Kyero's Story

”As far as I care about your desires for the throne, it’d be wasted on you! All this for that?! Neither of y-“ Lonán stopped as Kyero began the next phase it seemed. He slowly felt his stomach churn. Kyero wasn’t human, or else he wouldn’t be so calm during all this. Lonán struggled to keep a straight, controlled face as he turned to a shade of green. He knew he shouldn’t kill him, but the smile Kyero gave made Lonán believe Miils is going through hell.

”Must... think of Miss Dezantro, we have to find her and help her. But We have to get him to talk!” he thought. He had to make Miils answer and make sure he lives to see the trial Josephine wanted him to be. ”I swear.... He’ll see justice!”

Kyero grinned wickedly in the dark, his white teeth just visible in the crimson light of his eyes.

"Haa... Haa... Haa... You can... Do as you like, Demon... You won't... Break me."

"Miils... Didn't I tell you?"

His face became visible as he leaned forward out of the shadows right beside Miils' head.

"You've already broken. Your brain just hasn't caught onto it yet."

Kyero's face disappeared into the darkness, and slowly, Miils began shrieking at the top of his lungs as a sickening crunch and tearing sound began to fill the room. Slowly, Kyero's eyes rose up behind Miils and blood could be seen dripping in dangerously from behind the chair. Suddenly, in Miils' stomach, red began to gather. His shirt pushed forward with a small, sharp point. And within moments a metal spiked rod appeared and burst through the cloth splashing a few droplets of blood out in front of Miils' feet. The rod was twisted and turned, rotated and pushed in and out. Miils' screams reached deafening levels as Kyero gleefully pushed it in as far as it would go until his hand holding the rod was against Miils' bloody back.

Leaning forward and resting his head beside Miils', he looked to the man and placed his hand on the back of Miils' skinned hand.

"I told you that you could make this stop... Unless you draw pleasure from this in some way. But by all means, if it pleasures you, I will gladly continue."

Miils' screams began to slow and his breathing came under control as he looked down, green in the face, at the rod poking through his stomach.

"Don't worry. I guided it past your internal organs... You'll be fine." Kyero hissed.

Miils' body was covered in sweat, his clothing gripped tight to his skin.

"So I'll ask one more time... Where are they taking her?"

The rod was pulled back and the tip almost disappeared inside his body, only to be thrust back to full depth again splashing a few droplets of blood to the floor in front of his feet accompanied by a scream.

"G-Gah!........ Haaa... Haaaaaaaa... Haa... Hhh..." He breathed.

Kyero leaned in, his ear twitching as he listened.

"Mo-... Fort Moraello... It's on the South-"

"Southwestern border just above the Veilbrand Northern Mountain chain. I know of it... But what good is your word on its own?"

Kyero twisted the rod making Miils growl and grunt as he tried to maintain his composure.

"I swear... That's where she is!... But you'll... Never make it in time... She's going to be executed upon arrival as a traitor..."

Kyero twisted the rod.

"How do we delay the order?"

"You don't... That's the point. I only told you so you'd know just how hopeless this truly was for you." He said, laughing through his choked gasps and coughs.

Kyero's eyes narrowed, and he removed the rod from his stomach and threw it to the floor between his feet. Walking out and into the light, Kyero gazed at Lonan.

"You and I are going to find her and bring her back. Linde. Remain here with Aetrius and Kieran and keep watch on this wretch."

Linde nodded firmly.

Looking at Lonan, "Let's not waste any time."

Lonán’s eye widened as his pupils turned to pinpoints to focus on the man and the answers he gave. ”Y-You bastard!!” He slowly gripped his knife. He wanted to end him. End this man right now and send his bloody soul into the deepest darkest pits of hell. But at the back of his mind, a voice seemed to pierce his mind, the tone sounding it came like thunder in a sand storm. It only said one thing.

”No Lonán. He’s not a threat.”

Any rage Lonán had in him in that moment fell as it rose like a tide. As if the very nature of that voice intimated him. Then he realized Kyero’s gaze was on him, and not for the fact he was gripping his knife. He dropped said hand as he listened to what they had to do now. He shifted his gear and made sure is weapons were on him.

