Disclaimer: Legend of Mana is not owned by Lurial! It is owned by Squaresoft! SQUARESOFT!! So please do not hunt Lurial! Lurial does not own the Mana-ness. Please do not sue Lurial! Lurial is Poor! ::nod nod.::
Author's Note: Wow! People actually READ this fanfic! I was about to take it down because I didn't think anyone was bothering to read it at all. I suppose I could let it live a bit longer ¬_¬.
Chapter 7: Wisdom of Gaeus
On their way back home from the Luon Highway, Bud was cheerily gloating about his recent adventure. After all! Just how many people out there could go and visit Gaeus?! Reia merely shook her head and smiled gently as the tiny elf skipped along the dusty path that lead back to their home.
Just as the Reia and her "number one apprentice" were passing by the town of Domina. The Guardian of Mana blinked as her vibrant jade eyes settled upon a familiar figure standing by the town's entrance. One good look told Reia that it was Daena, the temple warrior from the Gato Grottoes. It appeared that feline maiden had just left Domina's Inn and was preparing herself for a forthcoming journey.
The feline temple guard greeted Reia with a gentle smile and canted her head to one side as she gazed upon the Guardian of Mana. She still had on her temple battle outfit and the cat-bells that dangled from her ears and neck chimed as she moved. Curiosity peeked from within those feral blue eyes and the warrior maiden finally spoke in a good-natured tone of voice.
"Say, do you know about the Mana Tree?"
Reia seemed a bit startled by the question. She knew more than she ever wanted to know about the Mana Tree... Still, she answered the question anyway.
"Yes, I know about it."
Daena chuckled and shook her head. "You don't have to play along. I know there's no such thing... What happens to your soul after you die...?"
Reia blinked.
-My soul...?-
She had never really thought about such a thing before, yet she knew the answer to that question too. After all... how could her soul ever really die...?
"It lives forever."
The feline temple guard looked pleased with that answer and smiled.
"I think so too. I've been wounded a hundred times in battle, but no one has ever managed hurt my soul. Your soul is the essence of who you are. It's something eternal in a world of temporary things. I can't believe that anything could ever happen it..."
The temple warrior gained a distant look in her cat-like eyes as she stared down the path Reia and Bud had just walked in from. A soft sigh escaped her and she shook her head.
"You know, I want to go meet Gaeus..."
Bud's eyes brightened as he looked up towards Daena. He looked like an elven light bulb.
"Hey, we were just there!"
"Really?" The feline looked astonished.
"Yeah! It was so cool!"
A look of hope glowed within Daena's sapphire blue eyes, and Reia could see it easily. The Guardian of Mana offered the cat-like warrior a kind smile and gestured towards the road that lead back to Luon Highway.
"I could lead you to Gaeus if you like. I still remember the way."
Daena's eyes peered down the road for a moment before looking down at Bud. If it was one thing that the temple warrior disliked... it was letting people see her weak. Letting people see her feelings... And talking to Gaeus would most definitely let people see the more emotional, vulnerable side of her. She didn't want more than one person to see that...
"Thanks, but I'm not one for big groups... Sorry, I'm so selfish."
"It's alright." Reia simply nodded and then turned towards Bud, crouching down so she could speak to the little elf face to face. She kept her expression a solemn one, as if she was going to tell the small child a thing of utmost importance.
"Now Bud, I'm going to take Daena to see Gaeus the Wisdom. I'm depending on you to defend our home with Lisa while I'm away. Is that understood?"
Bud straightened up and saluted like an army cadet. "Yes Ma'am! I, Bud the Great, will do my best to defend the fort!"
Reia nodded sagely, trying hard to keep a straight face. "Dismissed!"
With that, "Bud the Great" marched off towards the house like a solider, shouting something that sounded like "LEFT...!! LEFT...!! LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT!! LEFT...!!"
The Mana Guardian watched her young apprentice leave with an amused grin and then turned back towards Daena with a confident, warm smile. "Let's go. I'd be happy to help you."
The temple guard looked pleased once again and bobbed her head. This young blonde woman was different than the rest of the world. Strange... kind... with an aura of trustworthiness... Daena had known right from the beginning that this green eyed, sunny haired woman was someone different and special.
"Thank you. I knew you would say that. Let's go."
Once again Reia found herself back at Luon's Highway. Daena proved herself to be quite adept with the two battle-scared flails she had in her paws and after easily plowing through rabites, chocoboes, lulla buds, and other infamous monsters... the two battle maidens were standing before Gaeus of Earth. Reia was beginning to think of the Wisdom as the universal giver of advice... but perhaps all Wisdoms were this way.
