Everybody Wants to Rule the World
When the reports of what his father had managed to do, successfully when it came to results, he was at first skeptical of its authenticity. Until more reports came in from reliable sources. It was then that the emotion he felt was only rage and jealousy, and ineptitude. It was unacceptable that his father could be imbued with magic and he could not. If there was anyone who could rival the unreal power of the girl he meant to sit on the throne of the world, it would be him. Not his father, not his brother and certainly not the bastard that confused his lovely woman. Even thinking his name fueled his anger.
Alexander would die by his hands one day, and he wanted that death to be through the most painful and fearsome magicks possible. He knew just how to come across that power, too, in ways his father was too stupid to investigate and ways his own little professors thought of.
I am so close I can feel her, he thought, looking out of his seaside castle to the ocean and the dull gray sky. There was a knock at the door and then a soldier came in, bowing.
"Sire, there is news concerning Thamasa and your father I believe you will want to hear." Luke sighed and gestured for him to continue. "Two weeks ago the king of Figaro launched an assault on the barricade of Thamasa, breaking it."
Luke turned to him suddenly, surprised. His father's forces had been displaced? And so easily, it seemed. "How did this happen?"
""It appears Figaro has achieved some sort of new weaponry for their airships. The report states they flew in low and fast, and dropped large barrels onto the ships and water surrounding them. It went up in flames and consumed half of the fleet, scattering others or forcing others to flee."
Luke laughed. "Impressive..."
"It appears the same weapon was used on the capitol, while your father was in the castle. Our sources state the damage was extensive, but he survived and is still undergoing his treatments, though at a faster pace."
This he did not care for. A castle meant nothing to him, and he did not doubt that his father could worm his way out of anything. After all, he learned from the best. What he did care for was the matter of his own ships. "Tell me if my scouts have been able to track her."
The soldier paled and looked down. "I'm sorry, your majesty but...but they did not find anything on the islands near Thamasa, or the shores of Mobliz or Albrook. They haven't finished their search of the inlands, yet." he hesitated and then said. "Your advisor wanted me to tell you he believes she was moved out of Figaro to the north or west, as they are the locations most heavily defended by the Figaro navy. We have sent another ship out and have hopes it will manage to slip by unnoticed."
No good news yet. He growled. "Then at least tell me how the progress of the crystals have gone?"
"You mean the Magicite, your majesty?"
"What else would I be referring to?" he snapped, turning to face the young soldier. "Well?"
"I'm sorry your majesty, I was being stupid," he bowed deeply. "There is news, yes. Several Magicite had been taken from your father's collection before the assault and have promptly arrived at the labs for testing. I think you will be pleased to hear that we found the Magicite that your father discarded after injecting the princess with it."
Luke's eyes twinkled. "What a fool...I can't believe he discarded the shards." he laughed. "I suppose that is why I am far more fit to rule. The minds of feeble old men are no longer compatible with this world, after all." he walked down the dial, away from the windows facing the ocean, to stand before the soldier, arms behind his back and face calm, like a stilled stone. "Have they begun prepping any of the Magicite yet? The progress has been so slow I cannot help but think it impossible of the man that I put in charge."
The soldier nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, your majesty. Around ten of them have begun preparations...though a few have been finalized and issued to phase two, straight to testing."
Luke smiled. "Why...that is the best news I have heard in some time."
Alexander had spent every minute he could afford on training. He sat with Torzon and meditated, meditated on his own, did physical training with the the Gigas' youngest son (who, embarrassingly for Alexander who was, in their human years, about twelve and still able to kick his ass royally) Korzan and attempting to strengthen his magical capabilities. Every night before he slept he would try to fill the chalice to the brim but had failed even getting water to form so far.
In that time, as the days grew, his body grew leaner and muscled, and he found that trimming his beard was becoming an annoyance, so he left it be. He found that tasks that once would have tired him out fairly quickly now seemed entirely easy to him. He helped rebuild the temple too, following the architecture laid out before him. He even found a cache in the basement of the temple for the stone used, making it easier to follow what the Aegyl had built.
Eventually he had fixed the holes in the roof and fixed the broken doors, making it a lot warmer inside. The walls were tougher, but with Torzon and Korzan's help, he had it finished in just a week and a half. After that he took more time out of physical training to meditate and improve magically. He saw progress soon after, when the fourth month ended from him arriving at the temple.
He was able to summon magic and even if he could not fill the chalice, or even make enough to quench thirst, he was proud. He learned other tricks too, that turned out to be easier in a way. He had favorites, and then he had the ones he didn't so much like—like meditation in sync with his Gigas friend.
At the moment they were meditating together in the room with the mural, in which they both had improved upon in terms of light. They were concentrating and thinking on the mana in them or serene scenes like mountain views and flowing rivers when suddenly Alexander's thoughts drifted. He tried to get them back on track, knowing his friend could see, but the thoughts kept drifting until in his head he could see Emma through various memories he had.
He tried not to panic but when the memory of their time together came into view and he desperately tried to change them. It was the memory of him making love to Emma for the first time that finally made him break his meditation, embarrassed and also annoyed. Torzon was out of meditation too, watching quietly.
"Did...did you see that all?"
The giant nodded. "It seems your mind prefers to wander lately than to meditate. Perhaps you need a break to think on what is bothering you."
"You shouldn't continue to watch when something private like that shows up," Alexander said, a little angry. "It is rude and inconsiderate."
Torzon smiled. "Why is it rude?"
"Because it is," he snapped. "You aren't supposed to see intimate moments like that and it is impolite to watch people make love or to see someone naked when they do not want you to."
"And you don't want me to see you naked?"
"Yes, exactly that!"
"And the girl?" he asked, confused.
"Never her! Definitely not her!"
"Did she tell you that?" he frowned, unsure by the human customs now.
"Well...I mean she didn't tell me here and now but I know she wouldn't like you knowing about it or seeing her like that."
"Why? The body is something to look at, to like and see beauty in. You feel shame for others to see you, but it doesn't mean it is right. I see no arousal in Emma's body; I see beauty to be admired."
"It doesn't matter how you feel though," he explained softly. "It only matters how we feel, since it involves us."
Torzon was quiet for a moment as he considered the explanation, and then he nodded. "I do not understand the desire to be so secretive about something like that, but I understand I am not to impose myself on your human customs or culture. I apologize Aluks. I will try to break away if you stray into private memories again."
Alexander smiled. "Thank you Torzon." he closed his eyes to start his meditation again and then said, "Her body is beautiful though, huh?" Torzon laughed, nodding in agreement.
After an hour or two of meditation, with several lapses into memories on Alexander's part, they changed course for the day and started on their magicks. Torzon displayed his awesome power with ease, though he was only meaning to help Alexander practice. It was in no way done to show his power or make his training partner feel inadequate. It did help, too, or so Alex liked to believe.
It was easier to see how he used magic and apply it to his own way than to start entirely from scratch. He noticed that whenever Torzon used magic, he was always watching his target careful even while he drew upon mana. It took Alexander some time to be able to even use magic if he didn't focus his will entirely on drawing mana, but soon enough, when he was able to whip Torzon with water, he was shouting in joy. That had taken him grueling weeks, but it was well worth it.
Torzon chuckled, rubbing at his arm where the water had struck. "You are improving faster than I thought you would. It must be your reasons that drive your progress."
Emma was always his reason now. He smiled and leaned down to grab a bota of water he had sat aside. "I think it has entirely to do with having a great teacher, Torzon. I doubt I would have come this far with anyone else, or even found someone as generous and spirited as you." he took a generous drink of water even as the giant man looked away, clearly in thought. He sat aside his bota. "What's wrong?"
"It has been five months since you appeared here Aluk..."
The time had flown. Realizing how long he had been separated from Emma made his happiness disappear. "It has..." he admitted sourly. "And I have barely even tapped into the power I need."
Torzon looked at him then. "I have been thinking lately on how to help you Aluks but I wasn't sure if I was supposed to, until long hours of meditation finally paid off. I was holding off after because I was not sure your body was capable just yet, but I think I may have been wrong. The skymen hold you high regard, they believe in you and what's more, I believe in you..."
"What are you talking about?"
"If there was a way to train you faster, better even, would you accept it even if it means pushing your body to its limits? It could be dangerous, but I understand your lack of time and the urgency of the threat you wish to eliminate. I believe the skymen understand this too, otherwise they would not have given you the chalice so early on."
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"The chalice test took me three years to complete," he answered. "I am sure those with the aid of Magicite could have learned magic and filled the chalice in the matter of days or months, but we are accessing an extremely old method of magic and—" he stopped himself with a shake of his head. "Forget that...if you wish to try my methods, I will help you, I just want you to understand the risk. The stress it could do to your body could be permanent."
Alexander considered that for a moment. It sounded extremely dangerous, but he knew that even if his progress was steady and fast, it was not fast enough. Five months and barely able to fill the chalice would not do. "I do not have a choice." he said finally. "I will do it."
Torzon nodded. "Then follow me back to the caves."
For the next several hours they climbed back down the cold mountain ledges back into the Gigas caves, where the natives were busy preserving food or preparing for some Gigas holy day or perhaps festival. Alexander wanted to ask about it, but he knew there was little time and the people looked too busy to be bothered. Perhaps he would bring Emma back to ask. He was sure she would enjoy hearing about a culture no one else has heard of in at least a thousand years.
"We are here," Torzon announced. They had cut down several tunnels and were standing in a large, dark cavern. Alexander could barely see a thing in front of him! "This is where you will start the next stage of your training. It will be intense."
Alexander glanced at the darkness with apprehension. If this is the only way, what other choice do I have? He knew there was no other way to gain the power he needed to protect Emma and defeat Derell and Luke. If he could he would h ave preferred to just stay at her side, but what good would that have been when it would eventually end in her pain? Or her enslavement? He needed to make sure it was her happiness that would preserve through time and difficulties, not his own.
He nodded. "I am sure of this."
"You need to know that this place is not at all natural," he said, leading him further into the darkness. "Tell me what you feel when you meditate here Aluks."
For a moment Alexander closed his eyes and attempted to pull mana to his being for magic when he felt a surge of energy that made him shudder. He opened his eyes. "This...this whole place is full of mana."
Torzon nodded. "This is where the Aeygl once practiced their magicks, and where, at one point, the Espers did as well, when they taught my ancestors how to use it. It has a natural connection to mana," he explained. "It will lead you to a place that even I cannot follow."
"What does that mean?"
"This place is different for us all," he said. "For me it took me to the mountains of some strange new place. It was gruesome work, mentally and physically, but the results were uncanny. It is where I spent the last years of my training before I was qualified enough for my role as the leader of the Gigas clan. For you it will no doubt take you someplace else...and it could even change as you change. That is why this place is special, but is also why it is so dangerous."
"I don't care," he said sternly. "I will face it."
"Very well then." Torzon gestured ahead. "Proceed."
Uncertain of what he was to do exactly, he walked straight on, into the dark. The air grew colder, as if he plunged through ice into freezing cold water, before finally warming like the breeze of late spring. He paused mid-step and looked around, even though he couldn't see anything. He waited quietly for something to happen but nothing happened. He turned half way, considering going back to Torzon, but found that his sense of where was mixed up, even though he was certain he walked a straight line.
"Torzon?" he called but no answer was returned. "I think something is wrong. Nothing is happening." silence.
Maybe this is part of the test, he thought, walking further in, though a bit more reluctantly. His feet brushed over a stone and startled, he turned half way to swing at what he thought a foe was but met air. He fell to his knees, grimacing as the sharp rocks dug into his kneecaps. Just great...I get thrown into an empty, black hole. He got up and felt his way forward several feet. This is okay...just think Alex; what does he want you to do? Maybe there is a test in his words, too.
A breeze blew passed him, whispering. Bovta nosh katra baat?
He froze. "Who is there?"
Bovta nosh katra baat? The wind repeated, gentle and warm.
He knew the language was the one the Aegyl spoke, and was so completely useless to him. He replied in the Gigas tongue, "Who is there? Why am I here?" the same wind blew around him, with the scent of early spring. "I don't understand what I am here for. Please...tell me!"
Has katradot alos yaralko la.
Becoming very frustrated, Alexander slipped back into his native tongue. "This isn't training me if I can't even understand the lessons! At least speak in my tongue! Or one that I know!"
His answer was a trembling in the ground and a light to shine ahead of him, as if out of the ground. He ran toward it, stumbling over the loose stone and ground, trying to reach the light but never getting closer to it. It started to dim and he shouted for it to wait, but then it disappeared completely and he skid to a stop, panting.
"Stop wasting my time!" he screamed angrily, looking up at the roof. "This isn't a game, not to me! I'm not something you can just toy around with for fun! I have someplace to be—someone to meet!"
The ground started to tremble once more, this time far more fiercely, until he was forced to his hands and knees. It felt as if the ground would split open beneath him. He gritted his teeth. Was this all they could do? He would laugh at them to their faces if they would just show them! The breeze from before came back, sweeping away the darkness around him slowly, revealing a serene landscape; an open field with a creek, where foreign animals loped by under the summer sun.
He stood up, taken aback by the sudden change. Was this what Torzon had meant? Surely the change was only visual, not physical? He knelt to touch the grass and was surprised to see that he could tear it out of the ground. He lifted his head and took in the scent of the wind; no dirt, to stingy air of a cave. It was real. He stood again, marveled, and started walking towards the creek.
The water was clear, clearer than any he had ever seen before, and was cool and tasted sweet and clean. He smiled as he turned his head to watch the weird animals graze or fly by overhead. "Where am I?"
"You are where your heart is." a voice explained.
He twirled around, startled, and saw a stranger standing with his arms crossed over his massive chest. He had a head of long teal hair he kept back with a red ribbon, and bronze skin. Two horns dug out of his temples, twirling backwards over long, elegant ears. He wore only a long sash and a golden necklace, and some weird poncho hybrid.
It wasn't a human, or even Gigas or Aeygl. Perhaps one of the Occuria the Aegyl mentioned? Alexander felt flustered and unsure. "Who are you?"
The bronze skinned creature smiled softly at him. "I am the one who will instruct you to use magic. You may call me 'Moitheal'."
"What..." he wondered if it would be polite to ask it. "What are you?"
"What do you think I am?" he asked gently, unfolding his massive arms and furrowing his brows over dark brown eyes.
Alexander replied quicker than he meant to, "An Aegyl or an Occuria."
"Neither," Moitheal responded just as quickly, humor in his patient voice. "I am an Esper. We—the Aegyl and Occuria included—are brothers and sisters. We came from the same people, our paths just deviated from each other. The Aegyl went to the sky in an effort to escape the Occuria's persecution and agendas and we...well we live here now," he gestured to the place they stood. "Guarded and safe, and at peace truly for once."
The Espers, he repeated, awed. "We humans thought that you all vanished when magic died though."
"We did, from your world and our realm. Magic cannot truly be destroyed. It is in everything. We were just replaced elsewhere, where magic thrived." Moitheal turned and gestured for him to follow. "Enough of the history lesson. If you wish to know more than you will have to earn that right through diligent work."
Alexander hurried after him. "I will not disappoint you, Moitheal."
"No, I suspect you won't," he agreed softly, leading Alexander through the woods at the southern end of the field.
••••••••••••
The forest was unnatural beautiful. There were trees he did not recognize and some that he did, though they looked a bit different. There were hundreds of different plants and flowers, and just as many new birds fluttering about the canopy in excitement or anxiety to their presence. There was a beaten path leading through the forest that Moitheal led him through, though to where was still a mystery to Alexander. He didn't feel like it was right to question their destination, not so soon, so he kept his mouth shut and watched the beauty around him unfold.
Finally, after a long while of walking, his guide stopped in the middle of the path and turned his head ever so slightly to the right, as if listening to something in the distance. Alex followed the direction and tried to listen but could not hear a single thing other than the birds and the wind. A smile cracked over Moitheal's face.
"It seems your first test is about to arrive." he turned to face Alexander. He raised a hand, casting a spell, and something blue spread over Alexander's body, creating what looked like a bubble and felt like armor. "Just do your best, Alexander."
Not even the mystery of how the Esper knew his name could stop him from asking, "Wait, what am I—" but then he jumped into the air, disappearing into the canopy. A moment later a huge beast burst through the forest to his right and started charging him. Stunned momentarily he just stood there, staring, until his wits hit him again and he jumped out of the way of its charge.
The beast's tusks tore down trees with ease and its heavy hooves broke the ground like clay. It turned to face him again, snorted fire—oh no, Alexander thought—and charged again. He ran out of the way but the thing changed direction, chasing him north, further down the direction he and Moitheal had been going.
What the hell am I supposed to do?! I can barely use magic! Where the hell was the instructions? The beast's tusks were just a few feet behind him, ever so close to piercing through him. He suddenly turned to the left, confusing the beast, and hid behind a tree before it could see that he had. His breathing was shallow and he couldn't concentrate to feel for the mana like had learned to do with Torzon.
What do I do? What do I do?
He lifted a hand and tried to force magic out, but he couldn't. He could feel mana but without the time to gather it he was useless. Suddenly a giant tusk ripped through the trees to his far left and he saw round, red eyes. They caught sight of him and the tree was tossed aside before it charged at him. Alexander swore and drove him into a run once more.
"Give me a damn break!" he howled back at the thing, but it didn't seem to understand. Of course it doesn't! It is just a stupid monster! He rolled out of the way of a head swing and nearly didn't make it back to his feet in time to avoid a slash of its tusks.
"If you wish to survive, to get stronger, do not practice as the Gigas taught you!" he heard Moitheal shout from someplace. "Do not focus too much on gathering mana to create magic!"
Easy for you to say! He thought bitterly, trying his best to create magic even as he ran. Come on, come on! Please! He felt the tusks hit his back and then he thrown several feet, smashing through trees with impossible speed and force. When he finally rolled to a stop, sore and hurt, he was in awe over the fact that he was still alive.
He sat up and saw the damage that had been done to the forest and grew even more awed. He felt the spot where the tusks touched and found that he had no gaping holes or injuries. The shield magic had saved him and remained in tact. The creature broke through the nearby forest and stopped just several feet away from him, breath coming out as steam.
Moitheal was standing beside it, calmly. That's when Alexander realized it wasn't a monster but another Esper! The big thing changed into a smaller form much like Moitheal's, but larger boned and furry.
"You were concentrating too much on gathering mana," he said simply. "You must learn to forgo your training with the Gigas if you wish to access the power that you want. If your goal is become as powerful as Emma or her mother, that is."
Alexander's eyes widened and he got to his feet, ignoring the pain in his back and ribs. "How do you know her name?! Who are you really?!"
That gentle and patient smile spread across his face again. "I told you who and what I am." he looked at the furry Esper beside him. "Basser, we will require your assistance again in the morning. Is that alright?"
The Esper nodded. "I shall be here." he gave Alex one stare before turning and vanishing into the woods. Moitheal approached Alexander and waved a hand over him, curing him and removing the shield.
"We shall test you again in the morning. Until then—"
"I am not going anywhere," he cut in sharply, trying to hold back his anger. "Not until you give me a real lesson! I'm sick and tired of all of these games!"
The Esper's brown eyes shone with understanding and worse of all to Alexander, humor. "That was a test. I needed to see where you stood and it seems you lack the ability to summon magic unless you are as still as stone, or near as still at least. This will not do. We will train you to use magic as if you had learned through Magicite—as if you were Esper yourself."
"I want to start now." he insisted. "Right now. Not tomorrow, not next month—now!"
Moitheal laughed, happily. "You are terribly impatient...but I will not deny you what you request. We shall start now and then continue tomorrow. Will that suffice for you?" there was more humor to his tone, and a sort of parental tone that made Alex pink. He nodded, a little annoyed. "Good, it is settled. For now follow me."
The patient Esper led him back through the forest quietly, only stopping to wait for Alexander to catch up. Finally they came to a small clearing near a waterfall. Moitheal stopped him near the water and gestured for him to sit. Once they were seated, Moitheal asked him, "Torzon taught you a truly ancient form of magick, but today I shall start to teach you our way. The reason Torzon waited to give you this training is because you will will have to fight to learn our magicks. The battles, alongside the training, will be harsh. He wanted your body to be ready to accept this challenge and that meant waiting until you could use magick his way, because that would mean your body was truly strong. Do you understand?"
