to guess they were either new recruits or getting dangerously close to seeing battle and worried that it may happen sooner than they'd feared.
The leader simply marched ahead, not looking back at his prisoners. When at last the camp came into view, Tyler looked up at the sentry posts, noticing that two men patrolled each of them on a constant basis, obviously ready to engage anything that moves.
"Here we are!" the leader announced, jumping from his horse. "Men, go back about your duties. I shall question these two in my tent. None are to disturb, do you understand?"
A unified cry of "Yes Sir!" filled the air. Tyler was actually impressed with how responsive the team were to the impossing bearded man, loyalty and trust. He mentally prepared himself for a formidable opponent, only someone with a great mind and great skill could command that much respect.
The leader took the pair into his camp and sat down. Though the size was larger than the smaller tents that had surrounded it, the inside was not as grand as Tyler had been expecting. This leader may as well have been a foot-soldier for all the treats it seemed to have earned him.
"Before you get your story straight, let me tell you something. I have a keen nose and the smell of #!#% carries. Lie to me and there'll be hell to pay. State your names."
"I'll share mine, if you give me yours!" Tyler defiantly grunted, earning a sharp shove to the ribs from Lee.
"I'm also not in the mood for games." The general growled, starring at Tyler with a piercing gaze which dared him to speak up again. "But for the record, my name is Commander Cobalt. Now out with it, lads. Who are ya, and what brings you to these hills."
Tyler sank in thought for a second, he could make an assumed name, the first that sprung to mind was Kane, an alias once used by Tamara's old love. But he kept his mouth shut. He wanted to see how far his influence had managed to travel in the past decade and a half. The man was alone and had neglected to shackle either of them.
"I'm Tyler Dawn." he announced, "This is my partner and friend, Lee Cypher."
The eyes shimmered, he wasn't sure if it was understanding, shock or a mixture of the two, but he reacted, his beard moving upwards, perhaps into a grin.
"That's not a name you should throw around lightly, lad." Cobalt replied in a slightly jovial tone, "Certain qualities are mixed in with that name there, the other too." he regarded Lee, and Tyler couldn't quite make out what was going on with his eyes as he did.
"My team are good men and they know how to listen. You'll be tested, for sure. But I'm the type of fellow who knows my stuff and keeps his head in the know if you know what I mean." he announced, Tyler infact did not know what he meant. "You lucked out, lads. Any other camp this side or the other found you and you'd be facing a trip back to the afterlife or wherever it is you two were hiding."
"Ah, so our reputations preceed us?" Lee asked, a little defensive, given that the commander was acting so enigmatically.
"Preceed?" he laughed, "All three sides of the war are on constant look out for you, my boy." he chuckled at Lee, "As for this one here, he may be dead to all who know, but that doesn't stop him being the second most feared name in the land."
"The first being Uhziel..." Tyler mused,recalling the Outcast leader, a man who was thorough bred to learn all offensive spells and harbor in his body the most powerful angel that the land will ever see. The fact that he still draws breath is all that confines that deadly angel from being birthed.
Cobalt laughed again, slapping Tyler on the back with enough force to knock him off balance "I meant me, you cheeky brat. Though you mention it, that old git may well be the one people whisper more about."
"You seem too ready to believe us." Lee asked, "Our story of being bards seems more plausible."
"Aye, that it is." Cobalt mused, his eyes alive with the moment, "and yet what would ye gain from pretending to be a murdering villain and a half-angel?"
The tension in the room suddenly thickened, almost suffocating both Lee and Tyler right there and then. They'd expected that Tyler's actions in the Blessed providence would have gained imfamy across the land, but Lee's status as a half angel was not something that he expected to carry. Only one man saw evidence of the fact and he was on the Blessed side.
Perhaps it was more proof that the Blessed angels and the Ascendian ones were keeping one another up to date on all things.
Cobalt broke the tension with another thick layer of laughter "Quit being so tense, lads. I'm not here to judge. But you did wander into my camp, and way I see things, you both got no where better to be with names and faces like yours. You, boy, are exactly the way I'd imagine the famous killer 15 years on and if that wasn't a tell, then this one here hasn't aged a day. Looks are pretty telling, friends."
Tyler took an instant disliking to the commander, who's mannerisms made it feel at all times like he was toying with them. Lee seemed most amused, however.
"So you want us to join up with you, is that what you're asking?" Tyler asked, eyes narrowed.
"If you'll be wanting to make a change of any kind in this world, you're best with reliable allies. I wont claim it be fate that sent you my way, but I will claim that it'll be my will that keeps you here. You ain't got no place better to be."
"And you know why I did what I did all those years ago?" Tyler asked, "You know why I want to change the world, and how."
"Boy, know your small place in this world and stop assuming it to be all big and important. You think you're the only lad who stumbled into a church and caught on that things ain't right. I know damned well what's happening, and as too do me men. Now shut your yammering, take off those ridiculous garbs and suit the heck up. Or I'll give the command to execute you instead of accept you."
Tyler just starred at the eccentric general in absolote astonishment "What are you getting out of all this? Why are you being so pushy?"
"Fortune favors those who act, laddie. You know you and that Uhziel chap are the only two human beings who have killed an angel. If we want this slaughter to end, I'm in a bind, as you're the only lad I can recruit with a chance of winning in the end."
"Dawn, it appears our hands are tied in this situation." Lee sighed.
"I disagree." Tyler affirmed, grumpily. "I want to walk on this. Talk it over. You've given us too much to consider in a single dose."
Cobalt laughed again, "My men often tell me that. Must be something us old farts do when senility sets in. Want to get all thoughts out on the table before they fade out."
Tyler pushed himself to his feet, Lee following suit and he marched out of the tent. As they walked through the camp, he felt all the young eyes of the soldiers watching him. Twenty minutes ago he felt like he was burning with a resolve to fight against the tide and bring forth justice. Now it seemed like his actions had rippled through Saygrem's history and action was happening without him.
"Perhaps we should go home." Tyler sighed, looking around the base. "They clearly do not need us here. That crazy guy knows more about the situation than I was able to learn and seems dead set on seeing it through to the end."
"Ah, but Dawn, is it not better to act with assistance than to be alone. Perhaps with organization and comradery we shall be able to succeed in our quest. I would have us stay, if only to see what happens. This Cobalt fellow... intrigues me."
Tyler stopped and looked around. "Lee, you know this world. You know this army. Explain to me what you think is going on and then if you think that our staying here will do much."
"As I see it, this is but a decorated faction of the army. A unit which under the man Cobalt's guidance has achieved rank and regard among the Ascendian's. I would imagine, as Uhziel before him, he was invited to speak with the high order, the angels themselves... and it was through this meeting he may, too, have discovered the truth behind this world. Perhaps, using his influence and perhaps his mission, he wishes to destroy both sides, once as the attacking force and then his home team as he returns victorious and is granted a second audience."
"Sounds ambitious..." Tyler mused, rubbing his chin, "And he values me for my legendary status as an angel killer."
"And me for my status as a half-angel, though I cannot imagine how many people know of this. I was surprised he knew of it from a glance and a name."
"Me too... perhaps he saw us during our first visit. I can't imagine anyone buying a story so quickly, I would have thought my death would be well known."
Lee shrugged, "Answers will only come if we remain" he smiled to his friend, leaning once again, right up into his face. "What will you do, Tyler Dawn?"
"I thought you wanted to go home." he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"My wants do not reflect on this situation." He stated with a grin. "I shall follow you until the very end."
"As comforting as that is to know, I'm not sure this is a good idea. What if he's trying to gain our trust in order to hand us in and finish the job?"
Lee simply smiled, patting his friend's shoulder, "Dawn, you are cute when you are paranoid, but consider the information we have been offered. Let us say that he is a loyal Ascendian commander, then would he so casually have revealed the dark secret of the religions?"
Tyler heaved in a breath, Lee had a point. To make mention of the alliance between the angels of either faction and how they were making war between the nations to breed more angels, this meant either agreeing with the destruction of the human race for a meaningless war, or being sincere about his will to want the cycle destroyed.
"We will stay." Tyler finally announced, shaking his head. "Your point is good and if I can aid in this and make good of my promise to end the madness here, I will."
Lee smiled in responce, rocking back and forth on his heels. Tyler wondered why he was so jolly, but did not give it too much thought. "Let's go then." he said, and the two retreated back to Cobalt's tent.
As they pushed the curtain open to look back inside the tent, Cobalt sprang to his feet, his beard pushed up into a grin. "Lads! You think up on my offer?"
"We did." Tyler affirmed, stepping in and idly observing the barren confines of the tent, "We will stick with you, for now. Our objectives are the same, and as much as I hate siding with a faction, I'd rather not face this task alone."
"Ah, but have it known," Lee added, stepping infront of his friend, wiggling his finger "we shall abide by your rules and customs, but if we deem your operation to be destructive to the people and to this world, then we shall abandon it and perhaps oppose you."
Cobalt laughed, grabbing both men and hugging them close to him for a second, before they eached pushed back out "You lads don't worry about a thing. I'm no fan of genocide, myself. We'll keep things neat and clean for you." and with this said, he spun both men around and pushed them back out into the murky light of the open air.
"Men! Assemble!" the general yelled in a gruff commanding voice. A group of no more than twenty men gathered in single file within sixty seconds, Tyler couldn't help but admire their discipline in getting this done so swiftly.
"Men!" Cobalt repeated, "These two will be joining us for the remainder of our campeign. Their names are Tyler Dawn and Lee Cypher."
The ranks began murmerring amongst themselves, looking confused at one another and their commander.
"That's right," he continued, his voice in full on announcer mode, "the angel killer and the abomination are here. And you men will work alongside them. Any insubordination and you'll have me to answer with."
This didn't seem like a popular command. As Lee and Tyler stood in the spotlight awkwardly gazing on at the reaction they were seeming to garnish from the troops, they mumbled and seemed quite troubled.
"MEN!" Cobalt yelled, they all snapped to attention immedietly, "I thought I trained you better than that. Don't disappoint me now." as he spoke now, he walked up and down the line, eyeing each soldier. He stopped infront of one, who seemed visually troubled. His eyes were wobbling, his fist was clenched and instead of looking straight up, his head starred at Lee and Tyler.
"You, lad!" Cobalt yelled, grabbing him by his collar from both sides and glaring directly into his eyes, which returned to their proper target. "You having second thoughts about my squad? Now's the time to speak up about it."
"Sir!" the soldier said, in conditioned responce, "With all due respect, I will not fight alongside an abomination."
Suddenly the soldier was face down on the ground with Cobalt looming above him with his arm in a tight hold, the soldier's face was wincing in both agony and anger. "I can take away your ability to fight, my boy. So you'd best rethink them words and give them to me when you're sure I wont misunderstand."
"...sir!" he spat, tapping his free hand against the mud.
Releasing him, Cobalt clapped his hands together and rubbed them with what Tyler could only guess was an amused grin. "Any more comments?"
Unsurprisingly the group now stood rigidly and called back "No Sir!", the floored soldier got back to his feet, rubbing his arm and trying to regain his lost pride.
"Well then. Let me give you the downlow and and the lowdown." Cobalt continued, grabbing Lee and Tyler by the shoulders. "We march out into Blessed territory in three days. When we get to them days, these two will be your allies, you will fight with them. You will die with them. Do you understand?"
The unified cry of "Yes Sir!" rang out in the air again.
"And, boys. What be the rules of engagement in battle?" the commander asked with a curious hint of glee in his voice.
"No one dies before the commander!" the soldiers called back out. Lee actually laughed outloud at this, Tyler was just annoyed that he wasn't taking notes, this was the kind of leadership he could only dream of displaying to his own troop of college kid cashiers.
Cobalt slapped his hands together "But that's in three days. We have a busy schedule before then, lads. Tomorrow we train, the day after we train some more and then the last day we march."
A silence filled the air for a few seconds, his heavy hands were still clamped around Lee and Tyler's shoulders.
"That leaves today." he said, ominiously. "Today is hazing." and with that he thrust both new recruits into the mud "Give them your all, boys. We'll whip them into shape before we march. Except you, boy." He pointed at the soldier who had protested fighting alongside Lee. "You, get them uniforms. The blonde one's a lanky lad, so you may have to break out a needle to modify."
The guy's face sank, the moment of delight he had at the mere idea of hazing Lee was shortlived and now due to his outburst, he was demoted to seamstress for the day.
The commander gave a hearty chuckle and turned on his heels, retreating to his tent, "Get to it, men. By morning, I want to see these legends brought down to your level." and with those words spoken, he disappeared to whatever kept a general busy while his troops did the work.
The soldiers encircled Tyler and Lee, one put a muddy boot on the back of Tyler's funeral jacket, while another grabbed a clump of Lee's hair, both were pushed back into the mud.
"This ain't no angel killer!" a soldier laughed, looking down at Tyler, "Looks more like a %!+%% to me."
"His friend too!" another added, jeering on his comrades who kept the pair firmly grounded in the mud.
"Okay, guys." Another voice said, in a far more reasonable tone, "If Commander Cobalt wants us to haze them, we wont do it like children. This is still the army and we will do this with discipline."
Tyler was able to look up and see the uniformed man regarding the other men, he looked a little older than the average soldier, though younger than himself. Possibly early thirties. His hair was short and straight black and his eyes were golden.
The foot came off of Tyler's back and Lee was released, the two pulled themselves up and as Tyler dusted off his clothes, Lee wiped away the dirt from his face.
"What do you suggest, Evan?" one of the troops asked. Tyler noted from the tone of his voice that this Evan character outranked them. Perhaps a trusted luitenant.
"First off, they have to earn their uniforms." Evan stated, eyeing the recruits with a smirk. "Take those rags off of them. If they want to be warm, they'll have to fall into the program quickly"
Lee's grin grew at the announcement of this idea and Tyler's face fell instantly. "Lee, do we have to put up with this crap?" he asked, futily.
"Twas your decision to stay, was it not, and they have made it clear that they would not appreciate us leaving." Lee said, "If it is any consellation, I could keep you warm."
Tyler looked to his friend with a glare, but that was all he was able to get. The troops had pinned him back into the mud and were pulling away his shoes, jacket, shirt and pants. He could have easily have resisted, perhaps Cobalt expected them to. But there was little point in starting a pointless battle.
"Let them have their fun, my friend." Lee said, holding his hand up to the troops who were about to roughly remove his clothes. "I would much rather endure a day of their aggrivation than to have it subtley lurking when we need allies." as he spoke, he willingly slid away his clothes. "Would you not agree?"
"Shut the hell up, Lee!" Tyler yelled, squirming against the onslaught of five men all out for his dignity.
Evan paced up and down, watching, he gave a smile to Lee. He seemed to enjoy someone who was willing to cooperate from the very start of proceedings. "Now, when you're quite done turning the legendary angel killer into a mud monster, men, we can begin stage two."
The troops backed off and Tyler was able to stand, his body was now coated in mud and he was chilled to the bone from the northen valley winds of the murkey autumn day. Even with layers on he was cold, but without them, he began to involantarily shiver. Normally his determination and iron will was strong enough to endure all obstacles and ordeals, but it was Lee's absoloute amusement of the situation that was getting under his skin.
"You two will climb the east and west lookout towers respectively and stand on the highest log and stay there until you can recite the Cobalt Code, word for word. The faster you learn, the faster you get down." Evan, nodded to some of his troops, "You go with the angel killer." and then he nodded to some to his right "And you with the abomination."
"I shall accept your judgement and punishment," Lee stated with a smile, "but you mustn't use that term. I am a half-angel and have as little control over my heritage as you do your own." and with this said, he extended his fire wings, startling the troops and causing an air of discomfort. With a few swift motions, he took to the air and flapped up to the top of the tower, landing on the highest log, a circle of wood that was no more than 20 inches wide. He waved giddily at those below, "Whenever you are prepared, I wish to begin studying!" he called down.
Tyler rolled his eyes, climbing the side of the tower with a grumpy demenour. "Smartass bastard..." he grumbled, growing increasingly annoyed with the night and wanting to get this ordeal over and done with before night brought about truly low tempretures.
Once he was up at the top of the camp, he looked over to see Lee, who'd tactfully put his wings back where they would not raise attention. He couldn't help but casually think that this hazing process was a form of karma and payback for making him abandon Cari. He did feel bad about doing that, but he had never asked Lee to come along, he just did out of his own inclination.
"You up there!" a soldier yelled up at him.
"The name's Tyler Dawn, use it." he grumpily called back.
"The Cobalt Code is a list of twelve rules to live and fight by. Learn all twelve and you get to come down and join us." the kid they'd sent up to speak with him sounded fresh, wet behind the ears. The more experienced members of the unit must be enjoying the night off.
"You must have been, what, seven or ten years old when I did all I did when I was last here." Tyler said casually, shuffling to keep comfortable without losing his balance.
"I was five." the kid replied, making him 23 years old now. Way too young to be in a decorated unit. "I learned about it at church. They said you were a Blessed hero and saved them from the Outcasts, but then became a traitor and went to kill them. They said you killed seven angels."
"Only two that I know about. Might have got more with my last attack." Tyler responded "So if I attacked your enemies, why do the Ascendians hate me, too?"
"Way I heard it, you're a monster. You killed anything and everything you came in contact with." the kid sounded half-way between scared and impressed.
Tyler laughed, "But you guys here all know the score, right? You want to stop the angels, too. Don't you?"
The kid was silent. As Tyler was on the log, he couldn't see the person who he was talking to, so imagined he was eithewr smiling or frowning.
"We will win, right. You'll teach us how to kill angels, and we'll stop the war." the kid was way too optimistic. It was almost depressing to talk to him.
"Sure thing, kid. So what about that Cobalt Code, huh?"
The next few hours were full of both Lee and Tyler trying to memorize the code. The rules were not all that long, but each time either of them attempted to recite the code from memory, failure caused them to be barred from a second attempt for half an hour, and wording had to be precise.
The hours caused Tyler much discomfort, naked and exposed to the cold wind, he bunched into himself, shivering and finding it hard to keep balance. It was only the thought of being able to train alongside these people the next day and show them his true worth that kept him going.
By the end of the first half hour, he had learned not to look at Lee, who was openly mocking the test by standing on tiptoes with one foot and singing the code to himself between formal attempts to recite it. Despite the fact his song matched what the kid was telling him word for word, he kept making small mistakes with the formal recital. Obviously he was stalling to stay up there as long as Tyler.
The test finally ended, hours later, as Tyler climbed back down, he looked absoloutly overwhelmed by the physical endurance he had made his body suffer.
"Get that man a bowl of stew and a uniform. He's one of us now!" Evan commanded his men, turning to look up at Lee.
"You're something else, angel!" he called up, "Get your butt back down here and we'll warm you up."
"Lee hopped down, landing in the mud with a roll and a wide grin. "I must say, you know how to make people feel welcome." he grabbed Evan's hand and shook it, before waltzing on to follow Tyler for food and fashion.
"You're an arsehole, you know that, Lee?" Tyler grumbled, when his friend was reunited with him.
"I know, but you love me anyway." Lee grinned, leaning close to his friend and offering him some of his angelic warmth.
"We set up a tent for you both on the commander's request, inside you'll find your uniforms, a meal and your bunks. Be up at sunrise, the real work begins then." Evan said, "And for what it's worth, we're fortunate to work beside you. We have no clue how you ended up in this unit, but we couldn't have a better omen before our mission. Rest up."
"He's not too bad." Lee stated, stetching as he walked into the tent. "Perhaps a bit stuck in the mud, but he seems as fair and brilliant as their general without any of his eccentric charm."
"I'm surprised you're not singing praises for the general, Lee. You two seem cut from the same cloth." Tyler said, far more calm and level now that warmth, food and clothes were provided.
The clothes in question were the white cloaked uniforms that the others were wearing. The food in question was a thick beef stew which billowed out with steam.
"Did we do the right thing?" Tyler asked, pulling on his uniform. "I'm not comfortable with this army thing."
"We shall find out what this war ending scheme is and we shall decide from there, I doubt much else needs to be thought about." Lee responded, going for the stew first and eating it without even looking at the uniform.
"You're right... I guess for now, we just endure the moment and decide our plan later."
