Chapter Fifty One
That morning the group began to get ready to head out to Colony Eight.
Though what was heard still plagued Yuma's mind, what exactly did Alvis mean by those words, what power did she have hidden within herself? Though it even seemed that Meyna was at a complete loss in that regard but she seemed to grasp some of it.
But even then there was something that Meyna seemed concerned about but Yuma could probably guess as to what it might be.
The man named Algreto.
Even though Yuma had only heard it a few times she could see the obvious fear that Meyna had when hearing that name. Whatever this man had done to her clearly scared her on an instinctual level. And that alone could be bad, even with those who were in the Bionit Order; people like them could only get worse from there.
And with the power that Meyna had which seemed to be only growing; it could only mean that there would be more encounters with them as time went on.
"Yuma?" the Machina woman jumped when Grthiff came over to speak to her with a slight expression of concern. "Is everything alright?"
"Oh, I was trying to think why those Homs would be willing to hurt so many people. Even their own, I know that they are part of the Bionite Order I can't help but wonder…"
"It is a question that many have asked," Grithiff told her as he leaned against a nearby wall, his gaze went to Meyna who was now talking to Ethon and Rei and seeming to be in high spirits. "Even when Meyna and I lived in Colony 4, there were always those who didn't like what she was or just children who could not understand… judging her completely just because of how she was born."
"I can't imagen what that must have been like." Yuma admitted. "In Colony 12 there was always acceptance and everyone seemed alright with one another. Even though I'm not blind to what's happened. Just like when the war with the Bionis first began and… again, when Egil did what he did to those of the Homs and our own people, I just can't understand why people are so willing to hurt others…"
"People are complicated," he admitted. "I know there will be things that even I won't be able to understand but the only thing I can truly do is to keep moving forward, and learn. That's all any of us can do really, I only wish for the best as Meyna moves forward."
Yuma looked to the man with an admirable smile. "You're wise for your age Grithiff."
He laughed softly. "You make me sound old saying that, but I get what you mean. But I didn't learn just for myself, it was for Meyna and her future. All I wish as a brother is that she is happy with the life she has… that's all that matters to me."
"Grithiff," Meyna called out to him as she made her way over to him and Yuma. "Before we leave this Colony, there's something I'd like to do. It won't take that long, I promise."
He pushed himself off the wall and rested a hand on his hip. "Is that so? Then mind if I come with you? I'd like to talk with a few of the High Entia guards about the state of Colony 8 and Colony 9."
"Sure," she then looked to Yuma. "What about you Yuma are you going to stay here or is there anything you want to do before moving on?"
Yuma thought about it before standing. "Actually, I think I'll come with if you don't mind. It'd be good to know what we might anticipate on the road ahead."
The three left shortly after stopping every so often to allow Grithiff to gather information about Colony 8 and subsequently that of Colony 9 as well. And from what they were able to gather from at least six individuals that worked with the High Entia Guard, it could b deterred that the Telethia which had attacked Colony 13 was causing issues along the mountain for those in Colony 8 at the base of the mountain.
"Thank you for your help," Grithiff said to the High Entia Guard before returning to Yuma and Meyna. "Well from all the information we were able to gather it seems that incidents in Colony 8 are not fairing too well because of the Telethia's actions. It's gathering up Ether energy along the mountainside. It must have been more hurt then I imagined when it had attacked Colony 13."
"But what could damage it so much that it would need this long to heal?" Yuma asked.
Grithiff merely cast a glance at Meyna who seemed to be pondering it herself. "I can't really remember, a lot happened then." she looked to him. "What do you think brother?"
He shrugged. "Well, I was impaled and losing a lot of blood when you became unconscious, so I'm not too sure myself. But whoever had, did an impressive job to say the least."
Meyna gasped at him before punching his arm. "Why are you making jokes about that?" she demanded. "That's not even funny Grithiff, I was asking seriously."
Yuma looked to him with narrow eyes. "You… you were actually impaled?"
