Whew! First semester of college is finally over! Good grief! There was absolutely no time for this poor story. I feel so sorry for it. It was neglected for a loooong time! BUT, thanks to the wonderfulness that is Christmas Break, expect some updates before the spring semester! My goal is to end this battle and get the more easier plot going so that I can write on it whenever I get time. I find that this battle writing is quite exhausting.
This chapter is here thanks to the band named Skillet. I love them!
Cev deserves a huge thanks! She's so patient with the long wait for this chapter... and is the main reason some of the sentences make sense! lol! Finals mess with my brain, I guess.
Well, if I don't get another chapter out before then, Happy Holidays to everyone! ENJOY the... um... bloody gore, I guess! lol!
A slight burn filled green eyes as sight veered from familiar comforting surroundings to travel swiftly across acres of ground. Vision settled fast of an approaching foe that drifted closer and closer in the trees. Like snakes, black shadows dodged through the branches of great pines, intermixing with the pelting rain from above.
"They are coming near, Dryden." Gadeth whispered, uncharacteristically tense as his brown haired friend clutched his orange bow tightly. The once happy grin that was always planted on Gadeth's mouth had quickly disappeared from his thin face. Turning his green eyes away from the south, he slid them carefully to stare behind at the raging battlefield below.
At Van…
"What a bad timing, too."
"Bad timing?" Dryden asked, startled, "You don't mean -"
Van's fully engaged in combat and looks as though he could use my help soon," Gadeth surveyed the plain with a calculating mind, absorbed in the motions, "As Leader of the Second Infantry position, now is the time when I am supposed to be joining in with the reinforcements. Maybe we should send word to Allen to go without me. He has orders to charge once I am on the move."
"Gadeth," Dryden said softly. "Look at me."
Obediently, the short haired man's illuminated eyes turned onto his friend's calm face quizzically.
"Leave me and go help Lord Van. He is most important at this time. We, as his vehotus, cannot let him come to any form of harm. If something were to happen to him all would be lost. He is the king, and his life is much more important than mine or yours."
Gadeth's eyebrows cinched together in agitation as his green gloves balled into defiant fists. "I'm not leaving you by yourself to deal with this! You could be killed, Dryden!"
"Such is the risk I took in becoming a vehotus, Gadeth." The brown haired man answered calmly. "You too have that danger upon your shoulders as well. Our job is to protect the king. So, leave me to handle this and go help Van."
"NO!"
Irritation filled the brown haired man and his eyes flashed ginger in his anger.
"Gadeth, do as I say!"
"You are not the leader of this outfit, Dryden!" Gadeth stubbornly replied. He crossed his arms childishly over his vibrantly green tunic. "Allen will help the king. However, I choose to stay with you!"
"You cannot choose your position, you idiot! You are supposed to be the follow-up! And being the follow-up means you follow the frontline after they are overwhelmed! So, GO!" The brown haired man shifted his bow to point down at the raging battle below them. "This is not about me and my safety! This is about VAN and his safety!"
"But…" Gadeth began sadly, but cut off his sentence as a sharp warning hit his senses. What in the name of Gaea… It can't mean that they are already here…? Calculating furiously fast, his green vision filled with dark shadows approaching even nearer in the shadows. Gadeth breathed heavily as the realization quickly dawned of the danger that was closer than expected. The danger for Dryden…
"No more, 'buts'!" The brown haired man called out completely oblivious to Gadeth's instant worried expression and flashing eyes. Turning his back to Gadeth with a frustrated scowl, Dryden placed his hands on his hips to address his men about the current situation, but suddenly -
"WATCH OUT, DRYDEN!"
Turning into a green blur with a burst of shocking acceleration that uprooted several nearby plants, Gadeth raced over to the curly haired man and shoved hard into his friend's shoulder blades. Dryden yelped in surprise and toppled quite ungracefully forward upon the wet, splattered earth. Sliding several feet across the ground to his army's feet, his face gathered a plate full of damp green grass.
"ARGH! My nose! What was that for, you idiot!?" The prone man roared as he spat out several glades that stuck around his mouth. Through the choruses of worried inquires from his men, he jumped immediately to his feet and whipped his head around, growling as his long braid slapped his already grimy face and bruised nose.
But there was only a hushed silence amid rainfall.
Breaking the impending quiet that had fallen, a sudden gasp left Dryden's throat as his eyes found four black arrows sticking perfectly straight from the ground: Exactly where he had been standing only seconds before!
