The Final Ashfield

Chapter 5: Eclipse And Death

“Nghhuhhhhgg…” Hatagi groaned, holding his arm as tightly as possible to stop the bleeding.

He looked wary, carefully sizing up the man.

I didn't sense him…

…His energy… it’s higher than mine… Is he a 4th- No maybe even a 5th sanctum level expert?! 

Hatagi’s mind raced as he took several steps back.

"I've got to get out of here and alert the guild!!" He muttered to himself, and began running backwards. 

“Off so early, my friend? I still haven’t given you the proper hospitality for how you treated my nephews and niece here.” Uncle Matsuda’s eyes narrowed, appearing behind Hitagi with lightning-like speed. 

“What the…–” Hatagi exclaimed, surprised.

POPPP!!!!!!

Hatagi let out a scream of pure agony as Matsuda took the opportunity to lock Hatagi’s arms behind his back and shoved his foot into his ankle as far as it could go, popping it out of its socket and disabling him from running. 

Hatagi yelled, swinging another leg around in an attempt to get him off. 

Matsuda countered, grabbing it and slicing it off with his Talisman.

The pain jolted Hatagi upright as he flailed around

“You wait here…” Matsuda ordered, dropping him to the ground.

Matsuda quickly appeared in front of Aleximus. 

"Your arm…let me see it." He asked, extending his hand.

Aleximus reached out his broken arm as Matsuda took out another talisman from out of his kimono and placed it on his arm. 

The swelling reduced immediately.

"All better now, see?" He said, ruffling his hair. 

“Un..Uncle, I–” Aleximus started.

His uncle turned around, facing Hatagi and ignored Aleximus.

He’s… angry. I’ve never seen Uncle angry before… Aleximus worried.

Matsuda appeared in front of Hatagi once again in a flash. Then, grabbing him by his collar he spoke: “Now then. Who exactly are you? Why did you come to this axis?” Matsuda interrogated.

“Me?... huff… I'm nobody. No need to concern yourself with me… huff” Hatagi panted, smiling weakly through the pain.

Matsuda closed his eyes and exhaled.

He had to know where the man came from before he could take decisive action.

“Come to think of it…” Hatagi noticed.

“Purple hair… blue streaks like mine…” 

It suddenly hit him.

“You’re from the Onix clan too, aintcha?” 

Matsuda didn’t reply.

“But that’s weird… huff… the head of the family made it clear that any Onix who leaves the city… would be expelled from the clan and killed immediately… nggh.” 

“‘Onix?’ What’s he talking about, Uncle Matsuda?” Aleximus mumbled.

Matsuda glared at Hatagi. "That’s quite enough, you sorry excuse for a mage!"

His tone shifted, making his aura visible to Hatagi. 

Hatagi flinched but didn’t back down.

“I heard that there was one who successfully left 30 years ago during the Eden Search along with the ‘cursed sinner’: Runnulf. He was said to be a genius healer at the 5th level of the Sanctum Chamber…”

“I said that’s enough.” 

“I know exactly who you are– Matsuda Onix!!” Hatagi yelled. 

Matsuda punched him across the face, sending a blast of pressure through the floor. 

“EUGHHH!!!!”

“I’m going to ask you once more…” Matsuda picked him up by his hair.

“A-Alright!! ALRIGHT!!” Hatagi relented, unable to withstand any more punishment.

“I’m from the Eclipse guild, okay?! Now please… just let me go!!!” he struggled, feeling the strands of hair slowly pull from his scalp. 

“??!?!” Matsuda dropped him.

“No…! What did you just–” he shook, scratching at his fingers.

“That’s impossible. You people were wiped out 30 years ago during the Eden Search!! We made sure of it ourselves!!” Matsuda grabbed him by the collar. “Mercurius Saber is dead!! That’s a fact!”

He’s distressed… Good… Maybe I can get out of this. Hatagi connived. 

