Mogul vs. Remnants Pt. XII: Arman's Farewell

Chapter 125 (Remnant 1)

"So uh... what now?" Thomas asked.

Deacon went up to our younger brother and grabbed him by the ear. "Training. You did jack shit in our fight against Mogul."

"But so did Meena!"

Meena glared at Thomas and yanked his other ear. "The hell did you just say?"

"Nothing!" Thomas squeaked.

Lucius crossed his arms and smiled, as Sophia walked to his side. "Shall we return to Corinth?"

Lucius looked at her. "Yeah. We got a lot to do."

Merrow kept glancing at the chains around my left forearm. The chains didn't feel like a gift. But a heavy reminder. Of the fact that Icarus had sacrificed his life because I wasn't strong enough.

"I have a suggestion." Merrow said.

"What is it?" Asked Sophia.

"How about you leave the Corinth stuff to Kyrael and I? Just write down some things for us to address, and we'll make sure you get to it."

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Merrow pointed at Deacon, Meena, and Thomas, who were basically a jumbled mess of Meena's yelling, Deacon's threats, and Thomas' cries for help. Kanade also joined them to try to alleviate the situation.

"Your brothers are training and getting stronger in Thomas' world. I think if you all joined together, you could all learn from each other and learn to fight alongside each other. We weren't very coordinated the first time. I'm sure as we gather more Remnants, we can expand our forces."

Sophia looked hesitant. "But Merrow... the people..."

Merrow gave her a thumbs up. "I'll handle it. Michael updated me on the status. He and I will continue where you two left off. Besides, what's the Remnants without their leader?"

Lucius laughed. "I guess you're right."

I said nothing, as we headed off into the portal to Thomas' world, once more.

Chapter 126 (Remnant 1)

"The hell... this place is so clean." Lucius gasped.

I guess it never occurred to me. Lucius had never been here before.

The owner of the flat, Skylar Merle crossed her arms. She was short, and petite, a bit on the chubby side. Her hair was dyed a different colour from when we left. A brilliant purple, which complimented Merrow's green hair. From what I could gather from my few minutes in the flat, Merrow met Skylar while undercover, joining the "emo clique". They became best friends since then.

"Merrow... why is it that every time you show up, you bring more of these disgusting BOYS here! Who the hell is this?! What is wrong with his arm?!?!?!"

Lucius' eyes narrowed. "Huh?! The hell did you say about my arm?!"

Skylar and Lucius faced each other, their scowling was almost amusing. Sophia pulled Lucius back.

"Luke! She is the owner of the flat. Please show some respect!"

Meena smirked, and flipped her revolver in her hand. It was probably not the safest thing to do in a house.

"We will be staying here, to train these boys to become strong. I think with all of us here, The Floating Man's reputation will increase."

Deacon flicked his hand, created sparks of Demonfire.

"And if not, I guess we'll just have to beat some sense into the Metro League. If they're dumb enough to mess with Thomas' brothers together."

"Wait! Hold on!" Thomas put his hands up. "If you guys are all gonna be helping me with my vigilantism, we need a superhero group name! How about the Metro Boys?"

Deacon glared at him. "There is no way in HELL am I going with that name." A tendril appeared underneath Thomas' chin.

"Okay! I guess we can work on a different name."

Everybody laughed, as Kanade put his hand on my arm.

"Arman?"

"What is it?"

"Come meet me outside."

My heart sank. I knew this conversation was going to happen eventually. It was inevitable. But I followed him out of the house as we stood in the backyard. The moon shone, illuminating the both of us. Kanade's black hair, long, reaching his shoulders, complemented the black of the night. Which was ironic. Because he credited himself to being a follower of the Lord.

"Arman. You are the Priest Proxima of Argen, correct?"

"I... yes. I was."

Kanade shifted on his feet. "Do you remember the ideals?"

"To protect oneself, not just from the physical danger of the world, but also the spiritual. To always keep yourself pure, amidst the darkness." I recited, instantly. Pollux's teachings resonating in my mind. Kanade smiled.

"Do you blame yourself, from everything that has happened?"

I looked at the street, then at the chains around my arm.

"Kanade, I am regretful of my actions. To tell you the truth, I don't even see myself as worthy of being a Priest anymore. I am... a sinner. For I have killed. Many. For so many years."

Kanade sighed. "To be a Centurion, and to be a Priest. Two conflicting things, at the end of the day. But I suppose that is how it is."

Tears began to leak from my eyes, peppering the ground.

"Kanade... I am so sorry. For everything I have done. For the Silver City's fall. For Icarus' death. For Erion's death. I've... I've... all of this is my fault."

Kanade hugged me as I sobbed into his shoulder.

"Arman, I don't hate you. It is true your actions have caused damage to many people. Perhaps even irreparable. But you are not beyond redemption. I do not hate you. Not just because you are my brother. But because if we lived our lives full of hate, how could we ever keep this world a good place?"

I stood as Kanade pulled away.

"I called you here today, because I could sense your internal turmoil. The realization of the damage you have caused. I knew it had been eating you up inside. I just wanted to tell you that I don't despise you for any of it. You did what you could to protect your family in Argen. And if it meant killing, then it is what it is. But... I can't tell you how to live your life. If you choose to walk a certain path, I can only watch, and support you whenever you fall."

How could someone like Kanade... forgive me for something like this? I felt so unworthy of everything.

I was known and identified for my compassion. Different from the others. But was I really?

I watched as Kanade walked back to the house, to rejoin our brothers.

I looked at my hand again. Our brothers.

I clenched my fist. I was not strong enough. Because... I still believed myself to be pure. But I wasn't.

I turned back to the house. Kanade was pure. He should have been the one to be known as the compassionate Remnant. Not me. I was just the Firstborn.

