Chapter 7
Wheels of Fate Don't Stop Turning
"We are all born with a letter inside us, and that only if we are true to ourselves, may we be allowed to read it before we die."
A/N
Unedited. I'm tired... Four in the morning. Ugh. Happy late thanksgiving everyone.
I swung my arm as several knives threw out, like snarling dogs with sharp teeth. They both hit the bark and I swung around to the dummy behind me and swung my dagger at it vigorously and quickly, before turning around and throwing more knives in the same way. But this time was different, because I had coated the daggers with my Mana as a way to make them stronger, quicker, colder, and more aerodynamic. I also did this to increase my 'combos', and by that I mean my stamina. I had already been doing this for a few hours, and wasn't too close to stopping just yet.
I hadn't yet received a letter back from Sarah from a week before, so I was holding out on traveling for a while. I could only wait around so long though, since I was expected to head to Asgard and pick something up from a client, and head to Izoold. I had never been to Izoold before, so it was actually pretty exciting for me. Well, as exciting as traveling to a fishing town can be.
But the point was, I was bored, and began messing with the energy in my body. But that time, I managed to get it further off. I stood there, shocked, before running straight to my training spot and testing it out.
And it worked.
A ball of mana shot out, and although it didn't last long, it rested on the tree and it began to create a type of mana mucus of sorts between the tree bark before exploding as my blade slashed it over and over again afterwords.
"Eris?"
I kept going, but I spared a glance in the direction the sound came from.
"Ha… Ann?" I panted, swinging my dagger at the dummy. "W-what are you doing h… here?"
"Umm…" She started, rather loudly as she lifted up her robes to step over a log. "I-I heard noises… I guess that was you… Training?" She said, her voice rising in slight question.
I rolled my eyes as I came to a stop, throwing my last knife to the tree. She stared at it, shocked as a huge hole appeared where the knife landed.
"Yeah… Thats me." I responded, taking a deep breath and wiping my face on a piece of cloth I brought. I eyed her as I tossed it back in the bag I brought, tilting my head slightly. "But what are you doing here?"
"I-I was actually going to do the same… Thought I'd learn some magic, you know?"
I let out a deep breath. "Well.. I think I'm done here anyways, so you can just get started."
"R-right." She nodded, opening her book she sat on the ground, but instead of reading she watched me from the corner of her eye.
I was picking up my daggers, placing them in a extra thigh pouch I had just in case something happened to the originals. I figured my body was developed enough for me to be able to carry a larger blade, and possible some armor. But I was lazy. There was no way I was going out of my way to do that, though I probably should have.
"You have… certainly changed a lot…" She murmured, trying not to make eye contact.
I looked to her, and noticed she had changed as well. She now sported longish orange pigtails, and somehow her purple eyes seemed wider than before. She was quite pretty, but still pretty petit. Fifteen years of growing did nothing for her height though.
Still too shy though. Probably thinks you hate her or something because you stopped talking. Typical teenage female, 'If he doesn't text me back five minutes later, should we break up?' 'If he doesn't want to grope me anymore, does that mean he doesn't like me?' blah blah blah...
I winced to myself, Right… I thought, now putting two and two together. No wonder she was so nervous right now. I could only imagine how insecure a teenage half elf female was.
"You have too…" I murmured, watching her. "Well. You've gotten prettier at least."
She blushed, finally looking up at me. "R-really? I mean… You too!" I tilted my head, facing away from her. Her response was a polite one, but far from true. The older I got, the more unruly my hair got as well. I knew it was mostly because I insisted on keeping it short. However, long hair was irritating. Sometimes, people wound up believing I was a boy. Which was fine, since gender bias was not nonexistent in the world of Sylvarant.
The sun was hiding behind some clouds, so it unavoidably grew darker. I frowned at this, wondering if it was going to rain. Rain was far from uncommon in Palmacosta, sometimes it lasted for weeks in fact.
"U-um…" I turned to her again, raising an eyebrow as she blushed.
"What is it?"
"If you put more concentrated mana in your dagger," She started, and I vaguly remembered showing her I could utilize mana. "You can make your weapon ice based…"
I blinked at that in surprise, and she misinterpreted it as me being irritated with her advice and began to stutter again. "T-the mana becomes a lot more clear outside of you. With elven blood, I can see your Ying mana compatible... S-so…"
I was silent, as she twitched apprehensively. Strangly enough, the 'ying and yang' referred to the nature of mana. It was told in textbooks that Ying mana was earth, ice, water and darkness. Of course, a long time ago there was a controversy between scholars that Yin mana should be considered mana that takes 'physical' form, and others that take spiritual form(Like earth and Fire). But when they realized that wind does have a tangible existence, it didn't exactly work like that. Also, there was just so many things wrong with that way of categorizing in the field of mana study. Thus, water was considered a element ruled by shadow. certain healing artes can have water elements, but also light mana. I also remembered Kratos comparing it to the state of the worlds. Which reminded me, Ying and Yang was pretty much the same in Aselia as Asia, just connected to elements of mana.
