Verdant
by Asurahime
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Next Kiribans : 100 and 123
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Pale white lines wove through the black skies, moving quickly at the unequaled speed of light.
A winged angel swore to the ancient sky as he was taken from Heaven, unseen by the omnipotent eyes of God. The angel Israfel fell from Paradise by the hands of those who wish to destroy that which creates.
Israfel, the Seraph fated to signal the end of the Universe, was enslaved by mortal hands. They were untested, impure, insecure, and infinitely fascinated with their own, unknowingly meager power. Strength of the mind overpowered the impact of the intuition of the heart. These beings learned reason but lost the precious gift of empathy.
Was increased perception ample compensation for the loss of innocence? Was it a Daemon? A God? Or some equally foolish being who had dared to silence and manipulate one of the highest angels?
That angel is mine. His white wings were cruelly torn from his shoulders and imprinted with silver blades and crimson runes. He was remade of flesh, blood, and the pale white lines of the skies. He is ignorant of his origin, but he is capable of dividing God and Hell. And he belongs to me. He is quickly recovering his lost memory, losing his own innocence. And when none is left, he will present himself before the one who owns him.
We will smile on the world when it begins to break away.
''What utter foolishness," hissed Albel as he sliced the sheets of the bed into jagged strips with his clawed hand. The physicians inside the large metal contraption had told him to rest and refused to back down when he darkly glared at them. In fact, they had sternly glared back at him. Clearly, the residents of Diplo were nothing like the useless, good-for-nothing maggots he was used to terrorizing. Albel just didn't know whether he appreciated the change or not.
He got off the bed and refastened his katana to his left leg brace. Although he was astounded that his shoulder was completely healed, Albel was not the type who expresses gratitude easily. However, when he noticed the physician who had helped him, he grunted and averted his eyes before quickly leaving. Had he stayed, he would have seen the strict faces of the physicians crack open with furtive smiles.
Albel was not one versed in accepting gratitude either.
''Now where could those fools be," he started to wonder before he heard an unfamiliar voice speak a familiar name.
The girl's voice was calm, soft and comforting. Everything Albel's own tone can never achieve. "Fayt, I understand how you're feeling, but you should listen to Maria. It really isn't in your character to be so depressed. Don't be so angry with yourself. There was nothing you could do!"
Slightly sneering, the swordsman leaned against the sliding door. He knew that he eavesdropping is not the most honorable of activities, but he was tired of being kept in the dark. If this would bring answers to his questions, then anything and everything is plausible.
''I'm sorry, Sophia. I didn't mean to worry you."
Albel was surprised with the self-deprecating tone lacing Fayt's voice. What had happened when he was... resting... to affect the boy so grievously?
The feminine voice replied quickly. "That is all right."
''All right. So the next destination is Moonbase, then. There's no time to waste anymore."
A louder, ruder voice caused Albel to scowl and back away from the door. What a pity. The blond ape king is still breathing. Maggots never do learn, do they? But... this "Moonbase"...
''Yes, I agree. The Diplo is already headed towards the Solar System, Federation Station #5–Moonbase, as we speak," replied Maria.
The mechanical whirring of the sliding door captured everyone's attention as they faced Albel. "Moonbase, eh? So the senile old man wasn't lying after all. Other worlds do exist. How intriguing. I'm ready for a new world myself."
Fayt turned almost white upon seeing Albel. "Albel! You're awake!"
Maria shook her head. She had totally forgotten that there was another problem. "Do you fully understand what you are saying? You might never make it back home again!"
Scoffing, Albel pointed out the window to the streaking patterns of stars. "As I would expect from you fools. Isn't it a bit too late to be telling me something like that? What does that matter to you?"
Scratching the back of his neck, Cliff sighed in exasperation. They all should have considered how stubborn the Elcoorian was. "I don't think you've thought this over. You don't realize what you're getting into!"
''Shut up, maggots," drawled Albel. To his satisfaction, all of them grew silent. The unfamiliar girl from before also looked slightly scandalized by his words. "No thanks to you, the war is over and does not look as if it will resume any time soon. Moreover, you indirectly killed Vox, something which I'm not sure whether I should kill you for doing. I was supposed to kill him.
''There is nothing but boredom left for me in Airyglyph. You don't realize how annoying prattling old maggots are. If you experience it yourself, maybe you'll stop wondering about my tendencies. Do you worms understand?"
A slight frown formed on Fayt's lips. Albel easily noticed this and his vermilion eyes narrowed upon verdant. "Unless you think that I will be nothing but a hindrance." He surprised himself with the amount of petulance in his tone. To make up for the slip, he placed a hand on his sword, swearing to kill anyone who answers affirmative.
