| Fan Fiction |
by Aelk
Kazo shrieked and began to scan the surroundings superficially. One of the Machinas opened its hatch, and a lofty figure leapt from it. Against the sun in the background, his white uniform appeared black. The designs looked similar to Captain Sowell’s, but an extra overcoat pinned with numerous badges and stripes announced that he was of a higher rank than the latter.
On his cheek lay a scar probably left behind by a gruesome fight, but it did little to tarnish his striking appearance. Beneath his sailor hat which revealed little of his golden streaks of hair hid a blue-eyed teenager’s face. There was something more though. Perhaps it was due to the many wars that he has seen that Damask appeared a little tired.
“Good day, Juhnas. I am Damask, humbly the commander for these troops.”
He walked forward and stretched out his left hand, but Kazo ignored the handshake. Damask, the elite from the Empire known to be the youngest to gain the title of ‘commander’.
”What happened to Elder Kongi and the others?”
Gunter asked defiantly. Although he promised Azure that he would think of a plan, there was nothing on his mind yet.
”Well… we had their Elder and other Mu users sent to the Empire. The rest? Killed.”
The stern tone Damask’s words carried revealed his triumph over the Giants. Finally, the last piece of warring land was captured by the humans. And with this, the Human’s territories have widened to an entire continent. Conquering over the other races was just a matter of time. Azure’s heart raced as he bit his lips tight. This is the beginning.
“Now… Where is the boy?”
Damask appeared indifferent, but Gunter sensed his killing intentions. A solution must reach his mind fast, or it will all be over. A sweat drop slid down his smooth cheek, and hanged on by his chin. As if a final struggle like a cornered animal, he peeked at the back of the Temple’s structure desperately and noticed---
“Azure, RUN!”
Gunter turned towards that direction and shouted all of a sudden.
”!”
The Machinas and their operators caught a running figure in the same direction on their monitors, and began to give chase. With their bulk this huge, their running seemed like a Giants’ stampede, thoroughly flattening the soil the earthworms ploughed. Dusts and sands were kicked up in a deadly storm, filling the entire place like a smokescreen. Grabbing the chance, Gunter seized a confused Kazo and the both of them sped off towards the forest beyond the Temple, diverting some of the Machinas towards their directions.
What happened? Both Azure and Lilith watched on in confusion. After the overcast of filth cleared away, the surroundings reverted back to its usual silence. Reassured, Azure beckoned Lilith to stay put while he crept out of the entrance to check the situation.
”So I was right. Nice to meet you, Azure, the boy who dared challenge the supremacy of the Empire.”
Damask’s ominous voice pierced through the still air like a needle. Apparently, he did not follow his subordinates in the chase, for he has already seen through the fraud. But why did he choose to stay back alone?
“What do you want? Don't call me a boy when you are no older than me!”
“I want to test you.”
He threw a small sword to Azure, who caught it clumsily. Without further explaining, he too took out a spherical Machina which hovered around him in the midair. It was a tiny device with a spark of red light rotating around the circumference in all orientations.
“This is my personal machina, the Laser Eye.”
And with another normal dagger in his hand, Damask charged towards his target. Azure managed to block off the first blow from the dagger instinctively, but as the machine started to fire strange red beams and destroyed everything in its path, Azure was distracted. Ducking them was the only option. Facing a strong foe as him, he was eventually defeated and fell to his side.
”You are quite good with your sword skills I must say. But is this all that a savior got? I expected more.”
Azure did not know when he had picked up combat skills, but he knew his abilities were far from matching up to the commander’s. Lilith wanted to come out from hiding and help, but she could not do anything. Giving him no chance to get up, the Empire’s lackey dashed forward. He raised his right hand with the dagger swiftly, and pointed its blade towards Azure’s chest. Without any strength left, it was over.
“Azure!”
Lilith’s scream palpated his ear drums, and within that particular moment, the tables were turned. What the blade of Damask touched was not Azure’s flesh, but an aquamarine wing germinated from its master’s back and enveloped around him like a steel plate. No matter how much the commander slashed and fired, the wing was able to block off the attacks perfectly without suffering from damage.
