hello again everyone. |D
it's rai again, bouncing around with a new fanfic, this time for suikoden, that i've been working on for nanowrimo. xD which means, yes, it's not going to be a oneshot! look at that!
so this is actually going to be novel-esque.
also, c'mon, luc x sasarai needs more love. |D admit it.
disclaimer: of course, none of the characters are mine (except for a few random OCs here and there), though I would kill to own sasarai. xD
anyway, without further ado!
xxx
"I hate you more than anything in the world.
But you are the only one I empathize with."
Amidst the chatter of castle life, the buzz of excitement was heavy in the air. With the final confrontation so close at hand, many were ready to move out. With every passing day, morale had been rising instead of dipping as it usually did when battle was delayed. It seemed every warrior, every citizen, was feeding off everyone else's enthusiasm. There was hardly any other talk than talk of victory, no other sensation that that of triumph. It was this confidence that would propel them forward in the face of adversity.
"Oh! A traveler?" The female guard at entrance to the town area leaned forward, eyes brightening. Hardly anyone was a threat anymore now that all the nations had been united in this fight. No ruler - Harmonian, Grasslander, Zexen, Tinto, or otherwise - would dare to launch any sort of attack against them with their own fighters in the assembled Fire Bringer army. Their true foe numbered only four individuals strong.
The two riding up towards the entrance drew closer, and as the sun's glare faded from their sapphire uniforms, the guard's expression turned from one of surprise into one of relaxed recognition.
The second guard at the entrance chuckled quietly, shoulders rising and falling with amusement as he regarded the two approaching. "It is only the Bishop, Cecile. No need to get so excited."
In response, the girl named Cecile straightened up officially, saluting the Bishop and his attendant with her spear. "Greetings, Bishop Sasarai, sir! How was your trip? I'm glad you're back safe and sound!"
"Indeed. We can hardly afford for anything to happen to his Holiness," the attendant beside him grumbled as he dismounted from a sweaty brown mount who tiredly scuffed the ground with his hooves.
A gentle, mirthful laugh spilled from the lips of the Bishop and he smiled at his seemingly-older attendant. "Now, now, Dios. There is no need to be like that." Dios merely pursed his lips slightly, but said nothing as he then moved to take the reins of the Bishop's horse, allowing him to dismount elegantly with a nod of thanks. Turning then to Cecile and the other guard, he raised his eyebrows in inquiry. "I received the message on my way back. Are we to depart soon?"
Cecile gave a brisk nod, "yes, sir! The others are making final preparations before we make our way to the ruins. Today will be the day the Fire Bringer legend comes alive again!" She raised her spear enthusiastically into the air, and the Bishop watched as the early afternoon sunlight glinted off the steel blade. Indeed, it would spell victory for them all...
"I will take your horse, sir," Dios offered, and the Bishop turned from his thoughts.
"Many thanks, Dios. I suppose I ought to prepare for battle." And with that, he headed towards the humble castle past the small town, offering nods and modest words of greeting to any and all he made eye contact with.
A soft whooshing sound filled the air as the velvet curtains covered the window panes, blocking out the bright sunlight except for a small niche between the pair. As darkness enveloped the small room, the expression on his face dimmed and he stepped away from the window, letting out a deep sigh. He didn't have a long time before they left for the ruins, to seal the fate of the world around them. They had stalled for long enough, and now Luc would be putting the final touches on his grand scheme. If they didn't leave soon, they might not have enough time to penetrate the inner sanctum of the ruins.
And this was all speculating that they pushed past the initial standoff against Luc's demonic forces.
The crystal string that decorated the front of his uniform jingled quietly as he eased himself into the plush chair at the redwood desk, reaching into the pocket of his ivory pants to retrieve the letter he had been handed in Caleria. It was short and to the point – hardly four lines of script, but that was expected of an order from Hikusaak. Still, that didn't make it any less jarring, or troubling.
Bishop Sasarai,
Once you emerge victorious from the Fire Bringer campaign (from which I am sure you will be), do not let the Masked Bishop fall in his infamy. For his treasonous acts against the Holy Kingdom, he must be brought in for persecution. This you understand. I am certain you will not fail me.
Chief Bishop Hikusaak
The Bishop's head fell back against the curve of the chair and he let his eyelids drift down. For the first time since he had departed from Budehuc, he allowed weariness to show on his expression. He could never project it otherwise – someone of his status had appearances to uphold, after all. Any sign that he was tired would be taken as weakness, and even though he understood that Dios was often genuinely concerned for his health, it was simply not in Sasarai's nature to display it even so.
