The Wind Chronicles of Gaea


Event Eight

Will These Trials Be Enough…to Let Me Off the Hook?


Tall, spiky, funnel-shaped flowers grew around the open arena. It was a strange combination of flora and cemented earth, but something about it screamed history. Albeit Sonic wasn't too big on history, there was more to it than what screamed at him. Something almost warlike chanted there; it was indistinct, formless. Almost absent, if not for the encircling curbstones and partial amphitheatric features. Sonic looked around some more, while the Viceroy-Knight trio awaited Gustavio's arrival.

Gawain was seated on the other side of Percival. They waited atop a theater seat, though Gawain's finger taps thumped louder with every minute that past. She had to let out a quiet sigh. Lancelot didn't mind the Doyen General's apparent tardiness. Preparations were being made for the questionable rogue, so the more time that elapsed the better they would be.

"We've never had to wait for the Doyen this long before," Gawain spat out. Acidic with impatience. "This'd better prove the knave's worth…! Otherwise, this would've been a waste of our time."

"Speak not so testily, 2nd Viceroy." Percival was giving her point, "Rest assured the Doyen is procuring all that he needs for these trials. There are three parts to these tests: They, collectively, must decide this one's fate. For Caliburn to choose him is most unexpected…!"

"And if what His Reverence has concluded is cast in stone, then this one…?" Lancelot's thought became lost in an ebbing silence.

But that left Gawain to snarl viciously under his breath.

Sonic glanced back at them. He caught Percival taking Gawain's hand into a motherly clasp and lowly scolding him. His mind wanted to snicker, but the expression he saw on Lancelot's face made him forget. He blinked a little.

"Promising Knave! I beckon thee hither!"

The older albatross that appeared scared away a lost fawn. Sonic flinched at the loudness, as if to nip at the frightened wanderer's heels. He straightened at the sight of who he'd brought with him: Not only were the three Sylvine Luminaria pages with him, but so were an awfully familiar green hawk and white hedgehog. Both were clad in armor, burnished only with dirt and rough play. They lifted their armored visors and took a gander at the blue hedgehog. The green hawk shot him down with a boastful sneer, while the white hedgehog seemed thoroughly confused.

Bone-shattering clacks from the albatross's bladed staff pecked at Sonic's nerves. "Did you not hear me?! I beckoned thee! Hither, now!"

"Alright, alright! …Sheesh, good lord." Sonic padded up to him. With an uncharacteristic rigidness, he addressed him in a respect he tried his best to muster. "Promising Knave, reporting for duty, Doyen General-sir!"

It was snarky, and the Doyen glared at him. Stony beads pierced Sonic's soul. His snarky respect hadn't fooled him in the least. Nervous sweat was shooting from his pores. The strangeness in the blue hedgehog's blank face erred in feigning it all. "Your respect leaves a discourteous taste in my mouth. But that aside, I am here to grade you."

Sonic blinked. "'Grade' me? Whaddaya mean by 'grade,' Oldster?"

"The trials I will administer shall either sway or set my initial judgment, regarding your place here in this kingdom. As of now, you are…our Sovereignty's potential Heir. But there's only one way we will know for certain…"

As he signaled the white hedgehog to present him the Sword from the Stone, Caliburn's edge gleamed brighter. Much to the white hedgehog's astonishment. As well as Sonic's.

The Sylvine Luminaria had taken a seat away. They watched the Viceroy-Knights approach the newbie hedgehog. Nimue, Vanille, and Marina focused into the conversation, the gesticulations, and the expressions made. Vanille kicked her feet a little. "Hey, where are Sir Miles and Sir Alfred, Nimue?" the rabbit's eyes beamed up at the older girl. "Yea, a'nt they supposed to be 'ere, too?" Marina had crossed her arms, poking a snide eye at her eldest contemporary.

"Well, Headmaster Alfred obviously can't be here," Nimue remarked a finger with wagging at them. "He's got a school to run, you know!" The exaggerated obviousness in her tone irked Marina; the raccoon couldn't help the vein pulsing at her temple and the bratty bubble in her cheek. "And you know Miles: Always tinkering, always thinkering…when will that kid get a break? Well, we haven't an inkerling!" The witty quatrain made her youngest friend giggle. She chuckled along with her.

"Take hold of it, Knave."

Sonic looked from Gustavio to the sword. Tenderly, he took it from its clothed hand-rest. The white hedgehog's shy gaze was averted; Sonic smirked a little. "Must be really sacred if I'm the only one who can touch it…!" He snickered.

