Level 3 + The Light Of Emeraude
Sublevel 1 + Go, And Retrieve The Light
Her head hurt. Oh, it hurt. Her temples throbbed and her skull felt as though it were about to split in two.
Nova opened her eyes--- No! That couldn't be! She wasn't the one in control of her body, it was her other self!... No. She couldn't possibly...
She sat up, holding her hands before herself and turning them over, examining her palms. Yes, this was her own physical form, not Hikaru's. Oh, could it be? Could she really have been separated from Hikaru for so long?
The pain in her head intensified. She clutched her head in her hands, her fingers pressed violently into her soft pink hair. Nova's teeth clenched themselves, grinding painfully as her head ached so strongly.
Shivers flew up and down her spine. Her skin was clammy and cold and sweaty. Nova trembled, her throat dry and her tongue swollen so she couldn't speak.
Oh, what was wrong with her?
Vague images swam before her eyes. Nova realized that she was, in a very distant way, seeing what Hikaru was seeing at that moment. It wasn't clear, for they no longer shared the same eyes, but they were still the same, and she still saw what Hikaru saw.
Someone was crying. Pangs of remorse and pain pierced Nova's heart, signals from Hikaru. The evil hurt in her head grew more and more sharp.
Couldn't anyone help her?
Darkness swept away the unclear images. Nova fell, her hands still clenched over her skull.
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When the darkness faded away, Fuu found herself sitting on a narrow wooden bench with a high back. It was uncomfortable and raised high off the ground.
There were more benches lined up in front of the one she sat on, and without looking back, she knew that many were behind, as well. Clearing her senses from the haze of the darkness, Fuu knew that she wasn't sitting on a bench, per se, but a pew.
She rose to her feet, stepping out of the pew, her boots making a soft tp-tp sound on the cold stone floor. A brief glance around herself revealed that Fuu was in an old-fashioned chapel. It also revealed the small redhead hunched over in the back pew.
Fuu made her way up the aisle, coming to stand next to Hikaru at the last pew. "What is wrong?" she asked quietly, hardly daring to speak in the quiet of the church.
Hikaru lifted her face from her arms; Fuu saw the petite girl's tearstained cheeks and trembling lower lip. "Nova's gone," she whispered. No sooner were the words past her lips than another sob wracked her tiny frame. Hikaru lowered her face once again.
Fuu took Hikaru's hand gently. "Come on. We can try to find her."
Hikaru shook her head. "She's not here. She's not anywhere." She sniffled pitifully, pressing her free hand over her chest. "I feel so empty. My heart hurts."
The taller blond girl wrapped her arms around the little redhead. "I am sorry, Hikaru-san." Hikaru clung to her, whimpering softly.
"I'm so scared..."
Fuu put her hands on Hikaru's shoulders. "Everything will be all right." She helped the smaller girl to her feet. "Come on. Let's try to find someone."
The petite girl allowed Fuu to help her to her feet. She leaned on Fuu's shoulder weakly, still whimpering, hugging herself desperately. Fuu wrapped one arm around Hikaru's shoulders comfortingly, leading her out of the old chapel and into a long, dark, narrow hallway.
Heavy silence pressed down upon them as the two girls made their way down the hall. They passed gas lamps on occasion, but like when Hikaru climbed her staircase, they spent most of their walk in darkness.
It was during one of those long periods of darkness that Hikaru whispered, "Fuu-chan?"
"Hn?"
"Where do you think Umi-chan is?"
A slight shudder ran down Fuu's spine, although she wasn't sure why. "I do not know, Hikaru-san. Perhaps we'll meet her soon."
"I hope so."
Silence fell once more.
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Hikaru and Fuu reached the end of the hallway at last. Together they pulled open the heavy oak door that stood there, and they shielded their eyes against the bright sunlight that poured into the dank hallway.
Immediately, hands grabbed the girls, pulling them out of the hallway. They were whisked away from one another, despite their cries of protest, and in the sudden bright light, neither girl could yet stand the light enough to see who had taken them. But when her eyes finally adjusted, Fuu saw that the people leading her away from Hikaru were three young girls.
"Pardon me," she asked one girl with auburn pigtails, "where are you taking me?"
