This is my first Baten Kaitos (translate: Lyude) fanfiction... I hope you enjoy it! It was originally posted on another site. Comments and constructive criticism are, as always, appreciated.

New note, Aug 9, 2010: I am the type of author who will leave stories alone for years, then come back and finish them. This is what has happened to this one. I have also gone back and edited several chapters, some to remove things I found ridiculous, others to make it in conformation with certain things in Origins. There is one chapter that is an exception to this, and I will note it when it comes up. So while the bulk of the story already posted is pretty much the same, there are a few details changed... the biggest of which is Lyude's parentage. But please keep in mind that I have not played Origins all the way through, and there may be some inaccuracies I don't know about.

In any case, enjoy!


"Cast light upon the darkened earth… Save those lost in despair. O Mighty Ocean, guide us as we journey through… the darkest pit of night…"

Prologue: A Sea of Memories

"Sir, your child has just come into the world. It is a son."

"That is why you called me here in the dead of night?"

"S-sir, I…"

"Who told you to summon me? Who told you I had a child?"

"A-ah… that is… she did…"

"Does anyone else know?"

"The midwife…"

"And if you value your life, no one else will know either. Having your tongue cut out will be the smallest of your worries if you breathe a word of this matter to anyone."

He shoved the soldier aside roughly, sending the man tumbling to the floor. Then he strode to the door, sweeping through it as it slid open to admit him. The midwife inside looked up in surprise and fear, her blood-stained hands shaking. A woman laid still on the crimson-drenched bed, the babe lying in her limp arms. A fire blazed in the wall beside the bed, filling the room with stifling heat.

For a moment they stood in roaring silence. Then he walked to stand by the bed, looming over the woman and the new-born child. As he gazed upon her, the faintest tender expression crossed his face for the first time. The midwife, noticing it, said, "She will live, sir. She is just tired, and sleeping."

At these words, the woman's eyes fluttered open. Her hair lay in damp strands across her face and pillow, matching the bloodstains on the rest of the sheets. The tender expression vanished from the man's face.

The child let out a small whimper as her movements woke him. The midwife dipped a small cloth in water and began to wipe at his small body. Already the boy had small tufts of hair, and it matched the stains on the bed.

Silently, the Imperial Commander regarded them both. There had been hope and love in the woman's eyes when they opened, but now those emotions dwindled to small sparks and died.

"He's healthy," she said softly. "Will you name him?"

The commander said nothing. Firelight from the blaze in the room flickered in his dark eyes, now carefully blank. The child opened his eyes, and the fire was caught within them.

"Lyude," he replied, not quite succeeding in hiding the mixture of contempt and sorrow in his voice.

"Lyude… meaning flame of sorrow? But-"

"He's not a minute old and he's already brought me enough shame to last me until I die," the commander said coldly. "His name is Lyude." Without another word, he strode out the door and was lost in the dark corridors. He never looked back.

Lyude gave a small whimper, and the woman cradled him, rocking the baby gently. "There, there. Your father's just a little upset. Perhaps… perhaps he'll see you later…"

The child hiccupped and fell soundly asleep in her arms.


"Lyude? Did you hear what I just said?"

Seven-year-old Lyude snapped his gaze away from the window and back to his stern-faced teacher. "Sorry, Almarde! It's just…" He trailed off shyly.

His teacher and nurse, Almarde, tried to look serious for a moment longer, but failed at the sight of his eager face, slightly red, and gentle flame-colored eyes, which held all the wonder of the world. A smile spread across her face.

"There, child. Just what were you looking at?"

"There's a bird outside the window! I've never seen one this close before!" He pointed out to the street, and Almarde followed his gaze. Sure enough, there was a large, scraggly bird out pecking at the smooth stone of the road. Lyude's whole face lit up at the sight.

"Almarde, what kind is it? They never come this close to the house!" he cried excitedly.

The nurse smiled at his enthusiasm. "It's a pigeon, dear. I'm surprised it has come this far into Mintaka. Perhaps it is looking for food."

"Can we feed it, Almarde?" asked Lyude pleadingly. "I bet it's hungry!"

