William: Hello there! Since the disclaimer guy is no longer around (thanks to me)...I'm going to-
Disclaimer: I do not own Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles...though that would be awesome.
William (surprised): What the hell! I Killed you!!
Captain (shrugs): So you did, but he's back now.
William: That's impossible! I stabbed him through the throat and watched him choke on his own blood! I even shot him all over the place (especially "there")!! He is definitely dead!
Captain (calmly): Indeed, and we all know that the dead cannot be brought back to life...
William: That's the whole effing problem! How in Hell's icy cold name can he possibly be back!
Captain: Simple; he's new.
William (stunned): What?
Captain: He's new on the job. He holds the same name, title, duty, position, age, gender, physical build, social security number (almost the same number), tax returns (almost the same amount), and intelligence (close to it anyway) as the last one, but is a different person all together.
William (scratches head): Well damn!
Captain: Live and learn sir. Barring this incident, on with the show.
William: F***!! Okay fine. And oh! The author apologizes for the late update, couldn't find a stable internet connection anywhere.
Chapter 12: The Legend of Black Mist.
Clive sat and put his hands together. Opposite of him, Syaoran and company stood waiting for Clive to begin.
"Many thousands of years ago," Clive began gazing at them, "the citizens of Mist country believed and worshiped Cielcia, the goddess of nature and harmony. In those times, humans lived in harmony with their surroundings; only taking what they need and being sure to return what they've taken. In return for this, the goddess maintained a peaceful and bountiful world for them to live in."
"People taking only what they need and being sure to return it," Kurogane echoed, "sounds to good to be true."
"Those were the days," Clive replied with a nod and a slight smile, "for centuries, humankind coexisted with the world around them in harmony. As long as they did nothing to break the delicate harmony, Cielcia would not harm them."
"Why were humans the only creatures given the warning about the harmony?" Kurogane asked.
"Because, humans are the only creatures capable of completely destroying this harmony."
There was a moment of silence. Then Syaoran asked "What harmony are we talking about here?"
"The harmony," Clive replied with a slight wave of his hand, "is the one that exists between all living creatures and the world they live in. It's a bit of a delicate harmony."
"How exactly was this harmony maintained?" Fai asked.
"Rather simple really," Clive replied, "the harmony will be maintained by the peaceful coexistence of living thing within this world."
Then Clive sighed, "But if you consider the fact that humans can't even coexist with each other..."
Then his face appeared sad, "Over time, humans began to forget about the Cielcia. As they years passed she slowly became regarded as nothing more than myth..."
Clive stood up and leaned on the window, "As humans began to forget, they began to ignore and eventually mistreat the other creatures that inhabited this world alongside them. Soon they began to abuse the world itself."
Kurogane didn't look surprised, "A common tale."
"You've seen this happen in other places?" Clive asked, turning to face them.
"You really don't have to see it happen," Kurogane replied, "it's typical human nature to do these kinds of things."
Clive giggled, "Yeah I know. As the story goes, the last of Cielcia's followers disappeared about a thousand years ago; effectively ending the religion. Around two hundred years ago, the capital was moved from Tyrl, the former center of worship for the goddess, to Cariole a new city built to celebrate the beginning of a new age. Then around thirty years ago, an age of machines powered by fire and steam began for this nation. An age of control for humanity."
"Control?" Syaoran echoed, "you mean that people learned how to control their surroundings?"
"Precisely," Clive replied, "that power made people think and believe that the world belonged only to them. And that they, as the world's 'owners', had the right to do anything they want to it. For eight years they did as they wished, they stole from and destroyed the very world they lived in..."
"For eight years huh," Kurogane said, "afterwards..."
"They received punishment for their actions," Fai finished.
Clive nodded, "Indeed. That came in the form of what you see today."
"The mist?" Fai asked.
"Why do you think its called The Legend of Black Mist?" Clive asked.
Syaoran moved towards and leaned out one of the windows, "So this mist is the cause of everything."
"The retribution the goddess promised."
Clive looked back out towards the window, "What I've just told you is a summary of this country's history."
"The legend," Clive continued, "is in the form of a poem passed down from generation to generation..."
"So Clive heard about it from his parents?" Mokona asked.
"No," Clive replied, "the thing about it being passed down was true only in the past. Ever since the faith died, the legend was written only in books and the like; which was how I came across it."
"So with the death of the religion," Kurogane confirmed, "everything associated with it was regarded as legend?"
"Correct, but right now the old legend is haunting the country."
"What exactly is stated in this legend?" Syaoran asked, "Because so far all you've told us is this country's history."
"Well true," Clive replied, "so here we go then."
After moving to a more comfortable position, he began, "I'm not going to bother telling the poem, since that kind of literature is harder to understand."
After getting a nod of agreement from them, he continued, "The legend spawns out off the country's old belief in Cielcia. According to the legend, Cielcia would protect the land and its inhabitants as long as they all maintained the peaceful harmony. As long as the harmony persisted, Cielcia would gift the inhabitants with a world that will give all that they need."