His smile gone he nodded at the Machina woman. "I had, but at the time I was much more concerned about my sister than anything else. Besides the captain we had during the SkyRay War said to me and the others "You get hurt, hurt them back. You get killed, walk it off." Though not many thought much of it at the time."
Both Yuma and Meyna looked at each other with expressions of scepticism before Yuma spoke. "Was that supposed to be inspirational?"
Grithiff merely shrugged. "The one who said it was married to a decendent of Ryen's, so it didn't surprise anyone," his expression turned sad. "But no one thought that he and his wife would have died like that during the fight… it was hard on everyone, but it was the family who took it the hardest."
"Did you know them?" Yuma asked.
Grithiff fell oddly quite for a moment before answering. "It was complicated," he said. "During that time a lot was happening, I knew of them, and the other decedents but my mind was too focused on the fight at hand…"
"Oh…" Yuma said softly. "Still, I'm sorry; I know what it's like to lose people on the battlefield. As a medic, it was hard wanting to help everyone but being unable to do so."
Grithiff rested a hand on Yuma's shoulder. "We've all suffered loss, in some shape or form, the best we can do now is to make sure that it never happens again."
"He's right," Meyna said. "And we need to continue onwards to the Colonies."
Yuma nodded but then changed the subject. "By the way Meyna, didn't you need to do something before we continue on?"
"Yes. I need to speak to Shurelia about something that's been bothering me. If I'm able to get the answers I'm looking for then we can move on." I just hope she'll be able to tell me…
"Lead the way then," Grithiff said.
The three of them headed back to the archives, which were currently being guarded by two High Entia guards, to the three's surprise. They looked at them as if judging what their intentions were before stepping to the side allowing them entry. And upon entering there were also a few of the High Entia inside as well keeping a close watch on Shurelia and even Ro'Ka from any harm.
She raised her head from her work and smiled when seeing Meyna and the others. "Meyna, what are you doing here? I thought you and your brother would already be heading to Colony 8."
"That is the plan, but…"
"Yes?"
Meyna hesitated, her gazing looking to the guard that stood by Shurelia's desk. Noticing this the Machina woman spoke to the guard. "Excuse me sir, would be so kind as to assist my son in organizing the books for me? I need to finish these documents for Aion before they can be promptly returned to Colony 6."
"Ma'am," he spoke. "Are you sure?"
"These three where some of the people that helped me when those other Homs attacked, they are no threat that you need to worry over."
"If you say so," he simply bowed his head and went over to the young High Entia boy who smiled shyly up at him and handed a book before Shurelia leaned back in her chair. "What is it that you need to speak to me about?"
Meyna sighed, in truth there was no easy way to ask this, but she wanted to be sure. "Back when you told me that Colony Zero existed, that it wasn't a myth a question kept coming to my mind. I wanted to know if you…"
"If I was once an inhabitant of Colony Zero," she finished and Meyna nodded, but the Machina woman shook her head in response. "No, I was not."
"Then how do you know so much about a place that had never been mentioned before?"
"I may not have been a resident, but Ro'Ka and his family were."
Grithiff recalled how the boy reacted when he rushed to the woman, looking distraught and worried that he may have lost another family member. "Then what he said back then…"
"Reminded him of the event of when Colony Zero fell, yes…" her eyes became downcast as if recalling something. "He still has nightmares of it at times or even of the SkyRay war when his parents lost their lives in that needless battle. Too many people died that day…"
"So his parents told you?" Yuma asked.
"Not just them," she said before standing up and looking out a nearby window. "I had a friend who left the Mechonis when the chance was offered. But because of that war, what Zanza did, I had nearly lost my entire family that horrible day. And even then, I lost my brother after Egil…" she sighed and rested her hands along the windowsill as Yuma looked away with a regretful look. "I do not blame Egil for his actions or even my brother when he was one of the people hoping to reason with him. All of it just felt needless to me, too much bloodshed, or loss of life, and all that history and culture… being destroyed by a god just because he wished too. It was because of that, that I began documenting everything, trying to preserve every piece of knowledge that I possibly could for the future generations if we were to survive. I didn't want it to disappear."
