Let a fool hold his tongue and he
will pass for a sage.
-Anonymous
The Mages Tale
Chapter 5- Fire, Fire, Burning Bright
"The greatest knight is a woman?" Rowen asked in shock. She smiled and bowed.
"The Prince of Escaldia. These must be your comrades."
"You are quite good. I have never heard of a woman fighting, and so well!" She shrugged.
"I do what I must. I get by with what I do. It is a living, and one I can do well." Rowen couldn't help but smile.
"It is such a pleasure to meet you." She grinned.
"And who are your friends?" She asked softly as Rowen turned to his rag-tag group of friends.
"The Auburn boy is Cye Mouri. He is a Summoner, His powers respected around the world. Or, at least they will be soon. Ryo is a demon that Cye, umm, accidentally summoned. He has been with us ever since. The fairy is named Kento."
"I prefer to be called "Winged being" Thank you very much! Fairy is so girlie." Rowen rolled his eyes.
"The "Winged being" Is Kento." Kento nodded in satisfaction.
"And the elf is Sage." He couldn't help but smile at the other boy. The slender woman nodded in reference to each person as he spoke their names, each of them making a gesture to her in return.
"So what is it that someone of your stature and your… friends, have come here for?" Rowen smiled faintly.
"We have come in search of an answer to a riddle. Maybe you can help us. In this town, the part of the riddle is…" Sage nudged Rowen with his elbow, as the blue haired boy turned to face him.
"Are you sure that we should tell a complete stranger? Who could be working for Talpa?" Rowen rolled his eyes.
"When your mother was taken, it really made you paranoid, didn't it?" Sage hung his head, and remained silent. Rowen nodded in satisfaction as he turned back to face the woman.
"Well, milady, will you tell us your name at least?" The Woman nodded.
"I am Mia. Mia Koji." Cye nodded at the response he was given.
"Well, Milady, you seem to know this area well. Would you know a possible answer to this riddle?" She shrugged.
"Well, lord, you must tell me it first." Rowen blushed.
"Sorry." She laughed.
"Well, anyways, this is the verse that we must figure out.
"In the land of the wise, lies a heat that blazes like an inferno, confined in a tiny being kept from all site."
Mia looked on in confusion.
"That is a tricky one. Well, it would have to be a fire, since they speak of inferno." Rowen nodded.
"True. Is there any place filled with fire?" Mia shrugged.
"Not really. There was once a fire in that large old house at the entrance to the town. It was a long time ago, and it was the home of a sorcerer, many, many years ago. He was then forced to move to Miranela. It was a sad story. His baby daughter died in the fire. He tried to use his magic but the fire blazed too much. It is actually said that her ghost cries at night, and that if near the home, you can hear her. It was left standing in remembrance of her." Cye sniffled softly.
"That is so sad." Ryo patted the slightly larger boy on the shoulder.
"It's Ok Master, it'll be ok." Cye nodded.
"Ok, well, that could have something to do with it. How long ago was it?" Mia shrugged.
"I really can't remember." Rowen nodded.
"That's OK, it's not you're job to remember things when you were young." Mia nodded.
"Well, I am sorry my lord, but all that I can truly offer in your assistance is bedding." Rowen couldn't help but grin.
"If you could do that for us milady, that would be ever so helpful." She smiled. That she could do.
"I have a home to the east. It is rather small, and I hope you can make due with it."
"I'm sure it will be fine. We thank you very much for your hospitality." She smiled.
"Anything to help the lord. Why don't you follow me? I will take you there and then you can rest your feet." They nodded as the woman lead them away.
~~~***~~~
It was a quaint little home, surrounded by flowers and abundant with foliage that stuck out of the barren town.
"Your home is beautiful." Sage murmured, kneeling down to smell one of the roses.
"Wow, are elves normally this much into nature." Sage glanced up.
"Some are. And remember, I am not like all the stereotypes you insist I am." Rowen stepped back.
"Didn't mean to offend you." Sage smiled faintly.
"I know that." Rowen smiled. He wasn't offended in the least, but Sage didn't know that. And a smile from Sage went a long way in the melting Rowen into a puddle on the floor.
"Actually, They might all like nature. I do, but truth is, I've never met another elf." Sage shrugged.
"You haven't met anyone else of your kind?" Rowen asked, a somewhat shocked look on his face. Sage shook his head.
"Never. My mother told me that my father was the first elf that she had ever met as well. That is what attracted her to him. He was a traveler. A mercenary hired by the king, I have been told." A sad smile formed on Sage's lips. Rowen nodded, wishing that the elf would not let the lack of a father get to him. Cye didn't let him be bothered by it, what made Sage so different?
