Final Hikari: Let there be Gackt! -waves DVD happily- Nothing makes writing easier than Gackt music videos playing beside the word processor. He’s releasing a single on my birfday this coming month! :D

Lenneth: -blank stare- You know, your obsession with that man is very creepy…seeing as he’s old enough to be your father.

Final Hikari: -sweat drop- My father is a lot older than Gackt though.

Silmeria: It doesn’t change the stats.

Final Hikari: -.- I know you have better things to do than badger me about my favorite singers. Have you been conspiring with Dr. Meh again?

Hrist: Perhaps.

Final Hikari: Hmph. -clears throat- I, The Final Hikari, still do not own anything Valkyrie Profile or Infinite Undiscovery. Or Gackt. XD I do have my CDs and DVDs of his, but that’s it, I’m afraid. Though that’s probably a good thing, because if I did, Dr. Meh would probably drug and dissect him when I wasn’t looking. XD

Silmeria: Or worse.

Final Hikari: -sweat drop- Yes. Or worse. I will not divulge what she usually threatens to do to him. XD

Valkyrie’s Favor

Chapter 38

Sacrificial Covenant

Our ascension up the seemingly endless flights of stairs out of the dungeons was lengthy. The castle continued to show signs of imbalances; water trickled through the walls and along the floors, leaving a thin layer just high enough to splash when running through it. A few tremors and lurches interrupted our fast pace, and a few hallways toward the bottom cracked and threatened to collapse just like the makeshift armory.

The combat against the various grotesque, undead guards that tried to stop us was quick and effortless. The counterattack was surprisingly minimal; there were obviously far more serious problems afoot at Nifelheim Castle than a few escaping prisoners, even if said escapees were Valkyries and an einherjar.

Sigmund ran ahead of us and took down the larger quantity of the enemy soldiers. His attacks were swift and deadly, and even after over fifteen minutes of running, he showed no signs of fatigue. Einherjar had increased strength and stamina over their previous, human selves. Judging by his unparalleled expertise over Nifelheim’s best warriors, he had been just incredibly powerful in life as in death, by both human and Aesir standards.

Aurora… I thought darkly, unable to prevent a slight frown coming over my expression. The Bringer of Bloody Mornings…my sister…she entered that body Lezard made to contain my soul when I lost my powers as a Valkyrie.

That body wasn’t supposed to be able to enter Asgard or any other divine realm. The sheer extent of her power could have permitted her to enter Nifelheim…and perhaps she sought the Demon’s Sword, “Levantine,” to increase her durability out of Midgard.

Or maybe just to draw our attention so Hrist was sent…Lenneth said Aurora wanted revenge against Hrist, but Hrist is part of the same Trinity as Lenneth and Silmeria. The last part of her message as something about Hrist’s einherjar…if Aurora’s soul is transferred into her body, then Hrist and her einherjar will be forced into sleep, obliterated, or lost in Nifelheim. Seeing as she captured Lezard to do it, it’s impossible to know what plans she has.

But in the end, she still needs another body. It’s afternoon in Midgard…that body will die at Midgard’s twilight. My soul occupied that body once…it’s still faintly connected to me. I can feel it degrading…and dying. I suppose it’s just another reason for a valkyrie to fear the time when the sun sets…

I should have known she was here sooner. After all…even all that time ago, back in Kalstad, when she appeared before me in Terminus…she said we were closer than sisters. She knows why I have a Valkyrie’s power, despite not being part of a Trinity.

I’ve known there’s a secret in my past for a while now…Lezard simply found my soul by mistake when trying to awaken Aurora. He was foolish to even try such a thing…but in the end, I answered when he called for Aurora Valkyrie… He didn’t know why, and neither did Freya, which is why she’s always thought so little of me. Only Aurora knows who and what I am.

The surrounding décor changed abruptly as we exited the dungeons. The floors were covered in a thick, blood red carpet. There were drapes and tapestries along the walls, although they too were dark in color. Massive chandeliers made of black and dark purple glass hung high above the cavernous halls and rooms.

The air had a trace of the unpleasant stench of death and decay. As soon as we reached the first floor above sea level, the amount of guards dropped without warning. We hurried forward to the throne room without hindrance from Nifelheim’s undead soldiers, an unusual occurrence that left us all on guard.

