Felinis: I should be cleaning up my dorm and doing my homework... but I think we know by now I'm never gonna do that.
Estelle laughed about with the children who were asking with wide eyes to see her artes. They cheered as she cast a photon spell. Karol sat off to the side watching as Estelle seemed in love with the attention. Karol glanced back to the hill waiting for Rita and Yuri to return. There was something more than a little weird about Yuri. From the horns in the bag to the fact that Karol had heard Yuri and Repede whispering in the night. It wouldn't have been odd if not for how in depth the conversation went.
All the oddities peeked his curiosity along with the man's great fighting strength. Karol was a coward and afraid to travel on his own so following along behind Yuri made him feel better. Though Nan would likely be pissed when they finally met up. A groan slipped his lips and he could already feel a new lump forming on his head alongside Rita's. It stung like a bitch. If Yuri had one of these bumps Karol doubts he'd be quick to deny a healing arte.
As he sitting he hears the heavy footsteps of armored feet and sees a group of three knights run.
"Lady Estellise! There you are!" The kids scatter and Estelle stands wide eyed. "We've been looking all over for you. Now, come back with us while you can!"
The leader of the group grabs Estelle's hand and pulls her along towards the edge of town despite her protests. "I say, we've come to courteously escort you back to the capital!" The tall lanky one says grabbing her arm.
"And then we can clamp Yuri in chains where he belongs!" The short stocky one proudly proclaims.
Karol runs in front of them arms widespread. "Hey, let Estelle go!" Karol sees Yuri come in from behind and the knights run at him.
"I've been waiting for you, Yuri Looowell! Don't you move a muscle!" The leader says pointing his sword to Yuri's face.
"Jeez, this guy never lets up, does he?" Yuri huffs and once more Karol wonder how this man can be so casual about everything.
"An old acquaintance you may be, but today I can overlook your transgressions no longer!" What did Yuri do to get on these guys' nerves? There is no way it's jailbreak. Yuri must have stolen something or worse.
Estelle pleads from behind. "Yuri isn't a bad person. I asked him to go with me!"
The man's brow narrows. "Argh, Yuri, you ruffian! You're coercing Lady Estellise!"
Estelle huffs a little. "No! This is what I really want! I'll go back to the castle. Just leave me be for a little longer!"
"I cannot allow that! Return to the castle with us!"
"I can't go back. Please understand this!"
The man sighs. "We have no choice. We'll have to apprehend the criminal as well..." He looks at Yuri and then to his sword. "Urrgh! What a shame!" The battle commences instantly. Yuri brandishing his sword out and parrying the knight. Karol pulled out his hammer nervously and struck at the spear wielding knights.
Rita starts blasting fireballs at the knights pushing them back while Estelle is defensively waving her sword to defend Yuri. Another fireball launches and the leader is pushed to the ground. "She says she's not going back, so get lost!" Rita growls.
Estelle lightly whacks the skinny one on the head and he falls down. "I'm sorry. I can't go back." They get up quickly and Estelle's eyes go wide and Karol's drifts to those he saw that first night in Halure. "Yuri! It's them again!"
"Damn it, I knew they were still after us."
"What is it this time?" Rita huffs trying to understand the situation.
Yuri huffs and pushes the knights back to ground while Repede distracts them. "I'll explain later!
Karol, which way is Nor Harbor?"
Karol blinks. "Uh, ah, it's west! West! You go over Ehmead Hill and Capua Nor is right there."
Yuri nods and runs past everyone and Rita follows. "All right, let's go now, then." Rita says eyeing him and Estelle.
"But, I can't..." Estelle mutters.
Rita stomps her foot on the ground. "...Argh! Make a decision!" Estelle stays silent. "Which do you really want to do? Keep traveling with us, or go home?" Once again Estelle seems torn in what she wants but straightens up.
"...I'm going to keep traveling." Karol wonders if Estelle is a coward like him for a moment. Both people scared to act.
"A wise choice! And one that those knights surely wouldn't be able to agree with." Rita says with a nod pulling Estelle along while the figures approach. As flee he notes Yuri saying something to the knights and the leader nodding with a smile and standing guard against them.
They walked a day before they made it to Ehmead Hill. Yuri watches the strange almost friendship bloom between Rita and Estelle. Estelle seeing Rita as an incredible role model for her straightforward attitude. A smile slips on his lips as he watches Estelle attempt to get Rita to high-five with her. Yuri's thankful that Karol stocked on supplies while they were out since that knight fiasco kept him from shopping. Repede hasn't been able to read the book unfortunately but he has mentioned a few things.