"Mutual coexistence," Kurogane said, "doesn't sound like a bad deal."
"It wasn't," Clive told them, "but that isn't the part about the mist. The latter part of the legend describes the goddess' rage should the harmony ever be shattered."
"And that is where the mist comes in?" Fai asked.
Clive nodded, "Yes, the mist that the legend described was to be accompanied by a plague that would rob the land of its fertility while killing those who inhabited it. The mist would be stained black due to the plague it carried and was thus called Black Mist. The legend says that the mist shall not lift until either the sinners repent or are wiped out," then Clive clapped his hands together, "That my friends, is the totality of the legend. A thousand years ago people began to dismiss it as a mere fable, two decades ago the 'fable' came and haunted this country."
"So..." Kurogane said, "everything that transpired from two decades ago up to now went as the legend said it would?"
"No," Clive said flatly, "If everything went as the legend said, there would be no one left to talk to."
"...What?!" Kurogane asked.
"But you said that the discarded legend proved to be real," Mokona pointed out.
"So I did," Clive responded, "it did come to reality. But not exactly as written."
"Explain," Syaoran commanded.
"Yeah explain! Mokona wants to understand!"
"Gladly," Clive complied with a smile, "what I meant by that was there are clear differences between the mist of the legend and," he motioned towards the streets below, "the mist that you see today."
"How different?" Syaoran asked.
"Quite a few," Clive replied, "first and foremost is the mist itself. According to the legend, it was to be accompanied by a plague that would rob the land of its fertility and kill the people living here. Do you think that a severe famine combined with a plague that mercilessly kills the inhabitants would have not drove us to extinction after twenty two years?"
"You do have point," Fai said, "so the plague never came?"
"It did," Clive said, "but it didn't affect as many people as the legend spoke. And as for the curse that would rob the land of its fertility, it was not as severe as the legend said it would be."
"So what you're saying," Kurogane inferred, "is that the legend was false?"
"Again no," Clive replied. Then explained, "What is happening today is, in some cases, worse than what the legend said."
He began gesturing at various things as he talked, "For one thing, the legend never spoke of how the once kind and innocent creatures of this land would become monsters. The mist also began to destroy many of the country's machines and almost any kind of technology. The plague, though it didn't hit as many people as feared, it nonetheless drowned its victims in severely prolonged pain and suffering."
"Also," he gestured to the sky, "the legend never spoke of the darkness of eternal night that has come to this land."
While Clive was looking to the sky, Kurogane said, "So the legend isn't completely false..."
"But it isn't completely true either..." Fai finished.
Mokona was spinning around, "That is so confusing..."
"Very," Clive relied, "but that's how things are around here. Pretty strange, I know. But I for one am hoping that we might still be able to repent."
"Don't want to face extinction?" Kurogane asked.
"What sane person would?" Clive asked with a smile.
"Wait," Syaoran said, "you said the mist arrived twenty two years ago, but people abandoned the faith a thousand years ago and began to destroy the harmony soon after right?"
"You listen well," Clive commented.
"But if so," Syaoran continued, "why did the curse arrive only that recently?"
"The truth is," Clive replied with a sigh, "nobody knows. One of the many strange things about this; if the legend was true from the beginning then the curse should have come far sooner that it did."
"Does the legend say anyway of lifting the curse?" Fai asked.
Clive shrugged, "Far as I know the only one who could have know were the bishops of the religion."
"Maybe there's a clue in the legend," Syaoran suggested then he turned to Clive, "Could we see the book where the legend is written?"
"Sure," Clive said heading for the stairs, "I keep a copy of it at home."
Syaoran nodded, "Thanks," then he, with Mokona on his head, walked down the stairs. Clive followed with Kurogane and Fai behind him.
While walking down, Kurogane suddenly said, "Just out of curiosity Clive."
"What is it?" Clive asked, still walking down the stairs.
"Just why are you telling us all of this?"
Clive paused for a moment and looked back at them. Kurogane was looking at him intently while Fai was simply smiling.
Then the latter added, "It's rather strange that you're telling us all of this you know."
Clive sighed, "Do you think I have dishonest intentions?"
"No," Fai replied, "I just get the feeling that you're telling us all of this..."
"Because you want us to lift this curse," Kurogane finished.
Clive looked at the floor, "I know it may be a bit too much to ask, but yes, I am hoping that you could."
"What makes you think we can?" Kurogane asked gruffly.
Clive transferred his gaze to them and said, "You people say you are writers but from your combat skills, I can confidently say you aren't simple writers."
The duo stayed silent so Clive continued, "I'm guessing that you people do a lot more things than you say you do. I don't intend to go poking around at what else you do, but I would like to make that one request."
Kurogane was silent for a moment then said, "We'll see if we can..."
