Ah derp, chapter 4. You know this story sure likely has potential to grow into a 17+ genre. But I admit the atmosphere is too cheerful, don't you think?
Chapter 4
Probably a Saviour
The room wasn't too big neither too small. It was not really bright either, but the lighting is enough with a warm sephia light coming from the lamp placed in each of its corner. In the room, there were two separated beds, both facing to the wide window. They have gotten back to the castle, after the entire of the Emperor's comrades have been healed. The Emperor turned away after he pierced his serious matter to Flynn, without any explanation at all, and Flynn has not even got chance to ask him back. The Emperor did not explain even after they have arrived at the castle. He just commanded his guardian to take both of them to the guest chamber. He said something though, he let Flynn to keep the Holy-stone with him. Although being so much entrusted, he still felt so uneasy.
Sitting upon each bed, none of them has talked once they were in the room. Both of the Mage and the Knight were busy with their deep thought in their mind. So many questions they can't answer only by their guesses. To Flynn, he kept wondering about the Holy-stone. He caressed the stone in his hand with his mind still curious. What was exactly this thing is? Why was it so important that the Emperor dared to do some sacrifise to bring it to the empire? Moreover, he has made the Emperor to get serious by making it active. No one said to be able to active the stone, but he was able. And somehow the stone provided him some power, that let him to use his abilities.
Almost same as him, Rita had been questioning the same matter. But she focused more to the monsters, the energy, this world actually was. The long haired girl once said the name of this world is "Vesperia". That was an ultimate familiar name. It was the name of their team, Guild that Yuri has suggested to form. And according to what she had read it was the name of the brightest star in their world. The surrounding here was more advanced, although they seem to keep their ancient culture and still depend on sorcery, much like Terca Lumiries. But somehow, she felt that this world had their own bigger mystery. And she not felt that this is a total peaceful land they had bumped into. She was itching to do some research here, that if she actually could.
Aside of those, one point that they actually wonder is—how could they actually get back to their world. Despite being so familiar, this is still not their world.
Flynn suddenly came up with an Idea connected to the Holy-stone. Probably, this was a Parallel version of their Blastia. Means that anybody from his world can actually use it.
"Rita. If it was you, could you actually activate your abilities with this stone power?" he said suddenly, offering the stone to her. Rita snapped out of her mind, she was almost spacing out. That's right, she wasn't thinking of that. He came up with that first.
Without words, Rita took the stone. After being held by her for long moment, nothing happened.
"Do you feel any warmth?" Flynn asked curiously.
Rita shook her head. The stone was left cold. Then those two being silenced again.
"So...it was really only me" Flynn then concluded.
"You are really wondering about this stone, aren't you?" Rita commented as she returned the stone to him. Flynn cannot deny but only nodded.
"Me too," she confessed. "Not only that, everything in this world came to my concern. But the most I question about is, are we... actually able to get back?"
Flynn didn't answer. He only looked down, with a certain wondering expression. Then he realized something that add more to the mystery enlisted.
"Wait, Rita. If this is the Parallel world where everything in our world existed as different identity and memory,"
Rita lifted her head, stared at him, giving her full atention.
"Then...our selves too" he said slowly. That made Rita realized something more. That was also hit the sense.
"You're right... but who we are here?" Rita asked, before she realized that of course he also obviously didn't have the answer. Moreover, she also wondered if back then in their world, Yuri, Estelle and the other were worried and looking for them.
They gazed upon each other again, and sighed together. Too much to think. They really need someone that can actually inject some sense to them. That for not long, because a minute later, their room was being knocked.
"Excuse me" a voice heard.
Flynn stood up and opened the door. Their room has a normal door, not one with symbol which will go transparent after they touched it. That because Rita confessed to the Emperor that she actually cannot use any sorcery here, which was a rather funny fact knowing that she claimed herself as a mage. But they haven't tell their true background yet anyway.
