Chapter 8
I have to admit, though Bishop Lias was an exellent teacher, he was one of the most foolish humans I've ever encountered with, true enough the bishop was using "blackmail" to hold Alexes in check, believing that we would actually sit still, learn the way of Arcane and actually bow down to him. Either ways, it seemed as though Alexes was targeted more then I, seeming that his father was murdered by the Bishop, he at least had enough brains to know that Alexes couldn't be trusted as well. Though he would think I would be more grateful towards him.
How foolish to think that Alexes was a threat, and not I.
Either ways, the Bishop had gave us an ultimatum the day he had caught us, though I wondered why had he spared the both of us instead of killing us off. Perhaps he thought that us being children wouldn't do him any harm. True that he was so much stronger then the both of us. But it was so stupid of him to think that we wouldn't grow up one day, and exceed his own powers. But then again, his arrogance and ignorance was his own downfall. I revelled the moment where I had pulled his heart out of his chest, savoring his screams and pleads of mercy. What a fool he was to think that I would show him mercy after what he had put Alexes and I through.
The next 2 years of my life was almost a living hell, in a way. But certainly not less then what Alexes would go through.
After the death of his father it seemed as though he would throw himself in his studies, it was clear that his motives of studying the arcane arts was indeed to destroy bishop Lias. Though the bishop already knew this, he had still thought him. But with cautioun. There was even times where I could tell that he was trying to pit the both of us against one and other. But we being already cemented by the bond we shared for so long, never gave into his mind games, the little voice behind me always whispering, always telling me the true intentions when I was almost fooled.
Alexes was not as lucky as I though, fuled by rage, it would often take me the longest time to convince him that we were only being played, that the bishop was not to be trusted. Thank whatever lord there was out there that he would listen to me. But we planned, ever so slowly, a plan that would please the bishop, and keep us safe from his own mind games. It was one of the most painful things I had to do, yet I knew that if I did not, the bishop would eventually tear my friendship apart with Alexes. 2 years of torment and mind games were enough for the both of us.
It was the night of my 15th summer that it happened, though most little girls of 15 would only worry of how they would look, and fickle things, I was a student of the church in the day, and an Arcane mage by night. Practising mercilessly with Bishop Lias, under his scrutiny and belittlement. The Bishop had seperated Alexes and I, a part of his plan to somehow break our bond by splitting us apart. We knew that sooner or later, the bishop's mind game would eventually break us apart for real, so we staged one of the most horrible fights, even now, I could think of.
"SHUT UP XANDRIA, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT"
"WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!? FACE IT ALEXES, YOU KNOW THAT THE BISHOP FAVORS ME MORE, HE TEACHES ME SO MUCH MORE THEN WHAT HE WILL EVER TEACH YOU. IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR CURSED BLOOD LINE THAT HE WILL NOT TEACH YOU THE MORE ADVANCE SPELLS, AND YOU KNOW, THAT I WILL EXCEED YOU, YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN BETTER THEN YOU."
"IT IS TOO BAD YOU HAVE TO GO ON YOUR KNEES TO GET WHAT YOU WANT EH MY FRIEND?"
I could still recall the grin on the Bishop's face in the shadows, as I casted the very first arcane spell in my life with the intention to kill. It had taken all my concentration to conjure a decaying spell that wasn't strong enough to be fatal and kill Alexes, but strong enough to show that I was serious about killing him. Everything was all pre planned, from the month before, showing tension against each other, the subtle things that would normally mean a breaking of friendship, and Alexes suddenly loosing out in Arcane spells to me, though in reality, he was always stronger then I in terms of magic.
True enough the Bishop ate the bait like a sucker would. But everything had to be perfectly planned, and we had swore to one and other, that whatever happened during the time, it was all an act, and that we were always going to be friends. That it was the only way.
"This will teach you to underestimate me. You will always be a powerless priest. And I will be destined for greater things."
The hardest part of it all was me having to walk away from him while he was gasping for air, and whirling in pain, with a smirk on my face.
Oh Alexes, I would rather me be on the floor in pain than the one who would be smiling and walking away untouched.
There was a moment, the longest 5 minutes of my life, where I thought that Bishop Lias wouldn't safe Alexes, that he would leave my beloved to die as a slow decaying corpse. Tears would not stop flowing down my eyes when I was in the distance away, watching and praying that the bishop would act the way he did.