"If you want to, we can-" she began. Suddenly a loud crack split the quiet air, and the pigeon leaped into the air wildly, starting with fright. A second crack rang out, and the bird did a pathetic back flip in midair before crashing to the pavement, its head bent at an odd angle. Its beady eyes were already glazed over.

"No!" cried Lyude, running outside. Almarde followed quickly, dreading what she knew was outside.

"Nice shot, Vallye," said a tall, fiery-haired young man approvingly. Beside him, a younger woman nodded, her flaming hair matching her brother's. She held out her Magnus, reverting the small sonic rifle she had used back into its card form, which she slipped in her pocket. "You need to aim a little higher, remember, and you'll hit your target on the first try."

She smirked. "I only wanted to rouse the bird, Skeed, to make a moving target more of a challenge." Her cold eyes roved over the young boy bending over the bird. "Oh, look. It's trouble and its nurse."

Skeed strode over to where Lyude knelt and kicked the bird's carcass away cruelly. "Get over it, Lyude. It was just a stupid pigeon."

"Yeah, that bird didn't have a prayer," added Vallye.

Their younger brother lifted his tear-stained face. "You killed it! What did it ever do to you?"

Vallye shrugged. "It was there."

This statement and the casual way in which she put it, as if the pigeon had been no more than a defective Magnus that she had disposed of, took Lyude aback. Unexpectedly, he felt anger, hot and bright, rising within him.

Almarde came up to the three of them. "Now, Lyude, Vallye, Skeed…"

"Keep your nose out of it, Almarde," said Vallye rudely.

Lyude's anger ignited at this insult to his nurse. "How could you? Almarde takes care of you! And that pigeon wasn't doing anything! You're a… a…" He struggled to find words as Vallye looked on, amused. "…A monster!" Lyude hurled at her. Vallye's face darkened.

"Look who's talking!" She laughed, but her eyes flashed. "I'm nothing compared to you. You're not even-"

"Vallye, enough!" said Almarde sharply over her last words. Vallye's stare would have burned ice. Without another word, she turned and marched off. Skeed smiled grimly.

"You're getting soft, little boy. Keep going the way you are and you'll never make it into the Imperial Army. Hold onto that anger," he added coolly, seeing Lyude flare up again. "It will get you further than your tears ever will." With that, he followed Vallye.

Lyude stood rooted to the spot. The rage drained away as he felt Almarde's hand on his shoulder, and he turned to sob into her arms.

"Almarde, why are they always so mean to me?" he sniffed. "What did I do?"

"Nothing, child. The fault is theirs." She looked sadly after Lyude's siblings' retreating backs. "There is nothing wrong with you."

Lyude pulled away suddenly and wiped his cheeks dry. "I don't… I want them to love me…" His voice suddenly trembled and Almarde reached out to him, but he pushed her arms away and stood firmly. "But I don't want to be like them. So I'll… I'll control my anger. I won't let it control me." His small frame stood resolute in the sudden gust of wind that swept the street. Almarde struggled between pride for his determination and sorrow for the way Skeed and Vallye had treated him.

Instead, she said quietly, "Let's go inside and finish the lesson."

Lyude nodded firmly and walked inside, head held high, back straight.

"Never forget that resolution, Lyude," Almarde whispered to the wind.


A warm breeze blew through the open window into the already-hot room. It brought no comfort to Lyude, now ten, who tossed and turned in his bed sheets, then threw them off and sat up with a soft sigh of disgust. It was no use. On this night, the hottest so far of the summer, he couldn't sleep.

He heard a noise, the quiet footsteps making their way outside his room towards the kitchen. He smiled faintly, wondering if Almarde was up too. He got out of bed and crossed the starlight-dappled floor silently, tiptoeing out the door and into the kitchen. He stopped in surprise at the woman in there.

It was Vallye, not Almarde.

She held a bowl in her hands and was just closing the cabinet. Vallye gave him a semi-friendly smile and put the bowl on the table.

"Just a midnight snack," she yawned. "Want some?"

Pleasantly surprised at her friendly, caring attitude, Lyude padded to the table and sat down. It was too dark to see what was in the bowl, but he dipped his finger in and tasted it. It was sweet, and he realized it was sugar.

