LIGHTNOVELONLINE Arc 1 : Coda Village Finale
Disclaimer: I don't own Gate or Nihonkoku Shoukan as it belongs to its rightful owners.
Arc 1: Lands Of Rodenius:
Coda Village Arc Finale
"Be careful with those books, those are very rare!"
"Apologies, Mr. Cato."
"That's a very precious antique chest, please be careful."
"Will do, Mr. Cato"
It was a bustling scene that was confined to a single location. It was, in fact, the first time she had had the cabin so crowded in the entire year she had resided here. Countless tables, drawers, cupboards, and even pillow cushions were arranged in a train-like formation towards the exit door.
The thought itself and ongoing scenario still continued to entertain the young mage. She was still baffled by the fact that their small home still managed to survive the previous ordeal not long ago. Heck, it even survived the natural calamities that plagued the land.
Despite the scope of the destruction overall, the house was still there, with a final purpose of sheltering and providing them the last bastion before they could fully transfer into another place.
Lelei forced a defeated grin.
"I guess you've won the bet, Master Cato."
The old man had been correct all along. He had been there from the start, even before the house was finished. He had put his heart and soul into it, and he treated the small cabin as if it were his permanent home, despite the fact that he was constantly on the move and traveling to different places.
"Thank you very much for your assistance, Men in Green!" The elderly man smiled and bowed as a sign of respect. These people were just naturally helpful, they'd done a lot in the last several hours, and he wasn't sure how he'd repay them in return.
The Old Sage noticed her student wandering around the area as the moving process continued, and he smiled. Deep down, he knew it would be difficult for her to leave the place where she had spent a long time, and it occurred to him that the girl needed more time to deal with her own situation. It was for the best.
So he left her be for a while.
The teen took in her surroundings as the last stack of books and other little furniture were eventually removed from their appropriate sections and carried outside to be loaded into the Wagon itself. Some of the Guys in Green, as well as some of the village men, were assisting with the shifting procedure. It was the first time she had seen so many people supporting her and her teacher; usually, it was just the two of them, or a friend would take care of moving stuff whenever Coda village moved into a new place and such.
And this time, it was free of charge.
Even if the people lived in these lands in peace, they still had to make something out of it, even if it was the smallest thing. She couldn't remember how many pouches of silver coins her teacher had already given her because it was difficult and time-consuming to move all of these important books, documents, altars, antique objects, artifacts, and so on.
As the last of the furniture had been moved out, it was only the girl herself, who was left behind, in the now-empty cabin.
Lelei had developed the habit of wandering around the empty premises whenever they were about to leave, and this wasn't the first time. With the exception of slight creaks from the wooden floor, there was nothing but silence. The adolescent began in her room and worked her way out until she reached the farthest reaches of the cabin.
There were plenty of memories that had been created in a span of just a year.
In fact, these memories and moments were created in the midst of that silence.
Hardly, her teacher and she ever interacted in a more genuine way since the reality of the situation had taken control. She even recalled how the old man never left his workstation just to produce more maps for the visiting travelers and merchants, She understood that they needed food on the table, but the main goal of improving and honing her Magic skills and knowledge had been neglected.
The main reason why she had this little disappointment that continued to stay within her.
Although, it doesn't change the fact that she still loved the old man as a father figure, and that will forever remain.
Finding herself in the living room again, a memory flashed before her eyes. The young teen looked back and saw herself playing different board games with her teacher, and even going through numerous debates tackling topics such as magic, social issues, and even the myths and legends of the New World. It was the only time they were together, as a student and teacher, and as well as daughter and father figure. A small tear fell from the girl's eyes, and before she knew it, she was now crying.
She fell to her knees in the middle of the empty living room, and just let it out there from that point on.
She was finally able to release all of the emotions that she had kept inside, despite the fact that she was the type of girl who would always hide them whenever she had an argument with the old man or having the worst day. The drive and motivation to excel just like her big sister almost took the entirety of her life as a normal teenage girl.
In that one year, she learned how to take care of herself, how to carry herself in terms of her powers as a student mage, and, finally, how to perceive life as this wonderful gift that should always be treasured.
For the first time, she felt grateful for everything, and it really opened her eyes to a whole new perspective.
"Lelei!"
It was the voice of her teacher, who has been calling her from the wagon. It did, indeed, break her thoughts, and before long, she realized the wagon was ready and waiting for her, they were finally leaving their old home.
The girl stood up again, not in a hurry, but with excitement, she then wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath.
She finally let out a genuine smile as she entered the light shining from the exit door, not as the same girl she had been before, but as a new leaf.
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She never felt so happy to finally see the beautiful sky once again.
The hellish landscape that had taken over during their previous battles with demons had stayed in her mind. It was already an accomplishment for her to be able to finally overcome that phase, and now she was in the process of recovering and recuperating.
