Standard Mission: The Sisters' Bells

The Revenant let out a terrible, cold laugh at Aren’s words.

“The impudence of a mere mortal to judge me! What could one such as you possibly understand about life and death?”

Her cold fury seemed to rile the Phantoms, who swarmed even more aggressively toward the humans. Erice frowned and clutched her spear as Kuda circled protectively around her, snapping at any Phantoms that got near.

“It’s going to be difficult to put to rest a spirit that strong,” she told the two men. “I can weaken it with my Purification Field, but it takes time and concentration to set up. If you all can buy me some time and keep these Phantoms and the Revenant away from me, I can set it up.”

Kuda nodded immediately and took to the air, still keeping a close circle around her. With a bestial wail, he conjured a circle of blueish flames around him and sent the fireballs shooting into the swarm of Phantoms. Erice closed her eyes in concentration, held up four sutras, and began to channel maga into them.

The Revenant seemed to perceive something was happening and turned its attention to Erice. But before it could get close, Gad’s Force Bullets peppered its body, forcing it back. Aren’s Dullahan took advantage of the opening to charge in with his blade enhanced, swinging and slashing haphazardly. The Revenant shrieked in rage and slashed with its oversized claws, meeting every blow and slowly forcing Sigmund back under the force of its enormous hands. Suddenly, however, the Revenant pulled back instead of pressing its advantage, and it became clear why after a moment. It raised its skeletal hands, charging curse magic into its very bones, and brought them down in a slashing movement toward the group. The shockwave tore across the ground, toward the Dullahan, the two Vanguards - and Erice.

Gad - Rushing to the front

Gad took the glimpse of Revenant charging its energy, if he was a summoner, he would probably be not aware of it, but as himself a caster, he took notice of such things easily. "I won't let you!" Said Gad and he stepped forward. "Invisible armor!" He cast upon himself, slice and stabbed his scythe on the ground, freezing the debris, creating some sort of mini ice barrier or some sort. He was stepping in front of the group. He was blocking the path of inevitable shockwave, but that was not all, he quickly cast his "Crushing Guilt!" to his front, the area of effect magic released its curse magical energy as the shock wave came forth. He was not so sure how two magical shock wave would react to each other, but he was going to make sure Erice and others would not meet Revenant's shock wave to its fullest power. He just hoped that this would be enough for Erice and others to get their magic working.

Even though he was not so sure if he was going to alive by meeting it head on. 'No' Gad shouted in his head, 'I am not going to give up here, and whatever happens I am going to make it alive and trash that thing for what it did to Beru!' Gad stared at it with determination.

He was not fighting to just sacrifice his life, he was fighting to live and to get the end of this curse of sister bells that Beru was lied to. He was going to make sure this won't happen again.

Aren Vent - Being a meat-shield

“A mere mortal could comprehend more about life, and death than you would think. Especially, when one is surrounded by it constantly.” Aren smugly replied, amused by the level of irritation the Revenant was showing so easily.

“Bone armour” He shouted, as he cast it upon Erice to shield her against further damage from the Revenant. “Unrotting Strength” He casted, stacking another buff on top of his beloved Dullahan.

Aren moved in between Erice, and Gad; deciding he might as well be a meat-shield, in hopes that the curse messes with him more than Erice.

Aren raised his left arm, and pointed at the Revenant, to which Sigmund responded in kind; swinging his oversized corrosive greatsword.

“

The Revenant’s Deadhand spell hit Gad, Aren, and his Dullahan full on, blasting them with the cold, painful shredding curse that threw the two Vanguards to the ground in a heap. The Dullahan just managed to keep its footing and staggered forward on the attack while his master and partner lay in the ground in pain.

It was more than just the attack. Their hearts began to beat painfully hard and fast. Sweat and shivers covered their body as they were filled with a terror and fear that threatened to swallow them up. Sigmund was able to buy them a few moments, driving the Revenant back with hacks of his corrosive-empowered sword that caused the Revenant to cry out in anger before batting the demon away with its skeletal hand.