Fortunately, blood did not have to be shed as Fayt nodded. "I don't think that that would be the case, Albel. It would be a good idea to join forces on this mission."
Smirking, the Elcoorian released his grip on the hilt. "Don't be mistaken, fool. No one orders me around. If I follow any of your commands, it will be because I choose to do so."
Sophia caught Cliff's attention by tapping his arm. He looked down at her questioning face. "What is it, little miss?"
Her gaze was focused on Albel, who gestured for Fayt to follow him out of the room. To her confusion, her best friend started to follow the strange man out. "Cliff, who was that person?"
Cliff scratched the back of his neck again, wondering how to reply to her query. "That was Albel Nox from the planet Elcoor, the one we were just on. He used to be the enemy... and to some extent, he still is. Fayt is one of the few who could actually hold a decent conversation with him."
A cough from Mirage drew both of their attentions. She smiled at them furtively. "In Airyglyph, many of the residents also referred to him as 'Albel the Wicked' because he is ruthless in achieving his ends."
''Albel... the Wicked?" asked Sophia, a confused frown marring her features. "I'm not sure I understand."
''You're from Earth, correct?" asked Cliff, nodding when Sophia responded affirmatively. "If the Wicked Witch of the West had an even uglier sister, she would be Albel--"
A sharp knife embedded itself next to the Klausian's head, immediately stopping his rant. "Albel, you idiot! Just think of the property damage you're causing. Maria! You have to put a stop to this!"
Maria and Mirage were busy looking over navigational maps. "I didn't see anything wrong, Cliff."
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To every life, there is always an end. There are those who walk alone, sleepless, guided by the path of devastation to reach eternal sleep. The existentialist idealism lasting through the dimly lit night.
The crimson glow of the star Betelgeuse cast blood-colored shadows upon the Diplo. Red-gold silk appeared to lace the skies as the craft traveled quickly to its destination. There is trouble and separation, but this is their sentence to the world.
Albel turned around to face his companion as the vermilion highlights of the star started to fade. To his surprise, Fayt refused to look at him, clearly chagrined. If there was something wrong, Albel knew that he would find out about it one way or another. "Stop staring at the floor, fool and talk to me."
Green eyes, dark with perishing memory were presented for Albel's gaze. However, Fayt remained silent.
''You were annoying before," started the older man while he had Fayt's attention. "But I have found that you're even more of a maggot when you don't talk."
Fayt averted his eyes once again. ''...... It's nothing you can help me with. There's nothing more anyone can do about it."
He was slammed against the wall and a clawed hand grabbed his chin, violently forcing him to meet furious vermilion eyes. "If you think that, then you're an even greater idiot that I originally presumed."
There was uncomfortable silence as the two men attempted to stare the other down.
Albel smirked but did not release Fayt. If anything, his grip on the other tightened painfully. "You lied. You said you trusted me. How can I even begin to take your word?"
Fayt froze; emotions warred within his eyes at the accusation. "I didn't lie. I do trust you."
''Then talk," spat Albel as he loosened the vice of his claws.
''My father died," whispered Fayt, his eyes turned blank and unseeing as if reliving the pain. "You had taken the first shot and fell unconscious. I couldn't believe that it would be like that. I was so angry about what happened that I dropped my guard. The second shot did not miss, but it hit my father instead. Even worse was that up to the very end, I had doubts about my parents because of everything that has happened."
Crimson eyes narrowed with suppressed emotion. "I don't know the rest of the story, do I? Fools like yourselves always leave something out. I'm prepared to beat it out of you if necessary."
Hollow laughter resounded from Fayt, but his eyes met Albel's again. "You don't understand what I'm going through, Albel--"
He was quickly cut off by a sharp katana embedding three inches of steel centimeters from his head. Although the Elcoorian did not outwardly show anger, the fury emanating from him was almost palpable. "Shut up and listen to me, fool. Don't presume anything about me. You are not the only one to ever lose a father, nor are you the only one who doubted them."
''I know that, but it's just different--" started Fayt once again.
''Did I say you could talk?" hissed the taller swordsman. "Don't be more of an idiot than you already are and just get through this. You don't want to go through what I had. You say that you trust me when I can't even trust myself. Trusting me is the swiftest way to destruction, but you persist."
The slightest smile appeared on Fayt's lips. "The swiftest way to destruction? Sorry Albel, but I already have that manifestation. I can't reach Destruction when that is who I am."
Albel looked taken aback by what the other said. No humor could be detected from his tone. "This has to do with what I don't yet know, isn't it? Good-for-nothing insects."
A sound resonating from the intercom momentarily stopped their conversation, telling them to return to the others. Albel scowled as he returned Fayt's personal space to him. He turned to leave.
