#chevel

A year since the attack had come and gone since a certain Rider-to-be thought he had lost it all. Completely unaware that the woman he called mom had in fact made it out of the wreckage in one piece,

Yet not without leading her to ending up getting separated and lost from the village she called home during her escape.

The people of Hakum Village believed Vlau to have perished that day. Most affected with her “lost” being her own son who would soon go down a path of darkness all in an attempt to avenge her death.

Well… that was until now.

Even now as Chevel stood atop the back of the back of the mighty Versa Pietru, he found himself at a loss for words as the strange cloaked feminine figure stepped forward from behind that odd Felyne and his former childhood friend now turned rival as she called out to him, slowly but surely lowering the hood to reveal the face that lay beneath it.

“Chevel! You need to stop this right this instant! You don’t realize the danger that you are putting yourself into! Please, just come home with me to Hakum Village.” Vlau said with a mix of pleading and sadness in her weathered eyes at just seeing what her son had become.

It took a while but eventually did Chevel finally speak.

“Mom!? This can’t be! But how…? I thought you died during that Nargacuga attack!”

Vlau would go onto explain what had occured that night. While fleeing from the Nargacuga, she had been knocked down into the valley but had thankfully managed to only get by with a couple of injuries.

Unable to find her way back to the village, she ended up wandering until she was found by a lone Hunter out on a mission for the Guild, brought her back to Guildegaran to get her help.

The guild of course had been curious to where she had come from but due to the Rider’s Code, Vlau was unable to tell them about her home village out of worry that someone like Dr. Manelgar might place her home in jeopardy so she ended up pretending that she lost her memeory.

Out of kindness, the Guildmaster would allow her to stay in the city as she had nowhere else to go. Vlau would remain there for a year until news broke out that Lila had joined the Scriviners.

Learning of this, she would end up revealing her identity to Captain Simone, wanting to know any news on how her son was doing as long as they would keep her identity a secret to the others. Unfortunately when Lila broke the news that Chevel had run away did Vlau grow worried, leading her to become a bit of a drifter traveling from town to town in hopes she would be able to find him.

She met the MC during their travels, proud to she how much they had grown but concerned for what she had heard from their encounters with Chevel, leading to where they were all now.

Yet as much as she wanted for Chevel to stop all of this and simply come home, he unfortunately by this point was far too gone to simply turn back.

“Enough! Following the Rider’s Code won’t do anything if we’re going to stop the Black Blight. Stay out of this! I don’t want to lose you again!” Chevel suddenly shouted, cutting off his mother mid speech as he held back tears of anger before turning to address the MC.

“First you keep getting in may way and now you’ve come here to gloat that my Mother was alive this whole time… I’ve had enough of this already… Face me! It’s time to end this!”

It was clear he was having an internal battle with his emotions knowing that his entire motivations for revenge had all been for naught. He felt joy to know his mother was alive yet also felt betrayed for his former friend for not telling him until now on top of annoyance at them getting in the way. All of that boiling over into fury as all they could do now was fight as a Rider against another Rider for who was truly the one destined to save the world.

And well when it was finally all over and the Blight was banished, Chevel wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to look his mom in the eyes the same again for what he had done.

But despite all of that, she had forgiven him regardless. After all, he was still just a kid and nearly losing one’s only family wasn’t always something that was going to be easy to cope with.

Cave entrance

Iel, Chevel, Dio, Rubymonter, Elzeble, Gamode, Shicmuon, Lidusis and Rood were standing at the entrance of a cave. Dio gulped “Um Rood we are doing the ritual here?” Rood nodded “Yea this place is great as it works with the help from the different elements.” Dio turned and looked down into the cave “Oh really?” Rood nodded and walked into the cave, everyone followed.

The Dukes office

Back at the manor Lidusis’ father was pacing in his office, the duchess stood up “Darling I know that you are worried but I trust that boy.” The duke turned and looked at his wife “How can you be so sure of that!?” The duchess smiled and closed her eyes “That boy…. He saved Lidusis from the pain and loneliness that he always had with him. He made Lidusis for the first time in years’ smile, he is even willing to put himself in such a terrible condition to save our son from that awful power sealed inside of him. He is Lidusis’ first friend after that incident and he trusts him, so do I.” The Duke sighed “I guess I have to take your word for it. I am going to call Lipsen and Isao to see if they have calmed down a bit. I will also tell them what is going on here.” The duchess nodded and left the room.

