Ok, I'm actually noting something here. Might be awhile before the next chapter. I already had 1-4 written, and I'm working on five. And I was going to wait to post this, but it is by far my favorite chapter, and my temptation is too high. I had so much fun writing it, and ShadowMoon, have fun with Sage, he he he. And Minuit, I noticed the grammatical errors before I even read your review. I got mad at myself for not noticing. I mean, "She stead" instead of "She said" /*Smacks forehead*/ Oh well. I'm just boring everyone now. Well, everyone who actually reads my author rants. Well, have fun!
(Just for fun) Anger Management At It's Worst
Teacher: Now Cale, remember what we learned yesterday?
Cale: /*Glare*/
Teacher: /*Smiles*/ Now come on. Repeat after me. I will not hurt the Ronins.
Cale: /*Mutters*/ I will not hurt the Ronins.
Teacher: /*Smiles sweetly*/ Good. Now, I think we all need a group hug! Our efforts are so hard, I think we all deserve a treat.
Kayura: Can we just kill you? That would be a good treat.
Dais: I second that motion.
Dorothy: Third!
Sekhmet: heh heh heh, Poison!
/*all start chasing around the teacher*/
Teacher: Please! Happy thoughts people, happy thoughts!
All: NO! /*Continue chasing her around*?
The Mage's Tale
Chapter 4- Elegance Defied
"I have never seen anything so amazing in my life!" The awe in Sage's voice was eminent, and the glitter in his eyes visible. Rowen chuckled at the blonde's enthusiasm as they danced. It was fun teaching Sage the art of dance, since the blonde had never learned prior to this night. But he was definitely elegant enough. The outfit was enough to catch the eyes of all the men and women in the palace. Unfortunately, that also meant that his dad knew that he was not alone at his party, and would have to come and investigate on the matter. And he was due to arrive in an hour. He prayed that Sage played his role with grace and elegance, along with smart wits and calmness.
"Prince Touma, you have found yourself an interesting guest. Never has a prince brought one of this… species."
"Actually sir, we are classified as humans." Trieze raised an eyebrow at the boy.
"Interesting. He has much knowledge and… wit." Rowen blushed.
"Yes, he is interesting."
"In which ways?" Trieze made a sideway glance to the blonde, who inched closer to the safety of Rowen and away from the man.
"That is up to you to decide, lord." Rowen commented.
"Well in that case, my I have him for a dance?" Rowen shrugged.
"I see no reason not. But do bring him back in one, still innocent piece." Trieze grinned as he took Sage's arm. Sage gave Rowen a look of desperation as the prince laughed and waved.
"Have fun Sage!" He called after the blonde, before heading over to the feast for refreshments.
~~~***~~~
Ryo flew swiftly down the cave's hole, amazed at its depth. Kento flew steadily behind him, as they searched out their lost comrade.
"Master!" Ryo called out, waiting for a response. A weak, uneven response answered with "I'm Ok." Ryo perked up his ears and followed the voice of his friend.
"Master!" He exclaimed the moment that he came in site of the other boy. Ryo quickly knelt next to the other boy, who winced when Ryo hugged him.
"I don't feel so well." He muttered, clutching his ribs.
"Master, are you Ok?" Ryo asked as Kento landed on Cye's thigh.
"I think that all is not well in my body, to be truthful." He muttered as Kento flew closer to his face.
"Where does it hurt?" He asked Cye who pointed to his ribs. Kento nodded and walked over, touching them lightly and watching Cye wince.
"Kento, is Master going to be Ok?" Kento nodded.
"He'll be all better in a jiffy." I watched as Kento's tiny hand reached into his a pouch around his waist and pulled out some powder. He grinned at Ryo and tugged, with much effort, Cye's shirt up. He then poured it on the boy who waited a moment before gasping in awe.
"Oh my! The pain's gone!" Kento grinned.
"Its called "Fairy dust". Nifty little thing, isn't it?" Cye nodded as Ryo helped him to his feet.
'This is amazing!" He said, awestruck.
"Well, come on guys. We have to get going. We have a…. uh... something to find! Not sure what, but we better get to work finding it." The other two nodded to Kento's high-pitched words, as they set off in search of treasure.
