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Tales of Vesperia: Lights and Shadows
Chapter 06 – A Dependable Princess
"The woman in white from Mantaic?" Yuri echoed, somewhat surprised.
Estelle had awoke late in the morning after sleeping peacefully for the first time in a long while. Yuri had said nothing about the events that had transpired the night before and simply provided a meal before insisting they move forward.
With a new-found sense of clarity and a definite appreciation for Yuri's kindness, not to mention what he had just dealt with on account of her the night before, she had decided to be honest with him. As they went, she told him the details of the nightmares that had plagued her. Speaking them aloud made her feel power over them, but sharing them also frightened her. In recounting the details of her nightmares, she also shared with Yuri just how utterly worthless she was. Though she assumed he was already well aware by this point.
"Yes," Estelle replied. She wrung her skirt, her eyes moving along the trail in front of her feet. "However, the one I see most frequently is Alexei."
Yuri's expression darkened at the mention of the name.
"I haven't had dreams about him in a very long time," Estelle told him, quietly.
Briefly, she recalled the time he had taken her hostage and enslaved her, using her powers against her friends and against the world. After her rescue, she had nightmares about him frequently. The farther she moved from that point in time, the easier it became to sleep at night. Eventually, the nightmares had entirely disappeared. She had finally been freed from his grip on her, but now…
"Why didn't you say anything?" Yuri asked her. His voice was gentle and not at all harsh.
Estelle had to think only a moment.
"I didn't want to be a burden anymore."
Yuri stopped. She moved a ways ahead before realizing he was not following.
"Anymore?" he echoed.
Estelle watched him but then hastily turned away, a heavy weight bringing her shoulders and her head down.
"At some point, I hope to be strong enough to manage these things on my own," she explained, though her voice was faint, hardly an expression of strength. "I've always depended on someone, and I've never been able to support anyone in the same way. I want to stop relying on others and help people instead."
"Why can't you do both?" Yuri asked. Now he was beginning to understand her actions.
"I-if I weren't here," Estelle started, staggering on her words. The statement was painful to make, and saying it made it that much more real. "You would accomplish your missions more quickly. Instead, you're always helping me, and—"
"Without you, I'd probably be dead," Yuri interrupted, flatly. Estelle looked at him in surprise. "You've rescued me in a pinch on more occasions than I can count."
"It's not the same," sighed Estelle, turning away again.
"Yeah it is," Yuri retorted. He stepped over to her and stood in front of her. "Estelle, what if you were injured right now, and I couldn't heal you? Would you be angry at me?"
"Of course not," Estelle replied, meeting eyes with him. "I could never be angry with you over something I know you're incapable of."
"Precisely," Yuri said. He swung his sword up and held it out toward her with a smile. "I might not be able to heal you if you need it, but I can fight for you, if that helps. That's about all I offer, so that's what I do." He thought for a moment, then added, "You don't have to do everything to be useful. You just need to do what you do and do it well."
Estelle considered his words before frowning, looking to the ground.
"Is that really okay, though?"
"Why not?" Yuri asked, resting his sheathed sword on his shoulder and tipping his head to the side, still offering her a very warm smile. "I get in trouble, you heal me. You get in trouble, I fight for you. Sounds fair to me."
At this, Estelle giggled. She was not so certain, but his argument seemed genuine and relatively sound.
"Although," began the princess, feeling argumentative. She was still managing a smile. "Is it fair if you only ever get in trouble because of me in the first place?"
"Like I need you to get me into trouble," Yuri snapped, turning his head to the side and looking offended. "I was getting into fights and getting thrown into jail long before I met you." He smiled back at her again and offered a wink. "It's just more fun with you because now the people I irritate are on a whole new level."
"You're terrible," Estelle sighed with a smile.
"Let's go," Yuri said, turning and moving forward along the trail that would lead them to Zaphias. He hesitated only to ensure she was still with him. "It seems like now more than ever we need to figure out what these rocks are. Hopefully, some of Aspio's researchers will be available to help us figure it out."
"Yes," Estelle agreed. She followed after him. "Rita may be there, and I'm sure she would be willing to help."
