Chapter 16: No Place Like Homecopyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQvynl6Wir
"Ren, what's the matter with you?" Ryn called out.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMAgd6N48T
Ren was still tightly clutching the hilt of his blade with one hand, though he kept it sheathed. He stood in the middle of the plain white hallway, his eyes unfocused as they stared at the floor. His face twisted into a look of pain, discomfort, and even panic. All expressions she hadn't seen on him in years. She cautiously approached him, and snapped her fingers in front of his face. No reaction. On closer inspection, she realized his pupils were dilated and his brows were furrowed as if he was lost in thought.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNJq6esmuy
"Ren?"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrpm0MI6J0
His eyes snapped to her, and he looked down at her in genuine surprise, as if he just noticed her. "Y-yes? What are you looking at me like that for?"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxM8N0fB5n
"Are you okay? I've never seen you look so...out of it."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHbd8hrBDW
"I'm..." Ren started, trying to bring confidence back into his voice. He stared at his sister, suddenly finding it hard to look her in the eyes, he chose to instead close them. With a sigh, he abandoned his bravado. "I'm far from okay. I'm attached to this damned blade." he finally muttered.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡaunzQomyv5
"That's understandable. You're a swordsma-"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3Clbqmq1r
"Not sentimentally, Ryn. Psychologically, maybe even physically." he said, once again he looked at her with a serious expression. "It...was a part of my corruption process. This sword, Acheron, is the only reason I still have most of my humanity. If it were to leave my side for just over an hour, I'd start to...lose myself. I don't want to know what would happen if it was out of my sight for any longer."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv9ZJhgbTU
"What are you talking about? How can a sword have so much control over your mind, or how much humanity you have?"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73puCgSYOn
Ren's face went blank, and for a tense half-minute, he didn't answer. Ryn was about to try snapping again, but then, he replied. "I don't remember much about my life before the queen reawakened me as her personal executioner. But, every now and again, I'll remember moments I thought were long forgotten. I remember fire. I remember fading in and out of consciousness, very faintly, I remember being in intense pain, not having long to live.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3orGJC7638
"After that, my memories only get more vague. I don't know how I ended up in the queen's castle, but I remember a blurred image of her standing over me, drowning me in a pool of blackness. When I came back up, I was turned into…this." Ren paused, holding up his scaly, clawed hands. "I remember being in agony. For what felt like days. I couldn't move, I couldn't think. I believe the queen must've gotten tired of my constant wailing, because my next memory is of her laying the sword in front of my crumpled body.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡyREHRoZ8zS
"As soon as I touched it, it felt like my head was going to explode. New information filled my mind, things humans aren't supposed to know, things I shouldn't know. I heard the blade speak to me. It whispered it's name to me, but I felt like I'd already known it. Most importantly, I felt the pain subside, only slightly. For the first time in what felt like my entire life, I could think clearly, my senses were sharper than ever. I felt alive and dead inside, all at once.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GVsbxI3wx
"My first, completely clear memory, was me standing in front of the queen, gripping Acheron tightly with a strength I never knew I had. Armor I never remembered putting on, shifting and adjusting itself to my form, accommodating for my new appendages. I couldn't stand for long, as the queen waved her hand, and without any control, my body knelt for my queen."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzVSgFvoLy
Ryn stayed silent, as if waiting for Ren to go on, but he just stared ahead, lost in his thoughts. Hopelessly trying to reclaim some memories, and repress others lurking in his mind. Ryn spoke.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkqb1iz1q9
"W-we can help you. If you let us. We'll find a way t-"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtPOW0mE4S
"There's nothing left of me to 'help', Ryn. I'm a full-blooded corrupt. Just an imitation of your former brother. He died when the queen drowned him, I'm just…a living weapon wearing his corpse's face."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡbws7pJMU7y
"Melodrama aside, you are my brother! Even if you look like that for the rest of your life. You've already proven you still have your own will, by joining us! I'll help you remember everything you forgot. I promise, I won't rest until the trauma the queen's inflicted on you is buried with her remains!" Ryn declared, her eyes shining with passionate determination.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡtESUQUcqVD
Ren patted her on the top of her head, a slight smile on his face despite the weariness in his eyes. "Now who's being melodramatic?"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO6oD2p0Ht
