Not A Total Waste of an Evening
DISCLAIMER: There are still a few songs here I still do not own: "Moondance" sung by Michael Bublé, "Moonlight Serenade" sung by Frank Sinatra, and "Fly Me to the Moon" also a song by Frank Sinatra. I took a few lines from Homer also. Of course, the Esca-verse is as much beyond my reach as it ever was. That should suffice, should it not?
NOTE: This is the second to the last chapter. It's going to be quite long so please have patience. I just need to wrap everything up.
Please forgive me for the atrocious delay. I know I promised this chapter to be up by the end of April but so many things came up during the month that I did not have enough time to finish it. Added to that was a sudden burst of inspiration for the latter half of the chapter which I hope you will enjoy. I didn't expect this story to have a lot of action, but apparently, Dilandau grew impatient of being so idle. I had wanted Seraphina to experience some adventure but I really never saw this much adventure coming. You'll see. Please expect the final chapter on this week of May 8, 2008.
I'm also sorry if this chapter is quite long, and significantly lengthier than past chapters. I never expected the story to extend to such a length and when I reviewed the number of words for the past eight chapters, I noticed that this story is only about 18 000 words shy of being a novel (at 50 000 words). So I am determined to make it one, seeing as I'm so close to it anyway. This is all very surprising considering my initial intention for this story was for it to be a one-shot. Ah, well. I hope that these last two chapters do not bore you and that you continue to support this story. Thank you very much.
And don't take the last few lyrics seriously. The song doesn't necessarily express the characters' feelings.
Chapter 9: Fly Me To The Moon
Well,
it's a marvelous night for a moon dance
With the stars up above
in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the
cover of October skies
And all the leaves on the trees are
falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
And I'm trying
to please to the calling
Of your heart-strings that play soft and
low
And all the nights magic seems to whisper and hush
And all
the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush
The
song continued to play and its seductively festive tune floated up,
echoed, and was carried by the wind far away from the source of music
towards a distant and solitary edge of Gaea.
The illumination of two moons was reflected in crimson orbs. The mystery of the celestial bodies also mirrored the enigma of the persona gazing at them with a heated intensity. It was impossible to imagine what thoughts passed through the mind of that solitary figure as a gentle, cool breeze fingered with silver strands of his hair and rustled the leaves of nearby trees.
But a lonely spectator might always hazard a guess.
Perhaps he was musing on the various advanced functions of his guymelef, a huge, crimson fighting machine. An Alseides. It was a superior model and the only one of its kind. Specially equipped with the advanced features of malleable Crima Claws and a great flamethrower, there was no other guymelef in Gaea to match it. Except for one. He narrowed his scarlet eyes. Escaflowne. The renowned Fanelian God of Protection.
His crimson gaze scanned the surrounding area. Perhaps he was silently priming himself for his coming mission. He knew full well that the time for attending balls, parties, and all other annoying evening gatherings would very soon come to an end. In fact, tonight's ball may as well have been the last one he would ever attend. He smiled with satisfaction. Good riddance.
The real work would start real soon. The Emperor had only to authorize the mission and he and his men would proceed to Fanelia and prove their mettle as Dragonslayers. He was sick and tired of the interminable waiting. He was itching for a real fight. And it seemed that he soon would get his wish.
Perhaps also he was thinking about his men, his loyal Dragonslayers who would go to the ends of the world just to do his bidding. They were a select group of Zaibach soldiers, hand picked by himself for their skill and combat prowess. He would have no less than the very best. And so far, his elite squad did not disappoint. They were consistently the most superior fighters from among the vast ranks of the Zaibach Empire and they continued to improve due to their diligent and constant training. The time will soon come to put all their hard-earned skills to the test. But he was confident that they would succeed. Indeed, how could they not, when the entire, ideal future of the Zaibach Empire rested on their able shoulders? This was their destiny.
Or maybe his mind had not even left the ballroom though his body had exited the place in a most unconventional manner. It had started out as one of the worst balls he had ever attended. Extreme boredom was an understatement for what he had endured for the first couple of hours in that stuffy ballroom with all the stuffy aristocrats. All a bunch of idiots.
He now cursed under his breath and shuddered as he recalled the disgusting experience. He had longed to escape, to find some way of evading all the sickening presences of the people there. Only a handful (including Lord Folken and the Princess Eries) of the guests were persons with whom he could bear to stand.
However, Fate had a way with toying with him. And for some unfathomable reason, his entire night, and probably some part of his life, had been altered by this particular ball. Finally, he tore his eyes from both the night sky and the moonlit surroundings. And his gaze settled on the small, limp figure who lay encased in a cage-like Crima Claw.
Her.
Dilandau Albatou narrowed his eyes.
Why had she come tonight? And why had she plagued so many of his dreams for numerous weeks? It seemed that even she didn't know the answers to these questions. Perhaps neither of them would ever divine what purpose or higher power it was that facilitated this exceptional meeting. But it had taken place. And with her arrival, they had set in motion a most incredible chain of events.
Even now, far away from the madding crowd of astonished aristocrats, Dilandau wondered what had prompted him to act so completely out of character tonight. What alien force did this stranger possess to make him compelled to act so ludicrously. It was maddening.
But the important thing was that they were both away from the annoying glances and watchful eyes of their manipulative audience. He still didn't understand why he had allowed her to come along but what was done was done. But it certainly wasn't some response to any chivalric instinct he had because he had none. He hated heroics and nothing would ever change that.
There were so many unanswered questions, unresolved issues.
"Ch," he muttered in exasperation, "I don't really enjoy pondering on such abstractions in the middle of the night."
With that he sipped some vino from a goblet he had been holding and looked back at the night sky, the moon shining on his pale features. The bottle of wine which he held in the other hand reflected the moonlight and the velvety liquid within shimmered like rubies melted into blood.
Can
I just have one more moon dance with you, my love
Can I just make
some more romance with you, my love
Well,
I wanna make love to you tonight
I cant wait til the morning has
come
And I know that the time is just right
And straight into
my arms you will run
And when you come my heart will be waiting
To
make sure that you're never alone
There and then all my dreams
will come true, dear
There and then I will make you my own
Any
time I touch you, you just tremble inside
And I know how much you
want me that you can't hide
Her last thoughts before passing out had been "at least, this wasn't a boring way to die. A bit theatrical but all in all, not a bad way to go."
But as she felt the cold wind whip her hair into her face and the chill of the late evening, she somehow knew that she was still alive. Seraphina took a deep breath of the night air before she opened her dark eyes.
Two moons.
Nope, she wasn't dreaming. She somehow had survived the fall and was now staring up at the sky of the strange planet called Gaea although the sight seemed slightly blurred. And she still had no idea how she would ever get back home. Although considering the events of the past few hours, she didn't really know if she wanted to go home yet. She doubted anything that would happen in her life on Earth could ever compare to this night. She sighed lightly.
She blinked her eyes and willed herself to be fully awake. Seraphina did not want to waste a single moment on this planet, because something seemed to be telling her that she would not be spending the rest of her life here.
"But I guess it's not really for me to decide," she thought, "maybe in a little while someone will say that I've overstayed my welcome." For a joke, she checked if she still wore both her sandals. She smiled when she saw that her footwear was still intact albeit rather worn out. And though she did not have her watch with her, she had a pretty good feeling it was way past midnight.
Seraphina smiled slyly. "Well," she said to herself, "this is a big improvement on Cinderella, at least. Maybe Fairy Godmothers have become more lenient with the curfew these days. Although, I can't say too much about my Prince Charming."
She propped herself up and noticed that she seemed to be in some sort of metal cage. The bars were of a thin, but sturdy silvery metal and it looked more like she was in a giant claw than in a cage. Curious, she gently pushed against the metal bars to see how strong they were and instantly, the cage opened up and she could stand up.
"I guess I activated something," she said to herself. Stretching her arms, she scanned the surroundings, starting with the structure which held the metal cage. She was standing on a large, hand-like metal extension of a larger machine. The large chunk of metal, as opposed to the "claws", was a rich, crimson color, a shade similar to a certain captain's fiery eyes. Taking a closer look, she noticed that she was in fact standing on what looked like a giant robot.
Placida was never a fan of huge hunks of metal. She rolled her eyes.
"Great, a giant robot," she said with a laugh, "as if this whole place wasn't weird enough."
Although, she admitted, this robot was certainly an improvement over other similar mechanisms she had seen on television. But then again, there was something, eerily familiar, about it. At the center of what seemed like the "head" of the robot was a shining crystal. It was unlike any jewel she had ever seen and there was something very striking about it. This gem seemed to pulsate with a life of its own and the energy emanating from it seemed to fuel the entire mechanism.
"It's like the heart of the robot," Seraphina observed, "very interesting. This really puts Daimos and Voltes V to shame."
But as she admired the make and model of the huge robot, Seraphina recalled a conversation she had with Dilandau earlier that evening, before her iPod had been taken from her and before they had danced to all her favorite songs. It had something to do with the dullness of the Asturian dances.
