A clash of doctrine is not a disaster, it is an opportunity - Alfred North Whitehead
"Hello Seraphi, it has been awhile," the figure known as Callen said underneath his Heide Knight greathelm before tilting his head at the burnt corpse lying on the floor.
"Loose lips, what a fatal flaw. But I must say, your family was less talkative when I cut their tongues out and fed it to their own dogs."
This man was known as Callen of Mirrah. Little else was known about him other than he was a crazed murderer as his only motive of killing was purely bloodlust. A perfect addition for the ranks of the Brotherhood of Blood.
Without further delay, Seraphi dashed towards her opponent swords brandished. Callen easily dodged her fury of cuts and launched a swift thrusting counterattack with his Heide Knight sword, seeing the incoming attack Seraphi side-stepped and commenced a spinning slice with her washing pole to Callen's neck.
Callen caught the attack with his blade, and swept some dust to Seraphi's eyes, blinding her.
He was about to drive his sword through Seraphi's neck when suddenly his sword struck against Gervasius' greatshield. The powerful recoil rippled through his body, pushing him backwards. Not giving him a moment to recover, Gervasius swung his sword vertically to cleave his opponent in half.
Using every fiber of muscle he can muster, Callen rolled away from the death blow. Even so, he still felt the tremor of the blow as the massive greatsword impacted the ground, cracking the stone floor. Even in his Heide Knight suit of armor, which was said to be made from a very durable special alloy, he wouldn't have survived a strike as powerful as that.
He quickly seized his chance to escape as he knew Gervasius and Seraphi were going to chase him down. Besides, there was something important for them to witness.
Seeing her nemesis bolting away, Seraphi pushed Gervasius aside and followed him suit.
"Stay here milady! We will return for you!" Gervasius yelled at the recovering young woman who they helped moments ago as he also ran after his companion. Still recovering from her ordeal, she nodded weakly.
The Knights of the Blue chased their adversary to Majula with little effort. However, what they witnessed there will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Piled up near the bonfire, flayed and decapitated, were the remains of Majula's inhabitants. The last safe haven for residents of Drangleic, turned into a slaughterhouse.
"Love the view?" Callen chuckled darkly. Escorted by two armored lanky Brotherhood members, he held up two severed heads. "They say the more heads you have with you, the more stories you can exchange. I wonder what tales these heads could tell."
"This one..." said Callen while shaking a woman's head with a long ponytail like a hand puppet, "belonged to a stone trader. A hardy one she was."
In that moment, a ghostly voice whispered in Seraphi's ears.
"You failed us..."
"Sister, how can you leave us to die?" followed another voice. More screams and voices began to assault her mind, those of her dead family.
Seraphi clutched her head, screaming hysterically.
Gervasius was trapped between a rock and a hard place. He wanted to help his companion, but if he lowered his guard they will all be dead.
But he knew it was only a matter of time before they will all be in danger.
"And this one..." he said while lifting another head with strands of short auburn hair "belonged to an imbecilic wench...bland, emotionless and stands there like a wooden plank. What were her last words? Oh I believe they were 'If that is your wish...'."
In that moment, Seraphi's screams came to an abrupt end.
Seraphi's P.O.V
My vision was once again obscured by shadows, everything turned blurry. Lost in my raging feelings once again.
In front of me, stood three shadows. My father, mother, and my sister. Who cast me out in dire fear of the curse afflicting them too.
I have forgiven them from a long time ago. It seemed however, they are the ones who cannot forgive me.
Why would they torture me like this? I wish nothing more but their departure from my conscience.
"How could you do this to us?" asked my mother, blood flowing out from her eyes.
"You failed us..." said my father, black gaping holes in place where his eyes should be.
"Sister, how can you leave us to die?" my sister sobbed, a massive hole carved into where her heart should be.
I have had enough.