"Your first trial is Proof of Contract. The Paradisal Signet has been assimilated to your flesh. You must prove it by presenting the Magistralis Ensign to me." Gustavio motioned the hawk to near him. As he did so, Gustavio went on. "I will first demonstrate with Lamorak here. Then, I will test you alongside him. His Levanstral Ensign is similar to Magistralis, as they both command the winds. Though, his is to a much lesser degree." Gustavio moved aside, toward the arena's edge. The poleax's shaft was stabbed into the soil. The strong-armed bird huffed before stepping back to Lamorak and Sonic.

A bit spooked, Sonic remembered the scraping sound of metal against rock tile. The resonant "Shing!" made his eardrums rattle. But the sight of imposing bulk didn't let him shiver.

"Present yourself, if you'd please, Squire?" Gustavio gestured to the mailed hawk.

On a ball, the Squire in question spun and faced Sonic. His salute was over his chest. A sharp nod: "I am Lamorak Alcharia of Valris Sal'chiara, 8th-Term Squire to the Fanelian Knighthood Institution and special apprentice under the aegis of Chief Guardian-Knight Gustavio Macchus. Sir!"

Rigid, pompous, and very wordy, Sonic couldn't help thinking. He blinked, like he wanted to ask "Why so lengthy?", but he held his tongue. "That's pretty characteristic of Jet…but this guy's 'not' Jet, though…?" That hypothesis was confusing enough to Sonic.

"Very good, Lamorak. Now, the both of you, to center ground. March!"

"Wait up! The're gonna duel?!" Marina leapt from her seat.

"I don't think so…?" Vanille poked her cheek. Kicking her feet a bit more, she added, "They shouldn't. Sir Knave's never attended Knighthood School."

"Yeah, he'd be at a serious disadvantage! Hey, Old Man!" Nimue bellowed from across the stadium floor. She was huffing steam through her ears and shaking her fist. 'What the heck are you doing?! He's nowhere near as skilled as Lamorak in swordsmanship! He's never held a sword before, has he?"

Sonic could feel his confidence slipping away with each of her shrill reprimands. A huge sweat drop slinked down his temple. "Thanks for the vote of confidence…—None, whatsoever."

"Nonsense, Little Nimue," Gustavio kept his authoritative air. "This is merely a display of inherent power. Lamorak is going to show this Knave how to awaken his Ensign."

Nimue blinked a little. Then sighed in relief. Vanille wondered if she was alright, while Marina huffed, "Aww, I wan'ned to see 'im get sliced to ribbons…!" under her breath. She threw her arms in a bratty cross.

Sonic's brow twitched upward. "Yep. Keep those 'no confidence' votes coming…!" Upon redirecting his attention, Sonic caught the tail end of Lamorak snickering under his breath: "Not even worth the practice…the little simpleton." That comment grated against the blue teen's nerves; a reminiscence emanated from it. "Oh yeah. Now that would be something Jet would say—definitely. Does no one have faith in me?!" His mindset quickly changed. "Heh! No worries, I'm gonna show all of you how believable I am!"

"Call upon your powers. Let your will evoke the spirit within, and spin a dervish in the palm of your hands." Gustavio had shut his eyes. His voice trembled with a stringent passion. It felt like he was preaching, to Sonic. But the hulking albatross was trusting a successful outcome.

Sonic had no idea where to start, so he began to concentrate. Hard. He equated "evoke the spirit within" with meditation through some strange means. His brain was notoriously the "strangest creature on Planet Earth," so he figured the theory could be justified. Somehow, since he "wasn't" on Earth.

The trio of Viceroys watched the pair closely. A soft breeze came through; Gawain looked to the direction of the source. He blinked, somewhat caught off guard by the swiftness in response. "The wind…heard them? It feels like it's waiting…?" His luxuriant shawl bowed in the breeze, alongside the 2nd and 1st Viceroys' capes. Percival kept a stoic, expectant glare on her face. Her whiskers flinched as a sneaky gust whipped along her peplum hems. She patted it down smoothly, clearing her throat. A deep, thoughtful majesty swayed with her superior's cloak. The dark-silver lining danced; Lancelot welcomed the breeze. A gentle nod of acknowledgement preceded another gust.

Gustavio waited. His hands were at his back. His eyelids were buttoned. Breathing easy, in and out, as did his apprentice and the Knave.

