The Unnecessary Balance VII

B.

Yup, they'll be paired up. Anyway, looks like D wins. The best option would have been C, which had almost a 100% chance of you winning the battle. D has around a 70ish chance, assuming Anna doesn't decide to spite you.

The hints were Trail and Idoun needing to 'fight together', and Idoun wanting to end the Core 'with her own two hands'.

I will update sometime this afternoon.

(Continued)

You don't have to say a thing. For this short while, you and Idoun are in perfect sync with each other. You know exactly what each other wants, where you're going to go, what you're going to do. It's like a game of Pai Sho, except you know all the moves ahead of time. It's a wondrous, almost surreal feeling. And somehow you know, even if it's only a single moment in time, you and Idoun are invincible. She nods subtly to you, as you quickly hurl your scythe at the Core. The Core's shield activates, knocking the legendary weapon aside like a toy, but it provides the opening you need, and you seemingly teleport inside the Core's defenses. Your sharpened talons glow menacingly, and you deliver two devastating strikes in rapid succession, with enough force to push the Core back several feet. Its metallic hide melts like butter beneath your claws.

"Enough is enough! You fall here!"

The Core reels from your relentless assault, but it recovers enough to unleash a massive blast of energy directly at you. Instead of dodging, you bring your wings around in front of you in a defensive shield and cross your arms. Your body begins to glow in a crimson aura, boosting your defensive capabilities even further. The great beam of energy slams into you with the impact of a meteor collision, forcing you back almost all the way to the far wall. However, the damage it causes is minimal, a minor annoyance at worst, and while the Core is momentarily focused on you, Idoun acts.

The ruined ballroom abruptly disintegrates, and you suddenly find yourself hovering above the clouds. A vast blue sky stretches on for as far as you can see, and the warm light of a gentle Sun shines down on you from above. Great gusts of wind sweep across the heavens, though the currents give you little trouble. In fact, the wind could make you even faster, if used correctly. Unfortunately for your enemy, the new battlefield doesn't seem to agree with it as much. The Core falters in mid air, and it's clearly not used to such drastic altitudes.

"Now, Idoun!!!"

It was a formality, really. Idoun can practically read your thoughts. But it still made you smile.

You casually sidestep, as a gigantic wave of energy barrels past you, and slams into the Core with titanic force, sending it flying backwards. "With me, Idoun!!" You call out, shouting above the wind. "Let's finish this!!"

She grins, a wide toothy grin, which looks both adorable and terrifying on a massive purple dragon. She nods, as no other response is required. She charges towards you, and you ride the wind even higher in the sky, plopping down onto Idoun's long neck as she passes. You lean in close, and tenderly pet her scales. "Remind me, once this is over, to take you to the beach. You deserve a break from all this."

If giant mythical dragons could purr, you have a feeling she would be doing so now. "As long as you're there with me... Then I have no objections."

The Core manages to recover in time to call forth a bolt of energy from the blue, but you easily dodge the attack. Idoun slams her massive frame into the Core, sending it sprawling backwards once more, and you leap from Idoun's neck, your wings carrying you at speeds that defy logic. Before the Core even has a chance to react, you deliver another round of devastating blows, one more terrible than the last. Afterwards, you quickly dart away, bolting out of range. You return to Idoun's side, and for a moment, neither of you move. Nor does your opponent.

"ASSESSING DAMAGE. DAMAGE SUSTAINED... SEVERE. 58% HEALTH REMAINING. ANALYZING BATTLE FLOW... PREDICTING ENEMY MOVES...CALCULATING POSSIBILITY OF DEFEAT. POSSIBILITY OF DEFEAT BASED ON CURRENT TRAJECTORY IS 83%. SUMMONING WAR DRAGONS."

Two familiar dragons materialize into existence, one near the Core, and the other behind Idoun. Damn... Not these stupid things again!"

"Why the hell won't you just die?" You snap, your rage mounting once more. Again, your golden eyes turn an ominous red.

Idoun quickly leans her head down and gently nuzzles you, startling you for a moment. "Easy, Trail. It's nothing we can't handle. Let's take a step back and force them to come to us."

She's right, you realize. That's definitely the best approach. Your rage dies down to a simmering boil, though it's far from quelled. "Right. A defensive play would be best, for now. Let's change the scenery again. A floating castle would be cool. What do you think? Can you do it?"

Idoun giggles slightly. "For you, Trail? I can do anything."

You smile and gently rub her snout. "That's what I like to hear. Stay close to me, Idoun."

She nods once more, and the battle soon resumes in earnest. However, it isn't long before you decide to focus on offense again.

Dammit... This isn't working. If we stay on the defensive all day, the Core will simply keep on summoning more War Dragons! We can't deal enough damage to the Core, AND keep up with all the War Dragons... Not if we continue to play it safe. But Idoun...

