KeotsuEclipse
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Wow, that took forever. >.< Sorry about the wait. For those of you who are returning to the series, I've changed it up a bit, Lawliet won't be narrating anymore, since she's introduced in this chapter. Also, there are some latin phrases, but I've translated them immediately after they are used. Enjoy! And please give me your feedback, good or bad.
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A chilling wind swept over Mizutoki, as he vanished from his quaint camp, and appeared at the large cathedral that the Veil called home.
Riku: Welcome to your new home.
Large walls of marble shot up several stories high, gleaming silver mirrors and statues along the ground, and a giant mosaic on the ceiling. A lush, navy carpet was spread across the middle of the hall, the ivory colored marble floor standing out against it.
Riku: Well, home sweet home, I guess. Come with me, and I will introduce you to the rest of your new family.
Mizutoki reluctantly followed Riku, taking in the sights and sounds of the cathedral. Birds chirped outside, and sunlight fell in columns through the skylight, but the air still felt still, silent, and cold.
Riku placed his hand on the door and a feeling of heaviness filled the air. The giant double doors slowly crept open, as a dim, but blinding light spilled forth.
Mizutoki:?What the heck??
What looked to be a wall of mercury stood before Mizutoki and Riku. Its surface rippled, distorting the gray reflection it cast about.
Riku: Come along, now.
With a shove, he pushed Mizutoki into the mercury, and then walked in himself. The doors swung themselves close, and a deathly silence fell upon the cathedral.
Not a moment later, Mizutoki stumbled through, clutching his throat, gasping for air.
Mizutoki: What the heck!?
Riku: Hm?maybe I should have informed you of how that worked first?Either way, just breathe before you step through. Come. Lets take you to the Council.
Mizutoki looked around, taking note of were he was. With the way the walls where, and the lightening, they were obviously underground. The air tasted stale, but fresh at the same time; it must have been ventilated through natural air shafts.
He followed Riku through the winding halls, several intricate doors marked with strange symbols. Some had light pouring from underneath, and with others, the faint sounds of snoring could be heard.
He had been walking for what seemed like an eternity, and the fact that we was wearing about half a suit of armor, didn?t exactly help the matter; he was getting tired. Then, they stopped in front of a giant, spiraling staircase.
Mizutoki: Your kidding me, right?
Riku: Haha, this is the easy part, just step on a step.
Reluctantly, Mizutoki stepped on. A strange humming filled the air, and restraints appeared around Mizutoki?s and Riku?s feet and legs. Before he could protest, Riku raised a hand. Then, the steps started ascending at break-neck speeds.
Mizutoki grasped the handrails next to him; even with the restraints, he felt that if he didn?t grab on to something, and bend over, that he?d be snapped in half at the waist.
Mizutoki could feel himself start to slow down, and he released his grip on the bars.
As the restraints loosened their grip on Mizutoki?s legs, he had to run to catch up to Riku, who was already waiting at a door.
Mizutoki: Can you open this one, as well?
Riku: Yes?but not yet. There is a reason I came to collect you? Not only am I the one to bring you to Veil?but I will be your opponent. Depending on how well you do against me, depends on if you will be permitted, or your memory will be wiped. Now, en garde!
With a plume of smoke, Riku?s blade appeared. Its handle was black as midnight, and the hand guard was shaped like an angel?s wing. The blade itself was narrow at the base, opened outward, and then declined on a gentle slope onto the point of the blade; it was a color that reminded Mizutoki of the night sky, but the edges of the blade were blood red, and the center of the blade had an ivory colored line going up it.
Riku lunged at Mizutoki with incredible speed, forcing him to draw his own sword, in the quick draw style; a style not suited for Mizutoki?s sword. The incredible force of the collision cracked Mizuotiki?s sword ? Riku?s didn?t even look phased.
Riku: Surprised? This is my own blade, Way to Dawn. It?s not made of normal steel. It can?t be broken, much less damaged, by a blade like that.
Mizutoki: Wait?The high held, fencing-like fighting style?Ranthian Kurian? You were the leader of the Red?s Spec. Ops. Fraction, Black Fire!
Riku: Impressive. Most people don?t even know about that unit. Now, enough talk. Raise your blade!
Mizutoki yelled as he charged at Riku, bring his blade down, and then sweeping it up as Riku jumped, stabbing his Way to Dawn at Mizutoki. Mizutoki?s sword cracked even more.
Mizutoki:Insane! He?s nearly destroyed my sword!
