Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Kyo Kara Maoh, this is purely fan-made.


Chapter 9: Rekindled Flame


Bedroom: Ash's POV

"Please bear with me just a bit little longer," Geisila told me nonchalantly, placing one of her glowing hands over my temple. "You're doing great Ash."

It didn't feel like I was doing so 'great' in my opinion. But since she was doing her best to help me feel better I mustered a weak smile while trying with some difficulty to keep my eyes open. I felt miserable. All I wanted to do was go to sleep but the doctor, Geisila, told me in no uncertain terms that I needed to stay awake until she was finished.

Searching for something to talk about with my newly-found language skills, I asked her, "That little girl, Gretta, is she ok?"

"She's fine. Lady Celli is looking after her right now so don't worry," she smiled back reassuringly.

Relaxing my shoulders slightly, I sighed, "That's a relief."

Withdrawing her hand briefly from my head, Geisila took a deep breath as she gathered her thoughts. My guess was that she was looking for a simpler way to explain what was happening to me in terms I would understand. The same way I guess most doctors do, regardless of what world they come from. Although in my case, it wasn't a medical condition that she needed to explain, but a mythological one.

Folding her hands neatly in her lap, Geisila explained to me, "Ash, I think it is safe to assume by now that your powers -which you actively displayed today- along the memories of our language that resides in your soul were both sealed away intentionally. Someone with considerable skills must have tried very hard to conceal your power to the point where even you were unaware of them until recently. From what I can tell, this particular type of seal is designed to break in the event of your life being put in harm's way. This isn't the way things happen normally. The memories that were left behind by those who came before you are usually wiped clean so that they won't interfere with your present life. The only two people I know that are exempt to this rule are His Majesty King Yuri and His Eminence. I've never met another person with the memories from their past life still intact. It's definitely strange…"

I blinked and couldn't keep the emotion out of my voice as I scoffed, "Past life? What the heck are you talking about? Look, I've accepted a lot of the weirdness that's happened to me in the last few days, but that's a stretch even for me to take seriously. I'm just a normal teenager with one already screwed up life I'm trying to keep from falling apart on me. I don't think I can handle it if someone else's is dropped in my lap, ok? Just...tell me I'm not going to start acting like someone else now too because my brain is broken. Please."

Looking surprised by my emotional outburst, Geisila continued softly, "You're right. I could be wrong about that last part but I just can't think of another way to explain why you can suddenly speak our language so fluently. Especially since you've never been to this world before according to Conrart."

"I don't know what it means either. And I just don't believe in past lives. We're only supposed to be given one life to live. That's why it's considered so precious. That's why it's important not to waste a single moment of it," I said with a hint of bitterness in my voice that I didn't mean to let slip. "It feels like that's all I've been doing the last seventeen years though, wasting it by feeling so lost all the time…"

"Don't say that," Geisila said as she smiled meaningfully at me. "You're doing the best you can under these extenuating circumstances. And I'm sorry if I overwhelmed you with my observations. The point of the matter is that right now your body is under a lot of strain because of the seal on your powers and memories trying to reassert itself over you despite being designed to have broken already. If this continues it could be very hazardous to your health. So we need to find a way to break it before your condition worsens. I've already arranged to bring you to the Tomb of the Great One to meet with the High Priestess Lady Ulrike who with any luck will be able to remove the seal safely from your subconscious."

Again, I had no idea what she was talking about but I nodded anyway. After that Geisila stood up and told me that I should rest for a while while she reported back to the others. Before she left though I asked Geisila to pass on my thanks to Conrad for carrying me here and to tell Gretta that I was happy that she was ok. Geisila gave me a small nod and then told me to drink the medicine on the desk beside me. She said it was to help me sleep.

Picking up the small bottle I popped it open and braced myself for how bitter it would probably taste. I was surprised though when the medicine tasted more like some kind of mint flavor with a slight metallic aftertaste. The mint was probably added to give it any flavor at all.

After replacing the bottle on the desk I closed my eyes and waited for sleep to envelope me. Hoping for a dreamless sleep where I wouldn't have to worry about anything. At least for a little while. My heart felt unbearably heavy and I didn't know what to think anymore. So I hoped that I wouldn't have to think about anything at all while I was sleeping, and in that way the weight of it all that I felt was crushing me would be lifted away just long enough to take back control of the crazy situation I was in.


I drowsily opened my eyes at the sound of someone knocking on my door. I was still sleepy so my voice was a little hoarse when I told them they could come in. At first I thought Geisila had come back but when my vision cleared up I realized that it was Berias. Only this time, Sara wasn't with him which surprised me since they always seemed to be together.

"Hi Berias," I smiled unsurely. "What brings you-" unable to contain myself though, I snorted with laughter, "-sorry, this is still kinda weird to me. In my head I still think I'm using English when actually, the words coming out of my mouth aren't. If only learning German or French was this easy. I'd definitely get better grades in class if that were the case."

Raising an eyebrow but not looking the least bit amused at the reference, Berias formally informed me, "His Highness King Saralegui sent me here to apologize for being negligent in his duty to protect you. He says that he'd like to make it up to you by providing you with new clothes and has ordered me to act as your personal guard until we are certain that there won't be another kidnapping attempt."

"Wha-?" I blinked rapidly, utterly bewildered by this unexpected offer. "Why is he apologizing to me? It's not like its his fault I was attacked. If anyone needs to apologize, it's me."