The Entelexeia are apparently some creatures that were a big deal in the ancient Geraios civilization. There was also something on Krytia but Yuri wasn't too good on the details. Yuri looks over the paper again and wonders what it means. At least Leblanc let them go for some reason so they'd be okay until they met up with Flynn and then Yuri was getting a lecture. A long, long lecture…
Once they made it to the base of the hill Karol tilted his head in confusion. "So this is Ehmead Hill?" Rita asks.
"Yeah...but... That's weird... The barrier's gone."
Yuri's eyes narrow. "You mean there was a barrier here?" Karol nods.
"There was when I came before."
"Sort of a waste to have a barrier in a place with no people, if you ask me." Diedon Hold was a place in far greater need than a stupid hill.
"Are you sure you aren't mistaken? I'm pretty familiar with the barrier locations, but here?" Rita says looking around.
Karol nods. "You just haven't heard about this one. Nan told me it was only put here recently."
Estelle's eyes widen. "Who is Nan, Karol?"
The boy blushes and digs his foot in the dirt. "Huh...? Uh, she's um... You know, she's just a friend from my guild." Karol turns around and once more tries to shake off the awkwardness. "I-I'm gonna go see if I can find anything out!" And, he's off!
Rita strides forward. "I think I'll have a look myself."
"All right, never mind us, guys. I'm not gonna go look for them if they get lost." Yuri chides and Estelle chuckles.
"Shall we, Yuri?" Estelle says and Yuri playfully holds out an arm.
"But, of course!" They made their way up the hill taking in the greenery and were greeted to a shouting Rita. On the ground was a broken tower for what must have been the barrier blastia Karol was talking about.
Rita tries to push through the group of mages. "Hey, hey! No outsiders allowed!"
Rita holds her head up high. "Let me through! I'm Rita Mordio of the Imperial Blastia Research Laboratory."
The man who yelled at her eyes go wide and he steps to the side. "Oh, you're a mage from Aspio? Excuse me!" Rita strides up over the smoking machinery and starts pulling up scrap metal and examining the formula. "Oh, but you can't just do as you please!" The man wines at her as she examines the broken core with distaste.
"Huh, I could use some of her attitude." Yuri mutters and Estelle shakes her head.
"I think you have plenty already..."
Karol runs up to them with wide eyes and a big grin. "Hey! Listen to this! It was like bam! A spear went thunk! The blastia went bang! And he flew off into the sky like whoosh!" He makes some noises and erratic gestures to demonstrate his point.
"Who did what how... huh?" Yuri says and the boy looks like he might explode in excitement.
"Someone riding a flying dragon," Karol breathes in heavily, "threw a giant spear at the blastia!" He throws his arm out gesturing the spear. "And then just flew off!"
Yuri shakes his head. "A human riding a dragon? No way." There was no way to get a monster to listen to humans. Even Yuri couldn't do anything like that.
Estelle nods. "I've never heard of anything like that before."
"That's what I thought too, but a bunch of people here saw it happen! They say it was a 'dragon rider.'"
Yuri snorts. "A dragon rider... Hmmm. Well, the world's just full of surprises."
Indeed, it is.
Yuri's eyes widen as the voice bleeps in the back of his head. He looks around but there's nothing. He looks at the silhouette of something fly by. Yuri stands and narrows his eyes.
I'd like to stay and chat but I can't at the moment.
What the…? Estelle prods his side. "Yuri, you okay?"
He nods shallowly. "Yeah."
They turn when they hear yelling from Rita and see her being held by two knights. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?! Let me go!"
Karol shakes his head. "There she goes again."
"Something is definitely strange with this blastia formula!"
The man from before just shrugs. "There's nothing strange at all. Perhaps you are-"
Rita stomps her foot. "Just who do you think I am!"
"I'm well aware of who you are. The famed genius mage, correct?" He says lightly. "But surely there are some formulas that even you aren't familiar with!" If the scowl on her face is anything to go by then no. No there is not. Or at least there isn't supposed to be.
"You can't use a weird formula like this! Think of the poor blastia!" Rita slips out of their grasp and stand protectively over the broken blastia.
"H-Hey! Stop gawking and help us catch her!" One of the researcher yells to the knights.
Karol jumps in and starts yelling. "Fire! Hey, fiiiiire!" Everyone briefly looks to the boy.
"What's with that kid?"