CRAIG !!!! come on man! write some more.
i'm really into this now, i totally love your writing, and i'm sure my best friend would be happy to learn i'm reading something (she's been pressuring me to read books for 6 years, but novels aren't a fun read like your fiction is)
what i like about your writing is how you describe the facial expression and your princiable on family and friends are warming.
btw, i'm glad you enjoyed the complimant from before, you really deserve it. i can't wait to get to the battle scenes, so please work that magic 
p.s: try reading it to your mrs, sometimes people don't like reading stuff but will enjoy hearing it.
......................... i'm not going too far am i?
You flatter too much, Fans. I'm thoroughly flattered you're enjoying it, and I must admit reading your comment before starting inspired me to put in a sparring scene, so please do enjoy.
-
The uniform was quite comfortable and warm, the formal portion of it was tight against his skin and the fabric thick enough to provide effective insulation. The cloak seemed mostly for show, though it was hardly a detriment for either warmth or battling. Tyler's preferred method of fighting was with a big and heavy cloak, the extra material made it difficult for a melee attacker to judge the correct position to land an attack and in Tyler's humble opinion, was far more effective than mobility restricting armor.
"I never thought I'd see myself in a uniform." Tyler sighed, admiring the white fabric over his body, "But I threw that greivance away when I started working at the bookstore. Compared to that, this almost seems natural."
"As you say, Dawn." Lee sighed, too busy enjoying his meal, "But you musn't forget that you are not the warrior of your youth, you are a family man and this mid-life crisis of yours is but a passing phase."
Tyler's smile vanished and he crumpled back onto the bed, glaring at his companion. He was far from an idiot, and the concept of a mid-life crisis had not alluded his self-analysis of his baffling behavior, but to chalk this down to that would be to say that he was doing it for himself and not for Amberleigh.
That was a thought he did not like entertaining. It was a thought he was starting to believe was true.
"You have been in a rather biting since we got here, Lee. First the idiot remarks, then mocking me during that hazing session... now you're chalking my resolve down to a mid-life. What's going on, man? I thought you were on my side." Tyler asked, noting that his tone sounded a lot more whiny than he had intended it to.
Lee smiled and spun on the spot to look at his friend, "I am glad you asked." he stated, rubbing his hands together in eager anticipation for what would follow, "Before I begin, Dawn. Know I am always on your side. If I were to chose between death at your side or life by Cari's, I regret to inform I am obliged to select your side. If nothing more, we've known one another longer and there is this "bro code" is there not? I recall "Bro's before Ho's" was stated, was it not?"
Hearing Lee talk say that outloud in his playful tone was too funny for words and despite his tense state, Tyler burst out into laughter. Lee beamed as his friend clutched his sides and enjoyed a moment of unguarded joy, something he felt he needed since his recent emotional breakdown at the news of Amberleigh's demise.
"But," he continued, with a straight tone and an even expression, "there is something to say of the fact you hurt both of our lovers with this stunt. I know you had been mulling it for days before you did it, and Tamara was vocal in her concerns about this. You had every opportunity to discuss it before you left and you refused. Now I have left Cari alone without but a goodbye and if I die, she will never know why."
Tyler's eyes avoided his friend's, he did feel a deep shame for that. He wanted to speak with everyone about his decision, but he could not envision a scenario where it would not have ended in a fight and with everyone even more sad than they would have been otherwise. It was a lose-lose situation for him. He did not consider that Lee himself would be dragged into the situation like this.
"I also want you to understand. Whether it in retreat or in victory, we shall return to Sega City. Regardless of your reservations. You know that Cari and Tamara, possibly Navi too, shall all hit you and perhaps hate you for this, as leaving in the middle of a funeral with no warning and taking me with you was... how shall we describe it? ...Tactless." Lee's eyes pierced into his friend's. He knew that this was neither what he wanted to hear, nor anything that would help him. But it was what he had to hear and something he needed to understand.
"We wont die." Tyler mumbled, starring at the ground, the shame and guilt mounting up on him and the thought of their respective lovers alone and upset feeding his doubts. "I promise, Lee. The two of us will be going home. Victorious or in retreat. We will survive."
Lee smiled, leaning back to stare at the top of the tent. "So long as you are confident of this, then I have no reason to be upset. When we return, Cari will be mad at you, not me. Though if we are gone too long, she may very well cheat on me."
"I wouldn't put it past you to cheat on her while you're out here." Tyler responded with a smirk.
"Ah, well. Our vacation has just begun, and we are in the army now are we not? Let us not think of fraternizing. Unless you are offering your own services?" he winked playfully at his friend.
Tyler rolled his eyes, grunting "Shut up Lee and put some damn clothes on."
"Ah, but I am a half-angel, we do not get cold. I prefer to sleep naked. Perhaps we should share a bunk." Lee hopped up onto his feet, slowly approaching his friend, enjoying how uncomfortable he was getting, and adding it to his karmatic torture of his best friend for making him abandon his girlfriend.
Tyler shoved him back to the ground, "Shut up, Lee. You're not funny."
"Ah, but I am a singer, not a comedian. I am not one for jesting." Lee continued, circling a finger in the dirt, while fluttering his eyes at his friend.
"You are a sick man. You know that? Sick. Now go to bed." Tyler warned, flopping back and curling up inside his cloak to get some rest.
"What about your stew, Dawn. One must keep up their strength." Lee said, picking up the second bowl and carrying it over to his friend.
Tyler gave no responce, Lee's playful teasing having bothered him more than enough for one night. Lee, noticing this, gently set the bowl down beside the bed and hopped into his own. "Goodnight, Dawn."
After a minute or two, he opened his eyes and picked up the bowl, looking at Lee's form, curled up and closed eyed, holding a pillow in place of Cari. A soft smile came to his face, as he finished up his meal and slumped back into a restful sleep.
The rest was shortlived, however. As the morning sun was but a mere speck on the horizon a booming voice echoed through the vallies of the land with a stern command. "MEN! ASSEMBLE!" the voice belonged to Commander Cobalt, and his command was followed by the sound of hehavy boots stomping through the grounds and foirming a line in the clearing between the tents. Tyler and Lee were quick to follow suit and before a full minute had passed from the commander's bellow, the entire camp was lined up and ready for orders.
"Men! We ride into batte in two more days. By that time we need you working as a unit. We need you working as one. When your brother kocks an enemy with a spell, I want one of you there with the finishing blow before he hits the ground. Do you understand?"
"Yes Sir!" came the unified responce, Lee and Tyler included. Though Lee's tone was far less disiplined than those who surrounded him.
"When one of you falls, I want two men to stand infront to protect him. We are but a unit of twenty, lads, but we are a unit of twenty as one, and a man by those measures is mightier than any army. Ain't they lads?"
"Yes sir!"
Though obscured by the thistle bush of his beard, Cobalt's expression seemed to be one of elated joy, the man must live for battle. Of course, a general is only the sum of his stratergies. Tyler couldn't help but think that twenty, no matter how strong, were no match for entire forces.
"Today we got our new boys. Lee and Tyler. Am I right in thinking the angel killer of legend favors short swords?" Cobalt asked, stopping his up and down march right infront of Tyler.
"Yes sir." he responded, "They offer a good compramise between mobility, defense and offense."
Cobalt chuckled, though Tyler didn't detect a joke, "Well spoken, lad. Well we'll be able to set you up with some of those before the day's out. What of you, my boy?" he said, walking to regard Lee, who looked suprisingly well suited for a uniform. "What type of weapon do you prefer."
"Ah, if I were to say a guitar I would be peeling potatoes today, would I not?" he said with a smile, "Thusly I shall mention I have often used a staff in conflict, though we both know this is not my strength."
"Aye, that be true, boy." Cobalt chuckled, shaking his head, "But I'm not having any lad of mine in battle with a pansy hitting block. You want to grab you some offense to go with that fancy waving. We'll work you in with a lance. All the joys of a staff with more pointy jabby."
Lee shrugged with a smile "As you say. If you believe it will work, then I am not to argue."
"Good man." he said, slapping Lee on the shoulder, "We may just get you swooping in with that lance of yours and going for maximum hit."
"I am sure you would be aware, I am not fond of showing my wings in battle, excluding as a last resort." Lee said, seeming surprisingly discomforted.
"As you say, lad." Cobalt said, walking off to continue his march, "But we may very well not have many options in the fire of battle."
He stopped again infront of the young lutienant, Evan. "And as I work on our stratergy for the coming battle, Evan here will be drill master. Follow his instructions, lads. He's a good kid."
Evan stepped forward, saluting his superior and turning to the parade. "Today, men, we'll work on magic versus melee. The Blessed enemy are only adept in defensive magic, which will be our strength. But to rely on our offensive magic will stalemate us. We need to work on breaking their defense with magic and then going for the kill with melee, while keeping them at bay. With our new guys focusing on fire and wind respectively, we have a good range of elements here. I'm certain victory will be ours if we fight as a unit. Can we do it?"
"Yes Sir!" the ranks responded.
"Then let's do it!" he shouted, "Men at ease! Grab your weapons and pair off, we will run drills until the afternoon. Dismissed!"
As the others all went to their tents to gather their weapons of choice, Evan approached Tyler and Lee. "We'll have to give you two a private lesson. But, from what I hear, you should be fine without much training, right?"
Tyler nodded "Magic wise, I can perform any wind based magic from memory, several water skills and, as you probably heard, the coverted Abyss Spear. Lee here, given his angelic status, doesn't need to conjure magic seals, he just creates fire as he wills. Melee wise, we're both rusty. I wouldn't mind getting a feel for our new weapons."
"Consider that done. Let me take you to the armory." and he lead the two of them to a short tent stocked to the brim with all different types of weapons, bows, swords, lances, axes. Tyler ran his fingers on the hilts of all the short swords he was able to spot. They had all been used at some point, but hardly seemed to have been dulled down by their age.
After testing the weight of a few, he finally selected a fairly good pair with weighted hilts. Giving them a few test swings, he smiled to Lee. "My old pair were nothing special, so I actually think this is a trade up in quality."
Lee smiled back to his comrade, "I am glad it suits you." he stated, simply plucking the first lance he spotted.
Tyler shook his head at his friend's display of absoloute disregard for weapon quality, but pressed on, following Evan back out into the open air.
Evan spun around, to look at Tyler with a playful smirk. "Before we begin, let's see how good you are with wind magic. It's my forte, too. Infact, my proficiency is what makes me second in command."
Tyler smirked, eager to face up to the challenge. "What were you thinking?" he asked, toying with the swords idly.
"I'll shoot at arrow at you from the top of the northen watchtower, I estimate a couple hundred feet distance. More than enough for you to avoid the attack." Evan's voice sounded fairly confident, Tyler tried to imagine why.
Lee chuckled, patting Tyler on the back. "I shall be rooting for you, my friend."
With a bloated sense of confidence, Tyler stepped out until a clear point where he could watch the second in command climb the tower with his bow. Tyler took in a breath and began chanting a wind barrier spell, designed to repel projectiles. Far from the defensive barriers that the Blessed soldiers knew, but it was fairly effective for it's purpose.
Evan shot up in the air, the arrow soaring up above the camp. Tyler kept a keen eye on it, wondering why he shot up rather than for a direct shot, but kept his spell prepared. The arrow was soaring down, it seemed off target, however. It was going to undershoot him by a few yards.
Lee smiled, watching, taking a step or two back. The arrow was plummeting with great speed towards the Earth infront of Tyler, when he finally looked up from the arrow to see a shimmering light from the watchtower, Evan was performing a spell. Whatever it was, it was too late to change stratergy and so throwing caution to the air, he cast his magic barrier.
Evan's spell fired out, aimed at the arrow, rather than Tyler. The arrow suddenly switched direction and picked up it's speed to the point of which it bulletted straight through Tyler's cloak fabric and dug into the ground between his legs, undettered by the magic barrier.
"How was that?!" Evan called, climbing back and returning over to the pair. "Might is all well and good, but a keen mind wins all battles. You should remember that. I guarantee, even if they're expecting it, no one can dodge my Ascended Arrow strike."
"Cute..." Tyler mused, plucking the arrow from the ground and handing it back to the fresh faced young luitenant. "I admit, that was pretty clever. It smashed my wind barrier like it was nothing."
"And that's why you two will be taught our stratergies, by the time we move out, you'll be lynchpins of our offense." he said, smiling and twirling the arrow around. "We'd best get down to business."
"I'd like the two of you to spar with one another. I'll judge your strengths and weaknesses and work out what we can do to help you out." he stated, slumping back to the ground and watching with keen eyes of interest.
Lee gave out a little laugh, brushing a hand through his hair, before plucking the lance with a hand and swirling it above his head, bringing it into an offensive stance.
Tyler followed in kind, preparing his swords, one to attack with the right side and one to parry and defend with his left.
"And go!" Evan called, eagerly awaiting the spar of two Saygrem legends.
Tyler hurried in for the first attack, swinging his right hand around for a high slice to the torso and his lower with a low jab to the leg. The speed and confidence of the attacks showed the true trusting nature of the two men, as Lee parried both with the lance, and swung back to slice at his comrade's neck. The two men had absoloute trust in one another, not in that the other would not break skin or wound the other, but that the other would not fail to block. Fighting under such trust was enough to give each man the drive to do their utmost and not hold back at all.
For the most part, Tyler was on full offensive, with Lee athletically dodging and parrying attacks, seeming most amused by every one of his friend's attempts to stop him. This lasted for the first minute or two, before Tyler began to throw spells into the mix, faking an attack before giving his right sword off to his left hand and casting a gust spell into Lee's chest, knocking him back.
Sensing the battle heat up, Lee landed on the ground, casting aside his cloak and the top half of his uniform in order to extended his wings, now prepared to give a full fight, he grinned over to his friend.
"It has been a while, has it not. I have forgotten how scary you are when aggitated." and with this he flew up to swoop in with the lance. This action, however, was hasty and unthoughtout, Tyler easily dodged the swoop and brought both hilts onto his friend's back, knocking him to the ground before laying a blade at the back of his neck.
"I win." He stated, triumphantly.
"That you do, my friend. That you do." with a smile, Lee hopped back up, brushing his pants off and stretching out his back.
"How was that, Evan? Satisfactory?" Tyler asked, sliding his swords into his belt.
"Sloopy, unrefined and undisciplined. We have a lot to go over." Evan sighed, pulling back to his feet. "We'll work with the whole team. Maybe get the commander to show you a thing or two. For now, get some breakfast and think about how you can incorporate your magic and melee seamlessly. That stunt you pulled putting your swords in the same hand has to be the stupidest thing I've seen a person do in a long time."
Tyler stalked off, aggrivated, not enjoying getting scholded for what he felt was a fairly decent demonstration of talent.
"Don't worry about it, Dawn." Lee assured. "They just require different standards, we should keep an open mind. Perhaps we will learn something."
Fort the most part, training was an enjoyable experience. Evan, and later Cobalt, had the ranks pair off against one another to do one-two shots designed to break defense and supply offense. The defending teams on each of these drills were tasked with keeping their partner moving. During Tyler's first stay in Saygrem, he had never needed to think too hard on how to use his magic abilities, he simply fired them as one would a gun.
During the day, he learned to use his spells to support people, rather than meerly attack. He wasn't all too fond of the passive use of his spells, specifically when he was fully aware that his best one would be able to wipe out a multitude of troops whether they were defending or not, but he appreciated how safe it made everyone feel.
The day turned out to be a glorified bonding excercise and Evan was quick to seperate Lee from Tyler so that the two would be able to team off with the other members of the team.
Tyler couldn't help but notice that, though Evan was in his early thirties, he was the eldest of the group. The majority seemed in their twenties. Though it didn't reassure him much that he would be fighting alongside such young soldiers, their skills did seem polished, and when asked why the team seemed so young, the answer always alluded that Cobalt hand picked them all for their lingering doubts on the Ascendian faith.
When taking down a cult, one must pick the most cynical as allies, it would appear.
Night came and went and more training was done to follow. Lee seemed to be dancing through the motions, not allowing anything the phase him whatsoever. During the evening he would talk longingly for Sega City and how they would both be done with this war in no time. Tyler humored him.
Finally the day of the move out came, before Cobalt's loud yell could ring out through the valley, the men were already full on at work, tents were already being dismantled, carts and caravans were being stocked.
"Let's move, men. The enemy awaits! The early one's slay their targets as they sleep, the lazy ones are slain. Let's get moving before sunrise, lads!" Cobalt shouted out. Today he was wearing, over his dramatic cloak, a satchel full of rolled up papers, presumably maps and schemes for the oncoming battles.
The sun was barely visable over the hills when the caravans started moving, Tyler and Lee were riding with Cobalt, at his request.
"Well lads, the men seem to be taken with ya." he stated, rubbing his hands together, "Though Evan thinks you lack a team spirit. You'll prove him wrong on the battlefield, wont ya boys?"
"Yes sir." Tyler all but mumbled, "So what's our plan of attack?"
"The Blessed's border brigades are further into the area, we're riding the line between our territory and theirs. We take out one of their camps and plant ourselves there. From there we find ourselves another lake and we teleport in, occupy, teleport out. It's the Cobalt method, keep them wondering if we'll arrive by foot or by magic. Ain't no better way to put the fear of Cobalt in a man than to never know how he'll attack"
Lee smiled and Tyler leaned forward, "I was wondering why you put your camp so close to a lake, given the Outcasts usually teleport in and out of their targets locations."
"Ah, them." Cobalt sighed, "Should have you know they percieve us all as a threat so we got to respond in kind. Same objective and all, but they're a vicious lot, lads. Best to avoid if you can, kill if you must."
Tyler's thoughts trailed back to his encounter with Uhziel last time he was in Saygrem. The man held the strongest angel of all and it showed. He was effortlessly able to cast the Abyss Spear as Tyler could and was even able to capture him and attempt to convert him to the cause. It didn't work, but he knew that the Outcast leader was a man to fear.
"When we reach the outpost, we'll go in for a quick stealthy kill. Evan will take out the watch towers, the boy is a natural sniper, could hit an ant from a mile away that one. From there we'll have Lee set fire to the tents, smoke em out so to say, and once they're in a mad panic searching for the enemy, we rush in from all sides and take them down as we find them."
"Good plan." Lee mused, kicking his feet, "But what of the smoke that the fire produces, I assume you wish to keep this operation stealthy."
Cobalt burst out into the laughter, slapping his knees "What a lad, I tell you. You're the first one to raise that objection, my boy. Don't you worry, though. That's all part of the plan. Attract attention and be gone before they arrive. It'll weaken and diminish surrounding forces, keep people on point, get them all moving towards the border when we teleport further down the line and hit them harder."
"You wish to attract your enemy towards your border?" Lee asked, quite astonished.
"Consider it a gambit, or consider it me leaving the back door open so I can kill two birds with but one stone." Cobalt mused idly "Either way, gives us safer passage towards Julis."
Tyler nodded firmly. "Then let's do it."
The caravan marched on for hours, keeping to the low ground and hidden out of sight. Evan plowed on ahead, keeping his eyes trained for any watchtowers. Every now and again a single arrow would bullet through the air to the top of a hill and take down anyone who may witness the group's passing into the Blessed region.
The sun was high in the sky before Evan's horse trotted back to the main group and they all paused for their final rest before the battle.
"Men, victory is already ours. But to get confident at this point would be to through caution to the wind. Alas, victory is there for those who wish to claim it, so though it be ours already, we must seek it to gain it!" Cobalt proclaimed, causing Tyler to wonder what the hell he was talking about.
"As you say, sir." Lee chimed in, "This shall be swift and decisive."
"That it will, my lad." Cobalt said, slapping Lee on the back. "To your stations, people. We have a short window and a lot of things to fill into it. Let's go, let's go."
Plucking up his lance, Cobalt ran off, taking four of the troops with him, Tyler ran with three more to the east, to bring about the rear of the assault. The rest remained. The sign to charge was Lee's assault. The fire and smoke providing a signal for the attacking team as well as the defending.
