It's Only Forever.....
Chapter 5- The Silver Darkness
by: Asurahime
-Not even a mystic's impossible love for a half-mystic will be able to battle the rage of desire which consumes me.-
Asellus woke up early the next morning with a strong feeling that there was something terribly wrong.
_What are you going to do now? I sense that a great power was present in this place last night while I was recharging my energy._
_I know... This power is very strong, yet on the other hand, extraordinarily familiar and binding. I have to check and see what it was. Are you all right now Asura? I have to use you as a scrying focus._ Asellus took out the two tiny crystal shards which scratched her at Kurenai's sanctuary. "I really hope I know what I'm doing..."
Asura flew out of its sheathe and straight into Asellus' waiting right hand. The sword could sense its mistress' reluctance, anger, and even a small touch bordering on fear for the unexpected. _I also hope you know what you're doing. You're still untrained in this kind of magic focus, you know? But anyway, what are you so restless about?_
The half-mystic held Asura horizontally in front of her and arranged it until Asura's hilt was in her right hand and the crimson blade's flat double-edge was resting against her outer left forearm. "I'm not sure... but I guess I am restless because if the power doesn't belong to Kurenai, I have to start scanning the area for any traces of Ciato's presence." What she didn't really want to discuss was that her conversation with Rouge the night before troubled her more deeply that she let on. She has lost part of her humanity, but neither is she fully into mysticism; she belongs to both and to neither at the same time. Therefore, she is both a bridge or a barrier concerning the two; but no matter how one put it, the daughter of Charm Lord is a beautiful, powerful, and deadly tool.
Focusing her mystic energy through the blade, the half-mystic began surveying the area for the slightest hint of the Eternal Flame. Scanning the area didn't take too long, for the shards are well-kept and are as closely related to Kurenai as if they were part of the entity itself. The smile of relief which appeared on Asellus' face when she saw the shards respond, dissipated into a look of pure concern when she glanced at her ruby weapon.
"I... I really don't understand this. I know that the multi-colored flames react to Kurenai, but what is that dark, metallic sheen bordering on the edge of your light Asura?" asked Asellus, crimson eyes distressed. "Are you all right?"
_I'm fine. It only means that Kurenai wasn't the only being that was attracted to the scrying. You are still untrained at a mystic to focus your life force into a weapon to broaden your perspective. Ildon shall teach you the art of scrying in the advanced level as soon as he deems that you are ready. But for now, that is enough. Someone or something which I have encountered or fought sometime or other was here last night._ stated the sword.
"Did others wield you before I bought you from Gozarus?"
_Unfortunately for us, yes. I am as old as Kurenai and have been in battle ever since I was created._
"You mean to say that that individual here last night could be anyone or anything?!!" Asellus' expression was filled with hopelessness and shock.
_I hate to say it for it will lower your spirits, but yes, it could be anyone or anything._
The girl pocketed the shards and sheathed the sword. "At the very least we know that Kurenai has also been here. I'm also amazed that so many mystics have lasted being your wielder, for I can barely even protect myself from you." Asura gave off a small blast of psychic energy to indicate its mild irritation as the half-mystic simply ignored it. _What being has a black and silver aura? I've seen this before, I know I have._
Before she left the room, Asellus looked into a mirror and saw that her emerald-colored hair was in total disarray. _Asura... why won't you let me cut my hair?_
Asura wanted to ignore her, but couldn't resist and replied mockingly. _Because short hair is so unfashionable and unfitting for a 'princess' as charming as yourself._
_Save your sugar-coated explanations for a princess vain enough to listen to them. One day Asura, one day will come when I'll take you to a blacksmith and fashion YOU into something fitting._, replied Asellus. _I can't braid my own hair, so I have to ask one of the others to do it for me._
Leaving the room, Asellus went into Ildon's room, whose door was wide open. Peering inside, Asellus saw that a handsome young man was conducting an early morning practice session with a sword. Moving with effortless grace, the swordsman continued on, oblivious that the half-mystic was watching everything from her station at the door.
