Truth Revealed

-Ranika night-blade-

"Tatiana, please wait outside. These matters aren't meant for your ears, I mean no disrespect when I say that." Gwenavere said, her tone was light. She was doing her best not to upset the injured monster that is tatiana.

The fact that she was moving considering the severity of her injuries was honestly a miracle, and yet she didn't even bat an eye at our commanding officers request.

"I won't be leaving, nor will I be waiting outside either. He saved my life, if this concerns ranika I want to know about it. My family pays their debts, so if I can help in any way, I will." Her expression was stiff and confident as she spoke, as was her posture. Well, as stiff as it could be considering the top half of her was missing a piece.

"I appreciate the sentiment, tatiana, but the things you will hear in there aren't easy to digest..." I interjected. It's not that I wanted to hide it from her, but she had already been through enough lately.

"If it's what you want... then fine princess, I'll wait here till you guys are all done." She sounded reluctant, but I could also hear a bit of gratefulness in her tone.

Leaving tatiana outside, we all situated ourselves in sophie's small living room. The atmosphere was thick with tension, almost like the smallest pressure would cause it to snap. Before speaking, I tried to repress my anger and the whirlwind of thoughts that kept entering my mind.

"Ra-ra..I-"

"No, first let me say a few things." I interrupted, my voice cutting through the room like a knife through warm butter.

"First, I'd like to thank you, you, olivia, and gwen. You three helped me, while two of you may not even know how." I said before following with the real reason for this.

"Now, explain to me why the fuck my own mothers voice referred to you as the core-keeper, and what the hell that even means." The weight of my words were made even heavier by the crushing pressure my aura was exuding. I didn't want to hurt sophie, but I needed her to understand the gravity of this situation.

"Everything you know about me is true ra-ra. I just....kept some details to myself. If you want to know everything I'll start by calling on the person who granted me my title of core-keeper to begin with.." Sophie said, then she began fidgeting with her communicater, clearly sending a message to someone.

"Who could you possibly call on to aid you in explaining this?" The question left my mouth like a dagger, my irritation was growing as she kept avoiding my questions. As my feelings began to spiral out of control though a black and pink mist formed in-between all of us.

It started to slowly form itself into the visage of a person, then it the person it was becoming had been painted clear. His staggering height, the unnatural pink locks tied behind his head, and bangs that curtained down his face. His beautiful black tattoos matching his dark onyx horns, this was someone I could never forget nor would I want to.

"Caleb...." I whispered under my breath,  the anger and rage all but gone from my voice.

"Hello, my dear little brother." He greeted, that ever charming smile lightning up the room instantly, leaving everyone's mouth agape.

"I...I don't understand.." I stammered out.

"He's the one who entrusted the title of core-keeper to me, so I think it's best if he explains it to you as well." Sophie stated, as if trying to quell my confusion.

"No this..this can't be right..I watched you die!" My voice slowly got louder as the emotions inside me boiled. And while they boiled another aura, one I hadn't explored the capabilities of, because it hurt too much to see it in front of me, had begun to encapsulate the room. It's pink and black hue was gorgeous to gaze upon, but it's pressure was utterly crippling for those around me.

The looks on the faces of everyone in the room grew strained and horrified, as the pressure continued to build. Then with a "pop!" A tendril of pinkish black lightning shot from my body and slammed into one of the walls just behind olivia, the random attack wasn't purposely aimed in her direction. However, surprising everyone, olvia hadn't even flinched from the sudden bolt of lightning, showing a face that I hadn't seen since luna....it was one of pure, complete, and utter trust in me.

"I see that you have yet to master my core little brother... I would be lying if I said this didn't disappoint me." Caleb said with a sigh, shaking his head. Then, with a wry, almost..devious looking smile, he continued.

"You are right in the fact that I am dead, well physically, that is. However, did you really think me and father didn't have safeguards in place so that we could continue on?" He asked, one eyebrow perked up as he looked at me.

"What kind of safeguards? And why are you only making yourself known to me now! Do you know how long I've suffered? How long I grieved, knowing that I alone survived?!"

"We don't have much time, so we can either spend it with you yelling at me, or you can let me just explain." Caleb's reply was impatient, and I could tell that the mist that formed his current body was beginning to falter. So with a nod, I bit my lip and remained silent so that he could speak.

"As you are well aware I had two cores at the time of my death, one went to you, albeit unknowingly. The other has been passed down through the flamestone house for safekeeping, with each generation selecting a holder of it. Sophie is this generations current holder of my second core, and through it, I can project my spiritual form." He paused for a moment, as his whole body seemed to visibly fade for a moment.

