Changing the World isn't Easy Chapter Eleven
Kind of disappointed with the low amount of reviews but very much appreciated to those who did, I am wondering if people actually enjoy this fiction or not to be honest...
Planning
Flynn tumbled savagely across the floor, the dirt slapping his face as he practically slid to halt. He deserved that and he knew it. He knew he shouldn't have kept Yuri in the dark and he should have understood, after all Yuri loved the Lower Quarter as much as he did. Not only that, this was Yuri and Flynn should have naturally known that Yuri would be angry.
Yuri stood above the Commandant with eyes of fury. "Get up" was all he shouted to the blonde who couldn't meet his gaze. This act of 'submission' seemingly frustrated the black haired man. Flynn knew however that Yuri wasn't completely enraged; otherwise he'd of drawn his sword.
Just as Flynn was about to get to his feet his adjutant came bursting out the back door, sword brandished. Her eyes were blazing and she was absolutely livid. "Get away from him" she raged, closing the gap extremely quickly.
Just as Sodia was about to reach the two men, a ball of fire soared passed her face stopping her in her tracks. Stunned she turned around to see the genius mage glaring angrily and just behind her was the pink haired princess who was approaching quickly. "Stay. Right. There." Rita warned the woman furiously, showing her intent through channelling some mana to form a formula around herself.
"How?" Sodia questioned as the pink haired princess rushed past her. She didn't understand, magic was supposed to be extinct to all but the royal family. Fortunately Rita's actions actually stopped the commotion as Yuri stood unmoved, continuing to look down on Flynn who got to his feet.
"And you!" Rita screamed, incensed by Yuri's actions. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she demanded to the black haired man as Estelle reached his side.
"Just giving this sorry excuse for a Commandant a little lesson" Yuri said cruelly, indeed it was a lesson though. "How dare you look so defeated" Yuri continued directing his anger to his childhood friend who was shocked to say the least.
Flynn thought Yuri was angry for not telling him, that wasn't the reason it seemed. Apparently Flynn wasn't allowed to look unsure of himself if he had made a decision on something. "Yuri, please calm down" Estelle pleaded softly from the man's side, though unnoticeable to most, Yuri's features softened instantly.
"Yuri" was all Flynn said as he turned to Sodia who was still in a shocked stupor. "Sheath your weapon" Flynn ordered smoothly but when she hesitated he asked her with more force. "Now Lieutenant" he ordered and Sodia knew he was serious and put her weapon back where it belonged.
However before Flynn could start explaining himself to Yuri the man skulked off, followed by a concerned Estelle and Repede. "Miss Mordio could you stop with the magic please?" Flynn asked with a weary sigh which made the woman huff before obliging his request.
"You should have expected that you know" Rita told the man before walking into the house to resume one of the books she had been reading recently, leaving the Commandant and his adjutant alone in the garden.
"Sir..." Sodia started with a weakened tone, she didn't know what to say. Unlike Yuri, she didn't know the correct words that would assist Flynn, something that made her resent the black-haired man even more.
"Don't mention it Sodia" he said as he walked over to a small overturned tree which was fashioned in such a way to make a bench. Sodia watched on helpless as he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "I deserved that" he told the woman who directed her glare to the side, clearly she wasn't happy.
"You didn't" Sodia cut in making the Commandant's brow furrow slightly. "How dare he insult you like that" Sodia began to rant in a small mutter, but it was audible for Flynn.
"Sodia" Flynn cried in an exasperated tone. "Regardless of what you think, He is correct on this one" Flynn told her with a tired sigh. He knew Yuri was correct and he knew he had no right to sound defeated, it wasn't something he'd accept, so why did he think Yuri would.
Sodia wasn't happy but she nodded to her superior before reluctantly sitting side by side with him on the 'tree-bench'. "Sodia?" he questioned the woman who stayed silent and looked to the side.
"He'll be back, I doubt he was as angry as he seemed" Sodia said some 'comforting' words which made the Commandant burst out laughing. Sodia however didn't expect this response and turned bright red from embarrassment.