The Town of Springs

Away in another town Lipsen and Isao were having tea when their mana ball started to glow, Isao got up and picked it up “I wonder who’s calling?” He activated the ball and a voice came through “How are you doing now Isao, Lipsen? Have you calmed down a bit?” Lipsen nodded at Isao “Yes father we have calmed down, it is very calming out here.” “That’s good, there are many tiresome things happening over here right now so it is good that you took that break son.” Lipsen stood up and walked over to the ball “What do you mean sir?” “Well the kids are doing this ritual thing with the Demon King right now and the preparation for the aftermath is exhausting.” Isao looked at Lipsen in shock then back at the ball “What do you mean father? The Demon King? That’s impossible he has been missing for over 8 years.” “Yea I know that but….” Isao glared at the ball “But what father?” “It was Rood, he said that he knew where the King was and that they are going to do a ritual to bring him back. In the process of the ritual the kings power will be separated from Lidusis safely and back into the King.” Lipsen took the ball of Isao “That’s impossible sir, removing the power will kill Lidusis.” Isao lowered his head as the duke answered “Yes that would be the case if it was being removed the normal way. On the Demon Kings Orders Rood researched and found a way to separate the power without harming Lidusis.” Lipsen glared at the ball “Orders? Did he tell you where the King was?” There was silence for a while then the Duke answered “He’s inside him.” Isao’s eyes shot to the ball “What!?” The duke went on “Around 8 years ago, the Demon Kings soul was sealed inside of Rood.” Lipsen froze at the news of where his King was “What? But the King needs a body to be revived. Does that mean that Rood will sacrifice his body to the Demon King?” The dukes tone of voice suddenly got sad “No Roods body does not meet the specifications that the Kings soul needs. Instead Rood is giving him his magician form. He said that the Black Magician form was the Kings body from the start, he was using the form to wake the King up by encountering demons and mana. It worked too and now he needs to separate from them both.” Isao thought for a bit “Wait but father separating a form that is literally built into your body is not only extremely painful but lethal too. He could die.” Lipsen looked at Isao panicked then back at the ball as the duke answered “I know, he knows. When I told him he just looked at me, smiled and said that even if there is a 50/50 chance of death they need their King back.” Lipsen lowered his head and thought to himself “That kid is unbelievable, he is risking death to return our King.” The duke went on “The Kings daughter and the King himself promised to do everything in their power to help Rood live and get back to normal. Anyway, can you two come back now? We might need some extra hands around here very soon.” Isao looks at Lipsen and they both nod “We will be there as soon as possible.” Isao and Lipsen packed up then started their journey home.

The Cave of Stars

Iel, Chevel, Dio, Rubymonter, Elzeble, Gamode, Shicmuon, Lidusis and Rood were standing in a huge part of the cave. Iel looked at the top of the cave “It looks like stars.” Rood laughed “I know right, its perfect.” Everyone nodded as Rood set up the pillars in a circle “Everyone but me, Lidusis and Rubymonter stand by a pillar. Dio you stand by the Fire pillar, Shicmuon by the Wind pillar, Gamode by the Water pillar, Iel by the Earth pillar, Chevel by the Light pillar and Elzeble by the Darkness pillar.” Everyone walked to their pillars and Rubymonter looked at Rood “What am I to do?” You are to help lure the power out from Lidusis. If you use some of your mana the power should know that you are here and it will think that your father is here too.” Rubymonter nodded as Rood led Lidusis into the circle of pillars “Now Lis you will feel several powers wanting to enter your body, your job is to find a power that resonates with you. When you find that power only let that one enter, when the power has been accepted it will help you make a pathway for the Kings power to get out. When the Kings power is out your power will close the road, and wait for you to start training with it.” Lidusis nodded “Got it!”

