Innocent Monster
Chapter 2: Framed in Hatred
"Is…awake?" a female voice says
"Yo…race…stay…ack." An older male voice replies to the female one "I...ch…it."
Voices..where…?
Opening my eyes, I saw grey lines in a checkered pattern and a faint blue shine on the edges of my vision made me squint my eyes when I look toward the light. I tried raising my arm to rub my eyes but it barely budged an inch. Quickly, I opened my eyes to see grey bars made into a wall until it made a square like pattern with just enough room to put a half a hand though. Looking down at the glaring blue light I saw chains just long enough to relax my arms down slightly attached to an iron brace that was attached to my wrist. This made my back lay against the hard grey stone. The blue shirt that was wearing when I arrived in this wor- wait BLUE SHIRT?! I don't remember wearing this! The shirt itself was plain beside the hideous color but with few differences. First it felt a little rough, like someone did not process all the dirt and seeds out of the cotton when making it so it's a bit itchy and it was long sleeved as well. Considering where I am though, I should be a little thankful at the very least as I felt the damp and slightly chilly air. Is this a dungeon? I saved Lissa girl right? Shouldn't I at least be upgraded to a warm room and bed? My stomach burns form hunger as well. How about I upgrade that to a feast in a warm room and bed? What about my left shoulder as well? I can't feel the burning pain anymore form where that man slashed his sword into. I moved the shoulder experimentally only find it just feeling stiff. How is this possible? Maybe they used magic as well? It really would seem that I am in a fire emblem game… I still cannot believe it… So does that mean that the games we play are actually other worlds?!
A loud clanking sound of a door opening chased away my wondering thoughts away as looked toward the right side of my "wonderful" room. What greeted my sight first thing was a long white beard that reach down to the old man's chest that was covered with a white silk cloak with blue bands on the shoulders leading down the cloak. Holding the wooden staff as he was and considering his appearance he most likely is a priest or some kind of noble or something. His brown eyes though… were what really got to me. The stare in them looked like a blazing sun that was looking down a disgusting ant which was me. I felt myself cringe at his stare instinctively. I could also see something else… fear and ….what is it?
"Your Grace… It's awake." Said the old man disapprovingly. It? Why does this man despise me that much?
"Peace Father Rhys," a gentle female voice said outside the cell." And believe that HE was the one that saved my sister is that right?"
Coming into the cell was a blond girl that looked to be at least fifteen, sixteen years of age dressed in a white formal dress that reached down and split at the thighs to the ankles. The split itself was not big showing anything as to deflect any immodest thought and gave a sense of regalness. Any part of her leg that was exposed was covered with green leggings and a gold sash was tied to her stomach as well. Her hair was not very long just touching her shoulders. This girl almost could be a real life Joan of Arc with the clothes she was wearing and a face that held pure kindness also. In her hands was a wooden bowl with a spoon that rested on a blue book with a feather resting in between the pages. Is that for me? Wait could this girl be… what was her name? Was she not older because this girl could be no more sixteen at most!
"Now Rhys," the blond girl said as she stood a few steps away from me and looked toward the old man who was still standing near the door, "Please release him."
The old man eyes bugged out of his head if it could any further the man would lose his sight. I had to force myself to not laugh at his reaction to the girl's words. I need more information on what's going on first and laughing at the geezer would probably delay the process. After a few seconds though the old man still had the same look on his face and I had no choice but to bite the inside my mouth in order to not laugh. After what seemed a few long slightly painful seconds, my white robed jester took a step forward from the cell's door with the same expression.
"Y—y-your Grace, have you gone mad?! YOU want ME to release Th-this BEAST?! Your Grace, you have to remember what happened to last Exalt, your father?!" stammered the priest as his gaze turned toward me once more that still held malice now held true blooded fear as well. What is this? If I remember right the former exalt started a holy war ten or so years ago before the game started wasn't he killed by the people of Pelgia in battle? Why do they think I killed him? What was this girl's name again? I did not care for her much in the game so her name is hard to remember. Geez, this is god dang annoying….
"I've read the reports of the few of the Royal Guard that survived the battle every year like you want," the girl sighed obviously not wanting to remember those reports. "But if we are to start anew we must learn to forgive our enemies." This girl is really naïve. I am not a danger to her but still…she can't expect someone to forgive that easily. Especially large groups, they are just one joined organism filled with hate and chaotic thought process. I know that better than anyone…
"Just take my blood!"