During these times, she would frequently find herself in the shade of a particular tree, the only place where she could find her own peace. As she tried to recollect her senses, she gazed out towards the wonders of the countryside in front of her.
The Elf girl was still shaken by the prior events, and thus she failed to forget the horrors she had experienced.
She had never encountered such a powerful force that came directly from the depths of the underworld. It was the first time she'd seen what dark magic could do, let alone that a cursed person had the ability to perform such feats. Her forte was not archaic magic that required blood. When her blue-haired friend pressed and convinced her to perform the ritual, she had no choice but to comply, or else they would never see the light of day again.
She was afraid to inflict pain on herself. One of the main reasons why she attempted to master the art of evading an enemy's attack or often refuse to perform an important ritual that requires her own blood.
That kind of fear stemmed from the last days of her late mother. Seeing her weakened and in a state of suffering had devastated her and until now she couldn't get herself passed by that mental struggle.
The pain that her late mother had suffered.
She was afraid of it, and it didn't take long enough for her to experience it first hand during the battle, and that she almost got herself killed because of that.
Tuka hugged herself tighter. Her emotions saw this as an opportunity to grow, but she couldn't bring herself to face the changing reality since the day of her mother's passing.
Every time she mustered the courage to confront her demons, she would always give up halfway through, and she would restart from the beginning until she finally reached that point, and much to her many disappointments, she is unable to face them. It became an endless cycle for her.
As time passed, the wind grew stronger.
Tuka didn't really know if she could stand up and continue on with the recent ongoings. For now, she only wanted to remain in this kind of solitude.
Though that was until a shadow and a presence arrived.
"I always knew that you would be here."
The voice struck her ears and the elf girl opened her eyes. She then looked up to see a familiar face and a smile.
"Papa." She muttered to herself.
Hodor, in fact, had a tough time locating his daughter throughout the village. Though, he went along with his own instincts and discovered the type of place where the latter would always spend her time with.
He smiled.
"I thought you were with the others on the field, but my heart was right all along." He went on to explain. "You could call it a coincidence, but when I first met your mother, she was in a similar situation as this." He said.
That particular time was fondly remembered by the elf man. It was true love at first sight, and he wondered why a lovely young lady would be in the most remote parts of the forest. And it took him a long time to figure that out until the realization itself came to him.
Elrena was just a mysterious individual and he considered her as this glowing hope which helped him find his own path.
At the mention of her late mother, Tuka remained quiet, though she let out a small smile and slowly nodded. However, her inner struggle continued as she went back into her thoughts once again. In truth, she really did want to talk to anyone at the moment, fearing that they would see the vulnerable side of her, even if it's her father.
The silence continued to strengthen.
Hodor simply sighed but smiled, as he took the available open space and sat down beside her daughter under the shade of the tree.
"What a beautiful view! I had no idea a Chocobo farm had already been established in this area." He made a remark in an attempt to lighten the mood. " You know, riding one of those Giant Birds was one of my and your mother's childhood dreams, but..." He paused, remembering how life had not been kind to them. "It's quite costly to acquire them, let alone pay for a single ride around the fields."
The elf girl remained silent, not saying anything. When he returned his gaze to her, the situation had changed for him.
It was at this point that he finally felt the sorrow and struggle that had been lurking deep within him. As it turned out, it wasn't just his daughter who was struggling to face her demons, but him as well.
For the first time in years, he was able to confront old memories that he had tried to suppress for so long. Every memory from the days of a once-joyous family to his wife's death and the subsequent rocky and hectic life that the two continued to live through, flashed right before him.
His gaze returned to his daughter, who was now staring at him straight in the eyes.
Hodor sighed again as he gave her a comforting warm smile, sensing that she was on the verge of tears. His instincts kicked in, and he cradled his daughter in his arms.
Not more than a second, Tuka finally bursts into tears as she accepted her father's embrace. From that then on, the elf girl was finally able to let out the emotions inside.
"I can't do it anymore!" Tuka wept. "I just want everything to go back to how it was!" She kept pleading and pleading, wishing that the Gods would send her back to that forgotten time.
Hodor could do nothing but listen and console his daughter. He couldn't make it up to her, no matter how badly he wanted to. All he could do was watch and sympathize, and a tear fell from his eye in the midst of it.
"I wish mother was here! I wish all of this did not happen!"
How she truly wanted all this to be just part of a dream. All these years since the tragic and abrupt moment had struck their lives, she had not moved on from that, and it was very difficult for her to keep that hidden, and even in the most daring times of her life.
Her body trembled as she felt this particular weakness.
"I was devastated when your mother passed," Hodor spoke up. "It was as if the world had come to an end for me there." He then looked down. "I thought drinking more booze and getting drunk would make the pain go away, but I was wrong..." The man explained, his voice tinged with regret.
