Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Kyo Kara Maoh. This is purely fan-made.
Chapter 12
"Ok, now THAT was unexpected." Murata laughed nervously, rubbing where his skin was still raw from the vines almost strangling him and the others, "Is everyone alright?"
Yuri coughed and winced, "No. My chest hurts when I breath and my heart is still racing. What was all that about? Who do you think she-" but he was interrupted by another fit of coughing.
Concerned, Miko rushed over to Yuri and examined his cuts along with everyone elses. Then, being motherly, she said, "I think we should call it a day for now. You're all hurt and this cold isn't helping. At this rate, we're all going to catch a chill."
Shori agreed, "T-that sounds like a plan." he said through chattering teeth. Though, for the most part, they were chattering from fear rather then cold.
Shori seriously thought they were all going to die. And he scolded himself for not trying to use magic to save them. But he had panicked. And they had all been caught off guard.
Still, whatever it was that was in there besides this ancient book or whatever had to be valuable. Especially if such a violent booby trap had been left behind to guard it. One that was still very active even after all these years.
However.
What was more worrisome is what that woman just told them. About Lorelei and Yuri being similar in power. Though as Shori understood it, her power was Esoteric and not of the Demon Tribe. Yet from what they had just been told, even demonic elements would obey her. That's when Shori knew, he HAD to meet this Lorelei girl in person. He had to know if she was really that powerful...
And that dangerous...
Finally, Lorelei got fed up with waiting and began heading in the direction she had come in. Because she actually had a pretty sharp sense of direction, Lorelei was able to stay pretty much on course and could recognize most of the landscape.
It was late afternoon when Lorelei sensed something nearby and hid behind a tree. She could hear horses coming towards her. But something in her gut warned Lorelei not to show herself to them. That they were not who she thought they were.
With that in mind, Lorelei climbed up a tree to get a better look and saw a small band of men on horseback. There were about five or six of them in total. And their clothing seemed more middle class so Lorelei doubted that they were just an unorganized group of bandits. They looked more professional and sat straight in their saddles, scanning the area around them for something. Or...someone.
Lorelei sat unnaturally still as they rode under her perch. They hadn't spotted her, and Lorelei wanted to see if she could figure out what they were after. Lorelei already knew that she couldn't fight them, not without some sort of weapon or how to use that so called 'power' that she had used to save Sara. Therefore, Lorelei sat on a branch high above them and waited. Planning to elude them by sneaking past them once they were far enough away.
It was just after all of them had passed under the tree where she was hiding when one of them stopped and muttered something to the rider on the gray horse who seemed to be their leader. Lorelei strained to hear what they said but they were too far down.
Afterwords, the men suddenly looked up into the tree and saw Lorelei, snatching their bows, and sending a volley of arrows hissing into the canopy. Startled, Lorelei dodged them and lept down from the tree with a slight roll to absorb the shock. Then she bound into the forest again without looking back.
"It's her!" one man cried, "After her men! Don't let the girl escape!" and they reigned their horses and chased Lorelei.
Lorelei quickly dove into the thickest portion of trees to her right, in order to try and force the men to dismount. That way, she'd have a better chance of outrunning them. However, the underbrush hindered Lorelei's progress as well. It clawed at her every step of the way. As if trying to pull Lorelei in.
A long branch snapped across Lorelei's cheek and left a long gash under her left eye, bathing her cheek in hot blood that ran down her neck. Her stockings had also been torn and Lorelei's legs were covered in scratches; but she ignored her discomfort and kept running. Her pursuers were still hot on Lorelei's heels.
The forest steadily became wilder the further in she went. And this whispers became more ancient and unclear. Almost savage even. So much so in fact that Lorelei had to shut them out because they were distracting her. The aura of the forest became most hostile and Lorelei was unsure if it was safe to even go on. But Lorelei reasoned that it was more dangerous to stay and get captured.
She finally made it to a clearing when her pursuers cleared the trees as well and closed in around her. Sneering, "There's nowhere else for you to run little girl."
Lorelei scowled at them and snapped, "Who said I was running?" a wild grin spread on her face and her entire posture changed. Her skin began to shimmer and Lorelei's power resounded with the plant life around her, and she said, "I have you right where I want you."
The men exchanged a brief look before they laughed.
"Trying to play brave? How cute." one man grinned impishly, "That won't save you though. We have you surrounded."