“Are you sure about that? Heh. Did you actually find a corpse? Proof that we were eradicated?” 

Matsuda was at a loss for words.

“I didn’t think so. Though I only joined the guild 10 years ago… I know all about the circumstances of the Eden War, and how you people… betrayed the Paragons.” Hatagi said.

Matsuda clenched his jaw. “Us…? Betray the Paragons? Fool!! We were the ones betrayed!! Mercurius is the cause for all of this… if it weren’t for him…–” Matsuda began, but swiftly cut himself off. It wasn’t the time to be reminded of the past.

–

W-what’s happening to Uncle Matsuda? Aleximus furrowed his brow, watching the two speak.

He’s always so happy-go-lucky… I’ve never seen him like this before.

He looked over to the body slumped on the floor.

“ANNA!!” he stood, grabbing her at last and darting backwards. 

She was finally in his arms, and safe from harm's way.

?!?!?!?!?!

“H-Huh?!” Aleximus was thunderstruck. On Anna’s neck was a purple glow shining.

T-This is…!! He realized, swinging his head towards Hatagi’s direction. 

–

Hatagi held out his open hand in front of Matsuda, showing him the purple glow. 

"You…!!" Matsuda raised his voice apprehensive, knowing what was soon to come. 

“A-ah-ah! Don’t move, you bastard!” Hatagi’s mouth twitched into a smile, “Or else she dies!”

Matsuda didn’t move, knowing Hatagi was evil enough to kill a young girl.

Dammit!! I was careless!!

"I sent out a message to my guild when I first arrived!! They'll be here soon and you'll be finished!!" Hatagi threatened, sweating nervously. 

"You bastard!!” Matsuda yelled out

If what Hatagi spoke was true, then the most dangerous human led organization on the planet was on its way here.

“How did you people find us here…?!” Matsuda snapped.

Hatagi chuckled.

“Heh. You probably don’t know but me and Dopi, the pile of goo over there, are what’s known as ‘Scavengers’. We hunt for rare items and wealth around the world and take it by force to help the guild grow.” 

He took a deep breath and focused. He had Matsuda’s attention now. The guild members would arrive at any moment, ready to help him. 

Just a little more and an upper should be here soon… he speculated. 

“We’ve been getting several detections of Sanctum pressure, albeit small,  from this place. At first we didn’t know what to make of it, seeing as this axis is separated from reality. But when the pressure started coming at a more rapid pace, I knew something was amiss. We would try sending small waves of Sanctum pressure through this axis to the origin of the pressure we felt before. Which is exactly what led to finding your barrier’s location. Which I of course proceeded to rip open, and then I found these brats.”

“!!!!” Aleximus realized. 

He can’t mean…!!

Matsuda turned to him, understanding that Aleximus knew something.

“Aleximus…? What is he talking about?” 

Aleximus gulped. “A-Anna… can use magic…” 

Matsuda’s eyes opened. Everything clicked into place now. 

“U-Uncle I’m sorry!! We didn’t know this would happen!! She was just healing our wounds!! I swear!!” he insisted. 

Anna’s magic, which they used for their own selfish gain of healing, was the cause of all this suffering. Aleximus finally understood why his uncle had always warned them about magic use in the axis. It wasn’t because they were kids and weak. No… it was because someone would eventually come looking for it.

Something

else dawned on Aleximus. This… can't be… the cause of her headaches, can it?!

Matsuda remained puzzled.

This shouldn’t be possible. Anna isn’t even 11 yet. Not to mention I haven’t taught them magic for this very reason. How did she do it? 

“Whatever the case–” Hatagi brought the attention back to himself, “-None of you are leaving here alive tonight!”

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[At the same time… but somewhere else]

WHIRRRRR!!!! 

The door locks undid themselves magically.

A man looked around, wary of being followed, and then walked in.

CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!

The bolts redid themselves.

The inner chamber of the room was decked in white gold.