"Is this the sugar bowl?" he asked his sister. She grinned wickedly and nodded. He started to push it away, however reluctantly. "Almarde says we shouldn't…"

"Aw, who cares," shrugged Vallye. She stole some from the bowl and shoved it back towards him. "She's asleep. C'mon, don't be such a goody-two-shoes." She handed him a spoon.

Lyude looked at her stern face, then hesitantly scooped out some sugar with the spoon and ate it. He saw her face relax into a not-quite smile of approval and tried, but failed, to mask his pleasure. The second spoonful followed the first a bit more quickly, and before he knew it the level of sugar in the bowl was considerably lower.

He felt energy and excitement coursing through him, and there was a broad smile on Vallye's face now. He was vaguely wondering what Almarde would think when she awoke in the morning to find the sugar bowl empty, but his sister's approval meant so much more to him. He decided he would risk his nurse's anger.

Suddenly, he bit down on something soft and chewy… and wriggling.

"Agh!" He spat out his mouthful in shock and disgust, and could see, from the moonlight on the table, two halves of a worm squirming feebly on the tabletop. Vallye was doubled over laughing, and from the kitchen, he could see Skeed in the doorway, trying and failing to hold in his mirth.

"Yu-yuck! You... you…" He felt anger rising in him, that terrible rage again, and stood up sharply from the chair, but stopped as he quashed his anger and a new feeling took its place. He groaned, pressed his hands to his stomach.

"I think… I think I'm going to be sick…" he moaned, and ran out of the kitchen, past Skeed's laughing face. He only just made it to the bathroom in time.

Bending over the toilet, saliva and vomit leaving a nauseating taste in his mouth, Lyude felt shame and humiliation enveloping him. How stupid he had been to think that, for a moment, Vallye actually cared about him! Sorrow brought tears to his eyes, mingling with the sweat on his face. He tried… tried so hard to win their love… and this was all he got.

Somehow, he'd explain to Almarde where half the sugar had gone. No, tell her the truth. He wouldn't lie and deceive her, not like Skeed and Vallye.

He splashed some cold water on his face and returned silently to bed after he was sure Skeed and Vallye were gone. His last thought before he went to bed was that he never wanted to touch any sugar again.


"Congratulations, Sir Lyude." The commander solemnly attached the colored stripe to the shoulder of Lyude's uniform, marking him an officer of the Imperial Army. He struggled to keep the happy smile off his face, to remain composed and disciplined, as a soldier should.

"Thank you, commander. This is an honor." Fifteen-year-old Lyude bowed elegantly as Almarde had taught him and waited for his commander's approval.

The officer gave him the ghost of a smile. "Dismissed."

Lyude saluted him formally, turned on his heel, and marched out of the room, the heels on his newly issued boots ringing authoritatively on the cold metal floor.

He hurried home as fast as he could without actually running and looking unseemly hasty. Upon arrival, he burst through the door and saw Almarde's hopeful face.

"I did it, Almarde. They've accepted me into the Imperial Army!"

"Oh. Lyude, I'm so proud of you!" Almarde hugged him tight, then stepped back to examine him. "What a handsome uniform! I've never seen its like."

"You think so?" Lyude couldn't keep the pleased grin off of his face. He absently straightened the already crisp collar and ran his finger over the stripe that marked him an officer.

"Oh, look, Lyude's gone and got himself a uniform," came a sneering voice from the doorway. "Maybe he's playing soldier?" Skeed smirked.

"Trying to imitate big brother and sister," Vallye said in a false, syrupy voice. "Isn't it cute?"

Lyude's heart sank. Somehow, he'd hoped, let himself think for just a minute, that this action would finally win their approval…

It was futile.

Almarde must have seen something of his feelings in his face, for she rounded on Skeed and Vallye. "Both of you should show some respect. Why, in a few years, he might be your superior!"

Lyude flushed at the look on his brother and sister's faces. Almarde meant well, but she was just making things worse.

Skeed noticed. "So you let Almarde speak for you?" he taunted. Lyude's nurse flushed as red as her charge.

Lyude could feel anger rising but kept a hard rein on it. He would not let himself be drawn into this confrontation. He wouldn't let Almarde get caught in it either.

He laid a hand on her shoulder, deliberately ignoring his siblings. "Almarde, please leave," he said quietly, calmly. "If they have something to say to me, they'll say it to me alone."