“Fools? Do you feel now the true weight of facing a being such as I?” the Revenant called out. “Now fall into your despair and die! Ghastly Wail!”

Throwing its skeletal head back, the Revenant let out a horrible, piercing shriek that echoed forth like a shockwave toward them. As it swept over Gad and Aren, it blasted them back again and caused their body to seize up with agonizing pain and terror.

But as it reached Erice, her eyes flew open, and she hurled the sutras from her hands.

“Release, release, release, release. From the four corners, I call forth this truth. Be cleansed and depart this world, you unclean thing! Purification Field!”

The four sutras glowed white, shooting energy up like pillars of light. The Phantoms within and the Revenant cried out and convulsed as their power was diminished, and the effects of the Revenant’s spell on Gad and Aren lessened.

“Cleanse!” Erice cast, hurrying up to them and helping them up. “Kuda, watch our backs. Come on, you two, let’s put that thing down!”

Gad - Rushing towards Revenant

Gad's spell did not do much against Revenant, but Erice' timely spell helped him to regain his strength, and he quickly rushed towards the Revenant and jumped high, slashing his scythe downwards, activating its icy enchantment. Then Gad quickly cast "Mega Break!" sucking up its magical power, hoping it would delay to use its spells, and it would focus on him. As soon as Revenant turned to him, "Aren!!" Gad called his teammate. Then Gad fired his "Force Bullets" in point blank range.

Aren - Rushing towards the Revenannt

Aren groaned, as he slowly got himself up; standing on his own two feet. “Jeez, I feel worse than a sunday morning.” Thankfully ,Erice’s spell helped relieve some of the sensation he was feeling.
Aren wielded his scythe, and started moving towards the revenant, breaking into a sprint, charging towards it.. “Bone Armour.” He muttered as he cast it upon himself, following up with another spell. “Corrosive blade.” “Sigmund, Gad let’s strike her down.” Bursting into a sprint, staggering slightly from the impact of the spell, he swung his scythe covered in corrosive fluid at the revenant, and Sigmund followed suit, charging the foul spirit, in an attempt to attack.

The Revenant was still reeling from its power being compressed that it didn’t have time to resist as the two Vanguards moved in for the attack. It shrieked as Gad’s scythe slashed into its ghostly form, then flew back from the impact of his Force Bullets. Aren and Sigmund followed up, their corrosive blades slashing against the spirit as well and bringing a horrible rattle of pain as the Revenant retreated away and slowly sank into the ground.

The Vanguards paused, possibly thinking it was defeated, but Erice grew still, clutching her lance.

“It’s not over y-”

Before she could finish, the Revenant erupted from beneath them, its skeletal hands raking across Erice and Aren. The bone armor spell protected them but shattered under the force and threw them back. The Revenant snatched up Gad with his large hand, pinning his arms to his sides, and shot up into the air, cackling as it gazed at him.

“I won’t go.. not yet...” it cried in its death rattles. “I’ll claim one of your bodies before I fade. Yours will do nicely!”

Gad - pinned by the Revenant

Gad looked at the Revenant, full of his anger and rage, then he started his laughter. "You think this cursed body would let you in that easily?" Gad stated, still angry, but it could definitely feel Gad's amusement.

The Revenant could now feel the ancient curse that's coursing through Gad's body, a curse from the being that way powerful than itself. "Think you can handle that?" said Gad then he cast "Crushing Guilt" As it did not required him to use his hands to cast that spell. The spell was cast upon himself, and the shockwave after the harsh pressure was felt in the area.

Aren - On the floor


Aren groaned, as his back throbbed with pain. “Ouch.” He complained, he sat up to look at what was going on. “Oh.” He muttered in shock at the scene before him.
He stood up, stretched his arms and considered running towards the revenant to assist, but then he felt the pressure from Gad’s spell.

Aren walked over to Erice, and offered her a hand up; “Come on then love, up ya get now.”

The Revenant ignored Gad’s boast and tried to force its will into Gad’s body when it recoiled at the feeling of the lingering curse on the young man’s body.

“That power...” it groaned. “What demon could lay such a curse upon your wretched body?”

