HAN CLAN

A wide, open courtyard stood underneath overhanging vines, shimmered gently in a few beams of sunlight which managed to pierce through. The courtyard was currently occupied by youths who were all sitting down cross-legged with their eyes closed as they listened to an elderly man explain the Paths of Magic. The elderly man was called Inu Han, and he was the First Elder of the Han Clan, second only to the Clan’s Patriarch.

The courtyard was surrounded by maze-like constructed quasi-city, which was hidden deep in a ravine, surrounded by endless mountains and lavish nature. In one of the houses inching the city’s edge, a blond-haired youth was currently sitting and reading a small, worn book by the fireplace. Next to him, a monkey was chewing on the pills while, on the other side of the room, a slightly plump and short woman was drinking wine. Lynne and Y’se had used the Bloodline Talismans that Lynne had ordered to both change their appearance and Bloodline, after which the two sought refuge in the Clan’s headquarters, which they were granted.

It has been two days since then, and Lynne had familiarized himself with the city’s outline as well as the most powerful figures of the Clan. It was helmed by none other than the False God he encountered during Ryuuk’s Awakening – False God of Thunder. In addition, the First Elder Inu was the only other Divine Magus of the Clan, with the rest of Elders being in the later parts of the Grand Realm.

The reason he first wanted to infiltrate the headquarters rather than just charging straight in was partially because there was no verifiable information on the Clan’s true strength. Now that he knew it, he felt confident in obliterating it to the ground.

“Space Locks and Tunnels are ready, right?” Lynne asked the monkey who lazily nodded as an answer. “Good. Then there’s nothing else to do.”

“Are you sure about this?” Y’se asked from the other side of the cozy room. “So far you’ve been left relatively alone. However, Han Clan is one of the major Clans on their side; if you set it ablaze, you will spend the rest of your life running away.”

“Why would I be running away?” Lynne said, smiling lightly. “I’ll just turn around and bash their skulls against the floor.”

“… aah, your arrogance is gaining ground daily. It’s kind of funny.”

“I’m always funny.”

“No, I meant your arrogance.” Y’se said.

“Are you trying to say my arrogance isn’t a part of me?”

“… just…”

“That’s what I thought.”

“We’ll be attacking tonight, no?” the monkey asked as he burped.

“You that anxious?” Lynne asked.

“This is something I’ve been waiting for; for a long, long, long ass time.” the monkey said as his brows creased. “I’ll be going apeshit on their ass.” as Lynne and Y’se burst into laughter, the monkey took a moment to realize why. “Hey! Fuck you! I’m no ape!”

“Yeah, yeah… why is it literally in the name of your race then, though?” Lynne asked back.

“What?! I’m ape because my ancestors were too lazy to come up with a proper name?! Fuck you!”

“Alright, alright, calm down,” Y’se said. “So, what’s the plan?”

“The monkey will wait outside and alert our two other friends when we’re ready,” Lynne said. “Meanwhile, you and I will be wreaking havoc.”

“… so, the plan’s to just mindlessly charge in and hope for the best?” Y’se asked.

“The most straightforward plan is always the best plan.” Lynne said.

“I’m fairly certain that’s just a pack of lies.”

“When have I ever lied to you, or anyone else for that matter?” Lynne asked.

“… all the time?”

“Okay, fair point, but I’m not lying this time. I promise.” he said, smiling. “By the time they summon for reinforcement, we’ll either have destroyed the whole Clan, or the two Dragon friends will have joined us. It’s a plan guaranteed to work.”

“… if you die, I’m not crying over your dead body.”

“I’m not asking you to. Rather, just sing.” Lynne said. “Right, speaking of singing; you have a very nice voice, why haven’t I ever heard you sing?”

“I’m too busy taking care of an idiot.” Y’se said.

“What about when you bathe? Do you sing then?”

“… why would you ever want to know that?”

“I’m curious.” Lynne said.

“Your curiosity ought to have limits.”

“Well, it ought to.”

“But it doesn’t.” Y’se said.

“Exactly. So, why do--”

“Enough about my singing,” Y’se interrupted as she lied onto the bed. “Let’s just hurry up with this shit. This fatass body is too hard for me to handle.”

“… hey, at least for a change you’ve got a fat ass.” Lynne said.

“Too bad body-shifting can’t increase the size--”

“Okay, enough you two!” the monkey exclaimed, interrupting. “Stop talking like an old, married couple and get some rest. I don’t want you two falling asleep midway through battle and getting us all killed.”

“… I don’t think that’s actually physically possible.” Lynne commented.

“Do you really have to have an opinion on everything?” Y’se asked.

“What can I say? I’m a very opinionated young man.”

“Fine. Just don’t express them.”

“Easier said than done.” Lynne said.

“Seriously, enough!”