Rood stepped away from Lidusis and then faced him. Rood chanted “The six elements I call upon your power to help us with is ritual.” Suddenly there was a flash on top of each pillar, everyone looked at the pillars and they saw a ball of fire, water, earth, wind, light and dark on top of the designated pillars. Lidusis looked at Rood and nodded, Rood nodded back then stretched out his arms. Rood channeled the power of the elements and a small ball flew out of each element. They were smaller versions of what was on the pillars. They gathered around roods hands as he put his palms facing Lidusis. Rood then chanted “Let this child release the power that does not belong and give birth to a new power of his own.” The small element balls flew towards Lidusis and started circling him, Lidusis closed his eyes to listen to the elements. After 5 minutes Lidusis made his decision, the water element went inside of him as the others flew back to the pillars. Rood looked at Rubymonter “Now use your mana.” Rubymonter nodded and made a mana sword. Rood went into his soul and got the Demon King prepared “Come on now, let’s call your power out.” The King nodded as he let out his mana, as soon as the kings power detected his mana it came out of Lidusis. Rood looked at Rubymonter “Oh crap, catch him Rubymonter.” Rubymonter caught Lidusis as he fell, she took his pulse “Still alive and healthy.” Rood smiled “Now onto the painful part.

Rood closed his eyes and channeled all his mana into the Black Magician form, everyone watched worried about Rood. Rood turned to the King in his soul “N need to be upset you said that you would help me get better, right?” The King smiled then hugged Rood, he then started to cry “Yea, I promise.” Rood hugged the King back “Well then let’s get this over with.” The king nodded “Yea.” From Rood’s right hand came a black mass along with the sound of bones being broken. Iel covered her ears and closed her eyes “I just can’t look!” The black mass got bigger and bigger and it was obvious that Rood was in immense pain. He did not scream but it was all over his face, he was holding it in so that the others wouldn’t need to hear his pain. The black mass separated from Roods hand braking his whole arm along with it. The mass then turned into the Black Magician, then from Roods now broken hand came a surge of power that went straight into the Black Magician. It was the Kings soul; his soul took over the Black Magician and changed the body slightly. Rood smiled “Welcome back.” The King walked over to Rood “Yea thanks to you.” Rood smiled then collapsed. Everyone ran over to Rood as the King picked him up. The King pointed to Lidusis who just woke up “Your Lidusis right? Where is that room you set up for him! We need to get him treatment imminently!” Lidusis nodded and led the way.

Rood’s Recovery Room

Lanoste was already at the room waiting for them, they suddenly burst into the room and placed Rood on the bed. The King walked up to Lanoste “So you are Lanoste? Nice to meet you I am the Demon King, I would love to chat but I have to help Rood.” Lanoste smiled “Its ok that is why I am here, Kiel would murder me if he found out I didn’t help his little brother when he is in this condition.” The King smiled then walked over to Rood “Lanoste do you know how to heal broken bones?” Lanoste looked at the King then at Roods arm “Yea.” The king gestured to Lanoste to come over “I’ll take care of the organs and you take care of the broken bones. Iel you can help Gamode stich up the injuries.” They both nodded as Chevel stepped into the room “How did he get those gashes all over him? All we saw was his arm break.” The king looked at Chevel “It happened when the elements left, they destroyed his body because they got mad at him.” Chevel scratched his head “Why did they get mad at him.” The King started to treat Roods wounds “Probably because he could control them so well, the elements don’t like being controlled so they wanted to hurt him. The internal damage was done when I exited his body. Happy now? You can give Rood some pain relief, even a little is good in his state.” Chevel nodded and started the pain relief.

 After 5 hours of healing Rood was finally stable and not in danger of death anymore. Rood was fast asleep and the Demon King sat next to him “We managed to save him.” Lanoste smiled “It was because of his determination to live that he is alive now.” Lanoste pats Rood’s head “He’s a fighter after all. I’ll go call his brother now.” The King smiled and Lanoste left the Room, Rubymonter sat by Rood’s bed “Father what are we going to do now? Are we just going to return to the Demon world and things will go back to normal?” The King looked at Rubymonter “No, I have taking a liking to the human world, I will travel around for a bit first.” Rubymonter lowered her head “But father.” The King smiled and pated Rood’s head “I also want to thank this kid too. He has helped me more than you think Ruby.” Rubymonter looks at Rood and smiles “Ok, but I am coming with you.” The King smiles as Kiel comes running into the room, he sees Rood sleeping and whispers to the King “Hello my name is Kiel, Roods older brother and legal guardian. Are you the Demon King?” Everyone looks at Kiel and the King nods “Yes I am.” The King gets up and walks over to Kiel “So you are his brother? Rood is such a kind child you must be proud.” Kiel smiles “Well being polite and kind does run in the family blood on our mother’s side.” The King smiled and Rubymonter stood up and walked over to Kiel “I’m Rubymonter a friend of your brother and daughter to the Demon King.” Kiel looked at Rubymonter “You’re his friend? *Rubymonter nods* My he really is a charmer having a beautiful girl like you as his friend. He may be a bit blunt but thanks for being there for him.” Rubymonter blushes “Thank you, no problem.” Rubymonter looks at Rood then back at Kiel “Um, we kind of saw his memories of the past and… well…” Kiel smiled and looked at Rood “I know, they are bad. After the sealing ceremony when he woke up he showed them to me. I didn’t think that he remembered me but he did.” Rubymonter looked at Kiel “Well I just want to know where your father was, we didn’t see him at all.” Kiel sighed “That’s because Rood never saw our father, I only saw him at his own funeral. He is a terrible father, he doesn’t even deserve the title father.” Everyone lowered their heads, Kiel looked over at Dio “Oh your Dio right?” Dio looked at Kiel “Huh? Yea how do you know.” Kiel smiled and looked at Rood “He told me about you, he said something about hanging out with ‘Mr last place’.” Dio smiled “Yep that’s me.” Kiel smiled and sat by Rood with Dio to talk. The King, Rubymonter, Gamode and Elzeble left the room.

