Cinders

Chapter Twelve - Harbinger of Destiny

"You're too slow, Felix!"

"Not fair, you know I can't run in this snow!"

"It's been four months! You should be used to it by now!"

"Not fair! You've been here your whole li- oof!" A nicely sized snowball smacked Felix clean in the face and sent him down into the snow.

"Hah! It's just Proxian superiority!" Karst shouted over to him in-between bursts of laughter. She ran back to where he was and stood over him proudly, sticking out her tongue and laughing until he tossed a handful of snow in her face and laughed back.

She proceeded to take all the snow she could fit in her arms and pile it on top of him, but he stuck out a leg and tripped her up. She tumbled over on top of him, holding her hand on his face and pushing him down into the snow.

"Ppfh- Get off, Karst!" He sputtered, and rolled over on top of her, taking another handful of snow and throwing it into her hair. Karst pushed him off of her and hopped to her feet laughing, and sprinted off towards the house.

"Sorry Felix, it's mine!"

"No way!" Felix rolled over in the snow and took chase. By the time he reached the door she was already inside, waving her prize in front of his nose.

"There's no way I was going to let a slow southerner have this."

She smiled at him and took a big bite out of the cookie. Menardi stood there as well, right beside her sister. She'd promised a rare cookie to whoever finished the long list of chores she'd given them first… Felix had done most of the work.

"It's alright Felix, maybe I'll share it with you." She said mockingly, although he was pretty sure she would do no such thing.

The Proxian girl had grown on him in the past few months. She'd started acting less and less strange after they had trained together for some time, which seemed only natural. She was still far from normal, though, at least by Valian standards. At least now, he could consider her a friend. Although she'd never used the word to describe him, yet..

"Satty! What are you doing here?" Karst squealed as the older man appeared from the stairway, seemingly out of nowhere since he had not been in the house when they had left.

"Nothing, just checking up on your dear sister." He replied playfully, earning him a rather sharp look from the woman in question.

"Ooh, Satty! It's so good to see you!"

Karst followed up her greeting with a rather overenthusiastic hug, nearly knocking the man off his feet. He gave Felix and Menardi a rather painful grimace, hiding his expression from the girl who was just about strangling him; Menardi couldn't help but burst out laughing and Felix scratched his head, confused.

Karst continued badgering away at Saturos about this and that, which made Felix wonder what exactly made the girl become so talkative all of the sudden. Normally, she wasn't so happy about anything. Menardi abandoned her partner to stand by Felix, allowing her sister to have her way with him.

"Have you been to see your parents lately, brat?" She said to him, trying to talk over a lot of background noise.

"No... Not for a while. I thought I was forbidden to go unless you or Saturos told me to."

"Oh, I suppose so. Well I don't think you'll be running off anywhere, will you."

"No... I'd rather not freeze to death, thanks."

Menardi smiled. "I would rather not have to come looking for you out there, either."

Felix nodded and started out the door. "Oh, and also..." Menardi added, "Bring my sister along, would you? ...Before she suffocates my partner. I don't think she's even met the rest of you southerners yet."

"It's just over the bridge, here." Felix said, leading the reluctant girl behind him.

"Okay, okay. Let's just go!" she said impatiently. They crossed the old bridge that led to the house on the hill just outside the village where Felix's parents stayed. It had been a long time since he'd seen them; only once was he allowed to visit since he had begun his training, and that was only for a few minutes. They didn't really have the same freedom that Felix did, and were almost always kept inside. They did have caretakers though, and were quite happy the last time he'd seen them. It was reassuring to know that the Proxians were indeed treating them as guests, rather than prisoners.

When he knocked at the door, Kyle answered. He seemed surprised to see Felix, and even more surprised that he'd brought a girl with him.

"Felix, come inside, it's cold out there. Who's this?"

"Menardi's sister, Karst." Felix answered. Karst didn't say a word.

"Come in, both of you. You're letting the heat out."

Kyle stepped aside and allowed them both to enter. The house was just the way he'd left it that night four months ago. His mother and father were seated inside, delighted to see their only son again after so long.

