Disclaimer: I don't own Suikoden, it belongs to Konami.
Chapter X: "The White Maiden"
The birds were chirping, such a serene in this times of war, Hans thought. As he approached, the white pigeons fled off. He then sat lazily on the grass, near the blue shiny journey man crystal (which was sacred symbol for safety in ancient beliefs). Brass Castle… God, he never thought he would have been stuck in this dull castle this long.
Not trapped in a game again…
Hans smirked, looking at his injured left arm from the last battle, as he remembered times when he thought that words.
Tap. Tap.
"Here you are…", that cold judging voice again. Hans shifted a little but ignoring the man.
"the captain has not yet awaken.", he narrowed his eyes. "what are you doing here, Hans?"
"Adrian.", he finally answered as if he had just finally aware of Adrian's presence. "-so?", he peeked gaze slightly from the stone holding the journeyman crystal.
Adrian was about to burst in rage. But being the good well collected knight, he just said, "I know that there is something odd with you. Wherever Ed nears you, he had always been come back half alive. twice."
Well, it's not my fault if I am happened to be there to be his SAVIOR whenever he almost died… Now Hans looked briefly at his right hand and tried to ease his worries. Damn it! Now I just hope Ed got some amnesia or what…
Hans startled as he realized that blue eyes still staring him in annoyed, but now unreadable. Ow, apparently Adrian was still there. *sigh*
"….why do you always refuse to have your own unite?"
"Huh?", Hans replied uninterested.
"You're keep tagging along with Ed as ordinary soldier…with that skill of yours…. And now Zexen had fallen….."
"*chuckle* now you're- what? Is that a compliment?"
"I can not believe you still have that pitiful sense of humor of yours in these critics times."
"Whoa… whoa… don't be angry, Adrian!", Hans replied, standing, while taking a brief glance around, looking for the nestle birds he expected. The last time, that messenger bird came unexpectedly unnoticed, and he was lucky he could cover the possible 'mess'. Imagine the mess happened if Adrian or Edmund found out.
"I don't really have any rationale to answer your presence here. Shouldn't you go back to Highland?"
There it is! It's coming…. And this Adrian-
"Highland is boring and your skill is worrying and Ed can not save his own butt while I owe him and you happened to be-"
"-careful of what you're saying, kid."
"In fact your skill is average while you're second in command and Ed's right handman and also knight tactician-"
"SILENCE!"
"you don't have to be angry if you find no truth."
"-and you DARE TO THINK ZEXEN LAND AS your some kind of TOY? THIS WAR- *sigh*", Adrian held his breath to recollect himself.
"FINE. As you wish.", Adrian said in annoy tone, finally angry and left him. "just- go back- to Highland. I don't see any logical reasons why Ed's fond of you."
Adrian left the gate of Brass Castle, went toward the castle.
"…so young…. Typical good knight, eh?", Hans thought, looking at Adrian's figure leaving. Then he picked the nestle bird and picked carefully the paper.
…Hawk, isn't it? What now?
Hans opened the tiny piece of paper. He had got five different messages with different words, with same sounds : help Highland, Vincent Goldenline.
Alberto…you know that I'm in the middle of Zexen lands, and Goldenline had died! He can not just reappearing again, right?
You know it already.
He read again the paper and absorbed information : Dunan's movements.
… well… I have known it already…Hans wrinkled the paper.
And Al, what you don't know is I'm in the middle of my private issue….. OH, WHY I AM SO NICE? God….. I should have stopped thinking about others, thinking their best interest, thinking about their well being, care about them, and thinking about MYSELF instead…
Dunan keep advancing….
Dunan was sensitive word for Hans. It was- his real life, his real age, his true self. Too many memories, where everything began….And-
Responsible? Guilt?
He did not know.
I can not just leave this place….. Zexen would have not stood a chance…
No, it's not my business… and I don't have 'power' to interfere also…
But Ed and others…
Now Hans stood up, and then he walked toward the castle, see Ed first then set off from here….
Remember not to too attach to people where I arrive next…
Hans also could not ignore the curiosity he felt about that mysterious Lowel Prime, the knowing smirk he gave him as he left Hans in that murdering scene.
And the boy at the fire scenes in Zexay; Sasarai...
And the familiar green bandana, Tir. Or yes- maybe the wine had fooled Hans that time.
But if Sasarai was not there nor Tir, then the Clowel man could be a true rune bearer….
The new true wind bearer?
A pair of beautiful fair legs then seen upside, just by the apple tree as Hans walked through the gate which had apple trees on its both sides.
