Fairy Tail: The Red Swordsman

Chapter 5 - What have I done?

Regaining some form of consciousness, Lexios shook his head to clear the distortion from his mind. When he opened his eyes he appeared in the midst of a war zone. The remnants of the what was once a row of buildings now resembled mounds of scattered rubble as if struck by an explosion.

As he surveyed the environment, the scene became even more horrifying. Roaring fires waged war from the rooftops, casting a blanket of dark smoke all across the city. The air was filled with a cacophony of screaming and sobbing as people rushed to their loved ones who laid sprawled out littering the city's streets. Some unconscious and some lifeless.

Lexios ran to the nearest wailing woman who held one of the unconscious men against her chest, attempting to rock him awake. As he approached to offer his assistance, the woman turned and screamed, "STAY AWAY!". Lexios came to a halt with a bemused expression, "I'm sorry milady, but what has happened? Who has done this?".

"You did this! You monster! MURDERER!". The words of the distraught woman rang in Lexios's ears. The fear, the hate in her eyes provided enough evidence to answer his question. He surveyed the scene once more, taking in the devastation brought to the city.

He collapsed to his knees as his body suddenly became weak. Shaking relentlessly as if becoming completely zapped of energy, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at his hands, the tools behind the devastation.

This was me? My memory, it's hazy, distorted, it couldn't have been me! The last I remember I was in council with the King then Azrael emerged. As he searched his mind for his most recent memories a wave of fear shot through his body. Hisui! Where is she? Please no!

"Where is she?", he screamed, voice crackling with emotion, "Where's the princess?". Darting frantically around the paths of destruction splayed out before him, he continued to yell in search of Hisui. The city's people cowering with fear as he approached them, screaming like a mad man.

He choked on the clouds of smoke and soot, struggling to catch his breath as the powdery air filled his lungs. Through the smokescreen of ash Lexios caught a glimpse of the emerald green hair of the princess and the silvery plates of Arcadios' armour.

That is when she turned, her gaze finding Lexios amidst the chaos. As her eyes met his, tears streaming down her face, his body began to flood with emotion, as a delicate tear stroked his cheek.

At least you are safe, he thought to himself as a sudden realisation began to set in. I cannot stay here. Look what I have done to this city, to my people, and to you princess.

As his gaze lingered on Hisui, he spoke, whispering into the wind hoping it would carry his message, "I'm sorry, Princess", he said before turning and disappearing as he faded into the veil of ash.

* * *

Lexios ran and ran, not letting up for as long as he could muster the energy to keep going. He ran until nightfall before collapsing to the floor. His breathing was heavy, the world spinning around him.

After taking a moment to recover he felt a ghostly breeze which sent a shiver down his spine. He looked around to realise he had managed to make it to the mountains on the outskirts of the capital. With all the adrenaline rushing through his body he had not noticed the blizzard he had fought his way through up the mountain path. Peering back at the snow laden route he convinced himself that he would be safe for the time being. No one would venture into the snowy heights of the mountains at night, not with the monster's that were known to inhabit the area.

Finding shelter in a nearby cave, Lexios shuddered as the icy winds flowed in through the entrance, piercing his body like knives. With no fire to keep warm, he huddled himself together at the rear end of the cave.

As he fought back his body's will to sleep he could hear a faint howling in the distance, most likely a pack of wolves scouring for a late night meal. He looked around the cave which had peaked his interest. The inner walls seemed to be sculpted purely of ice and were almost completely transparent if not for the outer shell of the mountain.

"Not looking too good there, Lexios", the voice echoing around the icy cavern. Azrael appearing like a ghostly apparition in front of him.

"Where have you been?", Lexios croaked, the cold evidently straining his voice yet the anger was clear.

"I told you what would happen if you lost control. I did warn you, this is on you", Azrael said with a sternness to his voice.

Lexios' eyes pierced with rage as he stared at the Angel. "Be careful now, Lexios. You don't want to lose control again do you?", Azrael said.

"If it rids me of you then so be it. Your presence has been nothing more than a burden thus far. I have lost everything, my people, the sword, I still look like a monster and where were you?", the vein in his neck pulsated as Lexios stumbled to his feet.

His attention turned to the cave entrance. A faint sound like people whispering flooded the cavern as another icy breeze swept in. However, the voices were unusual, although similar they sounded unhuman.

"What are those voices? Where are they coming from?", Lexios turned to Azrael as he struggled to decipher the voices through the blizzard.

Have they found me? I was sure a search party would not be sent out until daylight. The voices were getting louder. Closer. "Who is it?", Lexios questioned Azrael again, his voice with a slight tremble to it now as a feeling of anxiousness cast over him.

Azrael stood, unmoved, listening closely to the approaching voices. "Ready yourself Lexios, you will have to fight your way out of here", he said, his tone clear and sincere.

"What is it, Azrael?". Lexios' heart started to race, his body preparing for battle, heeding the Angel's words.

"You picked the wrong cave Lexios. It's Vulcans".