"It only made matters worse." He continued. "And that fueled the worst side of my personality."
He remembered the woman's beautiful smile.
"I'm sorry for not being there for you." The man apologized from the bottom of his heart. "I'm also sorry for not being the father I was supposed to be."
The tears kept falling, and before he knew it, he was crying as well.
"I couldn't keep her promise..."
It was at that moment when Tuka came to the realization that her father indeed had changed for the better. A surprised expression crept upon her face as she looked up again and at the same time, her father gazed upon her eyes.
And in a surprising twist, Tuka had gathered enough courage and let out a few words as he looked straight into the man's eyes.
"I forgive you..."
Hodor's heart had warmed hearing his daughter's statement. He let out a smile as he pulled the girl into a fatherly embrace.
A gust of wind passed by them and a warm and comforting presence engulfed their surroundings.
As father and daughter were able to finally release their emotions and burdens, they finally reconciled. Their attention shifted towards the vast countryside with new hope in their hearts and minds.
Unbeknownst to them, a beautiful young elf woman's spirit was smiling down on them from above, as the barrier that had separated the family had now been broken.
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Lelei kept her gaze fixed on the road as she and her teacher made their way to the fields where the rest of the villagers awaited.
The girl sat beside the old man, who was currently controlling and navigating the horse as it pulled the rest of the wagon along the peaceful path that they were currently taking.
It was windy that day, but any sense of dread or tension had long since vanished, and the sun's rays penetrating through the thick trees created a beautiful image. They were, in fact, the last ones who had yet to leave.
"Isn't this a wonderful scene?" Cato broke the silence, mesmerized by the environment around him. "I'm relieved that the peace and tranquillity of this land have been restored." He remarked, expressing his own joy.
"Without a doubt, it will be safe for the next village or community to settle in this land." The old man laughed. "However, it wasn't exactly a pleasant experience to spend your time with the lost spirits of this place." He went on to share his daily experience coexisting with the trapped and restless ghosts. Even though they were located far away from the main village, these lingering souls were still able to stumble upon the cabin.
"It's a wonderful conclusion that all of these souls finally found their own peace in the next world."
He sighed in relief.
"I wonder how will Mimosa react to this." Yet another thought came again. The woman was really a believer in myths and legends, a certain fascination with the spirits and other otherworldly elementals.
He was quickly reminded of an important matter at that moment. His gaze was drawn to a letter beside him. The elderly man sighed. He had not yet opened the letter. The old man wasn't really prepared, no matter how many possibilities and topics this letter contained that he thought he could handle well.
It had been a long time since he had responded or even spoken to her. He didn't want things to become awkward, even with letter communication.
Heck! He didn't have time to think about the realities of his life because he was preoccupied with his own duties.
He gave a sad and pitiful expression to himself.
Returning his attention to his student, he was struck by the silence that surrounded her. The girl drifted off into the empty space, her mind preoccupied with her own thoughts.
When he finally realized what was going on, he was disappointed in himself and the things he had done prior.
"Please accept my apologies, Lelei..." He finally said something. "I was not carrying out my duties as your teacher." He continued, saying. "I grew into an ignorant old man." He said it with regret in his eyes, wanting to repent from those actions and become a better person than he had been.
"I promise, I'll be the best of my own character from now on."
He was filled with a sense of peace. Cato finally mustered the courage to apologize to his student, which he had difficulty doing. All of the guilt and shame had faded, and it had been replaced by hope and promise.
He was now given the second chance to do it all over again and this time he will never take it for granted ever again.
Although he didn't receive a response from the girl, he knew deep down that she accepted his apology.
Lelei, for her part, smiled as the girl had finally forgiven the old man.
With that, both the teacher and the student move on to the next chapter of their journey.
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It all started with the same static sound yet again, all eyes and ears were focused on one small device that had become their saving glory.
"Come on, please work this time, please."
Lieutenant Brian pleaded silently to himself as he shifted the radio back and forth, hoping to pick up that specific signal. It was the only thing he wished for in his life, that everything worked in times of trouble. Now there was no problem, and he hoped that the radio would work again.
"Don't worry Bri, I mean all of our walkies are working now." His childhood friend encouraged him." There's no doubt the radio will work this time, trust me, man."
Carl was always there to give support towards his "Big Brother" The young man was more than just a friend.
The younger soldier shifted his focus to the entire safe zone. He was relieved that the situation had returned to normal; at the very least, there was no chaos, destruction, or even demons and giant moving trees attacking them. Only God knows how they managed to survive that encounter. He could finally hear the children's laughter and, for the first time, a crowd of villagers full of hope and excitement.
He let out a small smile, the fact that somehow they were able to prevent lives from being lost, and all thanks to the other fellow Recon Members and as well as the local villagers, who risked their lives to end this supposed curse. Amongst the special individuals that helped them throughout, there was one certain young lady that stood out.