"Without a doubt," he replied.
Yuri led the way, Estelle followed behind him, and Repede tagged along at the end. Estelle looked to Yuri before smiling very sweetly to herself. She brought her hands to her chest.
"Thank you, Yuri," she said, softly.
"Hm?" Yuri paused and glanced back at her, eyebrows raised. "You say something?"
"Nothing at all."
Zaphias. Yuri, Estelle, and Repede all considered the capital of the Empire their home, and as they entered the lower quarter of the city, they all shared a subtle sense of peace and relief. And though the lower quarter itself was seemingly void of life, there was music and laughter pouring down the streets from the citizens quarter. The trio were approaching the inn when footsteps snuck up behind them, and they were only made aware of someone approaching by the sound of their voice.
"Yuri, back already?" asked Hanks.
Turning, Yuri and his companions faced the elder man. Though the tone of the white-haired, aged man's voice sounded a bit chiding, he wore a pleasant smile on his face.
"Hey, old man!" Yuri answered, returning the smile.
"And I see you brought the young lady with you," Hanks remarked, tipping his head to Estelle. "Have you been keeping him in line like I asked?"
Yuri gave a dubious look to the old man who was much like a foster father to him, then gave an equal look of questioning to the young woman standing beside him.
"W-well," Estelle started, turning red and feeling put on the spot. She shifted her weight between her feet. "Rather, he was keeping me in line, I think."
"She was sneaking through here looking for you," Hanks explained to Yuri, taking the young man's scrutiny off the princess. "I figured it would be good for her to be around you to help keep you in your right mind."
"Gee, thanks," Yuri grumbled. Still looking altogether unimpressed, he asked, "Where is everyone?"
"There's a festival up in the citizens quarter, and everyone from the lower quarter and on up to the castle have gathered there," Hanks explained. "Were you planning on attending?"
"It's just a coincidence we're here at the same time," Yuri said. He turned his attention to Estelle, who looked up the path toward the citizens quarter with deep longing. "Although…"
"I can't," Estelle said, turning her eyes away from the path and speaking fiercely. Mostly for herself. "If Flynn made any of the knights aware of the circumstances, I could be caught."
"Caught?" Hanks echoed. He frowned at Estelle. "By Flynn?"
"Um…" Estelle flushed red again and turned away.
"Are you getting her into trouble?" Hanks turned on Yuri immediately, folding his arms over his chest and giving the young man a stern look. "What have we said about dragging this young lady about and causing her grief?"
"Why me-!?" Yuri sighed and hung his head. "I didn't do anything!" Then, he scowled at the elder man. "Is it not possible that Flynn could be the one causing trouble just for once?"
"No," Hanks answered, firmly.
Yuri sighed again, but Estelle giggled. As they were speaking, a young brown-haired boy ran down the street. He glanced at them out of the corner of his eye, and his eyes widened.
"Yuri, and—"
As they turned to look at him, the boy slid to a stop and then changed his trajectory, scampering toward them with a large smile on his face.
"Estelle!"
"Is everyone more excited to see Estelle than they are to see me?" Yuri offered Repede a look. The dog stared at him in return but seemed entirely unconcerned.
"Ted, you're not at the party?" Hanks questioned, frowning at the boy.
"I'm heading there now, but," started the boy. Ted stopped directly in front of the princess, panting after having run a great distance. He turned bright eyes on her. "Estelle, I need your help!"
"What is it?" asked Estelle, concerned.
"You see," he started. His face turned red. "You see, you see…"
"Spit it out, Ted," Yuri said.
"I was going to make her my girl!" Ted exclaimed, shouting in response to Yuri's command. He immediately turned even brighter red before clasping both hands over his mouth.
Three adults and one dog stared at him in bewilderment.
"W-what I meant to say is," Ted stammered, tugging on the front of his shirt. He looked anywhere but at them. "Estelle, you're from the royal quarter, aren't you?"
"Something like that," Estelle answered, hesitantly.
"My friend is from there, too. And I wanted to…" the boy began to stammer again. He scowled and tried simply shouting again in order to get the words out of his mouth. "How can I make her like me!?"
