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Chapter 1
"Mi' Lord, you have a guest." Basch Von Ronsenburg, Judge Magistrate and personal guard to Lord Larsa Ferrinas Solidor, forth son of the Late Gramis Gana Solidor, Former King of Archadia, said as he entered Lord Larsa's study.
"Is that so? And who might this guest be pray tell." Larsa Ferrinas Solidor looked up from his work desk at Judge Basch and smiled brightly. Over the past four years or so since Judge Magistrate Basch Von Ronsenburg succeeded his late brother, Judge Magistrate Gabranth, Larsa had learned to look up to and admire him. He could not, however, replace the older brother he once thought he knew and loved.
"She wishes I neither announce her name nor her title to you before you have met. You do not mind?" Judge Basch always spoke so formally with Larsa when it came to formal matters, even when they were alone. Most times Larsa would play along and behave regally, speak eloquently and all that jazz, but today Larsa was in a particularly good mood and found it rather querulous to have to be on his 'P's and 'Q's while only in the presence of a dear friend.
"That's fine I suppose. I take it she is in the entrance hall?" Basch nodded curtly, "Then I shan't keep her waiting." Larsa stood from his chair and walked around the desk, following behind Basch as he lead the way to the door.
As they walked through the corridors of House Solidor Palace, guards, maids, gardeners and shoe-shiners alike all bowed to their presence and unlike most of the high status citizens that sometimes visited his humble abode, Larsa always nodded back and said 'good morning' to every single person he passed by and so did Judge Basch. The people appreciated them both highly for it and thus it made them quite easily the most pleasant pair of people to serve in the palace according to veteran servants in House Solidor Palace.
Basch rejected the servant at the doors to the entrance hall and insisted that he open the doors himself. As he opened the door he looked on into the room in search of Lord Larsa's guest. As he locked eyes with her, he spoke in a clear crisp voice, "The Lord Larsa Ferrinas Solidor has arrived, your Highness." As the doors were wide enough for Larsa to step through, Basch scooted to one side of the room unnoticed, where he could watch silently.
The room fell silent for a moment as Larsa surveyed his guest. He watched as she turned slowly to fully face him, turning away from a vase of flowers she was previously observing; her long, smooth, luscious brunette curls swishing behind her with an elegance and grace that hair alone should not own. A bodice hardly that of a mere sixteen year old, encased in pearl white silk that stopped at her knees, show casing beautifully proportioned and somewhat toned legs, covered in smooth porcelain skin. Her soft jade green eyes large and glossy, gazed at him with such pure emotions, it could've burned a hole through his shirt. He watched as soft, full cherry red lips formed a perfect smile, her soft, gentle features displaying her recognition.
"Hello Larsa," Her voice like smooth, sweet honey spread across blankets of white velvet as she spoke his name. Catherine Rachel Rossaria, Princess of the Rossarian Empire located to the far West of Archadia, is considered the most beautiful girl, if not woman, of all Rossaria and is revered by every male that she has ever met as a woman of such grace and beauty that it rivaled even that of her late mother. It hardly ever came to pass that she met a man not in the slightest bit interested in her.
There is however, always a first, and as well as a last.
"Catherine! How long has it been now?" Larsa's care-free and childish expression betrayed no signs of lust or longing; there were no signs of being interested in Catherine's appearance in the slightest. Larsa seemed completely impervious to Catherine's charming demeanor, even though it had once enticed almost every male in her palace back home in Rossaria, excluding her father of course. Larsa smiled broadly and moved forward, his arms open expectantly.
"It has been long yes, I am uncertain..." Catherine took a step closer to Larsa, and smiled as he embraced her in a gentle, warm hug and said, "I have waited a long time to have the chance to meet you once more..."
Catherine's face flushed as she realized just what she had said and proceeded to bury her face into his chest to hide her embarrassment that went completely unnoticed by the young lad. "It is good to see you as well, after so long. I am not even sure myself how long it has been." he smiled as fond memories of their childhood came back to him, "How about we catch up in my study? If you wouldn't mind I've some papers I'd like to finish up before noon." Larsa let go of her and pushed away slightly, considering she seemed reluctant to come out of his hold, in order to look down at her and observe her response.
Catherine smiled beautifully and said sweetly, "Yes, of course. That would be lovely." Larsa smiled and took her hand, leading her out of the entrance hall, mentally noting that Basch was following close behind, and lead her up to his study where he intended to finish up the last of his paper work for the day while he ascertained Catherine's purpose for being there.
Catherine held unto Larsa's hand with both hands throughout the whole walk towards his study, her face flushed but split in two as she could not find the strength to keep her face straight. Catherine looked up at Larsa's smiling face as she remembered times from their past, when they were together in Nabradia and thought of a question. "Larsa, have you been good like I asked of you? You haven't gone back to your old ways have you?"
Larsa glanced back at her, slightly surprised, then coughed, tripped over air, caught himself and looked back at Catherine with a confused and guilty expression. He scratched the back of his head and looked away. He looked as though he was trying to say something, but Basch beat him to it. "The Lord Larsa has gone beyond his 'Old Ways'. Sneaking out at night, disappearing for days on end every month. I fear what may come next..." Basch was clearly teasing him, but Catherine took it much more seriously than either of them would've expected.
