Drakengard: Imbroglio
Disclaimer: Drakengard belongs to Cavia and Square Enix. It is not mine.
Note to "Fae-Dragon": Thanks a ton for reviewing to both of the previous chapters. I am really happy, since I know that Drakengard's fan-base has close to withered away ;; so any amount of people reading makes me very happy. It lets me know that there are still fans out there like me. --AFF.
. . .
Verse II: A Different Sky
Nowe had been fiddling with the strings that tied his tunic together when he heard the news. He learned from his adoptive father that eavesdropping wasn't admirable, but…this time it wasn't his fault! Really! He had just been passing through the outer wall of the Grand Shrine when he overheard people talking on a terrace above him. Apparently, the young child Seere was to be the next Hierarch. But when? Now? This spot of news just made the little boys eyes widen in surprise. Seere looked no older than he. Why was somebody so young chosen to be the Hierarch? Was Verdelet playing favorites again? Filled with an insatiable curiosity--the kind that always made Legna fear for his health--Nowe set off on an adventure through the Grand Shrine.
Getting in was the first difficult trial. Not that there were unfriendly guardsmen, but because he was new to the Shrine. He had only been there for a grand total of six months and had really only been able to visit three locations: the foyer, the library, and an inner terrace that acted as a garden of sorts. The inner terrace was his favorite spot. The shrubs were thick enough for him to hide in, the fruits were ripe and delicious and (best of all) the opening that allowed a view of the beautiful blue sky was large enough for even Legna to squeeze by. Of course, he would never be able to see that garden again if he couldn't even find the front door! Frightened by this thought, the little child's heart sank and he sat down on the cold stony floor, sniffling. To a mere child of six, this place was more than colossal, it was unthinkable. He had only seen the whole place from high above on Legna's back…
"You don't seem too pleased." said a low, sibilant voice. That voice alone was enough to lift the little child's heart--he knew that voice quite well! The sound of beating wings were a deafening sound, but it did not block out the child's happy cry.
"Legna!" Nowe burst, looking up in time to see the mighty creature land before him, balancing himself carefully on two thick, scaly legs. Nowe rushed over to go hug one of those legs, still too small to hug the dragon's broad chest, which hung just above his little head. He cooed and started talking to it in the dragon speech, telling him about the horrors of getting lost. For as long as he could remember Legna had been his constant companion, his father before the humans took him in. Those strong wings had been a shelter for him in the rain and cold, and those deep blue, almost-ebony scales had kept him warm whenever the dragon returned from a day's worth of sunbathing, and--despite the long, tedious lectures he would get for doing something wrong--he was a very good and patient listener. He sat through all of Nowe's ranting, in fact, before speaking up.
"So you can't find your way back in, eh?" the dragon sounded amused, his large head swiveling down to look at the boy, "Well Nowe, the answer is simple: we take to the skies."
Nowe's eyes brightened, "Really?" Without wasting anymore time, the child climbed up onto the dragon's back, making himself comfortable. In two beats of Legna's powerful wings and an ever familiar lurch of them leaving the ground they were off, soaring the skies, where they truly belonged! From above he could see the entire structure of the Grand Shrine, the headquarters of the Knights of the Seal. They had grown in great numbers since the time of the Great Catastrophe all those years ago. Six years ago, to be exact. That was when a new Goddess had been found, and that was also before Nowe was born. Legna told him every day that he was fortunate to have not witnessed such carnage and hatred. 'It does things to a man' he would say. To which Nowe would always tell him: 'I'm no man. I'm a dragon!'
Legna had to change his saying then: 'It does things to everyone.'
From so high up in the sky the Shrine looked no bigger than the size of his thumb, but to Legna's mighty eyes he probably saw every detail--every stone and tower and wing. The land was lush and green, and the ruins left behind by the last war lay covered in moss, a tribute and warning to those who know of the evils of war. Off in the distance, the smoke coming from chimneys houses in a nearby town mingled with the clouds so high up, "The village of Stone." the child exclaimed, pointing a pudgy finger, "Oror told me that. That's the Soul Flame district!" He was rewarded with a low rumble of laughter.
"You're as sharp as ever, my boy. Keep learning the human ways, and nothing can stop you." the dragon turned his head away from the district off in the distance and he dropped down swiftly, swirling lazily above the Shrine like a vulture circling it's prey. Shrine? Hmph, more like a lavished palace to the dragon's eyes. But it was to be expected, considering many an important human had made their home there. He and Nowe where their newest additions, granted a dragon could never fit inside the palace. He could land in the garden terrace and lounge out front where the Knights would perform their practices…but there was nothing more annoying than having to watch bumbling human's stumble around waving sharp, pointed objects. He was safer in the sky. Nowe, though, was already very curious about humans. The little boy had never seen a human (or even believed that he was one) until he saw the Knight's leader and general, Oror. They had asked to take the child in, daring to say that a dragon was no fitting parent for a human. Legna had almost let them have it, and he would have if Nowe hadn't stopped him. To think that encounter had been fateful, and that it would lead them far from their home, into the territory of humans, a race to be pitied and cursed. But he would stay with them, if only for Nowe's sake.
"There," Nowe's voice could be heard over the howl of wind, "We can land over there," he pointed to a bailey in the center of the Shrine. It was large--perhaps five dragons in width alone--but the dark dragon just shook his head, circling the shrine a third time, going lower. This puzzled Nowe, "Huh? Why not?"
"That place is off limits to me, my boy," the dragon explained, "I have been told that the bailey is meant only for the Goddess. It will be her resting grounds. Looks to me like a cage with no roof."
"I've never seen the Goddess," Nowe said, "What is she like?" He felt the dragon shrug beneath him.
