空とロマンス
Sola to Romansu (Sky and Romance)
Important side-stories
Book 1: The House of Memories / Part 1
A/N: hello and welcome to the first of the Sola to Romansu side stories.
I hope you all enjoy it, just let me tell you that the reading of this story can prove crucial, to get certain information for the further course of the story.
As you might know plays the first story during the few hours at wich Red and Co. arrive at the Darven Island to get their Memories back, while the scarlet wolf wraps up things in Airedale and on the other close Islands, before coming to get them for their ride towards the Devil´s Throat.
The story afterwards plays during these few hours at another place in the Republic, so make sure to read it, as it will become even more crucial to the future development of the second book.
with this out of the way, i hope you have another nice ride, here we go:
Darven Islands, after the Airedale Liberator Battle, Red´s Pov:
I was nervous..., more nervous than ever before of returning back home, to the Savarin Orphanage.
Yes you heard right, I said home..., after all, this is where Chocolat and I, and many other children, have been raised..., where we had grown and started our own journey from.
However, I always believed that the reason, for me to return, would be a different one than today.
For today I came to seek answers, answers on questions which I could only find here.
"What do you think..., what will she tell you?" Elh asked as she sat in my lap, reading in the book, which she got from Cassandra, while I spent my time reading as well.
Chocolat was right, it was a rare sight indeed, of seeing us like this..., mainly me reading something attentively.
I freely admit it, Books had never been my strength..., but I hoped to find at least one clue to my questions beforehand, before I would Question the woman I had seen and loved as a mother for so long.
"No idea..., of course I hope the truth, but I doubt she would lie to us if we ask her..., but then again..., where should I even start asking...?
I know that I have no right of blaming her for anything, after all it was my own decision to seal my memories and live from zero on." I stated as I looked at her from up above her, as she looked upwards.
"I´m not even sure if anything I ask could probably change anything at the current situation..., maybe this here is but all a selfish act without any deeper meaning to the whole Life I have lived so far.
Still I am certain that it will be quite important for the future.
One´s Origins are the most important to know, I had lived in the dark for so long..., two years ago, I finally got to know some things in my life I didn´t know prior to that day.
That I was originally created as a simple experiment..., as a hybrid who possessed special powers and could transform myself into a human and who has maybe other abilities as well, I and Merveille as well, believe that I have barely scratched on the surface of what I am capable of doing.
Maybe I was born for an experiment, but I belive, even before I got aware of what might happen, that I was created for some kind of purpose, and I doubt that I have already absolved that purpose.
Back then as I was told to be a Hybrid, I thought that I had found my destiny, that I was to defeat my older siblings-by-creation Blank and Nero and stop my own biological father Baion.
That's what I always believed, that this was all there is, all the dark secrets of my previous life, before the memory loss.
But now, in just a few days, this believe has been shaken again, suddenly new things came to light, apparent truths and uncertain believes..., I honestly have no idea what to exactly believe anymore, I mean suddenly this thing awakens in me, how did Carmine called it...?"
"You mean the Antiqua Sanctus Remulus?" Elh asked with quite the worried look on her face.
"Yeah, exactly this thing, this old Saint which shall have been attached to Maranell and to a part also to me.
And all the memories which will come with it, about a world which had ended long before our time, memories of a great dissaster happened in the past, and that these memories shall act as a warning.
I have no idea what to think about it, it feels as though I was born to one day become some kind of messiah for the people..., but how could I even dream of being one when I cannot even trust my own judgment anymore..., whether it even is my true and own judgement at all." I stated and I held my head as I felt how a headache of enormous size awaited me.
"I slowly feel as if my head would burst open any minute, unable to sort the incoming piles of information and unless I am able to create folders to properly sort them, the pile will just grow until it breaks up the ceiling of my mind.
But I think more than just this, I am afraid of something entirely different.
By now I can feel that this body of mine..., it houses three beings.
There is one time the Hybrid, Human Red, a red whose personality and look is completely different from my everday-self.
Then there is the Hunter I have been ever since my Memory loss, Red Savarin.
And then the third Being, the Mystery-man, the Soul of the moon, the Antiqua Sanctum, Remulus.
But now, when I re-acquire my lost memories..., would that mean that a fourth being would be created, the Prince of 10 Moons, Red S. Wolvenra.
To whom does this body belong to..., which version of me has the right of property over it..., or is there perhaps a still unknown fifth being, which houses fragments of all previous four and who actually is the original?" I explained and closed my eyes in frustration letting out a long sigh.
"You know, I might not can give you an answer on this question at all, as it is the most complex problem I have ever heard of.
But whatever happens, you can always count on me, no matter what." Elh explained to me with her hands on my cheeks, pulling me down to her, with a sudden smile I kissed her.
"I know and I am so thankful for that." I replied and she nodded with a smile.
"So who would you like, Hybrid, Hunter, Mystery-man or Prince?" I asked her and she looked at me with a frown.
"Now that´s quite unfair you know..., however, if I had to say anything, then all I can say is that I know about 3 of you and I might soon get to know the 4th, and I am sure I will also learn to love that one.
For me you are Red, no matter what, I don´t care what personality you have, as long as you stay with me and treat me nice and well." Elh explained and I snickered, even I knew that it was quite an Unfair question to ask, if I don´t know the answer myself, of who I want to be in the future, than how would she know.
"We soon are there Guys..., only about half an hour anymore!" Chocolat stated aloud.
"That are some good news, really good ones." Kodiak explained as he looked a little pale.
"What´s wrong with him?" I asked Anastasia as I looked at them.