"Larsa!! How could you! You promiced you would be good!!" Catherine pounded her surprisingly soft fist on Larsa's chest as she spoke and looked up at him with the best anger-face she could muster without looking too cute. It came out as quite the opposite, if Larsa wasn't currently being berated for a felony he knew he'd committed, he might've laughed at the irony. "Sneaking out?! Disappearing!? Where have you been going? Where else do you need to be than here in your home?!" Catherine's eyes were the only signs on her face that suggested that she was truly upset as they were narrowed slightly and lost some of their gloss, a flame flickering visibly behind them.
Larsa was at a loss for words and was torn between feelings of panic and thanks when an earsplitting shriek ripped through the air around them. Catherine screamed and held both hands over her ears. She was so focused on trying to block out the sound that she hardly noticed when Larsa took hold of her arm and began walking at a quickened pace, Basch following close behind.
An Alarm was sounding and guards were suddenly forming into little groups all down the corridor, exchanging syllables for a few seconds, then dispersing into different passage ways and halls. It was clear that they were in search of something, and it was clear that they had searched many times before, considering how organized and seemingly repetitive the operation was. Numerous soldiers and guards ran, walked or jogged passed them in all different directions. Catherine looked up at Larsa with tears of fright in her eyes and begged him to let her know what was happening.
"I'll explain as soon as we reach my study." Larsa suddenly seemed very tense, his jaw was set and his expression betrayed something like frustration.
Suddenly a guard dashed out from seemingly nowhere directly beside them and stopped dead in front of Judge Basch. Larsa spun around to listen to what the guard had to say and nearly spun Catherine into wooziness as well.
"Mi' Lord! We found 'im! The Plague! Some'at caught glimpse o' 'im jumping down to the gardens! But, Bloody Hell!!! Bleeding churl's too fast!! We cawn't catch 'im!" the guard was out of breath and completely forgot about his formalities, which Catherine firmly disapproved of and would've suggested he be punished were she in her own country.
"Understood Soldier. Keep looking until you find him." Basch said firmly. He then turned to Larsa and nodded curtly before running off in the opposite direction to which the soldier ran off after his dismissal.
Larsa stood there, thinking for a moment before he turned to Catherine and said brightly, "Come, I will take you to my room until this ordeal is over. It is closer and more safely guarded." unnoticed by Larsa, Catherine's face flushed to a shade of red so deep, that her red lips hardly showed against her newly reddened skin. Catherine would've simply lost herself in her fantasies until they reached his room, but she remembered hearing something peculiar in the conversation between Judge Basch and the boorish soldier.
"Larsa, if I am not mistaken, that ill-mannered man said something along the lines of a Plague to Judge Basch. Of what did he speak?" Larsa glanced at Catherine and sighed. He stopped walking suddenly and turned to a door she hardly noticed. The door was small and made of a dark woody material she couldn't quite put a name to. Larsa opened the door to reveal a large room elaborately designed and made up with the colour blue in mind. The silken sheets were blue, the walls were another shade of blue, the curtains on the closed windows were many different shades of blue going as far as purple and green and forever blue. She loved the room. Possibly simply because it was Larsa's room, but more because her favourite colour was blue.
Catherine was busy admiring Archadian architecture and design when Larsa finally decided to answer her question. "The plague refers to a monthly phenomenon that haunts this castle. Every 23th of every month, a thief plagues these halls. Filching any and everything it can lay its hands on or is able to carry. This...plague has haunted us for little over four years now I believe." Larsa stared up at the ceiling as he spoke. Catherine was shocked. Larsa seemed so distressed by the terrible situation. She wanted to comfort him, make him believe that they would catch that horrible thief sometime soon. Catherine could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, ready to be shed for the sake of her long since childhood friend and love interest.
Catherine had yet begun to speak when a calm, cool voice drifted into the room from the window that was once closed. "Oh Larsa, that's not a very nice thing to say about someone now is it?" Catherine whipped a round to find the owner of the velvet voice and screamed at the sudden appearance of a girl sitting on the windowsill of the mysteriously open window.
She had long red hair tied up into a high pony tail with three elaborate metal clips holding it together at equal intervals, the burning light of the mid morning sun setting her hair aflame as it blew over her shoulder into the room. She was thin and shapely enough with an obviously very well trained body with graceful, elegant features expressing a care-free, mellow state of mind, and bright eyes, despite being soft grey with a light purple hue. This girl was simply stunning.
Catherine clutched her chest as she tried desperately to get her breathing rate back in order, the sudden appearance of this stranger shocking the living day lights out of her. The girl slid down from the window sill with grace and poise fit for a princess, despite her rather ordinary, if not run-down out fit of a simple Rabanastran tank top and worn battle fitted pants. Catherine was so entranced by her sudden appearance that it didn't occur to her that she was the only surprised one.
"Kira, I take it there is a valid reason for this." Catherine glanced back at Larsa and noticed him staring at the girl with hard eyes. He seemed rather peeved.