My first suspicion was that they were planning an ambush and leave us vastly outnumbered. However, that scenario was seeming increasing unlikely, too. There were signs of a struggle along the walls; damage to the thick, intricately decorated columns that stretched from the floor to the ceiling and tears in the decorations that garnished the walls were the most noticeable. Old, dried blood was splattered across the floor, but having never been within in Nifelheim Castle before, I couldn’t identify if that was just Queen Hel’s taste in furnishings or another testament to a fight.

After several more minutes of hurried running, we reached a spacious entrance hall with two massive windows on either side. They revealed the misty waters of the Sea of Lost far below, although the one on the right had a long crack in the middle and smaller spider cracks extending from it.

On the far side of the room a set of imposing double doors loomed. We slowed as we approached them, though Silmeria walked ahead of Sigmund and I and quickly pulled on one of the heavy handles. It didn’t budge and the metallic clunk of a lock echoed down the hall.

She muttered a curse softly under her breath and stepped away. “We can’t get any further. Should I try disintegrating it?”

My frown deepened and I walked up to stand at her side. “No…I don’t think simple attacks will do it. Don’t you feel the aura on the other side of the door? It’s the Levantine’s…if she sealed it with the power of one of the Four Treasures, any Nibelung Valesti you conjured wouldn’t even leave a scratch.”

“Aurora…doesn’t want us interfering anymore,” Silmeria voiced darkly, “That’s why she locked us up, so far away from the main castle. She only needs Hrist and Lezard to further her plan for revenge…”

“Lady Ayano,” Sigmund addressed, “Aurora is your sister as well, is she not? Can you sense her presence to be certain that she’s beyond this passage?”

“I’ve been trying not to,” I admitted, “her aura is practically suffocating. But…she’s very close; without a doubt.”

“But the Levantine is supposed to negate her presence,” Silmeria objected, “I’ve been sensing and following that. You shouldn’t be any different.”

I looked away and walked over to the door brusquely. “We don’t have time to theorize about inconsistencies,” I said as I placed both my hands on the door handle, “We just have to get there and intercept the Sovereign’s Rite, before-”

I broke off abruptly and stumbled backward when the door gave. It pulled open several inches and left me blinking numbly in surprise. Silmeria gasped as it did but we had little time to celebrate; an arrow shot through the small open space and sped above my head, nicking the tip of one of the feathers that adorned my helmet.

Three more followed suit and Silmeria and I ducked out of the way as both doors were suddenly pushed open by an immense gust on unnatural wind from the other side. It carried an intensified version of the stench of decay that filled Nifelheim Castle, mixed with the cold mist of the Sea of Lost.

The sight that awaited us on the other side at least partly explained the lack of guards once we were out of the dungeon. There were no less than a thousand species of undead monsters, vampires, and animated suits of armor poised for combat and rushing into battle. Gargoyles and other beasts blessed with flight soared in through the broken glass windows on either side of the room.

Silmeria lifted her bow and pulled an arrow into place. Sigmund, never having sheathed his sword, stepped forward and waited for the fight to begin as the adversaries charged forward. They stood in front of me and I glanced to Silmeria worriedly. She met my gaze levelly and nodded, expression sincere.

“Go,” she said urgently, “Fly above all this and stop the Sovereign’s Rite. Sigmund will follow you shortly while I remain here.”

She reached to her neck and without regard to the chain, jerked the necklace that served as Sigmund’s materialization item off. A few links broke from the chain and fell to the floor as she tossed the pendant at me.

I caught it easily, although a nearly omniscient feeling of foreboding accompanied it. As soon as the warm, emerald stone came in contact with my hand, the sensation of another soul momentarily harmonizing with my own filled my mind. Sigmund, also affected by the transfer, staggered backward when an enemy lunged toward him. He recovered all but immediately and sliced the arm that held the soldier’s blade off at the shoulder.

“Silmeria, why are you transferring-” I began, but was quickly cut off when she ran forward to shoot one of the many vampires that rushed forward.

I felt my fists clench as I let my Valkyrie wings appeared, sending a flurry of silver feathers around the dark room. Aurora…sister or not, I will foil any attempt she makes to take the lives of my real sisters. I stretched my wings and took flight, ascending several feet before shooting forward. I weaved past several gargoyles, not bothering to draw my sword, before ducking out one of the empty, glassless windows.