Almarde looked to be on the verge of refusing, but took a good look at his face. She sighed, squeezed his hand, and left the room.

"Oh, good," drawled Vallye after the nurse was gone. "Now what? We have a little heart-to-heart chat just like you always wanted? Give the twerp a special uniform and suddenly he thinks he can talk to his superiors."

Lyude stiffened slightly but remained silent. I will stay composed. If I cannot earn approval… I can still be respectable.

"I want you to know, Lyude," said Skeed, with the air of one holding a dangerous explosive, "that it was not talent that got you into the army."

Lyude's composure cracked. "What… what did you say?"

Skeed smiled triumphantly. "Please. This family has an image to uphold. It would have been… less than stellar had even you not made it in. But now that you have…" He stepped forward so that he was less than an inch from Lyude. Lyude, being shorter, started fixedly at his chin. "We expect you not to embarrass us."

"The consequences are… unpleasant," added Vallye ominously.

Lyude could barely speak for the shame and anger choking his throat. He trembled slightly – out of fear? rage? he couldn't tell – as he replied, "I will not fail you."

"See that you don't," said Skeed shortly. In unison, the two turned and headed out of the room. Over her shoulder, Vallye called, "I'm looking forward to being the one who trains you." The door slid shut.

Lyude stood silently, fists clenched. He felt the familiar tears spring to his eyes and looked up at the ceiling to keep them from spilling out.

He would show them. He would be the best officer he could.

He would not fail them.


A shadow flew across the moon.

Far below, one light remained on in an otherwise darkened house. One window remained open among the other locked shutters, to let the moonlight and night breeze in.

A soft melody floated on the wind. Gentle notes whispered against the air as a stream does against its bank, creating quiet harmony and life. The tune, lilting and soft, was out of place in the mechanized city of Mintaka, belonged in the wilderness. The song spoke of water, the womb of the sea; waves lapping at the shoreline while the boundary between ocean and sky was lost in mist.

The shadow crossed the moon again.

The melody ended. Lyude sighed and put down the lyre he had been playing. Almarde had given it to him after he had been promoted. However, it had nearly been in an unfortunate accident when Skeed knocked it off the table. Lyude had dived and caught it in the nick of time, enduring his siblings' mirth at his expense.

Lyude stood, stretched limbs still sore and protesting after the day's practice and drills, and walked to the window. The night breeze blew his scarlet hair back, caressed his face as he looked up to the starry heavens. He could make out the shadow now as the moon shone down on it.

It was Vallye, soaring on mechanical winglets in place of real wings that the people of the Empire never used – or never had. As Lyude watched, she performed a spectacular aerial ballet: swooping, twisting, looping, and gliding effortlessly across the star-studded sky. He could understand her now, this desire to fly above everything else: cut all bonds with the earth; cast your fortune to the winds. See other places, explore the vault of heaven and roam free…

She must have seen him leaning out of the window, dressed only in a nightshirt, for her performance ended, and the bird winged to earth.

Hastily, he closed the window, put the lyre in its case and hid it behind its wall panel, where Skeed and Vallye couldn't find it, pulled his shirt off, hit the lights and scrambled into bed. He made his breathing even and quiet to look as if he were asleep.

Footsteps sounded outside and stopped at his door. Lyude breathed evenly, and eventually the footsteps retreated.

He could still see the image on the backs of his eyelids: a black bird, silhouetted against the moon, soaring free into the night.


"Keep an eye on him."

"Yes, sir."

Lyude kept his eyes on the boots of the soldier in front of him as he marched with the company down the dusty road. Dirt and silt kicked up from the ground whirled around the group, aided by the blustery wind, and sent many of the soldiers into fits of coughing. They could see nothing for miles around, just a dusty, desolate plain that magnified the sun's light shining down upon them. In full uniform and gear, the heat was nearly unbearable.

"Speaking out in front of Emperor Geldoblame?"

"I was there! Bold as you please, but the Emperor put him in his place."

Lyude's face burned, and he was grateful for the layer of dust and grit that hid the flush on his cheeks. He wasn't supposed to hear these whispers, but the wind that whirled around the squad picked up snatches of conversation and flung them at him, mocking his brashness and stupidity.