Clive looked puzzled as Kurogane walked past.
Fai patted him on the shoulder, "Right now we can't promise that we can help you lift the curse..."
Clive looked disheartened, "Is that so..."
"But don't worry," Fai continued, "I get the feeling that the only way to achieve our goals is to solve this mystery about the legend."
"I thank you," Clive said. Then they continued their down the stairs.
About 3 and a half kilometers west of Tyrl, Claire and her company moved slowly through the forest.
Claire rode in front and kept her eyes open, she heard someone ridding towards her. She slowed down and looked behind her, John was ridding up to her.
"Something I can help you with John?" she called out.
"I would prefer it if you addressed me as Lancer ma'am," John replied as he pulled on the reins.
Claire sighed and rolled her eyes, "Why would I call you by your occupation if you have a name?"
"For I believe it to be more formal to be addressed in that manner," John replied, "barring that ma'am, I am here to inform you that our scouts have found the remains of several men in a gully near the road to Tyrl. They appear to be the remains of the missing guards from you encounter with the bear yesterday."
Claire sighed sadly, "I had hoped they were still alive. But it appears those hopes were for naught."
"Do not blame yourself ma'am," John assured her, "you did what you could."
"Thank you John," Claire replied with a smile, then she looked to the distance.
"Ma'am," John said, apparently cringing from the sound of his own name, "as I have said before I would be most grateful if you do not address me as John."
Claire laughed, "John, you say the funniest things."
She stopped her horse and looked back into the distance; there the old castle keep was a barely visible outline just behind the trees. Some distance to the left, the outline of several buildings could be seen. Some were short and stood alone, while others were thin and tall. She stood here for a moment just gazing at the shadow of what had brought this mist upon their lands. She closed her eyes and listened hard. She knew it would start sooner or later. Then, at last, she heard it once more.
Music.
A tune that she had heard time and again ever since she first traveled this road. She opened her eyes and gazed back to the keep where she suspected the sound to come from.
"Commander?" John asked after noticing that she had been looking at the keep for a while, "Is something the matter?"
"Don't you hear it?" Claire asked still looking at the keep, "That sad and eerie tune. Every time we pass here I can hear it."
John looked towards the castle and nodded, "Indeed I do ma'am. Many people who have passed this road have also heard that eerie tune. Some have been lured to death seeking the source of it."
Claire smirked, "Yes I know of that. But still you cannot deny..."
She closed her eyes and smiled as she swung her head from side to side, "That it is a beautiful tune..."
John was silent.
After a while, Claire opened her eyes, turned her horse and began to ride forward.
"Well, as nice as it may be we don't have time for it," she called back, "please ensure that none of our charges wander off in search of the source."
"Yes ma'am," John replied, he turned his horse around but stayed for a moment and looked back to the old keep.
"A sad and eerie tune that plays near a rotting, haunted, dangerous, and near impossible to enter castle," he muttered, "isn't that a bit to obvious even for you?"
John shook his head and rode back to their charges, "I have no right to question you anyway..."
He rode off as the tune, unable to lure new victims, grew silent once again.
The Legend of Black Mist.
-
Since time immemorial, lives have dwelled
In this land of peace and harmony
Under goddess' light they lived
In lives of bliss, eternally
-
By goddess' word they lived
In harmony with the land
Not taking more than needed
And returning what was taken
-
As her word they headed
She gifted the land
Bountiful and pure
The goddess' gift everlasting
-
The gift of peace eternal
In land of elegant beauty
So long as they maintained
The eternal harmony
-
The harmony of those who dwell
In this land of goddess' light
Blessed as it may be
It is embraced in fragility
-
Mere acts of one
Even in slightest
Can break the eternal harmony
-
By goddess' word peace dwells the land
By goddess' word harmony reigns
But if harmony's tune should be broken
Her fearsome wrath shall encompass all
-
With harmony broken her wrath begins
A mist dark with plague shall cover all
With the curse that shall rot the land
Leaving fields dead and barren
-
The plague of darkness that came with mist
Shall spare none who stand
Those who've broken harmony's tune
Shall find mercy, naught but a blissful dream
-
Lives life of peace in this land
Disturb not its gentle harmony
Or face Cielcia's vengeful wrath
On the second floor of the local inn with light barely streaming through the parted curtains.
A young girl, clad in robes of white and red, rose and sat on her bed.
She looked around the unfamiliar room.
"Where-" she asked in a solemn voice, "where am I?"
William: He sucks.
Captain: Who?
William: The author.
Captain: At what?
William: Poems.
Captain: So do you.
William: Oh, go find a girl.
Captain: Why don't go make female soldiers? That would be an interesting change.
William: I don't pay you to complain about the army's gender demography.
Captain: You don't pay us at all.
William: Exactly.
Captain: ...Let us finish this elsewhere sir.
William: Fine with me. See ya humans!!
Captain: Look who's talking...