Evan's arrows fired and the lookouts were dispatched within seconds. Followed straight on by balls of flame thrown directly at the tents of the camp. As predicted the startled enemy tried to percieve their attackers and spotted Evan atop a hill, his arrows sang out towards the Blessed and pierced through their barriers quite easily.
With their attention focused to the front, the flanking parties made their charge. Tyler leading one of the parties, Cobalt the other. Cobalt ran faster than his comrades, swinging his lance with a single hand and flailing bodies into the air using it with the greatest of ease. Tyler moved quickly through the forces, his partners breaking the defensive spells with their magical assault, leaving him open to slice into the openings.
Some Blessed who had their weapons began a retalliation, sparking off lighting spells into the air and blinding all in the area, their own swords brought down onto the opposing army. In the midst of his blindness, Tyler backed off, finding his comrades behind him. Through the sea of neverending white, Cobalt still loomed, his lance finding opponents and their screams filling out the silence.
"Ya damn fools!" he screamed to the world in general, "You blind yourself and you're open to my wrath!"
The brightness soon faded, leaving the flaming tents as the only abundant source of illumination on the grounds. The ground was littered with white robed soldiers, most taken by Cobalt's spear. Somehow he must have seen through the light spell and while the Blessed forces retreated, he just picked their blind and defenseless selves off.
But the commander didn't drop his guard, he watched the skies most anxiously, seeming more afraid of this calm after the battle than he had with the fight itself. The rest of the team moved in and regrouped in the middle of the burning camp.
"You fools! You never listen!" Cobalt yelled, "Battle ain't over until you can confirm no angels were born!"
Tyler mentally kicked himself, forgetting that Blessed faction soldiers were imfamous for being sent into battle with angels in their soul, so that killing them would simply strengthen their side's forces.
"THERE!" Cobalt screamed, seeing white wings soaring out, retreating from the sight. "Tyler! Use that spell of yours. Now!"
Tyler gulped in and began chanting the Abyss Spear incantation as swiftly as he was able to recall it, however it was a lengthy spell and required more concentration than he could offer at this time.
Evan shot arrows towards the angel, who was growing into an increasingly small speck on the horizon.
"Now! Take it down now!" Cobalt yelled, almost in a tantrum.
Tyler's hand seal shimmered, it would take a little more concentration, a few more moments.
Then suddenly a pillar of darkness shot up into the air, engulfing the angel and disintegrating it in a mere instant. Not even stray feathers survived the blast.
Tyler gasped out, losing his concentration and causing his magic seal to vanish. The spell was not cast by him.
"Wait, what just happened?" Lee asked, looking bewildered at his friend. "If you did not fire off that attack, then who did?"
It took a split second for the realization to dawn on both Cobalt and Tyler. "Oh %@%#!" Tyler exclaimed.
"Uhziel..." Cobalt grunted, starring off into the distance. "Men, fall back. We can't take this one on our own!"
But as the troops backed off towards the caravan, they spotted them. A few specks in the distance, but unmistakably Outcast soldiers, their weapons all trained on the party who lingered out in the opening of the burning camp.
"This would appear to be a bad situation." Lee joked, looking around the team. "What do you suggest, commander?"
"What do I suggest?!" the gruff voice yelled out, "Kill the sons of #!!*%%!, fight till you die and don't forget Cobalt Code rule 1. No one dies before the commander! Now ATTACK"
Cobalt threw his hands into the air and shot out a wave of fire, the flames travelling directly towards a group of Outcasts, before a gyser of water erupted from beneath it, extinguishing the entire towering inferno and sprinkling the entire area with a cool rain.
"Calm yourself, Cobalt." came out a calm voice of an aged man. "We're not here for you, today. We just saw an angel and knew what needed to be done. I'm already aware you are not fond of employing angels under yourself."
Tyler glanced to Lee briefly, hoping his secret would remain intact during this encounter.
The speaker revealed himself, walking slowly towards the group.
"Behind me, men!" Cobalt yelled, his lance ready to attack the newcomer.
The newcomer was an elderly man, dressed all in black, the man was bald and his wrinkled face was coated in scars, his skin darkned by age and his eyes yellowing. The man looked at death's door, but had an expression of such intensity that warned his age and frailty were not to be seen as weakness.
"Uhziel, you sly dog. You look like crap!" Cobalt jeered, glaring at his opponent.
"It has been a long time, my old friend. You look as fresh as the day you first taught me to swing a sword." the man named Uhziel responded, pacing around idly, keeping an eye on the man and his team.
"That was a long time ago, boy. I was wrong then as you're wrong now." Cobalt responded, backing off into his men and wondering how long he could keep Tyler and Lee secret from the extremist.
"As I see, you seem to favor the more... fragile... warrior these days. It is a shame, given you were the one to send me on this path, I was hoping you'd rethink joining with us. It makes no sense for you to be allied with an army you wish to destroy." Uhziel mused, his eyes seeking to look at the fragile masses and it showing in his face how frustrated he was that Cobalt was blocking him.
"You're hiding something from me, old man." Uhziel growled, Lee had to fight off laughter that the decrepid senior was calling the able bodied commander "old man".
Cobalt's body tensed up, as Uhziel merely bypassed him and looked through his ranks. His yellow eyes piercing all they came into contact with, to Cobalt's relief, they passed over Lee and went straight towards...
"Tyler Dawn..." he gasped in surprise, "It's been 17 years. I'd always hoped you were still alive. I've searched long and hard through this land and to date you're the only man I have deemed worthy of killing me."
"Hello again, Uhziel. I'd kind of hoped you were dead." Tyler retorted, crossing his arms and glaring back as good as he was getting.
"We both know this world is as good as doomed when I die. You did the world a great justice by preventing Amberleigh's angelic possession, but you still failed in ridding this land of mine."
The mere mention of Amberleigh's name from the genocidal maniac was enough to make Tyler consider granting his wish right there and then, but the moment was fleeting.
Uhziel sized up his old nemesis, brushing a hand under his chin with a confident grin "You all get to live another day. If you are taking Dawn here on your hunt for angels, then I think you may well have some luck. We will meet again."
With this said, the old man stalked back to his troops.
"Are we to allow him to leave?" Lee asked, eyeing the terrorist leader, "We could save ourselves a lot of trouble and deal with his angel while we believe we have the strength to do so."
Cobalt was silent, his eyes seemed far less jolly than they normally appeared, the man just seemed effected by the brief encounter.
"He'll start attacking the Ascendian regions if we leave him to his devices." Lee warned, looking to anyone else to back him up in his plea.
"They survived a decade and a half without our help, Lee. I'm sure they'll survive a few weeks. I want to kill him, too. But--- as much as I hate to admit it, he's a useful ally if he's not trying to kill and convert us." Tyler sighed and walked towards Cobalt, putting a hand to his back.
"Sir, we need to talk, in private."
Cobalt nodded, "Bring your friend. No use hiding things now. That little upstart may aswell have announced things for the whole party to hear."
ha ha too cool, tyler is anything but average, he's very interesting but i thought lee was my favorite but now i think i'm liking cobalt better. he's such a cool leader, awsome work!
the excitment is keeping me on my toes
Thanks for the kind words. If you're a Cobalt fan, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I imagined it coming off a lot more dramatic than it did, but I'm suffering major fatigue today and wasn't getting the feel for the chapter at all.
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Tyler marched off with Cobalt signalling for Lee to follow them both. Cobalt, who had always seemed the jolly approachable man suddenly seemed intent and focused as he stormed away from the camp. "You lads better listen careful. Wont bother repeating this and I trust you'll understand when I say it's only for you pair to hear."
Tyler folded his arms, starring intently at the general, who's expressive eyes were avoiding the pair infront of him. "You trained up Uhziel, huh?" he asked, in an accusing tone.
"Aye, lad. That I did. The kid was born to be my apprentice, to be the demonic murder machine he grew up to be. If I had a sense of pride, I'd hold some in that one, I tell you that much." the man pinched his brow and shook his head thoroughly. "But that ain't what you're asking, is it, boy? You want to know why I'm still alive if I'm old enough to have raised the fossil."
"The thought crossed my mind." Tyler grunted, not yeilding his defensive tone. Lee, to his side, was staying quiet, not as judging or aggressive as his best friend. He merely seemed curious.
"I shall not dance around matters. I am an angel." he stated flatly. Tyler's lack of reaction proved that he was holding this suspicion already. Cobalt's face fell "You must understand that my intentions are pure. By raising Uhziel and sending him on this path, I had hoped to end the war and bring peace... I did not believe the child would grew so bitter and twisted."
Tyler frowned, pacing around the commander, "So you raised him to fill your agenda and he grew passionate beyond your means?" he asked, his voice as icy as before.
"One would say that, lad." Cobalt sighed, shaking his head, "But what I want now is to gain your trust, let you know my story. You and this lad here got every reason to distrust me, so shut your hole and listen. Okay soldier?"
Begrudgingly, Tyler mumbled "yes sir.", shifting back to listen to the commander speak his tale.
"Originally, there were five of us in this world. We entered the world through a portal which appeared in our world, and it was from there that we used human beings to summon our brothers here. I wont bother saying what caused us to split off into Blessed and Ascendian factions, but the bottom line is, I lived with the humans. Raised the armies, both sides. Living with them... I empathized, I grew to like them. Love some, even. So I started to shift my focus, if you excuse the term." Cobalt's words seemed sincere enough, Tyler saw no reason to question them and lowered his tense stance at last.
"So you're trying to work from the inside to end the war?" he asked, breathing in a sigh of relief.
"It is as you say." Cobalt agreed, "And so it came to pass, that I would decide to work my post to end all of this war once and for all. Alas, my attempts have all required subterfuge and stealth. Not very quick or effective things."
Tyler's eyes shot between Cobalt and Lee and his brow furrowed.
"And what were your attempts to end the war, before this point? You must be well over a millenium old. Things seem worse in this world than when I left a decade and a half ago." as Tyler spoke, Lee's hand fell upon his shoulder, gripping it to halt his anger before it had an opportunity to grow.
"More than I wish to go over, lads. We'd be here the greater majority of a night. I will say, though, that the reason things are worse is you, my boy. That attack you made on Julis. You took out a number of high rankers. The shift in balance and the audacity of the attack caused the wheels of war to get spinning faster than this old timer would have liked. You got my old prodigy burning entire towns to the ground, too. You're lucky the world lasted twenty years for you to get your wrinkled buttcheeks back to fix this mess."
Tyler breathed in sharply. "Well, we'd better hurry up and finish it, then." he grumbled.
"Hold your horses, lad. You don't know your front from your back and yet you're ready to run in spells ablazing. How did that work out for you the first time?" Cobalt asked, raising one of his bushy eyebrows.
"Poorly." Lee interjected with a smile, "This one has a tendancy of acting with his hot head and ignoring rational thought."
"Thank you, Lee." Tyler sighed, punching his friend's arm, "I thought it was a cause worth dying for. I didn't have much room to breath and think of a better solution."
"Well, hush your lips, lad." Cobalt continued, interupting the squabbling friends, "Thing you need to do is stick with me and let me deal with the thinking. I've walked this world and learned enough about both factions to fill a library. May I continue my story, the next part is important."
"Do you really want to? You know it may not end well." Tyler warned, looking with cautious eyes between the golden haired men to his left and right.
"Dawn, you must stop attempting to be my guardian. I too have walked the world far longer than you, and am not impervious to ideas of my own. To be honest, had I not have had such a crazy notion of our esteemed general being an angel, I would not have encouraged you to stay last night." Lee's voice was as perky as ever, a keen smile on his lips as he looked expectantly at Cobalt.
"Aye, this lad is a sharp one. But he knows angels a little more than you do, lad. You see and kill a couple and think yourself an expert, but this one here, he has the blood of our kind, we can recognize it fairly easily, can we not, lad?"
Lee nodded, with a smile, "It is a certain aura which eminates. Alas, as a half angel I am not adept enough to spot an angel resting within a human coil, though I am sure Cobalt is able to."
"Aye, it's why I prefer the front lines. If I can, I keep those angel harboring bastards living until I'm ready for them to die." He cackled, seeming to have lost all of the somber tone which hung over the conversation moments before.
"And this is how I knew from seeing him he may very well be an angel, and yet he seemed to be well loved and trusted... a human loving angel. A foreign concept to me, in many ways. Though by virtue of my very existance, at least one of them must exist, am I not correct, Cobalt?" Lee's eyes flashed, and Tyler saw in that moment that he'd been set up. From the moment they first met the commander, Lee must have been harboring his thoughts and keeping them secret until this moment. What Tyler was fretting for the past fifteen minutes, Lee had been calmly contemplating for over an entire day.
"You're a sharp one, son." Cobalt grinned, "I'd be a damned fool and a liar to say that my seed has not polluted the gene pool of humanity. If there be half-angels of this world, I am to say quite confidently that I am their father."
As Lee held his calm smile, it was Tyler who's mouth was hanging open in surprise, his eyes blinking. He'd suspected that this may have been the case since the confession began, but to hear it so casually revealed by a laughing brute of a man and with Lee not reacting. It just felt unfairly disappointing.
"Of course, to keep my role secret and safe, I couldn't very well raise you myself, lad. And for the fate of your dear sweet mother, I can only say that my only folly was to trust a Blessed fanatic to last 9 months of pregnancy without freaking her little heart out and running to a priest with her confession. Damned fool of a woman she was, but I loved her for what it was worth." Cobalt's face still seemed as if he was laughing inside even from the dire topic of conversation, what made matters worse was that Lee was also grinning like an idiot the entire time.
"Stop! Stop!" Tyler yelled, holding his hands out, "This is too casual. You're saying the reason Lee lived his life for two centuries in fear as an abomination is that you made a slip of judgement?"
Cobalt shrugged, "To say it was a mistake to love would be to lie, but to leave her alone during an emotionally vulnerable time was a foolish mistake on my behalf. But it was so long ago, am I to allow it to hang over me as a dark cloud forever?"
"YES!" Tyler cried out in desperation, Lee burst out laughing at this, "What the hell do you mean? You caused unspeakable pain to your lover and your child. How can you be okay with this?"
"We all grieve in our own ways, Tyler Dawn. We can not all want to wish death upon ourselves for every little mistake and mis-step. Sometimes it is in the things we do and not the things we feel that offer solace and redemption."
"Cut the crap!" Tyler called out, all but ready to storm off in disgust.
It was Lee who stopped him, putting his hands on both of his friend's shoulders, clamping him to the spot, "Dawn. You are not obliged to either listen or understand. But to know that my life was not a mistake offers me more peace than you can possibly understand. To know I have made something with my life, mistake or not, offered me more peace than any silly confession could. How is Cobalt here able to heal my wounds when they have simply never existed?"
"...I don't understand you two..." Tyler whined out, weakly, being held in his friend's grip. "How can you be so care free?"
"You can too, my friend. You simply chose to react to the extremes at all times. To be honest, I believe it is what endears me towards you."
Cobalt burst out laughing, slapping Lee on the back, "You lads! You make an old man smile. Be sure to invite me to the wedding when it happens."
Tyler's featured wrinkled up as his entire soul frowned in disgust, Lee simply chuckled, whispering closely to his friend's ear, "I would gladly wear the dress, it would flatter my angelic form."
Tyler shoved back against his friend grumpily shouting out in frustration, "Damn you both, you prozac induced fairies. I'm going back to the camps."
Laughing brightly, Lee followed him, playfully adding "I love it when you're mad."
Walking back to the party, Tyler found himself starring at Cobalt's back. His heavy cloak with it's extra high shoulder guards suddenly made more sense. Whether he was hiding a full pair of angelic wings under them or the stub remnants of a pair that had been cut, they did offer full security for him, preventing anyone from noticing his secret.
The rest of the troops were very undisciplined in their leader's absence, all lounging with their weapons and talking and laughing without a care in the world.
Cobalt would change this in an instant, calling out "What's with the lollygagging, laddies? We won the war already?" the troops all snapped to attention, guilty looks on their faces, like children caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
"Well that's splendid, lads. Guess we'd best move in on Julis if we're so damn confident." and with this he threw his weapon to the ground, and his tone changed instantly from the jolly whimsical general to the brutal commander, "Never let your guard down, we just faced off with the Outcasts, you lazy slackers! All it takes is a passionate renegade of their troop to swoop in and we're up against a full on angel."
Tyler stood back with a brief smile, wishing he was able to yell at his own group of adolescents this way. Lee shook him on the shoulder and escorted him back to the ranks.
"We got the border, but we should be moving soon. Outcasts aren't the only one who will see the smoke. But their presence may make matters more tolerable to us, if the Blessed move in on our territory now we've abandoned our post, they may pick up the pieces and catch them unawares." Evan stated to the group, looking at Cobalt for validation before turning back to the ranks.
"And that, my lads, is why you'll be hanging back." Cobalt interupted. "Aye, it was my intent to bring ye all down into the deeps of despair with me and our legends here, but truth be told, I am not prepared to let us have a gapping hole in our border. This camp is now our post. Do you understand, men?"
Evan's expression showed complete horror. Whatever this command was, it was unprescidented and equally unexpected. "But sir, aren't we moving in?"
"Aye, lad. That we are. But have ye ever thought of how a band of soldiers would fair in the heartland of the Blessed capital? I'm going to bring the legends and your fine your self, my lad. That way we get maximum damage with minimal movement."
Lee's mouth hung open, Tyler had to take himself out of the moment to notice that the entire line of soldiers were similarly shocked. Cobalt never seemed like a rash man in the past, but the sheer reaction to this moment told him that the commander was acting vastly out of character.
"You have a plan, Commander? Surely?" Lee asked, astounded.
Cobalt's face broke out into a full on grin, "Ah, well. That may very well be, my boy. But for now, we'd best just keep our numbers low and our speed swift. Don't you worry, my lad. This war will be over by our hand one way or another."
"You don't intend to let us in on your plans, do you?" Tyler asked in a cynical tone.
"Let us say that I am a flexible man, and flexibility works best when you're not keeping the chain of command up to date on certain matters." The general slyly commented, walking to a pair of horses. "So, lads. You set up here and fight off the attackers, live like soldiers and recall the first Cobalt Code. Until you know I'm gone, you'd all better be alive. You hear?"
The crowd, half-heartedly called back "Yes Sir!", most appeared to be disappointed to learn that they would no longer be involved in the mission and many were just afraid of fighting without the general's divine protection.
"As for you three," he continued, turning to his second-in-command and both of the new recruits, "you'll be riding up with me. I've packed our provisions. To save up on resources, we're doubling up on the horses. Evan, behind me. Lovebirds, you take the other one. I'll let you decide who's front and back."
Tyler couldn't help but glare at the commander and could see that the action brought him as much joy as it would normally bring Lee. He felt surrounded by pranksters. Lee was beaming a bright smile at him, ready for some comment, Tyler just shoved him to the ground and hopped onto the saddle of the horse. "Lee, get your butt up here. We're riding out."
Lee pulled himself up with a grin and hopped on behind him, keeping his hands at his friend's waist. "Ah, this is exciting, is it not Dawn? Adventure, excitement, intrigue."
"Yeah..." Tyler sighed, "I really do wonder what our esteemed commander is thinking. The four of us alone cannot really do much. Cobalt may be an angel, but we're facing at least a hundred of them. How does he intend to win with such small numbers."
"Who knows. Is it not best to follow instructions and see where they lead? I must admit, a large portion of my soul cries for answers, but there is a part which simply wishes to enjoy the mystery. You should worry less, anyway, we are alive and well with no prospect of a gruesome death for some time."
Tyler couldn't see Lee's face, but he could feel his smile burrowing into the back of his head as clearly as he was able to feel the hands at his waist . "There's always that." he sighed.
Cobalt's horse moved out and Tyler followed suit, leaving the diminishing flames of the Blessed campsite in the distance, and the party of soldiers alone to defend their border.
"Our first stop is Vulgav, lads!" Cobalt called out, "They got themselves a pretty little angel summoning shrine. We'll have ourselves a brief little looksie before we hit Julis proper."
"What about our uniforms, sir?" Evan asked, a little shakily. "We can't ride around this country like this."
"True you are, lad. You're as sharp as those arrows you weild. But I just as sharp. Our provisions include some generic robes, easy enough to blend in with and to conceal my little medical condition."
