The Creed's Emergence

Chapter Thirteen: Under The Stars

The storm had lessened up as the day went on. The once pouring rain became a soft drizzle. Even if the air was still cold, the worst had ended. The Decrepit had now put their uniforms back on and exited the dormitory, wondering where to head next. There was still a lot to explore, and a lot to show Anika. The girl had climbed onto Thorn's back with her arms gently wrapped around his neck. She hung onto him, nestling her head into his fluffy collar. Without having to worry about Bramble going berserk again, the Decrepit were relaxed. The tense air had vanished. The Church was beginning to regain its liveliness. People were filling the hallways, wandering to their next destination. There was no longer eerie silence, only cheerful chatter. The people may have spoken in whispers, but the sheer volume of voices made everything sound louder. It was a relief to see people again.

The Decrepit exited the Church, walking down the long flight of stairs leading into the city below. Everything looked much different, however. So many things looked shiny, all because of the puddles the rain had left. Candlelight reflected off the puddles, giving everything an odd glow. The sweet smell of petrichor filled the noses of all. It reminded Anika of the good times back at home. She couldn't help but take in deep breaths, taking in every different smell. The air felt fresher. It wasn't full of fumes from factories, cars, or fast-food restaurants. It felt like the air of a lush forest when she had gone camping as a young girl. Anika shook her head, shaking off the tiny raindrops that had landed on her hood. The soft drizzle wasn't bothersome, but Anika was much more used to carrying an umbrella. She wondered what her friends thought. They didn't look bothered by the rain. Moon was particularly interested in it. He held out his hand, letting it be covered in the miniature pearls of water. His pale skin appeared to be sparkling in the orange light.

As they descended into the city, they got closer to each other, not wanting to lose themselves among the crowd. People laughed, danced, and ate together. The city was as lively as usual. Even if the rain had ruined most of the day, people returned to their busy days as nothing had happened. Lanterns were being lit again, curtains were opening, and people opened their doors to welcome the citizens and travelers. Many hooded vendors walked by, carrying carts of fruit, vegetables, and other small trinkets. They carefully walked, making sure their goods wouldn't fall if they skipped a bump in the road. Many goods jingled like bells or rattled. One was hauling a cart of steaming hot baked goods. It smelled like heaven. Steam wafted from the wooden compartments. Without a word, Thorn called out to the vendor. He ran over, then took out a few gold coins from his pocket. He pointed to a few bread-like pastries, then handed the gold over to the man. The man's face lit up as he received the coins, then he took the pastries, packed them up in a bag, and handed them to Thorn. As the vendor walked away, Thorn took out one pastry from the bag.
"This is something a lot of people eat. It's bread filled with cheese and ham." He told her, handing the pastry to Anika. He listened to her make a delighted squeal. Anika grabbed the loaf, in awe at it. The loaf was soft like a sponge. The steam it let off smelled like mozzarella and roasted ham. Anika took a bite out of the pastry. Her eyes widened, then seemingly sparkled.
"It's amazing.." She said in a muffled voice. She began eating, savoring every flavor. It wasn't like the bread at home, which was at times old or stale. Sometimes the pastries were even reheated, never fresh. It was a rare occurrence to receive fresh bread baked moments before. The crust of the bread was crunchy and didn't taste bad like normal bread. Anika was at a loss for words at how delicious it was. Meanwhile, Thorn handed the loaves to Moon and Crow. He wished he could eat as well, but he wasn't able to. But seeing Anika so happy was enough for him. Seeing her so glad about food made him feel fuzzy inside again. She was indeed cute. Her mouth was stuffed with bread, and her rosy cheeks puffed up like those of a chipmunk. Her hands were tiny. They tightly gripped onto the loaf as if someone was threatening to take it from her. Unlike Moon and Crow, they were eating normally. Moon tore out a piece of the bread with his razor-sharp teeth, munching on it as he looked around. Crow only nibbled lightly, like a bird. He tried to savor the flavors, while Moon just wanted something to satisfy his appetite.
"The Outerlands has a ton of food, both recipes made by us, or recipes imported from other lands," Thorn explained, folding the bag and putting it away. He knew from experience, from before he had become a Decrepit, and because of the brothers. He could recall their adventures finding the best food in the city. He looked around, trying to find another place where he knew there was good food. Some places seemed to be closed due to the rain.
"If everything is closed, you can take me another time." Anika had finished her loaf quite quickly. She wiped the crumbs off her lips with the back of her hand. The drizzle had become a light rain, and she now looked up at the dark sky.
"The rain seems to be coming back again too, I think we should just take shelter." She looked back at Thorn, who seemed disappointed.
"It shouldn't be an issue, but you could get a cold. We're used to all of this but you aren't." Moon pointed out, slowing down to be side to side with Thorn.