The monkey’s words were the last the trio spoke before everyone retreated into their own corners and fell asleep, waiting for the sun to cascade down the horizon and for the darkness to take over the world. Lynne’s thoughts were far away from the ensuing battle; faint image of Thalia hovered in his mind, as he recalled back to the day of his Ascension. He felt heavy feeling swell up in his chest, causing him to sigh lightly. He had made his choices, and accepted the consequences; there was no point in going back. To do so would negate everything he fought for in the past few years. The monkey’s snores began echoing throughout the room shortly after. Lynne glanced over to Y’se’s corner and saw that she was still wide awake. He scurried over silently, making sure he doesn’t wake up the monkey, and sat on the floor next to her bed.

“… what do you want?” she asked.

“Can’t I just want to see your beauty up-close?” Lynne asked back, smirking.

“Not everything is a joke to you, right?” Y’se said. “It can’t be.”

“… I just want you to be careful tonight.” Lynne said, is face growing serious. “If things seem to going awry, just leave.”

“… why are you even bothering to tell me that when you know I won’t heed a single word of it?”

“I’m serious, Y’se.” Lynne said.

“As am I.” she said. “I may not know the entire story behind you, my Grandfather and others, but I can see they value you more than anyone else. It means you’re important, for whatever hellish reason that is. In our Clan that only means a single thing: anyone less important, if it’s required, can and should die defending you.”

“You’re quite morbid, aren’t you?” Lynne mumbled, chuckling. “Well, I know the full story and, trust me, I have no plans to die any time soon. However, you’re not a fighter. Don’t even bother trying to deny it. When all hell breaks loose and sky falls apart, I can handle myself. However, I’m not sure if I can handle you as well.”

“I don’t need you to handle me or help me. Just do your thing. I’ll be right behind, making sure that thick head of yours remains whole.”

“How reassuring.”

“Fuck you.”

“… that’s not nice.” Lynne said, smiling.

“You must really care for that furry cretin.” Y’se said. “Seeing how far you’re willing to go for him.”

“… of course I do,” Lynne said, glancing over at the happily sleeping monkey. “He’s been with me ever since I left my home, almost never leaving my side. However sharp his tongue may be, he always stuck with me, even when things looked so bad even Death would die. This is the least I can do for him.”

“… while you were stuck ascending,” Y’se said, changing the topic as her tone grew heavier. “Retch and I talked about you.”

“Oh.” Lynne exclaimed softly. “This ought to be interesting.”

“I asked him what he thought of you, as he knew you the least and could be objective. Do you know what he said?”

“That I’m ill-tempered child?”

“That,” Y’se said, her gaze shifting oddly. “You have no intention of going back home.”

“… oh.” Lynne mumbled as he looked away, sighing.

“… he’s right?” Y’se asked.

“Even if I wanted to go back, that’s practically impossible now.” Lynne said, chuckling bitterly.

“What do you mean?”

“Remember when I said I was given ‘time’ by the Source?”

“Yeah.”

“… it meant that I can remain a Magus until the end of the Great War.” Lynne said. “Afterwards, even if I survive, I’d just be an ordinary Mortal.”

“… why would you make that deal?!” Y’se exclaimed angrily. “Are you insane?! What about the Kingdom?! What about Thalia?! What about the rest of us?!”

“… for the longest time, I’ve searched for my purpose in this world,” Lynne said after short silence. “At first, I thought it was to just screw around and die. Then, I thought it was to become a strong Magus so I can live a relaxing life. Then it was revenge. Then I thought it was to build a Kingdom that would withstand hellish storms until the doom. However, each time I’d accomplish that purpose, I always felt something was lacking. That last sliver of happiness to fulfill me always felt just out of reach, slipping away from my fingers. I made a deal because I didn’t want to break down,” he said softly as he looked at her. “For, if I did, I’d have never wound up whole again.”

“…” Y’se remained silent, merely gazing at him with sorrowful eyes. “At least make sure you survive, then.”

“Forever.”

The two fell asleep shortly afterwards as the odd silence fell between them. As the day slowly faded and busy streets of the city cleaned up, the night began gently taking over the day. Then, the bell tolled loudly across the city, signaling the midnight. While for the rest of the people it meant it was time to sleep, for Lynne and Y’se it was time to leave the small house on the edge of the city, and depart into the battle that will either end them, or the entire Han Clan itself. The bell tolled once more, and darkness was soon lit ablaze as a solitary, golden figure with flaming wings on his back emerged from the city into the sky, crying scythe tightly wound by his fingers. Its cries were louder than the bell itself, and flames far more illuminating than the sun. As blazing rain fell from above, the once peaceful Han Clan had been torched into conflict none were expecting, as they soon found themselves battling through inferno to reach the solitary figure in the sky, and his crying scythe.