Disclaimer: Don't own, but I am allowed to torture characters.

Child of the Full Moon

By Apherion

Chapter 4

(WARNING: Tales of Vesperia – The First Strike spoilers)

One year previous…

Schwann had donned his uniform, hoping it would be his last. After all, it was very constricting compared to Raven's getup. The metal did not suit him well once he had a taste of clothing freedom, in a sense. The only reason he was in this ridiculous ensemble was due to the fact that he was the highest ranking officer since Commandant Alexei was defeated.

"Are you ready for the ceremony, Captain?" Hisuka spoke to him, smiling in her own soldier outfit.

"Where's your twin, Shastere?" He asked the redhead, who immediately grew defiant.

"What, are you going to be like…like…" She trailed off, looking to the floor at the memory of losing her captain to blastia that had been out of control.

"No, Hisuka, I just wished to see the two of you before awarding your captain the position of commandant." Her pale skin lit up with her smile.

"Flynn's going to be the commandant?" She scowled after the words passed her lips. "Why aren't you taking the position?" Schwann laughed heartily at that.

"Oh you know why! I'm just too old to be doing this soldier thing." Hisuka looked at him seriously, but he avoided looking at her. "Has Yuri made it back yet?" Hisuka laughed, remembering the then-teenager.

"No, I think he and the young one…uh…had business to conduct in Dahngrest."

"You meant Karol, correct?" Schwann wished to verify which 'young one' had left with Yuri.

"Oh, right," Hisuka muttered. "Anyway, I suppose it is time for me to escort you to your seat." He nodded, and she led him to the coliseum to give his speech and introduce Flynn as Commandant Scifo.

There was a big turnout for the event. Estelle sat to his left and on her left sat Ioder and then Flynn to Ioder's left. Below them, the people of Zaphias, Halure, and Capua Torim filling the coliseum to breaking point. Ioder seemed in fine accompaniment as a sweet blonde with freckles on her cheeks and nose leaned in to kiss his cheek before settling into her seat.

It was common knowledge that Flynn left his lieutenant, Sodia, in charge Aurnion for the duration of his ascension to commandant. She was going to be captain of the squad there once Flynn began his roles as the commander in chief. There happened to be a few mages from Aspio waiting to be interviewed for a chance at research in Aurnion, as well. Schwann chuckled lightly to himself. The boy was going to have plenty on his plate.

About the time Ioder stood up and all talk in the large arena ceased.

"Welcome everyone," he called out to the crowd, spreading his arms out wide. His white shirt sleeves had cerulean cufflinks on it, mimicking the shape of the golden crown atop his head. "Today, Zaphias is promoting an extraordinary knight that performed beyond the call of duty during the war with Alexei—" Ioder's words were drowned out by jeers from those below. Ioder waved for silence and spoke, "I will now allow Captain Schwann do the honors of introducing him." There were roars of applause at once.

Time to shine, he thought taking a deep breath. The Hermes blastia pumped slightly sporadically as he stood, but he ignored it. He waited for the shouts to die down, especially from his own team.

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. As His Highness Ioder said, today we honor a great knight. He comes from a long line of knights, and even in the face of danger, he has always lead his team to safety. It is only natural that he is raised to the position of commandant." The cheers were tumultuous and Schwann had to sit down because his surrogate heart seemed to be having trouble supporting him at the moment. He also was having some difficulty breathing, but he chalked that up to the constrictions of armor.

"Are you all right?" Estelle whispered to him as Flynn began to give his own acceptance speech. He grunted, and he realized that the world was tilting sideways. The last thing he heard was: "…heart attack!"

When he later came to, he noticed he had been brought back to his room inside the palace. He also heard a commotion happening outside his door, which quickly spilled into his room.

Two ladies were fighting, both redhead, both he knew. One had a pair of mismatched socks on, while the other sported the knight uniform. Each was being unnecessarily loud as both were close enough to whisper.

"You're insane, there's no way I'm letting you near him!" Shastere shouted, pulling on Rita's hair. "You blew apart your research facility a year ago!"

"I thought you and your captain were thieves! And I have to go near him—I'm his doctor!" Rita yanked hard on Shastere's hair, but her replying scream did not cover Schwann's words.

"You two are being too loud for a sick man's recovery." Both of them sprang apart as if a barrier had separated them. Immediately Shastere began to apologize.

"I'm sorry sir, but I have met this one before, and she caught her little research facility out in the woods on fire. She was asleep. I was just trying to keep her from harming you." Shastere had a clipped tone, defensive for her actions.

"Humph, it wasn't like I was trying to on purpose." Rita folded her arms indignantly.

"Well, Shastere, I hate to be the one to say it, but she is the doctor…" Schwann watched as Shastere turned bright red and bowed so low that she was in danger of cracking her head on the floor.

"You can help by leaving." Rita was being cold, but Schwann saw it as understandable. If he had been the one to wear Rita's shoe, he probably would have told Shastere to take a flying leap.

"Shastere, it is okay." She nodded, and the Aiheap twin bowed before exiting the room. Rita followed her to shut the door. Then she rounded on him.

"What the hell were you thinking?" She shouted and he flinched. "Yeah, you better be scared! That is the last time I save your ass for straining it!" Rita heaved for breath. Her shoulders quivered from the excessive force she used to chastise him. After all, she had been nice enough to help sustain it after Alexei had left him for dead at the forbidden ruins.

"Rita, darling, you know that I would never—" He stopped when he saw something that he did not even believe the young Mordio capable of. Uncharacteristically, the sixteen year-old was crying, brightening her dark green eyes.

"You idiot! You do so! Just stop it!" She stamped her foot into the floor, and he was almost certain a fireball might be aimed at him. However, he did not care for his own safety because of the tears rolling down her cheeks. In fact, staying in bed is generally what normal people do after having suffered a heart attack. But when did he ever do something 'normal' people do?

Schwann extricated himself from the bedding, wincing slightly as his Hermes blastia complained at the movement. It didn't feel like before though, so he advanced on the crying girl until she was in front of him. Schwann extended his arms and pulled the auburn-haired mage into an embrace.

"I didn't know you cared."

"I don't, you idiot!" Her retort was softened by her stopped up nose. Schwann smiled, lifting her chin gently. She sniffed, looking into his eyes with hers. He pressed his lips against hers, and the best part of the whole day was she didn't hit him in response.


TBC...