CHPT 489: Recovery-Revamp

SHsssCRCRKK!!

"FUCking.... hell that's cold." Claude yelled to the evening clouds as iced hands pressed into his bare chest.

"So much for being weather resistant...." Ursula mumbled.

"Why weather resistant?" Maris caught the slip up like Frosty caught bone spears in fetch. In that same way, she didn't let up as she looked away from Claude's body scaring to press Ursula.

"Uh-- Prof. Alvis, he thinks certain Classes have different..... side evolutions. Beast Tamers may be more resistant to the Elements due to their need.... to be in the wild." Claude managed through clenched teeth and grunts as Ursula continued to nearly freeze burn his chest.

"I dislike how good you're becoming at lying." Ursula spoke into his mind with a single stiff glance from her freckled face.

Claude disregarded her message as he watched Maris.

She looked back down at the Druidic Markings binding his left arm. There was a child-like curiosity in her eyes-- in the way she pinched at the inked skin pulled over his biceps and forearms where the Celtic artistry blended into the more direct and harsh chain-like designs. But in all her innocent curiosity, there was also something hidden beneath. Something aggressive and thirsty for power.

"In the fight..... you used chains. They're here.." She pressed into his forearm.

Claude nodded.

"How do they work?" Maris asked as her shoulder length black hair fell from behind her ears, sashaying across her face like shadowy curtains.

"Like any-- AH!" Claude was cut off as Ursula applied more cold to his injuries. "erhm...Like any other skill. Just takes a thought.... and a little focus."

"Show me."

"Maris...." Ursula said in an almost sisterly tone.

Maris looked at Ursula once before nodding matter of factly, "Show me.... please and thank you."

Maris blinked. And the Malevolence Tether was there. A gauntlet built over his hand and forearm, interlinked with a bladed chain sprinkled in green flames.

Hesitantly she grabbed it, expecting a slight steam or burning sensation before looking at Claude in surprise.

"It's not damaging me..."

"You're not a Demon."

Maris blinked, "No... not a Demon."

"[Uhm....--]"

"Goooood damn! It looks ridiculous down there. But we should be good by nightfall." Warren said as he climbed up onto the rooftop they all rested on.

Isaac followed in after him, "If it isn't good by nightfall I'll speak with my father. See if he can help us..... and keep us away from the Fiara family."

The two came over. Isaac plopped down next to Claude. His cornrows as crisp and tightly bound to his scalp as ever. Even with all the chaos on the streets. The sun had done his skin kindly-- much kinder than the fairer skinned students that looked like they were searing like steaks. Isaac had gained an almost illustrious dark russet-brown sheen. It looked even darker in contrast with his silver armor.

"How's the injuries?"

Ursula lifted her hands off Claude's chest, revealing one of many grotesque bruises and splotches of internal bleeding. Aiko's wind shots were painful in ways he couldn't accurately describe. The shocking impacts of focused wind cut deep and echoed across his skin like stones in a still pond. Every ripple left another ring of bruising giving him a series of multi-crowned markings. They hurt like hell. Especially the ones that intersected with others.

Luckily the rips and cuts from Tufani's sandstorms healed over fast because it wasn't looking good at all. Even so--

"Alright, if ya'll are done groping New Gloria's Victor, I'd like to have a look at the prize." Warren said as he sat beside Maris.

Claude lifted his right hand, giving Warren the First Place Prize in the Martial Arts Expo.

It was a two way necklace. A big hooped bead of pure silver weighed down by six artifacts. Three in the front and three in back. The jewels held inside the silver circlets flashed with still imagery and sounded off with mechanical and magical noises from within.

"Snakes.....?" Warren said as he looked into the jewels.

"What?" Claude asked.

"Why are there snakes in the jewels? They just give the winners anything huh?"

Claude suddenly was more intrigued by the object and pointed to Isaac, "Show it to him."

Warren held up the artifact, "Talk to me, bro. What do you see within." He feigned mystery and spookiness.

Isaac focused. The muscles in the side of his head and jaws pulsed for a moment before he blinked, "I... I see myself. Dead at my father's feet."

"[He's lying.]" Arne commented.

"I know." Claude replied.

Warren yanked the artifact away from him, "Damn-- this thing sucks."

Maris took it from him, "I do not see you or your father, Isaac."

"That's because it shows your fears-- maybe even weaknesses.... somehow." Ursula filled the silence.

Isaac nodded as he looked at Claude once.

"What do you see, Maris?" Ursula asked.

"Nothing."

Warren blinked once before his usual goofy facial expressions returned, "You are a damn lie let me see--"

Maris flicked his thick nose, "That's not how that works, genius."

"Fair." Warren said as he rubbed his nose.