I drew my swords out and lunged at my father's shadow. However, the shadows of my mother and sister prevented my blades from cutting him in half. Their arms have changed from flesh and bone to claymores and greathammers, hence why they could stop my blades.
They stood in front of him like barriers, as if they were determined to hold me for as long as possible. True, my "father" unfurled a scroll made of human skin and began chanting an incantation. Why would he possess something like that?
It doesn't matter. I only want them out from my sights.
"Mother" charged at me with warhammers in both hands, the mirage was going to deliver a crushing blow to my skull. I swiftly pivoted from the hammers' line of impact and sliced through the abdomen.
The mirage dissolved into nothingness.
Then it was my sister's mirage who came charging at me, an eerie grin etched on her face. But before the claymores were even in striking range, the shadow had disappeared on its own.
Why? I do not know nor care. All that matters, they were gone.
My "father" finished reading the incantation and threw the scroll into a bonfire beside him. I charged with all strength I can muster.
However, before my blades could reach him, I was thrown back with great force. I got back on my feet, and prepared to attack once again.
Strangely, the more I ran towards the illusion the more distant he appeared to be. I kept on chasing it, until a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Sera, come back!"
"Gervasius..." I whispered.
Despite the faintness, his voice strongly resonated in my uncertainty.
"Sera, come back!" his voice echoed again.
I relinquished my rampaging intent, and turned around.
Suddenly immense pain shot up to my head, causing me to drop to the ground.
The next thing I knew was blackness engulfing me completely.
Gervasius sat with his back against the wall in the bedroom of Majula's mansion, watching over Seraphi who was out cold from going berserk.
A dangerous consequence from her post-traumatic stress disorder. Luckily, she did not suffer any severe wounds, only minor scrapes and bruises.
Resting beside Seraphi, the young woman whom they saved before was also out cold. Apparently, she had dragged herself from the prison to Majula and after loosing her arrow at one of Callen's escort she fell to the ground due to her injuries.
It seemed she was quite a skilled archer as she managed to kill one of Callen's bodyguard with a single arrow from her unusually long blackbow. In fact, the bow was very difficult to handle for Gervasius as he tried to use it while the owner was unconscious. Which led him to think that the girl must have took her time to train with the bow.
Even if she was a good shot with a bow, she was still not a fighter. After tending to and observing her wounds, it seemed she had been tortured or maybe even raped by members of the murderous covenant.
He was glad that they arrived in time to save her.
Having taken off his armor and weaponry, only leaving his grey padded jacket and base trousers, he allowed himself to rest a bit after the chaotic encounter. That, and the fact that Seraphi nearly threw herself from a cliff during her trance did not make it any better. Had he not stopped her, surely, she would have perished by then.
Callen escaped after reading the scroll's incantation and tossing it to the bonfire in an explosion of light. He could still remember the incantation clearly as if they were indoctrinated to him at a very young age.
"O Nahr Alma, father of war and bloodshed...make me an instrument of chaos wherever I may be. Let me bring darkness where there is light, let me bring despair to where there is hope, let me bring sorrow to where there is joy, let me bring doubt to where there is faith. For it is in killing that we receive, and it is blood that we are sanctified. May bloodshed set us free!"
The very thought of it made him shudder.
He walked towards Seraphi and sat down next to her. Gervasius gently placed his hand on her forehead to ensure that her body temperature remained stable, as going into such murderous trance could take a heavy toll on her. High fever, is one such side effects. Luckily, she was stable this time.
"Oh, Sera...why must you be in such agony?" Gervasius sighed.
As he said that, Seraphi opened her eyes. She quickly eyed her surroundings with caution until she saw her companion sitting beside her.
"Gervasius? What happened?" she asked weakly.
The Nimble Mountain explained the events when she was engulfed in her battle trance. When he told her that Callen have escaped, Seraphi sprung up only to be stopped by Gervasius due to her recovering condition.
At first, her rage got the better of her and she swung her fist to his face.
