*Tales of the Abyss doesn't belong to me, etc.*
ND 2018 - Rem-Decan 23
"Luke, where are you, honey?" The red-headed woman peered up at the tree, then, apparently not seeing anything, moved on.
Guy Cecil swore. Why was Suzanne out here? And looking for Luke, of all people.
He jumped down out of the tree, landing softly, and walked up behind his mistress.
"M'lady, you really shouldn't be out here," he said as she turned around. "You should be resting."
Duchess Suzanne fon Fabre looked up at him. "Oh, there you are! I can't find Luke anywhere. I'm so worried for him when he disappears like this. And he hasn't come to see me in so long..."
"I'm sure Luke wouldn't want you out here looking for him, m'lady. Why don't you go back inside, and I'll look for him for you?"
Suzanne smiled. "Would you do that for me? You're so kind, Jozette."
Guy sighed, not having the heart to tell her that he was not, in fact, General Jozette Cecille. "Of course, m'lady."
Suzanne headed back inside the manor and Guy shook his head sadly.
"Man, she is annoying," echoed from the tree next to him, and Guy barely avoided the apple core that flew past his head almost like it had been meant to hit him.
He looked up. "I knew you were up there. You're lucky I didn't tell the Duchess where you were, you know. And you should show more respect for her. She's still your mother."
There was more munching, and Guy sighed again. "Get out of that tree. The Duke will have my head if you eat all his apples, you know."
Another core hit Guy's forehead. "Ow! Seriously, get down before you fall."
"I'm not going to fall," was declared. "And anyway, I like it better up here. I can see outside."
Guy rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment, then shook his head. "Well, then you'll miss your visitor..."
"Is it Natalia?" was asked hopefully, and Guy shook his head.
"Nooope. Guess again."
"Master Van?" The tree branches rustled excitedly as Guy nodded. "Master Van's here?! Really?! You're not pulling- WHOA!"
The rustling turned to cracking as the speaker tumbled backward out of the tree and plummeted, hitting the ground with an startled 'oof!'.
Guy rushed over to the red-headed form struggling to breathe after getting its wind knocked out of it. "Are you all right?!"
The redhead blinked up at him and waved fuzzily. "Hey, Guy, there's two of you. Two Guys. Haha."
Guy sighed. "Honestly, what am I supposed to do with you? You don't listen, you climb trees, you're constantly running around and you never wear the proper clothes."
"What's wrong with my clothes? I like them... Ooh. Pretty clouds."
Guy shook his head. "I think you have a concussion, which is not surprising given how far you just fell. Let's get you inside. Can you walk?"
"Don't wanna," the redhead complained faintly. "Wanna... see... Master Van..."
The green eyes closed, and Guy sighed again. Why were all Fabres so stubborn? They just never gave up. He stood, looking for Pere or Ramdas to help him, but neither the gardener or head steward were anywhere to be seen. Well, Ramdas was a long shot anyway. Guy got the feeling the steward didn't really approve of him.
"Guy? What are you doing out here?"
Guy turned to see a blond girl walking towards him. "Princess Natalia!" He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Ahahah... Do you think you could help me out?"
"Oh my. What happened?" Natalia asked, kneeling.
"Fell out of the tree..." the redhead muttered. "...Master Van..."
Guy laughed sheepishly again. "That's pretty much it. And I got hit in the head with an apple core for my suggestion to get out of the tree before something like this happened."
Natalia sighed, draping the redhead's arm over her shoulders, half-supporting half-carrying the redhead. "Come on, let's go back inside."
...
Luke was absently swirling his finger in the inkwell, wondering when Ion would get back with the papers he needed to sign, when the boy in question came running in and tripped over the threshold, sending the papers he was carrying flying.
Luke stood. "Ion! What's wrong?"
Ion stood, dusting his new tunic off and began to gather the papers that were everywhere now. "Fon Master, someone's here to see you. He's-"
A tall man with dark blond hair and a blue military uniform appeared behind Ion.
"Hello. Is this a bad time?" he asked, and Luke realized the man's eyes were an unsettling shade of red behind his glasses.