"Say Bri, do you really think Ms. Rory is a Demi-Goddess?" He finally asked the question which bothered his mind until now.
A small sigh came from the man." I really don't know Carl, I mean she did slice a giant falling tree into pieces..."He explained in a slightly amused tone." So I think she is much more than a Goddess." He added the first time he saw the supposed young lady's power and capabilities that it gave him massive goosebumps until now.
A brief moment of silence followed.
Carl's eyes widened as he realized what was going on. All this time, he had been convincing himself that it was all a figment of his imagination, born of his inner fear of the unknown. He'd been in shock the entire time, and now that his senses were returning, he had a lot of questions in his head that he desperately wanted to ask. Brian, on the other hand, acted surprisingly casually, as if he had quickly accepted the norm in this place.
As he was about to move his lips for another conversation, the radio finally came to life as a voice burst from the speakers.
"This is Alnus HQ, Can you please identify yourself?"
It was then when Brian's ears stood up and the man felt this sense of joy that he had not felt before since the first stages of the evacuation.
"Fuck Yeah!"
The American Ranger suddenly burst out of joy, startling his friend in the process, who has not seen this kind of character in him. Though, for most of the part, he too was overjoyed by the current news, yet failed to realize one thing.
If this was the Good News then the Bad News was more of an embarrassment since when the man had yelled out small expletives that he unknowingly had pressed the small button at the same time, resulting, the man on the other phone hearing his colorful words. At least, that's what he had thought.
Both men were taken aback, releasing their own shocked expressions as panic started to set in. Brian knew he had screwed up big time.
"Sorry about that, the signal is acting up again, but could you please speak louder to whoever I'm speaking to?" The voice inquired again.
Brian breathed a sigh of relief as he heard this statement, knowing that he had a second chance to make things right. He took a deep breath to regain his composure and spoke through his radio, promising a smooth and quick conversation.
"This is Lieutenant Brian from RCT3 speaking."
"Heard you loud and clear sir, May I ask, what's the status of your current reconnaissance?"
"Oh boy, We got a whole village on our back here, and we might need assistance or at least back up to escort and protect the villagers along the way." The man explained and requested.
There were brief moments of silence after that. As they began to hear multiple voices from the background of the person they were currently contacting, their minds became slightly confused. After a few seconds, the voice spoke again.
"Ahh yes, Lieutenant Brian, your request for backup has been granted, but you'll need to proceed to the designated meeting point." The voice explained before adding.
"The exact location is the Greenfields."
"Usual meeting point?" Carl wondered and muttered aloud." And Greenfields? Isn't that the place where..." The young man trailed off, before realizing the big revelation.
Brian, for one, had anticipated that this type of scenario would occur at some point. They had to leave right away for the meeting point in order to beat the time and to avoid more possible distractions. He simply nodded in return as he looked over to his fellow ranger.
"Yes, and looks like we are not the only ones with a big village to look after"
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"I am telling you guys the LAV almost got toppled by the damn Ghosts!"
In a particular area somewhere in the safe zone, is where the rest of Third Recon were situated. There was a long wooden makeshift table and bench on both sides that the rest used for a well-deserved long break. MREs and water bottles took up the majority of the space on the wooden table as the rest of the young members took the time to relax and engage in a number of discussions.
Almost all of them were recounting their previous ordeal's encounter with the unknown, which sapped their energy.
"Come on, Daisuke, Ghost can't touch anything, and even if they can touch and move things, they won't hurt you." One of the members, specifically Wataru, responded, attempting to refute his claims.
"So what really happened there?"
The man sighed, wishing he could palm his face. "I'm telling you, man, you don't want to mess with the Ghosts here." He stated. "But it's up to you whether you believe or not."
"I believe what I saw... "
"Fine then, if yours is with Ghosts, then I and Hayato got attacked by Giant Trees while riding those Giant Yellow Birds." The man proudly said, trying to convince the rest of them.
However, he was met with silence and a slew of puzzled expressions from them.
"Yes, it's all true! If only I'd remembered to bring my camera and record the whole thing." With a slight sigh of regret in his voice, he said.
"I'm telling you, what really happened there is true! Just go ahead and ask one of the American Rangers fellas."
The remainder of the conversation was filled with stories about their encounters with the unknown in this world. Everyone was hammering home their own testimonies. Surprisingly, despite being one of the most talkative members, Kurata remained silent throughout the event, quietly eating his MRE and fixated on his own thoughts.
"Come on guys, there's really no reason to argue about it; we all had different experiences that almost killed us." This time, Shino spoke up. "I mean, if you ask me, I'm just glad I survived all those shits and surprise back there." She explained as she drank from her water bottle, still couldn't believe that she had outlasted one of the demons.
"Plus, Kurata survived a grenade explosion and being stabbed by that hairy bastard!" The young woman continued her own rants before casting a glance at the Otaku soldier and smiling softly at him.