~~~***~~~
When The King of Escaldia made his entrance, he was seen, and Rowen hid Sage behind him.
"Father." He stated as he bowed towards his paternal figure. The man ignored his son though, and his attention was suddenly set on the elf shying away from him, hiding behind Rowen.
"An elf?" The senior Hashiba asked as Sage nodded.
"I am half sir." He bowed slightly, fumbling slightly on the heavy clothes, and trying to keep balance. Rowen watched on, well aware that Sage was on his own now.
"Hmm… Interesting. In all my years I have never met an elf, and even more so, one so fair." Sage blushed slightly.
"Thank you Your Majesty." Finally, the king made recognition to his son.
"So, son, how did you manage to find one of such beauty, if even I couldn't?" Rowen smiled at the red-faced Sage.
"Well, father, he found me." Sage nodded to the true statement.
"Elf, what do you do for a living?"
"I'd prefer you call me by my name, sir. It is Sage, thank you very much. And I do not have a profession." Rowen watched in shock as his father smiled. He had never in his life made his father smile. Hit, yes, smile, no.
"Then that it shall be. Well, since you are the guest courtesy of my own son, may I have this dance?" Sage blushed.
"Actually, sir. I do not wish to upset you, but my feet burn, as does my throat. May I sit this one out? I will dance with you for the next though." Again, The king smiled.
"That is fine. My guess is that with your looks, sitting is the last thing the people have allowed you to do." Sage nodded softly and then bowed, taking his leave to go get a drink. Rowen glanced at his father, then at the exiting figure, and chased after Sage.
"Sage, you made him smile! How the hell did you do that?" Sage set down his glass.
"I don't know. Your father, he scared me. I thought that he would be kind and sweet, like you, but there was malice in his voice and hatred in his eyes." Rowen suppressed the smile forming on his face.
"Welcome to my world. Have fun dancing with him."
"Is there any way to get out of it? Dancing with King Trieze was bad enough, the poor man enjoys to step on the feet of his company, but the last thing I need is another poor dancer. Along with the fact that your father terrifies me, and I have never danced to this day, I doubt I am fit to accompany him on the floor." Rowen patted Sage on the shoulder, squeezing it gently.
"I'm sorry Sage. You are just too attractive and an oddity to pass by." Sage sighed as he walked over to a couch, and allowed himself to slump down on it.
"This drink tastes peculiar." He murmured as Rowen stifled his laughter. The things that Sage wasn't exposed to were a plenty, and alcohol was no exception. Rowen's shoulders hung as his father approached the two of them.
"Am I worthy of a dance now, dear elf?" Sage gave the king a warning glance.
"Sage, I mean. I am sorry for my inconsiderate behavior." Sage plastered a fake smile on his face.
"That is ok. And I to be rude to the King have more apologizing then you." Sage bowed again, and Rowen could tell that the blonde wanted to rip the heavy cloth that restricted him, off. The blue haired boy watched as his father dragged Sage off to the dance floor. With an annoyed sigh, he decided that it was time to get some fresh air. He'd come back for Sage's safety after the song finished. He walked out of the room, well aware that all eyes were on his father and his date. He walked out onto his room's balcony, and watched the stars above. The cool breeze ruffled his hair, and cooled him down from the stuffy room he had been in before. He knew that it was wrong to be upset, that Sage had come just because he needed someone to go with, and that Sage had every right to dance with everyone, but the one dance that he shared with the elf had not been enough. He had a longing to hold Sage in his arms as they whisked across the ballroom floor, with not a care in the world, and eyes for each other only. He allowed himself to fantasize about Sage and himself, until he realized that he had made a mistake. The song Sage and his father had been dancing to was long over, as well as a few others. With wide eyes, he raced back to the ballroom, and stared in shock.
"Sage, oh my god…"
~~~***~~~
"What if there are monsters in this cave?" Cye asked nervously as the other two rolled their eyes.
"There are no monsters Master. Unless you count me. But you summoned me, so it's not like it's my fault." Cye nodded softly. He was getting mixed feelings about this cave, and he didn't like it. And especially because Rowen said that it was Ruins, and Ruins usually meant destruction, which meant death. And demons and ghosts were known to go where death was, right? He shuddered at the idea.
