Chapter 10: The spirit of cooperation
Elize remained speechless as the spirit floated towards her. She wasn't so concerned about the people staring as much as she was about explaining how she had long ago lost the creepy feather hair charm Muzét had given the group as proof of friendship. Teepo often described the charm as "cursed" and was glad to be rid of it but Elize knew the gesture was sincere. Even if Muzét was socially awkward, she did have everyone's best interests at heart. Still, they weren't exactly friends and Muzét's reactions were so unpredictable...
Best not to mention it.
Elize asked nonchalantly, "What brings you from the spirit realm, Muzét?"
"Oh, I was really bored. I did manage to keep Milla and the Four entertained for a while but there's no one to entertain me," the spirit pouted.
Muzét's self-centeredness was not surprising at all. "Well, I'm on an errand, so I don't really have time to linger," began Elize, turning to leave.
"Are you going to see Gaius?"
"W-what? Why would I do that?" she asked nervously, eyeing the piece of paper in Muzét's hand, wondering how she could take it back and burn it. "I'm actually going to check in on someone who's sick."
Muzét wrinkled her nose at the thought. "But I thought you wished for the king's happiness?" she insisted and read the unfolded paper over again to confirm. "I'd imagine you can validate that when you're actually with him."
"I d-do, but...," stammered Elize.
"Then why aren't you with him?" Muzét insisted. "I'm on my way to visit the castle. I'll let you tag along and maybe even give you some hints."
Elize tilted her head to one side. It was better not to ask, but her curiosity got the better of her.
"One way to make a man really happy is to-" Muzét sidled up and started whispering into Elize's ear until the young lady turned bright red.
"Muzét!" Elize cried out in a scandalized voice. The spirit laughed merrily and flapped her butterfly-like wings in delight.
"You're so easy to tease!" she said mirthfully. "I'm only trying to help."
Elize couldn't even dignify a response and only frowned her disapproval.
"Well aren't you a pent up little thing," sighed Muzét, cocking her head to one side. "I can't believe you've grown up and haven't even started enjoying life."
"It's not like you even know what half the things you said actually are!" said Elize in a huff. "Besides, I don't have time to enjoy anything."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm…sick from the experiments I went through at Labari. I'm actually trying to find a cure for all of us, otherwise…. Which I why I should get going," said Elize, making her way past the spirit.
Muzét digested this information thoughtfully and then her eyes lit up with inspiration. She halted Elize with an outstretched arm.
"I know! You need to enjoy life at the fullest before the end. That means you need to make a list of things to do before it's all over. I believe this is what they call a 'bucket list.' I don't know what buckets have to do with anything, but this'll be fun!"
"I really don't think that's necessary -" began Elize, fearing the ideas that seemed to be popping into the spirit's head by the second.
"Come on!" said Muzét, pulling Elize down the street.
"Where are we going?"
"To the Coliseum, of course. Nothing makes you feel more alive than a fierce battle with your life at stake. Gaius said that to me once."
"Are you insane?" Elize demanded. In fact she continued to ask this question as Muzét flew them to the boat dock which would take them to the Coliseum, with Elize continuing to resist and Muzét continuing to ignore.
Elize's prior question became an accusation of "You're insane!" immediately thereafter, as their first battle began. Thankfully, Muzét had only signed them up for a beginner's round, and with a formidable spirit on the offense, they easily outclassed their opponents.
Overcoming her initial shock, Elize relished in the feeling of battle and let spells she had not uttered in a very long time gleefully roll off her tongue. As the opponents increased in number with each round Elize indulged a little, letting out short spurts of artes to her heart's delight. With every spell, the darkness pent up within lessened as she fought, and a heavy burden seemed to lift from her shoulders as she began to fully embrace her fate.
As her prize medal for the quickest completion of a beginner's round in recorded history gleamed in the setting sun, she was still smiling at the novel experience.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," smiled Muzét eyeing her companion's expression. "It took your mind off things, didn't it?" Elize looked at the spirit and could not deny she was touched by the fact Muzét had cheered her up by way of diversion. Of course, it was a dangerous diversion, but she couldn't deny it was fun. Her partner had done most of the heavy lifting, anyhow.
