A New Generation. The History of Mina Felicia

'Where is this' the girl asked herself, 'And why do I feel as if I've been here before?' She was a young girl, perhaps ten at the most, and a wee bit short for her age. Draped in a black cloak held with a golden charm in the shape of a crescent moon, the only visible part of her face was her bright blue eyes. Underneath, the girl wore a sky blue tunic and light blue breeches. She also had on a gold belt with a ruby in the center and a golden chain that came down from it; this held her sheath and sword. Her gloves and boots were both a sandy color, and she had a bracelet that resembled her belt around both wrists and both ankles. Finally, around her neck on a long golden chain, was a pendant in the shape of a crescent moon.

The sounds of magic and swords clashing could be heard in the distance. As the girl went in for a closer look, she spied what appeared to be an infant hidden in a rotting tree stump surrounded by tall grass. The girl child cooed peacefully, unaware of all the turmoil around her. It made the older girl feel a bit funny.

"Well, it looks like the fighting won't be over for awhile. We will leave here now," a disembodied voice spoke from behind. The girl turned, only to see a large shadow. It picked up the baby, and then the forest faded out. A new woods appeared in its place, this one definitely familiar. It was near Seyruun.

The shadow placed the infant in the grass, and turned to leave. He told her, "My job is done, I have no need to see what happens further. Whether you live or die is none of my concern now." With that, he vanished. Good thing for him; if he had stayed the cloaked child would have Fireballed him for doing that.

'How can anyone be that cruel to a baby? They are unable to fend for themselves in the world? Why did that man abandon her? Was he her father? Or does he have some other reason for letting her stay here?' She walked over to the child, hoping to give her something to keep warm or help her to town. However, the youth found she couldn't touch the babe at all. Was this some weird dream or something?

"Another day, another failed attempt," a male voice was heard, "Perhaps I should give up and face facts. There is no cure for my curse. L-Sama knows I've tried for over eight years to find one." A man was coming down the road. He had on a sand colored tunic and trousers, as well as a sandy cape. The cape was hooked on by a round ruby, and he also was wearing tan colored gloves and boots. But what was the most recognizable thing about this man was his body. His skin was blue and covered with stones. His purple hair was like wire. And his blue eyes, although seeming to be hard, seemed to be filled with despair.

Suddenly, a white cat jumped down from the tree and began yowling at the man. He looked down at it, and groaned. "With all the luck I have I'm surprised its not a black cat," the man muttered. But when the cat ran into the woods, he followed. The man stopped, however, when he saw the child lying there.

He picked up the child, and she began to fuss. Then, he asked, "What happened to this infant? Is there something wrong with her to cause someone to leave her out in the woods? Wait, this moon shaped pendant has some lettering on it. M-I-N-A F-E-L-I-C-I-A, that must be her name. I guess I'll ask Amelia what to do with her. If I leave her out in the cold, and she finds out, oh boy will I get the justice speech to end all justice speeches from her and her father. And if Lina ever found out, oh boy would I be murdered."

. . .

A bump in the road awoke the girl from her slumber. She was back in the carriage bound for the city of Seyruun with her foster parents and their biological son. They had returned from a trip to see a seer who might help with finding a cure for a certain curse; the transformation from a human to a chimera using magic. However, it was nothing but a dead end. Just like it had been for nearly two long decades now.

The cure in question was for a certain Zelgadis Greywers, Prince Consort of Seyruun. His wife, Princess Amelia wil Tesla Seyruun, had insisted that she help her beloved to locate the cure that could turn him human again. Which, I might add, usually turned into a fiasco if Amelia wasn't watching carefully. She was a nice young woman, but had an obsession with bringing Justice to the world. To her, even helping out those she cared about was spreading Justice. After all, it is definitely NOT Just to leave them in a pinch.

Although Zel was dressed in clothing similar to what he'd worn for years while traveling in search of his cure, Amelia was in a long pink dress with a good amount of jewelry on. There had also been a small tournament in town, and the Seyruun Royal Family had been invited. Thus, she wore her fanciest clothing. Prince Phil hadn't been able to go to it, so she was the only one who could be a "representative" of Seyruun in the diplomatic discussions that were sure to take place. Zel had enjoyed the tournament, but skipped the meetings in order to speak with the old woman. That had been the plan all along. He wasn't one for the social scene as it was. The only time he took part in meetings was during a few key peace treaties.

The kids weren't at the meeting either; they'd gone to see the old woman with Zel. Noel, the boy, wanted to become human as well. As Zel and Amelia's son, he'd been born a chimera. His black hair was just as wiry as his father's, his skin was stone. and his blue eyes showed signs of sorrow. All his life he believed that no one would like him for just "Noel". They would like him as Prince Noel de Greywers Seyruun, grandson of the Crowned Prince Philionel. He was thus often withdrawn from other people. The boy had on a white tunic and breeches, as well as a black cape held on with an amethyst clip. His boots and fingerless gloves were gray, and he had on a pair of gold armbands. Like with his young friend, he had a gold belt. But while the ruby in hers was circular, the ruby imbedded in his was a square on its side.

The girl's name was Mina, Mina Felicia. Found by Zelgadis in the forest as an infant, she had been raised by the royal family as both a daughter and an apprentice sorceress. And there was much she longed to know. Her reasoning for going to see the old lady instead of visiting the delegation with Amelia was to see if there was any spells the woman would teach her. However, she'd been told she was "too young to learn such high level magic." As if that ever stopped Mina before. Even at ten she was able to cast some powerful spells. Her highest level attack, and only phsical Black Magic spell, was the Valis Rod. She and Noel had borrowed some books from Zelgadis that had supposedly belonged to Rezo the Red Priest himself.

Although Noel wasn't determined to learn Black Magic, deciding to stick with White and Shamanic spells instead, the eight year old was also quite strong. Not that he'd ever admit it. He thought he was a total failure. Only Mina, his parents, and his grandfather ever tried to make him feel like something more.

The driver looked back to see the bored looks on the children's faces. "Don't you youngins worry none. We're almost back at Seyruun. Only about an hours ride from here. I know every path in these here woods, so I can get you places much faster than most horsemen." And he did, which was why he was the Royal Driver. There were precious few people in this world that can be trusted with ferrying the royal family.

'Home,' thought Mina, 'Home at last. I wonder, about that dream. Was it my abandonment by my birth father? Or is something else going on. Because the child in that dream was definitely me. I wonder, what are the spirits trying to say?' Her thoughts went unspoken, and her questions unanswered right then.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

Ok, you're all probably wondering what's up with the cloak? There's a good reason, not just a plot device. It'll be explained in a few chapters. Since the entire Royal Family already knows why Mina wears it they don't have to explain. And Noel's skin is supposed to be the same color as Zel's; if the description of him doesn't make it clear enough. Yes I know justice is not a proper noun. But the way Amelia describes it at times it might as well be. So for the sake of a gag, I always capitalize any form of the word.