Tyler's eyebrow raised. Evan was in on the plan because he knew Cobalt's secret. Which means that the rest of the men did not, perhaps that is why they were left behind for the operation.
"Have you given much thought to home, Dawn?" Lee's voice unexpectadly rang out from behind Tyler.
The question hit him harder than it really should have, his stomach churned for a moment while an answer came to him. "I have." he admitted, "Tamara especially has been on my mind, Amberleigh too."
"You have not really given yourself an opportunity to mourn for young Amberleigh." Lee sighed, "and you are not entertaining the possibility that Tamara may not wish for your return."
"She probably has had it up to her neck with my crap." Tyler consceded, shaking his head, "And I'm tired of dealing with "normal life", whatever the hell that is. But we're still in love. It's... it's risky. I don't want to think about it."
"Ah, as you say." Lee enigmatically replied, waiting a moment or two before continuing, "Then I shall ask you at a more opportune moment."
The moment lingered on, leaving only the clapping of hooves against the ground to fill the silence, Tyler starred straight ahead and Lee looked whimsically at the countryside around them.
"Have you been thinking of Cari?" Tyler finally asked.
"Ah, I have. But as mentioned, we are an easy couple. She has a tendancy of removing herself from a relation when pain seems a possibility and she will return to it when the damage is healed. She will be as carefree now as she was when I left."
"You underestimate her." Tyler retorted, frowning. "You may not see it, but she cares a lot more about you than she did about all of her other partners."
"Then I am merely hoping this is the case. For the small worth of the words, I do know she claims to be loose, and so if she requires a relationship to recover her aching heart, then we shall hold no grudges or ill wishes."
"Good for you." Tyler half-heartedly replied, wishing to drop the subject now.
Cobalt's horse slowed and brought itself alongside Tyler's own, so the two men were side by side. The golden bearded angel looked over to him, his expressive eyes as grave as when they were discussing his secret.
"Tyler, my friend." he began, slowly, "I have to say. You must keep your emotions in check during our stay in this country. A lot of the things you shall see will bring about memories of your first stay. I feel there is no need to hold this as a secret. Amberleigh Anderson, the child you saved from the angel summoning ceremony. She was the first attempt at creating a Blessed high-angel. Your stunts in both saving her and in killing some of the high-priests of the Julis church--- to put it bluntly, your actions caused repreccusions."
Tyler starred at the general, mentally preparing himself for whatever bombshell was about to be dropped.
"Father Anderson, Amberleigh's father. He did not die during your assault, and he did not give up on his dream of fathering the savior to the Blessed people. The man's resolve may only be trumped by his insanity."
"You don't need to tell me that." Tyler sighed, recalling the fanatical father of his surrogate sister. "So he tried again?"
"Aye, lad. That he did. Succeeded, too. Our first stop is to visit your wee girl's baby brother. Name of Adrian, aged 16 and the boy is practically a saint among the people. His healing touch bests Amberleigh's by some ways." Cobalt's eyes never strayed from Tyler.
Tyler closed his for a moment, processing it. The idea made sense, of course. He rescued a fifteen year old Amberleigh 17 years ago, so it took him a year to create another heir to the Blessed throne. But the timing also brought about a very important question, and it required a large breath before Tyler had the inner strength to allow it to be vocalized.
"Does he have an angel yet?" he asked, gravely.
Cobalt's face didn't move. His lips didn't part. But his eyes confirmed it. The Blessed side had their ultimate angel, and judging from Anderson's personality, he would have been raised far more harshly than Amberleigh was.
Tyler's face fell, and his eyes could no longer look at Cobalt. His voice was strained and weak as he asked, "I have to kill him, don't I?"
Once again, silence filled the air, only cut by the hooves hitting dirt. Cobalt's ride accellerated and took the lead, Lee's hands gripped tightly against his friend's waist, offering what solace they could.
Tyler just sat stunned, starring through the landscape. He had to bury the only sister he would ever know only a day ago. To follow that up with a mission to kill her brother. He did not know how to process the information. So he simply starred ahead, and his mind reeled.
"Dawn. For what it is worth, my friend. I am here, and I shall not go anywhere." Lee's voice sang out in his ear.
His heart was too heavy for an emotional responce, the prospect of smiling felt a little too much like effort, but Lee's words were comforting in a time he needed comfort. His head softly bobbed up and down in a soft nod and he leaned back to his friend.
"I promise, Dawn. All shall be alright."
As the troop rode out, the hills started becoming more sparse, the land flattening out until the horizon was plain in view. Behind them, the sun sank down into the Ascendian country, allowing the starry night sky to offer what illumination it could. Wherever they were, it was no closer to their destination. An entire day had been wasted and it was when the night sky was all one could see in the sky, Cobalt finally gave the order to stop.
Pulling out their provision bags, both pairs set up their tents and replaced their uniforms with the inconspicuious robes. For Tyler, they reminded him a fair bit of his old travelling clothes. Except where his old heavy cloak had been black, this one was a deep shade of blue.
"Lads!" Cobalt called, from his tent, "Can we bother you for some fire?"
The middle area between the two tents was a small fire pit that Evan must have set up while Cobalt was working on the tent. Lee placed a hand into the pit and the meager offerings that had been placed there set alight.
"So we'll be in town tomorrow, Cobalt?" Tyler asked, as the commander started setting up a little pot to prepare food for the group.
"Aye, not too long now. We made good time. Would put that to you and blondie being all P&Q for the trip." Cobalt stated, bobbing his head as he whimsically prepared the dish.
"It's a hard pill to swallow. I didn't know Amberleigh had a sibling, and I don't much like the idea of killing him."
"Ah, Dawn. Why must you always dwell on the darkside of things?" Lee asked, patting his friend's back.
"As your friend says." Cobalt added, "We're not going to kill the lad unless we have victory in sight. Him and your friend Uhziel present to us a bigger threat than the currently existing army. Let us fight our battles as they come."
Tyler hung his head, starring at the fire. The mental image of a young golden haired boy with similar facial structure to Amberleigh was plaguing his head. He'd already said goodbye to one Anderson and was dead set on killing the father. He couldn't help but think that he would see the entire family to the grave.
Food was eaten and after some lighter words, the pairs headed back to their tents. Evan seemed meeker and less confident than the self Tyler had met the previous day, he did not say as much as the rest of the party. Cobalt seemed bright enough for the both of them.
Swiftly and silently, Tyler and Lee headed back to bed, their thoughts focused on the trials and tribulations they were soon to face.
"Tonight may be the last chance we have to be at ease like this, huh?" Tyler asked, rolling over in his bed to look at Lee.
The shirtless angel turned back with a soft smile, "Ah, but think of the excitement that lies before us. Tell me, Dawn. Are you still as troubled as you appeared earlier?"
With a serene smile, Tyler shook his head and looked back to the roof of the tent, "I suppose I feel better. Let's just get back to sleep, and take things as they come. Okay?"
"As you say, Dawn. Sweetest dreams."
Morning came by swiftly and not much was said. Something about the night of rest offered the party some relief from all of their worries. Long behind them was the Ascendian border or the attacking Outcast group. Before them lay the Blessed capital and it's secret weapon in the way of Adrian Anderson.
For now they lay in the middle of these two concerns, with mere hours seperating them from Vulgav.
Tyler's thoughts were similarly torn between the path before him and the path behind him. In his past, the memory of his home and life with Tamara haunted and a sense of growing guilt was biting at his soul. His future was too murky and unclear for him to make out. There was always the possibility that he would never make it back to Sega City, or that he would never make it back to Tamara.
Lee noticed his friend's anxiety and did his best to keep it at ease. "Dawn, maintaining your psychological well-being is turning into a full time job on my behalf." he sighed.
"Feel free to quit, the pay's terrible and there aren't any perks." Tyler grumbled, keeping his eyes trained on the horse carrying Cobalt and Evan.
"One would think." Lee enigmatically smiled. Tyler had no responce and just continued on the road.
It was midway through the day before they finally caught sight of the town of Vulgav, much like the village that Tyler found during his first visit, it was a collection of houses which grew out from a central steeple, much like ripples in a pool from the place the stone sank through the waves.
"This is it, lads. Let's get our best smiles on. We'll be hitting the pub as soon as we get in." Cobalt grinned, as they entered the streets.
To the sides of the horses, people could be seen running about and taking care of their daily business. Children were laughing and shouting as they shoved one another and chased one another through the streets.
As with every town in Saygrem, the centerpiece of the town was an open square with a fountain. Lee often used these spots to play his guitar when he was a bard. As soon as he and his partner had tied up their horse, they walked to the white stone surface of the fountain.
"No water..." Tyler mused, running his finger on the bone dry inner surface of the fountain.
"Perhaps they are afraid that Outcasts will use the water to teleport into their town and kill them as they sleep?" Lee ventured.
"HAHA! Sharp lad!" Cobalt cried out, laughing and hitting Lee in the back. "Aye, you're right. It's why we must proceed on foot to Julis, my boys. They're patrolling the waters, sad to say."
"Beautiful." Tyler grumbled.
"Well best not to ball our eyes out when some milk is spilled, boys. Let's head up the bar." as Cobalt announced this and lead Lee and Evan towards a two story structure, he gave Tyler an enigmatic wink.
"As for you, lad. You should probabaly go to pay your respects. Think you'll find it refreshing to the soul." and with that stated, he took the others away.
Heaving a large sigh, Tyler drew himself up and looked to the church. His heart felt heavy from all the implications going inside would hold. Just looking at the Blessed emblem on the door was boiling his blood, as he recalled how much they attempted to steal from his beloved Amberleigh, and how the poor girl was no longer around to empathize or argue his rage.
But the brother could be inside, and that thought was even more troubling. He couldn't even begin to plan on what to say to him, and if his father, Maxwell, was inside then he may be unable to prevent himself from causing a panic in the city right there and then.
But apprehension was the enemy of progression, and so he finally pushed through the giant oak doors into a grand hall lined with pews all facing the central altar. The place was far from empty, many people were sitting at the pews, heads hung. The air was thick with a rich Saygrem hymn, much akin to the one that Lee had performed at the funeral. A priest stood at the side of the altar, kindly watching the choir perform.
Tyler quietly took a seat and watched the ceremony as it continued. He theorized it must not be an official ceremony, given the amount of people out on the street. Perhaps a rehersal, or a routine but optional service.
All of the people on the stage area were in long white robes, each with the white wing emblem embroidered into their outfits. The priest leading the service looked even older than Tyler himself did, if Tyler's hair was thinning, the priest's was greying, so it was safe to assume that he was not the fabled Adrian Anderson that he was searching for.
The song was not all too long, and for what it was worth, the choir performed in beautifully. After the finale, Tyler felt compelled to applaud, but the audience remained silent and so he held back the urge.
The priest resumed the stage and spoke, Tyler half-listened, but his words held no true value. Just a long reminder of morals and what they are defending in the time of war. It amused him that the rest of the audience seemed as bored by the speech as he was.
"And it is with great honor, that I allow to speak for you now, future High-Priest, Adrian Anderson."
This caught Tyler's attention and he leaned up. The one who walked out was a short haired boy, who was too tall and thin, unlike his well built and defined and sister who barely measured five foot seven as an adult. Adrian teased the six foot mark and still looked like he was owed his first shave.
His eyes were not golden saucers as his father and sister, but shimmering sky blue puddles which even from his view in the pews seemed to ripple with uncertainty and unease as he took to the altar.
"Thank you for coming to hear me speak." He began, the shakiness in his tone confirmed Tyler's observations, "My pilgramiage across the country has taught me a lot of things and I've been able to see many interesting people. During these troubled times... I'm just glad people are keeping strong. Your courage is an inspiration."
The boy hung his head slightly, thinking of his next statement.
"Uh... I will be at this church all week, if any of you wish to speak with me or to be blessed by my powers..." and with that short and unimpressive speech concluded, he backed off, rejoining the choir.
The service quickly came to a disappointed close after that, and few people hung around afterwards. Tyler stood and walked to the stage, the choir was making it's way through the back door and Adrian would be swept away with them.
"Mr. Anderson." he called out before the blonde haired teenager could exit the hall. "Could I speak with you?"
The meek child turned, forcing on a face of sheer bravado before bowing to Tyler and approaching him. "How can I help you, sir."
"Please, sit down. We must speak." Tyler said, attempting to keep his mannerisms calm and pleasant as not to scare the kid any further than he already was.
As he sat, Tyler got a better look at him, his face was coated in pimples. He hardly looked the legendary leader that the Blessed countires required. He was for all intents and purposes, an adolescent, though he was surely a powerful one given the rumors he had heard.
"Adrian Anderson, correct?" Tyler clarrified, before continuing. The child nodded, "You're Maxwell's kid, aren't you?" the child once again nodded the affirmative, and Tyler ran out of steam. What was expected of him for this, was he to lay down the history of his older sister, was he to kill the kid and then his angel or just find out what kind of threat he posed and just leave.
"I am. I only met my father one time, when I was going into my angel summoning ceremony. But I understand he is well loved and respected." the child sounded so detatched from the statement, he may well have been talking about the mayor of a foreign nation, rather than his own father.
Tyler took in a breath and closed his eyes, "That's Maxwell for you. He's never going to be a father figure to anyone, is he?" he was mostly speaking to himself, but the child leaned in with an intrigued expression.
"You know my father, personally?" he asked. The poor kid was probably raised in isolation with less emotional connection than even Amberleigh was allowed, quite possibly to prevent a second mutiny in the family.
"I knew him, long ago." and Tyler sighed, deciding to just out with it, "Did you know you had a sister, Adrian?"
"I have been informed." he mentioned briefly, with a guarded expression, "Many people mention how I am such a remarkable person for getting my angel and often recount how disappointed they were when my sister failed to acquire hers."
"Failed..." Tyler mused, deciding to let Saygrem's version of history stand for the time being. "So do you know what happened to her?"
The meek lad hung his head, "She was killed in the process of summoning, the angel was too strong for her."
A new surge of hatred filled up towards Maxwell, the lying bastard would advertize his own daughter a failure to save face. Never before had Tyler felt such a driving need to take another human being's life so desperately.
"Sir, are you okay?" Adrian asked, observing the troubled expression on Tyler's face.
"It's nothing kid. But your sister didn't die 17 years ago. She went into hiding after the failed angel summoning ceremony. I took care of her for that time." he leaned back and tapped his knees, not able to look at the kid's expression. He didn't know what he was saying or what he expected to find from it, but the words just tumbled out of his lips before concious mind could keep up.
Adrian breathed in, unsure of how he was expected to react. "I see." is what he finally settled on. What had started as a brief fact finding conversation had quickly turned to a thick and tense moment with no true direction.
"I have to speak with your father." he spoke briefly, "Your sister recently died and I really want to speak with him and let him know." Adrian looked so uncertain, Tyler felt obliged to try and put him at ease, "Listen, kid. I'm sure you were raised with limited interaction to other people. How the heck are you going to assume leadership this way?"
Adrian wrung his hands together anxiously, it seems he had asked himself this kind of question on an increasingly frequent basis, "I have been asked not to question that. But to trust my angel to provide me strength when I require it."
Tyler tapped the kid on the shoulder and drew himself up to full height, "Where's the next stop on your pilgramiage?"
"This is the last stop before we return to Julis, we dare not venture closer to the border, lest our enemies attempt to extinguish my angel before it is fully developed." Adrian stated, growing slightly more comfortable with the conversation.
"How will you be travelling?" Tyler asked casually.
"Guarded caravan." he responded, "My father has prepared a full escort between each of my destination. It is of the utmost importance I am kept safe."
"That it is." Tyler smiled, slapping the kid's shoulder. "You out at the end of the week, right?" the young leader nodded, causing Tyler to whimsically nod to himself before walking out of the establishment.
Plans were formulating in his head, he could pull the child from his bed at the local inn, he could attack their caravan as it pulled out of the town. Either way, he needed to keep Adrian under his own personal protection. To murder him would be to disgrace Amberleigh's memory, afterall he was just a victim of their father and his ambition, it was not his fault that he housed the most powerful angel on the Blessed side of the border.
As these thoughts spiralled around his head, he made his way towards the inn, as soon as the door opened he was hit with a wall of sound from all the hustle and bustle of the late afternoon business, and also the foul odour in the air, mixing in the aroma of meals being served to patrons and the dark and heavy swill that they claimed was beer.
At the bar, the trio that Tyler was travelling with were slouched over nursing tankards, it was only Cobalt who spun to notice Tyler as he walked into the establishment.
"My lad! How did it go?!" his thick voice boomed over the crowd.
"He's here alright." Tyler sighed, plunking on a stool next to the commander, "They're sending him around all of the major Blessed towns to familiarize the people with their future leader."
"Ah, a service which would not be required if I were still playing my guitar." Lee bragged, "News travels too slowly in a time of war and without the modern conviniences of telephones. A travelling bard picking up tidbits and delivering them to each town upon arrival was a far more valuable comodity to the world now that the privlidge had been removed.
"Well, he's heading back to Julis next week." Tyler stated, holding up Cobalt's tankard and shaking it towards the barmaid, indicating that he would like one for himself.
"As I had heard." Cobalt stated, "News travels far more swiftly in my circles, we angelic types are talky little bastards."
"I never would have guessed, sir." Evan chimed in, "After meeting your kid, I'm starting to think it's a genetic trait."
Cobalt burst out into an eruption of laughter which drowned out the surrounding chatter, causing a few heads to turn.
"I would wish to claim my personality is my own doing and not a simple by-product of my blood." Lee snootily responded, raising his nose to the air.
Tyler chuckled "You guys aren't even through your first tankard yet and you're buzzed." shaking his head, he scooped up his freshly delivered tankard, smiling kindly to the barmaid who brought it to him.
"So, what do we do about Adrian, guys? We can't just kill him." Tyler continued, confident the loud atmosphere would keep their conversation private from eavesdropping.
"Aye, lad. We can't be doing that." Cobalt admitted, "We bring that angel out and there'll be hell to pay. We're going to have to abduct him. I'd hoped having you here, Mr. Dawn, would keep him on our side until we got to his dear old dad."
"And what do we do when we reach the esteemed Father Anderson?" Tyler asked, grumpily.
"We keep him to our side. Was it not meeting with her father that caused Amberleigh to defect. With the correct guidance, we can keep it all peaceful." Cobalt's eyes seemed to be elated for some reason, the old bastard was undoubtably hiding something, but whatever it was, he didn't want to kill Adrian and did want to kick the crap out of Maxwell, so it fit perfectly with Tyler's own plans.
"So we going to tail his journey back to Julis or are we going to abduct him?" Tyler asked, innocently enough.
"Judge the escort and act on impulse. What better way to live?" Cobalt responded, "For now we have ourselves a week to kick up our feet, relax and wait for our next move."
The night came to an end swiftly, it came as no surprise that the army general had enough cash with him to pay for all of the drinks and a week's worth of lodging for the group. The town was fairly small and quiant and there was not much to keep the party occupied. Tyler spent his time sitting inside of the Blessed church and keeping up to date with the services and Adrian's pitiful attempts at public speaking. He was the only one who did this, Lee and Cobalt were understandably apprehensive to enter a Blessed establishment and Evan seemed to stick close by his commander's side at any given time.
It was unlike Tyler to distance himself from Lee like this, but it gave him time to let all of the misgivances of the past week wash over him. The solitude allowed him to finally let it all sink in and for him to ease his troubled soul. Underneath the soothing sounds of a Blessed choir, his soul found rejuvination and solace.
When it was time to leave the church, Tyler would retreat to the tavern and catch up with the rest of the party, nursing some of the swill that they served and having a merry time. He did his best not to speak too much with the locals, in fear of being discovered for who he was, but it was a pleasant enough time. After the drinking sessions the two pairs would retreat to their rooms and sleep off their hangovers.
As the week progressed, Tyler did bump into Adrian on a few more occassions, but neither man had much to say to the other and the encounters were always short lived.
Finally the day to ride out came, and a few hours after sunrise, when the crew had eaten a breakfast, it was time to get moving. Refreshed and rejuvinated from the week of relaxation, Tyler had a new air of strength about him. As the group prepared their horses for the ride ahead Cobalt slapped him on the back with a hearty laugh.