Luke stood, and hurriedly wiped his fingers on his desk, then on his robes. "No, please, come in." Luke moved some papers, inadvertently causing a shower of paper to fall on Ion, who sighed and started to clean them up as well.
"Oops. Sorry, Ion." Luke turned to the man. "Sorry, I don't have anywhere for you to sit. I wasn't expecting anyone today."
The man waved his hand. "I'm fine. I understand this is a bit out of the blue, but it's rather urgent. I have two letters from His Majesty, Peony the Ninth, of Malkuth, one addressed to you, the Fon Master, and the other to King Ingobert." He handed one to Luke, who carefully unsealed it, and briefly scanned the contents.
Luke looked up. "Are things really that bad...?" He paused, not knowing his guest's name.
"I apologize." The man bowed ever so slightly. "Colonel Jade Curtiss of the Malkuth Imperial Forces, Third Division."
"Are things really that bad, Colonel Curtiss?" Luke said again.
"I'm afraid so. You see-" Jade's brow furrowed, and he stopped speaking. A few seconds later, the sound of running footsteps could be heard in the hall, and then in the doorway appeared a small girl with black curly pigtails and a large stuffed animal hanging off her back. Still panting from the run, she saluted Luke.
"Ionian Sergeant Anise Tatlin Oracle Knights Fon Master Guardian reporting for duty!" she announced breathlessly, then sagged against the door. "That's a mouthful, right there..."
"Anise!" Luke grinned happily, then tilted his head, confused. "But what are you doing here? I would have thought you'd be out with the other Oracle Knight fonists."
"Didn'ya hear? I've been promoted!" Anise hopped up and down. "I'm a Fon Master Guardian now! I-"
Ion stuck his head up from behind the desk. "Fon Master, I'm done." As soon as his eyes made contact with Anise's he shrunk back down again. "I'll be back here if you need me," came out muffled by the desk.
While Luke leaned over his desk to see what the problem was, Anise sidled up to Jade.
"Hi, I'm Anise Tatlin. Who are you?"
Jade pushed his glasses up on his nose. "Colonel Jade Curtiss of the Malkuth Imperial Forces."
Anise's eyes got big. "The Colonel Curtiss?!"
"Whatever stories you've heard, I assure you, they're only half true."
"Yeah, but which half?" Anise muttered, inching a little further away from him, then seemingly thinking better of it, scooted back. "Wait... Is the Curtiss family rich?"
Jade turned to Luke, ignoring Anise, who was getting more clingy by the moment.
"You see, I tried to get an audience with you, but Maestro Mohs insisted you were ill. It was only by chance," here Jade gestured to the desk, presumably meaning Ion who was still behind it, "It was only by chance I met this young man here who led me to your study. I came to deliver the letter and ask if you would assist us."
"Mohs..." Luke frowned. "What could he be thinking...?"
"Maybe you shouldn't go..." Anise spoke up slowly, the words her first serious contribution to the conversation. "Mohs must have his reasons. Like maybe it's in the Score. You could read it, you know, then maybe we'd know it too."
Luke flinched. The Score and the Seventh Fon Stone were a sore spot for him. "No, Anise, I don't think that would be a good idea... not a good idea at all."
Jade looked at Luke slowly, but didn't say anything.
Luke turned to Jade. "Give me a little time to think, and I'll meet you at the monuments outside of the cathedral in twenty minutes. While Anise is right and Mohs must have his reasons, at the same time I can't just sit idly by and watch."
"I'm coming too," came from behind the desk, and Ion's face reappeared.
As Luke and his two companions walked down to the warp glyph, he suddenly saw Mohs materializing in the center of the glyph.
Luke stepped forward. "Mohs-"
Mohs frowned at him, not stepping off the glyph. "Where are you going, Fon Master?"
Luke held his staff tightly and stepped onto the glyph as well. "I'm going to assist the Malkuth Colonel."
"If I may have a word on the way, Fon Master."
"Go ahead," Luke said as the group dematerialized and rematerialized on the lower level.