Gadeth's back was turned to Dryden, his left hand clenched on the hilt of his green, vibrating sword. Facing his own Second Infantry men, Gadeth seemed to waver on his feet. Dryden couldn't stop his stomach from dropping painfully as he watched the faces of Gadeth's Second Infantry contort to horror. His studious eyes found Gadeth's other hand draped awkwardly across his left shoulder.
"Sir Gadeth! NO!" One of the men cried out.
Dryden felt his heart clench with fear.
"Gadeth…?" Dryden called out in panic. The short haired man didn't answer, but took a staggering step back as his legs buckled beneath him.
"GADETH!!" Dryden bellowed his voice cracking.
Everything seemed to be slowing down as the brown haired man rushed over to Gadeth's fainting form. A strange cry seemed to ring out from several of Dryden's men behind him before shouts of alarm spread throughout both infantries. Faintly aware in his raging panic to get to his friend, Dryden realized that more arrows were making themselves known around him from the south.
Gadeth knew that they had already arrived…
He didn't want to leave me...
He knew… and he saved my life…
His mind seemed to be numbed as he slid quickly along the ground to catch Gadeth by the underarms just before the green man hit the ground. Concentrating quickly, he invoked his vox. The orange dripped swiftly from his chest, filling him with a satisfying burn.
Glancing down at his friend's slacked face for only a moment, Dryden's ginger eyes lit up as he released his shielding mind wave with a sharp burst of power. A flourish of orange mist flew swiftly from him and proceeded to lengthen over the area; spreading over both infantries. Hearing the gratifying clinks of arrows hitting his shield, Dryden turned his attention back on his fallen friend in his arms.
Gadeth's head fell upon Dryden's chest and his green eyes faded slowly back to brown as he smiled lazily up at his friend. A long black arrow protruded out of his left shoulder and a small trickle of blood was slowly forming from the serious wound.
"I really like the craftsmanship on these arrows…" Gadeth whispered softly before screwing up his grin to coughing violently, a sound like the gurgle of wetness. Pain-filled eyes gave his characteristic twinkle before he muttered hoarsely, "You and I could make a fortune off this model in Fanelia. Zaibach steals everything from us. Might as well steal their whittling techniques…"
"Don't speak, you idiot." Dryden muttered, his ginger eyes filling with bitter tears, "You shouldn't have done that for me! You are such a daft fool!"
"Still scolding me, are you?" the green man's grin was back, but not without a sharp wince. "You are not even the hurt one and you're crying. Shows what sort of man you…" His face paled suddenly as his eyes got strangely distant. "Dryden, we really have to get this arrow skill… cause this… really hurts…"
"Stop talking, Gadeth." Dryden muttered softly as he lifted a hand to wipe his stubble face. "I'll get you help."
Looking up, Dryden called loudly to his men, "We have to get him out of here before they really start shooting heavy and my shield breaks!" Several men ran over quickly - "Grab his legs and arms and haul him out of here!" Gadeth's head tilted down and he finally fainted from the pain.
"Take him far away to the east and do not take out that arrow! It seems to have pierced above his pericardium, it is holding in the blood from spilling out more! We will have to treat him when the battle is over!" Dryden commanded, watching them nod in affirmation as they lifted Gadeth from him. "Guard him with your life! Watch him if he awakens! He will want to return to fight, the stupid idiot! Do not let him move whatever you do! NOW GO!"
Turning away from Gadeth's limp form that was currently being carried by the men that had stepped forward, the curly haired man wiped the remaining wet from his cheeks that had intermingled with the crying sky.
"Ready your bows, Archery." His voice rang clear through the storm and there was a furry of rustling equipment. "Second Infantry, draw your swords."
With his eyes suddenly glowing demonic orange as the power rushed through his system, Dryden clenched his materializing bow and yelled, "We fight for the king, for Gadeth, and, most importantly, FOR FANELIA!"
And with a raging cry of war from both Infantries, Dryden's orange shield lowered in the wake of ginger misted arrows that seemed to sing from the Archery.
