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Interlude: Buried at Sea

"Nothing will ever wash you of your sins. Scrub as much you want, bathe and pray. It won't matter. It isn't a matter of whether or not you can be 'clean' again. It's a matter of whether or not people - the world - can forgive you."

_ _

Othello Goodhusband

Talkin' 'bout You

Forgotten Island

Jacob is a creature of many surprises.

He surprised me when he apologised to me over something as trivial as artistic opinion and he surprised me again when he refused to step through his father's dilapidated summer home. For someone who was strangely confrontational in the past, he had become rather reserved ever since our battles in Graesham. I don't think he knew it yet but he was actually starting to mature as a person.

It wasn't bad. Part of me was pleased to be talking to an adult instead of an impulsive child.

Okay, maybe 'adult' was too strong a word.

He was a teenager, at best.

It wasn't bad but first and foremost, he was a friend and I didn't want him to lose sight of who he was because of some socially accepted standard. As he and I rushed toward the source of the disturbance, I was sure that I didn't want anyone else by my side, reckless maverick or not.

Another explosion rang out somewhere in the distance, a plume of smoke rising between the heavily decorated buildings. Citizens of Angelsea dove into their homes, barricading themselves behind hard, iron doors. There were no screams of panic and everyone moved with a frightening, ordered ease that set my fangs on edge.

I looked beyond the beauty of the city and saw what it truly was.

A fortress.

As we wended our way towards the palace, I noticed the slight slant of the narrow footpaths. The canals remained level. Stairwells and small docks dispensed evenly along the watery arterials to allow for easy access to the walkways. What caught my attention was the glint of metal on the roofs the buildings.

The flash of a gun barrel?

My eyes were drawn along a path towards the palace. Each of the buildings slanted towards the central structure but each individual structure looked more like a castle turret than a home. It added a medieval equality to the aesthetic of the city but it also added defensibility. My left foot sent a small rock skittering down the narrow steps from one of the docks. As I watched it fall, I drew an imaginary line between the bouncing rock and the gaps of those fortress walls. Each of the gently rising buildings had a clear vantage point to these docks.

The canals were wide enough that anyone standing on the roofs could fire down at people trying to work their way up from the waters and certainly deep enough to hinder any who fell in. With the footpaths so narrow and the stairs barely wide enough to accommodate two people walking abreast, it was a killing zone for invaders. The slanting nature of the buildings also ensured that if someone were to capture a building, there would always be one right next door that was higher and thus ruined all potential cover.

Angelsea was built for art including the art of war.

"Jo!"

I skidded to a halt, glancing left and right searching for Jacob's voice. A short distance behind me and halfway across a bridge, he stood, waving at me to hurry.

Perhaps my paranoia was just getting the best of me. The glint of metal might not have been a gun. Probably just a pot or some toy left by a child. I threw aside my suspicions and hurried towards the golden-haired wolf, following him towards the source of the explosions.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

I found it strange that amongst the thunderous erupts, no civilian screamed. Even the people of Pollenburn and Graesham panicked when something terrible occurred. Every corner we turned, doors were already tightly shut or men and women hurried their families into their homes without so much a glance over their shoulder.

Why weren't they panicking?

My thoughts were pushed aside when a soft chattering sound like a million, metal plates slapping together met my ears. I swivelled my ears forward, eyes searching for the source of the sounds. Jacob and I stood at the centre of a footpath, the entire city oddly silent. My hackles stood on end, the fur on my tail feeling like individual, icy needles that poked into my flesh and injected fear into my veins.

No explosions rang out.

"This is the part where they come to kill us, isn't it?" Jacob asked.

The affirmative came when one of the nearby building just exploded.

Boom!

There was no fire.

Just a wave of water.

"What the -?" I began, reaching for the two, long hair needles that stuck crossed through my hair.

The wave twisted in the air, forming a single tube of cascading waters. The faint light from the streets glinted off the surface of the water. A strange metallic sheen flashed across my vision. I couldn't see through the seemingly sentient waves.

This wasn't water.

"Jacob -"

He stood his ground, making swinging motions with both his paws. Light danced from the specialised gloves he wore, forming the shape of his signature blades, Radiance and Requiem. The silvery sheen and jagged edges of Requiem seemed so brutal compared to the shining light of Radiance's gold and white.

But he wasn't fast enough.

The torrent of water, as if sensing his intention, twisted in midair and bolted straight towards him. He instinctively crossed his blades in a vain attempt at self-defence.

Whoosh!

I screamed out his name but had to cut it short and dive towards the ground. I heard the sound of flesh being torn asunder. My ears folded against my skull as I felt the rush of the strange, metallic water sweep above me. I dared a peek upwards, catching a glimpse of the 'liquid'.