"To bathe," the girl replied. "No offense, Mistress Fuu, but you're quite dirty. You'll need to bathe before our master can speak with you."
"Your master?"
"Yes," replied another girl, who had long, straight blond hair. "It won't do for you to be so filthy when you meet him."
"Besides," said the last girl, one with soft, wavy, chocolate-colored hair, "your wounds need to be tended to. Those bruises are most unsightly."
Fuu grimaced. "What about Hikaru-san?"
"Mistress Hikaru is also being cared for," the blond girl replied.
About then, they reached another oak door in one of the huge stone walls (Fuu had, by now, identified her surroundings to be a sunny, grassy courtyard, full of flower gardens and surrounded by four tall, broad stone walls). The pigtailed girl pulled the door open, and the other two hurried Fuu inside.
They took her across a polished marble floor, bringing her through another low doorway, then another. At last, they were within a small room with a white marble floor and walls painted a soft butter yellow. In the center of the room was a round bathtub set into the ground, full of hot water and plenty of frothy white bubbles.
The three young servants slipped off into another room, giving Fuu her privacy. She took off her headset and peeled off her armor and the skintight, leotard-like black clothing she had been wearing underneath before climbing into the bubblebath. The water was soothing, and as she washed her hair, she tried to figure out how long she had been within the game.
Days must have passed, she thought. But why haven't I grown weary? Perhaps the times between the levels refreshed us... And also, I do not know how long I slept at Geo-san's home.
At the thought of Geo, Fuu felt a sharp pang of loneliness in her heart. Somehow, she felt very attatched to Geo and Aska and Presea and even Ferio. Somehow, she felt as though she had known for many years the people she had met within the game.
But that is probably just the affect the game has had on me, she thought. Fuu glanced up, noticing the blond girl creep in, pick up Fuu's armor, and slip out again. She smiled. Those young girls seemed so nice.
Fuu finished her bath, climbing out and wrapping herself in the soft robe that was lying, folded, beside the bath. She picked up the towl that lay there as well, drying her hair.
Two of the girls came back in. They led Fuu into the room where they had been waiting and seated her in a soft-cushioned chair. One brushed out her hair, and it dried as she brushed it, twisting itself back into its natural curls. Then another girl, the one with the pigtails, rubbed a cold white cream into Fuu's skin over the bruises on her face. That done, the blond girl handed Fuu her armor, which had been cleaned so that it shone white and green more brightly than it had before.
Meanwhile, as Fuu dressed herself in her armor again, two other young servants helped Hikaru in another room on the opposite side of the courtyard. The girls also let Hikaru bathe, and they brushed and dried and braided her hair. One girl, who had a long, pale blond braid, held Hikaru's hand as the other darker-haired girl brushed Hikaru's hair. "We know of your loneliness," the braided girl whispered. "We can't tell you where she is, because we don't know. But please, smile for our master. He would not like to see your pretty face so sad."
Hikaru smiled a bit, although it was a rather sad smile. "I'll do my best," she promised.
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The three girls took Fuu into a grand hall with walls and floor of plain gray stone; the walls, however, were draped with banners and tapestries, and there was a wide strip of white carpet, at least one-third as wide as the room, leading from the doorway up to a low set of stairs. The stairs (there were few of them) led up to a low platform, on which were five chairs, extravagantly carved from some dark wood. All of the chairs were unoccupied, save for one, the one on the far right. In that chair sat a tall, thin man with dark hair. He wore simple garments --- just plain black robes. But there was an air of authority about him, and a grave, silent demand for respect was settled upon his sharp features.
As the girls led Fuu up the carpet, she heard someone behind them. Glancing back, she saw Hikaru walking behind with two other servants. They made a company of seven, and when they all arrived at the foot of the stairs, the servant girls drew back, and Hikaru and Fuu stood side-by-side, both bathed and with clean armor.
The man looked down at them, but he did not smile. "Welcome, Fuu and Hikaru."
Fuu bowed a bit, and Hikaru mimicked her. "Ah... Honored Sir," Fuu began, hesitantly, "may I ask what has become of Umi, the other girl who was participating in the game?"
The man closed his eyes. "Umi did not pass the second level."
Hikaru stared at him, not understanding. "What do you mean?"
