Gust Staff walked down a flight of stairs to flat long room with a large tank of glowing orange liquid inside it. A silhouette of a body was floating inside it but was shrouded by the deep orange. The body inside looked big and had flowing hair covering its shoulders and head. Gust looked away and looked at the tall young man seated upon the floor. The young man was no older than twenty. He had a long black braid of his hair hanging down between six spikes going down his back protruding from the white uniform he wore with armor on his shoulders and forearms. He had a giant sword laying next to him and from his forehead was two blue horns. He looked back revealing the face of a young man with ice blue eyes. He looked unconcerned as Gust Staff came and sat next to him crossing her hooved feet. "Seems your transformation held nice. You still look like you. The young man Bruce looked down at his hands and back at the tank. "Yes. It was struggle wrestling the control from the beast or should I say demon species I asked to fuse with" his hands clenched into fists as he scowled. "How long will this process take for the king?" He asked now meeting Gust Staff's eyes. "No idea. This whole process has been new to us and developed only recently. Thankfully the king stumbled on scrolls showing how to combine organic material with Divine Items created by the legendary Vulcan the Smith. The Sword King is an expert on the man and seems to relish in collecting his works. From what I could gather before this process. Information showed that he visited here and lived here for a time. Leaving behind a secret workshop in the mountains. They are rumors, but seems were proof he found it" Bruce looked at Gust in confusion. "What exactly is this why leave behind the notes on this? Seems foolish if the powers I've obtained could be at anyone's fingertips if they had the means" he asked a fair question. He was right to question the power he obtained. Was he still himself or the demon soul he absorbed with his own. His brother did the same thing and managed to conquer the evolution with a enchanted item given to him before he left. If he had done what Bruce had would he have lost like he did. Questions seemed to nag at his mind as he felt the heavy weight of filling his brother's shoes when he was undeserving.
The only one who seemed to see the potential in him was Sierra or what he now called her Gust over her real name. She had merged with the mythical beast and became her moniker from then on. Like Bruce she was now a hybrid. "Your right to question if we are possibly breaking taboos, or following notes of a Primordial who left it for the soul purpose to be found?" She shrugged. "Personally the risk is small compared to the gains. The king will emerge triumphant" she smiled big as she stared up at the orange tank that had bubbles flowing around inside.
"Well your optimism is reassuring, but I'm still unsure about being the new Stoic Blade" Bruce looked saddened and defeated as he put himself down. Gust then hit him in the shoulder like she used to do when he was growing up around her and Draven. The hit felt like nothing, but it was the symbolism of the gesture. It was playful and at the same time serious. "Enough of that talk. Draven was here and he would hit you in the face. He saw something in you and asked the King personally to pick you if he should fall to replace him. So find some confidence and enough of the pity party" she stood up and brushed her long legs off. "Have some self reflection while I'm gone. I'll be back" Bruce looked up at her from his seated position. "Where are you going?" she tilted her head. "Girls gotta eat" she left Bruce alone as she walked away leaving him.
He stared back at the tank and thought about what she said. A memory came to mind as he remembered his brother and him running through the streets as kids. They were orphans at a young age and were on their own. They dealt with all manners of cruel people who were lurking in the underbelly of the kingdom. But Draven was always there to fight for them both. One memory of them angering a group of older kids who were a band of little thieves. The lead boy demanded that whatever they themselves took was to be given to him as a percentage. But the brothers never stole anything that they didn't need having a code unlike the boys they faced. Draven and the older boy fought each other in an alleyway. Bruce stood and watched as Draven covered in blood and bruises beat the boy roaring like a dragon over his triumph. Bruce always idolized his brother's bravery and strength. From then on Bruce never let him fight alone and was in the fray with him defending their lives as a pair. Soon rising when they got older joining the order of Royal Knights. Draven was a practical natural with a sword and was feared among the ranks.
Bruce on the other hand was used to test their might being his brother they wanted to beat one of them. But like his brother Bruce wasn't one who could be taken down easily and was second to his brother in strength and skill. He even used a heavier sword bigger than him, building up the strength to wield the weapon with ease. He and Draven were sought after by the king himself and became their surrogate father. He stared at the tank and scowled. "Your majesty, if you can hear me, I know I have a lot to live up too. I am not like Draven, but if you gave me a life that I never thought I'd have. I will above all fight for this kingdom and kill that bastard Slayer myself. I allow my heart to turn black and cold to all enemies of your crown. I want more than anything to rise to your level and make you proud" he stared back at the ground without any reply to his words. But his words seemed to do something cause the next thing he knew the tank and room started to shake. The quake spread outside as all personnel walking the streets froze in place as the ground under their feet shook violently. Lord Mills stared back at the palace. "ALL MEN MAKE READY INCASE THE KING EMERGES AND IS OVERCOME BY THE BEAST. No one is to kill the king, capture and subdue" he glared at the men. "Any who fatally injure the king I will personally dispatch to the land of the dead!" all men nodded and started to rush about.
He put on gloves with magic circles upon the leather he pulled them tight before gripping his sword upon his belt. He unsheathed the broad sword and started walking towards the Palace. ''BLADES WITH ME!" the three started to follow him, fully armed with their weapons. "Make me proud and use all repressing spells to lock the king in place. You see, if anyone tries to kill him I want you to take care of them. Understood?" he didn't look back at the three who in unison answered. "Yes Teacher" the palace doors burst open and flying out was Bruce and Gust. From the darkness inside two orange feline eyes started to glow. Then a guttural growl was heard breaking the silence. The ground still quaked from the presence inside.