Two Fates: Divine Storm and War Maiden

Chapter Sieg: A Phantom Reunion

Sieg was out, he was going around buying some groceries for the day.

"Good morning." He greeted the shopkeepers as he took a moment to browse through their wares. Buying some two horned cow beef, getting some forest broccoli and a few other ingredients. Sieg was humming to himself happily as he headed to the weaponshop. Seeing Marlow inside.

"Ah, Morning young master." 

"Morning Marlow. You got a pair of Sabers that I can buy?"

"Oh, yeah. I mean I got a few. Who is it for?" 

"My fiancee." 

"Ah, you mean Her Highness, Maya Strongbow? Hmm... Sure. I do have a pair. There's that. I just made those. They're called Shashkas." Sieg picked them up, he liked the weight of the blade. The balance was even all around as Sieg swung the pair in his hands. 

"Damascus steel. What's the composition?" 

"Belton Steel, then mixed it up with some carbon. 700 layers."  Marlow said.

"This might be good as a temporary weapon for her, but I'm quite worried she might break these. Have you tested them?" 

"I tried smacking it against a few White Megaladon bones. It broke those. Why you ask?" 

"Her Highness, she has the tendency to break a lot of weapons. That's why, I think these will hold for a while. I'll take it." Sieg said as he put some bags of coin.

"Hey, the blade's only 50 thousand Quill. You're giving me half a million!" 

"Think of it as an investment Marlow. With that half a million, mind forging a blade for Her Highness?" Marlow smiled as he put a cigar to his lips.

"What's the details?" 

"A thousand layers of Damascus steel. Got a pen and paper? I'll write the rest down." Marlow lit his cigar as he watched the detailed work of Sieg's drawing. 

"Is that doable?" 

"Doable? Heck, this might take me two weeks. Come back in two weeks with Her Highness. So she can assess the blade herself." Marlow said, grinning ear to ear when he looked at the piece.

Sieg bid Marlow farewell then headed back to the house. Where he went to work in the kitchen, slicing the meats, grabbing a pan as he poured oil over it. Letting the oil heat up while he went to prepare everything else. Putting in the blue onions and gray garlics to sizzle in the oil.

He cut open satchets for chocolate drinks for himself and Maya. 

"Morning." Maya greeted as she rubbed her eyes.

"Morning, dear. I'll start with breakfast. Why don't you get showered first? I've already ironed your uniform." 

"Thanks, Crow. You really should have been a house husband instead of a warrior." She said as groggily, leaning over to his shoulder while he cooked. 

"Hey, you should take a shower." 

"Just 5 more minutes." Sieg sighed as he Maya went to hug him from the back instead while he made breakfast. Maya went to take a shower afterwards, then coming back.

Bringing Sieg a red coat and white uniform, while she wore a matching red coat and a white blouse. Black pants and black skirts. They ate breakfast, though they did not say much to each other. They were beaming with delight at their company, they placed their right hands on top of one another while they ate. It was a simple meat sandwich that can be eaten one handed. She would smile at him, and he would smile at her.

Perhaps this is what people meant when they said, brain dead love birds. Afterwards, they both got dressed and headed out. Where Maya placed the Shashkas by her waist, while Sieg had Azure White by the left of his hip. 

The two of them walk straight to Ragnarok Academy, the building itself rivaled the castle of the Strongbows but Maya preferred here instead of the castle. Stepping in where people were staring at them.

"How shameless, to think Her Highness would date someone else when she has a fiancee?" 

"I think they suit each other. They are the weakest of the academy." Maya stopped then turning to the student that said it. 

"Care to repeat that statement?" Maya's words were enough to stop the student, their eyes could not meet with hers. 

They were being stared at from top to bottom, students of Ragnarok were watching every move that they made. Maya and Sieg headed to class, where they saw a familiar face. A rugged man with a beard, he only had one arm. Though to Sieg, he saw something that was a sure fire mark of identification. The neck tattoo of a flaming blue skull.

"Ah, Mister Baratos and Miss Strongbow. Welcome. Please take your seats." Sieg and Maya took their seats beside each other which surprised most of the students.

"Settle down, we will begin homeroom period. As you all know that today will be full on sparring session with each other. So you will be sparring until the last two people remain. A battle royal with students from all grades and from the entire academy. The barrier and simulation is active. All attacks and injuries will be felt and injuries suffered will be real according to damage. Sieg Baratos and Maya Strongbow will participate in this exercise. I've also been informed that Aliza Strongbow and Jorge Baratos will be participating as well." The one armed man spoke to them.

"Isn't he one of yours?" Maya asked.

"Number 81, Asferion the Blue Skull."  Sieg said as the one armed instructor began to tell them what to do and what to be prepared for. Sieg and Maya headed out to see their elder siblings. Aliza Strongbow that wielded a pair of tomahawks while Jorge Baratos with the long sword. 

"How dare you show your face here, Maya. Don't you know how much you've insulted our mother?!" Aliza Strongbow raised her voice, yet Maya did not seem to be bothered as she continued talking to Sieg. 

"Maya!" Maya ignored her sister's words as the pair headed to the special arena. Where there were students loading rifles, pistols, shotguns and sharpneing their blades. They all glanced at Maya and Sieg who walked in with none of their weapons in hand. 

"Hey, I just heard something. Her Highness Aliza is offering a hundred thousand Quill for taking Maya out of the fight. Jorge Baratos suggested making people work in teams. I mean if we take them both down we can get a big bonus." Sieg and Maya headed to the teleportation field.

"So, hearing all of these threats. Do you want to partner up?" 

"Sure but let's see the competition list. There's about six thousand of us. The instructors are joining too. Oh.." Maya paused.

"What is it?" 