"Well, back to the matter at hand. You say that this home could help us in finding what we need, right?" Mia nodded once more.
"It may. I do not know, good lord. It is just my finest guess."
"I thank you for your help. But will we be permitted to go near this old building?" Mia nodded.
"You seem to forget your noble status often, sir. No one will question milord." Rowen blushed.
"Been around you guys so long that I almost forgot my status." Sage glared.
"Why? Are we that bad?" The archer laughed.
"Hardly. I'd rather forget my status then remember what I am destined to do."
"What is it that you are destined to do milord?" Mia asked in sheer curiosity.
"Nothing that anyone but my friends must know." Mia groaned.
"How boring. So I helped, and I don't get to know what I helped with?"
"Just look at it this way. If you're right, you've helped save humanity. And save the world." Cye retorted, as everyone else nodded.
"Well, I guess that's good enough. I'll take you to your rooms." The group nodded. Mia then led them to their rooms, Sage and Rowen together in one, Ryo and Cye, along with Kento in the other. Sage sat quietly in his bed, Rowen curled up next to him. With the limited amount of beds in the room, they were forced, yet again, to double up together. Sage really didn't mind. The body heat from Rowen was soothing, and it brought a calming sense to the blonde's mind. His eyes fluttered, as he realized exactly what day it was. 3 days. Then it would be the 10th of October. And then Rowen would have to do this. As would Cye. And he may never see them again. His eyes shot open as he turned to the serenely sleeping boy next to him. He tried to hold back the tears forming at the sides of his eyes, but it failed. The crystalline tears fell, leaving wet trails down his pale cheeks. He hadn't realized until now that Rowen's life may end sooner then he had thought. Under instinct, he pulled Rowen close. Why was the world like this? Why was it that the good must suffer and shrivel away into death, while the evil laugh and take heroes to their graves? Why must innocents die to save a world that means nothing to them?
Friends. He had never truly had them before, and never had they cared so deeply for him. And to, merely weeks after they met, have them plummet to their deaths was too much to bear. The tears fell harder now. Being raised by a woman alone, he was not partial to hide his feelings. Though he usually lacked happiness. He had never been a happy child, a scowl was a permanent fixture on his face. But when no one was around, he cried. He shed tears at the teasing he would get, and the looks he would receive, at the pain he would endure, if not physically, mentally. It wasn't fair. He pulled Rowen to him even tighter, not noticing that the boy was stirring awake.
"Sage?" Rowen asked from his slightly uncomfortable position. Sage quickly pulled one arm away from Rowen to wipe the tears from his eyes, and in the process, sent Rowen tumbling to Sage's lap. Sage prayed that Rowen didn't notice his crying, but his prayers went unanswered.
"Sage? Why were you crying?" Rowen asked in concern as Sage internally cursed.
"Umm… I was just having a good cry, milord." Rowen sighed.
"Really Sage. And don't call me a lord."
"I'm… sad. That is all." Rowen looked on in concern.
"Why are you sad?" Sage remained silent for a moment, before speaking. He couldn't bring himself to lie to Rowen.
"You guys are my first real friends, and the books say that for as long as the fight of good vs. evil dates back, both the Summoner and the White Mage have died doing their duty. And I meet my first real, true friends, only to find out that the one out of a million chance of two of them being the chosen ones, my luck turns against me, and they are." Rowen didn't like Sage being upset. Nor did he like the fact that his destiny was causing the disturbance to the blonde.
"Sage, like I told Cye, history is not destined to repeat itself. Maybe the fact that the new Summoner in younger and has the help of the items in the riddle, it will be easier to do what we must. I'm telling you now, don't worry about us. I swear I'll live. I would never give into death that easily." Sage nodded timidly.
"I know, but what if it cannot be prevented? What will I do? I would have to take care of Ryo, Kento, and my mother." Sage hung his head, as Rowen sat up. Slender arms snaked around Sage, and he was pulled closely to the other boy.
"Sage, I am sorry that you were even brought into this. I didn't want for this to happen. I didn't mean to have you get disgraced in front of royalty, hurt because of befriending me, Insulted because I was focused only on being human again, and I wish to apologize. My behavior is unacceptable." Sage shook his head.
"I'd rather be involved then to have never met you." Rowen smiled.
"Such a reassurance." Rowen murmured, unconsciously running his fingers through Sage's golden hair. They remained silent until Rowen noticed that Sage had drifted into a light slumber still held firmly in the archer's grip. Rowen smiled. Sage cared far too much. Rowen felt bad about Sage's involvement, and he couldn't help but worry. Something in his head was warning him, Sage was going to be harmed. He shrugged it off. Its was just paranoia. Sage was fine, snuggled in his arms, and nothing was going to happen to him. Or was it?