A solid hit. Gervasius could feel the distinct taste of blood in his mouth. However, he was thankful that he took off her armor set completely or else the damage could be much severe.
Silence.
Seraphi just sat on her bed roll, head hanging low. Moments later, tears fell from her eyes and Gervasius pulled her into a tight hug.
After letting her cry on his chest, he wiped her tears, placed his hands on her shoulders and gazed deeply into her crystal blue eyes with his hazelnut ones.
"Sera, we will punish him. We will. Until then, I need you to control yourself. I cannot always bring you back like I did before. I have lost many of my dear friends and it would break me if I lose one more."
Seraphi smiled at his remark. "Thank you my friend, I am always burdening your shoulders am I not?"
"Nonsense. I would rather wear a sign as large as the Last Giant's prick saying 'Gervasius is a big pile of stinking dung' then letting any of my friends down."
In the corner of his eye, Gervasius noticed that the young woman was stirring awake. So was Seraphi.
"Slowly now," he said while helping her to sit on her bed roll. "How are you feeling?"
Seraphi took out a waterskin drinking bag from her satchel and gave it to Gervasius for the young woman to drink.
She drank half of the content before putting the waterskin down. "I...am still a bit dazed. But I am fine."
She came to an abrupt halt when she realized to whom she was conversing with, her eyes widened with joy.
"Y-you you are my saviors!"
"Ach, it is our duty. We are at your serv-"
Before Gervasius could finish his sentence, the petite you woman threw herself into the ground worshiping them both as if they were deities.
"MydeepestgratitudetobothofyouforsavingmylifemynameisElaineIamgoodinarchery-"
"Slow down, slow down, and please get up milady. We are not gods," Gervasius said while trying to get the girl back to her sitting position.
Seraphi chuckled at their antics. She remembered that her younger sister used to behave as such when their father bought them presents or when they were asked to attend lavish balls. A very few fragments of her memories from her younger years, good old memories.
She thought she should leave Gervasius to finish the introduction as she was never good at jumping in mid conversations.
"What is your name? Oh, and I do hope the new cloak is to your liking." He smiled.
" *ahem* Elaine, my good sir. O-oh thank you sir, you shouldn't have troubled yourself," she stuttered while shyly brushing a bang of her long brown hair away from her face.
Gervasius mentally patted himself on the back. While rummaging for supplies in the abandoned mansion, he found an old black hunting cloak in a chest down the basement which was surprisingly in fine condition. Travel ready, but old.
It was not much, but it would be better than leaving the young woman’s navel exposed and whatnot.
"A pretty name." Gervasius smiled, Elaine could feel her cheeks heating up a bit by his compliment. "My name is Gervasius the Nimble Mountain. That, over there is Seraphi. There is no need for any sort of formalities, so please call us directly with our names."
"Of course sir *ahem* I mean, Gervasius. I am honored to make your acquaintances. Once again, I express my undying gratitude to both of you once again for saving me. I don't know what would have become of me if you two hadn't been there," Elaine said.
"What are you doing all the way here by yourself?" Seraphi finally seized her chance, staring at Elaine's amber eyes.
Her piercing gaze had her thoroughly intimidated, Elaine's tongue froze. She was very familiar with this feeling of oppressiveness, despite her best efforts Elaine cannot afford herself to utter a single word. She remembered one thing that kept on happening to her for much of her life: failure to respond to an asked question would result in three lashes.
"Elaine? What is the matter?" Gervasius asked while waving his hand in front of her.
She quickly snapped back to her senses and cleared her throat.
"F-forgive me," she said while bowing her head.
Elaine told them her story, she was a servant in her lord's retinue in their exploration of Drangleic. They were going to the fabled Dragon Aerie when they were ambushed by members from the Brotherhood of Blood led by Callen. Unprepared, they were quickly slaughtered, but Elaine was spared to serve as a plaything for his fellow comrades. They took their turns on her for at least four days while also watching those she had known nearly all her life got flayed alive. They were originally a lot more in numbers instead of four, however they were ordered to go elsewhere by means of the Hymn of Blood displacement scroll.
