Destroy and Rebuild
Chapter Fourteen: Freya
Disclaimer: I don't own Radiata Stories or any of the characters in the game; they are the property of the brilliant minds at Square Enix.
Authors Note(s): Words in '…' indicate a thought. Words in "…" indicate spoken words. The first thing to note is that this story is a sequel. The characterization and storyline contained here are based on the characters and events that occur in my first story, Sever All Ties. Everything that happens in this story will make a lot more sense if you have read that one, so I recommend reading the first story before reading the sequel. With that in mind, the story picks up where Sever All Ties left off, and tells what happens after Aphelion is defeated and Jack and Ridley return to Radiata. I hope you enjoy.
Jack woke up in an unfamiliar bed, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. The bed was the most comfortable he had ever slept in; it was the perfect combination of soft and firm. There were pillows all around him, and the clean, white sheets were silky. The massive four post bed made Jack think of the places he had slept since leaving home: a cramped wooden bunk in the Radiata Castle trainee's room, a small, lumpy mattress in the house Theater Vancoor had provided, and a rock hard pallet in Fort Helencia. To suddenly find himself in a gigantic, comfortable bed was somewhat of a shock. Sitting up, he stretched his arms before putting his feet on the floor. Though he still felt tired, Jack walked over to a small wooden end table where he saw a pitcher of water and a glass. Drinking the cold water, he surveyed a fairly large bedroom with clean, white walls. A few paintings were hung, and there were also candle fixtures. The fireplace on the far wall looked as if it had been lit the night before, but allowed to die. The thick carpet was soft under his bare feet, and he walked over to the tall window. When he got closer, Jack saw that the window was actually a tall door that opened onto a balcony. Jack opened the curtains wide to let the sunlight in and look out. He was ready to open the door and step onto the balcony, but thought better of it because he was only wearing his undershorts and undershirt. Instead, he craned his neck to look out the tall window.
"So this is the Red Town," he said to himself, looking out from the second story at a series of beautiful, extravagant houses and well-kept grounds.
He returned the glass to the table and looked around the room. When he saw a tall, wooden wardrobe in the corner, he walked over and opened it. His Alefstrain armor was inside, and looked as if it had been cleaned overnight. After putting on his armor, Jack opened the door of the room and stepped into the hallway. Unsure of which way to go, he looked left and right, and decided to go right. The sound of his boots on the hardwood floor echoed down the hall, and he looked at all of the artwork on the walls as he walked. The clock on the wall indicated that he had slept past midday, which made the fact that he was still tired even more odd. Walking down the regal, curving staircase, he saw a member of the house staff walking toward him. Middle-aged, and rather short, she wore a simple black dress with a red lion embroidered on the chest. She smiled when she saw him and spoke warmly.
"Ah, Master Jack, I was just coming to fetch you," she said. "Lady Freya and Miss Adele are eating lunch in the family dining room. Please follow me."
"Oh...uh, thank you," Jack followed her all the way down the stairs, through a sitting room, and into the dining room.
The wooden floor and walls had been polished so that they shone, and the room had a pleasant feel to it. His sister and Freya were sitting comfortably across from one another and enjoying bowls of a hearty soup. Adele was wearing a plain, cream colored dress, and had her hair pulled back. Freya's dress was a little more elegant, and was a dark blue. Her hair was also pulled back. Both women smiled when they saw the former knight walk into the room, and Adele laughed when the smell of the soup made Jack's stomach rumble. While he seated himself next to his sister, the woman he had walked in with fetched him a bowl of the soup and some bread, as well as a cup of water and utensils. Jack practically attacked the food, realizing how hungry he was. After a moment, he slowed down and Freya spoke to him.
"I trust you slept well, Jack," she said as he continued to eat.
"I did, thank you," he replied, pausing in his eating. "I don't really remember walking here, though."
"You were more asleep than not," Adele said, smiling at him. "I was afraid I would have to carry you."
"Sorry I was an inconvenience," Jack blushed a little.
"Quite all right, you made it just fine," Freya said. "What do you intend to do now?"
"I'm not sure that's completely up to me," Jack answered. He had finished his first bowl of soup, and another had been brought to him. "Chief Elwen will want me to train for probably the next five weeks. I half expected her to be here when I got downstairs."