Mohs turned to Anise. "Anise, if you don't mind, I seem to have forgotten a book on my desk in the library. Could you fetch it for me?"
Anise glanced at Luke and Ion, then nodded and ran off.
Mohs turned to Luke. "Do you know why we follow the Score? It is to ensure the future prosperity of the world. We are the guardians of the people's future. If there is any chance of deviation, we must stop it. You were chosen to be Fon Master, but do you know why?"
Luke shook his head. "I don't think I was ever told."
"You were are chosen by the Score. It was predicted that a child with red hair, named for the Sacred Flame, would be born in Kimlasca. They would lead the world to unprecedented heights of prosperity."
"Kimlasca?" Luke stopped in front of the doors. "But my family's here, in Daath. The Tatlins are my parents. Anise is my sister."
Mohs stopped as well. "Luke, I am only telling you this because you need to understand the importance of your actions. Do you remember what happened seven years ago?"
Luke frowned. "No..."
"You appeared on the cathedral steps, lost, scared, and with no memory of anything before then except a name: Luke. The Tatlins took you and raised you like their own son. But it was only because I asked them to. To fulfill the Score."
"What? That's not true!" Luke clenched his fist. "So what if I was adopted? I refuse to believe they did it only because you told them to!"
"It wasn't for me. It was for the Score."
Angry, Luke pushed open the door, only to see a platoon of Oracle Knights waiting outside. He spun around. "What is this, Mohs?"
Mohs folded his hands inside his sleeves. "You cannot leave, Fon Master. To do so would invite disaster. I tried to warn you. You most of all cannot deviate from the Score set down by Yulia."
Luke eyed the rows of Oracle Knights, but realized there was no way he could get through all of them with only his staff and the few fonic artes he had mastered. In any case, he had no wish to kill the Knights.
Seething inwardly, he turned back to Mohs and coldly nodded. "I'll be in my room, then."
Anise ran up, but Luke walked by her. "Come on, Anise. We're not going anywhere."
Had Pamela and Oliver really only taken care of him because they thought it was their duty? Luke's forehead hit his desk in despair. He had never noticed or thought much about the time before seven years ago, probably since the Tatlins hadn't seemed to care, but now it bothered him. What had happened to him before to make him lose his memory?
He sighed. That was then, this was now. It was time to focus on evading Mohs.
Luke stared at the window he had looked out so many times. His hands shook as he raised them and the unlocking glyph appeared. He closed his eyes and, suddenly, he knew the seal was broken. His knees felt weak and Luke nearly fell.
He grabbed onto the sill for support. Was this supposed to happen? He so rarely used Daathic fonic artes it was hard to tell.
"Are you alright?" Ion asked, getting up from where he had been sitting.
"Y-yeah. I'll be fine in a moment." Luke stood as Anise trotted into the room, carrying a tray with a tea set on it.
"Luke! What are you doing?" she exclaimed, putting the tray on Luke's bed.
"Something I should have done a long time ago." Luke drew back his hand to smash the glass, but Anise stepped in front of him.
"Don't do that! You'll hurt yourself." She drew her own rod and deftly pried the nails out. Using a butter knife from the tray, she broke the paint and opened the window.
She turned to Luke. "Are you really sure you want to do this?"
Luke nodded. "Now, go see if you can find some rope."
...
Van looked down at the small redheaded body and shook his head. Why did things like this always seem to happen when he visited the fon Fabre estate? Well, he supposed it could be worse: he could have not been visiting when it happened.
Guy and Natalia stood on the other side of the bed, Guy as far from Natalia as he could.
Van put one hand on the redhead's forehead and raised the other hand. "Heal." Both hands glowed green for a second and then the redhead's green eyes flickered open.
"Master Van!" The redhead sat up and, still blinking, hugged Guy tightly. Guy let out a panicked squeak and fell over.
The redhead blinked again. "Ohmygosh, Guy!"
Scooching farther away, Guy gasped, "I-it's okay."
Suzanne bustled in and tightly embraced the redhead. "Oh, Luke! I'm so glad you're safe! Jozette said she would look for you, but she never came back!"
