In the Name of the Goddess
Kevin wandered through the darkness. The journey through the cave had been tiring, too tiring really, even with the monsters. He felt, not unfit but rusty, it didn't feel nice. Even in wolf form it didn't feel any better. Admittedly he had kicked the monster's hides in all of two seconds but it shouldn't have taken even that much effort. He mulled over whether he should ask the priestess to check it out, but it was probably nothing, just years of peace beneath his belt. Nobody in the Beast Kingdom dared to challenge him, he was far too strong for all of them.
As he loped through the trees the dim glow of Wendel's lights appeared in the darkness. At first he had to shield his eyes. Even though the lights were as dim they still burned his wolf eyes. As they adjusted though, a small smile came across his face. It wouldn't be long till he got to the priestess and would have all his troubles solved. Well, some of his troubles solved, he would've been naïve to think that a few magical words from the priestess could make a message from the Goddess go away. Still he had a warm bed to look forward to and a good meal. He hadn't eaten anything but rounds drops and bread since he left Jad. But then he had never really been much of a cook, in those years in the wilderness he and Karl had just eaten anything they could find raw. Wolves didn't need cooked food, but now, well he had become soft, he couldn't imagine doing that again. Hawk and Lise had always made the meals for the groups. The amazons were all trained in that just in case they found themselves alone and Hawk knew about spices that gave something extra to even the worst meal. And after becoming King, well, he was treated like one, someone to cook his meals, buy his clothes, and remind him of appointments, he wouldn't have been surprised if eventually someone had offered to chew his food for him.
Exiting the foliage he came to the main gates of the town, they weren't barred, the gates to Wendel were never barred, save all those years ago, but that was in the past. He walked in, looking around; the town hadn't changed a bit. Perhaps there were a few more houses here and there, but its essence, that was still the same. It felt like home.
Kevin caught sight of a man entering his house, no doubt after a night of alcohol and pleasant company in the bar. Kevin walked over quickly, to catch the man before he entered his home; he had a few questions to ask before he went to see the priestess. It was always best to catch the mood in a town before doing anything drastic. "Excuse me, sir," he said, drawing up a few feet away from the man, "it's been a while since I've been here, could you help me out?" The man turned and froze, eyes widening. "Is there anything wrong sir?" Kevin enquired, getting rather worried.
"Beastman! HELP!" the man screamed at the top of his lungs. Kevin's eyes widened, surely they didn't think that he would try another invasion. He desperately tried to reason with the man, telling him that he was alone, and he was merely here to see the priestess, but he had to reason with a door locked in his place. Kevin whirled around to find the local guards surrounding the house. This wasn't how it was meant to be. He didn't want to fight these guys.
"Guards, this is a misunderstanding, I don't want any trouble, I'm just here to see the priestess, I bring no others with me."
"Yes sir, but, if you'd come with us, your kind can cause a bit of an uproar. Couldn't you have come in the morning instead?"
Kevin felt like an idiot, he hadn't even realised that he would've seemed strange to these people in this form. He'd spent too much time in the beast kingdom. It felt so obvious now. A night in the cells wouldn't be enough punishment for this. "I'll come quietly, I mean no harm."
"Sir if you don't mind, we need to cuff you, the townspeople wouldn't feel safe otherwise."
Kevin decided the humiliation of being paraded through town with handcuffs locked around his hands would humble him enough to remind him of this occasion. "Yes of course, I wouldn't want to worry the people." Kevin raised his hands and the guard approached him tentatively.
The cuffs were placed around his wrists and he was led away, yet he hadn't taken more than two steps when all the guards, save the two nearest him fell to their knees. Looking up he saw a tall woman, with blonde hair. She looked like an older version of Carlie, except her eyes; instead of marine blue were a hazel brown. It had to be her, the priestess. "Now Captain Meilar, I'd advise you release that poor beastman, he is a guest of mine." The guards hastily undid the handcuffs and the priestess whirled to face him. "Now King Kevin, would you like to come with me?"