Lorelei smiled knowingly and said, "No. it is YOU who is surrounded. Look around you," she gestured in a wide arch around her, "What do you see?"
"Just a bunch of trees." they answered simply, closing in closer to her.
"Exactly." Lorelei stated with a feral smile.
The trees around them groaned and swayed inward, as if towering over their group. Then, Lorelei's aura flared and the tree roots tore themselves from the earth and rushed at the horses, knocking them off their feet. She allowed the horses to flee but lashed out at the men in full force.
The men slashed at the roots but they just kept coming. Snapping like whip at their hands and legs. And it seemed that Lorelei was going to easily defeat them. But then, their reinforcements came and managed to hold the raging trees at bay and advance on Lorelei.
Therefore, knowing that things were taking a nasty turn, Lorelei lept into the air and jumped from tree to tree with ease. Allowing the forest to settle back into place once she was far enough away.
The men who had lost their own horses mounted behind their companions and renewed their chase of Lorelei. Showing no signs of giving up or slowing down.
The further she went, the more Lorelei's strength began to wane the longer she used her power. Since she was still unused to it and this particular forest was harder to control and sever her link from. It clawed at her mind as if it hungered for Lorelei's power, her very soul.
Their presence, the forest's consciousness, was like that of a wild animal. And it was like Lorelei's power was like water to them, a light in their world of darkness. They craved it. They craved her...wanted her. In that regard, these men were no different then the forest. They both wanted Lorelei for something. Something that she didn't understand.
It wasn't long before Lorelei's aura vanished completely and she was forced to land on the ground before she crashed forward to meet it. Thankfully, she had managed to put quite a lot of distance between herself and those men despite the fact that they had horses. And Lorelei kept on running on foot until she physically couldn't run anymore.
Her knees buckled and Lorelei crashed to her side; her chest heaving and Lorelei's lungs burned as she was trying to catch her breath. Once she caught most of it, Lorelei forced herself back up again and kept going. Following her instincts that told Lorelei that she would be safe if she just kept running in this direction.
Unknowingly returning to where Sara and the other two were...
Both Sara and Levant had escaped the notice of the second group of men thanks to the fact that Berias spotted them in time and they hid just as Lorelei had. Then, while Berias watched them, he protectively positioning himself in front of Sara with Levant by his side, swords ready. That's about when they overheard some of their enemies conversation...
"So this Lorelei girl, she's the one from that prophecy right? The one the boss told us about?" one man asked, pausing to test his bow again in a nearby tree out of boredom.
"That's what he said. Though I've never been a religious man myself, this prophecy seems pretty legit. Several of the so called 'Signs' have already come to pass...and she's the key to the final sign. The one the boss is waiting for." another replied, plucking the arrow from the trunk and handing it back to him, warning, "Don't waste your arrows. You never know how many we'll need in case Small Shimaron's army shows up to stop us from taking the girl."
"I just wish the boss would tell us more about this brat. He's always so secretive and I never know what he's really after. Makes me wonder why we even work for the guy..." the first guy said, tucking the arrow back into his quiver. "Not that I mind. He pays us well enough. Though I wonder if the money is worth-"
Their eyes snapped up to a pillar of light and the sound of moaning wood as the trees began to shimmer with a pale green light. Leaning in the direction of the light less then a few leagues away. Once that happened, they abandoned the rest of their conversation and rode off in the direction. Heading towards the light.
Once they were gone, Sara, Berias, and Levant left their hiding place and stared after the horsemen. "Lorelei must be in trouble." Levant whispered in alarm, "The forest is reacting to her power being activated. But if this goes on then-" he gritted his teeth, "Lorelei will..."
Sara frowned and clasped Levant's shoulder roughly, "I've had enough of the secrecy, Levant. Tell me, that power, it is of the Shinzoku isn't? Don't lie. We can tell that this power is similar."
Levant frowned and admitted, "I figured that we wouldn't be able to hide it from you for long. Which is yet another reason we wanted to get Lorelei away from Small Shimaron before you figured it out. But, there's more to it then that. There are things about her that even WE don't understand. So fine, I'll admit it, she does have Shinzoku blood. Just like you and Berias. However, its from a very old line, even in regards to your people." he faced Sara, his eyes glittering dangerously as Levant said, "I didn't want it to come to this but I swear, if you EVER try to abuse Lorelei in any way for any reason, I'll tell the world the truth about you. That you are of Shinzoku decent."