"Yeah, that was a badass move on his part, and it wouldn't have been possible if it hadn't been for some ghosts who were kind enough to show us the way out when we got lost." Higashi followed, recalling the most terrifying scenes he'd ever witnessed yet in this world.
"Of course, we might not make it back alive if Tuka and Lelei aren't there to guide us," Mari added her own remark. "I mean, those demons were nefarious." She then exhaled a sigh of relief.
"I guess so..." Wataru shrugged, before gazing back at his own meal.
That only leaves Furuta and Tomita, who have yet to tell their own stories. Both men were still recuperating from the events they had just experienced. To them, it was pretty terrifying that they were in the run for their lives while it was horrifying to see themselves tapping into the animalistic tendencies that they were not aware of, just to kill the creature with all their rage and wrath.
They weren't themselves at the time, and it was best not to bring it up.
"So...Furuta and Tomita, I heard you guys were able to ride the LAV and kill the werewolf with a Browning?" Shino then asked this time around.
Both men gave their own surprise and awkward expressions.
"Uhm.. Yes, Tomita took the Browning, and I took the wheels and drove away." Furuta explained, trying to appear as unconcerned as possible.
Tomita took a deep breath. "Well, the demon was attempting to give chase, and it was much faster than we had anticipated, so I had no choice but to open fire on the enemy." He told his side of the story, ignoring the expletives and unusual reactions he had at the time.
Surprisingly, the majority of Recon's members raised their own eyebrows. Who would have guessed that there would be a vehicle chase scene among all the close encounters?
Though, for the most part, the two were grateful for the help of a supernatural being.
"If it hadn't been for that small floating blue of light, we wouldn't have made it to the LAV." Furuta smiled, causing even more consternation among the others, who were still wondering where the small entity had gone after they had overcome their own challenge.
"Is anyone going to talk about the strange voices in our heads?" Kuwahara, who had been deafeningly quiet the entire time, said and added. "I figured you'd all heard it at some point?"
When the rest of the team had heard the older man's statement, they all nodded and agreed with him. Aside from the things in their surroundings that had helped them overcome their own challenges, the mystery voice was the highlight of it all. It wasn't the work of the Ghosts or the Small entity that Furuta and Tomita had encountered before, but something else entirely.
"Yeah, that voice too...I've been hearing it since the evacuations have started."
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The wind grew stronger as the day continued on.
There was a small area in the forest that both men found endearing and beautiful. For the remainder of their time, they granted the young lady's request of accompanying her towards that certain spot.
It was only a few minutes walk from the main village, along this narrow route that took them to their objective, where a gigantic tree stood in front of them. The tree itself, which was distinct from the other trees they had passed by in that it was surrounded by the same ethereal blue-green essence that covered the entire land before.
The rays of the sun had also penetrated the forest, making their surroundings more beautiful and otherworldly.
Yuji and Itami gaped in awe as they gazed at the tree itself, while a smile crept across Rory's lips as the young lady proceeded to approach it herself, in her mind, there was one more thing she needed to do before she could finally consider this mission a success.
The oracle, dressed in her priestess robes, proceeded to kneel on the ground and silently pray from that point forward.
"I have a feeling this isn't just any ordinary tree." Itami made a remark as he tried to figure out what was going on. There was no idea that came to mind, not even from the countless Animes and Manga that he had watched over the years, that he could use to compare this scene.
"I've never encountered anything like this before; it's all new to me."
Yuji kept watching it, his mind delving deeper into the myths and legends he had read and researched. Though one thought occurred to him, and he hoped that it would make sense of everything.
"Same, but based on my observations, I believe this tree is a beacon or an altar used to communicate with the Gods." He presented his own theory, which piqued the interest of his friend.
"It's a Tree of Life."
Once the man had finished his sentence, that an unfamiliar voice decided to enter their conversation.
Both men, who had been startled by the mystery voice, turned to look at the source, and they all raised their eyebrows in surprise and amazement once more.
From their right, a small floating blue orb manifest, followed by immediately morphing into its true form. A small cute cat-like anthropomorphic being with a large spherical head, small ears, narrow blue eyes, and a white snout, its limbs are quite stubby, lacking distinct digits, and its tails are quite stubby as well. The small entity was dressed in a gold and blue cape that concealed its sigil on its back, as well as a small pink purse with an emblem around its neck.
Moreover, it looked like a cute stuffed animal with white and grey fur all over it.
"Oh, kami! what the heck is that!" Itami exclaimed, as the man almost freaked out but eventually gathered his senses and calmed down in mere seconds.
"I have a name you know?"
The small entity spoke in this very cute high pitched voice, letting out its own slightly annoyed expression.
At least it gave them the idea that this newcomer was sentient.
