“Are we going or not?” Isaac questioned, standing right before the invisible barrier. “This will be a simple, but horrifying retrieval.”
He glanced to Slar, the person in question rocking back and forth in fear on the cloudy ground. Mary remained still, her expression plagued with uncertainty for a few moments, before she relented and walked beside Isaac, sword unsheathed in preparation. The black goopy possessed cloud creatures were banging on the invisible barrier, groaning and spitting onto the shield in hunger.
Said titan held no fear of the abominations, casually ignoring them. When he had first stepped into the crypt, fear was prevalent in his heart. But once the corruption had completely reformed his being and coexisted with his heart, the fear of these beings were almost unfelt. Their visages were terrifying, but it was only of their appearance that struck fear into the hearts of mortal men.
Isaac…
A human no more; all that remained of his being was his honest personality, ideals held true to his heart. With his heart now beating with the essence of corruption itself, there was no need to fear these creatures.
Because he was a titan of walking corruption itself. And this titan is resolute to clean that corruption.
“I-I didn’t say I accepted the quest at all…!” Slar stuttered in fear. Gone was his annoying bravado, in the face of true danger. “I was jus- just supposed to get a weapon and leave!”
“And that's the reason you’ve gotten us stuck in this predicament.” Mary reasoned, glancing back at him, gaze cold and unflinching. “If you hadn’t tried to kidnap me, this would have never happened. You have no one else to blame but your own selfishness."
Slar flinched with each accusing statement. He couldn’t bear to stare at her face, it was the truth. The cold harsh truth that was his reality. He could have just entered at another time, when they had left. But he had to bring her along. The titan would have left the mansion of his own accord and he wouldn't be in such a situation!
...But his gut feeling just had to interfere. He felt as if he knew the young woman. Of Mary. As if he met her before.
Gaze reluctantly meeting Mary's cold expression, a faint sentiment washed over Slar, thoughts swirling in his mind.
"Could it have been… when she was a child? How long ago…?"
His eyes flashed.
"Was it when I… was under the Sky King? A mere soldier?
His gaze dropped as Isaac's voice tore his thoughts to shreds, Mary scoffing as she turned around.
“If you wish to stay here, be my guest.” Isaac turned to the mass of angry creatures, disgusting and vile. “I have no reason to mourn you if you die.”
Mary and Isaac readied themselves, as fighting was imminent. They would need to cut down the creatures lusting for them. Mary brandished her sword, but Isaac could see her struggling to lift it. Her human body was too unfamiliar. Isaac steeled himself. He would be protecting her more than normal now.
"I can't risk hurting myself to form another sword…" Isaac pondered as he looked to his arm in discomfort, not willing to self-harm again. The pain had been excruciating, but in his astonishment, his body acquiesced to his expectations when his fingers elongated.
Mary looked on in amazement as Isaac’s monstrous vine fingers flopped onto the cloud ground, tipped with the claws of a monster. The titan experimentally flexed his fingers, only to see them lash out with a considerable amount of speed, the five appendages piercing through the monster ahead of them before pulling back, unaffected by the barrier.
“That’s new.” Mary commented in shock, her eyes gleaming in amazement. “You've never done that before.”
“I suppose, even I don't really know the full extent of my abilities.” Isaac admitted, playing around with his elongated appendage a bit, before they flopped limply. “This is definitely new.”
“Well, at least it’s useful.” She adjusted her grip on her sword, taking a stance. “Are you ready, my guardian?”
“You didn't need to ask.” Isaac grinned, bloodlust fueling his heart, corrupted blood pumping through his tainted veins.
“I’ll protect you.”
With Mary shouting her battlecry and Isaac silently lashing, slashing and stabbing into the mass of vile putrid creatures.
Left behind, Slar was struck with an epiphany, his eyes widening as his jaw dropped. Memories returned to him, thought to have been long forgotten.
”I’ll protect you.
Isaac's proclamation echoed within his mind, resonating throughout his being.
"I remember now…" Slar whispered silently, voice soft and dreamlike.
"I remember who you are." Reminiscence flooded him, memories of his time as a soldier, serving as the very reason why he had felt that urge to save her.
"You're the daughter of the Sky King..."