Meanwhile, the Second Infantry charged…
With a braided, ginger-glowing man leading them forward…
The wind's loud whistling seemed to drown out the roar of death that issued forth from the valley below. The very sky told the blonde haired man that the battle would not soon be finished. Allen clenched his smooth jaw tightly as his eyes flashed a vibrant blue in frustration. With clear resignation filling his visage, he held out his right palm away from his body as a clear blue sword with a thin blade liquefied perfectly out of the electric air. Turning a smooth point of the blade to point at the ground, Allen breathed deeply to steady his thoughts.
From the very first moment of the frontline charge, Allen knew there was something wrong with the formation. The realization had hit him as the image of a chess board became implanted in his mind. He knew of the game from Millerna's insistent on playing him, but had little time to truly understand the good tactics it brought.
Considering she always seemed to beat him…
But as the thoughts revolved around the formation of the chess board, Allen could hardly stop himself from storming the field to protect Van.
Pawns and other sacrificial pieces are to first be used to knock out the opponent's pieces. Later, the stronger, active ones are used to work around the enemy and wipe out those who wish to surround the King.
Meanwhile, the king stays in the back line…
The King never goes out with the Pawns or the even the Bishops and Knights…
The King always stays behind, moving a little away at a time to avoid certain checkmate…
But Van…
Allen knew how Van was by nature. It hurt the Fanelian king to see his people in any form of danger. He was willing to sacrifice everything, even himself, to protect all the people in his country…
Whether man or woman or child… even those on his frontline…
"I'm coming Van," the blonde man whispered as he reluctantly turned his stunning eyes away from the raging battle below to the check on Gadeth's position for the last time.
Gadeth had moved his entire quadrant to Dryden's archery post. Completely against orders and plans.
Allen was sure that the green man had good motivation for endangering the entire army and Van's lives…
But still... Allen thought with a sharp pang of rage. Van is the most important individual on this battle field. If he is killed… checkmate. Gadeth is being a fool for jeopardizing so many men…
"Ready your weapons, soldiers!" The blonde man shouted loudly, turning his head so the wind would carry his voice to the men behind him. Sure enough, he heard an immediate clinking of armor as his men quickly obeyed. "We are rushing the left! Our main mission is to find the king! He must live at all costs!"
Glancing back down, Allen breathed in deeply before raising his blue weapon high into the air.
"CHARGE!!" he bellowed as he and the East Infantry rushed out of their position to join the bloodstained field below them.
"Get up." Merle whispered quietly down to her silver haired prisoner. "We are leaving."
"I-I… am not…" Dilandau started to object as more blood filled his mouth. "I'm not…"
The small girl frowned slightly. "You dare to disobey? Don't you know you have no choice in the matter? I told you before, Albatou… in here, I control your world and life."
Dilandau gasped as the sharp pain dug harshly into his thoracic cavity; crushing the soft pericardium underneath. "How d-do you… expect…?"
"Expect you to walk in such a condition?" Merle finished his sentence with a simple smile. "Try not to struggle against me and you won't need to worry about such trivial matters. In your mind, I am able to make you do whatever I want. Even if it would usually be physically impossible for you…"
His fingers twitched suddenly as his arm slid nosily across the dark floor on its own accord. He instantly struggled to suppress the unwanted movement, but his muscles fell weak and numb. He let out a strangled cry.
"See, I told you not to struggle against me. It will only make the pain worse." Merle scolded childishly. "I can make you do whatever I want here. I could kill you so easily." Her smile grew once more on her face, sweet and innocent.
His hand braced itself on the floor as he slowly lifted himself onto his elbow. His mouth dripped copper tasting liquid that ran down the top of his tunic.
"Why are…?" The silver haired man let out before choking on his own blood. Sitting upright seemed to make the blood run thicker up his throat. "Why are you doing this…?"
"Master Folken will be very pleased to see me." Merle sighed, completely ignoring his question. Her eyes glowed childishly excited as she obviously pictured her reunion. "He will fly to meet me, I'll bet! Soar from the heavens like he used to. There will be so much to celebrate. He will envelope me in those arms, and whisper to me what a good girl I've been for bringing you…" Suddenly seeming to snap out if her own wonderland, she looked down at Dilandau with another bright smile.
Her smiles disturbed Dilandau - even more than her control over his body. The sight of his blood had no effect on her. A child this young that could smile so innocently in the presence of violence…?
What had made her like this?