"Oh Felix, darling, it's so good to see you again!" his mother chimed, "Good to see you again, boy." his father added as well. The way their faces lit up made him so happy, and made him realize just how long it had been.

"Who's your friend, Felix?" his mother asked, standing up to greet her.

"Karst." She said.

"A pleasure." said Felix's father.

Felix's parents eyed each other for a moment and offered them seats, which Karst immediately declined. Felix decided to stand, too. He couldn't imagine she would be comfortable around all these strangers, and was having trouble figuring out why Menardi had sent her with him anyway... Unless she just wanted them out of the house.

Felix gave both of his parents a warm hug. He tried to savor it, since it would surely be a long time before he would be permitted to see them again. His parents were just as warm as ever, even in the freezing cold.

"I hope you're happy out there, son... They aren't pushing you too hard, right?" His father said; his mother nodded along with him.

"No, I'm doing okay. It's not so bad."

"And I'm glad you made a friend, too."

"Oh... Yeah, me too."

Karst didn't say anything. She just folded her arms and looked around the little house.

"I know you'll be just fine, Felix. You're strong." said his mother.

"That's right, son. Don't let the cold get to you."

"I wont."

He hugged them both again. He couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable his friend looked, out of the corner of his eye.

Karst was getting edgy, and if Felix was gone long he'd be punished, so they left soon after they arrived. It might have been a better reunion if he hadn't been forced to bring Karst along, but if she was caught anywhere else, both of them wouldn't have eaten for a week... Instead of immediately heading back to Menardi though, they decided to stop; or, Karst decided to.

She sat down in the snow, letting her legs hang over the ledge that looked over the frozen river that winded through the town. It was a beautiful sight. The water had probably been frozen for many, many years, and still ran through the town in the same way it did all those years ago.

Felix took a seat next to her. She was being silent, but he knew something was wrong. He just didn't know what to do when a girl felt wrong.

"Karst?"

"Hrm. What do you want?"

"Er, nothing... Did something happen?"

"No, nothing happened, I'm perfectly fine."

"I didn't ask you if anything happened. What's going on?"

She looked away from him and didn't speak. She was silent for about a minute, but it was the longest minute he'd had ever had in his whole life... With nothing to do but watch her breathing, and the look in her eyes that was growing dimmer and more painful as that single moment went on.

"...I... don't know why you thought it was a good idea to take me to your parents."

"It wasn't my idea, it was Menardi's."

"I mean, why would you even think something like that wouldn't be uncomfortable."

"I didn't think anything like that."

"You really should think things through. You can be really stupid sometimes, Felix."

"I told you, Menardi made me go!"

She was silent again, but this time she looked even worse. It was difficult just looking at her.

"...You're such a stupid bastard, you know that?"

"What? Karst, I didn't - "

"Just because you still have your parents doesn't mean you can just... Flaunt them in my face! Why would you even think I'd want to meet your worthless family? You're just a bunch of stupid Valians anyway!"

"Wh-what?"

"Don't play dumb! You know what I said. You know I don't have a mother, or a father... And yet you still choose to bring me along for your teary reunion? How do you think that makes me feel, Felix? My parents are both dead, or gone, or who knows what!"

"I'm sorry, Karst! I... forgot..."

"Oh, you just forgot! Okay, Felix. I forgive you."

She turned away from him, but didn't move from her spot. He wasn't sure if he should leave, or stay, but he couldn't lose her here. Not now. Not so soon. If she was the only friend he was ever going to have in Prox, he couldn't let her hate him all of the sudden. He couldn't afford to lose her, even if she did hate him.

"Karst... Please, I'm sorry! I don't understand..." He said to her back. He didn't want to get down and beg, but if that was what it would take...

"Hey, Felix..." She said calmly, her back still to him. "Do you think Saturos... Likes me?"

"What?" Felix blinked in disbelief. She was just furious at him a moment ago, and now she was talking about Saturos? "What are you talking about, Karst?"

"I think he likes my sister more than me. Do you think that's true?"

"Uh, I don't know, Karst... Are you still mad?"

"I really want him to like me... I really like him, you know?"

"Uh, I dunno..."