"This person was nothing but kind to me! WHY?!"
"Alisa…hang in there…come on damn it!
"Why did you not help her!?"
Shaking my head, I manage to suppress the scarring memories that bubble to the surface. I-I don't want to remember.
Just remember apathy is mankind's worst enemy.
Just remember that both sides good and evil. Holy and demonic. All them suffer equally.
Just remember they need the blood for….
Stop! J-just focus on the good ones. T-that's good… much better.
Taking a deep breath, I notice that girl queen and the man named Rhys seem to be having some kind of debate about me apparently.
"B-but your grace at least bring some guar-"
"Denied, I know what I am doing."
"B-"
"Rhys. Release him." The girl now had the look of a mother disciplining a child. I would find it funny if those memories did not try to surface.
Defeated Rhys reached into his cloak pulls out a small thin brown book. Opening it, he begins to mutter words in another language that could not understand. After he was done talking the chains and the object tied to my wrist were immediately lost the blue luster and faded away. Rubbing my wrists and twisting them around I quickly stand up causing Rhys literally to jump back to the cell door. Not responding to his reaction, I stare at Ms. Joan of Arc herself as she wears a motherly smile once more. Being about several inches shorter than my six foot self her head has to rise itself up to look up at mine.
" I'm sorry for making you wait," The girl said sweetly actually sounding her age for a second until her eyebrow arced up as if realizing how she sounded switched to more royal type tone as she continued to speak " Father Rhys, who is advisor to me and the High Priest of Naga, is very protective of me. I am sure you are hungry as well .Here" To make sure that Rhys doesn't try to stop her, E-something almost throws the bowl to me.
Taking the wooden bowl and the spoon, my burning stomach can't take too much more abuse and without thinking much about what was in there I scooped up whatever was in there without looking at it and took a bite.
*CRUNCH*
W-w-what is this?!
This brunt taste and slimly texture… it also almost painful to chew on it as well. How is this Possible?! Both soft and hard?! Is this some form of Yllisean torture? Ohhhh goooood this isssss much more traumatic then anything elllse in mmmy life! I CaN AcTUally TaSTE The TrAUma!
Noticing my pained and tearful expression the girl Exalt seemed a bit red in the face as she explains what I took a bite of."Since I was worried that our cooks would try to poison your food and my sister wanted to thank you for saving her I uh…. allowed her to cook oatmeal…"
THIS is oatmeal?! YOU let LISSA cook this?! You should give this to your enemies girl and watch the mongrels bow before you. This food is a chemical weapon of the gods! Are you sure that she doesn't hate me for saving her? I almost gagged out the food but not wanting to be rude to the girl or Lissa I held the oatmeal of the devil inside my mouth.
Forcing myself to swallow this…food… that is in my mouth so I can at least say I did not try it. Erasing what happened several moments ago my memories I shake my head side to side, making the aftertaste even worse ( don't ask me how) and pointed toward the book that the girl was still holding after setting the wooden bowl on the damp stone floor.
"Ah, this?" the girl queen asked as I nodded "Lissa was telling me when you tried speaking with her you made "funny noises" so, when I went through the reports of the… incident… with my father and the few survivors of the Royal Guard that battled against you and your ally at the time said they managed to s-slice your throat a-and kill you," the girl started to stutter for a quick second and her face looked sick for a quick second before her face returned to a almost neutral expression," and looking at that scar on your neck, it's no surprise you can't speak."
Confused I moved my right hand to my neck on instantly, suddenly feeling the ragged and large scar that encompassed the entire front of my neck. Why is that there did I not get run over by a car instead of getting my throat slit by a sword? Maybe when that 'devil' sent me here perhaps some things where changed in order for me to be more easily accepted into this world. Hmmm, how interesting… I wonder how that bastard did that. Of course, most likely magical crud I couldn't or want to understand but still very interesting. I can't help but wonder what the magic is like here. From what I seen so far though it is limited to reading it out books. The first being so far though I have seen use magic so far though is not all that impressive though. The priest Rhys is currently standing in-between the inside of my cell door carry an angry yet terrified face. Most likely the moment he realizes I make an offensive action he will close the cell door behind him, trapping his precious Exalt in with me and make his escape.