Distracted, the Revenant was caught off-guard by Gad forcing his Crushing Guilt spell upon himself, forcing himself out of the spirit’s grip and sending him plunging toward the ground below.

Erice, who had taken Aren’s hand to pull herself up, caught sight of Gad plunging through the air.

“Oh no. He’ll never make it at that height!” She whirled around, looking for her demon. “Kuda!”

The fox demon finished blasting away a few phantoms, then turned to follow her gaze upward. Sighing, he shot into the air toward Gad and caught the Vanguard’s shirt with his teeth. Unfortunately, Gad’s spell was still in effect, and the pull of it yanked Kuda toward the ground as well. The fox demon struggled against it enough to slow their momentum, then released Gad when he could fight it no longer. The Vanguard fortunately didn’t have far to tumble, but he still hit the ground fairly hard. Kuda went sailing from his momentum and flew into Erice, who caught him and just managed to avoid falling over herself.

“Nicely handled,” she told him, stroking his fur.

“Well, he didn’t die, anyway,” Kuda replied. “Not yet, at least.”

He nodded up toward the Revenant, who shrieked in rage and began to gather the phantoms toward her, forcing them together with her will into a malignant sphere of concentrated grudges and unrest.

“If it unleashes that thing, we’re in big trouble,” Erice told the two Vanguards. “This is it. Throw whatever you’ve got before it unleashes that curse!”

Gad - Standing Up Again

Gad fall hard, but he stood up. He still had fight in his eyes, unless that thing is done for good, Gad was not going to give a rest. "Thanks." Said Gad to Erice and to her demon friend.

However, Gad was not going to let the pain distract him from doing what he needed to do. "Force Bullet!" And then he quickly picked up his scythe and he sent it flying to the hordes of Phantoms and to Revenant.

The flying scythe slashed Phantoms as it flew like a boomerang, spinning its blade fiercely and it went to the Revenant, expressing its icy enchantment that surrounds its blade.

Aren - Scythe Shotput

“Corrosive Blade.” He muttered, as he targeted his own scythe one, again. “Sigmund, if you would?” He said, staring at his favourite Dullahan, prompting it to charge into the spirits, and at the Revenants to charge into combat, slicing and slashing at everything he could.

“Corrosive Blade.” He muttered, as he targeted his own scythe one, again. Aren, spun in a circle in letting go of his scythe as he finished an arc, hoping to throw the scythe far enough; after being inspired by Gad’s Scythe toss. “Are we competing in shotput, now?” He stifled a laugh, at his own terrible joke.

Gad’s Force Bullets peppered the damaged Revenant, but it ignored the pain and focused its attention on charging its attack. When the scythe flew through the amassed sphere of Phantoms, however, the attack was momentarily disrupted, and the Revenant reeled from the attack. Still, it held on, putting all its force into the attack. It didn’t matter what damage it suffered. As a spirit, it would recover with time, if only it could destroy these insufferable mortals first.

The Dullahan charged against the ball of phantoms, hacking and slashing it, every swipe of its blade diminishing the force of the attack.

“No!” the Revenant shrieked, its hatred roiling in waves over them. Before it could try to stop the Dullahan, however, Aren’s scythe slammed into it just as Gad’s had, throwing it back. With the Revenant’s concentration broken, and the Dullahan’s blade hitting true, the mass of phantoms dissolved and dispersed, leaving the Revenant alone.

“You... fools...” the Revenant cried, shrinking back. “I could have done so much for you.” It directed its hateful gaze particularly at Gad. “With my knowledge and potency, we could have broken the curse on your body.”

“A living curse cannot dispel another,” Erice said, her voice cold. “Return to the shadows once more. Hama!”

A circle of light appeared beneath the Revenant and erupted upward in a pillar of light. The Revenant screeched, a horrible sound that tore through their eardrums, as its body dispersed into nothingness.

Silence returned to the mountain top. Erice sighed and slouched against her spear as Kuda gently circled around her.

“Well, I definitely think I got my exorcism quote in today, and then some,” she told the two Vanguards with a tired smile.