"Thank you," she said shyly.
Muzét swooped her up in a fit of glee and squeezed the air out of her. "You're so cute!" she exclaimed.
To distract Muzét, Elize asked her to go find some ice pops to refresh them while she stopped by Luke's flat once more. Thankfully, he was in this time, and looking better than expected. After introducing herself they fell into quick conversation about his symptoms and whether he felt well enough to work. What was a little more difficult to discuss was the prognosis and each patient's anticipated life span. Patients in the advanced stages, like Peter, had less time. Luke's symptoms had just begun, and she anticipated he would outlast them all with treatment.
After explaining Jude's plan, Luke pursed his lips in thought. "I guess I don't have a choice. If your friend develops the technology to repair the damage, then count me in."
"Is there anything you need to do before then?" asked Elize. "I'm told the prototype is going to be finished this month."
"Perhaps I could ask the secretary at the front desk out for a date like I've been meaning to do. I've had a crush on her for a while now," he said sheepishly.
Elize smiled in response.
"After all, we're orphans right? So it's natural for us to crave human contact." He grinned at Elize cheerfully. "Don't you have someone you'd like to be with before the end?"
There was only one person her heart drifted toward, but she shook her head. "No, unfortunately."
With her intended task complete, Elize walked back across the bridge in silence as the sun was setting. Children and couples hung their prayer pennants and wrote their wishes on rice paper carried off by the wind. The look of the city against the setting sun was arresting and she leaned up against the long bridge facing the coliseum. The sun painted the sky aglow in gold and purple hues. Just as she was thinking of what a marvel it would have been to see the twelve year old Erston Outway fight every level of the Coliseum's elite round, a commotion by the food carts pulled her attention back to the present.
-000-
The king's entourage had made it into Xian Du by noon. He gave immediate orders and his assistants scrambled to begin his business with the tribal leaders before he took his noonday meal at the inn with the local magistrate of the city. They discussed matters of immediate concern for Xian Du and afterwards he listened to the citizen petitions patiently through the afternoon. By the time it ended, his assistants' table was piled high with documents he would need to read carefully and either accept or reject or revise the proposals in the coming days.
Finally, when he had a moment of respite he wandered outside for some peace. The sun was setting in the west behind the Coliseum, and he looked on the arena with feelings of nostalgia mixed with loathing. However his thoughts were interrupted by a commotion in the market square.
When he came towards a small crowd gathered before a food stall, he had a foreboding sense of deja vu. Muzét was in the center of the crowd, her expression guilty as she explained how her hunger had driven her to eat the contents of three vendor's carts without any intention of paying. To his surprise, Elize was also beside her, a hand to her forehead in exasperation. After paying off the vendors she tugged Muzét's hair downward to force the spirit to bow in apology before departing.
"I said 'grab some ice pops,' not 'eat everything in sight' Muzét," Elize sighed. She looked at her near empty coin purse and sighed even louder. "I should have made you do the dishes."
"Gaius made me do the dishes once in Drelin. It was so unpleasant. Alternatively I could have put it all on his credit, you know," Muzét shrugged nonchalantly.
"Don't you dare," she glared. "The king has enough things to do rather than go around the country paying off your debts. Ugh, now I'm going to have to borrow on Sharilton credit for lodgings," she said woefully.
"But I'm hungry," whined Muzét.
"Still?!" exclaimed Elize.
"Perhaps I may be of assistance," said a familiar deep voice, interrupting them. Elize looked up in astonishment as the king came forward. The thought did cross her mind that they happened upon one another quite often these days, but she supposed it could not be helped if they were traveling the same roads.
"Please take her off my hands and feed her," sighed Elize in defeat.
"Oh, perfect! Now we can make your wish come true, Elize," said Muzét with a clap of her hands. The young lady could only stare in horror at what the spirit might say next.
