Chapter 113: In the Bladelord's Embrace

There's a woman living here who used to look after my brothers and me. I'd like to speak to her before we go to the Sword Hall.

Alright, where can we find her?

She lives in a house on the edge of town.

Got it. Let's get going, then.

It's been so long since I last saw you... Have you been well, Auntie?

Lady Jillfunny?! Is it really you? I'm so glad to see you in good health, child!

I'm happy to see you, too. I've come here to speak with my brother. It's about the Golden Sword, so I doubt it will be a friendly conversation.

Your mother always told me this day would come, rest her soul.

She did?

Yes... It was something that weighed heavily on her. The council may have frozen you as a criminal, but we all knew the truth, You're a kind soul, child. Your mother knew you wouldn't be able to abide your brother's cruel methods forever.

Mom...

She was also well aware of Lord Commonsarg's violent temper and was against him becoming the Bladefiend.

Commonsarg was named Bladefiend?

He was, yes. Did he accompany you here today, my lady?

...What? No, he... I...I, !

What's wrong, child?

It's Commonsarg... He... He's already, !

Lady Jillfunny?!

Forgive me! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me, Commonsarg!

What's the matter, child? Tell me what's happened!

My word... I never could have imagined. It must have been very painful for you, child.

......

It is truly a shame that things turned out like this, but you mustn't blame yourself, my lady.

I suppose the words of an old woman can offer you little solace, but you must never forget that I will always be here for you.

No matter what happens, no matter how far the winds carry you, my heart will always go with you. Promise me you won't forget that.

Auntie... I...

I promise. Thank you. I love you.

I love you, too, child, as you well know.

Yes... Thank you...

You're welcome.

Are you okay, Jillfunny?

Yes, I'll be alright. I'm sorry for worrying you, Feinne.

Don't be. I'm just glad you're okay.

If you ever need someone to talk to, we're here for you, Jillfunny.

Indeed. If there's anything we can do, you needn't hesitate to ask.

Yep. That's what friends are for, right?

I... Thank you...

Shall we?

Yes. Let's go.

Do you know where my brother is, Auntie?

I'm afraid I have not seen Lord Galdmagid in quite some time. With each day that passes, he spends more and more of his time locked away in the hall.

...Then that's where we're going.

Lady Jillfunny?

I'll be fine, Auntie. I'm only going there to talk. Take care of yourself, okay?

Please be careful, child...

What is this place?

These are the Witherfields.

The name makes it sound like it used to be lush and green.

Well, it never was in my lifetime. As far as I know the Witherfields have always looked like this.

Really? It's pretty here, but there's something off-putting about it.

We should get going. We don't have any time to admire the scenery.

The Sword Hall is just past here.

Feinne...

Huh? What's up, Kam?

It's just...I've got this bad feeling all of a sudden. I can't really explain it, but be careful, okay?

Don't worry, Aldo's here with us. He'll keep us safe.

I know, but still... Keep your guard up.

I will, thanks. Let's keep going.

So, this is the Sword Hall...

It's kinda creepy...

Yeah... It almost looks like those swords are growing right out of the floor and walls.

It doesn't just look like it, it's clear that that's exactly what's happening.

It's enough to make my hair stand on end...if I had any.

The power of earth and stone is all converging in this one place...

Sensors suggest that the entire building may be a living entity that emits high levels of energy.

Ze Sword Guard have called zis place home for generations, correct?

Hmph. I see... Things might finally be getting interesting. I supposed I'll join you for a little while.

Ogre Rancorem? Just promise me you won't try anything funny, okay?

Don't worry, mate. I'll can pulverize ANY problem that comes our way.

Somehow the thought of that is even scarier...

The Bladelord should be in the royal chambers. Follow me.

These are the royal chambers of the Sword Hall?

That's right. My brother should be here somewhere.

Are you here, Galdmagid? It's me, Jillfunny. I've just returned to the estate.

Jillfunny? You've been gone a long time.