"I feel like I can take a nap right here and just put my body on autopilot or something," she had said.
"I didn't expect a woman to know about guymelefs. I don't recall hearing where you are from?" Dilandau had told her.
"Guymelefs? I'm sorry, Lord Dilandau, but we don't have those where I come from."
"But how could you know about … Oh, never mind. It doesn't matter," he had said.
"Hmmm," she pondered as she recalled that dialog, "could this be the guy-thingies he was talking about." She glanced once more at the robot and the crystal at its heart seemed to gleam even brighter.
Seraphina sighed. "Well," she told herself, "I guess there's only one way to find out. And where is Dilandau, anyway?"
She turned her head around but all she was able to see were blurred images of tall trees, a fade shimmering of the dual moonlight, and the body of the robot. She squinted but the surroundings did not acquire any more clarity.
"That's funny," she thought, "I'm wearing a new pair of contact lenses tonight. And everything was so clear when I was in the Asturian ballroom."
And then, the moons seemed to move. It was as if the sky was some sort of fabric of the sky quivered in the wind.
"Whoa, there," she said incredulously, clutching her head in disbelief, "did I hit my head too hard? Or did Dilandau spike the wine with hallucinogens? This is just too weird."
She blinked. But true enough, the environment seemed to move. Or it seemed more like there was a strange "curtain" that served as her window to the outside world. She looked at it carefully and reached out her hand.
True enough, there seemed to be some sort of material covering the entire robot. Seraphina grabbed a hold of it and tried to see where she could find an opening.
After grasping at the peculiar curtain several times and pulling and tugging and all manner of violent movement, she found a gap. Carefully, she pulled a small bit of the material aside and peeked out. And then, everything looked clearer to her. She sighed with relief and pushed the "curtain" aside.
As she moved the material, she noticed that from the outside, the robot was nowhere to be seen and neither was the rest of her body. But when she looked back behind the curtain, there it was.
Seraphina Cervantes raised her eyebrows. Very curious indeed.
She moved the curtain a little further and a part of the metal cage where she was standing became visible.
"So there are invisibility cloaks in this dimension," Seraphina thought aloud, "how quaint."
"They're called Stealth Cloaks, actually. Not that I expected you to know anything about them."
Seraphina's eyes widened but she smiled. Slowly but deliberately she turned her head to face the one who had spoken. She gazed unblinkingly at the face of her companion.
His crimson eyes pierced hers. They both said nothing for a few moments. A chilly wind blew causing Seraphina to clutch her shoulders and shiver slightly. Dilandau looked away and took another sip from his goblet of wine. The girl thought that Dilandau probably had a very high tolerance for alcohol since he didn't seem the least bit intoxicated after consuming so much vino. Either that or the vino in this world was really weak but she doubted that somehow.
The dark-haired girl gazed pensively at that enigmatic figure. He was sitting on the uppermost branch of a very tall and ancient-looking tree. The way he was perched, one of his legs swinging idly against the trunk, and his back leaning on the bark, made him look perfectly at home with that part of nature. The wind seemed to play with the strands of Dilandau's silver hair and his pale skin seemed to glow under the gleam of the moon light. His posture and the way he carried himself as he leaned back against the tree trunk gave him an aura of otherworldliness, which seemed doubly funny to Seraphina considering he really was from another world. And yet, he still didn't seem to belong in this one.
There was something about him that she couldn't quite place. Seraphina racked her brain for an adequate description of Dilandau at this point in time.
He, she began thinking, has all the airiness, litheness, youth, mystique, and mischief of Puck (from "A Midsummer Night's Dream") or Ariel (from "The Tempest") and yet none of their happy and cheerful dispositions. Far from it.
Something about him seemed to show that he had Hamlet's madness (with Polonius' method). Perhaps, he had the bloodthirstiness of the MacBeth's, his demeanor was certainly dark enough. But he also had the cunning of Iago (from "Othello"). There was a rage in him that was akin to Shylock's (from "The Merchant of Venice") and a charming wit, when he chose to show it, that rivaled Benedick's (from "Much Ado About Nothing"). There was a sorrow that reflected the pain of King Lear. And for all these, there was the prowess in battle that surpassed any Shakespearean character she could recall. Dilandau Albatou was a Shakespearean marvel.
Seraphina clutched her head with exasperation. Why the hell was she thinking in Shakespearean terms? So much for swearing that she would set aside everything completely unrelated to the prom tonight and focus on the wonder she had wished she would find.
But then again, nothing turned out as she expected tonight. And having one's expectations thrown into complete and utter chaos was never so interesting.
Bah, she thought, I should have stuck to Greek mythology. It's much simpler that way.
She therefore concluded that Dilandau Albatou was Ares, the God of War, in the body of Hermes, the messenger god, with the beauty of Eros, god of love. There. That seemed adequate.
"So you've finally decided to rejoin the land of the living, huh?" he said, breaking the silence.
Her reverie interrupted, she smiled back at him.
"I can't recall having died," she replied, "but I do feel quite rejuvenated."
"Good for you."
"Where exactly are we?" she asked.
He looked away from her mysteriously (in an almost dramatic manner) and replied, "Far from the madding crowd."
Seraphina chuckled. It's good that I know my classics, she thought, but nevertheless, that line is priceless.
"Well, that's one good thing about it," she replied, "although it would still be a comfort to know one's exact location in the world."
"Why do you need to know," he retorted nonchalantly, "you're not even from this world, are you?"
Seraphina was a little taken aback by his frankness. She glanced at his silhouette nervously. But she recovered after a few moments.
"I suppose you're right," she answered, "but then again, I don't know if I'm ever going back to where I originally came from."
"That's a pity," he replied lazily, "you're quite out of place in this world."
"Really," she said, raising her eyebrows, "some of the young men in Asturia didn't think so."
"Well, that's because they're just a bunch of brainless idiots."
"Why, thank you," she said acidly, "that does wonders for my self-esteem."
"As if I cared about that."
Seraphina pouted and turned away. But she could not help replying.
"As if you cared about anything but yourself."
He blinked but that was all the reaction he gave her. She looked at him curiously.
"Although I am quite grateful to you, you know," she began tentatively, "for otherwise, I would not have escaped that dreadful ballroom."
"Indeed, you would not have succeeded without my help," he said nonchalantly. Seraphina rolled her eyes at this.
"So everything worked out as you planned?" she asked, piqued with curiosity.
"To the letter," he replied, turning to her at last, his scarlet eyes gleaming with triumph, "I would have given anything to have stayed longer just so I could have seen their faces."
"Their reactions are fairly predictable," she replied, with a smile, "but this doesn't decrease the pleasure of seeing those facial expressions."
"None of them can ever expect to see another such spectacle for the rest of their sad little lives," Dilandau said acidly, "too bad."
"So I guess they should be thankful to you?"
"To a certain extent, yes."
Seraphina laughed at this. "You have very strange ideas for amusement, Lord Dilandau."
"Look who's talking. I wasn't the one who jumped off the balcony."
Remembering those final moments of her consciousness, Seraphina stopped laughing. It had been quite an ordeal to gather enough courage (not to mention guts) to push through with it. But there had been something in Dilandau's eyes that had really made her decide to do it.
"I can almost see Folken's face," Dilandau continued, showing some uncharacteristic talkativeness, and smiling sinisterly, "as wrinkles appear and crease his usually flat skin and he frowns at having to sort out this whole mess."
Seraphina watched him curiously as he seemed to take great pleasure in visualizing his commanding officer's misery. He's quite a sadist, she thought, as he continued to grin with almost maniacal joy.
"He'd have to make so many excuses for my outrageous behavior," Dilandau went on without any sign of regret, "and he'd have to exhaust ever diplomatic strategy in his arsenal to be able to cover this up."
"You're not very patriotic, then, are you?" Seraphina asked.
Dilandau laughed derisively. "Patriotism has nothing to do with it," he replied scornfully.
She looked at him with doubt. "So what is the Zaibach Empire to you, then, Lord Dilandau?"
He turned his crimson orbs to her and said with conviction, "I serve to fulfill the Zaibach Empire's ideal future because it is my destiny, it is my purpose and only goal. There is no other reason. No love for country, no feeling of pride, just the knowledge of the path I must follow."
"I envy you that clarity of your future," she replied gravely, turning her face towards the Mystic Moon, "not many people know their destinies in such clear-cut terms."
"Well, that's their problem," he said without hesitation, "they should be less indecisive if they want to make it in life. It isn't easy but it is necessary."
"I suppose you're right," she answered, "but what about the other guests at the ball? Would you have such a vivid visualization of their reactions?"
Dilandau regained his sinister grin. "Of course," he began with a diabolical glint in his eyes, "the generals of Zaibach would be furious, General Adelphos most of all, seeing as I am a member of his division. I can see that puffed up old buffoon now as he is bombarded with questions from the others about disciplining his subordinates. The bristles on his beard would start to tremble and his face would go very, very red. I can practically see the smoke coming out of his nostrils as he fumes over my little act. The other generals would be similarly incensed but not as much. The other nobles would be turning up their noses at such barbarism and the gossips would have the time of their lives speculating about where we had gone and what we intended to do."
