Story Reader / Floating Record / ER05 Sands of Wrath / Story

All of the stories in Punishing: Gray Raven, for your reading pleasure. Will contain all the stories that can be found in the archive in-game, together with all affection stories.
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ER05-15 Three Evil Hounds

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Hearing the scream, Noctis wastes not a single second rushing back to the bar... except it seems too late.

Beside the table he has left the Gray Raven Commandant, two hazy figures stand in the faint light—working away at the person on the table with some sort of device.

****! Let go now!

Enraged, Noctis flings the terminal at hand at them as he dashes right up and sucker-punches one of them...

Clank...

The clinks and clanks of metallic objects fill the bar as they travel through the bottles and glasses that the Gray Raven Commandant and Noctis have only familiarized themselves with not too long ago.

Stay the hell away!

???

Thought I'd pay you a visit knowing that you're mostly brawn and barely any brain.

Says the figure that stands next to the Gray Raven Commandant, showing no intention to stop.

Noctis, however, is a little taken aback by the voice with which the riposte was uttered.

Vera?

Let him in, No. 21.

The powerful claw that's been holding Noctis in place loosens up.

Captain is right. Noctis is all brawn and no brain.

And... you're stronger now.

My bad... I thought you guys were trying to...

But wait... I totally heard a scream over the line!

Hmph.

Seeing Vera nod at her, No. 21 pulls out a "colorful" bag of medications and hands it over to Vera.

Think the commandant here can probably clear your confusion for you.

...

You feel as though someone has sucker-punched you in the tummy in the heavy darkness—except that's not where you're feeling suffocating nausea, as your heart pumps the sensation to every last corner of your body.

Every last inch of the nerves under your skin feels as though it were shredded into pieces by a combine harvester, only to be pieced back into a silent scream by sharp awns of wheat...

...Until the same blood-red setting sun can be seen looming again over the field...

...There. Is that what you heard, Noctis?

Is everything gonna be okay...?

...That same blood red you've seen only too many times in between the night and dusk.

Barely making any movement, your mouth produces no sounds.

There we go! Geez, you really scared the hell out of me there...

You're so loud, Noctis.

Pain cuts through your chest and explodes in your head at your smallest attempt to will your mouth into working.

Uhm? In pain, I presume?

Says Vera with a smile as she pulls out a syringe.

Aren't you a rare one... but here are some painkiller to get your mouth to work.

Vera wastes no time inserting the needle into you.

Following a moment of dizziness, the painkiller kicks in. Still shaking moments ago from pain, your eyes return to normal.

Will keep that on the running tab of everything you owe me.

So what's going on? What are you two doing here?

All I know is that you asked me to go and save the mayor and Fann, partner... and they're both safe now, by the way.

All the vitals are off the chart, especially for the heart... What's going on...

Nigel did this...

****, dammit.

Nigel?

Tsk... the one that went missing from the Purifying Force?

Do you know him?

Well, I do know quite a few things as Cerberus' captain.

Says Vera in a mocking tone.

But Vera has a point—she has to know her squad members when she's the one leading Cerberus.

Given where Noctis came from, it only makes sense to assume that Vera has done quite some research on his background.

The Purifying Force isn't the easiest to get information out of, but I've ways to find out.

Vera gives you a barely noticeable nod—one that's so noncommittal that it almost escapes you. Without saying anything else, she keeps her eye quietly on your infusion bag.

So, what are you gonna do ne...

Bang!

With an almost blinding light, your brain is unable to process what's quickly unfolding around you. As dizzying ringing muffles your ears, you can feel that someone is covering you.

Purifying Force Member A

Purifying Force here!

Purifying Force Member B

I need all of you to keep your hands above your head and walk out!

Purifying Force Member A

And you, too!

With a thump that sounds like a blow against a Construct's body, the figure that's been covering you rolls away on the floor.

No. 21

Noctis!

Purifying Force Member A

Freeze there... you're all our suspects now, too.

Purifying Force Member B

The Gray Raven Commandant?

Vera

I was the one saving the day here. Got any problem?

As the ringing in your ears quiets down, your view of the surroundings begins to grow clear—all while pain creeps under every inch of your skin, pain that should have been subdued by the painkiller just now.