He opened his eyes. "I mean," he said slowly, his dark eyes resting on her, "that Umi has died."
A sharp pang of remorse stabbed Hikaru's heart. She stared back at the man, unable to speak, as Fuu asked, tears in her voice, "How? How could that have happened?"
The man sent her a stern glance. "You, of all people, should understand that the game is deadly, Fuu."
She balked, then nodded her head silently, a few tears slipping down her cheek.
The man sat back in his chair, sighing. "You have both done very well thus far. However, this third level will be more difficult than either the first or second levels." He rested his gaze upon the girls gravely. "Do you understand?"
They nodded voicelessly.
"It is likely, but not certain, that one of you will die in this level. If you do not, then it will happen at a later time." He closed his eyes wearily, a deep sigh escaping him. "The only way for one of you to win is for the others to die."
Hikaru's voice came frail and shaky. "I didn't know that, coming in."
"Did you know that you might die?" He opened his dark eyes, sending her a quiet, inquisitive glance.
"I... I knew that I might... but I didn't know I would."
A brief flash of grief passed over the man's face; then it was gone. "You might not. Either of you may die. It is not certain."
"But Fuu-chan's pregame points were way more than mine!" Hikaru protested. "She's... she's better than me."
"Silence." The dark-haired man rose to his feet suddenly. "Follow me."
He stepped down from the platform, sweeping between the two girls and heading down the white carpet. He passed the servant girls, who stepped away quickly as he went. Fuu and Hikaru, not knowing what to do except obey, followed him.
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They ended up in large hall, so long that the girls couldn't make out the face of the other person standing at the far end.
The tall man led them down the length of the room. There was no conversation as they walked, but both Fuu and Hikaru thought heavily upon his grave words from earlier. They both grew increasingly aware of the risk they were taking by simply playing the game, and Hikaru was beginning to regret her decision more and more.
Then they reached the end of the room.
A little man stood before them. He had shocking, bright blue eyes and lavender hair. He held before him in his small hands a sphere made of what appeared to be glass. A bright, cold, white light shone from within it.
The short man looked up at the tall one. "Thank you, Lantis, for bringing them to me."
Lantis bowed deeply. "It was an honor, Master Clef." He backed away slowly, and Clef stepped forward. He held out the container of light, his sharp gaze resting upon the two girls seriously.
"Do you know what I hold in my hands?" The girls shook their heads in negative response, and Clef cupped the sphere in both hands. "This is the Light of Emeraude. This is the center of this world in which the game takes place. This is the balance of our being. This is the pillar that supports the sky."
Hikaru blinked, staring at the little ball of light. How could something so powerful be so tiny?
"Touch it."
Both girls reached out trembling hands, but as their fingertips touched the glass, they passed through. Fuu snapped her head up to glare at Clef, jerking her arm back as she demanded, "What is this?!"
His bright eyes were sad. "This is not the true Light of Emeraude. It is only an apparation of it." The globe of light vanished, and Clef swept his hands towards the great windows at one wall. "The Light was stolen. It is being passed between the hands of many races of this world, for they do not believe that the Light was destined to be kept safe by men." His childlike features were grave. "You must seek out the Light of Emeraude and regain it."
"Why?" Hikaru asked.
"If the Light does not return to the safekeeping of its owner," Clef began slowly, "it will not be able to function as it is supposed to. It will flicker and die, and so its owner will die, and so this world will die."
Fuu shivered. "Then... our purpose in this game is to retrieve this Light of Emeraude?"
"Yes."
She nodded. "I will do my best."
"But, please, Clef," Hikaru begged, "please, can't you tell me where Nova is?"
His face softened. Clef stepped forward, and Hikaru knelt before him, and he placed a hand on her shoulder. He leaned close so that his face was very near to hers.
"Nova cannot be with you now," he whispered. "She is seeking Herself."
Tears brimmed Hikaru's soft red eyes. "I don't understand." She pressed her hand over her heart. "I feel so empty."
Clef smiled sympathetically. "Please, be at peace, and know that Nova will be all right. This is what is supposed to happen, and this is for the best." Then he backed away, standing next to Lantis. "Now go, girls who participate in the game. Go, and retrieve the light."