"Nobody has seen the Goddess in years. Only the relic and silent man know of what she looks like," Relic and Silent Man were code-names to the dragon, who hardly bothered to remember any human's name, "I heard that she was a dragon though, which came as a huge surprise to me. It baffles me even now. Why would a dragon want to help humans out…?"
"But because of her peace is restored." The young boy was oblivious to Legna's obvious frustration and confusion. The trip was cut short as the dragon dived down entirely, spreading his wings to catch the wind and slow his fall. They landed safely at the front of the shrine, earning them awestruck stares by the knights who were out patrolling. Nowe ignored them in favor of running to the front doors, waving the dragon off, "Thank you Legna!"
The dragon just chortled, shaking himself off before taking flight once more. Those few seconds had been enough stupid human stares for the day, thank you very much.
. . .
The interior of the Grand Shrine was so different compared to how it usually was on the outside. Outside, men trained day in and day out, bettering themselves, training new recruits, laughing and talking amongst themselves. On the inside, the Hierarch would wander the halls, speaking to the Lieutenants, and the younger recruits would rest or study in the library. It was a community unto itself, but Nowe still had to get used to the concept of "indoor voices". That day was especially quiet, but the many windows and clean panes of glass let the light stream in and warm the Shrine--the place never looked so bad with so many windows, and there were so many interesting statues to look at. In the distance he could hear the faint echo of voices and, curious, he snuck over, careful not to cause too big a ruckus.
A thick, mahogany door had been left ajar, but by the time Nowe was upon it the voices had gone silent, all but one, and all he caught was the very tail end of a conversation: "I understand…" Technically that wasn't eavesdropping, right? Because he didn't understand a lick of it. The door swung open and before Nowe could think to move and another small body collided into his own. It was a flurry of red and gold, too fast for him to catch until he was laying on the floor, stranger on top of him.
"Sorry! Sorry!" the boy whimpered, "I wasn't eavesdropping, I swear!" The stranger that fell on him stood up, brushing aside lengthy golden locks. Nowe squinted at the stranger, "Seere…?" The stranger looked down at him, deep red eyes meeting warm blue. No, this was not Seere, she was taller than the boy, and she looked older than him, but still, she looked a lot like Seere--from the shape of her face to the style of her golden bob. She stared down at him, frowning, and turned quickly to head down another hall. Nowe blushed brightly, ashamed, "Wait! I'm sorry! I swear I didn't hear anything!" before he could chase the girl down the halls another voice called out to him.
"Is that you Nowe?" it was the voice of the Hierarch Verdelet, worn and weary, but that was to be expected of somebody as old as he. He was the man that Legna called Relic, and it was not hard to tell why. The man was hunched over in an elegantly designed chair by a low window, a thick book in his thin, gnarled hands. He was bald and his milky eyes stared down at the paper. Nowe had once made the mistake of thinking he was blind, and he made a funny face at him. Not good for a first impression. Fortunately for Nowe the man had forgiven him, but the dragon-child had since been respectful to him, least he get on his bad side one day.
"Good day, Hierarch sir," Nowe said, bowing to the man. Those pale eyes made him shudder a little but they returned to the book just as quickly as they had settled away. He decided to be the one to start a conversation, "I saw a girl. She looked just like Seere!"
The old man chuckled, flipping a page, "That is Seere's sister, Manah."
"Manah…" Nowe tested the name, surprised that it had slipped past his lips so easily.
"She was the former Priestess for the Cult of the Watchers," Verdelet said simply, eyes on Nowe as he studied the child's reaction. He got none, so he elaborated a little, "She had committed bad things."
"Why doesn't she say she's sorry?"
Verdelet chuckled, "She is atoning for her past sins now."
"Really? How?"
"Nowe," a loud voice boomed behind the lad, a gauntleted hand smacking down on the boy's shoulder, making him yelp loudly, "Are you bugging the Hierarch again?" It was Oror, the bear of a man grinning down at the dragon-child. His smile always made Nowe happy so the child just gave him a big grin in return.
"I see you've returned from the Hallowed Water district," the old Hierarch said, smiling wearily at the general, "How goes the progress in the town?"
"Good," Oror gave him an approving nod," The district's Lieutenant will do a good job, I am sure. So tell me, Hierarch, I hear that you are stepping down and have ordained Seere with the title. Will he be able to do it?"
"He's only my age!" Nowe chimed in, eager to get in on the conversation between the two older men. Both Oror and Verdelet just gave him small, secretive smiles, as if they knew something that he did not. Then again, they always knew something that he did not.
"Seere is a bright young man," Verdelet replied to Oror's concern, "I have made him study many chants and magic and he has caught on quickly. He is ready for this role. Besides, I will be watching after him for as long as I am able."
"When will you pass on the title?"
"Today."
"Today?" Both Oror and Nowe forgot about their indoor voices that moment, and their voices echoed down the halls in unison, probably confusing (and startling) many people within the Shrine. Verdelet raised an eyebrow at the two. Though Nowe wasn't truly Oror's son, the boy certainly seemed to act like him already. The both looked at the old man, apologetic, and he slowly rose from his seat, setting the book down on a nearby table.
"Yes, today," he said wearily, reaching for his ebony staff in the corner, "Seere will perform a very important task today. It will prove his worth."
Oror's eyebrows rose high, "Is it…?" the old man nodded.
"What?" Nowe asked, looking between them, "Is it what?" Neither of the older men spoke. He figured this was another one of those secrets they were bound to smile about.
--
Note: Can't. Stop. Writing. Haha, well, it certainly passes the time and keeps me highly entertained. Gasp, but Caim wasn't in this chapter: whaaaat? But don't you worry, he will be in the next one; promise!