A moan interrupted them, and they turned to see Beru slowly pushing herself off the ground, her grey hair falling around her face like a curtain. Whether in pain or sadness, her frail body trembled as she forced herself into a sitting position, her face turned toward the tomb of her family.

Gad - Rushing to Beru's Side

Gad silently stared at the place where the Revenant finally put to rest. Gad smiled bitter-sweetly, "Trust me, I read a lot of this curse while I was at Vanguard's archive and this curse ain't going to disappear until I meet him again."

Then Gad turned to Erice, "Thank you for your timely support. We couldn't have done it without your help." Gad extended his hand to Erice, a form of appreciation of what she did for them.

After the handsake, Gad realized there was a sound in Beru's direction. Gad rushed towards Beru, and he gave her warm hug. It would have been a different picture if he was in his old-self, but this looks like a teenage grandson giving a hug to comfort his grand mother.

Gad said not much, but he gently petted the back of Beru. The betrayal of her own ancestor, the betrayal of the dead and ruined tomb of her ancestor. "I am sorry."

Aren - After the fight

Aren had his jaw drop slightly. As he slowly began to process that they actually had managed to dispose of the Revenant. “Living curse?” He muttered, intrigued as to what the Revenant was implying; Aren realised it could be something interesting to research.

He watched Gad run over to Beru, as he smiled at the scene, for he found the scene to be adorable. “Aw, don’t you think this is cute, Erice?” He said as he looked at the war-torn exorcist; “Anyway, how are you and your spirit, holding up?” He said as he continued to glance at her.

Sigmund groaned, and stomped towards Be4ru; before lowering his hand, patting her head. “Only Sigmund.” Aren muttered, as he chuckled slightly.

Erice smiled, looking tired but pleased as she followed Aren's gaze toward Gad and Beru. "We're holding up all right."

Kuda settled on her shoulders with a muffled groan, his fur ruffled and his coat less than glossy like it normally would be. He shot Erice a look that said he had a few choice words on that subject, but he kept them to himself.

"It's all worth it for moments like this," Erice continued softly, her eyes on the Vanguard and his old companion. "Even in the midst of this desolate world, humanity still has so much beauty to offer."

The two watched as Beru went still at Gad's hug, too stunned to protest at first. Gradually, however, she seemed to relax into it, her hand resting over his. They sat in silence for a moment as Beru peered at the tomb of her ancestors.

"I'm sorry I put you all through this," she said, her eyes misty. "Forgive a foolish old woman's mistakes. I thought Edna would want to come back, to be with me again... but I see now it was just my own selfish desire not be left alone."

Beru pulled out the Afterlife Bell and held it up in her palm. "She's at peace. I need to find peace for myself too." She took Gad's hand and slipped the bell into it. "Take it. Keep it safe. I have no need for it anymore."

Just then, the Dullahan stopped before Gad and Beru. Surprised, she looked up, just as it lowered its hand and patted her head. Beru blinked, then batted his hand away.

"I'm not a dog! You all don't have to coddle me," she said, forcing herself to her feet and tightening her shawl around her. "Come on, let's get off this forsaken mountain."

A smile slipped out as she retrieved her cane and began to make her way toward the slope. She passed Erice, nodding her thanks, and Erice beamed and inclined her head as well.

"Take care," Erice told her.

Beru merely gripped her arm for a moment, then continued on.

Erice turned back to the two Vanguards and shrugged her shoulders. "I guess this is where we part ways. There's still a few Phantoms wandering about if you want to take some with you. Or there's probably still some Pretas and Ghouls back down on the slopes if you prefer."

[A: Recruit a Phantom
B: Recruit a Preta
C: Recruit a Ghoul
D: Do not recruit any new demons]

She clasped her hands behind her back, looking like she was fighting internally about something.

"It was nice to meet you both," she said. "I've never really had a chance to..." She shook her head, wistful. "Anyway, I hope we see each other again."

Gad - A: Recruit a Phantom

"Beru, it's natural that living one wants the dead to come back." Said Gad, "It will take time, but I'm sure you will find your peace."