Seraphina laughed at such a plausible prediction of the people's reactions.
"You're absolutely right," she said, "no one had expected the escape and they would definitely come up with all sorts of ridiculous theories about what we were thinking when in truth, we only wanted to escape from the boredom of their company."
She also recalled the strange conversation they had had during that final dance, that last tango. She frowned at the recollection and glanced at him. He had begun frowning as well. Perhaps the same thoughts had crossed their minds.
"There is something I've been meaning to ask you," she began tentatively, "about that last dance."
"Well, what about it?" he replied, trying to look nonchalant but being unable to mask some emotions. It was unclear whether he was angry or embarrassed or glad. The only indicator of a feeling was the bright glint in his scarlet pupils.
"What was it that got you all worked up?" Seraphina said as quickly as she could. She now fully realized that in their current position, she was completely at his mercy, with no one present for miles around who could save her from the manifestations of his ire. And something told her that Dilandau Albatou's rage was never to be trifled with.
But to her utter surprise, he merely gave her a look of mixed incredulity and amusement. Then, he burst into cackling maniacally, his laugh piercing the silence of the night and scaring away some birds from the trees. Although Seraphina shivered at the sound, she also pouted.
"What's so funny?" she asked with frustration, her hands on her hips.
"I just can't believe you fell for the whole ruse," he said, between laughs, that evil glint in his eyes seeming to grow larger and larger, "you're a lot more gullible than I thought."
"I beg your pardon," she snapped angrily, "but I demand an explanation."
"You're in no position to give me any orders," he said quietly, sending shivers up her spine.
She considered his threat and was silent. But she still continued to glare at him. He returned her gaze calmly.
"I can see that I was rather effective," he commented with amusement, "I never expected you to fall for it, but apparently you did."
"Hmmph," she said angrily and she looked away. He laughed.
"Women are so predictable," he said. She glared harder at him.
"Really," Seraphina snapped, "so I suppose I was merely imagining that you were acting so immature and jealous over Allen Schezar kissing my hand, wasn't I?"
"You were not imagining," Dilandau replied coolly, "you were falling for my little trap."
"What are you saying?"
"As if I would ever act so immaturely and stupidly over that idiot Allen Schezar. It was all just an act to get you to go through with the plan," he explained.
Seraphina's eyes widened. Seeing her understanding of his meaning (finally), Dilandau rolled his eyes.
"It took you a while, didn't it?" he mocked as she came to the full realization of his plan.
"You mean," she stammered, "you were not really…"
"Well, of course not, you idiot," he replied with another roll of his eyes, "what do you take me for, some petty fool? As if I would be bothered by such an insignificant event!"
"Well," Seraphina answered, finally seeing the humor in the situation, "I will admit that you were quite convincing, Lord Dilandau. Have you ever considered the theatre as a potential occupation?"
"Never," he replied, "nothing else suits me more than being a soldier."
"That is true, as well," she said, after some thought, "because I must confess that the role of the jealous lover ill befits you."
"Precisely because I am not such a fool," he said with certainty.
"Not like all the other young men who were hounding me during the latter part of the ball," Seraphina continued, "are all nobles such boors or am I just this unlucky?"
"All noble young aristocrats are boors," Dilandau answered authoritatively, "and I've seen enough of their sickening and simpering ways to resolve never to become one. The only man of noble lineage whom I have a certain degree of respect for is Lord Folken."
"Though I have only just met him," Seraphina said, "I feel very inclined to agree with you. True members of nobility have a certain air of dignity about them that cannot be learned or taught. It is just something you are born with."
"Especially if one is born a prince," Dilandau commented mysteriously.
Once again, Seraphina's eyes went wide. "Lord Folken is a prince?" she cried incredulously, "that's strange, I never placed the Zaibach Empire as that kind of monarchy."
"It is not," Dilandau explained, "Lord Folken was originally the crown prince of a small country called Fanelia. Not a very progressive place, quite pathetic actually. Suffice to say that circumstances led to his becoming an integral part of the Zaibach Empire."
Seraphina assessed Dilandau's expression and sensed that he was unwilling to disclose any more information so she let the matter rest.
"And yet," Dilandau began, and Seraphina raised her eyes to his, "Folken was acting very annoyingly during the latter part of that ball. His stupid proposition to me made me even more eager to leave that irksome place."
"And, pray tell, what was Lord Folken's stupid proposition?" Seraphina asked curiously. Dilandau looked at her intently, his crimson eyes boring into hers. She struggled to maintain composure under so intense a gaze.
"He wanted me to marry you," he said simply. Then, he turned away from her and stared at the moon. A soft gust of wind blew against the treetops and some loose leaves took flight into the night.
There was an awkward silence between them as Seraphina struggled to process this little piece of information. Marriage? Her eyes grew wider than she thought possible and jaw dropped a long way down. She imagined that if she had been drinking something at that moment, she would have spit it all out, so great was her shock. And yet, despite the powerful distaste with which she viewed the mere idea, she could not suppress a slight blush. But she clenched her fist and gathered her wits about her.
Dilandau had observed her reaction and was quite at a loss to interpret it. Surely, the girl didn't feel inclined to it, did she? He felt sickened at the very idea and he would make sure to tell her so.
"It is absurd," Seraphina said, after a few moments, "what gave Lord Folken the right to decide such a thing without either of our consent? And just when I was beginning to think him the only sensible man in that room, yourself excluded."
"Well, Folken is a sensible man most of the time," Dilandau replied, "but in this matter, I fear, he was severely misguided by a strong sense of diplomacy. He said something about this alliance being beneficial for both our nations."
"Unfortunately, he doesn't even know where exactly I am from," Seraphina remarked with a laugh, "otherwise, I think he wouldn't have even considered something so far fetched."
"I was sorely tempted to let him know your origins," Dilandau said, "just to let him shut up about the whole deal. But I doubt he would have believed me had I told him."
"That's true. And I'm sure you made your sentiments on the matter crystal clear to him."
"I did. I told him he had no right to decide in which manner I was to run my life."
"And what did he say to that?" Seraphina asked eagerly.
"I didn't wait to hear any response he had to offer. It was too infuriating."
"I know that arranged marriages are what you do here but I wouldn't have expected someone like Lord Folken to play match maker."
"Nor I. He has never broached the subject with me before."
"Really? You've never had to refuse other young girls?"
"Many noblemen have offered their daughters' hands but I always declined and Folken never seemed to mind. Marriage is not a huge priority for military men, especially now that we have more important missions to attend to."
"Then, I wonder why he changed his perspective tonight."
"It is annoyingly curious. He mentioned something about you being the only girl I ever dance with."
"So what? It's just dancing."
"That's what I told him. He didn't look too convinced. It really vexed me."
"Besides, I'm just fifteen years old. I'm far too young to be considering such a significant part of my future." I'm not even out of high school yet, she added in her mind, and I intend on finishing my studies.
She was about to comment further on the idiocy of Folken's proposition when she noticed that Dilandau was looking at her like she was some sort of lunatic. She was taken aback.
"What are you looking at me like that for?" she asked with trepidation, "was it something I said?"
"You said that you're fifteen years old," he replied, "why are you surprised about proposals of marriage? You have come of age. You're an adult now."
"WHAT?" she replied in disbelief. Fifteen was the age of maturity here in Gaea? No wonder so many of them were so immature. Did they all really subscribe to primitive standards here? She was so shocked that she was at a loss for words. Dilandau was still staring at her. Then, he rolled his eyes in boredom.
"I guess," she muttered, "the standards in my country are a little different."
"What's the big deal?" he said, "I'm fifteen and I already have my share of annoying responsibilities."
Seraphina's eyes widened again. It was becoming a habit with her.
"You're fifteen?"
"Yeah, so what?"
Disinclined to start another strange argument, Seraphina just muttered, "Nothing. I didn't know."
"Anyway," she commented, going back to their conversation about marriage, "I would have objected just as passionately to it. It's my life as well, you know." She also shuddered to think of all the suspicions the people in the ball would have about her and Dilandau's being alone at night in an undisclosed location. People could have very dirty imaginations.
"Unfortunately for you, no one would have considered your opinion in the matter. After all, you're just a woman," Dilandau said matter-of-factly.
Seraphina sighed at his frank but harsh answer. And yet, she knew that he was telling the truth.
"I forget that this society still devalues women," Seraphina said, "and they are still treated as inferior creatures only good for marriage and childbearing."
"Well, what else are they good for?" Dilandau replied coldly but matter-of-factly.
She glared at him sharply. "I won't argue with you on that subject," she replied with equal coldness, "only because it would take up so much time. After all, it took several generations of emancipated women to prove their point. And frankly, it's a tiresome enterprise."
Not wishing to dwell further on an unpleasant subject or to reopen what would become a heated argument, Seraphina turned her attention elsewhere. She cleared her throat as audibly as she could.
