Chapter 11: Flowing sands, Empty Minds

The fog spready out from The Hollows body, the entire basin became his domain, and within they felt the cold chill of death lingering on their skin.

Tenebrous looked at Yu, “I killed your kind before. Back then two kids were lost in the rain, sick and dying.”

His expression contorted as he spoke, “I killed your kind and fed your blood to those children so they could live.”

He looked toward Ban and Yihan, “They lived, they lived valiantly.”

His fists clenched, and his eyes became wide and deer like, “I knew you were a villain from the moment I saw you, a dirty twisted villain.”

Agi only huffed against Yu, “What use are words, come kill, that’s our nature.”

The knights walked toward him slowly, and Tenebrous only responded, “That’s your nature.”

The fog roared to life, splashing against the knights like a wave their bodies split and crunched until they quickly reformed, staying where they stood.

Agi could no longer stand as he slipped down, being grabbed by his shirt and tossed onto Yu’s back.

Tenebrous looked with disdain at the knights, they stood mostly naked, “Even fighting like this?”

Vistar laughed, “Unfortunately our clothes can’t come with us.” But his expression quickly hardened, “However that should be the least of your worries.”

The hazy mist was slowly becoming more boisterous, Tenebrous felt his body becoming more difficult to move and felt hatred in his heart.

Brown fur with ghastly white tips began to crawl up his arms, quicly reaching his torso and head.

Thick, bony antlers protruded and he spit onto the floor, a patch of frost sprouting from it.

The skin of the knights became frosted over, falling off as they healed it.

Tenebrous became translucent as blades barely left a scratch before passing through his body.

His hand lashed out, the ground upturned and rocks flew like boulders, a number of knights scattering into bloody mist.

Each step frosted over the land and the knights were struggling desperately to hold him back.

He clashed with Vistar, his fist slamming heavily into Vistars sword, Cursing Vistar saw his blade freeze over before shattering.

After Tenebrous spun, the ground in his past torn asunder by the air before he connected forcefully with Vistar, sending his body flying.

The knights slowly began to reform from bloody drops as The Hollow stood before Yu.

“Oracle, Fuck off.”

In front of him stood a small woman, she wore azure robes, a green lizard embroided on its surface.

She had glassy eyes, bright golden hair, and stood calmly with her hands at her front.

She had an eerily calm expression, but inside her heart was beating furiously.

She had to desperately resist the urge to turn and look at Agi, she had to maintain composure… Composure…

“You always did have such a foul mouth.”

The Oracle spoke plainly, meanwhile Tenebrous contorted his expresion further.

“You creepy bastard, we never even met before I was Exalted, always spying.”

The Oracle didn’t respond, deep inside she was trying to hold back.

“Agi… We used to spend every night together, how dare they take you from me? How dare you leave me?”

She took a step forward, the mountainous haze doubling on top of Tenebrous.

“Come back to the Order Hollow.”

Tenebrous slashed at her, his claws flying through her like a ghost.

“You aren’t even here, what a pity. I’d love to skin you.”

The Oracle looked at him, her face twisting into disdain.

She pointed her finger, the haze turning into chains, tightly binding Tenebrous as he fell to his knees.

“Why are you protecting him?”

He growled, however the Oracle in an even voice said, “Wouldn’t you do the same for that pet, Carina?”

Exalted Hollow glared, “Don’t say her name with that disgusting mouth.”

She scoffed, “I’ll let you live, I need at least one Exalted who can walk around, those useless fools are getting their punishment.”

Tenebrous huffed, “I don’t give a damn.”

However seeing the knights he knew, right now he was far too vulnarable, he would love to kill Agi right here.

But the knights could easily end him like this.

“I’ll return.”

He looked at Agi as the chains grew lax, “One day, I’ll come to kill you.”

His body turned fog like as he vanished, disappearing from the village.

The Oracle began to turn faint as she turned toward Agi.

“I only have so much influence in this village…” She sighed.

“But we’ll be together again soon, be patient.”

Agi glared as his face contorted, “I will never be with you.”

She became shocked taking a step back, “What?”

Her face became meancing as she approached Yu.

“Is it because of that pest?”

She wasn’t capable of seeing much here, but she had slight glimmers of a blind woman clinging to Agi.

She clenched her fists.

“Have your fun Agi, But when we’re together once more, I’ll ensure you can never leave me again.”

“Twice is enough.”

Her body began to vanish as her eyes traced over Agi, filled with something intense.