"Are those words of comfort Sodia?" he queried the woman in mid-laugh causing her to flinch and bury her head in her hands. She felt stupid for even trying to sound understanding. As she kept her head in her hands she heard Flynn stand up, still laughing.
She didn't say a word, she knew she shouldn't have tried to do Yuri's job. As her embarrassment continued to grow she felt a strong hand on her shoulder, at that moment the laughter stopped. The hand remained for a few seconds until she looked up, face tinted red.
"Commandant?" she asked making the blonde's eyes sharpen ever so slightly, she had the distinct feeling he wanted to be called by his name.
"Thank you Sodia" he told the woman with a smile, her awkward comfort seemed to amuse him so much that he returned to his normal self. "Now let's go inside, I'm sure Yuri will come back ready to talk" he told the now crimson woman.
"U-understood sir" she said dumbfounded. "Did I really help?" she wondered as she followed him into the princess' house, feeling slightly proud yet embarrassed by her actions. She had no right or intention to do that. She just couldn't stop herself from trying, which made her curious as to why that was. "At least he seems happier" she thought positively as she spotted the genius mage smirking at her as she walked through the door.
"Why'd you stop?" she asked the two, clearly she had been spying on them. Both feeling suitably embarrassed they ignored her and sat on different sides of the sofa, waiting for the black haired man to return.
-Halure the Great Tree-
Yuri wasn't particularly angry, more like frustrated. He knew that he had accidently done something which couldn't be undone. "That cargo" Yuri thought as he pilfered through his pockets to find a Gald sack. He had kept the money with him ever since. Grasping it tightly he shouted loudly into the darkening sky. It was nothing in particular but it was kind of like a battle roar, or a wolf howling to signal its arrival. "Those were the Lower Quarter 'abductees" he thought angrily, he knew they probably wouldn't be in Heliord anymore so rushing off would be stupid.
"Yuri?" a soft voice asked snapping Yuri out of his random shouting, which was in front of the great tree of Halure. As he looked over his shoulder he spotted the pink haired princess approaching him slowly, Repede however rushed to his side and barked, as if to join in with his master.
"Estelle" was all Yuri could muster in reply as he turned back around to look at the forever blooming tree. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, it bloomed all year long now. When Estelle reached his side she placed her hands connected at her front, almost emitting a pressure that was unbearable for Yuri. "You saw everything?" he asked the woman he'd saved multiple times.
"Yes" she said making him feel guilty. "Are you... still angry at Flynn?" she asked him softly, eliciting an unexpected sigh from his lips.
"I wasn't really angry" he assured which made her give him a questioned look which he returned with a solemn stare. "This money" he told her as he pulled out the sack. "It was probably earned by ferrying the Lower Quarter victims" he deduced, forcing a gasp from the pink haired princess who quickly placed one hand over her mouth afterwards. "The trail is probably cold" he told her, it wasn't pessimism, it was realism.
"Flynn's words made me realise what I may have done" he said in an annoyed tone. "Not only that he comes by to ask for my help, that isn't like Flynn, besides I'm partly the blame for this" he informed the princess who silently listened, nodding occasionally to show that she was listening.
"I'm angry that he can be so unconfident, he's the Commandant! He should be changing things, not asking me, a former criminal for help" he admitted to the princess who bit her lower lip at his last comment.
Yuri didn't know why he could share anything with Estelle. He guessed it was her kind and accepting attitude that made it easier to share things with.
"Yuri this isn't your fault" she told him calmly yet with a hint of affection. He didn't want to hear this but listened anyway. "It's the criminal's fault Yuri, not yours" Yuri just nodded as she said this. "If you want to make up for it though..." Estelle said before smiling at him "why don't you just help Flynn?" she told him with a smile so radiant that he nearly blushed.