"A fire? I don't hear anything or smell anything..."
"Hey! You little liar!"
Karol stiffens a little. "Crap...they caught on that fast?" Well… yeah. He runs away and as they're going by the knights stop and look at Yuri.
"Wait a minute..." One says looking at Yuri while he gives a wide sheepish grin. "You-there's a warrant for your-" He books and knocks out the guard holding Rita.
"It's now or never." Yuri says running off noticing a beaten path off to the side. He hears Repede knock a knight down and Estelle give a very loud apology. He'd like for one moment to not be on the run from something, but he doubts he's getting that pleasure any time soon. They run until they make their way deep into the woods surrounding the hill. They can't hear those knights or researchers looking for them so it seems fine for now. "Phew, looks like we lost 'em."
Estelle is huffing and puffing as she catches her breath. "Rita, you should really think more before you act!"
"Strange? Something fishy about it?" Yuri says.
Rita snorts. "I have a feeling that may be an understatement."
"Well, our hands are already full as it is, so could you please keep us out of it?" Maybe letting a princess out of the castle was more hassle than it was worth.
"It doesn't concern you, regardless."
Yuri is ready to make a comeback when a voice calls out in the distance. "Yuri Looowell! Where have you run off to now?"
Shit! "Hey, Mr. Famous, sounds like you've got a fan out there." Rita chides.
"Again? That guy gives a new meaning to the word 'workaholic.'" Because it seems more like possessed. He hears one of the Tweedles calling for Estelle and the girl cringes.
"You guys have a lot of problems! Just who are you, anyway?" Rita crosses her arms.
Estelle twiddles her fingers. "Umm, well, I'm…"
At the sound of another call Yuri insists they keep moving. Repede barks and Rita readies a spell but stops when she sees it's Karol… but the fact she seemed disappointed by the fact was a little concerning. Karol guides them further into the woods towards Nor Harbor and starts them on trail only for Rita to protest.
"Isn't this a beast trail? Can we really go through here?"
"We'll go as far as we can go, at least. I don't want to get captured again."
Karol nods solemnly. "Y-yeah, that's right!" He looks at the ground. "Though if the barrier were up, we wouldn't have to worry about monsters at all..."
"I can't stand it! Why does some idiot have to go around breaking blastia and making our lives difficult?" Rita yells and Yuri shushes her as they make their way down the path.
They continue walking and Estelle is pestering Karol about Nan. Asking if she's the girl he's in love with. Yuri casually looks over at him and Karol has such a sad look on his face. "Don't worry Estelle means well." But, being pushed into a billybally plant and being paralyzed for an hour was just cruel on Rita's part.
When Karol finally came out of the pollen daze he narrowed his eyes. "Can we just leave? Please." Yuri places a hand on his shoulder and pulls him along.
The Gattuso jumps from the high ground for them to leave and how it would eat them. Yuri pulls his sword and pauses when he notes the injury in its side. Sympathy though is not warranted. If a monster gets a taste for human then there's no choice but to kill it. While it approaches, Yuri notes a large billybally plant in front of him and sprays the pollen into the Gattuso's face.
The creature cries in pain as it does its best to fight the paralysis while Yuri and Karol attack it with melee and Rita and Estelle using spells and defense. Repede keeping back forcing its movements to follow in their favor. A thrust at the open wound and a fireball singing through the creature's fur. It cries and two cubs come running to the mother's defense. The kid decides to go after the cubs while Yuri stays claws deeper into the monster's guts with his blade. He gives a firm punch to the monster's jaw pulling his sword and hacking it at the back of the Gattuso's neck.
It falls with a large thud and he looks at Karol who is actively chasing the cubs with his large mallet and Rita casting more fireballs at them. He chases after as the cubs are actively trying to flee and cuts one down the middle while Karol takes the other one with Repede's guidance. They look over the carnage and Karol is proud as ever to see that's he's taken out a monster.
Estelle looks mournfully at the dead creature as they walk past it. "Did we really have to hurt it? It was just protecting its babies."
Karol snorts. "No way! Monsters are no good and we Hunting Blades have to take them out."
They argue lightly over the matter till the path opens up everyone falls silent. The sight… is beautiful. The clear crystal blue ocean and the vast sky above. Yuri steps towards the cliff ledge and takes it all in.
Estelle's eyes are wide and she pulls him even further towards the view and Yuri feels if he stared long enough he might see the other continents in the distance. "It's beautiful..." Her voice trails as she stares. "Yuri. It's the ocean."