"I wonder if my master has destroyed you precious king yet. I'm sort of wishing he hasn't just so I can let you watch…"
Dilandau's biceps jerked as his broad back unwillingly left the ground. As he rose against his will to sit up, his silver head tilted down and blood ran out of his gritted teeth, plopping into pools upon the ground. With muscles sporadically convulsing down his legs, he let out a loud, painful cry as he involuntarily lunged into the air and came to stand before his smiling captor.
"I must take you to the meeting spot so that, together, Master Folken and I can take you back to Zaibach with us."
"You… will die before…" Dilandau tried, but his fatigue refused to let his voice come through. It seemed to take all his energy to keep standing.
"No hard feelings once you realize your true gift, all right?" the small cat-girl winked. "You will probably be thanking me profusely when the time comes and your eyes are finally opened."
"My…eyes…?" Dilandau questioned through his clenched teeth, but was cut off with a cough.
"And now that I finally have you walking," Merle said swiftly and her face was suddenly lost in concentration. "If I let you see where you are walking to, will you promise to not make a huge scene?"
"Wha…?" The silver haired man gasped before coughing again.
"This might come as a shock," The small girl stated quickly, obviously trying to save him from some distress in his current state. "And I'll release some of the pressure I have on your heart, but if you try to run…" Lifting a hand, the cat-girl held it up to his eyes and made a tight fist.
His eyes widened and Merle smiled happily, delighted at his horrific reaction.
"Shock…?" he managed to utter. "Why?"
One word questions seemed to be all that Dilandau was good for.
"Your vision should start clearing in several seconds time." The girl said matter-of-factly, not answering. Turning around with her back to him, Merle let the happy smile slide off her furry face as she slowly released the illusion charm she had wrapped him in.
A light, not much brighter than the darkness she had created, started to shine from the edges of both his eyes.
As his vision cleared, Dilandau gasped with a loud, sharp cough. With each blink, the scene of green grass became blood red…
And suddenly, he stood in the real world… the scene that lay before him sinking in like the chilly rain that pelted the bodies.
So many bodies…
Merle's dark eyes filled themselves remorsefully with the staring faces around her before jolting at the sudden sound of a light sob issuing from the man behind her. The pure whimper of agony hit her strangely as she turned just in time to see her captive drop to his knees in sorrow.
Corpses… heaps of his dead men - Good, Fanelian men…
Swallowing quickly to suppress the alien emotion raging inside her, she lifted the corners of her furry face in a strained smile.
"I had to destroy your entire Legion just to get to you. Don't you feel special?"
"My men…" Dilandau whispered as tears began to fill his eyes. The pelting rain flattened his hair down into his crushed face. "You destroyed… everyone…?"
"Not everyone…" Merle whispered truthfully, pulling down the long sleeves of her sopping white dress. "There is still one alive within this mass. But he will not be awake for several more days. He will probably be taken by Zaibach and eventually let free to renew my lost people." Letting out a frustrated sigh, Merle walked over to the broken man before her.
"Get up."
"My men…" He whispered through his silver matted hair, ignoring her words. "Everything's gone just because we took you in, girl… We, Van and I, promised to protect and shelter you… this is the price Fanelia has to pay for that simple kindness…"
The kitten's eyes widened as his voice rang through her brain. "Shut up! Stop talking like that!"
"You destroy the people who accepted you so happily… You stabbed the generous hand that was held to you so lovingly… You are a monster and deserve the sordid life you are guaranteed to have in Zaibach."
"The ruin will be yours!" Merle yelled loudly as her fist tightened on his heart once more. Dilandau let out a squelching cough as she screamed, "I promise you, Fanelian slime, I will make sure of your pain! Now get to your feet. We have a place to be!"
"The guilt of your crimes will get you… No matter how many you kill… they will come to haunt you…"
"Shut up! We are leaving!" The kitten turned on her heel to walk into the woods as the silver haired man was awkwardly lifted from his knees like a puppet. He stood shakily as his calf muscles lifted to bend his knee and step forward to follow her obediently.
But as he struggled to keep up with her fast speed, an unfamiliar sensation of satisfaction sent a strange smile upon his face. He had enjoyed hurting her mentally, delivering this guilt that she deserved so fully.
And with this, his pupils gave a small glint of something hidden, something awakening.
On and on, Allen sliced his way through bodies, flinging them to the side in his haste to get to Van. Stopping only to brush the dripping blood that had splattered in his sharp eyes, he plunged his sword through another chest, whipping it out quickly to carve off another red haired head from a thick neck.
"Van!" Allen called out panting. "Where are you?!"