Sublevel 1 + Go, And Retrieve The Light
Her head hurt. Oh, it hurt. Her temples throbbed and her skull felt as though it were about to split in two.
Nova opened her eyes--- No! That couldn't be! She wasn't the one in control of her body, it was her other self!... No. She couldn't possibly...
She sat up, holding her hands before herself and turning them over, examining her palms. Yes, this was her own physical form, not Hikaru's. Oh, could it be? Could she really have been separated from Hikaru for so long?
The pain in her head intensified. She clutched her head in her hands, her fingers pressed violently into her soft pink hair. Nova's teeth clenched themselves, grinding painfully as her head ached so strongly.
Shivers flew up and down her spine. Her skin was clammy and cold and sweaty. Nova trembled, her throat dry and her tongue swollen so she couldn't speak.
Oh, what was wrong with her?
Vague images swam before her eyes. Nova realized that she was, in a very distant way, seeing what Hikaru was seeing at that moment. It wasn't clear, for they no longer shared the same eyes, but they were still the same, and she still saw what Hikaru saw.
Someone was crying. Pangs of remorse and pain pierced Nova's heart, signals from Hikaru. The evil hurt in her head grew more and more sharp.
Couldn't anyone help her?
Darkness swept away the unclear images. Nova fell, her hands still clenched over her skull.
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
When the darkness faded away, Fuu found herself sitting on a narrow wooden bench with a high back. It was uncomfortable and raised high off the ground.
There were more benches lined up in front of the one she sat on, and without looking back, she knew that many were behind, as well. Clearing her senses from the haze of the darkness, Fuu knew that she wasn't sitting on a bench, per se, but a pew.
She rose to her feet, stepping out of the pew, her boots making a soft tp-tp sound on the cold stone floor. A brief glance around herself revealed that Fuu was in an old-fashioned chapel. It also revealed the small redhead hunched over in the back pew.
Fuu made her way up the aisle, coming to stand next to Hikaru at the last pew. "What is wrong?" she asked quietly, hardly daring to speak in the quiet of the church.
Hikaru lifted her face from her arms; Fuu saw the petite girl's tearstained cheeks and trembling lower lip. "Nova's gone," she whispered. No sooner were the words past her lips than another sob wracked her tiny frame. Hikaru lowered her face once again.
Fuu took Hikaru's hand gently. "Come on. We can try to find her."
Hikaru shook her head. "She's not here. She's not anywhere." She sniffled pitifully, pressing her free hand over her chest. "I feel so empty. My heart hurts."
The taller blond girl wrapped her arms around the little redhead. "I am sorry, Hikaru-san." Hikaru clung to her, whimpering softly.
"I'm so scared..."
Fuu put her hands on Hikaru's shoulders. "Everything will be all right." She helped the smaller girl to her feet. "Come on. Let's try to find someone."
The petite girl allowed Fuu to help her to her feet. She leaned on Fuu's shoulder weakly, still whimpering, hugging herself desperately. Fuu wrapped one arm around Hikaru's shoulders comfortingly, leading her out of the old chapel and into a long, dark, narrow hallway.
Heavy silence pressed down upon them as the two girls made their way down the hall. They passed gas lamps on occasion, but like when Hikaru climbed her staircase, they spent most of their walk in darkness.
It was during one of those long periods of darkness that Hikaru whispered, "Fuu-chan?"
"Hn?"
"Where do you think Umi-chan is?"
A slight shudder ran down Fuu's spine, although she wasn't sure why. "I do not know, Hikaru-san. Perhaps we'll meet her soon."
"I hope so."
Silence fell once more.
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Hikaru and Fuu reached the end of the hallway at last. Together they pulled open the heavy oak door that stood there, and they shielded their eyes against the bright sunlight that poured into the dank hallway.
Immediately, hands grabbed the girls, pulling them out of the hallway. They were whisked away from one another, despite their cries of protest, and in the sudden bright light, neither girl could yet stand the light enough to see who had taken them. But when her eyes finally adjusted, Fuu saw that the people leading her away from Hikaru were three young girls.
"Pardon me," she asked one girl with auburn pigtails, "where are you taking me?"