What an unfaithful and unloyal maggot. It's people like him that use their religion, position, or the power of their current situation to suit their own needs is why I can't help but think that all of humanity is almost completely self-destructive at first. But because of my teammates, Alisa, and few friends I made outside of wrestling that changed. But now I can't help but think that humanity is one moral grey area. Especially after that incident. Neither are we right nor are we wrong, we just do to suit our needs but, that doesn't mean I have to like it. Tearing my gaze away from the maggot as he stews in his fear and anger like the worm he is, I return my gaze back toward E- something the martyr once again.
Hand over the blue book the girl to my left hand which was not preoccupied with exploring my new scar; Ms. Joan now had a slight smile on her face as spoke once more, " this should be a good replace for your voice, please try it."
Removing my hand from my neck I curiously took the feather hiding as a bookmark between the pages after I opened it up. Swiftly peering though several pages, I found no words expect the first page of the book though I couldn't read. Seems like even though this world uses the same language form my world the writing system is completely different. Well here's to hoping that she can read what I write. While I have many questions I think I'll start with the most basic one.
"What is your name?"
I don't know how but somehow what I wrote immediately became spoken words!This also sound like one male voice when call a helpline or whatever but is speech somehow! I guess this book has a translator I guess. It looks like this feather does not need ink dipped at either. Magic sure is interesting!
Noticing my surprised expression, the girl let her amusement be known by letting loose a smile giggle," My name is Emmeryn and you?"
Emmeryn! That's what her name was! For some reason, if something or someone is not interesting or I don't talk to them a lot, I cannot memorize the name of the person or object. Embracing the joy of having a voice again, I lost track of the other questions I wanted to ask and answered her.
"My name is Keith, Emmeryn." God, it feels like I regrew an arm or something. This is exciting!
Unfortunately the excitement was killed by the suck called Rhys as he spoke out against me from in-between the cell door, "You lesser being of Grima! You shall refer to her as Exalt or Your Grace!"
To my amusement, and to his worst fear, once I turned my gaze toward Rhys he took a few steps back quivering in his white cloak like a dog between his legs. The maggot can only stand up to somebody when they are not looking. How weak. I should be glad he is not the Exalt though, I probably be locked in here until I rot. Beside I hate formality, my mother reminded constantly to be more formal with people during certain times when I was alive. That was and still is a bigger challenge then any of my wrestling matches.
"I am sorry but please refer to me as such Sir Keith…"
I should have guessed. Joan's got to keep up appearances of course. Man I hate formality.
Looking back at Emmeryn, who seemed at bit disappointed and it showed in her voice. Poor girl, she probably just want somebody to treat her as equal beside her own family. Considering that she was crowned on her tenth birthday if my memory serves right, she has not been able to be a kid or a person since then. But that is partially her fault as well, due to her selflessness Emmeryn refuses to force her will on others. If you're in her position it's okay to be selfish.
I mentally laugh at that thought. That's like the kettle calling the pot black though. I'm much too too nice and hopeful for the kindness others as well. Maybe this how I became what I am today.
I move on to my next question and it's very important as well since I need to figure out when I am so I can at least figure stuff out." Your Grace, may I ask how long you have been on the throne?"
Emmeryn eyebrow inch up slightly surprised at my question as brought her hand to her chin to think, "It has been at least five years. May I ask why?"
"I see. It been five years since your father died." Came my quick written reply as I adopted a thinking expression while my writing hand put my feather down on the book my other hand was holding and starched my right check as I started to calculate. So Emmeryn is at least fifteen like I thought and she doesn't die until she is twenty-five or twenty-six. That would mean that the Lissa saw when I fought that assassin was at least five years old at the very least. That would mean it is at least ten years before the game's prologue starts in Southtown. My eyes stare at Emmeryn's eyes as they glow like beacons with curiosity. Looks like I have no choice… I dislike the thought of lying to but if it gets me out of here and sasiftying Emmeryn's curiosity it would be better than saying "Oh, I came from another world and apparently I look your Father's killer as well. Cool huh?"
Yeah that would go really well.
"I can't seem to remember what happened with your father or the five years after. I just wanted to know how long it has been, Your Grace." I wrote down with my feather with my face wearing a serious expression to help mask my lie.
The maggot just made a surprised expression as did the exalt, the latter who asked the expected question," You don't remember…anything?"