Lyude closed his eyes against the glare, saw the scene play out again before his eyes.

"Your Magnificence, the people of Azha are merely protesting against such harsh labor conditions!" Lyude had cried out against their orders.

The Emperor, Geldoblame, paused in his proclamations, displeased by the lone voice. Although his face was nearly hidden in rolls of fat and he waddled rather than walked, he still commanded an imposing presence, and Lyude felt his shock and anger dwindle away under those cold, pitiless eyes.

"What was that? Who gave you permission to grow a brain?" asked Geldoblame nastily.

"Uh… excuse me, your Magnificence…" Lyude lost the words that had burned in him a few moments ago, drowned in a flood of fear and embarrassment.

"Hmph!" Scornful, Geldoblame advanced, jowls quivering, towards Lyude. "Listen to me, boy. The people are my slaves, mere pawns in a game. If I desire a juicy slab of Torsina meat, they will find the animal and present it to me, whatever it takes!" Geldoblame was no looking at Lyude, but he could feel the penetrating gaze of the Emperor sweeping the room as Geldoblame raised his arms. "If I demand more money, they will toil on with no sleep whatsoever, and pay taxes as ordered. If I tell them to fight, every single one of them, man, woman, and child, if I so desire, will take up arms and fight to the bitter end. That is the sole purpose of existence for those mindless weaklings. It is the only reason I allow them to live." He turned a withering gaze on Lyude. "Fool!"

Lyude felt the hostile stares of everyone in the room burning into him. He made an indistinct sound, but no words came out. He bowed his head and backed up quietly into his ranks. They gave him more of a berth than usual. His humiliation pounded at the back of his head.

Instead, it was the sun doing the beating. Lyude opened his eyes and saw that they were nearly to the desert village of Azha. Not too far off, he could spy the grove of gigantic dead trees that the Azhans made their home in. They were likely still protesting, unaware of their impending doom.

A wave of dread swept through him. Azha was Almarde's village. What would she say if he came home with the blood of her family and friends on his hands?

He clenched his fists. He had worked so hard, training day and night, often with Vallye berating him, to earn his position. The work had paid off – because of his skills and marksmanship, he had been assigned to the Mad Wolf Unit: the most elite of all the Imperial forces. And now they were asking him to do something that went against everything he believed, contradicted the very core of his being. How much was he willing to sacrifice? How far would he go for acceptance, for status?

The wind whipped his crimson hair across his eyes suddenly and when his vision cleared, they were standing beneath the trees of Azha, dead twisted specters that stretched out to reach a sky they would never touch.

"All right, men, you have your orders – kill anyone who resists." Their commander scanned the unit, her eyes resting on Lyude a bit longer than they might have. "Commence Operation Sweep."

Each soldier armed his weapon and turned their sights on the small crowd that had begun to gather.

"Imperials!" An older man, worn with years of harsh labor and living, stepped forward. "Have you decided to negotiate?"

In answer, the commander opened fire. The man choked as a shower of crimson burst from his chest, and he toppled backwards, dead before he hit the ground.

The villagers screamed. Others drew their weapons and charged the Imperials, shouting angrily at this betrayal.

They didn't stand a chance.

Lyude stood as the soldiers fanned out around him, gunning down everything in their path. Branches, dry and withered from years of drought, quickly ignited into a hellish inferno. A child ran past him, crying, and he threw his weapon to the ground. The commander turned at the sound and saw the child running at her. She took careful aim.

"NO!" Lyude ran, closed the gap between them, and knocked the gun out of the way even as it fired. The child screamed. The shot buried itself in the ground a few feet from where he stood. Realizing he wasn't dead, the boy quickly picked himself up and ran away as fast as he could.

"Soldier, may I ask what you are dong?" his commander asked icily, gripping Lyude's fist like an iron vise. "You have a mission, and you are countermanding our orders."

Lyude stared into her emotionless, merciless eyes. He realized suddenly that she did not feel anything – would have felt nothing if she had shot that child. To her, they were just a job to be completed. And he was interfering.

The thought of heartless slaughter filled Lyude with rage. Using his free hand, he grabbed the barrel of her gun and jerked it out of her grasp before she could react. He swung it around to face her, and she stood silently, still grasping his wrist. Her dark hair shaded her eyes, but he had no doubt they were void of emotion.