"One part of me says that we're so close to what we need, that this cave is so important, that nothing will get in our way. And the other part says that we better run, or we're going to get even more…."Cye watched as a wall fell between himself and the others.
"Hurt!" He finished as he looked around where he had ended up. Problem was, it was too dark to actually see where he was.
"Oh shit…" He muttered the moment he laid eyes on the large spider, more then twice his size that was barreling towards him. Its fangs dripped with deep green venom, and hair covered its entire body, running up its 8 legs as well.
"Help!" He yelled, as the thing was on him.
~~~***~~~
"Master!" Ryo exclaimed as the wall fell soundly between them.
"Kento, Master, and a wall, and he's gone!" Kento nodded.
'That he is. Well, I guess we have to go find what we're looking for without him." Ryo glared at him in anger and hatred.
"NO! I want Master, and I want him now! Bad Tinker bell, suggesting that we leave Master." He shook his head in distaste, black locks flying in his face and covering his wide, tiger-blue eyes.
"Hey! I didn't mean to leave your Master. I meant to go find what we need, and maybe we'll run into him. And if not, we get it and then come back." Ryo looked unsurely to the other creature.
"You know, the stereotypes of fairies being kind and sweet in way off." With a glare at the suggestion, Ryo stormed off. Kento watched, not in the mood to follow the young demon.
"Well, unlike the other two, I think that I'll leave, sneak into the castle, and get Sage and Rowen to come help us." And with that, Kento fluttered off in one direction.
~~~***~~~
Rowen covered his mouth in pure shock.
"Oh my god…" He continued over and over again, as he watched elf. Wait, re-phrase that. As he watched the Elf, who had stripped himself of all the layer of cloth but one, the under piece, which was not meant to be worn alone for its lack of covering, dance on the feast table.
"Sage! Get down from there right now! What the hell possessed you to do that! Are you insane?" Sage turned to the archer and laughed.
"Prince!" He leapt off the table and ran over to Rowen.
"I really, really like that drink I had! So I had another glass, and then another glass. But then I realized that I had an odd number of glasses, and odd numbers are bad luck, so I drank another!" He laughed giddily.
"Sage, you have had four glasses of wine!" Rowen exclaimed as Sage laughed.
"You call it wine, and I call it happy juice! 'Cause it makes me happy!" The swordsman burst into laughter again as he pressed his body to Rowen's, laying his head on the boys' shoulder.
"Prince Touma! Why did you stop the entertainment?" Rowen turned to the questioning crowd as he wrapped a slender arm around Sage to support the weight of the blonde.
"Because Sage is not meant to dance, nor has he ever danced in his life. And I shall have no one dance but the best money can buy."
"But sir, he was fun!" Rowen sighed and ignored Sage, who was at the moment, finding that long, indigo hair was fun to play with.
"He is my friend, I do not wish to see him any more degraded then he has been."
"But Ro-chan, I like dancing! Its fun!" Rowen again ignored the blonde's words. Sage then brought his lips to Rowen, but was yet again brushed off.
"Ro-chan, are you listening to me?" Rowen sighed.
"Sage, be quiet." Sage's bottom lip stuck out in a pout, as he played with Rowen's hair.
"Ro-chan is a party pooper." He pulled away from Rowen and stumbled to the table.
"I wanna dance, but I can't find my balance! Has anyone seen my balance!"? The crowd laughed as Sage fell to the floor.
"I wasn't joking." He said solemnly as he lay flat in the ground, his slender legs sprawled out to his side, his shirt hanging low and showing off part of his well-built chest.
"Sage!" Rowen exclaimed, kneeling next to the boy.
"Get up now!" Sage glared at him.
"Why should I listen to you? You ruined the party!" Sage stuck out his tongue as Rowen sighed.
"Sometimes I wonder why I even try." With much annoyance, he lifted Sage up into his arms. Sage squealed in surprise, then broke out laughing again.
"I see London, I see France! I see Ro-chan's underpants!" Rowen rolled his eyes.
