Chapter 18: Time Marches Onwards
Time had passed so quickly since coming to the Crystarium that Alisaie was startled by everything that had changed for their lives—for the better of course.
After being reunited with grandfather, the four of them all sat upon the floor inside the tower as they told him more of their experiences and everything else that happened. Some of what they had seen and how they had learned to more or less control themselves. He just sat there smiling as he pulled her and her brother into his arms and held them close as he listened.
When they brought out the grimoires, he burst out laughing in joy at the sight of the battered books and took them eagerly.
"Years of research has been recorded in these," he sighed. "If I had these while I was still working on the cure, I may have found one by now."
"We did our best to care for them, grandfather," Alphinaud mumbled a little ashamed at the condition of these books but Louisoix just patted him on the head kindly.
"You need not fear," he said. "I know that it would have been difficult to keep them in perfect condition after all this time. Besides, had I kept them with me, I fear that they almost certainly would have been discovered and destroyed. Just like the rest of my research. You both did well to keep them safe."
Grandfather was especially impressed by the gem that they managed to collect from the ruins in Gridania as well as Lily from the soul stone that Claire still carried around her neck. To him, these were priceless relics that were famous for their arts of healing and may yet hold the keys they need to find the foundations of a cure… but what really got him was what Alisaie had to tell him about what the Four Lords told her.
The idea that their aether was no more akin to voidsent was something that he never once considered.
"Grandfather," Alphinaud asked, "What do you suppose it means? We are clearly not voidsent…?"
"But you have some connections to them," grandfather said as he frowned over some of the worn papers of the grimoires as he thought that all over. "It seems that the Black Rose may have some deeper ties to the void than I first thought."
"What do you mean?" Alisaie asked curiously as he ran his hand through her hair comfortingly.
"I'm afraid I don't know yet. But I will find the answer," he promised her. "Not just for you, either… but for all who still suffer to live in a world of night."
Since then, grandfather would make regular trips to the Crystarium, easily staying for weeks at a time before he would be left with no choice but to return to Sharlayan before anyone grew suspicious. For the first time in years, the three of them had a place where they could rest without fear of hunters or slayers coming after them. That first day after realizing this, they slept for the entire day and awoke with a new spring in their steps.
Grandfather wasted no time in writing down everything that they could tell them about what they learned, and he also shared many things that he had discovered. Meanwhile, he told them all about their home and the changes there.
Not long after they left, Sharlayan—in order to avoid any more violence—agreed to work alongside Garlemald as they worked on ridding the world of vampires once and for all.
The twins were outraged that their father would choose to work alongside the Imperials after they all they had done?! Just about everyone there at the Studium was killed that day or worse. Despite knowing that there were very little other options right now.
It turns out that a handful of people did end up escaping the Studium, such as how Thancred and Minfilia did that day. Most of them had been forced into hiding as well, and grandfather had met up with them one by one as he worked tirelessly to figure out a way that they can get through this. However, it seems that there are those who aren't so keen to see the world rid of vampires once and for all. Such as those known as the Crystal Braves who seemed to be working under a mysteriously benefactor. Then there were a few other cases such as Ryne… people who were used as test subjects and later killed for whatever reasons?
Alphinaud would frown at this, trying to grasp what was going on. It sounded to him, that there was someone working behind the scenes here and pulling strings but to what end? He wasn't sure anymore. He just knew that whatever was causing all this misery sure seemed keen on hunting down vampires who have learned to control themselves. So, when rumors started flying about of a Warrior of Darkness and two vampires constantly by her side… it cause a lot of interest in this mysterious third party.
At least, that was what grandfather told them after a few moons of living in the Crystarium.
"I know not who is behind this," he had told them gravely. "Only that, whoever they are, they seem most interested in the effects and how it seems to range between the individual and especially with their caretaker. I don't know why, but the one responsible for the Crystal Braves seem to have a very strong fascination with this Warrior of Darkness."
"So you mean they're after Claire?" Alisaie demanded, glad that their friend wasn't here today as the three of them were left inside the tower to discuss things.
"I don't want to say with certainty yet," he confessed. "Only that it is possible. But, the important thing here is that you are all safe. Your mother and father will both be thrilled when they learn of this."