"Jozette?" Natalia mouthed to Guy, and he shrugged.
"Mother!" The redhead pushed Suzanne away, and guessing the outburst that was sure to follow, Natalia and Guy hurriedly signaled the redhead to stop, but they were ignored.
"I'm not Luke! Why can't you understand that?!"
"Aeden," Van said warningly, but the redhead ignored him too.
"Luke's dead, Mother! He's been dead for seven years! Why- why can't you understand that?!"
Suzanne stared, then slowly sat down. "That's right... I'm sorry..."
"Aunt, I think it's time for you to go back to bed. You need some rest." Natalia took Suzanne by the shoulders and led her to the door, where a pair of very apologetic maids were standing outside.
Guy turned to the redhead. "That was cruel, Aeden. If it helps her to think you're Luke, then you should let her."
Aeden fell back on the bed, red hair flying. "But I don't want to be Luke. I don't even look like him."
The other three stared. "Actually, you do."
"If you say so," Aeden muttered, rolling over.
Van stood. "I'll be in the courtyard."
As he left, Aeden rolled over again, looking at Guy curiously. "You know, she called you Jozette, Guy. I don't think that was the first time, either."
Guy shrugged. "I guess I look like General Cecille to her. They were friends, I think... And anyway, I don't think she'd let me spend time with you if she didn't think I was General Cecille."
"That's enough, Guy." Natalia put her hands on her hips. "It's time for you to leave- or do you need me to throw you out?"
"N-no, I'm fine." Guy backed out, then stuck his head back in from outside the door. "See you later, Aeden." Natalia glared at him, and Guy beat a hasty retreat.
Natalia huffed. "Honestly, men." She turned around to see Aeden completely under the covers, hiding, and groaned. "Aeden... Duke Fabre and General Grants are waiting for you. You have to be presentable."
"Don't wanna see Father..."
Natalia grabbed the foot that was sticking out from under the covers and yanked.
Aeden tumbled out of bed and onto the floor with a muffled complaint. "You're a mean big sister, Natalia!"
"Aw, you think of me as your big sister? That's so sweet." Natalia smiled, looking happy, then she brandished Aeden's hairbrush like a weapon, her eyes narrowing. "Now get over here, your hair's a mess!"
"Nooo! Save me! Natalia's gone crazy!"
There was no doubt about it: women were scary. Especially noble women. Guy shook his head and turned back to the courtyard. Van was speaking with a harried looking Oracle Knight who was shrinking in his tunic a little more each second.
Both fell silent as Guy walked up. He spread his hands. "What, are we discussing Order secrets?"
Van turned to him. "I suppose I can tell you before I make my formal apologies, since you'll be the one looking after Aeden. I need to return to Daath. Some problems have arisen that require my attention."
Guy frowned. "Does it have anything to do with what we discussed?"
"In a way. I leave the rest to you."
Aeden, hair brushed and clothes tidy, pushed open the door. "I'm here, Father."
Duke Crimson fon Fabre looked up from his seat at the table. "Ah, Aeden. Please sit."
Aeden sat down at the table next to Van, who was resting his chin on his hands, eyes focused on something in the pattern on the table. Duchess Suzanne sat on the other side of the table, looking more aware she had than earlier in the day. Aeden squirmed, feeling vaguely guilty, then pushed the feeling away.
The Duke laced his fingers together. "Originally, Aeden, I was going to speak to you about your behavior, not least of all your disappearance this morning, but your mother asked me to reconsider." He glanced at Suzanne, who folded her hands on the table.
"I know it's been hard on you these past seven years, Aeden," she said softly. "The kidnapping and the loss of your memory... your brother's death. I know you want to go outside the estate-"
"I don't want to be trapped here forever, Mother!" Aeden exclaimed. "Natalia gets to go wherever she wants! Why won't Uncle let me do that too?"
The Duke frowned. "The Princess does not go wherever she wants, Aeden, and you know that. King Ingobert only wishes to keep his daughter and her surviving cousin safe. It's for your own good."