"I sense three of my Chosen... is there anyone of your Phantoms aside from Asferion?" Maya asked as they both found themselves in the town of Alistair. The simulation was a capital of Lindster. 

They looked up to see a sign 'Defeat Sieg Baratos, leave Maya Strongbow to me. The reward has been tripled for Sieg's defeat. - Aliza.

"It seems that my sister is trying to call me for a challenge at the Palace, Sieg." 

"Then go ahead, Maya. I will handle things here." Sieg said as Maya turned to the palace that was behind her. Seeing the students form groups, taking aim at Sieg and Maya with their guns and the frontline combatants were ready.

Sieg looked up to see Asferion with the katana resting by his hip. Following it up with the pair that was beside him. They had katanas as well. Two of them wore a mask, one with a pirate skull on it and the other with a smiling mime on it. 

"Asferion Blue Skull. Crossbones and Jester. Seems like they still use katanas. That's adorable." Sieg said out loud.

"Fire!" The gunmen fired, only to watch their bullets be slashed by Sieg. Maya headed into the palace while Sieg stretched his neck.Sieg has Azure White and Heavenly Sojourn to the left side of his hips. Enjoying the tension of the atmosphere, the look of caution in the eyes of his opponents.

Sieg took his stance, right foot forward. A slight bend to it as his right hand embraced the hilt of Azure White.  A single forward draw, following it up with Sieg sheathing the blade slowly.

"What's all that?! A fancy attack?!" 

Asferion, Crossbones and Jester watched from where they stood.

"No. It wasn't a fancy attack. That was definitely one from our Leader's techniques." Asferion said with a sigh.

"Oh... They have no idea how dangerous that attack is.What was it again? Whirlwind?" 

"No Whirlwind is much quicker and takes effect quickly. What he just used was Edge of the World.... How did a weakling like Sieg Baratos manage to use it?" The moment the blade sheathing was complete, one thousand students fell before Sieg's feet. They were bleeding badly, and thankfully it was a simulation because if this was an actual battlefield. It would have been disastrous.

"This is suspicious." Jester said. Leaping downwards, where Asferion and Crossbones followed suit.

"How did you know that move? Edge of the World is a secret that Leader taught to only the best of the best of the Phantoms!"  Crossbones asked.

Sieg snapped his fingers creating a black hole that only kept the four of them inside. 

"I don't recall you using such a technique, Sieg Baratos." Asferion said.

"Why bother talking? We should just fight." Sieg said as Asferion, Crossbones and Jester vanished from his senses. Part of the Triviana Phantom's combat doctrine, is to always fight within the shadows. A Phantom loses their biggest advantage when they allow themselves to be seen.

Sieg blocked all three of their attacks with one hand. Their strength was overwhelming but Sieg was able to redirect their blows to the side. Following it up with a flick to their foreheads.

"The blood lust that you three have are leaking too much." Sieg said.

"Stop talking to us like you know us, brat!" Crossbone went again to strike, only to see Sieg turn to mist just by the swing of the blade. He reappeared by Crossbones right side with the katana to the neck.

"Avers. I keep telling you that you rush into battles too much. Stop relying on emotion and instinct. Start thinking of attack strategies." Sieg kicked Crossbones back. Jester vanished again, this time he was completely missing from Sieg's senses.

"Out of all the Phantoms. Only, you Nile can hide your senses." 

"You speak as if you know me." Jester's voice echoed in the black dome that blanketed the area.

"Oh, I do Nile. I think it's amazing how you're the one Phantom that I could never see through. Even when you breathe or speak. The problem about most enemies we've faced these days, is that they are too busy relying on their 5 senses instead of their mana." Sieg dodged a downward swing, seeing the damage it left to the ground. Leaving a large blade mark on it.

"Your mana fluctuates a tiny bit, when mana is concerned. Though its noticeable if a person looks for it." Sieg said as he stopped Jester's attack.

"How... To think you'd be able to repel the three of us so easily." Jester said.

"Right. I look like a kid. Then again, back when I met the three of you. You looked way younger than you are now." Sieg said as they watched the black aura cover his entire body, fading away to reveal his appearance as Crow Blackwind.

"Leader?!" The three men immediately knelt before Crow.

"We... We thought you died." Jester said.

"Well, I've been reincarnated. Thanks to making a Lover's Pact with Elena Strongbow. So are the Phantoms still present?" 

"Yes, Leader. Most of us... We've retired. There are 2nd and third generation Phantoms in the making. You did train both First and Second generation Phantoms." Asferion said.

"Good. I suppose Elena's chosen are present as well?" 

"Yes, leader. Three generations of Chosen as well. Though both of our groups chose to raise our kin in secrecy." Jester said.

"They've not seen how Phantoms and Chosen fight. Well, that's fine. Glad to hear that you three are alright. I'm the son of Duke Baratos, and I'll definitely need my own private army. If I can secure jobs for you guys, you willing to come back?" Crow said as his appearance returned to Sieg Baratos.

"Well, we're just old timers. We'll slow you down." 

"The oldest Phantom among us was the 141 year old Zurge. He could not fight long range but he made it a great deal as the Phantom trainer to train us. You guys are nowhere near half his age. You won't slow us down, a lot of younger Phantoms will look up to you."  Sieg said to them.

"Then we'll bring the Phantoms over to be your soldiers. There's only about 5 of us from Generation One. The Second have about 70 and the third about 100. Some are our own children and grand children." Asferion said.

"Now, I'm going to go handle Jorge. This'll be a chore." Sieg said as the black dome faded, turning to face the other students head on.

"He's still the same as he was before." Asferion siad.

"I'm glad he is... But how are we going to tell the others?" Crossbones had a good question.

"We'll figure that out ,later."