Chapter 1: Religious Convictions
Conrad grumbled irritably, wiping sleep from his eyes.
This was the third in a week he had this dream. And it was the same. The strange thing was: that man was in his memory. He knew that man but who was he? Why was he asking Conrad to protect her when he was doing so as it is? Conrad had to admit, protecting Greta was at least ten times easier than protecting Yuri – twenty times when Daddy Wolf was involved.
Conrad felt as if he had seen those brown eyes before, and that face but where...? And why was it implanted so well in his memory? Living for almost a century in Human years can do that to people at times. Especially, when a Mazoku was barely eleven.
He wondered if he would be able to find the answer at the Shinou temple. With that thought in mind he got out of bed, dressed and left the castle quietly on his errand to the temple.
It was not surprising to the women guards out front, guarding the temple with the priestesses and the Daikenja inside, but Conrad had a feeling that Ulrike was awake though it was still an hour before dawn. The guards, naturally, refused him entry when he asked to pass.
"I need to see Ulrike," he told them patiently.
"Even if you are Lord Weller..." one of them started but was interrupted by the familiar voice of the head priestess, "It is fine. I knew he was coming."
The guards lowered their weapons and allowed Conrad to pass.
"Ulrike," Conrad greeted, bowing in respect. Ulrike smiled briefly as she walked towards him. Her smiled disappeared when she looked into his troubled brown eyes. She studied them for a long moment before nodding.
Gesturing Conrad to follow her, she turned and walked into the dark depths of the Shinou Temple where Conrad was only allowed when Yuri returns from Earth. Though the dark hallways were lit by flaming torches, Conrad did not feel at ease as he usually was when picking up Yuri.
Ulrike led him into the Shrine where finally turned towards him and gave him the instructions of a dream reading process
"Thank you for your time, Ulrike," said Conrad, as he bent before her. The head priestess smiled as she laid her palm on his forehead and closed her eyes. She held her position for a few moments before withdrawing her hand, looking intently into his brown eyes. Conrad, she knew, had done his best to remember the man's face but could only conjure the image of light brown hair and a pair of kind brown eyes.
"How long have you been having this dream?" she asked.
"For about a week now," Conrad replied, "I think it may have something to do with Greta."
Silence hung between them. "Why is it that his face is in my memory?"
"That," Ulrike told him, "I'm afraid, only you can answer."
Conrad nodded. "I was afraid of that."
He thought for a moment before asking. "Have you seen this man before?"
Ulrike shook her head but answered, "He must have been of great comfort for you to remember his eyes in such light, even if they too belong to the princess."
He bowed in respect again, taking leave, as it was Greta's birthday. He had promised to be there. There was going to be a grand ceremony that night. Not so grand as to have gourmet food, wine and talks of politics, but there will be visitors from every country that has joined Shin Makoku, as well as the children. This was another tradition Yuri brought from his home world the importance of birthdays. As it was Greta's eleventh birthday and her first one with her new family, Yuri was insistent of holding a special ceremony. After all, one does not eleven everyday.
A memory flashed in his mind, he was looking at someone older than him. Someone who had the brown eyes which belonged to Greta. A hint of loneliness perhaps, but kind as hers. He remembered his hands. It was so long ago... why did this memory arise. What does Greta have to do with this memory?
He needed to talk to Maoritsu, but he will do so after the party ends as he would need to make his way to Zuratia.
As he rode back to Covenant Castle, Conrad thought of the times he spent with Greta for the past year. She was close to her fathers, as she was to almost everyone else in the castle. He chuckled slightly, not really surprised that she wasn't a royal brat yet. She was too sweet.
It took some time for him to get used to the idea that he was an uncle. It took him an even longer time to digest the idea that Wolfram, who had hated humans, would accept her. He could only guess Wolfram was sorry for her. Later on the pity turned into love.
Either that or he was simply following Yuri's example.
Conrad chuckled. There were times when he found himself thinking that she was truly Yuri and Wolfram's daughter. She was as sweet and innocent as Yuri, and responsible as Wolfram. As he neared the castle, Conrad looked up to find his younger brother waiting for him at the palace gate. He looked to see the position of the sun and saw it was well after sunrise. Was it really that late?