Aeden quietly groaned. Could this day get any worse? Oh, wait! There was one thing that could make this day better.
"Can I go and do sword practice with Master Van now?"
Van straightened and looked at Aeden apologetically. "Aeden, I am sorry, but it appears a matter has come up in Daath that needs my attention. I am afraid that I will have to return."
"What? Master Van! What's more important than teaching me?"
Van sighed. "It seems that the Fon Master has been kidnapped."
Duke and Duchess fon Fabre looked worried, but Aeden's expression didn't change.
"What's a Fon Master?"
"The Fon Master," the Duke corrected. "The Fon Master is the head of the Order of Lorelei. The current one was only chosen two years ago after the previous Fon Master, Ion, died while reading the Score. I remember there being a great deal of chaos in the Order over who the next Fon Master should be before the current one was chosen."
"In any case," Van said, turning back to Aeden. "I will train with you as long as you like today before I leave to make up for it."
Aeden jumped up. "Really? I'll go get my sword!"
...
Tear steeled herself and strode up to the gate.
A knight in white armor stepped forward to challenge her, but Tear began to sing. The haunting melody echoed through the manor, and guards and servants alike began to fall under its spell.
This wouldn't be so hard after all. His overconfidence would be his downfall.
...
Guy staggered. "Wh-what? I-I can't keep my eyes open..."
Pere looked up from his work as his legs began to buckle. "A fonic hymn?"
Van and Aeden fell to their knees.
Van grit his teeth, struggling to look up. "A fonic hymn... But only..."
"You traitor! Prepare to die, Vandesdelca!" a voice shouted from above.
Van tried to raise his sword hand, but he knew there was no way he could protect himself like this. The strength in a hymn depended on the singer's resolve- and this singer was very resolved.
...
Tear leapt, bringing her spear down. Could she do this? She had to-
"You can't hurt Master Van!" a voice shouted, and suddenly the Fon Master was standing front of her, sword braced against her spear! No, wait. There was something different about this person's features, something softer and more delicate than the Fon Master.
But there was no more time to think about it, because between their trapped weapons, a glowing ball of energy was taking shape. Tear tried to break away, but it was too late!
Everything went white.
...
Van looked up into the sky where his attacker and student had vanished.
Guy stood, suddenly freed from the effects of the hymn. A sinking feeling began to form in his stomach.
Was it starting? Was this the beginning?
...
"Ugh..." Tear groaned, slowly sitting up. Having your fonons and atoms ripped apart then reconstructed was not a pleasant feeling.
Tear stood, using her spear to help her, then walked to the edge of the cliff. The sea wind blowing through her hair made her feel a bit better and she turned her thoughts to the issue of the cause of the hyperresonance. She turned around.
The person who looked like the Fon Master was lying, still unconscious, among the selenia flowers. Tear knelt, pulling the red hair back to reveal the sleeping face of a girl about her age and height. Not the Fon Master then.
Tear was surprised by the disappointment that welled up inside her. Why would she want to be stuck out here with him? Luke wasn't even a good Fon Master. He was blind to what was going on around him and his fonic artes were horrible and he didn't know anything, and, and, and... he was endearingly kind-hearted and trusting...
Tear's embarrassingly unprofessional train of thought was interrupted by a groan from the girl.
"What happened?" Aeden sat up, then regretted it as her head pounded. "Oh man... I think I'm going to be sick..."
Tear backed up a step, just in case this strange girl was sick, and surveyed their surroundings. They were standing in a small valley, where selenia flowers grew under the moonlight by a cliff that overlooked the sea.
Tear had not the slightest idea where she was.
Aeden climbed to her feet, dusting off her trousers and jacket. "Aw, I just had these washed last week."
Tear was slightly appalled, but she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes, the girl was teetering on the edge of the cliff, peering out at the sea.
"Is that the ocean?" the girl asked unconcernedly.
"Ah! Get away from there!" Tear dragged her away from the edge. Did this girl have no fear?
Aeden squirmed. "Let go of me, you peasant!"
"You're not making a very good first impression, you know," Tear grunted. She dropped the girl on the ground, far away from the edge. She sighed. "Now, what's your name?"
