Seclusion Chapter 10
By Aujang Abadi
There was nothing but darkness, a frightening, complete darkness, that Rosa could not see through. Her mind was still fogged with the sensation of flight, and of random spells of unconsciousness. But of all emotions, the only one forcing its way past her disorientation was fear. Raw, unleashed fear.
She was naked, as well, and it only added to her hysteria. So much pain, so much confusion, and the sensation of something vital, missing. It haunted her, until only low, moaning sounds of terrifying agony escaped her lips, mingled with choked sobs. That was how Kain found her.
"Rosa?" He knelt by her, his eyes glowing violet as he neared in proximity to his challenge. "Rosa... its Kain." She screamed, and wrenched away, reliving the night he'd come to her before. He closed his eyes, preventing the sudden rush of water from escaping. She was afraid of him, no, terrified of him. What had he become?
"Rosa... please, don't be afraid." Behind him, in the distance, he could hear Cecil's roars, demanding entry, as he heard his wife scream in such agony. "Rosa... I..." She curled into a ball and rocked back and forth, crying softly. He watched her, tears flowing freely from his eyes, and then grabbed her, crushing her to his armored form and sobbing aloud. "I'm sorry... God forgive me, Rosa, I am so sorry..." And they wept together, and Kain felt a small amount of the blood staining his hands slowly wash away.
"How symbolic. The rapist and his victim, atoning for the crime. I'm touched." Wyvern raised his fist and smashed it down onto Kain's shoulder, soliciting a cry of agony as the dragoon tumbled away from the embrace. Rosa fell to the ground silently, her consciousness escaping her once more.
"Such a sentimental fool, Kain..." Wyvern strode up easily, driving the heel of his armored boot into Kain's side. "You think any of this matters? You think a few tears and an apology will condone your sins?" Around them, the room burst into painful light, each of the stalagtites emitting an eerie blue flame. They were in some sort of closed chamber, whatever entrance he'd taken now sealed.
Kain groaned, rolling away and to his feet, panting heavily. "God... damn... you..." He grit his teeth, having subsequently been physically beaten for at least the eighteenth time in as many days. Pain was a regular visitor, so it seemed.
"Oh, I assure you, he has. But what do I care, dear child of mine?" A lance of shimmering darkness escaped the clutch of the shadows, materializing in Wyvern's hand. "He has damned you, fruit of my loins, child of rape." The lance was twirled, expertly, Kain noted bitterly. They even fought alike. "You are truly my son, Kain... did you enjoy Rosa's screams of fear, the taste of her tears, mingled with sweat? The way she thrashed against your will? I'll bet you did... because I know I would have." Wyvern launched himself at Kain, beginning the dance of death that both knew so well. The Dark lance flew out, met by the shaft of the Holy lance, spinning it aside, as Kain side-stepped, ducking under and driving the butt of his polearm against Wyvern's kneecap. A sickening crack echoed, and Wyvern faltered, losing his balance as his left leg gave out from under him. Kain pressed the advantage, smashing his spiked elbow into Wyvern's exposed shoulder-blade. The following falter gave way to another opening, and Kain drove his weapon into the small of Wyvern's back. Wyvern screamed in agony and rage, twirling around with such momentum that Kain flew back, tearing out a good chunk of flesh with him.
"For the ultimate incarnation of darkness, Father, you fight like an old man." Kain spat, rising to his feet. "This is too easy." Wyvern stumbled, clutching his side as blood spurted from it like a fountain. Then, suddenly, he burst into laughter, and drew his hands away from the wound, that was no more.
"Dear, dear son... you think you can hurt me? Have a taste of true power." The lance was suddenly inside of him, writhing like a living being as it erupted from his stomach, tearing a gaping hole. Kain's voice shattered, unable to express the shockwaves of pain coursing in his system. In a flash, the world spun, and Wyvern was everywhere, piercing, stabbing, destroying, ending. Kain fell to the floor in a river of his own blood, struggling to retain consciousness. "So sorry, Kain... you lose. As always."
Kain's mind was filled with a frenzy of emotion, cut incredibly sharp by the explosions of pain from his midsection. If he was going to survive, he needed to kill Wyvern quickly and somehow convince Rosa to heal him. Already, he grew weak from the blood he lost. He rose, slowly, shakily, and ripped off what was left of his leggings, jamming them in the wound, hoping to staunch the flow of blood. Wyvern hadn't been harmed by the Holy lance... Lunarians could not defeat him. His mind blurred, then focused again. Zemus... Zemus had been hurt because he, originally, had been Lunaran. But true Interstellans could not be harmed... suddenly, Kain knew the way. He had to get Wyvern's lance.
Wyvern had already left him to die, grossly underestimating his will. The lance had transferred back to his hand, and Kain launced himself directly for it. The momentum his legs gave him, as he dived onto Wyvern, tore the demon's left leg off completely. Kain smiled in grim satisfaction as Wyvern toppled, and the lance fell away. He snatched it, turning easily to face his father.
"Like father, like son. Of course I enjoyed the rape. Every part of you inside of me made it absolutely incredible. I will never forget that night, with all its pleasures." His voice hardened. "Nor will I forget the amount of pain it caused us both. Unlike you, father, I can feel shame. And nothing, save your status as part of my creation, brings me more than that night."
"Such... pathetic... sentiment... you... are..." Wyvern coughed, vomiting blood. "So... weak..."
"No, father. I am as strong as I can ever be." Kain raised the lance, and found himself facing not the human manifestation of Wyvern, but a massive, shining black dragon. Its roar of rage was terrifying, and Kain barely scrambled back in time to avoid its gigantic, spiked tail. The sudden twist caused a fresh dose of pain to wash over him, as the makeshift bandage ripped away.