Forgive me for not staying in touch. I come with unfortunate news. Commonsarg...is no longer with us.

Oh? Is that so...

I ended his life with my own hands. It... It was the only way.

He was consumed by his search for the Golden Sword up until his very last moments. "Offer your petals unto the blade of subjugation, so that the Golden Sword might shine again." He took many innocent lives in the name of that prophecy, all with the sword he stole from you.

Hmph... I thought as much. The poor fool has always lusted after the Golden Sword, knowing full-well only the Bladelord could wield it. His own actions doomed him to the role of Bladefiend.

So, he really was the Bladefiend...

You were right to turn your back on the Golden Sword, Jillfunny. Had you not, you surely would have succumbed to the same fate as Commonsarg. Such is the inescapable destiny of the Sword Guard. I'm sure dying by your hand was his goal all along.

If you knew that then why didn't you reject that destiny yourself?! If you had, then maybe Commonsarg would still be alive!

A man's destiny is not his to choose. Look well, Jillfunny.

What the, !

You're...the Bladelord?!

Is this fiend truly Jillfunny's brother?!

Galdmagid! What have you done?!

He's cast away is humanity entirely.

What need have I for a mortal body? I have been reborn as the successor of the one true sword, the living blade of subjugation! Offer your petals unto me, so that the Golden Sword might shine again!

Galdmagid, you fool!

Hmph... I have transcended the limits of our kind. I will become the Golden Sword and shatter the Goddess of Time's cross! The seal on the Hollow will be destroyed, and I will be its savior!!!

Is this really what you want, Galdmagid?!

Listen well, my sister, for this is the secret known only to the true successor of our bloodline, "By decree of fate shall Sword Guard fall; A bloody war of Lord, Saint, and Fiend to herald the coming of the Golden Sword."

A battle of fate?!

No, Galdmagid! I didn't come here to fight you!

It's too late to turn back. With Commonsarg dead by your hand, we two are the last of our bloodline. There is no question, Jillfunny, You are the Bladesaint, and this battle is our fate. Prepare yourself!

Why... Why are you doing this?!

There's no going back. No more time for questions of right and wrong. The answer lies only in battle, as we face the bloody destiny of the Sword Guard. If you believe in your path, Jillfunny, then fight for it just as I fight for mine.

I'll never bow to the hand of fate, Galdmagid!

Hmph... Then show me the strength of your conviction.

, En garde!

Victory is mine, Galdmagid!

Give it up! You've obviously got no strength left to fight!

I wouldn't be so sure about that... I'm just getting started!

Gyah?!

Aldo!

I've had enough of your interference, boy. The hour of sacrifice has finally arrived. Witness the birth of the Golden Sword...

Galdmagid! What are you, ?!

"Offer your petals unto the blade of subjugation, so that the Golden Sword might shine again."

My word! What's happening now?!

I'm detecting a massive amount of energy being transferred to the Bladelord's body.

Surely you know of the flowers that carry the joy and sorrow of our people across the clouds? The ferry blossoms of the Witherfields have chosen to bless me with their power.

The blossoms come to rest in the Witherfields?!

The Sword Guard is calling the blossoms home?!

It can't be! Did Jillfunny return to the Sword Hall?! At this rate the Golden Sword will, !

Wait... If the ferry blossoms really do carry the rok's lifeforce within them, then that must mean, ! It finally all makes sense! The ferry blossoms are essentially the living silicon components of a much larger machine! Like one giant, interconnected circuit! "Offer your petals" was never a metaphor for the lives of the rok! It was referring to the energy housed in the ferry blossoms!

No way... His own body is becoming the Golden Sword?!

Please, Galdmagid! You have to stop this!

It's you or me, Jillfunny. It's time to find out who is destined to be the true successor of our bloodline!

We Sword Guard were born for this moment! It is our one and only purpose! Farewell, Jillfunny!

Galdmagid!!!

STOOOP!!!

What, ?!

Feinne! Stop!!!

NO!!!

Feinne!!!

...Ngh!

......

F-Feinne?!