Agi had been unable to move his body for a while now, only resting on the back of Yu.

Vistar approached, Yiv hung over his shoulder while other the knights seemed healthy, but their gift blood was exhausted.

They could exert no more force than a normal human, though they will never die.

“Agi, let’s talk.”

Yu snarled and Agi replied, “We have nothing to speak of.”

The chief finally made his way over, “Give it a rest Agi, you have history don’t you?”

Agi looked above, the shimmering runes dancing down as some shattered others fizzling out like a flame.

Agi didn’t reply, but Yu began to settle.

“Chief,” Vistar offered a small bow, “You have my gratitude.”

The chief waved his hand, “Agi is already to involved with my family, I have no choice but to act for him.”

Vistar nodded, before asking, “I’m sorry to trouble you, but do you have any clothes?”

The chief sighed, returning before long with clothes for the knights, Yu followed behind Vistar until he stopped.

“Agi, do you need some help?”

Agi groaned sitting up, sliding off Yu’s back.

“If you could.”

Vistar went behind Agi, setting Yiv down and placing his hands on Agis back.

Feeling the faint heart vessel deep within him, Vistar forced Agis gift blood to move, healing his body, not to full health, but only leaving him with small internal injuries and bruises.

“You don’t have The Gift so this is the best I can do.”

Agi nodded, “Thank you… Vistar.” The name felt strange on his tongue.

“Come Agi, let us find a tavern, we’ve all had a long night.”

Yu let out an uncharacteristic meow before shrinking down until he was the size of a house cat.

Stepping behind Agi he vanished from sight and detection.

Deep within Agi felt the bubbling torrent of force threatening to tear him to shreds, he lurched over, his hand grasping over his heart.

His eyes bulged as he forced it back down.

The side effects of his poison were beginning to show, but for now he could push them down. Not forever but long enough.

Before long Agi found himself seated beside Vistar, the latter had ordered a particularly potent drink.

The knights had take Yiv and gone to recuperate, leaving the tavern empty, save for Vistar and the bartender.

Agi was not one to drink, so he just shook his head at the offer.

“Vistar, I-“

Before Agi could continue Vistar cut him off.

“Your mother is dead, Agi.”

Agis heart shook, and he quickly turned to look at the worn knight, there was not a lick of deceit within.

“What…But, how?”

Agi couldn’t imagine it.

No, he refused to imagine it.

His hands pressed heavily into the wooden counter, the wood splintering beneath, that woman… she would never die easily.

Agis breath grew heavy and he turned to Vistar with a feral look,

“Who did it?”

He growled out, it seemed he had more fight in him than he initially believed.

However Vistar shook his head taking another drink.

“She just died, Agi. Nothing special, no enemy to slay, no one to hate. She just died.”

Agi jumped out of his seat, his fist slamming into the wood, the entire counter collapsing as the bartender leaped back in shock.

“YOU’RE LYING!”

Agi shouted, that can’t possibly be true! It can’t!

Vistar held his drink so as to prevent it from being ruined in Agis outrage, and just looked at, “It is true. I looked for you, I searched and I searched, I paid the order a visit, I followed your tracks.”

Vistar laughed at himself.

“You’ve truly grown! So well that I could never find you! Not even a trace.”

His eyes turned red as he gripped the handle of the glass, shattering it, “Damn it Agi… Damn it.”

Agis hands fell to his side, Vistar was not lying.

But… How? He needed to know.

His gaze fell back onto the knight, “I…Need to know, how did she go out?”

Vistar looked up at the ceiling, “She died in grief.”

Agi furrowed his brows, “What?”

Vistar palmed his forehead, “She fell into grief, thinking your brothers had died. She though she sent you all to your deaths.”

Agi opened his mouth, but no words came out.

His mind was running fast but it eventually slowed…

“She… She’s the one who sent us off… You, What are you not telling me?”

Agi narrowed his gaze, his eyes turning to slits as a beast clawed its way up from the depths of an ethereal plane.

Vistar waved his arm, “You are too suspicious for your own good Agi. I’m telling you how it is.”

He sighed finally, “She had learned the direction you went, the complete opposite of Pekko… Straight to The End.”

He settled his gaze onto Agis, “What kind of children could survive there?”

Agi felt a lump in his throat, but he had no tears, and while a part of him felt sad, another part felt relieved.

He would never have to face his mother.

But how could he, even if he saw her?

“How long ago?”

Vistar replied, “It’s already been six years.”

