Act One: Mana Thief
Chapter 1: Reunion
"What're you doing trying to throw away something so important to you? You should keep it safe!" The swordsmen asked sounding both confused and slightly angry.
She couldn't look at him, not yet anyway, so she continued to look at her reflection in the oasis. In her hand was a flower hair pin that was once her mothers. "After I started this journey, I completely forgot about the memento of my mother. I think because I was with you, Yuri…I didn't need it anymore…I hadn't stopped getting lonely…"
"…Are you going to get rid of it…?" He asked after a moment of silence.
Turning to look at him she saw a look that told her that whatever she decides he wouldn't object. He was the first one ever to let her make her own decisions. "We all have to leave our memories behind. Everyone else is living fiercely and not worrying about the past. I need to learn how to grow up and move on too," she tried to explain. Yes, it was time to move on. Nobody else in their party ever dwelt on their past, so why should she.
"If you don't want it, let me hold onto it for you." He surprised her by saying.
"Yuri..."
"The time will come when you're going to need it. You're going to want to reevaluate who you are. You'll need to remind yourself who you were, and how far you've come. You don't want to make any rash decisions now that you'll regret later."
/~/~/
"Lady Estellise, we're here," the carriage driver announced, bringing the princess out of her memories. Looking out the window, she saw that the carriage was in front of the castle in Zaphias. She had been so absorbed in writing her memories down that she hadn't realized they'd stopped. The door opened and she closed her notebook to step out into the fall air.
It had become much more pleasant now that she wasn't forced to stay. In fact, she didn't live in Zaphias anymore. The princess now called Halure home. Even though she only got to spend no more than a week at a time there. She didn't mind really, going back and forth between there and the capital. It had been two years since the Adephagos was defeated and they gave up the blastia. Gradually, things were starting to get a little better. They haven't been able to use mana to its full extent yet but they were getting there.
Estellise helped to oversee the production of technology development that uses mana with her dear friend Rita. She also helped out Ioder, who was officially recognized as Emperor just a year ago. Things have been a little hectic with people still panicking about the loss of blastia.
The main problem was the monsters. With nothing but a wall and no barrier people constantly lived in fear of monsters getting into the cities. Estellise shared a similar fear as did everyone else but that fear didn't keep her indoors like it did so many others.
When she wasn't doing official business she spent her free time writing. Ever since the Adephagos was defeated she had been recapping her travels with her friends on paper. Right now she was writing about when they were searching for Pharaoh in the desert. She wasn't sure what she planned to do with it once she was done or really why she started writing it in the first place. Maybe it was to help people understand why they had to give up the blastia. Goddess only knows how many death threats Ioder, the knights, and even Brave Vesperia received just because people were too ignorant to understand.
But it's just like Yuri said, people wouldn't understand so they would have to make them. Thinking of him brought her thoughts to all her friends. She saw Rita on a daily bases since she not only worked in Zaphias but also worked with the other mages in Halure. In fact Rita was the only person she had told about her book, she had even read parts of it. Judith, Karol, and Raven would stop by Halure when they were in the area but she hadn't seen them for a while. No doubt they had been busy like she was.
Then there was Yuri and of course Repede, who still refused to let her pet him. He used to come by more often, probably to check on everyone in the lower quarter, but like everyone else she was sure he was busy too. She missed those days when her and her friends traveled all around the world trying to save it. Sometimes she wished they could go on another one with them.
She quickly shook her head of that notion. If that were to happen then it would mean something wrong was going on in the world. Certainly not now after all the progress they have done.
Picking up her one bag, she walked up the steps to the castle. As she entered, she partly felt at home since she had spent all her life behind these walls. But in the corner of her mind was a fear that one day she'll come and never be allowed to leave again. Worse, the council would arrange a marriage for her. Now that she had a taste of freedom she didn't want to give it up and she happily blamed Yuri for that. She's not sure what her life would be like had he not taken her out of the castle over two years ago.
Thinking about him, yet again, caused her to worry all the way to her old room. It was something really pointless too. There were certain memories from their journey that she was questioning whether to write. And they all were related to Yuri. Some of their conversations she wondered if she understood them or if he did for that matter.