"He has partial-motion-sickness, on big airships it works out because they do not shake so much, but in here..., well you see him." Anastasia explained with a comforting smile, stroking the back of her father, who sat above a bucket..., just in case.
"I´m a little excited if I may say so, I haven´t seen Grenadine in quite a long time, I think it are at least 9 years ago since I saw her last, back then as we showed you how to fight and how to operate the Asmodeus.
In anyways I have to see that the Aircraft still looks good, I had my doubts regarding certain persons." Rose replied and I crawled my hair in embarrassment.
It was obvious that she spoke about me.
"Oh I made sure he did not soiled it too much." Chocolat exclaimed from the cockpit.
"C´mon now, I am not that much of a pig, I clean too." I stated enraged.
"Yeah but only if we tell you, otherwise it seems, as though you don´t mind all the dirt and garbage that piles up in the plastic bags." Elh explained.
"Oh C´mon!" I exclaimed still embarrassed.
"I swear to god, it´s the same with Carmine, why are you boys always so unkempt and messy in your making." Rose sighed.
"Because we are wild and free I guess." I stated, earning a glance of disgust from every female in the room, Anastasia included.
"Order is half the life." A new voice stated, coming from Greyhound, who barely spoke anything the whole time but instead cleaned and treated his sword, to make sure it was sharp again, from the previous fighting.
"That's how a true man sounds." The women stated swooning while the blue-furred, tall and muscular Caninu didn´t seemed to notice the sudden affection.
"Now I am offended, I am a real man too, just so you know..., and if you want, I can prove it." I stated, only to get a glance of extreme disapproval and fury from Rose and Chocolat.
"Keep that for the bedroom tonight." Elh whispered and I had to burry my head back in my book, to hide the arousement in my face.
"As expected, Little Red is eager to get it on." Elh snickered as she looked up to me, feeling the push from my erection.
"If we had more time, I would show you instantly, what man I truly am, put you probably wouldn´t be able to walk for a while afterwards." I whispered back and she blushed cutely.
"In my opinion a real man is someone who can defend the ones he loves and cares for, someone who fights for his principles, in this case Red is quite the man.
It doesn´t matter if he has a few flaws here and there, love and loyalty that's what the term of a true man shall stand for." White explained and although I was thankful for his words, I did not overheard him speaking of me as having too many flaws.
"Well we can argue back and forth, but in the end it ends in the question if you yourself feel as a true man, if you feel yourself able to perform a man´s duties, of protecting, loving and pleasing his family in any possible way.
A true man is not just a male being of brute force, but also a tender lover to his wife, girlfriend or whatever, as well as a family father and a warrior..., someone who goes to all lengths to make sure his family is safe." Kodiak explained and I nodded.
"Says the man who wasn´t able to find his daughter for 13 long years." Anastasia stated unforgiving.
"It´s not as if you had found her either, if anything she has found her way back to us by herself." Kodiak fired at his daughter, who was taken aback but had no way to answer on this as it was the truth.
"In the end it does not matter who is what, we all are who we are and we cannot change that, so lets just make the best out of it." Chocolat explained and we nodded.
"I´m fine with that explanation." We all stated.
"Anyways we are soon there, I can see Diamundo´s workplace." Chocolat stated and I nodded.
Director Cherrypie´s Orphanage was not so far away from the Garage, it stood on one of the bigger sized islands, the house was 2-levels high and a bit bigger than ordinary houses but not as big as a villa or the like.
If anything, it was peaceful.
A small field of flowers floated on a connected island infront of it.
The Orphanage sported a little garden in the back and a wooden balcony to the front as well.
As we arrived, we placed the Asmodeus on Auto-pilot and standby mode and made our way towards the house.
I was unsure if they could see it, but the place was brimming with magic, Wolven magic in that case, I wonder if it had always been that way, Chocolat and I, we haven´t been here in a long time as well..., then again my wolven senses had awakened only a few days ago, so I guess I was just not as perceptive to them as today.
"Stop, who goes there, if you came to take the children, you will have first to go through me!" Suddenly a loud voice exclaimed, as we saw how a young woman came rushing at us, armed with a pitchfork and a small mace attached at her hip.
Though small it was massive and I was sure it was heavy enough to crush a skull if swung hard enough.
Of course I instantly put a hand to my sword, it was purely instinct of self-defense, yet I attempted to not let this situation escalate, the woman stopped shortly before the edge of the shield.
"You Bastards won´t get the Children, only over my cold dead body!" the woman shouted, somehow she struck me as familiar but I couldn´t put my finger on it.
Still right now we had better things to deal with, as to find any clue in my memories.
Sometimes I hate the fact that I don´t often pay attention to things which later on turn out to be crucial.
However, it just happens without me being able to change that.
Either way, right now it was time for some calming words to be addressed to the Woman who was ready to give her life, all in order to defend this place, with a pitchfork in hand.
"I assure you there is a mistake, we didn´t come for any kind of shady business..., we came to meet Director Grenadine Cherrypie!" I stated as I pulled Elh back and went infront of her, protecting the same.
"That´s what you guys always say and then when we let our guard down, you stab us in the back, but we won´t fall for your lies, not this time and never again!" The Young Woman shouted enraged and was about to stab the pitchfork right into my body, as I was about to draw my sword to block it.
"THEA; STOP!" We heard the loud voice of another person coming from a bit above.
Suddenly it was as though the time was freezing, the woman and I glared at each other and although her eyes stayed fixed on me, I saw how her focus was drifting to where the voice came from.
Still in a position of instant attack, she stood still waiting for the voice to keep shouting orders.