FEINNE!!!

...Huh?

Where...am I?

...Aldo? ...Guys?

Am I...dead?

Ogre Rancorem? Is that you?

Let's make a deal, Feinne.

A deal?

I am willing to share some of my lifeforce with you...

......

...But in return, you must relinquish a portion of your Geo Prisma power to me. A small price to pay for a second chance at life, don't you think? I only ask that you decide quickly. Once your life fades away completely, there's no coming back.

You want my Geo Prisma?

Yes. I've been interested in your power for a very long time.

...I'm sorry, but I'll pass. I don't want to live so badly that I'd give my power to you.

Hmph. So be it. But what of your brother?

Aldo?! What does he have to do with this?!

Losing you here will surely break him. He'll blame himself forever for not being able to protect you.

B-But that wasn't his, !

You know better than anyone that what I say is true. Do you really not care? Well, no matter. It's of little importance to me. Now choose, Feinne. Do you live or do you die?

......

Ah-Aghhhhhhhhh! AGHHHHHHHHH!!!

Feinne?!

Al...do...

Oh, thank heavens! Feinne!

How?! You were pierced by my blade! You should be dead!

Hmph. Compared to my own, your power is nothing.

It seems that in the end...it was the Bladesaint who was chosen by fate. But nevertheless, I will not back down. Not until my dying breath!

Galdmagid... I refuse... I refuse to believe that I was born just for THIS! I'll never, ever be defeated by the likes of you!

I'm no Bladesaint... I'm... I'm, !

Jillfunny the Butcher!!!

Galdmagid...

Are you sure you're alright, Feinne? Does it hurt anywhere?

I'm fine. See? I'm not going anywhere. Aldo needs me.

Feinne... Thank goodness you're safe! I was so scared...

Seriously, Feinne! You almost gave me a heart attack!

Do you have any idea how much you worried us, young lady?

I'm just happy you're safe.

Me, too. But you seem different somehow...

Yeah... I guess maybe I am. I'm sorry guys... Sorry, Aldo...

We need to decide what to do about the Golden Sword.

Yuki already told us that it's dangerous. We need to...

Stop right there!

Grand Hades!

Professor Sebastia?! How did you escape from the council?!

Hah! You think Grand Hades and I would ever fall for a simple-minded trap like that? Get away from the Golden Sword! It's ours!

Never!

Gyah!

Amelie!

I swear on my honor as Flower Guard that I'll never let that sword fall into imperial hands!

It seems you're having trouble reaching an agreement, so why don't I make the decision for you? The blade is mine.

What the, ?!

Like hell it is!

What just happened?!

Ogre Rancorem!

Guilty Hades?!

The Golden Sword, the Winged Beast, and the Tree of Time are all resonating with one another!

I'm reading an energy signature incoming from high altitude!

This is starting to look pretty bad!

Yuki! Please! You have to stop the Tree of Time!

It stopped... Did we do it?

Are you alright, Yuki?

I'm sorry... Our power is at its limit... Good...bye...

Yuki, ?!

Something's coming!

Wh-What is that thing?!

It's...the Hollow Lake.

The what?

The nothingness that was sealed in our world at the beginning of time, The realm of Hollow God Nihilus. It awoke in response to the Tree of Time's call for the dark dawn. It's come to liberate the Hollow Time Layer!

......

What should we do...

Let's go back to town for now. Too much has happened at once. We need time to process things.

Alright, let's head back to Jevan. I'm still worried about Feinne.

Are you sure you're okay, Feinne?

Yup! Don't worry about me! I feel great!

If you say so...

Just don't try anything like that again, young lady!

You can't even begin to imagine what it would do to Aldo if something were to happen to you.

Even metal hearts can be delicate, Feinne! I was so scared I thought my systems were going to crash!

I'm really sorry, everyone...

It's alright, mon ami. Your actions saved Madame Jillfunny's life. You should hold your head high.

Thanks...

...I'm glad you're safe.

Just promise me you'll never put yourself in danger like that for me again, Feinne.