"Finally, get to meet you again, Hans!", a cheerful voice yet filled with light seductive tones greeted Hans. There she was, sitting by the branch of tree too casually, eating red apple in hand , with a winning smile.
"sst…. What ARE you thinking, sitting on a top of tree like THAT? What will people think?"
Crash, she bite her apple. "What will you…. think?", she smiled.
Ok, wrong question. "what are you DOING here, Sierra? Please- don't- follow me."
Her eyes told Hans she was not pleased by the question. "Ok, now, please, get down here, first.", Hans stated, pointed his finger to the ground.
"I'm patient enough to watch you from here and waited for your conversation with that knight over. I've sent your letter to Hawk."
"gget ddown.", Hans pressed the tone.
Sreek, she jumped in, literally, and next Hans could feel cold fingers touching his cheek from back. – how fast?
"I'm not a messenger, Hans.", her whisper right behind Han's ear somehow made an eerie feeling.
"Just go away, I've told you I'm not recruiting people.", Hans replied coldly. Sierra narrowed her eyes as Hans ignored her completely and went passing the gate with unfriendly expression that seldom crossed his face.
o.O.o
Krek.
Hans opened the door slowly. There he was, lied helplessly on the luxurious double king-sized bed.. He should had awoken by now. Was the injury that severe? He examined Edmund Redrum closely. This and- Hans placed his right hand on Redrum's chest- You'll be OK...
This is goodbye, then…
What a lucky guy you are, Redrum…
Hans then exited the luxurious room. He did not know that inside, Redrum opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, lost in his thought for a moment, and he closed them again. As Hans closed the door, he heard yells from the next door room: the knight lounge. The door was opened widely and he could hear that the knights were having their discussion.
"… she was told to posses unbelievable power and wisdom. The mother protector of Zexen land…", Deus stated in monotone voice.
"HAVE YOU ALL LOST YOUR MIND?", Adrian shouted furiously. The other knights were speechless.
Not a good thing to watch… better leave now…
"what? So you're feeling much better licking your tongue to that Bishop of Harmonia?", Deus finally answered. "that is… 'logic', right?", Deus finished his sentence. Tense silence, as if time were frozen.
Hans was about to leave but Adrian's sight caught his presence by the door.
"Finally, you do have heart to at least look at your protector condition."
"Sir Adrian, I think I take my leave now… excuse me…", Hans said, bowed.
"No…no come in first, Hans…! We're having a break now… nothing serious, really. Try these meals..", Rave said, melting the tense situation, grabbing Hans's arm friendly. "special meals-"
"take your dirty hands off that plate!", furious Adrian yelled.
"-Adrian… you're such a child. Let him taste our special cooks too!", he said then poured the suspicious looking brown-liquid-called-meals to the plate and handed it to Hans. "-he's a part of knights too.", he added to a now apathetic looking Adrian. "c'mon! try this on…me and Adrian's fine gourmets… no need to be ashamed… ha ha …. Silly, but...it's somewhat have become a custom within knights to cook for his captains once in a while…. "
Adrian? Cook? Hans raised an eyebrow. The brown liquid had already grabbed away his appetite, but looking at Adrian expression, it'd be fun to taste it. He smirked then took a full spoon of the meals, purposely making Adrian annoyed.
"How about it? Huh?", Rave gave a warm-friendly expression, looking at Hans who was trying hard enough not to vomit.
The knights then continued their informal discussion while Hans eating. He had got the big picture what they're talking about now.
"Thank you for the meals, Sir good knights. You are really a good chef, Sir Adrian..", he smiled, an insult for such an arrogant knight indeed.
"Finished ? now we have something to ask you.", Adrian said coldly. "Jeremy!"
Footsteps heard.
Hans's eyes widen and he almost choked the nauseating meals.
Think. Better keep silence and pretend not know-
"Who is this?", Adrian interrogating voice then heard.
"HANS! I miss you! So you're alive!", fake teardrops. "I've told them ! but they don't—mfff-", Adrian big hand on her mouth.
"Adrian, where is your manner? ", Rave said and then approached them.
"I've said to them I'm your wife but they don't believe me?... thank you, mister-"
"WHO WOULD?", Hans yelled back.
Oops…
"you're really… ignoring me? After these far I got? You… you will not leaving and abandon me again… will you, Hans?", she looked as innocent as she could and made a perfect play. She's such a good actress.
"SIERRA, stop it- please.", Hans thought, BUT apparently he was saying it out loud.
