Ah, oh god... I'm back... after a year of college I'm back.
I must apologize for the monstrous delay.
It was a combination of writer's block, getting an Xbox 360 two Christmases ago and starting off in college.
But mostly procrastination.
Anyway, newest chapter, enjoy!
The next day the group boarded the ship for Albion. It would take until morning the following day to reach the floating land so they were free to wander the ship so long as they didn't get in the way of the crew.
"So how exactly do these ships fly?" Kiero asked Louise as they walked across the deck.
"They fill the ballast with wind stones, the magic stored in the stones is what allow the ship to raise into the air" explained Louise, "Don't they have anything like this where you come from?"
"Well ships have remained in the water, but we've found other ways to take to the skies. I am curious though, are these wind stones the same reason why Albion is a floating continent?"
Louise thought for a moment before replying.
"Yes I suppose."
"So do all the wind stones used for these ships come from Albion?"
"No."
"So wind stones aren't something unique to Albion… huh."
"Besides that, how's your head?"
Kiero stopped walking for a moment to place his hand against his head which was cover by a bandage.
"Wardes hit me pretty hard, though I am partly to blame by getting into such a heated duel" he tried to laugh it off. Looking back at Louise however he could still see a look of concern on her face.
"Don't worry, I'm fine" he assured her.
Truth being told he had been suffering from a relentless head ache since then and his sense of magic had been fading faster than before. He didn't know if it was because the magic of this world was different if not thicker or if it had something to do with interference from the familiar runes. Though, the strange voice that he could sometimes hear in the back of his mind was something new since coming here as well.
"Hey, Louise?" he asked.
"Yes?"
"You say that a familiar's job is to protect their master, is that right?"
She nodded slowly.
"If I couldn't protect you-"
"Quiet," Louise interrupted, "even if you were completely powerless I'd still want you around. You are a good person who's been nice to me despite my lack of magical skill. Sure sometimes you're a jerk, but that's usually when you're trying to help people. Like that time with Count Mott…"
Kiero smiled at Louise, causing her to blush slightly.
"You're right, sorry for bringing something like that up" he apologized.
Kiero looked out over the ship and out into the surrounding clouds. It wasn't everyday that you could be this high in the sky and still look casually at… everything. It was somewhat calming.
"What might you be looking at?" questioned Guiche.
"AH!" Kiero almost jumped out of his skin.
"Jeez, don't scare me like that!"
"Apologizes, Miss Louise saw me coming and I thought she had informed you of my approach."
"Don't go blaming me like that!" Louise piped up.
"Oh no, that's not what I meant at all…" Guiche tried to recover.
"What do you want?" Kiero questioned, not giving Guiche the opportunity.
"Huh… oh yes! I came to inform Louise that Viscount Wardes would like to have a word with you."
"Why couldn't he come get her himself?"
"It's fine" Louise said, "I'll go see the Viscount."
Louise turned and walked away before disappearing down the stairs below deck. She hadn't a lot of time to memorize the layout of the ship, but it was pretty easy to find her way. Despite being a cargo ship the captain had offered his personal quarters to Wardes and wouldn't take no for an answer.
Once she reached her destination she found Wardes waiting with a bottle of wine and a pair of glasses.
"Ah, my dear Louise, please come sit. I would like to speak with you" Wardes said when he noticed her entering, offering her a glass and motioning to the nearby sofa.
She took the glass once he had poured some wine and settled into the sofa, Wardes taking a seat next to her.
"My future wife," he began after taking a sip of wine, "all that awaits is the completion of our mission."
"Yes… well about that…" Louise mumbled.
Wardes set down his glass and placed his hands upon her shoulders, not hearing her.
"And where is Crown Prince Wales?" he questioned.
"Well… that's… her Highness asked me not to tell anyone until we reach Albion. I'm sorry" Louise apologized, turning away from Wardes.
"No no, it's okay!" he assured, "As that is also part of your mission."
"I'm sorry…" Louise continued to apologize.
"We still have some time until we arrive" Wardes said, standing up.
"Why don't you return to your friends and enjoy the rest of this trip, I have a feeling that things will not be as easy going once we make port."
Nodding slowly, Louise set her glass on the table before standing up and leaving the room.
As she left Wardes glance over to the bottle of wine left on the table and the still full glass that Louise had set down.
"What a waste" he murmured to himself.
"Ugh," Kiero groaned as they step off the ship and onto the dock, "Once you get over the initial excitement of a flying ship it sure is cramped."
"Well pardon us for not having your fancy panes" Louise scoffed.