"She hasn't been here yet," Freya said. "We have training facilities here that you can use if you like. Both Gawain and Ganz spent a great deal of time training here when they were in the Radiata Knights."
"I'll take a look later," Jack said with a nod. "If we have to stay put for a couple of days, I'll definitely need to train somewhere."
"I'm going to the castle later," said Adele. Jack had gone back to eating his soup. "The King asked me to be a part of the committee that works with the non-humans to negotiate the attempt to balance the cosmic order."
"Was that last night," Jack was trying to remember the last part of their conversation with the King. "I remember talking to the King, but I can't remember what he said at the end."
"Yes, it was right before we left," his sister smiled again. "You were exhausted."
"You sure are smiling a lot today, sis," Jack said, looking awkwardly at her.
"I just really haven't seen you at all since you left to join the knights," Adele answered. "And, I spent most of that time not knowing anything and wondering if you'd been killed."
"I see. Well, you don't have to worry about that any more, at least not for a few weeks," Jack had a smile of his own. Freya smiled at the brother and sister as they shared a bonding moment. When their dishes were cleared away, all three rose to their feet and stretched.
"I'm going to go to the castle now and see the King," Adele said walking toward the doorway. "I trust you'll be all right here, Jack?"
"Yeah, I'm going to check out the training room here," Jack answered. With a wave, his sister departed.
"Come with me Jack, and I will show you to the training room," Freya said. Wordlessly, Jack followed her out one of the other doors. When she spoke again, her voice was much more somber. "Please, finish the conversation we started yesterday at the trial. Tell me what you know about my husband and son."
"Captain Ganz was put in charge of the Rose Cochon and led both Ridley and I," Jack started with his first interaction with Ganz. "He was so excited to be promoted to Brigade Captain, and he was a terrific leader. But, Lord Jasne over-reacted when Ridley was hurt by the blood orc, and we were dismissed. I expect you knew all of that. He and I went to Theater Vancoor to try to get jobs there, and I was hired while he was not. After that, I didn't hear from him for a long time, but he went to work for the Void Community."
"For Void," Freya sounded bothered by this. "I don't understand why he would go in that direction, why he wouldn't have come home?"
"I think he just wanted to make his own way in the world," Jack answered as they walked down a long hallway. "He worked with the honorable bandits in Void. The report that Ortoroz referenced yesterday, the one that showed that it was Cross who let the blood orcs loose in the elf region, was submitted by Captain Ganz's unit. And, when he found out that Cross had taken my sister into custody, to question her about me, his unit rescued her. That's when he joined the non-humans and me, to try to stop Cross from destroying the world. He went all the way to Gold Dragon Castle with us, and fought against the Silver Dragon. But, after the battle, he decided to stay with Sir Gawain. It may have been unconventional, but he was a noble man up to the moment that he died."
"I see," Freya appeared thoughtful. Jack saw a tear run down her cheek. "He always was a passionate, impulsive child. Tell me about Gawain; tell me about my husband."
"I met Sir Gawain shortly after I left to join the non-humans," Jack began his second story. "He was staying with the Black Goblins in the Sediche Region. We fought that day, and he told me about my Father's death. When the Water Dragon appeared, it was because of the imbalance in the Order of Tottaus, the same imbalance we discussed yesterday. Sir Gawain understood this, and would not fight him with my Father. After the battle, my Father contracted the Algandars disease because of his personal imbalance. It was Lord Zane who had my Father killed, because his strength and the Algandars made him a danger to everyone. Sir Gawain left Radiata because he felt responsible for my Father's death. He felt as though he had abandoned his friend at a time when he was needed, and that he could only atone by leaving Radiata."
"That sounds just like him, the foolish man," Freya shook her head. In her right hand, she was holding the lion pendant from around her neck. They turned down a different hallway, and Jack saw that her stride had become more mechanical. It was difficult for him to continue.
"I said something similar. I think I called him an idiot," the former knight said. Freya chuckled at this. "After we fought, he came back to Fort Helencia with Ridley and me, and worked with Lord Zane on strategy. He helped me a lot, always offering advice and guidance. When I doubted myself, he encouraged me; when I needed help at Fire Mountain, he was there. Sir Gawain tried to help us all the time. He helped Ridley too; helped her understand what it meant to be the Vessel, and tried to guide and support her. When the time for the Changeover came, he went with Ridley to the City of White Nights. But, when Aphelion tried to stop the Changeover and attacked us, he sacrificed himself to save us. He was truly a great, selfless man."