“…”

Agi went silent, his mind drifting to a time he’d rather forgotten.

“I see.”

Agi sat back down on the stool, before the demolished counter.

The bartender had passed out in fear the moment Agi let his Instinct out of control.

“I know… That you did not have a good relationship with her, but in her final moments, it was your name that she had called.”

Agi felt a squeeze on his heart.

Why him?

She could have called out to anyone else…

Maybe then he wouldn’t have felt this way.

“Vistar, That child… Yiv, who is he?” Agi had already known that Yiv was his little brother, however it was too strange, how could he have just appeared?

“Two years… Two years before you left, Your mother had another child.”

Agi entered deep into thought, two years… It must’ve been around the time he was in the reverse city.

No wonder he hadn’t noticed.

“After I left the city… Why did they hide him from me…?”

Vistard didn’t answer.

“Did you know?”

Vistar looked at the floor, “You have to understand Agi…”

The hunter clenched his fists, “I don’t have to understand anything, how much more did you keep from me?”

“Is there another?”

Vistar stood losing his temper he spoke in a flat voice, “I hid what I had to. Yiv had a purpose, and I had no place intervening.”

Agi stood again, however his expression had returned to its flat expressionless default, “Fine. It doesn’t matter anymore.” He took heavy steps out of the tavern, not looking back a single time.

While Agi left Vistar looked upon him and frowned, he began to call out, he had wished someone had told him this in the past, but the least he could do was tell Agi, whome he had once protected with his heart.

“Agi, I know you may feel lost… I wish someone had told me this before, so I’ll tell you now, make a familty, be happy.”

He had received no response, outside a small shiver.

As Vistar watched his back he could only hold his anguish deep inside. Agi… He had once been the single person Agi could trust.

But now… Did that child have anyone?

He closed his eyes, “Have I still not atoned for my sins?”

“Must I continue to suffer punishment?”

He stood, carrying the bartender and calling a knight to tend to him, later he would fix the damages himself.

Agi had already taken quick steps, hidden beneath the deep abyss, for once he felt irritation at the lack of darkness, it could have been his solace, but instead he was forced to watch the joyful expression of the villagers recovering from the shock that Tenebrous had put them into.

“…”

Why? Why is she here?

Mireille sat atop the stone Agi had used to clear his mind before.

The hill overlooked the village, and nobody ever came here.

It was the perfect place to clear his mind, and yet this woman was here.

Again she was here sitting before his eyes, like an anchor sinking him back down to reality he felt a sense of frustration.

Recently, it seemed she was always there.

She turned, though she wore a blindfold and her eyes could not see, habits lingered.

“Agi…”

She practically whispered.

“What… Are you doing here?”

Agi took strides forward, right now… he just felt empty.

He lacked the will to carry out his frustration, he lacked the will to go elsewhere.

“I… don’t know.”

She squirmed sitting next to him.

“I see…”

But Agi could feel her shoulders shaking besides him.

He looked down, was she…

“Are you crying?”

She shook, “Wha-No!”

The back of her hands rubbed at the blindfold repeatedly, “I’m not crying, I’m not a child Agi!” she lashed out, even as she hiccuped.

“I just…”

She pulled her legs up, setting her face onto her knees, “I didn’t want you to see me like this… So I came here.”

Agi didn’t know how to respond…

Or rather, he couldn’t respond, he had been drained thoroughly.

Receiving no response she began to sniffle, her mouth moving on its own,

“It’s not your fault, I… I’m always alone during the festival anyway… I don’t know whats come over me…”

She laughed at herself mockingly, her blindfold slipping slightly.

“I guess I really wanted you to say yes. As pathetic as I am…”

Agi set his hand on her shoulder, “Stop.”

She held her breath.

“I, I’m sorry, Mireille, I can tell this meant a lot to you, but I just can’t take it right now.”

He looked above at the canopy, the runes still falling, “I really can’t take much more.”

She jerked back, “Do I just mean nothing to you Agi? You can dismiss me so easily, and yet recently, I can only think about you.”

from beneath the blindfold her tears fell faster, “Everyone hates me here! They… I don’t even know, They just hate me, even my own brother… But I thought that maybe you, you who came from nowhere, could at least understand me.”

Agi felt his frustration mounting as he was going to respond, but his eyes opened wide, he coughed wildly, blood coming up in spurts.

His skin gained colored sploches as he fell forward, his body losing strength.

The poison began to come down on him all at once.