"They're called planes, and actually they're more cramped than that ship. Although, they're much faster so claustrophobia doesn't set in."
"You seem to have many interesting things from where you're from" Wardes commented.
"Jealous much?" Kiero teased.
"No, I find your stories of things that can be accomplished without magic quite interesting."
Kiero paused for a moment to look Wardes in the face.
"Totally jealous" Kiero snickered.
"Why do I have to carry everything!" Guiche whined from the back of the group. His arms full of luggage and his knees almost buckling under the weight.
"You are the most useless in a fight," Louise explained, "that clearly makes you the pack animal."
"What about the Viscount's Griffin, and can't you help too, Louise? After all you can't even use magic, wouldn't that make you the most useless in a fight?"
"I am a lady" Louise declared, settling the argument.
"And I'm bored from being stuck on that boat for a whole day," Kiero declared, "Can we please find a place to drop of our luggage so we can go do something?"
"It is likely that we'll be finished here once we complete our goal, so I don't expect we'll be staying the night" Wardes explained.
"Wait; if we're just going to be leaving today can we just leave the stuff on the boat?" Kiero asked.
"Well… I suppose so" Wardes agreed.
Once their stuff was back on the ship they headed off. Following the directions given to Louise by the princess the group eventually neared New Castle, the last stand of the Royal army. However, a barricade of rebel forces blocked their path.
"If you don't mind me asking, how exactly are we supposed to get through that?" asked Kiero.
"New Castle isn't our destination," Louise explained, "There should be abandoned churches within a couple hours walk of here. That's where we'll find Prince Wales according to the Princess."
"And I suppose you three can't fly over the trees to search since that large group of ships will spot you."
"That would be correct" Wardes confirmed, "Though their attention should be focused on New Castle so a few minutes of flight shouldn't be detrimental to our cause."
With a nod of confirmation Guiche and Wardes took out their wands and cast a spell of flight before rising into the air, leaving Kiero and Louise on the ground. Louise watched them go, a slight look of disappointment on her face which Derflinger noticed.
"Upset that you can't cast a flying spell?" he asked.
"Oh, about time you woke up Derf" Kero said.
Louise gave out a small sigh.
"Yeah, a levitation spell is supposed to be a simple spell that any magician can cast yet I've failed to cast it even once."
"Well at least something happens, without those explosions you really would be a failure" Kiero said.
"Not helping!" Louise snapped back.
"I'm being serious, if you couldn't cast magic then those explosions shouldn't happen, plus you managed to summon me from the brink of death so there's that. I think it might have something to do with the way you're casting spells."
"Impossible, I'm casting spells the same way as everyone back at the academy and nobody there causes explosions."
"L…Lou…ise..."
That voice again
"L…Lou…ise…v…oi…id…...Wa…rd…es…"
Louise… void? Wait, that's right, according to the teachers at the academy void was lost but all the spells that are for the other magic Louise can't cast so maybe she really is void. But what's this about Wardes? Does he have something to do with void magic as well?
"Hey Louise, when you cast spells do you just have to recite the words?" Kiero asked.
"Not entirely, though they are a big part of shaping the spell" Louise explained, "As you cast a spell you focus on your element, a fire mage focuses on the element of fire, a wind mage focuses on the element of air. That's why a fire mage can't cast water magic without years of training."
"So it's possible that you've been focusing on the wrong element, right?"
"I've already thought of that, I've tried all four elements and the result is the same."
"Louise, think back to one of the first lessons you attended after summoning me, about the history of magic, more specifically the elements."
"What about it, yeah there's fire, earth, water, wind and…" Louise trailed off as she came to realize what Kiero was getting at.
"No no no, you can't be serious."
"I am."
"Wait, but void died out years ago."
"Then explain why no other element works for you."
"That's…" Louise was at a loss, what Kiero was suggesting was impossible yet… she wanted to hope so bad, it was true that she never cast magic with void in mind. Still there were no void spells that existed now so there would be no way to prove it.
"Oh, they're back" Kiero said.
Looking up, Louise saw that it was true, Guiche and Wardes were returning.
"There's a church about 30 minutes from here" stated Wardes.
"Great, let's get going" Kiero said.
As the group started off Kiero whispered to Louise
"Forget about our discussion right now, if people were to even suspect you were a void mage I have no doubt that some would try and gain control of you."
Louise silently nodded, a lot was going through her mind right now.