Books on the wall were lined up in neat rows, spanning on in what seemed like an infinite room.

A woman sat in a chair, watching the man walk around. She had long dark hair, glasses, and an elegant yet revealing dress.

“Hello Saraqael” The man spoke with a distinguished demeanor.

The woman didn’t respond.

He smiled, walking through an aisle, brushing his hand against the books. 

“Has Michael been here?” he asked, as he opened a book and began humming to himself as he read. 

The woman still didn’t respond. 

“I would like to relay an oracle, if I may?”

Saraqael walked over to him, hand extended.

“I’ll take that to be a ‘yes’. That’s all I needed.” he closed the book, returning it into its slot.

He then grabbed her hand.

She led him through the back of the library through a door.

On the other side of it, a giant oracle statue stood there. It was wearing a toga, and on its back were 2 sets of different colored wings.

At its feet stood a pillar. 

“You may leave, sister.” he nodded to her.

Saraqael looked at him for a moment, before turning her attention back towards the library. 

The man smiled charismatically and walked towards the pillar.

“Now… did they find it?” 

[In the Ashfield Forest]

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Jace opened his eyes, jolting upwards.

What… just happened? All I remember was I was inside the waterfall and I saw that… his thoughts trailed off as he saw what was in front of him. 

Blood was everywhere on the floor next to him, while Anna and Aleximus sat in front of him

Anna’s body laid limp in Aleximus’s arms. 

“A-Anna?” Aleximus shivered.

She was unresponsive. 

The girl who was full of life just a few hours earlier, was dying, laying still in the arms of her older brother. 

"W-Whats happening here, Aleximus?! Why is Anna just laying there?!" He yelled, running to them. 

“...Jace?” Aleximus turned, looking at his brother with tears streaming down his face.. 

"I-I…." He tried speaking, blood all over his hands and shirt. 

Anna opened her eyes slightly.  “Mhnn…” 

Jace tried to console her. “ANNA! Thank goodness! Don’t worry, Uncle Matsuda will–”

“H-hey…big brother…” she spoke weakly, smiling at him.

“H-Hey! Don’t waste your energy! Just lay still!!” Aleximus told her.

Anna was confused. She didn’t know what was happening. She was in her room earlier. How did she come to be here?

“What’s happening…?” she asked, grabbing onto Aleximus’s arm. 

Her body was getting colder and colder. Her complexion became more ghastly.

“No..No, NO, NO!!!” Aleximus muttered, crying even more. 

“I… can’t move… I… can’t feel my body… i’m scared” she groaned, her lips becoming cracked and dehydrated. 

Jace felt a cold shiver hit his spine.

"D-Don't worry!! You'll be fine!!!" He said. 

No… I'm lying… I don't know what happened, but it looks like poison… and if it's spread this much, then… his thoughts trailed off.

Every cell in Jacender’s body told him that it was impossible. He knew he had no way of stopping the magic affecting his sister.

Anna shuddered again. Her breath started slowing down, and getting weaker.

“Huff…Wh…a…t's…I-… I’m scared, big brother!” she cried, holding onto Aleximus as tight as she could, her strength draining by the second. 

“H-...he..l..p–” She tried to call out to her brother, looking up at him… but her voice fell silent.

She gasped weakly, the light fading from her scared eyes as her grasp onto her brother weakened, and she fell into his chest.

Aleximus was so in shock that he couldn’t immediately understand what was happening in that moment, but he started tearing up even more.

“A… Anna…? …hey you’ll be alright, just stay with me… Uncle Matsuda will heal you in just a moment… so… please, just say something… please Anna…”

But his sister had already stopped breathing before he spoke.

Aleximus looked up at Jace with terror and unimaginable sadness in his eyes. Tears running down both of their faces.

Bellowing out loud and pouring all his feelings into one word, Aleximus cried more than he ever had throughout his entire life.

"ANNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

He sobbed, so angry and heartbroken that blood began to seep from his eyelids as tears. 