Tears were streaming down Freya's face, and she had quickened her pace to try to keep him from seeing. They had been winding their way through hallways and doors for what seemed like forever, when she opened one last door. They descended a short staircase, and reached the training room. Jack quickly surveyed the room; it was wide and expansive, with a great deal of open space for sparring. The smooth stone floor had a large, red lion painted on it: the Lion of the West. The walls were lined with racks of weapons, and plenty of training equipment. The room was lit by a number of lamps along the walls that gave off a great deal of light without making the room too hot. When he turned around, Jack saw that Freya had slumped down on a bench, holding her head in her hands. He could see that she was crying, and quickly sat down beside her.
"Thank you...for telling me the truth, Jack," Freya said, fighting through her tears. He put his hand on her shoulder.
"I made a promise to Captain Ganz that I would," he replied. The former knight was fighting down emotions of his own. "I miss both of them; they looked out for me every chance they got. I'm sorry I couldn't have done more."
"I don't blame you Jack, not in the slightest," Freya shook her head as she spoke, and was drying her eyes with a handkerchief. "When you are in a family of knights, you prepare for this sort of thing. It was a shock to hear that Gawain was still alive after all these years, only to find out that he had died. And, Ganz's death so suddenly is..."
"It's hard, I know," Jack said sympathetically. As tears welled up in her eyes again, he put his arm around her. The sound of her soft sobs echoed through the large training room.
"They both spent a lot of time in this room over the years," Freya tried to smile through her sadness. "We used to have a training room on the main floor, but we had this one built underground because Gawain and Cairn's sparring sessions would shake the whole house. After Gawain left, Ganz felt closer to him here than anywhere else. He would train down here for hours upon hours."
"They were outstanding men, who lived lives worthy of emulation," Jack and Freya looked up to see Elwen standing at the door. "I hope I am not intruding, a member of the house staff told me where I could find you."
"You are not intruding at all, Guild Leader. Please, join us," Freya started to rise to her feet but Elwen gestured for her to remain seated.
"Thank you, Lady Freya," Elwen said with a bow.
"Freya, please," the noblewoman said, drying her eyes. "How can we help you today?"
"I am here to see Jack, although I think he has some business with you," as she spoke, she handed Jack the shoulder bag he had left at Theater Vancoor when he had gone to the castle.
"Thanks, Chief," Jack stood up and took the bag. Reaching into it, he pulled out two weapons. "I brought Sir Gawain's mace and Captain Ganz's sword back from Gold Dragon Castle. They belong here, with you."
Morningstar, Gawain's giant black mace, glinted dully in the light of the training room. Its curved hand guard and spiked ball made the weapon feel very imbalanced to Jack, and he had a new appreciation for the strength and control it must have taken to use effectively. By contrast, Ganz's sword was perfectly balanced. The long blade gave way to a hilt that was just the right size. The golden accents on the sword made it appear very showy, but he knew from experience that Ganz was not afraid to use it. Freya remained seated on the bench against the wall, and Jack placed the weapons beside her. With a small bow, he took a step back.
"Thank you for returning these to me," Freya was trying again to hold back tears. "I think I will have them both moved upstairs to be displayed proudly in Gawain's study. They both spent a lot of time in there over the years."
She stood up and hugged Jack, a strong embrace that surprised him a little. He smiled at her as she stepped back, admiring her strength in dealing with the news that she had received. After a moment, she excused herself to go look at the space in the study, leaving Jack and Elwen alone in the training room. The weapons of the Rothschild men had been left behind, but they knew that she would return for them. The Guild Leader and former sergeant looked at one another for a few silent moments before Jack went back to the bag that Elwen had brought him. This time, the two weapons that he removed both belonged to him.