"I believe so, yes," he muttered. "Why is it so hard for me to learn magic when my father and his friends could learn it relatively easy, without the practice and training that I got through?"
"Magic was different then," he explained. "They learned through Magicite. It aided them, granting them power the longer they used the shards. Your method will not be too different from theres, at least for the process. You will not be granted Magicite."
"I understand," he said, knowing full well what obtaining Magicite usually meant—death or imprisonment for that Esper.
"Then let us get started. I shall impart you a portion of my magicks. Tell me if you feel the presence." he laid a hand on Alexander's shoulder and closed his eyes. Swirls of wind raced around Moitheal, with wisps of fire and snowflakes, before ending. Alexander felt a pulse of energy race through him.
"I feel something," he said, and that caused the Esper to stop his actions. The feeling was gone. "It is gone now..."
"I wanted you to feel what it is like, so you know when you are there. Now, think about magic. Let's start with fire. Imagine the heat, the form, the life...and then try to shape it with your mana. Like so," he lifted a hand and a spark of fire popped up onto his palm, dancing and growing bigger. "Now you try." Alexander took a deep breath and faced his palm upward. Think fire, he told himself, imaging fire. He saw a huge flame and tried to collect the mana he was used to, but smoke only wisped from his palm. He sighed. "Hang in there Alexander. You will get this. Try again and remember the feeling you felt earlier, when I gave you my mana."
••••••••••••
The hours went on under Moitheal's careful guidance and his patient instructions. Alexander tried and tried, but when dusk hit them, the only thing he could bring forth was smoke. One time he made a spark, like when stones are struck together, but that was it. It took all of his energy from him doing just that and he had nearly collapsed from exhaustion when Moitheal called the practice to a stop.
"We shall start again in the morning, and then test you again. We shall push you until you show results." Alexander groaned a reply. As sore and tired as he was, he couldn't answer. "For now, you must rest and return. Continue your training with Torzon, and keep at the chalice. You will find that you will fill it soon enough."
Alexander didn't even bother to ask how he knew about all of that. It was clear the mysterious Esper was not going to share how he knew. He just wanted to know how he was to get back and then back to this spot. When he asked, the Esper smiled. "I shall send you back. When you need to come back, go back to the chambers you entered and you will reappear where you last where." he stood. "Are you ready to go?"
Alexander sat up carefully. His legs felt like noodles, and his body felt empty. He sure couldn't wait to eat and rest. "I'm ready and Moitheal..." the Esper looked at him, waiting. "Thank you."
Moitheal smiled and then waved his hand, putting Alexander back into the dark cavern.
He stood for a moment, considering the day that he had, before he turned about, trying to figure out how to get out. That's when he noticed the room was not dark anymore, and he could see Torzon in meditation by the door—waiting. He approached the giant slowly, so that he did not push his body too far in his state.
The giant woke before he even got close. "You are back." he stood gracefully. "You have been gone all day. How did it go?"
Alexander slumped his shoulders in defeat. "It went terribly. I didn't learn a thing."
"That can't be true," Torzon said. "I'm sure you learn something. Even if it were small, it is something that sets your further down your path." Alexander didn't think about it like that, and if he had all the time in the world, he would have agreed, but he didn't. "Do not be so disappointed Alexander. You must believe in yourself and give your body time. You will come through, I'm sure of it."
"How can you be so sure?" he asked, feeling useless once more.
Torzon wrapped an arm around his shoulder and started to guide him out of the cavern. "Because the Aegyl believe in you and your purpose is a worthy one that will succeed. You just have to trust it yourself." Alexander thought on that. Could the Aegyl's belief in him really matter? "And besides...I'm sure Emma does too."
That made him smile. Emma would, wouldn't she? He realized, feeling hope build in his heart. He laughed. "You are right Torzon..you are right."
"See? Now let us find something to eat! I am famished and I am sure you are too."
"Would you sit still for just a moment?" he asked as the girl squirmed under him in annoyance and agitation to her immobility. She did not stop squirming. "Or would you perhaps like to see what you look like without all of this hair?" he lifted up the soft curls.
The girl gasped in despair. "I told you to cut—cut it only a little!" she reached up to touch where her hair was, to ensure it was where it was supposed to be. "You better not cut t-too much of I'll—"
"I'm sure you will whine about it," Robert cut in with a laugh.
He tried to straighten out her long, green hair once more but it was hard with all of the curls and twists. He had tried to get her to tame it for a week or so before the cut, so that it wouldn't be all over the place, but the girl kept complaining that it was always like that, no matter how much she brushed it. He supposed that could be true. He saw her brush her hair more than he saw anyone else do it, and yet it remained as tousled as it currently was. However, if she ended up with a hair cut she didn't like, it would be her own fault for not even trying.
He started cutting, carefully because he absolutely did not want to hear her complain or shriek in anger. She started kicking her feet. "Stop that or I'll cut an ear off." that made her stop and turn pale all over. "I am almost done, so keep still." When he finished he brushed the bigger strands of hair off her shoulders, patted them and then turned to rinse the tools off and put them away. "There, I am finished."
A bright smile crept across her face and she reached for the hand mirror he had sat aside for her. When she lifted it up to see, she smiled. It had been cut to stop just a few inches passed her shoulders. It would be weird for her to not see her hair reach nearly to her waist, or to have that much hair to braid, wash or brush, but she had no doubt she would find this just as pretty. She reached up to touch the small tendrils. "You didn't ruin it."
Her statement made him laugh. "You know I have cut hair before, right?" she made a 'mmm' noise as if in disbelief. "Now what will you do?"
She thought for a moment, cocking her head to the side just slightly. Her decision made her giggle. "I'll have a bath!"
Robert turned to her and saw that she was already off the kitchen seat. "You already had one this morning."
"But now I have hair all over me," she protested, reaching down for her slippers, straining due to the seven month swell of her pregnancy. Her face turned red at the exertion. He leaned down to help her, which only made her frown and slap at his hands. He made a mental note to get her new slippers since, for the second time so far, her feet had gotten too swollen to properly fit in them. "Besides, my ankles hurt and—and so do my bones. I want to take another bath. Why can't I? Why?"
He conceded to the pout he was given and helped her up the stairs to draw her a bath. He made it as hot as he dared and even then she complained it wasn't hot enough. He made sure to put his foot down though and tell her that was as hot as he was allowing it to get. She pouted but otherwise accepted.
He didn't want to leave her alone now that she was so big and imbalanced all the time, but when he sat down in the basin room, she turned pink all over and demanded he leave the room. He grumbled his protests, that it wasn't safe, but she would not have it. Finally he was out of the room and told her to keep the door open, so that he could hear if something were to happen. This time she relented and went to her soothing bath.
The whole process had become very annoying lately. It wasn't so bad now though, with his back to the basin room and capable of hearing everything within. He particularly liked it when she sang to the baby, though he suspected she sang as much to herself as she did to the baby. She always sung gentle songs, soothing and beautiful, and whispered to him all of the promises any mother would make her baby. It made him smile whenever she spoke to it, because he could hear the depth of her affection from her voice alone, and it was beautiful.
She should make for an interesting mother, he thought, realizing then that it had been nearly an hour. He cleared his throat and asked if she were done.
There was some splashing and then a, "Yes, but..."
"What is wrong?"
Another moment of silence, splashing and then a sigh. "I...I can't get up."
"What? Why not?"
"Because I can't!" she snapped, clearly annoyed with him. When he didn't move to help her, he heard her grumble something under her breath. "Because...because I'm too big." she admitted after a moment, and he oh'd. Was that too hard to say aloud? What about it could embarrass her so thoroughly?
He got up, took the towel off her bed and went into the room. When he got too close to the basin, he closed his eyes, slung the towel over his shoulder and reached out an arm. After a seconds' hesitation, he felt her went hand grab at his forearm. Her skin was hot, almost to the point of being uncomfortable, but he did not say anything. "Are you steady?" he asked when he felt her stand.
"I...I think so...don't open your eyes!" she cried when he turned his head, though he hadn't intended to open his eyes.
"I wasn't going to," he snapped back. "Just lift one foot at a time and be very careful."
'Okay, okay," she mumbled, fingers digging deeper into his forearms as she lifted herself over the basin. For half a moment he considered taking a peep, just to see how comical it looked, but decided against it. The last thing he needed was for her to have a conniption fit so late into her pregnancy and in such an awkward, dangerous place.
When she was outside the water and shivering—he could feel her trembling—he said, "Okay, stand still and hold onto me." when he was sure she did as directed, he reached for the towel and blindly wrapped it around her. He felt the warm, smooth skin of her shoulder above her collarbone, hesitated and then continued. "There...is that good?" he asked, keeping his eyes shut tightly.
"Yes," she answered quietly, releasing her fingers from him to adjust the towel so that it closed around her enormous belly. He slowly opened his eyes, afraid he might have misunderstood her, but saw that she was in fact covered. He smiled for half a second before he saw the black rings around her eyes and how pale her skin was. She noticed his staring and flushed. "What?"
"You're as pale as snow," he said quietly.
She oh'd and looked away. "I haven't had a lot of sleep but I'm okay, I promise." he knew she didn't like taking the potions and suspected she had been skipping them again. He sighed.
"Come, let us get you dressed and fed, and then sent to bed."
"But—but I'm not tired," she protested, following him out of the basin room. How she moved made him laugh. "Stop laughing at me! And I don't want to go to sleep! I'm not tired!"
"Would you go to sleep with your potions if I cooked you whatever you wanted?" he asked, turning his back so she could get dress. He heard her shuffling about. "Well?"
"Can I have lots of meat and sweets?"
He sighed. "If it will get you to sleep, then fine."
"Okay then," she chirped, clearly happy she got her way. He felt her brush by him a moment later and he peaked over his shoulder, seeing that she was in a huge night gown, the same one that Cadence had dressed her in during the her last visit. He swallowed and looked away, refusing to even let his mind admit how attractive she looked in it.
Gods, he thought, desperately trying to keep his eyes off of her while she teetered over to the dresser and mirror to dry her hair with a spare towel. Once she was done, she brushed it and then tried to reach back to braid it but could not reach her hair anymore. Her eyes focused on him through the mirror and he froze. "...can you help me braid my hair?" he cleared his throat and quietly made his way over.
"I might not braid it right," he muttered, dividing the hair as he remembered seeing it done once or twice before. As he worked she distracted herself with her bare feet, wiggling the toes and frowning at something she thought about her swollen feet. She sighed just as he tied the ribbon. "There, finished."
She looked up from her feet and into the mirror, turned her head and looked at the braid. "See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" she mimicked him with a smile, which made him pink a bit. She got off the bench by the dresser. "Can we have supper now?"
"Sure, sure," he said, taking her arm and helping her out of the room and down the stairs to the kitchen. He left her at her typical stool and went about locating the fresh meat he had caught several days ago.
"Don't forget about the sweets!" she chirped when he began cutting the meat.
"I won't, I won't," he muttered, placing a bowl of sweets in front of her. "Just don't eat too much of it, or it will ruin supper." he went back to his work and when he finished, putting the meat into the stew, he turned to see that she had eaten most of the sweets in the bowl. He took it out of her hands, chided her and then put it someplace she couldn't reach—the very top of the cabinets. "You never cease to disappoint me, girl."
She licked her lips, covered in sugar and bread filling, and asked, "When is supper going to be done?"
"When it is done," he said, turning back to the stew. "Now stop being a pest or I'll cut all of your hair off and Alexander will wonder where the beautiful locks went." his teasing prickled her sensitive feelings and she started to cry. He face her with the ladle in his hands. "Come on, I was only joking."
"He liked me hair," she sobbed. "And—and you c-c-cut it!"
He looked at her, flabbergasted. "You told me to."
She rubbed her hand against her eyes to clear away tears. "But now he won't like me anymore..."
"What?" He asked, frowning. "Are you serious?" round, teary eyes looked at him, very much serious. "You are truly a stupid girl, you know that? Alexander sailed across the damn globe for you...do you really think the length of your hair will matter to him?" her silence pushed him forward. "He told me he loved your hair countless times, not because it was long, but because he thought it was beautiful. So stop your crying."
"Really?" she mumbled, sniffing.
Why in the world is she acting so strange today? He wondered if it had anything to do with her lack of sleep and pale complexion. "Really. I wouldn't lie to you, it would be a waste of my energy. Now can you quiet down so I can—"
"—it's burning!" she shouted, and he turned back to the stew with a loud swear.
Once he had it served—finding that it thankfully only burned at the very bottom—he sat down to eat peacefully. She was drumming her heels into the chair as she ate, which was rather sloppy, content for the moment. I suppose I should ask more about her, he thought, watching her joyfully eat too much stew at once. He already knew what he was going to do as the 'even' to distract her, but he hoped she would reveal something more, something she otherwise wouldn't.
Well, here I go... he took a breath. "Say..." she looked up at him, chewing. "Alexander once mentioned something about taking you to a...what was it called? Entrance?" her eyes widened at that. "It was while we were setting sail for Alúzar, if I remember correctly. What is it, anyway?"
She was gaping at him. "Did he r-r-really say that? Did he really?"
"Of course he did. Why?"
She smiled brightly, happy tears in her eyes, until it completely vanished and her wonderful smile was replaced by a deep frown. "It doesn't matter...I wouldn't be able to go anymore." she looked back down at her stew, sad.
"Why not?" he pressed, now curious.
"I'm not at that age anymore," she explained. "And..."
"And...?" he pressed. Silently her tears trailed her cheeks and she did not answer. Now he regretted the whole thing. "I'm sorry if I upset you." he said after a moment, to give her some time of comfort. "I just thought that..."
She looked at him and slid her bowl back. "Can...can I go to bed now?" he couldn't deny her, not when she looked so sad. He nodded. "Can I have my p-p-potion, too?"
"I'll bring it up, just be careful going up the stairs." she left the kitchen in sniffles and when he was sure she was gone, he sighed and laid his head on the table, angry with himself for his stupidity. I shouldn't have said anything!
When he got together her potion and went to her room, she was snuggled up under her blankets, with everything under her nose underneath. He would have made a comment about it, to make her stutter or blush, but he knew now was not the time. He held out the potion drink. She ripped it out of his hands and chugged too much of it down, in which he replied by ripping it right back out of her hands.
"What the hell are you thinking?! You can't have that much!"
"I needed more," she said defensively. "It isn't working anymore!"
So that's why she hasn't been sleeping, he realized. It isn't because she's skipping them... "Do you want to know why?" he said, pouring the potion into a vase of flowers, to her dismay. "Because you have used it too much. You abused it and now it is useless."
"But—but..."
"There isn't any room to argue," he said. "That is just how it is. You will have to fall asleep yourself."
Her face turned red and he knew she was ready to chew him out verbally—though most of it would be screaming, no doubt—but then she relaxed and looked away. "Good. Now get some sleep." he went to blow out the candles but she stopped him. "What?" he asked, a little more sharply than he meant to.
"Never mind!" she cried, turning away from him.
"I'm sorry," he said quickly, realizing he had been rude. "Really, I am...what did you want?" her silence was starting to annoy. "Come on Emma, I said I was sorry." she rolled over to look at him again, unsure. "I meant it. I'm sorry."
She sat up, blushing. "Can...can you keep them going? I...I don't want—want the nightmares to come back."
And you think that can help you from them? He wanted to ask, but nodded instead. "Sure...just try to get some sleep." she smiled, thanked him softly and then snuggled back up under the security and warmth of her blankets. "Good night." he whispered.
••••••••••••
In the morning Emma woke peacefully, and fully re-energized. She was facing the window, so she hadn't noticed that Robert was standing beside the bed until she turned her head and saw him watching her. She let out a ear piercing screech, bundled up her blanket and hid under it, absolutely shocked. Her heart was thrumming wildly and while she knew it was Robert, she could not understand why he was just standing there.
He said, "Are you alright?"
She peeled the blanket away and shouted, "Why are you in here?!"
"Well...well don't just stand there while I sleep!"
"Why?" he asked, clearly amused.
"Because...because it is creepy!"
He laughed and revealed a tray on the table. "Alright then, I'm sorry for being creepy. I made breakfast for you." her eyes went to the tray that he was moving to her lap and she frowned. He noticed. "What?"
"Is...did something happen?" she asked, looking away from the food with upturned brows.
"No, why?"
She looked away, back to the food, confused. What is going on? Why is he acting so weird?
Something is definitely wrong, her voice wormed out of its hiding spot, suspicious.
I think so too, she agreed, reaching for the food, acutely aware of the fact that he was staring. I wish he would stop staring at me! Almost as if he heard, he turned and went into the basin room to start a bath. That made it even weirder. When she finished eating, he helped her to the basin room despite her stating she wanted to rest a little longer, and then he helped her to the dresser and asked if she wanted him to help with her hair again.
She was panicking. His behavior was worrying her. "I'm fine." she said as sternly as she could managed. He must have caught onto the tone because he left her be, heading downstairs.
Finally! The voice cried, entirely creeped out. He is definitely up to something! What if there is an Alúzari platoon downstairs?!
Emma paled. No! He...he wouldn't do that.
Then why is he acting so strange?
I'm not sure, she admitted.
When she finally went downstairs she was anxious. She knew that whatever it was causing Robert to act so strange it could not be good. She feared every step she took, until she appeared in the main room and saw him standing by the table with his arms crossed. Then she was only confused, because there was an oversized bathing suit on the table beside a basket of what she could only assume was food. "What is this?" she asked, eying the swimming suit.
He unfolded his arms. "You said you would like to learn sometime and I think now is the best chance to. Ales offers some of the best temperatures to swim in parts like this, at least."
She frowned. "But it is still cold outside..."
"Around here, sure," he said. "however further south, just a little passed the mountains, it gets warm, like late spring. I know a place where you can practice safely and get plenty of sun."
Swimming? He knows I'm too sore and... she frowned. "Are you going to make me build houses out of dirt?"
He laughed. "No, I promise, nothing like that. So?"
Desperate to find a way out, she said quickly, "I don't have anything to wear and that isn't going to fit." she pointed to the teal suit that she knew, if it fit, would be embarrassing. He smirked.
"I know it will fit, but I'll tell you what...if it doesn't fit, we don't have to go, but if it does, we do go. Is it a deal?"
She went to the table and inspected the size, and then determined she was right. There was no way it would fit. She smiled. "It is a deal." and so she went to get dressed in his room, so that she did not have to up and down the stairs multiple times. When she was dressed, she shyly went out to him, annoyed that it fit just fine and made her look fat and ugly, as she thought it would. A lot of her scars were uncovered, and she felt ashamed.
Despite that he only smiled at her, in an approving way that made her flush. "See...I told you it would fit. Now let us go before it gets too late and when we get back, I will cook you something for lunch. Does that sound nice?"
She looked at him, frowning. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
The question threw him, but he recovered with a laugh. "Do you want me to be mean?" and that was that. She didn't have anything to say to that and it was clear he was not going to acknowledge his change of behavior, so she followed him outside, where he had the chocobos waiting. When she saw Sunsilver she shrieked happily and wrapped her arms around his neck, giggling when it danced in place. "And look, he's perfectly healthy like I said."
Emma cared so much for the bird that she forgot all about her suspicious and worries over his change. She kissed his feathery neck and squeezed even harder. "I missed you!"
Robert laughed. "Alright, alright, don't squeeze him too much or he'll nip you." Obediently she pulled away and instead stroked his neck, giggling when he warked happily. When he set up the birds with the basket and supplies, he helped her up—which only made her even more nervous—and they were off, heading south at a steady but swift speed.
It was indeed a pleasant day out; late spring brought a warm sunlight and constant cool breeze. It was definitely very pleasing. She was more accustomed to subtropical temperatures like Thamasa and had only just begun getting used to the arid heat of Figaro, but this? Oh she found it so splendid! She wanted to stop and admire the scenery of the southern mountains but she was afraid of asking Robert, only because she did not like his change of character at all.