"Well, if you insist. Let's go find someplace to stay." Anika nuzzled her face into the fur collar. She sniffled a little, but suddenly a strand of fur went into her nostril. She let out a tiny sneeze, which sounded like a little baby bunny. Immediately the others panicked.
"Did I just jinx it?!" Moon placed both of his hands on the sides of his head in disbelief.
"Ahaha! No, it was just fur that got in my nose, sorry!"
"Thank goodness, you had us worried." Moon let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes. Soon, he began to laugh. He then paused, staring up at the sky. The raindrops were growing in size as more rain began to close in on the city. He watched birds fly above, then looked down.
"This reminds me of my mother, a lot." His voice lost its cheerful tone. Before he could say anything else, Crow quickly wrapped an arm around him. The brothers were silent, but Moon was comforted. Moon didn't want to ruin the mood, however. He shook his head, forcing a smile onto his face.
"Anyways, let's go somewhere where the rain won't get us." He said, attempting to hide the vague sadness in his voice.The group quietly followed. Here and there, Anika shifted on Thorn's back. She got comfortable and eventually fell asleep with her face nestled in the fluffy collar. Thorn knew she'd fall off, so he gently took her off of his back and carried her in his arms. She didn't wake up, thankfully. To keep her fully shielded from the rain, he laid his cloak over her. She was fully asleep and didn't stir. Thorn picked up the pace as rain began to pour. Then, he broke into a run. The others followed, desperately searching for someplace to take shelter in. People were running all over the place, screaming or shouting. Some hid under awnings, others under roofs. Some were unlucky and had to get soaked. Luckily, the group found a small shop that was open and rushed inside. The shopkeeper was a scrawny-looking blonde elf. She cowered in fear seeing the two towering beasts and two equally intimidating men. Her pointy ears trembled, along with the rest of her body. If Bramble had been here, there was no doubt he'd comment on how he could simply snap her in half with his bare hands.
"We're so sorry. We just wanted to stay out of the rain." Moon bowed his head, hoping the shopkeeper would forgive the sudden entrance. The group was somewhat soaked, and water dripped from their horns or robes. Anika woke up, but only made sleepy sounds as she uncovered her face. Around everyone was many shelves full of crystals, plants, and other odd objects. Windchimes hung from the ceiling, barely brushing against the Decrepit's horns. Somewhere nearby, a colorful parakeet flew by, landing on one of the bonsai trees by the windowsill. The rain pounded against the roof, echoing throughout the building. Thorn split from the group, deciding to go take a look around. He made sure to duck a little to not bump his horns into anything. He wanted to see what everything was, and what they did. However, it was mostly because of Anika. She extended her hand, gently touching a shimmering crystal statue with a finger. It was a statue of a girl holding a beautiful rose. Everything was made ever so delicately. Every detail had been carved carefully, even the folds in clothes had been carved out. The clothes looked so real as if they were truly made of soft fabric. Anika's gaze shifted towards another statue, this time of the Dead Chaos God himself. It was made of shining obsidian, and the eyes were made of rubies. He was in a pose similar to a dragon about to take off into the skies. His large bat-like wings were beginning to unfurl. All three of his heads had a nasty snarl, exposing their razor teeth.
"You know when the rain will stop?" Anika heard Moon ask the shopkeeper. She looked at him, noticing how he now leaned against the counter.
"Probably in an hour. I don't know, that's what the florist said." The elf shyly stood up straight, now moving her hair from out of her face.
"At least, we're just trying to show the girl around. She's new." Moon motioned towards Anika, then turned towards the other Decrepit. Thorn silently stood by the entrance, not exactly wanting to go anywhere. He wanted to guard just in case. Even though no one would come in because of the rain, his instinct remained. Crow had been close to Moon, watching the parakeet gingerly preen its mint-colored feathers. The bird stopped preening its feathers and quickly hopped onto Crow's arm. Using its beak and tiny claws it began to climb up his arm. It reminded him of his own crows, even though they rarely visited since they were constantly flying, he felt some nostalgia.
"Say... Have you heard about the rumors lately?" Now that the elf had become less afraid of the Decrepit, she spoke in a much more clear tone.
"Rumors? No, not at all." Moon stared down at her, intrigued.
"I overheard that a friendly convert said that he saw an island of pink trees somewhere in the distance while traveling with some Sect. He wasn't quite sure if it was a new continent or a very large island. But before they could get close, a dense mist surrounded them." The elf explained, remembering the young man that she saw that day. He was smaller than Moon but had tree branch-like antlers and pink hair. A dark-colored scarf covered his mouth, and a dense shadow obscured his eyes.
"So they were true then, I also heard something similar." Moon crossed his arms as a small smile appeared on his face.
"Plus, there have also been sightings of auroras appearing in the night sky more frequently than ever. People speculate a new God has joined the Church." Immediately, the attention of the others was caught. The Decrepit looked at the woman, and Anika also looked, peeking out from under Thorn's cloak.