Fish.

They were fish with the hollow, featureless eyes of Unsealed. Each of them had bodies that looked so thin and metallic that they could practically be living razor blades. Coupled in the horde that they travelled in, they were a venerable storm of -

"Jacob!"

Thump.

A bloody mess landed a few short feet away. Pinned to the ground by the low-flying Unsealed, I crawled forward in a hurry. The corrupt fish trailed away, diving straight into another home and no doubt shredding its inhabitants to ribbons. Looking at Jacob only made me fear how the innocents would have turned out.

His clothes protected him from most of the damage. Thanks to it being made of special mythril metal, it was tough and managed to prevent and damage. However, his face was slashed in so many place it was barely recognisable. The bloody pulp in front of me slowly began to knit flesh together, his unnatural regeneration starting to kick in.

I didn't know the limits of his powers or how long it would take for him to get back to his feet but I wasn't willing to risk him being exposed and torn into smaller chunks.

Boom!

The Unsealed erupted from another building, arching towards another and disappearing from view. No structure was safe. I grasped Jacob's arms and dragged him slowly down one of the stairs to the docks near the canals. His blood stained our path like a stroke of a paintbrush using blood. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible but with his head in bits, I didn't know how much that would help him.

I had to wonder if his mind would even remain intact or if I'd have to deal with a comical amnesiac Jacob Reaper. As much as I would love to completely rewrite him, there were qualities that I liked that I don't want to lose. His courage. His determination. His loyalty.

My priorities, however, rested with the Unsealed.

"You specialise in the arts of Water, correct?"

I went rigid. I gripped the hair needles tightly and they immediately unfolded into the twin sai that I had become known for. My tail whipped through the air as I spun, readying my weapons in what I hoped was a threatening pose.

Sierra Seasinger clucked her tongue, shaking her head as she hobbled towards me. Her cane snapped out, tapping my left leg. "You're standing too stiffly. You'll easily lose your balance. Spread your legs out wider and distribute your weight evenly. Put your weight on the balls of your feet so you're ready to move. Those precious seconds when you shift your weight to move could determine your life or death."

I blinked a couple of time and adjusted my footing.

"That's better," she beamed. Her grey-furred paw reached out and gently gripped my left wrist. She guided it a little backwards, forcing me to bend my elbow. "Keep your arms bent. You have to move more if you're moving from an outstretched position than if it's bent."

Realising that my right arm was similarly outstretched, I did the same.

"That's a good girl. You learn fast." Her eyes drifted to Jacob. He had started breathing again but it was ragged and sounded bloody. "Let me guess... He is the gung-ho type that charges first without thinking?"

"Not really. He's the type that likes to measure his enemies through battle."

"Overconfident then," the Elemental Lord said. She shook her head. "Happens all the time with those possessing some form of unnatural regenerative abilities. They obtain a sort of 'immortality complex'. Most of them become 'badasses' because they believe they can do whatever they want and the consequences will simply be washed away when their bodies reform."

I watched her hobble towards Jacob, kneeling beside him. "No matter how many times your body reforms, your sins will remain. Shedding your skin will not wash away your faults. They are imbedded in your heart, your soul, and never go away."

She lifted her free paw towards Jacob's face. Water jumped from the nearby canal and encased her paw. A gentle, blue glow emanated from the globe as she gently pressed it towards his skin. His flesh began to reform at a faster rate. I could actually start to see his face beyond all the slashes now.

"How did you do that?" I asked, awed.

"The mortal body is made mostly of water," she answered calmly. "I cannot bring the dead back to life nor can I repair dead flesh but as long as they are regenerating, I can help provide the necessary nutrients for the body to recover so long as I use waters from Angelsea. By rights, he should already be dead but from what I hear, your magical Brands have some qualities that defy known science."

My paw idly went to my right thigh where I knew my Brand would appear should I unleash its power.

I glanced at the waters in the canals, eager to change the subject. "What makes the water here so special? Isn't it just ocean water?"

Her laugh made me feel both a little foolish and comforted at the same time. "My dear, no. All the waters in Angelsea come from my palace, generated by special mineral-infusing Seals. It's fresh, mineral water that's free for all. You'll notice that those that live here are much healthier than most because of it." She smiled down at Jacob as his muzzle started to reform. "In the right quantities, you'll find that the waters of this place have enough minerals to form a mortal body."

"That's amazing..."

That clicking noise sent ripples of fear down my back.

Boom!

An entire city block erupted in a burst of rubble. Something flammable must have ignited as fire erupted one of the buildings, adding to the duo of black plumes of smoke that was already rising past the Seagate. The school of Unsealed surged towards us.