"But of course. You know I wouldn't just pop in without good reason." The girl said, using one hand to exaggerate her statements and the other to hold her recently materialized star fruit. She smiled wryly at Larsa and took a small bite of her star fruit while Larsa sighed and bent his head down while putting both hands on his hip.
"Why have you come so early? You could've at least given me notice." Larsa looked up at her with a rather annoyed expression, then glanced over at Catherine to find that she was stunned into silence, completely and utterly lost, not understanding the circumstances. He didn't mind, he knew he'd have to explain soon, but first he wanted answers.
"Listen, when I went to the petitioner, after I agreed to take the hunt, he suddenly drops this time limit on my head. Said he'd pay extra if I got him it's tail within a day. So I figured we'd try and work it out. Nothing wrong with a little extra cash, not to mention he said he'd throw in a special item he'd found in the Lhusu Mines couple months ago." Kira said, shrugging her shoulders and taking another bite of her star fruit. Larsa gazed at her incredulously.
He sighed and ran a hand over his face before he said, "Alright, fine. Fair enough. Now what exactly are we up against here, and what's this special item he found in the Lhusu Mines?"
"It's a type of Wyvern I think. It's never been documented, so I'm kinda excited. As for the Special Item, I haven't a clue, he refused to tell me." Kira said before another bite of her star fruit. Kira watched as he nodded to himself, probably expecting that sort of answer , and then turned to look at Catherine. Catherine still seemed unable to comprehend the situation, just barely following the conversation between the two. Kira tilted her head slightly, curious to know just who it was that Larsa had brought into his room. "Larsa, if you don't mind me asking, who 's your friend over there in a daze?" Kira glanced over at Larsa as she scraped the last fleshy pieces off the seed of the fruit before tossing the seed out the window behind her without a care in the world.
Larsa glanced up at Kira, then over at Catherine who was now looking at Larsa her eyes full of bewilderment and what seemed to be annoyance. He turned back to Kira, and said, "Kira, this is Catherine, Catherine," He turned to Catherine with his arm out stretched in Kira's direction, "this is Kira." He paused for a moment which was quickly filled with a piercing silence. He coughed slightly before continuing. "Kira, Catherine is a childhood friend of mine. We've known each other since I was four or five I believe. I was pleasantly surprised when..."Larsa was about to say that he was glad to see her after so long when Kira suddenly announced that she would soon return and disappeared through the open window just as Larsa's bedroom door was suddenly flung open.
Both Larsa and Catherine were startled into a jump as a soldier suddenly barged in and asked crudely if Larsa had seen any sign of the thief. He looked exhausted and rather peeved as he waited impatiently for Larsa's answer. Larsa's expression contorted into one full of surprise as he answered the guard, his voice perfectly portraying confusion and a sense of bewilderment. "No, no I haven't, I'm sorry. I do doubt, however, that he would come to my quarters. That would be a sort of death wish wouldn't you agree?" Larsa smiled slightly as the guard stuttered his response as he recognized his stupidity in asking the young prince such a question when he'd been in his room the whole time. The soldier ducked out of the room just as quickly and closed the door behind him with a quick apology that Larsa quietly acknowledged.
As soon as the door was closed, Kira reappeared at the window and huffed. "Phew, that was a close one eh?" She grinned as she hopped down to the floor from the window sill. Through out all of this, Catherine seemed to have been re-gaining her 'composure' so to speak, even though she looked as though she would explode at any moment. Larsa noticed this and distinctly remembered her lack of patience and sharp temper, wondering if she'd ever gotten any help for it over the years. Guessing that she hadn't, he swiftly made to announce to her that Kira was in fact a friend of his. He however, was completely taken aback when his statement completely flipped her switch.
"FRIENDS!? You're friends with this...this LOW LIFE!!??" Catherine seemed completely outraged. Kira blinked slightly as she suddenly realized that they were talking about her. "You are to be seventeen in only three months, you are to be KING in only three months, and you are friends with this commoner?! How did she even get in here? Why are you concerned about her when there is a thief running a muck in your ..." Catherine paused for a moment and thought over the recent events and her mouth opened wide with shock and she realized the depth of the situation. "She is the thief isn't she?! You're a thief! A thief and a liar! How have you managed to deceive or con my Larsa into being 'friends' with you? What has she done to you Larsa? What...what......" Catherine's eyes were wide with anger and her entire body was rigid. It seemed as though she had more she wished to say but could not find the words for it.
Larsa took this sudden moment of silence to cut in and try to calm her down. "Catherine! That's not fair! At least listen to what I have to say! It's not what you think! Yes Kira is a thief but for good reason!" Larsa glanced over at Kira and found her sitting on the window sill, simply staring out into the mid morning sky, she was completely used to this sort of treatment.
"What good reason could there possibly be for being a thief?!" Catherine said loudly, her voice shrill, completely baffled as to how this 'devil' could've deceived Larsa so far as to make him think that stealing is right.