The one who stood in front was the cold guardian girl. "The Emperor wanted to have conference with you two included. Please attend" she informed them.
At first Flynn was surprised, but then he saw this as chance. They had to reveal everything, at least that will open the path to the answer. Rita nodded when he twitched to her. She stood up and walked to the door. "Lead us," Rita said to the guardian girl. The girl nodded slowly. She then guided those two passing the corridors, to a large room where the Emperor seemingly awaited.
Surprisingly, the Emperor was alone with only a guardian girl, the pony-tailed one who fight with an axe. When the three of them came, he turned to them, this time with his usual happy-go-lucky easy-going style.
"Oh, you two are fast," he said. "Good then, I assumed you two had already know what was I intended to do. I am gonna squeeze some leak informations from you two" he continued.
Flynn nodded "It was our mutual intention" he replied.
The Emperor flicked his finger, seated in his royal chair, and suddenly, the door and the window are all closed. Rita had this one come as expected. This conference was likely private and important, he won't want this information being leaked to unwanted ones.
Without being commanded, both Rita and Flynn seat at the available chairs there. The guardian girls were still standing beside the Emperor.
"Okay, we shall start. erm, where do we start again?" the Emperor said, he looked like he never get used to a formal conference.
Flynn was able to handle this. "We're still unknown to your fully identity. You may start to introduce yourself—your name, along with your guardians" he implied.
The Emperor smirked. "Oh right. Well, you two can call me with Yuri, just fine. That's the name. In fact, I felt tickled with all those royal addressing things" he said.
As they wanted to be surprised, both of the Terca people has already seeing this coming. The artes names were the same. So in this Parallel world, what is different is only their role and character. Other, everything else was just the same.
"This one is Kiza," Yuri pointed to the long haired guardian girl in his left who was using dagger when she fights, and been always acting cold. He then pointed to her seemed sister, with pony-tail and brutally fight with an axe "And this one is Dazy. Both of them are my very entrusted guardians, that I allowed them to follow this top secret conference. You don't mind it, right?"
Rita and Flynn both shook their head.
"Alright. Since the discussion might involve things connected with the empire—I have one more member who will be included" Yuri uttered. He rolled his eyes slowly to a door that isn't too far away from him. Kiza and Dazy nodded. They went to the door and slowly touched the symbol in it. It eventually became transparent. They can see a shadow of a person. They wondered who might it be.
Finally, the figure has been revealed. There stood a girl, she brought some books, she dressed in white. The figure, to Flynn and Rita surprise, was exactly similar to Estelle, like her clone. Only that her hair was a tad longer.
"Lady—" Flynn held his reflex.
"Estelle" Rita whispered to herself.
They understood now. They had met the Parallel identity of Estelle.
That lady slowly walked herself into the direction of Flynn and Rita. She gaze upon them with her usual angelic looking face, and smiled.
"I heard a lot about you two. Flynn, Rita. Nice to meet you," she bent down in ellegance.
Flynn turned a tad nervous. He was ultimately felt like facing back his Lady Estellise back then. He gestured formally like he usually was. Same goes with Rita. Her face became redden with blush, and she talked with much stutter "N-nice to..meet you" she said.
"I am me Estelle. I act as the Eldress here, serving his highness the Emperor. I hope I can be a help with my knowledges" she revealed her identity.
Eldress.. Flynn and Rita gazed to each other with the same thought.
"Okay now, enough with the formalities to make it quick" Yuri said with an impatient tone. "Tell me your detailed background, you two" he demanded.
Rita back-off from the spotlight, she let Flynn handle the talking.
"The truth is, we're merely foreigners to this world" he started his explanation. The four royal members listened to him carefully with their whole attention.
"We were facing a nature disaster back then. But we failed to escape the worst. We left being unconcsious during then, once we regained back our concsiousness, we were already being in your forest territory. We were clueless" he continued.
"To add more" Rita suddenly urged to speak "We cannot absorb any energy to use is why I, despite being a Mage, cannot use any sorcery here" she explained in details.