"How are mother and father doing?" Alisaie asked urgently.
"Very well, the pair of them," he smiled and reassured them. "They miss you both terribly but I am sure that when they learn of how well you are doing, it will bring them much comfort."
Alisaie could not help but smile at that as they both begged grandfather for more news and learn what he had been studying over the years. After a long talk, Grandfather decided that he could use both of them as grounds for his research and began to teach them all that he learned.
Unfortunately, with so much new information added from both sides, they would have to really begin work from the ground up if they wished to truly serve as a cure one day… which he confessed could take moons to do.
So, rolling up their sleeves, the two generations of Leveilleur began to get to work.
Like Louisoix predicted, it was a lot of hard work, reorganizing, and of course grandfather still had to make a lot of trips away from the city which ended up slowing down their work here and there. Grandfather would have many of his students coming from all over to deliver more information, including the recent disappearances of more and more vampires by the day, which brought him a lot of worry. Still, he did his best to hide any concerns as he threw his all into his work and before anyone really knew it, moons had passed and become a year… and then more began to come, flying by at almost an unnatural rate.
Faster than anyone could have realized, almost a full two years had passed since they arrived here at the Crystarium. The twins almost could not remember a time where they had spent so long in one place since they were forced to leave home before seven years ago… but here, they had come to enjoy even savor their time of freedom.
Both had grown, slowly but clearly starting to reach into adulthood. While still smaller than most Elezens, it wouldn't been too much longer before they reached the full growth spurt that was common among their kinds. They, at least, no longer looked like they were stuck in the bodies of twelve year olds anymore, which thrilled them both. They didn't need their protector or anyone else by their sides anymore, though they would often take trips outside the city and into other parts of Norvrandt with or without having Claire at their sides.
They were really growing into their own now that they were being trusted outside without too much worry of being attacked and continued to help their grandfather with his work.
Alphinaud had grown taller, and no longer wore his hair in the childish braid that he was almost always seen in. He had let it grown out fuller and pulled back into a rather simple but more grown-up style of a ponytail—similar to Estinien's. His features also grew broader and that that you would see on a man more than a boy as he studied up every harder, giving him the appearance of an intellectual scholar who carried a great deal of experience along with him.
Alisaie was also taller, even more so than her brother at this point, and now wore her hair in a single long braid over her shoulder that began to show off more curves and an elegant body that came with adults. She practiced fighting every night though to hone her skills and a fair about a muscle was also beginning to appear. If her brother the picture of a strong and quiet river that flowed through the lands, than she was more akin to a river of lava that pulsated through a volcano. She was the very picture of passion and fiery determination.
The biggest difference however, came with Claire.
Now that the burden of guarding them and being on watch constantly was lifted off her shoulders for the most part, she was free to venture out and start to have fun again. Alisaie had noticed this change almost right away… so long as Claire kept her scars covered up—which was easy with a lot of the armor that they sold at the markets, she was free to go where she wanted either day or night.
She got to speak with other travelers and adventurers across the city and get to build up bonds with them. She got to go out and laugh and drink with them if they invited her and she was able to do so without any worry weighing on her mind about the two of them.
There were times were the two of them were even able to accompany her, they made sure to keep their faces covered with masks and hoods—this city attracted all kinds—and even got to start enjoying going out again as well.
At first, with the Exarch's blessing, Claire would take them with her as they explored more of the ruins and across Lakeland for hunting. She was still on guard when she learned that there were Garleans in this area… but it seemed that their presence here was noted and soon they retreated for the time being. The Exarch wasn't surprised by this and said that there were periods of time were they would be stalking the lands of Norvrandt. But he had no doubt that their goals to one day conquer them would fall short. The Crystarium, alone, was not the type of place that would allow anyone to come charging in and take their home from them.
So after a time, when no signs of Garleans were seen, she had let the two of them go out to hunt on their own… able to sneak in and out of the city without being spotted. Which, again, let up a lot of the responsibilities that she had been forced to carry.
Instead, Claire was able to relax and heal more.
