Tales of Revenants

Chapter 60 – Comrades

The amount of darkness Laken accumulated is the cost of his extreme feelings to stop the war that plagues the world into imminent destruction.

Famine, drought, and pestilence caused by the never-ending conflict. Laken's wish was never granted that is why he stands up once more to fulfill his prayer with his very hands.

Along the path he has undertaken, a path in which there is nothing to return nor home to welcome him. Laken finally remembers the reason why he wanted to become strong.

The reason why he tainted his soul so he can achieve the strength to defy the odds.

The very reason was to protect his only family, Alisa, and he will grasp his sword countless times to free her from the darkness.

The mistake of forgetting Alisa's warmth. Laken regrets the fact he neglected her that caused her to be corrupted deeper than into the abyss.

Luciella is pushing forward where Laken hid his self. She never eluded the darkness looming with him, instead, she accepted all of it even if his despair corrupts her soul.

“Laken...!” Luciella called for him, he still can't reach her.

The abyss of the curse is pulling Luciella away preventing her from purifying his cursed condition.

Luciella knelt down in weakness. She was so near yet so far away. Her light is about to fade away when the last of Laken's fragment of memory flashed right before her eyes.

The white landscape depicted when Laken was still a child. The dusk is about to arrive so he approached Alisa who was reading a book beside the tree with a lamp.

“Look here brother, this hero is so cool she can produce flames on her right hand!” Alisa invited her brother Laken to read a line in the book she seems to love about.

“You're right, you liked her eh.” Laken chuckled after skimming the line Alisa showed her.

He fixed the tent made out of tattered clothes so they can have a home to sleep for the day.

“Yeah, lots! Her name is Fiora Fernandez, she truly is a gallant commander who never left her knights to be discouraged even after losing their king. It was truly sad.” Alisa stoops in sorrow.

Laken simply patted her back and declared, “If you like her too much, then from now on, my name is Laken Fernandez!”

“No fair!” Alisa pouted.

“We're family, right? Your name will be Alisa Fernandez too.” Laken told with a warm smile.

Alisa was touched she began to weep, “Ah? Why are you crying?” Laken tried to calm her down but instead, she hugged her beloved brother.

“Promised me... that we'll always be family forever!” Alisa insisted, not letting go under her brother's embrace.

The cold wind breezes from where they stand, but the warmth Laken felt at that time is what develops his dream to be stronger than anyone.

“I promise Alisa, we'll always be together no matter what,” Laken assured and the fragment of memories shattered along with the last spark of light Luciella had.

The darkness gradually corrupted her entire being. Without the power of the shards, she can't protect her material body and spirit from falling into depravity.

It was all done for, but Luciella won't allow it as she tries to get on her feet firmly, reaching for him as his ego is being crept by the eternal night.

“I also promised Laken! That if he were to be consumed by his azure flames, I will be by his side to help him!” Luciella shouted amid the nothingness.

It was as if a miracle, the little light Luciella had burst in a blinding flare illuminating Laken's entire clouded horizon, washing away the corruption that devours away his soul and sanity.

“I fulfilled my promises... so you need to do yours too!” Luciella screamed what's in her heart before embracing Laken's ego.

Luciella opened her eyes and woke up from reality while Laken wipes away her tears, “I'm here now Luciella and I fulfilled my promised too, you know.” Laken comforted her.

Undoubtedly perhaps, the diamond cage began to c***k and before they know it, the fracture penetrated across the surface shattering the prison where Alisa sealed herself within.

Everyone arrived at the scene to see what actually occurred. Laken held Alisa's shoulders and shook her many times.

“Argh...” they thought it was too late but Laken was elated more than anyone when Alisa wakes up coughing.

“Alisa...!” Laken immediately embraced her which made Alisa flustered.

“Dummy! I can't breathe,” Alisa tried to push him back since she's being strangled.

Laken was just ecstatic and let loose of his hug a little bit, “Alisa...” He called her name.

“I really missed you... why did you leave me behind?” Alisa told as her tears began to roll on her cheeks.

There's nothing to be done when the past already transpired. He listened to all of her questions savoring their reuniting after so long.

After Alisa calmed a little bit, Laken patted her head like he used to be and said, “I'm sorry...”

Alisa became silent and accepted his apology as if that was what she wanted to hear.

They don't want to interrupt their heartwarming reunion when Xenon breaks the mood by butting in, “Hm... I think we need to get out of here or else we'll be flattened in the dungeon's debris.”