Yuri rubbed his chin. He has no comment yet, but he seemed entirely amused.
"I see, that's complex. But I believe you were not lying. Like I said, to me both of you are obviously out of the commons" he commented. Not to mention, he always feel a strange familiar feel.
"And that is why, we need you to reveal everything here. Your Empire, your world. And then...please tell me the mystery behind the Holy-stone and how important it was" Flynn said as he showed the Holy-stone he was bringing with.
Yuri the Emperor did not reply. Instead, he twitched to the pink haired Eldress, Estellise. She nodded to him. She will be the one who reveal all of their world information.
"This world is being called as Vesperia. And you are in the Empire of Esperion. We're located far northern of the globe. We used the energy that was provided within the air called the 'Aldhein'. In order to absorb energy to unleash a powerful spell, we have to use a mediator called 'Soulier'. it created by teamwork of high skilled merchants and Mages, using some material from certain monsters. It form has varieties, usually, people wear it like an accesory"
Rita closed her eyes as she listened to her. What she was expected was true. This world—Vesperia has system of energy circulation the same with Aer Krene and Blastia. They just get different name to be called. So, In order to be able to use magic, she just needed this one kind of Soulier, that simple.
"I see" Flynn said. "So, this Holy-stone is actually one of those Souliers?" he asked back.
"The Holy-stone.." Estelle seemed uncertain at first "...their case is different"
Yuri huffed. "Just tell them fine, Estelle. Otherwise that stubborn blondie just won't stop wondering" he commanded.
Estelle blinked to him, but then she agreed.
"It was one part in our important legend" she said.
Rita tilted her head. The topic finally started to get into something unsual. "Legend?"
Estelle nodded.
"This world, Vesperia was a world born by the Holy energy of Light. However, there were existed another energy of darkness called Sirius. The Sirius has nature to destroy the world that was born from the Holy Light. And the circle will be always like that. Using its enormous power,The darkness of Sirius Invaded this world to bring it to destruction. Sirius was bringing born dark creatures called Phobos as their army. Along with the Prince of darkness. And then, not letting the people in this world suffer, the Holy Light bringing born a saviour, A Knight of Divine Light. The Knight earned the core of the Light, and he fought the Prince of Darkness to set the world free. He win, and the darkness has been wiped away.
But it was not completely disappeared. Sirius had one more chance from the beginning and sworn to be back and try to bring desctruction once more. The Knight then wished to be put in a long slumber, in place unknown where in this world, while his power being divided and transferred into some seals spread in unknown places in this world as well. When the time has come, as the Darkness started to crept once again, he will woke up, collecting his power from the hidden seals, before finally risen to fight the prince of darkness once more"
Estelle exhaled deeply once she finished. The rest should be up to Yuri.
Rita was being totally absorbed to the legend story, and so did Flynn. so that was the actual background of this world.
"You see, those monsters we fought before—they are likely what we call as 'Phobos' the darkness creatures" Yuri said. There was none of his tone that indicate him being in pressure, though.
"Just few years ago, Strange evil monsters appeared out of nowhere in this world. Not only that. They caused disasters. And to add the worst story, many people started to suffer, the life supplies such as plants, fruits, water had been decreased. That making some Kingdoms become as gluttony as they could and started to fight over each other to expand their area—to regain their proper life supplies. Killing innocent people was already a common scene here.
Our Empire was not the exception. There were many enemies wanted to take our land. Which is why, the defense territory such as that Forest of Illusion were created. fortunately, we're the Empire with most Ancient researcher and knowledgable Mages took residence."
"That is ugly," Rita terse commented.
"Wait, so..the legend was real?" Flynn was curious.
Yuri silenced for a while.
"I can't really answer that. Indeed, I hate those arrogant Kingdoms. I wished to kick their leader's butt. So I look for some chance to end this silly fight over Kingdoms and Empires"
"We then found a record of this legend. Some researchers were sent to investigate the truth of this legend. That was just recently. We started to look for these seals" Estelle said as she opened a book.
