Disclaimer : I don't own Suikoden, it belongs to Konami
Chapter II
*Bless In the Forest*
Ryu walked quite dazed, remembering his last night conversation.
-Last night conversation-
As Ryu stared at the moon, he heard the snooze far from him ceased and he heard Jowy shifted. Nanami was in her own room in this cheap inn. But Ryu could hear her snoring from there. The wall was just too thin.
They both now staring at the ceiling. "Finally she sleeps, and you awake.", Ryu said.
"…"
"Jowy, this rune-"
"yes?"
"never mind. You know….. it's already 15 years. "
"right. And we got some big adventures in those15 years. I'm so happy."
"you are…?"
"what, is Luc problem bothering you that much?"
"no. it's just. 15 years… don't you think it's enough adventure already? We could settle down in some place-"
"I see your point, we're –you - had fought hard to build peace but we can't taste it… seems unfair, huh?"
"…"
"you know that settle in one place is not an option for- us.", Jowy said while Ryu looked at his glowing right hand. The powerful rune, which had been completed 15 years ago by obtaining Jowy's blacksword.
"not for me, but yes for both of you."
"what are you intend to say?"
"never mind."
"*sigh* I don't understand you ever, your idiot-naïve way of thinking. You- …got everything without even put real efforts on it, they chose you. Destiny chose you. Why didn't you just settle in Defense Castle, leading the new City State? It won't be a problem since they are your close allies. Just like Hikuusak of Harmonia who never age."
"..."
"*bitter chuckle* I sometimes can't believe I lost to you and made Highland's downfall with mine." A hint of tease was there. But honesty was there too.
"sorry then to eliminate Blight royal bloodline.", he laughed a bit. "just for you to know, Defenian- that's the land now called, is now under Flik and Viktor care, a free land under city state of Jownston which now called –uh- Dunan. Their current leader and political structure is beyond my knowledge."
"beyond your care.", Jowy teased more. "your rune should not be a burden but tools for you to get more power. Just like that Hikuusak."
At this words, Ryu stopped feeling the humor. He sometimes forgot that this silly friend of him was the same ambitious man he faced at war. King Jowy Blight. No, Jowy Atreides had always been like that.
"you're sure fond of Hikuusak.", Ryu tried to be neutral.
"ha ha… still got this fine clothes from Harmonia. Sure that kingdom is a great and beautiful place. No wonder they called it Holy Kingdom of Harmonia. Right?"
"…"
Silence.
"walk outside?", Jowy tried to initiate again. He knew that Ryu had not fallen asleep.
"…..no, I'm just…. –well, concern about Nanami."
"…"
"once to me, in Tinto, she said she wished everything never happened, so we- she- could live peacefully somewhere, planting flowers… something silly….now that the war we had longed to end has finally ended… her dreams-"
"…"
"she had never knew the true happiness. It was her childhood dream she used to talk to me when we were younger."
"….do you really think she'll be happy to be separated by her only family left? Seriously? Better get some sleep, son.", Jowy teased him.
"Jowy, she really would like to go back to Kyaro. Already 32 years old woman now, bored of adventures, she really hopes she could settle down in town, having nice family and all- but me- is the most burden she could not get off. This surpasses her own individual assertion. Just because of me….- I bet it's her most precious dream right now… living normal life- And-"
"and?"
"to be married with some Atreides."
Jowy silenced at this statement. There was a hint of tease in that voice but he knew Ryu was serious.
"the way we live is normal."
"not normal. At least for her. And you too, deserve to live normally. You have the chance, no more bearing the rune."
"…..what do you want me to do then?"
"you know it already."
"*sigh* you sure know my affair with- Jillia.", the name was hurt to be mentioned.
"do you still like her? "
"…"
"she's probably still waiting somewhere, for Jowy Blight she knew."
"…you don't know how I treated her."
"….I see. Even with lady as perfect as Jillia….."
"that's not what I meant. Nanami…-"
"what's about her? I understand if you don't have feeling for her or what. Want to change direction to search for Jillia instead?"
"…..it's not that I don't like her."
"who?"
"don't search Jillia…"
Ryu waited for more, but then Jowy just kept silence and silence. It's end of conversation after all. And long after that. Ryu could hear Jowy's snore again.
-end of flash back-
30 minutes passed as he had walked by his own.
While walking, he then regretted his rush decision. If he wanted to change his mind, then this was the right moment. but maybe they had off somewhere….By that time, he saw a hint of silver long hair, shining by the sun.