In a room lit by a single candle to avoid detection a man dressed in attire befit royalty sat with another man, one of the few who were still loyal to him. They were discussing the current situation involving the blockade around New Castle. There was no doubt that the rebel forces were planning to raid New Castle very soon, perhaps even the next day. The problem was that they were outside the blockade and needed to get through to New Castle before that happened. If they wanted this to be a battle worth remembering then the prince needed to be there.
"What do you suppose we do then?" asked the man who was standing.
"Hmm… I wasn't expecting the blockade to be this complete by the time we got back, they even covered the passage under the continent as well. We've been completely sealed out from all sides, the only way through would be to descend from directly above New Castle" the man sitting said.
"But, Sir! That would be suicide, the enemy ships would surely see us and blast us out of the skies."
"I know that, but the only other option is to attempt to run straight through the barricade. The Eagle may be fast but even she wouldn't survive the barrage. No, our only option is to fly over and dece-"
The man was interrupted by a sudden voice.
"Prince… Wales?"
"W-What?" the prince stuttered.
"Pardon, Sir?"
"No one can hear me except you, please keep our discussion a secret. I'll be able to explain later but there's no time now."
"U-Uh… it… was nothing" the prince told the man.
"Thank you, now listen carefully. Princess Henrietta has sent a group of travelers to Albion; they are approaching this place as we speak. They come to get a letter that she sent to you. They will be a group of four; among them are two people of interest. A girl named Louise, childhood friend of the princess and the young man who is her familiar, he carries a sentient sword from ancient times. They are the only ones you can trust as they are accompanied by a selfish man, he seeks the letter for his own reasons and is using his loyalty to the Princess as cover."
'So there are spies even amongst Tristain's army'
"Yes, it will hard not to trust him when you see him but you must not. Place a fake letter within the envelope, the real letter you must entrust to the young man with the sentient sword, he will have runes upon his left hand. I know this is asking a lot in terms of trust but you must do this, there are events that will occur in the near future that Tristain will not survive if this is not done. Please... I'm out of… time… the conection… is… br… eaking..."
'Hello? Hello!?'
"P… lease…"
The voice disappeared, and Prince Wales was left to decide his course of action.
The doors were old and covered with dust but they still swung open fluidly and without a sound, which made the abandoned church seem all the more sinister.
"Are you sure this is where the Prince is supposed to be?" Guiche asked as the group walking into the church.
"That's what the Princess said, but there's nobody here" Louise murmured nervously.
"No…" Wardes said, sensing the presence of multiple people ready for combat.
Suddenly, from around the numerous pillars and columns throughout the church, figures clad in iron armor appeared; each wielded a sword wand at the ready. They were completely outnumbered and surrounded, they figures even closed the door behind them, blocking off their escape.
One of the figures began approaching them. As they did so Wardes addressed him.
"I have here an Ambassador from Tristain, here on special orders, Ambassador la Vallière. We request an audience with the Crown Prince Wales."
The figure raised their sword wand to Wardes' throat.
"A messenger from Tristain, huh? You should have come up with a better lie. There is no one from that country who would know of this place."
"A wouldn't be too sure about that" Kiero said.
"Why would you say that?" the figure asked.
"Yes this place is hard to find from the ground, but a couple minute in the air and this place stuck out like a sore thumb. A white church in a green forest, if you didn't do a good job at making this place look abandoned I'm sure those ships would have descended upon this place a while ago" Kiero explain.
The figure turned his sword wand to Kiero, his gaze boring through him.
"Who are you?" the figure asked.
"Why should I tell you?"
The figure seemed to consider this for a moment before thrusting his sword wand, not at Kiero, but at Louise.
Louise gave out a shriek, closing her eyes expecting to be struck, but the blow never came.
When she opened her eyes she saw that Kiero had grabbed the figure by the hem of their chest armor with his left hand and had lifted them off their feet with unnatural strength.
The other figures began to rush forward.
"Hold!" the figure Kiero was holding called out.
Through the gap in the figure's helmet Kiero could see their eyes gaze at the runes on his hand.
"So you're the one it was talking about" he heard the figure whisper.
Kiero dropped the figure, which landed on their feet.
"What are you about?" Kiero asked.
"I must apologize to you young man, there was something I had to check before I trusted you" the figure said. The figure then reached up, taking off their helmet, revealing a face far more handsome than one would expect.
"I am the Crown Prince of Albion, Wales Tudor" the figure, the prince, said.
"Prince Wales!" Louise gasped.
"Please understand that our treatment of you was necessary for our protection, we in no way intended harm upon you or your friends Miss Vallière. Now, please tell me, what is it that you want with me?"