The next Day

Lipsen and Isao walked into the Estate preparing themselves to meet the Demon King. They walked into the living area to see the King talking to Lidusis, Chevel and Iel. Dio, Rubymonter, Gamode and Elzeble were talking to Kiel and Lanoste. Isao whispered to Lipsen “Hey I don’t see Rood.” Lipsen nodded as he walked over to the King. The King looked at Lipsen “Oh hello Lipsen, I see you have a human friend? That’s rare, I thought you hated humans?” Lipsen looked at Isao then back at the King “I was…… stressed. Anyway, where is Rood? Did he die from the separation?” The King glared at Lipsen and Lipsen took a step back. The King answered in an agitated tone “No he didn’t, we made sure he survived. He is just out of energy because of everything he had to do, Shicmuon is with him in his recovery room.” Isao walked over to the King “What did he do to separate the power from Lidusis and your soul from himself without dying then?” The King clapped his hands together and had a big smile on his face as he replied in a happy tone “He used new magic! Magic that did not need mana to work, the power of the elements.” Lipsen took this by surprise “Wait doesn’t that mean that his magic potential must be massive?” The King glared at Lipsen “What you thought his power as the Black Magician was because of me? Haha no it wasn’t, the form was mine but the power was his. When he wakes up he will have his original mana mark and a new magician form.” Lipsen smiled “That’s good.” The king smiled at Lipsen “Oh really? You seem to be quite fond of him Lipsen.” Lipsen just smiled “Yea, I have a feeling that it’s going to get lively around here.” The King laughed “Hhahaha, I agree.”

Rood’s Recovery Room

Shicmuon is sitting beside Rood, he looks at Rood to see him opening his eyes “Oh hey are you ok?” Rood opened his eyes and saw Shicmuon “I feel terrible, like someone hit me over the head with a boulder. That wasn’t you by any chance was it.” Shicmuon smiled and folded his arms “Nah, it’s probably because you were half dead.” Rood smiled and sat up “Most likely the case.” Shicmuon just smiled as Rood’s stomach grumbled “Oh yea, I’m hungry.” Shicmuon laughed and placed some sandwiches in front of Rood “Your favorite, right?” Rood smiled “Yea! How did you know?” Shicmuon smiled “Your brother told me.” Rood looked at Shicmuon “Oh Kiel’s here? He didn’t freak out, did he? He tends to do that if he thinks I am in danger.” Shicmuon laughed “Nah he trusted the Demon King so he didn’t freak out.” Rood laughed and started to eat the sandwiches “That’s good.” When Rood was halfway through his second sandwich his left hand started to burn. Rood dropped the sandwich “Ah! Why is my hand burning?” Shicmuon shot up and remembered what the king said “When his left-hand burns that will be when his new mana mark will appear.” Shicmuon grabbed Rood’s left hand, there was a blinding flash that came from Roods hand. When the light faded Shicmuon looked down at Roods hand to see a new mana mark “Well I guess you are back in the magician business now.” Rood laughed “Yea, we can be a team.” Shicmuon laughed “That sounds fun, but for now let’s just call your brother and the others.” Rood smiled “Good idea.”