Panic flooded my system and all I could think to do was to protect myself. Earth was solid and I often used it to defend myself but I quickly remembered I was in the middle of the ocean. Time was against me and all I could think to do was seize the waters of the canals near me with my magical strength. It was like uttering a prayer in my mind. I pleaded for the water to move as I willed and it obeyed.

A pillar of canal water erupted in front of the school.

And they just surged through it.

Didn't think water could stop fish. They were barely soaked!

My heart stopped...

... and so did the Unsealed.

I watched in quiet awe as the Unsealed suddenly stopped in midair. The thin glaze of water that had covered them began to solidify, a thin coating of ice wrapping around them.

"I am sorry if that was your intention, my dear," Sierra said, hobbling quietly beside me. "I simply didn't want to see you hurt."

My eyes drifted towards her, at how calmly she stood and the gentle smile on her features. Her watery eyes were filled with the same benevolence one would expect from one's own grandparents. Remembering Jacob, I glanced past her to where he stood, rubbing his head. He stared at his own paws, blinking in confusion.

"If you don't mind," Sierra began, nodding towards the Unsealed. "I shall finish these off before Neptune makes his appearance."

"Nep -?"

My unfinished question was answered by a titanic roar. Far in the distance at the outskirts of Angelsea, something absolutely gargantuan leapt from the ocean. The weight of my shock pulled at my lower jaw, prising it open despite fear inducing lockjaw to me. Half of the starry, night sky vanished against the mass of the creature. Gold glinted off a long, broad body built for deep movement through the sea. Its bulbous, blunt head was armed with jagged teeth jutting from a mouth that could swallow entire ships whole. About five pairs of flippers jutted from its side, each plated with gold while the upper half of its body was armoured with the same form of plating. Portholes opened across the massive monster's flank, revealing hollowed cylinders.

"Get down!"

A powerful force knocked me to the ground just as I heard the thunderous booms of cannons.

One... two... thr -

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Now the screams came.

Explosive shells slammed hard into the buildings of Angelsea, devastating the pristine homes and shattering lives. Rubble cascaded down on my head and dust filled my nostrils. I coughed, tasting plaster on my tongue. My eyes lifted just as the tailfin of the massive Unsealed vanished from view. A gargantuan splash rose even higher than the distant buildings, reaching all the way to the canals to my left to cause the water level to lift slightly.

"What is that!?" Jacob demanded.

"Neptune," Sierra answered grimly. "An immense Unsealed that spawns countless others. It terrorises Angelsea but usually spends its time attempting to attack Triton. Usually Hydra attacks Angelsea and even then attempts to attack the fleet."

Jacob's eyes drifted to his left, a telltale sign he was speaking with Spectre mentally.

"Is that why the fleets was so far away from Angelsea?"

"Yes."

When did he notice the position of the fleets, I wonder?

"I don't suppose you're going to ask us to get rid of them before you'll help us with Balthazar, are you?"

"Jacob!" I protested, pushing him off me. He was bigger than I was but I had grown surprisingly strong since he had Branded me. I don't think he was resisting either.

Sierra shifted her head left and right in a gentle motion. "I understand your caution. And no, I am not asking for you to defeat Neptune or Hydra in exchange for our assistance with Balthazar. That is what the Seagate is for."

He rose to his feet, a cocky smirk on his features. "That's too bad. I was halfway to offering."

Really?

Sierra's smile grew slightly broader. "You think you can defeat Neptune when even our top scientist, navy and myself could never subdue it? Many would call the task impossible."

Jacob's coat fluttered in the air. His back turned to her, he stared at the destruction on the outer edges of Angelsea. "Many also said killing the Elemental Lords was impossible. I'm happy to report they've been proven wrong."

He turned to me, a smirk on his features. At least, I think it was a smirk. It looked cocky but there was this lingering edge just on the corner of his lips or perhaps in the way he was squinting slightly that made me doubt his overconfident exterior.

"Coming?"

A strange energy flooded my veins. It compelled my muscles to move, filled my heart with courage and my mind with trust. Rising to my feet was never easier and I readied my sai, twisting them in my paws in a sign of confidence.

"Just try and stop me."

Sierra laughed softly, breaking into a cough shortly into the raspy noise. She waved away all concern and wandered towards the edge of the dock. She dipped her cane into the disturbed waters. Ice spread out from where the cane touched. The waters itself reshaped into a gondola before freezing over.

"Don't let Neptune bring you underwater," she warned. "Many of my ships have fallen into a watery grave because of that."

"Any weaknesses we should know about?" Jacob asked, leaping into the icy vessel. I followed him and was surprised to find the ice was surprisingly warm to the touch.

"If we knew that, you wouldn't be going off blindly against a titanic Unsealed with little information and only the careless courage in your heart."