He took a deep breath, before looking at Kyero with determined eyes. ”Right. Let’s get going.” he stated, showing his readiness to go after them and rescue Josephine. He gave Miils a withering stare before following Kyero's lead.

Kyero led Lonan out of the room leaving Linde to deal with the drunken Kieran and the thoroughly damaged Miils.

As she approached him, her eyes glazed over and she glared at him without emotion.

”Every fiber of my being tells me I should leave you to suffer the damage the Demon has inflicted...”

Miils stared at her with a wicked smile.

"But you can't, can you? Being a doctor?"

Linde approached rapidly and backhanded him as hard as she could sending him and his chair falling to the ground. He grunted and shrieked as his hand and hanging flesh struck the floor, and Linde pulled him upright, slapping him hard across the face.

”I've violated my oath before whenever I encountered men who deserve death. And if it weren't for the fact I want you to face proper justice, I would kill you right here, right now.”

"Ha! I believe you, my dear. That's what's so beautiful about you."

”Be silent!”

"Beauty should be complimented, should it no-"

Linde slammed her boot into the side of his head knocking him to the ground. The impact knocked him out immediately, and Linde cursed under her breath as she propped him up and gagged him before making sure he had no serious injuries. They couldn't afford him dying on them.

She dragged Kieran to her bed, and later found and guided a very drunken Atrius, who threw up all over her favorite night gown, to bed as well. She threw the night gown away and slept naked against her lover as punishment for what she'd done.

...

The next morning, Aetrius and Kieran both would wake up with nasty hangovers while Lonan was with Kyero on the road. Lonan on his horse and Kyero, supposedly, "right behind" him. Lonan couldn't see him anywhere, but every time they stopped to rest or catch a bite to eat Kyero somehow appeared right with him. And, unfortunately, Kyero had noticed something about their progress.

”It's best we slow our pace just a bit. Your horse shouldn't be taking this many rests. It slows us down more in the long run.”

Lonán ate at a piece of jerky along with half of an apple. He had ridden Hawk for the last while, resting to try and conserve energy so that they can break out into galloping speed after. However, when Kyero appeared to point out the flaw in this, the Saharan paused mid eating. His mind had been wrestling with his anxiety ever since they left the Inn, now he looked at Hawk who seemed a bit worn out from the pattern at hand.

”I see the point you’re trying to make Kyero, if I run down Hawk it’ll get us into trouble. The only problem that I have is is that we don’t have a lot of time to get to Miss Dezantro and get back by whatever deadline Kieran spoke of, surely Miils had some contingency for if he nor her would be there to claim the throne.” He had a feeling it’d be bad all around if what he just spoke had occurred. It made him feel like exploding into a rage tenfold, however, he had to hold it in, for the time being, which annoyed him even more.

”Heresta Help me... I’m freaking angry with nothing to vent at! Not even a Bar fight! And I’m too mad to play Dragon’s Gambit!” He thought angrily, chewing on another piece of jerky.

Kyero sighed.

"You need to relax, Lonan. Miils' lackey said she had to take the throne in four days or she'd forfeit the rights to him. But if he can't be there to accept the honor, the rights are passed temporarily to the next in line which is the second Royal Adviser who is the junior to Miils. That individual holds power temporarily until either one of the two rightful rulers steps forward, or neither step forward for a fortnight. After which the rights fully belong to them."

He put a hand on Lonan's shoulder.

"We have plenty of time to reach Fort Moraello. At this pace we'll reach it in just under two more days. Rescuing Josephine shouldn't take more than one, and we can then return her with only a day or two past Miils' deadline to take the throne. That would leave Josephine with almost twelve days to officially claim the throne. And as long as Miils is with Linde and the others, he's not going to be able to take the throne in time before we make it back."

He let go of Lonan and heaved a sigh.

"Give the horse one more hour, then let's be off."

Lonán listened to Kyero’s reasoning and sighed nodding in affirmation to the confidence they’ll get there and back in no time. Hawk simply made himself comfortable as the words were said. The red haired Saharan looked at Hawk with an incredulous look. ”Hawk, he said one hour not two. Stay focused...”

