On a sunny day, between the many clouds in the sky of the Dried Up Trenches, one had a shadow darker than the others.
"K@rgH?"
And it happens to hover on top of a Crimson Devil that enjoys the sun more than others. On one of the many jagged, dry peaks of the coral brought to the surface by the Thorns of Judgment
These peaks could indicate how strong a Crimson Devil is, as they fight their way to the top to enjoy the sunlight before heading down the dead water for prey.
The moment its rest was interrupted, it menacingly glared at the cloud.
It fought and earned one of the highest hilltops; its aggression and prowess were no small matter.
But it quickly realized it wasn't a cloud.
A lake of blood floated toward the distant city.
Yet, the Lost wasn't deterred.
It bent its legs with a crackling sound.
The crimson armor around its legs stretched as the muscles underneath expanded to deal with the bothersome shadow.
*-thud*
However, all that tension built wasn't released, and it fell on its back.
A gaping hole in its chest opened without a noise to announce its appearance.
Only an odd red line was visible for a brief moment; it neither reached nor fell on the Lost.
Like a ray of sunlight from dawn had coincidentally chosen to expand at that time and place.
It produced no sound nor a drop of blood spilled once it struck the Lost.
Only the fact that this line connected to the monster's chest cavity and a woman's fingertip could one deduce that it was intended to happen.
Jack stood still as a statue, manipulating amounts of blood that could drown a village to traverse the dry coral trenches.
Despite the travel speed, no gust of wind grazed him.
The only sound reaching his ears was a sweet melody that helped him gather his thoughts. It helped his messy thoughts develop a rhythm, free from the parasite's storming will in his chest.
His eyes focused on a sphere of blood floating in front of him.
'It doesn't mix… just as the sample that Davis delivered.' The ball of red had layers on top of others, repeatedly spinning in different directions.
Adam's blood couldn't be controlled, no matter how much Ichor Jack tried to pump into it through his blood.
Blood Codes granting Gifts to control certain elements didn't mean Revenants could control their surroundings as they pleased.
If one wishes to manipulate an existing element, one only needs to mix it with one's own.
There was a process to take over natural elements even if it they matched a Revenant's Gifts.
'Most certainly, no matter how faint it is, this means his Relic is the Queen's blood.'
What if two Revenants with similar Blood Codes and element Gifts try to take over one another?
Fire fighting fire?
Which one wins?
It's up to the one with more proficiency and compatibility with their parasite.
But this rule doesn't apply between the Gifts of a Relic and the BOR Parasite.
The Queen's title, being related to royalty, isn't simply for show. It's quite literal in this one matter.
Powers obtained by possessing a Relic, as if by law, can't be overpowered by a similar power acquired by a regular BOR Parasite.
This is one of the reasons the Queen could almost go uninterrupted in her rampage. This fact took many tries and lives to find out.
This case doesn't change between Successor and the Blood Code they possessed before taking in a Relic. It's as if the powers are separated by a barrier, never meeting each other… except for a recent case.
A Successor using their original Blood Code against a Revenant Blood Code of similar qualities won't necessarily win the exchange.
Even in a hypothetical scenario where a regular Blood Code could compete with a Successor's power, the Relic would triumph nonetheless.
Since the Relic supplies near infinite Ichor, Successors can use their Gifts as much as they want.
The only drawback was that they could lose themselves to the Queen's influence if the Relic's power and endless Ichor reserves are used too often.
If Jack couldn't control the blood he had gathered after the fight with his long-time friend, then Adam's Relic was the Queen's blood.
It's a strange case to him.
The Queen's eye, Jack's Relic, could trace any successor's whereabouts.
Once within his range, he could analyze the state of the Relic and Successor.
Adam was a Successor. The traces were small but undeniable, as Jack could not do anything to Adam's blood with the Gifts of his BOR Parasite.
Perhaps, these small traces are why he appeared fully lucid and had no problems with the Queen's presence getting hold of him.
Nonetheless, what Jack found strange was that Adam's original Blood Code was still there, partially, but still there.