"Anyway." Ursula announced, "Let us be the first, to congratulate you on your win.... and an upset that'll make it in the history books.... or not. Propaganda kind of demands it doesn't make it to paper."

"So do the thousands of people rioting." Isaac mumbled.

"What are we going to do..... we're fucked, aren't we?"

"It's always been that way." Claude said on reflex before his own self-conscious paranoia took over, "For me. As long as you all aren't seen as--"

Ursula grabbed his face, "Nope. Cut that out."

"Right..." Claude mumbled into her calloused hand. Somehow it smelled good.

"With Claude being banned from the next event, it'll give betters a sense of wage security..."

"What a dumbass thing to say about betting." Warren commented.

"Oh not here..... I'm sure it's usually as fixed as a broken bone in a Tangent."

"Good analogy." Isaac commented.

"Thanks." Ursula replied before continuing, "So, with Claude out things will settle. That was their entire plan. Get him out now, so he can return. Betters may dislike the way Claude disrupted their money flow, but the crowd at large is engaged. That's the goal of these things. It just sucks that they all watched you bust Samuel's ribs in real time."

"I enjoyed it." Maris commented.

Warren chuckled before screaming as thunder shook the rooftops for miles.

"He's also not happy." Ursula commented. "We need to keep you protected now. You aren't fighting, you'll still be in danger. Same goes for this following week of interviews."

"I've got protection." Claude replied, sensing Cassidy nearby, "Without me in the fight you'll need it too."

Claude took the Artifact back from Warren and handed it to Ursula.

"What-- I'm not taking this. You won it-- barely from the looks of it."

Claude nodded, "Yes. And now I'm giving it to you. Think of it as make-up for the Nemean Lion Pelt."

"THE WHAT?!" Isaac's eyes were like saucers on his face.

Ursula fought off a growl and took the chain, "Thank you...but I'll force this back on you if I have to."

Claude laughed, "Right... and this is for you, Isaac."

Isaac reached out and grabbed the cloak Claude handed him.

It was black. Darker than black.

As his fingers ran over the fabric he could feel the overlapping sewing of hard wiry materials. Under the setting sun, Runes as small as dust particles glowed faintly along each strand. "Is this..... an Alchemsol Cloak?"

Claude nodded, "I think that's what they said before handing it to me. I couldn't really hear."

"What is it?" Maris asked.

"My dad used to tell me about them-- when I was a kid....before they were being produced. They found a way to transmutate heat, light and Solar Energy-- Magic, into components for Mana. Which powers the Rune sequences written on each strand of fabric. These things cost a fortune..."

"....And are perfect for Fire Element users." Claude added, "I'm not much of a daytime fighter anyway."

They all got the joke.

In the silence the clouds continued to bubble with angry light and swallow the sun. No rain, just thunder and lightning. It made Claude's skin crawl. He needed to get back to the forest.

"W--"

KRKZZSHHHH!!!!

A blast of lightning smashed into the rooftop. The thunder came along with it like an impact explosion of white lights and deafening sounds. When it all faded three people stood.

Ronin, The Red Knight, and The Dominator.

Everyone dropped their weapons, expecting another round of violent accusatory interrogations. Only the immediate vibe was off.

Ronin watched Claude with a new expression. He was, well, Claude didn't have a word for the face he was making. The thing was it wasn't direct anger.

He stepped closer. Closer....closer until he was only a few feet from Claude.

"Claude....."

"Ronin."

"What did you say to your opponents to make them work with you. And why did my son fall for an obvious farce. You will tell me now."

This was exactly what he worked for. This was the entirety of the point. Beyond erasing all the potential in the tournament. Beyond winning. Here it was. The beginning to pinning two of his own enemies against each other.

"You mean why did he give chase...?"

"Alongside his opponent, yes. Talk!" Thunder boomed.

Behind Ronin, The Dominator smiled as if she knew she was the inspiration behind his plan.

"[Focus.]"

"I..... I said--"

"Oh shit! I am out of shape it seems."

Claude's bones shattered at the sound of a certain fake english accented voice behind him and his friends.

Ronin and the others stopped looking holes into Claude and watched the man as he walked over.

Casually he whistled a tune as he pulled down his hood and brought a cigar to his lips. He stopped beside Isaac patting his expensive longcoat and leather pants repeatedly before turning and leaning over to Isaac.

The silence was so deafening when he finally spoke it was almost scary.

"Do you mind, Mr. Aslan?"

Isaac grunted, "Not at all, sir." He brought up his hand and snapped his fingers beneath the man's cigar, lighting it with a single spark.

"Ohhhhh yess....." He took a long drag and exhaled a white ghost of smoke into the dark evening sky.

"What a gathering this is. New Gloria's best, perhaps?"

Ronin's face didn't change in the slightest, "Rupont, It's been a while."

Rupont smiled, "Hasn't it?"