Shanti sat in his place at the windowsill, head on his knees, deep in brooding
silence. Gatti was sleeping, most likely dreaming, and Guimel was off doing
something, most likely trying to cut Dalet's hair. Again. Shanti's mind
wandered back to the previous day's occurrence.
'You're like him!' Dilandau snarled, his hand raised.
'Like Migel, sir...?'
SMACK.
Shanti's hand went unconsciously to the red mark on his cheek as his eyes
narrowed.
Eejit.
He stood up and began to pace the room idly.
'They can't forget him, especially Dilandau,' he muttered aloud to no one. 'I'm
just the replacement. The replacement to the irreplaceable Migel Labariel. I
wonder,' he mused. '...if I were to die, would I be replaced?'
'No,' a voice came from the far corner, 'because I'll make sure you never die.'
Shanti meandered over to Gatti's bedside.
'Don't worry, Gatti. I plan to live forever.' The Highlander said with a wry
grin. 'So far, it's working.' The other Dragon Slayer eased himself up into a
sitting position and looked concerned at Shanti.
'You're still thinking about the other day, aren't you?' Gatti saw he was right
when the fiery-haired Slayer beside him set his jaw. 'Look, the first time I
delivered a message, I got slapped too.'
'Twice?' came the bitter reply.
Without so much as a knock, Guimel waltzed into Gatti's room. Shanti was at
his usual spot beside Gatti, who looked like he was trying to break an awkward
silence.
'Hey, Gatti my man! Wha's up?' Guimel winked and pointed his index finger and
thumb at Gatti. The grey-eyed Slayer blinked.
'What... are you talking about?' Shanti asked, summing up Gatti's incredulous
silence. Guimel ran his fingers through his platinum hair.
'Dante said that's what all the 'in' people say.' He struck a pose. 'I'm 'in'.
I'm hip, I'm cool, I'm-'
'Drunk.' Shanti coughed. Gatti grinned as Guimel gave Shanti a very
condescending look.
'You're just jealous because you're not as 'cool' as I am.'
'So,' Gatti cut in before Shanti could retort, 'are you off-duty now, Guimel?'
The blue-eyed Dragon Slayer shook his head.
'Actually, I'm here to get him.' He jerked his head in Shanti's direction.
'Master Dilandau wants to talk to him about something.'
'Wonderful. Maybe he wants to hit me again,' muttered Shanti sullenly. Gatti
chided him.
'Be more optimistic.'
'Ah, but I am being optimistic!' Shanti said in a fake perkiness. 'If he hits
my other cheek I'll have two matching marks!' At that moment, another Dragon
Slayer swaggered in the room in the same manner as Guimel.
'That's the spirit!' he said, running a hand through his dark red bangs in a
way Shanti thought was eerily similar to a certain fluffy-haired Dragon Slayer.
Gatti shook his head, muttering something about being in the Vione too long.
'Now, if you're done being optimistic, let's go,' Guimel said. At that, Gatti
swung his legs over the edge of the bed and went to stand up.
'And where d'ye think ye're goin'?' Shanti said in a disapproving voice.
'I'm coming along. I'm well enough!' Gatti added after seeing the expressions
on his fellow Slayers' faces. He stretched his legs out and unsteadily stood
up. 'There... not too bad,' He took a few steps, wincing at that sudden, sharp
pain in his side he had grown accustomed to. Glancing at his reflection, Gatti
saw he was still in the black pants and white, loose-fitting night-shirt he had
been wearing that night. His ash-blond hair stood out in every direction, and
still had bits of sleep in his eyes.
'Look, I'll wait here with you,' Guimel said, noticing Gatti's appearance.
'Dante, you take Shanti to Master Dilandau.' The dark-eyed Dragon Slayer nodded
and went for the door. Shanti stood and followed.
***
Shanti walked beside Dante as they made their way to the mainroom. The
red-haired Slayer was starting to get unnerved by the cryptic expressions of
the Dragon Slayers they passed.
What's going on? My imminent demise? he mused.
'Don't look so worried.' Dante nudged him in the arm. Shanti narrowed an eye.
'I'm not worried,' he said flatly. 'I'm moderately anxious.'
'Dah!' Dante rolled his eyes and shook his head. 'Sure you are.'
'I am!' Shanti protested, catching Dante's eye-rolling. Tossing his dark red
bangs again, Dante shot back,
'Then why are you shaking?'
'It's cold in the hall,' came the good-natured retort. Dante shook his head
again in an annoyed manner.
'Stick,' he muttered.
'Dolt,' Shanti smirked as Dante grinned. They came to the large doors, which
Dante opened.
'I brought him, sir.'