"It's not that easy" Yuri said reluctantly as he regained his composure. He'd end up killing someone, he knew it and whilst he wasn't adverse to murder, he promised a particular pink-haired woman that he wouldn't resort to it again. "Flynn could probably solve this himself if he tried hard enough" Yuri added, but Estelle just poked him in the side and giggled.
"But you want to help right?" she asked him with bright emerald eyes, her voice was so upbeat and positive that despite the situation Yuri couldn't help but smile. He could feel his heart beating a little fast than normal but ignored it. "You want to help him with his goal but you're too stubborn" she told him in an all-knowing tone, yet at the same time it was so calm and soothing.
"I guess" Yuri admitted bashfully as he tipped his black cap over his eyes where the heat he was feeling was emanating from. Repede barked in such a way that sounded like he was mocking Yuri, Estelle didn't understand Repede like Yuri did and just giggled.
"See even Repede agrees" Estelle chirped joyously making the dog bark again.
"I don't think that's what Repede is saying Estelle" Yuri thought dryly as he continued to smile reluctantly.
"Huh?" Estelle sounded, questioning the man slightly about the smile she saw on his face.
"It's nothing Estelle" he told her as he looked up towards the tree to see it glowing slightly. It was a common sight which occurred once every month. According to some mages it was the accumulation of mana which illuminated the petals a bright fluorescent pink.
As the three, Repede included stared at the tree Estelle poked the man again. "Apologise to Flynn when you get back" she 'ordered' him, Yuri didn't say anything, but by the expression on his face Estelle knew he would.
After watching the tree for a short amount of time they decided to return to the house. As they were walking back Estelle stared at Yuri's hand which was empty swinging back and forth gently. In a moment of boldness from the usually meek princess she reached her own hand out and slipped it delicately into his.
Yuri turned his head to the side at this and looked down on the princess smiling contently before linking their fingers. He thought nothing of the action though, after all it was from the girl who glomped people she was close to.
Unknown to Yuri, Estelle's heart was beating so fast that it kind of hurt. Her face had turned bright red and her mind was currently concocting absolute nonsense that was flying through her skull at one hundred miles per hour. Eventually her instincts took over for her and she moved over slightly so their arms were touching, sighing gently she just enjoyed the moment which would end once they reached her home.
"C-can w-we walk a l-little slower?" Estelle spluttered her question making the man laugh softly before slowing his pace dramatically. Repede barked a slight approval of the sight making Yuri give him an 'it's not that' sort of expression.
Regardless of the pace they eventually reached the house and Estelle reluctantly let go of Yuri before entering first. Rita greeted her only to see her go straight into the kitchen with a bright red face. As Yuri entered Rita gave him a questioning look. "What did you do?" she asked the man who shrugged and walked into the living room, ready to start talking with Flynn.
-Living Room-
Yuri entered to see Flynn and Sodia both looking at one of Rita's Blastia curiously. Neither of them noticed him enter which made him smirk. "Hey" he said in a carefree manner, making the blonde Commandant look up, surrendering the device to Sodia who decided to keep looking at it, instead of showing her visible anger to Yuri.
"Yuri" the blonde said as he got to his feet.
"Sorry" Yuri told the man before placing himself down on a chair. Flynn stared at him in disbelief as did Sodia who now couldn't look up due to shock. "What's with the expressions?" he asked the two making Flynn smile slightly.
"Nothing" Flynn retorted as he too sat down. "Right Sodia?" he asked the woman who mumbled an 'hm' in response making him laugh awkwardly.
"So you came here to ask for my help, what exactly do you need?" Yuri asked getting straight to the point making the Commandant's expression turn serious.
"I'd like Estelle to be present for this" he said and right on cue to pink haired princess entered, she refused to look at Yuri but she was smiling. Rita on the other hand who was right behind her seemed to have a sly expression which she directed at Yuri when their eyes met.
"That's fortunate" Flynn said as he waited for everyone to sit down.