"Have you ever been to Old Archades?" both Catherine and Larsa turned to look at Kira sharply. She was still looking out the window and had her arms folded as she leaned back on the frame of the open window, one leg swinging loosely outside.
"What...?" Kira's words were sudden and soft against the violence of the argument causing both parties to become temporarily subdued, Catherine hadn't a clue as to what she was talking about.
"Old Archades, is just to the west of Archades. It is a forgotten and abandoned part of the city that no one pays any attention to. A slum where all those that have fallen from grace end up, where children are hungry, were the sick and the elderly suffer from lack of attention and support. A truly hellish place where the streets are dirty, where there is sickness and famine about and no one to care for them. And yet, I love that place more than I could ever even love myself. The people there, the stories they have to tell, the suffering, the hardships, and their amazing ability to coop with their situation and deal with their reality while still striving for something better; who wouldn't want to be a part of that effort?" Kira said, only looking towards the two as she finished her last sentence, a soft caring sheen in her beautiful purple-grey eyes.
Catherine hadn't quite understood what she had said, but the feel of the message got through to her easily. She could tell that there was something deeper, she just couldn't understand it. Larsa, however, understand her perfectly. He'd seen it for himself and felt the exact same way. He turned to Catherine with the intention to clarify for her, knowing full well that she would not understand easily. "That's right. Kira isn't a thief by choice or for pleasure. She steals for those that she loves. We both treat and care for the people of Old Archades, scavenging and hunting for whatever it is they may need that we can provide. It gives us a sense of purpose and an even stronger sense of justice." Larsa said to her as she watched him, his eyes bright with the feeling that what he was doing was right.
"It isn't only Old Archades either. My home town in Rabanastre, Low Town, is also in such a state. Especially since the war. We work together to ensure that the people of Old Archades and of Low Town are treated fairly and can obtain the necessary things for life, like food and water. You'd be surprised how scarce even those resources can be. So that's where we come in." Kira said with a smile.
Catherine was at a loss. She wasn't sure she completely understood what was being said around her and felt slightly guilty about what she had said about Kira. She turned to Larsa for confirmation and frowned when he smiled gently at her and nodded slowly, as though he were trying to get a pre-schooler to understand a simple concept.
Catherine looked back at Kira and found that she was smiling softly at her, her gentle patience drowning Catherine's rage and engulfing her in guilt. She, however, was too stubborn to show it. "But...but why do you have to do it? Why not just put the matter to the acting King? You are prince for crying out loud! Why should you have to get your hands dirty?! That's why we have government and that's why you have the Judges and..."
"What sort of King would I be if I depended solely on my pairs and servants to do my work for me? What sort of King would I be if my people didn't even know my face? This is what a King should do. A king should tend to the needs of his people no matter how hard or how dirty the task. The method is just as important as the results, and this is the method I have chosen. Can't you see? I want to be close to my people. I don't want them to think of their king and immediately see a high thrown surrounded by imperial guards that no one can touch, I want them to see me for who I am, I want them to see me as their brother, their neighbour, son, father, uncle whatever it is, I want my nation to be a family more than anything. A nation separate from its king is..."
"On a fast track to hell." Kira finished for him. Larsa glanced at her and smiled at her choice of words before nodding his agreement.
"You can understand can't you, Catherine?" Larsa asked as he watched her, her expression thoughtful. He waited patiently as she seemed to be in deep thought, simply staring into nothing before she finally shook her head and looked up at Larsa, then to Kira and to Larsa again.
"How...how, may I ask, did you meet...Kira, Larsa? It still baffles me as to how the two of you, from complete opposite ends of the social ladder, could've become friends." Catherine said, seemingly dodging Larsa previous question.
Larsa blinked slightly and then looked over at Kira before he smiled softly and said, "Well...it's a rather funny story now that I think about it." Kira chuckled and shook her head as she listened to him, wondering how he'd be able to put the story to her without damaging her image of him being the perfect prince.
"It all began four years ago, just after the war, after Vayne's death," Larsa's smile fell slightly as he began to re-tell or rather, re-live the events.
I sat alone in my study one night, supposedly working on an array of different documents and papers that needed signing, but instead I was thinking, thinking hard about the war and about my brother Vayne, who I had once admired and appreciated. Now I could only pity him.
I was startled out of my thoughts when a sharp wrap came upon my door. "Yes," I answered softly, surprised that the one the other side of the door could even hear me as the door opened slightly before revealing my newly appointed personal guard and Judge, Judge Basch. "My lord, There seems to be a breach in security on ground level. I've had a few of the palace guards, two soldiers and a judge go down to assess the situation and I would like for you, Young Prince, to head to your bed chambers, I suspect you will be safer there." Judge Basch stood by the open door and waited patiently for me to move. I had no intention of moving just yet, however.
I had gotten tired of all these false alarms and having to have to leave my study and my work so that I may be 'safer', allowing my work to pile up and my deadlines to bare down upon me. I wouldn't have it, not tonight. This imaginary thief may have hypnotized the entire palace, but not I. I, however, was not prepared to argue with Basch tonight, I was tired and wished to save my energy for the work I'd set to be done tonight. I sighed and nodded my head as I stood up slowly from my chair and followed him to the door from which he lead me to my bed chambers and left me to once again lead the search party for the 'thief' that must've broken into the palace.