Finally the place he talked about, or so she assumed, because he stopped his chocobo into a large opening, where at the far side a creak ran from a semi-deep pool of clear water that ran from a rocky ledge in the mountains. The grass was high and swayed in the wind, turning pale green as it danced, like a sea of liquid emeralds. She couldn't resist any longer! She pulled Sunsilver to a stop and crawled off of him and raced into the grass, even as Robert shouted for her to be careful and to wait.
She giggled and twirled slowly, letting the cool breeze brush over her like the hug of an old relative and then rushed to the water, still ignoring Robert's commands, until her feet touched the clear water of the water. That was as far as she went though, staring ahead fearfully at the water. Robert finally appeared beside her, having sat their things down a little further away from the water.
He gave her a moment of silence and then said, "Wouldn't you like to swim?"
She nodded, but her fingers were twisting through each other nervously. "I won't let you drown Emma. I won't." she looked at him and then at the water.
"...will—will you be with me?"
He smiled. "I'll be right beside you. We don't even have to go all the way in. We can go as far as you comfortable."
She took several steps in, until the water was just a few inches over her calves and then she backed out with a shake of her head. "You go first." he smiled but did as he was told. Emma waited until he was further in before following, stopping when it reached her waist. She found it enough and carefully sat down so that the water was brushing over her breasts coolly. He went back to her side though stayed a good distance away.
This is nice, she thought, closing her eyes. The voice grumbled in agreement.
"So, is there any reason you never learned to swim before now?"
She opened her eyes and faced him, frowning. "I mean, why didn't you learn before? When you were on Thamasa surrounding by all of that ocean?"
Emma had no idea how to respond. She feared telling him more for unknown reasons. She hesitated but fear and anxiety drove her to answer regardless, "No...no one had time to teach me." she mumbled.
"What about your brothers? Why didn't they teach you?"
She swallowed back a sharp, 'leave me alone!' and said, "I don't know..." she was aware her tone heavily implied her reluctance and he must have understood because he dropped the subject.
"Well...how about we start now, hmm?" he asked, standing and holding a hand out to her. "I won't let you drown, I promise."
She slowly accepted his hand and rose to her feet. "How long do I have to swim?"
"Just for a little while and then you can rest in the water or the sun all you want." he started to guide her further in. "And we can't practice too far into the shallows or it won't count."
"I understand that the day has been tiring for you son, I do," Edgar said, following his son down the castle halls towards the war room. "But seeing your sister late is going to worry her and upset her. Your mother is worried the stress will trigger early birth or panic attacks, which is not healthy for her or the baby."
Cambyses sighed. "I understand father and I said the visit would go on tomorrow, but for now I am tired and would like to see Suon and get some rest. We can discuss this later."
"There won't be a later," he said sharply. "The ship is leaving tomorrow, remember? Or do you perhaps hope to distract us long enough so that we cannot go?" Ever since his last visit to Emma he had grown far more lively, looking more like the man he called father before everything happened—before his sister had been assaulted. He was a father again, and worried about his baby.
"I said later, father," he growled, walking faster, but his father caught up.
"She will want to see her mother too, you know."
"I know," he said, gritting his teeth.
Edgar cleared his throat, finally getting to his point. "I was thinking about the visit...would it be a problem if I visited her with you?"
"You know mother would want to go too if you went," Camb said, softening up. He had to remember that his parents were just worried and couldn't put that aside to think about the risks of moving all out at once or too close together to last visits. "And you know I cannot say no to her when she asks."
"Then don't say no to her," Edgar suggested. "Emma is nearing her due date. Your mother has missed so much for her daughter...don't make her miss this too."
Cambyses paused and sighed. That was true. It was cruel enough for his mother having to miss so much of her daughter's life, unable to comfort her during the hardest part of her life. He knew he had no choice. Cadence would pester him about the same thing too, anyway. "Alright, fine, you two can accompany us."
Edgar laughed and hugged his son. "Thank you Cambyses, my son, your mother will be ecstatic!"
"I'm sure," he said. "Now would you please? Suon is waiting for us."
"Of course, of course," he laughed, following after his son once more.
Once they were within the war room, they were greeted by Suons, Hals and Celes, who had been busy going over maps and documents they had retrieved from scouts and spies, and most importantly Erik's espionage. Edgar took a seat, with a wide smile that told the world he had gotten his wishes granted, while Cambyses took a spot at the head of the table.
"Where are we with routes?"
Celes pointed to the eastern seas. "The scouts have promised that the eastern waters are abandoned."
Hals snorted. "And for good reason. Not even Alúzari are foolish enough to sail those seas. Hardly a soul has survived them. I would rather not test our luck just because our bombing mission went successfully."
Suon clicked his tongue and said, "I believe Celes is correct in her suggestion. We are better sailors than Alúzar. They have been a military for less than twenty-five years, we centuries. If there is any nation that can sail the hazards of the east, it would be use. The risk is well worth it."
Cambyses thought it over, looking over the map. He pointed to the south. "How heavily populated is this area?"
"Heavily," Suon said. "Hardly a spec of the ocean remains clear of Alúzari. They have kept their northern approach and southern approach guarded well."
Edgar leaned over to get a look at the maps. "I sailed the eastern waters before. There is a trick to it, but it is definitely doable." they looked at him, utterly surprised.
Celes laughed. "Oh...I keep forgetting you went about for a year as a pirate."
He smiled. "Well...I had to do what I had to, regardless it worked out well, hasn't it?" he stood and pointed to a specific route around scattered, abandoned tropical islands. "If we sail around the islands, we can get around the storms and the rocks and then sweep around to the south and make way west to Alúzari shores. If you time it, you could even go out with a storm so that potential scouts could not see you approach."
Cambyses looked at his generals. "What do you think?"
Hals nodded. "I trust in our kings, old or new, so I say we go for it."
Celes smiled. "You already know what Suon and I think. The only question is who will be going?"
Edgar looked at her. "You are the only other person I would trust with this mission, as well as Sabin."
"I agree," Cambyses said. "You can go with four of our warships as well. If our mission is to succeed, someone with as successful as a background as yours will serve us well."
Celes nodded. "I understand. If that is to be so, I would like to bring my son, Jacen. I have been teaching him my Runic techniques since we started our magical practice and I think he would serve us well as a secondary supportive role. If Derell has trained his men with magic, it will be needed if something were to happen to me or if we were to be separated."
"Are you sure?" he asked, frowning. He knew Cadence would lose her temper when she found out about this, but she had no say. It was up to her mother and her brother. She nodded. "Then you should see your husband and children after this meeting and discuss it with them. I want our ships out before the end of the fortnight. If that is all?" he asked. They said their goodbyes and went about their commands and business quietly. He looked at his father's hopeful eyes and chuckled. "Alright father...go see mother and tell her the good news."
Edgar smiled and hurried away.
Robert had not expected to enjoy his time with the girl as much as he had. Granted most of that 'fun' came from the fact that she was not very stubborn or annoying, it was still nice. He relaxed in the water, floating along on his back, and watched or listened to her giggle when little fish swam by and nibbled at her toes or legs. Occasionally she would gasp and hurry toward shallow water if a larger swim swam by, afraid it had razor teeth, before trudging her way back into the water.
It was seeing her like this that made him forget, even if momentarily, that she was abused as she was, or that she even carried a child. It was strange to even think about a girl her age having a baby and the more he watched, the more he found it strange and most of all unfair.
She ducked her head into the water to look at the underwater world and all the fish. She's being forced to grow faster than she should, he thought, watching as she tore her head out of the water with a loud 'gaah!' for fresh air. A child who did not have a childhood. She must think having fun isn't something she's supposed to do. He sighed and looked up at the sky, trying to keep himself distracted, but all he could hear was her laughter and movement through the water. I suppose she's not a child anymore anyway...best she grow up, for her child's sake at least.
He hadn't heard her talking to him until she shouted his name. He looked back at her and the smile across her face. "What?"
"Aren't you going to help me?" she called out, a little annoyed, as she gestured to something beside her in the water. She reached her arms into the water and tugged at something before giving up. "Hurry up!"
Great. What could I be getting myself into this time? He swam over and tried to get a look at what she was doing. "What are you doing, girl?"
"There is a rock down here."
"So what?"
"This rock is special," she insisted, reaching back down for it but failing again. "It is this—this big," she indicated how big with her hands. "And it is all red and pretty. Please help me lift it? Pleeeease?"
He tried to hold back a smirk. She was aware she was going to get her way. He shooed her aside. "Alright, fine, move out of the way." he waited until she backed away a good foot or so and then knelt to feel for the object. He could see a shimmer of red when the water stilled. He wrapped his hands around it, pushed his feet into a good stance and then tried to pull it. It was if it were stuck in stone. He grimaced and pulled harder. "Almost...have...it...!" and then he tore it out of the ground and flew back into the water, splashing Emma. She giggled wildly at his mishap and when he stood to chide her for laughing at him when he had helped her, he saw her stiffen.
"What's wrong?" he asked, still holding the rock, which was really some red and blue crystal the size of his head. It wasn't so heavy but it was enough to cause annoyance. Her eyes were wide and locked onto the crystal. "Emma?"
Her eyes flashed amber and she cried out painfully, dropping to her knees into the water. It washed over her breasts, nearly reaching her neck. "Emma?!" he howled, rushing over with the crystal still in his hands. He reached to lift her face up, to see if she were transforming again, but as soon as he had her eyes met the crystal again, still wide in fear, and the crystal reacted by glowing bright red.
"Arrrr!" she cried, looking away.
Robert tossed the crystal ashore, which she followed for only a second before crying out again and clutching her head in sobs. "What's wrong?! What happened?! Emma?!" he tried to lift her up out of the water but she shoved him away, and not with her human strength. Two arms had manifested out of her back, red and hot. He swore. "Emma, calm down! You have to or you will transform again!"
Her answer was a loud and painful wail. "Arrah! Get out of my head!" she cried.
His eyes widened. "What are you talking about? I'm not in your head!" he went back over, carefully so that he did not agitate her or her additional arms, and knelt in the water beside her. "Listen to me Emma...everything will be alright, but you have to calm down."
She looked at him, crying. Her eyes were red. "Please...please stop...in my head...too much..." she slumped her head against his chest, trembling not out of cold or fear, but pain. He wrapped his arms around her, unsure of what to do. Slowly more arms started to wiggle out of her or around her, boiling the water from their contact, and he swore. What do I do?
She jerked away and arched back, stiff and quiet as stone though her face contorted in all forms of pain and terror. The arms had forced him away again. What do I do?! He knew that if she transformed again he would need to use his power on her, but he wasn't sure if he could even do that again, if that would even work. Tell me what to do, please!"
And then suddenly her eyes changed back, rolled back into her head and then she collapsed into the water. The arms popped like an ember and disappeared into the wind in smoke. Robert gasped and hurried to get her out of the water before she could drown and lifted her up against him. "Emma?" he touched her skin and jerked his hand away from the heat that had greeted him. "Hold on, just hold on." he pleaded, carrying her back to shore.
As soon as the sun cleared on the second day, Camb gathered his parents, child and wife and flew the ship to Emma's cabin. The wait getting there was rather boring, but luckily his wife and son managed to distract him somewhat. He was impatient to see his sister and how much she has grown, and hopefully, improved. But most of all he was worried what Robert had been doing to his sister to complete his plan.
Gods, hopefully it isn't something bad. And then he saw her cabin and smiled when his mother excitedly hurried to the window, waiting to see her daughter. When the ship landed, he helped his mother down first and then his wife and son, with his father following behind. He wondered why no one had went out to greet them yet and reluctantly knocked on the door, finding it locked.
The door opened, revealing a very worn out Robert. He looked read to drop from exhaustion anymore. Cambyses frowned. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Robert sighed and moved out of the way for them to enter, one by one. "I was beginning to think you would never show up."
"Why, what happened?" he demanded.
He rubbed at his eyes. "A few days ago I took your sister out to swim-" that alarmed them all, as they had no idea she could even swim. "-and...and she found something in the water that she wanted me to get for her. I finally got it out of the water but as soon as she saw it she went...well I don't know what to call it but she started screaming and transforming." "
"What are you talking about?" he asked. "What did she find?"
Terra asked, "Is she okay?"
Robert shifted nervously on his feet. "She is okay and I have no idea what she found. It looks like a crystal."
"May we go see her?" Terra asked.
"Where is she now?" Edgar asked at the same time.
"At the moment, or at least when I was with her last, she was resting in her room, but you should know she is very jumpy right now and she won't tell me anything. This morning I caught her talking to herself, screaming actually. When I confronted her she started screaming at me and then she hid away in her room."
"I'll see her first," Terra said sternly, hurrying around her son before he could protest and then she was gone.
"It doesn't sound good at all," Cadence muttered, shifting Henry around in her arms. "I hope she is okay."
"I will accompany my wife," Edgar added. "You all should go see the crystal and determine what it is. Terra and I shall see if we can get something out of our daughter."
"Good idea father," Cambyses nodded to him and then turned to Robert as Edgar walked away. "Would you take us to the crystal?"
••••••••••••
When Edgar arrived upstairs he found that his daughter's door was open and inside Terra was cradling her daughter in a loving hug only a mother could give. The girl was sobbing incoherently, sometimes sounding like she was speaking another language entirely. Terra only soothed her and rocked her, telling her everything would be okay.
"I hear them mother, I hear them all. It...it hurts so bad. I—I can't get them to s-stop."
"Tell me who it is, dear, who is talking to you?" Terra was smoothing her hair down, holding her tight.
Emma sobbed and wrapped her arms around her mother's waist, trembling. "They won't—won't tell me, they won't tell me," she said between cries. "I don't understand why—why they keep talking to me. I don't understand what they want." she sniffled. "They want me—me to tell everyone..."
"Tell everyone what?" she pressed as Edgar slipped into the room quietly, quieted by the scene.
"I don't know," she said. "I don't know."
She pressed her closer and kissed the top of her head. "I need to know what they are saying exactly if I am to help you dear..."
There was a moment of silence as the girl peeled away from her mother to stare at the corner of her room, eyes wide. "They—they want to know if I told you all what I became," she said, turning her head back to the safety of her mother and away from something in the corner. "What do they mean mother? What do they mean? Everyone already knows—knows I am a m-monster!"
"Oh my sweet baby girl," she crooned. "You are no monster. You are my perfect little girl." she rocked her for a moment, to sooth her and calm her down so that she could get answers. "Emma, I need to know..did the voices only bother you when you saw the crystal?"
Edgar frowned. Something about the way his wife sounded bothered him, as if she had some suspicious as to what was happening.
"Yes," she admitted, trembling. She cried, "It hurts...it hurts...go away!" she suddenly snapped even though she was still hiding her head against her mother, shaking in a fit. The door squeaked and Terra turned to see her husband. Edgar recognized the look in his wife's eyes—she needed to leave for a moment. He knew that h is wife would never leave her child, especially Emma, unless she felt it was absolutely necessary.
"Emma, sweety," she held the girl away. "Would you talk to your father for a moment?"
"No, don't leave me alone with them!" she cried and then she turned her head with a sudden jerk towards the window. "Go away!"
"Your father will right here with you and I will be right back, I promise. I just need to see the crystal, so that I can determine how to help you." she lifted the girl's face up, so that she could see her eyes. "Can you be brave for me, Emma?" The girl sniffled, rubbed her hand against her nose and nodded. Terra smiled, kissed her cheek and then hurried out of the room, leaving Edgar to the job of soothing their daughter.
As soon as she was gone, Emma started to cry. Edgar went over to her and took her hand. "I'm right here my dear girl...I'm right here." she leaned away from the bed to hug him. "I won't go anywhere."
••••••••••••
Terra found everyone gathered in the library around a table. When she shuffled by them and saw the crystal, her eyes widened. It was Magicite! Before she could utter her disbelief, her son asked, "Mother, have you ever seen anything like this before?"
She nodded, still staring. "It's...it's Magicite."
"I thought Magicite disappeared though?" Cadence asked, staring down at the crystal in awe.
"They did, but I never suspected that magic's return would revive them, too." she turned to Robert. "I believe she isn't talking to herself, but to an Esper or multiple Espers. I think seeing the Magicite triggered it. I think they triggered her Esper state too, like what happened to me."
"I don't get it." her son muttered. "I thought she was already able to do that?" Cambyses reached out to touch the crystal even as he said it. Terra frowned.
"I thought so too, but..."
"Maybe she wasn't an Esper when we saw her at Figaro, or whenever she transformed?" Cadence suggested.
"That can't be," Camb protested to his wife's remarks. "We saw her!"
"No, Cambyses, I think she is onto something." Terra said. "Think about it...when she was little her transformations looked so much different. Maybe that was even why I couldn't recognize her when she transformed in Figaro, in her room, even if I knew it was her. The trance was different." she thought for a moment and then she gasped. "You said that Derell wanted to know things about Emma...like what?"
Cambyses thought for a moment. He truly didn't like thinking about what he had done, but he suspected it was very important, so he sighed and said, "Random things, really, like what she was afraid of, what she liked, what she hated...everything, really. He wanted to know about her transformations too, although he didn't make that obvious because he danced around the times she did...but now that I think back on it, that could be the only explanation as to why he wanted to know about specific dates." he hesitated. "But what does that have to do with this?"
Terra looked at the Magicite, deep in thought. "I think that, perhaps, he had forced her into transformation through whatever he did to her with those labs of hers. I think that maybe what we have seen isn't really her own trance, but induced on her. That could explain why she cannot control it and why her memory problems are even worse."
"It could explain other things too," Cadence said. "Like why there are so many different versions of her transformation."
"Then this Esper unlocked her true transformation the same way you were awakened? Is that what you are saying mother?"
"Yes, I believe so. There is only one way to find out. I need to summon this Esper."
Robert suddenly gasped. "The drawing!"
"The what?" they all asked.
"Emma drew something a while back." he explained. "I asked her what it was but she said she couldn't remember, only that she kept remembering it and drawing it. Now that I think about it, there was one of the images where something that looked like that," he pointed to the crystal. "appeared."
"Show me!" Terra shouted.
Robert hurried out to retrieve the drawings and when he came back and handed them over, Terra was struck with grief and fear. "No...this can't be."
"What is wrong?" Cambyses tried to look at the images. "What did she draw?" Terra lowered it so that they could all see. There were weird contraptions and tubes and tables, and odd little things about the images that greatly confused him, but he did see in one of the images a large crystal-like tube drawn in the dark colors of the Magicite shard. The longer he stared, the more he thought he saw a face in the mess of red and black. "What is that?"
"It looks just like the Magitek Facilities," she muttered, tears building in her eyes.
Cambyses thoughts ran wild. It couldn't be... "This must be what Setzer had been delivering them." he said. "Things from the collapsed tower! Material to rebuild their laboratories so that he could experiment on Emma!"
Terra shook her head, as if to dispel her terror. "But would else could he achieve in experimenting on her? Was it only to control her?"
"Maybe we should ask Emma." Cadence suggested, frowning.
"That would be useless. She wouldn't remember anything." Camb turned away from the Magicite. "Mother, do you think you could get the Esper to help Emma recover her memories?"
"I could try, but I have no idea how this Esper will react to me."
••••••••••••
"Do you feel better now?" Edgar asked his daughter after he accepted an empty glass from her. Her face still looked pale with fright, but it was beginning to fade. He had gotten her a cup of medicated water to relax her and help with her headaches.
She sniffled. "I think so," her reply was short and uneasy. It seemed like she was concentrating on something else, like she was listening to something else.
Edgar didn't know what to say or do without Terra's help. He very rarely had to deal with his daughter's emotional needs alone. He relied upon his wife to help with that, or did, as he had found it too uncomfortable and foreign to try himself. When she was little it was easy to appease her nightmares and fears of monsters, but as she grew her emotions became far more complex and harder to understand and please or change. It had deterred him because he had made so many mistakes that only made his daughter feel worse. Could this be another example?