"And you two were really came in the right timing. The first hunt was today, when one of our researcher has indicated that they found there was one of our people made a journal about how he found a strange stone in a cave near the Esperion—this empire. The person went unknown though, probably when he actually wanted to retrieve the stone, he got butchered by those larva monsters" Yuri continued, with a tone that shows no concern about the poor man mentioned.
Rita stayed in silent. She was quiet interested, although it was not her actual subject to research about something historical, the legend took her an interest.
"That was one of those strange monster that actually popped out of nowhere. I am making guess that it was keeping the seal—that Holy-stone so no one can gather it. That only makes sense if it was the 'Phobos' and the Knight was.." Yuri inhaled, before he stared straight to Flynn with a strange look.
Flynn gulped. "Wait Yuri,..you're not pertaining any .." he tried to avoid being stared like that. However, the fact that he was the only one who took the heroic role and linked straightly to the Holy-stone.
Yuri smirked and continued with his cool tone "Well, I don't know. What was the legend said again?"
"When the darkness started to crept in this world once more, the Knight will wake up, collecting his power from the Seals, before finally risen to fight the darkness again" Rita repeated the line she remembered most.
"To our knowledge, that means no one can use the seal power, none but ..the Knight himself" Estelle added conclusion, while staring to Flynn. in fact, everyone in the room including Rita was having their sight to him.
Having the spotlight of attention, Flynn became uneasy. But then what argument he can use to deny their conclusion? Back then he made Rita tried to use the stone, and it has no reaction, unlike when he used it. That as well, Rita has awared of, which made her following to stare at him.
"While it sounds riddiculous because you don't look like it at all, maybe, you were the knight. Or his reincarnation. Or whatever works behind" Yuri made up a conclusion while secretly mocked him in his first sentece.
Flynn was confused. He cannot accept this, it didn't make any sense to him at all. He was a normal grown-boy who had climbed his way to become a Knight, a commander with high skill of fighting. That was all. And he was just accidentally being dragged into one twist of problem due to the hurricane, what the heck in the world he suddenly become the heroic figure that existed in legend? How is that not funny?
"Although," Estelle continued while she read a book "The book that has the legend written was torn apart—it was unfinished. It stopped at a sentence 'the maiden' and then, the rest of the pages were gone and we couldn't find it even after we looked for it everywhere" she said as she showed them the part when the book has torn apart.
Yuri sighed with a disappointment face. "You're implying that we cannot judge Flynn as the Legendary Knight yet, right? Because the book wasn't finished yet"
"Yes.." Estelle answered in firm. "Besides, this book isn't originally owned by us. It owned by another region that seemingly have strong connection to the legend and the Knight himself"
Flynn sighed in relief. Then there is any chance that it was only a lucky opportunity for him to be able to use the Holy-stone, which actually was the Seal where the Legendary Knight of Light has sealed all of his powers into. He couldn't be the Knight. It was absurd.
"Interesting," suddenly Rita said with a grin. she attracted their attention. "I got interested to be involved in your research about that legend. If you permit me, let me get one of the Soulier and access to your databases. I am decent as a researcher you know," Rita shared her intention.
"Rita.." Flynn blinked to her.
Yuri seemed to give it a thought. But then, there was no strong reason he couldn't agree. A help is better than none at all.
"Alright, Estelle. Give her one Soulier. and lead her to our library" Yuri finally commanded.
"I understood" Estelle said as she smiled to Rita. She put down one of the rings she wore in her finger. She released a stone carved to the ring, and gave it to her. Rita looked satisfied—as expected she will once she received that Soulier. She then somehow managed to attach the stone into her necklace—which was the place where Blastia core attached. Now with this, she felt perfect.