Mizutoki charged again, sweeping his blade left and right. Mizutoki was second in the Blaze Corps in Swordplay, but even Madara Uchiha, leader of the Blaze Corps, would be no match for the leader of Black Fire.
Riku was toying with him now; he was side stepping all of Mizutoki?s attacks, smacking him with the broad of his blade.
Mizutoki: Dang it! Hold, STILL!
He swung his sword with all his might, but with a powerful upward thrust, Riku cleaved Mizutoki?s sword in half. Using the destroyed blade, he kept stabbing at Riku; now, he was determined to land at least one blow.
Stabbing at Riku, time seemed to slow down to Mizutoki. Riku was moving extremely fast, while Mizutoki?s arm seemed to only be inching along. Riku was putting small cuts all over Mizutoki?s body. Riku, now just showing off at this point, reared his arm back, and spun, smashing the flat of his blade into Mizutoki?s chest; Mizutoki?s broken blade just nicked Riku?s glove.
Mizutoki was laying on the ground in a daze, but when his sight returned to him, the tip of Riku?s blade was only inches from his face.
Riku: Factum est; It is done.
Riku?s blade disappeared in a shroud of black, with a double helix of white ribbons. With an extended hand, he helped Mizutoki up.
Riku: I supposed we should get you a new sword?
Versuvio: It will be done. You may do as you please, Ranthian.
Mizutoki immediately knelt down on one knee, placing his right fist in front of his left shoulder.
Mizutoki: Lord Versuvio!?
Versuvio: Stand, Knight.
Mizutoki:Sire?With the Rebellion? Why?
Versuvio: This is not the rebellion. To stop the rebellion ? that was why Veil was founded. We work under the ?Veil? of traitors to work for the people.
Riku: Like I was saying, before your admittance fight, which you passed by the way, we need to introduce you to our forces. Veil is a force made from both Reds and Blues. Some Blues realized that we needed the wall, while some Reds, like myself, realized that the government can?t force it?s power onto the people. That?s not what Sir Versuvio?s rule over Spiral Sanction represents. Sir Nexus is currently leading Spiral Sanction, and the Red Force, with advice from from Versuvio, while Jake Uzumaki leads the Blue Force after meeting with both previously mentioned Sires.
Versuvio: Thank you, Ranthian. Also, while planning the ?war? between Red and Blue, Veil, or Silver, hunts the much larger and more powerful Rebellion, known as the False Revolution. We refer to them as Gold. They are integrated into both sides of the War, and are trying to take over the government?We fear that they have forces outside the Wall, and soon enough, Veil will be at War with them, and be forced to let a real civil war take place on the inside, while we stop the Rebellion on the outside. That?s why Veil consists of the elite of the elite of Spiral Sanction.
Right now, one of our two most powerful fighters, and one of your main Council Members stands before you.
Mizutoki: Is it you, Sire?
Riku: Actually, that would be moi.
Versuvio: When you fought Riku just now, he was restrained. That armlet he?s wearing, is an artifact known as a Level 97 Reducer.
Mizutoki: You mean it reduces his power 97 times?!
Riku: No, Mizu. It reduces my power by 97,000 times.
Versuvio: Yes, Ranthian is right. And the other person in the top two here, is-
As Versuvio is say this, an armored woman walks in.
Lawliet: Me.
Mizutoki: And who would you be?
Lawliet: My name is Lawliet, and I am the founder of Veil, and an Ex-Rebellion member. Originally the Rebellion was simply a group of people wanting to change the government, but once I learned of the means that were going about it, I left the Rebellion, and formed Veil to fight them. They are the actual cause of the Civil War. They made the first sparks.
Mizutoki:But how do I fit into this Rebellion? I said I would not kill any more in the name of the war. It is my choice to fight for this war, and I say nay.
Versuvio: What you don?t know, is that the very fact that you are still here, means your going to fight. No one here wants to fight this war, but they all have reasons that they do. Lawliet, she fights for peace. Ranthian, he fights for something that was taken from him long ago. Even though I may not be as powerful as those two, I am no weakling, and I fight for my home, and the people of Spiral Sanction. What you fight for, even if you don?t know what it is, is always there, and it gives you strength. So, will you join Veil?
Mizutoki: ?.
Riku: The man who seeks peace is often the most powerful of warriors. If you truly don?t want others to die because of this war?Then use your power, and help us stop it.
Mizutoki: Then, why my blade?! Sir Uchiha is much more powerful than I! Let him fight for you.