Then there was the night before they fought the Adephagos. She couldn't sleep and saw that he was up so why not have a chat like they always did. They talked about how far they had come on their journey and very briefly what they would do after the menace in the sky was gone. Estellise had worked up the courage to tell him she wanted to travel more with him. There had been a pause before he said "Thanks. I feel the same way"
What did he mean by that? Did he really understand what she meant? Did she? It was just so confusing! After the many times he visited he never once brought up that night but neither had she. It was definitely something she wasn't even considering to write down on paper, mainly out fear he'd see it. Honestly, she was pretty sure she didn't have to worry about that since Yuri refused to read. If she did asked him to read what she wrote he'd probably say something along the lines of, "I already lived through all that stuff, why should I read about it."
When she reached her old room, Estellise set her bag on the bed and proceeded to the full length mirror to make herself not look like she had been riding in a carriage all day. She was wearing a light pink dress that went well past her knees and long flowing sleeves. She may not have been properly dressed for court but it was well enough to see Ioder and let him know she had made it one pieces.
Once she found her appearance acceptable she left the room and proceeded to the most likely place Ioder would be; the throne room.
She hadn't gone far down the hallway when she spotted not only Ioder but Flynn as well. Estelle was about to make her appearance known when she heard how serious the conversation was.
"You don't believe he would do these things, do you?" Ioder asked the commandant.
Flynn shook his head. "It doesn't seem like something he'd do. Honestly, I doubt it but we must make absolutely sure if we're going to find out who's really behind the lab sabotage."
Lab sabotage? Now that she thought about she remembered hearing that the lab in Nor Harbor was no longer operational. The Empire had set up labs in varies cities to help with the development of what they were calling Magitechnology. This technology, as the name implies, is run by mana and their hope was to somehow replace the blastia with it. They still couldn't replicate the barriers but so far they have been able to power simple machines for lighting.
She had thought it had just been an accident, but was it really someone's doing? Why would anyone want to do something like this? Mana was much more stable than aer ever was, plus the mages and scientist had been monitoring to make sure another Adephagos wouldn't happen.
"Still though, rumors are already flying around that he's guilty," Ioder said.
"All the more reason to find him so we can resolve this matter."
Ioder happened to looked up and spotted her around the corner. "Oh Estellise, I didn't realize you had arrived."
Flynn spun around looking startled but none the less happy to see her. With no point on standing behind the pillar she came toward them. Flynn bowed to her, "I trust your trip was a safe one, Lady Estellies."
"Yes, there weren't as many monsters out and about as of late," she informed them.
"I'm glad to hear it." Ioder smiled. "I'm sorry to leave you so soon, but I must leave now to attend the council meeting. We'll talk more later."
"Very well," she said before he walked away. That left her with Flynn. She had been wondering how he'd been fairing. The last few times she had come the new commandant had been so busy that they hardly had a chance to exchange hellos. He even looked like he hadn't had any rest. But now he looked to be getting the proper amount of sleep. Sodia must be seeing to that.
"So, Lady Estellies, how are things in Halure?" Flynn started by asking.
"Everything is well, though I do wish things would settle down so everyone can relax more," she admitted.
"That's good," he paused for a brief moment before going to a deferent topic. "I suppose you heard his highness and I talking?"
"I'm sorry," she apologized for eavesdropping. "But is there something going on with the labs?"
"Someone has been going around destroying or breaking equipment beyond repair. This person has even gone so far as to steal research notes from facilities," he explained briefly.
"Why would anyone want to do something like that?" She asked. It was horrible to think this but her first thought went to Judith. Before they had formally met, she had been destroying blastia for the sake of their world. But that couldn't be could it? Mana was much safer than aer, wasn't it?
"Who knows," Flynn sighed. "There is one theory floating around that it's the guilds doing. Even some of the council believes that the guilds are destroying ours so they can take to credit and the profit for magitech."
Estellies wished that wasn't the case. Not only did she not want there to be any conflict between the guilds and the Empire but she also didn't want to believe that someone would want to prolong people's suffering and protection just for profit. Because of her journey she knew that there were people like that in the world; it just saddened her heart to think they would do something like this.
"There only seems to be one person behind all this, or at least only one doing the dirty work. Whoever is doing it, people are starting to call him the Ringing Fox," the commandant added with a more light tone.
"That's quite an unusual name." When Judith went around destroying blastia Karol had started calling her Dragon Rider while Rita stuck with Dragon Freak.
Flynn nodded in understanding. "Though strange, it suits him. Witnesses say this person wears a fox mask and a bell around his neck so the knights always know when he's about to strike. Sadly, the fox always get to them first before they have a chance to do anything. One thing we have been fortunate is that no one has been killed yet."
"Well…this person doesn't necessarily seem to be evil. But I do want to know what's going through his head."
"Don't we all," Flynn agreed but something seemed…off. He was hiding something from her. But what could he possibly be keeping from her?
