The Strangest of Events
"Larsa? Is that you?" I stood and smiled at the young Emperor. Twenty-five years old. He had grown up into a handsome man. "I barely recognised you, when was the last time I had seen you?"
"Ten years ago, actually," He replied warmly. "Al-Cid told me you had come with him, I was hoping to see you before our meeting."
"Ah so it's over for now?" To be honest many people from both Rozarria and Archadia were still uneasy about one another, thinking that the other would raise arms and start another war. Even after thirteen years keeping the peace was more than a hassle.
"Only for a short time, yes," Larsa nodded. We were in the Solidor Palace's gardens and we decided to take a walk around them. "Is your husband with you?"
"No he's in Rozarria with Alexander," Alexander was my, and Janos', ten year old son. "He's doing well, as is Alexander." We continued to walk around the gardens when I saw the armoured figure of Basch, or Gabranth, as he had to masquerade as his brother to further the peace of the Empire. He was without his helmet, holding it under his arm.
"I'm glad you're doing well, Lady Reina."
"We fought together, Larsa," I told the young man. "Just Reina is fine," Basch approached us as I spoke. "Lovely to see you, Gabranth."
"As it is you," Basch nodded and turned his attention to Larsa. "My Lord, your presence is required again by the Rozarrian Ambassadors."
"Very well, I shall go immediately," Larsa nodded. "It was good seeing you again, I hope you stay in Archadia a little longer." I nodded and Larsa headed away, I decided to speak with Basch.
"How have you been?" I asked.
"I have been fine, thank you," Basch said.
"You've done a good job protecting Larsa," I smiled. "He's really grown. I'm proud of him."
"He's always been a strong lad," Basch said. Although it looked like something was on his mind.
"Basch?" I said. We were completely alone so it was okay for me to call him that now. "Is something the matter?"
"There have been rumours, that Judge Madsen has been sighted," Madsen? He returned to Utopia. "Although he is Judge no longer, I do not like that he has been sighted within the Empire."
"How long ago was this?"
"Several weeks before you arrived," I nodded at the answer. "We have sent scouts out to find him but he disappears as quickly as he is sighted." It was tempting to ask another question.
"What about Lucifer?" Lucifer disappeared a few months after the Bahamut fell. He stayed in Rabanastre for a time before it was reported that he had vanished into thin air. Nothing has been heard from him since. Basch shook his head. "Too much to hope for, just as I thought," We walked inside. "Where was Madsen last spotted?"
"In Old Archades," Now why would Madsen be there? "There were monsters swarming the area not long after. Beasts that no one from Ivalice has been the like of." Is that so?
"Do you have any corpses?" I asked. If it was several weeks ago then it was a long shot.
"Aye, in Draklor."
"Might I see it then?"
The following day Basch and Larsa accompanied me to Draklor, where the researchers were studying the monsters. There were so many that did not look native to Ivalice. One was a beast with three heads and a serpent's head as its tail, another looked like a strange bird that one would see in artistic drawings. Another was a huge insect while another was a huge blob, similar to our Flans.
"And all of these were in Old Archades?" I asked.
"Indeed, and more," Larsa nodded. "However, when some were slain they burst into lights, their bodies vanishing before our eyes," Curious, I had never heard of that before. "We cannot understand their nature, or why they appeared." I noticed a blonde researcher looking around anxiously.
"That is strange, indeed," I nodded. "This has only been happening after Madsen is spotted?" A nod confirmed my suspicion. Something was not right. That blonde researcher was very distracting as well. He was shuffling about, not doing anything, glancing at us occasionally. It was like he was not meant to be here. Then I noticed a gun in his hand and put a hand on my bow.
He turned around and fired a shot at Larsa, who was defended by Basch. The other researchers started to dart out of the room, one pushing me to the ground. I took an arrow and fired at him, piercing his wrist and knocking the gun out his hand. I fired another arrow in his chest as he shot a fireball at me, throwing me at the wall. Basch struck him and took him out instantly, cleaving him with his blade.
"Are you all right?" Basch asked.
"I'm fine," I said, casting a mild Cure spell on my arm where I was hit. I was hit on my scarred shoulder from when the Mist damaged me all those years ago. It was burning and I could not fully move my arm but it would heal in a few days. I approached the would-be assassin to find out who it was.
"That's impossible," Basch said. To be honest I was shocked too. "Lucifer is a good man, why would he try to harm Larsa?"
"I... hold on," I looked at Lucifer. He was dead. Although something was off. "I don't think this is Lucifer. Lucifer can't stand and balance himself without his cane, let alone walk or wield a gun well," I then observed his features. "And he looks younger. This can't be him. It can't be."
"Was Lucifer not left-handed?" Larsa inquired. "He is holding the weapon in his right hand." That was right. Lucifer always fought left-handed. He couldn't fight with his right hand.
"A clone?" I suggested. "I can't find any other explanation but even that seems... why would someone clone Lucifer?" Perhaps it was the remnants of Cole Dorin's research that Madsen was trying to continue. Cloning Lucifer? I'm not even sure if that was right. Why would anyone want to clone him?
So this concludes the pen-ultimate story in the Connection Series. Unfortunately I am not going to write the final story just yet, as I am going to re-write Connection through to Too Broken to tidy those stories up before finishing this completely. I hope everyone enjoys reading it.