"Lad, be ready for anything, okay?" he stated, simply.
"Yes sir." Tyler responded, pulling himself up onto the saddle of his horse. Lee followed and the four of them rode out, the plan was to catch up with the caravan carrying Adrian, giving it a headstart so that their attack would not take place in a populated area.
The horses swiftly exited the city and picked up pace to a hasty gallop, Tyler had no clue how long they would maintain this pace or how long it would take for them to find the caravan, but he was focused now.
"Dawn!" called Lee from behind, "Do you think you are prepared for this? Are you at all apprehensive, for we cannot have a moment of delay when we are in battle."
"Don't worry!" Tyler called back, "I feel ready for anything right now."
Ahead of them, he could see Evan with his bow ready and waiting for the battle. Cobalt was focused on racing his horse to the destination.
Within an hour, the unmistakable sight was on the horizon. A caravan with several escort horses interspurst across the surrounding road. Whether or not they had spotted them yet, Evan quickly turned to Dawn.
"You're a wind mage, aren't you? I'll shoot, you hit. Okay?" and without waiting for an actual reply, he let his arrows soar into the air, ready for Tyler's spell to guide them to the target.
Cursing out as the responsibility was suddenly thrust on him, Tyler hopped off the horse and quickly chanted a wind spell, hoping he could direct it with the same level of preccision that Evan managed effortlessly.
Somehow he was able to pull it off and the arrow pierced an escort and the rider slumped off the side of the horse. Before Tyler had a moment to celebrate the success, the next one was already in the air and he was forced to conjure the same spell. Lee and Cobalt rode on ahead, leaving the sniper pair to the ground and watch the scene unfold.
Cobalt's horse came up to the caravan and Tyler watched as the angelic general's lance speared into the driver carrying the wagon containing Adrian. Lee leaped off at the side of the trailer and took out the initial wave of defenders with swift stabs to them. His skill was hardly comparible to Cobalt's, however, who soared through the remaining forces with minimal swings of his mighty spear, soon the ground was littered with bodies and a screaming young priest was being held by Lee.
All this happened so quickly that Tyler found his jaw sliding agape in absolute awe.
"The commander has done this before, a few soldiers are no match for him." Evan gushed, walking on ahead. "Now let's catch up, so you can Abyss Spear the angel weilders he saved for you."
Tyler rolled his eyes and ran to catch up. "You know how much energy that spell takes to use?" he grumbled, mourning the moments of relief he had over the past week.
Once they caught up to the caravan, Tyler noticed a few bodies writhing on the floor, Cobalt walked to him and slapped his back, "If you would, lad. We don't want them dying before you're fully charged."
In Lee's arms, Adrian was squirming and screaming out "Murderers!" trying desperately to break free of the half-angel's grasp.
"Ah, it is about time that one grew a pair." Cobalt sighed with a smile, as Tyler dutifully charged up his Abyss Spear attack. There were only three angel weilders present, and Cobalt had done a nice job lining them all up to be wiped out with the single attack. It took about three minutes, but eventually the black pillar of energy obliterated the Blessed soldiers and their angels along with them.
"And now for this one." Cobalt stated, addressing the angry thrashing form of the Blessed high-priest in training. "I am in no mood to endure a long day of this, so, Tyler, if you would please?"
For the first time, Tyler felt a wave of actual resentment towards his superior's orders, but persisted regardless. "Adrian, Adrian." he began, holding his hands out to calm the young priest, "Calm down. We're not here to hurt you."
"You killed my guards!" he screamed desperately, still thrashing against Lee's hold, "Why would you do that?!"
"We need to keep you by our side." Tyler stated simply, "We're still going to Julis and we're going to meet with your father. But it will be on our terms."
Clearly such a weak arguement was barely enough to convince himself, left alone the child his group was antagonizing. Cobalt wandered around the caravan site, examining the dead soldiers and the inside of the caravan for anything they could use, Evan was fine tuning his bow. Tyler felt alone on an island trying to convince the sky it was brown.
For what little good it did, Adrian recognized his aggressor and Tyler was able to use that small fact to his advantage. "Your sister was betrayed by your father, Adrian. When she passed away, I promised I would get revenge for her and I need you to get close to him." it wasn't exactly the truth, but it was close enough to suffice.
"But you killed..." he whimpered, his eyes not able to peel themselves away from the dead soldiers.
"Listen, I promise you that we wont hurt you, and we're going to Julis anyway. You just have to stick with us and everything will be fine." Tyler firmly stated, growing tired of the kid's wussy behavior.
The boy shuddered and whimpered once again "But, you killed..." he weakly protested.
"And we wont kill you. But if you stay out here in the middle of nowhere, you will die." he firmly stated, putting a hand to his shoulder. "I promise, it will be fine."
His head sank and he struggled with it for a few moments, before murmering out "Okay. I'll go with you..."
"Superb!" Cobalt announced, brightly, "Now that's all over and done with, let's get our wrinkled behinds to Julis already."
In the course of writing my own story, I haven't had a lot of time to devote to reading others'. I have, however, been able to run through the first three or so parts of your story, Craig, and I am enjoying how you developed these characters. For that matter, I've also enjoyed your occasional running commentary of "ARGH make NaNo stop" in your LJ. 
I exhort you to keep up the good work. I'll probably get around to finishing this in December, but it is a good read and one I'll look forward to completing.
i don't know how long i was away from the fourm but i really missed reading the adventure i kept saying to myself "oh i hope i didn't forget what happened last"
and thanks for making general cobalt even more awsome. i just love the interactions, romance, combat scenes, comedy and unexpected events. i never thought he'd be a you know what.
(I exhort you to keep up the good work. I'll probably get around to finishing this in December, but it is a good read and one I'll look forward to completing.)
i read his fan fiction twice. it is well made, i imagined every single scene cause of his detailed writing, i'm happy cause i don't read books and finally i can understand my friend bunny's facination with books.
Wow... thanks guys. Like. Seriously. I don't know what to say. Your encouragement is helping me through this, as it's certainly having it's toll on me. I made too much progression in this chapter, but hopefully it'll work out for the best.
-
Cobalt appeared to be a man of sentiments, surprising for one who has been alive for over a millenium. He insisted on releasing the Blessed horses and using the two they had been travelling on to move the wagon for the rest of the journey. Inside, the five passengers sat rigidly, starring out at the slow passing country landscape.
"It's a crappy thing they did to you." Tyler finally mumbled, to Adrian.
The terrified child looked over, blinking his eyes, "What do you mean, what you did to me?"
"No. What your father and his superiors did." Tyler clarified, "Raising you out alone in a monestary, forcing you to study all the time and not allowing you a meaningful relationship with another human being."
Adrian was silent a few moments, before looking up to Tyler, "How did you know about that?" he asked, simply, "Father said not to spread my training around, because if people assumed I was a miracle then they wouldn't force their own children to undergo such training."
"How compassionate of him." Tyler sneered, shaking his head, "And I know because he did the same thing to your sister. I don't picture him being any nicer to you. It really messed her up, you know?"
Adrian's hands drummed on his knees, he seemed reluctant and unwilling to explore this new thread of information, and certainly didn't want to acknowledge the hardships of his upbringing. But the idea of a sister that he had never heard about was such enticing knowledge. He finally looked up, a little less terrified than he was a moment prior and asked, "What's going to happen to me?"
Tyler shook his head, "Kid. I really don't know. Right now, our group just wants to end the war. That's all we are hoping to achieve. But... right now, I don't know if we'll accomplish it."
Cobalt looked over at the two of them, Tyler could tell that he wanted to interject or add something to the proceedings, but, mercifully, restraint held him back. Evan was on the front of the wagon directing the horses and Lee sat with Cobalt, having his own conversation.
On the other side of the wagon, Lee was smiling as he always was. He saw his friend speaking with their captive and felt it was ample opportunity for him to speak with the man who claimed to be his father at last.
"How long do you think you've known about me in the world?" he asked, his tone as jovial as ever despite it's subject.
"A good century or two. Alas, my lad, you stick out too much. For a human life, to notice the same bard playing across the world for two centuries may be ignored, as they would not recall him between visits, but for our kind, we saw you plain as day. Bold as brass, with the audacity to maintain the same facade without even a hint of variation." Cobalt smiled back to his son, "You must take care of me in such respects."
"Ah. And the angels left me alone, despite knowing what and where I was?" Lee pondered to himself.
"If you were outed among the masses, they would end your life. It was simply a matter of percieved problem. If the people killed all percieved half-angels, then the existance of one in hiding would not harm an individual, as if humans do not percieve you, then how are they to be taught a lesson from your demise. Plus, you must recall, I am important amongst angels and it was my request."
"Thank you." Lee smiled, "I have enjoyed a long and colorful life and though your presence may have been welcome within it, your influence has caused it to exist and that is more than enough for this one man."
Cobalt slapped his son on the back, "As you say, my boy. Now let us drop such talk of the past, we are to create a new tomorrow, are we not?"
"Aye, that, father. That we are." Lee pleasantly responded.
They stopped at nights, as always and camped with the mixed supplies of the Ascendian army and the Blessed escort. Throughout the journey, Tyler stuck close to Adrian, who was slowly learning to trust the man. Lee and Cobalt became thick as thieves and Evan lurked about the sidelines, now the odd wheel of the group.
The road to Julis was a long one, with it lying in the center of the Blessed portion of the continent. Having travelled from the border between the two nations, it was nine whole days before they were gifted with the sight of the giant city built around the grand cathedral.
The cobbled streets and tall buildings of wood and stone snaked in towards the central point of the city. The image was enough to send waves of nostalgia through Tyler, who had walked the roads more than once in his life. As the wagon moved on through the streets, people stopped to stare and wave, perhaps having anticipated the Blessed Prince's return for some time. This did not bode well, as they had no intention of drawing attention.
"Now, lads." Cobalt suddenly spoke. "We're gathering a lot of eye candy here. Not the way I really wanted the day to go, but there it is. We'll be unable to simply walk in and get an audience. For security's sake, I'm going to have to rough you lads up."
Lee blinked twice, and Tyler's face fell with nothing but the words "Wait, what?" as a reaction.
Cobalt's fist moved swift between both half-angel and human alike, and Tyler found himself clutching a bloody nose, while Lee was doubled over clutching his stomach. Adrian looked between the two attacked men and their aggressor in absolute shock. "What on Earth have you done, Mr. Cobalt?!" he demanded.
Cobalt burst out into laughter, plucking Lee under his arm and swinging Tyler over his shoulder. "Hush your tongue, my lad. Follow me in, and boys. Play possum for now."
Begrudgingly, Lee and Tyler did as told, if for no other reason, than they had no idea how else they'd enter the building.
The building in question was directly outside of the stopped wagon, the giant cathedral that the city was built around, it's giant dome still hung open like a rotting wound from Tyler's attack years before, but for the most part it was restored to it's former splendor. Cobalt marched up the steps and a crowd of people who had gathered to witness Adrian's arrival stood back in shock, seeing the giant form of Cobalt carrying two men and ashuring in their future leader. Evan hopped off of the driver's seat and followed dutifully.
As Cobalt walked in through the main hall, many people at worship noticed and starred, but none approached. He simply walked in to the business side of the building beyond the doors at the back.
"Now lads, we'll be meeting with Anderson in a moment, keep your pants on tight and don't be idiots, okay?" Cobalt harshly whispered to his two passengers, "and you lad." he continued, addressing Adrian, "You hush up until we need you."
Adrian gulped, and the party continued moving, up the stairs to the archive section. Tyler recalled the room from his first stay, the double doors at the back of the room would lead to the room where the angels sat, plotting their domination over the planet.
Echoing steps filled the hall, and a door opened, revealing an old wrinkled man wearing Blessed robes and clutching a sceptor in his clawed hands. "What is this...?" he asked, bewildered, straining his eyes to look at Cobalt.
"My heavens. Adrian... and--- who is that with you?" the old man asked, he sounded like his voice was always unsure and startled. Far from the gloating and assertive man that Tyler encountered 17 years ago.
Cobalt dumped his cargo unceremoniously on the ground and burst out in laughter, offering a hand to the old priest, "Name's Cobalt. Mind if I lose the cloak, I see proof better than words, you see." the old priest was a few steps back and took a cautious stance at all times, wary of such an unannounced visitation.
Cobalt cast aside his cloak in a swift motion and revealed underneath it, a pair of white wings were drapped around his body, he flexed them out to stretch them. The old priest stepped back in shock, a sudden look of reverance about him. He almost appeared like he'd outright bow to the angel right there and then.
"Now then, Father Anderson." Cobalt continued, smiling widely with his fully angelic visage revealed to the world, "I was able to save your son from these two criminals."
Father Maxwell Anderson, the old priest's eyes shimmered with tears of joy, possibly from being personally addressed by a heavenly being or for his son's life being saved. "Thank you. Thank you for protecting my son!" the man grovelled, in utter awe of the angelic form before him.
"Aye, protect him I did." Cobalt affirmed, indicating the two bodies on the ground, "These two attacked on the way up, had it not been for me, they'd be doomed. I wish to present the pair to my angelic brothers."
"Is it wise to bother the higher ups with such miscriants?" the priest asked, "We should deal with them publically. For morale!"
"Their names are Tyler Dawn and Lee Cypher." Cobalt stated with a subdued grin, "The highers would wish to deal with them personally." and as Cobalt said those words, the priest's eyes turned to saucers and he suddenly crept up to stare at the two bodies, before recoiling in shock.
"My heavens!" Maxwell exclaimed, his frail frame turning a ghostly shade of pale, "It is them! Well. Well. You must take them in. Immedietly! I shall watch over my boy." and he quickly withdrew with Adrian in tow. Cobalt chuckled before plucking up his comrades again.
"Evan, it is best you await here. Watch over Anderson, make sure he does not act out of turn." he asked, folding his wings over, careful not to restrict his arm movement in the process.
"Yes sir!" Evan responded, hurrying to do as he was told.
"Okay, lads. This is it." Cobalt said, walking towards the double doors. "Best get your spear ready, lad. We'll only get one chance at this."
ha ha .. it's really getting on now,
i feel like a very important part is coming up, can't wait! <pulls craig's arm> keep typing! more, more!
i wanna know what happens next.
^_^ this scene actually flowed a lot nicer than I expected it to, though I didn't quite capture the tension I was going for. Given that I'm now at 39,000 words, I feel that it's time to start bringing things to a close, and so the first of the three major "endings" is happening. Next ending is on the Ascendian side of things and then the ultimate ending is in Sega City, where the story began.
-
Cobalt pushed open the double doors, doors that Tyler had not been able to go through during his first visit to the grand cathedrial. The doors lead to a staircase lined with dimly burning candles. As Cobalt stepped up them his boots echoed loudly through the hall. Tyler, hanging limply to his side, began slowly chanting the words for his ultimate spell. In the field where they kidnapped Adrian he had no threats or distractions, here he would have to play possum and keep his mind focused on forming the magic in his palm without detection.
Another trembulous boom rang through the air as Cobalt pushed two thicker doors at the top of the stairs open, this appeared to be the final destination as his purpose filled pace turned to a slight amble. Tyler dared not open his eyes, though he felt a slight breeze in the room and it took no stretch of the imagination from this fact and the sound of the ambient sounds that they were in the great dome above the church, the same dome that he had destroyed years before.
"My brothers!" Cobalt shouted jovially, stretching his arms out and dumping both of his passengers to the hard stone ground with an unceremonious thud. "I come to you this day with excellent tidings."
Tyler was too busy concentrating on his spell to take notice of the conversation or the manner of the room, but Lee was not being held back by such restraints. He slowly opened an eye and took in the sight. The room was illuminated by the sunlight splashing through the still unfixed portions of the dome. At the opposite side of the room, a bunch of throne like stools encircled the open area of the room. To describe the room in a word would simply be regal. A rich plush carpet stretched across the central circle of the room, banners hung in the air and from the inside the stone dome had a rich brown color which only heightened the effect.
Lee closed his eyes in a hurry as one of the dozen or so angels began to speak, replying to Cobalt's extravagant enterance.
"Brother. This is unexpected." The male angel proclaimed, stepping onto the carpet and towards Cobalt. "What would be these tidings?"
Cobalt stepped a few steps forward to squint at the one who stepped forward. Though the eleven or so angels that flanked him, remaining in their chairs, the one who stood was familiar to the old angel. When the original group passed through the portal all those many years ago, he was one of the founders of the Ascendian religion, along with himself. The two had once been friends, until Cobalt was relegated from the high-order for his wanton mingling with humans.
With a casual smile at the approaching angel, Cobalt plucked Lee up by his cloak and tossed him onto the carpet. It took all of Lee's energy not to react audiably to this painful act. "That there is the half-angel bard we lost track of 17 years ago. During the Amberleigh incident."
The approaching angel took his eyes from Cobalt as he slowly leaned down and examined Lee's form, rolling him over to examine from multiple angles.
"He is still alive, if you are wondering." Cobalt continued. "I knew you would most enjoy the privlidge of snuffing out the flame of these two traitors. They did cost you a lot of time and effort. Did they not?"
"Two?" the angel exclaimed, suddenly aware of the second prisoner's presence. The mood in the room suddenly shifted, as the angels who sat on their thrones sat forward, all thinking the exact same thing.
"Aye." Cobalt affirmed. "We have Tyler Dawn, also." and his smile spread out into a full on victorious grin, the angels were reacting just as he had expected. To the people of Saygrem, Tyler Dawn was a terrorist menace who had been dealt with decades ago, not something to fear or despise. To the angels, he was something more. He was a threat that was unaccounted for. He was able to kill dozens of their brothers, his assault on Julis all those years ago took out the original healing angel, the one who created the Blessed religion and began the entire ordeal. His existance was an uncomfortable source of fear for the angels, who sat as God's in this world. Such people should not exist in their world.
"Cobalt, my old friend." the angel began, spreading his wings and opening his arms, "If what you say is truth, then you have repayed all debts and indescretions in abundance. We would welcome you back into our court once more and forget about those ill thought about lesions you had with the humans."
Cobalt walked in and hugged the angel, "Ah, but that would require regret and a wish to rejoin." he said with a smile, slapping the bare skin between the angel's wings. "I love humans, as I love my kind, old friend. Alas, to love anything but power is beyond your understanding, is it not Dhyle."
The angel known as Dhyle pushed Cobalt back out of the hug, a look of rage plastered about his features, the others in the back seemed ready to get involved, but he halted them.
Cobalt burst out laughing "You should not be so serious. This world is not built on polar extremes, old friend. The fact that I do not wish to be amongst you does not mean I am actively opposing you, it simply means that I prefer my life in the army. For if you are to keep a war going, do you not need soldiers?"
Dhyle breathed in and nodded, seeming to drop his defensive. "Let us inspect this Tyler Dawn. We were always suspicious when he disappeared into thin air upon our final blow hitting. Normally an attack of that magnitude leaves evidence of a defeated foe. We were half obsessed with the idea of a ghostly apparation of a deceased angel claiming vengance upon us."
Cobalt chuckled, ushering his old friend towards Tyler's body, "Aye, that is one theory. The man certainly has the traits of a ghost who's purpose brings him to the world to seek out those who have wronged him. Alas, he is but a man. Please do see for yourself."
And Dhyle leaned down to inspect Tyler. Having anticipated this from the start, he kept his hands inside of his cloak, the thick black fabric offering the only shield from the entire room seeing the magic seal shimmering in his palm. With the angel examining his features, it took all of his concentration to maintain the spell without breaking the incantation. Having to think the words as solidly as they would be spoken, he tried his hardest to avoid noticing the invasion of personal space or the feel of warm hands rolling him over to look at each side.
"It is him!" the stunned angel exclaimed, recoiling, "Cobalt, my brother. You have brought us a great gift this day. Finally the fear of the demon, Tyler Dawn, will end and we can be at ease."
"Ah, ease." Cobalt mused, idly, "For of course this Dawn is the only one who would ever come to have this kind of strength. Perhaps you are merely using him as a way of boosting your spirits before you come to recall my student is still alive and well."