The flames cracked around them, and still he stood, finger on the trigger. Can't you shoot? he thought despairingly. She will be responsible for many more deaths if you let her go…

"I… I can't…" He let the gun fall. His commander took it back and brought out a length of rope. With this, she bound his hands.

"You are a liability to the mission and must remain outside Azha until Operation Sweep is complete. I will send someone to guard you. Outside the village, now." It was clear she considered this a waste of manpower.

Lyude hung his head as he was led away.

Why… why couldn't I stop this?


"Dismissed."

Lyude was led silently from the room and shown to the gates. He walked home numbly, not feeling anything for fear of what might happen if he opened that door to his emotions.

As he entered his house, Almarde looked up from the table, fear and worry in her eyes. Seeing Lyude's stony face, she feared the worst.

He held papers clenched tightly in one fist. Slowly, he held them out to her and she took them. As she did so, she noticed that the colored stripe that had denoted his rank was gone.

Her hands shook slightly as she read the paper.

"Officer Lyude, formerly of the Mad Wolf unit, has been granted the title of 'Ambassador' and will be assigned to assist with Imperial relations on the island of Diadem. He will be granted no military status and instead will serve in the diplomatic capacity as…"

The letter went on for several more pages, filled with technicalities and legalities. Almarde looked up into Lyude's expressionless face.

"Ambassador, Lyude? Why, that's an honor! You'll be able to see the other islands just like you've always dreamed!"

"It's an exile," said Lyude quietly. "They don't want a mistake like me on their hands."

"Don't say that, Lyude!" admonished his old nurse. "That's Skeed and Vallye talking."

Lyude managed a weak grin at that, but it quickly faded. "I don't know why they didn't simply discharge me… this is much more expense-draining and time-consuming. I was supposed to be court-martialed. Instead, they took me to a small room below the palace, stripped me… of my rank, and gave me this assignment."

Almarde had been wondering as well. "I'm sure you're just too good for them to let you go, Lyude," she said kindly. "After all, you were a part of the Empire's special forces."

"Or maybe…" he began, but stopped, shaking his head. "Never mind. They've given me a day to pack my belongings. I leave at sunrise tomorrow."

"Well, I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities to write me, or come back and visit," said Almarde brightly. "Or…" She trailed off at the look on Lyude's face. "What is it?"

He pointed to a line near the end of the orders. Puzzled, she read it.

"Length of service time indeterminate."

Almarde looked up in time to see Lyude's face crumble. "Oh, Lyude…"

He fell into her arms, and she held him close as his body shook with silent sobs. She could feel her own rising, but she blinked them down as she stroked his soft red hair. She had to be strong for him.

After a bit, Lyude pulled away, and his eyes were dry. The calm was back in his face, but it held still a hint of sadness. "I'll pack." He turned and headed to his room.

Neither Lyude nor Almarde slept that night. They both dreaded the morning.

Lyude rose punctually an hour before dawn, as he had while training in the army. Almarde had prepared his favorite breakfast, but he found that he had no appetite. Skeed and Vallye were absently. Lyude hadn't really expected them to say goodbye.

The horizon began to lighten, and Lyude stood, pushing away his uneaten rolls. Almarde smiled at him gently. "Your bags are by the door."

Together, they walked through the quiet streets of the sleeping Mintaka. There he could see an airship waiting to carry him to his assigned post. A shipmate took his luggage, and he turned to Almarde.

"I will miss you," he whispered as he drew her into a tight embrace. Almarde returned the hug, smoothing his beautiful hair one last time. A few that had commented on Lyude's flame-colored hair said that it reminded them of the sunset, scarlet rays sinking into twilight, heralding the coming of darkness. But Almarde had always seen the sunrise, the crimson joy of dawn, holding the promise of a new day to come.

The tears came now, spilling down her cheeks even as she smiled at him. Lyude's face broke into a genuine smile as he gently wiped the moisture away.

"Don't cry for me," he whispered. "I'll come back. I promise." He turned and boarded the airship, heading straight to the top deck. As the ship rose into the air, he faced her and waved while the sun broke over the edge of the world. Away the ship sped, carrying Lyude into a future that would change his life forever…