"I'd be honored to meet them." Moon nodded, holding his hand over his heart.
"It's always a pleasure to meet a new God that joins our side. We'll always need reinforcements against the Sect." He lowered his hand, then he came over to Crow's side and began to gently pet the parakeet with his finger. The fluffy bird liked his touch and began to chatter softly. Moon began to wonder what the God was like if they even existed. There had to be one in hiding, waiting to be revealed to the world by Meirkien. He wanted to see them and know what they were capable of. Every few years, a new God would show up, whether it be to speak to Meirkien or join him. Many wished for a truce or alliance, others wanted to help him take his brother down once and for all. Meirkien rarely took another God under his wing, but when he did, it was because he knew they had potential.
The rain slowly stopped, and the clouds gave way to the glittering stars. Thorn had bought a few things for Anika, and the group said their goodbyes to the shopkeeper as they began to exit the building. People slipped out of their homes and shops, staring up at the sky. They watched the clouds part, and the moonlight finally pour onto the dark city. The air was chilly, but there was no harsh wind. There was only a slight breeze. Despite that, Anika still held Thorn's cloak against her face. She covered her nose and mouth, hoping that the cold wouldn't get to her too much. Without the rain, the group could finally go explore other places for once. Maybe other parts of the land, or the city. There was still a lot to see and experience. However, the thoughts of the island of pink trees lingered in their minds. They knew they had to go there for themselves and see what was there. More and more word of it was coming out. Moon did seem to feel an odd connection with it, however. It was as if the island called out to him. He felt an unexplainable urge to go there. Yet, without Bramble, the group couldn't go. He didn't know what dangers lurked on the island. While he was capable of taking them down, Bramble was the one that helped the most if there were many enemies. He was much more advanced with his brutal style of fighting than the others. Too much began to linger in Moon's mind as he walked towards the outskirts of the city. The others didn't say a word, besides Thorn, who was talking to Anika in a quiet voice. Moon couldn't make out what the Decrepit said to the girl, but she seemed delighted. Her cheeks turned bright pink, like the color of fresh peaches. Moon quickly looked away, clenching his hands into fists. He let out a sharp sigh but made sure no one else heard it. Deep within his mind, he couldn't help but think about Anika. He wanted to protect her, and yet Thorn was doing it himself. But he couldn't continue his train of thought for long. He focused on the present, now deciding on where to go next.
"We should go to the fields, I'm sure the stars can be seen much better from there." He looked towards the rest of the group, getting rid of his slightly uneasy look.|
"Sounds good. Lead the way." Moon still didn't say anything by the time they had left the city and began their short walk to the fields of long grass nearby. There were puddles everywhere, and mud was being squished beneath their shoes. Thorn's foot nearly sank in, but he was able to pull it out without skipping a beat. He stared at the fields, seeing owls fly by as they hunted for their meals. There was also a small herd of deer grazing. They had their heads lowered, and didn't notice the newcomers. Unlike the ones at home, these were much different. They were the same size as regular deer, but their pelts were dark with reddish-brown streaks along the back. The males had spiky antlers which curved backward instead of towards the center. Anika didn't say a word. She watched the grazing deer, then stared up at Thorn. He looked right back down at her, and his gaze softened up. The sky was now visible when the trees lessened and opened up to the fields. The deer quickly ran off back into the forest, then hid.|
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Thorn set Anika down, then gently held her hand. He was careful not to accidentally prick her with his sharp claws.
"It is, I can see so many stars from here," Anika observed the many stars above. They all shined brightly. Even the edges of the galaxy were visible. There was no light pollution that could ruin the night sky. Every detail of the heavens was visible; from comets, to even shooting stars. The storm from earlier had now turned into wispy clouds that moved further away from the city. More of the sky was uncovered. Thorn knelt down, now eye-to-eye with Anika. His many pupils focused on her.
"I'm just... Glad... To have you around. We haven't known each other for too long, but... I feel happiness for the first time." He knew his words came out of nowhere and had nothing to do with the stars. But he was getting somewhere. Anika glanced over at him, smiling softly.|
"I enjoy your presence, Thorn. You're like a friend I've always wanted to have, someone strong, kind, and charming." She stared back up at the stars.
"Anika." Thorn hesitated on finishing his sentence. But he soon brought up enough courage to say it.
"- I want to spend more time with you. I hope to continue and start many adventures by your side. No matter what, I will be with you, guiding you through the dark, and I want to learn your ways."
Anika's smile faded. She looked back at Thorn. Thorn hoped that Anika hadn't taken offense to his words, or taken them the wrong way. But he was relieved when an even bigger smile came onto her face. She suddenly hugged him.