Whatever joy of victory was in Dhyle's face, faded with an instant, "Uhziel has little life left in him, old friend. Even your expert teachings could not shield him from age. Once his body has decayed, our numbers shall be fortified by the strongest of us all."
"Aye, and you wish that angel to be reveered as a God, same as young Adrian's. Is that not so?" Cobalt asked, clearly buying time for Tyler now.
"After that demon killed the majority of our old Blessed high-order, we have been soothing a large power vacuum. I regret that I alone as one of the original five can not maintain the order alone, and to have such a powerful figurehead, we would be able to bring us all under one banner. Cobalt, I implore you. You and I are the only two of the original five that remain in this world. Please take up leadership of the Ascendian's. With you on one side and myself on the other, we would be able to bring about the end to the humans and the world will be ours."
Cobalt rolled his eyes, "Millenia pass and yet your ideals remain. I on the other hand have changed, I have taken in this world and learned from it, made it my own. You simply wish to bring our old angelic world here to this land. For no reason other than greed. I am capable of co-existing. You, old friend, are not. This is the simple truth."
Dhyle thrust his nose up, disappointed by Cobalt's lack of loyalty to the angel's cause. "I have no patience to change your mind, Cobalt. We will find a suitable replacement to maintain stability. This war will continue until the people summon every angel from our realm."
Cobalt once again laughed, stepping aside to let his old friend in to deal with Tyler, "And how has that been going for you of late? Since Tyler's attack, you have lost more angels than you have gained. Uhziel has sensed your weakness and mobilized his men, those not hiding amongst the world as I or cowering in their stone towers such as you have all fallen prey to his dark spear. What our elders have spent centuries building, you have spent decades squandering."
Dhyle stopped, midway through reaching for Tyler's cloak to spin enraged at Cobalt. "Enough!" he cried, and the angels in the back all rose from their chairs and slowly approached the duo, ready to step in if they were required. "I allow you some leniancy due to our equal status and friendship of the past, but you go too far. Back down, or we shall treat you in the same light as the traitors you gifted us with."
Cobalt smiled to the court of angels, all gathering around him, "Dhyle, old friend. You were wrong not to treat me as such in the first place."
"What?!" came the stunned responce of the increasingly angered angel.
Cobalt looked over to Tyler's body, with a defiant smirk, "Tyler. Do it now. Take them with a single shot."
Cobalt lept back as Tyler pushed himself to full height, withdrawing his palm from the cloak and revealing the magic seal glistening above his skin. With a heavy smirk, he thrust it forward and the pillar of darkness once again blasted free from his body, heading towards the court of angels.
"You bastard!" was all Dhyle could shout before the spell was cast and the black spear rippled through his body, tearing through his body as if it were nothing, blasting through all of his court, and through the back of the dome, the brick easily giving way to the might of the Abyss Spear.
As Lee opened his eyes, after the explosive sounds of crashing brick and crackling sparks of sheer power from the spear, all he could see was a dozen pairs of ankles and feet, all above them having been vaporized. The room was also showered with feathers which were lodged free from the wings after the blast.
Cobalt looked at the snowfall of feathers with a smile, "And so it comes, the Blessed religion is a beast with no head. Our mission is half complete, my lads."
Tyler brushed off his cloak, taking in a deep breath, "We wont have long before the repreccussions. I've had to escape this building with the entire army chasing me before. We should collect Adrian and escape."
Lee nodded, plucking a feather from the air and looking at it with a forlorn expression, "As you say, Dawn. But what did we just accomplish here? I do not feel as though this has changed the tide of war at all."
Cobalt chuckled, walking to his son and patting him on the back, "Trust me, lad. When we're done with this. The war will end. For now, we have to withdraw."
Lee reluctantly nodded, giving a last look at the desolate room and both of it's expansive holes hanging open like rotting wounds. Tyler was the one to lead the charge back downstairs.
"You sons of ***%%##. What did you do?! What did you do?!" a hectic voice all but screamed, and as it came in view, Tyler gasped in. Father Anderson stood at the open double doors, holding Evan to him with a knife pressed tightly under his neck.
that was really exciting!
i really don't want your story to come to an end, i was hoping to read everyday for months. well there's still a lot, right?
and thanks craig, your story is really the fun i was looking for 
Today's a multiparter, as I got a good jumping off point, I wanted to post the break here and write my next 1,500 words as the next entry.
-
Cobalt stepped forward, pushing past Tyler, his normally joyful expression was plastered with rage, his body hunched and prepared to strike at the old priest like a wild beast.
"Don't take one step!" Maxwell frantically screamed, brandishing the knife forward at Cobalt, "I swear, this heathen's blood shall run through stone if you move another step! Now tell me, what did you do?!" after he spoke, he hastily withdrew towards the main hall, making as much space between him and the attackers as he could.
"Anderson..." Tyler slowly said, tapping Cobalt's shoulder as he carefully stepped forward with his palms facing the old priest "You remember me don't you. How could you forget the man who stole a decade and a half of planning from you."
Maxwell spat angrily at the floor before glaring back at Tyler, "How dare you set foot in this sacred church again, you vile heathen." his knife was back against Evan, Tyler could even see how red the skin around it was, if it hadn't broken through yet, it was very soon going to.
"I wanted to deliver a message." he cautiously continued, "Your daughter is dead, Maxwell. She lived a good life, helping and healing people, but she's gone now. One could say I came back to deliver the message and get revenge for you ruining the first half of her life."
There was a single split second of emotion, it was short but Tyler saw it, an off-guarded moment where he let the knowledge sink in. But the scowl returned and his grip on the knife was so tight that his knuckles were whitened, "The girl has been dead to me since you took her from us!" he screamed out.
"And so too shall your son be dead if you don't release Evan at once." came Cobalt's voice from the back, and it was at that moment that both Tyler and Maxwell looked and saw the angelic general holding Adrian by his hair with a hand pressed behind his back. "Do not think I will not forfeit him."
Maxwell sneered defiantly, "Kill him, release our new God and see how long you survive against the true might of the Blessed people." as he spoke his frantic tone became more maniacal "Go ahead! Show me your resolve!"
Adrian gasped out, his blood chilling inside his body as his father all but ordered his execution. "Father! Please!" he begged, miserably.
Tyler put his hands in his cloak, watching the scene's tension rise expodentially, ready to strike out when the conflict finally broke out.
"Sir! Don't hold back. I'm ready to die for you!" Evan called back to counter Adrian's plea, though he was quickly silenced by Maxwell's grip against his throat strengthening.
Cobalt's eyes widened and his teeth gritted as he hesitated, his hand's remained exactly as they were, no magic seal formed and no move to increase the child's torture was made. Maxwell noticed the weakness.
"DO IT!" he screamed, clutching the knife tighter yet, and once again Cobalt did nothing. Maxwell's face was twisted in rage and hatred as he watched the angel too weak to murder his son, and a triumphant look came about his features as he slid the knife across Evan's throat. Seeing the action for himself, Tyler couldn't stop his mind from thinking about how Amberleigh must have felt in the same situation, a knife against her throat, the last miserable moments drawn out of her before her blood was spilled out against the perfect white of her nurse's uniform.
The image consumed him, the golden haired woman of his memory sparkled through every moment as his feet rushed forward and his hand thrust out of his cloak, memories from their first adventure 17 years ago lingered in his mind, her soft voice rang in his ears, the aroma of her favorite perfume, the passion in her resolve, the moments of joy and sadness. Everything that made up the woman Amberleigh Anderson and everything Tyler Dawn loved about her, all of it was solidified in that single moment as the blade sank through Maxwell's abdomen.
The priest spluttered out and keeled over into the blade, even as Evan fell lifelessly to the ground. Time slowed down, as Cobalt thrust Adrian to the ground and rushed to hold his friend during his final moments, Tyler looked down at Maxwell, not releasing his hand from the hilt of the blade which was still inside of him.
Maxwell's eyes glared up at Tyler during his final moments. Defiant to the last second, no apologies for either of his children, for his persecution or blatant evil use of the people. An evil bastard to his final breath. Seeing the final moment dripped out of his soul gave Tyler no satisfaction. He allowed the man to fall to the ground and walked over to Cobalt.
"He's gone, lad." the angel stated in a hollow tone, still craddling his trusted friend's corpse to him before looking up at Tyler, "I told him he wasn't allowed to die before me."
Tyler had no words of comfort, he had no mood for speeches or to reach out with empathy. He simply patted Cobalt's back and whispered "We have to go."
Lee hurried to his father's side and helped him to his feet. The general refused to release Evan from his grip as he stood. His white wings now tainted with faint smeers of red, his thick bushy beard harboring droplets of his tears.
Tyler seemed anxious, watching the stairs and waiting for the inevitable retalliation for the very visible attack within the cathedrial. Lee put a hand to his back, "Dawn. Please do give him a moment. You too could use one."
Before Tyler could take a moment or recover from the shock and intensity of the stand-off, a door slammed, snapping him back to reality.
"Adrian." he grumbled, hurrying to the door and attempting to open it, but finding it locked. "Adrian!" he called, "Open the door!"
"You killed my father." the child weakly mumbled in fear, he was most probably leaning against the door keeping it shut.
Meanwhile, in the middle of the hall, Lee looked over to Cobalt, "He was a good man, I am sorry that things had to happen in this manner."
The angel snorted in, blinking out another set of tears, looking at the cold and empty face of his fallen friend, "Their lives are so very short, my boy. So precious and yet so short... But it was not his time. The boy had potential. He was a good soldier and a better friend."
Lee nodded, bowing his head in reverence to him, "Then we must do him proud and complete our objective, would you not agree?"
Cobalt forced a look of bravado about himself and firmly nodded, "Aye, lad. That be true. Let us get ourselves clear before the entire Blessed army get themselves in here." As he spoke, his eyes found Tyler and noticed his prediciment.
"What's all this here, lad? Adrian's hiding away?" he asked, approaching.
"Something about killing his father apparently didn't rub him the right way." Tyler scornfully stated, giving the door another loud knock.
On the other side of the door, Adrian curled against the opposite wall, starring at the door in terror, trying in vein to block out the sounds of shouting and knocking from the other side. Three weeks ago, he was a well respected and rising member of the Blessed's political climate, things were laid out infront of him and he was happy for the most part. Now he was fearing for his life, processing the fact that they had killed his father in cold blood and may very well be destroying the foundations of his very faith.
"Can't we go on without him?" Lee asked, as he began to notice distant sounds of boots stomping through the main hall of the cathedrial. "We have no time for this."
"Aye, true that, my boy." Cobalt stated, lowering Evan to the ground. "Tyler, prep your transport spell, Lee take Evan and make sure he comes with us. I'll get the boy."
"Do you know where there's water here, Cobalt? The spell wont work without it." Tyler replied, backing away from the door.
"I'm an angel, you fool. I can overcome any obstacle!" and with this Cobalt rammed his shoulder into the door, knocking the heavy wooden door off of it's hinges. Adrian let out a shrill scream as the angel marched over to him and grabbed him by the arm, yanking him back towards the party.
"Ready when you are, but we still need water." Tyler said, upon seeing the general return.
Cobalt's stony face looked grumpily at Tyler before he extended a hand and a treckle of water started rising out from the stone floor, collecting and gathering with other droplets, until the floor was coated in a small rising pool which began pouring down the staircase. Seeing Tyler pause in admiration of the technique, Cobalt angrilly snapped at him "Get on with it, lad. Get us to Ascendian territory."
Taken aback for a moment by Cobalt snapping, Tyler brought himself to attention and performed the spell, a portal appearing above the wet ground, large enough for the group to enter. Lee was first in, carrying Evan's deceased form, Cobalt yanked Adrian through next and then Tyler himself hopped through to the other side.
it's so heart breaking..... i'll eagerly await the rest.
Almost there... just 7,000 words left.
---
The group landed on the bankside of another lake. The terrain was unfamiliar to Tyler, though Cobalt and Lee both stood attentive, gaining their bearings. "Not bad, lad." Cobalt mused. "You're not all that familiar with the map of our countries, but we're all but a few days short of our destination."
Adrian, still attached to Cobalt's hand, yanked and screamed attempting to pry himself loose, "Let me go! Let me go!"
Cobalt did as requested and the child tumbled into the muddy bankside grass, causing Cobalt to burst into a hearty chuckle. It was Tyler who kneeled down and offered the poor child a hand to get back to his feet.
"Adrian, I don't expect you to trust us." he began, keeping a healthy distance between himself and the teenager, "But I want you to understand what page we're on here. We're going to the Ascendian country and we're going to finish off the angels ruling that place and then establish a new world where the sides are no longer at war."
Adrian looked distressed, his concerned eyes weighing too heavy for him to look to Tyler, "You're going to kill me too, aren't you?" his voice felt completely drained of all emotion at this point.
Tyler shook his head, his heart sinking. Having witnessed Amberleigh's death and having caused Maxwell's, he did not have the strength to see the end of the entire Anderson lineage, but it was true that the war would not be truly over until Adrian's angel was killed. He finally gave a solemn nod, "I don't think there's a way around it. But we want to get to Uhziel first. He's the bigger threat right now."
Adrian didn't move, Tyler watched him for a few seconds trying to formulate the correct words, but they didn't come. All he could muster was "I'm sorry."
For the first time since the ritual, Adrian could feel the parasite in his soul. He held a hand to his heart, wishing with all his might that the angel would simply leave so that he could live a full and happy life, but the angel would not be moved and there was little chance of escape or survival against the group. He sank to the ground, starring at the lake with watering eyes. Tyler sadly walked away from him and towards Cobalt.
Cobalt had taken Evan's body and was wading waist deep in the lake. "You were a good man, Evan. Rest in peace, know you shall be given the greatest gift of any mortal. In my memory you shall remain for all of time, preserved for eternity with reverance and love. You will never be forgotten and only fond thoughts shall follow you into the next world. I promise I shall win this war for you, old friend." and with his quiet eulogy spoken loud enough for only the corpse to hear, he let the body fall into the water, before turning back to Tyler and Lee.
"We rest up tonight and make our way tomorrow. Our supplies are lost to us, so we must make do. Our next encounter shall be our final one. Tyler? What's the recharge time on your spear?"
Tyler breathed in, not having considered the soul drain of using the attack up until this point, "Enough time for my body to digest a good meal should be plenty." he stated.
Lee walked up to Tyler, tapping his shoulder before indicating Adrian, "Do you believe he shall be alright, Dawn?"
Tyler shook his head, "He wont be, but we have to let it sit for him. Hopefully he'll be able to acknowledge the responsibility that we are giving him. If he accepts it, we may be fine."
"I do hope you are correct Dawn." Lee responded, walking back to Cobalt.
The group did not leave the spot for the remainder of the day, making a temporary camp to house themselves for the night, it was not much, but enough to shelter the group from any rainfall that may attempt to steal what little rest the group would be able to get for the evening.
Cobalt was distant for the duration of their downtime, Adrian seemed forlorn and Lee and Tyler were just akwardly tripping on eggshells trying not to upset the two crestfallen members of their party. For Tyler the looming threat of the Ascendian capital and Uhziel still weighed heavy over his head and for Lee, he was growing increasingly homesick, wishing for nothing more than to go back to Sega City and see Cari once more.
As night rolled around, all but Cobalt slept under the makeshift shelter. Cobalt watched Adrian to make sure the boy did not attempt to escape during sleep. Throughout the evening his eyes wandered to the lake's surface and he reflected on the mission he had undertaken and the sheer number of sacrifices that were made along the way.
Morning came swiftly and the party were once again on the road, with no food to keep their energy up, their progress was not as hasty as anyone would have liked to have been. By the end of the first two hours of their exodus they found a road which would undoubtably lead to the city they saught.
The mood of the travellers had deteriorated vastly since their time in the Blessed territory. Tyler was grumpy, Adrian was dragging his feet, Cobalt was growing distant and even Lee had lost his sing-songy jovial nature.
It wasn't until midway through their day of travel that they saw their first sign of life. However it was not what anyone would have hoped or expected. From the horizon they saw a small number of people running towards them up the road, from behind them several more could be spotted in a terrible group exodus of escape from some unknown danger.
"What on Earth is this?" Lee asked, cautiously, looking to his comrades, each of their faces as stunned as the others.
The group continued forward until the first of these people crossed their paths, the first who they came in contact with was a middle aged woman wearing modest attire, her face was a picture of blind terror. Cobalt grabbed her aside and studied her panicked expression, "What is the meaning of this? What terror causes you to flee the city in this manner?"
"It's the Outcasts!" the panicked citizen all but screamed, "They're attacking the city. Everything's on fire. They're going to kill everyone!"
Tyler stepped forward, looking at the terrified young woman who was stunned still in Cobalt's grip, "What?! Tell us what's happening!"
The girl gulped in and gave a soft nod, "They attacked the cathedrial, and then they started killing all the angels and --- oh god, they're going to kill everyone."
Cobalt loosened his grip and allowed the frantic woman to escape, and marched on through the oncoming traffic. "Come on, troops. The final battle awaits." his voice was stern and his pace did not slow. It took Tyler a few fast steps to catch up.
"Can we defeat the Ascendian angels and the Outcasts at the same time? I'm not even sure if I can cast another Spear the way I am right now."
"You must understand, Tyler. Uhziel appears to have planned our attempt at taking Julis, and to see him attack in our absence is beyond forgiveable. You shall fire your spear or this war will all have been for naught.." Cobalt responded in a serious tone.
Tyler breathed in and kept pressing forward. Before too long smoke was on the horizon and their destination was within reaching distance, waiting for them in the burning capital was the most powerful warrior Saygrem had ever known and the angel lurking inside his body.
Tyler recalled their meeting at the Blessed border. "He said he always wanted me to be the one to finish him off..." Tyler mused, starring ahead, "Let me make your dream a reality, Uhziel."
Before too long Tyler was walking alongside his comrades in the streets of the capital, thick plumes of dark smoke billowed out into the air and the deeper into the streets the group travelled, the more structures they encountered that were aflame.
Dead bodies littered the streets, many civillians, but scattered and hidden amongst them were white wings, bodies wearing the distinctive cloaks of the Outcasts. A long and bloody battle had clearly taken place in this city and the group were far too late to influence the outcome.
Adrian was the one who looked most upset, a subdued look of horror about his pale features, his beady eyes attempting to avoid all of the carnage as best he could.
"This is terrible." Lee stated, "Is there a single survivor amongst all of this chaos?"
Cobalt and Tyler did not respond, they were stiff and alert. The answer to the question was obvious in the fact that there was no sign of an indestructible angel in the area, which clearly indicated Uhziel was alive and still housing the beast within his soul.
Tyler looked aobut the town and noticed it's similarities to the town of Julis, it was as if the two towns were built from the same blueprints, and the evidence came upon seeing the cathedrial, it's wooden outer frame burning against the broken stone. The building stood with exposed areas crumbling all over.
Cobalt was the first to notice, sitting atop the dome, the silhoutted figure looming behind the rising smoke. "It's him." He stated plainly.
Uhziel leapt down to the ground and slowly approached them, Tyler withdrew his swords in preparation for the oncoming strike, Lee and Cobalt readied themselves. Adrian merely cowered, quickly coming to understand that his time on this planet was coming to an untimely close.
"Gentlemen!" Uhziel boomed, raising his hands triumphantly, "It is done. Rutabi is rubble under my boot, the high angels of the Ascendian order are vanquished. The war is almost over." with a demented smirk his face turned to Cobalt, "A millenium of scheming finally come to fruition, old man. You must be proud."
"You... killed everyone!" Adrian screamed from behind the party.
Uhziel chuckled, "You brought me the Blessed's emulation. How kind of you. Does this mean your brief trip to Julis was a success?" he examined the stony expressions of all those who stood against him and leaned back in satisfaction, "So it appears. Well then. The final angels are gathered in one spot."
Tyler looked around the burning city and then back to Uhziel, "Your men. They were all angel weilders. What happened to them?"
Uhziel examined his nails and then tilted his head, "I killed them." he stated simply, "Their destiny was to abuse the strength of the angels to further my cause and then die for it. Now that I've almost ended this farce, their use was at an end."