"The short answer for why she is called the core-keeper is this, she is your handler brother, her job is to keep you safe, maintain your cores, and auras, while also being a companion. She is also entrusted with the task of placing new cores inside you." He finished quickly.

"But why do all of this..." I asked in response, my voice coming out weak.

"Because, me and everyone else believed you could finally end that bitches' tyranny over our kind." He response was as serious as I'd ever heard from him.

"My time is up for now...I'll be able to manifest a year from now..until then little brother.." Caleb said, as his body dissipated into pink sparks, leaving the room quiet for a moment as everyone processed what just happened.

Gwen however, did not let the silence stand for long. "Ok...look I don't expect a lot of answers or anything considering what I already know, but who the fuck was he?" Her tone was disbelieving, as she watched the small sparks that still remained in the air.

"That was caleb..my older brother." I replied, I didn't really know how to feel right now. My mind was racing to form what I was told in to rational thoughts, but it just couldn't. I felt drained and tired, and most of all I felt defeated.

Looking at the ladies I decided to just speak my mind and let them do whatever they wanted with the information. "I, uh, I need to sleep on this guys...we can talk more in the morning...goodnight." my voice had come out tired and weak, and before waiting for thier response I went to the guest room and prepared myself for a long rest.

"R-ranika, everything will be o-ok...I'm h-here for y-you."

"Thank you eclipse, no i mean, thank you luna...the secret is already out, no point in hiding your true name now.." these were the last words I'd speak for the night as I collapsed on the bed, but not the last ones I'd hear. "Things are about to get fun boy." Midnight said, his tone was as sinister as usual, but the words he spoke sounded more like a warning.

-Gram Havenfall-

"It appears he has started to show his true colors sir, if we want to take the relics from him and his life we need to act fast." A burly man spoke, he wasn't domineering by any account, his build was leaning more towards a warrior that had let themself go, through years of alcohol and drug abuse, but it still maintained some semblance of who he once was.

His scraggly hair that appeared to disappear more and more each time I saw him, was combed over in an attempt to cover a noticeable blind spot, and his clothes made him look like a gutter rat, being near him was utterly revolting. 'Goddess, I hate dealing with him, just being around him makes me feel filthy.' I thought to myself in disgust.

"We can't be to hasty, after seeing him dispatch that great abyss creature it's obvious his strength is not a fallacy, it's no wonder that stuck up bitch promoted him to a division commander." I said, the hatred in my words were as obvious as the smell radiating around us.

"Just keep an eye on him, and the company he keeps. If all goes to plan he will reward us handsomely,  then I can leave this backwater city." I finished, the homeless man appeared confused, but eventually nodded at me then left.

'I can't wait to tear all their throats out.' I thought, as I also began leaving. In a state of anticipation I held out my hand and let the purple flames dance on my fingertips, this method always seemed to calm me down in times of stress. The purple flames licked at my skin, but never burned, it was tantalizing to watch the small flames that seemed eager to consume whatever came near them.

Making my way out of the dark and dank alley I proceeded to the medical building, 'I have to appear like I care still...at least for now.'

After going inside I went to the front desk, "Hello, I'm here to visit tatiana and ranika, are they awake yet?" I asked the clerk with a charming smile painted on my face.

"Oh! I'm terribly sorry sir, but they left just a few hours ago." The older woman replied, her cheeks were flushed from embarrassment.

"Thats fine, I appreciate the information. Thank you very much." I said before turning to leave. 'I was hoping to at least finish off that brute of a woman tonight, guess I'll need to find them.' I thought to myself with a sigh. Thankfully I knew at least the general vicinity of where ranika would have gone, I can only hope that tatiana would be with him.

The night was especially dark as a good majority of the artificial lamps had been dimmed to conserve energy, this hardly affected me however, scanning my surroundings I kept my eyes open to any aura or presence that would stick out. It didn't take me long to find what I had searched for, feeling an instinctual urge to kneel I turned my head towards the direction of the pressure. Standing outside of a small door was a tall woman who was missing a significant portion of her upper body, and she was noticeably trying to resist the same pressure I was.

'I found you.' I thought, a dark smile crawling onto my face. Without pause I snuck closer, which felt almost unbearable, because the closer I got to the door the more domineering, and oppressive the pressure became. It felt like someone had reached into my chest and gripped my lungs in an iron grip, stealing my breath away.

After coming within ten yards I stopped in a dark corner, then I let a small amount of my aura free. The purple flames jumped from my fingertips onto the ground with glee, then began racing towards tatiana. I only gave them one command.

"Kill her quietly."