Suddenly a knight came rushing around the corner toward them. He stood at attention when he reached them. "Commandant, we have Yuri Lowell in our custody," he announced to Flynn.
Flynn let out a breath of relief, "Good, I'll be there in a moment."
The knight saluted and returned to where ever he had come from.
Any normal person would be worried to hear that a friend of theirs was in jail. But this was Yuri; he got in trouble with the law on several occasions causing Flynn or herself to bail him out. However, Estellies wondered what he had done; he hadn't broken any laws (or was at least caught) for several months. "So what has Yuri done this time?" she asked in a light tone. It almost seemed to have become a joke between them.
But Flynn wasn't laughing. "Flynn?" She was worried about what it was he was keeping from her.
"Lady Estellies…" He paused. "Some believe Yuri's the Ringing Fox."
"What? You know Yuri wouldn't do something like that?" she declared; immediately jumping to Yuri's defense. She had been so busy going back and forth between the capital and Halure that she hadn't heard of these accusations.
"Of course I do. But as a knight I have to prove that to the people first. Even most of the council and nobles think he's already guilty."
Yes, he was right. But she couldn't understand why people would think Yuri could be going around destroying the labs. Although…he did have a record of breaking and entering…and a lot of other crimes…actually he very well could be the culprit. But lab sabotage just doesn't seem like the type of thing he'd do. She could imagine that things weren't going well for Brave Vesperia with this kind of rumor flying around.
"Very well, let us go prove he's innocent," she said as she began making her way to the prison. Flynn followed after her knowing it was useless to talk her out of whenever she had made up her mind.
/~/~/
Geez, how do I always seem to be getting myself thrown into jail? Yuri wondered as he made himself at home in his cell. Yeah, he'd been here enough to call this his cell. He was pretty sure guards reserved it just for him.
He lay back on his bunk as he waited for someone to come and bail him out. He still wasn't sure why he was here. No one would tell him. They couldn't possibly have found out about what happened in Heilord by now, could they?
Oh well, he'd find out soon enough. Once he was out he could expect a lecture from Flynn. Hopefully Estelle wouldn't be here. She knew full well that he was often in jail but she had never seen him behind bars. He'd rather keep it like that.
After a few hoursYuri opened one of his eyes when he heard footsteps approaching. One of them was of course the commandant's and the other belonged to the princess. Crap.
"Here to bail me out, commandant?" Yuri teased as he sat up. He tried not to pay attention to Estelle's. She was looking at him like he was wounded.
This was where Flynn would fuss at him and lecture about obeying the law or something like that. Yuri normally tuned him out and just nodded his head. But it never came. Instead the two of them just stared at him. Yuri raised an eyebrow at them and said, "So what, is that a no?"
"Will you take this serious for once!" Flynn snapped. This had to be a new record or something. It only took two sentences for him to get angry this time. Maybe Flynn was planning on leaving him in jail so he would learn his lesson. Whatever lesson that was supposed to be.
"I'm always serious," Yuri defended. Of course that just frustrated the commandant further.
"J-just look at this!" Flynn stuttered as he pulled out a folded piece of paper and held it through the bars for him.
Yuri got to his feet and took it. The paper turned out to be a wanted poster for someone called "Ringing Fox" (terrible name by the way) and the bounty was for 15,000 gald! Damn, who did this guy have to kill to get this over his head? "Sooo, what does this have to do with me?" He asked.
"A rumor is going around that the Ringing Fox is you," Flynn answered simply.
"I'm flattered you'd think I'd get into this much trouble, really I am. But there's no way I'm going around and calling myself Ringing Fox," Yuri clarified. He'd rather his own face be on the wanted poster no matter how bad it was drawn.
"Yuri this is bad. Most of the council thinks it's you!" Estelle announced.
"That's why you're here. They've already declared you to being the criminal behind all the lab sabotage," Flynn declared.
Lab sabotage? He'd heard just a few murmurs here and there but never really paid any mind to it. He looked back down at the sketch of the criminal. Sure the criminal had long dark hair and clothes similar to his and other than the mask covering his face there was a likeliness between them. He could understand why someone would mistake him for this guy. But was he really someone who'd wreak havoc in a lab? "Seriously?" Yuri asked. "Do you really think I'm the kind of person who'd hide behind a mask?"
"Listen, if you tell me what you've been doing the last few weeks I'll believe you," Flynn told him.