Yuri choked and then began laughing. Ted stepped back, stunned by the reaction, and then aptly kicked the dark-haired swordsman in the leg. Yuri hopped back but kept laughing.
"You got a crush on that girl, huh?" Yuri teased.
"Shut up and go away!" Ted yelled.
"But why are you asking me?" Estelle questioned.
"Well, you're a noblewoman," Ted explained. He had turned his back to Yuri and did his best to ignore the sneering swordsman, giving his complete and utter attention to the princess. "I don't know what a noblewoman likes! If I'm going to do this, I gotta do it right!"
"Ted took a fancy to that girl from the royal quarter," Hanks commented.
"I remember him mentioning her before," Yuri responded, calmly. He glanced between the princess and the boy. "Ted, they like books."
"No one asked you!" Ted flapped his hand at Yuri in annoyance. "Go away!"
"Lots of books," Yuri continued.
Estelle looked at Yuri pointedly this time.
"There's nothing wrong with that."
"What do I do, Estelle?" Ted asked. "We're spending the day at the festival today, and I…" His face flushed red again before he closed his eyes and shook his head at himself, working up some form of courage. "I want her to like me and be my girlfriend!"
Yuri wanted to laugh again and tease the boy, but he held his tongue. Estelle was deep in thought at that point, and he was at least curious to hear what sort of advice she would give him.
"W-well," Estelle started. "Everyone is different, so I don't think my advice would be that helpful to you. Besides," she said. She smiled very sweetly at Ted. "If she's spent enough time with you, I'm sure she already likes you just as you are."
"But she's a noble," Ted said, his voice and confidence wavering. "She's special."
"If she were a girl from the lower quarter, how would you approach her?" Estelle asked, curiously.
"I'd bring her a frog."
Three adults and one dog again stared at the boy, stunned.
"W-well, you brought flowers for this girl," Estelle started, pointing out that the boy had a pocket full of yellow flowers from a nearby field. "So that's a wonderful start!"
"What else can I do?" Ted groaned. He pouted as best he could. "Please help me, Estelle! I don't know what to say to her!"
"Alright," Estelle finally agreed, thinking hard. "How to impress a girl from the royal quarter…"
"Take notes," Hanks ordered, nudging Yuri in the ribs with an elbow. He received eyes rolling as a response.
"Maybe you can ask her to dance," Estelle finally said, smiling at Ted. "Dancing is a typical pastime among the nobility, whether they enjoy it or not. I bet she would enjoy the opportunity to dance with someone she likes, and she might be impressed by your boldness!"
"B-but I can't dance," Ted murmured, hanging his head and his shoulders.
"I can teach you," Estelle told him with a warm smile.
"R-really?" Ted exclaimed, brightening immediately.
"Absolutely! Come with me!"
Estelle offered the boy her hand, and he gratefully took it. They hurried closer to the path leading up to the citizens quarter, giving themselves ample space and a closer proximity to the music pouring down on them from above. Estelle taught the boy how to place his hands and how to move his feet, all the while smiling warmly. Ted started out embarrassed and timid but quickly grew more confident, encouraged by her unceasing patience and warmth. They spun and twirled together as Yuri and Hanks stood aside and watched.
"What's she doing down here when she should be up there?" Hanks questioned, tipping his head forward a bit and passing a look to the young man he had ultimately been giving a hard time since birth.
"Wh-?" Yuri started to ask a question, surprised, but then he simply looked away. "Ask her."
"Look!" Ted exclaimed. "We're dancing!"
In the process of saying so, the boy tripped and staggered. Estelle managed to catch him and straightened him out, smiling and completely unfazed by his blunder. Yuri smirked but kept quiet. Hanks shook his head.
"There's one thing the young lady can't teach you," Hanks said, stepping over to them. He swatted a hand at Ted and forced him to step aside. "How to properly lead." At this, he offered the princess his hand along with a warm smile. "May I?"
"Oh," Estelle started, a bit puzzled. Then, she smiled. "Yes!"
Hanks took hold of the princess and began to spin her around, leading her along to the rhythm of the music from above. Ted watched and scrutinized every action, studying them in detail.
