Chapter 3

Albel carried Nel back to her room in the inn. Again. He kept on muttering "Fool", "Maggot", and "Worm" all the way back. He couldn't stand it. He's angry at her and himself. First of all, why does he even bother to bring her all the way back? Why is he concerned for her? WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM!

As he was shouting at himself in his mind, Nel was having another bad dream. But it had nothing to do with her mother, father, or anyone close to her. It was some kind of mysterious voice calling out to her. There was a face, but she couldn't make out whom.

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In the Dream…

"Nel, whatever you do, please do it calmly. Remember what I told you before…"

Said an anonymous person.

"W-Who's there?" Nel asked, trying to sound brave, but failing a bit.

"It's me, Nel. Don't you even remember? It's been so long, and you have grown into a fine young woman…" The voice said again.

Then, Nel remembered someone saying something like that which was so familiar…

She remembered the past when her mother said, "You have grown into a fine young girl." Mother…

"Mother! Is that you?" Said Nel. She wanted to see her mother again. She wanted to see her father again, too.

"You remember, Nel. I'm so happy." Said her mother.

Nel had tears flowing down her face. "Mother…" She said softly, smiling.

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Albel put Nel down on her bed. Then he saw tears flowing down her face. What kind of dream is she having? A nightmare?

Just then he saw her smile a bit. It seems she wasn't having a nightmare, but maybe the tears were tears of joy.

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"Yes, dear. It's me…" Said Lady Zelpher.

Nel had to ask, "W-Where is father?" She said, wiping away her tears.

"Father is not here for now. He will meet you along with someone else, perhaps. But he will surely come to see you." Said Lady Zelpher, smiling.

Nel saw her mother's face. And her mother was smiling. Nel was happy that Lady Zelpher was happy. She wanted to see that smiling face one more time.

"I see, mother. I am happy to see you again. I will look forward to father's meeting, and I hope…I can see you again." Said Nel, smiling and once again, tears were falling down her cheeks.

"I'm glad to hear that, Nel. I am so proud of you…" Lady Zelpher trailed off as the everything went white.

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"MOTHER!" Nel shouted, making Albel surprised.

"What the hell are you shouting at, woman! Your mother's not here, fool! She's probably somewhere in your hometown if you haven't checked!" Albel shouted, annoyed.

Nel knew what had happen. She smiled. Then she turned to Albel and the smile disappeared. "My parents have died long time ago. Long before I became a Crimson Blade member." She said, a bit sadly, but when she thought of the dream, she was smiling.

Albel heard the hint of sadness in her voice. "Bah…" He said as he walked out the door, slamming it shut, making the people in the inn surprised.

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Albel walked in the streets of Airyglyph, going to the workshop too. He was hungry after that. So he went back to his room, and told a maid that he was hungry.

As he was eating, there was a knock on the door. He went to the door and opened it. He thought it was someone unimportant telling him some crappy stuff but it was actually…Nel!

"Zelpher? What the hell are you doing here?" He asked.

"Albel…I came…to apologize. I forgot to apologize before when I insulted your…mother." She said, gulping as she thought he was going to get mad again.

"About that…forget about it. I'm the one who should be…….apologizing." He said the word 'apologizing' with difficulty.

"I…see…" Said Nel, a bit surprised.

"Bah, whatever fool. Don't take it as anything different from me." He said, and he felt his cheeks warm. Please don't tell me I'm blushing! He thought.

Somehow Nel felt something was really strange about Albel's behavior. Something is really wrong. And it makes her shudder to think Albel would be acting nice and kind to people.

Then she realized her headache is gone. And now she feels a lot better. She decided she would go to the king and ask for his help, as the queen requested.

"Alright, then," She said as she sighed, "Is the king busy right now?" She asked.

"How the hell should I know? I don't stalk the king! I'm not his bodyguard either! He has tons of bodyguards around the place! Ask them!" He shouted, trying to sound like himself again.

"Whatever! Stop shouting at me! I just asked a bloody question!" She shouted back.

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King Arzei was walking down the halls of the castle when he heard shouts from Albel's room. He didn't want to eavesdrop, but he had to hear what was happening.

"How the hell should I know? I don't stalk the king! I'm not his bodyguard either! He has tons of bodyguards around the palace! Ask them!" Came a shouting voice which sounded obviously like Albel.

"Whatever! Stop shouting at me! I just asked a bloody question!" Shouted a WOMAN'S voice.

A woman? Why is there a woman in his room? I didn't know Albel was courting a woman! Thought King Arzei as he listened more closely.

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"Bah! Woman, I know you asked a 'bloody' question! But it's 'bloody' stupid to ask me whether he's free or not! I told you before and this is the last time I'm telling you again! I don't stalk the king! And I'm not his bodyguard either!" Albel shouted, angrily.

Nel was amused by his outburst that she couldn't help but laugh. She burst out laughing, and Albel found it really annoying.

"What are you laughing at, Zelpher! What's so funny!" He demanded.

But Nel kept on laughing. "T-The…look on your…your…face! It's so…so…FUNNY!" She said between laughs.

This made Albel even more mad. He grabbed Nel's shoulders and shook her. Nel was shocked and her head started spinning. "…Albel! Stop it..." She screamed a bit.

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King Arzei heard everything of this. And then the scream. He couldn't help but just knock on the door. "Albel! Open the door this minute!"

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"Oh bloody shit! It's the King!" He said.

"Oh and at a good time too…" Said Nel, her head still spinning.