Adam, as a whole, felt different, but it was hard to say he wasn't Adam.
'If he is a void type, why does he still have those eyes?'
Void Type Blood Codes were incredibly rare, but the few ones recorded had a thing in common. No gifts at all and no special characteristics. They were a regular Revenant without Gifts until they gained a Blood Code.
However, the case of Adam acquiring Blood Codes through vestiges was the first one. He knew he had absorbed the ones from the party he traveled with, but those from Vestiges were new.
Even if the information came from Davis himself, Jack could hardly believe it.
It was likely because of Adam's position as a Successor.
Only a few people knew how his Blood Code functioned.
Jack always saw those eyes when it was time to fight the Queen; very few would recognize them. When it was all or nothing, it was the moment when strength outside of common reason was displayed.
One of the reasons Adam was always the vanguard in their operations was that he didn't rely on elemental qualities that could be countered.
That image was still vivid in his mind. Just standing near Adam, he felt it, just like when he came face to face with the rampaging Queen.
No fancy tricks or elaborate control of his surroundings.
It was nothing but unadulterated prowess that the Queen couldn't swat aside like a torrent of fire or wind blades.
An invisible wall made with twisted space and compressed air?
He could see and interact with it, just cut through it.
Are there pale thorns traveling at Mach speeds capable of destroying all defenses?
He now gained new footholds to move around.
Disperse in electricity-like particles to become impervious to physical attacks?
He somehow punched hard enough to disarrange the bonds of particles she used to escape.
Adam, the one Jack had fought alongside years ago, was outside of common sense.
See the invisible and break the unbreakable.
Something this outrageous was needed to force the Queen into a head-on combat.
But now?
'...too weak.' It was hard to believe that he was the one to fight the Queen more than once without turning to ash.
'But his instincts are still there.' It was brief, but as Jack used his Relic to analyze Adam, he reacted to the Queen's eye.
If the Hunter willed it, no one would notice his gaze. Yet Adam didn't follow that rule.
'...not like he ever followed any.'
Jack's thoughts on Adam's powers were short.
The matter at hand was the Relics and what the blood he 'kindly' borrowed from Adam could do.
It was something Jack had to analyze with his Relic before deciding how to handle the situation.
There were too many things to do.
Could this help the other Successors as it did with John?
The man might be out of it, but Jack saw that the Successor's Relic was no longer trying to consume him. Almost as if it was pacified somehow.
Were there no drawbacks?
The Relic's influence won't come back stronger from this?
Was it permanent?
Does this affect Adam negatively?
Can he possess more Blood Codes without losing his mind?
Will vestiges really not cause a loss of self?
Is the Queen's presence sentient enough to create a scheme for its revival through Adam?
Are Mistles and Blood Springs truly purified without issue?
Can they be influenced by the blood coming from Adam's Relic to take hold of Karen's Relic?
Jack held in a sigh.
These questions wouldn't be hard to answer if Juzo Mido were with them.
'...But ash can't talk.' Deciding to focus on his current task, Jack dispelled such thoughts.
The next best thing was to visit Karen and Aurora and see if they could decipher the properties and drawbacks of the Queen's blood.
'...I can only hope we also find those two on our way there.' Another matter needed attention.
He promised he would do it.
He turned his eyes to the beautiful woman humming in delight by his side.
They should've met eyes as their height matches, but he had to look down.
She was leaning forward, examining Jack's visage from a low angle with her dark violet eyes. A smile spread across her lips as she noticed the changes…
Changes that anyone would say were nonexistent, if statues could talk, they would call the man in front of her stiff.
But she wasn't anyone.
As the white hair that only reached her neck fell to her side, many scars on her neck and shoulders became visible.
As a Revenant, none left any lasting damage after healing, but they still marked her body. Most of all, her face. Two similar scars starting from opposite sides of her jaw go up to her forehead in a diagonal line. Both met at the bridge of her nose, creating a cross across her face.
Despite all this damage, her expression beamed.
As if she were the one to meet a long-time friend believed to have died years ago.