"To bathe," the girl replied. "No offense, Mistress Fuu, but you're quite dirty. You'll need to bathe before our master can speak with you."
"Your master?"
"Yes," replied another girl, who had long, straight blond hair. "It won't do for you to be so filthy when you meet him."
"Besides," said the last girl, one with soft, wavy, chocolate-colored hair, "your wounds need to be tended to. Those bruises are most unsightly."
Fuu grimaced. "What about Hikaru-san?"
"Mistress Hikaru is also being cared for," the blond girl replied.
About then, they reached another oak door in one of the huge stone walls (Fuu had, by now, identified her surroundings to be a sunny, grassy courtyard, full of flower gardens and surrounded by four tall, broad stone walls). The pigtailed girl pulled the door open, and the other two hurried Fuu inside.
They took her across a polished marble floor, bringing her through another low doorway, then another. At last, they were within a small room with a white marble floor and walls painted a soft butter yellow. In the center of the room was a round bathtub set into the ground, full of hot water and plenty of frothy white bubbles.
The three young servants slipped off into another room, giving Fuu her privacy. She took off her headset and peeled off her armor and the skintight, leotard-like black clothing she had been wearing underneath before climbing into the bubblebath. The water was soothing, and as she washed her hair, she tried to figure out how long she had been within the game.
Days must have passed, she thought. But why haven't I grown weary? Perhaps the times between the levels refreshed us... And also, I do not know how long I slept at Geo-san's home.
At the thought of Geo, Fuu felt a sharp pang of loneliness in her heart. Somehow, she felt very attatched to Geo and Aska and Presea and even Ferio. Somehow, she felt as though she had known for many years the people she had met within the game.
But that is probably just the affect the game has had on me, she thought. Fuu glanced up, noticing the blond girl creep in, pick up Fuu's armor, and slip out again. She smiled. Those young girls seemed so nice.
Fuu finished her bath, climbing out and wrapping herself in the soft robe that was lying, folded, beside the bath. She picked up the towl that lay there as well, drying her hair.
Two of the girls came back in. They led Fuu into the room where they had been waiting and seated her in a soft-cushioned chair. One brushed out her hair, and it dried as she brushed it, twisting itself back into its natural curls. Then another girl, the one with the pigtails, rubbed a cold white cream into Fuu's skin over the bruises on her face. That done, the blond girl handed Fuu her armor, which had been cleaned so that it shone white and green more brightly than it had before.
Meanwhile, as Fuu dressed herself in her armor again, two other young servants helped Hikaru in another room on the opposite side of the courtyard. The girls also let Hikaru bathe, and they brushed and dried and braided her hair. One girl, who had a long, pale blond braid, held Hikaru's hand as the other darker-haired girl brushed Hikaru's hair. "We know of your loneliness," the braided girl whispered. "We can't tell you where she is, because we don't know. But please, smile for our master. He would not like to see your pretty face so sad."
Hikaru smiled a bit, although it was a rather sad smile. "I'll do my best," she promised.
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The three girls took Fuu into a grand hall with walls and floor of plain gray stone; the walls, however, were draped with banners and tapestries, and there was a wide strip of white carpet, at least one-third as wide as the room, leading from the doorway up to a low set of stairs. The stairs (there were few of them) led up to a low platform, on which were five chairs, extravagantly carved from some dark wood. All of the chairs were unoccupied, save for one, the one on the far right. In that chair sat a tall, thin man with dark hair. He wore simple garments --- just plain black robes. But there was an air of authority about him, and a grave, silent demand for respect was settled upon his sharp features.
As the girls led Fuu up the carpet, she heard someone behind them. Glancing back, she saw Hikaru walking behind with two other servants. They made a company of seven, and when they all arrived at the foot of the stairs, the servant girls drew back, and Hikaru and Fuu stood side-by-side, both bathed and with clean armor.
The man looked down at them, but he did not smile. "Welcome, Fuu and Hikaru."
Fuu bowed a bit, and Hikaru mimicked her. "Ah... Honored Sir," Fuu began, hesitantly, "may I ask what has become of Umi, the other girl who was participating in the game?"
The man closed his eyes. "Umi did not pass the second level."
Hikaru stared at him, not understanding. "What do you mean?"