"We're heading to the library, are you ready to go?" Estelle again bent to her, giving her gentle smile. Rita was again blushed as her respond. But then she shook her head and firmly declared, "Yes, please"
Then those two walked away. When Rita passed the blonde Knight though, she can see him looking at her with somehow worried look.
"Worry not blondie. Get your air head into a leveled one. With this mediator I got, from now on everything should be fine" she said with a confidence tone.
Didn't bring the insult she forwardly said, Flynn replied with a nod, before watching those two girls left the conference room.
"What's wrong, Flynn, still over think about you being a superhero?" Yuri suddenly appeared near him. Almost making him surprised.
"Y-Yuri.." He stuttered, and then he looked away "Just that why is it I feel something will not going right" he said as he stared to the direction where Estelle and Rita has left.
"Ho.." Yuri said still in his teasing voice. "They are just going to the central library located at the bottom of our hill. It's not that is a dangerous place, worrier" He folded his hand, talking with an easy-going tone.
"Hope so" was Flynn's terse reply.
Yuri stared at him. He had something in his mind that made him suddenly wore a lifted eyebrow with strange grin upon his face.
"Say...what's your connection with that little mage?" he shot a straight question.
"Connection..?" Flynn reconfirmed his question.
Yuri nodded. "You two should have some...well, bond. Or that was my guess"
"Well..she's..one of my valuable comrades. We're in the same team who work to fight for our destiny—that was a long story." Flynn answered as he recalled some events with Brave Vesperia. Although being in the world that merely still shared some familiar with them.
Yuri exhaled with a calm smile.
"I wasn't expecting that answer actually, but you're so dense alright" he said as he turned away.
"Huh?"
"Nevermind. Tell me your story of your fight for destiny sometimes later when our business done, blondie" he said as he called back Kiza and Dazy, leaving the conference room. Flynn was left alone with all of his confusion.
"What was it.." he huffed before spacing out to the windows which have been opened since Estelle and Rita has left.
-Esperion Capital Central Library—
Estelle gazed to Rita for about half hour and more. She was amazed that the brunette Mage really full at her concentration when she got the book already in her hand. She dive into her fun reading, and seemed like nothing can distract her while doing so. To Estelle's opinion she was adorable that way, making her giggled.
"Hm?" Rita finally realized that Estelle was looking at her the whole time. She got distracted just when she started to giggle.
"Oh, sorry if I disturbed you," she stopped her giggle and changed her expression.
"N-nah...what's wrong?" Rita stuttered again to her nervous.
Estelle shook her head.
"No, it's just that I think you are amazing. You really like reading books, aren't you, Rita?" she showed her angelic smile to her when she was asking.
"E-eh..eh... well..erm..more and less," Rita has gotten more nervous, she tried to bring her focus back to the book, but still can't. She burried her face to the book so no one will notice her blush.
But Estelle noticed, that made her giggles again.
Anyway, aside of those distractions, Rita has absorbed some useful information after her one-hour reading. Although, some of the facts were...clashing with what she has expected. But that wasn't important. The most interesting part was the explanation about those phobos. They cannot be taken down by normal physical attack, and seemed obviously really weak to light elemental attack.
Another one, from what she had read, the Knight fell into slumber because of the incantation of someone. And this someone also, the one who transferred his power into the Seals—known as Holy-stone and spread them into different locations in the world. That means, the Knight himself has no clue of where were the seals, and how many of them actually. He has to be led by this someone.
Rita shared the information she found to Estelle, hoping that she might knew the other knowledge connected to all of this.
"Maiden.." Estelle remembered the last word written in the book. "Probably, there was an Holy Maiden that was in role of putting the Knight into slumber, and sealed his powers. And she was probably the only one who can call upon the Holy-stones"
"Call upon..what do you mean?"
"No one knows where the seal were actually located. They have to be 'called' by the Maiden. And she also seemed to be the one who can exactly feel the presence of the Seals" Estelle explained.
"But..Yuri could.."