"First, I suggest you try-" began the spirit but she was immediately silenced as Elize grabbed a stick of roasted meat kabob from a nearby vending cart and shoved it into Muzét's mouth.
"You should try this mutton Muzét, it's really tasty!" Elize said cheerfully as she paid the vendor with her last coins.
The king's expression was a mix of shock and curiosity. Elize groaned both inwardly and outwardly at the thought of having to babysit Muzét for the evening until the king was gone, lest the spirit divulge her secret.
"Shall we go then?" asked Muzét cheerfully leading the way. "I'm in the mood for a feast!"
The king offered his arm and Elize took it gratefully, if only for support in what was to be an uncomfortable time ahead. As the king opened the door, Elize stopped short when she noted that Karla was exiting.
"Miss Karla," she said in surprise.
"Wouldn't you know I had a moment of absent mindedness and left Luke's staff meeting materials behind. Oh," she said as she noticed the two behind Elize. Elize stepped aside to introduce Muzét, but she was certain the king did not need an introduction.
"It is good to see you again, Your Highness," said Karla, inclining her head in greeting. A brief look of tenderness crossed his face but it was gone when he replied, "Well met, Miss Karla."
"Well isn't this just a grand old fam-" started Muzét but Elize grabbed a candy dish from a side table and offered it to the spirit before she could blurt out their secret in public. "Ooh! Candy!" Muzét exclaimed delightfully as she popped them into her mouth.
"We were just about to have dinner. Would you care to join us, Miss Karla?" asked the king formally.
"Oh, I don't know," said his sister, unsure if she would be in his way, especially in such a public place. Elize stepped up at that moment and suggested that it would be useful for the king to meet with his biographer and insisted that Karla accompany them. She wanted the siblings to spend some time together even if her true intention was to have Karla distract the king while she kept an eye on Muzét.
So it came to be that the king sat down with three women who, among the them, probably knew every side of him.
This isn't awkward at all… she lamented as they sat down initially to silence.
Karla had grown up with him, and knew the old Erston Outway. Muzét had followed him and lent her strength to defeat his enemies as the leader of the Chimeriad. Elize, who had once fought against him with Jude, was afterwards allied with him to support Ludger. Now he was her sponsor. Perhaps their relationship was the most complicated of all.
Thankfully he looked completely at ease and was doing most of the talking. Taking his lead, it wasn't long before Elize followed suit and relaxed. Soon, Muzét was busy ordering every dish that passed their table, while the king and Karla politely chatted about the biography.
She couldn't help the smile that came to her face as she watched the siblings' interaction. Family was precious, after all. Having been bereft of real kin Elize envied them. She knew that the king kept Karla at arm's length to keep her safe from his enemies; just as Elize kept him at arm's length now to spare him any extra burden. Yes, this is enough for me, as well, she thought to herself.
When he met her gaze she couldn't read his expression, but whatever feelings each heart protected remained unspoken for the present.
Author's note: It proved difficult getting into Elize's head. At first I thought I understood her; but who you are grown up may be different from who you were when younger though the core principles don't change. What her motivations were, why she did things independently and what things set off her dark, emotional side were first a mystery.
When you think about it these two were damaged from the start but I couldn't figure out how they could be catalysts for one another. The only relevant skit I found was about the "Teepo House," where Gaius expertly breaks up an argument between Elize/Teepo and Muzét. Eventually, what I used to mold their characters was Sakuraba's themes for Kanbalar and Hamil; "A Lord's City Towering in the Mountains," and "A Mountain Village in the Dawn." Elize and Gaius are uniquely tied to both those towns and it helped that they were both written/blended in the same flavor.
As I continued to write I found more similarities between them and continued to revise the whole story on the themes I picked up along the way, and as I recognized them so too did the characters. I'm glad you guys have followed along, small audience though you might be. I've revised and edited the story multiple times now, so most of the glaring bugs are fixed, and I think I'm finally happy with it. Please RxR if you have a chance and let me know what you think.
-K