"Aeden fon Fabre." The girl looked at her like that should mean something to Tear.
It didn't, so Tear just held out her hand to help the girl up. "I'm sorry for dragging you into my problems."
Aeden ignored the hand, standing by herself. "You should be."
Tear sighed again. "I really am sorry. I would have been more careful if I had known you were a Seventh Fonist."
"Seventh Fonist?" The girl cocked her head, and Tear's worry grew. If this Aeden was a latent Seventh Fonist of the level that the hyperresonance that had sent them here suggested, and she didn't know it, then she could be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands. All the more reason to get her back safe as quickly as possible.
"Yes, someone who can use the Seventh Fonon. Our Seventh Fonons reacted to create a hyperresonance that sent us here." Tear tried to explain, but the blank expression on the girl's face didn't change.
Aeden couldn't follow what what this strange woman was saying, so she responded in the way she always did when she didn't understand something: irritation.
"Well, where is here? And what's your name, anyway?" Aeden asked sullenly.
"My name is Tear. I don't know where we are, but we must be fairly far away from Baticul." She started walking, but Aeden remained where she was. Tear turned back. "Aren't you coming? I'll take you back."
"Why should I believe you?" Aeden demanded. "You tried to kill Master Van!"
"I feel responsible for what happened. You're just an innocent bystander who got caught up in my problems because I wasn't careful-" Tear spun, her spear at the ready. "Monsters!"
Aeden yelped at the sight of the wild boars, but Tear calmly sliced one in half, stunning the second with a fonic shield.
"Look out!" Tear exclaimed, and Aeden drew her sword just in time, lopping the head off the monster half by accident. Aeden's eyes widened as the monster's hot blood dripped on her and the monster's body fell to the ground, but she had no time to think about it as another one charged her and she sliced that one in half too.
Tear picked her way back over the monsters' carcasses. "That wasn't half bad. Who taught you the sword?"
"Master Van," Aeden said distractedly, nausea welling up inside her as she tried not to look at the monster blood staining her hands. She wiped her hands on the grass, trying not to think about it.
Van taught her? The style is the same... Tear bit her lip, but didn't say anything.
The pair made their way down the hill, Aeden complaining and tripping all the way down.
As Aeden stood after her latest fall nearly into the stream at the bottom of the hill, muttering under her breath about getting leaves in her hair, the bushes in front of them rustled. She fell silent.
Tear raised her spear. "Who's there?"
The bushes yelped and a terrified looking man carrying water buckets came out of the bushes, hands in the air. "Don't hurt me! I'm just an innocent coachman!"
Tear lowered her spear again. "We weren't going to hurt you. We're just lost travelers."
The man put his hands down slowly. "You're not with the Dark Wings?"
Tear and Aeden looked at each other, then Tear turned back to the man. "No. We were on the way to the capital, but I'm afraid we've become lost. Does your coach go to the capital?"
"Yes, but tickets to the capital are 10,000 Gald per person. So, 20,000."
Tear was shocked at the amount, but Aeden stepped forward. "Hey, that's not so much. My dad will pay you when we get there."
The coachman shook his head. "Sorry, payment before."
"Hey!" Aeden complained. "I'll have you know, I-"
Tear was torn. On one hand, she hated the idea of giving up something that was so special to her for this irritating girl, but on the other hand, even if she didn't have the girl with her, she could hardly walk back. Especially since she didn't know where she was.
Tear reached up behind her neck and unclasped the chain holding her mother's pendant. She held the jewel out to the man. "Will this be enough?"
The man nodded and took it.
Aeden threw her hands up as she walked past the man. "Yeah! No more walking! No more stupid leaves and bushes!"
Tear bit her lip and followed the other two to the road.
AN: I'm putting the author's note down here so I won't be spoiling myself with: Aeden is mine! Sort of. Well, she's a girl version of Luke for reasons that I can't reveal or else I'll mess up the story. Story-wise, she's Luke fon Fabre's twin sister. Everyone thinks he's dead, but clearly, he's not, so... ^_^