But to my relief, the bishop indeed saved Alexes, thus the completion of the plan. Yet it was only the beggining of everything. Because both of us knew we had to be all the more careful from this point. It was the turning point for the both of us to extract as much arcane knowledge from the bishop as possible.
We would not see each other for the next year all together. We would be seperated, as I was sent half way around the world to Umbala, to begin my further training as a monk, and to learn a different type of Arcane magic that came with it. Bishop Lias had came along with me, but would return to Prontera every week to teach Alexes as well.
Thus our individual struggles begun.
For the first time in my life, I did not have my Alexes to support me.
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"The Airship will be reaching Yuno in a minute, will all passengers prepare for landing, as well as fasten your seatbelts."
Helious sighed slowly as he snapped close the diary of Xandria Elstinia, turning his attentions towards the window beside him, as the airship broke through clouds, allowing the view of the city of Sky for Helious to see. The 5 days could not pass anymore slower then it did, the first 3 being the worst, as he had to sit through worrying about Elvanna, and other matters as well.
Helious knew that he was being followed. It did not take a genius to know that he was the main suspect in the church's investigation of the sudden escape of the exorcism squad 2nd seat Elvanna Synthesis. After all he had been the last one who had seen her before her disappearence. Though Helious still wonder how she did she manage to slip out in the middle of the night, having her room sealed with anti magic seals and almost a dozen guards.
They said that she had just vanished in the morning, without any more of a disturbance. No one was hurt, nothing. She had just disappeared. It would have been impossible for her to break out using Arcane magic with all the anti magic runes around the room. Yet she had.
Maybe she was stronger then what Helious believed her to be.
But either way, her escape had caused an uproar in the church, priests from all around were sent to scout for the girl, both Helena and Elric were being tailed as well, being the only few that were accsociated with her. Her house had been raid, only to find that she had not taken anything with her, everything was untouched. Which made it all the more puzzling, seeing that she would at least needed to take her bank book with her to withdraw zeny for her trip to Yuno. But then again a priestess did not require to take the air ship to warp to places.
She did not specify where she would meet him, but somehow Helious had an idea where she would.
He would need to be as normal as possible though, following his own routine going to Yuno to study.
Jada had been a problem as well, she had came to his house earlier, demanding entrance with 5 other guards, the cheerful lighthearted girl almost dissolving over the days, her uniform was different as well. Gone was the pink threads that Helious loved seeing, replaced by jet black ones. It seemed to harden Jada's appearence over mere seconds, her hair was no longer let loose, but tied neatly in a low pony tail, making her look more ruthless then sweet.
She had questioned him on where the missing priestess was, but being Jada, she was easy to convince then she believed to be. But not without precautions.
"I will tell you where I will be for the next 2 days, which is where I always am, in Yuno, studying in the library. If you would insist your guards to follow me I would not have any bother. Another sight I thought I would never see of you Jada, one that did not trust my word."
Helious knew those words must have hurt the autum haired priestess very much, yet her steely determination forced her not to show her emotions then and there, Jada was easier to read then any book to Helious.
Still it had not done enough for the guards who were following him to back off, which would be a niusance seeming that it would be hard to meet Elvanna after hours in the Yuno library.
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Helious ignored the guards as a poring would ignore a human in the face of eating, and continued studying books of Arcane magic as well as other thick manuals of magic, only smiling occasionally as he would hear them yawn or make a comment about wizards and their books. Mindlessly comments that were based on ignorance of those who desired to seek further knowledge instead of pooling shallowly in their own simple worlds. They were the one who were truly being left out.
"The Yuno Library is closing."
Helious raised an eyebrow at the guard who had approached him, pointing out the fact that he obviously knew with a satisfied grin.
"I am aware, but I have overtime previlages here, you may ask the librarian. I am often locked in the library at my stays so I can continue studying with peace. I already have supplies that would last me the night here, if you would like to stay then you may."
Helious could see the guard faltering, knowing that Pronterean jurisdiction did not apply in the Sky City, there was nothing they could actually do to Helious that would force him anywhere unless under the joint order of the Schwarzwald Republic. And he had already been watching the guards for the whole time they were watching him. And from his own assumptions, it came down to the fact the guards were good for nothing lazy asses, people that didn't really care of what happened to anything, taking the easy way out of everything.
He knew that the guard was thinking of the concequences if Helious was left alone.