Yuri sighed as he leaned against the bars. "I've been busy doing guild job after guild job with Karol for the last month. I wouldn't have time to go anywhere near these labs you're talking about."
Flynn nodded, "We ran into Karol before we came here and he told me where you've been. According to him, the two of you aren't in any of the cities when the labs were sabotaged. Since the time lines don't match up there's no point in keeping you here any longer." He walked out of view to get the keys for the cell, he hoped.
That left him alone with the princess who let out a breath of relief. Yuri cocked his head and gave her a lazy smirk. "What? You didn't seriously think I was this 'Ringing Fox', did you?"
This caught her off guard. Flustered she said, "O-of course not! I just," she paused as she was trying to say the right words. "I was worried that…"
Yuri started laughing at this. "Good to see you're doing well."
"I'm happy to see you are too," she smiled at him.
"Estelle, I'm in jail," he said with a straight face.
"W-well you know…you're about to get out soon anyway!" Teasing and seeing her flustered like this was one of his few pleasures in life. And of course she just made it so easy for him.
Flynn returned shortly with the keys and unlocked the door making a wonderful click sound. Yuri quickly retrieved his equipment; though the guard looked to be reluctant to give him his sword.
The three of them left the prison but Yuri couldn't help but feel a little agitated. He'd been thrown in jail many times and had been accused of crimes he didn't commit. Like when the knights thought kidnapped Estelle when in reality she asked him to take her. But going to prison because he was mistaken for someone else really bugged him.
As they were walking down the hall a familiar voice of Karol echoed down the marble walls, "Yuuuuri!" Running toward them was the young teen with a bag about as big as him slung over his shoulder. His brown hair was spiked up and had a red kerchief around his neck. Following closely behind him was Yuri's ever faithful companion, Repede. The canine still had a dagger strapped to his side and a pipe in his mouth.
Karol stopped in front of Yuri and looked up at the swordsman with wide worried eyes. "What the hell did you this time?" He yelled at Yuri.
"Nothing. It was all a misunderstanding," Yuri told him.
Yuri was slightly hurt when the teen looked to Flynn for conformation. "There's nothing to worry about. We just needed to mark him off as a suspect, that's all," said the commandant to the young guild master.
Karol relaxed. "Come on, you didn't seriously think I did what everyone thinks I did?" Yuri asked.
"Well you can't blame him for worrin' about ya, boss?" Another voice said. Yuri looked up to see Raven leaning against the wall still wearing the large purple coat that made him look as shady as ever.
"What are you doing here old man?" He asked. Grant it, the three of them had just finished a job together when Yuri was arrested by Leblanc and the tweedles. He would have just beaten the crap out of them like he normally would have had Karol not told him to just cooperate.
The old man made a motion like what Yuri had said had truly wounded him. "I can't believe what I'm hearing from ya! My heart was ready to burst worrin' about your well-being," he said dramatically with false empathy.
"If you were really that worried about me you could have ordered your men not to arrest me," Yuri rebuked.
"For the last time, I don't have any men," said Raven. Thankfully Leblanc and the tweedles didn't follow Raven around, awaiting their captain's next orders, but they still slipped up and call him Captain Schwann.
Before anyone had a chance to say anything else, the large doors from the main hall swung open with an older man stomping toward them and a young krityan boy with a down cast look following him. The older man had almost complete gray hair and half-moon glasses all the way to the bottom of his nose. If Yuri had to guess he was probably one of these lab guys since he was wearing a white lab coat and dark pants. The krityan had to be maybe a year or two younger than Karol. He had short, dark red hair-almost a crimson color- with a dark streak down his bangs that was the same color as his antenna. What was slightly strange was that he was dressed similar to the older man wearing the lab coat but had a dark collared shirt that covered his neck.
"Commandant Scifo!" The older man said angrily. "I've just received word that you're releasing Lowell. Don't tell me you're letting this…this hooligan go just because he's your friend?"
To say this guy was starting to irritate Yuri was an understatement. Before he had the chance to even consider telling him off Flynn stated in a very calm demeanor, "Dr. Vossler you should know I would never do such things. But Yuri is innocent; it would be unjust to keep him locked up."
Vossler just scoffed. "Do what you want. But if that Ringing Fox strikes again and there's even a hint that it's Lowell I will have your head for this commandant." He shot an evil look at Yuri who was more than happy to return it.
Flynn inclined his head to him. "I understand. I'll take responsibility for his actions."
"Excuse me, Dr. Vossler," Estelle interrupted.
"What is it?" He snapped.
That didn't stop her query. "Who is that boy?" She gestured at the krityan.