Fayt grabbed on to Albel's gauntlet before the other could fully disengage himself. "Wait. We don't have time now, but I swear that I will tell you everything soon... if you tell me your own story."
Albel searched the other's eyes with his own, noting that the light had returned. "Keep your word, fool," he said as a wicked smile formed on his lips. "All of them."
For a second, Fayt wondered at what the other was saying before he remembered another promise he had given. He looked away in embarrassment, abashed by his past actions. It only served to provide more entertainment to Albel. "Do you trust me, Albel?"
The mirth faded in Albel's eyes as he grew thoughtful. Did he actually come to trust Fayt? If the answer was clear, then contemplation should not be necessary. There was only one proper answer.
He started to walk away.
''Albel!" yelled Fayt, not really surprised at the other's reaction. Thus, he was not prepared when Albel addressed him once more.
''When someone wounded sees me, the one who wounded them, anger and a light of negativity glints in their eyes. The hatred and the vengeance that are reflected in those eyes are something one can't hide even if one trains to feel nothing. But not matter what I have tried, you continuously deny me that satisfaction. I should hate a useless worm like you, but I can't."
Fayt stopped in his tracks, visibly stunned by the confession of the other.
Albel turned to face his companion once more, the smirk back on his face. "It would be stupid to lie to myself.
''It was a simple twist of fate and a slash of irony. Never again."
Verdant
END
Disclaimers:
-Star Ocean: Till the End of Time does not belong to me. It and all other titles and characters belong to Square Enix.
Author Notes:
-This is the tenth installation of Vermilion. I just keep on apologizing, don't I? However, I have reasons in being late. I was Albel for Halloween and was busy striking terror into the hearts of young children in the USC campus. Not to mention affronting the God-worshipping church-goers with the sharp objects I openly carried in broad daylight.
-And because I'm feeling Wicked, guess who is speaking the philosophical bit in the very beginning. I'm not saying whether that person is or is not in character though. A little difficulty never hurt anyone. XD I'll just say that I am departing from the actual script of the game. Not too much, like this chapter, but it will be a gradual process. Gives more fun... for me and you... but especially for me.
-The next kiriban is at 100 and the one after that is 123 because they are fun numbers. Make certain to contact me through the livejournal community or send me an e-mail claiming it. Otherwise, I'll put it up for grabs. XD For those who don't know the URL for the community, it is:
http: www(dot)livejournal(dot)com /userinfo(dot)bml? user faytxalbel
Just remove the spaces and replace the (dot) with an actual period. If you haven't joined yet, you certainly should.
-To Kurosaisei- You are definitely not pathetic! However, drawing lots of fanart serves to make Albel, Fayt, Cliff, and the many other maggots out there very happy. Asura included.
-To Jagwarakit- Hm... it was Cliff though. However, if it was Fayt, it might have gone something along the lines of:
Professor Leingod: ::thinks:: Oh no!! I must have tweaked something I shouldn't have! No... it can't be me... Ryoko must have done something! She had wanted a girl... but she must have settled for this instead... There goes my bloodline...
Sophia: ::sees Albel:: .....? Why is he wearing a skirt with a slit that high?
-To Eike- As I already said in the livejournal community, I was waiting for someone to point those two things out. Tenses are evil pieces of data. Thank you so much.
-To Melfice- A lot of people seems to like that insult... ::hides in a corner:: I must admit that I like it too. Albel has some maggot-hunting to do tonight.
-To XxFuumaGirlxX- Ehe... I was wondering if anyone was going to notice. I love Yami no Matsuei and I am happy that you did. I'm more of a slightly gothic/literary device-laden/descriptive sort of writer. It's difficult for me to do fluff. I live for dark, angst, and bitter-sweet chocolate type of writing. However, reading fluff is another story only if the characters remain in character. Albel will always be ruthless in killing. I'm never going to change that because that is just his nature. But if I ever do, the process will be extremely gradual... in a really long story.
-To Headless Chicken- I hope that your essays did well. I remember AP classes too. Being an English Literature and Japanese double-major doesn't help with my schedule either. And you know what? I love Woltar too. If I wasn't Asian and a real person, I would want him to be my slightly-evil grandfather... mainly for entertainment purposes.
-To Youko Mitsutama- ::joins you in cursing the evil entity:: I'm glad you liked the yaoi and the pics!
-To Pocky King Windy- Whee! I'm glad you liked the kiriban, Windy-kamisama. And you will always be God to me. I might do a Cliffei soon for variety and to help expand the Cliffei and Fayt-uke following. XD
-To everyone- I'm also always thanking you guys and I really can't do it enough. The only thing I really can do is offer another chapter. Thus, here is another humble chapter to pass your time with. I hope that you enjoyed it.