-Now who do you suppose that is....- Asellus asked herself as she looked more closely at the young man. He was wearing black boots, tight black pants, and plain, though well-made white shirt. The boy also had long green hair which fell half way down his back and was tied into a horse-tail by a thin black ribbon. All of a sudden, his rhythm broke and he quickly slashed at space where Asellus was positioned in.
Fortunately, Asellus' experience in the unexpected was keen enough to know when the rhythm broke and had more than enough time to swing up Asura to meet the young man's blade. Not bothering to hesitate, Asellus took that moment to drop to her knees and sweep the young man's feet from under him, causing him to fall on his back with a crash, and within seconds, Asura's tip was present scant millimeters away from the base of his throat.
Asellus looked down at her captive and gasped. She then quickly put out a hand and helped her assailant to his feet, for it was none other than her teacher, the Prince of Darkness. "Ildon! I-- I am so sorry...."
Ildon winced as he touched his arm and gave an wry, yet pained smile. "Morning, Asellus. No, it was my fault. I charged at you, remember? I thought that you were Zozma who came to criticize my skill in handling a sword."
The girl looked at the mystic, confused. "How could Zozma think that you can't handle a sword? You taught me everything I know about mystic fighting, and I can handle myself in nearly any fight. So how can Zozma think that you're not first-rate?"
"My dear, you forget. Zozma is Zozma. He needs no explanation for what he believes in." Noticing the girl's rumpled situation, Ildon stored away his sword and took out a brush instead. "I can see that you need some help..."
"Can you please braid my hair? Asura won't let me cut it, but it's a hindrance when I'm fighting." asked Asellus, holding on to a messy clump of emerald-colored strands.
Ildon had to suppress an amused laugh, but allowed himself to smile. It was close to impossible to think that this naïve half-mystic could have been the cause of such chaos in the order of things in Facinaturu. But as they always say, change isn't necessarily bad and unwelcome-- because of this young girl, the humans are starting to accept, and the mystics learning modesty. "All right, sit on the chair, Asellus."
The girl sat on the chair and bitterly grimaced as she tossed all of her hair over her shoulders. Ildon checked himself, watched the strands settle, luminous like an emerald waterfall in the early morning sun. Asellus turned around and found Ildon's dark blue eyes fixed intently on her. She blinked and hurriedly looked away from him, and the her blood suddenly rushed to her face, tinting her ivory cheeks a soft lavender. "Thank you, Ildon."
The mystic prince collected himself, tightened his grip on the brush and started to untangle his charge's hair as gently as he possibly could have done, trying not to accidentally pull and hurt her. Repressing the urge to bury his hands into the curtain of green, he concentrated on the task of brushing it as if it was of utmost importance. "I don't understand why you would want to cut your hair. It's very beautiful. Anyway, if you cut it off, what will I be? A prince with hair longer than his princess'." Noting that what he said sounded as if it came out all wrong, Ildon thanked all the High Mystics of the past that he was behind Asellus, and therefore she wouldn't be able to see his face tinged with blue.
His student showed no surprise and just replied flatly. "Then you could cut your hair as well. If not, I'll braid it for you."
His brushing stopped momentarily for it was too much. Ildon's defenses of no emotions fell and he laughed out loud. "That won't be necessary, thank you."
The girl's tone became thoughtful. "You have changed so much, Ildon. I didn't know that you would ever have been able to act like this when I first met you. I had a feeling that you were just going to suck my blood and have my life done and over with."
"Nonsense! I wouldn't suck anyone's blood if I can help it, especially not my charge's." replied Ildon as he made the first plaits in the half-mystic's hair. "The only mystics I knew who even did such a deed were Orlouge and Ciato. Despite that, I'm terribly sorry about the way I behaved when we first met."