Sara glared right back and stated, "If you do that, I'll do the same with Lorelei. You just confirmed my suspicions about her, Levant. So really, if you betray my secret, I'll betray hers as well. Which is far more dangerous due to the fact that she's descended from the Weller family."
Levant growled and whispered under his breath, "You know nothing."
That's when Berias finally got fed up with Levant's behavior and drew his swords, pointing one at Levant, "Do not threaten King Saralegui again. Should you do so again, you will meet my blade."
"It doesn't matter what happens to me now." Levant stated, "I can be easily replaced. But Lorelei...there will never be another person like her. Never. Still," he glanced down at the ground, "I hate knowing what role you are to play in this, King Saralegui. That's why I can't help but reject you. Because of all the people that could have been chosen, it shouldn't have been YOU." he snapped, "You don't deserve that honor. Not when you're-"
"'Chosen'?" Sara repeated, walking around Berias, asking pointedly, "Chosen for what?" his eyes narrowed and subtly, Sara's eyes turned blue. This would be his only chance to get answers from Levant, so Sara took advantage of it.
Levant flinched as he felt the tendril of suggestion slip into his consciousness. He fought against it, but due to his unruly emotions, Levant's concentration slipped. And he slid to the ground, dazed.
Sara dove in further and Berias lowered his weapons. Watching as Sara went to work trying to wrench the truth from Levant's mind.
All Sara had to do was encourage the thought that he could trust Sara with everything he knew. Despite Levant's instincts telling him not to. Levant blinked as if trying to clear his mind and looked away, but Sara grabbed Levant's face and forced him to look again.
However, when Sara finally breached Levant's thoughts, a sharp intense memory overpowered Sara and grabbed him like a vice. Making him grimace like a pained gargoyle. The brief memory held Sara in place and he saw a glimpse of Levant's past...
Sara saw a small child living off wild berries and nuts living with his older brother in the woods. In this early memory, Levant clung to his older brother as a pack of Light Wolfs circled them. Their empty eyes glittering dangerously in the moonlight.
The older brother picked up a stick and swung at the wolves desperately. Trying to protect his little brother Levant. But the wolves overpowered the child and rent his back open as he blocked an attack on his little brother, who screamed in horror and shook his brother, telling him desperately to get up.
Just when Levant thought they were both going to die, a man appeared and slew the wolves in several powerful strokes of his sword.
The man then came over to the pair and examined Levant's brother before he shook his head sadly, turning him over. The older brother was already dead...
So the cloaked man leaned his head down on Levant's brothers face and muttered something in an ancient language before he closed his lifeless eyes. Turning the rest of his attention to the younger one, Levant.
"There's nothing left for you here now." the man stated right away, "It's time that you embrace the destiny that has been laid for you." he stood and offered his hand to Levant, saying, "Come with me, and I will give you purpose."
Levant snapped out of it and shoved Sara away, his expression twisted in sorrow and pain, and he said, "His Lordship warned me about your power. I've always been prepared for you to try and use it on me. But, I never expected the memory that would stop you would be THAT one." he stood up and leaned against a tree, the same one that other man had shot and said, "My destiny, my sole purpose in life is to serve and protect Lorelei. And I am willing to do anything to make that happen. Even deny the prophecy that I was told about Lorelei's existence. However, if I am not strong enough to save her, maybe you are. As much as I hate you for it." his eyes bore into Sara's, "I understand that now."
Sara collected himself and smiled, "It seems that I underestimated you Levant. I won't make that mistake again." he also stood back up and glanced in the direction of that light again, "For now, I will leave it at that. Because Lorelei needs us."
Reluctantly, Levant agreed, "Indeed."
After that, the three of them remounted their horses and rode towards the light to find Lorelei. Riding in an awkward silence.
Because Levant had made a drastic mistake in telling Sara part of the truth before the time was right. Which only led to deepening Sara's interest in Lorelei. Although, Sara too, had made his own share of mistakes.
But one thing still hadn't changed.
They both genuinely wanted to protect Lorelei. So for now, that kept them focused on the task at hand rather then how much they disliked each other. Because Sara had no intention of losing Lorelei to Levant. Not now. Not when there was so much more he still wanted to know about her.