Whatever the appearance of her..., Brown long hair, slender build, long bright blue clothes..., this woman was no ordinary Felineko, she seemed to be trained in the art of fighting, her stance was that of an experienced lancer and her grip on the pitchfork was hard enough, to keep it in hand even if blocked, and still flexible enough for quick changes in movement.
"Would you stop being so rude, these are guests of mine, they surely won´t attack us, they are old inhabitants of this Orphanage, don´t you remember.
Get back inside and stop pestering them..., make tea or something but get this pitchfork away from them..., geez!" The voice of none other but Grenadine Cherrypie, old acquaintance of Maranell Wolvenra, Ex-Head-Nurse at the Wolpalaca and currently Director of the Savarin Orphanage, explained in a loud voice as the old lady arrived and shouted in exhaustion.
"I..., I see..., pardon my rudeness, if the Director says so it must be true." The woman said, as she lowered her weapon with a sigh of relief as a few sweat-drops ran down her temples, I bet she was more under pressure than we were.
"I am really sorry, Red, Chocolat, everybody..., but in the current times we cannot be any lax with our caution as you might understand.
C´mon up you Children, and your friends as well of course, I was awaiting your visit." The Director explained as she gestured us to get up.
"Well then I guess from here on out we should be safe." I stated as we walked over the bridges.
I carefully walked through the magic wall and it felt quite warm, a familiar feeling instantly streamed through my body.
"Father, this spell has been erected by him." I whispered as I walked through, Elh still close at my side.
"A Dominion-spell, paired with a Magic Wall to ward of anyone with evil intend, this is powerfull magic casted by a mighty Magic-caster.
As much as I can tell, hasn´t it been casted recently, but seems to be active since quite a while, it is still very strong." Elh explained to me as we all walked through without much problems.
"I´m sorry my Prince, I think my appearance might have startled the young Lady, I´m very sorry." Greyhound explained, but I shook my head.
"No, I think this was just a preventive measurement, the shield my father has erected, prevent anyone fiendish from entering this place closer than to the bridge to the flower field." I replied to him and he nodded in understanding.
"Isn´t this..., Thea?" Chocolat asked unsure.
"Huh..., you know her?" I asked her and she just looked at me in pity.
"You are the worst brother, have you really forgotten the people you even grew up with?" She asked.
"Well sorry to say so, but I haven´t been here in nearly 8 years, how shall I know what happened with anyone, or least how they look like nowadays?" I asked and she just sighed.
"Hey, um sorry but are you by any way Thea, do you remember me by any chance?" Chocolat asked, as she walked up to the woman with the Pitchfork.
"Hmm..., now that I get a better look at you..., this bright hair..., aren´t you Chocolat?" She asked uncertain as well, before realization hit her and her hand her mouth in shock.
"Indeed..., waaah, it´s so good to see you again, how have you been?" Chocolat asked, instantly throwing questions at the poor maiden.
"Oh I am okay, I've been living here almost all the time even after I became an adult, I finally found my calling and a place to stay.
I go now by the name Thea Bernstein, I was adopted by Oswald Bernstein, the astronomer, a good friend of the Director.
We live nearby at the Darven Observatory.
But I was always thankful to Director Cherrypie, so I made an apprenticeship in Pedagogy and Childcare, to help the Director care for the children, and then, when she goes into retirement, overtake the Orphanage and help all the children who might live in this place in the future.
If the Rumors we heard on FLNB, about the Lycanian´s return, are true, then the world has a bitter need for secured Orphanages, times are bound to get ugly.
We were told to be vary of every foreign Aircraft, so I am sorry for my rude behavior earlier." Thea explained as she apologized, bowing before us in shame, as she led us up to the house, in the windows we could see many curious faces looking at us.
"Red, Chocolat, it is so good to see you kids again..., oh Rose, my dear, it has been too long, how are you?" The Director asked with a warm smile, as she gestured us to the balcony, to sit on the large table out here.
"I´m alright Grenadine, it has indeed been a while, but me and Carmine as well as Alexia are doing just fine." Rose explained as she sat herself on the chair she was offered, same as all of us.
"I see, that's good to hear..., and you people are?" Miss Cherrypie asked.
"I am Kodiak Garontrias and this is my Daughter Anastasia G. Garontrias, we are...!" Kodiak exclaimed but was interrupted.
"Chocolat´s Family I assume, it is an honor, King Garontrias, Princess Anastasia..., Princess Choco-Vanil." Miss Cherrypie stated with a knowing nod, bowing before the two of them and also before Chocolat.
"It has lasted quite a long time..., but she foretold that one day the day would come when you would find out, she always believed so..., until her death." She said.
"So it is as I thought..., Banmori died, didn´t she?" Kodiak asked and Miss Cherrypie nodded.
"She arrived at the old orphanage with your daughter, 2 years after their arrival, as they had nothing of their own, they lived on the street, living from the money they mugged from delinquents and criminals who tried to rob them, one day we met by coincidence as she saved me from a robbery, as thanks i brought her home to at least get a warm shower, meal and bed for the cold nights.
It was then as I found out that she was a valhallian, her accent revealed her identity to me, they stayed for a while after they revealed their faces to us, but then that incident happened an she got deadly injured, out of caution, and due to her own wish, we could not get her into a Hospital and had to patch her up here in the orphanage, this had saved her from an instant death but it was not able to permanently save her from dying.
But at least she died knowing that her mistress was out of danger, for the time being." The director explained.