Dilandau rolled his eyes and turned to look at her impatiently.
She gestured towards the large robot. His eyes instantly acquired a strange glow.
"So," she said, "this must be the guymelef you were talking about."
He raised his eyebrows before replying, "It is. You are fairly perceptive."
"As I have already proven," she said unabashedly, "so, could you tell me more about it?"
He hesitated but she could see that talking about his giant robot seemed to be something that highly appealed to him. Seraphina grinned inwardly. In any dimension, boys were so predictable, always eager to talk about their big toys, whether fancy cars or huge robots of doom.
"Men are so typical," she felt tempted to say but she resisted the urge. This was not the kind of man who took teasing well. She would have to tread carefully or risk hurting his pride and raising his ire.
He put down his goblet of vino and jumped expertly on to the surface of the guymelef, directly above her. Seeming to pat the large piece of metal, he examined it carefully before turning to her to explain its merits.
"It's called an Alseides," Dilandau began, "and it is currently the most advanced and sophisticated model of guymelef in Zaibach, and most probably, in the entire world of Gaea."
"An Alseides, huh?" Seraphina replied. Now why did that name sound familiar? Then, she snapped her fingers and remembered.
"What did you do that for?" Dilandau asked her curiously but also thinking that she was indeed a very peculiar girl.
"I just wasn't aware that you people knew Greek mythology," she explained to him.
"What?" he asked, perplexed.
Oops, Seraphina thought, apparently, they don't. So she tried to elaborate further.
"Alseides," she began, "refers to the nymphs of glens and groves. According to legend, these mischievous little sprites delighted in scaring travelers."
"Really?" Dilandau said in an unimpressed tone, "that's very fascinating." Seraphina ignored his sarcasm and began to recite a few verses she knew about the Alseides.
"The nymphs who live in the lovely groves, and the springs of rivers and the grassy meadows."
"They nymphs come from springs, they come from groves, they come from the sacred rivers flowing seawards."
"The nymphs of Mount Ida who haunt the pleasant woods, or of those who inhabit this lovely mountain and the springs of rivers and grassy meads," Seraphina concluded.
Dilandau was looking at her with a bored but curious expression. His hands were crossed and he was trying to appear impatient by tapping his foot. She paid him no mind.
"It just seems odd," Seraphina commented looking at the guymelef pensively, "that a large, destructive mecha would be named after a group of lovely, harmless nymphs. Although I will admit that your robot is more beautiful than most I've seen."
"So you have seen guymelefs before, then?" Dilandau asked her, with renewed interest.
"Er," she answered with hesitation, remembering that all her experience with robots were mostly from watching them on television shows, "well, yes, I suppose I have. But we don't call them guymelefs where I come from."
"It doesn't matter," Dilandau replied, "all big machines like these serve the same purpose."
"How can you be so sure?" she asked him with curious interest.
"Can you think of another reason anyone would build giant machines other than to manufacture stuff or destroy them?" he argued.
She was about to rebut him when she realized that he was right. She closed her mouth and simply nodded.
"So," she said, "what makes your Alseides so superior to the other guymelefs here in Gaea."
Her mention of his guymelef seemed to have a profound effect on Dilandau. Something illuminated his face and he all of a sudden became more animated than he had been the entire night. Seraphina guessed it was because he liked talking about something he used in battle. As he enumerated the many merits of his Alseides to her, Seraphina observed that his face acquired an expression the closest to happiness and liveliness that she had ever seen him have. Something made her feel glad that she had been able to elicit such a positive response from one she had always thought to be utterly unreachable.
"The Alseides of the rest of my Dragon Slayers," he was saying, "are all bluish grey. Only my own Alseides is a distinctive crimson color. I had it done so that in any battle it would be clear not only who the leader of the feared Dragon Slayers is, but which guymelef any opponent would fear the most."
"You have quite a high opinion of yourself," she commented wryly, "when it comes to your battle prowess, Lord Dilandau."
"It is because I am an excellent fighter," he boasted, "and many, many others have admitted defeat and therefore share the same opinion." Seeing his confidence and knowing his ferocity, Seraphina did not doubt his (boastful) sincerity.
"But one feature the Alseides has that no other guymelef in Gaea can boast of having," Dilandau continued, "is the Stealth Cloak. You've already come into contact with one so I guess that you know what it's for."
She nodded. "This cloak," she answered, "renders your guymelef invisible. It must be a great advantage to you in battle."
"It is," he agreed, "a tremendous advantage. It is also very helpful when it comes to tracking or spying. Our enemies don't stand a chance. They can't defeat us even when we're visible, what more if they can't even see us?"
"Then, the Stealth Cloaks' inventor must be a very impressive person indeed," Seraphina said.
Dilandau gave her a mysterious look. "He is," the young captain answered, "and in fact, you've already met him."
"You don't mean," she said, "Lord Folken?"
Dilandau nodded. Seraphina smiled at the idea.
"Lord Folken is a very talented person," she commented, "I guess that is why he holds a very high position in Zaibach."
"He is second to only Emperor Dornkirk himself," Dilandau said with some pride, but added darkly, "and the sorcerers."
"Sorcerers?" Seraphina asked.
"I don't care to talk about those evil, monstrous fiends," he said, quickly ending all further conversation on that topic. Seraphina sensed that for the first time, Dilandau felt truly repulsed (from the very core of his being) at these "sorcerers" and she did not intend to pry. Perhaps they had given him some unpleasant experience. And she shuddered to imagine what such malevolent beings may be like when someone as scary as Dilandau called them "evil" and "monstrous."
"So," she said, bringing the conversation back the guymelefs, "what else can the Alseides do?"
"Well," he continued, his face brightening up once more, "they can launch Crima Claws." With this he pointed at the "cage" she was standing in. She nodded.
"These metal implements are extremely malleable and very easy to mold into whatever weapon we choose," he explained, "and they can be very deadly."
"My Alseides can also fly," he added, "but unfortunately, the Stealth Cloaks are not so advanced that they can be activated in flight mode."
"Well, that's a drawback," Seraphina said, "but not something able fighters need worry about, right?"
"Of course," he said without hesitation, "and did I mention that another feature of my own Alseides not present in the others is a flamethrower."
"Flamethrower?"
"Let me show you," he said. He expertly leaped onto the top of the guymelef and activated a control that opened the pilot hatch. Entering it deftly, he pulled some levers and the "arm" of the Alseides opposite Seraphina extended. The Stealth Cloak fell back to reveal the enormity of the mecha. With the other arm extended, a metal apparatus appeared.
"You'd better stand back," Dilandau warned and Seraphina followed when a large jet of fire burst forth from the metal apparatus. She clutched tightly at the sides of her cage and felt the intense heat immediately spread from where the flame was emitted.
"And that's a flamethrower," Dilandau said, after the little demonstration.
He seemed proud of this feature of his guymelef and somehow, Seraphina believed that it suited him. Out of all the four elements, fire seemed to be the perfect one for Dilandau Albatou. For like fire, he was passionate, fierce, dangerous, powerful, unpredictable, and intense. Seraphina nodded to herself. Even his eyes seemed to burn.
So far, Seraphina wasn't getting bored with Dilandau's enthusiastic descriptions of his mecha. Although she was not a big fan of big machines herself, there was something distinctively powerful about this one. And considering she had been "rescued" by it, she felt that she should at least show some interest in it. But there was still something that she felt extremely curious about.
"Lord Dilandau," she asked, pointing to the center of the Alseides, "what is that gem stone in the middle of your guymelef?"
He looked at what she was pointing at and smiled with excitement. He was quite eager to tell her about it, she could see.
"That is the source of my Alseides' power," he explained, "it is a drag energist."
"A what?" she asked, her eyebrows raised. Dilandau sighed and rolled his eyes.
"An energist," he explained in a patronizing tone, as if speaking to a small child, "is the heart of a dragon used to power a guymelef."
Ignoring the patronizing tone, Seraphina raised her eyebrows again.
"The heart of a dragon?" she asked skeptically. His eyes narrowed.
"Yeah," he answered defensively, "don't believe me?"
"Well," she replied, still skeptical, "don't get me wrong. But I'm a little doubtful about the existence of mythical, fire-breathing beasts."
Dilandau cackled diabolically, causing Seraphina to shiver.
"Then you are more ignorant than I thought," he told her frankly. She frowned and glared at him. Although she preferred his brutal honesty to the simpering flattery of the other men at the Asturian ball, Dilandau could sometimes be annoyingly insensitive.
"Exactly how much do you know about dragons?" he asked her mysteriously. Seraphina was taken aback by the sudden question and paused to remember all she could about the fiery reptilians.
"Well," she began hesitantly, while Dilandau stared at her and listened intently, "like I said they're large, mythical, majestic, scaly reptiles who breathe fire and are symbols of power and prestige in some cultures. They are long and serpentine in some depictions in art and literature while in others they look like oversized lizards with big, scaly wings. They are ferocious beasts who guard treasure, or attack knights and princes or they are noble and powerful spiritual guardians. Sometimes, they are monarchs of the animal kingdom. Well, that's what I know about them in a nutshell. Don't ask me for examples or references please, I'm just not in the mood."