Standing facing you is Issarius, who points a blade at Vera and No. 21. Noctis, who was the one covering you from the sudden bang just now, is being held immobile by several Purifying Force members.

Someone apparently carried you out of the tavern while you were feeling disoriented from the explosion just now. Looking back, you see fire dance on the path to the tavern.

What are you trying to do with us?!

Defection, attempt to murder colleagues with explosives, and abduction of a Task Force commandant—you're being arrested for all of that.

That's bullshit!

Issarius, however, seems oblivious to Noctis' riposte, his blade so sharp that it seems like it might pierce Noctis' chest any second now.

I wouldn't move an inch now if I were you.

That's a long list of charges they're trying to pin on you there, Noctis.

Urgh...

Issarius' blade inches closer to Noctis.

I'll be escorting you back to Babylonia out of my personal reverence to you, Gray Raven Commandant.

But this situation we're dealing with here falls strictly within the jurisdiction of the Purifying Force and, therefore, does not concern you.

Obstruction of a Purifying Force mission with explosives, negligence...

We were on the same transport craft, lest we need a reminder.

And we've come across traces of detonation that match his.

The blade in Issarius' hand seems a little less menacing now as he grows hesitant.

Be that as it may, we still need to take him back to Babylonia immediately for investigation.

No, you can't do that... because there are things I need to finish here. I'm not going back until I've had scores settled with that guy... Nigel.

All the more reason for you to go back with us and ask for help if he's still alive.

But we're out of time here... because they're coming to destroy this town. All we need is just some more time!

Consider it our kindness that we didn't execute you here right on the spot.

Take him.

Not gonna happen.

Hiss...!!

As Vera thrusts her banner spear in between Noctis and Issarius, No. 21 wastes no time baring her claws at the other Purifying Force members.

Noctis

Hey, what are you...

Vera

Hey, you look as dumbfounded as some silly dog there.

No. 21

Noctis is Cerberus' Noctis.

Only No. 21 and Captain can be mean to him!

Noctis

What's wrong with you two? This is my business here!

I'm the one that caused all this mess. It ain't got nothing to do with you two!

No. 21

But it's got to do with Cerberus now.

Vera

Here's a friendly reminder for you—dead or not, you're a member of Cerberus. Keep that in mind.

Just because you've spent a few happy days at the Purifying Force doesn't mean you can forget that.

Noctis nods at them, a smile blooming across his face.

Cerberus cannot be Cerberus without any of the three.

The Cerberus members are all baring their claws and fangs at the people standing in their way now.

Issarius, on the other hand, points the tip of his blade straight at Vera.

The hostility in the air is fast approaching a boiling point...

As if in any second, Issarius will slash off Vera's head, while No. 21 will tear into pieces the Purifying Force member who's holding Noctis at gunpoint.

In the deadly silence, the next word uttered by anyone holds the power to steer the confrontation one way or the other.

...

Hmph... guess we'll leave them be.

Before you know it, Issarius has put his blade back to its sheathe with what you'd only describe as a light-speed swoosh.

But why?!

We aren't here to babysit Cerberus.

And besides, I trust this commandant.

I'm only doing this because I have faith in what you're capable of.

With a nod, Issarius gestures for the rest of the Purifying Force to lower their weapons. With it, Vera and No. 21, too, look hostile no more.

After nodding your way, Issarius leaves with other Purifying Force members, leaving you and Cerberus alone on the path leading to the now tumbledown tavern.

You try to get on your feet holding Noctis' arm, but find your effort futile with the excruciating pain in your chest.

Tsk... in pain again? But you're gonna pass out cold if we put more painkillers in your system. Guess we'll keep you sane with the pain for now.

Vera shakes her head after checking your infusion bag.

No. 21 and I only saw a few Hetero-Creatures here and there and barely any humans or Constructs on our way here.

Also a few Constructs with daggers, and they were all doing the same thing...

Like... like they were a pack of wolves being led by a boss wolf.

With it, No. 21 pulls out a dark dagger and shows it to you.

These people all used to be assassins working for the Purifying Force... They all worked for Nigel, and no one really knows who they are.

That sure sounds like a mess... Well, we're all ears if you don't mind bringing us up to speed here.

