Mondstille

ANGELUS TIMES

Londinium Students' Protest Meets World Military's Leader Atrox:

Last Night's occurred events were something none had ever imagined to become reality as the World Military's very leader went out of his way to quell the riot. Londinium's teenagers are known to have a school education system they feel very proud to attend to, even. One of the most important principles they are taught is the thought of freedom: School is not mandatory for it is a fact the former King Jack Roseblood will teach his citizens should they require his wisdom in any sort.

The students were running around in circles within Londinium, even being equipped with torches, chants and music. Supposedly, their intent was to purely remind their generation that they are free and do not have to succumb to the likes of the adults. That's what one of the student's expressed once we asked her about the commotion. However, we did not recieve an answer for the WM's true buisness there. Our questions were denied, or rather, ignored multiple times. Neither did we recieve an answer for the body bags their reinforcement carried out of Londinium while still under the cover of the dark. Suspicions arose when one of the protestor's was described by some to have had white hair and a weapon- a sword. Which, if truthfully stated, may indicate the presence of Godsent Lucifer Leigh within Londinium's walls whose bountry amounts to a sum of 2.750.000 Ȼ, should she be returned to the WM while still being alive. This dispute between young and old...

A chuckle away and Charles put down the newspaper, grabbing his black coffee which had already cooled down too much after he had taken the first sip but was simply warmed up again by the lenient flame emitting from his index finger. The golden shine cutting into the wagons's wooden walls was something minuscule to every average person enjoying or going about their everyday life, yet it, together with the escorting doves you could spot if you took a look closer, denoted time's passage. The rain had been left behind and the sun seemed to draw nearer as the train followed trails over meadow's green hills. Charles took his black fedora and thanked the barista for the coffee he had gotten in that buffet car. He also immediately burned their buisness card a few steps after having recieved it. Those golden particles were truly a sight to behold. It was a cheaper ride, yes, still, for Charles who was used to walking from one point to another, this was pure luxury.

A slow strum downward, then up, down and up.

His left hand's fingers were glued to the fretboard, but his right was doing fine, managing to let all the notes ring out. The hand repeated the strumming pattern, and soon the repeated motion would let the strings exhale a melody into the air, dancing its way into the ears of listeners.

"Mhhhhh Mmmm Mh. Oh Hmmmm Hmm Hoo."

The melody kept alternating between a lighter and darker version to which Ray tapped his foot rhythmically every time he completed the right hand's motion

"I've been living, I've been breathing, I've been searching so long,

I've been hunted, I've been tortured, I've been singing this song.

"No matter where I go, never mind if it do,

Oh my poor soul- Freedom will always take its toll.

Chain me down and break me up, let me breathe, let me be,

Show me what's it mean, in this world to be free.."

The right hand stopped moving now, so that the dark notes rang out one last time.

"Mhhhhh Mmmm Mh. Oh Hmmmm Hmm Hoo."

Ray felt Leo's humming through his spine as the boys sat back to back on the floor, he felt electrified when Leo carefully breathed out loud, goose bumbs scattered all the way from head to toe, brunette strands of hair tickled his neck and his emerald eyes closed at peace. "Your voice is lovely, Leo. You sing so calmly but there's still this great temper.", the blonde's left hand left the guitar's neck,"This is the first time I heard you sing, actually", his voice was also adjusting to a calmer tone. "You- I didn't even know you could play the guitar." "Oh no, I can't actually play-play, I just know the basics, really." "Really?" "Yess, but you on the other hand.. seemed to know what you were doing-" "I- uhm.. Well, I wouldn't say I did, to be honest. I just sang whatever came to my mind", Leo turned around and slowly rested his chin on Ray's shoulder, letting too, his arms go around his waist, pulling him closer for a hug from behind,"I may have taken some inspo from the music playing in Boss' tavern, tho" "I'll be so glad, honestly, when we can fall into a real bed again.", Ray voiced while the train's chugging came back into his realization. "Honestly, yeah. I just wanna rest already", Leo added. "Showers are nice, but a bath-" "Please, Ray- It was a slip of the tongue!" "I was gonna say that I like baths more in general." "Oh.. yeah, yeah, I'm the same", a poked out tongue. "Actually, let's ask Shanna if we can have like a hot spring nearby the tavern" "What's tha-" "We took the wrong train, pack ya bags, you lovebirds", Leigh gatecrashed into the room and its once peaceful ambience. "And for someone who is supposed to hold the strongest Will and still not realize that we messed up- That means plenty of rest for you before doing anything fun, Leo", Shanna joined the wagon's party. Leo's gaze already had went downward but now he closed his eyes as well:"Wait, what now?" Had he had enough strength, he would've simply forced reality to conform to his urge wanting to get back to Pandemonium as quickly as possible but life wouldn't let him have it. "Alright, it's not a biggie, we'll simply see if the next town has a nice accomodation- and a bath house.", Ray told Leo, "Right, right, giving up now would mean all the suffering up to now was worthless.", the brunette agreed. "You're surprisingly eager about bathing", Shanna chuckled,"The next city is actually a port town." "Called: New Angelus", Charles finally made it to the round. There was yet, privacy to be found for the two.