Claire slowly started to spend more and more time with these adventurer friends of hers and were venturing further from the city every day. She always returned every few days, of course, because she knew that they needed to feed. But with their grandfather having found ways to help them control their cravings, she didn't need to have them to feed as often as they had been in the past. As such, her energy and her heath seemed to blossom back after a couple weeks.
Alisaie could see how her ashen face was now rosy, there was a new sparkle in her eyes, and even her hair was full and shone with a radiance that hadn't been there for years. She walked with a new spring in her step and seemed so taken with wanderlust that it seemed that she had to try and remind herself that she had to stop herself from getting too carried away.
While Alisaie was both overjoyed at seeing their friend like this… she would be lying if she said that she didn't miss having her around all the time. Where they spent almost every single day together, now they would be lucky to see her once or twice a week… and even then that was just so that they could feed. She would always be filled with stories of the things that she had seen, and made sure to bring back little souvenirs for them, such as books, candles, even just some distant flowers were brought back for them as she told them all about each and every detail.
But she never stayed for too long anymore.
Always disappearing and only returning when she must when she felt that they must be growing thirsty. It was hard for them but she also knew that they were just being selfish at this point. Their friend was up and well! She was happy and not shackled to them nearly as much as she had been. They both have a place to rest without fear of being attacked or killed and they were with their grandfather again! She should be counting her blessings rather than fighting the flames of jealously whenever she saw their protector with new friends.
She hated herself for it and she knew that her brother felt the same way. She would see the way that he would watch her from their advantage point of the tower. And more than once she saw him break whatever he was holding when he saw her with another.
But he never spoke of it.
He would just smile whenever she returned and asked how she was fairing.
It was becoming strangely lonely.
Eventually, grandfather noticed this and that led for him to this discussion.
"It is rare that someone would have not just one, but two vampires imprint upon their blood," he said. "I am astonished that she was able to do such an amazing job with caring for you both."
The three of them were inside another one of the rooms of the tower that served as a kind of temporary workshop for him. It was covered in books from all over with notes and equations scattered about a dinner table set up for all of them to assist in his research.
"Huh?" Alisaie asked, distracted. "Oh, yes. She was truly amazing to get us this far. In all honesty, I do not think that I would have done even so well a job. Needless to say, we never would have made it here without her."
He smiled kindly at her before a slight wrinkle of worry crept into his face.
"And… how do you feel about her? When she is not around, I mean?" he asked her calmly.
"Oh, I guess I'm just so used to having her around that it feels a little lonely when she's not here," Alisaie shrugged, pretending that it was not a big deal. Yet the words were no sooner out of her mouth when she could feel the stabs inside her growling at her, as if to say 'how dare you?'. As if something inside her was growling in anger that she brushed off their dear friend that easily.
She shifted uncomfortably, something that grandfather noticed and he frowned slightly. Not that she saw it. She was going over some rather complicated notes and then asked him to explain a little further in detail about this particular formula and if it could not be simplified in a way that it would not take two hours to work out.
Ever since he had gotten back his grimoires, he had been teaching the two of them how to decipher their complicated codes and they had now been making many adjustments to what was already there. Grandfather believed that if they could figure out just what the method was used to create the Black Rose, they could figure out a way to neutralize it from here.
That was when Alphinaud came into the room, carrying a few more heavy books and plopped them on the table in front of them.
"And you? Alphinaud?" grandfather asked kindly. "What are your thoughts of our dear friend?"
"Claire?" he asked rather squeakily and he looked away. Alisaie didn't notice it, but Louisoix certainly did when he saw a rather silvery blush appear across his cheeks. His eyebrows shot up at that, as Alphinaud nervously explained that she was dear to him and that he could never thank her enough for all that she had done for them.
That still was not telling him what he needed to know. He knew, from many cases, just how protective—even obsessive that this connection could be between a vampire and their pair… their caretaker. All too often he had seen how this connection often led them into saying or doing things they would never normally have done.
It becomes almost a need… not just for the vampires but for their caretakers as well—though not to that extent. More than once he had seen how this obsession had led to death or such a powerful toxic hold that the caretaker would even wish for death.