Gaeus' fatherly old voice rumbled forth with its deep, sonorous tone.
"Welcome, my children. Come closer..."
Stepping up into Gaeus' stone hand, Daena hid her slight fear as the rocky hand rose upwards, bringing them right in front of Gaeus' huge face. Once again, that fatherly voice boomed as the Wisdom spoke.
"Hello there... What can I do for you?"
Daena swallowed hard as she gathered her courage and rose her voice loud enough to be heard.
"My friend is about to die from a demon's curse. What can I do to help her?"
"Do what your friend wants you to do..." Gaeus replied evenly.
Daena's voice rose a pitch and her eyes flashed as they filled with emotions. "She doesn't ask me to do anything for her... She's just going to accept what is going to happen!!"
Gaeus spoke back in his ever so calm and gentle voice. "Then you must accept that... Did you understand what that person said to you...?"
The feline battle maiden suddenly shook her head as her frustration mounted, sending tremors through her voice.
"No, I didn't!! She was so strong-willed!! A demon weakened her, both in body and in spirit... I only want to help her regain her former self!!"
Gaeus' eyes swirled with sympathy and his voice took on a comforting tone. "People have the power to change themselves. That is what she is trying to teach you. Listen to her words..."
Daena remained silent for a moment, before responding in a softer, more composed tone of voice.
".......... Thank you. I will try to think about this calmly..."
If Gaeus could give the feline a gentle pat on the back, he would have, but instead the Wisdom offered a comforting smile before lowering his two visitors back down to the ground. "Come again my children."
Reia walked out of Gaeus' domain quietly. She felt bad for Daena, but decided it was best to remain quiet. The temple guard and her problems were none of Reia's business after all...
Daena was following Reia from behind before she reached out and stopped the blonde maiden. A small, forced smile was on her face as she shook the Mana Child's hand.
"Thank you so much, Reia. I feel... a lot better now. I think I know what I must do... Please take this, I would give you lucre, but I'm short on money right now."
Reia felt a light, round object fall into her hands and found it to be a small, pale blue ring. The feline warrior then said her goodbyes and dashed off before another word could be spoken.
Meanwhile, lurking deep within the shadows, a pair of icy blue eyes narrowed down upon the Guardian of Mana. A low chuckle could be heard as the mysterious figure shifted from within the darkness. A maniacal grin was spread across his chiseled features as he watched his target... his victim... his prey. He spoke clearly... yet magic prevented his smooth, even voice from reaching Reia's ears. The man watched Reia with a bit of savage hunger.
"You found this new world only days ago and yet here you are... helping and saving people already."
The man chuckled again softly as he watched the Mana Guardian start on her way back home where her apprentices were waiting.
"You're much more intelligent and beautiful than I expected... yet still quite naive and innocent... I look forward to the day I get to have you, Reia. And I assure you... that day will be soon.
Very, very soon indeed."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Teaser for Chapter 8
"Syrian..."
"Syrian...?!"
"Syrian...!!"
The Knight looked up with horror to see a young blonde girl struggling against a colossal beast. The girl had beautiful eyes of emerald color and her voice was like a siren's...
Syrian's eyes widened as he darted towards the maiden, unleashing his broad sword.
"Reia?! Is that you?!"
Reia turned at the sound of Syrian's voice and reached out her arms towards him. A look of fear swept over her pale, delicate features as the monster wrapped itself around her lower body and started to take her into itself.
But the monster appeared to be more than just a vile creature... it vaguely resembled the Mana Tree and as Syrian raked his blade against the monster's flesh all he made were woody slashes and splinters. Reia whimpered and cried out in terror as she looked Syrian in the eye.
"Knight of Mana...!! Help me! I cannot defeat it alone! Please... help me!"
Syrian grabbed hold of Reia's hand, only for it to slip away as the monster suddenly wrenched the maiden out of his grasp. It held onto Reia tightly causing her to pass out as the creature it roared it's horrible voice at the Knight of Mana.
"You are worthlessssss... Knight of Mana..!! I will desssstroy your presiousssss world and claim it assss my own!! You.... will die!!"
Author's Note: I'm not sure whether I want to continue this fanfic or not. I'm not really sure if people actually bother to read this story at all! I personally think this story started out way to serious and all. I'll try to loosen it up from now on. What do you readers think? ( If there are readers o_O )