Yuji nodded and smiled. "My name is Yuji, and this is my friend, Itami." He quickly waved his hand in greeting. " We're sorry for our reactions right now." He then apologized. "We're still not used to the surprises that this world has." He explained as he raised his hand once more.
"But other than that, It's nice to meet you..."
"Terra is my name, Mr. Yuji." The small entity replied, as he politely took the man's offer and shook hands with him.
Oh, Terra, it's a pleasure to meet you!" The man finished his sentence before turning to look at the Oracle, who was praying. "I'm guessing you're acquainted with Ms. Rory over there?" He then asked a question.
Itami found it amusing to watch the latter interact with the supernatural entity. This world, it seems, just keeps surprising them with surprises they couldn't have predicted. Giant tree-attacking beings, Demi-Goddesses, and now Supernatural cute anthropomorphic cat-like beings.
The creature simply nodded. "Yes, I've been in service and a companion to Ms. Rory since she became an Apostle." He went on to explain.
"I see, so what are you supposed to be exactly?" The now curious Itami asked this time.
The small entity proudly smiled as he folded his arms." Simple, I am what you call a Chirithy." He explained.
"A Chirithy?" Both men raised their eyebrows in confusion.
Recognizing that the two had not yet learned of his existence, he sighed and chose to explain his side of the story in the simplest way possible in order to prevent exhaustion from returning. He could still feel the exhaustion that had set in after guiding and assisting the other Men in Green.
Terra just nodded. "Yes, indeed! A Chirithy is essentially an Apostle's companion." He elaborated. "We were created with the intent of serving our own masters for a lifetime until the day they are ascended to the heavens." With pride in his voice, he explained as he began to float around the two men, eventually landing on Yuji's shoulder.
"That's pretty cool!" Itami said, not hesitating to let out his own amazement.
"Then I supposed you are the one responsible for helping some of the guys prior?" Yuji raised an eyebrow as he gave his own guess.
The mysterious small blue light that guided the Recon Members.
The Chirithy simply nodded, scratching the back of its head. " Exactly, your friends are really brave people who, by the way, risked their lives to put an end to the curse of this land." He spoke up, praising the group's efforts.
"Oh, I see.." Yuji nodded in understanding.
"About this curse that the villagers were talking about, what really is the true story behind it?" Itami asked since he had been hearing the same tale from the villagers themselves.
There was a brief moment of silence before the Chirithy sighed again and raised his hand to cast certain magic. Moments later, their surroundings began to change as the two men witnessed what appeared to be memories from the past.
While the memories began to play in front of their eyes, the small entity also spoke as it explained the background of the events leading to this.
"Hundreds of years ago, there was a big town that used to exist in this very land." He explained as an image of a lively and bustling community of a big village flashed before their eyes.
"Like any other normal place, this community lived peacefully until the war had reached their land." He explained.
The image began to change, showing a large battalion of soldiers invading and occupying the town, with their General being installed and acting as the new mayor of the place.
"These soldiers brought corruption and dishonor to the town and did horrifying atrocities." He added, expressing his own sorrow.
As the memories played out, it showed the villagers being accused, tortured, and executed for crimes they did not commit and out of joy. Worse, women and daughters were forced to be a plaything for the invading battalion's higher officials.
"Every day, these poor people suffered at hands of these men, and the only way to escape is either risking their lives to move out from the town or personally taking their own lives." The Chirithy said, pausing for a few moments to watch the memories unfold." Until all change because of the actions of a few individuals.
Three village men were shown by the memories. These men were good people, also fathers of their own families, and well-known to the community for their contributions.
"When these men learned of the news that their wives and children had been forced into being a plaything, they took matters into their own hands, and created their own justice by assassinating the mayor responsible for the atrocities."
The memory then showed these same men ambushing the mayor in a silent and quiet corridor, brutally hacking the man to death with their own hatchets.
"They finally achieved their justice, rescued their families, and immediately sent them away from the town to escape the vengeance that was to come."
The scene had now drastically changed, with the three men being captured, mocked, and their image and reputation tainted as they were led to the stakes for their own execution. However, this was no ordinary execution. There was dark energy that filled the area and among the angry and misled crowd. The corrupt high priest in charge of the last rites had made a grave intentional mistake.
"For your punishment, your hearts will be corrupted and you men will serve darkness forever!"
From the words of the high priest, which had fueled the vengeance and rage of the men that the cursed had been born. Soon demonic energy filled the entire place and the fire began to rise towards the air, and the men vowed to use the dark powers vested upon them, had morphed into the demons they were and massacred everyone, leaving no single soul left behind.
Yuji and Itami were both horrified from what they had witnessed, while the Chirithy could only express his sadness.
"As a result, these demons stayed and roamed the land, slaughtering innocent people and even new communities that settled on this land, and they did worst than their tormentors. He added."The curse trapping their spirits to forever haunt the place."