Meanwhile, Yuri stood off to the side with his arms folded across his chest. For some reason, the whole scene playing out in front of him had brought a smile to his face. Estelle had tried to convince Ted that he was worthy enough to pursue the girl of his dreams. And when that had not been adequate enough for him, she quickly offered to help with spontaneous dancing lessons. Now here she was twirling through the lower quarter with probably the most respected man among the people who lived there. She cared for the people of the lower quarter deeply, and they in turn adored her. This member of the Imperial Family who could have been the most selfish of all turned out to be quite the rarity indeed.
Unfortunately, Hanks noticed Yuri's smile. At once, the elder man took the princess for a quick twirl before letting her loose in a rapid spin, sending her straight in the swordsman's direction. Yuri snapped back from his thoughts just in time to catch Estelle, who spun into him with a weak but definitely bewildered gasp.
"What was that for?" Yuri grumbled at Hanks, holding Estelle's sides as she leaned against him, dizzy.
"She slipped," he said, completely serious. "And you looked like you wanted to try."
Yuri's cheeks turned red, and he immediately looked away. He withdrew one hand from her, but he kept the other at her side—she was still dizzy, after all. And even when she was no longer disoriented, Estelle did not make any grand effort to pull away from him. She was full of joy in that instant, was having fun, and was completely oblivious to what Hanks may have been implying.
"Besides," Hanks began. "I'm not proper for dancing with a young lady. Ted would best learn watching the two of you."
"What kind of lame—" Yuri began, but Ted whimpered.
"Please, Yuri!"
Yuri sighed. There were some people he could shoot down in a heartbeat. But when it came to genuine requests from his friends—his family—in the lower quarter, refusal just never seemed to be an option. He sighed again, this time in defeat. He took a step back and then formally offered a hand to the princess. Estelle looked down at his hand, genuinely confused, and then she took it with a sweet smile.
"Can you dance?" she asked, innocently. Yuri clicked his tongue at her.
"If the old man can do it, I can do it better," he responded.
His cheeks remained a light shade of red as they prepared to take their first step. And they took exactly one step before the sound of a cart running on wheels arose from outside of town and before a voice distracted them.
"So you beat me here after all," Kaufman commented, stepping into view. A few of her guild members tagged along behind her, pulling their cart of goods along with them.
Yuri conveniently released the princess and stepped away from her as gracefully as if that had been his plan all along. Both Hanks and Ted let out disappointed groans, which only caused the dark-haired swordsman to turn redder.
"Was I interrupting something?" Kaufman asked, signaling for her teammates to pull the cart off to the side.
"Nothing," Yuri hastily replied, stepping towards the leader of Fortune's Market. "Although you have poor timing. There's a festival right now, so finding a researcher might be tough."
"That so?" Kaufman furrowed her brows, then set a hand on her hip.
Meanwhile, Estelle watched Yuri step away with nary an ounce of disappointment. She had literally believed that it was entirely to Ted's benefit for her to dance with Yuri and was completely unaware that Hanks was merely setting Yuri up for embarrassment. With the moment past, the princess stepped back over to Ted, her smile genuine.
"I think you get the idea, right?" she asked him.
"I-I think so," he answered, honestly. He started to turn toward the trail leading up to the festivities, but he hesitated. Turning and facing Estelle, his cheeks turned a bit red as he spoke again. "You don't think it's strange, do you?"
"What?" Estelle folded her hands over her skirt, standing properly.
At this question, Kaufman and Yuri both looked over. The leader of Fortune's Guild was quite possibly more interested than the swordsman who was trying to distance himself from all of the happenings going on behind him.
"For someone like me to like someone like her…" murmured the boy, his face burning red.
"What do you mean?" Estelle questioned, tipping her head to the side. "I think you're wonderful."
"R-really?" Ted looked up at her, his eyes brightening. He thought for a long moment about the implications of her statement. And then he smiled wide. "Thanks, Estelle! I'm going now!"
Spinning on his heels, the boy dashed up the trail leading up to the festival grounds. Estelle beamed and waved at him.
"Good luck, Ted!" she cheered.