I won’t let her take the lives of Silmeria, Lenneth, Ivy…or even Hrist.

Sensing more than knowing the route, I sped along the side of Nifelheim Castle before spotting another broken window. I took a deep breath and placed my hand on my sword as I flew toward it and descended a few feet. The various presences coming from the room within confirmed what was occurring inside.

I recognized the auras of Aurora, Lezard, and Hrist despite the negative effects of the Sea of Lost. I drew the Balmung from its sheath and held it at the ready. I flew in through the window and dismissed my wings to land on one knee with sword drawn. Hardly a second passed before the cool blade of the Demon’s Sword, “Levantine,” was pressed against my neck. My eyes widened and I looked up, meeting the Bringer of Bloody Morning’s smirk with a glare.

“Good afternoon, Ayano Valkyrie,” she greeted, tone sickeningly sweet. “The Levantine’s curse upon you ebbed as this body’s control over it did, eh? Though you should know…seeing as this body was previously your own.”

She stood several feet away from me, the long blade of the Levantine in hand. My sword was considerably shorter, but was only a few inches away from her chest, the tip of the blade aimed directly at her heart. Her attire was the same as before although she now wore a chain mail vest.

“Ayano!” Lezard exclaimed from where he stood on the other side of the room. “Good goddess, why did you come? Do you have a death wish?”

I looked past Aurora to see the familiar necromancer standing on the far side of the room with a spell book in hand. My gaze then dropped to the floor, where the complex magical circle that would beckon the power of the Sovereign’s Rite The design was mainly contained in a large circle, though the length and width of it were great enough for it to expand over the better portion of the throne room.

Hrist was present as well, though she lay unconscious on the floor at Aurora’s feet. Her eyes were closed and her wrists and ankles were bound with enchanted chain, though she didn’t seem to have any serious injuries. Her helmet was missing and her raven black hair fell freely around her shoulders.

“You’re dead in seven hours,” I said coldly, looking up to meet her eyes. “Even with your power, that body can’t contain a true Valkyrie soul, especially with Levantine in hand. It may just eat away at that endless supply of hatred you’ve collected when in a real body, but now it’s just decaying the vessel Lezard made.”

“Very good,” she commented with an approving nod. “But, as you can see, I already have all the pieces in place to prevent that. I knew this body would not last, thus I abducted the mage quite a while ago. But tell me, little sister, why would you come to face me alone? Whether it be in this dying body or Hrist’s, you do not have the strength to defeat me.”

“Why Hrist?” I asked stubbornly, disregarding her question. “Lenneth’s vessel may have complications for soul, as would mine, but Silmeria’s body was created and summoned by Freya, just like Hrist’s. Why did you target her?”

Aurora’s expression darkened and she pressed the cold blade closer to my neck. A shallow red line formed a drip of warm blood slid down like a tear. She obviously didn’t care, and began her justification with an air of hatred around her demeanor and in her voice.

“Hrist betrayed me a very long time ago. Casting her soul into Terminus then the void of no rebirth hardly constitutes as adequate revenge for the sins she has committed. You are unaware of the blood on her hands; they were stained dark red long before she ever set foot on Midgard as older sister to Lenneth and Silmeria.”

I tensed slightly, remembering Lenneth’s warning. “But it’ll take time for you to have complete access to all your power in another Valkyrie’s body, won’t it?”

She seemed to weigh my words before acknowledging them. “Why do you ask? It’s the most suitable vessel available to me.”

“In your original body…your power was unrivaled. They sealed you because you were a threat, but you didn’t have one of the Four Treasures then. With the Demon’s Sword, ‘Levantine’ you could have overthrown Valhalla.”

I could feel Lezard’s worried stare settle on me, but I didn’t look away from Aurora. To my surprise, she smiled. It wasn’t a smirk or a sneer, but a genuine smile that betrayed her sadness in her eyes.

“Do you know what made them seal me with so little warning?” she questioned, voice bittersweet. “Why I went from loyal Valkyrie to the Bringer of Bloody Mornings?”

“They simply feared your power was too immense,” I replied simply.

“Who told you that?” she retorted quickly, tone becoming resentful. “I though you’d know the truth, sister. Did you truly believe that lie? Were you disillusioned into believing I was foolish enough to allow Freya to be aware of my power and involvement with the faction that sought to topple Odin?”