I must try, he thought, gathering his strength. "You mustn't worry about the voices, m'dear," he said, patting her little hand. "We shall figure it out yet. I'm sure your mother is downstairs pouring over the options to help you as we speak."
"Do you think so?" she mumbled, blinking at him to bat away fresh tears. He laughed.
"Your mother wouldn't stop until she did," he said, smiling. And then, wanting to distract her, he thought he would tease her upon the name subject he and Setzer had fought over on their last visit. "So, my dearest girl, have you thought much on names yet?"
She wiped a hand over her eyes and shook her head. "No...I...I wanted to wait, so that we could pick."
"We?" he repeated, frowning."
She flushed and looked away. "Me and Alex..."
"Oh," he said, nodding. He should have known that. He was sure that if he hadn't been worried about her he would have put it together. She looked at him, confused.
"You aren't g-going to tell me he's gone?"
He looked at her with a bright, encouraging smile. "I wouldn't ever. We must always keep hope, especially in those we love. I am sure he is out there, looking for you, even when it seems a lost cause. That is how love works, after all."
She smiled and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, father, thank you..." he simply hugged her back.
The door opened suddenly, and Cadence walked in with Terra. Henry was in his mother's arms. Emma smiled at her nephew and reached out to accept him as Cadence held him out to her. It seemed to light her up, and that was what they wanted. Terra and Edgar whispered for a minute while their daughter was distracted.
And then Terra looked at her daughter. "Emma dear, would you mind if we talked for a bit? There is something that needs to be discussed." Edgar took that as his cue and got to his feet and said goodbye.
"Why? Did—did I do something wrong?" she asked, handing Henry back to his mother even as he cried in protest.
"No, of course not, it is just...Robert showed us a sketch you made earlier," she said, showing a piece of paper to her daughter, who quickly took it to examine. "Could you try and remember how you know of this?"
Her face bunched up in confusion and then concentration, but shattered a moment later. "I'm sorry...I don't know." she looked over towards the corner with a disappointed expression. They knew the voices said something to her, but the girl made no reply.
"The reason it is important is because...well, because that crystal you found wasn't just a crystal. It was Magicite." her daughter looked at her in disbelief. "An Esper was trying to talk to you."
"W-What?"
"Whoever it is wants you to do something, that is clear, but we can't figure it out. I attempted to call the Esper forth, but he refused me with all his might. We need you to try, Emma."
"B-But I don't know how," she protested weakly. "And—And what if it tries to attack me? I—I can't...I'm too scared."
"He won't attack you," Terra assured her with a gentle smile even as she helped her daughter up off the bed. "Please, would you try? The return of Magicite—of Espers—could help us a lot. Not only in understanding what has happened to you but what Derell is planning and how to stop him."
Emma looked at the corner briefly before she nodded. "Okay...I—I cant try."
••••••••••••
When she was led down the stairs and outside to an opening where the Magicite laid before her, she held back the urge to run back to the small safety of her room. This Magicite, or Esper, almost broke her sanity and it scared her. What would happened if she failed? Or succeeded? Would more voices appear in her head? Would they go away? Or would something worse happen?
She neared, frightfully, twisting her fingers through each other. It stood less than a foot ahead of her. She hesitantly reached out to touch it but quickly drew her hand back to her side when it glowed and turned to her mother.
"It is okay," her mother said, smiling. "It won't hurt you. All you have to do is touch and ask for it come out." Emma shook her head and took several steps back. "I promise you it will be alright," Terra said, walking over to take her daughter's hand. "You just have to trust me."
Emma finally relented and reached for the shard. Her fingers sprawled over the warm faceted edges. It took longer than they thought, as Emma was having difficulties, but it finally accepted the call and jumped forth from the Magicite in a beautiful explosion of light and stars.
An enormous creature landed heavily on his large feet, with his arms out as if to balance himself. A green over sash flapped in the wind as he rose to face them, revealing a lion like face with flowering white hair and two giant red horns. It looked like he had been imprisoned, for there were broken shackles, made of gold, around his wrists. His red eyes looked lost in pain and confusion. He looked from face to face and clicked his tongue with each new face, until finally his rested his eyes on Emma.
She froze, her breath caught in her throat. This is what her heritage is? Is this fear the same fear she bestowed upon people? Finally, he growled and bowed his head toward her, in acknowledgement. "Thank you, little one. I feared you would never wake me when the days grew cold and you had yet to arrive. The moment I felt you near I knew I had to draw you towards me or otherwise you would have passed me by." the great creature said with a gentle voice. She said nothing and he lowered himself down to his knees, so he was not so tall above her. "Have you told them what they did to you? To use?"
She looked at him, confused. "I—I don't...I mean I don't—"
"—You are scaring her," Cadence hissed, pressing Henry against her and ignoring Robert's mutter to stay silent. The Esper turned to her, laughed.
"I promise you hume, I meant her no harm."
"Enough Cadence," Robert muttered from behind her, trying to keep his eyes down. Emma watched as the Esper faced him with surprise.
"You are—"
"I'm none of your business," he said sharply, glaring. For half a moment everyone was stiff with surprise, until the Esper smiled and nodded.
"Of course," he agreed, turning to Terra. "I can sense our blood in you, but I feel it is different somehow, almost like the little one."
"Yes," she answered quickly, tears in her eyes. She never expected this day to come. "My father was an Esper, by the name of Maduin."
He thought it over and then held out a giant hand. "It is always nice to see kin, Terra, daughter of Maduin, especially after being locked in that forsaken water for a thousand years!" he bowed his head to her when she let his hand go. "I am known as Hasmhal, the protector of the Law."
The mention of his name sent a chill down Emma's spine. A shadow of a memory danced in her mind fleetingly before vanishing. She felt like she knew that name. She found herself repeating the name quietly to herself without realizing it. The enormous Esper turned to her with a smile. "Ah...I cannot forget about the little one, now can I?" he knelt. "What is your name?"
She blinked at him, confused and clearly afraid. Cadence reached out to take the girl a few steps back, into a firm embrace, protective and encourage. "Perhaps if you weren't so intimidating, she would feel more cooperative towards answering you."
He frowned and then started laughing. "Oh! My form...I forgot some species find it terrifying." he closed his eyes and concentrated. A moment later his body shifted into a smaller, more humanoid form. "Is this a more pleasing form?"
"It isn't about your form!" she snapped furiously. "Tell us why you are here."
"And why you have caused my sister pain," Cambyses barked.
"So you are related?" he asked, staring as if it were really hard to see. "I suppose you are. I smell similarities between you. As for your questions, I am been calling to...?" he looked at the princess again, trying to give her his sweetest and most trusting smile. She faltered under his familiar eyes. His eyes lit up. "Emma? Well...that is a surprise." she looked at him, surprised. She had only thought her name and yet he heard?!
"How did you know her name?" Edgar demanded, shoving by Robert and his son. "How?"
"Has she not told you about the Espers she possess within her?" he asked, eyes widening. Terra gasped and looked at her daughter, as if she could spot the shards. "There are multiple Espers within her right now. I can talk to them and they can talk to me. It seems they are trapped inside of her, unable to escape, forced into aiding her."
"I don't want them!" she suddenly cried out, tears rushing down her face. "Take them away! I don't care! I don't!"
"Can you help my daughter, Hasmal?" Terra asked. "She hears them in her head and it is painful for her."
"I would assume so," he said. "To put that many in your body...it is unheard of. I am surprised she is even standing here right now. The strain she must be under, physically, mentally and spiritually, is tremendous. The effort of their wills would have overcome any other person or being, driving them insane or tearing them apart."
Emma paled. I...I am going insane.
No you aren't, one of the Espers whispered, a beautiful one standing beside her. We truly exist. We are not a fragment of your imagination.
Get out of my head! Get out! Get out! She cried, straining. She trembled to her knees, confusing everyone around her except for Hashmal, who could hear it all and was staring in pity and sorrow. Please! Bring my voice back and leave me be! Ever since these Espers took over, she had lost that inner voice of hers, and felt oddly incomplete. She missed it so much she couldn't describe it.
We took nothing from you, another Esper said, a blue female with beautiful eyes.
"It is true," Hashmal said, staring at Emma. Cadence had knelt to help her up. "They have done nothing beyond appear. If something happened to you like that, I do not think it is their fault. Regardless, there is nothing I can do about the Espers in you. You must either dispel them yourself, through an effort I cannot describe, or wait for them to kill you."
That was enough. Edgar charged at him madly, meaning to pummel him, but Robert caught him by an arm. "Calm down! Calm down now!"
"How dare you!" Edgar howled. "You did this to my daughter and now you refuse to help her?!"
Hashmal faced him, brows furrowed. "You think I caused the Espers to awaken within?" and then he turned to the princess sharply, a little angry. "Have you not told them?!"
Emma looked up at him through her tears. "I—I don't know what you are talking about!"
Terra eased herself between them, and held a hand out against Hashmal. She would not let him near her, not after that hostile display. "My daughter has been suffering from memory loss due to her transformations. You can't hold it against her if there is something she can't remember. She just can't help it."
The Esper's eyes softened and he backed away. "I see..." he shook his head. "I apologize. It is just you all do not understand the threat this world faces and how your daughter remembering, and telling you, could prevent disaster."
"And that is?" Cambyses pressed. "You still haven't told us anything!"
"There is a man who has captured a thousand different Magicite." he said. "He has been draining them for his own use, killing them mercilessly. What's more, he lost more of them to another man. The names I do not know of these men, but my kin tell me much of their turmoil and torture. Their days are endless; they are drained only to be kept alive to be drained again and again, until nothing remains of them and they are discarded like they are nothing more than trash."
Terra gasped and covered her mouth to fight back a cry. Edgar went to her instantly, bringing her into a hug.
"The Espers had been drained to make her," he said finally, gesturing to Emma. "Hundreds of them died to make her what she is."
"You say it like she wanted it!" Edgar snapped.
"Regardless of what she wanted, it happened, did it not?" Hashmal said, not bothering to mince his words. "As they died or as they were forced into your daughter they had begged her to free them when or if she ever got free. To save them. She had promised them, promised them all that she would tell what happened to her, to them and that she would help free them all. They waited and waited, and they still wait. For someone who will not come to their aid."
"Don't you say another word," Edgar warned. "You speak as if my daughter forgot intentionally. As if she cares not for your suffering. As if she is some monster!"
"I speak the truth, not what you hear between the words," he snapped. "I know your daughter made promises and forgot them. That is the truth that needs to be spoken. I do not wish to make her feel responsible for their deaths and torture, but sometimes words must not be cherry picked! The reason why this was so important is because the man who started this all is sitting on an island not meant for this world."
In the background Robert looked away and stepped out of view. "What do you mean by that?" Cambyses asked. "We thought that land appeared after the world was hit with magic."
"It was, but not the island. He found a source of magic that had manifested in the world as a gate. When he touched it, the gate became unstable, ripping a chunk of land out of another world with magic to this world. A world where Magicite was recovering. That is how he came across all of them." Hashmal shook his head. "If he continues with what he is doing, the only outcome will be a calamity you cannot imagine. He is abusing magic power that is beyond him, or Espers. If he is allowed to continue, the world will be ripped asunder!"
"Then we will stop it!" Cambyses said. "It has been stopped before, it will be done again!"
Hashmal smiled patiently at the young man. "It can...that is true, but it will require the strength of your sister." he glanced at Emma, who was trembling against Cadence, still dealing with the Espers in her head. Pale purple-blue eyes looked at him, confused and in pain. "If we want to succeed, I do not see it happening otherwise. There is power in her, power of over a hundred different Espers...I believe the fact that she has withstood so much proves she is vital to our victory."
Emma cried. "I don't want to fight...please don't make me fight anymore."
Cadence held her closer. "No one will force you to do anything Emma, I promise you." A very similar promise came from everyone else. "You have been through enough."
Hashmal watched with understanding to her wish to remain out of it. He could see her pains through the aid of the Espers in her head and it did trouble him greatly. Ge looked toward Cambyses. "If you are seriously going to attempt to break the Espers free, to defeat the man who has started this all, you will require immense power yourself or the aid of those who have it. It will take a miracle and then some...are you sure you wish to proceed without your sister?"
"My sister is pregnant," he snapped. "She has been through enough. She was forced to spill blood, to be tortured and...and..." the words hung his mouth. "I am sure. My sister will not be a part of this, not unless she decides to be!"
Hashmal nodded. "I won't force her, you have my word. Now that we are upon agreement, we must be considering how approach."
"We already have one," Cambyses said.
"I am sure you do," he replied. "But you have not made that plan with the aid of your sister. I accept that she cannot or will not fight, but she holds vital information in her head that will give your mission a better chance at success. Please consider including her into that."
All eyes turned to Emma, who was still drooped against the queen, looking ragged and exhausted. Terra shook her head. "Not right now. She needs her rest. Robert?" the young man hurried by them all and helped the girl up to her feet. "Make sure she gets her potions Robert...please."
He looked at her and nodded. "I will take care of her, I promise." he walked Emma away and her eyes started to drift close. As the voices of the others started to fade behind her, she clutched at Robert's arm.
"Thank you..." she whispered, before falling unconscious.
••••••••••••
When Robert had set the princess down in her bed, thankful he didn't have to use any potions or tell the queen they no longer worked, he went back downstairs. To his surprise, they were all gathered around the fireplace discussing their plans from here on out—particularly what to do with Emma and Hashmal.
Terra asked him if she were set down peacefully and he nodded. "She fell asleep on our way back. She seems to be okay." he waited a moment and then asked, "What are you all discussing?"
"We are discussing where I am to be," Hashmal answered. "I would like to be where I am most useful. I believe that is in Figaro, but I will go where you all believe I should be."
Cambyses said, "I think he could help us in Figaro by teaching magic, or instructing us more on where the Espers are or helping to adjust our plans of attack on Alúzar."
Edgar said, "I just don't want him near my daughter." Terra slapped his arm sharply, earning a 'yelp!'. "I'm sorry, but I cannot condone his behavior around her."
"I hadn't meant any disrespect," Hashmal muttered, frowning. "I am just...raw. I haven't talked with another being in a thousand years and have had to listen to my kin suffer for years under that twisted man. Please try to understand my bluntness earlier..."
Edgar crossed his arms and mumbled something under his breath.
Robert didn't care for the personal feud. He only cared about Emma's well being. "No matter what you do, is it true you cannot help her with the voices in her head?"
"I cannot," he admitted. "But you should take it as a good sign she is still alive and as sane as she is. It means she is capable of that kind of power. I believe she will adjust to their presence and it will no longer hurt her. If you are wondering when they will leave? That I cannot answer. I apologize, Ae—"
"Whatever," Robert cut in sharply. "If that is the case you have no business being here."
"We are also discussing whether or not we should just leave," Cadence muttered, angrily. "I voted we stay. We came here for Emma and now we know she needs us more than before."
"I agree," Terra and Edgar said, leaving Cambyses and Hashmal as the only ones to want to go back to Figaro. The young king blushed under their stares.
He cleared his throat. "Look, I only think so because we are about to make a run against Alúzar. His input could improve our chances...but we shall stay. I won't press the issue. Hashmal, will that be alright? You must understand that my sister is a very fragile and odd girl. Our support could improve her quality of life and state of mind."
The giant Esper laughed happily. "I do not mind at all. I suppose a day or so won't harm anymore. I will ask if I may be excused though...I haven't had a meal or proper sleep for a thousand years."
"Of course, of course," Cambyses said. The room started to disperse, with Terra and Edgar going off presumably to be with their daughter. Cadence took Henry into the kitchen to feed him and Hashmal took a spot on the back porch to laze in the hammock. Robert turned to leave the house, to continue his project, when Camb stopped him. "Wait for me. We need to talk."
Damn it...
••••••••••••
Emma had found solace in the timeless realm of her dreams. Where the voices of the Espers could not reach her—at least she couldn't hear them—and where her happiness could take flight. Where her memories could make her forget the things she wanted to. At first she was shown a hundred different things she experienced as a kid in Thamasa; from things she missed, enjoyed the most or wanted to do. Sometimes the dreams deviated from reality, changing to what she wanted it to be. She had twisted the past so that she was not in Thamasa sometimes, leaving much earlier than she actually had, but most times it was the same as the truth. She was lonely.
Thankfully before her dreams could divert into nightmares, she dreamed of her first time being with Alexander, after finally being freed from Alúzar and her masters. It was as if that day was happening again. She could smell the musky scent of his body again. She had thought at the time how lovely it was to her. She could feel it all again too, the sweat under her fingers, the sensation of his lips on her neck, running down her breast, to the touch of his hands—careful, consideration, sure and warm.
As she dug her fingers into his back, feeling a sense of love and pleasure she could not describe, she wished the dream would never end.
As all things come to end though, so did her dream. She woke gently to the sweet sunlight of late morning casting through her open window. The call of birds drove her fully awake and she rose slowly, her back complaining just enough to warrant her attention. That's when she saw the Espers in what she could only assume was a state of unconsciousness, perhaps sleep. She stared at them for a long moment. She had never seen them like that before. Every moment for her had been agony. Even their whispers would set a trail of fire in her head, but now they were quite, and she could consider them a bit without pain. Were they, perhaps, the cause of her peaceful sleep?
And then, with a sudden flash, she remembered what happened the other day. The Esper she summoned...he knew things even she didn't—or couldn't remember—which most likely meant he knew the things she did know of. Would he tell them everything? About all of the horrible things she did? All of the people she killed, with or without commands?
They will never forgive me, she thought, tears in her eyes. Forgiving her for her crimes when she was commanded to is one thing, but she knew they wouldn't when they found out. She made a silent prayer then to the gods, asking them to make Hashmal forget or to make him not say anything. I know I did wrong...I know it, but please don't take my family from me. Punish me if you must...just don't let them know.
There was a gentle knock on the door that quickly nabbed her attention, startling her. All at once the Espers started to stir around her.
When are you leaving?
Will you help us now?
Can you free us from our prison?
Please child.
We beg you child.
The pain came back. Shut up! Shut up! But they kept talking, and the pain got worse. "Shut up!" she snapped at them, covering her ears though she knew it was futile. Just...just leave me alone. At the sound of her shout, the person who knocked on the door burst in, alarmed. It was Cadence.
"Emma, what was all of that shouting about? Are you okay?" the princess simply nodded. "If you say so..." and then she smiled. "Would you like some help with your morning tasks?" the girl meekly looked at her, her face expressing just how happy she was to hear the offer of help. Cadence smiled. "Alright then, give me your hand and—careful now, Emma!"
To Cadence's surprise, the young girl did not object to her staying in the bathroom with her while she washed. She even helped scrubbed the girl's back, because the poor thing could not reach it without extreme effort or pain. Of course, despite the consent, it didn't stop her from turning scarlet red all over, especially when the young queen said that she had very nice skin.
"I do not," she whispered, playing with the water absentmindedly. Cadence hated that the girl could not honestly accept compliments as truth. She honestly could not see herself as pretty, and it tore at her heart. It was obvious the girl could not accept that she was pretty, even remotely attractive, but the truth was that over the years—from the last time Cadence had seen her—she had grown increasingly beautiful in her own way. Her youth fat had vanished, revealing a delicate face and frame that started to resemble her mother and father more and more.
It was such a compelling beauty too, as strange as the girl herself.
Knowing how uncomfortable compliments made her, and that pressing the topic would only incite an argument, Cadence asked, "Emma, may I ask you how you went about your baths all this time?"
"I did it myself," she mumbled, blowing soap in the water away from her, clearly reluctant to answer.
"By yourself?" she repeated, astonished. "Why didn't you ask Robert for help? You do understand that he isn't here just to feed you and protect you physically, right?"
"I could do it myself," she justified softly. "I didn't need him."
Cadence clicked her tongue, doubtful, but asked, "What about recently, in your late pregnancy?"
Emma lowered further into the water. If I tell her she is going to tease me, I just know it... "Robert helps me..." she admitted slowly.
Why should you feel flustered over such a question? The beautiful and kind Esper asked.
Why shouldn't she, with that dream of hers? One of the males asked with a laugh. The girl knows no shame!