He shifted his shoulders after the Hold was let go of him. He decided to fill the hour by simple prayers and meditation, communing with Heresta for strength and support on the urgent task at hand. The next few days were going to be stressful on his mind, he could tell. He hoped that Linde and the others would be able to handle the situation back at the Capital of Triveila.

So for that hour he silently meditated on all this. Mentally preparing for anything coming the duo’s way.

The next morning at the inn, Linde awoke and went about her daily activities before going into the room with Miils. She had been tending to the wounds inflicted by Kyero and Aetrius, and was struggling to keep up with them for a number of reasons. First reason was that part of her didn't want to help. Given the kind of person he was and what he'd done to Josephine, he deserved every bit of pain he was getting. The other reason she was struggling was because, following Kyero's example, Aetrius enjoyed damaging his body in rather difficult ways.

Still, today she did her best to finish the wounds which had been given him over the last day or so. She remained with him for almost two full hours carefully restitching his flesh to his body as it should have been, at least to the best of her ability, and stopping any flows of blood which were threatening to burst free.

"You are a kindly doctor, aren't you?" Miils said in a hoarse voice.

Linde didn't answer.

"You've done remarkable work. My hand may actually look semi normal when it's done healing."

"No, it won't."

"You don't think so?"

"I know so... I've made sure of it."

"... Well then... At least it will heal."

"To a certain extent, it will. But the chances you'll ever need to worry about anyone seeing it and pointing it out aren't very high."

"You'd like to believe that, wouldn't you?"

Linde glared at him quietly, giving a small jerk of her needle and thread to make him grimace before returning to work.

---

Back with Lonan and Kyero, they were making fantastic progress with the resting of Hawk for an hour before continuing at a brisk but not break-neck pace. Another day or so and they'd arrive at their destination.

For now, they were meditating together on a pair of conveniently flat boulders in the sun with Hawk tied to a tree nearby.

As the two meditated on the boulders, Lonán reflected on how he’s been handling his conflicts. He dealt with them more inward which apparently, if his memory served him right, was never a good thing according to Beatrix (of course, his grudge against her betrayal of their friendship almost trumped this). However, there was still the fear they wouldn’t get to her in time for when they reached the Fort. That count to him like the grip of a Serpent.

It was then Lonan’s ears picked up sounds. The sounds of crying and screaming. It caused him to freak open an eye and turn to Kyero. ”Did you hear that?” He asked as he got up and began walking towards the source of the noise, which was right on the road. The young Saharan hugged to a large tree to try and conceal his presence as he took a peek around the corner.

“Shut them up. Surely it’s not worth the trouble keeping these people here.” Said a male Lonán looked at the man and his comerades. They wore worn out armor, dark looks about some of them. All the credentials of either would be bounty hunters, or washed up ones desiring to lure out a better quarry. And from the sight of cages, it was sorely the case. These kinds of bounty hunters would capture people suspicious of being related to the bounty, or being guilty of association and used as one thing;

Live bait.

“Of course it’s worth it. These people will lure our prey to us. We’re almost at the site where we set up the trap for ‘em.” Said a gruff, yet more intellectual sounding man. “Now unless you want to be worm food along with our prisoners once we’re done capturing our quarry, stay quiet or the boss will gut you!” Lonán’s grip on the bark of the tree he was hiding behind began to tighten as he heard the crying of small children and women from the cages.

”Now I’m really angry! I’ve got to Help them!” He thought angrily as he began to look for Kyero. He needed to talk to him and formulate a plan against this evil that’s unknowingly crossed their paths ”Thank you Heresta for providing your loyal servant some stress relief!”

At the inn, Linde stood before Aetri with a soft, quiet stare. She didn't know whether to be sad, sympathetic, or something else. But as she closed her eyes a new feeling began to flood through her heart. And as her eyes opened, she walked forward towards Aetrius...

"My love," she whispered as she cupped her face in both hands.

"Is this about the other night? When Kieran said you have a mark that brands you as a murderer in Shaharan?" She asked softly.

Linde smiled and leaned in, planting her forehead against Aetri's.

"I'm a doctor. My job is to save lives. Protect health, wellness, and the potential for a future. And yet..."

She leaned back, tears welling in her eyes.