Somehow, Sonic had adopted the breathing technique. His ears moved with the breezes swirling by. The green hawk's feathers did the same. A fan-shaped crest began to glow dimly on the topside of his right palm; Sonic's new plume-like crest mimicked it. Both teenaged swordsmen breathed in time with Gustavio.

"Invoke your awakening, and summon a dervish in your palms." The albatross's final instruction cued them to obey.

Without much delay, a tiny tornado spun in Lamorak's hand. Glints of his crest's power shined in it. "Levanstral, Insurgo," came the subsequent murmur. And a cocky smirk. Swiftly, his hands motioned in a bigger spherical movement. The breeze that obeyed blew more of the Viceroys' capes upward. In one final movement, Lamorak calmed the squall. Small songbirds in the distance flapped to the coliseum top. Vanille pointed at them, seeing the bit of struggle they had to push through. Nimue and Marina huffed at Lamorak. Clearly he was being a showoff, and they didn't like it.

Neither did the Viceroy-Knights, nor the Chief Guardian. The much older albatross snorted, "Foolhardiness never impresses me, Little Lamorak." The emphasis stung the hawk trainee, who winced at the degradation. Regret dispelled his Ensign's power, and an apology was bowed to him. Quick, sorry, and embarrassed.

Sonic never felt so lucky. "But that goes for me too," quipped the hedgehog's thought. His internal self nodded; externally, his eyes were still shut, lungs taking their time with the rhythm. It felt like something was imprinting itself into Sonic's psyche, but he wasn't sure what it was. "Alright. Let's give this a try! Focus, Sonic…focus."

Lancelot trained an expectant gaze on the blue hedgehog. He heard Lamorak click his tongue in annoyance, and soon narrowed his sights on Sonic again. He nodded again. It was gentle too, more like he was receiving permission from someone.

And Percival noted it. Silently, with a tiny smile.

Sonic brought the broadsword up to his face again. It was that same feeling from before, the time he first brought out Caliburn. He felt like he was born to wield it—which came as a shock to the blue hedgehog. He'd never held it before, much less a sword in general. All he had was his imaginary sword growing up. But this feeling: It evoked childhood memories, of his mother rocking with him, reading to him, singing and playing, bathing and eating with him. The times when his mother would cry; others when his grandmother had to baby-sit him while she was away.

He remembered on his first day of kindergarten, she was there.

He remembered on that last day of her life, she was there too. Lying, in her best colors, in a simple white and rose-gold casket. His grandmother swore that if her daughter went out, she'd "go out in honor" in respect to her memory.

Simple and clean, but soon to be laid to rest, entombed in six feet of earth. He couldn't forget that simple headstone:

"Elise the Hedgehog

"Ushered in May 24th, xx08—Departed June 9th, xx44

"'You Are Never to Be Forgotten, Never to Be Thrown Away'"

It was crowned with a camellia chalice, a long-lost doll of hers by his grandmother's courtesy, underneath a silver birch. The summer breeze shook its leaves.

Tightened muscles relaxed. Sonic's grip slackened so he could fluidly swipe the blade tip outward. As he breathed out, the wind exhaled with him. A small grayish-green glimmer crested the cut. Not enough to leave anything deeper, the near-crescent nicked off the topmost bits of grass. Capes rustled again, only more curtly. The Viceroy-Knights spoke not, nor did the Chief Guardian. In fact, surprise reigned over their faces.

Something made Gawain flush in the face, flummoxed by how such a gust could've been conjured by "a mere rapscallion." Percival blinked a little wildly herself, wondering the same thing, though more in amusement than bemusement. Lancelot didn't show an initial reaction. It was a bit delayed, like the turbulence that flew past. His brows sank ever so slowly.

Lamorak flinched away from the weak attack. His overly exaggerated recoil made Gustavio squawk at him. It was a detestable display of cowardice, he had chirred. The Sylvine Luminaria gaped at the knave. Vanille gasped, "Oh wow!" alongside Nimue's, "He's got a grasp on the technique already!" But Marina was skeptical, with her "But 'at's impossible! He ain't never had that power b'fore!" was testy even then.

Sonic's gaze beheld Lancelot unknowingly. The black hedgehog's eyes gleamed like a watery pool. Intense and focused on him in return. Jade pinned down carnelian. As unaware as he was, his breath returned to his lungs and brought him out of whatever mindset he'd been in. The songbirds perched higher up tweeted, happily in a sense; Nimue managed to catch ear of them. Before long they dove away.

