Arc 2: A vigorous first month
And so they sat along the long table, the white walls of the manor covered in large paintings, shadows of the fireplace at the end of the room, and the large dark wooden doors at the other end. The group sat opposite of Arthurs, while Arthur and Kisohi sat at opposite ends. Sizzling food was sat around the table, water, juice, tea, and wine along with it.
Arthur: "Come on everybody, why the long faces? Come on this is supposed to be the icebreaker before we do the real debate! I gotta know my opponents after all."
Kioshi: "I would have rather waited till then. If this entire thing is about the countries coming together then we shouldn't make it a competition."
Arthur: "Oh don't be such a downer, you're country made the rule not me. And are these the people you chose to fight my guys?"
He begins looking deeply into the eyes of the others. Rosemary feels uncomfortable by just being in his glance, Soku feels spite toward the looks he gives her, Edward is speachless and unable to even interact with somebody so important, and Gray felt a simmering rage while also an odd distrusting pain in his gut. These glances were furthered by the three siblings he had along with them.
Soku: "What's he talking about?"
Roy: "Guess we have this election secured if you even know that much!"
As Roy began laughing Soku began blushing embarrassingly. Gray felt his simmering rage explode and his face showed it, but instead of screaming out in defiance, Roy's older brother Lloyd slapped his face.
Musashi: "You all will be attending the Knight exam. We chose those who have yet to become anything, squire or knight, doesn't matter. It's to show off what our countries potential is, and that's where you guys come in."
Gray: "Why didn't you tell us this sooner!? And it's only been a month since we got here! How -
This time it was their side who was talking to much, leading to Rosemary slightly tapping his knee to get him to stop. Soku instead pitched him, but Gray held in any reaction, instead giving a deadly stare toward a chuckling Soku.
Musashi: "Oh well that's simple! I forgot."
Gray: "Great."
Edward: "So I heard that you slayed the Witch of Darkness! If you don't mind me asking, how was the battle."
Suddenly Arthur stood up, standing onto the table and walking down it as his hands flawed all around to impassive every single word he said.
Arthur: "Nah, I don't mind at all! So there I was talking to the king and Kioshi about some dealings, when out of nowhere, BOOOOOM!"
Dark fire shot out of his hand for a burst, surprising the others, while Musashi sat sighing.
Arthur: " A large group of Anarchists led by the witch herself burst into the room! Before anybody could react, the king and the knights around had been swallowed up by her cloak and crushed to bits! Though he did die, Kioshi was able to overpower the witch right after while I burned through her cloak! And not even ten seconds after the Kings death, Kioshi was found by more knights killing her. IT WAS SO COOL! IT WAS LIKE BOOM, MASSIVE DARK TENDRILS, WHALE SONGS AND BRIGHT WHITE MANA LIGHTS, BLOOD AND SCREAMS EVERYWHERE!"
While he went on and on, Lloyd and Roy paying the most attention, the others felt a bit odd. Edward didn't like how Arthur was talking about their kings death like it was something cool, Kioshi didn't like how he was treating her both like a failure and a weapon, Musashi just didn't like anything about Arthur, Soku was bored, and Gray, along with Rosemary, felt overwhelmed.
Musashi: "Yeah, yeah. So was there anything you wanted to talk about? AND GET OFF THE TABLE!"
Arthur chuckled and climbed down, the others looking at their food. It had almost been crushed by his large powerful steps while the rest of the table found itself about to collapse. Ophelia and Al were watching from the crack in the door, bursting through when all of the food they had spent all day working on caved in when the table collapsed.
Ophelia: "NOOOOOOOO!"
She collapsed to her knees, her arms extended in the air. Al walked slowly behind her with a smile on his face, patting her head and helping her up.
Arthur: "Oh uh, sorry. Well I wanted to talk to your team! And just get to know you all! You have an Elf, A Golden Knight, and that boy there with a lot of currupted mana! Oh, then there's your nephew. Who is a Helsing, so that's something in it of itself. So come on, don't be shy, tell me about yourselves!"
He smiled widly while his eyes shined with them, but the others quickly got it overwith.
Soku: Name's Soku."
Rosemary: "My name's Rosemary Goldenwind, it's nice to meet you sir!"
Gray: "Sup, I'm Gray Kyojin."