"Well then," Kaufman started, glancing at her cart of goods. She then looked up the path leading further into the heart of Zaphias. "I think I'll head up and see if I can't pull a researcher out from their fun."
"Mind if we wait here?" Yuri asked. Kaufman gave him a look, then smiled.
"Still hiding from the knights, right?" she laughed. She waved, then started up the trail with her crew in tow. "That's fine. We'll call for you when we find someone."
"Thanks."
As Kaufman left, Yuri casually tossed the stones he had been dragging around with him into Fortune Market's collection and then turned back to Estelle and Hanks.
"I'm heading up to my room for a bit," he said. He directed his next question to Estelle. "You coming?"
Estelle glanced around and saw that there was little else for her to do in the barren lower quarter. Instantly, she nodded. Yuri started walking, with Repede close behind him, toward the inn where he lived. The princess, however, turned and bowed politely toward Hanks, who was standing there smiling at them.
"Thank you for a wonderful dance," Estelle said. As she turned to pursue her friend, she added, "And thank you for helping me teach Ted. I'm sure he'll win her heart!"
Hanks nodded at her and watched them head up some stairs and disappear on the second level of the inn.
Lost in a dream again. Estelle was certain of it.
A lush and vibrant forest was all around her, beautiful and bathed in the light of the moon. There was a lake there, familiar yet something she had never seen before. A melody carried on the wind, haunting and beautiful. Estelle knew the words, and before she realized it, she was singing along.
She turned away from the lake and found her there. The woman in white. In her arms she held a bundle of white, within which Estelle was certain there was an infant.
"I never meant to do it," said the woman, solemnly. Though she spoke here in person, it was definitely her voice singing from far away, lyrics drifting along the breeze. "I'm sorry…"
"Who are you?" Estelle asked. Her own voice continued singing somewhere far away, carried away by the breeze. The princess frowned but did not linger on it. "What happened here?"
Suddenly, the woman reached out a hand and pressed her fingers to Estelle's lips, silencing her.
"We have to die," she breathed, her voice a whisper. "I'm sorry."
Estelle's eyes widened at the solemn tone the woman took. And then suddenly, the lake came alive again. The princess understood then—she did know that lake. It rose up in a spiral the same way it had in Mantaic. Though this time it created arms to grab her and pull her backwards into it. She hardly had the opportunity to cry out before she was drowning in the lake, though it was no longer water. It was thick and heavy like wet sand. The princess felt herself being crushed by the weight of it.
"Why did you bring it back to this world?" asked a voice. A man's voice. Familiar, yet unfamiliar.
Drowning. Estelle could not escape. The weight of the catastrophe overwhelmed her, and she had lost her ability to speak, to move, and to even breathe. Worse than any of this, she felt that the greatest tragedy was that she had no idea why she had to die. But she knew precisely what was killing her. It had been her destiny all along, to die because of it.
The Adephagos.
Estelle closed her eyes and allowed herself to drown. Was there any point in fighting? It felt like falling asleep.
And then she opened her eyes with a start and a short gasp. Short of breath but definitely breathing. Sweating and with heart racing, definitely alive.
Estelle blinked her eyes at a white wall before slowly pushing herself upright. She was on a bed and had been on her stomach with her arms folded underneath her head, and a blanket had been haphazardly draped over her. Her eyes scanned the pillow and wall before she turned herself and inspected the room.
It was Yuri's room, she found, and his bed. It was still daylight, and the sound of the festival was still filling the city of Zaphias with life. Repede was resting on the floor at the foot of the bed. Yuri was sitting in his favorite place in the window sill, watching the city below and using the slight point of elevation to scope out areas above as well. He turned his head when Estelle sat up.
"You barely slept at all and already had a nightmare," he commented.
"Oh," Estelle murmured, still in a daze. It had felt like she had been sleeping for a very long time. "I'm sorry I fell asleep."
"What was it this time?" Yuri asked her, completely disregarding her apology. After all, she had fallen asleep sitting up at the foot of the bed, and he was the one responsible for laying her down and putting the blanket over her.
"The woman in white, holding an infant," Estelle said, rubbing her eyes. She blinked up at him, sighing. "And the Adephagos… at the lake in Mantaic, only it was surrounded by forest."