He reached as soon as he could. "Jowy!", he yelled.
But what he saw was a woman with silver long hair with long ponytail like Jowy's... but much more beautiful. He stunned at his sight. The woman was look fragile and too beautiful to sat there alone, riding her white horse, without any armories except a long sword. But somehow she looked pale as if she was ill. She just wore a commoner woman green clothes.
It was just too captivating even for naïve and too straight man like Ryu.
"…are you lost, boy?", her angelic figure then spread sense of authority and strength as she spoke. But it was true kindness, Ryu could felt it.
Boy, he's just too often addressed as such. "What are you doing here alone in this forest? What is your name? I can help you out from this place."
Ryu unfolded his hood to reveal his face. He was still wearing his favorite clothes just added the black long cloak. Now the beautiful maiden put suspicious expression.
"Where is this?". Ryu decided to play along.
"Zexen forest."
Zexen? I thought this one is Kuput. "and you?"
"never mind my name is. But you're now in Zexen territory."
"a knight then.". Ryu said as he paid attention the sword. "you don't give a name, I don't give mine." That's explain Jowy and Nanami have safely left. But how could I wrong? So, we're just lost? Well, at least they found way out safely.
The beautiful maiden with violet eyes was about to react to his comment when a monster suddenly attacked them.
"just stay close to me.", she said and advanced her move. Ryu was thinking about playing along, since it would be so odd and could not be accepted to see any random boy aged 16 with a great fighting ability, alone in the forest. She had suspected him anyway.
The fight, was eventually result in severely injured lady as she did not wear any armories.
It was getting dark for her, but she's just an iron head like always. She felt regret creeping in by the time, how foolish she was. As she tried to use her rune, it was unsuccessful due to her still limited ability. The not so strong spell, just kindness drops, had already she used for that poor and strange boy. And that was the last spell she could do right now.
It was getting dark for her.
"are you running away from something? I think I might know who you are. But thank you." was the last thing the lady heard as she felt unexplained warmth following a blinding white light. So comfortable. She caught a glimpse of odd sparkling grey light in that boy's right hand. Much similar to her own blue sparkling hand.
Moment passed, and she could stand again, feeling healthy as ever.
She could not see the boy anywhere nor the enemy. But she indeed heard footsteps and horses coming in.
No doubt. They already here.
"Lady Crish!", a blonde knight approached her in worry. And the other 4 followed him.
A black hair man stepped down the horse and knelt beside her, "what's happened? Are you OK, Milady?"
"…yes. Let's get back.", she said firmly and decided to keep her odd experience by her own. After all, this forest was infamous of its mystical thing. This Kuput Forest…..wait! Did I just say Zexen?
"You don't even wear your armor! Lady Chris, we- I- am so worried about you!", the blond knight yelled again in worry.
"what's wrong, Lady Chris?", the black hair knight asked in concern to the lady. She was lost in her thought for a moment and gazed back to the road. "Zexen….the boy…", she mumbled.
"excuse me?", the old looking knight with fore fringes asked.
"never mind… I'm so sorry, all of you.", then she rode her horse hard, in extreme speed back to the castle direction.
The older looking knight of the three said to the blond and the black hair, "just keep this thing as our own little secret, Borus, Perceival.", he said sternly.
"I know. Everything for my Lady.", Borus answered.
"just for 5 Zexen Knights to know."
"as you please, Salome.", Perceival said with a smirk and strode away with his horse.
Meanwhile, Ryu had finally met with Jowy and a reddened eyes Nanami.
"DON'T YOU EVER LEAVE ME AGAIN, YOU FOOL!"
"who said I'm leaving? I was just lost. Where's the map?" he then grabbed map in Nanami's hand and circled Zexen.
Jowy shrugged and stared at his best friend, but put a warm welcoming smile.
"Lost in thought, Jowy.", Ryu whispered.
"but be sure, you've settled down in Kyaro in 50s!", Ryu purposely louder his voice.
Nanami was speechless and was about to cry.
"oh, of course, you can be my grandson by that.", Jowy said.
Out of sudden, they broke in laugh. Ryu cherished the happy moment, but he knew this moment could never been forever. One by one, people he knew would leave him, while he was blessed- or cursed- by eternal immortality. Well, this optimist Ryu tried hard enough to think the positive way; he chose the first.
Blessed.
"Hey, are you sure we're in Zexen? But you said this one is Kulut. This Kuput then?", Jowy's serious tone suddenly broke the laugh, making red circle on the old map.
Ryu just smiled. Blessed.