"…That ain't fair! I demand a recount!" the raccoon girl snapped.

As little Vanille tried to soothe her, Lancelot lowered his gaze. "You can't demand a recount for him, Marina…" he heard the rabbit girl correct her. He sighed under his breath. "His skill has already advanced to one of a Squire…? Most astounding, and unnerving."

Nimue turned her eyes to the white hedgehog shyly approaching the black one. There seemed to be a one-sided conversation going on between them; Nimue made a worried face. 'Galahad…?' her mind sighed. The white hedgehog made a sharp bow to the superior taking his leave.

Gawain was the first to notice. He growled and decided to stop him. "Aye! Where might ye be off to, 1st Viceroy?" At the sight of Lancelot's halt, he cast a grim sneer. "Off to vent your dismay in private?" His sneer went from grim to mocking. "You needn't feel so disgraced, Milord. Neither you nor I could have done better than this one rapscallion here. That much I can admit." He crossed his arms. Glaring heavily, he cursed, "At least I'm man enough to, unlike you, Milord."

Something in that final bit tasted caustic. Percival wanted to dissent his accusation, but found herself unable. The two Squires were caught off guard by the 2nd Viceroy's comment. Lamorak snorted due to his uncertainty, with his hedgehog coordinate, Galahad, feeling the same. He had lowered his eyes, toying with Caliburn's white cloth. Gustavio knew better than anyone else how bitter Gawain was feeling. He let out a deep sigh, a little sweat drop falling from his temple.

"Okay, that's it! Is something up between you two?"

Everyone threw their sights back at said rapscallion. A puzzled look took over his face. There was also hints of annoyance, nosiness, and concern. Something the girls, including Percival, and Gustavio could pick up on. The younger girls blinked, gasping outward. Percival's ambers shied away bit by bit.

"Because you guys have been like this ever since you captured me, and I wanna know why you hate him so much, Gawain!"

His emphasis on the name must have made a blood vessel pop somewhere in the echidna's skull. "This detestable creature standing before you has been in search of the Sacred Broadsword for as long as Her Majesty has been absent! Needless to say, he feels himself entitled to such a sacred weapon!" His finger-pointing made him look childish, which made a blood vessel swell somewhere in Sonic's head. "His pride precedes his rank, and that clearly precedes his person! Someone like him doesn't belong anywhere in this hierarchy, much less this Kingdom—!"

"Sir Gawain McAüschlun, stand down," Percival ordered sharply, whipping her cape toward the back. "I will not allow you to cast such aspersions on our fellow Viceroy!" Her felid pupils narrowed. "Your remarks are laden with disrespect and disregard to our Viceroyalty's methodology. They are borderline blasphemous, 2nd Viceroy. I suggest you watch your tone, especially in these notable presences."

Her dark, waspish tone stung the echidna's ego. She was speaking in regard to not only the young girls, but to the knighthood underlings, Chief Guardian-Knight Gustavio, herself, and even Sonic. The girls shivered. "Sir Percival's really mad, yea…?" Marina quibbled, half-snide and half-scared. Lamorak and Galahad backed away, bowing forward to her as she approached her slightly superior counterpart. They were face-to-face, though her slight vertical disadvantage failed to worry her. Gawain, stunned by her boldness, also became irritated by it.

He noticed her furious flush and gritted his teeth. "You're siding with a potential traitor, a heathen?"

"I will not condone your insulting our superior."

"He's no superior worthy of such endearing protection, Milord."

Sonic felt the air quiver. Something in him screamed danger, but he wasn't sure how to break them up. He didn't cower, but he couldn't stand between them either. Deadlocked were the two Viceroys; no one dared come between them. So Sonic resolved to follow the cue.

Gawain scoffed off her abrasiveness. "Doyen, surely you've already sided with me on this matter?"

The older albatross kept his head level. He knew he'd be called into the squabble sooner or later. He opened his eyes gently. So much that Lamorak and Galahad were surprised by it. "Such a matter should not be settled here, of all places, Viceroy. If you are in need of counsel, speak with me in the Ambassadorial Cabinet; do not desecrate these hallowed grounds with your rumbustiousness."

Sonic was in awe of the elder's coolness—in temperament. He was just waltzing off, with the two Squires at his back. They seemed to be leaving reluctantly; especially Galahad, who couldn't keep his eyes off Lancelot too long. Sonic blinked as the albatross led them away. He saw that his poleax had been abandoned. His brows tilted inward. 'Doesn't he need that? Did he forget it…?'

