Genesis, A New Creation

An Alpha's Father

-Chapter 11-

As they approach Nocte can now see that around the walls are fortifications, Large dugouts with water that is at least half knee deep with large spikes in all sorts of directions so then if you slip, tripped for slightly off balance one would go into your neck, stomach or chest. The large metal gate opens and Annah is the first step in and the city guards that are cladded in what looks like Metal armor layered with a scaled material underneath, They are equipped with long spears but have a secondary sword on their side.

The Guards all move aside and let you all pass through the main gate but as you all enter cheers are heard from the citizens as some didn't expect you all to return so soon, Yet you feel so distant from this cheering because you are little more than just a mercenary. Though as you look out into the crowds that are quickly gathering some look like they're looking for a loved one, A Child, Husband or even a father. Yet their eyes look as if there is a sense of desperation and when the gate closes behind the force they seem to break down into tears as some people try to comfort them or cheer over their weeping.

Nocte looks ahead but he can see some people just staring at him, He then sees part of the army that entered the city quickly break apart almost into groups as they walk along almost what seems like patrol routes. Straight through alleyways, Through the crowds and even some break formation to hug their loved ones. Nocte looks at Annah. She has a smile but he can almost feel the same disconnect he has with these people, A returning without a welcome home from a loved one or someone you know.

Eventually there is only the Warriors of Saisho following you and Annah, The praise seems to have calmed as you reached where she was leading you, It's a large building seemingly made out of a polished stone but it looks similar to marble. The main gates that look like their made of pure silver are opened but Men in Purple armor that is no different to the normal foot soldier but is only colored purple and they have Great swords on their backs.

Annah steps forward and walks past them without hesitation you follow but the Martial Guards step in front of you and Annah says without even turning her back “He's with me” They instantly step out of you're way you stand their for a moment as if waiting for an apology but as they go to bow you walk past them and you can hear them glance back watching you and you wonder “Did it work on them too? Do these people not know how to defend themselves against psychological tricks or intimidation?” Nocte shakes the thought away and follows Annah inside the mansion as three maids instantly come over to her all of them wearing maid uniforms but their clearly armored and even have their own weapons, Their hair goes in order Purple, Pink and Green but they are Wolf like demi-Humans like Annah. Wolf tail and ears are probably a little weaker but nonetheless still a powerful being compared to a normal human and begin taking off her armor and even sword away. Almost treating it all as a treasured artifact, especially the sword.

Then two other maids come to you and one reaches for your mask and you swipe her hand away and they both back away. Both are a cat like species, one has black hair and pink eyes but the other has blue eyes and light blue hair. Clearly a bit upset and Annah glances over and says “One thing though if you are going to be a part of my confederation and not just a mercenary that I can cast aside….you must remove your armor and mask so then I may see your face.” Nocte then says “That's a threat...hmph very we'll.” He sighs, grabbing his hood and flipping it down revealing his short black hair. All the maids are staring and he reaches for his mask but the two cat maids take two steps forward and he lets them take off his mask.

Silence goes through the room almost like a wave, His young features. Blue eyes that seem to have the night sky in them and he reaches for the button keeping his robe on his shoulders and presses it causing it to fall off him but he catches it with his left hand. Handing it to one of the cat maids who does not even look away from him and Nocte looks at Annah who almost seems to be lost in his eyes.

-Annah Hart-

Nocte is looking into her eyes and she can't move. The stare almost has power over her. A sense of pure weakness is running through her very soul but there's a small connection between her and him but she can't tell what. Then Nocte's voice breaks the silence “Is something wrong?” his voice seemingly less distorted than when he had the mask on he sounded more clear, less ominous in a way. His calm form remained his armor was a grey color with small engravings of symbols she did not understand but there was one she understood perfectly: a cross on his chest that had it's red paint slightly chipped off and she asked “The Cross...does it represent Saisho?” Nocte remains silent for a moment but responds calmly “In way you could say that.” She nods and looks at the two cat maids “Mary and Luna, Take him to his room” They both nod and say at the same time “Come with us sir…..” Nocte reponds “Just Nocte is fine..” they both nod and bow their heads ``Sir Nocte, Follow us please.” and they begin to lead the way up the stairs.

Annah walks to the hallway and walks down it's perfectly taken care of marble walls and Goldin trimmings, She hated it as it resemble nobility and corruption but her father ordered her to put up with such things as it was necessary to “Impress” any delegations from other nations such as the Dwarven Kingdom that supplied them with raw materials such as Iron,Diamonds,chromium and many other things in exchange for food, water and of course the lamire leaves that only grow in a the Plateau of Sirius.

Apparently those leaves acted as a sort of drug that made the dwarves work harder but feel less pain and fatigue in their work, though it typically reduced their size and made them more hairy. Which she found pretty distasteful even for a Demi-Human. She grabbed the door handle and she muttered “I would prefer a human over a dwarf any day….” she opened the door and her father laid in his bed as usual his dark red room seemingly darker by the day…. No windows were their all paints here removed or broken by him, After that day her mother was murdered by a siege on their capital from an arrow he went into a rage and butchered the entire Kingdoms army and made them run, He took many fatal wounds though. She approached the armor and could see many dents, arrow holes and even sword holes in many vital areas including the chest and stomach. She looked back over to her father and sat down in a chair that was already there from her last visit and she placed a hand on her fathers arm and said “Father...i'm home.” he gave no response only a blank stare at the ceiling, Scars covered his face and his left eye was white and his right eye was staring into space seemingly.

One scare was over his left eyebrow, an arrow had penetrated through the helmet where the eye socket was and went right into his head, After that battle he came back he had pulled the arrow out and she was only five at the time. Her mother was already being taken care of but he was more important than her and her mother had died because of him getting wounded but even still that wound seemingly killed him either way.

