Dragon Realm Cypress

Elucard and Wiccer knelt before their king in the Vernal mage botanical garden. Their heads were lowered, waiting for Koda to address them. They had avoided all contact with the king ever since they started their deep undercover mission as the Ghost Foxes.

“I suspect you two have much to explain,” said Koda. He flicked his fingers and summoned a long wooden staff from out of the ground. “You have been absent in my time of need during the city’s troubles. Both with the assassination attempt on my uncle and with the riots.”

Elucard remained silent, sneaking a glance at Koda’s wolfen companion. Her cobalt-blue fur shone in the sun. Her left eye sparked with untamed magi. Elucard’s attention snapped back to Koda as his king continued.

“My ARO are supposed to protect me from these types of threats, yes? Or am I mistaken?”

Wiccer raised his eyes. “Yes, my king.”

Koda snatched the staff from besides him and brandished it under Wiccer’s nose. “Then why were you not there to protect my uncle?”

“We’ve been deep undercover within the coup.” Wiccer swallowed hard, unable to predict how Koda would take his explanation. “We swore our Watchers to secrecy so that we could investigate the shadow organization that has been funding the rogue veterans.”

Koda loosened his grip on the staff. “Who is responsible for all this?”

“We do not know who they are, only that that Inle works with them and what they are after,” responded Wiccer.

“Inle?”

“Yes, my king,” said Elucard, “We suspect this organization were the ones that rescued Inle from his execution.”

“And you mentioned you know what they are after?” Koda leaned on his staff.

“The Celestial Seals,” Elucard’s voice lowered and turned grim, “They wish to destroy them.”

Koda raised an eyebrow. “How interesting. You know this to be a fact or is it merely theory?”

“We were there with them, my king,” said Wiccer. He rubbed his armor where Inle’s sword drove through him. “We fought against them. We tried to save the seal in Scorch... but we failed.”

“So they have made their first move,” whispered Koda. He stroked his chin in thought, “We shall not let them take another.”

Elucard and Wiccer both nodded in unison.

“I have a final question about your report.” Koda tightened his fist around the staff until it splintered and cracked. “The Ghost Foxes that nearly killed my uncle and injured two of your own ARO. Who were they?”

“They wer-” Wiccer fumbled with his words.

“They were Inle’s Black Rabbits,” Elucard quickly interrupted Wiccer, “They were dealt with.”

Wiccer flashed a glare to Elucard.

“I am relieved to hear that justice was served.” Koda nodded. “With a war criminal behind the manipulation of this city I have no doubt in my mind the people will be put at ease.”

“We apologize for the secrecy, my king.” Elucard crossed his hand across his chest in a salute to Koda.”

“No need to apologize, Elucard,” thanked Koda, “You two have done a great service to myself and our kingdom. I am sorry to ever have doubted you two. You both deserve a much-needed respite. You are both dismissed.”

“A word, sergeant?” Wiccer pulled Elucard down a hallway once outside the garden and well beyond the presence of Koda.

Elucard nodded, although in confusion.

“You didn’t tell him the truth,” said Wiccer, sure to keep his voice down while a pair of mage students walked by.

“Of course I didn’t, Wiccer,” scoffed Elucard. “You rather that I tell him we attempted to slay his uncle and help conspire against his throne? That we were the cause for his city burning that night?”

Wiccer stifled a growl, holding silent as the words stung his soul. Elucard was right, but he despised the mere thought.”

“Jetta was too honest for her own good too,” sneered Elucard, “It’s what got her killed. I plan to protect my family from everything that I can... even from themselves.”

Wiccer scowled, choosing to no longer face the elf. “Just another thing I have to live with, right?”

“We all have our demons now, Wiccer.”

Wiccer shook his head. “No, Elucard you have your demons and you want to drag everyone down with you because of them.”

“Wiccer, calm down,” Elucard raised and lowered his hands while looking for unwanted attention.

“Enough!” Wiccer took hold of Elucard’s collar and slammed him against a nearby bookshelf. “You are nothing but a disease in my life. You helped kill my brother and I tried to forgive you for that, but this… this I can’t forgive.”

Elucard looked away in shame at the mention of Avren.

“What I had left from my family was my moral compass! You took that away from me and dismantled it before my very eyes! You are a wretched soul, Elucard,” hissed Wiccer.

Elucard’s face trembled. “Wiccer, please be reasonable. What I did- what we did was neces-”

“Yes, and at what cost?” asked Wiccer, “At what cost was it worth turning me into- into you!?” He released his hold on Elucard and stepped back. Reaching for his shoulder, Wiccer ripped his ARO patch off and tossed it to Elucard. “I’m done with ARO and I’m done with you.”

Elucard couldn’t speak. He could only watch as his friend walked away from what they built together.

At what cost?