He opened his eyes. "I mean," he said slowly, his dark eyes resting on her, "that Umi has died."
A sharp pang of remorse stabbed Hikaru's heart. She stared back at the man, unable to speak, as Fuu asked, tears in her voice, "How? How could that have happened?"
The man sent her a stern glance. "You, of all people, should understand that the game is deadly, Fuu."
She balked, then nodded her head silently, a few tears slipping down her cheek.
The man sat back in his chair, sighing. "You have both done very well thus far. However, this third level will be more difficult than either the first or second levels." He rested his gaze upon the girls gravely. "Do you understand?"
They nodded voicelessly.
"It is likely, but not certain, that one of you will die in this level. If you do not, then it will happen at a later time." He closed his eyes wearily, a deep sigh escaping him. "The only way for one of you to win is for the others to die."
Hikaru's voice came frail and shaky. "I didn't know that, coming in."
"Did you know that you might die?" He opened his dark eyes, sending her a quiet, inquisitive glance.
"I... I knew that I might... but I didn't know I would."
A brief flash of grief passed over the man's face; then it was gone. "You might not. Either of you may die. It is not certain."
"But Fuu-chan's pregame points were way more than mine!" Hikaru protested. "She's... she's better than me."
"Silence." The dark-haired man rose to his feet suddenly. "Follow me."
He stepped down from the platform, sweeping between the two girls and heading down the white carpet. He passed the servant girls, who stepped away quickly as he went. Fuu and Hikaru, not knowing what to do except obey, followed him.
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
They ended up in large hall, so long that the girls couldn't make out the face of the other person standing at the far end.
The tall man led them down the length of the room. There was no conversation as they walked, but both Fuu and Hikaru thought heavily upon his grave words from earlier. They both grew increasingly aware of the risk they were taking by simply playing the game, and Hikaru was beginning to regret her decision more and more.
Then they reached the end of the room.
A little man stood before them. He had shocking, bright blue eyes and lavender hair. He held before him in his small hands a sphere made of what appeared to be glass. A bright, cold, white light shone from within it.
The short man looked up at the tall one. "Thank you, Lantis, for bringing them to me."
Lantis bowed deeply. "It was an honor, Master Clef." He backed away slowly, and Clef stepped forward. He held out the container of light, his sharp gaze resting upon the two girls seriously.
"Do you know what I hold in my hands?" The girls shook their heads in negative response, and Clef cupped the sphere in both hands. "This is the Light of Emeraude. This is the center of this world in which the game takes place. This is the balance of our being. This is the pillar that supports the sky."
Hikaru blinked, staring at the little ball of light. How could something so powerful be so tiny?
"Touch it."
Both girls reached out trembling hands, but as their fingertips touched the glass, they passed through. Fuu snapped her head up to glare at Clef, jerking her arm back as she demanded, "What is this?!"
His bright eyes were sad. "This is not the true Light of Emeraude. It is only an apparation of it." The globe of light vanished, and Clef swept his hands towards the great windows at one wall. "The Light was stolen. It is being passed between the hands of many races of this world, for they do not believe that the Light was destined to be kept safe by men." His childlike features were grave. "You must seek out the Light of Emeraude and regain it."
"Why?" Hikaru asked.
"If the Light does not return to the safekeeping of its owner," Clef began slowly, "it will not be able to function as it is supposed to. It will flicker and die, and so its owner will die, and so this world will die."
Fuu shivered. "Then... our purpose in this game is to retrieve this Light of Emeraude?"
"Yes."
She nodded. "I will do my best."
"But, please, Clef," Hikaru begged, "please, can't you tell me where Nova is?"
His face softened. Clef stepped forward, and Hikaru knelt before him, and he placed a hand on her shoulder. He leaned close so that his face was very near to hers.
"Nova cannot be with you now," he whispered. "She is seeking Herself."
Tears brimmed Hikaru's soft red eyes. "I don't understand." She pressed her hand over her heart. "I feel so empty."
Clef smiled sympathetically. "Please, be at peace, and know that Nova will be all right. This is what is supposed to happen, and this is for the best." Then he backed away, standing next to Lantis. "Now go, girls who participate in the game. Go, and retrieve the light."