Albel opened the door. King Arzei came in and saw Nel staggering about and she was going to lose her balance. (Wow, Albel must have shook her hard…)

Nel lost her balance, but fortunately for caring people but unfortunately for Nel, Albel caught her.

"Let…me…go…Nox…!" Said Nel, still a bit dizzy of the spinning.

"Albel, what have you done to Lady Nel, here?" He asked, seriously.

Albel, was a loyal man to the king. Hence, he could not lie. "Your majesty, I was shaking Zelpher hard so the result is what you see." He said, scowling a bit.

Right now, Nel was staggering around the room, due to the dizziness. Then Nel had a headache. But it wasn't like the ones she had before; the ones before were a lot more painful. So it's safe to know that this headache was a normal one.

It seems Nel has gone out of the dizziness now, but she still had the headache. "Your…majesty, may I go back to my room in the inn to…rest?" She asked hesitantly.

King Arzei wanted to discuss the situation the queen said about via messenger with Nel, but decided to let her rest a while. "Very well. But perhaps maybe you should stay here, in the castle…" He said.

The moment Nel heard this, she refused. "No, your majesty…it's alright. And I know some people wouldn't want an 'Aquarian scum' to be resting in this castle." She said, glaring at Albel, who didn't know she was talking about him. And when he finally did found out by that glare she was giving him, he was a bit surprised.

"What, woman! I don't care where you sleep or eat! It's none of my business!" He shouted angrily.

Well, at least I knew that was coming… Thought King Arzei. "I see, Albel. Well what do you say, Lady Nel? Why don't you stay here? I'm sure Elena would be very happy to see you, too." He said, smiling kindly.

Nel hasn't seen Professor Elena for such a long time. Maybe she should stay here… "Hmmm….perhaps I will, your majesty. Then I will get my things from the inn." Said Nel.

"Oh, you don't need to bring them! I'll ask someone to bring them. Maybe…yes, Albel. I request you to bring Lady Nel's belongings to the castle." King Arzei said.

"WHAT! Why me? There are plenty of other people here to bring them! I'm not a slave!" Albel shouted angrily.

Nel was amused. "Albel…please? I'm really tired…" She said, smiling, because this was a joke.

But to Albel it wasn't. "FINE! I'll bring them! But you have to stay here! In here! No moving from this spot!" Shouted Albel.

Nel was surprised. She was only saying it as a joke. "Wait, Albel. I was only joking. I'll go get them. Thank you, your majesty, but its okay. I'll bring them myself." She said as she went out.

"Albel, why don't you accompany her at least?" Said the king with a look that said 'Go with her now!' type.

Even though Albel didn't want it, he went, as the king told him to. He was walking behind Nel. Nel was walking quite slowly, though.

Nel knew Albel was walking behind her. She was purposely walking behind him slowly to annoy him. The look on his face when he gets annoyed is really amusing.

As they both reached the inn, Nel checked in with Albel waiting close behind, and in the room, they were talking.

"Why did you come, Nox? I told you I don't need any help and I was joking about before." She said, with a blank face.

"The king told me to. He forced me to." Albel said.

"I see. Well you can go back if you want to. I don't need any help here, anyways." She said nonchalantly.

"I'll stay, thank you very much." He said.

"Umm….okay…" Nel said, a bit surprised. Why would he want to stay here?

By that time, Nel needed to go to the loo. "Umm…be right back." She said as she went to the direction of the bathroom.

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There were pieces of paper on the bed, and Albel was curious to what was written on it.

He picked the paper's up and started reading.

Somehow…I feel something so weird…this strange feeling…I couldn't figure out what it is. I can't describe it either, and sometimes, when I see him, I feel so weak. That's why I always want to get away from him. Ever since we first met, I felt that there was something about him that I…well…liked. Can't say why…Then, on those days where Fayt, I and company were going to defeat Luther, or the so-called 'creator', he was always on my mind. And I thought, if I defeated the 'creator', maybe things would be much easier in my life, and maybe…someday…I could be able to tell him my feelings for him. Yes, I finally found out I love him.

That was the end of the first paper. He began to get interested in the papers, wondering who she loves.

But you know what? Sometimes he's really annoying! He's such a jackass! He won't stop calling me names! Just sometimes, but not every time, he would maybe do something nice to me that I would feel that it would be really sweet of him. But he rarely does these things anyways. What more could I expect? It's just him…he never changes, I suppose. Well, things will always be good if they don't change…maybe. Sometimes I feel like casting a Firebolt at him! He's bloody annoying! And I get so bloody irritated! Give me a break already!

And that was the end of another paper. Before he was about to read the next and probably the last, Nel opened the door of the bathroom, and saw Albel reading the paper.

"Albel Nox! What the hell are you doing!" She shouted so loudly.

She stomped towards him, and snatched away the papers. She was almost going to blush, but being angry, she could not.

Albel was surprised. And he was curious to find out more in what's written in the paper. "Who…is that man you were talking about in that paper of yours?" He said, suspiciously.

That question made Nel blush. If he only knew that it was him… "Why do you care, Nox? Jealous now, are you?" She said with a smirk now.

"What! I am not jealous!" Albel shouted out loudly.

Nel laughed. "Yeah, right! The way you were so interested in reading that paper…HAHA!" Nel said as she began to pack up her things.

"BAH! I DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU DO OR THINK!" He shouted out and stormed out of the room.

Nel burst out laughing, and soon she too, left the room.

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Author's Notes: Hmmm…I guess I took too much time on this. Oh well, hope you liked this! No flashbacks in this chapter though…ahehehe…