Kevin opened his mouth to respond and his voice stuck, he hadn't realised, but Goddess she was beautiful. He tried again and thankfully got something out, "Of course Priestess, I would be honoured." Before he was even finished though she had her back to him and set off at a frightening pace. He ran to catch up, finally reaching her side. He had more than a few questions to ask her.
"Uhhhh," Kevin hesitated, trying to make himself sound casual, "How did you know I was here."
"I saw your arrival in a vision. Oh don't look at me like that; you don't think the Goddess wouldn't let me know about such an important guest arriving in my city now would you?
Kevin hesitated again, this blasted woman kept distracting him, "Uhhh… I guess not. By the way, I haven't formally introduced myself, I am Kevin-"
She cut him off, "King of the Beast Kingdom, Mana Knight, Protector of the Moonlight Forest. And I'm Sakura, Priestess of Mana. There, we're done with pointless formalities."
Kevin just stayed silent for the rest of the walk, the woman was hasty. She seemed not to have time for anything other than what was important. Perhaps the old Priest had been like that before age slowed him down.
Kevin looked around as he entered the chapel, he had only been there once before and just as the last time it took his breath away. The priestess smiled at him, "I live here and the beauty still gets to me," and with that she was all business once again. Women confused Kevin, he left that area to Hawk.
"Now, I believe there are some friends of yours up in the guest quarters, just take the stairs on the right and you'll find them. I have work to get back to so if you need anything urgent just yell for Heath." And with that she was off again.
Kevin was curious about the friends she mentioned, had some beastmen managed to get here before him? Or were they staying here for a while? Kevin opened the door and was greeted by the most wonderful sight he had seen in the past 4 years. Hawk and Lise, with there eyes on the door. There was a silence, Kevin smiled unsteadily and said the first thing that came into his head, "Hi guys, long time no see." And with that they were on him, coming across half the room. Lise threw herself into a hug that almost knocked him over; he steadied himself using the doorframe before hugging back.
"Oh Kevin, you're still as sweet as ever. I missed you! Why didn't you visit? We would've let you in with open arms." She hadn't even noticed that he was in wolf form.
"And smart as ever I see, walking into a town, Wendel no less, like that. Kev, you may have learned to speak common properly but you're still the same as ever." Hawk just laughed, Kevin didn't really care that he had just insulted him, he was just happy to see the both of them.
"I missed you too Lise, but I couldn't visit, you know how the beast kingdom is about secrecy. I had to trick the entire population to get here! And Hawk, you better stop wagging that tongue of yours or I'll tie it for you." Kevin grinned at Hawk.
"So let me guess Kev, you're here because you had a vision from the Goddess and you want the priestess to make everything better."
"How did you know?" Kevin was confused, was everyone omniscient?
"Why do you think we're here my silly little wolf?" asked Lise, who had finally let her deathgrip go. "Hawk and I initially didn't say anything, but that priestess managed to gouge it right out of the both of us. She's quite a piece of work isn't she? Always as if she's got something more urgent to do. Hawk couldn't even get a smile out of her." Lise chuckled and Hawk looked pretty embarrassed.
"Aaah she's not my type, more worried about the future than about the present. I could never live with that."
Lise smiled, "No, I suppose you could not."
"So how've things been going down in Navarre and Rolante then?" Kevin was curious, new rarely got to the beast kingdom and when it did it was twisted out of all proportion.
Hawk opened his mouth but Lise beat him to the punch, "Rolante's been insane these past few weeks, with Eliza's wedding. It's a wonder how the most efficient soldiers in the world can run around like headless chickens when there's a wedding to plan. I swear I've had far too many sleepless nights because of them. I'll be glad when Elliot is old enough to rule, being both general and queen is just a pain."
Hawk once again opened his mouth and once again was cut off, this time by a knock at the door. He sighed, exasperated no doubt.