“Agi!”

Mireille cried leaning down to grab him, “What, Whats going on?!”

Agis body felt limp, only capable of leaning onto Mireille.

“Agh… I…”

He coughed again,

“I had to… Fight…”

She bit her lip, her heart pounding, “I’ll go find someone.”

But before she could get up Agi grabbed her wrist, “Don’t… I’ll survive.”

She seemed worried, wanting to go but Agis grip reassured her.

“Instead… You told me once,” His voice was weak, “That you wanted to know more about me.”

She nodded and Agi continued, “I’ve… never told anyone about this, about my childhood. But for some reason, I just really want to tell somebody right now.”

The words of Vistar echoed in his mind, “Thinking Your brothers had died,”

“Your name that she had called.”

Mireille, moved her hand atop Agis, “I’ll listen.” she had not wanted to be alone during the festival, and though her tears had yet to dry, she could tell Agi had a lot on his mind.

So for her, this would work just fine.

Agi had distant eyes, staring into a time from long ago, “I was born into a pit of snakes, a ton of snakes who wanted to rend my flesh.”

Mireille felt Agis heavy breathing, his body weakening against hers, and she also felt his hand under her own.

Despite how cold he acted, it was warm.

“I was sired from a forced marriage, damned by both my father and… Mother.”

His eyes became clouded, his mind drifting.

The sound of cooing was closer to a ferocious drum, shaking the attendants to their very cores, most were already on the floor by now, clutching at their chests and coughing.

A tall man with tidy black hair sighed, his expression was cold, utterly devoid of love as he stared blankly at the woman on the bed.

Her eyes, similarly lacked any sign of love, rather it bore immense hatred.

She laughed weakly from the bed, “He’s a monster, just like you.”

Vistar stood uncomfortably besides the Emperor as his eyes lingered on the child within the arms of a knight.

One of the few with a steady footing.

It was a truly terrifying child.

His mind flashed,

It was only moments ago… and yet the scene of that beast crawling from the pits of some godforsaken world was etched deeply in his mind.

Its roar immediately killed multiple attendants… and even some knights shivered.

However the Emperor and the Lady did not seem to care.

Like usual they were butting heads, and though they seemed loveless, Vistar was well aware that they were mutually benefitted in this situation.

However that child… He worried for its fate.

“What a creepy thing, its just like its mother, carrying such a vile and invasive Instinct without even going through the bleeding.”

The Emperors gaze bore into the child, “You’ll be a problematic thing, won’t you?”

He took strides to the child, his hand reaching to its head before the heavy thud of iron on carpet turned his head.

Vistar sat on a single knee, his hands clasped above his head, “Your grace, I beg of you, spare this child. It had done no wrong.”

The Emperor chuckled, “Vistar, I always found that pathetic sympathy of yours amusing,” His face turned cold, “But you can only keep so many pets before it becomes annoying.”

Vistar slammed his head down, prostrating, “That child, I will take care of that child!”

The Emperor clicked his tongue in annoyance, and a heavy pressure emenated from him, it was an invasive and vile pressure.

A giant covered in a mass of blood imprinted into the mind of Vistar as his body shook uncontrollably.

The Emperor looked down at him, “Staying conscious in front of my Instinct, It seems you settled your resolve, just a bit.”

“The child, Your grace.”

The Emperor yawned lazily, his gaze transfered over to the woman, who was unable to stay awake amidst her exhaustion.

“Fine, take the child. He will be the Tenth lord. However, He will live within the Isolation hall.”

Vistar was shocked into silence raising his head before a powerful foot forced it back down.

“Insolent thing, do not raise your head while making requests of me.”

Healing from the damage immediately Vistar held his tongue, “I understand, However I must be granted entry for multiple purposes, a child cannot survive there alone.”

The Emperor grunted in annoyance, “Fine, I’ll grant some small privilege.”

“Thank you for your mercy.”

The Emperor left without another word or even looking back.

Vistar rose and approached the knight, “Captain…” The knight said.

“Are you sure about this?”

Vistar took the small child, his gaze travelling to the woman on the bed, “Siv…”

Vistar set his eyes ahead steadily, taking in the child under his gaze.

“I’m sure.”

He began to walk away carrying the child, “I’ll be relying on you all a lot. Don’t disappoint me.”

The knight quickly bowed clasping his hands in front of him, “Understood!”

There would be nothing of note for a short few years, until Agi became Three.