Decen had done whatever he could to become this strong. But he didn't have what it took to defeat Mogul.

But I now had something Decen didn't. I had the power of both Paladins. I defeated Icarus, with my bare hands.

I had more potential than my progenitor. This must had been why I was the first to be born. To be the strongest of my kind.

And if it meant severing all ties to my loved ones to become stronger.

I looked at the sky.

"Then it is who I truly am." I muttered.

Chapter 127 (Remnant 1)

"Oh! Hey Arman. Are you not going back to the house?" Merrow asked.

"Where are you going?"

Merrow laughed. "I'm heading back to Corinth. To help with the state of the country alongside Michael. You know, someone needs to fill in Sophia's place."

"I see."

Merrow tilted her head. "Arman, what's wrong?"

"Merrow, I want you to create a portal. Far from here. To a place that I cannot return."

Merrow's eyes widened. "You... called me Merrow for the first time..."

I looked at her, my face full of sorrow. "I know."

"But why? You should be with your brothers! You should-"

"They've made me weak." I said.

I watched as Merrow put her hand to her mouth. "Arman... what are you... saying?"

I turned to her, and held out my chains, as my hand glowed with the Phoenix Form.

"I've surpassed all my brothers. I have surpassed Paladin Icarus, and Paladin Decen. But it wasn't enough. It wasn't enough because every second I am with my brothers, my ideals get in the way of my progress."

A tear ran down Merrow's cheek. "Arman... are you sure?"

I held out my hand wiped the tear off her face.

"I don't want to live my life as Arman Wan. The kind priest. Who always hesitated to bring down the blade. I must start anew. Only then will I grow strong enough for our final battle against Mogul. We have 10 years. 10 years I will use to my maximum potential."

Merrow ran up to me and crushed me in a hug.

"No. Arman, do you understand what you are even saying?! Please. You can't do this. Don't lose yourself."

"ARMAN WAN IS TOO WEAK!" I shouted.

Merrow gasped.

"Arman... is too weak." I said, my voice turning into a sob. "He wasn't enough to protect everyone. And because of this, Icarus died. My actions... because of all the shackles I have on me. I don't want to be bound by my duties as a Priest. And if being a priest is part of who I am... then I must throw it away."

Merrow pulled away, her eyes glinted with tears.

"But why.... Why?! Why walk down this road! This is the exact decision Decen had done!"

I regarded her, as I felt more and more of my identity slip away. No more ideals. No more morals.

I slowly undid my Argen armour, the plates clanking onto the ground. I took out Pariah and pulled my hair back, and cut it. Cutting until it became so short, it was almost like a military cut.

Merrow stared at me, as I continued. "Because what Decen had done to become stronger. It worked. But he just didn't have what it took to carry it out. I do. I will do what he couldn't."

I dropped bundles of my hair onto the ground as I saw myself from the reflection of her tears.

A new man. A darker, but more powerful man. One who would take the mantle as the greatest Remnant. The greatest warrior. The legacy to the Paladin of War, and to the Paladin of Light.

I ran my hair through her hair. "Lady Rivenlight. This is the birth of a new warrior. One who isn't bound by his restraints of Priesthood. One who strives for strength just like his progenitor, but retains the light of the strongest Paladin of all time. I shall continue their dreams. Their passion."

I held out my hand, as white and gold energy of Icarus, mixed with magenta energy from Decen.

Merrow sighed. "Arman... if you choose to go to this new universe. You know we won't be able to see you again. For 10 years. Please... are you sure?"

I looked at her. "I am positive. It must be done."

Merrow stepped forward and swiped the air, creating a portal.

"During my adventuring, after Decen's death. I had found a universe that was so far off in the multiverse, that it was almost impossible for me to get back. Not without help. But in this universe, there are plenty of powerful monsters for you to fight. Consider this your 10 year training regime, to begin your life anew."

I put my hand on the portal.

"Thank you, Merrow."

Merrow smiled, and wiped her eyes. "You should go by a different name. An extra layer of security, in case Mogul finds you. It's unlikely though, since his teleportation wouldn't likely reach this far."

I glanced at my reflection. "You mentioned that model. With the short hair. The one that Decen considered looking like."

"Sam?"

"Yes."

Merrow laughed. "Sam was a pretty hot guy. But he wasn't just good looking. He was brave. Did whatever he could to achieve his dream to becoming a top model. Worked out like crazy. I think it suits you, considering your dream to continue Decen's legacy. Just don't go with Samuel Mason. Because Decen mistakened his name for that. Thought it was that for the longest time... thinking about it makes me sad."

"Then what was his real name?"

Merrow looked me in the eye. "Mace. Samuel Mace."

I smiled, holding out my hand. "Then from now onwards, I shall be known as Samuel Mace. The Remnant of War. The Firstborn, and Legacy to the Paladin of War, and Light."

Merrow shook it. "Nice to meet you, Samuel Mace. Become strong. For all of us."

I nodded, and glanced back at the house. Everybody having fun. A part of me felt sad.

"I'll explain everything to them, Ar- I mean, Sam."

Merrow put her hand to my face. "Sam, just know, that no one is forcing you to do this. If you ever need to come back, let me know. I will do everything in my power to bring you back."

Merrow handed me a necklace with a green gem. "In this gem, is a communications trigger, that will alert me. Inside houses a powerful warrior that I had never told anyone. But his name is Connor Shel. If you ever feel homesick, or if you ever need a reminder of your family. He will be here. For he has been watching us for this entire time."

I took the necklace and put it around my neck.

"Thank you."

Merrow leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. "I love you, Remnant 1. Never forget that."

I smiled and turned around, turning from my old life, as Arman Wan, and approached the portal. Loz-Q and Pariah strapped to my back. To begin my new life.

As Samuel Mace.