The carnage of severed bodies seemed to pile higher and higher every second that the blonde man stopped to look. Stepping quickly over bloody objects, a collection of twisted arms and legs, Allen parried an advancing swordsman before raising a hand to shoot the man across the field with a well delivered blue Mind Wave.
A flash of red caught the corner of his eye…
"VAN!" Allen hollered as he finally spotted his exhausted king with relief. Concentrating quickly on rushing his blue vox magic to his hand, Allen easily blasted away three storming Zaibach men who were approaching Van's back with their swords upraised.
The sight of men flying through the air seemed to catch the ebony haired man's sharp, red eye and he turned to give Allen a grateful, tired grin. Slitting two more Zaibach apart with his sharp crimson blade, the king ran another soldier through before racing to Allen's position.
Van turned to press his back against Allen's and panted over the raging voices of fighting men, "Glad to see you made it, Allen! But Gadeth and Dilandau…?
"Gadeth… got delayed…" Allen answered back, not trying to hold back the anger in his voice. He stabbed and another body fell with a cry of death. "You and I can handle this much. Dilandau should have seen me storm the right side and is probably going to be here any minute. Even without Gadeth, these men are not as well trained as we had feared. They are falling to our swords like weeds!"
"Yes, but like weeds, they are an overpowering force in itself. Picking them off one by one will not be so easy! The sheer size of the army is more than enough to handle without lamenting for a stronger opponent, Allen! And our entire field is already tired from the march through the valley plains!"
"I am just relieved to see you alive, my Lord!" The blonde man shouted before blocking a small sword and stabbing quickly. "But still, I was certain Zaibach would have trained their soldiers better than this."
Concentrating fiercely on the power in his chest, Van smoothly blasted away a group of Zaibach soldiers that were marching past.
"I want to find this general of theirs, Allen," Van said suddenly with resolution in his red eyes. "And when I find him, I will kill him. There will be no mercy."
Allen allowed himself a second to glance at the back of his king in surprise. Though he could not see Van's eyes, his bloodthirsty tone surprised him. Van's usual gentle voice was completely transforming in the wake of this battle.
"But Van…" The blonde man started, even forgetting formalities in his shock.
"I will leave you now to take care of the backside! I am going to fight my way to the end of their army! I feel as soon as I destroy their leader, these men will surrender. They are not trained for such harsh battle fighting anyway. I would like to stop this unnecessary killing if I can. Hold this section, Allen! And I am sure Gadeth and Dilandau will join you shortly!"
"Yes, my Lord! Oh, and Van…!" The blonde man called as the ebony haired man made a move to leave his back.
"Yeah?"
"… Be safe. You don't know what this general has up his sleeves."
"I'll see you after this, Allen." Van whispered with confidence in his voice. "I will make this a victory no matter what."
The warmth of Van's back left Allen's as the Fanelian king sped quickly through the Zaibach army with a flash of deadly crimson. On his mind was only one individual in this entire battle that had yet to make himself known.
Lightning flashed brightly in watchful eyes as they stared hungrily out at the raging battle. The insane glint found the foreign crimson with ease as it seemed to fight its way closer to him. With every cry of death that the red sword gave, a chill of elated excitement ran down the silver haired man's spine. Turning his entertained, grey orbs to the ever growing pile of mutilated faces, Folken could not help the corners of his lips as they curved into a thrilled grin.
This king truly was a spectacular swordsman. Briefly, Folken let himself wonder who had taught this young king such skill.
A sharp cry of agony rang from the mouth of one of his men as the red sword easily sliced into his chest and ripped a squelching hole through a once beating heart. He was like a machine, this Fanelian king, slipping through their defenses instantly and ripping them apart.
I cannot fight him yet… Folken thought, quickly attempting to quell his urge to run out and join the bloodshed. His hand tensed excitedly over his saber that lay belted innocently to his side. I must wait for the descendent of Limus Albatou to arrive…
And yet… Folken grinned contemplatively as his mind switched to a more delightful plan. Merle knows the meeting spot. She will have the Albatou waiting… Time is nothing to me. A battle is a space of non-existent time… Fight as long as you can for the victory … The Emperor has commanded nothing against me facing this man-slayer king… Just to bring the Albatou to Zaibach…
The thoughtful grin grew quickly into a blood-thirsty glow that seemed to spread off his face into the very air that surrounded him. His killing aura released a sending shock wave of sharp electricity through the constant breeze.