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered, honestly.
For the first time, the nightmare had almost been bearable. Frightening, but for some reason, it felt ordinary. Though she thought that was more frightening—that it was suddenly okay to perish in her dreams. She kept that detail to herself, though.
"She was singing a song," Estelle told him. "It was a song my mother used to sing."
"Wait, she was singing a song you knew?" Yuri's brow furrowed. "What was it?"
"I'm not certain," Estelle said. She finally sat properly at the edge of the bed, folding her hands across her lap. Her eyes fell to the floor as she tried to recall. "I had forgotten it until I heard her singing it in Mantaic. It was a lullaby my mother would sing." Estelle closed her eyes and listened to that voice in her dreams, calling on the nightmares that haunted her to remind her of something once forgotten. "My mother only knew part of it, but it's definitely the same song. A different language, but…"
Estelle closed her eyes. The haunting melody sung by the woman in white came to her mind, and she listened closely. Just as in her dreams, she was able to sing along, joining halfway through the song. What was the first part? She heard it but could not remember it. The princess sang along quietly, for the words were no longer in her dreams. She was singing it aloud, awake. Finally, she opened her eyes and looked back at Yuri, who looked quite bewildered by the ancient words she had sang.
"I think it was a song for protection," Estelle finally decided. She frowned and looked at the floor again, perplexed. "My mother would sing it and then tell me as I was falling asleep, 'May a shield of protection be ever present around you.'"
"Protection?" Yuri echoed. "Isn't that woman in white responsible for all of this? Why would she sing something like that?"
"I don't think she's evil," Estelle explained. "She seems hurt and afraid. But I also wonder if she was singing that song for me, or if…"
"What?"
"I think that infant is…" Estelle closed her eyes and hung her head. She swallowed hard and found herself unable to say more.
"No longer living," Yuri finished. Estelle nodded. The swordsman glanced back out the window, frowning and sighing. "What's the point of this? Is she trying to communicate with you? Why would you be having all of these strange dreams only after what happened?"
What he thought but did not say was, They must have done something to you.
"I don't know," Estelle murmured.
Yuri focused his attention on the princess again. She was hanging her head and looking downright exhausted. Naps would not suffice for restful sleep, especially if even temporary sleep was restless. He had to give her credit—Estelle was putting up a fight. If she was wearing thin, the princess was not making it well known. This was also to her own detriment. Yuri knew her well enough to know that she would keep going until she crumbled, and he really did not want her to reach that point.
"Kaufman found a researcher," Yuri finally said, looking back out the window.
Estelle immediately looked over and no longer allowed the dream to trouble her. She stood and joined him, looking out the window. They were able to see Kaufman with her teammates and a researcher huddling around the cart. Stones glistened from within the cart, reflecting light up into their eyes.
"Didn't you want to hear what they had to say?" Estelle asked.
Yuri watched the group down below, then smiled at the princess.
"I told her to get through the boring stuff without us," he said. "But now that you're awake, I guess we can head down there."
"Did you stay here for my sake?" Estelle asked, troubled.
"I just didn't want to listen to a bunch of scientific chatter," Yuri explained, sliding off of his perch. While this was also true, he chose not to confirm that he was, in fact, staying mostly for her sake. He added, "It's bad enough when Rita does it. I don't want to listen to some random researcher go on about things I don't understand."
"We should go in case they learn something," Estelle said, accepting his explanation.
"Yeah," Yuri agreed.
Swordsman, princess, and dog exited the inn and headed downstairs. Kaufman turned and greeted them when they approached, but the researcher ignored them entirely. He was dressed in garbs typical of researchers from Aspio, most of whom had relocated to Zaphias after their city had crumbled a year prior. The researcher was pacing circles around the cart with a handful of the crystals, muttering things to himself.
"Find out anything?" Yuri asked.
"It's not apatheia, and it's not a core, either," murmured the researcher, assuming the question was directed at him. "It's not a mineral of any kind I'm aware of, either."
"To put it frankly, we have no idea what it is," Kaufman told Yuri with a sigh.