He looked down like he'd forgotten that he was with him. "Oh yes," he said as he pushed his glasses up. The Doc pushed the kid toward them slightly. "Go on, introduce yourself."
The boy just continued to look down at his feet with a distant look and never muttered a word. Dr. Vossler heaved a heavy sighed, "Apologies, he still has trouble speaking with strangers. His name is Vael."
"Is something wrong with him?" Estelle asked with great worry in her voice. Even Yuri was a little concerned about the kid. Being out of it didn't begin to describe him. If he knocked him down he was sure the kid wouldn't notice it.
"Vael's parents were eaten by monsters right before his eyes. I've taken it upon myself to be his adoptive father." Dr. Vossler explained in a sympathetic way. "He's shown improvement from when I first met him but," he paused to find the right words, "I guess you can say he doesn't like strangers."
There was a brief pause. Yuri couldn't tell if this guy was telling them that just for that sake of it or just to let them know it was their fault since they did away with the blastia. It wouldn't be the first time a person told them that someone they knew died in a monster attack because there wasn't a barrier.
It also bugged Yuri that the doctor was telling them this with the kid right there. He obviously had no idea how to treat children. Then again Vael didn't seem to notice the Doctor talking about his parents.
Estelle dropped to her knees so she was eye level with the boy. "Well, we'll just have to change that. I'm Estellies. It's nice to meet you Vael." She held her hand out to shake his hand.
He didn't accept it. However he did look up at her for a brief moment. "…Nice…to meet you…" Vael said slowly in a very quiet voice. Though his head quickly looked back down at his feet, Estelle beamed with a smile at him talking.
Everyone but the Doc seemed eager about Vael since he said, "Come along Vael, it's time to return to the lab." He nudged the krityan boy back the way they came.
"…Yes," Vael said as he obediently followed after him.
Before Dr. Vossler left, he stopped to glare at Yuri who just glared back at him. "I'm keeping my eye on you Lowell. One wrong move toward my lab and I'll have you rotting in that jail cell."
His threat didn't scare Yuri. "Get in line, there are plenty of people who'd rather have my head."
The doctor remained indifferent after Yuri's comment. But he gave Yuri one last dirty look before turning away to leave.
Once the door closed behind the doctor and Veal, Karol asked, "Who the heck was that guy?"
"That was Dr. Jarvis Vossler," Flynn explained. "His team is the lead developer of Magitechnology."
"In other words the good doctor would hate to see his work go up in flames if it could make him some gald," Yuri added.
"Whether that's true or not it'll be best if you kept your voice down on matters like these. Especially since you just got out of jail for suspicion of destroying labs," Flynn warned him.
Yuri just shrugged his comment away. "Whatever. Could we at least discuses all this over a meal? I didn't get the pleasure of dinning on jail food."
"Seriously. Its way past lunch and I haven't eaten since this morning," Karol moaned after his stomached growled.
"There should still be something in the mess hall," Flynn suggested and Karol took off down the hall toward the food.
Estelle and Flynn followed after the young guild master and Yuri was about to do the same when he notice the old man didn't seem to hear what they said. Normally if it involved food or women he was usually the first one to jump into action. Raven just kept staring at the spot where Vael and that Vossler guy had been with a rather miserable expression. "Hey old man, I think your hearing is going. We're heading to get something to eat, you coming?" Yuri called out light heartedly.
Raven lifted his head up at his nickname being used. He placed his hands behind the back of his head as he said, "Now don't be makin' fun. It won't be long till you're the 'old man' around here." Even his tone was different. Normally after a comment like that Raven would fire up some sort of comeback or defense. But it lack vitality. This one was forced.
"Okay seriously, what's wrong?" Yuri asked. The only time when Yuri would hear that tone out of Raven it was always recalling his time at Mt. Temza when he fought in the Great War about thirteen years ago.
"What makes ya think there's something wrong? I'm just peachy," Raven told him with as much false enthusiasm as Yuri had when he was in prison.
"Give me break," Yuri said getting a little worn-out of beating around the bush.
For moment the two of them just stared at one another. Just when Yuri was going to give up and join the others, the old man decided to share. With a heavy sigh he said, "And here I thought Schwann's past wasn't going to haunt me anymore."
It was rare for Raven to being up the name Schwann. To him and everyone else (other than the ever diligent Schwann Brigade) Schwann was crushed to death in the Baction ruins. Of course during those rare times he always referred to him as a completely different person and in a sense they were different. "So what did Schwann do that's bothering you so much now?" Yuri asked to see if he'd keep talking about it. He was also curious to hear what the former captain of the knights could have done.