Jace hung his head, quietly sobbing, understanding that his sister was now gone and the last thing he ever told her… was a lie.

Clenching his fist hard enough to rip through his palm's skin, anger burned, reverberating throughout his body. The heat he felt in his heart was like a flame.

Aleximus couldn't process. 

“Th-this is my fault…!!” he thought, standing up.

"If I had just listened to Uncle Matsuda and Jace…this never would’ve happened!!

We could’ve gotten her back and–" his train of thought was interrupted by Hatagi's weak laugh. 

"Heh… What's the matter kid? Weren't you gonna save her from me??!?! HAHAHAHAHAH!!!" He laughed mockingly.  

Matsuda tightened his grip on Hatagi, glaring at him. 

"Tch!" Hatagi struggled, but continued to speak. 

"No…you don't have the stomach or resolve to save anyone!!! And once my guild gets here, they'll–"  

"SHUT UP!!!” Aleximus roared, whipping his head towards Hatagi, releasing a sudden burst of energy. 

"What the–" Matsuda jumped quickly. 

The burst of energy sent a Shockwave through the statue behind him and Hatagi. 

It began to briefly float above Hatagi and Matsuda, and then quickly fell down atop them.

Matsuda moved quickly, leaving Hatagi to be crushed underneath the statue, which broke apart as it hit the ground. 

"No!....NO!!!.....HELP MEEEEEE!!" Hatagi cried, his voice being drowned out under the rocks.

"MORE!!!!!" Aleximus yelled out again on impulse. 

The rocks caved in furiously on Hatagi, digging into the ground beneath him as they dug through him. 

"FUCCKKKK!!!!" He cried.

A moment passed and his screams subsided. 

Jacender peered at the rocks, seeing a leakage of blood come out. 

Hatagi was dead. 

–

Impossible!! Was that… Sanctum Pressure? How did Aleximus…-- Matsuda pondered. 

No…, he stopped himself, that's not the immediate concern. I need to get them out of here!!

He walked to Aleximus and shook him by his shoulders, hoping to snap him out of his anger. 

"LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" He snapped.

Matsuda tightened his grip.  

"Aleximus…." He began, "What you just did–". He stopped himself once again. 

"Anyways, I need you to listen to me right now. You and your brother need to leave the axis at this very moment. More of them will be on their way already. It's no longer safe for you here." 

"...?" Aleximus's eyes began to regain focus, locking in on his uncle. 

They then darted to the crumbled statue behind Matsuda.

"!!!!!!!" Aleximus realized. 

"U-Uncle is he….?" He gulped, frightened. 

Matsuda grabbed his head, forcing Aleximus to look at him. 

"It's not your fault! I swear!! You did the right thing, Aleximus!!" He consoled him, hoping to save a piece of the boy's youthful innocence. 

Aleximus started to tear up a little. "B-But Anna…" he remembered. 

"...." Matsuda bit his lip, unsure of what to say to him. 

Matsuda stood."Come. We've wasted too much time already."

Aleximus couldn't get up. 

Jacender stood in front of him, grabbing his arm and lifting his brother. 

"J…hic…Jace…" He sniffled.. 

"Let's go!" Jace commanded, a fierce look in his eye. 

–

Is it the book? Or maybe something else? Something in me knows what it means to take a life, and yet I've never taken one before. Jace thought as Aleximus rose. 

But… I don't seem to care… Maybe it's cuz that bastard deserved it." 

Jace gave a slight smile. Enough so that no one else would notice. 

Something was changing inside of him. He wasn't sure what, but it felt good. Primitive, even. 

Aleximus, near him as they walked, felt a change inside him too. 

A cold numbing feeling. But the strange thing was…it didn't feel bad. In fact, he believed that his family deserved their life of peace here in the axis. 

And if that peace was disrupted… then the disruptor needed to pay for it with their lives. 

《Chapter 5: Eclipse And Death》Fin