Chapter 3: Crimson Night
Little Falcon: Whoa, I'm actually surprised to see that so many people read this story because from what I know the series Kiba is not very popular though it's a damn good anime. (Don't you agree?) It's so underrated *deep sigh* anyway… since a lot of you are waiting for this chapter. I'm sorry for being late… yet again… read and review please… oh I plan on writing some Roia-Zed oneshots… in an alternate universe… err same characters different setting… what do you think?
It was still dark… everything was still and quiet… except for the maiden that tossed her blankets away from her body and marched again to her mirror. It wasn't a dream right? Pulling down her gown hastily to reveal one of her shoulders, her opposite hand immediately touched the bare shoulder. What's happening? Her hand fell heavily on her side as she looked at her refection in the mirror- a girl with long black hair wearing a white night gown with one of her shoulders exposed and her dark eyes… in chaos.
With all her summoned effort, Roya tore her gaze from the mirror and reluctantly made her way towards her bed. This can't be happening… my shoulder… that's the proof of Tuskan blood running through my veins. Does that mean… shaking her head vigorously, "I'm sure I'm just tired… everything will be as it is… tomorrow… or rather… later," she glanced out of the open window to see the moon with a little of its part turning blood red. "Tomorrow…" her eyes slowly gave way.
In Roya's Dream
"Jikko-sama! Jikko-sama!" a 5 year old girl with short raven black hair ran towards an older man on that was fishing on a distant lake. "Roya, I told you to be quiet when I'm fishing… the fishes get scared," the man smiled as he faced the smiling little girl.
"I've read in a book that some people use another language to hide a secret… it's a language that's unknown to others except the one that wrote it and the one that will read it… it's interesting right?" Little Roya sat beside Jikko and watched the fished nibble the bait. "I'm surprised to know you're reading the fiction books I have at home... and was able to understand it well. You're really something Roya," Jikko's eyes were at his small student as he chuckled heartily.
"Ne… Jikko-sama? Let's make our own language," her small feet dangled in the ridge of the large stone they were sitting on as her big round eyes looked at her mentor.
"Hmmm?" Jikko smiled back at Roya.
"So that… if we have a secret… no one will ever find out… we'll take our secret to the grave," the little girl clenched one of her small fists in enthusiasm as she reiterated one of the lines in the book. Her mentor laughed out loud making the fish that was about to bite the bait swim away.
"Alright…" Jikko got up from his spot and approached the little girl that was calling for him from the nearby clearing.
"This would be our…" the old man bent over to see what Little Roya was writing on the grassless ground with a fallen branch.
Feeling her heart beating painfully, she felt herself being pulled out of the dream. Her eyes snapped open then she sat up almost immediately. Her hands placed on the stone on her neck that held her shards. It was wildly emitting a light… at the same rhythm with her painful heart beat.
Sweat broke through her pale skin despite the cold morning. One of her hands pressed against her neck and one crumpled her blanket as the pain in her chest grew intolerable. What…what's happening? Breathing was becoming impossible for her as the pain became intolerable… it was as if her own heart beat is causing her death. Her vision grew blurry as her strength faded… leaving her unconscious in bed.
****
"She's not here," his eyebrow rose in curiosity as he looked at the empty clinic nearby. Scratching his head helplessly, the white haired shard caster turned around to make his way back to town but he stopped dead as he saw two shard casters grinning widely at him.
"Yo, Zed," the shard caster slash baker greeted him with a plastered smile on his face while the older blond shard caster merely raised his hand to him in greeting.
"So… what are you going to give her?" Miki gently elbowed his friend as they walked back to town. Zed looked at him with an innocent expression and honestly replied with a "Nothing…"
"EEEEEHHHH??!!" Both Robes and Miki exclaimed making the birds in the nearby trees fly in surprise.
"What do you mean nothing?!" Robes stood in front of the tan shard caster and crossed his arms while Miki stood beside him with the same look in their eyes.
****
The heat of the day woke her up. Weakly, she was barely able to get up from her bed and get dressed. Her dark eyes looked closely at the mirror as her fingers carefully caressed the jewel on her neck. What was that about?
Remembering something, she pulled down her dress to inspect her shoulder- expecting to see her horned protrusions. Her hands shook as they squeezed her shoulders. Her eyes trembled as her mind screamed with questions.
****
"I don't know why you guys are so worked up about this? I'll just greet her and that's it," Zed was growing impatient with the two shard casters that were tailing him and telling him to get Roya a present.
"What good is a greeting? Why not give her flowers or jewelries? My women like those," Robes said with pride as he walked side by side with Zed.
"Well… Roya… unlike any OTHER girl… she's…" while the white haired shard caster searched for the right word. Miki and Robes only looked at each other and smiled. It was so obvious that for Zed… Roya is indeed… special.
"Roya? She went out earlier. She failed to mention where," one of the maids in the household informed them as they arrived at Roya's place.
"That's perfect, Zed," Robes settled his arm casually at the shard caster's shoulder.
"What you mean it's perfect?" Zed was afraid to ask but still he did while he glared at Robes' arm.
"It gives us more time to find a present for Roya!" Miki was the one to answer making Zed sigh helplessly.
****
Sunlight seeped through as the huge wooden door opened. Dust and cobwebs greeted her as she stepped inside the old house. In truth, she wouldn't be here if she was not this desperate for answers. Her guilt about her mentor's death was still in the shadows of her thoughts but the need to know the answers overwhelmed it.
Papers scattered on the floor, beakers and test tubes on the every table and open books piled on almost every space- this is the common setting of her mentor's place. So she was not surprised that the house has no visible walls… only shelves of countless books almost about everything she could think of.
Taking a long breath, Roya began to search for something that might give her clue to what was really going on with her and… "The Last Covenant,"
****
"Let's split up and search for her," Zed immediately ordered his two friends unknowingly as soon as he found out that Roia didn't come back home. She wasn't in the clinic or the usual places she in. Besides that… he was starting to grow uneasy for some unknown reason. His emerald eyes mirrored the crimson circle on the night sky.
Roia… you BETTER be alright…
****
It was only until she cannot read the titles of the books on the shelves were she able to realize that it was already this late. As soon as she entered her mentor's house and started searching, she did not even once took a break to rest or even eat. So engrossed to find the answers, she did not even bothered to know the time.
"What a way to spend my birthday," her sigh made the dust on the shelf scatter and in turn making her sneeze. "I better call it a day," Pulling the door close she turned around, only to see five hooded figures meters in front of her. With their faces concealed, their black robes swayed with the strong wind as the crimson moonlight bathed the ground.
"The Tuskan princess prophesized… to cause her own father's demise," one spoke with a voice that seemed to have originated from under the grave. Roia's eyes widened in surprise to hear these people talk about her past. Her hand nervously traveled to the jewel on her neck as the figures dreadfully close their distance.
"We've come for you…"
Little Falcon: Ooopppsss, sorry had to end it there now. Yes I know I'm a jerk… that's why you love me right? Joke… anyway read and review please…