"You don't have to bother you know, when the library closes an Anti magic sheild is placed around it, I can't get out till the morning if I wanted too, and no one could get in cept the librarian. If the library burnt down I would probably die in it as well."
It seemed that saying that there was a possibility for him dying if the library had suddenly roared up in flames was enough to convince the guards to back off, after agreeing to search the library turrelly before leaving, it was no time before they had left Helious in peace with his beloved books.
But somehow he wasn't able to focus much, hoping what he had assumed was right, but then again he still needed the time to kill, allowing himself to once more reach for the diary of Xandria, flipping open the book to the part where he had left off.
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The days were brutal, as the nights exausting. Being in Umbala though, was somewhat better then being in the church, though we were still thought most bibical lessons, Umbala was a place that focused more on training the body as well as the mental state. I was thought to control my inner self, to regulate the flow of my chi, and to walk the path of the monk.
Though I would say, it was no freedom to me, it seemed that no matter where I would go, there would always be those who were corrupt. So much till that it would reach such a remote place. The mental torture here was much less then it was in the church, but that didn't mean I was getting off the hook. Bishop Lias provided enough mental torture during the night, teaching me the ways of different Arcane styles and mastery. It was his decition to seperate Helious and I, saying that the training here would be much better then the one he was providing to Helious in Prontera.
It pained me to pretend that I hated my beloved with my heart and soul. But it seemed as though hatred would be an ally to me here, it was used to fuel my strength and power, as I went through the harsh trainings of the monks. Honing my fighting skills and reflexes, as well as the drive for me to study.
I had made no friends there, as they too would isolate me merely because of my looks, or perhaps something more. Till I met the very first person I would kill.
His name was Alister, another source that would serve to fuel my hatred for Bishop Lias, I regretted till today that I had to spill his innocent blood for the sake of revenge. Yet the path was already written for me, my path of blood.
Alister was tall, and handsome. He indeed reminded me much of Alexes was I was in Umbala, though he was so much different, having hair the shade of the grass itself, and eyes of emerald, he was not rejected as I was in the training faciliteis, already a full fledge Champion, he was one of the youngest champions allowed to teach there, a true prodigy. No doubt that he would have done great things in the future if I had not snatched his life away so horribly for my own ambitions.
He had thought me the way of inner peace, as well as meditation, the 2 things that I had problems with, though it seemed I would hide it brilliantly from the other instructors, he could spot my inner turmoil almost in an instant the second he laid eyes upon me.
"What are you fighting for?"
"To make the world a better place, so that I can save the ones I love." it was the answer I would give everytime an instructor asked me.
"That is not what I meant, I meant on the inside, what are you fighting against inside you that is disrupting your chi so terribly?"
It has surprised me when he asked me that, seeming that the other instuctors would make me example of being a powerful chi holder. It seemed as though thier power standards and mine was not the same, apprently for my own standards, I was but a spect of what I could truly do if I were at peace with myself, no one had seen that till Alister, I was rendered speechless for the first time in a long time.
"It's Ok, I've been watching you for awhile now, you've been isolated by the rest of the monks here aren't you?"
Isolation had nothing to do with my inner turmoil, but I needed him to believe what he thought of me either ways, I nodded and turned my gaze away.
"No man is an island, Xandria, you must try to socialize more, maybe you would make incvaluable friends here that would who knows, maybe one day safe your life. I had it tough here as well, but I eventually made friends."
"No one would want to be friends with a monster, you and the other instuctors would know very well what I am. Why the Bishop has to be here every 2 weeks of the month."
Apparently Bishop Lias had the perfect excuse for him to be waltzing in and out of Umbala without being questioned, and also the key to isolate me. He had told everyone of my origins, that I was indeed an abomination, though he would tell me personally that I was indeed a gift, and this was only necassary so that he would not be questioned. I of course being the seemingly "loyal" puppet I was, would agree with him, and hang on his every word as he expected me to.
The monks of Umbala sung and praised the bishop for working so hard on the abomination, trying to make me see the light and for me to be a perfect member of society and help the church in the end of my studies, telling everyone to treat me as an equal, but already knowing so well that they would isolate thought he was such a saint, if they only knew of the true hypocrite he was. Even so I had to follow in his footsteps, the footsteps of a monster to gain my eventual revenge. I had to play along.
"It does not matter where your origins are from, you are who you choose to be, Destiny is never set."