All I offered in response is a simple nod.
Emmeryn turned her gaze to her feet staring hard enough that I thought that the fifteen year old queen was trying to use willpower to make her shoes fly off. She then turned her head up and started to walk toward Rhys who still stood in the cell doorway. The man moved out of the way as she walked quickly almost dirtying her subject's white holy robes in the processed as the queen stride past him. Curious, I made my way to the boxed bars wondering what this girl was planning to do.
Once Emmeryn made outside of my hovel and standing pairaell to me I noticed that she was wearing an unreadable expression as she spoke in a queen like voice, "Please, follow me."
"Your Grace?" Rhys himself was just as confused as I was as I stared at her while she walked away in her formal dress and her shoes making soft clacking sounds as walked to arched hallway which I assumed was the entrance of this damp place. Just thinking how nice it would be to be outside in the warm air was motivating enough to follow. Without even sparing a glance at the maggot standing outside the cell, I quickly followed the young queen.
Once I stepped outside I welcomed the sun's rays as they hit my body. Considering that the sun was high in the sky it was probably about noon .The only thing I had left form Earth, my black pants looked even more dirty in the light then in the damp semi-dark hovel of a dungeon. We seemed to have come out into a training ground as they were many soldiers in blue trying to either beat one another with I hoped where dull metal weapons or killing wooden dummies with sharp weapons in a square arena filled with much softer dirt then what was outside it. As Emmeryn passed the soldiers that were training they paused in order to perform a salute with one hand behind their back and their weapon hand close to their chest and if the weapon was a spear had it firmly planted in the dirt. Once the Exalt passed them, they withdrew back to their training. Strangely though I saw a few soldiers giving me strange stares. Do I look that pretty or is it my red hair or something else entirely?
"Since I was worried that our cooks would try to poison your food and my sister wanted to thank you for saving her I uh…. allowed her to cook oatmeal…"
I see. Most likely since I look like the previous Exalt's killer and the murder of his Royal Guards they are probably keeping a stink eye on me. It would seem I don't have many fans even with me saving Lissa. Hopefully I can change that seeing that I am stuck in this world and all that.
With me in between Emmeryn and the human maggot priest Rhys, we made our way to a one room house at the end of the training ground where Emmeryn went inside. Following her I looked at the inside of the small little room that we standing in. Adorning the walls was two blue flags carry the Brand if I was correct and on the door was a small plank with the same strange writing I saw in my voice book. I can't tell what language it is perhaps Latin? Before I could wonder in my thoughts further, I saw the top of blond hair and looked down to see the young queen looking up at my brown eyes while her hand was on the metal handle of the door waiting to open the wooden door.
"Could you please wait here with Father Rhys?" asked Emmeryn
Rhys himself did not look to happy as he started to speak up "Your Grace! You wish for me to stay with this traitor?!"
"It is ensure that Sir Keith does not wonder off and get lost," sighed the blond "this is important Father Rhys."
As soon as the word "important" leaves Emmeryn's lips Rhys cease his complaint he was about to make making Emmeryn smile. So I guess I am some kind human pet now? I don't need a babysitter or perhaps Emmeryn needs her privacy with this person behind this door. Either way I don't like being stuck with this guy. I walk over to the left wall away from Rhys my head barely touching the blue flag as lean against the wall with my arms crossed and the book and one of my hands. Emmeryn looks back at me and for a second I believe I saw something akin to sympathy on her otherwise very serious face before she opens the door and walks in.
As soon as few seconds pass after Emmeryn left I feel an uncomfortable tension slowly come over the room. Doing my best to ignore the white cloaked priest's accusing gaze I look up at the brownish stone ceiling trying see if I could distract myself until the blonde girl came back.
Unfortunately for me the maggot priest decides to speak to me.
"While you have managed to trick the exalt do not think you can trick me beast," Rhys voice is low with accusation and a malice that is unbenifiting compared to his earlier behavior, "we released you for your tomb so that we can exterminate Grima's parasites yet after our first battle you betrayed us and sided that accursed Girmleal priestess and killed most of our men and beheaded our king."
Weary of the priest's sudden change I chose my words slowly as I take out my feather and book. A Grimleal priestess? Tomb? Sealed? Evidently the person I look like was some kind of super soldier or a living weapon sealed away for some reason and he was unsealed because of Ylisse's "Holy War". I have so many questions for this man but… he could be lying. People in power tend to do that when they have power so that they can keep their power.