Lawliet: Its not that simple, Mizutoki. Everyone here, is special. Riku, is a what you would call a Weaver. He has exceptional sword skills, and he can use a single element: Ice. But he has...other abilities, as well. I am a rare NeoKnight. I am able to use Magic to a full extent, like no other Knight can do, and my swordplay is on par with Sir Ranthian. Akiza, she is a Magician, and a powerful one at that. She nearly has the ability to halt time. Lord Versuvio, is a Cleric, with the power to bring the very wrath of the Gods themselves down on the enemy. Jake Uzumaki, has the ability to not only teleport, but divide himself into four separate beings, what some call a Doppelganger.
Miztoki: But why do you need me? I have no powers like those; I am merely a swordsman.
Another woman decended from the steps, wearing intricate navy robes, with silver symbols emblazoned on them, along with a golden scarf draped over each of her shoulders.
Akiza: Because we were drawn to you. Each one of us has been shown inside the Mercury Pool. You are always the last face shown in the Pool, and you linger the longest in it. Your powers will be revealed as you fight for us.
UzumakiJake: I, for one, would be honored to serve by you. Will you join us?
The most powerful people in Veil stood there, waiting for Mizutoki?s answer. He looked up, a stern look on his face.
Mizutoki: Give me a sword.
Hours later, Mizutoki was standing on a balcony of the main Tower of Veil?s base, over looking a forest covered in mist; the Spiral Sanction was far in the distance.
There was the squeaking of the hinges, as Riku walked through the door, a blade in hand. He was not wearing his blindfold, and his eyes were a deep blue, and hard as ice, but there seemed to be a pang of something lost in them.
Riku:Here, you?ll need this for tomorrow; your coming with Lawliet and I to tackle an outpost of Golds.
Mizutoki:That sword you had? What was up with that?
Riku:Tomorrow, you will be bestowed with some mercury from the Pool. It has the ability to reveal a person?s true worth. Eventually, that mercury will form a weapon. That weapon will fit you perfectly, and will be indestructible. But don?t worry about it for now. Just get some sleep. Welcome to Veil.
And with that, Mizutoki was left alone on the balcony.
Mizutoki:?I just wonder?if fighting this war will be worth it.
Throwing a white stone that he had picked up off the ground into the forest, Mizutoki turned, went inside the castle, and started preparing for the next day, reflecting on all he?d been told in the last few hours.
The entire war was a sham, a tool used by a group of revolutionaries. Veil was there to keep the war in a manageable state, and to stop that Rebellion.
But was more going on than what any of them grasped?
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Chapter Three: Lifting one ?Veil??
A chilling wind swept over Mizutoki, as he vanished from his quaint camp, and appeared at the large cathedral that the Veil called home.
Riku: Welcome to your new home.
Large walls of marble shot up several stories high, gleaming silver mirrors and statues along the ground, and a giant mosaic on the ceiling. A lush, navy carpet was spread across the middle of the hall, the ivory colored marble floor standing out against it.
Riku: Well, home sweet home, I guess. Come with me, and I will introduce you to the rest of your new family.
Mizutoki reluctantly followed Riku, taking in the sights and sounds of the cathedral. Birds chirped outside, and sunlight fell in columns through the skylight, but the air still felt still, silent, and cold.
Riku placed his hand on the door and a feeling of heaviness filled the air. The giant double doors slowly crept open, as a dim, but blinding light spilled forth.
Mizutoki:?What the heck??
What looked to be a wall of mercury stood before Mizutoki and Riku. Its surface rippled, distorting the gray reflection it cast about.
Riku: Come along, now.
With a shove, he pushed Mizutoki into the mercury, and then walked in himself. The doors swung themselves close, and a deathly silence fell upon the cathedral.
Not a moment later, Mizutoki stumbled through, clutching his throat, gasping for air.
Mizutoki: What the heck!?
Riku: Hm?maybe I should have informed you of how that worked first?Either way, just breathe before you step through. Come. Lets take you to the Council.
Mizutoki looked around, taking note of were he was. With the way the walls where, and the lightening, they were obviously underground. The air tasted stale, but fresh at the same time; it must have been ventilated through natural air shafts.
He followed Riku through the winding halls, several intricate doors marked with strange symbols. Some had light pouring from underneath, and with others, the faint sounds of snoring could be heard.
He had been walking for what seemed like an eternity, and the fact that we was wearing about half a suit of armor, didn?t exactly help the matter; he was getting tired. Then, they stopped in front of a giant, spiraling staircase.
Mizutoki: Your kidding me, right?
Riku: Haha, this is the easy part, just step on a step.