I sighed once again as I made my way to the far left corner of my room where my ridiculously large walk-in closet began and walked in. I head to the back of the closet, shoved my winter coats to the side and pushed open the wall, or at least, piece of it. I had to bend low to get in through the hole in wall and crawled my way out into the deserted corridor from which I could make my way safely and secretively back to my study to finish my work.
As I headed down the corridor to my study, I caught sight of neither guard nor thief and shook my head once more at how stupid everyone was to not even check if there was anything wrong with the security systems in case there was a malfunction of some sorts. How could it be that on every twenty-third of every month, a thief could make his way in and out of my palace, The House Solidor Palace, for the past six months without being caught or even sighted. Sure one and two unimportant and barely valuable things went missing, but that happened all the time now-a-days. Our servants had become desperate as of late, with Archadia's loss in the war hitting our economy hard prices were sky rocketing and hardly anyone was agreeable with their Acting Head of State.
I sighed once again for the night as I bent down to once again crawl through a small whole in the wall that lead directly into the back of my office. I stood up slowly and ran a hand through my hair before starting towards my desk.
…
I would've reached my desk by now. I would've been working by now. I could've gone through half of my first set of papers by now. But instead, I was staring. Staring at a my imaginary thief.
I stared at her as she stared at me. Blue and purplish grey held each other as our bodies ignored any notion on movement. I was too shocked at the fact that there really was a thief, she must've been too shocked by the fact that she'd actually been caught, after six months of success.
I was the first to recover thankfully. "Who are you?" I at first going to ask what she was doing in my study, but then I figured that would've been rude for the first of many questions I had in store for her.
My words seemed to have snapped her out of a stupor as she shifted back sharply, like a skittish animal, ready to pounce or flee, which ever best fit her circumstances, her medium length flaming red hair swishing behind her, hanging from high atop her head. She continued to stare at me, her wide eyed stare now forming into more of a frightened glare as she continued to observe me, her lips shut tight.
I blinked and decided to try another tactic, realizing that I was lucky she didn't just run. That was when I realized that she was holding something behind her back. I looked over my desk to see if anything was missing and noticed that my fancy silver paper weight had now abandoned it's post and disappeared. It was pure silver with gold leafing in some places and would fetch a pretty penny where my name attached to it as well, I could understand why she'd want it, and I didn't care much for it to begin with anyway.
I looked back at the girl and began to observe her, mentally noting that she wasn't enjoying my sudden silence and hard stare as I observed her tattered Rabanastran clothing and her thin, slightly frail looking but well balanced frame. She must've been one of the war orphans from Low Town, or perhaps Old Archades. He couldn't quite imagine a girl her age, which couldn't have been far from his own, walking all the way from Dalmasca to Archadia, she couldn't possibly have had the strength or resources for such a trip, or , flying, definitely didn't have the money for that, or teleporting, teleporting would mean that she'd been here before, whether by walking or flying, I couldn't see how that was possible. I curious about her, who was she, where was she from, and also...how I could help her.
I looked back at her face to find that I had succeed in thoroughly creeping her out and smiled slightly at the interestingly comical expression of fear and confusion on her face as she waited for an excuse to run, why she hadn't already I honestly couldn't say. "You can have that you know? It's of no worth to me really. And with the right people, you could attain a fair amount for it." I smiled softly at her. She didn't seem to be any danger to me at all. She had no weapon, other wise she'd have pulled it already and she didn't seem to be any closer to move towards me than she was to running away.
She blinked at me with a look of utter shock and spoke for the first time since this began, "Do you really mean it? Do you know where I might get the highest price for it?" She seemed adamant that she get only the best for her work as she forgot to hide the small ornate paper weight and began to examine it as she waited for my answer, far from shame it seemed.
I lifted a brow slightly and took a small step forward, assuming her guard was down, but stopped instantly when she doubled the space between us a look of fright and heavy tension around her as she stared wide eyed at me once more. I paused, allowing the silence to calm her for a moment before I spoke, "Now, shy should I give you that sort of information? Why do you need all that money anyway?" It was a stupid question I knew. For survival, should've been her answer, that's what I was expecting, but when she opened her mouth, I was so far taken aback that I nearly actually stumbled.
"It's not for me, the children are sick, they need medicine and food. I'm they're only hope, I always have been since the start of this stupid war! Please, I can't return to them empty handed! Where can I get the best value!" She was pleading with me while I tried hard to process what she was saying. She was stealing, stealing from the House of Solidor, risking her life for a small fee that would only pass through her hands in the end.
It was at that moment that I knew I had to help this girl. This girl could go where I could not, she could do what I could not, she could help those that I could not reach in these times of strife. Right then and there I decided that I would do anything to help her cause.
I first asked her where she was from and where the children she spoke of lived. When she told me Rabanastre, Low Town, I nearly doubled over. This girl was truly amazing. "How...how old are you?" I asked after recovering from the realization that she'd travelled all the way from Dalmasca to Rabanastre for the stake of the children in Low Town, most of which I would bet were not even distantly related to her by blood.