I had foolishly believed the words of the man I would kill, thinking that if I had killed Bishop Lias, that everything would be free, that I would be free of the bloody path I was destined to walk. I was somewhat touched by what the champion had said to me, seeing that he was the first one besides Alexes and Lamia to see me as I am, instead of the monster that everyone else saw. I was foolish to grew a fondness for him.
A mistake that would choose to show me, that this world is indeed made of evil.
I found Alister annoying, to the point where he would try to get to know me, try to acess the "real" me, instead of what I would portray to everyone else. But overtime, I had found myself looking forward to the time where Alister would come to me, to sit down beside me where I would always be, and to merely talk to me. Not an abomination, just me, as a person. I would almost always feel normal when I was with him, speaking of senseless things, passing the time with jokes and even the rare laughter.
"You know, your beautiful when you smile, you should smile more often."
"If they were things to smile about, then I would."
"You know, Xandria... your a wonderful girl, if anyone else would take the time to know you... I know that they would come to be fond of you as I am.."
"There is. But he is not here. He lies in Prontera, and I miss him" it was the first time I had told anyone of Alexes, and how much he meant to me.
By the end of the first 2 months, Alister had manage to take a small space in my heart.
"You should not be around me when Bishop Lias is around."
"Why not? Is he not just here to watch over you?"
"I do not want him to talk to you, I don't like him very much."
"Why so? I thought you would be grateful to the man who has helped you so much till now."
"Just don't come near me when he is around"
I guess Alister had seen something in my eyes, something that didn't need words for me to tell. I would have loved as a big brother, but he just didn't understand, and he would never be able to see the pain and suffering that I went through as a child. How I wished he had just listened, and stayed away from me.....
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"Open your eyes Helious."
Helious jolted out from his chair, the diary of Xandria falling with a thump on the floor. His heart was pounding in chest as he glanced at the familiar figure before him. Elvanna looked once more, radiant under the moon.
"Am I dreaming now?"
"Yes, you are, this is not real, you are still in the library sleeping."
"Then how do I know that your really, you?"
"You do not." she grinned.
"You told me that you know nothing of dream magic..."
"I didn't, till I decripted the scroll, am I different from how you saw me the first time?"
Helious shook his head, remembering back to the first time he has seen her in his dream, true enough the way she acted was totally different... her words... her actions.. The Elvanna now, seemed more like the real one he knew.
"Either ways, the scroll contained a small section on dream spell, on how it was related to the higher summoning spell, and I had to test it out, to see if it would allow me to access dreams, like yours now..."
"Then, I really am asleep aren't I? And where are you? How did you escape from the church when it was so well guarded? How did you manage to find me-"
"Patience Helious, I can't remain in your dream longer, I've only just mastered the spell, and it is taking a huge toll on my body as we speak right now, I will meet you soon enough, but you have to return to Geffen, and rejoin your guild, the scroll here, it has been torned off, but there is a signature aura from it, and it has the smell of Geffen's undead on it, as well as Glast Heim's... So the best assumptions I can give you right now is.."
"That they might be pieces of more scrolls in Geffen and Glast Heim."
"Yes, and I can't enter Geffen, seeming that now it has an alliance with the church. I will head for Glast heim and search there, but till then, you must find out the origin of where the scroll came from."
"But how will I know when to see you?"
A ghost of a smile crept onto Elvanna's lips.
"I'll always be here, in your dreams... but I cannot use this magic often, as it takes too much from me, I will see you in 2 weeks with updates... I must take my leave now, I can already feel myself weakening...."
"But how will you know if I need to see you how will-"
Helious was cut off with a finger to his lips.
"Do not worry, I will know.. but till then, focus on getting the next piece of the scroll....Till the next time we meet. Remember to read on Xandria's journal as well.... there might be more clues inside it. I will see you in 2 weeks."
"Wait....! Elva!"
Before he knew it, Helious had jolted out of the table he was sleeping on, sunlight already pouring through the windows, lighting up the library with its warmth. Helious shook his head vigorously, his dream still fresh in his mind. It was odd, how this time he knew that he was dreaming, but it didn't stop everything from feeling so real. The lingering touch of Elvanna's finger could still be felt on his lips, the smell of her perfume still potant to his nose.
How magic worked, Helious could not help but wonder more, this new incident only serve as to fuel his desires to find the book of Rememberance, to decode this mysterious puzzle, as well as to finish the Xadria's journal. But as for now, he knew what he needed to do. He needed to find Helena once more, and he needed to rejoin Silver Scars.
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End.
