5 Will you Rise and Join the Battle?

Dawn was nearing, as they arrived onto the grassy fields of the cemetery. Black wings flapped, as Nye had set Miles down. She landed, pacing ahead of him to the entrance. However, Miles noticed the rain beginning to trickle down, as well as the mist rolling in amongst them.

"Nye?..." Miles spoke up, slightly. "Is the weather always this... gloomy?"

"Typically." Nye replied, as she began heading down the stair case.

"H-hey, wait up!" Miles growled, rushing after her.

Torches lit the halls as the duo pressed deeper into the underground portion of the cemetery. Many reapers loomed around, staring with their hollow eyes. Miles kept close to Nye, who remained unfazed. The two reached Lenault's chambers, with spiderwebs clinging overheard.

"Lenault!" Nye called, in somewhat of an annoyed tone.

Appearing from smoke, the apparition stood behind Nye and Miles. "Seems someone isn't in too jovial of a mood."

Nye turned to him, with a bored expression. "No shit Sherlock." She crossed her arms. "You failed to mention ALL the details about these abilities of the ring."

"Oh, did I?" Lenault played coy.

Nye raised a brow, as Miles kept near her. "I still don't trust this guy." Miles stated, softly.

Lenault chuckled in amusement. "Dear me, did I strike a nerve somewhere? Nyghtmare, care to explain what this is about?"

"You never said anyone else could see these 'memories'." Nye stated.

Len's lips curled, "Well now, you're getting the hang of the confabulation I see. You're doing rather exceptional."

Nye looked seriously to Lenault. "Explain."

"My my, so eager. Nyghtmare, you merely forced a memory to your mind, doing so while making contact with a person connected to your previous incarnation. It's called a shared memory, my dear. Not even your father could do that whilst he was under me." Lenault said slyly.

"Shared memory?" Miles looked confused.

"Moreover, I'm fairly interested to why you never mentioned this, and to why you're only now just bringing up my father. Talk about being cloak and dagger." Nye added.

"So MANY questions..." Lenault approached them, with his hands to his coat pockets. "If I told you all the secrets, then it wouldn't be fun anymore. Things such as that can get a fellow into trouble. It is also partially the blame to why your father's as dead as me." Lenault chuckled devilishly.

"You don't say... Well. Assuming you're not going to give me any information on either case, I think we'll be leaving." Nye was unamused, turning from him.

"Now, don't be hasty. I'm curious to know more about this particular memory." Lenault smirked.

Nye stopped, with a sigh. "Of course you are... As per not knowing about forcing memories out prior, I unknowingly did such with that of a Dream Weaver, trying to get further knowledge how he was connected to my past."

"Further? So you survived an encounter with such a blighted thing? You're proving very worthy of you're title, my dear. However, whatever be the reminiscence, I wouldn't be able to translate the memory, that is up to you. Nevertheless, I do believe it would be wise to seek out this Dream Weaver once more. He might prove to be a useful asset." Lenault looked to Nye, with enjoyment.

"Are you crazy?! That guy tried to kill Nye! Not to mention, he's a wanted criminal." Miles retorted.

"Sharp tongue, pussy cat... Clearly you've never sought out alliances before. Sometimes to do some good, you got to seek out the bad guys. 'Enemy of my enemy is my friend.' If life gives you lemons, make lemon-aid, instead of complaining that they're not oranges. It's that simple." Lenault glanced slightly to Miles, with a smirk.

"W-Wha?..." Miles looked confused, and taken off guard.

Nye carefully observed the two, seeming in thought. "Before I decide who I am to ally myself with, I need to know if I can trust them. For now, I am not making any decisions on this Dream Weaver until I know who he is, and what's going on in his head."

"Risk is often necessary with how an army functions... If I was in you're shoes, I wouldn't let myself get distracted with such fears. You could be missing out on an opportunity that could increase your forces." Lenault seemed more serious.

"Again, I am not making any decisions on the matter until after further investigation. Risk may be something that inevitably comes down the line. However, there's a reason that you're dead, and I'm not." Nye turned from Lenault. "Miles." She said, walking off.

Miles followed after her, as Lenault stared to Nye as she vanished from sight, with displeased eyes. "You are far too much like that mother of your's, Nyghtmare...." He muttered, vanishing into smoke.

Nye and Miles reach the exit of the cemetery, Nye ahead of the Leashed.

"Nye..." Miles spoke up.