Emma blushed, which Cadence misunderstood. She smirked. "Oh," she lifted the girl's locks, freshly cut with delicate detail and care. "And did Robert cut your hair, too?"
Feeling like she was being drawn into a trap, Emma tried to find other ways out of answering. She found none. She said, "Yes..."
"I see," Cadence said through a bright smile, pouring water down her back to rinse away the soak. "Is there something I should know?"
"Cadence!"
She laughed. "Oh come now...do not tell me there hasn't been something. There has to have been."
Emma glanced back at her, confused. "Why do—do you say that?"
"Well...before you never called him by name and now you call him Robert, plus you two seem to get along a lot better."
"Well there isn't anything!"
"For true?" Cadence pressed, giggling.
"Would you stop that?!" she cried, ducking her face to hide her eyes. "Why do you guys always make fun of me?" she started to sob and Cadence stopped laughing immediately.
"Emma...I'm only meaning to tease you."
"But—but why? I don't like it and—and..." she rubbed a soapy hand against her eyes, flinched and looked away from the queen. "What did I ever d-do to you guys to deserve it?"
Cadence frowned and brushed wet hair behind her ear to see her face. "Oh Emma, it isn't a punishment. I do it to make you smile or blush a little." she poured more water down her hair, rinsing the soap out. "It is adorable when you blush and stutter, and sometimes you take it well so I try again. I do not do it to hurt your feelings, I promise."
"I just want—want you guys to stop," she mumbled.
"I will try, I promise," Cadence said and then said, "I think you are clean now. Would you pull the cork for me dear?" Emma fumbled through the water for the cork and then pulled it. "Alright, stand up very carefully...that's it." Emma's knees buckled just a bit but before she could tumble even an inch, Cadence's sure hands took hold and then she helped the girl out of the basin. "My...I am not saying this to tease you or punish you, but you really must have Robert help you more."
"He does help me," she defended. "I p-promise."
"Well, if you say so," Cadence said quietly, draping a towel over the girl's shoulders and helping to dry off. Cadence swore under her breath and discarded the towel as it got too wet to use and the girl was still wet and shivering. "I swear Emma...you have blankets you could snuggle a hundred people into yet such small towels?" she clicked her tongue but helped the girl into another towel, which she snuggled into the warmth of with a content smile. Cadence laughed. "You really could dominate the hearts of men with that smile of yours girl...if I had it I would use it for wicked purposes." Emma frowned. "What? You put Alexander under your spell with that wicked smile of yours—and he is a hard man to catch. Just ask all the other women who tried to tame him."
She gasped. There were other women? Oh...of course there was. He could have had anyone he wanted to.
And yet he picked you, the nice Esper said.
Cadence sighed dreamily. "And yet he picked you...oh romance is so heart warming." Emma looked up at the woman with a small smile. They were right. Alexander had picked her. That made her heart swell. I miss you so much...
Always have faith, Emma, the female Esper said softly. When there is nothing but despair hope can drive you.
"Well, we should get you dressed before you catch a cold. Come now, follow me."
They went into her bedroom and Emma sat down on the bed, wrapped in her towel, as Cadence dug through the chest at the end of the bed for something suitable.
"How about this?" she asked, holding a giant male's blouse; it was a soft grey with black strips through it. It was, to say, the prettiest among the clothes Setzer gave her. She nodded deftly and she dressed quickly. "Don't worry, we brought over some new clothes for you. Setzer and your father—with Robert too of course—will help unload them today. Then you can dress in something pretty!"
"Cadence?" she asked as the woman helped her into a large, open dress that went beyond her knees.
"Hmm?"
"Did...did you ever lose hope to find Cambyses when he was captured?"
Cadence looked at her so suddenly Emma blanched. I shouldn't have said anything! Why do I have to be so stupid?! Cadence sighed and stood. "Not once. I knew he would come back to me because he had promised me."
Emma smiled and then hugged her, surprising the woman. "Thank you..." I will believe completely. You will come back to me, won't you Alexander? The Esper females giggled.
After that Cadence helped the princess downstairs. When they emerged at the foot of the stairs, they both smelled herbs, and too much of it. Emma sneezed and covered her nose. "It stinks!" she hissed, causing the queen to giggle.
Edgar, Cambyses, and Hashmal were sitting on the sofa, talking over something. Henry was in Camb's lap, pulling on the collar of his father's shirt eagerly. As soon as they saw the two women, they smiled. Emma's eyes widened when she saw Hashmal and she took a few steps back, to hid behind Cadence.
Cadence was quick to chide them. "And here I thought you all would make this poor girl starve! Though you might as well have. What in the world are you cooking?"
"A special soup," Terra announced as she came out of the kitchen with a bowl of the stinky stuff.
Cadence helped Emma to the sofa, beside her father by the left, and went to help Terra. Now Emma was sitting between her father and with Hashmal by his right. His gaze was ever present on her and she began to crumble under it. And then Cadence laughed, suddenly sitting the baby in Emma's arms. The new weight in her arms made her nearly fall forward off the sofa, but she quickly regained herself and with a huff of energy, she lifted the boy, afraid that if he sat on her swollen belly it would hurt the baby.
"Would you take care of him for me, dear? I shall be right back." and the queen shuffled into the kitchen, ignoring Emma's complaints.
Cambyses laughed. "I guess he hasn't lost his love for your hair." he said when Henry started pulling on the girl's green locks with angry cries.
I should have braided my hair! She realized, full of dread. The Espers found it humorous.
"C-Camb, please...! Stop him!" she cried out when he tugged again, nearly ripping her hair out. Her brother just started laughing again.
"Just pull him away or something." he instructed, shifting in the lone chair he had to take after his wife ripped him from the sofa. "Mother usually scolds him and he stops." the boy yanked again and one of her arms slipped, and he fell butt first onto the sofa. He didn't seem to mind though, for his fists were still entangled in her hair. Edgar stifled back his laughter and Hashmal just watched, amused.
She mumbled in frustration as she tried to untangle the little baby's hands from her hair, nearly succeeding if it wasn't for the sudden pain her side. The baby boy had kicked his feet in a fit of giggles and happiness, so she was forced to take her hands away and stop the tiny foot onslaught on her belly.
"Alright, alright," Edgar said through laughter, rising to help save his daughter. "Hold still Emma, or he'll break away with your hair." she did as her father said and sat still, ignoring his tiny feet beating her stomach and his hands puling at her hair. Her father swore under his breath when the boy wouldn't let up. "Come on Henry m'boy! Let go!" for all he could try, the boy would not let go and so he had to step back for Cambyses, who promptly said he would help. Before he could even move though, Henry yanked one last time the hardest he could and Emma howled in pain.
Emma had enough. "Stop!" she snapped and the boy froze, wide eyed and lips quivering. The whole room paused, just as shocked as the baby was. And then he started crying, very loudly, and Cambyses quickly lifted him away from Emma, soothing him before his mother could storm in with a knife in hand. Sensing the boy was far more than upset, Emma offered Camb an apology. "I-I'm s-so sorry, Cambyses. I didn't mean..I mean..."
"It is alright Emma," he said with a faint smile. Just as he thought, Cadence appeared by him and swooped her son up, cradling him and asking what happened. Emma explained what happened with tears and panic, hoping the mother of her nephew was not too upset with her.
Cadence laughed. "Is that all? Maybe you scared him enough not to pull on people's hair like a wild man." A moment or two later Terra and Robb appeared with plates of food. After Henry calmed down, granted it was when she gave him a little bowl of apple sauce, Cadence handed the soon to be mother a bowl of weird looking green soup.
"What is this?" she asked gently, using her spoon to lift some of the ugly looking soup up and then turned the spoon, letting it splash back into the rest of it. Her mother giggled in her chair, as did her father. Cadence looked appalled by the question.
"It is soup! What else could it be?" she asked. "And it is to help you, so you must eat it."
"Help me how?"
"To get a baby girl, of course." her mother and Cadence replied at once. Emma frowned and glanced down at the soup. She much would have prefered the bacon and eggs they had! Not only was she to miss out on their delicious food, but they would bring this topic back up?
Cambyses laughed. "If I recall right, you ate that every morning and you still got a boy." his wife's face turned red.
"Well...that's different. Don't you want a little girl, Emma?"
"Uh, I—"
"—Forget it," Cambyses cut in for his sister. "And I'm sure she doesn't care, right?" his sister nodded and put her bowl down.
"Can I have something else to eat?" she asked, softly. Robert was the one to answer and slid his untouched plate towards her. When she saw, knowing that Cadence and perhaps everyone else would tease her about it, she made a move to reject it but he held a hand up.
"I have work anyway. Enjoy." he took a small bow and headed for the front door. The room was quiet for a bit, until Terra smiled and spoke.
"After you eat Emma I want to talk to you."
Oh no. It took all of her energy not to faint then and there. She answered with a simple nod.
The rest of the breakfast was silent, except Henry's giggling and a few comments between Edgar and his son. Emma ate her food reluctantly, trying her best to ignore Cadence's eyes peering at her with a mischievous smile plastered on her face. Hasmal asked to do the dishes, to help, and left. Edgar and Camb went to go find Robert and offer their assistance. It left her alone with her mother and Cadence. Her mother shifted on her seat and Emma took a deep breath.
Here it comes...
"So...Emma, there is something I want to discuss with you."
Emma started to cry. She hates me because I didn't tell her about the Espers. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry! I let you down...I let those Espers down."
Terra gasped and got up to take her daughter into a soft hug. "Oh Emma, that isn't what this is about, and none of that is your fault. You cannot help you forgot and even if you didn't, how were you to know it was important? Do not blame yourself my dear girl, because it isn't your fault. I'm not angry at you, not at all! So please do not cry."
"We don't want to talk about that," Cadence said, standing. "I promise you."
Emma relaxed. "Then what?"
"Would you mind following us to someplace more private? Like your room?" Terra asked. Finding no reason to object, though confused as to why the main room would not be sufficient, she nodded.
The walk upsets was a little daunting on Emma, but when her feet went over the middle step, she relaxed a little bit. She never did like going up the stairs, but with someone else it was far easier. Her mother had decided on her room as their meeting place, saying it was high up and private. They closed the window, but kept the curtains open.
Henry tagged along, eying Emma over his mother's shoulder with hunger in his eyes. When her mother and Cadence wasn't looking, Emma bared her teeth at the boy to discourage him and he quickly started to snivel, gaining his mother's attention just as Terra turned to help her daughter into the room. "What has gotten into you now?" the queen mumbled, rocking her son back and forth to calm him. Emma smiled, happy that the boy would not attempt to rip her hair out—for now.
When they were seated, Terra was the first to start. "We'll be taking Hashmal with us, back to Figaro." Though she wondered exactly why, Emma didn't care. She smiled, relieved. "You aren't upset then?" she asked, confused.
"No." she answered simply, ignoring the eyes of the other Espers glaring at her, disappointed in her glad show of relief of the absence of Hashmal. If only you could take them with you too. She stole a quick glance at some of the other faces present.
We heard that, you repugnant brat. One of them snapped; it was a large man with a round hat and samurai sword.
Quiet down Yojimbo, she's obviously distressed. It was the beautiful female Esper in a white dress, trimmed with gold. She had blue skin, very gentle blue, and a wonderful golden crown upon her head. She had giant wings too, with yellow, white and golden feathers, but she had hidden them some time after she made her appearance to Emma. You would be just as reluctant and fearful if you had to go through what she did.
Sounds like you only want to protect her because she's a female, he hissed.
I said be quiet! She growled and to Emma's surprise, the male Esper shut his mouth promptly.
"Emma?" she suddenly looked back to her mother, her face red for having missed what her mother was saying. "Did you hear me at all?" she shook her head. "Well..." she didn't want to repeat herself. It was hard enough saying it the first time. Sensing the old queen's distress, Cadence jumped in, experienced with type of thing.
"We were asking if you changed your mind about whether or not you want more muscle around the house."
"Muscle?" she repeated, confused. "I—I guess Robert could use the help...could it be uncle?" the two laughed at her and Emma couldn't understand why.
"That's not what I meant." Cadence whispered, winking. It took the young princess a second to understand, and her eyes went wide.
"N-No!" she stammered, her face turning even more red.
"No? But you haven't even considered it!" She bellowed, exhausted already. "I'm not suggesting it to replace Alexander. It isn't bad to have eye candy, you know."
"No! No! No! You said it would only be Robert, and—"
"And why not? You have more than enough room to accommodate a few more men for your viewing pleasure, plus that smaller boarding house across the yard. In fact, you could have a whole horde of goodies here if you wanted."
"Well I don't want that! I don't want any here!" she snapped. "You promised me it would only be Robert and now you want to put more here?! No!"
"Since when did you start calling him by name, especially his full name?" Terra asked.
"Mother—" she tried to protest to their teasing.
"—Something is obviously up," Cadence whispered, her eyes glistening in a tease. "But she will not share!"
"Nothing is up!" she shouted. "I—well—I just...well...he—I called him that because..." they urged her on. "Because it was in front of you guys."
"Emma..." Cadence's voice softened, hurt. "You don't have to move on, we are only teasing."
"I don't want anyone here. I only want Alexander." She insisted despite them admitting to only teasing her and began to fiddling with her blouse, frustrated. I can't believe he is dead...I won't. "I'll wait for him. For as long as it takes." I won't let you be forgotten.
No one would be forgetting him, another Esper mumbled gently. It was the other female, with crystal blue skin and hair. She was wrapped in a shawl of the same color, her beautiful hair beaded with various sized beads and colors.
He's dead; there isn't a reason to latch onto him anymore. It was a giant brutish looking man with dark skin and gray hair he braided. Emma remembered the others calling him Titan. She didn't really like looking at this one, since all he wore was a loincloth.
Stop being so insensitive Titan, the blue woman hissed angrily. She loved the boy greatly.
Shut your trap Shiva or I'll shut it for you! He howled bitterly. Why do you even care Shiva? This stupid brat didn't even tell everyone about us. She didn't even care that were were being tortured and drained of our life force. If I had a physical manifestation, I'd thwart the girl myself. This angered the beautiful blue skinned Epser that shut Yojimbo up earlier.
You will stay your tongue, Titan. She is kin to us all, and I will not let you open your foul mouth to attack her again!
"Emma?" Cadence said, confused as to why the girl kept losing touch on their presence and why she had suddenly start to cry.
Look, she's crying. Yojimbo laughed. She's not fit to be kin to us. Couldn't even keep one man, a human no less. The pathetic little girl even let him wander off like a stupid dog and get himself killed.
"Will you shut up?!" She snapped at the corner. Her mother gave her a strange stare and then turned to the corner, suddenly understanding. Realizing she had said it out loud, Emma turned to offer an apology to her friend and mother. "I'm sorry, w-what did you say?"
"Well, if you seriously do not even consider Robert, I suppose we can end the discussion here," Terra said.
Emma blanched. Me? With...with... she couldn't even finish the thought! Her heart belonged only to Alexander. When would they understand that she knew what she felt?
Shiva smiled at her. The young man that swept you off your feet back at the river? she laughed. He's easy on the eyes child, you should take him as your mate.
I will not! She gasped, dismayed by the suggestion.
You embarrassed her. It was the quietest of the bunch that said it. He was...well, he was a wolf! A large one at that, with beautiful gray eyes and dark black-gray fur. Look at her red face. Humans are so emotional.
She's Esper too, you know. The beautiful woman said with a gentle smile towards Emma.
We know Ultima, we know. It was Yojimbo, givingan annoyed sigh.
"What would you like to talk about then?" Cadence's voice woke her and she quickly gave the queen a shake of her head.
"No." she replied, unaware that her answer made no sense. Will you all be quiet just for a while? It is hard paying attention to them with you talking! "I'm not going to even consider it Cadence."
What manners! Yojimbo mocked, clapping his hands together.
Shut up! She growled. If only I could rip your tongue out!
Ahohoho! He started laughing at her threat.
"I told you I wouldn't take no or any rejections as my answer, Emma."
"Cadence, maybe we should talk about this later, when she isn't so distracted." she gestured to Emma staring coldly at something by the window.
The queen frowned, worried. "I think you may be right—"
Emma had not realized she was speaking out loud. "—I was being serious. If you don't shut up, I'll find a way to make you keep your mouth shut!"
Oooh, hit a nerve, didn't I? he gestured to the two women staring wide eyed at her. Perhaps you should have been paying attention, huh? Emma's eyes sparkled with frustrated tears.
"E-Emma? Are you okay?"
You aren't exactly making her want to help us, Yojimbo. Ultima said, sighing.
She sniffed. "I can't make them leave me alone." she covered her eyes, shaking her head. "Just leave me be...just leave..."
And I heard great things about her mother. I'm disappointed in what we are seeing. He continued with a shake of his head. She is just a sad excuse of an Esper, let alone a human.
"Oh no Emma, don't cry. We'll figure something out, I promise." Cadence and Terra both reached out to hug her, soothing her.
••••••••••••
"Why exactly have you decided to follow me out here?" Robert asked, hauling lumber away. Edgar was following behind, with Camb at his side. He wasn't in the mood for their games and very much wanted to curse them off, but he knew the outcome would just be annoying.
Cambyses frowned. "Why else would we be following you around, Robert? We desire updates on the situation with my sister."
He paused, tossed the lumber off his shoulder to the ground and turned to the prince. He decided it would be the perfect opportunity to get them both, so with a serious expression he said, "I managed to sleep with her the other day. It wasn't as thrilling as I had hoped, but she seemed more than pleased by it."
Edgar's face had turned pale. "You...you scoundrel! You bastard! I will not stand for this, not at all!" he bunched up the sleeves of his shirt, ready to fight the man to the death if need be. Robert smirked at the king even as Cambyses went to grab at his arm.
"Father, calm down! He wasn't being serious," he snapped. He looked at Robert. "Just tell us what has happened."
"No ground." the king had sighed, disappointed, but Edgar looked relieved. "She won't exactly let me near her in any other way than offering help as I'm supposed to, and she won't open up to me. She's becoming far more reserved lately too."
Camb frowned, thinking it over. "Well, my sister has never been used to male attention before," he said slowly. "And that, as you can imagine, has been amplified. If only we had Alex..." he paused and then smiled. "That's it!"
"What is it?" Edgar asked.
"How to get her to respond to Robert's advances!"
He still didn't feel comfortable with all of it, but he was curious, if only to put a stop to it. "And that is?"
"You are too quick to give up on her or on breaking down her walls. As far as I remember, Alex never stopped. Not even when she was attacking him verbally and physically, or telling him to leave. He never stopped. He was beyond persistent! All you need to do is become persistent and vocal with her...at least more than you are doing now."
"What do you have in mind? I tried everything I could think of. The day we found that blasted Magicite I was trying to get her to swim with me. It didn't work. She's too unsure of herself to consider anything of what I'm doing is out of," he growled, but continued, "is out of attraction to her."
"It is because you are not selling it right," he young king grumbled, sure of himself. "She can't very well believe what you are saying and doing if it isn't convincing!"
"Regard of if that is true or not," Edgar said. "I highly doubt it is because she's unsure that's how you feel. It is more that it isn't how she feels."
"I asked if you had suggestions on what to do, not tell me that I need to try harder. It is obvious I need to get results. The question is how can I get her to loosen up so I won't lose eyeballs when I attempt to kiss her, or what should I do if it actually leads further than that?"
Edgar pinked. "You will do nothing, that is what!"
"I don't know," Cambyses hissed with a blush on his face. He didn't like thinking that his sister was having sex, let alone that she had done so already. "The only thing you are to avoid is anything beyond casual."
Robert sighed. "I had something in mind...and I needed help with it if I was going to get it to work."
"What is it?"
"Well..."
••••••••••••
By the time the boys returned around midday, they were a little dirty and exhausted, but Edgar and Cambyses went to the kitchen to fetch drinks. When they all made it into the main room, Robert went up stairs to tell the ladies he was back. When he opened the door he froze mid-step at what was before him. It was Terra and Cadence helping Emma out of a shirt they managed to get onto her. It was halfway off her when he walked in and he could see her stomach and the sides of her chest. He coughed, nervously, because he didn't know if the three knew anyone else was home again. A soon as Emma saw, her face turned red and she pulled Cadence in front of her to hide her bare skin. He was promptly ushered out of the room and told mumbled that he had to unload the cargo anyway. His feet carried him faster than he intended and when the king held out a mug of age, he dismissed it and went straight for the ship, hoping to be distracted as quickly as he could be.