Kevin, seeing no movement from the other two, turned and opened the door. Heath stood, smiling as always and greeted him, "Kevin it's been far too long, but then I guess you couldn't really pop in and visit," Kevin looked at him puzzled, "Yes I heard about the uproar you caused, now come on, we must walk and talk, that means you two as well. The priestess is waiting for you. We'll have to hurry, but with a little luck there'll be some time to catch up."
Kevin let himself be ushered out of the room and at a leisurely pace, proceeded to the priestess. With all his talk of haste Heath wasn't one to rush himself. They spent the walk discussing pleasantries, about how the three of them had been, how their countries were, that kind of thing. In all honesty it bored Kevin, but Heath was a nice guy and it just wouldn't be correct to tell him to be quiet.
They reached the altar, finding the priestess just beyond it. Were it not for the people standing next to her, Kevin would've stared at the priestess a little longer. However, the sight of Angela and Duran standing in the wings was not to be ignored. Kevin let out a shout or a howl, he wasn't quite sure which, of happiness before rushing forward and grabbing the two and crushing them with his arms. However, a good whack from Angie's staff to his head soon put a stop to that. Putting them down he looked a bit dejected, before Angela smiled at him, "I missed you too you stupid wolf."
"Kevin, next time just say you missed me, I intend to keep my spine in tact for the next 20 years," the Paladin chuckled. Kevin doubted that he even felt that.
Kevin just stood buy as hugs, kisses and well, manly handshakes were exchanged. Hawk as usual complemented the pretty princess on how good she was looking and earned a peck on the cheek as reward. Kevin really did that he had Hawk's way with women sometimes. They always claimed they wanted a kind person to look after them but really, all they wanted were the dangerous types.
The priestess coughed, it was if she had been invisible for those few seconds. "Now if you're all done, can we get down to what's important? It must be obvious that this is no coincidence. You've all had visions sent by the Goddess and come to me for help. It's a sign and to be honest not a very pleasant one. If the Goddess thinks that something is so serious that we must be warned about it, then there is a very big problem."
"So, priestess," Hawk's tone was worryingly close to sarcastic, yet not quite there, "what do you propose we do about our little problem then," he seemed to add emphasis to the word "little," yet he still seemed respectful, or at least his tone did.
"What I propose is simple, thief, we look at each of your visions and find any clues." Hawk tried to open his mouth again but was cut off, "And yes Hawk, I do have the power to do so." The priestess looked at him triumphantly.
"Beauty and intelligence, I know only 2 others with that combination." Was the man trying to flirt with every girl in the room! Goddess, not one of them even called him down over it.
"Yes, that's nice Hawk, now get over here, the rest of you, you have to be touching me to see the dream."
Soon enough they were organised, with the priestess's hands on Hawk's head and the rest of them holding her shoulder. He saw the vision, yet, he didn't recognise anything, nor did any of the others for that matter, confusing Kevin further. Surely if the Goddess had sent these visions there would be some sort of recognisable clue in them.
The priestess continued though, but vision after vision yielded no clue. By the time it got to him, she looked tired and frustrated. This was evidently taking something out of her, Kevin felt like asking her to rest but the likelihood was she'd just get angry at him for suggesting it. Kevin stood in front of her, bowing his head to make it easier. A few seconds after she touched him, it was replayed. He didn't think they'd find any clues. The last time he hadn't recognised anything and his vision wasn't going to magically change when it was played back. He relived it, the darkness, he felt it engulfing him as it slew those people. He felt so helpless, standing there, watching. Thankfully however, the vision came to an end and his sight returned.
"I recognised something," Lise said excitedly, "I know where that place is. The architecture, there's only one place in the world that has spiral columns and that's Pedan. It can't be anywhere else."
Angela raised an eyebrow, she was skeptical, "And how do you know this Lise? I mean it's not as if you study architecture in Amazon school." She let out a small chuckle, though Kevin wasn't sure what was funny. These humans had an odd sense of humour sometimes.