"Twelve...i think." She seemed taken aback by the question, not entirely sure what that had to do with the situation at hand.
I nodded to myself slightly. She is roughly the same age as I, although I am due to turn thirteen in only a matter of months. I asked another seemingly mundane question. "What is your name?"
"..." She seemed hesitant, "Kira." She said finally, her face flushed slightly. It appeared to me that not many seemed so interested in her as to ask her her name.
"Kira...what?" I wondered as I waited for her clan name but heard nothing.
She looked up at me questioningly before saying, "Just Kira." As if to say she didn't know what I was asking for.
I looked at her with a quirked brow and said, "Doesn't your clan or family have a name? A crest or insignia?"
"Crest? Insignia?" It was worse than I thought. Apparently not only does she not have a family anymore, but doesn't seem to know much, if anything, about them. I sighed and waved her question down and moving on to the more important things at hand.
"The best way to get for it's best value would be to sell in town to the Gambits store keeper. He fancies collecting these items and with a bit of bartering he'll surely pay you a handsome price for it. But if you do sell it in town, then it best you not mention its origin and attempt to conceal the House Solidor Crest on the bottom there. That would definitely cause you more trouble than it's worth. " I said as I pointed out the small House Solidor crest etched into underside of the fancy paper weight.
She had been nodding through out the entire explanation and smiled up at me for the first time as I finished. She bowed her head to me with surprising grace and whispered the first genuine thank you I'd heard in a long time before turning to leave it seemed, even though she was heading towards the window behind my desk.
I watched her as she made her way to the window, announcing that she was very welcome before she'd turned around to face me once more and said, "May I know your name?" I was slightly surprised, but then as I thought of her possible back ground and how she'd been living 'til now, it made sense that she would not know me from sight, but surely she'd recognize my name.
"I am Larsa Ferrinas Solidor." I smiled at her, expecting to see recognition in her eyes, but once again, completely taken aback when she replied.
"I'm glad I met you today, Larsa Ferrinas Solidor, and I thank you very much for my fellow orphans in Low Town. We all appreciate it." She smiled brilliantly at me and made her way out of the window, her actions startling me. I ran to the window to and looked down for any sign of a rapidly falling body but only found the streets of Archades far below me. I glanced around, looking fervently for her and watched in a amazement as a window just below me to my left flew open and all I could make out was gleaming red hair fly out and then into another below it, effectively dodging the guards and staying well out of sight as she made her escape.
I sighed and leaned back away from the window and smiled. I felt accomplished and fulfilled before I even realized that I couldn't wait until the twenty-third of the next month.
By the tenth of the next month I was dieing to see her again. My boring post war activities and new protective life style had driven me to the edge of my sanity, the only thing keeping my there was the hope that I'd be able to help Kira once more on the twenty-third if she were to return.
Even though I had vowed not to tell anyone about Kira, Judge Basch was still able to notice something slightly off with me. Every since I met Kira, I was very happy at first, then I later became miserable and impatient.
That morning I had become very upset considering that the acting Head of State was, in my opinion, being a prick and was allowing his head to swell already with power and had dumped all the paper for the past week on me announcing that he had to prepare for his meeting with the public later that day. A meeting with the public is what he calls it at least. It's really just him standing in from of a bunch of old, redundant bureaucrats that will only aid in swelling his head further and really has nothing to do with the general public.
I was very, very annoyed with everyone that morning, I didn't mean to of course, but thankfully the entire palace seemed to understand the sort of pressure I was under, but that was still no excuse and did not stop me from apologizing to everyone whenever I saw them.
It wasn't until I had gone to eat lunch and come back that my saving grace had appeared. When I had returned to my study, there was a small parcel sitting on my desk. It had no note on it and was wrapped in cheap brown paper. I picked it up and weighed it in my hand. It was just barely bigger than my hand, was rectangular in shape and seemed rather heavy for its size. I sat down and looked around my study silently, wondering if the giver of the gift would show themselves suddenly and say something along the lines of "Happy Miserable Day!!" The servants had been teasing me all morning, attempting to lighten my mood.
When I found no one, however, I proceeded to opened the parcel. When I had managed to remove every piece of brown paper from the item, I was pleasantly surprised as a rectangular piece of crystal shown brightly in the midday sun light, an array of rainbow colours displaying themselves throughout the crystal where ever the light hit it. I smiled brightly as I turned over the rectangular piece of crystal in my hands, observing it as light was reflected off its surface which was not cut smoothly but as seemed as though it had been just broken off a rock face, yet still managing a calming smoothness. The crystal itself had a light blue hue to it and had many lines and edges inside off which light would reflect. As beautiful as the crystal was, it was obviously cheap. Now-a-days, crystal were hardly ever found as just plain pieces of crystal, they were almost always decorated ornately with precious metals or rhyme stones and almost always had a purpose such as magicks, or lighting. This crystal however, was rather plain and seemingly had no purpose.