In other cases, he had seen such as with Estinien and Ysayle where it becomes almost a reluctant relationship where they become lovers that both love and hate the other. Others, such as Thancred and young Ryne… it had become a more dependent relationship where almost a parent and child.
He could not deny that he feared what this meant for his grandchildren.
It was bad enough for one person to have one vampire attached to them, but to have two? He feared that the jealousy between the two would lead them to harm each other… but that didn't seem to be the case here.
If anything, he was amazed by their restraint and that they didn't feel the need to try and beg her to remain at their side all the time. Still, he could not help but worry for what this could mean later on… there was something here that was casing a drastic change in both of his grandchildren that he hadn't seen with other pairs… they seemed more… connected with their mortal side than most other vampires.
But why?
That was when he had a sudden suspicion and so he decided to set out and do a little more research.
"Grandfather, why do you have to leave so suddenly?" Alphinaud asked, surprised by his grandfather's sudden desire to leave the Crystarium when he so recently arrived just last night.
"There is a theory that I need to check up on," he answered, unable to hide the sudden eagerness with the twinkle in his eyes and the smile on his lips. "And if I'm right about it, it could be that a full cure has been found right under our noses."
"Truly, grandfather?" Alisaie asked, hardly daring to believe it. "How…?"
He just pulled her in close for a hug and kissed her on the top of her head. "I promise to reveal my suspicions when I return," he vowed. "I don't wish to get anyone's hopes up. But if I am right, then we will already have all we need to begin treatment once and for all! So in the meantime, I need you both to stay hidden a little longer."
He held out his other arm and pulled Alphinaud into his embrace and held them there.
"I'll be sure to tell your father that I've seen you both," he promised. "And I know that this is a lot to ask, but please… look after each other until I get back."
"Yes, grandfather," they both promised as he smiled proudly at them and they prepared to waive them off.
"I wonder what it is that he has found," Alphinaud asked in excitement. After all this time, it was hard to believe that they would soon be cured. He didn't wish to get his hopes up, but he had never seen grandfather that excited before and so that told him that he must have a lot of faith in this idea. He hoped he returned home soon so that they could learn more.
"Also, do you know when Claire is supposed to be returning?" he asked them suddenly, taking them by surprise.
"She should be back here today," Alisaie pointed out, remembering how Claire promised she would be stopping by sometime today to see how they were.
"Good, then please ask her to remain here until I return," he said and they both looked at each other, startled at the question.
"We will tell her grandfather," Alisaie said, "But, may I ask, why?"
"Because I think that she deserves to hear this part as well," he told them. Which was half true. However, the true reason for this was for another reason. He didn't wish to reveal all he knew right now, but he just needed to see if it was all true with her around. Once he had his proof, he would return and then he would see if the fates were kind in granting them the information they have long searched for.
The twins both looked a little awkward at this, but they nodded as he smiled and hugged them both lovingly before parting ways.
"I wonder why Grandfather needs Claire here." Alisaie asked curiously as they watched him leave.
"I don't know, but I think that it's only fair that she be here to join us in celebrating a possible cure to this life of nightfall," Alphinaud said happily. "She is family too after all. Grandfather my just want her here."
"Maybe," Alisaie said slowly, but she could not shake the feeling that she was missing something here. Oh, well, she was sure to ask grandfather when he next returned.
But that brought up another question that she had been wondering about for a while now.
Claire just seemed to be venturing farther and farther from them. They didn't get a chance to really talk as much as they used to and she was really starting to miss her at this point. But it was more than that… the idea of her friend leaving for any longer was really causing these pangs of longing inside her. If her friend could leave, could she not at least accompany her? Though she knew that it would be difficult since, for one, Claire did enjoying travelling during the day again. She couldn't take that away from her.
But there was more to it than that… these feelings of longing… no, they were more than that of the want of companionship. The truth was… they were far from friendly as one could imagine in that sense… less longing and more… desire.
It burned these days… as if there was a growing flame that smoldered at the thought and she felt ashamed for it.
She just took a seat next to Alphinaud, knowing that they had at least another bell of sunlight before they could venture out. But during that time, she spent a part of it of thinking of her friend in a not so innocent way.
She was growing uncomfortable just by sitting there trying to make sense of her own feelings.