Estelle who'd heard that Flynn wanted her present turned to the man. "Flynn do you need my help as well?" she asked the man who nodded before turning to Rita. "Miss Mordio as impressive as your Blastia are, I don't think you can be of help" he told the mage who huffed indignantly. "B-but you can remain if you want" Flynn compromised; he didn't want to upset the girl who could set him on fire at any moment in time.
"Well I needed to create a few more Blastia, so some free time would be ok with me" Rita said as if she wouldn't have wanted to help anyway, this made the Commandant smile knowingly.
"However, Yuri, Estelle, you two are required" he told them, who both nodded instantly. "Remember I said the Magistrate was up to something?" he asked the black haired man who nodded in regards to his question.
"Yeah what about it?" he seethed, it wasn't directed at Flynn, instead it was towards the Magistrate in general.
"Well he has invited us to an event" he informed them. "A 'social' gathering, he challenged me to find the answers there" he informed Yuri who clenched a fist. "I don't think he's as involved as we may suspect, but he's still involved in this" Flynn informed Yuri, Estelle nodded and Sodia stayed silent.
"I want you and Estelle to come as my guests" Flynn told the two, Estelle's expression brightened but Yuri's turned rather sour. "At a specific point in time, I'll try and draw as much attention as possible" Flynn told the man who smirked.
"And you want me to do a little snooping I guess?" Yuri asked the man who grinned back at him.
"You know me too well Yuri" Flynn joked making the man laugh. Sodia watched the exchange and felt a little jealousy. Estelle on the other hand smiled at the two's closeness.
"Does this mean there's going to be dancing?" Estelle asked the Commandant who nodded at her question which made Estelle's eyes sparkle excitedly. "Does this mean Yuri will have to dance?" she asked making the black-haired man flinch. Once again the Commandant nodded making the princess squeal ever so slightly. She was obviously excited.
The expression on Yuri's face made Soda grin. Yuri looked uncomfortable at the idea, she guessed as a commoner he had no idea of what to do. "On top of that Lady Estellise" Sodia cut in, Estelle was slightly unhappy at the title though. "He'll have to dress accordingly for the occasion" she informed the woman who turned to Yuri with a very excited expression.
"Really?" she asked the female knight who nodded, grinning in delight at how the black haired man seemed to squirm slightly in his seat. Flynn noticing this decided not to chide his lieutenant and instead enjoyed the show.
"Wait a minute you guys" Yuri halted their conversation. "I have no clothes which suit a fancy ball" Yuri informed them and then smiled. "I'll be happy to climb in through the window or sneak into the place though" Yuri told them before Estelle stopped him.
"Wrong!" Estelle chimed as she got to her feet much to the surprise of everyone present. She then ran upstairs, leaving the living room completely silent in her absence. All of them were curious as to what Estelle was planning.
Moments later Estelle came running down the stairs holding a uniform that Flynn remembered quite clearly. The sight made him smirk slightly, Sodia didn't understand it though. "W-where did you find that?" Yuri stuttered slightly much to everyone's surprise.
"Down near Aurnion's river before we left town" Estelle told him making him flinch. Estelle had originally snuck it into his bag after Yuri left. So once she found it she kept it in immaculate condition for him.
Flynn gave Yuri a disapproving stare and Sodia remained clueless. "What is so important about that outfit?" Sodia asked her superior.
"His highness Ioder had made that outfit for Yuri" Flynn informed his adjutant, she just stared in disbelief. "It was for the ceremony where Yuri would be given the rank of Free-Paladin, the highest military based honour that can be earned without being associated with the knights" he explained.
"The knight equivalent is Paladin, a unique rank that is above Captain" he informed her. "However that was only around in the early days of the empire, there have been no Paladins for centuries" Flynn finished.
Sodia wanted to say a comment of how Yuri didn't deserve such an honour. But in retrospective, his actions in assisting Flynn stop the Blood Alliance, protecting the princess, defeating Alexei and destroying the Adephagos, she had to admit he did deserve perhaps a little credit, even for a criminal.
"To throw out such an outfit" Sodia started that was until Flynn started laughing.