The buildings were white alike the streets. Flat roofs you could place deckchairs on or put up a line to let your laundry dry. Children hopping from one edged in stone to another, walking ahead of their parents- the streets looked like some kind of rare marble. The ocean's scent played wonderfully into your nostrils as you walked down the avenue of the market, inhaling the scent of grilled seafood and vegetables, a herbal smell mixed with citric aromas. People standind opposite each other, behind their stoves and team of chefs, cooking in fierce competition for money.

*chew*

"Leigh-", Boss looked at her. "What", she quickly let out before taking another bite from the grilled fish on the stick she held firmly. Boss whispered into her ear:"I know Pandemonium and Londinium are different, but here you'll have to pay for stuff, honey." Her jaw stopped moving upon hearing those words. "Really, tho?" Boss nodded. "What if don't-" "Okay, the plan was to keep a low profile, right?", Charles lightly placed his hand atop Leigh's head, "For the sake of all of us, let's not start a commotion after just having travelled for a whole day." A short silence emerged between those two until it was broken by her acceptance. Charles incinerated the stick after Leigh had finsished the treat. "Surprisingly mature of you, Charles. You're taking more and more after Jack.", Shanna commented "Perhaps the student has become the teacher", he spoke in respone with a smirk,"Hell nah, Jack would have already countered with something witty to embarrass me." "Something like: 'If man knew everything he desired, life would be boring'", she mimicked Jack's discipling tone of voice and both had to laugh while the three were walking a few steps further ahead, looking and gazing upon town folk. The sun shone brightly and the sky was a bright blue, almost, as if it was already Summer. "This is the warmest place I've been to, I think", Leo expressed in his dry voice. "Then go ahead." "What." "Go ahead 'n take your shirt off, might fetch us a little money, too", Leigh poked out her tongue. "Tsk, join me. I bet there are a couple of cooks wanting to get back at ya for stealing", he returned the gesture and both bit their tongue when Charles smacked their heads: "Don't."

Their objective was to find accommodation, possibly with an included hot spring for Leo, before nightfall. The breeze was somehow sweet but salty and hearty waves crushed against each other, as was the case with the soldiers' expectation and faith. They saw him come in with no man behind him. The automatic doors closed behind him. The sound of them closing seemed louder than ever for everyone was following his figure with eyes which screamed silence. A dark technological room only recieving some illumination from the smaller and larger screens atop desks and walls. He moved toward the podium, step by heavy step, the highest platform of the room where anyone was able to lay eyes on him and he started giving answers to their curious looks.

"In my years of duty, in serving the World Military as its official leader, I have fought many battles, have successfully captured threats and eliminated them- back then- We were in unity with the Godsents. The Special Frontline and Godsent Soldiers- if not the most powerful combination of raw strength and plan. The glory of the WM has been reigning over most parts of this world and that's thanks to all of our efforts combined. Within this facility, we as a big unity can accomplish anything. And I swear that by name, those three kids will regret mocking us-"

As he spoke his words, gazes shifted toward the opening door which let wounded soldiers enter the room. Some walked crooked, some carried crutches, others were helping each other not to fall onto the floor and others were carried in laying in mobile beds. Yet, all shared the outside pain and traumatic experience of being cut down by a beast of a family that was once considered an ally. Daniel was standing on the far right, alone and silent. He carried burned marks on his skin but didn't show signs of pain on his face.

