Disclaimer: I do not own the title, rights, characters, or story of White Knight Chronicles. I only own a copy of the game and my own original created character that I was allowed to make and this fanfiction.

Enjoy.

Chapter 4 - Eldore

After finishing his delivery that Rappaci had sent on earlier he was given some free time in the form of a twenty-minute break, so Ran decided he would to just relax at one of his favorite spots. On his way there his thoughts drifted back to the same thing he has been thinking about for some time now. "People want me to keep fighting alongside them, but no matter how hard I try and think of one I couldn't think of a good enough reason too stay on board." In his mind, he had no real importance or real involvement in anything that has happened, not like the others. Leonard was the chosen pact maker of The White Knight: Wizel, Caesar was the pact maker of The Dragon Knight: Larvayne, Eldore comes directly from Dogma Wars, Yulie has been Leonard's closet friend since they were kids and knows him better than any of us. He just happened to be there. He was taught that it was best to speak when you had something important to say, is why he talked very little while on their rescue mission, to the point some might of figured him for a mute. Aside from that he really wasn't anybody important, just a normal guy looking for work.

While walking down the street Ran came to sudden stop before another of his former travel mates. As always he carried that calm and collected feel to him. "Eldore? What's up?"

"I need to discuss something with you. Come with me." This was rare. He and Eldore almost never spoke to each other. Only when it was something important or when Eldore was teaching them all the basics of magic did the two exchange a few words. "Sure. There are some things that I want to talk to you about as well." The two of them made their way northward to the western stairs in the court just before the castle. Getting straight to the point Eldore asked the first of his questions. "Who are really?"

"Excuse me?" Ran wasn't sure he meant by that. He was who he was. "When we all set out save the queen there was something about you that I noticed. You never really talked. You also had almost no presence. And yet somehow you seem to possess far more experience in fighting and traveling than the others. Also, every weapon I've seen pick up, whether it be a sword, knife, axe, lance, bow, or whatever, you managed to demonstrate competence and proficiency with all of them. I believe it is safe to say you either former military or a skilled spy." Pushing Eldore's stinging comment about not having a presence in the back of his mind, Ran wasn't really surprised that Eldore might of considered him a spy of sorts since no one really knew anything about him, and they've already had two sleepers in their group. "I'm no spy, Eldore. And I've never been in anyone's army. …If you must know, I was a page then squire to the man who was also my foster father. It was he who trained me in martial combat. At that time I was living Faria, but when war broke out with Balandor racial tensions and prejudiced became present as well. For my own safety I was told to leave Faria and survive. Ever since then I've been own my own traveling from one place to another taken any job that comes my way. Whether it is simple labor or a dangerous guild request I do it. That's the short and simple version of my story. I give you my word I am no spy of any sorts. Just a traveling working man." Eldore seem content with Ran's honesty and gave him a quiet nod of approval

"Since you are no spy young man I can't assume reason your reason for no longer is to report back to someone. So tell me, what exactly is your reasons?" Ran just shrugged. "I'm just a normal person with a normal life. And no matter what angle I view all of this from none of it seems to have damn thing to do with me directly. It's amazing I was able to come back here alive to be honest."

"Is that the reason?" Eldore could tell that he wasn't lying, be he wasn't telling the whole truth. "I think there is more to it than what you say." Ran was starting to wonder if Eldore had his own version of Dragon Sight. "You want the flat out truth? Fine. Logically I can't see us wining this war. That last battle helped make that clear. We failed to prevent Grazel from retrieving Adolmaea: The Sun King, the most powerful Knight of them all. He didn't even give Leonard and Caesar a chance to transform, and he blew Yulie and me away like a couple of leaves caught in the wind. If the princess hadn't stepped in when she did, Grazel would of wiped us out. The Magi also has Ebon Wings, and an uncertain amount of Gigas and Black Knaves. Their entire war potential is overwhelming. Also you say that Madorus is immortal and still around somewhere. How in the hell are we to kill something that can't die? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm aware of my limitations, Eldore."