Watching closely with clear eyes of murderous desire, the silver haired man saw with satisfaction as Van's head turned sharply to Folken's hiding spot in the trees. The king's bright red orbs searched the area quickly before having to concentrate on blocking a strike sent by another Zaibach soldier.
Now… it is time to release my desire… Reaching a hand slowly to his cloaked shoulder, the silver haired man softly allowed the dark material to slide carefully off his broad back and puddle onto the ground. As the sharp cold air hit his back, Folken's deadly aura continued to stretch the corners of his mouth as he lifted a pale, muscular hand to his scarred chest. Releasing the catch in his ribs, he jerked his thumb into his upper body with a resounding "CRACK!"
He doubled over in beloved pain as solid black wings spread lusciously throughout wooded area and covered the ground in ebony feathers.
Time to make this a more personal fight! A clash in the sky!
And with a loud trumpeting cry, Folken leaped high off the ground and felt the blustering wind through his thick feathers. Through the battling sky, he soared like a death angel as men, both Zaibach and Fanelian alike, looked up in surprise.
Van's eyes widened at the fiendish sight as all men around him stared in awe at the black winged man.
Pacing his wings before the scene, the silver haired man called out tauntingly, "BEHOLD! THE TRUE POWER OF FANELIA REVEALED IN PERFECTED FORM!"
With an insane laugh, he withdrew his sword, and pointing the tip straight at Van's figure on the ground below.
"COME FANELIAN KING! DO YOU DARE OPPOSE ME AND THINK YOU WILL SUCCEED? TREMBLE ON THE GROUND OR COME AND FIGHT FOR YOUR HONOR OF THE SKIES!"
Without consideration, Van felt the red of his power flare to his control like flames. White wings erupted fiercely, ripping his soaked and bloodstained scarlet tunic to shreds. The power coursed through him so terribly, it seemed to seep through his skin like crimson smoke.
Coming to their senses, several of the Zaibach soldiers lifted swords to attack the ebony haired king. But with a pulsating shock that seemed to shake the very earth itself, Van pushed from the earth below, knocking scores of men off their feet in the tremor.
Easily dodging arrows that were shot his way, the ebony haired king accelerated his speed and let out a charging yell. His crimson sword sang through the air as he approached Folken's waiting form. The dark wings persistently taunted Van's very power as they blended into the black clouds above. A malicious grin spread insanely upon the general's face, igniting Van's rage inside. Swinging his sword forward through the rain, he let out a thunderous roar as the very rain seemed to be soaking in his red aura.
His power was beyond control… and Van reveled in the furious rage it gave.
But, as the crimson blade was brought down hard for a direct hit, a sword suddenly flipped through the sliver haired man's hand and blocked Van's storming assault.
"And now, it is just you and me, Fanelian King." Folken whispered as their swords graded against each other.
"Good of you to finally leave your hiding spot, coward!" Van snarled. "You will now feel the wrath of Fanelia's power!"
"We shall see once this is over!" Folken answered, his eyes glinting demonically.
"Oof!"
A loud exhaling and a small pounding sound on the sandy ground told the old man immediately that his student had, once again, fallen off her horse.
Could it be that she could not retain even the simplest of instructions?!
"Did you seriously just fall off your horse, Utpote?!" Balgus roared out from the front. "Unacceptable from a future leader of Fanelia! Completely UNACCEPTABLE!"
Turning his brown mare sharply with a twitch of his hand, his infuriated eyes instantly became soft as he watched his student struggle from the ground. Straightening her cloak with quick fingers, she seemed to not even hear his loud voice as she reached over to give her anxious horse, Redric, a small, reassuring pat. Balgus frowned, not in anger, but in worry.
A normal reaction would have been a snappy comeback about how he was such an old goat for expecting her to remember all the steps to horsemanship. That then would have escalated a happy, healthy word-spat between the two of them.
But no…
Instead, he got complete silence and sad eyes.
It had been like this ever since the sudden vision of the battle just several hours ago. Balgus had noticed the small flash of gold that had hit her pupils even before her gasp.
"I see it..." she had muttered tensely. "The battle has begun..."
Exactly what she had seen was still a mystery to the old man. He quickly had decided not to push the subject seeing it had left his student with a cheerless stare.
But really! If it was going to mess with her training this much, he should probably inquire her to tell him…
But… how could he do that without upsetting her more?