"Um, that's… could be please go somewhere more private" Louise said, glancing around at all the figures still clad in their iron armor.
"Certainly, Louise, if you and your familiar could please follow me" Wales said, leading Louise and Kiero into an adjacent room, leaving the others behind. Once the door was closed Wales took a seat and turned to Louise.
"What is of such importance that you dared come to Albion during such dire times?"
Louise reached into her pocket and pulled out a letter that the princess had give her, the Tristain royal seal upon it.
"This is a secret message from her highness, Princess Henrietta" Louise said, handing the sealed letter to Wales.
Wales opened the letter and began to read its contents, once he finished he let out a sigh.
"I understand" he said. Standing up, Wales walked over to a nearby dresser. Opening it he extracted a worn out looking letter. Walking back over to where Louise and Kiero stood he held the letter out to Louise.
"Now, take this."
Louise took the letter, but her face still held a look of concern.
"Crown Prince…" Louise began, looking up at Wales.
"Yes?" Wales asked.
"Didn't Henrietta… didn't Henrietta suggest for you to seek political asylum?"
At this Wales took up the letter and quickly tucked it into his coat.
"Ms. Vallière, wouldn't you consider learning the contents of this secret message stepping over your bounds?" Wales both asked and chastised.
"But-!" Louise began to argue.
"This is not just a battle between the royalty and the nobility" Wales explained, "The faction behind the Nobility's uprising seeks to overthrow all the Royal families of Halkeginia, not just Ablion."
"A secret group behind the uprising?" Kiero asked.
"Yes, they call themselves Reconquista."
"Reconquista?" Louise murmured.
"Yes, that is the name of the organization that is pulling the strings in this civil war. The Nobility is merely being played with on the tops of their hands. At last, I was able to identify them."
"That can't be…" Louise said.
Seeing the look on her face, Wales reached out with his hand and lifted her face to meet his comforting gaze.
"As the Prince of Ablion, I must protect this country. Even if it costs me my life. Please tell Henrietta that." Wales said, his expression cheerful despite the dark topic.
"Crown Prince…" Louise started, on the verge of tears.
"It pains me too, but this is my duty as Crown Prince. Now, please resume your duty and take the letter to Henrietta. I must resume planning how to return to New Castle before the Rebels attack."
Louise nodded, taking the letter and turning to leave. Kiero went to follow her when Wales called out.
"Actually, there's something I wish to discuss with you personally Mr. Familiar."
Kiero hesitated for a moment before waving to Louise to go ahead. Once she was gone Kiero turned back to Wales.
"Now, Mr. Fa… *sigh*, what might be your name?" Wales asked.
"My name is Kiero, what is it that you want with me?"
"Kiero… interesting, listen, normally I wouldn't be talking to you like this but the situation demands otherwise."
"Excuse me?"
Wales once more opened his dresser and pulled out another worn piece of paper, this one was not held within an envelope. He handed the letter to Kiero who took it with a questioning look.
"Just before your arrival a strange voice came to my head and told me of your coming" Wales explained.
"Wait… you heard a voice in your head?"
"That is what I said, yes. Do you know of it?"
"Yes, I thought I was the only one who could hear it.
"Strange. It told me that I should entrust the real letter to you, well the one with familiar runes on their left hand. I was surprised to learn that you were human, I've never heard of a human familiar before."
"I've heard that one numerous times, so why entrust the real letter to me instead of Louise."
"I was told that one of your group's members plans on betraying the Crown, supposedly using this letter."
"Wardes!"
"Yes, that is whom I came to suspect. The voice said that I would recognize the traitor; I was shocked when it was the Viscount. But seeing as how the voice was right about your arrival and the runes on your hand I have no choice but to suspect the Viscount."
"I thought something was off about him, from what the voice said to me he and Louise are somehow related to the lost element of the void."
"Really, what do Miss Vallière and the Viscount have to do with the Void?"
"Please don't share this with anyone, but I have strong reason to suspect that Louise is a Void mage. Seeing as how Wardes is a traitor I have a feeling that he is after that power, possibly even using his engagement with Louise as leverage."
"They're engaged?"
"Yes, according to Louise it is something their parents set up years ago. I have a feeling that Wardes could be playing off that and Louise feelings to get her power."
"If what you say about Miss Vallière being a Void mage is true that is all the more reason to prevent the possibility of her falling under the influence of others. But even if the Viscount is a traitor what would he want with a Void mage… no, it couldn't be!"
"What?"