Remembering where I was, and that Ann was waiting awkwardly for me to say something, I decided to give her time to herself to train, as I turned to leave.
"It might rain." I told her, placing a hand in my pocket. "... Don't push yourself too hard. Alright?"
With that, I walked away, leaving Ann alone to fend for herself once again.
This is why I don't have friends. Boohoo.
.
The Desians had started coming more frequently as well.
It wasn't every single day, but it was limited to twice a week. Twice a week, someone was either taken or killed. I still hadn't left town yet, but my time was running out as I was going to have to leave for Izoold within a couple weeks.
I had heard that Palmacosta had the highest amount of Desian problems compared to any other town, village, or city. It was rather odd, since we had a Militia that was oh so helpful. But I also supposed it had something to do with the fact Magnius was in charge of this area.
There were rumors that people had been getting captured at sea as well, but some believed it was because of the excess amount of monsters, but others believed that there was a nest of Desians out in the sea.
Which was really weird, because what's the point of a ranch in the sea, if they were supposed to be around humans for cultivation?
I didn't quite buy it, but knowing how the Desians worked I wasn't about to let my guard down. I would be extra careful at sea and look out for any further rumors regarding it.
There was also some rumor about some kind hearted chocolate that was very helpful, but I ignored it on the grounds it didn't make much sense at all.
.
I stopped at the store one day, feeling the need to ease my sweet tooth on something yummy. I wanted candy, and I knew that the travelers market by the docks were sure to have it as always, so I made my way over to the best store over there.
Except, they didn't have it.
At first, I was kinda just like Okay, I'll just go to the next one to look then. And I did just that.
But then I looked in the next one, and the ones after that.
Finally, I made my way to a secret store in the back having no luck in all the normal people stores, that I managed to only discover by rumor and lots of luck, and they had what I was looking for. A single candy bar.
It was three thousand Gald.
And yes, you read that right, so don't bother checking again because it was three thousand frigging gald for a candy bar.
"What the-?" I voiced aloud, looking at the man hidden in the shadows of his stall. "Why is the candy three thousand…?"
"With the desians about," The man rasped in a slightly accented voice, "No one has been able to get supplies because they've been raiding them all. No one buys anything but the necessities anymore, so no one sells anything but the necessities. When things don't sell, people don't make it. Simple as that."
"So the economy has gone down the drain?" I asked(More like stated), and the man nodded.
"Its hard enough for us to get our hands on the supplies, since Desians raid them. And what they don't raid, they steal from our stores. Sorry kid, but you better save up. Its only getting worse from here."
On the walk from the travelers market and through the docks, I noticed for the first time that the docks were far less lively than what was normal and healthy.
Only the large boats were running, and even then they were only boats funded by outside sources, very rich outside sources that charged a ton to allow one foreign cargo shipment to sail on the ship itself.
Thomas, a fisherman who lived nearby waved at me as I walked by. His buddy wasn't with him, he had been getting sick a lot lately. I knew because Katherine was usually gone helping out that family.
There weren't as many stalls either, only the ones bearing the necessities and although I constantly complained about the overly lively city, I realized anything less in a place like Palmacosta was just… Depressing.
The smart citizens were moving to Asgard, or boarding the ship for Izoold(This was the majority) before there were no more options except to stay in Palmacosta. They saw where the wind was blowing, and prepared before it was too late. People were frantically buying solo passes outside the church of Martel to get through through Hakonesia peak, because before long I knew(And remembered from the game) just how expensive the pass would become, and if I didn't already have an alternate route to Asgard I would be doing the same thing just in case.
There were people wanting to go to Iselia for their peace treaty, but the only people allowed in Iselia were the initial citizens or people connected to the Church of Martel. Even then, you had to get special permission. Many offered unique services, so the ones who lived there lived lives of luxury… Well. Compared to the rest of us. Explained why a village so protected and 'good' to live in was so small by numbers in the world of Sylvarant didn't it? The only chance you truly had to go there was if you were training to be a priest, and even then you didn't stay forever. There was a town located just north of Iselia, it was a travelers town, but it was closer to the ranch than Iselia, without a peace treaty and so far away from any town, you'd simply starve or have no way to survive. The docks that used to operate in that village didn't work anymore, as the sea up north became more and more dangerous. From what I heard, the only people left there were people who couldn't leave, because they were too weak or they were raising families. Or because jobs for many of e certain trade were
Hobbyist stalls were no more. Rarely any tourists either, after all, if anyone was touring at all during those times it would be to Asgard of all places. People would only stop in Palmacosta to head to the Thoda Geyser the next day.