I smiled however as I realized that it was in fact a paper weight, or could at least be used as one. I knew who it was from, and I couldn't have been happier to have received it. No diamond tipped saber made of a platinum gold alloy could've made me happier than this cheap crystal paper weight.
By the time the Twenty-third came around, I was ready and waiting for her in my study, of course I wasn't exactly sure that she would return to it, but I had to take a chance. I sat at my desk with a vase resting on it in front of me. A rather pricey vase that I had found in one of the rooms around the palace that no one ever used and decided that it wouldn't be missed too much. I would give this to Kira and tell her where she could sell it for the best price. I had already removed the House Solidor crest.
I didn't have to wait long before she appeared at my window. She smiled at me as she stooped on my windowsill. I smiled and pointed to the vase. "This should come in handy. No one will miss it and you should fetch a pretty penny if you sold it the Gun Smith in the low plaza. He has a secret fetish for vases." I smiled at the fond memory of sneaking into his storage rooms in my younger days to find a vast collection of ornately designed, old and very highly valued vases from all over Ivalice.
Kira smiled widely and asked if she may enter. I allowed her in and she gracefully stepped into the room, her boot clad feet making less noise than a mouse a mile away. She walked over the vase and examined it carefully. It was just small enough fro her to carry easily, but seemed delicate. She seemed to be in deep thought before she turned to me and asked, "Why are you helping me?"
I smiled and turned to her before saying, "Why did you return to my study?" She smiled.
"Touché touché." She picked up the vase and turned it over in her small hands before turning to him once more, "So...how much do you think I could get for this?" she relaxed, cocking her hip to the side in a loose standing displaying that she had finally accepted his presence as something other than a possible threat.
I looked at her, or passed her rather as I thought on it,its age, the design, its origin, the materials used in its making, "At least 20,000gil; at best, 100,000gil."
Kira smiled widely, "I'll bet I could get it for as much as 110,000gil." She stuffed the small vase into a small, nearly unnoticeable backpack she had on and turned back to me with a small smile. She seemed as though she had something to say, but could not find the words for it, or rather, she didn't seem to want to find words for it.
I decided to change the subject as she began to fidget. "So, am I to take it that you are the Saint that sent me this wonderful gift?" I asked jokingly holding up my now well used crystal paper weight.
Her skin visibly reddened in the moon light as she turned away from me, her hands wringing behind her back. "The kids picked it out. Only had 10gil to spare. Sorry..." her head was hung low and her hands feverishly twisting and wringing still behind her back.
I chuckled and smiled genuinely at her, "No need to worry, no matter what its value, it has become quite useful, its been rather windy as of late." She chuckled and my smiled widened. I held a strange fascination with this girl. I wanted to know more about her, I wanted to get to know her, to see what she was like on bad days, on good days and on crazy days when everyone wanted to just scream. I wanted to know more about her cause and her purpose, why she wanted so badly to help those that may not have even been as worse off as she might've been herself. I wanted to know, but my thoughts were cut short by a sharp wrap on my study's door.
I'd almost completely forgotten that Basch would undoubtedly come to check on me and take me to my bed-chambers due to Kira's brake in. I had glanced at the door, startled by the sudden interruption and would've instructed Kira to leave at that very moment had she been there when I turned back to face her.
I blinked slightly at her sudden disappearance and started again at the second sharp wrap on my door. I shook my head slightly and turned to face the door once again, "Come." I picked up my pen and looked up at the door to give the illusion that I had been working the whole time.
"Lord Larsa," It was Basch, of course. I nodded and followed him out to my bed chambers where a long awaited good night's sleep lay in wait for me.
After that, Kira and I met every twenty-third of every month in different areas around, inside and outside the castle and sometimes in town even. It lasted another six months before she became known as the 'Plague' among the servants and guards of the palace, and another eight months before she told me she was also a Mark Hunter. Upon hearing this, I immediately begged her to let me join her as a Mark Hunter. She refused instantly. However, two months into the persuasion and she'd given in. We became a team.
During the near two years we spent together, we had become very close, especially after we became a mark hunting team. I still haven't the faintest idea how Judge Basch figured everything out about Kira and I, but I was glad he had, fore he was the one who covered for me whenever I disappeared on the twenty-third of every month for a few days or so before returning. I was truly very grateful to him for not only covering my tracks, but also for being so understanding. Not only did he cover for me every time, but he came along sometimes as well and he also became fond of Kira and they became friends as well.
This pattern went on for the next two or so years during which time we extended our services to those in Old Archades that were in desperate need for attention, and Kira and I, going by the name, Lamont, became very well known throughout most of Rabanastre and in Old Archades. We had also made sure to stay clear of Archades in the event that someone might recognize their Prince.
"And that's where we are today. It's not that bad a job really." Larsa smiled at Catherine as she stared up at him from her position on his bed where she had moved to sit half way through the story.
Catherine blinked slightly and then looked down, away from Larsa suddenly and said, "You two must be very close then huh? It's not fair, I never got to spend anytime together with you like that! Well...not recently at least." Catherine pouted and leaned forward slightly, her head hung low to hide her face.