"Trail, you're still worried about me, aren't you. It's not safe to space out in the middle of battle, you know."

You smile at Idoun's gentle concern, as she rouses you from your thoughts. You casually dodge a blast from another War Dragon, which is quickly dispatched by a combined attack from you and Idoun. The blast explodes into the floating castle behind you, sending a shower of rubble tumbling into the abyss far below. You wanted Idoun to create an invulnerable castle, but it seems she can't create anything that wouldn't be possible in the real world.

"Of course I am," you reply sincerely. "I don't want to place you in harm's way. But... I know that isn't possible. I can't win this battle without you. I need you, Idoun. And... Sorry. I won't space out again."

Her smile widens, and she coils protectively around you, forming a scaly shield out of her own body. "You really are such a silvertongue, Trail... But I'm not helpless. I'm happy you realize that. I know you haven't known me for that long... But I know you, Trail. I trust you. And I will fight for you with all my might. Now... Give me your orders, Trail."

That's right... You're a General. You've fought and commanded countless battles before, battles that were much harder than this one. To this day, you have never known defeat. You have sent your own family into battle, knowing the risk. Your daughter. Your son. Your friends. Even your pregnant wife. You did so, because you trusted them. You trust in their strength. In their skill, their resolve. And... Because you trust in yourself. You need them. Without his comrades and subordinates, a General is nothing more than a single soldier, regardless of his own strength or intellect. But with the help of his comrades, a truly great leader can work miracles. You allowed your emotions to get the best of you, if only for a short while. But not anymore.

"Thank you, Idoun. For bringing me to my senses. We're taking the fight to them. You ready?"

Her ethereal eyes sparkle with adoration. "I'm always ready, Trail. I will be your sword and shield."

If you didn't know any better, you would think her soul had returned. But no... Even now, as you stare into her eyes, her warm eyes so full of sparks, it's clear that's not the case. You've freed her from the Core, and her emotions have been unsealed as a result... But the thread connecting her and the Core still exists. Her soul is still an artificial one, a mere copy. If you destroy the Core... Who knows what effect it could have on her. The consequences could be disastrous. That's why you were so hesitant... But you realize now, you have to do it. For Idoun...

You incline your head. "Right. Follow my lead."

You quickly catch her in your arms, as the world around you reverts to its original state. You land softly on the floor of that familiar ballroom, and your wings slowly fold into your back. Oddly enough, the ballroom had changed. The broken furniture had been replaced with new, vibrant counterparts. The chandelier hanging high above no longer wore a coat of dust, but instead boasted a fresh paint and bright sheen. The walls glistened and shimmered, like a fresh ocean of morning dew across the Grancelian plains. The floor was swept and polished, enough for you to see your own reflection.

Idoun's chest rises ever so slightly, and her breath tickles your palm. You sigh, a sigh of immense relief, as your panic gradually ebbs away. Someway, somehow, thanks to some unknown miracle, she was fine.

At this rate, I'm gonna have to start praying again. All these miracles are making me feel guilty.

You suddenly burst out laughing, and admittedly, you might sound just a bit crazed. But hell, who can blame you? You try to do something as simple as sleep, and look what happens. You end up in a fight for your life with some crazy demon eye thing. Just another normal night, you suppose.

"Trail... Are you... Okay?"

Your eyes snap towards the woman in your arms, and your expression softens greatly. "Idoun... I should be asking you that. Are you..." You fumble, suddenly at a loss for words.

She smiles, a gentle, radiant smile. "I'm... Okay, I think. Just... A bit confused. It's... Harder to think now. It feels like... Something is missing. But I'll recover."

She leans up and embraces you, wrapping her arms around your neck. "I'm free now. Whatever... Happens now... It will be my choice. And my choice alone. I can never repay you for that gift. But.. I can try. Look around."

You do as she says, and your eyes widen in surprise. The ballroom melts away once again, revealing a scarlet sunset, and a hidden glade bathed in light. An old twisted oak stands proudly in the center of the glade, brandishing a single leaf, a leaf that refused to fall, regardless of what happened to the seasons around it. You recognize the place immediately. But how could you not?

"This... This is..."

Idoun pulls back from your embrace, and carefully rises to her feet. You quickly move to help her, but she waves the attempt away. "I have to stand on my own... Trail."

You nod in understanding, and follow her example. "I know, Idoun. I know. But... How do you know of this place? My sister... We... We never told anyone of our little sanctuary. We used to come out here every evening, and simply watch the Sunset. How could you possibly..."

Idoun merely smiles, and she gently places a finger to your lips. "I've been watching over you your whole life, Trail. Those times where you felt a cool breeze caress your cheek, when there was no other wind around... All those years you wandered, thinking you were alone... I was there. And... So was your father."