Something that Alphinaud noticed and pressed her for information. She did her best to hide it and thought that she could go and hide some place in the rest of the tower until he left her alone. But then again, that was something that child would do.
At least, until they heard their linkpearls ringing in their ears. A gift from grandfather so that the three of them didn't need to worry about being apart for so long now.
Claire's voice filled their ears as she said, "Are you both well tonight?"
"Yes!" Alphinaud said eagerly, like a little puppy. "It's so good to hear from you my friend! What news have you brought to us tonight?"
"Just that I will be there in a little while," she reassured her. "I'm returning from another journey."
"Oh, where from?" Alisaie asked excitedly as Claire laughed and promised she would tell them all about it when she got there. She just wanted to make sure if there was nothing that they wanted her to bring to them.
"Just yourself and you arrive safely," Alphinaud told her with such a sweet expression on his face that Alisaie couldn't help but sigh. The boy was most certainly in love with their mutual love interest… which was painful for her to think about.
When he hung up with her, she could see how happy he looked at that moment and she knew that this was the biggest wrench that was thrown at them. How ironic that between the two of them, they would harbor feelings for the same person?
But when he noticed how she was looking at him he asked if she was feeling thirsty. When she shook her head, he pressed on and she finally found herself just coming out and saying what the problem was that neither of them were prepared to admit to yet.
"You love her, don't you?" she asked and he froze, dropping the quill. Alisaie didn't bother to try and hide how she felt this time as she looked at him as he stuttered out some excuse… which neither of them bought.
Once he realized this he slumped forward in his seat, a more defeated look on his face she couldn't remember seeing before.
"What are we going to do?" Alphinaud asked, his hands shaking.
This was hurting both of them and they knew it. They couldn't keep up how they were feeling as a secret for much longer. The question was now what were they to do about it. After a long time talking it over with each other, they both realized that they were both losing it a little at this point as they tried to keep everything hidden. But it need not have to be that way for much longer. After all, the two of them were already of age according to Sharlayan, and now had just recently reached eighteen summers.
They had grown in appearance as well, both of them nearly as tall as she was at this point and knew that by the time they hit their twenties, they were likely to shoot up past her in height. Alisaie felt taller, stronger, and more beautiful by this point as well… she felt much more grown up than she ever had… yet when it came to the woman they both loved she felt like she was still some shy little school girl who wanted to send a secret love letter.
Alphinaud also knew exactly how she felt. He had tried so hard to beat back these feelings of jealousy and longing. He felt almost like his old self—before his transformation—whenever he thought of her.
He thought of how she had changed during this time. While her height hadn't changed much, there was no denying the new way she held herself. She seemed to hold herself up taller, walked straighter as if the weight of the world wasn't weighing down upon her very spirit. She even looked to be much younger than she was now that most of those shackles had been cut free from her and it was showing in the way that she smiled and laughed.
Alphinaud shifted, almost ached at this point. He found it difficult to sleep during the day anymore when he started to dream of her again. Holding her, kissing her… touching her in a way that would make any decent person blush in his dreams… only to awaken in severe disappointment. Not only that, they were just friends… he was thinking of her in ways that he knew that he shouldn't. It was just this connection between them with her as his caretaker that was causing it, of that he was sure of… at least that was what he tried to tell himself.
"I'm really not sure what to do now," he confessed grimly. His mind and heart, once again, were waging war with what should be done. The fact was though they had no idea in how she felt about either of them. But that seemed to make it worse since what if she did not share those same feelings? Or what if she only liked one and not the other? He didn't know how he could handle that. And so, once again, he let his feelings remained locked inside.
"I just don't know if I can handle keeping it a secret any longer," Alisaie sighed before reminding him. "We will be eighteen summers old in mere days now brother. That is seen as us finally reaching of age. So…?"
"So it would not be looked down upon, I know," he sighed. But what that really work out? Another way to forcibly bind her to one of them?
He looked to her and asked, "What should we do if she should reject both of us simply for not sharing her feelings? Or worse… what if she cannot make up her mind for fear of hurting the other?"