"Listen, we need to get Miss Vallière away from the Viscount now. He's part of Reconquista!"
Kiero's eyes widened before the both of them bolted out of the door.
Louise was wandering through the courtyard of the church waiting for Wales to finish whatever business he had with Kiero. He mind was abuzz with thoughts of why Wales would voluntarily go to his death when the Princess so desperately wanted him to live.
'Why? He knows that he won't survive if he goes to New Castle, so why?'
'I don't get it,' she thought as she watched a number of Wales' men hurry about the courtyard, 'Why do they look so ready to throw their lives away, I'm sure each one of them has families they want to return to. Even if it is to stop Reconquista, why?'
So distracted was she by her own thoughts she didn't notice the shadow approaching her until it was too late.
"That is the letter in question, is it not?" she heard from behind her.
Spinning around she gasped when she saw who it was.
"Oh, Viscount Wardes…"
"Then this will conclude our mission" Wardes continued, approaching Louise and placing his hand on her shoulders.
"Louise," he said, "I was thinking of asking the Crown Prince Wales to be the matchmaker for our marriage."
"The Crown Prince…? Meaning you want to marry here?"
"The Crown Prince will probably gladly accept" Wardes explained.
"But…"
"Viscout Wardes!" a voice suddenly yelled out, interrupting what Louise was going to say.
Turning to look both Louise and Wardes saw Prince Wales and Kiero running toward them.
"Ah, Crown Prince Wales, there is a favor I'd like to ask of you" Wardes began.
"Can it Wardes!" Kiero shot at him.
"What is this about?" Wardes asked glancing at Kiero curiously.
Wales pulled out his sword wand and held it at Wardes.
"In the name of Ablion Royal family and on behalf of Princess Henrietta I place you under arrest for conspiracy against the crown and involvement with the rebel group known as Reconquista!"
At the name of Reconquista Wardes suddenly became a blur. Pulling out his own sword wand he ducked under Wales' own sword wand and thrust forward, his blade sinking into flesh.
"Prince Wales!" Louise screamed.
Wardes smiled before pulling his blade from Kiero's stomach, who had jumped in the way just as fast as Wardes had attacked.
"So you managed to figure it out that quickly huh? I guess I should have figured someone like you'd figure it out before that deadman prince and blockhead princess could" Wardes taunted.
Wales quickly grabbed Kiero, supporting his weight while trying to stem the flow of blood. Louise also ran over to them.
"Wardes, you bastard!" Wales yelled.
"Now then," Wardes said, pointing his sword wand at the three of them, "Unless you also want a hole in your gut I suggest you hand over the letter."
Through the pain Kiero looked at the letter in his hand, it looked like Wardes was talking to Louise so he didn't yet know that it was a fake. As he looked at the letter he noticed it had opened slightly in his grip and he could just read the first words that were written.
My love…
'So that's how it is…' Kiero thought, 'That damn princess lied to me, this isn't a military letter, it's a love letter… now I understand…'
'Looks like it's time for you to wake up Kiero'
"What are you waiting for, give me the letter now!" Wardes demanded.
"Just give it to him Miss Vallière" Wales said.
"But!"
"Enough Louise, can't you see that he'll kill us to get the letter anyway. Just give him the letter already."
After a moment Louise reluctantly pulled out the letter from her pocket and held it out to Wardes who quickly snatched it up.
"Now then, that takes care of two items on my agenda" Wardes said.
Seeing the confused looks on Wales' and Louise's faces he let out a laugh.
"Ah yes, I was sent with four objectives on this mission. First was the letter which I have now obtained, the second was to eliminate your familiar who exhibited strange powers when defeating Fouqet. The third was to obtain you Louise, but first I think it's time for the fourth objective" he said, turning a sadistic glare toward Wales.
Pulling back his sword wand he plunged it toward Wales' face.
"DIE YOU COWARD PRINCE!" Wardes yelled.
Before the blade pierced Wales' eye however, Kiero reached up and grabbed it, halting its movement.
"What!?" Wardes gasped.
Kiero raised his head causing Louise to gasp.
Glowing emerald eyes glared up at Wardes, no longer the dull green they had been just moment before.
"Heh… heheh…" sadistic laughter emanated from Kiero. Wales and Wardes looked on confused, but Louise was terrified. This had happened before, when he was struck by Fouqet's golem. Then he had gone on a complete rampage, almost killing Fouqet before beginning to turn on her as well, she could even feel the same pressure building on her mind.
"P-Partner?" Derf asked nervously from his sheath.