A black maiden corset was partially visible as her slightly torn backless red dress fluttered because of her stroll to Jack's other side. Her black heels tapped on the surface of the thick blood without leaving a single mark.
She wore a Blood Veil with a unique design. It appeared like a long scarf of feathers loosely around her shoulders, with its ends flowing down her back, reaching her knees.
"..." Jack, with the stillness of a sculpture, only followed with his eyes.
And as if to appreciate his commitment, the woman appreciated the statue in front of her.
"How did it go~" She sang with a voice sweet as honey.
"... His mouth has gotten fouler, but it's still him."
"I'm glad." She happily nodded.
"No signs of them here?" Jack asked while some blood behind the woman took form.
"No."
"Then…"
The man began to ponder once again as the woman gently sat on the blood throne behind her.
She hummed a melody, her gaze never leaving his face.
The Successor of the Queen's breath, Nicola, had a unique Blood Code.
He could make copies of himself.
The problem?
He lost contact with his copies. Most importantly, the copy that roams outside the nest he made, intending to keep his sister company.
Again, something that shouldn't be possible happened; the Relic's influence affected Nicolas' original Blood Code somehow. Now the clones had obtained a level of autonomy that shouldn't be possible.
It wasn't just that, they now carried vestiges… as if the Relic had pushed Nicola's consciousness outside of his original body.
Vestiges signify the loss of memories and cause dissonance in a person's ego without the individual taking notice.
Though Vestiges can't be used to bring back memories as the BOR Parasite rejects them, thus going into frenzy, Nicola's attendant might be able to do something.
The very few attendants they have met have always come to one conclusion, look for Vestiges to aid their Successors struggles with the Queen's influence.
Though, they always lacked a key component for the final step once they acquired them.
There weren't any concise remedies for a near-frenzied Successor.
This made Adam's blood valuable as its effect on John was more effective.
Lately, nothing has been going according to the rules they thought they knew, and then he rose from the ashes to solve all issues… again.
Indeed, even after all he has done during the war, he will have to step in once again…
However, Jack can't let that happen without confirming the blood properties…
For now, he knew from Nicola that the most important copy, the one traveling with his sister, was in a damp environment, inhabiting Lost with a hard and flexible shell.
He didn't give many details, but it was commendable the grip he had in reality when the Relic attempted such a hostile takeover.
After considering a few more ideas, he turned to the singing woman.
Her melody was one of the temporary remedies. Although not an attendant, she could lessen the pressure a Relic had on its Successor.
"Eva."
"Hm?" The smiling woman intoned without stopping her melody.
"You can rest."
"I am." She answered, tapping her hands on the armrests of her blood throne.
The blood around them began to envelop them, taking a firmer form similar to an arrowhead.
"Don't push yourself."
"...Alright." As soon as her words came out, the howling wind was heard outside the structure heading to the city.
…
"-which is funny, isn't it?" John chuckled, lying on a therapy couch made of twisted, dead coral.
"Well, humor is a way to deal with the unpredictable ways of life." I nodded along and spoke.
I, too, did my best to humor myself at the start of all this, struggling with this new reality and trying my best to adapt.
But humor takes you so far. Use it too much, and you might detach yourself from important matters of yourself and those around you.
Though, honestly, I wish I could ignore this advice right now, but I was unable to.
Not that I didn't want to be a hypocrite. I'm ashamed to admit that I've been worse in my past life.
It's just that the taste and smell of blood in my airways won't be going away with a good joke.
No knee slapper will save me from this one.
"Yes, what's a life without laughter…" He pondered.
Although he was feeling a lot better without the Relic trying to corrupt him, he was still a bit…
Well, crazy wasn't the right word.
He has been a patient guy, given how he made chairs for everyone and has answered our questions.
He's a bit odd, but that wasn't bad.
"... a tragedy-" I tried to respond before stopping myself, "No, laughter and tragedy don't mean opposites strictly," I did my best to ignore the blood in my throat that wasn't there.
I sat on a chair of dead coral, holding a notebook and a pen. The notebook was old and worn, with writing that wasn't mine.