It was true. Every thing Ran said was absolutely true. The Magi show that they have been ready for war for a long time now. While Balandor was just getting started with it's war preparations. Cyrus, the captain of the castle guards and his subordinates has gone missing, and they have to worry about a potential attack from Faria in retaliation for the Archduke's death. Ran's doubt was understandable. "I see. I can understand where you are coming from. However you must also realize that even if you decide not to join us you'll still have to fight eventually. Take my word for it for I've already experienced this kind of situation during the Dogma Wars. I'm sure everyone feels as you do."

"Your wrong Eldore. You all have a reason to fight, a role to play. Not like myself."

"We all have role to play. Ever since things started over 10,000 years ago things have been happen for a reason. We are all here because fate placed us here. Me cheating time, the reawakening of the knights, you kid getting caught in the middle of it all. Leonard and Caesar were destined to have their arks returned to them. I believe my destiny to protect the reincarnated queen and assist in the final battle. I want to believe that anyway."

"So what's mine?" Ran asked. "What are Yulie and my fate? You can't say, can you? Things just happen. And when things just happen whether good or bad it is up to us to decide if we'll allow it to just be." For whatever the reason Ran's words managed to make Eldore form a smirk. "I see… So what you are saying is that if we are destined to loose this war, no matter what it is still up to us to accept destruction or victory? If that were the case, I'd say we still have chance. Seeing as how no one here is just going to roll over and die. And as for you, you know you can't quit."

"Says who?" Ran raised an eyebrow. "Your code. Persevere to the end in any enterprise begun. Fight for the welfare of all. Keep faith. From what you said earlier, you should of learned this along with your training. Your not the type to abandon someone in need, code or not." To Ran that was somewhat of low blow, having the code thrown in his face like that. Its not as if he needed to be reminded to be reminded what he was taught. …But a quick review didn't hurt he supposed. "I get it already. You made your point. Eldore, will you answer a few of my questions now if you can?" Eldore just nodded for an answer.

"You came from Dogma Wars time traveling magic, right? It is the reason you so old as well. So if you used that same type of magic again to cheat time would you age even more now or… would you just die?" Eldore found this question somewhat disturbing. Simply talking about the forbidden spell made him develop a bad taste in his mouth. "I'm not sure. I've never thought about using it more than once since it aged me considerably the first time. I'd be lucky not to end up dead. Why do you want to know about such a dangerous spell, lad?"

"I was wondering if there was some way to go back in time to prevent the kings death, but that was a stupid idea since even if you could go back the return trip would really kill you I think." Ran was correct. After three trips he would most certainly end up dead. Although Eldore did acknowledge the good intention behind going back in time to save the king. "Also I imagine if you could go back in time you'd want to go back to prevent Queen Mureas's death more than anything. Anyhow, my next question is something that has been my mind for some time now."

"And that is?"Asked Eldore. "Back when we all were in Baccea while Leonard and I were wondering around looking for supplies I saw wall carvings/drawings that depicted Thaumus battling the knights. At first I did think too much on it, but after or battle with The Sun King I realized a few things and I've kept them to myself incase I was wrong. The first thing I realized was that none of the four knights I've seen appearances match up with how they were depictaed in those drawings while fighting Thaumus. I am well aware that just may be how the people of Frass Chasm back then drew them, but I do not think they would apply so much detail to how Thaumus looked and not his sworn enemy and killer. Another thing I notice was in another image of Thaumus stamding victorious over what looked like a pile of fallen knights. I did a head count twice, both times I counted the number came out to 11 That was two times more than what we have been told. I have not said anything to the others about this yet. I wanted to run this by you first. Eldore, were there more than just five knights?"