"His highness guessed it would happen" Flynn joked making the female knight go quiet. "However next week at the gathering you will wear that Yuri" Flynn said with a devious expression. "Where we will officially reveal you as the first Free-Paladin in centuries" he finished making Yuri's eyes go wide in shock and Estelle to beam a smile, she thought it was a great idea.
"That'll make people pay attention to me even more" Yuri argued making Flynn laugh. "Yuri have you ever been to these gatherings?" he asked making the man shake his head. "Well those who don't have status are paid attention to much more, because they are unworthy, you'll draw attention being a 'commoner'" Flynn said it in the most delicate way possible.
"I see" Yuri said and then nodded. "And you'll be using your own commoner status as the distraction?" he asked making Flynn laugh deviously.
"Like I said, you know me too well Yuri" he told his friend with a grin.
-A little later-
Apparently the men had agreed on everything, leaving Sodia and Estelle to wonder what exactly was planned. The atmosphere was very calm, the anger from earlier completely forgotten. Estelle got up to go and cook and she eventually dragged Sodia away with her to help leaving the two men and Rita in the living room.
"Aren't you going to help?" Flynn asked the girl making her scoff.
"As if, well it couldn't be as bad as your cooking" she said under her breath making Flynn blush slightly, he remembered the cooking contest, it was... surprising.
"About what we were speaking about earlier" Flynn started in a successful attempt to get off that subject. "Those Blastia is it true that they are easily mass producible?" Flynn asked, confusing the black haired man who wasn't present at the time.
"Yes but they're expensive, finding the materials isn't easy either" Rita conceded and she plucked up the prototype Blastia which sat idly on the table. "If you want one for yourself then I can make you one, just get the materials and a hundred Gald" Rita offered, smiling as the Commandant quickly shook his head.
"How much would it cost to mass produce them on a large scale?" Flynn asked, once again leaving the ex-knight out of the conversation.
"A lot" Rita grinned devilishly; after all she had originally intended to share the technology for free.
"Hm" Flynn murmured as he placed a hand on his chin. "I'll ask his Highness Ioder when I return to the capital next week" Flynn said as he led back on the sofa, bringing a wide smile to Rita's face.
"Great!" she practically screamed as she got to her feet and rushed out of the room and in the direction of the kitchen, confusing the two males present.
"I didn't expect her to be that happy" Flynn voiced his thoughts, eliciting a laugh from his childhood friend who stared at him with a strange look of confidence in his eyes. "What's that look for Yuri?" the blonde questioned in response which made him shrug half-heartedly.
"Oh nothing, just thinking about how we're going to kick the ass of the ones who did this" Yuri declared with a confidence that seemed to invigorate the young Commandant.
"Right" Flynn agreed before grinning. "But first Sodia and I have to get ready for that gathering" Flynn said so softly that Yuri laughed in an almost insinuating tone. "What?" Flynn asked, perplexed by the expression on Yuri's face.
"It's a job loverboy, not a date" Yuri stated, putting his hands behind his head, grinning with satisfaction as a blush reached his childhood friend's face.
"Don't get me started on intentions Yuri" Flynn said as calmly as he could, face burning ever so slightly.
"And what's that supposed to mean Flynn?" Yuri practically demanded, making Repede bark instantly.
"Hah, Repede understands" Flynn stated as the dog they cared for when they first became knights yawned and led down.
"Understands what?" Yuri demanded in absolute confusion.
"Nothing Yuri, nothing at all" Flynn said sarcastically, a bright smile on his face, knowing he got Yuri back, even if his oblivious friend had no idea what he was saying.
(End Chapter)
Ok I know it took me forever to update but I've been busy with other fictions, besides the low review count depressed me to the extent where I couldn't really update. If you liked this chapter then please review, I'd like to know your opinions.
Next Chapter will have elaboration on the build-up to the party and delve into Raven's past a little, or so I think.
Anyway I hoped you enjoyed and please review.
-Aquilon