"Everyone's looking for you," Wolfram stated, hands on his hips.
"Gomen," said Conrad as he dismounted, "I had to visit the Shinou temple."
"Having religious convictions, Koonichan?" asked Wolfram naughtily.
"Don't you get started," Conrad replied, putting his brother on headlock, and giving him a noogie. Wolfram laughed. A year has passed since Yuri became the Maoh. Shin Makoku gained trust from many countries; and though there are times when Yuri was negligent of his duties, the country became a land of peace and harmony for both races of Mazoku. The outcome of it all: Conrad and Wolfram put aside their pride and spent time which they had amended for loss in the pass decades.
As happy as Conrad was about the developing country, there was still hostility, particularly amongst those whose deadly sin was pride. Because prejudice still fouled the air, Conrad could only think of the worst at times – as optimistic as he was. He did not want Greta to grow up the way he had. But then again, Greta would be...
"We'll be waiting for you in the dining room," Wolfram called out to him as he led his horse to the stables. Conrad flashed a smile and waved towards his brother. He could not wait to see his family inside.
It was not to say he understood his niece best, but rather manage to empathise with her current problems. Like him, she did not have maryoku, like him she had no father to look up to until Yuri and Wolfram adopted her. And like him as well, she had few playmates her own age. Children were more acceptable to others, regardless race, but it was the parents who Conrad felt discomfort from.
There were times when Conrad wondered if she realised that. It was true that almost everyone in the castle did all they could from keeping her lonely, his own mother did all she could to keep him from being lonely. Yosak was not always present.
Conrad smiled to himself, wondering if Lindsey von Wincott and little Greta were meant to be together as he walked back to the castle after leaving his horse in Dorcascus' care. A rustle of the leaves interrupted his thoughts. Conrad looked at the corner of his eye and let his lips curl.
Three... two... one...
"Ha!"
Quick as a flash Conrad spun and caught her as she jumped from the tree. "Caught you," he teased, and showered a rather dirty Greta with kisses.
"You heard me?" Greta asked between giggles.
"Yes," said Conrad, giving her a picky back ride towards the castle. "I thought you were getting ready. I was expecting to meet a little lady when I came in for breakfast."
"Well," said Greta in mock pout, "You were late." Conrad laughed.
"Besides," his niece continued, "party's not until this evening Uncle Conrad, and you said you had a surprise for me."
Then Conrad remembered. "So I did," he said as he changed directions and headed to the stable. Suddenly, for a fraction of a second everything went black that he tripped.
As he regained his balance, Conrad breathed heavily. What could have happened if he had dropped Greta. "Uncle Conrad?" Greta called in a fearful voice.
"Don't worry," said Conrad, smiling at her reassuringly, "I won't let you fall." Greta was still rather doubtful, but she allowed the mishap to pass, since it he was trying to pretend that everything was all right as it was her birthday and all. Conrad, on the other hand, wondered what had happened. He was only in pain for a second before it went again. He shook off the idea of being sick as he entered the stables, putting down his niece.
"Dorcascus," Conrad called into the stables.
"Yes your excellency?" said soldier answered looking up, it was then he spotted Greta, "Oh, wait just a minute." Greta looked up to her uncle in confusion as he winked at her. A whinny was heard from the back, the little princess looked to find the stable hand leading a new brown face with white mane. It was the loveliest pony she had ever seen.
"A pony!" Greta squealed in excitement, "Oh, Uncle Conrad thank you!"
"Happy birthday, sweetheart."
"Are you going to teach how to ride it?" she asked then.
"Yes," he replied, "And she's yours. From your fathers too."
"I love you..." she said then, giving him a kiss, "all of you." She went up to Dorcascus and gave him a kiss as well, making the soldier blush slightly and mumbled that he was only taking care of the pony until her birthday.
Another memory flashed in Conrad's mind. He was tossed up to a young looking man by his father. He could hear his own laughter as he looked up to the soft brown eyes. The emblem of Zuratia flashed in the sunlight. Conrad frowned slightly as he watched his niece approach the horse.
'Who are you?' he thought to himself.
Author's note: Gomen minna, had a writer's block that was difficult to overcome. Next chap should come soon.