"What are you talking about?"
"Even now you play your game. I swear on Naga's good will I smite you where stand so watch yourself beast. I make you, the wrench of a priestess, and that false Exalt pay for ruining our holy war." As he came close enough that I could feel his breath on me his could the way he be acting now be his real personality? I got small glimpse of it when I first awakened. So he hides his true self under the guise of a cowardly priest in other words he is a snake not a maggot. Could he be the evil that "demon" mentioned that needed stopping? He is also seems to have beef with Emmeryn. He might even be the boss of that assassin that I was forced to fight but why go after her younger sister? To cause her suffering so that her death would feel like a pinprick compared to it? Humph, if what I am thinking is right, he reminds me even more of those disgusting humans that let Alisa…disappear.
Before we could exchange more words with each other someone other than Emmeryn came out the door. The first thing I notice is longer dark red hair that is close to dried blood that stops right at their waist and a black eye patch that covers the person's left eye. Everything else was covered in silver armor that is so well polished that you could almost see yourself in the armor. The thing that was noticed next was this person's err…. endowments. Yes, this knight in shining armor was a woman.
Probably the first thing I should have noticed was the steel lance with a strange ornate design which was near my throat in the spilt second she came towards me. I was so surprised by her speed that I dropped my blue book and feather. Is this the difference between a soldier and an assassin!?
"You…" the knight trailed off with a burning hatred in her red eyes as she brought the spear point to touch my neck right on my new found scar, her voice making chills run down my spine. Rhys quickly took a few steps back with a pretending to be frightened but in the corner of my eyes I could see an insane glee in his brown eyes.
It would seem that I am cooked and well done. Not even a day here in this world and already I am-!
A/N: I realized that last chapter I did not give a basic description of what Keith looked like so here I tried to remedy that in this chapter if not leave a review and if I get enough I'll post a small character bio listing the current things about Keith and a basic description as well this weekend since I will be less busy then. I already have it made so I don't go off character with Keith and the other OCs introduced so far. Anyway I hope you enjoy the OCs I introduce in this chapter. I also hope I made Emmeryn close to her game counterpart as well. Since it now known that Keith is now ten years in the past before Awakening starts I made sure that while Emmeryn acts a bit like teenager her age that comes though her Exalt persona. Anyways I would like thank the people who chose to follow this story. Thank you! It means a lot to me! Now instead of trivia about this chapter I respond to reviews for Chapter 1!
Review Responses:
GunLord500: It would seem a few errors escaped my view, thank for noticing. If I ever get a chance I will go back and fix it up some more. It is a great honor to hear from you!
RoseWarden: Wow, a full analyze! I am not too surprised to see you figured out, as I tried to leave subtle hints here and there about when Keith is. As for Keith personality a horrible and traumatic experience that involved someone that dear to him that made him the way he is and changed his views about people and made them much more greyer then mine. I wanted to make him strong enough to survive in the new world he was going to yet not change him to radically that he a completely different person then myself since he is a SI. The idea of Keith came to me when I observed the Fate series by Type-Moon. If had to say he is mix of my own experiences and of a certain red cloak Archer meshed into one. Anyway yeah…I had a hard time thinking of what a guide of the afterlife would be like so I am glad you liked he/she/it. Since I myself did wrestling I thought I would put it in this story as well and since I also know basic mixed martial arts, Keith is defiantly going to have a different fighting style than all of the other characters in the Fire Emblem world. Just do not expect him be doing Hadokens and Suryikens now lol! As for a weapon though…I have narrowed down to a couple so I haven't decided if I give him two weapons sets or just have Keith have one so we shall see. I am glad the fight scene went like I imagined it to be. I actually got the idea form a friend that I spar with once awhile. This friend of mine collects various weapons as a hobby so asked if could come at me wooden sword in slow motion since I did not want get hurt and basically well it from there. I actually really enjoyed writing this chapter and the last one as well but I think I enjoy writing fight scene more. Anyway glad I managed to entertain you as well! I hope that both you and others continue to review as I am still learning and every review makes me improve!
Thank you also you anonymous people as well who read this story as well! I hope you continue to read as well. Please leave a review as well so I can respond to you as well! *Takes a stage bow* till next time!