Edward: " I am Edward Van Helsing, It's a pleasure to be in your presence. Dragon army Leader, the Red Dragon, Master -
Musashi: "ALRIGHT!"
The others stood up and began cleaning as Arthur stood away, not helping, and still talking. However it was Kioshi who caused thick heavy winds to rush around the room, having moved all of the food and the parts of the table away from each other. Leaving Gray in the others in awe.
Arthur: "Well nice to meet you all! Is there anything you're good at? Any powers? Things I should look out for!"
Gray: "If we have to go into a exam, then shouldn't we avoid telling you anything about us? So you know you can't exploit it."
Soku: "He makes a good point. Scary."
Arthur: "Come on, it's all in good faith!"
This time Kioshi speaks up, causing Arthurs spirit to jump a bit.
Kioshi: "Oh I understand, You came here to get information on them, smart though. But Gray figured it out very quickly, so sorry to burst your bubble."
Arthur: "Julius, what could you tell from that."
Julius: "Well, Gray seems quick to judge and easy to anger, with a bit of ego. Rosemary enjoys pleasing people, not wanting to make anybody think ill of her due to her apparent abandonment of her faction. Soku is blunt, she also seems bored so she has no care for these things. Then lastly there's Edward, making sure his words make him seem sure of himself, trying to seem calm and collected, though he seems to be trying to force himself to do these things, while very obviously trying to hide his real goals and ambitions. Is that a good response Commander Arthur?"
Arthur: "Why yes it does."
That left the others silent. Making Julius the one to look out for, by far. Aside from Arthur at least.
Gray {Pink-haired pretty boy has a brain on him.}
Arthur stepped over to the pile of food and started eating, Roy joining him while Julius and Lloyd stood worried.
Musashi:" Nice job with the read, Now please would you get the hell out of my house! You destoryed my table, ended any good faith you had, and you're a busy man. That would be much obliged."
Arthur: "But of course, though some of the lords or nobles or whatever wanted to speak to us today. So would you and Kioshi come with me."
Kioshi: "Are you serious?"
Musashi: "Got dammit, fine."
Arthur: "Alright, Julius, Roy, and Lloyd come with me."
They all quickly moved toward the doors. However Musashi made sure to tell Al to watch out for them before leaving.
Arthur: "BY EVERYBODY! IT WAS INTRESTING TO MEET YOU, EVEN IF IT WAS SHORT! SORRY ABOUT THE TABLE AND THE FOOD!"
As they left the door slamed behind them.
Gray: "So now wha -
And the doors burst back open.
Musashi: "Edward and the rest of you, just stay here and do whatever. Listen to Al, we'll be back by the morning!"
Edward: "Okay, Have a good night."
With that they all get to work. Cleaning the floor, getting the food, drink, and wooden chips out of the large carpet. Wiping the grease from the floors, piling all of the trash up and saving all of the food they could, and finally putting everything away. And soon after they all get into their casual clothes, getting ready for bed. Now they all sat in their rooms, with Rosemary and Gray still awake and talking in their room.
Rosemary: "For how much work Al put in on those clothes, we didn't get to use them much."
Gray: "Yeah. Guess that means we'll have them if we need them though."
As he went to go speak he began to yawn, watching Rosemary as she got into bed beside him.
Gray: "Slept through most of the day, and yet I'm still tired."
Rosemary: "Well you did overexert yourself when you fought Edward."
Gray: "Yeah, can't believe I'm on his level, I have only been training for a month."
That felt like getting hit by a brick. Such an incorrect statement, said with such confidence.
Rosemary: "Um… Do you think you're on his level?"
Gray: "Well not fully… though I did good, at least I thought so."
Rosemary: "Musashi watched your fight and he told us that Edward could have laid you out if he tried, he even got mad that Edward went easy on you."
Rosemary said this thinking it would help set things straight, not thinking how it would make him feel until she had already said it. And while she immediately felt bad, Gray had already reacted, leaping up into the bed.
Gray: "WAIT! Are you serious man? Damn! I thought I was doin' good!
Rosemary: "Well Edward said he shouldn't have underestimated you! He said he had to get serious at the end! He also said that he almost cut your arm off."
Gray: "WHAT!? Well, whatever. I guess I figured as much."
Grays eyes fell, seeping back to the heavy bags weighing them down. It was another sudden shift that caught Rosemary off guard, seeing all of the energy exploding out of him fizzle out almost instantly.