But Raven just shook his head. "That kid, Vael, he just reminded me of another krityan boy I met after the war...Let's just say he didn't turn out too good because of Schwann." Without anything more to add he walked past Yuri and disappeared around the corner.
Yuri just shrugged. If Raven didn't want to talk about it, than that was Raven's business. But it caused Yuri's mind to pounder what all Raven had done while being Alexei's puppet. He didn't think too much on it and hurried to the mess hall before Karol ate whatever food was left.
/~/~/
The late lunch was noisy to say the least, especially since Rita joined them. Pissed off didn't even begin to describe the sort of mood she was in. They meet her coming down the hall and called her name a few times but she was completely oblivious of them and even walked past them muttering things about magitechnology being destroyed. It took her almost running into Estelle to finally notice them. Yuri had rather hoped that Rita hadn't gotten wind that he was a suspect of the lab sabotage but there were no such luck.
It took some time for her to calm back down and Yuri had to tell her five times that he wasn't the mask wearing freak going around causing trouble (he'd do that without a mask). When she was done blaming him she followed them to the mess hall in the castle, however, Flynn was called to his knightly duties so it was just the six of them left.
When Karol and the old man weren't stuffing their faces they were telling some outlandish tales that happened back at Dahngrest on some guild job they were on. Rita spent most of that time complaining about the Ringing Fox when she wasn't making fun of Karol and Raven. Repead would even give an affirmative bark or growl at their comments.
Yuri added a few details or denied an event or two but his real attention was on Estelle. She listened to every word anyone said with great interest like she was reading one of her books and never said a word in edgewise. He wondered how she was doing. Was everything going alright for her? The last time he had really talked to her about anything had been weeks ago and that was when she informed him that the council was pushing for her to marry one of the nobles or even worse the new emperor, Ioder. He knew the relation between them was a distant one but it still bothered him thinking about Estelle marrying a relative of hers. In fact any marriage of hers with the nobles irritated him. There was just no way after traveling around the world on a huge adventure to save the whole damn world that she could settle back into the court and do as they say like a puppet
Oh well. Estelle had learned how to stand up for herself so if she didn't want to marry the nobles she wouldn't...Hopefully. So far she wasn't forced into a marriage but they sure were giving her a hard time about it.
The group continued reminiscing well into the evening. If only their krityan friend, Judith, wasn't off on a guild job in Nordipolica then the whole gang would have been together. Yuri and the others could have easily talked well into the morning if the royal knights hadn't showed up into the mess hall for supper. That was their que to part ways.
With Yuri's little detour with the knights he, Karol, Repede, and the old man would have to leave early so they can return to Dahngrest for their next guild job. Though Estelle looked a little disappointed that they were leaving so soon she promised she'd see them off and even Rita grunted in agreeance.
Yuri head back to his old room in the lower quarter while Karol and the old man headed to the inn. It was dark by the time he got there since everyone he saw stopped and wanted to know where he'd been. Ted wanted to hear all that he's been doing and Hanks commented on how he was surprised Yuri wasn't dead yet. Finally he had to tear himself away from everyone so he could retire to his bed.
Everyone looked to be doing good which put one part of Yuri's fears to rest. He had wondered if the lower quarter was alright without the aqua blastia or barrier. But the knights seemed to be doing their job and were protecting the people. All of the people.
It was nice being back in his old room. It was also fairly peaceful; something Yuri hadn't had in months. Repead headed straight over to his mat in the corner.
"Too bad we can't stay and sleep for about a week and a half," Yuri said to his partner.
The canine gave a soft wine before he lowered his head onto his paws.
Yuri sat in the windowsill like he always did and just watched the nightlight of the lower quarter. Though he was exhausted from the recent events he wasn't ready to turn in just yet. He knew that the moment he closed his eyes he would be opening them again to start the next day. Plus it had been weeks since he was last in Zaphias and he would have like nothing more than to mingle with everyone and catch up. However he knew if he didn't use this time for sleep it was going to be hell tomorrow. He never remembered feeling this tired.
Listen to me, I'm starting to sound like the old man, he commented lightly. Yuri had always prided himself on his youthful energy but with the never-ending battles against the monsters and no end in sight it was beginning to take its toll on him. Karol passed out from exhaustion every night and somehow the young guild leader never complained. They were the ones who changed the world so they sure as hell shouldn't be the ones to whine about the way things are.
