Child of Omens: Part 3

Chapter 6: Carved My Own Path

The trip had taken longer than expected as Summer made sure Ky flew carefully in Vale territory as not to attract too much Grimm attention, and the ones that they did attract, Dante got to have fun with. This precaution had extended their flight by about two days or so. But this extension of the flight wasn't doing Falke any favors. It was as though the closer they got to the Branwen camp, the more his condition became apparent. The black cracks that the Yamato had were starting to appear on the sheath as well as the handle, and they also began to travel up his arm, leaving noticeable black lines. But he assured the others that he would make it. He had to; it was the only thing he could do.

Ky(intercom): "We're approaching the camp. I radioed ahead so they won't try and shoot us down."

Summer(intercom): "We should be there within the hour, so don't get too nasty."

Vergil: "I still don't see why we have to use this mode of transportation. Can't Falke just use the Yamato to open a portal?"

Dante: "Vergil, I already told you. The kid can't be stressing his body or the Yamato. It could speed up his condition, and he's already looking worse as it is. You'll just have to suck it up and deal with using a bullhead like everyone else."

The two would start a small childish argument, but Falke wasn't in the mood to babysit. His mind was elsewhere; he thought of Raven. Why did he have a vision of her dying? Could it have been a dream? Or could it really have been a foretelling of events to come? He remembered what Salem called him "Child Of Omens." Omens we're signs, a sign of things to come, either good or bad. Was seeing the fate of loved ones something he could do as the Child of Omens. Then his mind wandered to the Yamato. Why was it going through this sickness? Why was it affecting him? Why now? Could this have gotten worse because the Yamato doesn't see him as worthy to wield it? His mind finally went to what it always went to, Pyrrha. He thought of her fiery red hair, her gem-like emerald-colored eyes, the way her smile always brought him such peace and joy. He feared that one day he'd see a dream or vision of something happening to her. He couldn't fathom what he would do to have just one more day with her.

Dante: "-isn't that right, kiddo?"

Falke: "Huh? Oh! Sorry, my mind was elsewhere."

Vergil: "He was thinking of Pyrrha again."

Dante: "Awww, to be young and in love." Falls groans in annoyance.

Vergil: "Do not let his jesting get to you, grandson. While love is admittedly convoluted, it does grant the strength to push forward even when you have nothing left to give. Never forget that."

Two days earlier. Argus, Mistral.

After Sam and Neo got themselves ice cream, to be more exact, Sam bought Neo enough ice cream for two. Sam also chose to hide that all the money he had was looted off of corpses in what's left of Vale. Neo told Sam about how she used to work with a woman named Cinder, who worked for the Queen of Grimm, Salem. Sam nodded as if he knew, but he had no idea who any of those people were. She explained how after she tried to get revenge but was stopped by a guy named Falke, who apparently was a demon. Sam was trying to convince himself he was awake and not dreaming at this point. Neo ended up giving up her revenge as there was no way to accomplish it, and she went back to being a spy under the employ of The Spider.

Sam: "Neo, I'm going to be honest with you. That story sounds really out there, if you know what I mean."

Neo(typing): "How is it far-fetched? Did you not see the battle at Atlas?"

Sam: "I've only heard a bit of it, but only from a single person. Who I think was pretty biased about it."

Neo(typing): "You're an awfully strange person, Samuel. We're nearing the meeting area. A couple of things you should know, only call her Mam unless otherwise, and please don't make an ass out of yourself."

Sam: "Well, I'll try and be on my best behavior." Neo gives him a thumbs up.

Heading into a small warehouse, Sam spots a small table with a figure sitting on the other side. He couldn't see who it was as the lack of light obscured them. Neo gestures for Sam to sit, which he does. When he sits, the lights flash on, blinding him. Regaining vision, he sees multiple people pointing guns directly at him. Sitting across from him is an older woman with blond hair. To Sam, she almost looks like a middle-aged mother. But he wasn't about to open his mouth to point that out.

Miss Malachite: "Well, well, well. If it isn't Samuel, I've heard about your little investigation into me and my organization. You may call me Miss Malachite, but be warned as of now; I am the only thing on this planet keeping you alive. My little Neo here tells me you wanted to speak with me. So here's how this is going to go, I ask two questions and get two truthful answers, and then you may ask 1 question, and I MIGHT give you an answer. Do we have an understanding?"

Sam: "Yes, mam, Miss Malachite."

Miss Malachite: "Good boy. Now, who do you work for?"

Sam: "I don't work for anyone, and I'm not in league with any other group. I'm just alone."

Miss Malachite: "Alright then. Let me ask you this. How is it that in my vast empire of collected knowledge, so much so that I know everything about anyone, YOU DO NOT EXIST? You have no facial recognition, no documents detailing who you are, and no one knows you except you. The only footprint you leave is the one in the mud. Explain that?"

Sam: "...*sigh* Two weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the decimated city of Vale. I had, and still have, no memory of who I am. My name, I made up on the spot. My clothes and weapon, looted off of corpses. The only thing that I have are memories that are leading me to somewhere I don't know. That's why I came here. Ironwood told me someone here could help me."

Miss Malachite: "Ironwood?! What in the hell are you doing with Ironwood?"

Sam: "I met him as he was traveling down her to Mistral. He said he was meeting an agent he had down here he was meeting with."

Miss Malachite: "Huh...That is quite useful. Tell me about your memories. What do you see?"

Sam: "A symbol. It occurs in every single one of them." Drawing the symbol, he hands it over to her.

Miss Malachite: "Hah! My luck. Sam, sweetheart, this is the symbol for the Branwen Clan. By far the most dangerous people on the continent. But luckily for me, I can kill three birds with one stone. How about this? I'll get you there, but you have to help me. You see, I want to "remove" Ironwood from the equation as well as whatever is left of his forces, so whatever is left of Atlas will be for the taking by my organization. You and a couple of my people will meet with the Branwen clan under the flag of an alliance so that we may assist them in removing the remaining forces from their territory. When it's done, you can go about your business. How about it, Samuel?"

Sam: "Well, Miss Malachite. You got yourself a deal."