Chapter 471: Appearance (1/2)
Strike after strike, punch after punch, kick after kick, a beatdown of the inhumane proportion followed to have the apprentice fall without a chance at retribution. The senseless brutality spawn couldn't be contained.
'Poor Igna,' thought she unbothered by the assault, '-you'll wake up soon, won't you?' annoyance from the look he gave had her wanting blood.
”Come on, continue the beatdown what's the hold-up?” approached Lord Lordon, ”-my Yuki has yet to smile. Break the hands or something, make sure he doesn't cook.”
”FATHER, MOTHER!” the door barged, ”-WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS?” he curled with blood and broken teeth, the guards were merciless. ”You're going to kill him at this rate?”
”So?” returned Yuki coldly, ”-not my problem,” she shrugged,”-he tried to assault me. The guards came to my rescue, is there something the matter?”
”It's as your mother says,” said he holding her shoulders, ”-merely self-defense.”
'Self-defense,' the darkness flickered with talking orbs, '-I can hear them, did I pass out? Guess it's what I had to pay for trying to appeal. Why did it come to this, how, when, what, I'm confused. I only went to get an additional job and this is the way I'm treated…'
”We arrived too late,” said a group of three rushing into the room.
”Who are you, people?”
”Members of Phantom,” said a lady with white hair, ”-we've heard one of our ally's friend was in danger.”
”Lady Courtney,” said a man holding a large rifle, ”-it's too late,” the display of the glasses showed no life signs.”
”Why's Phantom involved with that lowly commoner?” fired Yuki in disbelief.
”Don't you know?” the lady stared without care; ”-this young man is an esteemed member of the Trader's Guild.”
”Lady Courtney,” voiced another holding the door, ”-transport is here, what should we do?”
”I don't know,” she glared Lord Lordon, ”-if the boy is dead then our mission is failed. What a shame…”
”See,” came a smug expression, ”-Phantom can't help he who's been killed.”
”Don't get conceited,” returned the marksman, ”-I have little to no interest in your survival,” a pistol aim at her head.
”Don't get cocky,” smiled Yuki, ”-we have our guards too.”
'Unfair,' the bloodlust of the outside whelmed the mind. The heart resumed, the wounds healed, a dark-triangle materialized on his right-palm. ”Why am I the only one who got hurt?” he reawakened with the aura of Death filling the room, ”-Daemonum Gladio, Yves and, Elliot,” said the boy with a devilish smirk, ”-it's good to see you're well.”
”W-what's this?” exclaimed Courtney, ”-brother, you're alive?” her face fell into an idyllic smile.
”No,” he vanished to put Yuki in a headlock, ”-my time has yet to come,” said he, ”-Staxius Haggard is not of this world. I'm naught but the fleeting conscience who suffered great damage, my purpose is to exact revenge upon those who dared to hurt me.” *Blood-Arts: Crimson Threads,* dagger-like weapons slit the guards' head. ”Death can never die; the Death element will reawaken with my memory soon. Igna is the next Death Reaper, Courtney, speak to this with no one for the soul has transmigrated.”
'I c-can't b-breathe,' the room felt submerged. Lungs stuck between breaths, the Lordon's watched as the definition of slaughter painted the entire room. *Thud,* upon killing the guards, Igna fell face-first. The pressure relaxed; the lingering symbol of power was erased without a trace.
”Lady Courtney,” called Elliot.
”Yeah, no doubt about it,” said she smiling, ”-something great happened five-years ago. We thought he died but our master can't be defeated. I knew I sensed his presence.”
”Does that mean he'll be back?” asked Yves.
”No,” she shook her head, ”-I'm afraid it's the last time we'll see of him. His mana reacted with mine, it's resonance.”
”I don't understand,” returned Yves cluelessly.
”Don't worry,” her attention turned to the Lordon's, '-resonance between me and him. Master and the weapon. He's come to the mortal realm, rather, was forced into our world. The soul inside that boy is Staxius's. The face is similar to before the transformation into a vampire. I guess that's what lady Haru referred to before. Fate sure works in strange ways. Rest well, brother, everyone's waiting for your return.'
'My head?' pinching the forehead, '-it's so heavy,' the eyes opened to a blood sullied floor. Bodies were littered all-round, Yuki and her husband crouched arm in arm. ”Who are you?”
”Oh, you've woken up,” smiled the handsome lady with white hair, ”-I'm Courtney Haggard, member of Phantom. We came on orders of Lady Haru.”
”Thanks,” he nervously smiled, ”-did you kill them all?”
”Yeah,” said she brandishing a sword, ”-they didn't give you much time to speak, did they?”
”It was pretty tough,” scratching his head with innocence, ”-I just wanted to know lady Yuki's intent.”
”Don't worry about it, kid,” came Elliot gently patting his head.
”Thank you too,” he looked up and smiled adorably.
'Holy shit,' practically shaking, '-I patted the master's head as if a kid. What the fuck?' Yves and Courtney stared on the verge of laughter, ”-don't get into more trouble, you hear?”
”Yes sir.”
”Sir…” mumbled Yves,” -AH-HA-HA,” the failing bridge cracked, they fell into a never-ending laughter session.
'How can they have fun amidst the bloodshed?' wondered Syndra with a throbbing heart. Igna joined their session as Yves's particular laugh made it funnier.
”My stomach hurts,” said Elliot wiping the tears, ”-jokes aside, Igna, if you ever get in trouble, call us.”
”I will… but.”
”But what?”
”Lady Courtney…” her resemblance to him birthed a trolley of questions, ”-why do we look similar?”
”Oh,” she paused, ”-guess it's time to speak the truth,” her voice turned serious, ”-I'm your long-lost mother.”
”You jest,” he exclaimed, ”-no way can someone so young be my mother.
”Yeah, I guess…” she thought hard,”-I'm not joking. I'm really your mother.”
”Lady Courtney, this isn't a good idea,” whispered Elliot, ”-we'll get in trouble if he gets involved now.”
”Don't, Lady Courtney,” added Yves, ”-it's a bad idea.”
”Shut it you two. The master once said to guide the next into a better future. One where he wouldn't have to experience the hardship of bearing so heavy a burden. Lyoko Igna is a member of the Haggard family,” her attitude changed to warmly kneel beside him, ”-I'm not lying, Igna, I'm your mother.”
”No, I don't believe it,” the sincerity in her eyes, '-it's a lie. We look similar but, but, that can't be it. My family…'