Your mind whirls. Wait... So then she already knows... Everything? But... Then why... And what does she mean by my father? Does she mean Marik? But how...

You abruptly sigh, and plop back down on the soft grass. "I'm too tired to even try and comprehend what you're saying. But I do know I need to thank you. So... Thanks."

You start to feel a bit awkward, though you aren't sure why. Idoun remains standing. She bites her lip. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you."

You shake your head. "No, it's fine... I'm just surprised, is all. Would you mind... Staying with me, for the rest of the night?"

"Not at all... I'll be here." Always.

You lean your head against her leg, as the last of the Sun dips below the horizon. Sometime after, the vision ended, and you were returned to the real world. But for you, the dream never ended. You slept in that moonlit glade the entire night, beneath that old oak tree.

Thank you... For everything. You've done more for me than you could ever realize... I wish... My fondest wish... Is that we could stay like that forever... But that's the thing about dreams. They always end, Trail. You'll always wake up... It may not mean much to you... But for a time, you were mine... So thank you... And... Goodbye, my prince.

"Is she... Alive?"

"Yes... But only a fraction of her."

"What does that mean?"

"I do not know, child. Help me lift her."

"You mean to bring her to the village? Is that really wise, Grandfather?"

"I am unsure... But we cannot leave her here. The Harvest begins tonight."

-----
A vast blue sea, stretching on and on, endlessly, in all directions. A giant castle of red coral, floating silently, unseen beneath the waves. And a lone island, shrouded in mystery and legend. Far, far beyond the ports of the Mainland and the white shores of the Archipelago, another, parallel tale unfolds. A tale of a people abandoned by time, and a way of life forgotten by history. For in the earliest ages, when the Golden Age crumpled, and the gods retreated from view, great beasts roamed the land. Mankind learned to fend for themselves, and thus, the legends of the First Heroes were born. Mankind grew and prospered, and soon forgot this chaotic age. But now, billions of years later, hybrid descendants of those once grand beasts prowl across the world, hidden in deep forests and scorching deserts. They are known as Epic Monsters. But somewhere, in a land long forgotten by the outside world, the Ancestors of all Monsters still flourish. And over the ages, the people of this land have adapted to survive alongside them, and they learned to coexist in this harsh climate. Until one day, when everything changed. The balance of this sacred place was abruptly shattered. The Goddess Aquarius vanished. Village after village, tribe after tribe, was demolished. Now, years later, only three tribes remain. One day, the Elder of the coastal tribe stumbled upon an unconscious woman, lying against a sacred tree; A woman with no memory save her name and that of one other. A woman with untold power.



The isle of Cozumel, one week later...

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POV Nagi
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"Is she ever gonna wake up?"

"How would I know? She's probably dead."

"She is not! I heard Sis say she was alive."

"But look at her! She looks like a ghost!"

"That's just her skin color, dummy. Grandpa said she's a foreigner."

Voices drift past you, rousing you from your sleep. Your eyes flutter open, and you groan. Where... Where am I?

"W-Whoa! S-She's... She's awake!"

"I can see that, dummy. Excuse me ma'am... Are you alright?"

Your eyes gradually focus, enough for you to see your surroundings... As well as the three young children crowding your bedside. The room appears simple enough, with modest furnishings. Various words suddenly pop into your mind, likely the names of said furnishings, though you can't place how you know them. Sofa, chair, table, curtain, rug, door..

You sit up in bed, slowly, and instinctively rub your eyes. "I... I don't know. Where... Where am I?"

Your voice sounds odd on your lips. Familiar, but strange, like you haven't used it in a long time.

"No way! How could you not know where you are?" One of the children asks in disbelief. A young boy... From the voice, he's the one who keeps getting called a dummy, apparently... The other two children are a boy and girl, and it is the girl who speaks. She seems inquisitive and curious, but mature and respectful. Quite an accomplishment for her age. Wait... How could I know her age?

"I told you, she has amnesia!" The girl chides, playfully bopping him on his head. "And she wouldn't know the village anyway! She's been asleep since she got here! You're so dense, Dran. Go tell Grandpa our guest is awake."

"Aww, why me? You know he'll just lecture me about something or other..." Dran complains and mumbles, but eventually complies, dragging the other boy with him.

"Sorry about him," the girl says gently, smiling. "He's a good kid at heart, I promise. Anyway... You're in the village of Naandia. My grandfather, the Elder, and my big sister Sonia found you unconscious in the Sacred Grove, almost a week ago. You've been out cold ever since."

A whole... Week? I've been unconscious for a whole... Week?

"So... What's your name? I'm Eren. The two troublemakers who just left are Dran and Gil. Gil is the big, shy one."

Your... Name? Just like that, you realize your memory is gone. You can't remember anything...! You almost start to panic, but you're surprised by how quickly it fades. It's almost like... You're used to not having any memories...