As the Beru gave up her bell to him, Gad was surprised. But he smiled, knowing what such action meant. "I will keep it safe." Gad assured her.

There was a comedic moment with Aren's personal demon and Beru, Gad watched Beru finding her new strength to get out from the tomb.

As he got to where Erice, Gad smiled gently. "Thanks, words are not enough to show my gratitude to you of what you did back there." Then Gad looked at the demons that looked neutralized for them to take. Gad added his comment, "Yeah, perhaps I could get one of them." Then Gad stretched his hand towards her once more, for a handshake. "Like wise, I am glad to know that we could put aside our differences and work together. I hope we could meet in better circumstances and get to know each other better." then Gad realized there was something she was not saying, Gad was not so sure what came to him, but he asked. "Well what's in your mind? We are kind of comrades, it's okay to be frank about it."

Aren - C: Recruit a Ghoul

Aren stifled a laugh at watching Beru slap, the poor Dullahan. “We’ll leave this forsaken mountain in a moment, my dear Beru.”

“As in regards to the Demons, that we could take, I will probably have to take a Ghoul; just to see what they’re all about, and see if their natural corpse-like composition will have any impact on the functionality of a typical body.” He shrugged casually, and continued ranting; “You know...As opposed to a normal body or a corpse.”

“Anyway, it was a pleasure to meet such an amazing young lady, such as yourself; thank you for your help.” Aren said, with a grin as he bowed towards Erice, with his hand on his chest. Then Aren proceeded to stand back up normally, offering a hand towards Erice in the attempt to form a handshake/. “I look forward to seeing you again, Erice.”

When Gad tried to press Erice further, she merely smiled and shook her head. Fortunately, Aren’s comments about Ghouls provided an awkward segue out of the conversation.

“Well, I hope that works out for you,” she said, laughing. His bow seemed to amuse her, but it was the handshake that made her smile turn from amusement to warmth.

“Thanks. I hope we do meet again.” She glanced toward the way Beru had gone and chuckled. “You’d better hurry, or she’ll make it down without you.”

Waving, she waited until the Vanguards had run out of sight after Beru before lowering her hand. She walked over to a rock and seated herself, staring out over the plains below from her perch as Kuda settled onto the rock beside her.

“You’re too sentimental for a Messian, Erice,” the demon said, his voice too soft to be properly chiding.

She sighed, her smile wistful. “Yeah... I know.”

————————————

Scaling down the mountain proved a lot easier and faster than climbing it. The demon packs they’d chased away didn’t seem too eager to return, and the exorcism of the Dread Revenant seemed to have calmed down the restless Phantoms for the time being.

When they reached the bottom of the mountain, they circled around it a little ways until they came to a small village nestled in an arm of the mountain. Beru stopped near the entrance and turned to face the two young men.

“You can stay the night if you don’t wish to travel back to Chaldea at this hour,” she told them. “But either way, your mission is completed.”

She brought her hand up to her neck, touching the skin where the Afterlife Bell once hung.

“Thank you...” she added softly, hoping that contained everything that needed to be said.

Gad - Staying for a night

"Well if you don't mind, I will take that offer and take a break from you house." Gad smiled, and he found the wondering phantom that was following them around, shaken, yet somehow it seemed it wanted to be with...Gad.

"Hmm..." Gad looked at the demon, and he approached it. The phantom did not flinch, instead, it started circle around Gad as if it found something interesting. "You smell nice." the phantom spoke, its indistinguishable voice sounded happy, and perhaps, the 'small', it was referring to Gad's curse.

"You know what, I will take you and perhaps, I could learn one or two things from you." Said Gad, it was anticlimactic way of getting a demon, but he quickly stored him inside his gauntlet so that he could follow Beru to take a rest.

Gad shrugged, then smiled at Beru. "By the way, are you a good cook, Beru? I am somewhat starving..." He added as if a grand child asking a grandma asking for a meal at home.

Besides, Gad knows, even though this would be not much, he wanted to let her be little busy than normal for a change. Hoping that this would help Beru to think less of what happened at the tomb.