~~~***~~~
Sage walked slowly through the forest. It was one of his favorite things, to be surrounded by nature's essence. He froze though, when he heard a scream. It was masculine, and it came from deeper in the woods then he had ever been before. He had been traveling for some time, and it had been months since he had been back at his home, and the scream was quite surprising. The forest had always been calm and serene, never had the peace been disturbed till this very day.
"Help!" The voice yelled, and then was silent. Sage's brain warned him not to go near the danger, but he ignored it. The person had stopped screaming. Were they dead? Dying? Too weak to call out any longer? He had to help them. Perking up his elfin ears, which were good, because they gave him sharper hearing then mere humans, he ran to where the voice had come from. After running for about 10 minutes, he came upon a cottage. He shook his head in confusion. Why had he never noticed this place? He shrugged off the thought and ran to the door. He knocked on it gently, and after receiving no response, he took matters into his own hands, and pulled it open. He stared in utter shock when he saw a large, blue unicorn with long, slender wings struggling to get out of chains that held him down. Each of his legs was chained right above the hoof, the end of the chains leading to a large machine like thing. The Winged Unicorn was glowing, as was the machine.
"What happened? Who did this to you?" Sage asked in confusion, not expecting a response.
"Help me…." It muttered in a voice Sage was familiar with. The scream came from this creature.
"You talk?" Sage asked in amazement, as it nodded slightly.
"Please…. Help." It asked again as Sage nodded rapidly. He ran over to the chains and tugged on them, trying to break them with his bare hands.
"Like that's…. going to work… idiot." Sage glared at the animal.
"So not only do you talk, you're a smart ass too."
"Damn strait. Born and breed to be like this." Sage sighed and grabbed the chains with his arms once more. This time though, he took a different approach. He focused his magic into his strength, and felt the first of the chains bend, and then snap under his hold.
"Wow! You do magic, AND you're an elf! Cool!"
"I thought you couldn't talk much. I thought you were in too much pain." Sage watched at the animal shrugged.
"What can I tell you. When I am happy, I talk." Sage rolled his eyes and worked on the next chain.
"I can tell." It broke easier then the first, much to Sage's confusion.
"Why is it that you are here? Who put you in here?" The third one cracked.
"Some insane mage. Big scary guy in all black."
"Talpa?" Sage asked in horror, as the boy nodded.
"The machine is supposed to be draining my magic. He put me in this body too." Finally, the last restraint gave way.
"Were these magical chains?" Sage asked as the other nodded.
"Yeah. Jokes on him. I don't have my magic yet." Again it laughed.
"By the way, thank you for your help." Sage nodded.
"Where is he?" The creature shrugged.
"He is due to return soon. We better get out of here, and quickly." Sage nodded.
"By the way, what is your name?" The creature thought for a moment.
"It is…. Rowen." Sage nodded.
"I am Sage. I guess that we better get going." The horse nodded as the two ran out of the building.
~~~***~~~
Sage awoke with a start, still nestled in Rowen's arms. Interesting dream, if he did say so himself. He had never dreamt of the day that he and Rowen had met until now. It was odd. He sat up and soon learned that Rowen was awake, but had remained with the other boy anyways.
"So, you're finally awake." Rowen muttered, as Sage nodded.
"I had an odd dream. It was when you and I first met." Rowen shrugged.
"It seems like we've known each other forever. But in truth, it has been only about a month." Sage nodded as Rowen let go of him. The blonde stretched in a catlike manner, Yawning softly.
"I guess we get to go to the remains of that house, correct?" Rowen nodded.
"I feel sorry for the mage. Whoever he is. To lose a child after your wife has left."
"His wife left him?" Sage asked in confusion as Rowen nodded.
"I spoke to Mia. She came in to check on us earlier."
"How old was he?" Sage asked as Rowen sighed.
"It was 3 years ago. He was 16." Sage nodded.
"I wonder exactly what it is that we must find. "A tiny being kept from all site." I wonder what is means?" It was that moment that Ryo flew into the room.
"Rise and shine, sleepy he…. Hey! You guys are already up!" Ryo put his hands on his hips in a pout. Sage and Rowen laughed as the dark-haired boy flew out of the doorway. Rowen slid off the bed and rose to his feet.
"Well, come on, I think that it's time to get going." Sage followed in Rowen's footsteps, as they left the room, and entered the kitchen.
"I shall take you to the home now." Mia said the moment that everyone had entered the room. The group followed her out of the house as she led them over the remains of the home.