"Then…" Meyna spoke. "If that's the case, if you were never apart of Colony Zero, why were you being targeted? How did you know the pilot of the Silver Faced Mechon?"
She looked to Meyna. "Because she was my friend."
"What?" Yuma gasped. "You… know that woman?"
Shurelia nodded. "I did, though for a time after the fall of Colony Zero everything was scattered. Horrible things had happened there, much like with the battle with the Mechonis and Bionis. Many lives were lost. She came to me at first in the hopes if I had known anything about her husband or child. But I hadn't… since then though I have been able to keep in contact with her, giving information that she could use to stop the Telethia and what had been happening these past several years."
"So you became in leazon," Grithiff said as he folded his arms across his chest. "If that's true, then could you tell us her name? In case we run into her again?"
Shurelia was silent for a moment, her gaze staying heavily on Meyna before she spoke. "Her name…" she sighed. "Her name is Himiya."
In that moment Meyna froze, the back of her neck began to throb as her heart started to pound. It suddenly felt like something was grasping her mind, digging their nails in to make the pain she felt worse than the pain in her neck.
Images flashed in her mind again, this time of the Machina woman that piloted the Face Mechon, along with brief instances of seeing her through someone else eyes. Like she was in someone else's head as the person in question, a Homs, grasped her hand gently.
"Himiya…" the one who spoke was that of a man, his voice calm and gentle, yet somehow familiar to Meyna even though it was one she had never heard of before.
Meyna grasped her head with her hands as her mind and neck continued to throb. She grit her teeth as her nails began to dig into her scalp, this pain was worse than before.
"Meyna!" Grithiff went to her side and helped her stand as she forced herself to straighten, her breathing labored as the pain began to dull itself out. "What happened?"
"I thought I saw something…"
Grthiff frowned. "Was it a memory?"
She shook her head slowly. "No, it didn't feel like one but… I'm not sure. Sorry for scaring you brother."
"Don't apologize for something you can't help Meyna." He said as he kept her close. "But will you be alright?"
She nodded and smiled up at him. "I'll be fine, thank you." she then moved away and looked to Shurelia. "That woman, the pilot, you said you've known her for a long time. You've been giving her information then."
"Of what has been happening with the other Colonies, yes. Since what had happened to Colony Zero, she had become adamant in stopping the Telethia, so that no one else would have to suffer the repeated tragedies that have plagued us in the past. She hopes to one day attain a future where there won't have to be fighting."
"It sounds like Egil." Meyna thought. "Though a bit different…"
"It sounds fruitless," Yuma said as she placed her hands on her hips. "It's impossible for one person to try and rid all of the Telethia; what's more they used to be High Entia."
"It is a complicated issue. and with the recent events my son and I will be heading to Colony 6 for a time, at least until things here settle down." she then looked to Meyna. "Is there anything else you'd wish to know?"
Meyna shook her head. "No, I think that's all we need for now. Thank you Shurelia for giving us that information."
"It will do you better then I, so, will you be heading to Colony Nine then?"
"That is our intention," Grithiff said. "And our hope is to speak to the Captain of the Royal Guard to see what he might have found in regards to the Telethia that attacked our home."
"Then I wish you all the best," she said with a bow. "May the Light of Lady Mayneth guide you on your path and protect you all."
Giving their thanks the three left the archives and headed back to the others, but as they walked Yuma spoke. "Will Meyna really be alright?"
Grithiff looked at her. "She said that she would be, even if we were to keep asking her she would just keep saying that she was fine. Past experiences has taught me that it's just best to watch and see if anything changes. The only thing I'm worried about now is what might happen if we run into that Face pilot again."
"But wouldn't that be a good thing? That pilot will know more about Colony Zero."
That was true, but Grithiff couldn't help but worry, something about all of this didn't sit well with him. And until he knew who that pilot was and what they looked like the feeling he had wouldn't leave, it wasn't that he didn't trust the woman that had protected not only his sister but others as well, it was the fact that he felt as though he knew the pilot from somewhere but couldn't place as to where.
"For now let's reach Colony 9 and see what we can do from there."