Noctis quickly loops No. 21 and Vera in on what's happened over the past few days in town.

Evidence, huh... Wait...

Noctis suddenly remembers what he came across at the deserted brewery outside of town.

Remember how you asked me to look into the deserted brewery? I found their hideout there—and figured out what they were up to.

Noctis racks his brain trying to remember what he saw at the brewery, which proves to be slightly difficult with everything he has been through.

Spit it out already, Noctis!

Working on it...

Sounds like a plan!

You sent Noctis there, hoping he would either be able to bait the Hetero-Creatures into leaving or destroy their gathering place so that Daemon and Nigel would have nothing to attack the town with.

Oh, right! And when I was there... I didn't see those elephant-like Hetero-Creatures.

Well, there were the hooligans... and a squad of assassins.

Which reminds me... that I rushed back here when I found out that they were going to assassinate you and the mayor.

They probably didn't want to leave any of their people at the hideout, and getting rid of you two would have helped them do just now.

...Can mean one of two things—either they have no use for them anymore, or they've put them to use already.

And if they've put them to use already, the Hetero-Creatures are most likely on their way to town now.

And the attack is only something they're "spearheading," according to what Daemon said before he died. God only knows what else the Forsaken has up its sleeve.

Question is, where is he...

Right then, your mind goes back to when Nigel was sitting right across you...

...In calm but lethal composure.

He was so calm that you didn't even know how and when he poisoned you.

With it, the excruciating pain you felt back then hits you again...

Anything else we can do about it, Vera? My partner ain't looking great here.

Definitely no more painkillers. It's going to kill your partner here rather than the pain itself.

One tall and the other short, two figures hang by the wooden door that Issarius has busted through, observing what's happening inside the tavern.

Fann? Max?

Hey, fancy seeing you all here.

Are you all doing okay?

That's an understatement right there.

See, we're just this close to death registration here.

Gosh, Vera, stop scaring the hell out of the commandant here.

Noctis sizes up Max and Fann, who are walking falteringly. With splotches of blood here and there, Max seems in need of treatment.

Seems like you're hurt?

Nothing bad enough to kill me, though.

But you sure look horrible there...

Vera probably wasn't joking just now, but you manage to put on a smile at Max and Fann all the same.

Because you want to get to the bottom of it all—and you aren't letting pain stand in your way.

Huge space, you said?

Why are you asking that all of a sudden...?

Since you didn't see any Hetero-Creatures at the hideout, that's the only place where they can hide them all without catching people's attention.

Well... there is, actually.

There is a warehouse down by the wheat fields where they're still collecting the wheat. Guess that's what you're talking about?

Except no one has volunteered to go and keep an eye on the place these days while the Harvest Festival lasts.

The warehouse by the wheat fields?

Fann frowns.

If you're guessing it right...

Fann seems disturbed.

Daemon... once asked me to do this.

Fann clenches his fist as he keeps his stare on the ground, the dust rising up into the air.

He gave me some money and alcohol to buy off the guy guarding the warehouse.

Suddenly, with a pang of pain, you feel as though a burning blade were piercing your chest.

You nearly pass out from the pain, the world around you quickly going from white to black and back to white.

Is there really nothing we can do now, Captain?

Noctis and No. 21 squat down right away to hold your body.

Vera starts working away on the terminal hanging by her chest.

Tsk... this is gonna be a handful to deal with.

This "poison" has been attacking your heart. It won't kill you, but it will cause you a lot of pain.

And that's the pain you've been feeling every now and then. I mean, as much as I like the look on your face when you're in pain...

Says Vera with a smirk.

But I don't want you dead.

Now, it's true that this condition isn't lethal, but it will still kill you if it lasts long enough.

An interesting thing about this "poison"... is that it gets worse with your fear. On the other hand, you can keep it in check to a certain degree if you can keep your spirits up.

Hmph... well, let us know whenever you need anything, then.

I'm here to help, too...

I'm right here.

...

I see.

He's after me.

Go ahead, Noctis. We'll make sure things are okay here.

Show him who the boss is, Noctis!

Covered in a cold sweat from pain, your hands come in contact with Noctis' equally cold yet powerful hands.

Heh... Roger that...

I am going to... put an end to it all.