"We erected a grave for her in the backyard, if you wish to pray for her soul, Thea would you mind showing them the place?" Director Cherrypie ordered her apprentice, who nodded and gestured Kodiak, Anastasia as well as Chocolat and White to come along, to pay their respects.
"Now, as these things we will be discussing are quite private, I wonder what I can do with such a strong, young, muscular man such as yourself?" She mused, as she glanced at Greyhound, scanning him from up to down, grinning behind her palm with a blush.
"I think it would be for the best if he goes for a walk or something like this, it doesn´t really helps you to stay here and get bored about old stories of mine..., and the Director is right, it are quite private things we have to discuss..., still I think it would be good for you to stay in close vicinity, just in case." I stated as I understood the Directors meaningful glance at me.
Of course, it was nice to have someone watching over you, but I had lived most of my live independently from any higher control, so I wasn´t really in need of a guard..., but I did not dared to say that out loud to a man who saw it as his holy duty to serve me.
"If it is your wish my Prince, I will look to find something I can do around here." The young man stated, without so much of disappointment, I think he do had the delicacy to suggest this, instead of stubbornly insisting of staying at my side.
"If you would like to do something..., I´m a little embarrassed to ask, but we got some firewood to cut out in the Backyard..., but Thea can be so clumsy sometimes, that I fear she might hurt herself one day..., usually Percival, one of the more adolescent children under my care, is tasked with this, but he is momentarily sick with a fever and lies in bed upstairs... so if you would be a dear?" The director asked and Greyhound nodded without hesitation, before he walked out in the back, where Thea and the others had vanished.
Of course not without the Director ogling his backside as he went.
"Ahem..." I called for her attention and she straightened up again blushing.
"I´m sorry, but its not often you get to see such fine young men out here, all I ever see are kids and old Farts!" She snickered like a schoolgirl.
"I see, you are as well as always if you can joke like this, dear Mrs. Cherrypie." I sighed and she smiled.
"Same goes for you, you really have grown a lot since the last time I have seen you, it had been so long and I always wondered what you might do, I always feared that you might end up in trouble someway, with that loudmouth attitude you always had, but I strongly believed that Chocolat would be able to keep you in check, and as I can see she did a good job." The Director stated with a lough while I blushed.
Meanwhile a giggling Elh desperately tried not to laugh.
"Well I am still alive and kicking, so we both had done well someway.
How about you, any bad things happened lately?" I asked her but she shook her head.
"Thank Heavens no, I would not be sure what to do if all that trouble tha has went down in the last days would have knocked at our door as well, I am glad that the worst that happens here is either one of the Children getting sick, or my back hurting for days again.
I really have to thank your father for that shield spell...
Which might instantly lead to your unspoken request, he told me you might come here to get some answers..., well since I am not obligated to deny these answers to you, now that you are a capable adult and surely ready for the truth, I would love to tell you everything I personally know about.
After all I hold part of the key to unlock your sealed memories." The Director stated with a meaning full glance to Rose, who nodded.
"It´s good to hear that from you..., and that you are doing fine out here, I always kind of worried what might happen here, after we left, but I always believe that your life just goes on, same as it went for Chocolat and me." I explained and she nodded.
"I also often though about you, as well as all the other children I had in my care.
I might have been originally a School-nurse and later your caretaker here in the Shepherd Republic, until you were old enough to live on your own, but I am foremost an Orphanage director, of course I was worried about all of you, all of who came and later on went away from me.
I do this here since 11 years and I must say that this work is really fulfilling, whenever I see the smiles on the faces of the Children, who had been robbed of so much in their life, it just fills my heart with happiness.
Back then as you and Chocolat left us, with that reassuring smile on your faces, I was glad..., glad and proud of the young man and the young woman I had raised as best as I could.
Since it had been your wish, I treated you just as equal as all the others in my care, without special preferences, it hadn´t always been easy as you had always been a little rascal.." She stated and I could see Elh looking at me with a sigh of frustration, to which I could but crawl my neck in embarrassment.
"But I wouldn´t want to miss this time we had spent together like this, for all the money in the world.
Ever since my Husband died a few years ago and my daughter was old enough to leave the house and have children on her own, I wasn´t sure I what to do with my life, I tried my best to bloom up in my job, but seeing injuries, blood and suffering people everyday was just too hard, for it also remembered me of all the lossses i had suffered before in my early life..., as I became a school-nurse I managed to calm down a little from my raging and heartbroken emotions, I had people depend on me, but it was still not really what I sought for.
But then as King Maranell asked me to become an Orphanage Director, and the moment I was surrounded by small children who looked up to me, as though they were my own, I finally found my calling, I tried my best to bring a smile on their faces every day, to comfort them when they were sad, all in all to be there for them.
And under them was a little prince who had lost all of his memories and who was unsure of this world, frightened by it.
I told myself that even if you weren't my biological son, I would do anything in my power to make sure you would grow to a righteous man.
And even as unkempt you often are am I most certain to have done a good job there, what do you think?" She asked with a smile and I nodded as I stood up walked to her before dropping to my knee before her.
"You gave me so much as I had nothing, you gave me love, care, joy and happiness, you comforted me when I was sad and heartbroken.
You gave me advice when I asked you about my feelings of losss, my frightened heart and even about love, back then as I had developed a crush on a classmate of mine, you told me exactly what to do, and even though it never worked out with her, was I grateful, grateful for the help I had gotten by you.
It hadn´t always been easy and I bet I wasn´t the easiest child to handle at times, but thanks to you I am who I am today.