"I guess my brand is more in my soul than on my body." She whimpered as her tears began falling.

"I've spent a lot of time with Kyero. More than I'd care to admit. And in that time I did things I never thought I myself capable of... And the taking of lives was one of them."

She sat down next to Aetri and gently pulled Aetri's head to her chest, stroking her hair and resting her cheek against the top of her crown.

"There's a saying among healers... "In high enough doses, that which cures can kill." I guess they were referring to people like me, because I've used my knowledge of anatomy and herbology to take lives in spades when I was traveling with him. Being beside the Red-Eyed Demon. Hearing him talk. Hearing his persuasiveness and cold logic... It takes a toll. Weakens your defenses. Makes you question..."

Her tears dripped into Aetri's hair.

"I'm... A murderer too. The only difference is I was never caught and branded physically. But I've taken lives I should have in the name of battling Te'i Sai. Lives I never questioned until they were gone... I made mistakes, and it's cost me dearly. I've prayed to the Gods every night in my heart for forgiveness. To bestow sympathy upon this foolish child who refused to ask the right questions at the right time... But I know in my heart the Gods are not so forgiving."

She lifted Aetri's head up, looking her in the eyes for a moment before planting a soft, warm kiss to her lips.

"The sins of our past help shape our future, my love. But they do not define it. Live in the now, with me. And let's use this chance to help the future princess reclaim her throne to atone for our blood-soaked history." She whispered, again pressing their foreheads together.

---

Back on the rocks, Kyero had heard the sounds before Lonan. However, he didn't make a move to respond to them. Instead, he remained still and composed. And when Lonan came back, Kyero opened one eye to observe his approach.

Lonán carefully took a headcount of how many bounty hunters there were and walked back to the rocks and looked at Kyero before beginning to do a routine gear check. ”Disgraceful bounty hunters with innocent people. They’re going to use them as live bait for their quarry and kill them when they’re done. I don’t know what you think we should do, but I’ll be damned if I let a child be harmed for someone else’s misdeeds.” He said quietly to the assassin, left out a small hiss at the word ‘misdeeds’.

He turned as he listened, and could swear he heard someone try to sing, before the sound of banging metal cut it off, with a gruff, “Be Quiet in there!” Being heard. Lonán took a deep breath to try and contain the fury that was slowly coming to the surface.

Kyero listened silently to the cries, and regarded Lonan with a stone cold expression.

"They're not part of our mission, Lonan. We're out here to save Josephine, a future princess. Not a band of faceless people in the hands of degenerates." He said calmly, closing his eyes.

"Focus forward."

Lonán looked at Kyero with an intensity that would compare to dragon’s amber. ”I am. Right now there’s three men in the way of our path forward. I’m no Linde so I’m not begging or asking.” He said with a whispering hiss. ”I’m thinking also about how Miss Dezantro would react if we did nothing for people on her Kingdom. My honor and My Family Code is at stake in this moment. Help or not, but I have some pent up anger not even incense filled meditation can work out at the moment. Hawk, watch him if he tries to leave us behind.”

With that Lonán loaded a crossbow bolt on his hand crossbow, took two extra in case he wanted to reload. Then he began to sneak back to the hiding place he was in and looked and noted that the men were making camp on a campsite stop just alongside the road.

”Right, I’ll wait till they start eating... they’ll have a harder time getting their weapons drawn. Then I can try to find the keys and unlock that prison wagon.” Thought Lonán as he tried to piece together a plan, praying to Heresta it worked.

Linde listened calmly as Aetrius spoke. Throughout, her face changed. Oblique eyebrows shifting to neutral and back to oblique. Her lips ever so slightly tightening and going slack. And her head subtly coming up and tilting back down. And as Aetrius finished speaking...

"I understand." She whispered.

Linde slowly came forward and sat on Aetri's lap, wrapping her arms around her neck and gently touching their foreheads together whilst closing her eyes.

"And I believe you, my love." She cooed.

She slowly lowered her forehead and slid her face alongside Aetri's, brushing their cheeks together. Leaning forward so their chests pressed together, she wrapped her arms more tightly around Aetri and gave her a tight, strong hug.