"That's all very interesting," Dilandau said sarcastically, "but sadly, you have been severely misinformed. You have a general idea of what dragons are like but your information is very incomplete."
"Well then, since you're the expert, could you complete my education on the matter?" Seraphina said sarcastically although she was also very curious about Gaea's version of dragons.
"The dragons here," he began, "are far from the majestic, noble guardians you have mentioned. Maybe ferocious reptilian beasts is a more apt description. In my extensive experience, they are large, ugly, scaly creatures with stinking breath and vicious eyes. They have huge, sharp claws that could slice you in half in one swipe and fangs that could break your bones in one bite. They never go down without a fight. But slaying one is always worth it, the challenge is exhilarating and the conquest is always satisfactory. For after we slice out the energist from the dragon's chest, its corpse disintegrates and we are left with the most precious power source in Gaea."
Seraphina had been listening with interest at his little speech. Now that she heard about Gaea's dragons, she felt very intrigued. After all, she was in a different world so fantastical things were not supposed to surprise her. This was becoming so much better than a dream.
"So I take it you've slain a fair share of dragons, Lord Dilandau," she asked him.
"More than you can imagine," he replied proudly, "dragon hunts are the highlights of every mission when we're not burning some pathetic country to the ground."
"I guess it's fairly easy to slay a dragon with the help of gigantic guymelefs and advanced technology," she said.
"We don't use guymelefs when we slay dragons," Dilandau replied to Seraphina's surprise, "why waste the energists when it is possible to bring down the beasts with a sharp enough sword and a lot of guts."
Seraphina shuddered. The more she realized what Dilandau was capable of, the more nervous she got. Nervous but intrigued. The image of Dilandau as a valiant slayer of dragons seemed to be so incongruous with that of a noble knight or prince in Fairy Tale books that she felt compelled to smile.
"You become more impressive as I hear more of your exploits," she praised him, appealing to his egotistic nature. He smirked with satisfaction.
"You asked me earlier," he said with mischief, "where exactly we are. Well, let me just tell you that this place is often called the Dragons' Lair."
"Dragons' Lair," she repeated, "why, because this is where dragons choose to hang out?" she added sarcastically.
"Precisely," he replied sinisterly.
Seraphina gulped. Seeing the fear and anxiety darkening her features, he laughed. It was the effect he was going for.
"Of course," he added, to her relief, "that's just an old wives' tale the villagers told their children to keep the brats from wandering in the woods at night. In recent years, Zaibach has been systematically getting rid of the remaining dragons in Gaea in order to build a vast storehouse of energists for our legions of guymelefs. The few survivors of our dragon hunts would not dare show themselves so carelessly under the brilliance of the moonlight and risk being caught."
She still looked doubtful. Dilandau rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Besides," he continued, "dragons have not been seen in these parts for the past ten years. What makes you think you'd encounter one tonight?"
Seraphina allowed herself a sigh of relief. After all, she had nothing to fear, so why was she being irrationally wimpy?
"I suppose you're right," she conceded, "but you do have a way of putting me on edge."
Dilandau smirked mischievously. She glared at him.
A chilly wind blew against them and she clutched her bare shoulders and shivered. Quickly, Seraphina untied her shawl and spread it out over her shoulders. But the material was thin and gave hardly any warmth. After all, it was made more for decoration than for function. She cursed under her breath.
Seeing her discomfort, Dilandau rolled his eyes and climbed into the pilot hatch of his Alseides. He opened a few compartments and seemed busy sorting things out. Seraphina watched on curiously though she continued to shiver.
Finally, he re-emerged from the Alseides carrying a bundle of things. Before Seraphina could take a good look at what he had brought with him, Dilandau tossed a large, dark cloth into her face.
She caught it as it covered her mouth. She grabbed it off and glared at him.
"Hey," she yelled, "what's the idea, huh?" Then, she looked at the piece of cloth and noticed that it was a large, thick cloak.
"Well, it's impractical to wear such flimsy clothes in such cold weather," he snapped back, "not to mention stupid."
"Hmmph," she grumbled back as she put on the cloak. It warmed her up a great deal and was almost the perfect size, "well, I didn't exactly expect to escape the confines of the ballroom so I'm not really dressed for the cold outdoors."
"But thanks a lot though," she added gratefully as she felt the warmth of the cloak.
"I was planning to get rid of that old thing anyway," he replied. It was her turn to roll her eyes. But Seraphina smiled beneath the black hood. Dilandau was just being himself again.
He tossed something else at her. This time, she was a little more agile. She caught the item and smiled when she realized that it was her purse.
"How did you get this?" she asked with wonder.
"I had one of my men pick it up before we left," Dilandau explained, "I didn't want to leave any evidence at the ball."
"That's very thoughtful of you," Seraphina told him with a smile. He looked away.
As she rummaged through the small pouch bag, accounting for the contents, she noticed that one very important thing was missing. Seraphina looked worried.
"Looking for this?" Dilandau asked, holding up the golden pocket watch Seraphina's brother had given her.
"Why are you holding that?" she asked, a little angry at having her privacy invaded.
"Curiosity," he said idly, "what is it for?"
"It's a watch," she explained, "it tells the time of day. And I'd like it back, please."
He turned the pocket watch in his hand and looked at every angle curiously. He even opened it up, much to Seraphina's annoyance. Fortunately, Dilandau could not read the inscription. Having finished examining it, he tossed it lazily back to her.
"Well," he said, "you had better throw it away now. It seems broken."
"Broken?" she asked defensively, as she caught the watch, "what are talking about?"
But as she opened her prized possession, she had to admit that he was right. The hands of the watch had stopped moving at the number twelve. Midnight. Seraphina smiled at the implication.
"It seems that my Fairy Godmother is granting me an extension," she whispered. Dilandau looked at her inquisitively.
"What are you mumbling about?" he asked.
"Oh," she said, closing the watch, "nothing of consequence. And you're right. The watch is broken. But I won't be throwing it away for the world. It has sentimental value for me."
"Ch," Dilandau muttered with a shrug, "do whatever you want."
Seraphina wound the chain of the watch around her arm, like a bracelet and kept her purse in a pocket she found within the folds of Dilandau's old cloak. She pulled the cloak tightly around her and gazed at the moonlight with a serene countenance.
"So, Lord Dilandau," she said calmly, "what are we going to do now?"
"No idea," he replied, as he gazed at the moon. The chilly winds blew and the night sounds filled the air.
I
stand at your gate and the song that I sing is of moonlight The stars are aglow
and tonight how their light sets me dreaming. Let us stray till break of day
in love's valley of dreams. So don't let me wait, come
to me tenderly in the June night.
I
stand and I wait for the touch of your hand in the June night
The
roses are sighing a Moonlight Serenade.
My love, do you know
that your eyes are like stars brightly beaming?
I bring you and I
sing you a Moonlight Serenade
Just you and I, a summer sky, a
heavenly breeze kissin' the trees.
I stand at your gate and I sing
you a song in the moonlight
A love song, my darling, a Moonlight
Serenade.
A sharp quiver. A strong rustling in the air.
Seraphina snapped out of her reverie, suddenly alert and observant.
"Did you hear that?" she whispered with urgency to Dilandau. But he didn't need to be warned for his acute senses and sharp instincts had already alerted him to the danger.
His eyes had narrowed in suspicion and concentration and he quickly leaped into the pilot hatch of his Alseides and pulled a lever to close it.
"Stay down," he ordered in a hushed tone, motioning to the Crima Claw cage just as the hatch was closing above him, "and be very quiet."
Without a second's delay, Seraphina did as she was told and even pulled the dark hood lower over her head, as if feeling an urgent need to keep herself hidden.
Immediately, the Stealth Cloak was reactivated and Seraphina could see the shimmering curtain covering the entire guymelef and rendering them invisible. She wasn't sure of what was coming but her instincts told her it was something to be feared. Her heart was pounding furiously and she was beginning to sweat with anticipation. She waited with bated breath for whatever it was that would appear.
The whole forest was still. Even the other creatures of the night seemed to be frightened away by this unnamed presence.
Then, there were footsteps. Large, heavy, earth-shaking foot steps. Seraphina held her breath and bit her lower lip.
From the darkness of the thick woods, she saw a pair of enormous, serpentine, golden eyes appear. The brightness of their tint greatly contrasted the blackness of the wood and soon, she saw the rest of the scaly, horned head appear.
"Could it be…" she muttered incredulously.
"A dragon!" Dilandau exclaimed, seeming to finish her sentence. Seraphina turned her head to the top part of the Alseides and wished that she could see Dilandau's expression at that moment.
Was he surprised? Was he frightened? Or did expect this to happen all along? Did he deliberately place them both in danger to satisfy some absurd fancy? Somehow, she could not bring herself to believe the last option.