"...Your worry is misplaced, I'm quite alright." Nye had her back to him, as the cat stared her way.

"You're not thinking about going after that creep again, are ya?" Miles inquired, with his ears drooping.

"...That is neither here no there. I already spoke my mind on the matter." Nye replied with a brief delay.

"Words like that aren't very reassuring." Miles pouted in annoyance.

"You still doubt me, no matter... Let's be out our way, shall we?" Nye glanced back.

Miles sighed, "..."

"AAAAIIIIEEEEE!!!" Came a sudden blood-curdling scream from the distance.

Both Miles and Nye looked towards it. Miles cowered slightly, "We're not going to play hero... and go find out where that scream c-came from... are we?"

Nye began heading towards it. "No one ever said anything about being a hero, Miles. Remember, we are still looking into where this undisclosed location is hidden."

"... R-Right.... (I was afraid she was going to say that...)" Miles muttered, uneasily.

Deeper in the depths of the nearby forest, a young purple skinned, cyclops girl was surrounded by Templar soldiers.

"Seems a little fiend wandered into our camp, blokes." One the the Templar smirked.

"An ugly one even, tsk." Scoffed another Templar.

"Have mercy....." the child sulked, with tears trailing down her cheeks.

"Argh-!!" Cried out one of the Templar in the back.

A sword had been impaled through him, and pulled out roughly. The body fell to the ground, blood escaping the gash of the lifeless corpse. The other Templar turned in panic, seeing Nye standing there, with her bloodied blade. Her aura was flowing around her.

"That aura... Is that-!?" Gasped a Templar.

"A-A-An Amygdala!?" Trembled one of the other Templar.

"...I've never seen one up this close before...." Another gulped.

"Worse things happen at sea men. This broad is but only one foe. Have you forgotten these things travel in solitude? One day we'll laugh at this, so get a grip men. This bitch just committed capital treason. It's our duty as Templar to slay demons who go against the order of the Grand Master." Spoke up a higher ranked Templar, with his weapon drawn.

"Actions speak louder than words." Nye looked to the leader sharply, with provoking eyes.

He looked angrily to Nye, "Execute this blundering banshee!"

"SER!" The Templar exclaimed, rushing at Nye from all corners.

As one drew close, Miles leapt from a nearby tree, kicking the Templar back to the ground with his sword drawn. It stabbed into them, with blood splattering slightly. Miles pulled his blade from the chest cavity of the Templar, letting it drop, as he looked to the foes from his crouched position.

"SHE'S NOT ALONE!!" cried out a fearful Templar.

"(An Amygdala who has aid from a damned leashed...) Neutralize both of them!!" The commanding Templar ordered, with spit flying from his angered lips.

Nye and Miles prepared to take on the small army. One by one, the Templar forces launched at them, swords and other weapons clashing as the sparks flew from the sturdy metallic blades. Nye whirled her chain from her wraith-edge, scattering the wall of red and white colored knights. Miles got back to back with her, keeping his right hand griped tight to his white katana.

"I really hope you-" Miles began, slashing back a Templar, exhaling with the impact. "-Have a plan!"

"Just follow my lead." She gripped her blade. Nye leapt from where she stood, flying at the foes as she spreads her black wings.

The Wraith-edge swung, hurling the Templar units backwards. The force casts off an eerie aura, erupting from the ground, as if it were purple flames. Miles followed up behind her, swinging his katana at the shin of a nearby Templar, with the armored foe crashing to the ground roughly.

A Templar engaged him from behind, but Miles quickly somersaulted out of the way. He landed to the dirt, rushing with blade in tow. The Templar rushed his directions as well, but Miles leapt onto their back, stabbing downward. The body collapsed as blood trailed like streams of water from the corpse. Yet another Templar came for Miles, but the chain of Nye's blade, lassoed around their neck, thrusting them across the field, into a tree trunk hard.

Nye landed, her eyes looming to the last standing Templar, the one calling the shots. "Are you quite done with the rodomontade behavior? You really should suit the action to the word, and the word to the action."

"Your kind is less than worthless, both of you lot! Come at me! I'll kill you waste of flesh MYSELF!" The man spat out, as he readied his weapon.

Dust picked up, as the man lunged at Nyghtmare and her companion. Nye in turn, rushed towards the Templar, clashing blades furiously. Miles kept back, as the metallic weapon slashed back and forth like a dance of death. Sparks flew, but no blow had connected yet, then when it wasn't expected, the Templar struck Nye's cheek, with a slight part of hair being cut with her face flesh. Nye took this opportunity to elbow him in the stomach, knocking the Templar back slightly.