Alisaie blinked, having not thought of that. Sure, she had given a great deal of thought to what would happen if she turned them down. Could their friendship survive after all that? She could almost live with the idea of Claire and her brother being together for she wished them both to be happy… but the idea that she would be too scared to say anything out of fear of hurting them? That did sound like something that she would do.
"That is assuming that she carries any feelings of romance for either of us," Alisaie pointed out.
The fact of the matter was that they both knew that it was far from love at first sight. Back then, when they first met, they assumed that bringing her here was just one of grandfather's strange whims. Even after she did choose to remain behind in Sharlayan with them… they would be hard pressed to say that it was love they felt. But now… they understood a lot more than before. It was never about falling in love with first sight… or even the second or third times. It was about a love that was built up over years of trust and devotion. Countless sights and memories spent together… a connection that was both cursed and blessing at once.
Alisaie looked away, having cursed herself for harboring such feelings. She had simply dismissed the idea of her feelings as silly and would surely fade as time went by. But after over a decade of time, not only did her feelings grow stronger than before… they were making her yearn for so much more than merely being content with a smile sent her direction.
She sighed as she laid her head down on the table and whispered, "We should never have fallen in love with her."
Alphinaud stared at her as she rolled her head over to the side so that she was no longer looking at him and finished, "We can't just force our feelings onto her. And I think that we both tried to fight it for a long time. But the thing is… I don't want to fight it. Especially since our nameday is approaching."
Alphinaud was silent for a time as he stared at a point on the table… as if it would suddenly start speaking and tell him what to do.
"Indeed," was all he could muster to say.
The two of them sat there for a long time as they thought it over in their minds the best way around this. Finally, they began to talk… really talk… for the first time in years about where they stand and what they both truly wanted. They thought back on all these years… both the good and the bad… and they came to a kind of understanding.
But there was no point to any of it if they didn't work up the courage to speak to the object of their desires. They needed to talk with her on how they felt and where to go from here. And so, both of them stood and left the safety of the tower.
It was in the very late hours of twilight when they emerged from the golden doorway and began to look around. That was when a light breeze picked up and they could just barely pick up Claire's scent on the wind, which they followed after immediately—it seemed that she had arrived not long ago.
It led them to a watchtower on the very edge of the city that overlooked the Rookery and soon they felt real fear creep into their stomachs as they began to climb.
"I'm not sure of this anymore," Alphinaud whispered.
"Well, I don't know about you but I don't know how much more that I can keep going without saying anything," Alisaie said, frustrated. She was scared too, but surely the truth would be better than never knowing at all, won't it?
"We're not going to ask her to choose between us," she went on firmly but in a gentle tone. "We just need to talk to her about how we feel about everything and see what she says. And no matter what she decides, we will accept it."
He nodded as they stepped up on the final step and looked down a long platform to see her standing at the other end. She was as vibrant as ever before and standing before the last remaining strands of sunlight gave her an heavenly appearance…?
But that wasn't what the two of them were focused on.
She wasn't alone…
She was with the Exarch…
And as they stood at the other end of the platform she saw the two of them with their lips connected as if glued.
Alisaie felt as if everything froze around her as she saw the two of them sharing that kiss.
Her mind felt as if the world was falling away at her feet and she saw red. How dare he…? How dare he…? HOW DARE HE…?
Her teeth were bared and she began to growl like some beast as the two pulled away shyly. But when they heard the growl, they turned around to see them there.
"Alisaie?" Claire asked as she stood up from her seat. "What's wrong? Are you…?"
But Alisaie could no longer listen to her. Her mind was suddenly awash with a fog that hadn't been there in years. Not since that day on top of the mountain with the Swallow's compass. She felt only anger as her eyes were fixed upon the Exarch.
'MINE!'
Her mind screamed at her and she charged at him, her teeth bared and the next thing she knew was that she bit into flesh and blood sprayed everywhere.
(Damn, didn't see that coming, did ya? I know, I know… this was supposed to be a different paring but there is a reason why I planned it out this way. Up till now the two of them never really had to fight for her attention or worry about someone stealing her away from them. But now they do. They didn't try to interfere before because they wanted her to be happy but it seems that their horny minds are really starting to affect them. Especially now that they have competition.)