I swallowed and felt my heartbeat accelerate as she continued her explanation, unusually willing to divulge information. Her hand seemed to tremble slightly as she relived the memories.

“Odin condemned his firstborn son to death in secret because he lead the movement to overthrow his steely control because Ragnarok was on the horizon. He…we wanted to prevent the deaths of countless Aesir, humans, and elves by removing Odin from the throne. Odin drove Valhalla toward war against Queen Hel and the Vanir merely to prove the power of the Aesir.”

“They…were found out?” I asked quietly.

“It happened in less than two days. His son was branded a traitor but never told and scheduled to be executed the following day when only Hrist and her elder sister were in Valhalla. Her eldest sister, me, was in Midgard at the time.”

“He killed his son?” I interjected sharply, feeling oddly betrayed despite hearing little good about the Allfather.

“Yes,” Aurora said coldly, “Freya convinced him to. Azion…the man I loved…was murdered by his father because Hrist betrayed us. Hrist learned of the Resistance and reported it to Freya and Odin. His blood was still warm on Gungnir’s blade when I arrived from Midgard. Can you blame me for lashing out against Odin, determined to take his life after he mercilessly executed the only person I ever cared for? What would you do if Freya and that foolish half-elf condemned your lover to death? Could you claim to remain sane when the voices of the dead screamed in your ears to avenge them, including the voice of the person most precious to you?”

“Rufus would never do something like that,” I stammered, hardly comprehending the magnitude of her words. “He has Gungnir now, and he’s nothing like Odin was! Nothing at all!”

“And Freya? She hates you because we have the same face. If she wanted to see break and be destroyed, what would she do? That man is far too young and inexperienced to control both the Gungnir and Freya’s actions; she would act behind his back. Odin may be dead, but this world will never find peace with Freya holding half of Asgard’s burden. Her soul is corrupted and her heart is tainted dark black. Nothing can bring Azion back, but her and Hrist’s death will at least avenge him after thousands of years of unrest.”

“Wasn’t…couldn’t he have been reincarnated?” I asked, almost pleadingly.

“His soul is gone further than any spell or cycle of rebirth can reach. The only thing simple about this twisted future is the fate that befell him; his soul his completely vanished. There is nothing left.”

I stared into her eyes, almost identical to my own, and felt nothing but sympathy and, dare I said it, compassion toward her. I didn’t voice the thought, for her plans for revenge were anything but pitiable. I feel like…I was like this before. I want to free her from this…but I also want to help her.

“Aurora…killing Freya is your primary goal, right?”

But Lenneth said Hrist can’t be killed. If the Advent of Aurora is inevitable…I have to believe Lenneth that Hrist must live, even if she is the cause of all this.

I lowered my sword and placed the blade on the floor. I closed my eyes and hesitated for a moment before releasing the hilt. Aurora tensed and she looked at me suspiciously as I extended my hand out toward her.

“Let me help you, Aurora. Freya commanded Hrist to kill me the first time you completely awoke within me. She abducted an innocent girl living a peaceful life who I befriended and forced the burden of a Valkyrie upon her. Freya thinks my value ends with holding a sword properly. She’s been trying to damn me all my life…and knowing what she did thousands of years ago, and I have the same opinion.”

“How can you possibly help me?” she accused distrustfully. “I told you before you cannot.”

“I couldn’t then,” I agreed with a brief nod, “But I can now. Lezard showed me something that would be of great interest to you…and I want to help you regain it. You’re going to die in less than seven hours and even in Hrist’s body, you may not be able to fight against Freya, Rufus, Lenneth, and Silmeria all at once.

“Ayano!” Lezard interjected, an edge of panic present in his voice. “Don’t!”

“Silence, mage,” Aurora snapped angrily, glancing over her shoulder to glare at him. “I will not tolerate having secrets kept from me. Continue…Ayano.”

I swallowed and returned her expectant gaze. “Your original body is encased in a crystalline prison in the depths of Valhalla, in a cavern that went untouched and unaffected by the devastation wrought up on Asgard during Lenneth’s Ragnarok. It’s completely intact…untouched by the degradation of time. There are even two swords at your sides…one is probably…Azion’s.”

She moved the Levantine away from my neck but didn’t sheath it. “Why would you do this for me?”