The first sword he grabbed was the Arbitrator. Cairn Russell's sword, which Gawain Rothschild had declared to be Jack's, shone in the light when he removed it from the scabbard. It was a simple sword, but to Jack it was beautiful. The blade was a little longer and wider than most, and the hilt was free of unnecessary decoration. Both edges of the sword retained their edge, and he knew the sword was ready to fight. It was perfect for him. He hefted the blade in his hand, gave it a flourish, and returned it to its plain sheath. Setting it down, he reached into the bag once more.
The second weapon, pulled from the bag with two hands, was the Falvern. The legendary sword forged long ago by the elf smith Khell Nivait was a masterpiece. Jack immediately thought of the light elf inside his soul, and reminded himself how dangerous the sword really was. Its black blade and the sharp points on its hilt made it look menacing. The two-handed weapon looked awkward, with a blade that was too thin for its hilt, but the magical flames within the sword made it an incredible weapon in the hands of the right wielder. Again, he hefted the sword and flourished it before setting it down. Satisfied, he turned to Elwen and spoke.
"Has anything happened since last night," Jack was anxious to hear about possible developments. Elwen seated herself on the long bench, and Jack joined her.
"I just came from the castle," she began. "Where I announced who the Guild Leaders selected to take our guaranteed spot among the 10 warriors."
"I bet it was you, right," Jack seemed confident in his guess.
"No," Elwen shook her head. "We chose Kain of the Olacion Order."
"So that's what you two were discussing last night," Jack said with a nod.
"Not exactly," Elwen corrected him again. "I was trying to convince him not to object to the Gods' challenge."
"I don't understand," Jack looked confused as he spoke.
"Olacion Order is founded to follow the words and teachings of the Gods, Jack," Elwen said. "Participating in the 10 challenges means defying the direct will of the Gods, something that many in the Olacion Order refuse to do."
"But, not participating means the end of the world," Jack could not understand this way of thinking.
"Maybe, but that is not their way of thinking," the Guild Leader continued. "They believe that following the Gods' teachings will not lead them astray, and so they will continue as they always have, and will not aid us. My task was to convince Kain to help."
"How did you do that," Jack thought back to Elwen and Kain's hushed conversation from the previous evening.
"First, I told him that we would not expect anyone from Olacion to enter the tournament," Elwen said, sounding a little bothered by this concession. "This means that strong warriors like Achilles, Godwin, and Fernando will not be participating in the tournament, because their beliefs tell them not to. I also assured Kain that he will not have to fight, either."
"If he isn't going to fight, then why is he coming," Jack was surprised by what Elwen had told him.
"He is the best healer in the kingdom," Elwen replied quickly. "And, his knowledge of the ancient texts will be useful to us."
"I see, so it's a tactical decision," Jack nodded that he understood. Elwen nodded as well. "But you are coming, right?"
"I will have to win my section of the tournament, but yes, I do intend to go with you," the Guild Leader said simply.
"No one else in town can beat you," the former guild sergeant said confidently. He stared at her for a moment before speaking again. "Any other news? Wasn't someone else supposed to be picked today, too?
"That's right," Elwen said. Before Jack could say anything, she continued. "The Radiata Knights chose General Natalie Nanette as their guaranteed pick."
"Really," Jack was surprised at this. "Why would they pick her?"
"She is one of the best knights," Elwen said simply. "She is strong, a capable warrior, and a tactical thinker. I think she will be a strong addition to our team."
"I don't know," Jack was not convinced. Theater Vancoor's leader stood up before speaking again.
"Whether you agree with their choice or not, you cannot change it, and worrying now will not accomplish anything," said Elwen. Her hand went to the hilt of her sword. "Instead, we are going to maximize our training over the next five weeks. Starting today."
"I'm going to train with you," Jack was unsure how to respond. Standing in front of him, Elwen nodded her head as her hand closed around the hilt.
"That's right," she said, Avcoor's flames appeared as she drew the blade. "Over the next five weeks, my number one priority is to make you strong enough to face the challenges that lay ahead. The biggest obstacle for you to overcome is the Falvern. I need to teach you to understand its power, and use it as effectively as possible while exposing you to the minimal amount of risk."
"Then let's get started," Jack began to reach for the two-handed sword, but Elwen shook her head.
"You are not ready to use it, yet," the Guild Leader said. Her former subordinate looked confused. "Today, you will use the Arbitrator as we spar. Our first training sessions with the Falvern will not involve using the sword in combat, only after you learn to control it can you hope to use it effectively. Our session today will be light, just basic swordplay."