"Take caution in where you step. There are two parts to this home. The front burned down fully, that is what you see as you enter. But the other is only charred on the inside. We shall go there to start." The moment they entered the home, an overwhelming smell of smoke fell over the new entrants. Ryo began to cough as he looked around.
"Hey! That wasn't very nice!" He called out as he ran to a chair in the corner of the room.
"Why did you do that?" Ryo asked the chair, though nothing was there.
"Well, that is not a good reason! Throwing smoke around just for fun! How rude!" Ryo stuck his tongue out at the chair as the others glanced at each other in confusion.
"Why don't you like the elf? What did he do? He's never met you!" Ryo exclaimed as he ran to another room. The others shrugged and followed him.
"Slow down!" He exclaimed to nothing.
"Now why don't you like the elf?" Ryo paused for a moment, as if listening intently to something.
"Well, its not his fault your daddy doesn't like him! That is no reason to not like him!" Again Ryo bolted out of the room.
"Will you just stay put!" He complained out loud as Mia and the others ran into the room he had just run into.
"Why do you tease people at night too! That is mean! Did your daddy rub off on you?" Ryo was sent crashing to the floor.
"Oww! Hey! That was kinda mean if I do say so myself!" Sage stepped closer to Rowen, almost in a protective way. Ryo was literally freaking him out.
"Your daddy? Is he the mean man?" Ryo asked again.
"Well, I guess I can understand now. So that is why he was helping the bad guys? He wanted revenge?" Ryo hugged the air, and much to the shock of the others, he was actually hugging something considerably smaller then him, and something that they could not see.
"I am sorry about what has happened to your father." A tear trailed down Ryo's cheek.
"I will try to help him. I mean, we will. I swear by it!" He laughed as he rose to his feet, taking something in his hand.
"You will help us? Thank you so much!" They watched as Ryo walked out the room.
"So the riddle was talking about your doll! Do you know where it is?" He paused.
"Thank you! Please, take me too it! It's the only way that we can help your daddy! We must eliminate Talpa! If he is gone, then your father will no longer do what he does! And maybe we can bring him back to you." Ryo walked up the stairs, being careful of charred steps that he could have fallen through. Finally, he reached the top of the stairs.
"Is this the room?" He asked as he nodded. He then entered the room, to find that in the middle of the room, laid a perfectly unmarked harlequin doll. But instead of black and white, it was red and blue, tiny stars embroidered on its clothes. It donned a sad expression that made Ryo feel bad for the tiny thing.
"Thank you. You have helped us so much." Ryo hugged the air again.
"Is there anything that I can do for you I return?" Ryo listened intently.
"Tell him that you love him? Do not worry, I will, Suzunagi." And with that Ryo turned to the others.
"She's gone." He whispered, as he ran down the steps and out the door. Cye glanced at Kento as they both bolted after Ryo. Mia, Rowen, and Sage took a bit longer to leave the home.
"Ryo!" Cye called out as he ran over to the boy who had perched himself on a tree branch. Ryo was looking at the tiny doll in his hands, running his hand over the silken cloth.
"Ryo! What happened back there?" Ryo sniffled slightly.
"She died 3 years ago. She's four now. She misses her daddy. I don't have a daddy either. And she doesn't have a mommy, and neither do I." Ryo's voice cracked on the last few words. Cye watched as Kento flew up to Ryo.
"Ryo, buddy, what are you talking about?"
"The little girl who died there. The one who haunts the house. She was talking to me." So Cye was right. Ryo could talk to the spirits of the dead.
"Her father, he is the mage that accidentally helped turn Rowen back. Cale. He was 16 when they had her. Her mother ran away one night, leaving him with Suzunagi." Ryo lost his voice for a moment, but regained his composure, and continued speaking.
"He was very kind, but one day, a bunch of people that were against him for being a practitioner of black magic, even though he didn't use it on anyone, burned down his house. He escaped, but Suzunagi died. She waited for him, hoping he'd come back to the ruins of the house so that she could go into his mind and talk to him, but he moved away and she never got to say good-bye. He joined Talpa so that he could get revenge on the people that killed her, but Talpa took control of him. She gave me the object to summon the fire elemental. She wants us to destroy Talpa, so that her father will be himself again. And she wants all the people that he has gotten to work for him to go back to the way they used to be. And she wants me to tell him that she loves him." Cye's voice was caught in his throat, along with the urge to cry for the little girl and her sorrows.
"Then we shall do it." He stated.
"We shall tell him that." Rowen, who had arrived, along with Sage and Mia, at the beginning of Ryo's story, turned to the others.