"No you don't. We can all see yours though." Sage giggled.
"I see London, I see France, everyone can see my underpants! Wait a second, I'm not wearing any. Uh oh…"" Rowen carried Sage out of the room and up to the bedroom.
"Sage, you need to get rest." Rowen stated as he set the boy on the bed. Sage groaned in protest.
"First you say I can't dance, and now you tell me to do just about the most boring thing possible? You are so boring and lame Ro-chan." Rowen sighed and covered Sage's mouth with his hand, not expecting the blonde to slowly lick it. He yanked his hand away as Sage giggled.
"You will never silence me! He he he!" Rowen groaned, whipping his hand on his outfit.
"Sage, is there anything I can do that will make you go to sleep?"
"Let me dance!"
"No."
"Not for other people!" Rowen looked on in confusion.
"Then for who?"
"You silly!" Rowen could tell that his jaw dropped and his eyes widened. There were many, many good possibilities with this, but Rowen forced himself not to. He'd never live it down the next day. Sage would kill him, or something of that effect. And the last thing he needed was Sage mad at him again.
"Sage, just sleep."
"I can't."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't. I got used to sleeping near someone else, so I can't sleep without someone close. Because even when you were a horsey, you would curl up to me." Rowen knew that the boy was telling the truth. He had done that on purpose though, trying to get Sage to notice him, and just to fell the other boy's body against his.
"Well Sage, what do you want me to do about it?" Sage smiled softly.
"Sleep in the bed with me. I don't bite. Wait, I do, but only on occasions." Rowen shook his head.
"Nope, sorry. You are drunk and are going to be sick in the morning, and I don't think that I'll want to be with you when you are throwing up." Sage sighed, his lips quivering, eyes tearing up. He watched Rowen try to fight the crying boy's wants, try to fight what Sage wanted him to do, but in the end, his bad side won and told him to go do it, he knew that he wanted to.
"Fine Sage, but only for tonight." Sage grinned lively.
"Yay!" He hugged the other boy as he pulled Rowen to the bed. He snuggled up closely to the azure boy, and watched as Rowen attempted to strip down without Sage having to move his arms. Because he was well aware that the chance of Sage moving his arms was slim to none. Finally, he shrugged off his last article of dress clothing, and allowed himself to curl up with Sage, absorbing the warmth of the soft boy. Sage's skin was so pale, and smooth, the color of deep-set ivory. And his hair looked like he had plucked off the sun's rays and strung them into thin, wisp strands.
"Good night, Prince Touma." Rowen looked on in amazement. Sage actually called him by his real name. It was amazing.
"Good night, elfin one." Sage smiled as he pressed as much against Rowen as possible, letting out a sigh of contentment.
"Thanks again Ro."
"You're very welcome." He muttered in reply as the duo drifted off into sleep.
~~~***~~~
Cye struggled to stay out of the reach of the venom that was dripping slowly off of the spider's fangs. He panted, leaping to the side, again, as it tried to bat at him.
"Go away you evil, evil bug!" He exclaimed, trying to resist the urge to toss his shoe at the thing. It batted at him again, but his foot didn't make it out of the way in time, as a sharp thing slapped down on his leg. He cried out in pain as the spider turned. He tried to get up, but his leg hurt too much. He watched on as the poisoned dripped next to him, barely missing his face. Death. He was going to die. And he was so young. He at least thought that he'd die honorably saving the world, not in a cave with a weird spider and no one to say goodbye to. And then it hit him. An odd sensation rushing up his leg, tingling all over.
"Phoenix! I summon thee!" He screamed, as all went black.
~~~***~~~
"Master!" Ryo knew that voice. It was definitely his oddly accented Master screaming about a phoenix. Or rather, summoning it. He had to get to his Master. His master was in trouble, and pain, and needed help. And then Ryo remembered. He was a doer of black magic. He smiled, closed his eyes, concentrated, and when he re-opened his eyes, he saw Cye unconscious near the body of a very large, very poisonous spider, that was well dead, burn marks covering its body, charring parts of it.
"Master!" He bolted over to the unconscious boy and lifted him into his arms.