"-mere children thinking they can toy with us like this!" He agressevily grabbed the railing, letting the metal ring out in full sound. "I swear, we will start this war with them. With the whole world, if we must. I already have white hair, it's about time we took our name literal, no?! I want everyone to kneel before the demonstrated might of the World Military once we eleminate that trio of devils. ON THE BEHALF OF OUR INJURED!" As if commanding those listening carefully with focused ears, they raised both their arms, clenched their fists and screamed out battlecries. Atrox, himself then, raised both his arms, the light exposed his dirtied uniform, bruised and dried blood on him. "THEY SHALL PAY!"

Daniel's body was being covered by all their arms, he didn't join them in their chanting and seemed to vanish from Atrox' sight. Inside his head, thoughts of that fire. He had underestimated Charles once again and if he was frank he would have put himself in the same level as Charles by now. Within The Architects he always wanted to one-up at least Charles because he knew Jack was out of his reach, not to mention Orlando. "But oh well, might as well see this through, to the end", he said to himself, noticing by Will the paralyzed soldier on the bed. Both, mouth and eyes opened in an unnatural way, it was a sorry state, truly. "Leo really had to declare war with the WM like this, huh? We'll see how long until we've found you don't worry." The cheers only grew louder and stronger, their echoes couldn't keep up.

Fury.

Ray breathed again and breathing again he was reminded he needed something to survive just like fire did. "How long- ", Ray coughed "I think about five to six minutes?", Leo said amazed. Like a smaller version of a waterfall, the water fowed back into the pool from Ray's head, making his hair look like a puddle. "You're really cool, Ray", Leo was deep in the water, all the way to this collar bones. A flattered blonde. "You're way cooler, tho- I mean, you faked a whole reality AND made sure no one actually died", he pushed himself through the water's resistance near Leo and sat beside him, leaning his back against the heated stone wall. "But you were holding your breath without Will, right?" Ray's emerald green e saw how Leo made sure there was enough space between his scars and the wall: "You really deserve this break-", Ray stopped talking when he noticed Leo's warm head on his left arm and noticed how much their distance shortened in the time they've known each other. Vagabonds, with no real home to return to, humans of this planet, wandering about, searching. The spring was open, no roof, but a beautiful eve's sky to watch over them. "Aw, Leigh, you look troubled." Shanna joined Leigh in the dimmed living room. Both sat at the dining table, although there was no meal to be eaten- all the more strange. "Care to join them in the hot spring?", Boss asked mockingly. "I was already in there with Leo, when he was waiting for Ray to come in." Boss had to laugh out loud. "I bet you annoyed him real good." "Bet I did, he was waiting for Ray, not me after all", Leigh joined the laugh. "But then- what is it that's giving you this expression, my dear?", Boss carefully tried to approach her. Leigh's sight fixed on Shanna's beautiful skin and smooth hair. "I just want to see my mother." "Oh Kat!" "That's been my goal- Wait 'Kat' ?" "Katherine's you mom's name, but we just call her Kat." "Yuh, I can see that, actually", the white-haired wobbled her chair so she'd face Shanna directly,"Finding my mom's been my goal ever since I slaughtered everyone else in the clan. If you know anything, please tell-" "Honey. The key to finding you mother is finally getting that bath with his lover.", she put her hand on Leigh's shoulder,"There's nothing to worry about." "Why? Leo?" "Leigh, I don't think you realize why Leo's putting himself through his suffering", she smiled as Leigh's expression gave away her cluelessness, "Back at the tavern when he asked Cherry if there was someone who held the strongest Will.. Why do you think he wanted to know?" "I haven't thought abou-", she was distracted by a loud splash coming from the hot spring. "If he'd become King, it'd mean he could easily find out where your mother is." The pupils of the golden eyes became smaller. "Tell you what, his plan went a little different than what he had in mind, though. Him breaking that fake layer of this world unleashed new evil and good again. Those who were kept away for long, along with their memories and such. It's all back, well for the most part, I think. Plus, now that our Wills and memories aren't limited anymore, I can finally show off my skills." Leigh listened carefully, Boss hadn't seen her ever listening with such concentration before. "I'm what they usuallay call an Oberserver." "Oberserver?", she repeated. "Uhm, okay, think of it this way: Instead of using my Will in combat, I use it to fix you up or to locate things and people", she winked. "THAT MEANS-", Boss hugged her tightly, "YES. IT DOES" "Yo, that oughta be 8 minutes, Ray, damn!" Boss and Leigh scoffed and laughed. "Thank you, Boss.", she whispered, her chin on her shoulder. "There's no need to thank me, you should thank Leo." "Ehh, I'll think about it, haha.", she stopped for a few,"So, my mother was a member of The Architects, your group, right?" "And she still is. Now that everything fake has been lifted, we gon' get her back, don't know about Cherry, however." "What she like? I bet you have a lot of cool stories to tell, I mean ya'll kinda owe us your backgrounds stories." "Oh, yea I agree on that part, but-" "But?" "Why invest yaself into somone's story when you could make your own?" "Uhm." "Don't get me wrong, honey, but you're beautiful and strong",Boss held her hands firmly,"don't waste your time listening to someone else's legend, especially when there's a bounty on your head." "Shit, I forgot about that. I-" "Your mother curses just as much as you do, dear. That' the first similarity I noticed when you came into my tavern. Other than that, Kat is a pretty chill person, cursed for the fun of it, can keep up with Jack and me when we're having a drink off and has mastered the way of the sword." "She sounds.. a lot like me?" "Of course, she does, you're her daughter!", Shanna lightly punched Leigh's shoulder, both of them had gotten a little sentimental.