"You know the rest..." Elaine sobbed after finishing her tale.
Seraphi embraced Elaine intuitively, her sisterly instincts taking over.
At first, she seemed to be resisting Seraphi's gesture but eventually she cried to her shoulders.
Gervasius smiled at the sight, imagining where would his friend be should the gods have different plans for her. A better one.
As Elaine calmed down, Gervasius thought it would be wise to change the subject. But before he could ask her on what he had in mind, footsteps were heard approaching the mansion.
A lot of footsteps.
However, they noticed they were not dealing with a hostile encounter.
Blue Sentinel Targray and a platoon of Blue Sentinel knights have arrived on Majula.
"Hail Blue Sentinel!" Gervasius exclaimed as he walked out from the mansion with Seraphi in tow.
"We did not expect your arrival," Seraphi said.
"Yes, I fear the condition has changed. I felt a strong blast of energy here, the similar feeling when the first two Peacemaker's Oath scrolls were used. However, I cannot shrug this feeling of dread after the blast. Something must have gone wrong, and sadly, it seems I was right." Targray sighed after glancing at the bloody remains near the bonfire.
With a nod from him, Targray's men dispersed and began to scour the area. They gathered the human remains and began chopping down every wood they could find to make pyres for cremation.
At that moment, Elaine stepped out of the mansion with her bow and quiver slung on her back.
"Who might this be?" Targray asked.
Noticing his gaze, Elaine cowered behind Gervasius and Seraphi.
The two knights explained what had happened. Starting from their arrival at the Shaded Woods, finding the flayed corpses, running into Elaine, the skirmish at Majula, and of course the information they learned. After contemplating to their story, Targray finally spoke.
"You should have left her."
Gervasius and Seraphi couldn't believe their ears.
"WHAT?!" Gervasius yelled, causing several knights to look at him cautiously.
"Watch that temper of yours, Gervasius. By diverting your time in saving this girl, you allowed that Brotherhood vermin to escape. By the Gods, she's not even a believer of the Way of Blue."
"Beliefs be damned! We cannot just fucking leave her to die!" Seraphi angrily shouted while glaring at Targray. At this point, several knights were already forming up in front of him.
"Please stop!" Elaine shouted while getting in between them. "He is right, what you have done for me I can never repay. But I do not wish to become a burden nor to cause trouble for anyone. Thank you and farewell."
With those words, she walked away from the mob.
Gervasius glanced at his companion, who returned the gesture. She knew what he was going to do.
"Elaine, stop!" Gervasius shouted.
The former servant turned around, confusion clearly seen in her eyes.
"We are taking you under our wings."
"I will not stop you. However, you will be expelled from the covenant and banished. Is that what you wish for?"
"We accept. With or without the Blue Sentinels, I believe we can still very well serve our purpose as guardians," Seraphi said solemnly.
Despite her overwhelming desire to kill her nemesis, sacrificing an innocent for her own crusade will not make her any better than Callen.
Besides, Callen was no longer in Drangleic. They had no means whatsoever to pursue him, unless...
"Very well, but I shall not let you leave empty handed. You can keep your seals, and I will give you this..." Targray said while taking out the Peacemaker's Oath scroll from his satchel and handing it to Seraphi.
She looked at him quizzically, but Targray turned away and ordered his men to move out. Seraphi noticed that all of the dead have been placed on their own respective pyres which were ignited shortly after Targray gave his order.
"Oh, there is one more matter," the Blue Sentinel said without looking back to them.
"Those scrolls have a strong bond to each other. You will likely find yourselves among friends, and your enemy among their own kind. However, paradise and hell are never far away. Farewell."
With that, he and his men marched to Majula's entrance, probably going to the direction of Shaded Woods. Moments later, the last men of the retinue vanished from sight.