"Could it be something like the crystals that Gusios created?" Estelle asked, leaning closer to Yuri so as not to disturb the others.
"Is there a high concentration of mana in it?" Yuri, based on Estelle's hunch, asked the researcher.
"That's what's strange," the researcher replied. The group stepped to the front end of the cart where he was. He was shifting the crystals around in his hand. "They feel hollow."
"What do you mean?" Kaufman asked. Yuri glanced at Estelle, who had said the same thing.
"There is nothing to it," the researcher replied. "It has no traceable aer or mana consistency, and it's devoid of anything lifelike or artificial. If it was something like an apatheia, it's not that way anymore."
"Can I sell it?" Kaufman asked, bluntly.
Yuri stared at the woman in disbelief, and the researcher was also taken aback by her forwardness. Estelle, meanwhile, slipped around to the back of the cart, inspecting the piles of crystal. They reminded her of the clear ciel crystal they had found on the ghost ship, though they were much smaller. The sun reflected off them so beautifully. To her, they looked like stars glittering in the sky. The thought made her smile.
Reaching out, she intended to brush her fingers over the crystals and move them about, hoping to create a vibrant sparkle out of the movement. However, as soon as Estelle's fingers touched the gems, a jolt of pain like a rush of lightning ran through her body. She gasped and would have pulled back, but her mind betrayed her and she lost consciousness if only for a moment.
Suddenly, she was in a building with white stone walls. The woman in white was there, only she was dressed in a pale blue dress, and her pale white eyes then appeared silver. If only then, the woman no longer glowed. She appeared decidedly human.
"I don't know what else to do!" she cried out.
Estelle was standing before her, but she felt as though she was not really there. She slowly turned, and there behind her was a familiar face: the man who had danced with her and kissed her hand. She saw him only briefly then, and he looked so distraught.
Suddenly, the world changed again. A vibrant forest appeared around her. Estelle could see everything, but it was all spinning around her so quickly. The woman was there again, dressed in white but still very human.
"I never meant for this to happen!" she cried. She reached out and through Estelle.
Estelle turned in that spinning world and saw a creature made of darkness. The forest was gone, it seemed. Or was it? Everything was moving so fast. This was the Adephagos, she thought.
"Please!" cried the woman's voice from somewhere Estelle could not distinguish.
This is your fault.
Voices in the darkness.
Why did you bring the Adephagos back to this world?!
Estelle recognized them as people she knew.
If only you had done as you were told!
Flynn, Ioder, Alexei, the Council. But the voices speaking did not match the world she saw.
A dark creature towered over the woman then. It moved to swallow her up, and it seemed to have done so.
"I never meant to do it…" she breathed as it devoured her.
And then Estelle saw the lake in that spinning blur of a world around her. The infant was by the lake wrapped in a bundle. The creature was moving towards it. Estelle wanted to move, but she seemed to be only a spectator in this dream. And before she ever saw what happened, the world continued to spin around her. Trees and sand and water and darkness all twirled around her and melted together.
You should have died.
Alexei's voice.
Estelle turned and saw flashing lights colliding with shadows. The forest died before her very eyes. Trees crumbled to dust and flitted away in a horrific wind. Stones melted to sand. All that remained as it had been was the lake.
I should have killed you.
Yuri's voice.
"I'm sorry," said the woman who was once again glowing white. She stood atop the lake. "No one survived."
And then she began to sing again. Estelle sang the words from the very beginning. Lights flitted up from the lake and turned the world white. Still, the princess felt the world continue to spin and twirl around her. Was she dancing again?
No, Estelle was falling, and she was awake. As she came to, she saw lights flicker across the stones she had moved with only the slightest touch. Her body crumbled backwards, and she had not an ounce of strength left in her. She saw it, though. Every stone shifted and ignited on its own, chunks of them morphing and becoming something larger, united. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the others rush over from around the cart. They were shouting something, but she could hear nothing.
It was the longest fall of her life, the world moving in slow motion. Estelle hit the ground, and she remembered that it hurt something fierce. But it was so brief. Darkness followed. It was too bad, she thought.
The darkness hurt worse.