With a realization, the old man snorted to himself as his aged eyes watched her horse lean forward to allow her to leap onto its back easily. Since when had he, the trainer of warriors, ever tried to use tactful language in fear of upsetting someone?
And since when had he ever been worried about upsetting one of his students no less!?
"Could it be that you are deliberately ignoring me or has your head hit the ground so many times that you have now jarred your sense of hearing?" Balgus rumbled to her as she nudged her horse's flanks gently with her heel.
"You want to know what I saw." The redhead muttered back softly, keeping her eyes on the ground below her.
It was not a question, but a statement.
Breathing deeply before pressing his knees around his mare's barrel, he sighed, "I don't know…"
"Of course, you do…" she replied with a small upturn on her lips. It turned into a sad smile.
"How could you dare to fathom what I want?" Balgus barked suddenly and instantly felt regret as her sad smile widened in submission. Her head tilted in a slight nod as her eyes grew far away once more.
Another unexpected reaction… This peacefulness from her was becoming tiresome!
He decided to try a different tactic. Clearing his throat, he sat up straight before stating lowly, "You can tell me if you feel it is necessary for me to know, Utpote. But given your current reaction to the vision, I can guess that it might not be a pleasant subject to hear."
Hitomi nodded, keeping her green eyes on the crest of her glittering horse. She opened her mouth to speak, but quickly shut it again with a snap. Breathing in air to obviously help steady her voice, she tried again…
"There…was…" She faltered and her bottom lip trembled slightly.
A pang hit his heart and it twisted itself painfully.
"Do not tell me, Utpote!" Balgus growled quickly causing her to jump and look at him fully for the first time in hours. Her eyebrows were creased in wonderment.
"I do not want you to force yourself to relive moments that were agonizing to you just to tell me." The old man muttered awkwardly and looked away from her in shame.
Since when have I cared?
"It is just hard for me to say." Hitomi said softly.
"Tell me when you are ready. Just know that I will always be here to help if you are in need of it." Balgus grumbled, still not looking at her. "Whatever the vision was, Escaflowne will protect Lord Van in battle as he has done with his ancestors in the past. And as for the vehotus, they are not stupid."
Except for maybe one in particular… As picture of Gadeth's brainless grin floated through Balgus' mind, he scowled heavily.
"They are chosen for a reason." He continued. "Just like you were chosen to carry this power of Rutilus with you, they also have power as well. Van will be all right, Utpote. He is strong. And…" The old man let out an annoyed sigh. "I'm sure he wants to see you as much as you do him. And for that, he will make sure to come back to Fanelia… and to you…"
There was a slight silence after his words.
"Thank you, Balgus," The green eyed girl whispered clearly.
"You're welcome…" He growled back. He shook his head slowly and let out another frustrated sigh. Oh Law, I'm turning into a softy!
Hitomi, however, felt a slight happiness run through her at his words. Van… was it true that he wanted to see her? That he was waiting for her? Balgus would have made it up if it wasn't somewhat true.
And suddenly, something in her brain clicked.
Escaflowne… She had forgotten about the story in the wake of the vision…
The magic of vox power… Rutilus and Escaflowne's forbidden love… the different spells… and…
"Balgus…?"
"What?!" Balgus barked in frustration. "Stop being selfish and liven up already! Do you want another reassurance?!"
"No," Hitomi said with a frown.
"Then make up your mind or stop wasting my time, you imprudent brat!"
The insult didn't even faze her.
"I wanted to ask you a question about something."
"Why am I not surprised? I knew you'd be back to asking questions sooner or later!" Though he was facing forward and she couldn't see his face, Hitomi could easily picture the grim glare that seemed to accompany his tone.
She sighed tiredly.
"Well, spill it out, girl! Better to have you asking endless questions that prove your stupidity than sulking in silence!"
"I'd rather not if your going to fight about it."
The old man growled before stopping his horse with a jerk of brown mane. Though his mare whickered in obvious displeasure at her hair being pulled, Balgus ignored her complaints and turned his head to catch Hitomi's green eyes with his own scarred stare.
"What is it, Utpote?" He asked with obvious forced patience. "Ask me so that we can stop this nonsense."
"It's just… I was wondering if I could know more about a… particular spell you mentioned…" Hitomi replied sheepishly, suddenly feeling foolish for asking.