Reluctantly, Mizutoki stepped on. A strange humming filled the air, and restraints appeared around Mizutoki?s and Riku?s feet and legs. Before he could protest, Riku raised a hand. Then, the steps started ascending at break-neck speeds.
Mizutoki grasped the handrails next to him; even with the restraints, he felt that if he didn?t grab on to something, and bend over, that he?d be snapped in half at the waist.
Mizutoki could feel himself start to slow down, and he released his grip on the bars.
As the restraints loosened their grip on Mizutoki?s legs, he had to run to catch up to Riku, who was already waiting at a door.
Mizutoki: Can you open this one, as well?
Riku: Yes?but not yet. There is a reason I came to collect you? Not only am I the one to bring you to Veil?but I will be your opponent. Depending on how well you do against me, depends on if you will be permitted, or your memory will be wiped. Now, en garde!
With a plume of smoke, Riku?s blade appeared. Its handle was black as midnight, and the hand guard was shaped like an angel?s wing. The blade itself was narrow at the base, opened outward, and then declined on a gentle slope onto the point of the blade; it was a color that reminded Mizutoki of the night sky, but the edges of the blade were blood red, and the center of the blade had an ivory colored line going up it.
Riku lunged at Mizutoki with incredible speed, forcing him to draw his own sword, in the quick draw style; a style not suited for Mizutoki?s sword. The incredible force of the collision cracked Mizuotiki?s sword ? Riku?s didn?t even look phased.
Riku: Surprised? This is my own blade, Way to Dawn. It?s not made of normal steel. It can?t be broken, much less damaged, by a blade like that.
Mizutoki: Wait?The high held, fencing-like fighting style?Ranthian Kurian? You were the leader of the Red?s Spec. Ops. Fraction, Black Fire!
Riku: Impressive. Most people don?t even know about that unit. Now, enough talk. Raise your blade!
Mizutoki yelled as he charged at Riku, bring his blade down, and then sweeping it up as Riku jumped, stabbing his Way to Dawn at Mizutoki. Mizutoki?s sword cracked even more.
Mizutoki:Insane! He?s nearly destroyed my sword!
Mizutoki charged again, sweeping his blade left and right. Mizutoki was second in the Blaze Corps in Swordplay, but even Madara Uchiha, leader of the Blaze Corps, would be no match for the leader of Black Fire.
Riku was toying with him now; he was side stepping all of Mizutoki?s attacks, smacking him with the broad of his blade.
Mizutoki: Dang it! Hold, STILL!
He swung his sword with all his might, but with a powerful upward thrust, Riku cleaved Mizutoki?s sword in half. Using the destroyed blade, he kept stabbing at Riku; now, he was determined to land at least one blow.
Stabbing at Riku, time seemed to slow down to Mizutoki. Riku was moving extremely fast, while Mizutoki?s arm seemed to only be inching along. Riku was putting small cuts all over Mizutoki?s body. Riku, now just showing off at this point, reared his arm back, and spun, smashing the flat of his blade into Mizutoki?s chest; Mizutoki?s broken blade just nicked Riku?s glove.
Mizutoki was laying on the ground in a daze, but when his sight returned to him, the tip of Riku?s blade was only inches from his face.
Riku: Factum est; It is done.
Riku?s blade disappeared in a shroud of black, with a double helix of white ribbons. With an extended hand, he helped Mizutoki up.
Riku: I supposed we should get you a new sword?
Versuvio: It will be done. You may do as you please, Ranthian.
Mizutoki immediately knelt down on one knee, placing his right fist in front of his left shoulder.
Mizutoki: Lord Versuvio!?
Versuvio: Stand, Knight.
Mizutoki:Sire?With the Rebellion? Why?
Versuvio: This is not the rebellion. To stop the rebellion ? that was why Veil was founded. We work under the ?Veil? of traitors to work for the people.
Riku: Like I was saying, before your admittance fight, which you passed by the way, we need to introduce you to our forces. Veil is a force made from both Reds and Blues. Some Blues realized that we needed the wall, while some Reds, like myself, realized that the government can?t force it?s power onto the people. That?s not what Sir Versuvio?s rule over Spiral Sanction represents. Sir Nexus is currently leading Spiral Sanction, and the Red Force, with advice from from Versuvio, while Jake Uzumaki leads the Blue Force after meeting with both previously mentioned Sires.
Versuvio: Thank you, Ranthian. Also, while planning the ?war? between Red and Blue, Veil, or Silver, hunts the much larger and more powerful Rebellion, known as the False Revolution. We refer to them as Gold. They are integrated into both sides of the War, and are trying to take over the government?We fear that they have forces outside the Wall, and soon enough, Veil will be at War with them, and be forced to let a real civil war take place on the inside, while we stop the Rebellion on the outside. That?s why Veil consists of the elite of the elite of Spiral Sanction.