Eldore was more impressed than he let on. He himself did not think old subjects were too important to bring up, but he wanted to hear more from his normally silent and recently discovered observeant friend. "It's in the past but yes, there was more than five knights. However they were not like the five. They were more like footsoldiers where as the five knights were more like generals. They were not as powerful but still almost as dangerous. They strong, but most of them were far less armored and lightly equiped. Our skilled squad had few problems fighting them. And once the five knights were sealed footsoldier types became much easier to bring down. And after while we stopped seeing in battle. We presumed that perhaps we either destroyed them all or without the five knights to lead them from the front it was pointless to send them outonly to be defeated." When Eldore finished he looked to see Ran had grown dark with anger. He was clearly trying to keep it in check as he just stood there quietly.

"…Damn. That is so messed up." He finally spoke. "So it was not just the souls of five infants, but amuch greater number. And all those innocent souls were destroyed when they have done nothing to deserve it. It's sick. You know Eldore, I was taught that in war there is no true good side or bad side. Only only different views and reasons. But this… this is just wrong. Yshrenia… what hell were tinking? All those lost souls and sacrafices all for victory?" "That is why we cannot let them have their way." Eldore interuppted. "They will do anything. Sacraffice anyone."

"Yes I understand, but Eldore my real question is what is stopping them from producing more of those lower low ranking knights?"

"Honsetly I do not have a real answer for that just an assumption. And that is they no longer have the knowledge and resources to make any more knights, or perhaps they believe it is much easier to amass monsters, gigas, and knaves and such. I do not know much how the knights were actually made since I was too busy trying to destroy them." Ran had to accept that this question will have to go unanswered for the time being.

"Or perhaps there is some sort of side effects. Like how Leonard collapsed before we escaped. Honestly ever since that happened I've been worried about him and Caesar. If they keep on fighting in such constant and fierce battles will the knights who are powered by their souls drain their life away until death, or just as worst what would happened if for some reason the they lost control and the knights and they start to fight on instinct just like they did in the past?" It was a terrifying thought to say the least. Eldore has been having similar thoughts ever since their last battle, which was against what they have dubbed the Black Usurper. Eldore never once consider the possibility of knight housing multiple souls at once. However after witnessing it first hand it be came clear that the knights powers, abilities, and limits was not something that could completely be understood. Perhaps that may be part of the reason why Ran wasn't so quick to rejoining the front. If so he was more cautious than Eldore had thought. He wasn't as rash as the others. Knowing this made Eldore personally want him to say. Having someone who was levelheaded but also doesn't hesitate when the time demands it was a good thing to have.

"Those are things we should stay vigil for, that's for certain. But you know you really are surprising insightful and intelligent. Why didn't you speak up more young man? You should of shared more of what was on your mind. Who knows it might of helped us more on our journey."

"Sorry about that." Ran apologized. "I'm usually by myself a lot of time, and I travel alone. So I don't really say anything. I'd look pretty crazy if I was walking down the road just talking to myself, right? But yeah people always tell me to speak more. Sometimes in the past when I was on team assignments for the guild people would say "Your so quiet it's creepy." or "Gods man! Say something when you're standing behind me!"

"You are disturbing silent. Kind of reason I thought you may have been a spy or something."

"Yeah ok, I get it I'm too quiet, lay off. Yulie already asked me to talk more. I guess I really should work on that… but you know not to be random but I can't help but believe I've forgotten something though." It was strange. He knew didn't have anything important to do since he was on break and… "Eldore, how long have we been talking for by the way?"

"I'd say somewhere around 45 minutes." He said it so plainly that you'd think there was no problem. However frightening truth was that Ran was supposed to be back at the shop twenty-five minutes ago! All he could see was Rappaci cursing up a storm and taking his frustrations out on Leonard until he arrives. "Eldore not to be rude or anything but I've got to go. A life or two may be at risk!" Without waiting for a reply Ran broke into a dash back towards his job.

As Eldore watched him speed away down the crowded street there where three things he certain of.

1. He would stay with them until the end.

2. Before all this was over he would have an important role to play in the not too distant future.

3. He sure could run fast.