A hunter, a proud member of Shepherds society, and for that and for the love you have always given me, I want to thank you from all of my heart, a thanks to the one woman I have always seen as a mother to me." I stated as I took her frail hands which shook from the emotions, as she shed a few tears of happiness.
"Geez..., when did you learned to be such a smooth-talker Red, you really make this old woman here swoon and cry in happiness, ehehe," The Director shook her head in comical disbelieve, still drying her tears as she embraced me and kissed my forehead.
Elh's Pov:
"Yeah, he always had such a way with Felinekos, even I often blushed from his open honesty, just as much as I was frustrated by the same when he got a little too honest." Rose replied, equally moved to tears as myself, and I nodded blushing in embarrassment as she talked about Red´s preferences in types of woman to like and love.
It was nice seeing these three interacting, although i felt a little left out if i had to be honest, still Red being so thankfull to someone was a rare sight, often he only gave a short but heartfelt thanks or he said it while crawling the back of his head in embarrassment not sure if it was enough..., but I guess that this woman really deserved it, to be revered so much by him that he even falls to his knees.
I had only been with Red for about 2 years and fairly know him well by now i would say..., but she raised him nonstop, every day, for 7 years, I cannot imagine how stressed out I would be, she surely must have nerves of steel to keep up with his shenanigans and occasional stupidity.
It makes me really wonder how Red had been when he was little, was he just the same, or worse, or was he a little calmer than today?
Either way I bet I would be completly stressed out and frustrated with him, when hearing all about the stupid things he did as a child..., still, I cannot say that I have been a role model of a polite and uncomplicated Child in my youth as well, I might live since so long and I might have forgotten a lot what went down on Ragdoll before I became cursed, but even I don´t believe that I always have been a good child, however, I would never admit that to Red, I wouldn´t get to hear the end of it, most likely.
Over all these things i heard from him, one thing was clear as day to me, which also was promptly exclaimed by the Director.
"To be honest I cannot really imagine Red with a Caninu-woman, I mean he just doesn´t strike me like that kind of man, who goes all alpha on someone else.
Caninu Woman can be sweet but also quite submissive at times, but Red seemed to have a fable for woman which were headstrong, could talk back at him if necessary and argue without instantly being hurt.
Maybe, since Chocolat is not really a Caninu hereself, she is basically just the same type of woman as he prefers, but since both have lived as siblings for so long i doubt he would have make a move on her." The Director stated and Red and myself flinched a little.
I saw how he looked at me from the corner of my eyes, unnoticed by the others, as they had their eyes closed in approval.
I was sure that neither Chocolat nor Red ever told anyone but me, about what truly did happened between them once.
"All in all I can say that he seemed to attract headstrong, loyal and fearless women just like a magnet, whether they were now Caninu or Felineko, but the amount of Felinekos in his life surely prevailed." The Director explained and I nodded to that.
"Amen to that." I mumbled as I looked at Red, who looked aside from embarrassment, mouthing something, before sitting back down.
I looked at him the way he was and the way these two women, The Director and Rose, snickered at him, knowing him so much better than I do, knowing all about a past i could not even fathom, especially his time with this Helena he had spoken about a few days ago, the one girl who had sacrificed her life for him, to make sure he lived on.
Even though I considered myself to that kind of Woman Red willingly or unwillingly attracted, wasn´t i sure if everything we encountered so far, would have been the same way, if I, for example, would not have fallen unconscious on the Hindenburg and somehow managed to flee with the medallion..., would I have still met Red somhow and would everything have played out as it did?
Kind, headstrong, fearless..., besides of bugs there wasn´t much I feared in this world..., and we did argued on quite a regular base if you ask me and unless it really hurts my feelings, I am not as offended as I might should be, when we get in a fight.
A fight between us last for maybe two days at most, before we just make up again, as it is kinda stupid and nerve-wracking to have to depend on someone you are on bad terms with, to make sure you guys stay alive while being on missions out there in the sky.
In that case I was sure no Caninu woman could ever take my place and stay with it for such a long time as I did.
It lasted a long time until Red and I admitted our feelings for each other, but if I shall be honest, we had always been like a big family, Chocolat included of course, and I always felt more for him than for a simple friend, or even a best friend.
Still if I was a Caninu-girl, hypothetically spoken of course, I bet I would have ended up as Red´s second adoptive sister, or maybe just a very close friend.
I really have to thank the circumstances that I am the way I am, for making it possible for Red to feel the way he feels about me nowadays, or for meeting him at all.
"Anyways I think we are kind of leaving someone out here, and I might have forgotten to properly introduce myself." The Director explained as she looked at me.
"My Name is Grenadine Cherrypie, Director of the Savarin Orphanage, named after Maranell Savarin Wolvenra, the rightful Supreme lord of Ragnarök and my Mentor.
I lead this Orphanage since the past 11 years now and I can proudly say, that I raised many children, under them also Red and Chocolat, to righteous adults.
At least I have not really heard any complaints from the people who have either taken one of the children in, or of those who have become adults and lived for themselves, like Red and Chocolat." Mrs. Cherrypie explained with a laugh and I nodded with a smile.
Although I had heard some things of her from Red and Chocolat in the last few years, wasn´t I really able to imagine any adult putting up with Red and his ways for such a long time, I always asked myself who must have educated him, to make it able for him to live so independently for 4 years, after all he did survived day to day in a society such as nowadays, where money seemed to be everything.
But now I was plainly able to see what kind of person that had to be, in the directors eyes I could see kindness and strength, charity and compassion, loyalty and a deep wisdom, a wisdom which came not only from caring for children, but a wisdom which went further than anything I had ever seen.