The crew that Uhziel was referring to were all kidnapped children that he had recruited over the years, forced into angel ceremonies and lead in his rebellion. One of Tyler and Lee's first adventures was to save a town full of children from this fate. To hear that all those they failed to rescue were nothing but lambs to the slaughter caused Tyler's teeth to grit together, an unspeakable rage flaring up within him as he felt his body move, grabbing Uhziel by the collar and hoisting him into the air, "You sick bastard! How could you?!"
Uhziel just smirked down, "Are you going to kill me, Dawn?" he asked, simply, "You'd better be ready to obliterate me if that's the case, you know what will happen if you're not fully prepared."
Hearing this he tossed the old warrior to the ground and huffed out angrily. "You do know you have to die for this war to be truly over, don't you?"
Uhziel picked himself up and wiped off his cloak, "I am no fool, Tyler Dawn. I know my destiny, as well as anyone else. But I have an errand to accomplish first." his eyes looked to Adrian, "I know you are a normal human, Dawn. I had my doubts, but if the old man sees no angel in you then I know you're not one of our kind." he nodded to Adrian on the word "our".
"That being the case," he continued, "I doubt you have the energy to kill us both. So I will have to take the Blessed brat out for you and then you can finish me off."
Adrian backed off, "No! I don't want to die!" he protested, "I want t-" and before he could finish the sentance, Cobalt had grabbed his arm and yanked him forward.
"Kid." he said, kneeling down, "I know you're young and the young do not deserve to die, alas, what we ask of you is no small thing. If we end this here and now today, then the world may be restored with no Blessed and Ascendian war. Is that not something worth sacrificing one's self for?"
Adrian looked to Uhziel, who seemed all but ready to kill the kid without permission and then to Cobalt who was at least a little warmer. He shook his head, "I'm not ready..."
Lee tapped Cobalt's shoulder, "Perhaps we are being too simplistic. To think that Uhziel's attack on this city will not cause further conflict is to speak ignorantly. The absence of angels does not automatically maintain peace."
Cobalt shook his head, "The absence does not. But what of the presence of a faction of angels who wish for the humans to live peacefully and not to summon angels into this world, bringing about their own extinction. With the correct guidance, we may reshape the history of this world and bring about the peace that we all crave."
Lee backed off and Tyler frowned, unsure what to make of the proclimation. If nothing else, Cobalt's will was unwaivering and his cause was just, but his methods were not. Seeing Adrian's terrified face, Tyler could only walk away. Unable to tolerate the heavy decision that lay above Adrian's young head.
Adrian sniffed in tears. "Let's leave this place. If you really have to do this. I want it somewhere nicer."
Cobalt nodded solemnly and patted the young child's shoulder, "Lad, thank you. In this action, you shall be legend, never forgotten and always praised for your act to save this land."
Tyler felt queasy hearing this spoken, but said nothing. He simply followed the rest of the party, Uhziel now included, in a empty state. He was sick of fighting, sick of killing, sick of war. He longed for a normal dinner with his family or a day where his biggest threat was an angry office worker ranting about the price of hardback covers.
Lee silently rested a hand on his shoulder, not daring to say a word, but offering empathy with the single touch. Without words, it communicated, by tomorrow it would all be over and they would be back home with their loved ones.
Soon they were back out in a field, far from the devestation of the city. Uhziel hung around impatiently, pacing around and waiting for the moment he could finally cast the spear through Adrian.
"I have no one left." Adrian mumbled, "And if what you are saying is true, then everything I've lived for to date has been a lie." he sighed heavily, "I really wish things weren't this way."
"So do I, Adrian." Tyler sighed, giving the kid a brief hug, "I really wish you could have lived with me and your sister. I would have saved you from all of this."
"Well... no use crying now." he sighed, looking to Uhziel. "I'm ready."
Closing his eyes, Adrian drew in a large breath before Uhziel effortlessly fired out a pillar of darkness that swallowed him whole, angel and all. The process took less than five seconds and after it was complete scorched soil was the only evidence that he had been there at all.
Cobalt and Lee bowed their heads and gave a moment of respect and silence. Uhziel looked to Tyler and Tyler back at him. They both knew what needed to be done and had no need to mix words about it. His heart heavy and full of depression, Tyler began softly chanting the spell for the Abyss Spear. Not having an angel in his soul, it required a lot more energy and build up than Uhziel's version.
As he concentrated on the words, images of his adventure flooded his mind. All the death, all the misery, all the despair. It would all end with this final blow, peace would at last return to Saygrem. Uhziel smiled, his arms open wide. He welcomed death and the glory of his victory. He had lived in this world as a villainous bastard, but it was all to bring about this moment where peace would be secured. History would dictate whether his actions were evil or misunderstood.
"Thank you for everything, Cobalt. You gave my life meaning." Uhziel stated, closing his eyes and readying himself. Cobalt bowed his head, bidding a silent farewell to his student. Lee watched, passively, caring more for the thoughts tumbling through his friend's mind as he continued to charge the spell.
It took a minute or two, but finally it was prepared. The spell was ready to fire and Tyler extended his palm. The look of relief about Uhziel's face was almost serene as the blast absorbed him and took his evil soul and the angel which feasted upon it out of the world and into oblivion.
"It's... over." Tyler sighed, sagging to his knees, exhausted from the over exhertion. "I finally killed him... now I never have to kill again..." and with those words spoken he slumped down to the ground, closing his eyes.
"Dawn!" Lee cried, reaching out for his friend, but Cobalt held him back.
"He's fine, just needs some sleep and maybe a good meal." the general stated, rubbing his face, "Let's get him back to the lake and get you two back where you came from, eh? The journey will give us time to talk."
Lee gave a nod, scooping his friend into his arms, "I agree. It seems we could use it. Today shall be the last we see of one another, will it not?"
"Alas, my boy. It is true. With the war over, I must now go about reshaping this world, and once it is ready to have humans stand without angels holding their hands, then perhaps it is time for me too to exit this world. I have taken so many of those precious lives. As many as my companions. I harbor more guilt than words can describe. I simply hope it will be worth it in the end."
"Time shall tell." Lee mused, "For what it is worth, I shall sing of you in my world, telling the story of the angel who wished to reshape the world and the sacrifices he made along the way, lest they all be forgotten."
"Ah, you are one of sentiment, are you not?" Cobalt chuckled. "But if anyone is to be remembered, let it be the humans who were caught in the middle and the humans who stood up to save the world which my kind so wantonly attempted to destroy."
Lee sighed and gave a nod, looking down at the unconcious form of his friend, "I see. Then I shall preserve them in my memories until even those are taken from me."
that's so sad.. i feel like uhziel took the resposibility of taking the lives of all the angels and half angles so tylor won't have to bare it........that's why he had a peaceful expression when he died right? 
but this way, he's become a wicked person and no one will ever honor him even though he solved the struggle. i can't help but feel sorry for him.
craig you really know how to focus on each character, you write like it can be seen. i really hate it when some movies don't get the reaction right, or belittle a darmatic scene. but you do it so right, so humanly natural. it really stings the heart.
I wanted to get across the idea that Uhziel's life goal was to rid the world of angels, all the while knowing that he carried in him the strongest one of all and that the longer he lived and harder he fought, the more of a danger he became to the world. It made him go a little insane and desperate with his schemes. His relief comes in the way that he was able to die without being the monster or threat that he always percieved himself as.
This said, he is far from a tragic character. In the first novel he intentionally forced young children into the angel summoning pact in order to strengthen his numbers and make sure the summoned angels were weak enough for him to kill when he was done with them. To cut a long story short, he recruited his entire Outcast army on the sole basis of being confident enough to kill every last one of them when he was done--- and he finally did that in this chapter. So, I honestly think him to be the truest evil of the story because he was too focused on his goal and held no empathy or remorse for the pain and death he inflicted even on his own comrades.
Contrasted with Cobalt, the one who raised Uhziel to be the warrior he is today. Cobalt limited his attack on Julis to only his angel brothers and even then he offered them a chance to renounce their ways. He mourns every human who dies by his hand in the thick of battle and is especially devestated when his comrade dies. Though both Cobalt and Uhziel fight for the same goal and are equally manipulative of the people of the world, Cobalt was far kinder in his actions.
I almost feel dirty for giving Uhziel a heroic death. But to be fair, since the 2007 novel he was introduced in, the guy has been destined to die by Tyler's hand in this way, it just took me a while to get to writing it...
---Anywho, I'll post the next 2,000 or so words tomorrow before I go out for Thanksgiving dinner. If I do it right, there'll only be three more posts left of the story.
well now that i rethink it... i guess a lot of the evil in history was made in the world by people who believe in "the greater good" logic.
i also understand from you that Uhziel is a lot worse than Maxwell.
<I almost feel dirty for giving Uhziel a heroic death>
well if it makes you feel better, it really didn't seem like a hero's death, more like an ending of a psycho killer. cause it actually felt like Uhziel thought of himself as a hero, he kinda convinced tylor to kill him. so i didn't feel like tylor had any respect for him, only pity toward the insane old man who wanted to run from the guilt of his crimes.
<poke> um.. craig, can you stretch the story, i mean you don't have to finish it so fast right? PLEASE !! i don't want it to end in 3 posts, it's really fun.
come on! books are a lot longer and they don't deserve so.
Uhziel is not a tragic hero by ANY stretch of the imagination.
But his death was very fitting, for one who did want to bring about change and peace. He just went about it in a very... radical fashion.
As for stretching the story, I really don't think he's going to. He's so fed up with writing at this point (as I am too), and I know I'm gonna these next few days taking care of him and motivating him to just finish the damned story as I know he wants to. 🙂 He's totally psyched that you're enjoying it, by the way!
~Shadowed Spirit Sage
oh so you're tricia right? Hi!
well i guess it takes a lot out of him, writing is no simple talent.. i am being selfish for asking for more, but it really is fun. he put all the things i like in one place, and i love the characters too much to let go of them. i already miss evan.
and i'm glad my appreciating of his talent makes him happy....i was worried i was being a pest, i have a habbit of speaking my mind without thinking. it's hard for me to keep any thought inside my head they always come out. 
anyway thanks tricia and thanks craig.
Yes, I'm that infamous beast of a woman named Tricia that he speaks highly of for some reason 😀
It's so funny. He actually doesn't like writing, yet despite this being his weakest of his three NaNoWriMo novels, I can tell he's had some of the most fun during this round. I know I'm having more fun this time than the last NaNos I participated in. Something about bouncing ideas off of one another has really helped raise his spirits a bit and, like I said, your comments are definitely helping. He may be modest, but I've noticed he's a lot brighter and more eager to write now that I'm no longer his only audience 😀
If you want to read more of his stuff, I'll see if I can upload the other two. "Grief" is actually a sequel to his first NaNo titled "Saygrem", and reading both back to back is a very interesting experience. My personal favorite, however, is his 2008 NaNo, titled "Normal" - both he and I agree this is his magnum opus of sorts, and it would take a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to top that.
I have "Saygrem" as a document somewhere on my computer - I'd have to find a place to upload it.
But if you want to read "Normal", it's actually right here 😀
~Shadowed Spirit Sage
i really thought this was perfect now i'm really excited to read the other fiction you linked, thanks sweety. oh and getting the first part of this fiction would be nice.
and after i read craig's work i'd very much like to read yours, i'm curious about this "bouncing ideas off of each other" ha ha but really, i have a feeling i'd like your style too.
and actually i noticed a lot of memebers respect craig even when he makes a rare appearance posting... he probably has loads of fans, they're just the lurking type of members.... i can feel them nodding right now 
One more post left to make. AAAAAH.
-
"Before we leave, however." Cobalt spoke, stopping Lee in his tracks, "I owe it to my people to undo the damage that my student has done. If you would be kind enough to remain here while I summon my magic to extinguish the flames which drown out the capital"
Lee nodded with a soft smile, "I feel it is for the best." and with those words spoken, Cobalt unfurled his wings and took to the sky, leaving Lee and his unconcious friend alone.
Weeks had passed since they arrived and in retrospect it had all seemed so quick, perhaps the world of Saygrem was simply waiting for the legendary Tyler Dawn to return and finish the mission he started all of those years ago. Perhaps the war was grinding to a halt regardless of their involvement. It did not matter in the long run, for the point was that the war was over. But the world didn't feel any different.
Lee let out a sigh and desperately grasped through his soul to find a redeeming quality in the air, a new sense of purpose and fulfillment in the air. All he found was an unwaivering relief that he would soon be home with Cari. As too, should Dawn with Tamara. That alone was solace for him, and the moments Cobalt was away passed as if through a heavy fog, lazily and unevenly.
With only the sun to keep time for him, Lee was unsure how long he had to wait before Cobalt returned, but the smile on his face showed that his work was not for naught. Though evacuated now, the people would return home to find their city in disarray, but still standing. Broken but repairable.
"I eagerly anticipate what humans build to rejuvinate their city, in defiance of Uhziel's assault." Cobalt stated, folding his wings around himself again, "I'm sure whatever it is will be far grander than had he never have attacked at all."
"That's a unique way of looking at things..." Lee mused, strolling alongside him, "But it is true that to look at things from the way things are is far more positive than looking from how things may well have been."
"And that is how you should look at this world, my boy." Cobalt said, slapping his son on the back, "It is far from perfect and shall require many years to recover from the prejudice carefully implanted inside of it, but as with all other things, human spirit can be repaired and improved upon."
"I trust that you shall see these changes reach fruition?" Lee asked, innocently, "You will understand if I return to my new home with Dawn. We have a place for ourselves carved out in that world."
"Of course, lad." Cobalt chuckled, "I am no father man. My protege is proof enough of this fact. Just live life with no regrets, my boy. Regrets get you so very little and yet examining your present with an eye to the future can yeild so much. I have a feeling your friend needs to learn this lesson. He is a formidable man, but refuses to witness the present. Living for revenge and cowering from age will simply leave the man with nothing to live for and nothing to die for."
"Wise words, truly." Lee agreed, "Alas, it is in his nature to be this way. One can change the world and end wars, but to change the force known as Tyler Dawn is a feat onpar with altering the very wind that blows through the air."
Cobalt burst out into laughter, "Just recall, we angels may not be able to change the wind, but we can change the direction it flows."
"As you say, father." Lee said, smiling and giving his father a full on hug, holding him close. "I eagerly hope Cari and myself will see this utopia that you will construct." Lee saw the lost expression on his father's face, "Ah, Cari. She is to be my future wife, she is a fine woman and you would enjoy one another's company, however, my point is that I wish you luck with your objective."
"As I wish you luck with marriage, my lad. It is rarely as easy as it seems." at this Cobalt stopped. The two had already reached the shimmering surface of the lake. Cobalt merely bowed his head to the water and then returned his gaze to Lee.
"Farewell, Lee. May our paths cross oncemore, perhaps under better circumstances." the angel said, punching Lee's arm with his beard locked into a grin.
"As well as you." Lee responded, shoving him in return. And with the goodbyes said, Cobalt's wings opened and he took to the sky once more, leaving Lee to wait for Tyler to awaken from his exhausted nap.
Lee fell back, facing the sky and watching the shape of the clouds that lingered high above him, before closing his eyes and waiting for Tyler to return to conciousness. The only hurdle left to jump now was the portal home, once that was taken care of, there would be nothing between the pair and their home on the 15th floor apartment in the outer city.
Time passed, Tyler wasn't sure how long it had been since he passed out, but the sun was already setting beyond the lake and the sky was turning a darker shade. He looked over to Lee who seemed to have passed out during the long wait for him to recover his mighty Abyss Spear. He pulled himself to his feet and stretched. Relieved that it was all finally over. There was nothing more to do but to go home.
Giving Lee a soft shove with his foot, Tyler summoned the portal back home, giving a small nod to the half angel, inviting him to go first back into their world. He quickly followed, after Lee had groggily slumped through into the other world.
As the two men stumbled out of the portal they were hit with a blinding ray of morning light, the early orange sun blazing down in direct contrast to the evening sunset that the two of them had just departed. Both men were aware of a minor time lag between the worlds of Saygrem and the Earth that Sega City resided, though neither one had taken the time to do the math to work out how long the lag actually was.
Regardless of this, they were home and back where they had left, the stone fountain in the cemetary that Amberleigh was buried in. Seeing it once again, after his unfortunate departure weeks ago, Tyler gasped in. His heart felt an anchor weigh upon it and his feet were guided forward without encouragement or hesitation from or for his friend.
Lee hung back, softly smiling. Only persuing his comrade after a few steps were made. The two walked up the grassy hill through the thickets of engraved stone slabs until they reached the site from the funeral, Tyler briefly glanced over the fresh flowers laid at the base of the granite and read aloud "Amberleigh Anderson: She gave us life".
"Aye, that she did." Lee sighed, patting his friend on the back, "How do you feel, Dawn?"
"It's strange..." Tyler mused, sinking to a squatting position, his eyes locked tightly on the stone infront of him, "I should feel acomplished, I should feel like I have resolved unfinished business. I killed Maxwell, I ended the war which lead to her birth, I even freed her brother from the cursed life of an angel weilder that would have fallen on her... but I don't feel I did right by her."
Lee nodded solemnly, "Perhaps because you did not, my friend." Lee stated bluntly, keeping a hand on his friend's shoulder, "You may well consider that Amberleigh did not live in the past as you do. Killing her father and ending the war meant little to her. They merely meant something to you, the one who left the unresolved business. Read the inscription, she gave life. Not death."
"Are you saying we were wrong for going back?" Tyler asked, almost astounded at the audacity of Lee's words.
"I am not saying any such thing. Is it a bad thing we ended tyranny and created peace? No. It is a wonderful thing, but to say you did it for Amberleigh, who never once seemed to care or wish for it, that would be as if buying a sword marked "Tyler Dawn" for Tamara's Christmas present, you may have some feelings of giving something, but truthfully you are merely taking."
Tyler just starred up, "Why are you saying this now?"
Lee shrugged with a grin, "It is what you need to hear now. It is not what you needed to hear yesterday or for the past two weeks. We all grieve in our own ways, my friend. You simply confronted mortality, and rather than accepting your beloved Amberleigh's passing, you decided to right the percieved wrongs of your life, preparing yourself for the grave, perhaps?"
Tyler raised to his feet, pushing his friend away. His body felt empty, perhaps exhaustion from using too much magic, but more realistically it was just shock at being hit so directly, "I did everything I did for Amberleigh. You know that. You helped me."
"Dawn. You are missing my point and getting defensive. I am still your friend and I am being a friend. But if you truly wish to honor young Amberleigh, then you are best to honor the life she built on her own, not avenge the upbringing that she had long since escaped. But you still have much life to live and you shall harbor regrets as we all do. Use them to define your decisions for the future--- you may very well have larger regrets as this day ends." Lee's smile was weak at this point, it seemed forced for the sake of a friend, "The hardest battle is one you still have yet to fight."
Tyler's mind trailed back to the day of the funeral and immedietly he knew what Lee was referring to. Tamara would not see the adventure and it's eventual success as a mission of redemption, revenge or honor. It was a mid-life crisis, plain and simple. Perhaps this was how Lee himself percieved it, but it was undoubtably how Tamara would see it and now, thanks to Lee, Tyler was now brutally taken out of his resolve and made to acknowledge his selfishness.
"Would you believe I'm scared?" Tyler said with a short chuckle.
"The legendary Tyler Dawn who near single handedly ended the millenium long war of Saygrem, afraid of his girlfriend? I would call him stupid if he were not. If you perish, I shall write many a song about you."
Tyler punched him in the arm, "You're an asshole, you know that?"
Lee chuckled, "I am just happy to be home. Things are so much simpler here, are they not?"
"Ask me after Tamara's torn my throat out, but for the time being. Yeah." with a soft smile, he walked with Lee outside, ignoring the banners objecting the presence of a known powered individual amongst good natural humans. Somehow the Humans For Humanity protestors seemed so trivial in the grand scheme of things.