The enormous reptile was several hundred meters away from where the guymelef stood in the shadows. It's large, scaly head darted this way and that, a long snake-like tongue flitting quickly in and out of its cavernous mouth. Its great big nostrils quivered as they gathered the scents of everything around it. The beast peered around, jerking its head quickly from side to side, sniffing the air and taking stock of everything in its path.
"I thought you said that dragons didn't lurk here," Seraphina whispered angrily at the pilot hatch of the Alseides.
"They don't," she heard a muffled voice mutter back, "this is an extremely rare circumstance."
"That's all very well. But what are we going to do about Mr. Big Scaly and Ugly over there?" she muttered back with increasing worry.
Dilandau gave no response. The silence further irked and frightened Seraphina.
"I have a bad feeling about this," she told herself for the second time that night.
And her anxiety was not without cause. For away from her sight, within the heart of the crimson Alseides, Dilandau Albatou sported a sinister grin. His fingers trembled where they rested above the controls of the guymelef and he could feel his heart pound with a familiar exhilaration.
Seraphina's fretting came full circle when she heard a soft but chilling laugh coming from the pilot partition of the mecha.
"It's been a while," Dilandau whispered with increasing delight and dark enthusiasm, "since my last dragon hunt."
Upon hearing this, Seraphina slapped her forehead in exasperation.
"I was afraid you'd say something like that."
Dilandau paid no attention to her comment and lowered the arm of the Alseides and instructed her to get off and to keep herself hidden among the trees.
"I have some business to attend to," he said, smacking his lips with pleasure.
Despite her objections, Seraphina quickly obeyed his instructions because she was also tremendously concerned for her own safety. But a nagging feeling also told her that this battle would not be Dilandau's easiest one.
"I hope you know what you're doing," she whispered as she ran behind the trunk of a large tree several meters away from both the Alseides and the dragon.
"Ha!" he replied, "I know perfectly well what I'm doing."
So with the Stealth Cloak keeping him invisible from the beast, Dilandau raised his Crima Claw arm and launched the long, metal spikes towards the direction of the seemingly unsuspecting dragon.
From within the Alseides, Dilandau grinned with anticipated triumph. He was eager to slice the creature in half and to carve out the heart that would prove to be another energy source for his guymelef.
But the renowned captain of Zaibach found his efforts thwarted. The dragon had immediately sensed the hostile activity and it swiftly turned to face the coming metal blades. With a quick snap of its mighty jaws, the creature broke the Crima Claws and sent them shattered to the ground.
Slightly taken aback but not discouraged by such an unexpected attack, Dilandau quickly retaliated by using the remaining liquid metal of his Crima Claw to form a large, sword like blade. With a powerful thrust of the guymelef's arm, the blade went forth, aimed at plunging itself into the belly of the beast.
But once again, the dragon was too quick and too powerful for the guymelef. This time though Dilandau was able to pull back his robot's arm before the giant lizard's fangs snapped the blade in two. The guymelef pilot gritted his teeth and moved forward, disabling the Stealth Cloak. The dragon made no surprised reaction at the sight of the enormous guymelef before it.
"So the dragon could see the Alseides all along," Seraphina muttered in realization, "that's how it was able to find us." Looking worriedly at the crimson machine she whispered, "Be careful" although she knew Dilandau would not be able to hear her.
"You're quite a crafty creature, aren't you?" Dilandau's voice echoed from within the Alseides as he addressed the dragon fearlessly, "but I doubt that even you can defeat a superior piece of technology. Prepare to die, dragon!"
The Alseides lunged forward, Crima blade on one side and flame thrower at the other. The dragon took a step backward to prepare itself for the coming attack. And just when the Alseides was about to strike, the dragon gave a loud, eardrum-shattering, soul-shaking roar. And then, the guymelef froze in its place.
"What the hell is going on?" Dilandau yelled as he jerked at the controls in vain. The Alseides would not budge and the dragon was fast approaching. "Damn it, why won't you work?"
"Dilandau! Get out of there!" Seraphina shouted, seeing the dragon about to smash the stationary guymelef.
Fortunately, Seraphina's warning distracted the dragon from annihilating the Alseides, giving Dilandau just enough time to clamber out of the pilot hatch, with his sword and armor. Unfortunately, now the dragon's attention was focused on Seraphina.
"Oh, damn it," she cursed with annoyance and fear, "I had to open my big fat mouth."
The dragon was now stomping its way towards her and she gulped before running as fast as she could away from it. It didn't help that she was wearing a prom gown or high-heeled sandals. Not to mention the ground was rough and uneven and many trees were getting in her way. Hardly the ideal circumstances for a sprint. But she had no other choice.
Hitching up her gown and throwing all etiquette to the winds, Seraphina ran as fast as she could, the dragon right behind her. Having covered some distance, she paused to rest when a blast of fire burned down the tree right beside her.
Seraphina gasped as she leaned back against a large tree, cornered by the dragon. "Darn it," she cursed, "if this is a dream, I'd really appreciate waking up right about now!"
Just as she screamed this, the dragon gave out a tremendous roar of pain. It jerked its horned head back and clawed at the air. Seraphina watched wide-eyed as the creature backed away from her. She was astonished at the changed but also thankful for it.
"I wonder why.." she whispered but before she could continue that statement, she spied a figure expertly stabbing the scaly creature with a sword.
Dilandau.
Having wounded the dragon, albeit slightly, the dragon slayer pulled out his sword and leaped back to the ground. He got into a fighting stance, his sword raised and ready.
"Don't think that you'll get away that easily, dragon," he yelled at his opponent, "I'm not leaving here until I've carved out your heart!" The dragon's only response was to turn its full attention at the new threat and to roar louder.
Seraphina had climbed some sturdy branches and was watching the scene with anxiety.
"You don't have to do this," she was mouthing to Dilandau, "thanks for saving me and everything, but we better get outta here!"
"Don't get me wrong," he yelled back, his eyes still on the dragon, "I wasn't rescuing you. This fight is the only worthwhile event of tonight."
Seraphina slapped her forehead, and ignored the slight he made to their acquaintance.
"So typically stubborn," she muttered as the battle ensued.
Dilandau continued slashing at the beast, wounding it, and letting the greenish gooey blood flow out of different parts of its body. But he had to do this while evading the sharp claws and the fire blasts from the furious dragon. Seraphina, from her perch on the tree, winced at every blow Dilandau evaded with expert agility. Being lighter on his feet than his opponent, it was easier for him to evade attacks but harder to land blows on the dragon. But Dilandau was persistent, stubbornly determined to win this match. Although punctured with many small wounds, the beast did not seem the least bit weakened. Every successful stab of Dilandau's sword was only enough to distract the dragon momentarily but it never faltered in counterattacking.
Dilandau barely jumped out of the way as the dragon scorched the ground where the soldier had been standing. The Zaibach captain was now panting heavily, and sweating profusely. He grudgingly admitted that this dragon was by far the biggest and strongest he had ever faced. All the other creatures which had been captured by Zaibach were inferior to this one. Dilandau clenched his teeth and remembered something Folken had told him about the breeds of dragons in Gaea.
"It seems that you are one of the royal breed of dragons only the heir to the Fanelian throne must slay," he addressed the dragon with an interested frown, "yes, yes, now I understand. This explains everything. My Alseides froze when it stood against you because the energist I used to power it was weaker than the one that gives you power." The giant creature roared back and blew flame directly at his attacker. Dilandau side stepped away from the fire with a sinister smile.
"Well," Dilandau said, smacking his lips, "all the more reason for me to kill you so that I can claim the power of your heart!"
"What the hell is he doing, grinning like an idiot?" Seraphina muttered to herself, her worry increasing as the fight wore on. She could see that Dilandau, agile and skillful though he was, was rapidly losing energy while the dragon did not seem the least bit affected by any of his attacks. She didn't want to think about what would happen should Dilandau react a millisecond too late to one of the dragon's fire blasts.
Dilandau continued to stare at the dragon with an enthusiastic expression on his face. He dodged its spiked tail as it swung in his direction.
"I always love a challenge," he said, raising his sword and running at top speed. With a cry of defiance he leapt just out of the dragon's reach and slashed its back. Greenish liquid squirted from the wound and the beast roared in pain. That area had been struck by the sword several times already so the wound had become quite deep. But not deep enough.
Dilandau's eyes widened as the huge head turned to him and the cavernous mouth was about to engulf him. He kneeled slightly to propel himself away from the snapping jaws but he slipped on the reptile's gooey blood.
"Damn it," he cursed and he had just enough time to raise his sword up between the dragon's fangs to stop the mouth from clamping upon him. The youth struggled to keep the jaws from closing on him but the surface he stood on was slippery and it was taking almost all his strength to keep the sword raised. He clenched his teeth in exertion and sweat poured down his face.
Seraphina watched as Dilandau maintained his campaign against the dragon. Seeing him on the brink of being eaten, she knew she would have to take action. She quickly slid down the trunk of the tree she had been sitting on and grabbed a rock. She tossed it as hard as she could at the figure of the dragon.