"Oh Catherine, we'll be able to spend time together soon." Larsa said with a smile, completely oblivious to the effect he was having on Catherine as she flushed slightly at his smile. "I can't imagine you've travelled all the way to Archadia to visit for just the day."
He was right, she did plan on staying in House Solidor Palace right up until Larsa's birthday and Coronation. Once he turned seventeen, Larsa would take the thrown and rule his kingdom at last. Catherine smiled at the thought and answered, "But of course. I had planned to stay here until your seventeenth birthday and your Coronation."
Larsa smiled brightly at Catherine, genuinely happy that she'd remembered his birthday and was about to respond when Kira beat him to it, "Ok, no that we've got the story telling out of the way, may we leave now, my Liege." she said stressing his title.
Larsa glared at her sighed before he said, "I'm sorry Kira, but I cannot leave right now, I have a guest whom I must entertain for the first day at least..."
"Oh come on, we'll just take Princess Peach with us! Come on Larsa, I know you want that special item, and Old Dalan's got it real bad this week. I know it's selfish but...well really need this bonus." Kira's speech had lost some of its spunk as she went on, now pleading with Larsa. She hated to tear him from his kingly matters, but this was a once in a life time chance for her.
Larsa looked at Kira with an exasperated look and then to Catherine as her eyes pleaded with him, then back to Kira before he said, "How bad is he? Old Dalan..." Old Dalan had been getting up there in age lately and wasn't doing so well in the health department and was in constant need of expensive medication and the doctor wasn't cheap either. There was a magic that Kira was aiming to buy so that she could heal him, but it was only found in Balfonheim of all places and was worth a small fortune.
"He's gotten really bad. Started coughing up blood yesterday and I was so tempting to pop in an entire day early but I know we've gotta hold our cover so I held out as long as I could. Stocks are running low too, been spending all our gil on Old Dalan lately, didn't even realize we've run out of rice, potatoes and flour." Kira said as she folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the window sill.
Larsa cringed slightly as he thought of their situation. It was bad, they really could use a bonus. "How much is the bonus?" He asked as he too folded his arms.
Kira smirked for a split second before replying, "5,000gil on top of 8,000 if we can finish it off in one day, plus that special item. Judging by how excited he was about the item its either really valuable and could be sold for a small fortune, or could be something real useful in battle or some sort of rare potion, but if that was the case, then he probably would've kept it for himself." Larsa nodded as she spoke, deep in his thoughts.
Catherine stared between the two of them, completely lost for words, not having a clue about what they were saying. She wanted to know, she wanted to be a part of whatever Larsa was a part of, but she didn't have the courage to ask just yet, things seemed to have been getting serious.
"What worries me though, is that, this guy is offering so much for this hunt, with the bonus and everything, and yet, it's only a Rank III mark. That's got me really worried, but I suppose we can only see for ourselves right?" Kira said as she leaned away from the wall and unfolded her arms, a sign that she was ready to go.
"Yes, I was thinking the same thing..." Larsa looked up at her and unfolded his arms as well. "SO, what do we do now? We need that bonus, no doubt about it, and that special item might come in handy somewhere along the lines, but..." Larsa looked over at Catherine and sighed.
Kira looked over at her as well and sighed heavily, "Why not just take her with us? She can stay with Old Dalan while we fight. He'll take good care of her, tell her some of Rossaria's true history and not that crap they teach in their schools you know?" Kira said, exaggerating her points with hand gestures and movements as she always did. "She'll have a ball with him and we can get that bonus. Old Dalan's really got me worried here."
"No ...it's far too..."
"I'll go...." as soft as her voice was, it penetrated through to them both rather sharply. "I'll do it. I'll be just fine once I'm with you, Larsa." Catherine said as she stepped closer to him and held his hand in hers.
"Catherine, you don't have to do this, it's far too dangerous. You've never even been to Dalmasca before!" Larsa said trying to convince her before her mind was set.
"NO! I want to go! I want to be with you and share your interests and...and...I am going whether you approve or not!!" Too late. She'd set her mind to it. Once she set her mind to something, there was no stopping her; one of her better traits.
Larsa blinked, slightly surprised by the strength of her response and was clearly defeated when Kira pitched in next. "That's right! Girl wants to be with her Prince! Who're you to stop her ah?!" She was teasing them, but was also still very serious. Larsa flushed slightly and was about to protest when she cut in once again. "Well, now that that's settled, I think I should be going now. I've long since over stayed my welcome here I believe. I must make my absence known, other wise your soldiers will be hunting night and day for the mare reflection of a shadow." Kira smiled brightly before hopping unto the windowsill and said, "Old Archades stares, ten minutes." before falling clean out the window and out of sight.
Larsa stared through the window and sighed heavily once more before turning to Catherine. She was looking at him hopefully, probably dieing to know if he really approved of her going or not, completely ignoring the fact that Kira had just fallen out of a window on the forth floor of House Solidor Palace. Larsa looked back at her and smiled at her expression before saying, "Well...I suppose we'd best be off then. Fancy a tour of Archades?"
OoOoO
To be Continued...