He winced, as if shooting daggers at her with his eyes. Nye looked to him, stroking her thumb along the blood trailing down her face, and licking it with a stern gaze. She held her hand out, casting her aura, with the darkness of the ground. Her twisted aura leapt out around him like fish jumping in and out of water repetitively. He let out a cry of pain, striking away the screaming faces that bit at him. He looked to Nye coldly, with his uniform torn in places now.

Holy aura emanated from his blade. "I'll see to it, that both of you are wiped off the face of this planet!" The Templar shouted, casting out a downward spire of golden light.

Miles cowered, as the spell flew their way. Nye took position in front of Miles, arching her sword to take the blow. Her hair and coat tails blew, as the aura faded from the defensive posture. She lowered her blade, looking to the Templar with a smirk.

"You!?" He gasped in surprised anger.

Nye formed her wings, dashing with a vertical strike of her wraith-edge. The Templar countered, with blades clashing. From there, Nye landed behind him, lassoing her chain around the man's arm, to force him her way. With a tug, he was in range, as Nye took the opening to slash his face open. Blood squirted out, as his body collapsed to the ground with a thud. Nye released her sword, letting it fade.

Miles took a breath, sitting to the ground. "Man... Let's... not do that again..."

Nye looked to the Cyclops child, who was hiding behind a tree, with tears escaping her over-sized eye. Miles glanced over as well.

"You can come out now." Nye spoke up.

"...." The little girl whimpered, hiding further behind the tree.

Miles got up, walking to Nye's side. "..I didn't know fiends could be... so little..." He said, glancing to the young child.

The girl cautiously came out from behind the tree, she crept closer, but stopped timidly. She looked to Miles and then to Nye uneasily. "...Kitty?..."

"Hm?" Nye looked to her in puzzlement, with a raised eyebrow.

Miles' ears went back slightly, looking with an unsure gaze.

"Uh... C-Can I-I... P-p-p-pet him? Please.... I'm... s-s-s-scared..." The cyclops asked shakily.

Nye glances back to Miles from over her shoulder, "Miles?"

He shrugged, with his ears slated backwards still. "I... guess..."

The little cyclops expression perked up slightly, as she made her way to Miles. She extended her hand, gently stroking his tail. She looked down to her feet, retreating her hand slowly. "I want to go home..." She whimpered.

Miles felt bad, glancing to Nye. "..."

"You want to help her." Nye stated, her boots crunching along the dirt, as she paced over to them. "Alright, Well then we should get moving. Seems our quest will have to wait for now."

"You mean it?" The little girl wiped her eye.

"I wouldn't have said such, I'm not one to jest. Yes, we'll escort you back home. However, in return I have a favor to ask of you. A bit of quid pro quo." Nye peered to the child.

"Oh.. I don't know... I'm not supposed to talk to strangers..." The girl mentioned softly.

"You must have parents then... Interesting." Nye stood up straight, looking into the distance.

"I doubt she even knows where this 'secret' place is anyway, Nye." Miles crossed his arms.

"One can't be too certain. Fiends, much like my kinda, are left to fend for themselves at a younger age. She easily could know the whereabouts of it, or if not her, the parents. It's highly uncommon for any family ties to remain together for long. It's outlawed, remember? So, this has me thinking..." Nye looked to Miles, seriously.

"You mean, like if she is with family..." Miles seemed curious.

"That they have a place secluded, and well hidden from the Templar." Nye finished his statement.

"But what if it doesn't exist?" Miles scoffed.

"Even so, there is a chance that it does. Your argument is invalid." Nye kept her sharp eyes placed on Miles.

"...." Miles looked to her nervously with furrowed brows.

The little girl was quietly looking to them, before raising her voice. "D-Do you mean the Knothole sanctum?..."

Nye and Miles turned their attention to the child. Nye appeared pleased, "Precisely. You know of it then, I take it?"

"Y-Yes... that's where I live..." The cyclops timidly responded.

"Seems our goals are one in the same. As said, we'll escort you back safely." Nye replied, confidently.

"O-Okay. It's not too far from here. I was snuck up on by those people, before I could get back home from picking herbs." The girl explained, leading the way.

Nye and Miles followed the girl, however the leashed turned his attention to his master. He murmured softly her way, "If she knows the way, then why does she need us? I thought she might have been lost."