The rock hit the tough hide but the creature did not turn away from its prey. Seraphina cursed and kept launching as many rocks as she could, but each time they hit the dragon, nothing happened. She even went nearer the beast than she had dared earlier just to get a better shot. But it was all in vain. She may have been throwing sand at the creature for all it cared.
"What the hell are you doing?" Dilandau yelled at her, as he continued to struggle against the dragon.
"Trying to save you, that's what!" she yelled back, not ceasing her endless tirade of rocks.
"Well," he replied, still pushing back the dragon's mouth, "you're not helping much!" He could practically see the giant's digestive tract from where he was standing.
"I'm trying! I'm trying!" she cried, moving very, very close the creature and raising her hand up to throw a rock.
But before the stone could leave her hand, the dragon blinked furiously and turned away from Dilandau. The latter, at last having the opportunity to escape, quickly slid off the enormous beast's hide and ran away from it, dragging a stunned Seraphina with him.
"Don't just stand there like an idiot," he muttered, "go and hide!"
She looked astonished as the dragon blinked its golden eyes and roared in fury.
"What just happened?" she muttered back as she regained her sense and ran with Dilandau.
"You flashed some light into its eyes and blinded it for a moment," Dilandau explained quickly, "I don't know how you did it but it worked."
"Flashed some light?" Seraphina repeated as he ran ahead of her, his pale hand grabbing hers. Then she noticed something shiny dangling from her wrist. "That's it!" she said excitedly, "my pocket watch, it was what reflected the moonlight into the dragon's eye!"
"Well, well, good for you then," Dilandau replied, "but I suggest that you stay hidden while I conclude this business." He left her by a large tree and turned to go back when she grabbed his arm.
"Are you crazy?" she cried with alarm, "that thing is too strong! You can't possibly believe you stand a chance against it now!"
He shook her hand off his. "I never back out of a fight," he said with conviction, "and besides, I have a reputation as a dragon slayer to live up to! No big, ugly beast is going to get the better of me!"
"Forget your reputation!" she pleaded, "no one need know that you didn't slay this dragon! Think of your life! Can't we just escape?"
He didn't stick around to hear the rest of her pleas and she shook her head and yelled in frustration. As he ran forward to face the beast, Dilandau wore a look of absolute determination, remembering what he had seen when he had almost been devoured by the dragon.
"I've found its weak spot," he shouted, "and I'm going to make the most of it."
"Well, I hope you get to it first," she shouted back, "because the beastie doesn't look very pleased."
Said beastie shot out a large flame from its mouth which Dilandau evaded by sidestepping to the left. The resolute dragon slayer charged forward, raising his sword, and uttering an ear-piercing battle cry. The dragon fired back but Dilandau was too fast for him. He was focused on damaging only one part of the scaly hide.
Regular dragons are easily defeated by a series of wounds to different areas of the torso and limbs. During his training as a dragon slayer, Dilandau had killed many dragons in this manner. They usually had very slow reaction time which gave him ample opportunity to wound them in many areas while evading their attacks. The dragon he faced now, however, was of a superior breed and had skills that far surpassed any other Dilandau had faced. It had better peripheral vision and was able to quickly retaliate to all of his attacks. Its hide was very tough and almost invulnerable so it would take Dilandau several stabs before he so much as made a scratch on the creature's torso. And it was harder to do so because the flames that this dragon emitted were of greater heat intensity than others. Its claws were bigger and sharper and its spiked tail was equally deadly. It was also easily the largest dragon he had ever faced.
But he said he loved a challenge so he faced this one head on. And it was when the dragon was just about to gobble him up that he discovered its weakness. There was a patch of soft and easily ruptured flesh just beneath its jaw. Looking inside the cavernous mouth, he had seen that with a simple, fluid slash of his sword, the dragon would meet its end. So he was determined to make this happen.
However, the dragon was also aware of its weakness and seeing that its opponent was eager to injure it, the animal made sure to keep its neck as invulnerable to attack as possible. It continued to blast fire at Dilandau and to claw at him. This time, he evaded every blow more expertly because he no longer needed to pierce any other part of the dragon. But it was becoming increasingly difficult to approach the beast.
"You and your darn pride," Seraphina muttered as she continued watching the scene. She wrung her hands and bit her lip in worry. This whole thing was turning out to more adventurous than she had expected. Surely nothing can surpass this, she thought.
And as usual, the irony of life stabbed her in the back. Or rather, burned.
"Why is it hotter here all of a sudden?" she thought, feeling a strange warmth on her back. She wrinkled her nose, "and it stinks!"
Hearing a low, menacing growl from behind her, Seraphina's eyes grew very, very large.
"No bloody way!" she exclaimed as she turned her head as slowly as she could, wishing she could delay the encounter by doing so, and found herself face to face with another, bright-eyed, vicious, ugly, scaly dragon.
She had barely enough time to jump out of the way as this new arrival blew fire in her direction. Seraphina stumbled slightly and then, despite the high heels and the calluses on her feet, ran as fast as she could away from the trees burning down behind her. She could not suppress a scream as she heard the second dragon roar.
Seraphina could think of nothing but to run towards Dilandau and his quarry. The former, being so focused on killing his prey, was still unaware of the second dragon's presence. He was sweating more profusely and he was panting from exertion.
"Dilandau!" Seraphina shouted wildly as she ran to him, "Could you do me a favor!?"
"I'm a little busy at the moment!" he yelled back sarcastically, extending his sword and missing the dragon's sensitive neck by millimeters.
"Well, so am I!" she yelled back, "we have company!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Dilandau shouted, ducking from the larger dragon's tail as it swung over his head. He turned to glare angrily at the silly girl and finally noticed the other dragon chasing her.
"That nonsense!" she pointed as she used her pocket watch to reflect moonlight into the other dragon's eyes to distract it for a moment. Dilandau was paralyzed with shock, his eyes wide and his jaw dropped.
"What the hell?" he muttered. "Why are there two dragons here?"
"Don't look at me," Seraphina said, reaching him. They stood back to back, each facing a deadly, vicious dragon. They simultaneously swore.
"I can't fight both of them at the same time," Dilandau told his companion.
"I can't fight at all without some kind of weapon," Seraphina muttered back, "I doubt reflecting light in this one's eyes will be enough to keep it at bay. Do you have any spare weapons on you?"
But Dilandau was already rummaging through his armor. He found a light, sheathed dagger and tossed it to her.
"This the best you got?" she asked as they both ran away from the dragons.
"Do I look like I carry two swords around, darn it?" he yelled back.
"Fine!" she replied, but their conversation was interrupted by simultaneous fire blasts from the two dragons. They had to separate and face each foe individually.
"I'll have to wing it, then," Seraphina told herself, unsheathing the dagger, and running quickly to the side of her dragon and plunging it down. Greenish fluid spurted out and the dragon roared. Seraphina took this opportunity to run farther away from it and to catch her breath behind a wide-trunk tree.
Panting and sweating furiously, she looked at the dagger and marveled at its sharpness and craftsmanship. The weapon would have been impressive if not for a prominent hole on the handle where a jewel or gem was supposed to be.
"Budget," she thought, "maybe it was on sale." But before she could muse further, a large flamed burned the top of the tree she was leaning on.
"Gah," she gasped and ran further away but the new dragon was too fast. It jumped down in front of her, its disgusting tongue lolling out, its fangs bared. She glared at it and ran to stab it on the side. She missed and had to dodge quickly as a huge claw swiped at her. She soon found herself in front of the beast's belly. She stabbed as hard and as many times as she could before running away from the wounded, enraged animal.
Meanwhile, Dilandau had made several failed attempts at stabbing the dragon's weak spot and he was just as enraged as his scaly foe. Screaming maniacally at every blow, he kept trying to figure out how to get the better of the animal. And though he could not turn his attention away from his dragon for an instant, he was keenly aware of Seraphina struggling to fight against the other dragon. He knew that if he was having a tough time with this dragon, she was living a nightmare. And despite his stand on heroics, he didn't want her to be devoured by a dragon. He knew that inexperienced in battle though she was, she was no coward and he hated seeing brave people die pathetic deaths. So he was doubly resolved to take care of this dragon as quickly as possible so that she could slay the other dragon as well.
Dodging another fire blast, he jumped on the dragon's back and cursed. After all, this was the same position in which she rescued him earlier. Once again, the dragon opened its gaping mouth to engulf him and he pressed his sword between the teeth to stop it from clamping on him. The weak spot was just beyond those fangs. Feeling the weight of exertion and seeing his goal so close, Dilandau was roaring with frustration. And then, it hit him, the way he would finally defeat the dragon. He looked carefully at the insides of the dragon's mouth.
It's risky, he thought, but it's my best chance. He sneered with anticipation. This dragon was going down.