Before any of them could react, however, Kiero lunged at Wardes, hand going for his throat. Wardes couldn't dodge in time and barely managed to get his arm up. Kiero's hand clamped onto his arm with a vice-like grip.
"Hurting the girl and the prince is a BIG no-no" Kiero whispered to Wardes in a voice that sound all too happy.
His eyes struck a cord of terror deep within Wardes' mind that he didn't know he had.
"Bad boys need to be punished, after all, you poked a hole in my gut. That hurt you know."
Wardes tried to pull his arm out of Kiero's tightening grip.
"I know, I'll take your arm as compensation!" Kiero said as if a joyous idea had crossed his mind.
The grip on his arm continued to tighten.
"Stop you fool, stop it now! Please!" Wardes begged.
Kiero just widened his smile and continued to crush Wardes' arm.
Louise held onto Wales in fear, while Wales himself was frozen in shock at Kiero change in behavior.
Suddenly, for no apparent reason, Wardes' knee exploded in a gout of blood.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Wardes screamed, he would have colasped to the ground if Kiero hadn't still held onto his arm.
"Oops, I lied," Kiero laughed, "I took your leg instead."
When Wardes remained silent Kiero lifted him up so he could see his face. It looked as if Wardes had passed out from pain.
"Oh poo, he's broken already! Stupid toy, you bore me" said in a suddenly bored tone before tossing Wardes to the ground.
He then turned to Wales and Louise who both reflexively took a step back.
"Who are you? More people to play with…? hmm, no; I can't play with you, she won't let me."
"K-Kiero?" Louise hesitated to ask.
"Huh?" Kiero seemed to question, but it wasn't directed to Louise, no, it seemed to be directed to a voice only he could hear.
"I see… well you two, time to go!" he said, now referring to them.
Kiero reached out and grabbed Wales' and Louise's hand before they could pull away and began dragging them along.
"W-Wait, where are we going?" Wales asked.
"Doesn't matter, she said we need to go so we're going."
"Who's she? Who are you talking about?"
"God you're making things difficult, SHE is the voice you've been hearing in your head. Not be quite and let's go."
"Go where!?" Louise yelled.
Kiero stopped walking and sighed.
"We, are going home" he said before grabbing her and Wales' forheads, "Beginning Reality Shift."
The pressure on Louise mind suddenly increased tenfold, to the point to where she couldn't hear her own thoughts anymore. Her vision went white and it felt like every fiber of her body was being shredded. She tried to scream in pain but she couldn't hear her own scream, in fact she couldn't hear or feel anything anymore. Only her own consciousness remain and even that felt like it was being stripped. Everything was white, then black. Her mind felt like it was being twisted inside out. Stretching, she was being stretched. Then she snapped.
"There, I've put your mind back together."
'…'
"Do you remember who you are?"
'I… I can remember.'
"Good, I've only reassembled your mind so listen carefully; I didn't want to intervene as much as I have but now I have no choice. The one you know as Kiero is a lie, his mind that it. The Kiero you know is a false personality that the real Kiero created around two years before you summoned him to your world."
'What!?'
"I know it's hard to believe but you have to trust me. When… Emma died the pain was too great on his mind so he split his mind and soul into two, one remained in control of the body while the other was locked away in the depths of his mind."
'Why are you telling me this?'
"Because that seal is breaking and memories are flowing back into his mind. You've seen what happens; he loses his sanity and goes on a rampage."
'So that time when he was struck by Fouqet's golem?'
"Yes, and it would have happened again when Wardes struck him if I had not interveined. I switched the souls so that the real Kiero was in control… I'm out of time so listen, when you wake up look for someone call Nell Forester. She is the only one who can help Kiero."
'But why are you doing all of this for Kiero?'
"…It's because I love him…"
'You love him… does that mean you're…'
Louise's consciousness faded away before she could finish the thought.
When her consciousness returned to her she became of how much her body ached. She opened her eyes but she couldn't see anything. Slowly she sat up, realizing how hard the ground was. Lying next to her was Kiero who was still unconscious and Wales who was beginning to stir.
Looking around she thought they were in a ravine of some sort, but the sides of the ravine were to flat. Plus, strangely, certain parts of the walls were glowing in a repeating rectangle pattern. As she looked something caught her eye that made her blood run cold.
High above them was a single white moon.
Personally I thought I could have done better.
The first half of this chapter was written over a year ago and the second half was written now.
Hopefully it's not too obvious.
I hope people begin reading this story again.
Any reviews and suggestions would be helpful.
Sincerely,
Sir Blegh.