With that though in mind Yuri got up from the window and walked over to his bed to catch some much needed sleep. He took off the belt around his waist and was in the process of taking his boots off when Repede's head lifted up followed by a knock on the door. Who in the world? Yuri wondered.
He quickly crossed the small room in two steps and opened it to reveal his guest. "Estelle?" He said in disbelief when he saw the princess standing across the threshold. Yuri had expected Hanks, Karol, or even Flynn, but never Estelle. She was dressed in brown pants and even had a white overdress that was a little shorter and less big looking than the one she wore on their journey. Her pink hair was still pinned up as before.
"I'm sorry, you weren't sleeping were you?" She asked just now thinking that.
"No, I actually just got in." Yuri looked around and saw no one else around. Estelle may have had more freedom but there was no way Flynn or Ioder would allow her out on her own in the capital, which means the princess snuck out. Yuri couldn't help but smile inwardly at the thought that he was being a bad influence on her. No doubt that would be Flynn's next lecture. "You want to come in?" Yuri asked her.
She nodded and Yuri stepped aside to let her in. She had never been in his room before and seemed to take interest in studying it. There wasn't much stuff in his room but a good layer of dust had collected over everything. "Sorry for the mess, I haven't been here in weeks and the innkeeper leaves this room be," Yuri explained. Honestly, he wished she'd just rent it out to someone who paid instead of leaving it open to him. He made a mental note to leave some gald for her when she wasn't looking in the morning.
Estelle seemed too busy with her on thoughts to really hear him. He recalled too many time on their journey when she spaced out like this. Yuri sat at the edge of his bed. "So would the princess care to tell me why she's gracing me with her presence?" he asked in a non-serious way.
That was enough to catch her attention. "I only wanted to talk to you," she defended, not catching on to his joking.
He laughed a bit. "So what does her highness which to discuss with a lowly guild member?"
"Oh, will you just let it that go," Estelle muttered as she turned a chair at the little table to face him. When she sat down she said, "I was just wondering where you all are planning to go for your next guild job."
"Can't really say," he stared. "We're heading back to Dahngrest but no doubt we'll being doing more jobs on the way there." They couldn't pass a city without helping someone.
There was a brief pause when the two of them just looked at one another. Yuri could tell she really didn't sneak out of the castle just to ask about travel plans. She could have asked when everyone was together. But instead of prying he just waited for her to tell him.
Finally she said, "It was nice seeing everyone."
Yuri nodded. "Shame it doesn't happen very often. Maybe in a couple of years things will quiet down and all of us can have remotely normal lives." That is if this so called 'Ringing Fox' doesn't stop destroying this technology that's supposed to replace the blastia. He just hopped that it was the competition destroying the Empire's labs (and that they'd stop pretending to be him) and this person isn't pulling something like Judith did with the Hermes blastia. If it was just competitors then they could just kick their ass and be done with it. But they already saved the world once from technology that caused the Adephagos. He really didn't want to defeat another thing in the sky that would devour all life on Terca Lumireis.
"Do you think…" Estelle stopped for a moment. She seemed to be picking her words out carefully. Yuri couldn't understand why she was doing that, she had never had much trouble telling him what was on her mind. Then she said, "Do you think I could…come with you?"
The last part was said in almost a whisper, like she was afraid the walls had ears, but Yuri could hear her just find. "I wouldn't have a problem with it and I know Karol would love for you to come. But what about the Empire? I thought you were helping out with all the political stuff between the knights and the guilds?"
"Well I have, but last year the council elected a new head, Lady Lilith Nightwood. She's been taking over a lot of the things I've been doing, she even started my idea of a literacy program for children which took off much faster than I anticipated. I'm pretty much just a figure head now."
Other than helping to keep peace between the guilds and the knights, Estelle had a personal goal to have both the Empire and the Union provide resources for children, regardless of their economic status, so they could learn to read. It certainly would help the poor if they knew their letters. She had been so determined to see this through when she first explained it to him. The program may be working but only because Nightwood did it.
He recognized name Nightwood. She was supposedly part krityan but lacked the anntenm. "Nightheart, isn't that the woman who made a whole new branch of knights?" From what Yuri heard, the knights belonging in this group were supposed to be the best of the best. But other rumors he's heard were saying a couple of them had some sketchy past and weren't quite knight material. Then again was anyone really?
"Yes, the Holy Knights. I recently heard there are five members in that group. From the reports I've read they've been very successful in protecting people. Just one of the Holy Knights is enough to fight back a pack of monsters," Estelle briefly explained. That was pretty impressive. Without the bodi blastia it was difficult finding anyone who can slay a single monster. But a whole pack? That seemed unlikely.