"No! Master is poisoned! And I can't heal! I need Sage! I need a way out! I need help! I need…. Master." He cried, as could be expected of the overly emotional demon, as he spread his leathery black, wings, and flew around, trying to find an exit so that he could get Cye healed before the worst became reality. And by the looks of Cye, that was not much time.
~~~***~~~
Kento flew into the Prince's room through the balcony, trying to awaken the two curled up.
"Get up!" He screamed with his small voice, and not even getting them to stir. With much annoyance, he resorted to grabbing a glass of water and pouring it on them. Sage groaned and tried to sit up, his world spinning and his stomach churning. He gulped down the urge to vomit, as Rowen sat up next to him.
"Kento!" He yelled, as the fairy grinned.
"You two were just so cute all curled up!" Rowen glared daggers and Kento backed away.
"Anyways, we were in the cave, which is booby trapped everywhere, and we got separated from Cye. So, We need your help in finding him." Rowen nodded as Sage groaned.
"I fell like shit…" He fell back on the bed, covering his mouth. Rowen sighed in defeat.
"I warned you."
"Well sorry, the last thing I was doing was listening to you." Sage snapped as Rowen rolled his eyes.
"Not my fault. I tried."
"Well, you didn't have to leave me with your father, Trieze, and Zechs. Something was bound to go wrong."
"Ok, yes, that one is true." Sage smirked, before covering his mouth again.
"Sage, maybe you should stay here. I don't think anyone would mind. Everyone loves you."
"And that is what I don't like. Your people creep me out Rowen." Rowen nodded.
"They do the same to me too. Well, Sage, for your own safety and health, you should stay here."
"But…" Rowen gave the boy a stern look as the elf hung his head.
"Fine. But I'm not going to enjoy it." Rowen smiled and patted Sage's head.
"Good. And I thought you'd complain even more and be stubborn like always."
"I feel awful. I'm not that stupid." Rowen nodded.
"Come on Kento, let's go." The moment the two made their way to the door, Ryo flew onto the room through the window, carrying an unconscious and very pale Cye.
"Help! Sage, Master is very hurt, and ill, and you must heal him!" Sage looked on in shock at the auburn boy.
'What happened?"
"There was a big dead spider when I came, and Cye summoned a Phoenix to kill it, and it got poison on him, and he was passed out, and its really bad." Sage nodded as Ryo brought Cye to the bed.
"He was hurt badly." Sage mused, as he summoned his strength. The urge to retch rose as he called on all his strength to heal and purify his friend. One spell was easy to handle. But two spells, both equally strong, at the same time while his body was still intoxicated, did not fair well on his weakened system. After the green aura around Cye and himself faded, He fell weakly onto the bed.
"Is Master going to be ok?" Ryo asked eagerly as Sage nodded slowly.
"You got him hear quickly. He was less then an hour into his demise." Ryo grinned and hugged the Summoner's limp form.
"He says you'll be ok! Yay Master!" He giggled happily, as Sage curled up on the bed.
"I'm going to…." He yawned.
"Go back to sleep. Maybe I can work off this sickness."
"It's called a hangover." Rowen pointed out as Sage glared.
"Just be quiet, please. Your voices are so loud. They pound on my head." Rowen laughed and nodded.
"Want me to move Cye?" Sage shook his head.
"No, don't worry. He needs the bed. I'll move." Sage allowed himself to roll off the bed and fall to the floor.
"Ok, I'll sleep here." Rowen shook his head to the blonde.
"You are one weird elf." Sage shrugged from the floor as Rowen grabbed a blanket and pillow. He handed the pillow to the blonde, and set the blanket on the tired figure.
"Come on Ryo, lets go sleep in the other room. You too Kento." The other two nodded as they followed Rowen out of the room.
"Wait a second!" They stopped in mid track and turned to Sage.
"It's the poison! On Cye's clothes!" the others glanced at Sage, passing the boy as still slightly drunk.
"Sage, rest. The alcohol hasn't completely worn off." Sage glared at Rowen.
"I wasn't being insane. The poison, it's what we need to summon the Elemental Dragon of air! Poison can be both good and bad. It can kill, but some can heal! And that is like the fight of good vs. bad, light vs. dark! Like the cave in the riddle!" Sage grinned, much to the shock of the others.