”What? So there is another girl in there…”
He looked towards the Temple’s entrance as Lilith quickly ducked her head lower.
”Stay away from her!”
Azure sent his Mu crushing towards his target, but was easily dodged by Damask. The difference in battle experience was beginning to show.
”Brilliant Mu of yours as the rumors told,” Damask smiled for an unknown reason, “but I believe this is only the surface of your potential… Train up and face me again in due time. Meanwhile, I’ll show you something.”
Suddenly, he threw away his handheld weapon and gathered energy around him. As the energy materializes into a visible red light, it was slowly assimilating the Machina drifting above him.
“Mu… and Machina?”
The fact that Damask has Mu surprised Azure greatly, because Humans rarely possess Mu at all, or at least that was what Gunter mentioned. Lilith was a very special case though. Small fragments of metallic parts broken off from the Machina were soon being digested away by his reddish Mu, and the width of his aura grew tremendously.
Just as a Machina was able to use Mu as energy supply, Azure analyzed his opponent thoroughly; the opposite could have also been possible. After all, they were the two powers which governed this world.
Damask disappeared from his sight suddenly, and appeared again right behind him to fire. Azure’s Mu barely had the time to parry the continuous firing. It was not that he really vanished, Lilith observed, but rather his agility has gained so much that it looked as if so. His ammunition created out of materialized energy forced Azure take on the defensive. As they ran, Damask made use of the distraction and targeted the temple’s entrance instead. She hid further lower, but she knew it would be impossible to avoid. Then, an explosion, a whiff of smoke followed by the sound of something being shot shocked her.
“Azure!”
Azure blocked the entrance to the Temple with his own Mu. Helpless, Lilith could only feel that she was a burden to Azure. His stronger arm was hurt in the process, and blood was dripping down from his fingertips.
”Don’t come out, Lilith.”
Pain was trying to overcome his calmness, but he conquered it with will. Somehow, he knew that he would win. Lilith clenched her jaws tight and hid heeded his words. Then the second wave of Damask’s attacks came, with the intention of breaking his defense. Azure blocked them with all his might.
“What strong will you have. I wonder who that lady is.”
”Don’t you dare lay a finger on her!”
Azure’s Mu grew in size and went on the offensive, shocking Damask to a certain extent. The two huge forces then collided. The woods surrounding smoldered, and the leaves whipped up into a miniature tornado. Everything was being enveloped in the mess, and before Damask could see anything, a cutting edge from a small dagger was already on his throat. It was over.
“Good work… Azure… I’m contented.”
“Release them.”
A cool voice threatened him while adding more force into the blade.
“Never. “
He grinned. Suddenly, the quakes caused by the other Machinas’ stampede emerged once more. It seems that the Empire’s forces has returned empty-handed from chasing the Juhnas and the other person. Damask made an opportunistic hit with his elbow and slipped out of Azure’s grasps, then sweeping the latter off his feet. With a backward leap, he escaped.
Azure wanted to give chase, but Lilith emerged from the Temple and held him back.
”Lilith!”
He struggled with all his might, but with his injured arm, Lilith’s strength proved to be much greater. As she holds him down forcefully, her other hand took out her flute.
“You are hurt; and you can’t possibly outnumber all of them even in your best conditions.”
”But~!”
“We have a mission to fulfill. I’m sure with the help from others, Elder Kongi and the others will be saved… And Azure…”
Before placing her lips onto the mouthpiece, she whispered,
“Thank you. “
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A/N
The title is a little off ... But other than "Rose" i couldn't think of anything else XD~ (Apparently i like the flower Damask Rose heh) Anyway, this chapter is a little longer than before =)
Going on hiatus starting from 14th Feb til 27th, i'll try to update somemore before that =3
*
*
*
*possible spoilers, read at your own risk* Okay, what is von Weiss? That is Damask's family name =) Now remember this ... LOL