Jacob flashed her a smile and I think his infectious courage seeped into her. She actually smiled back. "You're right. This will just make my victory all the more impressive."

"And foolish."

"The world is full of fools, right?" He shrugged absently. "All the matters is which one has the biggest balls." His sapphire-blue eyes turned towards another tremendous roar that shook me to the core. "So how do we get this thing moving?"

I think it was the fool in me talking but I said, "I've got this" and stepped up to the rear of the gondola. I prayed to the waters, urging them to react to my will. As always, they did. The entire canal surged and twisted, rushing towards the ocean on a mighty current.

I caught Sierra's gaze as we fled the dock at an accelerating pace. There was a bit of disappointment in her eyes. Justified in my opinion. I proved that I was just a 'gung-ho' as Jacob. And you know what?

I was proud of it.

Why?

For the same reason I really shouldn't be surprised that Jacob is growing more mature. He is learning lessons from everyone around him. He's inherited some of Taylor's caution, bits of Kerry's cunning, parts of Leo's innocence, a fragment of Max's pessimism and - not to blow my own horn - a large amount of my empathy. In turn, he has given us much of his courage.

Not necessarily a good thing, mind you. But with my heart pumping in my chest to the pace of the waves pushing our gondola forward, I couldn't think of a better sensation save the one of love. The winds whipped through my hair, tiny fingers whipping the copper strands loose. In that instant, I think I got a glimpse of how Jacob felt when he lived alone.

Free.

"Were you really going to offer to destroy Neptune?" I asked, unable to keep the smile from my muzzle.

However, he wasn't smiling.

"Probably," his eyes narrowed. "Sierra never mentioned them before. You'd think two massive Unsealed that terrorise your city over and over again would be something you'd mention. At the very least, it should be widely publicised."

That did strike me as odd. But there was a show of Kerry's cunning in him. "Graesham never really told the public of the plague. Maybe it's just MODD's quarantine procedures in place. Keep the problems isolated. Don't want the public losing faith in their 'great company' and empowering the Rebellion."

Jacob opened his muzzle to speak but instead brought up his swords. I flicked my eyes away from him at the sound of the chattering noise from those airborne fish-like Unsealed. Neptune's roar filled the air again. In the distance, the titanic Unsealed jumped into the air, twisting halfway through its rise to expose its belly. Tiny slits appeared across its underside. Like a swarm of bees erupting their hive, schools of Unsealed poured out and dove towards the city.

"I'll get their attention!" he announced, hovering his right paw over his left shoulder. "See if you can take that beast down!" His Brand glowed through his coat. "Spectre!"

In a flurry of light and a boom of sound, Spectre appeared, spreading his mighty black wings proudly. The Animus charged towards us, swooping in beside the gondola. Jacob bridged the gap between us in a single, easy leap.

"Don't hold back!" he shouted.

I swore to myself that I wouldn't.

Spectre zoomed into the skies with blinding speed. The Animus swooped into schools, beams of piercing light erupting from his muzzle. After one strike, he would zoom past the Unsealed at supersonic speeds. The sonic boom that followed sent the fish flying. Jacob's blades lashed at whatever Unsealed came his way. Blades of light appeared around the duo, sweeping around them in a brilliant blur. The Unsealed quickly abandoned their assault on Angelsea to give chase to the two.

I smiled grimly and willed the waters to bring me to the edge of the city faster. Colours passed my vision as people of different species stepped out of their homes to stare at the fire fight above their heads. The surprise in their eyes filed me with both joy and courage. When a child broke into a smile and began cheering, I knew we were doing the right thing no matter the reason for Sierra's secrecy.

Then again, we had only been here for less than a day.

Another roar filled the air. Neptune burst from the ocean's waves, flank pointing towards Angelsea. The portholes all over his armoured hide sprang open. It was like seeing a titanic fish bristling with needles. The titanic Unsealed's cannons sprang to life. The sky was alight with a shower of explosive shells. Not all of them aimed at Jacob.

"No!" I cried.

I threw my paws into the air in desperation. Burst of water sprang up from the canal around me, shooting up like arrows to intercept the shells. Many of the fiery balls were extinguished in mid-flight, dropping uselessly towards the ground. Jacob unleashed his blades of light, sending them spinning through the rain of shells and trying to intercept as many as possible.

That left him vulnerable.

A swarm of the Unsealed nearly sheered Spectre's left wing completely off. The Animus punished them with a blast from his muzzle. Another column came shooting towards them from behind. Jacob spun in the saddle, levelling both his swords at the Unsealed. There was a clap of thunder. A bullet of light erupted from the top of Radiance, piercing through the column of Unsealed while the following shockwave scattered the creatures.

I wasn't sure what happened next but...