You give a small, sad smile and shake your head. "Sorry Eren... I can't remember my name."

Her eyes widen slightly in surprise. "Not even a bit? Wow... I've heard of partial amnesia, even full amnesia, but usually the patient remembers something… Oh. Sorry. I didn't mean to be insensitive..."

Your smile widens a bit and you quickly shake your head again. "No, it's fine... It's not your fault. I think I'm already getting used to it."

You remove the blanket from your shoulders, and clumsily try to stand. Your legs are surprisingly sturdy, given the fact you've been bedridden for a week, and for a moment, you think you're fine. You even dare to try and walk, although you quickly pay for it. Your legs abruptly lock up, and your rusty muscles spasm, and you fall back on the bed. You bite back a yelp of pain.

"H-hey, you alright?!" Eren stammers, concerned. "You shouldn't push yourself yet. Your muscles aren't used to walking. Here, I know! Maybe some water will help! I'll be right back!"

You start to say you aren't thirsty, but the young girl rushes off, leaving you alone in the room, with only your thoughts and aching muscles. Still, it gives you some time to study your surroundings a bit more... The names of objects seem to come to you easily enough. So why doesn't anything else?

It was annoying, but there isn't anything you can do about it, so you let it go. Rays of warm sunlight filter in through a half open window, and a small white curtain rustles in a slight breeze. The breeze feels good on your skin, and the Sun is nice, and for a moment, you allow yourself to smile. You spy a tall mirror leaning in the corner of the wall, next to the window. Curious, you try to stand once more. Your legs lock up almost immediately, but you bite your lip against the pain, and command your body to obey you.

"Work, you worthless suit of skin," you growl in frustration. Something tickles at the edge of your mind, just beyond reach... You don't like not being in control... Something about not controlling your own body...

The memory slips away, like a snake in tall grass, but thankfully your muscles start to relax. You walk over to the window, slowly, and with great effort, but at least you're walking. You lean against the window for support, and stare into the mirror. The glass is old and dusty, and the woman in it is alien to you. And yet, also familiar...

Long curly hair falls around your shoulders, down to your upper back. You reach up and take a strand, running it through your palm. The texture is soft and silky, and the color is a warm green, like a summer meadow. Your eyes are a shade of bright green, almost like emeralds. A light blue sleeveless tunic covers your chest, and you wear a simple pair of loose white pants. Your arms are adorned with two golden bands around your forearms, but otherwise bare. A pair of old brown traveling boots lies at the foot of your bed, and are probably yours. Aside from that, you also have a strange moon shaped pendant hanging around your neck, and a single gold earring in your right ear. Hmm... Your ears are also very pointy. Is that normal?

You also appear to be very fit and athletic, even a bit muscular, which comes as a bit of a surprise. Maybe you were an athlete of some sort?

"You know... You're very beautiful. I hope I can look like you some day."

You turn, surprised to see Eren standing in the open doorway, holding a glass of water. "Thank you," you reply sincerely, smiling.

She walks over and hands you the glass. Almost on reflex, you raise it to your lips and down the entire glass in one gulp. It seems you were thirsty after all. Eren merely stares at you in awe.

"Ah, I see you're up already! Good, good!"

You look back towards the doorway, where an elderly man now stands, cloaked in simple brown robes. How... How did you not notice him come in? What did he do, teleport?

"Um... Yes," you reply awkwardly, unsure what to make of this gentleman.

He chuckles softly, and waves Eren over. "Go fetch a pitcher of water, Eren. And have Narshe send some food over for our guest. I bet she's hungry, no?"

Your stomach suddenly rumbles, as if to answer for you. You blush slightly. "Famished, actually... Sorry to trouble you, Elder."

He laughs again, a hearty, welcoming laugh. "Don't worry yourself, my dear. We have plenty of grub to spare. Later, perhaps when you're feeling a bit more up to it, I'll show you around the village."

You incline your head in gratitude, and sit back down on the edge of the bed. "Thank you... I would appreciate that."

As Eren dashes out the door, the Elder walks over and pulls up a chair. "So my dear, have you remembered anything?"

You shake your head sadly and sigh. "Not much. I can recall some words, some names... But that's about it. I still can't remember my own name."

The Elder reaches over and gently pats your knee. "Don't rush it, child. It will come to you in time. Have faith."

Faith...? Perhaps he's right... But... What if you've forgotten for a reason? What if there's some part of you that doesn't want to remember?

A.

Whelp, A is locked. Will update soon. Also, I'm glad you guys chose Sonia. She's the only healer you'll get in this paralogue. If you haven't already guessed, this choice was to decide your first ally and PC. Sonia is a Sage, Eren is an Archer, and Narshe is a Berserker.