If I wouldn´t know it better, I would say that she had lived for far longer than it looked.
Longer than Grandma..., or at least lived in a world that was so completely different to the world we are living now.
I often say that people who lived through wars and survived them were most likely quite wise, but here I for once saw a person who truly did that, she had survived, through one of the worst wars in history at least thats the vibe I get when looking in the dephts of her eyes.
"Your thoughts are right Elh, I live longer than I do look.
I might be 70 by now, but since the Shepherd Republic was founded 1.500 years ago, it is safe to say that I am 1.520 years old.
I was 20 years old, before our master accidently froze the entire island in a deep sleep for 1450 years, since 50 years I am walking and talking again, at the side of my master.
But even before my King took up the fight with Lycan I was with him.
I was born 6 years after the war began, my home was nowhere, we were a group of nomads, my mother died by my birth and a father I never knew, all my life I saw people dying before my eyes and I always believed that this should be my fate as well someday, but it all came different.
My Master, King Maranell, found me on a battlefield as sole survivor, a young child of barely 4 years, the last of the remaining 11 children of our caravan, that had survived the self-inflicted sacrificing, all in order for a few of us to survive.
I saw so many friends died, their lifeforce drained by an ancient machine, we had found and brought back to function, all to make sure we survived.
As only two of us were alive anymore, the one I held close to me as an older brother, the Caninu Boy Malt, named after one of his ancestors, sacrificed his own life, firing the canon which drained his lifeforce to destroy the enemy and to make sure I could survive somehow.
From one moment to another I suddenly was all alone.
I stayed in the machine all the time, living from the rest of the rations i posessed, shutting myself away from the world, never once going out even when I heard the raging war outside, a noise i tried desperately to block out.
I was so afraid of everything out there.
But from one day to another everything was silent, the battles had ceased and I thought that this might be my chance, I opened up the door and took a peak outside.
Beside of the wind no sound was to hear, outside everything was silent.
The reason for that was simple.
They were all dead, there was no one to fight anymore.
I was on this battlefield, all alone, no food, no drinkable water, starving and lonely, if Master Maranell would not have found me, I would have died sooner or later, that I am sure of.
Although it lasted quite a while until I trusted him enough to see him face to face, previously hiding in the Machine, he took me in as soon as I asked him and from then on he raised me 16 years long as his daughter, friend and assistant, while we roamed the scorched-out battlefields together, helping when we found anyone who needed help..., helping where we could.
I didn´t know at all who he was at first, to me he had been a stranger, a friend and then a father but he became so much more to me, that's why I saw much of him, things only I have seen.
Somehow I knew that he was no ordinary man, so it structed me not at all as strange that some people revered him, while others hated on him, blaming him for something out of his might.
I can tell that I know a side of him, which others might not ever get to see and it was obvious that I fell in love with him not long after I reached legal adulthood.
As I didn't know any one of my age and also did not felt much for anyone else, which I encountered on our journey, I pondered for months, until I asked him and he fulfilled a dream to me, he married me." Director Cherrypie explained, much to my and more so to Red´s surprise.
"Wait you and my dad..., had been a pair?" The same as dumbfounded.
"Indeed, I know this sounds stupid now, as he is an ancient King, thousands of years old, but back then the times were different, also he did looked quite young for his age, not more than 30 or 40 at most, not to mention that i am certain, that the entire centuries he has spent alone as a nomad must have made him lonely as well, secretly yearning for the touch of a female being, whose feelings are pure.
I don´t know if mine had been so pure as he wished for, but i knew that mine were at least strong enough to be conveyed to him, I lived, although at the side of one of the strongest men in history, in constant fear of dying, while seeing all that misery which had befallen our world, our home, I was so glad and thankful for having King Maranell at my side.
That man brought me joy, luck, love and passion, as well as a calling, the will to help others.
But as a grim contrast, he was inertly broken..., seeing war, fighting and hatred throughout the centuries he had lived, made him incredibly sad.
He often said, that with his disappearance he thought that the world would become peaceful, routinized in the changing of Kings and Queens the folk had chosen on a regular base, no one would be seeking for more than they are capable of handling, that the existence of a being with too many power was what attracted conflict the most, as everyone sought to gain that kind of power for themselves, that's why he hid himself.
But by doing so the world was without a true leader, without an active guardian, observer and mediator, who was able to keep the order of everything together.
I never really knew what he meant as back then I was still oblivious of who that men truly was, not to mention that I never had a real history lesson since we were always on the run constatnly in a struggle for survival, he only called himself Quynne Savarin and as such I had married him.
For 10 years we had been a pair, 4 years before he returned back on the stage of the world and took up the fight and for 6 years ever since the Stasis-spell, which he had accidently spoken upon Shangri-La, wore off, in all this time after meeting loyal men who revered him who followed him in his yjourney and helped us doing what we could do in these times, I finally understood just who it had been I was around all these years and what kind of responsibility he had taken on, to ensure that the peace could be uphold.
Not to mention that his health went down as well after the battle with Lycan and that one year in wich he established the life on Shangri-La, not fast but it was visible, and I didn´t wanted to cause him any more stress.
I told him that I would release him out of his oath of marriage, as it was but a childish dream and that he had far better things to do, than to deal with a stupid young woman, who had chained him into her own selfish little world, that I had understood that he wasn't just there for me alone, but for everyone, that I had to set him free for him to taken upon his role again.
He accepted my reasons just as back then as I asked him to marry me, it was never a really official marriage anyways and although everyone knew we had been a pair was I never addressed as queen or anything of that, not that i wanted that at all, so you won´t find me in any of your family trees.
