Escape With Me;
A Fanfic By AmethystGleam
Disclaimer: I don't own Saga Frontier or any of its characters. The translations of otherwise 'unused' text from Saga Frontier belong to GlitterBerri and Robert Seddon, and were found at The Cutting Room Floor.
Chapter 1 – Burn It All Away;
I could feel the sweat beading along my skin as I stood on the platform that extended into Kurenai's core. Her flames danced slowly around Shirobara and I in a beautiful grace, the tufts of mystic gas exhaling upwards like her sighs.
The mystic beside me seemed regretful, even hesitant, as she had when she spoke of Princess Rei a few days prior. It wouldn't do to ask about the nature of this coherent flame in front of it, so I kept my mouth shut for now, leaning to look down over the jagged edge of the platform.
The flames hissed and cackled as though in eternal torment; but the voice I had heard before, the one that had kindly greeted me to the region and introduced itself as 'Kurenai,' hardly seemed the same creature.
"Kurenai?" I began, my voice not quite as resolute as it had been during my conversation with Zozma. Still, she responded to my beckon as if overjoyed at the attention:
"Hello again, Lady Asellus. Lady Shirobara."
The rose princess inclined her head politely, though she did not speak, as if she knew not how to reply.
"….Zozma tells me that your fires come from another region. Is that true?"
"Yes, it's true," replied the flame mystic simply, as though she could say much more and was opting not to.
"Well, if we plunge in here…," I began, taking in a deep breath of the heated air. "We'll be burned to a crisp."
Should I believe Zozma? He was clearly a troublemaker, an enemy to the mystic court in many ways. Like all of the mystics here, I had only known him a short time; and he certainly didn't exude the honesty and sincerity that Shirobara did. On the one hand, helping me might help him get back at Orlouge for banishing him. On the other, getting me killed would also be a pretty good way of angering the lord. I worried my lip for a full minute, reaching to my side and toying with Asura in its sheath.
"I shall accompany you as well," said Shirobara unexpectedly, taking a step closer to my side as if helping me make up my mind. Her flowery perfume banished some of Kurenai's sulfuric smell out of my nostrils, and helped to clear my head.
"Shirobara… are you sure?"
"I have been charged by Lord Orlouge with the education of Lady Asellus. It is my duty to accompany her."
Her explanation felt a little forced, but the smile that accompanied it was endearing. Admiring.
"Thank you, Shirobara," I answered a little breathily, stepping closer to the foremost edge. The brunette had become my closest companion during my time in Facinaturu. Though she was loyal to Orlouge and respectful to all mystics, I couldn't help but feel that she and I had become friends beyond a mere order. I had found myself in her chambers on several sleepless nights, and her companionship alone seemed to drive the darkness out of the ever-dim mystic gardens. She didn't look down on me like I was simply human.
And now, I was going to have her jump into a fire with me.
I was oddly reminded of the tale of Rei's escape.
'She committed suicide…' the words drifted across my mind, and through Kurenai's haze I could picture a vision of a princess I had never seen, throwing herself into these very flames. I could hear her scream as she was burnt alive, her only escape from Orlogue's domain. From his dominance.
Was Shirobara the same as any other princess that remained? Too entranced by Orlouge to speak against him? Would I be liberating her as Rei had liberated herself, or would I simply be killing us both? I'm not a mystic. I could never reincarnate.
I felt Shirobara's hands settle on my left arm, and only then did I realize I had begun shaking. She gazed at me with concern, and I felt somehow guilty for worrying her. Nonetheless, she joined me at the edge, finally sliding one hand down to lock her fingers with my own. She did not look away from me. She did not look down.
"Be safe, Shirobara... Please protect Lady Asellus," Kurenai's voice was fainter now. Or perhaps I couldn't hear it as well when I was focusing only on the woman beside me.
"Thank you, Princess Kurenai." My companion's reply was but a whisper. When Shirobara squeezed my hand I closed my eyes. I don't even remember taking that last step, but I remember falling forward; and I remember the heat as it tore into me.
Shirobara never let go of my hand… and I never opened my eyes. I didn't need to. I knew she was with me.