I smiled gently at her, ignoring my inner tumult and forcing myself to believe I was taking the right path. I have to trust in Lenneth. She said Hrist must be present when we fight Aurora…and Lenny…wouldn’t lie to me.

“You’re my sister, just like Lenneth and Silmeria, it’s only right I help you. We’re family, right?”

“I’m your enemy,” she protested. “I threaten to take everything you hold dear.”

“No, you don’t. Because you won’t reach your old body without my help. The easiest way to guarantee a peaceful entrance and successful Sovereign’s Rite is with my identity and cooperation. And before I make a covenant with you, there are a few things you have to promise,” I pressed on, “One, you won’t bother using the Sovereign’s Rite on Hrist. If you’re going to kill her, do it honorably, in battle. Second, you’ll leave Ekainz alone. I only have two einherjar…and he has nothing to do with any of this. Finally…,”

“Go on,” she said, apparently contemplating my offer.

“Aya, stop!” Lezard yelled, uncharacteristically vocal about his disapproval. “Don’t promise her anything, you’re sacrificing yourself! Freya will kill you!”

“Finally,” I repeated, ignoring his call, “You will tell me the truth about who I am, what I am, and if I had a previous life. I want to know…who I really am.”

She didn’t move for a long moment and simply stared at me, examining my eyes to see if I was lying. No one spoke or moved, even Lezard who tried desperately to meet my eyes. Aurora switched the Demon’s Sword, “Levantine” to her left hand. Her wary reluctance was reflected in her reflection as she reached out and took my hand.

I smiled confidently at her and she nodded curly as she pulled me my feet. Lezard hissed a curse as I straightened and released her hand. We were the exact same height, though it was no surprise since our bodies had been crafted to appear identical on the exterior. The black flecks in her eyes threatened to overtake her color irises, but upon closer examination, she also seemed tired.

Not that it was surprising; the Demon’s Sword, “Levantine” was wearing her down. She kept the Levantine in her left hand as she turned to face Lezard. “Mage. You will cast the Sovereign’s Rite upon me to return me to my former body when we arrive at Valhalla. Destroy this circle and ready the incantation to masquerade my aura.”

She turned back to me, expression expectant. “You obviously have a plan. I can’t just walk into Valhalla as I am now.”

“I know,” I said with a nod, “I’ll make Silmeria and Hrist cooperate and you’ll go in dressed in my armor with your aura disguised to match my own. As long as you keep your helmet low so no one sees your eyes and you don’t talk to any of the Aesir or einherjar there, Lezard and I can get you away from the entrance hall and down into the gravesite.”

“Surely Freya and that half elf will request an audience with the Valkyries to hear the news they gathered. How do you intend to justify my absence from that?”

“I’m injured, aren’t I? Silmeria’s einherjar, Seluvia, will say I have to be taken straight to the infirmary.”

“Hmm,” she remarked, expression faintly amused. “You’re just as tricky and devious as ever…conniving, even,” she turned around and rolled Hrist on to her back with an unceremonious shoved and sliced her bonds open with the tip of the Levantine. “But my tale of your past shall wait until we are at my grave. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” I echoed, unable to help but think I was making a deal with a devil.

Or more appropriately, a sacrificial covenant with a demon.

Final Hikari: Okay! I have a number! As long as everything keeps going as planned, Valkyrie’s Favor will be forty-five chapters and an epilogue. Next chapter is titled “The Graves.” And I want reviews. Now. -.-

Silmeria: Demanding, aren’t you?

Final Hikari: XD Yes. My Final Fantasy VII fan fiction, All That’s Left Behind, got over 100 review by the thirteenth chapter. This is chapter thirty-eight, so there aren’t many left, and I’d like to see 60 by the epilogue,

Lenneth: …Do you really want to know what you sound like?

Final Hikari: No, not really. But guess what I found!!! -insert little hearts here-

Silmeria: What?

Final Hikari: :D :D :D Stunderwear!!! :D :D :D

Hrist: -groan- You really had Lazard make a pair?

Final Hikari: XD No, I found the video on YouTube. If you search “Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction Stunderwear” it comes right up! :D

Lenneth: -sigh- That’s painfully random.

Final Hikari: Mmm…it rather is. But yay! Stunderwear for all!

Silmeria: …Final Hikari doesn’t, thank goodness, own Ratchet & Clank or Stunderwear.