"We shall do that, but our time is scarce. First we must find the other two things that we need. I say that we go to the land of Wisteria. I don't think that Sage wants to go near King Trieze if he can prevent it." Sage said nothing, but hit Rowen on the arm.
"I agree with that as well. Ryo, we shall tell him when he is himself once more. He wouldn't know who we are speaking of if he doesn't have his own senses." Cye stated as Ryo and Kento flew down from the tree.
"Ok, but we will tell him, right?" Cye nodded.
"Of course." Ryo nodded in satisfaction as they began to the town entrance. Mia turned to walk away.
"Mia, where are you going?" Sage asked as Mia turned back to them.
"Well, I can't come with you guys! I have a house to take care of, and my husbands coming home tonight! He's been gone for 12 days, and I've gotta make him a welcome home dinner!"
"You're married?" Rowen exclaimed in shock as Mia laughed.
"Sure am! My husband's a knight as well! Name's Anubis, and he's due back soon. Now remember, you guys better get what you need to save this world! I'll be damned if you fail! Me and my baby as well!" Everyone stared in amazement.
"You're pregnant?" Sage asked with a grin on his face, since no one else seemed to be able to speak at the moment.
"What did you think? I have no life? All I do is run around killing people? Heck no! I may walk on the wild side sometimes, but I still have time for my hubby and my soon to be baby." Sage couldn't help it, he and Cye ran up to hug Mia.
"Congratulations!" They exclaimed in unison as Mia laughed.
"Why, you too are as bad at the woman of this town. My, I thought that I'd never breath again when they found out! It was all hugs and happy words!" Sage and Cye blushed as they stepped back.
"Well boys, I guess this is good-bye!" Mia exclaimed as they waved good-bye.
"Thank you for your help Mia!" Rowen called out with a bow.
"Anytime, prince." And then she was gone, back to her home.
"Cye?" Ryo asked innocently as Cye turned to him.
"Yes?"
"Where do babies come from?" Cye slapped his forehead with his palm at the moment they reached the gate of the town they were about to step out at the moment a voice called out to them.
"Going so soon Prince Touma?" Rowen jerked around to stand face to face with Prince Zechs.
"Actually, yes. My friends and I will be on our way." Sage stepped behind Rowen. Zech's smiled at the other blonde, who hung his shoulders to try to get out of the view of the other man.
"Rowen, tell him to leave us alone." Sage muttered as Rowen nodded.
"Prince Zechs, I would love to stay and I'm sure that Sage would too, but we have very important matters to attend to, right Sage?" Sage nodded slowly from behind Rowen.
"I try to be nice." Zechs stated with an aggravated sigh.
"Well, Touma, how about we make a deal. You come spend the night at the castle, and then you may leave."
"Zechs, we don't have time for this game." Zechs smiled.
"Oh, I think we do. Or at least, I think Talpa thinks we do." Rowen's eyes widened. Zechs was working for Talpa! In a swift movement, a streak of lightening was flying towards Rowen. Sage shoved Rowen to the ground and out of the oncoming danger, then stretched his arm out to counter with his own magic. Rowen looked up in horror. He was well aware that the spell would not harm Sage, but the trouble of this was that it teleported the person hit to wherever the aggressor wanted him to go. Sage looked on in horror at his hand. This was simple magic that Zechs was using, Child's play. But for some reason, Sage's magic wasn't working. Sage screamed as it hit him in the chest, flinging him backwards. But when he was supposed to land, he wasn't there.
"Sage!" Rowen cried out as he scrambled to his feet.
"Oops. My bad." Zechs stated, looking at his hand.
"I didn't mean to get him. Oh well, no matter. I guess he'll have to do. If you want him back, come to the castle and get him." Zechs laughed as Rowen growled and lunged at him, but missed as Zechs used a transportation spell and disappeared like Sage had moments before.
"Shit…" Rowen groaned from his place on the ground as he felt a strong arm on his shoulder.
"Don't worry Rowen, we'll get him back." Rowen sighed.
"Why is it always Sage? When has it not been him hurt, or disgraced, or anything of that sort? Does he have really bad luck or something?" Cye shrugged.
"I don't know. I guess its just coincidence. By the way, do you have any idea about why Sage couldn't use his magic? He tried." Rowen sighed.
"I don't know, I just don't know."
To be continued…
I worked my butt off and actually managed to write this entire chapter in one day! So I'm not as behind as I thought! Hehehe. Always good. And ShadowMoon, this is for you! I know that you want Cale in it! Well, I better get working on the next chapter of "The Others". I switch off, though these chapters are a LOT longer. But that's only because I try to keep each chapter on this story to one thing that is going on. The other one I just write to whatever then stop. Well, I guess I better get to work! Ta ta!