It was Louis'.
He asked plenty.
And, surprisingly, a lot of those questions were answered without issues.
Like the nest, its purpose, and whether John had made more than one.
The group realized that there are more Successors… No, there were.
But the group didn't know what a Successor was.
One question led to many.
How is a Successor made?
Why are they chosen?
Is the Hunter different?
What does Jack do as the watcher of Relics?
How does a Relic work?
What is it exactly?
Everyone learned a lot.
And Louis…
He was the one asking questions until John explained that the immortal Queen wasn't dead but split into many parts to prevent her from resurrecting. These parts are Relics, which Successors house in their bodies to prevent the chopped-up Queen from getting back together.
And well… Yakumo immediately took his weapon away, and Oliver dragged him away from the Successor.
Can't tell him to remain calm when some stranger has a chunk of his girlfriend's living corpse with him.
Currently, Louis sits away with a just tired look on his face, one longer than usual.
But that didn't diminish the determination he had. The one that Yakumo helped him light up.
It wasn't just Louis. Same for Oliver and Yami.
I spoke, "Seems like everyone is tired."
They just wanted to find the source of Blood Beads to see if they could solve the shortage, and now this?
Yeah, it's about time we go back.
I really want a shower too.
I can't stand this dirty feeling I have, especially the smell and taste of iron in my mouth.
F*ck sake, next time I see two-face…
Between the looks of exhaustion and deep pondering, Yakumo meets my eyes with that placid gaze that hardly breaks in our expeditions.
He gave me a nod, seeing that the researcher beside him didn't react.
"Alright." I got up, and John's drifting eyes suddenly locked on me, "You don't mind if I drop by again, do you?"
I still had things to ask.
I didn't want to bring up certain things in front of the group. I mean, we have Louis like that. I don't want him getting worse.
Especially when it comes to Cruz. I don't want him to know when I have no tangible plan to revive her just yet.
Besides, there were more things to ask.
Like-
Huh?
This sensation…
It was a feeling hard to describe.
But I know I had felt it before.
So vague.
How did I not catch it before?
I couldn't describe how I realized that it was still here.
Not that this odd feeling eludes me.
It's different.
Like it's meant to be here… similar when I notice my own nose before forgetting it's within my vision.
A sensation that I only noticed when I was in that space where Relic and BOR Parasite resided… Why is it still here?
The hell?
It wasn't a connection, I knew that much.
I couldn't reach Cruz through it.
It also looked like she hadn't tried to contact John like before.
Could she see what he sees?
Is there some sort of barrier keeping their minds separated?
Could I be feeling some barrier of sorts?
Why is it that the Queen could influence John but Cruz can't do the same now that the Relic's suppression was gone?
Who knows, but I will think about it later.
Right now, I wanted to confirm if I could come back to get more information.
"..."
He didn't answer. I only heard a low hum as he closed his eyes and opened them again, having a different aura than before.
Focus.
"...oh."
I patiently waited for him to finish.
"... you still here?-"
"-alright, bye." I turned around and left.
____________________________________________________________________________
Word Count: 2,980
A lot is happening. You know, despite how much stuff is left unsaid in the game, a lot is going on when you think about it… Or maybe I just overthink stuff… Dunno.
Sometimes I feel like I'm doing too much and things become more AU (Alternate Universe.) Just like how Adam's BOR parasite is original to this fic… Actually, since I'm coming up with an origin for Ichor, BOR parasites and stuff, does that make this an AU or am I still behind that line? Since that isn't explained much in the game and MY explanation isn't senseless (at least not that much.)
When is the AU tag warranted? Maybe if I genderbend characters? I mean, that much is obvious to me…
Lmao. I just thought if a genderbent stroy of Cruz and Louis.
A female Louis (Louisa) on the hunt to revive her exotic twink (Cruzero) lol… wait, that isn't just genderbent, it's the also roles… kinda. It would be pretty lady Louisa and macho man Cruzero, right?
Well, you tell me what you think, since you probably played Code Vein if you are reading this :D (About the AU not the Louisa and Cruzero.)