Agi was an eerie child, though perhaps that was to be expected of his upbringing.

Vistar stood beyond the gate of the Isolation hall, it was a fortress of impossible proportion.

Invading the Isolation wall was something that was not possible, Vistar was not aware of how it was achieved, however every Isolation Hall, despite being the same room, was completely Isolated.

Even if you managed to invade, how would you ever find the right room?

Eventually the door opened and an expressionless child regarded Vistar with a cold gaze.

Agi gave a small bow, his hands clasped, “I greet the captain.”

Vistar sighed, ruffling Agis hair, “Didn’t I tell you to stop doing that? How can the Tenth Lord of the Temple bow to a mere knight.”

Agi grabbed his hand, removing it from his head with no change in expression, “Vistar isn’t just a knight.”

Vistar only shook his head, “You can’t ever forget, the dignity of the Temple comes above all else, you must never bow your head before another. Do you understand?”

Agi thought for a moment, before finally nodding.

Vistar smiled warmly, “Good. As long as you understand. Now come.”

Agi trailed behind Vistar, nearly stumbling over himself to keep up with the knight who did not wait for him.

“Today, you will meet your mother.”

Agi flinched, but didn’t have much of another reaction.

But Vistar could see the faint glimmer of excitement that betrayed his emotionless exterior.

And for that, he felt truly sorry. He could only reassure him, reassure him and hope it makes him stronger.

“I will not always be there to hold your hand… Agi. For your own sake, I must send you off to a fate I would not wish upon anyone. I hope one day that you can forgive me.”

“The world is a cruel place.”

Vistar began as Agi stood beside him outside the training hall.

“The world will never be kind to you, whether you stand at its peak, or at the depths of its deepest cavern.

Agi looked up at him, and like usual committed his words to memory, though he would likely not yet understand, this was the most Vistar could do for him.

“Go, your mother is waiting.”

Perhaps… He would be wrong, and Siv will hold him dearly…

Vistar looked inwardly, “Since when did I feed into delusions?”

Agi copied Vistars confident gait as he walked into the training hall.

All around the side were attendants, they cleaned the numberous weapons that lined the walls. Some carried water, others tended to the wounds of training partners.

Meanwhile, in the center of the woven training room there stood a single woman.

She was beautiful, she had strong features, her eyes piercing and her eyebrows sharp, she had a look of youthfulness, though her expression was one of a constant scowl, She had long brown hair, and her eyes were a murky green. 

“I have come to greet mother.”

Agi did not bow his head this time, and perhaps Vistar would have slapped his own forehead at his own foolish teachings.

The woman slowly lowered the heavy sword in her hand, she tossed it aside, “Have you, Beast?”

She took slow strides toward him, “It seems you’ve been taught no manners. But for a feral thing like you, I should have expected as much.”

She sent a kick forward, slamming heavily into his chest and sending him rolling.

His eyes buged and he coughed repeatedly,

“Huh…? Wha…?”

His mind spun and he couldn’t stand no matter how hard he tried.

It hurt… It hurt! it hurt! it hurt!

“Aghh!”

He clenched at his chest rolled onto the floor, groaning under the pain.

The woman clicked her tongue, “Not even good as a beast, does it hurt? Then stop groveling and come give me a bow.”

Agi slowly settled his breath, standing back up hesitantly.

He stood a distance away, looking at her wearily, “I… Won’t.”

She furrowed her brow, “I guess that wasn’t enough to teach a beast a simple thing.”

She sighed closing the distance before he could react, she grabbed his hair and kneed him heavily.

Agi lurched over spitting blood.

“Vistar…”

Agi cried out as blood coated his teeth,

“He told me… I can’t bow…”

She held her grip, “Vistar?” She laughed.

“I see, This will be a bit harder then, he is quite the teacher.”

She tossed him aside, “What did he call you? Agi? Let me tell you something, little monster. I gave you no such name.”

She walked over stepping on his chest so he couldn’t stand, “You are just a nameless creature. Just another untamed beast masquerading as a human.”

She kicked him away again, and he slowly rose to his hands and knees.

“Crawling like a beast, It suits you.”

She said kicking him again.

He collapsed against the ground, his breathing coming in short painful bursts.

And as he slowly faded from consciousness he heard his mothers…. no, that womans voice, “Come every day at the same time. If you make me wait you will receive a punishment.”

Agi starred emotionlessly at her back as she walked off, however his heart was filled with hatred.

He would only awaken within the Isolation hall two days later.