Asellus sighed. "My friend, that was in the past. You're changed, and I have nothing to forgive... besides, I can't really accept the fact that you have watched me sleep for over ten years!!"
Ildon finished the braid and held on to the end. "It's not really that hard, furthermore, there was nothing else I could do in the Chateau except act aloof and destroy all who rebel against Charm Lord. Do you have anything to tie it with?"
The girl immediately began looking for a ribbon to tie the end, and was even about to rip on out of her dress. The mystic prince held on to the end, watching the half-mystic's antics with great amusement. Before Asellus succeeded in ripping a part of her dress off, he stopped her and pulled out one of the many ties of his own tunic. "Don't bother Asellus, I'll use one of mine."
"Thank you." Asellus blushed slightly as Ildon tied the end. Noticing that Asura was pretending to be unresponsive, Asellus glared at it with a withering look. Then, she stood up and looked into a mirror. "The braid is still too long, but I can remedy that." She wrapped the length of her hair around her head and pinned it securely in place.
"All right, turn around so that I can look at y---" Ildon bit his lip and couldn't go any further when he saw the effect of the transformation.
The half-mystic turned around and faced the prince. The weary, rumpled girl from a few moments ago has completely disappeared. With her strong, yet porcelain-like features and emerald hair, only a blind man or a mec can miss her regal features. Raising her eyes to meet Ildon's, Asellus noticed the mystic's reaction and fought the insistence of laughter.
"Ildon, close your mouth my prince." Asellus put out a hand and snapped Ildon's jaw closed with an audible click. "Thanks a lot, Ildon. I'm in your debt."
Ildon shook out of his trance and focused his immediate attention on the floor. "Your thanks is more than enough, my princess."
Frowning, Asellus forced Ildon to look at her. "Ildon, I mean it."
The mystic knew that the half-mystic was only pretending to be forceful, so he decided to play along and maybe regain some of his detached self back. "Anything? Are you sure?"
Asellus nodded, noticing the feigned impish look on her friend's face. "As long as it doesn't crush my dignity.", she hurriedly added.
"You always have a way out, don't you?" asked Ildon.
"Hey, I'm not the daughter of Charm Lord for nothing, you know?"
The pinioned prince knelt down on one knee in front of her and gently kissed her hand. "Consider your debt to me repaid."
The half-mystic blinked, then felt her cheeks grow lavender with embarrassment. "You think that you are so charming, don't you, 'Prince of Darkness'?"
Ildon got up and looked down at the girl. "I know so, Princess." He tilted her chin up and locked her crimson gaze with his royal blue ones. "But I know that I can never be as fascinating as you..."
Neither of them could look away from the other's deep, yet strangely hypnotic gaze. Finally, Asellus broke her gaze with considerable effort and will, leaving her vermilion eyes wide and unfocused with great confusion. Fortunately, that moment of discomfort also passed.
"All right, I guess we should get going... I'll see you outside." smiled Asellus as she left the room.
Ildon remained where he was, staring at the door she left through long after she was gone. Then he picked up his sword and got his things together. "......... What can be wrong with me.... I'm the Black Wing... but this half-mystic constantly gets me off-balance without even trying and even noticing it. I'm losing my edge.... I know I am...." At this, he looked once more at his door as a faint trace of a smile appeared on his face. "I'll protect her... I've always protected Charm Lord under blood contract.... but Asellus is different... I'll protect her of my own will. She has given up practically everything to save me, it's time for me to return the favor."
Chapter Notes:
ALL ARE FREE TO KILL ME!!! X_X;;;;; I haven't updated for so long that I know that some of you think that I'm dead. Well.... half-dead anyway. I'll try to update some more... hopefully... but thank you for being patient.
Disclaimers:
SaGa Frontier does not belong to me... it never has it never will.... it belongs to SquareSoft, and I am just another fan writing whatever comes to my mind first... and that is Ildon-Asellus fanfics... ^_^;;;;;