Another roar split the air, blasting Kain back with its sheer intensity, as Wyvern stomped towards him. Everything was so loud, so fast, so painful, as Kain stumbled to regain his senses. How easy it would be to simply lay down and die, to know the peace of eternal sleep. His guard faltered with his resolve, both slipping upon the sea of blood escaping his body. How very simple, to die. But behind Wyvern laid the woman he loved, and the woman he had wronged so greatly. He owed her happiness, it was the least she deserved. For the hell he'd constructed for her.
But this was a fight he could not win, Wyvern was incredibly fast for his size. Every leap came closer, every dive more desperate, as Wyvern closed in on his prey. The corrosive acid of his tongue bit into Kain's right thigh, and though Kain thought it damn near impossible, managed to add a whole new dimension of pain. Wyvern was everywhere, and Kain knew that eventually, he'd not leap away in time. That time came, as Wyvern's tail caught him full force in the back, hurling him to the ground. It was all Kain could do to twist before Wyvern was upon him once more, looming over his body as an obelisk.
Don't forget your heritage. I'll always be in the back of your mind, polluting you... the words echoed in Kain's mind suddenly, smashing against the walls of his consciousness. His father's son... not only Kain, but Wyvern, in his own right. He stared up at the giant beast, and smiled. For now, he stared him in the eye.
It was difficult to tell who was more shocked: Kain, that he had actually transformed into Wyvern, or Wyvern himself, at the presence of an even larger dragon, with shimmering blue scales. The Dark lance was clutched betweeen its teeth, and then, with all of his force, Kain spat the lance, along with a good deal of acid, onto his father. The explosion shattered their crystal chamber, as Kain slammed back into his human state. The pain was gone, and although he still bled freely, it no longer mattered. The blue flames lining the walls soared in height, welcoming their new master. He had won.
Wyvern was dying, the lance having pierced him directly through the chest, glowing bright violet as his life force faded away. He looked up with hatred-filled brown eyes, spitting on Kain's face.
"For three millenia, I ruled this place, defeated all challengers, and forged the Crystal blade... and now, my own son destroys me. How fitting." His fingers clenched together as the lance spread through his system. "You will never be as good as I was... you will falter, with your light. Your weakness." Kain knelt beside him, cradling his head.
"No, father. The light has made me stronger than you could ever be." Kain smiled slightly. "My coming was foretold, I am the true Wyvern. One more will follow me, another true Wyvern, and he shall be the last." Wyvern closed his eyes at this, as the hatred of his Interstellan nature fled, leaving shreds of his life force behind.
"Yes. Your son, Kain, the son Rosa will bear you. But not now, not yet. He will be borne in years to come, for our seed is long-lived. But he shall come." Wyvern sighed, softly. "The altar of which Rosa lies on is a transport to the inner sanctum, the core of the Moon. There, you will find the tools you need, and the answers you seek. I ask that you throw my body into the Core, from where I was concepted. Where I would like to rest."
"Request granted." And with that, the fifth Wyvern, Kain, rose, gently cradling the body of his dead father. He carried it to the altar, placing it upon the insignia engraved in the center, and it slowly shimmered away. Such was the passing of the fourth and last Dark Wyvern.
Kain turned, and touched Rosa's forehead, prompting her back to consciousness. Her beautiful eyes fluttered, then opened shakily.
"Kain? Where... am I?" She looked around, the brightness of the room searing her eyes. "The Moon? And what happened? Kain, you're wounded!"
"I am fine." He lifted Rosa in his arms easily, carrying her outside of the broken dome, and to the gate from which he'd entered. "And we are home."
Cecil nearly fainted with relief when he saw Kain approaching, with a very much alive Rosa in his arms. Edge and Rydia smiled, as the adventurers were reunited.
"Cecil!" Rosa leapt from Kain's arms and into Cecil's, all of her former fear bursting out once more, as she sobbed openly. Cecil whispered to her soothingly, holding her tightly. Edge grinned and looked at Rydia.
"Getting any ideas?" Edge nudged her.
"That depends. Do you enjoy having the means to reproduce?" Rydia smiled sweetly at Edge's dumb-founded expression. When Rosa's sobs quieted, Cecil gently released her, and all turned to Kain.
"Kain... thank you, for saving her." Cecil looked away. "I did not think you would come back, after the screams." He met Kain's eyes again. "We heard. Everything."
"I know." Kain regarded his lifelong friends for a moment, then nodded once. "Know that I regret what I've done, and what it shall do to you both. I am truly sorry. He looked at Rosa, the evidence of their shared tears showing clearly in her eyes. He had been forgiven. "Cecil. The Crystal Blade."
"Yes. The Crystal Blade." Cecil unhooked it from his belt, and placed it in Kain's outstretched hand.
"You asked why all of you had to come, when only I could fight Wyvern. It is because I will not be returning with you. My place, whether I knew it or not, has always been here. And here I will remain." He looked to all of them, one last time. "Farewell, all of you. My love extends to each of you, but know that, should you return, I have no choice but to kill you. The Crystal Caverns must not be set foot upon again until prophecy ordains it so." They all nodded once, and shared one brief moment of understanding. Kain turned and slowly walked to the altar, as the gates closed behind him. As he stepped upon it, his soul filled with exultation, and he marveled at the indescribable beauty of the Core. He stepped up to his Crystal throne, and turned, sitting upon it, watching the fiery beacon that was the soul of the Moon flicker with energy. "I am home."
Thus did Kain, the fifth Wyvern, and the first true Wyvern, come to power.
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