Of course, the story was vastly exaggerated by the media on Shangri-La and it came close to a scandal but we managed to calm things down.
However, things quickly cooked up high again as barely half a year later I met Merlin, my late Husband, with whom I gave birth to my daughter, Mayven, 35 years ago, people kept saying that he was the reason I left the King, and that my daughter was probably the illegitimate daughter of King Maranell, but even that we mastered with the Kings help." She explained to us and I saw it literally before me as she spoke.
A crying child, left all alone on a battlefield, scattered corpses and broken war-machines all around.
Living in a broken machine herself, day to day fearing for its life.
Then suddenly, a cloaked figure appears before the crying child, and although the child is cautions and hides for a while, the cloaked figure seems friendly and gives the child food and warmth in this ice-cold world, he even takes it in his arms to comfort it.
Then as the child has found its trust in the cloaked figure, who turns out to be a kind and righteous man, they walk away together, far away from the battles towards the horizon, on their own journey, first as friend, then as father and daughter..., and lastly as lovers.
"However the King never forgot me, even then as my Husband died on a sickness, he helped me through the sorrow, he comforted me with his words and actions, just like the father he once had been to me, he gave me a job as I struggled to pay the bills and to care for Mayven.
Even after I was send here to keep an Eye on his own child, you Red , the King occasionally visited us all in his disguise as Quynne Savarin, I called him our benefactor to explain his constant visits to you children and the potential parents who came, well it wasn´t that far from the truth, as most of the Children had been war-orphans from Shangri-La, or those who lost their families during Baion´s Attack at Shangri-La and after his attack at the Shepherd Republic.
He played with the Children, also with you and your sister, he was always there for me, never once he made me feel as though he forgot me, even after you were gone on your own, he still visited from time to time..., and I must admit that I still look forward to his visits." The Director exclaimed, still blushing a little, putting a strain of hair behind her ear.
"Wow..., this sure is a mind-blow..., I mean so basically, it could also have happened, that you could have been my biological mother instead of Merveille Million, I mean since you and dad were married for so long..., you surely must have done it a lot with him, although I can barely imagine that, you as a young woman with my dad looking like an old geezer or a middel-aged man, like Quebec.
Then again I never would dare to imagine you having sex..., still you got a daughter after all, although I always believed her to be your nice." Red mindlessly stated while I face-palmed in shame.
The director only sighed..., I bet she had already given up on teaching him any delicacy towards women, as it proved to be a futile act.
"Maybe..., but then again, we hadn´t had that much intercourse..., back then I married him because I needed secureness..., to have someone at my side, whom I could absolutely trust and who would not someday disappear on me as well.
It might have been a childish way to bind him on me, but remember, I was left by all my friends as they sacrificed each other one by one, until I was left alone.
I was just a small child who learned to deeply love the one and only man who was constantly at my side, every day.
If I would have to count, I would say that I barely slept with him more than 50 times perhaps, in 10 years, means 5 times a year.
It could have happened that I would have gotten pregnant by him, but the ratio was too low compared to other couples nowadays.
Also regarding Mayven, you are right, she is said to be my niece, but that has a good reason.
In order to make sure that she was not mobbed, since the people did already thought the wrong thing, as they began to construct various made-up stories, about her being either the illegitimate daughter of their King or the daughter of my extramarital affair while I was still together with the King, we had to make everyone on the island believe a different story, which even the King officially approved of.
Merlin and I came together quite surprisingly and not so long after my break-up with the King, barely half a year after it, so the whole affair was treated as even more scandalous as my marriage with the King at all had been treated.
On his advice, to avoid Mayven growing up with a bad reputation, we constructed the story of her being my Niece, which I and my new Husband had adopted after her parent´s died on sickness, she herself is though aware of the opposite fact of course.
Still, regardless who she would have been born from, for me she has always been my daughter and that won't ever change." Miss Cherrypie explained and Red nodded.
Luckily she did not take it badly, I bet she is used to such questions and suggestions coming from Red.
"And that husband of yours, Merlin, you said he died on a sickness and that this was the reason you started being a nurse right?" Red asked and I was shortly before choking that stupid Caninu.
"Yeah, Merlin..., he was the King´s Assistant and we didn´t really liked each other at first, even while I was still together with Maranell..., but after I sacrificed my own feelings for the King, in order to set him free to properly rule his kingdom, it was none other but him who came to comfort me.
Back then as we finally hooked up together after a few months of reflecting and fixing this broken heart I had inflicted on myself, he admitted that he had always been jealous at the King for having me as his wife, as he in reality always liked me and my personality a lot.
That's why he was always so moody around us, interfering in our relationship as best as his job, as the King´s assistant, allowed it, especially when he saw me flirting with the King.
It sure was a silly and childish way of acting as an adult man, but it made me laugh when I felt down about my own self-inflicted heartbreak and that's what he could do best, when he got serious about cheering me up.
The King gave his outmost consent to our relationship, that's why we came together so quickly, but of course it all was discovered by the paparazzi and in less than a few hours after the first kiss I gave him, rumors had been spread all around the island.
Yeah my life with Merlin wasn´t always easy, but it was a happy one, regardless of all the rumors and dirt that had been sprayed on us.
His death, 15 years ago really threw me out of my usual world and turned it several notches darker, but the work as a School nurse and later as orphanage director, the support of the adult Mayven, as well as being surrounded by children, gave me new strength, not for the least for the Kings visits.