"It was a luck that an archeologist found it accidentally and wrote them detailed in his journal. But I think, another locations cannot be found that easy. It took time, and we have a really limited time" She replied.
Rita looked down with a deep thought.
"Then, we just need this maiden. She'll wake up the Knight, babysit him, leading him to the seals, he regained his power, and he fight the darkness for all good happy ending" Rita said.
Estelle blinked her eyes. The way Rita talked has made her laughing. Rita was confused of why did she laugh. Was there something on her face?
"Rita is actually funny," She commented "But, I like you"
Rita was put in derp. Good, now she got blushed again, after hearing her words. Aside that she also feeling some pleasure. She tried hard to get back once again to the topic.
"A-anyway, do you know who likely is the Maiden? Or has a thought for it" Rita asked, trying to distract her mind.
Estelle shook her head with a sad look.
"We don't know. She might be one from more than million females in this world spread in different region. The chance is too large to see" She said.
"Aww," Rita hissed. And just when they finally find a big stepping rock, the rock was unknown of this world. She looked down again in thought. That was when suddenly she found a symbol written in the book. Right on its first page.
"Estelle, what was this symbol?" She asked.
Estelle stared. She looked clueless, making Rita wondered of why didn't she answered.
"Umm..which symbol?" Estelle asked carefully, like she didn't want to hurt Rita's feeling. Because actually, she saw nothing.
Rita blinked. She then pointed to the first page. The simple symbol or circle with something like letter inside it was obviously drawn there and her eyes can see it crystal clear.
"This, this one with circle"
"Umm..." Estelle looked totally confused. "Sorry Rita, all I see is a blank page.."
"Eh?" Rita was surprised. She wanted to re-draw the symbol that maybe that way Estelle can tell it.
That was when suddenly an earthquake occured. A big one.
People in the library went panic. The library was located under the hill and it means the roof can crush them good at their head. They rushed to the entrance, making it stuck with sea of people. People were so impatience, they were fighting each other because they wanted to go out first.
Rita and Estelle lost their balance as they fell down. But Rita quickly grabbed Estelle's hand and lead her to a temporary shelter under the table. However, the table looked started to get damaged by the falling objects caused by the quake.
"W-what to do?" Estelle looked worried.
Rita gritted her teeth. Their shelter won't last any longer. They have to get out of there.
"Estelle, we have to escape, quick!" Rita offered her hand as she started to move. Estelle was uncertain but then she nodded and took Rita's hand. Rita then dragged her passing the halls of the library. Of course, falling objects were the big obstacle. She felt dejavu again. This is exactly the same like the time where she was escaping falling roofs during the storm, only, her role is different. She is now the one who took the lead, grabbing the hand of someone to be protected with all of her will.
Like it wasn't bad enough, the flooring started to crumble down.
"Ugly.." Rita hissed as she tried to focus on their safety.
"Rita, be careful" Estelle warned her as Rita almost hit herself with a pillar. Damn, it was dead end.
"The exit is there" Estelle pointed to left direction from them. They got to run some long distance before reaching the goal, though. But there was no time to be in doubt, either they'll both die here. Rita took detour to the direction where Estelle pointed. Just few meters more and they will be safe.
"Okay, here we—"
Rita took an instant backstep when suddenly the entrance was being blocked by a falling shelf. While in their route, the flooring has already crumbled down. If they cannot get their exit there, they can say bye-bye to the legendary knight.
Rita wasn't panic at all. That obstacle can easily be wiped out by her fireball, alright. And she already got a Soulier as the mediator to use some spells.
"Don't worry, I'll break through my way here" Rita said with a confidence grin. She stretched her hand. "O Flickering blaze, burn.."
"FIREBALL" she casted upon a spell.
But, nothing happened.
"What—" Rita was shocked. She already got a Soulier, what else could be wrong?
"FIREBALL!" Rita repeated her incantation, but still nothing happened.
She knelt down with a terribly shocked face. She cannot function the Soulier!