"Shanna, the old geezers are nagging my ear off", Charles came in through the door, carrying brown bags filled with groceries, holding the phone between his shoulder and head. "Gimme the phone, Charlie", She stood up and walked over to him, increasingly becoming more and more aware of the concerned voices of the eldery. "Who are the old geezers?", Leigh wanted to know. "Well", he put the bags down on the kitchen table, "Don't forget that Shanna's the Boss- erm the mayor of her own city. Of course the peeps are gonna be scared if their mayor hasn't been around for a while." "You think someone might try 'n take over her spot?" "Heavily doubt that. Those folks are the most peaceful beings I've seen during my time- and trust me, I've seen my share of the world." "Were you a traveller?", Leigh asked with a louder voice as Shanna got more enthusiastic while talking on the phone. "'Travellers we aren't for we have no destination'" "Huh?", she chuckled. "'We are but wanderers of this Earth.'" "Charles?" "That's a thing Jack said when I asked him if we were travellers. But back then, as Architects, we vagabonded about the world. We were a group of outcasts who knew the arts of Will and so- Leigh?" She looked sentimental:"Man. I want that." "Regardless of your age and impatience, Leigh, your own journey has already begun. And your group is a-", Shanna said. "My group.", Leigh cut her off," I want my group to be like The Architects." Shanna and Charles smiled simultaneously. "Oh wait, the lovebirds!", Boss quickly went to the sliding door that led to the hot spring. "She's like a parent, no?", Charles asked her, the hanging lights from the ceiling between him and the white-haired. "I was thinking the same, actually. One day, you'll have to tell me your stories, promise me that." Charles was humored at how Leigh had grown:"One day, I promise", he put the pan on the stove, poured a little olive oil in and let the heat rise. "Alright the two are finally out but Leo got dizzy from the heat." "He's still recovering his Will?", Charles asked. "Ya, but Ray and I sped up the process, he should be fine by tomorrow and by tomorrow I need to be back in Pandemonium." "I figured", he said relaxed, cutting onions into rings and bell peppers into strings, tossing them into the hot pan. Leigh got a little sad but accepted it and Boss saw that by looking at her face. She was taller so she leaned in and whispered something into Leigh's ear. "I promise you'll see her again, Leigh, dear."

"The World Military has been put into place and so have several gang members, I do think I stand a chance now. A chance of success, that is, finally after all those years- I've grown tired of waiting for someone of your class, Roseblood."

"Mr. Cherrywine, prepare yourself a troop that protects you."

"So, you as well, think they will come for me?"

"The fact that they let us live, means we weren't worthy of dying by their hand. They're mocking our name."

"Yes, anyone can see that, Mr. Atrox"

"Be wary of them.", Atrox left the corridor.

"That's what I told in the first place, didn't I?", Daniel thought to himself, "What a miserable life I lead. In the end, it'll all be worthless for me anyway", his head faced upward and he opened his eyes. "They should be able to take me on by now, too. Ray.. Leigh.", he paused himself to take a few deep breaths, "Leo must be even more dangerous by now", Daniel felt his thumb moving through his beard stubbles, "Am I trying to look like Charles..?"

A slow strum downward, then up, down and up.

Leigh was in bed, on her back listening to the music coming from the neighbouring room, her look was a mix of both fright and excitement, her mother was within the WM's HQ. "The Headquarters..", she said in a dimmed voice, "That's the next thing we'll wander to. As a group."

"FINALLY!"

End of "Mondstille"