"All right," Jack drew the Arbitrator as he spoke, the blade rasping as it was freed from the scabbard. "So, then what are we going to do for the next five weeks?"
"As I said, you will train and learn to use the Falvern," Elwen repeated. "I will teach you to use the sword, and also be your primary training partner. Gerald and Alicia will train with us as well, and will work with you when I am unavailable. We all have to get stronger, Jack, and I'm expecting you to push me as much as I push you."
"Count on it," the young swordsman said with an enthusiastic tone. "Just like at Fire Mountain."
"I hope that, like our duel at Fire Mountain, you will maintain your focus on fighting to protect the ones you care about," said the Guild Leader. Jack smirked.
"I've gotten stronger since then," he said confidently. "I'm looking forward to making you give 100% against me."
"I do not think that will happen," Elwen shook her head. The sword in her right hand shone, though she did not appear ready to attack.
"Why not," Jack asked, looking confused. "Why wouldn't you want to fight like that, to put your best against my best?"
"If I am fighting at 100%, it means I'm fighting to the death," Elwen's straightforward words sounded intense, and Jack was somewhat taken aback.
"So, when we fought at Fire Mountain, you..." Jack wasn't sure if he wanted to ask, but started the question anyway.
"Would you have killed me," Elwen interrupted to ask. Jack shook his head. "And I wouldn't have killed you, either. When we fought on Fire Mountain, and when we fight today, my purpose is to test you and see how far you have come. I am certain that our training sessions will be intense, Jack, but not to that degree. There will be plenty of time to risk our lives in the weeks ahead. Another thing, I will be taking the Falvern with me when I leave here today."
"What? I thought you were going to train me to use it," asked Jack. He had lowered the Arbitrator, and the tip of the sword was touching the floor.
"I am. But, I do not want you using it without my supervision," his mentor was committed to maintaining that role. "The Falvern is one of the most dangerous weapons in the world, and I don't want you causing more damage to yourself trying to use it when I am not present."
"But I..." Jack paused for a moment, then nodded. "I guess you're right. So, are we going to train?"
"Yes, let's begin," Elwen said. As soon as Jack had raised his sword again, she attacked.
Vegeta26: Moving right along; although, I'm afraid my pace is going to slow down a little bit again. You guys have no idea how excited I am to finally get to write some combat sequences again. There hasn't been any fighting yet in this one as we've patiently made our way to this point, but look forward to seeing a lot more coming up. As always, big thanks to everyone who's reading and reviewing, I'm anxious to hear what you guys think.
Black Knightress: I'm really looking forward to writing the tournament to see who will go with Lenneth. Lord Larks' character is going to develop a little more, but he is meant to look as out of his comfort zone as he no doubt feels. Hope you'll give me your thoughts.
Keyblader-Sleven: I'm not going to give away anything about the matchups in the tournament, but since Jack's spot is guaranteed, I can tell you that he will not be entered in it. He'll get to do some fighting along the way, but not in the tournament. Natalie's character will be developed some more, but you'll just have to read to see how. Looking forward to hearing from you.
SilenceHD: I wanted to give Adele some sort of role in the story, and her no-nonsense attitude made this type of inclusion a perfect fit. Lord Larks will continue to look uncomfortable for a while longer; the challenges will likely be a mix of what is given in the game and my own touches. Let me know what you think.
Reishin Amara: I haven't really focused too much on the skills in the storyline, so there won't be anything as explicit as saying that "Jack learned a skill", but expect him to make some personal progress in the very near future. What do you think?
The Flying Frog: There's a lot of ground to cover before the final party leaves to go with Lenneth, but I'm going to try to include some things about how the negotiations between the humans and non-humans are going; Jack is definitely going to have some tense interactions. The Jack/Ridley/other females dynamic is one that I'm still working out, but will come into play down the line. Always interested in your thoughts.
nanohaxfate: Lenneth's character is one I'm going to have some fun with, while also trying to maintain an identity that's reasonably consistent with who she is in both Radiata Stories and Valkyrie Profile. And yes, she might stir up the pot a little bit with the other characters. Hope to hear from you again.