The more people that left, the more children were left behind in the orphanage. Me and Ann were lucky we didn't have to share our beds, because several children had to do just that, since room and funds were running out in those bad times.
Just one more thing the game didn't add. If there was any excessive movement in the town, it was either someone dying or the Desians ravaging the city. Otherwise, it was mostly still.
.
"Did you hear about Kilia?" Kaiden asked one day, walking behind me as I was walking through the town grocery shopping for Katherine.
"No. Is it a new board game or something?" I asked, not recognising the name. "Sounds pretty odd. I thought you didn't like board games?"
"N-no, I don't." He said looking somewhat surprised. "And Kilia is not a game, she's a person! You mean you don't know who she is?"
I looked up lazily. "Nope."
"Its the Governor-General's daughter! You know, how do you not know these things?!"
"I usually find myself preoccupied with other things, like counting pebbles on the side of the street, and um." I picked up a bag of fruits and turned to the boy next to me with droopy eyes. "Shopping. Not gossip."
He rolled his eyes, and walked beside me. "Yeah yeah. Anyways, her dad took her out the school register to homeschool her instead… "
"We have schools?"
"Yeah, I used to go." He said, blinking down at me. "But after my parents died, no one was around to pay for it. Kilia is Dorrs daughter though, so I'm surprised he's homeschooling. Palmacosta has the best schools in the world."
Haven't we heard this somewhere before?
I stopped on the side of the bridge we were walking across, and turned to my blond friend. The little voice in my head was right, I had heard that before. Kilia's name I mean, and something about the schools… But that was less important I'm sure. And it was in the weird type where I remembered it from my past life instead of this one..
I remembered reading Twilight, and how they described it was pretty close to what this was. I wasn't a big fan, but it was like my past life was spent with bad eyesight, then the memories from this life was like putting on glasses, it wasn't harder to remember though. Another Analogy was that one life one a hue of red, and this one was a hue of blue.
It was somewhat hard to explain. I'm pretty sure it had to do with the presence of Mana though.
"You have to pay to go to school individually? Taxes don't pay for it or anything?"
Kaiden opened up his mouth to speak, but saw something behind where I was standing and froze. I raised a brow, and turned my head and my body a bit to see what he was looking at.
Well, what a coincidence. Of all times to show their face for the 'first' time.
"That's how it used to be." Governor-General Dorr smiled sweetly, which I could definitely see through(Except I knew deep down inside, if I didn't know the truth I'd never be able to see through it, he was really good). "But with the Desians, I'm afraid most of the money has been going to the militia. But as soon as we win, I promise I'll see to it our people get a proper education."
I kept my poker face, not wanting to make him seem welcome around me. He was in cahoots with the Desians, the same people who ripped Tia away from me(And for the petty fear factor of losing his wife? As if monsters weren't scary enough for a teenage girl like me). But the most concerning thing… Although he walked through the streets usually to gain charisma with the people, it was just my luck he picked me to bother.
"G-Governor-General Dorr! Er, yeah, your right! I can't imagine how much that costs!" Kaiden said excitedly, with a happy grin on his face. He was one of the people who idolized the traitor, and I felt bad for not saying anything but its not like it could affect him if I did. It was a lose lose situation either way.
"Yes, it takes quite the toll." Dorr sighed dramatically, but then put on his stupid smile again(Stupid stupid stupid! Traitor!). Yeah, I was being childish, but I was a child…
Age is no excuse to act like a idiot.
"Why don't you cut down on expenses?" I glared, putting on my best scowl. I knew it was best not to let him knew I knew, but… I couldn't stand people who lied about who they were! "It's not like we're trying to fight them off by throwing coins at them. Money doesn't win fights, strength does."
Realizing that sounded too condescending for a child, I bumped my chest with my fist, trying to appear 'passionate' rather than angry.
Kaiden laughed nervously, catching on to my negative energy. "Eris…" he warned under his breath. "Be careful."
Your one to talk… I thought childishly, while I kept my scowl and stared down the bogus leader.
"Your right of course," He said, and I raised an eyebrow. I am? "But it does add up."
I resisted the urge to scoff, and stood my ground. "The militia is a volenteer based system, so where's the money-" I cut myself off and shook my head, not wanting to simply start problems. "... Never mind. I'm sorry."