He looked around at his surroundings, as if noticing where he was for the first time. "As for now, Leliana better hurry up with getting whatever information she needs. Being in this laboratory is making me...uneasy."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS0l0p4Mkb
Leliana pushed away from the man's grip. Not trying to hide the confusion and irritation on her face as she looked up at the man she felt had turned into a complete stranger. "What are you talking about? How… How long was I gone, exactly?"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOQdIG7V63
She wasn't sure if time went by differently in the Forest. The only time she could keep track of there was whether it was day or night, but it hadn't seemed like the hours ticked by any faster or slower than usual. Her eyes briefly glanced over to the glass cages, somehow holding in the small corrupted creatures, most having tired themselves out by now. She couldn't have been gone long enough for her father to do all of this. To not only manage to figure out how to capture the beasts, but actually manage to do it. She couldn't have been gone for longer than…copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGSF5vHuvo
"A few days, barely over a week." Her father finally replied, hesitant, as if he wasn't entirely sure either. "It felt like so much longer, I know. But, I've been keeping track of the days they took you from me."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡYohYJhoN4J
Leliana let out a sigh of relief she hadn't realized she was holding in. But, that only answered one of her many questions.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpxQCgwKbD
"It doesn't matter now anyway. I meant what I said. You're never leaving my sight again after that. It makes my heart stop just imagining what they must've done to you in that time. Just looking at what they've done to your fa-" the doctor reached out to touch her eyepatch, but Leliana swatted his hand away.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJkGopc6UI
"How long have you been keeping this a secret from me? The fact you've been doing research on the Corrupted?" she demanded.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS6NRQ5fE9
Stunned a bit, he stared at her blankly before he replied. "I've been studying the species for years, Leliana. Specializing in a science most are too afraid to venture into. Their biology." he explained. "I never told you because you were too young to understand. Your mother believed it to be too dangerous to study such a beastly species, begged me to stop my research. But, I think if she knew the outcome this will eventually lead to, a world where we no longer would have to live under the tyranny of those demons, she would have full-heartedly supported me."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDzwucM1WX
"Don't you dare even mention her! Mom would've never wanted you to risk your life just because you think you can tame bloodthirsty creatures like the average animal!"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKHZr6oDdi
"Even when she died to those creatures?"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIbsw2iBiW
"Especially after that! She never wanted this. For you to risk your life over your pointless research! She never wanted this!" Leliana yelled out.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhAkN4wA5t
To her surprise, Doctor Evans snickered at her words in amusement. "Listen to yourself, Leliana. Listen to what they've put into your head. I knew you spent too much time away. They've filled your head with lies, haven't they? Believing that some are 'different' from others, that any effort to research their biology is pointless…"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKefJFl8iy
"You're not listening to me." Leliana said through clenched teeth, her fists balled up in frustration.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEhD6NFooY
"They're trying to make you drop your guard, my princess. Getting into your mind like this. Trying to break you, as an extension of their constant need to destroy my life. Everything I've worked for. Because they know I'm close to revealing their secrets to the world." he tilted his head. "Tell me, other than this… Ren that you brought to my lab, have you been in close contact with any others?"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡkagUu4Z1E4
Leliana had concluded that her father was completely delusional. He was right about one thing. The trauma from losing his wife in one invasion, along with losing part of his leg and his daughter in another, broke him. She thought better than to tell him about Jin. She decided to change the subject.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcPJrzoNIH
"What happened while I was gone?" she asked.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9lDMrqsPP
"Everything." Dr. Evans replied with a low chuckle. "I remember hiding you from them, I remember the pain as teeth tore through my calf. I remember feeling the pain fade as I lost consciousness, as I almost lost my life. When I woke up I was in a hospital. I suppose someone must've found me, though who, I couldn't say. They had already given me this by the time I came to." He patted his prosthetic leg. "When they let me check myself out, I discovered that our home was…completely destroyed in the invasion. Until repairs can be made, I've been staying here, sleeping at my desk."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡra0H5vM4wq
"Were…were you able to salvage anything?"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91CYL4xaRf
"I was lucky enough to save what was important."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdpdRcEiFu
He opened a drawer, and pulled out a picture frame, with a slightly torn and crumpled family portrait inside. It was a picture of him, Leliana's mother, and Leliana herself, as a child. The child had her red hair tied up into twin pigtails, gray eyes shining brightly, as she smiled. She stood between them, holding a trophy in her small hands, with her father's hand on her shoulder. Leliana found she couldn't say anything, or do anything except stare at the picture.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87E8PJDBOa
"The award was for a science fair your school had put on. I believe you were only ten here. I remember you asked me for blueprints on how to make a time machine." her father laughed fondly. "Luckily the potato battery worked just as well for getting you first place."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XcEVXJt7A
"…We aren't done talking about this." Leliana said, staring him in his eyes.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZO9cFlRY1
She could tell by the way his nostalgic expression changed to one of hurt that he knew what she was talking about.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡl680eXJSzy
"Later, Leliana. I don't know why I should have to justify assisting the human race in our fight against otherworldly tyranny, but I do believe in letting you say your peace. It's the least I can do after letting you…get captured." Dr. Evans sighed. "For now, I just wish to enjoy this moment. Being reunited."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BvffrdYVl
"Don't make me out to be some brainwashed victim." she replied, coldly. "I'm as against the queen as you are. If you think you can help the revolution by researching their kind, researching weaknesses, then all I ask is that you don't get yourself killed in the process."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEkoNx49o2
"Of course. Just wait in the lobby for me, dear? I'll meet you in a few moments, and we can reminisce more. No more talk about…them, I promise."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ8jJnhtgQ
Leliana gave one last wary glance back, before leaving the lab. As the door shut behind her, the doctor looked back at his specimens in their glass cages. Luckily, his daughter and her friends hadn't paid any attention to a small metal panel on the wall, he opened it, and it revealed a button. He pressed the button, and a gas was sent through all of the cages. The creatures fought and pounded against their entrapments, but it only resulted in them breathing more of the gas. In mere minutes, their bodies drooped down, unresponsive and numb. Paralyzed.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jrxyHZMGU
The doctor took a syringe, opened one of the glass cages, and pricked the beast inside. He filled the syringe with it's black blood, and withdrew it, closing the cage. He had to hurry if he wanted to collect the daily DNA samples from all of them. They would gain their ability to move in an hour, and he still had so much research to do.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gyrEmZIvn
An hour. The trio of Jin, Anubis, and Tak had been searching the town for an hour, and found no evidence of their missing teammates, no scent to track, or anything even hinting at where they might have gone. The civilians in the town continued as normal, as if the beasts and seemingly normal man roaming their streets were invisible. Any sign of anything out of the ordinary was clouded by corrupted magic. The sky itself was covered in dark clouds, though there were no signs of bad weather happening, just a bad omen on what would happen to the town if the team couldn't stop it.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF6UYQhgky
The city itself was breathtaking, the tall buildings were made of smooth, metallic materials, the streets below them were pristine, not a bit of garbage marring it's clean image. The little greenery that was in the town was grown to be no more than decoration, perhaps a pathetic way to counterbalance the technology that was everywhere. Huge, electronic signs hung from high up, machines for every purpose seeming to be around every corner, ones people threw waste into, devices that people took money out of, even machines that people put money into to get back food in return. The place was big, unnervingly calm, and extremely intimidating for the halfling.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mRyTqgScX
As if sensing Jin's discomfort, Tak insisted on postponing the search to return to the beach. The beach was surrounded by magic that unknowingly blocked the humans from entering, from interfering. Jin sat on the sand, staring blankly out at the sea.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkdlMSHLBc
"I'm going after the sirens." he said.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mSfgR5y7q
"Alone?" Anubis replied, even though he knew the answer.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eMYMFp2yC
"The ocean isn't exactly the best terrain for you two, and we can't find Lily, Ryn, or Ren while their magic is hiding their trail."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlWdGI5ntG
"You hate water, and the sirens spend their whole lives surrounded by it, taught to battle in it. What makes you think going to them is a good idea?"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC2sRjjXRr
"I'll drag them onto land if I have to. I don't care if I die trying."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYFaXrPmuo
"Maybe you don't, but that would be terribly inconvenient for the rest of us."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuJVHqEMN8