Eirisse couldn't smack him because what Xenon reminded them was true.

They felt the tremors became stronger as the pillars began to crumble, “Okay everyone, touch each other and we'll be getting out of here.” Alisa panicked from the idea of getting crushed in a dungeon.

They all touched Laken for some reason which made Alisa puzzled, “The little girl said touch each other, not Laken!” She complains.

“Wah! I'm not a little girl!” Alice bickers.

Xenon mechanical gears produced steam changing his personality, “Changing attribute: vulnerable... Hey guys, this is serious, we must go get out of here now!” He exclaimed.

He is swinging Alice in different directions while he is holding on her waist like a little girl.

“Ahh! Don't touch me you perverted mechanoid! Aports!” just like that, before the debris could fall on them Alice was able to successfully chant her teleportation spell with just the right time.

They don't have time to save Barbaros since Alice knew he could escape the dungeon. He isn't called the Dimension Reaper for show.

Alice teleported them all inside her private paradise in the cakeshop, “Oh, you all are back,” Sheria said in a monotonic tone who was waiting there assuming Alice will go to her paradise after their mission.

Laken already felt he wanted to puke when he saw the cookies on the shelves. He endlessly bothered Alice forcing her to get out the place, “Teleport us to the camp tent in the outskirts!”

Alice was already on the brink of seeing three nightingales above her head from the force of pulling they did to her.

She chanted her magic again so Laken will refrain from complaining, “Fine! Aports!” in the blink of an eye, they teleported in the camp tent where they planned their whimsical stratagem.

“Your bravery in the face of adversary makes you worthy of title Heavenly Hero, Bloodless Revenant. The Voiceless and Heartless Revenant seemed to be on the same level.” Zoroaster praised their efforts when he is powerless during an ordeal.

“Nah, you're cool too.” Xenon faked a smile and he still feels a little bit daze from the teleportation.

Eirisse remembered they are currently in the presence of the two Heavenly Heroes.

They are supposed to be the enemy now that the Midnight Pentagram has been taken care of.

“Here is your shard, Zoroaster.” Alice gave back the Shard of Energy to Zoroaster which is their initial objectives from the beginning.

Everything is back to normal that is why they just realized. Laken nudged Xenon and whispered to him, “Forget the objectives, ready your wings for a full blast flight.”

Eirisse also heard their sudden plan, “Hey, what about our merchandise in the carriage?” She asked. They were whispering with each other as the rest were wondering what they are doing.

Xenon just kind of went out, they heard the obvious clanking sounds before going back, “I put them up in my Magic Transportation through compression magic,” they are back to whispering again.

“What are you three doing?” Alisa questions and they shut her up.

Xenon immediately adjusted his battle mode secretly though everyone saw how he changed, “Accelerating Combustion Buster: Rider Mode.”

“Hm...? Why are you carrying me Xenon?” Luciella wonders.

He also used the mechanical hand extension on his posterior next to his wings to carry the whole party.

“Why are you guys acting weird?” Alice was going to reach for Laken when he smiled and said, “Goodbye, it was amazing to fight with you.”

“Wha–” before Alice could even react, Xenon flared out his thrusters instantly flying from the sky.

They all waved and that was the moment when Alice realized they are escaping.

“Zoroaster! We need to follow them!” Alice was going to chant her teleportation magic but Zoroaster did not let it happen.

He looked at the skyline of the dawn. He grinned as the morning arrives, “No, let them be. I'm sure they have reasons, so does we, Heavenly Heroes.”

“Argh! They are annoying!” Alice stomps her feet in disappointment.

Deep in her heart, she wanted to have at least a last tea party at the cake shop again to celebrate their victory.

“Is this your prophecy Morgan? I can't believe it became true. We should do what we must too.” Zoroaster said to himself as the warm breeze of wind ushered their next choice.

As Laken's party fly in the sky, they once again witnessed the beauty of the myriad white clouds.

The kingdoms and empire were small when in flight and the view was too majestic they couldn't get enough of it.

Alisa is now officially a member of the party. There's no telling what the future may bring or what fate would play.

The mystery behind the Nightbeasts appearing during the day. Midnight Pentagram's true goal is still undiscovered. They haven't met the other Revenants but there is one thing they are certain of.

Laken together with his party shall find the rest of the Shards of Creation scattered in the world and he will never rest until they achieved their objectives.

This time he will never forget the most important thing in his life; that is his precious comrades that cannot be replaced by any kind of power the world or even the Gods could offer.