Jacob suddenly dropped his left blade...

... just as a third school of Unsealed looped over them.

Both Animus and Branded had enough time to look up before they were utterly consumed.

"Jacob!" I screamed.

The heavens themselves seemed to hear my cry. Black lightning erupted from the skies above and struck the column of Unsealed. It raced from one fish to the other, turning them all into dust and disintegrating the entire column within seconds. Jacob was revealed, falling to the ground with Spectre by his side.

A portal of darkness appeared beneath them and they both vanished through it.

Angered by the assault, the angry skies sent bolt after bolt of black lightning to the ground, shattering the schools of Unsealed wherever they were. Even as Neptune descended into the oceans, one bolt struck its tail. I could almost hear its roar of agitation.

Ice and fire suddenly erupted from the city, slamming hard into the hurtling explosive shells from the titanic Unsealed. I saw Taylor's Animus, Prometheus, leaping from building to building. The massive, four-armed, flaming feline sent forth wave after wave of scorching flames that consumed the shells in midflight.

Polaris, Kerry's Animus, joined the fray. The icy, knightly lupine threw spear after spear of dazzling ice into the midst of the shells. They each shattered, sending splinters as big as a fully-grown man into the shells.

"Desolation Grid!"

I heard Rex's cry before I saw his attack come to fruition. Hundreds of tiny stars appeared in perfect grid formation over the city. Beams of light connected them to one another. The protective grid caught the rest of the shells that passed both Prometheus and Polaris.

Neptune's roar turned my attention back to the rapidly approaching shore. The immense Unsealed burst from the ocean, opening its titanic maw for all to see. My heart stopped a moment when I saw the gaping emptiness of its gullet extend towards us. A golden cannon perhaps the size of entire buildings emerged from deep within its throat.

Staring at the all consuming void of evil, I steeled myself as Jacob would and reached down towards my Brand. I felt the power of my prayers flood that magical symbol that I had been granted. That power took on solid shape; a shape that I grasped in my paws.

"Behemoth!" I cried and hurtled the sphere of green light straight down.

It shattered my icy gondola.

And Behemoth turned it into dust.

My Animus, the gargantuan Behemoth, burst from beneath the ocean's waves, catching me on his nose. He roared in triumph, lifting a massive paw as he easily brought the rest of his muscular body out of the ocean's waves.

Neptune fired.

BOOM!

"Behemoth!"

My Animus swiped at the immense shell. There was a second when my heart stopped; the second when Behemoth's paw slammed into the shell. I thought it would explode and take me and my Animus with it. My heart restarted when the shell spiralled out of control away from Angelsea.

Triumphant, Behemoth surged forward, his massive, ruby claws slammed hard against the golden plating on Neptune's head. They cut through the armour easily. I don't know if it was some connection between myself and my Animus or just a feeling from the sight before me, but I could actually feel Behemoth's claws biting into flesh.

Neptune roared in agony but his cry was drowned out as his head was forced underwater. Behemoth yanked his claws away from the whale, spinning to his side with enough speed that when his long, furred tail slammed against the Unsealed's flank, it was enough to tip the Unsealed on his back.

Suddenly exposed, Neptune seemed to flail. Behemoth took advantage of vulnerability, lunging forward and raking his claws across the beast's underside. Blood or whatever the Unsealed's equivalent poured out of the wounds. Slits appeared across that white flesh. More of the fish-like Unsealed poured out in number, rising into the air like a horde of angry hornets.

They encased Behemoth's head, me included. They weren't tightly packed but they were fast and numerous. They bit into my flesh with their razor sharp edges and it was all I could do to cover my head. Behemoth swiped at the swarm, unwilling to shake his head lest he unbalance me. Even when many of the Unsealed poured into his eyes, effectively blinding him, he never let me lose my balance.

"No!" I screamed. "Dive!"

I could sense his doubt.

I insisted.

Behemoth surged towards the ocean's waves. Cold silence hit me hard but I pressed myself against his scaly body, holding on handholds that I had grown familiar with. I kept my eyes open no matter how much it hurt with all the rushing water. My Animus swam through the waters with ease but he was blind.

I glanced left and right.

There he was.

Neptune.

The Unsealed charged at us, peeling open his maw and exposing that titanic cannon from his gullet again.

Dive!

Behemoth instantly plunged deeper into the ocean.

Neptune fired.

Even underwater, the ferocity of the cannon was enough to make the resounding boom echo through my heart. The shell shot through the waters, leaving a stream of bubbles where it went. It just barely missed Behemoth's tail.

My lungs began to burn and Behemoth quickly resurfaced.

Only to be quickly encased by the buzzards which were the smaller Unsealed.