An hour or so later, Robert emerged from the ship, carrying one of the last few boxes and spotted the girls on the porch, dressed in gentle clothes, laughing and enjoying cups of iced tea. Emma was, of course, sipping at her cup shyly and with a distanced look in her eyes. He saw her look over her shoulder a few times to something, make a certain angry or annoyed look, and then quickly turn away.
He sat the boxes down so Edgar and Hashmal could take them and crossed his arms, watching her. It must be the Espers that were talking to her earlier in her room. He could still remember when she woke after the swim and started crying about voices in her head and then soon after weird looking creatures standing about her, now faces for the voices. He wondered what they were saying to her, what they looked like and why they wouldn't leave her be. Then again he knew what some of those creatures looked like. Tall, short, furry, scaly, leathery, shiny...all sorts of appearances. Espers were as diverse as anything could be. He hadn't noticed that he was staring at her for so long until Edgar came by and frowned.
"I appreciate that you truly carry worry in your heart for my daughter Robert," he said, causing Robert to turn away with a growl. "But I suspect she does not like you staring at her like that." As an answer, the young man hurried away to continue his job. Edgar passed another glance at his daughter and saw her watching them with a confused expression. He smiled and waved at her, earning a blush from his daughter and then she looked away, back to the other women. He laughed and went back to his job.
When the sun started to fade again on the second day, the men finished for the day, utterly exhausted this time around. Edgar nearly fainted because he was the one moving it all under neath the sun to the storage room by the back of the house. Terra gasped and started fanning him as soon as he dropped to the sofa by his daughter, who had fallen asleep herself. The force of his drop stirred his daughter into a quick wake. At first she was confused as to where she was and then remembered how she turned out to be in the living space in the first place and then fell back asleep, causing her parents and Cadence to laugh.
"Why is she exhausted?" Edgar wheezed, taking a quick gulp of his iced tea. Terra giggled.
"You would be too if you were carrying all that weight around all day. It hurts your back, you know."
"Hmm...I suppose." he allowed, taking another gulp. Hasmal, too, had fallen asleep. He was snoring on the lone chair. "But by gods how can she sleep with that?" it sounded like someone was choking him.
"Oh shush you," Terra hissed, sitting back to relax. Hashmal, having woken up, went upstairs to sleep, content to actually sleep for once in a thousand years. As soon as he was clear of the room, Terra smiled at her husband and then looked over at Robert. The young man didn't notice that the two were watching him, well, watch their daughter with careful eyes. Every time she moved, his eyes followed, every time her face twitched in a smile or her nose wrinkle a bit, his gaze deepened. And then the two old rulers stood, surprising the young man—though Edgar was reluctant.
"It is late and we should head to bed," Terra said, trying to keep her face calm. "I don't have the heart to move her, especially since she complains about the pain. Would you mind watching her down here for me?" she didn't have to ask him. It was, after all, his job! He nodded to her and soon they too were gone. Now it was only Emma and himself. An hour went by, then two, and then three and before he knew it, it was completely dark outside. He couldn't go to sleep for some odd reason and just sat up watching her. A couple of times she said something under her breath, but he couldn't make it out.
And then she whispered, in a giggly fashion, "Alex..." and she rolled her head over, toppling over to her side onto the rest of the sofa—though she remained oblivious of what just happened outside her dreams. He wondered what kind of dream of Alex she was having and hissed in annoyance.
What am I thinking? Who cares what it is. She smiled at something and laughed, softly, before she hmm'd. He knew then what she was dreaming and scoffed. He crossed his arms, suddenly irritated.
Oh, look at him, Shiva giggled from her perch behind Emma, above the sofa. He's getting jealous.
Ultima smiled, but did not comment on it. At least she is sleeping. Her weariness was beginning to tear at me.
Who cares? Titan growled. The rest of the new companions went back into Emma's subconscious to rest, though Yojimbo remained as well as Titan. She should be out fighting that monster to set us free. It is only right!
I will not warn you again, Titan! She shouted, her eyes glowing orange in anger. Titan hissed, phasing through the walls into the night air. The wolf, Fenrir, joined him as well. When she turned her head back towards Robert, to observe him, Ultima gasped. For a few seconds it looked like Robb was staring at her. She was sitting by Emma, her hand softly petting Emma's hair like she was an animal. Though she was only trying to sooth the girl. D-Does he see us?
Don't be stupid Ultima, Yojimbo laughed. He couldn't see us. If he could, he would have said something to us earlier in her room.
Well, to be fair, Shiva interjected with a frown, we just exposed ourselves. He could be seeing us.
"To be honest," Robb whispered into the lonely air. "I can't see you guys." they all froze. "But I can hear you sometimes. You might want to keep your bickering to a minimum. You'll wake her."
Ultima and Shiva giggled, but Yojimbo hissed and dispersed, heading back into Emma's subconscious. She mumbled and her face turned a little in discomfort, before she relaxed again. Do you think this is the man Hashmal was talking about? Ultima asked her friend.
I believe so. If he heard us, then it must be true. Honestly, I was hoping Terra could hear us. She was a great friend to me and the others.
Her daughter is second best, I say. Ultima said with a bright smile. She looked back at Robert and saw that his stare returned to Emma.
I have an idea. Shiva suddenly said, getting up to float before Emma.
Shiva?' Ultima hoped it was not something that would cause a problem.
Don't worry; the humans are preparing it themselves, aren't they? And you saw how pitiful her dreams were. Let us spruce it up a bit, hmm?
You...you don't mean to intrude do you?
Of course I do! Stand back so I don't push you in! Quickly Ultima fled to the corner, fearing that Shiva would screw this up. Shiva put her index finger against the center of Emma's forehead and closed her eyes. Now where is it...where is it...oh! There it is! Ahaha, she is so cute. Even in her dreams she's shy of it. Shiva blushed. Oh my! That's not what I wanted! a few seconds later, she finally sighed. Here we go. I'll just spark this a bit... All at once the room, to the Espers, flashed all sorts of colors until Shiva pressed her index finger against Emma's forehead harder and the girl whimpered.
With a painful jerk, Emma was up with a headache. Before she could see, they fled to the upstairs. "What's wrong?" a cold voice demanded and she looked up to see Robert watching her.
"R-Robert?" She blushed, looking around for anyone else after she started staring at him.
Robert? "The others went to sleep."
"W-Why are you still down here?"
"Your mother asked me to stay down here and watch you, so that you could rest." she oh'd, her blush still present. "You never answered. What is wrong?"
"Uh? Oh, n-nothing. I just..." she never finished. That's when she noticed the Espers weren't about and she smiled. Did they leave finally?
"Why are you smiling?"
She turned to look back at him. "N-No reason." she reached for the blanket hanging off the side of the sofa to cover up again, and this time it was Robert who was confused by her actions. She was staring at him, rather intensively.
"What?" he demanded, trying not to sound like he was flustered.
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously and cocked her head to the left just a bit, and then smiled. He felt his heart beat a little faster at that. He hoped she wouldn't think anything about how he wouldn't look her in the eyes. "Did you...did you always have gray eyes?" Gray? He thought with horror. No...no, it couldn't be. He tried to hold his fear back. "I thought they were brown..."
Do something. Anything. Say something! "I didn't realize you had my eyes memorized. I'm flattered, really." She blushed just a little, but shook her head and laid back down. What? No bitterly angry or shy response? That was not normal of her.
"Well, I liked them brown..." she muttered, closing her own eyes to fall asleep again. He sat staring dumbfounded at her. The female Espers were peaking through the stairs. While Shiva was giggling at her intervention, Ultima was disappointed. Nothing said or done was of truth—the thoughts had been implanted. She did not approve.
••••••••••••
The next morning he woke early.
Oh crap... He rubbed tiredly at his eyes and saw that the sofa was empty; the blanket folded neatly and stacked at one end of the it. He leaned forward away from the sofa seat to get a view of the clock. It read as five thirty two. No one else was awake, but where did Emma disappear to? He rose to his feet, rubbing at the back of his neck as he went, and looked into the kitchen. Empty. Her room and the remaining guest rooms were empty too, so he decided to check the garden, library and storage room. They too were empty. He pushed the door to his room, the safe room, open and growled. Another empty room. Where the hell is she now? He didn't want to wake her family in case it wasn't anything serious.
Though when forty minutes went by and he still found no sign of her, he began to panic. That is, until he passed the kitchen window again and saw the airship. It was the only place he didn't check. Quickly, he made his way to it and began another search. It only took him a minute to find her, in a lone room to the far back of the ship. She was sitting on the end of the bed, staring out the window. He approached slowly, worried.
"You scared me taking off like that." she didn't say anything. "Are you okay?"
"I..." she suddenly whispered, and he thought he heard a sob after. "I keep—I keep t-thinking about him. I c-cant stop dreaming about him either." this time he was sure he heard her sob. "It—it is so painful." he came over to sit by her and wrap an arm around her shoulder. He ended up holding her for another hour straight, but no words were ever exchanged. When he shifted, his back sore, he looked down to see that she was asleep, though there was no peaceful indication on her face. He gently laid her down in the bed and moved to brush some of her hair out of her face when her eyes gently fluttered open. Her purple-blue eyes looked so tired, so weak, that he couldn't stop staring into them.
He felt her little hand grab his and swallowed, having realized he hadn't taken a breath since he she opened her eyes. "You—you w-won't leave me...right?"
Is she talking to me? He tried to give her a strong smile. "Of course not." she closed her eyes again and was fast asleep. He sat at the end of the bed and crossed his arms, determined to stay up to watch her this time. His determination was squashed though as he fell asleep nearly as fast as she did. When he woke again the sun was shining through the window against his face and he felt something against his left side. He rolled his head over and lifted his arm to see a head of green hair set snugly against his left breast. Her arm was wrapped around his torso, quite strongly, and her other limp against his side. He blushed when he felt one of her legs tossed over his own. The swell of her stomach kept them pretty much separate though. If she woke and saw what happened, she would never speak to him again. Gently, he tried to untangle himself from her, but could not. He stirred again and her grip tightened as she mumbled, turning her head so it was between his arm and chest, to avoid the light. She mumbled 'don't go.' and smiled against his side.
Damn it. He grabbed her arm and lifted it over and placed it on her own side and then finally attempted his second escape. She grabbed him again and he turned to look at her face. Her eyes were gently open and there was a frown on her face. "Huhmm." she rubbed at her eyes with her free hand and slowly pushed herself up. "What time is it?" did she notice what had happened, or that she was now slurring her words a bit?
He stole a glance at the clock. "It is eight twenty." he quickly took her hand off his arm.
She smiled, her eyes narrowed; she was still sleepy. "C-Can we have breakfast now?"
He smiled at her, laughing. "Sure."
The rest of the house woke and found the two eating in the kitchen, their dishes keeping warm under a tin top. When Terra saw her daughter she kissed her head and took a seat by her, asking her how her night went. Robert tried his hardest to keep his face straight, so the queen couldn't read his expression or so that the old king would not catch a glimpse of something 'inappropriate' and freak out. What surprised him was the girl's answer.
"It was pretty good," she said, with a bright smile and added, "I didn't have too many nightmares." before going back to eating her food. After breakfast the men went back outside and started unloading the last few things before they would set off to a secret place Robert told them of. The women gathered around Emma, asking questions, feeling the baby kick, brushing her hair and talking over various subjects.
The Espers all sat around her, but they remained silent, which confused her. She was happy though, very happy. She was so busy staring at the silent faces she did not hear her mother ask her a question. "Hmm?"
"Oh dear, you are very distracted lately." her daughter gave her an impish expression. "I asked how you would feel if Mog came to live with you?"
Emma's face brightened. "I would—would love that!"
"I told you Terra," Cadence giggled. "She loves that scruff ball. I think your love for furry things is too strong in her." She started to laugh when Emma blushed. "You look so pretty when you smile and laugh Emma. You shouldn't hide it."
"I—I don't try to," she said, sadly. "When could Mog come to live with me?"
"You really like that idea, don't you?" Terra teased, fixing her daughter's hair even as she said it. "Well, we would have to ask him about it but I'm sure that if he agreed, Umaro would have to join you as well." Emma didn't mind it that much. She loved Umaro. He always picked her up and sat her on his shoulders back at Thamasa for rides. In fact, she would feel a lot safer if the giant was around. "You wouldn't mind?" she asked, shocked. "He'd constantly be crushing you with hugs or bringing you dead animals as presents."
Emma started to laugh, causing her female companions to stare at her in shock. "I would love it all."
"Well then! I guess I'll have to try hard to convince them, won't I?"
"There is another thing," Cadence suddenly muttered, gaining the girl's attention. "It is about Alexander, Emma." the girl's smile faded. "Don't look so scared, it isn't anything bad." she shuffled closer to the girl and wrapped her arm around her shoulders, smiling slyly. "Tell us everything juicy, and don't skimp on the details!"
"What?" she asked, honestly confused
Cadence giggled. "We want to know about it all; your first kiss, your first time...how everything felt!"
Terra blushed. "I...I don't think we should talk about too much." she was a mother, after all!
Oh. She thought with a blush. "I..um..."
"I guess I'll start it off; when did you guys first kiss?" when Cadence didn't get an answer, she pressed it again.
"It was...it was during winter solstice." the women cooed. It encouraged her a little and she continued, shyly. "We...we were talking and he suddenly kissed me and—and...I don't know how to say it." she admitted quietly, blushing. "I just wish you hadn't stopped us..." she said to Cadence, who nervously laughed.
"Haven't I already explained? It wouldn't have been right anyway..." she offered. "Let's forget that! Just keep talking. How about what you find most attractive on Alex? Or more on your first time? Go on."
Terra pleaded for her to ignore the last question, and Emma became flustered. "I—I would rather not talk about it." they knew which of the two she meant and didn't bother her. So Cadence asked the first question again. "Uh..." she could picture Alex's muscled arms perfectly and blushed. She also loved how his butt showed in his pants, but how was she supposed to say that to two? It seemed inappropriate.
"Out with it!"
"I, uh, I thought his c-chest was nice."
"And?"
"Huh?" Cadence explained what she meant. "Oh. Well, I guess they looked, um, good in...?" The girls gave her a disappointed look. "I...I'm sorry, I have never done this before and—and..."
"It is understandable," Cadence said, smiling, understanding. "How about something else? Tell us what features you liked on him, instead? No need for details."
That is easy enough, she thought. Now the Espers started talking.
Oh, I saw how his butt looked. I would definitely say that! Shiva suggested with a shout.
Clearly it was his back, Ultima corrected with gentle, polite nod.
Just pick something and get this disgusting topic over with. Yojimbo muttered from the corner.
Emma ignored them, or tried to at least. She didn't have to think about it at all. Though she did love all of Alex, some parts of him she couldn't help but think about more than others. She knew it was not what they would want to hear though. "His smile."
The women looked at her for a moment, surprised, until they started to smile. "That is a good feature. Well, anymore?" Cadence encouraged.
She swallowed back fear. I hope this isn't something too much to say.
It isn't! Shiva giggled, clearly amused.
"His butt." the girls pulled away, surprised. She wanted to say why, to be more like other women, so she continued with a, "It was really—really—" she paused to think on the correct word to use. "—f-firm." she blanched when the girls started laughing madly. "I knew this was a b-b-bad idea." tears had found their way to her eyes.
"No, no Emma! Keep going! It is just...well, we aren't use to you saying that kind of thing so it surprised us, is all. Keep going."
What else was there that she could word properly? She loved his arms and how they looked in a thin sweater, or how the muscles felt when she touched them. She loved his neck, too, because it was so...how could she describe it? And then there was his adonis belt. Oh how she loved it! She loved the shallow grooves and loved touching them them, and how warm his skin would always be. She had so much she loved and so much she missed, and thinking about it made it worse, so she kept her mouth shut. The women seemed to understand and veered the topic elsewhere.
Tell them about your naughty dreams, Emma. Shiva encouraged, causing the girl to blush.
No! And stay out of my head!
It isn't anything to be embarrassed about. Ultima said, very blankly. Every creature ever made reproduces and engages in—
—B-Be quiet! Emma gasped.
Or are you planning on telling them about your little Robert dream instead? Shiva started to pucker her lips. Little did Emma know was that the Esper induced the dream on her.
How do you even know about that?! The Espers were quiet. Arr! Just stay out of my head! This isn't any of your business! Just leave me be! She tried her best to keep her eyes locked on her mother. She got to her feet, confusing her companions, and gave her mother a frown. "I would like to be excused please."
Terra rose, concerned. "Of course, of course. Do you need any help?"
"N-No, I'm fine." and she started for the stairs, almost desperately.
Terra looked at Cadence, hoping she would have the answers to her questions. "What do you think is bothering her?"
••••••••••••
"That's your plan?" Camb asked, shocked that it was so good.
"Do you think it will work?" Robb turned his look over to the young king, frowning. He was very unsure. He had read so many romantic situations, but never of them seemed to have fit Emma or her style. But the moment she had brought it up he knew it was the way to get her to take down some of those walls she had built. Edgar was thinking about it from his spot across from them, under a very shady tree and still very much upset over their decision. Hashmal was snoozing on a hammock, oblivious and content.
"It...it..." Edgar had no words to describe it. He knew it would work on his daughter because he knew it was one of the things she bugged him and her mother about before everything happened. He wasn't sure if her time in Alúzar changed her feelings towards the Figaro traditions though. It could be she wanted nothing to do with it.
"I think it will work." Camb spoke up. "She is sweet and naive, and a romantic, just like the women in the soft romances she reads." This...this is so wrong. Edgar thought with grief. "My sister might not like this after everything settles down but it will help her while we locate Alexander." No it won't. Edgar wanted to shout. How could his son be going through this? "When will you start?"
"I have already begun preparations at the location, so I just need time to work on some minor things and set up what decorations I have. Cadence is building intel for me, too."
What do you mean by that?" Edgar asked, rising to his feet.
"She should be asking your daughter about certain traits she likes in her men," Robert clarified smoothly, as if it meant nothing to him. Edgar's anger flared.
"I see." Camb said with a frown, rubbing his chin. "When do you expect results?"
What? Edgar thought. Results?!
"I hope that I receive results when the event starts, but if not then, by its conclusion. If it doesn't work, then you all might as well give up on this charade."
"I agree," Edgar cut in quickly. "This won't work so we should stop here and now."
They ignored him. "Where do you expect to find a dress for her?" Camb pressed.
"I do not intend to," he answered. "She is far too big for that now, so I had to make changes to the traditions. It will remain basically the same though."
"Can you finish this all before she gives birth?"
"I believe I can, yes. It won't require too much decorating, so my time is not so limited."
Camb nodded, pleased. "Then I will expect a full report the next visit. For now, we'll try and make things look less suspicious. I will push our leave for the morning."
When they decided to head back, Edgar hung back. "Go on ahead. I'll...I'll catch up with you later." they nodded and left him alone to brew in his thoughts.
As soon as they got back they were greeted by the two mothers. Robert was dragged to the side by Cadence while Terra interrogated her son as to the whereabouts of her husband.
"I have pushed our leave for the morning," he said to his mother. "So you should spend as much time with her as you can." he looked around, to make sure she wasn't sleeping someplace or lurking about. "Where is she anyway?"
"She went to her room earlier. I checked on her a few minutes ago. She was asleep so I didn't bother to wake her."
"Good...good."
"Where is your father, Camb?" Terra asked.
"He wanted some time to think, I believe. He has a lot on his mind."
When Robert and Cadence were through with whatever it was they were talking about, he said, "Well, if you all will not mind, I will take my leave. If you need anything, be sure to get me." as he went to his room and closed the door, he wondered: Should I be doing this? Do I even care if I shouldn't be?