Rosemary: "Yeah, same."
Gray turned over, staring out of his glass balcony doors.
Gray: "...I'm sorry for being weird. I know I shouldn't have asked you to sleep in here and I'm sorry for being so clingily. I -
But before he could finish, Rosemary rolled him over, looking into his eyes. He couldn't help but blush, but he felt solace in the fact she was blushing as well.
Rosemary: "I'm not good at this kinda thing."
Gray: "Me neither, if that wasn't obvious."
Rosemary: "And that's why I trust you. You wear your flaws on your sleeves and try relentlessly to fix them. You're kind, you're -
Gray had to stop her. And not just because he wanted to tell her all that he liked about her, but because her words felt like a dagger covered in flames being shallowed in one gulp.
Gray: "You're the nicest person I've ever met! You put your life on the line for me, for Soku and Ophelia! You left your faction, and I assume they're horrible since they pushed somebody like you away, and you didn't run! You want to use your strength for something good and worth while and not just bloody! You want, have, and strive toward a purpose! I envy you, but I just can't help but be impressed. And enamored."
She began to blush even harder, however it shocked Gray when she began to cry. She held his hands closely, putting her forehead to his.
Rosemary: "Thank you. And good night."
Gray: "Good night."
Gray and Rosemary turn over and fall asleep, but continues Gray to fall into his very soul, or at least the shell holding it. A shivering cold foggy black room with a woman in black standing in the middle is what the confused boy is met with, however with his quick wit he puts it together before she even speaks.
Gray: "I assume you're Azalea. Witch of Darkness and all that."
Azalea: "You would assume correctly."
She had a long black dress that connected to the gooey floor with shoulder length black hair to match. She had doll like white skin with dark black cracks, her veins flowing with black blood, Her eyes, her finger nails, all black as well. Her lips and eyes had light purple make up on them, the only color other than the pinkish red pendent in her hair. It looked like an M with curved ends stretching out and bending toward each other.
Gray: "So what's the deal with this whole isekai thing? And could you stop with all these nightmares."
Azalea: "Look, all I know is that I died. But I wasn't dead. I saw a black void with a bunch of white glowing things, I went towards the biggest light, and got sucked into it. Then I became like a second conciseness in your head."
Gray: "So I assume it's because I was gonna die or that I wanted to die, then when your mana got into my body I got warped here."
Azalea: "Oh well, yes that's about it actually. I say you're more perceptive than I thought. "
Gray: "You're not evil are you?"
She frowned, sending genuine fear into Grays heart.
Azalea: "I am the Witch of Darkness! A Pillar of Anarchy and Future Pillar of Justice! I have the most mana in the world! I have the greatest spiritual connection in the world! I AM NOT EVIL! I AM A VISIONARY KILLED BY YOUR PEOPLE! YOU ARE AN AWFUL EXISTANCE, CONNER GRAY KYOJIN! YOU ARE STOPPING THIS WORLD FROM REACHING A TRUE PERFECT EXISTANCE! YOU COULD HAVE JOINED, BUT NO, YOU FOUGHT AND ALMOST KILLED MY FELLO ANARCHISTS! IT'S YOU THAT IS THE VILLAIN! YOUR PRIDE, YOUR ANGER, SO POWERFUL! BUT YOUR HATRED, THESE NIGHTMARES, YOUR ENVY, YOUR JELOUSNOUS! YOU ARE EVIL, YOU ARE A BAD PERSON! And you know it, and that makes you even worse."
Grays eyes widened, speechless for the first time in a long time. He couldn't move, and everything within him felt heavy. His thoughts and panic and organs and blood and skin and fear and everything.
Azalea: "I would much rather you give me control of the body through…Oh no."
Gray: "WHAT!"
Azalea: "You got three people with cursed mana near you, SO WHEN I WAKE YOU UP RUN LIKE HELL! I WANT THIS BODY, BUT I CAN'T JUST LET YOU DIE NOW CAN I!?"
Azalea used the cloak taking over the area to swarm and force Gray out. Gray Jolts awake, and in the corner of his room, A woman in a black robe with a white mask on could be heard lightly giggling. Gray screams as he violently shakes Rosemary, looking at the woman frozen in fear as she takes a step towards him.
Gray: "CAN'T A GUY WAKE UP WITHOUT ALMOST DYING!?"