"It wasn't until a band of mages decided to put an end to the curse by confronting these demons, but instead they only managed to trap them inside a scroll, never putting the tormented spirits to rest."
"But what happened to the scroll itself after all these years?" Yuji inquired.
"I have no knowledge of what happened during those years, but according to the last surviving mage, the scroll was brought to a certain kingdom for safekeeping until it was passed down from generation to generation until it fell into the hands of... "
"Marcus" Itami spoke this time as he mentioned the name of the late village official.
"Correct, Ms. Rory has been searching for that scroll in years, one of her goals is to purify these corrupted souls vent on destruction." Terra explained." That is why she settled into this village, hoping someday that someone will bring the scroll back to the land where it came to existence."
It was a revelation, no wonder why Marcus was so disturbed and vigilant regarding the young lady's presence. He was indeed afraid of her.
"And, as a result of your arrival and assistance, the scroll has now been destroyed, and the nightmare that has plagued this land has finally been vanquished."
Terra bowed as a sign of gratitude, now facing the two men as their surroundings changed. They were finally back in the forest a few moments later.
"Damn, this is really a lot to take in." Itami held his forehead as he didn't know what to do with the information, rather than rejoice with the rest.
"Speaking of curses, what is this floating blue essence that we keep seeing everywhere? Especially those floating around the tree?" Yuji spoke up this time pointing at the certain tree in front of them, as the man was eager to learn more about the mysterious essence.
As Terra was about to speak, a familiar voice beat him to it.
"The essence you are witnessing is the lifeforce of this world."
Rory finally arrived at the scene, having just finished the last of her prayers.
Itami's eyes widened at the sight of the young lady's clothing. The dress itself was stunning, with unique designs that did not detract from its simplicity. There was a holy presence emanating from the dress.
"Lifeforce?" Yuji said.
Simply nodding as a response, the young lady continued her words. "Yes, they are the ones who keep this world together." She explained referring to the environment around them. "Without them, all the trees, plants, and nature you see every day would perish."
The young lady gazed upon the tree itself." What you see there is called a "Tree of Life." She explained." It is a beacon provided by the Gods themselves to prolong the life of a certain place." She then continued." Once a dark presence or curse invades the land, the tree itself will be corrupted and die."
As she was about to continue her explanation, she was suddenly interrupted by her little companion.
"Come on old Hag! I thought we were supposed to discuss the-"
Before he was cut from his words, Terra openly expressed his frustration though not realizing that he had also made a mistake, but his master eventually grabbed his ear in a comical manner.
"Ouch! What was that for!?"
A semi-irritated Rory forced a grin while assuring the two Japanese men, who were quickly freaked out, that everything was fine. Her focus soon returned to her Chirithy.
"Oh Terra, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me by that moniker?" She told him calmly and with a smile.
"Alright! Alright! I'm really sorry about it." Terra apologized immediately, to which the Apostle accepted." Blimey, you haven't changed a bit all these years, Rory." He made a remark while rubbing his large ear in a cute manner.
Yuji and Itami were taken aback by the wholesome yet terrifying scene; both men could sense the young lady's motherly wrath, and it reminded them of their own mothers.
"I apologized for Terra here, He's a little bit exhausted since..."
"Come on Rory, You could have told me that there were multiple people that needed assistance." The Chirithy argued, while the young lady secretly just giggled, and patted the little entity on the head, before changing the subject the overall.
There was one last thing for her to do.
"Anyway..."
The Oracle smiled as she returned her gaze to the majestic tree and then to the two young men. She slightly bowed down as to express a certain emotion and message.
"As the Apostle and representative of my God, Emroy, I hereby express his and my gratitude to you Men in Green." She said, expressing her own thanks and also informing both of them.
"For your assistance and contributions to finally free this land from its curse."
The wind grew stronger as the peace continued to reign once again, there was nothing much to do here other than to get ready for the next journey.
Yuji and Itami were at a loss for words at the time. Although they knew in the back of their minds that they had done something good in this world and to its people. In return, the two men bowed down as a sign of their own respect. The Entire Recon Team could not have completed the mission without their guidance and assistance as well.
What started out as a Normal Reconnaissance mission had ended into something more different and special.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It had been the most anticipated moment of the day.
An evacuation that had been deemed impossible due to difficult circumstances has now been completed.
Not a sign of any danger or threat.
No more interruptions
Only a sense of great promise and hope.
The time had finally come for the people of Coda Village, to move out and travel across the lands into their would-be new home. As the Men in Green took the reigns of leading them throughout.
As the horns of the moving metal boxes were heard around the field, signifying the commencement of their departure, it was a scene full of joy and optimism in the hearts of many.
Multiple horse-drawn wagons and small carriages began moving as well to follow them.