We went back to the friends base and I am really grateful for that." The Director explained with a longing glance, while I stabbed my elbow in Red´s side, making him inhaling sharply and whincing in pain..., he really had no delicacy left of what this woman must have taught him.
"Anyways I doubt that you are here to speak and hear about my story, and i am sure i have told you guys enough of that already..., no you guys are here to hear about yours, Red, and about Chocolat´s Past, so I think we should first off give these memories back to you, which we have hold on for so long, what do you say Rose?" The director explained.
"Indeed, as you rightfully said to we both hold one each a part of the key, so without you I will not be able to do anything either way." Rose explained and the Director nodded.
"It is important to know ones origins, however ..., Red, knowing about your past will definitely change you a lot, you will not be able to say that you are the same person you are right now.
Regaining all the memories of Red Savarin Wolvenra, Prince of ten Moons might even go as far as to make Red Savarin, the Scarlet Hunter vanish, that must be clear to you.
Also knowing your past and origin, will also mean that you will gain knowledge about all the things you have learned, all about the still ongoing conflict in this world, and it will require from you to make a momentous Choice, whether you sit back and watch the future as it unfolds, or if you take up actions to forge the future yourself.
Whatever you chose to do, be aware that becoming Prince once again will have a direct impact on this world, you will sooner or later be chased by Lycans henchmen, as you and your father are their biggest threat, sure you might get chased even without knowing your origins, but knowing them will not only make you more conscious about the importance of your survival, but also the consequences if you would die.
All of what you will get to know, it will change your current world forever, it will give you access to knowledge you once held, about magic, great power and skills, but also to the greatest of responsibilities you hold just by being alive.
Becoming the Prince of 10 moons again will show you how many people actually count on your future and how many lifes you have to defend, protect and lead on.
Also you will hold the very fate of the world in your hand, as one of the Lorekeepers of Shangri-La and the Free Regions, that much must be clear to you.
Some knowledge will be private to you for sure, but some will have lasting consequences on the world if it would ever be extracted, but to preserve these memories, which are stuck within your mind, for the future, is essential and beyond just important...!
Knowing that you will change in any possible way, that more than just one folk will depend on your survival and lead, and knowing that the knowledge you hold leads either to this world´s salvation or damnation..., are you still willing to get to know your past?" The Director asked and I honestly never saw Red thinking about something so hard.
5 minutes..., 10 minutes..., 15 minutes, nearly 20 minutes passed while he thought about the just said, before he looked up and opened his mouth to make his choice.
Red´s Pov:
Hearing all this of course would make anyone back away..., but it was not the first time that my existance made the difference between life and death, sure back then i just had but one or at most 5 enemies to fight and here I have a whole army and many gruesome beasts standing against me and the world, but if my survivial is crucial for this world then i at least should have the right to know all about it.
I looked up and looked in the face of the Director, in this i could see determination, love and kidness but also endless worry.
i turned my head to look up to rose who looked with a similiar expression at me only that heres had a quite sisterly notch to it, meaning that she counted on me no matter what.
last but not least i looked to Elh, sitting on the armrest of my armchair, in her eyes i could see deep trust and love and compassion as well as loyalty.
"Whatever you chose i will stand by your side no matter what." that were the words i heard in my mind, the words she had so often spoken to me when I stood before a dangerous and important choice to make.
And I saw them today as well, the deep trust in here eyes gave me strenght to go through with my choice.
In the corner of the door I could see how Chocolat, who had re-entered the house, looked at me, with a thumb up she signalled that she had heard everything and that she too trusted in my own judgement and decision to make.
If these two girls showed that much trust in me, who was I to chicken out now, just because things might change largely.
"I have decided..., I still intend to get my memories back, out of the selfish wish to know who I exactly am, even if the danger occurs that I will lose the self I am now.
However, as you said that this wisdom can change the world in some way, I see it as important then that this wisdom is not going to get lost, for when we need it but cannot use it, things might go far more downhill as when I know it and can try to counter our all demise.
Lycan will be after me either way, just as you said.
But I am willing to fight, willing to keep this world together, if it means I can save other people.
I don´t know if Lycan might manage to someday somehow extract this knowledge out of me, which shall be crucial for the world, but before that happens, I will do my most to prepare against him and his kind, for the event that he would succeed in his plan.
I don´t know if the world is ready for me, but I am ready for the world that awaits me..., maybe I do change, but as long as I don´t forget the things I know until now, I am sure I can bear it." I explained and Rose and the director nodded, same as Elh and Chocolat.
"That explanation suits me, how about you?" Rose asked.
"A good answer indeed, very well, as it is your wish we both will now carry out the ritual to unseal the knowledge and memories, we had closed away and in addition we will try to put some spells around your consciousness.
It will keep your mind from being infiltrated and informations and memories being extracted, mostly by other Magicians which specialize in that kind of complex magic same as I do, as soon when you get your memories back you will get to know the fact that Lycan is not even the peak of all evil in this world, but quite close to it, he´s not the only one who would do anything for power, that must be clear to you before you can go further on your Journey." Rose explained and I nodded with determination.
"Well, then, shall we begin?" the Director asked and we nodded.
"Then come with me, all of you!" The Director demanded,, as she stood up to lead us somewhere, gesturing also to Chocolat to come along, that woman was as sharpminded as always..., what a relief.
To be continued...
Part 1 done, as this chapter will become most likely a 3-4-part story, it would have truly become far too big for the actual main story, still I hope you will be interested to read, see you soon in Part 2.
I will read this story to the end before returning back to the Main Story, so bear with it for a while.
As always, read, recommend and review.
Sincerely your truly, the Storyteller and his books.