"Why...?" Elaine asked, struggling to hold back her tears.
"Why would you do that for me? You barely even know me, I didn't do anything for you...yet in one day, you sacrifice so much for a wretched woman such as I. If I have kept on walking, none of this would have happened."
"We made our decisions, Elaine. The past is in the past, and there is nothing we can do to change it. Besides, will it make us any better than savages if we do so?" said Gervasius while placing his hand on her shoulder.
"I will go and take the rest of our equipment." With that, Gervasius walked to the mansion.
"The people we were tasked to protect were those who believe in the Way of Blue, that is our duty. Warriors, knights, mages, impressive fighters all...to leave after assisting them is natural. However, we would never abandon those in need...regardless of their beliefs," Seraphi said.
"I shall be forever indebted to both of you for doing this, Lady Seraphi." Elaine bowed to her.
Just then, Gervasius appeared fully armed and armored. He took out Seraphi's armor piece by piece from his satchel and laid it out before giving her swords to her.
As Seraphi began to armor herself up, Gervasius reached for his magic satchel and took out a set of meticulously crafted black leather armor before handing it to Elaine as he knew her torn up dress would be useless should things go awry. She thanked Gervasius and found a place to change in Lenigrast's old workshop.
After donning the full armor set, she felt it fit her perfectly from top to bottom. She put on her bow, quiver, and cloak before going outside. Just as she was walking out, Elaine found a dagger by Lenigrast's anvil. She picked it up, and found the blade in prime condition.
"This might come in handy..." she thought to herself, tucking the weapon on her belt.
Elaine joined Gervasius and Seraphi who stood by the burning pyres, paying their respects for the dead.
"Do you want to say something, Elaine?" Gervasius asked.
She nodded and stepped forward.
"I do not know any of these people, so I can't say much about them. Whether they were good or bad, it is beyond my power to judge them. However, every soul deserves respite and peace in death. May the gods watch over your souls."
After her eulogy, the three headed to Majula's bonfire.
"Should be just like how he used it," he muttered while unfurling the golden scroll. "Gather round."
Gervasius held the scroll in front of him and read the incantation.
"O Masters of the Divine, make me an instrument of peace wherever I may be. Let me bring light where there is darkness, let me bring hope where there is despair, let me bring joy where there is sorrow, let me bring faith where there is doubt. For it is in giving that we receive, and it is in forgiving that we are forgiven. May the light of peace shine our way."
He tossed the scroll into the bonfire and the fire raged fiercer than ever before yet again. The three held hands together as flame-like aura enveloped and lifted them into the air, and with one bright explosion of light, they too vanished from the land of Drangleic.
Manehattan, Equestria
"And now, ladies and gentlecolts for the one final trick that will blow you away!" promoted a certain blue magician mare at one of the city's bustling streets.
By then, most of the crowd were either uninterested or jeering at her.
Trixie was nervous beyond words, the probability of her spells failing of even backfiring at her have caused undesirable results during her performances. However, she had nothing to lose.
"Oh buck it all, it's now or never!"
"Behold! The power of The Great and Powerful Trixie!"
Her horn glowed with magic, and moments later a beam of light shot from the tip of her horn and in an instant Gervasius, Seraphi, and Elaine appeared mid-air before crashing to the ground.
The crowd and nearly the entire street closed in to gaze at the motionless bipedal creatures that seemingly appeared out of thin air. Trixie herself couldn't believe her eyes.
"Did I...do this?" she mumbled in a confused tone.
Mumbles of wonder quickly turned to those of amazement, and soon hooves were being pounded to the ground. Trixie gave them the widest smile she could possibly perform and bowed.
That was, until Gervasius stirred awake and stood up. The crowd fell silent.
"Wh-where am I?" he mumbled beneath his rock helmet and eyed the crowd of flabbergasted ponies in disbelief.
Unwary that a massive blade was being unsheathed behind him.