"You can't give anything a straight answer, can you, Felix?"

"I don't know! He never talks about you. Will you just tell me why you're acting so weird?"

"Oh, that's just grand! I'm just so sure he's having his way with my sister, as we speak!" Karst shouted at him and stood up, to face him. Felix followed suit and shouted back.

"Why do you even care! What's he ever done to make you like him?"

"Like I'd ever tell someone like you! Over my dead body."

"Why not? I thought we were friends, Karst..."

"Don't make me laugh. You're my training partner and nothing else; like I'd ever be friends with a southerner like you."

Karst turned her back. She didn't say another word, and stormed off ahead of him towards the house. Felix followed, determined to find some way to quell her anger... However it seemed like she was a puzzle he was never going to solve. He followed her the rest of the way home, silent as a stone, unable to find any words of a suitable apology, until she slammed her bedroom door right in his face.

"What the hell has gotten into her, hm?" Menardi said from behind him. She'd been waiting for them to return, and Saturos had probably left rather recently as well.

"I... Don't know."

Menardi took his arm and dragged him off to his room, pushing him in and leaning up against the doorframe.

"You'd best make up with her, I'm not holding off on your training because of your teenage gripes."

"Well I tried! She wont listen to me!"

Menardi sighed. "Maybe I wasn't right to send her off with you. She's always been sensitive about mum and dad."

"What exactly... happened to them?" Felix asked.

"It's a long story. Karst never really knew either of them, but it's not easy for her to talk about. Our mother... She die giving birth to her. I've never told her how mum died, because I know she'll just blame herself. And father... He left us a long time ago. I would prefer not to say."

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have asked." Felix hung his head. Despite how strong they seemed, Menardi and Karst must have had an extremely difficult childhood... Much harder than his had been.

"You have every right to. You're living in this house now, so you should know these things... You and Karst have getting along so well, Felix. Don't abandon her."

"I... Would never abandon a friend, no matter what."

"That's very noble of you. Don't abandon Karst, please. You're the only person she's ever called a friend."

"She's never called me that... And what about Agatio? Her partner."

"Are you really so blind, Felix? Of course she's your friend, don't be a fool. Agatio has never shown interest in her other than as a companion in battle; partners are not always more than simple acquaintances."

"But what about you and Saturos? Aren't you more than acquaintances?"

"Of course; we've been friends since our childhood."

"But are you... More than that?"

"Are you concerned about my love-life, Felix?" She laughed at him. "Don't be foolish, of course not. It is forbidden for partners to be lovers. It would interfere in our battles."

"Oh... No, it's not like that, I just..." Felix scratched his head. "I don't know."

"Good. I'd prefer you focus on your training, brat, and it's getting near that hour. You'd best rest up and hope my sister has cooled down by the time I have you start."

"Okay."

Menardi left him there with a few final words as she shut the door behind her.

"This is your home now, Felix. Don't forget that."

Hardly an hour passed by before another girl allowed herself into his room. Karst stood there silently for a moment, and it took some time for Felix to even notice her there, since she'd come in without so much as a sound.

"Karst..? Is it time to go already?"

She shook her head. He wondered why she'd come in so early and unannounced, if not to tell him to get up.

"I came to... Well, you know." She mumbled.

"What?" said Felix. He didn't have a clue what she meant, but was relieved to see she didn't look angry, still...

"I don't know. Forget about it."

She turned around to leave, shutting the door behind her. Of all the things he could have done, he decided to let her go. After all, everything he said to her only seemed to make her angrier. Truly the last thing he wanted was for her to hate him, and despite everything, the budding friendship that he'd finally had seemed to be unraveling far too quickly for him to take hold of it.

"It doesn't seem fair... If I'm allowed to have one friend, she should at least return my kindness."

"I wonder what makes her care for Saturos so much.. Or her sister.. She never acts this way with them."

"I wonder if she really does mean what she said about him.. And what makes him so much better than me?"

"Not that I could ever care for her in that way. Of course not, how absurd!"

Chapter 12, UP. The seeds have been planted, let's see how it grows. :D

A lot of dialogue in this one, I noticed. I guess it makes up for the last one?