***
Dilandau glanced up at the dark-red-and-black haired Slayer. 'You may go.' The
other seemed hesitant, glancing at the boy beside him. The pale commander
narrowed his eyes at Dante, who gave a quick bow and left. The short red-head
was alone with Dilandau now. Nervously, the Dragon Slayer stepped towards him
and bowed his head.
'You wished to see me, sir?' Dilandau could sense his apprehension, and found
he reveled in it. With a sneer, he stood up.
'Shanti Namuriel.' With his magenta eyes, Dilandau studied the boy. This brash,
pathetic being...
'Sir?'
'As for the other day,' he began. He was suddenly cut off by the other's
words.
'Please, Master Dilandau, I know it was wrong of me to bring such a subject up.
It will never happen aga-' Dilandau knocked the other in the head, though for
some reason he did it gently enough to not cause major pain.
'Shut up.'
'Yes, sir.' Slightly irked at being interrupted, Dilandau narrowed one eye and
continued.
'As for the other day, I believe you remember the message Folken sent.' With
curious eyes, the shorter boy nodded. Flicking his silvery hair, Dilandau
smirked.
He doesn't know what's in store for him.
'You are to start your training tomorrow morning. I have arranged for the
Dragon Slayers to be given leave of the Vione to accompany you.' As if he
hadn't noticed the tension building up amongst his Slayers. So long up so high
in the air... his boys must be going mad...
'Sir?' Dilandau glanced at the boy. 'If I may be so bold to ask-'
'Of course you would be,' The commander muttered.
'...am I to be borrowing an Alseides unit from someone to train with?' At that moment
Dilandau took on his expression which sent chills up the Dragon Slayer's spine.
That manic grin...
'Go to the hanger. You should find all you need there.'
'Yes, sir.' Shanti bowed and left, still unsure about what was going on.
***
Shanti walked towards the hanger, noticing a few Dragon Slayers following him
several metres behind.
What's going on? Reaching his destination, Shanti went in and
noticed the lights were on. Odd... He wandered down the aisle,
glancing up at the giant figures on either side of him. Alseides guymelefs. The
great robotic forms were in their dormant sitting position, their long dark
capes flowing onto the floor. Energists lay embedded in large rounded
'shoulders' and 'arms', which possessed the liquid metal Crima Claws. As he
passed, Shanti could see his reflection in the smooth, blue metal, and noticed
small gold plates in the ground which signified whose guymelef it was.
...Dalet... Guimel... Gatti, He stopped as he noticed the next name.
'No...' Shanti bent down and peered even more closely at the small engraved
symbols. He could not be mistaken. It said...
'Shanti?' Gatti, supported by Guimel, came out from behind the leg of his
guymelef. Dante appeared, as well as Shesta, Viole, and Dalet. Several more
Dragon Slayers were bunched together by the door.
'Gatti! My name... here... wha?' Shanti blinked, then his eyes widened. 'It's
mine?'
'It says your name on it, right?' Dalet sneered, toying with his hair. Shanti
looked at Shesta, who nodded rapidly with a large smile. A thought suddenly
occurred to the fiery-haired Slayer.
'Master Dilandau gave me a guymelef,' He ran his hand over the smooth green
metal, hardly believing even as a grin broke onto his face. Stepping back to
admire it, Shanti suddenly thrust his hands into the air. 'Woohoo!!'
'So... should I tell Master Dilandau that you're pleased with your guymelef?'
Gatti grinned. The thin Slayer nodded enthusiastically and started rambling on
in 'Highlander gibberish', as Dalet would call it.
'Mo Jey... tapah letch... my own guymelef!' Shanti stood in awe. The
Alseides unit stood towering over him, it's polished metal shined so that
Shanti could see his own reflection in the metal. The bluish-green colour told
his status as 'In-Training', and wasn't blue like the other's. But it was still
a beautiful machine - and his favourite colour.
'You should get a test drive soon. Master Dilandau says that tomorrow morning
we're leaving to go help you train.' Guimel said. The sight seen, some of the
Slayers went to return to their duties, leaving Shanti, Gatti and Guimel to
speak amongst themselves.
Watching from the shadows, Dilandau's mouth curved into a slight smile.
*****
'My dearest Mikyla,
I'm sorry I have to make this message so short, but I have great news! Master
Dilandau is letting us off the Vione to take part in training Shanti.
Apparently, we have to be about 75 costa away from any inhabited place... but
I'm sure I could get permission to come visit you! We leave tomorrow, so by the
time you get this message I could most likely be on my way to spend my time
with the girl I love. Just thinking about seeing you again...
Gatti and Guimel send their greetings back. I can't wait you see you!! Tonight
will be absolute madness! It's almost lights out, so I have to finish. I love
you!
Love yours forever,
Dante.
PS - Perhaps when I'm visiting you, I can meet your new patient!'