"ok,-", she started to sniff while the other knights who apparently desperately needed any kinds of entertainment now stared at the whole dramatic scene with mouth shut.
"-I'll- I'll tell Alberto that you're safe and sounds. I-"
"*clear throat* Excuse me, but we don't have much times here…. I say, you two finish your problems privately.", Rave cut off.
"See? Adrian… she's not lying… you're just being too paranoid.", Rave said more.
"Me? Being paranoid? Do you think it's normal a girl like that suddenly arrive at this land of war, safely?", now Adrian's sword was at Sierra's neck.
"Great heaven. This is getting ridiculous. I can't believe I'm a part of this.", Deus commented. Adrian lowered his sword and said, "better not lying this time."
"So, if you excuse us, sir good knights…", Hans said. "I'll uh- explain later."
Hm… really feel the urge to vomit…
Rave then grinned toward him while Deus remained expressionless.
"Adrian?", Rave demanded something from his friend. But Adrian ignored him."-now!"
"…about that thing Adrian, wait for Edmund wake up first I say…", Deus said lightly to Adrian, ignoring Rave. "anyway, it's already late… good night everybody….", he was about to leave the room when Adrian shouted again.
"SHE'S NOT EXISTED! why don't we try to think a more logical solution?"
BRAK! The shout was followed by loud thud of Adrian bragging the table furiously.
"Calm, down, Adrian.", Rave said. Hans could not absorb more what they said, somehow he felt dizzy.
Now all paired of eyes stick at Edmund Redrum who appeared by the door, looked pale. "Who is this?", Edmund, looked pale and difficult to move, entering the room. He looked at Sierra then briefly at Hans. Deus stood at his place and was about to say something but then chose to be silent. Hans didn't move a bit. "-You're awake! I know you're much more than that!", Rave hugged him brotherly, obviously looked relieved that Edmund was safe and survived the critical times. "you must have some kind of Goddess looking for you, you know that Ed….you should… take a rest, now!", Rave added in concern. "Why on earth do you leave your bed? how- "
"Who is this?" Ed asked instead and loosening Rave's embrace. Adrian then stood next to him. "ha ha ha… so our little Highland noble run off from his little marriage…..See? Ed? He's not that innocent…glad to see you're awake. ", Adrian said, as if clarifying that he's the only person who was taking Ed appearance lightly like Edmund Redrum should be survive like always. Hans looked at Ed briefly, who remained expressionless. Somehow, Hans realized the way Ed looked at him now was a bit different. Ed must have realized something.
Could it be…..? he remembered everything?...he then clutched his head as he felt dizzy and he blinked his eyes as he felt his sight became blurrier. Wait- what's this?
Ed did not say anything. He then reached a chair, avoiding gaze toward Hans, and shifted his hands on the table. He then said, "it's worth to try."
"wh-?"
"you're listening?", Deus stopped.
"not even a half but I got the picture already."
"you're not going to believe an old maids legend, Ed…", Adrian said, almost laughed. "this white maiden even sounds ridiculous just to say!"
"….. she does exist..." next, a low mumble came from an already confused Hans.
"no one asked your opinion, nosy Highlander …", Adrian said.
"how do you know? Why are you so sure?", Ed asked, put attention to Hans.
"…nope. I thought it was silver maiden something…" if she really had the true rune. - oops! What did I say… better careful next time… Hans avoided Ed's gaze now.
"Adrian.", Rave spoke.
"The Council… and the Bishop mentioned….", Edmund said unsure to himself, "myth…", so slowly that Adrian did not pay attention to it.
"ha ha … true rune does not exist! Now you talk about childhood story….. it's a mere legend.", Adrian said to Hans.
"Adrian-", Rave hesitated.
"I suppose.", now Hans smiled.
"Adrian?", Rave somewhat angry.
"no one possibly live for centuries!", Adrian responded to Hans instead.
"You bet it.", Hans answered, "C'mon, Sierra…", then looked at Edmund and nodded politely, "Glad to see you're much better, Sir Redrum. Hope- ugh-"
Vomites then sprayed right to Edmund's face.
BRUK!
Everything went dark for Hans as he felt his muscles stiffened then limp.
"you're too much, Adrian! -antidote!", Rave voice , followed by Sierra high pitch shriek was the last thing Hans heard.
[flash]
['take your dirty hands off that plate!', furious Adrian yelled.]
[flash]
I CAN'T BELIEVE ADRIAN'S FOOLED ME!
Black.