"I think that you're on to something there, Blondie." Sage smiled still. He stood up and walked over to Cye and ripped off a piece of the stained cloth, stuffing it in his silk pouch on his real outfit.
"Ok, Now good night. I guess tomorrow we set off for "Weisheitboden.""(That is the word for "land of Wisdom" in German. Both Zechs and Noin come from German numbers, so I found fitting that their land's name be German as well It's pronounced "Vise Height Bow-den")
"Yeah, I bet Prince Zechs will be glad to see us!" Rowen said with a laugh, as Sage glared.
"Don't. Mock. Me." Rowen giggled as Sage turned away. Rowen smiled and began to walk away, before turning around.
"Hey, Sage, will you give me a lap dance too?" He called out.
"Go to hell Rowen!"
~~~***~~~
Sage blushed as he made his way down the hallway, alongside Rowen. After the dishevelment of his new outfit, he was forced to wear one of Rowen's. So he was in, yet again, another very heavy outfit. It was lighter then the previous one, and made of gold and silver interlaced and woven together. His hair was held high on his head, a thin silver barrette holding his bangs from his face and revealing his long face and wide eyes. Which he had always tried to hide. And to add to the mess, everywhere he went with Rowen, he was congratulated on his "Dancing" The prior night. The others had snuck out through the window, Ryo carrying the still woozy Cye.
"Prince Touma, may I speak to Sage alone?" Sage and Rowen turned to face Trieze. Rowen nodded as Sage gave him a look begging for help.
"Come here, elf." Sage nodded as Trieze led him to the back room.
"You amazed me. You hold strong against the king, dance all night, get drunk, and yet still, you show your face. I want you to have this. In remembrance of your night at the dance." Sage watched in awe as Trieze took his hand and delicately slipped an emerald ring on the slender finger. Sage blushed brightly.
"Oh, and by the way, care to dance at my next party?" Sage glared in hatred at the devilishly smiling man.
"You bastard." He swiftly kicked the man in the groin, before turning towards Rowen.
"Ummm…. Rowen…." He ran towards where he had left the other boy waiting.
"I think that it's time to take our leave!" He yelped and bolted towards the door.
"Sage, what did you…?" Rowen looked over to where Trieze and Sage had been and covered his mouth.
"Sage! I can't believe you…" It was then he realized that the swordsman was gone, bolted outside to the town. With a laugh, he pursued his friend.
~~~***~~~
"The land of Wisdom. This is cool. It's kind of barren though." Rowen nodded.
"This is where the elemental of Fire is. Or what we need to find him." The other's nodded as they made towards the entrance. The land was made of red clay, grass stripped from it. The red reminded the group of the fire they had come seeking.
"Hey! Look over there." Cye pointed out, still relying heavily on Ryo to walk. The demon didn't like having to walk instead of flying, but he didn't complain, just glad to have his Master back. Cye's finger lead to a burned down building, recently scorched and resorted to the pile of ash before them.
"Interesting. You'd think they would have disposed of the extra wood, but they haven't. Odd." Cye shrugged as he noticed a large sign.
"Look! A joust!" The others turned to the sign with interest.
"I've never seen a joust before. But doesn't someone get hurt?" Rowen nodded to the speaker, Sage.
"Well, I guess we can go watch." Rowen led the group to the arena, and watched the two participants charge after each other. Sage gasped in horror as he watched one fall to the ground, blood seeping through a wound.
"Oh my!" He exclaimed, covering his eyes and pressing his face against Rowen's shoulder.
"The victor, who is undefeated, Laurence Koji!" The knight took a bow and made his way out of the arena.
"I've heard about that man! He is the best there is! I want to go met him!" Ryo exclaimed as he flew away, carrying Cye.
"Come on, I think I'd like to meet them too." Rowen pointed out as he and Sage along with Kento ran after the others. The moment they entered the room, they came to a shock. They watched as the knight removed the mask he was known so well for, and realized something.
"You're a woman!" Green eyes met the groups.
"Hello."
To be continued…….