Nye's eyes panned over to Miles. "Protection obviously."

"You figured that much?" Miles was astonished.

"Indeed. I've been on my own for some time. I am well aware how things fall into play with my kind, as well as her's. You act as if the child is planning an ambush." Nye turned her gaze ahead.

"I'm... Just being... careful... okay?" Miles groaned.

They ventured further through the woods, into the marshlands of the bog. It went on, passed the region that Templar would dare venture. It was a bone chilling part of the forest with black trees carrying no leaves. Soon enough the group reached what appeared to be a small hill with moss covering it. Placed in the dirt was a nearly concealed doorway, giving entrance to the underground location.

The cyclops child lead them to it, and opened the wooden door allowing the two to follow her inside. Within the refuge, was a two leveled tavern of sorts. Many fiends and Amygdala alike seemed to be enjoying themselves obnoxiously.

"Molliana, you've returned? I was starting to grow worried." Spoke an oculus fiend behind the bar table. He was a very tall man, with rather unusual features. His attire was adorned in hand-shaped gear.

"Daddy!" The cyclops exclaimed, rushing to him.

As she reached him, he peered over to Nye and Miles. The entire sanctum of knothole went silent, as their eyes loomed over to them.

"N-Nye?" Miles grew uneasy, keeping close to her.

"Runfaust! That kid you took in, brought back trouble!" Shouted an angry fiend.

"She's got a leashed! That woman must be a Rhyme!" gasped another patron in panic.

"Nye." Miles whimpered.

The entire tavern began to uproar, withdrawing weapons of all sorts. Nye looked sharply to them, as she remained stationary. Her eyes glowed a bit, as her aura flowed around like a grotesque cloud of whaling faces.

"An erroneous assumption." Nye stated, her aura simmering down, as the swarm's racket subsided.

"Daddy... she helped me... I brought her here because she was looking for the sanctum..." Molliana spoke timidly.

Runfaust looked from Molliana to Nye. "..."

"She sought it out!? Not only that, but she's accompanied by a leashed! Just because you're an Amygdala, you think we can trust you?! How do we know she's not working for the Templar!?" One in the back shouted. He was a purple haired fiend with horns on his head.

Nye's eyes panned to him, as the crowd began to grow more agitated once more. Miles took cover in the corner.

"You are rather cantankerous, aren't you?" Nye stated, as she formed her wings. She flew up to the second floor, peering down to them. "I have reason for seeking this place out, so cool your jets. I do not side with the Templar, on the contrary, I plan to stop them."

"Who are you to assume you can stop their laws?" Asked one of the crowd.

Nye noticed a painting of Lenault on the wall. "(So they are loyalists to Lenault. This could work out nicely.)" Her attention looked to the fiend. "Nyghtmare Ghestro. Your Queen. The 'leashed' over there, is my friend Miles." She stated.

Murmurs arose in the mob. "Our Queen? And she's friends with a leashed?""But didn't that one guy claim the same thing before vanishing?""What was his name, Geoffry Ghestro?""He made us promises, but he didn't hold up to them...""Didn't he go missing?""Maybe he's dead?"

"I bet she's lying." Scoffed the purple haired fiend, as if challenging her. "If you are who you claim to be, then prove it."

Nye turns her attention to the fiend once again, she held her hand up, showing the ring.

The others murmured again. "It's the family crest of the Ghestros.""How did she get that ring.""Maybe she is the queen.""Even if she is, what if she abandons us like the last one?"

"Don't be so quick to trust. It could as easily be a fake, or stolen. Only a true descendant of Lenault Ghestro could summon forth the family weapon." The purple haired fiend spouted.

Nye sighs, forming her blade. She gained a sound of astonishment from the crowd. "Then perhaps this will suffice. I wasn't expecting to have to do this so extravagantly, but you have placed me into this position. Yes, I am your queen, appointed by the spirit of Lenault. I have a location, that the templar will never find; hidden far below the surface. The city of the deep, known as Wynorex."

The room quieted, staring to Nye, with their ears listening to her words.

Her lips began to speak, as she tried to gain their alliance. "The Templar forces have robbed all of us of those freedoms that they keep for themselves. Living like criminals, we're forced to seclusion. We're left to hide, if we want to live without hindrance or restraint. I refuse to be written off as less than worthless... not anymore. Together we can put an end to their tyranny. Will you stand with me?"