"Dive!" I begged, one of them slicing my forearm wide open. I took the time to take a deep breath before Behemoth plunged into the deep waters. The pain was excruciating. It was all I could do to not pass out as the icy waters stung every wound on my body before leaving me with a dull numbness. I tried to force my eyes open.

Neptune.

The Unsealed swam beside us. All of its portside cannons primed.

We couldn't get away in time.

I screamed, unable to keep my eyes from shutting away to sight of death.

The cannons fired...

... and ice descended from the surface.

My jaw dropped, letting water rush into my throat and bringing a scream from my lungs. The shells slammed into the sudden wall of ice, never breaching it. Behemoth quickly surfaced. I begged him not to or the swarm of Unsealed rip us both to shreds but he still broke the surface into fresh air. I breathed a sigh of relief then braced myself.

"Joanna!"

Kerry...

Polaris landed beside me, lowering Kerry beside me. Sierra was in the wolf's other arms and she quickly dropped down as well. Kerry laid me on my back as Sierra reached down her coat and unveiling a necklace of seven vials. Each vial contained a differently coloured liquid, each one for each colour of the spectrum. She quickly pulled the stopper on the blue one, letting it drop to her paws. The water formed a sphere around her paws, emitting the same blue glow she used to heal Jacob.

"Stay still," Sierra urged.

"The... Unsealed..." I begged.

"We've got them covered," Kerry answered. "In ice."

Polaris immediately spun around, sweeping his spears backwards. The swarms of Unsealed dove after him. Where his spears sliced, a wave of ice surged outwards, freezing everything it touched. The Unsealed were consumed, dropping to the sea harmlessly. Some escaped and quickly reorganised themselves into another swarm.

Showing no mercy, Polaris hurled a spear into the sky. It vanished into the stars.

And returned as an enormous icy comet. The perfectly spherical orb of ice slammed hard into the swarm, carrying them all into the ocean before exploding into a grand icy burst.

A tremendous roar.

My mind screamed.

"Neptune!"

I tried to get up but Sierra pressed me back down. Despite looking so old and frail, she was surprisingly strong.

"Worry not. Your friends stand by your side."

Beams of light cascaded from the heavens alongside bolts of black lightning. Flames joined them and the might of the stars. Neptune burst from the oceans, roaring in agony as it tried to retaliate. Jacob roared, throwing both his paws into the air. A titanic blade of light about half the size of Neptune appeared above him. Leo, carried by Prometheus, was hurled straight towards the blade. He slammed against the pommel, sending it speeding towards the gargantuan whale.

My heart would have stopped if it hit.

Sadly, Neptune dove and the blade vanished into the oceans.

"No...!"

"Stay still, child," Sierra urged, pushing me back onto my back. "You've given Neptune a black eye that it won't forget. That's more than anyone in Angelsea has done. Relax. Rest. Fight another day."

"We could have beaten him!" I urged. I sounded so much like Jacob. Not sure if that is something to be proud of or not.

The Elemental Lord of Water shook her head sadly. "Not as you are. You need training. Your attacks, your actions and indeed your powers are undisciplined. You just throw your abilities at the enemy, hoping brute force will defeat them." She nodded at Jacob who rode on Spectre with Leo riding astride. "Through your abilities appear flashy, they are unrefined."

Her eyes were filled with fire and passion. "I will help you. Raw strength developed without direction goes on unfocused. You don't want your powers to shatter those around you, after all."

"I can control it..." I answered meekly.

"I believe the outer suburbs of Angelsea would disagree."

Startled, I turned towards the city. There was a gargantuan gap in the city where ocean waters lapped over the ruins of houses and docks. My heart clenched when I saw the bodies that lay strewn amongst the waters. A protest rose in my throat...

... then I remembered.

When I saw Neptune rise out of the ocean, I just summoned Behemoth. I never considered where I was. I had been in the middle of Angelsea when I summoned him. His immense size smashed the building around him and when he engaged Neptune...

Would the Unsealed's cannon fire have been more destructive than my summoning?

Maybe... but perhaps not by much...

I closed my fist tightly, biting my lower lip in frustration. Sierra opened her muzzle to say something then thought better of it. Instead, she continued to run her glowing paws over my wounds. I almost felt ashamed that she was spending time on healing my wounds when I had been responsible for as much destruction as Neptune.

"If you don't mind, ma'am," Kerry began softly. "I would like to join the training session as well."

"You are all welcome," Sierra answered. A bright laugh escaped her. "God knows, if I can teach all of you to show some restraint, I might just be responsible for saving countless lives!"

*****

In past battles, there were also so few people that could be injured. Pollenburn was a farming town with so little people that they could all be herded into a single dungeon albeit being packed like sardines. Graesham already had a diminished population because of the plague.