He smiles. "I can see that..." Yuri shuts his eyes and feels the crisp wind on his skin. "The wind feels great."
She nods. "I've seen pictures in books before, but I've never seen it up close like this." Neither had he. Norien use to tell them stories about the ocean, but it felt far grander than he'd ever been able to conceive.
"Well, people don't usually travel outside the barriers." Karol says looking at the view with less passion than the rest. But, he's seen this and probably more the world than any of them. "If we keep going, we can see all sorts of things, like the jungle or the City of Waterfalls."
"There are so many more things we could learn...if only our journey would continue..." Estelle mutters softly. Yuri sighs and thinks of all the times Flynn left for long trips with the knights and came back with stories. At the time, Yuri was fine just searching where he could and living day by day...
He laughs softly. "I guess it's true... I really was living in a small world."
"That's a rare moment of sincerity, coming from you." Rita says and Karol looks at her with a mischievous grin.
"It's your first time seeing it too, right?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"Aww... You must've had such a lonely life, tied to your research like that." Karol teases.
"Having you pity me makes me want to jump off this cliff."
Estelle just smiles softly and kneel at the few scattered flowers growing at the cliff and back to her lovely ocean. "This water has traversed the world's oceans, and has seen all there is to see." She softly touches one of the flowers. "The ocean binds the lands of our world together..."
Rita rolls her eyes. "Here she goes again. It's really just one big puddle, you know."
"Whatever. You were pretty moved back there, too." Karol says. She looks ready to smack him in the head but hold back her hand.
Yuri breathes the briny air and feels a little stupid for staying in the area around Zaphias. "So this is the world as he sees it."
"Yuri?"
"Flynn must have stood on this spot earlier, and looked out at this same scene."
"That's true. His duties do take him to many different places." Estelle notes.
"Always telling me to catch up with him. Easy for him to say." He shakes his head. Yuri stopped being able to keep up with Flynn a long time ago. When the world saw Flynn he was… well Flynn. Pretty much perfect as far as they were concerned while Yuri was the freak.
"Nor Harbor is just around the corner from Ehmead Hill. We'll catch up to him in no time." Karol chimes.
"That's not what I was talking about."
The boy tilts his head. "Huh? What do you mean?"
He rests a hand on Estelle's shoulder. "All right, let's get moving before Leblanc and friends show up again."
She looks heartbroken at the idea of leaving. "We'll have plenty more chances to see the ocean. Your journey will continue for as long as you want." She seems confused by the idea and Yuri can guess why. This all new to her. Almost as new to him. "It's all up to you. You've made it this far, haven't you?"
She stands up and glances one last look at the sea. "...That's true."
"Last one down's a rotten egg!" Karol yells zipping past down the path.
"You're gonna fall if you don't watch out." Yuri calls and the boy tenses up and trips in front of an upright stone.
"Huh? Guess I missed this last time." They make their way down and realize it's an upright grave. "What's a grave doing in a place like this?"
Rita looks idly at the stone. "Actually, this is just the type of place I'd expect to see one. You know, like the grave of someone who plotted against the empire. If you wanted to bury someone and keep it quiet you'd do it out here."
Yuri looks remorselessly at the grave. It's very old and well covered in moss. "Huh, I wonder if that's what's in store for me."
"Don't say such things! That isn't funny!" Estelle harps.
Yuri shrugs. "I wasn't exactly kidding. It's just a fact of life that some folks from the Lower Quarter never get a proper funeral or burial." Actually, most never get a burial. Space is precious and the empire doesn't like wasting it on lower class citizens.
"What happens to them then?" Karol asks.
Yuri thinks of the fire and the smoke. The tears and clutching Flynn's hand and the fear when he starts coughing. "They get cremated and their ashes scattered over a river or field usually." The ashes in the air and the feeling between both of them that they were alone. Even though they were together the woman who raised them was gone. The grim subject makes them silent and everyone moves on. Yuri wonders though what this Elucifer did to end up here. He pauses as he hears something in the ground…
It's that soft hum only it's stronger and… familiar. Yuri feels the need to curl around the sound but he pulls away and continues on. The questions are piling in his head again… Because the only answer to this feeling he has is someone buried a blastia which makes little sense.
Yuri huffs as he looks back once more at the grave and runs after the group as they yell at him to hurry up.
Felinis: So I'm writing a crossover for Howl's Moving Castle and Vespy. Go check it out. It's in the crossover section or you can just check my profile