"Of course. Let's make the most out of our lives. I'll teach you so much." Green and pink light flooded onto the field. Above the group, ribbons of light waved. Anika pulled away from the hug and watched the lights. It was almost as if the sudden hug had caused them. But there had to be another explanation. The air even felt heavy and static.
"I think I can sense divine energy." Crow had started to act oddly. His eyes were a different color now, and he seemed more skittish.
"You think it's that new God?" Moon brought out his sword, unsure if the God was nearby, or their mere presence was affecting the sky.
"You want to go see?" Thorn stood back up, adjusting the sash of teeth on his chest.
"I think it's best if we stay together. Who knows if this God is hostile or not?" Moon got closer to the two, keeping a close eye out for any abnormal creatures. The world around them was silent. Not a single animal made a sound. Nothing moved in the forest, and no divine presence was near or approaching.
However, Splinter began to sense something the others couldn't. He turned towards a dark part of the forest, slowly taking out a weapon the others hadn't seen before. It was a silver-colored rapier, adorned with jewels. His pupils darted around until they locked onto something. Something ran through the forest. Splinter went on ahead to intervene. Whatever it was, it brought out a weapon. Both clashed, and sparks flew. Moon and Crow turned, now preparing themselves. But they paused when they heard a voice.
"W-wait! I'm not a Sect! I'm a Damned!"
There was silence. Then, Splinter came from the darkness, holding a Damned by the collar. The Damned grabbed Splinter's hand, trying to pry it off of himself. Splinter was unphased, and he soon dropped the Damned to the ground in front of the brothers. The Damned got up, rubbing his head. Upon seeing the brothers, especially Moon, he kneeled.
"A-ah... Greetings, the Equitable." He was clearly a little afraid but tried not to show it.
"Rise. What were you doing out here alone?" Moon asked, becoming serious. He crossed his arms, sharply staring down at the Damned.
"I was searching for Relics, and I saw the lights. Reliquire did mention a new God so I wanted to go find it." The Damned responded, standing back up. He was much shorter than Moon, but unlike him, his skin was darker, and he had less of a strong build.
"So it is actually true, then. Everything I heard was real." Moon snickered."I think the new God is in the Church, probably conversing with Meirkien or even fighting him to prove that they're worthy.
"Fighting? That'll be interesting. But we're currently just trying to enjoy the night, a fight wouldn't be-"
" Moon, I want to go see." Anika suddenly cut Moon off. She had a worried look on her face.
"I want to see the new God, and what they're capable of." Her frail body trembled lightly, not from the cold, but from excitement. Moon sighed, then put his weapon away. Then, there came an explosion from the Church. Just above, two beings were dueling. It was hard to see who was winning, or who the opponent was. They soared through the night sky, casting spells or shooting beams.
"Dammit, come on, quick!" Moon started to run off, and so did the others. Thorn grabbed Anika, lifting her into his arms before following. The Damned was close by, and he kept up with Thorn.
"What's your name?" Anika asked the Damned, noticing how he was probably her age.
"Demarc, and yours?"
"Anika."
"Ah, so you must be the new one I heard about, and the one with that crazed Decrepit, right?"
".. Yeah." Anika had now changed her attitude. She frowned, thinking about everything that happened. She lost track of time. It could've been less than a week since she arrived, or more, maybe a month. But she couldn't tell anymore. She couldn't tell the time or tell what day it was. It could've been Monday, or Friday, or Sunday. But she didn't know anymore. Maybe the weeks or months were longer or the same. Yet, at least she was making the most out of her day, however long it was. She met the brothers, Justitiam, and the Decrepit. They were all precious to her. But her original goals. She had abandoned them. She wanted to spread music and the arts. She had set it aside as if it was nothing but a burden to her. For a moment she felt bad about it. All of the things she knew about, and she just tossed it aside. She felt like crying but forced herself to stop. Now, the focus was the duel happening above the Church. It was getting intense, but the true fight had not started yet. Everyone ran faster, hoping to catch the first row seats to the duel between Gods. Demarc especially was staring at the skies, hoping to catch a glimpse of the God that dared to duel Meirkien himself. They had the will to do it, and the bravery. Not many chose to duel him. They feared his power and what he was capable of. Demarc could see the Damned Gods peering out from the Vault to watch the fight. Their figures looked tiny in the distance. Even people in the city stopped to watch. All eyes were glued onto the fight that would decide the fate of this new God. Many hoped that the God would win and that Meirkien would see them as fit to join his growing army. If they won or showed their power just enough, Meirkien would surely allow the new addition, and possibly even give them a share of his power. A new God meant a new member to fight against the Sect, and the sister of the two that threatened everything in her path. The group weaved through the crowds of civilians and members alike. They jumped over fences, praying that they would get to the scene faster. The other God was still hard to see. But they were surrounded by a purple aura that trailed behind them like a comet. The divine aura only got stronger as they approached the stairs to the Church, and the fight was almost right above their heads...