It wasn't long before Tyler was sitting on a train, hunched over and staring at his feet, there was a hole in his stomach which grew every mile closer to the destination he got. His eyes fell onto a newspaper, the headline drew no major interest, apparently some sporting team was doing poorly, but the catching feature were the words Thanksgiving Special. The fact the train was running on Thanksgiving was a mild miracle, possibly supplied by KingCorp's ability to make public transit fully automated.
But the idea of returning home to find the three sisters sharing a Thanksgiving dinner, only to be interupted by their return, Tyler was sure Tamara's ancipated bad reaction would reach a critical mass of horror, Lee followed Tyler's gaze and also noticed the paper, he smiled. Apparently he thought the same idea would lead a big teary family reunion when families were supposed to be reunited. Reality versus Hallmark. Tyler could only imagine which would win out when they finally returned to the apartment.
Time flowed as it always did and it held no protection from the events that would unfold. Before too long, Tyler and Lee were standing on an elevator, both still in their Saygrem cloaks, Tyler's concealed short swords clanging to his sides underneath. The pair walked down the hallway until they reached the door to their humble apartment.
Drawing in a huge breath, Tyler knocked his knuckles against the door three times. Time stood still as the tension began mounting expodentially, Tyler's body stiffened up until Lee patted him with a soft reassuring smile. The door finally opened, revealing Navi's short form. She was wearing a humble peasants dress and as always her expression was even, she just sized them up as if their arrival was hardly unexpected.
"Happy Thanksgiving." she stated in a tone which if read into would require an entire essay to discern the subtext, her eyes moved sharply from Tyler to Lee even as she backed off enough to allow the pair into the house. Tyler was the first in and Lee followed closely behind, as soon as the pair had safely entered the apartment, Navi slid the door closed once again and took Lee by his sleeve. "I am relieved you came home safely." she stated simply, passing him and delving deeper into the house.
A few steps in and Tyler was greeted with the overwhelming scent of a freshly cooked Thanksgiving dinner, the roasted turkey, the mashed potatoes, the carrots, stuffing and dessert all offered a succulant aroma which reminded him that he had not eaten since before arriving in Julis days ago.
The table had been set up in the living room area, only three chairs were set up around the small circular table, Navi overtook Tyler and resumed her position, Tamara was sitting opposite, her features pale as she starred at Tyler as if he were an invader to their home, it was only Cari who's features broke out into a relieved smile.
She pushed to her feet and with giant strides she crosssed the room raising her hand into the air and sweeping it across in an arch so fast Tyler could hear a brief swoosh of air before her palm made contact with his cheek, nearly knocking him from his feet. Even as the blood rushed to the impact site and his nerves registered the amount of pain he recieved from the slap, Cari pulled him into a tight hug.
"You stupid idiot, what the hell were you thinking?" she asked in an oddly relieved tone, "And you better tell me Lee's okay."
As she spoke those words, the blonde haired half-angel ambled into sight with a soft smile, "I am mroe than okay for seeing your face, my beloved." Cari's eyes lit up and she pushed Tyler away taking Lee in her arms and locking lips with him for a brief moment.
"I was afraid I'd never see you again." she all but whimpered, "I understand why you felt compelled to, but did you really have to go and follow him?"
"Someone had to make sure he returned home, heaven knows the man would not find his path in life, even with a compass and a map." Lee chuckled, holding his girlfriend closer to himself, never wishing to let go.
Tyler looked helplessly to the table, Navi had bowed her head and continued eating her food, Tamara was just focused on her boyfriend's face, her expression mixed up between a soft boiling livid rage and genuine concern and care for the man she loved.
Biting the bullet and deciding to make the first move, Tyler took in a gulp before saying, "For what it's worth, Tamara. I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?" she repeated, an eyebrow raised. He could sense all the emotions she had been bottling for weeks starting to burst at the seams, ready to erupt in an explosion if he didn't put a cap on it fast enough, "You leave in the middle of Amberleigh's funeral to play hero again and try to get yourself killed. Not even pausing to say goodbye to your family... and you're sorry?"
The words struck Tyler hard, when spoken like that there was no possible way he could seek forgiveness. The man who faced down impossible odds days ago was seriously considering a tactical withdraw, he almost wanted to announce his return a mistake and leave right there and then, but he held too much love for the woman, even as her eyes shimmered with rage directed at him.
"I don't expect you to forgive me." he said slowly, becoming increasingly aware of Cari, Navi and Lee's eyes on him, "I did a foolish thing in a moment of grief, I felt inconsolable and I just wanted to escape the pain, I didn't want to deal with things in... in a human manner." as he spoke his head hooded, admitting his feelings just made him feel more childish than before.
"Do you realize how juvinile you sound?" Tamara all but screamed, rising to her feet, "Damn it, Stressed, Ignoring the fact you summoned a magical portal no less than thirty damn feet away from those humanity protestors, what made you think it was a good idea to go back to that way of life? We have a home, we're happy, we put all that stuff behind us. Why would you drag Lee into some glory day fantasy. Is this humble life with your family not enough?"
Tyler looked away, his face was still burning from Cari's slap and his ears were ringing as his blood was starting to boil with unjustified rage. It wasn't enough. How could he, Tyler Dawn, be happy babysitting college students who want to be partying all day and then sleeping in cramped conditions with a family of people lying to themselves and dwelling in their own misery. If not for the fact that voicing these opinions would lead to him being ousted from the family forever, he would have shouted them at the top of his lungs.
"Well?" Tamara demanded, seeing how he was locking up in deep thought, "I know you well enough to say something's on your mind. So spit it out!"
He turned to look at Lee and Cari, and then Navi. All of them were boring holes into him with their eyes, all expecting him to go above and beyond to bring the family back together, or maybe to throw their love out the window. It wouldn't surprise him if Cari and Navi had a bet running on which he did.
"Come on Tamara, I want to speak in private." he finally announced, taking her hand and leading her back to their room. The dark skinned goddess yeilded to him and followed along. For the past few weeks the poor girl was lost in turmoil, torn between cursing Tyler's name and longing for his return. She was a strong woman, but too many people had exploited her weaknesses over the years and she had grown a co-dependancy which seemed to tie directly into Tyler as the strong protector, a role he was all too happy to play.
When the door closed behind them, they were alone at last, the room looked entirely unchanged from when Tyler left the world weeks ago.
Tyler took in a breath before speaking, pushing Tamara down to sit with him side by side on the bed, "Tamara, first I want to admit I am an idiot. I understand it now more than ever. If you keep that in mind and listen to me, I should be able to explain things without seeming like too much of a prick."
Tamara seemed like she wanted to interject, but was willing to hear him out. "Go ahead, Stressed. Talk. I'll listen."
c..couldn't you have posted this just a little bit sooner 
i feel off my chair in embarrassment for saying all that for nothing.... ... ....
but really, it's cool to get back to the story ... you better make the last part really long okay?
and totally juicy 
work your magic!
Edit: i think it's very deep the conclusion you made with tyler's adventure being his own desire and not a mission to fulfilling amberleigh's wish. it's kinda sad but that does make sense, he was just looking for the excuse to go back there.
His heart was pounding, the intense look Tamara was giving him was far more terrifying than a room full of angels or an approaching army, a single misstep could detonate years of romance and affection that the two had shared. He did not dash into this explination without taking a moment to size up the weight of the words he intended to say.
"While we were out there, Lee and I got into a discussion, he learned a pretty hardening truth about his upbringing, about the way he spent his first two hundred years of life. It was really heavy stuff, and he just shrugged it off, and when I called him on it he simply said I wouldn't understand." as he spoke, he wrung his hands, "I was livid, I couldn't understand how a person could be told such important things and be able to shrug them off. But--- I think I finally get it. I'm the type of person who thinks that all things have to be connected, that a person's actions from a decade ago relate to who they are today."
Tamara watched, not daring to interupt just yet, she couldn't even recall the last time she had seen her boyfriend this open and unguarded. "A human life is a small thing, isn't it Tamara?" he continued, "And with such a brief window to fill our little destinies with, there shouldn't be room for fixing yesterday's problems unless they are affecting today."
"Stressed." Tamara said, exasperated, "I don't understand a word of what you're saying. Could you get to the point."
"I should let sleeping dogs lie. I think I understand that it takes a stronger man to make peace with his past than to attempt to alter it, especially by damaging the present. Also I think I've learned that I am too young to look back with regret, there is enough time for us to do so much. What I want to say is, I'm ready to stop being so grouchy and try and live a normal life with you. Not begrudgingly, but willingly."
Tamara's eyes didn't seem too comforted by his confession, her blood was still boiling at his presumption and he had said a lot of things which really didn't sit well with her. It took her a full five seconds of silence to digest it.
"Are you done?" she asked in a harsh tone.
"I'm done." he responded.
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you a life you didn't begrudge, Stressed." she began, and Tyler felt his heart sink at the fact she was going to turn the situation into an arguement, right away. But, though his heart sank, he did not feel sadness or despair, just a calm patience. Against his better judgement, he broke out into a smile, causing the dark skinned Goddess to indignantly burst out "What?!"
"I'm just glad you haven't changed. All these years I've known you and you're still the same wonderful woman I willingly died for all those years ago. Tamara, I do and will always love you. But you are right to be mad at me, and I'm willing to accept your punishment." there was an almost serene calmness to him as he spoke, there was a true freedom in surrender, and for the first time in many years, he felt like he was standing on the road of life as if it was a vast field with many directions to chose from.
"God damn you, Stressed!" Tamara yelled, hitting his arm, "What the hell is wrong with you?! You come back during Thanksgiving dinner of all moments, don't even ask how I am, spew out all this insulting insight about how much you hated your life with me. Why should I put up with this? Why should I put up with you?"
"Because, I'm not here to reclaim you." he stated, standing from the bed and putting a hand to her shoulder, "Tamara. I love you. I did wrong by you. I did wrong by myself. I need to fix myself and right some wrongs. Then we'll see where we stand when you're ready."
Tamara jumped up with a balled fist, about ready to knock him down, "What the hell? You're going off on another adventure?! I thought you'd changed, but you're just as selfish and stupid as ever." the Goddess was close to tears at this point, and it was at this moment Tyler chose to embrace her, burying her head into his chest.
"Tamara, consider it a second chance to court you. You have a choice, I have a choice. We have the freedom to fix mistakes, start a new. What I want to do is go back to work with a mission. I want to rediscover my purpose there, put in my time, get my stuff together." he pushed her back and tilted her chin up to look at his eyes, "I know you want to own a home of our own someday. We were never going to do it with me dragging my feet at the store, but if I commit myself, work a few months of solid overtime, maybe we can get that dream on it's way to becoming a reality."
Tamara sniffed in, her eyes blinked and a tear rolled down her cheek. She couldn't understand him, she resigned to the fact that she may very well never understand him, but she could at the very least understand that he still loved her and she still loved him. "Get the hell out of here." she almost chuckled, her tone seeming to carry a shade of happiness. "And don't come back until you're worthy to be loved by a Goddess."
Tyler took her in close and gave her a soft kiss, their lips locking and reaffirming 17 years of love, as wounded and damaged as it was.
"I wont go far. You'll know where to find me and this time, I'm fighting for you and only you. Believe me or don't is your option."
"Either way this is the last Thanksgiving you'll ever ruin, Stressed." Tamara joked, wiping her eyes.
Tyler chuckled, "I know." and with that he took out, ignoring Lee and Cari embracing in the dining room, or Navi calmly enjoying the feast that they had all prepared.
Tamara shortly followed, watching his cloak as it flowed behind him out of the door, she sighed out and sagged to her chair.
"Are you okay?" Cari asked, walking to her sister with deep concern, kneeling to embrace her.
"Not really." Tamara sighed, emptily sagging into the hug, "He's the same idiot as he ever was. I don't know whether to say he's going on another dumb mission for love or he's just wisely giving me some space to deal with this."
Lee chuckled, looking to the now closed front door, "He is like that, is he not. Is the man a genius or an arsehole. One may never know. Do you wish for him to come back to you."
"I just need time." she sighed, defeated.
"Then it is a good thing he was kind enough to give you that." Lee concluded, rocking back and forth on his heels, before returning to Cari.
-
Christmas was fast approaching. Snow was settling on the streets of Sega City, and in the central business district, all of the retail establishments were over run with customers looking to buy things for their loved ones. Consumerism was as strong as ever this season, and in a humble bookstore known as Noble Borders, the hustle and bustle was as strong as any other establishment.
He'd been on his shift for fourteen hours and was not looking to go home for another two or three. Since returning from his leave of absence to grieve his sister, Tyler Dawn had changed. The entire staff had sensed it. He was far more organized in delegation and far more committed when it came to customer service.
His superiors had noticed this leap in enthusiasm and talent and were eager to see where the ambitious manager would end up at this pace. His presence was certainly a boon for the Christmas season, and his recomendations to young and old for novels, movies and comics were always wise and well researched. He worked the longest hours, took the shortest breaks and it was generally agreed that the man had a focus now, a reason to succeed. They only wish that he had found it sooner.
The store had less than an hour left before it closed as Tyler stood proudly at the center of the store, surveying his kingdom, his diligent soldiers working to alphabetize, vacuum and make sure the store was prepared for the amount of business it was sure to recieve the next day.
"Excuse me, Sir?" a voice asked from behind him. Tyler effortlessly summoned a smile before turning to look at the new customer.
"How can I help you..." his voice trailed off, Tamara was standing infront of him, her body wrapped in warm winter clothes, a light pinkness resting under her eyes from having just come from the snowy weather outside.
"I'm looking for a book for my boyfriend. He loved to read, and I just wanted to know what you would recomend." she asked, smiling at him.
They had talked during the time since Thanksgiving, though Tyler had avoided seeing her. Working himself to almost suicidal degrees. He had seen Cari and Lee both pleading that he stop being foolish and return to the apartment, but each time they saw the look of contentment and focus in their friend's eyes they reluctantly backed down.
Now Tamara stood infront of those eyes and they were now open and vulnerable, not the pillars of strength that he had pictured them being for when he finally had this encounter.
He took her hand and squeezed it, smiling at her, "I think you should surprise him. He'll surely be there on Christmas morning and he'd love to see a gift wrapped present to open up. He's already got something special prepared for her."
She smiled sweetly back at him, "Well then, you'll have to excuse me. I have some shopping to do." and she paused, "You're going to come home soon, right? I'm not mad anymore, and from what I heard you're not as crazy anymore."
"I'm coming back on Christmas. I just want to ride out the Christmas hours for all their worth. You'll understand, I promise."
"I trust you, Stressed." she said, kissing his cheek softly and walking into the store.
He watched her, with a soft smile. The overtime was tiring him out and the idea of facing two more hours was fatiguing in concept, but he knew it was worth it. He aimed to buy a house in the long run, but that was all dependant on getting a promotion, all dependant on the future he was building.
What he wanted for Christmas was far more immediate, far more obtainable.
"Hey, Mr. Dawn?" one of the college aged employees asked, walking up behind him. "Was that her?"
"Yeah, Sue. It's her." he replied, in a even tone.
"Do you think she has any idea that you're going to propose to her on Christmas morning?"
Tyler chuckled, "No, she's too stuck in the past to see that I'm looking to the future now. She probably thinks I'm drowning my sorrow in this building. I wonder how she'll react when she realizes it is all to get her an engagement ring."
"She'll be happy." the employee assured him with a dreamy smile.
Tyler Dawn chuckled. The way he imagined it, she'd scream at him, hit him and rant about what an idiotic jerk he is, before finally accepting and kissing him.
And that reaction would be enough to prove to him it was the right decision. He really did want to spend the rest of his life with her. And nothing, past present or future would take that away.
thanks for that wonderful ending craig. i like how tyler grows in the story.
i can relate myself with tyler... i think all of us in our tweenties can. some of us learn the lesson after we leave our homes, some of us are still struggling to find the answer.
it's all about how we see the problems in our lives, wether they are the past or present problems, if we make them the center of everything we will exaggerate their size and waste our lives griefing over them.
i really loved this part in your story:
" His heart was pounding, the intense look Tamara was giving him was far more terrifying than a room full of angels or an approaching army, a single misstep could detonate years of romance and affection that the two had shared. He did not dash into this explination without taking a moment to size up the weight of the words he intended to say."
i did the same mistake as tyler in my grief periode, i turned my back on the best human being i ever met, it took years and a lot of growning for me to proove to that person i have changed and ready to come back.... i think you pictured that momment some of us gone through, perfectly. cause really, once you find that perfect person (friend or lover) you musn't ever be foolish to think you will find someone else like them.
well that's how i see your story, thank you so much for all your hard work craig, i totally appreaciate your work. alhtough i don't want the story to end, it's ending is an eye opener and a good lesson to learn. i'm so happy tyler got over his greif and got the sweet kind tamara back.
so craig <shakes craig's arm> write more! write more!
your a wonderful writer i can't wait for your next one, oh can you make a sonic game story?!! or better a fan fiction on one of the marvel heroes?!!
you'd do great in whatever i just know it! btw can you post a link to the first part of this story i bet it has lots of funny momments with lee like this one did.
hope i didn't trouble you too much,.. keep being brilliant !
Thank you for your encouragement during this month, it really helped. There are so many writers more worthy of your adoration, however, and if you find them then I am eager to see the levels of enthusiasm you've displayed towards me.
As for future projects, I have nothing on the chopping block right now, but if I write anything work friendly enough to share on the Mobius Forum, I shall do so if only for your benefit. I tried my hand at Sonic fan-fics about four or so years ago to less than satisfying results, I have not a clue where the old thing is anymore, so perhaps it is best let buried.
See ya about the forums, Sonicsfan.
i read some of the other fan fictions here, but i didn't have the same delight as when reading your writing... there was too much effeort in construction and the attitude they went with was too predictable but you, you made your characters alive........ i had no idea where your story was going which is a rare thing for me. that's why i praise you so much, cause i'm stunned to find you.
to be honest you were so good i kinda doubted you were a dude, no offence but do you know how few guys out there can write with thick expression?
you are good craig, and one of a kind. so don't belittle your talent or my praise.
as for making more fanfictions, i won't pressure you 
you obivously use up a lot of energy and emotion, i understand if it takes you time ... but i do hope i can read some more of your work..... stories you make for the pure joy of writing down your free unlimited imagination anyway i'll go read your "Normal" fan fiction i was saving it for later.
oh and you'd totally rock for a sonic fan fiction.... too bad you won't start a new one. at least post your ideas for a storyline on the fourm, i'd like to debate with you more on the forum.... although something tells me you'd eat me right up.. you seem devilishly clever.. <shivers>... i feel like your half your true nature .. why i think that??? well i have no idea why i fear encountering you, but i strongly desire to see for myself if i'm right and you are the strong minded rivial i sense you are.
so see you around the fourm
Haven't read the whole thing (yet), but I can safely say you're a much better writer than I am 
I got bored with my story and it was becoming a chore writing it rather than it being fun, so I felt no point in moving onward with it, sorry for dropping out ^_^;;
Still, I guess I'm just more suited to writing poems than writing stories I suppose. Congrats on sticking it through and finishing it up though, you did something I couldn't!
Apologies for not replying to this in a prompt manner. Firstly, to Mada, I hope I have not disappointed with forum posts since your reply and I will let you know the moment I get back to writing.
To Hukos, thank you for the compliment, though I am sure it's unfounded. I hope you give NaNo a try next year and succeed, sometimes just reaching the summit is reward enough for the climb.
about how i find your posts.....
you always make interesting fun posts craig, but you're holding back too much.
i'm sure if let loose you'd reply to every thread, you have a sharp mind but why aren't you pressing on the topics, arguing through your opinion.
i hardly see you disscuss points more than one reply, i wanted to see craig on the battle field.
you're like this forum's guardian, if you start increasing posts i'm sure all the sleeping members will wake up and start posting.
your friends need you to revive them! ... i can see it now, they'll pop up like zombies and you're their general returning to the battle field 
that would be so awsome.
and about writing, yeah please let me know, i will be waiting for your next work impatiently.
*Laughs* That's probably going a bit too far, but I am trying my hardest to post more often. Maybe it's a masochistic streak, but I'm kind of nostalgic for the old Sonic franchise and my friends here, so I've been enjoying posting.
Alas, time does not often allow me to do so en masse, but I'm trying, dang it.