Jin snorted, and stood up, brushing sand off of himself. The clouds over the sky made the immense sea look even more menacing, and he was about to kill it's queens. He stretched, and let his wings fully unfurl as he prepared himself. He gave a nod over his shoulder at Anubis and Tak.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoKwQCPaAH
"Keep searching."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYFh8DJY0e
As soon as the two words left his mouth, he took off into the sky, towards the ocean. As he flew, he was forced to keep his attention down on the endless stretch of water. The sirens had a tell for where they currently made their lair, and he had to remain vigilant. They wouldn't make this easy for him. His mother knew exactly what she was doing, sending the water witches after him. She knew what just being near intimidatingly large bodies of water did to him, knew that he wasn't over what she did to him.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZI6Uqwzck
Jin was scared. He wasn't too proud to admit it to himself. Standing next to his mother alone was enough to raise his anxiousness, but the two of them being so close to the edge of a cliff, nothing but an outstretch of water, and unrelenting waves ahead of him... The twelve year old was terrified. What was his mother planning?copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGJscz51KF
As if reading his thoughts, she said, "Today, you're going to take your first flying lesson."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnEpEM2oL2
He looked up at her tall, imposing form, pleading in his eyes. "But, what if I can't? I don't know how to swim. What if I drown?"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡC82keWKLwX
"There you go again. Questioning me. If you fail, you fail, and you try again. If you die trying, well it was never really worth the effort of raising you, was it?"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dEPGQpLSa
Jin visibly flinched. He didn't like disappointing his mother. He wanted to prove he would be the strongest, bravest corrupted monarch that the kingdom had ever known. He took a deep breath. He nodded to himself.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBx50bS3AE
"I'm ready, moth-"copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cM8w15hNB
He was roughly pushed over the edge. His vocal cords betrayed him, letting out a very undignified scream as he fell through the air. His underdeveloped wings unfurled, but they weren't strong enough to lift his body, no matter how much he frantically flapped. He knew he wasn't ready for flight yet, but he couldn't disobey, couldn't risk angering his mother. Now he would die for his compliant submissiveness. He felt sharp pain as he hit the water, and then he was submerged. He couldn't cry for help, couldn't breathe as he aimlessly moved his limbs in a desperate attempt to find the surface. His body's survival instinct, his desire to live, drove him to keep trying. He didn't know which way was up, but he never stopped moving. His head burst up to the surface. Finally, air. The child barely had time to take a deep breath before a wave crashed down, sending him back under.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTPTIvJ8hC
He had no idea how long this would continue for until his mother saved him, she had to save him. He would die. Run out of energy from constantly resurfacing, just to get sent back into the cold, unforgiving water. He almost panicked when he felt something grab him, until he realized it was pulling him to the surface. It pulled him to the shore, a small sandy area right under the cliff where his mother still stood, a blurry image that the water in his eyes wouldn't allow him to see clearly. He felt someone pounding on his chest, the same person that saved him. The pounding continued until Jin heaved up what seemed like buckets of water. He tried to get a look at his savior, and recognized the familiar face of the jackal corrupt crouched over him.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIePOf1HiB
His mother appeared before them. How did she move so quickly? Time must've escaped him while he laid there, still dazed, water still being pumped out of his body. He could vaguely hear his mother's voice.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡloO8wl9BCW
"Anubis, this was to test the boy's abilities, no one was to interfere." She said.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSQ2LzyvHP
"I'm…sorry, my queen." Anubis replied, begrudgingly.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70ymPmBR3T
"Th-" cough. "Thank you."copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpihxPDHrf
It took Jin a second to realize that he had said the words. But, as everything finally came into focus. As the realization of what happened sunk in, he sat up and wrapped his arms around the corrupt's neck. Anubis tensed, but made an effort to not move away.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE8uHT3fpK
"Thank you, Anubis." he said again.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xKCTAZus3
It took his mother pulling him away for him to release his grip. Luckily, she considered the lesson done for the day, and he was confined to his room as punishment.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVsGdZvQHW
There. He had found it. A circle in the middle of the ocean that was as still as a puddle in contrast to the usual waves in the sea. A rock formation large enough to sit three supernatural women was placed in the center. An abnormality that seemed easy enough for even humans to notice, but not until it was too late. This was the surface of the siren lair.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kBeOi8Sxx
TO BE CONTINUEDcopyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC4nfXYesq
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