Fall in infamy? Was that what Luc had become? Sasarai could not say he was thrilled by his brother's view of the world and what he was planning to do in order to combat it, but he could not help but think that 'infamy' was much too black and white a word to describe such a man. Did anyone else know what Sasarai had seen when Luc had come into the Circle Palace? Had anyone else seen the hatred, the disillusionment, but most of all the hurt in those eyes when Luc had brought forth the mixture that had once been the components for their own bodies? In that moment, Sasarai had realized that this was a man who was misunderstood.
But it had also made him question.
That human broth... was that all he was? Luc had said that they had been made simply to be containers for the True Runes they held, that they were a test production in Harmonia's great goal to collect all the True Runes... so that they could what? Subjugate the world to their superiority? Was that all they were good for? All his life, Sasarai had been pampered, attended to, had every one of his needs and whims met. He had thought that he was destined for something great, but was he no more grand than the lamb that was fattened up and groomed for the slaughterhouse? Had he no other purpose than to be a tool?
This was what Luc must have felt, what he must have meant. If one considered it, his goal to destroy the True Runes was not altogether unreasonable. Once Luc learned this truth, he must have been appalled by the horrors that the lust for True Runes could turn men into. He was lashing out – against his creation, against True Runes, against human greed. And once it was put into such a perspective, Sasarai realized Luc must have always wondered the same question after he had presented the truth to him: why was his brother not joining him in such an endeavor? He was prepared to die for it – he had always said so.
In that light... was it fair for Chief Bishop Hikusaak to order him into custody? Sasarai was in no position to question orders, but was it not nobler to let a warrior die as a martyr for his cause? Would it be cruel to force Luc to live on, in humiliation and defeat? Not that Sasarai wished death upon anyone, but...
He glanced down at the letter again, the ebony ink fragmented in the filtered sunlight, and wished that the messenger had somehow missed him or that the letter had been misplaced. But of course, it was pointless. It was here in his hand, and he had no excuses. First and foremost, he was a Bishop of Holy Harmonia. Indeed, that was the difference between him and his brother. He had a duty that came before any of his personal perceptions; this new knowledge of his existence did not change anything in his world, but merely in his mind.
A gentle tap-tap-tap came at the crack between the drawn curtains, and Sasarai's eyes snapped open as he lifted himself from the chair, slipping the letter back into his pocket. His tired visage melted into a look of fond recognition as he pulled the windows back with a slight creak. "What an unexpected surprise, Dominguez Jr. Has something happened in my absence?" The pale brown pigeon-like bird fluttered in and swished to a landing on the redwood desk, hopping about to face the Bishop with a piercing avian stare.
"That man wonders whether he is to be dismissed soon. Seeing as the war is nearly resolved, is there need for him to remain?" Message delivered, the Nasel bird proceeded to calmly preen its feathers.
Ah, yes. He had nearly forgotten about his faithful informant. Nash was a dependable man, albeit a man with his own opinions, of course. But then, Sasarai rather liked that about him. He had never let him down before, and Sasarai was fairly certain that these loyalties would continue in return for the service he had done Nash in the past. Perhaps a few weeks ago, Sasarai would have agreed that there was no need for Latkje to be investigating for him any further, at least for a time. But circumstances had changed by the letter in his pocket, and Nash could most certainly be of greater aid in times to come. "Tell him that I would prefer to keep him around for now," Sasarai replied with a small smile, casting the bird off into the sky again. "His company is quite agreeable."
The bird soared into the air, allowing the Bishop to idly observe its flight for a few heartbeats before reaching out to shut the windows again. However, no sooner had he drawn the curtains once more than a knock sounded at the door. It has to be Dios, finished caring for the steeds. "Come in."
The door eased open and the vibrant blue uniform confirmed Sasarai's convictions. "They have begun to gather in the forecourt, sir. Are you ready?"
There was nothing to look back on now, nothing he had left behind. Sasarai had brought everything with him here, so it was not the past that mattered now. From here forward, it was the uncertainties of the future that would spell out his time. He understood this, so without hesitation he nodded. "I am. Shall we go?"
xxx
ta-da!
anyway, you know the drill – R&R if you would be so kind. C:
it helps me to keep going ~ and I love to hear feedback on my writing, so. xD
also, if you happen to be a suikoden fan and roleplay suikoden (or wish to know how to ~) please contact me. xD been searching for a suikoden roleplay partner for ages. |D;; /shameless
anyway, that's it this time around. thanks for reading! 8D