Warding off her dragon through a combination of running, stabbing, and blinding, Seraphina at last reached Dilandau and his dragon again, hoping that he might lend her a hand. To her shock and horror, she was just in time to see Dilandau jump into the dragon's huge mouth.
It was Seraphina's turn to be paralyzed in shock as Dilandau's boots disappeared beyond the dragon's teeth. She had hidden herself behind a nearby tree and for the moment. Her chest was heaving and her eyes were turning this way and that in fear. What was she to do now? There was no way she could stand up to both dragons and live. And yet, she wasn't quite in the mood to die.
Her reverie was broken when the upper trunk of the tree she was leaning against snapped as her dragon hit it with its claw. Seraphina turned quickly to face it, dagger raised, and she ran forward and stabbed it again on the stomach. However, the beast remained unfazed by the wound though green blood spilled out. Seraphina cursed and ran a certain distance from her dragon, risking going near Dilandau's killer.
As she backed up near the larger dragon, she noticed that it was very still and made no attempt to attack her. Seraphina gave a perplexed look at it when all of a sudden; he saw a blade slice through the dragon's neck. From the inside.
Seraphina's dragon even paused fighting and tilted its head curiously at its decapitated companion. The bigger dragon's head fell to the ground with a loud thump, its face wearing an expression of complete and utter shock. And standing on the stub which was left of its neck was a blood-soaked, triumphant Dilandau.
He leapt down from the lifeless carcass with a grin of complete victory. Seraphina heaved a huge sigh. She could not suppress the tears of joy and relief that flowed down her dirtied cheeks. Never had she been so glad for Dilandau's existence as during those moments of utter uncertainty.
"You are a bloody genius!" she yelled at him.
"I know," Dilandau replied calmly, shaking the blood off his sword with a fluid swish.
Seeing its comrade defeated only enraged the remaining dragon further, so, giving a mighty roar, she blew a large flame towards Seraphina. She jumped away and ran behind the staggering Dilandau.
"What's your strategy?" she whispered as they both dodged a swipe of the sharp claw.
"Keep it distracted and aim for the fleshy part of the neck," he muttered hurriedly as they split up. Seraphina raised her dagger. She charged towards the neck of the dragon but the creature knew where its opponent was aiming and covered its neck by lowering its head and roaring at her. Seraphina covered her knows and retreated with disgust.
Dilandau had positioned himself somewhere behind the dragon, trying to jump on its back.
"This one's a female," he yelled at Seraphina.
"How do you know?" she yelled back, shining moonlight into its eyes to distract it a bit.
"Smaller in size, lighter skin pigmentation, less horns on the head, faster," Dilandau enumerated nonchalantly as he tried to get on the female dragon's back.
"Not to mention nastier breath," Seraphina added, slashing at the dragon.
With two opponents, the female was becoming quite confused as to whom to blast or swipe first and it was continually turning its head in two directions.
Dilandau had finally ridden the back of the dragon and slashed his sword at it.
"Stab it now!" he ordered Seraphina who took the dragon's distraction as a chance to land the first blow on its neck. The female dragon roared in pain but had no time to react because Dilandau had taken his sword and finished the job by completely slicing the dragon's head off.
A second dragon head fell to the ground and both Seraphina and Dilandau regarded it with serenity. Then, they both took a deep breath and sighed with relief. Then, they both collapsed beside each other in exhausted heaps.
"That's enough excitement for one night, I think," Seraphina whispered, clutching her head, "I hope you're satisfied."
"Quite," Dilandau replied, shaking the blood off his sword again, "but there's just one more thing I have to do."
Seraphina groaned. Dilandau smiled at her triumphantly.
"Don't worry, no more fighting is involved," he explained, as he stood up and walked towards the first slain dragon, "this is the highlight of every dragon slaying, the much sought after prize."
She watched him curiously as Dilandau stabbed the chest of the dragon, whose hide had become significantly softer, then plunged his arm into the hole he had made. Seraphina cringed when she thought of the all the blood, intestines, and other disgusting fluids he was soaking his arm into. But he didn't look the least bit concerned about the grossness. He moved his hand carefully within the dragon and then finally pulled it back with a triumphant grin.
Seraphina walked towards him to see what he held. It was a large, crimson gemstone whose brilliance far surpassed the one at the center of the Alseides.
"Behold," he said dramatically, "a drag-energist of the finest quality."
Seraphina marveled at it and then was astounded further when she saw the dragon's corpse dissolve into unseen dust and all the grime and blood which coated Dilandau disappeared. Being used to dragon slaying, he didn't look concerned. Seeing her gaping and staring, he rolled his eyes.
"Well, why don't you go get the other one?" he told her. She snapped out of her trance and nodded back at him. She shook the blood off her dagger and walked towards the headless corpse of the female dragon. Following Dilandau's example, she stabbed the dragon's chest. Then, trying hard not to be squeamish, she plunged her right arm inside and groped for the heart.
"How will I know which one it is?" she asked. Dilandau walked towards her.
"It will fill you with warmth and life," was all he said in way of explaining. She nodded, and continued moving her hand around the dragon's innards. Then, she felt something solid and warm, pulsating with energy and sending strength up her arm and rejuvenating her completely. She looked at Dilandau excitedly and then carefully pulled out a rose-tinted drag- energist.
And like what happened to the other dragon, the female's corpse disintegrated and all the goo and blood that covered Seraphina disappeared. She smiled as she stroked her grime-free arms. Then, she stared with wonder at the gemstone in her hands.
"It's beautiful," she whispered. Dilandau's energist was significantly larger and of a darker hue and different brilliance but she still marveled over hers.
"Who would have thought," he muttered as he stood beside her, holding his energist, "that this night would turn out to have not been a waste of time after all."
Seraphina chuckled in agreement, her eyes still on her energist. Then, she took an earnest glance at the young man beside her.
Dilandau was extremely exhausted after having to slay two dragons but never had he looked so alive. Seeing his pale skin and silver hair under the moon's glow, Seraphina felt herself humbled in the presence of such a celestial being. He shone resplendent as a god; she thought and could find no other way of describing him. So noble and strong, and mysterious.
She sighed as she gazed at him, thinking that they had endured so much that night. Her eyes widened and she laughed at herself for being so sentimental.
"The fatigue must be getting to me," she told herself. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of the breeze on her face. Unknown to her, Dilandau was staring at her quizzically.
Once again he wondered how this strange creature came to be here on this night. She had brought far more trouble than he had bargained for. And she had been such a nuisance and an enormous bother.
And yet, some nagging voice within him told him that he wouldn't have had it any other way.
Dilandau Albatou cursed silently. Perhaps he had had too much to drink tonight. The alcohol was clouding his brain.
They stood together in companionable silence, the only time that evening when neither felt antagonistic towards the other. That moment seemed suspended in time but a bittersweet air hung over it, one of finality.
After a few moments, Dilandau raised his energist towards the moonlight, allowing it to catch the moon beams and trap them in its crystal chambers. Awed by the wondrous spectacle, Seraphina followed suit, and raised her energist beside Dilandau's. The crystals, like prisms, threw the magnificent spectrum all around the two wielders.
Sensing an unfathomable urgency, Seraphina turned to her companion and said gravely, "I have a confession to make."
"Must I hear it?" Dilandau replied with usual sarcasm.
She smirked and glared at him. "Whether you wish to hear it or not," she announced, "I'm telling you anyway."
He grunted in response.
"I want you to know my real name," she said seriously, "it's horrid but I had no choice in the matter. My real name is Placida Penitente."
Dilandau looked at her strangely. There was an air of finality about this pronouncement.
"It is horrid," was all he could say.
"Thanks a lot," she replied but with no ill-will.
And almost as if they expected it, a huge pillar of light engulfed them both. The energists they were holding disintegrated in the bright light and the shimmering dust from these crystals flew to Placida's wrist and right arm. And then, the girl felt herself being lifted up by some strange force, pulling her away from the ground.
She closed her eyes and let herself be taken away. "I guess this is goodbye," she yelled at Dilandau as he watched her rise with incredulous eyes. She waved at him and for some strange reason, he raised his hand.
She thought he was waving back but he was really reaching out. Confused, she extended her arm as well. But their fingertips were just out of reach. And unfortunately, the pocket watch which hung loosely on her arm, slid forward and into the young man's hand. He seemed to be saying something but she could no longer hear it.
"Darn it," Seraphina cursed, as her body was speedily transported towards earth, "he took my watch."
The pillar of light disappeared and Dilandau Albatou stood alone in a patch of forest surrounded by scorched and clawed down trees, staring at the night sky.
He narrowed his eyes at the Mystic Moon before turning his attention to the item in his hand. It was the girl's pocket watch. He clutched it and cursed under his breath.
"Damn it," he muttered with annoyance, "she took my dagger."
And somewhere in that world with two moons, the echoes of a song were carried by the night wind.
Fly
me to the moon In other words, hold my
hand Fill my heart with
song In other words, please be true
Let me sing among those stars
Let me see what
spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words, baby kiss me
Let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I
worship and adore
In other
words, I love you