He had spent a month training with Moitheal. He found it easier to summon, morph and cast magic within the strange world where the Esper lived and found that the practice there made it easier for him to use magic with Torzon's methods in his world. The progress was what he craved and when he finally filled the chalice half way without breaking, he jumped around in excitement and thanked whatever gods there were out there and took the Esper into a tight hug.
"You still have much to learn," the Esper had said that day, admiring the chalice's level of water. "If you push yourself, you will know magic unlike any other."
And so Alexander spent every hour he could with the Esper, and whenever he was in his world, he mediated with Torzon. He found it a lot easier to mediate and see, and to understand his visions. Torzon was surprised by the change but laughed and patted his back happily.
"See what can patience can do for you, Aluks?" the giant asked one evening after they ate. "Now let us see what improvements you have made." Alexander even found his physical training with Korzan easier, though he was still whooped fiercely. His arms had grown stronger and his reflexes controlled and ready to snap to action at any second. While he could not out power the giant, he was sure no normal man could offer him much trouble at all (well, unless it was someone like Sabin).
His magical arsenal grew and grew, and he was soon able to summon many different elements, supportive roles or not. He liked wind and thunder the most, finding them relaxing and in tune to what he believed was his affinity. Fire proved to be difficult to control, which Moitheal explained was because it was alive and was capable of creation and death. "Such a power comes with its own difficulties," he had said. "Respect it and it will be easier."
The most mind blowing change he experienced was due to magic, a sacred and ancient magic Moitheal told him about so that he could understand a particular concept. The idea of it blew Alexander's mind and he wandered if it were truly possible. To see someone at such great distances by using water or soil or some flat materials as a medium? Time magic was capable of unreal things, why didn't the Esper take advantage of it?
One night, at the end of that month, he found himself wondering that question more and more. The possibilities could change things. He looked across his fireplace to where Torzon was sleeping and then back at a bowl of water beside the fire. He was going to use it to wash up but decided trying the specific magic was more compelling than feeling clean. He scooted the bowl in front of him and thought on what to try.
His thoughts, naturally, went to Emma. I wonder how she is doing. He imagined so much. He reached a hand towards the water and pressed his index finger against the surface and closed his eyes. He thought of seeing Emma, wherever she was, letting his memories slip from his grasp to overtake his conscious. He felt every fiber of his being vibrant. It felt painful at first but then it started to warm him, becoming unbelievable pleasant.
And then suddenly there she was in the surface of the water, sleeping soundly in a giant bed. It was the cabin. He had seen this room—he had helped build it to something he thought she would enjoy. He couldn't hear her though, but he could tell she was having a peaceful sleep. The blankets over her were swollen upward, and he smiled. She was a heavy shower, and somehow he loved it even more. She looked absolutely gorgeous, even with the new hair style (which he found to be even cuter). He felt confused though. She should have given birth by now unless... his eyes widened. She's carrying my kid. He realized. If she had gotten pregnant before her freedom at Figaro, that would put her at least at nine months if he considered she conceived as close to the battle at the castle, but looking at her now, it was clear that was not the case. It was impossible the baby was any other man's. It was his.
He was overcome with so much joy he hadn't thought about whether or not she knew it yet. He wanted to know and see more, so he envisioned his time magic opening further. As the water surface grew at a distance to make up for the requested width, Alexander's magic started to dwindle. He gasped at what it revealed though. Sitting beside her bed, slouched and asleep, was Robert! What was he doing there though? Could he be there fulfilling his promise? To protect her? Yes, he was certain that was it. Robert was a serious, angry, bitter man that didn't like helping others in risk of himself, but he was a man of his word and a true friend. Alex had no doubt he was there for that reason and that he would not fail in his promise. It made him feel better knowing he was there to watch over Emma.
She stirred then, a faint smile on her face, and snuggled closer into the pillow. I will find you Emma and we will be together again...I promise. I love you. And then, before he could end the spell, his own body wracked with pain and he stumbled forward, spilling the bowl and breaking the spell. Ugh... He blinked, hoping to rid himself of the pain, but collapsed instead.
When he woke again, someone was standing above him, speaking in the Gigas language. He opened his eyes and saw a female Zozo native knelt by him, reaching to dab his head with a wet rag. Besides her was Torzon, his face calm and his eyes watching him carefully. Even though he masked it well, Alex knew he was very angry. What had he done to upset the gentle giant? With a sigh, he pushed himself up, ignoring the woman's calls to sit back down.
"What did you do?" Torzon suddenly demanded, his eyes darkening.
"I used a time spell." He answered, dryly, while trying to keep away the female's prying hands. "Why?" The giant asked him to explain to him what he used and when he did, the man's face paled. "What?"
"Never do that spell again!"
"Why?"
"You...you can't, Aluks! It is too dangerous! Do you understand me? Never do it again or I'll have the skymen refuse to help you. Do you understand me?"
He nodded, but still wanted to know about the spell. "What is so bad about it though? Isn't there anything you can tell me? Because frankly...it was worth whatever the cost is. I got to see her face, Torzon. She...she looks so beautiful."
The man's eyes went back to its soft composure, understanding yet still firm. "I see. Aluks I can't tell you more than this; the spell is...how do I say? The spell is 'tricky'. It is not like other spells, it is hard to master. It takes too much of the body, and over use can rip..rip the...? The soul out of you."
"What? My soul?"
"Yes. It can also connect your soul to the person you are viewing and rip their soul from them. Never do this again, or girl could die too."
"But...it didn't do it this time?"
"Aluks!"
"I won't do it again, I promise." Still, it was a nice spell. He wouldn't do it again, but seeing her face and how she was doing now? That was splendid. "Is there anything similar I can do?"
Torzon thought for a moment even as Alex started to dress, for the female removed his shirt, explaining—though he couldn't understand it—that he had a fever. "No. There are other ways to say it, but they are all the same spells, and are all bad. The only other possible way to see her without being near her, is to split yourself in two, but that would require too much power and you would still need to find her...making the spell worthless."
Damn it, he mumbled. "Is Moitheal mad at me for missing a session?"
"No, he is not. He wants you to recover fully first before returning, but be prepared to hear the same warning from him."
"Should I tell the Aegyl what I attempted the next time that I see them?" he asked after a moment.
The man nodded. "Yes. The Aegyl will want to know of this, but do not let it get in the way of your training."
Alexander was left to rest for the remainder of the day, and when the next came and went and he still felt weak, he remained still. It lasted until the fourth day and by then he oddly feel better than he did before. He chalked it down to not having had that kind of rest in months but something told him that was not entirely it. So he made his way back to the cavern and waited for the magic to take him to the world where Moitheal lived.
He woke in the place that he had last been. The creek was just as beautiful as he recalled, but a storm had come through, soaking everything and branching branches or otherwise marring the beautiful landscape enough to distract him from his training. Moitheal was seated on a smooth rock, waiting patiently for his return.
"You are back." the Esper said simply, rising.
Alexander nodded and then offered the kind Esper a bow. "I am and I apologize for being so reckless. I have made a promise to Torzon never to repeat that spell and I make the same promise to you." Moitheal considered his words quietly. "I hope you can find it in you to still train me."
He sighed. "I should not have told you of the spell and demand you not to try it without explaining why you shouldn't. That is my error, but I hope that the consequences are enough to deter you?"
He nodded vigorously. "You can trust that it is, Moitheal, if not for the dangers it presents me but for the danger it presents to the girl I love."
"Good," he said, pointing to the ground beside him, where the chalice waited. "Let us commence a test of your progress. We haven't had one in some time, if I recall?"
Alexander's eyes sparkled. It had been weeks. "It has. What is the test this time?"
Moitheal thought for a moment, looking upward at the dull gray sky. "Ah...I have just the idea." he looked at him with a wide smile. "A battle."
"Between?"
"Why...me of course!" he said, charging him without a warning. His body shifted into a fur clad version of his humanoid version. His fur was pale purple and blue, and his eyes wild and yellow, yet incredibly serene and peaceful. Alexander stumbled back out of reach of the claws that slashed at him, dumbly side stepping to avoid a graceful whip of the Esper's legs.
"Wait!" Alexander pleaded, caught off guard.
"No! I shall not and neither will your foes!" he slashed again and again, gaining more ground and giving in to more speed and strength. He was taking the battle seriously. "Attack or die!" he howled, flipping into the air over Alex so that he could land behind him. He kicked the young man, sending him flying through the air. Alexander swore and thought of the spell the Esper had casted on him during his first bout. A shield bubbled over him before he crashed into the rocky and muddy ground. He bounced several feet, harmlessly, before he struggled up straight, dizzy.
"Just give me a moment to—" he never got to finish the words as a wall of hard water crashed into him, pinning him to the ground and preventing him from breathing. He choked and dug furiously and blindly at the water as if it could free him. He knew if he didn't do something he would die within seconds. What do I do? I don't know how to free myself! His lungs started to burn. He had no time to really think and before he knew it, he was casting lightning to strike the water, knowing it was in connection, somehow, to its caster. It was a ploy to get him to release his spell, but if the Esper called his bluff it would mean they both would get hit. Come on! Release the spell!
Finally the water relented and Alexander crawled hurriedly out of the way as the lightning struck the ground he had been at. The sparks shot over head, singing him, but he ignored it as he got to his feet to escape and build his plan of attack. A gust of wind tore him off the ground and twenty feet or so into the air and then, out of thin air, Moitheal appeared below and threw a ball of fire at him.
Alexander was falling, twisting and twirling, so he had no room to fight it off. It struck him and jostled him further into a twist, smashing him into he ground with a loud crash. He swore loudly at the pain and got to his knees, trembling. The shield had cracked a bit, making the impact hurt more. He prodded the crack carefully as he stood, considering how to approach his superior foe. He did not know how he would win, but he would try his hardest to at least hit him.
If I can't do that...I can't protect Emma! And that was something he would not accept! He knew what to try. He prepared himself as Moitheal flew towards him, snarling, and at the last minute leapt out of the way and grabbed his foot. The tactic was a surprise at first but the Esper adjusted quickly, twisted in his grasp and then whipped his hand across Alexander's face. The pain flared through his entire body but he held on, determined.
"Ultima!"
The Esper's eyes widened in surprise, as it wasn't a spell he had taught the young man yet, unaware it was a distraction. The Esper looked up, struggling, waiting for the orb of green to appear over head and consume him in an inescapable explosion. And then he gasped and looked to the right, aware finally of what was happening. Alexander had casted Holy! A beam of white energy rushed from the sides and struck the Esper on both sides, consuming him in a beautiful flash of white and pale blue.
Alexander's vision blurred and he dropped to his knees, panting, as the dust settled. Standing at the center of the attack, up straight but dirty and slightly bleeding down the side of his face, was Moitheal. He had a magical barrier over him, half broken but still technically intact. Damn it, he thought, ashamed of his failure. As the Esper approached, shifting back to his humanoid form, Alexander dropped to his hands, feeling the energy run out of him like a piece of him had been broken up. Damn it all...!
A large hand was reached down toward him, to help him up. Alexander looked up into the gentle Esper's eyes. A smile was on his face. "You did exceptionally well, Alexander. I was going at you with my full strength. Any other wouldn't have lasted even a few seconds, let alone after the damage you took."
He didn't accept the hand, too ashamed and sore by his defeat. "I failed. I am too weak."
"You did not fail." he said softly, reaching to pull him to his feet. "You do not see how much you have changed because you expect unreal change in the matter of days, but if you stopped to consider the strength you have gained I think you would be impressed."
"You're wrong," he snapped. "I can't beat Torzon, or his son, or your friend...not even you. My enemies are stronger than me and being this weak is not success."
Moitheal laughed and walked over to where the chalice was. It was turned over from the havoc of their battle, shining beautifully. "You used a spell I had not taught you yet," he said, coming back to stand before him with the chalice. "What's more, you had learned it by yourself through your own effort and used it masterfully against me."
"It weakened me too much," he muttered. "And it took too much time. You were casting spells within seconds but...but not me."
He held out the chalice. "Try it again. You shall see."
Reluctantly Alexander took it from him and sat it down on the ground. Fear bubbled in his heart. If I fail this it will be the end...there will be nor more room for improvement. I will have met my limits. He lifted a hand over the chalice and closed his eyes. He called upon water and when he opened his eyes, to see that he failed, he found that he had filled the chalice to the brim—no, even more, for it flowed over the sides and continued to flow, as if there were a spring inside of it. He gasped, not understanding what was happening.
Moitheal laughed. "See? You have grown so much stronger Alexander and you will only grow stronger the longer you work at it." he lifted the chalice and turned it upside down. The water poured out but never stopped.
"What...what is that thing?"
"This chalice is no normal chalice Alexander," he explained. "It tapes into the users' magical capabilities and adjusts itself to their level. When you first started, this was too difficult to even get water to appear, right?" he nodded. "That was because you did not know magic well enough, but as you progressed, so did the chalice."
"Shouldn't that have meant it got harder and harder to fill?"
"It did, for some time," he admitted. "But your strength has hit a ceiling my training will not overcome, which is what this chalice was designed for—Esper training. The fact that you are able to make this happen," he gestured to the never ending water. "Proves you are stronger than you think you are. You think because you cannot defeat me or Torzon that you are weak? No, it just means Torzon and I have had years of practice, of time to reflect and build. If you had been given our time you would be even stronger." he waved a hand over the chalice, stopping the water. "The men you wish to face are not yet strong enough to make your training here irreverent but they will tap into unreal magic in time, making them formidable foes. It is why you must stop them before it is too late."
"I don't understand."
"You have passed my training, the test the Aegyl have given you, so it is time that you advance and reach the power you need. Once you have, you must act against those you intend to, before they gain even more power."
"If they are that strong, it means they are even stronger than you though," he said. "And I can't defeat you."
"They are not yet there," he said again. "And you have not y et undergone the training the Aegyl wish to bring you into, so you must make haste back to your world and speak to Torzon. He will help you proceed to the next step." Alexander didn't know what to say. If that was true, then maybe he really could end Derell and Luke. Maybe he really could bring Emma a sense of security and happiness. He felt hot tears build up in his eyes and then he thanked the Esper. "Why are you thanking me?" he asked quietly.
"Without you...I wouldn't have the ability to save her," he said, crying. "You have given me the chance to give her a future. That is all that I ever wanted."
The Esper laughed. "You have given her that future yourself, Alexander...now go and make it a reality." he laid a hand on his shoulder. "Farewell and I look forward to the day that we meet again."
Alexander frowned. "Wait, what—" but the Esper had already sent him back. He was standing in the middle of the cavern, lost in the Esper's meaning and feeling as if it meant something deeper than it probably did.
"You are back sooner than you usually are."
Alexander turned to Torzon, smiled and then collapsed from his exhaustion.
••••••••••••
His dreams were very peaceful, but he knew what they were the entire time and that put a sadness in his heart he could not uproot. It was as if it were mocking him and what he had lost, or would he could lose. Worst of all was that in his dreams Emma looked different, just like she had at the piano. It was depressing because he didn't understand why and he just wanted to see her as he had last scene her, worried that the twist in her appearance was in relation to the distance he had placed between them.
What if I am forgetting her? He thought, watching the dreams unfold painfully. I wouldn't forget her, would I?
The thoughts had woken him at last.
He was lying down in a bed of furs in one of the caverns. It was mostly dark, with a single light flickering away at a table of stone in the back of the room. A bowl of fresh water sat beside him and another of some sort of paste. He knew the Gigas people used a secret paste from local plants to 'heal' people. He rose, hoping to dispel any attempts at them feeding him that gunk, and found that the room was empty.
"Torzon?" he called into the cavern, hoping that the giant was nearby. "Anyone?"
"I thought you would be asleep for much longer," the giant said, approaching out of the darkness ahead of him. He looked hagged and tired. "You really must stop worrying me Aluks. I have enough worries without you adding to them."
He laughed tiredly back at the giant. "I am sorry Torzon...I pushed myself a little too hard against Moitheal." a bowl of fruit was sat in front of him by the giant, and he dug in thankfully.
"I know you have passed your test, Aluks," Torzon said quietly. "And that I must lead you to your next step. I want you to know that I will do so as soon as you are fit."
"I am fit now," he mumbled over a mouth full of fruit.
The giant shook his head. "Regardless, there is something I need to tell you before you go. I do not expect the Aegyl will accept me telling you, but I feel it is important."
Alexander, worried, sat aside the bowl. "What's wrong Torzon?"
"Have you seen the books at the temple?" he nodded. "And the mural there?" again he nodded. "Do you know what the story is telling on the mural?"
"I do not," he admitted. "I tried to understand it but it is in a language I have never seen before, and what's more, I saw a woman—the same woman—in one of the books. It is clear they are the same being, right?"
Torzon nodded. "It is the same being. She lived nearly four thousand years ago, when the Espers first arrived on Gaia with their brethren."
"The Aegyl and Occuria?" he asked.
"Yes and no. The Espers came here with the Aegyl, leaving the Occuria behind. They had come here looking to escape persecution of the Occuria. They found it, but at a price. There were humans living here already, and when they found out they could use magic-just like the monsters-attempts to exploit them for it started quickly. The Aegyl were the first to be targeted and the first to respond by leaving for another realm, but the Espers...the Espers believed humans could change. That they could co-exist. The Aegyl wanted to believe too, but they had seen too many horrors and felt too many to risk the last of their people."
"We can," Alexander insisted. "I know we can. We just need time as a people to grow."
Torzon smiled at him. "I know you humans are capable of it, but collectively I think it will be some time until your people will become as accepting as the Espers. You see, they aren't made the same. Even if the Aegyl or the Occuria are not our 'gods', they were created by gods—as servants of peace."
"Wait...what?" Alexander sat up. "There are gods out there?"
"Yes," he said. "Some of the gods this world worships is actually some of the gods that exist, but their positions, their overall identities, have seen explicit change through the years, shifting more and more towards accounts of the Aegyl. The essence they worship is the real gods, but the faces they have put to the gods have been the Aegyl." he took a moment to consider how to continue and then said, "They are not of your realm, but of the Esper realm. They may exist over a sheet of reality you cannot see, but they are not truly here." he gestured around him. "Not like the Aegyl and Occuria are now. At a time they were though, and had created the Espers in their realm to ensue peace between the Aegyl and the Occuria. This is why Espers are kind and gentle, because it is generally within their nature to remain so and is why that when they do get angry, they are foes of untold strength—because the gods had created them as warriors of peace as well if the need ever came that the Aegyl and the Occuria need to kept from destroying everything."
"What does this have to do with the mural, and the woman?"
"The woman you saw in the book and mural play an important role in the history of the beings mentioned but also in the order of magic. She was known as Ema Ashamira—the Grand Esper and Judge of Magic. She was a secret addition to the four old Esper guardians known as; Ultima, Leviathan, Alexander and Zodiark Ashlesha—who is the most powerful of all Espers and perhaps alien to his own decisions. Ema Ashamira was the sibling of Ashlesha yet was made to work as a back soldier to the four guardians, including her brother, by the gods. She was to be the gods' secret and she remained to be so for thousands of years. She foiled many wars between the Aegyl and Occuria, often as sacrifice to herself, until the end of her life."
"What happened to her?"
"The gods' plans to abandon the Espers came to light through the Aegyl, who only wanted peace and saw no peace in the way the gods were using the Espers and letting the things the Occuria did go by without any punishment. So the Aegyl elected a leader to present this news to Ultima. She is...was...the most intelligent thinker in their group. She was compassion and wise, and craved peace and freedom as much as the Aegyl did. She did not like seeing her people suffer or be used as weapons, even if the gods' intentions were pure. She listened to the Aegyl and believed him, for when she confronted the gods with this news, they did not deny her. Instead, they stripped her title as High Seraph, one of the guardians, and banished her from the heavens. It was too late for the gods though, because the others had heard and they rallied behind her...all but Ashlesha and Ashamira. They remained at the gods' side through a thousand years of fighting between the Espers and Aegyl against the tyranny and oppression of the Occuria. They had decided to give up on them all and start anew elsewhere, and Ashelesha did not argue. He loved the gods and respected them dearly. He never questioned his orders, not once, and he did not decide to start then."