"Good job at being completely vague and proving your dense brain power to the world." The old man snorted. "Care to elaborate on what this spell is exactly?"
"Oh, right," She blushed slightly. "The h-healing spell…"
Immediately, she knew it was stupid to ask…
"What is there to tell that I have not already shared with you, Utpote?! Don't waste my time with pointless and wasteful rubbish that you have already got an answer for! And why do you wish to know about it? It is an unfulfilled prophecy and nothing more. More like a dud if anything! Probably will never come true…"
"You said it was predicted by the first pilot, right?" Immediately, her mind formed another random inquiry. "Well, I have a question about that as well." She announced coolly.
His agitation was obvious. "Enough questions! I can hardly bear the idiocy that comes splurging out of your mouth as it is!"
"Ah, but that was only question number two, remember?" Hitomi countered proudly. "I still have one more for the day… plus the three I didn't use yesterday… that makes four more…"
"Glad you can prove you are top notch at simple addition, Utpote, but the three questions I allow you to ask do not count since they were yesterday's questions! So, to further demonstrate your fine brain capacity for numbers: four minus three is…?"
Once again, the insult rolled off Hitomi's back as if nothing. Her surprise at his lack of patience was more puzzling at the current moment.
"But, you…" She began.
"FOUR MINUS THREE IS WHAT?!" He barked at her.
Rolling her green eyes at his back, she quickly said, "One. Balgus, how many pilots have there been besides me? I do not understand why I am such a surprise to Fanelia if there have been others just like me."
His answer was reluctant. "You… are only the second to pilot Rutilus Flumen. The first pilot, a prophetic woman from the north, used divination to track down how long till Rutilus' spirit found another."
Hitomi could barely contain her curiosity. "And… how long did she say? Was she right?"
"She estimated less than a century." The old man answered hotly. "It has been about 90 years since then."
Her brain began filling itself with questions completely forgetting her vision of the battle. Does that mean that I will have this divination power too? That one day I will predict my successor? I wonder if the first pilot is better than me at controlling it… I'll have to ask Rutilus when we finally rest.
And suddenly, without warning, his roaring tones rang from the front.
"Stay behind me, you brat! Have you already forgotten Lesson eight? You are a student and therefore have no authority to ride in front of the party unless given specific instructions! I will not tolerate insubordination from your part!"
"But I haven't…" Hitomi opened her mouth in protest only to be cut off by his loud voice.
"No excuses, either!"
Making sure to keep his head turned away to hide his smirk, Balgus listened with satisfaction as the redhead let out a resounding growl. "For your information, I have been right behind you this entire time, you old goat! Don't scold me for a rule breaking I haven't even committed!"
"Haven't committed yet!" The old man answered back trying to stop his face from breaking into a full blown smile.
Finally, she was back to normal…
"You and your stupid lessons! They are such a complete waste of time!"
On and on throughout the sun-filled sky, a loud argument could be heard raging across the atmosphere as the pair traveled closer to a range of mountains that the human eye could barely see over the steaming mounds of sand.
I wasn't planning on putting Hitomi at all in this chapter at all, but I couldn't help it. I just had to incorporate what was going on with her. I also hadn't planned on ending the chapter with her... hmm... just shows no matter how organized you are, things always change.
I'm working a lot this Christmas break, but I plan to use my off time to get as far along in this story as possible! YAY for you guys! Like I said before, I'm hoping to finish this battle up soon... possibly next chapter if I can fit it. I don't know though. It gets pretty full with crazy descriptions.
How about Folken and Van fighting in the sky, eh? I'm so insanely excited to write that! I actually got that thought a long time ago right before I was falling asleep. It was one of those weird half-sleep, half-wake moments. Oh, and sorry for hurting Gadeth, for all those who love him. Poor guy! He seems to have a thing for arrows whenever he is barely conscious though... lol!
And about Hitomi's vision, you will know more pretty soon. I didn't want to get into that too much yet. It has a significant part in the plot though. I will reveal her vision either next chapter or the one after that... It depends on how much I write on Van and Folken! Man, that is just so exciting to write! Two handsome winged men trying to hack each other with crazy sharp swords! Who could ask for more!?
Well, Merry Christmas to all! Happy Holidays to those who do not celebrate Christmas.
And a Happy New Year to everyone!
Thanks for reading! Got questions, just ask because I've got all the answers!
Until next time,
blue...