Nimue stood from her bench and edged closer to the Viceregal triad. None of them moved. It was a true perturbation for her and the girls: They'd never witnessed so much dishevelment between the three forces of nature. At least, not in front of their eyes. Nimue worried that Gawain and Lancelot's rift would affect the Kingdom's outer dynamics. Surrounding territories may regard the disunity as pitiable and even harmful. And in return, stop receiving positive reinforcement. Which possibly meant disbanding the Sylvine Luminaria, and the three girls losing their jobs.

Vanille trotted up and clasped onto one hand, while Marina shied behind the other. "Hey, you're not gonna keep fightin' like 'is, are ya?" the raccoon whined.

Sir Lancelot didn't resume his retreat. He seemed to be waiting.

As for Sirs Gawain and Percival, the stalemate had nullified at the Doyen General's departure. The feisty red knight was the first to turn away: He conceded to Percival, regarding Gustavio's advice. His not-much-lesser comrade turned her back, as well. Her arms taut in their cross, she noticed her pages creeping around them and dashing to Sonic. Guilt crested from her angry eyes.

"This dispute needn't any more attention than it's already gained."

Sonic and the girls leered over to the 1st Viceroy-Knight. He may have been the subject of it all, but he was able to vocalize and denounce their need to quarrel, nevertheless. His eyes were devoid of hurt or offense; in fact, they gleamed of patience and understanding. Forgiveness for his comrades, to the two Squires and his Guardian overseer, and the ever-youthful Sylvine Luminaria members. He bowed to them, who were clinging to a confused Sonic. Ever marked with grace and deep apology, he lilted, "Please pardon the unsavory display you've all witnessed. Forgive us, dearest Sylvine Pages…and Rogue Squire."

Sonic blinked wildly in the midst of the girls' acknowledging nods. Jades glimmered in the high noon sky. Time slowing, the hedgehog teen watched the head Viceroy take a modest leave: his bend held respect, careful hands keeping his cloak away. A slow walk brought him closer to leaving. Upon beginning his flight up, he kept silent.

His upward footfalls were softening. But before they disappeared, a small "How shameful," from Sir Percival snipped at Gawain's ego. The lady knight took her leave, as well. The embarrassment in her voice radiated in her cheeks. She was really ashamed of Gawain's behavior, and her ill-handled response. She'd sunk to his level and shouldn't have. Therefore, she left. Without so much as a glance back at her pages or Sonic. "Rogue Squire, please allow us to escort you back to the Castle," came her final remark. It was curt and brimming with shame. But, somehow, remained wary of maintaining respect. "Nimue, Vanille, Marina: at my heels."

The girls gulped, yelped, "Yes, Ma'am!" and pulled Sonic onto their trail. "C'mon, slowpoke, don't make 'er any more mad than she a'ready is…!" Marina grumbled as she shoved him into following.

But Sonic didn't want to abandon Gawain. Concern gleamed in his eyes as he checked back on him every couple of paces or so.


Not quite as steamy-headed as before, but some time after everyone had gone, the 2nd Viceroy-Knight stood before the Doyen's poleax. He decided to take a seat in front of it and attune himself to the earth beneath. His head temperature decreased with each closing inch toward earthy-spiritual oneness. His breaths smoothed out, and he allowed his mind to become immersed in nature. The poleax began to give off a silvery glow: Unmoving and slowly helping Gawain achieve inner sanctum, fauna began to gather into the coliseum. A pair of ferrets skirted behind his back. They sniffed in his direction, but they saw that he didn't mind them. A brief tease alluded to their safety. Soon enough, a burly wolverine sauntered through an iris patch. Nonchalant of the much smaller chipmunks scurrying toward the Viceroy-Knight.

A harrier perched upon one side of the ax's balance. Its caw didn't disturb him; neither did the chipmunk pair. They seemed so trusting of him that they scampered into his cross-legged lap. One last play was snuck in before they curled up, closer together, and napped there.

"It's alright"—"Be still, mighty warrior"—"Be calm"—"Let your anger wash away, young spirit"—"It's okay now, see?"

The voices of the flora and fauna were all mitigating his spirit. Everything was working together to pacify his heart, ease him out of his woes. Total relaxation ensued.

And Gawain's body didn't move much since.

Looks Like My Hook Isn't the Only One Caught…