Lelei found herself in the midst of this small historic event. She was no stranger to this scenario, hailing from a nomad tribe that does more of the migrating often. Yet, there was something different regarding it and a far cry from what she had witnessed. It was the first time she felt this sense of positiveness in the air, as there were no signs of fear, worry, and anxiety.
It was all nothing but hope and faith.
Cato was much more impressed with one particular aspect. He could sense a strong bond and unity among his fellow villagers, which overwhelmed him. Seeing Eldar, his wife, and the rest of the families who were now even more determined and hopeful had boosted his heart and mind.
As he felt this surge of excitement in him, a smile crept across his lips.
Hodor and Tuka, for their part, rode their own Chocobos, which the farm owner provided. Both former Koan Villagers had their sights set on this new home across the land. With the elf man eager to begin a new life in this new place, and the elf girl hoping to get the chance to finally see her friends and relatives who had relocated to the more benevolent lands of the Qua-Toyne Principality.
This particular new home in Alnus will serve as their starting point for continuing their journey and achieving their goals.
As for the Apostle herself, a great excitement filled Rory as she finally had received the opportunity to meet the rest of these otherworlders in just a matter of days. Her curiosity had piqued regarding the intriguing symbol that some of these Men in Green possessed.
A symbol resembling or allegedly belonging to the Emissaries of the Sun God.
As for the Men in Green themselves, they were all just eager to get back to their own base and find the rest they so richly deserved after such a long and arduous reconnaissance mission.
It was a breathtaking sight to behold.
Yuji found himself in the back of a certain LAV, alongside the exhausted Tomita, Furuta, Shino, Kuwahara, and Kurata.
All of them looked as if they went on hundred-day camping and hiking expedition to the mountains. Most of them were on the verge of going to a deep slumber, with Shino surprisingly taking the time to rest and lean on Kurata's shoulder.
The young man smiled before returning his attention to his notebook. A pen poised to fill the remaining blank white spaces while waiting for the writer to translate what was on his mind.
He sighed to himself gazing towards the open view letting him the chance to see a wonderful sky, ultimately catching a glimpse of glory from the sun itself. A sense of peace and relief filled the man's mind as he deal with the final thoughts of the day.
Yuji took a deep breath as he now knew what to write down in order to finally conclude the last chapter of a certain story arc.
But, before he could begin writing these words, the young man turned his gaze to the stunning view of the broad countryside. As he looked forward to a greater future in this very world, a smile grew across his lips. Whatever the obstacles and circumstances may be, it would be another wild journey yet again.
It was safe to say that this chapter of their journey had come to a wonderful conclusion.
As the wagons, carriages, and LAVs left the land, a small white dove can be seen flying above the rest, heading towards the vast fields and the countless ruins of villages, symbolizing the return of hope in this world.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The rays of the sun continued to penetrate as it shined upon the peaceful forest. a certain beautiful woman felt grateful as she kneeled down and continued her prayer. A sense of joy overwhelmed her knowing that these people had vanquished a powerful evil that terrorized the land. She believed in them ever since their arrival into this world. A hope born from a long-forgotten promise, and that she would continue to watch over them and do whatever she could to assist these people on their journey.
She could only hope that they would recognize it soon, for this was merely the beginning of a much greater event, with many obstacles and conflicts soon awaiting them.
CHAPTER END
AN: So this will be the official final chapter of the Coda Village Arc. After this, I'll be taking a break for a while to recuperate and recover, and then plan on the next story arc, which will hopefully and eventually introduce the other major characters such as Pina, Zorzal, Giselle, and of course Tyuule.
Regarding the chapter itself, it is basically just a cool-down chapter or a Calm after the storm chapter, which consists mostly of the characters finally overcoming their demons and finally being able to move on from their struggles. For instance, Lelei and Tuka's scene, respectively. Regarding the Rory scene, I wanted to expand more of the world, hence the little cute cat-like sentient entity who was revealed to be a long-time companion of the oracle. The blue ethereal essence that gives life to this world is inspired by the same aspect from a beloved video game series.
Moreover, I really didn't plan on making the story, "A war story or a reskin, I wanted something more different, that is why I chose to expand the Coda Village Arc because there was potential to make the plot points more unique and different.
I would also like to thank all the readers who have supported this story since the beginning and for their reviews as well, even though this story is not successful or famous like other Gate fics out there. Also Would like to thank Great Author DFMRCV for the much advice and motivation he had provided to help me finish the arc.
And as well as the other authors and their stories that inspired me to write this story.
Other than that, the certain post made by Mr. 15zero in the Gate Reddit, long ago, encouraged fellow writers to be unique and follow their own vision for the story. I haven't forgotten those words, so a big thank you to one of the great pioneers of the Gate fic fandom.
With that said, Thank you very much for spending time to read the chapter, I really appreciate it! I apologize for any grammar/spelling mistakes since English is not my main language.
Thank you so much and God Bless!