"How so?" he asked me curiously.

Looking down at my hand and clenching my fist, I continued. "I'm not stupid. I know how dangerous fire can be. That's why I remember focusing all of the energy spilling out of me into that guy's sword so that it wouldn't go out of control. But if I hadn't controlled my urge to lash out with all of that power then there's no doubt in my mind that everyone, not just Gretta, could have gotten seriously hurt. So you can tell Sara thanks for the kind offer but, it just wouldn't feel right accepting it when I put everyone at risk because I had no idea that I was-" then as I started to feel a lump form in my throat, I choked, "-actually, I don't know what I am anymore. Am I even human?"

"If I may be so bold," Berias began before kneeling at my bedside and looking up at me, "His Majesty and I both agree that you showed extraordinary self-control in using your abilities. And even under the best circumstances that is a difficult thing to do. You should be proud of yourself for such a feat. Even King Yuri, with all his power, has some level of difficulty controlling himself at times. That is why for as long as you are with us, it is our sincerest wish that you allow us to help you through this difficult time. At least until it is safe for you to return to your own country. So please, do not think of his offer as an act of charity, but rather as thanks for saving the life of his valued ally's daughter through your bravery."

I sighed in exasperation. "I'm not sure if I actually believe any of that but if you're going to be that insistent then I guess it's ok to accept. If you wouldn't mind, please tell him can go after this whole 'unsealing' business is over with."


Once Geisila returned, we quickly made our way over to a place called 'The Tomb of the Great One.' When I asked her what it was she explained that it was a temple of sorts that housed the spirit of the man who founded their country over four thousand years ago with the help of several others from various noble families. There were ten in total, but four of them in particular played a pivotal role in helping him build this Kingdom…

The tomb itself was now home to the shrine maidens who serve under the Oracle we were on our way to see that watches over the Kingdom and prays to the spirit of their founder for his guidance and wisdom. Supposedly, she was the only one who could hear his voice unless he decided to grace someone personally in their dreams. Kinda creepy if you ask me. Still, if that's what they believed than who was I to question it? Besides I was starting to believe that just about anything was possible in this world.

As soon as the carriage arrived I felt a thrill of electricity run up my spine. I could already sense the presence of someone waiting for me in there; someone old and powerful. At first I shied away from it until another presence brushed against the back of my mind to soothe my growing fears and reservations about being there. This feeling of sensing other people with powers was definitely going to take some getting used to because it was hard to keep my thoughts focused on what was in front of me when my mind was extending itself much further out.

"Are you feeling alright Ash?" Geisila asked with concern when I wobbly stepped out of the carriage behind her. "You look pale."

Waving her off, I replied, "I'm fine. Just a little dizzy, that's all. It's this place-" looking up at the cold stone walls towering before us I admitted, "-it doesn't seem like a bad place but there's something here that makes me feel…uneasy. I'm really not sure why. So let's hurry and get this over with because I'm not sure how much longer I can handle this."

With a nod she took me by the elbow and we slowly walked inside the front gates. We were greeted by some female guards that-for whatever reason-sort of reminded me of Valkyries from Norse mythology. They ushered us inside and then one of them left to inform the shrine maidens that we had arrived. Not long after, she returned with three shrine maidens who were going to help me prepare for the ceremony that Lady Ulrike was going to perform to try and properly unlock the memories inside my spirit and get my new powers under control.

They wore simple white robes with classic harem-style pants and these odd golden balls tied to the ends of their hair. Some of them had strange colored hair too, like burgundy, lavender, blue, and green. It made me wonder whether or not it was dyed or their natural color. Then again, Berias and Geisila had green hair too...

Honestly though I was just picking at straws to get my mind off the tightness in my chest and the painful thump of my heart against it. To tell the truth, I was petrified. The idea of someone using their power to touch my soul felt very invasive and I wasn't looking forward to the experience. Because I was afraid of what I would learn about myself afterwards.


"This ceremony hasn't been performed for a long time according to the tomb's records," one of the shrine maidens explained while helping me get dressed in the purification robes I was supposed to wear. "There's no need to worry though. We've already studied the procedure and it's similar to most of the rites that we already perform in service to the Great One. First we'll cleanse your body in sanctified water and then pray along with the high priestess Lady Ulrike in order to reveal the power that is currently restraining your natural abilities. Once that is done I'm sure you'll feel much better."

Turning to face her, I asked nervously, "There isn't going to be any mind-reading is there?"

Hearing that, the other girls couldn't help but giggle and one of the other priestesses answered with a kind smile, "Of course not. Only the high priestess can sense the radiance of certain souls, but that certainly doesn't include seeing into the minds of others. It is only by the Will of the Great One that she can influence the memories of someone's soul. But that is a rite reserved for the souls chosen to be the Demon King or Queen of the time. This ceremony is similar but your memories shouldn't be effected, just the seal that was placed over the ones from your previous life will be removed so that your powers don't overwhelm you. You shouldn't remember anything you choose not to though."

Feeling relieved to hear that I thanked her and then fell silent again.

It was still a surreal feeling even doing this at all but if it would help to ease this awful feeling of being on the edge of losing all control of myself then I was willing to at least give it a shot. I didn't know what else to expect but after thinking back on everyone's words of encouragement, including what Berias said, it gave me the courage I needed to see this through. And once this was over I planned to show them just how much those words meant to me.