"Well actually Angela I did," there was a little bite in Lise's comeback. "In Amazon "school" as you call it, we're made to learn not only about combat, but about every aspect of war, architecture being one. We learn why some walls are strong and others weak, you know the usual stuff." She sounded as if they should have all been taught this as children. "Well I wanted to look at the, well, more beautiful side of it." Suddenly she stopped and blushed, "I must sound like a total uhhh…"
"Nerd?" Angela put in. Lise seemed to go an even deeper red before giving up and looking at the floor. One time these two were hugging each other another they were insulting each other. Women really confused him.
"Quiet Angie," the priestess flashed her an angry look, "please Lise, it's alright, you may save the entire world with this."
"Yes, I guess your right. Well, I read a book and there were diagrams. It was old, very old, I assume Pedan wasn't hidden when it was written and it showed those exact columns, so yes, that's how I know."
"Lise you're a genius," it seemed that anything Hawk said earned a blush from her.
"Well then, let's go, the light warriors, together again on another grand adventure!" Duran was holding his sword hilt eagerly, being a king hadn't taken anything out of him.
Kevin sighed, the light warriors, save one. His sigh must've been too loud, since everyone in the room went silent. Goddess he hadn't even thought about how the priestess might have felt about this. Carlie was her sister, or her half sister at least. And she was the one who broke the silence, "Well, before you go cavorting off on another adventure you may want to get some supplies. In case you didn't realise, with mana being so weak you'll barely be able to cast more than two spells. I assume Flammie and Bookasukaboo are back in hiding, so you'll have to take a ship to Pedan or at least to the coast. Remember, you need to form some sort of combat strategy on the way there, since you can't rely on mana any more." The priestess took up a pen and quickly scribbled a note. "Show this to the merchant, he'll give you everything he has in stock, then head to Jad and show this to the dockmaster. A ship'll be arranged within a few days. You're welcome to stay here for another day or two if you wish. No sense in going back if you're too tired to stand half-straight. I'll see you off when you leave, but until then I have work to do," and like a whirlwind she was off again, storming out of the doors at the back of the room.
"Well guys, if you don't mind, I think I'll be off to the baths. After going through that cave I need a good wash." As much as Kevin wanted to talk to them, a bath was definitely a necessary evil.
"Kevin! Tell me when you're done! I need one myself since the helpless maiden here made me do all the fighting," Duran shouted at Kevin's back as he exited.
As the sun rose he entered the bath and punched the air. For 7 years he had been dreaming of this and now his dreams, or his good ones at least, had come true. Nothing would stand in their way.
Writer's Rants
At first I felt this chapter was coming together really well, but then came the priestess. I wasn't sure whether to make her act like Carlie or not. At first I thought this would be wise, yet it just didn't seem to click. Then I used this model and I think things just fell into place. Tell me what you think. Also, sorry to non-Kevin fans, but we haven't had a Kevin chapter in 6 chapters, it just felt right really. That reminds me, tell me what you thought of Kev in this chapter. I tried to get a sense of him being more mature in one way, but still the same in another.
I also feel that it's about time that I answered some of my reviewers:
To all reviewers who mentioned something about format: All my new chappies are going to be spaced like this one as double line spacing doesn't work on since indentations aren't registered, I'll get to the old ones if and when I feel like it.
Shin Ryu warrior: Thanks for the comments, I'll try to make it sound as natural as possible, I think I got a little too flowery with Hawk's flirting, so I kinda changed the style of it this chapter.
Mirowood: Edgar's name just popped into my head, but I suppose I first heard it off FF6. Duran's election is explained in chapter 7 by Angie. And you may have guessed, Saku will not be joining the group. I've also read your SD3 fic though I can't remember whether I reviewed it. And Duran isn't losing his strength, Angie was just manipulating him.
Yermog: I love Angie too and Carlie had to go since her death is vital to the story.
NinetalesDemonSakura: Well this is just a shout out really, so, yay!
Please R&R it really does help my story and gives me the inspiration to keep writing. Free golden halo of power for anyone who reviews.
Note such an item constitutes of air as halos cannot be seen by the living.