Right now, one of our two most powerful fighters, and one of your main Council Members stands before you.
Mizutoki: Is it you, Sire?
Riku: Actually, that would be moi.
Versuvio: When you fought Riku just now, he was restrained. That armlet he?s wearing, is an artifact known as a Level 97 Reducer.
Mizutoki: You mean it reduces his power 97 times?!
Riku: No, Mizu. It reduces my power by 97,000 times.
Versuvio: Yes, Ranthian is right. And the other person in the top two here, is-
As Versuvio is say this, an armored woman walks in.
Lawliet: Me.
Mizutoki: And who would you be?
Lawliet: My name is Lawliet, and I am the founder of Veil, and an Ex-Rebellion member. Originally the Rebellion was simply a group of people wanting to change the government, but once I learned of the means that were going about it, I left the Rebellion, and formed Veil to fight them. They are the actual cause of the Civil War. They made the first sparks.
Mizutoki:But how do I fit into this Rebellion? I said I would not kill any more in the name of the war. It is my choice to fight for this war, and I say nay.
Versuvio: What you don?t know, is that the very fact that you are still here, means your going to fight. No one here wants to fight this war, but they all have reasons that they do. Lawliet, she fights for peace. Ranthian, he fights for something that was taken from him long ago. Even though I may not be as powerful as those two, I am no weakling, and I fight for my home, and the people of Spiral Sanction. What you fight for, even if you don?t know what it is, is always there, and it gives you strength. So, will you join Veil?
Mizutoki: ?.
Riku: The man who seeks peace is often the most powerful of warriors. If you truly don?t want others to die because of this war?Then use your power, and help us stop it.
Mizutoki: Then, why my blade?! Sir Uchiha is much more powerful than I! Let him fight for you.
Lawliet: Its not that simple, Mizutoki. Everyone here, is special. Riku, is a what you would call a Weaver. He has exceptional sword skills, and he can use a single element: Ice. But he has...other abilities, as well. I am a rare NeoKnight. I am able to use Magic to a full extent, like no other Knight can do, and my swordplay is on par with Sir Ranthian. Akiza, she is a Magician, and a powerful one at that. She nearly has the ability to halt time. Lord Versuvio, is a Cleric, with the power to bring the very wrath of the Gods themselves down on the enemy. Jake Uzumaki, has the ability to not only teleport, but divide himself into four separate beings, what some call a Doppelganger.
Miztoki: But why do you need me? I have no powers like those; I am merely a swordsman.
Another woman decended from the steps, wearing intricate navy robes, with silver symbols emblazoned on them, along with a golden scarf draped over each of her shoulders.
Akiza: Because we were drawn to you. Each one of us has been shown inside the Mercury Pool. You are always the last face shown in the Pool, and you linger the longest in it. Your powers will be revealed as you fight for us.
UzumakiJake: I, for one, would be honored to serve by you. Will you join us?
The most powerful people in Veil stood there, waiting for Mizutoki?s answer. He looked up, a stern look on his face.
Mizutoki: Give me a sword.
Hours later, Mizutoki was standing on a balcony of the main Tower of Veil?s base, over looking a forest covered in mist; the Spiral Sanction was far in the distance.
There was the squeaking of the hinges, as Riku walked through the door, a blade in hand. He was not wearing his blindfold, and his eyes were a deep blue, and hard as ice, but there seemed to be a pang of something lost in them.
Riku:Here, you?ll need this for tomorrow; your coming with Lawliet and I to tackle an outpost of Golds.
Mizutoki:That sword you had? What was up with that?
Riku:Tomorrow, you will be bestowed with some mercury from the Pool. It has the ability to reveal a person?s true worth. Eventually, that mercury will form a weapon. That weapon will fit you perfectly, and will be indestructible. But don?t worry about it for now. Just get some sleep. Welcome to Veil.
And with that, Mizutoki was left alone on the balcony.
Mizutoki:?I just wonder?if fighting this war will be worth it.
Throwing a white stone that he had picked up off the ground into the forest, Mizutoki turned, went inside the castle, and started preparing for the next day, reflecting on all he?d been told in the last few hours.
The entire war was a sham, a tool used by a group of revolutionaries. Veil was there to keep the war in a manageable state, and to stop that Rebellion.
But was more going on than what any of them grasped?