Aren - Staying for a night


“Errr, Beru my dear...You’re offering two young men to stay with you over night; how naughty.” Aren said with a chuckle and a smirk. “I’d suppose it would be rude to refuse a lady’s offer, so I’ll happily take you up on that offer, my dear.”

Sigmund groaned, sprinting off into the distant, only to return moments later with a ghoul wrapped up in his huge tree trunk like limbs. “Ah, thank you Sigmund; I’ll suppose we’ll take this one, if no one else minds?” Aren said gesturing towards the Ghoul.

Aren walked over, and absorbed the Ghoul into his gauntlet.

“Now, Gad mentioned something about cooking...I don’t suppose that is an option, because I haven’t had a home cooked meal in years.”

“Watch your mouth, boy.” Beru smacked Aren with her cane at his snide remark, but she couldn’t completely disguise the wry smile that slipped out.

At the mention of her cooking, however, she scoffed and shook her head, leading them into the village toward her house.

“Am I a good cook, they ask...” she muttered. “Just you wait and see.” She wagged her cane toward them.

Beru’s cottage was small, but warm and cozy. The two young men relaxed on comfortable arm chairs as Beru set about making dinner for them. When all was ready, they tucked into a hearty stew of meat, potatoes, and other vegetables, with warm, flaky rolls on the side. The stew was delicious and warmed them right up after a two cold days on the mountain.

When both were filled and content, Beru fixed them up places to sleep on the rug in front of the fireplace. While the barracks were well-kept and functional, it was hard to compare it to something like this - a real, warm, cozy home.

In the morning, they were awoken by the sounds of cooking. Beru was up and pottering about in the kitchen once more, and when she had finished, both young men were treated to two large bowls of warm, hearty oatmeal. Refreshed and full, they packed up their things and prepared to head back to Chaldea once more.

Beru wrapped up some leftover rolls for the journey back and walked with them out to the gate.

“You boys take care,” she said, her voice becoming a bit thick with emotion. “If you’re out this way again, well... I suppose I can fix you up a meal and bed again.”

Gad - Going Back to Chaldea

"I will definitely let you know," Said Gad, "Take care, Beru." Then Gad gave a one last warm hug to Beru, and waved at her as he stepped forward.

"Well, that was an eventful mission," Gad commented, "Can't wait for the next one." Gad was being little bit sarcastic at the end. Such eventful mission, one was enough. It would be hard for him to withstand another emotional mission like this one. He was barely holding it, he could not help but worry for Beru. As he himself took long time to get back into the reality, then again, Beru was strong lady, all he could do was to believe that she and he could see each other again some time. Perhaps, writing a letter would be nice.

Gad smiled and looked back at the village they left, then faced forward and stepped forward. It was time to go back to Chaldea.

Aren - Going back to Chaldea

“Honestly, what a night Beru; I’ll be sure to pop by, and visit.” Aren said cheerfully, “Rest well Beru, try not to summon any demons in our absence?” He said, as a smug smile spread across his face. Aren then walked over, and hugged Beru.

Turning around walking away, “Yeah, I suppose it was.” Aren replied. “I don’t suppose we could become the scythe duo, or something...Maybe we need a better team name first?”
“Maybe...Arad, or Gen?” He muttered, as he pondered the infinity possibilities of a tag team name, trying to take the role of the idiot to lighten the mood, so it was less depressing leaving a new friend behind. “So what name should we have, Gad?”

He turned around, looking back at Beru; sighing. As he silently prayed that she wouldn’t die too.

Gad - Naming the Duo

"Duo name?" Asked Gad, when Aren talked about two being the scythe users and deserves a name. Gad shook his head then he laughed out loud, "Perhaps we should call ourselves 'Gare', an ancient world's dialect that means misery, greedy or something like that..." He smirked, "The road we take is a misery one, and, at the same time, let's be the one that cause misery to the demons that endangers human and demons' co-existence."

Then Gad then shook his head, "Forget what I said, until I know you enough, we are not going to have a duo name."