But Angelsea...

It was a thriving metropolis.

Of which I was responsible for destroying a good portion of it.

I stood on the rubble of the district I had played a hand in ruining. Bodies were being fished out of the canals. Glances of gratitude were thrown my way mixed with stares of fear and anger. I had caused this destruction. Not Neptune or the Unsealed. Kerry stood beside me, staying a respectable distance away. Sierra was coordinating the recovery effort and applying her healing skills on those that she could save.

When I saw Jacob striding up to me, I half-expected him to comment on how I was turning into him or how he was sad he couldn't contribute to the destruction and decapitate the nearest person.

Instead...

"Jo!"

... he caught me in a tight embrace.

This stunned me. Firstly, he was gay. Secondly, as far as I remembered, he never got this close to anyone that wasn't sleeping with him. He pulled away but kept his paws firmly around my shoulders. "The hell were you thinking!?"

"You told me not to hold back," I responded tartly.

"So why were you?" he accused. "You're surrounded by water! Couldn't you have... I don't know... do some... watery.... stuff...?" His brow knotted in confusion as he scratched his left arm absently. "What can water do anyway...?"

Good question.

Out here in Angelsea, I was without my Element of Earth. I had to rely solely on Water. But what could I do with that? Normally, I just used it to push people away. Maybe I could use it to drown foes but how does that help me against water-based Unsealed?

"Water is very versatile."

Sierra came striding up towards us. Her work was taken over by nuns.

"Mortal bodies are made mostly out of water. With the proper training, you could control their bodies. You could wither their limbs, dry out their brains or even fill their lungs with water before they knew what was happening. You could compress them in fields of water, crush their bodies in a watery prison. The beauty of water is that it is so malleable and at the same time so essential." She tapped the side of her skull. "Know how to use it and you have yourself a weapon that could be used in almost any situation."

"That's comforting," Jacob muttered bitterly. "If you know so much about it, why didn't you do anything about Neptune?"

"We have tried," she answered sadly. "Trust me, we have tried. But Neptune is as much at home here as we are. He escaped quickly back under the waves as easily as we can damage him." She shook her head sadly, turning her gaze towards the injured. "We have tried so hard to destroy him but he is just far too intelligent. He knows us as much as we know the area. Perhaps more." Her eyes lifted towards the Seagate. "That is why we have decided to stop going on the offensive... and simply go on the defensive."

"The Seagate," I murmured softly.

"Indeed." Sierra gestured that she be followed. I was in no mood to disobey. I had no right to disobey. I owed her. "Alongside Hydra, Neptune has tormented Angelsea since its creation. Our fleets are permanently moored far from the city to attract Hydra and Neptune's attacks are growing increasingly frequent as the Seagate nears completion."

"What exactly is the Seagate?" Kerry asked. "Some sort of shield?"

"It is similar to the Minterocan ecology fields." Sierra led us down an alleyway which was flooded over. The drains had been clogged with debris. I cringed when I saw a woman floating face down in the waters. "It will be an enormous energy dome that will alter weather patterns within its field of influence. It will create rain, sunlight and snow when needed. It will defend us from storms and the horrors of the Unsealed. Furthermore, it will recycle the air within the field, getting rid of pollution and making breathable air that is fresh and crisp. It will be our saving grace."

I detected a slight inflection on the last sentence. "You don't sound convinced."

She laughed softly, stopping at the entrance of the alley. Her eyes went back up to the partially completed dome. "I feel my time coming. Whether it's the cost of the Seal I possess or some curse, I don't know. But whatever happens, I am determined to see the Seagate finished. Although..." Her weight shifted, placing it slightly against the wall to her left. "... some days, it is harder to maintain hope."

And that was my fault.

I destroyed her city.

"But if you doubt my resolve," she said, moving out of the alley, "there is one thing I do that will always keep me strong."

While she moved slowly, everyone else maintained her pace in respect. Even Jacob was moving with respect although he was drumming his fingers impatiently. After a few more turns, we came to a lavished building that looked like a mansion of some sort. The word 'orphanage' betrayed its true purpose however.

"I do this for the children," Sierra said, determination and strength seeping back into her voice. Her paws closed tightly around her cane. "For the next generation. I want to make sure that they live to see a brighter future."

"Careful not to make the future too bright," Kerry warned darkly. "You might just end up making them blind. A lot of people looking for a better future only tend to make things worse."

The Elemental Lord bowed her head slightly as she let out a soft, cynical laugh. "Indeed we do. Reality will always dim the brightest star but that is why we just have to try and make it as bright as we can. If we don't then it won't shine at all."

Jacob shrugged. "Wish I had something witty to say about doing this for the children, but I actually agree."