"Thank you for telling me the truth about yourself, Aetrius." She whispered, relaxing a bit in her embrace. "As I said, our past does not define who we are today. Whatever it is you've lived through, what you live through from here on out is by your choice. And this time you're not alone."

She slowly leaned back, smiling warmly.

"I'll be here with you. I promise." She leaned forward and gave Aetrius a soft, long, passionate kiss before leaning in and embracing her again, content to sit on her lap and potentially even fall asleep if she was left there long enough.

---

Kyero arched an eyebrow at Lonan as he spoke and sighed softly to himself as he stood up and followed him.

"So what's your plan?" He asked quietly.

Lonán looked at Kyero with a look of relief that he wasn’t entirely doing this alone. ”Simple, since their numbers are low we wait till they start having their meal then move in for the ambush. We take em by surprise.” he explained. ”Once we’re done we gotta work on finding the keys to those cages and then turning those people loose.”

Lonán looked back at the three men getting the fire going and cooking their meal. ”Any questions or concerns? If not wait for my signal to strike.” He said as he felt about ready to initiate his plan. He watched the men carefully, ready to strike out and give said signal to Kyero.

Kyero examined the situation ahead of them calmly, his eyes scanning back and forth slowly.

"There's no guarantee of a meal break here." He said quietly. "Waiting is not a wise idea if you intend to save those people. Some of the men are already impatient as it is, and their leader doesn't seem to command much respect. His orders are likely to be disobeyed by majority rule. No honor amongst these types, after all."

He examined the cage and their surroundings, and it didn't look good.

"There's not enough cover for us to get close without being noticed. Either we risk the wait or go with the direct approach. If you go up to them and draw their attention, tell them about me and give some kind of verbal cue. When you do, I'll give them a little show and a reason to get lost so we can get those people out."

Lonán nodded in agreement. In all honesty, the Saharan was bad at improvising a plan under stress. ”Alright, wish me luck then. I’ll give you the high-sign.” He muttered as he stood up straight, walked towards the other camp as calmly as can be. Then he made a bit more of a panic in his step as if running from something.

“Hey guys, wonder what that looney’s running from?” Asked one bounty hunter.

“Might as well ask. Hey” shouted the second to get his attention. “What are you running from?”

”Oh thank heavens! You don’t know how much it is to see other normal human beings! I’ve been pursued by a Demon!” Lonán said, playing the part of a scared victim.

“A demon? Wait what’s he looks like” asked the third, probably the leader of the trio. Lonán took a minute to pretend to catch his breath.

”It moves like a shadow, is more silent then air, his eyes are like glowing orbs of Ruby! I saw the red eyed demon! And he’s thirsty for blood my friends! He killed my horse and my comerades! I ran as fast as I could! Nothing I could do can hurt him! The shadows... they’re closing in!” he says in a panic as he gripped his head in his hands. Which was the High Sign for Kyero to attack.

Kyero watched and waited as Lonan went about his performance. While it was an admirable one, it was a bit over the top. But still, it did the job.

Any time Kyero's alias, the Red-Eyed Demon, was mentioned, panicked always ensued. The others were beginning to panic and had drawn their weapons trying to force a formation at the last second.

And then...

Behind Lonan, the world went black. He could see the massive shadow cast from behind him on the area. And if he turned around he'd see a large mass of black energy looming over him like a black wall moving forward with a glowing red orb at its center.

The others froze in place, terrified and shaking. One of them even pissed themselves on the spot as Kyero's eyes suddenly appeared when the orb began dissipating into two smaller and more distinct orbs. Two eyes, glowing red within the darkness, flashed behind Lonan and the wall of darkness exploded. A massive rush of darkness rushed past Lonan and essentially swallowed the enemies. After a few moments, the darkness went away and the enemies were all unconscious on the ground with their weapons broken and their exterior limbs (arms and legs) broken at the major joints (elbows and knees). They wouldn't be able to hurt anyone for a long time.

Kyero then appeared fully, but something was off.

He quickly wept away a few beads of sweat and a drip of blood from his nose before taking a deep breath and turning to Lonan, seemingly perfectly fine with no signs of the sweat or blood remaining.

"I think we have time to find the keys now." He said quietly, his voice somewhat hoarse.