"Are you sure you want to leave?" Yuri asked her to make sure she thought this through. It wasn't that he didn't want her to come with him, in fact he'd enjoy traveling with her again. But they all had to do what need to be done during these difficult times.
The princess nodded. "I've thought about it lot. With all the blastia gone healing arts aren't as effective as they use to be. But my healing arts haven't changed. I think I would do more good healing people then I would by staying here," she explained.
"Sounds good to me. In the morning we'll go talk to Flynn about letting you leave. If his answers no I suppose we'll just have to steal you away again," he told her with a wink.
Estelle looked surprised by his answer. "You really mean that?"
"Of course. What? You thought I would say no?"
"I suppose I thought of that as a possibility." A relieved smile came over her face which caused Yuri to do the same.
"I almost hate to interrupt such a touching moment," a new voice suddenly announced.
Both of them looked at the window and there sitting casually on the windowsill was the old man. Don't tell me he's been sitting there this entire time, Yuri wondered as he looked at Raven tiredly. If he had been then it was surprising that he hadn't opened his big mouth tell now. "What is it old man? Weren't you the one complaining about not having enough time to sleep?"
Stroking the stubble on his chin Raven said, "I may have but I just heard a rumor that might interest you."
"I'm not interested, especially if it has anything to do with one of your scams." Certainly not when they would have to wake up early in the morning and somehow Yuri was going to have to convince Flynn to let Estelle go with them as well.
There was a sly smirk that crossed the old man's face. "Not even if it has to do with a certain person whose calling themselves Ringing Fox?"
This caught Yuri's attention. "What about him?"
"Oh ho. Now you're interested in what old Raven has to say? Well our little genius mage is the one who told Karol and myself. Some of the knights are claiming to have seen him here in this city. Of course they could have just seen you but-"
"But if it was me they saw then they would have tried to arrest me." There was no way word that Yuri was innocent would have traveled far within the knights. The damn copycat might actually be in this city. He only found out about this fox just a few hours ago but he's been itching to give that guy a good punch in the face ever since.
"There's a mana lab in the city. You don't think he's going to destroy it, do you?" Estelle asked sounding worried.
"If that's what he likes doing then probably," Yuri said as he got up and put his belt back over his waist. He then picked up his sword that was resting against the foot of the bed. "Come on Repede."
A whine came from the canine as he lifted his head up. But he followed Yuri regardless. The two of them walked out of the room but Estelle ran after him. "Where are you going?" She asked.
"I just thought I'd head over to the lab and if I happen to run into the imposter I'll just have a polite conversation with him," Yuri explained sarcastically.
Estelle stood in front of him. "If you run into him it'll be anything but polite. Besides, Dr. Vossler said he didn't want you anywhere near his labs."
"I'm not just going to stand around and let some guy pretending to be me do more damage," Yuri told her. He honestly wasn't sure this imposter was trying to be him on purpose but he didn't care. Plus he didn't like that someone was destroying ways to keep people safe.
"Fine then, I'm coming with you," Estelle claimed and started walk down the steps past.
"Estelle! You don't even have a weapon," Yuri called after as he was catching up with her.
"I still have my magic. Besides, someone will have to vouch for you when you get in trouble for going near the labs," she rebuked him calmly.
That was true and this guy has yet to kill anyone but still. He didn't want to put Estelle in danger even though she can take care of herself for the most part. Before he could say anything else a hand rested on his shoulder. "Just let her come, there's no changing a woman's mind," Raven said to him before he followed after her.
Especially not that one, Yuri couldn't help but think. With a heavy sigh Yuri accepted defeat and headed down the stairs and saw not only Raven, Estelle, and Repead waiting for him but Karol and Rita as well who looked battle ready. The gang was back together.
Yuri smirked at the idea and all of them followed Rita to the lab. Okay Ringing Fox, get ready to have your ass kicked!
/~/~/
Z-Skit:
Estelle: Why do think someone is trying to destroy all the mana technology?
Yuri: Who cares? I'm still going to kick their ass for pretending to be me, whether it was intentional or not.
Karol: But what if this guy has a good reason for what he's doing like Judith.
Yuri: He can explain after I've beaten the crap out of him. *Goes on ahead*
Estelle: Yuri sounds madder about someone pretending to be him than the labs being destroyed.
Karol: Well can you blame him? I'd be pretty peeved too if I was being blamed for something I didn't do.