We all turned to him in surprise.

"You do?" I repeated.

"Of course. If no one sticks around to preserve the next generation then I won't have anyone to pillage, rape and kill." He flashed Sierra a big cheesy, grin and two thumbs up. "So go ahead and make sure these kids grow up to be rich and successful."

"You do realise that I will warn them of you," the Elemental Lord countered with a sly smirk. "They will prepare against your assaults and grow up to hate and revile you."

"I encourage it. You can't rape the willing."

Sierra let out a small, barking laugh before coughing softly. "You are bull-headed and brash. Careless and reckless. But I like you."

"Sorry. I've got an age limit."

"If you recall, I am actually younger than I look." As if to prove her point, she straightened and placed her paws on her hips, swaying them seductively.

Jacob winced theatrically. "And here I thought I couldn't be more gay."

My eyes darted back to Sierra, worried at what she might think. Would she react with revulsion? Would she kick him out of her training programme now that she knew he liked those of his own gender? How would she react to me?

"Oh my dear, a hole is a hole, right? So I have one extra." She grinned and pointed at her large, front teeth. "Trust me, these aren't as painful as they look."

Jacob's left eyebrow actually rose.

Kerry looked utterly horrified but I was trying not to break out into laughter.

Sierra's smile became motherly once more as she gestured they enter the orphanage. Most of the structure remained intact but there were segments that looked heavily damaged from the battle. I think what hurt me the most was not knowing which was caused by me and which could be blamed on Neptune.

She stopped at the foot of the steps that led into the orphanage itself. "What do you believe is the purpose of all mortals?"

Kerry lowered her head slowly. "Whatever we want."

Jacob shrugged. "Propagate. Reproduce. Make babies. Fuck." He hiked a thumb at Kerry. "In essence, what she said." He got a foul look from the doe for that.

I felt Sierra's eyes on me.

"And you, my dear? What do you think mortals are here for?"

I didn't have an answer. I thought I did but until a few moments ago... I really wasn't sure anymore. "I would have said 'to make a better place for all'... but now I'm not sure."

"Well..." She turned her eyes back to the orphanage. "I believe it is simply... 'to live'. These children deserve a chance to live. I try to provide them with that. I cannot succeed without the Seagate." Her shoulder fell and she was silent for a long time.

"This... is difficult for me to say," Sierra Seasinger began. "But I must ask... Jacob Reaper... Will you and your Branded help me defend Angelsea until the Seagate is finished?"

Jacob's cockiness faded. "I thought you weren't going to ask us to help against Neptune."

"Sometimes, we must change our plans." Sierra cast a gaze over her shoulder, her eyes pleading. "Just like art, time changes our perspectives and our priorities."

He was silent.

"We'll do it."

I think I surprised myself when I said those words. Kerry regarded me with surprise but there was this smile on Jacob's face that told me he was expecting me to speak up. Actually, I think he was just waiting for me to speak up.

I made a note to ask him later.

"We'll help you defend Angelsea," I confirmed. "We just..." I searched for a reason. "...Just need to."

Sierra seemed so relieved. "Thank you." Her gaze drifted from face to face. "All of you."

"I'm sure Taylor, Leo and Rex will agree with this," Kerry said, rubbing her chin. "But I am not so sure about Max... He is still a MODD loyalist at heart and the idea of helping a 'traitor' more than we already are..."

"Where is Max?" Jacob asked, casting his gaze around. "I didn't see him or Eden at the battle."

"He's somewhere, I'm sure," I insisted, smiling down at Sierra. "Could we see the children?" I didn't tell her I wanted to be inspired to fight for something more than a sense of being indebted to the city.

"Of course," Sierra replied, breaking into a bright grin. "Follow me."

We strode up the steps and she carefully twisted the doorknob.

"The children should be in the safe house during the battle so we can go there now and bring them out. I'm sure they'd be very relieved to see the battle is over."

She pushed the door open, keeping her eyes on us.

"Oh! Did I ever mention that Sergeant James Canis grew up in this very orphanage?"

My eyes widened in horror.

Sierra laughed softly, her eyes still on us. "Oh I remember when he used to wander the halls all night. The little scamp. I had to read him stories just so that he'd go to sleep. We used to stay up all night..."

I was speechless.

Kerry let out a soft 'meep'.

Jacob broke the silence. "Oh he's 'up' alright." He let out a soft wince. "If you value your 'little scamp', don't turn around."

Of course... she did.

And there, standing like two animals about to be crushed by an eighteen wheeler... were Sergeant James Canis and Max Lionheart.

Both were butt naked, both covered in semen and both with monster erections.

Sierra's jaw dropped.

And Jacob just made it so much worse with...

"Hey, 'a hole is a hole', right?"