"And Ashamira?" Alexander pressed, awed by the story.
"She had seen the horrors the war had wrought. Her whole creation was to stop just what she was seeing. It pained her greatly to watch and even moreso to realize peace was possible if all parties would just stop and listen to each other. Finally, she had enough and confronted the gods. They stripped her of her ability to pass to the heavens and then, angered by the betrayal of the Espers, the gods banished even Ashelsha from their domain and then abandoned the realm themselves, leaving Espers behind as well as the Aegyl and Occuria. Ashamira was distraught. She was left behind in a world she could not protect as she was created for. She had no means of communicating with the gods, to beg them for their aid as the beings she was made to serve tore each other apart, using magic in unholy ways. She was even left by her brother, who had abandoned his mission and sealed himself away willingly as Magicite. She had no one to turn to, except Ultima."
Alexander knew what was to come next in the story—the War of Magi. "And this was before the War of Magi?"
"Yes, two thousand years before it, to be precise. Ultima could not have found another Esper she agreed with more than Ashamira. Together they brought the Espers together and expelled the Occuria out of the realm with the Aegyl's help. It took all of their might together to stop them, as the Occuria were more powerful than any of them together."
"The Occuria are that strong?"
"Some say even stronger than Ashlesha," Torzon said. "But they are wrong. The Occuria are indeed powerful, but the real power they possess is their immortality and inability to die as we—Espers, Aegyl, Gigas, humes—do. It was the sacrifice of Ashamira that led them to expel the Occuria from the land at last."
"Sacrifice?"
"She had given her life force up to change the laws of magic," he explained. "She reworked magic so that the Occuria changed, who were the embodiment of magic itself as the first creation of the gods. While they kept their immortality they were bound to another realm of existence, a place we beings cannot touch but only imagine. They were no longer a 'being' like their brethren or like us. They lost their sense of self, of identity and individuality, and could only access other realms by manifesting formlessly through mana. They had become all powerful but without a way to directly use that power as they once had to conquer and control."
"So...the Occuria aren't really gone?"
"No. If there is one thing the Occuria love more than magic and power, it is controlling others. Even know they sit in their realm of existence trying to guide all to their agenda. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they do not, but never are they allowed to touch our existence—thanks to Ashamira's sacrifice. If she had not done what she had done, the Occuria could still be here, causing grief and unimaginable loss all in an effort to control and be the rulers of all."
"After Ashamira's help, Ultima took the torch of leadership temporarily. She passed the right of 'Elder' to Alexander, who passed it to Leviathan as he did not feel fit to rule. Half a millennium later Leviathan had married Ultima and the two ruled until a few centuries before the War of Magi, where they had given up their status to try and push the Espers into the future of peace and prosperity without the fear of a king or a queen enforcing it. It worked. They were happy and peaceful, until the humans decided they wanted that magic for themselves. And the rest...well, you know the tale of that war and its outcome."
Alexander was awed into silence. All of this history and no one but the Gigas, Espers and Aegyl know about it. We humans are lost in the shadows of greater beings, controlled and able to be written out of history with a single motion, and we are oblivious! How could he even begin telling this to others? To Emma? It was unreal. There was still one question though that he had and did not get an answer for. "Is that what you wanted to tell me? Why did you think the Aegyl would keep this from me?"
"That is part of what I wanted to tell you," he said, standing with a sigh. "But I feel that the Aegyl will tell you the last part now that you know their history. In order to get that information though, you will need to go to them. Using that." he gestured to the spear hanging on the wall. "Your next stop is the temple Alexander...and with that I must wish you all the luck in the world."
Alexander clumsily got to his feet, confused. "Wait Torzon, wait." the giant paused mid-turn. "Why are you acting like this all of the sudden? It feels like you afraid of something, as if you expect us to never meet again."
Torzon smiled at him. "Oh...I know we shall meet again Aluks, and I intend to get to know your lady and your child. The problem is that the Aegyl have much to tell you and you have very little time to learn and train, so I cannot stay or else I will risk stealing precious time from you that you need. If you wish to protect her, you must go now-before it is too late to join the Aegyl." he bowed his head to Alexander. "Thank you for the friendship you have given me Aluks. I shall cherish it forever and look forward to seeing you again." he bowed again and turned to leave the poor young man alone in the cavern, confused and suddenly afraid for what was to come.
Alexander glanced at the spear, feeling guilty.
"And what will the process be, exactly?" Luke asked, following four men down a hall into a small stone room, where a makeshift lab had been set up for their work. One of them turned around briefly to look at him before walking into the stone room and picking up one of the shards of Magicite.
"We will not liquidate the Magicite shards like my colleague Alveri does. Instead we will bridge it to you as if it were originally intended."
"I do not understand," he grumbled.
"Ah, then let me explain, your majesty," the man bowed so far down his shaved head nearly touched the floor. "Before the fall of Kefka, the Returners found the proper usage of Magicite. The shards would imbue themselves inside of the user, one at a time, granting them their aid and strength. We shall do something very much like that."
"Doesn't that require their willingness?"
"Yes, yes, but the beauty of my method is that we do not require their consent." he lifted the shard. "We will force them to accept your body, granting you the fullest of their capabilities, unlike your father's watered down magic."
"How long will that take?"
The man sat the shard down. "Some time, I'm afraid, but nothing as terribly long as it took to imbue your future queen with her Magicite. Her body was compatible with their two methods and I suspect the Espers inside were of acceptance of her, and so manifested themselves as Magicite within her. With the traces of her blood that you so kindly provided me, I can figure out a way to trick them.""
"You 'can'? Is that definite then, Parelis?"
"It is definite, your majesty," the man said through a smile. "I shall begin this very moment on this little beauty," he laid his hand on the shard. "I have a hypothesis I can work on immediately that I have a lot of faith in. You will see results soon."
Luke nodded. "Very well. Start as soon as you can. Do not neglect preparing the other shards though. I want to be able to use them as soon as you have your methods ironed out."
The man smiled brightly. "Of course, of course."
Alexander could not locate Torzon after he was left alone. It seemed like the gentle giant had disappeared entirely. In fact, when he roamed through the home of the Gigas he found the entire clan gone. Their fires burned on, their food let on table tops or chores halfway done, as if they merely forgot or stepped out—or hopefully meant to return. He gave up looking for them when he found the cavern he used to meet with Moitheal missing. A rock wall was in its place, as if it never existed in the first place. When even the ledges where he practiced meditation with the giant were empty, he left for the temple, alone and worried for the gentle people that had cared for him.
The temple was as they left it, almost restored in the great hall, and just as ominous and beautiful as ever. He walked in and looked at where he had camped for those months for a moment before he sat his things down and started a new fire. He sat the spear down beside him and started a cup of fresh tea, hoping to warm himself up and give himself a moment's peace to think on what to do next. Well, he supposed he knew what he was supposed to do—get in contact with the Aegyl once more—but he had to figure out how.
By the time that he finished his second cup he had thought of nothing that was promising. He suspected there could be more places like the cavern that took him to Moitheal, but he had no evidence to support that thought, and he had already searched the temple a hundred times and the room with the mural was the only secret it possessed.
I know meditation will not help me here, he thought grimly, watching the flames closely, mostly out of boredom. Why can't they ever just make things simple?
A voice giggled behind him and he turned halfway at the waist to see who it was. Standing with her arms behind her back and smiling at him was one of the Aegyl females. Taro. "We said that we would come for you when you completed your task, did we not? I would say that is rather simple."
He rose, grabbing the spear first. "Taro..."
"Are you ready to leave here?" she asked softly. "Collect your things and we shall be off." Alexander took his pack and secured the spear in th strap he had made for it and nodded. "Then...hold on!" she instructed, holding her arm out as she lifted a hand to cast magic. He gasped and took a hold of her arm as white beams of light raced down over head and hit them.
••••••••••••
When the light receded, he stood before a scene of absolute beauty.
Where...am I?
All around him were monstrous sized mountains, with snow-topped peaks and beautiful white clouds. Along side the mountain's closest cliffs were lines of giant statues—in which he figured were the Aegyl only they were missing their wings—with the biggest near the center of the line. To his left was a giant waterfall that pooled into an amazing collection of water surrounded by tall trees he had never seen before and rock cliffs perfect for diving. The sky was lit in a normal, clear day's sky, except beyond it the stars seemed closer—brighter even.
He was standing on a large platform circled by giant pillars that held another platform above him, in which had a bridge running to the far right to another set of platforms and so on. And standing before him were the Aegyl he had met before, in a line, with Janos at the center.
"W-Where am I?" he managed to ask.
Janos smiled. "You are in our land, high above the clouds, further than your airships can carry you." His eyes widened and she laughed. "Do not worry. The land is protected by ancient magic. You shan't choke for life. It was the only way to keep the Occuria out."
He relaxed and knew he had to ask more about their history, about the thing Torzon would not tell him. "So is what Torzon told me about the Occuria true then?"
She sighed. "We did not want him to tell you just y et...we feared that once you heard you would leave—abandon the whole quest, even if it meant abandoning the power to protect your Emma."
"Nothing could drive me from that," he insisted hotly. "I have only gone through these grueling tasks and exercising just so I can see her future become reality."
"Yes, but that was before you possessed the knowledge of our history," Taro said quietly.
"Nothing I heard could push me away," Alex said. "Why would it?"
"You were not given the rest of that history," Janos explained, looking away, as if she were ashamed by something. "Torzon suspected the same thing, and that is why he was so reluctant, and why he decided to force you to go by leaving."
"He is a hume," Memran growled. "They are all greedy and selfish. He will leave the moment he has heard it Janos. Do not tell him just yet!"
She glared at him. "You would have me manipulate and lie to this man so that we can live?" he looked away, angry. "I will not."
Alexander sat his pack down and approached them. Memran rushed before him, to stop his advance, but Janos issued him aside so that Alexander could come to stand before her. "I wouldn't ever abandon Emma, no matter what. If that means, at the process, I would have to save you all then I will do it—even if you were to admit to some heinous crime. If you must tell me before I can start my training, then I would rather you just spit it out. I have wasted enough time here."
She nodded, quietly. "There is something I must show you...tell you first. Torzon and Moitheal said that I should."
"And that is?" she asked.
"I used a time magick that Moitheal said was too ancient and powerful to properly use."
"And what is that?"
"He did not give me a name, but it allowed me to see the girl that I want to save from our distance." The Aegyl were stunned into silence. "Is it really such a dangerous magic?"
"Dangerous? Maybe so for a hume, but not so dangerous to elite Espers—such as the one that created that spell." she explained. "Ashamira." Alexander gasped. She must really have been a powerful being... "It is space time magic, and is called 'Mirror' in your tongue. It is a spell only she and the Esper guardians have ever managed to use, and only she had mastered it enough to use it without growing too weak and sickly. It is an imperfect magic she had created before—"
"Must we tell him?" Memran asked desperately.
"I said that we must so we will," she snapped at him before continuing. "—before she was abandoned by the gods. She had meant to use it to watch the Occuria and while it succeeded, she found that the spell had come with a price for her. Every time that she used it, it slowly took more and more out of her. It was killing her. It is why the guardians used it extremely rarely, only when they absolutely had to."
Alexander stopped himself from trembling. It is good I only used it once...
"Would you perform it once more for us?" she asked then, and he swore.
"Are you serious?! You want me to use a spell you just said slowly kills the user?!"
"You shall be protected from its costs this once," she explained. "We Aegyl will make it so."
"How?"
"The moment you brought that spear to us," she said, pointing to it. It started to float towards her. "Is the moment in which you saved us. You see, this spear," it landed in her open hands. "Was crafted by the Occuria in their realm to hinder us. I do not know the magicks or the evils put into this thing, but it has slowly drained us of our power and o ur life. It killed a many one of us just by existing and banished us to this place."
"But I have seen you down on Gaia," he muttered.
"We were not there physically," Taro answered the unasked question. "We projected our mana into you so that we could talk."
Janos dropped the spear to the ground and lifted a hand over it. It started to melt into the ground. In a flash of light and a cry, the spear was gone. She sighed, closing her eyes. "I can feel its restrictions leaving us..."
"It...it feels..." Memran couldn't even finish his sentence, he just laughed happily.
"Now, let us get to to the spell," Janos said, casting a spell over Alex. He felt like he grew heavy, but nothing else seemed to have changed. "Now show us the spell and we shall tell you more of the history that Torzon told you of and, if at the end of our tale you are not regretful for your decisions, we shall commence your training. Do you accept?" he nodded. "Then please...begin."
Alexander asked for a bowl of water and within minutes it was provided to him. It was slightly larger than the one he had used but he hoped it would not be impossible of him. He placed his finger against the surface, closed his eyes and began thinking of the spell he had used before. He felt his mana building inside of his chest and then used it as he had before. The surface of the water shimmered, rippled and then revealed its purpose.
Emma was sitting with her mother and Cadence, laughing over something. It was as if she were right there, just in reach, but was only an image on the surface of water. All of the sudden she blushed, said something they could hear and then left the two women behind to head up a flight of stairs.
The spell was too much, so Alexander released it and collapsed to his knees, panting. It took more than it did last time for a shorter amount of time? Why?
"The 'why' is because we were intercepting the magic from taking its cost. It meant making it harder for you to maintain." Janos explained before sighing. "It is true. You have used the same spell...Torzon was right all long to trust you with this mission."
"Mission?" he repeated, still breathing hard.
"Let me first start with Ashamira..." she lifted her dress and took a spot on the ground before him. The other Aegyl sat too, watching their leader with cautious and worried eyes. "I am sure Torzon told you she had to sacrifice herself?" he nodded. "She knew for a long time before her death that it would take her life to push the Occuria further away from the terrible power the gods had foolishly given them, and that eventually they would break free. Thousands of years she had to plan in advance."
"Damn," Alex muttered. "All of that on the shoulders of one girl?"
"The gods had created her with only love in her heart," she explained. "She was..." there were tears in her eyes and Alex realized that the Aegyl woman must have known her personally. "she was dear to so many for her kindness—for her honest wish to see an end to the fighting. With that knowledge it pained her to realize that long after her death the threat would come back and she would be powerless to help, so..." she hesitated. "so she imbued the last of her mana upon her death into magic itself."
"What?" Alexander gaped. "How is that even possible?"
"She was created by the gods as the secret weapon to ensure peace. She was incredibly powerful. The task could only be done on her death bed though, as it would also require her death."
"So she killed two birds with one stone?" he mumbled, awed by the Esper's single bravery and courage. "I wish I could have known her. She sounds incredible."
Janos smiled weakly at him. "You do know her."
"Janos, don't," Memran begged. "Please don't do this."
"I what?" Alexander's brows furrowed. "How do I know her?"
Janos sighed. "Because in order to fight back the Occuria again, she lived within magic...even when it 'died' after Kefka's defeat and even when it revived."
"So what?"
"And...and your Emma was conceived when magic came back. She is the gate, the bridge to magic's rebirth, as she is magic. Simply put...she is Ashamira."
Alexander's eyes widened. If he was to believe that Emma and Ashamira were one, it meant...he reached up to touch his breast, to be sure his heart was beating, as the realization of what Emma was meant to do crept upon him. No...no, no, no! He covered his eyes and wept.
"The time will come when she will do what she is meant to," Janos whispered. "It is for this reason Torzon—that we—were so reluctant to tell you. We know how much you love her, as we can see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice and see it in your conviction. Telling you meant giving you unreal pain that we did not wish to."
That was the reason why Torzon had reacted so strangely upon seeing Emma. He knew all along. He thought, broken. He knew and he said nothing! "Damn it," he hissed through clenched teeth. "Damn it all!" he smashed his fist into the ground. "Damn the gods! Damn the Occuria! Damn the Espers and damn you!"
Memran rose, angered, but Janos waved him back. "We can only imagine the pain you feel right now Alexander...we shall understand it if you wish to leave and be with her. Will you abandon your quest for power?"
Tears fell down his cheeks. "I don't care anymore...I don't care anymore."
She nodded in understanding. "Then you should know that leaving here you will not be able to protect her from those you seek to and what's more, if she is killed or captured before she has completed her task, the world will be consumed by the Occuria. All life will be at risk, including your family and your child."
He looked up at her, his sadness replaced entirely by his anger. He got to his feet. "You think you have the nerve to threaten me?!"
"It was not a threat," she said quietly, still sitting calmly. "I am explaining to you the risks of walking away."
"Nothing matters anymore! Either way Emma is supposed to...to..."
"And if she doesn't all life will be left under the Occuria. Would you rather she live so that she and your child could face even worse horrors than what this Derell imagines?" that quieted him. "I am not going to force you to pick, I just want you to know the risk, but if you stay and train with us there is a chance you could surpass her—that you could end the threat before the Occuria re-manifest themselves."
"How?" he asked. "I don't have the strength of Ashamira."
"If Derell and his agenda is ended before it is completed, there will be no need for Emma to sacrifice herself to banish the Occuria. If the and his son were to die, then the gate they threaten with their work would not be at risk of opening and releasing the Occuria into the physical world."
"How do I know you just aren't saying this to get me to stay, to help you?"
"Because I would not lie to you," she said finally, standing. "If you cannot trust my word, then trust logic. I do not need to keep you here and train you to fight so that Emma does not have to. I could put you back on Gaia and wait for her to do her job." he growled, stepping toward her. "But I do not wish for that. I have lost Ashamira before...I do not want to see her die again. I want to help you. I want to believe we can change things without relying on the sacrifice of Ashamira again."
"Would you stop that?! Emma is Emma," he snapped. "She may have Ashamira's powers but she is not her!"
"If that is what you believe," Taro said.
"It is foolish to believe," Memran muttered.
"If you wish to stay, we will train you. You will learn to strengthen your magic, to cast it without hesitation, without too much mana being spent and we will teach you the history of our people-yours and ours-and teach you the language of the Espers, Nadthos, so that when the time comes and you must leave us, you can succeed in your first step towards stopping Derell and his son."
Taro smiled at him. "Please...let us train you. We want to help you, to help Emma. If there is a chance we can save her, we want to."
Memran bowed his head. "They speak the truth. We do not want to see the path conclude in such a way. We do not want her to die. Train here with us and we will give you a chance to change it."
Alexander looked at their faces, uncertain. If it was destiny, inevitable, that Emma was to... he shook his head. If that was to happen regardless, he wanted to spend the time left with her. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her...to be with her. Would it be right to throw away his only chance at seeing her in a slim chance to prevent her death? Was it selfish if he took that course instead of trying to help?
What do I do, Emma? Would you want me to try, or to stay with you?
"Well?" Janos asked after a moment.
"If I were to agree...how long would this training take me?"
She smiled at him. "Do you recall what I said when I handed you the chalice, Alexander?" he shook his head. "I told you that I had taken discussions with my husband on the issue of your time, and he agreed to help. If you agree to train here, we shall seal time so that it goes faster here than on Gaia."
"I do not understand..."
"Essentially it means a day's length on Gaia is longer here." she gestured around her. "You can achieve weeks' worth of training in just a few days. Imagine if you had months.
""Could I leave at any point if I felt I needed to?""We would not bind you here," she said. "If it is your desire to leave at any point, we will take you back. So, dear Alexander the Impatient, what will you do?"
He closed his eyes, imagining Emma's face and a world without it. He shook his head, refusing tears to come. I will fight for you Emma. I will not let this happen to you. He looked at the female Aegyl. "I will train."
She smiled at him softly. "We shall begin immediately then." she turned to walk down the platform toward a large castle of white stone. The others followed her. Alexander glanced over his shoulder at the horizon of mountains and clear skies.
"I will be there for you." he said, a quiet promise to Emma, and then he hurried to catch up to the Aegyl.
This remake ended up being much longer than I thought it would be, but oh well! That's for the best! What do you think? Do you think Alexander can change things, to end the threat presented by the Occuria through Derell?
Also, we're finally getting to the recent chapter and from there, nearing the end of the story! I really hope you all stick around for the journey and enjoy it all! Thanks so much for reading!