So who is the money going to? Was the silent question, that I'm sure he heard. The information I was giving couldn't hurt me, because he had no clue where I was getting it from. The most he could do was be extra careful, but when you wore a dress around everywhere it was somewhat difficult. You were liable to trip.
I was curious to what he was going to say, I hoped it was the pathetic Oh would you look at the time! but instead, he said "It alright child. I understand, the Desians destroy many things, Militia or no. I can't simply leave things the way they are!" After smiling kindly at me, he looked down at Kaiden sporting a heroic smirk. "I swore I would defend the city from desians, and I'm going to do that soon."
You? I thought to myself, but the fact was he defended himself pretty well. He didn't break a sweat at all, not even a break in his mask. I kinda wished I made him squirm just a little bit for the satisfaction of it, but there wasn't really anything I could do.
Dorr left soon after that, while me and Kaiden finished our shopping. I felt bad for being in a bad mood the entire time, but I couldn't help it. Well, I could, I just didn't want to.
Dorr… It was sad, how fake he was. Yet everyone fell for it. I supposed after so long of suffering, the people were willing to believe anything that promised retribution.
We eventually made our way to the roof, where we sat on the edge and looked to the mountains and the rest of the town. It was quite beautiful actually, you could see bodies of water along with it, even though we weren't on the ocean side.
"I heard the chosens journey is coming soon…" Kaiden started, and I looked at him, noticing the way his skin glowed in the sunset. His eyes sparkled, radiant and full of life that was rare from the people of Sylvarant. "I hope she passes through here… I-I would really like to thank her, for risking her life to protect the people of Sylvarant. It sounds cheesy, but… I want to protect Sylvarant too! Its a cruel place, but maybe… Maybe in the regenerated world, people will be kinder."
I frowned. I knew that would not happen, because even after the worlds were reunited, things somehow managed to get worse than before. More and less complicated, yeah. But the general kindness of the world…
Not one bit.
"To be honest," I sighed, looking over to him with a slight smile. He looked back to me in interest. "I would like to as well… But only because she's taking such a huge risk. Not because I believe in it."
The not-so-older boys eyes widened, "What's there not to believe in?!" He exclaimed in shock, as I held my hands up in mock arrest as he kept going. "Why else would the Desians be out to kill the chosen? They don't want to disappear!"
"And where do they go?" I countered quietly, tired from my frustration from the earlier fiasco. "People don't just disappear. Half Elves are people too, I mean where would they go? They're not mystical spirits. The ranches aren't just going to poof away."
Also, the whole notion that the Desians(Labeled as Half elves) was just a problem that could simply just disappear was part of the whole racial issue. Not a big part, but they were viewed as things that could be tortured till they disappeared. As in 'who care's if I shove you to the ground? You and all your Desian friends are going to disappear as soon as we sacrifice the chosen.'
People don't just disappear after all.
Kaiden looked torn.
"Eris…. I know you don't like Dorr, but… I've joined the Militia." I jerked in surprise, ready to admonish the blond haired boy, when he cut me off, shaking his head.
"The ranches might not disappear, and the whole group of Desians either. But people don't live forever, including the chosen! I have the power to do this… I have to do this!"
I knew it was hard for him to consider that Martel might not be what he thought, and I wasn't exactly there to talk him out of his beleifs, so I sighed and tried to console him… In a way I actually knew how. "Listen… Something as big the Church of Martel has to have some kernel of truth, I'll give you at least that…" I gave a slight smile. I imagined it was probably creepy on me. "But things will get better soon!"
He looked to me sadly, lips thinned out. "Really? Promise?"
I sighed. "Kaiden… I can't-"
"No no!" He shook his head, and turned to me fully, a determined look on him face. "Ignore that… Lets make a pact instead."
He stuck out his hand, ready for a handshake, and I watched him as he spoke in a very strong, and surprisingly mature way.
"Lets promise each other… We won't sit by and let someone else make the world better. With great power comes great responsibility!"
I watched him, mixed feelings in my heart. I ignored the Spiderman reference, too choked up to say anything. I felt cynical, bitter, jealous even.
But I was also warmed by his childish enthusiasm. I didn't care for what he said, but he was willing to walk forward himself. To make the world I didn't even belong in better.
I was… Touched by this. That a seventeen year old boy could simplify something so much. Looking at me like I belonged. Like I had a purpose.
But I didn't. Eris did, so I would simply try and figure out what was to come. I would act like I belonged… That I didn't belong dead.
Kaiden didn't say a word as I lifted my hand slowly. This was something I would want in any life. To change things. Nothing changed in my last one. I was empty in my last one. I had few people I cared for here, but…
I made a promise.