Feinne... Do you have a second?

What is it, Kam?

...There's something different about you.

Huh? You think so?

I can't really explain it. It's like you grew up a little. The light I sense inside of you feels different from before...

Are you sure you're alright?

I'm okay, really. You don't have to worry about me.

Alright. But if anything changes, tell me, okay?

Thanks, Kam.

Sure.

......

How did the prophecy go again? "The Cross of God will be shattered by the Golden Sword, the Tree of Time, and the Winged Beast." "Only then will the gates of true paradise be opened to us." Something like that.

The Tree of Time, huh? Just what IS the Hollow exactly?

Just as elementary particles form matter and gravitons create weight, chronons, particles of time, generate change. In actuality, time is not a continuous stream like we usually imagine it, , Time is created by the discrete changes that chronons bring about in the nature of all things.

A unique hypothesis, I must say. It's certainly at least worth consideration.

Continuing my lecture, the Hollow is home to its own unique form of time particle, the nullon. Rather than creating time, it nullifies it.

Interesting. So, the Tree of Time is a kind of control system for these "nullons".

That explains why people referred to it as the clock of gods.

Oi, Ashtear! Do we look like we've got time for boring technobabble right now?! We've gotta do something about that Hollow Lake!

Were ya just plannin' to sit around debatin' her all day?! The Empire's gonna use that thing to liberate the time layer!

She has a point. So, what'll it be, Ashtear?

I suppose we'll both just have to do what we came here to do. Whatever happens, it's sure to be interesting.

Jillfunny... You gonna be alright?

Aldo...

I... First Commonsarg and now Galdmagid... This is all my fault.

This isn't something you were ever going to be able to do on your own, Jillfunny. This is bigger than any of us, and we're all just caught in the current.

Whatever happens, we just have to face it as best we can and keep fighting. You don't have to blame yourself, Jillfunny.

I understand what you're saying, Aldo, but I still don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself.

But... Thank you. I do feel a little better now.

Glad to hear it.

Now it's your turn, Ogre Rancorem. Just what was that all about?

What was what about?

Don't try and pretend you don't know what I'm asking. Why did you absorb the Golden Sword?

Oh, that? I was merely helping the blade find a more suitable owner. It was already an empty husk, bereft of power, and of little importance.

I wonder. I'm starting to have a lot of doubts about whether I can trust you.

That sounds like a personal problem. It is of little consequence to me.

......

Jillfunny?

What's wrong, Amelie?

I heard everything. I have to apologize to you.

I'm so sorry for falsely accusing you of murder.

It's fine. I should be the one apologizing for all the chaos my family has brought the world. ...Forgive me.

But I...I just can't believe Commonsarg was behind everything. I can't accept it!

It's the same for me, Amelie. I'd like to believe that my brother was just a victim of fate, utterly possessed by his quest for the blade.

But it doesn't excuse the fact that my family awakened the Golden Sword and brought such a grave threat to our world. I can't stand back and watch any longer. As the last of my bloodline, it is my duty to stand against the threat of the Hollow Lake.

You're strong, Jillfunny.

Not really. I'm just done running away.

Aldo, I have a favor to ask. I need to get over to the Hollow Lake and put a stop to all this! Will you join me? I don't know what we can even really do, but we have to do something!

I'm with you. No matter what's waiting for us, we'll do whatever it takes to stop it!

There's something I need to ask you, Aldo.

What is it?

That iron giant you came here with...the Winged Beast... Was that the Empire's?

Yeah, it was. It's called a Nullgear, and that one's name is Guilty Hades. It was originally an artifact from a bygone era.

...Nullgear?

The pilot, Kamlanage, is also from the Empire. You don't need to worry though, he's on our side. He and Guilty Hades share a spiritual connection, and that's how he's controlling it. He'd never betray us. You have my word on that.

Alright. I understand.

Guilty Hades... Do you... Does the Nullgear desire my soul?

(Let's go see Jillfunny's acquaintance first.)