Then a voice came from behind her “He's not with us, only his body.” she startled by the voice her tail flicked and fluffed and her ears perked but she turned and saw it was Nocte and she asked “Why are you here!?” a bit harsher then she wanted but he was almost unfazed by it. He walked over the her father and looked at him and said “It's a matter of the soul not the body, The brain-.......mmmm'' She looked at him confused and he looked as if he was trying to explain something foreign to her and he continues a little more simply “The head…..is a very complex thing. But the soul is simple in its use and how it works. If the head is damaged in such a way as his, the soul will leave the body it's home destroyed and will return to the place it was created.” Annah looked at her father then Nocte then said “So my father is with Saisho?”

Nocte did not respond and she continued “So….does that mean he's dead?” Nocte shaked his head and said “No...he's more than alive, He's there just...not there. To put it bluntly---he is with us but he will not remember it for it was forbidden that anyone besides the creator may know of what is beyond death.” She tilted her head and asked “How do you know this then?” Nocte seemingly startled by this and she could smell his anxiousness and he stuttered for once barking his cool,calm and collected tone “-it-it's just...a Guess nothing more.”

Annah thought he was acting a bit strange but she tries to prod a bit more and asks “Then how come you sound so sure?” then she smelt his anger rising a bit and she instantly felt her muscles tense as he just grunted and said again “It's. Just. A. Guess.” She didn't prod or poke anymore and then looked back at her father and said “I'm sorry...it's just, I don't have-'' Nocte cut her off and said “I understand, I'm in your situation myself.” She looks at him and he is leaning against the wall and he looked normal, He was short but had broad shoulders and a nice chest but he was not muscular, actually he was the opposite of what she thought for all the power in his swings and sword strikes during their duel were heavy enough to drive her feet into the ground. Yet his arms were more skinny than hers; it was actually surprising. He was wearing a very different uniform compared to the rest of any nation and culture, it was pure black and had light blue outlines on the wrist and on his chest and in the middle there was a small puffy white floof it looked like fur but she was not sure.. She could not point out what culture he was nor where he was from, not even his face or features showed it. It's like he was not born but created. Then he continues “I was given my armor,Sword and even the clothes I wear now from my father. He was...murdered, no doubt of jealousy because of my lack of education yet I still out performed many of my peers in managing and military. I was more or less a prodigy, The Emperor of Neoya saw that within me yet I ran from my home nation. That is my story summed up to a degree.” Annah stared at him “His voice was calm, he didn't even show a hint of remorse as if it was nothing.” she then asks “Did you plan this?”

Nocte looks at her and he gives a slight grin. It was the first time she had seen him smile and she felt the tip of her tail begging to wag “Hmm..slightly, Not to this degree….as I child I was always into history, I love it. It helps me learn and we'll see you're confederation within plenty of books and I thought we'll if things turn out bad here I'm sure they will accept me even if I am human.” Annah continues to listen but he stops there and says “So you had planned to come here if stuff went poorly in your home country?” Nocte nods.

Annah then asks “Are you part of nobility and if so what lands?” Nocte smiles “I was and I still own the rights to those lands since my father did die, I own the Barak Tau farm lands within the Kingdom of Kale.” Annah thinks for a moment then Nocte says “If I could get him to claim those lands it would be a great addition to your nation and I'm sure the civilians would be more than okay living under us if I used him as their governor and representative” Nocte almost sensing she was thinking this he said “If you really want I can claim my rights to the lands and it will lead to war but i'm more than sure I could get the civilians on our side, And no I did not read your mind I merely guessed at what you were thinking.”

Annah realized that he gave her a invitation to invade the Kingdom of Kale and reclaim his lands for her nation, Her confederation. He pratically just gave her his entire loyalty and service just like that. She didnt know what to think but "why?"

She looks back at her father and says “Yes..perhaps a bit in the future then, I know for a fact that the Kingdom of Kale will more then likely attack during the spring once their army has recovered so I have time to prepare and so do you.” she said looking at him but then asks “Is it possible that you...can give my father life again?” Nocte looks down and to the side and says “I could...but there's a small catch. He would gain all his memories back, but a glass timer would be formed within this room and he would live for….maybe twenty hours before he himself dies. It's the best I can offer i'm sorry.” Annah looks down and says “no it's fine...maybe..one day, I can bring him back before he dies of age.” Nocte then asks “How old is your father?” Annah thinks for a moment “Two hundred years old today, This was his birthday….and also the day my mother died..” her tail and ears began to droop but suddenly she felt Nocte wrap his arms around her shoulders from behind her and laid his head on top of hers.

He then said camly “I'm in no position to tell you how to live but trust me, He along with your mother are in a better place than here. Don't feel sad, be grateful for what you have and what you had with them. I myself failed to realize that until it was way too late.” She places her hand on his wrist relaxing into his warm embrace and she feels safe and calm. Her muscles relaxed and she leaned back into the chair her tail began to wag as we'll as she couldn't stop it as it hit against Nocte’s legs but he does not seem to mind even though she can feel his legs buckle and readjust each time her tail smacks his legs. Then his scent reached her mind and she could smell almost everything she could smell lust in him but it was held back tightly, there was sadness and the faint smell of smoke but his smell was still none the less sweet to her.

Surprising even her Nocte let go and walked away a bit and instantly she glanced behind and he said “Sorry if that was a bit sudden but you looked you needed” he says with a smile and his eyes showed a hint of happiness but he was clearly suppressing it. Annah smiled and stood up. She even said out loud while walking passed him “Perhaps…” Her voice trailed off for a moment.